MANILA – Awards and recognitions have been given to a jobless Filipino overseas worker who returned a huge amount of money she found from a garbage bin in Hong Kong.

Mildred Perez continues to reap the rewards of her good deed when she returned the money she found last April to its rightful owner.

The latest to honor her is the Bagong Pilipinas, Bagong Pilipino Movement, a movement for good governance.

Perez was given the Ulirang Bagong Pilipino Award in a simple ceremony held at the Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City.

“Her inspiring story has captured the imagination of a generation that is seemingly getting used to the marketing pitch that living a good life simply means seeking personal aggrandizement and serving self-vested interests,” Bro. Eddie Villanueva said.

Perez of Nueva Ecija found the enveloped checks and cash last April while collecting recyclable materials from a garbage bin in Hong Kong while waiting for the decision of a case-- allegedly sexual harassment--she filed against her employer.

The movement said that under Hong Kong laws, foreigners are prevented from seeking employment while they have pending cases in court.

“One act of honesty amidst adversity has not only wowed the world, but it has also validated the innate nobility of Filipinos,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva also issued a strong challenge to the government to do whatever it takes to help her win her pending case in Hong Kong.

“Mildred’s heartbreaking story must serve as an eye opener for Malacanang! Our Philippine embassies must be serious in doing their job of protecting and promoting the welfare of our abused OFWs worldwide,” he said.

Perez is a member of the BPBPM-Hong Kong and the Jesus Is Lord Church-Hong Kong. She lived at the JIL half-way house in Hong Kong when she was still jobless.

“As her family, we at Bagong Pilipinas, Bagong Pilipino Movement are very proud of Mildred for what she did. But we are more proud because she gives face to the new Filipino – ang Bagong Pilipino – trustworthy and honest,” Villanueva said.

Perez has returned to her province last week. Aside from the Ulirang Bagong Pilipino Award, the Philippine Information Agency reported Wednesday that she was also offered a P5 million movie contract for her story. According to her, President Arroyo also offered her to work at the Philippine embassy in Hong Kong, a scholarship grant for her two children and a package of assistance from local officials and Senator Francisco Escudero, the PIA report said.

Meanwhile, in the Mid-July 2009 online edition of The Sun-HK, writer Daisy Mandap wrote a story titled "Uncovering the Lie" about Perez's alleged find.

The story details the many alleged inconsistencies hounding the entire incident.

A statement obtained by the Sun-HK revealed that Perez and a certain David stated that they found the envelope "close to Central HK Market" which contained four checks "totaling roughly $176,000; one for US$5,000, another for US$13,000, another for US$3,250 and the last for HK$10,920".

"Nowhere was there a mention of the $176,000 cash which they also supposedly found. (How or why that came about remains a mystery. But what is clear from reports is that Perez had willingly taken part in the lie, and in at least one interview, even said that the cash was all in HK$1,000 bills)," the report stated.

Also, email messages about the controversial issue have been circulating.

However, the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong is firm on its stand on the issue.

In a signed statement issued Wednesday, Consul General Claro Cristobal stated that the "Consulate stands by its belief that OFW Mildred Perez Bonde committed an honorable act of honesty, exerting time and effort to (1) securing the items she recovered on 29 April 2009, (2) locating the rightful owner/s of the items she recovered and (3) returning the same to the owner/s on 30 April 2009.

Cristobal added that among the items she recovered and returned to the owners was cash.

"The Consulate, which continues to provide consular assistance to Ms. Bonde on her police case, cannot disbelieve her," he said.