Rediscovering: A Journey Of My Soul

Like any  little girls, once I have an honest and simple dreams. Things that made me  happy and made other people happy. A dream that might have been lingering me. Don't underestimate the wisdom of a child within. 

     My name is Ritchelle, I am a Filipino foreign domestic worker in Singapore and I'm gonna tell you my story. I took the biggest decision of my life in 2009. I decided to leave my life in my home town Iloilo central part of the Philippines. I left the place leaving two little boys behind. My heart was longing for something else. Greener pastures, new faces, nature and silence. I moved to this place called Singapore. A small country of high rise buildings and sophisticated technology. A country known for its multi-rational culture where dreams were cultivated and made come true. So actually, it was like coming home.

The Marina Bay Sands Singapore displaying colours of royalty in mid June 

     When I first came here, I have no money and no friends. But I had a dream. I wanted to find a way to make a living so that I can send my boys to school and support their basic needs. It was a beautiful place that I felt I have a home in my heart. The first year in Singapore was just very challenging. I was longing for my children while adjusting to my new environment, homesickness and a constant worry about money and the everyday chores that awaits a full time sacrifice just to earn  a living.
At times when my limits are constantly tested. But during those times, I found my passion in life.

When times I tried to put myself on a stagnant environment and rediscover what makes me smile, I became like a scavenger looking for my paintbrush: and I paint.

     
     I started with photography, painting, writing blogs, and even go back school to study again. I started a little blog so that I can share some moments of my new life and express my love for nature in photos and some words.

When I feel hopeless, she is my only "HOPE"

     I also looked after a dog, Hope that became my best friend ever. Being so close to people and nature awakens something in me. I felt an urge to create and it became my biggest passion to continue creating and moving people with my arts.

    Its now been 9 years since I've worked, and still I am working in this place. From here I ran my own business. I spent my days doing household chores, helping my madam to teach her son with his school lessons, doing photography, painting and writing blogs and all the things my heart wants to expressed. And still my wish is give something beautiful to the world. Something that breaks through barriers and reaches the soul.

      These are the magical moments that I got to experience here. Images that tells about rediscovering myself, my passion, my struggles and my HOME.. I have learnt so much during these years. Most of all , that feeling being grateful in small things in life is the  key to the big things. The only way itself is to set limits of what is possible and not and to have patience, and never give up and never be afraid of losing your feet on the ground. 'Cos sometimes that could be the best things you could ever do.

Pencils and Brushes- "This is Me"

My pencils and brushes give me the strength to express my feelings and emotions when words are difficult to utter and actions are hard to do.

          My name is Ritchelle, 37 years old a domestic helper for 7 years in Singapore. Life being a maid is a constant struggle of homesickness and hardship for the sake of our family back home. Being a single mother, living your kids behind to find means to raise them and give them a better future is not easy. But over the years of battling life's journey, I slowly realized that my dreams for my children are coming true. I am not a brave fighter. Most of the times, I broke down and cried desperately for some problems in the family. I have several weaknesses. One day, I tried to find means to overcome that weakness, and started to do an experiment. I was in Engineering and Designs school in the Philippines before, and for so many years, I have forgotten how to draw and paint. Four years ago, I have an operation on my wrist. My pulse was affected due to a big cut that I got from an accident at work. I thought I couldn't paint anymore. I was so frustrated. Until one day, I said," the only solution to a problem is to face the problem itself.

I started buying colored pencils, paints, brushes and other drawing and painting materials out of the money I save from selling newspaper and other recycled materials at home. My first try after so long, wasn't that bad. I was amazed to see my artwork again. My heart suddenly leaped for joy whenever I grab my brushes and paints. There I realized that it was not too late to start anew. I learned a lesson of perseverance and determination. My dormant skills was once again finds its channel to flow and soon after, my world is as colorful as what I want it to be. Here is one of my favorite piece.

"This Is Me"- at the Spiral near Khatib Hospital Singapore. Aside from pencils and brushes, books are also my best friends. From young, I love to read. I remember that day when Dad scolded me and asked me to eat finished all the burnt part of the rice that I cooked because I was hooked in to my books and had forgotten the rice I am cooking. That was a lesson for me on that day, I hit two birds with one stone. I learnt to be aware of the things I am doing and developed a hobby that brings me to the love of blogging and writing.

My own interpretation of an Abstract Floral Mass Arrangement

This is me and this is how I appreciate the beauty of life beyond all the sufferings I have. Being optimistic to what life can offer us. I never limit myself in doing what is good for my self and overcoming the negativities in a positive and calm way.  For my boys, this is how I fight boredom, for my peers, this is how I express myself and for my God, this is the beauty of His creations; for this is ME.....

Gabriel - the 6 year old boy I am looking after. Because of my enthusiasm in drawings and paintings, this boy had developed a strong interest in arts. We love to draw and tell stories, we have so much fun everyday. I am glad that one day, my passion and hobby have been a legacy to Gabriel. He is truly amazing.

The Hidden Starboard - at first glance, who can tell that these are Canoes piled upside down? Yes they are. This photo was taken at United World College Campus during a workshop in Lensational Photography. This is me, a woman with piles and tons of something in mind that considered dormant. That dormancy is now slowly unleash and waiting to be seen.

The Joy of Her Duty is Love Beyond Compare - "HOME"

My Faith - an altar in my room, the first place I visited in the morning and the last one before I rested at night. Being away from home, in times of finding hope and spiritual guidance; my faith is my cornerstone.

The Bench - it might be a simple bench as what you can see, but for me, it's a silent witness for the many things that happen in the lives of a people around this area. A place to sit and relax after a long day of work. A comforting place that carries and ease every burden that makes ones life heavy.

Her smile was filled with so much joy and gladness; an aura that I couldn't imagine to see from a woman who dedicated her life to serve a family which is not her own.

   A few months ago, Aidha, an organization that helps empowering women, particularly  FDWs in Singapore held a free workshop in Photography sponsored by The Lensational Organisation. I was one of the privileged women who attended the workshop. It was amazing, interesting sessions. There I learned different techniques and functions of highly sophisticated cameras. One day, on an early morning  walk with my dog Hope, at the park across the road from my employer's house, I met an  Aunty Josie. She's on an early walk with her employer's grand daughter. She greeted me, "magandang umaga" in tagalog which means good morning. I am surprised to see her after a long years of her disappearance. The weather was calm and the sun was just about to rise and set its rays in the horizon, we both settle  in center area of the playground and began  a morning chat.. I took a stolen shot of her on the swing with the cute little girl she carried. Her face reflected a smile that was filled with so much joy and gladness; an aura that I couldn't imagine to see from a woman who dedicated her life to serve a family which is not her own. Her wrinkled skin, slender body and gray hair that once vibrant and young, are a superficial evidence of hard work and perseverance which she bore over 30 years.

Sometimes, I couldn't imagine myself to be like Aunty Josie. She had long forgotten her own self for the sake of loyalty to her employer. Her dedication to her duty being a domestic helper is outstanding. But before we parted , as my dog was impatiently barking  and dragging me home, I asked her why she is still working here. She answered, " This is my home and they are my family. As long as the government will allow me to work here, I will remains to be a maid. After all its a noble job. Singapore has Prime Ministers, Olympian, Social Workers, Professionals and many more. Most of them have maids and had participated in molding their values and characters. I am proud to be a maid, and happy to grow old as a maid." Her words are like a stigma that wrapped my heart and whole being with so much pride of being a Maid.

The Playground in Binchang Rise, Singapore. A sole witness of the moments of laughter, tears, friendship and disappointments of  most helpers here in Singapore. A place where we used to get together every afternoon to bring our "kids" our employers' children to play and mingle with other kids in the neighborhood. The place where I met Aunty Josie, a maid, a woman, and a noble person, who was proud of herself being a Helper for three decades. This is Singapore, this is our second "HOME".

I turned my self towards home with my dog walking along, and I looked back to that playground. The Aunty was still there and I told myself, "will I be able to see the same playground after 5 years?" Tears of Joy  trickled down my cheek as I realized how lucky I am to be given a chance to study in preparation for my retirement. I am proud to leave Singapore someday, for I know that in my journey back to Philippines, I had left a wonderful footprints behind.