Seven Years: Looking Back in History

Today I received my Permanent Residence ID at the Immigration Department. After seven years of continuous stay in Hong Kong, I am rewarded to stay here unconditionally (almost, because in order to keep this status, I have to show up at immigration counters at least once in every three years) or what is commonly called Right of Abode. This means:

* My current and future employers don't need to apply for a working visa
* I have the right not to be removed from Hong Kong
* I have the right not to be deported from Hong Kong
* I have easier access to ports of entry such as airports and ferry terminals

And as I stare at my new card, I also look back seven years ago when I arrived in Hong Kong for the first time in 2001. Thanks to the demand of software engineers and developers, I got my wish granted: work abroad. I was with Leo, Onin, Karen, Jay, Martin, Junjun, Ishmael, Daisy Mae, Christopher, Jay, Edwin, Sheila and Junrey. We were employed by Pacific Century CyberWorks, later renamed PCCW, only for six of us to lose our jobs ten months later. The five of them decided to go back home while I decided I should find a job even if the chances were slim at the time when the world was gripped by the terrorism of 911.

Despite of that early ordeal, I never ran out of good people to surround me. Kuya Elmer and Roy kept tabs with everyone in the community of Couples for Christ Hong Kong on any member whose employer needed someone to build websites or do some programming. There were some responses but knowing that I required a visa, it was tough for them to get me. There were nights when I was at the office of Jong to type CVs and fax applications. I never got any response but the offer of help was more than enough.

Good thing I came to know Colin a couple of months before the mass layoff took place. With his need for someone who had my skills on the web, he asked me to build the BuildingBrands website. He would later on sponsor my working visa for the next two years. When I was told he couldn't renew another one for me, I thought that was it. 2004. Three years done and still four years to go to get to that goal. I became desperate but I never gave up. I had some interviews but never got any jobs before my visa expired. I asked Colin if he can extend my visa and he faithfully obliged. I got one more month to find a job in Hong Kong. However, I barely had any invitation for interview. Time is running out and the woman cleaning at Jun's flat where I lived asked when should I leave Hong Kong. I couldn't answer because I never wanted to, and I never had any inclination to pack my things even if I only had two weeks left in my visa extension.

Now it's only one week left. I asked Mr Ramos of Philippine International School to see if he is willing to apply for my visa. I can teach the kids in his school even if he told me my job pays much less than what I used to have. We filed an application at the Immigration shortly. I can breathe easily even if the ordeal is not over because even if my visa expires, I have a pending application. Then the call came from Pacific Connections. I got the job I was interviewed three months ago. I was overjoyed and felt I am able to continue staying here until Year 7.

There were some challenges from that time until now, but the important thing is that the goal has been achieved. Others may have more dramatic story than mine but I probably couldn't handle them because I almost gave up on mine. As Jong would have put it, I was always involved in a cliffhanger. Yes indeed, as I was about to fall, someone picks me up and tells me to move on.

My heartfelt thanks to Jonathan Inocencio, Roy Bas, Babari Gozum, Elmer Anonuevo, Colin Bates, Marcus Crowley, Waseem Khan, Cyrus Ma, Joel Tanangonan, Mars Pasia, Angel Ramos, Sofio Angulo Jr, Aida Avellanosa, Fionne Lam, Jocelyn So and to those names I forgot to place here. And to the Lord for this chance.

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