Cover Story
Faces Of Fear
Foreign Workers On Saipan Face An Uncertain Future
Amidst a flurry of congressional proposals that would have Washington assume control of immigration in the Northern Marianas Commonwealth, tens of thousands of foreign workers, some of whom have lived in the island group for decades, are living with fear and uncertainty about what the future holds for them.
They are caught between the United States wanting to crack down on decades of labor abuses in the Northern Marianas, and a local population that is watching in horror as jobs of any kind disappear and the island group’s economy continues to collapse around them.
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All this follows more than 15 years of attempts by members of the U.S. Congress and previous U.S. administrations, which were stymied by efforts of now disgraced super lobbyist Jack Abramoff, to strengthen Washington’s role on Saipan. The two previous Northern Marianas administrations, at the behest of the once powerful Saipan garment
manufacturing industry, paid about $10 million to Abramoff to keep the feds off their backs.
Governor Fitial, who once called Abramoff a close friend in public, insists federalization should wait until the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) completes a study on the impact the change would have on the CNMI’s fragile economy.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior David Cohen, who drafted the U.S. Senate measure that would federalize immigration in the Northern Marianas, is pushing for “speedy” passage of the bill. He says the call for a GAO study is simply an excuse to delay the inevitable.
The CNMI’s Resident Representative in Washington D.C., Pete A. Tenorio, advocates a “middle ground” approach to work with the U.S. Congress in crafting an immigration bill more palatable to the Commonwealth.
“It is imminent that an immigration act will pass (the U.S.) Congress,” Tenorio told Pacific Magazine. “So refusing to be a part of the process is the most idiotic thing to do for we are in effect giving Congress a free hand to do what it wants by not being a part of this profoundly important process.”
Cohen’s draft bill being considered by the Senate includes a controversial provision that would provide about 8,000 long-term non-resident workers the same benefits as those being enjoyed by the Freely Associated States citizens.
Fitial and the business community strongly oppose that section noting that those non-residents who have been here more than five years could move away from the CNMI, which means their employers may have to hire replacement non-resident workers.
Rey Gabriel a.k.a Happy the Clown
Behind the heavy makeup, colorful costumes and vivacious façade lies the irony that is Rey Gabriel’s life. Rey, who is more popularly known as Happy the Clown, is the breadwinner of his big family. His determination to provide his parents and seven siblings with a more comfortable life prompted Happy to search for a more lucrative job outside the Philippines. He arrived in Saipan in 1993 and worked at a pizza parlor as a clown, and at a café. Since losing that job, Rey survives on his earnings as a part-time clown. Talk of federalization gives him enough reason to stay on Saipan, and hopes for more flexibility to do what he likes best, entertaining children and adults.
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| Rey Gabriel a.k.a Happy the Clown, 35, Sampaloc Manila, Philippines |
Basilia Bautista
Basilia Bautista may have poor eyesight brought about by age, but shedoesn’t let this minor detail hinder her from doing what she’s good at. At 52, she still has hands steady enough to sew dresses for her customers. Basilia, a native of Bulacan province in the Philippines, first came to Saipan as a houseworker in 1995 and later transferred to the now-defunct Top Fashion garment factory to work as a sewing machine operator. When her contract with Top Fashion was not renewed, Basilia applied at the Michigan garment factory where she worked for seven years before it ceased operations last March. Determined to stay on Saipan, Basilia found a sponsor to help her remain legally on the island. She is currently working part-time as a seamstress in a dress shop on Capitol Hill. Basilia maintains that she does not plan to leave this island that she considers her second home. Instead, she looks forward to bringing her four children to Saipan so they could all be together as a family. Basilia views federalization as a token for all the hardship and contribution of long-staying non-resident workers to this island’s economy.
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| Basilia Bautista, sewing machine operator, 52, Bulacan province, Philippines |
Luisa Chen and Larry Zhou Lin
Cousins Luisa Chen, 23, and Larry Zhou Lin, 22, left their hometown Fujian, China, more than two years ago to help their aunt manage a salon in Garapan, Saipan’s tourist district. Both Luisa and Larry are professional beauticians and hairstylists. They said that even though business is terribly slow, they are still making ends meet. They hope that the federal take over will take effect because it will bring more tourists and customers for their business. Larry’s goal in Saipan is to experience a different environment, to have a new life and to support his wife, while Luisa wants to find an American husband, get married, have children and raise a family on Saipan.
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| Larry Zhou Lin, 22, and Luisa Chen, beautician, 23, Fujian, China |
Cai Ying Qzu
From the break of dawn until late afternoon, 30-year-old Cai Ying Qzu markets his produce on his scooter. He left his four children in his hometown Guangdong, China five years ago, initially working at a recycling company before taking to selling vegetables on the streets. In his broken English, he expresses his joy about the possible federal take over, saying that it will be a big help, considering that times are now financially challenging. The earnings from the crops he sells are all sent to his family in China.
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| Cai Ying Qzu, vegetable vendor, 30,Guangdong, China |
Efren Taburnal
Fifty-year-old Efren Taburnal, who hails from Nabua, Camarines Sur in the Philippines, came to the CNMI for two reasons: to augment family income and to experience working abroad. An interior decorator by profession, Taburnal has undertaken all kinds of work—construction driver and painter among others— that came his way in order to provide for his family. He is now working at one of Saipan’s biggest hotels as a maintenance supervisor. Looking back, the only thing that causes him remorse is that 20 years of drudgery prompted his separation from his wife, who took their three children with her. For Taburnal, it doesn’t really matter if the proposed federalization of the CNMI’s immigration pushes through or not. Even before he arrived on Saipan, Taburnal told himself to be always
prepared for what might happen.
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| Efren Taburnal, hotel maintenance supervisor, 50, Nabua, Camarines Sur, Philippines |
Yonus
Yonus believes that the issue on immigration affects everybody in different ways. A native of Haka, Bangladesh, Yonus has been on Saipan for 11 years. He is a popular community member, a taxi driver, filmmaker, social worker, translator, businessman and a leader. Yonus’ family always comes first. He would gladly give up his Bangladesh citizenship for a U.S. passport, saying it would give him protection that he will not be separated from his wife and kids if they decided to venture to the mainland for a better life. Yonus regards Saipan as his second mother. “I have two mothers,” he claims. “One is Bangladesh, my birth mother. The other is Saipan, the one who raised me up… I am obligated to both mothers. And if someone tells me to leave Saipan, I will tell that person not to take me away from my mother.”
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| Yonus, taxi operator, filmmaker, 38, Haka, Bangladesh |
Komgish Tannakan
A native of Bangkok in Thailand, 28- year-old Komgish Tannakan initially set foot on Saipan as a student. He was away for only a year after graduation before returning to help his father run a business. Komgish now finds himself managing a business of his own, a store that sells affordable Thai clothes and accessories. Despite being a victim of rampant robberies plaguing Saipan because of the economic downturn, Komgish remains positive and hopes business will pick up. Without federalization, Komgish believes the economy will continue to decline, and force him to close the business and return
to Thailand.
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| Komgish Tannakan, entrepreneur, 28, Bangkok, Thailand |
Dante Sales
Having worked in Saipan for 20 years, San-Juan, Manila native Dante Sales has become a witness to the transformation the island has gone through in those two decades. He has taken on different skilled jobs: as a plumber, mason, carpenter, and general all-round worker. Dante, 55, will continue to stay on Saipan as long as he has a job that can help support his family in the Philippines.
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| Dante Sales, construction worker, 55, San Juan, Manila, Philippines |
Perry Lo
It was in February of 1985 when Perry Lo first set foot on Saipan. He was in charge of placing huge orders with garment factories in Saipan for a large merchandising company in Hong Kong. Perry and his business partner founded the Conwell Garment factory in 1987. But he left in 1991 after a dispute over ownership in the venture. He decided to make a fresh start in 1995 and worked for JG Sablan, Northern Marianas College, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the commonwealth Dept. of Labor. At 63, Perry works as a freelance translator and a soccer coach. He plans to retire on this island that he considers his second home. Whatever happens regarding the federal takeover, Perry remains resolute that he will not leave Saipan, saying he wants his ashes scattered on the beaches of the island.
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| Perry Lo, freelance interpreter, 63, China |
