The Roots and outcome of Philippine Migration
By Erika CalejaBulatlat.com
Bulatlat,com provided us with this migrant sit and gave us the opportunity to learn while doing our on-the-job training. By the way, the talk was very helpful to us, so that when we write stories (like some issues regarding migration and other related topics) we have an idea or a little bit background on the topics that we are writing about.
So, what can I say about our OFWs? Before, I couldn’t care less about it, all I know is that they go abroad because there’s work waiting for them with a higher wage. But, I’m also aware that they do that because they can’t get work here in our own country that can be able to sustain and provide for their family’s needs. Little did I know (during our discussions) that migration is rooted in our history and that even some of our ancestors during the Spanish period have become labourers in cargo vessels in galleon trading. We can also say, some Illustrados or “learned” Filipinos that came from rich families back then who travelled to Europe to study are also what we call migrants, just like Jose Rizal.
Who can we blame for the widespread forced migration? I thought there should be one, well I guess it’s our government, if only they would promote and improve the Industrial and agricultural sectors here in the country, then a lot of Filipinos would have a job and won’t need to go abroad–leaving their families, and their children without a mother or a father to guide them as they grow up. I remember when we tackled about migration in the time of Marcos; the government started this “Labor Export Policy” where it simply treats migrant workers as a commodity rather than a “human being.” When the government learned that they could get a lot of money to flow into the country (which is by the way through remittances) just by sending pinoys abroad, now the program has become permanent. I’ve learned that LEP has a big contribution to the Philippine economy: it provides a systematic migrant “trading” and offer Filipinos with work, when unemployment hits the country during the time of Marcos and carry on up to now..... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/09/the-roots-and-outcome-of-philippine-migration/
1 comment
do you seriously believe "president" a_noy y hocus pcos cares about the small ofws? hello, recall the mendiola massacre and hacienda luisita massacre....
"Recently, the government implemented a budget cut in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) legal assistance fund, seriously, how hypocrite could the Aquino administration be when it says that “they are putting a lot of efforts to help our distressed OFWs?”"
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