CAREGIVER
Sarah (Sharon Cuneta),
a grade school English teacher, joins the 150,000 Pinoy OFWs working in the
United Kingdom to support her husband, Teddy, in making a better living for
their family. More than just a chronicle of the Filipinos' experience working
as nurses and caregivers in the UK, this story also charts Sarah's journey
to self-discovery - from a submissive wife who makes sacrifices to make way
for her Teddy's aspirations to an empowered woman who finds dignity and pride
in a humbling job as a caregiver in London.
The story begins as Sarah
says goodbye to her familiar world. After finishing an arduous course in
caregiving, she bids farewell to the Grade 5 classroom, where she teaches
English. She buys a winter coat for her son Paulo and promises that he would
use it once she can afford to take him to London. In typical Pinoy fashion,
she shares tearful goodbyes with her whole family at the airport when she
finally leaves for the United Kingdom.
Finally, Sarah arrives in
London. At their small flat, she and her husband Teddy share a passionate
reunion. With a honeymoon mood, he takes her to the beautiful sights in London.
While window-shopping at a famous mall, Sarah meets Sean (Makisig), a spunky
Filipino boy, as she catches him trying to shoplift chocolate bars.
After that fleeting period
of excitement, she experiences the hard challenges every Filipino caregiver
faces every day: the icy weather, the dirty work, the difficult patients.
Meanwhile, Teddy also struggles
with the daily grind as he works in the hospital.
Despite the difficulties
of adjusting to London life, however, Sarah faithfully stands by her Teddy.
She tries to make the most of the situation by giving her best in her work,
and in this way, earns the respect of Mr. Morgan, his wealthy old ward. However,
her Teddy is oblivious to her success, as he is absorbed in his own problems
with work. Sarah finds solace in her friendship with Mr. Morgan and his son
David, who seems to appreciate her more than Teddy does, and with little
Sean, who somehow eases her longing for her own son.
Tensions rise between Sarah
and Teddy as the stress of London life takes its toll on their marriage.
Because of the mounting conflicts both at work and home, Sarah's Teddy decides
to give up. He tells Sarah that they are going back to the Philippines.
Sarah finds it very hard
to accept her Teddy's decision. She knows that staying in London is the best
thing for their family, because returning to the Philippines would only mean
going back to the same problems they had before. Will Sarah choose to remain
by her Teddy's side to keep her family intact? Or will she find the strength
to stay in London to continue seeking a better life for her son, even if
it means losing her marriage? |
