Maid says, ‘I was once a finance associate in a Philippine company, but now I’m just a domestic helper in a Singapore home’

SINGAPORE: In a quietly powerful TikTok video that’s now clocked nearly 330,000 views, a young Filipino woman stands sweeping in her Singapore employer’s home, looking not for sympathy but understanding.

Through her video, she expresses, “I was once a finance associate in a Philippine company, but now I’m just a domestic helper in a Singapore home.”

@faith_escamilla00

all too well… #kunyanginsg #forthebetterfuture #fypage #fypシ゚

♬ original sound – ℛ𝒾𝓏𝓊𝓃𝒶 ☾

And that one line — humble but dignified — hit home for thousands.

“Many college graduates become domestic workers abroad because of very low wages…”

The video, posted by TikToker @faith_escamilla00, isn’t a rant or a sob story. It’s a quiet unveiling of how geopolitical and economic forces reshape individual destinies.

Faith, the video’s creator, explains why so many college graduates in the Philippines end up doing domestic work abroad:

“Many college graduates choose to become domestic workers abroad because of the very low wages and corruption in the Philippines. Even if you work hard, you still won’t be able to advance because of the poor governance of the government. Only politicians get rich, not people who work hard.”

Her message echoes a silent reality: Economic exile — not out of desperation, but out of duty.

“There is no shame in doing an honest job that supports the family…”

The comments section also expressed a sobering mix of respect and reflection.

One commenter assured that, “There is no shame in doing an honest job that supports the family. Looking at how positive you are, I have no doubt that one day you will get the job of your dreams! Keep fighting!”

Another local viewer added: “Not sure why people look down on helpers here in Singapore… many have good qualifications yet choose to come out here to take a ‘lowly’ job where people may not respect them just to give their families back home a better life. Respect to you, sis.”

There’s admiration for her courage, but also critiques with alternate suggestions. One commenter wrote:

“Since you have the qualifications, you could have worked as a virtual assistant instead. The pay would have been about the same, and you’d be able to stay with your family.”

Another jokingly warned: “Don’t let your employer know [about your work experience and qualifications], cos later they will make you do accounting work without any additional pay.”

“Really puts things in perspective. Damn!”

A Singaporean viewer turned the tables with a chilling revelation:

“Really puts things in perspective. Imagine one day Singapore’s economy and education become so bad that working as a housemaid in Europe is the only way to make enough money to remit back home for the family to live a decent life, where your European housemaid salary is more than your spouse’s median income white-collar job back home in SG. Damn!”

Suddenly, the situation doesn’t feel so foreign.

“Who knows, maybe you’ll return to work in finance — perhaps even in SG soon…”

It’s easy to reduce someone to their job title, but Faith’s story reminds us that people don’t stop being capable just because they stepped into a different role.

One Singaporean sums it up perfectly: “Whatever decent work helps your household economy is always a win. Fight on, fighter! For now, it may seem humbling… but who knows, maybe you’ll return to work in finance — perhaps even in SG soon.”

Not every helper is “just a helper”

So yes, not every helper is “just a helper.” Sometimes, they’re finance grads, engineers, nurses, teachers — and above all, breadwinners.

And remember, your job title doesn’t define your identity; how you treat others does, and sometimes, the most inspiring stories aren’t the loudest ones.

Read related: Maid tells employers, ‘We helpers are not asking for extra pay to serve your visitors, but at least they can say thank you to us, and not give us their black face’