By The SUN
 |
| Ambassador Bernie with then Chief Secretary Carrie Lam at the Phl Independence Day celebration in 2016 |
The SUN deeply mourns the passing
of Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon and former Consul General in Hong Kong
Bernardita M. Catalla, due to complications arising from Covid-19. She was 62.
Ambassador
Catalla, who served as consul general in Hong Kong from 2014 to 2017,
reportedly died in Beirut on Apr 2, shortly after falling ill following a visit to Manila in the
middle of March.
The Department of Foreign Affairs
in Manila issued this statement early this morning about Ambassador Bernie’s
passing:
“With deep sadness, the Department of Foreign Affairs
announces the untimely demise on 2 April 2020, of Ambassador Bernardita
Catalla, Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, from complications arising from
Covid 19. A career diplomat for almost 30 years, service to the country has
been the hallmark of Ambassador Catalla’s distinguished foreign service career.
She served in key posts like Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta and was Passport Director
where she delivered frontline service to millions of Filipinos. Prior to her
assignment in Lebanon, she was Consul General in Hong Kong, looking over the
welfare of hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipinos. Since December 2019,
she spearheaded the voluntary mass repatriation program of the Philippine
Embassy in Beirut. Bernie, as Ambassador Catalla was fondly called, has always
lent a helping hand, to her family, friends and colleagues. Her ever ready
smile and infectious laughter may have been extinguished but her dedication to
our country will be always be there as a guiding light for all members of the
Philippine foreign service."
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro
Locsin, Jr. later said that Ambassador Catalla’s remains will be received with
an honor guard, and that he will be putting forward a nomination for Gawad
Mabini and Order of Sikatuna for her.
Both awards are bestowed on
individuals and diplomats who have rendered distinguished or meritorious
service, or promoted the interests of the country at home and abroad.
 |
| Farewell lunch with The SUN, PAHK, Pintura Circle and Filipino Bankers Club |
As the head of post in Hong Kong,
Ambassador Catalla distinguished herself for her fearless and open type of
leadership. Shortly after taking over the post, she ordered an investigation
into the alleged misconduct committed by the then labor attaché, Manuel Roldan, and allowed
the publication of a damning report afterwards.
She also acted decisively to
address several issues, including the seasonal long queues for the overseas
employment certificate, and unfounded accusations of irregularities during the overseas prrsidential election in 2016.
 |
| Global Alliance farewell for CG Bernie |
 |
| At the opening of an art exhibit by Pintura Circle |
 |
| Manning the desk at the 2016 overseas voting |
 |
| At the opening of the education fair with reps from UP, La Salle and Ateneo |
 |
| As proud UP alumna administering the oath to UPAA-HK officers |
But her biggest legacy to the
Filipino community in Hong Kong is the amendment of the foreign domestic
helpers’ contract to include a ban on dangerous window cleaning, which took
effect on Jan. 1, 2017. No other consul general in Hong Kong can lay claim to
such a feat.
Many Filipinos in Hong Kong,
including migrant workers in the building where the official residence is
located, will also remember Ambassador Catalla, who was single, for her excellent
cooking skills and her generosity. She often cooked regularly for her staff and
Filipino community leaders she invited to her residence. She also did much of
the cooking for events at the Consulate, including the traditional breakfast to
celebrate the annual Philippine Independence Day.
 |
| Hosting Christmas dinner for OFWs at her residence |
To show appreciation for her
outstanding service to the community, various Filcom groups gave her a
send-off, including migrant organizations as well as business, academic and
professional associations.
 |
| Accepting a plaque of appreciation from The SUN |
Shortly after being assigned to
Beirut, Ambassador Bernie said in various interviews that she would have opted
to stay in Hong Kong if she could be made ambassador here.
“That’s the height..the peak of
your career to become an ambassador. If I can become an ambassador in Hong
Kong, why shouldn’t I stay? I love it in Hong Kong, but it’s a career move,”
Catalla said in one interview with The SUN.
It was fitting that she not
only accomplished her lifelong career goal, but also managed to make her mark
as an ambassador, before her untimely demise.
Here are some of the tributes to
Amba Bernie by those who knew her, and her outstanding work as a diplomat:
Ex-Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who worked with Amba
Bernie in her last year as consul general in Hong Kong:
“Though
not many people knew it, it was she who first pushed me to engage the Filipino
community, supported by the Indonesians, to advocate and fight for the ban
against window-cleaning, which succeeded and is now embedded in the standard
employment contract for Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong. Her courage and
her can-do attitude fortified my resolve to put everything on the line to get
the campaign going. Though we differed on some issues, it was never in the
commitment to carry the interests of the Filipino community forward. Saludo
ako, Amba Bernie!”
Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, general
manager of the Mission
for Migrant Workers, which spearheaded a call in 2014 for an investigation into
an alleged malpractice by the then labor attaché:
“We mourn her loss pero mas maiging
buhayin ang halimbawa niya.
Nung nag file ang CSPEM (Coalition of Service Providers for
Ethnic Minorities)
ng kaso laban sa dating labor attache dito na si Manuel
Roldan for abuse of power, nagtayo sya ng Investigating Committee at isinabmit
ang reports sa Manila.
Malaking bagay yon. House Reps from the Overseas Workers Affairs Comm visited
HK for that, nag call sya ng meeting with them inviting us at nakipagtalakayan.
Even the window-cleaning is a celebrated issue din.
Nagpapakita ito na kung titindig ang consulate para sa kagalingan ng kanyang
mamamayang migrante, may bigat iyon para ikonsidera ng gobyerno ng OFW-
receiving country (HK)
We celebrate Amba Bernie's life that, though short, was
spent to its fullest. A friend to many, an active servant of the overseas
Filipino community. May she rest in peace.”
Edwina Antonio, executive director, Bethune House Migrant Women’s
Refuge, who recalls a congen who made herself available to those in need at all
times:
“Congen readily acted on our requests on behalf of migrant
workers and other people in need. She responded even outside office hours, like
in the case of a Filipina DJ who was detained along with her 7-year-old
daughter in Indonesia.
A relative of the woman sought our assistance to locate her. Congen did her
best to endorse the case to our embassy in Indonesia for immediate action. A
few days later, both mother and child were rescued.
She did the same for Leonora, an OFW who was dying of
tuberculosis in the brain in HK. The daughter and aunt needed to come to HK to
visit Leonora. Congen did not hesitate to assist the family, too, so they could
see our OFW one last time.
We grieve the loss of a true civil servant, one who
faithfully lived by her oath of serving her compatriots abroad.”
Eman Villanueva, chairman, Bayan Hong Kong and Macau.
Eman remembers one particular incident when Amba Bernie showed her decisiveness, and genuine desire to serve
Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong:
“Bukas siya sa mga suggestions. Hindi niya pinepersonal ang
mga kritisismo. Natatandaan ko noon, nakipag meet kami sa kanya tungkol sa
sobrang perwisyo ng pila sa pagkuha ng OEC. Ang Polo OIC noon ay si ALA (Assistant Labor Attache)
Nena German. Ipinaliwanag namin bakit we were strongly against the OEC at gusto
naming na matanggal na ito. Pero dahil
hindi naman siya makaka decide nito, nag suggest kami na at least magkaroon ng
sistema para hindi na pipila ng halos buong araw ang mga OFWs. We suggested yung
numbered appointment system. Na kukuha ng number ang mga OFWs at babalik sila
sa specified time for service para hindi na nila kelangan mag stay sa pila.
Despite the reluctance ni ALA German to the idea, then Congen Bernie immediately
accepted our proposal and implemented it the following day.”
Leo Selomenio, chair of
Global Alliance in Hong Kong, one of the community’s biggest migrant workers
organizations:
“She will always be remembered. I can’t believe that she is
gone, only memories remain. Maybe that is why I organized big time for our
farewell party before she left for Lebanon. I can’t forget how I
brazenly said to her face that she was the ‘meanest’ when I felt frustrated
about some project my group was doing with the consulate. All she did was to
give a good laugh, pat my shoulder, and say with compassion, ‘am I?’. I regret
saying that because I realized later on that she was not. She was
straightforward but very professional, and had a good sense of humor. I will
never forget our funny moments together. I may be sad now but I am happy with
the thought that she has joined our Creator. Rest in peace, Amba Bernie."
Abigail
Camaya-Hills, president, Pintura
Circle Hong Kong. Her group made up of Hong
Kong-based artists held various art exhibits for
charity at the Consulate, with Amba Bernie's blessings.
“She will be forever remembered and
respected for her untiring commitment to the Filipino community of Hong Kong. She inspired us to keep giving back for the
blessings we have.”
Jo Campos, ex-OFW and contributor of The SUN.
“Nakakalungkot. I could not believe what I saw on my
newsfeed. I needed to wait for other posts and searched for news to confirm
that it was indeed Amba Bernie Catalla. I had the opportunity to see the other
side of our dear ConGen in HK when I was assigned to interview and feature her
in The SUN's Food Trip celebrity chef. I prepared well and wrote my notes and
questions carefully (which I don't usually do.) Ayoko mapahiya kay ConGen na
magkalat sa interview. I went to her residence on Kotewall Rd and she greeted me warmly at
the door. It was a different Ma'am Bernie, as she was not in her usual
"ConGen" attire, but was just wearing a t-shirt and jeans and an
apron. We went straight to the kitchen and she was more prepared than me! The
kitchen looked like a set for a cooking show! We had something in common, and
it just clicked, we started talking endlessly about food and cooking, about her
signature sauces, specially her own
version of XO sauce and I completely forgot how nervous I was so that I totally
ditched my notes and recorder. I came home inspired, I was able to compose my
article so quickly, even my editor noticed it! I will always have a fond memory
of that day although she never knew that I learned so much from that
experience. Goodbye, Maam Bernie. Rest in peace.”
Consul Charles Macaspac, who served with Amba Bernie in HK from
2014-2016 before returning to Manila, and is now posted at the Philippine Embassy in Belgium.
“It was an honor and privilege to serve under her. She had
great rapport with then Hong Kong Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung we were able
to shut down numerous abusive agencies during our regular meetings with the HK
Labour Department. She also revived the political and economic sections. She
always had my back.”
.jpg)
