Twelve overseas Filipino workers were honored by financial-services company MoneyGram for the sacrifices they made to provide for their families.
The MoneyGram Idol Awards, now on their second year, aim to recognize and pay tribute to people working overseas in order to provide financial support for their families back home in the Philippines, Philippine Star reported.
The winners, Michelle Gomez, Emilia Moncada, Remie Magkalas, Rose Cabilen, Jade Colaljo, Aldrich Pablo, Cecille Acantalicio, Ryan Deyto, Jophil Cabahug, Marilyn Ayson, Merline Faigmanio and Mary Jane Toling, each received a cash prize of 20,000 pesos (US$375) and an all-expense-paid trip to Manila to spend time with their families.
Alex Lim, MoneyGram’s manager for the Philippines, said the awards aimed to recognize the efforts and sacrifices of overseas Filipino workers. One of the firm’s services is handling remittances.
“There are millions of Filipinos who live and work abroad and we believe that their everyday efforts should be recognized and properly awarded,” Lim said.
As of 2017, there were more than 10 million Filipinos working abroad in 170 countries and territories, including Saudi Arabia, Japan, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the total remittances of overseas Filipino workers was around $28.1 billion last year.