Filipina killed in bomb attack c.laid to rest

PADRE GARCIA, Batangas — Rosalia "Rosie" Reyes, the Filipino overseas contract worker who was killed in last Sunday’s suicide bomb attack on a bus in Israel, was laid to rest here yesterday afternoon.

Despite the drizzle, thousands of residents marched to the Eternal Heaven Memorial Garden to mourn with Rosie’s husband, Leonardo, and children, Divinagracia, 20, and Richardson, 18.

Marilen Masajol, of the Region 4 office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), said Divinagracia and Richardson will be entitled to pensions and scholarships from the agency.

Leonardo, Rosie’s ailing husband, for his part, will be given an expanded livelihood assistance amounting to P100,000 to start his backyard pig-raising, Masajol told The STAR.

"Aside from livelihood assistance, Divinagracia, who will be graduating this coming March, will be offered a job as soon as she finishes her studies," she added.

Ziva Somech, consular head of the Israel Embassy, shouldered part of the burial expenses.

The Mass for Rosie was celebrated by Fr. Lito Silva of the Sto. Rosario parish church where Rosie used to regularly attend Sunday Mass.

"When I heard about Rosie’s demise, I felt proud that one of my parishioners here in Padre Garcia was given due credit for her hard work for the benefit of her children," Silva said.

"We should not be sad, no matter how painful it is; God has His own reason for everything," he added.