COMMUNITY

Have Your Say – Belle Corpuz

Author/ Being Neighbourly
1 March 2025

Belle Corpuz is a Philippina Foreign Domestic helper who has been living in Hong Kong for over 20 years. Before she arrived in Hong Kong to work, she was living in northern Luzon, in the Philippines doing a variety of jobs. She is the youngest of 14 children, though some have passed away.

How long have you lived where you live?

For the past 14 years, I’ve been living and working on Macdonnell Road. Prior to this, I was living and working on Old Peak Road for an elder of the same family.

Can you see yourself anywhere else?

Apart from the Philippines and Hong Kong, I can’t see myself living anywhere else, no.

What’s so great about your home/neighbourhood?

It is very convenient. It’s close to Central where we usually go and do things, like send money to our family. Macdonnell Road has a supermarket and it’s close to the Botanical Gardens and Hong Kong Park.

Best little known gems?

There’s a park near the Four Seasons Hotel. I usually hang out there with friends.

Best places to eat breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner?

I like to go to McDonalds. I love the hotcakes with butter and maple syrup. In the morning, I seldom go. I would say, I go once a month. I go for lunch with my friends – especially for the pancakes. I usually go to the one near Melbourne Plaza on Queen’s Road Central. Or I’ll take a Big Mac burger. Apart from McDonald’s, I like to go to Chinese restaurants like Café de Coral or Fairwood. I like the curry beef from Fairwood. I go on Sundays. In Wan Chai, there is a Chinese restaurant, which I like to go to for the Cheung fun. It’s a long the tramway on Johnston Road, but I can’t remember the name.

Best places to drink coffee/find a drink?

I don’t have any coffee or tea in the afternoon after 12pm, only in the morning. I don’t spend money on drinks outside, except when I go to McDonald’s, they give a set of food and drinks. But, I don’t buy a drink on its own.

Best other hangouts?

Apart from the park near the Four Seasons hotel, I like to go to Wan Chai Park. Sometimes, I go to the waterfront, walking from Macdonnell Road to the Central waterfront, and walking along the waterfront towards Wan Chai, but I don’t do this so much anymore.