Atikha Welcomes Delegates to the Conference on Migration and Development

Atikha warmly welcomed 65 delegates to the International Conference on Migration and Development last May 26, 2006 in San Pablo City in Laguna and Mabini in Batangas. The conference brought together development stakeholders and microfinance practitioners from countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America to share experiences and discuss issues and challenges in tapping the development potential of migration. The conference proper was held in Tagaytay City on May 23-27, 2006. The visit to Atikha and its projects was the field visit adopted by the conference organizers.

The first stop of the field visit was the San Pablo City Women, Family and Overseas Filipinos Center. (The Center is a one stop center that provides all types of services for women, children, overseas Filipinos and their families. It is a joint project of the San Pablo City government, Atikha and Akbayan! Citizen’s Action Party List.) The delegates were warmly welcomed by songs and dances of Pagkakaisa ng mga Mamamayang Nakakatanda (PAMANA), a senior citizen women’s organization in San Pablo City. A number of the international delegates hummed with the festive songs and eagerly danced with the aging yet vibrant women of PAMANA.

Ms. Ellen Reyes, Gender and Development Officer of San Pablo City and concurrent Executive Director of the Center formally welcomed the delegates to the city of San Pablo and to the Center. The delegates were also feted to a native snack (merienda) consisting of coconut juice and other native delicacies. They then were toured to the various rooms and offices in the Center. The delegates were amazed of the Center, being one of its kind, if not the only one in the country.

The delegates also marveled at the rooms, a number of which were furnished with native furniture donated by various overseas Filipino organizations and individuals. The following rooms were furnished with the help of the following donors: Atikha-Admin/Enterprise Development (Alduna Holdings/Nes and Ceny Duldulao); Resource Center--Gender and Development/Women and Migrant Rights/Sustainable Development (Art, Essie and Angelie Claveria); Enterprise and Development Training (Tahanan ni Aling Meding); Atikha Psychosocial Services (BPI Foundation); Women and Migrant Advocacy/Information and Education/Networking/Research (Overseas Filipinos Worldwide - Mutual Benefit Corporation); OFW Helpline/Computer Training/Video Conferencing/On Line Counseling (Globe); Likha at Kabuhayan (Friends of Atikha, San Diego, USA); Koop Balikabayani International Savings and Credit Cooperative (Seven Lakes International). Ms. Mai Anonuevo, Executive Director of Atikha also gave plaques of appreciation to some Adopt a Room donors who also were participants of the international conference: Mr. Nestor Duldulao, Mr. Art Claveria and Mr. Mario Firme. On behalf of the OFW-MBC, one of the organization donors, Mr. Claveria accepted the plaque of appreciation.

The second stop of the field visit was the VCO plant and the Sta. Isabel Barangay Hall. The production of virgin coconut oil (VCO) was shown to the conference delegates. The delegates welcomed the fact that the VCO plant was underwritten by contributions of Filipinos in the United States, especially those from OFW-MBC and Seven Lakes International. They were also amazed that in a short period of time the plant is not only producing VCO but also other coconut derived products such as moisturizer, hand lotion, lip balm and the like.

The participants were welcomed in Barangay Sta. Isabel by its barangay captain, Mr. Cesar Reyes. Mr. Reyes narrated to the participants how the barangay hall came into being with funds from Isabellians, a Filipino organization based in Los Angeles whose members originally came from Barangay Sta. Isabel, thus its name. The organization raised around PHP 3 million for the construction of the two-storey-building.

The delegates were next feted to a native Filipino lunch served by a women catering group being trained by Ms. Ellen Reyes in Sabang Resort, a resort by the Sampaloc Lake. The delegates were all praise in the way they were treated in San Pablo City.

The next two stops were in Mabini, Batangas. A short program was conducted by Atikha in the Mabini Covered Court just across the town hall. Mabini’s Municipal Senior Administrator, Mr. Andres Maramot and Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Godofredo Mendoza welcomed the delegates. They also cited what they deem were contributions of migrants in their town. Ms. Christie Comia of Atikha talked about the social cost of migration to the town and its families. She also discussed the programs of Atikha in addressing the problems being faced by families left behind. Members of Batang Atikha portrayed in a skit the cost that migration brings to their families. It was an emotional dramatization also of what the children felt about their parents’ decision to leave and work abroad. Ms. Aileen Penas of Atikha emceed the 30-minute program.

Aboard four jeepneys, delegates went up to Barangay Pulong Anahao, what is now popularly known as the Italian village of Mabini, Batangas. Around 25% of the population of Barangay Pulong Anahao is in Italy. Italian-like houses abound in the village, owned by mostly domestic helpers in Italy. Relatives of migrants, a number of them elderly, live in what some conference participants regard as ‘mansions’ of Mabini. A large house near the top of the hill, for instance, is occupied only by an elderly couple, who has eight children working in Italy.

Contrasting thoughts and views thus permeated in the dinner discussions of the delegates. Indeed the field trip to Atikha areas and projects was able to portray the duality of migration, both its positive and negative aspects. The trip, some delegates say, has concretized the discussions in the international conference in Tagaytay.