For more than a decade, Bantay OCW has helped address various issues of Filipino workers all over the world. The program has been instrumental in assisting and documenting thousands of OFW cases, as a response to various problems encountered in the course of migration and overseas work, including illegal recruitment and unfair or inhuman labor practices by some employers abroad.
I would like to share some insightful comments from readers sent through e-mail, Facebook, and responses posted on globalpinoy at www.inquirer.net. Some excerpts:
Can government repatriate philandering husbands?
Rebecca Calaor from Vatican City, Rome, writes: “Hello Susan, today your story caught my attention. Thank you for sharing this with us. Overseas work is not always a bed of roses. I have been working abroad for a long time not so much to earn money but for a mission … currently I am involved in an academic institution of the Vatican administered by the La Salle Brothers. Long ago I was in direct contact with our OFWs here. This is holy land, mind you and yet many ‘katarantaduhan’ are happening here: There are married Pinoys with other families here; women with children here with married men. But there are also many ‘good ones’ who maintain the real Pinoy values. My advice if they come is: ‘you are here for a greener pasture, so work, save, enjoy and return home ready for a better life. Take care.”
Did helping a girl in distress get this OFW into trouble?
Vicky Fernandez-Lacio from Quezon City: “I often read your column in the Inquirer and I’ve just read one this Sunday regarding the plight of an OCW helping a girl in distress. These are all eye-openers.”
David A. Laibow from San Fernando, Pampanga: “I’m writing to comment on your article about Nelson of Jeddah. I think this gentleman’s first mistake was in not summoning mall security police to effect the rescue of the girl, and making sure to keep at least two meters away from the girl (who was pinned down by a bicycle) while the rescue was being performed. But I think his troubles really began when he was asked for R1200. Everything else flowed from that.”
My husband came home a different man.
Josephine Bautista from Dubai, UAE: “Adultery is common abroad amongst men and women with husbands or wives back in the Philippines. If you are lucky enough to find a true single man or woman and if you enter in a relationship, well good for those involved. Susan, I will be glad if you can air this in your radio show and publish this as part of your segment in the newspaper. I want to share our experiences and the battles that we have fought and won against the same hurtful events that may have ruined other OFW families. And to the government: Please kindly help us better our lives.”
Ristie from Sibulan, Negros Oriental: “We have the same story. The difference is that my husband, who went to Saudi in 2010, hasn’t come home yet but already he is a different man. He is living in with a nurse and the situation is just too painful for me. We have a 2-year-old son. I know the other woman and even chatted with her. I learned of their activities through Facebook. I am also concerned of the kind of ‘sideline’ my husband is doing there. His pay is not that big yet he has plenty of money. He is also into buying and selling cars. Please help me.”
There are so many other interesting comments, but my space has allowed me to only share this much.
Susan Andes, aka Susan K is on board at Radyo Inquirer 990
dzIQ AM, Monday to Friday, 7-8:30 p.m. (Audio/ video live streaming: www.dziq.am; Hotlines: 5357209/8819423/0919-2140699; E-mail: susankbantayocw@yahoo.com/
bantayocwfoundation@yahoo.com)