Page 29 - Stories_of_Older_Adults

I N S P I R I N G S T O R I E S O F T H E O L D E R G E N E R A T I O N

MADAM EMI LAGUNAY

“We have to be grateful for what we have."
by Ang Hui Tian & Chen Jia Huey

Madam Emi is a 65 year old Filipino who has been working
in Malaysia for the past 20 years. She has a very friendly,
sweet smile with short curly light brown hair. "I’ve been
earning less ever since the pandemic started. I used to work five
times a week but only twice a week now. When the movement
control order (MCO) was at its most stringent, I didn’t have any
job for around five months. I’ve only been staying in my room,"
she said. Prior to the pandemic, Madam Emi used to work
five days a week in different households as a part time
cleaner. However, as the pandemic struck, things haven't
been the same for her since then. Her capacity to earn an
income has reduced. Madam Emi has a son who is now
working in the Philippines. It has been over a year since she
last went back to her home country due to travelling
restrictions caused by the pandemic. However, they would
still call each other at least once per day. Madam Emi Lagunay

Madam Emi spent five months living alone in a four-walled room. We felt so much empathy towards
her. It reminded of us of the days being stuck indoors when MCO was first implemented. We were
overloaded with boredom, frustration and we had so many thoughts crossing through my mind.
Fortunately for us, we did not have to bear a financial burden and we had our own family staying
together. Yet it isn’t the same for Madam Emi. Things must have been so much harder for her. She had
to worry about her bills, rent, job and many other things. We believe anyone would have found it
difficult to stay sane in her situation.

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