Looking back in the year 2000 when the Philippine government had announced that opportunities are waiting for the Filipinos who would like to work in Canada as caregivers. The news became the talk of the town and the excitement spread like fire in all places As a result, Caregiver schools sprung-up like mushrooms in cities and select provinces.
Advertisements about caregiver schools and opportunities abroad were posted almost simultaneously in which it became a big business enterprise. The word “caregiver” and “Canada” clicked with the people and eventually they took the word seriously and rode the “bandwagon of enrollees.”
Hundreds of thousands of people heeded the call of a promising job opportunity in Canada. People of different background enrolled in a seven months caregiver course. Most of the enrollees are professionals with stable jobs in both public and private sectors. The frenzy is bursting at the seams and even the lowly person in me was encouraged and was agog to join the “bandwagon of enrollees.” It was like a “feu de joie” and in August 2002, I enrolled for a seven months caregiver course in a University based in Baguio City.
But unfortunately I lost my “amour propre” or self esteem because after hurdling the hard earned certificate in caregiving in March 20003, I failed to land a job in Canada. The dream of going to Canada billed as the most livable country by the United Nations was a complete failure. It was a “faux pas” and a “mal a propos” on my part because going to Canada takes a lot of effort and money and male caregivers has limited opportunity than their female counter part. As the Germans says “weltzschmerz!”
And yet again, another announcement was released by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration saying that Canada needs 2 million immigrant workers this 2008. Another recruitment binge is in the works. How many more aspirants and dreamers will fail to succeed. Going to Canada is a lost cause, a forlorn hope; it is an “enfants perdus” futile move, “viola tout.”