One of my high school classmates departed to study in the U.S. three years ago, never finishing her high school education. We were fourth year students then, about to finish four years of demanding but exciting portion of our lives. Now we're in junior year, while she is just about to enter her second year in college, having redshirted her first year in high school. So technically, she was one batch behind from us because of the delay.
One by one, some of our batchmates departed for greater opportunities abroad, particularly in the United States. The greatest influx of Filipinos in the U.S. are in the West Coast, particularly in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles because they're much closer.
The question is, are they still Filipinos or Americans?
Techically, they still are Filipinos, but by residing in a foreign country and haven't applied for naturalization, they are considered aliens. Such is the case of nurses and OFWs going to a foreign country.
With the lack of employment opportunities, a lot of Filipinos flee to other areas of the world to find greater opportunities. However, the risks of going abroad were too great; a lot of OFWs suffer persecution from their bosses, and ended up inside a wood coffin upon returning home. News like this create greater awareness for those who like to go abroad and never suffer the same fate.
As Edkins and Zehfuss discussed, it is both easy and difficult to travel and reside in a foreign country. The law has failed to restrict immigration, but physical implementation has resulted in some deaths and persecution. Of course, aliens are welcome, but they have little rights compared to a naturalized or a native-born citizen; not even the right to vote is a right to obtain.
One by one, some of our batchmates departed for greater opportunities abroad, particularly in the United States. The greatest influx of Filipinos in the U.S. are in the West Coast, particularly in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles because they're much closer.
The question is, are they still Filipinos or Americans?
Techically, they still are Filipinos, but by residing in a foreign country and haven't applied for naturalization, they are considered aliens. Such is the case of nurses and OFWs going to a foreign country.
With the lack of employment opportunities, a lot of Filipinos flee to other areas of the world to find greater opportunities. However, the risks of going abroad were too great; a lot of OFWs suffer persecution from their bosses, and ended up inside a wood coffin upon returning home. News like this create greater awareness for those who like to go abroad and never suffer the same fate.
As Edkins and Zehfuss discussed, it is both easy and difficult to travel and reside in a foreign country. The law has failed to restrict immigration, but physical implementation has resulted in some deaths and persecution. Of course, aliens are welcome, but they have little rights compared to a naturalized or a native-born citizen; not even the right to vote is a right to obtain.
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