Tuesday, June 14, 2005

while bloghopping a few days ago, i came across teachersol's blog talking about the new filipina. then again today, i read a touching post by another filipina in florida. and it got me thinking...

yes, it is sad that when you do a google search (i actually tried this) for "filipina", results would lead you to dating sites, etc. hence filipinas are almost always associated with mail order brides or as domestic helpers. but did we ever consider why this happened? ask any filipino going abroad why they leave the country and chances are, you will get the same answers - they want a better life for themselves and their families. can we blame them for wanting this? can we blame them if they think that going abroad to be domestics or mail order brides is the only way they can do this? not everyone though goes abroad to be domestics or mail order brides, there are also professionals who go abroad (who actually are doing a good job at making a name for themselves) to have a better life.

did we ever consider why filipinas are famous for being mail order brides or domestics? there are other nationalities abroad who also work as domestics or who become mail order brides, why aren't they known for this? maybe because there is something in the filipina that these foreigners like that is why we are very much in demand. maybe it is because filipinas work harder than those other women or maybe because filipinas are good wives. shouldn't we be proud of this?

i am not looking down on these women, in fact, i am even proud of them. they are doing a great sacrifice for their families so they should be admired for this. there is nothing wrong in being known for this but i think that we also owe it to ourselves to let the whole world know that we filipinas are not only good domestic helpers or wives. we owe it to ourselves to let the world know that we are good and hardworking teachers, nurses or engineers.