By Vir B. Lumicao
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| Salmorin, 52, was well-loved by many, including her employers |
A 52-year-old domestic helper from Hamtic, Antique who died
from an apparent heart attack, made her final voyage home today, Jan. 5.
Victoria Salmorin, who had worked in Hong
Kong for around three decades, was found collapsed inside her
bedroom in her employer’s flat in Cyberport, Pokfulam on Dec 21. She was
declared dead on arrival at Queen
Mary Hospital.
A police spokeswoman confirmed the Filipina’s death, saying
it was due to illness. Her 51-year-old male employer was the one who found
Salmorin unconscious, and called the police. There were no suspicious circumstances, the spokeswoman
said.
Salmorin, the first OFW fatality to be repatriated this
year, was among five Filipino workers who died in Hong
Kong last month, all due to illness, said Consul Paulo Saret, head
of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section.
Her remains were flown to Manila on a Philippine Airlines flight that departed
at 11:30 this morning, Saret said. Her coffin will be put on a connecting
flight to Iloilo City early tomorrow, then transported
overland for two and a half hours to her hometown 95km away.
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| Fr Jay administers final rites for the veteran OFW |
Salmorin suffered from high blood pressure, said Rodelia
Pedro Villar, a friend and founder of Facebook group Domestic Workers Corner,
of which the deceased was a member.
Villar said earlier that day, Salmorin’s employers saw her
return from the supermarket. She then went to her bedroom to pack some stuff in
a door-to-door box she was planning to send to her loved ones in the Philippines.
Salmorin, who was married but had no children, was known to
be generous, especially to her siblings, said Villar.
“Around 4:30 in the afternoon, the employers checked her
room and saw her lying on the bed, her head leaning on the wall, eyes shut and
snoring loudly. They thought she was just asleep so they didn’t wake her up,”
Villar said.
At around 9pm, the employer wondered why the Filipina did
not come out for dinner and checked her room again. She was found lifeless this
time. The employers called the police and an ambulance came to pick her up. The
ambulance staff tried to revive Salmorin, but in vain.
Villar said Salmorin had worked for six years for her last
employer. She was an active member of OFW Emotion with DJ Gell and Antiqueños
Around the World, especially at their yearend gatherings.
In fact, she was wrapping gifts for her group’s Christmas
Party, being the primary sponsor, said Villar.
“Nandun pa sa room niya
ang maraming mga regalo na nakabalot at nakahanda para sa Christmas party nila
ng grupo at siya ang primary sponsor. (There were many wrapped gifts in her
room that she prepared for her group’s Christmas party, as she was the primary
sponsor),” she said.
It was the male employer who did everything so that
Salmorin’s relatives and friends would not worry about repatriating her, Villar
said.
“The employer is very supportive. He reported the death to ATN
and OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration),” she said.
At a necrological service for Salmorin held at Universal Funeral Homes in Hung
Hom presided by Fr Jay Flandez, chaplain for Filipinos in Hong Kong, the
employer and one of his children attended, said Villar.
The employer was reportedly very emotional when he shared
his good memories of Salmorin during the service.
“They (the employers) are very sad about what happened. They
personally packed all her stuff to send to her family,” Villar said.
