The SUN HK : OWWA to hold ‘Balik Saya’ in HK on May 7

23 April 2023

OWWA's chief says providing entertainment to OFWs is one of his priorities

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is bringing back its “Balik Saya” show to Hong Kong on May 7, topbilled by comedienne/host Boobay and stand-up artist and singer Boobsie.

The event will be held from 8am to 6pm on Chater Road in Central, and will also feature the final round of a singing contest organized by Global Alliance Hong Kong.

According to GA founder Leo Selomenio, the show was originally set to be held on Labor Day on May 1, but the Hong Kong police asked that it be moved to the next Sunday, in anticipation of a mass gathering of local labor groups.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio is expected to speak at the variety show, with possibly the Department for Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople herself coming to address the nearly 200,000 overseas Filipino workers in the city.

Two DMW undersecretaries who joined Filipino community leaders in a forum at the Consulate General on Sunday, April 16, said Secretary Ople would visit Hong Kong soon, and the only reason she was unable to join them was because she had just arrived from an ILO conference in Geneva.

The “Balik Saya” show revives the “Hatid Saya” program that OWWA used to hold each year to entertain OFWs at their work sites.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Ignacio, who is a TV and movie personality, said shortly after taking his oath as OWWA head last year that entertaining OFWs would be among his priorities, apart from providing assistance to them and their families.

Hatid Saya was first launched in the 1980s as a musical show featuring Filipino performers and entertainers who traveled to key cities abroad where there were a significant number of OFWs.