The body of Mary Ann De Vera, the 32-year-old OFW caregiver from Basista, Pangasinan who died in an Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv, was brought home to the Philippines on March 14, 2026, with her husband Bernie Lavarias accompanying her on the flight back.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh was among those who received the remains at the airport, joining officials from the Department of Migrant Workers, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and members of Congress and the Senate. The turnout reflected the broad recognition De Vera has received from both governments since her death.
De Vera was killed on the night of February 28 after an Iranian missile hit the Tel Aviv apartment she shared with the elderly patient she was caring for. She had gone to assist her ward toward a bomb shelter when the blast caught them before they could reach it. Rescuers found her alive but pinned under debris; she died before she could be brought to a hospital.
Her husband had been personally received by Israeli President Isaac Herzog prior to the repatriation, with Herzog extending formal condolences and assuring the family of financial assistance and a monthly stipend under Israel’s national insurance system — benefits extended to both Israeli citizens and foreign nationals killed or injured in war-related incidents.
The DMW and OWWA said they remain committed to providing continued assistance to De Vera’s family as they grieve. De Vera had been working in Israel since 2019.
