Sections Obituary-Memorial Park Remembering Ka Tonyang on her 4th Death Anniversary
| Remembering Ka Tonyang on her 4th Death Anniversary |
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| Sections - Obituary-Memorial Park | |||
| Tuesday, 10 July 2007 04:09 | |||
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The original title of this article was: Kababayans' Tributes to Ka Tonyang (Messages Continue to Arrive) Tonette Binsol (AKA Ka Tonyang) died on July 9, 2007, in Tokyo, Japan. Ka Tonyang was one of the most-active Overseas-Filipino advocates of Filipino issues up to her last day. She was just in her late 30s. Here is the latest report of Ms. Yuko Takei, a Filipino-Japanese community advocate in Tokyo: Jun Aguilar and Ellene Sana are making arrangements for a special eulogy at a memorial service for Tonette on Tuesday at St. Antony's Church in Singalong, Manila. **Update** Video of Ka Tonyang interviewed by iTVJapan (provided by Austri G. Basinillo)
Ka Tonette's brother will be arriving in Tokyo today, Friday, July13, 2007. There will be a special memorial service for her at Meguro Church again tomorrow at 6:00 pm. Then on Sunday, the body will be flown to Manila after the usual procedure of embalming the corpse at a hospital here and sealing of the coffin by a Philippine Embassy official. Interment will be on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. Editor's Note: Per Jimmy A. Cura's advisory, those who wish to get in touch directly with the family of the late Tonette or Ka Tonyang Binsol may send their messages to her brother, Mark Binsol, at markie_binsol@yahoo.com or mobile phone # +63 927 431 0712. Here are some of the tributes posted on the Internet. This is to inform all those friends, etc. of Tonette Binsol in this list that she passed away today at 10:26 a.m. She was rushed to a Tokyo hospital last Saturday because of a stroke, and she was given only two days to survive as a matter of fact. * * * It is with deep sorrow to inform you the passing away of a truly remarkable and unselfish woman that was Tonette Binsol (a.k.a. Ka Tonyang). She died this morning 10:26am (TKY time) at Todai University Hospital due to brain hemorrhage. She had Parkinson's disease. * * * Thanks, Yuko, for the information. I did wonder how Tonette, so young and strong, could have had a stroke. Was about to ask how health conscious she was, thinking that she might not have been seeing regularly a doctor for her heart. I did see her in a Japan TV interview that she gained so much weight and thought that she overlooked her health. Her sudden death was really shocking. I cried and I thought about my own mortal being. She will always be remembered and I wish her work could be continued by those surrounding her. Yours, Freda Contreras in Kuwait (a cancer survivor) * * * Gil and the rest of us here in cyberspace remember how we met Tonette Binsol amongst the rest in the cyber community when for the first time some OFs who were passionately discussing the state of the country during Estrada's administration? * * * From: Jimmy A. Cura Dear Danilo, Thanks for the reply. It was to you that I sent my my query because the first news that got to me about what might have happened to Tonette was fuzzy. It implied, however, that something unfortunate had happened to our friend. I found your name and email address on the e-bulletin of the Shien Cooperative that Tonette had organized, so I assumed you would be close enough to where Tonette was in order to clarify the initial reports. Anyway, a lot of information has since been shared by the many friends and admirers of Tonette. To our great grief, it is confirmed that she, indeed, has passed away so unexpectedly and so early in her productive and fruitful life. We shall await the return of her mortal remains to Manila so that we can pay our respects to this great Filipina before she is interred in her final resting place. Hopefully, more details will be made available through the e-groups regarding her wake and actual interment. In the meantime, we can only join our voice with those of countless others who knew Tonette through her messages and deeds. We mourn Tonette's passing but celebrate the love and compassion and fidelity that she showed to her fellowmen and her country of birth. We pray that she be welcomed into Paradise to receive the reward God has promised to those who love Him with all one's mind, heart, and soul, and their neighbor as their own selves. That is exactly how Tonette lived her life. ### * * * Naging myembro ako ng OFW-Japan taong 2004, dahil sa kagustuhan ko lang na magkaroon ng mga kaibigang japayuki o higit pa sa kaibigan dahil nga sa akala ko ay ganun ang mga babae sa Japan. Subalit sa aking nasaksihan sa kasalukuyan hindi pala lahat ng Filipino o Filipina sa Japan o kahit na saang bansa ay di dapat pag isipan ng di magandang karanasan... Dahil sayo Ka Tonyang nagising ako sa katotohanan na di dapat bigyan ng masamang kahulugan ano man ang hangarin ng isang tao sa kanyang sarili... Nakakalungkot ang iyong paglisan, Ka Tonyang. Ikaw ay isang mgandang halimbawa para sa akin... Maraming nagmamahal sayo, Ka Tonyang. Naway maligaya ka saan ka man naroroon... PAGPALAIN KA NAWA NG POONG MAY KAPAL!! Josh Barce * * * From Lalay Rispens: Dear Friends, I was in the middle of the conference in Brussels when Ellen Sana showed to me the shocking SMS message about the untimely death of Tonette. How is it possible for so young, energetic, committed person to die? Heaven knows. It was a coincidence that I was talking with Manuel Orozco about Tonette last June 9 during the Civil Society Forum on Migration and Development. I connected Tonette to Manuel because she wanted advice on how to help the new coop she was organizing in Japan . They were supposed to have a teleconference. I came to know Tonette since 2001 when our crossed path while discussing how we can maximize the benefits of migrants' remittances. She attended several conferences organized by Oxfam Novib. The last time I saw her was when I invited her to attend the conference in Zacatecas , Mexico. She had a hard time getting a transit visa from the American Embassy. Tonette who was always resourceful decided to fly via Canada to reach Mexico City . The people in Bansalan benefited from her computer literacy project and she also sponsored some Moslem children. For those who knew Tonette will agree with that she was a persistent worker who never gives up when the going gets rough. Tonette will be sorely missed by us Filipinos in diaspora. It will never be the same without Tonette who spent her single free time tirelessly to serve the Filipino community. I hope we can live up to the legacy she left and our work continues. Farewell Tonette. It was an honor knowing you. I will miss our email exchanges. May you rest in peace. You led a good life and you have done the best you can. The angels will take care of you. * * * From Cesar Torres: Thank you Yuko. Thank you, Arman. I have been asking about her for a long time now. She has not been writing, a far cry many years ago when she was a constant and gentle and concerned presence in the Filipino Cyberworld. When Dr. Abueva was tasked with working on that Draft Constitution, I recommended her and Dr. Edong del Rosario to be members of that Study Group to represent us Filipinos in Diaspora. I think Dr. Abueva must have tried. But he was not powerful enough. And obviously did not make the final decision. You are in Heaven, Gentle Lady. And for all of us whom Ka Tonyang left behind, we will go on, for as long as our hearts beat to the passion that you were fighting for -- a better life for our people. We will not forget what you were doing -- sending computers to schools, instituting livelihood programs all over Pilipinas Nating Mahal, helping students study in college, and perhaps like Yuko, Susan, and our leaders in Japan, helping our people in Japan survive with whatever dignity they could muster. Your memory will be with us, for as long as there are Filipinos on earth, till the end of time. We will shed a tear for your passing, but we will smile and offer our Thanksgiving too to God for someone who enriched our lives immeasurably. Goodbye Sweet Lady. * * *
Salamat Shiela. If we are believers, Tonette must be smiling at you from Paradise. Actually, I was more on helping my own hometown, but for Tonnette it doesn’t matter which part in the Philippines she has to help, and help she did. I didn’t even know Tonnette’s own hometown, and she was contemplating in doing more for my own home town in Northern Samar. One of the e-mails of Tonnette to me: "Shiela, we can do the same format as Tulong Aeta Literacy model there. We have the definite project in Botolan and OFWs in Japan through pa-bingo and raffle draws and other sponsorship drives gather funds for the project. How about producing a video to introduce Northern Samar first and how it is like? While poverty is a known reality in Samar, it helps to realize this by OFWs seeing them with their own eyes in a video. I could edit that video. Hope there's a way for you to shoot them... maybe you could assign somebody there. Or maybe Cesar has videos or means? Pictures are useful too. We would be glad to help out... let's find definite targets for now. Our constant exchanges could help us achieve something... do you have NGO links there? Let's not have government affiliations. .. would be difficult to handle from my own experiences. "Tonette (www.tpmovers.org) Tokyo "PS The pictures are beautiful... I haven't been in Germany. Would like to drop by when I visit Europe someday again. Maybe if there will be a conference nearby." Tonnette is like the proverbial biblical single grain which has to be planted in order to grow into more grains. So the challenge is in all of us now to follow her lead. Tonnette is now somewhere there looking at us and smiling; not because she is now relieved of having to do a lot of earthly projects, but because she has accessed now the Universal Knowledge to understand why things have to be the way they are or have to be. It is painful for her family and loved ones not to be able to see and touch her again, for now. I just hope they can find consolation on the thought that she is always here in our midst, so that their pain would be somehow bearable. Tonnette, the imprints you’ve left will always be visible. My heartfelt condolence to her family and loved-ones.
* * *
"Kabaro, kilala mo pa ba si Gabriela ng Himagksikan sa iyong puso? Tayo na at pabangunin natin ang lahing Pinoy! Mahalin natin ang Pinas dahil ito ay ating pinagmulan - dito tayo tumubo..." Antonina Binsol. And love she did in 2001 since she subscribed to the Romblon listserve. Then she created her own OFW forum that year which swelled to over 2000 subscribers! She never stopped pushing initiatives of help in cyberspace - hope, hope, and more hope. and action! Ka Tonyang, you will be missed. Ish (Doc Simp) Fabicon of Chicago and Romblon * * *
We share in grief the sudden passing of one of great Filcom leaders who exemplified a true Christian believer in words, thoughts and action. We in this part of the world can only wish eternal peace for her soul and that many more OFWs will follow in her footsteps and be a beacon light in the stormy seas across the borders of our country. * * * Thank you for the information. Please extend our deep sympathy to her family members. Please take care of your health too. * * * I am really so sorry to hear this Yuko and Me Ann. Napakarami niyang tinulungan. May her soul rest in peace... She will be in my prayers. - Si Ka Edong po from Guam, where America's day begins Thanks for the information, Sis Y. This is sad news. Tonette Binsol was a valued voice in this forum. In behalf of my family, we extend our most sincere condolences to those she left behind. * * * Dear Yuko,
IN ANOTHER YAHOOGROUP, I JUST READ THAT KA TONYANG PASSED AWAY today! NOOOO... I HOPE THAT IS NOT TRUE.... HOW COME THOSE DOING A LOT IN THEIR SILENT WAYS DIE YOUNG AND SOON... A YEAR AGO ANOTHER OVERSEAS FILIPINO FROM HONGKONG, LINDA LAYOSA, DIED PREMATURELY! AS A HUMAN BEING, I CANNOT COMPREHEND ALL THESE HUMAN EXPERIENCES... I FEEL SAD... AND BEWILDERED.... LIFE IS SO FRAGILE AND DEATH ALWAYS COMES WHEN LEAST EXPECTED.. IF IT IS TRUE THAT KA TONYANG DIED, I PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF HER SOUL! ERNIE DELFIN, SOUTHERN CALIF. * * *
Dear Daphne and All: I have copied the messages received here for Tonette's family, and sent through some members of the UPAA in Japan to relay to her parents who are expected to come and fetch her remains. It happened so suddenly, I am told. She collapsed in a meeting with some Filipinos, and was rushed to the hospital last Saturday. It was a massive stroke and she did not recover. She was put in ICU, and was given only two days to live or die. The doctor said that if she survived, she would be an invalid for life. They wanted to remove the respirator on Monday but there was no immediate family around so they just waited for her to give up the ghost, and that happened Tuesday morning. Sorry, mistype. The time was 10:26 a.m. Her death surely was a good reminder of how fleeting life can be and that this life is indeed a probation that we need to take advantage of to be worthy to go back to God. One cannot put off the time to make up for one's shortcomings and be worthy, for it may be too late! May she rest in peace indeed! DiYumu Yuko * * *
The news of Tonette's passing away is, indeed, a shocker. Tonette helped me understand, through her personal emails, the technical aspects of how OF and OFW "news in pictures" are published in the Internet. She was an indefatigable advocate of many Philippine community development projects. She will definitely be missed. With sincerest condolences. Nes Duldulao Chair, Overseas Filipino Council Secretariat _www.ofcouncil.org_ (http://www.ofcouncil.org/) * * * This is so sudden and such sad news. Our condolences to her family, will be * * * Hi fellow OFW, * * * Thank you, Yuko, for letting us know. Pls. let us know how we can help Tonette's family. From Austri G. Basinillo of Metro Manila, Philippines: Tonette , a one of a kind cyber and real life NGO, passed away on July 10th, * * * Tonette Binsol studied and lived in Japan in the late 80's when we first met in the Internet. She created the scholarship program for several indigenous children in the Zambales and Sierra Madre and later spread to other indigenous peoples all over the country. Her love for her ancestral countrymen was genuine and her knowledge was shared to all. * * * From Apo Satur (Satur Z. Respicio, Jr.) of Hercules, California: * * * I am so sorry to know this. May her soul rest in peace. * * * The news about Tonette's "departure" was shocking. For an energetic person like her, who was so active in the community, advocating for a number of things designed to benefit the less-privileged ones, we have never expected that she would be leaving so soon. She had started many projects, and let us hope that she had trained someone who could pursue her unfinished projects. * * *
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Thanks for your continuing efforts to let our kababayans
and the whole world know of what Tonette (Ka Tonyang)
Binsol did for her needy compatriots both in her homeland
and in the diaspora, as well as the quiet, selfless, self-effacing,
but total, consistent, and passionate manner by which
she rendered service.
As the days pass since Tonette died, I cannot help but
wonder why our government does not seem to have heard
at all about this modern-day "Mother Teresa" in cyberspace.
So far, I have not heard nor read any news from any of the
agencies which are supposed to assist, monitor, and recognize
the accomplishments of our Overseas Filipinos.
We all know, of course, that recognition from government
or from anyone else was the farthest thing in Tonette's mind.
As she set about conceptualizing, mobilizing, looking for
partners, leading, and implementing the diverse projects
that she launched, it was the urgency of the need of the
beneficiaries that was always uppermost in her mind.
Sometimes, she felt some impatience with the pace of
government response. But she chose not to dwell nor harp
on this. Instead, she went on to identify other resources
that could be tapped, wherever they could be sourced.
And when help came, she was supremely generous
with her recognition and praise for those who gave
assistance.
For those who have worked with Tonette, this attitude and
mindset of selfless service to those in need is probably
her greatest legacy, even more than the type, number, and
diversity of projects that she helped launch durng her all-too-
brief sojourn on this earth.
If only for this, Tonette Binsol deserves to be recognized
and held up as a true role model for all Filipinos (and other
citizens of the world) who strive in their own way to respond
to the volunteer task of service.
It would be nice if some institutional recognition (government
included) could be given to someone like Ka Tonyang.
It would be a testimony to the Filipino's capacity for true greatness
that is not sought nor contrived but which springs from genuine
love of God and one's neighbor.
Jimmy A. Cura
Pleased to read the linked article on Ka Tonyang's exemplary life. Very inspiring.
@ Tamoy Garra We are glad that you liked the obituary piece on Ka Tonyang. We have never deleted any of our articles published since April 9, 2007. And we bring them back to the Front Page when the occasion calls for it. Yes, Ka Tonyang led indeed an examplary life, all for the greater glory of God and