The remains of caregiver Melody Castro, who was among those killed during the magnitude 6.4-quake in Taiwan last week, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Wednesday morning.
Officials of the Manila International Airport Authority said the body of 28-year-old Castro was brought back to the Philippines via China Air. The remains will be stored at the Pair Cargo warehouse of the airport before boarding a flight scheduled today, Feb. 15, to Tuguegarao.
Reports showed that Castro’s body was found under the rubble of the Yun Men Tsui Ti Building, two days after the quake.
Castro worked as a caregiver for six years for a Japanese family—63-year-old woman Sumin Okubo, her 68-year-old husband, who is disabled from a stroke, and mute younger brother—in Hualien County.
Her cousin Mishelle Rosales, 33, said Castro’s remains were transported on a plane from Taipei to Manila and are expected to arrive Thursday in Tuguegarao City, the capital of Cagayan province.
Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin of Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, who was at the Naia when the remains of Castro arrived, said they will give P2 million to her family as a sign of goodwill because the caregiver “is a good worker and dedicated to her job.”
Ricky Beltran, Manila Economic and Cultural Office liaison and spokesperson, said the Philippine government will also assist the family, including transporting the remains to Cagayan and other possible assistance.
Meco and officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration coordinated in moving Castro's remains and managed all other matters related to her death.
Castro went to Taiwan to raise funds and be able to pay for her husband's surgery from a collision when he was riding a scooter four years ago, which left him paralyzed on the right side of his body. The husband also suffered difficulties in speaking after the accident and needs an additional operation, the family said.
Her employer said Castro had already spent NT$350,000 (US$11,900 or about P625,000) for her husband's initial surgery, but she would need to raise an additional NT$450,000 (P802,000) to pay for brain surgery.
Castro had been planning to work for 10 years to raise the funds for the surgery. She is survived by her husband; a six-year old daughter, also named Melody; a younger brother, and her parents.