Gan Chin Lin writes about how picnics are grounds for friendship and solidarity among migrant domestic workers in Singapore. Photographs by Gan Chin Lin.
Growing up in Hong Kong, we had similar sights in Central every Sunday - especially around Statue Square, and in the ramped and sheltered entrances into the MTR station; not far from St Joseph's Church and the Catholic cathedral. Even if she didn't take part (she was never a domestic worker), I think my mum enjoyed taking us around Central on the occasional Sunday just to hear the babble of various Filipino languages and the smells of the different foods of home. Even if she wasn't of the same socioeconomic status, there was a bit of solidarity with fellow Filipinos, especially when it came to the disdain some showed for them.
The fires show that Filipinos and Indonesian domestic workers are the entire backbone of Hong Kong economy, and are still grossly unappreciated for it. The picnics in central and other public spaces are really beautiful examples of ad hoc community building and even mutual aid.
This is fascinating, and so sad. I lived in Singapore in the 70’s, naval wife, and I loved Singapore. I would love to visit again. I imagine it has changed beyond recognition. I was extremely fond of my amah, Hup, and I had friends in the boat boys at the Red House yacht club, I used to eat with them in their canteen. Disapproved of by other members, but I did my own thing. Thank you for this article.
Growing up in Hong Kong, we had similar sights in Central every Sunday - especially around Statue Square, and in the ramped and sheltered entrances into the MTR station; not far from St Joseph's Church and the Catholic cathedral. Even if she didn't take part (she was never a domestic worker), I think my mum enjoyed taking us around Central on the occasional Sunday just to hear the babble of various Filipino languages and the smells of the different foods of home. Even if she wasn't of the same socioeconomic status, there was a bit of solidarity with fellow Filipinos, especially when it came to the disdain some showed for them.
The fires show that Filipinos and Indonesian domestic workers are the entire backbone of Hong Kong economy, and are still grossly unappreciated for it. The picnics in central and other public spaces are really beautiful examples of ad hoc community building and even mutual aid.
This is fascinating, and so sad. I lived in Singapore in the 70’s, naval wife, and I loved Singapore. I would love to visit again. I imagine it has changed beyond recognition. I was extremely fond of my amah, Hup, and I had friends in the boat boys at the Red House yacht club, I used to eat with them in their canteen. Disapproved of by other members, but I did my own thing. Thank you for this article.
I always wondered why C19 French authors always had it in for the middle classes, now I know.