50 year-old Corazon (not her real name) is a mother of six. Three of them are already married while the three others are still under Corazon’s care. She has been married for 30 years now to a jeepney driver. Sadly, her marriage has been on the rocks as her husband fails to support the family economically.
Corazon worked for Superstar Coconut Products Co., Inc. (popularly known as Superstar) for 16 years . Superstar is an export company of desiccated coconuts and is considered one of the top 2000 corporations in the country.
Corazon’s life story exemplifies the multiple layers of oppression most Filipino women face in their everyday lives. She is forced to work hard for the family notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions in her workplace. At home, she is a victim of domestic violence.
Corazon as a Worker
Corazon’s employment with Superstar started in 1996 when she was assigned as a “parer”. Her job was to scalp off, with a knife, the thin and brownish coating from pieces of de-shelled coconut flesh. Eventually, the company started using a paring machine to double its production. However, the use of the machine resulted to numerous injuries that claimed the lives of some workers and so the company resorted back to manual operations. Corazon shared that, “Daghan ang nadisgrasya sama sa maputol ang kamot. Gastos pud kini sa kuryente. Naa sa una, gikaon sa machine ang taas na buhok sa babae, namatay gyud sya. Paspasan man kay naga-apas sa quota” (there were a lot of workers who were injured such as hands that were cut-off. It was also energy extensive. There was one instance where a woman worker died after her hair was caught by the machine. We need to work faster as we must reach the quota).
As a regular employee, Corazon is earning P288.00 per day. However, this only happens if she can reach a quota of 1000 pieces of coconuts (clean coconut kernel) in eight (8) hours. In order to reach the quota and earn the minimum wage, Corazon was forced to bring along her children and help with the work. The “pakyawan” system requires them to finish 2,400 pieces of clean coconut. Her net income per week ranged from P200.00 to P900.00.
Corazon was very vocal against the anti-worker actions of the management such as its failure to supply the necessary equipment and gears to protect the workers from work related accidents. The employees are the ones buying them on personal expense unless they will opt to have it deducted from their salary. Corazon reacted when the new administration issued a policy of not providing the workers with the chairs needed for the work. The administration had instead required the workers to buy the chairs on basis of salary deduction.
Corazon lamented that, “Gipang- kwartahan sa bag-ong operations manager na si Joey ang bangko imbes nga sila ang nagaprovide niini. Wala ko nanarbaho diri para mopalit og bangko. Para ni sa akong mga anak”. (Joey, the new operations manager has made a business out of the chairs which were supposed to be supplied by them. We were not there to buy chairs. I work for my children). What is worse is that the company only allows the workers to use the chairs when they have visitors.
Corazon’s vocal opposition earned the ire of Mina – a company production inspector, which ended to a physical fight. Corazon was suspended while Mina filed a complaint against her in the barangay. Though the case was settled, Corazon refused to go back to her work as she will be transferred to another area that was not sure of having an available position. For several years of working with Superstar, Corazon was a good employee as can be shown in the record of the company and in the reputation she has in her barangay.
Aside from the difficult working conditions, they were not provided with appropriate benefits. They were not entitled to have vacation leaves, while those who retired were not accorded with retirement pay and other benefits. They were receiving a measly P3,000 as 13-month pay. These scenarios also happen with majority of the workers of Superstar.
Corazon as a Woman
For 16 years, Corazon endured her work since it is her only way to feed her children. She shared that her income was never enough for her family. “Kulang gyud ang kita labi na kay dili manghatag ang akong bana sa galastuhan sa balay” (My income was always not enough as my husband never helps in my family’s daily expenses).
The dire condition of Corazon in the workplace is worsened by domestic violence. She was accused by her husband of having an affair with another man. Corazon had to leave their home for a while but she eventually went back because of her children.
Corazon as a Fighter
The case of Corazon exemplifies the multiple layers of oppression experienced by majority of Filipino women. Just like Corazon, most Filipino women are being denied of their rights to stable and decent job.
Women rights are not only violated in the workplace but also within the confines of their homes. Most cases of violence committed against women as recorded by the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) is economic abuse (71 percent) and followed by physical abuse (10 percent). The need to provide for their families, forces women to work even in companies which policies are oppressive and the nature of work is difficult and dangerous.
On the positive note, Corazon’s case is a manifestation of the women’s courage to resist oppressive work policies. Inevitably, workers will end-up reacting against situations that degrade their existence as humans. The women workers and the rests of the workers of Superstar will inevitably stand united against the company’s management and further push humane and pro-worker policies.
Women Studies and Resource Center - Southern Mindanao Region,Inc. 