OFWs in Israel tell of sleepless nights amid airstrikes, still choose to stay 

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel narrate experiencing sleepless nights amid the airstrikes as the US-Israel conflict with Iran continues.

 But they said they are staying unless forced to leave Israel.

"Nung naglalakad kami, malapit na kami sa bomb shelter, may sumabog sa taas na walang siren, eh di nagulat po kami tapos nakita na lang namin yung mga tao, nagtatakbuhan na," said Jellboy Orsua.

(We were near the bomb shelter when something exploded. There was no siren.  We saw people running.)

The airstrikes between US-Israel and Iran have been ongoing for a week.  Bomb shelters have been packed with residents, including Filipinos.

At the sound of siren, residents rush to the bomb shelters, even bringing along their pets.

"Mostly kasi pag missile, 10 minutes before 'yung alert sa cellphone namin tumutunog na, pero minsan kasi umaatake sila by drone, yung drone po kasi mahirap ma-detect dito sa Israel, kaya minsan sumasabog na lang, yun po yung kinakabahan namin pag nandito kami," Jellboy said.

(If it's a missile, we get an alert on our cellphone 10 minutes before the attack. But if it's a drone, sometimes it's hard to detect; it just explodes. That's what we're worried about.)

Another OFW, Ricasol, said the ongoing conflict is worse as airstrikes come almost every after five minutes.

"It's hard to get sleep.  There were times when we went to the bomb shelter and waited there for a while.  But before we can return to our rooms, the sirens would again be activated," she said.

Despite this, Ricasol's fellow OFW said she will remain in Israel.

"Para sa akin, mananatili pa rin ako rito kasi 'yung kinikita ko rito hindi kayang kitain sa iba," she said.

(For me, I will stay because I cannot earn in the Philippines what I am getting here.)

Ricasol said she intends to stay for another year in Israel.

As for Jellboy and Eden Sobremonte, his fellow OFW, coming home will happen only if there was mandatory evacuation.

"Kung mandatory, uuwi po kami, pero sa ngayon nakikita po namin na para sa safety namin, okay pa naman po kami," Jellboy said.

(If there will be mandatory evacuation, we will comply. But for now, we feel we are safe here, we are okay here.) —LDF, GMA Integrated News