Ilocano domestic helper stars in MMFF

Sunday beauty queen Hazel Perdido

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

PAOAY, Ilocos Norte—A 33-year old single mom and domestic helper in Hong Kong who hails from this town has captured the hearts and admiration of Ilocanos here as her life story has been featured in a documentary film entitled, “Sunday Beauty Queen”, which is one of the entries in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

A graduate of Computer Science at the Mariano Marcos State University, Hazel decided to apply as a domestic helper in Hong Kong in 2008 to sustain the needs of her three growing boys—Jaylord, 13, Daniel,12, and Genesis, 9.

Leaving behind her three boys to her 66-year old mom, Rosita at Brgy. Pambaran here to find her fortune abroad is one of the toughest decisions she had ever made. Fortunately, she landed a good employer who supported her when she was asked to join a beauty pageant in Honking.

Hong Kong’s annual search for ‘Sunday Beauty Queen’, exclusive for Pinay Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) inspired Director Baby Ruth Villarama to document the story of some Pinay OFWs, featuring their resilient beauty and personal struggles abroad.

“Having [been] chosen as one of the five OFWs whose life story was featured in the big screen is quite overwhelming,” said Hazel as it opened more opportunities for her to grow.

“I hope more families and children of OFWs will be able to watch the film. It’s a very touching movie as we share our struggles working 24-hour a day as all-around domestic helper,” said Ms. Perdido citing some of those who have seen the movie in Manila while having a theater tour recognized and praised them as a ‘real-life hero’.

For the first time after eight years working in Hong Kong, Ms. Perdido is delighted to have Christmas with her children in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

“I’m so grateful for being featured in the film. I hope this would inspire more people specially the children of OFWs,” Ms. Perdido ended as she bared her plan to go on a “cross-country’ expedition once her contract with her Honking employer expires.

For his part, Paoay mayor Jessie Galano who met with Ms. Perdido during her stay in the province said the people of Paoay takes pride of her for giving honor to her hometown.

“As a native of this town, we congratulate her for her achievement and for giving honor to Paoay,” said Mr. Galano.

Comments

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog