ON behalf of the members of the Multi-Sectoral Overseas Filipino Workers Movement, let me extend our warmest congratulations to the new set of officers of the United Filipino Organization.
While structurally, Mover is not a composite member of UFO, we believe that as part of the Filipino community in the CNMI, we must echo and support the noble call of the UFO’s new president that “we should always be well-informed about the current rules and regulations” and that “we have to make sure that we are well-educated about our rights as workers and human beings.” Despite its nobility, however, the call should go beyond mere words. It requires a high level of implementation and action lest it will dangerously come close to the area of pure semantics and rhetoric. For this noble call to be a reality, we should ask ourselves: Who should inform the workers? Who should educate the workers? And when so informed and educated, who should assist them in fighting for their rights? The workers should not be left alone educating, informing, and assisting themselves. Certainly, some form of assistance is required and expected from elsewhere.
Time and again, we hear of workers who lost their right and chance to pursue what could have been valid claims because they were not timely and properly informed, educated and assisted. Time and again, we hear of workers who for lack of adequate funds are unable to obtain the services of a private attorney to assist them in pursuing valid claims. Time and again, we hear of workers who received the classical treatment of “umuwi na lang kayo” (“better go home”). While I am aware that there are some claims that are frivolous on its face and therefore deserve a “non-diagnostic” treatment, there are also some claims (complicated as they may be) that deserve a deeper probing and attention and a more compassionate handling rather than the highly potent and killer albeit more convenient prescription.
The workers should not be left alone educating, informing, and assisting themselves. Some people should assume responsibility not only to educate and inform the workers, but more importantly to effectively assist those workers whose claims appear meritorious. The workers should be provided with some form of financial assistance whenever it becomes necessary that they should engage the services of private attorneys. (Here, I am thinking of a Contemplacion’s kind of treatment). And if there is really no such fund, then lets fashion a means to raise some funds to help our unfortunate workers who have valid claims but have no financial means to engage the services of private attorneys. The workers deserve something more than the “bagong bayani” (“new heroes”) tag. Let us give the workers the kind of respect and treatment befitting a real hero.
In closing, it is but appropriate to quote Horace Mann’s remark that goes, “I have never heard of anything about the resolutions of the disciples, but a great deal about the Acts of the Apostles.”
Once again, kudos to the noble call. Happy Labor Day to all Filipino workers!MARIO CORPUS
President
Multi-Sectoral Overseas Filipino
Workers Movement
