10 Pinoys escape violence in Aleppo
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by Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau
KUWAIT - Ten Filipino workers, who were caught in the heavy fighting between rebels and government troops in Aleppo, Syria were flown to Damascus last Friday.
The Philippine Rapid Response Team identified the 10 rescued Filipino workers as:
1. Sandra Abian - Julao
2. Pantaran Almaida
3. Lilibeth Canete Sarabe
4. Lauda Abdulrahman
5. Normina Sandato
6. Alma Larotin
7. Johara Sakandal
8. Rosalyn Tandog
9. Jeria Sultan Kinga
10. Hazel Paglinawan
Lilibeth Sarabe, a Cavite native who has been working for three years as janitress in Martini Hospital, Aleppo, recounted her experience.
"Ang naranasan ko hindi po biro, natutulog po kami, may bomba na po sa ilalim ng building namin,eh nasa underground po kami, dalawa kaming Pilipina. Pati yong mga pasyente sa taas po bumaba na kasama rin namin. Bago po binomba na naman, labas na naman po kami. Mas mahirap po yong kalagayan namin. Nandyan na yong machine gun, dala ng mga eroplano na jet na mga pagsabog, sunud-sunod, hindi naming alam kung saan kami," she said.
The 41-year-old Sarabe, a widow, said she is looking forward to being reunited with her 9 children and 8 grandchildren in the Philippines.
"Gusto ko pang makita mga apo. Kailangan makita ko mga apo ko. Huwag silang mag-alalala sa tulong ng Philippine Embassy na makakauwi kami, sana makakauwi na kami," she said.
Unlike Sarabe who was brought by her recruiter's agent to the honorary consulate in Aleppo, some OFWs were left by their employers there like Hazel Paglinawan.
The 18-year-old OFW, a native of Cotobato City, has been working as a household service worker for 3 years in Aleppo. She was only 15 years old when she arrived in Syria.
"Sa amin po, sa Salaheddin yong gyera po sa tabi namin, yong amo ko po umalis papunta ng Turkey dahil sa takot nila, tapos hinatid po nila ako sa Philippine Embassy dahil umalis sila," Paglinawan said.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Raida is thankful she escaped the bombing in Aleppo, where she has been working for three years.
"Dito sa Aleppo, binobomba nila, lahat ng daaanan nakasarado na... Sa tulong ng Philippine Embassy nakarating kami rito. Kaya kami nagpapasalamat kami sa Philippine Embassy kung hindi dahil sa kanila hindi kami makauwi," Raida said.
According to the head of the Philippine Rapid Response Team Ambassador Ricardo Endaya, it's a bit difficult to have the exact number of OFWs who are still in Syria as some of them left with their employers who fled to nearby countries like Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.
Endaya said there are about 600 OFWs in Aleppo and over 2,000 OFWs in Damascus.
Currently, there are only 15 OFWs in the honorary consulate in Aleppo, while 16 others are waiting to be turned over to honorary Consul General Wassim Nanaa.
"Ang sinabi ko sa kanya, pag ligtas ang daan papuntang airport, maaring ipadala ang mga Pilipino sa Damascus at dito na lang namin ikukuha sila ng exit permit dahil sa ngayon medyo meron pang kaguluhan na nangyayari sa Aleppo at hindi natin masabi kung ano ang mangyayari sa Aleppo sa susunod na mga araw. Kaya hangga't maari mailigtas muna natin ang mga Pilipino, habang nagkaroon ng medyo lull in fighting," Endaya said.
There are now 63 wards at the Philippine embassy in Damascus who are waiting for their repatriation to the Philippines.
"Gusto ko lang manawagan sa ating mga kababayan na nasa Aleppo at dito sa ibang parte pa ng Syria na samantalahin na natin ang repatriation program ng ating pamahalaan dahil talagang delikado ang kalagayan dito sa bansang ito, very fluid. Hindi natin malalaman kung kelan magkakagulo sa isang lugar dahil basta na lang sumusulpot ang mga rebelde at makikipagbakbakan sa government forces. Baka ma caught in the crossfire ang ating mga kababayan, kaya dapat they have to take advantage of the repatriation program," Endaya said.
For now, the Philippine Rapid Response Team is still waiting for permission from the Syrian government for them to proceed to war-torn Aleppo.
"Plano namin bukas makikipag-meeting kami sa Ministry of Foreign Affairs at ipapaliwanag namin ang dahilan kung bakit kinakailangan naming magtungo sa Aleppo dahil ngayon off limits pa ang Aleppo sa mga diplomats at saka foreigners dahil sa sitwasyon nga, sa matinding labanang nangyari sa Aleppo pero ipapaliwanag namin na ang amin main pakay don ay tulungan ang mga Pilipino lumikas na mula Aleppo pauwi ng Maynila," Endaya said.
More than 2,000 OFWs have been repatriated from Syria since the government implemented its mandatory repatriation program last December. However, there is still an estimated 7,000 OFWs mostly household service workers in Syria.
1. Sandra Abian - Julao
2. Pantaran Almaida
3. Lilibeth Canete Sarabe
4. Lauda Abdulrahman
5. Normina Sandato
6. Alma Larotin
7. Johara Sakandal
8. Rosalyn Tandog
9. Jeria Sultan Kinga
10. Hazel Paglinawan
Lilibeth Sarabe, a Cavite native who has been working for three years as janitress in Martini Hospital, Aleppo, recounted her experience.
"Ang naranasan ko hindi po biro, natutulog po kami, may bomba na po sa ilalim ng building namin,eh nasa underground po kami, dalawa kaming Pilipina. Pati yong mga pasyente sa taas po bumaba na kasama rin namin. Bago po binomba na naman, labas na naman po kami. Mas mahirap po yong kalagayan namin. Nandyan na yong machine gun, dala ng mga eroplano na jet na mga pagsabog, sunud-sunod, hindi naming alam kung saan kami," she said.
The 41-year-old Sarabe, a widow, said she is looking forward to being reunited with her 9 children and 8 grandchildren in the Philippines.
"Gusto ko pang makita mga apo. Kailangan makita ko mga apo ko. Huwag silang mag-alalala sa tulong ng Philippine Embassy na makakauwi kami, sana makakauwi na kami," she said.
Unlike Sarabe who was brought by her recruiter's agent to the honorary consulate in Aleppo, some OFWs were left by their employers there like Hazel Paglinawan.
The 18-year-old OFW, a native of Cotobato City, has been working as a household service worker for 3 years in Aleppo. She was only 15 years old when she arrived in Syria.
"Sa amin po, sa Salaheddin yong gyera po sa tabi namin, yong amo ko po umalis papunta ng Turkey dahil sa takot nila, tapos hinatid po nila ako sa Philippine Embassy dahil umalis sila," Paglinawan said.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Raida is thankful she escaped the bombing in Aleppo, where she has been working for three years.
"Dito sa Aleppo, binobomba nila, lahat ng daaanan nakasarado na... Sa tulong ng Philippine Embassy nakarating kami rito. Kaya kami nagpapasalamat kami sa Philippine Embassy kung hindi dahil sa kanila hindi kami makauwi," Raida said.
According to the head of the Philippine Rapid Response Team Ambassador Ricardo Endaya, it's a bit difficult to have the exact number of OFWs who are still in Syria as some of them left with their employers who fled to nearby countries like Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.
Endaya said there are about 600 OFWs in Aleppo and over 2,000 OFWs in Damascus.
Currently, there are only 15 OFWs in the honorary consulate in Aleppo, while 16 others are waiting to be turned over to honorary Consul General Wassim Nanaa.
"Ang sinabi ko sa kanya, pag ligtas ang daan papuntang airport, maaring ipadala ang mga Pilipino sa Damascus at dito na lang namin ikukuha sila ng exit permit dahil sa ngayon medyo meron pang kaguluhan na nangyayari sa Aleppo at hindi natin masabi kung ano ang mangyayari sa Aleppo sa susunod na mga araw. Kaya hangga't maari mailigtas muna natin ang mga Pilipino, habang nagkaroon ng medyo lull in fighting," Endaya said.
There are now 63 wards at the Philippine embassy in Damascus who are waiting for their repatriation to the Philippines.
"Gusto ko lang manawagan sa ating mga kababayan na nasa Aleppo at dito sa ibang parte pa ng Syria na samantalahin na natin ang repatriation program ng ating pamahalaan dahil talagang delikado ang kalagayan dito sa bansang ito, very fluid. Hindi natin malalaman kung kelan magkakagulo sa isang lugar dahil basta na lang sumusulpot ang mga rebelde at makikipagbakbakan sa government forces. Baka ma caught in the crossfire ang ating mga kababayan, kaya dapat they have to take advantage of the repatriation program," Endaya said.
For now, the Philippine Rapid Response Team is still waiting for permission from the Syrian government for them to proceed to war-torn Aleppo.
"Plano namin bukas makikipag-meeting kami sa Ministry of Foreign Affairs at ipapaliwanag namin ang dahilan kung bakit kinakailangan naming magtungo sa Aleppo dahil ngayon off limits pa ang Aleppo sa mga diplomats at saka foreigners dahil sa sitwasyon nga, sa matinding labanang nangyari sa Aleppo pero ipapaliwanag namin na ang amin main pakay don ay tulungan ang mga Pilipino lumikas na mula Aleppo pauwi ng Maynila," Endaya said.
More than 2,000 OFWs have been repatriated from Syria since the government implemented its mandatory repatriation program last December. However, there is still an estimated 7,000 OFWs mostly household service workers in Syria.
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