tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post8790329431874872156..comments2024-03-28T15:13:45.925+08:00Comments on Good Morning Yesterday: Amah: Grandmother, Mother or Servant? (by Peter Chan)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-85119085160549108022023-07-18T18:56:53.897+08:002023-07-18T18:56:53.897+08:00Ahma of Richard ''Richie'' Fernand...Ahma of Richard ''Richie'' Fernando, S.J. Laureana ''Ka Luring'' Franco as wel l as his classmate, Fr. Vidal ''Vids'' Gornez, S.J. (1957-1993) died as a martyr in Cambodia and on the path to becoming Catholic Saints. His Ahma/Yaya Laureana Franco died in 2011 in a Hospital aged 86. Other Missionaries died abroad sacrificing their lives. Vidal Gornez is one of Bro. Richie's classmates in the seminary. Fr. Vidal was sent to Cambodia in 1988 to start his mission abroad he was seen with his classmate, Bro. Richard Martin ''Richie '' Fernando, S.J. in the Mekong River in 1990 when he arrived. In 1993, Fr. Gornez died on a mission.TJ Magsakayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638181196986500908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-3345224015058735022015-07-26T23:44:16.500+08:002015-07-26T23:44:16.500+08:00Great article. We had an Amah - but she didn't...Great article. We had an Amah - but she didn't wear black and white or take an oath of celibacy! But yes she took care of two generations of us! And then when she got old we took care of her till she had to be in a home and recently passed. She wasn't the official type of amah, but i think of her as one.Pampered Girlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-88237585222278657732010-09-01T19:22:40.006+08:002010-09-01T19:22:40.006+08:00There's this book about the life of a 'bla...There's this book about the life of a 'black and white' sor hei amah called Silver Sister (Ngan Cheh or 銀姐) by Lilian Ng. It details the life of a sor hei from her birth and how her work brought her from China to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaya and Australia.<br /><br />Speaking of sor heis, I remember two sor hei sisters who operated a char siew fun stall at the end of Jalan Bunga Raya in Malacca. They wore their trademark white tunic top and black trousers everyday. I don't know whether they're still plying their trade at the same place. They were probably the only sor heis I've ever met.PRChaonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-82080763522481534752010-07-27T09:24:56.647+08:002010-07-27T09:24:56.647+08:00Another interesting post by Peter. Perhaps he shou...Another interesting post by Peter. Perhaps he should think of writing a book about amahs in Singapore. <br /><br />Ishiguro's third novel, 'The Remains of the Day' (1989)should be inspirational.ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-33908921484008523292010-07-24T18:29:10.331+08:002010-07-24T18:29:10.331+08:00I know from this site and others that some British...I know from this site and others that some British service families had close relationship with their Amahs. But for our family in 1960 the idea of having a servant was completely new and a little intimidating. So as a teenager I had very little contact with our Ahmahs - perhaps my brother who was much younger had more contact but my memories are very limited, I think I was rather appalled at the tiny Ahmah's room at the back of our house in Changi (still there) and probably continually embarrassed at having someone around the house doing the chores.<br /><br />A very good blog indeed, very informative and sorry I cannot add very much to it!Brian and Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00208616667962513171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-67319752208663045892010-07-23T01:02:27.884+08:002010-07-23T01:02:27.884+08:00Thanks Prof Koo for the clarification.
琼 must hav...Thanks Prof Koo for the clarification.<br /><br />琼 must have similar pronunciation in certain dialects because Keng Chew or Kheng Chiu is 琼州. But isn't Keng Chew Hokkien? That means in Hokkien, Keng can be 宫 or 琼?!Icemoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08174805596607457468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-51361035815460883462010-07-23T00:39:13.174+08:002010-07-23T00:39:13.174+08:00I don't claim to be an expert but I think Icem...I don't claim to be an expert but I think Icemoon is largely correct in his translation, except maybe for the following:<br /><br />Keng Cheh should be 琼姐 instead of 宫姐 which would have been pronounced as "Goon Cheh" in Cantonese; and<br /><br />Chi Ka Kung should be 住家工 instead of 自家工. 住家 means "stay in" (a residence).Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-65944319989833408632010-07-22T21:24:53.305+08:002010-07-22T21:24:53.305+08:00maybe hongkies sound like donkeys?maybe hongkies sound like donkeys?Icemoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08174805596607457468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-61732631382733884582010-07-22T20:57:51.915+08:002010-07-22T20:57:51.915+08:00Peter-just to let you in that Hong Kong people wou...Peter-just to let you in that Hong Kong people would not like to be called hongkies. I do not know the reason. Does anyone know?stanleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-9916999706805874872010-07-22T16:52:53.677+08:002010-07-22T16:52:53.677+08:00No need for Hongkie prof, we got our Prof Victor K...No need for Hongkie prof, we got our Prof Victor Koo.peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-17983340146626176042010-07-22T14:37:10.932+08:002010-07-22T14:37:10.932+08:00Did you read about the maid (amah) in Singapore wh...Did you read about the maid (amah) in Singapore who inherited six million dollars (property and cash)? ... she is now considered a "Tuan Besar". <br /><br />Good for her! Good deeds shall be rewarded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-40204907999334974122010-07-22T10:26:32.954+08:002010-07-22T10:26:32.954+08:00Sorry for wrong spelling above (splinsters). It sh...Sorry for wrong spelling above (splinsters). It should be spinsters.Zenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07489706873295639555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-83991881618453242922010-07-22T10:20:43.293+08:002010-07-22T10:20:43.293+08:00I believe the cantonese word amah- cheh is specifi...I believe the cantonese word amah- cheh is specifically used to describe those professional domestic servants who dressed up in white blouse and black pants. The word cheh is actually means sister and it implies that this amah-cheh is unmarried. Most amahs in the past were confirmed splinsters and spent their whole lifetime (whenever possible) caring for the families they served. During their time off-days they usually spent time with their fellow amahs, especially during chinese festivals.Zenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07489706873295639555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-83718128158717580262010-07-22T00:06:10.772+08:002010-07-22T00:06:10.772+08:00Can I have "prof" to brush up my Chinese...Can I have "prof" to brush up my Chinese too? Victor or any experts?<br /><br />My guess:<br /><br />Chi Ka Kung - 自家工<br />Kung Yan - 工人<br />Ma cheh - 妈姐<br />Ah Sor - 阿嫂<br />Tai Pak - 大伯<br />Keng Cheh - 宫姐<br />sor hei - 梳起<br />Yi Por - 姨婆<br />Kum Cheh - 金姐<br />San Wui - 新会<br />Shun Tak - 顺德<br /><br />For keng cheh and kum cheh, maybe keng and kum are the amah's nickname? Also keng sounds more Hokkien than Cantonese.<br /><br />Here is something related .. Ama Keng is 亚妈宫.Icemoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08174805596607457468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-71365469571145213822010-07-21T23:37:45.783+08:002010-07-21T23:37:45.783+08:00I think they call the master "Tuan", at ...I think they call the master "Tuan", at least in the colonial days.Icemoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08174805596607457468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-23755441170992177512010-07-21T23:22:21.161+08:002010-07-21T23:22:21.161+08:00How were the employers addressed by the "whit...How were the employers addressed by the "white and black" amahs? The maids presently address their employers either as sir or mom depending on the gender.stanleynoreply@blogger.com