Good Housekeeping: The Filipino Wife's Appendage--the Yaya

The Filipino Wife's Appendage--the Yaya

In the Philippines, our houses are kept clean by our Yaya's. Some call them 'maids', many call them 'yaya', some like me call them 'helpers'. These are the ones whom we say are part of our family and yet, not really. Many call them 'Yaya' (or Nanny in English) because they take care of our kids when we work or go out, but actually, they're mostly 'all-around'--they cook, clean house, do the laundry, help the kids with their homework, do just about everything you tell them to do. To the more affluent, 'Yaya' is just 'yaya'--the second Mom to her 'alaga'. Some of us were raised by one.

I have been blessed with good helpers; they all come from Bacolod. One of them started working for me when she was just 17 years old. In the beginning, I had to train them especially in cooking the meals, in doing the house chores, in doing the laundry and how to iron the clothes. Later, we trained them how to answer the phones and warned them about the 'dugo-dugo' gimmicks and not to let anyone in when we're not around. Just like any helper, they try their best to do their chores without being asked and have the initiative to take an inventory of the supplies in the house so we could buy what is lacking. With my helpers, I can leave the house and know that when I go home, my house is intact and the family will have something to eat.

Of course, we were able to lead them to the Lord and we encouraged them to attend a cell group for house helpers which our friends were leading at that time. The Lord impressed upon our heart to send one of them to college as she finished high school with honors. The former 17 years old, now almost 25, is finishing her two-year course in HRM at STI and is currently doing her practicum at a 4-star hotel in Mandaluyong. Although she will be a tremendous loss to me and my family, but I thank the Lord that after she graduates, she will also graduate from being a helper and will be promoted to a higher level of employment. I could just imagine what a blessing she would be to her family in Bacolod and to one of her siblings whom she could send to school.

God is the God of increase. His plans for us is to prosper us and to give us a good future. Who knows, God will speak to your heart to be an instrument of increase to your Yaya.

God is good!

Thursday, January 7, 2010