31.   Both countries recalled their ambassadors last March after Singapore hanged a Filipino maid, Flor Contemplacion, who was convicted of murdering another Filipino maid and a Singaporean child.

32.   Both have withdrawn their ambassadors, canceled bilateral visits and military exercises, and the Philippines has banned the further deployment of Filipino maids in Singapore.

33.   Brillantes said the ban on Filipino maids going to Singapore would be lifted after the two countries agree on assuring protection for Filipino workers.

34.   But his administration suffered a setback when it failed to persuade Singapore to postpone the execution of Filipino maid Flor Contemplacion.

35.   But his first meeting upon the arrival, as Estrada emphasized, was with Filipino maids and other members of the Filipino community.

36.   Contemplacion was hanged in Singapore in March last year after being found guilty of killing another Filipino maid and her Singaporean ward.

37.   Contemplacion was hanged after being convicted of murder of a fellow Filipino maid, and the case worsened relations between the two countries.

38.   Filipino maids working overseas have been involved in two highly publicized and controversial murder cases this year.

39.   Filipinos working abroad became a top national issue this month when Singapore hanged a Filipino maid for double murder.

40.   Filipino maids working in Malaysia under old contracts will continue to receive the lower wages until their contracts expire, Cortazar said.