FINDING ANSWERS

For admirers of an outstanding Filipino who showed genuine compassion for the poor and needy, last Sunday came as a shock: It was the day former Social Welfare secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman passed away.

I’ve known Dinky to be an impassioned social worker, full of optimism as we were together in the Cabinet of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who rose to the presidency during EDSA 2 in 2001. I remember her cheerfulness during the Cabinet meetings I attended when I was Interior and Local Government secretary until right after the 2004 elections.

Even before her first stint in government, Dinky was reputed to be a tenacious community organizer and activist like me who stood up against the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos.

And speaking of martial law, since today is the 49th anniversary of its declaration in 1972, I recall those dark times when harsh military rule and absolute media suppression led to numerous human rights abuses. I was a student leader from the University of Santo Tomas then, and I remember that because there was a dearth of news as radio stations were suddenly shut down, we had to mimeograph and distribute copies of manifestos about the evils of martial law.

At the risk of being accosted or arrested by military authorities, I distributed the mimeographed manifestos in five schools at Manila’s University Belt. Amid warnings from friends and school authorities to be extra careful while carrying out the surreptitious activities in disseminating useful information to other students, I had to overcome my fear of being caught as I was facing charges of subversion.

I can imagine how Dinky, also the consummate activist that she was then, had to summon a lot of courage in going about her role as community organizer and resisting martial law. She showed how such courage and firmness of purpose can go a long way in the struggle to uplift the plight of the poor and the oppressed. Her heart was indeed in the right place.

Her being highly-principled was shown in July 2005 when she joined the so-called Hyatt 10 – the seven Cabinet secretaries and three bureau chiefs that included my brother Bert Lina, as Customs Commissioner, who resigned their posts amid the “Hello Garci” scandal.

“My loyalty to the people is higher than my loyalty to her because ultimately, we are all accountable to the people,” Dinky wrote in a post resignation letter.

But Dinky is best remembered for her tenacity in promoting the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the Conditional Cash Transfer Program that has benefited some 4.4 million families during the time of President Noynoy Aquino when she was also DSWD secretary.

Her efforts were recognized by the World Bank for “promoting social accountability as a means to eradicate poverty and promote inclusive growth” and she was given a leadership award in 2015 in a ceremony held at the WB headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"She translates the practice of social accountability and transparency into concrete strategic activities, which she implements with great commitment and passion... Amid dissenting voices and criticisms, she opens the door for collaboration, participation and dialogue, inviting people to voice and discuss their concerns," WB Country Director Motoo Konishi said of Dinky then.

Last May 8, 2021, despite health concerns, Dinky granted my request for her to be the speaker of the Public Policy Research Group (PPRG) on the topic "How to help our poor during the pandemic and beyond" in a well-attended webinar. PPRG, which I chair, is a think-tank composed of former legislators, cabinet secretaries and undersecretaries, and other experts.

For her sterling achievements as the Philippines’ foremost social worker who really cared for the needy and “walked the talk” in her drive to uplift the lives of millions of impoverished Filipinos, Dinky will surely be missed. Our deepest condolences to her husband, my fraternity brother Atty. Hec Soliman, and to all her loved ones and may the Almighty grant her eternal peace!

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