Kasambahay, Kasambuhay Awards' up for laudable household helpers

It’s their time to shine—from being a largely unappreciatedsegment of the labor force to duly recognized partners in the Filipino home andcommunity.

The nationwide search is on for the first five recipients ofthe “Kasambahay, Kasambuhay Pilipinas Awards,” in honor of household workerssuch as nannies (yaya), cleaners, cooks, laundrymen or women, drivers andgardeners.

Spearheaded by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) SenatePhilippines Inc., the initiative is considered the first in the country to notonly recognize the sacrifices made by the “kasambahay” but also draw focus totheir “respectable” line of work.

“There are awards for doctors, engineers and teachers; ourgovernment recognizes them. But there’s none for our kasambahay. They are takenfor granted. They are the least credited workforce,” Gabriel Pietro Valencia,the awards program chair, said during the launch on Wednesday.

While they show loyalty to the families they work for,household workers remain unappreciated by society at large, said Valencia, whohas employed a family driver himself for the last 25 years.

Held in partnership with Palawan Pawnshop, the program seeksto “recognize the importance and the dignity of the role played by householdservice workers” and also “promote awareness of [their] rights and privileges”under Republic Act No. 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act.

It will also confer “recognition and respect due them foralways working beside and behind us,” added Rogelio Garcia, JCI SenatePhilippines national president.

To qualify for the award, nominees should be working for anemployer for not less than 10 years and has no criminal record, Valencia said.They must present proof, such as photos, to show that they have been employedfor the past decade.

Nomination forms are available at Palawan Pawnshop branchesnationwide and can also be downloaded online through JCI’s Facebook page.

Valencia said the program has only two criteria forselecting an awardee: He or she has helped promote Filipino values, like beingtrustworthy, in the family and the community, and also has an inspiring storyto tell.

“The awards program will attempt to draw inspirational lifelessons from the simple lives and accomplishments of our loyal householdworkers,” Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro said.

Employers are encouraged to nominate their kasambahay,Castro added.

The awarding will be held on Aug. 20. Each winner willreceive a trophy, P50,000 in cash and an all-expense-paid trip for two toPuerto Princesa, Palawan.

Entries will be accepted up to June 30 and can be senteither through the pawnshop branches or e-mail atkasambahaypilipinas@palawanpawnshop.com.

Valencia said they intend to conduct the program annuallyand that plans are being drawn up to do a separate search in June for householdworkers based in Hong Kong and Macau.

By: Evelyn Cruz, Jovic Yee - @inquirerdotnet