Immigrants from Filipino

As an immigrant, what has compelled to you to risk everything that you have in your country especially for someone who’s like me, a Filipino, what made you decide to leave Philippines? Is it in hopes of having a better life abroad? For the most part, we immigrants, this was deep rooted from our OFW culture which plays a major role for us having to acquire this kind of mentality that having a chance to live thousands of miles away from our motherland offers a greener pasture despite of having to work a rigorous job that compares to nothing you have been doing before in the Philippines. Therefore, we confuse the that thought from genuine to the misleading. Many of us, immigrants dreams of having to escape the life of poverty in the Philippines with an aim to provide a better life for our families. There are more than a thousands of reason on why we came here to the Land of the Long White Cloud, but we could agree upon that no matter who you are and where you come from there is no doubt that you also aim to improve the state of life you have been before so coming here is the most plausible choice as it is a universal desire for anyone and us Filipino immigrants are in it too.

For some reason, the journey on coming here is quite a pain. Not only because of the immigration policies but also the agencies that serves as the bridge to fulfill a dream a step closer to reality. These agencies were like predators they sense the appetite of a hungry, longing clients that they feast on its prey. This is where their businesses flourish with ease, most likely to say the clients who are lured by the glittering promises of the advertisement such as the picture above shown. Naturally, these clients are more than willing to spend to avail this kind opportunity. I heard people reached to the point of selling all their properties which includes house, car, and even had enough courage gathered to leave a stable, fulfilling job to risk these to have something more. Indeed, no one settles for anything less, but in this case this could be based on your prerogative. Most of these clients are determined so strongly as they yearn for a life abroad for this would mean earning dollars despite having to no avail the career they want to have, but still more than willing to jump at every opportunity or chance they have without giving a critical thought or doing prior research of what they are getting themselves into like having a background of the destination you’re aspiring to be staying as well ensuring the agencies who offers these opportunities are legitimate considering their reputation they have with their previous clienteles.

The story that has grabbed the attention of the Filipino community here in New Zealand which brought shock waves is the case of Mrs. Annalisa Casaje, who was just one out of a thousands of immigrants who holds a student visa in the duration of her stay in New Zealand, for the past three to five years, this is the point in time when Aotearoa as was at its peak in the industry of education export. You may or may not have heard about this industry, but exactly is this? During 2008, when USA is suffering from an economic meltdown this was due to the global recession happening that time where New Zealand was gravely inflicted of this crisis - several factories and business establishments collapsing after another which in turn, many people losing jobs which made them resort to finding one in other places consequently, families are being affected throughout the country. (Promises of the false advertisements?)

• English tests such as PTE, TOEFL or IELTs is no longer needed
• No Job experience necessary for the Job
• Guaranteed annual salary i.e. $40,000
• healthcare is provided by the company

These incidents are true, a friend of my dad needed to go back to the Philippines because of an illegal recruiter. He was recruited by an agent from a ‘legitimate’ recruitment agency (or so he thought) he was promised a guaranteed job in New Zealand having to work as a skilled worker with a salary more than $45,000 a year. As the breadwinner of his family, this of course had a great appeal on him. He would be able to earn twice as much from what he has been earning in the Philippines.

This was a blessing in disguise on his part. A promise of having a seemingly blissful life overseas is at his fingertips subsequently, he accepted the job. He was advised to comply to the requirements needed. To make things easier the agent offered to do all the work in exchange of a certain amount of money, as he’s a trusted one, he agreed. Few weeks before leaving the country with all the requirements set. He wondered why he was on student visa. He was surprised to find out that he needed to study first for a couple of months or so to serve as the gateway for a work to residence visa. With little to no money left he shelled out cash and loan money from some friends and family just to pay for the school fees once he get to New Zealand as he was able to get a guaranteed part - time work.