I admire the generosity, respect and love of the children of my employer for their parents. They love their parents and they do things that make them happy. They spend time together specially in the evenings sharing stories while enjoying watching TV. They also help me in preparing food if I have other tasks to do. I can feel the joy and closeness of the family.
The dinner of the whole family together on every special occasions like the Winter Solstice reminds me of my own family reunions back in the Philippines.
There are also different Chinese traditional practices my employer follows, like the Chinese New Year, that make a deep impression on me. Early before the festivities, we would do a general cleaning of the house. My employer who has a generous heart will share some of their things like clothing, shoes, toys to me for my family. I also like the different kinds of Chinese cakes, sweets and fruits eaten during the festival.
I’m amazed by the traditional Chinese New Year decorations everywhere and the dragon and lion dance being performed in the park, in the shopping malls and the place where I stay in Diamond Hill. During the Chinese New Year, my employer, her friends and older members of her family also show their generosity to me with their red packet money.
— Nelia Leonardo
I can see that the Lunar New Year is the happiest Chinese festival for family members, even living or working far off, come together for a family reunion. Friendliness, good manners, generosity and kindness are best shown during the festival. Everybody is happy. But we domestic workers must be physically fit and strong for the tradition of spring cleaning.
We all have fun in displaying messages of good luck, wealth and happiness and putting up colourful decorations like lanterns, spring couplets, coins and other festive decorations. The best activity I like is when they bring me along with them in visiting the homes of family members and friends where I gratefully receive red packets and chocolates. But this year it may not be possible because of the pandemic.
The Chinese people also remember with respect their dearly departed ones. Every Ching Ming Festival the family visits the tombs of their deceased relatives. Their thoughtfulness and respect for the departed members is truly a virtue. This is a similar tradition we also practice in the Philippines.
— Jacqueline Adona
It is fun and exciting to hang or stick colourful decorations and red banners on the walls in the Chinese New Year. The bright colours create a joyful mood for the celebration of the Chinese New Year. I specially love eating sweets with the family. My employer explained eating sweets together is a symbol of a good relationship within family where unity, love and respect abounds. After a busy and tiring couple of weeks preparing festive food, I am happy as I am rewarded by the feeling of belongingness because I can feel that my employers’ family treat me as one of them.
— Jianne Rose Camacho
The Chinese New Year season always brings me a happy festive mood. The bright red coloured decorations around the house add warmth to the house and bring excitement. Beautiful flowers displayed inside the house are refreshing. I am energized in helping as we prepare radish cakes which are shared with family members and friends or given out to visitors. We prepare different dishes and all family members are happy to enjoy the chance for family bonding through the meals. It is encouraging to hear them appreciate my cooking as they want to eat more. I appreciate the close family ties of my employer’s family as they show love, respect and kindness. An exchange of red packets among family members, relatives and friends, along with the happy meals, describes the sharing nature of the season. I always have my fair share with red packets filling my pockets, and with the kind appreciation of my employers for my jobs done for the festival.
— Norma Enriquez
I am specifically touched by their filial piety shown by the high respect for the elderly or ancestors. Some people put up an altar with a picture of an ancestor displayed in a corner inside the house where the daily lighting of incense and offerings are done. No matter how old their grandparents are as long as they can still walk they bring them to family gatherings. Also the eldest or grandparents in the family is always consulted when they plan a cultural or traditional events.
— Myrna Buenconsejo
