KLANG: Filipina domestic worker Mary Jeane Mercado Aribal’s heart sank when she heard that her country was not accepting the MySejahtera digital Covid-19 vaccination certificate.

       The mother of a 13-year-old daughter, whom she left in the care of her mother in Tanza, Cavite near Manila, feared she would not be able to go home and visit her child as she, too, held the same vaccination certificate.

       “The last time I saw my daughter was in 2018 and I could not go again as planned in 2020 because of the pandemic.

       “When I read the recent news that Malaysians were not allowed to leave the airport in Manila because their digital certificates were not recognised, I just sat down and cried,’’ said Aribal, 45.

       Aribal added she had planned to travel home for a short visit as soon as she was allowed to do so to visit her daughter and her ageing mother.

       Her sister Karina Mercado Aribal, who is also here as a domestic worker, said she was perplexed when she heard about the turn of events.“I need to go and visit my mother soon and it would really make me unhappy and angry if I cannot go back home for a visit because of this,’’ she added.

       Karina said it was such a flimsy excuse to deny people entry into the Philippines.

       Just like the Aribal sisters, Elma Aguilar, 36, was also upset when she heard about what had happened.

       “It would spell big trouble for us if the MySejahtera digital certifi-cate is deemed invalid in the Philippines,” he said.

       However, Aguilar who is also a domestic worker, said she is puzzled as many Filipinos have successfully returned home with the MySejahtera digital certificate.

       “It looks like only the Malaysians faced problems and this could be an issue between both governments,’’ she added.

       Aguilar said she has advised her Filipino friends here to also bring copies of the documents they had filled when getting vaccinated here upon returning home to the Philippines.

       When told that the issue has since been resolved, all three women said they were relieved.

       “It is good that this little glitch was not prolonged to make our lives a misery,’’ she added.

       Following the Manila airport controversy on Monday where seven Malaysians were denied entry, Malaysia and the Philippines have announced that both sides will now recognise each other’s digital vaccination certificates.