Here, There and Everywhere

When I first came to Indonesia in 2008, my friend Alex , who had worked here many years ago, told me that one of the nice things about working here is the fact that most if not all Filipinos in this country are professionals. Indeed Alex is right.
There are around nine to ten thousand Filipinos working all over Indonesia. Since I’m in the education industry I have met more people in this profession than any other profession. There are also a number of accountants, most of them Chief Finance Officers of their companies and quite a number of CEOs too. I have met some Engineers and even lawyers. I have met maybe 2 Filipino nannies who were personally brought here by their bosses and not agency hired. Hence, what was reported in another local paper before that there are 18,000 Filipinos in this country is not accurate. Even if we count the non-legit the number wouldn’t be that high. I am still to meet a laborer or a domestic helper contracted through an agency.
Amidst the 9-10,000 Filipinos working here, there is the Ilonggo Mafia!
When I first came to Indonesia, I didn’t know anyone. I have only heard that so and so are here too but I didn’t have the chance to meet them. I live outside of Jakarta. If say Iloilo City is Jakarta, then I live in Passi. We have coded our distance from the city to names of different towns in Iloilo.
In a children’s party I attended, I met Al, then a music teacher in a school here. He immediately put me in contact with the only people I knew who were here – the Labaro sisters, Hesusa, Henedina and Asela. They are all teachers, teaching in different schools and with their brother Ninoy and Hesusa’s husband Aelred. We worked together in the opera Madame Butterfly. To complete the chorus are Anne and Ruby who are also teachers. They are members of the Voices of Praise Choir, and they have already released a CD. They are also very in demand to sing in the different Filipino events in Jakarta. Since the Labaros live in Jakarta but not really close to the city, then perhaps they would be in Tagbak or just before you go out of the city.
Yet in another children’s party, I met another Ilongga whom I have not seen since 1985! When I heard the name i had a look and I knew it was her. There could only be one Pelita. Pelita and I taught in the same school many moons ago but we didn’t meet there, it was after our stint in that school that we became friends. For 13 years, Pelita and her husbad Ely Barrera lived in Jakarta and for 2 years now they are based in Bali. Ely is the principal of Sekolah Lentera Kasih in Bali, while Pelita teaches in a Kinder School. In their workplace, the Filipino workers are mostly Ilonggo. The Barreras adopted me as their own. I spent most of my weekends with them. I spent my first 2 Christmases and NYEs with them. I visited many places with them and when they moved to Bali I think I have become their most frequent visitor too.
When one becomes stable here and starts to enjoy the work (and the pay), the family and friends start to come. Ely’s siblings are teaching here too. Sandra whom we fondly call Teyta is a preschool teacher but loves photography, so some of the pictures you see on this page are from her. Fred and Sam are teaching Performing Arts. It was Sam who gave me the head’s up when they had an opening for an English teacher, that’s why my son Jego is teaching in the same school. In Teyta’s School, they are all Ilonggas led by their principal Jean Co. Teyta is closer to the city than most of us she and Jean would be in Leganes while Sam would be in Carles and Fred would be in Antique!
Pelita, having been a pioneer here, has invited many Ilonggas here. Among the many is Precy Tambasen. Precy being single again like me is my partner in partying and lagaw. Precy is also a preschool teacher. Precy lives in the city so she definitely is our City Proper girl!
When Pelita and family moved to Bali, God made sure I wouldn’t be left lonely. He sent another Ilongga to adopt me. One afternoon after mass, I thought the lady looked familiar. It was indeed my schoolmate Ma. Liza “tata” Young. She is married to Sonni Ginting, an Indonesian I was so happy to see her. Tata became my new family. Every Saturday her driver picks me up from my house and brings me back on Sunday. We go to church together, go on outings, to the movies and I get to babysit her kids. Tata is an accountant- lawyer. She used to work with a cable company but now she owns and runs her own company as the exclusive distributor of some cable channels.
Some Ilonggos could easily be recognized by the famous malambing Ilonggo accent when they speak Filipino. I’m aware that my Filipino is not a good as my Ilonggo or English so most of the time I choose to speak only either of these two. When speaking Ilonggo to a fellow Ilonggo be wary though you’d never know who can understand.
In the church choir that I’m part of, my choir director Martin Brilliantes is Ilonggo. He told me he traces his roots to Passi but he never told me he speaks and understands Ilonggo very well. Martin is the CFO of a paper company here. There is another Ilonggo in my choir and I only found out he is one when we were talking about dear Alma Mater UP and he said he’s from UPV and from the first class town of Lambunao. Joey is an accountant and he is with Purefoods but based here. It is more fun to mock around in one’s own native tongue, which is the case for the 3 of us when we’re at choir practice or just hanging out.
Outside Jakarta, other than Pelita and Ely I also have another friend in Bali. Romela Gianan. She’s with the hotel/villa industry. In my recent trip to Bali, Melay joined my kids and I in some of the sightseeing trips. When in another country, we cultivate friendships with people we meet or have met in the past but never spoke with like my friendship with Tata and same is the case with Melay. We have met but we didn’t really meet. Here in Indonesia, however, we have planted the seed of friendship and even if across shores we have managed to keep it growing.
In far away Manado, where Bunaken is, the famous dive spot of Indonesia, the Consul General of the Consulate is Ilonggo. Consul General Noel Servigon. Before Noel came here, Ma’am Bopeep Ladrido already put me in contact with him. Where else? Facebook of course! Manado is closer to Davao than it is to Jakarta but technology makes it easier to communicate with Noel. If I have consular concerns or legal questions, getting an answer from Noel is much quicker! Noel also initiated a compilation of Ilonggo/Hiligaynon words that are similar to Bahasa Indonesia
These are just some of the Ilonggos that I have met. I have met many more Ilonggos, some even students of my mother, some classmates of my siblings and some friends of friends. Ilonggos are here, there and everywhere. If you see a shining star, you would be happy to know it’s a Filipino, and happier to find out it’s an ILONGGO!

The Invited

The song "Stella by Starlight" is a song featured in a 1944 film THE UNINVITED. But I didn't sing that yesterday when the President of my beloved Philippines visited the Republic of Indonesia, because I was invited.


When I got the invite to attend the meeting with Pnoy, I got excited!! I got even more excited when my bosses allowed me to take a half-day off to be at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The next thing that I stressed upon was what to wear. I even made a call to Bombette Marin to send me something (panic mode), that even Inday Dabi would do. Fortunately, Federico Mercado of PT Barong Batik, through Tita Thelma Victorio (and Tita ng Jakarta) of PT Sentul City delivered my beautiful top Saturday before the event.
What can I possibly write about Pnoy’s visit that you wouldn’t be reading about in the local, national or internet news? You already know that he came with a 53-man entourage and how much he spent for it. You already know that he came with his cabinet secretaries; Sec. Almendras, Sec. Coloma, Sec. del Rosario, Sec. Purisima, Sec. Domingo and PAGCOR Chief. Did you know that Mar Roxas was with him too? No, I didn’t see any lady with him so I don’t know if his lady love was around.
The Filipino Community in Indonesia (FILCOMIN) started to arrive at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel at around 2 in the afternoon. Two of those who helped in the registration were Ilonggas, Ruby Sicorsicon and Asela Labaro, who are both teachers at the Singapore International School.
While waiting for Pnoy to arrive, we were treated to a buffet merienda, not our typical Filipino merienda of bitso bitso, bitchukoy or suman latik and coks but sausage tart, salmon rolls, pastries with coffee or tea. During the merienda, Pinoys mingled. It was great to hear only Filipino spoken in many versions and intonations. The Ilonggos made a good turn out. Our very own Noel Servigon, Consul General of the Philippine Consulate in Manado flew in with his lovely and amiable wife, Chi. Philippine Representative to the ASEAN, Wilfrido Villacorta was also there with his wife.
It is worth noting that Filipinos in Jakarta who are mostly, if not all, professionals followed the schedule like good citizens. When First Secretary and Consul GERMINIA “Germie”AGUILAR-USUDAN of the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta announced the start of the rehearsals for the picture-taking, people went inside the ballroom. They listened and during the picture -taking everything went smoothly She also reminded us to turn off our cellphones, most of us did :/ By 5pm everybody was seated and was waiting for Pnoy to arrive. 530pm -Pnoy on time! That’s something we Filipinos abroad always (try to) do - be on time.
For many of us who have not been home for quite some time, hearing the Philippine National anthem being sung by the community gave me goosebumps. After the singing, I saw some people clearing the fog on their glasses. I felt a lump on my throat too while singing, but i had to concentrate on my ALTO so my voice wouldn’t crack.
Pnoy came in with the Charge d’Affaires of the Philippne Embassy in Jakarta, Maria Rosario “Cherry” Aguinaldo, who also introduced the President of the Republic of the Philippines. They were joined on stage by Cesar de la Cruz of PT Agung Podomoro and Rodolfo Balmater (also Rotary PDG of District 3400 Indonesia)of the Indonesia- Philippine Business Council.
Pnoy spoke in both Filipino and English. He acknowledged his cabinet secretaries who were present and he dropped his notes, his teleprompter and delivered a “well-prepared candid speech”. He earned several applauds that interrupted his speech and a few chuckles and laughter in between. He gave us a mini “state of the nation” address, talking about our economy, our environment, our energy,our military, our tourism and good governance. The house roared into laughter when he said he couldn’t properly say the last name of Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, that’s why he is called just SBY. Pnoy made no promises, just an appeal for cooperation and support from us. Pnoy’s speech was short and sweet. He ended with his usual “at the end of the day”.
The man will always suffer a comparison with his parents who were both charismatic and charming. As Josie Cacdac,another Ilongga said, “I will always admire him for being him - a Filipino countryman more than a president. His humility is contagious.”
There were many who were invited but couldn’t come, there were many who wanted to come but were not invited. There were many who were clueless about Pnoy’s visit. There were many who criticized the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta for being remiss in disseminating information about the State Visit. The Embassy did have some press releases, maybe some Pinoys didn’t really understand the language. There were several billboards of Pnoy as he was conferred a Doctor of Law, Honorary Degree by the University of Pelita Harapan (UPH).
It was a well-organized meeting, and if any, the cellphones that sounded during Pnoy’s speech were those of the media. People who came to see Pnoy and hear him speak all came out smiling and happy. For those who traveled quite a bit of distance, like me, it was all worth it!!Taking a leave without pay to see and listen to MY President was all worth it!