SOMETIME in November when I got a message from my friend Liza from Israel regarding the situation of Phillip, their neighbor back in the Philippines and an OFW in Saudi Arabia. Phillip is only working in Saudi for about 5 months when misunderstanding between him, his Supervisor and his Employer started to erupt. Their trouble has escalated until it reaches to the point of him being chased and was threatened to be sent to jail. Fear overwhelmed him and the only way for survival is to flee. His colleagues helped him escape until he was led to Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh. He has been residing there since and he will be there exactly 4 months this December 4. His only wish this Christmas is to go home and be with his family with his loving wife and 2 beautiful kids. When I was approached to help him, I dont know what to say and what to do because reality speaks, Im working in Kuwait and Phillip is in Saudi Arabia and that is way out of my jurisdiction. I waited for a few days before I responded to Lizas message and I told her that I cant promise anything but I will do my best. I started to search numbers of the Philippine Embasssy in Saudi Arabia and started to call trunklines but to no avail. With no hope at hand, I boldly sent a message to Consul General Raul Dado at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait regarding Phillip seeking for his assistance. I knew that it is also out of his jurisdiction and I did not really expect response from him but to my surprise, he responded right away. He told me to tell Phillip to look and talk to Consul General Louie Alferez at the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia. I pulled all my resources just to get the personal number of Consul General but I was not lucky enough and Phillip has no means to get the number of Consul General Louie Alferez as well. November 21 when I finally met Consul General Raul Dado in a dinner party and he asked me about Phillip and I told him that he is still in Saudi Arabia. He told me to keep him posted and update him of all developments. I called Phillip in Saudi Arabia if he has any luck about the Consuls number but he told me that he doesnt have. I asked him who is his Case Officer and his number so that I can ask him too. I sent a message to his Case Officer Samuel Madrid and told him about the matter, he did not respond. I sent a follow text to Mr. Madrid the following day and told him that if I cant get a response from him today, I assume that he is not helping Phillip and I will be compelled to ask help from people I know. Upon reading my second text message, he called me right away and updated me of what is happening to Phillips case. He told me that Phillips Company has not responded to his letter yet and still waiting hence no exit advise has been given. I asked him the number of Consul Generla in Saudi Arabia but he said he doesnt have his number. I told him that I will call him from time to time to get updates because we really wanted Phillip home and his family is willing to buy his return ticket to Manila anytime. Again I informed Consul General Raul Dado about the recent events. That same week, Phillip also made a follow up call to his Case Officer regarding his case and the result of the call is not much of a promise. Every night since then, we never failed chatting and I was trying to lift his morale because he was so down and sometimes his hope is waning, everyday passed & spent in the Bahay Kalinga is for him a day of failure. According to him, Bahay Kalinga doesnt really speaks for its name because in there, its not really a place of comfort. People who lived there are living in tents. Food is the same all day all week with a little variation. They are not complaining and when one of his roommates requested for something else, he was shouted at and embarrased by the person in-charge. As they dont have monthly income anymore, they are forced to work part time jobs because if not, they wont have money/finances to use to follow up their cases and according to him, if you wont make follow-up, there is no assurance that your Case Officers will ever make a move, and even if you do follow-up, theres a chance that youll be shouted/scolded by your Case Officer because they are at all not friendly, they are hostile. They wondered why they are called Diplomats where in fact they were not even diplomatic to them. Were they really trained, briefed and did they undergo proper orientation before they were sent out? And the worst part about working part-time with no legal documents, their Contractors are taking advantage of them or its either they are underpaid, delay their pay or not pay at all. They are helpless because they cant even go to the Police to complain, its a pity because they have no right at all! We also cannot put total blame to the people who runs the Bahay Kalinga because they too, have not enough budget to run it properly. The National Government should really need to set aside enough budget to finance all Bahay Kalinga and Rescue Centers especially in the Middle East because they really need it. Last November 30, Phillip called Mr. Madrid again to follow up his case and he was told that finally his Company responded on his letter. Mr. Madrid then advised Phillip to return to his Company to work and wait until his Employer softens his heart until he will be given exit visa. Upon hearing this, Phillip almost lost his control and temper but he composed himself. He coulnt believe that after the maltreatment he got from his Company, Mr. Madrid advised him that. Wait until when? How many more months? Will it reach years? He answered hell never go back there and all he wanted is to go home and be with his family. He was so disappointed and told me the excerpt of their conversation immediately. When I read his messages, I too was speechless and really dont know what to say. I forwarded his messages to Consul General Raul Dado and emphasized the advised given by Mr. Madrid. The Consul responded by telling me that hell have one team look at it! Those words were enough comfort for me and so upon getting his message, I conveyed to Phillip right away. I know its not enough but I know too that it eases some of his doubts and disbelief somehow. I also relayed the message to Mr. Madrid and to my surprise, he responded instantly with a promise that he will go and see the Officer who responded to his letter and talk to him personally about Phillips case. My thought was, if I have not told him that the Consul will have a team look at Phillips case, will he voluntarily do extra mile to go and talk to Phillips Employer or will he just wait until Phillips Boss heart softens so that he can go home? What happens to all the hundreds of runaway OFWs who doesnt know anyone that could help them follow up their cases? Will they spend their days in Bahay Kalinga indefinitely? Will it take them years too? I was also told that there is a lady who went insane by just being there and another man committed suicide. How seriously bad and difficult it is to stay there that it drove them to suicide and insanity? How desperate are those people staying there? Now that Mr. Madrid knew that the Consul General is paying close attention to Phillips case, I hope and pray that he will do all in his power to help Phillip get his exit visa. Its 23 days before Christmas and we have 22 days left to work it out. I cant do much here but if anyone out there who could help Phillip be with his family on Christmas day, that will be the greatest gift to him! I may not know him personally but I will be overjoyed and I will be forever grateful to you! I always thank Consul General Raul Dado for his commitment and his work has been evident in many situations in the past. He has helped me help these wonderful people. I trust him and I trust his words. And to Phillip, life is really difficult! Being away from your family is a hard thing to do. But it is harder to be away from your family with no certainty. You have been discouraged, youve been down but life must go on! Hope is always there and it is there at hand! Dont give up and always be strong! Your loved ones is praying for you and praying that youll be home on Christmas! Believe Phillip, just believe!
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 20:20:42 +0000
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