The siblings of a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) couldn’t help but become emotional as they recalled what happened to their brother in UAE last November 19, 2023.
“Ang akin pong kapatid na si Gerald Pareja ay biktima ng isang malagim na aksidente sa Abu Dhabi noong November 19, 2023. Habang nagbibisikleta papunta sa trabaho, siya ay nabangga ng isang sasakyan at nagdulot ng malubhang pinsala sa kanya,” his sister Glenda Pareja-Villanueva told The Philippine STAR.
Gerald suffered serious injury from the said accident. For four months, he was comatose after he sustained injuries in the brain, a fracture in the nose and left arm.
According to Gerald’s brother, Glenn, they did not immediately know what happened to him during that time.
“Nakita lang namin na may mga post sa social media na hinahanap ‘yung mga relative, pamilya niya. Kasi wala nga nakakaalam na gano’n nangyari sa kanya,” he said.
Gerald’s niece Leah added, “Nakita lang namin na may mga post sa social media na hinahanap ‘yung mga relative, pamilya niya. Kasi wala nga nakakaalam na gano’n nangyari sa kanya Nalaman lang po namin nung may nag-chat na po, na nasa masama nga daw pong lagay ‘yung tito ko.”
Their family wasn’t able to fly to the UAE after they received the bad news due to financial problems. That’s why for four months, Gerald was alone in the hospital.
They tried to ask for help from different government agencies, but they only helped him to get the visa. They had no choice but to loan money just to visit their sick brother abroad.
‘‘Yung sitwasyon kasi ng kapatid ko doon nung pumunta ko, conscious na siya. Sabi ko, ‘Okay, salamat naman sa Diyos.’ Sabi ng Pinoy nurse, ‘Salamat naman may nakadalaw na kay Gerald.’ Kasi talaga po pagpunta ko dito is suntok sa buwan kasi hindi ko alam paano ako makakarating dito,” Glenn shared.
They also had a hard time communicating with his former employer for financial help. Luckily, Gerald was brought to a public hospital.
“Wala naman silang sinasagot. Ang ginawa ko na lang is nakiusap ako sa mga Pinay nurse doon na kung pwede doon ako para mabantayan ko ‘yung kapatid ko. ‘Yung pagkain ko doon, sinagot naman din ng kasi ang dietician doon ay Pinay,” he noted.
His repatriation was also a struggle due to the ongoing investigation of the incident.
“Nagkaroon po ng kaso si Gerald. Siya po naging akusado kasi siya daw po naging sanhi ng aksidente. Eh ‘di para po si Gerard makauwi, nagbayad po ito si Philippine Embassy sa korte at saka po sa police. ‘Yan po naging tulong po ng Philippine Embassy natin,” Glenn explained.
“‘Yung nandun ako sa Abu Dhabi, ang sabi sa akin ng DMW, ‘yun si Sir John din: Sir, mas maganda ‘pag i-repatriate niya si Gerald. Sabi ko, ‘Sir, kasi hindi pa naman siya totally recovered. Wala siyang bungo. Basag na ‘yung bungo niya.’ ‘Sir, kasi once na gumaling si Gerald, pwede siya ikulong dito.’ Sabi ko, ‘Why naman kako sir ganun ang nangyayari sa kapatid ko? Siya na nga ‘yung nabangga, siya pa ikukulong?’ Tapos, hinihingian kami, ma’am, ng 2,000 dirhams para sa police. 5,500 para sa court. Sabi ko, ‘Saan kami kukuha ng ganun?’” he added.
After they were able to fix the papers, Gerald safely arrived in the country on August 1, 2024. He remained bedridden, and his family took care of him.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko kayang i-give up ‘yung kapatid ko. Hangga’t kaya ko, hangga’t pwede ako mangutang, huwag lang ako gagawa ng masama para lang sa kapatid ko, gagawin ko lahat ng paraan. Kasi almost 10 years siyang wala sa amin. Tapos bumalik siya, gulay na,” Glenn emotionally said.
Glenda added, “Ipinagpapasa-Diyos na lang po namin lahat. Magpakatatag ka Gerald, andito lang kami para sa iyo. Laban lang, Gerald.”
If you want to help Gerald and his family you can send donations through:
MAYA
09272264290
LALAINE A. PAREJA
LANDBANK
3567116980
LALAINE A. PAREJA
