OFWs appreciated on Migrant Worker’s Day

June 18, 2019 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Overseas workers and their families gathered at the Benguet Sports Center Multi-purpose Gymnasium in Wangal, this town on June 8, 2019 in celebration of Migrant Workers Day with the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“Ang migrant workers day, ang araw na ito ay isang mahalagang paalala ng OWWA ay hindi matitinag, hindi kami mapipigil sa paghahatid ng serbisyo publiko sa mga OFW’s at ang kanilang pamilya, mabuhay po kayong lahat mga minamahal na OFWS,” OWWA Regional Director Manuela N. Peña said.

She also said that through the guidance and support of DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Belo III, the OWWA will continue to review programs, advocacies and services that cater to the needs and welfare of the OFWs and their families.

She said that scholarship grants to the children of OFWs increased, medical assistance remains known, and reintegration are also given to OFW returnees.

The event was themed “Salamat sa tapang, sipag at pagmamahal mo, kabayan” and participated by families of OFWs, LGUs and line agencies coming from different provinces.

DOLE Technical Support Service Division chief George G. Lubin Jr. read the message of DOLE Regional Director Ronie A. Guzman stating, “let us remember the migrant workers not only today, let us not remember them only when we receive balikbayan boxes, let us
not remember them only when we receive our allowances rather always remember the heroism demonstrated by our OFW’s and family members who endure sacrifices not only in providing for their loved one’s but also for bringing pride to Filipinos”.

For her part, OFW and Alejo M. Pacalso Memorial National High School master teacher Corazon J. Villena said let us unite and be concerned with the kids of OFWs even they are not your children.

She also said that children should know how to budget and must understand the value of every penny sent by their parents.

“Sanayin ang mga anak na ipaintindi sa kanila kung saan kumukuha ng pang placement fee bago mag-abroad lalo na ang mga highschool at kolehiyo,” Villena said.

Meanwhile, raffle draws and competitions in food preparation and cooking, cultural performances and singing were held during the celebration.

Winners in the competition took home cash prizes. The winners in the Pinikpikan cooking competition were: 1st prize – 10,000 Cordillera OFWs; 2nd prize – 8,000 Sablan OFW and Migrant Workers; 3rd prize- 6,000 Highland Partners OFWs Family; and Consolation Prize of 1,500 – Bless Weavers Association.

The winners in vegetable salad making were: 1st prize – 10,000 Apugan Santo Tomas Women’s Association; 2nd prize – 8,000 Mankayan Federation of OFWs; 3rd prize- 6,000 Benguet OFW Livelihood Association.

The winners in potato salad making were: 1st prize – 10,000 HOPES MPC; 2nd prize – 8,000 Bagong Bayani Family Association; 3rd prize- 6,000 Lubas OFW Returnees and Dependents Association; and Consolation prize of 1,000 – Conquerors OFW Association.

The solo singing competition winners per province were: 1st prize 10,000 Abra – Sheena B. Bobiles; 2nd prize 8,000 Mountain Province – Wyndell Gunan; 3rd prize 6,000 Ifugao – Kristen D. Gragasin; and Consolation prizes of 3,000: Baguio-Benguet – Erica Luna; Kalinga- Claire Pattal; and Apayao- Deza Joana V. Agbayani.

Lina Sotelo, UC Intern/ABN