A Filipino family that had been living in Bahrain after leaving Lebanon returned home yesterday after spending eight months in the kingdom.
Roderick Leyco, 34, and his wife Babygie, 38, from Cataingan, along with their two-year-old daughter Naomi Sky were among the 170 passengers who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, as part of the Philippines government’s sixth-phase repatriation programme.
Mr Leyco, who worked as a waiter, was struggling financially, while his wife, a beautician, had lost her job due to the outbreak of the US-Israel and Iran conflict.
On approaching the Migrant Workers’ Office (MWO), the homeless family was provided with temporary support. Filipino entrepreneur and MWO volunteer Karen Letran offered them a secure environment until they travelled.
The sixth batch included 119 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and 51 dependents.
“I went to the Migrant Workers’ Office at the Philippine Embassy and explained our situation, and applied for voluntary repatriation,” Mr Leyco recounted.
“We are extremely grateful to have been part of the repatriation programme and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Philippine Embassy,” he added.
Looking forward to a new start, Mr Leyco will be taking up a job as a driver in the Philippines and Ms Leyco will open a new shop to support their family until better opportunities arise. The couple hopes to move abroad with their daughter in the future.
Meanwhile, a senior citizen couple from Binangonan, Rizal, Eduardo Ilagan, 74, and his wife Estrella, 72, were among those who attended the orientation held on April 15. The session outlined the travel route from Bahrain to Dammam via Gulf Air Flight 154, and featured a briefing on flight procedures, travel requirements, and support services.
The couple were visiting their sons, Eduard and Edsel, who work in Bahrain in the electronics communication sector, but their holiday was interrupted by the onset of regional tensions.
Mary Narciso, Gerlie Sabalberino, Rinez Narciso, Jessa Villadares, and Phoebe Miguel, who had been residing in the ward of the Philippine Embassy, also travelled in the sixth batch.
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