Carol Banawa receives Most Outstanding Migrant Award in the US

Carol Banawa,  the former singer and actress who built a new career as a nurse in the United States, was honored with the Most Outstanding Migrant Award at the 2026 Global Migrant Award Heritage People’s Ball on September 19.

Banawa showed her gratitude in an Instagram post on Monday, Sept. 21. She recalled the major changes she went through after leaving the Philippines and starting over in the US.

“I am deeply humbled and incredibly honored to receive the Most Outstanding Migrant Award. To be recognized among so many inspiring individuals is a blessing I will forever cherish,” Banawa wrote.

Known for songs such as “Bakit ’Di Totohanin,” “Iingatan Ka,” and “Stay,” Banawa, 45, left her showbiz career in the Philippines and moved to the US in the early 2000s. She admitted that building again from scratch was not easy and came with plenty of sacrifice.

“When I left the Philippines, I also left behind a career that I loved. Starting over in a new country was not easy. There were moments of uncertainty, sacrifice, and countless long days, but I believed that every new beginning could lead to a greater purpose,” she said.

She eventually found a new direction in healthcare, working her way up from a Certified Nursing Assistant to a Licensed Practical Nurse, then a Registered Nurse, and now a Family Nurse Practitioner.

“Looking back, every challenge, every sacrifice, every late night, and every moment I wanted to give up brought me one step closer to this moment,” she shared.

Banawa also credited her family for helping her through the transition. She thanked her husband and their three children, whom she described as her “greatest inspiration,” as well as her older sister, Cherry, for her constant support. She also dedicated the award to her late parents and brother.

Beyond her own experience, Banawa used the occasion to recognize other Filipinos and migrants who leave their home countries in search of better opportunities.

“As a proud Filipino, I accept this award on behalf of every migrant who has left home in search of a better future,” she wrote.

“We Filipinos carry with us the values we learned from home — humility, perseverance, faith, compassion, resilience, and hard work. Wherever life takes us, we bring those values with us and continue to serve, love, and make a difference.”

Banawa also offered encouragement to people who may be afraid to restart or change directions in life.

“To anyone who is afraid to begin again, who thinks it is too late to change, or who has been told that their dreams are impossible: Never let anyone define your limits,” she said.

She ended by encouraging others to keep moving forward.  “I stand here today as a reminder that it is never too late to begin again. With God’s grace, the love of family, and the courage to keep moving forward, anything is possible.” 

The recognition comes after another milestone in Banawa’s US journey. Last year, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing degree.

She is also set to take the stage at “Carol Banawa: A Vegas Affair,” a benefit concert on October 17 at Jackpot Bar & Grill in Las Vegas, Nevada. The concert-for-a-cause will raise funds for the Las Vegas Breast Cancer Warriors and The Filipino American Museum.