Courtesy: Office of Rep. Bryan Revilla
AGIMAT Party-list Representative Bryan Revilla renewed his call for stronger protection, sustained assistance, and dignified treatment for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as the remains of OFW Maryan Pascual Esteban were formally received on December 20 at NAIA Terminal 1 following her death in a fire incident in Hong Kong.
“Ngayong araw, sinalubong po natin ang labi ng ating kababayang OFW na si Maryan Pascual Esteban, na nasawi sa malagim na sunog sa Wang Fuk Court sa Tai Po District, Hong Kong,” Rep. Revilla said. “Ang maayos at marangal na pag-uwi ng kanyang labi ay isang malinaw na mensahe na hindi natin pababayaan ang ating mga Bagong Bayani.”
Revilla recalled that immediately after the tragedy, he flew to Hong Kong on December 7 at the behest of House Speaker Bojie Dy to personally assess the situation of affected Filipino workers and ensure that immediate assistance was extended, particularly to the families of Maryan Pascual Esteban and fellow OFW Rhodora Alcaraz.
“Kalunos-lunos man ang sinapit ni Maryan, taos-puso po tayong nakikiramay sa kanyang naiwang pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay,” he said, adding that coordination remains ongoing to ensure her proper transfer to her final resting place in Isabela and continued support for her family in the days ahead.
Revilla expressed his gratitude to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), led by Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) under Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, and the DMW Migrant Workers Offices Operations Support Bureau (MWOOSB) for their swift and compassionate action in facilitating the repatriation.
He noted that the tragic loss underscores the everyday risks OFWs face abroad and highlights the importance of strong, responsive government institutions that can act decisively during crises.
This message was echoed during the 2025 Migrant Workers Offices Command Conference of the DMW, held from December 16 to 19 at the Conrad Hotel Manila, where Revilla addressed Labor Attachés, Welfare Officers, and Assistance-to-Nationals Officers from around the world.
As Chairperson of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, Revilla emphasized the vital role of frontline service workers who respond to legal, welfare, and emergency concerns of OFWs across borders.
“Kayo po ang patunay na ang serbisyo publiko ay may puso, malasakit, at malinaw na layunin,” Revilla said in his address. “Araw-araw, tahimik ninyong sinasagot ang pinakamahalagang tanong: ‘Para kanino?’ At malinaw ang sagot – para sa kapwa Pilipino.”
During the conference, Revilla also shared recent legislative developments, including the passage of the OFW Balikbayan Act on Third and Final Reading in the House of Representatives, describing it as a commitment to ensure that every returning OFW is welcomed with dignity, opportunity, and real support.
“This will be more than a law. It is a promise that every OFW will return to a homeland that honors them,” he said.
Drawing from the Hong Kong fire tragedy, Revilla stressed that while OFWs continue to face dangers such as unsafe environments, disasters, and abuse, they are not alone due to the dedication of government personnel stationed abroad.
“These are our unsung heroes – our labor attachés, welfare officers, and assistance-to-nationals officers – who serve as the vital link between our distressed OFWs abroad and the support systems here in the Philippines,” he said.
Revilla concluded by calling for continued prayers and solidarity for the family of Maryan Pascual Esteban and reiterated his commitment to advancing policies that safeguard the safety, security, and dignity of Filipino workers overseas.
“Sa ngayon, ang ating dasal ay kapayapaan at lakas ng loob para sa pamilya ni Maryan,” he said. “Bilang boses ng ating mga Bagong Bayani, mananatili po tayong nakaalalay at patuloy na magsusulong ng mga panukala para sa kanilang kapakanan.”
AGIMAT Party-list also thanked the DMW, OWWA, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Supreme Court, and partner agencies for their continued cooperation in protecting the welfare of OFWs worldwide, as the nation observes the holiday season with renewed gratitude for its modern-day heroes.
