Friday, March 13, 2009

Pinoy to be Proud of

I believe that for every 1 misguided Pinoy there must be 999 good others.

Here's one we can definitely be proud of:

Juana Tejada, 39: Nanny inspired reforms for caregivers
by
IMMIGRATION REPORTER (Toronto Star)

Tiny and soft-spoken, Juana Tejada was a giant till her last breath as the voice for migrant nannies toiling in Canada for a better future for their families in the Philippines.

Tejada, who inspired a grassroots campaign to lobby for reforms to the federal live-in caregiver program, died of cancer Sunday at Toronto General Hospital. She was 39.

"Even though she was bedridden, when we asked her if she was ready to go, she said, `No.'" said friend Connie Sorio. "Juana was reserved and had very few words, but she would be most remembered for her fighting spirit."

Tejada, a founding member of the United Steelworkers' Independent Workers Association, was also inspirational to a group of Philippine live-in caregivers, all struggling with cancer and immigration.

"When Juana got her (permanent residence) status, she took upon herself as the spokesperson of the campaign to change the (caregiver) program," Sorio recounted. "She never wanted any limelight. You had to prod her to speak. But she was so courageous when speaking for others."

Tejada came here in 2003 through the program, which grants permanent resident status to foreign domestic workers after they complete three-year assignments and obtain medical and criminal record clearances.

She was diagnosed with colon cancer when she applied for permanent residence in 2006 and faced removal because she was deemed a health burden.

She later won an appeal, got her status and lobbied to change the two-step medical exam required for caregivers. Under the program, a caregiver has to pass a medical test to come to Canada and another when applying for immigration. Her supporters are asking the immigration minister to exempt caregivers from the second test.

Her youngest sister, Berna Salonga, who joined her in January under the caregiver program, said Tejada was fine last week, when they watched a Philippine movie, Caregiver.

"Suddenly, she collapsed and couldn't hold her head or lift her arms," said Salonga, one of Tejada's eight siblings.

Tejada's husband, Noli Azada, had been at her bedside since Thursday. The couple had planned to fly to the Philippines last Saturday.

Tejada was so excited about the upcoming trip back – her first in nine years – she began packing in February, said Salonga.

"(Juana) said she had to sleep between our parents to get all the love that she couldn't have all these years," Salonga sobbed.

"She was a very good sister. She sacrificed her whole life for us. She sent us to high school and college, so we could have an education."

Salonga said her sister planned to start working as soon as she recovered from cancer, so she could sponsor her family's immigration.

Viewings will be held at DeMarco Funeral Home on Keele St., between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

More on Tejada here.

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