Overseas Worker Discovers Homecoming Budget Has Been Calculated by Relatives Who Tracked His Remittances More Carefully Than He Did

The Homecoming: Balikbayan Box Arrives, Renovation Estimate Follows Immediately

Ramon Gutierrez, forty-four, a construction worker who spent ten years in Saudi Arabia sending remittances home to his family in Bulacan, landed at NAIA Terminal 2 on Thursday morning to a welcome party of fourteen relatives, four barangay neighbours who were not strictly invited but heard there was food, and a printed itemised list of proposed home improvements that his cousin Alfredo had prepared in advance and laminated for presentation purposes.

The list, which Ramon reviewed in the airport arrival hall while holding a tarpaulin banner reading ‘WELCOME HOME KUYA RAMON’ in a font size that his family described as ‘festive’ and that Ramon described as ‘visible from the airplane,’ covers eighteen proposed improvements to the family home at a total estimated cost of approximately eight hundred and forty thousand pesos, which is notably the approximate total of Ramon’s remittances for the past fourteen months minus the amounts already spent on costs that Alfredo described as ‘operational expenses of managing the property in your absence.’

The Items

The renovation list includes new floor tiles (the existing tiles are ‘old’), a new gate (‘the neighbours have a new gate’), re-painting of the exterior in a colour described as ‘more modern,’ a second comfort room (‘you’ll want privacy’), a carport (‘for the car when you get one’), and replacement of the kitchen sink (‘the one you sent money to buy in 2021 is already rusting’). Items not on the list but mentioned verbally during the airport discussion include a new refrigerator, school fees for three cousins’ children who were described as ‘expecting your support,’ and a contribution to the barangay fiesta proportional to Ramon’s assumed income as calculated by neighbours who have strong views about OFW finances.

Ramon’s Statement

‘I am happy to be home,’ said Ramon, who was drinking coffee in the airport while reading the laminated list for the third time. ‘I missed everyone very much. I am glad the family is well. The list is comprehensive. I will need some time to review it. I may need to make some calls. I may need to go back to Saudi.’

OFW remittance data at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Comedy: ClickHole.

SOURCE: http://prat.UK