Filipinos in Israel: We are scared, praying hard

Some Filipinos living in Israel expressed worry over the heightening tension between the country and Iran.

Marie Aranton, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), recalled witnessing the missile and drone strikes Iran launched against Israel over the weekend while onboard a bus with other Filipino nationals. 

“Syempre po natakot kami. Talagang nagdasal kami, talagang nandun po yung aming takot kahit sanay kami sa nangyayari dito,” said Aranton in Raffy Tima’s “24 Oras” report Friday. 

(We were scared. We prayed hard even though we’re used to the conflict here.)

According to the OFW, the Israeli authorities and the Philippine Embassy issued warnings the ongoing conflict may escalate but she remains reluctant to go home to the Philippines due to her son, who is a member of the Israeli Internal Defence Force (IDF). 

“Yung po ang panalangin kong wag po kasi napaka, ‘yung isa pong Pilipinong namatay dito ay kaibigan niya kaya ako po’y natatakot,” she added.

(I am praying that he wouldn’t be deployed, the Filipino IDF member who recently died in the Israel-Hamas conflict was his friend.)

A Reuters report said Israel earlier launched attacks on Iran, days after the Iranian government fired drone and missile attack on its arch foe in retaliation for a supposed Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria on April 1. 

Iranian media reported explosions, but an official told Reuters those were caused by air defense systems. State media said three drones over the central city of Isfahan had been shot down.

Israel’s leadership and the military were silent early on Friday.

Meanwhile,  a financial analyst warned the Philippine economy may suffer blows should the conflict further escalate. 

“Medyo tataas yung importation cost,” said Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort in Raffy Tima’s “24 Oras” report.

(There might be a possible spike in importation cost.)

“Mas ramdam natin yun tumataas yung price ng imports mas nagiging mahal yung bilihin yung mga inaangkat natin tulad ng langis syempre bukod pa sa presyo ng langis itself,” Ricafort added. 

(It will impact us because it will lead to increased prices of imported goods such as crude oil.)

For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is ready to provide assistance for the possible repatriation of Filipinos amid the ongoing tension. However, no Filipinos so far have expressed interest in returning to the Philippines.

At least 1,000 Filipinos are in Iran while around 27,000 are in Israel. —Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News