Amazing Earth: Three Filipina OFWs who lived in the world's northernmost human settlement

0:00

Considered the northernmost human settlement on our planet, Svalbard is a group of islands between Norway and North Korea.

Ay tinuturing ng northernmost human settlement sa ating planeta, ang Svalbard ay isang grupo ng mga isla sa pagitan ng Norway at North Korea.

0:09

The population is less than 3,000 people and believe it or not, some of them are our fellow countrymen.

Ang population, wala pang 3,000 na tao and believe it or not, kapilang sa kanila ang ilanating kababayan.

0:16

See, even at the end of the world, there are OFWs. We interviewed them.

Siyan nyo, hanggang sa dulo ng mundo may OFW. Kinulanan natin sila.

0:26

In countries with snow, this is what they fear. They fear snow slides or avalanches.

Sa mga bansa na may snow, ito ang kinatatakutan. Matatakutan ang snow slide o avalanche.

0:31

The flooding of Ladang's tone with ice from the mountains.

Ang pagragasa ng toneto ni Ladang na ipong yelo mula sa kabinukan.

0:38

Three of our countrymen who worked in Svalbard, a Norwegian territory near the North Pole, experienced this.

Naranasan niya ng tatlo nating kababayan na nagtagrabaho sa Svalbard, isang Norwegian territory na lapit sa North Pole.

0:46

Hello, amazing earth! We are Arctic Philippines. I am Angie. I am Chena. And I am Kaina.

Hello, amazing earth! Kami po ang Arctic Pilipinas. Ako po si Angie. Ako naman si Chena. At ako naman si Kaina.

0:52

Hello, I am Kaina, and I come from the town of Polomolok, South Cotabato, 30 minutes away from Jansan.

Hello po, ako po si Kaina. at nagmula po ako sa town ng Polomolok, South Cotabato, 30 minutes away from Jansan.

1:00

I went to Svalbard last April 2018, it will be 5 years this April. I am a receptionist.

At napunta po ako sa Svalbard last April 2018, sa magpa-5 years na ngayong April. Ako po ay isang receptionist.

1:06

My job here is as hotel staff. I work as the front office manager of a small hotel.

Ang trabaho ko po dito ay isang hotel staff. Nagkatrabaho ko bilang front office manager ng isang maliit na hotel.

1:16

According to the World Factbook, more than 120 Filipinos were residents of Svalbard as of 2019.

Ayon sa World Factbook, mahigit 120 Filipinos ang residente ng Svalbard as of 2019.

1:23

Svalbard is one of the most unique places I have visited. It is truly just a vast and snowy place.

Ang Svalbard ay isa siya sa pinaka-unique na lugar na napuntahan ko. Talagang vast and snowy place lang siya.

1:30

For breakfast, we can cook eggs, and usually just bread or oats.

Sa breakfast, nakakaluto kami ng eggs, tsaka usually bread lang or oats.

1:36

Then for dinner, usually potatoes and meat.

Tapos sa dinner naman, usually potatoes, tsaka meat.

1:41

In 2021, during the height of the pandemic, they lost their jobs.

Noong 2021, sa kasagsagan ng pandemia, nawalan sila ng trabaho.

1:46

Not because of COVID-19, but because of the ice.

Hindi dahil sa COVID-19, kundi dahil sa yelo.

1:51

There wasn't really a major avalanche that happened that year. We were evacuated just due to avalanche risk.

Wala naman talagang major avalanche na nangyari noong year na yun. Risk for avalanche lang kaya kami pina-evacuate.

1:59

When we were evacuated, Angie said, as she mentioned, we stayed in their apartment.

When we were evacuated, sabi ni Angie, like na-mention niya, tumira kami sa kanilang apartment.

2:06

Because the responsibility of looking for a place to stay was on us. The government did not cover us.

Kasi ang responsibility of looking for a place to stay is kami ang bahala. Hindi kami sagot ng government.

2:14

It was so hard. We had no jobs or I had no job, it was super difficult because I still needed to send money to the Philippines.

It was so hard. Wala kaming trabaho or wala kong trabaho, super hirap kasi kailangan ko pa rin magpadala ng Pilipinas.

2:21

Financially, it was challenging. Also mentally as well.

2:25

We didn't have any idea when we could go back to the hotel and work again.

2:31

When there's a birthday, it's like almost all Filipinos are invited.

Kapag may birthday, it's like almost invited lahat ng mga Pinoy.

2:36

That's the way for us to see each other.

Yun yung way para makita namin yung isa't isa.

2:41

There's karaoke, drinking, and a lot of Filipino foods.

may karaoke, may inuman, may maraming Filipino foods.

2:47

We also have special gatherings usually during Christmas time.

Meron din kami special gatherings usually during Christmas time.

2:51

And last year, I think, we celebrated or we gathered for the Independence Day.

2:59

Not only icebergs can be seen in the salt bar islands.

Hindi lang bundok ng yelo ang makikita sa mga isla ng salt bar.

3:04

Included are the stunning dancing waves of light of the Aurora Borealis.

Kabilang na dyan ang nakamamanghang dancing waves of light ng Aurora Borealis.

3:11

We will get to know Svalbard better with the help of Arctic Philippines in the upcoming discussions. That's what you should look forward to.

Mas makikilala pa natin ang Svalbard sa tulong ng Arctic Pilipinas sa mga susunod na sabi. Iyan ang dapat niyong abangan.

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