Awards highlight Labor Day, OWWA 30th anniversary celebration

 The presentation of recognition awards by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration highlighted the celebration of Philippine Labor Day and the 30th anniversary of OWWA.

Consul General Medardo Macaraig and POLO officer-in-charge and welfare officer Julie Fabian led the awarding ceremony held on May 2 at the Filipino Workers Resource Center of the Marianas Business Plaza in Susupe.

Saipan Simbang Gabi Group was presented with a recognition award for donating two classrooms for the Tangaoan Elementary School in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur through the classroom project of the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Education, and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

Sponsors for the Tuloy Aral project were also acknowledged: Fe Calixterio, Armela Ham and family, Dr. Gabriel De Guzman, May Briones, Marcelo Masilungan, Saturnino Banting, Bayani Association, Saipan Building & Fixing Computer Users Group, Marieta Klingbergs, Eden Guillo, Ernesto Lineses, Clarence White, Chris Hilario, and Nenita Ta.

Fabian noted that most sponsors have pledged to increase their donations to support the education of more than one scholar.

“With the recognition, we are expecting to increase the sponsors for this year as donors from the previous years (2005-2009) have shown interest to reactivate their sponsorship for the project,” she added.

Certificates of appreciation were also handed to the instructors-Marcelo Masilungan, Jousel Regilme, Rosendo Maceda, Domingo del Rosario, and Leopoldo Rodriguez, Jr.-who handled the computer course, automotive trouble shooting, dressmaking/tailoring, and Basic Nihongo that were offered for free during the first quarter of the year.

In her Labor Day message read by Fabian, Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the occasion celebrates the perseverance and determination of all Filipino workers in their efforts to achieve success. She stressed that unity and cooperation is needed so that each Filipino can secure a decent job.

OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon said the agency has been serving Filipino workers for three decades, having helped them during the challenges of the Gulf War in 1990, the conflict in Lebanon in 2006, and the hostilities in Libya last year.

Dimzon’s message, read by POLO’s Antonette Ocon, said that it is the trust and unwavering support of Filipino workers worldwide that has given them strength to expediently address worker-related issues and concerns.