Retired seaman wins House and Lot at 9th OFW and Family Summit

A retired seaman won this year's grand raffle prize of house and lot at the 9th OFW and Family Summit held yesterday at the World Trade Center in Pasay.

The name of 62-year-old Elmer Fernandez of Mandaluyong City was drawn by former Senate President Manny Villar assisted by his wife, Sen. Cynthia Villar, infront of over 7,000 summit attendees composed of overseas Filipino workers and their families.

"Hindi po ako makapaniwala. Ang dinadasal ko minor prize lang, ito pala ang makukuha ko. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Pamilya Villar at sa bumubuo ng OFW summit," Fernandez said.

Fernandez worked as a machinist/welder of Norwegian cargo vessel Grieg Philippines since 1985. He retired last year and since then tried working as an agent for an insurance company.

Fernandez said the Lessandra house and lot unit will be a big help since he is also trying to recover the title of his house in Mandaluyong, which was used as a loan collateral from an Indian lender.

Also among the big winners during the OFW summit were Sonya Vidal of Novaliches, Quezon City, who won P100,000-worth of Home Makeover from All Home; Arnel Conde of Makati City and Marilou Noya of Malabon who each won a motorcycle unit from Isuzu Cavite.

"Nakakatuwa po, yung gusto naming gamit sa bahay makukuha na namin," Vidal said.

For his part, Conde said the motorcycle will be used to earn for the family.

Senator Villar in addressing the crowd at the end of the program, expressed her gratitude to the summit participants, especially the ones who make it a point to attend every year and stayed all day to listen to the discussion of financial experts and government officials.

"Yan talaga ang isa mga pangunahing hangarin namin, ang matuto kayong mag-negosyo para magamit ninyo sa pag-asenso ang mga savings ninyo at remittances ng mga kamag-anak ninyong OFWs. Para naman hindi masayang ang sakripisyo sa pagta-trabaho sa ibang bansa at malayo sa inyong mga mahal sa buhay," she said.

The lady senator also informed the crowd that they will be holding the summit next year in a bigger venue in Las Piñas to accommodate more participants.