From Struggle to Stability: Marisa’s Journey from Migrant Worker to Local Entrepreneur

“Kahit sobrang hirap ng kabuhayan sa pag-gawa ng tinapa dahil matumal ang benta ‘pag may habagat at walang isda, kakayanin ko pa rin ang trabaho. Kaya malaking oportunidad ang pagdating ng tulong mula sa IOM at nagkaroon ako ng dagdag-kita sa pang araw-araw.” (Despite how hard life is because of low earnings during the rainy season when fish are scarce, I continue to work hard at making smoked fish for a living. That is why receiving livelihood assistance from IOM was a great opportunity which has provided us with additional income for our daily needs.) 

Marisa* lives near the coast of Albay and sells homemade tinapa (smoked fish) and dried fish to provide for her family. Despite the challenges of single parenting, she persevered in raising her son with her parents’ support and her minimal income.  

Hoping to build a better future for her child, Marisa took the chance to work abroad in 2014 when she saw a job opening for a domestic worker in Singapore. Her father even sold their livestock to help her afford the documents, as her recruitment agency suggested she could work on a tourist visa. 

However, her first few months working in a foreign country were not as easy as she had hoped. Marisa received her first salary only after four months because the recruitment agency made her cover the expenses they incurred to send her abroad. She lost contact with her local recruitment agent shortly after. 

Motivated by the desire to provide for her child back home, Marisa worked hard regardless. Fortunately, her employers trusted her, and let her work for more than two years. 

When her contract ended in Singapore, she moved to Malaysia to keep working abroad. Without proper employment documents, working in Malaysia became difficult for Marisa. She had to discreetly work as a domestic worker while training to become a caregiver. 

She worked tirelessly until she finally had to return home, being pregnant with her second child. Marisa used up all her savings from working overseas just to afford a flight back to the Philippines. 

Back home on the coast of Albay, she strived to resettle and start a new chapter with her children. She loaned money to reinvest in a small business selling smoked fish and participated in IOM's livelihood training on gourmet tinapa, conducted to create sustainable livelihoods for communities that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

“Malaking ambag ang tulong ng IOM. Tinutulungan talaga nila kami para umunlad ang kabuhayan namin. Dahil nakarating na ng ibang bansa yung mga produkto namin, sana patuloy pang mag-improve and business namin.” (IOM’s assistance was a huge contribution for us. They really helped us grow our business. Since our products have reached other countries, we hope our community’s business continues to improve.) 

Through IOM’s Climate Resilience Against Trafficking and Exploitation project, individuals like Marisa now have an alternative livelihood, giving them the option to stay in and contribute to their local community. 

*Name has been changed to protect their privacy.