Cordillera model OFW families lauded

MIGRANT workers and their families, who have shown exemplary qualities despite challenges faced by overseas workers, were recently lauded by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).

The family of Alberto Antonio of Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet, a seaman for 13 years, was recently chosen as this region’s Model OFW Family of the Year Awardee (Mofya) for the sea-based category.

As the only nominee for the sea-based category, Antonio, is automatically the representative of the region for the national Mofya search that started in 2005 and will be participated by 17 regions nationwide.

As a seaman and cabin crew of a ship under the Magsaysay Maritime Agency, Antonio’s income is also augmented by the frozen goods distribution, vinegar production, and carpentry tools production of his family.

He was nominated by the Baguio-Benguet Seafarer’s Cooperative.

The family of Otelia Saluquen, 69, a widow of Sallapadan, Abra worked for several years in Hong Kong, was chosen as this region’s Model OFW Family of the Year Awardee for the land-based category.

She was able to send all her four children to college into becoming professionals.

Despite her retirement, she continues to be of service to the community as a Sunday School teacher while they also manage the Riverside Café and a videoke business. One of her children, a dentist, meanwhile, tends a dental clinic in Abra.

Other nominees of this year’s Cordillera MOFYA search are the families of Eladia Acosta (Tabuk, Kalinga), Anthony Anniban (La Trinidad, Benguet), Leonardo BIasura (Tuba, Benguet), Francisca Gacoscos, (Itogon, Benguet), Inocencio Mayos (Baguio City) and Sario Pio (Itogon, Benguet).

Nominees in Mofya search must have OFWs as heads of the family and the main provider of the family. The OFWs should also be able to support the education of family members, financially stable and remain a solid and stable family in the community.

To be awarded as this year’s Mofya, the nominee must have a wholesome family, must have community involvement of the OFW and the family members, success of the OFW and family members in their profession and most importantly the success of the OFW and their family members in managing family finances.

Owwa-Cordillera Director Manuela Peña said the search was conceptualized by their agency eight years ago to measure the success of individuals not only through remittances they send back home to their family and commendation they received.

Peña said their agency recognizes the difficulty of OFWs but also the pains of family members who serve as inspiration to the community despite daily challenges and separation from their loved ones.

The awardees were selected by a Regional Screening and Selection Committee led by Department of Labor and Employment assistant regional director Teodoro Delson.

Other members of the committee are Department of Foreign Affairs director Edgar Canta, Philippine information Agency director Helen Tibaldo, Association of Barangay Councils Councilor Joel Alangsab and Joel Padchao of the Episcopal Church of the Philippines and Linda Tindo of the Social Action Center-LIFORSA.

Regional awardees will receive P20,000 from Globe Telecom, while cash prizes on the national level will be sponsored by the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Among the attendees in the awarding program is Councilor Joel Alangsab who presented the 2012 Regional MOFYA nominees and Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan who imparted their congratulatory messages.