Grace Mendoza had never imagined herself leaving her hometown in Batangas. But when her eldest daughter entered high school and expenses started to pile up, she knew her husband’s small income as a tricycle driver would not be enough. With a heavy heart, she decided to work abroad. After months of paperwork and training, Grace landed in Singapore, hired as a housekeeper for a family of five.
Her employers lived in a modern condominium near Orchard Road. The apartment was spacious, filled with glass walls, delicate furniture, and high-tech appliances she had never used before. On her first day, she felt overwhelmed. Everything had to be spotless mirrors without fingerprints, floors polished daily, and laundry folded with precision. She was also responsible for preparing meals and helping care for the family’s two young children.
At first, Grace struggled to adjust to the fast pace. She often worked from early morning until late at night. Her hands became dry from detergents, her body ached from endless chores, and she barely had time for herself. The language barrier also added stress; although her employers spoke English, she sometimes misunderstood instructions, which made her feel anxious.
But Grace was determined to learn. She paid close attention, took notes, and soon became familiar with the routines. She mastered cooking both Filipino dishes for herself and local Singaporean meals for her employers. When the children started calling her Ate Grace, she felt a warmth in her heart though it also reminded her of the kids she left behind.
Loneliness was her greatest enemy. At night, she would quietly wipe her tears while looking at pictures of her family taped to the wall of her small room. Video calls on Sundays gave her comfort, but seeing her children grow up on a screen broke her heart. She missed birthdays, school events, and even simple family dinners. Yet she reminded herself: her sacrifice was for them.
Her only day off came on Sundays, when she would go to Lucky Plaza. There, Grace found a second family fellow OFWs who shared meals, stories, and laughter. They exchanged tips on saving money, encouraged each other when homesickness struck, and even sang karaoke to chase away sadness. Those gatherings gave Grace the strength to endure another week of hard work.
Two years passed quickly. Grace renewed her contract, and with the money she had saved, her husband was able to renovate their house and send all three children to school. Though she missed being there physically, she found comfort knowing her sacrifice was changing their lives.
One memorable moment came when her employer’s children gave her a handmade card that read: Thank you, Ate Grace, for taking care of us. It was a small gesture. but it meant the world to her. It reminded her that behind every polished floor and folded sheet, there was dignity in her labor.
As she stood one evening on the balcony, watching the lights of Singapore’s skyline, Grace whispered to herself, I am more than a housekeeper, I am a mother building dreams.
