Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Independence Day is a national holiday, but for many Filipinos, it’s a work opportunity.
Around 3,000 job seekers flocked to Luneta Park on Sunday for the government’s Kalayaan 2016 Job Fair.
“The job fair presents our countrymen with fresh options and job opportunities and by doing that they would be able to discover new horizons and by being employed,” said Ryan Delos Reyes, a senior officer at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
As part of Oplan Kalayaan 2016, the job fair offered over 15,000 overseas job vacancies and around 20,000 local opportunities for job seekers.
Delos Reyes said the job fair allowed job seekers to “be a part of nation building.”
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“Talagang importante kasi ngayon po na kaka-resign lang sa trabaho ko tapos may mga kapatid na akong tinutulungan, so need ko talaga ng job ngayon,” said Adam Galleposo, a former bookkeeper who travelled to Manila from Zamboanga.
[Translation: Finding a job is really important because I just resigned from my job. I support my siblings, so I really need a job now.]
The Labor Department also held regional job fairs in Ilocos, Cagayan, and Central Luzon.
Other government agencies and departments also offered their services: license renewal by the Land Transportation Office, business registration care of the Department of Trade and Industry, free haircuts from TESDA hairdressers, and free medical check-ups from the Department of Health.
