Even The Grass Bleeds

It was two o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday when Rose met her group near the Metro Rail Transit (MTR) exit, beside the Prince Building.

  She attended the morning service in the International Christian Fellowship in Wan Chai, and had lunch with her friends from the church later.

  After lunch, she took a tram from Wan Chai to Central.

  Thousands of Filipina workers gather in Central on Sundays.

  “Kumusta ang bakasyon?” Cora Fajardo asked Rose. Cora is from Camp 3, along Kennon Road.

  (“How was your vacation?”)

  “Okay! Enjoy!” Rose replied, her smile overflowing.

  (“It was okay! I enjoyed it!”)

  “Natural! Nandoon ba naman ang inspiration n’ya, eh!” Cynthia Agunod teased her. Cynthia is also from Baguio City.

  (“Naturally! She was with her ‘source of inspiration’ (boyfriend)!”)

  “Siyanga pala, nasaan si Aling Consuelo?” Rose wondered.

  (“By the way, have you seen Aling Consuelo?”)

  “Pumunta s’ya d’yan sa Post Office. May kamag-anak daw siyang taga-Moncada, Tarlac dito sa Hong Kong. Pinuntahan lang n’ya sandali,” Angelina Santo Tomas replied. “Mamaya lang, nandito na ulit ‘yun! At bakit ba? Nandito naman kami. S’ya lang ang hinahanap mo. Magseselos kami n’yan!”

  (“She went to the Post Office. She has a relative from Moncada, Tarlac who is here in Hong Kong. She’ll just meet that person for a few minutes.” “I’d bet she’d be back in a short while. And why are you looking for her when we are already here. We might become jealous!”)

  “Kasi ‘yung driver ng taxi na sinakyan namin mula sa Teacher’s Camp hanggang Pantranco ay asawa n’ya! Hindi na nga kami siningil sa pamasahe, e. Ang sabi n’ya, ikumusta ko na lang daw silang mag-ama kay Aling Consuelo.”

  (“The driver of the taxi we took from Teacher’s Camp to Pantranco was her husband. He didn’t even charge us for the fare. He said that his only request was that I give his and his children’s regards to Aling Consuelo.”)

  “Ilan ba ang anak ni Aling Consuelo?” Daisy Ambrosio enquired.

  (“How many children does Aling Consuelo have?”)

  “Apat yata. Grade One na ang bunso,” Rose replied.

  (“About four, I think. The youngest is in the first grade,”)

  “Kumusta naman ang family mo?” Antonia Mortiz asked her. Antonia came from Sison, Pangasinan.

  (“How is your family, Rose?”)

  “Okay naman sila sa awa ng Diyos. Nami-miss ko na nga sila ulit, eh.”

  (“By God’s grace, they are okay. I already miss them.”)

  “Ay! Talagang ganyan! Kaya kung minsan, and hirap ding umuuwi. Mabuti pa ‘yung hindi mo sila nakikita, hindi mo sila nami-miss,” Coritha San Juan commented.

  (“Aw! Life’s really like that! Sometimes, it’s difficult to go back to the Philippines. It may be better if you don’t see your family, that way, you won’t miss them,”)

  “Eh, kumusta naman si Tita Cory?” Anita Gonzales asked Rose with a bit of sarcasm. She had been critical of the Aquino administration for what she termed as “congenital ineptness” of President Aquino.

  (“And how is President Aquino doing?”)

  “Ayun! Marami pa ring problema! Tumatanda na dahil sa problema!” Rose replied.

  (“She still has many problems to deal with. I think the problems are making her age faster!”)

  “Ayaw pa kasing mag-resign, eh! Hindi na nga n’ya kaya, ipinipilit pa ang sarili!” Coritha San Juan stressed.

  (“And why won’t she just resign! She knows she can’t handle the responsibilities, and yet she continues to hold on to the position.”)

  “Tuloy, patuloy na naghihirap tayong mga Pilipino dahil sa incompetent s’ya. Malas talaga ang Aquino administration. Anim na coup d'état, energy shortage, baha, graft and corruption, drought sa Mindanao, failed ceasefire, halos lahat ng problema ay dumating sa Pilipino mula nang maging Presidente s’ya. Lindol na lang yata ang hindi pa dumarating ngayon sa Pilipinas!” Anita Gonzales remarked.

  (“That’s why our hardships as Filipinos never cease, because of her incompetence. The Aquino administration seems to be beset with misfortune. Six coup d'états, energy shortage, floods, graft and corruption, drought in Mindanao, failed ceasefires, almost all kinds of problems have plagued Filipinos since she became President. It seems like the only disaster that the Philippines hasn’t recently experienced is an earthquake!”)

  “Hay, naku! Sana nama’y wag lumindo sa Pilipinas na kagaya ng nangyari sa Iran kamakailan. Kung mangyari sa atin ang lindol, lalong kaawa-awa ang ating bansa.”

  (“Oh! No! I hope that the Philippines doesn’t go through an earthquake like what happened to Iran recently. I’d hate to see something like that happen in the Philippines making the situation there more miserable.”)

  “Sana nama’y wag mangyari ang ganun,” Rose said.

  (“I hope nothing like that happens.”)

  “Nakakaawa ang mga biktima ng lindol sa Iran. Mga bata, matatanda… May ipinakita pa sa TV na babaeing naputulan ng ulo dahil nabagsakan ng bubungan. Nakakatakot!” Coritha San Juan said.

  (“You’ld really feel sorry for the victims of the Iran earthquake. Young and old… the television even showed a lady who was decapitated because the roof literally fell on her head. It was really shocking!”)

  “Sana naman, maghanda ang ating gobyerno para sa mga calamities, lalung-lalo na’t madalas mangyari ang mga natural calamities sa Pilipinas,” Linda Gallego stressed.

  (“I hope our government prepares for these types of calamities since these occur frequently in the Philippines.”)

  “Hay, naku! Linda, ang Aquino administration, hindi iniisip ‘yan!” Anita Gonzales remarked.

  (“Oh, Linda! The Aquino administration doesn’t think about those things!”)

  “Ikaw naman! Masyado mo namang dini-degrade ang Aquino government!” Balsy Mendoza commented.

  (“Oh, c’mon! You always degrade the Aquino government!”)

  “Talaga namang incompetent, eh! Basura nga sa Metro Manila, hindi n’ya ma-solve, mag-prepepare pa sa natural calamities!” Coritha sided with Anita. “Sumulat ang kapatid kong estudyante sa Far Eastern University (FEU) na grabe na raw ang basura sa Metro Manila. Ang baho raw ng Manila!”

  (“They’re really incompetent! The garbage problem in Metro Manila is still unsolved until now, and you expect them to be prepared for natural calamities? “My younger brother, a student in Far Eastern University, said that there’s a tremendous amount of garbage in Metro Manila! He said Manila stinks!”)

  “Hindi naman trabaho ni Presidente Aquino ‘yun, eh!” Balsy Mendoza quipped. “Trabaho ‘yun ng Metro Manila mayors.”

  (“But that’s not part of President Aquino’s responsibilities!” “That’s the job of the mayors in Metro Manila.”)

  “Pero s’ya ang Pangulo. Karamihan sa mga Metro Manila mayors ngayon ay suportado n’ya noong local election. Bakit hindi n’ya gamitin ang leadership n’ya sa mga mayors?” Anita asked.

  (“But she’s the President. She was the one who supported majority of the Metro Manila mayors now holding their positions when they were still running during the local elections. Why doesn’t she exhibit her leadership among the mayors?”)

  “‘Yun na nga ang problema n’ya! Leadership!” Coritha quipped. “Incompetent ang leadership n’ya. Pabasa-basa lang s’ya ng mga speeches. Pupunta-punta sa ibang bansa para umutang!” Coritha remarked.

  (“That’s the problem! Leadership!” “She lacks leadership!” “She is an incompetent leader. All she does is read speeches. And then she goes abroad to borrow money from foreign countries!)

  “Ayaw pa kasing mag-resign, eh! Pinapaikot-ikot lang s’ya ng mga political advisers n’ya. At saka ‘yang ‘reconciliation’ na matagal na n’yang sinasabi – s’ya ang source ng hindi pagkakasundo. Mapaghiganti s’ya! Kung katulad sana n’ya si President Violeta Chamorro ng Nicaragua na pinapatawad n’ya ‘yung mga pumatay sa asawa n’ya, kaso, hindi! Higanti rito,
higanti roon! Kaya lalong gumugulo sa Pilipinas! Ang pinapatawad n’ya, ‘yung mga leaders ng mga Komunista na ang daming pinapatay sa atin. Nasaan ngayon si Jose Maria Sison na pinalaya n’ya? Nasa Netherlands! Nangangalap uli ng salapi upang ipambili ng mga armas na gagamiting ng mga NPA na pang-patay sa mga libu-libo pa nating kababayan!” Anita said.

  (“And she won’t resign! She’s being manipulated by her political advisers. And on the on-going issue of reconciliation – she’s the reason for the lack of consensus. She wants revenge. I wish she were more like President Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua, who forgave those who killed her husband, but she isn’t. Aquino would rather forgive the communist leaders who have killed many of our Filipino countrymen. Where is Jose Maria Sison whom she pardoned? In the Netherlands, accumulating money for arms that the NPAs will use to kill thousands of our countrymen!”)

  “Mabuti pa si Sison, pinatawad n’ya. Ilang libo ang pinapatay n’yan? Hindi ba, ang sabi ni Victor Corpuz na dating kasamahan n’ya, si Jose Maria Sison, at hindi si Marcos, ang nagpa-bomba sa Plaza Miranda? Bakit pinalaya s’ya ni Cory? Galit s’ya kay Laurel na Vice-President n’ya, galit s’ya kay Honasan, galit s’ya kay Enrile, galit s’ya kay Adaza! Eh, kung wala ang mga ‘yon, naging Presidente naman kaya s’ya? Ayaw n’yang makipag-reconcile sa kanila, samantalang sa mga Komunista ay nakikipag-reconcile s’ya! Anong klaseng Presidente ‘yun?” Coritha commented.

  (“Sison is lucky that she gave him amnesty. Didn’t that man order thousands to be killed? Didn’t Sison’s comrade, Victor Corpuz, admit that is was Jose Maria Sison, and not Marcos, who ordered the bombing of Plaza Miranda. Why did Cory set him free. She’s angry with Laurel, her Vice President, with Honasan, with Enrile, with Adaza! But if it were not for these men, would she have become President? She’d rather reconcile with the communists than with them. What kind of President is that?”)

  “Si Enrile at Laurel naman kasi, kumampi kay Honasan sa coup. Gusto nilang pabagsakin ang gobyerno ni Cory,” Balsy reasoned out.

  (“Enrile and Laurel sided with Honasan during the coup attempt. They wanted the downfall of Cory’s government.”)

  “At si Sison? Hindi ba s’ya ang leader ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) na gusto ring pabagsakin ang ating gobyerno?” Coritha asked Balsy. The latter was speechless.

  (“And Sison? Is he any different? Isn’t he the leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines who also wants the downfall of our government?”)

  “Bakit ba naiinis ka kay Cory?” Rose asked.

  (“Why are you disgusted with Cory?”)

  “At sino naman ang matutuwa sa kanya? Look! Nung nagkakampanya s’ya noong ‘snap elections,’ hindi ba sabi n’ya, she would be the exact opposite of Marcos? Sinabi n’ya ‘yan. Natatandaan ko ‘yan! Si Marcos daw, kesyo marami s’yang cronies. Si Marcos daw, he encouraged political nepotism. Ang Marcos regime daw, punong-puno ng graft and corruption. Eh, s’ya ngayon? Hindi ba ang dami rin n’yang cronies – si Jose Concepcion, si Bengzon, si Estanislao, at marami pang iba. Hindi ba ang yayaman ng mga ‘yan ngayong nasa gobyerno sila? Political nepotism? Eh, hindi ba ang mga pamilya n’ya ngayon ang nasa power? Si Bong Bong at si Imee ay nagkandidato sa local election. Si Cory? Hindi ba ang kapatid n’yang si Peping Cojuangco ay Congressman ngayon, at ang hipag n’yang si Tessie Aquino-Oreta ay Congresswoman din? Hindi ba Congressman din ang uncle niyang si Francisco Sumulong? At ang bayaw niyang si Boots Aquino ay Senator? Hindi ba very clear na greedy for political power din ang pamilya niya tulad ni Marcos. At graft and corruption? Naku! Napakaraming magnanakaw ngayon sa Aquino administration! Mas marami pa ngayon kaysa noong panahon ni Marcos!” Anita was furious.

  (“You want me to be happy for her with the way things are? Look! When she campaigned during the ‘snap elections’, didn’t she say she would be the exact opposite of Marcos? She said that. I remember it well! She alleged that Marcos had a lot of cronies, that he encouraged political nepotism, that his regime was full of graft and corruption. How is she any different? Doesn’t she have Jose Concepcion, Bengzon, Estanislao and many more fore her cronies. Aren’t these people becoming rich now that they are in the government? Political Nepotism? Bong Bong and Imee Marcos may have ran for office during the last local elections. But aren’t many of Aquino’s family members currently holding powerful positions in government? Isn’t her brother, Peping Cojuangco a congressman, her sister-in-law, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, a congresswoman, her uncle, Francisco Sumulong, a congressman also, and her brother-in-law, Boots Aquino, a senator?” Isn’t it clear that her family is also greedy for political power like the family of Marcos? And graft and corruption? C’mon. There are more thieves and crooks in Aquino’s government than during Marcos’ time!”)

  “Marcos loyalist ka naman yatang tulad ni Coritha kaya ka naiinis kay Cory, eh!” Balsy teased.

  (“I think you’re a Marcos loyalist like Coritha which is why you are disgusted with Cory!”)

  “Hay, Balsy! Hindi ako Marcos loyalist! Katunayan, si Cory ang ibinoto ko noong ‘snap election’!” revealed Anita.

  (“Oh, Balsy! I’m not a Marcos loyalist! In fact, I voted for Cory during the ‘snap elections’!”)

  “‘Yun naman pala, eh! Bumoto ka naman pala kay Cory! Tapos, ngayon, naiinis ka sa kanya?” Balsy quipped.

  (“If that’s the case, then you supported her! Aren’t you partially responsible for putting her in power? Why should you be offended with her now?”)

  “Kaya nga ako naiinis, dahil naloko n’ya ako katulad ng iba pa nating kababayan. Nagpadala tayo sa mga pangakong napako!” Anita explained.

  (“That’s the reason why I’m offended, because she was able to fool me just like the rest of our countrymen. We were swayed by promises that were broken!”)

  “Hindi naman s’ya siguro manloloko. Siguro, talagang incompetent lang. Napapaikot s’ya ng mga political advisers n’ya. ‘Yung mga ‘yon ang talagang manloloko!” Rose remarked.

  (“She may not be dishonest. Perhaps, just unskilled. Her political advisers can easily manipulate her. Those are the ones who are really dishonest!”)

  “Rose! Dumarating na si Aling Consuelo. May kasama s’ya!” Linda Gallego said.

  (“Rose! Here comes Aling Consuelo. There’s someone with her!”)

  Aling Consuelo was excited to see Rose. Rose was the closest to her among the members of the group.

  “Rose!” Aling Consuelo shouted as she ran to her, then hugging ang kissing her like her own daughter. Rose was touched by her warmth and care.

  She had been like a mother to her, giving her advice whenever she had problems.

  “Kelan ka dumating? Tumaba ka yata? Nawala na ba ‘yung mga problema? Siguro, enjoy ka sa Baguio, ano?” Aling Consuelo asked in rapid succession.

  (“When did you arrive? You’ve gained weight, haven’t you? Have you been able to resolve your problems? Baguio was probably enjoyable, wasn’t it?”)

  Rose could only smile. She didn’t know which question to answer first.

  “Kumusta ka na?” Aling Consuelo asked.

  (“So how are you?”)

  Rose could finally reply, “Mabuti po, Aling Consuelo. Kayo po?”

  (“I’m fine, Aling Consuelo. And you?”)

  “Okay naman! Happy as usual! Hindi ko pinapansin ‘yang mga problema at baka lalo akong tumanda!” she said, giggling.

  (“I’m okay! Happy as usual! I don’t pay too much attention to problems since I might end up getting older!”)

  “Aling Consuelo, na-meet ko po ang asawa n’yo, si Mang Alejandro,” Rose said.

  (“Aling Consuelo, I was able to meet your husband, Mang Alejandro,”)

  “Ha! Saan mo s’ya na-meet?” Aling Consuelo was surprised.

  (“Really! Where did you meet him?”)

  “Sa Baguio po. ‘Yung taxi na sinakyan namin, s’ya ang nagda-drive.”

  (“In Baguio. He was the driver of the taxi we rode in.”)

  “Kumusta naman s’ya? ‘Yung mga anak namin?”

  (“How is he
? And how are our kids?”)

  “Ayon po sa kanya, okay naman silang lahat. Kaya lang, nami-miss po nila kayo.”

  (“According to him, they are all okay. But they miss you.”)

  Aling Consuelo suddenly turned sad. After a while, she said: “Ako rin, nami-miss ko rin sila. Kung hindi nga lang namin kailangan ang pera, gusto ko na ring umuwi. Gusto ko kasing matapos ang bahay na ipinapagawa namin bago ako magfor-good.1”

  (“I also miss them. If we didn’t need the money, I’d already go home. But I want the construction of our house to be finished before I return to the Philippines permanently.”)

  Rose was silent. Even though she was single, she could understand the feeling of a mother who had been away from home for four years.

  “S’yanga pala, muntik ko nang malimutang ipakilala and kasama ko,” Aling Consuelo told Rose, her face shining again. “S’ya si Evelyn Marquez, taga-Tarlac. May sasabihin s’ya sa atin.”

  (“By the way, I almost forgot to introduce my friend,” “This is Evelyn Marquez, from Tarlac. There’s something she’d like to share with us.)

  “Hi! I’m Rose Afable, also from Baguio City like Aling Consuelo.”

  “Hello!” Evelyn shook her hand.

  Each member of the group introduced herself. “Taga-Tarlac ka pala. Kay Cory ka?” Anita Gonzales asked.

  (“So you’re from Tarlac. Are you a supporter of Cory (Aquino)?”)

  Evelyn smiled.

  “Cory ‘yan! Wag kang magsasalita laban kay Cory ngayon, Anita. Tahimik ka lang…” Antonia Mortiz kidded.

  (“I bet she is. So you can’t bad-mouth Cory, Anita. You better keep your mouth shut…”)

  “Ay! Wag ‘yang politika ang pag-usapan natin, kundi ang kabutihan nating mga overseas workers. May sasabihin sa atin si Evelyn tungkol d’yan,” Aling Consuelo remarked.

  (“Hey! Let’s talk about something else besides politics. Why not talk about our welfare as overseas workers. Evelyn has something to share with regards to that,”)

  “Ano ba ‘yun?” Anita asked.

  (“What’s it about?”)

  “Tungkol ito sa Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund,” Evelyn said. “Alam ba ninyong bawat Filipino overseas worker ay nagbabayad ng US $125 sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Dito sa Hong Kong, merong 50,000 Filipinos ngayon.2 Sa mga Middle East countries – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Oman at iba pa – ay mahighit na isang milyong Filipino na ang nagtratrabaho roon. Bukod pa rito, marami pang Filipino ang nag-tartrabaho sa Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea at iba pang bansa sa Asya. At gayundin sa Europe, lalung-lalo na sa Italy. Bawat isa sa ating mga overseas workers ay nagbayad ng US $125 bago tayo pinayagang lumabas sa ating bansa. Ang aming layunin ay hilingin sa ating pamahalaan na gugulin ang accumulated Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund para sa kapakanan ng mga overseas workers. Hindi naman siguro kaila sa atin ang mahirap na sitwasyon nating mga overseas workers, lalung-lalo na ‘yung mga nati-terminate dito sa Hong Kong.”

  (“It’s about the Overseas Worker’s Welfare Fund,” “Did you know that each Filipino overseas worker pays US $125 to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). In Hong Kong, there are currently about 50,000 Filipinos. In the Middle East countries – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Oman etc. – there are more than a million Filipinos working there. Aside from that, many Filipinos are working in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and other countries in Asia. The same goes for Europe, especially in Italy. Each one of us overseas workers paid US $ 125 in order to be allowed to leave our country. Our goal is to ask the government to spend the accumulated Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund for the benefit of overseas workers. You’re well acquainted with the difficult situation we overseas workers face, especially those terminated here in Hong Kong.”)

  “Magkano ba ‘yang Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund na ‘yan?” Coritha San Juan asked.

  (“How much money has accumulated in the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund?”)

  “Ang estimate namin ay may minimum na 700,000,000 pesos ayon na rin sa pakikipag-usap ng aming mga kasamahan sa ating mga consulate officials. Each overseas worker contributed US $125. Ipagpalagay na nating US $1 is equal to 20 pesos, at ang exchange rate na ito ay panahon pa ni Marcos. Kung ganoon, bawat isa sa ating mga overseas workers ay nag-contribute ng 2,500 pesos sa Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund,” Evelyn said.

  (“The estimate we have is about 700 million pesos minimum, based on our talks with our colleagues among consulate officials. Each overseas worker contributed U.S. $125. Let’s assume that U.S. $1 is equal to 20 pesos, the exchange rate since the time of Marcos. If so, each of our overseas workers contributed 2,500 pesos in the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund,”)

  “Saan naman ginagasta ang fund na ‘yan. Ni wala namang naitutulong sa mga domestic helpers (DH) ‘yang OWWA na ‘yan. May mga kilala akong DH na one week pa lang, o one month pa lang, tinerminate na ng employer. Humingi ng tulong sa OWWA, hindi naman tinulungan at karamihan sa mga nati-terminate na DH, sa mga kaibigan na lang nakikitulog. Wala silang pera,” Linda Gallego said.

  (“What are they spending the fund on? OWWA has hardly been able to help domestic helpers. I know domestic helpers who, after a week, or after a month, were terminated by their employer. They asked for assistance from the OWWA, but received none. Many of those terminated had to sleep in the homes of their friends. They had no more money,”)

  “‘Yung kilala ko nga, inabuso ng amo. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwan, pinalayas. Ala-una pa naman ng gabi pinalayas. D’yan nagpalipas ng gabi sa Star Ferry. Walang matulugan,” Antonia Mortiz said.

  (“I know someone who was abused by her employer. After a few months, she was thrown out into the streets. And that was at 1 a.m. in the morning. She spent the rest of the hours at the Star Ferry. There was no place for her to go, none to sleep at,”)

  “May kaibigan din ako, two weeks pa lang sa employer, pinagmalupitan na. Pinagbintangang nagnakaw ng tissue paper. Tissue paper, ha! Ang sabi n’ya sa akin, ‘gumasta ako ng 25,000 pesos sa recruitment agency upang makapagtrabaho rito sa Hong Kong. Sisirain ko ba ang record ko dahil lang sa isang tissue paper?3 Oo nga naman! Ganyan kababa ang tingin nila sa ating mga DH sa Hong Kong. Ngayon, nagpatulong s’ya sa OWWA. Natulungan ba s’ya? Hindi!” Cynthia Agunod said.

  (“I also have a friend, who has only been with the employer for two weeks, but was being subjected to cruelty. She was accused of stealing tissue paper. For crying out loud, tissue paper! She told me she spent 25,000 pesos as payment in a recruitment agency just to work here in Hong Kong. Would she jeopardize her employment record for a piece of tissue paper? Yes, I think she would! C’mon! That’s how low we domestic helpers are looked down upon here in Hong Kong. She asked for help from the OWWA. Did she receive any help? No, none at all!”)

  “Baka naman ang perang ‘yan ay kinu-kurakot lang ng kung sinu-sino?”

  (“Perhaps that money is being pocketed by those in power.”)

  “‘Yung nga po ang dahilan kung kaya kailangang magtulungan tayo upang ang mga contributions na ‘yan ng mga overseas workers ay magamit para sa mga overseas workers talaga, at hindi para sa bulsa at kapritso ng mga nag-mamanage dito,” Evelyn said.

  (“That’s the reason why we need to help each other so that the contributions are really used for overseas workers, and not for the pockets and whims of those who manage it.”)

  Evelyn explained what she and her group wanted to accomplish.

  “We should organize a lobby movement! This movement will then write Senators and Congressmen to prod them to pass a law which will authorize Philippine embassies, consulates and delegations to spend the accumulated Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund being collected from us for the following purposes: hiring a local law firm that will defend Filipino workers being abused, exploited or oppressed by their employers; renting lodging places where Filipino workers terminated from their jobs can sleep or stay; assisting terminated and distressed Filipino workers financially and granting an accide
nt insurance of at least 200,000 pesos for every Filipino worker abroad. We need this insurance badly. Some workers have only HK $5,000 accident insurance given by their employers, while others don’t have any at all. Last year, two Filipina workers were run over by a bus here in Central. You know that both of them died. We don’t know if they had insurance or not. And even if they did have the HK $5,000 given by their employers, what is that amount? It’s so little. Baka kulang pang pamburol,” Evelyn said.

  (“It might not even be enough for the funeral.”)

  Evelyn dispelled any of the group member’s doubt as to the nature of their movement.

  “We are not a communist front. In fact, we condemn communist front organizations exploiting Filipino workers for their propaganda and fund-raising purposes. This project is non-political. It requires selflessness and sacrifice from those who are involved in it. Last June 3, one of our members ran the distance from Chai Wan to Central, which is approximately 20 kilometers, to attract the Filipino’s attention and encourage them to support this cause. We have been spending our own money for this project, but this project will not succeed without the cooperation of the majority of Filipino workers abroad,” Evelyn explained.

  “What can we do to help?” Balsy Mendoza asked.

  “We have printed postcard-letters for all Senators and Congressmen since we don’t expect you to be composing letters. We have used our funds for operations purposes. These postcard-letters are for free. We are not selling them,” Evelyn said.

  “About 50,000 Filipinos are here in Hong Kong. Even if you print only 20,000 postcard-letters, you would still end up spending a big amount for these. We want to contribute also because this project is for all Filipino overseas workers,” Cynthia Agunod said.

  “We have agreed not to accept contributions, lest we be misunderstood. If you wish to help in our operational expenses, we are selling cloth butterflies to finance the project. If you buy one, a Certificate of Recognition will be given to you. This certificate is for free,” Evelyn said.

  “Magkano naman iyang butterfly?” Cora Fajardo asked.

  (“How much is one cloth butterfly?”)

  “HK $10 lang,” Evelyn replied.

  (“Only HK $10.”)

  “Very cheap naman pala! Pang-Coke lang ‘yan ni Balsy at Cynthia. Sige, tumulong tayo,” Anita Gonzales said.

  (“It’s very cheap! It only as expensive as a bottle of Coke that Balsy and Cynthia usually drink. Okay, let’s help out,”)

  “Oo nga naman,” Rose responded. “Ipakita natin na tayong mga Filipino sa Hong Kong ay mayroon ding pagkakaisa.”

  (“Certainly. Let’s show that we Filipinos in Hong Kong have unity.”)

  Rose’s group thanked Evelyn and her movement for the concern they have for their fellow Filipino workers.

  “Wala ‘yun!” Evelyn said. “Sino pa bang magtutulungan kundi tayong mga Filipino na rin. Eh, kung tayong mga Filipino ay ayaw tumulong sa ating kapwa, wag nating hintayin ang mga Intsik, British, at Arabs na tulungan tayo.”

  (“Don’t mention it. Who else will help each other out except us Filipinos. If we can’t even help our own countrymen, we can’t expect aid from the Chinese, the British or the Arabs.”)

  Evelyn made her point. The group of Rose was reminded again of a lesson they had often taken for granted, like the rest of us, that no one could love the Filipinos better than the Filipinos themselves.

  Back to Table of Contents

  . . . CHAPTER . . .

  5