‘Where else can we go?’: Maids continue picnics at Lucky Plaza a week after fatal accident

SINGAPORE — A week after a car crashed outside Lucky Plaza, killing two Filipino domestic workers and putting two others in critical condition at a hospital, one would expect the atmosphere around the Orchard Road mall to be solemn on Sunday (Jan 5).

But barring the spot where the Dec 29 accident took place, the surrounding corridors and pavements continued to be lined with people having picnics, forming two disparate worlds.

Along the pavement at Nutmeg Road, the site of the tragedy, there was sadness and vigils, with people laying flowers and lighting candles.

But on the other side, life went on as usual as dozens of Filipino domestic workers danced to rave or techno music, and drank and ate into the late afternoon. In the quieter stretches, other groups sat on pieces of cardboard or picnic mats chatting with their friends as they had an early dinner at 5pm before returning to their employers’ home by about 6pm.

There is simply nowhere else where they could hang out regularly and feel at home, said about 10 Filipino maids TODAY approached.

Among those feeling at a loss were Ms Arlyn Camsog, 38, and Ms Marlyn Caddawan, 42, who are regular picnickers at the portion of the pavement outside Lucky Plaza that is now coated with a thick layer of translucent white wax from the vigils being conducted since Monday.

For two years, they had congregated there with two other friends. And they were pals with the victims, Ms Camsog describing them as a “friendly bunch” who are known to pass home-cooked food around.

The victims’ group comprised Arlyn Picar Nucos, 50, and Abigail Danao Leste, 41, who died from the 5pm accident that saw a black Honda crash into the portion of the pavement that is closest to an entrance to Lucky Plaza’s apartment block.

Having been there so regularly, Ms Camsog is so comfortable at the spot that she would often use the very railings that the car had crashed through to prop her legs up as she takes a midday nap after lunch.

“I am safe only because she is not there,” Ms Camsog said, feeling spooked as she pointed at Ms Caddawan. Last week, Ms Caddawan could not be present as she had gone for a holiday back home in the Philippines, and Ms Camsog did not go there as she would be alone.

Ms Caddawan remarked: “I am very nervous about going back (to that spot). Imagine if we were there together when it happened. It would be been us who’s heavily injured or worse, dead. The car would be jumping (as) we sat there.”

‘NO OTHER PLACE TO GO’

With packets of economic rice in hand as they sat on a pavement next to Tong Building, opposite Lucky Plaza, Ms Camsog added: “Where else can we go? We have no choice. We have no other place to go.”

Near them is an empty square where there are several signs warning that members of the public are not allowed to sit in the plaza area, which is anyway cordoned off.

Earlier in the day, they had tried to sit along the corridors in Lucky Plaza, but security guards chased them away as they were blocking the pathway.

Ms Camsog said: “We just want a space to rest where it is easy to stock up on personal items and send money home.”

She has been working in Singapore for almost 10 years, while Ms Caddawan has been here for close to 12 years. They said they used to make it a point to visit different places in Singapore like Sentosa, but they now find such trips “very tiring”.

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Mrs Imelda Agonoy, 53, said that she, too, would steer clear of the pavements, but would like to still hang out in the area.

Her family happened to be in town last Sunday and they were buying chocolates at Lucky Plaza when the accident took place.

CALL FOR A ‘PROPER PLACE’ TO HANG OUT AT

Today, some 250,000 foreign domestic workers reside here. Of them, about 80,000 are Filipino.

A 45-year-old domestic worker who wanted to be known only as Lyn sees it as the Singapore Government’s responsibility to give domestic workers a “proper place” in Orchard Road to hang out at. “This is our kampung,” she said. “You don’t need to wait till someone died to do something.”

The Filipinas used to hang out at a field behind Orchard MRT Station, which the community called “gulong gulong” park (Gulong is Tagalog for “roll”), before Ion Orchard was built there about a decade ago.

While some were still shaken by the accident, others had resumed their Sunday activities there.

They said accidents could happen anywhere, even at places like Gardens By The Bay and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park which are also popular spots among their circle of friends.

A 55-year-old Filipino maid dancing at a pavement opposite the accident spot told TODAY: “When it’s time to die, you die. You have to enjoy your life. Sunday is the only time to enjoy.”