Filipinos working abroad have reached more than 11 million mark, and everyday their number is increasing in an unprecedented rate. They are stakeholders in the Philippine economy, yet their stories are rarely told. The services and programs of the government aimed at their protection and promotion seemed not enough. An avenue by which all these are amplified is the missing link that this magazine wants to fill in. Over the next couple of years, BAGONG BAYANI (MODERN-DAY HERO) MAGAZINE shall serve as the mouthpiece of OFWs worldwide. Initially, it will cater to the Filipino Community in Singapore comprising 200,000 more or less, contract workers including permanent residents and eventually, we will con-quer other parts of the world as long as there is a selfless, dedicated Filipino worker. This was our battle cry two (2) years ago, the first time we launched BAGONG BAYANI (Modern-Day Hero) Magazine, with 10,000 copies in Singapore and now after a couple of years we are ready to engage the Global Filipinos in the Diaspora around the world.

The maiden issue of BAGONG BAYANI (MODERN-DAY HERO) MAGAZINE contained the messages of support from President Benigno Aquino,Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Loren Legarda, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Congressman Walden Bello, then DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo, Am-bassador Minda Cruz, then POEA Administrator Carlos Cao, Jr., and Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairperson Imelda Nicolas, amongst others.

Interestingly, the first cover story of the magazine featured Marcelina Abalos Angeles, an outstanding Filipina Domestic Worker in Singapore. As a subject for cover story, it was aimed at raising the status of the Filipina domestic helpers worldwide, upholding the dignity of a Filipino worker and instilling in the minds of every one that the ascribed status of OFW applies to every Filipino working in a foreign land irrespective of line of work or profession. We dared to set the tone and we got it right.

Last June 2012, the maiden issue was nominated and became a finalist at the Magazine Publishers Association of Singapore Awards (MPAS) 2012. Bagong Bayani magazine, then became the FIRST and the ONLY Filipino publication in Singapore to have been recog-nized by a legitimate award giving body for its excellence and effort in magazine publishing, making it within the category if not at par with Expat Living, Discovery Channel, Asian Geo-graphic and SPH Magazine. The following month of July 2012, Bagong Bayani Magazine was also featured in The Filipino Channel (TFC) by ABS-CBN News in recognition of its contribution of uplifting the Filipino pride and in promoting Filipino excellence around the world, making it the FIRST and the ONLY Filipino magazine in Singapore to attain such prominence within a short period of time.

Beginning with an outstanding Filipino Domestic Helper (Marcelina Abalos Angeles) in its maiden issue to ending the year 2011 with a Filipino Par Excellence-Billionaire (Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis) on the cover, in between we had Philippines' Iconic Broadcast Journalist (Rico Hizon), Filipino Missionary and Master Keeper of Christian Faith in Singapore (Fr. Angel Luci-ano), Philippines' Pride in the High Octane World of Digital Technology (Ramon Padiernos), Sesquicentennial (Dr. Jose Rizal), A DH Now But Not Forever (Group of Filipino Maids who graduated from NUS), Filipino Excellence in Singapore, Then and Now (Perlita Gabriel Tiro), Filipino Versatility Redefined (Pamela Wildheart Pilapil and other world class entertainers in Singapore), Filipino Talents Beyond Borders (Group of Filipino talents working in industries not usually available to them) and Boxer Extraordinaire, Public Servant, Living Legend (Hon. Emmanel D. Pacquiao), supporting us for our cause and advocacy, BAGONG BAYANI magazine did not only raise the bar higher in promoting Filipino excellence but cemented its sta-tus as the market leader in raising Filipino pride in Singapore. A feat, every Filipino should be proud of.

Interestingly, Engr. Diosdado Banatao, the Filipino Bill Gates and is arguably considered the richest Filipino Overseas Talent in the world, have agreed to be on the cover of BAGONG BAYANI Magazine 1st Anniversary Special issue, direct from Silicon Valley in San Jose, Cali-fornia, USA. The rest is history.

The above initiative of getting Exceptional and Outstanding Filipino Personalities outside of Singapore starting with Congressman Emmanuel Pacquiao in our November 2011 issue is a testament to the magazine's growing influence borne out of our tireless effort and unques-tioned passion to provide a beacon of hope and inspiration to our fellow OFWs, not only in Singapore but around the world. In other words, it is our way of expanding our reach to conquer not only the Singapore market but in other parts of the globe.

BAGONG BAYANI is the FIRST and the ONLY magazine for the Filipino community in Singa-pore with a free E-magazine in its website www.iambagongbayani.com. It is also the FIRST and the ONLY upscale Filipino magazine with substantial content and is given for FREE from the heart.

Furthermore, BAGONG BAYANI is the ONLY Filipino publication in Singapore tapped by the Singapore Police Force to publish their official announcements to the public.

Inspiring. Substantial. FREE. This is BAGONG BAYANI magazine