MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Union has been serving Filipinos for 25 years. From 1990, Filipino workers deployed overseas were estimated at over 400,000* to over 10 million** in 2013, Western Union's Filipino users have entrusted their hard earned money sent through our channels to reach their families and loved ones. As a company that helps many Filipinos to move money around the world, we have a special insight into this population and the unique, heroic qualities that they embody. It is for this reason that Western Union embarked on a campaign to recognize heroic efforts of Filipino migrants.
In the past, Western Union has been involved in supporting and sponsoring Filipino community activities, such as: Barrio Fiestas, Independence Day celebrations, Christmas celebrations, and reaching out to the Filipino diaspora through ethnic publications and promotions. This year, as it celebrates its 25th year of providing service in the Philippines, Western Union takes its commitment to Filipinos a step further through the "Heroes for Better" campaign. It is a campaign that recognizes and celebrates the efforts of Filipinos around the world who, in their own way, have given their time, resources, skill and/or expertise to make a positive change. The campaign aims to showcase them as role models to inspire others to follow their examples to help create a better world. Western Union, with the help of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, handpicked 25 Filipino migrant heroes around the world. Here are the stories of two Filipinos in Japan who have dedicated their lives for something other than themselves.
NESTOR PUNO left his hometown in Makati City, Philippines to serve as a missionary in Nagoya, Japan.
Driven by his faith and desire to help others, Nestor Puno left the Philippines in 1998 on a quest to educate undocumented children who were born and raised in Japan. Although a civil engineer by profession, he found his true calling as an educator at the Ecumenical Learning Center for Children (ELCC) -- a small school established to serve as a learning haven for undocumented children who, until 2003, were denied the right to attend regular schools due to their status of residence.
In fulfilling his mission, Nestor wakes up early every day to transfer children from their homes and bring them to school where he would teach lessons on Language, Mathematics, Science Studies, MAPE (Music, Arts & Physical Education), and Religion. He also serves as a role model and as a second parent who inculcates discipline and good values in them.
Nestor has dedicated his life in helping undocumented children in Nagoya to have a proper education, and he vows to carry on with his mission to help create a brighter tomorrow for future generations.
"I guess it holds true for all of us, that it started with an issue that has affected us and it simply compelled us to take action. It's not that we wanted to change the world, we just wanted to help in our own way," says Nestor Puno.
ADELAIDA SAITO left her hometown in Binangonan, Rizal, Philippines and moved to Ishinomaki, Japan.
The resilient Filipino spirit, along with an unwavering faith, helped Adelaida Lozada Saito, an ordinary Filipino migrant, overcome tremendous difficulties and, as a way of giving back, organized "Ishinomaki Hawak-Kamay" - a Japan-based volunteer group that provides relief and refuge to those affected by natural calamities.
Adelaida's family and hundreds of Ishinomaki residents lost their homes to the powerful earthquake that struck northeastern Japan in March 2011. Seeing how such a disaster left many people homeless, helpless and hopeless, Adelaida decided to bring together overseas Filipinos residing in Japan to help raise funds for calamity-stricken communities by selling goods, organizing relief drives, and performing traditional Filipino dances at fund raisers.
Motivated by the belief that each of us has a purpose to live not only for ourselves, Adelaida vows to continue helping those in need - no matter what the circumstances.
"The situation was an eye-opener for me. I realized that I am my brother's keeper. We believe that aside from material support, spiritual support is very important during the time of sorrow, during the time of mourning and during the time we feel alone and hopeless," says Adelaida.
These are just two of the 25 migrants that Western Union has honored during the "Heroes for Better" campaign. The background, professions and advocacies of the 25 Heroes for Better are diverse, but their compassion and dedication to serve others is a quality that is distinct to all the heroes.
"You don't have to be economically well-off or highly educated in order to make a difference. These are really ordinary folks that have actioned towards specific causes and became heroes." shares Patricia Riingen, Senior Vice President, South East Asia & Oceania, Western Union. "It is our sincere hope that the accomplishments of these Filipinos will inspire others to follow their example of taking positive action towards a better nation and eventually, a better world."
| *POEA 2004 report, http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/philippines-culture-migration |
| **Commission on Filipinos Overseas, 2013 Compendium of Statistics on International Migration |
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of September 30, 2015, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send money to millions of bank accounts. In 2014, The Western Union Company completed 255 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $85 billion of principal between consumers, and 484 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
