When the family exchang of pleasantries came to a pause, a woman timely popped out of the kitchen to greet us. This must be the special family member---the Filipino servant, I guessed.
I have long heard that the Filipino servant is a world famous brand of domestic economics. They are well-educated, English-speaking, and are known as "the most professional nanny in the world". A Filipino servant in a family is a symbol of elegance and status. They are kind, honest, patient, hard-working, cheerful, considerate, obedient, always address you as "master" or "boss", easily adapting to alien environment and foreign culture (result of 350 years of Spanish rule and 50 years of American culture brainwashing).
In Hong Kong, the management of nearly 200,000 Filipino servants is very standardized. The contract period is normally two to three years. Most of them get along well with their masters and are regarded as family members, so the contracts are usually renewed automatically.
Philippine servants claim a high status in their own country. More than 4.3 million (1/10 of the population) of Filipino servants are held as "national heroes" who remit more than 8 billion US dollars every year, accounting for more than 5.6% of GDP. Every Christmastime, the home-visitors enjoy red carpet express at the Capital airport, even the president sometimes would come to meet them.
Some people have suggested that inland China open its doors for Filipino servants. In terms of cost, they are cheaper than domestic nannies, and their English would provide children with native English language environment, saving so much parental trouble, as well as their money and time, beside social resourses!
“This is Catheren.” My daughter-in-law made an introduction. “You can call her Cathy.”
She is about 30 years old, round-faced, big-eyed, with thick lips, healthy and tidy, a typical Southeast Asian woman.
I learned later that she is from the rural Philippines and has a 7-year-old lovely daughter, who still has to
stay with her husband at home, due to the epidemic. She loves her very much, videos with her every day, and had bought her lots of books, costing a fortune.
One day, she suddenly came to tell us that she had lost contact with her husband and daughter---a rare typhoon had hit her hometown and her house might have collapsed! Under our comfort, she did not panic, nor shed tears (perhaps in front of us), and finally learned from her parents, that they only suffered property loss, her husband and daughter were safe and sound. My daughter-in-law hurriedly gave her some money to send back for house repair.
She is a college graduate, majoring first in English language, then domestic service, well equipped with
knowledge of psychology and necessery skills, can play piano as well as
sing and dance. Not only competent in child-care (I’m always puzzled and even jealous of her for calming down the crying baby so soon), but also skillful as my granddaughter's partner in piano, painting and tennis exercises, deserving the name of a class-born.
According to job allocation of my daughter-in-law, she is in charge of the night shift with my little grandson, and daily care including the little girl's schooling and extra-curricular training classes. I am to serve three meals a day, buying food and educating my granddaughter when she is home.
She usually takes a nap from 8:30 pm to 11 pm, and then takes care of the noisy baby until next morning, when we take over. Then she goes to sleep until 10 am, followed by laundry, cleaning and care-taking of the baby.
Her monthly salary is HK $5000, gets paid for overtime, and gets a monthly amount of bonus. She would take one day off every Sunday. Hong Kong law stipulates that nannies must have 24-hourholiday a week, plus overtime pay, or they can sue you! Last nanny, a young girl, asked for a fine of $1000, just for one hour extra of babysitting when the family went out for lunch at noon, forgetting that she had so many fully paid holidays when the family travel out!
Filipino servants don’t eat on the same table with the family. The master always puts a dish in the kitchenfor her to eat there. She usually takes care of the baby to let the family eat first. When someone takes over the baby from her hand, she goes to eat by the washing machine, and do dish washing after the meal.
My daughter-in-law always puts lots of good dishes on her plate, and instructs that I should cook more meat dishes for her, for she needs to be energetic for her hard work.The separation of master and servant table-manner convention goes against my concept of equality. So as long as my daughter-in-law is not there, I often ask her to eat with ussharing the table.
She was respectful to my daughter-in-law, always saying "Yes, Ma'am!" But their relationship has surpassed master and servant, for she feels free to make advice on parenting and housework, and takes initiatives in her work, rather than hiding in the room when job is done.
She is quick in her work! The little girl usually makes a mess filling the floor with scattering toys. There she came, in a twinkling of an eye, everything is in its place.
Her nimbleness amazed me: one night, my little granddaughter was sleepy in her online class,I was exhausted in my way out, and turned to her. She turned, picked up a grape, peeling, picking out the seeds, and feeding it to her mouth---all this process is done in hardly a second, and the little girl was instantly awake!
She is good at cooking. I have the same ingredients,but can never make the same flavor.Her braised pork is so fragrant, glutinous, softly Q, and her vegetables green and yummy. She also guides me in improving my cooking skills.
My son once told me a simple way to judge a nanny--- just by observing how close the child is to her. We see the little girl sticks to her like her mother, often whispers to her ear, or fools around in her arms. Yet, when she is serious, the little girl is so obedient.
Thanks to her, My granddaughter's fluent English is due to the immersive language environment and professional guidance she provides. The English communication between her is not only daily eating and drinking, but also bedtime story telling，reading and discussion，which includes high and low，in and out, even some philosophical concepts (best sleeping pill ever!) ---a perfect "rich comprehensible imput I+1" Model suggested by Krashon the linguist.
She is happy, which can be seen from her humming in her work, hearted laughs with my granddaughter, and her funny songs in baby language, which can only flow from a joyful heart.
Housing in Hong Kong is very expensive. $30,000 monthly rent for only 85 square meters, which is divided into 4 rooms, 1 hall and 2 toilets. Her room is so small that almost only allows a narrow bed, like the sleeper on the green train, and it is elevated- - -so that you can put things below. But her song of Ode to Joy flow out the room gives us some comfort--- in that free little kingdom, she was like fish in sea water.
Blessed is she, for being content.
Blessed are we, for having her in our house!
Bernard xiaoxi in Hongkong
2021.12.31 midnight
(A translation specially for her as a new year gift.)
