Over lunch break in our office pantry, I picked up a thought from an officemate while we were having a chat about how sorry I feel whenever I see a queue of 'kadama' (Kuwait's term for househelp) at Kuwait Airport.

He narrated that the other day, he saw a throng of young Pinays at the airport lobby waiting for someone to collect them. It was 12 noon and the 20 kabayans have been waiting since six in the morning. Their eyes are all afraid and hungry and tired. Their agency collected them at 1pm. In the next few days, they will be mobilized to work in various Kuwaiti homes.

'Ilan kaya sa kanila ang magiging run-away?', my officemate asked.

And the conversations segued on why of all the many attritions committed against Filipino maids, only a few abusive employers go punished. (I can only recall a case of Dubai couple who were sentenced to three years for killing their Filipino maid).

And the discussions further segued on how 'ultimate justice' for Pinay victims means getting sent home to the Philippine. Oh yes, plus PHP10,000 from OWWA (and a photo opportunity from local politicians).

And we started questioning why:

1/ We continue to send Pinays in Kuwait and in other countries known for its atrocities towards Filipina maids;

2/ Most of our kababayans have this notion that going abroad will provide them comfort. (For half of us millions of OFWs, going abroad spells further sufferings, torture of various kinds, and sometimes death. For the other half who chanced upon favourable luck, Maslow's hierarchy of needs take control: our family is well off and provided for, yet they suffer the agony of our love's absence);

3/ How easily (and at a profit, if I may add) can agencies in the Philippines betray our fellow kabayans, especially women;

4/ Pinoys know beforehand how meager their income is yet venture in Kuwait as food attendants or beauticians or masseurs. Income for a food attendant at McDonalds' in Kuwait is said to be around KD100; for a beautician KD50; for masseurs, KD60. And they all had to spend for their own catering and accommodation (averaging KD40). Final tally every end month? Go figure. And so they end up getting 'reinforcement' through various means;

5/ We waste time saving guilty kabayans abroad who get jailed for murder or peddling drugs. Why not focus on our kabayans worthy of saving -- they're countless out there.

Haaay...kaaba-aba.

Our discussions are not all dark-and-dreary.

Only in the Middle East will you be able to report to work even if you don't have money for transport. Normally, we all have communal transport or our transport expenses are paid for.

When abroad, we seldom go hungry because other kabayans are normally very open in sharing their blessings to others.

When abroad, I am more religious in attending Sunday's Holy Masses and weekday's Bible studies. I also read my Bible, nightly. Not in the Philippines.

Abroad, it's easier to earn respect from your office mates. In the Philippines, the competition among peers is stiff. It's even tougher with 24/7 politicking.

When abroad, our life's daily pressure is limited. Sometimes it's as mundane as finding dahon ng sili for our tinola, or how we can control -- without much sweat -- our being bloated.

Haaay...kaawa-awa.