Several artists provided financial assistance to Elvie Vergara after Isabelle Daza initiated a fundraising campaign. It is a tragic fate that befell the housemaid, Elvie Vergara, at the hands of her employers in Occidental Mindoro, which led to the blindness of her eyes. It’s hard to believe that such incidents can happen to a domestic helper here in the Philippines, as such occurrences are more commonly associated with our fellow countrymen seeking employment abroad.
For many of our less fortunate compatriots, becoming a domestic helper is one of the primary job opportunities they can pursue to earn a living and support their families. However, only a few are fortunate enough to have kind employers. Most of our countrymen venture abroad to earn a better income for their families back in the Philippines, despite the high risks involved, considering they don’t know who their employers will be or what kind of treatment they’ll receive. This is why there are instances where our fellow Filipinos return home in caskets, a painful event in the life of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).
In the case of Elvie Vergara, her situation is not far from what happens to our countrymen working as domestic helpers abroad because she became a victim of physical abuse at the hands of her Filipino employers. Her eyesight has been severely damaged, far from her appearance when she first started working in 2020. According to a Senate hearing, Vergara sustained injuries and became partially blind after her employer, France Ruiz, allegedly abused her for three years by repeatedly punching, kicking, and beating her with various objects. This allegedly happened after she was accused of stealing P12,000 in cash and a watch worth P15,000. However, according to some senators, even if these allegations were true, it is not a sufficient reason to harm Elvie Vergara who earns 5 thousand pesos as her monthly salary.
The hearing for this case is not yet concluded, but many have extended their support to Nanay Elvie, including senators and artists who responded to Isabelle Daza’s call for a fundraising campaign. The aim of this campaign is to raise funds for Elvie’s eye surgery and for her other expenses. Isabelle’s industry colleagues promptly responded and provided assistance, which she expressed gratitude for and tagged in her Instagram post.
