Macau's Lesser-known Aliens

Macau dawn at Rua da Felicidade





Macau, 25 Dec 2006 / Chek Lap Kok Int'l airport, 26 Dec 2006

Overshadowed by its popular neighbour Hongkong, Macau S.A.R.(Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China) has an interesting life of its own. A longtime Portuguese colony before she was silently handed over to China in 1999 without much fanfare, Macau has earlier become the leisure proxy for its more rich neighbours. But even under the new Chinese administration, Macau keeps on steaming ahead with its leisure machine at the forefront. The ever expanding casinos, bars, and with new rising 'middle classes, Macau is beginning to attract large numbers of migrant workers into her lap. Filipinos fill the bulk of jobs: security guards, karaoke girls, babysitters, gardeners, casino staff to convenient store owners, while Indonesians make up the second layer of the 'lower' labour force.

Embedded in the influx of migrant workers is the entire social baggage and supporting system: Filipino convenient stores, Pinoy internet cafes, money remittance agencies, etc.


A Pinoy ad....and problem.

Signs of Indon presence in Macau

Echoes of Dear Chairman, once influential in Macau during the 1960s