原文撰寫／黃琦妮（菲律賓新住民、「菲臺之音」創辦人）
中文翻譯／掐掐
Article: Gen Huang (“Hello PhilTai” founder, Filipino immigrant in Taiwan)
Chinese translation: Charo

One night I had a serious chat with a Taiwanese friend about illegal aliens and I was surprised with his response. After I digested all our conversations, I happen to understand why he said, “We cannot do anything about illegal aliens”. Truly, the complexity of this issue is too difficult to control and besides it isn’t easy to catch people that keep themselves hidden.
有一晚，我和一位台灣朋友嚴肅地談起逃逸移工議題，他的回應讓我十分驚訝。但，反覆咀嚼我們這次對話的細節後，我開始可以理解為什麼他會說「我們對於這些人根本束手無策」。這議題複雜到難以全盤掌控，而且，要追捕四處躲藏的逃逸移工，本非易事。

However, I am not losing my faith to our fellow Filipinos who are now stateless. I believe if this post would reach them, they might as well surrender and regain a life with freedom.
不過，對於這些現正逃逸在外、沒有居留權的菲律賓同胞，我仍未喪失信念。我相信他們若看到這篇文章，可能會願意自首，並重新獲得自由的人生。

I prefer to call them “stateless” rather than illegal aliens because I have a strong feeling that most of them ran away because of abuse or life threatening situation and didn’t know who to call or where to go so they involuntarily become illegal aliens. I also believe those who are trapped in this cageless prison, without right to own citizenship and probably die nameless, they suffer the horror of statelessness right at this very moment.
我傾向將他們的情況形容為「無居留權」（註一），而非貼上非法的標籤。我堅信，絕大多數的逃逸移工，是出於虐待或當下情況已危及人身安全，無處且無人可求援，別無選擇之下才逃離工作場所，被迫落入非法居留的境地。我也相信，沒有公民權的他們，在這個當下可能無名無姓地孤獨死去。無居留權的恐怖，恍若沒有欄杆的牢籠，無時無刻困住他們。

Before I enumerate the heartbreaking scenario of these kababayans, allow me to inform all the readers about the sad disadvantages these so called “TNTs” have brought upon the legal overseas foreign workers or the migrants as a whole. The details we listed down are from our brothers and sisters who have or had some direct and indirect encounters with them. We would like to stress out that not all illegal aliens are doing this but unfortunately these negative reputation has flourished with the increase of TNTs.
在我進一步詳述被迫四散台灣的菲律賓同胞（註二）種種令人痛心的遭遇前，我想先說明的是，這些被稱為「TNT」（註三）的逃逸移工造成的負面影響，合法居留的外籍移工與新住民也會概括承擔。

1. Prostitution
一、賣淫

Nena, not her real name, came here in Taiwan as a domestic helper went out to throw garbage one night. Out of the blue, a car stopped by and a foreigner asked her, “Hey Maria (their nickname for Filipina DH here) how much for your a&@?” Nena was terrified and ran fast back to her boss’ home. Later, she learned that some Filipinas are selling their bodies to any locals or foreigners who is interested.
奈娜（化名）以家務移工的名義在台謀職，有天晚上出外倒垃圾。突然間，一台車忽地停在她身側，一個外國人探頭問：「嘿，瑪麗亞（台灣對菲律賓家務移工的暱稱），妳一晚開價多少？」嚇壞的奈娜立刻狂奔回雇主家，這才知道有些菲律賓女孩會與台灣當地人或是外國人進行性交易。

When I heard Nena’s testimony, I was tongue tied. My image of a kind, meek and loving Filipina has become fragile. I tried to verify information and the more I ask, the worse I hear from random people regardless of nationality.
當我聽到奈娜的遭遇，簡直如鯁在喉。菲律賓女孩溫順、親切、可愛的形象瞬間不堪一擊。為了核實，我四處向不同國籍的人求證，問得愈多，我拼湊起來的現況就愈糟糕。

Most of the commercial sex workers according to them are illegal aliens and they offer different kinds of deals. Some for real hotel happy hour while others ask as low as 500NTD for a bossom touch. The clients are mostly male elders and foreigners. Yes, sad but true. A cliche and a bitter truth.
相當多性工作者是逃逸移工，且提供各式各樣的交易，大部分嫖客是男性長者及外國人。有些在旅館提供「全套」服務，而有些提供觸摸胸乳的服務，索價新台幣五百元。這種情形有如家常便飯，悲苦卻也真實。

This trade is another hard issue to end but if these illegal aliens indulging in this kind of work would surrender, I am sure our government now will give them a second chance to live a better life with their respective families. So, it isn’t too late. Surrender.
性交易問題難以根絕，但如果沉溺於性交易的逃逸移工願意回頭，我相信菲律賓政府會給予第二次機會，讓她們與家庭過上更好的生活。所以，現在還不會太晚，自首吧。

2. Financial Burden
二、經濟重擔

We call it financial burden because let’s face it, not all of us here is living like a millionaire. We have enough but our savings are really for emergencies. With the OFWs, they are working hard to earn and send money to their own families. In short, legal Filipino settlers here are working hard to live.
不是所有人都是百萬富翁，我們存錢大抵是為了以備不時之需，尤其菲律賓海外移工（註四）的經濟情況又更加拮据，他們奮力謀生，只為寄錢回家。

However, as tell taled by most people I asked, illegal aliens are mostly earning more than the average wage here. Why? Because they have unlimited time and they also enjoy higher rates. Isn’t this unfair for the legal ones? Imagine this, an OFW here earns an average of 21 thousand while a free TNT can get 30K a month the least. If a fellow pinoy needs easy money, this gap is truly tempting.
不過，很多人告訴我，逃逸移工賺得比台灣平均薪資還高。為什麼？因為他們的工時不僅沒有受限，時薪也高。這不是對合法移工很不公平嗎？想像一下，合法菲律賓移工平均一個月賺約21K，但逃逸移工一個月薪資至少30K起跳。對任何想賺快錢的菲律賓同胞來說，這樣的薪資落差可是相當誘人。

BUT, legal OFWs seldom or even rarely burden us with their health issues because they have insurance. Most of the time, these illegal aliens who earn more give us financial burden and a stranger who helped a TNT now would suddenly pay 20 thousand medical bill.
此外，合法的移工幾乎不會對社會帶來任何醫療問題，因為他們都有繳健保費、看病有健保給付；但大多數時候，賺得比我們還多的逃逸移工，卻因為沒有健保，造成沉重的醫療財務重擔 ── 譬如說，如果一位陌生人好心對受傷生病的逃逸移工伸出援手，但他卻可能要扛下動輒兩萬台幣的醫療費帳單。

This is like a cycle here. A ranaway OFW, then they have keepers, earn bigger, get sick then ask donations. I know this is because we all have a big heart but please do not misinterpret this cited situation. What I am trying to imply here is, we can all help, but we can prevent this. As told by sources, there are so many happy and blessed illegal aliens too. Yet, why can’t they save for their medical needs? If you guys ask me personally, if there are two sick pinoys, one legal and the other is illegal, both need financial assistance, I would pick the legal worker for no reason at all just a matter of priority.
這是一種惡性循環，逃逸菲勞賺得多又有地下仲介幫忙，但受傷生病了卻往往要求捐款援助。我知道大家心存善念，但請不要誤解我的本意 ── 人人都希望幫助弱勢，但這種情況其實可以避免。有些人告訴我，很多逃逸移工過得非常愉悅幸福，既然如此，為什麼他們不能先存下自己的醫藥費？就我個人而言，若碰上了兩個需要金錢援助的患病菲律賓移工，一個合法、一個非法，毫無猶疑，我會優先幫助合法移工。

3. Theft
三、偷竊

Liza is a working mother and has twins, (not her real name), she needs a nanny and the only option is an illegal alien for the government’s policy here is so strict on getting a domestic helper.
生了一對雙胞胎的職業婦女麗莎（化名），急需保母協助，但因台灣政府對於家務移工的申請資格非常嚴格，請不到合法移工，她只能選擇逃逸移工。

She said that they contacted the said TNT thru Line App and from that time on she has known how these illegal aliens communicate to each other. They are active on Line and Facebook. Some of them only know each other by usernames or FB profiles but don’t really know each other or haven’t met in person.
她說，有類似需求的雇主都會透過LINE聯絡逃逸移工，LINE、Facebook等社群軟體同時也是逃逸移工聯絡彼此的溝通管道，他們在這些網站與App上相當活躍，有些人甚至只知道對方的Facebook用戶名，完全不認識彼此也未曾見面。

At the beginning, her hired nanny seemed ok but after a short period of time, the nanny ran away and brought with her the cellphone. Well, this might be a small value for us all yet what we are facing here is the issue of security and trust. I have heard from some people too that some TNT thieves bagged jewelries worth thousands and other valuables. No wonder why Filipinos here are condemned by some locals. They know more devastating cases relevant to hired illegal aliens.
剛開始，保母表現尚可，但沒多久，她竟然偷了麗莎的手機逃走。這也許是很小的財物損失，但卻代表安全與信任的大問題。我曾經聽過有些雇主甚至被非法移工偷走價值不斐的珠寶或其他財物。這也難怪有些台灣人會因此厭惡菲律賓人，他們知道菲律賓非法移工和某些重大偷竊案脫不了關係。

I believe being away from home is like a torture so living like a fugitive in a foriegn land is like hell. Being stateless doesn’t only deprive you of your freedom, it also strips away humanity and soul because it’s like breathing fire because anytime you might get burned. You feel unsafe and paranoid the whole time. Paranoia is such a serious psychological state. The patient needs his or her family the most.
我了解遠離家鄉很是折磨，而在異鄉逃亡，更如同地獄。缺少居留權不僅奪去了自由，更是種煎熬，奪走人的尊嚴與靈魂。大部分的時候，你會因此感到不安、偏執且多疑，嚴重者可能變成心理病症，此時最需要的是家人的陪伴。

Also remember this, anyone who gives information on your location will get a reward so anyone in your list may turn their heads around and report including your favorite taxi driver! No one will know who not even you because informants are protected with their privacy rights.
另外也記得，任何舉報你所在地的人都將因此得到獎勵，周遭的人都有可能檢舉你，就連你最喜歡的計程車司機也不例外！且因法規保護，沒有人知道線民的身分。

I have heard and seen from news that the policemen are doing random checks on reported illegal alien dormitories. Do not wait for you to be captured. There is a brighter life ahead of us in the Philippines. Just be diligent in going through financial assistance applications and for sure you’ll get help. The most important part is being with your family. Life is short, indeed. So how would you like to spend it?
新聞上不時報導台灣警察臨檢被檢舉的逃逸移工宿舍，請不要等到被捕上銬的那一刻才後悔，及早自首回菲律賓，還有大好人生等著你們。好好地處理相關援助管道申請吧，確保會有人幫忙。人生苦短，你想怎麼度過一生？能與家人在一起，絕對是最重要的。

【翻譯備註】

註一：原文為英文「stateless」，意為無國籍，為符合上下文意，在此將之譯為「無居留權」。
註二：原文為菲律賓文「Kababayan」，意即菲律賓同胞。
註三：TNT，原為菲律賓文「Tago Ng Tago」的簡稱，意即躲躲藏藏的逃逸移工。
註四：原文為OFW，意即海外菲律賓勞工（Overseas Filipino Workers）。