THIS letter is intended for all alien workers, especially Gerardo Butalid, who are opposing for the wage increase. I strongly believe that those alien workers who are against this are those who do not have anything to offer or simply cannot compete in employment due to lack of knowledge or skill.
I am a Filipina contract worker and receiving a salary more than the proposed minimum wage. My husband is a Filipino contract worker who did not even finish college, but is highly skilled, has love and passion for his job and concern for his company and co-workers and receiving a salary more than I do. But I sympathize with many contract workers who are skilled or professionals that are not well compensated.
I am not even a Dekada member or a member of any association here on Saipan. But I believe that the rally held last Friday is not about Dekada. It’s about the qualified alien workers to get back what they have worked hard for. If there are people who will benefit from this, it is not I and my husband as well, but those who are receiving the minimum wage.
I believe that those who oppose are only a few, because they are part of the few contract workers who stayed here in Saipan for a long time that don’t have the ambition, goal and especially hunger for learning, knowledge, challenge and competition. They are those who are satisfied with just receiving their salary, but without real concern for their company, and do not have contributed or accomplished anything good have a daily basis. Those are the workers that simply want to work to get paid but do not care if they satisfactorily perform the duties and responsibilities or accomplished something good for the company for the day. But if you are a hardworking person and know that you have the ability and knowledge, you will not be satisfied with what you are receiving. If you only have little knowledge and is a stagnant person, you deserve a salary lower than $3.05 per hour.
“Para kayong bato sa ilog na nilulumot! Ni di pwedeng gamitin kahit panghilod!” Do not compare the situation of Saudi Arabia here. FYI, in Saudi you can not even practice freedom of religion. Here in U.S. soil people have the freedom of speech, assembly, religion and petition. If you do not agree ask some first grade students, they know this very well. Also the issue of proposed wage increase does not come from a group of alien workers, this issue came from U.S. representatives and most aliens are supporting this. AND who among U.S. citizens or locals are earning $3.05 per hour and do not like an increase in salary? Hello?
As far as I know, and please do the investigation before you yak, yak, yak, that the president of Dekada is employed in one of the prestigious security agencies here in Saipan and he is assigned at Saipan World Resort. I should know, because I am a member of Spaness. Check it yourself before you yak, yak and yak! With regard to your comment about his chubbiness, there are many others who are chubbier than him? Are they president of an organization, too? Do not be “pintasero baka di mo maabot kahit kalahati ng gwapo ng asawa ko!”
You are afraid due to minimum wage increase, your company will close or down size and might not retain you as one of their employees — if you are a man of skill, knowledge and ability and you can contribute well to the company — do not be afraid! But if you do not have these qualities mentioned above — aba MATAKOT ka nga at MAGBALOT BALOT ka na!

MARIA HERNANDEZ
Gualo Rai, Saipan

P.S. You should have lived during the Japanese war against the Philippines: “ISA KANG MAKAPILI!”