Heartbreaking reunions

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March Fianza

For the nth time, newspapers scream about another OFW whose remains cannot be reunited with his family just because Philippine embassy officials for the longest time that we had them there are concerned only with the perks that they enjoy as diplomats in addition to their salaries.

It now looks like our government through our embassies and agents care less about how they could put more permanent solutions to age-old problems such as providing lawyers to kababayans in distress and bringing them home to their families – dead or alive.

Take the case of Benjamin Yango, 33, an English teacher in Harbin , China . He is believed to have died of heart attack last May. He was found dead in his apartment by the police. Yango is a native of Bontoc, Mountain Province and is married to Fely Tomino of Kabayan, Benguet. They have two children.

According to the wife, Philippine Embassy Consul Pablito Mendoza in China has not given her good response, much less, financial aid. Instead, the glamourized government agent persuaded her and the other Igorots working in China to raise an amount to pay for the repatriation cost of Yango’s remains by soliciting around.

The failure to make remedies to lighten the burden of OFWs in distress by embassy officials, the OWWA and other agencies is beyond my understanding – especially when millions of pesos are lavishly squandered in a flashy restaurant in New York by a President and entourage.

Luisa’s Café philosopher Chong Loi confirms Rumour’s Bar philosopher’s description of that –“awambain da!” In Tagalog term which I’m sure VIP Consul Mendoza will understand – “mga walanghiya!”

What are they there for in the first place? How ridiculous it is to see Philippine embassy workers deny small requests from their own people who, in the first place, provide them their salaries and the positions they occupy.

Truth is, OFWs encounter pain as they sacrifice equally important choices in order to work abroad and be able to send home some money. In most cases, there is just enough money left for the worker to spend for rent, clothing and food. A larger part of the salary is sent home to the family.

Most often, the word “savings” is not in the OFW’s dictionary. Hence, there is need for financial assistance from government agencies, private organizations and other sectors.

Embassy officials draw salaries from taxes and remittances paid by people they are bound to protect. And so, they are assigned to their posts to look after the welfare of their kababayans, not their own welfare nor the welfare of their host country.

That has been acknowledged many, many times but when a poor OFW kababayan gets in trouble abroad and needs financial assistance, our embassy officials say they do not have the means.

On several occasions, lame duck President Gloria has admitted that our OFWs contribute a considerable amount in helping stabilize the country’s sick economy.

Remittances in 2009 went up to a new record level of $17.348 billion from $16.426 billion due to the steady growth of remittances sustained by skilled Pinoy workers abroad, particularly engineers, medical practitioners and teachers.

OFW remittances went up by 6.6 percent to $5.86 billion in the first four months of this year from $5.49 billion in the same period in 2009.

Because of agency failures, a petition was posted online urging OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon, DFA USec for Migrant Workers Affairs Jose Brillantes, and Consul Mendoza to rush the release of financial assistance for the repatriation of the remains of Yango. Repatriation cost has reached a little less than P600,000.00.

Yango’s wife and children always looked forward to a joyful family get-together. But that will no longer come. Their hope today is to see that the body of their father is sent home. At least they will still be reunited even if they expect a heartrending reunion.
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Another “heartbreaking” reunion was held last Wednesday courtesy of singer-composer Brian Aliping who offered his house as venue for the once-in-a-lifetime jam. I described the night as “heartbreaking” considering that many of us who were there felt that it was a very touching gathering of musician friends who missed each other for as long as 15 years.

Although the rendition of “Stupid Darling” in English and Kankanaey by Tom Castro and Bryan was performed in high-spirits, it was at the same time a tear-jerker – “makapasangit.” This was so because Tom and family had just come home to bury his wife Alice who was killed by cancer in Aruba .

Incidentally, the legendary Conrad Marzan also came home and was able to catch Tom. They used to do impromptu duets in the music bars in the 70s that were fondly called folkhouses then.

At these times when we have found other things to do apart from being carefree like in the past, finding Conrad, Tom and Bryan in one spot is a “diamond.”

Before he left for the US , Conrad’s last birthday in Baguio was celebrated at the Busol Forest . Three and a half years last Friday, his belated birthday celebration for this year was held with a tree-planting activity behind the Long-long Elementary School , Puguis, La Trinidad.

Indeed, it was another heartbreaking reunion as it was attended by old friends. –marchfianza777@yahoo.com