Manila, June 12 -- While many Filipinos celebrated Independence Day with flags and parades, jobseekers flocked to the 127th Independence Day Mega Job Fair of the Department of Migrant Workers in Quezon City on Thursday.

Angelika Buyan, a second-time job fair attendee, was among the applicants hired on the spot as a cleaner in Saudi Arabia.

"Overwhelming po, hindi ako makapaniwala (I still could not believe it)," she said, still processing the news she received just a few hours earlier from a recruitment agency.

Buyan said her contract includes free accommodation, meals, and transportation, with a salary of around PHP27,000.

"Magiging experience din naman po siya since first time ko po na mag-work abroad (It will be an experience since...