My dear Filipino people here in America (especially here in Louisiana),

Let me first say, I hope that every one of you is doing perfectly fine!

I am writing this letter to all of you because I am so disappointed! Yes, you all read it right: I am disappointed. I am disappointed with all of us. Because of what we have become now. We became something I know we are not: savages! We are like live crabs in a deep basket who wrestle with each other just to find our way out.

Please allow me to tell you all that I saw going on lately:

– We are so divided even here where everyone is less than a couple of hours from each other. Why? Do the seas still separate us from one another? Do the places where we come from back home still matter in who we socialize? We all came here with a common aim: to make our lives and the lives of our relatives back home better.

– Does the word home still make sense to us? Yes, the Philippines is our homeland and perhaps it's been so long since we all went back. We may have missed many happenings back home whether they are dear relatives passing away, siblings and cousins getting married, new nephews and nieces being born and baptized, children graduating high school and college, joyful reunions, Christmas get together, or the annual festivals in the village. For me, it's been seven years, I have missed many happy and sad moments back home and nothing beats the company of your own family. But guess what? We can't do anything more to make up what we missed back home. We are all here now, and we ourselves here should make up one big happy family. We are a home away from home for each other here.

– Since we are and should be a family here, it pains me to see and hear what seems to be petty arguments and disagreements. They rip us all apart! It pains me to see that my family here not getting along with each other. I am aware that families fight but I do hope those are just temporary things. It pains me that some of the people who I treat as my aunts and uncles here ignore each other, exchange hurtful words behind each other's backs and form into factions.

– Does the word gratitude still mean a lot to us even now? During the time we came here, I know that there have been people who helped us in some ways. They made sure that we have something warm to wear during winters, descent furniture and utensils in the places where we stay, food supplies and other basic necessities, transportation to get us to places we need to go and the list goes on. But now it seems like we have turned our backs to some of those people who helped us before. Please remember that these people did all those things out of the generosity of their hearts, whatever they can give, they gave it to us with their whole hearts. Remember that more than material things, they were there in those times when we were grieving, being upset over things, and on those happy occasions too! They have prayed for and with us, cried for our loss and disappointments and rejoiced even on those simple victories and achievements. I think that we have forgotten those who helped us before when some of us have already gotten out of our own rat holes and found bigger places.

Please don't take all of these the wrong way, I am just saying what I have seen over the years. If I have seen wrong or y'all think that I didn't hear the whole story, let me hear them then. I'm here to listen and evaluate things. I just don't want the only family that I have now to be all torn apart!

Sincerely,

Orland.

One of your own. Someone who considers you all as my family.