MANILA, Philippines—Two women leaders of the 60,000-strong Filipino community in South Korea are among the recipients of this year‘s Presidential Award for overseas Filipi-nos.
Sr. Lucia Olalia, founder of the Friends Without Borders Migrants Center in Gyeonggi-do, and Dr. Emely D. Abagat, head of the Edu-cation Committee of Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community (HFCC), will be cited for their strong contributions to making Filipinos in South Korea one of the most organized and active expat communities in Asia—something that could be crucial as the community gets ready for possible evacuation if tensions be-tween Seoul and Pyongyang, triggered last November 23 by the North Korean attack on the island of Yeonpyeongdo, escalate.
The two are among 13 individuals, seven Filipino organizations, one foreign group, and three foreigners, who will be honored by Presi-dent Benigno Aquino III at ceremonies organ-ized by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) at Malacañang Palace on December 14.
Sr. Lucia, who founded the migrants center in 2004, responds to appeals for help of all mi-grants in Korea, regardless of their nationality, ethnic origin, and religious affiliation. Many of them are Filipinos.
The Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd Pas-torelle had sent Sr. Lucia to South Korea when the Kasan Migrant Workers‘ Center requested the services of a Filipino pastoral worker to help accommodate the huge number of over-seas Filipino workers (OFWs) availing of their services.
As a pastoral worker, Sr. Lucia assisted OFWs encountering human rights problems and welfare issues. She visited them in hospi-tals, immigration and detention centers, and labor offices.
Mother Teresa of S. Korea
The CFO described Sr. Lucia as ―a woman, a religious, and a worker with a heart and pas-sion comparable to that of Mother Theresa‘s.‖
Because of Sr. Lucia‘s efforts, said the profile on her submitted by the CFO, ―there is now closer collaboration between the OFWs in Kasan and the Philippine embassy in Seoul, and Filipinos in Kasan are better informed regarding labor updates, seminars and training, and other news and information that may be helpful to them.‖
Sr. Lucia also paid attention to the plight and suffering of women in inter-marriages, where some are physically, sexually, and economically abused by their spouses. Armed with an educational background in psychology and professional experience as a counselor in the Philippines, Sr. Lu-cia embarked on guidance and counseling programs for these women. She intended to create among the participants a support network where they could mentor and encourage each other. Dozens of women coming from different countries joined her programs, a good number of them Filipinas.
Sr. Lucia also worked as a coordinator for eight years at the Catholic International Parish of Seoul, creating a ―home away from home‖ for foreigners working or residing in Korea, according to the CFO.
Fortunately, Korea has a socially active and vocal Catholic community, which has facili-tated the work of people like Sr. Lucia and works hand in hand with them. There are 114 listed Filipino organizations in South Korea, 29 of them are religious organizations.
Outside her regular activities, Sr. Lucia worked to get legal assistance for Filipinos and foreigners in difficult situation. ―She coura-geously goes to factories to meet and negotiate with Korean employers who abuse and exploit Filipinos. She also regularly visits foreign and Filipino inmates at the Taejon Prison, where she provides counseling to the inmates, and shells out her personal money to buy stamps and writing pads to enable the inmates to write their respective families in the Philippines and give their loved ones updates on their condi-tions,‖ the CFO noted.
―Aware that most OFWs, whom she de-scribes as having ‗3D‘ jobs (dirty, difficult, and dangerous) in Korea, would eventually return to the Philippines after finishing their work contracts, Sr. Lucia also coordinates with a financial institution in Seoul to help facilitate the processing of the savings account applica-tions of some OFWs.
―Beyond the call of duty and religious voca-tion, the death of a Filipina woman in an amusement park in Korea was brought to jus-tice because of her efforts; an OFW had a suc-cessful surgery and cleared of medical ex-penses through her fund-raising initiatives; and an abused Filipina obtained a divorce from her foreign spouse and took custody of her daugh-ter through her intercession,‖ the CFO noted.
In 2009, Sr. Lucia felt the desperate situa-tion of families devastated by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in the Philippines. She coordinated with Filipino associations and religious com-munities in Korea, including the Association of Women Religious Superiors of Korea, to seek donations for the victims. The donations amounting to more than $28,000 were used to rehabilitate lives and communities through medical outreach programs, livelihood assis-tance, and skills enhancement projects.
―In conferring the Banaag Award to Sr. Lucia C. Olalia, the President recognizes her outstanding efforts in extending much-needed assistance to migrants in South Korea and up-holding the rights of women in inter-marriages in their adoptive community,‖ the citation said.
Scholarships for Filipinos
Dr. Abagat, on the other hand, as head of the Education Committee of Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community, the largest and most influential Filipino group in South Korea, is also actively involved in issues concerning Filipino migrants. ―On top of her regular duties at HFCC, Abagat extends assistance to Filipino workers in legal-related concerns through pro-vision of essential information and referral to appropriate agencies depending on the nature of the complaint,‖ the CFO said.
Born in Ilocos Norte with a degree in Edu-cation, (Major in Religious Studies), ―Dr. Abagat is recognized for her selfless efforts in empowering the officers and members of vari-ous Filipino associations overseas through the values and leadership formation seminars she has provided,‖ the CFO said.
Abagat also volunteers to be adviser and mentor to various associations. ―Despite the difficulties Filipinos group go through, with Dr. Abagat‘s assistance, they become more organ-ized enabling them to reach out to more Filipi-nos in Korea,‖ CFO added.
She is also active in facilitating scholarships for Filipino students: ―Being a teacher and strong believer in the value of education as a ticket to give the underprivileged an opportu-nity to attain a better future, Dr. Abagat also coordinated and acted as a liaison between the Mt. Carmel High School in Gen. Nakar, Que-zon and the HFCC in the provision of scholar-ship funds, which include free tuition fees and subsidized food, for 50 high school students who were victims of flood during the typhoon Yoleng. She is also responsible in monitoring the scholars and helps in raising funds to sus-tain the program.
―Dr. Abagat holds the distinction of being the only Filipina professor at the Catholic Uni-versity of Korea (CUK). She teaches various subjects at the Departments of Education, Business, and International Studies. To invite Filipino students avail of good yet free educa-tion overseas and further attain professional growth, Dr. Abagat assists in the promotion of the CUK scholarship program and coordinates with the Philippines‘ Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and various schools, colleges and universities in the Philip-pines. The scholarship program provides the students with free tuition and accommodation as well as round-trip air tickets. In addition, the scholars can avail of the opportunity to work as part-time English assistants and are paid 400,000 won a month.
She was the first recipient of the Gawad Giovanni Jaron or the Most Outstanding Fili-pino Individual in Korea in 2008. She has writ-ten a book, ―And God Smiled Back,‖ a collec-tion of her reflections on her life as an OFW, single parent, and missionary.
―In conferring the Banaag Award to Dr. Emely D. Abagat, the President recognizes her untiring efforts in upholding the interests and welfare of her kababayans through her involve-ment in various Filipino overseas associations, self-less dedication in liaising assistance to the Philip-pines, and strong commitment in promoting better relationship between the Philippines and South Ko-rea,‖ the citation said.
Sr. Luz Olalia and Dr. Emely Abagat, 2010 Presidential Awardees for Outstanding Filipinos Overseas from South Korea.
source: http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20101129-305979
The two are among 13 individuals, seven Filipino organizations, one foreign group, and three foreigners, who will be honored by Presi-dent Benigno Aquino III at ceremonies organ-ized by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) at Malacañang Palace on December 14.
Sr. Lucia, who founded the migrants center in 2004, responds to appeals for help of all mi-grants in Korea, regardless of their nationality, ethnic origin, and religious affiliation. Many of them are Filipinos.
The Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd Pas-torelle had sent Sr. Lucia to South Korea when the Kasan Migrant Workers‘ Center requested the services of a Filipino pastoral worker to help accommodate the huge number of over-seas Filipino workers (OFWs) availing of their services.
As a pastoral worker, Sr. Lucia assisted OFWs encountering human rights problems and welfare issues. She visited them in hospi-tals, immigration and detention centers, and labor offices.
Mother Teresa of S. Korea
The CFO described Sr. Lucia as ―a woman, a religious, and a worker with a heart and pas-sion comparable to that of Mother Theresa‘s.‖
Because of Sr. Lucia‘s efforts, said the profile on her submitted by the CFO, ―there is now closer collaboration between the OFWs in Kasan and the Philippine embassy in Seoul, and Filipinos in Kasan are better informed regarding labor updates, seminars and training, and other news and information that may be helpful to them.‖
Sr. Lucia also paid attention to the plight and suffering of women in inter-marriages, where some are physically, sexually, and economically abused by their spouses. Armed with an educational background in psychology and professional experience as a counselor in the Philippines, Sr. Lu-cia embarked on guidance and counseling programs for these women. She intended to create among the participants a support network where they could mentor and encourage each other. Dozens of women coming from different countries joined her programs, a good number of them Filipinas.
Sr. Lucia also worked as a coordinator for eight years at the Catholic International Parish of Seoul, creating a ―home away from home‖ for foreigners working or residing in Korea, according to the CFO.
Fortunately, Korea has a socially active and vocal Catholic community, which has facili-tated the work of people like Sr. Lucia and works hand in hand with them. There are 114 listed Filipino organizations in South Korea, 29 of them are religious organizations.
Outside her regular activities, Sr. Lucia worked to get legal assistance for Filipinos and foreigners in difficult situation. ―She coura-geously goes to factories to meet and negotiate with Korean employers who abuse and exploit Filipinos. She also regularly visits foreign and Filipino inmates at the Taejon Prison, where she provides counseling to the inmates, and shells out her personal money to buy stamps and writing pads to enable the inmates to write their respective families in the Philippines and give their loved ones updates on their condi-tions,‖ the CFO noted.
―Aware that most OFWs, whom she de-scribes as having ‗3D‘ jobs (dirty, difficult, and dangerous) in Korea, would eventually return to the Philippines after finishing their work contracts, Sr. Lucia also coordinates with a financial institution in Seoul to help facilitate the processing of the savings account applica-tions of some OFWs.
―Beyond the call of duty and religious voca-tion, the death of a Filipina woman in an amusement park in Korea was brought to jus-tice because of her efforts; an OFW had a suc-cessful surgery and cleared of medical ex-penses through her fund-raising initiatives; and an abused Filipina obtained a divorce from her foreign spouse and took custody of her daugh-ter through her intercession,‖ the CFO noted.
In 2009, Sr. Lucia felt the desperate situa-tion of families devastated by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in the Philippines. She coordinated with Filipino associations and religious com-munities in Korea, including the Association of Women Religious Superiors of Korea, to seek donations for the victims. The donations amounting to more than $28,000 were used to rehabilitate lives and communities through medical outreach programs, livelihood assis-tance, and skills enhancement projects.
―In conferring the Banaag Award to Sr. Lucia C. Olalia, the President recognizes her outstanding efforts in extending much-needed assistance to migrants in South Korea and up-holding the rights of women in inter-marriages in their adoptive community,‖ the citation said.
Scholarships for Filipinos
Dr. Abagat, on the other hand, as head of the Education Committee of Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community, the largest and most influential Filipino group in South Korea, is also actively involved in issues concerning Filipino migrants. ―On top of her regular duties at HFCC, Abagat extends assistance to Filipino workers in legal-related concerns through pro-vision of essential information and referral to appropriate agencies depending on the nature of the complaint,‖ the CFO said.
Born in Ilocos Norte with a degree in Edu-cation, (Major in Religious Studies), ―Dr. Abagat is recognized for her selfless efforts in empowering the officers and members of vari-ous Filipino associations overseas through the values and leadership formation seminars she has provided,‖ the CFO said.
Abagat also volunteers to be adviser and mentor to various associations. ―Despite the difficulties Filipinos group go through, with Dr. Abagat‘s assistance, they become more organ-ized enabling them to reach out to more Filipi-nos in Korea,‖ CFO added.
She is also active in facilitating scholarships for Filipino students: ―Being a teacher and strong believer in the value of education as a ticket to give the underprivileged an opportu-nity to attain a better future, Dr. Abagat also coordinated and acted as a liaison between the Mt. Carmel High School in Gen. Nakar, Que-zon and the HFCC in the provision of scholar-ship funds, which include free tuition fees and subsidized food, for 50 high school students who were victims of flood during the typhoon Yoleng. She is also responsible in monitoring the scholars and helps in raising funds to sus-tain the program.
―Dr. Abagat holds the distinction of being the only Filipina professor at the Catholic Uni-versity of Korea (CUK). She teaches various subjects at the Departments of Education, Business, and International Studies. To invite Filipino students avail of good yet free educa-tion overseas and further attain professional growth, Dr. Abagat assists in the promotion of the CUK scholarship program and coordinates with the Philippines‘ Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and various schools, colleges and universities in the Philip-pines. The scholarship program provides the students with free tuition and accommodation as well as round-trip air tickets. In addition, the scholars can avail of the opportunity to work as part-time English assistants and are paid 400,000 won a month.
She was the first recipient of the Gawad Giovanni Jaron or the Most Outstanding Fili-pino Individual in Korea in 2008. She has writ-ten a book, ―And God Smiled Back,‖ a collec-tion of her reflections on her life as an OFW, single parent, and missionary.
―In conferring the Banaag Award to Dr. Emely D. Abagat, the President recognizes her untiring efforts in upholding the interests and welfare of her kababayans through her involve-ment in various Filipino overseas associations, self-less dedication in liaising assistance to the Philip-pines, and strong commitment in promoting better relationship between the Philippines and South Ko-rea,‖ the citation said.
Sr. Luz Olalia and Dr. Emely Abagat, 2010 Presidential Awardees for Outstanding Filipinos Overseas from South Korea.
source: http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20101129-305979
