Erwana Sulistyaningshi's Worst Experience in Hong Kong as Domestic Helper

This is the story of how a simple Indonesian girl who dream to have a bright future end up to be starved and tortured for months, and how she win her battle in court with her employer.

Erwana Sulistyaningsih has come a long way from the Indonesian to Hong Kong in May 2013 looking for a way to earn more money, only to find herself starved and tortured for months. January 10, 2014, a very weak and skinny Erwana, who was 23 years old at the time, was put on a plane back home to Indonesia with only HK$100 ($12.90) and a t-shirt by her employer, Law Wan-tung. She had become too weak to walk after almost 8 months of torture. Pictures of badly beaten Erwana, looking frail and skinny and in a critical condition in a hospital in Sragen, Central Java, shocked the world. She stay in her employer for months, she later tell the court that she lived for bread and rice only. Slept for four hours a day and was regularly punch and beaten. Her employer put a vacuum cleaner into her mouth and twisted it round her lips until it was bleeding and very painful. Law, Erwana's employer also pushed her off the ladder. She often hit Erwana, sometimes her employer hit her from behind, sometimes in front. Erwana is being hit regularly that she already got headache, and she is hit in her mouth that she has difficulty in breathing.

Law, Erwana's employer was arrested on June 20, 2014 while trying to leave Hong Kong for Thailand.

Erwana's story spread around the world on social media, sparking outrage. It drew angry crowds on the streets of Hong Kong calling for better working conditions for domestic helpers and fueled criticism over their poor treatment. On April 7, Erwana, with Indonesian consulate staff seen at the Hong Kong airport, returns to provide her testimony against Law. Also on the same month, Erwana was named as one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. She "could not be broken, nor could she be silenced," the magazine wrote, calling her "the migrant worker who fought back". "Erwana is advocating for better laws to protect others who may share her fate, placing a spotlight on the plight of a vulnerable and often invisible population. It is brave women like her who speak up for the voiceless who will create lasting change." In December 2014, Erwana arrives at the Wanchai Law Court's in Hong Kong to begin giving evidence against Law.

Law's trial began. Law faced 20 charges in court – also relating to two other former domestic helpers – including grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal intimidation and failure to pay wages. She pleaded not guilty to all but one of the charges against her, admitting only that she had failed to arrange insurance for Erwana. The trial, was lasted for 6 weeks, and was heavily covered by local and international media. Erwana described in vivid detail how she was tortured. In one incident, she said she was stripped naked, covered with water and made to stand in front of a fan in the bathroom in the middle of winter. Erwana don't want her case to this big because it's too much burden for her emotionally and psychologically. But she is also happy that through her case other cases have been exposed.

On February 10, 2015 the court found Law guilty of 18 of the 20 charges laid against her- a first in Hong Kong history. And on February 27, 2015 Erwana Sulistyaningshi arrives at the Hong Kong court for Law Wan-tung's sentencing. It's a victory for Erwana. Law, faced a maximum sentence of 7 years, was sentence to 6 years in jail. To all who want to go and work as a domestic helper, please be aware and have presence of mind. Not because you are a domestic helper you need to be silence even if your employer is torturing you. We have food allowance and it is stated in our contract so we have the right to ask for our food. Sometimes it is really hard to have a voice, but we need to show to our employer that we know our rights. Yes, I know it is easy to say that we need to show to our employer that we know our rights but it is hard to do it. First, we are scared that our employer will terminate the contract. Second, if we have loan from banks and our contract is terminated, where do we take money to pay our depths way back home? Third, if our employer terminate the contract, it is really hard to find another job. If we do, it will cost a lot of money again to pay the recruitment agency.

All this reason is the reason why there is still a lot of domestic helper who is suffering from the hands of their employer. But we must be brave to face them, or else we will become one of those who is working under modern day slavery. There are lot's of agencies who help those who want to break their contract. All we need to do is to know where they are. Lastly, before we go to the country where we want to work we need to learn all the important places of government offices whom we know that can help us. Be equipped with knowledge. And everything's gonna be alright

A Filipina get's into trouble for a $35k Fake HKID.

Once you are in Hong Kong you need to have a Hong Kong ID and being a domestic helper, I pay only 350 Hong Kong dollar.This Filipina paid HK$35,000 to obtain her fake Hong Kong ID card in the hope that she could get a better-paying job. Although she initially enjoyed the benefit of the HK ID Card by being employed as a dishwasher at a restaurant in Sai Ying Pun, A.B. Balingao ultimately paid a heavier price – 17 months in prison – for the two charges of using a forged document, her Hong Kong ID. As well as breach of the conditions of her stay in Hong Kong.

Balingao was handed the sentence on June 30, after pleading guilty to the three charges. The defense lawyer asked the court to give her a lighter sentence, because Balingao is the sole breadwinner of her family consisting of her parents, four sisters, and three brothers – who are all farmers here in the Philippines, and her two daughters, aged 13 and 11. Balingao's husband has left her for another woman. The reason she committed the crime is because she was trying to earn more money. She knew it was a foolish act and she is remorseful. She has no other means to support her family, and her children will lose their schooling, so she decided to to work as dishwasher at restaurant.

However, Eastern Courts Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai rejected the defense’s statement, saying that besides Balingao’s “voluntary surrender”, there was no humanitarian ground cited that could lighten the her sentence. Chainrai then handed 15 months for the charge of using a fake HK ID, and two months for the breach of the condition of her stay. We all must be very careful of our actions. Hong Kong really follow the rules and they implement it. She is already earning being a domestic helper, if her family know how to handle their finances the Hong Kong's domestic worker salary is big enough. And besides her family is not disabled and they can find work to help her for their daily needs.

The judge was supposed to give three months of imprisonment to Balingao for the breach of conditions of stay charge, but discounted one month after the she pleaded guilty. Balingao, 31 and from Baguio City, was initially employed as a domestic service worker when she arrived in the territory on March 26, 2014. She then initially worked as a part-time cleaner at the restaurant in Sai Ying Pun, and started working full-time there a few months after. It was unclear whether Balingao was terminated by her original employer or broke her original contract. On February 6, 2015, Balingao tried to en-cash a P12,000-cheque at the HSBC branch on Bonham Street using her fake HKID. A bank official then alerted the authorities after noticing that Balingao’s HKID had a prefix “R”, instead of “X” or “WX” used for foreign domestic workers. She know that she is using a fake HKID but she did not check it very well.

She also know that every transaction we made in Hong Kong, we need to use our HKID. Even if you want to buy sim card for cellphones. Hong Kong is very strict, we must know it. So to all those who want to work abroad, in any country make sure to know what you can do and what you cannot do. We are responsible to our own. Once they find and catch you, you cannot say that you don't know. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. So it is better that we are aware of what we are doing.

Senator Bongbong Marcos Jr. seeks agency focusing on OFW's.

Senator Bongbong Marcos Jr. on Wednesday stressed the need to create an agency that would solely tend to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their concerns. “Many have suggested, and I agree, that it’s time we have a Department of  OFW so we would have a Cabinet Secretary who is dedicated to the task of addressing issues of  OFWs,” Marcos said in a press statement. This is good news to all OFW's because we really need help and assistance from our government. They called us "modern day hero" but once we encounter problem in our work, in other country, it is really hard to find help. He said that although there are various government agencies that deal with specific OFW concerns, these are loosely coordinated. He added that some agencies often issue regulations that make life more difficult for OFWs. The senator noted the imposition of terminal fees that OFWs have to pay when they make an airline booking, and to think we are exempted from payment of such fees.

He said even if OFWs are entitled to a refund, many of them fail to get their money back either because they don’t know about it or because of the complicated refund procedure. “We need somebody—say the Secretary of the Department of OFW—to coordinate the delivery of services of all these agencies dealing with OFWs, study all the problems of our workers abroad, and find solutions to their problems,” Marcos said. And he is right about this. We need a government agency that will focus only for the welfare of all OFW's. He said a separate department for OFWs is necessary because overseas workers have their own unique concerns that pertain only to their sector.

However, Marcos said efforts to push for the creation of a department for OFWs will not prosper without Malacanang’s support. “We may be able to pass such a measure in Congress but if the President refuses to sign it, it won’t become a law,” he said. All OFWs deserve a better treatment from the government. He stressed that during the global economic crisis, the Philippines managed to weather the storm with the help of OFW remittances.
Bongbong seeks agency focusing on OFW's. we contribute a lot in our Phillipine government. We hope that this will soon to happen and the President will sign it.

US hits abuse of Filipino Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong

As all of us know that domestic helpers all over the world especially in Hong Kong suffered abuse from their own employer. Not all but so many. Our family back home did not know really what is happening to us, it is because we just post nice and happy pictures in Facebook. For me, my reason is I really don't want them to see and know how hard to work abroad especially being a domestic helper. The United States has criticized the abuses suffered by foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong and urged the territory's  government to enact a comprehensive anti-trafficking law to prevent these from happening. In it's 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report, the US State Department said Hong Kong was a destination, transit, and source territory for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor. 

More than 320,000 foreign domestic workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Burma, and Bangladesh work in Hong Kong; some become victims of forced labor in the private homes in which they are employed. It is because recruiters in the Philippines and Indonesia generally charge excessive job placement fees, which may lead to situations of debt bondage in Hong Kong. And those that their contract is being terminated by their employer or the domestic helper will be the one who break  contract have a hard time to find new employer because some domestic worker employment agencies in Hong Kong charge fees in excess of the maximum allowed under Hong Kong law. And the accumulated debts sometimes amount to up to 80 percent of worker's salaries for the first six to seven months of employment. And some worker's are unwilling to report abusive employers for fear of losing their jobs and being unable to repay their debts; some employers or employment agencies illegally withhold passports, employment contracts, or other possessions until the debt is paid. And even if you don't have debt from employment agency, there is really employers who take the passport and employment contracts. Even though it is illegal, me myself cannot do anything about this in fear that my employer will terminate my contract.

The US State Department also noted that domestic workers have also reported working 17-hour's a day, and that is really true. Some is available 24 hours a day because the employer will call  even if it is one o'clock in the morning and you just go to bed to rest. Some is receiving less than minimum wage, experiencing physical or verbal abuse and confinement in their employer’s home, and not receiving a legally required weekly day off. And I have my own experience that. For two years in Malaysia, I never have my day off. This is some of the things that domestic helper suffered from the hands of their employers. Sad to say but the only thing that give courage to all OFW to continue their work even if it is really so hard is the love for their family, the dreams that one day soon, they/we can give brighter future to our children in the highest form of education. This is the life that OFW endured, I hope that through my blog, I can reach out some family that they have relatives in other country. For them to know that life for us here working abroad is like a bed of roses but full of thorns.

The Story of Xyza Cruz Bacani

Xyza Cruz Bacani came to Hong Kong as a domestic helper nine years ago-but it wasn't until she started shooting photos on the city's streets that she discovered her true passion. The Magnum Foundation fellowship winner and Hamdan International Photography Award finalist tells about the hardships of working in Hong Kong and how she hopes to use her photography to give a voice to the most marginalized in society. Xyza Crus Bacani came from Nueva, Vizcaya, Philippines. She is the eldest among the three kids. Her father is here in the Philippines. And her mom still working in Hong Kong as a domestic helper. She is working with the same boss with Xyza for 20 years. Hong Kong is overload. Xyza loves the lights, the people always moving around so fast. She felt the vibe is awesome.

 She say, she is officially jobless because she is applying for a visa to attend a course with the Magnum foundation at New York University. So she need to work harder. Her days needs to be filled with stuff to do. She is doing a project on domestic helper abuse "The 900 Square Feet of Hidden Hope”. Xyza want to show awareness to all because it seems that it is very normal for Hong Kong people to abuse their helpers. Xyza want to tell the people that it is not okay to abuse their helper. So she want to go to places where the domestic helpers and immigrants stay at their day off, shoot their photos and tell their stories. Her documentary photography is different from her street photography. She say that her street photography is just something she love to do. And her documentary work is for people's stories to be heard. In her documentary you can see someone who was burned on her back, and hit by employer.

We still can't imagine it is still happening in Hong Kong. The basic human rights of most helpers are violated, physically and emotionally. "We are not Chinese, but we are human too. You need to treat us like humans too". Some of the domestic helper who is abused by their employer, run away and are rescued by the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge. Once they sue their employer, their working visas will be cut. Most of the domestic helper just give up and go home. So nobody knows about them. One more problem of domestic helper in Hong Kong is the place to sleep. Space in Hong Kong is very expensive so most helper that Xyza meet in Bethune house have slept in toilets, in the kitchen. Once you apply to an agency, you pay six months of salary. You cannot get away from your abusive employer because you have a dept to pay and you need to send money to your family. It is the system that allows the abuse to happen. If only we have the option (for the helper to live apart from their employer) we can avoid some of the abuse.

 But as of now, it is illegal to live outside. It is hard because you are controlled by your employer. You don't have basic rights. If your employer needs you at 1 A.M, you can't say no because you live with them. The scary part is termination. You've just arrived, you have a huge dept, and your employer doesn't like your face and can terminate you. A typical day for helpers: wake up early, take the kids to school, go to the market, cook lunch, pick the kids up, clean the house, prepare dinner, then clean the house again. It never really ends. But I think Hong Kong is still good compare to other countries. Xyza say she don't know how to explain her photography. She just walk around and shoot, also she don't have emotional attachment to her street photos. She just love walking around and shooting. Xyza Cruz Bacani rose to prominence when she was featured in the New York Time Lens blog in June 2014. Her street photography is a touching look at the city.

A Filipina in Hong Kong Acquitted In Child Abuse Case

Jennet A.B., a domestic worker, heaved an audible sigh of relief inside the courtroom after Magistrate Jason Wan Siuming junked the “assault occasioning actual bodily harm” case against her on April 17. Jennet and the boy were having a “pillow fight” in his bed when the Filipina allegedly hit him in the face. Jennet said the boy accidentally hit a window sill and she even called her female employer to tell her about what happened. But when the female employer got home later, the boy told her that Jennet hit him. The Filipina was accused of hitting her ward on the face while they were playing inside his bedroom on October 29 last year.

 However, the judge said the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Jennet intended to hurt the boy. Because during the trial, defense lawyer Vandana Rajwani questioned the boy, who admitted that it was an accident and “it was nobody’s fault.”  The boy changed his tune and said the “accident” was different from the incident when Jennet supposedly hit him. The Judge find the defendant not guilty of the charge…(The boy) gave confusing and sometimes contradictory evidence even on the most important issue. His evidence is not clear so the court cannot be sure (of Jennet’s alleged guilt). The medical evidence shows that he had an injury but it’s not clear how he got it. There are doubts that cannot be resolved. “The evidence provided by this boy is self-contradictory,” Rajwani said. “And when he gave evidence, there were no tears or emotion. It was not a harsh memory of abuse (for him). He just looked tired or bored,” she added. She noted that the boy claimed that he cried for two hours after Jennet hit him but CCTV footage showed him sleeping afterwards.

 Because of her four-year-old ward’s conflicting testimony in court, a Filipina was acquitted of child abuse charges in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts.

Judge Wan said to prove an “assault occasioning actual bodily harm” case, prosecutors should be able to show the “hostile intent” of the assailant. Because he said, he believe that this principle should also be applied to domestic helpers. Hostile intent should be proven. “Otherwise, it is not a case of abuse…it is not a case of assault,”the Judge added. 

He noted that sometimes even parents who hit their children are acquitted of this charge because they reason out that they were only trying to discipline their children. A reminder to all OFW, please be very careful if you are working as domestic helper and you take care kids. Once they tell something to their parents, the parents automatically believe their children's story. So many helper gets terminated by their employer because of wrong accusation of the children. You done everything for their family but you are still nothing. You are lucky if your employer did not tolerate their children's tantrums. I hope this story can help those who want to work abroad. take some lesson from what happen to our fellow domestic helper.

Success Story of an OFW

Nowadays almost all the news about OFW is bad news. Like drug trafficking, OFW who become drug carrier and sentence to death in Indonesia. OFW who caught in Hong Kong carrying drugs. About an OFW who is tagged of one politician in Hong Kong as home wrecker, and so many more.

Let me share some good news about the success of an OFW's daughter who become the first Filipino elected in UK as town councilor. Cynthia Alcantara-Barker, a native of San Pablo City in Laguna was elected town councilor of Elstree and Borehamwood. This place is considered as England's version of Hollywood. Cynthia's mother was an OFW who went to the UK in 70's to support her five children.she consider her mother as her hero, later she joined her there in UK. Cynthia's mother was a school teacher who had to leave her family, including five young children. She made the same sacrifice that most OFW's make, sent all her money home while she work long hours to insure that the family was well-fed and educated. Almost all OFW's is same, they sacrifice working for long hours and away from home and family. Send all their salary to make sure the family have a brighter future.

Another successful story of an OFW.

Xyza Cruz Bacani, a Filipina domestic helper in Hong Kong who takes breathtaking street photography has been awarded the prestigious Magnum Human Rights scholarship to New York University. the 29 years old grew up in Nueva Vizcaya in Philippines. She went to Hong Kong as a maid to join her mother to work in the same employer. Her passion in photography blossomed after she buy her first camera few years after she moved in Hong Kong. she fell in love with the art. she work six days a week and spend her one day off roaming around in the streets of Hong Kong, capturing everything in her camera.

Maribelle an OFW who grew in Sanches Mira in Cagayan. This is is her story.

She leave her two kids at the very young age. She go and work in Taiwan for the first time for almost six years. when she go back in Philippines, she just stay for a while and decided she need to work again so she can send her two daughters in colleges. This time she go in Hong Kong to work again as a domestic Helper. she send all her salary to make sure the children will have their easy daily life and they can go to school without thinking of any problem but just to study hard. as of this moment I am writing this blog, her two daughters become successful. the eldest graduate in BS Biology with Master's degree. And her youngest graduate as a Pharmacist and now she is one of the Pharmacist in their province. And a self made business woman. Maribelle's sacrifices as an OFW need to be recognized by our government. If it is published so many will be encouraged to work abroad, to strive hard and make their dreams comes true.

This is only few success of the domestic helpers. There is still a lot of untold stories. Because mostly, the stories we can read is about crimes, violence, modern day slavery, drugs and many more. If only some of our government agencies also try to find out the success story of our fellow Filipino. It will inspire to those who want to work abroad.

Indonesian Banned to send Domestic worker in Saudi Arabia

Indonesia will stop sending new domestic workers to 21 Middle Eastern countries, after the recent execution of two Indonesian women in Saudi Arabia that angered Jakarta government. The ban affects countries including Saudi Arabia (this is a major destination for Indonesian maids, and also for Filipinos), United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt, and it will come into effect in three month's time, their Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said.Jakarta, is complaining for long time already about the treatment of Indonesian maids in the Middle East, had already placed a moratorium on sending new helpers to Saudi Arabia in 2011 following the beheading of a worker. Permanent ban The new move of Indonesian government is meant to be permanent. Maids already working in the affected countries will be allowed to stay and continue in their positions. Indonesia is angry at the executions of its citizens abroad comes despite the fact that Jakarta last week executed seven foreign drug convicts, drawing a storm of international protest. “According to the law, the government has the right to stop sending migrant workers in particular countries if it is believed that their employment degrades human values and the dignity of the nation.” Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said, there were “many problems” with Indonesians working abroad related to “labour norms and human rights violations”. Dhakiri cited the execution of Indonesian domestic workers Siti Zainab and Karni Binti Medi Tarsim, who were both put to death for murder just days apart in April. Promise fulfilled President Joko Widodo, vowed in February that maids would no longer be sent abroad in future, although he did not mention a date. I hope our own government here in Philippines can do the same. To try to find ways that all Filipino can work here, so we no need to go abroad to become maid. If Indonesia can do it, Philippines can do it too. So no one will go and live faraway from home and from our family. As well as the Middle East, Indonesia also sends domestic workers to many parts of Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and has often complained about the treatment of its workers in those countries. A Hong Kong woman was jailed for six years in February for beating and starving her Indonesian maid ''Erwana'' and keeping her prisoner, in a high-profile case that drew attention to the abuse of domestic helpers in the financial hub. I hope that this news will be a wake up call to our own Government. To protect Filipinos, to protect our human values and dignity from racist.

How to: Apply for a Philippine Passport

Here is how to secure a Philippine passport. You need to complete the requirements of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). For the new applicants, please have all your original documents and ID's photocopied before going to DFA on your appointment date.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Personal appearance
Confirmed appointment
Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of BC issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and duly authenticated by NSO.
No need to submit a passport size photo
Valid picture ID's and supporting to prove identity (please refer to list of acceptable ID's and supporting documents)

For Married Men and Women:
Marriage Contract  in Security Paper issued by the National Statistics Office or original and photocopy of the Certified True Copy of Marriage Contract issued by the Local Civil Registrar and duly authenticated by NSO.

For Minor Applicants (below 18 years old):
Confirmed appointment (except for 1 year old and below)
Personal appearance of the minor applicant
Personal appearance of parents
Original Birth Certificate of minor in Security Paper issued by NSO
Document with identity with photo such as School ID or Form 137 with readable dry seal
Marriage Certificate of minor's parent duly authenticated by NSO
Notarized affidavit of support and consent to travel from either parent
Original and photocopy of valid passport of parents

 LIST OF ACCEPTABLE ID's (at least 1 of the following):

Government issued ID's such as the following:
Digitized SSS ID
Driver's License
GSIS E-card
PRC ID
IBP ID
OWWA ID
Digitized BIR ID
Senior Citizens ID
Old College ID
Alumni ID
Old Employment ID

LIST OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (at least 3 of the following):

Voter's ID
NBI Clearance
Marriage Contract
Police Clearance
Barangay Clearance
NSO Birth Certificate of children

All of the above mentioned is the one you need to prepare if you want to apply for a passport. If you are prepared with all the documents it is hassle free for you. Earrings and contact lenses are not allowed during data capturing. Smiling with visible teeth is also not allowed. Please check all the data in the computer monitor and in the Enrollment Certificate before signing it.  Only immediate family members are allowed to get the passport in behalf of the applicant. Immediate family members include father, mother, brother, sister, spouse and children of legal age. Passport shall be released to an immediate family member only with proper authorization letter. Passport of a minor applicant shall be released to parents only or to an authorized representative with Special Power of Attorney and Affidavit of Support and Consent.

Passports unclaimed after six (6) months will be canceled per Department Order No. 37-03. Make sure to check all data in the received e-passport upon release. Number of processing days may vary depending on the location of the Regional Consular Office where the application was filed. Power failures, technical breakdowns and natural calamities may delay the release of passports. 

Update for Mary Jane Veloso's case

The 30 years old Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso was expected to be executed on Tuesday April 28, 2015 in prison island Nusakambangan in Cilacap, Indonesia. She will be executed with 8 others: two from Australia, one from Brazil, four from Africa, and one from Indonesia. Veloso was arrested and sentence to death in 2010 for attempting to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia. She has been on Indonesia's death row for the fast five years. But on last minute before her execution, Indonesian President Joko Widodo decide to delay her execution to ensure she get's ''justice'', following the new developments in her case here in Philippines. Widodo made the statement on Wednesday, April 29 , several hours after the Indonesian government announced the delay of Veloso's execution that he maintained and ''listens and pays attention to human rights activist''.

The decision to delay the execution was taken by President Widodo after receiving reports about an ongoing legal process in the Philippines. He said, ''because the legal process is still ongoing, we must ensure Mary Jane Veloso deserves justice''. Veloso's alleged recruiter, Maria Christina Sergio, surrendered to police on Tuesday. The Philippine Department of Justice is set to begin its preliminary investigation on Sergio and two others allegedly involved in the Veloso case on May 8. Sergio, her partner Julius Lacanilao, and a certain ''Ike'' have been charged with human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and estafa. But Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, clarified that the delay in the execution “does not cancel the death penalty” on Veloso. There was a new evidence. We respect the law in the Philippines and we will clarify. The law will still go on, but this does not cancel the death penalty. At this stage, this does not cancel the execution, Purdijatno said. He added that following Sergio’s surrender, “we will question Mary Jane as a witness''.

My conclusion is:  Never accept bags from strangers!

In foreign airports,  especially, you might meet kababayans who have gone over their baggage limits and request you to pass off one of their bags as yours. Don't do it!

You don't know what those bags contain. Politely but firmly decline. It's good to be kind;  but it's better to be safe, especially when you're traveling. Let them hate you by not helping them, all the love in the world won't save you if those bags happen to contain illegal substances. And even if those bags contain nothing but chocolate bars, excess baggage is an avoidable problem, and it shouldn't be YOUR problem. You shouldn't have to take the risk. It is probably not a good idea to accept bags from neighbors or "friends" either.

I'm referring to a real-life case, Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina who was sentenced to death in Indonesia for transporting heroin in the lining of a suitcase that she says had been given to her by a neighbor, someone she knew and trusted. The one thing we can do, is moving forward, and to make sure that something like this will not happen again.

Place to go if you want to find HELP in Hong Kong

So many of our fellow Filipino domestic helper needs to know about some place in Hong Kong. A place where they can find help and shelter if there is no way but to go down from their employers house. So many domestic helper both from Philippines and Indonesia is not lucky to find good employer in Hong Kong. Most of them suffered from the hand of their employer for the very simple reason and they have nowhere to go. Not, now. Bethune house or most common known as Mission for Migrant workers is one of those places whom you really can find help and shelter. I will tell you the story of the Indonesian helper that suffered from the hand of her 3rd employer in Hong Kong and how she escaped and find place,shelter and comfort in Bethune house.

Siti Khotmah, 34 years old  from Central Java, Indonesia. Like most of us, she go to Hong Kong to give brighter future to her family. She need to  send his 12 years old son to secondary school and need to help her old parents for their daily financial needs. She have 3 employers for more than 4 years stay in Hong Kong. Her first employer she only stay for four months with them. Her employer hire her as a second helper in the household because they are expecting their first baby. But after four month, they decided that they don't need her anymore so they terminate their contract with her. It is hard for her  that time since she is first timer in Hong Kong. Her salary is only HKD3,000.00 and she need to pay 7 months salary deduction to her employment agency. Luckily she found new employer, and this time she stay with them for four years. After four years, the employer don't need her so she need to find new employer again. And in this new employer, she stay only for one month and 20 days.

Her employer always hit her for a simple reason and little mistakes. The last time because Siti kept the broken plastic bag that her employer ask her to throw away thinking that she still can use it for something else. Her employer is so angry when she found it, then she ask her what's wrong with her eyes and slapped her. One time her employer also slapped her inside the lift. It is always happening, since she start working with that employer. Sometimes she hit Siti so hard that she felt dizzy. Siti is afraid to run away and tell the police of what is happening to her inside her employers house. She is afraid to tell the police because if they didn't help her she had nowhere to go and no place to sleep. She try to complain to her agency, but the agency always listen to the employer so she just keep quit and endure the pain.

Finally, Siti come into her senses and contacted the Mission for Migrant workers (Bethune house) and they are the one who help her to go to the police.That day she went to the police, she still have blood in her eyes and a week -old blue bruise from where she is slapped by her employer. When the police call her employer, she denied doing anything against Siti. But the police found the video recording from the lift. Now, Siti is staying at Bethune house while waiting to find new employer. She is helping other domestic helper who have same fate as her to go to the police, see the lawyer, go to the doctor and in Immigration Department. Siti find comfort of a family in Bethune house.

So to all domestic helper, you don't need to worry. There are a lot of place where you can go, to seek help if you need. Just bear in mind, the only thing we have in our self is the courage to learn our rights and to fight for domestic slavery. Don't hesitate to ask places where at the end it is very useful. If it is not for you, it is for your fellows who needs help. That is a big help to someone if you know some important places. You can help by telling your fellow domestic helper where to go in times that they want to find help. To those who are lucky that you have a good employer, please share your blessings to those who is less fortunate.

Be aware and don't become a victim of drug traffickers

If someone would ask you: "Can you do me a favor and die for me?" What will you answer that one?
Keep this in mind always, when someone is asking you to carry even a little "gift" for a friend abroad. Never ever do like that!

Over 70 Filipinos are on death row in other countries for various crimes, most of them involving illegal drugs. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are 77 Filipinos on death row abroad, most of them in Saudi Arabia.


Saudi Arabia: 27 (26 for murder and one for drugs)
Malaysia: 24 (18 for drugs, four for murder, and two for murder with rape)
China: 19 (all for drugs)
USA: 2 (both for murder)
Vietnam: 2 (both for drugs)
Kuwait: 1 (for murder)
Indonesia: 1 (for drugs)
Thailand: 1 (for murder, rape, and theft)

Since 2010, seven Filipinos were executed, most of them in China.

In 2011, Sally Ordinario Villanueva, Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain were executed by lethal injection in China for drug smuggling. Ordinario Villanueva and Credo were executed in Xiamen, while Batain was executed in Shenzhen.

In the same year, a 35-year-old unnamed Filipino male was also executed China, specifically in Liuzhou County, Guangzhou, also for drug trafficking.

In 2013, a 35-year-old Filipina who was convicted in China for carrying six kilos of heroin in January 2011 was executed.

The following year, Carlito Lana was executed in Saudi Arabia for killing his Saudi employer in 2010. He was beheaded.

Earlier this year, Joven Esteva, 39, convicted for killing his employer and injuring his employer's son in 2007, was executed in Saudi Arabia.

So to all who wish to go abroad for work. You dream for a brighter future for your family but please do remember: It is better to reach our dream by working hard. It is a good feeling that you reach your dream slowly but surely on your own sweat and blood. Don't be blinded with the offer of easy and big money to carry such things like drugs in other country. So many OFW's fall for the bait of drugs syndicate and they are the one who face the consequences. Focus on your goal of giving brighter future to your family by working legally. This time you are far away from home. YES, but this will only last for few years. Work hard, save money and think of what business (even a small one for a star) you can do if you have money to start living again in the Philippines together with your love ones. Be happy and contented of what you have. And everything will fall into places.

Hong Kong Law Maker Regina Ip tag Filipino domestic Helper as ''Homewrecker''

Some Filipino workers in Hong Kong rally in front of the office of lawmaker Regina Ip to demand apology from her for labeling Filipino domestic helpers as ''home wreckers'' and ''sexual resources for foreign men in Hong Kong." Regina Ip said in an op-ed article on Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao last April 18 that "jilted expatriate wives" complained to her of their maids seducing their husbands. How can a lawmaker judge the Filipino domestic helper in Hong Kong as a ''home wrecker?'' Despite frequent cases of Filipino women being sexually molested or abused by their foreign employers. Maybe some of our fellow domestics helper here is doing some sex trade in their day off. But not only Filipina is doing that, I can see a lot of Chinese women in Yuen Long, standing in the corner and waving to the old Chinese men and their finger have a sign of one or two. When I ask my friend, who is a resident of  Hong Kong, she told me that the Chinese woman is making a sign of $100.00 - 200.00 dollar. And how about the Indonesian? They are sitting in the park near the bus station only in front of  UEA Kwarta Padala. Together with black guys, Nepal and Indian while drinking wine and beer from morning until afternoon? So why Regina Ip single out the Filipino maid?

Is Regina Ip not aware that many male employers have been taking advantage of their ascendancy to seduce Filipinas? Despite offers of money and good life, Filipino women resist such advances, thus, are often punished with sexual molestation, if not fired and sent home to the Philippines? She is an assemblywoman eyed as Hong Kong’s future chief executive, rather than reporting improper behavior by local employers. She need to pay more attention to Filipina maids becoming sexual resources for foreign men in Hong Kong. Ip was more likely unaware of the bitter truth about the abused Filipina domestic helpers have to suffer over the years when she branded them as home wreckers. She is a woman, she also have a maid who take care her home and maybe her kids. Being an assemblywoman she is the one who need to show to all the locals that maids needs to be respect too. She need to know that Filipina is not so powerful and super gorgeous to seduce Hong Kong men into leaving their wives.

But instead all she need to show to all Hong Kong employer that Filipina maid make a big sacrifices leaving their family and small children to work abroad. WE are the one who take care their children, and their homes. And not only that, why Regina Ip did not see that there are a lot of Filipina who is working as a helper that have success in life. For example: Xyza Crus Bacani is also a domestic helper in Hong Kong. But now she is a photographer and she already holds exhibit in Hong Kong. And she receives scholarship in photography in New York University. This are few good qualification of FDH (Filipina Domestic Helper) in Hong Kong.

In several comments from her own fellow men from Hongkong, Ip was pointed to the fact, that the real "home wreckers" are coming from the Mainland because they are having the same language, nothing to loose and only to win. Instead of a Filipino Domestic Helper. If she would be the one, starting an affair with her male employer, she must be always aware of being terminated and send home. She is the one, who has really a lot to loose and I am sure: She will not take this risc.

Do not become a cheap slave!

A close friend of mine is working as a truck driver in Europe. Following the European law, every truck driver with age older then 50 has to complete in between 5 years five courses to improve his skills or else he will not have his driver license extended for again 5 years. His last course was about Analog and Digital tachograph and social legislation for truck driver.

Such courses are held from guys who really know, what they are talking about. He just complete this course and the guy in front was an Ex Policemen. Someone who was specializing in to check Truck driver. And now... here comes the news:

He was talking about the actually way, how to reduce the prices for truck driver because it is an expensive job and especially the guys from outside of Europe are always trying to find ways to earn some money. Even a small amount can do just to have an income. Since few years, he could experience Filipino on Trucks from Latvia. When they check that Trucks, they really become scared by the situation of the drivers: Living in the truck, don't have another place to stay, cooking and taking a shower often only next to the truck like doing camping, stressed from their boss to fulfill their job even there are rules they have to take care of when they are driving in Europe. The dispatcher is forcing them to drive instead of having a pause, driving too many hours on a daily base and so on.

The penalty for a truck driver for violating the rules can be solved sometimes by paying money (the driver has to pay the penalty!). But in some cases, it can end up by withdrawal of the driver license. And if such a poor Filipino will loose his driver license... what do you think, the boss will do? Terminate his contract and hire a new one. YES... and the Filipino OFW is jobless and in a foreign country without any home to stay.

The salary
Long time before, the Truck driver from Poland was known for earning a really low salary for their job. A German Truck driver has a salary, double from the guy from Poland. A Truck driver from Switzerland has the highest salary and it might be double from the German salary.

But the Filipino driver are driving/be hired for a salary, half of the Polish salary (if they are lucky ones!) Here some facts in EUR:

Switzerland: Converted from CHF to EUR might be 4.900 EUR
Germany: Might be monthly 2.400 EUR
Poland: A happy Trucker can receive a salary by 1.200 EUR (if ever)
and now... a Filipino driver in Latvia is working for a monthly salary by 500 - 600 EUR.

Conclusion and my tip for my fellow Filipinos with a driver license for a truck: Know basic facts about the standard salary BEFORE your think about to go abroad and working as a Truck driver. Don't let an agency cheat you!

At least, I've done some research before I was believing, what the friend was telling me and I found this old job offer

Sacrifices of a MODERN DAY HERO

Our life being an  Overseas Filipino Workers is never been relaxed and easy. Why? Since we have to take the risk and sacrifices in leaving our family and friends behind to work in a foreign land thousands of miles away from home. Searching to find much higher salary to support the daily needs of our family and gives a better future for them. Some of us are parents, who are not able to take good care of our children because we are thousands miles away from them. As we stay  in the country that we are working, we need to adjust ourselves to almost everything. Like language, our way of living, culture, costumes and foods.And we need to set aside our beliefs and values in life that we practice when we are still a small kid until we are growing older. Working abroad is such an opportunity because not everyone can go and work there.

But together with this lies the financial problem to cover the expenses and requirements to go overseas. And the emotional burden of fact that being away from our love ones is not easy to handle. The boredom, homesick and loneliness being alone.We want to go and work abroad, although it is too far and it is a foreign country but we consider it as a quick option to reach our dream. To the OFW's we need to chase the wild goose opportunity to earn big amount of money if we can work outside the country. It doesn't really matter how big the toil of sacrifices. Unfortunately, the sad reality is a lot of families who have relatives working abroad did not know how, hard the life of their family HERO is. Some is spending extravagantly and didn't  think how hard we work for that money and they did not give value to all the sacrifices that we have done just to give them a good and comfortable life in the Philippines. The only thing in their mind is, they can buy whatever they want. They can go wherever they want to go until the purse of hard earned money is empty. Enjoying the luxury of the latest gadgets, just to empress others that they can afford to buy because they have a family member abroad.

They don't have a clue how we sweat blood and degrade and lost our honor from whatever honor left just to earn money for them. Some of our sacrifices is we cannot enjoy with our family on important events in their life such as birthdays and Christmas. We missed to see our beloved children growing up. Another thing is, not all OFW's had achieved good opportunity in the foreign country. There are news all over the world of misfurtune such as: being abused verbally, physically and emotionally. There are other workers went home lifeless for many different reasons. Despite of the situation, still so many desire to go abroad and work abroad to reach their family's dream of having a good future. They are willing to gamble their own life and happiness just to make sure that their family have a secure future.

 And to all those families who have relatives working abroad, please value their efforts, sacrifices and their life that they denied for themselves in favor of you all. OFW's are the modern day HEROES. WHY? We as OFW's share portion to build our economy of our country through our remittances. We deserve the honor and respect for all the things we done not just for our family but also for our country. Although some people called the Philippines ''THE LAND OF SLAVES'' but the Filipino didn't care. I agree with Carlos P. Romulo Sr. by saying  ''I am proud that I am a Filipino''.

To all my fellow Overseas Filipino Worker, learn to save your salary. You don't need to send it all to your family. You work hard on it so you need to make sure that your hard earned money will be spent properly and wisely. Open a bank account wherever you are, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Canada to name a few. Save as much as you can. Send enough to your family back home. Just enough for them to survive the everyday life. The rest you will be the one who need to save it. Based from my own experience, from the Filipino whom I meet every Sunday. I see two faces of life of Pinoy working in Hong Kong. First, the one who know how to value their hard earned money is the one who have savings in the bank. Second, the one who is living a happy go lucky life. Spend their salary on new clothes, new gadgets, spending their time together with their friends in the parks or wherever they want to go. And after two weeks upon they receive their salary they need to ask their friends if they can borrow money because their family need money in Philippines. My point is, we have only one day off in one week. But those Filipina who is struggling their finances is the one you will see that have new clothes every Sunday. The one who have new and latest gadgets like cellphones and tablets.

So to those who is planning to go abroad, our dream is to give good life to our family that is why we are willing to sacrifice. You can justify your sacrifices if you know how to spend wise. Plan how to manage your finances and don't forget to put number one in your list the ''I will open a bank account for myself to save some money''... for later, when I can go back home to my beloved family and country.

Know your rights for your own protection

In one of my previous post, I told you, what can happen to you when you go abroad without any information how to protect yourself there. There are several countries already well known to give you a bad experience. One word is used for this and be aware of this. It is right! "Modern slavery". As you will read in my next post: To find a better work then in Malaysia or several other countries, you need to be prepared to pay a higher amount to go there. Malaysia is cheap because you cant really earn money there. That's not only an experience by my own. Try to be informed before you choose a country. Go to an Internet shop if you don't own a computer, take a friend with you who might be helpful for you to do some research and then: Search for basic facts before you decide your prefered country where you want to stay for the next two years of your life. Far away from home, from your friends, maybe without any contact to other ones than your employer. Search for information and experiences from other ones. Do not just believe what the agency might tell you. Try to find contact to other ones who have already work there.

Here are few IMPORTANT reminders, a Domestic Helper must know:

Know Your Rights
Breach Of Conditions Of Stay
Overstaying And Illegal Work
Have as minimum a copy of your Passport always in your hand. Same from the Visa.
Photo copy your Employment contract, Passport and Visa and leave a copy to your family.
Be extra careful of your documents while you are traveling, put it in your hand bag and don't leave anywhere.
Be aware and be extra careful if someone approach you in the airport and ask you to carry some of her belongings.
Be careful that you will not fall on the hands of syndicate and become their drug carrier.
Always take note important contact  numbers for emergency cases so you can call for assistance.


For the sake of all my fellow Filipina working as a helper in Hong Kong and in other country. And to those who wish to go abroad for the first time. I wish that through this blog site of mine you will learn some important things to help yourself once you are in foreign country, far away from home and family. We are alone once we step in the country where we want to work for our family. That is why we need to know our rights. We need to know about illegal works, that most of the time our own employer is the one who is asking us to do it. To have common understanding on illegal work, any work done outside of the working place (address written in the contract) is considered illegal. Even if the owner of the other place of work is your employer (but different address). It is still considered illegal. You need to put it in your mind that the employment contract approved by the concerned authorities, especially the Immigration Department is very specific on work place, duties and responsibilities of the domestic worker and the employer. But I know by myself that it is hard to refuse to our employer especially if they are the good employer. Because once we refuse, we will find our self being terminated. And that is what we need to avoid also. Our situation is very hard between the Hong Kong law and between our employer. We need our job, we need our salary for our family, for our dream. We did not go this far just to be terminated by not following our employers order. All we need to do is to be aware and extra careful if we don't have choice but to follow our employer to do the illegal work that they ask from us.


If your refusal leads to termination of contract. Or there is another reason that your employer terminate your contract. Your working visa will automatically be cut to 14 days starting on the day your employer ask you to leave your workplace. This 14 days is enough to find new employer. If not, your agency will ask you to go in the Immigration Department to apply for visa extension to avoid you to become overstay.

In case of emergency and you need help, here are some important phone number (for Hong Kong only).
9155-4023 (Consular Assistance)
5529-1880 (Labor)
6345-9324 (OWWA)

For further Information:
Consulate website: www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph
Facebook: Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong
Email: hongkong.pcg@dfa.gov.ph
Fax: 2866-9885


Rights you might need to know when you want to go to Saudi Arabia: "Saudi Arabia in 2013 passed new rules that grant domestic workers one day’s rest a week and guarantee the payment of their salaries."

In Hongkong: My second and worst employer

Before my two years contract end with my first employer, I decided not to renew my contract with them and instead, I go to several agencies in Hong Kong to find a new employer. My reason why I don't want to renew my contract was: I really don't have rest daily and my house chores is more loaded than the first year that I am with them. If it is summer, my lady boss ask me to wash her car at 12:00 o'clock noon time even if it is 33 degrees and the sun shine directly on me. And if it is Winter time, she ask me to wash her car at around 6:00 A.M even if it is 3 degrees Celsius outside. She don't care if I get sick or what ever happened to her helper. And one time, I experienced my first Winter in my life and by December of 2010 it is so cold already and I got sick. I am coughing and I have fever. They ask me to go and see the doctor so I have medicine. But still I am working and at night time when I already want to sleep they ask me to sleep in the living room and they give me the folding bed to use. If it is cold inside of the close room at winter time, how much more outside? But I cannot do anything. So now that I finish my contract I don't want to stay with them anymore.

One of my friend, recommend to me the sister of her employer. They want to hire a helper for the first time because she is planning to  start working again since  her son is 3 years old already and need to go to school so she can find work for her own. That is why she need to hire a helper so there is someone who will take care the boy when he come back from school and the parents are away. My friend also tell me that the family that she is working is a good family, so she is recommending me to the sister of her boss. I grab the chance and accept that employer. We signed the contract April 2012 just after my first contract end. So when I go back in Philippines April 12, 2012 for my vacation I already have new employer. My new working visa come out on the 3rd week of June that same year. and June 30, I fly back to Hong Kong to start working under my new employer.

But soon after a week since I start working, my lady boss have this bad habit that slowly show up everyday. She is not satisfied of all the things that I done in the house, from cleaning to cooking and also she is always complaining that I don't know how to take care her kid. I talk to her and I explain that it takes time before the boy will become close to me because I am a total stranger. And I also talk to both of them (Ma'am and Sir) that they need to help me in my first 2 months so I will become a familiar face to their son and soon after that, the boy and me will start to have bonding and become close because he know I am already part of their family. But as soon when the husband go to work in the morning, Ma'am will pushed the boy to me. She don't want to feed her son. I need to do that. But the little boy still don't know me so he don't want me to feed him and he is asking his Mum. And that is the reason that the Mum will start to get angry.

The cleaning problem start after one week of my stay. After I turned the house upside down to clean every corner. Now she is not satisfied anymore. She need to find reason to complain and nag. She say that I did not clean the floor properly. But I am thinking, how come that I did not clean it properly that aside from using vacuum cleaner everyday, I still mop the floor. And I mop the floor 2 times a day. Morning and evening. So I need to think a solution for that problem. Everyday instead of using the floor mop after the vacuum, I use towel to clean the floor using my bare hands. And instead of cleaning the floor 2 times a day, I make it 3 times if that is the solution that she will stop nagging on me. And it is effective. She cannot find any reason to scold because of the way I clean the house, so she need to find another reason just to get angry and can start to nag again. And she find another reason through  the food, on how I cooked. She  teach me the way how she cook their food since she is the one who is cooking when I am still not there. When we are eating dinner, the little boy and Sir praising the food saying it is yummy. The next day, she talk to me and she told me that Sir is complaining about the food last night. She told me ''Your Sir say the food last night have no taste. He want that food to be a little salty''. So I need to remember that for the next time I will cook that particular food I need to add a bit more salt. I have notes in the kitchen for myself reminder written in ''Tagalog''.

After only two days, I cooked again the same food. Since I remember that Sir and the small boy keep saying that it is ''yummy'' then the Mum approached me and told me that next time I need to add salt cause Sir want it a bit salty. What I do is I just add a very little salt than the usual. Here comes dinner time, and Sir complain that the food is salty. He then ask me to prepare the wok pan and he is the one who go in the kitchen and cooked it again and he add sugar. He also told me that he don't want salty food. So, that is my chance to tell and ask him a question. I say '' Sir, Mum told me the other day that you complain this same food because you want it to be salty. I just add only a very small amount of salt today since I remember that you and your kids keep on saying it is yummy''. Sir say, ''I don't want salty food''. So again I ask him, who is telling the truth and who will be the one I need to follow?

Everyday I feel like I am living in hell in that house. Once the Mum is wake up, I know already that she will start nagging. Not only to me, because I am the last one who will receive all in the end. She is nagging her husband, she is always scolding her son. I feel that she will not survive the day if she will not scold us. So one day, when Sir and I go down in the parking lot I talk to him. That maybe I cannot finish my contract with them if his wife did not stop her habit of scolding and sometimes she is ranting in the house. Sir answer to me that if he talk to his wife and she will change a bit... if I would stay? I say, let us wait for the result Sir. He told me that Mums habit is really like that ever since he marry her but he tolerate her because she is his wife. I answer him that I cannot tolerate Mum because she is not my wife. And I am talking to him that moment because he is my boss since he is the one who signed in our contract.

I notice the next day that Mum is so silent and she treat me nice and even her son. But after one week she start again her old habit. So I tell them again that I can work the whole day with out rest. I can live in their house even if I don't have enough food. But I cannot stay if I don't have peace of mind. That everything I do she need to complain and get mad at me.

Another thing that I don't like is, once a week we go in her mothers house and she is asking me to clean the whole house. I know that this is illegal and I don't want that one day the police will caught me. Here in Hong Kong it is under the law that you only need to work in your employer's house. Even if your employer is the one who ask you to work in other house, like what happened to me. That is still illegal! You have to learn and know your rights before you go and work as a domestic helper in any country. You can read it, and YOU MUST READ IT in your employment contract on page 1, number 4 (A) and (B). The best thing to do is ''don't just sign your contract''. After you have it in your hand, read and understand what is in your contract because the Hong Kong government is really following and implementing the rules. Do not commit the mistake of saying that you do not know that it is illegal to work outside of the approved place of work (address written in the contract). Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. I know my rights but she insist what she want.

So after 2 months of my stay, I give my one month notice (break contract letter) to Sir. Because I can no longer stay. I cannot follow what she ask me to do because I know it is illegal and she don't want to listen. If it is only about my work in their house, I can work because that is why I am in Hong Kong to work and I know what kind of work I have. But what she is doing to me is unacceptable. And once I refuse she is getting mad and I don't want to wait for the time that she will do harm to me like what other employer is doing to their helper.

I know, there is still a lot of good employer in Hong Kong. The only thing I need is to find a good agency who cares about us even if we are only a domestic helper. In Hong Kong, it is hard for a domestic helper to find new employer if you are terminated or a broke your contract. You need to pay a big amount of money to the agency if you have broke your contract. But if you did finish your contract, you will pay only 10% of your one month salary to the agency. So I always advice to all the Filipino that I meet there, that if they can have more patience they need to do so that they can finish there 2 years contract. But I never expected that it will happen to me.

The next thing I do, after I terminate my contract I search for agencies who really care even a bit for the applicants. After three days of search, I found the JL Employment Center. It is located in Shop C. 70.B 2/F Kwai Chung Plaza, 7-11 Kwai Foo Road, Kwai Chung New Territories HK. The lady boss Ms. Lucia Chung and her staff is very kind and helpful. Even if she is a Chinese but she show a real concern about the helper. She is the first agent I know that she always ask the helper if how is the treatment of the employer to them. She find employer for me. A Christian Chinese couple with a 5 years old daughter and the Mum is 6 months pregnant to their second child. And this time... I am so lucky to find a really good Chinese family!

Another try to make my dream come true

After my 2 years contract in Malaysia (from Dec. 11, 2007 - Dec. 11, 2009), I decided to go to Hong Kong. I once again go in my previous agency, the Greenfields International Manpower Services. Located at 5th Floor, Room 504 & 505, LBH Building 1413A, Mabini St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines. Even though I have a bad experience in Malaysia but I am still positive about the agency that they are not a fake recruiter since they already send me to Malaysia. I need to trust them especially that I don't know places and agencies in Manila.

The process is all the same like when I apply for the first time to work abroad. I attend a 3 days seminar in Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) about Language and Culture familiarization. I attend a Pre -departure Orientation Seminar (PEDOS), I undergo medical examination if I am fit to work. The only thing I did not do is to go for 3 weeks training in household course (NCll). I still use my training certificate from 2007 when I go to Malaysia because it will expired after 5 years. So many applicants that work in country and apply again in other agency still need to go in household training course and pay again. Because they don't know that they can use the training certificate until 5 years. So when they apply, but compare to going to Malaysia, the agency is collecting a very big amount of money from all their applicants. Without any receipt. The staff just write it down in the logbook and let us sign there.

When I go to Malaysia, I pay 6,000.00 PHP for my placement fee (not mentioning about my 6 months salary deduction when I arrive there). This time, the agency is asking from all the applicants bound to HongKong 85,000.00 PHP placement fee. I am ready for this since I really know about this from my sister in law and my best friend who was working in Hong Kong that time. I need to go in a lending company of the agency to borrow money so I can give them my placement fee in full before I fly to Hong Kong.

When I arrive in Hong Kong International Airport  (that was April 11, 2010). From the instruction given to me by my Philippine agency,  I need to call the Hong Kong agents office to let them know that I am already there. I need to wait for the staff of our Hong Kong agents to fetch me up. I meet 3 other Filipina there also waiting for the same staff. From Hong Kong International Airport we travel by bus and we go straight to the Immigrition office. There we need to fill up application form for the Hong Kong ID. We need to have this ID to work and stay in Hong Kong. After we are done in the Immigrition office, it is the time to go to our agents office. After we arrive in the agents office, we drop our luggage there and go straight to the clinic few steps away because we need to have a medical check up again. Urine, stool, chest xray and pregnancy test.

After that hectic on the first day in Hong Kong I have time to rest in my agents office while waiting for the time my employer will pick me up. And the time come,  April 11, 2010 around 6:00 P.M my employer arrive in my agents office to pick me up. Now the real life to become an OFW in Hong Kong will begin. So help me Lord... I need to gather all the courage and strength that I have. Mentally and emotionally. The next day April 12, 2010 my first official working days begin and it will last for 2 years.  I will be working in the family of  5 persons. 2 kids, the boy age 6 and girl is 8 years old, a couple and an elderly mother from my boss wife.

First day. Orientation... what to do inside the house from morning after I wake up until night time before I close my eyes to sleep. I need to wake up at 5:30 every morning to prepare all the things that the kid's need to go to school. Uniforms, socks and shoes. I need to cook foods for breakfast and lunch. I need to wake up the girl at 6:00 A.M. prepare her toothbrush and a glass of water inside the bathroom. Let her eat the breakfast while I am preparing her food for lunch in school in her lunch box. After she is done eating, I need to assist her to change into her school uniform, wear her socks and shoes for her. Comb and tie her hair and she is ready to go at 6:20 A.M. I need to go with her in the place where the school bus stop. And I need to be punctual and on time because the school bus will leave after 5 minutes. They will not wait for the late student. Then I need to be back home after the school bus left. After I arrive, I need to discipline myself, I need to wash my hand the moment I go inside the house... that is one of the most important rule. The next thing I need to do is to wake up the boy. Prepare his things in the bathroom (toothbrush with toothpaste and a glass of water), school uniform, socks and shoes and his breakfast. After he is done eating I need to help him to wear his school uniform, socks and shoes. And he is ready for the day. This time I am lucky because his father will be the one to go with the boy in his school.

After the kids are gone to school, I need to start my house chores. Starting from the rooms, tidy up their beds and clean the rooms. Then the living room and the kitchen area. NOTE: All the things inside the house must be gleaming and shining after I clean. Need that every corner of the house must be clean and shining too. And dust free. And I need to start the washing machine for the laundry then hang the clothes. At noon time, I need to cook for our lunch. And prepare food in a lunch box for the boy's lunch in school. At 11:30 I need to leave the house to bring the boy's food in school. After I come back in the house I will eat my lunch and prepare to leave again to fetch the girl from school bus stop. After we come back at around 4:00P.M I need to proceed for my house work. I need to clean up again the house so no dust is visible in their eyes. And also to keep myself busy because they told me that I am there to work and not to rest. If my laundry is dry, I need to iron it and some need only to be fold. At 6:00 In the evening I need to prepare our food for dinner. And while cooking, I need to assist the two kids to take a shower one by one and at 7:00 o'clock we need to eat. After dinner, I need to tidy up the table, clean the dishes and all the kitchen utensils that I use for cooking. Throw away the garbage and clean up the living/dinning room area. And after all, I need to clean up myself and get ready to sleep. And that is around 11:00 - 11:30 almost midnight. Every weekend I need to add in my daily routine is to wash two cars and all the windows. This is my daily and weekly routine since day one until I finish my two years contract with my first employer in Hong Kong. I am only lucky that I did not go to the market because the old woman whom we called ''Popo'' (grandma) is the one who do the marketing. And here in Hong Kong I have my once a week day off and after three months stay in my employer I avail also the statutory holiday. Statutory holiday means all public holidays in Hong Kong is also a holiday for domestic helper.

Even if I work nonstop everyday from the moment I open my eyes until the time I need to go to sleep again. And from Monday to Saturday, but here in Hong Kong I have a day off and the salary is really the total amount of what stated in my contract when I signed it. And from my salary, I send my 3 daughters in colleges. Slowly... I am reaching for my dreams.

My first experience working as a domestic helper abroad

September 2007

First timer, full of courage, full of dreams, full of hopes but so nervous. This is me, this is what I feel the first time that I am on my way to a local agency where I apply for work as domestic helper. When I arrive in the agency office, I give my bio data and the copy of my passport to the staff. She ask few more question from me after she read my bio data. She ask me which country I am planning to go and work. That time I really don't have money so I choose Malaysia since I know that the placement fee is more lower than in Hong Kong. I ask how much do I need to pay and she told me only 6,000.00 pesos. But that amount is for the agency only. I still need to pay for my medical examination and of course my training in household course I also ask how much is my monthly salary in Malaysia and she say it is equivalent to 400.00 US dollar and it is stated there in the contract. I ask if I still need to pay in the agency aside from 6,000.00 pesos. She said no that is all you need to pay. Then she let me sign the contract and she told me she will call me once I already have employer.

Last week of October, I receive a call from my agency that the employer sign my contract already and I need to report in the office to sign my job order and to undergo the medical and physical examination. After I done all the requirements needed, my agency send me to Manila. I am from the province and their main office is there. In Manila, they send me to take my 3 weeks training program in household training. I need the certificate from my training because that is one of the requirements of the agency. After training, I need to attend a 3 days free seminar about language and culture familiarization in OWWA. I also need to go in TESDA for my assessment test, followed with the pregnancy test and lastly I need to attend a half day seminar for pre- departure orientation.

December 11, 2007

This is it. This is the day I was waiting for, that all my dreams will come true. I can give a better life for my family, I can send my three girls in school, I can buy them foods and I also can give them some material things that I know I really cannot give if I only stay here in the Philippines. When I arrive in Malaysia, the staff from Malaysian agency is the one who pick up me and the other Filipina from the airport. Because it is around 8:00 in the evening already we go straight to the house of the owner of the agency and sleep there that night.

The next day, the two of us go in our agents office. From there the staff accompany us in a clinic for follow up medical examination. Then back in the agents office and wait for our employer to pick us up. That night, I meet the family that I will serve for two years. But the very next day, my employer talk to me that I don't have day off because my day off is paid already together with my salary. The next thing is my salary, my employer told me that for the first six months, I will receive half of my salary only because I need to pay my six months salary deduction from my agency. I ask, how come that I have a six months salary deduction that my Philippine agency did not told me about that? I ask them before and they told me, I need to pay 6,000.00 pesos that's all. I ask if I still need to pay again they say no. Another worst thing is, my salary. In my contract my one month salary is equivalent to 400.00 US dollar but I receive 850 Ringgit (Malaysian dollar) equivalent of 200 US dollar only every month.

I send all the 400RM (4,600.00 pesos) to my family. But that is not enough. My eldest is first year in college, my second and my youngest girls is already in high school. My husband is jobless. What will I do that time? I am so hopeless. I call my agency here in Manila and ask them why I have a six months salary deduction when I arrive in Malaysia that they never told me about that while I am still in the Philippines? They say it is the agent in Malaysia ask for that payment. I also ask why in my contract my salary there is equivalent in 400 US dollar but I only receiving now 850 Malaysian Ringgit or 200 US dollar? The answer??? Malaysia is a Muslim country and they did not follow on what is in that contract.

I am tied up in my contract. I don't know what to do. I don't have day off . I don't have a chance to see and talk to other Filipina and ask what should I need to do. No cellphone, no one is there to give advice on how to deal in that situation.That is really the time that I feel so alone and lonely in that country. So far away from my Homeland. Moments like this, I need to hold on to my dreams. I need to think properly, I need to survive, to be strong to finish my 2 years contract. I still need to reach for my dreams. I really learn a lot of important lessons from my first experience abroad.

That before we go we need to study and learn what is in our contract We really need to learn our rights even if we are only a domestic helper. We need to show that to our employer. So even if we are only a domestic helper, if they see, if they know that we know our rights, they will respect us.

I stayed in Malaysia for two years without day off even only one day. December 11, 2009 after 2 years, I go back in the Philippines. And in my mind, my next destination is Hong Kong.

How to apply to work abroad

1. Passport

If you are planning to work as an Oversea Filipino Worker, the very first thing you need to have is a Passport. It is easy to go in any employment agencies if you have a ready passport.

2. Agency

Start to search for agencies and make sure that your chosen agency is the one who is accredited by the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration ( POEA ). You need to be aware that nowadays so many fake recruiters are active. All they want is your hard earned money.

Next, the agency will let you sign a bio data and a contract. They will also take a video from you. The agency will take your passport and they keep it. They will send that contract, video and your bio data in their tie-up agency in the country where you wish to work so they can find employer for you. The employer who come in that said agency will take a look in your video and bio data. If the employer will choose you, soon your agency here in Philippines will call you for the next step you need to do.

3. Training

As soon as the agency notify you that you are already hired, they will send you to a training center where you need to take up a 3 weeks course in NC ll. After 3 weeks you can have your training certificate. You also need to go in TESDA for your assessment test. (All of this, you really need to prepare, cost you a lot of money).

4. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)

The next step is you need to attend a language training and culture familiarization of the country you are going to work for three days in OWWA. (This is free).

5. Medical

You need to undergo also a medical examination. It includes mental and physical examination if you are FIT to WORK. And after all is clear and you are ready to fly, you still need to undergo a pregnancy test if you are a woman.

6.Pre- departure Orientation (PEDOS)

Three days before your flight will go you need to attend a pre- departure or PEDOS seminar. There, the trainer will teach you what to do once you arrive in the airport. Then same as what you need to do if you arrive in your destination. They also teach you how to act once you are in front of your employer. All of this you need to take notes because for me it is a very big help especially if you are first timer to go abroad.

In training, OWWA and PEDOS I learned a lot. They teach me to be strong mentally and emotionally. It makes me strengthen my hopes that I can survive thousands of miles away from home, alone and lonely.

To be an OFW?

What does the shortcut OFW mean?

Let me begin with the shortcut. It stands for "Oversea Filipino Worker" and it means a special type of person, who is working abroad. The normal way of life and to earn enough money to cover the daily expenses in the Philippines is not that easy. That is most of the time the reason for many women or men to try their luck by working in another country. Far away from their family, loved ones or growing kids. The step to go abroad is one of the most difficult decision someone can make for the sake of his family because you will stay far away from maybe your growing kids.  A normal contract will last two years before you are having a chance to come back home to visit your family. If you will be a lucky one and was re-contracted, you have to go back abroad after maybe 3 weeks... for another two years.

You will see your kids growing up only by pictures. Maybe you con contact your family once a week on your day off... if you are having a good employer. If you are not that lucky... you can be happy if you will not become the topic of a headline in the daily press. But this is another story and will be told later.

How to become an OFW?
There are several requirements before you can start into another country. It is necessary to have a passport to leave the country. At least you need to be 23 years old before you can apply for one. You need to have a dream for your family to give them a brighter future, you need to have a very strong determination to be away from home and you're family. You need to be prepared emotionally and you need to be aware that working abroad even as a domestic helper only is a very tough job.

Just like me, when I start to plan to go abroad. I need to gather all the courage and strength because all I want is to give my family, especially my kids, a bright future in the highest possible form of education. All I need to do is to focus on my dream, and even if it is hard to be away from them, I am holding the hope and courage in my heart that I can give them already the good life and after 2 years I will be back home and be together with them again. That was the dream...

The real process how to apply for a work abroad will follow in a later post.

Sharing experiences

Introduction
I am following several daily newspapers or internet services, spreading news and nearly every day I have to think by myself: I pity that guy. Why he/she did not know this? And then, I start to remember, when I was younger: I was also inexperienced and need to make a lot experiences to become that person, I am today.

And this is the initial idea why I decided to open this blog! I wanted to share my own experiences to help others. If I am able to help even only one person to find a good agency for work abroad... I am already happy.

When I can read about scam, torturing staff or bad experiences in Malaysia or other countries such like Hongkong or Saudi Arabia to name only few among where my fellow Filipinos are working, to serve their employer and sometimes in not really nice contract conditions... then it is time to do something against it. This blog should become a place to share experiences, blacklist bad agencies, wherever they are located, helping to find a good agency or a good work.