Migrante declares 2016 bid for party-list

Migrante, a group advocating the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), on Tuesday announced its intent to run for party-list in the 2016 national elections.

In a convention in Manila on Tuesday, Migrante said it will remain committed to its track record of ushering in “genuine representation” of OFWs in the House of Representatives.

With the tagline “Serbisyo, hindi negosyo; Pretokesyon, hindi koleksyon,” the group also launched a video titled “Global Videoke,” which showed OFWs from different parts of the world singing in unison to the tune of “Stand by Me.”

In a statement, Migrante national chairperson and second nominee Connie Bragas-Regalado said the video symbolized how “a single harmony can resound globally.”

“We thought, what better way to show unity and collective action among Filipino migrants and their families than through our very own ‘pambansang past time’, the videoke?” Bragas-Regalado said.

“This is our goal. Our mission is to encourage participation of overseas Filipinos in nation-building and the active struggle to uphold and defend the rights and welfare of the sector we represent. Our vision is to build a society where families will not be torn apart by their urgent need for survival,” she added.

Migrante also launched its #VoteforHome campaign, which aimed to encourage OFWs to be more involved in the electoral process by targeting at least 1 million registered overseas voters before the October 31 deadline of registration.

“We encourage all Filipinos around the world to be more pro-active in the registration campaign. Let us start by organizing ‘grand satellite registration days’ in our host countries wherein the most number of Filipinos can register. We are sure that the Comelec will be more than happy to assist,” Bragas-Regalado said.

Among those who attended the convention were Angelo dela Cruz, OFW survivor of the war in Iraq, Russel, daughter of Flor Contemplacion, and the family of Mary Jane Veloso. Yuji Gonzales/TVJ