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Pinoy Abroad

News site readers assist Pinay, children stranded in Dubai


After a local newspaper had reported their plight, a Filipina and her four children stranded in the United Arab Emirates will soon go home to the Philippines. News site Gulf News on Wednesday said its readers helped the Filipina, identified only as Mary, and her children raise the amount needed so they can return home to the Philippines. For the past year, the Filipina, together with her children, had been living on charity after her Lebanese husband was deported over failure to repay a loan. One reader said: “This is a heart-breaking story. We need to help the mother and her little kids to go back home in the hope that they will join the father soon." Mary said her children — Joyce, 8, Jasmine, 7, Fatima, 3, and Ali, 1 — have Philippine passports. Their visas got canceled because they were on their father’s sponsorship, she added. Mary was earning a meager income as a part-time housemaid, according to the report. “I’m very thankful to all those who helped me. I was suffering and I had no clue what to do," the report said, quoting Mary. “Readers even came to my house to bring food and medicine for my children." Mary said her ordeal started when her husband fell ill about three years ago. At the time, she said her husband was very sick and he took a loan to pay for his heart surgery. “When he failed to pay back the loan, he was sent to jail and lost his job as well. My children do not go to school and sometimes we even stay without food," she said. “I never thought that my problems would be solved. I was helpless and I was not able to help my children," she added. For their part, several readers said they were touched by the story of the family. “This is very sad and we hope that the family will join the father soon," said a reader. — JE, GMA News

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