Working Legally

Batugade border - Timor Leste side 

Atambua border- Indonesia side

Finally, I am a legal worker in Timor Leste! But securing it was never quick and easy. I had to extend my tourist visa twice and had an interview with the immigration officer after securing all the documents required to process the work permit.

Securing a visa prior to entering Timor Leste is not possible. Aside from having limited consular offices or embassy in other countries, they don’t allow it. The policy is to enter as a tourist, allow you to extend for two times and during the validity period of your visa extension; you have to secure all documents to start the processing of work permit. When your documents are complete, you would be interviewed together with the head of the organization by an immigration officer. The questions are standard like, what is your educational background, where have you worked before, what you are doing in your organization in Timor Leste, how would you transfer skills to locals. If you talk a lot, the more you encourage questions. I said this is standard because some ‘Malays’ (foreigners) have the same set of interview questions. Immigration Officers visit also your office as part of the process probably to validate its existence.

After the interview, you have to wait for them to inform you if your work permit is ready. It took 6 weeks after the interview before the immigration released my work permit and I learned this when our admin officer checked it from the labor office of MOFA. Otherwise, we wouldn't know if we have just waited for them to inform us. Immediately we went to the main office of MOFA to get the work permit only to learn that I have to exit Timor Leste so that my passport can be stamped with the work visa.

Yes, I cannot understand why I have to go to a border to get a work visa stamp when they did it in Dili during my extension period. But it’s a rule I have to follow whether I like it or not. So, on a very early Saturday, I went with the driver to Batugade and Atambua, the border between Timor Leste and Indonesia respectively. Literally, I exited Timor Leste through Batugade and entered Atambua which is the Indonesian border. These two border offices are separated by a half kilometer no man’s land. Literally, I entered Indonesia, have my passport stamped entry and moved around the immigration office and have my passport stamped exit. Then, I went back to Batugade and the TL immigration officer stamped my passport with work permit and that was it!

It took me 30 minutes to complete the process while it took us 3 hours going and 3 hours coming back to Dili. To be honest, I don’t see the logic of it. It doesn’t make any sense at all to do this if the MOFA is located in Dili. Besides, the stamp I got from my extension was even of better quality, because it was a nice sticker, than the work permit which was only a red rubber stamp and manually written with pieces of information on validity period, work permit number, etc. While I understand the fact that they don’t have laws in place yet, it makes me wonder how this giant system capacitate them because it’s supposed to be part of their mandate but on the other hand, it could also be resistance to learn and apply what is practical and feasible process on the part of the concerned ministry. It’s difficult to speculate but this is one thing I cannot understand and find any sense at all. I wonder how it would be again next year when I renew my work permit for my 2^nd year. Until then...

Looking back...my time at LIKAS

While browsing, my iPod was playing Noel Cabangon’s latest version of Kanlungan, a music I’ve grown to love since I started my development work. While listening, it brings back memories of my time as community organizer. Looking back it seems like a very distant past. Working with the Lingap para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS) was my first real NGO work. I was shaped and molded into who I am and what I am because of it and the people who were working there, my colleagues, my boss who were my mentors and professional advisers up to now.

My team in LIKAS 

One of our jamming sessions

This was a hit then, and I was good in doing this...

I started as a humble community organizer in 2 communities surrounding Mt. Bulusan Volcano National Park on Biodiversity Conservation. I would walk an average of 4 kilometers going and coming out of the community without fear. I love to observe the way of life in the community, the pleasure of their hospitality. Those people I would never forget because they loved me like a member of their family.

I also enjoyed the simple pleasures life had to offer me then. Jamming with my colleagues, swimming in the rivers found in the communities we were working, trekking, mountain climbing, it was all adventure then. I loved it and that time, I didn't bother looking outside. I was happy with my work.

After sometime, I was given a break in the organization, from being a community organizer to being a program officer, doing multi-task and leading a team, to training farmers to staff of government ministries from other countries. My skills  and competencies in various aspects of development work was really developed. My potential was harnessed. 

I came to know many people through networks. Most of them I am still in touch. These people influenced me in one way or another about who I am and what I am doing now. They inspired me to be where I am now.

After eight years of being with LIKAS, I got burned out. I needed a change of environment and work. I needed a new adventure. VSO opened this opportunity for me. I went to Bangladesh which started it all, my international development career path. I am where I am now and I am who I am now because of LIKAS, the people which was more of a family than colleagues.

Push and Pull

It has been two years since I took another road less traveled. A decision made with all the sensibilities I could think of. I tried to ask myself whether it made sense now because by then, it was. It started with a casual dinner which I initially refused but through the prodding of my colleague who was my temporary shelter in Lusaka, I said yes even without knowing whom we were going to dine with. The typical snub in me, when I was introduced to my friend’s friends I just said hello, didn’t even bother to shake hands with them. I had a hard-time choosing the food because that time whatever different from chicken and chips was good enough for me. While having dinner, the discussion started  with my beloved Chipata, then analysis of the situation of Zambia, which really caught my interest so even if I did not know them, I got so much engaged in the conversation. This he told me later, impressed him. Afterwards, there was exchange of phone numbers and e-mail address which to my surprise I easily gave out. The first meeting ended.

The following night, I got invite for another dinner so that my desire to have Chinese food would be satisfied but we ended up in a Korean resto which was not bad at all. I was off to be back to my province the next day but decided to move it for another day. The evening that followed, I got invite again but this time, I refused. He made an excuse; he went to my friend’s house. It was just a casual evening of chatting, comparing music in our iPod. When he reached home, I got a call which I willingly acknowledged. Then early morning the next day which was my schedule to travel back to my province, I received again a call with the usual Filipino goodbye lines in our conversation. During the 6-hour trip, I cannot remember how many calls I got until I reached my beloved province.  

That evening, I received countless calls again. I willingly spent time talking on phone and even endured the tiny screen of my nokia for mobile chatting using e-buddy. This has become a routine every evening which really surprised me because I look forward to those calls and chats. This blossomed into something more than just casual conversations. I was hooked!

He is a guy who has the characteristics of a Filipino whom you would fall in love with. He is caring, loving, thoughtful and plus, plus other things. There was too much passion at the beginning, no missed calls, no unanswered sms, no sleep without talking on phone. Slowly, I discovered what irritates him and what triggers his anger. He has some attitude I could not stand. Fights started, missed calls, unanswered sms and calls became lesser and shorter. We discussed this and things were settled as always. I was always pulled back. 

I went to Viet Nam, the relationship continued and the same passion was there during the first few months, then slowly it lessened to a large extent. There were so many broken promises, or plans which did not materialize. My life became miserable, my health, my work was affected. I was crying almost every night. There was even a time when I was almost hit by a motorbike because I was crossing the street absent-mindedly. Slowly, I came to my senses. I gave up. I gave up after learning my lessons the hard way. I slowly moved on. I managed to push for a short time. 

Victoria Falls

Then January this year, the day before I was to go back to Viet Nam from my holidays, he called up and wanted to meet up. I agreed. I thought I was meeting him to close whatever needs to be closed but then we decided to continue it. Again, I was pulled back. But the situation was the same until I got this post here. I promised myself to start a new life, new environment and new work. But then, it never happened. Yes, it was a new work, a new living environment but the way I am living my life is the same. We are still together. Despite all the pains, hurt, disappointment and frustrations, I am always pulled back no matter how hard I push. Two years since, there is no doubt that he loves me and so do I but I am asking myself, is he worth the pain I’ve gone through?  Seriously, does he really deserve me? 

Merienda-Get-Together

Last Sunday, 9^th of October 2011, the Philippine Embassy gathered Filipinos in Timor Leste for a ‘merienda’ get-together. The invite was plain and simple, a gathering of Filipinos so I have set my mind that there is really nothing to expect when it comes to formal discussions or the like.

I admit, out of curiosity, I confirmed attendance to the event and also as a way of supporting our embassy for the effort to organize such activity. I remembered I posted once in my wall, asking friends on FB what the role of an embassy really is, in a country. I got mixed answers; a number of them mentioned hosting parties which is a rare event in Timor Leste. Whatever the reason, why such events are rare, I have no idea.  Then there was this opportunity over the weekend to gather Filipinos. So, I did not hesitate to join.

The ‘merienda’ get together was what I was expecting because I did not pre-empt my mind from expecting something. While people are chatting, others were observing, two Filipinos were playing music on the background. Seats were not enough but I guess that was the primary purpose of it, for people to move around, meet-and-greet. Food was in abundance, they may not be 100% native ‘pinoy foods’ (because of the brownies, cake) but they were all palatable to Filipino tongue.

Like what I have mentioned, I was not expecting any program or formal announcements but I couldn’t help myself from sharing my observations. First, the same people which are typical of Filipino culture flocked around each other. If one belongs to one group, the same people stick to each other until the end. Second, most if not all, the Filipinos around were occupying mid-managerial and managerial positions in different organizations, private companies and government agencies (as advisors/consultants) in Timor Leste. Nowhere to be seen are those whom we referred to as ‘kababayan na nakipagsapalaran’ (compatriots who are taking chances) in Timor Leste. Those ordinary citizens who tried their luck in Timor Leste, those you never know if they have legal documents or not, those who may be documented or not. These are the people, to copy the term of my organization, the most deprived, excluded and vulnerable Filipinos, the sector who should be reached out by our ‘kababayans’, and the embassy. I am not pointing fingers or blaming anybody because if you would know the different life stories of Filipinos in Timor Leste, all you could utter is...’OMG, what a shame or OMG, what a pity”. Nonetheless, I was not happy because they were not around. 

On another note, there were negative comments I heard as well about the way ‘merienda get-together’ was organized, why there was no proper program, why there were no announcements, etc., etc; again, typical of Filipino character which likes looking at the negative side rather than finding good out of something. Personally, I have come to terms with realities. An embassy is not just an office; it is composed of people with different personalities and way of doing things. I had a very nice experience with the Philippines Embassy in Bangladesh to the envy of other VSO volunteers, but the same experience was never replicated in other countries I have worked and lived. In the same manner that I have to keep a mindset that situations vary under different circumstances, the less you expect, the less frustration you would have.

In the end, the effort was still worth recognizing. It may be old cliché but it still holds true, you cannot please everybody and I am glad I did not attempt to take Foreign Service even with the prodding and encouragement of my ‘lolo Vic’ who was an ambassador during Marcos’ time.