IN WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST decision he ever made, a teacher chose to give up a stable career in the country in search of a brighter, if more uncertain, prospect in a foreign land.

Mario Garcia, a mechanical engineering graduate of Far Eastern University, used to teach high school physics and mathematics in the Philippines. His sense of change and adventure had him accepting an invitation to New Zealand to do volunteer work in a charity organization.

Even without the promise of a permanent job or a place to stay, he saw the opportunity to open new doors and a chance to grow personally and professionally. He accepted the offer to work as a national director of the New Zealand-based International Student Ministry (ISM).

Though this meant he would have to move miles away from home, there was no turning back for Mario. “The only thing that was holding me back was the thought of leaving behind my wife, Saling, and my daughter, Sarah,” the 52-year-old ex-teacher told the Inquirer.

But knowing that his family would soon follow him abroad made everything easier for all of them. In August 2001, he was off to New Zealand on his own.

The challenge of fending for himself started s soon as he set foot in Christchurch, New Zealand. For months, he applied for teaching positions and just about any other job which he thought fitted his skills. But luck was scarce. No job offer came because many of his teaching qualifications were not recognized there.

Hard labors

“I was ready to take on any job available then,” Mario said as he was left to the mercy of accepting one menial job after another. A man who does not give up without a fight, he forged on. Though not accustomed to blue-collar jobs, beggars could not be choosers, he said.

The list of odd jobs he was forced to take included work as a packer and sorter of magazines in a printing press; factory work in an ice cream company, and laborious work in a supply chain depot distributing goods to supermarkets. He also had a stint as a house and office mover and a packer of meat patties.

All of it entailed a lot of heavy physical work and quickly depleted what vigor Mario had when he came to New Zealand. “It was tough. There were times I would wake up in the morning and I couldn’t move or feel my hands because these were too tired,” he recalled.

Even his diet significantly suffered. When he was in the Philippines, his diet consisted mainly of fish. In New Zealand, however, pork and instant goods became his staple food.

Add to that the burden of living away from his family. Though Mario had traveled to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh, among other countries, the visits were mostly for seminars or workshops. None of it lasted over two weeks.

Mario said: “It was the most difficult time in my life. I had no emotional and physical support and I found myself asking why I am even here [in New Zealand]. Everything was new to me—the place, the accent, the climate, culture, being alone.”

Collecting shells

During solitary moments when he felt down, he would spend time walking on New Zealand’s sandy beaches to think and collect shells, now a hobby for him. Whale-watching never failed to lift his spirits and provided for great entertainment.

What kept him sane was the laptop computer he bought for the sole purpose of keeping abreast of his family at home. “Before I left the Philippines, I first taught Saling and Sarah how to chat using the computer,” he detailed. Mario said he would chat with them almost every day.

Later, he realized what a positive experience it was for him to spend time on his own. “My volunteer work for ISM involves providing emotional and academic support to foreign students. Living alone helped me deal with their issues better because I also experienced how it was to live away from your family,” he said.

Starting over

Left behind in the country, Saling, a teacher herself, busied herself with work and taking care of their child Sarah. In April 2002, after she graduated from grade school, they flew to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand where Mario had moved.

“We packed light,” Saling said. “Before we left the country, we sold almost everything we owned, from television to washing machine. We were prepared to start life anew.”
The family rented a small room and little by little filled it with appliances they got from auction houses or op-shops (opportunity shops) in Kiwi (a New Zealand native, also the native language) for garage sales. “Everything in the house was second-hand and it’s OK,” Mario candidly revealed.

Not long after, he was able to buy a used car, ending the days when he had no choice but to ride a bicycle to get around. He recounted several instances when he would be riding his bicycle and rain would suddenly pour. “It is very windy here so you can just imagine how hard that was for me.”

While still looking for a more stable job, Mario took advantage of government-funded short-term vocational teaching courses, which beefed up his resumé.

Finally, a break

At long last, he got his first teaching job. He was asked to relieve a teacher for a grade school class in Riccarton College for a day. But it was this break that led to a longer teaching position—three weeks this time—at the same campus.

An experienced teacher, Mario used to teach physics and mathematics in Rural High School in Los Baños, Laguna, and later in the Pampanga Agricultural College.

When his teaching stint was over, the family decided to move to Palmerston North since there seemed to be more opportunities there. Based on his experience, Mario had speculated that the farther north you go in New Zealand, the more jobs would be available.

There they bought a modest house. “After moving a total of 18 times since we got there, we finally got to settle down,” Saling said, adding that she has become somewhat of an expert in packing.

Mario’s job hunting resumed; he says he must have sent literally hundreds of his curriculum vitae to dozens of companies. Fortunately, he landed what would be his first permanent job since he went abroad.

Rewarding system

For four years until November 2006, he worked in Te Wananga O Aetoaroa, a local university – first as an education support officer then as a quality assurance support officer. He later worked his way up to lead internal auditor. Mario is thankful that the school gave premium to the personal development of their staff, which greatly benefited him.

“If I have learned anything in my stay in New Zealand, it’s that as long as you have the skills and perseverance, you’ll reach places. Filipinos work best and excel in a rewarding system,” Mario observed.

For Pinoys who wish to work there, he advised them to bring enough pocket money and be as honest as possible during interviews as “your sin will eventually find you out,” he said.

Remembering how upset their daughter was at first when they told her they were moving, Saling asked that parents consider their children’s feelings as well should they decide to migrate abroad. “We forgot that she too has a life she would be leaving behind. But she’s OK now. She has made new friends and has adapted to the new culture very well,” the 60-year-old mother said.

Loyal to native culture

Though the family now has New Zealand citizenship, they remain loyal to their mother culture. To keep their Filipino identity, the Garcia family continues to speak Filipino at home, their meals consisting mainly of Pinoy food like adobo, chopsuey, and kare-kare.

Mario is now working as a services manager and a health and safety officer in a local hospital in Palmerston North. He said they still want to go back to the Philippines when time comes for them to retire.

For Mario and Saling, it was their faith in God that helped them pull through the adversities the past seven years in New Zealand. “You can’t ever subtract the Lord from your life,” Saling said.

And the shells Mario collected over the years?

Framed and displayed at home, underlining their love for the Almighty and for each other. An accompanying text from the framed shells read: “God is faithful. God is gracious.”