Getting Bumped and Using Bad English in the Philippines

A great source of pride in the Philippines is that Filipinos are proficient in English. They are so proficient that not only do foreigners travel to the Philippines to learn English but American companies are hiring Filipinos to tend virtual fast food kiosks in New York City.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/567764/filipino-virtual-cashiers-taking-orders-at-new-york-restaurants

Your next order of fried chicken at a New York City restaurant may come with a “hello” from the Philippines.

Virtual assistants based in the Philippines have become a sought-after option for companies who want to do more with less.

 Some restaurants in New York City are now exploring this option to keep up with the rising costs of labor, rent and other overhead expenses.

As minimum wages soar – $16 in New York City and now $20 for fast food workers in California – restaurant owners are feeling the pinch.

Beamed on flat-screen monitors at self-service kiosks, virtual hosts from the Philippines are now taking orders at restaurants, including Yaso Kitchen, Sansan Chicken in Long Island and East Village. They welcome customers with flashing smiles — a hospitality trait Filipinos are renowned for.

The company pays Filipino virtual assistants $3 per hour — way less compared to US wages but considered a competitive rate in the Philippines.

Aiming to incorporate fair wages into fiscal accountability, Chi Zhang told Fortune, “We pay 150% more than the average cashier job in the Philippines.”

Like all virtual assistants from the Philippines, recognized as one of the largest English-speaking nations, Amber and other Filipinos working for Happy Cashiers speak perfect English.

Every thing about this article is quite awful. Not only are Filipinos taking jobs from Americans because of inflated minimum wage laws but the owner of the company is proud that he pays Filipinos a measly $3 per hour which is "150% more than the average cashier job in the Philippines." $3 is P175 which is practically nothing. 

The article also notes the Philippine is "one of the largest English-speaking nations" and Filipinos "speak perfect English." While it may be true that many Filipinos have perfect inflection and diction the use of English in the Philippines can be quite odd. 

Take the word bump.

a light blow or a jolting collision

A typical use of the word bump would be, "I fell and bumped my head." It may have been startling and jolting but it's a very slight thing. Bump is typically used for collisions that are slight. The word collision is used for violent interactions like a car crash. 

In the Philippines that is not the case as the following news articles show. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1923033/pedestrian-dead-2-hurt-after-truck-bumps-them-in-cavite

A female pedestrian died and two others were injured Monday after a speeding truck hit them in Carmona City in Cavite province.

The Region 4A police reported that an Isuzu Rebuilt aluminum van driven by one “Fernando” accidentally bumped Jemerine Bombani, 29; Sheryl Cantuba, 45; and Burlet Sevilla, 48, while the three were crossing the pedestrian lane around 7:30 p.m. along Governor’s Drive.

The three pedestrians suffered grave injuries and were rushed to the hospital but Bombhani died on the way.

“Due to his uncalculated speed the truck driver did not notice the three victims” who were about to cross the pedestrian lane, the police said.

The headline says a truck bumped three pedestrians while the article notes the truck was speeding. A speeding truck does not bump anything. It collides with the object and tears right through it. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961436/2-riders-dead-after-motorcycle-bumps-parked-tractor-in-quezon

Two motorcycle riders died early Tuesday, July 16, after their vehicle bumped into a parked tractor in Candelaria town in Quezon province, police said.

The motorcycle, ridden by a still unidentified driver and backrider factory worker Emerson Alviso, 21, was traveling along the Maharlika Highway around 2:15 a.m. when their vehicle slammed into a parked tractor head on the side of the road in Barangay Masin Norte, a spot report from the Quezon police said.

Both riders suffered fatal injuries and died on the spot.

Again, another news item with the headline saying motorcycles bumped a parked tractor while the article says they "slammed into a parked tractor." Slamming is not bumping. Slamming is a lot more violent.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1940783/5-tuk-tuk-passengers-dead-4-others-hurt-in-3-vehicle-mishap-in-quezon

Five passengers of a “tuk-tuk,” a three-wheeled motorcycle, died, and four others were injured early Wednesday, May 15, in an accident involving two other vehicles at the Maharlika Highway in Lopez town in Quezon province.

The Quezon police said in a report that the tuk-tuk being driven by Julius Brin, 32, was traveling at 2:10 a.m. to Albay province when it was bumped from behind by a truck driven by Ernesto Alberto, 51, in a section of the highway in Barangay Canda Ilaya.

Upon impact, the tuk-tuk suddenly burst into flames and bumped the rear section of a passenger bus driven by Amor Pedragosa, 47, running ahead.

The bus also caught fire, but its passengers were all unharmed.

After the collision, the wayward truck fell and rested on its right part on the side of the road. The driver was not hurt.

The report said four of the tuk-tuk passengers – Cheska Jucares, 28; Riza Brin, 25; and two boys, Jasper and Jarid died on the spot from severe burns on their bodies. Jaymar Lunas expired while being treated at the hospital in the town center.

This article says a tun-tuk was "bumped from behind by a truck," burst into flames upon impact, and then bumped into a passenger bus which also caught fire. That is not a bump. A mere bump would not cause a vehicle to burst into flames. After using those inaccurate words the article then describes the accident as a collision. Why not use that word all along? 

The headline calls this collision relating in 5 deaths a mishap. What is a mishap?

an unlucky accident

Certainly it was an accident and everyone hurt and dead was unlucky but it was obviously much more than that. It was no mere mishap but a result of bad driving likely including speeding and tailgating.

There is nothing grammatically wrong with these articles. The issue is the author's use of understatement. Bump is never a word that should be used in to describe a horrific and violent traffic collision which results in death. In the Philippines words are used to cover up events. One instance being the word "salvage" to describe a murder victim. Speaking English well is not just a matter of pronunciation. It is also a matter of understanding nuance and using words correctly. 

Another Filipino Success Story!

The Philippines' national motto is "For the Love of God, People, Nature, and Country" but perhaps it should be "try, try, again." It works on a national level as politicians keep messing up the country so a new batch is elected in. More fundamentally it works at a personal level as Filipinos do not give up.

Meet the latest Filipino success, Ryan San Diego Tiazon. After 20 years and 6 tries he finally passed the Certified Public Accountant exam. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/pinoyachievers/916335/ofw-dubai-cpa-board/story/

“Walang forever” was his motto. And he held onto it until he finally passed the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC) board exam for accountants. Did not matter if it took six attempts in 20 years. 

“I just believed in myself. I am not an intelligent person, but due to perseverance and determination, I managed to pass the difficult exam. I made no excuses in doing the review. I studied six to eight hours a day, sometimes till 1 a.m., despite the difficulty and pressure at work. In the end, the results were very rewarding. And I am so proud of myself because I have finally fulfilled my dream to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA),” 43-year-old Ryan San Diego Tizon of Olongapo City told GMA News Online.

Tizon obtained his accountancy degree at Columban College – Olongapo City in 2001. 

“I was confident that completion of the course was quite enough. Then, I realized I am not an accomplished accountant if I could not pass the CPA licensure exam,” he said.

Tizon, who worked as night auditor at a hotel in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, first took PRC’s Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) in 2004 but failed. He tried again in 2005 but the result was the same. His third attempt, which was in 2006, was likewise a failure.

 

Tizon tried again for the fourth time in 2019 but likewise did not make it despite having enrolled himself at a review center. Tizon said he “felt truly prepared” for the exam that year after “working hard to understand all details” and even topping the pre-board test which, he said, was unexpected. 

“Most who have failed, gave up and not stand (again) to face another challenge. But for me, the more I failed, the more I challenged myself to pass the CPA exam. In this situation, I can say, ‘walang forever, i-embrace mo ang failure mo’ (Nothing is  forever, embrace your failure’). Use your failures as self-motivation to do more. Work hard, study hard and pray even harder. That, to me, is the secret of success,” Tizon said.

He kept pushing on, being even more prepared “to battle for the exam” in 2020. But unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, resulting in SPLE’s suspension until 2023.

During this period, Tizon, on advice of the review center, took the US Certified Management Accountant (US-CMA) exam as an alternative option on Oct. 18, 2020. He made it in one hit.

“Thank God,” he said, “I’ve obtained my first-ever title.”

But he still got his sights trained on the PRC board exam, and in 2023 was at it again. 

“I continued my self-review and was hoping that it will resume (soon). I kept going to maintain the momentum from what I have learned during my review,” said Tizon.

He, unfortunately, was disqualified in his 2023 attempt for failure to meet a PRC requirement.

Quitting is not in Tizon’s blood, apparently. And so, with grit and persistence, he made sure he has covered “anything I had missed in my previous trials,” and made yet again another bid to pass the PRC exam, which was held in three days from June 16 to 18 this year. 

It worked! 

“Prayers, hard work, and determination manifested a good result. I finally passed the CPA licensure examination. While it’s been 20 years since I started my journey, I am now a graciously dignified CPA and US-CMA,” he said.

Tizon arrived in Dubai on Aug. 2, 2010. He has been working as an accountant in the city through the years.

He said he will be looking for better opportunities, adding that finally passing the CPA board after two decades of tenacity is now slowly sinking in on him.

It is interesting that Ryan has been working as an accountant for the past 14 years in Dubai but he says he "realized I am not an accomplished accountant if I could not pass the CPA licensure exam." Yet, his firm hired him anyway. Do they think he is not accomplished or is in anyway unqualified for the job?

It is certainly commendable he passed after six tries even if it took 20 years. However, is that really an accomplishment? For him it sure is but if a client knew his CPA took that long to pass the certification test would he cheer or go find someone else? 

It is also interesting that Ryan places so much emphasis on prayer. No doubt prayer is important but are we to believe he passed on the sixth try due to divine intervention? Are we to believe anyone passes these tests because of divine intervention and not because they studied hard and are familiar with the material?

This year Ryan was one of 56 CPA test takers in Dubai. Only four of them passed.

https://www.prc.gov.ph/article/june-2024-special-professional-licensure-examination-c-p-results-released/7458

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 4 out of 56 passed in the Special Professional Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants given by the Board of Accountancy in: Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Doha, Qatar; and Manama, Bahrain last June 2024.

That is an astounding pass rate of only 7.1%. The results in the Philippines are only slightly better. 

https://www.prc.gov.ph/article/may-2024-licensure-examination-certified-public-accountants-results-released-three-3-working

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 3,155 out of 10,421 passed the Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants given by the Board of Accountancy in N. C. R., Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi,Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga and Puerto Princesa, Palawan this May 2024.

Only 30% of all CPA test takers in the Philippines passed. How many of the Dubai and Philippines test takers were repeaters? I have taken a look at teachers before and the majority of test takers for the teacher certification exam are repeaters. 

It is further announced that of the 8,737 elementary teacher passers, 2,678 are first timers and 6,059 are repeaters. For the secondary teachers, 4,652 passers are first timers and 7,422 are repeaters.

https://www.prc.gov.ph/article/january-2022-results-licensure-examination-teachers-released-thirty-30-working-days/5508

All the best to Ryan and every other test taker who finally passed the certification exam after multiple attempts. But the hard fact is it appears too many people are taking certification exams as repeaters. What does this mean for the Philippines? If so many professionals are only professionals after multiple tries, how is that a good thing? Does allowing test takers to repeat as many times as they can until they pass create a culture of incompetence? It is a subject for a more in-depth article but that is way out of my league. One would have to analyze all the certification exams given over the years as well as the quality of professionals in the workplace and the quality of work done by those professionals. That is a lot of information to which I do not have access. 

Unlicensed Crane Operator Drops Concrete Slab on Worker's Head

Many construction sites in the Philippines are unsafe and dangerous. Here is another one.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/579677/construction-worker-crushed-to-death-by-concrete-slab-in-lapu-lapu

A miscalculation by a crane operator at a construction site in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu became the cause of a tragedy when a concrete slab fell on a worker on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

The victim, a construction worker, was crushed to death by a pre-cast concrete slab that weighed 600 kilograms.

The fatal incident reportedly happened at around 1:30 p.m. at a construction site inside a subdivision in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

The deceased was identified as 39-year-old Joseph Alvaro-Salburo, married and a resident of Barangay Matab-ang in Toledo City.

Salburo was installing iron grill reinforcement at the construction site at the time of the incident when a slab of concrete suddenly fell on him and crushed his whole body.

Investigation showed that the concrete slab fell because of a mistake by the crane operator who was moving it.

Police Major Jaypee Dagami, chief of Gun-ob Police Station, narrated that witnesses said that the boom of the crane was fully extended despite the very short distance that the operator was moving the concrete slab to.

Because the operator miscalculated the equipment’s weight-load ratio, it began turning sideways and the concrete slab fell directly on the victim below.

Salburo, who was only wearing gloves as safety gear, died on the spot.

This was despite the efforts of personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-R7) Lapu Lapu City District and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) who responded to the scene.

The crane operator, identified as Oliver Navarro, 39, from Barangay Masaba in Danao City was promptly arrested.

Dagami said that it was found that Navarro did not have the proper license to operate the equipment.

He said that the company, who hired Navarro as a subcontractor, may be held liable for the damage and required to pay compensation to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, Navarro is now detained at the custodial facility of the Gun-ob Police Station pending the filing of a charge of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against him.

Dagami said that they would be waiting for the victim’s family to visit the police station and relay their decision for the formal filing of the complaint.

A man working on a construction site wearing ONLY gloves as safety gear died after a slab of concrete dropped onto his head because the crane operator miscalculated the distance he was moving the slab as well as its weight. It also turns out this man did not have a license to operate a crane. Now he is being held in jail while the cops wait for the family to file to a complaint.

This story has everything I write about on this blog. There is the wanton disregard for safety, the incompetence of not only the crane operator but the company who hired him and apparently did not bother to check if he was qualified for the job, and the injustice as the cops wait for the family to file a complaint with the possibility hinted at the man may get off by paying blood money.

It's a stunning snapshot of what makes the Philippines so backwards. 

T-Shirt Factory Destroyed in Fire

 A fire at a T-shirt factory has killed 16 people and destroyed the business. 

https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/15-dead-as-fire-blazes-residential-area-in-tandang-sora-quezon-city

A fire broke out in a residential area being used as warehouse in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City, on Thursday morning, leaving a total of 15 deaths, including a three-month-old child.

According to RH Val Gonzales, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported that the fire blazed at around 5:00 a.m. early morning, and the fatalities were found beyond recognition, and there are still three who fortunately survived.

Moreover, the casualties were still being identified by the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO) division personnel.

Based on the incident report from the BFP, the fire started at around 5:30 a.m. and was raised to its first alarm at 5:44 a.m.

It was declared under control at 6:28 a.m. and was officially fired out by 8:04 a.m.

According to BFP NCR Director FCSupt. Nahum Tarroza, there are highly combustible materials inside the establishment, including paints and other materials.

Tarroza added that they also found many working violations, which included the lack of permits as well as a small area that large machines being used in the production of clothes could not fit in.

Furthermore, Brgy. Tandang Sora said that the T-shirt factory just had its permits renewed last month.

The volume of acceptances at the factory appeared to be high as it operated despite an incomplete working permit.

Meanwhile, the BFP is conducting a thorough investigation into the fatal incident that killed 15 people.

Whoops!  It turns out this "factory" and "warehouse" is actually just a regular old house in a RESIDENTIAL AREA. It also had no proper permits though it was in the process of RENEWING its permits. Who the heck granted this business a permit to operate as a t-shirt factory in a residential area?  They need to be held accountable. 

Let's read another report of this same incident. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/31/15-dead-as-fires-hits-building-in-qc

At least 15 workers died when they were trapped in a fire that gutted a two-storey residential-commercial building housing a t-shirt factory in Pleasant View Subdvision, Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City on Thursday morning, Aug. 31.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire status was raised to first alarm at around 5:30 a.m. and was declared under control at around 6:44 a.m.

The blaze was extinguished at around 8:04 a.m.

Authorities have yet to disclose the amount of damage to property caused by the blaze as well as the number of families/individuals affected.

The BFP and Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (QCDRRMO) personnel retrieved the bodies of the victim after responders were able to put out the fire.

In an interview, BFP Regional Director Chief Supt. Nahum B. Tarozza said that following their inspection, they found out that the commercial building only has one entrance and exit door and the t-shirt printing business operating inside it has no fire safety permit. 

He said that the 15 fatalities, who were personnel of the t-shirt printing business, were staying at the rooms at the back part of the building when the incident happened. Their names have not been disclosed. 

He added that the victims allegedly attempted to escape but failed. Their bodies were found outside their rooms. 

The BFP chief said that the fire allegedly originated from the old office of the business which was located on the first floor of the building according to the witness, while some of the materials used for the t-shirt printing are flammable such as paint and plastic. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“The local government of Quezon City expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and relatives of the victims of the fire in a building in Barangay Tandang Sora this morning,” the city governement said.

It said the City Social Services Development Department (SSDD) is now coordinating with the families of the deceased victims to provide them with assistance.

“Currently, the Department of Building Official (DBO) and Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD) are checking if the business using the establishment has enough permits and documents. Among the things to be investigated is if there is a violation of the National Building Code, Fire Code of the Philippines, zoning ordinance, business permit, occupancy permit and other laws and ordinances,” the local government said.

“We would like to assure the public, especially the families of the victims, that we will give priority to a thorough investigation to hold accountable the agencies or individuals who made the mistake that caused this incident, along with the implementation of additional measures and policies to prevent it from happening again in the future,” it added.

Now we get some more details. The building had only ONE ENTRANCE AND EXIT and NO FIRE SAFETY PERMITS! The "Department of Building Official (DBO) and Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD)" is checking to see if there were violations of "the National Building Code, Fire Code of the Philippines, zoning ordinance, business permit, occupancy permit and other laws and ordinances."

Obviously there were such violations. But on a positive note it appears there were no bars on the second floor windows. At least they have not indicated that is the case. It's another area that warrants investigation.

Finally, one more story about this situation.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/31/23/16-dead-in-tandang-sora-fire

Sixteen people, including a 3-year-old girl, were killed in a first-alarm fire that ravaged a house converted to a t-shirt manufacturing establishment in Tandang Sora, Quezon City on Thursday morning, authorities said.

Fire Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza of the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region said on TeleRadyo Serbisyo the house on Kennedy Lane was undergoing expansion when the fire struck on the first floor of the house. He said chemicals used for t-shirt printing could have caused the fire to spread rapidly.

The owners of the house and their 3-year-old child were among the fatalities. Most of the fatalities were stay-in workers, the fire official said. 

Three survived the fire including Mariafe Parle, an all-around maid of the owner. She said that they were in deep sleep when the fire broke out and she escaped through a window.

She even tried to rescue the girl who was carried by her mother, but she had difficulty breathing. Parle sustained injuries on her hands and feet from jumping off the window.

Another survivor recalled that it was difficult for them to locate the front door, which is the only way out of the house.

Tarroza said they would launch an investigation into the fire after they learned that the house had no permits to operate. The house has yet to secure a fire safety inspection certification from the BFP.

Firefighters took too long to respond to the fire after they were given the wrong address, Tarroza said. Heavy floods in parts of Quezon City also impeded fire trucks from reaching the area quickly.

Since the maid jumped out of the window it is established that at least that particular window did not have bars. 

It is also noted that most of the fatalities lived at the job site. That is a real problem in the Philippines. No one should be living at their job. It is simply inconceivable that anyone is living in a factory. 

And for the coup de grace we learnt that the firefighters were given the wrong address which resulted in them arriving too late. 

What a horrorshow. Everything wrong with the Philippines is contained in the story. The reappropriation of residential areas as industrial/business areas. Workers forced to live in the factory. No regard for safety. 

No regard for safety is the key here. It seems as if everything in this nation is jury-rigged. I can say with confidence this is not the first such tragedy nor will it be the last. 

What Good Is A Filipino College Education?

What good is a Filipino college education? It's plenty good. In fact without a college education you are going to be hard up finding a job in the Philippines. Lawyer, doctor, nurse, architect, teacher, you simply cannot land a job if you have not sloughed your way through a proper four year course. Don't believe me? Take a look at these Now Hiring posters. Each job requires a college education.

You want to pump gas for a living? Then you need to be college educated.

Time to make the donuts!  But only with at least 2nd year college. High school graduate can be considered but you better have a pleasing personality and look cute in that uniform.

A cashier or a salesclerk at Kmart! This would be the bootleg Kmart and not a genuine Philippine branch of this American tradition. This picture is a little old. I wonder if they ever found 12 female college graduates between 18-25 years old and at least 5ft tall to hire as cashiers and salesclerks. What do you think?

A visual merchandiser.

Time to deliver the donuts! But only if you have at least 2nd year college.

The market is obviously flooded with tourism graduates so why not put that degree to use and be a Lady Sales Assistant/Cashier at the local vet! Men need not apply.

Finally you can be a Robinson's Supermarket Associate. They have many available job opportunities. However if you just want to be a cashier you only need a 2 year associate degree instead of a 4 year course What a relief, eh? Receiver/Receiving Clerk still requires four years of study. Can't have stupid and uneducated people running the backroom.

So you see having a college education is very important in the Philippines. Everyone you see working at a job has a four or two year degree. Filipino employers demand intelligent and hardworking employees. That is why this country runs so smoothly. You really can't be employed without possessing a 4 year degree. I mean you can but then you'd be like a freelance pedicurist looking for toes to pick clean at the park. Or a washerwoman looking for laundry to scrub. Is that the kind of life you want to live? Stay in school!

Sleeping on the Job Again

A few months ago I was out for an early morning run when I saw through the dim lights at a water station a man asleep on the job. I did not have my camera so I ran as fast as I could back home, got my camera, and biked back to take a few snaps.

Isn't he adorable? Sleeping like a baby. Thankfully no one saw me and I sped off as quietly as I arrived. 

A few days later I saw him sleeping again so I again whipped out the camera, which I had with me this time around, and took a few snaps.

This time I was caught! The second picture is the guy waking up to his fellow employee shouting and pointing at me! I ran like the wind back home laughing all the way. I changed my route for the next few weeks because I did not want any trouble but soon enough I was back that way and what did I see? You guessed it. The same man asleep!

The difference this time was that they had turned out the lights so no one could see into the area. But I saw him because I was looking for him. If you notice in the above pictures the lights are on but in this picture I had to use my flash.

I have been back that way more than a few times since and have not seen anyone sleeping.

As a bonus have this picture of a 24 hour sari-sari store with the owner lying down in bed.

Sleeping on the Truck

When the urge to sleep hits you better listen. Especially if it's night.  You don't want to be driving a truck packed with sugarcane when your body is exhausted. What better place to sleep than the hood of the truck?  So spacious and warm. Just pull over and climb on top!

And when the afternoon sun is burning down upon the earth why not get some rest in the shade? Just throw a hammock underneath your rig while it's parked on the side of a busy road and catch a few Z's.

Nothing more comfy than sleeping off the afternoon heat in a hammock under your overstuffed big rig while traffic speeds on by.  Just like paradise.

Family Living On A Construction Site

Last year the water company built a new water filtration or processing plant not far from my house.  I passed it everyday when I went running, taking pictures to document the building process.  Throughout the whole process it was obvious that the men working at the job laying the pipes and preparing the foundation were living onsite in a wooden shack. You could see all their laundry hanging about as well as their makeshift kitchen.

At a some point a family moved in. A few women and children just showed up washing dishes, washing laundry, and having a grand old time. I have witnessed many construction workers living on job sites but never have I seen a whole family move onto one. I took as many pictures as I could whenever I saw them out on the premises.  There was a blue cargo trailer which I was convinced they were all living in and the inside of which I eventually was able to photograph. It was filled with equipment so I don't think that was their temporary living quarters.

There is a story in these pictures but I'm not sure how to narrate it nor do I know what it is exactly. Did these children go to school? Where did they come from? Who allowed a family to live on the job site? Did the water company know about this? Is this against OSHC-DOLE safety standards? Does this family move from job site to job site or do they have a permanent home? Technically they are not on the job site because they are outside the fence but does that even matter?

It will be best to let these pictures speak for themselves.

The last picture shows the job nearly completed and the family, as well as the cargo trailer, gone. They disappeared just as suddenly as they appeared.