Filipino maids first appeared in China in Hong Kong. The "first generation" of Filipino maids in Hong Kong emerged in the 1970s; by 1970, there were approximately 50 Filipino maids in Hong Kong, primarily employed by British and American families residing there. Due to domestic economic downturns and the rise of political opposition, the strongman President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, opened the country's borders, permitting and encouraging citizens to work abroad in the hope of improving domestic livelihoods while easing political pressure. Since then, OFWs—Overseas Filipino Workers—have gradually become an indispensable part of Philippine social life. Among them, Filipino maids have become a major highlight in the international labor market.
Filipino women become maids out of necessity.
With nearly 40% of the Philippine population living below the poverty line, extreme poverty, a preference for sons over daughters, and the prevalence of single-parent households have prompted many families to send their daughters abroad to work and support the family, reserving more opportunities for their sons. Therefore, in typical Filipino families, it is the mothers, sisters, and other female members who go out to earn a living. To Filipinos, this is considered normal and a last resort.
Reasons why Filipino maids are popular
First, they speak English.
Because the Philippines implements bilingual education, with English and Tagalog as official languages, the English proficiency of these maids is self-evident. This is a benefit of their educational system; if they were trained specifically for labor export later in life, the costs and results would not be comparable.
Second, the inherent nature of the Filipino people.
Most Filipinos are patient, kind, devout Catholics, optimistic, simple, good at forbearance, easy to adapt to and integrate into foreign cultures and unfamiliar environments, and willing to serve others. This is the result of 350 years of Spanish rule and 50 years of cultural influence from the United States. They are calm, always wear a smile, and address their employers as "Sir," "Ma'am," or "Boss."
Third, they are hygienic, follow a routine of early to bed and early to rise, and have good living habits.
In the restrooms of large shopping malls in the Philippines, you can always see Filipinos brushing their teeth, washing their faces, and combing their hair. Regardless of wealth, cleanliness is a virtue shared by the vast majority of Filipinos. Over the years, we have been "woken up" countless times in the early morning by the sound of our neighbors' maids washing cars. However, there is no room for complaint, as all the maids are washing cars.