The 2012 Presidential Awards for overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) announced that they are now ready to accept nominations. According to the Philippine Embassy in WashingtonD.C. nomination forms for individuals or groups are available at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

The Embassy said, “Established by virtue of an Executive Order signed in 1991, the Presidential Awards is a biennial search to recognize exceptional individuals and organizations for their outstanding contribution to Philippine progress and development.”

Here are the awards categories:

• Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) Award,
• Banaag Award,
• Kaanib ng Bayan Award, and
• Pamana ng Pilipino Award.

For more information, one can visit www.2012presidentialawards.cfo.gov.ph; or call the Philippine Embassy at 202-4679398.
Those who wish to send nominations should submit the duly completed nomination form with relevant information such as personal data, summary of relevant contributions with specific data and other supporting documents to the Philippine Embassy not later than April 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the public can now send their nominations for the “2011 Model Overseas Filipino Worker Family of the Year Award.”

The OWWA started accepting nominations last July 15 and the last day for submitting a nomination will be on September 16, 2011.

The chief of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that this award seeks to recognize the outstanding achievements of OFWs and their families so they can serve as role models to the entire OFW community.

Lat year the awardees for the landbased category were engineer Ermie Lagman Garon and family of Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac. For the seabased category, the awards were given to electrician, Victor Dela Cruz and family of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

For more information, please visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office nearest your area.

The search is on for the “2011 Bagong Bayani Awards” for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Brunei. Officials of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Brunei said they are now accepting nominations.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the said awards aims to honor exemplary OFWs.

The Philippine Embassy in Brunei is now accepting nominations for the following awards categories:
# Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee
# Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service
# Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and Arts
# Capt. Gregorio S. Oca Award
# Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani

General pre-qualifying criteria for any Filipino nominee:
Must be or have been an OFW for at least two years;
Has no past or present criminal or derogatory record;
Must be of good moral standing or has received recognition from past or present employer for exemplary behavior or outstanding service; and
Must have his/her employment contract processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The details of the required documents and official nomination forms may be obtained from POLO at the Embassy or may be downloaded from the POEA/BBFI website at www.poea.gov.ph. Submission of nominations is until May 31, 2011.

Can be submitted at BBFI Secretariat, Ground Floor, POEA Bldg. Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA Mandaluyong City. Or sent through e-mail to bagong_bayani_awards@yahoo.com .

Interested parties may also inquire with the Embassy’s POLO through office telephone numbers 673-2236981 and 673-2237052, fax number 673-2236980 or e-mail address polobrunei_2007@yahoo.com.