Crisis and our Filipino migrants in Japan

Before I continue with this topic for today’s article, early Friday morning, a text message informed us about the fatal accident that claimed the life of another Filipino migrant in Japan, 53-year-old Leonora de la Pena Batoon from Davao.

 According to her daughter, Eleonor, her mother was returning home last Thursday morning from her midnight shift when her car collided with a trailer truck. Eleonor shared that the cremation rites for her mother will take place on Sunday at 12 noon. Mass will also be celebrated for her, with her husband, children and the rest of her family in attendance. They are hoping a Filipino priest will also be available then for the last rites.

 Since Eleonor’s family and many of their relatives are in Japan now, we pray their family network will be able to support them during this very difficult period of deep personal loss. May we also ask all of you to kindly offer prayers for eternal peace and rest for Leonora and also for peace in the hearts of Leonora’s husband, children, and the rest of the family.

 Every migrant understands the risks they may encounter when they leave their country of origin. However difficult the challenges may be, most migrants and their families have made the decision to move on anyway as they see better present and future prospects for their families elsewhere, out of their country of origin.

 We grieve every time we hear of sad news such as the sudden death of Leonora Batoon and many others. We remain grateful that such sad news are not frequent and Filipinos are grateful and happy that they have their strong social network of families, friends, neighbors and other supporters to whom they can turn to for their social, personal and other needs while abroad.

 Just last week and some weeks earlier, we were among those who presented about the impacts of the global economic crisis on migrants here in Japan first at the International Christian University and then at Waseda University. Other professors and researchers discussed about Chinese and Brazilian migrants while I shared our initial and ongoing findings about our Filipino migrants in Japan.

 The year 2009 saw many Filipino migrants directly affected by the economic crisis that hit Japan in 2008. Economically, many lost their jobs. Others were not retrenched but had to agree to lower salaries, less or no more work benefits, more working hours and days, among others. Those who lost their jobs tried to shift to other jobs, but less stable, lower salaries and not so favorable work terms and conditions. Others shifted to cooking and selling food items to fellow Filipinos. Others offered to baby-sit for children of Filipinos who had to work during the day or week-ends.

 Those who lost their jobs tried to move to other locations where there were more job opportunities and openings. The well-known strong and cohesive Filipino social network supported many without jobs find jobs, wherever possible, or provided homes for those who needed shelter, shared food to needy kababayans and kapamilya, and most importantly, Filipinos provided much-needed personal and family moral and spiritual support to all those affected by the crisis.

 Thanks to the very cohesive Filipino support network, including those from the church and other religious organizations and NGOs, there were very few cases of suicides and hunger among Filipinos compared to other migrant groups. Expectedly, there were observed cases who needed counseling for stress and other emotional challenges.

 The crisis has varied impacts on different types of migrants depending upon their status of residence (or visa), depending on the type of employment and skills, their location, including their gender. Women, more so the elderly among them, are often the ones who absorb more the negative impacts of crises, in terms of job terms or availability, unpaid family work, increased multiple burden, and so on.

 Remittances, according to other researches, are often affected by any type of crisis. However, Bangko ng Pilipinas data for 2009-early 2011 show that our Filipino migrants, including those from Japan, continued to send money back home to the rest of their households despite challenges posed to them personally and directly abroad.

 The number of Filipino migrants who entered Japan also did not decrease. The increases were observed among the permanent and long-term residents in Japan, supporting other global research findings that during crises, family-related migration appears less affected than labor-related migration.

 The crisis is still felt not only in Japan but elsewhere throughout the world. From mid-2010, however, according to our Filipino contacts, jobs started to be available again, with a number called back by their former employers to return to work. However, job availability and conditions are still posing challenges for everyone. Those in the 3/11 earthquake affected areas are experiencing the double whammy of that challenge as well as of the continuing economic crisis hounding Japan and the rest of the world.

 Those in Japan, like all other migrants elsewhere in the world, are doing their best to stay strong despite the challenges that come their way. With unceasing prayers to God for His continuing guidance and grace and with the strong support of their families, friends, and communities, despite trials, despite crises, Filipino migrants persevere and move on together in hope and faith.

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