Filipinos in Lebanon: We pray, try to be calm

Filipinos living in conflict-torn Lebanon battle fear with prayers.

"Minsan po talaga pong magugulat ka mashashock ka. Araw araw po meron kang maririnig na bomba dito yung iba makikita mo na lang yung mga post ng mga FB friends mo dito na minsan yung iba makikita mo na humihiwalay na raw yung kaluluwa nila," said Jhalhyne, an overseas Filipino worker in Beirut, on a "24 Oras" report by Mariz Umali.

(You will be shocked. Every day, you hear bombings.  I see some social media posts of my friends saying the experience feels like the soul leaves the body.)

"Talagang sapalaran na lang. Kalma lang just pray atsaka po malayo po kami sa nangyayaring bombahan. May mga area lang po talaga na which is pinapasabog so wag po mag-alala and alam ko namang hindi kami pababayaan ni Lord," added Jhalhyne, who has been in Lebanon for five years.

(You just have to take the risk.  Keep calm and just pray. We are relatively far from the areas of bombing.  So, there's nothing to worry about us and I know the Lord will keep us safe.)

Trisha, another OFW, said it was hard not to be gripped with fear amid the conflict.

“Syempre natatakot ka syempre kahit naman sabihin na ready ka nang mamatay pero wag naman ngayon,” she said.

(Of course, we are terrified, even if you tell yourself you are ready to die, you don't want it to happen soon.)

The regional tensions triggered a year ago by Palestinian armed group Hamas's attack on southern Israel have spiralled to a string of Israeli operations by land and air over Lebanon and direct attacks by Iran onto Israeli military installations, according to a Reuters report.

In the area of Dahieh in Beirut, homes have been reduced to rubble due to the bombing.

Despite this, both OFWs said they were staying.

"Binibigyan ko na lang din ng konsiderasyon na nandito pa rin naman yung amo ko na hindi naman kami pinapabayaan. Na kahit na anong mangyari kasama kami sa plano nila," Trisha said.

(It helps that my employer is still here and that we are being taken care of, and whatever happens, we will be part of their plans.)

Jhalhyne said she will also remain in Lebanon with her Lebanese husband.

Over 11,000 Filipinos are based in Lebanon, mostly living in Beirut. Of this number, only over a thousand OFWs have signified their intent to be repatriated.

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said their reasons could be their nature of work and income.

"I think 98% of OFWs in Lebanon are domestic workers, therefore their place of work would be their employers' households. So they are, should I say, they are devoted to their service, they might have stayed long enough to have a sense of loyalty and commitment to serve. That could be one reason: the nature of work. They don't work in corporate or factories, where it's easier to facilitate their release and return," he said.

"And, of course, the income is there. But we have already discussed the matter, the loss of income if they come home," he added.

Cacdac said the Philippine government and the Lebanese authorities are doing their best to look after the OFWs.

“Panawagan antin sa ating mga kababayan ay mag-avail na ng safe and free repatriation service ng Philippine government, and of course, may sarili silang assessment at this stage kasi voluntary nga as to whether they are safe or not. Just the same that we make our services available. Ang masasabi ko lang sa 458 or so, na nakauwi na ay sila ay safe and sound," he said.

(We call on our countrymen to avail of the safe and free repatriation service of the Philippine government. Of course, they have their assessment at this stage ... it's voluntary. Just the same, we make our services available. What I can say is that for the 458 who have returned home, they are safe and sound.)

Earlier, DMW said that a total of 192 OFWs in Lebanon are set to be repatriated by the end of the month. Cacdac said the Filipinos are booked on different commercial flights starting Friday, October 11.  At least 11 are set to arrive this weekend.

Alert Level 3 currently remains hoisted in Lebanon, meaning Filipinos may opt to be voluntarily repatriated.

Cacdac further noted that the DMW stands "ready" if Alert Level 4 is raised.

Raising Alert Level 4 would mean that the Philippine government would call for a mandatory repatriation of Filipinos.

The Philippine Embassy in Beirut has been urging Filipinos to evacuate while commercial flights are still available amid the continued exchange of rockets between Israel and Hezbollah.

Last week, the DFA said members of the Filipino community in Lebanon were hesitant to leave, adding that they would rather die in war than starve to death.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News