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Saturday, February 08, 2003
Pinays bare 'time in hell' in Japan
By May Anne Cacdac
OVER 2,500 Filipinos are leaving daily to work and find greener pastures abroad despite the risks they are facing, with the bulk going to Japan.
"It used to be that most Filipinos leave for the Middle East countries but according to records, 73 percent of those who leave, go to Japan. In 2001, 74,000 Filipinas left for Japan to work as entertainers and the like," said Andrea Anolin, program coordinator for Batis Center for Women, during a press conference at Kalapaw Restaurant Friday.
Batis-Association of Women in Action for Rights and Empowerment is a non-government organization formed to assist distressed Filipino women migrant workers from Japan.
"We are here to help our victimized Filipina workers rebuild their lives," said Olivia Cervantes, executive director of Batis Center for Women.
Also present during the press conference were six survivors of abuse and violence, who shared with local reporters the horrifying experiences they had while working in Japan.
Vicky (not her real name) was a member of the Bayanihan Dance Troop, but instead of being sent to Europe as promised, she found herself working in Japan as an entertainer. "Dun ko nakilala ang aking Japanese husband na siya ring owner ng club na pinatratrabahuan ko. May isa akong anak sa kanya (There I met my Japanese husband who also owns the club I was working in. I have one child with him)."
Vicky's troubles started when her husband brought her home. She was surprised to find out that she was going to live with the Japanese's first wife. "Pero hindi ako umangal. Ibang-iba ang kultura ng mga Hapon sa atin. Sa kanila hindi ka pwedeng magtanong. Sunod-sunuran ka lang sa kagustuhan nila (I didn't complain. They have a different culture. You cannot just ask questions. You just kowtow to their whims)."
She was also a victim of domestic violence. She was imprisoned for almost killing her husband with a samurai. With the help of various agencies, Vicky was able to come home but was not able to bring her child along with her.
"Kung babalik ako ng Japan yun ay ang kunin ang anak ko. Ten years ko na siyang hindi nakikita. (If I'd be back in Japan that would be to fetch my child. It's been ten years since I haven't seen my kid)," she said.
Gina, on the other hand, said that it was frustration that led her to work ouutside the country. "Ako'y isang college graduate. Pero ang mga pinasukan kong trabaho ay panay panandalian lamang. Nakakalungkot isipin na hindi tayo mabigyan ng bansa natin ng mas magagandang trabaho. Nafrustrate ako kaya nagdecide na lang akong magJapan." Gina said while on the verge of tears.
Gina worked as a singer-entertainer and was also married to a Japanese. Discrimination from her husband's mother and her husband's physical violence led her to escape the life she had in Japan. "Pero maswerte ako kasi nakasama ko ang anak ko sa pag-uwi dito."
Marie, Cristy and Frances were all victims of sex trafficking, domestic violence and non-payment of wages. "Basta ihahain ka na lang sa mga customers. Wala kang karapatang tumanggi. Tapos di ka pa babayaran. Ni hindi ako nakahawak ng singko sa panahong nagwork ako dun," said Cristy.
They all had the same dreams of being able to rise above poverty. All of them have children by Japanese husbands but all have been abandoned. Frances, however, won the case of abandonment against her husband.
Cervantes said that it is the Filipino recruiters themselves who subject their kapwa Filipinos to endangerment. "Some of them have contracts with the Yakuza. However, we are networking with other NGOs and government agencies to be able to prevent such from happening."
Reports from the Batis Center for Women showed that there are 170 cases of abandoned mothers with Fil-Jap children, some of which are still active cases and are being taken up by the proper authorities.
Here in the Cordilleras, there are 10 cases filed with the organization. One worker from Baguio has been reported missing by her family. "We are still working on the case. The family still has hope that she is alive," Cervantes said.
She added that the education for the families of these survivors is vital. "Reintegration of the survivors into their families after such an ordeal is needed for them to heal. The families in return should know the support that is needed. Minsan kasi dahil sa mga maling values natin, like the bilmoko system, pamilya na rin mismo ang pinagpapakahamakan ng ating mga workers sa ibang bansa."
(February 8, 2003 issue)
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