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| The 7 Filipino awardees at the Mission's Gala Night |
For decades they faithfully served migrant domestic workers without seeking anything in return. They not only rescued, counseled or given the migrants shelter, they also helped them regain their voices.
Such selfless dedication was finally recognized in a grand
way, when the Mission for Migrant Workers held its first-ever gala at JW
Marriott on Jun 10, to celebrate the 45th year of its founding.
The charity gala raised HK$900,000 for the MFMW, far
exceeding the target of HK$700,000. The money was raised from donations and auction,
both live and silent, on donated prizes ranging from vacation packages to paintings
and rare memorabilias.
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| Edwina, Cynthia and Fr. Dwight listen as their citations are read |
First to be honored at the gala was Cynthia
Abdon-Tellez, a social worker who came all the way from the Philippines in 1981
to start laying the groundwork for the MFWM, fondly referred to in the migrant
community as the “Mission.”
After the Mission was officially established a year
later, Cynthia became its general manager, a position she still holds with the
same amount of dedication and compassion, but with far more knowledge and experience
on migrant workers’ rights and welfare - assets she has honed over the years.
Cynthia has been at the helm of the Mission through
the worst and best of times, from successive legal setbacks for migrants to
pandemics and more recently, the massive Tai Po fire that included dozens of
migrant domestic workers among the traumatized victims.
“Her unwavering commitment has been the foundation
upon which we stand today. We’re profoundly grateful for Cynthia’s leadership
and the passion she brings to her cause,” read the citation honoring Cynthia.
Next to be honored was Edwina Antonio, a Mission case
worker who has also managed the church-based group’s shelter, the Bethune House
Migrant Women’s Refuge, since it was set up nearly four decades ago on the
grounds of the Kowloon Union Church in Jordan.
Bethune House has since scaled down its Jordan operation,
but at the same opened another small space in Sheung Wan, where Edwina resides
to keep an eye on the many problems and concerns that beset their clients, who
can number up to 40 at any given time.
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| Dolor, Esther and Juvy have spent decades working with the Mission |
Three other Filipinas who have spent practically
all the years that they have been in Hong Kong looking after the distressed workers
who have sought solace and help at the Mission and Bethune House were also recognized,
catching them by surprise.
They included Esther Bangcawayan, former
head of a migrant workers’ trade union who joined the Mission about three
decades ago as a case worker; and volunteers Dolores Dayao and Juvy Bustamante.
Likewise recognized were Fr. Dwight Dela
Torre, head of the Philippine Independent Church and current chairman of the MFMW
Board, and Jun Tellez, who has worked with Cythia in setting up the Mission and
remains as one of its advisors.
In a fireside chat during the program,
Cynthia cited the case of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, an abused Indonesian worker
the Mission helped, as a significant turning point in their years of helping migrant
workers.
Cynthia fetched Erwiana from her Central
Java home so she could file criminal charges against her local employer who abused
her for months until she could barely walk, then forcibly put her on a plane bound
for home.
With the Mission’s help, Erwiana
testified against her former employer, who as a result was jailed for six years,
and ordered to pay more than HK$900,000 in compensation. More importantly, Erwiana
got help going back to school, where she ultimately graduated with honors, and has
now become an advocate of migrant workers rights.
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| Erwiana sent a video message to thank the Mission and exend solidarity |
“Erwiana’s courage is very encouraging.
Because of that, women who have endured years of being invisible and exploited,
found the strength to step forward,” said Cynthia. “That is our milestone, not
just for the legal victory but for the moment this entire community recognized
its own dignity.”
For Edwina, being with the Mission and
Bethune House for decades has sparked a dream.
“My dream is that the MFMW and BH will
permanently close their doors for good,” she said. “Because if we close down,
it means the conditions of foreign domestic workers have finally changed; it means
they are safe, respected and fully protected by law. It means our services are
not needed any longer.”
Until that day comes, the two courageous
and compassionate women intend to be around for as long as possible so they
could remain true to the Mission’s advocacy of serving migrants “anytime,
anywhere.”
