People who advertise specifically for a Fillipino housekeeper or nanny

eleusis,
they try their luck that someone would sponsor them. for some, this is the ticket out of poverty not just for them, but their entire families. infuriating for those that know they won't sponsor, but they try their luck anyway.
i know of a woman who went on holiday in dubai and the sitter there was filipina and she liked her so much that she sponsored her here and now she works for them as a nanny. these filipinas then spread the word around, and more of them try their luck....
doesn't help though when one is trying to be efficient in sifting CVs!!!

sorry, that's "leave" the parents' home , not live

Being a Filipina, i can begin to guess....

1. most filipino women who apply to be domestic helpers typically have degrees ( in the Philippines, so not quite oxford but they will be literate and pretty bilingual and can follow instructions well). Because of the family structure in the philippines, (where children do not live the parents' home until they are married themselves, sometimes, not even - if financial circumstances prevent them from doing so) - most women grow up with children around them.
2. typical behaviour is quite subservient - they will follow instructions and do the best they can but will never for one second think that you will be their friend. So, most would have the "speak when spoken to" type attitude so likely to give the family a lot of their own privacy.
3. Fiercely Catholic - so apart from Church on Sundays and hanging out with their friends after, that is the typical social scene for this women.
4. Families at home - Women who work here typically have kids and lots of dependents at home. So most of their salary goes there (Overseas workers are considered heroes in the Phils because of the amount of dollar remittances they send home -- in fact, they have their own fast track lane at the airport). So they are typically very responsible, but tend to be very warm towards the children because they miss their own.
5. Will clean the house typically. When these women work in other countries whether it is Singapore, Hongkong, or even in the wealthier families in Manila they are on call EVERYDAY for ALL hours except for Sunday for a few hours - so they can go to Church or watch a movie. As such, the typical no working at night and free weekends here is seen as a massive blessing - and therefore they will be willing to do a lot of work on top of the usual nursery duties. And paid holidays -- blimey, now that is a true shocker for them.

Clearly, these are generalisations so there will always be exceptions to the rule. I suspect the main reason is that some families want the childcare/home help but from somebody who will be quite subservient and loyal.

By the way, my nanny is from Swindon, but as i said, i'm filipino so i know the "traits" that people think they have - which for some families, would appeal.

I would never ask for one

We had one in the Philippines and she was a DRAGON.

I also think they must be a bit dim as it is filipina for a woman (or maybe they want men)

And on the flip side of the coin, why do millions of Fillipinos apply for jobs that say "MUST have UK work visa to be considered for this job".

Why why why?

So, actually, I can't understand why anyone would need to specify "filipino" because rest assured they will come a runnin'.