As a kick-off activity for
the 2016 Month of Overseas Filipinos Celebration (MOF), the Inter-Agency
Committee (IAC) for the Celebration of MOF held its 2016 Regional Forum on
Migration at Ateneo de Davao University on November 16, 2016. The Forum was organized
by the IAC-MOF with the Ateneo Migration Center.
With the theme “OFs as
Culture Bearers: Tunay na Malikhain, Matatag at Masipag,” the forum aims to provide awareness on the importance of OFs
as culture bearers through their promotion of arts and culture in the global
scale, opening venues for support from other sectors and inspiring other OFs
who wish to pursue in this field.
WELCOME REMARKS AND MESSAGES
Ms. Carmelita G. Nuqui,
PMRW President and Chairperson of the IAC, welcomed the participants. She
highlighted how OFs propagate the Filipino culture worldwide through their
values and excellence, and the importance of diaspora diplomacy as means of
changing the global perception of the Philippines and improving cross-cultural
relations. She also gave a brief run-down of the 2016 activities of the IAC,
both in the national and international level.
Ms. Sheryl Lopez of the
Ateneo Migration Center also welcomed the participants. She said that Ateneo is
fortunate to host the forum. As an academe, they recognize that migration is an
on-going global issue. They support initiatives that are culturally sensitive
and inclusive for the people in Southern Region, including the Muslim and Lumad
community. She was hopeful that the issues that will be tackled during the
forum will be part of the research agenda for the students.KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Chairman Felipe M. De
Leon, Jr. of the NCCA gave the keynote address, which focused on the cultural
identity of Filipinos, and the participatory Leadership and Social
Transformation Through Cultural Reorientation. The highlights of his
presentation include:- Cultural identity and ethnicity are fundamental source of social empowerment
- Filipinos have Un-Filipino nature (ex. Doña Victorina complex)
- Filipinos should work for the good of the nation as a whole, as well as see the beauty of Filipino names
- Culture is the “genius of a people”
- Filipinos love to connect to people, like to experience the multidimensional wholeness of life, and are highly participatory
- Filipinos - at their best - are a highly nurturing, caring, sharing people, with a strong maternal orientation, and definitely not loners.
- The Philippines is the world’s most emotional country; also known as social networking and selfie capital of the world
- Filipino culture is a healing culture
SHARING FROM THE GOVERNMENT
Mr. Eduardo E. Bellido, Regional Director of OWWA
XI, discussed OFWs’ Work Ethics and Culture Based on his experience as Welfare Officer
in Saudi Arabia and Spain. He gave an overview
of overseas employment statistics from Davao Region, stating that there are
more than 90,000 OFW OWWA members coming from the region. He discussed the
positive traits and work ethics, as well as weaknesses of sea-based and
land-based OFWs. He concluded that these are rooted in many factors: home,
social and economic environment, culture and language, history, religion,
educational system, mass media and leadership and role models.
Ms. Lorna Diez of Pag-IBIG Fund discussed the
programs and services of Pag-IBIG for their OFW members, which now account to 4.5
million. Pag-IBIG Fund is a Provident Savings and Shelter Financing for Filipino
Workers. Among the many benefits of being a Pag-IBIG member are the following:
Savings Program, Housing Loan and Multi-Purpose and Calamity Loan. She
emphasized that OFWs can avail their Home Financing Program for up to 6 million
with 5.5% interest rate per annum.SUCCESS STORIES OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO RETURNEES
Ms. Pinky Ong, a former
nurse from New Zealand, shared her heartbreaking and success story as an OFW
returnee now turned entrepreneur. A failing family business forced her to
migrate overseas and leave her family behind. She worked for four years abroad;
and after earning enough financial resources, she returned in her hometown in
General Santos City to help and rebuild the manpower business of her husband. She
is now managing the RAK & ACO General Services, Inc., which provide manpower
services in several companies and businesses in General Santos City. She also
gave tips to those who plan to work overseas: have a goal, plan ahead, use a
good business model, gain knowledge and skills, have mentors, be courageous,
work hard and persevere.
Mr. Junny Ty, a former
OFW from The Netherlands and one of the founders of Pasali (Philippine
Association of Sea-based workers for Savings, Loans and Initiatives) Foundation,
shared his organization’s innovative projects. These include weeders and hydraulic
ram pumps, Dutch technology that doesn’t need electricity, which provides
spring water to communities in Agusan del Norte, General Santos City and Sultan
Kudarat. He is also the co-founder of Molenaar Enterprise, a SEC registered
corporation with three group of investors - the local traders, farmers and
overseas Filipinos. Molenaar, which is based in Sultan Kudarat, is currently
engaged in commercial rice milling.CULTURAL SHOW
After the Forum, the Madayaw Cultural Ensemble of
Davao City delighted the audience with song and dance presentations showcasing
the rich and colorful culture of Mindanao. Madayaw is a community-based group
of young professionals and college student with impressive repertoire of Lumad
and Moro dances. Their performances include:
- Madayaw Song Number (Dayun- Madayaw Cultural Ensemble)
- Lumad Suites: T’boli Dance (M’dal Taho), Bagobo Dance (Festival)
- Moro Suites - Maranao: Pa Kini-Kini, Pandi Dance , Kapag Apir (Fan Dance)
- Moro Suites - Magundanao: Silong Sa Ganding, Pawakan, Madayaw Song Number (Mundo- Alexis Javier)
- Moro Suites -Tausug: Pangalay Agong, Pangalay Patong, Finale Dance Festival
The cultural show was sponsored by the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts.
CLOSING REMARKS
Mr. Frencel Tingga of the CFO gave the closing
remarks. He thanked the speakers, resource persons, IAC members and partners
who helped in organizing the forum. He said that this is the 10th year
anniversary of the IAC since its establishment. He challenged the participants,
particularly the students, to strive like the OF returnees who have
successfully reintegrated to the community and are now entrepreneurs. FILM SHOWING: "MAGTANGGOL"
The last activity for the day was the Film Showing
of “MAGTANGGOL” sponsored by the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
The movie was directed by Sigfreid Barros Sanchez. Inspired from real events
about the plight and challenges faced by OFWs, the movie centers on the
Magtanggols, a fictional political family who became known as heroes of our
modern-day heroes. The Magtanggol family are known to be nationalistic, protector
and fighter of the OFWs’ rights and welfare. The young politician of the family,
Senator Juancho (Tom Rodriguez) made it his lifelong mission and advocacy to
help distressed OFWs and fight corruption in the government. The family was put
into limelight and controversy when he was accused of being a vigilante in the
spate of killings of abusive foreign employers, who made the life of OFWs a
living hell.
The film showing aims to raise public awareness on
the different issues and challenges faced by OFs. Some of the migration-related
issues that were tackled in the film include physical and sexual violence
suffered by OFWs in the hands of their foreign employers, abuse and
discrimination suffered by transgender OFWs, illegal recruitment, human
trafficking, drug smuggling, contract substitution, and OFWs in death row,
among others.
