The Bagong Bayani Foundation, Inc. (BBFI), in coordination with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the private sector, announces that the search for the 2011 Bagong Bayani Awardees is now open.

The Bagong Bayani Awards (BBA) pay tribute to the country’s outstanding Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as the new heroes of our time. It gives due recognition to their significant efforts in fosteringgoodwill among peoples of the world, enhancing the image of the Filipino as a competent and responsible worker and contributing to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.

The general pre-qualifying criteria for the nomination of any Filipino working overseas, landbased or sea-based are as follows:

• Must be or has been an OFW for at least two (2) years;
• Has no past or present criminal or derogatory record;
• Must be of good moral standing or has received recognition from past or present employer for exemplary behavior or outstanding service; and
• The employment contract must have been processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

For 2011, the following are the awards categories:

• Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee
• Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service
• Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and Arts
• Capt. Gregorio S. Oca Award
• Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani

Deadline for submission of nominations is on May 31, 2011

Taken from: POEA