Life of Overseas Foreign Workers

By Romeo Dionaldo

The book includes:
My Overseas Foreign Worker Life Testimony
Life Stories of Overseas Foreign Workers
Life Testimonies of Overseas Foreign Workers and their Families
Hardships and Sufferings of Overseas Foreign Workers
Inspirational Quotes

This book is intended to help Millions of OFWs (Overseas Foreign Workers) working in foreign countries to help them attain their objectives of having a better life, and prevent similar predicament of several OFWs who succumbed to unpleasant experiences in their OFW lives. Almost every day we hear, read in Newspapers, Facebooks, Twitters, and Radio/TV broadcasts on OFW problems

Some committed Suicides, maltreated, seriously injured, raped, imprisoned, and beheaded. Some resorted to vises and immorality. Some were discriminated by other foreign nationals.

There are also unpleasant experiences of OFW families in the Philippines. Family relationships were broken. Their savings were squandered, and even their wives/husbands resorted to immorality and even left totally broke, their savings and properties were squandered. Their children were addicted to vises and did not complete their education as planned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514472910

Romeo Dionaldo

A Philippine-registered electrical engineer. Worked as construction, engineering, and maintenance manager in the Philippines. An overseas foreign worker in the Middle East for twenty-seven years, twenty-three years in Saudi Arabia, and six years in Qatar. 1. Loss Prevention Engineer/Supervisor of Saudi Aramco and Saudi Electric Company. 2. Loss Prevention Manager of Saudi Aramco and Saudi Electric Construction Project Contractors. 3. Manager of Health, Safety and Environment, Green Top International in Qatar. 4. Provide Free Assistance to OFW Community Groups by giving Seminars on: How to overcome their present problems and attain their dreams for a better life in their country of origin. 5. Chairman/Director on Quality Education on Health, Safety and Environment Courses conducted by the Philippine Association of Safety Engineers (PHASE-Qatar) for Safety Officers and candidates to assume the position of Safety .Officer/Safety Professionals. 6. Prepare Training Modules of various HSE Topics and a resource speaker. I am a creator/admin/member of several OFW group page in Facebook- the OFW-BAGONG BAYANI (OFW-NEW HERO), ILOCANO OFW, and several OFW groups and Professional Associations with total members of more than fifty thousand. I am willing also to conduct seminars in POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency), several Employment Agencies during their PDOS (Pre Departure Orientation Seminars) to introduce the book. My target reader is one hundred thousand to one million OFWs and non-OFWs who were contemplating to work in a foreign country.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Working Abroad is Not My Dream

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, and sometimes things fall apart so better things can fall together.

HAPPY HEART DAILY INSPIRATION

1

My Birthday Gift

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

- John Quincy Adams-

I wake up early in the morning. It is my birthday. My wife open the door when she heard voices singing happy birthday at the gate. My wife called me and told me that we have early visitors. I went to the gate and saw my five maintenance staff.

Happy birthday boss. They greeted me and said, Let us celebrate boss. Come with us to the OEDB (Overseas Employment Development Board). We need your help. You may apply also for Overseas Work. There are so many open positions for Saudi Arabia. You can apply at ARAMCO, a prestigious American Company.

Working abroad is not my dream. I have a good job already in a big garment exporting company. You know that I am now having a good position as a department manager, I told them.

Just come and join us, then observe and give us your advice. It is a big help for us and an inspiration from our boss. They told me.

When we were at the OEDB at its old location in Intramurus, we saw a very long line of applicants. Perhaps it is one kilometer, though it is still only 6:30AM. I told them, "It is a very long line. It will take us probably 3-hours before we could get an application form.

However, they told me, This is the only chance that we have. The positions we desire may be filled up by other applicants.

I want to help them, so I went to check the start of the long line. The start of the line is at the third floor. There is nobody overseeing the line.

I asked those who are on the line, What is going on?

They told me, The guard went down. He will be back at 7:00AM and start distributing the forms.

I ask, Where are the forms

They replied, There at the table. We have to pay 10 pesos and the forms will be stamped before he will give us.

I told them, Why pay, when it is supposed to be free? If he is not here just get forms and go.

I took a bunch of forms and go down.

They yelled at me and told me, Follow the regulation otherwise your application will not be valid without the stamp on them.

I went down and give the application forms to my men. I heard them whispering to each other. He is really a good boss, he has many ways.

We went inside the building and check the posted vacancies. I saw a position for Electrical Engineer II, advertised by SCECO-East, Saudi Arabia. I think I am very much qualified for the position. I filled up the form and drop it on the drop box.

I checked other posted positions. I noticed ARAMCO, Saudi Arabia. I read the posters and I was so impressed. It is a very prestigious company and I was told by my men that they filled up their form for Aramco and will try their luck.

I noticed so many advertised recreational facilities. There are bowling lanes, tennis courts, theater, swimming pools and good accommodation facilities plus good salaries and good benefits. At the end of the year, every worker will receive a bonus of 18.33% of his gross salary, paid vacation leave, plus travel allowance that include round trip plane ticket.

I checked what position is still open that I may be qualified. There is no position that suits my professional qualification and experience. However, what caught my attention is the position of Loss Prevention Engineer. It is the first time that I read a similar position. I checked the job description and I was just thinking that I have a seminar in Industrial Safety Engineering, plus my technical experience in Engineering Design, that includes Fire and Safety installation of Electrical Controls and Fire Alarm system.

I told myself, I will try to fill up the application form.

In my experience portion, I wrote that I am expert in Electrical and Mechanical Safety Designs of buildings and machineries, plus my experience as a Construction, Maintenance and Operations' Manager.

In addition, I wrote my experience as Design Engineer for Mechanical and Electrical Facilities that includes Mechanical and Electrical Safety Controls of Machineries, Building Fire Alarm and Fire Protection System.

I completed the application form and dropped it to the box. I asked my men if they already completed their application form. They told me that they were only waiting for me to review their filled up application form. I reviewed and told them, it is OK. They dropped their application forms in the box, then we leaved.

We will be going to Novelty Philippines Inc. where we work. The company is a garment factory at Bagong Tanyag, Taguig Rizal and the Knitting Mills along Sukat Road, Paranaque, Rizal.

Upon arrival, my secretary asked me, "Boss where did you go with your staff?

I told her, At the OEDB. We applied for Overseas Work.

She asked me, Boss, do you have a plan of leaving us?

I told her, Just forget it. It is just a joke. I am not serious about my application.

2

The First Challenge

When we worry, we believe more in our problems than in God's promises.

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34 NIV.

After one month, two of my maintenance staff asked me if I already received a reply to my application.

I told them, I am no longer thinking about it. I am no longer interested working in Saudi Arabia. Just forget it. Saudi Arabia is a desert country and a very lonely place for workers. It is a very hot place and there is no water. Water is very expensive.

We also did not receive any reply yet.

However, on the first week of July, my wife called me while I am in my office.

She said, "You have a telegram from IPAMS. It is probably about your application to ARAMCO as a Loss Prevention Engineer.

I told her, Perhaps I will be interviewed, and for sure I will not pass the interview.

She told me, Just go and try. I know you will pass the interview.

I told her, I am not qualified for the job because I don't have any experience as a Loss Prevention Engineer.

She insisted, Just go and try.

My secretary also told me, Try your luck Boss. I know for sure that you will pass the interview. We know your capability boss.

I asked her about my books in Industrial Safety Engineering. She told me, I do not know where they are already.

I went to IPAMS and arrived there at 1:30PM. I told the receptionist, I have an appointment for interview.

Just wait, you will be called. You will be the fifth to be interviewed, she said.

At 1:45PM I again reminded her, My schedule of interview is at 1:30PM. It is now 1:45PM and I have to go back to my office.

She told me, Just wait. I will just call you.

I insisted, "It says in the telegram that my interview is at 1:30PM, and I have to be back to my office at 2:30PM.

She was so mad and shouted at me in front of so many applicants. Hand over to me the telegram and I will just cancel it.

I handed to her the telegram. She changed her attitude and told me, It says in the telegram that you will be signing the offer. Meaning that you are already hired by ARAMCO. Go immediately to the office of Mr. Lito Hernandez, the IPAMS Manager. He is already waiting for you, along with some other hired applicants.

She guided me to the room. Mr. Lito Hernandez is giving briefing about the offer to everyone.

Mr. Lito Hernandez told me, We have been waiting for you.

Immediately he discussed to me my basic salary, year-end bonus plus some other benefits. All I have to do is just sign the offer and prepare my passport. I will not be paying any placement fee. All I have to do is to be prepared to leave within 45 days.

I told him, "I will bring home the offer and discuss with my wife.

He told me, You could not bring out the offer. If you will not sign it, I will have it cancelled. I will immediately inform ARAMCO that you rejected the offer.

I told him. It is not that easy for me to just sign it. I have to discuss with my wife and just return on the following morning.

He told me, Just forget the offer. Before you applied, you should have discussed the matter with your wife.

However, when I was going down the stairs, his secretary called me. She told me, Mr. Hernandez told me to tell you that you just return on the following morning to sign the offer.

I discussed the offer to my wife.

I told her, "The salary is not so big. It is only US$1000 dollar, plus the year-end bonus of 18.33% of my gross salary, one month vacation leave with pay, and a travel allowance that include a round trip ticket.

She told me, Better accept it. To me it is almost double your present salary. Maybe you will be receiving a salary increase.

I told her, Saudi Arabia is a lonely desert place and, I will be far from you and the kids.

She told me, It is better for you to work in Saudi Arabia, so that you could stopped your vises in drinking liquor and smoking too much. Also my friend told me, that there is a rumor going around in the plant. I was told by a friend that you started womanizing.

I said, The last one is not true yet.

She told me. Just try for one year only, take a leave, and then will just return to the company where you are working, if you don't like working in Saudi Arabia.

OK. I will try for one year.

The following morning, I went back to IPAMS and signed the offer.

3

My Resignation Letter to my Company

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

Albert Einstein.

I submitted my letter of resignation to the Company General Manager. He called me to his office.

He told me, You have signed a letter of agreement with the company which is still effective. If you resign you will wait for approval from the head office in New York, USA. It will take some time for approval. You could not transfer to any company with the same product as Novelty Philippines Inc.

I told him, The Company management is one sided. They did not follow the agreement that I signed. It is mentioned in the agreement that I will be sent to USA or in some other foreign countries to take technical trainings, or conduct a visit for a period of not less than one month every five years. The company did not follow the agreement. I was never sent to any country.

He told me, The mother company think that you are very much technically qualified to your job, and there is no need for further training. In fact you even redesigned the machineries.

I told the General Manager, The contract is one sided. All points mentioned is all for the benefit of the company. Therefore, I could resign anytime and leave. Besides I have no plan working to another company competitor. So management should not worry. I will be working abroad in Saudi Arabia. I plan to work for only one year.

He told me, In that case, I will approve your leave for one year. Instead of resigning. I will change it into one year vacation leave.

He further said, I will convince the Head Office in New York to approve.

After one week he told me that my leave was approved.

Chapter 2

The Start of My OFW Life

Be Strong. The beginnings to great things are always the HARDEST.

WWW.LIVELIFEHAPPY.COM

4

My First Day

Appreciate the little things in Life. Because there are plenty.

Facebook.com/inspowerbooks.

On my first day, I was brought to the office of Dick Webner, the ARAMCO Chief Loss Prevention Engineer, who is an American. I was thinking that I will be interviewed. I am a little bit nervous. I prepared myself and said to myself that I must use the technique: Less talk, less error. More talk, more error.

He told me, Sit down and relax. I will just ask something about yourself.

I told myself, What will I tell him?

I asked him instead, Sir why am I not interviewed before I was given the offer?

He smiled and said. Why? Because I am very curious when I read your application. What you wrote about your experience is too short. However, I liked what you have written: 'Experience in Electrical and Mechanical Safety Designs of Control System of Machineries, and Fire Protection System, plus you are a Registered Master Electrician and Registered Electrical Engineer and a topnotch board passer. That is all I need to know. You may start working now. You have a chance to prepare yourself within a period of 3-months. Then you will be deployed in the field and perform your work at your own. If you cannot perform your work as expected, you will be sent home.

I was immediately assigned an office, along with Mike James, a British Loss Prevention Advisor. I know, I have to adjust myself working with white people. I read from books that British Nationals discriminates Asians, thinking that they are a superior race. They colonized many countries.

However, Mike James is very friendly, so I thank God. Now, I told myself, I have to be tactful in dealing with him.

Our secretary, Tina Bright is an American. She is very kind. She told me to fill up a form, indicating my position and my personal data. I made the first blunder by writing my position as Lost Prevention Engineer.

She was laughing. She said: Check again your position. You are at a lost. Write Loss". She called one Filipino Safety Assistant Engineer and told him to tell me my position. She showed him what I wrote.

The Filipino was also laughing. He explained, In the Philippines what we use is the Job Title of Safety Engineer, not LOSS Prevention Engineer. I made no mistake in filling up the form because my position is Safety Assistant Engineer.

I was introduced to our supervisor, Warly Johanson, who is an American. He is also very friendly.

He told me, In a period of three months, all that you will do is to stay in your office and try to read all available books and sample inspection reports. There is a technical library adjacent to your office. If you need more information, feel free to see me or the secretary.

I told my fellow Co-Filipino Engineers, Americans and British are very friendly, which is very different from what we were thinking about them.

They were laughing at me.

They told me, Americans liked Filipinos very much. However, you will see later on other nationals like the Indians, other Arabs and the Saudi Nationals. You have to learn how to work with them. You will be working with them in the field.

On my first day in my office with Mike James, I become very observant in order to learn many things. How Mike James answer the telephone. I listened to what he is telling the caller. I told myself, I have to learn how to speak English fluently. It is very much different in the Philippines. Though we know how to speak English, we always mix it with Tagalog or our own dialect.

I wrote the following in a card board: Good Morning. Loss Prevention. This is Romeo; Anything I can do for you?

I also wrote a note that in case I do not know the answer to any information that the caller may ask, I will just say, I will call you back. I am very busy right now. I have a visitor in my Office. This will give me enough time to gather information by reading some references, or ask our Supervisor or other Loss Prevention Engineers.

5

First Discrimination from a British

I told myself, Don't let this world make me bitter. Don't let their actions turn me desperate. Things happen that often hurt me. I will not let those things make me mad. It is okay to be sad, but it is not okay to repay with another wrong because I was done wrong. We are humans. It's okay. Breathe. Inhale, Exhale. I know I will overcome everything. I will become stronger in the long run.

In my first week at the Aramco Construction Camp, I experience the first discrimination from a British National. I was washing my clothes at the laundry room when the British entered. Immediately he stared at me from head to foot.

Then he said, Why are you here? Don't you know that this is a western accommodation?

I answered, I am a senior staff and was accommodated in Western Accommodation.

Why? Are you a westerner? Are you American or a British? Or, are you a European?

I am a Filipino!

Then he said. You should be at the Third Country National (TCN) Accommodation. Remove your dirty clothes from the washing machine and immediately go to TCN. Or I will call the camp Manager.

I answered back and told him. Call the Manager immediately, but stop shouting at me. Otherwise I could not hold my temper.

He called the camp manager. After few minutes the manager came. He is an American. He ask me to show my Identification Card. I showed him.

The American camp manager said, He is a Senior Staff so he will be in Western Accommodation. He is an Engineer.

He shouted, Go out, or I will call the Security. Remember, you are only a laborer from a Contractor.

The British was very much embarrass. He went out without further talking.

The American Manager was laughing.

He said, You will be used to dealing with this type of people who thinks they are from the Royal Family. In fact he is only an ordinary technician.

6

Second Discrimination by an Indian National

As I said, I will become stronger. I hurdled my previous experience. It is a part of my daily life.

Raju, the Indian National came to my office. He told me, Come. You have to help me in carrying the projector. I will be giving Training Course in Work Permit Procedure.

I carried the Projector along with other training materials. He told me to install the projector and distribute the handouts.

He started giving the Training. He told me to stand by and watch.

As soon as he finished giving the lecture, he told me to take the Test along with the participants.

He said, You have to pass the test with a score of not less than 80% which is the passing score for Receivers of Work Permit.

I replied, Why did you not tell me immediately before the start of your lecture, so that I could have prepared myself?

He said in a loud voice. "You are a Loss Prevention Engineer, and there is no need of telling. You will be the one who