Pinoy hospital resident comes home from Jeddah

Arnold Calbayar (right) talks to Robert Constantino from the Philippine National Bank in Jeddah (Ronaldo Concha)MANILA, Philippines - When Arnold Espiritu Calbayar underwent an operation in 2006 to extricate the tumor inside his head, he became paralyzed from the waist down.

For more than a year, the Filipino worker remained bed-ridden inside a Jeddah hospital, missing his loved ones in the town of Castillejos in Zambales.

While some employers may opt to abandon their employees to avoid shouldering the medical expenses, Calbayar's boss stuck with him in his time of need.

Instead of terminating Calbayar’s contract, Al Ahlia Restaurant Co provided the Filipino a high-tech wheelchair worth 10,000 Riyals and walking tools worth 3,000 Riyals.

On top of that, the company shouldered Calbayar’s hospital bills that went up for 250,000 Riyals.

"Mr. Arnold Calbayar is a dear employee to us," Asst. Human Resource Manager Khaled Al- Serwy said, "Although he only works for us for one-and-a-half year, he showed an excellent performance in his work.

"People like him deserve to be treated well. If ever he will be able to come back to us later after his medication in the Philippines, he is very much welcome to come back to us. Filipinos are good in Service and Hospitality which is excellent for our customer," he added.

Now more than a year after the operation, the wheel-chair-bound Filipino has finally taken the flight back home on Wednesday.

Calbayar was given SR 42,349 as a monetary benefit from the Philippine National Bank and the Al Ahlia Restaurant Co, where he worked since 2005.

"I’m very thankful that the company never left me despite my condition," Calbayar told GMANews.TV in Filipino.

Although he was about to return home, Calbayar said the company kept on giving his monthly salary until December 2007.

"God will take care of their goodness," a tearful Calbayar said.

In 2006, Calbayar went to see a doctor after complaining about a persistent headache. He was told to undergo an operation after a tumor was found in his head.

Unfortunately, Calbayar became paralyzed from the waist-down after the operation.

For their generosity, Calbayar extended his gratitude to the Philippine Consulate especially to Consul General Ezzedin Tago, Mrs Victoria Salian, Mrs Elsa Masa, Labor Attache Adam Musa and OWWA officer Romeo Pablo, who have assisted him for more than a year in the hospital.

Calbayar is also grateful to his employers, Adel Mounib and Al- Serwy for helping him come home. - Ronaldo Concha, GMANews.TV

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