Filipino Caregiver Killed in Tel Aviv Missile Strike Honored by Officials and Community
Jerusalem, 16 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Basista (PNA) – Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh on Monday visited the wake of Mary Ann de Vera, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) killed in a missile strike in Tel Aviv.
“I’m basically representing the state of Israel. And on behalf of the state of Israel, we came to give a big hug to the family of Mary Ann, who lost her life while being a selfless caregiver and taking care of a wonderful lady in Israel. And we came to provide comfort to the grieving parents, the brother, [an] OFW in Qatar, and also the husband that I met in the airport a few days back,” Kursh said in an interview.
“And God willing, I hope that they all will be safe and sound. And that peace and quiet will come back to the Middle East at large and to Israel in specific,” she added.
Kursh said they wanted to comfort the family and ease their pain.
“We cannot return her, but we can try to ease the pain of this family. And that is exactly why I am here, on behalf of the people of Israel,” she added.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan, who also visited the wake together with Kursh, in a separate interview, said the family also received assistance from the Israeli government based on previous incidents of an OFW getting killed while on duty with their patients.
She said De Vera, as an active OWWA member, entitles her family to various forms of assistance.
“We are here to bring assistance to the family of Mary Ann. As an active member of OFW in this kind of situation, OWWA provided the first aid worth PHP 200,000 ($3,350). On top of that, there is Burial Assistance later, and our first Special Financial Assistance to her. So all in all, OWWA can provide around PHP220,000 [$3,700] to PHP 250,000 [$4,100], including the livelihood assistance to the family that was left behind,” she said.
Caunan said Mary Ann, fondly called Michelle in their place, is a hero.
“She did not leave her patient, the one she is taking care of. She did not become selfish. She could have prioritized herself. That is the true Filipino, the sacrifice of an OFW. I would like to say that we are very proud that Michelle really showed her values, her sacrifice for the Philippines, for her family, for the one she is taking care of. I think, not only here in her province, but I am sure that the whole Philippines is very proud that they have a hero,” she said.
Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III said the swift repatriation of Mary Ann’s remains somehow eased the anxiety of the family.
He said initial assistance was also given by the provincial government to the family, and they offered a job to Mary Ann’s husband Bernie Lavarias if he decides not to return to Israel.
He also asked the other Pangasinense OFWs still in the Middle East to take precautions and coordinate with the embassies of the country they are in.
Meanwhile, Caunan said the first chartered flight of the OWWA through Philippine Airlines flew from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
“We transferred our countrymen from Bahrain, and yesterday we also transferred our countrymen from Kuwait. And we expect that every day, just like last week, the commercial flights will start every day. OWWA is already arranging the second chartered flight sponsored by OWWA, and the third chartered flight of our government,” she said.
She added that the Philippine government is ready to assist OFWs affected by the conflict.
“As we speak, there are those being transferred from Israel to Egypt. There is our one country team approach of the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, the Department of Migrant Workers, and, of course, OWWA that will help you with any assistance you need. If this is a repatriation to the Philippines, or if some of our workers say that their work is not normal, some of the hotel workers who work in Israel, they are being given food assistance by the OWWA,” Caunan said.
