Trial is not an end

I am a single mother of a daughter. As a child I grew up in a poor family and my father was a farmer to support us. Seeing the hardship of life has taught me to be independent and develop a strong character.

I was only able to finish high school because my parents could no longer afford the expenses. 

Before coming to Hong Kong, I worked for 10 years as a security guard.  I supported my daughter on my own. I was a mother and a father to her. I am blessed because my daughter is a consistent honour student. When she was younger, I never thought of leaving the country to work abroad. But when she grew a bit older, with a mature thinking plus an independent character too, I thought I would be able to give my family a better life. I decided to try my luck abroad. I left my daughter to the care of my parents.

I applied for work in Hong Kong in 2018. And in 2019 I received a call for an interview and was offered a job. I then resigned from my job as a security guard and did all the procedures needed. I had my flight ticket for Hong Kong and was scheduled to leave. However because of the pandemic all flights were cancelled. I felt depressed because I had resigned from my previous job a month ago. Fear and worries began to beset me. Fortunately we were given 10,000 pesos ($1,618) from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to compensate for the cancellation of flight. 

Finally on 26 February 2020, I was able to get my job in Hong Kong. It was also the beginning of my “Calvary.” The mother of my employer mistreated me every time the couple were not at home and that included physical abuses. I would have my lunch by 3.00pm or sometimes 5.00pm and the food was not even enough. For three months I was not given my day off. I worked hard to please her but it was useless. I reported it to my agency and showed the bruises. The agency suggested that I resign and give a month’s notification instead of breaking contract. So I gave my employer a month’s notice. My employer felt bad about my resignation and she was sorry that she could not stop the bad temper of her mother. 

I was able to continue to look for a job. In two months’ time I was able to find one but my prospective employer backed out. It was also at that time when I was in my lowest point that I met the Social Justice For Migrant Workers. The group assisted me in many ways including financial assistance. I am so grateful to them. The group members treated me as one among a family. 

On 8 August 2020 I found my present employer and she is kind to me. Her family advised me to forget about the pains I encountered from my past employer and replace the bad memories with the good one I got from them. 

I then want to improve my work perfromance so I took a four months’ caregiver course at a school in Sheung Wan. 

In the graduation ceremony of the course on April 11, I had the chance to wear a toga. I felt proud of my achievements and my strong character of not relenting and giving up in spite of all the problems I underwent. After finishing the caregiver course, I wanted to venture more on other courses. So on May 2, I started my studies on hotel and culinary course. 

I am thankful to God and to people in the Social Justice for Migrant Workers who supported me like Maritess Palma, the founder of the group, Sol Ramel who assisted me personally,  as well as Ody Munson, Joshua Ibarra, Ezssel Rosales and my present employer.

My advise to all is never give up in pursuing your dreams in life and continue to fight for it. Most of all prayer is our best weapon. For anything and everything thank God, call on him and he will heed the cries of our heart. 

                                    Pia Saldo