“Kasambahay” or house helpers play a central role in Filipino households, providing care, stability, and continuity that often goes unacknowledged outside the home. After a decade of recognizing household workers nationwide, the Kasambahay, Kasambuhay Awards returned this year to give that work wider recognition.
Now in its 10th year, the Kasambahay, Kasambuhay Awards (KK Awards) honored 20 outstanding kasambahays from the 2024 and 2025 award cycles. The program is a joint initiative of the Palawan Group of Companies and JCI Senate Philippines and brought together awardees, their employers, and family members in a ceremony focused on service and commitment.
Each awardee received P100,000 in cash and access to a TESDA scholarship that may be used personally or extended to a loved one.
whose service quietly sustains Filipino homes and communities
“Kasambahays are the quiet heroes of Filipino homes. Their work brings stability, safety, and peace of mind to families every day. Through this initiative, we want them to know they are seen, valued, and truly appreciated,” said Karlo M. Castro, president and CEO of the Palawan Group.
Castro noted that kasambahays enable parents to work and students to focus on school, allowing households to function smoothly. He described the awards as a way of acknowledging what often happens quietly inside Filipino homes.
The program has continued consistently over the past decade, even during the pandemic, reflecting what organizers described as a long-term commitment rather than a one-time recognition. For JCI Senate Philippines, the awards are anchored on the idea that service inside the home has a broader social impact.
“Through the Kasambahay, Kasambuhay Awards, we honor kasambahays as everyday leaders. Their work may often go unseen, but it shapes the foundation of our homes and society,” said Mylene M. Dayrit, national executive vice president of JCI Senate Philippines.
This year’s awards introduced key expansions, including the formal recognition of Overseas Filipino Workers employed as household helpers. Nomination submissions were also made more accessible through PalawanPay, allowing employers, relatives, and community members to submit entries digitally.
“That means employers, families, and relatives can nominate anytime, anywhere,” Castro said. “It’s safer and more convenient.”
According to JCI Senate Philippines, the streamlined process resulted in 1,376 nominations for 2025, including 367 entries from the OFW category.
Beyond recognition, organizers emphasized empowerment through access to financial tools. Castro said PalawanPay allows kasambahays to send money, buy load, purchase insurance, and manage finances without requiring a traditional bank account.
“It empowers them to manage their finances and take care of their families better,” he said.
Palawan Group deputy chairman and co-founder Angelita M. Castro underscored the values behind the initiative.
“Iba ang aruga ng Pinoy. Makikita ito sa kung paano inaalagaan ng mga kasambahay ang pamilyang kanilang pinaglilingkuran, na para na rin nilang sariling pamilya,” she said.
As the KK Awards enters its second decade, organizers said the focus remains on recognizing the dignity of work that sustains Filipino homes—work that, while often unseen, continues to hold families and communities together.
