There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon, for two Mumbai software engineers, Moses Rajan and Rajat N Durani, who are stranded in the Philippines since the lockdown. The professionals who were in the Philippines on work assignments, are on the island of Cebu. Cebu is the second largest city after Manila, the capital.

Sweeper flights
Rajan said, "During this evacuation phase, Indians are being flown out from Manila, the capital. Even the Philippines is in lockdown. What they have to do is arrange what are known as 'sweeper flights.' This flight picks up passengers from places like Cebu and transports them to Manila. From there we can board the evacuation flights to India." Both engineers seem to be enthused about a recent communication with the Embassy that has said the government is thinking about sweeper flights. "We hope we hear about something soon," they said.