Abused maid reunited with family

MANILA, Philippines - A single mother, who was forced to leave her son last April to work as domestic helper abroad, was finally reunited with her family Wednesday after the Office of Sen. Cynthia Villar helped in the processing of her travel papers. 

Kristine Alcaide, 30, broke down shortly after she embraced her mother and seven-year-old son at the airport. 

During a courtesy call, she told Villar about her ordeal. She said she worked about 20 hours a day, serving a family of nine in Saudi Arabia.   

During her seven-month stay, Alcaide said she was not given the proper food and did not have enough sleep.

Being the lone helper in the house, Alcaide said she took her meals at 3 p.m. and at past 9 p.m. 

After the Ramadan season, she said her employers locked her up in a room for a week. 

“They bought noodles for seven days, one pack each day. I only ate once a day,” she said, adding that they also gave her bread and bags of tea for her meals.

Alcaide worked at a restaurant in Manila before she went abroad to work as domestic helper.

As a domestic helper, she was promised $400 (approximately P17,983) per month but got only about P68,000 after seven months. She received her salary only upon her return to the Philippines, transmitted by her employer via remittance agencies. 

Alcaide’s mother sought the help of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration and the recruitment agency. The family also sought Villar’s help last month.