Finally, we brought home the bacon!
 
RIZALDY V. LUISTRO, JR, a graduating fourth year student of St. Francis Academy in Mabini, Batangas, won this year’s Gawad Anak OFW. The Luzon-wide search for the Ten Outstanding Sons and Daughters of OFWs Student Achievement Awards is sponsored by the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and the Itinerant People (ECMI) of the CBCP.  He was also elected President of this year’s finalists. Now on its third year, the yearly search aims to recognize the achievements of OFW children, despite, the absence of one or both parents.
 
Also in the Top 10 is DIANNE ROSE PIÑERO of the University of Batangas who came in 10th. Initially, she was number 16 in the list of finalists but her remarkable performance in the final interview done in the morning of March 19 helped her land in the 10th place. The panel of judges, chaired by Fr. Edwin Corros, CM and included Msgr. Pedro Quitorio of the CBCP Media, Atty. Agcaoili of UNICEF and Carla Garcia of Pioneer Life, were all praises for her competency in answering the questions.
 
Our third entry that made it to the list of 20 Finalists is ELFIE FRITZIE G. HERNANDEZ of St. Mary’s Educational Institute. There were 63 entries to this year’s search. Five came from the Archdiocese of Lipa.
 
The pressure is now on St. Francis Academy. The highest honor that CBCP-ECMI will give to the children of our OFWs is the Hall of Fame. To qualify, the school should be in the Top 10 for five consecutive years. St. Francis has been consistently landing in the Top 10 since the award was started three years ago.
 
We are truly proud of our Anak Batangueños. Despite the odds, they continue to excel in their studies. Kudos, too, to our hardworking advisers, Mrs. Francis Bautista of St. Francis, Mr. Meynard Montalbo of UB, Mrs. Mercy Yuzon of SMEI and all the Anak Batangueño coordinators.
 
One of the most touching remarks on the awarding ceremony was made by Fr. Edwin Corros, Executive Secretary  of ECMI. He said that our OFWs are, indeed, our new heroes but emphasized that the children of our migrants are also heroes because they sacrifice a lot being away from their parents.
 
We salute our migrants and the families they left behind. We pray and hope that the time will come when migration will no longer be a necessity but just an option.