Inspiring Kabayan series Seven - run over by a Car in Bahrain to working again in Vigan - Kuya Vin's story

Kuya Vin

Kuya Vin moved from Vigan to Bahrain in 2008 to work for the Ruling family as a Valet. His job involved laundry and laying up tables ( and they had a big table!).  His sister lived in Bahrain and he was an active member of the BIG ( Bahrain Ilocano Group)  singing in their choir and dancing. He took me to the first BIG Christmas dinner in 2015 at the Phoenix hotel . 

Laying the table for dinner

In 2015 he wanted to earn some more money to send back to the Philippines to support his family there ( 2 more sisters) and so started work for me on his only day off, Friday, as a houseboy. I collected him at 6 am and he would wash up, clean and so on and I would give him breakfast and lunch and then take him wherever he wanted at 3 pm.

Vin at the City Centre Christmas display in Bahrain , before his accident

On 14 November 2017 his life changed forever when he was crossing a road in  Isa Town in Bahrain and saw a car heading toward him at speed. He jumped out of the way but fell and hit his hip on the concrete island around the traffic lights. He was rushed to Salmiya Medical Centre and operated on and eventually released but could  not walk, climb stairs or work and needed Physiotherapy. Whilst the hospital surgery was free he could not afford the Physio so his employer sent him back to the Philippines as his contract would expire a few months later.    

When I started writing this blog I asked what he remembered of the accident and he said " f**king  Bahraini man. Sometimes I recalled that accident and still I cried a lot, its my second life. I am very thankful to those people who help me. You are one of them Kuya , One billion thanks to you"

Kuya Vin, my chauffeur at Villa Escudero

We kept in touch and I spent three holidays with Vin- the first at Villa Escudero in 2013, the second in Vigan in 2018 after his accident, and the third when we stayed in El Nido Cove together in 2019. I have written about these trips in separate blogs so I will not repeat them here.

Neil and Vin at the Marcos Museum near Loag

There is a happy ending to the story in that in 2018 Vin recovered enough to start a new job working for a call centre in Manila ( several hours by coach from his home ) which meant he had to move away from home again to live in a boarding house . Then in 2019  he got a job in Illocos so was able to live at home, He has now  recovered fully and is part of a motorcycle group. 

All that because one stupid Bahraini driver did not look where he was going, or have the guts to stop, report the accident to the police, and pay for Vin's medical expenses and loss of earnings. If Vin had not jumped out of the way he would have been run over and killed. 

Vin's was one of many such accidents each year in Bahrain when Expats are killed simply crossing the road by young fast Bahraini drivers in high power cars. He was very lucky to be alive and I salute him as my inspiring Kabayan in this blog. 

Please drive carefully

Thank you.