MANILA, Philippines — While many flock at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) to return home to their respective provinces for Undas, some are leaving the country and will be missing the holiday with their families.
In a sea of thousands of people waiting to board their flights at Naia Terminal 3 was Merflor Drapieza, who traveled all the way from Nueva Ecija as early as Wednesday night to catch her flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday afternoon.
Drapieza is one of the thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai who works as a domestic helper.
For the eight straight year, she would not be able to visit the grave of her late father and brother who are both laid in Davao del Sur.
“Ang [Undas] ay way para maalala natin yang mga loved ones natin na yumao na gaya ng father ko at brother ko na how many years na hindi ko sila napuntahan, nakita,” Drapieza told INQUIRER.net.
(All Saint’s Day is a way to remember our loved ones who had passed away like my father and my brother, who for many years I have not visited.)
“Mahirap sa loob na hindi sila madalaw,” she lamented.
(It’s hard feeling not to be able to visit their graves.)
Drapieza said that seeing families reunite during holidays such as Undas is hard especially when she would not be able to spend it with her own.
“Mahirap, kasi imbes na kahit sa kaunting panahon makasama mo yung tatay mo o pamilya mong nawala, yun pa yung time na hindi mo sila makakasama [kasi kailangang umalis],” the OFW said.
(It is hard. Instead of being able to spend that day with your father or loved one who had passed away even for a short amount of time, that is the time you would not be able to be there because you have to leave.)
But as Drapieza said: “Tiis-tiis na lang [We’ll just have to endure it]”,
Due to financial struggles, Drapieza could not assure that the next time she returns to the country, she could fly to Davao del Sur to pay a visit to her late loved ones.
OFW Merflor Drapieza (middle) will not be able to visit the graves of her late father and brother for eight straight years now as she awaits her flight bound to Dubai where she works as a domestic helper. She was accompanied by her son and husband at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. INQUIRER.net photo / Neil Arwin Mercado
The OFW added that she is not even sure when she would be able to return again.
“Sobrang hirap, parang yung pakiramdam na—parang sinakluban ka ng langit at lupa. Kahit na gustuhin mo mang umuwi, hindi ka makauwi,” Drapieza said as she held back tears.
(It is really hard. The feeling is like the heaven and earth blended and you’re caught in the middle. Even if you want to go home, you can’t.)
“Malungkot, kasi hindi ko makakasama ang asawa ko,” Drapieza’s husband, Jeffrey, said.
(It is saddening. I would not be able to be with my wife.)
Drapieza is only one of the thousands of OFWs who would not be able to visit their loved ones on Friday.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released April 2019 showed that 2.3 million OFWs are scattered across the globe during the period April to September 2018. /jpv