BALIKBAYAN

"Balikbayans" are homecoming Filipinos from different places abroad. Different "Balikbayans" show different mannerisms that give themselves out. There are those who brag so much about their many activities from where they came from, not knowing how eloquently he airs his true insecurities.

There are those who suddenly forget their native tongue and starts speaking slang English thinking that they are sounding great that way. There are those with many "pasalubongs" forgetting to remove the "sale" and "reject" tags. Some go to the extent of explaining the details of every place they visited, trying to empress their listeners, who usually "swim along" with them out of kindness and sympathy to help them boast their declining egos.

I like "Balikbayans" who are truthful; those who repent for leaving their country; those who still enjoy the regular Filipino meals; those who give advises not to follow what they did; those who truly feel lonely, homesick and lovesick, for they are so real, so genuine, so down-to-earth, so Filipino that you will feel like embracing them and welcoming them home.

If those who are abroad think we who are left behind do not know what they are experiencing there, better stay where they are. They help 'decongest' the country with their likes.