Wednesday, November 05, 2008 Gov’t awards model OFW families
AT 63, Aniceto Mantilla lives a contented life.
He has a loving wife, five sons who are now working professionals, a stable job and extracurricular activities that keep him constantly entertained.
“Right now, there’s nothing more that I can ask for,” said Aniceto.
All his hopes for his family were answered when his sons graduated and became doctors and engineers. His dreams for his family were fulfilled slowly over the years he worked overseas as chief engineer for Wallem Philippines.
“All I ever dreamed for my family was that my children would finish school and that my family will remain happy, always,” said Aniceto.
Now that his children finished school and everything fell into place for his family, all he wanted to do was spend quality time with his loved ones.
“We’re hoping to go to Australia to visit our son there,” he said with a smile.
For nearly 33 years, Aniceto has been working overseas so it was always a treat for him to go home and spend whatever time he had with his family.
“Usually, I’m at home for a month, the longest has been four months. I have five boys, but none of them became seamen. They saw it from my work experience that I’m
rarely at home, so they did not become seamen,” said Aniceto.
Aniceto’s wife, Corazon, admitted that the months being separated from her husband did have downsides.
“I’m alone with five boys. Just imagine. It is hard, but discipline really is the key. When I tell them to be home by five p.m., they should be home by then,” said Corazon.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 7 awarded Aniceto and his family the 2008 Model Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Family of Year for the sea-based
category for their strong family ties and the family’s community work.
Laura Manuta, a former OFW nurse, and her family was also the recipients of the 2008 Model OFW Family of the Year for the land-based category.
“Working overseas has always been a challenge. It’s a big challenge knowing that your children are in the Philippines, and you are not with them. There’s always a challenge at work and the pressure that comes with it,” said Laura.
Laura worked as a registered nurse both in Saudi Arabia and Germany for 13 years. She finally returned to the Philippines in 1988.
“After working abroad for so many years, I finally realized that it was about time to return home and to be with my family...Raising them through a surrogate parent is just different,” said Laura. (EPB)
