As a “proud” father of the nation, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. showcased the achievements of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in his latest vlog and vowed to protect their rights and the families they left behind.
Titled “BBM Vlog #236: OFW Success Stories,” the President shared what he learned about OFWs in Europe and other parts of the world.
“Talaga namang nakakaproud ang mga nararating ng ating kapwa Pinoy (I am proud of what our fellow Filipinos achieved),” he said in the vlog that run for 8:23 minutes.
“Nakakatuwa ang mga kwento ng ating mga kababayan (I am happy about the stories of our countrymen) abroad,” Marcos added.
The Chief Executive talked about Aivan Mendoza, a son of an OFW, who became a finalist on the reality singing show “The Voice France”.
He also sang during a Filipino community event in Switzerland last January.
Marcos also took pride in Thelma Nullar, an Ilocano from La Union who arrived in Belgium in 1995 as a house cleaner.
After working hard to learn French, she eventually started her own housekeeping business, the Maharlika services, that strived and survived despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
The President also shared that Nullar owns a Filipino restaurant in Belgium.
“Ang makapagbukas lamang ng ganyang klaseng negosyo talaga isang malaking bagay na (To open that kind of business is already a big thing),” Marcos said.
He introduced Erlita Terte, who hailed from Isabela, to his viewers.
Terte is a nurse in Switzerland who became a farmer and started a wine-making business.
She even gifted Marcos with an “Ang Pangulo” wine.
Meanwhile, as a way to reciprocate the hard work of OFWs, Marcos promised that the national government will ensure the protection of OFWs and their families.
“Ang tanging maisusukli ko sa inyong hindi matatawarang kontribusyon sa ating lipunan ay masiguro ko ang inyong proteksyon, ang inyong kalagayan, at ang kalagayan ng mga naiwan ninyong pamilya sa ating bansa (As a way to give back to your selfless contributions to our society, I will make sure of your protection, your welfare, and the welfare of the families you left behind in our country),” he said.
He added that the only thing he can do for Filipino workers abroad is to strengthen the country’s ties with the officials of the host countries.
There was a recent gathering of foreign ambassadors—the traditional vin d’honneur—in Malacañang.
“Masipag, maasahan, mahusay, magaling makasama, at mag-adjust kung nasaan man sila yan ang Pinoy tinitingala ng ibang lahi at ginagalang sa kanilang mga larangan (Hardworking, reliable, efficient, easy to get along with, and able to adjust wherever they are, Filipinos are looked up by other nationalities and are respected in their fields),” Marcos furthered.