Overseas Filipino Workers are modern heroes. They bring foreign exchange earnings to help prop up the economy. They put their lives on the line by working even in risky conditions just to provide a better future for their families.  

Recently, talented OFWs have added a new dimension in propagating the native artistry of the Filipino people around the world. A number of them have won major awards besting other nationalities in highly competitive singing competitions.  

OFW Talent Showcase

On June 9, Tuesday, the contributions of OFWs in showing the world-class abilities of the Filipino will be significantly magnified locally in elaborate activities to celebrate the Migrant Workers Week 2015 at the POEA premises along EDSA.

A highlight of the day is the awarding of prizes to the top three winners of the OFWs Got Talent competition sponsored by the Gabay ng OFW International program which airs over  DZEC 1062 AM every Saturday, 8:00 to 9:00 PM with live streaming at www.eaglebroadcasting.net.

The 10 entries to OFWs Got Talent were sent by caregivers and factory workers in Taiwan. The 10 participating OFWs are:

1.    Raquel Caritativo

2.    Eliza Yepes

3.    Femelyn Epe

4.    Mary Ellen Nisperos

5.    Princess Cascayan

6.    Divina Tumbali

7.    Marcelina Pastor

8.    Florites Odrunia

9.    Leony Paredes

10. Ariel Juliano  

The champion will win P10,000 worth of cash and gift certificates, the second placer will get P8,000 worth of cash and GCs while the third placer will win P7,000 worth of cash and GCs. The prizes will go to the families of the three winning OFWs who will be present during the event.

The gift certificate is a free three-day business seminar from the Center for Small Entrepreneur.  The seminar is expected to give the families of OFWs an appreciation of income-earning opportunities they can undertake to augment the remittance from abroad and even start a livelihood project which the OFW can engage in once he decides to retire and stay home for good.

The 10 competing performances will be played on the video wall at the POEA lobby starting at 1:00 PM. Each performer will be introduced before the video is played. During the awarding ceremonies, the winners will be interviewed in a live teleconference from Taiwan. 

A karaoke singing contest will also be staged involving the audience. A dance group and a show band will entertain the OFWs and their families who are expected to flock to the event.

OFWs Got Talent is patterned after the more popular local and international reality singing competition.

The singing contest was initially opened exclusively for OFWs based in Taiwan where the Gabay ng OFW International radio program maintains strong relations with the 900-member Radyo Pinoy Fans Club.

Ms. Luz Medina a.k.a. Tita Lou Medina, the host of Gabay ng OFW and one of the advisers to the Radio Pinoy Fans Club, says, “The talent contest is exclusively for Taiwan OFWs principally because we have a network there. I used to be a segment reporter in a radio program for OFWs in Taiwan. Our program then was well-known among OFWs in Taiwan and they continue to be avid listeners of Gabay now with DZEC.”

Her co-hosts, event organizer Jonas Rivera, entrepreneur Lyndon Soresca and Atty Arlene, help out in the other segments that include Balitang OFW, Usapang Negosyo, Itanong kay Attorney and Special Report Overseas.

Mechanics

Ms. Medina and her co-hosts Jonas, Lyndon and Atty. Arlyn Soresca compose the board of judges who will select the top three winners of OFWs Got Talent on June 9.

The radio hosts invited Taiwan-based OFWs to send a selfie video of their singing performance.

They received many entries and weekly these entries were aired in the program during the months of April and May. The hosts then requested the remaining 10 selfie senders to submit online a full song rendition of their chosen material. The full videos will be played on POEA’s video wall on the afternoon of June 9, in celebration of the Migrant Workers’ Week.

Jonas Rivera adds, “OFWs Got Talent is just a trial promo this year. We are happy with the reception and we are already considering its launch in other countries. We are even planning a separate promotion for Pinoy seamen.”

Gabay ng OFWs airs over  Radyo Agila DZEC 1062 AM, heard nationwide in the Philippines with live streaming at www.eaglebroadcasting.net . The OFW public service program is  heard simultaneously in Canada via www.tinigpinoy.net a 24/7 Internet radio hosted by its founder and executive producer Dan de Castro and DJs Regina Sosing and Gerry Orcia, both permanent residents and working in Canada.

OFWs Got Talent is in coordination with POEA, sponsored by PRO-FRIENDS, a property development company offering top affordable house and lot projects mainly in Cavite since 1999, Center for Small Entrepreneur, Social Security System, PhilHealth, and  WorkAbroad.ph.