Pinay nurse ‘clowns’ around in UK

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

NEWPORT, WALES -- During the week, Cristina Linganay works as a full-time nurse at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Wales.

But on weekends, when the call comes, the Pinay applies thick make-up, dons a multi-colored wig, slips into a pair of big floppy shoes and parades around at parties as 'Teenee the Clown'.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Europe, the 40-year-old Pinay explained she fell into the profession 19 years ago.

Growing up in Tondo, Manila, was tough for Tina and her family. As the first graduate among six siblings, she inherited the breadwinner's role. However, her salary as a community health nurse was not enough, so she began exploring ways to make additional cash. It was not easy though. Tina says she applied at a lot of hotels, but was repeatedly turned away for being overqualified.

Around a year later, Tina's former high school classmate introduced her to clowning. Although it was not something she initially wanted to do, there was potential to earn good money, so she decided to give it a try.

After six months of training in the arts of face-painting, magic tricks and twisting balloons into shapes, Tina was ready to begin her new part-time role.

Soon enough, Tina was starting to earn enough to support her family and even managed to fund the education of two of her sisters.

Back then, Tina says she was earning P3,000 per week as a nurse, while as a clown she was taking home around P500 per party.

When she eventually migrated to the UK in 2003, customs officers at Birmingham Airport received a surprise when they opened up her luggage. Tina's friend and colleague, Jean Ramos was with her at the time. She also got a shock.

“Magkasabay kami ni Tina na pumunta dito sa UK. Nurse kami sa Pilipinas. Nung papunta kami dito nakita mga pang clown ang dala niya. Kaya nasabi ko nga, ano ba ito? Nurse ba o clown? Nalaman ko na sa Pilipinas, ginagawa na pala niya ito,” Jean said.

Whilst entertaining at parties, Tina ensures the activities are not only fun, but educational.

“The games she plans are really good. Kids are involved in everything. There is a musical chase and in each round they have to impersonate different animals. They get really involved in it. They compete and it promotes sportsmanship. She’s really good with the kids,” commented one parent during a party.

Tina likes to get the adults involved too.

“I facilitate games to make sure everyone is entertained, lahat ng ages. I feel good because lahat masaya. I want people to remember me with joy. It's really a blessing,” Tina said.

"Once you touch other people's lives, you've done your job. They look up to me like a teacher. It really feels good. It's a fulfilling job,” she added.

On Tina's calling card it says “Laughter is the best medicine”. She explains working as a nurse can be quite stressful and that she finds relief in being 'Teenee the Clown'.

“In a hospital you always hear about bad news – death and dying. But as a clown, it's opposite. It makes me feel young,” she said.

"Before I felt like a world-class nurse, now I also feel like a world-class clown,” Tina joked.

Aside from the light-hearted nature of her work, Tina loves her job as a clown because she gets to spend more time with her husband Allan, and 5-year-old son CJ, who both assist her at parties.

“I really love clowning around, because every time I do this job I am with my family. If I will be working in the nursing home or in the hospital, especially long hours, masyado kang malayo sa pamilya mo. If I am doing clowning, I will be with my family the whole day and my son enjoys it,” said Tina.

Before she left the Philippines, Tina passed her clowning knowledge on to her sister, Evelyn Peralta. She now runs the family's clowning business in Manila. - With a report from Carol Panday, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau