ABSTRACT
Transmigration for work has given the opportunity for Filipinas to generate income for the survival of themselves and their families; it also provides the pathway to freedom and independence. The appreciation of freedom and independence amongst the Filipinas is not difficult to trace from their verbal and physical presentations, as well as their behaviour. Although Filipinos in general have a flair for beauty, which is shown in their regular beauty pageant competitions and elaborated celebrations of all kinds (such as birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, weddings), financial constraints limit the frequency of these forms of expression, particularly in the poor areas where most of the Filipinas came from. In Kuala Lumpur, Filipina migrants often dress up on their day off. Conversations, more often than not, revolve around appearance, accessories, and the presentation of new purchases. This is one of the reasons for the flourishing direct sales business among the migrants.
