An organization for Pinoys in Shenzhen

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/38857/Pinoy-workers-foster-camaraderie-in-Shenzhen Mid-April&nbsp2007

An organization for Pinoys in Shenzhen"> An organization for Pinoys in Shenzhen By Rinnah Flores

In China, thousands of Filipinos arrive each year in hope of landing a well-paying job. Domestic helpers, teachers, architects, designers, oil workers and many other Filipino workers come here, hoping to land a job that would give them a higher income and better opportunities. Shenzhen is one of the top destinations for overseas Filipino workers. Many say that after Hong Kong, it is the place nearest to home. As a result of the increasing number of Filipinos coming to Shenzhen, an organization was launched in 1999 in Shekou, Shenzhen, for the primary purpose of getting members of the Filipino community help each other. Pinoys in Shekou Society or PISSO, is a self-help organization for Filipinos in Shenzhen, and is the only group recognized by the Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou. Members all come from different professions and different places in the Philippines. The organization's aims are : to strengthen ties within the Filipino community by planning activities, to have effective communication between the organization and the Philippine Consulate, and to provide financial assistance to members. In line with these objective, the group led by its president, Mel Caraan, organized various activities this year, including a Valentines Day get-together held at Huayang Hotel. The group also collaborates with the Guangzhou Consulate in organizing activities that could get together Filipinos throughout Guangdong Province, and is the first to know about upcoming events or news that affect the community. PISSO has also been instrumental in providing relief or help to Filipinos in distress. According to Peter Uy, external affairs officer of PISSO, "Whenever a Pinoy from Shenzhen asks help from the Consulate he is directly referred to us." He cites one incident where three Filipinas who were recruited as teachers from the Philippines learned on arrival in Shenzhen that they were expected to do domestic work. The three were referred to PISSO and were given assistance in going back home. In another case, a musician approached PISSO for help after his Cantonese boss refused to pay him any salary after months of playing with a band. PISSO group members, together with the Shenzhen Police, confronted the employer, and were successful in getting the musician out of his misery. The organization, with the help of the Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou, is connecting Filipinos in China. The group hopes to promote camaraderie among Filipinos here and also provide them with services.

Dahil sa hirap ng buhay sa Pilipinas halos lahat ng mga Pilipino gustong mangibang bansa upang maiahon sa kahirapan ang pamilya. Kahit saang bansa pupuntahan, kahit gaano kadelikado, kahit anong trabaho papasukin at kahit pagiging illegal na pgpasok sa ibang bansa ginagawa para lamang makatikim ng kaginhawaan ang mga mahal sa buhay.

Isa sa mga bansang madaming naeengganyong pumunta ay ang China. Sa kadahilanang malapit lamang eto sa Pilipinas at propesyonal ang magiging trabaho. At dahil sa madami ang gustong pumunta,
sinasamantala naman ito ng ating mga kababayang nagpapangako ng siguradong trabaho sa China. Ito sana ay maganda kung hindi nila pinapaniwala ang kapwa nila na may trabaho ito agad pgdating sa China at hinihingan pa nang napakalaking pera sa trabahong wala naman.

Isa si June na nabiktima ng illegal recruiter na si Joyce sa Baguio. Si June ay 32 gulang at isang college instructor sa Baguio nang anim na taon bago naisipang magbakasakali sa China.

"Mababa kasi ang sweldo sa Pinas kaya napag-isipan kong pumunta ng China upang mgturo", ani June, na may asawa at dalawang anak na naiwan sa Pilipinas.

Isa sya sa pangatlong batch na nirecruit ni Joyce. Apat silang Pilipino na pumuntang Macau bago dumiretso sa China. 75T ang binayaran nila kay Joyce, kasama na dito ang ticket nila na Tiger Airways at tourist visa. Sa tita ni Joyce sila nakituloy sa Macau at samantalang nandun pinahanap sila ng trabaho sa pangangatwiran ni Joyce na mas okay ang Macau sa China. Ngunit dahil sa pangungulit nila na pumunta na ng China sinamahan sila ni Joyce at nghanap-hanap ng trabaho sa Dongguan at Guangzhou.Dito na napag-isipisip nila na walang nag-aantay na trabaho para sa kanila sa China.

"Nghanap si Joyce ng mga ibang agent para makapasok kami ng trabaho. Nauna yung dalawa kong kasama. Ngbayad sila sa agent ng 10T bago pinapunta sa Jilin ngunit yung trabaho nila ay pagiging tutor lamang at hindi full-time teacher",sabi ni June.

Sa kalaunan ay hindi pa rin nakahanap si June ng trabaho kaya ngmakaawa sya sa agent nung dalawang nakaalis na na tulungan din siya. Nung una ay inayawan sya ngunit dahil sa tulong na din nung dalawang Pilipino ay pinapunta na rin sya sa Jilin.

"Ngayon ngtuturo na ako sa isang primary school. Pero ang masaklap ay wala akong kontrata. Ang working visa ko ay pinaggastusan ko ng 20T dahil hindi ang school ang ngsponsor sa akin,"dagdag ni June.

Dahil sa naranasan ni June, pinagiisipan na nyang umuwi ng Pinas sa katapusan ng taon. " Hindi madaling makakita ng trabaho dito ang mga Pinoy. Grabe ang discrimination sa China. Kahit nga dito sa akin napakalayo ng agwat ng pagtrato nila sa puti at sa hindi puti. Napakaganda ng mga tirahan ng mga puti kung ikokompara mo sa amin. At ang school ang ngproprovide nyan,"sabi ni June.

"Sa mga gustong pumunta sa China, kung maaari wag na kayong makipagsapalaran dito. Yan lang ang masasabi ko. Diyos nila ang puti dito. Ang pinoy mahihirapan makahanap ng trabaho dito,"dagdag ni June.

Marami na ngang Pinoy sa China pero marami din ang walang trabaho o ngtatrabaho gamit lamang ang business visa. Sa mga gusto talagang pumunta, huwag na kayong mgpatulong sa mga recruiter kung hindi sila yung licensyado sa POEA. Huwag padadala sa mga pangakong may trabahong nag-aantay dahil hindi kayo matatanggap sa mga eskwelahan kung hindi kayo nakikita at nakakausap ng mga principal o punong-guro.

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.”