The cremated remains of four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)—including two from Negros Oriental province—who tragically perished in the Myanmar earthquake last March, are set to arrive in the Philippines next week.
Among the victims are Edsil Jess and Alexis Gale Adalid, a couple from Bais City. Their remains are scheduled to arrive at the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport on May 24 before being brought to Bais City for their wake.
Hermosila Adalid, Edsil’s mother, shared updates in an online interview with the Philippine News Agency on Thursday. She confirmed that preparations are underway for the repatriation of the remains.
“Yesterday, the Philippine Embassy in Yangon conducted an online meeting with us next of kin of the four OFWs. We were given three options or scenarios, and we chose the first one,” she said.
The selected arrangement allowed one family representative to travel to Myanmar.
On May 21, the remains and personal belongings of the deceased will be officially handed over to the representatives. Hermosila added that Edsil Jess’ brother traveled to Myanmar on behalf of their family.
The victims were teachers at the Mandalay International School of Acumen in Myanmar and lived on the 9th floor of Building D in the Sky Villa complex.
The five-building residential property collapsed during the magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28, which claimed their lives. The couple’s remains were recovered weeks later from the rubble.
Plans for their burial are scheduled for early June, following the return of Edsil Jess’s brother from Australia.
In the meantime, Hermosila noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers have assured the families of government assistance once all necessary requirements are fulfilled.