By Marilyn Baldo Cromack
THE world is full of people who have impacted our lives somehow. We are indeed shaped by the people in our lives, then I owe everything I am to my former boss, Dorothy Jean Buhay Pabayo, then Regional Director of the Department of Tourism Region 10.
Thousands of miles away from home in Cagayan de Oro, I was heartbroken when I heard of her passing last April 20 here in England. Teary-eyed, the news broke my heart, and still came to terms that she was gone now. I’m aching to be home to say my final goodbye.
I was one of those fortunate people who got to know her admirable qualities; of her visions and dreams, not only because she was my former boss, but my ninang (wedding) and my mentor. As her information officer, I often traveled with her. In one of those travels, she liked to visit undiscovered local gems no matter how secluded they were. With her delightful personality and energetic enthusiasm in every place she visited, her presence always influenced the locals to be proud of their natural splendors.
When you die, how would you like the people to remember you? What kind of legacy will you leave behind? What have you accomplished in your lifetime while you were on Earth? I could say, Ma’am Dottie had her fair share of success and achievements to name a few in this article. This tribute is not just about her but how we can be inspired by her story.
The force behind Region 10’s tourism industry
The longest-serving Tourism Director, Ma’am Dotti shaped Northern Mindanao’s tourism industry. Her leadership became a magnetic force in boosting the tourism sights and sounds we continue to enjoy today such as the Kagay-anon Festival, COHARA’s Food Festival, Camiguin, and Tangub City’s Christmas Symbols, among others.
Her passion was still embedded in her heart even after her retirement. She continued to pursue her devotion to this field as a chair in CDO’s Tourism Council; sharing her well-proven knowledge and expertise with other local governments in the region. Positioning our region as an ecotourism destination, she was the brainchild of Malasag Ecotourism Village. She was an icon in our region’s and city’s Tourism Industry.
Saving the whale sharks
In 1995, while passing Talisayan from a trip to Butuan, we saw photos of whale sharks butchered at their hunting site. This led the DOT 10 to form a multi-agency task force the “Mindanao Wildlife Watch”. I was the project officer and Dodong Uy of Mantangale Alibug Resort in Balingoan. We worked with various regional agencies, the World Wildlife Fund, and scientists from the USA, New Zealand, Italy, and Australia. We built the first-ever Whale Shark Museum in Talisayan (now unfortunately destroyed by a storm many years ago). During our campaign, we restlessly urged the whale shark hunters in Talisayan to stop the killing. Initially, they resented us for taking their livelihood, but eventually, they joined our cause and donated their hunting tools. With a series of meetings with the Presidential Office, the whale sharks and manta rays are now protected in the Philippine Waters through Administrative Order No. 193 signed in 1998, which bans their hunting and killing.
Now the country is enjoying whale shark watching in some parts of the country. This was what Director Pabayo envisioned for these gentle giants of the sea. We owe that to her. She was the first person in the country to campaign for them. I believe this is one of her greatest accomplishments. Her legacy.
A great mentor
Director Pabayo as a director was both kind-hearted and strict. She was the kind of boss who would encourage you to learn from your mistakes. There were occasions when she was disappointed with my performance and talked to me about how I could improve myself. She could just let me go but she never did.
As her project officer for the whale shark project, she encouraged me to give her the best results whichever I chose to do. I learned a lot from her through this project, unfortunately, I had to move to England. She ignited in me this kind of passion for conservation and the care for the environment. One time, Director Pabayo and I took some plastic bags to the white island in Camiguin and brought back some rubbish we collected from irresponsible visitors.
She was not only a great mentor to me but to everyone she met. Local government officials, tourism groups, and organizations greatly learned from her. She had touched so many lives even to those in need. A mother was begging at St Augustine Church, and Director Pabayo gave her a fresh start in life by selling candles instead. I’ve never known anyone who has a pure heart like her, who respects everyone no matter what station they are in life. I saw her in the presence of Queen Sofia of Spain, various Philippines presidents, ambassadors, government officials, local and international media, farmers, and fishermen.
These are just of the many things to say about Director Pabayo. It may take a few pages to pay tribute to her. She leaves behind a legacy that will continue to touch our lives. She will always be remembered and she will be missed.
Former DOT 10 Regional Director Dorothy Jean Pabayo was laid to rest today, 25th of April at the family’s mausoleum in Greenhills Memorial Home in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City. She was 85 years old.
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