'Delusional', say OFWs

Overseas workers urged to form a political party

by JULIE JAVELLANA - SANTOS
OFW Journalism Consortium

OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) communicating through the internet labeled a Philippine solon's proposal to form an OFW party as "delusional" since they cannot even vote.

Reacting to the proposal to form a party put forward by Bulacan Representative Willie Villarama, respected OFW Ren Arrieta based in Los Angeles, California asked, "How can OFWs set up their own political party when they are not allowed to vote in the first place?"

Arrieta, who is also a member of the International Coalition for Overseas Filipinos Voting Rights (ICOFVR) further asked, " "How can you win in a political arena dominated by patronage and personality politics where guns and gold decide the outcome of the zarzuela?"

OFW in Canada Bob Gabuna said "the proposition of the gentleman from Bulacan (Villarama) is laudable but is not viable under the present circumstances."

"Let the House of Representatives and the Philippine Senate pass the absentee voting bill and I may reconsider my position re forming an OFW Party List," Gabuna said.

Mel Viado, another OFW and a permanent resident in the United States who is also with ICOFVR, said, "A political party whose political base does not have even the right to vote will never survive anyway."

An opportunist move

The leadership of OFW-Net, one of the member organizations of ICOFVR, said "Anyone thinking of political party at this time will only be misconstrued as an opportunist move even if the desire and intentions are supposedly 'noble'........It will be difficult to distinguish said party from those who are jockeying for positions this early and as such will only put the advocacy in a compromising situation.......What is the hurry anyway?"

Ofelia Mananquil Bakker, an OFW from Singapore, suggested that OFWs instead get together and put up for election one of their number who is eminently qualified for public office.

"I will tell you now that I am looking into the possibility of our own candidates to join the major political party which embodies at least some if not all of our ideals and vision and aspirations. I am very sure such political party will jump at the prospect of having one of our highly qualified, highly motivated idealist candidates. I tell you they will jump at this prospect when we present our own candidate from our own community," Bakker wrote.

She asked, "Why create another political party when those politicians are now looking for new blood and will jump at having one outstanding member from our group?"

Pass absentee voting bill first

Tokyo-based OFW Yuko S. Takei, a Filipina married to a Japanese national, cautioned the OFW leaders on Villarama's proposal saying, "It's amazing how a lot of people want to take advantage of this growing political force called "Overseas Filipinos Worldwide."

But, she said it is useless to form a party unless the absentee voting bill is passed. "We cannot leave the welfare and interests of the OFWs to a crook, a know nothing, or (one who does not) sincerely feel one with the OFWs!" Yuko said.

Villarama, a pro-administration solon, urged OFWs to organize their own political party so they can effectively protect their interests and rights and work on legislation that would benefit them.

He made the proposal at a meeting with leaders of ICOFVR, an umbrella organization of various OFW groups all over the world lobbying for the passage of the Absentee Voting Bill.

The measure would give OFWs and other Filipino expatriates the right to vote in elections for president, vice president, senators, and party-list representatives.

Protecting OFW interests

Vacationing OFW Robert Ceralvo, who is based in Jersey City in the US, said Villarama made the proposal to protect the interests of the OFWs within the government structure.

According to Ceralvo, Villarama suggested consolidating all existing OFW parties that participated in the last elections and transforming these into a major political party.

"This will be a non-trapo (traditional politician) party," Ceralvo said.

In the last party-list elections, there were eight OFW parties but none of them succeeded in getting their members elected as sectoral representatives under the party list system.

ICOFVR earlier decried the failure of Congress to enact the bill for the past 15 years, despite a constitutional mandate enfranchising OFWs, whom officials have described as modern Filipino heroes.

Overseas workers are the biggest source of foreign exchange for the country. They remit between $6 billion and $7 billion a year. During times of economic difficulties, it is their remittances that keep the economy afloat.

A powerful economic machine

Villarama said that despite their contribution to the economy, the nation's leaders have often neglected overseas workers.

"Our overseas labor force is a dynamic showcase of Filipino enterprise and a powerful economic machine. Yet, they are ignored and taken for granted by the political establishment," he said.

He said national leaders seem afraid to give OFWs a voice shaping national policy because they are a huge group to reckon with. He pointed out that if the workers organize their own political party, they could not only win party-list seats in the House of Representatives but could also effectively influence national policy.

"They can work for better protection from employer abuse and corrupt recruiters, improved working and living conditions and creation of business opportunities at home for their families," he stressed.

Villarama, who was President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's chief of staff when she was vice president, volunteered his help "in building a political machinery that will improve the lives of OFWs and the future of their children."

"I have worked as an OFW in the United States and I know the sentiments of our expatriate workers," Villarama said.