I was privileged to give a reaction during the book launch of DIASPORA JOURNEY: PHILIPPINE MIGRATION AND DIASPORA NARRATIVES last October 30. The authors are Filipinos from various parts of the world. A majority of them have lived most of their lives in the US. In light of the recent elections in the US where migration was one of the most pressing issues, and unfortunately the rightwing campaign of the Republicans has demonised certain migrant groups as criminals and opportunists, I am publishing the reaction I gave during the launch.
Magandang hapon po, good afternoon to all of you! To Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, Consuls Jari, Nomer, Kay, friends at the embassy and the Filipino community, and the authors who are here – AVE RODRIGUEZ-BAXA, MYRLA DANAO, RUBY LANGEVELD-CUMBA, MALU PADILLA, JEFFREY MORALES, MAYA, AND CARLO BUTALID.
It is my honor and pleasure to briefly react to this book, DIASPORA JOURNEY: PHILIPPINE MIGRATION AND DIASPORA NARRATIVES.
When we propose a manuscript, we first have to submit a 300-word abstract and at least six keywords or #hashtags. The book’s abstract for me would read like this: “Motivated by economic challenges, opportunities, and a sense of adventure, Filipinos sought ‘better’ lives abroad, contributing significantly to their host countries and maintaining strong ties to their homeland. Their influence spans politics, socio-economic development, and cultural preservation. Notable stories highlight their resilience and achievements. Through organizations and personal efforts, they play pivotal roles in fostering development and advocating for migrant rights, embodying the enduring spirit and contributions of the Filipino diaspora.”
My first hashtag would be – you guessed it – #PHILIPPINES – the country we love and hate. In the essays, there are many anecdotes about love for the country. For example, MALU PADILLA joined the student Christian movement to serve the Filipino causes, and MAYA AND CARLO BUTALID moved to the Netherlands to support the Marxist movement against the dictatorship. Many stories of leaving the Philippines are also motivated by frustration, like JULIE VALENCIA, who moved to New Zealand due to economic stagnation, traffic, and flooding, not to mention patronage politics, corruption, and bureaucracy.
This brings me to the second keyword, #DEVELOPMENT. During a lecture about the emerging middle class in the Philippines at Utrecht University, I asked whether there is a correlation between migration and development. Do migrants contribute to the Philippines' development? Despite the $33 billion Filipinos remit each year, poverty and inequality remain widespread. When I visited the Philippines in August, the high prices of food, the cost of medicines, corruption, traffic, and inadequate public transportation and healthcare were common complaints.
For many, helping the family and providing a better future motivates migration. OFWs are also expected to bear the costs for household maintenance, birthday and wedding celebrations, hospital bills, bail bonds, and funeral expenses. The list goes on. Many Filipinos feel they can only escape these challenges by going abroad, though it’s not without risks. CORING DELOS REYES left her children to go to the Netherlands on a tourist visa and faced challenges as an undocumented worker. PEARL JOY VILLA BALLETE experienced harsh working conditions in Lebanon, enduring abuse and low wages, unable to return home even when her mother passed away.
My third keyword is #HOME. When you land on foreign soil, you long for the familiarity of home—your family, friends, your mother’s adobo, and even the traffic. To ease loneliness, we seek the company of kababayans, join Filipino organizations and Facebook groups, attend church services, and search for Filipino ingredients in Oriental markets. AVE RODRIGUEZ, CYNTHIA GAABUCAYAN, RUBY LANGEVELD, MALU PADILLA, and JEFFREY MORALES found their community in the church.
Speaking of faith, I realized that the church is now being decolonized. In the past, Western missionaries went to the Philippines to convert Filipinos. Now, Western churches are empty, and Filipino missionaries are building communities. Western congregations now listen to Filipino, African, and Latin American missionaries.
Then there is another form of #FAITH touched upon in this book—ideological faith. CARLO BUTALID led a delegation to push for a law enabling Overseas Filipinos to vote in Philippine elections. Though disappointed by the exclusion of ocean-going seafarers, Carlo has voted in every Philippine election since the AOV bill was signed into law in 2003.
Another form of #FAITH is faith in ourselves. ZACARIAS MANSING experienced a life-changing car accident in 2012 in Dubai, leading to permanent paralysis. However, he remained strong in faith and focused on personal growth. Since 2017, he has run a school outreach program promoting disability awareness, inclusive education, and campaigns against bullying. He also engages in his church's jail ministry to spread messages of encouragement and hope.
Even LOIDA NICOLAS-LEWIS had to remind herself of #FAITH when she became the CEO of a 1.8 billion-dollar conglomerate, a legacy her husband left at his untimely passing. Nicolas-Lewis, whom many of us know in the media as a vocal critic of then-president Rodrigo Duterte, had to revisit that faith in front of the company’s board, the shareholders, the employees, and the media. In her essay, she wrote, “I’m determined to revive the fortunes of a corporation I feel my husband gave his life for. Failure is not an option.” Although she grew up with parents and married a husband with larger-than-life personas when it comes to inspiring and motivating people, the first thing she did was to maximize her communication skills and hire speech coaches. I quote: “I need to chip away at the thick Filipino accent I’ve had since arriving in the United States in 1968.” Of course, she pulled that one with class and ease and opened her first board meeting with a prayer for wisdom and discernment.
Then I wondered, why did Madam Chair
Nicolas-Lewis want to chip away that Filipino accent. She is one of the most
successful and influential Filipinas in the US, the first Asian-American to
pass the New York State Bar. I cannot talk about her personal
experiences, but research suggests that “non-standard accents are associated
with negative evaluations of the speakers.” Souza et al. found strong evidence
that accent influences discrimination only in more prejudiced people, meaning
some people will discriminate based on accent due to their preexisting
prejudices. In a world filled with discrimination and polarization, someone
with a different accent or skin color easily becomes a target of racism.
Several authors of this book wrote about their experiences with #RACISM and #DISCRIMINATION. Veteran nurse MYRLA DANAO noted that discrimination exists and requires stamina and understanding to navigate. CYNTHIA GAABUCAYAN faced various forms of workplace discrimination but persisted and was awarded a Nursing Award. MYRNA LARDIZABAL DE VERA encountered overt discrimination when she ran for a seat on the city council of Hercules in the US, eventually serving as mayor. LEILA ESPIRAS-NOEL witnessed firsthand how undocumented Filipinos were discriminated against due to their status.
ANIKA BALURAN SCHAFER created a short film, "In Your Face," about daily microaggressions in Germany as a second-generation Filipino. The film portrays constant scrutiny and racist comments denying her Asian or Filipino heritage, shocking her mother, who believed Anika had assimilated enough not to experience racism. JEFFREY MORALES encountered overt racism and was told by a colleague, “You are a parasite here; go home to your country,” during the height of the refugee crisis in Europe. AVE RODRIGUEZ experienced discrimination from her boss for six years and was told to shut up during meetings. She eventually fought back, asserting her right to participate.
Discrimination and racism are sometimes subtle but can grow into a fireball. We cannot claim we are less discriminated against because we speak English (with an accent) and have lighter skin. It is essential, as the authors of this book have done, to fight against racism and discrimination. While we can stand for ourselves individually, it is crucial to work with other people, organizations, and diaspora groups. We should oppose politicians and policies that allow discrimination and racism to thrive, even if they do not seem to target our diaspora.
Finally, the last hashtags I would like to discuss are #HOPE and #GIVINGBACK. The essays in this book contain these words—hope in the face of adversity and trials, hope when facing a life-threatening disease or situation, hope when losing a loved one, and hope for a better Philippines even if successive governments have failed us big-time, over and over again. Giving back can take the form of aid during disasters, educational support for the poor, training in civil and political rights, scholarships, or helping a newcomer settle. Many authors have overcome hardships, but as TERESA BACLAY DULALAS said, “Life’s hardships transform into opportunities to fight for justice, to lend our voices to those who need them the most.” This is the essence of being a Filipino - encapsulated in the book of essays, DIASPORA JOURNEY: PHILIPPINE MIGRATION AND DIASPORA NARRATIVES.
Maraming salamat po sa inyo… Thank you to the authors for your bravery in sharing your stories. Mabuhay and God bless you all.
