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Impacting Filipinas Worldwide: CFO Celebrates 45 Years,
Acknowledging Shared Leadership with PCW



Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla received the Valuable Partner Agency Award during the Commission on Filipinos Overseas’ (CFO) 45th year Anniversary Forum and Milestone Celebration, conferred by CFO Secretary Dante Francis M. Ang II and Undersecretary Atty. Ma. Arlene S. Borja.

In celebration of its  45th milestone year, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) honored the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) with the Valuable Partner Agency Award—in recognition of the contributions of the PCW in enabling the CFO’s commitment to advance gender equality and address the challenges faced by Filipino women overseas


Government agencies and civil society partner organization awardees pose with their certificate and plaque of appreciation after the CFO Partners Appreciation Awarding Ceremony.

With the theme “Filipino Diaspora for Bagong Pilipinas: Contributions, Challenges, and Future Directions,” this year’s celebration was more than a reflection—it was a reaffirmation of CFO’s mission to uplift and empower the global Filipino community. Through its Partners Appreciation Awarding Ceremony,  the CFO paid tribute to key partners from the government, civil society, the academe, international organizations, private sectors, and members of the Filipino diaspora. This recognition highlights the collective effort and vital support of these partners—support that has been instrumental in advancing the CFO’s mandate, implementing impactful initiatives, and fostering meaningful collaborations that strengthen its reach and relevance on the global Filipino community.


Among this year’s awardees, the PCW was honored as a Valuable Partner Agency for its critical role in promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of Filipina migrants around the world. 


The CFO and PCW share a vision: a world where no Filipino woman is left behind, no matter how far she may be from home. Their partnership is not only built on shared goals, but on shared compassion—for those who journey across borders in search of a better life, and for those who face risks and vulnerabilities in pursuit of their aspirations  beyond Philippine shores.


PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla received the award and delivered an acceptance speech on behalf of all government agency partner awardees.


PCW Chairperson Valdeavilla delivering her acceptance speech on behalf of the government agency partner awardees.

“As we celebrate 45 years of service to Filipinos overseas, we will also continue to write our shared story—a story where every Filipino overseas, women and men alike, is protected, empowered, and celebrated, leaving no one behind. In the spirit of bayanihan that defines us as a nation, let us continue to build a future where distance never diminishes dignity, where borders never break the bonds of belonging, and where every Filipino, can confidently say: “I am seen, I am valued, I am not alone, and I feel like I am home,” she said. 


PCW was recognized as CFO’s Valuable Partner Agency in promoting and protecting the welfare of overseas Filipinos.

Across oceans and continents, Filipinos migrate not only for employment but also to reunite with loved ones, build families with foreign spouses, or pursue personal and professional growth. Yet, for women, these journeys are fraught with unique challenges—from cultural dislocation to exploitation and discrimination. 


Recognizing these realities, the CFO and the PCW have walked hand in hand to protect the rights of Filipino migrating spouses. Together, they have  addressed every phase of the migration journey—from pre-departure readiness to  reintegration—ensuring that women are prepared to face challenges and empowered to thrive in new environments. 


They represent a deep, institutional commitment to mitigating the gendered impacts of migration, and to cultivating a global Filipino community that is both inclusive and gender-sensitive. At the heart of this partnership lies a shared belief: that empowerment begins with protection, and progress is only meaningful when it reaches those who need it most.


PCW Chairperson Valdeavilla offered a message of hope and recognition to the  overseas Filipino:

“To our overseas Filipino community—you are the soul of the Filipino nation abroad. You are our ambassadors of strength and resilience, our architects of transformative human relationships, and our builders of cross-border friendships and culture. As we look ahead, let us remember that our greatest strength is not only in what we have accomplished together, but in what more we can achieve for every Filipino still waiting to be seen, heard and empowered.”


Since its establishment in 1980 through Batas Pambansa Bilang 79, the CFO has been a steadfast guardian of Filipino migrants’ welfare. In its 45 years, it has built a legacy of compassion, advocacy, and impact, garnering multiple GADtimpla Awards, including: 

  • 2023 Silver Award for Outstanding Gender-Responsive Government Agency and  Silver Award for Exemplary GAD Focal Point System
  • 2019 Bronze Award for Outstanding Gender-Responsive Government Agency

Department of the Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary and PCW Commissioner Lilian M. De Leaon (4th from the left), who also received the Valuable Partner Agency Award for her department, joins the PCW staff for a commemorative photo, highlighting the shared vision of both agencies as partners of CFO’s goals to protect and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas.

Among its most transformative services are gender-responsive programs designed specifically for women:

  • Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP): Over 542,000 marriage migrants (91% women) were assisted from 1989 to 2017.
  • Country Familiarization Seminar (CFS): This program assisted over 16,000 Filipino au pairs (97% women) from 2012 to 2018.
  • “Itanong Mo Kay SIS”: This is a confidential, free, platform (web and mobile application) for counseling female marriage migrants since 2016.
  • 1343 Hotline: This is a 24/7 crisis line that has assisted nearly 600 human trafficking victims, almost 73% of whom are women, since 2011.
  • Republic Act 10364 (the Anti-Mail Order Bride Act) and the expansion of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act: CFO has led successful advocacy for laws that protect women, including, helping combat exploitative matchmaking schemes and prevent commodification of  Filipino women in international marriage schemes.

As part of its 45th anniversary celebration, the CFO also hosted three panel discussions on the following: (1) the transformative impact of Filipino immigrants; (2) Filipino marriage migrants, cultural exchange participants, and youth diaspora; and (3) exchange of knowledge, skills, and resources between the Philippines and the global community. 


The event culminated in a milestone celebration dinner, commemorating decades of partnership, and collective achievement. 


Together, the CFO and PCW stand as unyielding partners, working across boundaries to ensure that no Filipino—especially no Filipino women—faces the world alone. Their work continues, rooted in compassion, inspired by the stories of every migrant woman, and driven by the dream of a Bagong Pilipinas that uplifts every Filipino, wherever they may be.