My mom's caregiver is a feisty lady from the Philippines, who deliberately traveled the globe in search of green pastures. She had been to Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Middle East doing different types of jobs, but mostly as a domestic helper. But the most memorable has been her stint in the Middle East which almost cost her, her life.
When she went to the Middle East, it was through a recruitment agency and there was really no guarantee that one will be treated fairly. And because she landed on a job where she was abused physically and verbally, she thought of a way out. The only problem facing her is that her passport was in the care of his employer and there is no way she can retrieve it.
She was literally caged in the third floor apartment of his employer, and the only way to freedom was jumping through the window and hopes that she survives the fall. That was the idea, and she did it on the 40th day of the Ramadan period, as everybody was busy celebrating the end of the fast. Upon landing at the pavement with bruises and a slight limp, she roamed the streets and entered a religious sanctuary.
Since the police was after her, she was spirited to the Philippine Embassy two weeks later. She recounts that what made her cry the most was seeing the
Philippine Flag hoisted on the Embassy ground, for it simply means freedom from her ordeal. It took another two months before she can be repatriated back.
Once back home, she took a short course as a caregiver and luckily she was hired to work for my mom here in New York.
by:
The Flagman
