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| Juvy is always happy to take part in activities organized by Bethune House |
For the past seven years, Juvy Abuan Bustamante has lived with breast cancer, although you may not guess it from the way she looks, and her usually sunny disposition.
Juvy, who has worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper for the past 30 years, is lucky to have an employer who continues to sign her up despite her condition, allowing her to get much-needed medical treatment at a much lower cost.
This is especially crucial now that Juvy has been told that she will have to undergo chemotherapy for life, after her cancer has progressed to stage 4.
But Juvy who is 56 and single, does not let that dominate her mood and outlook. She continues to work when she’s not undergoing chemo every three weeks, and at the same time, help her fellow overseas Filipino workers through the Mission for Migrant Workers as part of her union activities.
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She also spends time visiting fellow cancer patients who are being supported by the Mission and Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, which have both helped her in the most trying of times, including when she had to undergo mastectomy and had nowhere to go post-surgery.
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| MWO HK posted this picture of Aksyon Fund beneficiaries, including Juvy |
Last Saturday, she also received financial aid from the Philippine government, through the “Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan” or Aksyon Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers.
The P75,000 she received was part of the second tranche of Aksyon Fund granted to seriously ill and needy OFWs in Hong Kong worth a total of more than Php657,000.
The money was distributed by the Migrant Workers Office to eight OFWs stricken with cancer (breast, colon, cervix and tongue cancer) who each got Php75,000; and one involved in a labor case, who received Php50,000.00 and PhP7,132.00 for her air fare as part of the Post’s repatriation assistance.
Juvy said she was glad that The SUN had alerted her about the Aksyon Fund, and took her to Social Welfare Attache Rem Marcelino, who ticked off all the documents she needed to bring to get approved for the financial assistance.
Previously, Juvy said she had approached the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to ask for any kind of assistance they could give her, but was dissuaded by the long list of documents that she was asked to provide.
She is glad that there is now an Aksyon Fund that she could use to pay the token amounts she is charged each time she goes to the hospital for her treatments.
“Salamat at nabibigyan na ng financial support ang mga katulad kong may sakit na malubha, dahil sa tingin ko ay may obligasyon naman talaga ang gobyerno na tumulong dahil sa mga naibayad na namin magmula ang lumabas kami sa Pilipinas,” said Juvy. (Grateful because those who are seriously ill like me are already getting help, because to my mind, I think the government has the obligation to help us because of the amount of money we have contributed since we left the Philippines).
She was particularly grateful to Marcelino who went out of her way to ensure she was only asked for documents that were absolutely necessary to prove her medical condition.
On Marcelino’s advice, Juvy said she would follow up on the progress of a separate application for medical help that she had filed with OWWA.
Armed with what she learned from working on her Aksyon Fund and OWWA applications, Juvy said she should now be able to help fellow OFWs who are struggling to pay their medical bills while trying to hold on to their jobs - and sanity.
According to MWO Hong Kong, the Akyon Fund is in line with “the commitment of DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac to provide immediate and effective relief to OFWs in distress, ensuring their safety, security, and well-being.
Officer-in-Charge Antonio R. Villafuerte led the release of funds assisted by Assistant Labor Attaché Nemesia Karen E. Arlan, Attache Marcelino and staff Rio Abegail T. Villonez.
The Aksyon Fund is also available for those who need assistance with their legal cases, repatriation of OFW remains, and other similar interventions to protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs.
Those who are in need of such help may visit the MWO office on the 29th floor of United Centre in Admiralty so they can be guided with their application.
