Because her employer charged her with running away, she was sent to jail. She was transferred from one jail to another, experiencing hardships in three jails for 20 days. Ironically, she said personnel from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration were accompanying them to jails instead of protecting them from being detained.
Rosebelle, on the other hand, took refuge at the Philippine Embassy bringing only her winter jacket. But she was shocked when embassy personnel tried to send her back to her employer. “Kaya ka nga tumakas para di na maulit ang pananakit, tapos pilit nilang ibinabalik sa employer,” (I escaped so that I would not experience beatings anymore and they still tried to send me back to my employer?) reasoned Rosebelle.
But Rosebelle was determined to leave Kuwait. She told the embassy officials and her agency that she could not be persuaded to work for any employer. She noted that everyday five to 10 OFWs who ran away from their employers go to the embassy.
“Sasabihin nila wala tayong magagawa dahil teritoryo nila ito. Anong klaseng gobyerno ‘yun? Ang mahalaga sa kanila may laman ang bulsa nila dahil sa amin,” (They tell us that they could not do anything because we were in a different territory! What kind of government do we have? The only thing that matters to them is that they have money in their pockets because of us.) lamented Rosebelle, adding that before their departure in the Philippines, they were assured of protection through the country’s embassies and consulates in host countries.
In order to speed up her repatriation, she volunteered at the embassy. But she said she was told at the embassy that she needed to work so she could have money to buy her plane ticket. “Anong ginagawa ng gobyerno?” (What is the government doing?) was her answer to them. In the end, it was the agency that bought her ticket.
When she arrived at the country in March, she said no government representative received her at the airport. Until now, Rosebelle stays at the Migrante International office and is still looking for money to be able to return to her family in Zamboanga.
Rosebelle experiences sudden fainting and frequent headaches. She said that even at the embassy in Kuwait, she was not checked by a doctor despite the personnel’s knowledge of her condition. She added that embassy personnel did not give her a copy of her picture, which was taken when she arrived at the embassy, showing her bruises.
Angel also stayed in the office of Migrante for six months before being able to raise the money for her boat fare to Davao.
Vecina and Ranario
While in Kuwaiti jails, Angel knew of OFWs who like her, have been “robbed of rights and justice.” There she met May Vecina and Marilou Ranario, who are both in death row.
Vecina, who is currently languishing in death row after being convicted of murder, was taken to jail after she has been discharged from the hospital where she was treated for injuries acquired from jumping from the window of her employer’s house. Fellow OFWs, who included Angel, carry Vecina out of her cell whenever police interrogate her. Angel said that although Vecina was bleeding, she was only made to wear diapers. She was not checked by a doctor.
Meanwhile, jail guards in Kuwait regularly assign five OFWs every Friday to clean Ranario’s cell. Angel said those who have seen Ranario said she seemed to be in deep depression and has lost hope. She does not talk anymore and just lies down in bed. Fellow OFWs bathe her and change her clothes.
“Kakampi naman nila kami dahil alam namin pinagdaanan nilang hirap,” she said. ”’Di naman sinasadya (’yung mga nagawa nila), nagpunta nga ‘dun para magtrabaho.” (We feel for them because we know what they went through. They did not mean to hurt anybody. They were just there to earn a living.)
Meanwhile, Rosebelle has seen a lot of OFWs, injured or have lost their sanity, being taken to the embassy by their employers. She said injured Filipinas who have run away from their employers are mostly maltreated.
In search of a better life
Rosebelle is a graduate of secondary education while Angel of a two-year vocational course in computer programming. They could apply as skilled workers but they grabbed the opportunity of being employed as domestic helpers despite the risks to be able to support their families. Rosebelle has a seven-year old daughter and aging parents who are still working in Zamboanga.
Angel and Rosebelle are now awaiting deployment to Dubai. They prefer Middle East countries because the costly placement fee is just deducted from their monthly salary once they are employed.
They almost met their end in Kuwait, but Angel and Rosebelle are willing to risk their lives again just to have something to feed their families in the provinces.
“’Daming isasakripisyo, pati buhay mo. ‘Di mo alam kung makakauwi ka pang buhay,” (We need to endure a lot of sacrifices and even risk our lives. We don’t even know whether we could return alive.) said Angel.
Meanwhile, Rosebelle knows how hard it is to be away from her family. It hurts her when she hears her daughter call her “ate” (older sister) and not “mommy” on the phone. “Pero ‘di ako titigil hanggang hindi ako nagtatagumpay,” (But I will not stop until I have reached my goal.) said Rosebellle, in her desire to save enough money for her daughter’s future and for the retirement of her parents.(Bulatlat.com)
