Conventional wisdom stereotypes migrant workers in Taiwan as uneducated laborers working in the so-called “3D” industries — dirty, dangerous and difficult. But in truth, many of them are gifted and articulate.

The poem above, titled “The Poet Behind My Shadow,” written by Melvin Laureano, a young Filipino worker who toils in a Taipei County factory, is just one example of their talent and literary potency.

During a recent interview with the Central News Agency, they spoke not of their wages, treatment or subpar living conditions, but rather of their passion for poetry and their pride in being Filipinos.

Migrant workers have made enormous contributions to the country’s economic development since Taiwan began allowing local companies to hire foreign laborers in 1989. According to the Council of Labor Affairs, there were 86,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan as of February 2008, with 70.3 percent working in manufacturing jobs and the remainder employed as caregivers. Most of them are devoted to their jobs, putting in long hours, while maintaining a strong sense of longing for their family, friends, and hometown.

To express their nostalgia and joys and sorrows in the exhausting and monotonous environments in which they work, some Filipinos have taken to writing poetry. In doing so, they say, they have rediscovered their pride and dignity, fostered an environment celebrating the Philippines’ cultural heritage, and found a release for their souls.

The Samahang Makata International-Taiwan Chapter (SMI), an informal association of Filipino poets and writers, was created in 1999 by Jun M. Sanchez, a Filipino working in Taiwan. It has 550 members islandwide, but only about 70 are active, as many don’t have the luxury of holidays.

After Mass on every third Sunday of the month, these active members gather in a park near St. Christopher’s Church on the Zhongshan North Road, where the largely Catholic Filipino migrant community gathers after a week’s work. During their regular meeting, they discuss the organization’s annual program and activities and recite poems they have composed in both English or Tagalog, the most widely spoken language in the Philippines.

Their poems are regularly published in migrant people’s journals such as “The Migrants” and “The Filipino Post,” said Ma. Cristina Artugue, who will become SMI president July 20. One of the most important activities is called “Balagtasan,” a traditional literary form in the Philippines that they perform on special occasions like Independence Day.

“In a Balagtasan, which means a poetic debate, two poets engage in each other for about 20 minutes on a designated topic, in poetic form,” explained Laureano, SMI’s project manager. For example, he said, to celebrate Independence Day last month, the group held a Balagtasan in Da-an Forest Park in Taipei on the topic of “whether it is worthwhile to leave loved ones and go abroad for the sake of money.”

Sometimes such debates are also broadcast on “Radio Station Pinoy,” a radio station that broadcasts programs in Tagalog on Sundays, for those Filipino workers who cannot participate in the event.

“Many of our members do not have days off, they can only participate by listening to the radio,” Laureano said. “We want to not only entertain every Filipino, but to give them some viewpoints, ideas (other than their daily job).”

Many of the migrant workers from the Philippines received good educations at home, but chose, not always willingly, to work in Taiwan to earn a better living.

“As the economy in the Philippines is in crisis, I came to Taiwan to be a domestic helper, but it’s a pity, because I have talent,” said Artugue, who holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in her mother country.

“The SMI helped me to build my confidence again,” she said. After joining the SMI last year, she finally had an outlet to demonstrate and develop her literary knowledge and talent and maintain her dignity.

“We found a home in the SMI, and I am proud of being a Filipino,” said Artugue with a smile. She came to work in Taiwan as a caregiver four years ago, leaving behind her 8-year-old son.

Suffering from the separation, her love for her son, and her struggles in Taiwan became the primary inspirations for her creations.

Laureano found the group the ideal way to spend idle time. “Before, I used to spend my weekends in the dormitory, which is a total waste. But when I joined the SMI and saw my poems published, I realized that my hidden talents were revealed and developed,” said Laureano, a previous winner of best poem award in an annual competition held by the organization.

“After I joined the SMI, my heavy workload and bad dormitory facilities became more bearable,” said another member of the organization, whose dormitory is not equipped with air conditioning. The hot and humid nights in Taiwan often make it difficult for him to fall asleep, even after a long working day, he said.

More than a literary club for these migrant workers, the SMI is also a place where Filipinos can find counsel. Those who are encountering economic difficulties or are having problems with a bad employer can ask for help, Artugue said.

The group also organizes excursions to Taipei’s suburbs, such as Danshui, Yangmingshan or the Taipei Zoo, to bring members closer together.

Such an organization that takes care of Filipino workers’ physical and spiritual needs and offers a venue to express their thoughts is rare in Taiwan. As it further helps introduce Filipino culture and its members’ reflections on life in a foreign land through their poetry, not only will the migrants find greater satisfaction, but local residents will come to better understand and appreciate these unsung foreigners who contribute significantly to Taiwan’s economy and society.