Oral history interview with Jocelyn Galang, interviewed by Miguel Flores

Oral history interview with Jocelyn Galang, interviewed by Miguel Flores

Oral history interview with Jocelyn Galang, interviewed by Miguel Flores

2-Jun-19

The Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies and the UC Davis Asian American Studies department holds intellectual control of these recordings. Usage is restricted for educational, non-commercial purposes only. For other uses, please contact archivist Jason Sarmiento at ajsarmiento@ucdavis.edu

Transcript

ucdw_wa014_s001_0012

Miguel Flores

Jocelyn Galang

Miguel – Interviewer (I) Mrs. Galang – Narrator/Interviewee (N) I: Paki banggit na lang po yung pangalan, ilan taon na po kayo – mga basic information po. Can you please state your name, how old are you – all the basic information. N: My name is… My name is… I: Pwede po Tagalog! You can speak in Tagaolog! N: Ako si Jocelyn Galang nakatira sa [REDACTED] California at nagtatrabho ako dito sa UC Davis bilang Senior Custodian. My name is Jocelyn Galang, I currently live in [REDACTED] California and I work here in UC Davis as a Senior Custodian. I: Ilan taon na po kayo dito nagtatrabaho? How long have you been working here? N: Five years Five years. I: Five years na po dito sa… Five years here at… N: Sa Davis Here in Davis.
I: Kailan po kayo nag-migrate dito sa United States?
When did you migrate here in the United States?
N: Since 2004
Since 2004
I: Kayo lang po bang mag-isa?
Are you by yourself?
N: With my family
With my family
I: Ano po yun, pinetisyon po kayo, may sponsor?
What was that, were you petitioned, did someone sponsor you?
N: Yung tatay ko pinetisyon kami, kasi dati siya yung ano… veterans.
My father petitioned us because before he was a…veteran.
I: Ano po sya? Vietnam war? Philippine-American War? World War II?
What type is he? Vietnam war? Philippine-American War? World War II?
N: World War II
World War II
I: Ano pong pangalan – lolo nyo po ba yun?
What is the name – is he your grandfather?
N: Tatay ko.
My father.
I: Ah tatay nyo po. Ano pong pangalan ng tatay nyo?
Ah your father. What’s the name of your father?
N: Francisco Beltran
Francisco Beltran
I: Taga san ho yung tatay nyo sa Pilipinas?
Where is your father from the Philippines?
N: Sa Batac, Ilocos Norte
In Batac, Northern Ilocos
I: So taga Ilocos po kayo, yun po yung probinsya nyo?
So, you are from Ilocos, is that the province where you’re from?
N: Oo, Ilocos Norte.
Yes, Northern Ilocos.
I: Bakit po kayo nagdecide na pumunta dito sa US?
Why did you decide to go here in the US?
N: Kasi nandito lahat ng family namin, mga sister ko, mga kamaganak namin na iba. So – tsaka American dreams di ba?
All my families are here, my sisters, our relatives, and our other family relatives and of course – American Dreams.
I: Opo
Yes
N: Subukan din natin dun sa state kamo. Kasi yung asawa ko nagtatrabaho sa Saudi Arabia.
We want to try out our lives here in the states. My husband worked in Saudi Arabia.
I: Andito po ba sya sa US?
Is he here in the US?
N: Oo, nandito sya.
Yes, he is here.
N: Magkakasama kami pumunta dito sa Amerika
He was with me when we came here in America.
I: May mga anak po ba kayo?
Do you have any children?
N: Yung dalawang anak ko.
My two sons.
I: Ilan taon na po sila?
How old are they?
N: 26 yung lalaki – yung panganay tapos yung bunso 23.
My eldest is 26 and my youngest is 23.
I: Pareho po silang nagaaral o tapos na po magaral?
Are they both going to school, or did they graduate?
N: Yung isa kaga-graduate lang nung Sunday sa college.
The other one just graduated college last Sunday.
I: San po nag-college?
Which college?
N: Sa Sac State.
At Sac State.
I: Tapos yung bunso po, nagaaral pa?
How about your youngest, is he still going to school?
N: Yung bunso yung nakatapos. Tapos yung isa hangang second year college lang sya.
He was the one that graduated and my eldest only finished second year in college.
I: Saan po sya nageskwela?
Where did he go to school?
N: Sa Consumnes.
At Cosumnes.
I: CRC (Consumnes River College)?
CRC?
N: Oo, sa CRC.
Yes, at CRC.
I: Pangalan po ng anak nyo Arthur?
The name of your son is Arthur?
N: No, Dan.
No, Dan.
I: Tapos pangalan po ng asawa nyo?
What’s the name of your husband?
N: Danilo.
Danilo.
I: Ano po ang educational background nyo? Nakapagtapos po ba kayo ng pagaaral, nagkolehiyo po ba kayo?
What is your educational background? Did you graduate college?
N: Oo.
Yes.
N: Nakapagtapos ako ng Radiology.
I took Radiology.
I: Radiology po sa Pilipinas?
Radiology in the Philippines?
N: Oo, Associate of Radiology.
Yes, Associate of Radiology.
N: Hangang ano lang, 3rd year college lang. Yung 3-year course.
I only finished 3rd year college. A 3-year course.
I: Hindi nyo po pinagpatuloy dito sa US?
You didn’t continue your studies here in the US?
N: Hindi na.
No, I didn’t.
I: Bakit po?
Why?
N: Kasi – wala na – ayaw ng asawa ko na.
Because my husband doesn’t want me to.
I: Bakit po ayaw nya?
Why don’t he let you?
N: Hayaan na mag ano…
It’s because of…
I: Mag ano po?
Because of what?
N: Tsaka ma ano din – di namin din kaya. Di namin afford.
I can’t continue because we can’t afford it.
I: Nagtatrabaho po ba yung asawa nyo?
Is your husband currently working?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Ano pong trabaho?
What’s his work?
N: Sa ano naman sya sa Milgard Windows
He works for Milgard Windows
I: Ano po ang trabaho nya dun?
What’s his position there?
N: Sa mga gumagawa ng windows.
He works with the people making windows.
I: Saan po ba yun, sa Sacramento?
Where is that, in Sacramento?
N: Oo. Sa may “Fruitridge/Foot bridge (?).”
Yes, At the “Fruitridge/Foot bridge (?).”
I: Meron po ba kayong sinusuportahan sa Pilipinas?
Are you supporting a family member in the Philippines?
N: Wala.
No one.
I: Wala po. Lahat po nandito?
Everyone is here?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Nagmigrate po kayo sa Amerika. Ano po ang experience nyo dito nung unang salta nyo dito?
You migrated here in America. What were your experiences like when you first came here?
N: Nung unang salta namin pinapasok kami kaagad agad.
When we came here we worked right away.
I: Sino po nagpapasok sa inyo?
Who helped you find a job?
N: Yung kapatid ko.
My sibling.
I: Ano pong pangalan ng kapatid nyo.
What is the name of your sibling?
N: Girlie Galang
Girlie Galang.
N: Yung pamangkin ko nagtatrabaho sa Stay – sa Hotel.
My niece works at the Stay – the hotel.
I: Ano po pangalan ng pamangkin nyo?
What is the name of your niece?
N: Shirley.
Shirley.
N: Pinapasok kami bilang ano lang Housekeeper din sa hotel.
We all worked as a housekeeper in a hotel.
I: Ano pong hotel?
What hotel?
N: Stay (of) America.
Stay America.
I: Sa Sacramento po?
In Sacramento?
N: Sa Elk Grove.
In Elk Grove.
I: Lahat po kayo nasa area na ‘to – Sacramento – Elk Grove. Nakatira, nagtatrabaho?
All of you are working and live around this area – Sacramento – Elk Grove?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Kamusta po ang buhay nung unang salta nyo, mahirap po ba?
How was life when you first settled here, was it hard?
N: Oo, umiyak ako. Kasi parang nahirapan ako sa trabaho –
Yes, I cried. I struggled with work.
I: Nashock po kayo?
Were you shocked?
N: Oo kasi di namin akalain na syempre Amerika maganda [laughs]. Yun pala pagdating sa trabaho ang hirap pala. Kasi sa Pilipinas hindi ako nagtatrabaho dun eh.
Yes, we didn’t realize how hard life is going to be here in America because we know America is beautiful [laughs]. Then when we came here we did not realize how hard the workload would be because in the Philippines I didn’t work at all.
I: Housewife po kayo sa Pilipinas?
Were you a housewife in the Philippines?
N: Hindi may negosyo ako.
No, I have a business?
I: Ano pong negosyo? Tindahan?
What is your business, a store?
N: Tindahan.
A store.
I: Sari-sari store po?
A sundry store?
N: Oo, tapos tumatanggap din ako ng mga term paper nung mga estudyante.
Yes, I also accept term paper of students.
I: Ano po ang ginagawa nyo sa term paper?
What do you do with the term paper?
N: Ie-encode ko.
I encode it.
I: Kasi po Radiology po kayo di ba?
Is it because you were trained as a radiology?
N: Hindi rin ano lang…[gestures typing]
No. [gestures typing]
I: Ah pagtatype po!
Oh, typing!
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Kasi doon wala pang gaanong kompyuter. So ako lang ang meron dun sa amin noon…
Back home, there weren’t a lot of people that owns a computer and I am the only one in my neighborhood that has one.
N: Kompyuter – nagpapatype po sila.
Computer – they ask you to type their papers for them.
I: Yung mga estudyante minsan sinasabi na paki ano yung – inuupahan nila yung ano para magsearch sila ganyan.
The students sometimes borrow my computer for their research.
I: Para po nirerentahan yung kompyuter.
Just like your renting out your computer.
N: Oo. Nirerentahan yung kompyuter.
Yes, I rent out my computer.
N: Tapos bawat isang ano – isang coupon bond ang ano ko one peso ang isa, isang coupon bond.
And for each one paper, I charge one peso. One peso per paper.
I: Mura na po yun.
That’s really cheap.
I: Oo, pero pag kayo po ang magta-type. Magkano po ang singil nyo?
Yes, but if you are the one that will type their paper for them how much do you charge?
N: Ganun din. One peso.
Same thing. One peso.
I: One peso din.
Also, one peso.
N: Basta mabilis naman.
It’s quick job.
I: Opo, di naman mahahaba yung tinatype nyo?
Yes, you don’t type long papers, don’t you?
N: Hindi.
No.
I: Gusto nyo pong bumalik sa Pilipinas?
Do you want to go back to the Philippines?
N: Pag-ano – retire.
To retire.
I: Retire po.
To retire.
N: Pabalik balik ganun. Yan ang ano – every two years umuuwi din ako eh.
I go back home every two years.
I: Talaga po?
Really?
N: Oo. Kasi may bahay kami doon.
Yes because we have a house there?
I: Sa Ilocos po?
In Ilocos?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Sino po ang nagbabantay nun, may kamaganak po?
Who looks after the house, your relatives?
N: May nagre-renta. Kasi yung sa amin malapit kami sa university.
Someone is renting it because it’s near by a university.
I: University?
University?
N: Mariano State University
Marian State University
I: So mga estudyante po ang mga umuupa?
So, students rents the house?
N: Hindi – ano – family.
No, it’s a family.
I: Magkano po ang renta?
How much is rent?
N: Ano, seven thousand pesos. Pero kung ano bed spacer mas mahal kaso gusto ko yung may family para wala na akong iispin pang ano – pagbayaran ng kuryente ganun.
It’s seven thousand pesos, but if we only rent out individual bed rooms the rent would be more expensive. Having a whole family live there ease my worries because I know they will pay the bills on time.
I: Pagumuuwi po kayo dun po kayo tumutuloy?
When you go home, is that the place where you stay in?
N: Hindi, yung sa family house namin.
No, we have a family house.
I: Iba pa po yung pinaparenta nyo tapos may isa pa po kayong tinutuluyan?
Aside from the rental house, you have another house to stay in?
N: Oo, yung sa tatay – yung sa parents namin nagpatayo sila ng bahay. Lahat kaming magkakapatid dun kami tumutuloy.
Yes, my father’s house – my parents built that house. When my siblings and I go back home that is the place where we usually stay in.
I: Ilan ho kayong magkakapatid?
How many siblings do you have?
N: Seven
Seven
I: Pang-ilan po kayo?
Are you the eldest/youngest?
N: Pang-seven ako.
I am the seventh.
I: So bunso po kayo.
So, you are the youngest.
N: Oo, yeah.
Yes.
I: Lahat po sila nagtatrabaho? Nandito po silang lahat sa Amerika?
Are all of them working? Are they all here in America?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Ang nanay nyo po, nandito po?
How about your mother, is she here?
N: Nasa Pilipinas.
She’s in the Philippines.
I: Nandoon po sa Ilocos?
In Ilocos?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Kailan po kayo umuuwi, pag mga pasko ganun?
When do you go back home, during Christmas?
N: Hindi, depende kasi kagaya itong uwi ko binigyan naming ng mother ko ng 90th birthday. So mostly ang uwi namin mga January.
No, it depends because last year we gave our mother a 90th birthday celebration. So, we often go home around January.
I: So sinabi nyo po six years na kayo dito sa Davis. Ito lang – ano po yung mga past na trabaho nyo po?
You said earlier that you’ve worked here in Davis for six years now. Is this your only job – what were your jobs in the past?
N: Sa kasalukuyan nagtatrabaho pa rin ako sa Sheraton hotel.
I am currently working at the Sheraton hotel.
I: Yun po ang pinakamahabang trabaho nyo?
Was that the longest job you ever had?
N: Oo, fourteen years na ko.
Yes, for fourteen years.
I: Bakit po kayo kumuha ng pangalawang job?
Why did you get a second job?
N: Kasi yung anak ko nagaaral sa college, so tinutulungan ko sa tuition fee…
Because of my son was studying in college, so I help him out with his tuition fee…
I: Mahal po kasi!
It is expensive!
N: $900 a month ang binabayaran ko sa UC – ay sa Sac State.
I pay $900 a month to Sac State.
I: Mahal po talaga ang magpaaral dito!
It is really expensive to study here!
N: Lalo dito sa UC mas mahal na naman – doble, hindi lang doble – [laughs]
It is even more expensive here in UC, it’s double, not even double (the price) – [laughs]
I: Triple po!
Triple
N: Yeah!
Yeah!
I: So dalawa po ang trabaho nyo, okay naman po ang sweldo, nakakaraos naman?
So, you have two jobs, is they salary okay, is it enough?
N: Oo, okay naman kasi malaking tulong din yung isa sa amin – kasi panghulog ko sa sasakyan ko ganun. Tapos yung isa tuition fee ng anak ko, tapos yung natitira yun na ang savings namin.
Yes, it’s a big help for us because I pay for my car, my son’s tuition, and then the leftover goes to our savings.
I: Sabi nyo pumunta kayo para po sa American Dream – yung sinasabi nyo po. Ano po ba ang pangarap nyo?
You said earlier that you went here for an American Dream – what is your dream?
N: Kasi para sa mga anak na lang namin na – syempre pag dito mas maganda lang ang future nila. Kung sa Pilipinas kasi mahirap ang ano doon yung parang – ang hirap maghanap ng trabaho kung hindi ka magabroad wala.
It’s for my kids – when they are here I know they will have a bright future. If we are back in the Philippines, life will be hard because it is hard to find a job there.
I: Kaya nagdecide po kayo magabroad?
That’s why you decided to go abroad?
N: Oo, kaya nagdecide kami na dito na lang kami titira.
Yes, that’s why we decided to live here.
I: Nung una nyo pong salta nyo may – nakitira po ba kayo?
When you first came here, did you live with someone?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: San po kayo nakitira?
Who did you live with?
N: Sa ate ko.
My sister’s
I: Si Shirley po o si Girlie?
Is it Shirley or Girlie?
N: Si Girlie.
Girlie.
I: Ilan taon po kayo nanirahan dun.
How many years did you live there?
N: Wala pang isang taon. Mga pagdating naming ng July and then ng January nag-apartment na kami.
Not even one year. When we came in July, months later, in January we already have an apartment.
I: So wala pa pong isang taon?
So, it did not even last a year?
N: Oo, wala pa.
No, it didn’t
I: Dun pa rin po kayo nakatira sa apartment na yon o lumipat na kayo?
Do you still live there at that apartment or you moved out?
N: Nakabili na kami ng bahay sa Elk Grove.
We already have a house in Elk Grove.
I: Nice!
Nice!
N: [laughs]
[laughs]
I: Ano pa po ang mga pangarap nyo aside from sa mga anak nyo. Kayo po ba ano po ang pangarap nyo para sa sarili nyo?
What else are your dreams aside from your kids, what are your dreams for yourself?
N: Wala na akong ano eh…
I don’t have any…
I: Wala na po kayong mahihiling?
You don’t have any?
N: Oo, wala na.
Yes, I don’t have any.
I: So, para lang po sa mga anak nyo?
Everything is for your children?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Paano nyo nama-manage dalawa po ang trabaho nyo – paano po – explain nyo po paano po kayo sa isang araw – paano po ang trabaho?
How do you manage your two jobs? Can you please explain what a typical work day is like?
N: Minsan mahirap, kasi minsan ano – tatlong oras lang and tulog ko. So minsan –
Sometimes it’s hard because in some days I only have three hours of sleep.
I: So natutulog po kayo sa umaga?
So, you sleep during the day?
N: Pagka – ang time ko kasi dito ten o’ clock to six thirty and then six thirty uwi muna ako sa bahay and then matutulog pagdating ko dun seven o’ clock and then matutulog ako hangang eleven. So ilan lang ang tulog ko doon, tapos doon sa isa twelve o’ clock magi-start ako sa isang job ko.
My time here (UC Davis) is ten o’ clock (in the evening) to six thirty (in the morning) and then six thirty I go straight home and then at seven o’ clock I go to sleep. I only have so many hours of sleep and then I start my second job at twelve o’ clock.
I: Sa Sheraton po?
At Sheraton?
N: Sa Sheraton.
At Sheraton
I: Housekeeping po kayo dun di ba?
You work in housekeeping?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: So, 12 to 8pm, umuuwi pa po kayo nun?
So, 12 to 8pm, do you still go home?
N: Hindi diresto na ako dito.
No, I go straight here.
I: So, 12 – basically 12 ng tanghali hangang 6:30 ng umaga…
So, 12 – basically 12 noon until 6:30 in the morning
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Mahabang oras po yun!
Those are very long hours!
N: Bale, sixteen hours!
It’s sixteen hours!
I: Oo nga po, sixteen hours!
Yes, it is sixteen hours!
N: Oo. [laughs] Wala pa akong ano – isang day off sa isang araw – sa isang week. Everyday pumapasok talaga ako.
Yes. [laughs] I only have one day off in a week. Everyday I go to work.
I: Kailan ho ang day off nyo?
When is your day off?
N: Saturday lang ang pahinga ko, ganun, pero pinapapasok pa ako ng Sabado, wala na – everyday na talaga!
Saturday is my only rest day, but sometimes my boss will ask me to come into work on Saturdays, so I don’t really a get a day off.
I: Ano ho ang ginagawa nyo pagumuuwi, natutulog lang ho kayo?
What do you do when you go home, you just sleep?
N: Oo, matutulog…
Yes, I sleep.
I: Matutulog – kakain.
Sleep and then eat.
N: Tapos kain! [laughs]
And then eat [laughs]
I: Sino ho ang nagaano sa bahay, mga kanya kanya na lang ho?
Who manages the house, you all do your own chores?
N: Oo kanya kanya. Yung anak ko ayaw naman mag ano – bibili sila – sa paggusto nila
Yes. My sons would just buy food if they like.
I: Parte po ba kayo ng union?
Are you part of a union?
N: Oo, ACME at Local 39.
Yes, ACME and Local 39 (She meant: AFSCME Local 3299)
I: Ano po ang…
What do you…
N: Ipinaglalaban?
Fight for?
I: Opo.
Yes.
N: Yung i-increase yung ano, tapos yung contract namin i-renew.
To increase our salary and to renew our contract.
I: So, nagtatrabaho po kayo based on contract. Gaano ho kahaba yung contract nyo dito?
So, you work here based on contract. How long is your contract?
N: Hindi ko alam, every two years ata.
I am not sure, every two years I think.
I: Tapos nire-renew po?
Do they renew it?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Yung sweldo nyo tinataasan kada – kada ano po?
How often does your salary increase?
N: Ewan ko basta tinataasan.
I am not sure, all I know it increases.
I: Basta tumataas [laughs]
All you know it increases [laughs]
N: Kasi nung pumasok ako, dalawang beses na tinaas yata.
Because when I worked, they increased my salary twice I think.
I: Ilan ho ang tinaas?
How much did it go up?
N: Mga twenty-five cents.
Roughly twenty-five cents.
I: Ngayon po, ano po ang sweldo nyo dito sa Davis?
Right now, what is your hourly rate here in Davis?
N: 19….18 something.
19….18 something.
I: Sa Sheraton po?
At Sheraton?
N: $14.00
$14.00
I: Yung asawa nyo po ba parte din ng labor union dito?
Is your husband also part of a union here?
N: Hindi.
No.
I: Kasal po ba kayo kayo o live-in?
Are you married or just living with your partner?
N: Kasal.
Married.
I: So, six years na ho kayo nagtatrabaho dito…
So, you’ve been working here for six years now…
N: Five years
Five years
I: Five years, sorry po. May mga kaibigan po ba kayo dito o kaya sa Sheraton po?
I’m sorry, five years. Do you have any friends here in Davis or at Sheraton?
N: Dito na…(kaibigan) oo meron.
Yes, I do.
I: So, kahit papaano po may mga kaibigan kayo sa Davis.
So, even in your busy schedule you still manage to make friends here in Davis.
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Meron po ba kayong kaibigan outside of work po?
Do you have any friends outside of work?
N: Oo, meron din.
Yes, I do.
I: San ho nyo nakilala?
Where did you meet them?
N: Dyan sa mga ano – party party ganyan.
At parties.
I: Umaatend ho kayo ng party?
You attend parties?
N: Oo [laughs]
Yes [laughs]
I: Ano pong party, family party?
What kind of party, family party?
N: [laughs] Hindi, mga kaibigan na may ano – birthday ganyan.
[laughs] No, friends that have parties.
I: Lumalabas ho kayo?
Do you go out?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Plano nyo po bang humanap ng bagong trabaho?
Are you planning to look for a new job?
N: Nagapply ako.
I am applying.
I: San ho kayo nagapply?
Where are you applying?
N: Sa online.
Online.
I: Ano ho yun?
What (job) is that?
N: Sa UC Davis, nung pumasok ako dito – UC Davis jobs dot com.
At UC Davis, when I worked here – UC Davis jobs dot com.
I: Part pa rin ho ng Davis, ano pong posisyon?
It’s still part if Davis, what is the position?
N: Ano custodian ang inapplyan ko dun.
I applied for a custodian.
I: Di ko po natanong sa inyo. Kamusta naman po ang proseso nung pagmigrate dito? Mahaba po ba, mahirap?
I did not ask you earlier. How was the process of migrating here? Was it tedious and hard?
N: Okay lang.
It’s okay.
I: Okay lang.
It’s okay.
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Nung pinetisyon ho kayo gaano ho kahaba ang inantay nyo bago kayo maka…
When you were petitioned, how long did you wait before you were able to…
N: Ay naku matagal mga 13 years!
Very long, it’s 13 years!
I: 13 years ho?
13 years?
I: Kailan ho kayo pinetisyon ng tatay nyo?
When did your father petitioned you?
N: Kasi – nung 1982 pero ang nangyari kasi yung ate ko hindi nya naipasok sa immigration – yung papel namin –
In 1982, but what happened is my older sister didn’t turn in our papers to immigration.
I: Kaya ho natagalan?
Is that why it took so long?
N: So natagalan. Yung nag ano – nag ano yung father ko nag US citizen dun nya nalaman na wala kaming pangalan doon.
It took so long. When my father became a US citizen that’s when we found out that we don’t have our names in immigration.
I: Kasi ho hindi napasa?
Because it was not turned in?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Kailan ho napasa?
It was turned in when?
N: So, 1989.
1989
I: 1989, matagal! 82 ho kayo napetisyon tapos 89 lang napasok?
1989 is a long wait! You were petitioned in 82 and then it was turned in 89?
N: Oo.
Yes.
N: Tapos ano – kala nga namin di na kami makapunta eh kaya nagpatayo na ako ng bahay na sarili namin kasi mahirap eh. Umaasa kami na pupunta dito pero wala din, hangang 1989 hangang 2005 – 2004, no, 2003 dumating na yung papers namin. Hangang natapos ng 2004 yata o 5. Kasi 2005 na kami naka ano dito.
We thought we couldn’t migrate here, so we built our own house because we can’t be keeping our hopes up. We were expecting to go here, but we waited for nothing. From 1989 until 2003 our papers finally arrived. Then, in 2004 or 5 we arrived here.
I: Naalala nyo po ba kung anong buwan magmigrate dito?
Do you remember what month you migrated here?
N: July
July
I: July 2005?
July 2005?
N: Oo.
Yes.
I: Yun lang po ang mga tanong ko. Meron po ba kayong sabihin…
That’s all my questions for you. Do you have anything to say…
N: Wala.
Nothing.
I: Ipahiwatig?
Message?
N: Wala.
Nothing.
I: Sa mga kababayan ho na nagtatrabho dito may mga payo po ba kayo?
To all our countrymen that works here, do you have any advice?
N: Ang payo ko lang, tyaga tyaga lang…
My only advice is just persevere…
I: Pag may tyaga may nilaga.
If you persevere there’s soup (Filipino Idiom): If you persevere you can get anything.
N: [laughs] Yeah, kasi… mahirap minsan ang trabaho dito kung hindi ka nars – hindi… kagaya sa akin sa housekeeping kami mahirap ang trabaho kaya…
[laughs] Yeah because sometimes its hard to work here if you are not a nurse, unlike me, I am just a housekeeper, so my job is really hard.
I: Sa isang araw ho ilang kwarto ang nagagawa nyo?
In one day, how many rooms do you get done?
N: Fourteen.
Fourteen.
I: So, 12 to 8:30 na po yun?
So, that’s 12 to 8:30 pm?
I: Natatabi nyo ho ba yung mga tip nyo sa housekeeping?
Are you able to keep your tip at your housekeeping job?
N: Minsan, pag ano – dati inaano ko sa piggy bank ko [laughs]!
I put it in my piggy bank [laughs]!
I: May alkansya ho kayo?
You have a coin bank?
N: Oo [laughs].
Yes [laughs].
N: Kasi, minsan ano eh, pag December maraming pagkakagastusan kaya ayun pangbili ko ng regalo ganyan.
Because sometimes when December comes around there are so many expenses here, so I used that money to buy gifts.
I: Yung lang po ang tanong ko sa inyo, pag meron pa po akong tanong tatanungin ko na lang ho kayo.
That’s all my question for you, if I have any question I’ll just ask you.
N: Sige, thank you!
Sure, thank you!