Press Release
October 24, 2009

Promised houses to 6 OFWs turned over by Villar

Six overseas Filipino worker (OFW) families were overjoyed upon receiving the keys and title certificates to their own houses and lots from Nacionalista Party (NP) President Manny Villar in the noontime show "Wowowee" hosted by Willie Revillame.

The recipients were Sarah Felecio of Negros Occidental, Marnelli Recabar of Iloilo, Rosemarie Jaca of Romblon, Judith Vicente representing Hazel Vicente also from Romblon, Jennifer Sonbise representing Joanne Sonbise of Parañaque, and Jolinald Chan representing Jenny Chan of Manila.

The OFWs each received a fully furnished two-storey, two-bedroom townhouse with a market price of P1.2 milllion, and located at Camella Seville subdivision in Caloocan and at Camelle Lessandra in Molino, Bacoor, Cavite.

Villar, who was accompanied and assisted by his daughter Camille in giving the keys and title certificates to the OFW families, told Revillame, "Ako naman ay natutuwa, Willie, maraming salamat sa'yo sa pagkakataong ibinigay sa akin para makatulong sa kanila. Mahalaga kasi 'yung nakatulong tayo sa katuparan ng kanilang pangarap. Ako naman ay galing din sa hirap, naramdaman ko ang kanilang nararamdaman, ang mga problema nila. Gaya ng sinabi mo kanina, Willie, napakahalaga ng bahay para ang pamilya ay buo at may pagkakataong magsama-sama."

"At 'yan nga ang nakakalungkot sa atin, dapat kasi magkaroon tayo ng isang bayang hindi na kailangang lumabas ng bansa para umasenso, magkatrabaho, para hindi magutom at makapagpagamot. Ito po ang mga kakulangan natin, kaya napipilitang lumabas ang ating mga kababayan. Ang pangarap po natin talaga sana ang bayan natin lahat po yan magagawa hindi magugutom, makakapagpagamot, at may bahay nang hindi lalabas ng bansa," Villar added.

Revillame addressed the viewers, "Ako ay nandito sa harapan niyo hindi kulay pulitika. Sino man sa inyo ang gustong tumulong, open po ang wowowee, basta makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan. Walang pinipiling kulay, walang pinipiling kandidato. Bukas ang pintuan namin basta tutulong kayo. Taos sa puso niyo. Kaya siya (Villar) nandito, taos sa puso niya ang pagtulong."

In response, OFW Felecio told Villar, "Maraming, maraming salamat! Super! Hindi ko makakalimutan habambuhay nagkaroon ako ng ganyang (bahay)."

Jaca said, "Senator, maraming maraming salamat po sa ibinigay n'yo sa amin. Nagpapasalamat din po ang pamilya ko dahil kahit ilang taon po ang ilagi ko sa abroad hindi rin makakabili ng ganoong klaseng bahay"

Recabar exclaimed, "Pinangarap ko lang po noon na magkaroon kami ng bahay. Bago mamatay ang papa ko sinikap niya pong magtayo ng bahay para sa amin pero hindi po natapos. At hindi ko po akalaing pagkalipas ng 10 taon, nagkaroon kami ng bahay na maganda sa isang subdivision, kasama ko ang aking mga kapatid. Maraming salamat po senador, at nagpapasalamat po ako sa Panginoon dahil kayo po ang naging instrumento sa pagbigay sa amin ng bahay at lupa. At sa Wowowee po, marami kayong natutulungan."

On July 25, the homeowners joined as contestants in Wowowee's special "Willie of Fortune" segment dedicated to breadwinner migrant workers. While watching the program with his daughter Camille, Villar was requested by Revillame to grant him a personal favor, which was to give each contestant a house and lot since the former is known to care for the welfare of OFWs. The breadwinners cried and hugged the NP president when he agreed.

The Wowowee host told Villar, "Hindi lang ho 'house and lot' ang kailangan namin sa inyo. Ang kailangan namin sa inyo ay magbigay tiwala sa inyo. Kung mamumuno kayo sa bansa namin, sana ho hindi kami mabigo. Kaya kami nasa harapan n'yo, kaya ako nasa harapan mo, naniniwala ako sayo."

Villar was hugged afterwards by the blessed OFW families.

OFWS' BACKGROUND

Recabar took the role of provider to her siblings after their parents' death. After graduating from high school, she started working to support her remaining family while struggling to complete her two-year college course in Iloilo. To add income, she even managed at one time to juggle three jobs: Air Transportation Office staff from Monday to Friday, SM saleslady from Saturday to Sunday, and part-time singer for hotels at night.

Burdened with making ends meet, the breadwinner left on July 7, 2004 for Japan, where she worked as entertainer. After six months, she returned to the country and engaged in several businesses. Currently, she is working as a real estate agent.

Similarly, Felecio, 41, went to Abu Dhabi on July 26, 2006 as domestic helper to feed her large family. After less than three years of work, she was illegally terminated by her female employer upon discovering her employer's husband's illicit affair with another woman. She then returned to the country penniless.

With her family in mind, she joined Wowowee to secure money for their needs. While she did not win, she was more than happy when she realized that she was a recipient of a house and lot from Villar.

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