Some Pinoys in Kuwait not keen on heeding Duterte’s call to come home



Despite President Rodrigo Duterte's call for Filipino workers in Kuwait to come home amid Manila's apparent rift with the Gulf state, some of them have insisted on staying.
Domestic helper Melyn Maghanoy, who has been working in Kuwait for almost two years, said she is not keen on coming home as she has no problem with her employer.
"Okay naman po, ma'am, tahimik dito. 'Yung ibang employer dito ayaw kumuha ng ibang lahi, gusto nila Pilipino kasi maganda daw 'yung serbisyo namin," Maghanoy said in a 24 Oras report by GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Hengie Taton, a nurse and a Filipino community leader, also said he will continue working in Kuwait in order to contribute to the Philippine economy.
"Honestly, hindi ako aalis dito hangga't mismo 'yung Kuwait government o 'yung employer mismo ang magsabi sa 'yo na 'uwi ka na, hindi ka na kailangan.' We will continue working, we will continue send our remittances that helps our economy back home," Taton said.
Meanwhile, fitness instructor Lino Rosete reasoned out that he cannot afford to return to the Philippines as his job in Kuwait helps him finance the education of his children.
"May pamilya po ko diyan sa Pilipinas, may mga college ako kaya siyempre di naman... 'yung sinasabi nga ni Pangulo patriotism eh siyempre Pilipino naman ako pero sa tingin ko right now, patriotism cannot feed my family, cannot send my children to school," Rosete said.
Duterte has urged Filipinos in Kuwait to come home, even promising them of jobs when they return to the Philippines. He said he could no longer accept what is happening to his countrymen working in Kuwait.
"This is largely a misunderstanding and exaggeration of some minor or one-off cases but we do not believe in escalation and want to remain in direct communication to resolve the problem," said Deputy Foreign Minister Nasser al-Subaih.
For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs has affirmed the country's ties with the Kuwait.
"This gesture on the part of Kuwait, a country with which we have a shared history and strong people-to-people ties, will allow us to move forward and hurdle the challenge we face," said DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
"We affirm our friendship with the government of Kuwait and its people. The strength of that friendship will withstand this misunderstanding," he added.
Data from DFA showed that there were 260,000 Filipinos working in Kuwait, more than 65 percent of them domestic helpers. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News

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