Everybody wants to leave the country. I have nothing but "bests of luck" and "farewells" to them, especially the doctors (who become nurses) and nurses. Makes me feel better about the quality of work those sticking needles in my arm can produce.

I digress. A friend of mine, an ad executive gainfully employed in a top agency once quipped: "Mag babarista na lang ako sa Montreal." Sure, he's kidding. After all, he's got 15 years experience, plus his degree.

But it seems that that is exactly what happens: there's a "non-recognition of their foreign-earned credentials" that lead to "institutionalized de-skilling, de-professionalization and institutional obstacles," according to one group in Ontario, who is telling the Ontario Legislature all this in a hearing.

“As a group,” the group said, “Filipinos are highly educated. In 2001 almost 57 percent of Filipino immigrants in Toronto had some university-level education. This compared with 33 per cent for all immigrant groups, and just under 35 per cent for residents. Moreover, most Filipinos arrive with a strong command of English and a familiarity with North American institutions. Despite these high levels of human capital, the average wage levels for Filipino men and women are substantially below a variety of comparison groups. Statistical analyses have shown that Filipinos have among the highest levels of occupational segmentation of any immigrant groups (Hiebert, 1999; Kelly, 2005).

The main cause identified in the survey and focus groups was the systemic non-recognition of Philippine-earned education and experience.  As a result of this systemic barrier, Filipinos are forced to take on survival jobs to support themselves and their families and to meet financial obligations such as debts incurred due to the high cost of immigration. Survival jobs provide no surplus to finance tuition or professional upgrading.