Modern Filipino Heroes

A suitcase filled with dreams and sacrifice,
They bid farewell to shores where laughter lies.
The ocean gapes, a chasm deep and vast,
Between the home they know and futures cast.

In lands unknown, their weary spirits roam,
Where strangers' tongues displace the sounds of home.
Each day a test of will, of hearts so bold,
Yet through their toil, a brighter tale unfolds.

The peso stretches in their calloused hands,
Each cent is love sent back to native lands.
For families left, they bear the lonely night,
Their sacrifice — a beacon, shining bright.

The ache of longing paints their silent tears,
The birthdays missed, the milestones marked by years.
Their hearts, two worlds divided by the sea,
Yet in their strength, a nation's pride we see.

The airports hum with journeys to and fro,
A fleeting glimpse of home, a whispered "Hello."
Then back to work, to duty's tireless call,
Their sweat and labor building futures tall.

They wipe the brow of age with gentle care,
Or build sleek towers piercing foreign air.
Each task, however humble, bears the trace,
Of Filipino spirit, strength, and grace.

The old heroes fought with weapons in their hands,
These heroes battle on in distant lands.
They do not conquer nations, nor seek fame,
But in their love, they bear a hero's name.

For in every child fed, every dream upheld,
The spirit of a troubled nation is compelled.
Their remittances like lifelines strong and wide,
Reviving hopes where sorrows once did hide.

Though seas may part, their hearts forever yearn,
For the day of sweet reunion, their return.
And when they do, heads held high with pride,
The nation waits with arms stretched open wide.

No medals gleam upon their weary chests,
Yet in their sacrifice, a country rests.
The unsung heroes of a modern age,
Their legacy etched on history's noble page.

POINTS OF INFORMATION:
In the Philippines, OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) are considered our modern day heroes because they not only boost the Philippines' economy through remittances but are also figures of resilience.

LINE COUNT: 40 Lines
WRITTEN FOR: "HONORING OUR VETERANS " 
FIRST PLACE