Ten outstanding children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were recognized in an awarding ceremony in Makati City on Friday.
A project of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, this year's "Search for Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children"
drew 77 essay entries from OFW children who had to answer the question: “What distinctive attribute do you have that you believe will help you initiate changes in your community or in the country that will benefit other Overseas Filipino families?"
Those who received the “Ibang Klaseng Talino Award" were:
Dean Cris Acabo (chemical engineering student of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan)
Anne Dorcas Domingo (3rd year Management Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University);
Jaybhett Andal (1st year Sociology, University of Santo Tomas);
Johna Pauline Mandac (1st year Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine, University of the Philippines-Manila);
Mark Eden Ellaga (4th year Navigation and Seamanship major, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo);
Randel Bernandino (4th year Psychology, De La Salle University-Lipa);
Rizaldie Zambra Jr. (4th year Navigation and Seamanship major, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo); and
Threscia Grace Robles (1st year Packaging Engineering, Central Philippine University in Iloilo).
Named “Ibang Klaseng Athlete" was Patrick Unso, a Psychology sophomore from De La Salle University, who has set a new national record in 110-meter high hurdles at the ongoing Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Unso’s mother—former Philippine Women Basketball Team member April Maria Sacro—is working as a Physical Education teacher in Singapore. His father is Renato Unso, who was the country’s top man in 400-meter hurdles with a 25 year-standing national record of 51.26 seconds.
Meanwhile, Jo Jan Paul Peñol, a Political Science and Public Administration junior at the Central Philippine University of Iloilo, was hailed “Ibang Klaseng Community Leader."
A son of a marine engineer in Greece, Peñol currently serves as councilor in the municipality of Pavia, whose Traffic Management Code he also authored.
Among the "Ibang Klaseng Talino" awardees was Acabo who turned to vices when his father left to work in Saudi Arabia to provide better for a brood of six.
Physical separation destroyed his parents’ marriage, which drove the young Acabo to attend a high school in war-torn Lanao del Norte.
However, he surpassed this phase and moved on to become a consistent dean’s lister and student leader.
His parents also overcame 10 years of separation, “falling in love the second time around."
Acabo said he submitted an essay because he wanted to share his life story "as a son of an OFW."
For Acabo, there is still hope for the children of OFWs who rebelled against their parents’ absence.
“Hindi naman [dahil] down ka ngayon, down ka na forever. I hope that they will come to the turning point of their lives, when they’ll realize that [they] can be much more [than what they are now]," he told GMA News Online.
Awarding rites
BPI honored the 10 college students and their OFW parents at the Quezon Ballroom of Shangri-La Makati on Friday.
In his welcome remarks, BPI President and CEO Aurelio Montinola III said the winners “assure us that our nation’s development is an achievable dream that you will make real in the future."
“They gave remarkable insights on initiating change for the development of our nation, offering a gift of hope that our country’s future will be brighter," he said.
In an interview with GMA News Online, Andal — whose sister Camille received the same award in 2008— said she was "happy and proud" about her feat because it made her parents happy.
Asked to define what an "expat Pinoy" child was, she said: “In his or her own simple way, nakakapag-ambag [siya] for the changes that our country wants to have. Nakakapagpabago hindi lang sa sarili niyang buhay, kundi nakaka-inspire rin sa buhay ng ibang tao."
Search
Launched in 2007, the search recognizes the children of “expat Pinoys" who excel in academics, community service, sports, music, and the arts.
The search is open to children of OFWs who are:
not more than 21 years old;
enrolled in at least a four-year course;
has no failing grade, and carries an average of at least 85 percent.
The participants are asked to submit an essay with 1,000 to 1,500 words on a given topic, and are evaluated based on academic standing, community contribution, and talents.
This year’s candidates were evaluated by a panel of judges composed of:
Commission on Higher Education (Ched) director Sinforoso Birung,
Philippine Overseas Welfare Administration (POEA) head Carlos Cao Jr.,
Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon,
InciteGOV Executive Director Maxene Tanya Hamada,
* BPI Senior Vice President Raul Dimayuga, and
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Communication Affairs director Fe dela Cruz.
The winners each received P50, 000 in cash credited to a BPInoy Savings Account and a trophy. - GMA News
A project of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, this year's "Search for Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children"
drew 77 essay entries from OFW children who had to answer the question: “What distinctive attribute do you have that you believe will help you initiate changes in your community or in the country that will benefit other Overseas Filipino families?"
Those who received the “Ibang Klaseng Talino Award" were:
Named “Ibang Klaseng Athlete" was Patrick Unso, a Psychology sophomore from De La Salle University, who has set a new national record in 110-meter high hurdles at the ongoing Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Unso’s mother—former Philippine Women Basketball Team member April Maria Sacro—is working as a Physical Education teacher in Singapore. His father is Renato Unso, who was the country’s top man in 400-meter hurdles with a 25 year-standing national record of 51.26 seconds.
Meanwhile, Jo Jan Paul Peñol, a Political Science and Public Administration junior at the Central Philippine University of Iloilo, was hailed “Ibang Klaseng Community Leader."
A son of a marine engineer in Greece, Peñol currently serves as councilor in the municipality of Pavia, whose Traffic Management Code he also authored.
Among the "Ibang Klaseng Talino" awardees was Acabo who turned to vices when his father left to work in Saudi Arabia to provide better for a brood of six.
Physical separation destroyed his parents’ marriage, which drove the young Acabo to attend a high school in war-torn Lanao del Norte.
However, he surpassed this phase and moved on to become a consistent dean’s lister and student leader.
His parents also overcame 10 years of separation, “falling in love the second time around."
Acabo said he submitted an essay because he wanted to share his life story "as a son of an OFW."
For Acabo, there is still hope for the children of OFWs who rebelled against their parents’ absence.
“Hindi naman [dahil] down ka ngayon, down ka na forever. I hope that they will come to the turning point of their lives, when they’ll realize that [they] can be much more [than what they are now]," he told GMA News Online.
Awarding rites
BPI honored the 10 college students and their OFW parents at the Quezon Ballroom of Shangri-La Makati on Friday.
In his welcome remarks, BPI President and CEO Aurelio Montinola III said the winners “assure us that our nation’s development is an achievable dream that you will make real in the future."
“They gave remarkable insights on initiating change for the development of our nation, offering a gift of hope that our country’s future will be brighter," he said.
In an interview with GMA News Online, Andal — whose sister Camille received the same award in 2008— said she was "happy and proud" about her feat because it made her parents happy.
Asked to define what an "expat Pinoy" child was, she said: “In his or her own simple way, nakakapag-ambag [siya] for the changes that our country wants to have. Nakakapagpabago hindi lang sa sarili niyang buhay, kundi nakaka-inspire rin sa buhay ng ibang tao."
Search
Launched in 2007, the search recognizes the children of “expat Pinoys" who excel in academics, community service, sports, music, and the arts.
The search is open to children of OFWs who are:
The participants are asked to submit an essay with 1,000 to 1,500 words on a given topic, and are evaluated based on academic standing, community contribution, and talents.
This year’s candidates were evaluated by a panel of judges composed of:
* BPI Senior Vice President Raul Dimayuga, and
The winners each received P50, 000 in cash credited to a BPInoy Savings Account and a trophy. - GMA News
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