After celebrating the heroism of Filipino volunteer firefighters, “ABS-CBN DocuCentral Presents” turns the spotlight to the struggles and triumphs of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) this Saturday  (April 6) at 5:15 pm, after “SOCO” on ABS-CBN.

In the 30-minute documentary entitled “Alpas,” ABS-CBN DocuCentral tells the story of OFW couple Danilo and Dolores Obiena who took their chance in a foreign land to secure their family’s future, and endured being sent to jail and being separated from each other as war broke out.

Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, the filmmaker behind the internationally-acclaimed 2016 documentary “Sunday Beauty Queen,” “Alpas” reveals the plight of our OFWs, who are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of their loved ones. 

The latest offering from ABS-CBN’s award-winning documentary team follows OFW Danilo Obiena’s last days in the country before he flies back to the Middle East for work.  The Tarlac native has been an OFW since 1990, starting out as a maintenance worker in Saudi Arabia. He went home after a decade, bought a tricycle and put up a store using his earnings, but did not succeed.

In 2006, he and his wife decided to go to Lebanon, leaving their children with relatives as they made a living in a foreign land. Their employer wrongly accused them of stealing, putting them behind bars and away from each other. After being freed as war began in Lebanon, Danilo set off on a month-long search for his wife. With the help of kind individuals, including a Lebanese, Danilo and his wife were reunited and were able to return to the Philippines safely.

Despite their harrowing experience in Lebanon, Danilo remains unfazed in seeking opportunities outside the country, this time to support his grandchildren. Working abroad, away from family, is a tough decision that millions of other Filipinos like him have made and continue to make.

Witness the passion, dedication, and sacrifices of OFWs in “Alpas” this Saturday (April 6), 5:15 pm after “SOCO” on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD. Watch online on iWant or skyondemand.com.ph. For more information on the documentary, follow @DocuCentral on Facebook and Twitter. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abscbnpr.com.