By
The SUN
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| Her PCG family and Filcom leaderss joined the sendoff for WelOf Virsie on Dec 29 |
Welfare Officer Virsie Tamayao has ended her tour of
duty as the representative of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in
Hong Kong, after nearly five years at the post.
She left Hong Kong last December 31 after receiving a
sendoff from her colleagues at the Philippine Consulate and the Philippine
Overseas Labour Office, community leaders and NGO representatives.
Tamayao, 60, assumed her Hong Kong post on May 24,
2018, during which she told The SUN she appeared destined to serve the working
class, from farmers to overseas Filipino workers.
Before being posted to Hong Kong, she worked with the
National Irrigation Administration, then at OWWA, which later sent her to work
as community development officer in the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.
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| Priests and nuns gave her a special sendoff, too (from Virsie Tamayao's post) |
In a personal message she posted in her Facebook
account, Tamayao said she was happy and grateful to reunite with her family
after a long time, but was also sad to have left Hong Kong, which she
considered her home away from home, and the Filipino community here that was
like family to her.
She gave special thanks to Consul General Raly Tejada,
Consul Paulo Saret and her immediate superior, Labor Attache Melchor Dizon.
“Most importantly, thank you to our Filipino Community
leaders, NGO-partners and stakeholders, who displayed their untiring support in
addressing the needs of our kababayans. We would not have been able to achieve
everything that we have accomplished without your assistance,” she added.
It was during her watch at OWWA HK that Tamayao faced
her biggest challenge, that of overseeing relief and support services for the
thousands of OFWs who had fallen ill from Covid-19, particularly at the height
of the fifth wave in early 2022.
She also initiated hospital visits to a lot of
sick OFWs, particularly those stricken with cancer, and assisted the bereaved family of those who died while serving in Hong Kong.
Tamayao's personal post sparked a flurry of well-wishes from members of the Filipino community, including leaders of various OFW
organizations and business and professional groups who praised her work in helping
OFWs and thanked her for her dedicated service.
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| Her colleagues bid her goodbye with a fun tram tour |
But the best tribute came from her husband, Benigno
Tamayao, a retired social worker himself.
“So happy for you my dear loving wife. I've
been with you in Hong Kong as you performed your duty as Welfare Officer since
day 1 in Philippine Consulate General POLO-OWWA. I was able to witness how you
work with outmost diligent in helping our kababayan when they came to your
office and asked for assistance /help of their problems. Even during night time
you wake up from your sleep in our flat when your phone rings you immediately
answer the call of an OFWs who needs
help. Friday and Saturday and even holidays of obligation which is your rest
day I always accompany you to report to your office as you have to finished
many cases of our kababayan. You are so much dedicated to your work...and for
that I appreciated all your efforts and so proud of you. All the officers from
PCG POLO-OWWA Hongkong are very lucky to have you as Welfare Officer for almost
5 yrs...and now you are at last home with our family. Thank you for your
generous support to all our kababayan in Hongkong. Godspeed...”
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