Sama-Badjao Halaw from South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines from 2000-2018: Narratives

Abstract

Issues on Filipino migration are widespread across the world. But the most prevailing and crucial one is the migration among the Sama-Badjao people in South Ubian in the province of Tawi-Tawi or widely known as halaw issue. Sama-Badjao people illegally migrate to Sabah, Malaysia because of poverty and desire to give their children a better future. This study specifically seeks to answer the following queries: who are Sama-Badjao halaw? What are the factors that push them to migrate to Sabah? What are their experiences as halaw in Sabah, Malaysia? What are the effects of halaw to the socioeconomic condition of Sama-Badjao society in South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi? This study is qualitative, narrative and descriptive in design. Data were gathered through personal interviews using the researcher’s designed guide questionnaire and phone interviews. The travel documents and removal order from the Malaysian and Philippine governments of the identified key informants were presented to validate the halaw key informants’ personal information. The data show that Sama-Badjao halaw from the municipality of South Ubian easily entered Sabah without detection from both government authorities. However, while Sama-Badjao halaw work in Sabah, sacrificing for the sake of their families’ economic survival in the Philippines, many of them were apprehended and imprisoned by the Malaysian authorities. After spending months in Malaysian prison, they were deported to the Philippines. Anxiety and harsh punishments were among the indelible experiences of Sama-Badjao halaw under the Malaysian prison.