Feature

Taking inspirations from 

“Aunt Terry”

Photo credit to Panay News

By Pepin

Thousands of Filipinos dream of working in Singapore as domestic helpers, but only one can be an inspiration.  Teresita Sajonia, or popularly known as “Aunt Terry” has been making headlines when a film about her notched top honors at the Cannes film Festival.

A native of San Miguel, Iloilo, Aunt Terry flew to Singapore to seek a good life. She was employed by the Chen family as a household helper and cared for three children, including Anthony Chen, the director of the award-winning film, Ilo Ilo. 

Her life abroad has never been easy, but jam-packed with challenges and difficulties. Though she would earn more by working in foreign land, a big share of her income would usually be sent back home to suffice the needs of her relatives. But despite the hardships, she took pleasure in taking care of the kids, who became attached to her.

After eight years, Aunt Terry decided to go back home. With little money left from her wages, she put up a small farm and poultry business. On a small piece of land, she built a tiny shelter out of used pieces of wood and tarpaulin. Her day-to-day routine would include waking up early to feed her ducks and chickens, and go to the market to sell small produce from her farm. It seemed that her life became more intricate after she left Singapore for good. 

But she was never forgotten by the children whom she has dedicated her life to. Sixteen years after, Anthony Chen, made a movie about their experiences with her and how she helped shape their lives. The movie gained positive reviews and eventually hailed as the best film at Cannes Film Festival.

The movie itself opened doors for the children to be reunited with Aunt Terry. They have requested her to take a break from her life back home and fly to Singapore to attend the premier of the movie there. She was overwhelmed after she got the invitation and she was pretty much excited to see the Anthony and his siblings, whom she used to cuddle and play.

Though Aunt Terry is becoming frail and hard to go back to work, she is more than happy that she became an inspiration to the children, who all grew up as professionals and men of values.