Thank you, Ambassador Doy

Nearly 11 years after he left Hong Kong, Ambassador Domingo D. Lucenario, Jr is still remembered with fondness and admiration by the people he served so well in the 4 years that he was posted in the territory.

There was hardly a dry eye when Filipinos gathered at a requiem mass held in his honor on May 13, which coincided with the return of his remains from Pakistan where he was killed in a helicopter crash. (READ: Man of God: PH envoy to Pakistan a ‘total diplomat’) 

The tears flowed, along with the tributes, as people from various sectors gathered for the requiem held at a chapel of the Catholic Centre in Central which Sr. Felicitas Nisperos readily offered as venue for the memorial.

First to give tribute was Consul General Bernardita Catalla, who teared up as she recalled how the good ambassador readily offered help when she was slapped with a case by the Ombudsman, and the Department of Foreign Affairs declined to give her a lawyer. 

“Amba Doy,” who used to be her boss at the DFA’s’ office of consular affairs, offered the services of his lawyer-sister Dina, who succeeded in getting the charges dismissed.

ConGen injected a light moment later on in her speech when she recalled how Amba Doy told her to get herself posted in Hong Kong, saying she was more “bakya” than him.

In his homily, Father Alfredo “Dondon” Rollon noted that the Latin translation of the ambassador’s name was “Sunday light,” which aptly described the man who won the hearts of many by his good deeds.

Lawyer Randy Salazar also teared up as he recalled the time when Amba Doy readily offered to accompany him to the airport to intercede on behalf of a friend who was held up on his way to the United States over a certain infraction.

Salazar called Lucenario a “daring, devoted public servant” who was both “a lawyer and a leader.”

Equally heartfelt was the tribute from Eman Villanueva, the fiery leader of Bayan HK and Macau, who said Lucenario was one of only two civil servants he asked to be godfather for his wedding last year.

True servant

Villanueva praised Lucenario, who was still a consul when posted in Hong Kong, for really listening to the views of everyone, and for not taking the easy way out in finding solutions to the myriad of problems brought to his attention by migrant workers.

“Hindi pabor ang mga ginawa ni Consul Doy kundi tunay na serbisyo,” he said. (What (consul) Doy did is nothing short of true service)

To illustrate how open-minded the late diplomat was, Villanueva said they ran to him for help once, when they had problems with a microphone during a rally. Lucenario reportedly complied readily, even knowing that the militant would often bash the government during their protests.

Villanueva lamented that there were only a few people like Lucenario who embodied the true meaning of public service.

“Iilan na nga lang kayo, nawala ka pa,” he poignantly said. (It’s sad how there are only a few good men, and then they die.) 

Former chairman of the Hong Kong Musicians Union Jun Cortes also broke down recalling how Lucenario offered help to his group after they had a falling out with the then head of post just before the annual Concert in the Park in 2003.

Through Lucenario’s help, The SUN along with some sponsors, were convinced to help HKMU stage another benefit show the next year that allowed them to set up a pension fund for ageing musicians.

Cortes failed to finish his speech when he was overcome by emotion.

Also among the speakers was Rolly Cruz, former chair of the Hong Kong Bankers Club and Philippine Association of Hong Kong, who hailed Lucenario as “ a great man” whose record of public service should serve as a light for others to emulate.

Cynthia Tellez, manager of the Mission for Migrant Workers and longtime resident, extolled Lucenario’s brand of public service.

“Binuhay niya ang tunay na kahulugan ng paglilingkod sa bayan,” she said, her voice full of emotion. (He gave life to the true meaning of serving the country) 

At least one of those who attended gave testimony to how Lucenario had gone out of his way to help people in Hong Kong, long after he left.

Raymond spoke of how his nieces were able to obtain passports through Lucenario’s help last month, just as the older one was about to turn 18, her last chance of applying for a dependant’s visa in Hong Kong.

The girls were denied passports by the DFA office in La Union, which reportedly insisted on getting both of their parents’ consent, despite their mother being held on drug charges in Hong Kong. – Rappler.com

Another version of this article was first published in The Sun Hong Kong. Rappler is republishing this with The Sun’s permission. The author is a veteran journalist, having worked for various newspapers and TV stations in the Philippines and in Hong Kong. She is also a lawyer and migrants rights activist.