It is a big honour to be a recipient of the Bagong Bayani Award 2021 (New Hero Award 2021) for my community and social service. A virtual awarding ceremony was held on June 7 at 1.00pm. I could not fully imagine that my desire of helping other people can give me a chance to be recognised. I am so happy and thankful to where I reached at present.
Bagong Bayani Award 2021 is an event organised by Bagong Bayani Foundation Inc. The foundation is a non-stock and non-profit organisation conceived to uphold the new heroes of our time, the overseas Filipino workers in different countries.
Winners of Bagong Bayani Award were recognised for being outstanding employees, having performed excellent community and social services or having achievements in culture and arts aspects. Recipients of the awards are from different regions or countries, including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea and Hong Kong, while some of them are sea-based captains.
I am thankful to people who believed in me, to the Philippine Consulate and to all non-government organisations who partnered with me in accomplishing my projects during this pandemic. I am thankful to all dedicated members of Domestic Workers Corner Facebook group, my mentors, to my employer, family and friends. We need to support each other during these times.
I keep thanking God for guiding me, for not giving up in many problems I encountered and leading me to inspire and help other people.
At present I am still attending a workshop on social justice at Resolve Foundation and continue collaborating with other non-government organisations to support and help migrant workers.
Father Michele Camastra often told us to “think Good, be Good, do Good” during catechism classes. This is also the motto guiding me in my journey in Hong Kong.
Rodelia Pedro
