Many Filipinos come to New Zealand or to any developed or western country hoping to have a better life compared to the one they are experiencing in the Philippines. Engineers, nurses, doctors and most all kinds of professions flock to New Zealand.

The hope is high as the agents who process papers for these people provide empty promises unlikely to be known to the victims. Only when they arrive in New Zealand that they realize that they are not qualified for any New Zealand job for several reasons. The first and foremost reason, they don’t have local experience. There are several others but this is the main reason.

In order for these victims to support themselves, they end up being factory workers. I have known a doctor who have not practiced his profession in New Zealand. He ended up being a part-time worker. He and his wife who is also a doctor have given up their own medical clinic and good life back in the Philippines only to find out that they were not suitable for the same job. They ended up going back to the Philippines after several years. I believe they planned to go to the US instead.

Others have tried to do further study. Being a citizen or a permanent resident, they are qualified for a student loan. That was the only time they have landed into better jobs. The sad thing however, they refuse to repay their student loans as they were saying to quote “…pinangakuan nila ako ng trabaho, tapos wala naman pala, bakit ko babayaran ang student loan ko… pupunta na lang ako sa Australia…”.

That’s sad. It’s your debt my friend repay it. Bear in mind that you will not be in your position now if not for that student loan. Do you believe in karma?

Some immigrant are in much better position. They were able to find the job in their line of expertized after several months of job hunting.

As an advice to our fellow Filipinos who wants better life in other country, do your research first. Ask yourselves, am I qualified to work in that country? Do I have the qualifications and experience? What are the steps do I need to do in order for me to find a job in line with my experience.