OFW Success Stories that Truly Inspires You by: Lara

Many Filipinos dream to work overseas for variety of reasons. You want a better life, provide a better education for
your kids, financial security, a place you can call your own, and the list is endless.

Unfortunately, being an OFW is not forever. You need to make the most out of your stay because as soon as your
contract ends, you have to come back home and look for another job.

Don’t lose hope. Check out these stories of former OFWs who turned into entrepreneurs and hopefully, this will
inspire you.

Rebecca Bustamante: From being recruited to a multinational recruiter

A native from Pangasinan, Rebecca Bustamante decided to leave her hometown and went to Manila at an early age
of 18. From there, she took jobs like sales lady and factory worker to make ends meet.

One year after, she decided to test her fate and became a domestic worker in Singapore. She was able to study
Accounting at the Open University of Singapore Institute of Management. She also tried her luck in Canada where
she became a nanny. At the same time, she enrolled for graduate studies at Ryerson University, which paved way to
her work in Mary Kay Cosmetics and the Canadian Embassy.

At present, Bustamante owns a multinational recruitment company, Chalre Associates, and sought after training
consultant.

Dina Dela Paz: From domestic helper to a respected beauty and skincare expert

Have you heard of a skincare brand Diana Stalder and Dermaline? Believe it or not, this is a brainchild of a former
OFW, Diana Dela Paz.

Dela Paz graduated with a degree in Medical Technology from Centro Escolar University. In 1988, she went to
London and worked as a domestic helper to a Jewish family. Thankfully, the family was kind to her and allowed her
to take short courses on facial procedure and skin care during downtime.

When Dina got back from London and armed with the knowledge she gained while she’s in there, she put up
Dermaline Facial Center. Eventually, the brand evolved and became known as Diana Stalder Face, Body, and Skin
Care Center. She also established Dermablend, a line of skin and beauty products, from anti-aging to whitening.

Myrna Padilla: From human trafficking victim to owning a BPO company

Everybody has its own story that defined who you are as a person today. For Myrna Padilla, her’s is nothing short
of extraordinary. She was a victim of human trafficking at an early age and found herself homeless in the busy
streets of Metro Manila.

Later on, Myrna was able to work in countries like Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. During her stay in Hong
Kong, it was her alaga, Jonathan, who taught her how to use the computer. Since then, she started Mynd Consulting
and offered bug testing and QA services to American clients.

Fast forward today, Myrna Padilla and Mynd Consulting offers various services from virtual programming, virtual
assistants, social media management, and WordPress services among others.

Eden Zaniega de Castro – Villa: From household service worker to environment-conscious business owner

Villa started out similar to many OFWs working in Hong Kong – a household service worker. When she got back to
her hometown in La Union, Eden took a risk and started to open her own arts and crafts store – David’s Well Crafts
and More. It was an environment-conscious business that sells handicrafts and trinkets made from items found in
nature.

Her break came when her products were discovered by SM during a trade fair in La Union. Since then, her products
are sold in Kultura and with the help of OWWA Loan, she was able to grow and expand her business.

You might say that these chances are one in a million. That could be true. You’ll never know unless you try, right?

Go ahead. Take risks. Make that leap. If you need financial assistance, Balikbayad is here to help.
 PH SEA Games team to be honored as Athlete of the Year in PSA Awards
MANILA, Philippines – Count on Filipino athletes to deliver when the going gets tough.

Amid the distractions and doubts hovering Team Philippines' preparations and campaign
for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the Filipinos remained poised and kept their focus on
the task at hand, resulting in one of the most inspiring moments in the history of
Philippine sports.

In record fashion, the 1,115-strong Philippine bets delivered a total of 149 gold, 117 silver,
and 121 bronze medals out of the 56 sports played in the duration of the 11-day
competitions held in 3 major clusters within Luzon.

The numbers were the highest ever tallied by the country since it began competing in the
biennial meet in 1977, and more than enough to clinch the SEA Games overall
championship just for the second time in 42 long years.

For that momentous feat in a December to remember, Team Philippines will garner the
2019 Athlete of the Year award in the upcoming San Miguel Corporation-Philippine
Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night.

The traditional gala honoring the top sports heroes and heroines of the year that just
passed is set on March 6 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel and is presented by the
Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Cignal TV, and the PBA.
 CHR: Reviving death penalty will lead to cycle of violence in PH

On the World Day Against the Death Penalty, CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez Dumpit notes the
suffering of 'unseen victims' of capital punishment, including the children of people sentenced to
death.

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday, October 10, urged
the public to resist any move to reimpose the death penalty in the Philippines, warning that
capital punishment would only lead to violence.

In a statement marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty, CHR Commissioner Karen
Gomez Dumpit noted the psychological and emotional suffering of the "unseen victims" of capital
punishment, including the children of people sentenced to death.

"The suffering extends to [the convicted person's] loved ones, especially their children whose
anguish can even be more severe than the person [on] death row," she said.

"This perpetuates the cycle of violence and despair as the children of those executed bear the
stigma from the community, experience psychological trauma, and may carry the emotional
burden into adulthood which may be passed on to their own children," Dumpit added.

After the death penalty was abolished in the country in 2006, debates about reviving it surfaced
again after President Rodrigo Duterte deemed it necessary for drug crimes and plunder,
specifically during his 4th State of the Nation Address. (READ: A lethal mix? Death penalty and a
'flawed, corrupt' justice system)

In the 18th Congress, 12 bills at the House of Representatives have been filed seeking to
reimpose capital punishment.

But the CHR reminded the government that reintroducing the death penalty "will be a serious
breach of international law."

It added that the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, which the Philippines ratified in 2007, does not allow for withdrawal or denunciation.
(READ: UN on death penalty: PH will break int'l law)

Dumpit also said the death penalty is "futile" as it leads to a cycle of violence and that crimes
should be "punished through an efficient and incorrupt justice system." (READ: Death penalty
for retribution? 'Not all victims want revenge' – CHR)

"Death penalty can breed more problems and do more harm without resolving what it purports
to stop in the first place. The obligation to deliver justice must not breed further injustice," she
said.