Another Filipino family of four faces deportation

A holder of a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Ateneo de Davao, Rafael Legaspi brought his family to Australia in 2006 on the strength of a 457 visa.

Unfortunately, the company that sponsored his work visa ceased operating in early January this year. Rafael is now without work and his entire family faces deportation.

But things are not that simple. His wife Russell is very much concerned about their future because they don’t have any more home to return to in the Philippines. All their four children, Ralph, 18, Rikka, 17, Regine, 15, and Reene, 14 have settled well in Kogarah where all family members are involved in a church choir.

Galang Migrant Workers Union to the rescue

The eldest child Ralph told Neil Galang that he and his siblings now call Australia ‘home’ and that the youngest will be completely devastated if the family were to be sent back to the Philippines. Mr. Galang is the President of the Migrant Workers Union. Unlike other licensed migration agents, he and his members are volunteer workers who have never charged any kind of fee from all the other families they have helped.

The Filipino community in Australia has been very supportive of the role that Neil Galang has been playing for families in similar situations. In the past, Galang has been instrumental in obtaining permanent residency for Mario Villarosa and his family. His latest success is the assistance he provided to Liezle and Michael Antonio. Liezle is a registered nurse who graduated from the Australian Catholic University. She is now gainfully employed and practising her profession in a nursing home.