Filipinos are a bit obsessed with light skin. In this they are like the Thai, I believe. It seems such a shame, but then I think back to my 20's when I would try and get a tan! But I never stooped to using darkening soap. Alana told me it was hard to get any soap that didn't include bleaching agents! Uck.
Before I got to the Philippines I was worried about eating well enough. Ha! Even though their native cuisine is a bit limited, the whole country seems to embrace western food. For breakfast I would usually just go to a little hole in the wall and get eggs for about 35 cents, and a few buns I got on the way for maybe 12 cents.
The fancy meals like this one would set me back $3 to $5. This was one of the most gourmet meals I had my whole stay!
The far back wall of LCP had a number of these...murals? PSAs? To me this was the most intense. There are recruiting companies that offer domestic service jobs, especially in rich countries like Dubai. I know they also prey on Africans from Kenya. Once the girls get there they are actual slaves, receiving no pay and no freedom whatsoever, living in squalid conditions and forced to work long hours 7 days a week.
Probably there are legitimate companies as well. Alana told me that there are more Filipa overseas workers than from any other country right now.
My dear hosts, Jacques and Alana, are hopefully enjoying a much deserved R&R vacation on the beach in Sri Lanka. I would never have taught in the Philippines at all, were it not for Alana. They delayed their own departure (and I think they were READY after 2 years) for two whole weeks and endured a second round of tearful goodbyes! What wonderful folks.
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