The PH Consulate General in Jeddah Recognizes 2019 Huwarang Overseas Pamilyang Pilipino Awardees

The Cabacang Family, headed by Chef Roger Cabacang (5^th from right) and winner of this year’s Huwarang Overseas Pamilyang Pilipino Award (HOPPA), receives the plaque of recognition from Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah headed by Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos (2^nd from left). In photo are Social Welfare Attache Anna Oidem (3^rd from left), and members of the HOPPA 2019 Board of Judges Mr. Paul Antiporda (leftmost), Chair of the Board of Judges Sylvia delos Santos (4^th from left), Miracle Tapado (2^nd from right), and Osmund Corpuz (rightmost). (Jeddah PCG photo)

JEDDAH 28 November 2019 — The awardees of the 2019 search for the Huwarang Overseas Pamilyang Pilipino Award (HOPPA) were honored during the awards night at the Movenpick Hotel in Jeddah on 08 November 2019. 

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah and the Office of the Social Welfare Attaché in Jeddah organized the event as the culmination of an almost half-a-year search for families in the western region of Saudi Arabia who, despite the challenges of living overseas, have preserved and kept alive the traditional Filipino family values of pagpapahalaga sa pamilya (being family-centered), God-fearing and God-centered, respect for the elderly, hospitality, and utang na loob (debt of gratitude).

In the family category, the family of Roger P. Cabacang was chosen as this year’s winner from a field of 21 nominees.  The first runners-up were the family of Mr. Samuel T. Salva, Jr. and Mr. Danny D. Espera.

In the newly created “Solo Parent” category, two equally deserving solo parents were recognized, namely, Rhea Alzate and Paraluman Atienza. All the winners received plaques of appreciation and cash prizes. They also received gift vouchers and many other tokens from several donors, including Indomie, Jollibee, and Skyfreight.

The International Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management (ICCAHM), founded in 2017, serves as a training ground for Filipinos in Saudi Arabia  with dreams of becoming  chefs and pastry experts someday.  Since its founding, the Center has already churned out more than 100 graduates, many of whom are now working in some hotels and restaurants in Jeddah while others have opened their own businesses in the Philippines. ICCAHM Chairman Mr. Cabacang is consistent with one of the objectives of the HOPPA, which is to find a Filipino family that serves the community as well as it serves its own members for a brighter tomorrow.

This is the second year in a row that the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah has conducted the HOPPA in partnership with the Office of the Social Welfare Attaché in Jeddah.  The project is in line with the Philippine-wide celebration of National Family Week every year in September.  HOPPA  is the first of its kind among the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos, in his inspirational message, said that the sad fate of many Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) families because of migration had been numerously portrayed in soap operas and movies back home.  “It is time to promote the image of the OFW family, that there are still OFW families out there who are mightily but quietly defending the traditional family values we hold dear against physical, psychological and material harm,” he added.

The 2019 HOPPA Board of Judges was composed of 2018 HOPPA Awardee and Musical Director of Serenata, a non-profit performing group in Jeddah Sylvia S. Delos Santos, Principal of the International Philippine School in Jeddah, Miracle F. Tapado, Filipino Coordinator in Jeddah Osmond B. Corpuz, and business executive and distinguished member of the Filipino community in Jeddah, Paul Antiporda. END

The Salva Family, 1^st runner up of this year’s Huwarang Overseas Pamilyang Pilipino Award (HOPPA), receives the plaque of recognition from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah headed by Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos (2^nd from left). In photo are Social Welfare Attaché Anna Oidem (3^rd from left), and members of the HOPPA 2019 Board of Judges Paul Antiporda (leftmost), Chair of the Board of Judges Sylvia delos Santos (4^th from left), Miracle Tapado (2^nd from right), and Osmund Corpuz (rightmost). (Jeddah PCG photo)

The Espera Family, also got the 1st runner up of this year’s Huwarang Overseas Pamilyang Pilipino Award (HOPPA), receives the plaque of recognition from the  Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah headed by Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos (2^nd from left). (Jeddah PCG photo)

Ms. Paraluman Atienza, (4^th from right), winner of the Solo Parent’s Category of this year’s Huwarang Overseas Pamilyang Pilipino Award (HOPPA), receives the plaque of recognition from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah headed by Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos (2^nd from left). (Jeddah PCG photo)

Ms. Rhea Alzate (fourth from left), winner of the Solo Parent’s Category of this year’s Huwarang Overseas Pamilyang Pilipino Award (HOPPA), receives the plaque of recognition from the Philipinne Consulate General in Jeddah headed by Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos (2nd from left). (Jeddah PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJeddah/.