SABBATICAL NOTES. 21 APRIL 2014. N3. EASTER MONDAY. The Señoras of Madrid. MADRID is a modern city. But it is as old as the medieval times too, with its hierarchic view of the world and relationships. The poor will always be with Madrids populace, and so are the old, old rich, these people who are so entrenched in the economic life of this city and other cities, those who own the land and buildings for rent, those who own businesses, those who own the strength and dignity and labor of others. This is the case of Mrs Daria, a long-time Madrid resident who comes from the Philippines and who has known what life there is in the homeland, the reason why she left her young children, the youngest, a boy, at seven. I have talked of Mrs Daria in segments in the past, and here is another installment of her story. She has decided to stay with the same employer for the last 17 years, and has endured the same treatment she has received from her señora for 17 years. The señora is one of those rich duchesses, and was married to a former priest who, after getting out of the priesthood, went into business and succeeded. That business success consolidated so much wealth into the hands of the same family. The family owed vast tracks of land in Spain as well as in France, but France decided to get back that land from them, retaining only a small parcel of their property where their house stands. The señor was a kind man, Mrs Daria says. Mrs Daria took good care of him until he died, and when he died, the señoras children, who have since grown up, went back to live with their mother in their family home, bringing in their own children. She was supposed to care for only two people, the señor and the señora, and now, she takes care of everyone elses needs, seven of them, from their personal to their domestic concerns. She had before another person to help her, but with the economic woes of Spain, the señora decided she needed only one domestic worker, and that meant Sra Daria. Before, I never talked back, she said. But then later on, when I learned of the wanton abuse of our rights, I started to fight back. You never said your piece before? Thats me. No. I was afraid I would lose my job. It is not easy to have one these days. What particular abuse she does? She never trusts anyone in her household, her children included. Many times, I was accused of taking her missing jewelry. After several months, we found that jewelry in a lock. She locks everything. Only she has access to anything in her home. How are you being treated? I am a esclava, and I know it. That is what I came here for. I was not prepared, but I trained myself to accept things. You never complained? To whom should I complain? The Philippine Embassy? I do not think so. The impression we have here is that the embassy is here only for the PR thing. How was it, this continuing slave-like treatment? It is hard, but do we have options? Not at this time. Each time I get in to report for work, I have to pass by a door with the CCTV. Each time I get out, I must use the same door, yes, with that same CCTV. She is afraid I might get one of her onion or carrots. That is how mean she is. Is this the same for all the señoras here? Yes, practically the same. There are those who are not Spaniards and they treat you better. Otherwise, you must brace yourself up. MADRID/ March 25, 2014
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 03:10:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015