Sunday, March 8, 2009
at
11:37 AM
|
 My friend commented on my Facebook and it goes: "Confucius says: Your great American dream lies in your own hand..." Well, it's true that as a well-able young man, I can do everything in my power to make things happen. But recent developments and news from people I know leave even Confucius asking, is the American dream lies ONLY in ones hands?
There is devastating situation with the USCIS Service Centers. Based on reliable sources the Service Centers are now denying all H-1B petitions filed on behalf of Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists, despite of the fact that the PTs and OTs have the requisite license. USCIS is taking the position that a Masters degree is the requirement for entry into the position and these Beneficiary does not possess a Masters degree.
I do not personally understand and am still trying to think of the reasons about the USCIS' actions and decision. Application for a foreign-graduate and trained PT or OT to work in the United States costs a significant amount of money and energy. And with the chosen state of the applicant, that particular state determines (through FCCPT) who is eligible for licensure to practice the profession in that particular state. Bakit may biglang mga ganun?
My dream (and others dreams) is (are) starting to look more like a nightmare. It saddens me to know that every single day, my American dream seems to be far from my own reach. It depresses me to know that the fulfillment of my childhood dream is far beyond my control. And what is more frustrating is to realize that my pursuit of happiness in the country I used to believe as the land of all possibilities, seems to be uncertain.
My possible employer told me not to worrymuch because immigration lawyers and another concerned people are ready to fight. As what somebody told me, there are no legal basis for the USCIS's decision. I know that is another challenge for me and for all those who want to live the American dream. And we will soon overcome it. If that happens, the American dream will be much sweeter!
But if worse comes to worst, I should start considering working elsewhere, maybe in some parts of Europe or the land down under. After all, the world does not mean US or living the American dream alone. There are other promising places that I can choose.
---
I googled the photo.
Posted by
rehabman
Labels:
Blogging,
Immigration,
Personal,
PT
Friday, December 5, 2008
at
6:54 PM
|
Last October, I started my review classes for the US National Physical Therapy Examination as a preparation for me to take the exam by mid next year. To date, we already discussed applied anatomy and kinesiology of the upper and lower extremities including the spine, wound management, rheumatology, some notes on pediatrics, organization and administration notes on PT practice in the US and there are sooo much more to discuss. And this is another hell of an adventure full of new knowledge, fun, frustration and disappointment!
All in a while, I thought everything would be easier for me now that I am a better and more experienced young man but it turned the other way around. I'm struggling to manage my time and get some energy to read. To be honest, I haven't really started reviewing by heart and soul. I do not understand why I lost sooo much energy and drive to read the books I used to read when I was completing my degree. Sobrang tinatamad ako ngayon! Hirap na hirap akong mag-aral at muling magbasa ng 'sang katerbang Rehabilitation Medicine books, reviewers at mga lecture notes ko. With Christmas, New Year, family reunions, Baste '98 gatherings and some more celebrations coming my way, I think, it will a lot more difficult for me to focus. Hay buhay ...
I am praying sooo hard that I will soon find a new strength to my will, to such a degree, at least, that I may clearly recognize the importance of reading, understanding by heart, and applying everything that I learned and will learn for me to fulfill my great American dream.
Posted by
rehabman
Labels:
PT,
Review Center
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
at
6:55 AM
|
When asked about health care practitioners, we usually say doctors and nurses only. Little do we know that the family of health care profession is a huge one. There are medical technologists, pharmacists, midwives, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and a lot more. It is a sad and harsh reality that there are a lot of licensed, competent health care professionals suffering from maltreatment in Philippine society -- be it from the common tao, the professionals, or the government.
I am a licensed, competent and proud Physical Therapist. I was hesitant to work abroad when I was still studying my degree. My co-interns and my classmates could attest to the fact that I used to say I am not interested in working abroad. But here I am now, thousands of miles away from home working as a private PT of some royal. I am not happy here. I loved my job as a contractual Phyisical Therapist in Rizal Medical Center eleven months ago. However, I had to be practical. I had to look at some attainable long-term goals as a person and as a professional while opportunities still come my way.
Nobody informed me about the down side of our chosen profession. In case you do not know, a licensed physical therapist in the Philippines starts as a volunteer PT staff in either a government or private medical institution. The chosen few (the ones who top the licensure exams are lucky enough to get an offer for some permanent post if some decided to pursue the career abroad). Majority of us end up giving up our profession or working as a volunteer PT staff. I myself was a volunteer PT staff for more than a year. Though we (my fellow volunteers) received a certain amount of compensation every three months. (Thanks to the consideration of the administration of Valenzuela General Hospital and PhilHealth benefits).
So how did I survive more than a year as a volunteer PT staff? Well, I was lucky to have very supportive parents. I could never ask for more. I also did some part-time jobs. I applied as a caregiver instructor but later gave it up due to some issues. (That's another story). I taught English for some Koreans and I did some home service for a few patients. Most of my classmates that time were either working as Medical Transcriptionists and Call Center agents. I refused to give up my profession. What could I do? I love PT more that you know. I patiently waited for some vacancy to come and nearly after 20 months and two government hospitals, I finally got a post as a contractual PT with the help of our Physiatrist in Rizal Medical Center.
I do not know whether the Philippine Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) has some records on how many licensed PTs are there back home. What I only know is that, every Disability Week in the Philippines, PPTA conducts some seminar for "some continuous learning process and to update the local practitioners on what is good for our profession". They charge hundreds of pesos for a one-day seminar and that's it. I am not a member of PPTA because I refuse to be a part of some association that could not even stand up for what we deserve.
I know we have the worst political system and it will be an uphill climb for the PPTA to lobby for any changes in the existing policies. But this problem did not arise yesterday. This is an old issue which was left and ignored by the previous officials of said organization. I have nothing against the past officials who are currently working in the US or UK right now. Maybe they tried to solve the problem but they did not pursue it the way it should be pursued. They recognized the problem but they gave up when they found out that the battle will be very tough. What they cared about was to conduct some seminars and ignored the dilemma and the abuses of the profession. I mean, how can they conduct this seminar and pay no attention to the basic problem of the profession. We are not even recognized the way we should be! Most of the Filipinos know that a Physical Therapist in the Philippines is synonymous to a massuer or masseuse.
I know that our profession plays a vital role in health care industry. I am not asking for us to be treated the same way our society or the government treat the Medical Doctors. A licensed PT deserves to be compensated. We ought to have the benefits of the other professionals. After all, we worked hard (the years of studies and the licensure exams) to obtain our degrees and licenses.
I pray that I will still have the chance to experience and witness the changes on the way the Philippine society treat the licensed Physical Therapists. I am very much willing to go back home if it happens now. But with a lot of crisis there, I know it will never happen. I have to wait some more years.
For now, I have to deal with it. I have to stay here or look for a job elsewhere to pursue my personal plans for myself and my family. Anyway, things will never change. I am still a proud Pinoy Physical Therapist.
|
MARVEL and SPIDER-MAN: TM & 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. Motion Picture © 2007 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2007 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All rights reserved. blogger template by blog forum |
