For once, happy tale out of Libya

Not all OFW stories out of strife-torn lands is miserable.

Rufina Awas, 61, was a nurse in Libya for the past 19 years. Last Friday, she returned to the Philippines with her family, including a 3-year-old grandson, to escape the tension in Tripoli.

But instead of the usual tale of woe and complaints about the lack of government assistance, Awas had nothing but praise for the men and women of the Philippine Embassy in the liberated city.

“Sinundo kami at hindi sila tumigil para makauwi kami, satisfied ako sa efforts nila  [They picked us up and they didn’t quit until we got home. I’m satisfied with their efforts],” Awas told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Friday on arrival from Cairo via Air Emirates.

Awas, who hails from Benguet, learned she would receive a cash gift from the government as part of official efforts to help overseas Filipino workers forced to return home due to extenuating circumstances.

“Hindi na naman talaga kailangan parang sobra na ang tulong, pero maraming salamat [It’s not necessary, we’ve received a lot of help, but thank you],” Awas said.

Awas, her son, daughter in-law and grandson were part of the recent batch of Filipinos who opted to be repatriated.

A couple, who were among those repatriated, also expressed gratitude for the “people who made our homecoming possible.”

“We decided to come home at the last minute to take advantage of this opportunity to come home for free,” the couple, who asked not to be named, said.

“We could have stayed in Benghazi because the fighting was concentrated in Tripoli, but this was a chance to come home paid for by the government,” they said. Nancy C. Carvajal