another day, another ordeal

not really a nice, inviting title for the first post. it was just that it's the last weekend of the winter holidays, and i start work on monday. i wasn't able to go to the corner cafe (again) and on top of that, i received a really disturbing phone call. all of which happened last night.

i even sent an email to the pinoys sa china mailing list, quoted as follow:

Earlier tonight, I received a phone call from one of our kabayans here in Changchun informing me of another Pinoy in trouble. He asked me if he could give my number to the Russian girlfriend of our kapatid stating that she should be able to explain more in details of what happened.

Well, I've already talked to Lisa, the Russian girl and student, but it was hard to get much of what went on with much of "do you understand?" after every event. I asked her to email me her account of what happened, and while waiting for that particular email to arrive, perhaps someone on this mailing list knew about this.

What I understood was:

Ronald used to work for Tiansu but moved away to another company while moonlighting as a DJ in San Marco. This company he hooked up with promised him a visa. The company apparently haven't paid him for two months, and he asked for his passport. The company said that he needed to pay 10,000 Renminbi and since he didn't have enough money, he paid by working.

When the company called him to get his passport, there were the police waiting to arrest him. He was working illegally, without a visa for a year. He needed to be deported, and as far as I know, he is locked in a cell.

I have no idea what I can do to help. I can forward this incident to our embassy in Beijing, and hope that they are able to extend any help to this poor guy.

So, this is another reminder to everyone. If it is possible, keep your passports in your persons and the company does not have the right to keep it. We all understand that it is a form of guarantee for them, but that is so unprofessional for both - an unwanted element of distrust. In some ways, I do not blame these companies, but we need to look after our welfare as well. And
on top of everything, we need to build our reputation as Filipinos who can be trusted ... to do professional work, to behave in a civil way, to cooperate for mutual benefit, etc.

and just before eleven p.m., lisa called again instructing me not to call the embassy if i don't get another phone call from her, obviously signaling that everything will be alright. and nothing. so it makes me wonder ...