Filipinos Taking Risks in China

FILIPINOS TAKING RISKS IN CHINA

Alde and Chace left the Philippines in hope of a better future in Hongkong. But after a few days they were told to go to China. They were placed in a flat in Shenzhen and met more than 15 other Filipinos who were also hired from the Philippines. The agency said they have many jobs for them in Hongkong but after a few days with no hope for a job they were transferred to China with still no work available for them.

“The agency told us that there were many jobs for us when we get here but when we saw the other Filipinos crammed in the house, we then realized it would be difficult for us to get a job. We thought they have good connections with the school.”27-year-old Alde said.

Chace added, “Some of us even think they have a school. So what we did, we were the ones who looked for our jobs.”

The two stayed together for nearly two months before Chace found a job. But for Alde, a Pampangueno, it was difficult because not many schools hire male especially not native speakers. And so many schools discriminate Asians by saying NO ASIANS on their ads. This what makes a Filipino very difficult in finding a job in China if you just go there with a tourist visa.

“The schools preferred female than male because most of the teachers are women.” Eli answered when asked about the advantage of female than male.


A Pro-shop coordinator in Clark, Pampanga, Alde then began to go out and back to China many times to renew his visa. After three months, he began to conduct private tutorials in Shenzhen and then teach in a kindergarten school. But still no working visa was given because in Shenzhen only a few schools can give you that visa.

For Chace, 28 years old also from Pampanga, she was lucky to be hired but she was just given a business visa, which means 6 months multiple entry to China.

“ I have been out and back to China for three times just to renew my visa. Back then I did not know how those kinds of visas work. But when the Chinese government became strict in issuing visas, I decided I really should find a school which can provide me a working visa”, Chace, a marketing assistant in the Phils said.

After more than a year, the two met again but this time they found a work in the same school. The school provides a working visa, which is a huge relief for them because during that time the Chinese government became strict with foreigners going in and out of China to be given multiple visa. And to top it all, the new foreign teachers of the school were Filipinos.

Some have already worked but the contract ended, another one has just come back from the Phils after her contract ended and another one was in her first time to work abroad. But all of them had the same goal, to be in a school, which will let them have a working visa.

Having a working visa means you are working legally in that country. In China, so many Filipinos have taken the risk of accepting jobs that only give business visa. This is quite dangerous, for you might be arrested and deported. Eli and Chace knew some Filipinos who were arrested for such illegal act.

“We Filipinos are malakas ang loob. We are willing to take risk,” answered Chace when asked about this predicament. “So just take the risk but be sure you are not alone. I mean you have to have friends or relatives here in China in case you have problems especially financially. And don’t expect there are many jobs here. Yes there are many but most of them require native speakers meaning from English speaking countries.”

Alde added, “ If you want to work here just don’t be assured that you could get hired so fast. Some of our friends even waited for more than 6 months before they were hired. But just try your luck. But just try your luck.”