Frontlines of Diplomacy

Cesar B. Bautista
 Filipino Nurses are allowed to work in UK
 They are being compensated base on the service they are doing and it is same
work and same pay as British nurses.
 They can bring their spouse and children with health and educational
benefits
 “There is not one British person who does not know a Filipino nurse”
(para sa ppt)

“We negotiated the entry of nurses in that country (United Kingdom)”. It was a big
opputunity for Filipino nurses because before 1999 they were not allowed to enter
UK but they work to open up opportunities for Filipino nurses to work in UK and
luckily, Filipino nurses “gets paid like a British nurse”. They are compensated justly
for their exceptional service. Aside from just and fair salary, they are given the
chance to bring their spouse and children, and the spouse is allowed to work in UK
even without a work permit. (para na ito sa paper)

Leonides T. Caday

 Before “Filipino overseas are at risk”

 Migrant Workers Act- “ If you read it from Section 1 to the last section, the
law is mainly reactive and not preventive”
 Pursue new foreign policy = composed of 3 pillars
 From teachers to principals

According to Ambassador Leonides, the Migrant Workers Act was done in a hurry,
thus if you read it from section 1 to the last section, the law is mainly reactive and
not preventive, but he also stated that “A good law should be both reactive and
preventive”. In Saudi Arabia, they are working to consider men and women are
equal. He also said that by the passage of Migrant workers act, we will pursue more
fully our foreign policy in accordance with our 3 pillars.

Susan O. Castrence
 Cultural Office and Press Office was abolished in DFA
 She wish PISU (Public Information Services unit) will regain its original
position
 Press Office is important because of Flor Contemplacion case becomes even
more obvious considering the 3rd pillar of Foreign Policy
 “The Flor Contemplacion case” causes the DFA to have a bad image in the
Filipino people
Ambassador Susan was asked “Can you describe the evolution of DFA?”, She said
that the Press Office was unfortunately abolish and just became relegated to a mere
unit under the Office of the secretary but she wish that PISU or the Public
Information Services Unit could regain its original status to be a regular office. In
that time the DFA needs it, why? Because it is the boom of the Flor Contemplacion
case which causes the DFA to have a bad image in the Filipino people. They need
press to show the people that they are doing something to Flor’s case and erase the
bad image that enter Filipino minds. During that time, she also stated that “politics”
entered into the picture. Sen Ernasto Maceda had a very lovely quote that “we in the
Foreign Service have to be babysitters of overseas workers and that whenever
OFWs are accused wrongly of something, we have to protect and defend them”.

Benjamin B. Domingo
 there were 29 OFWs in Riyadh who were to be executed and another 25 in
Jeddah
 Fortunately, Their record was good in saving OFWs life
 Flor Contemplacion case start the wreck of Philippines and Singapore
relationship.
 Flor own the confession with the belief that the court will have mercy but it
happens the other way.
 Amb. Benjamin went to Singapore to advise Melody Das to repudiate the
confession.
 They save Melody Das from execution = great achievement for Amb.
Benjamin.

Ambassador Benjamin was really afraid of what can happen to the 29 OFWs in
Riyadh and 25 in Jeddah who were to be executed, thus he is willing to find solutions
on how they can save these OFWs. He also mentioned about Flor Contemplacion
case that it was a big mistake of Flor that she owns the confession with the belief
that it can save her from execution but it happens the other way, she was executed.
Amb Benjamin, flew to Singapore to save Melody Das, who killed two of her
children. He advised Melody to repudiate the confession and it save Melody from
execution, and for Amb. Benjamin it was the highest point of my career as
undersecretary for migrant workers act when he save Melody das and he visited it
to jail and Melody gave her a big thank you and she was so grateful that the
Ambassador saved her. He also said that the Philippine Government must prepare
embassies and consulates general because “We have become a global community”

J. Apolinario L. Lozada, Jr.

 Absentee Voting for OFWs
 OFWs are still at risks and danger.

Amb Apolinario said, “Filipinos abroad will always be Filipinos”. We need to give
them the right to participate in our national affairs as well. This became his motive
when he authored the twin laws on absentee voting and dual citizenship. He stated
that until his time, our OFWs are still at risks and danger. Lastly he said to the
people who are in services to “SPEAK UP!”

Rafael E. Seguis
 Release of OFW Angelo De la Cruz and Robert Tarongoy
 He made strategies in order to release these 2 OFWs with the full support of
Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Sec. Alberto Romulo
 In Iraq, Filipinos are well regarded.

Ambassador Rafael said that the highest peak in his career was the release of two
OFWs: Angelo Dela Cruz and Robert Tarongoy. He did a lot of strategies and for him
it is important to know your objective and do not let the situation control you. He
also acknowledges the full support that Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Sec.
Albert Romulo gave him. He also stated that Filipinos in Iraq are well regarded and
Filipinos are highly respected and well liked.