Kusinera and Pesbuk

I let go of our kusinera, Jocelyn,  although mabait sya, but she was always absent. She took long day-offs, hindi na day-off, kundi weeks-off. And lately she just sat in front of the tv to watch teleserye. She loved our dogs, but her salary’s too expensive for a dog nanny. While Edmund and I were away, she served all de-lata to my kids, and didn’t make any effort to cook good meals for them.

I’ve been busy in the kitchen cooking food for my family ever since we came back.

I am a scratch cook,  meaning,  I cook whatever ingredient is available.  Imbento lang.

I made corn soup from the corns I bought  from the vendor along Tagaytay-Santa Rosa Road.  Ang tigas, hindi magandang klase.  I didn’t get off the car kasi to check what the tindera was putting in the paper bag.

My son found some giant clams in Tiendesitas.

I cooked lugaw for breakfast.

Ever since I bought a mini Mandoline , we’ve been making potato chips, pampataba!

I didn’t know how to remove the oiliness. I wiped the potato chips one by one.

I like cooking for my family but my problem is the limited time that I have in the evening to prepare meals. And many times, I would cook, no one naman would eat at home.

I hired a new cook last week. She seemed okay naman.

Francia———–“Mam, okay lang ba sayo na hindi masarap ang luto ko?”

Aba!
A—————–“Bakit pa ako nagpapasweldo ng cook kung hindi masarap ang luto?”

Tapos sinundan pa ng “Hindi ko gusto ang luto ko kasi ayaw nyong magpalagay ng asukal sa mga ulam. Sa ibang tinirhan ko, okay naman sa kanila ang may asukal”.
A———– “kung gusto ko ng minatamis, kakain ako ng dessert, hindi sinigang or nilaga. Kung international cook ka talaga, hindi mo kailangan lagyan ng asukal ang mga ulam namin”.

Last night we let her go, after staying with us for 7 days.
She came from Sarah Geronimo’s household and Jack Enrile’s. She cooked well and prepared buffets and malinis naman sya sa kitchen. But we had to let her go. Why?

Two days into her employment, she and Vilma (badash, badaf remember) had a fight one early morning while I was still asleep. The maids have their own toilet and shower inside their bedroom. Nag-unahan sila sa paggamit, hayun, nag-away. Edmund told the cook to stop but she kept on arguing still.

Maids’ toilet and bath is prettier and bigger than my childhood bathroom in Binangonan.

They also argued on how to divide the compartments in their refrigerator. They also argued on the tv usage.

Yesterday afternoon, I got a text that they were quarreling again. I spoke to the cook on the phone and pacified her. I also listened to her side of the story and just told her to ignore and stay away from Vilma.  They fought naman over their individual cabinets.

Edmund and I arrived home at 7 pm last night. He parked outside our gate kaya the maids didn’t know that we’re there already. While I was walking towards the gate, I heard their voices, nag-aaway na naman. Nagmumurahan. Vilma was seated closer to the entrance kaya she immediately stopped shouting upon seeing me. As I entered the garage, the cook, Francia, continued with her tirade. I told her in a soft voice and tone “Tama na”.
Francia——— Eh kasi mam, alam nyo yang babaing yan….
A————— Tama na.
And she didn’t want to stop. I shouted at her. TAMA NA!
and she wouldn’t stop. I screamed at her “Di ba sinabi ko tama na”.
And she would’t stop, pointing at Vilma. “Sya naman mam ang nauna, yang babaing…….
Edmund was some 5 meters away from me because he parked his vehicle first.
When he heard me screaming because Francia wouldn’t stop. He told her “Sinabi na sayong tama na, balutin mo na ang gamit mo at umalis ka na, ayaw mong tumigil”. She was still talking, and angry with Vilma.

She left peacefully, I gave her some extra money. Ang bagal nyang mag-ayos ng damit nya. Tapos salita ng salita. I tried to record her tirades pero mali ang napindot ko, picture pala. Sayang she was so funny.

Francia—– Wala akong problema sa inyo mam, yang babaing yan, walang pinag-aralan.
Kung hindi ba naman, tanga talaga, bakit nya sasabihin na may gusto ako kay Sir pati sa anak nyo. Sinabi ko lang na si simple lang si sir, maayos manamit”.
Francia—– “Mam, tinutuhog ko daw si Sir at ang anak nyo, anong klase akong babae, na gagawin ko yun? Papatol ba ako kay sir?”

I was just quietly waiting for her to finish packing so I could give her the gate pass. She put on lotion on her arms, hands, neck. Moisturizer on her face. Tapos ang tagal pang naglipstick at nagpolbo. Francia is 5 ft. tall, 90 lbs and 53 years old.

I just told her to be patient with her co-workers when she moves to another household.

After she left, I talked to Vilma. She really provokes and I caught her laughing at Francia and making face. This people!

A while ago, I interviewed on the phone a new applicant for international cook.
A————- Hello, anong pangalan mo?
Rose———- Rose.
A————- Hi Rose, how old are you?
Rose———- I, am fifty seven years, pero mukhang bata ako.
A————- Saan ka galing?
Rose———- Kahapon umalis ako sa Ayala Alabang.
A————- O, bakit, ilang linggo ka lang dun?
Rose———- Five days, five months ako mam, kasi nagmumura si sir, Mario, yung may ari ng______________.
A————- Bakit, anong ginawa mo at ayaw sa’yo?
Rose———- Hindi mam, dati mabait sa akin yun, pero nung nagbakasyon sila sa abroad ng isang buwan, isinumbong ako nung driver nila, siguro naniwala sya.
A————- Bakit, anong ginawa mo?
Rose———- Wala mam, may gusto lang sa akin yung driver, matagal na, hindi ko lang sya pinapansin, kaya ako isinumbong.
A————- Ilang taon na yung driver?
Rose———- Matanda na mam, mahigit singkwenta na.
A————- Ano bang hilig mong gawin?
Rose———- Wala namang gagawin na sa gabi, nagpepesbuk.
A————- Kaninong computer ang gamit mo?
Rose———- Sa phone ko mam, wala naman akong boyfriend sa pesbuk.

I also interviewed another kusinera. She left her employer (from White Plains) yesterday afer working there for 5 months because she claimed she had a fight with the mayor doma.

A———- Mylene,  anong height mo?

Mylene—-  Five

A——— Gaano ka kabigat?
Maid—— Chubby ako mam, pero maputi ako, maganda at mahaba ang buhok, may kulay.
A——— Anong kulay?
Maid—— Chestnut brown.

This morning, I talked to the maids. Apparently, meron silang mga crush sa anak ko. So every time he would come home, they would tease each other. The older ones naman, are entertaining the idea that Edmund would fall for them and give them money. That’s what they get from watching the teleserye Sir Chief.

In one of Francia’s previous employers, she flirted with the male employer who was in his 60s. Nakaka-vale yata sya. Naabutan ng pera. The wife daw was so pretty because she had her whole face done and one of the drivers naman flirted with her. I felt nauseated hearing these horrible stories.

I issued some very stern warning to the maids. Ang lalakas ng sayad at hang-ups.