“hinintay lang na maPR kami bago kami nilayasan” – di pala forever sa NZ

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

Dear Kuya: hinintay nya lang talagang magPR kami bago sya umalis at nag alsabalutan. Ang katwiran nya sa sulat nya, nagampanan na nya ang katungkulan nya bilang asawa at ama, at di naman sya titigil sa sustento sa aming mag-ina. Pero sa tingin ko, malamang ay may iba nang nagpapatibok ng puso nya, at halos lahat na ata ng mga kaibigan namin ay nauna pang nalaman sitwasyon namin, kahit wala akong naikwento. Tutoo palang the wife is always the last to know.

DI SIGURO OFW ang tinutukoy ni Leo Tolstoy nung sinabi nyang All families are happy in the same way, but each sad family is sad in its own way, pero yun ang unang naisip ko, di nagkakalayo mga happy Pinoy family rito sa New Zealand, pero iba-iba ang scenario ng mga pagbuwag ng mga pamilya rito.

Weekends together, going home tired but happy because you’ll all be having family salu-salo, Zooming other members of the extended family together and showing off how big baby is, the latest achievements of Kuya or Ate, or even how much weight Mommy / Daddy has lost. funny and seemingly insignificant memories at the time, but so precious when you realize there will be no more memories together.

It’s becoming less rare these days, when couples who go through the challenges of hardship, illness or migration traditionally become closer and more single-minded. Indeed as a motivational speaker once said, tough times never last, but tough people do. Ngayon kasi, kapag may konting kahirapan lang o gipitan, ang tendency ay sumuko at eventually maghiwalay na. Andyan na kasi ang kanya-kanyang trabaho at support group ng either husband or wife. Wala nang pag-usapan natin anu anong options ang nasa harap natin at sabay nating lusubin.

Ito ang mga scenario na naenkwentro ko, hinaharap di lang ng mga kabayang couple pero madalas ay naging sitwasyon mg mga migrant family, na di inaasaahang bukod sa migrant journey ay pati na ring challenge sa marriage ang tatahakin sa New Zealand.

Scenario A. Matagal na palang may side chick si Mr, di mabita-bitawan kahit sincere naman na ayaw na nya, lalo na’t mangingibang bayan na ang buong mag-anak.

Galing pang Middle East yung relationship nila, may karapatan na ring umasa si Side Chick, may time, energy and emotion na rin syang pinuhunan para kay Kabayang Obrero.

Dahil skilled naman si Side Chick, naconvince nyang tulungan ni Mister na makarating at eventually magka Work Visa si Side Chick. At imbes na umayos na ang relsasyon ng pamilya nang magNZ ang mag-anak ay lumalim lang lalo ang pangangaliwa ni Mister.

Scenario B. Habang naghihintay si Mister na dumating si Mrs kasama ang mga anak, may nakilalang kabayan dito sa New Zealand. Di ito nakakagulat dahil kahit malaki ang Filipino community sa NZ ay halos magkakakilala lahat sa luob ng isang siyudad o bayan, na pinagbubuklod pa lalo ng church, social, sports at related activities.

Madali at madalas magkita ang mga kabayang wala namang ibang ginagawa sa maliit na bayang hitik sa dairy farm at tagaalaga ng tupa at baka. Unti-unting nahulog ang luob ni Mister sa dalagang anak din ng kabayan. Pagdating ng kanyang pamilya ay nanlamig na si Kabayan sa ina ng kanyang mga anak at asawa ng dalawang dekada. Natural at napansin agad ni Misis na imbes na salubungin ng mainit na halik ni Mister ay iwas agad sa kama at ni ayaw na maiwan silang dalawa na wala ang mga bata.

[ I have heard of a situation where cruelly, the husband allowed the children to stay with him while keeping the newly arrived wife out. The wife had to ask help from kind kabayan as of course, she had become homeless. ]

Scenario C. Matagal nang parang magkapatid na lang ang turing ng magasawa sa isa’t isa, lalu na nung malaki na ang bunso at tumuntong na sa high school. Nabulagbulagan si Mr nung may nagpakita ng motibo kay Mrs at nanligaw, kabayan din. Dahil sa malaking siyudad nagwowork si Mr at naiwan sa probinsya para magtrabaho at mag-aral ang mag-ina, halos di na rin umuwi si Mr. Wala na syang pakialam sa physical needs ng kanyang maybahay, dahil di naman n priority ang physical na pangangailangan.

***** ***** *****

The irony is, despite the different situations, they all end up the same way. Out of a sense of duty, the father waits for the residency application to be approved, after which he informs the spouse that he wants out of the relationship. Cruelly sometimes he doesn’t even wait for a response or exit strategy for everyone’s benefit, he just ups and leaves.

This is no moral blog or advice column, just my way of telling it like it is and reflecting a social reality that affects all but seems to be particularly acute among migrant families that have gambled so much, including family well-being and the spouses’ relationship, on an adventure that will take them to places unknown.

Just an unavoidable nugget of unsolicited advice, based on someone who’s been through the wars: Whether you’re in Laoag, Dagupan, Lipa, Calapan, Dumaguete, Osamiz or Tabuk, set your priorities. Look at the long term. No matter how sexy the girl, how much she’s into you, and how amazing this opportunity is, think of what’s important to you, and take the long view.

Don’t let a few moments of pleasure turn your life upside down. Infidelity opens a Pandora’s box (or toothpaste tube) of problems, once you open (or squeeze) it, it can’t be unopened. Or unsqueezed.

Di rin pwedeng titikim ka lang or susubok ka lang maglaro ng apoy out of curiosity, because we all want the mystery and allure of the new, the untried and the undiscovered. Before you know it, you’ll find more and more ways of justifying and rationalizing your behavior or relationship, and soon you’ll be beyond the point of no return.

I forgot where I heard this, but migration is a double-edged sword for the couple. Because we enter a world with two different sets of eyes, ears and feelings, migration either makes us stronger together, or will ultimately make us strangers to each other.

The job is new, the surroundings different, and the future is bright. but let’s remember what we came to New Zealand for: a better life for the family, and a better life together.

OFW@60: paalala sa sarili at kapwa manggagawa

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

This post is in Tagalog and English. The image is AI generated. Get well soon and heal faster idol Lani Larsen!

BAGO BUMANGON para maghilamos, maginit ng pangkape at maglakad-lakad sa barangay ng East Auckland, matamis na binulong sa kin ng aking maybahay, happy birthday Mahal, bago ito bumaluktot at natulog pa nang konti bago kumalembang ang alarm.

***** ***** *****

No understating the fact, at my advanced age, every birthday is important. Even more so now is the 60-milestone, which in some countries including the Philippines marks you as a “senior citizen”, setting you apart from the young-ish populations of both your birth and adopted countries.

Modesty aside, I’m sometimes told I don’t look my age. I foolishly believe in that conceit, knowing too well that inside me, my mortal engine has already started the process toward slowdown and inevitable decay. As if to hold back Father Time, I start reminding myself to do the “little things” to extend what little youthfulness I have, which I generously share with you Precious Reader.

pagbabawas ng mga “libangan” na pumapatay sa yo. Alak sigarilyo at sugar. Kaya pa ito labanan nung iyong katawan nung kabataan mo pero hindi na ngayon. No other way to say it. Anything your body doesn’t need which you put in your body is POISON.

Wala na sa family history , akisdente or biglaang sakit ang magiging dahilan nang maaga mong pagsakit at kamatayan. If not cirrhosis or emphysema or diabetes, it will be an own-goal or self-inflicted illness that you will be giving yourself.

It’s not too late, but every day counts. I was a smoker for 25 years, ate everything Mahal couldn’t finish and was a social drinker before I realized: “why am I killing myself?” The “senior connection” is that your body begins to change and can no longer use its resources to keep fighting the poisons you constantly put it, because it has to maintain other bodily functions that are harder and harder to do. Before you know it, you will be sick, so together let’s quit these poisons. There are many quit and cessation videos on YouTube, using a variety of approaches and techniques, no excuse kabayan.

Pagiwas sa mga gawain ng mga kabataan at ng mga edad beinte hanggang kwarentahin. Di na pwede magwhole court buong hapon. Di na pwedeng makipag shot-shot o tagayan sa tropa hapon hanggang madaling araw. Di na pwedeng magbyahe ng walang tulog, baka di lang sarili ang madisgrasya kundi ang pasahero.

I was on a rotating night, twilight and day shift for nearly 15 years. It was ageing me at probably twice the normal human rate, and wreaking havoc and chaos on my bodily routines and rhythms, but at the time I had no idea. Everything, and believe me kabayan friend everything in your body, from your biochemical and hormonal metrics to your liver, brain and heart health is affected by shift work, and sadly this will only begin to show in your late middle age.

Inevitably, the habits and practices of youth that one never gave a second thought before doing now deserve a careful consideration once, twice and even thrice before actually doing. Muscles and joints are less flexible, less brain cells to kill everytime you binge on alcohol, and fatigue now a chronic overstayer instead of a one-night stand whenever you indulge in too many pleasures.

You just want to reach your savings goal, nest egg and fill up your Kiwisaver before you call it a day.

Stop thinking of the opposite sex all the time. According to more than one study, men think of sex an average 19 times a day (roughly twice the female counterpart). I find that outrageous, as I probably do double that. Wala naman akong ginagawa, hanggang kathang isip lang.

I know it’s part of biology, the instinct to breed or procreate. But little by little and I know this is a gradual thing, there are other pursuits in life. It’s unseemly to be obsessed by something you don’t do regularly anymore, and I guess imagination to a certain limited extent is healthy, but moderation is the key.

Gone are the days of falling in love and falling in lust, and chasing the dream girl (or boy) without any regard for the consequences. No more spontaneous emotional outbursts, but at least you have the memory of one who has loved and lost, and loved again.

***** ***** *****

I once chased a girl to the ends of the earth, a pretty young thing that had the audacity to kiss me on the mouth when no one was the wiser. I burned through commitments, coin and common sense only to discover what I refused to see: not only was the object of my affection saddled by her own obligations, but that she was incapable of love for anyone else but herself.

That’s probably a little too much information coming from a wrinkled old OFW like me, but you get my meaning: the pleasures of long lost youth are in the rear view mirror now. Like many of us, you probably sent most of your money to help out family and other people, and you should just focus on health and comfort of the remaining years ahead.

***** ***** *****

It sounds cruel and brutal, but better hearing it from me now than from someone you love later: For most of us in our late middle to old age, no one is going to look after you. You can’t expect your kids to do so, and most probably your spouse or loved one has problems of their own.

Masasaktan ka lang kung sa tingin mo aalagaan ka ng mga anak o kamag-anak mo, kahit gaano ka pa kabait sa kanila.

Got lots of other things to share, but I’ve taken enough of your time. By reading til the end, you’ve done the equivalent of celebrating my 60th with me, belated though it may be.

Thanks for reading, mabuhay!

Dear Danny

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

Dear Danny

The last time we spoke in any meaningful way was probably 30 years ago, which is incredible considering the friendship we had. We texted a couple of times more recently, and that was only because I belatedly discovered Viber. Mysteriously, our chat messages disappeared when I looked them up after you left us abruptly. That probably means technology, no matter how flashy, is even more unreliable than failing memory.

Going further back, it was impossible for me not to be aware of you. You were one of the first Cub Scouts saluting the flag at daily flag ceremony (mid-1970s), and because of my cursed childhood asthma I could never, according to my protective mom, wear the scarf and baseball style cap that you so smartly wore.

This continued late elementary (primary), when you were game enough to be a Boy Scout, doing the camping and jamboree thing, again to my eternal envy. Even if there were six sections level-wide I heard from afar that you were a top performer academically in your section, not that I was ever a performer myself, but that you doing well just seemed right.

***** ***** *****

We did bond in two areas, and that was in the Knights of the Altar Society (KAS). I’m not sure if we were in elementary KAS together but for sure we were brothers in the high school version, and might have even served Saturday Mass together.

The second common area we shared was membership in the Drum & Bugle Corps, which I enjoyed, being together all those Thursdays of band practice for four years. I never had any musical talent, and I suspect neither did you, but at least we could carry a beat. As a group.

***** ***** *****

The irony is, after all those years I knew you and about you, we only became classmates our final year in Hogwarts. For all the craziness and rebelliousness of 4B, you seemed the only steady and stable constant, never too loud, never too emotional, and never too low whenever we did crappily in schoolwork.

I did remember one thing about you, and it was a one-off that for all of us, most of all you, was something hard to forget. The teacher mistakenly thought someone was copying your work during an exam, something you would never allow. You were so adamant and angry that she would even consider you doing such that you protested right in front of her. I knew, because I was right there. You must have been effective, because you convinced that teacher, who extinguished any thought of pursuing the matter.

***** ***** *****

How I wish we could have bonded further or even set aside an occasion or two to talk about big and little things and how the years had changed us ar kept us the same. How I wish I could have even met you and see how little you changed, and perhaps vice-versa.

I’m not a particularly religious person, but I believe you, Gloria, Lucy Linda and Stewart have already had your reunion, and we will join you not long after.

Good night, but not goodbye lau peng you.

Noel B

‘pati baon ng anak, pinatos ko’

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

[ this post is in Taglish. ]

Dear Noel

Apologies in advance for not using Kuya or Tito, di ko sure if I’m older or younger than you, whether we’ve actually met or know each other, or such. All I know is, regardless of your back story, I’ve made more mistakes than you.

***** ***** *****

Lolo ko sabungero, tatay kong seaman nakaiwas sa sabong pero naubos din yung inipon sa pagiging seaman sa mahjong at casino nung nakabalik galing barko. Di ko na maalala kailan akong unang na expose sa sugal. Di na malaking hakbang (big step) sa akin nung natuto akong magcasino. Nung unang naurot at nalimas ang kakaunting kinita ko sa pagbabuy and sell, humingi akong tawad sa asawa at pamilya, at nagOFW para makaiwas sa lahat.

***** ***** *****

After 5 years at naidisiplina kong iderecho lahat ng kita sa Pilipinas, naipundar ko na ang bahay namin sa probinsya at pang kinabukasan ng aming munting mga bubwit.

Nagkaruon uli ng problema nung naitapos ko na ang kontratang OFW at nagscaffolder sa New Zealand. Imbes na dumerecho sa asawa ko ay dumadaan muna sa kin ang sweldo. Medyo kinabahan ako sa sitwasyon pero dahil 5 taon na rin mula akong nakarecover mula sa sugal, akala ko ay may control na ako . Laking mali pala nung akala kong yon.

Pangalawang source ng tentasyon dito sa New Zealand, na di na siguro lingid sa yo bro, ay sa mga malalaking siyudad ay may casino. Di pa ito nagsasara 24/7, at twing sweldo ay lahat ng klaseng libangan na sinubukan kong gawin ay walang laban dito sa casino.

***** ***** *****

Una ay binabawasan ko lang ng $50, $100 hanggang kalahati ng sweldo ay nakalaan na sa sugal. Gulat, galit at luha ang salubong ni Mrs mula sa unang pagbawas ng sweldo hanggang sa huli.

Natauhan na lang ako nung pati baon ng anak na walang kalaban-laban ay kinakaltas ko sa kakarampot na kita.

Alam mong pambaon na lang at pamalangke ang natitirang pinapadala mo, binawasan mo pa, paiyak na tugon ni Mrs, at kahit na anong paliwanag ko na nabawasan ng oras, binaba rate ko at kung ano ano pang alibi ay di nya pinaniwalaan. At tutoo naman, dahil kahit ako ay di maniniwala sa sarili kong sinungaling.

Di ako tumigil ng work, pero tumigil na ako ng lahat ng pang-araw araw kong gawain Noel. Di na ako nakipag inuman sa mga kasama sa work team, kahit sila pa ang naglilibre. Ayaw ko na ring makipaglibang sa mga dating kasama. Lumayo na ako sa lahat ng pwedeng source ng tukso.

Instead, kausap ko na lang mga magulang ko at kapatid kong kahit kailan ay di humusga sa akin at lahat kong pagkukulang. Di nila pinalusot ang aking mga ginawa, pero di rin nila ako sinumbatan at siningil sa mga naunang tulong at pagtitiwalang di na ako babalik sa dating gawi.

***** ***** *****

Two weeks akong walang kausap Noel. Tiniis kong kausapin mag-ina ko hanggang nakumbinse ko muli na kaya ko nang di pumuna sa casino, di magslot machine at di magonline .

Anim na buwan na mula nung huli kong dalaw sa casino. 6 months na rin mula nung na-surrender ko ATM ko sa kaibigan kong nagwi withdraw ng pang-araw araw ko. Mahirap, pero magaan ang loob ko.

hypocrite ang lipunan pagdating sa sugal Noel. Ayaw nila tayong maging adik sa sugal, pero andali-daling daan papuntang casino. Kahit anong inuman ay may pokies (slot machine). At pauutangin ka pa kung adik ka na sa online.

Para sa akin, ang sakit ng indibidwal ay sakit ng lipunan. Tanging Diyos lang at gabay ng pamilya ang makakatulong sa atin. Instead of stopping gambling addiction, better not to start at all.

Mabuhay ka, God bless us all.

isang kaibigan,

Nico










why pageants are cool & why we support Ina, the new Ms NZ for 2025 Asia Pacific

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

AT THEIR VERY HEART, beauty pageants are nothing more than barangay popularity contests. (barangay is our term for small-town neighborhood pueblo) Take any pretty face (and there are many back home), get the most generous sponsors, get the best dressmakers and enlist the support of the most rabid stage moms and dads and you have your beauty queen / Reyna Elena of the Santacruzan, the all-purpose utility beauty celebrity of the town plaza. Every body happy, pics and vids for Tiktok and IG, budol fight for the winners and runners-up, and everyone goes home tired and happy.

***** ***** *****

But our modern Filipino obsession uses a model that has transcended the traditional Pinoy archetype. Sophisticated fashion orgies closer to America’s Next Top Model than Binibining Pinas, aggressive social media campaigns and contestants becoming instant influencers and endorsers are all SOP (standard operating procedure) back home. Getting lost in all the flurry of activity is: what are we all here for anyway?

***** ***** *****

It’s easy to get cynical about beauty contests. But for one brief shining moment that I was lucky enough to attend, a beauty candidate combined smarts, confidence, a total belief in herself and yes, beauty, to all but impress, overwhelm and win over the crowd, admirers and judges of the pageant finals night for the 2024 Ms Asia-Pacific International New Zealand last night (July 28th 2024).

It has been a grueling, exhausting and challenging last few months for Ina, as she is called. But she managed to make the best use of her gifts, combine it all in a complete package greater than the sum of its parts, and do everything possible to outdo herself and the rest of the competition, in the process representing New Zealand in the prestigious Ms Asia Pacific International this year.

From start to finish, she competed and participated in the process with 100% put in physical effort and creative input with flourish, and did everything (plus more) that was asked of her.

***** ***** *****

She inspires each of us to realize and know that if we put in the work, stretch every bit of our skills talent to best use and have the support of a team behind us, we can conquer the world. As Ina is fully capable of doing.

That she is part Pinay and Filipina only enhances our experience and awareness, because she has made her journey all the more personal. Of course she has Eurasian features, but she makes me personally feel that brown or fair, tall or short, using whatever gifts we have, there is no world we cannot conquer.

Ina has done this with her triumph, and for that alone we should fully support her continuing journey.

I fully believe our NZ kabayan can be the next Ms Asia-Pacific International.

Mabuhay ka Ina!

thanks for reading!

“Kasama mo kami sa labang to” – ang kwento ni Uno, ang ating musmos na kababayan sa Timaru (with English translation)

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

[SPOILER ALERT PO: any financial assistance to the Eligio family 38-9022-0562144-00, J. Eligio will be appreciated, they have nothing left except their little Uno . English translation follows. ]

UNA KONG NAKILALA SI UNO nung nameet ko mga magulang nya, mga katrabaho ni Mahal nung nakatira pa kami sa Timaru.

Sa unang tingin pa lang ay alam mo nang kakaibang musmos si Uno. Malalim at makahulugan ang tingin nya para sa murang edad, at malapit na malapit sya sa kanyang ina.

Di ito nakakagulat. Napansin kong di sya nakakalakad kahit na lampas na sya sa edad ng starting to walk stage. Natural di rin sya nakakalaro sa ibang mga bata.

Pinapansin sya ni Baby Dumpling, dahil di pa rin lubos na naglalakad ang aming sanggol.

Nginitian sya ni Uno pero hanggang dun lang, di naki-interact yung dalawang bata dahil nalibang si Dumpling sa ibang mga batang malikot na at nagsisipagtakbuhan.

TWO YEARS LATER. Andami nang nagyari since then. Nagkasakit ako, nagpaopera, nagpalit ng work, lumipat papuntang Auckland. Pamilya naman ni Uno ay nanatili sa Timaru at namuhay nang tahimik.

Meanwhile, nagkaroon ng mga kumplikasyon sa kalusugan ni Uno.

Di naman tayo doctor, kaya mas madali sigurong basahin nyo na lang ang kanyang munting kasaysayan pati na’ng kwento ng kanyang mga magulang rito.

Di kaya ng katawan ni Unong humabol sa normal na paglaki ng bata. Dahil dito ay nagkaka-bleeding at impeksyon at kung anu-ano pang problema sa kalusugan ng kawawang bata.

Kung pwede nating isummarize: nagapply sila ng residence visa sa ilalim ng RV2021 One-off Residence Visa sa buong akalang mabibigyan sila ng pagkakataong maging permanent resident bilang pagtanaw ng New Zealand sa pagtrabaho bilang migrante nung COVID pandemic.

Laking gulat na lang ng mag-anak ng malaman nilang di sila pumasa sa “health requirements” ng batas. Magiging pabigat raw sa health system ang bata, kahit na lampas kalahating dekada nang naglinlingkod rito ang pamilya nag matiwasay at nagbabayad ng buwis.

Dahil di sila eligible sa kahit anong health benefit ay lampas NZ$45,000 na ang inabot ng hospital at medical bills ni Uno.

Saan namang kamay ng Diyos makukuha ng pamilya ni Uno ang pantustos ng mga treatment at meds ni Uno, ngayong di makapagtrabaho ang mga magulang mula nung nagexpire ang kanilang Work Visa?

SA NGAYON ay umaasa lang ang pamilya ni Uno sa mga may mabubuting puso para maitawid ang mga gastusing pinansyal. Isama na rin natin at ipagsdasal sa Panginoon ang kalagayan nila at agarang pag-galing ni UNO.

***** ****** ******

I FIRST MET UNO in a gathering organized by his parents, the Eligio family and friends of Mahal at work in Timaru.

Right away you could tell that there was something different about Uno. He had a look about him that suggested he could see you and tell you all about yourself, if only he could talk. He had a penetrating look that went right through your soul and consciousness, and in that moment express to you that he had the deepest, most wonderful secret in the world.

If only. That’s because his development in both speech and motion is a little bit hindered by a very rare condition that hasn’t been fully explained and treated by doctors, and so he has to wait a bit to grow up.

The problem is his body can wait no longer, and while some parts of his body are growing, the rest aren’t. It leads to issues and complications that are growing day by day.

***** ***** *****

In that gathering I told you about by the way, only he and our daughter Baby Dumpling were the ones not yet walking and running around like the other children.

Baby Dumpling was already trying to walk, but Uno was still seated and looking at her. It would take a little more time before Uno would be walking, and he was already longing to be active like the other kids.

Baby Dumpling was still around one year old, but knew instinctively that Uno was alone and tried to talk to him. Eventually Baby Dumpling joined the other kids but in her own way and for a little while, she made Uno a little more comfortable in that little pond of awkwardness among hyperactive children.

***** ***** *****

THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO. Since then a lot has happened. I had heart surgery, changed jobs, moved to Auckland. Uno’s family stayed on in Timaru and went on with their lives.

Uno has continued to struggle with his congenital disorder and has met more health challenges, reported on here.

To make a long story short, Uno’s parents applied under the 2021 One Off Resident Visa Scheme, a sort-of recognition by New Zealand of all the efforts and hard work done by essential workers (including Uno’s dad) during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, the confidence in New Zealand’s gratitude was premature and misplaced.

Now, Uno can no longer access free health care and his numerous conditions mean mounting hospital bills and costs of life-saving drugs everyday.

Uno’s hospital bill is currently $45,000. Compounding his family’s problem is the fact that because their Work Visas have expired, they can no longer work and generate badly needed income.

For now, the family relies solely on contributions from the community and friends.

Hopefully Precious Reader, you can make a contribution to Uno, who will never give up.

Please give whatever you can to 38-9022-0562144-00, J. Eligio (the dad of Uno).

chat with UAE kabayan: “dati carry na ng sipag, tiyaga & swerte para maka NZ work visa, ngayon ay tagilid ka na”

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

OFFICEMATES ko sila back in Pinas more than 10 years ago, and the last I heard they had moved to work in Dubai, both working and raising a family there. Before I tell you what I received by way of SMS chat from “Gabby and Shasha”, I need to tell you (as I told them) that I have no professional expertise in immigration advice, and all I had was my experience and man-on-the-street info-gathering. (I need to add that my own rather negative response was tempered by Mahal’s more positive experience, proving that the reality of immigration experience is 50-50, or maybe even better).

OK lang yun Kuya was Gab’s instant reply. Indeed, how could I refuse? I got here on a Visit Visa, hung on grimly to a job no local wanted and got my resident status by the skin-of-my-teeth, edge-of-the-cliff of migration oblivion. Konting-konti na lang uuwi na ako. So without further ado, here goes (all my barely edited responses in italics) :

Gabby: Sa Auckland pa kayo naka settle? Can I ask for an advice Bro?

Yes, after 14 years in Wellington.

Of course, will share knowledge and experience hanggang kaya.

Gabby: We are considering to migrate to NZ thru Student Pathway Bro. kaya lang may fear (because) at our age I am 50 na and my wife is 48 kaya pa kaya? i will study for 18 mos , at most 2 years and then we need to work for 1 year saka pa lang apply ang papers namin as immigrant. (That is how the agency explained to us.)

To be honest okey naman kami dito sa Dubai kaya lang iniisip namin ang mga bata (as you know) wala namang nagiging permanent status dito sa Dubai, anytime they can throw us back sa atin pag na terminate kami from our employer.

Gabby: Another factor we are considering behind migrating is,mahal ng tuition fee ng 2 anak namin. ang nag aaral (sa Dubai) cost around 20k AED (or around NZ$10,000) per kid. (Noel’s note: mahal din pala magpa-aral sa Dubai. di hamak.)

We know na may mga magiging challenges along in case it happen.

Honest opinion Bro: kakayanin pa ba namin kung sakaling mag move kami diyan. In terms of oppurtunity and life styles. Super laid back but at the same time costly daw ba talaga sa NZ?

Thank you Bro in advance.

***** ***** *****

Noel: The agency explained it accurately bro. But do you want an honest, based-on-experience answer?

Yes Bro. Please, we know at the end of the day kami pa din ang mag decide but your honest opinion and advise really matter to us.

****** ***** *****

The agency explained to you one of the many pathways here. Syempre highlight nila yung fastest pathway to get here. Not surprisingly, yung pathway na kikita rin sila.

May mga alam akong nagka JSV (Job Search Visa) at hirap makahanap ng job.

I‘m not 100% sure, pero may cut (commission) din from schools ang mga immig advisers who refer students. But not all.

Di naman illegal, kaya lang medyo conflict of interest ang maging immig adviser and recruiter / referrer of enrollees.

Even after you finish your course and graduate, and hopefully get issued a JSV or Job Search Visa. Di sya assurance na makakahanap ka ng job na suited sa newly acquired qualifications mo.

Of course may mga success stories din. You have three years to look for a job na aligned sa pinag-aralan mo. Pero ang pinaka maraming example of pathway to residence na nagtagumpay ay yung mga builder, healthcare provider & mga specific skilled workers na timing lang na kinailangan ng economy twing nagbubukas ng visa pathway..

I’m not discouraging you Gab. Pero eyes wide open ang bawa’t nakikipagsapalaran dito, Lalo na as of 7th April naghigpit na naman.

Student visa is a good way of getting here, pero mas popular because of the nature of their jobs ang WTR and specific pathway sa Pinoy. I don’t blame you, yan ang job expertise mo. Pero as you’ve been told, magagastusan kayo.

***** ***** *****

(Gabs replying to : May mga alam akong nagka JSV at hirap makahanap ng job)

Ito ang fear namin lalo may mga mas bata ang edad kaysa sa amin mas mahaba ang time to explore and wait.…

***** ***** *****

Kung meron lang sanang employer willing to hire us papunta diyan kaya lang…

Noel: That’s also a good option, pero syempre kung pwede de lahat nakapagjob na

If I could give you a story for every Pinoy that got here riding only on the wings of a dream, di na matatapos chat natin Gabs. dati carry na ng sipag, tiyaga & swerte para maka NZ work visa, ngayon ay tagilid ka na”

Gabby: Tbh, the 2nd option makes a little more sense. Less Immig budget and at the same time one spouse maintains an income stream.

Gabby: Thank you thank you Bro. we are focusing actually on this setup medyo may adjustment for all of us but I believe this is is a wise one.

[ WTR = work to residence, as opposed to straight to residence ]

Okey got this one i will choose the course for a specific scope of work – actually kino consider ko mag enroll ng teacher or a healtcare assistant.

Salamat sa time Bro kamusta aa family mo ingat kayo diyan and God bless.

I will update you Bro for anything happen.

Parehong mga magandang job prospect yan.

👍

Maybe dyan muna sila. Try mo rito

Gabby: Ganon na nga siguro ang mangyayari Bro pag okey na ang papers saka na lang sila sumunod.

Correct. Before you get too old.

Mali ako I started late. Sinwerte lang

At least after long and winding road NZ passport holder na kayo.

🙂

may mga happy ending din

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

[ even though there’ve been recent setbacks form kabayan Visit Visa holders, the majority end in happy reunions. But not without the unexpected twists and turns though. Translated from the Tagalog. Thanks for reading! ]

Dear Kuya Noel

WE WERE ALREADY PARANOID around a week before we were to leave on our Visit Visas. The word-of-mouth that another kabayan had been sent home, without even seeing her partner just made us even more nervous.

For the first time since 2019 before the pandemic, we were meeting our sister, who had recently become a Resident in New Zealand. We were accompanying our mother, who had never traveled outside the country before, and was not getting any younger.

Uber important docs and stuff no one told you about. We saw on YouTube only few days before our scheduled departure date that carrying an Affidavit of Support from our sister (our sponsor) would probably be one of the Top Three things we should carry with us, despite it being assumed in our Visit Visa, meaning the Visit Visa would in common sense not be issued if our visit was not being sponsored by our sister.

But so many kabayan travelers (including likely the one we heard about above) had talked about this requirement, questions about it turning up on either side of the trip (Philippines and New Zealand) that it was a serious and urgent thing to discuss, our trip being just about 72 hours away.

Our sister quickly drafted one, had it witnessed by their Philippine representative in her town and sent it to us digitally.

Another thing we had to do that wasn’t specifically a requirement but in practice needed to be done was to upload our travel and related documents to the eGovPh software app, one account per person. Immigration officials back home tend to take digital documents more credibly than anything else, and are no longer used to looking at physical copies of official documents from multiple countries.

And these were just paperwork issues we had to resolve. We hadn’t even started our trip, which we’ll tell you about shortly.

For some unexplained reason, the family in front of us in the immigration queue was after some discussion offloaded (or taken off the boarding queue), with the father loudly protesting and asking to speak with the BID (Bureau of Immigration and Deportation) officer-on-duty. It had something to do with a lack of documents supporting their travel. I bit my lip and hoped my travel group would not meet the same fate. After cursorily scanning our QR codes and reviewing our eGovPH accounts on our phones, the immigration staff waved us through.

***** ***** *****

Our first leg was Manila to Hongkong. This in my mind was the trickiest part of our trip, as we didn’t know exactly how local immigration authorities would screen and inspect us.

The best advantage. Our best advantage was that we were accompanying our mother on her visit. To be perfectly honest, if I or my brother were traveling alone, we would stand out easily no matter what documents we were carrying. Single travelers traveling to countries like New Zealand and Australia are instantly thought of as looking for jobs on the other side, regardless of the status or type of their visas. That was the sad reality all over the ports of entry of developed nations everywhere, and if my family members and I weren’t ourselves desperate to visit our sister, we would understand New Zealand’s predicament. But not now.

***** ***** *****

Two immediate problems confronted us as our plane touched down on Chek Lap Kok International. (Incidentally, it was my bro and mom’s first plane ride ever, domestic much less international). First was we didn’t know how or where to access the boarding gate for our connecting flight to Auckland. Remember, we had never seen an airport before, outside of NAIA, and the fact that Hong Kong’s airport was one of the largest and most complex in the world only made our task more daunting.

Secondly, our Manila to HK flight was a bit delayed and this meant that we had less than one hour to board the next leg.

Having our mother with us was an unexpectedly huge blessing. We were attended to by airport staff, who not only provided my mom with a wheelchair but helped us zoom to the boarding gate and into the next phase of our journey to New Zealand.

The other problem was taken care of by the quick and efficient airport staff, who expected nothing in return. We boarded our Hongkong to Auckland flight without further incident with minutes to spare.

I wish I could say the same about the last hurdle to overcome (without further incident) in Auckland International Airport. If anything was to happen, it would be here.

We made the group decision to let me represent the group, as relatively speaking I carried the most confidence (from watching Youtube videos and practicing with my sis) and spoke slightly better English compared to my bro and mom.

It turned out that our fears were unfounded. (Pero it’s better to hope for the best but prepared for the worst diba?) The immigration officer merely glanced at the New Zealand version of our travel docs app, asked the purpose of our travel to New Zealand (the answer to which she already knew) and merely inquired if our mother’s meds were supported by doctor’s prescriptions. Everything else was a formality.

Almost everything that would have happened, we had prepared for.

I say almost everything, because we had not expected the tears and laughs that flooded our reunion at the arrival gate.

Tears of joy and laughs that continue till now.

Rose

iwas-pusoy sa mga Visit Visang nangungulit pa ring maghanap ng work sa bansa ng dayuhan

/ ylbnoel / Leave a comment

[ as usual, nothing here is based on research, just pure opinion, personal na karanasan at hearsay sa kung saan-saan nanggagaling. by the way, this blog is in Taglish. Cheers and thanks for reading! ]

SA DISKARTE NG PAGLUSOT SA PINTUAN NG NEW ZEALAND, may kanya-kanyang likas na galing ang mga migrateng lahi.

Kung ang mayayamang galing sa First World countries ang sikat sa investor at business visas, at Chinese naman at Indian ang nangunguna sa student visas, tayo namang mga Pinoy ang champion based on percentage sa work visas. Dahil nga kulang tayo sa puhunan at pinansya, tanging skill at lakas ng luob lang ang sandata natin para magtagumpay sa sugal ng migration.

And to get that work visa, gagawin ang lahat para mabigyan tayo ng pinapangarap na job offer. mayroong umaasa sa angking galing at tinapos na degree para maka Work to Residence or Job Search Visa. Mayroon ding sumisikap na matrain sa propesyong nasa listahan ng Skills Shortage list.

At wag nating limuting meron ding nakikipagsapalarang pumunta rito ng naka Visit Visa at sumusubok na mag apply at magbaka-sakaling umikot ikot at makisuyo sa kabayang mga bisor at boss na baka mag-hire ng kapwang Pinoy.

Alam ito ng gobyernong New Zealand sa ilalim ng National Party, kasalukuyang party in power, at halos sinara na ang gripo ng paparating at nangangarap na magwork rito.

Linagyan ng wage requirement bago mabigyan ng job offer ang kahit na sinong dayuhan. ($30/hour). mayroon na ring language requirement, also known as IELTS, na kailangang maipasa sa Listening, Speaking Reading at Comprehension skills bago mabigyan ng work visa.

Sa kabila nito, maramin pa ring sumusubok na makarating rito, kahit may hawak na Visit Visa lang, sobra kasing desperadong lumisan ng Pinas at makahanap ng work, kahit anong work, sa ibang bansa.

***** ***** *****

Malaki ang binaba ng tsansang makahanap ka ng work rito sa ilalim ng Visit Visa, pero di sya imposible. It’s not impossible. Tyaga, lakas ng luob, at syempre konting bala para mamasahe at manirahan rito sandali ng walang income bago swertihin at mabigyan ng job. May ilan lang tayong mga payo kung susubok ka talaga Kabayan maghanap ng work habang naka visit visa.

[ uulitin po namin, walang immigration advice kaming inaalay rito at di kami immigration adviser. Base lang po ito sa karanasan ng mga nakausap namin ditong mangilan-ilang nagapply ng job ]

wag magbigkas ng kahit 1 pangunugsap tungkol sa pagtrabaho sa NZ. Ibig sabihin nito, sa Arrivals pa lang, hinihimay na nila ang may mga balak magwork. Dun pa lang, sa ilalim ng visa conditions mo, bawal kang magwork or maghanap ng trabaho. Ang tanging pwedeng gawin mo lang ay mamasyal at bumisita ng kamag-anak at kaibigan.

So, kapag tinanong ka, what is your purpose in New Zealand (kahit alam nilang Visit Visa ka) sabihin mong, my purpose is to visit your beautiful country and see the sights. YUN ang ineexpect nilang answer. kapag sinabi mong susubok po sana akong magwork habang nakavisit, try lang naman po, GAME OVER ka na, baka di ka na palabasin ng airport.

consistent dapat sa mga sagot. Di lang katotohanan ang hinahanap ng immigration sa Arrivals area. Kailangan ding consistent at magkatugma sa buong kwento ang bawat sagot. Di pwedeng sa umpisa ay sinabi mong wala kang balak magwork rito sa NZ tapos madudulas ka 5 minutes later at sabihin mong nagtry ka ring mag-apply online. Di pwede yon. Kung sa umpisa ay sinabi mong wala kang balak, HANGGANG DULO ay wala kang balak. kapag sinabi mong di ka mageextend ng stay mo at mamaya ay baka extend ka, syempre magtataka ang interviewer kung bakit di solid ang mga plano mong magtravel. Wala ka bang work sa Pilipinas? paano mo papakainin at susuportahan ang pamilya mo? Et cetera, et cetera.

Di naman kumpletong salaysay at buong plano ang hinahanap nila, although maganda kung may itinerary ka sa kabuoan ng stay mo sa New Zealand. Gusto lang nila makitang consistent at maayos mga sagot mo. Marami nang napauwi dahil buhul buhol mga sagot nila at di na malaman ano ang tutoo at anong sinungaling. Sayang naman ang pinaghirapang oras, salapi at lakas makarating lang sa New Zealand.

Wag magdala ng kahit anong dokumento tungkol sa work. kasama na rito ang inyong diploma, CV, professional document, lahat na. Wag ring magdala ng kahit anong aklat o literature tungkol sa inyong skills at napag-aralan. Unang tatanungin ng immigration kapag may nakita sila, Why are you bringing work related documents with you on a vacation? Sige nga bro/sis, ano ang isasagot mo run? Wag na wag ring magdala ng sulat, liham o kahit na anong applicationg may kinalaman sa kahit na anong trabaho o propesyon.

Tandaan natin kabayan, they can open our luggage and even our phones and don’t need a reason to do so, wala tayo sa Pilipinas at wala tayong karapatan. Ito ang realidad ng dayuhang gustong pumasok sa ibang bansa.

burahin na lahat ng mensahe sa smartphone at ibang devices. nabanggit ko na sa itaas, pero uulitin ko po rito: lahat ng mensahe (SMS) sa lahat ng social media, FB man, Messenger, text message o iba pa na may kinalaman sa work ay burahin mo na po. Walang magandang kalalabasan ito kung nabasa ito ng ibang tao, lalo na ng awtoridad. One wrong message lang at tatanongin ka nila: I thought you had no intention to work here, why do you have communications between a potential NZ employer? Are you sure about your answers? Puntos na yon laban sa yo kabayan. Naapektohan na ang buong interview mo, dahil lang sa ilang message o email.

***** ***** *****

Sabihin mo nang praning ako o masyado namang segurista, pero may mga pinauwi na kasing di man lang nakita ang labas ng airport. Sobrang sakit di lang para sa taong concerned kundi sa pamilya at sa lahat gumugol ng panahon at pera maipatupad lang ang munting pangarap na makarating sa New Zealand.

Sana matiwasay tayong makarating sa NZ, at masubukan mang lang matikman ang malinis at malamig na simoy ng hangin, at kung papalarin, makahanap na rin ng work na inaasam. Mabuhay and thanks for reading!

surviving IELTS – karanasan ng OFW

/ ylbnoel / 3 Comments

[ Note: Please, huwag sana isipin ng Reader na nagmamalaki o nagyayabang ang inyong lingkod na blogger, gusto ko lang ishare ang aking experience lalo na’t nagiging usapin ang IELTS at related exams ngayon sa Pinoy community. Nothing in this post should be considered legal or immig advice, thanks for reading! ]

“I’M VERY SORRY, but only passports are an acceptable form of identification”, sabi ng test person sa akin. Wala akong dalang passport, kaya nag Uber ako pabalik sa bahay at balik agad sa testing site. All along iniisip ko yung mga sinabi ng mga exam candidate ko: take 2, take 3 na ako Kuya, medyo mahirap ang Listening portion, at nakakapagod (4 hours) ang exam, pero laban lang.

Laban lang, pero hahabulin ko muna yung time limit na binigay sa akin ng IELTS proctor.

***** ***** *****

Kailangan kong linawin, hindi IELTS ang kinuha kong exam kundi ang equivalent, ang Pearson Test of English (PTE) exam. Ginawa ko ito dahil di kasing hirap at yun ang pinaka-malapit sa schedule ko, advise ng immigration adviser namin ni Mahal. Shine-share ko lang ito dahil sa bagong requirement na ipinataw ng National Government ng New Zealand tapos tumanggap ng 130,000+ na bagong dating, at di na raw kayang Work Visa status na ganun kalaki.

Before you apply for the RV, get the IELTS out of the way, sabi ni adviser, and among other things asked me if I had $400 plus tax, not a small amount, but a necessity if I were to continue with my journey of migration.

***** ***** *****

The test is divided into four areas: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing.

Sa Listening, makikinig ka sa isang paragraph na babasahin sa yo from an audio file. Pagkakwento sa yo, bibigyan ka ng mga tanong na sasagutin mo base sa mga napakinggan mo sa kwento. Obviously, dahil nga Listening ang pagsubok, walang codigo o text na pwedeng asahan para sa mga sagot.

Halimbawa: Babasahan ka ng paragraph tungkol sa byahe mula Manila hanggang Baguio, kasama na ang mga bayang dadaanan mo, mga stopover at mga magagandang tanawin. Mga posibleng tanong: ano ang unang bayang mararating paglabas ng Metro Manila? Ano ang stopover sa gitna ng biyahe? Ano ang magandang tanawin bago umakyat sa bundok ? Et cetera. Halimbawa lang ito, walang previous knowledge ang kailangan mo, lahat ay base sa ibabasa sa yo ng audio file.

Definitely, mas madali ang Reading, may ipababasa naman sa yo at tapos ay tatanungin ka base sa mga kwentong nabasa mo. Di masyadong mahihirapan ang mga kabayan rito dahil sanay naman tayo from our elementary and high school studies.

Unfortunately, ang susunod ay ang Speaking part ng exam, at dito hirap ang mga kabayan natin. Literally, pababasahin ka ng ilang mga paragraph ng common, everyday English at may time limit ito. Ige-grade ka sa linaw ng pagbigkas at tamang pagbaybay ng Ingles sa luob ng time na nakatakda.

Sa personal na karanasan ko, di naman ako nahirapang masyado sa Writing section (pang-apat). Papa likhain ka nila ng maigsing paragraph o kwento na parang sagot sa tanong nila, for example, write how you might prepare your favorite dish in simplest terms, ganon.

For now, mapapayo ko lang na maghanap tayo ng mga kakukuha lang ng mga IELTS o Pearson, at humingi ng tutorial. Meron ding mga tutorial course, di ko lang alam kung magkano sya online.

***** ***** *****

After a crazy Uber ride and several near-misses, nakarating rin ako sa testing site in 45 minutes, dala ko na ang passport. Thank God, pumayag ang proctor na paupuin ako uli sa exam. Humabol at humabol ako sa mga nauna sa akin, nangangalahati na yung iba.

Nakatulong sa akin na four hours yung exam at may five minutes na rest period between the four major sections.

Dahil siguro sa adrenaline ko at sa hilig ko magbasa, natapos ko yung exam.

***** ***** *****

Kahit bulakbol at iskul bukol, di ako absent nung tinuro ng guro mga natanong that day. Naipasa ko yung exam. Expected ko na, mababa ako sa Speaking, pero OK naman sa ibang sections.

Maipapasa mo rin kabayan ang IELTS o Pearson, pero dapat mong paghandaan. Walang imposible kung kakayanin.

Pakisend lang sa comment section sa ibaba kung may mga tanong. Ise share ko kahit anong naalala ko, pero the rest is up to you. Pagpalain sana tayo ng Diyos.

Thanks for reading!