Summit pays tribute to OFWs
THE Balik-Bayan Summit 2024 at the SM Mall of Asia on Saturday gave homage to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), often referred to as "mga bagong bayani" or "the new heroes" because of their contributions to the Philippine economy. Orgainized by Go Negosyo, the initiative was supported by various sponsors, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion led the distribution of gifts and prizes amounting to P3 million. Concepcion encouraged the attendees to take advantage of the free business coaching sessions during the summit. BALIK-BAYAN SUMMIT OFWs and their families join Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Trade Secretary Cris Roque, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairman Dante Ang II, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano at the 2024 Balik-Bayan Summit. With the theme 'Kabuhayan Para sa Kinabukasan,' the event gathered more than 5,000 attendees at the SM Mall of Asia on Dec. 7, 2024. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Office of the First Lady surprised the attendees by donating P2 million in cash prizes to add to the cash and prizes given away to all the participants of the event. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Topics include mentoring children about business, preparing for retirement, creating purpose-driven work, financial literacy, franchising, agripreneurship, and storytelling and content creation as entrepreneurship tools. "We don't want you to spend your savings without proper mentorship. We are here to help you," Concepcion said. "Balik-Bayan 2024 is a platform to provide business opportunities and foster investment matches for OFWs, encouraging them toward entrepreneurship and ensuring that their hard work and resources are put to productive and profitable use," he added Besides Concepcion and the first lady, also present during the event were Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairman Dante Ang II, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano. "Today is about creating opportunities for collaborations and to uplift not only OFWs and their families but also the entire Filipino people," Cacdac said. Cacdac added that the Department of Migrant Workers was instrumental in the reintegration of returning OFWs into Philippine society through its retooling and upskilling initiatives He said there were currently more than 2,000 beneficiaries of the economic reintegration program, adding a national reintegration network would be launched soon with the Department of Trade and Industry. The summit's highlight was the 2024 Inspiring Balik-Bayan Awards, which recognized OFWs who started successful businesses in the Philippines.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Balik-Bayan Summit 2024 at the SM Mall of Asia on Saturday gave homage to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), often referred to as "mga bagong bayani" or "the new heroes" because of their contributions to the Philippine economy.
Orgainized by Go Negosyo, the initiative was supported by various sponsors, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion led the distribution of gifts and prizes amounting to P3 million.
Concepcion encouraged the attendees to take advantage of the free business coaching sessions during the summit. BALIK-BAYAN SUMMIT OFWs and their families join Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Trade Secretary Cris Roque, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairman Dante Ang II, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano at the 2024 Balik-Bayan Summit. With the theme 'Kabuhayan Para sa Kinabukasan,' the event gathered more than 5,000 attendees at the SM Mall of Asia on Dec. 7, 2024. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Office of the First Lady surprised the attendees by donating P2 million in cash prizes to add to the cash and prizes given away to all the participants of the event. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Topics include mentoring children about business, preparing for retirement, creating purpose-driven work, financial literacy, franchising, agripreneurship, and storytelling and content creation as entrepreneurship tools.
"We don't want you to spend your savings without proper mentorship. We are here to help you," Concepcion said.
"Balik-Bayan 2024 is a platform to provide business opportunities and foster investment matches for OFWs, encouraging them toward entrepreneurship and ensuring that their hard work and resources are put to productive and profitable use," he added
Besides Concepcion and the first lady, also present during the event were Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairman Dante Ang II, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano.
"Today is about creating opportunities for collaborations and to uplift not only OFWs and their families but also the entire Filipino people," Cacdac said.
Cacdac added that the Department of Migrant Workers was instrumental in the reintegration of returning OFWs into Philippine society through its retooling and upskilling initiatives
He said there were currently more than 2,000 beneficiaries of the economic reintegration program, adding a national reintegration network would be launched soon with the Department of Trade and Industry.
The summit's highlight was the 2024 Inspiring Balik-Bayan Awards, which recognized OFWs who started successful businesses in the Philippines.
