Filipinos fear spread of conflict in Lebanon

Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipinos working and living in Lebanon are worried about tensions in the southern border with Israel spreading northward, a community organizer said.

Most of the 11,000 Filipinos are in the capital Beirut and the northern portion of the Middle Eastern country.

Myra Aragon, who stays in Beirut, said while it is business as usual for everybody, safety is a concern.

“‘Yun ang minsan nagkakaroon ng panic sa tao ‘yung meron ka pang naririnig na baka magka-gera tapos naririnig mo ‘yung ganu’ng explosions na nagko-cause rin ng fear sa tao, especially sa mga bata. ‘Pag naririnig nila ‘yun, hindi naman nila naiintindihan kung ano ‘yun, so naririnig mo ‘yung iyakan ng mga bata at mayro’n ding mga taong nagtatakbuhan na baka akala na ‘yun na ‘yung bomba na narinig nila pero supersonic booms lang ‘yun,” Aragon told NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: Sometimes people panic because there are rumors that a war looms and then you are going to hear explosions, it causes fear, especially among children. When they hear that, they cry, and there are also people running from what they thought is a bomb, but those were just supersonic booms.]

Aragon has been in Lebanon for about two decades. She is not new to tensions there, but added that the current conflict is worrisome with the involvement of other countries.

She said she wants to return to the Philippines for fear of her life.

“Ayaw namin maging collateral damage sa mga conflict nila na ‘yun,” she said.

[Translation: We do not want to be collateral damage to their conflict.]

On the other hand, Aragon has questions on how life would be back home.

“Karamihan sa’min, matagal na rito [Beirut]. May tumatanda na rin dito. ‘Yun ang parang kinatatakot ng mga old timers na katulad namin. ‘Pag uwi namin, ano ba ang hinihintay sa Pilipinas?” she raised.

[Translation: Most of us are in Beirut for a long time. Some have grown old here. Old-timers like me are worried about what awaits us in the Philippines.]

“Dito [Beirut] ngayon, sanay kami may sahod kami at sanay kaming sumusuporta sa pamilya namin. Pagdating doon, aasa ba kami sa pamilya namin na naghihirap din?” Aragon said.

[Translation: Here, we are used to having an income and supporting our families. When we return home, should we rely on our family who is also struggling?]

Under the Department of Migrant Workers’ Order No. 5, OFWs in distressed situations will receive a one-time financial assistance amounting from P50,000 to P100,000.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told NewsWatch Plus that more OFWs in Lebanon are requesting for repatriation – from 738 over the weekend to 779 as of Tuesday morning.

There is no date yet when the OFWs will be brought home, but de Vega said they will arrive in batches.

Over 300 Filipino have returned to the country since the conflict began in southern Lebanon.