A few weeks after President Bush announced a Temporary Worker program, Mylene Luna bought a $10 phone card to inform his cousins and friends in the Philippines about it.

Luna, who works as a nanny in Manhattan, encouraged her cousins and friends to come to the United States before Congress approved the proposal. She thought that her cousins and friends, like millions of other immigrants without working documents, would benefit if they are in the United States prior to the possible approval of the program.

"Little knowledge [about the proposal] is really dangerous. Some Filipinos think that as long as they are physically present in the United States, they will surely be covered by Bush's vague program," said Robert Roy, president of Philippine Forum. "This only means that they are giving themselves false hopes."

Because Bush's proposal is so complex, Roy said he couldn't blame any immigrants for being confused and expecting a big outcome, even without a full understanding of the intricacy of the proposal.

"They are hoping to get their status legalized. In the hope that they could pull their relatives out of poverty in the Philippines, they send the message right away, without verifying if it was true," Roy said.

In the Filipino community, the temporary worker program seems to be a “saving grace." Although it may only be valid for three years, and the worker has to go back to his or her country of origin, many undocumented Filipinos feel that it could give them a great relief from abusive employers and deportation scares.

"It's going to be a thorn pulled out from my heart," said Danny, 38, of Queens, who asked not to print his full name. "The workers program, no matter how short it will be, is a lot better than having nothing at all."

Rosemarie, a 44-year-old living in Jersey City, said three years would be long enough to know her destiny in the United States. "There's a lot of things that could happen in one year. How much more in three years? Perhaps another immigration program will be passed afterwards."

To educate Filipino immigrants about Bush's proposal, the Philippine Forum, in collaboration with other immigrant advocacy groups, has launched a massive campaign about the advantages and disadvantages of the temporary worker program.

Earlier this month, the Forum held a seminar and workshop for nannies, caregivers and other workers, to discuss the impact of the program on Filipinos and its implications on general immigration issues in the United States.

”We told those who attended the seminar that the proposal is not a blanket amnesty. The proposal, even if it does get approved, still requires an employer to sponsor the worker. And we will not get tired of saying that over and over again," Roy said.

There are about 400,000 Filipino immigrants in New York and New Jersey, according to the Philippine Consulate. Of that figure, an estimated 100,000 are believed to be undocumented.

In addition, at least five Filipinos come to the U.S. everyday with an intention to work, according to an overseas migration study conducted by the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. There are 7.53 million Filipino workers searching for work all over the world.

"My ultimate goal in coming to the U.S. is to work, send money home and save for the future of my kids. To be granted a legal status would help me achieve that dream,” said Erwin, a 42-year-old electrician and plumber from the Bronx, who left his family in the Philippines and sought better opportunities in New York City. "Call it an amnesty, a temporary worker program or whatever, as long as it is legal, it would be a life-long blessing."