Baby in Kuwait waiting for trip to Philippines after OFW-mom dies of COVID-19

A baby born to an overseas Filipino worker in Kuwait lost her mother to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leaving her alone in the foreign country. According to Amielle Ordeñez's report on Stand for Truth on Friday, single mom Maricris gave birth to baby Cris in May 2020. A year after Cris' birth, Maricris tested positive for the illness. “Sabi ko, sige kukunin ko na lang. Ako na lang mag-aalaga. Dito na lang sa bahay ko. Kasi ever since naman, kapag kailangan umalis si ate, ako po ‘yung tinatawagan niya para magbantay ng bata po,” Jessie Oliva, Maricris’ friend, said. (I said, I could take care of her. She could stay with me because every time Maricris needs to go out, she would call me to take care of the child.) Oliva said that though Cris may not be fully aware of her mother’s passing, she had searched for her presence. “Siguro po since baby pa siya, siyempre in a sense kasi wala pa siyang alam kung anong nangyari sa nanay niya. Sa paligid niya po, hindi pa gano'n ‘yung pangungulila na naramdaman niya,” he said. (Maybe because she is still a baby, of course she has no idea yet what happened to her mother. In her present environment, she has not yet felt grief.) Though in good condition, Maricris’ mother wants her granddaughter to come home to the Philippines. “Ang iniisip ko ganito eh. Kami ho andito lahat. Mga apo ko, andito magkakasama. ‘Yung isang bata na isang taon wala dito sa amin,” Marivic said. (I’m thinking that we are all here. My grandchildren are here together. A one-year-old child is not with us.) “Siyempre magkasakit ‘yan doon, anong problema? Si Jessie ang mamromroblema sa bata. May trabaho din ho si Jessie. Kaya nga ho kami lumalapit kani-kanino para rin ho mapauwi ‘yung bata,” she added. (If she gets sick, Jessie would be the one with the problem. He also has a job. This is why we kept approaching people in order to get her home.) Cris, however, does not have a birth certificate, which is one of the requirements to get home to the Philippines. “The status of these children are undocumented. Meaning kapag hindi ka ipinanganak sa ospital, sa bahay ka ipinanganak, wala kang papeles sa Kuwait,” Adrian Baccay of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait said. Through the cooperation of Oliva and the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, Marivic said Cris will be able to return to the country in September. Meanwhile, Maricris was buried in Kuwait. At present, a total of 136 Filipinos have succumbed to COVID-19 in Kuwait. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB/KG, GMA News

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