The Pangasinan Star ONLINE

WINDOWS
Gabriel L. Cardinoza


Like most young people fresh from college, Jennifer Perez wanted to have a job. An Education graduate, she had dreamed of being a public school teacher one day in her hometown of Alaminos City. But while waiting for her acceptance in the Department of Education, she saw an opportunity to work abroad. And on July 19 this year, Jennifer left for Jordan to work as a domestic helper.

But after barely a day in the house of her employer, Asaile Yousef Abetdat, in Irbid, Jordan, Jennifer fell from the second floor of her employer’s residence, breaking her neck and her pelvic bones, affecting her spinal column.

Jennifer’s employer had defensively maintained innocence and insisted that the accident was Jennifer’s fault. Apparently, Jennifer jumped from the balcony after she locked herself up in the room to resist the confiscation of her cellular phone.

But as it turned out later, when Jennifer finally regained consciousness and able to speak, it was Jennifer’s employer who pushed her when she refused to give her cellular phone.

At the hospital, doctors informed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officials who immediately attended to Jennifer, that she needs a live-saving operation and that she had to be transferred to the Princess Basma Hospital in Amman, some 100 kilometers away from Irbid.

Jennifer’s surgery was finally conducted on July 29, 2005.

“It was successful in that it saved her life,” said Marco Antonio Liwag, OWWA region 1 director. “However, due to the massive trauma on her neck and spine, she is permanently quadriplegic and requires mechanical ventilation for the rest of her life,” he added.

Another surgery was conducted on August 1, 2005 on her left femur fracture and on August 7, 2005 for tracheostomy.

As of September 7, 2005, Jennifer’s hospital bills have reached US$31,290.55. Her local agent, Yobhel Trade and Management Services in Ermita, Manila and its contact in Jordan, Kathleen International, agreed to shoulder only US$6,000 of Jennifer’s hospital bills, after OWWA pressured them to help.

As of September 22, 2005 Jennifer’s outstanding balance was US$26,704.81, which is almost P1.5M. Furthermore, her continued stay at the hospital adds US$500-600 per day, excluding the cost of her medicines.

Jennifer’s grieving parents, Herminio, a former OFW and now a small businessman, and Lydia, a public school teacher, of Bisocol, Alaminos City do not have that money and with the help of the OWWA, they have sought the assistance of Alaminos Bishop Jesus Cabrera to raise fund for their daughter.

The Philippine Embassy in Amman, meanwhile, has initiated legal proceedings against the employer.
The Filipino community in Jordan has also continued to visit Jennifer and volunteer nurses give her a regular bath and attend to her other personal needs.

OWWA and the local recruiter are now helping Jennifer’s father obtain a visitor’s visa to Jordan so that he could also see his daughter and personally attend to her needs. The visa application remains pending to date.

“While settlement of Jennifer’s current hospital bills is the immediate concern, fact remains that she is permanently quadriplegic and would require a breathing machine for the rest of her life. As such, she would need further financial assistance and care, even upon return to the country,” Liwag said.

QUICKQUOTE: The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone. -- Orison Swett Marden