Filipino Spotted in Bucharest, Romania
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SEPTEMBER 2014 PHILIPPINES 8 PASA PINOY Columns Living with Magnificent Castles in Bucharest, Romania Jenetta Abenido Alambra I t is truly a privilege to write this column as it gives me a great opportunity to converse with Filipinos residing or working all over the world. This month, I have the pleasure to exchange emails with Jenetta, who resides in the country of Romania. Jenetta is a living proof of many of us, Filipinos, who follow our dreams; even if it means that we have to live on the other side of the earth, away from our families. Jenetta came to Romania in 2009, and is currently living in the city capital of Bucharest. She lived in Singapore for 9 years prior to coming to Romania. Armed with strong will, undying faith and love of family, Jenetta has learned to be a happy and positive support not only to her own family, but also to other Filipinos in her host country throughout her journey as an overseas Filipino worker. As one of the pioneering leaders of the Filipino Community in Romania, Jenetta takes pride on being part of building a Filipino community in Romania. Just recently, her group was given an opportunity to showcase Filipino culture and tradition at a local Festival in Brasov, Romania. She reports “it was a real success, most of the local residents were amazed by our performances of Filipino folk dances. It was just a proud moment for all of us to display our culture.” She added that “slowly but surely, the Filipino community in Romania is getting exposure in the mainstream.” In one of their events, Summer Beauty, the group invited a local TV journalist – Mr. BogdanMusgoci from Neptun TV. Jenetta recalls that whenever there is an opportunity to gather with other Filipinos in Romania, they always take the time to share with each other stories about their families, work and employers. She said that most Filipinos in Romania work as nannies or housekeepers. There are more female than male OFWs in her area. She said that there are Filipinos working in hotels and restaurants, and there are also Filipinos who are in Romania because they were married to Romanian nationals. She also knew about Filipino Au Pairs in her area. According to Jenetta, “working in Romania is a bit tough for most of us, we work long hours, but my employers are very nice to me. They treat me as a family member. That is why, I don’t really complain about working longer hours. I learned to love what I do for them. I treat their children like mine. My employers adhere to the nature of the work that we agreed in the contract.” Jenetta explained that sometimes she does things around the house, even if she is not asked to. She said that for all the good things that her employers do for her, she does not really mind doing extra work for them. She shared what she believes in life, “I have learned that it does not make any difference anywhere we are, we will always be who we as if we live in our own country.” Jenetta shared that not all Filipinos working in Romania is as blessed as she is, with good-natured employers. She recalled having contact with one Filipino who reported that she was not treated nicely by her employer. Jenetta said that she and other Filipinos has showered that distressed Filipino with encouragement and moral support. Jenetta said that the last word she got from her Filipino friend was that she is now happily working with a new employer. Bucharest offers a lot of exciting experiences for Jenetta. There are a variety of activities that other Filipinos do as a community. Jenetta said that they organize picnics, they hang out together in the mall, they go to church every third Sunday of the month and there are other social gatherings that they enjoy. She said that Romanian citizens are very much impressed by Filipinos. Her employers told her that they like Filipinos because they are trustworthy, caring, hardworking and cheerful people. Jenetta said that employers in Romania do not enforce Filipinos to speak their native tongue of Romanesc. English is very well accepted by employer households. The rich cultural history of Romania always fascinates Jenetta. She said that she has seen the nicest and biggest castle in Romania, The Peles Castle. She said that “Bucharest is the best place to live in Romania because Filipinos live here and every day-off I can get the chance to be with them.” Two of the popular tourist destinations here in Romania are the cities of Brasov and Bran, the later traces the legend of Dracula and his castle, The Bran Castle. Jenetta has only one child in the Philippines, and she is a proud grandmother of two grandchildren. She reports that she has been working for almost 14 years now as an OFW. She said “I really missed my family, but I have to be strong and do what I need to do.” To the Filipinos in Romania, Jenetta has her message: “Let’s keep being strong, proud of our race, promote that loving and caring individuals in us, always guarded by our own basic right as human beings, not only in Romania but anywhere else in this world, keeping humility within us and staying with our Holy Father in Heaven to keep our lives going.” Jenetta looks forward in strengthening the Filipino community in Romania. She thanks this writer for finding and featuring her in this column so she could reach out to more Filipinos in Romania. One of the biggest plans that she wants to happen sooner is a project that will connect all the Filipinos in Romania, and maybe in the neighboring countries, and that is a newsletter. (This writer is partnering with the Filipino Community in Romania to start a newsletter by September, 2014.) Mabuhay ang mga Pilipino sa Romania! *About the Columnist: Ryan Tejero is a newspaper columnist-writer based in Chicago, Illinois-USA. He has been writing for a Filipino-American newsmagazine, Via Times (www.viatimes.com), for over ten years now. His monthly column, Club President, features leaders of the Filipino American communities in Chicago and the Midwest, USA. Via Times is Chicago’s oldest, widely- read and circulated Filipino-American newsmagazine. Ryan is also the current editor of NaFFAA National (http:// naffaa-national.org), which is the official monthly newsletter of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). NaFFAA National is circulated in 51 states of the United States. The column Filipino Spotted on the Map was launched in May 2014 in Melbourne, Australia through PasaPinoy Melbourne Edition. Spotted on the FILIPINO MAP Ryan Tejero* TFCR oath taking Jenetta in sinaia at Peles castle
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This article was published in a Filipino newspaper - Pasa Pinoy - in Melbourne Australia.
Transcript of Filipino Spotted in Bucharest, Romania
PASA PINOYseptember 2014 PLANET PHILIPPINES8PASA PINOY
ColumnsLiving with Magnificent Castles in Bucharest, Romania
Jenetta Abenido Alambra
It is truly a privilege to write this column as it gives me a great opportunity to converse with Filipinos residing or working all over the world. This month, I have the
pleasure to exchange emails with Jenetta, who resides in the country of Romania. Jenetta is a living proof of many of us, Filipinos, who follow our dreams; even if it means that we have to live on the other side of the earth, away from our families.
Jenetta came to Romania in 2009, and is currently living in the city capital of Bucharest. She lived in Singapore for 9 years prior to coming to Romania. Armed with strong will, undying faith and love of family, Jenetta has learned to be a happy and positive support not only to her own family, but also to other Filipinos in her host country throughout her journey as an overseas Filipino worker.
As one of the pioneering leaders of the Filipino Community in Romania, Jenetta takes pride on being part of building a Filipino community in Romania. Just recently, her group was given an opportunity to showcase Filipino culture and tradition at a local Festival in Brasov, Romania. She reports “it was a real success, most of the local residents were amazed by our performances of Filipino folk dances. It was just a proud moment for all of us to display our culture.” She added that “slowly but surely, the Filipino community in Romania is getting exposure in the mainstream.” In one of their events, Summer Beauty, the group invited a local TV journalist – Mr. BogdanMusgoci from Neptun TV.
Jenetta recalls that whenever there is an opportunity to gather with other Filipinos in Romania, they always take the time to share with each other stories about their families, work and employers. She said that most Filipinos in Romania work as nannies or housekeepers. There are more female than male OFWs in her area. She said that there are Filipinos working in hotels and restaurants, and there are also Filipinos who are in Romania because they were married to Romanian nationals. She also knew about Filipino Au Pairs in her area. According to Jenetta, “working in Romania is a bit tough for most of us, we work long hours, but my employers are very nice to me. They treat me as a family member. That is why, I don’t really complain about working longer hours. I learned to love what I do for them. I treat their children like mine. My employers adhere to the nature of the work that we agreed in the contract.” Jenetta explained that sometimes she does things around the house, even if she is not asked to. She said that for all the good things that her employers do for her, she does not really mind doing extra work for them. She shared what she believes in life, “I have learned that it does not make any difference anywhere we are, we will always be who we as if we live in our own country.”
Jenetta shared that not all Filipinos working in Romania is as blessed as she is, with good-natured employers. She recalled having contact with one Filipino who reported that she was not treated nicely by her employer. Jenetta said that she and other Filipinos has showered that distressed Filipino with encouragement and moral support. Jenetta said that the last word she got from her Filipino friend was that she is now happily working with a new employer.
Bucharest offers a lot of exciting experiences for Jenetta. There are a variety of activities that other Filipinos do as a community. Jenetta said that they organize picnics, they hang out together in the mall,
they go to church every third Sunday of the month and there are other social gatherings that they enjoy. She said that Romanian citizens are very much impressed by Filipinos. Her employers told her that they like Filipinos because they are trustworthy, caring, hardworking and cheerful people. Jenetta said that employers in Romania do not enforce Filipinos to speak their native tongue of Romanesc. English is very well accepted by employer households.
The rich cultural history of Romania always fascinates Jenetta. She said that she has seen the nicest and biggest castle in Romania, The Peles Castle. She said that “Bucharest is the best place to live in Romania because Filipinos live here and every day-off I can get the chance to be with them.” Two of the popular tourist destinations here in Romania are the cities of Brasov and Bran, the later traces the legend of Dracula and his castle, The Bran Castle.
Jenetta has only one child in the Philippines, and she is a proud grandmother of two grandchildren. She reports that she has been working for almost 14 years now as an OFW. She said “I really missed my family, but I have to be strong and do what I need to do.” To the Filipinos
in Romania, Jenetta has her message: “Let’s keep being strong, proud of our race, promote that loving and caring individuals in us, always guarded by our own basic right as human beings, not only in Romania but anywhere else in this world, keeping humility within us and staying with our Holy Father in Heaven to keep our lives going.”
Jenetta looks forward in strengthening the Filipino community in Romania. She thanks this writer for finding and featuring her in this column so she could reach out to more Filipinos in Romania. One of the biggest plans that she wants to happen sooner is a project that will connect all the Filipinos in Romania, and maybe in the neighboring countries, and that is a newsletter. (This writer is partnering with the Filipino Community in Romania to start a newsletter by September, 2014.) Mabuhay ang mga Pilipino sa Romania!
*About the Columnist: Ryan Tejero is a newspaper columnist-writer based in Chicago, Illinois-USA. He has been writing for a Filipino-American newsmagazine, Via Times (www.viatimes.com), for over ten years now. His monthly column, Club President, features leaders of the Filipino American communities in Chicago and the Midwest, USA. Via Times is Chicago’s oldest, widely-read and circulated Filipino-American newsmagazine. Ryan is also the current editor of NaFFAA National (http://naffaa-national.org), which is the official monthly newsletter of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). NaFFAA National is circulated in 51 states of the United States. The column Filipino Spotted on the Map was launched in May 2014 in Melbourne, Australia through PasaPinoy Melbourne Edition.
Spotted on the filipino
mapRyan Tejero*
tfcr oath taking
Jenetta in sinaia at Peles castle
