Authorities in Hong Kong have reported that a Filipina domestic worker died in the Nov. 26 blaze that swept through Tai Po district, prompting expressions of grief and support from Philippine officials.
The Philippine Consulate General said the woman, whose name has not been released, was among those caught in the incident. In its advisory, the consulate described her as someone who “left her home to seek better opportunities abroad and had made numerous sacrifices to support her family.” The consulate added: “The Consulate General extends our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones at this trying time.”
While officials did not release information on the circumstances of her death, they confirmed separately that 79 Filipinos have been located and reported safe, with 12 more individuals still undergoing verification.
Support for the family quickly followed. Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said he visited the worker’s relatives on Saturday evening, noting that he and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator PY Caunan personally relayed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s sympathies. “Tonight, as we received the sad news of our first and hopefully last OFW fatality in the fire in Tai Po, Hongkong, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator PY Caunan and I visited the family of our slain OFW and conveyed the President’s condolences and directive to provide fullest assistance,” he said.
Cacdac said they spoke with the worker’s young son. “We assured the 10-year-old son of our dear OFW that her mother lives in his heart forever, and would want nothing more than have him finish his studies,” he said. According to him, the child shared that he dreams of becoming “Firefighter po para wala na pong mamatay sa sunog.”
The DMW chief paid tribute to the worker’s actions in her final moments. “May the soul of our dearly departed OFW, a heroine who died while taking care of her employer’s five-year-old daughter, rest in God’s eternal embrace,” Cacdac said.
