Government neglect

In organizing fellow Filipinos in Canada, Diocson said it is not enough to just tell them what to do to solve their problems.

“When we talk to them, we don’t just explain the rights of live-in caregivers and migrant workers in Canada but we explain the roots of migration, the economics and politics of it,” said Diocson. “We explain to them the reasons behind the labor-export policy of the Philippines, tracing the root cause to the socio-economic and political problems besetting the country; why Filipinos had to work abroad to earn a decent income; and why Canada needs our cheap labor,” Diocson said

Being the main force that keeps the Philippines’ ailing economy afloat, migrant workers are regarded as “modern-day heroes” by the Philippine government.

But the government does not match the adulation it confers on OFWs with deeds, Diocson said. “The OFWs toil as modern-day slaves abandoned by their government,” said Diocson

“Numbers lang ang tingin sa amin,” (We are just being viewed as numbers.) she lamented

She also criticized the Philippine Consulate for not setting a shelter to accommodate domestic workers running away from abusive employers. She stressed that trade and investment promotion continues to be the primary concern of Philippine officials in Canada.

“Ang role lang naman ng Philippine Embassy ay mangolekta ng pera,” (The only role of the Philippine Embassy is to collect money from OFWs.) she said. “They are not really interested in the conditions of the Filipino workers. Wala pa akong nakitang consulate with services except renewal and validating of passports,” (I have not seen a consulate with services except renewal and validating of passports.) she added.

Diocson also said they have cases of OFWs seeking the help of Filipino organizations after being denied assistance by the Philippine embassy.

One successful campaign that Filipino organizations conducted was against the deportation of Laila Ilumbra in 2004. Ilumbra was given a deportation notice after failing to complete the required 24 months of live-in work. But she was not able to complete the requirement because she was ill then and was in a coma for four months.

“If they deported this person, it shows that Canada has no soul,” Diocson said.

After they have lobbied before the Canadian government, Ilumbra was allowed to stay in Canada for humanitarian considerations. At present, Diocson said, Ilumbra is undergoing rehabilitation and has been getting medical assistance, free of charge from the Quebec local government. Diocson scored the Philippine Consulate for not giving Ilumbra the $6,000 assistance it promised.

She also said that instead of helping OFWs facing deportation, the Philippine Consulate even encourages them to avail of voluntary deportation so that the host government would shoulder the transportation costs.

“The only responsibility they take is to secure the plane ticket!” she said, “(After all), they have collected their money already.”

Hopes and realities of home

Although they have left the country several decades ago, they never lose hope that they would eventually go back home.

To facilitate the process of reintegration into Philippine society, Filipino groups in Canada implement a program that sends Filipino-Canadians to the Philippines for six months of integration/exposure.

“Sino ba ang ayaw bumalik sa sarili n’yang bansa?” she asked, “Pero dahil sa mahirap ang buhay sa Pilipinas, kailangang marami-rami ka na ring naipon para mabuhay sa pagbalik mo.” (Who does not want to return to his/her own country? But because of the difficulties of earning a living in the Philippines, one needs to have a lot of savings to be able to live a decent life when one returns.)

Diocson said that her two children, who were born in Canada, had their integration in the Philippines. She related that they had a positive experience. But they also realized that earning a decent living is difficult in the Philippines.

But Diocson assured that even as they are miles away from their native land, they will still respond to the “call of service, the call for change.” (Bulatlat.com)

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