DUBAI: Some 109 overstaying overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who recently left for the Philippines through the UAE’s amnesty program, brought with them stories of survival they’d share as they reunite with loved ones for whom they had endured sleepless nights and struggles while in hiding and making sure they get to keep sending money home despite the odds.
This second batch of repatriated amnesty grantees took along 8 minors – offspring of the Filipino diaspora who would most probably someday themselves be OFWs.
The OFWs said they made it living incognito because “kinaya lang naming…walang choice.” (We endured because we had no choice.)
Hanging on to dear life, the OFWs had to most of the time rely on fellow Filipinos, who would fortunately be always ready to help; as well as on their innate resilience, working part time jobs; and faith, living life by the day, praying that the next would be more promising. They also prayed that they be kept away from random police checks at the metro stations and stone-hearted people out to take advantage of their plight.
Agency-hire
“Agency-hire ako. Sabi sa akin saleslady daw magiging trabaho ko,” recalled Levy Sta. Ana, who was in hiding for 10 years. “Pagdating ko dito, housemaid pala.” (I was hired by a placement agency. I was told I’d be working as a saleslady but when I got here, I was given job as a housemaid.)
Problem started when Sta. Ana refused to hand over her mobile phone to her employer, which resulted to her being returned to the placement agency, which in turn asked that she pay them Dh6,000 for their expenses bringing her to Dubai, else they won’t give her passport back. Sta. Ana fled to oblivion.
“Nag-part time, part time ako. Linis bahay for Dhs25 per hour,” Sta. Ana said. (I did part time jobs, cleaned homes for Dhs25 an hour. I also did part time work at Global Village for eight years.)
Despite her predicament, Sta. Ana said she was able to send one of her three children through college and invest in a house. “For the sake of the family, we needed to find a source of income,” she said.
Graduate
“Kaga-graduate lang ng anak ko,” said Juliet Amate, who was in hiding for seven years. “Tamang tama naman nagkaruon ng amnesty program kaya pinaayos ko na papeles ko,” she added. (My child has just finished college. The amnesty program was very timely and so I had my papers done.)
Like Sta. Ana, Amate survived the years doing part time house cleaning jobs. She said she was already at the airport after having finished her previous contract but she turned back, walked away from the concourse and took her chances in the city.
“Nabuhay ako sa tulong ng mga kaibigan,”Amate said. (I survived through the help of friends.)
For the most part, Amate lived in the Dubailand area, the city’s outskirts away from regular ID checks by the authorities.
Salary was Dh15,000
Anthony Bugar (not his real name) was making good money in the interior design business, taking home Dh15,000 a month back in 2008. Then, he lost his job as the global economic slump of those days finally reached UAE’s shores.
He has since taken on part time jobs “para mabuhay at makapagpadala ng pera sa Pilipinas.” (To survive and send money home.)
Bugar said his son, who was then in third year college, had to stop school so he could help in their finances; his wife got ill and has been reliant on whatever he is able to send home every month.
Bugar said another reason he could not leave was the money he owed the banks through his credit card transactions.
Thankful
The first batch of amnesty grantees, some 100 of them, left 10 days earlier on Aug. 15. A third batch was scheduled to leave on Sept. 3. The three-month amnesty program took effect Aug. 1. The repatriated OFWs were in unison thanking the UAE government for putting into effect an amnesty program that waived their penalties for overstaying, and to the Philippine government for paying for their plane fare as well as for giving them $100 in financial aid. Also covered were those who have allegedly absconded from their employers.
