WOW Pinoy: Pinoy Civil Society Road Show in Europe

Pinoy Civil Society Road Show in Europe

Written by Ms. Confuse on Thursday, October 02, 2008

A premier of Ina, Anak, Pamilya Mother, Child, Family) ” is part of the European road show by the Overseas Filipinos Worldwide Caucus for Sustainable Development that began on Sept.12 to 14 in Bern, Lucerne and Geneva, Switzerland, moved on to Rome on Sept.21, and ends in Amsterdam and Maastricht in the Netherlands on Sept.27 and 28.

This hybrid documentary-feature film is written and directed by Jenny Pearl "JP" Bautista, and produced by IMPACT (Information Media for Progress thru Alternative Communication Technologies Inc.). It stars veteran actors Joel Torre, Eula Valdez and Angel Aquino, with upcoming artists Miguel Aguila and Jade Lopez.

Launched last July at Cinema 10 of SM Megamall, Ina, Anak, Pamilya has been described as a "non-mainstream” film “presenting the vicious cycle of problems that hound OFWs and their families. Information and entertainment, fact and fiction were conscientiously mixed to raise consciousness among migrants, families, policymakers, private and civic sectors of society as well as move viewers."

Director Bautista notes, “The experience of coping with the Lebanon crisis is one sad and painful reality and must not be repeated and this is what makes the movie timely and relevant. The film can be a good rallying point for all sectors to re-visit the 'Reintegration Program’ of government’ in the hope of putting all ‘actions and resources’ together to ensure full force implementation – as a long term empowerment for OFWs and their families towards achieving social and economic stability – starting with the family."

A forum on the topic is conducted after the film showings. Part of the activities are trainors’ training in financial literacy and a peer counseling seminar offered by the Philippine-based Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives Inc.

Towards a Global Forum on Migration & Development

Launched by Filipino migrant organizations in Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, France and Italy, this European tour is a follow-up activity of the Expert Meet and International Migrant Conference held in the Netherlands in October and November 2007, when the Overseas Filipino Worldwide Caucus for Sustainable Development was organized with Stichting Habagat as secretariat. This road show is part of preparations for the coming Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila in October 2008. The Overseas Filipino Worldwide Caucus is working on signing cooperative Memorandums of Agreement with local LGUs partnered by OFW hometown associations. The Caucus “hopes to work with at least 30 LGU officials” on sustainable development.

Working with them in the Philippines are Atikha, IMPACT, and the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment National Reintegration Center for OFWs (DOLE-NRCO).