Consul Timmy bids Filcom tearful goodbye

A visibly moved Consul Timmy thanks the Filcom for showing what true service is about

Heavy rains and the gridlock from the massive pro-democracy demonstration in nearby Victoria Park failed to stop about 50 Filipino community leaders from gathering at the Consulate on Aug 18 to say goodbye to one of the most loved officials to have been posted in Hong Kong.

Consul Fatima “Timmy” Quintin responded to the surprise send-off with tearful thanks, and with her own tribute to the mainly Filipino domestic workers who came to say goodbye.

“Bilang empleyado ng Konsulado, wala po kaming karapatang mag complain sa trabaho namin, kahit 24/7 on call kami kasi kayo 6 days a week, ang trabaho ninyo 24/7. you have only one day off para sa sarili ninyo, pero instead of spending it sa inyo lamang, magpahinga kayo, matulog kayo, nakikita ko kayo, alas siyete pa lang, hanggang hatinggabi, gumagawa ng events, nagluluto, tinutulungan ninyo ang mga kababayan ninyo…so as government servants, who are we to complain?, she said.

Some of the leaders who gave Consul Timmy tokens of appreciation

Consul Timmy added she was overwhelmed by the sendoff as she was just one of the workers at the Consulate and didn’t want to be a bother to anyone.

She advised the Filcom leaders to keep helping each other and the Consulate in pursuing its projects.

As her husband, Consul Bob Quintin, would be left behind to serve out the remaining time in his term, Consul Timmy said she expects to visit in future, along with her young daughter.

Hong Kong was Consul Timmy’s first posting abroad. She came to serve six years ago, when she was still single and was known as Vice Consul Timmy Guzman. In time, she married her fiancé and batchmate in the foreign service, Bob Quintin, and two years ago gave birth to their only child.

 

Among the wellwishers were Babes Mercado of Metrobank (left, first row) and Daisy CL Mandap of The SUN (middle, in white)

Consul Timmy is due to return to the home office of the Department of Foreign Affairs at the end of her tour of duty. But instead of spending the usual two to three years in Manila before taking up another overseas posting, she says she plans to ask for a full five years so she can have more time for their daughter.

Consul Timmy is set to leave Hong Kong at the end of this month. - DCLM