Pen and Ink (Comic Strip) Title: Osidabulyu Pronunciation for OCW which means Overseas Contract Workers This comic strip is dedicated to all brave souls who have decided to work overseas as Overseas Contract Workers (Temporary Foreign Worker) earning a living to support their individual family, disregarding the threat doing so in favor of the financial gains.

1. OSIDABULYU (OVERSEAS CONTRACT WORKERS) by Rufran C. Frago
2006 Copyright
1) Noel Der was working overseas for four years. He left for foreign work right after he was married. Noel’s contract has him going home every two years.
He is thirty-six years old. Noel (reflecting): Another two years and I will be home for good. I am so home sick. I might lose my mind if I stay longer,
working here in the hot Arabian desert .
2) Noel (thinking): I miss my wife so much… we’ve just been together for two months in the last four years. I hope I can still carry on with this situation. In
the meantime, in his native land, at his home, his wife was showing off her newfound freedom, and luxury. Wife’s friend: Wow! Another new furniture,
fridge, TV and sound system…jewelry! Building your own home might be coming soon, right? Wife (thinking & laughing to herself): She’s so envious… he,
he, he...
3) Wife: “Why of course, because Noel is working abroad and we still have no children. Building our home can come later. After all, I expect him to stay
there longer. Don’t worry about anything. Worry about our beach outing this Sunday, hi hi hi hi (laughing loud). Friend: You are so lucky my friend. I
hope my husband decides to work overseas too.
Narration: The years went by very quickly. Wife (reading Noel’s letter): My dear wife, I had been working here in the desert for six ears. I think you
have save enough money already so I can come home for good next month.
4) Noel (reading wife’s letter): Dear Noel, my husband. First of all I want you to know that the exchange rate has gone up. It is now 45 pesos to a U.S.
dollar. The prices are going up. Many would like to go abroad, overseas but not as fortunate as you. Some of them even become victims to illegal
recruiter. I thought your job position there is okay? I hope you give your decision to come home more thoughts. It is so hard to find a job here in our
country. Many don’t have anything to eat…. etc…etc… blah, blah!
Narration: Another fifteen years had passed since Noel received that letter. He is so angry with money… his wife has left him. If I am you Noel,
maybe, I will try to go home and find a life. Why not?

2. OSIDABULYU (OVERSEAS CONTRACT WORKERS) by Rufran C. Frago
1) Filipe: Hello there! I am Filipe “Nong” Taga-ulat. Aling Menang is here with me for an interview. She had just received a letter from
her husband, Kiko Sabungero (alias for a cockfighting gambler/enthusiast) who is an OCW, an overseas contract worker.
Kiko’s message: Menang… first of all, how are my fighting cocks? Don’t you forget to feed them! Blah…blah, ..blah! Especially, the
black spotted and the red-streaked feathered one, etc, ..blah, etc…
2) Menang replied (Kiko reading the letter): Kiko, my husband… your fighting cocks are fine. You did not even ask about your children.
Don’t worry because all of us are so fond of your gaming cocks… we are in fact very thankful you have them.
2006 Copyright