Crossing the Valley

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a long way from home

Philippines

Maria Roxas-Adams

Everyone has a story, ~everyone; such is life. Some stories are exciting, some are amusing, some are sad and some are simply unbelievable.  I didn’t know what story to expect interviewing Maria, an immigrant from the Philippines.  I had never met her before but I was told through a mutual friend that she was a sweet lady; and indeed she is.  This is Maria’s story of her migration to Phoenix, Arizona and her experiences in the U.S. since.

Maria

I was born in Philippines but when I was 16 or 17 I moved to Saudi Arabia.  My dad use to work with the Saudi Arabian government, working to solve crimes ~like that CFI on TV.  He was entitled to bring family.  I was the youngest of seven children, after my sister went to Saudi Arabia I followed.  I traveled alone.

Maria

Before I went to Saudi Arabia I lived in the Philippines with my brother, so I move to be with my parents and to work.  In the Philippines it’s hard to find work, no jobs.  In Saudi Arabia I worked for Lockheed Corporation but it was dangerous because women are not allowed to work in Saudi Arabia so I was always hiding.  They found out women were working in that department and shut it down.  I move jobs a lot. I worked for a landscaping company.  My mother knew a man who needed secretary so I worked there.  I remember hiding in a room because they were checking for women again.  I worked for air conditioning company, the Arabian police were always checking there so I went and worked for World Bank.  Here the bank was in the same building as United Nations so it was safe to work there.

In the 1970’s the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the guerrilla movement known as the NPA (formed by remnants of the Huk rebellion after WWII) was steadily growing and disrupting government operations. The CPP's ideology was taken largely from Chinese communism and adapted to circumstances in the Philippines. This revolution was viewed as the only way to overthrow the "United States-Marcos regime" and free the people from their oppression, and institute a people's democratic revolution.This political unrest was a contributing factor to a struggling economy.

(http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/papa/philippines1970.htm) (NPA Rebellion in the Philippines 1970-Present 

Maria

I worked for ten years at the World Bank, I met my husband there.  In 1995 we decide to move to the United States.  I didn’t have problems becoming a citizen here because my husband is American and we married 1986, before coming to the United States.

After five years I could apply for citizenship but I waited, so much paperwork, long lines but I have citizenship now.

Maria

As a migrant, work was hard to get because my pronunciation.  I learned English in the Philippines but my pronunciation was not good.  I found job in newspaper ad as secretary.   I met a lot of people, I gained experience and I changed jobs.

Adjusting to this culture was not so hard because the Philippines is a lot like United States except I’m always in a hurry here ~rush rush rush.  In Philippines it’s much more relaxed, it’s a harder life but if you need help, family will help. Also in the Philippines, family is close and I don’t see that in the U.S.  I still keep in good contact with my family; the move has not strained our relationship.

Sometimes I miss that way of life. I miss the food the most (laughs).  Mingling with other Filipinos helps keep me connected to my culture.  Every weekend we have parties, we take turns going to each other’s house and cook dinner and talk.  My Filipino friends all live about five or ten miles away.

Much like the author Mike Davis notes in his essay; Magical Urbanism, villages or communities in one country will ‘clone’ themselves in new suburbs or cities for various beneficial reasons. Also in reading Cathy Small’s book; Voyages: from Tongan Villages to American Suburbs we saw how Tongans also cloned themselves in northern California for social and economical reasons.

Davis, M. (2000) Magical Urbanism: Latinos Reinvent the US City

Small, C. (1997)Voyages: From Tongan Villages to American Suburbs

Maria

Even though life is busier here I feel lucky.  Life is better here.  There are more chances for success, a good education.  In Philippines a good degree does not mean you get a good job; there are no jobs in the Philippines that’s why we go to Saudi Arabia.  Here you work hard and you can buy nice things, in the Philippines you can not afford nice things, like a new care.

Maria's story illustrates the impact of globalization as well as the social, economical and political processes that leads to an individual's choice to migrate.  Human migration, both voluntary and forced, ranks among the most volatile issues facing the world today. Already about 125 million people live outside the countries where they were born-it is as if the entire population of Japan had packed up and left.

Kane, H. (1995) The Hour of Departure: Forces that Create Refugees & Migrants

It is important to understand that migration, especially mass migration, is symptomatic of larger underlying issues.  Someone may be in search of a better life but we must ask 'why are they searching'?  This course exposed those reasons and truly highlighted the extent of their impacts.