The province of Bulacan celebrated the 99th birth anniversary of Gat Blas F. Ople recently in the city of Malolos by honoring the life and works of the former Bulakenyo senator who is widely known as the “Father of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and the Philippine Labor Code.”
With the theme “Gat Blas F. Ople: Huwaran ng Pinanday na Isipan, Inspirasyon ng mga Kabataan,” the commemoration was graced by Ka Blas’s daughter, Atty. Dalisay Ople – San Jose, and his granddaughter, Estelle Ople Osorio.
In her message, Osorio, the president of Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, Inc., highlighted some of his late grandfather’s impactful initiatives that left positive change to the Filipino people, including the 13th month pay, budget allocation to the education sector, and programs that protect the OFWs around the world.
“Ang 13th month pay na inaabangan natin tuwing Pasko, ang probisyon na nagsasabi sa Konstitusyon na pinakamalaking bahagi ng budget ng ating gobyerno taun-taon ay dapat ilaan sa edukasyon, at ang sistemang nagbibigay proteksyon sa ating mga OFW na ginagaya ng mga ibang bansa, lahat po ‘yan ay bahagi ng kaniyang naiambag,” she said.
“Ang pagdiriwang po natin ng Ople Day ay hindi lamang pag-alaala sa isang pangalan, kundi pag-alaala sa isang buhay na puno ng aral, sakripisyo, at pagmamahal sa ating bayan.”
“Ang pagdiriwang po natin ng Ople Day ay hindi lamang pag-alaala sa isang pangalan, kundi pag-alaala sa isang buhay na puno ng aral, sakripisyo, at pagmamahal sa ating bayan,” Osorio added.
On the other hand, Governor Daniel Fernando reminded Bulakenyos that Blas was also the first to notice the high tide issue in the province and proposed a coastal road-dike project that will connect the provinces of Bataan and Cavite through an interlink bridge.
“Isine-celebrate [natin] itong taong ito, dahil [siya] ay isa sa mga nagsumikap na magkaroon ng flood control. Noon pa lang nakita na ng taong ito, nakita niya na lahat kung ano ang mangyayari. Nakita ni Ka Blas, na nagha-high tide sa Hagonoy. Kaya inilaban ni Ka Blas ang coastal [road-dike] na ilalatag sa kahabaan ng coastal ng Bataan hanggang Cavite,” Fernando said.
“Mayroon pala si Ka Blas nito, kaya dapat mabuhay, kaya naman napagkaisahan po naming mga governor — Bataan, Pampanga, at Bulacan.”
“Mayroon pala si Ka Blas nito, kaya dapat mabuhay, kaya naman napagkaisahan po naming mga governor — Bataan, Pampanga, at Bulacan. Dahil gusto ko, ‘yung pangarap ni Ka Blas ay matupad,” the governor added.
It can be recalled that Fernando, along with Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda and Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III, recently appealed to the Office of the President to officially start the construction of the Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control, Coastal Defense and Expressway Project.
The said project was initially proposed by Blas in the 1970s under the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. but was left neglected and unsupported.
