How the lack of freedom can help you find clarity | Celia Jacob | TEDxRizal Avenue

Key Concepts

• Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Experience: The challenges and vulnerabilities faced by Filipinos working abroad.
• False Accusation & Detention: The experience of being wrongly accused and detained in a foreign country.
• Undoing: The process of intentionally removing elements from one’s life to achieve clarity, freedom, and self-discovery.
• Freedom Circle/Community: The power of supportive communities in overcoming adversity and building a life of independence.
• Subtraction vs. Addition: The idea that sometimes removing things from our lives is more beneficial than constantly adding to them.
• Storytelling as Empowerment: Utilizing personal narratives to inspire others and create positive change.

The Unexpected Journey: From Overseas Success to Finding Freedom Through "Undoing"

This narrative details the speaker, Coach, a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in the Middle East, and her journey from a seemingly successful life abroad to wrongful detention, and ultimately, to finding freedom and purpose through a process she calls “undoing.”

I. A Life Built Abroad & The Sudden Fall

Coach recounts a prosperous life in the Middle East, working for multinational companies as a brand strategist. She describes a “tight community” and a good life for her family, believing she had found a long-term stability. However, this stability was shattered when she decided to return to the Philippines to support her son’s college education. Upon informing her boss of her departure, she received a threatening response: “When you leave this company, I’ll make your life miserable.” This threat tragically materialized.

Despite years of dedicated service – working long hours as a designer – she was falsely accused of working without a visa (TNT – Tago ng Tago, meaning “hiding”) and having her passport confiscated. She was then subjected to a lengthy investigation, lasting from 12 PM to 10 PM, involving intense questioning and scrutiny of her personal life, including her Facebook account. Following the investigation, she was transported to a detention facility, initially believing she was being taken home, only to discover a long journey to a heavily guarded location.

II. The Reality of Detention & Unexpected Support

Upon arrival at the detention facility, Coach was stripped of her belongings, retaining only a basic vanity kit. She was placed in Room 5, a jail cell overcrowded with over 40 women. The stark reality of her situation – the cramped conditions, the constant surveillance (being lined up in the sunlight for headcount) – solidified the realization that this was not a dream.

Despite the dire circumstances, Coach experienced unexpected kindness from fellow detainees. They offered her food and support, demonstrating that help often comes from unexpected sources. She was required to perform various tasks within the jail, including cleaning and serving food to other inmates.

III. Facing the Legal Battle & The Power of Perseverance

Coach faced a court case (case number 98) where she was pressured to admit guilt – to falsely confess to working without a visa – in exchange for her release. However, remembering the advice of Jet (“Pag may katapangan, ipaglaban mo” – “If you have courage, fight for it”), she refused to falsely incriminate herself. Despite facing a language barrier in a country where she had previously contributed, she chose to fight for her rights.

Remarkably, she was the only one out of 100 detainees to be found “not guilty.” The verdict brought overwhelming relief, and she openly wept, feeling a profound sense of being protected and validated.

IV. "Undoing" – The Path to Rebuilding & Finding Purpose

While freedom was exhilarating, Coach realized it came with the need to “undo” – to dismantle the life she had built and the beliefs she had held. She describes “undoing” as a process of detaching from people who had offered misguided advice, letting go of past hurts, and rebuilding her life from scratch. She returned to the Philippines with nothing – no savings, no graduation for her son – but with a renewed sense of courage.

Coach emphasizes the importance of detaching from judgment and focusing on one’s own truth. She highlights the experiences of the 1.8 million Filipinos who send balikbayan boxes (packages sent home) while concealing their hardships, and the tendency to suppress their struggles to avoid burdening their families.

V. Building a Freedom Community & Sharing Her Story

Through workshops and connections with supportive communities, Coach discovered a “freedom circle” – a group of individuals seeking independence from their pasts. In 2018, they created a platform to share stories of freedom and independence. Her personal story became her “passport to freedom,” allowing her to travel to Malaysia, Singapore, Shanghai, Thailand, Vietnam, and various parts of the Philippines to share her experiences.

She became involved with the Red Dot Group, continuing to share her story and help others. Coach emphasizes that sometimes, the greatest liberation comes not from adding more to our lives, but from subtracting – from releasing what no longer serves us.

VI. The Harvard Research & The Power of Subtraction

Coach references research from Harvard University, stating that “clarity comes from subtraction.” She argues that we often focus on adding skills, planning, and activities, leading to overwhelm, while neglecting the power of removing obstacles and simplifying our lives. She encourages listeners to identify what they can “undo” – what they can release – to create space for clarity and joy.

VII. A Call to Action: Choosing Yourself & Finding Lightness

Coach concludes by urging listeners to embrace the concept of “undoing” – to detach from heartbreak, resentment, judgment, and guilt. She encourages self-reflection and prioritizing one’s own truth. She emphasizes that sometimes, the lightness we seek comes from removing, detaching, and finding the courage to choose ourselves.

Notable Quote:

• “Pag may katapangan, ipaglaban mo.” – “If you have courage, fight for it.” – attributed to Jet.

Technical Terms/Concepts:

• OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker): A Filipino citizen working abroad.
• TNT (Tago ng Tago): Filipino slang for someone working illegally abroad, “hiding” from authorities.
• Balikbayan Box: A package sent by Filipinos working abroad to their families in the Philippines, often containing gifts and necessities.
• Undoing: The intentional process of removing elements from one’s life to achieve clarity and freedom.

This journey underscores the importance of resilience, the power of community, and the transformative potential of “undoing” – a process of intentional subtraction that can lead to a life of greater freedom and purpose.