The Migrant Worker

LEAVEBEHIND

The Migrant Worker
(Live for a Reason)

TV series

picture not mine

Karla, a Filipino migrant worker, left her home country to forget a past that broke her spirit.  In Dubai where she will work as an Engineer, she will learn about the sacrifices of other Filipino migrant workers that will lead her to discovering her real purpose in life.

Karla when growing up didn’t think that she will leave her family to work overseas.  She has hesitations of working abroad because of bad fates of some Filipinos and also because of the bad examples that she’s seen from her Auntie. 

Her Auntie has been working in Italy for many years.  She has no idea what she’s doing there.  She only knows that monthly they will receive a “balikbayan” box (migrant worker box) loaded of chocolate bars from her Aunt.  Her Auntie also visits them every two years but Karla doesn’t like her around because Karla feels that her Aunt is controlling their lives as if she’s a King. 

Karla is intelligent, with great leadership skills but on the other side conceited.  Her goal after a few years of work in the corporate world is to serve others by being a College professor while serving their community as a Barangay Captain.  She lost to the incumbent chairman Captain Barbel in 2006.  This hit her ego but what hit more was when she found out that her best friend exposed Karla’s campaign tactics to Captain Barbel’s camp. 

Karla looked for jobs abroad and easily found one.  Her family can survive and live an average life even if no one is working overseas.  But, Karla’s main reason why she’s leaving the Philippines is to forget that she was defeated and at the same time betrayed.  Before her flight her mother will remind her that all these years she doesn’t want to work abroad – she’s afraid of what might happen to her, she doesn’t want to be like her Aunt and she can’t survive on her own.  Karla will ignore all of these and will still fly to Dubai.

Because of too homesickness and adjustment to the environment, Karla will be hospitalized.  She will meet Ning, a Filipino nurse that is sacrificing to be away from her son just to give him a good life. 

Ning is from a poor family.  The youngest and only daughter of farmers Selya and Vic.  Her parents gave her everything, used up all their savings just for Ning to finish Nursing.  Her parents hoped that after she graduated and found a job, she will help her other 7 brothers.  Six months before graduation, she was found pregnant.  She got married quickly to Tony, who is petitioned by her parents from the USA.  Ning and Tony arranged this so Tony can easily get her and their son.  Ning will discover later that Tony is cheating on her.  Tony eventually stopped supporting their son so now she has to be miles away to financially support her son.    

Karla will realize that her reason of being away is not comparable to Ning’s.  

Karla will go home for a two-week vacation to recover.  She is planning not to return to Dubai anymore and just inform her employer that she’s decided to stay in the Philippines.  At one point of her vacation, she will be invited by a group of youths to their bible sharing.

The sharing of youths are all about their families that can’t afford to support their studies in College.  Karla will feel their sentiments and will realize that if she will go back to Dubai, she will earn a lot and she can help these youths to continue their studies. 

Karla’s mom will remind her again that it will be difficult for her to survive in Dubai and she doesn’t need to be away to support her lifestyle.  Karla will ignore again her Mom and will tell her mom that she found a reason to continue.  Karla will form a scholarship foundation later. 

Karla will reunite with her Aunt. She will ask her Aunt’s advice.  Her Aunt in their conversation will tell her, “If you will feel lonely, remind yourself that you are earning dollars.  This will heal your homesickness...temporarily.”  Karla will understand why her Aunt has been acting like that.  Karla will begin to appreciate her Aunt. 

One year later, Leslie, daughter of Mario, will find out about the scholarship foundation Karla set-up.  Leslie will initiate a meeting with Karla.  Here, Leslie will tell Karla the story of his father Mario.       

Leslie, a 19-year old Music student is the only child of Mario and Yolly.  Her mom died giving birth to her.  Mario to support his child turned back his career as an office manager and worked abroad as a housekeeper.  Leslie grew up with her grandparents.  She thought that her father was doing a white collar job in Saudi because all her wishes were being granted immediately.  She will only learn her father’s sacrifices at his father’s burial where his father’s friends will tell her how her father sacrificed just to give her a good life. 

Leslie will ask Karla’s help on her Musical program that will recognize OFWs.  She aims to wake up other children of overseas migrant workers that didn’t appreciate the hard work of their parents.  She also wants to acknowledge the hardships of all migrant workers. 

Karla will agree and will also ask Ning and her Aunt’s help to support this project. 

A story of betrayal, pretention and sacrifice that will expose the real lives of overseas migrant workers and their families.   

First Episode

On Oct 4, 2006 in Barangay Covered Court where the election result will be announced - Karla got 357 votes while the incumbent officer, Captain Barbel, got 643 votes.  Karla will not accept that for the first time in her life she’ll lose in a battle.  She will hate her best friend more, who was seen at the camp of Captain Barbel the night before the election.   Nine months later she will fly to Dubai to escape from this humiliating experience.