The Bagong Bayani Awards that aims to honor and recognize exemplary overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for their contributions to the Philippine society is now ready to accept applications. This award also seeks to improve the image of Filipinos abroad by presenting them as hardworking and dignified worker. The winners of this award would also serve as an example and inspiration to other OFWs.

The Bagong Bayani Awards that started in 2005 has five (5) award categories. The highest honor is the Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani, which is given to an OFW deemed as the most outstanding and exemplary and satisfies all the requirements of other awards criteria.

The five (5) 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.    Capt. Gregorio S. Oca Achievement Award

5.    Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani

General Pre-Qualifying Criteria

·       Any Filipino working overseas, whether land-based or sea-based, and possessing the following qualifications, may be nominated for pre-qualification:

·      Must be or have 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).

Specific Criteria per Category

The following specific criteria must be very satisfactorily met to qualify for any of the five (5) awards categories:

1.   Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee

Must have earned the respect, trust and confidence of his or her employer, superiors and co-workers;

Has proven his or her competence by being promoted in status or in 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;

Manifested love for work, concern for the company and his or her co-workers

2.   Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service

Must have initiated or has been sincerely involved, whether in the country or abroad, in 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;

Have selflessly offered his or her time, skills and/or resources, in collective or personal capacity, to engage in such community services or activities that are beneficial to the people; or

Have performed heroic act or deed, or have saved life or property, the performance of which is beyond the normal call of duty.

3.   Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and the Arts

Have worked or have been involved in the promotion, preservation and development of Filipino culture and the arts overseas; or

Have excelled in his or her work as an artist abroad thereby earning recognition, adulation or honor for Filipino artistry and talent.

4.   Capt. Gregorio S. Oca Achievement Award

A special award to be conferred upon a seafarer or a group of seafarers who best symbolizes any of the achievements or contributions of the late Capt. Oca to the maritime industry.

Specific Criteria (two of the following)

Must come from among the seafarers-awardees of the last 3 years; and

Must have dedicated service towards the advancement of the welfare and general well-being of his fellow seafarers; or

Must have exhibited exemplary leadership or demonstrated exceptional valor/bravery in overcoming a problem while at sea.

Blas F. Ople Award para sa  “Natatanging Bagong Bayani”

This is highest and most prestigious Bagong Bayani Award and shall only be given to the most outstanding OFW who have been nominated, qualified and excelled in at least two (2) of the above four categories mentioned above.

Selection Procedures:

Who may nominate?

Nominations may be made either by: the employer, the deploying recruitment or placement agency, industry associations, co-worker/s; or other reputable individuals or institutions.

Deadline of Sending Nominations: August 31, 2013

Download the Nomination Form here.

Taken from: http://www.bbfi.com.ph/bagong-bayani-awards-2013/