"The Contemporary Filipina Migrant Worker"

"Mail Order Brides, Prostitutes, Sex-Slaves": these are only a few of the degrading forms of "work" that Filipina women have in various sectors of the world. All these "jobs" are associated with what is known as sex-trafficking, which is the systematic and organized transport of women and children for the purpose of sex for profit. The mothers and daughters of our nation, in the hopes of alleviating their economic conditions, have left and continue to leave the motherland year after year, only to be subjected to the most inhumane conditions possible. Their low statuses as women and as foreigners have rendered them vulnerable to exploitation and oppression in their host countries. In the hopes of improving the lives of those they love, they have sacrificed themselves and their human dignity for almost nothing. Filipina women have reportedly been tortured, murdered, raped, and abused by their employers and their "husbands." Only some of the fortunate ones have managed to escape to tell of their ordeals abroad.
Globalization, harsh economic conditions, government corruption, and the degrading status of women, are only a few of the factors that contribute to the export of human labor. The Philippine government has been and continues to be well aware of the conditions that plague female migrant workers. And yet, it has not made significant efforts, if any, to help our women. The Philippine government has chosen to remain deceivingly oblivious to the cries and pleas of our women. It continues to place monetary gain over human dignity and worth. A perfect example of the government's negligence and inaction with migrant workers is in the case of Flor Contemplacion (link to. http://jinx.sistm.unsw.edu.au/~greenlft/1995/181/181p17b.htm)

Sex Trafficking: Entertainers/Prostitutes/Sex Slaves
"Sex trafficking," put simply, is the reduction of female human lives to mere commodities and instruments of pleasure. To learn just how prevalent this human atrocity is, let us take a look at these statistics:

" The Philippines (preceded by Thailand and Brazil) ranks as the third highest country that exports women to "entertainment" industries.

" There are at least 75,000 Filipinas working in Japan as dancers, entertainers or commercial sex workers. The migration of female workers to Japan as "entertainers" is so common that the term "Japayuki" is what is loosely given to these women.

" There are over 600,000 prostituted women, men and children in the Philippines, the highest in the world.

" In 1995, at least 150 Filipinas were reported to have been sold for sex in Nigeria.
*Statistics taken from Purple Rose Campaign Website (link to http://www.shaman.drak.net/silver/purplerose.html)
If these are not alarming rates, then let me say more. To understand the physical, emotional, and mental torment, the story of a young Filipina named Poppy was recounted in Ron O'Grady's book, The Child and the Tourist:
I found myself dancing at a club at the age of 11… I have had different kinds of customers, foreigners and Filipinos. I tried suicide but it didn't work so I turned to drugs. I want to die before my next birthday.

The story of Maricris Sioson is also a prime, but more grueling example of a migrant workers' vulnerability in foreign soil. At the age of 22, Sioson left the Philippines in April of 1991 to become a "dancer." She was promised a $1,500 monthly salary. Only 5 months after her arrival, she was admitted into the Hanawa Welfare Hospital in Fukushima. After spending a week there, she was pronounced dead. Her cause of death was declared to be hepatitis. What her family saw when her body arrived in the Philippines was far from hepatitis. It was undeniable from first glance that her body had been tortured and stabbed before her death. An autopsy revealed that she had severe blows to the head, and two stab wounds. The first stab wound in her thigh indicated that a double-edged blade was twisted upward, downward, and diagonally in the flesh. The second stab wound indicated that A BLADE HAD BEEN INSERTED VERTICALLY INTO HER VAGINA! Upon the request of then President Corazon Aquino, the Japanese police conducted another investigation but concluded once again that her death was a natural one due to illness. To date, the only "progress" that has been made is that women under the age of 23 cannot travel abroad. This does not do justice to the past victims in any way, nor does it help protect the "older" victims that are allowed to enter the country, who are still virtually vulnerable and helpless in foreign countries.

For example, a country that benefits tremendously from foreign prostitution is Australia. A report from the Australian Institute on Criminology estimates its annual earnings to be about $50 million. It is believed that hundreds of foreign prostitutes are imprisoned in brothels and in overcrowded safe houses in Australia. The women are not allowed to earn anything for themselves until they make profits worth $40,000 or more, an amount that is supposedly the cost of the employer for their contracts.

Mail-Order Brides
Between 1989 to 1998, 148,074 Filipinas left the country either as fiancees or spouses of foreigners (from the Commission on Overseas Filipinos). In 1993 alone, a total of 19,396 Filipinas lived in the United States, Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom as mail-order brides. It is no wonder that a reported 60 Filipinas marry foreigners daily (Commission on Immigration). So how does this come about? Simple.
A man in search of a Filipina bride-to-be will find it unnecessary to do more than an Internet search. The term "filipina women" is enough to bring about countless Internet sites (www.filipina.com, www.filipinaladies.com, www.singlefilipina.com), which contain pictures and physical descriptions of women who are ready to go at any moment. All one really needs is Internet access and a major credit card that has probably about a $1-3,000 limit. The companies and individuals that put up the site inform men about how relatively easy it is to deal with immigration, so that the process is smooth and inexpensive. Doesn't this seem like the perfect deal? For the men who pose as husbands, but become their pimps and force the women into prostitution, it is the deal of the century. For the men who abuse their wives and subject their wives to total subservience, what else could a man ask for? For the women who leave in search of a home, of a better life, and a loving man, this is more of a death sentence.
Various reports of physical abuse and torture have been brought about. One woman who was able to escape her "husband" in Korea, who forced her into prostitution, spoke of many other women who were under this predicament, and could not escape. Another case in Australia involved the death of a Filipina by her "husband." Therefore, I truly believe that the term "Mail-Order Bride" is only used as a cover-up for the same crimes that are committed against the women mentioned above.
ACTION
These are the existing conditions of our women. Awareness is needed to educate people about the issues that are negatively affecting Filipina women and children. They have literally become the country's largest "export." They should no longer be subjected to being sold as mere commodities, and their voices need to be heard. The government, especially under the reign of a FEMALE President, should now, more than ever, take steps to restore the respect and dignity of our women. If we do not put an end to this now, what will become of the women and children of the future? Do your part to discover and expose those who partake in these injustices! Raise awareness and take part in the struggle against the global sex trade and the dehumanization of Filipina women!

By: Christine Cunanan
(Christine served as an intern for CHRP for the Spring Semester of 2001. She graduated in May of 2001 as a Psychology major with a Legal Studies Certificate.)