Last August 22, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople passed away of cancer. She was 61.

It’s not often that we here at the 8List go out of our way to give our flowers to someone in government. Here are 8 reasons why she deserves to be one of those rare exceptions.

8. She was the least political politician you’d ever meet

Despite her family name’s pedigree, Secretary Ople was never someone you would first think of as a “politician.” She never won an election, yet throughout her life and career, this never stopped her from advocating for OFWs. She conducted herself politically in such a no-nonsense, pragmatic, and compassionate way, that you simply cannot help but see how genuine it all was. Whether in public or behind closed doors, Toots Ople was always the same person.

7. She was a true-blue achiever

Knowing full well that for her to be an effective advocate for her countrymen, she needed to have the tools that would allow her to navigate an often cynical and downright cutthroat world of both politics and globalism, Secretary Ople graduated from University of Santo Tomas and pursued a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

6. Her advocacy never wavered

It didn’t matter who was in charge, or what was going on – when Toots Ople said she was for this nation’s “bagong bayani,” she meant it. The fact that she was finally appointed as the secretary of DMW is just a recognition of the fact that for pretty much her entire life, this is what she did, and this is what she did best.

5. She never failed to reach across the aisle

While others were political butterflies who aligned with formerly hated rivals for convenience, Secretary Ople proved she can be equally effective by simply not having a bone of hatred in her body. It didn’t matter where you fell along the political spectrum – you will find common ground with her. She lived a simple life given her background, and by all accounts, had no enemies in politics, regardless of which side she was on. What she stood for and what she believed in knew no political lines.

4. She juggled all this while being a full-time mom

It goes without saying that being a full-time advocate leaves you very little time for anything else, but she still managed to be a full-time mom to her only daughter the whole time. “Big deal, so is every other parent,” most of us might say. But that’s exactly the point – it is a big deal, and needs to be recognized exactly as such.

3. She has taken her advocacy farther and wider than can be imagined

She’s the first Filipino to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking. It’s always admirable to have someone fight for the country from within. But it’s just that much more daunting to be advocating for your own people on a global scale, and she did that with dignity and aplomb.

2. She truly epitomized the meaning of being a public servant

Why did we hear so little of and from Secretary Ople when she was still with us? That was by design. She shunned the limelight, and only used her clout and reputation to achieve what she wanted for her cause. If it did not help the OFW, she wanted no part of it. It was that cut and dried to her.

1. She leaves a lasting legacy that has gotten results

The Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a nonprofit organization meant to aid survivors of human trafficking and illegal recruitment, is just one of the many testaments to the lasting impact she has made on countless lives. She will be missed by those she has advocated for, and the countless people who love her.

On a personal note, thank you for everything, Tita Toots, and thank you for being a one-in-a-billion person. The world is a brighter place for having once had you in it.

Editor’s Note: The wake of the late Secretary Susan Ople is being held at Chapel 1 in Heritage Park in Taguig until August 29.