9th OFW summit set in Pasay next week

MANILA, Philippines —Sen. Cynthia Villar has urged overseas Filipino workers and their families to attend the 9th OFW and Family Summit to be held in Pasay City on Nov. 12.

Villar said she expects thousands of OFWs and their beneficiaries to flock to the World Trade Center, where the summit will be held.

“My family and many OFWs look forward to this event because it has evolved into an occasion where OFWs and their families gather and interact with private and government institutions for concerns such as access to financial services, social benefits, legal assistance, among others,” she said.

This year’s theme is “Kabuhayan sa Sariling Bayan.” 

The summit aims to inculcate financial literacy among OFWs, which will help them grow their money, according to Villar.

“Aside from teaching our OFWs how to wisely invest their savings and increase their income, it is important to educate them on how to protect their hard-earned money and how not to fall victims of human trafficking, illegal recruitment and investment scams,” she said.

Expected to attend the event are former Senate president Manny Villar, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Pasay Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

On the topic of growing one’s earnings, the panelists are Burn Gutierrez, chief executive officer of English Learning Camp and author of the Philippines’ first finance-influenced comic book “The Adventures of Pepot Kuripot and Dora Gastadora;” Eric Atanacio, Terra Verde Ecofarm owner, and Rienzie Biolena, president and chief financial planner of Wealth Arki Consultancy Inc.

Emma Tolentino, Eco Natural Integrated Farm owner; Ace Vergel de la Cruz, acquisition executive of Grab Philippines, and Danny Ricohermoso, executive vice president of Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines Inc. will discuss the topic of Business Landscape and Trends for Start-ups.

OFWs who became successful entrepreneurs will also have their own segment with Gene Gutierrez, owner of Big Ben’s Gourmet and Big Ben’s Kitchen; Bianca Tolentino, owner of Cofficina Café + Co-work, and Princess San Diego, founder of What’s Your Flan.

Government officials attending the event are Sarah Lou Arriola, foreign affairs undersecretary for migrant workers affairs; Hans Leo Cacdac, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; Bernard Olalia, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency; Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, undersecretary of the Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and Roel Martin, acting director of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs