Filipino maid (domestic worker) Marites Manggad is a and a housekeeper too.
With 9 years experience as a domestic helper in Singapore, she is now
available for transfer (in late December 09).
Background
Marites is from the province of Pangasinan, where some of the best domestic
helpers this interviewer has come to know hail from. Marites is 35 and a
mother of an 11-year old boy. She is now separated.
Her father is a farmer and she is 4th among his 7 children. She has a
secondary education and speaks and understand English quite well.
Job History in Singapore
Marites worked for 5 years in her country before coming to Singapore. She
first worked as a sales assistant in a grocery store for 3 years from 1990
until 1993. Next she worked in a garment factory for two years from 1994 to
1996. For the next several years she stayed at home taking care of her
mother as well as her own son.
- Her first job in Singapore was from October 2000. Her main duty was to
take care of an old woman who had terminal cancer. Marites transferred to
another family when the old woman passed away.
- Her next employer was Tang YC. There were 3 children in the family, aged
6 months, 3 years and 7 years old. Madam worked part-time and helped out
when she was not working. Marites completed 2 years with Tang YC from May 01
to May 03.
- For 7 months from May 03 until Oct 03 Marites worked for Gracia P.
Gracia had 2 children aged 2 and 5 at the start. Gracia thought Madam was
cold as she seldom talked to her and at the end of 7 months she asked to be
released.
- Meanwhile Tang (Employer 2 above) knew of her difficulties and asked her
to return as his financial position had improved.
Marites stayed on for another 5 years from Dec 03 to Jan 09.
Madam who still working part-time decided to do without domestic help and
Marites went home to the Philipines.
- In May 09 Marites returned to Singapore, this time to work for an
expatriate family from Australia. They will be going home in late December
09. Morgan S, employer, says
Marites is hardworking, honest and reliable and enjoys being with children
and recommends her for a family with young children.
More.
Care of Children/Elderly Sick
Marites has taken care of a terminally ill person and 8 children. The
children she cared for/helped to care for ranged in age from newborn to 14
years. She enjoys being with children and even to this day, she is still in
touch with Tan YC's children They used to call her by phone when she
returned to her own country in January 2009. Most of the time Madam of the
day stayed at home or worked part-time. Marites is prepared to care for a
newborn again.
Cooking
Marites worked for 3 Chinese families and two of them
required cooking of her. She is able to cook simple Chinese dishes such as
but not limited to the following:
- Chicken curry, chicken soup
- Prawn noodle, fried rice, nasi lemak, fried bee hoon
- Steamed fish, fish soup, sweet and sour fish, fried fish, fish curry
For her expatriate employers Marites cooks pasta, casserole (beef and
chicken), pancakes, sandwiches, salads.
Marites can follow instructions in a cook and she sometimes refers to a cook
book for ideas.
Personality
Marites is neat and tidy and simply dressed. She is
alert, cheerful and friendly. According to her current employer, "she has a
happy disposition and a good sense of humour."
