#YayaDiaries | Privacy of Employers

This is not a funny post. Hehe. I am writing this post because of recent events. So excuse me while I take a break from the usual, and post this sort-of rant about my nanny and the issue of privacy.

It started a few weeks ago, upon reading Mommy Fleur's post on her in-laws almost getting victimized by a budol-budol/ dugo-dugo gang. Almost, because although the helper already had valuables with her and was about to leave, the others who saw her knew something was up, and they were able to stop the helper from leaving. Two weeks ago, I learned from another friend that her sister got duped by someone who called their house knowing full details, including the maid's full name and mobile number. It was only after discussing the whole situation with family members that they came to realize that this happened a few days after someone from the census office came to do an interview.

A week ago, upon leaving our townhouse, I chanced upon our neighbor talking to someone at the gate. The lady turned out to be someone from the census office, doing a routine interview. As I walked past, the lady told me that she would need to interview me, too. Normally, I would oblige, but after what happened to Fleur's in-laws and to J's sister, I told the lady no. She was insistent, so I said "baka dugo-dugo gang kayo ha?" She then proceeds to show me her ID and her forms.

J says the man who came to her sister's house had forms and an ID as well. He was even wearing a baranggay vest, and looked legit. And although they didn't get to verify if the man was the culprit, he was the only one who recently got the helper's new number and full name, because according to him, they needed a number in case the form wasn't filled up correctly.

Fast forward to my experience with the census lady. I told Yaya J not to give the lady any information should she come back. Please note that this is my personal preference - I am not trying to impose my decision on this matter on anyone. If you want to cooperate with whoever comes to your house to ask for any information of any kind, that is entirely up to you and your judgment call. Again, this is my preference. I am not trying to influence you to lean towards withholding information.

So anyway, the lady did come back. And again. And again. Friday morning, she came back with reinforcement. Friday evening, while working on the bread deco for a bento order, Yaya J tells me about the census people.

Y: "Bumalik ulit yung taga-Census."
K: "Ay nako, 'wag kang magbibigay ng kahit anong information. Kahit ano. Huwag."
Y: "Sabi ko nga, 'di ka magpapa-interview. E ang kulit, kaya ako nalang daw tatanungin nila."
K: "Ya, sabi ko kahit ano. Ba't ka magpapa-interview??!"
Y: "E ako lang naman tinanong nila. Pangalan ko lang binigay ko."
K: "Ang kulit mo din, ano? Hindi mo ba ma-gets ang sinabi ko. 'Wag mo na sila kausapin."
Y: "E kasi nga, gusto ka nga daw nila kausapin. Sabi ko wala ka, tapos tinanong kung andito si Sir, sabi ko hindi siya dito nakatira kasi hiwalay kayo at tayo lang andito."

Zip your mouth, Yaya! Please!

At that point, I couldn't help myself, and told her to stop. She volunteered information that need not be said. Why'd she have to tell them R didn't live here? If these people were part of a dugo-dugo gang, then this is their red flag: NO MALE IN THE HOUSE. Needless to say, I got pissed. She got a sermon about keeping things private.

You would think she learned her lesson. 

This morning, Yaya J walked RL and I to the car. Our other neighbor was talking to some men (apparently from the electric company) by the gate, but left them to get something. As Yaya J walked past, I overheard one of the men ask her about this particular neighbor. Apparently, they had missed a payment, and these men were trying to push the fact that a notice was sent to this address. So these men were trying to get information from my nanny. They asked if the neighbor owned the house and if bills addressed to them were received. As my nanny opened her mouth to answer, I cut her off. I already heard her say that bills are received by the compound maids, and that these were given to the respective homeowners. Ang daldal talaga, I swear.

So as she walked me to the car, I gave her another lecture on privacy. We do not volunteer information. Especially when it involves strangers. Tonight, we will do PRIVACY 101 again. I don't care if she thinks I repeat myself over and over again, but we are being careful. And in this day and age, you can't be too careful with all these crimes happening left and right.

Makes me think, you know. If my nanny is more than willing to give information to strangers, I wonder what she tells the other helpers in the compound? Our Yaya J has been with us for 13 years (minus a few years when she went off to give birth to her two girls). I mean, I trust her, but man, she can be a chatterbox sometimes.

Less talk, less mistakes. No talk, no mistakes! Yaya naman!

What about your helpers? Do you have the same problem with them? Sigh.


DISCLAIMER: My personal opinion on the Census modus is just that - my opinion. I am not saying that these people are indeed criminals or part of some gang. I am merely being extra cautious. I mean, if it is easy for helpers to get NBI clearances, IDs and the like, but end up stealing, even poisoning their employers, how easy will it be for anyone else to get employed, don a uniform and present a legit ID? You can never tell if the person in front of you has an ulterior motive. 

RL Funnies | BUYING A BIRD!?

We were in the car on the way to Rockwell for a workshop. Yaya J was telling me about her sideline. She has started selling all sorts again, because she will be sending two kids to school next year.

J: "Kanina kasi, kaya di mo ko mahanap, pinatawag ako ni Ma'am Catherine. Bibili kasi siya ng Avon. Regalo daw niya sa sarili niya sa pasko." (When you were looking for me earlier, I was at Ma'am Catherine's. She is going to buy things from Avon as Christmas gifts for herself.)
K: "Nagbebenta ka na ulit ng Avon?" (You're selling Avon stuff again?)
J: "Yup, kasi alam mo na, dalawa na papasok sa school next year, so kailangan kumayod ng extra." (Yup, because I will have two kids in school next year, so I need to make extra money)
RL (interrupts): "What? Tita Catherine is going to buy a bird?!!"

LOLOLOL! All this time, RL was eavesdropping!

If you're reading this and you don't quite get it, the tagalog word for bird is ibon. Hehehe. That's what happens when toddlers eavesdrop on conversations.

I thought this was really funny. Did you think so too?

Yaya Diaries: AY, PERLAS!

Let me interrupt normal programming to bring you another Yaya story. Yes, Yaya J is back (thank goodness!) and so are her quirks.

Yesterday morning, while in the middle of making the bento for A, I had asked Yaya to go get my earrings from the accessory basket in my bedroom.

Photo from: Pearlhours.com on the www.

Kaye: "Ya, palihog naman. Paki-kuha naman yung hikaw ko sa basket sa kwarto. Yung perlas."
Yaya: "Anong klase, yung maliit o yung malaki?"
K: "Yung perlas, iisa lang yun dun. Medium yung size."
She comes down with a pair of silver stud earrings.
Y: "Hindi naman 'to perlas. Wala naman perlas dun."
K: "E sa'n mo yan kinuha? Hindi naman sa basket yan nakalagay e, sa bedside table yan nakalagay. Sabi ko sa basket."
Y: "Ah! Oo nga, sa basket. Sandali lang."
She then proceeds to go back up... as she reached the second floor landing, she yells...
Y: "Ano ba dito yung perlas? Yung bilog o yung dyamante?!"

Yaya, perlas nga. Perlas. LOL.

Yaya Diaries: GATAS PA DIN!

So the other night, after writing the post on Yaya and her "gatas ng bear", I kinda mentioned to her how I blogged about it, and how people found it extremely funny (and ridiculous). She was a tad defensive at first, but later on, laughed because she really did think the milk of that particular brand wasn't really milk-milk.

Later that evening, we had this conversation...

Y: "Kung gatas pa din pala yun ng cow, hindi pala honest ang N" (referring to the company that carries the milk brand).
K: "So teka, di ka na iinom ng Bear Brand?"
Y: "Ay hindi na, kahit yung gatas na choco nila kasi gatas pa din pala ng cow."
K: "Ganon?"
Y: "Alaska nalang iinumin ko next time, kasi yun sure ako, gatas ng tao."

People, this really, really happened.

Ay, ewan talaga.

Yaya Diaries: GATAS NG COW

Our nanny doesn't eat beef. Nor does she drink or eat any beef/cow/cattle/carabao by-product. And that includes milk and selected ice cream. Apparently, this is something associated to a traumatic childhood experience. 

She used to eat this particular ice cream brand, but once, when we were buying a scoop at the mall, she saw a sign that said "made from fresh carabao's milk"... and almost puked.

Two days ago, I saw her drinking milk.

K: "Aba, Ya, nagbagong-buhay ka na?"

Y: "Bakit?"

K: "E gatas yan e. Diba, ayaw mo ng milk kasi gatas ng cow?"

Y: "Hindi naman gatas ng cow 'to! Tingnan niyo, 'Bear Brand'! Gatas ng Bear!"

Bwahahaha! Ay, ewan! 

Yaya Diaries: BOOKING A PROMO FARE

Our nanny is going home this summer to officially get married. She's been with her boyfriend for the past 6 years, have two kids (born a year apart), and have been planning this vacation for months!

Photo from thefineyounggentleman.com

Last week, she had asked me to look out for promo airfare. I had asked why, when it is cheaper for her family of four to take the bus, because they pay for two adults and the kids (a 4 and a 5-year old) just sit on their laps. 

"Matagal pag-traking! Kawawa naman mga bata!" 

So today, upon seeing a promo on Facebook, I called her and asked for her final dates. 

K: "Kailan mo bang balak umuwi?"

Y: "April 20, uwi muna ako Bulacan. Tapos sa 24, lipad na kaming Bohol."

K: "24? Eh, Holy Week yan, wala nang promo fare. Hindi ba pwedeng May 20, kasi ayun o, P5,000+ lang, apat na kayo."

Y: "Mabibitin naman kami. Magpakasal pa ako."

So I told her I'd check another airline, and will her call again. Later...

K: "Ya, meron dito, sa ibang eroplano, may April 21, pero P7,000+!"

Y: "Ay, mamamatay na ako sa utang niyan."

K: "E sabi mo hindi pwedeng March, di din pwedeng May, yan yung pinakamalapit sa April 24 na may promo. Yan na pinakamura."

Y: "Pwede bang isa lang muna bayaran ko?"

K: "Ha? Ikaw lang sagot ko no. Hindi ko na kaya kung tatlo kayo tapos uutang ka pa ng dalawang buwan. Kita mo naman enrollment ng mga bata sa May."

Y: "Hindi nga, pwede bang isang ticket lang bayaran sa eroplano, tapos hulugan yung bayad ko sa kanila?"

K: "Walang utang sa eroplano no. Kailangan mo ng credit card!"

Y: "Magkano ba isang ticket?"

K: "Mga P1,800..."

Y: (Thinks for a while then says) "E ba't P7,000+, dapat wala pang P4,000 kasi kakandungin lang namin si A at D!"

K: "Ya, hindi pwedeng ikandong ang 5 years old at 4 years old."

Y: "Ha! E bakit sa jeep at bus, pwede? Wala bang promo na libre ang bata?"

Ay ewan.