Maria Theresa S. Samante, Mar 17, 2006
Singapore rewarded two Filipinas with cash on the recently concluded Singapore's National Foreign Workers Day.
Elizabeth Yanos Quiatchon and Marina Bayabay Garcia were among tens of thousands of foreign workers employed in Singapore chosen to be the “Foreign Domestic Worker of the Year.”
Quaitchon, 38 years old was cited as the “Foreign Domestic Worker of the Year,” with $2,500 (P82,000) cash prize, while Garcia got the third runner up plus $1,200 (P39,600) cash prize.
Elizabeth has been employed for the family of Loke Lai Kuen for 19 years. She was tasked to take care of two sick members of the family and at the same time, attending the household responsibilities.
While on the other hand, Marina is has been employed for six years for the family of May Heng. Her task is to look after Heng's young son who has a motor-planning speech disorder.
Marina took up sign language in order for her to better understand her ward and help out in his therapy.
Elizabeth, Marina and other Filipino winners were selected from over 300 nominations which the organizer has received.
Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Belen F. Anota congratulates both Elizabeth and Marina, she said that “there winning only showed the Filipino’s commitment to their respective jobs.”
About 150,000 women are working in Singapore, mostly are from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Philippines. Filipino domestic workers are educated, in fact some of them are former professionals, teachers, health workers, office employees, and college graduates. Their education has been their weapon over other Southeast Asian nationalities because they can speak and understand English fluently.
Employers were also given citation, among the runners up for “Employer of the Year” was Tay Boon Sun. Sun is a Singaporean who hired Encarnacion Montales, a Filipina housemaid and she has been employed for the 20 years.