Filipino women share stresses of being the firstborn daughter who ‘parents rely on the most’
- Unpaid housework and helping with family finances are among the expectations of Filipino women who are firstborn children
- ‘Why buy new clothes when I’ll just be sweeping the floor in them?” says 28-year-old Majann, the glue holding her family together since she was 10
In Majann’s family, in Manila, she is the áte (elder sister), the captain of their ship, managing and overseeing everything that happens on deck. For years, she balanced her schoolwork with duties at home including tutoring her sister, cooking and managing expenses.
“My mother died in a car accident when I was 10,” she said. “I told myself that I need to step up for my sister Eljann because we no longer have a mother.” Eljann was seven at the time.
Now 28 and a law student, Majann, who lives in Manila, still does the housework, assisted by part-time helper Winnie, and cares for her retired father Elmerito, her partner Chalk, and the family dogs Jessie and Koko. Eljann does not live at home as she is working in a province north of Manila.
On top of all that, Majann helps run an online toy business with Chalk.
“I do this for the family and so my mother would be proud of me,” said Majann.
In a village 19km north of the Lazos’ home, another áte is also busy with household chores. Every day, Jasmine Buenaventura, who turns 17 this month, gets up at 6.30am then sweeps the floors and tidies her home.