Module 7 - k. coloma

The Flor Contemplacion film is the epitome of what we want and don’t want in life. This film, which was based on a true story, is probably one of the most depressing but good Filipino movies I have watched thus far. It is about a Filipino domestic worker who was hanged for the alleged murder of her co-worker and her employer’s child. Flor, played by Nora Aunor, goes to Singapore as a domestic worker in order to provide for her children. Because of her absence from home her husband takes on a mistress, her children get into their own messes and other misfortunate things result. I had never heard of Flor or her story before this film so I had no clue what I was in for. As the story unraveled it killed me as I sat and watched her get tortured and abused into confessions which ultimately led to her death. At the end of the movie I thought more on her situation. To Flor, the opportunity to go to Singapore was a give and take sort of situation. You have to give something for things that you want and need and in turn you are left with things that you might not be so willing to accept if you had other choices.

This film opened my eyes to the shortcomings of the Filipino government in defending and protecting its citizens. After the film I was curious to learn exactly what the government did to avenge her death and what precautions they took to prevent similar situations like this from occurring. I am glad to have read that the president, who I believe was Ramos at the time, recalled the ambassador back to Singapore and that many joint exchanges between the two countries were terminated. Nevertheless, I don’t believe that the maltreatment of Filipino overseas workers is ever going to come to a complete end. But I guess small steps towards an almost safe and healthy overseas treatment is better than nothing at all. I was happy to learn that a similar case of an overseas worker was given some sort of justice. Nonetheless, I now more than ever question what happened to social justice. Maybe society along with the government has forgotten what it means just as the article “Defining Social Justice” asserts. My definition of social justice is similar to one of the definitions in the article. I say similar only because I do not fully agree with the entire definition that it imparts. I ascribe it to society at whole and because of that single individuals matter since they make up that society.

This film reminded me of a documentary I watched in Dr. Rod Labrador’s ethnic studies class. It was about struggles and obstacles overseas workers must face in order to provide for their families back home. The employers in this film, all of which were women, treated them well and sincerely appreciated their help. One woman even went as far as glorifying her Filipino worker and stating that if her worker went back home she would move her family to the Philippines so that her worker would be able to keep working for them. The sad reality is not all overseas workers get treated like this but is it refreshing to know and see that there are people who treat them well. All that they give up is overlooked and I am guilty of not giving them the attention and respect they need. My eyes were opened when one of the ladies said that she had left her baby in order to provide more for him and it just so happened that the child she was caring for was the same age as her son. You could see in her eyes the emptiness she felt. Here she was miles and miles away giving the boy the attention and care that she would give to her own son but cannot.

All in all this film is was a great tool to promote awareness and impart the obstacles that overseas workers face on a daily basis. Because the world doesn’t work perfectly some workers are mistreated and abused. A majority of these cases go unreported because of fear and lack power. There is also the possibility of becoming jobless in a society where money is cannot be done without. Though this film and other films like this opens the eyes of those that view it, it is still not enough. Until this movie I did not get the full concept of what exactly can happen to overseas workers. And like I mentioned before, though this film was a great step towards awareness for their issues and matters, we need to do more for them and others like them. The only good thing that maltreatment of overseas brings is the awareness of the need for better and stronger social systems. It is depressing to know what has to happen before people start doing something about issues like these.