Philippine consul general remembers 'kind' predecessor

Mary Ann Benitez

Philippine consul general in Hong Kong Germinia Aguilar-Usudan said she was shocked at the sudden death of "my ConGen Raly" Lofamia Tejada - her predecessor who died Tuesday in Manila, aged 53.

Usudan succeeded Tejada in January after his tour of duty to Hong Kong ended to become an assistant secretary (legal adviser) of the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

Usudan, who just arrived from Shanghai for an official consultation, told The Standard in an exclusive interview: "All we know is that [Tejada] was rushed to hospital and he died.

"He played basketball and he ate healthy - so we were shocked [at the news.]"

Tejada left behind a wife and his elderly mother who lives in the Philippines.

Tejada was the Philippine vice consul in Hong Kong when he met his wife 20 years ago. The couple then moved to Geneva, where he served as vice consul at the Philippine embassy. He was then assigned to Kuala Lumpur as a consul general before returning to serve in Hong Kong from 2019 to 2023.

Tejada was "a very fluent Cantonese speaker," Usudan noted.

Tejada's deputy consul-general for five years, Usudan, said: "My ConGen was a very kind person. He was one of the most considerate bosses. He did not shout nor get angry at us."

She noted all consulate staff had fallen ill with Covid-19 despite having been vaccinated - but not Tejada, even if he would constantly travel in the city and outside for his job as chief of mission.

It was how Tejada had distributed face masks, encouraged vaccination and set out to minimize crowds at the consulate by more efficient passport renewal processes that most Filipinos would remember him by.

"Hong Kong is a very important post because we have 200,000 Filipinos here," Usudan said.

Yesterday, a mass was celebrated for Tejada, a Catholic, at the consulate in Admiralty. A book of condolence has been opened since Wednesday.

Among those who paid last respects to sign the book of condolence was Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han.

At the Philippine Independence Day celebration in June 2023, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was a special guest and toasted with Tejada.

A wake and services for Tejada are set for August 23 to 27 in Quezon City in the Philippines.

maryann.benitez@singtaonewscorp.com