Dear Muslim Friends with Filipino Domestic Helpers

I believe Ramadan has been concluded and all our Muslim friends was happy. I view Ramadan as Christmas celebration in Christians and it is nice to see that our muslim brothers and sisters enjoy this day following their beliefs, tradition and culture.

Inshallah!

Please do allow me to share a story of someone dear to my heart and hopefully you still have sometime to read my plea. This is not just for the Filipino Domestic Helpers but to ALL.

My Aunt is a DH in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. When we say DH - Domestic Helper, yes.

She is been in Saudi for like about 10 years if I am not mistaken but she went home just last 2020. Just that it was not a good homecoming for her because her family kept on fighting instead of being happy because she is finally at home. She once decided to stay here in the Philippines but decided to go back due to poverty and so as to be away from her family.

Her employers who are couple and has 3 kids are actually one of the best. Unlike other DH who experienced cruelty in the hands of their masters or employers she on the other hand is doing good. Just that, her first years as DH were never easy. Home sickness added with the fear of being alone in a foreign land plus trying to adjust with the culture and understand their language. It was never easy for her to go through all the struggles and adjust plus here comes the non-stop family issues.

Most of the time she would call us and cry her heart out but then she got no choice but just to continue. Poverty is one of the main reason why Filipinos would decide to go abroad. They would like to see if their luck is somewhere rather than staying here in our homeland but then it is not a walk in the park.

During Ramadan my Aunt would call us crying because she is too tired and she has to get up almost 24 hours just to serve her employers and their visitors then wait for them to go home. She would have to stand up and cook non-stop most especially if there are a lot of people. Not that she is complaining but it is something she was not used to. She would be sleeping after washing the dishes and cleaning the surroundings most likely around 1-3 in the morning, take note this happens the whole Ramadan which may be up to a month. She was not just so used to the culture but then she had to adjust wether she likes it or not.

After a couple of years of working she got the hang of everything and was able to stay up to now. Again, her employers are not bad it is just that she is not used to the way how they go about their celebrations plus she is already around late 40's.

So to my Muslim Brothers and Sisters reading this:

Please if you have a Filipino Domestic Helpers at home kindly check if they are doing good. I know it is never your task nor responsibility to do so but please if you could have a heart to those unfortunate ones kindly give a piece of it to them. Ask them if they needed some rest or make arrangements because they are human too. They need sometime to recharge. I would also like to ask or maybe beg to please give them a DAY OFF. A day where they are free to stroll around and go back at night because running around your household is a never ending task or even taking care of your kids.

Even those who are not muslims who has a helper at home. Kindly treat them with kindness at least if it is hard for you to treat them like a family.

...end thoughts...

I love my Aunt and I am very proud of her. We are looking forward for her to finally go home and enjoy the fruit of her labor. I hope that I did not offend anyone. This article is not to attack but to raise awareness and a plea to everyone.

I did not post her picture for security.

Image Source: Unsplash