"Seizure"
Tina Altez

Tina turned 14 years old last March 1, 2003. It has been almost a year after she first stepped in the city of Pasig where she suffered heavy workloads and physical abuse as a child domestic worker. All she wanted is to save money and go back to Samar for her secondary education. She was not able to save much however because whenever she receives her monthly wage her mother (who has her new family in Rizal) would visit her and take 75% of her money. After almost five months in the employer's household, Tina was tasked to take care of an epileptic adult daughter of her employer aside from other tasks like doing the laundry and all around cleaning and helping in the cooking. Tina was very hard up in taking care of the epileptic lady and for every mistake she commits she would receive demeaning words.

These she bore until one time her own mother witnessed how the employers beat and hit her because she was accused of neglecting her duty to look after the epileptic lady who accidentally fell during her seizures. Her mother was helpless that time and she was able to take Tina into her custody immediately after the incident. She tried negotiating with the employers but the employers heed her not so she sought assistance from CSWDO-Pasig. The city Social Workers were able to remove Tina from the abusive household at same time filed a case, Violation of R.A.7610, against the employers. Tina was turned over to Visayan Forum for temporary shelter and custody while her case, where she was considered the main witness, is on progress. In the center she was provided with counseling and processing services to help her adjust to the new set up, cope with the past and speak for her rights as a former child domestic worker. At present Tina is an in-house scholar of the organization. She is enrolled in the 1st year high school. Per assessment she could not be released to her mother and stepfamily in Rizal because the family has no stable source of livelihood and the mother reported cases of threats from the employers. Given the present situation of her stepfamily, it is of Tina's best interest that she needs the continuous provision of temporary shelter and education. With the continuous provision of temporary shelter and custody and educational assistance of Tina, her right to education is realized, her right to safe environment and her presence during court hearings to support the criminal case filed against her former employers are ensured.

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