The flight was in the evening via Sri Lankan airlines. Upon boarding the plane, the crew gave each passenger a bottle of drinking water. The flight from the Maldives to Sri Lanka was one hour and 10 minutes. Upon arriving at the airport in Sri Lanka, we were given a packed meal. We waited inside the airport for more than six (6) hours before we boarded another Sri Lankan Airlines plane that will take us to the Philippines. It was a very long and exhausting flight.
On June 11, 2020, I arrived in Manila, Philippines together with other OFWs from the Maldives. We were immediately led to a room where they orient us on what we are going to do. We were handed out forms to fill up. After filling up the forms, they collected it and we immediately underwent swab testing also inside the airport. After the swab testing, we fell in line at the OWWA booth to fill-up a form then waited for the bus to take us to the quarantine facility. After a few minutes, we proceeded to ride a bus going to the hotel where OWWA arranged the accommodation. We were checked-in at Dusit Thani Hotel Manila. Other OFWs were checked-in at Crowne Plaza Manila.
While waiting for the result of the swab testing, I stayed in the hotel for 4 days. We were not allowed to go out of the room. Our breakfast, lunch, and dinner were free. It was delivered on time at our doorsteps. We can also order food thru the room service of the hotel. If we need to buy other necessities such as medicines, an OWWA representative can buy it for us.
On the third day of my stay at the hotel, I received the result of the swab testing and it was a negative result. I was so happy I can finally go home. The next day, June 16, 2020, at 9:30 in the morning, the hotel receptionist called and told me to check out. Upon checking out of the hotel we fell in line to show our passport and a screenshot of the swab test result to the OWWA representative. Our bus was waiting outside the hotel to take us to the domestic airport. The bus took us to the domestic terminal where the OFWs fell in line to get inside the airport. An airport employee checks each of our passports and filled-up a form before we can get inside the airport.
Inside the airport, we formed another line to get our health certificates. After getting the health certificates, the OWWA representative gave us a packed lunch. There were seats for the OFWs while waiting for the flights. It was a long wait but it was worth it. They announced that the flight will be in the evening.
Together with other OFWs we patiently waited for our flight at the airport. We checked in for our flight at 11:00 pm. We flew via Philippine airlines first landing at Cagayan de Oro City, then General Santos City and then Davao City. At the Davao City airport, multicab jeepneys were waiting for the OFWs to take each of us to our homes free of charge. I finally arrived at home at 4:30 am on June 16, 2020.
It was a long and tiring flight but I was very thankful to finally arrive at home safely and healthy. After one year and three months, I am finally home.
Dabawenya Traveller 
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