Living in a Different WorldLyn was in London when I first spoke on the phone with her to followup on her life story for Pinoy Boomer. From our conversation, she is living quite a different life from when she first started in Malaysia as a domestic helper. Unlike her first job where she does all the household chores, Lyn now lives in a palace. Nowadays, she is also busy traveling in different places - London, Switzerland, Paris, France and other places courtesy of her employer. In addition to her monthly salary, she receives travel expenses and allowances. Unlike many of us who have to go through security in airports, in some cases she does not need to. Sometimes she flies in a private jet. Lyn is living a life only a few get to see closely. As a Personal Aide to the Sultana of Pahang, the richest and biggest state in Malaysia, her work tending to the personal needs of the Sultana is a much easier job than her job before. Lyn sounded ecstatic as she shared with me how it is to be a Personal Aide to a Sultana, a job she held since 2007. She was quick to say how blessed she was and God has always been with her. As the only Filipina tending the Sultana's personal needs, Lyn said, "My job now used to be held by Malaysian citizens who hold college degrees. I am so happy I got this job and the Sultana appears to be happy with my work. God is really good to me!" Life Before as a Domestic Helper in Malaysia There was a lot of authenticity in her voice and very optimistic about life. Even the photos she sent me speak of a woman who is not only gracious in her words, but showed a friendly smile, grace and happiness. No wonder, the Sultana adored her that in a short time she was hired she was quickly entrusted with sensitive and personal needs of the Sultana. She was also quick to say that though she loves the family she first worked before as a domestic helper, and added, "It was quite a sacrifice and lonely to be away from your family." This is certainly not the first time Lyn has expressed such sentiment. In reading an article she wrote in The Star Newspaper Malaysia awhile back entitled, "Missing Their Growing Years," Lyn revealed a deeper sense of yearning for her own children and family. With the more than eight to eleven million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Lyn, as her friends call her, is not alone in her struggles and sacrifices. Having experienced how it was to be away from my family in the Philippines, I understood the loneliness that comes with living a life far away from family, especially our own children. Just like many OFWs who leave the Philippines for the sake of her children's future, Lyn also took the chance after learning from a friend about opportunities in Malaysia. In Malaysia where she worked as a domestic helper from 1993 to 2007, Lyn's quest for a better life for herself, her children and family is shared by close to 250,000 OFWs currently working in Malaysia. It was not easy for her, but she wanted to help her husband ensure a good education for their children. Lyn has within her shear determination to shape her own destiny, give a better future not only for her children but her mother and five siblings. Her generous heart extended to her fellow Filipinos in Malaysia. Active in El Shaddai and the Filipino community, Lyn in many cases helped other domestic helpers to escape from the abuses of their employers. With sadness in her voice, "There are many victims of illegal recruiters and sometimes they don't have places to go or food to eat, so I have to help. There are also cases where I personally drove fellow domestic helpers just to escape from their abusive bosses." Though she wasn't making a lot of money then she felt the obligation to help. No wonder, many Filipinos in Malaysia love her. For her outstanding contibutions to the Filipino community, dedication to her work and for being the Valedictorian in her class, the President of the Philippines personally gave special remarks for Lyn.