According to George Palencia, an Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia, the most memorable achievement in his hard-knock life he will forever treasure is when he received the “Bagong Bayani (New Hero) Award for 2005” from no other than the President of the Philippines herself, Gloria Macapal-Arroyo at the Malacañang Palace.
George and his family used to live in the squatters’ area in Intramuros and many times, they had to live in makeshift houses of plywood, cardboards and plastic in any place they could find around Manila. However, being poor, walking to and from school everyday and working during weekends didn’t stop George from studying hard, earning high grades and achieving academic heights from grade school to college. He eventually became a scholar at PLM and took up Commerce.
George put up a Sari-Sari Store-cum-carinderia in the Quinta Market, which he left to the care of his siblings, Even though he was busy with work, he never forgot to serve God by being a Street Children Volunteer. He then soon found work as a Chief Records and Remittance Comptroller of the PERT/CPM’s Singapore-Manila door-to-door base. This regular job paved the way for him to answer many of his family’s needs and problems and because of his remarkable service to the company; he was the one chosen to supervise the company’s door-to-door business in Saudi Arabia.
George never imagined he would be given the opportunity to work abroad. So, when he was given the chance to go to Saudi Arabia, he didn’t think twice about going there, even if there was an ongoing Gulf War in 1990. At present, George is working as Executive Secretary for Showtime Global Direct for seven years now in Saudi Arabia.
He founded the Kapatirang Manggagawang Pilipino in Riyadh, a group for domestic helpers, dressmakers, beauticians and laborers. George Palencia’s life has been fraught with hard struggles and harsh moments, but through it all, he remained a man who never lost hope and never gave up even against insurmountable odds. Just like what real heroes do.