Overseas Filipino workers Gerry Paglinawan (above) and Emerico Gepilano, accompanied by family members, receive their Model OFW of the Year Awards in the land-based and sea-based categories, respectively.
contributed
With the aim to promote the success stories of overseas Filipino workers (OFW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Central Visayas (Owwa-7) gave away the 2017 Model OFW of the Year Awards (MOFYA) to the families of Gerry Paglinawan and Emerico Gepilano during the awarding ceremony held at the Golden Prince Hotel and Suites in Cebu City last Wednesday.
Owwa has been recognizing model OFW families for their achievements since the program was launched in 2005.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Cyril Ticao said the award recognizes the strength of the OFWs and their families in overcoming challenges.
“It’s fitting to recognize them that what they have done is an inspiration to others. They are testaments that despite being away, a family can still be solid,” he said.
The winners were hailed for their community involvement, the success of family members in education, and success in managing the family’s finances.
Out of the two families nominated for the land-based category, the family of Gerry Paglinawan, who used to be a furniture designer in Vietnam, bagged the award.
Paglinawan, a father of four, worked abroad to sustain his family and later on decided to quit his job to open his own organic farm in Zamboanga to promote healthy lifestyle to his fellow Filipinos.
In his privilege speech, Paglinawan expressed that he was humbled to be one of the nominees for the Model OFW family of the Year award.
“It’s really a pleasure, and I can’t believe I have received an award today,” he said.
During Paglinawan’s stay abroad, he became the president of the Samahang Pinoy (Sapi), a community of Filipinos in Vietnam, and he also became the Philippine honorary consul general in Vietnam in 2005.
His daughter Janice Mae Paglinawan attested that his father is a family-oriented man.
“Dad has always been a family-oriented guy. He makes it a point to keep our family close all the time. Despite being busy with his work he still has the time to give back to the community. We support him in all his undertakings and he also did the same to us,” she said.
For the sea-based category, the family of Emerico Gepilano, a master mariner who has been a seafarer since 1988, emerged as the winner out of the three nominees.
Gepilano now teaches in a maritime school and he only goes on board for a few months to update himself on the new trends in the maritime industry.
“Sometimes I go out there for a few months just to update myself on the maritime industry, which is needed for the teaching profession,” he said.
For Gepilano, despite being away from his wife and two children, he still considers himself privileged as he was able to see the world and the different cultures.
Also, Gepilano said that he learned to value his family more.
“That’s why whenever I come home, I really would spend time with my family. I guess that’s the perks of an OFW,” he said.
For Emma Gepilano, his wife, what made their bond strong despite the distance is their open communication.
“Whenever naay signal mo-communicate gyud na siya. It is better now because we can communicate through social media, unlike before where we write letters through mail and it would take long before we receive it,” she said.
The winners received P10,000 cash prize and will represent the Central Visayas in the MOFYA national competition this coming November in Manila.
Together with Paglinawan, the family of Mansueto Perral Jr., who has been a medical technologist in Libya for three decades, was nominated for the land-based category.
Meanwhile in the sea-based category, the families of Lino Bulalaque, a master mariner, and Antonio Megan Jr., an oiler, were also nominated.
Plaques of recognition were given to all the nominees.