Migrants' Stories, Migrants' Voices Volume 5

Migrants Stories, Migrants Voices
CARMELITA G. NUQUI
MARIA CRISTY E. DAGUAY
&
PETE E. RAHON
Editors
By the
philippine migrants rights watch (pmrw)
with support from

taiwan foundation for democracy (tfd)
2015
Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW)

First Published 2015
Publisher
Philippine Migrants Rights Watch
All rights reserved. Portions of this book may be
reproduced with permission from the publisher.
Inquiries should be addressed to:
PMRW Secretariat - DAWN Office
Unit 3, 3rd Floor
Bocobo Commercial Center
1253 J. Bocobo cor. Padre Faura Streets
Ermita, Manila, Philippines
Tel 5269098 | Fax 5269101
pmrw@pmrw.org.ph | pmrightwatch@gmail.com
http://www.pmrw.org.ph
Editors
Carmelita G. Nuqui
Maria Cristy E. Daguay
Pete E. Rahon
Lay-out
Pete E. Rahon
Photos
Credits to authors
Cover Design
Marcial Conaco
ISBN (print) 978-971-93759-7-5
ISBN (pdf) 978-971-93759-8-2
With support from Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
(TFD). The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions and views of TFD.
Printed in the Philippines
This book is a tribute to all the migrants and members

of their families who have sacrificed for a better life.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.................................................................. vii
Foreword.................................................................................... ix
About the book........................................................................ xii
The stories................................................................................. xv
Inspired and inspiring OFWs...................................................1
Behind the smile, a hidden sorrow .........................................7
Domestic work is a decent job................................................13
In my fathers shoes.................................................................19
Faithful to Mama Mary............................................................25
Our Journey in the land of smiles..........................................33
I am my work experience........................................................39
Easing homesickness through radio......................................45
My life in Korea as an Artista.............................................53
Reflections.................................................................................59
vii
Acknowledgments
The Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) would like
to acknowledge the following for their contributions:
Overseas Filipino Workers who unselfishly contributed
and shared their personal stories for others to learn and be
inspired and to the members of PMRW who helped shape the
book.
Special thanks to Taiwan Foundation for Democracy for
the grant to have this book published.
Foreword
Three years since the last volume of the Migrants Stories,
Migrants Voices, the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch
(PMRW) is happy to issue the much awaited fifth volume of
the book. Its publication coincides with the commemoration
of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on
Migrants Workers (CMW). The convention aims to address
what has now become a pressing global agenda - the promotion and protection of migrant workers rights. Despite more
than two decades of the convention, however, migrant work
receiving countries (host nations) continue to ignore ratifying
measures that could help address this burgeoning dilemma.
The 25th CMW anniversary, the global scenario, and the
dire plight of migrant workers serve as backdrop of the 10
stories in this book. It is a reflection of the current realities
of our overseas Filipinos - mostly migrant workers and seafarers scattered in different parts of the globe. Their stories
are sources of enlightenment, and provide information on
their experiences, while going through the whole cycle of the
migration process. Through their effort and hard work, they
were able to circumvent their earlier failures and frustrations,
and their stories truly inspire us. They bring to fore that
indomitable spirit of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
The last few years were witness to more challenges for our
OFWs. There was the mass repatriation of our OFWs - some
against their wishes, in countries with on-going conflict and
terror threats like Libya and Syria. Others have chosen to
stay put despite the perils, since no work awaits them when
they come home. Countries in the Middle East are also aggressively pursuing the nationalization of jobs to provide
employment for their own people. The brunt fell heavily
among undocumented workers when the crackdown was
implemented. In Jeddah, KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia),
ix
a Tent City was put up as temporary shelter for OFWs while

their documents were processed for their return when moratorium was granted. As expected, there was a huge turnout
for repatriation. Some of them were Filipinas who had children born out of wedlock, without the proper documentation
and registration, which delayed their return.
The embassy and consulate were not able to respond immediately because of the magnitude of the crisis situation.
The Bayanihan spirit among OFW groups and organizations
took center stage. Social media, in particular Facebook (FB),
played an important role. Those who asked for help using FB
were assisted by online Filipino network groups and other
organizations. (We will read some stories of these individuals
who do volunteer work online.)
Lessons from the crisis gave way to several innovations.
Facebook is now utilized by the POEA. The POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) requires
recruitment agencies in the domestic work sector to have
their own FB page so those who would encounter problems
and concerns could easily get in touch with them. This is also
one way for POEA to monitor them.
Through the initiative of members of the House of Representatives, a Joint Manual of Operations in Providing Assistance
to Migrant Workers and Other Filipinos Overseas for the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Health
(DOH) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
is now available for purposes of implementation during
crisis situations.
There were other issues which affected our migrant workers.
Foremost among these was the sex-for-flight incidents
in which women were allegedly mistreated and coerced to
perform indecent acts as requisite to be given their ticket
back home. Such abuse of power wielded by those who
were supposed to be protectors of our OFWs warranted an
investigation in both Senate and House of Representatives.
Another issue involving migrant workers and their advocates

was the implementation of the PhP550.00 terminal fee by
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). Once exempted from paying the fee, the privilege they once enjoyed
was taken away from them. They now have to pay or line
up if they want to reimburse it.
In the heels of the above controversy is the new policy of
the Bureau of Customs which requires the opening of Balikbayan boxes. The BOC believes that they are being used for
the smuggling of goods that should be taxed. This created
a massive uproar among OFWs and their families amidst
allegations of pilferage and missing boxes.
Another development is the case filed by PMRW on OWWAs
(Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Omnibus Policy.
The case was lodged from the Pasay Regional Trial Court
(RTC) but was dismissed due to alleged lack of jurisdiction.
PMRW appealed the case to the Supreme Court (SC) and it
took all of 10 years to review, only to be remanded back to the
Pasay RTC. ( The SC decision was only received by PMRW
on January 20, 2015.)
Equally important are the pressing and compounding
challenges that our seafarers have to deal with on a regular
basis. There is a perceived lack of political will in the leadership of Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). It has
failed to fully address the concerns which the European
Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) have pointed out twice in
their evaluations made in 2006 and 2010. Through RA 10635,
MARINA has now become a one-stop shop for all maritime
and seafaring matters, but the agency cannot seem to cope
with the demands of their new mandate. The worst indicator
is the noted decline of deployment which, when multiplied
in terms of benefits to dependents, translates to a big loss.
President Aquino, failed to mention OFWs for their economic
contribution in the six SONAs (State of the Nation Address)
that he delivered. Our Bagong Bayani deserves appreciation
of their contribution to the Philippine economy.
xi
xii
There are never ending concerns which OFWs and their

families have to contend with, and this book mirrors such
commitment to enlighten, inform and inspire. Most of all,
this compilation is a dedication and celebration of the lives
of our migrant Filipinos and OFWs who are more than the
Bagong Bayani. They are truly world class heroes.
Carmelita G. Nuqui
President, PMRW
xiii
About the Book

It is not easy to write and tell your personal story publicly.
In particular, it is difficult to recall the dark past that brings
back agony and pain. So it is admirable for those few who
are courageous enough to share their stories to enlighten and
inspire others who want to go abroad. Moreover, their tales
serve to affirm those who have concerns with reintegration
back home.
This is the fifth volume of the Migrants Stories, Migrants
Voices series. This edition features 10 stories of migrants and
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Though we have read
and learned from similar stories in past volumes, each story is
unique, each tale a testament of the redeeming nature of their
triumph. They rose from poverty to what most of them have
now - a better life not only for themselves or their immediate
families, but for their extended families and communities as
well.
The Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) will continue
to publish these series of migration stories. It is our hope that
with this publication, our stakeholders will have a deeper
appreciation and understanding of the nuances and intricacies
of migration and the plight of our migrants and OFWs. It is
our goal that with these stories, appropriate programs and
policies are put into place to uphold and protect their rights.
It is also our desire that our OFWs will feel the recognition
and appreciation from their loved ones, which they rightfully
deserve.
xv
The Stories
The featured articles in this volume may be typical OFW tales.
But what makes them different, is that they are intimate stories written from the hearts and minds of our Bagong Bayani
(New Heroes). They are those who struggle to win their own
personal battles in their desire to provide for their own family.
They have never desired the label heroes but they will, to
a great extent prove to their families that they are indeed real
heroes. Below are ten OFW stories of brave men and women,
both land-based and sea-based, temporary, permanent and
even one of a daring undocumented worker.
Jebee Kenji De La Cruz Solis, chemist,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Kenji is first and
foremost a husband to Shiela, and father to
their kids Hevyn and Gael. He started as a
blogger, writing his personal and family experiences as an OFW to educate and inspire
others. He is the founding chairman of the
Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA) that started as an
award giving body and now transformed as a platform for the
OFWs in the social media (Facebook) for the protection and
promotion of migrant workers rights.
Esther A. Quiba, caregiver, Qatar. Educational
attainment for their children is a prized trophy
for most OFWs. Esther has been an OFW for
30 years as a domestic worker and caregiver.
She has gone through ordeals just to provide
a good education for her daughter. Esther is
currently with a good employer and taking care of her ward
with autism. Her free time is spent with online volunteer work
and advocacy for other migrant workers.
xvi
Katherine R. Millares, domestic worker, Kuwait. For her, domestic work is a decent job.
Through her work she was able to send her
brother to school who now has a stable and
good job in the Philippines. According to
Katherine, she will always be proud of OFWs
who leave home just so they could give their
families better lives.
Cecilio E. Rahon, Jr., seafarer, Captain. Like
any parent, raising kids is one of the many big
challenges of an OFW parent. Capt. Rahon
would see to it that whenever he is on vacation, he balances his attendance in trainings
and schooling for his career advancement,
with spending quality time for his kids.
Alberto B. Ballares, seafarer, Chief-Engineer.
Alberto claims that the Blessed Virgin Mother appeared to him. Since the apparition,
he has been a firm believer of the Blessed
Mothers wonders and miracles. Whenever
he encounters problems, Engr. Ballares would
just invoke Mama Marys name and support
and assistance would come his way. Now at the peak of his
career, he hopes that his kids would finish their studies with
the guidance of the Blessed Mother.
Eunice Barbara C. Novio and Josemari V.
Cordova, teachers, Thailand. Our Journey in
the Land of Smiles, is the story of a husband
and wife. The couple narrates their struggle
in raising their kids while living away from
them to earn for the familys upkeep. They
also relate the challenges of having their son
appreciate his Filipino heritage and nationalism, while living
in a country with a different culture and tradition.
xvii
Annie A. Cabansag, domestic worker, Singapore. She considers her life as a domestic worker
to be very challenging but she never regrets
working abroad to support her family. She has
learned the importance of financial literacy and
she encourages OFWs to save and invest for their
reintegration once they stop working abroad.
Gennie V. Kim, radio broadcaster, South Korea. She
left her husband who preferred to stay in the Philippines and brought her son to South Korea. As a
marriage migrant, she went through the hardships
of working in a factory; doing volunteering work
and counseling. She is currently engaged in her
passion of being of help to others as a self-made
radio broadcaster. Through her radio program, she provides information for those who want to go to South Korea as well as Filipino
music to ease the homesickness of OFWs and Filipino migrant wives.
She also facilitates social welfare assistance to Filipinos living in Korea.
Rodel L. Portulazo, factory worker, South Korea.
Selfless, he gave up a lot of his personal interests
to perform his role as a dutiful provider for his
family. His present situation as undocumented
worker does not deter him from pursuing his
passions: interests in photography and church
volunteer work. After working undocumented in South Korea for
almost a decade, he is now looking forward to see his homeland,
the Philippines.
Gemma B. Comiso, caretaker, Taiwan. Her story is concluded by a sad poem entitled Jaded.
Despite its melancholic theme, she believes that
the past helped her to become a better person.
She believes she is stronger and more resilient.
She also considers that everyone is capable of
overcoming their issues and struggles even in
the most jaded circumstance of ones life. The key to transcend it is
dedication to personal empowerment and development.
Jebee Kenji De La Cruz Solis
1 Inspired and Inspiring OFWs

I was born in the Southern part of Mindanao, the eldest
among four siblings. Our father left us when I was six and our
mother died of cancer when I was in high school. Because of
our familys circumstances, I learned the dignity of working
hard at an early age.
I was so poor that I graduated in high school through the
help of my group of friends. I called them INCREDIBLE. My
Inspired and Inspiring OFWs
late guidance counselor-teacher even paid for my scholarship

exam fee worth PhP35. Fortunately, I passed the exams and
was admitted to the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute
of Technology. I had to work as a househelp during my stay
in Iligan because I did not know anyone there. I cleaned the
house, washed dishes, and fed pigs in exchange for meals and
lodging. I was a kasambahay and scholar in one.
When school became difficult and the housework became
taxing, I decided to use my stipend for a bed space in a boarding house. My money was not enough and it only lasted six
months in such an arrangement, until someone adopted me.
I helped in the household chores in exchange for a meager
allowance that was not even enough to pay for my fare. I had
to walk several kilometers to save on transportation expenses.
I was convinced even at that time, that sacrifices will
bring blessings. If not immediately, then someday. I was also
determined to finish my studies because I firmly believe that
education unlocks the door of opportunities. This was my
motivation and inspiration so that I can realize my dreams
and be able to help my siblings realize theirs. Fortunately, I
was elected president of our college class because of the leadership I had shown. I graduated and received the universitys
leadership award.
After graduation, I landed a job in Cebu and later transferred to Manila as a young chemist. I continuously searched
for better employment until I was employed as a junior chemist
for a water treatment facility in Pasay City. After five months,
I received an unexpected call for a job offer abroad. I informed
the caller that I had not applied for work abroad. The caller
turned out to be the former HR Manager of one of the compa-
nies where I had submitted my resume. She was already part

of a recruitment company sending workers abroad. I reported
for the interview, got accepted, and three weeks after, I was
bound for Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
I arrived on September 23, 2004. It was the Saudi National
Day, the day I became an Overseas Filipino Worker. I vividly
remember that foreboding anticipation when I was left behind
at that time. Most of the passengers in my flight were already
fetched by their employers. Some fellow OFWs gave me money
to call my contacts and to buy food. Since I was the youngest
and a first timer; they were concerned about my situation. I kept
calling the company that hired me but to no avail. I had to sleep
in the airport. It was only through the graciousness of some
friends, that I was able to leave and later settled in my office.
I became a part of an all-Filipino team that was commissioned to build a water bottling company. All my other five
colleagues were former OFWs who were in their mid-40s and
50s already. I was the newbie. I realized then that we OFWs
need a lot of provisions when going abroad among them, a
strong determination, faith, patience, understanding, and humility. Loneliness and boredom were just some of the obstacles
that I needed to face and overcome.
In the course of my work I had a chance to deal with
different nationalities. Once, there was this Italian engineer
named Tiziano who worked and stayed in the plant for a week.
He has traveled the world because of the nature of his job. He
has a wonderful family living in Milan, Italy. We were having
a conversation one day, about family and his country, when
he asked me how old I was. I replied, 28. He then asked me
why I was in Saudi Arabia. I asked him what he meant and he
explained that since Im young, I should be in my home country

swimming in our beautiful beaches, flirting with pretty ladies,
and enjoying the best years of my life. I was taken aback by
his remark but I just smiled. Our definition of living our lives
to the fullest differ.
To defeat boredom, I started blogging about my life and
my thoughts about Saudi Arabia. Thoughtskoto (www.jbsolis.
com) was born in 2005. After three years of blogging, my wife
(who later joined me in Saudi Arabia) and I decided to create
our own blogging award. At that time, the Philippine Blog
Awards was also being established and Thoughtskoto was
nominated in the Bloggers Choice Awards. However, when
my wife and I looked at the roster of nominated blogs we were
surprised not to find other blogs from other OFWs. Aware that
there were many bloggers around the globe linked to our blog,
we then decided to make our own award for those wonderful
and inspiring bloggers.
We named it Pinoy Expats/OFWs Blog Awards (PEBA).
The organization serves not just to recognize and honor the best
and inspiring OFWs and expats stories through their blogs and
creative skills, but also to become the voice of OFWs in the
social media, particularly on Facebook. It is registered under
SEC and BIR as a non-stock, non-profit organization.
We started with a handful of volunteers. I tapped the support of some bloggers to be my partners in our first run. Among
them were Pete Rahon, an OFW based in South Korea; Lionel
Gonzaga, an OFW from Dubai; and NJ Abad who is based in
Jeddah. The online nomination, judging, and awarding were
done successfully through the collective efforts of individuals
from different parts of the globe that formed the core members
of PEBA.
Today, PEBA has evolved as an international organization
of OFWs which provides sound, clear, and consistent advocacy
initiatives on important issues affecting them, their families,
and the nation.
So what makes PEBA unique and different? I would like to
answer that with a quote from the 2010 opening entry of PEBA
president, NJ Abad: PEBA will not just be an organization
that will give annual awards for exemplary blogs but it will
proactively act on issues that will make a difference in peoples
lives, especially the young children, and the OFWs and their
families. Being a non-profit organization, proceeds from any
of our activities and other funds raised were judiciously spent
for the awarding expenses; scholarships for outstanding yet
poor students; and for PEBA projects like PEBA CARES and
PEBA HELP, the social arm of PEBA in helping distressed OFWs
around the globe.
Given the credibility that the organization has achieved
both online and offline, PEBA continues to make a stand on
issues that directly concern and affect OFWs and their families.
In 2008, we established the blog awards. By 2009, we have
already emphasized the OFWs role in our country and the
good we are doing around the world.
In 2010, we made a stand on one of the biggest issues
that confronts OFWs: family disintegration. It is a sad reality
with its complex and compounding social cost to the nation
and Filipino culture. I do not know how we can stop it but we
continue to explore possibilities and ways of alleviating them,
particularly through the use of social media.
Together with the hardworking and dedicated PEBA

administrators in more than 24 countries, the organization
has become a popular and recognized hub of OFWs in social
media with over 300,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter.
PEBA posts reach more than 75 countries, and there are millions
who participate on a weekly basis - sharing, commenting on,
and expressing their likes to, our postings. On the issue of
the Balikbayan Box*, for example, our postings reached up to
16 million participants with more than 4 million total likes,
shares, and comments on our posts during the height of the
issue. With the potent presence of OFWs online, I am hoping
that it would be translated to political power in electing public
officials who have the welfare of OFWs and their families in
their hearts and minds.
*The issue stemmed from the Bureau of Customs Memorandum

Circular to open Balikbayan Boxes (box containing items or goods like
canned foods, soap bars, lotions, perfumes, shoes, t-shirts among others
collected over time and sent by OFWs through a forwarding/cargo company to their families in the Philippines) which were allegedly being used
for smuggling purposes.
Esther A. Quiba
2 Behind the smile, a hidden sorrow

Esther A. Quiba
In each gleeful laughter, the heart experiences contentment.

In every sacrifice, theres a goal to reach. In every luxurious
treat, theres a pain disguised. Behind the smiles are hidden
sorrows.
Why are there OFWs? No easy answer! Some may be happy
to share their stories, but others are unwilling, and when forced,
they have to fabricate and invent tales to make them feel better.
Behind the smile, a hidden sorrow
I am called a hero in our country. I am a simple and ordinary citizen - a daughter able to deal with loneliness; a mother
capable of giving; a wife ready to sacrifice for her loved ones.
Poverty was the reason why I left the country in 1984 to
work in Brunei at the age of 24. In my journey, my simple
dream was to provide a better life and prosperity for my family.
Although I am a college graduate, it was not easy to get a job.
To provide for my family, I had to be away from them. Unsure
of what might happen, only my determination and trust in the
Lord kept me strong.
For the first week of my stay abroad I felt as if I was on a
different planet. I had to adjust since the working conditions
were also challenging. I could hardly eat the food and the
weather was totally different from the one I am familiar with.
Foremost was the difficulty of understanding and dealing
with the attitude of other nationalities and culture. I found that
the life of an OFW is not easy. It was not the life I imagined it
to be. It was hard to love something new, particularly doing
all the household chores alone, not being able to rest since you
have not finished all your work.
I felt like a robot run by a battery and operated by remote.
I had no choice but to obey every time a button was pressed.
I would tremble and become weak-kneed each time I felt discriminated by people around me. I can endure the pain of a
tired body but not the thoughts that bring me pain. But since
I chose this kind of job, I had to deal with it no matter how
difficult it was.
When I was lonely, the photographs of my loved ones kept
me company. I would have loved to talk with them often, but
Esther A. Quiba
it was only through telegram that I would be able to relay my

hello and tell them that I miss them. Sometimes it would take
weeks or a month before they were able to read my letters. It
was such a big concern when a member of the family got sick
and I was not able to visit. There were special occasions I never
had a chance to attend.
All I could do then was to think that soon any time, any
day, any week or any year my contract would end.
Even if I wanted to go home, it was not possible. I would
just imagine the possibility of swimming the vast ocean or
flying on the wings of a plane just to visit my family. It was
not easy to sacrifice. But I knew that everything I did was for
my loved ones future.
Although life abroad was difficult, still there was joy that
matched each moment of loneliness. I spent eight years in
Brunei and I was able to help my parents, siblings and other
relatives. I believe that all my sacrifices were worth it. Knowing
that they are happy also made me happy.
After eight years as an OFW, however, I decided to come
back. I was glad but sad at the same time. I was glad because
after a long time of loneliness away from my family, I had a
chance to be with them. When they received me with their
smiles, all my sorrows melted away. On the other hand, I was
sad because for eight years, I was not able to save for myself.
My family did not know that every pay day and end of contract, only receipts remained folded in my pocket. I am a single
mother, blessed with an only child. I felt the painful truth that
even if we were together there would be a void and emptiness
if I were not able to provide for my daughter.
It was not an easy decision to make. I was not able to raise
10
my daughter. My presence and love were missing since I was

too far away from her. There was that constant fear of her going astray, becoming rebellious, and growing up lacking the
guidance of parents. But my biggest concern was her future.
Nothing would happen if I decided to stay with my daughter
since we did not have enough money to live on. For that reason,
I decided to work abroad again.
This time I applied for work in Singapore as a domestic
worker. It was a painful experience since my employer had a
bad attitude. I experienced getting sick because of fatigue and
overwork. I thought I would be able to finish my contract and
extend my patience; but, after a year and a half I ran away and
went to the Philippine embassy to ask for help. God was kind
and I met a person who was instrumental in sending me home
to my family. I am grateful to that person.
While my daughter was growing up, her financial needs
were also increasing. Again, despite my fear of going away, it
was overpowered by my desire to provide for my daughters
future. I did not want her to suffer the same fate I had. I decided to go to Kuwait.
Upon setting foot in that country, my fear doubled. There
were so many grim and harrowing stories experienced by
OFWs in Kuwait. I went through another adjustment period.
The place is totally different from where I have been. This time
it is a desert. The climate is extreme. During winter, it can get
very cold, like living inside a fridge. On the other hand, it is
very hot during summer. It is as if the sun is your neighbor,
the extreme heat sometimes induces headaches.
In Kuwait, my employers abused me. They were so heartless that they kept me locked inside the house. They would hide
Esther A. Quiba
11
food from me. They made me work like a slave animal. They
would slap me and I will never forget one time when I almost
fell down the steep stairs while they were hitting me. If they
were still not contented with punishing me, they would hide
food to keep me hungry. I would scavenge for their left-overs
and if unlucky, I had to go to the extent of digging the trash
can just to find some food.
I experienced all kinds of their inhumane treatment. In my
self-pity I blamed myself and regretted choosing to leave my
daughter behind just to go through such an ordeal. At that time,
I did not have any other choice anymore. I was cut-off from
any outside communication and prayers were my only hope.
One day God answered my prayers. While doing my
chores, my mobile phone, which was hidden by my employer, suddenly rang. My agency unexpectedly called and asked
about my situation. I told them my ordeal and asked for their
help before something bad happened to me. Finally I was freed.
I prayed that I did not have to go through the same experience again. A new employer took me in. She has a daughter
named Lulu. While the kid was growing up it was discovered
that she was autistic. She would strike or kick me whenever
she would go on a tantrum. I ended up with bruises, scratches,
and sometimes even bites. Living with a special child was a
new challenge for my strength and patience. It was not easy
to understand her, but despite her condition, I chose to care
for her. In three years, the family, especially their daughter,
became so close to me.
I consider them my second family. Both mother and
daughter became dear to me because they showed the same
love for me. They would always tell me that they need me. I
12
would stand as a surrogate mother to Lulu whom I raised as my

own daughter.
I have worked for them for the last 10 years because they were
so nice to me. They have helped me lead a better life. Because of
them, I was able to provide for my daughter. She had since finished
her schooling and now has a good job. I was also able to provide for
the education of my other relatives.

In my more than 30 years of work abroad I learned a lot despite
the hardship I went through. I may not have built a mansion, but
the biggest prize for me is to see my daughter complete her studies.
It feels like heaven in our bungalow whenever we are complete as
a family.
As they always say, there are no such words as I am tired for
a parent like me. For every sacrifice, there is a sweet reward at the
end. It is so fulfilling to remain standing and not give up.
At present, I am blessed with a new partner to complete my
happiness. Moreover, I became a member and administrator of a
social media community group called Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog
Awards (PEBA ) that provides assistance to other OFWs. I actively
participate in sharing information for OFWs in our on-line advocacy.
I hope that my story and experience will serve as an example
for other OFWs. I believe that God will always bless us with good
health, and an endless determination to face all of lifes challenges.
God is good. Never lose hope. With Gods grace all difficulties
could be forgotten with each passing day. With the struggles I went
through, I am convinced that He is always there, ready to embrace
us whenever we need help. He will not give us challenges that we
will not be able to deal with. God will never abandon us and will
always be on our side. We can also depend on our family who will
always be there to love us.
Katherine R. Millares
13
3 Domestic work is a decent job

I still remember that day when my maternal uncle asked

me why I wanted to work abroad. I had simply answered, I
just want to. The truth is I just wanted to escape the kind of life
that I had. After taking a two-year computer course through
the support of some relatives, I worked for only a year in a
construction company, and then I resigned
The following year, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted
to work as a domestic worker in Lebanon and I eagerly said
yes. I met the owner of the Lebanon-based agency in a hotel
14
Domestic work is a decent job
lobby in Malate where he was staying. He interviewed me and

my documents were processed the following day.
I visited my uncle for the last time before leaving the country for Lebanon. On March 2006, I arrived in Beirut.
Being a first timer is never easy. I had to adjust to the food,
climate, language, traditions. Moreover, although I knew for a
fact that household chores are done differently in other countries, in my situation, I had to relearn and do them according
to my Madams instructions. But since I was determined to
embrace their culture and my new situation, I was able to adjust
and things became easier for me after a few months.
When I first met my employer, I had initially thought that
my contract would last for two years. But I was wrong. My
Madam had become hot tempered and was not happy with
my work. One time, she hit me with a broom while I was
cleaning the windows. I just stood still and never cried during
the incident. I tried my best to keep my composure. After only
seven months, I was sent back to the recruitment agency. I had
to explain what had happened. Thank God I was freed from
such an oppressive situation and was given an opportunity to
find a new employer.
It was in 2006 when the civil war hit the country and some
Filipinos ran to the Philippine Embassy so that they could go
home. But I chose to stay put. After a few weeks of staying in
my agency, I was assigned to a new employer.
This time my employer was a retired diplomat. Only he
and his wife (who was then working) lived together because
their children were based in Canada. Although the house they
15
occupied was big, I had no problem cleaning and arranging

stuff because I enjoyed doing them.
Aside from household chores, my responsibilities included
gardening and fruit picking in their farm. It was my first time
to learn those skills. It was fun, educational and I loved it.
One of the challenges of the job was cooking or preparing
meals. I never cooked in the Philippines. I did not know how
to cook and I did not have the passion for cooking. I was not
proud of it but I could not fake something just to impress or
make them believe that I was good at it. My employer, on the
other hand, loved to cook, so he patiently taught me how to
prepare Lebanese food.
After a few months of working in their home I called my
uncle in the Philippines to ask if we can start a small business.
But my uncle suggested that I send my youngest brother to
college instead so that he could continue his course in Architecture. (My mother had passed away a long time ago and my
relatives, especially my uncle, had become our guardian. He
accommodated my youngest brother in his house in Valenzuela
City while I provided for his allowance and tuition fees. My
father lived in Manila with my eldest brother.) I had kept all my
salary from my first employer while I budgeted my earnings
from my second employer. I would save part of my income and
send the rest to my family. I would call home from time to time.
My focus was my family back home. Back then I never
entertained the idea of falling in love. While some men showed
interest, I had managed to keep distance and treated them only
as friends. I knew my limitations and priorities in life. Living
abroad entailed a lot of difficulties and challenges. I had to
be strong. Besides, I felt I was not mature enough to be in a
16
romantic relationship.
I tried to hide the pain and hardship I was going through
because I did not want my family to be concerned about me.
I always believe that my mother would be happy if I am also
happy. Some people I know in the Philippines think that our
life here abroad is a bed of happiness and money. If they only
knew the kind of loneliness we go through each day. Nevertheless, my life abroad has made me more mature and a better
person than what I used to be.
After two and a half years with my employer, I sought
refuge at the Philippine Embassy. My employer had just hit
my face one day. I ran to my room and cried. I talked to his
wife but she prevented me from filing a legal complaint against
her husband. I stayed at the embassy shelter for three months.
My stay in the shelter was one of the most difficult parts of
my life as an OFW. There were almost 100 of us, Filipina OFWS,
with different cases of maltreatment and abuse. My situation
was compounded by the fact that my youngest brother had
dropped out of school. I prayed every day that one day I would
be with my family again. I could not think straight. Thoughts
were racing through my mind: What is going to happen to me
here? How will I survive? How about the other OFWs here?
How are they going to live? I must say that my experience
at the shelter had taught me to be stronger and smarter in life.
In 2009, I returned to the Philippines to start a new life but
after some time I tried my luck abroad again. I wanted my
brother to finish his four year course. Hence, in 2010, I travelled
to Kuwait to work. Unfortunately, my brother did not want to
go back to school. After reaching his third year in college, he
had decided to look for a job instead. I am proud of him so I re-
17
ally made sure that I could provide him the support he needed.
The salary I earned in Kuwait was sent to any family member who needed money. Honestly I did not have any savings.
My first employer in Kuwait was strict but I still managed to
do my job. But perhaps I was not just so lucky. Again, I was
sent back to my recruitment agency after nine months. I was
sold by my employer to another recruitment agency to find
a new job. And this time I thank God that he had sent me a
wonderful employer.
From 2011 up to the present I am still working for the same
boss, and in 2012, I became a Patnubay Riyadh Online Volunteer
for Kuwait. As trainee of Sir Joseph Espiritu, I became more
aware of the human rights of OFWs. I assist and handle some
cases in the Middle East coming from KSA, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, among others. These are cases of abuse,
maltreatment and imprisonment. I would spend even my own
money to make calls to their mobile phones or send them chat
messages via Facebook (FB). I do my best to let them feel that
there is hope and encourage them to assert their rights as OFWs.
I help evaluate their requests for assistance and send them
to the embassy, POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office), or
OWWA. I also check inbox messages on Patnubays FB page
for some inquiries. I post links of informative news, articles and
other educational stories. Throughout my journey in Patnubay
Riyadh, I am so thankful that I am able to provide advice, hope
and care to OFWs who come to us in need of help.
FB has become the easiest way for OFWs to connect with
one another and their families. It is also a platform to do advocacy for OFWs. Hence, in 2013 I expanded my engagement
and online volunteer work by becoming an administrator of
18
the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA). Through the

trust of Sir Jebee Solis based in Jeddah, KSA, I became part
of one of the most popular and active social media groups on
FB. I had promised myself that, after having gone through the
same hardships that distressed OFWs have to undergo, I will
help make their lives easier for as long as I live.
Through my hard work and sacrifice abroad, my youngest
brother was able to get a very good job. He currently works as
a supervisor in a company in Makati. He is earning well and
is capable of supporting our fathers need. His company even
extends free medical and health services for our father as his
beneficiary. He is also starting to pursue his dream and career
in photography. My eldest brother, on the other hand, now
has his own family.
Our family dreams of having our own house someday so
we do not have to rent anymore. I also plan to invest in agriculture, particularly rice farming, but it all depends on finding
time and managing my expenses. As for my personal life, I am
currently happy and in love with my boyfriend even if it is a
long distance relationship.
I am an OFW, and even if people look down on household
service workers or domestic workers, I want to prove them
wrong. I am proud because my job is decent. And as an OFW, I
will always be proud of every Filipino who leaves their families
behind, takes risks to work at some foreign land, just to give
their family a better life.
Capt. Cecilio E. Rahon Jr.
19
4 In my fathers shoes
I remember having a fatherless childhood because my
father was a seaman. He was always absent and out of the
picture most of the time. I then resolved never to be a seaman.
One time, my fathers ship came to the Philippines with
foreign officers and a Filipino crew on board. My mother and
I travelled all the way from Ilocos Norte just to visit him in
Manila Bay where the vessel was anchored. I was in my elementary days then and I can still recall the experience. I got
sick when I had a tour of the engine room where my father
worked. That incident was strike two for me to never venture
20
In my fathers shoes
into seafaring as a future career.

Fast forward to 2015, I am now a father of two children
and a seaman myself. What changed my perspective for this
profession?
My parents have always believed in a good education. I
studied in a provincial science high school in Laoag City. I
stayed in a boarding house since our hometown was at least
an hours drive away from where I studied. I had planned to
take up veterinary medicine at the University of the Philippines, Los Baos campus, (UPLB). Unfortunately, I was not
able to take the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College
Achievement Test) or entrance exam since I had already spent
my allowance for that week.
Instead, I enrolled in Bachelor of Science Major in Maritime
Studies in one of the private schools in Manila. The schools
slogan that I read in the newspaper advertisement was, See the
World Free. That was very tempting for a young adventurous
person who dreamt of stepping on foreign shores and meeting
diverse groups of people.
My father did not encourage me to take up this course. It
was my mother who broached the idea. One summer, before the
opening of the first semester, my mother told me that I still have
other siblings that will need my help in sending them to school.
(In our culture, it is the responsibility of the older siblings to
help the younger ones to finish their education, especially
when parents could not fulfill such responsibilities anymore.)
I finished my three-year academic schooling without
much trouble. Unfortunately, however, the schools building
21
was razed by fire including the registrars records. It was quite

a predicament constructing our grades and looking for our
previous instructors. Due to the lack of necessary papers, the
college dean turned down my request for a guarantee letter so
that I can take a scholarship to a maritime cadetship to Japan
that year. Hence, it took a longer time for me to process my
documents.
After arduous months of waiting and completing all the
requirements, I was able to take and pass the Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA) cadetship program. I belonged to the
third batch. The cadets came from different maritime schools
in the Philippines. We stayed at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) for two weeks prior to our departure
for Japan. We were treated like regular PMMA cadets. We did
the exercises and other activities of a regimented life inside a
military academy. My body ached from the exercises but later
adapted to it. Discipline and orderliness were emphasized.
When we arrived in Japan, we still had the mentality of
a military cadet. We stood still and sat up straight and were
very quiet in the classroom. The Japanese instructors in the
school told us to ease up because they felt intimidated. We
stayed for about two months in the Marine Technical College
(Kaigi Daigakko) in Ashiya, Hyogo Ken. While waiting for
our respective ships to arrive in Japan, we studied college core
subjects as refresher courses, including the Japanese language
and culture
The schools dormitory was located near a housing complex. I observed that the streets were always deserted. Even
the homes always seemed empty and quiet though the lights
inside the houses were turned on. The municipal librarys
books, audio and video collections were impressive. I always
22
In my fathers shoes
went there to watch classical movies like War and Peace and
Gone with the Wind. I would stay there for hours when I did
not have my regular classes. The dormitory was just walking
distance to a mall, secondary school, tennis courts, Junichiro
Tanizakis Memorial Museum and other museums. The school
also conducted a tour, and together with the other cadets, we
visited Kyoto, the old capital city of Japan, and the port of Kobe.
In Kyoto we went to see the Kinkakuji Temple, while we took
a boat and toured the working port of Kobe.
I was twenty years old when I first went onboard. It was
a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) vessel plying Japan- Middle East Asia carrying crude oil. (The ship was just one year
younger than me then.) The higher ranking officers were Japanese while the junior officers and ratings were Filipinos. In the
1990s, the vessel had a radio officer, chief cook, second cook,
messman for officers and one messman for ratings.
Nowadays, ship owners observe the minimum manning
requirement per flag state where the vessel is registered. Some
of the crew complements were removed to reduce the cost of
the ships operations. Due to fewer work crew, the workload
became heavier. With the advent of more regulations imposed
by maritime organizations for safety and security reasons, more
paperwork and documentation needed to be accomplished.
Technology required job automation which required a steep
learning curve for non-techies. It also made the vessels turnaround in port faster, giving no respite to seafarers who like
to go for a shore leave.
The policing of the Port State Control became a venue
for corruption in some countries. As officer of the vessel, you
would never want your ship to have deficiencies, so one can
23
negotiate for a clean chit. Sometimes ship management

makes a stand against these kinds of practices and the problem
is reverted back to the ship captain for him to solve. Port stay for
seafarers is becoming more stressful because cargo operations,
bunkering, provisioning, inspection and emergency repairs,
would happen almost all at the same time.
With regard to my family life, I have two teenage kids.
My wife died way back in 2010 but I am very lucky that my
sister looks after my children. I missed their growing up years
due to my work. Fortunately, online mail is now available onboard so I would send my kids email on a daily basis. I also
call them weekly using the vessels satellite phone to keep in
touch with them.
Being a guilty absentee parent, I would substitute my
presence with presents. I would usually treat my children to
out-of-town swimming and overnight stays in resorts, or visit
museums and nearby interesting places in the Philippines. I
always tell them that it is better to see the beauty of the country
first before going abroad for vacations. Recognizing the importance of an extended family, I would always look forward to
the usual little get together meal with the rest of my siblings
and their children, whenever I arrive from my stint onboard.
This is a time to be reunited, bond and talk about life and plans
of the rest of the members of the family.
There was no turning back for me after my apprenticeship
program in maritime studies. Being now in my fathers shoes,
I also long for my family whenever I am on-board or in the
middle of tempest at sea, far away from my kids. I missed
birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals of close relatives, as well
as graduations and school events of my children.
24
In my fathers shoes
At 43 years old, I am presently taking up Master in Maritime

Administration Specializing in Maritime Education, Training
and Certification. Once I finish my graduate studies, I will be
qualified to become a maritime instructor in case I opt to stay on
land for an extended period of time. It is also a preparation for
my retirement. I want to be active in this profession in one way
or another, for as long as I can.
Like my parents I also put a premium on education. I believe
that quality maritime education is the key for the country to keep
its number one position as the preferred manning capital of the
world. I have been asked by parents and relatives of maritime cadets to assist them in getting an on-board experience, although this
is supposed to be the duty of the maritime schools. In shipping,
there is an issue of the lack of maritime officers and a disproportionately oversupply of graduates of maritime courses. Finding
solutions to address this dilemma will help solve the sourcing of
capable seafarers by the maritime industry as a whole, as well as
the employment problems of young people in the country. This
is going to be my advocacy and I do hope to make a difference.
I have experienced fair and bad weather. I have lived through
our ship being swayed by big waves or chased by pirates. I have
worked through extreme heat and cold conditions. I have faced
discrimination but also the kindness of those I have met overseas.
In one way or another, I was able to help my siblings finish
their education. Although I was not able to study in UPLB, I
managed to send one of them there. I have mentored younger
seafarers for them to understand the intricacies of our job and I
am happy to see them rise from the ranks as cadets to officers. I
traded a lot to be in my present position but I hope that someday,
my children will understand the sacrifices that I did. Just like my
father did before me.
Chief Engr. Alberto B. Ballares
25
5 Faithful to Mama Mary

I was born to a poor family in Bohol, the eldest of two

brothers and a sister. My father is a farmer and our mother is
the most dutiful housewife I know. Early on in life we were
already trained to do household chores. We are a religious
family. We celebrate fiestas even if we have to walk for about
six kilometers, just to attend the mass. Such was the simple and
happy life we had despite our economic condition.
I was second year high school then, when, one night while
in bed, I had a vision of Mama Mary. Her crowns rays of light
were so bright for me to be able to see her beautiful image.
26
Faithful to Mama Mary
From that day on Mama Mary became part of my daily life

and I would always pray to her.
I was already 22 years of age when I finished my high
school studies. Then, in exchange for working for the children
of a former employer, I was given the opportunity to study in
college. I travelled to Manila and enrolled at the Philippine
Maritime Institute graduating at the age of 26. I approached
some heads of government departments to ask for recommendations to local shipping lines.
On January 31, 1978 I was accepted at Sweetlines Inc., at
their Cebu office. I was assigned on board MV Sweet Loves
as apprentice engineer. One Sunday, while our ship was put
on repair for three months in Mandaue, Cebu, the personnel
manager came on board. He was looking for available engine
staff to serve as temporary oiler of the new cargo ship that just
arrived from Japan. At that time, I was just on board resting
since I did not have money to go around. I volunteered and
luckily got accepted. Due to my diligence and good performance, I became a regular employee of the company.
At the age of 28, I took my fourth engineer examination and
passed thru Gods grace. But my big break happened when I
went home due to a tooth problem. The lady dentist inquired
about my work and offered to help me get on board a foreign
vessel. She gave me a good recommendation addressed to her
friends of a manning company in Manila. In more than two
weeks, after preparing all the necessary documents, I saw my
name in the companys bulletin board with my vessel assignment. I signed my first contract for a German ship, with the
position of motorman and my salary in dollars.
27
I visited Luneta Park, thinking of my good fortune. I could

not help control the tears which flowed from my eyes. I thanked
Mama Mary for her unending help to me. On March 7, 1980 I
joined my first foreign vessel. I learned from this experience
that if you keep doing well you will definitely reap good fruits.
I also learned not to expect anything but instead pray and thank
Mama Mary for all her blessings.
Aboard my first foreign vessel, I realized the importance of
communication skills since most of our officers were German
nationals. They were also very strict in all aspects of work. It
so happened that my first engineer was with the German army
during World War II so he was very disciplined.
My second assignment was in a big super tanker owned
by an American company that plies the Atlantic Ocean. The
salary was good which was commensurate with the challenge
and danger of the work. One time the main engine was put on
emergency stop in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It took time
for the foreign engineers to diagnose and find the trouble, so I
suggested a practical solution to our Japanese Chief Engineer.
My recommendation was implemented and the engine started
immediately. Unfortunately, however, our Chief Engineer did
not acknowledge what I have done.
My third foreign vessel was a tanker with friendly British
officers. It contained very risky cargo so the salary was quite
high. The voyage was along the Atlantic Ocean. One time, we
encountered a problem. The steering block slipped out and fell
down so the engine stopped in the middle of the ocean. During
lunchtime, I had an idea about how to solve the problem so I
quickly finished my lunch and proceeded to the engine room.
Before the engine staff came back, the problem had already
28
been remedied. The Chief Engineer praised me for the good

job. I thanked God and Mama Mary for always guiding me.
In my seventh vessel, I was promoted to third engineer. On
board, I was the only bachelor and my co-workers encouraged
me to settle down. I wrote to one of our neighbors now living
in Mindanao and asked for the hand of any of his daughters.
One of his daughters wrote back and we started communicating
through letters. We got married when we felt it was time for us
to settle down. Following the suggestion of my father-in-law
we just had a simple wedding.
When I was second engineer, my chief engineer was British. One time while we were at the port of Saudi Arabia he
asked me to run the two auxiliary engines so the vessel would
be ready in two hours for departure. I started the engine but
it did not start because the drive gear fell into the gear box.
That created a very big problem since it would take another
10 hours in order to disengage the gear box. Helpless in my
predicament, I uttered Mama Marys name for help. Then I
tried using a small steel wire and had it lowered deeper into
the hole of the gear box. With my eyes closed in prayer, the
end of the wire came into contact with the drive gear. In just
30 minutes the problem was solved. I was not able to contain
my emotion and I cried and again gave thanks to Mama Mary
for all her miracles and wonders.
With the extra money that we saved, my wife and I bought
a property close to Cagayan de Oro City. It was our first property after our marriage. We rented an apartment near the house
of my father- in law. On the fourth year of our marriage we
were blessed with a baby boy.
29
On Nov. 11, 1993 we started building our own house. My

company had called informing me that I was promoted to Chief
Engineer and was advised to report for immediate deployment.
I spent a total of eight months on board. When I came back for
vacation, we had our very own comfortable home. We also got a
car that we would use for sight-seeing. In 1997, my second son
was born and in 2000 my wife gave birth to a baby girl which
made us all very happy. In 2001, we were blessed with another
boy, my fourth child, and our home became even livelier with
an additional member of the family.
By 2008, most of my children have grown up and studying.
My eldest son had graduated from high school. We bought a lot
in a good subdivision located on top of a hill and surrounded
by mountains and lots of fresh air. Then we built a two-story
house that is more comfortable for our kids. Our home is also
close to the church where we always attend mass every Sunday.
Most of my memorable experiences at work were through
the help and assistance of Mama Mary. One instance happened
at the port of Houston, Texas, in 1998 at 6AM. For some unknown reason, I checked on a tank of the main engine room.
It was not part of my task as a Chief Engineer but I did just the
same, and to my surprise, the tank was full of water. I immediately called all my engine staff to check the possible reason for
the problem. I spoke with the captain and called the attention
of the technical manager. I proceeded to the engine room and
drained all the water out of the sump tank. I assigned my men
to clean and check the coolers. I was able to retrieve 1500 liters
of lube oil then purified it and mixed it with 3000 liters of fresh
lube oil. The vessel was then scheduled for departure at 1700
hrs and luckily we were able to have the engine ready an hour
before departure.
30
Another happened one afternoon in 2002. While we were

in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the second engineer told me
that the main engine had stopped. I immediately investigated
the problem and found that the feed oil pump had tripped
off. I ordered the men to dismantle the pump and found that
the bearing was damaged. Unfortunately I was told that the
required spare bearing was out of stock. I went to my cabin to
think about how to deal with the problem. I could only cry for
Mama Marys help since we were in a precarious situation. By
chance, however, I opened my drawer and found a bearing.
The size happened to be exactly the same size as the damaged
one, so the main engine resumed its normal operation.
Again, in 2004, while passing along the Malacca Strait, two
pirates armed with guns climbed on board our vessel. Luckily
we were on the alert at that time. Everybody assembled on the
monkey island (on top of the ship) and the captain on the bridge
activated the emergency alarm. The pirates saw what we were
ready for them and they did not pursue their bad intention. In
such situations, I could only pray and ask the good Lord for
help and for Mama Marys mercy.
In 2009 while channeling in California, our main engine
experienced trouble and it stopped in the middle of the traffic
separation. Not long after, the US Coast Guard came aboard
our vessel to verify the situation. I became too preoccupied but
never forgot to say my prayers and again asked the guidance
of Mama Mary. Having been guided to do the right thing, the
main engine went back to its normal operation. I then invited
the US Coast Guard to join us for our dinner. I also spoke to
the cook to prepare a sumptuous dinner. Satisfied with the nice
food and my explanation, he gave us no deficiency. (Officials
31
usually dread the visit of the Coast Guard for inspection since
it would determine whether one can be allowed to stay and
leave the port peacefully.)
In June of 2014, while passing in Capetown, South Africa
the weather was very bad. Moreover, one of the engine units of
the main engine was in critical condition due to scavenge fire.
I made a quick investigation and ordered a cleaning. When
the weather improved, proper maintenance and overhauling
of the affected unit were successfully carried out. When all the
necessary job was completed, we resumed the final voyage and
luckily no problem recurred. Again, I only have Mama Mary
to thank for our safe voyage. Despite weather disturbances
we were always protected from danger.
Now that I am already at the peak of my career, I continue
to be busy doing my best to realize my plans and fulfill my other
dreams. Prayer is a part of my life so every day I would always
ask for the continued blessings of the Almighty through Jesus
and Mama Mary. In particular I pray that my four obedient
and God-fearing children be blessed and successfully finish
their studies.
Eunice Barbara C. Novio & Josemari V. Cordova
33
6 Our Journey in the Land of Smiles

Thailand was never our choice of country if ever we would emigrate.
But fate brought us here and eventually our dreams are becoming
realities. Khap khun ma khap, Thailand.
Embarking on a Journey
Josemari:
On May 2009, I received an email from my organization
that I needed to go to my placement Thailand. I arrived on
June 1, 2009 and was assigned to work with the Policy and
34
Our Journey in the Land of Smiles
Planning Bureau of the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) under the Ministry of Education in Thailand.
My organization had a Memorandum of Agreement with
OBEC regarding the documentation of migrant children from
neighboring Southeast Asian countries. It was supposed to be
just a short-term volunteer placement but it was extended for
another six months. When my work was about to end, some
Thai friends encouraged me to stay and look for a teaching job,
upon knowing that I was an educator in the Philippines. After
six years, I am still here, teaching.
I first worked for the PTT (an oil company) education
project with ties to Kamphaeng Phet Rajhabhat University in
Kamphaeng Phet province. The placement was in a village
school in Lankrabue where I taught high school or Matthayom
students. This is also the site of Thailands biggest oil field,
Queen Sirikit.
Though part of Kamphaeng Phet, Lankrabue is approximately 60 km from the city but only 52 km from Phitsanulok.
We decided to rent a house in Phitsanulok since there is a large
concentration of Filipinos there and the area is more progressive. It was a tough decision which entailed daily motorcycle
rides to and from Phitsanulok since my wife and I were both
working in Lankrabue. At the same time our youngest son,
Kairos, who lived with us, was also studying kindergarten
there.
When my contract ended in 2013, I applied in some schools
in Phitsanulok and nearby provinces, but to no avail. One
time, while visiting a friend in Nakhon Ratchasima I applied
at Vongchavalitkul University. Fortunately, I was called for an
interview in May and started teaching the following month.
35
Although I was accepted, one of the most difficult things I

had to deal with was my separation from my family. I commuted seven hours every week to visit my family in Phitsanulok. In
2014, we decided to move to Nakhon Ratchasima or Korat. My
wife resigned from her job at one of the top public universities
in Thailand, Naresuan University, giving up her huge salary
so we could be a family again. This affected the remittance
we would send to our son who was then studying Geology in
Bicol. Luckily, my wifes family provided additional support.
I am still with Vongchalitkul University with my wife.
Kairos is now in grade 4.
Emigrating to Thailand
Eunice:
In 2009, I was in the middle of my masteral studies, under
scholarship at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Our
relatives took care of our three children - Malcolm, who was
then aged 11; Karina Thyra, aged 10; and Kairos Luther, aged
4. It was difficult taking care of three growing kids even with
the help of my aunts and grandmother. While Josemari was in
Thailand, we decided to take our kids there for a one-month
vacation. We then realized that only Kairos could readily adapt
to the environment.
After I finished my Masters Degree, Kairos and I migrated
to Thailand on May 3, 2011. Karl and Karina were already in
their second year and first year of high school, respectively.
36
We enrolled Kairos in a Thamada (regular) school, where all

subjects were taught in Thai. Government and private schools
are mostly Buddhists. Temple visits and meditation time every
morning form part of school activities. Aside from learning
the language and the scripts, Kairos survived the Thai way of
life and embraced Buddhism. He is now fluent in both Thai
and English, an advantage he will later use in life, particularly
because of the forthcoming full integration of ASEAN.
Raising Kairos in Thailand

While in Phitsanulok, we were lucky to find an apartment
owned by Ajarn Sunee, a retired teacher, and Uncle Woody
Chom-in, a retired military officer. They treated us like family.
Ajarn Sunee became Kairos grandmother, who even tutored
and took care of him when I was at work. We stayed there for
two years. (Since we moved to Korat, we would make it a
point to visit them during long holidays.)
In Korat, we would cook Filipino foods, like adobo, sinigang,
tinola, or menudo during weekends to expose Kairos to his Filipino heritage. But food sets him apart from his classmates. One
time, Kairos told me that his classmates did not want to taste
his food because it is Filipino; not spicy, not aroy (delicious).
Despite mingling with Thais five days a week, Kairos could
still not eat spicy foods. In spite of his looks, his ability to speak
and write in Thai, he is still considered a farang (foreigner).
Personal Struggles and Success

When Filipinos get to know that I am a partner of the Center for Migrant Advocacy, many seek my help - from debts to
visa problems and off-loading. Until now, I continue helping
37
and facilitating matters for Filipinos in distress and link them

to the Philippine Embassy. Since 2012, I also started writing
regularly for the Global Pinoy Section of the Philippine Daily
Inquirer. Because of my efforts, I was nominated by the Embassy to the Migration and Media Advocacy in 2014.
In Korat, we rented a townhouse and bought a secondhand car. Every Sunday, we would attend mass at Our Lady of
Lourdes Church to meet other Filipinos. There is a strong Filipino organization in Korat but because my husband and I both
work in a University, we hardly have the time to participate.
In the latter part of 2013, I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and took medication for a year. (This was also the reason
why we moved to Korat.) But these years were also my most
productive years. I did a lot of research and my papers were
published in journals. These were accepted in international
conferences but limited funds allowed me to participate only
in those held here in Thailand.
Nationalism and Challenges

In 2015, our daughter also joined us. At present, we are into
another phase of our family life. While communication with
our daughter during her high school years were only through
Facebook and Skype, the dynamics now are different since we
are living together. We are all adjusting to each others presence.

In the case of Kairos, we hardly have time to tell Him
about our heroes, like Bonifacio and Rizal, because we are too
occupied with work. His heroes are Lady Yamoo of Korat and
King Naresuan the Great, who fought the Burmese. One time
I caught him waving the Philippine flag while singing Thai-
38
lands national anthem. My husband and I taught him Lupang

Hinirang to let him know the anthem that is associated with
the flag. We realized that it is time for him to know Andres
Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, and not only Manny Pacquiao (the famous
Filipino boxer).
We are raising him in an Asian country, similar to ours,
yet also very different. Our people may look the same, but we
are still divided by our different beliefs. In this milieu, Kairos
and the hundreds of Filipino children in Asian countries are
facing similar situations, adapting to the cultures of their host
countries, yet still considered outcasts. Thus, it is important
for them to build their identities as Filipinos. They need to
know our heritage, be it through food, or by simply telling
them Tayo ay Pilipino.

Annie A. Cabansag
39
7 I am my work experience
Annie A. Cabansag
I am Annie Cabansag. I have been in Singapore since 1997.

At age 23, my sister-in-laws cousin encouraged me to work here.
They told me that I would earn more and that life here is better
than the Philippines. Of course I believed them because they all
looked happy and it seemed that they really enjoyed working
abroad.
I was then working and receiving a minimal wage but I was
contented with my earnings. I kept the money all to myself since
I did not have a family to support. But everything changed when
40
I am my work experience
my mother, who was the sole bread winner of the family, got sick.
Bills started to pile up and my youngest sibling was then about to
enter college. I felt responsible for them because I am the only one
they can depend on. My brother has his own family to support
and my father had already passed away.
I was not quite ready for the big change in my life, but I had to
sacrifice. I consulted some of my close friends, and even a priest
and a nun about my plans of working abroad. They were all
concerned about me, especially about the country I have chosen
to work in.
I had mixed emotions of leaving my job to work abroad because it meant leaving my comfort zone.It broke my heart when
I said goodbye to my family and my boyfriend, the love of my
life, but I needed to be strong to be able to support my family.
As I boarded the plane my tears fell and I said my prayers.
But my sadness turned into joy when the plane started ascending. I felt the excitement of riding a plane for the first time and
looking forward to seeing another country with that beautiful
image in my mind.
When I arrived in Singapore, the Immigration officer asked
me to sign documents. Then my agent brought me to the hospital
for medical examination. I had lunch at the agency where I was
introduced to my first employer. I would be working for a couple;
their two children (a baby aged 5 months and a kid aged 6 years);
plus the mother of my female employer. Although my parents
had trained me well for house work, I was not prepared for the
daily tasks which proved to be physically exhausting. I would
hand wash the clothes of five people even if they had a washing
machine. I had to clean the floor using my hands. Apart from all
Annie A. Cabansag
41
these, I still had to look after the two young children. The kids
grandmother who lived with them scrutinized my every move.
My lady boss or her mother would scold me several times
each day. Yet I took their criticisms positively and motivated
myself to do better. But they continued to abuse me verbally,
physically and mentally. They would slap me, kick me, and pull
my hair. To make matters worse, they would not give me food so
one time, I had to steal a slice of bread and peanut butter spread.
I would cry each night but I continued to pray and sing praises
to God. I would ask Him to give me the strength to carry on. I
was in misery for two harrowing months until God gave me a
better chance.
One day, I was sent out to run errands and I took that opportunity to inform my agent about my situation. My agent called
my employer and asked to see me immediately, with my bruises
and marks still visible. When my agent saw me, she hugged me,
and in tears, took me away from my employer and transferred
me to another family.
This time my employer turned out to be kind. However, after
I had finished my contract, I was told that my services were no
longer required since the children were already independent. One
was in secondary school and the other was already undergoing
his compulsory military service.
With a heavy heart I looked for another family. I was blessed
and hired by an employer from the United States of America.
Since then, in my eighteen years of working here, all the families I
have worked for were families of expatriates in Singapore. I have
worked for six expats and for two local families.
42
I am my work experience
Some say that working for expats is a bed of roses, but I know
that this is not true based on my own experience. I once worked for
a family whose members had difficulties managing their emotions. I
felt pressured but I tried to ignore and endure my situation. I almost
had a nervous breakdown because of all the screaming and tantrums
when the day seemed imperfect for them. But despite all these, I
never retaliated or quit my job. Why? Because I always waited for
Gods right time. He had gifted me with a fighting spirit. I am not a
quitter. I continued to pray and to strive always to be a good worker.
And after four years, God heard my prayers. The family moved out
of Singapore.
My life as a domestic worker is very challenging because of the
variety of people and culture that I have to deal with. There is also the
transition of living from one family to the next. Expats do come and
go, there is no definite time for their stay in Singapore. I also have to
work hard to fight my homesickness and loneliness. But I never feel
abandoned by Gods love and grace. I always feel that He blesses me
and cares for me. He constantly protects and provides for me.
I have been blessed with generous and kind hearted employers
and through them I am able to take evening classes to earn a diploma. God had even helped me fulfill my sisters dream of finishing
college. My mother was able to visit me here in Singapore. I have
gained friends and I now belong to different religious organizations
like the Legion of Mary and Couples for Christ. I consider them my
second family.
I do not have any regrets working abroad to support my
family, even if it meant losing my boyfriend and going through
that unhappy incident with my first employers. I am what I am
today because of what I have learned from my work experiences.
These have taught me to have a forgiving heart, to be patient,
and to be strong. I praise and thank God always despite my life
Annie A. Cabansag
43
circumstances.
For those aspiring and wanting to work abroad I advise you
to leave the country of your origin as a legal worker possessing
the necessary documents. You should have undergone very good
training. BE PREPARED! Life abroad is not easy as depicted by
some OFWs or as seen in pictures shared in social media such as
Facebook and Instagram.
If you get sick, nobody will cook and take care of you. And
sometimes, even when you feel unwell, you still need to get up and
work. You also need a friend that you can count on. Choose a good
community of Filipinos or join and be active in church activities
where you can find reliable friends as well.
Also, before you leave, discuss matters on finances and remittances with your family, not only between couples but children as well.
There should be openness about how to properly use and save money.
I encourage you to enroll and attend classes on financial education by such institutions like the International Labour Organization
(ILO). For example, I was able to attend a training program on financial education. It helped me check on my finances which I had
neglected for the past years. There are also training courses offered
in cooking, baking, being a nursing aide, among others. All these
classes could help me in my work and in the future.
OFWs should remember that we will not work abroad forever.
There will come a time when we would have to go back home because of our age, health, or when our services are no longer needed.
All of us yearn to be with our family and to be with them during
special occasions, so start thinking of saving instead of spending.
Lastly, we should hold on to our faith in God and always ask for
His guidance.
Gennie V. Kim
45
8 Easing Homesickness Through

Radio
Gennie V. Kim
I was told that the story of my life makes for good movie
material. So here is my personal story. Judge for yourself
whether it will pass the silver screen.
I was born in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental but grew up
in Cebu City. In 1996, I was managing a boutique when I met
my future Korean husband. After four years, we got married
and were blessed with a son. In 2003, I decided to bring my
46
Easing Homesickness Through Radio
son to South Korea to provide him with a better education and

to be rooted to his Korean heritage.
I left my husband in the Philippines believing that he will
fulfill his promise to follow us. I lived with my mother-in-law
in Juan-dong, Nam-gu District, Incheon City. Strangely though,
my husband continued to stay in the Philippines. He never
contacted me and I totally lost communication with him for a
very long time. But instead of turning hopeless, depressed and
abandoned, I decided to make the best of my stay in Korea.
At the start, I had very little knowledge of the Korean
language. Language barriers cause a lot of misunderstandings.
Among my painful memories stemmed from miscommunication problems with Koreans and fellow immigrants. I soon
realized the importance of mastering the language to be able
to communicate properly so I resolved to devote myself to
learning it.
I had to fight homesickness too, and it was not easy living
with my mother-in-law. A few years back, it was rare to see
foreigners in Korea. People would look at me whenever I
walked around the neighborhood. I would hear the same stories of hardship from other foreigners I met. While Filipinos
and South Koreans share many cultural similarities, there are
many differences as well.
Part of my early struggle was providing for the family.
After I got my spouse visa, I worked in an assembly group
for a motor brake shoe factory. It was a dangerous job which
entailed piling up seven to eight kilos of steel. After six to
eight hours of this back-breaking job, only your eyes could be
seen because dust would have covered all of your body. There
Gennie V. Kim
47
were days when I would really cry wanting to give up such

hard labor that was both physically and emotionally draining.
Despite the hardships, working in a factory provided
me the experience of learning from different cultures. I was
exposed to the attitudes of Koreans and other nationalities as
well. My Korean workmates would frown at me if I cannot
communicate with them properly. During winter, the working
conditions could get even more challenging. Working hours
were longer and I would endure occasional hunger pangs since
I avoided eating outside to be able to save money.
My next job was at a cellphone assembly plant which employed twenty-three Filipinos. Although factory work was not
easy, I managed to excel and got noticed in my work. In just
one year, I got promoted as a team leader. To my surprise, however, my good performance earned the ire of my co-workers but
this situation did not deter me from continuing to do my best.
One good trait among Koreans is their penchant for providing opportunities to maximize your potentials once they
discover them. The president of the factory told my manager to
have me trained in the Korean language. I made sample products of the company that were sent to clients and he wanted
me to be more familiar with the machines. Having learned the
language, I also became the mouthpiece of Filipino workers in
the company. Unfortunately, because of the economic crisis in
2006, the factory suffered and I resigned in October of that year.
Since my mother-in-law would take care of my son, I would
dutifully give all my salary to her. One day, however, I discovered that my husband was having an affair with a Filipina and
had gotten her pregnant. From then on, I worked nonstop and
focused on my personal development. I devoted my time to
48
my son and to volunteer work.

I worked as a marriage counselor at the Womens Human
Rights Commission of Korea. While our training provided
us skills to address victims of domestic violence, the calls we
received ranged from the most trivial concerns to sensitive
issues such as working conditions, marital problems, and
extra-marital affairs.
In 2010, the Philippine Embassy in Korea held a Philippine
Independence Day celebration in Incheon. I was asked to be
one of the emcees during the event since I am a resident of the
city. I was introduced to the Human Resources Development
(HRD) Service of Korea since they had just opened a training
program for Employment Permit System (EPS) workers. I then
started working as a translator for HRD Incheon every Sunday
and I have been doing this for the last five years. I also hold
lectures for workers under the EPS. My stint at HRD Korea in
Incheon have brought me closer to Filipinos, who would tell
me their problems and stories.
I have since gained a wide experience working in public offices and in various fields. As an English teacher, for example,
I was able to help fellow Filipinos in language interpretation.
My exposure helped boost my self-confidence and contributed
to my personal growth. I am grateful for all those trainings,
workshops, meetings and other educational opportunities
where I got to learn new things.
I continued to take on new challenges in life. My insatiable
curiosity led me to the DJ booth of the Multicultural Family
Music Broadcasting operated by Woongjin Foundation and
Digital Skynet. It was something I had wanted to do, to be
able to narrate my life and work experiences in Korea which
Gennie V. Kim
49
could be of help to my fellow Filipinos.

In 2011, I guested in a radio program which was then
hosted by DJ Regina, a Filipina student on scholarship at Ewha
University. The director who happened to listen to the program
gave his card and encouraged me to apply for a part-time job
in case of a vacancy. I never really took it seriously since I did
not have any background in broadcasting.
When there was a job opening, however, I tried my luck
though I lacked the qualification for it. I was also competing
with other younger Filipino scholars studying in Seoul. Fortunately, they called back and I got the job.
I had to undergo training for three weeks before I finally
went on air last March 18, 2013. Since I came from the Visayas,
I was so anxious about my Bisayang Tagalog accent. I would
feel nervous whenever I did my recording. As I continued
doing several segments, however, I became less conscious of
my accent and more focused on the benefits that I can give
my listeners.
I prepare all my materials from punchlines, audiences
stories, and music selection. Even my minutes spent commuting are used to research on news to be shared to my listeners.
I take no breaks even on Christmas Eve I would be recording
my program while playing Christmas songs.
My radio program does not only entertain my fellow Pinoys, I also do marriage counseling. The multicultural radio
program aims to ease the loneliness of Filipinos in South Korea
and to improve their quality of life.
The radio program also provides information for Filipinos
50
who want to come to Korea. It is also helpful to those who

are working far away from the places where Filipinos would
normally gather on a Sunday. In a way, I am instrumental in
relieving them of their homesickness. Aside from speaking in
Filipino, I also play Pinoy music and original compositions of
OFWs or their cover of famous songs. They can send their song
as an MP3 through our e-mail: pinoybroadcast99@gmail.com.
In May 2013, my husband came back to Korea to ask for a
divorce. Less than a month after the divorce papers came out,
my ex-husband officially registered his new marriage with his
new Filipina wife. After all the years of financially supporting
my mother-in-law here in Korea, I was relieved to have a new
status in life. I embraced it gladly without any animosity in
my heart.
I had moved on even in the literal sense. Since May 2014,
I now live separately from my in-law although my residence is
quite near her house. I have not told my son that I am divorced
from his dad. It is one of my burdens in life. I do not want my
son to know about it, so he will not be stressed with his studies or be bullied in school. I am considering going through a
counseling session when I finally decide to tell the truth. My
greatest dream is to be able to provide what my son desires. I
believe that doing what is best for your child will always lead
you to the right direction in life.
With my accomplishments in life I am confident that I
have, at least, secured the future of my son. With regard to my
personal happiness, I do regret the mistakes that I made; but,
I do not want to dwell on how unlucky I am in love. I spend
my time productively on many other things.
Gennie V. Kim
51
I am happy with my work now and have left a former job

that pays well. I chose to concentrate on social work. It is my
desire to fully appreciate Korean culture and I want to share
my knowledge to other Filipinos here in Korea.
My days are now filled with my job and volunteer work.
My main advocacy is on issues affecting migrant workers especially their marital concerns. I see to it that I am available and
accessible to them. I can easily empathize with their stories. I
may be terse with words or lack the eloquence of politicians
but I definitely have the heart of a marriage counselor. I do not
consider myself superior to my listeners but I journey with
them; and this sincerity endears me to them.
My advice to everyone is that you should use your hardships as opportunities and not give up even if things get really
rough and tough. Never forget the struggles and difficulties
that you went through before landing that nice job. Remain
always true to your ideals. Have faith in God and always be
thankful for His gifts and blessings.
Rodel L. Portulazo
53
9 My Life in Korea as an Artista*

Rodel L. Portulazo
Annyeong haseyo(Hello in Korean.)
I am Rodel L. Portulazo, artista, 34 years old, and hails
from General Santos City.
Since I graduated from high school, I had already started
to work and earn a living to help in the family expenses. At
an early age, I had learned to falsify my birth certificate just to
get hired in companies that deny work to minors. At age 16,
*Artista
is the euphemism used for undocumented OFWs in South

Korea. Like movie stars, they are continually being pursued by paparazzi, in their case, chased by the police.
54
My Life in Korea as an Artista
I was hired as sales representative by LUX Marketing (ELECTROLUX) Company, because I made them believe that I was
already 18.
After about 10 months, I had an opportunity to work at
another job. I also had a chance to study in college and took up
a two-year course. I have always believed that any educational
attainment will further improve my chances of providing for
my family. My job brought me to another city of Mindanao,
Davao City, and from there I travelled to Manila.
Still not contented, I attempted many times and tried my
luck at applying for jobs abroad. I waited for months and
years. Meanwhile, I worked in a photography studio even if
I did not have the skills in handling a camera. Since I came
from the province, people would always assume that I was
kind and responsible.
In one of my attempts at finding a job abroad, I was victimized by an illegal recruiter in one of those placement agencies
in Malate, Manila. The work was supposed to be in Korea.
I had lost more than PhP 40,000.00 to them. It was such an
unlucky time for me.
Also hoping for a better life abroad, my sister joined a
foundation that matched Korean men with potential brides. She
got lucky and easily got married to a Korean. She encouraged
me to apply for a tourist visa so I could go to Korea but I was
denied. The consular officer told me that parents are the first
priority and not siblings. Hence, after my mother was able to
visit, another sister and I were able to go as well.
We were only allowed to stay legally in Korea for three
Rodel L. Portulazo
55
months. I had a fianc back home then and I had asked for her
hand in marriage. I had not expected my visa to be granted.
I never planned to overstay; but, I wanted my siblings,
nephews and nieces to finish their education. My sister who
had accompanied me to Korea had married an Indonesian. I
became the sole bread winner for our family.
I chose my family over my own personal happiness but
God has been so good and has blessed me in so many ways.
Most of my nieces and nephews were able to finish college.
Moreover, I was also able to build a house for my parents. Since
most of my younger siblings have settled down, the family has
relied on me to provide for our parents needs.
It has been more than seven long years now since I became
an artista. Quite unlike what others think, life in Korea is difficult. My life consists of working, staying home and going
to church. There are only a few opportunities for going on
vacation and these are during holidays when only a few immigration officials are on the lookout for artistas.
Nevertheless, I never lose hope and my situation was
never an obstacle for me to join groups and community organizations to be of service. I do volunteer work, taking care of
Korean women at the home for the aged, run by the nuns of
the Missionaries of Charity. I am an active member and was
elected P.R.O. of the Gwangju Filipino community (GFC). I also
serve as official photographer during church events and other
community activities. I also help at the CARITAS Gwangju
Catholic Migrant Center. Each year Filipino migrant workers
and their families in Gwangju would come together for summer
games, friendship games, and other fun activities.
56
I also gained recognition as a photographer because of my

fondness for taking pictures and posting them on social media.
I became part of FILIPOS or Filipino Photographers in South
Korea, based in Seoul. I came to meet so many amateur and
professional photographers in the group. We exchange ideas
on photography through Facebook and we have annual workshops during the Chuseok (Thanksgiving) holiday.
In time I got to know another Gwangju resident who is
also into photography. Since FILIPOS is based far away from
us, we decided to start our own local group. I became one of
the four founding officers of our photo club we call Junior
Photographers Explorers of Gwangju (JPEG). (JPEG is affiliated
with FILIPOS).
Our organization continues to maintain its steady growth.
The activities of the photography club helps alleviate my stress
from work. It particularly relieves me of my homesickness
since I feel I am in the Philippines when I am surrounded by
Filipinos. Life abroad can get so weary that you need to do
something to overcome the sadness of longing for home.
Homesickness is a mix of joy and sadness. It has been
seven years of not being able to go home to a country with a
better climate. Korea has four seasons and the beginning of
autumn in the months of September and October, signals the
start of very cold weather. It is a difficult time for me - cold in
the morning, warm at noon time, and cold again at night. I
would get sick because of the allergies I develop during this
period. Work becomes doubly hard when one is ill.
It is also so expensive to get hospitalized if you do not have
a health card. I am fortunate though that generous individuals
would lend their health cards to lessen the pain in my body
Rodel L. Portulazo
57
as well as my pocket. Still, despite my sickness or ailments,

I would always feel safe because I know that God is always
protecting me.
Most people here are busy with their work in order to survive. Even if I have a sister in Korea I cannot rely on her even
when I get sick. She just manages to call or send text messages.
She can only visit me on a Sunday if I am in the hospital. It
would be just a bonus if she has time for me since she also has
her own life and her own family to care for.
Because of my desire to be of help to my family, I have
had to endure all these obstacles and hardships of an undocumented migrant worker. The fianc whom I truly loved and
left behind is now married with children. I, on the other hand,
have remained single and looking for another woman to love.
Still I am enjoying my life as a bachelor especially here in
Korea, where there are so many beautiful places to enjoy and
activities to do. But the uncertainty of an undocumented alien
remains my biggest concern. Documented migrants get free
food, housing and other benefits, while an artista has to pay
rent, water and electricity. At times I just manage to eat once
or twice a day. I would be lucky if I get to eat dinner because I
would already be too tired and sleepy by the time I get home
at night.
My only advantage is that I get to choose where I can work.
If I do not like the work arrangement and management, I can
readily leave and look for another company to work for. There
was even a time when, in a span of a single year, I had moved
to at least five companies because of communication gap. It is
not easy to work with Koreans if you cannot communicate well
with them. It is a must that you have a working knowledge
of their language before coming to Korea. Otherwise you will
58
hear but not understand all the bad words and expressions
they can say.
I do not easily give up because of the difficulty of the job.
I surrender because of job- related stress, in particular, if I am
at the receiving end of bad mouthing and harsh words in front
of my co-workers. If one has a very weak personality he/she
will not last and may even end up in the mental hospital. .
I am not constrained with my status as an artista. Having
come to terms with my situation, I have no more qualms if ever
I get apprehended or even arrested. So I continue to live just
like any other migrant worker here.
Even if I am just an artista, life goes on and I still have my
dreams. I know that eventually the immigration office will catch
up with me and they will deport me to my home country. But
the big question is, will I be ready by then? (My Indonesian
brother-in-law just had a chance encounter with immigration
officers and he was deported back to Indonesia. His life is a
mixture of joy and sadness. He is happy because he is back to
his family, but also sad since he does not enjoy the high salary
which he had here.)
But I thank God because of His blessings and His mercy. I
have faith that He will always guide me and give me the courage and determination to help me overcome all the challenges
that come my way. I live it to luck and pray to God that I be
given the courage to surrender, at the right time, on my own
accord. May the good Lord have mercy on me. Thank you for
reading the story of my life as an artista here in Korea. God
speed Fighting!
Gemma A. Comiso
59
10 Reflections
Gemma A. Comiso
Then there are those who plant. They endure storms and all the many
vicissitudes of the seasons, and they rarely rest. But, unlike a building, a gardener
never stops growing. And while it requires the gardeners constant attention, it also
allows life for the gardener to be a great adventure. (Paolo Coelho in Brida)
I used to believe in fairytales because my parents had given
us the best childhood that one could ever ask for. They created
a wonderful world for us. My Papa was a great provider and
60
Reflections
Mama is a loving mother to us. But that beautiful world that

I used to know was shattered. It was only short lived. At the
age of 10, I lost my father to kidney failure.
My fathers passing was the beginning of our familys
unending struggles. My mother was not prepared to be a
widow and to take care of us by herself. Hardship became
my constant companion while growing up. Nevertheless, our
condition did not deter me from persevering and achieving my
goals. I graduated valedictorian of our class. I became more
determined to deal with adversities. I promised myself that I
would change our dire situation.
I never dreamt of working abroad because I was so idealistic at that time. However, because of my desire to help my
family, I decided to apply as a caregiver in Taiwan. No one
knew of my plans. I chose to keep it from my mother because
she was not so keen on me working outside the country. I
processed my papers secretly, and my family only knew about
my plans when I asked help for my placement fee.
My godmother, who was then working in Taoyuan, Taiwan,
gave me financial support and facilitated the processing of my
application. I will forever be grateful to her for ensuring that
I found a good employer.
In January 2002, I had to leave my day job to concentrate
on processing the necessary documents for my application.
The following month, on February 6, 2002, I flew to Taiwan
as an OFW.
The real challenge began when I arrived at my employers home. The elderly woman could not speak English at all.
The language barrier was a big problem. I did not have any
Gemma A. Comiso
61
language training in Mandarin. As far as I can remember my

pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS) was only for two
hours. It consisted of topics on savings and insurance. Someone
had offered their service of opening a bank account for free.
My patient, Amah (the wife of Yeye), and I communicated through sign language, but sometimes we just could not
understand each other. One early morning, for example, she
had gestured that she wanted to read the newspaper but I had
thought that she wanted me to cook some dumplings. What
worlds apart a newspaper and a dumpling!
I felt that she was so eager to get to know more about me
but I just did not fit in. Yeye would always try to translate our
conversation but the situation was so frustrating that at some
point it had drastically affected my self-esteem. I always cried,
but I tried my best to cope with the circumstances. I jotted down
whatever Mandarin words I would hear from Amah. Little by
little I was able to understand her and she became fond of me.
After a month of working, a real problem occurred. My
broker had deducted Php 6,000 from my salary, insisting that
I had a loan from the Philippines. I did not recall signing any
agreement with the agency but they showed me a piece of paper
with my signature on it. Then I recalled that when I was about
to leave the airport bound for Taiwan, my agent had asked
me to sign a blank sheet of paper. I admit it was my fault, but
at that time, I could not think straight because I was anxious
and excited. I feared that if I did not sign the paper, the broker
would not allow me to leave.
I also encountered a problem with a so called friend
who had borrowed my Alien Registration Certificate (ARC).
62
Reflections
Without knowing it, she had used it for a personal loan with
me as a guarantor. After a month, her patient died and I was
left with the responsibility of settling her financial obligation.
In time, however, things became better. I worked for a total
of 9 years first as caretaker to Amah for the first five years and
then after her death I took care of Yeye for four years.
In my thirst for knowledge, I would read a lot during my
free time. I created my own blog. I would write short stories
and poems and even won in an essay and a poetry writing
contest. Yeye was so proud of me.
I had no problem communicating with my family. I was
allowed to call them twice a month for free and my family
would always send me letters. Every month I would send my
whole salary to provide for the education of my sister and my
eldest niece.
I had many good memories of Taiwan that I continue to
cherish even today. I consider Taiwan as my second home. I
am now back in the Philippines. I have been here for almost
three years now.
I still communicate with Yeye. We constantly exchange
e-mails. We talk a lot and he would even help me financially.
Although he is now more than a hundred years old, he never
forgets to send greetings and gifts during special occasions.
He would always remind me of how his family is so grateful
and appreciative of the time I spent with them.
I miss working and taking good care of Yeye. I miss our
bonding moments like spending our leisure time in the park
every morning and our food trips. I remember our common
Gemma A. Comiso
63
interest for books. We would stay up late at the Public Library

in Minsheng, browsing and reading books that interest us.
Since I returned home, I was able to pursue further studies.
I made sure that part of my savings would be invested for my
future education. I finished my nursing studies with flying
colors. I also studied Massage Therapy at Saint Paul University
for a year and obtained my certificate from TESDA (Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority) and DOH (Department of Health). I also trained in Acupuncture. I worked
in Medical City in Ortigas but left after a year.
I decided to pursue my other calling - volunteerism for the
causes and issues affecting overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs)
and their families. Since I do not have a family of my own, I
have time to do volunteer work.
I have been an active volunteer of Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog
Awards (PEBA) since 2009, currently serving as its Manila-Luzon Coordinator. PEBA is very active in social media and garners more than 300,000 likes. We handle cases of abuse and
other concerns of distressed OFWs. PEBA is also a member of
the OFW Advocate Coalition which lobbies in Congress and
Senate for the protection and welfare of OFWs. I also represent
the organization in meetings with government agencies like
DOLE, POEA, OWWA, which deal with OFW concerns. We
also promote OFW issues through radio and TV appearances.
I am also a Red Cross volunteer. I donate blood every three
months as a way of thanking God for the blessings of good
health. Because I love animals, I also assist the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) as well. I make it a point to visit the
shelter at least once a month to feed and play with the animals.
Spending time with rescued pets renews and reenergizes me,
Reflections
64
helping me deal with the challenges of life.

Moreover, as my own initiative, I reach out to less fortunate
children through the Lapis at Papel Project which provides
school supplies to my grade school alma mater - the San Roque
Elementary of Bato Catanduanes. I believe that everyone can
make the world a better place if we share kindness and love
for one another.
I want to share my piece of advice to those who plan or
dream of working abroad. Training is a must. Educate yourself,
know the basic language of the country you plan to work in.
Know their laws, rules and regulations. Of equal importance
is the need to equip yourself with diligence, perseverance and
determination to be able to reach your goals and your purpose
of working abroad.
Jaded
Step with dexterity,
For my soul has wandered off,
I am in a cliff hanging,
All I can see are shadows of unwanted pains.
I want to collect the warmth of summer,
While the sea is calm,
I want to smell the fragrance of blooming flowers,
While I enjoy the wind.
Then....
The shattered mirror reappears,
The weathers gone bad.
In the midst,
I am floating,
Drowning,
Falling hard.
PHILIPPINE MIGRANTS RIGHTS WATCH

The Philippine Migrants Rights Watch
(PMRW) is a civil society network established
in 1995 and registered in 2001 to encourage
the recognition, protection and fulfillment of overseas
Filipinos rights. It is a member of the International NGO
Platform on the Migrant Workers Convention (IPMWC).
Members

Apostleship of the Sea Manila (AOS-Manila)

Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA-Phils)

Development Action for Women Network (DAWN)
Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP-ECMI)

Scalabrini Center for People on the Move (SCPM)

Scalabrini Lay Association (SLA)

Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC)
Associate Members

International Catholic Migration Commission
Geneva

University of San Agustin, Iloilo

Migrant Workers Concern Desk, Taiwan

Moyse, Korea

Scalabrini International Migration Institute, Italy

Seoul Archdiocesan Labor Pastoral Commission, Korea
Stella Maris International Service Center, Taiwan
This is the fifth volume of the Migrants Stories, Migrants Voices series. This edition features 10 stories of
migrants and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). We
have read and learned from similar stories in past volumes. But each story is unique, each tale a testament of
the redeeming nature of their triumph. They rose from
poverty to what most of them have now - a better life
not only for themselves or their immediate families, but
for their extended families and community as well.
The Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW)
will continue to publish these series of migration
stories. It is our hope that with this publication, our
stakeholders will have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the nuances and intricacies of migration and the plight of our migrants and OFWs. It
is our goal that with these stories, appropriate programs and policies are put into place to uphold and
protect their rights. It is also our desire that our
OFWs will feel the recognition and appreciation
from their loved ones, which they rightfully deserve.

PMRW Secretariat - DAWN Office
Unit 3/3rd F, Bocobo Commercial Center
1253 J. Bocobo cor P. Faura Streets
Ermita, Manila, Philippines

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Migrants Stories, Migrants Voices

with support from

Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW)

This book is a tribute to all the migrants and members

a Tent City was put up as temporary shelter for OFWs while

Another issue involving migrant workers and their advocates

There are never ending concerns which OFWs and their

About the Book

Jebee Kenji De La Cruz Solis

1 Inspired and Inspiring OFWs

Inspired and Inspiring OFWs

late guidance counselor-teacher even paid for my scholarship

Jebee Kenji De La Cruz Solis

nies where I had submitted my resume. She was already part

Inspired and Inspiring OFWs

explained that since Im young, I should be in my home country

Jebee Kenji De La Cruz Solis

Inspired and Inspiring OFWs

Together with the hardworking and dedicated PEBA

*The issue stemmed from the Bureau of Customs Memorandum

2 Behind the smile, a hidden sorrow

In each gleeful laughter, the heart experiences contentment.

Behind the smile, a hidden sorrow

it was only through telegram that I would be able to relay my

Behind the smile, a hidden sorrow

my daughter. My presence and love were missing since I was

Behind the smile, a hidden sorrow

would stand as a surrogate mother to Lulu whom I raised as my

3 Domestic work is a decent job

I still remember that day when my maternal uncle asked

Domestic work is a decent job

lobby in Malate where he was staying. He interviewed me and

occupied was big, I had no problem cleaning and arranging

Domestic work is a decent job

Domestic work is a decent job

the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA). Through the

Capt. Cecilio E. Rahon Jr.

into seafaring as a future career.

Capt. Cecilio E. Rahon Jr.

was razed by fire including the registrars records. It was quite

Capt. Cecilio E. Rahon Jr.

negotiate for a clean chit. Sometimes ship management

At 43 years old, I am presently taking up Master in Maritime

Chief Engr. Alberto B. Ballares

5 Faithful to Mama Mary

I was born to a poor family in Bohol, the eldest of two

Faithful to Mama Mary

From that day on Mama Mary became part of my daily life

Chief Engr. Alberto B. Ballares

I visited Luneta Park, thinking of my good fortune. I could

Faithful to Mama Mary

been remedied. The Chief Engineer praised me for the good

Chief Engr. Alberto B. Ballares

On Nov. 11, 1993 we started building our own house. My

Faithful to Mama Mary

Another happened one afternoon in 2002. While we were

Chief Engr. Alberto B. Ballares

Eunice Barbara C. Novio & Josemari V. Cordova

6 Our Journey in the Land of Smiles

Our Journey in the Land of Smiles

Eunice Barbara C. Novio & Josemari V. Cordova

Although I was accepted, one of the most difficult things I

Our Journey in the Land of Smiles

We enrolled Kairos in a Thamada (regular) school, where all

Migrants' Stories, Migrants' Voices Volume 5

Migrants' Stories, Migrants' Voices Volume 5