AN OLD CIRCULAR

A ranking tourism official reminded us about a past circular which made the rounds of three departments. It called for the phase-out of foreign nationals in the hotel and resort industry.

The three offices concerned were the Department of Tourism (DoT), The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID).

The circular contained guidelines on the entry and employment of foreigners in hotels and resorts. It sought to curb the unlimited employment of foreigners, promote the careers of Filipinos, and ensure the development and protection of local manpower.

Affected by this circular would be foreigners who have been hired as general managers, resident managers, food and beverage managers, chefs and butchers. The circular states that hotels may hire only two (2) foreigners for the post of general manager and food and beverage manager. The three departments supported the circular, but I think it still remains to be followed to the letter. Pretty hotel employees may not relish this circular. There will be less foreign hotel executives they can possibly tie the knot with. Competition will be keener for these Caucasians. Pinoy hotel executives don't have to contend with blonde and blue-eyed rivals any longer - which remains a favorite choice for Pinays looking for greener pastures elsewhere. Methinks that on this matter, the local variety carabao grass is still green enough to relish.

(Image from http://www.all-hotels.com/)

IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT

Many factors have forced numerous Filipino women to work abroad as prostitutes. These include poverty, lack of education, lack of opportunities, and the most hideous of all - a culture that normally treats women as sex objects, as bodies that can be bought, sold, raped, murdered, harassed, ogled at and whistled at. A culture that is not friendly to and at times dangerous and difficult for women.

We need to take a closer look into the lives of these women forced into prostitution to discover that many of them have been sexually abused as children or by their partners and spouses. Most of them had been raped in their early teens by their fathers and step-fathers, uncles and brothers, forcing them to become hookers saying, "wala na ang pagkababae namin, sira na ang buhay namin, sino pa ang papatol sa amin?"

These women sink to the lowest brink of self-esteem and self-worth. Our hypocritical society puts so much premium on virginity and chastity but at the same time nurtures a culture of misogyny wherein women are really left few choices. Menfolk assume the right to sex regardless of the women's consent.

Our government is also to blame for the plight of our women who have gone into prostitution overseas. I think the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) could be the biggest pimp in the country, allowing recruitment agencies to prey on these innocent and desperate victims. Members of Congress should also get the blame, who are supposedly looking into the matter, motivated simply for publicity and propaganda.

Can the POEA for a change embark on a real program to close down all these "talent/promotion agencies" who are really just recruiting women to work as "entertainers" abroad? Entertainers who are expected to transform into prostitutes soon after. Or are government institutions simply interested in the Dollar remittances of our overseas labor force? It's time our honorable legislators look into the POEA and compel the institution to correct any and all practices that obviously hurt and not protect our Filipino women seeking employment overseas.

(Image from http://sapp.org.my/)

MORE NURSES - BUT WHERE TO?

Last year, some 60,000 nurses graduated from various nursing schools all over the country. Recently, that number probably rose even higher with more new nurses again as the US is now experiencing an over-supply of nurses, and so, where do they go to find employment? They go to spas, call centers and banks while awaiting their much-needed employment overseas - US, UK and Canada in particular. And what is government doing about this? Nothing. Just like our OFWs, our nurses boost the economy via their remittances to their families here - at the same time our beloved government officials and top military officers salt dollars outside the country.

(Image from http://daylife.com/)