Filipino Sisters

     The Temple was open today after 3 days of Lunar New Year closing.  The first session started at 7 AM and we saw many young Filipino sisters present.  They came with big smiles and happy countenances.  They were especially friendly to me because I think I looked like one of them.  I was trying to figure out how I looked like a Filipino and realized that may be my eyes were rounder like theirs, or may be I wear a smile like they do.  In any case, I'm always happy to see them.

     The Filipino sisters kept coming all morning.  They have the weekend off because their employers have to give them time off for Lunar New Year.  They work so hard that it's nice to have a break from their mundane work each day.  Most of these young women are here in Hong Kong as domestic helpers.  They sent money back home to support their families, may be a husband, children and also parents.  As hard as it seems, they keep a happy and positive attitude.

    Since these young ladies don't always get Sundays off because their employers need them to work during the weekends, the Church has set up special sacrament meetings for them.  Seven day a week, there is always a sacrament meeting going on at the Wan Chai Chapel.  I'm so happy to hear about the accommodations so they wouldn't miss out on church attending.  You see, these are very religious, faithful and devout members of the Church.  They sure set a good example for all of us.

    I found an article about the Filipino girls in Hong Kong.  It's quite interesting and would like to share it with you.  The following pictures were taken 2 years ago when we came to Hong Kong for a conference.  Things haven't changed much.

The Life Of Filipino Maids In Hong Kong

  http://www.freearticlezines.com/2010/07/the-life-of-filipino-maids-in-hong-kong/

Among the average 7 million inhabitants of Hong Kong, Filipino workers comprise at least 140,000 of the population. Majority of these workers, mostly women, are Filipino maids or referred to by the locals as feiyungs. Life in the Philippines is hard but for these helpers, life in Hong Kong is perceived to be harder but the chance to harbor income is higher, but might as well take the risk. But how does life go on in Hong Kong?

Faith Goes On Everything feels quite different but something familiar tags along with them-their faith. Being devoted religious, Filipinos in Hongkong still adhere to their advocate and obligation to the creator. While there are Protestants and Buddhists Filipinos, Roman Catholics comprise the majority. It is expected that Catholic churches in Hongkong are always housed with Filipinos especially every Sunday. To acknowledge their numbers, masses are even versed in the Tagalog linguistic.

It’s a 6-day work and one day off for all Filipino Maids in Hong Kong. That day off is usually held on Sundays. During this day, thousands of them are seen flocking in Central, Victoria Park or the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to hang out and entertain one another. Most of the time, loud rendezvous can be heard blocks away, there are singings, concerts and picnics.

The Hong Kong government supports the day of rendezvous of Filipinos. Seeing the need for privacy and respect, the main roads leading to their spot of retreat are closed for at least 10 hours usually. It has been a tradition for Filipinos for years that in their frequent hot spots, a sign of “no littering” is flagged in English, Cantonese and Tagalog.

For Filipino maids, Life goes on wherever you are. No matter what the risks as long as it is for the betterment of everyone’s future, it is worth taking. In the eyes of the hopeful maids working in a foreign land, life is working hard 6 days a week, a day of enjoyment and constant faith everyday.