Social media helps unfortunate OFW go home
Anyone who’s into social networking sites like Facebook (better known as FB) would never miss one of the highly regarded (shared and spread like wild fire) posts particularly among Filipino netizens. Sharing Alfredo Salmos’ ill-fated condition has caught a lot of people’s attention and proved that the internet and social media can be a tool to aid other people in their near hopeless status.
Salmos is a 52-year old Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia who was seriously wounded while rendering service at his work place. His body was severely scarred after accidentally being electrocuted under a 14,000 volt- breaker while he tries to shut it down. The accident happened a couple of years ago.
His grim circumstance has prevented him to return to work and earn a living. Thus, he cannot afford to pay for his medications. A photo of his wounded and burned face and body has circulated among several websites and blogs to get more attention and immediate help from his fellowmen, friends and hopefully his loved ones.
The Saudi government could not issue him an exit clearance since he has not absolved his involvement in a vehicular accident a decade ago.
Thanks to the “online” Filipino community for helping share out the painful situation of our OFW kababayan. Not only did they raise funds to financially help Salmos but they also caught the attention of concerned government agencies for his immediate repatriation.
Finally, with the coordination of our VP Jejomar Binay along with other government agencies, Salmos will soon be reunited with his family.
Indeed, social media and its Pinoy users did a great job in lending a hand to one of our poor OFW brothers who is incapacitated and faraway from home.
Tags: Alfred Salmos, Overseas Filipino Worker finally gets home, Pinoy netizens makes good use of social media, Saudi government grants exit clearance for Salmos, severly wounded OFW gets support from Pinoy netizens, VP Binay gets Salmos back to country
