Her tears kept cascading down her smooth cheeks. She couldn’t stop crying over her new fate.
While narrating what had happened, someone handed her a Kleenex facial tissue to wipe her face, eyes, and hands.
This was her story:
She met her husband when she was in her early 30s. He, a divorced 50-year old from Los Angeles, California, she, from a poor town in Metro Manila. He was visiting the country and prospecting to find someone to replace his wife with someone fresh.
Let’s call her Minda. Minda was brought to the United States by the divorcee. They got married and she was completely dependent on him. As he got older, Minda assumed her responsiblities as wife, housekeeper, and his official caregiver. She receceived $2,000 a month from the Federal government as his official tiga-alaga but $1,000 was taken by her husband.
And today, the realization hit her that she has no money, no place to stay, no education or work experience, and at age 51, she would be losing her 78-year old husband to a 30s girl. She should be happy to start a new life without him. She can work in a care home facility, with free board and lodging and full salary. She’ll have better control of her life and be happy.
We are not even sure if that husband of hers petitioned her when she came to America. For all we know, he just allowed her to wander in America without legal papers so she would be helpless and dependent on him. I hope not.
