'For good'

GO NEGOSYO PILIPINAS

- JOEY CONCEPCION

"For good." This phrase acquired a deeper meaning for me when Yolanda, a former OFW (overseas Filipino worker), visited us at our Go Negosyo office to claim her share of the P2-million cash gift that President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos added to the cash and prizes we gave out during the Balik-Bayan 2024 event last Dec. 7.

"Nag-'for-good' na po ako ng seven years na ngayon," said Yolanda. She was an OFW for eight years but found herself unable to return to her employer after feeling she was too old (she's 54) and already suffering from a few ailments. She's decided to stay "for good" and went into business, cooking food she could sell and making kakanin (traditional rice-based snacks), which she has learned to sell online.

"Malaking bagay po ito," she said, referring to the prize she shared with some 400 other OFWs who were also recipients of the President and the First Lady's cash gift. She told us she intends to put it to good use as "pandagdag puhunan" (additional capital) for her business.

Another one of our visitors was Maritan, 45, a veteran of the Gulf States OFW circuit. She's worked as an OFW in several countries in the Middle East since 2010 and came home during the pandemic in 2021. She decided to put up a sari-sari store to make a living.

"Malaking tulong po ito. Pangdagdag ng paninda," she said, pausing to add, "at pagkain." (This is a big help. We can buy more stocks - and food).