2,000 OFWs in Taiwan mark Rizal's birthday

Published June 20, 2011 4:36pm

Some 2,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan gathered for a "Fun Day" of games and dancing to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. According to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA), many participants of the Taipei-Manila Workers' Fun Day had the Philippine flag painted on their faces or arms. "Thousands of Filipinos working in Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Yilan and even Hualien streamed into the National Taiwan University in Taipei sports center, the venue of the event," the CNA report said. Manila Economic and Cultural Office labor affairs director Reydeluz Conferido said the Fun Day was a triple celebration for:

the Philippines' 113th Independence Day on June 12;

Rizal's 150th birth anniversary on June 19, and

Father's Day, which also falls on June 19. "We want to give the workers and our friends a space for friendship, fun and peace.The world has too many problems, and we want everyone to have a light day where we can share enjoyment," Conferido was quoted in the report as saying. The report said baseball caps, bags, T-shirts, mobile phones and other prizes worth NT$500,000 (US$17,250) were given away during the event. Singer Tricia Garcia and the famed Mcoy Fundales and his new band Kenyo performed live for the OFWs. According to Council of Labor Affairs statistics, there are 77,933 Filipino workers in Taiwan, with 53,868 of them working in the manufacturing sector and 22,994 people working as caregivers. The CNA said tOFWs form the third largest national contingent of migrant workers and account for about one-fifth of the 395,944 foreign workers in Taiwan as of April 2011. - VVP, GMA News

Tags: taiwan, joserizal