How to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa (Sub-Class 600)

I posed for a souvenir photo with American tourists during my visit at the Opera House in Sydney, Australia in November 2005.

Most of the times na ako ay nagkaroon ng opportunity na mag-travel, iyon ay official mission bilang parte ng aking trabaho sa Armed Forces of the Philippines. There are three examples na ako ay nasa official mission: 1. Ang pag-attend ng military courses; 2. Ang pagsali sa shooting competitions o Dragon Boat races; at, 3. Ang pag-inspect ng military equipment na binili ng AFP sa ibayong dagat. 

Ang privilege ng official mission ay halos hassle-free ang pag-proseso ng mga papeles lalo na sa pag-apply ng visa. Merong opisina at mga personnel na nag-aasikaso nito sa embassy ng bansang pupuntahan at ang kailangan lang naming gawin ay i-submit ang kumpletong requirements. May pagkakataon na mabilisan ang pag-proseso ng visa dahil na rin sa biglaang mga lakad. 

Sa una kong pagbisita sa Australia noong 2005, ako ay miyembro ng Philippine Army Shooting Team na lumahok sa Australian Army Skill-at-Arms Meeting (AASAM) na ginanap sa Singleton, New South Wales. Dahil official mission iyon, wala akong matandaang proseso sa pag-apply ng visa maliban sa pagpasa ng aming passports at pag-fill out ng application forms. 

I was the Team Leader of the Army Shooting Team when I first visited Australia in 2005. This photo was taken during the action-packed Squad Assault shooting match which was physically challenging but a rewarding experience for us. Seeing new places was only a bonus for us.

Ranger Cabunzky's Steps

I am aware that there are plenty of blogs out there that can be used as reference in applying for an Australian tourist visa. Sa mga nabasa ko, parating may kulang na impormasyon kaya hayaan nyong ipamahagi ko ang sarili kong experiences kamakailan lamang. Ayokong ituro sa inyo ang pang-techie na Online Processing ng visa dahil baka magkakamot ulo lang kayo sa pagkalikot ng computer sa pag-attach ng mga files na i-submit at sa pagbibigay ng Credit Card details ninyo para sa pagbayad. Dito na tayo sa less hassle na proseso. However, kung nasa malayong lugar kayo, konting cost and benefit analysis ang gagamitin para magdesisyon kung mag-online processing ka or mag-byahe ka ng oras-oras papuntang VFS Global office.

Isa-isahin ko sa inyo ang Ranger Cabunzky's steps sa pag-apply ng tourist visa:

1. Una, siguraduhin mo muna kung talagang pupunta ka ba sa Australia! Simple di ba? Bakit ka mag-apply kung di ka naman pupunta!

2. Alamin mo kung ano ba ang dahilan kung bakit ka pupunta doon? Mag-selfie ka lang ba sa mga kangaroo at Tasmanian Devil sa loob ng isang linggo? Inimbitahan kang mag-date ng iyong Australian girlfriend? Doon mo ba panoorin ang Heneral Luna? 

3. Paano mo suportahan ang iyong pagliliwaliw? May sarili ka bang business na kumikita? May pamana ka ba kay Bill Gates na nakaimbak sa iyong bank account? Ang sweldo mo ba ay sapat na pambayad ng air fares, pagkain at pang-hotel? May manlilibre sayo na tao, company o ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas?

4. Wala ka bang nakakahawang sakit? Wala ka bang naging kaugnayan sa ISIS o Abu Sayyaf o mga kilabot na kriminal? Pag YES ang sagot, ma-disapprove ka lang pre!

5. Bisitahin ang website ng Australian Embassy Manila para alamin ang mga basic requirements ng specific visa type na iyong aplayan. I-click ang 'Visas and Citizenship'. Halimbawa, ikaw magliliwaliw ng iilang araw sa Australia, ikaw ay mapapabilang sa temporary visitor na pwedeng mag-apply ng tourist visa. I-down load at i-fill-out ang Form 1419. Fill out mo ito gamit ang 'All caps' na pagkasulat. Bawal ang sulat na style na pang-doctor ha (Iyong tipong sya lang nakakabasa) kasi baka ma-disapproved ka lang. Kung may kasama sa byahe na anak na less than 18 years old, i-down load at fill-out ang Form 1229. Just in case na di magsasabay ng byahe, ang magulang na hindi kasama sa byahe ang mag-fill out at pipirma ng application forms ng bata.

6. I-down load ang Visitor Visa-Tourist Stream (Sub-class 600) checklist  at i-fill out ito. Magsisilbi itong guide paano kumpletuhin ang mga requirements kagaya ng:

    6.a. Personal documents

        

          6.a.1. NSO-certified birth certificate;

        6.a.2. Notarised photocopy of your passport (including bio page na kung saan makita ang iyong passport photo at details, visas na na-grant lalo na ng OECD countries, entry/exit stamps na nagpapatunay na bumabalik ka tuwing may travel abroad);

          6.a.3. Passport photo. Magsuot ka ng polo shirt o kaya manghiram ka ng coat sa kodaker na nasa kilalang photo studio. Actually, sabihin mo lang na para sa Australian visa, alam na nila iyon. Handa ka ng 2 photos.

    

    6.b. Financial documents

      6.b.1. Certificate of Employment mula as Personnel Department o G1/S1 sa military organization. Data nakabanggit magkano tinatanggap mong monthly salary. 

           6.b.2. Photo copy of your payslip sa loob ng 3 months.

      6.b.3. Pakuha ka ng Bank Statement at Bank Certificate ng sarili mong bank deposits. Di naman requirement na milyones ang  laman ng bangko ngunit mas maigi kung tipong sobra pa sa  pang-return  flight  air fare ang laman ng bangko mo. 

       6.b.4. Kung may sponsor ka na tao o business firm, magpagawa ka ng Certification na suportahan nya ang lahat ng gastos mo sa Australia. Maaaring hingan din ng Bank Certificate at Bank Statement ang iyong sponsor.

           6.b.5. BIR Form 2316 (Income Tax Return).

           

    6.c. Other supporting documents

          6.c.1. Invitation Letter from your contact in Australia. Halimbawa, kung competition ang pupuntahan, hingan mo ng Official Invitation ang organiser mismo. Kung individual ang nangimbita sayo, pasulatin mo sya ng invitation letter na inaanyayahan ka nya sa kanyang lugar para magliwaliw. Data may photo copy ka ng mga katibayan  sa kanyang pagkatao kagaya ng birth certificate, marriage certificate,  at government-issued ID card. Kung wala namang nangimbita sa iyo, syempre di mo na kailangan ito. Ang i-prove mo lang ay lab na lab mo lang talaga magliwaliw pero babalikan mo ang naiwang trabaho, pera sa bangko at ari-arian, at syempre ang mga mahal mo sa buhay!

     6.c.2. Kung competition ang pupuntahan, isang Certification na parte ka sa delegation para sa palaro na pupuntahan. Sa aming mga Dragon Boat Federation members, magagamit ang official ID's namin sa aming Club.
          6.c.3. Kung may kasama sa byahe na anak na less than 18 years old:
                 6.c.3.1. Sumulat ng International Travel Authority na pipirmahan ng non-accompanying parent, at ito ay ipa-notarize. 
          6.c.3.2. NSO-certified marriage certificate na magpapakita na kayo nga ang magulang ng bata. 

7. Tawagan mo ang VFS toll free hotline +632-790-4900 o subukang gamitin ang Price Estimator sa Australian Embassy website para sa Visa Fees na babayaran. As of October 9, 2015, ang bayarin para sa tourist visa (Sub-class 600) ay nasa P4,900.00 (depende ito sa exchange rate ng Aus Dollar). Kung ano ang sasabihing latest rate ng visa fee, ito ang bank checque na iyong ipahanda sa bangko, payable sa 'Australian Embassy'. Ilagay mo ang iyong full name at passport number sa likuran ng tseke.

Actual sample of the Manager's Check that I paid to VFS Global. You can get one from any bank near your location.

8. Kahit plano pa lang ang pagbisita, gumawa ka ng sample itinerary paano ka magbyahe papunta doon at pabalik. Ilagay syempre ang estimated time of departures (ETD) at estimated time of arrivals (ETA) at kung saan ang entry point/exit point. Kung meron ka nang round trip air tickets, astig ka tsong, probably ay aprubado ka na!

9. Gumawa ka ng Cover Letter addressed to Australian Embassy. Direct to the point lang ang sasabihin: Sino ka at saan ka nagtrabaho, bakit ka pupunta sa Australia, ano ang request mo na visa (single entry or multiple entry) at good for 3 months, 6 months o 12 months ba gusto mo. Wag mo nang pahabain ang letter at lagyan ng hi-fallutin words na tila ay si William Shakespeare ang may akda! Para sa anak na less than 18yrs old, ang magulang ang gumawa at pumirma sa cover letter.

10. I-arrange mong mabuti ang mga dokumento at ilagay sa folder. Wag kalimutang isama ang Manager's Check na pambayad sa processing fee. 

11. Ang mga papeles ay i-submit sa VFS Global sa Eco Plaza Building , Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City (mas malapit ito sa bandang Gate 3 ng Fort Bonifacio). Pwedeng ikaw mismo magdala o ang iyong authorized representative. Pwedeng walk-in o magpa-appointment sa VFS through their website.

       11.a. Kumuha ka ng number sa front desk bago ka pumasok sa processing center;

        11.b. Patayin ang cellphone. Bawal kumuha ng mga photos o gumamit ng telepono sa loob. Wag magpasaway;

            11.c. Antaying tawagin ang iyong numero sa TV screen at public address system;

     11.d. Kung gusto mo ng SMS advisory ng iyong application, bayad ka ng additional P730.00. I-indicate ang phone number for SMS at confirm email address for future correspondence. Ipadala through email ang balita kung approved o hindi ang application. 

12. Ang processing time ay more or less 15-20 minutes lamang kung organisado lang mga papeles na dala mo  Antayin ang resibo.

13. Antayin sa iyong email ang copy ng iyong Visa. I-print mo lang iyon, you are good to go na. Kung gusto mo na itatak ito sa iyong passport, additional na bayad iyon.

14. Magdasal ka na ma-approve ang application.

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Honoring the battling bastards of Bataan: My short trip to the battlegrounds of World War II

For us in the military, the Holy Week is also a chance to spend time with the family. During this time, the AFP allows military personnel to take turns in spending short vacation.

While others took time fulfilling their religious obligations such as the traditional Visita Iglesia or participating in the Stations of the Cross, I decided to visit Bataan where a big cross was erected in honor of soldiers who defended our country.

Our precious destination is Mt. Samat, the site where the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) stands up to this day.

I tagged my son along in this trip. I wanted him to appreciate history and learn more about the essence of soldiery as a profession. As an absentee father, I am also fulfilling my duty of spending memorable bonding moments with my son.

I have a short list of tasks to accomplish: We will visit historical places. I will teach him how to hunt and to survive in the woods. I will let him taste the  local dishes. 

Travel plan

Since we are leaving my wife behind, we planned for a 2-day, 1 night trip to Bataan.

Travelling by car, we left Manila at around 8:00am on Maundy Thursday (April 18, 2014). 

I was told that the regular travel time by car is about 3 hours. When we were approaching the toll gate in Balintawak, I realized that we were heading towards a traffic jam. Bad timing!

Moving in a snail pace along NLEX, we had to endure about 3.5 hours until we reached SCTEX toll gate. The sight of lesser number of vehicles gave us some relief. 

I briefed Harvey about the lahar flow along Pasig-Potrero River in Porac town, Pampanga that destroyed communities downstream after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in June 1991, during the time when I was still a 2nd year PMA cadet. He enjoyed the sights as we traveled along 93.77 km Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the longest 4-lane e in expressway in the Philippines.

I showed him the beauty of Mt. Malasimbo in Dinalupihan town, Bataan. I told him that I once stayed on top of this mountain when I supervised the military operations of the Scout Rangers against NPA bandits in 2004. I told him the legend of Mt. Malasimbo as told by the local folks whom I met there: "If there is a cloud over Mt Malasimbo, a typhoon is coming!" 

The highway towards Mariveles was 'stress free' during that day. We appreciated the excellent scenery along the way.

I showed him the battlegrounds of World War II like the mountainous terrain in the background that can be found in the borders of Limay, Mariveles and Bagac towns. We were mesmerized by the captivating beauty of the countryside.

We spent our day treading the same paths followed by the Filipino warriors who fought against the Japanese in these grounds. He experienced the difficulties in navigating through thick vegetation, crossing creek lines, and foraging for food in the forest. 

I showed him the species of wild deer and boar that roam free in the hinterlands of Bataan. It was the first time that he personally saw these wild animals. Not the ordinary kambing or baboy ha?

Too exhausted and feasted on by gnats and tiny insects, we opted to stay in this hotel in Limay town for the night. Our deal was that the next time, we will set up camp in the forest to experience the life of a Scout Ranger and that of the Filipino guerillas of World War II.

The next day (Good Friday), I toured him around Limay town, the place where the first medical hospital for both American and Filipino forces was established. It is also the place where MGen Edward King surrendered his forces to the Japanese on April 9, 1942.

We headed to Pilar town to see the Shrine of Valor (Dambana ng Kagitingan) that can be found on top of Mt. Samat. I told him the story about the 'Battling bastards of Bataan' whose heroic actions are extraordinary and worthy of emulation.

Photo shows the landmarks that can used as reference in going to Mt. Samat. This is one of the Death March markers that can be found along Bataan Provincial Expressway up to San Fernando town in Pampanga which is more than a hundred kilometers away. I told Harvey the unthinkable hardships experienced by more or less 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers who walked towards San Fernando for at least 5 days without or with less water and food.

There is a motorcycle terminal near the direction marker. Those who are into serious 'penitensya' either jog or walk their way up to the revered shrine that was erected to honor the heroes of World War II.

Ohhhh, it was a Good Friday! Some of the die-hard Catholic devotees perform this religious ritual though it is not really encouraged by the Church. We saw these young boys along the road towards Mt. Samat.

We stopped at the site of the Final Battle of Bataan. We thought about the thousands of soldiers who died fighting for 4 months until they capitulated due to lack of food and critical war supplies on April 9, 1942. 

The gradual upward climb starts from this point located at the foot of the mountain. We spotted a lot of back packers who opted to lose some weight by inching their way up the summit on foot. 

For P25.00, you get a ticket to see the museum and use the public parking spaces inside the premises of the shrine.

The scenery below us was breath-taking. Harvey took this photo of me and my buddies Marlon and Jay.

The reward

For wholeheartedly joining this memorable trip, we treated ourselves to a simple meal here at Choco-Late de Batirol.

You can find this at the fuel station near the road intersection towards Mt Samat.

I was attracted here because I was reminded of the 'cocoa' that my mother Puring would personally prepare for us for our 'painit' every morning and even during merienda. 

I remembered that harvesting the 'cacao' fruits, drying them and grinding the roasted seeds, were among my chores during weekends. For that reason, I learned how to prepare 'espiso tsokolate' from scratch. 

I am very lucky to have enjoyed the 'food for the gods' according to the Mayan and Aztec traditions, during my younger years. As a child, I always thought it was the food for the poor because we could not probably afford to drink Nescafe during that time.

So, I urged Harvey to taste my childhood favorite drink. "Son, let's try the food for the gods!"

Our journey towards the battlefields of Bataan was a success. 

It was our bonding time and a quick review of our military history. 

It was our simple way of honoring our heroes, my fellow soldiers who fought for our country.

Tacloban City: Helping is fun in the Philippines

HISTORIC AIRSTRIP. This is the photo of the Tacloban Airport (officially named as the Daniel Z Romualdez Airport) that I took from a UH-1H 'Huey' Chopper. It used to be called San Jose air strip when it was used as a staging ground for the US air forces when they liberated the Philippine islands from Japanese Imperial Forces during the 2nd World War. 

I love Eastern Visayas because of its beautiful islands. 

I am sad to see its battered faces after super-typhoon Yolanda roared its way through the scenic places that I once visited not too long ago.

My last glimpse of its beautiful aerial scenery was in January 2013 when I accompanied then Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Lt Gen Emmanuel Bautista, during his command visit to see the troops of the 8th Infantry Division.

I was attracted by the beautiful images below me as we traveled by chopper from Tacloban City airport to Catbalogan town in Samar. I took several photos of the tiny islands, the mangrove forests and the rugged terrain. 

During my elementary school days, I first heard about Leyte and its current capital, Tacloban City, through the historical accounts about the largest naval battle that occurred here during the 2nd World War. 

Tacloban goes down the history books as the first town liberated by General Douglas Mac Arthur's forces; and, as the 'temporary' capital of the Philippines when Manila was still occupied by the Japanese Imperial Forces. 

Why 'Tacloban'?

According to oral and written traditions, Tacloban got its name from the word 'taklub', a local term referring to a basket-like fish catcher which was popularly used by the local fishermen. Naturally, fishing is among the main source of livelihood for the people.

Known as Kankabatok, it used to be a village in Basey town, Samar. A favorite place to catch shrimps and crabs, people also refer to the place as 'tarakluban', a term that means 'place to catch fish or crabs. Later, it was shortened to Takluban where its current English name 'Tacloban' is derived. 

It is believed that Tacloban town was proclaimed as a municipality sometime in the year 1770.

Typhoon path

The province of Samar and Leyte (Eastern Visayas), is a natural typhoon path for reasons only God knows. 

Aside from the killer typhoon Yolanda, an almost similar super typhoon also devastated the same areas in October 1897. 

In the recent history, typhoons regularly visit the place. People are so used to typhoons that they accept it as part of their normal lives and as a matter of fact, the Army's 8th Infantry Division is named  the "Storm Troopers".

  

When super typhoon 'Haiyan' (Yolanda) struck, Tacloban was put into the world map once again and cemented its name as the 'Ground Zero' for the strongest typhoon ever recorded in the world.

                               (Photo from an anonymous 'citizen journalist')

As we all know today, the super typhoon almost decimated everything in its path including concrete houses, coconut trees and the boats that were docked along the shorelines. 

The tragic loss of life and property became the worst nightmare for the typhoon victims who survived. 

Desperate to sustain their families, some of the fishermen used improvised fishing platforms such as broken refrigerators in order to catch fish.

One of the fishermen who was interviewed by a TV reporter expressed his thoughts this way:

"I don't want relief goods forever. Please help me to have my boat so that I can go back to my source of livelihood and sustain my family."

                               Photo by Reuters/ABS-CBN News

For this reason, the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation embarks on a project to help the local fishermen who lost everything during the onslaught of the typhoon Yolanda.

The mission is crystal clear: Help the poor fishermen regain their source of livelihood by providing them with new bancas (and perhaps, fishing nets too!).

When my friend Jay Jaboneta mentioned the project to me, I did not hesitate to help. May okay ang tumutulong kaysa tinutulungan.

As one of the supporters of the Yellow Boat project in Layag-layag village Zamboanga City, my reply was short: "Count me in!"

I took this photo of my friend Jay Jaboneta (in blue shirt, taking a photo of me) during our visit to hand-over the boats donated by a group of friends through my organization, the TOPSOLDIERS (organization of TOPS awardees recognized by Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati-Metro)

To accomplish the mission, we are enlisting the help of kind-hearted people around the world to donate small amounts of money to finance the procurement of boats. 

By pooling our small contributions, we can procure one boat at a time for each of the typhoon victims so that they can sustain their families,  and as Dr. Anton Lim, the co-founder of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation said, "We will also enable them to send their kids to school". 

I have to admit that I love these fishermen. They produce the fish that we eat. 

I simply love the kinilaw, tinolang isda and steamed Lapu-lapu. This is also one of the reasons why I committed myself in helping them.

Of course, I am also thinking about their family members. They must rise from the rubble of the widespread devastation. 

We must help them stand ramrod straight again and be proud as a resilient people who could not be easily defeated by any difficult challenges including typhoon Haiyan.

Para sa akin, mas magandang tumulong kaysa tinutulungan.

Helping is fun in the Philippines!

***If you want to donate directly to the foundation for this project, please see this link: https://www.facebook.com/YellowBoat

Ang 7-Eleven sa Amerika

 Sa Amerika, ang parang walang katapusan ang haba ng kalsada at kalimitan ay nauubusan ako ng gasolina.

Di ko alam nasaan ang gasolinahan. Buti kung Pilipinas at merong Shell, Petron o Caltex. Minsan meron din yong naka-bote sa tabi-tabi. 

Nilapitan ko si Ate na nasa gilid ng kalsada naglalakad.

"Hi, can I ask where the fuel station is?"

Mabait si Ate at agad naman sumagot. 

"The nearest is 7-Eleven and it is about 3 miles from heyyhhh (here) in one of the exits. It is a maze of roads so bettehh (better) use your G-P-S," sabi ni Ate sabay tumalikod na ayaw na akong kausapin. 

 Inis ako kay Ateng may pagka-isnabera kaya Tinagalog ko na. Nagpabango naman ako ah.

"Gasolinahan ang hanap ko uy, hindi  convenient store! Di mo ba get's yon!" 

Walang magawa, ipinagpatuloy ko ang mag-drive at palingon-lingong maghanap ng gasolinahan sa gilid ng freeway.

Agaw dilim na nang nakita ko ang pamilyar na kulay na ito. Ano yon?

"Damuho yan, tama si Ate!"

Welcome to 7-Eleven fuel station! 

It is more fun in America! (Sowee Ate!)

My funniest FB photo

In the military, the mood changes depending on the situations we are in. Sometimes the environment is tense, sometimes work is full of fun. 

One day, I accompanied my two friends Honey Sumndad-Usman and Chriswin in presenting the mural design that would be painted on the walls of Camp Aguinaldo.

 Presenting a concept to the 'big boss' is not really fun. Like any other presenters, we were worried of the 'retakes'. The photo above says it all. 

Our hard work paid-off when the CSAFP finally approved the design that we presented. We sighed in relief. Silently, I uttered "Hooooah!".

So, when we were allowed to leave, we were full of smiles. We were back to our usual makulit style. When we exited the second door, we noticed a nice spot for FB photo. Kumbaga, evidence that we were able to visit the place.

 I requested the guard on duty to give way for our photo ops. Yes, photo ops with our kulit FB pose. 

Unknown to us, the CSAFP was also cramming to leave for his next appointment. While our neophyte photographer tried to take his best shot, the door sprung open. 

We were caught off-guard! Look who was behind us!

When I looked behind me, I was shocked. It was the boss! I could not compose the right dialogue. I was able to grab an automatic line: "Sir, pwedeng magpa-FB pic sayo?"

Well, our soft-spoken CSAFP was also surprised to find us blocking his path. 

Unknown to others, he is actually a very accommodating person. 

"Of course, of course! It is my pleasure!" 

And so, we have this clear FB pic with the boss. 

It's more fun in the AFP! 

'Crackdown fears' force Filipino workers to head home from Sabah

BONGAO, Tawi-tawi--- Exactly 18 days since the eruption of violence in Sabah, displaced Filipino workers have kept coming back home.

 

It was about 7:30pm when the Philippine Coast Guard ship named BRP EDSA docked at the pier of Bongao, carrying at least 233 people who were temporarily gathered by government authorities in Taganak, Sibutu town here.

 

The Crisis Management Committee Coordinating Center has already accounted more or less 3,160 displaced persons from the coodinating centers in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.

 

Fear of 'Operasi'

 

Most of the people who came are undocumented laborers who have settled in Sabah. Some of them have stayed there for decades, raising their family in various towns where they found decent jobs.

One of them was Sahadail Pulong, 60, a laborer from Sandakan for 30 years. He came with his wife and two teenaged children who were both born in Sabah.

He said that he heard about the rumored 'operasi' (operation) against illegal workers in Sabah as retaliation for the deaths of some Malaysian state forces.

"Natakot kaming hulihin at ipakulong ng pulis doon kasi wala kaming 'pass'. Nagdesisyon na kaming buong pamilya na umalis na lang doon."

Herzalyn Haid, 19, had stayed in Sabah for 10 years. Fluent in Malaysian and Tausug, she revealed that there were rumors about a government crackdown on illegal workers.

"We did not wait for the time that the police will start looking for us in our homes. My husband and I decided to join the other workers who were able to contact a boat that would carry us to Sibutu," said Haid in Tausug dialect.

Income opportunity

 

All of the displaced persons came to Sabah to find jobs that would sustain their family. Some ended as manual laborers, farm workers and house helpers to wealthy Malaysian residents.

Rosalyn Saimuddin, 45, worked as a maid in Sandakan. She said that her modest income allowed her and her husband to feed their 13 children.

"Food is cheap in Sabah and our small wages can afford to raise even a big family. I don't know how to survive back here," she said. 

DSWD-Tawi-tawi Director Hania Aliakbar said that the government is doing its best to address the problems encountered by all displaced persons.

"We are working with various agencies on how to give them livelihood training so that they can find work in their respective communities," she said.

As the people were served hot meals by DSWD personnel and civilian volunteers, some of those who arrived gathered in a corner and hatched their own plan:

 

"Let us go back to Sabah to find work once everything has calmed down," said an old man to his friends.

While there are no livelihood opportunities that could be offered to them, most of them will take the risks to come back to Sabah.

 

Herzalyn Haid, a resident of Sabah for 10 years,  is 4 months pregnant.

 

Rosalyn Saimuddin is proud of her treasures, her 13 children who are all born in Sabah.

 

The AFP Medical Team was deployed to help those who need medical attention.

A social worker attends to a day-old baby boy who was born during the journey from Sabah to Tawi-tawi.