ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Seven overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) received recognition from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) serving as highlight of the Migrant Worker’s Day celebration here last Monday.

The annual celebration gathered OFWs, their families and other dependents during the one-day celebration held at the SM City activity center here.

The award came in two categories, that is, sea-based and land-based categories.

The OWWA named Calixto B. Escaner from Belison and Victor T. Frencillo from Tobias Fornier, both from Antique province; and Oliver P. Togonon from Dumangas, Iloilo City as awardees within the sea-based OWWA category.

Escaner is a former ship captain while Frencillo and Togonon are former ship engineers. Escaner was cited for his active support and donations to schools and churches in his town, while Frencillo is an advocate of OFW welfare programs. Togonon, the lone winner from Iloilo, is a member of the Federation of OFWs in Dumangas.

Outstanding OFWs under the land-based category are Deborah C. Ponte of Bacolod City as well as Irene T. Magnitico of Maasin and Robert Tadiaque of Tubungan from Iloilo province.

Ponte is the president of the Bacolod OFW Association who used to work in Lebanon, while Magnitico is the President of the Association of OFWs in Maasin. Tadiaque, a carpenter, was cited for his active support of the OFW organization in South Korea.

For her part, Estelita C. Basco, was awarded the "Physically and Financially Challenged OFW" citation.

Basco is a former OFW who was not able to return abroad due to an accident and was tested positive for Human Immuno Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) after a blood transfusion.

The OFWs awardees were given a plaque and P10,000 each from Globe Telecommunications Company