Famous Like Me > Singer > B > Sarah Balabagan
Profile of Sarah Balabagan
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Name: |
Sarah Balabagan |
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Date of Birth: |
16th August 1979 |
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Place of Birth: |
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Profession: |
Singer |
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From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia Sarah Balabagan (born August 16, 1979) (her surname is pronounced with the stress on the third syllable) was a Filipina prisoner in the United Arab Emirates during 1994-96 whose case caused a good deal of controversy. Her story was made into a controversial film in 1997.
Her case in the UAE
She grew up in the Muslim community on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, in the province of Sultan Kudarat. Like many Filipinas, she left to become a domestic worker, lying about her age, and obtained a post in the town of Al-Ain in the UAE. On July 19, 1994 her employer, Almas Mohammed al-Baloushi, tried to rape her, and she stabbed him 34 times while defending herself, killing him. In June 1995 a court sentenced her seven years imprisonment. In September a second trial sentenced her to death by firing squad. There was an international outcry and a defence campaign in several countries, as her case was seen as symbolising the ill-treatment of domestic servants in the Persian Gulf countries, and just a few months earlier there had been the rather similar case of Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina domestic servant who was hanged in Singapore.
On October 30 at her third trial her sentence was reduced to a year's imprisonment and 100 strokes of the cane. She was caned in 20 strokes at a time, over five days during January 30 - February 5 in 1996. She was not permanently injured but did have difficulty sitting down for a week afterwards. She returned to the Philippines on August 1, 1996 for a heroine's welcome.
Film version
In 1997 her story was made into a film, The Sarah Balabagan Story. It was made in the Philippines, directed by Joel Lamangan, and starred Vina Morales in the title role. Sarah was offered the chance to play herself, but declined. The government of the Philippines made several attempts to prevent the film from being shown, because it might damage relations with the United Arab Emirates, and its release was delayed for several months.
Later life
Shortly after her release she embarked on a career as a singer. She also appeared on a television programme with Geri Halliwell. In 1998 she became a single parent after a brief relationship with a broadcasting journalist. In August 2003 she announced her engagement to Russell Vergara.
External Links
- Campaign against her death sentence
- She returns to the Philippines
- Her singing career
- She announces her engagement
- Controversy surrounding the film
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It uses material from the Wikipedia article Sarah Balabagan
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