'Laban OFW': How Filipinos in the Middle East Stay Strong
The Middle East is a major destination for Filipino workers, as countries in the region often prefer to hire Filipinos for their dedication and professionalism. However, it's no secret that the Middle East is also frequently a battleground for wars and conflicts—leaving many OFWs caught in the middle of terrifying violence. In light of this, we've compiled real-life accounts from OFWs who have shown incredible strength and solidarity during traumatic wartime experiences.
'I saw my employers shot at... I had only seconds to act,' recalls Irene Repuela Torres, a Filipino caregiver in southern Israel. In October 2023, she sheltered her elderly charges in a reinforced 'mamád' during a Hamas attack. Gunfire pounded outside for 35 hours as she stayed calm, comforting her patients and risking her life to keep them safe.
Despite hunger and fear, Irene reminded herself: 'If today is my last day, I can accept that,' channeling the Filipino spirit of malasakit and selfless care.
Standing Strong at Work: Ricasol Garcia's Silent Courage
Nearby in Tel Aviv, hotel staffer Ricasol Garcia admits she was terrified, but duty came first. 'Our main concern was the guests,' she shared. When alarms sounded, she calmly escorted visitors to the basement shelter before thinking of her own safety.
Even as reports of fellow Filipinos' deaths circulated, Ricasol stayed at her post. 'You cry, you fear—you have to be brave,' she said, highlighting the quiet heroism of OFWs working through crisis.
Bravery and Loss: Teresita Dagdag's Tough Decision
Teresita Dagdag, a caregiver in Israel for 19 years, stayed even when bomb sirens sounded, because her patient was deaf. 'She couldn't hear the bombs... so I became her eyes, ears, hands, and feet,' Teresita told officials.
When her employer tragically died, Teresita finally returned home—but only after ensuring her patient's last days were dignified. Her story spotlights a Filipino trait: loyalty, even under fire.
Facing the Unknown: Filipinos Stuck in Iran Too
Thousands of OFWs in Israel and Iran—about 30,000 in Israel, 1,180 in Iran—have faced similar anxieties. When missiles flew, many reached out for help. The Philippine government stepped in, offering guidance, shelters, and flights home.
Bayanihan in Action: Community Solidarity
In the chaos, OFWs rallied together. One caregiver grouped Filipinos via messaging chats to share safety updates and call for embassy help. Another Filipino embassy in Tel Aviv arranged emergency assistance—including for families of those injured or taken hostage.
This community-driven support kept morale alive when danger hit.
Why Their Stories Matter
These aren't just tales of survival. They're proof of the Filipino core values: courage, compassion, and self-sacrifice. Whether guiding elderly patients to safety or standing firm at work, OFWs show how overseas Filipinos keep fighting for their families—literally.
These stories—of bravery, heartbreak, and hope—are the quiet victories that make Filipinos in crisis truly shine. They remind us: no matter where you are, 'laban' and Philippines stay close to the heart.
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Middle East Eye
12 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
‘My journey to get aid in Gaza was like Squid Game'
Editor's note: The following personal account of Yousef al-Ajouri, 40, was told to Palestinian journalist and MEE contributor Ahmed Dremly in Gaza City. It has been edited for brevity and clarity. My children cry all the time because of how hungry they are. They want bread, rice - anything to eat. Not long ago, I had stockpiles of flour and other food supplies. It's all run out. We now rely on meals distributed by charity kitchens, usually lentils. But it's not enough to satisfy the hunger of my children. I live with my wife, seven children, and my mother and father in a tent in al-Saraya, near the middle of Gaza City. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Our home in Jabalia refugee camp was completely destroyed during the Israeli army's invasion of northern Gaza in October 2023. Before the war, I was a taxi driver. But due to shortages in fuel, and the Israeli blockade, I had to stop working. I hadn't gone to receive aid packages at all since the war started, but the hunger situation is unbearable now. So I decided I would go to the American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution centre on Salah al-Din Road, near the Netzarim corridor. I heard that it's dangerous and people were getting killed and injured, but I made the decision to go anyway. Someone told me that if you go once every seven days, you might get enough supplies to feed your family for that week. Dark and deadly route It was around 9pm on 18 June when I heard men in the next tent preparing to head out to the aid centre. I told my neighbour in the next tent, Khalil Hallas, aged 35, that I wanted to join. Khalil told me to get ready by wearing loose clothes, so that I could run and be agile. He said to bring a bag or sack for carrying canned and packaged goods. Due to overcrowding, no one was able to carry the boxes the aid came in. My wife Asma, 36, and my daughter Duaa, 13, encouraged me to make the journey. They'd seen in the news that women were going to get aid too, and wanted to join me. I told them it was too dangerous. I saw at least six other martyrs lying on the ground I set off with five other men from my camp, including an engineer and a teacher. For some of us, it was the first time making the trip. We rode in a tuk-tuk - the only means of transport in southern Gaza, along with donkey and horse-drawn carts - with a total of 17 passengers. It included children aged 10 and 12. A young man in the vehicle, who had made the trip before, told us not to take the official route designated by the Israeli army. He said it was too crowded and we wouldn't receive any aid. He advised us to take an alternative route not far from the official path. The tuk-tuk dropped us off in Nuseirat, in central Gaza, and from there we walked around a kilometre towards Salah al-Din Road. The journey was extremely difficult - and dark. We couldn't use any flashlights, or else we would attract the attention of Israeli snipers or military vehicles. Palestinians gather at an aid distribution point in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza on 9 June 2025 (AFP/Eyad Baba) There were some exposed, open areas, which we crossed by crawling across the ground. As I crawled, I looked over, and to my surprise, saw several women and elderly people taking the same treacherous route as us. At one point, there was a barrage of live gunfire all around me. We hid behind a destroyed building. Anyone who moved or made a noticeable motion was immediately shot by snipers. Next to me was a tall, light-haired young man using the flashlight on his phone to guide him. The others yelled at him to turn it off. Seconds later, he was shot. He collapsed to the ground and lay there bleeding, but no one could help or move him. He died within minutes. Some nearby men eventually covered the man's body with the empty bag he had brought to fill up with canned goods. I saw at least six other martyrs lying on the ground. I also saw wounded people walking back in the opposite direction. One man was bleeding after falling and injuring his hand in the rough terrain. I fell a few times too. I was terrified, but there was no turning back. I'd already passed the most dangerous areas, and now the aid centre was within sight. We were all afraid. But we were there to feed our hungry children. Fighting for food It was coming up to 2am, which is when I was told access to the aid centre is granted. Sure enough, moments later, a large green light lit up the centre in the distance, signalling that it was open. People started running towards it from every direction. I ran as fast as I could. I was shocked by the massive crowd. I'd risked my life to get closer to the front, and yet, thousands had somehow arrived before me. I started questioning how they got there. Palestinians line up to receive a hot meal at a food distribution point in Gaza City on 27 June 2025 (AFP/Bashar Taleb) Were they working with the military? Were they collaborators, allowed to reach the aid first and take whatever they wanted? Or had they simply taken the same, if not even greater, risks that we had? I tried to push forward, but I couldn't. The centre was no longer visible because of the size of the crowds. People were pushing and shoving, but I decided I had to make it through - for my children. I took my shoes off, put them in my bag, and began forcing my way through. There were people on top of me, and I was on top of others. I noticed a girl being suffocated under the feet of the crowds. I grabbed her hand and pushed her out. I started feeling around for the aid boxes and grabbed a bag that felt like rice. But just as I did, someone else snatched it from my hands. Some begged others to share. But no one could afford to give up what they managed to get I tried to hold on, but he threatened to stab me with his knife. Most people there were carrying knives, either to defend themselves or to steal from others. Eventually, I managed to grab four cans of beans, a kilogram of bulgur, and half a kilogram of pasta. Within moments, the boxes were empty. Most of the people there, including women, children and the elderly, got nothing. Some begged others to share. But no one could afford to give up what they managed to get. Even the empty cartons and wooden pallets were taken, to be used as firewood for cooking. Those who got nothing started picking up spilled flour and grains from the ground, trying to salvage what had fallen during the chaos. Soldiers watched and laughed I turned my head and saw soldiers, maybe 10 or 20 metres away. They were talking to each other, using their phones, and filming us. Some were aiming weapons at us. I remembered a scene from the South Korean TV show Squid Game, in which killing was entertainment - a game. We were being killed not only by their weapons but also by hunger and humiliation, while they watched us and laughed. I started wondering: were they still filming us? Were they watching this madness, seeing how some people overpowered others, while the weakest got nothing? We left the area just as the boxes had emptied. People carrying sacks of flour walk past a water puddle along al-Rashid street in western Jabalia on 17 June 2025 (AFP/Bashar Taleb) Minutes later, red smoke grenades were thrown into the air. Someone told me that it was the signal to evacuate the area. After that, heavy gunfire began. Me, Khalil and a few others headed to al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat because our friend Wael had injured his hand during the journey. I was shocked by what I saw at the hospital. There were at least 35 martyrs lying dead on the ground in one of the rooms. A doctor told me they had all been brought in that same day. They were each shot in the head or chest while queuing near the aid centre. Their families were waiting for them to come home with food and ingredients. Now, they were corpses. I started to break down, thinking about these families. I thought to myself: why are we being forced to die just to feed our children? At that moment, I decided that I would never journey to those places again. A slow death We walked back in silence, and I arrived home at around 7:30am on Thursday morning. My wife and children were waiting for me, hoping that I was safe and alive, and that I'd brought back food. They were upset when they saw I'd returned with barely anything. It was the hardest day of my life. I've never felt humiliation like I did that day. I hope food can get through soon and be distributed in a respectful way, without humiliation and killing. The current system is chaotic and deadly. I don't even care if the war keeps going - what matters is that food gets through There's no justice in it. Most end up with nothing, because there's no organised system and there's too little aid for too many people. I'm certain Israel wants this chaos to continue. They claim this method is best because, otherwise, Hamas takes the aid. But I'm not Hamas, and many, many others aren't either. Why should we suffer? Why should we be denied aid unless we risk our lives to get it? At this point, I don't even care if the war keeps going - what matters is that food gets through, so we can eat. My son, Yousef, is three years old. He wakes up crying, saying he wants to eat. We have nothing to give him. He keeps crying until he gets tired and falls silent. I eat one meal a day, or sometimes nothing at all, so the children can eat. This isn't life. This is a slow death.
UAE Moments
17 hours ago
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Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Middle East Eye
Successful local efforts to get aid into north Gaza met with Israeli backlash
Successful local Palestinian efforts to organise the entry of aid to northern Gaza have prompted fresh restrictions by the Israeli military and violent looting by criminal gangs. Relief was brought into north Gaza for the first time in a month on Wednesday by local tribes, drawing anger from Israeli officials and members of the Israeli public. Northern Gaza has been under full siege since March, when Israel blocked all aid and goods from entering the territory and created a severe hunger crisis. In late May, the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a recently launched and scandal-hit aid group, began distributing limited food parcels at four locations in south and central Gaza. The northern parts of the Palestinian enclave remain largely cut off from aid distributed through this mechanism. However, Israel has recently allowed a limited number of aid trucks carrying only wheat flour to enter some areas of the north. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters According to local reports, the recent Palestinian-led relief delivery, backed by local clans, saw several trucks enter safely and successfully, with their contents distributed on Thursday. Footage circulating online show dozens of trucks carrying aid from the United Nations World Food Programme entering the northern Gaza Strip. Others show tribesmen watching over the vehicles, some armed, attempting to shield it from looting by local gangs. However, another batch of essentials was looted on Thursday by gangs. Amjad al-Shawa, who oversees civil society groups in Gaza, said that 50 trucks scheduled to arrive into Gaza City were looted. Shawa said that the gangs, under the protection of the Israeli military, were working to "sow chaos" and divert aid. 'Israel seeks to perpetuate chaos and disorder in Gaza, and does not want the aid distribution process to adhere to humanitarian standards' - Amjad al-Shawa, civil society leader in Gaza "Israel seeks to perpetuate chaos and disorder in Gaza, and does not want the aid distribution process to adhere to humanitarian standards through distribution centers and databases," he said. "Israel seeks to sabotage the humanitarian system in Gaza by preventing the entry of aid through the United Nations and international institutions, replacing it with an American security company, thus creating internal violence among Gaza's citizens." Shawa urged the need to strengthen the role of UN humanitarian organisations and other groups that have "been working in Gaza for decades". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously admitted to arming gangs in Gaza, which have been accused by aid groups of stealing lifesaving humanitarian aid, in a bid to counter Hamas. Netanyahu said earlier this month his government had "activated" powerful local clans in the enclave on the advice of "security officials", hours after former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman alleged a gang Israel was backing was affiliated with the Islamic State group. "We made use of clans in Gaza that are opposed to Hamas… What's wrong with that?' Netanyahu said in a video posted on X. Targeting security and police Meanwhile, Israel has been condemned for attacking Palestinian police and security personnel who were trying to counter looters and criminals in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. "The Israeli occupation persists in its malicious plans and its efforts to spread chaos and destabilise the internal stability in the Gaza Strip by repeatedly targeting police and security personnel, with the aim of discouraging them from fulfilling their duty to protect the home front and confront the armed gangs operating under its command," the Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza said in a statement. "This ongoing Israeli targeting will not achieve its goals. "The police and security services will continue to pursue thieves and those collaborating with the occupation, striking them with an iron fist, and taking all necessary measures to strengthen the steadfastness of citizens and preserve civil peace in the Gaza Strip." Israel has also killed three local police in Asdaa, west of Khan Younis, according to local reports. "The police and security apparatus in the Gaza Strip continues to perform its duty towards our people, despite the systematic targeting it is subjected to by the Israeli occupation through daily bombing and killing. This will not weaken our resolve or break our will," the ministry said. Israeli backlash and police targeting As Palestinian efforts to bring aid into north Gaza succeeded on Wednesday, Netanyahu ordered new restrictions on the region after backlash from prominent political leaders, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich threatened to leave Netanyahu's coalition following videos of aid trucks entering north Gaza. Netanyahu admits Israel armed Gaza gangs to drive lawlessness Read More » Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed Hamas was taking over aid efforts. The Gaza government disputed the claim, saying Israel was attempting to "legitimise the continued blockade, starvation and the prevention of humanitarian aid from entering for the 118th consecutive day". "We would like to clarify to the public that it was Palestinian families and clans who secured the aid convoys in the northern Gaza Strip, without any interference from the Palestinian government or factions," it stressed. "These cheap lies reveal that the occupation continues to 'engineer chaos' and spread falsehoods to create flimsy justifications for continuing to close the crossings and prevent the entry of aid, in a full-fledged crime against more than 2.4 million starving Palestinians in the Gaza Strip." Israel has previously accused Hamas of stealing aid and said the Israeli blockade on the entry of food is partly aimed at preventing the group from diverting supplies. But Cindy McCain, the executive director of the World Food Programme and widow of late US senator John McCain, rubbished such allegations, saying much of the aid that is being looted is being seized by destitute Palestinians.
