I am one of those Filipinos who work abroad for our family and we are called the modern heroes/heroin for helping not only for our family but to the entire Philippines, we helped our economy from the million of dollars we remitted from our salary. We sacrifice a lot and not all the time that we are lucky from our employers. We are lucky from our employers because they treat us as human but there are many stories of abuses and maltreatment.
Last Thursday , we attented the wedding of our employer's nephew and I invited close Filipino friend nearby to spend time with me. The wedding is the only way, we can able to attend party. We are not going to any Filipino community like Christmas or else. Maybe sometimes, we attend and organize birthday party though it is not common to our employers because they are not celebrating birthday at all.
Madam gave me gown to wear and I put a little make up to look myself better in the party.
That night I looked better as a guest, not a cleaner, or housekeeper. My boss doesn't like I look differently from the Saudi people. She said, it's a party and I am a one of those invited among hundreds of women so I must be dress up well. It was funny I am not comfortable wearing like that but I respect their wants for me. I knew that they were proud looking at me in attired better walking with them who were wearing expensive gown. When we stepped down the car and walked in the wedding hall, people were watching us and I felt they were happy that I looked and acted smart that night.
There were Filipina and African friends who were not in the picture. They were inside the wedding hall. We were stealing time and chance to take picture because women, Saudi National are not allowed to be in our photographs. It is highly prohibited. Our phone were being deposit in the entrance counter so we could not take picture inside. We can do it when visitors are gone or leave the venue.
We are proud #ofw in Saudi Arabia!