Filipinos play key role in Cayman

According to the Ten Year Work Permit Profile by Nationality summary (from the Economics and Statistics Office) 2,353 permits were granted to Philippine Nationals in 2006. This represents an increase of nearly 250 percent in the number of Filipinos entering the Cayman Islands between that year and 1995 when 671 permits were granted to individuals from that national group.

The influx of Filipinos to the Cayman Islands is just a small percentage of the thousands who have left their country in search of employment to secure a better standard of living for their families. According to an article on http://www.ofwguide.com/, a guide for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), there were more than?eight million Filipinos living or working abroad in 2006. The article says that the ‘Philippine government considers them a national force as their huge remittances significantly strengthen the economy’.

Over the last ten to twenty years the attitude towards overseas workers has changed in the Philippines with OFWs no longer regarded as creating a ‘brain drain’ from the country, but seen as creating wealth for the country. There is general acceptance that OFWs are needed to support the economy of the Philippines as well as the thousands of families benefitting from remittances regularly sent home.

An article appearing in The New York Times magazine of 22 April, written by Jason DeParle, states that ‘a growing number of economists see migrants, and the money they send home, as a part of the solution to global poverty.’

Estimates on the number of migrate workers from various countries scattered across the globe, put the figure at about 200 million who are supporting a population back home.

Indeed for many Filipinos, working in the Cayman Islands provides an opportunity to earn salaries that could never be acquired at home. Sources close to the community say the average salary in the Philippines is in the region of US$400 per month. Once in Cayman with an exchange rate in the region of CI$1 to 50 Philippine pesos, individuals can earn up to five times that amount.

Despite the financial benefits, the emotional consequences are often great with many suffering acute feelings of homesickness especially where spouses and/or children are left behind. Ironically, the reason for leaving home – to provide a more financially secure environment for the family – often results in the weakening or breakdown in family relationships.

Reports indicate that some working in the Cayman Islands would be willing to establish themselves as long term residents of these islands. However, the seven-year term limit (rollover policy) enforced by the current government, along with the high cost of bringing families to these islands, counter such action being taken.

One individual who would be willing to make the Cayman Islands his long term home is Tagumpay Ocampo, commonly known as ‘Pie’. Like many of his countrymen, Pie left home to seek a better living. “I am better off financially,” he said, “as I am earning around four to five times more than I would have back home.” The potential for higher earnings is the reason why many make the sacrifice to leave their families, he added.

During his time here, Pie has emerged as a pivotal figure between Filipinos and the wider community and an unofficial leader within his community. When he arrived in Grand Cayman in 2000, he soon realized the need for “Filipinos to get together”, to be more cohesive as a group as well as to start taking part in activities in the wider Caymanian community.

In the years following his arrival, Pie has organized a number of events aimed at creating a social outlet for Filipinos. June of 2006 saw the launch of the Filipino Volleyball League, sponsored by Cable & Wireless. As a result of this competition, the Filipinos were able to enter men and women’s teams in the 2006 Cayman Islands National Volleyball Tournament. The teams sponsored by Wendy’s, were both entered into Group B, which they won.

“Basketball is the number one sport in the Philippines,” Pie pointed out, “with many wanting to join the sport because it pays well.” “A Basketball team was formed for the Cayman Islands National League which we have participated in for at least two years. But we never win,” he said with a smile, “because of our height disadvantage.”

Pie believes that sport is important to his community because it helps to bring cohesion and a sense of belonging for those living many miles from home. He said it encourages interaction and friendships, helping people to overcome their homesickness.

“We support each other (through feelings of homesickness) by reminding each other that if we go back home now it would be harder to live on the salaries offered,” he said.

Organizing events around activities recognised as national pastimes of Filipinos, serves to create a feeling of ‘home away from home’, thereby alleviating some of the pain felt by being away from home and loved ones.

The Song Fest is one such activity, building on the love of karaoke found amongst Filipinos. According to Pie, karaoke bars are common in the Philippines with many homes having karaoke systems for entertainment. Pie explained that the competition was based on an elimination process, whittling down 15 contestants to five who competed in the first Cayman Islands National Karaoke contest in February 2007. Filipino entrants were placed second and third in the national contest held at the Lions Centre.

Pie expressed surprise at some reactions to the contest and to accusations of segregation on the part of the Filipinos. “We never intended to segregate ourselves,” he said. Pie’s view is that supporting Filipino activities in the community in turn serve the Caymanian society a greater good.
He disputes the view that the spending patterns of Filipinos means that most of their earnings are sent back home and that his community is not willing to spend money here. “We love partying and have a passion for cars and spend a lot of money in those areas,” he said, stressing that bars and food stores benefit greatly from the patronage of Filipinos.

An article in this publication of Wednesday, 9 May 2007 quoted Andre Iton, Managing Director of Integrated Financial Services as saying, “Jamaicans are more inclined to support local businesses than other nationalities that are growing in prominence such as Filipinos.” According to the article Mr Iton goes on to say that, “in contrast, Filipinos will choose to send money to the Philippines for the purchase of (consumer) items there.”

While it is true that substantial amounts of money are sent home, Pie echoed the views of other Filipinos by saying that it is the rollover policy that acts as a deterrent to greater investment here. This is particularly relevant to Pie who has now reached the end of his seven year term in Grand Cayman.

“My employer has applied for an extension to my permit citing me as a key employee, but if the application is declined I will have to go home.” Pie’s greatest concern at returning home is whether all the activities he has worked on for the future will materialise.

“I am trying to contribute to the community, but because of the rollover I am affected,” he said. “Who is going to organise activities when I leave?” Pie is concerned that the contacts he has made with sponsors and community organisations will be lost on his return to the Philippines as he says no one has emerged to take over role he has assumed over the past years.

The upcoming activities he refers to are the Song Fest on 26 December, the Lion’s Club National Karaoke competition in February and the Volleyball League in March. “If I have to go back home the Filipinos may not take part in any of these,” Pie laments.

He also points to other examples where Filipinos are making in-roads into the local community, particularly in the area of music. He mentions bands such as Damoys and Asya which have respectively played at the Hard Rock Café and the Cayman Music Festival.

The one thing that makes him particularly proud is the Filipino dance troupe being placed second in this year’s Batabano festival, with the Ati-atihan tribal dance. This victory not only served to give some recognition to Filipinos in these islands but could also be seen as a precursor to greater involvement by this group into Caymanian society.

If letters to the Editor of this publication are anything to go by, the increase in Filipino nationals in this country has been met with mixed reactions, with some welcoming and others less so. This is not unusual in a small country where the population feels overrun by foreigners. The Minister of Education, Hon Alden McLaughlin, has previously said, “The term limit policy (rollover) is necessary if Caymanians are to retain control of our country.”

The issue, however, for many like Pie is not about ‘taking over’ someone else’s country, but being given the opportunity to become a part of the local social landscape in a way that enhances both the country and the individual.

During our conversation Pie alluded to the ‘industry’ that has developed around OFWs and the encouragement the Philippine Government gives to facilitating overseas working. A quick look at websites such as http://www.ofwguide.com/ and http://www.ofw-connect.com/ bears testament to the vitality of this ‘industry’ with advice on a wide range of issues. The sites give information on loans, visa and immigration updates, career guides, overseas job openings, travel tips, ways to avoid illegal recruitment and a host of other information that would be of use to those planning or already working abroad.

The structure that has developed to support overseas workers, of whatever nationality, will always be needed whilst there are migrant workers seeking to escape the cycle of low wages and poverty at home.

The challenge for the Cayman Islands continues to be the need to find a way to successfully manage the symbiotic relationship between migrant workers – some of which may subsequently become Caymanians by choice – and Caymanians, without a loss of identity.