Advice ni Tita Lits

Take It Or Leave It! by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe

Dear Tita Lits,

Narinig ko po na speaker daw kayo, Tita Lits, doon sa seminar na ginawa ng ating Labor Office sa Tokyo on women? Kailan po ba iyon? Sayang at hindi ko po kaagad nalaman at hindi ako naka-attend. Gusto ko sana kayong ma-meet ng personal, dahil matagal ko na ring naririnig ang pangalan ninyo, at nababasa ko rin kayo sa Jeepney Press. Pwede nyo po bang mai-share kung ano po mga advices ninyo doon sa nakapag-attend?

Maria T. Tokyo

24 MARCH - APRIL 2019

Dear Maria:

Yes, by all means! Happy ako to be able to share to as many as my women kabaro in Japan the presentation I made as the inspirational speaker during the fora on Women’s Empowerment in observance of the Women’s Month Celebration in Tokyo held last March 31, 2019, at Midorigaoka Culture Hall, near Jijugaoka station. The event was organized by POLO-OWWA (Philippine Overseas Labor Office – Overseas Welfare Administration), Philippine Embassy, Tokyo.

It was the first time I met our lady Labor Attache Ms. Marie Rose C. Escalada, and our Welfare Officer Ms. Amy Crisostomo and their able staff. I think we are in good hands with these officials who are tasked to take care of the many concerns and the welfare of us OFWs in Japan.

Lits

Lita M-W

Isabelita T. Manalastas-Watanabe “Global100: Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Awardee, 2013 San Francisco (Nominated by the Philippine Embassy. Tokyo under Founders and Builders Category)

LEADERSHIP TIPS:

• Follow your passion.

Success is powered by passion. Even if there are obstacles on the way which others may think insurmountable, let your passion show them and yourself that you can get what you aim for. The passion will drive you to get the skills, contacts and knowledge you will need to succeed. IT ALL BEGINS WITH PASSION.

• In Rome, do as the Romans do.

In a globalized economy, you will get to work with people from around the world, travel far and wide, and even choose another country as your home base. Be perceptive and pick up the business and social norms of your host home. Learn the language, know the culture. DON’T FORGET YOUR ROOTS BUT MORPH THEM INTO YOUR NEW REALITY.

• Overcome stereotypes of gender and nationality.

Wherever you go, it is but natural that people will have pre-conceived notions of gender and nationality which will affect you. Understand where these biases are coming from, and learn how to challenge and overcome the stereotypes. SHOW THEM THAT YOU CAN BE AS GOOD AS OR EVEN BETTER THAT ANYONE ELSE AS A FILIPINA.

• Don’t ignore the family.

Professionally qualified and skilled though you may be, don’t ignore the powerful foundation that family gives you. BE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO SHAPED YOU, and also live up to your responsibilities to your parents, your children, your siblings. FIND OUT IN YOUR OWN WAY, HOW YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL – AT WORK AND AT HOME.

• Don’t be afraid to break barriers.

Though tolerance and progress on the gender front seem to be picking up in many areas, there are still new frontiers and domains where barriers to women and Filipinos exist. DON’T BE AFRAID TO VENTURE OUT INTO NEW TERRITORY. There may be no peers and mentors where you venture, but DON’T HOLD BACK IN CURVING OUT YOUR TURF.

BETWEEN AGE 52 AND DEATH

Enjoy the Money you saved up and STOP WORRYING or feel bad about spending your money. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of your children for many years, and taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. THE RESPONSIBILITY IS NOW THEIRS TO EARN THEIR OWN MONEY.

Enjoy Life with Your Partner. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day, one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide comfort then. Enjoy it together.

Don’t stress over little things and keep life alive. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. DON’T LET THE PAST DRAG YOU DOWN AND DON’T

LET THE FUTURE FRIGHTEN YOU. Feel good in the now. Regardless of age, always keep life alive. Men out there – remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection”.

Be PROUD, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are wellmaintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

ALWAYS STAY Up-To-Date. Read newspaper, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. You can use some of many social networks available that will suit your personality, your privacy concerns, etc., but let us not use them for “tsismising”, rumor mongering, or worst, spreading fake news.

RESPECT THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND THEIR OPINIONS. Hopefully, we have done our part in molding them to have strength of character, and to be honest, sincere, and loving children to their parents, and loving parents to their children. They may not have the same ideals as you, but THEY ARE THE FUTURE, and will take the world in their direction.

Some of us embrace our golden years, while others become bitter. LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WASTE OUR DAYS ON BITTERNESS. It will be good to spend time with positive, cheerful people – it will rub off on you and your days will seem that much better.

DON’T ABANDON YOUR HOBBIES. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can hike, cook (for pleasure!) read, dance, travel. You can do small things like grow a kitchen garden in our very small “mansions” in Japan.

Pains and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Being forgetful, as well. Try not to dwell on them too much as to cause you stress. Accept them as part of the normal ageing process.

LAUGH. Laugh away your worries. Remember, we are one of the lucky ones. We managed to have a life, and hopefully live a very long, healthy one. Many never get to even be 52, and never experience a full life.

(Source: The internet. Original version was revised by ITM-W to suit her purpose for the fora on Women Empowerment).

ON MOTHERS

From Rev. Fr. Dennis Paez (Ref. Luke 7) “Mothers who cry before the Lord for their families, for their marriages, for their homes, move the heart of God.”

“As a Mother protects, upholds and defends her children, so does God also protect us under the shadow of his Wings. We find refuge there and can hide there until the danger if over.”

“A Mother’s role is so vital that a father cannot get his prayers answered if he dishonours/disrespects her.” (1 Peter 3:7).

“When Mothers stop praying, their families (especially their children) perish, Satan gets a foothold and starts to destroy the home, yet when they return to their rightful place as the anchor of the home, demonic strongholds get demolished. In Psalms 17, 36, 57, 63, and 91, God’s role is likened to that of a Mother.”

“Today, as the woman of the home, consider yourself blessed. Consider yourself highly favored and consider yourself dangerous when you pray.”

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE – KEY TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Money cannot buy you happiness, BUT it can be the DOWNPAYMENT for it.

Earnings – Expenses = Savings? NO! Best to DETERMINE FIRST, HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO SAVE, and then work backwards to achieve this. Meaning, savings should not be iyong natira lang after you have spent your income/earnings on many things

SET YOUR REALISTIC SAVINGS GOAL MONTHLY. Then adjust your expenses, accordingly.

LASTLY, let us give thanks for all the blessings we have received and hope to continue to receive. To the sun, to the moon, to the stars. To the sea, to the river, to the fish, to the birds and animals, to the trees. To tatay, to nanay, to ate, to kuya, to our children, to our grandchildren. And finally to GOD, whoever we perceive and believe him/her to be.