‘Terrible nightmare’: OFWs recount Hamas attack on Israel

Two Overseas Filipino Workers shared on Monday their traumatizing experience during the attack of Hamas militants on Israel.

Teresita Malapo, 35, a resident of Baao, Camarines Sur and a caregiver for eight years, said they were about to go to church in Jerusalem when they heard a siren.

"On Saturday morning, we were about to go to church in Jerusalem because most of the time, we go to church every day off. Suddenly, we heard a siren. After a while, there was news that rockets were being launched from Palestine. We  were all shocked."

She added that a simple bang of the door made her feel nervous because of the bombings.

"That feeling that you always hear something, and your feeling of nervousness is increasing. When a door closes, you think something has exploded. In Israel, there is an explosion anytime of the day. It explodes even without a siren. When there's a bombing, our house or bomb shelters vibrates," she lamented.

Meanwhile, Gerald Caniban, 35, a resident of Iloilo City and a caregiver for five years, said he was asleep when he was awakened by a phone alert and heard a siren.

"It was an overwhelming experience because of what happened on 7 October. I was staying in Tel Aviv that morning, I was with my girlfriend when we heard the alert on my phone. It was Saturday, our day off. Then after a few minutes, we heard a siren all over Tel Aviv," Caniban said.

"It was a terrible nightmare. Israel didn't expect Hamas to attack. In my personal experience, I don't have peace of mind. Even if you're asleep, it's like you're awake because you might hear a siren anytime. Then I got sick for a week thinking that there was something that would come again. So even when I'm lying down, I still watch the news. That's what makes me nervous that something worst might be coming," he said.

A total of 25 OFWs, including a four-month-old infant, arrived on Monday afternoon at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, as the third batch of repatriates via Etihad Airways EY424.

The repatriates were received by Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac, DMW Undersecretary Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, TESDA Director Cariza Dacuma, Congressman Ron Salo, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Mary Melanie Quino, Department of Social Welfare and Development Director Mirmamel Laxa and Department of Health Director Bernadette Velasco.
According to Allones, two of the repatriates are in need of psychosocial assistance.

Cacdac said a total of 16 caregivers and nine hotel workers were in the third batch of repatriated OFWs, which he said were predominantly women.