PTA to fete 25,000th OFW

Spreading joy during the holidays, the Philippine Tourism Authority will give a red carpet welcome today to the 25,000th overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who will be coming home for the Christmas holidays.

PTA General Manager Nixon Kua, who will be giving out gift items to the lucky OFW, including Miss Saigon tickets and a free-of-charge stay at any PTA-owned resort or hotel, leads the welcoming party composed of PTA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officials and employees.

The PTA "Salubong Day" is done in conjunction with the OWWA’s "Pamaskong Handog sa OFW." Both are the government’s way of paying tribute to the country’s modern-day heroes.

Prizes will also be given to five other OFWs who will be randomly selected from those who will be arrive at the NAIA via Saudia Airlines at 3 p.m. today. They will all be met at the NAIA Terminal I and feted to a merienda by PTA and OWWA officials at the Dignitaries’ Lounge.

Miss Tourism International 2000 Peachy Manzano and teen star Jolina Magdangal will also be around to give a warm welcome to the lucky OFWs and their families.

Manzano was third runner up in this year’s Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant, thus earning the right to represent the country to the Miss Tourism International pageant held in Malaysia which she eventually won.

Magdangal, on the other hand, is one of the country’s hottest teen stars.

Apart from the gift items to be given by PTA, the lucky 25,000th OFW will also get P10,000 in cash from sponsors and P5,000 worth of goodies. The lucky OFW also gets a free two-day and three-night stay at any PTA resort or hotel of his choice.

The five other OFWs will get gift certificates to any PTA property, basket of goodies worth P2,500 and tickets to Miss Saigon.