Sharon Cuneta as a ‘Caregiver’
I have been watching Filipino films online for the past few months. One particular movie that I would like to share with you was that of Sharon Cuneta entitled Caregiver. I am not a caregiver, so I don’t really know if this movie really reflects the life of the caregivers who are working outside the Philippines. I could not really say that I could relate but this film would somehow give you an idea about the life of a Filipino working as a caregiver abroad and what a tough job they have.
It would somehow make you understand but still make you ask, why is it that a person chose to leave her job as a teacher in the Philippines and worked as a caregiver abroad?
The film is about 2 hours, watch it right here while it is still online. If it’s no longer available, the channel owner could have transferred it somewhere else. Sorry, I have no control over it.
Sarah, played by Sharon Cuneta, was an English teacher in the Philippines who joined her husband Teddy, played by John Estrada, in London to become a caregiver.
In the movie, there was this line that caught my attention.
I know the opportunity is there pero kung puro pansarili lang ang iisipin natin, ano na ang mangyayari sa bayang ito. [I know the opportunity is there but if we are always just going to think of ourselves what will happen to this country.]
Every time I think of those teachers, nurses and doctors going abroad for work and better pay, I always think about what is happening in the Philippines now a days. I am referring to those teachers, nurses and doctors employed by the government.
Very few students in the Philippines are taking up education because of the low salary. A lot of students are taking up nursing because of the high salary hoping that they will be able to work abroad.
In my opinion, teachers, doctors and nurses should have higher salary in the Philippines. If those bright students who would love to take up education will have a higher salary as a teacher, they would surely not hesitate to teach. If those nurses and doctors will have a higher salary, they would choose to remain in the Philippines. They don’t need to leave the Philippines just to have a higher salary.
What will happen to the Philippine education if nobody is willing to take up education because of the low salary? What will happen to the Philippine health services if everybody who takes up nursing and medicine would choose to leave and work abroad? What will happen if the teachers would choose to leave as well? I think you know what I’m trying to say here.
Some of you may say that it should not be about money because if those teachers really love to teach, then they would remain teaching. If those nurses and doctors really love their job, they would continue what they’re doing.
But they need to survive too especially if they have a family. Definitely, money plays a very important role in their lives.
Health and education have been neglected for too long. The government should prioritize and should allocate a higher budget for health and education. Actually, the Philippine government must do it. It is about time and the right thing to do.
Back in the ninetees when Nurses were so in-demand talaga so when I took up that course, lahat kami iisa lang wish, to go abroad – and earn bucks (to pay back what is due) pero ng makita ko na may CD kaagad ang Caregiver, bili ko agad (pirated nga lang), tas nung nasa kalagitnaan na, na stuck ang CD at nasira yung player ko. Until now nasa loob pa yung CD dahil wala pa akong pambili ng player. Panis diba?
Ewan ko ba, dito sa HK, kahit anong work, ok naman – sa atin aaply ka lang ng kung anong job, kailangan college grad, with diploma, masyadong competitive ang tao.
Pag mababa ang natapusan mo, di ka agad makakahanap, so ang nangyayari, they take Nursing, midwifery, etc dahil in demand nga ito sa ibang lugar, what choice do we have diba?
Kukuha ka pa nga lang ng passport, ang hirap na eh, pipila ka lang sa bus stop nag aagawan pa, … it can go on and on….
Basta, kailangan ko ng bagong DVD player para mapanood si Ate Shawee.
Hello K,
Napanood mo na ba yong movie?
naku, am going to watch it here. handa lang ako ng popcorn ;D
pero tama ka, sana magawan ng paraan na hindi mawala ang mga teachers ano? actually, sana magawan ng paraan para maging mas maganda ang buhay sa pinas, kahit anong propesyon pa.
happy weekend!
ano be, ngayon lang ako natapos manood, hahaha
naiyak ako, natawa ako, pero sa totoo lang, nagkaron ako ng lakas ng loob sa istorya nito. tao talaga ang gumagawa ng kanyang kinabukasan di ba?
Hello Kengkay,
Nakakatawa, nakakaiyak at may nakakainis rin.
sa aking opinion…unreasonable nga yung pag pili niya sa pagiging caregiver over sa promotion na binigay sa kanya..pero as always, it’s all about the money..when will we ever learn?
Hello Jeremiah,
Di naman sigurado ang promotion nya e dahil months pa yong bibilangin niya. Baka masulot pa.
I believe that being a caregiver is a noble job pero tama si jeremiah unreasonable naman na you have a flourishing career sa manila tapos ipagpapalit mo lang sa caregiving… life is not all about money…
Hello Snow,
I agree, life is not all about money. Pero sa movie na to, it’s not just about money. Yong personality and character ni Sarah kasi dito na yon bang kahit ayaw niya, di niya masabi sa asawa niya na ayaw niya. Remember noong hinabol niya anak niya at yong usapan nila sa park.
Mag-explain man siya, may rason pa rin asawa niya at para maiwasan ang gulo, oo na lang siya. Tapos yong ugali ng asawa niya, ewan. Nakakainis!
Hah! I bought a DVD of this film when I was in Manila last summer, but haven’t watched it yet. Hmmm, I wonder where that DVD is now…
A better life, that’s why people are leaving the country. Can’t say I blame us (yeah me included, not born with a silver spoon in the mouth unfortunately) …the need to survive is stronger.
Hello Thess,
As much as I don’t like blaming others, sometimes I can’t ignore the fact, that partly the politicians and the economy in the Philippines are to be blamed with what’s happening in our country.
Is it really partly? Hehehe…
hi Sofie. Buti pa sa iyo nakapanuod ka ng caregiver. hehe ako dito lumipas na sa sinehan di ko napanuod . ayaw kasi akong samahan mga anak ko eh.
Musta na? Nakakarami ka na ngayon ng post ah. \’ala ka sigurong travel…
Take care.
Hello nanaybelen,
Dito niyo na lang panoorin habang online pa siya.
Di ko kontrolado yan e baka alisin na noong nag-upload o kaya ilipat sa ibang channel.
Nakakaiyak!
hi sofie! i’ve heard about this movie but haven’t seen it yet. a lot of people have said that it’s good, sige, will try watching it
Hello Caryn,
O ano napanood mo na ba, what do you think of the movie?
that movie was actually shown last june I think last year.. I haven’t watched it.. since I’m busy with my review days.. my cousin told me the story, and I think this is one of the must see..
Hello jeniffer,
O di ba, nursing ang course mo, kahit papaano related. Try mo ring panoorin, it will definitely give you an idea kung papaano ang life as a caregiver abroad although iba naman ang job description niyo.
tapos na akong manood! yeheyyyy magkano charge ng ticket? hehe
Thanks again sofs for sharing this
Hello cheh,
Libre ang ticket para sa yo.
Naubos ko nang panoorin yong listahan nila. Kaya lang nilipat na nila yong mga movies sa ibang channel at sinasabi lang nila yong bagong link sa mga nag-do-donate. Hahaha…