Visit a park in
Hong Kong on any day of the week and you will see it full of Filipino domestic
workers enjoying their one day off.
Stroll through a mall in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Kuwait and those
staffing the retail stores are very likely to be Filipino. New York City and
other large cities where both husband and wife have a career you will find
Filipino nannies filling the gap for these too busy professionals.
In Hong Kong
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints holds Sacrament meeting and other
church meetings for Filipino Domestic Workers every day of the week. Workers are allowed one day a week off and it
can be any day of the week. When they
are off, most are not allowed at their employers home so spend the day in the
park or attending church.
It is estimated
that more than 2.3 million Filipinos work abroad — and that is the official
statistic. A recent article in The New Yorker estimates the number equates to a
tenth of the Philippines’ population of almost 100 million people. Many work without
the proper work visas, which makes them vulnerable to poor working conditions
and human rights abuses.
What persuades
a Woman to leave her husband and children to go work in Hong Kong. Why does a man leave his wife and children to
go abroad to Saudi Arabia or London or many other countries around the
world? Domestic workers in China are
paid about $500 US a month. Many at home
in the Philippines struggle to find work that will pay them $200. Salaries vary around the world with job and
location are are very enticing to people living in poverty wondering how they
will feed their children, and provide for their education.
I would like to
introduce you to one of my friends in the Philippines. His name is Jimmy De Guzman Cancino. He is an educator and is currently serving
as the Stake President of the Philippines Bayambang Stake. This is his story about almost going abroad,
in his words.

My heart was really saddened every
time I thought of leaving my family and my job here in the Philippines as a
permanent teacher. While I am preparing
my papers going abroad, I also filed my application for a Master Teacher
position. I am so much troubled and
bothered with my decision to go abroad.
So, I inquired of the Lord about my decision if it is right. I prayed earnestly and even do fasting for me
not to regret on my decision. I went
even to the temple for the confirmation of my decision.
After some time, the ranking result in our division
came in and I was rank number 1 in the division. I got promoted for the position I have applied
for.
With this promotion, I offered again
a fervent prayer unto the Lord, because I am so confused as to what decision
will I take for me not to regret later.
After so much
time of prayer and fasting, our Heavenly Father answered my prayers in the form
of a vision. In my vision, I saw myself
in the place where I will be teaching, night time when I went there. As I entered the house where I will stay,
nobody welcomes me and I felt very sad. I
felt that I made a great mistake. I
thought it was not a dream. I felt
really discouraged and disappointed with my decision. But when I woke up, I thank the Lord, because
it was just a dream.
Bayambang Stake Self-Reliance Committee |
With all of these experiences that I
have had, I’ve learned to listen to the promptings of the spirit. And know for myself that God will never
forsake us in making our righteous decisions in lives. It’s comforting to note that even through a
vision God answered our prayers. I am
ever grateful for His divine guidance each day. I am thankful for His love and care in all the
difficult situations in my life. Truly,
going abroad is not an answer to our financial difficulties. If not for His guidance and direction I wouldn’t
choose the right decision for myself and my family. Three years later, I was able to see the
purpose why I was guided to stay. I was
called as a Bishop in our ward. Four
years after, I was called as Stake President in Bayambang Philippines Stake. If I did not listen to the promptings of the
spirit and counsels of the leaders I wouldn’t be called to such callings in the
church. I love my callings in the
church. I love my family so I stayed
and never thought of going abroad
anymore for I know that God will bless me if I will do the best that I can do
in magnifying my callings in my family and in the church. Now that I am serving in the church as a Stake
President I was again blessed by the Lord to a higher position in the DepEd as
School Principal. I am ever grateful and
happy for all the blessings that God has given me.”
Self-Reliance Show Case & Graduation |
Sister Anderson
and I have been blessed to work with many other families in the Philippines who
are struggling with working abroad decisions.
Some have already left the Philippines and are struggling to find a way
home. Others are struggling with the
decision to go or stay.
Many Grandparents have been put in a situation of raising the children as parents while
Mother is away in a foreign country. Not
only are the children deprived of a loving mother to nurture and care for them
here but they are denied the blessing of having Grandparents in their lives as
it is almost impossible to fill the role of Mom and Grandma at the same time.
Self-Reliance Graduation in Bayambang Stake |
In the scriptures we read in Doctrine and
Covenants 104:17 For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea,
I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents
unto themselves.
The Philippines
is a beautiful land, full of resources and food and opportunities. In teaching Self-Reliance here we help
families find ways to use these resources to improve their lives and sustain
their families.
In THE FAMILY,
A Proclamation to the World https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng
we read:
HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
Families can
only achieve this by being together. By
working together. Fathers and Mothers
can only accomplish their purpose on earth by being together and working
together to build strong families wherever they may be.
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ReplyDeleteThank you Brother and sister Anderson for sharing the story of President Cancino.. very inspiring...sis aida
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