Making an impact: celebrating community heroes

Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, General Manager for Mission for Migrant Workers *(photo by Martin Turner)*

Cynthia Abdon-Tellez: HOPE Hero of the Year 2023

“Halina, pasok kayo! Pasensiya na at medyo busy dito sa loob ng aming office,” [Welcome, please come in! Apologies as it looks a bit busy inside our office] says Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, General Manager for Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW).

Cynthia has a warm persona and a quick smile that makes you feel right at home. Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious; she has served Hong Kong’s migrant community for over 40 years, but there is no sign of the 70-year-old Olongapo City native slowing down.

Winning the HOPE Hero of the year 2023 award is an honour, but it only strengthens Cynthia’s resolve to continue her service to the MDW community. “I am so honoured and humbled that this award goes beyond me. It is in recognition of the hard work that our Filipino women and men… have done to save their families and, eventually, our country. Full of hope, I share this with them,” she said in her acceptance speech for the award.

In the 1980s, Cynthia left the Philippines as a young social worker to observe the living conditions of Filipino migrant domestic workers (MDWs), a population which has been growing in number ever since President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. signed the new Labour Code 422, encouraging the deployment of overseas workers. After a few months of reporting back her observations, including her recommendation to open a place offering assistance to abused and exploited MDWs, the decision was taken to establish the Mission for Migrant Workers centre in Hong Kong.

I am so honoured and humbled that this award goes beyond me. It is in recognition of the hard work that our Filipino women and men… have done to save their families and, eventually, our country. Full of hope, I share this with them
– Cynthia accepting her HOPE Hero award

MFMW provides a range of free services to the migrant worker community, from providing legal assistance to giving shelter, from Cantonese language classes to hospital and prison visitations, all focused on empowerment and learning. Their outreach programmes, referred to as Migrant Care Centres (MCCs), extend welfare services to migrant workers across Hong Kong, through collaborations with other migrant organisations and volunteers from the community.

Cynthia has always championed that empowered migrant workers who are able to protect their rights, are cared for and recognised as an integral part of a multicultural and inclusive Hong Kong society. “Mula noong nag-umpisa ang MFMW, hanggang ngayon, marami pa ding mga issues na gusto nating maimprove,” [Since the very start of MFMW until now, there are still a lot of issues that we want to see improved] she says.

Asked about her message to the migrant community, she shares: “Speak out! Join organisations na alam mong makakatulong para maunawaan mo ang iyong mga karapatan at alam mong makakatulong sa kapwa; huwag mag-atubiling magtanong kung hindi sigurado sa gagawin. Maging mahinahon pero firm sa mahahalagang desisyon o posisyon. Ano man ang iyong kaalaman, share it with others.” [Join organisations that you know can be helpful in informing you about your rights and helpful for your community; don’t hesitate to ask questions if you are not sure what to do. Be calm but firm about important decisions or situations. Whatever knowledge you have, share it with others.]

Cynthia puts the rights and needs of MDWs at the forefront of everything she does, and her hard work, commitment, and dedication have been an inspiration to many. She has helped numerous migrant workers over the years, and no doubt with the whole MFMW team behind her, their busy, warm, and welcoming office will continue to help countless more.

Mission for Migrant Workers:

https://www.migrants.net

https://www.facebook.com/MFMWHK

Arthur Dolosa Buban: Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee and the Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bayani 2023

Arthur Dolosa Buban, dressed in traditional Filipino attire, stands proudly at the 2023 Bagong Bayani Awards event, showcasing his commitment to the Filipino community. — Arthur Dolosa Buban, receiving the Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee 2023 *(photo provided by Arthur Buban)*

Arthur started helping out those in need in 2012, when a fellow Filipino who was sick and confined to a hospital bed reached out to him for help, as she didn’t have anyone to visit her. This was the start of his many years of service to the Filipino community, becoming an integral volunteer for the Philippine Consulate General here in Hong Kong.

In the early days, there was a period when Arthur put his community service on hold after some negative feedback affected his motivation. But all that changed on Christmas Eve 2016, when Arthur and his partner Myzel were driving to church to attend Christmas mass and almost got into a really bad car accident. They both were shaken and scared knowing they could’ve lost their lives in the blink of an eye, but it was this close brush with mortality that ultimately gave Arthur the inspiration he needed to start dedicating his time to helping Filipinos in need again.

“Sinimulan ko ulit tumulong sa mga kababayan natin pagkatapos noong nangyari na yan. Parang sensyas mula sa Diyos na sa ikli ng buhay natin, dapat ilaan ito sa pagtulong sa kapwa,” [I started helping out my community again after what happened. It was like a sign from God that we should help out our fellowmen in the short time we have being alive] Arthur shares.

Arthur is the founder of Love, Peace and Unity Pinoy HK Group, which works to help fellow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are in need of assistance, whether it be hospital visits or help approaching the Philippine Consulate office. Being a Bicolano himself, he also founded another group, the Bicol Migrant Association HK, which is comprised of OFWs from the Bicol region in the Philippines. They do a lot of charity drives for typhoon and earthquake victims back in their hometowns.

I started helping out my community again after what happened. It was like a sign from God that we should help out our fellowmen in the short time we have being alive
– Arthur Dolosa Buban, after an accident changed his perspective

For all his effort and care for his fellow OFWs over the years, the Bagong Bayani Foundation, under the Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines, recently awarded Arthur the Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bayani, their highest honour. He was also awarded the Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee, for his distinguished and outstanding performance in his duties and responsibilities.

Another project on Arthur’s horizon in the near future is an OFW family sports programme, where OFWs can gather and compete in team sports and games, providing the opportunity to de-stress and promote physical well-being.

Offering some advice to his fellow migrant workers from his many years of experience, Arthur shares, “Kung may problema kayo sa employer ninyo, kausapin niyo lamang sila ng heart-to-heart ba, para maiwasan ang tampuhan. At huwag basta bastang magtiwala sa ibang tao, kahit akala ninyo kilala niyo lalo na kung pera ang involved.” [If you have a problem with your employer, just talk to them heart-to-heart, to avoid any misunderstandings. And don’t just trust anyone, even if you think you know them, especially when money is involved.]