Filipino helper killed in Hong Kong fire hailed as heroine as body flown home
Filipino official says Maryan Pascual Esteban’s body arrives in country while Hong Kong authorities vow long-term support for affected residents
The body of the Filipino domestic helper who died in Hong Kong’s deadly blaze last month has been repatriated to her home country, with a senior Philippine official hailing her as a heroine.
Filipino Secretary for Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac said the remains of Maryan Pascual Esteban, a 39-year-old helper who died in the devastating fire, arrived in the Philippines on Saturday night.
“[We] offered for her our prayers and respects as a slain overseas Filipino worker heroine,” Cacdac said on social media, posting a photo of people bowing their heads in prayer at Estaban’s coffin.
Esteban’s family had earlier reflected their wishes for her body to be brought back to their home in Isabela province in the northern Philippines before Christmas.
Her friend told the Post earlier that Esteban arrived in Hong Kong more than five years ago, when her employer was heavily pregnant with her only child Hannah, who also died in the fire.
The friend added Esteban was due to return to the Philippines for good, to be with her son.