We never met in person.
Out of the blue, one day I got a friendly call from Ms. Tonette Binsol. I don’t know how she got hold of my cellphone number. But someone like her had resources, and lots of connections. People connections. So it was not really surprising. Just the same, I was flattered that she knew me at all.
The call, as it turned out, was made in order to convey her request for me to remove the link to an interview article featuring her at Philippines Today. Of course, I asked her why.
Hesitatingly, she tried to explain. I couldn’t exactly remember what the main reason was – all I could remember was that the article raised the hackles of some people, and she thought that removing the article in question was a solution.
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about. The interview was done in good faith. It only sought to reveal the person responsible for several cyber-NGO projects, to raise public awareness of the projects that she and fellow Filipinos were involved in. She was the prime mover for the Tulong Pinoy Movement, the brains behind the Iskolar Pinoy project, OFW-Shien network, migrant school for Filipinos in Japan, plus a host of other civic-oriented activities. The list seems endless. Indeed, she was the epitome of a relentless, selfless person who strived to help others in need.
She sought to be heard. She was in practically every mailing list available for Filipinos working and living in Japan.
So what was the trouble all about? Perhaps because sometimes, the greatest among us becomes the most susceptible to criticism and rejection. Sometimes the most diligent among us becomes the object of disdain and ridicule. Or simply perhaps the ones who are most willing to do the job can excel on what the rest of us can’t and won’t do. It’s easier to stand back and criticize mistakes than to do the job yourself.
She emailed incessantly. So much so that moderators of our mailing list decided to put her in our banned member’s list. For us, there was so much seemingly irrelevant information in her emails, things that did not really concerned the lives of the students and scholars in Tsukuba. And wouldn’t it always seem that way, if one did not really give a damn about the advocacies promoted by another person of a different ideology?
But no matter. She found other channels, other ways to disseminate her information and advocacy campaigns. She was…relentless.
I removed the link on the current front page of Philippines Today, but nevertheless kept the article in question in our archives. That’s the reason why it still comes up in search engines. But Tonette Binsol didn’t seem to mind anymore. I supposed that she was too busy minding her affairs and those of other people she wanted to help.
It came as a complete shock for me to hear that Tonette Binsol joined her Maker today, July 10, 2007, at 10:26 am. She succumbed to severe brain infarction brought about by aneurysm.
Why is it that the most productive among us have the shortest time on earth? Why is it that those who only wanted to live for others have their lives viciously taken away from them?
Like that link which I had removed from the front page, Tonette Binsol is gone. But her heritage, the inspiration she imparted to other people, and the testimony of her life will definitely live on. Her links, real and virtual, will remain alive.
And like that article which still remained in our archives, Tonette Binsol will live through the lives of the people she had touched.
Perhaps she didn’t always do things right, and perhaps not everyone is satisfied with what she had done. But tell me, who should be the rightful judge of that? From where I stand, she did great things that only few of us could ever hope to emulate. And for that, she is damn special.
I didn’t think that it would come this soon – but I now join the rest of the Filipinos in Japan and around the world in mourning the passing of one of the most influential Filipinos I’ve ever known. May her legacy leave on.
Goodbye, sayonara Tonette – and may you find eternal peace and rest you rightfully deserve.
kathy, this is a moving tribute. still in shock and just finished writing somethin in my multiply. i hope we can send something to her family as a group or perhaps offer something to her various advocacies…
from HIM we came from and to HIM we shall return..
my condolences to her bereaved family and friends
oh, so sorry she had to die so soon. why do people like her and Julia Campbell who devoted their lives helping others had to die prematurely? why oh why?
May God bless her soul!
If you guys are compiling the tributes for Ka Tonyang please include the tribute from Pedestrian Observer under the entry Goodbye Ka Tonyang.
im donna, tonet’s fren and co-mover in TP. this is the tonet’s address in tonet in manila 2438 Singalong St., Malate, Manila tel. 5253059, you could offer mass for her
Me too. Whenever I think of her, I still couldn’t quite believe that she’s gone…just like that.
Btw I read your entry, and I did try to comment. Kaso I needed to sign in with a Multiply account, which I don’t have. Tsk.
Truly we are not in control of our lives – simply because we do not know when we our lives will end.
And people like Tonette, they truly are a blessing – people who really want to make a difference in other people’s lives.
Belle, I ask the same questions myself. It is one of the greatest ironies of life. Maybe it serves as a wakeup call for the others? That we should learn from their lives so we can emulate them?
Hello Jaywalker, thanks for dropping by.
I tried to access the page you mentioned a few times, but I couldn’t. I wonder what the problem is?
Hello Donna…I really feel sorry for losing someone like Tonette. I’m sure that many movers like you feel the same way. Thanks for your suggestion and giving me the info.
Maybe its really true, those who are good gets taken first.
I pray for the repose of her sooul. I’m sure her good deeds will be rewarded.
Leah, indeed I can only hope and pray that there will be others like her – her life is such an inspiration to many people.
Who can say she has lived an impeccable life? I salute Tonette not for always making the right choices but for a life of commitment to the causes she holds dear.
Ang daming fence sitters who just make noises. It is refreshing to hear of action people … who put their energies where their mouth is.
This is so sad. We can never tell how long we are going to live. What is important is that we do our best while we can. Read the article by Philip Nemenzo in Philippines Today and saw what she was able to do. Such loss.
Dear Kathy,
This blog deserves a space on the many tributes to Tonette!! Why dont you put it on the online Philipines Today..
Hi,
I’m Arlene Dinglasan, a contributor to Jeepney Press, a leading Filipino newspaper in Japan. It’s coming out
with an issue that will include a write-up on Tonette Binsol, her life
and contribution to Japan and the Filipinos. The article will include
short stories about her, interview with people she worked with and a
compilation of messages from people whose lives were touched by
Tonette.
Since I was asked to work on the said article, I’d like to ask your permission to use part of your blog entry on Tonette. As a reference, the link to this site will be acknowledged unless requested otherwise.
I would really appreciate it if you could please email me to confirm that it’s ok to use your blog as a reference. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
Arlene