Honest OFW returns home

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:53:00 07/10/2009

BAMBANG, NUEVA VIZCAYA -- She collected scraps from garbage bins to survive in Hong Kong, but she came home in Barangay (village) Aliaga here on Wednesday with gifts for her neighbors and a movie contract about her honesty.

Mildred Perez Bonde, 38, a Filipino domestic helper in Hong Kong who won praises for returning P2.1 million in cash and checks which she found in a garbage heap, came home to a hero’s welcome from her family members, relatives and village mates.

She said a company was interested to produce a movie about her life story and has offered her a P5-million contract.

If the movie becomes successful, she said she would donate P1 million to this farming village, 7 kilometers from the town proper.

Bonde, who was accompanied by officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration from Manila, was awarded a certificate by village officials for her honesty.

United Methodist Church ministers also celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for her.
Residents and officials, led by Bambang Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma and Nueva Vizcaya Governor Luisa Cuaresma, joined Bonde and her family in a get-together lunch.

Cuaresma said Bonde uplifted the image of Filipinos in Hong Kong “who are often verbally maltreated by wealthy Chinese businessmen.”

“I noticed this when I was in Hong Kong. Because of Mildred’s good deed, we can overcome this discrimination. It really pays to be good,” Cuaresma said.

Danilo Barroga, village chief of Aliaga, said they were proud of Bonde’s honesty.
Bonde recalled that when she was a child, she was scolded by her father for taking labong (bamboo shoots) without permission from their neighbor. Ben Moses Ebreo, Inquirer Northern Luzon

This is very inspiring news, not just for OFWs but for the whole Philippines as well. We need more people like Mildred Bonde. She uplifts the image of Filipinos all over the world with just one kind gesture. Honesty, still is, the best policy.

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