Ilongga in Singapore for film premier of her story as nanny

ILOILO CITY , Philippines   - Teresita Sajonia, now 57 years old, who inspired the Singaporean film ILO ILO that won this year's Cannes Film Festival, never expected to go back to Singapore after 16 years when she worked as a nanny of two boys in that country.

Sajonia, known as Auntie Terry by her former alagas (wards), held her own press conference at Plazuela de Iloilo last August 15 to thank the media for their help in tracing her whereabouts last month. She also told reporters of another good news: She is going to watch the movie premiere at the Marina Bay Sands threater today.

Auntie Terry left Iloilo yesterday for Singapore and will be staying at the Marina Bay for two nights with her 64-year-old common-law husband, Johnny Taguibe (Manong Junie). The couple have been living in a humble nipa hut at sitio Unas in Brgy. San Jose of San Miguel town in Iloilo.

Cebu Pacific Airlines, the movie's official airline partner, will bring Auntie Terry and Manong Junie to Singapore. 

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific's vice president for marketing and distribution said in a statement: "We are honored to be part of this wonderful reunion and support Auntie Terry when she goes to Singapore through Cebu Pacific's direct flights from Iloilo. For us, Auntie Terry represents the hard work and selfless love of global Filipinos. She and many other global Filipinos leave a lasting impact wherever they are in the world."

ILO ILO is directed by Auntie Terry's alaga, Anthony Chen, now 29, who was the first Singaporean to win the Camera d'Or Prize (best first film), the top award for a feature film at Cannes last May.

Set against the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the film chronicles the relationship between a young Singaporean boy (Chen) and his Filipina nanny, named Auntie Terry. It is also the film debut of Anthony, one of three Chen boys that Sajonia took care of as a domestic helper in the Lion City.

Auntie Terry told the media she was excited but nervous for her return trip to Singapore. She was excited how much of the story would resemble the real events in her life with the Chens, knowing that Anthony was only 8 years old when she left Singapore for the Philippines for good.

Anthony only based the movie on his recollection of her Auntie Terry 16 years ago. The now famous Ilongga said she was also excite to see on how the film's lead actress, Angeli Bayani, portrays her life as a nanny.

Auntie Terry's story has also become a tourism marketing venue in promoting the city and province of Iloilo. Last August 15, Blend 45 coffee extended P50,000 worth of livelihood package for her to start a small business.

Maxine Fernando, of Universal Robina Corporation's beverage marketing department, said the gesture was their way of recognizing Auntie Terry's tender loving care for her alagas in Singapore. "She embodies the daily heroes and innate Filipino trait of love and care," she said.

Reunited with her alagas

Auntie Terry has become a symbol of the positive impact of overseas Filipino workers not only on the lives of their own families but that of their employers as well.

Last month in San Miguel town, Auntie Terry was reunited with Anthony and his younger brother Christopher, now 24, who she said was her favorite alaga.

After winning at Cannes, Anthony expressed his desire to reunite with his nanny despite the lack of information on her name and home town. With help from a Cebu-based public relations agency, the Iloilo media joined the search for Auntie Terry until she was found last month.

After learning that his Auntie Terry was found, Anthony said he and his family were touched by the gestures and efforts of the Ilonggos. "My family and I are completely overwhelmed by the goodwill coming from Iloilo and the Philippines in finding Auntie Terry. We honestly did not expect to hear any news so soon," he said in a statement.

The search ended in an emotional reunion, when Anthony and his brother Christopher flew to Iloilo to see her again after 16 years. The two were touched that Auntie Terry still treasured the time she was with them in Singapore.

The Ilongga nanny worked for the Chen family for eight years, but had to return home in 1997 due to health issues. Since then, she had lost touch with the family but still carried photos of the three boys with her.

Auntie Terry, who eventually finished a midwifery course at the Iloilo Doctors College, literally kept her happy memories in Singapore as proven by the photos of her wards and their family, which she safely tucked in her belt bag.

"I always carry these photos wherever I go because of the happy times we had. The pay was not that much but my employers treated me well. They even let me join when they go out on their family days," she added.

Anthony said: "It has been an emotional day for us, and I am extremely touched especially after seeing that she still kept so many photos from her time with us."

Auntie Terry responded: "I was very happy to see them and just hugged them tight. They were still young when I left, and now they have become so big and handsome. They were very nice kids; they could be mischievous at times, but they're really very sweet."

She said she could not believe that Anthony would make a movie inspired by their story and that he and his brother would come looking for her. "I'm so touched and thankful. It must mean that they loved me as much as I loved them." she added.

Anthony posted on the movie's official Facebook page after the reunion: "ILO ILO is a story about love, family and relationships, and we could never have imagined that a little film like this could reach out, connect, and re-connect those ties that we thought were long lost."

The Chen family in Singapore was also planning to help Auntie Terry, but details on the assistance were not disclosed at the press conference. (FREEMAN)