FAQ

BLAS OPLE CENTER - Frequently Asked Questions
Headed by Ms. Susan “Toots” Ople

1. When was the Blas Ople Center founded?

It was founded in 2005.

2. Where is the center located?

2295-G Wycliff Townhomes, Roberts Str. Pasay City, at the back of the DFA.

3. Who inspired you to establish this organization?

It was my way of remembering my dad.

4. Who are the people involved in founding this organization?

Basically, I tapped my father’s friends and also my family.

5. What is the purpose of the organization?

The purpose is to pursue the advocacies of my late father and to serve the people as a nonprofit organization.

6. What are the benefits you provide to your beneficiaries?

We have a scholarship program for children of journalists in partnership with Samahang Plaridel. We also provide seminars and workshops. We have the Shoes program and the OFW assistance program. For more info, please contact Estelle Ople Osorio at 833-5337 or 833-9562.

7. Why do you think the late Sen. Blas Ople chose to focus on giving a hand to overseas workers rather than others?

He always had a soft spot for workers. He himself had to work as a stevedore at the North Harbor before establishing himself as a journalist. When he was labor secretary, there was an oil crisis yet a boom in the oil industry of Saudi Arabia. That was when he saw a golden opportunity for our workers. We struck an agreement with Saudi Arabia to send Filipinos to work in their oil fields and construction sites. Thus the seeds of overseas employment were planted and now yields millions in terms of beneficiaries.

8. At present, what common problems did the OFW’s encountered in their jobs?

OFWs who left the country illegally face the most problems. Because they don’t hold  contract and many of them used tampered passports, there is little that the government could do to protect them. This is why it is so important to follow the rules and regulations of the POEA when applying for a job overseas.

9. How is life without Sen. Ople?

Life without him is doubly challenging. Whereas when he was alive, we in the family had a moral, spiritual and even financial anchor, now we must rely on ourselves and each other. My father was an excellent mentor. He took pains to explain to me the whys and wherefores not only of politics but also of life. No question was too petty or trivial for him. During the twilight of his years, we became closer and I grew to understand the enormity of his sacrifices in serving the people. I also grew to love him more because of his sense of humor, kindness and generous wisdom. In that sense, I miss him everyday and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.

10.What were the attributes of  Sen.Ople that you believe that marked to  the lives of many Filipinos?

Filipinos saw a man who rose from poverty through sheer brilliance, hard work and determination. Yet, when he was Senate President and Foreign Affairs Secretary, Ka Blas, as his friends know him, never changed. In fact, he even became more humble, the higher he got in the totem pole of government. Those who see, hear, and read him knew that this was a man of integrity, and compassion for the poor and the ordinary Filipino worker. What endeared him and continues to keep him alive in the national memory is a lifetime of work in the fields of labor and overseas employment, the framing of the constitution, and the defense of our history, culture, and language as a people.