‘Each OFW is like a mustard seed’

Fr. Joy Tajonera, a Filipino who has devoted his entire priesthood to ministering to the needs of Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan, runs two homes for OFWs in distress. He calls these centers in Taipei and Taichung the Ugnayan Center, and they are a haven for Filipinos and Filipinas who have cases pending in court, who have experienced maltreatment and those who have married Taiwanese and have problems in their marriage and/or are seeking custody of their children. (Father Joy reveals that the Taiwanese department of labor also provides a 24-hour hotline for OFWs in distress, with at least one call center agent able to speak Filipino.)

Father Joy has also taken in babies of distressed pregnant women.

Those who seek a refuge in an Ugnayan Center need not be burdened by board and lodging fees. Father Joy gets support from the Church, from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, from fundraising activities and from private sector donors.

“Each OFW is a mustard seed planted overseas so that his or her family, country and place of work will benefit from the shade of the full grown tree that he or she will become. These seeds are scattered all over the world, and from them have also sprung bastions of faith,” Father Joy believes.

True, it isn’t just the families of OFWs who benefit from their (the OFWs) sacrifices abroad. The host country of these OFWs benefit as well from their hard work, their sunny disposition, their values and their faith.

Father Joy told us during one of his Manila visits that the biggest gathering in any place in Taiwan on Sunday is that of Filipino Catholics hearing Mass.

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Fr. Joy recently welcomed the new MECO chairman Lito Banayo to his Ugnayan Center in Taichung City. Now taking refuge in the center are five fishermen who were victims of abuse in the high seas. There are also caregivers who lost their jobs for various reasons.

Banayo was obviously touched to the core by his visit. He said, “Perhaps the most poignant part of our visit was a conference with 17 disadvantaged and distressed OFWs at the Ugnayan Center in Taichung. Five of them were female caretakers who left their employers because of violations of the work contracts they had entered to. Mercifully, no one complained of physical abuse. Their complaints centered on long work hours without adequate compensation as well as no days off.”

He expressed appreciation for Father Joy’s efforts to provide livelihood training to the displaced workers.

Ugnayan Center, with the help of MECO, OWWA and the labor attachés, gives training in alternative livelihood like baking, computer lessons and industrial sewing.

“More than just giving food and shelter to our distressed kababayans, Ugnayan, with the help of MECO, OWWA and the labor attachés, gives training in alternative livelihood, such as baking, computer lessons, industrial sewing, even language lessons to those who want alternative sources of livelihood.”

“Fortunately for them, the work conditions in Taiwan are somewhat better than in other places,” Banayo noted.  “There certainly are problems, and we have sat with both their leaders in the Filipino community as well as our labor and welfare officials here to listen and learn about their plight.”

Banayo told them that MECO, which is the government’s representative mission in Taiwan, is always ready to assist them not only with their documentary requirements, but beyond, such as through Father Joy’s Ugnayan mission.

He also reiterated the marching order of President Duterte (who won the overseas absentee elections in Taiwan) to him: “Always look after the welfare of our OFWs in Taiwan.”

“The Manila Economic and Cultural Office, along with labor attachés and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s representatives in the major cities of Taiwan, constitutes the face of our government to our OFWs in this island republic,” he said.

On Aug. 21, the day after his visit to the migrant center, Banayo heard Mass celebrated by Father Joy for the Filipino community. It was the 33rd death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s martyrdom. Ninoy spent the last night of his life in Taiwan.

Banayo was with the group at the Manila International Airport that awaited the arrival of Ninoy on a China Airlines plane from Taipei that would have ended his three years in exile. Ninoy never made it back to Philippine soil alive, but his death mobilized millions for the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

Banayo said he then thought of the slogan, “Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa.” It lives on till today.

Luke Who’s Selling… A bazaar like no other

Mark your calendars! The much-awaited annual bazaar of the Women’s Board of St. Luke’s Medical Center is fast approaching.

On Oct. 15, Saturday, shop from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the North Forbes Park Covered Court in Makati. The members of the Women’s Board have invited a wide-array and colorful mix of food, fashion and gift vendors.

Aside from sumptuous food offerings and great shopping finds, shoppers will also be delighted in participating at food and arts demonstrations. Invite your family and friends to come along. See you there!

(You may e-mail me at [email protected].)