30,000 Pinoys in Lebanon Caught In Middle East Conflict

Proving once again that Pinoys are everywhere.

In a BBC report about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon, where the latter is slowly being shred to tiny little pieces, 30,000 documented Filipinos are trapped in what is now clear as an open war.

According to stats gathered by the British network, top foreign nationals in Lebanon are:

Canada: 40,000

Philippines: 30,000

Australia: 25,000

US: 25,000

UK: 22,000 (inc. 10,000 with dual nationality)

France: 20,000

Yes you read it right, Filipinos are the second largest number of expats living and working peacefully in Lebanon before all this shit began.

The Inquirer, however, reported today that some 200 Pinoy workers are on their way to Damascus to escape the bombings.

I myself wanted to visit Beirut because of the budding tourism industry and for a taste of Kahlil Gibran's history. But now, those things the Lebanese tried to rebuild after Israel's withdrawal some years back have been shattered by the continuous bombings.

Can't help but wonder if they will get back on their feet again. This is such a widescale human tragedy.

Amid all these news about "great big wars in little places", I wish Filipinos will learn to appreciate what they have instead of always whining about what they don't own. Like stop blaming the government or everyone else for their misfortunes for starters.

Just imagine all those poor civilians in Iraq and Lebanon and wonder how they survive their day to day existence.