By Sharyl Jovellana, SAY News December 9, 2022
A newly immigrated Filipino family living in Scarborough is having a hard time paying their bills because of inflation and a lack of high-paying jobs.
When Lou Igsoc and her husband arrived in Canada, the first thing they did was to look for a job because they only have enough money to last a month. Since housing and the cost of living are expensive, they decided to live in a basement and buy the cheapest groceries they could find.
They had a difficult time finding work, especially since it was winter when they arrived. Fortunately, they were referred by a friend who works at No Frills. They were able to start working less than a month after arriving.
“Our finances were so tight and limited. We need to budget everything and compromise our lifestyle,” Lou said. “For example, whenever we cook one dish, we make sure to cook enough for lunch and dinner.”
To make extra money, the couple also works so hard. Lou works 20 hours per week so she’ll earn at least $300 CAD while also juggling her time for school work. Her husband, Joseph, has three jobs. He’s a part-timer at Chipotle and an uber driver during weekends and in his free time.
After a few months in Canada, Lou became pregnant and gave birth shortly after finishing her program. Lou’s family is living in a house with three other families. They need to adjust and get along with them especially now that they have a baby. It also became more difficult financially for her family because she said that having a baby is expensive.
LEAVING THE COMFORT ZONE
Before Lou and her husband decided to migrate to Canada, they already have a stable jobs back in the Philippines. Lou was a registered nurse while her husband, Joseph Reyes, is a business graduate and working in the corporate world. When asked why they decided to move here, Lou said she studied abroad because she saw it as “a perfect opportunity to take a career break”. She felt scared at first but living abroad is what she dreamt to do ever since she was a kid.
Many people from all over the world, particularly those from third-world countries, wish to move to North America. They believed that by migrating here, they would be able to provide a better life for their families. However, once they arrive, they face numerous challenges, particularly in adjusting to life in a new country.
First, the weather. Winter is no joke for people who came from a tropical country. They get a lot of physical struggles, such as allergies, colds, dry skin, and so on. Then there's their way of life, culture, and beliefs. Some people already have a comfortable lifestyle in their home country but choose to emigrate here in the hope of a better life.
Most of them are experiencing culture shock, which causes homesickness and depression. Finally, having a good education and work background does not guarantee them a job in the same field after they arrive. Even though they have all the qualifications, many immigrants start their careers through blue-collar jobs. They still have a long way to go. Even if they are already qualified, some continue to pursue Canadian education to be considered for their desired job.
FUTURE PLANS
Lou's struggle now that she has graduated is to find a high-paying job in her field. She plans to apply to a hospital to practice her profession and gain Canadian experience. Her husband is also doing well in his job at No Frills and the management is considering promoting him to manager.
“We're actually discussing who will look for our baby, so we decided one of us will work at night and the other in the morning,” Lou said. “We also intend to apply for PR the following year. It will be much easier for us to move around and plan our future if we get approved.”
“The common misconception of new immigrants coming to Canada is they are expecting everything to be easy.” – Michael Corrales
Immigration consultant Michael Corrales from Sun-cor Unlimited, a Filipino agency, said that most people expect they will land the same job they had back in their country. While it is possible, a thorough process is required.
He also mentioned that for an international student with a spouse or common-law partner, earning enough money to support their family's living expenses becomes more realistic. “It's not uncommon for you to hear families working a different job in the morning and then a second set of full-time job at night. It becomes more difficult if there are more dependents or children involved.”
Filipinos have been migrating to Canada since the 1960s, with the majority working as healthcare professionals. They also have one of the largest communities in Toronto. Since the Canadian government opened different immigration pathways, including international students, the number of Filipinos in Canada has more than doubled.
THE "CANADIAN DREAM"
Filipinos are taking advantage of this opportunity because it is the fastest and easiest method of getting to Canada. Even though this path is more expensive, Filipinos are still choosing it because they can bring their families with them while studying, unlike early Filipino immigrants who had to wait for their residency before they could bring their families. Either the husband or wife may study while the other is granted an open working permit. If they have children, education is provided for free. However, after the pandemic, immigration to Canada became difficult for new immigrant families due to inflation and a scarcity of high-paying jobs. The family member with an open work permit must work harder to make ends meet.
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