“Very successful,” says Fe Dionisio, Accounting Officer of Ang OFW Ngayon, as this was their first time to hold such an event and add to that the fact that they had limited publicity.

“Ilang beses kami nagpa-recopy ng registration forms. Pati ung copies ng dyaryo namin naubos agad kahit ung mga packed issues (old copies), ubos din.(We had to recopy the registration forms several times. Also, we finished giving out our latest, even the packed issues, very early)”.

These registration forms were the first to be filled out before one could enter the Job Fair. Afterwards, the jobseekers can go and register at the various agencies in their respective booths.

Although the event was to start at 9a.m., people started to arrive at 7a.m.

Before the Job Fair opened, many jobseekers already finished filling out their registration forms. The editor of OFW Ngayon, Vit Hernandez, opened the event and served as the announcer for the job fair.

Every hour, registrants’ names would be raffled and winners got any of these prizes: Unilever products, San Miguel package, Rebisco package, playing cards and grooming kits from Philippine Air Lines, umbrellas from RGV Realty Inc., and shirts from Ang OFW Ngayon.

Monitoring the event were POEA representatives Aldine R. de Jesus and Rizalina Balberde, and PESO Pasay representative Martha de la Paz—an assurance that all the agencies present at the fair were all POEA accredited and legal. 
 

WorkAbroad.ph once again provided much help to these jobseekers as hundreds registered to get their own free monthly subscription.

Francisco Salonga, one of the thankful registrants of WorkAbroad.ph, mentioned that he has worked overseas for 13 years and came back to the Philippines to put up his own business.

“Nagkaproblema sa negosyo eh (I’m having problems with my business), he says, “kaya gusto ko uli bumalik kasi mas malaki ang kita (I want to go back to working abroad because I earn more that way)”.

Salonga was very thankful that he has found a friend in WorkAbroad.ph as job application is faster and a lot cheaper. Many were also grateful that WorkAbroad.ph announced the Job Fair on its website as the organizers had very limited time to advertise the event. 
 

Ang OFW Ngayon’s Marketing Associate, Razielle Ambat, after a tiring but fruitful event said, “Mahirap na talaga ang buhay sa Pilipinas. Kahit IT professionals nag-register dahil kulang din ang employment dito. Dati ‘pag sinabi mong OFW, DH ang maiisip mo. Ngayon pati engineers, nurses, at iba pang professionals din (It’s really very difficult to live and work here in the Philippines. Even IT professionals registered today because we lack job opportunities here. Before, when we say OFW, we think of DH (Domestic Helpers). Now, we also mean engineers, nurses, and other professionals).”

But the organizers are still happy. “Kahit papa’no nakakatulong kami and at least legal. (At the least, we help them and they’re sure it’s legal)”.

Seeing the success of this event, the organizers are planning on another Overseas Job Fair on March next year.

Visit WorkAbroad.ph regularly to hear more news on upcoming events, plus, other information very helpful to you.