Dearest Fr. Angel,

I’m a PR here, 39 years old, single and a computer programmer and have been working here in Singapore for about 10 years. I only go back to the Philippines for a few weeks to spend the holidays. Lately, since 2004, I haven’t gone back for a vacation and my last vacation was last June 2006 in Thailand for about a week. Since then, I haven’t taken a whole week off from work anymore.

I transferred back to my old company and started working last Dec 9. Ever since I went back, I have been feeling tired. I don’t want to go to work anymore.My contract is for 20 months and will expire in August 2010.

Since Jan 7, I haven’t gone to work. I don’t know whether this is depression or not. I haven’t been feeling going to work even if I know that if I don’t go to work, I won’t have anything to spend here in Singapore. I know that working here is a whole lot better than working in the Philippines because of the monetary returns.

From the time I started working here, I still have not made any savings. I have tried to save but each and    everytime I do, there’s always been something to buy.When I tell people that I’m tired of working and want to quit but I can’t because I don’t have money, they don’t believe me. It’s just that I haven’t been able to save any money.

I want to take a 3-month vacation but I don’t have any savings to spend to get me through and considering my contract, it would be impossible for me right now to go for a vacation for three months.

I feel like I’m only going in circles and just like when I was in the Philippines, still living from paycheck to paycheck.

Please give me some advice on what to do. I would appreciate that you keep this confidential.

Best regards,

She

Dear She,

Kung 39 ka na, at ang iyong buhay ay ganito pa rin, go back to basics.Malinaw na gusto mong kumita.May trabaho ka. Una, pasalamatan mo ang sarili mo na umabot ka sa ganitong kalagayan.

Ikalawa, kung hanggang ngayon ay hindi ka pa makaipon dahil marami kang mabibili, tingnan mo sa iyong mga nabibili ang kailangan mo talaga upang mabuhay. Ang mga hindi kailangan ay ipagbili mo o ilagay mo sa kahon at ipamigay sa Pilipinas.

Ikatlo, matapos mong linisin ang iyong bahay, ang iyong buhay naman ang iyong linisin. Ano ang malakas mong pagkagastusan. Halimbawa, telepono, subukan mong mabuhay na wala. Malaki ang maiipon mo.

Ikaapat, magdasal ka ng isang oras sa alin mang simbahan.Hilingin mo sa Diyos na tulungan ka niya. Kapag guminhawa ka sa panalanging ito, gawin mo araw-araw. Natitiyak ko sa iyo na gaganda ang buhay mo.

Bumabati!

Fr. Angel, CICM