Mixing Concepts of "Gaba" with "Illegal Immigrants" (or TNTs)

I was talking earlier with my friend with whom I do a part-time gig about "Illegal immigrants" now soon to be hounded more viciously in the state of Arizona here in the US. The topic opened up after I read about New York Time's report today on illegal immigrants in that state (read here in full NYT's "Immigration Bill Reflects a Firebrand’s Impact"). He told me that it has been always the known case about Arizona, with its being more stricter than other border states about perceived illegal immigrants staying there. He knew of Filipinos who have paid huge amounts of money being promised legal work status when they get to Arizona, and ending up having no immigration papers and "scammed" by heartless opportunists who prefer that immigration reforms be forever not be put in place here (and who I believe, come to think of it, earn so much from bilking the faulty system, by taking advantage of people who don't know any better, and who are desperate to make themselves stay legally here in the US).

At the back of my mind, I also wanted to tell him about the other news I read from NYT at the same day when earlier article came; this one dealt about the guilty verdict rendered by the jury to a young man who participated in the group killing of an immigrant, just because he's "hispanic." (read here in full NYT's article on "Guilty Verdict in Killing of Long Island Man"). I asked myself, "are these reports coming out at the same date merely coincidentals?"

And my friend and I continued talking. He told me about Filipinos who have reported other Filipinos who happened to be staying illegally here in the US, or called with derision as "TNTs" ("tago ng tago;" hiding like frightened rats) - and remembered a couple from his hometown down south (which happens to be one of the biggest cities down south in the Philippines). One of them was kidnapped, and the kidnappers asked for a ransom. The ransom was given by the distraught family, but he was killed nevertheless. People in the know knew that the main reason behind the killing, as told me by my friend, too, was that he and his wife earned so much money from reporting other Filipinos here in the US to the immigration authorities.

The couple must have earned some hefty fees from this "disgusting" practice of reporting TNTs. Apparently, making such action is equivalent to taking away means of livelihood of TNTs who have families to feed back in the Philippines - as these TNTs end up being deported back to the Philippines (where they would be mocked by people who don't know any better, or put into more shameful situation than what they have had here in the USA as TNTs). And TNTs usually won't forget (much more, won't forgive) such that when the chance came for the families to get even, when the couple happened to visit the Philippines for a well-deserved vacation, the man was kidnapped and killed in the end. People won't show up during the funeral, as the community knew this couple earned part of their moneys from reporting TNTs - it's a way of allowing the forces of "Gaba" to take place. "Gaba," apparently is loosely equated to the concepts of "Karma" (loosely defined here as "reaping what you sow").

And my friend even continued to tell me about stories he heard about a retired Filipino actress who was a "superstar" during her heydays (she's not Nora Aunor, and I won't name her here, as I have not verified what my friend told me). This actress, who happens to be a good friend of another friend of mine who used to be in the movies in the Philippines, would invite people to prayer meetings. They would, as usual, include TNTs, who would then be entrapped in a set-up. They'd be caught by the immigration authorities right there and then. I wonder what would happen to that actress in due time.

The talk got me into thinking. Well, stranger things have happened. I know the Holy Family (Jesus, Joseph & Mary) themselves were immigrants themselves when they hastily went to Egypt after Joseph was visited by an angel in his dream days after Jesus was born. We're not sure, though, if they're TNTs, too, as this concept came into fore over 2000 years when the Holy Family went back to Palestine to lead the other chapters of their family life. And we have to always remember that the US is actually a country born out of many waves of immigrants who came from many countries the world over. We're just seeing darker lights nowadays, seemingly, about how immigrants are being treated. We pray and hope for better days to come for all illegal immigrants worldwide - it's not only the US who has the (probably bigger number of) share out of the unaccounted-for total worldwide.

Some YouTube vids on TNTs here: