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Monday, September 08, 2003
Shattered dreams: Another OFW goes home in casket
By Edwin G. Espejo
(First of a series)
TUESDAY, August 25. Dennis was excited.
He talked just two days earlier with his wife who told him she was coming home on August 29.
His wife asked him to meet her at the General Santos City Airport.
Twenty-eight year old Dennis, who has not seen his wife for more than nine months, made the necessary arrangements.
He contacted a neighbor in Sto. Niņo, South Cotabato, who owns a passenger jeep, which he intended to use when he fetches his wife.
He coddled his two sons and shared with them his excitement.
He did not bother ask why his wife cut her two-year contract as domestic helper in Hong Kong short.
All he and his children, eight-year old EJ and three-year old CD were after was their reunion.
Tragic news from Canada
Wednesday, August 27.
Hope Dawn Fresco (Dondon), younger sister of Gerlyn Origosa, received a frantic call from Lilian Lacdu-o.
She was told by Lilian that Gerlyn was found dead at the pavement just outside a condominium in South Horizon, Hong Kong.
Dondon thought it was a mistake. She even told herself it was a prank because everybody knew her sister was coming home that Friday. Finally, it sank on her.
Lilian, the older sister of Dennis, could not have been joking.
As she would relate later, it was the older sister of Dennis, who now resides in Canada, who first got the news of Gerlyn's death.
When interviewed at their modest house in Sto. Nino in South Cotabato, Lilian, who herself is also a domestic helper in Hong Kong and who accompanied the casket of Gerlyn from the former British territory, said she was bothered when in the morning of August 27, her calls to her sister-in-law's mobile phone number were left unanswered.
The night earlier, she and Gerlyn spoke with each other.
Her sister in law told her that Gerlyn was finally given the clearance to leave for the Philippines the following day.
Alarmed, she called her sister Nenen Origosa in Canada to call the landline of Lo Hai Hong, registered employer of Gerlyn.
Nenen, who used to burn lines with Lilian and Gerlyn whenever she would find time, obliged.
Her first call, around 8:30 in the morning, was answered by woman who spoke in Chinese.
She immediately put down the telephone and called back Lilian.
Lilian told Nenen to call back and introduce herself. Again she called Gerlyn's employer.
Nenen introduced herself and asked Gerlyn's whereabouts as she already knew her sister-in-law was leaving that morning.
What struck Nenen was that Lo reportedly first asked her what Gerlyn was telling her every time the sisters-in-law spoke with each other.
She was also asked how often she has been calling Gerlyn through the landline.
After they courtesies, she was finally told that Gerlyn was already dead. (To be continued)
(September 8, 2003 issue)
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