(BBFI)
The Bagong Bayani Foundation, Inc. (BBFI) is a non-stock, non-profit organization conceived to uphold the new heroes of our time, the overseas Filipino workers. It works hand-in-hand with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the private sector, in paying tribute to the OFWs through the Bagong Bayani Awards. To promote recognition and
appreciation of the role of the Filipino overseas workers in the Philippine society and economy;
2. To foster high standards of responsibility, efficiency, and integrity among Filipino overseas workers; and
3. To promote the welfare of Filipino overseas workers. THE BAGONG BAYANI AWARDS
The Bagong Bayani Awards (BBA) is a worldwide search for the country’s outstanding and exemplary Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). It seeks to recognize and pay tribute to OFWs for their significant efforts in fostering goodwill among peoples of the world, enhancing and promoting the image of the Filipino as a competent, responsible, and dignified worker, and greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of their communities and the country as a whole. It aims to recognize deserving nominees properly, thus setting examples for others to emulate and the country to be proud of. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BBA
The BBA was conceptualized by Mr. Ramon Alfonso A. Fuentes of Fuentes Media Operations, based on two of his copyrighted works (Copyright No. PDR-1285, dated March 05, 1975, and Copyright No. PDG-664, dated April 07, 1983). The BBA project was assigned, transferred, and conveyed by Mr. Fuentes, at no cost to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), through the then Administrator Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, in a Deed of Assignment on August 31, 1983. The former President Ferdinand E. Marcos fully constitutionalized this prestigious ceremony, through the Letter of Instruction No. 1320, Series of 1983. The first BBA was held in 1984 with eleven (11) workers being conferred the accolade including a posthumous award. In 1985, eight (8) winners were conferred awards from a total of ninety-nine (99) nominations. The EDSA Revolution and the consequent changes temporarily halted the awards. In June 1989, POEA relaunched the BBA to underscore the emerging form of heroism that could only be attributed to the overseas contract workers’ consistent contribution to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and efforts in employment generation. No less than President Corazon C. Aquino called the overseas contract worker the new economic hero. The concept of the relaunched BBA remained the same. The search covered land—and sea-based workers with one finished contract from 1974 to 1998. The main criterion remained the outstanding contribution as a contract worker expressed in terms of accomplishment, feat, exploit, deed, or act of heroism that brought recognition and honor to the Philippines. Perhaps, the major result of the BBA activities was the organization of the Bagong Bayani Foundation, Inc. (BBFI). Although the concept of maximum private sector participation in the annual search was recognized by the POEA as early as 1985, it was not until August 1989 when the organization of the awards was given to the private sector as agreed upon in a meeting among representatives of the private sector and worker groups called for the purpose by the POEA. The transfer of the BBA to the private sector necessitated the establishment of the Bagong Bayani Foundation Inc. The late Capt. Gregorio S. Oca has been leading the BBFI since 1989 as Chairman Emeritus. Capt. Oca dedicated his selfless time, efforts, and resources to propagating the goals of the Foundation. In 2005, the awards system was reformed to recognize specialized contributions across various fields, culminating in the creation of the highest honor, the “Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani”, for the awardee who surpassed primary category expectations and garnering more than one award. A perpetual Capt. Oca Achievement Award was also created in 2011 to honor the remarkable excellence of individuals and institutions in the sea-based industry. Two (2) additional categories were later added in 2025 to complement the mandate of DMW on the effective and sustainable return and reintegration of OFWs into Philippine society, as well as to refine the distinction between societal contribution from gallantry and heroism. From 1989 to 2023, using tripartite efforts, BBFI has conferred a total of two hundred thirty-six (236) awards to land-based and sea-based OFWs. OBJECTIVES OF THE BBA
1. Provide a nationally established system of recognizing the significant contributions of OFWs;
2. Recognize the extraordinary and exemplary deeds, acts, life, services, and contributions of OFWs towards their employers, fellow workers, families and communities;
3. Honor the Filipino workers worldwide and their families for their distinct role in promoting the integrity of
the Filipino workers, and in nation-building. CATEGORIES OF AWARDS
The seven (7) categories are:
1. Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee
2. Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service
3. Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and the Arts
4. Bagong Bayani Award for Heroic Act
5. Bagong Bayani Award for Successful Reintegration
6. Oca Achievement Award
7. Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani
AWARDS CRITERIA
General Pre-Qualifying Criteria
Aspiring nominees should be active Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), whether land-based or sea-based and must possess the following pre-qualification:
• No past or present criminal or derogatory record;
• Must be morally upright and of good moral standing;
• Has received recognition from past or present employer/s for exemplary behavior or outstanding service;
• Must not have left the country irregularly or as a tourist;
• The employment contract must have been processed by DMW or POEA. Nominees for the Bagong Bayani Award for Successful Reintegration must have stayed and settled in the Philippines for more than five (5) years after their last overseas employment or engagement. For the Capt. Oca Achievement Award, any individual, whether or not an active OFW, or a reputable and duly registered entity may be nominated. Specific Criteria per Category
The following specific criteria must be very satisfactorily met to qualify for any of the seven (7) awards categories:
1. Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee
a. Has earned the respect, trust, and confidence of his or her employer, superiors, and co-workers;
b. Has proven his or her competence by being promoted in status or rank, or awarded citation or
recognition for distinguished and outstanding performance of his or her work duties and
responsibilities, which in turn contributed to the growth or well-being of the company he or she works
or have worked for.
2. Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service
a. Has initiated or has been sincerely involved, whether in the country or abroad, in the community or
socially relevant services or activities aimed at either helping or extending assistance to fellow workers
or their families or promoting the Philippines as a business or tourism destination; and
b. Has selflessly offered his or her time, skills, and/or resources, in a collective or personal capacity, to
engage in such community services or activities that are beneficial to the people.
3. Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and the Arts
a. Has worked or has been involved in the promotion, preservation, and development of Filipino culture
and the arts overseas; and
b. Has excelled in his or her work as an artist abroad thereby earning recognition, adulation, or honor for
Filipino artistry and talent.
4. Bagong Bayani Award for Heroic Act
a. Has embodied the true spirit of heroism, which demonstrates exceptional bravery, courage, or
selflessness, often involving risk and sacrifice for the benefit of others, above and beyond the call of
duty; or
b. Has performed an act of heroism to prevent or mitigate damage to natural or man-made resources; or
c. Has raised the image of Filipinos and national consciousness in the host country or around the world
with their heroic deed or acts.
5. Bagong Bayani Award for Successful Reintegration
a. Has successfully developed, put in place, or operationalized various dimensions of reintegration
initiatives, such as economic, social, self-sufficiency, psychosocial, and/or cultural development, that
facilitated their transition from overseas work to sustainable reintegration and able to make further
migration decisions a matter of choice rather than necessity; and
b. Has made a significant impact by scaling up their economic reintegration initiative either through
expansion of their enterprise operations and generating local employment, demonstrated significant
career development for OFW returnees who pursued local employment, or has successfully ventured
both into local employment and entrepreneurship.
6. Oca Achievement Award
A special award conferred upon any individual or entity who made significant contributions to the
development of the Philippine Shipping/Seafaring Industry and who embodies and symbolizes the advocacy,
achievement, or contribution of the late Capt. Oca to the Philippine Maritime and Seafaring
Industry. Specific Criteria (any two)
a. Must have demonstrated exemplary and significant contribution to the Philippine Seafaring Industry
and Philippine Manning Industry for 25 years;
b. Must have dedicated service towards the advancement of the welfare and general well-being of
seafarers;
c. Must have exhibited exemplary leadership or demonstrated exceptional valor/bravery while at sea; or
d. Must have made significant, lasting evidence and sustained commitment to competitiveness and
operational efficiency as well as to safety and environmental initiatives.
7. Ople Award para sa “Natatanging Bagong Bayani”
This is the highest and most prestigious Bagong Bayani Award. It is conferred to the most outstanding OFWs
who have been nominated, qualified, and excelled in at least two (2) of the four categories mentioned above. SELECTION PROCEDURES
Nominations be made either by:
• The employer;
• The deploying recruitment or manning agency;
• Industry Associations;
• Co-worker/s;
• Civil society organizations;
• Other reputable individuals or institutions. Requirements for Nomination
The following requirements must be submitted with the duly accomplished official nomination form:
• An endorsement letter signed by the nominee’s ambassador, labor attaché, or employer;
• Scanned colored copy of passport;
• Work visa, alien registration card, work permit, or other pertinent legal documentation that may prove
current migration status;
• Immigration Entry/Exit stamps;
• No derogatory record certificate/Police clearance from the nominee’s work site, if any;
• Profile of accomplishments, heroic acts
• Photocopy of awards or citations or publication headlines containing the same;
• 4 (2 x 2) colored photos;
• Copy of the latest DMW/MWO/POEA approved employment contract or guarantee letter for sea-based
nominees.
• For nominees of BBA for Successful Reintegration, Proof of compliance with business regulatory requirements (for enterprises) or/and certificate of employment (for local employment)
Official nomination forms may be requested at [email protected] or [email protected] and must be submitted with supporting documents at the BBFI Office. (BBFI)
3/F Blas F. Ople Bldg., Ortigas Ave. cor. EDSA
Mandaluyong City, 1550, Philippines
Department of Migrant Workers
Telephone No: (632) 8-705-1464
E-mail address: [email protected]
[email protected]. THE BAGONG BAYANI FOUNDATION, INC. (BBFI)
Board of Trustees and Officers
CAPT. GREGORIO S. OCA
Founder
Atty. HANS LEO J. CACDAC
Honorary Chairperson
Secretary, Department of Migrant Workers
VAdm. EDUARDO MA R. SANTOS, AFP (Ret.) President
Executive Vice-President, Associated Marine Officers & Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP)
Mr. LITO C. HERNANDEZ
President, Association for Professionalism in Overseas Employment (ASPROE)
Ms. RAQUEL E. BRACERO
Corporate Secretary
President, Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI)
Ms. EDWINA L. BEECH
Treasurer
President, Mabuhay Personnel and Management Services, Inc. Ms. ALICIA B. DEVULGADO
Internal Auditor
President, Overseas Placement Association of the Philippines (OPAP)
Mr. ERICSON M. MARQUEZ
President, Joint Ship Manning Group (JMG) and
President, Filipino Association for Mariner’s Employment, Inc. (FAME)
Ms. CARMEN B. REBUSI
President, Philippine Association of Manning Agencies and Ship Managers (PAMAS)
Capt. JUANITO G. SALVATIERRA, Jr. President, International Maritime Association of the Philippines (INTERMAP)
Mr. LEVI S. DE MESA
President, International Skill Development, Inc. ATTY. FELICITAS Q. BAY
Honorary Trustee
Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers
ATTY. PATRICIA YVONNE M. CAUNAN
Honorary Trustee
Administrator, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
MS. ANDREA LUISA C. ANOLIN
Executive Director
Director, Department of Migrant Workers
MS. ELIZABETH D. MIRABUENO
Head Secretariat
Chief Labor and Employment Officer, Department of Migrant Workers
ATTY. ANGELES T. WONG-GARCIA
Consultant
MARIA FE G. MABINI
Administrative Assistant
