‘X Factor Israel’ winner Osang Fostanes leads 2014 Bagong Bayani awardees

"The X Factor Israel" winner Rose "Osang" Fostanes and the Filipino crewmembers of the ill-fated foreign cruise ship Costa Concordia were among the awardees of the 2014 Bagong Bayani Awards.

They were part of the 16 individuals and two groups who have been recognized by the Bagong Bayani Foundation, Inc. for their heroic deeds and service to the community abroad.

Fostanes, a caregiver in Tel Aviv, made the Philippines proud last January when she won "The X Factor Israel" with her renditions of Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera hits.

The crew of Costa Concordia, on the other hand, earned the world's admiration for their bravery and heroism when the cruise ship sank off Italy in early 2012.

The awardees are as follows:

Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee

- Captain Silvestre Notorio, Jr., 57
- Captain Leopoldo Gromio, 59
- Perla Rizalina Tayko, 72
- Edison David, 42
- Reynaldo Lachica, 44
- 21 Filipino crew member of MV Baltic K
- 291 Filipino crew member of Costa Concordia

Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and Arts

- Roilo Alojado, 60
- Larry Esmolo Carumba, 51
- Rose "Osang" Fostanes, 47
- Saturnino Tiamson, Jr., 32

Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service

- Arnel Corpuz, 42
- Arnel Genzola, 32
- Jeffrey Singson, 33
- Joseph Bautista, 54

Blas F. Ople para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani

- Joseph Bautista, 54

Bagong Bayani Foundation

Since 1999, the foundation has awarded more than 1,500 outstanding OFWs, retired Vice Admiral Eduardo Ms. R. Santos, Bagong Bayani Foundation president, cited in his welcome remarks.

“The world will not be the same again without Filipinos,” he said.

For his part, Joseph Bautista, one of the awardees, encouraged his fellow OFWs to work hard for their family and for the country, while reaching out to their communities abroad.

“Maiksi lamang po ang ating buhay. Gawin natin itong makahulugan at maging halimbawa po tayo na dapat tularan,” he said.

Social cost of migration

According to Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, some 1.8 million Filipino had left the country to work abroad in the last two years.

Binay said the social cost of migration is the separation of Filipino families. “Sana mabawasan natin ang epekto ng separasyon,” he said.

“Sana dumating ang panahon that Filipino will not go abroad not because of necessity but by choice,” Binay said. —KBK, GMA News