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In line with one of
the CBCP-ECMI’s missions to strengthen relationships within the OFW
family, its regional center in Luzon institutionalizes one of the
strategies towards attaining that mission entitled Sons and Daughters of
OFWs (SDO) or ANAK OFWs Formation Program.
The SDO Formation
Program (SDOFP) came into existence sometime in the last quarter of 1998
as an exploratory activity in ECMI’s education and information program
at the school level. Through the years, SDOFP has become a regular
undertaking of ECMI-Luzon. More dioceses and schools began to realize
the importance and the need of such a program and eventually raising
their awareness and involvement levels especially those whose enrollees
comprise 15-60% falling within the SDO category.
The continuous
development of this program dramatically caused innovative impact on
teaching methodologies enhancing creativity in SDO’s activities. This
brought about issues and concerns that otherwise remained neglected and
families are at a loss in addressing migratory issues surrounding their
daily lives.
The key to this
program’s implementation is the structure-building process facilitated
at a diocesan level supported by diocesan Bishops in Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao. The ECMI-Luzon has already facilitated its initiative by
institutionalizing three dioceses namely, the Archdiocese of Lipa in
Batangas, the Diocese of Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya and the Archdiocese
of San Fernando in Pampanga. Other dioceses are also considering to
follow suit and will begin working on their drawing boards come planning
season. Among them are the Archdiocese of Manila, Diocese of Kalookan,
Diocese of Bangued-Abra, Diocese of San Fernando-La Union, Diocese of
Alaminos-Pangasinan and the Diocese of Antipolo.
The
Archdiocese of Lipa localized SDO groups into ANAK Batangueño under the
umbrella of LACMMI. The localization of SDO in Batangas as ANAK
Batangueño will serve as the pilot or model for the rest of Luzon and
eventually on a national scale. The Anak OFW’s core Council believes
that this program is one effective response to the growing psycho-social
costs of migration that challenge the core values and strength of
relationships within the migrant families.
An excerpt from "The
Itinerant", an ECMI Publication courtesy of Mr. Edmund Ruga, ECMI-Luzon
Coordinator. |
