One of the biggest challenges that yayas and kasambahays currently face is being away from their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ease their helpers’ worries, Mariel Rodriguez and Robin Padilla decided to give them their own apartments so they can keep their families close!
In her latest vlog, the celebrity mom explained that they decided to give their six helpers — Yaya Jo, Analyn, Elsy, Belen, Jam, Narcisa — their own homes as a “thank you” for their hard work and sacrifices, not only for their families but for the Padilla family as well.
“It is because they are also sacrificing so much for their families. It is because they have showed us loyalty — nagpakita sila ng pagmamahal sa amin at gusto rin naming suklian yung pinapakita nilang pagmamahal at mabuting serbisyo sa amin,” Mariel says.
Why Robin Padilla and Mariel Rodriguez gave their kasambahays apartments
Mariel explained that at the start of the pandemic, they had to enforce strict quarantine rules because of the young children in the household — her daughters Isabella, 4, and Gabriela, 1. They had to limit the exposure of the people who were going in and out of their house.
“That means, walang nakakalabas at nakakapasok, that includes ‘yung mga kasama namin dito sa bahay,” the mom of two added.
Mariel saw how worried their kasambahays were of their families back home. Even if she had her doctors explain to them what COVID-19 meant and why it was important that they don’t go home for the time being, she knew her yayas could not help but miss their loved ones.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW“Siyempre dahil tao sila they long for their family. Namimiss nila ‘yung mga pamilya nila,” Mariel shared.
That’s when she and Robin made the choice to bring their helpers’ families to them. “Naisip namin, siyempre, mag-aalala sila. And we wanted to remove that worry away from them para ‘di na nila ‘yun iniisip,” the mom says.
The apartments are located in the Museo de Padilla compound and was built during the pandemic. It is also where Robin gave homes to a few Muslim families that he has taken under his wing.
“There’s a place wherein Robin takes care of a few Muslim families. And for the very first time, we opened the doors to Christians, to Catholics like myself, for our staff,” Mariel shares.
According to Mariel, her kasambahays were really hands-on while the apartments were being constructed. She would even facilitate a Bingo game with the yayas where the prizes are appliances for their houses.
“Nakakatuwa kasi ‘di ba lahat naman tayo, ang inaaspire natin is to have a certain security. Ina-aspire natin na magtrabaho tayo para mabigyan natin ng magandang kinabukasan ang ating pamilya, para mabigyan sila ng bahay.
And our girls were able to do that for their family. It is because of their hard work that they were able to achieve that,” she says.
And the six helpers could not help but express how grateful they for are for the Padilla family’s kindness.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kasi napunta po ako sa inyo ni Sir Robin,” Yaya Jo, who has been a midwife for their family for three and a half years, tells Mariel.
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch now“Yung mga naranasan namin dito, hindi namin mararanasan sa iba. Iba po ‘yung pinapakita ninyo sa amin. Kakaiba po yung pakiramdam, parang at home na at home po ako sa bahay ninyo,” she adds.
“Thank you po sa inyong puso, ‘di ninyo po kaming trinato na ibang tao. Pamilya tayo. Wala akong naramdaman na kahit anu man… lagi kayong andiyan, hindi ko naramdaman na nag-iisa ako,” shares Analyn, Mariel’s personal assistant turned yaya for 10 years.
Watch the full video of Mariel’s vlog below and see their helpers’ new homes:
How to find the best yaya? A dad shares his tips here.
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