An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Abu Dhabi chose not to tell his mother that he got infected of COVID-19, as she was suffering from a serious heart condition.
OFW Art Marasigan, 32, has been working in the UAE for few years now as a travel agent.
“Travel consultant ako by profession sa isang company sa Abu Dhabi,” he said.
Marasigan’s job also allowed him to bring his parents with him to some of his travels.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on his company. The travel agency he is working in stopped all their transactions due to the pandemic and they were told to go on leave.
“Lahat ng bookings namin cancelled na sobrang nakakahinayang kasi mahal ko pa naman ang trabaho ko,” he added.
The worse, however, was not yet over. The OFW started feeling COVID-19 symptoms last July. He later on tested positive for the virus and had been admitted in a hospital.
“Nung una, nakaramdam din ako ng takot at pangamba kasi hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang pwedeng mangyari sa akin. Ang tanging alam ko lang eh tumawag sa Panginoon at humingi ng saklolo, lakas at patnubay,” he said.
“Bigla na lang tumulo ang mga luha ko kasi parang naawa ako sa sarili ko pero kelangan kong paglabanan eh para hindi manghina ang katawan ko kasi isa rin sa advise ng doktor ko eh wag masyado magworry at always think positive kasi ung sobrang pagaalala eh nagiging dahilan din daw yun sa pagbaba ng immune system,” noted Marasigan.
Marasigan recovered from COVID-19 last July 22, but only his siblings knew about what he had been through for two weeks in the hospital.
It was only on his birthday, September 4, that Marasigan decided to tell his parents about what he had been through in an emotional video call.
“Inilihim muna namin sa magulang namin kasi ayaw namin sila mag-alala sa akin may nerbyos kasi ung inay ko at may history ng sakit sa puso,” he said.
“Pinlano kong sabihin sa parents ko sa kaarawan ko. Kumabaga pasasalamat ko na rin kay God sa pag-gabay Niya at sa pangalawang buhay na ipinagkaloob nya sa akin,” he added.
His parents were shocked when he revealed what happened, crying and sobbing as told his story of how he battled COVID-19.
On September 19, Marasigan decided to fly home, almost a month after he was discharge from the hospital. He underwent the mandatory quarantine in a hotel in Pasay.
After he tested negative in the COVID-19 swab test, he went straight to his hometown in Batangas City on September 12 and had an emotional reunion with his parents.
