Caregivers hailed as 'Fukushima Heroes'

MANILA, Philippines - Four Filipino caregivers in Japan, called the “Fukushima Heroes,” were chosen to receive the 2011 Bagong Bayani Award (New Heroes Award) for Community and Social Service by the Bagong Bayani Foundation in Manila.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez commended the four Filipino caregivers working at the Social Welfare Juridical Seihoukai in Komine-en, Shirakawa City.

President Aquino is expected to give the award to Filipino caregivers Gemma Juanay, Juliet Tobay, Sandra Otacan and Mercedes Joie Aquino in fitting ceremonies at Malacañang on Dec. 1.

The Bagong Bayani Award is a national search for outstanding and exemplary overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The award seeks to recognize and pay tribute to OFWs for their significant efforts in fostering goodwill among peoples of the world, enhancing and promoting the image of the Filipino as a competent, responsible and dignified worker, and for greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of their communities and the country as a whole.

The four Filipino caregivers are working in the institution for the elderly located in Fukushima Prefecture, some distance away from a no-go zone declared by the Japanese government in an aftermath of the East Japan earthquake and the devastation wrought by the tsunami of March 11, 2011.

Despite imminent danger and risk of nuclear radiation, Juanay, Tobay, Otacan ans Aquino chose to remain in their jobs and continue to provide care and companionship to their elderly Japanese patients.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Tokyo headed by Labor Attaché Clifford Paragua nominated the four caregivers for the 2011 Bagong Bayani Award after they manifested great compassion that compelled them to even downplay significant personal risk to ensure the safety and survival of their patients.

The four Filipino caregivers were invited to a thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Japan Foreign Minister last May at Iikura House in Tok-yo. They were also bestowed recognition and honor by the Japanese people through the kind words and rewards that have been expressed and heartily given and the attention that local media has provided, which serve as true testaments to their heroism.