MANILA,
Philippines – Filipinos in Malaysia mourn the loss of Embassy Labor Attaché and
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) defender, Dr. Alicia Santos.
Santos
was well-loved by the Filipino community in Malaysia. She organized events for
OFWs and led the development of the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRD) in
Kuala Lumpur.
The
FWRC serves as a refuge for distressed Filipinos in Malaysia, as well as a
center for education, skills training, and financial literacy.
Dedicated
Prior
to her retirement on January 14, 2014, Santos served in the government for over
35 years.
Before
she became a Labor Attaché, she also served as a Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) regional director.
But
her humble beginning in public service was as an Administrative Officer in the
National Manpower and Youth Council, which is now the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
As
a Labor Attaché, she also served in Philippine Embassies in South Korea,
Lebanon, Syria, and Italy.
In
2013, she was honored with the Gawad Mabini Presidential Award – the highest
award given to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and service attachés –
for her compassion and outstanding work in unifying the Filipino community in
Malaysia.
Santos
successfully unified 35 Filipino community organizations in Malaysia into one
umbrella organization, the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia
(FFAM). FFAM was also accredited by the Malaysian Registry of Societies.
Till
the end
Stationed
in Malaysia since 2011, she fought for the rights of OFWs.
Santos
passed away due to a heart attack on January 30, just 16 days after her
retirement.
“On
behalf of the officers and staff of the Embassy, we join the DOLE, her family
and friends and the Filipino community here in Malaysia in mourning the passing
of an exemplary public servant. She has worked tirelessly for the promotion of
the rights and welfare of the Filipinos in Malaysia, which she considered to be
her mission when she came here. I am proud to say that she has fulfilled that
mission,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya said in a
statement issued on Sunday, Feb 2.
Public
servants like Santos are hard to come by.
She
will be remembered not only for her hard work, but also for her dedication to
helping OFWs.
Source: Rappler.com
