About 6 years ago, I went to Singapore to spend a much needed break from my stressful work in the Philippines. At dahil mag-isa lang naman ako nun, nagdesisyon ako na magpunta sa Lucky Plaza upang makasalamuha ang mga kapwa Pinoy na doon ang karaniwang tambayan.
The mall was full of people, from Pinoy engineers to Pinay domestic helpers. Sunday was basically our DH's off so they would often gather at the mall to exchange stories with one another. At dahil sa dami ng tao, nagdesisyon na lang ako na kumain sa foodcourt dahil gutom na gutom na din naman ako. Sa pagkakataong ito ay nakatabi ko sa mesa ang isang may edad nang DH na nakipagkwentuhan sa akin. Tatawagin ko na lang siyang Aling Nena. Matagal na daw siyang DH. Ang boss nya daw ay taga Hong Kong na lumipat sa Singapore. Gustong gusto daw sya ng mga amo nya dahil mula HK ay sinama daw siya ng mga ito sa Singapore upang patuloy silang pagsilbihan. Naging magiliw ang pag-uusap namin ni Aling Nena. Ipinagmalaki pa nga niya sa akin na napagtapos niya ang kanyang mga anak dahil nagtrabaho siya sa ibayong dagat bilang DH. Nakakamiss man daw ang Pilipinas, kelangan niya daw gawin iyon dahil di na naman siya bumabata.
It was a lively conversation. She thought that i was a Pinoy engineer working in the Lion City. I told her that I was on holiday at that time. She was quite surprised. Anyway, while we were talking, she told me stories of her fellow domestic helpers in Singapore. Nakwento nya sa akin na bagaman maliit ang sweldo ng mga DH, ang ilan sa kanila ay nakakapundar ng mga digicam at mamahaling cellphone. At ito ay di dahil sa sweldo nila kundi dahil sa ang ilan sa kanila ay nakikipagrelasyon sa mga inhinyerong Pinoy o kaya'y mga "pana" o Indians. Natanong ko siya kung ang ilan ba sa mga ito'y may pamilya sa Pilipinas at nalungkot niyang sinabi na oo.
A few days ago, i was in Singapore and after 6 years, I witnessed what Aling Nena told me. I was shocked to see several Filipinas with Indians. It was easy to identify them as Filipinos because of how they dress and speak. And basing it on their looks, some of them are definitely married in the Philippines. I immediately felt pity for their kids and husbands back home. But i also thought that because of their lonely life, this was their way of coping with the situation. It's the sad reality of working overseas for some of our Pinay kababayan. But I'm also wondering, why Indians? or Why not just join friends at Lucky Plaza or have a picnic with fellow Pinoys at Sentosa's beaches? Why do they have to resort to having affairs with these Indians? I don't have answers...
The mall was full of people, from Pinoy engineers to Pinay domestic helpers. Sunday was basically our DH's off so they would often gather at the mall to exchange stories with one another. At dahil sa dami ng tao, nagdesisyon na lang ako na kumain sa foodcourt dahil gutom na gutom na din naman ako. Sa pagkakataong ito ay nakatabi ko sa mesa ang isang may edad nang DH na nakipagkwentuhan sa akin. Tatawagin ko na lang siyang Aling Nena. Matagal na daw siyang DH. Ang boss nya daw ay taga Hong Kong na lumipat sa Singapore. Gustong gusto daw sya ng mga amo nya dahil mula HK ay sinama daw siya ng mga ito sa Singapore upang patuloy silang pagsilbihan. Naging magiliw ang pag-uusap namin ni Aling Nena. Ipinagmalaki pa nga niya sa akin na napagtapos niya ang kanyang mga anak dahil nagtrabaho siya sa ibayong dagat bilang DH. Nakakamiss man daw ang Pilipinas, kelangan niya daw gawin iyon dahil di na naman siya bumabata.
It was a lively conversation. She thought that i was a Pinoy engineer working in the Lion City. I told her that I was on holiday at that time. She was quite surprised. Anyway, while we were talking, she told me stories of her fellow domestic helpers in Singapore. Nakwento nya sa akin na bagaman maliit ang sweldo ng mga DH, ang ilan sa kanila ay nakakapundar ng mga digicam at mamahaling cellphone. At ito ay di dahil sa sweldo nila kundi dahil sa ang ilan sa kanila ay nakikipagrelasyon sa mga inhinyerong Pinoy o kaya'y mga "pana" o Indians. Natanong ko siya kung ang ilan ba sa mga ito'y may pamilya sa Pilipinas at nalungkot niyang sinabi na oo.
A few days ago, i was in Singapore and after 6 years, I witnessed what Aling Nena told me. I was shocked to see several Filipinas with Indians. It was easy to identify them as Filipinos because of how they dress and speak. And basing it on their looks, some of them are definitely married in the Philippines. I immediately felt pity for their kids and husbands back home. But i also thought that because of their lonely life, this was their way of coping with the situation. It's the sad reality of working overseas for some of our Pinay kababayan. But I'm also wondering, why Indians? or Why not just join friends at Lucky Plaza or have a picnic with fellow Pinoys at Sentosa's beaches? Why do they have to resort to having affairs with these Indians? I don't have answers...
