OFWs urged to be more than just ‘balikbayans’

“Be more than a balikbayan. Ibalik sa bayan ang kaalaman at kakayahan (Share your talents and skills with the nation).”

With this slogan, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has launched “Diaspora to Development” or the D2D program, which aims to engage the estimated 8.5 million Filipinos abroad in the development initiatives of the Aquino administration.

Made in partnership with the nongovernment organization Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLead) and two Filipino-American groups, the D2D launch was a highlight of the 1st Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The three-day conference drew some 400 participants, including lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis, chair of the US Pinoys for Good Governance; and Dr. Aurora Cudal, head of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations for Region 10.

The leaders of the two Fil-Am groups were among the US-based Filipinos who campaigned for President Benigno Aquino III and his running mate Manuel “Mar” Roxas in the May 2010 elections, according to CFO chairperson Imelda Nicolas.

‘Return something’

In an interview, Nicolas said the program was not necessarily asking overseas Filipinos “to return home physically (in order) to make a difference. Instead, we’re asking them to return something to their native Philippines.”

“Not just the usual balikbayan boxes of canned goods and personal items. But this time, we’re asking them to share their talents and skills,” she said. “Brain drain can lead to brain gain and brain exchange in a productive cycle.”

Nicolas said the D2D program hoped to tap overseas Filipinos in development initiatives “ranging from diaspora philanthropy to diaspora investment, from doing business in the Philippines to science and technology transfer, from arts and cultural exchanges to tourism projects, among others.”

It also sought to “engage the second- and third-generation overseas Filipinos through YouLead,” she added.

These younger generations “may have been raised abroad, (but) they continue to keep their social and cultural ties with the Philippines and would like to actively participate in local and national development efforts,” the CFO, an attached agency of the Office of the President, noted in a separate statement.

According to Nicolas, 47 percent of the 8.5 million Filipinos abroad are permanent residents or citizens of their host countries.

“Only 45 percent of the total are overseas workers, while the remaining 8 percent are the so-called TNTs or illegal migrants,” she said.

Aquino’s message

In a message to the summit delegates, President Aquino said: “Your countrymen are indeed grateful for your hard work, which has improved the lives of the people you love and has contributed much to our common goal of revitalizing the Philippines.”

“There is much we can still do, among the urgent being to translate your assistance into sustainable development programs,” he added.

“With the D2D program, we look forward to more investments, initiatives, exchanges, and advocacies that match the needs of our people,” Mr. Aquino said.

Originally posted at 11:46 pm | Thursday, September 29, 2011