|
Thursday, August 08, 2002
By nightfall: A PW's story
AMOR (not her real name), a 23-year old woman who lives in Agora, Lapasan this city began work as a guest relations officer (GRO) nearly two years ago.
After breaking free from her husband's abuse Amor left him and their three daughters to try her luck in Cagayan de Oro city.
She said she left her husband after he beat and humiliated her in front of the neighbors.
She worked first as a waitress at an eatery earning P30 daily and sleeping in a room that can barely fit an average sized person.
Amor toiled for days until she was offered by a regular customer to work for a karaoke TV (KTV) bar as a waitress. On her first night at a KTV bar she was ordered by her employer to table a customer. Amor said she cried every night for everytime she was forced to "table" a customer.
Amor said she was treated like an animal and was used by every man. Despite this she said she didn't find other means of work because she didn't finish schooling.
"Maglisod man gani ug sulod sa trabaho ang college graduate kami pakaha (A college graduate had a hard time finding work how much more me)," Amor said.
Working as a PW for months and then two years later she learned several techniques on what to do with customers and how to deal with them on times they go out.
Amor also chose what kind of man she would go out with.
"Kinahanglan gyud ko mag-condom pero naa gyuy kustomer nga dili mosugot (Using a condom is essential but there are customers who won't agree)," Amor said.
She is used to necking and petting done by her customer saying it doesn't affect her. Amor said despite the abuse she managed to defend herself everytime she is insulted by her customers. She said she will only stop her work after she finds a man who would love her and her daughters.
"I have a steady boyfriend but I still have to make sure whether he loves me truly. Mag-minaro sad ta karon, ang mga lalaki ra ba diay kabalo mag-minaro (Let's be cunning now is it only the men who are supposed to be cunning?)," she said.
Amor is just one of millions of PWs in the country today who are victims of circumstances. As a PW her hours are like most of the office employees as she works from 8:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. everyday.
It was not long before she found out out about Tisaka, a women's organization that helped changed her life. (to be continued) |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
