My Pope Philippines – August 2018

by Monica B. Savellano

Many Filipino families consider
their yayas or nannies as part
of the family. Monica and
her family are very lucky and
grateful to have Didang, their
trusted yaya, who has been with
them for 39 years! Yaya Didang
has spent more than half of her
life with the Barrettos.

When did Yaya Didang
join your family?
She has been with us since
March 1979. Yaya started when
my mom was five months
pregnant with me.

Second Mom

Why has she stayed with

your family for so long?

I think the main reason why

she has stayed with us is her

genuine love for our whole

family (even our dogs!). It’s

also because my mom is one

of the kindest employers. She

treats everyone with kindness,

generosity, and respect. There

was a time we had financial

problems and couldn’t give

Yaya her salary, and yet she

chose to stay with us. I cannot

put into words how grateful I

am for everything she has done

for us. I am very close to all the

members of my family—and

Yaya is part of that family.

How do you bond?

Yaya and I have simple bonding

moments, like when we hang

out in the kitchen and tell each

other stories about practically

anything and everything.

What are your best

memories of her with

each generation of

your family?

She has been with us in happy

occasions and tough times, but

it’s also the simple everyday

things she does to take care of

each and every one of us that

I am grateful for. I will always

cherish the way she takes care

of me when I get sick—up to this

day she still gives me an ice bath

or massages my joints when I’m

not feeling well, even if she’s old

and not that strong anymore. I

also remember the time I went

through a break up; she hugged

me the whole night until I fell

asleep. When she sees me get

hurt physically or emotionally,

she also cries with me. She

doesn’t like seeing me sad. She

is also present during all my

happy moments, like when I

got married (she was part of the

offertory at my wedding) and

had my first child. Now that I

have a child, she is like a lola to

him, spoiling him with lots and

lots of love.

Yaya Didang (left)

celebrates with

Monica on her

wedding day.