Caregiver: The Movie

A friend of mine lent me a CD of the movie Caregiver (not the pirated kind) produced by Star Cinema with Sharon Cuneta as the main star. The movie was well produced, and I must say the acting of Sharon as a teacher-turned OFW was superb, and so was the performance of John Estrada as Sharon’s annoying, frustrated husband. I understand the movie was given an “A” rating (a rarity) by the Cinema Evaluation Board with gross earnings of P110 million in just two weeks. The movie was naturally a hit not only here but in virtually every part of the world where there are OFWs, from Macau to Dubai with well-received premieres in places like London and Los Angeles.

I found the movie absorbing, made effective by the rather understated manner by which Sharon’s character develops. The director cleverly “involves” the audience as they go through various reactions and emotions – disgust at the overbearing Estrada; exasperation at the seeming weak character of Sharon; compassion for the son they have to leave and pity for the rebellious Filipino boy (interestingly named Makisig Morales) who has difficulty coming to grips with life in a foreign country, unwanted by his British step-dad; then understanding when Estrada’s secret is finally revealed: he works as a utility worker, not a nurse.

There are close to 12 million OFWs today, many of them caregivers. Every year, about a million Filipinos – mostly from the middle class – leave to work abroad. Many don’t realize that it’s mostly OFWs’ dollar remittances that have been keeping the economy afloat. In 2006, they sent more than $13 billion. Last year, remittances reached approximately $14.5 billion – the highest so far – and that doesn’t include dollars sent through “informal” channels. This year, the BSP projects OFW remittances to surpass the $15-billion mark.

But for many of our OFWs, the cost of their dollar earnings can be very high — separation from their families and the dislocation that often times happens. Even before they can leave, they have to go through difficult and heartbreaking decisions, many of them forced to sell or mortgage properties to pay for excessive processing fees charged by recruitment agencies. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of complaints about these onerous fees. This was even mentioned to me by Karen Christensen, the US Embassy’s Non-Immigrant Visa chief, who said she was amazed at how much is being charged for those who want to work in the US.

Going back to the movie, what is really striking is that you can easily relate to the film because of the stories you hear about the plight of OFWs, their sacrifices and the hardships they have to endure working in a foreign land. There were a number of characters who appeared briefly, but I found their portrayal riveting and provoking. For instance, the scene where Sharon was telling her students she is leaving soon to work as a caregiver in London – and one of the kids in the class innocently blurts out her sister is also one, and that the work has to do with “wiping the bottom” of foreigners. One could almost taste the irony being driven at by the director in the scene where Sharon quietly watches her grandma being bathed and changed – the kind of service and caring that she will render to foreigners.

Many of these workers bear in silence the abuse and the insults heaped on them by their employers, who regard them as nothing more than paid help, treated as third class citizens. How many appalling stories have we heard about domestic helpers forced to work long hours, treated like animals and then even beaten up and raped? More often than not, their passports are confiscated. There is nobody they can turn to for help – and in desperation many of them have tried to escape by tying bed sheets together and jumping out the window – only to be caught by the police on some trumped up charge of stealing and other manufactured crimes. Just recently, there have been disturbing reports about the rising incidence of suicides by OFWs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One man reportedly hanged himself, while several others jumped to their deaths. Authorities said they have yet to confirm if the deaths were really suicides or if foul play was involved.

But what is really disgusting is the fact that there are still a lot of illegal recruiters who take advantage of these poor people who are just trying to find ways for their families to survive. Many years ago, I remember seeing a man just sitting on the floor in one corner of the old NAIA, with his suitcase open, rocking and mumbling to himself. Apparently, he was supposed to leave for abroad that day but his papers were fake – another hapless victim of illegal recruiters. While we can’t do much about abusive employers, we can definitely punish those who become channels of such abuses like illegal recruiters. There should be a law where the death penalty is reserved just for these vultures taking advantage of their fellow Filipinos. Manny Villar who is supposed to be the champion of OFWs should spearhead moves to push for new legislation that would give very severe penalties for these unscrupulous people.

Sharon Cuneta played her role very well, and she is indeed a mega star. But what is really important is that when you watch Caregiver, it can change the way you look not only at OFWs but even our local helpers – the maids, the drivers, the cooks and other people who are trying to make ends meet. It will really move you to think twice on how you look at people especially hardworking OFWs – who literally are keeping this country afloat.

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