It was a good thing that technology had come up with cell phones and laptop computers to allow the world to connect from both ends of the globe. People stayed in touch with one another almost every minute. It also opened up the lines of communication about what was happening within or on the other side of the continent. Events and updates were reported immediately from the Philippines to Singapore, from Tokyo to Berlin and from China to Brazil. The earth had been filled with interesting people. Differences between races could indeed bring humanity together. Or did it?
I often heard in the news the unlikely acts of my fellow Filipinos who worked overseas. Accusations swirl around that they committed murder or some related offenses. Not until my girlfriend worked for a multi-national company in Singapore did I understood the magnitude of such acts. The world was impressed with the way this nation had been achieving success in the midst of worldwide economic crisis. Most people thought that there was comfort in being able to earn Singapore dollars. It brought some sort of stability among Filipinos to get a job in that country in order to support a family back home. But right now, I don’t see any comfort in my girlfriend’s decision to work in Singapore. The company hired her as an assistant manager. Four or five months into the training, she talked about going home. I don’t know how to comfort her when she cried over the phone or when she texted me with words of anguish that she’s being pressured to quit her job. I think pressure is natural for a trainee like her but I don’t think that it should be extreme as what she expressed. When she arrived in Singapore last January, she felt all alone. There were two of them from the Philippines hired to work in Singapore. They were later assigned to different branches. The workplace comprised of Malaysian, Singaporean, Chinese and Filipino nationalities. It would be understandable for racial differences to occur between them due to a contrast in cultural backgrounds. The language barrier barred them from fully comprehending each other’s behavior. But when it would be the manager who made things unbearable at the workplace then it would be another story. She didn’t mind working though long hours without overtime pay. What she complained about was how she was treated with contempt as if she came from a distant planet. She couldn’t remember a day without being scolded. Her managers always looked for every detailed mistakes on her job. Even things like arranging items were blown out of proportion. She was told that she was engrossed when folding textile items. She always requested for instructions but her bosses brushed her aside. Her routine was filled with criticisms and scrutiny. She later told me that she would cry inside the stockroom or at the comfort room. To some extent, she would shed tears while walking or riding on the train and the bus. I understood that pressure at work could be necessary as it would be a preparation to overcome adversity and future hard ships. But minute to minute reprimands could be viewed as mental torture. I remembered the Flor Contemplation story years back. What could had led the poor woman into doing the thing she paid with her life was the constant nagging and scolding she received from her employers. It was too much for her. And in the end, her mind just twisted.
The plight of my girlfriend and that of Flor Contemplation couldn’t be called isolated. Many Filipinos shared their situation. There were even worst incidents that could be heard around the world. I condemned such acts. Destructive criticism could lead to a mental breakdown. My girlfriend’s companion later said that she wanted to commit suicide amidst the pressures at work. It must be some pressure because in the Philippines, grilling at work could be taken in stride. In relation to my girlfriend’s recent situation, I would caution Singaporeans to stay clear from Davao City. Add to that all abusive foreigners like the Koreans who got themselves into trouble with the city mayor and the provincial governor. Davao would be unsafe for the society’s bad elements, and it sure would also be unhealthy for other nationalities whose discipline could be compared to the animals in the zoo.
Tags: dangerous nation, discrimination, international offense, racial, singapore
