Ailing Filipino Worker Learns Employer Has Heart Of Gold

By SIRAJ WAHAB ARAB NEWS
Published: Jul 18, 2010 23:14 Updated: Jul 19, 2010 03:17

ALKHOBAR: Although there have been many cases of housemaid abuse reported over the years, a vast number of household helpers across the Kingdom are treated like family members.

Such is the case of Marilou Lorenzo Ramirez who likely will lead a longer life thanks to the generosity and concern of her Saudi employer.

The 41-year-old housemaid was hired in the Philippines two years ago by Khaled A. Abdul Qader, a senior planner at Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) in Jubail. Ramirez worked in the household for a year and won the hearts of Abdul Qader’s family with her dedication and hard work.

Five months ago, a brain hemorrhage paralyzed Ramirez. Abdul Qader first took her to Al-Mouwasat Hospital where he bore the complete costs of her treatment. Realizing the gravity of her illness, Abdul Qader requested the Ministry of Health to get her treated at a government-run hospital.

Ramirez was then shifted to King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf where doctors felt there was an immediate need to operate upon her, but they needed the permission from Ramirez’ relatives in the Philippines. Abdul Qader contacted her daughter, Saramy Amando, in Antipolo City near the capital Manila. She gave her consent, and the doctors, consulting neurosurgeon Abdul Mohsen Nasser Al-Mulhim and neurosurgeons Ahmed Zaitoni and Essam Mohammed, performed the operation with incredible success.

“The doctors said it was a very difficult and delicate operation, and its success was nothing short of a miracle,” said the head nurse at the hospital.

“We are very grateful for the support of Ramirez’ sponsor and the good doctors for not giving up on her case,” said Labor Attaché David Des T. Dicang, head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Eastern Region.

“The sponsor called Ramirez’ daughter several times to get the consent of the family to operate on her,” he told Arab News. “The Filipino medical staff at King Fahd Hospital has nothing but praise for the hospital management, doctors and her employer for not giving up. It is our prayer that Ramirez will get closer to her full recovery with each day that goes by.”

Ramirez left for the Philippines from Dammam on Saturday night via Saudi Arabian Airlines with two nurse escorts.

Abdul Qader, the sponsor, paid for the plane fare — business class, no less. He also paid for medicines and a wheelchair.

“As per our office request, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Manila coordinated with the family of Ramirez to provide her special airport assistance upon arrival in the Philippines and also to see how she can be covered with disability and medical benefits back home,” added Dicang, who saw Ramirez off at Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport.

“I am happy to see her smile. She will take some time to recover. Whatever we did, we saw it as our duty to help her in her difficult times,” Abdul Qader told Arab News at the airport.

“She is a wonderful person. I have three children. They are all grown and are abroad. My wife and I were the ones she was helping. We felt bad when she fell ill,” said Abdul Qader.

“I have tried my best to provide all possible help. As per her daughter’s advice I will send her dues to her daughter. I wish her well. The doctors at the hospital did a wonderful job. Alhamdulillah. She survived, and we wish her complete recovery,” he said.

Note:

I am proud to say I personally know Khalid Abdulkhader, the man with a heart of gold. We used to work together in SABIC under the same business unit. May your tribe increase ya Abu Abdullah!

Time Away

December – lost my job
January – jobless, jobless, jobless
February – on a job hunt, interviews, restless nights, insecure, empty pockets, finally knew who my real friends are
March – yes, finally got one…! confident! back on track
April – evicted from my pad, but found a better one
May – God is good… life must go on

So, where were we…

Little Things

How they really affect us...

A phone call. A text message. A sticky note.
A high five. A handshake. A gentle punch.
A smile. A furtive glance. A naughty wink. A whisper.
A gaze. A heartache. A sigh. A teardrop.
A “sorry”. A “ok”. A “thank you”.
A gentle touch. A tender kiss. A hug.
A little prayer.

How they really mean a lot...

Dubai-based Filipina Vilified for Calling Typhoon ‘Well-Deserved Punishment’

Khaleej Times Online
By Lily Libo-on
29 September 2009

DUBAI — A Dubai-based Filipina, who called the devastating flash floods in the Philippines “a well-deserved punishment for the sins of the Filipino people”, is facing harassment from her compatriots across the globe through social networking websites “Facebook” and “Starfishbuang.multiply”.

Several hours after the flash floods washed away houses and killed people in Metro Manila and in 25 provinces in eastern Luzon, the woman commented, “Buti n lng am hir in dubai! maybe so many sinners bak der! so yeah deserving wat hapend” referring to what happened back in Manila at the height of Typhoon Ondoy’s onslaught. (Good that I am here in Dubai! Maybe so many sinners back there! So yeah they deserve of what happened).

This comment earned the anger and outburst of Filipinos worldwide who started vilifying her in social networking websites where the blog appeared. Facebook members even claimed in their press statement that they were able to unmask her identity, her workplace, and contact number. They also contacted her employer pushing for her sacking from the company.

An irate blogger started Monday a group website in Facebook titled “JB Be Gone, We Sinners Don’t Want You Here”. Filipino bloggers have flocked to dish out grievances against the said Filipina calling her Facebook blog “so insensitive”.

Another blogger identified her as working in an HR Department of a property firm in Dubai and many others called on her to apologise. However, efforts to reach out for her comments have failed. “You so insensitive! People are dying out there and you say they deserve it!”
Apologise before it’s too late,” one comment reads in Starfishbuang.multiply. Countless comments are posted every minute on Facebook.

Huge comments have left ill-wishing remarks, and hundreds are more rapidly launching online campaigns to bring what they called tasteless and insensitive remarks to the awareness of the masses.

“Heartless! It would have been better if it were you who drowned. You do not know how many people are affected in the disaster!,” a comment stated.

Reads another blog in Tagalog, “If you know that a member of your family died, maybe you will eat your words. And if tsunami hits Dubai, your name will be the first to come out in the dead list. It’s better to be nobody than to be somebody but the entire Philippines is angry at you. Let us see if the Immigration will still allow you to come back.”

Her brother came to her rescue saying that her Facebook and Friendster accounts are hacked, which conveniently lead to the conclusion that the latter may have been a victim of identity fraud all along.

“My sister is educated, a graduate of the University of the Philippines, and does not speak English as crudely as is evident in the infamous Facebook comment. We come from a known political family and my sister would never do anything to tarnish the reputation of the family name,” her brother explained.

A sympathiser to this Filipino also wrote to the Filipino reporters saying she did not conform to the barrage of ill-wishing remarks.

From the Facebook, a lady blogger said, “I totally agree to walwyn, her brain is not sharp enough to compensate the results of her actions. So, let’s just forgive her as much as we can forgive our pets whenever they break something in the house…(and that’s to be serious). I was also irritated last night, but hey, I pity the girl now.”

A Journey To Remember

I have been on a “seclusion” mode during the last few days of Ramadan. No work, no blogs, no night outs, no play, no anything. Only days of fasting, prayers, meditation and spiritual renewal far far away in the beautiful city of Madinah. This trip was a precious gift from a friend who even went to the extent of using his own car and offering himself as the all-enduring driver on our 1,400 kilometer journey heading west.

May Allah bless you my friend for your humble and pure intentions. This pilgrimage will always be one of the strong pillars of our lasting friendship.