Executives of Junior Chamber International (JCI) and Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala recently opened nominations for the Kasambahay Kasambuhay Pilipinas Awards, which recognizes outstanding Filipino household service workers.
Now in its fourth year, the kasambahay awards give P75,000 cash and trophy to each of 10 awardees every year.
“The awards program focuses on the importance and dignity of the loyal household service workers or kasambahays, and draws inspirational lessons from their simple lives and daily accomplishments,” said Bobby L. Castro, chief executive officer of Palawan Pawnshop and Palawan Express Pera Padala.
The JCI chairperson for this year’s search, William Ong, said that nominations are restricted to domestic workers who have rendered at least seven straight years of service to their present employers, not more than 75 years old, still at work, and ambulant enough to claim the award in Metro Manila.
Qualified domestic helps—nannies, maids, cooks, laundry women, drivers, gardeners, utility boys, and others—may join the search and avail themselves of nomination forms from JCI offices or Palawan Pawnshop branches nationwide.
Filled out nomination forms, including attachments such as employment certificates and identification cards, among others, must be sent back to the same JCI office or Palawan Pawnshop branch no later than the August 31 deadline.
Launched in 2016, Kasambahay Kasambuhay Pilipinas Awards has so far produced 25 awardees.
Castro hopes that “through this continued endeavor, the kasambahays’ worth will be fully appreciated and that they will emerge as duly recognized partners in the Filipino home and society.”