LIFE OF A FILIPINA NURSE IN MALTA, 3 years since she left Libya as a Refugee

By Veronica Cadag Ugates
Malta
March  2, 2014



Three years ago today, I was a refugee from Libya with my family. Only a luggage of clothes and nothing else except my passport to proclaim my identity. The day before, I was the respected Administrative Assistant to the Medical Director of Harouge Oil Operations in Tripoli. The following day I was  nobody but a number among the many refugees who fled to Malta.

BY God’s providence I met a lawyer introduced by a friend. He offered that I stay with his aunt in their 600 year old palace in Mdina. He asked how long I may be able to process my documents and I   replied 5 months. He applied for a visa for me for precisely that period and exactly 5 months later on the 4th of August 2011 I was employed at Casa Leone, Church Home for the Elderly. Meanwhile my husband and daughter went back to the  Philippines.

Four months after, I took the IELTS and applied for registration with the Nursing Council. I was interviewed in March 2012 and underwent the adaptation program in June to September of that year. Meanwhile my husband came for a visit. Two years after I left Libya in March 2013, I became a full-pledged Registered Nurse in Malta and treated myself to a holiday with my family.

At that time the election was held for the FIL-COM or the Filipino Community organization. Because I have nothing to do with my spare time and due to the utmost urging of some people I got to know, taking the time to even call me while I was on vacation,  I was persuaded to run for the presidency. Looking back and had I known what I got myself into, I would have run not only a mile but many miles before they can overtake me and get my consent to this thankless task . When that election was called nobody contested as for some reason or another the Interim committee who had functioned as officers for four years did not field any candidate. So I was lulled into the idea that I could launch a program that would be acceptable to everyone. In May 2013 to coincide with Labor Day, we had our Oath-taking. Then I proceeded to create an entertainment program for the elderly starting in Casa Leone  where I worked.

Further, having been recognized as one  of their own, the Ministry of Health  charged me with organizing the Filipino  Nurses for an Intercultural Presentation at the Coastline Hotel in Qawra in June 27, 2013.

Then a bombshell!

The Commissioner of the  Commission of Voluntary Organizations called my attention as he received a letter of protest from the Interim Committee, the authenticity of which was dubious. But because such a letter had been received, the Commissioner advised me to hold another election soonest possible.

I agreed for the simple reason that I was willing to let them have my place if possible. However, the Commissioner counselled me not to give up. He said the community needed someone like me. I decided to compromise and undergo the process with the hope that someone else gets elected. The Interim committee group mounted a campaign, even bringing a laptop to the Karaoke Bar in St. Julians for online voting.

On the very day of elections, they canvassed votes by phone calls urging people to vote. The election Chairman asked me what my strategy was? I said nothing, I was not really that interested. If people vote for me, well and good, if not, it is not my loss. Unfortunately or fortunately, as the case may be, I still won the election. I hoped that would be it.

In the meantime,  we organized a Saturday Karaoke Night and a  Sportsfest for Basketball and Volleyball with the ambitious title of the FIL-COM CUP. Both proved successful in creating a bond among members of the community  but the  Karaoke Nights was discontinued because someone sent the police and reported to everyone that the Karaoke Night was raided.

It was a pity as the Saturday Karaoke Night had provided a place for Filipinos to be together and mingle with the least expense.

Then we organized a Bingo Social which again failed because the officers, now composed of opposing ideas and mind set, seem determined to make us fail. It was a struggle just to have a meeting without shouting matches. The meetings always ended in chaos. And yet I persevered. Why? Because it is not in my nature to give up. Inspite of the disparity we continued grimly, then Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda happened.

Typhoon Haiyan had allowed to set aside ingrained discontent and dissatisfaction such that we were able to hold two very successful fund raising campaigns. This was followed by again a very successful Christmas party which I had hoped would finally put an end to the disagreements. I was hoping that the success we achieved would lessen the disgruntlement and again I was wrong.

In January we held the General Assembly to plan for year 2014 and to revise the old statutes which were hampering the officers especially the president in carrying out discipline. The statutes were too broad, too encompassing, too lofty and finally too impractical. However during the General Assembly, it was not the statute that was discussed. Rather the group of the previous interim committee came as a large troop to question the validity and legality of the elections. And they were joined even by some officers of the organization. What a laugh and a great absurdity! At the same time it was a great let-down for I did not realize at first what had caused the about face. The people who had  pushed me for the post are the same people who now wished to pull me down.

But it seems that some people in Malta do not really know what they want except that they wanted me out of the way because apparently I have stepped on so many toes. As I understood they found me an upstart and an interloper. That I am too new in this place to spread out my wings. Never mind that in the many years they have been here not one of them had accomplished what I was able to carry out in the short time that I am president of the community. Of course with the able help of those people who believed in my capacity to do so. Are we Filipinos really that ridiculous?  It seems that we are and nowhere is the crab mentality so apparent as in this case.

Winners of the Mr. and Mrs. Valentines, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Wheeler, First Runner up, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Montefort, and Second Runner-up, Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Micallef with soon to be           Honorary Consul Kevin ATTARD
However I have to continue  as I feel I must since with the handful that I have on my side, we are still able to achieve what we set out to do. In February 16th 2014, we celebrated Valentines with couples and families, a first among the Filipinos in Malta and very much enjoyed by them.
For May, we plan for 10 Outstanding OFW’s in Malta, another first of its kind here.

Would I really be giving up? I wish I can yet I am finding that there are many Filipinos out there who need what I am able to offer them and for this silent majority I AM WILLING do a lot since they are the ones with the problems being ordinary housekeepers, nannies, cleaners or carers. For them we have programs which may be of help to assist them towards better work conditions in Malta provided of course that we get cooperation.

Hopefully and with God’s grace eventually we may be able to overcome.

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See related srticles:

FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN MALTA RAISES FUNDS FOR THE VICTIMS OF TYPHOON YOLANDA
BEING PRESIDENT OF FILCOM MALTA
 28 Pinoys Arrived safe in Malta !!!