“One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the average man’s familiarity with the word ‘impossible’.” – NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
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One either believes this or take it with a grain of salt.
Life is unfathomable.
Because you don’t hold your life in your hands but Destiny.
The nation mourns the passing of Susan “Toots” Ople, the indefatigable champion of migrant workers, whose devoted work at the Department of Migrant Workers was suddenly and prematurely halted.
The soft-spoken, low profile public servant was the daughter of the late Sen. President and Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople, and has been known to be an advocate of OFW rights and causes, coming forward in defense of those who are maltreated, abused and exploited.
‘Sayang’. Pity that she went ahead when the fight was just beginning to blossom.
OFWs found a great ally In Susan who they lovingly call simply as “Toots.”
She unburdened OFWs of too many administrative documentary requirements when these should ideallly be granted them free of charge.
Every Pinoy breadwinner seeking gainful employment abroad heaved sighs of relief as Toots gradually eased and cut the waiting time to process and complete their papers.
The next Marcos appointee to the vacant DMW seat will have big shoes to fill.
Unless he or she is made of sterner stuff and equipped with political will, the future DMW secretary will always be measured by the parameters that Toots set for herself and her subordinates.
Again, t’was a pity Toots lost in two elections for the senate.
Else, the Upper Chamber would have in its ranks someone who can help it enact more impactful legislations favoring the labor sector, the OFWs in particular.
Labeled as the country’s modern day hero, the OFW has been taken for granted until something negative erupts and creates earthshaking news.
But such is life.
How often are great men and women misunderstood until they are martyred and taken away.
Today, as the Senate grapples with labor concerns, one is now tempted to think and ask who and why those occupying their current senate seats deserved them or not.
As all senators love to be covered by the media, all are presumptively crowd-pleasers.
At any rate, even as we mourn the demise of a dedicated public servant, we find solace in the fact that her patriotic virtues help us compare Toots with the underachievers in government.
Perhaps, another lesson or two was learned and picked up.
The current young generation of Pinoys seem to be preoccupied with themselves, looking at life with a deductive view and a perspective that is at best narcissistic.
Toots Ople gave herself willingly and selflessly.
While she has yet to completely recover from a disease many women are confronted with, she chose to pick up the cudgels for the lowly OFW.
She was brave. She was courageous. She was amazing.
We need to keep her memories burning.
(I don’t recall just how few were the past occasions i shook hands with this admirable lady.)
As the world’s population grows unabatedly, the planet is getting smaller and smaller.
It is getting congested and illegal migration is now the trend.
Meanwhile, the OFW continues to seek his place in the sun – regardless of the risks – even if it takes him (her) to any place where there is work to do and where this is income to provide food on the table for his family.
Toots Ople left a vision, a legacy that should be the template for the DMW to follow and fulfill. (Email feedback to fredlyumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
