MANILA, Philippines - First, let’s forget about all that international ignorance. About how in Italy, when a Filipina reveals her nationality, she’s practically requesting a job that entails changing little Giorgio Jr.’s nappy and making sure his dad’s Ferragamos are shined daily. Or that show on the BBC where a couple of blokes regard a Filipina maid like they would a bitch in heat, both of the yipping female dog and bondage slave variety. ‘Cause when you whittle away every imported misconception and exported insecurity that stems from our national deficit in identity, you’ll find that the Filipina domestic helper is an international diva.
Yes, our ancestors may have been on the receiving end of colonial butt rape but today, our very own independent women —Pinay OFWs — are engaging in a worldwide command and conquer. The intermingling of Avon and Sara Lee scents in the air, arms linked together as a demonstration of a certified yaya sisterhood, and the excitable chatter growing more voluble as you brush past them — all hard to miss when the Filipina DH marks her global territory. Her presence, or omnipresence, rather, felt everywhere, from Ireland to Israel.
Bagong Bayani ng Pilipinas isn’t far from the truth when referring to the exodus of women who set out to serve and protect — the term “help” as gloriously flexible in this regard: applicable to the foreign household, to their own families back home, and to the economy, all at once.
On a none-too-bustling Sunday in Hong Kong, when the domestics come out in droves to display their solidarity among the Tagalog-speaking Indian clothing hawkers and luxury storefronts along Pedder Street, Hot Fuss Sundae called out a “Maid Day!” and sought a word on the street from some truly Outstanding Women (sorry, Lifestyle Network but these chicks are more femme-tastic than your “10 Outstanding Women”). They say you get a better sense of something once you’re away from it. Who better to ask about the affairs of homeland and leader than the heroic help out there?
Alma, Spotted At Central’s Mtr Station
Presidentiable proficiency: “Si Noynoy. Si De Castro ba [tatakbo]? ‘Saka yung sa Democratic Party? Ah, si Teodoro!”
Presidential pick: “Kung pipili ako? Parang ang hirap ata isipin yun kasi, ano…(laughs). Siguro si Noynoy kasi maitutuloy niya yung sinimulan ng magulang niya sa demokrasya. Pangangalagaan niya siguro yung adhikain ’saka mahihiya siya gumawa ng kalokohan. ’Di natin alam!”
Vilmanian, Sharonian, Noranian? Vilmanian.
Dream presidential pick: “Siguro kay Governor Vilma Santos. Kasi nakita natin sa Lipa, maganda ang pamamalakad niya ’saka nirerespeto siya.”
Dream amo: “Parang okay si ma’am Shawi. Matanda na si yaya nila. Siguro mabait na amo sila ’saka yung mga benefits…”
HK hangout/recommendation: “Maganda sa Ocean Park. Educational sila ’dun.”
What can we learn from HK? “Sa traffic at sa kalinisan. Yung maraming bawal ’saka sinusunod talaga nila ’pag may penalty.”
Madeline From Mindoro, Spotted Near Jollibee Central
Presidentiable proficiency: “Ang kilala ko lang na tatakbo … una si Villar tapos si Noynoy…”
Presidential pick: “Si Noynoy syempre. Eh kasi dahil nanay niya si Cory. Kasi talagang … sa background niya … hindi siya talaga magiging kurap dahil meron na sila eh. Ma-pera na siya talaga from the very beginning pa lang. Sa mga ninuno niya, kumbaga.”
Dream presidential pick: “Si Vilma. Lahat ng mga palakad niya ’dun, maganda. Talagang maka-Vilma ako, bata pa ako Vilma na ako.”
Dream amo: “Sa mga artista kasi, ang naririnig ko sa iba, mabait lang sila sa TV o kaya kung may kaharap … eh de si Vilma! Syempre idol …”
HK hangout: “Pag-off ako, sa boarding house lang ako. Pero syempre, pag-off, nagtatambakan dito (Pedder St.). Kung may pera ako, eh de sa Disneyland. O kaya sa Ocean Park.”
What can we learn from HK? “Isa na diyan sa traffic. Nung umuwi ako nung pinabakasyon ako ng amo ko, nakita ko sa traffic pa lang, grabe na eh. ’Saka sa ways ng pamamalakad nila. Yung mga tao sa atin, minsan hindi sila marunong sumunod sa mga rules and regulations. Masyadong pasaway. Yung mga drivers…”
Janet & Chari, sisters from Ilocos Norte, at The Landmark in Central
Presidential proficiency: Chari — “Nakita mo ba si Madame (GMA)? Nasa labas kanina, nag-sha-shopping. Ang daming bodyguards, kasama niya si First Gentleman. Marks & Spencer ata ang bitbit.”
Presidential pick: Chari — “Siguro si Noynoy, kasi … uh … pero kung tatakbo, si Legarda gugustuhin kong maging vice president sya.”
Janet — “Kasi tinutulungan kaming mga OFW, pinaglalaban mga karapatan namin. Si Noli ganun ’din pero dahil lang tatakbo siya. Wala naman siyang improvements sa bansa.”
Vilmanian, Sharonian, Noranian? Vilmanians.
Dream amo: Chari — “Si Vilma, maganda ang patakbo niya sa Batangas eh. Pipiliin kong maging amo? Siya!”
HK hangout: Janet — “Dito lang sa Central. Kami kasi, hindi kami mahilig mag-standby kung saan-saan. Kung minsan, sa post office. O kaya sa McDonald’s, Jollibee, sa mga restawran na pwede naming pagkainan.”
What can we learn from HK? Janet — “Ay marami. Lalo na ang pagtatakbo ng gobyerno. Gusto ko magkakasama lahat ng Pilipino para umunlad naman ang ating bayan.”
Chari — “Sabihin mo na lang na walang corruption (laughs). At ang mga artista na namumulitika, wala namang experience ang mga yan.”
DH depth: Chari — “Maraming nangyayari sa Pilipinas na wala namang nangyayari.”