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| A visibly moved Consul Timmy thanks the Filcom for showing what true service is about |
Heavy rains and the gridlock from the massive pro-democracy
demonstration in nearby Victoria Park failed to stop about 50 Filipino community leaders
from gathering at the Consulate on Aug 18 to say goodbye to one of the most
loved officials to have been posted in Hong Kong.
Consul Fatima “Timmy” Quintin responded to the surprise
send-off with tearful thanks, and with her own tribute to the mainly Filipino
domestic workers who came to say goodbye.
“Bilang empleyado ng Konsulado, wala po kaming karapatang
mag complain sa trabaho namin, kahit 24/7 on call kami kasi kayo 6 days a week,
ang trabaho ninyo 24/7. you have only one day off para sa sarili ninyo, pero instead
of spending it sa inyo lamang, magpahinga kayo, matulog kayo, nakikita ko kayo,
alas siyete pa lang, hanggang hatinggabi, gumagawa ng events, nagluluto,
tinutulungan ninyo ang mga kababayan ninyo…so as government servants, who are
we to complain?, she said.
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| Some of the leaders who gave Consul Timmy tokens of appreciation |
Consul Timmy added she was overwhelmed by the sendoff as she
was just one of the workers at the Consulate and didn’t want to be a bother to
anyone.
She advised the Filcom leaders to keep helping each other
and the Consulate in pursuing its projects.
As her husband, Consul Bob Quintin, would be left behind to
serve out the remaining time in his term, Consul Timmy said she expects to
visit in future, along with her young daughter.
Hong Kong was Consul
Timmy’s first posting abroad. She came to serve six years ago, when she was
still single and was known as Vice Consul Timmy Guzman. In time, she married
her fiancé and batchmate in the foreign service, Bob Quintin, and two years ago
gave birth to their only child.
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| Among the wellwishers were Babes Mercado of Metrobank (left, first row) and Daisy CL Mandap of The SUN (middle, in white) |
Consul Timmy is due to return to the home office of the
Department of Foreign Affairs at the end of her tour of duty. But instead of spending
the usual two to three years in Manila before taking up another overseas
posting, she says she plans to ask for a full five years so she can have more
time for their daughter.
Consul Timmy is set to leave Hong Kong
at the end of this month. - DCLM
