Overseas Pinoy network

Got into London the other day with the usual drizzle, the London fog floating in the crisp, cold air for which the city is famous for, among other things. I think it was the actor Samuel Jackson who said if you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life.

Well, one could hardly get tired of London, a city full of life, where a big bulk of more or less 80,000 Filipinos in England are living and working. The Pinoy community has grown to such an extent that today they have become a huge network — virtually, an intricate mesh of contacts all over London.

One characteristic of Filipinos in this city is that they are more united, more at ease with one another than Filipinos in the US. Take for instance, the Filipinos working at the Ritz Hotel, a favorite among celebrities, especially the royals. It was here that Prince Charles celebrated his birthday with his mother and Camilla Parker Bowles in attendance. It will take the average local – even tourists, for that matter – hours before one could get a table in this hotel for high tea. But if you know the Filipino network in London, half an hour’s wait is long enough.

The Filipino network has their own version of double-0 seven. Dimas, a Filipino bell captain at the Ritz named after the good thief at Calvary, played the role this time of good Samaritan to a poor Filipina who was being beaten up regularly by her Arab employer. When the wealthy Arab and his family (together with the maid) arrived in London, the Filipino network got wind of the story and immediately hatched a plan to rescue the poor Filipina. It was nothing less than a cloak and dagger scene from beginning to end. Dimas devised a way to divert the attention of the employer who was checking out at the desk. At the bell captain’s signal, the Filipino network went into play. A Pinoy couple slowly eased the maid away from her employer without anyone noticing, led her quickly towards the backdoor of the hotel where another Filipino whisked her into a waiting car outside. After passing two blocks, she was taken to a second car where she was brought to a Filipino family who took care of her until they were able to find a job. Today, she is happily employed by a good English family living at the outskirts of London.

Of course, London is famous for its British Intelligence agent James Bond. The world premiere of the latest Bond movie Die Another Day featuring Pierce Brosnan was held at the Royal Albert Hall last Sunday with no less than the Queen herself as guest of honor. The Royal Albert Hall was literally transformed into an ice palace for the night, resembling the lair of the newest Bond villain, turning the inaugural and fund-raising event into a virtual glitter show. It’s the 20th film in the James Bond series and mark’s the 40th anniversary of the longest running franchise in film history. The movie, which was attended by 3,500 patrons, was chosen as the Royal Film Performance to support the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. For promotional efforts alone, the film company spent US$30 million. As such, even Harrod’s Department Store’s theme windows were transformed into an 007 promotional showcase.

The threat of terrorism is as real in England as it is elsewhere, and Die Another Day is another timely endorsement of the Queen’s intelligence network to boost the morale of the English people. MI-6 is considered as one of the best intelligence networks in the world. The HQ is said to be located at the Vauxhall Cross along the banks of the Thames River. It’s so top secret that no one knows exactly where the entrance of the HQ really is. One can only imagine the dim and dusky web of underground doors, dark hidden passageways, automatic revolving walls that can be found inside any one of the string of restaurants, bookshops and antique stores that line London’s streets. Just like in the movies.

If not for the effective network of British intelligence, three Algerian terrorist "sleepers" would have gotten away with releasing poison gas at the London Underground, aptly called "The Tube" during the rush hour a few days ago. Rabah Chekat-Bais, Rabah Kadris, and Karim Kadouri, who were arrested in Bow Street, central London, is said to be members of the North African Front, a terrorist group linked to the al Qaeda network. The Tube, the world’s oldest underground railway, has 275 stations connected to 250 miles of track. On an average day, the tube carries more or less three million commuters. The death toll would have been staggering if it were not for the British operatives who foiled the terrorist’s plans.

The Filipino network in London is no less efficient, which is why Britons prefer Filipino nurses over and above other nurses with a different nationality. One skill the Brits are impressed with is our proficiency in the English language. It used to be that Spanish nurses were preferred by Britons, but there was one drawback: the language barrier. Because of our good command of the English language, now they prefer Filipinos. Today, more than 30,000 Filipino nurses work in London and in other parts of England, and the need is still growing. As I have strongly maintained time and again, English should be considered as a major subject in our educational system. This is what gives Filipinos the edge both locally and internationally. Multinationals operating in the Philippines require applicants to speak and write English as a prerequisite for employment. Having English as a major subject does not make us any less nationalistic.

One thing about Filipinos living abroad: there’s always that deep-seated dream to one day go back home. It is only fitting that we should give them all the necessary encouragement and incentive to participate in national affairs by passing, as soon as possible, the absentee voting and dual citizenship bill. Through this bill, at least, they will have a say in their future. Because in the end, a Pinoy will always be a Pinoy.

* * *

Vienna is not as cold as one would expect at this time of the year. This is another city in Europe where roughly 30,000 Filipinos live and work, mostly nurses, according to our Ambassador Vic Garcia. The perception about the Philippines is still fixed on what’s been happening in Mindanao. No doubt, the Abu Sayyaf has made a name for itself in Europe. In fact, during the welcome cocktail reception hosted by Johann Fritz, director of the International Press Institute, the conversation revolved around terrorism and the American presence in the Philippines. No doubt, as the main speaker in the IPI forum, our publisher Max Soliven will set the record straight.

* * *

My e-mail address: [email protected]