By
Daisy CL Mandap
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| Cyril is the picture of happiness as she hugs her youngest daughter on her return home |
She was a picture of both sadness and excitement as
she took her final trip home from Hong Kong on Friday, Feb. 4.
Cyril S. Galvez, a former domestic worker who is
suffering from late-stage cervical cancer, was taken straight from Queen Elizabeth
Hospital by ambulance to the airport, where she took the 4pm Cathay Pacific flight
to Manila.
She spent one night at a five-star hotel in Manila before
being flown on Saturday afternoon to Iloilo City, where she was met at the
airport by her family, including her two young daughters and her partner.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Cyril asked to be brought home directly so she could
spend time with her family instead of checking in at the Western Visayas
Medical Centre where she was referred to by the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration office in Hong Kong.
Before leaving Hong Kong, the visibly emaciated but excited
Cyril took time to send a video message to everyone in the city who comforted
her, and gave generously to help provide for her medical needs when she gets
back to the Philippines.
“Maraming
salamat po sa mga nagbigay ng financial na suporta at prayers para ako lumakas,”
she said. (Thank you very much to all who gave financial support and
offered prayers so I will regain strength).
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
“Nandito ako
ngayon sa airport at excited na akong makarating sa Pilipinas at makita ko na
ang pamilya ko,” Cyril said. (I am now at the airport and I am very excited
to go home to the Philippines so I can see my family).
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| OWWA nurse Josz takes a selfie with the group that sent Cyril off in HK |
Two of her older sisters, Mary Grace Latorilla and Ma.
Theresa Galvez, who are both domestic workers as well, were on hand to see her
off, along with a friend.
According to Grace, a total donation of $45,526 was
raised for Cyril in just six days, after the story of her plight was published
in The SUN’s website and Facebook page.
One of the biggest donors was employer Vivian Wong who
promptly gave $10,000 after her Filipina helper showed her the story on Cyril.
A group of workers from their hometown of Calinog, Iloilo, also raised $6,640, after
an appeal was issued by their leader, Joy Casiple.
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Grace’s own employer gave $2,000 while the group Social
Justice for Migrant Workers led by Marites Palma gave $1,500. Another donor was
a volleyball team which gave $600 and various friends who gave cash totaling
$650.
But the bulk of the donations came from migrant
workers who sent their donations to two Alipay accounts in the name of Grace
and Theresa. The first had a total of $13,434 paid in, while the second had
$10,702.
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| Grace kept tab of the donations to Cyril |
One of the groups that sent its donation to Grace’s account was Global Filipinos in HK headed by another fellow Ilonggo, Leo Selomenio.
Also at Hong Kong Airport to assist Cyril was OWWA staff and nurse Joszoa Villa, who arranged for her ambulance transfer and escorted her through HK Immigration. A fellow migrant worker arranged by OWWA to accompany Cyril flew with her on the plane.
Cyril, who is due to
celebrate her 36th birthday on Feb 26, was diagnosed with
stage 4 cancer in October, just a month after starting work with a new
employer.
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| Press for details |
Grace said her sister first learned she had stage 2 cervical cancer in March last year, and with the help and support of her former employer, she underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Thinking that she was well enough to continue working and
providing for her two daughters aged 9 and 11, Cyril signed up with a new
employer in September last year.
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| Grace tells her younger sister they'll see each other in Iloilo soon |
Grace said Cyril suffered from so much stress adjusting to her
new job that just a month later, she was told her cancer had returned.
Cyril struggled to get treated at the hospital while working,
but only three months later, her employer decided to terminate their contract.
Cyril was paid $7,000 and booked on a return trip to Manila and Iloilo on Jan.
16.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
But three days before her scheduled trip home, Cyril suffered
severe stomach ache while in a boarding house, and was rushed to Queen
Elizabeth Hospital. She was immediately operated on due to kidney malfunction.
She learned then that her cancer had worsened and had spread to
other parts of her body. She was also told she needed to be discharged although
she did not have any place to stay.
With OWWA’s help, Cyril was allowed to remain at the hospital
until her flight home. The employment agency that placed her with her last
employer was also asked to buy a new air ticket for Cyril, and for the escort
who accompanied her on the flight home.
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