Juan Country » Susan Toots Ople

Why am I voting Toots Ople for Senator

Carlo Ople — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:31:28 +0000

For the first name on my list, I’m voting for my aunt, Susan “Toots” Ople, who’s running for the Senate under the Nacionalista Party. I’m not voting for her just because we’re related. In fact, my personal friends know that I openly oppose the idea of having more Oples run for government positions especially if they’re not really qualified or if they don’t have the heart for service. That’s not the case with Tita Toots. Here we have a person who is genuinely passionate about helping local and overseas Filipino workers. Combine that with her track record and you have an upcoming phenomenal public servant.

Her Track Record
She’s not just running because she’s an “Ople”. Tita Toots has been working with the government for more than 16 years, including a stint as Undersecretary for the Department of Labor. Her educational background is also quite something else. She holds a master’s degree (Public Administration) from the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. She was even given an additional award for Excellence in Communication.

After my grandfather passed away, one of my auntie’s first projects was to put up the Blas F. Ople Policy and Training Institute. This NGO’s main goal was to continue the legacy of my grandfather whose heart was really for the Filipino worker (domestic and abroad). Through the Ople Center, Tita Toots was able to bring home countless oppressed Filipinos which included trafficked victims in Syria and the 137 bus drivers who were stranded in Dubai due to illegal operations of recruitment agencies. For training, the OPLE Center has provided FREE computer literacy programs to OFWs and their families. This is in cooperation with OWWA and Microsoft.

Her track record is solid. Her heart is in the right place. She deserves your vote.

Her Platform
Let me just quote this from her official website:

For Labor:
- OWWA reform: 6 of the 12 members of OWWA’s Board of Directors must be bona fide OFWs, because they are the ones who can genuinely represent the needs of their sector.
- Stop the abuse of contractual workers: Make it more difficult for companies to fire employees indiscriminately at the end of their 6 month contract, to make sure workers who are industrious don’t get fired just because their employer doesn’t want to pay for additional benefits.
- Beef up local employment: Study trends in employment and come up with a 6 to 10 year national employment strategic plan. This employment plan should not have a bias for what jobs will be in demand overseas; rather, it should also give equal attention to local industries that when developed would employ a lot of people (i.e. creative industries).

For the Youth:
- Study Now, Pay Later: Re-introduce and strengthen the Study Now, Pay Later program, where students can borrow money from the government for their studies, and pay it back once they already start working.
- Inclusion of Financial Literacy in HS and College Curriculums: high school and college students, no matter what course, should be taught the basics of saving and investing. They should know how to open a bank account, what a time deposit is, how to buy shares from public companies, and the like. This is practical education that will serve them well once they start earning their own money.

A vote for Ople in the upcoming elections is a vote for someone who fight for the rights of the everyday Filipino worker. We need that now more than ever because the government really isn’t handling the OFW situation properly. One of the programs that my Auntie wants to push is a re-integration program by boosting local employment. Let’s give our brothers and sisters a reason to go home, and stay home as well.

On a more personal note, I’ve known Tita Toots for years. I can honestly say that she is too kind for her own good, hahaha! She sacrifices too much even for people she doesn’t even know. She has the right motive and with an excellent track record I see no reason why we shouldn’t support her.

OPLE SA SENADO!

Magdalo Party endorses Villar-Roxas Tandem

Carlo Ople — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:47:11 +0000

Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes’ Magdalo party was all set to endorse Senator Chiz Escudero as their President of choice a few months ago. Wednesday morning the Magdalo group revealed their new Presidential candidate: Senator Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party. For Vice-President though they didn’t opt to push for Senator Loren Legarda, instead they went for Liberal Party’s Senator Mar Roxas. This made me think about a possible Villar-Roxas scenario in 2010. Those two guys hate each other’s guts. I wonder what will happen if they end up as partners in steering this country forward should both of them win? That would definitely make things interesting.

Magdalo also endorsed the following Senatorial candidates:

Colonel Ariel Querubin (NP), Senators Pilar Juliana Cayetano (NP), Rep. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (NP), Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada (Pwersa ng Masa), Susan Ople (NP), Gilbert Remulla (NP), Adel Tamano (NP), Brigadier General Danilo Lim (Liberal Party), Rep Ruffino Rozzano Biazon (LP), former Sen Vicente Sotto III (NPC), lawyer JV Bautista (PMP) and Jose de Venecia III (PMP).

I’m very happy to note that my auntie, Susan “Toots” Ople, is one of the senatorial candidates who was endorsed by Magdalo. In behalf of my family, let me just say thank you to Magdalo for their support. It was also cool to see another Senatorial candidate that I am actively campaigning for in their list – Liberal Party’s Ruffy Biazon.

Anyway, the Magdalo party has a nationwide membership of around 55,000. If you count their influence over their respective families and if ever they do decide to block vote, then you’re looking at voting base of 150,000-200,000. Let’s see which personalities in their list won’t make the cut come election day.

What now, Carlo Ople?

Carlo Ople — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:57:59 +0000

A lot of people have been asking me if I have plans of running for office anytime in the near future. I’ve been thinking about this for the longest time now and after a lot of prayer, thinking, and consulting, I think I finally have an answer! The past few weeks have been filled with so much revelations and I finally pieced them all together this yesterday during the 6th year death anniversary of my late grandfather.

My auntie, Susan Ople, gave a passionate speech during her declaration about why she finally decided to run for senate in the upcoming elections. She talked about what some people told her when she sent out feelers that she’d run. “Anak siya ni Blas Ople… So what?” That was one of the reactions that she’d get from people who don’t know her. She went on in her speech to explain that the question she asked herself wasn’t “so what?” but “Anak ka ni Blas Ople… so what now?”

I agree with her 100%. Being part of a political family should not be about benefits or free passes to a career in government service. It’s a challenge and a call for genuine service. You have to work harder because you have to break the image that you’re running only because you share the last name. You have to put it more effort compared to normal because there are higher expectations. Don’t run because you have a relative who’s in government. Run because you really want to serve. Run because you are ready for a life of sacrifice. Run when you think you’re ready to serve your country more than your family. You will need your relationship with your family to be in the best shape because believe me when I say that politics will take a major toll on your relationship with your wife and children.

As a public official, my grandfather left a legacy of service, passion, and intelligence. However more than that, I knew him as my grandfather more than him being a Senator, Senate President, or Cabinet Secretary. I remember his warm smiles and firm handshakes more than his fiery speeches on the floor. But more than anything, I remember his indomitable love for this country. That same love fueled him to break out of poverty as the son of a fisherman in Hagonoy. He graduated top of his class, became a journalist, and eventually embarked on one roller coaster political journey. My grandfather served under 5 presidents: Marcos, Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Arroyo.

He did all of that without the benefit of having someone in his family in politics before him. And in that thought, I found my answer.

The starting point to a career in government service is a real love and passion for this country and for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Your heart has to be in the right place. But more than that, your family has to be ready. This is not a decision that you will make on your own. This has to be something that your spouse and kids agree to. By being a public official, you are making your family vunerable. I can’t count how many broken families I’ve seen because of politics. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about.

As a government official, you are exposed to innumerable amounts of temptation that can damage your relationships with friends and family. It’s a no-win situation because in the times you say “No”, most likely your career will suffer your you’ll actually put lives in danger. In the times that you give in to temptation, you are forever beholden to your benefactors. In the moments that you give in, you live a double life – because you definitely don’t want to let your family find out what you’ve been doing behind their backs.

The journey to being a public official begins with that desire to serve, and you don’t have to be in office to do that. To resist all of the temptations that come your way, you need to train yourself hard. You have to build good and solid relationships with friends and family. You need to be financially secure so that you won’t look at your position as just a source of income. If ever that it will be your only source of money, then you have to make sure that the salary you get will be enough to sustain your lifestyle. You have to develop REAL love for the country. All of this doesn’t happen over a few days, months, or even years.

That’s my challenge to myself and to everyone in my generation. If you want to change this country, don’t do it by jumping into politics unprepared. Don’t just throw yourselves into the lions’ den without having the benefit of a sharp blade and a sturdy shield. The only thing sadder than a corrupt politician is seeing a promising young leader turn into one because he or she wasn’t prepared.

Change the country by changing yourself for the better. Then change your family. Then change those dear to you. And if you keep doing it, then you build a stronger heart, a stronger family, a stronger relationship with God, and a stronger bank account (lol).

So what now, Carlo Ople? Running might be an option, but not in the immediate future. I think it’s a phase that I’ll eventually have to take on, especially in the later part of life but for now I’m more than happy to just be the soon-to-be husband to my soon-to-be-wife. I’m excited to be a father. I want to carve out my career in digital marketing and maybe venture into business. I also want to come up with something that will inspire the Filipino youth to start dreaming again.

You don’t need to be a politician to love this country.

Susan “Toots” Ople declares Senate bid in 2010

Carlo Ople — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:30:52 +0000

Endorsed by more than twenty labor and OFW groups, Susan “Toots” Ople, the youngest daughter of the late Senator and Statesman Blas F. Ople, declared her bid for a seat in the Senate in the upcoming 2010 elections. It wasn’t your usual declaration press conference because it actually looked more like a labor forum. Prior to her declaration, various figures in the local and migrant worker industries took to the stage and gave speeches on the current situation of the Philippine labor force.

This is personal for me since she’s actually my auntie and we’ve worked together on several projects before. If there’s one thing I can say about my Tita, it’s that she’s one of the most passionate, hard-working, and progressive individuals I’ve ever met. Her heart is really in the right place and I’ve seen her work at the sidelines for too long already. It’s truly her time to finally come out and serve the entire country as a Senator.

Here’s a video which was shown prior to her taking to the stage to announce her candidacy.

I’ll try to get a copy of the list of labor and political groups that endorsed her bid earlier and post them in a separate entry. I’ll also get a copy of her 5-point agenda which I’ll publish in this blog when I get it from her office. Note that she hasn’t stated yet under what party she’ll be running under.

Here are some pictures as well of the event. Sorry for the bad quality, I was just using my camera phone for this one.

Senator Escudero’s Senate Line-up

Carlo Ople — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:25:09 +0000

In a blogger session with Senator Chiz Escudero, he shared with us his planned original endorsed line-up for the Senate with his former party, the NPC. He still supports these candidates even though he’s left the party already. One of the names that came up was my auntie’s, Susan “Toots” Ople. Others that he mentioned were Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Cong. TG Guingona, Bongbong Plaza, and General Danny Lim.

Here’s the video. Sorry for the poor quality, I took this with my BlackBerry phone camera and I forgot to take out the plastic case which kinda covered the audio receptors, haha.

I’ll be posting more about the various discussions that happened in the event in the coming days. He even mentioned who he would endorse if he decided not to pursue his bid for the Presidency.

Susan “Toots” Ople offered a Senate Slot

Carlo Ople — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:05:00 +0000

If there’s one thing I noticed, it’s that almost all the politicians these days are saying that they’re the allies of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). This is mainly because there are 10,000,000 OFWs and they have the power to influence the votes of their families back home. If there’s one figure that really deserves to be called a champion of OFWs, it’s former USEC. Susan “Toots” Ople. Having worked with her for several projects, I can really say that she has the heart for our Kababayans who are struggling abroad. In an article in Inquirer, it’s revealed that she’s been offered a slot in the Senatorial line-up of several opposition parties.

Based on the article below, there’s talk going around that the offer came from Senator Chiz Escudero’s NPC.

Ople child offered Senate ticket slot

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:26:00 09/19/2009

Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Politics

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — An opposition party has asked the youngest daughter of the late Senator Blas Ople to join its lineup for the Senate in the 2010 elections.

Susan Ople, 46, who chairs the Ople Policy Center, a non-government organization helping overseas Filipino workers and laborers, said she has started consulting people close to her and her group to help her decide.

Ople, whose father also served as labor minister and foreign affairs secretary, said she could not name the politician who sought her and the party that the official represents because that person has yet to announce his candidacy.

A source close to her, however, said it was the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Ople, a native of Hagonoy, Bulacan, was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004 as labor undersecretary. She, however, resigned following various controversies that rocked the Arroyo administration.

She said she preferred to lead the Ople Policy Center’s advocacy in helping OFWs, workers and labor unions “without the clout and color of politics.”

Should she decide to run for senator, Ople said she would author laws to protect workers.

Ople, known to family and friends by her nickname “Toots,” holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University, where she received the Josephine Vernon Award of Excellence.
Carmela Reyes, Inquirer Central Luzon

And we have my second candidate that I’m sure in voting for the Senate come 2010.

(Author’s Note: I’m related to Susan Ople. She’s the sister of my father.)