Body of OFW who saved child in Hong Kong arrives home

MANILA, Philippines—The remains of an overseas Filipina worker who died recently while saving her six-year-old ward in Hong Kong were brought to Manila on Tuesday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The body of Juanita Limbago was flown aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 301 and arrived at around 1:28 p.m., according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Her husband’s relatives fetched the casket from the PAL Cargo Terminal as her mother and husband went ahead to the family house in Barangay West Rembo in Makati City to prepare for the wake.

According to an uncle, Limbago was a very kind mother who was close even to her husband’s relatives.

“She was very gentle and kind. We were all close to each other that whenever I would find myself in Makati City, it was her and her husband’s house that I would go to,” said Romeo Duarte.

On Tuesday afternoon, Limbago’s remains finally came home but in a plain wooden box.

Limbago, a helper working in Hong Kong, died on June 10 after she was ran over by a bus while trying to shove her six-year-old ward out of harm’s way.

At the time of her death, Limbago had been working as a domestic helper for only two months and 10 days, the first time she ever went abroad for greener pastures.

Recalling the events before her departure for Hong Kong, Duarte said the victim’s husband even resisted the idea of Limbago leaving the country to work as an OFW.

“Her husband was an OFW himself in the Middle East, and he didn’t like the idea. But she insisted on going,” the uncle said.

The victim used to be housewife before she left the country to work as an OFW, like her husband.

Duarte said Limbago’s husband, Edwin, happened to be in the Middle East at the time Limbago died.

The victim is survived by her husband and her seven-year-old son.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said Limbago was about to bring her ward to school and they were crossing a road when a tour bus suddenly turned in their direction.

The domestic helper, without thinking of her own safety, tried to protect the boy who only suffered slight wounds.

Connie Marquez of the OWWA Repatriation and Assistance Division said Limbago’s employer was the one who repatriated the body with the OWWA’s assistance.

The family will receive P200,000 in insurance benefits and P20,000 in burial benefits.

“She did such a brave and honorable thing and she will be remembered for her heroic act,” the OWWA official told reporters on Tuesday

Limbago’s family can also seek help from OWWA for a scholarship program or help in starting a business.

The wake will be held at the Limbago residence in Barangay West Rembo in Makati City, according to Duarte, an uncle of Edwin.

“Juanita was very close to me. We will miss her a lot,” he added.