MWO-OWWA WDC, FACC EMPOWER WOMEN MIGRANT WORKERS THROUGH CULINARY AND NUTRITION CLASS

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-66-2026

28 October 2026

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Washington, DC, in partnership with the Filipino American Cancer Care (FACC), hosted a specialized cooking and nutrition class for members of the Organization of Filipino Private Staff (OFPS) in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area on October 25, 2026. Designed as a practical capacity-building initiative, the training aimed to empower women migrant workers by enhancing their culinary skills and deepening their understanding of healthy nutrition. 

Welcoming the participants, Labor Attaché Saul De Vries highlighted the importance of learning healthy food preparation. “For Filipinos, being able to serve good food is a way of demonstrating love, bringing family and friends together, and welcoming visitors,” he said. He also expressed gratitude to FACC and Chef Evelyn Bunoan for supporting the initiative, noting that the program was developed in alignment with FACC’s advocacy for cancer survivors. 

Welfare Officer Mae Codilla congratulated the OFPS on the unique opportunity to learn directly from a widely acclaimed culinary expert. Chef Evelyn was trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London with Master Chef certificates in French Culinary Arts and Patisserie. She is also the founder of the Cancer Help Eat Well (CHEW) Foundation, a public charity dedicated to educating cancer patients and caregivers on maintaining a healthy diet throughout treatment and recovery.

During the interactive, hands-on session, Chef Evelyn – assisted by her husband, Oscar Bunoan – guided attendees through essential culinary techniques, ranging from ingredient preparation to food presentation. She emphasized the importance of using fresh and natural ingredients and explained how preparing meals without artificial additives helps preserve natural flavors and supports a balanced diet. She further highlighted the role of proper nutrition in overall well-being, particularly for individuals undergoing treatment or recovering from a life-threatening illnesses.

Also present during the workshop were some officers of FACC led by Founder and President Josie Moralidad Ziman who assisted with event operations and provided live entertainment for the participants.