Despite the deployment ban in Lebanon, Lyn was able to work there as a physical therapist. The work was difficult. Her employer offered sexual services to various nationalities in exchange for money. When a customer came to the house, Lyn’s employer would lock her up in the kitchen.
She received her rightful salary, but Lyn was frightened by her madame’s boyfriend, who often questioned her about whether or not other men were coming to the house.
Naturally, she always covered up for her boss. The boyfriend had threatened Lyn: If he discovered that she and her employer were not telling the truth, he would kill them both.
Lyn ran away. She sought the help of a kababayan and used his cell phone to call her husband in the Philippines. Lyn wanted to tell her husband what had happened to her. But her spouse reacted angrily, saying he suspected the reason she could not maintain her job in Lebanon was because she was having an affair with another man.
Checking on her, the husband called the cell phone number she had used to call him. Of course, since Lyn had only borrowed the phone, a voice of a man answered the call of her husband. Since then, Lyn’s husband has stood by his suspicion that she had a lover in Lebanon.
Lyn denied she had a lover in Lebanon. She reiterated that her situation was difficult and her only focus was to work for the welfare of her children.
But to remedy the situation she went to the Philippine Embassy to seek help for her repatriation.
When Lyn arrived home, she was surprised to find that her husband had left their home with their five children. She also discovered that her husband was already living with another woman.
Lyn asked the help of Bantay OCW at Radyo Inquirer to find a job in the country. She wanted to get her children back as soon as she could support them.
She felt hatred for her husband. He had accused her of having an extramarital affair in Lebanon when in fact he was already living with someone else here in the Philippines.
It is sad to hear such stories. Our OFWs need strong family allies, people ready to listen to their problems. She was not lucky to have a husband ready to listen and comfort her for her bad luck with her employer in Lebanon.
Susan Andes, aka Susan K. is on board at Radyo Inquirer 990 dzIQ AM, Monday to Friday 12:30-2:00 p.m. with audio/video live streaming: www.dziq.am. PTV 4 Fridays 10:15-11:15 p.m. Hotlines: 5357209/8819423/0920-968-4700. E-mail: susankbantayocw@yahoo.com/bantayocwfoundation@yahoo.com