29 November 2013 –Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz inducted the new set of officers of the Global OFW with a Golden Heart, one of the active Filipino community organizations in Lebanon, on the occasion of its third anniversary on November 17.
The officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration also attended the celebration which took place at the auditorium of the St. Francis Church in Hamra, Beirut.
In her message, Ambassador Ruiz congratulated the group on their anniversary and urged them to continue to reflect the dreams and aspiration of Filipinos in Lebanon through their common endeavours and collaborations. She also took the opportunity to call on everyone present to offer concrete support and prayers for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in central Philippines, which on that date had claimed the lives of at least 5,000 Filipinos, affected almost 10 million individuals and caused massive destruction to property. She encouraged Filipino groups to extend a helping hand to the victims by way of donations similar to what other Filipino organizations in Lebanon have already done in the aftermath of the typhoon.
The other highlight of the anniversary celebration was the search for Miss Global OFW with a Golden Heart 2013. Eight Filipinos from different parts of Beirut and nearby areas vied for the title. The candidates paraded on stage in their sports and summer attires and evening gowns and competed in the talent presentations and Q&A portion. Winning the crown for this year’s search is Ms. Ella Locsin, while first runner-up is Ms. Raquel Pader, and Ms. Marites Garcia was adjudged second runner-up. Special awards were also given to the other competing candidates.
With the generous financial backing of the sponsors of the event, raffle prizes were given to lucky attendees before the awarding ceremony. The organizers, led by the Group’s President, Ms. Jelyn Reyes, thanked the guests and sponsors for their participation and support. END