“It’s hard to explain what’s wrong.”
Those were the famous lines always muttered by Ambassador Domingo Lucenario Jr., according to labor attaché Bernandino Julve. Amba Doy was named “the people’s ambassador” after he died in a helicopter crash in Pakistan on May 8.
Everyone was shocked and devastated when they found out about the tragedy which killed the kind-hearted ambassador.
During the last day of the wake for Amba Doy, his colleagues way back when he was working for the Hong Kong consulate were reunited, which was headed by Labatt Julve. That was the time we became close with the people’s ambassador, until he became a regular partner in Bantay OCW.
I do not personally know Amba Doy’s wife, lawyer Nida Lucenario, but when I approached and introduced myself, the words that popped out of her mouth was “Hong Kong Days.”
She knows every story Amba Doy had with Bantay OCW. Some of Amba Doy’s friends met lawyer Nida for the first time, but it seems that she knows a lot of things about them. I’m pretty sure that everyone who knew him has something good to say about Amba Doy, either a happy or a memorable story.
Labatt Julve recalled memorable and happy moments with his good friend. Amba Doy and Labatt Julve were together when they served the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong.
When the Hong Kong government was about to implement a wage cut, Amba Doy, together with Julve, did not hesitate to join the protest with our kababayan to stop the salary deduction of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
According to Amba Doy, “those were the times we need to show our fellow citizens that we are ready to fight for them.” Even if he is a government official he still took part with the said protest because he knew that it was the right thing to do.
Labbat Julve cited one instance where Amba Doy lent a microphone to a group of militant protesters in front of the consulate in Hong Kong, when their own mic was broken, so they can continue with what they wanted to say. Because of that incident the man earned the respect of his fellow government officials, the militant leaders and our OFWs.
“He didn’t even know that he will be named “the people’s ambassor.” Until his sudden passing.
That is how much love Amba Doy gets from a lot of people. The title of “ambassador” didn’t shroud him with arrogance. A very lowly, humble public servant who only believes that he is just a Filipino serving his fellow Filipinos overseas.
After the heroes’ burial comes a sad reality for a grieving family, now facing a dilemma on a very legitimate issue … on where to get their livelihood? On how to continue living without their head and their breadwinner now.
For a wife who gave up her own career and her own law office to support and be with her husband in foreign assignments, we heard Nida is a brilliant litigation lawyer. I am sure she would be considered for the government, too.
For a lawyer and a true public servant like her husband Amba Doy who does not only use his brain, but more importantly his heart and conscience …. Indeed, he cannot explain any wrong to make it seem right.
But for sure with Nida, no need to explain what is wrong, because she can explain well what is right.
(Susan Andes, also known as Susan K., can be heard over Radyo Inquirer dzIQ 990 AM, Monday to Friday, 10:30 am-12 noon. Audio/video live streaming is at www.ustream.tv/channel. You can also visit bantayocwfoundation.orgor call helpline at 0927-6499870. E-mail: ban
tayocwfoundation @yahoo.com or susankbantayocw@yahoo.com)