CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Around 830 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and their families attended Friday the 2014 Migrant Workers Day celebration of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Central Luzon.
“This is a day of thanksgiving to all migrant workers who endure working away from their loved ones and who continuously promote Filipino families,” OWWA Regional Director Marie Lourdes Reyes said.
Carrying the theme “Migranteng Pilipino… Magkasangga tayo sa Kapakanan, Kabuhayan, at Kalusugan,” activities included a raffle draw, games, trade fair, social services, and talent competition amongst OFW Family Circles (OFC).
Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director Ana Dione likewise swore in the newly elected officers of Pampanga OFC Federation.
In her message, Dione lauded the OFWs for their sacrifice, resiliency, selflessness, and hard work geared towards improving the lives of their families.
“Working in a foreign land is very difficult. It’s like gambling because you stay in a place where the law and culture are entirely different from the ones you get used to. So let us not forget the hard work and sacrifices of our modern day heroes,” Dione reminded.
She also urged all OFW Families to always extend their support and love to their relatives abroad and more importantly to spend and invest wisely on the remittances sent to them.
The Migrant Workers Day or “Araw ng Pasasalamat” is an annual celebration as provided for in Republic Act 8042 otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
