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I am a WITNESS… to the SUFFERING of my PEOPLE… I am a CHRONICLER of TRUTH… and a CATALYST of CHANGE… TO SPEAK UP… requires not only gumption…but education... Our missions are to INFORM, EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, CONNECT, ACCOMPANY, EMPOWER all Filipinas… KNOWLEDGE is POWER - it's important you SEE FACTS --- KNOW YOUR RIGHTS... CLICK-READ-EACH CITY/COUNTRY – to EDUCATE and EMPOWER YOU....YOU must BE AWARE of abuses and sufferings BEFORE you leave the Philippines... If you are already overseas and being abused, contact the organizations where you are - to help you. These organizations are listed or featured in this blog… Jose Rizal said: The TYRANNY of some - is POSSIBLE ONLY - THROUGH the COWARDICE of others...meaning…Your BOSS is a TYRANT because...YOU ARE a COWARD!?? Do not be AFRAID! TELL TO THE FACE OF YOUR BOSS - Without me, you cannot go to work and you cannot make money…Without me… your house is dirty and no one cares for your children...I WORK EXTRA HOURS - PAY ME EXTRA MONEY... BE BRAVE to SPEAK UP and STOP your ABUSIVE BOSS… DO NOT WORK as SLAVES IN A RICH COUNTRY... CLAIM YOUR LAWFUL RIGHTS AND DIGNITY... We are one, after all, you and I… Together we suffer…Together we co-exist

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San Jose, California: $100,000 settlement for Filipino caregiver

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Our non-profit  blog was inspired by a Filipina domestic from the Middle East who left her newborn baby – with placenta still attached – at the Bahrain Gulf Air airplane toilet - upon landing in Manila, read her story here lhttp://filipina-nannies-caregivers.blogspot.ca/2013/05/this-blog-was-inspired-by-filipina.html.  Her despair and desperation inspired this blog to gather all possible stories in order to help, to inform and to empower all Filipina nannies, caregivers and maids -- to liberate themselves from abuses of all forms:  physical, rape, verbal, exploitation, overtime working without pay....  Send us your stories.  Stay anonymous - if you like.  (No one can afford to deny this matter anymore).  Write in Tagalog, or your dialect, or English, or French, or any language.  ALL nannies, caregivers and domestic maids are welcome, send your stories to  mangococonutmay1@gmail.com

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“Speak up. Don’t be afraid. Fight for your rights — as a worker, and as human being.”

Abused Filipino caregiver settles with employer for $100,000

Posted at 11/10/2012 11:52 AM | Updated as of 11/10/2012 11:52 AM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/11/10/12/abused-filipino-caregiver-settles-employer-100000
SAN JOSE, California – Nelly Gonzales, 58, still gets emotional when she talks about her ordeal as a caregiver in the U.S.

For 15 years, Gonzales was abused by her Filipino employer, paying her as low as $150 a month, to care for six developmentally-delayed adults 24/7.

She said, “All I wanted was respect. No matter your stature in life, you deserve some respect.”

It took her 15 long, agonizing years but Gonzales finally found the courage to fight back, after she saw Filipino caregiver Victoria Aquino on Balitang America talk about filing a case against her abusive employer.

She pointed out, “If she could do it, I thought, I could do it too. I could fight for my rights.”
Through the help of the Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants or PAWIS, Gonzales filed a claim for back wages against her employer in 2010.

PAWIS connected her with the Golden Gate Law Clinic, which provided her with free legal help.
Yesterday, in front of fellow caregivers, Gonzales announced that her employer settled with her for about $100,000.

But the fight is not over for Gonzales. PAWIS estimates that there are 114,000 Filipino caregivers in America — many of them abused.

Her kababayans need help.

This settlement may be a victory for Gonzales but the ultimate victory for her and her fellow caregivers is for the abuses to stop through legislation — through the passage of the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The bill was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown this year.

These caregivers and their advocates said they’re not giving up, until all caregivers — even those who are undocumented, are ensured proper wages and benefits.

Michael Tayag, organizer for PAWIS said, “Even if we see that there is more community organizing among domestic workers and caregivers, we really need to continue that fight.”

Gonzales’ message to fellow Filipino caregivers: “Speak up. Don’t be afraid. Fight for your rights — as a worker, and as human being.”

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