BALANGA CITY, Bataan — A distressed woman who worked as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia survived on just one meal a day for 20 months and contracted two life-threatening illnesses. She can now breathe a sigh of relief after Balanga City officials, led by Mayor Francis S. Garcia, extended help on Monday.

"I am very thankful to Mayor Garcia and City councilor Marie A. Vasquez for their concern with me; they assured me that a personnel from City hall will go down personally to our house to check my worsening condition and assist me," said the victim, a native of Balanga, whose identity is withheld for privacy.

Mayor Garcia had reached out to this writer to locate the OFW after learning of her dire condition. Moved by her story, he immediately ordered personnel to provide assistance.

"Pa macheck din po kung ano pa pong maitulong ng city government of Balanga po, lalo na kung may violence against women pong involved," (We'll also check if how the city government of Balanga can help her, more so if there was a case of violence against women involved), Councilor Marie Vasquez told this writer.

"Just let us know and update us what will happen. I had already informed the CSWD (City Social Workers Office) to assist the victim," Vasquez added.

According to the woman, her Saudi employer forced her to return to the Philippines after discovering that she had developed two life-threatening illnesses while in their care.

"We are three Pinays working as maids with our Arabian employer—two lawyers and an accountant. They are well-educated, but inhumane, as they refused to give us enough meals except for once a day food only, no snack," said the teary-eyed woman in her mid-20s.

The woman, who lives in a remote barangay west of Balanga City, comes from a poor family. Her father died years ago, prompting her to seek work abroad to support her loved ones.

She said that they were starting to work from 6:00 a.m., working the whole day up to 3:00 in the morning. "Most of the time, we have only three hours of sleep. Masuwerte na kami kung makatulog kami ng limang oras sa isang gabi. Pero madalang ito," (We are lucky if we could sleep five hours in a day, but this is seldom), she said.

Despite working nearly 21 hours a day, she earned only ₱23,000 per month, with no additional compensation or benefits.

She added that other Filipina OFWs in Riyadh were also suffering similar mistreatment and food deprivation. However, they remained silent out of fear and a need to continue supporting their families back home.

But she said they remain tight-lipped just to survive and support their families in the Philippines.

"Sinubokan naming mag order online ng pagkain namin dahil nanlalambot at nahihilo kami sa sobrang gutom, pero nagalit pa ang amo namin at binawalan kaming mag order na pagkain namin sa labas," (We once tried to order food online because we were so weak and dizzy from hunger. But our employer got angry and forbade us from ordering outside), she said.

She said that one time, they took egg from their master's refrigerator to somehow relieve themselves from severe hunger. But they were again scolded by their employer who were counting how many eggs they were putting inside their refrigerator.

"Noong nalaman ng mga amo namin na kumukuha kaming minsan ng itlog sa ref ay pinagalitan na naman kami. Mula noon, ang ginawa nila ay itinatago na nila sa kanilang kuwarto ang kanilang itlog," (When our masters known that we were sometimes getting eggs from their ref, we were scolded again. Since then, they hid their eggs inside their room), the OFW pointed out.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital and main financial hub, sits on a desert plateau in the heart of the country.

Due to prolonged malnutrition, the OFW developed two severe illnesses. Instead of helping her seek treatment, her employers sent her home — without even paying for her plane ticket.

"Nangutang pa ang pamilya ko sa Bataan ng pamasahe ko pauwi dahil wala naman akong natitirang sahod," (My family had to borrow money in Bataan just to cover my fare. I had no salary left)," she lamented.

She said they had no contacts in local agencies to seek financial help for her medical treatment.

Sexual abuse

"Sometimes, the Indian driver of our masters tried to sexually abuse me, but he did not succeed as I was resisting and fighting him," she shared.

When asked why she didn’t report the abuse, she said one of her female co-workers had previously done so — only to be dismissed and sent home.

"Pag nag sumbong ka sa amo namin, ikaw pa masama, pauuwiin ka," she lamented.

Upon returning to Bataan, she went to two hospitals in Balanga for check-ups. The results revealed she is suffering from two life-threatening conditions and needs immediate surgery.

The hospitals informed her that she must raise at least ₱125,000 for the operation alone — an amount her family cannot afford.

"Di namin alam kung kanino kami uutang at lalapit dahil di namin kaya etong sinisingil ng ospital na ₱125,000 para sa operasyon lamang," (We don’t know who to turn to or where to borrow such a large amount. The hospital said ₱125,000 is needed just for the operation) she said.

Her family continues to pray for a miracle, but the longer the surgery is delayed, the more her condition worsens — and she fears it could cost her life.