The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has recommended 25 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be honored with the Presidential Awards for serving as role models for the country.
In ceremonies scheduled at the Malacanan Palace on December 5, the 25 overseas Filipinos from 12 countries and territories who have gone through a 4-stage selection process involving multi-sectoral representation, will receive the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) in four categories – Banaag, Pamana ng Pilipino, Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), and Kaanib ng Bayan.
The CFO announced its awardees for 2018 at a pre-awards testimonial dinner on the eve of the Malacanan ceremonies.
Among the Pamana ng Pilipino recipients is Tony and Grammy winner Jhett Tolentino, a Broadway producer who hails from Iloilo, who is in the country after receiving his 7th international award for a biofilm that depicts his journey as a Filipino in Broadway.
The Pamana ng Pilipino Award is “conferred on Filipino overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.”
The Pamana ng Pilipino awardees are Paul C. Balan (United States), Edward M. Brotonel (United States), Nicolas M. Caraquel (United States), Elizabeth L. Engle (United States), Maria Theresa A. Eviota (Switzerland), Pedro A. Jose (United States), Teresita A. Marques (Portugal), C. Joe Sayas, Jr. (United States), Jose Dennis C. Teodosio (Myanmar), Saturnino H. Tiamson, Jr. (Hong Kong), Jhett D. Tolentino (United States).
The Banaag Award is “conferred on Filipino individuals or organizations for their contributions that have significantly benefited or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.”
The Banaag awardees are Corazon A. Francisco (Australia), Agnes Katbeth O. Kreimer (Peru), Dindo B. Malanyaon (Italy), Juliet Montano (Taiwan), Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California (United States), Maria Cristina F. Sulaik (Sudan), and Wimler Foundation Hong Kong, Ltd. (Hong Kong).
The LINKAPIL Award is “conferred on Filipino individuals or organizations for exceptional or significant contributions to the reconstruction, progress and development of the Philippines.”
The LINKAPIL awardees are Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America, Inc. (United States), Salvacion G. Cimanez (Netherlands), Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers Association (United States), Friends Indeed U.S.A., Inc. (United States), and Hilda L. Gigioli (United States).
The Kaanib ng Bayan Award is “conferred to foreign individuals or organizations for their exceptional or significant contribution to Philippine reconstruction, progress and development, or have significantly benefited a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.”
The Kaanib ng Bayan awardees are Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Singapore), and Stichting LOOP (Netherlands).
At the dinner feting the awardees, CFO Secretary Justice Francisco “Nick” Acosta said, “We have with us a diverse set of awardees from Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Northern America across different fields of expertise who inspire the next generation of Filipino professionals.
Our overseas Filipinos have evolved from being just senders of cash or personal remittances to becoming investors and entrepreneurs, achievers, good Samaritans, and humanitarians. They have learned to pay forward the blessings they have gained and achieved. For both the Philippines and their host countries, they have become models of industry, sacrifice, and love.”
The 25 awardees for 2018 joins the 460 Filipino individuals who have received the national recognition for OFWs since 1991.
