Filipino maid (domestic worker) Anabelle Corpuz is a and a housekeeper too.
She went home in early January 2010. She would like to return to Singapore
as soon as possible.
Background
Born in Isabela (in northern Luzon, about 10 hours from Manila by bus) to a
farming family, she was "adopted" by an aunt when she was 9 years old. She
was 2nd among 7 children. Her aunt was childless and treated Anabelle like a
daughter, providing for her education, up to 2 years in college where she
studied to become a teacher; she had to quit when her aunt was laid off.
Anabelle speaks and understands English fairly well.
Employment History
Anabelle has worked for a total of 7 years, 4+ years as a domestic helper in
Qattar and Singapore.
- Her first job was as a sales clerk at a gift store in Quirino (where she
lived with her aunt, one hour from her hometown in Isabela). She worked
there for one year.
- Her next job was a clerical post in a rural cooperative (together with
her aunt) for 1½ years.
- When she was laid off, she went to work at a temp job at a burger outlet
for half a year.
- Next she went to Qattar in Jul 06 to work for a newly wed couple. Two
years later Madam had her first baby and Anabelle took care of the baby
from the age of 4 months, when the baby was gradually weaned. Anabelle
prepared the baby formula, bathed the baby (initially under Madam's
supervision), changed the diapers, etc. Anabelle gained valuable experience
during the 3 years she was in Qattar. Madam employed a cook on and off and
when there was no cook around, she and Anabelle do the cooking together,
with the help of a recipe book.
- In Singapore where she worked from Sep 09 until Dec 10, her duties are
childcare, cleaning, laundry/iroing and a cooking for the children and for
the whole family on weekends. On weekends, the adults had their meals
catered.
There were 2 children in the family aged 2 and 6 when she started working
for the family.
Childcare
Anabelle has taken care of or helped to take care of three children from the
age of 4 month, 2 years and 6 years. She is family with the duties
pertaining to the care of an infant: preparing the formula, changing
diapers, bathing the infant, etc. Care of the 2- and the 6-year olds
including bathing them, dressing them, playing with them and sometimes
teaching the 2-year old writing, the 6-year arithmetic, etc.
Anabelle is fond of children and enjoys working with children. She feels
confident enough with a newborn and is willing to sleep with a baby and do
the night feeding.
Cooking
During the 15 or so years that she was living with her aunt, Anabelle was
trained by her aunt to perform the household chores such as cooking,
cleaning, laundry/ironing. She can cook Filipino food.
She received minimal instruction from her Singapore employer in cooking
simple dishes for the children. Anabelle learned a little cooking in Qattar
when she and Madam together experimented with dishes with the help of a
recipe book.
Personality
Anabelle has attended 2 years of college and speaks and understands English
fairly well, about average for a Filipino domestic who has worked abroad for
4 years. She is neat and tidy, simply dressed. She is unassuming and eager
to continue working.
She would still be in Singapore if she got her arithmetic right. However,
she tried to save money by using what was left of her passport used to go to
Qattar that her passport was not valid for the during of her contract.
When available: After mid-Feb 2011
Profile by Karl Tan
Licensed Employment Agent since 1981
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