Nearly 3,000 overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their family members have been educated on wise investment and proper management of their resources.
The 11th OFW & Family Summit 2022, which was held on Friday, Nov. 18, at "The Tent" in Las Pinas City, is part of the efforts of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for the OFWs to have their exit plan from being migrant workers by focusing on various investments for their livelihood and improvement of their lives in their own country.
The event, with the theme "Bagong Simula sa Sariling Bansa" was sponsored by former Senate president Manny Villar, his wife Sen. Cynthia Villar and their family.
"We hope that through this summit, we can give the OFWs and their family practical knowledge on wise spending and investments of their hard-earned money," said Sen. Villar.
In her welcome remarks, Rep. Camille (Villar) lauded the OFWs and their families for resiliency amid the "worst pandemic" that hit the country, saying they persisted and survived the challenge.
3 reasons
The event was divided into three sessions that focused on wise investing and the process of helping the country's economic recovery through the OFWs' remittances.
Speakers for the first session which delved into "Innovative Ways to Earn Money" were Vicky Mojica, the founder of Angel's Burger; Raffy Fragante, head of the customer experience, AllEasy Go; and Jennelle Pernia, owner of the Cheese Rolls by Miss J.
The speakers for session two on "OFW-turned successful entrepreneurs" were Dominador Arafiles Jr., owner, Juan PH Tees; Engr. Aldrin Cardenas, President, Sawat Overseas Workers and Families Association (SOWFA); and Chiddy Mugar, owner of CLB Construction Goods Trading.
The third speaking engagement was led by DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac; Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) Asst. Sec. Paul Raymund Cortes; OWWA Administrator Arnaldo "Arnell" Ignacio; Department of Justice- Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) Usec. Atty. Nicholas Felix Ty; and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Atty. Hernani N. Fabia.
House and lot
Apart from learning and guidance-based lectures, the "Villar Sipag" has sponsored a big-time sharing of prizes.
The prizes include a brand-new Camella house and lot, a sari-sari store showcase, home appliances, and two brand-new motorcycles.
The winner of the brand new Camella house and the lot is OFW Jeorge Vincent Giron from Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Geron, an OFW from India, along with his wife and daughter, jumped and shouted with joy as they rushed onstage to get the grand prize.
The “symbolic key” of a brand-new Camella house and a lot was handed over by Sen. Cynthia Villar, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, and Vista Landholding CEO Paolo Villar.
Also, two OFWs from Batangas won a brand-new motorcycles.