Thirty-four Filipino families of overseas Filipino workers will be honored by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) this November 26 for their outstanding efforts to keep parent-child relationships close and binding though one or both parents were deployed for jobs overseas for a period of time.

The celebration of the Model OFW Families of the Year Award 2009 (MOFYA) was announced yesterday by OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon.

According to Administrator Dimzon, screening and interviews by judges showed that though distant parenting was complicated, the family members exerted regular efforts to guide behavior, affirm love and trust for one another, observe family traditions, provide support, and bind together through cell phones, e-mail, gifts, visits, letters, photos, audio tapes, videos, and instant messaging.

Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque will announce two national awardees, one for the sea-based category and the other for land-based. The national awardees are chosen from 34 regional awardees.

There will also be special awards for outstanding achievements in community projects and entrepreneurship.

Vice President Noli “Kabayan” de Castro will be the guest of honor and speaker during the event at the Sofitel Hotel.

The judges who have chosen the awardees will be introduced by Administrator Dimzon.

Roque started the MOFYA in 2007 when he was OWWA administrator.

The criteria for awarding are wholesomeness of the family, civic or community involvement of the OFW and family, success in OFW and/or family members’ education or profession, and success in managing family finances.

The search for the Model OFW Family of the Year Award is an award-giving program designed to give recognition to outstanding OFW families, and promote best practices in achieving optimal success in all aspects of life in the face of overseas migration of one or more members of the household.

The MOFYA focuses on OFWs and their families who have maintained strong family relations, properly managed the financial benefits from the OFWs’ overseas employment, have educational achievements and exemplary performance in their respective professions, and at the same time have a positive impact in the community where they reside.