Bulakenyos paid tribute to one of the province’s illustrious sons—the late former Senate president and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople during the commemoration of his 94th birth anniversary at Gat Blas F. Ople building here on Wednesday.

Governor Daniel Fernando and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III led the offering of flowers at the bronze bust of Ople, together with Vice Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Ople’s wife Susan and son Toti.

Fernando likened Ople to a fishing village in Hagonoy town to a moth that was mesmerized by the lights of the city at the mouth of Manila Bay where the young Ople used to fish.

“Gat Blas F. Ople is Bulacan’s gift to the nation and to the world. Isang Bulakenyong lumikha ng isang pangalan sa mundo ng pulitika na hindi mapapantayan sa panahon ngayon. Si Ka Blas (Ople) ay pamana ng Bulacan sa sambayanang Pilipino at sa mundo (A Bulakenyo who created a name in the world of politics that is unmatched today. Ka Blas (Ople) is the legacy of Bulacan to the Filipino people and the world,” the governor said in his message.

He said Ople was the first Bulakenyo hero of modern times who changed the meaning of being a politician as he was never greedy for power.

“He was the only political servant of almost everyone who became president of the Republic of the Philippines from Magsaysay, Macapagal, Marcos, Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo,” Fernando added.

Bello, meanwhile, said Ople was one of the proud sons of the province of Bulacan and the father of the Philippine Labor Code.

“The late Senator Blas F. Ople was one of the greatest Filipinos of all time and if he was still alive, he would have done more for the country,” he said.

Ople’s 92-year-old wife thanked the Bulakenyos for the annual commemoration of her husband’s birthday.

“Salamat po at palagi pa rin natin siyang (Ople) kapiling sa ating puso at sa kanyang mga naiwang ala-ala (Thank you that he was always in our hearts and the memories he left behind),” she said.

Ople was born in Hagonoy, Bulacan on Feb. 3, 1927 to Felix Antonio Ople, a craftsman who repaired boats, and his wife Segundina Fajardo.

Wednesday’s celebration coincided with the inauguration of the newly constructed three-story building of the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PPESO).

After the inauguration, a certificate of commendation was given by Bello to the province and its PESO Department for establishing the first stand-alone PESO building in Central Luzon. (PNA)