Domestic workers pay tribute to Carlos Celdran in 'Walk this Way' tour in Hong Kong

HONG KONG—Lakbay Dangal, a group made up of mostly domestic workers known for giving heritage walks in Hong Kong's business district infused with Philippine history and connections, organized a "walk this way" tour in Central on Sunday in memory of the late cultural activist Carlos Celdran.

Two of Lakbay Dangal's pioneering co-founders and members, Cecil Eduarte, president, and Vicky Reyes Munar, secretary, led the tour for domestic workers who learned about the event on the Social Justice for Migrant Workers Facebook page. The 2 leaders opened the activity with how and what Celdran meant to the group.

Celdran passed away in Madrid, Spain earlier this month.

• Carlos Celdran passes away

Eduarte shared that Celdran was 1 of the first advisers of Lakbay Dangal when the group started out in 2010, founded by "running priest" Fr. Robert Reyes and former Hong Kong-based Pinoy expat Sonia Zerrudo.

The group had attended various workshops and when Celdran heard about it, he paid them a visit in 2011. The bowler hats the group wears were given to them by Celdran. It was also Celdran who suggested they have the Philippine flag imprinted on their shirts.

"Kaya po no'ng after no'ng workshop namin, dumaan din po kami dito hanggang do'n din sa tinirahan ni Dr. Jose Rizal," Eduarte said as she explained some of the trail's stops to the participants. "2011 pumunta siya (Celdran) at nagbigay ng encouragement.. Naulit no'ng 2012."

Eduarte also reminded the participants that while they were in Hong Kong working as domestic workers, there are historical Philippine-Hong Kong ties that they can be proud of as some Philippine revolutionary heroes like Dr. Jose Rizal, Jose Ma. Basa and Emilio Aguinaldo, among others, once walked the streets of Hong Kong.

Munar, on the other hand, who was also one of its past presidents, shared why, despite their respective affiliations and busy schedules and with most of the pioneering members' relocation overseas, Lakbay Dangal remains special in their hearts.

"Kami alam ninyo, active kami sa ibang groups pero sabi namin dito tayo nagkita so kailangan 'pag may free time tayo, buhayin. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin dahil dito tayo nagkakila-kilala. Medyo sentimental 'yong Lakbay Dangal sa amin," said Munar. "So kahit gaano pa man ka busy sa ibat-ibang bagay nandiyan parin, mahal na mahal pa rin naman ang Lakbay Dangal."

Munar also said that part of the group's mission was to train committed individuals to be cultural tour guides. The third objective, which Munar calls "the noblest of all" is boosting one's self-esteem while working as domestic workers in Hong Kong, who often face discrimination in society, through knowledge.

"So hindi man kayo officer or member ng Lakbay Dangal pero 'pag sumali kayo dito sa Lakbay Dangal trail, you will be proud kasi lalakarin niyo 'yong mga nilakaran din ng ating pambansang bayani noon," said Munar. "And as we go through, we will try our very best na hindi lang history ng Pilipinas kasi may interconnections ang Pilipinas at Hong Kong."

The group started from Chater Garden in Central to Statue Square where they proceeded to the lions "guarding" the world-famous HSBC building.

From the bank, the group crossed Queen's Road and Ice House St. and made a brief stop at Duddell St. where the city's last remaining gas lamps stood. But the gas lamps are undergoing repairs after having been damaged by Typhoon Mangkhut last year.

From Duddell St., the tour stretched to the Foreign Correspondents' Club, crossing over to Lan Kwai Fong and finally D'Aguilar St. where a marker declaring the clinic of Dr. Jose Rizal once stood.

Due to time constraints, the group is mulling over organizing a second part of the walk, which will start from the marker through the old Victoria Prison, which has been reopened as "Tai Kwun," all the way to Rednaxela Terrace in Soho where Rizal once lived and finally to Morrison Hill in Wanchai, the birthplace of the Philippine flag.