Kabayan bags a bronze at New York Festivals

MANILA, Philippines - DZMM’s public affairs program Kabayan anchored by Noli “Kabayan” de Castro (photo) bagged a Bronze World Medal in the Best Public Affairs Program category at the prestigious 2012 New York Festivals (NYF) International Radio Program & Promotion Awards.

Kabayan, which is the lone Philippine radio program to succeed in the international competition, was honored for its episodes where Noli extended aid to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) caught in the war in Syria last January.

According to Noli, the award is proof that DZMM performs its duty to serve Filipinos wherever they are in the world. “DZMM’s principle is to be the voice of the Filipino people. This is the type of public service we provide — whenever and wherever you are, you have a compatriot you can rely on,” he said.

He also added that the recognition from the international award-giving body highlights the significance of helping OFWs who suffer and are in danger.

“The painful truth is that many Filipinos work overseas to provide for their families. But we at DZMM will continue to protect the welfare of our modern-day heroes,” he said.

Kabayan served as the link between the Department of Foreign Affairs and OFWs living in different parts of Syria, including OFW Gande Das whom Kabayan would talk to on air every day to calm her down after she threatened to jump off her employer’s building so she could escape and come back to the Philippines. The Philippine embassy in Damascus had already repatriated Das and other OFWs.