19/12/2025
The 2025 Department of Migrant Workers Christmas Installation
It was an honor to work with PLDT Global Corporation in creating the 2025 Department of Migrant Workers Christmas installation, themed Bayan, Bayani, Bayanihan - a heartfelt tribute to the millions of overseas Filipinos who continue to uplift their families and communities.
At the heart of this year’s Christmas décor stands a bahay-kubo inspired tree, symbolizing the “OFW’s Home.” More than a structure, the bahay kubo represents warmth, shelter, and shared life, a reminder that no matter how far overseas Filipinos may be, they remain at the very center of Filipino families, traditions, and values. It speaks of hope, sacrifice, and the enduring love that OFWs bring back to their families and to the nation.
Complementing the tree is a festive welcome arch adorned with native elements, an invitation to step into a space that feels familiar and grounding. It symbolizes arrival and return, reflecting the Filipino way of welcoming with openness, generosity, and joy - the kind that makes anyone feel instantly at home.
Completing the scene is a sari-sari store, a quiet but powerful symbol of everyday Filipino life. It represents community, resilience, and connection, a place where neighbors gather, stories are exchanged, and small joys are shared. For many families of OFWs, it also reflects how love from afar sustains daily life, turning remittances into nourishment, schooling, and hope.
The ceremonial lighting of the Christmas Tree, led by PLDT Global COO Edith Gomez-Cudiamat and DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, marked not just the start of the holiday season, but a renewed expression of gratitude and alaga for our modern-day heroes. This installation reflects the continuing partnership between PLDT Global and the DMW - a collaboration rooted in supporting the global journey of overseas Filipinos, strengthening reintegration initiatives, expanding livelihood and upskilling programs, and keeping families meaningfully connected through services like TINBO (Tindahan ni Bossing).
This Christmas setup is a tribute to courage and sacrifice, to bayanihan across borders, and to the enduring promise that home is never too far away.