MANILA, 21 November 2007 — A former seaman, who has dedicated his later years to community service, has been adjudged together with his wife and children a Model OFW Family of the Year Awardee for 2007 for the National Capital Region.

Three winners from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are to be given national awards come December.

Bonifacio Ucat, 68, had been a seaman for 24 years. Retired from service, he is now working in a mission for community services and administering new church building projects. He is also a Sunday school teacher in CLPMI Maliksi in Bacoor, Cavite and an active member of PNP-MOST (Moral and Spiritual Transformation) Program. Prior to the MOFYA Award, he received a recognition from the Apostleship of the Sea as an Outstanding Seafarer of the Year for excellence in community service.

A native of the southern island of Mindanao, Ucat started working abroad in 1974 as a radio operator in a foreign-owned ship. His priorities were his children’s education and to be able to build a dream house for his family. He sold all his tricycles for his transportation expenses in going to Manila to be able to apply as seaman.

After Ucat managed to land a job abroad, his wife Francita resigned from her teaching post in General Santos City in Mindanao, studied cosmetology in Manila and later opened a skin care saloon.

After four years of hard labor at sea, Ucat managed to build a two-story house in General Santos. The family decided later to settle in Manila’s southern suburb of Las Piñas in 1982 Francita’s business was also doing well, opening three more branches of her skin care saloon.

Francita also established a travel and tour agency, but that did not last long because she found a different calling. She became a fulltime minister and founder of the Christ Life Prayer Ministry and Christ Life Academy. One of her first recruits was her husband, who not only became a member but a very active supporter to this day — conducting outreach programs and establishing churches and schools.

Born in Iligan to a Boholano father-farmer and an Ilocano mother, Ucat finished his elementary and high school education through hard work. He later continued his studies in Cebu for his vocational course taking up radio telecommunication.

In was also in Cebu where he met his Francita. She was his neighbor who was a working as a clinic attendant and at the same time studying at the University of Visayas, majoring in Education. After they graduated from their respective courses, they got married in 1963. They moved to Marawi City where Ucat got his first job as a clerk radio operator and Francita got hers as a public schoolteacher.

They eventually moved to General Santos City when Ucat was transferred to RCPI’s General Santos branch. Later, he was promoted as regular employee of RCPI. Soon the children came one after the other until Ucat became a seaman.

The Ucat couple are now proud to have raised their kids in prayer and faith in God. All of their five children are professionals and can be considered successful in their respective fields.

The Ucat family received their award early this month in a simple ceremony led by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Marianito D. Roque. They also received a cash award, trophy and gift certificates from Western Union and Globe Telecom, sponsors of the MOFYA 2007.