FREE AT LAST: 'Thank You'

FREE at Last: Thank You
Time to celebrate! Time to share the blessings! Time to thank everybody whose collective efforts made us realize our goal.
Now, we can all look back and remember how we all supported each other, when we all felt that everything was lost and nothing goes right anymore; when we all felt the frustation and hopelessness and we were all comforted by the encouragement we gave to one another. And funny enough, we all vented our complaints and brainstorming over a cup of coffee and 'chichiria' and 'buhat-palayok....'
...Filipinos down to the core ...indeed!

SALAMAT po sa Diyos at sa ating lahat. Mabuhay!
Pusong Pinoys Benjie Nadado, Lito Nucum, Vangie Novio, Bernie & Maris Mercado & Maebs & Doods, John Hernandez, Nonits & Dorothy Barraquias & Nino, Sherwin Cayabyab, Alan Minoza, Angie Alcaria, JT Torres, Estan Fernandez, Mercy Subibe, Tess Azarcon, Annie Okoye although a Niger wife symphatized with us, Neil, Erwin and Nino Herrera, Ric Punsalan, Rex Lautrizo, Gel Llames, Renz Mercado, Efren Lim, Khaye Dador, Mabelle Chen, Adora, Dulce & Weng (VAMED), Ernel Santos, Janette Alican, Anne Cruz, the sisters at the Nunciature - Sr. Eflaida, Sr. Resurreccion, Sr. Ortencia, Sr. Mary Grace, who provided us with the much needed prayers and moral support and Msgr. Renzo Fratini, Msgr. Jean and Fr. Raymond, Fred Borbon, Conrad Digma, Alex Vega, Maynard Flores, Emer Ingat, Esper Derpo, Oca & Doris Sambile, Mr. & Mrs. Apollo Castillo, Mr. & Mrs. Gimotea and all the good people from the different parts of Nigeria, and to Chona Bollos.

But like the wick in a candle that actually lighted the way to reach our goal - our gratitude to Eunice Barbara Novio, the 'conduit' - an advocate herself, to CMA Ellene Sana and in turn to CHR Karen Dumpit and others along the way especially to National Human Rights Institution chair, Leila M. de Lima and finally to Administrator Manalili.

--- On Thu, 21/1/10, Karen Gomez Dumpit wrote:
From: Karen Gomez Dumpit kgdumpit@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Fw: [Buhay Pinoy ...] Free at Last: On the way to Nigeria

To: "ellene sana" ellenesana@yahoo.com
Cc: "Pablo Nucum" plnewcom@yahoo.com

Received: Thursday, 21 January, 2010, 12:57 PM

To my Pusong Pinoy Friends,

Thank you for saying thank you! In the 19 years of serving government, 16 years spent with the Commission on Human Rights, I can fairly say that I can count with the fingers of one hand how many have said their “Thank Yous” for work that simply should be performed by any civil servant because it is a matter of responsibility and a human rights obligation.

I say thank you, too because it fills my heart with affirmation and makes me eager to be the best civil servant and human rights worker I can be. And sometimes, we need to hear thank you!

The human rights of migrants is close to my heart because my father also worked abroad as I was growing up and my sister has lived abroad for most of her adult life. I can empathize.

I am happy that the convergence of efforts have resulted in ensuring that policies of government are applied along human rights standards and principles. We have gained good ground in eliminating 'Naijas' as targets of corruption, (or should I say, in neutralizing the operators and benefactors of corruption?) and enabled them to freely visit their homeland without fear of being held back by ill – conceived rules on the right to travel and work abroad.

Personally, I thank Lito Nucum who was the real hero in all of this – baiting himself to test the rules and making himself accountable for the consequences. He did not pass the blame, he shared it and never lost hope. When I found out that Lito was stopped at the immigration, I felt I was hit in the gut and thought, were we doing the right thing? Was shaking the establishment helping in our fight to right the rules on the ban to Nigeria? Turns out, with the passage of time, we were doing the right thing and Lito, with Pusong Pinoy, was doing things right.

As I reflect on the events that has led us to this happy occasion, I realize that the formula in this endeavor had the right combination of NGO perseverance, timely National Human Rights Institution intervention, active Claim or Rights holder participation (with Lito and Pusong Pinoy) and openness of officers from the executive and legislative branches of government who gave us venue to raise views and hear arguments.

As a worker of a National Human Rights Institution, I thank my chair, Leila M. de Lima, who championed the cause as she went to Congress to deliver the human rights perspective and the impact of imposing such a ban. She resolutely made it known to principals of the executive branch that the policy should be re-examined and applied objectively. She continues to inspire us because she makes us work with her – not for her.

Of course, I thank Ms. Ellene Sana. I hope time will come that I can measure up with her expertise and example by which I continue to be taught what a genuine human rights advocate should be. Thank you for bringing the cause to the Commission and helping us become more relevant to migrant workers. Not many know that the Commission has a direct mandate to serve Filipinos Abroad. With this happy experience, I do hope that all of us can spread the good news that the Commission is also here to serve our migrant workers and their families.

My thank yous are endless, we should now thank ourselves by looking ahead because the partial lifting can always be undermined by circumstances beyond our control. We must remain vigilant and advance our cause to ensure that the ban on new deployments for land-based contract workers in Nigeria be re-examined by government.

Sincerely,

Karen S. Gomez Dumpit
Director, Government Linkages Office
Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines

Happy Thoughts!

karen gomez dumpitmobile +639087333164
office (+632)9274033kgdumpit@yahoo.com