Filipinos going
overseas as workers or immigrants is nothing new. At the turn of the
century, Filipinos from the North were brought to pick pineapples
in Hawaii or apples in California. Then there was the exchange workers
program in the 60s and the occasional stowaways in boats bound for
North America. Consequently as new landed immigrants came, the latter
were called "oldtimers".
But the real flood
of Filipinos to apply for work or immigrant visa came in the last
three decades to the present, brought about by deteriorating economic
conditions in the home country and new opportunities for its professionals
(nurses, teachers, engineers, etc). The Commission of Overseas Filipinos
(CFO) under the Department of Foreign Affairs estimates that as of
December 2001, there is a staggering number of 7.41 million of our
kababayans worldwide. Overseas workers account for 3.05 million;
2.74 million are permanent residents and 1.62 million are on irregular
status.
Of the overseas
workers, Saudi Arabia accounts for the biggest number with 897,000
(29.41%); Hongkong (171,485 or.62%); and Japan (138,522 and 4.54%).
The other major destinations are UAE, Taiwan, USA, Malaysia, Singapore
and Kuwait.
More statistics
show that in terms of immigrants, it comes as no surprise that the
United States accounts of a total of 70% of all destinations or about
1,910,844 as of December 2001. The other preferred countries are Canada,
Australia, Japan, UK and Germany.
So how significant
is money from overseas Filipinos? Very significant: about 8 - 10%
of the total GNP come from remittances. That means around US $7B per
year.
Out of its sheer
number and economic power alone, it is no wonder the overseas voice,
also termed by one social commentarist as "Filipino Diaspora"
has exploded all over and is not silent or nonchalant anymore. It
is also not easy for politicians to ignore them too. Perhaps the Internet
has something to do with it. Overseas Pinoys are coming out of their
shells, talking more openly of their views and spearheading assistance
program like raising funds for detained Filipinos abroad. Internet
mailing lists, live or virtual personal meetings are the orders of
the day. They can read and stay attuned to everyday activities here
through online newspapers. They also have learned to cajole, feedback
and demand some attention from local politicians as with the successful
passing of the Absentee Voting bill. Next in line is the Dual Citizenship
which will allow former Filipinos who adopted citizenship in other
countries to regain the privileges as well as duties and responsibilities
of becoming a Filipino once again in order to help in the economic
rebuilding of their native land.
OF phenomenon
is also taking center stage in commercials here too. In a latest shampoo
advertisement for instance which used to feature lovely girls with
long hair and nothing much else, the new commercial goes like this:
A young man takes a call where he is told, "Your visa is ready
Sir!". He then approaches a pretty young woman with lovely long
hair and tells her on her back, "Two years! That's a long time!".
The woman, holding back the tears, replies in a steady voice "Take
it. You might regret it later on." To this, the young man says,
"Ok, but only after I marry you first!" And the voice over
takes over promoting the shampoo the long haired woman uses. And with
it the acceptance of this bitter pill of separation many Filipinos
have to take.
Call it fusion.
Call it dynamism of an overseas Filipino force. The Filipino has integrated
into its social milieu the phenomenon wherein one or several members
of its family works abroad and these people are clamoring for reintegration
into the society it left behind.
In the successful passage of Absentee Voting, we have not seen the
last of active involvement of our overseas kababayans. In fact, it
has only started.
At RDL-CLEAR,
the organization and Sanrokan.com, the website, we are doing our share
to combine the "sanrok" of locals and the overseas
counterparts. In the end it is through activities like these that
will seem like coming home for everyone, whether for real or virtual.
Aline Parrone
