When Antonia’s husband Ric received the initial settlement of P150,000 from the guy who ran over him five years ago in Bicol, he told his wife to stop working and come home. I told her family takes precedence in everything that we do.
She doesn’t really need to work as kasambahay because they own several real estate properties in Bicol, Cavite and Muntinlupa. Kahit papano meron din yung value. She left last monday to accompany her husband in buying the P90,000 hearing aid.
She brought with her three bags of clothes and cosmetics.
She was back here the next day, tuesday, kasi daw her husband didn’t agree on letting her work again. Family is important, that’s what I told Antonia.
Wednesday, she left bringing with her some seat cushions and covers from me, and more clothes. I told her however, that I doubt very much if she would be able to stay in Bicol for a long time. “Maiinip ka kasi mas gusto mo dito sa Maynila”. Antonia is from Bacolod, her husband’s the one from
Bicol.
Before saying goodbye on wednesday, she prepared fried chicken (again). Natawa nga ako when I saw our table. We’re not going to miss her fried chicken.
She hugged her friends here, tawagan nila sisters. It’s a relief when maids don’t fight. Minsan kasi nag-aaway-away.
As early as last week, there were several applicants for cook waiting to be interviewed but I didn’t. Natatamad ako, kasi it’s so tiring to interview them. Pare-pareho naman sila ng sagot. They tell the same stories. I wasn’t in a hurry to get a new cook. The mere thought that I have to deal with it made me exhausted already.
We’re always out, my son rarely eats here, my daughter has food delivered daily for her diet program. We can survive even without a kusinera. The other maids can cook their own meals.
Antonia left on Wednesday afternoon, by Friday morning she was already texting me. She wants to come back raw and her husband agreed, ang bait naman daw pala ng amo nya. Here’s the catch, her husband wants me to increase her salary by an additional 1,500 a month. That’s big considering that she hardly does anything. She hates to clean even the kitchen or dining. She has an easy time here. All of our maids do.
When I told her, wala pa syang one year, and napaka gaan naman ng trabaho nya dito, and we’re always away. She promised she would be more masipag and would utilize her time sewing me dresses. She can make me dasters daw. Hmmm that’s enticing. She got me there. Daster, yoohoo! Ang mahal na daster nyan. Tulong ko na lang daw sa education ng anak nya. Sige na nga pero I made tawad 1,000 na lang muna kasi her salary is big already.
I haven’t woke up this morning and yet Antonia was already at the village gate waiting for my authorization to let her in. Aba wala pang one week syang nag-honeymoon.
Four days pa lang syang wala. I haven’t missed her fried chicken yet.
Oyen———–“Mom, Antonia is back. Do you hear the screams?”
(She was welcomed by her colleagues with screams and tili. As if she’s been away for months).
Oyen———–“She’s here, do you hear them screaming? Hala, balik fried chicken”.
(Ulam namin puro friend chicken na naman, krooook krooook yah).
Yay! Welcome back Antonia! I like Antonia!