They came home safe…
but not the same.
On Monday morning, another group of overseas Filipino workers arrived in Manila—tired, emotional, and deeply shaken by what they had just lived through in the Middle East.
For many of them, this homecoming wasn’t just a return.
It was an ending.
A Birthday Marked by Fear
For Merlyn Agustin, turning 60 should have been a celebration.
Instead, it became a moment she will never forget.
She was crossing into Saudi Arabia…
escaping the chaos in Kuwait…
when fear took over.
“Natakot po ako sa pagsabog… kaya sinabi ko na uuwi na lang ako.”
She chose to come home.
Not because she wanted to—
but because she had to.
Nights Filled With Tears
Alicia Pangilinan had only been in Qatar for a month.
Just one month.
But it was enough.
Enough to feel the weight of fear.
Enough to break her spirit.
“Umiiyak na lang po ako kapag ako mag-isa…”
Alone in her room, she would cry…
and pray.
Pray that she could come home.
And when she finally did—
everything melted away in a single moment.
A hug from her young son.
A quiet reminder of what truly matters.
A Long, Difficult Journey Home
Merlyn and Alicia were among 317 OFWs and 26 dependents who arrived from Riyadh at Villamor Airbase.
This marks the fourth batch of repatriated Filipinos as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East.
But getting home wasn’t easy.
With airspace in Kuwait and Bahrain closed—and restrictions in Qatar—many had no choice but to travel by land.
A journey that took 7 to 8 exhausting hours… just to reach safety.
“Hindi na ako babalik…”
For some, the experience left scars too deep to ignore.
May Quinto said it plainly.
“Sa narasan ko doon… hindi na po makakabalik.”
She won’t go back.
And she’s not alone.
For many OFWs, the dream of working abroad has been replaced by something else—
fear… uncertainty… and the need to feel safe again.
A Nation Welcomes Them Home
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally welcomed the returning OFWs.
And more are expected.
Over 1,200 Filipinos and their dependents are set to arrive in the coming days.
The government has promised support—financial aid, job opportunities, and assistance to help them start again.
More Than Just a Homecoming
This isn’t just a story of workers returning home.
It’s a story of sacrifice…
of courage…
and of choosing safety over survival abroad.
Because sometimes, the hardest decision isn’t leaving home.
It’s deciding…
never to leave again.
