Why do I think this is funny?

This is a Bubble Gang video about a kid and her nanny. Yes, I could relate, and the actors are FRIKKIN spot on, but I don’t know what it says about me and all of Philippine culture that this is considered hilarious.

It perfectly illustrates the power struggle between a nanny and her ward. A yaya, or nanny, is someone who is supposed to be able to control and discipline a child, but at the same time, the child knows that her parents employ the nanny and ultimately, the child knows she has power over the nanny.

My cousin said, “maids are the ultimate punchline in the Philippines.” That makes me sad for obvious reasons. At the same time, the layers of socio-economic stratification are so deeply embedded that I think the psyche makes up ways to differentiate between the master/servant so that even when you know its wrong, you still allow yourself to perpetuate/participate in the system.