Toots Ople: A Great Friend, Amazing Mother

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople’s daughter says she has lost not only an amazing mother but also a great friend with her passing.

“Words can't express how much I'll miss you. You were, are, and always will be the best mom in the world. No one can ever surpass you in my life. You will always be my #1. I will strive to make you proud every single day. Mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal kita (I love you very much). You will always be with me, in my heart, always,” Estelle Ople Osorio wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

“Thank you for everything mom. Thank you for giving me life, thank you for striving hard to provide singlehandedly for me. Thank you for making me feel loved and cherished. I will never know another love like yours,” she said.

Osorio called on those who wanted to celebrate Ople’s life to share photos as well as tell stories and memories about her mother.

“I’d like to know her even more through your eyes. She was an amazing mom but also a great friend, honest public servant and also to some, a literal hero,” Osorio said.

“She has saved many distressed OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and victims of illegal recruitment. She was an extraordinary human being with a huge heart. Sana, everyone will get to appreciate that about her,” she added.

President Marcos visited Ople’s wake on Wednesday night.

“I have lost a friend. The Philippines has lost a friend. Secretary Toots was a special person with a deep compassion really for the people that she had to care for, namely, the migrant workers,” Marcos said in an interview on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

“The Philippines now also mourns a great champion for the labor movement in the Philippines. She dedicated her life, in every waking moment, to the welfare of laborers in general and migrant workers in particular,” he said in a Facebook post.

Ople’s remains lie at Heritage Memorial Park’s Chapel 1 in Taguig City until Aug. 28. She battled breast cancer in 2020.

Instead of sending flowers, Ople’s family asked everyone to donate to the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute.

“Her passing saddens me deeply,” said Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Cacdac.

“While we have criticisms of her stint as (Department of Migrant Workers) secretary... she did not close lines of communication with Migrante-International,” Migrante-International said in a statement, noting that Ople had a long respectable record of advocating for overseas Filipino workers (OFW)’s rights.

“She would sometimes address our criticisms but without naming us and without the hostility shown by many government officials,” the group added.

Labor coalition Nagkaisa and the Federation of Free Workers said Ople masterfully shepherded the DMW in its first year of existence.

“The transition of migrant worker-related functions from the (Department of Labor and Employment) to the new Department would not have been smoother if it were another public servant at the helm for the DMW,” the labor groups said.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the untimely passing of Ople left an indelible void in the realm of public service.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People expressed condolences and offered prayers and masses for Ople.

“We… pray and offer our holy masses for her eternal rest. She now goes home to God, residing peacefully in heaven,” CBCP-ECMI vice chairman Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos said in a statement on Wednesday.

Diplomats

Japan, Germany, Canada and the US have expressed condolences to Ople’s family.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ Ople’s family, friends and the entire DMW community. As a tireless advocate for OFW welfare, her legacy of sincerity and service will forever inspire us. Her absence will be deeply felt,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa said in a social media post.

“Sincere condolences from Germany to the family of Secretary Ople and to the government and the people of the Philippines. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family,” said German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Pfaffernoschke.

“Secretary Ople was a valuable partner in advancing our two countries’ common goals in promoting responsible and ethical recruitment, and protecting migrant workers’ rights and welfare,” the Canadian embassy in Manila said in a statement

“Awarded with the State Department 2013 Trafficking in Person Heroes Award, Secretary Ople’s work to champion the rights of Filipino migrant workers will remain an inspiration,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.

“In honor of her service that was marked by genuine passion and total dedication, the (Department of National Defense) vows to continue assisting the DMW vigorously, not only in re-patriation efforts, but in all other ways we can be of service, when the need arises. This is our modest way of keeping Sec. Ople’s legacy alive,” said Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

PNP, PRC

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) mourned Ople’s passing.

“The PNP is proud of our meaningful collaboration with the programs she initiated in the DMW,” the PNP said in a statement.

“She blazed the trail and I hope that her successors would do better as we owe it to her to promote the protection of our OFWs and ensure that other countries do the same,” PRC chairman Richard Gordon said in a statement.

The Senate expressed condolences to Ople’s family.

“We lost a bright light. Secretary Toots Ople was a remarkable public servant, who showed us that true leadership is not about power and authority, but about kindness and compassion. She was soft-spoken but self-assured; unassuming but accomplished,” said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

“She was instrumental to the ethical recruitment or lawful hiring of workers,” said Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.

“Words cannot express the loss that Sec. Ople is to the Filipino people,” said Sen. Pia Cayetano.

“She was a voice of OFWs, who were victims of tanim bala, pilferage of balikbayan boxes and extortion,” said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

“Ople offered support, guidance and a voice to those who were unheard,” said Sen. Bong Go.

“Ople is an extraordinary woman, whose life’s purpose was etched in the unyielding pursuit of justice for our beloved OFWs,” said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

“As the first secretary of the migrant workers’ department, Ople’s accomplishment was remarkable even for a very short period of time that her successor has big shoes to fill,” said Sen. Francis Escudero.

“She fearlessly fought against labor exploitation and human trafficking,” said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. – With Michael Punongbayan, Helen Flores, Emmanuel Tupas, Cecille Suerte Felipe