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OWWA names model OFW families of the year

Mara Cepeda

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OWWA names model OFW families of the year

Alecs Ongcal

The award honors efforts of overseas Filipino workers who do not only work for their family but also for their community and country

MANILA, Philippines – Two families of overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) were hailed as grand winners of this year’s Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA).

Robert Ranchez and his family from San Fernando City, La Union; and Nestor Tubongbanua and his family from Buenavista, Guimaras, were named as national winners in a ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center on Friday night, December 4. 

They were selected by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) from a pool of 34 regional winners nationwide. MOFYA winners were judged based on the following:

  • Wholesomeness of OFW family
  • Success in education or profession of OFW and/or family members
  • Success in managing family finances
  • Civic and community involvement of the OFW and his/her family

The Ranchez and Tubongbanua families each received P500,000 in cash, a food chopper, blender, an iPhone, and a trophy. 

During the ceremony, OWWA gave retired seafarer Roberto Guansing and his family the Outstanding Achievement in Community Projects award, while Husna Sahillu Sabtal and family received the Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship award. The two families were given P100,000 in cash, a food chopper, blender, and a plaque. 

All the OWWA regional finalists took home the same appliances, a P3,000-gift certificate, and P40,000 in cash.

Ang tunay na kahulugan ng MOFYA ay ang maibahagi ng pamilyang OFWs sa buong mundo na ang dala-dala ng manggagawang Pilipino sa ibayong dagat ay ang marangal na lahi at kabutihang loob hindi lamang sa pagtataguyod sa sariling pamilya, kung hindi sa komunidad at sa buong bansa,” said OWWA Administrator Rebecca Calzado in her speech during the event.

(The real meaning of the MOFYA is for OFW families to show the world that the Filipino worker brings with him or her the essence of a noble race and a genuine intention to be of service not just to his or her family, but to the community and the whole country as well.)

Unexpected victory

SURPRISED. Robert Ranchez says he did not expect his family will receive the national award.

In an interview with Rappler, Ranchez said he was surprised his family won the national prize.

“Everybody has done so much for the community; has done so much for their family; has brought their family to good standing,” he said.

Ranchez was a licensed engineer who worked in Saudi Arabia from 1983 to 1993. He  said he returned to the Philippines because he realized his wife, Tecy Jane, and their 3 daughters “need someone to stand beside them to be the head of the family.” (READ: What they don’t tell you about the OFW life

He also came home because his nephew, Steven, lost his parents to an accident several years ago. Ranchez took him in as one of his own.

The Ranchez family runs a boarding house, bakery, rent-a-van service, and a water refilling station. 

The La Union local government gave Ranchez a Special Recognition Award for actively participating in community work targeting rural community empowerment and environmental protection. He was also a Melvin Jones Fellow of the Lions Club International Foundation in 2015.

The other national winner, Tubongbanua, has been a seafarer for 35 years now, and is currently working for AET Shipmanagement (Singapore) PTE Ltd. 

He and his wife Rebecca established McNester Food Products, a multi-awarded enterprise producing processed foods and innovations like no-sulfite, low-sugar dried mangoes; and mango ketchup, which has been featured by various news organizations in the country.

HAPPY WINNERS. Rebecca (2nd from right) and Ralph (1st from right) Tubongbanua onstage as they receive their award.

Tubongbanua’s wife and son, Ralph, received his award for him because he was onboard a vessel sailing the Arabian Gulf at the time of the ceremony. (READ: New PH law protects seafarers from excessive legal fees

Rebecca and Ralph Tubongbanua were delighted at their victory because the MOFYA was the first award ever received by Tubongbanua.  

Hindi ko inakala [na mananalo kami] kasi sa nabasa ko, akala ko mas marami pang mataas sa husband ko, pero ‘yung nagapapasalamat ako kasi na-recognize ‘yung nagawa namin, ‘yung lahat ng efforts at saka ‘yung maging example and eye-opener siya sa lahat ng mga OFWs,” Rebecca said. 

(I didn’t expect that we will win because when I read the descriptions for the other families, I thought others had done more than my husband. I am thankful, however, because what we have done for the community is being recognized and would serve as an example and eye-opener to all OFWs.)

Asked what they would do with the cash prize, the Ranchez and Tubongbanua families said they plan to donate a part of their winnings to the church or to the communities they are supporting. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.