A Jordanian national, who could have easily been living a much more comfortable life in the hospitality sector with his college and master’s degrees in tourism, has abandoned that career to instead work for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
For this, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has conferred upon him the Assistance to National (ATN) Award through its embassy in Jordan – a first in the history of the commendation, which began 18 years ago in 2002.
“(It’s) my passion… that brings me directly to people needing assistance in various ways,” Issa Mohammad Mofleh Ahmad, the embassy’s official translator assigned to its ATN section since 2012, told Manila-based independent news portal, Rappler.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin conferred Ahmad with the award during the 122nd founding anniversary of the department.
Ahmad’s job tasks him to provide valuable coordination with the Jordanian authorities, foreign recruitment agencies and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on issues requiring practical and legal advice, case management, and final resolution of complaints.
Ahmad’s educational background involves the hospitality industry, holding a bachelor’s and master’s degree in tourism and with which he could have been living in convenience and luxury.
But his dedication took the better part of him, having been instrumental, the embassy said, in the successful repatriation to the Philippines of over 1,100 OFWs from 2019 to early 2020 under Jordan’s 2019 Amnesty Law.
He also provides assistance in the monitoring of over 100 legal cases involving Filipino nationals filed before local courts.
“The Philippine embassy in Amman has a very good reputation,” said Ahmad. “And also the number of Filipino nationals is large, which posed a challenge for me to apply to work for the embassy,” he added.
There are approximately 39,000 OFWs in Jordan of which some 95% are household service workers (HSWs), according to Consul General Ferdinand Flores. Most common ATN cases were labor-related, he said.
Hard work
Ahmad said his job entails a lot of hard work. “But when you see the smile and tears of the people you help, you will forget how hard your work is and you will only remember how great is your job,” he said.
Ahmad said ATN is “one the best work that you could do, helping many people, defending their rights.”
He recalled that after his first interview at the embassy, “I did a comprehensive study about the Filipino nationals in Jordan, the most prominent issues they are exposed to, and what kind of assistance they need.
“On the same day, I prepared a comprehensive action plan and database containing all the information, maps, phone numbers and addresses of ministries, directorates, security centers, hospitals, and others. And I sent it to the embassy the next day,” Ahmad said.
‘Pusong Pinoy’
Luciana Obejas, a leader in the local Filipino community, said Ahmad is a “well-meaning and sincere” person. “He has a heart for Filipinos in Jordan. We know he also works beyond his duties and we are very happy to have him in the embassy,” Obejas said.
“As a community leader in Amman, I am very happy to have known and worked with Ambassador Akmad Atlah Sakkam and his ATN team including Mr. Issa (Ahmad). We are also very proud of his work and share his honor of being the first Jordanian to receive the ATN Award of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),” Obejas said.
A resident of the Irbid Governorate, Ahmad completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Guidance from the Hashemite University in 2008, and a Master’s Degree in Tourism Administration from Yarmouk University in 2012, the embassy said.
He was the lone foreigner to receive the ATN Award this year and the first Jordanian to receive it since the beginning of such recognition 18 years ago.
In consideration of the travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the awarding ceremony was broadcast, for the first time, via YouTube media platform by the DFA in Manila and viewed by all Philippine foreign service posts around the world. The Philippine embassy in Jordan will hold a private ceremony in Amman to confer the medal and plaque to Ahmad.
In giving him the award, the embassy said Ahmad is recognized for his “exemplary performance, selfless service, and unwavering commitment in providing responsive and efficient assistance to Filipino nationals.”
Assistance to Nationals is among the “Three Pillars of the Philippine Foreign Policy,” aside from the Preservation of Territorial Integrity and Enhancement of National Security, and the Promotion of Investments and Economic Diplomacy.
“The award is testament to the brotherly cooperation and cordial relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on matters of mutual interest, primarily, the protection of migrant workers’ rights and welfare, and provision of consular service,” the embassy said.
MAIN PHOTO: Issa Mohammad Mofleh Ahmad taking a selfie with a batch of OFWs bound for repatriation. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy in Jordan)
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