The International Consultation on Ministry to Filipino Migrants

Statement at the International Meeting

Letter to Filipino Community Leaders

Letter to Chaplain Delegates

By Rev. Fr. Edwin D. Corros, CS
Executive Secretary, CBCP

In this year of the social concerns in the Philippines, a group of chaplains and pastoral workers for Filipino migrants from various parts of the world had come together in Tagaytay from September 11 to 15 to identify and agree on effective strategies/mechanisms for collaboration among chaplaincies in responding to the problems and challenges of international migration. The assembly billed as the 5^th International Consultation Meeting on the Filipino Ministry Worldwide took the theme, “Appraising the Filipino Diaspora and its Challenges to Evangelization”. The meeting was organized by the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippine (CBCP). The goals of the meeting included: 1) to bring up to date situations of contemporary Filipino Diaspora in general and review the present problems and challenges in the sending and receiving countries; 2) to share and learn from the good practices employed by the local church and the chaplaincies abroad in responding to the challenges of international migration. This includes examination of collaboration with GOs and NGOs, civic organizations, other faith affiliations and other partner institutions employing pastoral programs and services to migrants and their families; 3) to review the approaches and challenges posed in the Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi, and identify gaps, problems and challenges in the effective implementation of church pastoral programs and services for migrants at the sending and receiving countries; and 4) to explore ideas in harnessing migrant philanthropy in projects that promote welfare and development of local migrant communities and dioceses.

 The meeting invited some government agencies working directly with Filipino
migrants overseas. Among them[1] were from the Department of Labor and Employment Agency (DOLE); Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Office of the Undersecretary of Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth); National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA); and Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) of the Office of the President. The government agencies were invited to present their programs and services on site by which the Filipino overseas could possibly avail. In such meeting several issues had been raised to the public officials’ attention, particularly on the delegates’ inquiry of the country’s policy of labor migration. In its statement produced at the end of the meeting, it says, “That the Philippine government has made labor migration a significant part of its economic policy and has targeted one million overseas jobs annually.” Aware of the same abuses made to the labor migration policy for the more than three decades of labor export, the statement likewise recommended to the government to enforce vigorously existing government policies on recruitment and deployment of OFWs; to be more vigilant in anti-trafficking measures and campaign against illegal recruitment; to promote and support multi-agency response to the care of migrants and their families including conducting research and studies on migration issues and concerns; and to address the real causes that lead to Filipino migration such as poverty and unemployment. Earlier, the delegates had raised to the public servants’ consideration to study and analyze the real benefits of Filipino migration. This question was brought up from Dr. Marla Asis[2]’ presentation on the Filipino Diaspora as a description on how one looks at the half-filled glass of water as a comparison to the realities of migration.

Aside from the government agencies to address the consultation meeting, there were two private organizations that were equally invited to speak in the meeting to share their own initiatives on how to help Filipino overseas and their families prepare for their eventual reintegration. Both companies have products and services that define doable programs on financial management, savings techniques and possible investment for their future.

In its assessment of the Filipinos Diaspora and its challenges to evangelization, the delegates to the consultation meeting acknowledged that the Church has shown great concern on the growing migration phenomenon worldwide and has in fact released Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi[3], an Instruction from the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People released last May 3, 2004 as a response to this phenomenon. The delegates further recognized that the Philippine Church and society is growing more aware of the Filipino migration including its social costs as very significant part to the people’s lives. Moreover, in their final statement, it said, “While the church does not encourage or promote migration, it continuous to encourage Filipino migrants to be evangelizers and make efforts to establish ministry to the migrants at the diocesan level.” The delegates also admitted the many initiatives and support they enjoyed from receiving dioceses. They said, “We appreciate the generous efforts of receiving churches to provide pastoral care to Filipinos overseas and we recognize the heroic efforts of the limited number of pastoral workers abroad.” They also stated that Filipino migrants encounter different realities and challenges which require specific and appropriate pastoral care in various parts of the world.  It was observed for instance during the small group discussions that there was a great disparity of issues and concerns of Filipino migrants in Asia from those in immigrant countries like Australia, New Zealand and United States. A lot of problems faced in Asian countries concern mostly on human rights abuses. Countries in Europe also provide better treatment of Filipinos than those in Asian countries.

 With these realizations, the delegates humbly put forward the following recommendations to the Church in the Philippines:

1.     To intensify awareness on migration phenomenon in the church and on the recent Vatican instruction Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi;

2.     To establish effective ministry for migrants and their families at the diocesan level;

3.     To collaborate with government agencies to ensure that values and faith formation are included in preparing departing migrants in providing pre-employment orientation seminar (PEOS) and pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS);

4.     To offer opportunities for deepening spirituality and skills development for chaplains and pastoral workers in migrant ministry;

5.     To maintain critical collaboration with government agencies to advocate for the welfare, rights and dignity of migrants.

 The delegates likewise proposed to the receiving Churches to continue providing appropriate pastoral programs for Filipinos in their respective territories and to advocate for protection, welfare and rights of migrants in their countries. In the same statement, the following were also recommended to themselves, being chaplains and pastoral workers: 

1.     To focus on nurturing the Catholic faith of the second and subsequent generation immigrants;

2.     To strengthen coordination and collaboration with each other and ECMI through regular information exchange and communication tools;

3.     To show interest in participating in yearly national meetings, bi-annual regional meetings and international meetings every three years;

4.     To foster appreciation of Filipino culture and heritage through socio-cultural activities and other related initiatives;

5.     To encourage the migrants’ philanthropic spirit.

 About 35 participants from different regions of the world convened since September 11 at Angels Hills Retreat and Formation Center in Tagaytay City led by ECMI’s chairman, Bishop Precioso Cantillas, SDB, DD and bishop of Maasin, Leyte. The participants to the consultation meeting were composed by Fr. Rolyn Vics, CM of Australia; Fr. Raymond Gaspar of Austria; Fr. Gil Apuli, Ms. Alma David and Mr. Elpidio Caimoy of France  Fr. Adonis Narcelles, SVD of Germany;  Fr. Emil Lim, SVD and Sr. Aida Casambre, RGS of Hong Kong; Sr. Asunta Nogami, Ms. Anne Augene Palmes, Fr. Jack Serate, OMI and Fr. Ferdy Faminialago, SVD of Japan, Mr. Emiliano Fajardo of Korea; Fr. Ruben Elago, MSP of New Zealand; Fr. Armando “Boie” Alfaro of Norway; Fr. Bruno Ciceri, CS, Ms. Alice Librea and Mr. Paulito Jarobilla of Taiwan;  Fr. Mariano Tarrosa of United Kingdom; Ms. Cecile Motus of USA; Fr. Edwin Corros, CS, Mr. Edmund Ruga, Ms. Mely Rodrigo, Mr Gerry Gonzales, Ms. Jeanet Rosales and Ms.Evelyn del Rosario of ECMI; and Ms. June Inabayan, Sr. Celine Cajanding, RGS, Fr.Tony Palina (who is preparing for Ibisa, Spain), Fr. Ruben Maybuena, Fr. Florentino Daynos, Fr. Joey Bautista, Fr. Jojo Gonda, and Fr. Eras Soriano of the various dioceses in the Philippines. They agreed to hold this meeting every three years in the country, while a similar regional consultation meeting will be held every two years in a country of their choice.

The 5^th International Consultation Meeting on the Filipino Ministry Worldwide concluded yesterday, September 15, 2006 with a Eucharistic celebration presided by His Excellency, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, who is also the local ordinary of the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo. A press conference was immediately conducted to finally close the four day event.