LEYTE

What can you say about disasters. ..That they strike us without notice. The sad thing with the Leyte incident is that this is the second time that it happened in the same province.The worst probably was the first but the loss of human lives is something that is very hard to accept.

 What do we do–people who like us are far away from our country and who look at these incidents somehow callously like as if it has happened somewhere else ?I cannot say that Leyte officials did not know that a disaster was forthcoming, nobody knows really. I just hope and pray that no other disaster will strike the Philippines again (if that could be helped).

You see in Singapore, a country that is so small, there are no disasters, no earthquake, no typhoon, no tidal wave —NOTHING (NADA).They have thuderstorms though. That the mere falling of a cat in the roof is already a major disaster(just joking).If ever there is a disaster, we count fatalities in tens not even hundreds and normally it happens out of Singapore when Singaporeans are on holiday going somewhere else like Australia or Africa(know what I mean, they meet accidents only when they go on tour).

But in the Philippines, even when you are already staying at home, suddenly disaster strikes. WHo can imagine aeroplanes landing on your house(like those on nearby Merville Subdivision) or  your house being swept away by mud. What more if your house is below the bridge (ilalim ng tulay). Lets Just pray for everyone!

GOOD DAY MAID

Today is Sunday and I am working in the office waiting for my clients to arrive. At 1:30 I am waiting for this Indian lady married to an expat. She is looking for an Indonesian maid to take care of her 4 year old daughter.Two Indonesian girls are coming for interview.Today , Filipino maids go out for their day off.

Its funny why FIlipino maids want to work only for white employers and not for local ones(you know Indians, SIngaporeans ,Malay). May discrimination na rin sila. Maids who specially had worked in Singapore for even a few months would prefer white maski na kamukha ni Redford White,basta puti ang gusto nila.

If you are planning to work in SIngapore and you are bringing your kids, its best that you already look for a good maid in the Philippines to bring here because you will not find one who will last with you kung hindi mo sila kilala. The favorite past time of maids in Singapore are strolling in Orchard road, chatting with other maids in Lucky Plaza or at Gulong Park(near the Orchard MRT) and going to mass(funny why they consider this a past time).

They come in all shapes and sizes. Every Sunday, you see them wearing the skimpiest of clothes which they can never wear in the Philippines or in the homes of their employers. Some enterprising ones sell things to other maids on their day off, some do part time work(cleaning other peoples houses which is prohibited here) and some go to discos with Myanmar, Bangla Deshi or Indian men.

You hear all kinds of stories about their employers, all sorts of complaints and very few would sing praises about their bosses. I believe its because they are home sick and lack the affection of theirloved ones. So its not uncommon to hear of maids even those who are married to have Indian,Bangladeshi or Indian Boy friends.