Pinoy who escaped death in Algeria reunites with family, asks gov't for new job

By ERNIE B. ESCONDELIMAY, Bataan - The overseas Filipino worker who miraculously escaped death while being held captive by Islamist militants at a gas plant in the Algerian desert expressed joy at being reunited on Monday with his family in Limay, Bataan.


Joseph Balmaceda (center), the Filipino worker who survived the hostage-taking incident in an Algeria gas plant on Jan. 17, arrives at the NAIA on board an Etihad Airways on Monday. More than 30 foreigners held hostage by al-Qaeda-linked militants and 11 of their abductors were killed during a raid by Algerian forces. Ariel Fernandez
“Nawala na takot ko dahil alam kong safe na safe na ako sapagka’t nakita ko ng lahat ang pamilya ko,” said Joseph “Jojo” Balmaceda as he set foot in his residence in Barangay Reformista in Limay at past 8 p.m.
Balmaceda, 42, an instrument technician of British Petroleum in Algeria, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before 3 p.m. Monday after being treated for shrapnel wounds on the head and right shoulder at a London hospital.
“Naibsan na nararamdaman kong sakit, trauma bagama’t masakit pa rin ang dibdib ko at humina ang aking tainga. Ngunit kaya ko ng tiisin ito kaysa sa napagdaanan kong napakahirap,” said Balmaceda, who has spent eight years in Algeria.
He said once he recovers, he will ask the government for a new job so he can support his wife and four children.
“Kaya ako nag-aabroad dahil para sa mga anak ko. Ano na mangyayari sa akin ngayon dahil wala akong ibang inaasahan kundi ang pag-aabroad?” Balmaceda asked.
He swore he will not go back to Algeria.
“Ayaw ko ng balikan ang bangungot na totoong-totoong nangyari sa akin,” he said.
The problem, however, he said, is that he found it hard to seek employment in the Philippines given his skills. 
“Hindi ako matanggap sa Pilipinas sa craft ko. Mabuti pa British Petroleum, ang Algeria, natanggap ako,” Balmaceda said.
He said that Algeria has high regard for Filipinos, especially for workers like them in the gas
and oil industry. “Bakit kaya sa Pilipinas, hindi pinapansin ang craft na ito?” he asked.

Prayers
Balmaceda said he was surprised he was still alive when the vehicle they were riding exploded. He said prayers saved him.
Balmaceda revealed he had to crawl 300 meters to reach the line of Algerian government forces who continued to fire toward their direction. 
“Nagkamalay ako sa ospital na,” he said.
“Pa, mahal na mahal kita,” Balmaceda's eight-year-old daughter Anjela Louise said as she and her younger brother embraced him.
“Masayang-masaya dahil kumpleto na uli pamilya namin,” said Yrish, Balmaceda’s wife,  when asked how she felt. —KG, GMA News

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