BPI Honors Outstanding Children of Overseas Pinoy Workers

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through its annual Search for the Ten Outstanding Overseas Filipino Children, honors this year’s new generation of exemplary students who are children of Overseas Filipino Workers. Now on its 6th year, the Search cites seven (7) Ibang Klaseng Talino awardees, and one awardee each for Ibang Klaseng Community Leader, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur, and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete categories.

Year-on-year, BPI has recognized students who could serve as role models of excellence in academics, sports, entrepreneurship and leadership to their generation despite the challenge of having only one parent physically living with them to personally guide them, or, sometimes, being left under the guidance of relatives.

BPI President Aurelio Montinola III says, “BPI never tires of giving honor to the children of our modern heroes. We see a new generation of children who ensure that the sacrifices and hard work of their parents working abroad do not go to waste. These kids have inspiring stories to share. Their achievements demonstrate the value that their family comes first.”

This year’s winner of Ibang Klaseng Talino category, Gerard Don Padilla, shares, “we feel our dad is never far away from us because we take advantage of what technology offers today.” Padilla is a 4th year BS Business Administration and Accountancy student of the University of the Philippines.

Passion is one of the most important keys to achieving success. For the Davaoenian triathlete Mary Pauline “Pawie” Fornea, her passion in sports has rewarded her not just success but also pride to be named as an outstanding child of an overseas Filipino parent. With her excellence in sports and academics the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) recognizes her as this year’s Ibang Klaseng Athlete awardee of the 2012 Search for the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children.

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Pawie’s father, Paulino, was compelled to leave his job abroad after being fired from work due to illness and fatigue. Pawie channeled the difficulty of her family’s predicament to fuel her passion and reach for her dream to become a Member of the Philippines Sports Commission’s (PSC) National Team as a Triathlete. Today, she offers all her success as a National athlete and a consistent scholar of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to her father. “My father is noble. Even with his condition, he strives abroad just to support my dreams. It’s hard being an athlete and a scholar at the same time, but remembering all of my father’s sacrifices just to support me has inspired me to carry on,” shares Pawie.

As the eldest child of a typical family of an OFW, Mark  Kevin Nuñez, or “Kevs,” shared in his parent’s responsibility as the “father” of the family by starting a sustainable business that helped with his family’s finances.

Spending one gloomy Christmas in the hospital where his sick father was confined has become the turning-point for Kevs to decide to become a student entrepreneur. “It was these difficult times that inspired me to challenge myself and create a new source of income for my family,” shares Kevs, a 4th year BS Entrepreneurial Management student of the University of Asia and the Pacific (U&AP).

Kevs started to build up his savings by opening a BPI Jumpstart Savings account. With his PhP6,000 savings, he started an online Customized Ballers business. After a year, his business earned PhP120,000, which is PhP20,000 more than his target revenue.

Kevs’ successful beginnings as a young entrepreneur empowered him to register a self-titled corporate giveaways business, MKNUNEZ Enterprises, at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Being ahead of his goals, Kevs made sure to safeguard his business’ finances by opening a BPI Family Savings Bank Ka-Negosyo checking account with a portion of his savings.

Kevs’ exemplary attitude of excellence has made him a consistent Scholar, a budding entrepreneur, and now has earned him the honor of becoming the Bank of the Philippines Islands’ (BPI) Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur awardee in the 2012 Search for the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children.

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The 2012 BPInoy Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children of BPI are (as shown in photo):

1st row, L-R

Ibang Klaseng Community Leader
Angelo Jan David Garon (AMA Computer College-Tarlac Campus)

Ibang Klaseng Talino
Jovito Jose Katigbak (De La Salle – College of St. Benilde)
Aljon Mayuga (Mapúa Institute of Technology Manila)

2nd row, L-R

Ibang Klaseng Talino
Paul Emerson Almontero (University of Bohol)
Ritchelle Lamayo (Saint Louis University Baguio)
Mark Anthony Lacsinto (FEU Manila)

Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur
Mark Kevin Nuñez (University of Asia and the Pacific)

Ibang Klaseng Talino
Gerard Don Padilla (University of the Philippines-Diliman)

Ibang Klaseng Athlete
Mary Pauline Fornea (UP Mindanao)

Ibang Klaseng Talino
Mark Collin Solas (John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University)

They are joined in the photo by Hon. Carmelita Dimzon, Administrator, OWWA; BPI’s SVP and Head of Integrated Marketing Group Marie Josephine Ocampo; BPI President Aurelio Montinola III; BPI Executive Vice President and Treasurer and Head of Global Banking Antonio Paner, and SVP for Global Banking Raul Dimayuga.

To know more about BPI’s Remittance services and the annual Search for the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children, visit www.bpiexpressonline.com.