I was in my third year of high school when my father passed away. When he died no one else in the family was working. After his death we faced a lot of challenges. That’s when I started looking for a job.
The agent was a guy and he made me sing in a karaoke bar. He made me audition to see if I could sing and really had any talent.
They asked us to sign a document in Korean which they said was our contract. I asked, “Why are we signing documents in Korean that we don’t understand?”
They said, “Where is it you’re going? Korea, right?”
We were intimidated and scared to ask more questions in case it upset them. Next they had us sign a blank piece of paper. They said, “Just sign it because otherwise you won’t be able to leave.”
I believed them because I was thinking of my family. To take them out of poverty and to fulfill our dreams.
The owner of the agency said we would only get paid after 7 months. I asked, “Why? My family is counting on me. How can I support them?”
We were then given another list of debts – according to them PHP30, 000 plus. I asked what it was for, they explained it was to cover the airfare, video recordings and lodging, which we thought was free of charge. That’s what they promised.
When I arrived in Korea, in the afternoon we were asked to dress up and then taken to a bar. That’s when it started. We were lined up while drunk Koreans chose girls. We were told to raise our skirts and take our panties off.
They would touch us inappropriately and kiss us. They would ask you to sing. If they enjoyed it, they’d hit you so hard you’d fall to the floor.
I’d be crying while they stripped off my clothes. I’d be crouching in front of them, exposing my entire body. One time I even saw one of my friends being choked. It hurts so much when we remember the things that were done to us. It’s very painful.
We couldn’t stay there any longer. We had to find a way to call our families. We agreed to save money so we could buy a cellphone and call our families.
It hurts, especially when I returned to the Philippines, of course people gossiped a lot about me, and it made me feel like a huge failure. They said I’m too ambitious and that’s why this happened to me.
The experience in Korea taught me, to think carefully, ask questions and not be too trusting.
As told to documentary makers at MTV Exit.
