January 2013 Issue # 4

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS

Editorial Staff:

This issue: . FOA Au Pair Group Jean Gocotano Mae Maglunob Leniel Panganiban successfully held its Year-End Jess Layda Party Karen Legada . Year-End Party Photos Contributors:

. Au Pair’s Column

. Announcements and Events Patricia Parina Renalyn Ontolan Pangyao Group

FOA AU PAIR GROUP SUCCESSFULLY HELD

ITS YEAR-END PARTY

For more than a year of providing counseling We have also a guest speaker from FOA and and legal assistance to all au pairs in from KIT; who shared some issues related to Denmark, FOA Au Pair Group successfully au pairs. held its Year- From End Party last preparations 29th of before the event, December at donations, Saint Anne’s sponsors, Church. organizations and individuals who It was a break supported us to through with a this event, we lot of au pairs would like to attended. Au thank all of you pairs showed for being part of their talents in the success of dancing, singing, stage and others. FOA – Au Pair Group Year-End party.

Our speakers shared their stories from being FOA – Au Pair group believes that the an au pair to another phase of their lives strength and our voice lie through our unity such as being a student, a leader, got married and collective actions. and still working as an au pair in other countries.

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 1 of 8 Rosie Aggabao is an au pair here in Denmark for 9 months after working in Norway as an au pair. She is an active Youth for Christ and a choir member both in Denmark and in Norway.

Mae Maglunob has worked in Holland as an au pair and was involved in Filipino Organization in Holland. She is presently an au pair in Denmark for almost a year now. She is one of the board member of FOA – Au Pair Group and also one of the editorial staff of FOA Au Pair Group Newsletter; FOA Au Pair Speaks. One of her dreams is to continue her education here in Denmark.

The masters of Ceremony; Rosie and Mae

THE SPEAKERS: Patricia, Karen and Renalyn who share their stories from being an au pair to another phase of their lives

PATRICIA; she’s been an au KAREN; she’s been an au RENALYN; she’s been an au pair for few months and pair here in Denmark for pair here in Denmark and applied as a student here in almost a year and now she’s after her she got Denmark working in Norway as an au married to a Danish guy and pair now she’s pregnant.

Continue reading their stories at pages 6 & 7

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 2 of 8 SINGERS: Jenelyn Rejas, Jul Ladera, Franklin Cici, Mary and Leniel Panganiban

RAFFLE PRIZES WINNERS

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 3 of 8 DANCERS/STAGE PLAY CASTS

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 4 of 8 FOOD, DRINKS, GAMES , DISCO and others

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 5 of 8

AU PAIR’S COLUMN

PATRICIA: I have been here in Denmark for A lot of people discouraged me with the 1 and a half year now. I was an au pair for 11 decision that I made, they told me it’s months from 2 different Danish families. useless because I cannot finance myself to finish my degree anyway but I never listened When i was in the Philippines I always try to A week after my approval I found a job, I convinced my family that I don’t need to worked hard and study really hard... I saved finish my education, I wanted to go to all my salary for my tuition I got good grades Denmark and work as an au pair, I don’t in the school during my first semester and I need to finish my degree and delay my applied for a scholarship. I was so blessed to chance to work and earn money, they always be chosen as one of Copenhagen business contradict to that idea but due to my academy’s scholar, I can now study for free persistence I came to Denmark a year before with a monthly grant from the school. I hope I finish my degree. that my story will inspire you and make you realize that we should not stop dreaming and I thought life would be easy here in Denmark believing in realizing our dreams. # But it wasn’t especially with my host family, I know all au pairs can relate to the fact that some of the Danish family do not understand KAREN: I started to work as a domestic or refuse to understand the real meaning of helper in Hong Kong to help my family in the having an au pair. Philippines and to give my son a good future and education. Life in Hong Kong was quite My experience as an au pair leads me to hard. realize the importance of education; I strongly believe that education opens an I had given a chance to work here in unlimited sphere of learning and vast Denmark as an au pair. In 3 months working opportunities for my dreams to become a in my host family, I didn’t mind the long reality. I realized that I can’t be an au pair working hours, I kept in mind that they were forever. I have to plan my future and I have good and the work was not as hard as what to do it now. we had experience in Hong Kong.

After being with two different families I I didn’t know the rules as an au pair, I am applied for a student visa. I don’t have scared of complaining and facing the enough money for my tuition fee that time consequences and I’m thinking of my family and I don’t know where to get it or how I can way back in the Philippines. make it work. But I prayed really hard and hope for the positive outcome, it was not I have friends and I started to know my easy, i was not accepted by the school at first rights but still I am working extra hours because I was undergraduate. I asked them without being paid. I didn’t have a chance to to reconsider my application 3 times and they enroll in a language school and learn Danish have disapproved my request 3 times but I Language and culture as what cultural never lose hope you know why? Because I exchange is. My host family told me that it’s don’t give up my dreams I have to give it my a waste of time and its useless coz I’m doing best shot I feel I deserve a chance. So I domestic duties; working all household made a letter of appeal to the head of the chores, care and even gardening. My school and asked to review my application, in host family even threatened me if I will my letter I told them that I was a scholar in terminate the contract.I am scared of losing one of the best universities in the Philippines my job. which is DLSUD and I will prove to them that I deserve to have this opportunity. I started to join FOA-Au Pair Group and be a member. I knew now what my rights are. I A week after that I receive the approval from am now working in Norway as an au pair too. the school and the embassy. I used all the knowledge that I learned in involving a group like this. I am thankful to The next challenge for me was how to figure FOA-Au Pair Group and also to all my friends out how am I going to pay my next tuition coz I’ve learned a lot and I want to share my fee and the money I borrowed from relatives knowledge to my fellow au pairs and friends and friends for my first semester. that need help and assistance. Let’s unite and be strong and be open to learn and know our rights.#

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 6 of 8 RENALYN: I’m a former au pair who got However, it was complicated; my certificate married to a Danish guy. I will share my of no was expired. It must be valid experience with you, my life being an au pair 4 months from the date requested so we until I got married. decided to postpone our plan. I arrived here in DK last April 10, 2010. Instead, he focused on his job and I decided During the time being an au pair, I got 2 host to pursue my plan to continue being an au families. The first one doesn’t goes well, so I pair in Norway. I visited a host family in decided to change host family wherein I Norway for an interview. During the stayed for 20 months. interview, I told them about my boyfriend in DK. I didn’t know that it would affect their I became a member of FOA-Au Pair Group decision in hiring me as their au pair. They from the start. A week after I joined the informed me later after I’m back in DK. meeting with the group, I met this guy who became my husband. It started as a friend in I shared to my boyfriend about it and I’m still FB and then we decided to meet in person. hoping to find a new host family in Norway Meeting once during the weekend became but we decided to continue our plan; getting our routine; we set time in watching movies, married. I contacted my sister in Philippines visiting some tourist’s spots here in Denmark. as she helped me in getting a new CENOMAR and we are lucky that it’s processed on time. Later on, he became my boyfriend and we’re engaged last January 2012 and we planned We got married in Holbaek last June 2012 to get married before my contract ends. then we move to Sweden to live together. And now, we are expecting a little one this coming Spring Season and we are very happy having a baby. #

THE PANGYAO GIRLS

We celebrate our NEW YEAR at pangyao Lyn’s host house...we played lot of games, we sing, we dance as we enjoy each other’s company...we wait until 12 midnight to welcome 2013... We also did

the Filipino traditions like putting coins on the pocket, jump many times and we use firecracker... That night is a memorable new year for everyone...

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 7 of 8 Ana and Maria are talking about the last FOA Au Pair Group Year-End Party.

Hi. Thanks a lot for inviting us to join in FOA Au Pair Thanks a lot too for joining. We Year-End Party last 29th of are very thankful to all who December. I really enjoyed attended and joined us especially the event and my friends to those who helped us and too. Please inform us to contributed a lot to the success of FOA Au Pair Group’s the event. upcoming activities. We to join. Sure. You can join to the group too and be a member. FOA Au Pair Group has Facebook Group Page as well. We will post latest news, events and etc.

Illustrated by Leniel of Helsingor To access more photos during the event please click the link below: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=586567888026193&set=o.17227 6179513967&type=2&theater f December 2012

- 249459 FOA offers membership to all au pairs who are interested, and also FOA provides counseling both legal and welfare issues. Please contact us or visit us at FOA Main Branch or if au pairs are interested to be part of our newsletter, just send us your message or contributions at our email address.

ISTASYON PINOY 95.5 FM 95.2 Hybridnet Address: Staunings Plads 1-3, København TIME: Telephone No. : 24945901 Every Tuesday Email: foa.aupairgroup.com from 7:00 until 9:00 in the evening. Visit us at Facebook (FOA Au Pair Group) and join the group.

TELEPHONE NUMBER: 35836230

PUBLISHED: FOA – Au Pair Group E-MAIL: [email protected] CONTACT NO. 24945901

FOA – AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 8 of 8