I made a 2-year promise to my Dad about working in Hong Kong. Those 2 years somehow turned into 28.
I have served 4 families throughout my time here, spending the last 12 years with 2 teachers who hired me – a fellow dog owner – to care for their adopted dog who had a special condition.
My main duty is the dog’s welfare. My responsibilities shifted toward human and dog nutrition, inspiring me to take classes in cooking and baking. I’m open to learning. I seldom cooked in my previous employment and I’m now passionate about baking. With my employers’ support, I experimented with new recipes and completed training in dog grooming, obedience, and first aid.
Coming from a low-income family, I put myself through university. I borrowed money, and I worked in the night from 7pm to 3am and studied in the day. Nursing wasn’t my first choice. I chose the path due to the health conditions of both of my grandparents, so I could care for them.
Determined to build a future, I applied for nursing jobs overseas. Lacking the experience required for Saudi Arabia, I accepted a caregiving role in Libya instead. But before I even got on the plane, my client passed away.
I cried at the agency. I kept asking them how I would repay the high-interest loan I had taken out. I needed to have a salary as soon as possible. I can say today that it was stupidity that brought me here to Hong Kong. I simply signed the contract without even reading what it was, after hearing my agent’s words “malaki ang sahod doon” (the salary is high there).
At the airport, the pride my dad felt about having the first university graduate in our village collapsed. As the eldest of six, I have the cultural responsibility to help with my siblings’ school expenses, alongside my grandparents’ medical expenses.
Over the years, opportunities arose to move to the US, Canada and Europe, but I repeatedly chose to stay in Hong Kong. It is closer to home and I can easily travel back whenever I need to. Remaining in a familiar healthcare system since 2010 also gives me peace of mind regarding my own health. Above all, Hong Kong is where I have found my purpose: serving and uplifting my community.
“What is Overstaying?” is a topic very close to my heart, having lived with overstayed Migrant Domestic Workers before. I understand the circumstances that lead to this situation – mainly misinformation and false assumptions circulating within our community.
I experienced this vulnerability firsthand during the pandemic. I was caught completely off guard when I realised my contract visa had already expired for 8 days.
Opening hearts and minds starts with building trust and sharing real life stories. When talking to overstayed workers through the What is Overstaying? project, I encourage them to surrender, but I never force them – I simply walk beside them in hope.
I’d like to remind our community to keep in mind your important dates, and to stay calm if you ever discover your visa has lapsed. Most importantly, always remember that your legal stay depends on the official visa date stamped on your passport, not the date written on your physical contract.
From being a simple, trained Ambassador giving out Resource Cards during outreach and seminars to holding workshops and speaking about Maternity Rights specifically to the crowd. Looking back, I can truly see how I’ve grown from a tiny seed into a fruit-bearing tree.
With the trust of Pathfinders’ staff and CEO, I have been given wings to fly. Serving as an Ambassador has opened doors to strategic collaborations, enabling me to reach a wider community and deliver greater support to those in need.
I am very grateful for the opportunities to connect with like-minded platforms that share this mission. This journey has expanded my impact while strengthening my passion, driving personal and professional growth.
