‘It’s no longer Holy Land but holy hell’ – repatriated OFW from Israel

An overseas Filipino worker on Monday said Israel, often called the "Holy Land", has turned into "holy hell" due to the attack by the Hamas terror organization against the country.

Elvira Issing, 48, a single mom, resident of General Trias, Cavite and a caregiver for 22 years, said "It is no longer 'Holy Land', it has actually become 'holy hell' because it [the attack] was really violent and we did not expect Hamas to attack Israel."

"In 2006, I also encountered a conflict near the place where I am working. But now, the attack by Hamas is scary. It is scary hearing gunshots, bombs, and sirens," said Issing.

"I decided to go back to the Philippines because my children are worried for my safety. For now, money is not important anymore, what is important is that I am alive and safe. I can go find a job in my country," she added.

For his part, Jason Teves, 46, a resident of Bamban, Pampanga and a hotel worker for eight months in Israel, said he was traumatized when an unfamiliar person speaking in Arabic knocked on their door.

"My place is closer to Gaza. We hear bombs, we cannot sleep because we hear explosions. Then someone was knocking on our door, speaking in Arabic, we didn't know who it was and it made me feel nervous," said Jason.

Thus, he also decided to go home because he said his family also worried a lot for him.

"My family called me urging me to go home. They told me that the money they would be receiving was nothing if I'm gone. So I decided to go home even if it's difficult."

Meanwhile, the cremated remains of slain OFW Grace Prodigo-Cabrera arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Monday.

Her ashes were brought back by her sister Mary June Prodigo, a caregiver in Israel for three years, and received by her other relatives together with officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Department of Migrant Workers. The remains of Cabrera will be brought to Apalit, Pampanga and will be buried in Maasin, Iloilo.

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss pledged to support the family of the deceased Filipinos.

"My message to the family and the Philippine government [is that] any casualty murdered in the terror act against Israel joins the big Israeli family of the victims of terror, which means the Israeli government will take care of the family and will continue to support the parents, the husbands and the children for monthly income and different program. We the government take responsibility because we the government understand what it means to sacrifice your life when you're attacked by terrorists," Fluss said.

The latest batch of repatriated Filipinos included 19 caregivers, three hotel workers and one infant. They were were received by DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac, OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega and Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss.