LIFELINES

The life of Marilyn Macayaon, a Filipina domestic migrant worker in Beirut, Lebanon

Sandra Elena ten Zijthoff

Dedicated to the domestic migrant workers of Lebanon.

May the rights you deserve one day be respected in this country.

S.T.Z.

Everyday, women from the Philippines arrive in Beirut, Lebanon under contract as domestic workers. Due to the lack of employment in the Philippines, they are forced to work abroad to provide for their children, parents and other family members. By making the decision to work abroad, they are not only faced with loneliness and homesickness; many domestic migrant work-ers suffer injustices which are silenced by the walls that surround them in their new workplaces. Immediate change is needed in Lebanon and worldwide to protect the rights and lives of these workers. Though there are many accounts by women who have and continue to experience mistreatment, there are also accounts of those who have found a decent employer that can at least provide them a regular salary and one day off per week. Among innumerable activities, these women use their days off to meet other Filipinas, attend church services and communicate with their families and friends via internet chat. However, their freedom is still very much limited. While doing research on the Filipina community in Beirut, I was given the opportunity to follow and photograph the life of one woman, Marilyn. In the following portraitures she has very gener-ously invited us into her private life and that of her church community. She has done this with the hope of shedding light on the current issues related to domestic migrant workers while depict-ing a story different from the stories of mistreatment and violence often associated to their lives in Lebanon.

Sandra Elena ten Zijthoff

“My name is Marilyn Macayaon, I was born on the 11th of July, 1975, in a quiet peaceful place of Luzon, Philippines. There are eight children in my family, I am the sixth child. My father is a farmer and I grew up with a very simple living: no vehicles, no electricity, not even water supply at that time. We walked for one hour to reach the school every morning and during our holidays and weekends we helped our parents on the farm. When I finished my high school, I immediately went down to Manila to get a job because one of my dreams is to help my parents and to take them out from that place. Then, in November 2001, I decided to apply for work abroad. God allowed it and I arrived here, in Lebanon, on January 18th, 2002. At first, I did not have any friends or relatives, not even one. I was all alone. But, I trusted God and had faith that whatever trials, difficulties and struggles that came, I'm ready to face it. “

“I'm working as a housemaid. I start around 6 o’clock in the morning everyday and finish my as-signed work at around 1 o’clock in the afternoon. After that, I take a short break and wait for the kids until 3 to 4 o’clock and serve them lunch. When they are finished I immediately wash the dishes so that I can get rest, but sometimes there are guests and I'm taking my time serving them. At around 10 o’clock at night it's my time to fix myself and I go to bed.“

9 o’clock...

11 o’clock...

“I spend my free time reading the Bible, meditating, playing the guitar and listening to music. Sometimes, I go for a quick visit with my neighborhood friends.

In spite of all the hardships and trials I've encountered, I still feel so blessed because I got some loving friends whom I can trust and rely on and my family who are always ready to give their moral support.”

“I spend my whole Sunday in the church having bible studies and attending worship service and tambourine practices. We even eat lunch together inside the church, sharing each others prob-lems or victories and having fun with friends. This church has taught me a lot and made me feel joyful. God also blessed me to have an employer with such a kind heart; she gives me a lot of freedom. They respect my privacy and trust me. Sometimes I thought of getting another employer or job to have a higher salary, but I'd rather not because I'm not sure with their behavior. It could be worse.”

“To be stronger, I have no choice but to experience hard times. Sometimes, I'm feeling so sad be-cause I miss my family. Sometimes, I'm so tired with my daily routine in this huge house. Some-times, I'm so down whenever I have a broken relationship with someone whom I trusted. These things make me feel in prison, but God helps me in every circumstance. He is the source of my strength, my joy and my protection. He is my everything.”

Sandra Elena ten Zijthoff was born on January 12th, 1985 in Rome, Italy. She is currently enrolled at the University of Amsterdam as a Master’s student pursuing a degree in Inter-national Development Studies. Sandra was first made aware of the situation of domestic migrant workers in Lebanon when she traveled there in 2007. She then decided to write her mas-ter’s on the topic, with an emphasis on the Filipina population and their support structures. Sandra currently resides in Am-sterdam, the Netherlands.

© 2008 Sandra ten Zijthoff