Unbelievable humanity, loyalty: Death of caregiver mourned

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, Philippines — In grief and anguish, loved ones of the Filipina caregiver killed in Hamas attacks in Israel recalled her last moments of terror, which she narrated in their online chat group as murder and mayhem unfolded before her eyes.

In her final group chat with her family, 32-year-old Angelyn Aguirre of Barangay Balagan spoke about her feeling of terror as armed men began to arrive at the residence where she was staying near the Gaza Strip last Saturday.

“Sa last message niya, ang sabi niya andun na daw sa kanila, natatakot na daw siya (In her last message, she told us the gunmen had arrived and she was scared),” Wilma Bandong, Aguirre’s eldest sister, yesterday told The STAR.

Aguirre, who had been married for just over a year, was one of the two Filipinos confirmed to have died in the attacks launched by Hamas in many parts of Israel, particularly near the border with Gaza.

Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem, said on X that Angelyn showed “unbelievable humanity and loyalty” by remaining by the side of elderly patient, Nira on Kibbutz Kfar Gaza “despite having a chance to flee the Hamas terror attacks.” That her sister had died a hero gave her little consolation, said Bandong.

“Sobrang sakit po ang nangyari sa kapatid ko (What happened to my sister was so painful),” Bandong said. She was survived by her husband, parents William and Erlinda, and siblings. Angelyn was the fourth among eight siblings.

Bandong said Angelyn opened a conversation in their group chat last Saturday to tell them that she could hear gunshots nearby.

Bandong said her sister came home to the Philippines in July last year and returned to Israel two month later in September, just days after her wedding.

She said another sister living in Israel was staying some 30 minutes away by land travel from Angelyn’s place.

Bandong said Angelyn was known for her kindness, and as such her previous employer had treated her like a family member.

She said that her sister had planned to visit Malta or Canada with her husband. She was also planning to stay for good in the Philippines to raise a family. Angelyn’s grieving widower – also a former overseas worker from Bulacan – was set to arrive in his late wife’s hometown to await the repatriation of her remains.

She said they were in close coordination with authorities for the repatriation of her remains.

Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III said the provincial government is ready to extend all the necessary help to Angelyn’s family, according to provincial information officer Dhobie de Guzman.

“It pains me to hear this horrible news. I sympathize with the family,” Guico said. — Pia Lee-Brago