Gold Coast Adventure

Starting life at the land down under

The first 3 to 6 months of my stay in Australia was not easy. The odd jobs I did brought fun and happy moments but  at the same time tears to my blurry eyes.  :(

I arrived a week before the fringe festival was over and during that week, I had the chance to work as a person in charge in one of the booths there. I immediately started working in that booth owned by my agent, who fetched me from the airport to my new house right upon dropping off my luggage.  I worked 6 to 7 hours every evening on weekdays and 12 hours on the weekends.
Later on after fringe, I was introduced to a local restaurant owner who hired me as a kitchen hand. I was rostered for 3 to 4 days in a week comprising for at least 7 to 10 hours shift with 15 minutes lunch break. I was paid roughly 13 dollars per hour during the first 2 weeks but later had a 1 dollar additional thereafter. I stayed for 4 to 6 weeks and left when I thought my well-being was already at risk.

To cope with daily needs, I and some of my housemates decided to do catalogue work for our weekly food supply. Since I was the only one who stayed at home and not working at that time, I usually did the sorting and when they arrived from school, we would deliver them to our designated area. That was during winter time, the time when I really felt so down. That was also the time when I started sending my resumes to a number of centres and received calls asking for my certificate. This prompted me to think about my situation especially on the financial side as I also had to pay for the next term fee. That means, I would only be left with a thousand dollar after tuition fee payment and yet my accommodation and other living expenses were also at stake. I encouraged myself to just go with the flow, finish the Certificate 3 which was packaged with my Diploma course and try applying  after.

While doing the catalogue, we (with some of my housemates) would also do house cleaning to a house a few kilometres to where we lived. The cleaning would be done a fortnight and whoever was available could join in to clean.

My placement took place and my housemates became busy so we had to give up the catalogue work. After barely a month of placement work consisting of 2 and a half days per week, I was asked if I could work and start immediately. I was hesitant as I did not know if my school would allow me or if I would not breach any conditions. I asked my school and fortunately I was allowed.

I worked as relief/casual in the centre while I did my placement. I did not encounter any difficulties so far as I was really careful in my new environment especially with the protocols. I learned to adapt their ways here and still learning as of the moment. With all the experiences that I had, I can really say and attest that in every workplace, there are cultures and practices at how they do things. However, in handling the clients, I can also say that one has to have the passion and the heart to genuinely be happy and enjoy the work.

 

Gotad Ad Ifugao

Gotad is an Ifugao term which refers to a large gathering of people. This is a celebration which represents phases of prestige rites in which people living around the community meet on the village of the family conducting the rites.

Gotad Ad Ifugao is a long week prestige festival celebrated every year by the Ifugaos to commemorate the Ifugao Foundation. This is celebrated after the harvest season of palay locally known as "tinawon" meaning yearly or every year wherein Ifugaos from the different municipalities are gathered in Lagawe, the capital town of the province to perform various activities. This is a form of thanksgiving celebration after a long year of hard work.

The theme for 2014 Gotad Ad Ifugao is "A Celebration of Cultural Heritage as Foundation for Self Determination and Sustainable Development". Different municipalities of the province will participate the activities that will feature them, their culture and the progress of their own lands. Olympic sports and indigenous sports competition, ball games and cultural competition including beauty pageant are among the list of activities prepared by the province for this year's celebration. Featured indigenous sports are bultung (wrestling), hinnukting, guyyudan (tug of war), akkad (kadang kadang) race, uggub and others.

Schedule of Activities

A Celebration of Cultural Heritage as Foundation for Self Determination and Sustainable Development

Float Parade contest 

Street Dancing Parade and Contest

Different products from the municipalities of Ifugao 

Update: Fellows asking help in Orchard

I shared an encounter about a fellow asking $6.00.00 along Orchard.

Precy Gonzales

Here is an update on this. A month after our encounter with her, I again met her at Orchard MRT station near an escalator going up to Wisma Atria. She approached me sporting a pitiful look while asking me if I am a Filipina. I looked at her and asked what she was doing in Orchard. She then went to talk about her being abused, no work blah blah blah.

One thing caught my attention. She just had her new Malaysian passport issued on that day in Johor Bahru. I was really surprised but doubting if the passport was real. She showed me her Malaysian passport and indeed it's true. Singapore stamp is on the first page of her passport.

This made me really wonder what this woman is doing in Malaysia and Singapore.

She was trying to buy me with her story of being abused and everything like the first time we met her. I told her we met already and then asked her what happened to the money I and friend gave. She again told me she was not able to go to Malaysia that time because there was no available bus and it was night time.

I was running out of patience because of her unbelievable story. I told her I will help her but I need to ask for police assistance. She suddenly turned around and left.

Fellows asking help in Orchard

Precy Gonzales from Cagayan

I and my friend Marie were in a hurry yesterday night to a attend our friend's birthday  party when we were approached by this woman . We were in Orchard at that time and as we  were about to cross the road along Lucky Plaza , she ran towards me and  asked if I am a Filipino. I stared at her in  surprise  but answered her  politely.  

 She introduced her self as Precy Gonzales from Cagayan and immediately asked for financial help. She needed S$6.00 she could use as a fare going to Malaysia where she said she currently resides. She then asked again if I am an Ilocana and when I spoke to her in that language, she proceeded in explaining herself why she was here in Singapore. She said she came all the way from Malaysia looking for her friend who wanted to help her find a job here but she was not able to see her. She thought maybe she went back home already. She explained that they were deceived by their agent/agency who promised them a good job.  I asked what she does in Malaysia and she said she is doing a part time work. She also mentioned she usually go to Tampines to do extra work if she is called by an employer.

I wanted to ask more of her details and questions but we were rushing that time since it was already a bit late and we needed to go for our friend's party. To make the story short, we gave the amount she was asking, had my friend took a picture of us and told her to take care before we left.

I am very curious how she managed to come to Singapore without being questioned in the immigration and how she live a life without a permanent job then come to Singapore unsure if she would see her friend.

It was my second time to be approached by some fellows asking for help usually to be used for fare going home. 

When we reached our friend's place, I mentioned about the incident and I was told that there are a lot of people doing that usually in the MRT or in Orchard Rd. They shared their own experience and I was surprised to know that even some asked for 10 dollars for top ups. I got even surprised when one friend asked me to see this woman's picture. She eventually recognized her and told me she often see her there in Orchard or at the MRT station.

Hmmmm....makes me wonder if they really need help or they are just plainly impostures. Maybe next time they ask for help, it would be better to refer them to the embassy. 

My 2012!

Moving in to another country to work is difficult and challenging. Difficult because I have to just live by my own without knowing anyone to be there for me but at the same time a challenge that I have to live with.

A year ago, I came to this country to work just like any ordinary foreign worker. I never included this country as a place I wanted to go but I found myself landing into it anyway. My reason was that I was terrified when I was younger about a news that really shook my country and perhaps the entire world due to a capital punishment imposed to a fellow citizen. I remembered my country's outpouring rage towards this country and how their friendship got affected due to that incident. That was almost decades ago and I think everyone got over on that issue as I did.

I was actually uncertain when I boarded the plane. During the entire trip, a lot of "what ifs" were running to my mind including that fate which my fellow went through. I only noticed I was wallowing at those thought when the plane went down into landing. I just closed my eyes and embraced the thought of being into a new world. I walked out of the plane and headed out from the immigration nervously. Minutes later, I was fetched by an agent who I had no choice but to trust since she was the only person who I had a contact with. I was warned a thousand times not to talk or discuss any matters to anyone even to my big boss except her. I succumbed to every words she said but my instinct kept on bugging me so I decided to do the opposite. Clients passports, ATM cards and contracts were withheld until agent fees are fully paid. I  revealed every details even our small arguments to those people concerned and I was actually surprised by what I heard. A  lot of "cannot be" comments thus, this made me do a research work  and a background check on her. I felt a stab on my back when I found out she is doing an unlawful acts stated on the country's laws. What made me angrier was the thought of not making a move to have her be reprimanded. I was a newbie and I am just a nobody. I know that whatever reasons I give for myself for not reporting her to authorities, I still think I should have done it. It happened anyway so I just counted it to experience.

Before the year ended, I felt another stab on the back from a person who I even considered as closest to me since coming to this place. This person seemed too good to be true-perceived self like a sweet innocent individual and appeared to look like an angel. True enough on the physical aspect but in reality, I and the others found out to be only just a front act. There were things we were fond of sharing to the extent of asking each other's advice but I did not see it coming to be used against me. I should have known better and should have trusted my gut even when I sensed it during the initial get to know each other stage. It just hurts so much to be taken advantage of and be betrayed by people when what you only do was to be good and to be  nice around them.

Some may not be pleased for just being myself and I may only be remembered for my weakness but I do not hold their judgement against me. I am pretty sure that if I will run down their own lives, I might probably discover the shock of my life. I maybe exaggerating but I think people like this are usually the ones with a lot of baggage. I do not want to busy myself trying to scrutinize and shoot comments I know will not only help. Anyhow, these people are only way up to  making me a stronger person.

All the best!

Timeline: Job Application in Singapore

July 2011
I posted my resume at the Work Abroad site and within a week, one of the agencies on that site contacted me. The staff on that agency informed me about the documents needed for the work I was qualified to apply for Singapore. Since I was still working with my company at that time, I did not have the time to accomplish the required documents immediately. I had to authorise my sister who is in Baguio to get my academic qualifications from my university.

Mid August 2011
My sister requested the documents from my school on my behalf.

September 2011

After fifteen working days, my university released the requested documents.
I also filed for a few days leave since I was still required to submit more documents. I had to go to my college dean to specifically request the course titles and descriptions of all the subjects I finished in my degree.
End of October 2011
I received the documents I requested from my school and immediately scanned and emailed them to the agency.
A few days later, the agency informed me that I was accepted by a company in Singapore and that my work permit was on process. I was advised to go for medical at their affiliated clinic accredited by POEA.

November 2011
I was scheduled for medical somewhere in Guadalupe.  I was cleared and ready to process my papers to POEA. It was supposed to be the work of the agency but their license was about to expire and they did not renew it four months before expiration.

Anyway, the agency gave me all my documents and instructed me to go to POEA and processed my documents under name hire. The lady in that office asked me about my contract, salary and proceeded to check all my papers. Initially, she was doubting my contract but after checking her computer, she gave me my papers and asked me to pay the corresponding fees. I paid my Overseas Exit Clearance and on that same day, I had my PDOS. 

December 2011
I did not inform my supervisor about my Singapore application not until the agency booked my ticket for Singapore. My colleagues were all surprised (if not disappointed) but at the same time happy. I filed my unused annual leaves and resignation to prepare all my things. I did not have enough time go home to the province to bid goodbye to my parents as I needed to go to Singapore three days after my PDOS.

14th December 2011
The day of my flight. It was my first time to go overseas and I was nervous when I was at the immigration. I was so paranoid at that time, kept on checking my luggage to be sure no one put something or whatever. I checked in and an hour later, I heard it was time to board the plane.

I was fetched by another agent in Singapore...

Trial and Error

To you who must not be named! 

Just one of the so many trials happened within this year.

Hudhud

Talking about culture with some colleagues, I was so proud to tell them mine as they all did since we belong to different ethnicity. We relayed and had some comparisons about the things to be done during wedding rites, death and other occasions. One of them, a mademoiselle, told us about her experience (which made me suppressed a smile), when she passed by a native house with a lot of people and heard chants like they were singing in chorus during her tour in the Ifugao rice terraces. Curious to know about what they were doing, she asked one of the native women, whom she referred as “a woman who spit something like blood on the ground,” (She was chewing beetle nut!!!) Unfortunately, she did not understand what the old woman said and wondered if she was also being understood. 

I remembered one of my elders and thought that perhaps it was their “world” which held back their communication process.


Anyway, I told her the people might be offering something through a native ritual. She said most of them were old women singing native songs. So, I considered they might be chanting the Hudhud but they were just staring at me waiting for more explanation. I just said it is a long old songs usually sung by old native women in the province. Oh heck, they asked me to sample them one. 

5 years

June 22 marked my 5 years in “public” service-well, not as politician but as one of the countless people who undoubtedly looks for the well being of the underprivileged. Five years of multifaceted yet productive and enjoyable years of experience dealing with different people from all ages. 

I remember my first year when I was tested and seemed to have been weighed by most individuals around me. Being new at that time, it was such a challenge working on gaining everyone’s impossible conviction. Of course their rejection was the biggest sample I received and I was left alone coping with everyone. Fortunately, after months of trials, I earned their trust and was able to establish good rapport with them especially to the youths through courage and determination. I learned a lot from my associates, from strengthening leadership skills to working systematically and efficiently which were well supported by all the people concerned, and through them, I found out about my potentials which brought confidence in me.

Succeeding years came by for another tricky but thrilling situations which affected the established rapport amongst everyone, most unlikely to those who have been considered as powerful and supposed to be sufficiently responsible in overseeing majority’s convenience. Personal interactions went sour even if everyone said it was only for the sake of work. Negative vibes were felt inside the four corners of the work place and obviously, even outside. Nevertheless, the recipients’ bubbly company surmounted the ill atmosphere just enough to make everyone continue working on one goal-to bring the lost spirit back. Social gatherings with colleagues through video karaoke over a bottle of beer or going to places went effective in releasing stress. Then, the organization’s surprisingly greatest turnover for the decade took place.

My new assignment was not far from what I did in my three years in vocation-or so I thought. It was actually the same-teaching, but in a totally uncommon situation. Having an open “room” with unique children who live almost the same lives on street, made me aware about the realities happening everywhere. I am confronted with different people-drug pushers, drug users, released prisoners; people suffering from schizophrenia; all kinds of diseases-tuberculosis, Hepa, influenza; and polluted environment-air and noise pollution especially.  I join them during their blissful moments; listen to them when they confer their problems and pleas and offer advice if needed.  I consider all these as challenges that made me stay for two years and counting. However, there are events which do not appear to be challenging anymore. Repetitive actuations and self-centered base decisions of certain individuals  lead me (and the others) to feel uninvolved and poker-faced when encountered with new situations which sadly, usually, severely misjudged. It affected everything when in fact; it should not be considering the general welfare of everyone. I feel like I am more likely to deteriorate than to grow on that part. Still, outcome falls on the recipients’; hence, everyone do their best to leave behind those issues to succeed on one goal-to give back the smile to these unique children. 

PGT Season 3: Jeziel Dimagha-Ong

My Wondering about Wandering Street Children

Being with the street children who are better in surviving but know nothing (or limited only) about their rights and responsibilities  is an immeasurable experience. They are really aggressive and harsh especially if they feel they are being threatened, but they are also just like other children. They are just the same-innocent, playful, "makulit" and so on.  It only depends on how one approaches and treats them.

a child taking his afternoon nap on a pavement

Anyway, not so long ago, I have been wondering where street children and their families come from and why there are a lot when I first arrived in this big city of Metro Manila. I found it odd seeing them around the city. I am well aware there are really street children in the country even if I rarely see them in another city where I stayed for years. Now that they are already in front of me, several questions popped out in my mind. Base on my encounter with the street children who stay with their families mostly say their parents come from another province while some do not know their parent's origin. I asked the parents who come from the province about the reasons why they chose to come to the city. Mostly said it is because of poverty and included the following:
1. Calamities which destroyed their house and other properties; no means of living
2. Sold their properties and come to the city to look for a job and to have a better life.
3. Followed husband/wife/partner who went to the city to work.
4. Run away from their family and come to the city for work when they were younger or to escape abuse/maltreatment from family
6. Victims of human trafficking.

Migration is the common denominator above all these reasons. Most of them admitted that their notion of coming to the city and to search for their luck that would make their life better was a bad decision. They thought that the city was a promise land. They came to realize the difficulties since most of them did not finish their studies. They manage to be in the blue collar jobs but not for long because they are often abused. 

street children 

The parents can not afford their own basic needs much more to their children so they tend to let their children find their own way of survival. The children stay on street "working"-begging or scavenging in order to eat. They prefer to look for other means in order to live even to the extent of prostitution. To them "what is ABC if the stomach is empty?" Older children who roamed around the city are sent by their families to work especially if they are the eldest. They are already given responsibilities at a very young age when every other children enjoy their rights. They have little contact to their own families and would rather stay on street. 

street family sleeping

I remembered my big boss saying that there were few families living on the street before when he arrived to the country. Now, street families mushroomed everywhere around the metro. Street children find partner or "marry" at a young age (15 or 16 years old and above) and bear children. So the cycle goes on and on...

On Schizophrenia

Case

Buy-uc is 21-years-old. He recently graduated from a reputable university finishing his 4 year college course. He lived in another city and he was doing good in college. As a matter of fact, he was a consistent varsity player credited for his contribution on the university's success in the field of sport from his first year up to his last year in the university. He was holding down a job order as a clerk staff in one of the municipalities after a month of his graduation. But then he suddenly began to change, became paranoid and was acting out in bizarre ways. First, he became convinced that the policemen he saw were "spying" on him and his co-workers were talking behind about him or always looking at him. Then he wandered and got lost so his family and neighborhoods went looking for him. 

From there, things got worse. He became suspicious to other people and kept asking everyone in the family if they love him. Then he started hearing voices telling him someone wanted to kill him and that he wanted to be avenged. He took out the knife and wanted to kill the puppy he grabbed outside the house. Later on, he was hospitalized for a few days for he went back to normal. He began again to change during his follow up check up in the hospital when he saw other patients acting strangely. Because of that, the doctor prescribed him a stronger dosage of medicine which he argued he did not need them. He took the medicine for a while but decided to stop. He was reckless at home and easily lost interest whenever he started one like singing while playing the guitar. However, after 6 months, he slowly showed a great improvement and seemed to have recovered after few more months. He is currently active in joining a training.

I am uncertain if the case above is considered as Schizophrenia even if the patient showed some of the signs and symptoms. I am confused if it was really schizo or a depression. The patient above was diagnosed (as written on his medical chart) with this kind of disorder and yet I am not fully convinced so I tried asking other professionals that could help me understand this. 
According to a Psychiatric Doctor, it takes years to come up with this diagnosis. There is actually no test that definitively indicates that someone has schizophrenia. So the concerned medical/social practitioner needs to study the patient's back ground from his  medical, family and mental health information including his daily routines etc.
I tried to make my own reading hoping to rest my mind about the case. 

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, mental disorder and characterized by symptoms of thought, behavior, and social problems. Some common early warning signs are social withdrawal, suspiciousness, deterioration of personal hygiene, inability to show emotion, inappropriate laughter or crying, depression, insomnia or oversleeping, odd statements, forgetfulness, extreme reaction to criticism and strange use of words or way of  speaking.

Causes of Schizophrenia: 

Current research proposes that schizophrenia is caused by 

1. Genetic vulnerability coupled with environmental and psychosocial stressors, the so-called diathesis-stress model. 
2. Prenatal which is well established that obstetric complications are associated with an increased chance of the child later developing the disorder.
3. Infections like viral infections (influenza) in childhood or in the utero 
4. Drugs like Cannabis, Amphetamines and other stimulants , Hallucinogens

For more reading: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-index.shtml 

Street Education

the mobile school

Hmm..what is street education anyway? Why is there a need for street education? 

Street education for me (basing on my few months on the street) is a non formal education which cater children who reach schooling age but never been to school, children who do not have access to education systems, out of school youths (OSY) or dropped out children. Through this non formal street education, in our case, street children are the one's who benefit from this program since we are located in a very big city. Most (street children) of them do not go to school so we bring the school out to the street.

 I think street education  program is an effective  tool in nurturing the children's self confidence and to help them overcome heavy loads of problems they encounter on their daily lives. Perhaps, this might be an answer to this one of the social problems of the country-to mitigate abuses, trafficking, exploitation in the country-if not totally eradicating it.

 Most often than not, street children are vulnerable to all forms of abuses, victims of drugs, trafficking and exploitation. They have low self esteem and are slow cognitively. Since almost all of them experience any form of abuse in their life, it makes their life miserable hence they are emotionally stress and puts their esteem to the lowest. They really need support beyond which traditional classroom and schools could offer. The reason why different lessons/topics are being discussed to them per session depending on the need of the children to boost their self confidence and help them overcome their burdens.

siblings learning together

 Our street education program catered two major depressed areas of Manila.

Education, Health and Psycho social interventions are the three main components of the program.

 Talking about EDUCATION on the street.....

Topics usually given to them are related to their rights, skills to protect themselves from exploitation and flexible yet enjoyable lessons with respect to the realities that street children are currently facing. 

Physical activities like sports and recreational games

are included in the lessons especially to those who did not go to school to develop their motor skills. The children are grouped according to their needs and capabilities. Those who know the basic skills like alphabets and numbers are separated from the ones who can read and write sentences are also grouped together. 

Solvent users and OSY (Our of School Youth) children

are also grouped together and are given special topics which will help them cope with their lives on street. It is important to inculcate and to create a positive attitude towards education. To do this, different approaches and techniques must be used like using attractive tools/materials or enjoyable activities or even children's experiences to catch their interest.

Following examples are some of the learning activities enjoyed by the street children during our sessions.

1. Games and sports
2. Storytelling
3. Writing
4. Reading
5. Speaking/ recitation/singing of nursery rhymes or mother goose songs by the smaller children
6. Counting
7. Role playing or short presentation
8. One on one tutorial

Our education program is open to every children. They are free to come and enjoy the activities. Regular beneficiaries who attend our activities on a regular basis is easier to monitor their behaviours. However, as facilitators, we cannot say no to a child who come only once or children who come occasionally. Most of these children whom we call occasional beneficiaries/clients are working to feed their selves and supporting their families. Some live in a farther area and only drop by when they see us. 

Unfortunately, there are some instances wherein these children who come occasionally are very reluctant to attend because of the presence of the regular beneficiaries. Encouragement and acceptance need to be strengthened again and again.

Our schedule is as follows:
Mondays and Thursdays we are in Area 1 while Tuesdays and Fridays in Area 2.
Wednesday morning is our off day. Wednesday afternoon is intended for paper works and team meetings.
Every Saturdays-is an alternate schedule for the Areas.
Sunday is also our off day.

Our daily routine runs this way:
Every morning is preparation for lessons and other activities. In the afternoon, we bring out the school to the street using the mobile school (a board with different educative panels) donated by the Mobile school. We leave the office at 12:30 and reach the area around 1:30 to 2:00 depending on the flow of the traffic. We fetch the children from their "home" (area where they live) and bring them to where we conduct our activities. They will form a circle (bilog) to pray first before having their regular exercises. Then, they wash their hands before we start our structured lesson.

Matletics Activity

UNCRC lesson