PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has posthumously awarded the Order of Lakandula with the Rank of Grand Cross (Bayani) to former Department of Migrant Workers secretary Maria Susana “Toots” Ople.
The recognition honors her life dedicated to protecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
In his speech, Marcos said that Ople’s legacy remains embedded in government systems that continue to protect OFWs worldwide.
“No Filipino should ever be left behind, ignored, or forgotten,” the president emphasized, saying that Ople’s advocacy was rooted in dignity and patriotism — not just the economic value of remittances.
He called her “one of the best people I have ever met,” and noted that the policies safeguarding OFWs today are built on the foundation she established.
The conferment took place at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang in time with the fourth anniversary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). It was received by Ople’s daughter, Susanne Laurie Estelle Ople Osorio.
“All that my mother did was, at its core, a labor of love,” Osorio said, recounting how Ople dedicated her life — both inside and outside government — to ensuring that no Filipino worker would ever feel abandoned, no matter how far from home.
Meanwhile, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that the conferment elevates Ople’s service beyond memory and into national history.
“Her heroism, her patriotism, are all offered to the ages for countless generations and for all time,” Cacdac said. “Secretary Toots will always be our pillar of strength, our beacon of hope, our pride and joy,” he added, recalling how she led with courage and compassion even in the most dangerous missions.
Cacdac said Ople also pushed for institutional reforms, including stronger repatriation systems, improved inter-agency coordination, and a rights-based approach to labor migration that prioritized OFWs and their families in policy.
Ople, who passed away on Aug. 22, 2023, served as the first secretary of the DMW, transforming the newly established department into what it is called now, the “Tahanan ng OFW.” Under her leadership, the Philippines forged dozens of bilateral labor agreements focused on worker protection, expanded government-to-government cooperation, and strengthened mechanisms to address abuse, illegal recruitment, and human trafficking.
She led crisis response efforts that evacuated distressed Filipinos from conflict zones, including Sudan, where she personally oversaw evacuation and relief operations.
She also managed earlier efforts to assist OFWs affected by unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, she advocated for the resolution of long-standing unpaid wages for Filipino workers abroad and worked to protect the jobs of Filipino seafarers through high-level negotiations with European shipowners.
The Order of Lakandula, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, is awarded for political and civic excellence in recognition of leadership, bravery, and service to the country. The rank of Grand Cross (Bayani) is given to individuals whose lives and contributions are considered admirable and worthy of imitation by Filipinos.