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| Vice Consul Alan Revote with OFDA President Elmer Orilla |
By Ramon B. Dizon
Dozens of people
celebrated the first anniversary of the Overseas Filipino Drivers and Aspirants-Hong
Kong (OFDAHK) atop Queensway Plaza in Admiralty on Apr 27 with dancing, singing,
and sharing of festive food.
But it was also a time for sharing, as the group handed over a cash donation to fellow domestic worker, Margie Ledesma, who recently lost her husband in a fire at their home in General Trias, Cavite.
OFDAHK’s chairperson Chyrill Nadela decided to extend help to Ledesma after reading about her plight in The SUN online.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
"Doon lang din po namin siya nakilala,” said Nadela (That was how we first came to know her)
Guest speaker Vice Consul Alan Revote warmly praised the group’s generosity, and promised help in furthering its success and growth.
"Sana dumami pa ang mga organisasyong katulad n'yo na may aspetong pagtulong sa pag-angat ng kapwa Pilipino", Revote said. (I hope there’d be more groups like you that undertake to help raise the status of your fellow Filipinos).
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Also among the guests was Migrant Workers Office Officer-in-Charge Antonio Villafuerte, who called on the group to keep supporting each other.
"Be an inspiration to each other", Villafuerte said, adding that this is one way to fortify the group and help prevent it from splitting up when it encounters rough patches.
Villafuerte urged the members to "be strong against challenges, (as) it will make you grow more mature to keep on going".
Association president Elmer Orilla echoed Nadela's call for OFWs to upgrade their skills by learning how to drive.
He hoped to help more Filipinos, male or female, acquire a driver’s licence in Hong Kong, which they can use to seek higher pay and other benefits.
"Ang pinaka-weapon lang naman sa mga bagay-bagay ay pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan", Orilla said. (The only weapon we have is our unity and willingness to cooperate).
Along with co-founder Susan Niduaza, Nadela and Orilla were the signatories when the group registered with the Societies Office of the Hong Kong Police Force last year.
Vice President Charlie Caddawan closed the program with the assurance that lady drivers are not seen as a threat to the male-dominated field of family drivers, saying there is enough room for everyone.
But he reminded everyone to keep improving their skills and performance.
