MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, Canada has pledged to help defray the repatriation cost of the remains of an overseas Filipino worker killed in a road accident a week ago.

Leovina Tolentino, 53, was killed after being hit by a minivan along Dufferin Street, south of Eglinton. Before her death, Tolentino worked as a carwash attendant and had lived in the same address for 8 years.

Ann "Jai" Nacorda, a close friend of Tolentino, said the Philippine Consulate General, through Labor Attache Atty. Frank Luna, promised $6,000 for Tolentino's repatriation. "So we will have to shoulder more or less $4,000,” Nacorda told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

News about the accident was relayed to abs-cbnNEWS.com by Merfa Bataclan-Yap of the Filipino Canadian Community House.

Nacorda said she personally appealed to the Filipino community in Toronto for financial assistance after the accident. She described Tolentino as “a quiet, but very courageous mother and dedicated wife."

“Not only were we neighbors in Lucban, Quezon, where I was a Municipal Councilor, we also became room mates for 3 1/2 years when we met here in Canada in late 2004. It is my pride and honor to take full responsibility for the funeral arrangements and of things to be done to send her remains back to the Philippines,” she added.

She said the family has arranged a viewing on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at De Marco Funeral Homes at 3725 Keele Street for Filipinos who wish to pay their last respects to the OFW.

“We will have the viewing on Saturday, Jan 30. Consul Edna May (Grecia-Lazaro) will be there as well as Atty. Frank Luna and other Canadian dignitaries,” Nacorda said.

Nacorda expressed gratitude to the Filipino community for extending their support. She added that if clearances are soon completed, Tolentino’s remains may be repatriated on the first week of February.