A One Woman Campaign to Bring Home Cortez

Almost a month since we wrote President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo requesting that the blood money rejected by the family of the Pakistani victim of Reynaldo Cortez be given to the wife and children of executed OFW instead, all we got was a “for information” note from Assistant Secretary Lourdes Varona, head of the President’s Correspondence Office.

Attached to the letter of Secretary Varona was a letter to Undersecretary Esteban Conejos of the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs, endorsing for appropriate action our appeal. Up to this date we have not heard a word from Undersecretary Conejos. He is either too busy or found it useless to spend his precious time paying attention to a letter coming from an ordinary Filipino overseas worker.

As we wait any response from our government officials, one lady has launched a campaign to bring back the remains of Cortez. She has written to heads of offices and embassies, including Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Ignacio Bunye, urging the government to do everything in its power and influence to make the Saudi government agree to the repatriation.

Norma B. Hennessy, author of the book Philippine Heritage in Australia, believes that we should “not abandon our culture, lest we sign off our right over the earth we stand on. Our culture in our grief and loss continue to define us as a people and such values dignify our self-worth as a collective cultural global community.”

She argues that to uphold our culture is “to keep alive that which is priceless in us - our being Filipinos; people who are compassionate, humane and highly tolerant of other cultures.” She stresses that it is this same culture which asks of us to pray over our dead and bury them home.

Norma found support from a Netherlands-based Filipino humanitarian, Peter Payoyo. Peter says that “humanity also extends to the deceased, and the culture embodied in the dead; and yet somehow everyday we witness tragic scenes of humanity's desecration by people who indulge in the illusion that their culture, or their nation, or their religion, is above the rest of humanity.”

I agree with Norma that however wasted his life was, Reynaldo was no less a Filipino. It is in due respect to the right of the culture he belonged, that his remains must be returned.

I have urged Norma to take her campaign to the attention of the international community. I advised her to post his appeal in the Petition Online where advocates like me can signify their support.

Alone, Norma’s voice may not be heard by those concerned; yet with the voices of you and me, of Filipinos and well meaning individuals around the world added, perhaps Norma’s wish could be granted. Let us join Norma in her quest, and pray that for once a miracle happens.