{"id":1484,"date":"2012-01-17T23:23:18","date_gmt":"2012-01-17T20:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/patnubay.org\/?p=1484"},"modified":"2019-07-13T22:45:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-13T19:45:00","slug":"feature-story-si-ellene-na-mas-ginto-pahappy-50th-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patnubay.org\/?p=1484","title":{"rendered":"Feature Story: Si ELLENE na mas ginto pa\u2026Happy 50th Birthday!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Pagka umabot na sa edad 50, minsan e nakakapa-isip rin. Grabe- kalahati ng sandaang taon! Ano na ba ginawa sa buhay? Laluna kung me pag-aagam-agam sa pag\u201dtanda\u201d. OK ba itong ginagawa ko? Ano ang gagawin sa susunod pang mga taon?<\/p>\n

Para sa kanyang 50th birthday, nagtulungan kami ni Joseph ng Patnubay Saudi mangulekta ng samu\u2019t saring pagtingin ng ilang OFWs at ka-network ng CMA. Maaring makatulong sa kanyang paglilimi sa nakaraang 50 taon gayundin sa kanyang pag-aninag sa mga susunod pang mga taon.<\/p>\n

Nong unang panahon at UP\/YS days nya<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pagkatapos ng \u201cstraight\u201d na buhay-mag-aaral at masunuring anak at kapatid sa Mabitac, Laguna, pumasok si Ellene sa UP Diliman bilang Cocofed scholar upang maging inhinyera nong 1978. Nataon sa kumukulong student movement, narecruit siya ni Enteng kumilos sa hanay ng mga estudyante. Sobrang aktibo tuloy kinapos, nawalan ng scholarship dahil sa tawag ng panahon pero nagworking student para maging inhinyera sa ibang eskwelahan.<\/p>\n


\nNang mag-international work sya<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pasado siya sa civil engineering board licensure exam pero sa halip magtayo ng gusali o tulay o mag-abroad, nag international work nong late 80s hanggang early 90s habang nagtatrabaho kay Sister Sol. Nong early 90s, maige\u2019t nag-gender studies siya kay Mary John sa NURSIA kasama si Luz, mahalagang sangkap ito ng sumunod na isa\u2019t kalahating dekada ng kanyang buhay na adbokasya para sa mga OFWs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Pero napabilang muna siya sa international research group nong late 80s. Tumulong nong 90s sa pagtatayo ng friendship committees para sa pakikibaka ng mga Palestino, East Timorese, atbp. Seguro para i-contextualize ang kanyang ginagawa, nag-exposure din sa Mindanao. Either di sya nakatakbo nang mabilis o di nakatago dahil sa bigat o sa lapad o baka di nya napigilan mapalakas ang pag-videoke o napaharot ang pagsayaw kayat siya ay nadakip at kinulong noong 1990.<\/p>\n

Paglaya , patuloy ang kanyang advocacy para sa East Timor at Burma, hanggang ma-deport mula sa Malaysia dahil sa kanyang East Timor advocacy at makulong, ma-try (sa kangaroo court), ma-deklarang persona non grata at ma-deport mula Burma (Patuloy pa rin siya sa Free Burma Coalition hanggang ngayon.), hanggang<\/p>\n

Mid90s nang siya\u2019y nag-migrant work:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike Bolos , ex-Saudi: A solid migrant advocate and friend who can be depended upon at all times.<\/p>\n

I met Ellene in cyberspace and even before we got the chance to meet each other in person, I was already very comfortable working with her. She had my full trust and confidence in all matters. She is one among the very few people I consider good by my standards, for whom I am willing and glad to state so for the record. She possesses a wealth of practical and technical experiences and a high level of maturity, sincerity and dedication to migrant causes that inspire people like me. Much as I would want to, not enough words or space can do justice in describing Ellene and her abilities. Knowing her and her capabilities, I could only say with a sweeping statement without qualification: she is one of the best persons I have worked with so far.<\/p>\n

Mike refers to her advocacy and lobby work, case referral and everything and anything that she does in CMA, MFA and elsewhere kaya laging in demand\u2026<\/p>\n

Ronnie Abeto ng UAE: energetic, maliit pero malaki ang puso. Lantay ang kanyang paninindigan para sa transparency at accountability sa 15 taong pagkikilala nila.<\/p>\n

Alex Asuncion., Saudi: Ellene is not getting older but getting better – a woman of indomitable spirit at tapang. Laging pinapauna ang interes ng iba,<\/p>\n

Chat Basa, Italy: Galing niya sa EU at migration and development<\/p>\n

Bong Ramilo, Darwin, Australia: Kasing-ginto o mas mahalaga pa sa ginto ang trabaho nya.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kahit minsa\u2019y medyo nosebleed ang ilang pinaggagawa at pinagsasabi niya, migration and human rights, Global Forum on migration and development, migration management, overseas absentee voting, joint and solidary liability hanggang ASEAN at kung anu-anong UN at ILO Conventions, multilateral na, me bilateral treaties pa, anti-WTO at GATS MODE IV banggitin pa ang patriarchy\u2026<\/p>\n

Pero pinasisinungalingan ang bigat ng mga ito bagamat di ang sinasabi ng weighing scale sapagkat si Ellene ay napakagaan:<\/p>\n

Lourdes Madayag, Saudi: di nya malilimutan ang ngiti ni Ellene pagsapit sa bahay nila sa araw na pag-abot lang niya sa Saudi na dumiretso sa Bahay Kalinga, kung saan kinausap ang mga me problemang takas na domestic workers. Nabatid nyang di bumibitaw si Ellene sa mga kasong pang-aapi o pagsasamantala tulad sa kasong ni-refer nya na hanggang makabalik sa Pilipinas e pursigidong hinahabol ang walang-pusong recruiter.<\/p>\n

Editha Cetro,  Servant Leader Saudi: Very nice at approachable rin si Ellene.<\/p>\n

Friends sa Hope Workers\u2019 Center, Taiwan: Someone who has given much happiness to so many! Your passion and enthusiasm for justice is contagious! We are honored and grateful to have known you.<\/p>\n

Chany, Canadian volunteer ng CMA: You light up the room with your laughter and personality. I’m glad to have known you. You are not only an inspiration in your passion for advocacy.<\/p>\n

Mike Bolos: Ellene was the one who drew him in to migrant advocacy while he was still in Saudi Arabia. The passage of the OAV Bill was the first issue that they collaborated on and the rest as they say is history. Dee of Brisbane added that all her hard work keeps them in CPCA and SPAN in Australia striving to keep up with her and CMA.<\/p>\n

Ano pa kaya ang mas aangkop na pagtatapos nito kundi paabot ni Joseph ng Patnubay sa Saudi: “Kung wala si ate Ellene at CMA, walang OFW SOS. Kung walang OFW SOS, walang Patnubay” (Plug na rin ng CMA kung saan kasama si Vic Barrazona, Bong Ramilo, Bobby Soriano at ang case officer ng CMA na si Anna, iba pa sa CMA na si Chat, Marlon, Boyet, Mike, Noel, 2 Rene at Hazel. Kahit si Ellene e seguradong payag i-plug yan\u2026)<\/p>\n