Rebecca, a 32-year-old single mother from Iloilo, was left in shock and disbelief when her best friend of many years disappeared after receiving P40,000 from her. The money was intended to secure Rebecca’s move to Dubai for a promised job, but instead, her friend vanished, leaving her stranded and out of contact.
“Nag-promise ako sa parents ko na ‘wag na siyang habulin pa. Karma na bahala sa kanya,” said Rebecca, who holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management. Her two children are aged four and nine.
Rebecca recounted in a GMA Integrated News report how she and her best friend had known each other since grade school and had even attended the same college. She trusted her friend completely when she was urged to move to Dubai from Singapore, where she was working as a tutor. They communicated through Facebook private messenger, and Rebecca was persuaded to send the money to cover the processing fees through an agency.
“I was convinced by her to leave Singapore and go to Dubai. She offered work. Masyado akong nagtiwala sa kaniya. Pinadala ko ‘yung pera sa kanya to process everything kasi agency daw,” Rebecca said.
Believing that everything was going as planned, Rebecca traveled to Bangkok before heading to Dubai. However, she ended up stranded in Thailand for a month without hearing back from her friend.
“Naabutan ako ng one month sa Thailand, wala pa rin papers ko. Sabi niya babalik na lang daw niya yung pera ko. Nag-send siya ng resibo. Pero nang i-claim namin, edited pala. Naubos ‘yung savings ko. Grabe yung worries ko nung andun ako,” Rebecca explained.
With the help of her sister, Rebecca managed to reach Dubai. Her sister found someone who could process her visa and ticket, enabling her to avoid returning to the Philippines and facing difficulties in going abroad again.
Rebecca arrived in Dubai on November 22 last year with a month-long visit visa. Fortunately, she secured a job as a restaurant waitress before her visa expired. Despite the harrowing experience, she is slowly recovering.
“Ang hirap. Grabe. Pa-unti-unti pa lang akong nakakabangon sa ginawa ng BFF ko. Kasi pagdating ko dito, wala rin akong alam o kakilala man lang. I’m feeling better now. Trying to get back on track. Mahirap po to be honest, pero kakayanin for my kids back home. Ako lang ang nagsu-suport sa kanila,” Rebecca said.
