SALAYSAY ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENDER, MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

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Lynette Lane
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ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENDER, MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT With the International Conference in Gender, Migration and Development under the theme "Seizing Opportunities, Upholding Rights,"

1 ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENDER, MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT With the International Conference in Gender, Migration and Development under the theme "Seizing Opportunities, Upholding Rights," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, claimed that our country is the appropriate venue for the conference for having ranked sixth in the world in closing the gender gap. What President Arroyo failed to mention is that the Philippines also ranked 5th among the countries world wide with the largest incidents of human trafficking. Almost half a million Filipinos have been victims of human trafficking worldwide, 20% are minors who end up prostituted.

2 The diaspora of Filipinos to other countries is being spurred by a desperation for livelihood that the government has failed to provide its people. Majority of Filipino women are contractual workers and plantation workers or peasants who live under conditions of seasonal work, low wages, absence of benefits and job insecurity. Because family income fails to meet the daily needs and growing financial necessities of the family, more and more women are being forced to seek jobs abroad. This is the true state of Filipino women. This is the basis of the phenomenal outmigration of Filipino women. More than opportunity, the desperation for livelihood leading to forced migration only places women migrants in a position open for exploitation and abuse. Worse, the Philippine government, profits from this exploitation and abuse through state exactions while it is liable for the criminal neglect of women migrants victims of violation. Most women migrant workers are working as domestic helpers, caregivers or entertainers abroad. These are work that capitalizes on the traditional feudal stereotyping of women as homemakers and sex objects. As such, the very premise of their jobs abroad that of lowly servants and objects for entertainment makes women vulnerable to abuse. In the Middle East alone, where there are 25,000 Filipino workers, 90% are domestic helpers. A great majority of this number is women. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has admitted that more than 1,000 migrant workers have been repatriated after experiencing maltreatment from their employers. This is the stark naked truth about women and migration which clearly debunks any claim that migration leads to development much less has the potential in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. GABRIELA Philippines 35 Sct. Delgado St, Brgy. Laging Handa Quezon City, 1103 Philippines GABRIELA is a grassroots-based alliance of more than 200 women's organizations, institutions, desks and programs in the Philippines. We seek to wage a struggle for the liberation of women and the rest of our people.

3 Filipino Humor & The Power of Laughter By J. Reyes Humor. Is it just a diversion or car.:: be a survival kit? In the Philippines, laughter is the way Filipinos cope with natural catastrophes, overcome the burdens of everyday life and cushion the impact of events over which they feel they no longer can control Filipinos use humor to diffuse tension. During the 1986 EDSA Revolution, families gathered in the streets feasting, singing and dancing while their lives were being threatened. Jokes immediately sprung out of national tragedies, such as the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, or turning points in history, such as the ouster of the Marcos regime. By treating nothing sacred, Filipinos guard their equanimity from breaking down. As anywhere else, Filipino humor is also used for the sheer enjoyment of a good laugh. Filipino humor is rarely mean. Because of their strong sense of hiya (shame), Filipinos go to great lengths to be polite. Just as a problem should never be discussed directly, humor, likewise, should never be confrontational. Whether the brunt of the joke is the government or other established organizations, it is usually the impersonal "they" and not the people who comprise the institution who become fair game. Filipino humor is often self-deprecating. It is another weapon in face-saving. By turning a mistake or a transgression into a light moment, the teller relieves the injured party of having to correct him and allows him to own up to his mistake in a way that allows him to also save face. What may appear to an outside observer as another example of Filipino superficiality, making fun of a situation which in fact might be extremely serious, is really an intricate social contract between the two parties that will allow them to continue to interelate in the future. In adjudging Filipino behavior, one must remember that Filipino society is made up of "closed circles of relationships" and each group member must be careful never to burn his bridges with other group members Finally, humor in all its guises and uses, binds Filipinos together, transforming an experience into an event that can be shared by all. When Filipinos laugh at something that is unique to them, their laughter becomes an assertion of their unity as a people

4 Tagalog Humor Corner Pastor's Business Card A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote 'Revelation 3:20' on the back of it and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, 'Genesis 3:10.' Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' Genesis 3:10 reads, 'I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.' Flight to San Francisco ERAP: Hello, I would like to inquire how long is the flight to San Francisco? OPERATOR: Just a minute, Sir.. ERAP: Really? Thank you.. AMO MAID AMO: kelan lang tayo bumili ng toothpick, bakit naubos agad? MAID: ewan ko po mam, kapag ako po ang gumamit sinosoli ko naman ah. Pedro and Leo Pedro: Ang tapang talaga ni Paeng! Biro mo, tumalon sa eroplano nang walang parachute! Leo: Ohh, totoo? Saan mo naman nabalitaan yan? Pedro: Dun sa burol nya! At school TITSER: Ano ang PAST TENSE sa LABA? BOY#1: Naglaba mam! TITSER: Tama! Ano ang PRESENT TENSE? BOY#2: Naglalaba! TITSER: Tama! Ano naman ang FUTURE TENSE? BOY#3: MAGSASAMPAY mam!

ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION Open Meeting &

.etc FREE ENTRANCE October 18 (SAT) at 15:00 22:00

5 ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION Open Meeting & Acquaintance Day/Night Bingo, Bazaar, Food Sales, Karaoke song contest, Dance, Games, Social Gathering, Information etc..etc FREE ENTRANCE October 18 (SAT) at 15:00 22:00 Föreningslokal, Bragesvägen 17, NORSBORG Organizer: Filippinska Kultur- & Fritidsföreningen i Botkyrka

6 FEMINISTISKT FORUM Folkets Hus Hallunda 4 oktober kl 13:00 19:00 (lör) Musik Kaffe Mat Bokbord Diskussion Klotterplank Föreläsningar Vimme Kamp Glädje Debatt Möten Gästföreläsare Gudrun Schyman Maria Sveland Yvonne Hirdman Fri inträde Arrangörer ABF BOTKYRKA-SALEM Filippinska Kultur- & Fritidsföreningen i Botkyrka S-Kvinno klubb, Kvinnojouren Regnbågen Föreningen Varken Hora och Kuvad Verdandi, Biblioteket i Norra Botkyrka m fl More info: pls call

SALAYSAY. In Need of Highly Skilled Workers

SALAYSAY. In Need of Highly Skilled Workers In Need of Highly Skilled Workers The European Commission has adopted a directive in welcoming the so called "highly skilled workers". This directive will, however, enter into force in the EU territory