Dear Blogary

Dear Blogary,

My Friday this week was full of blessings! In the morning, I attended the family gathering of seafarers employees of my husband’s company – Pobar Marine Services. Tho I was not notified of the event, a colleague in media whose brother was one of captains in higher ranks of this company invited me to come. I headed for two reasons: 1) I am also a family of one of its employees and 2) I would like to invite them to avail of SM’s global pinoy services. The lunch was booked at Aboy’s Restaurant in Goldenfield.

Majority of those who attended were seafarers’ wives (which I belonged), some were mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Before the lunch was served, there was a film showing of the situations seafarers experience while working onboard. Giant waves wrap big ships. Abandon ship. Some may have laughed and joked about it, but the truth was I wished my husband’s job was on land and not in the ocean. It made me miss Da even more who was in India at that time and I was updating him through text messages of what was happening.

There was an open forum where families may air their concerns and raise questions and clarifications regarding company management. I saw the wisdom in what the president’s said that couples (which the husband is a seafarer) have been married for 10 years or so but counting the time they had been together was so short a time. It meant to spend quality time with him when he comes home for a vacation, and to care for him and attend to his needs because nobody does this for him when he is back at work.

In the latter part of the program, I was given the privilege to speak in front of about 100 people, introduced myself as the wife of an able bodied seaman employee and convinced them to avail of the Global Pinoy services. Well, I guess I kindda impressed the captain that he posed for a souvenir photo with me and then announced to everybody that I would be the leader of the seamen’s wives club. I was glad he recognized my “talent” but I wished he would credit it to my husband and promote his position!

Anyway, when I returned to my post at the office – a good news greeted me in my inbox! My aunt, my father’s sister who is a retired nurse in Winnipeg, Manitoba, related that a letter from the province had reached her residence congratulating us (me, my husband, and kids) for the approval of our provincial nominee applications. My aunt will be mailing the letter to us and we will use it in our application for permanent residency visa to the Canadian Embassy in Manila.

I was so overwhelmed of the news I praised the Lord for his goodness! How time flies, it was August last year when my Tita Joy hand-carried our applications when she went back to Canada after 3 weeks vacation here in Negros. My aunt Sol (which I mentioned earlier) personally submitted them to the provincial capitol of Manitoba. We got a reply in September acknowledging that the provincial nominee department received it. It was February 9 when Mama Sol emailed me that she was interviewed on the phone by the immigration officer handling our applications. The question and answer was short and then she was told the applicants will be notified for further advise 4 to 6 weeks thereafter.

True enough, after more than 4 weeks but barely 6 weeks in counting and anxiously waiting for a ring or mail, the letter came. I wanted to keep it to myself and not to brag about it but I could not control myself.  I was ecstatic and so excited I shared it with close good friends and cousins too! I’m ready for the next level!

The Lord has always been good to me and my family and I have always prayed He would please do the same to the people around. As I continue the process of this application, I realized I’m getting closer to what I have always dreamed of and wanted since: To live in Canada.