THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) awarded two families in the region with the Model Family of the Year award recognizing their valuable contribution to the economy, said Owwa executive director Harry Borres.
As a yearly institutional activity of the department, Owwa recognizes the families that are active in the church, community, and maintains positive communication with their members who are working abroad.
Borres said the dollar remittance of these families has contributed a lot to our economy, especially in lowering the value of dollar over peso.
“This will encourage other families to follow model families to avoid problems or conflict,” Borres added.
Borres said they have nominated six families that have members working abroad, either land or sea-based.
Sea-based workers are those who are working in ships, especially officers and seamen.
‘Not easy’
“Mingaw gyud kaayo akong gibati sa akong husband labi na sa akong mga anak (I missed Mario, my kids missed him a lot),” said Elsie, the wife of Mario Patalinghug, a seafarer based in Europe.
She added that her youngest daughter couldn’t accept why her father works abroad.
Elsie said that an ideal family should have both parents taking care of their children, but instead she is doing it alone and it’s never easy.
“Sobra kalisod ang pag-disiplina gyud sa mga anak (It is very difficult to discipline the children),” said Elsie citing that the youth today are different or ‘modernized.’
Amid hardships, Elsie said she kept on reminding them (children) about the challenges their father has to go through to send them to school.
“The waves in the sea are huge, do not waste your money,” said Elsie to remind her children.
Model family
Elsie said her family gives alms to street children and beggars every year.
“Amo ng panata sa Ginoo na motabang kada tuig (It is our oath to God to help every year),” said Elsie explaining the reason why they help the poor.
Elsie said her family participated in feeding programs, and they are also active in church-related activities.
“I have successfully watched over my children alone,” Elsie told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
She added that three of his children graduated college and are now professionals, while the other one will be graduating next year.
“Ni abroad siya (Mario) para mapa-skwela ang anak (Mario is working abroad to send his children to school),” Elsie said adding that her husband has been successful with his goals.
Patalinghug and Delfina Usarga’s families were chosen by OWWA as model families in the region, and they are set to compete with other families in the country.