Lucky OFW gets red carpet treatment, prizes at NAIA

More than 20,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning home for the Christmas holidays were welcomed by Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) general manager Nixon Kua at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday.

Kua handed out to Crisanto Lachica of Canlubang, Laguna gift items that included tickets to the stage musical "Miss Saigon" and a free stay in any PTA-owned resort or hotel.

Lachica, who has been a service crew member of Pizza Hut in Saudi Arabia for the past five years, was chosen as the second "Lucky OFW."

Prizes were also given to five other OFWs selected at random among passengers who arrived at NAIA aboard Saudia airlines.

Apart from gift items, the "Lucky OFWs" also received P10,000 in cash from sponsors, and bags of goodies from Duty-Free Philippines.

The OFWs were met by Kua, airport general manager Antonio Gana, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Eli Gardiner.

Ms. Tourism International Peachy Manzano and teenage star Jolina Magdangal were also on hand to welcome the returning OFWs.

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