“Pirme ako naupod han akon barkada. Mga disco, mga party. Danay maagahon na ako nauli. Pagkadto ko ha Manila, nagtrabaho ako nga cashier ha usa nga mall, pero waray ko gihap adto natapos kay napaupod na liwat ako ha mga barkada. Nakadto kami ha mga bar. Maagahon ako nauli, tapos pag-uuli ko ha amon, pirme ako ginbubusaan ni Lolo ngan Lola. Tikang hadto, ginpauli ako ha Biliran. (“I always go out with my gang to discos and parties. There are times I go home at the break of dawn. When I went to Manila, I worked as a cashier in one of the malls, but it didn’t took long as I went back to my old habits. We went to bars. Whenever I went home, my grandpa and grandma would reprimand me. After that, they drove me back home to our province in Biliran.”)

Tumawag ako ha usa ko nga sangkay nga ngadi ha Tacloban nagtatrabaho. Nagpakiana ako kun mayda hiya maaram nga trabaho nga pwede masudlan ngadi ha Tacloban. Ginpakianhan ako niya kun willing ako magtrabaho ha internet. Makikipagchat daw ha mga Tumawag ako ha usa ko nga sangkay nga ngadi ha Tacloban nagtatrabaho. Nagpakiana ako kun mayda hiya maaram nga trabaho nga pwede masudlan ngadi ha Tacloban. Ginpakianhan ako niya kun willing ako magtrabaho ha internet. Makikipagchat daw ha mga foreigners. (“I called one of my friends who is working in Tacloban. I asked her if she knows of any job in the city. Then my friend asked me if I am willing to work on the internet, and that I have to talk to foreigners.”)

Pagkadto ko ha ira balay, kumita ako hin kwarto nga puno hin mga computer, laptop ngan webcam. Illegal na ngay-an an ak nasudlan. Han una, naging malipayon ako ha balay han akon barkada. Naging malipayon ako nga may kwarta ako adlaw-adlaw. Bili dito, bili doon; gala dito, gala doon. Nakakapalit ako han ak mga karuyag. Pero may consequences adto nga tanan. Kapalit hadto nga kalipayan, kapalit hadto nga tanan nga mga bagay, nabababoy ko na an akon kalugaringon. I’m not proud of it. (“ When I went to their house, I saw a room filled with computers, laptops and webcams. I was put in an illegal situation. At first, I was so happy living with my friend. I had money everyday. I bought things here and there; I roamed around wherever I want to go. But it has some consequences. In exchange for that happiness and for all other things, I was already losing respect for myself and ruining my image. I am not proud of it.” )

Hasta usa ka adlaw, umabot an dire ko inaasahan. Usa ka aga, bumati ako hin mga boses hin mga taga NBI, nga may upod nga mga Social Worker ngan mga Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Bumati ako han akon sapit nga nagtitinuok. Gin abrihan nira an amon kwarto tapos ginrescue nira kami nga tanan. An nagrecruit ha akon ginkadto ha City Jail. Gindara ako ha shelter. Ginhunahuna ko “Unta namati la ako kan mama ngan papa”. Gusto ko hadto magpakamatay, kay ginkaawod ako han akon pamilya. Pero waray ako nagpadayon pagpakamatay kay dire ko kaya. (“Then one day, an unexpected thing happened. One morning, I heard voices from that of the NBI, of social workers, and non-government organizations. Then I heard the cry of somebody next to me. They opened our room and we all were rescued. I thought “I should have listened to my mom and dad”. That time, I wanted to end my life because I brought shame to the family. But I didn’t push through because I didn’t have the nerve to do it.”)

Naisip ko nga mayda pa ako mga tawo nga umaasa ha akon. I must face the reality. I must stand up and be strong. And that’s what I did. Gin pa iskwela ako nira Ma’am Carmela hin senior high school. Nagpapasalamat ako kay ira ako gintapuran, gin tagan nira ako hin chance nga maipakita ko ha ira nga kaya ko mag bag-o ngan nagbabasol na ako han akon mga ginbuhat. Ira ginhatag an akon mga rights – ha education, recreation, food, clothes ngan shelter. Waray hira nagkulang ha akon. (“I thought there are some people who have high hopes on me. Ma’am Carmela sent me to senior high school. I am thankful for their trust. . . for giving me another chance to prove to them that I am capable to change for the better, and that I am regretful for what I have done. They gave me my rights – education, recreation, food, clothing, and shelter. They were not remiss of their responsibilities.” )

I turn to another chapter in my life. Nagpapasalamat ako ha DSWD, ha CSWDO, tanan nga social workers, ngan ha mga NGOs sugad han International Justice Mission (IJM) ngan an Plan International. Tungod ha ira, nakatungtong ako ha college. Gin pa-enroll ako nira kay gusto ko mag IT. Gusto na ako kuhaon hit ak mga parents, pero I choose to stay ha Shelter. Malipayon ako kay nakakabulig ako hit mga bata ha Shelter. (“ I thank the DSWD, CSWD, all social workers, NGOs, like International Justice Mission and Plan International. Because of them, I was able to go to College. They enrolled me for an Information Technology course. My parents wanted to fetch me but I chose to stay at the Center. I am happy that I am able to help children at the center.’)

Malipayon ako nga upod ko hira ngan ginsheshare ko ha ira tanan nga akon nabaruan – ha mga training, pati an akon life story. I saw how inspired they are. Happy na gihap it akon pamilya ha akon, pati ha akon desisyon nga magstay. Nakikita nira how determined I am. Nagpapasalamat gihap ako kan Papa God, waray niya ako pabay-i, bsan ano kakuri ak inagian natalwas la ghap ako tungod ha iya. It akon mensahe para ha mga sugad ha akon nga nabiktima hin Human Trafficking: Stand up and speak out! Don’t give up! We will survive because we are warriors! (“ I am glad I am with them and able to able to share what I have learned – in trainings, including my life story. My family is also happy about me and my decision to stay. They can see how determined I am. I am also thankful to Papa God, He didn’t leave me, no matter how hard the track. I was able to overcome because of Him. My message to fellow victims of Human Trafficking….Stand up and speak out! Don’t give up! We will survive because we are warriors.” )

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