GALA NIGHT. Nearly 200 women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) leaders and advocates pose with government and stakeholder leaders for a photo after the first OFW Women Gala Night at the Diosdado Macapagal Hall, Landbank Plaza, Manila on March 23, 2024. The women OFW leaders and advocates have been recognized for their untiring support for the cause and concerns of OFWs worldwide. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Women overseas Filipino workers (OFW) leaders and advocates have been recognized for their untiring support for the causes and concerns of the OFWs globally in the first OFW Women Gala Night on March 23.
“These OFW women never ceased to assist and help OFWs in need for immediate repatriation, maltreatment, human trafficking, assistance on getting back-pay from agencies or employers abroad, and other forms of assistance,” said in a news release on Sunday.
Nearly 200 OFW women leaders and advocates, including government officials and guests, attended the Gala Night to cap the celebration of National Women’s Month.
Present includes the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officials headed by lawyer Patricia Yvonne Caunan, Undersecretary of the Office of Policy and International Cooperation (OPIC) as the keynote speaker, stressing on the importance of “Women Leading Gender Equality on their Protection and Welfare.”
Venecio Legaspi, Assistant Secretary for Reintegration; engineer Jun Aguilar of Foreign Stakeholder Relations and Engagement Bureau (FSREB); Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Arnaldo Ignacio and Deputy Administrator lawyer Honey Quino; OFBank officer-in-charge lawyer Reo Andarino and OFBank Relationship Officer Jose Aryiel Castro joined the event.
Various personalities gave their respective messages with Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, citing the OFWs for their tireless efforts and unwavering spirit to achieve the country’s progress and development.
“You all have been a major driver of our economy for many years,” Pangandaman said, adding that cash remittances from OFW reached an all-time high USD33.9 billion in 2023.
She said the life of women OFW is never easy, for which none comes easy especially of being a woman, adding that they are vulnerable to abuse such as contract violation.
Pangandaman said the government is there to uphold in protecting the rights and welfare of the modern day heroes and there are various programs for the OFWs being allocated with funds under the annual national budget.
Jun Aguilar, director of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and a former overseas worker, said women OFW are rightful to be honored and recognized on occasions like the Gala Night, organized by The Filipinos World and Rotary Club of Makati Jose P. Rizal.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program officer of DAR Randy Frogosa, a former OFW from Qatar, applauded the first ever gathering of the OFW women highlighting their importance towards nation building, as the driving force towards economic development.
Rotary Club of Makati Jose P. Rizal president Josie Teano expressed commitment in promoting women’s rights and welfare as a beacon of hope for those who are in need of support and protection, acknowledging the women OFWs who have taken responsibility in providing for their families and making sacrifices to work outside the country away from loved ones.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, in his video message, thanked the women OFWs for their courage and commitment to help their families and the country’s economy.
Yuko Tomita, program officer of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines, recognized significant contributions of women OFWs despite precarious living conditions while working abroad with low-paying jobs, being confronted with labor exploitations and other forms of vulnerabilities.
In response, OFW Emily (not her real name), was elated for the recognition she and her group received from the dignitaries.
“Dalawang taon ako nagkukoskos sa ibang bansa, pag-uwi ko sa Pilipinas, naka-attend ako ng ganitong event (I’ve been working abroad for two years now, when I came home to the Philippines, I attended an event like this),” she said in a social media post.
Teresita Olino, former OFW nurse who worked in Jeddah Saudi Arabia for 37 years, shared her life story as a woman, a mother and wife living and working abroad, reminiscing hard life she experienced from a staff nurse into becoming head nurse in Al Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah.
In a survey conducted by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) published in October 2023, out of estimated 1.96 million OFWs in 2022, 1.13 million (57.8 percent) were females. (PNA)
