Fifty-seven years of devotion and care: Honoring the life of our Filipino housemaid, Nanang, marked by affection and dedication
In the vibrant city of Dubai, a tale unfolds of a remarkable woman named Julieta Lahoylahoy, affectionately known as Nanang. Nanang worked tirelessly for a family for an astounding 57 years, joining them before the interviewer was even born and passing away in April 2024.
During her time with the family, Nanang was responsible for various household tasks, from cooking and cleaning to ironing and running errands. Her dedication and love were evident in every task she undertook, making her an unsung hero in their home.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), housemaids like Nanang are protected under the Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 and its amendments. This law sets out several rights and safeguards for domestic workers, including housemaids. Key provisions include paid annual leave, salary and fee protections, medical treatment, work conditions, prohibitions against discrimination and exploitation, contract transparency, and legal enforcement.
However, it's important to note that the previously guaranteed gratuity payment for domestic workers completing one year of service was removed in the 2022 law, with no current replacement as of mid-2025. Despite this, the UAE government actively regulates recruitment agencies and employers to ensure compliance and penalize abuses.
As for the interviewer's family, they were fortunate to have Nanang as a constant presence in their lives. Although they had three housemaids at one point, Nanang remained, becoming an integral part of the family. She helped raise the interviewer and their three siblings, providing them with love, care, and generosity.
Nanang's loyalty and love lasted a lifetime. She was short in stature but gentle in spirit, full of strength, even defending the interviewer from bullies as a child. Her sense of humour brought joy and lightness to the family, making even the toughest days a little brighter.
The family felt a deep silence when Nanang passed away from a heart attack, losing a part of their foundation and a woman whose love carried them through life's joys and sorrows. The interviewer deeply misses Nanang, especially in quiet moments.
Now, the interviewer is cooking their own meals, doing their own laundry, and taking care of household tasks previously handled by Nanang. The interviewer's parents brought in Nanang's sisters, Carmen and Lea, to help with the household and care for the family.
This story serves as a reminder of the dignity, kindness, and love that should be extended to housemaids like Nanang. In the UAE, these women often offer care, dedication, and love that goes beyond their duties.
We invite our readers to share their stories about housemaids who care for their families and treat them like one of their own. Let's celebrate those who care for us, just as Nanang cared for her family. She was more than a maid, serving as a second mother, constant companion, and the heart of the interviewer's home.
- Nanang, who passed away in April 2024, was not just a housemaid, but a second mother, constant companion, and the heart of a family in Dubai, who appreciated her care and dedication for 57 years.
- It is important to note that housemaids like Nanang in the UAE are protected by Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022, ensuring rights and safeguards such as paid annual leave, medical treatment, and work conditions.
- Despite the removal of gratuity payment for domestic workers completing one year of service in the 2022 law, the UAE government works to regulate recruitment agencies and employers for compliance, with penalties for abuses.
- The interviewer cooks their own meals, does their own laundry, and handles household tasks after the passing of Nanang, while her sisters, Carmen and Lea, help with the household and care for the family.
- In a time of remembering Nanang, readers are invited to share their stories about housemaids who care for their families in the same loving and dedicated manner, acknowledging their significant role in the household dynamics and lifestyle.
