Damayan Extends Condolences to Connie Watton’s Family and Employers

With the tragic passing of Filipino domestic worker Connie Watton, Damayan Migrant Workers Association leaders, members and staff express our deepest condolences to Connie’s family, to her employers, the Schwarzman family and to the Filipino domestic workers community. Damayan is a non-profit organization in New York City that promotes the rights, dignity, and welfare of Filipino migrant workers, especially domestic workers.

Connie’s committed life reflects the lives of millions of Filipino women who left their home country and children to work as domestic workers around the world. Connie left the Philippines for the United States when she was 18 years old. Once in the U.S., she began working as a domestic worker for the Schwarzman family, a position she held for 30 years until her death. We share the grief and shock of her family and employers over Connie’s horrible and senseless death, after being pushed into the subway in Times Square.

Connie’s death is a tragedy, and this tragedy illuminates the lives and experiences of thousands of Filipino domestic workers who care for American families. As an organization of Filipino domestic workers, we deeply appreciate the love and respect that her employers, the Schwarzman family, has for Connie. Domestic workers are oftentimes undervalued and they are made vulnerable to abuses, wage theft, labor trafficking and violence.

Damayan works for the recognition and respect for the work that Connie and all domestic workers do, taking care of what is most important in their employers’ lives -- their homes, children, and elderly. We value their hard work and sacrifices to support their own families and their homeland. Damayan honors Connie Watton as we continue our work to help Filipino domestic workers fight for dignified and just lives. //

Pakikiramay ng Damayan sa pamilya at employers ni Connie Watton

Nakikiramay ang mga lider, miyembro at staff ng Damayan Migrant Workers Association sa pamilya at employers ng namatay na Pilipinong domestic worker na si Connie Watton. Ang Damayan ay isang non-profit na organisasyon sa New York City na nagtataguyod ng mga karapatan, dignidad at kapakanan ng mga migranteng manggagawang Pilipino lalo na ang domestic workers.

Ang buhay ni Connie ay sumasalamin sa buhay ng mga milyon-milyong kababaihang Pilipino na umalis mula sa sariling bansa at iniwan ang kanilang mga anak para magtrabaho bilang domestic workers sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng mundo. Umalis si Connie ng Pilipinas papuntang Estados Unidos noong 18 taong gulang siya. Nagtrabaho sya bilang domestic worker para sa pamilyang Schwarzman ng tatlumpung taon hanggang sya ay mamatay. Nakikiisa kami sa pighati at pagkagulat ng pamilya at employers sa walang saysay na pagkamatay ni Connie pagkatapos siyang itulak sa isang subway sa Times Square.

Ang pagkamatay ni Connie ay isang trahedya na nagtatanglaw sa mga buhay at karanasan ng libo-libong Pilipinong domestic worker na nangangalaga sa mga pamilyang Amerikano. Bilang isang organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong domestic worker, lubos naming pinahahalagahan ang pag-ibig at respeto ng employers ni Connie para sa kanya. Ang mga domestic worker ay malimit na hindi pinahahalagahan at bulnerable sa mga pang-aabuso, pagnanakaw ng sweldo, labor trafficking at karahasan.

Ang Damayan ay nagtatrabaho para sa rekognisyon at respeto sa trabaho na ginagampanan ni Connie at iba pang domestic workers na nag-aalaga sa mga pinakaimportante sa buhay ng kanilang employers — ang kanilang tahanan, mga anak at mga matatanda. Pinahahalagahan namin ang kanilang mga pagsusumikap at mga sakripisyo para suportahan ang kanilang mga pamilya at bayan. Pinaparangalan ng Damayan si Connie Watton habang patuloy kaming nagtatrabaho para tulungan ang mga Pilipinong domestic worker para mabuhay ng marangal at makatarungan.