Horacio's story

JAPAN — After the mass last February 7, some Filipino churchgoers informed us about their friend Horacio.

“ Nangingitiim na ang mga kuko, ate, kuya. Sana mapauwi na agad. Baka di na magtagal,” ( His nails have turned black, we wish he can be sent home soonest as he may not have much time left), a concerned friend confided. Horacio’s other friends who were there agreed with her.

They narrated that Horacio went to a Japanese doctor for a medical check-up who told him that some of his veins were clogged and that his situation was very, very serious. The doctor advised him to return to the Philippines at the earliest time and he was given a medical certificate to show to the Japanese immigration officers.

Having stayed in Japan for 9 years without proper documents, Horacio decided to surrender to the Japanese immigration last January 20, prepared and with the fervent hope and prayer to be deported early enough for him to join his family given his serious medical condition.

Because of his serious situation, he was spared from having to spend time at the detention center for having been an undocumented worker in Japan. He was advised by the Immigration officer to process his exit documents from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo so he could return home at the earliest possible time.

However, by February 7 when we learned about his condition, 14 crucial critical days have passed. Still, Horacio did not have his exit papers from the Philippine Embassy. With each passing day, his health deteriorated.

We were told that a Filipina broker promised to work on his exit papers for him for a certain price. Despite having been paid weeks ahead, the Filipina did not have the documents to hand to Horacio. That Sunday morning, his friends feared that with further delay, Horacio would not be able to return to his loved ones alive.

It was agreed then to contact the Filipino broker to demand for the return of his documents and his money. Some of his friends also said that from church, they would visit Horacio to check on him and to inform him that alternative paths would be taken by concerned Filipinos with their NGO and church contacts to get his exit papers at the soonest possible time. Those at church promised to maintain regular communication for updates about Horacio. Everyone knew time was very crucial and it was urgent to get Horacio back home with his loved ones in the Philippines soonest.

His friends told us later that when they visited him, they found him even weaker than before, and his nails blacker as well. They offered to bring him immediately to the hospital but he declined saying he had to go with another Filipino the next day, Monday, February 8, to process his papers at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.

He went the next day, only to be told to come back the following day for his papers, according to his friend who called up early afternoon of February 9, Tuesday. This was two days after the meeting after Sunday mass. February 9 was exactly the 17th day after the January 20th surrender of Horacio who longed to be home with his loved ones.

On the day that he was supposed to finally get his exit papers, in the morning of February 9, Tuesday, Horacio was found dead, alone in his apartment. The Monday long trip from his home to the Philippine Embassy and back must have been too much for his heart to bear.

Oh, if only his exit papers had been processed much earlier, after January 20, or had he been given his exit papers by the Embassy personnel that very Monday that he applied, given the certification of his serious medical condition, would he have had the chance to return home to embrace his loved ones before his death?

If he did not do asbestos-related work for years, would he have been alive long enough to return home?

After so much questions, tears and grief, Horacio’s friends resigned themselves to the sad reality of Horacio’s having gone home finally, to the Lord. His family back home decided to have his body cremated as this was the less expensive way to bring Horacio home finally.

At the time of this writing, Horacio’s remains are still at the police morgue as the police are awaiting the documents from the family that are needed for processing the long-delayed return of Horacio back to the Philippines, back to his loved ones. Sr. Flor and Fr. Healy have been on call about Horacio’s situation.

His friends have offered prayers and masses for him and are awaiting the time that Horacio can be blessed to get the much-awaited go signal for him to finally go home.

Please join us pray for God to bless Horacio with His eternal rest and peace . May the good Lord also bless Horacio’s loved ones with peace despite the grief and sorrow of being unable to be together with Horacio who worked hard for them, who gave up his life for them because he loved them so.

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