I must admit to a certain dislike about this section as it requires to have to talk about oneself. So allow me to brief without being obscure.

Well, I'll simply begin where I think you might be interested in why I should be qualified to understand the needs and even the wants of the domestic helper enough to launch a training series for them.

First, I am a product of a Filipino father and Danish mother (by way of the Caribbean). I grew up in the Philippines in a household of, on average 5 helpers at any given time.

My high school yearbook read "Marilyn...born with a silver spoon..." At the time, I didn't appreciate what that meant. I later learned that was not a 'virtue' I wanted to perpetuate. However, it would be years later, my husband (in the picture) would often recall the story to many a friends how when he met me I never even stepped into the supermarket aisle much less got near the kitchen stove. He tells this story in the same breathe that he glowingly mentions he doesn't get the same meal everyday in our home.

Four years ago, when my roommate left me I found myself having to pick up the housekeeping business she was in charge of.  Though we employed one helper her organising and cooking skills were inadequate. So I took up cooking with a passion and now find myself creating new recipes everyday, many of which are fast becoming entries into a cookbook I am writing on seductively healthy eating.

When I got married and had our first child, Katharine, (in the picture), I was determined to fulfill a personal promise of 'being around' our daughter. I suppose this desire stems from the happy and fortunate growing up days in the glorious sixties when every woman's and man's role was defined by Mom basically caring for children and Dad going to work. Having always felt my Mom's presence I held fast to the belief that this is the main highway to a family's happiness. So here I find myself trying very hard to strike a balance of a home career whilst being Mommy to a darling little toddler.

As I left behind a large career in the field of telecoms as CEO in my family's business in the Philippines you can well imagine that developing at least a home career is important to me. So here I am unable to contain my managerial drive, I now find myself applying my wealth of business experience to home management! Quite a long way around I'd say.

This workshop idea is not my brainchild nor is it a principal goal. I'd have to credit that to Dimples Klocker who sadly has left Hong Kong. Another great friend and I really set out to publish a series of books that would help helpers, who generally tend to be from the Philippines, hence my personal interest in the improvement of domestic helpers. Well, it's not hard to see that the same information we were writing about could be 'lectured' using an atmosphere that would be fun and hopefully inspiring to all who come.

So I do invite you to ask your helpers to participate in what I know will be an enriching experience for them.

 

Marilyn Santiago-Kerr