By Jelly Musico – PNA
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday hailed the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as he conferred presidential awards to 25 outstanding OFWs and organizations and Model OFW Family of the Year award (MOFYA) to six families.
“As appreciation for all your hardships, you have my assurance that the protection and promotion of your welfare and well-being will remain as one this administration’s top priorities,” Duterte said in his speech during the awarding ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace.
“This nation will always recognize your invaluable contribution to nation-building, and this administration will continue to craft policies and implement programs that will respond to your needs and protect your rights,” he added.
Duterte urged the OFWs to remain committed to their families “as we work towards a more equitable progressive future for our country.”
The recipients of the 2018 President Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations (PAFIOO) have been selected from a total of 96 nominations received by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) from 28 countries through 37 Philippine embassies and consulates.
PAFIOO is a biennial search for individuals and organizations based abroad who have dedicated their work in the service of Filipinos.
The PAFIOO have four categories – Banaag, Pamana ng Pilipino, Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), and Kaanib ng Bayan.
The Banaag awardees include Filipino workers Center of Southern California, Wimler Foundation Hong Kong, Ltd., Corazon Francisco, Agnes Katbeth Kreimer, Dindo Malanyaon, Juliet Mantano, and Maria Cirstina Sulaik.
They have been recognized for their contributions that have significantly benefited or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.
A total of 11 Filipino overseas have been given the Pamana ng Filipino award for bringing honor and recognition to the country through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work and profession.
They are designer Paul Balan, special agent Edward Brotonel, lawyer Nicolas Caraquel, engineer Elizabeth Engle, housekeeper Maria Theresa Eviota, scientist Pedro Jose, music professor C. Joe Sayas Jr., writer Jose Dennis Teodosio, musician Saturnino Tiamson Jr., and Broadway producer Jhett Tolentino.
The LANKAPIL awards have been given to Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America, Inc., the Netherlands-based educator Salvacion Cimanez, Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers Association, Friends Indeed USA, Inc., and Hilda Gigioli for their exceptional contributions to the progress and development of the Philippines.
On the other hand, the Kaanib ng Bayan award was conferred to foreign individuals and groups for advancing the cause of overseas Filipino communities. They are Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Singapore) and Stichting LOOP (Netherlands).
For the last 25 years, the awards have been bestowed upon 460 Filipino individuals and organizations abroad.
Meanwhile, the President also awarded the OFWs with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 2018 MOFYA.
MOFYA is given to promote success stories of OFWs amid the challenges of overseas employment and to highlight the role of OFW families as units in achieving socio-civic, education and professional success.
The 2018 MOFYA awardees are engineer Mohammad Ali Sulay Urao and family (outstanding achievement in community projects); engineer Arnulfo Navarro Geganto and family (in entrepreneurship); Josefina dela Chica Villamor and family (Model OFW Family of the Year: land-based); and Domingo Cuanang Jr. and family, Reynaldo Granada Gaitan and family, and Gemelito Geloca and family (sea-based OFW family).
