Nine exceptional Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who successfully returned home to establish and expand thriving businesses were honored at the 2025 GONegosyo Balikbayan Awards. The ceremony, held at the Mall of Asia Music Hall, celebrated the significant contributions of OFW-led enterprises to the national economy and local communities.
First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and GONegosyo Chair Joey Concepcion led the special event, underscoring strong governmental support for businesses founded by returning migrant workers. Their presence emphasized the crucial role of OFWs as agents of inclusive local economic growth.
The awardees exemplify the innovation, discipline, and resilience inherent in the Filipino spirit, translating their overseas experience into successful ventures back home that create jobs and uplift their communities.
DMW Reintegration Program Success Stories
Three of the honorees are successful graduates of the Buy Lokal, By OFW program, a key reintegration initiative by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Their success serves as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of government support programs for returning OFWs:
Grace Valencia (Batangas): A former teacher in China, Valencia was recognized for her successful line of handcrafted, locally sourced bags.
Melvin Awid (Sarangani): Awid, a former seafarer and a finalist in the Likhang Marino 2025 competition, has transformed into a farmer-entrepreneur specializing in the production of high-quality, locally grown vanilla.
Rambie Go (Cebu): Formerly an office supervisor in the UAE, Go was honored for her rapidly expanding line of fashion and lifestyle products that spotlight Filipino creativity and craftsmanship.
The DMW has lauded the awardees’ accomplishments, recognizing them as tangible proof of the impact of reintegration efforts and the vital role returning migrant workers play in spurring the Philippine economy forward.
