Lebanon war a blessing in disguise for many OFWs

While most people were running away from bombs, they were also escaping the abuses of their employers.

For 20-year-old Maryjoy Galendes, the fierce armed conflict in Lebanon was a blessing in disguise.

While admitting that the war was a very terrifying experience, Galendes said she was thankful that it erupted because it gave her a chance to escape the maltreatment of her Lebanese employer.

Zaida Laud, 26, vowed not to go back to Lebanon after she was almost raped by the son of her employer.

Galendes and Laud were among the over 200 OFWs evacuated from war-torn Lebanon.

And their revelations brought to light anew the danger overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) face in the hands of their employers.

Many of the returning Filipina workers said they experienced different forms of abuses.

Wearing multiple underwear, they said, is a common practice among them.

"We wore at least two underwears as a protection from possible rape," they explained.

Galendes said she sought refuge at the Philippine Embassy in Beirut mainly to escape from her hostile employer rather than to avoid the attacks of Israeli troops.

"Hindi naman sa masama ako pero nagpapasalamat akong nagkaroon ng giyera at nakatakas ako sa employer ko (It’s not that I’m bad [for thinking that the war was a blessing in disguise] but I am still thankful that the war helped me escape my employer)," Galendes told The STAR.

Galendes said she had long wanted to return home.

She said she left their hometown in Butuan City seven months ago to work as a domestic helper in the Middle Eastern country.

But Galendes said she received only a monthly salary pay of $150, or $50 less than what was stipulated in her contract.

Worse, she claims her employer was maltreating her.

"We were allowed to eat only leftover foods and were restricted from going out of the house or talking to other Filipino workers. They treat us like we are not humans," she recalled.

"I even thought of killing myself because I could no longer stand the abuses. I still continued working but my employer would not allow me to go home," she said.

When the war erupted more than a week ago, Galendes said she saw it as an opportunity to escape her employer and seek assistance from the Philippine Embassy in Beirut where other Filipina maids who ran away from their work were also staying.

Unlike Galendes, Laud said she was lucky to have a very good employer. But it was the son who wasn’t.

"My employer was good to me but I do not want to go back there because the 17-year-old son of my employer tried to rape me but I fought and was able to escape," she revealed.

President Arroyo yesterday said 500 more Filipino workers are to be flown back this week.

"We will be bringing home 500 more in the next four days," the President announced during her State of the Nation Address.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilbert Asuque said the government is considering commercial flights for repatriating the OFWs. — Mayen Jaymalin, AFP