Filipino nun awarded ‘Outstanding Citizen’ in South Korea

Screencap of Sr. Olalia’s Facebook post

MANILA, Philippines – Sister Lucia Olalia may be a Filipino citizen, and a proud one at that, but that didn’t stop Pocheon City in South Korea from giving her an “Outstanding Citizen Award” in recognition of her humanitarian work in the community.

The nun received a plaque from Pocheon City Mayor Seo Jang-Won last April 1.

“My citizenship is Filipino,” Olalia clarified in her Facebook post showing a picture of her and the mayor.

She said the city recognized her work in assisting sick foreigners or migrants.

“Hindi naman (ako) Korean citizen pero (kinilala ako) dahil nakatira ako dito sa Pocheon City at dahil sa pakiisa ko sa pagpapabuti ng city katulad ng mga koreans, lalo na sa pagtulong ko daw sa mga foreigners na maysakit,” she said.

(I am not a Korean citizen but they gave me recognition because I live in Pocheon City and because I contributed for the betterment of the city like the Koreans, especially in helping foreigners who are suffering from illnesses.)

A Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) article published in 2010 said the Commission on Filipinos Overseas compared Olalia to Mother Teresa.

Olalia is the founder of Friends Without Borders Migrants Center based in Gyeonggi-do province in South Korea. The center assists migrants, many of which are Filipinos, facing human rights problems and welfare issues. Olalia was said to have visited them in hospitals, immigration and even detention centers.

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