NATIONAL MIGRATION
DAY 1988
PASTORAL LETTER OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES
First
Sunday of Lent, February 21, 1988
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Philippines, more than any other
country in Asia, has witnessed these past years an unprecedented exodus of its
people to all points of the globe. It is estimated that, at present,
there are three million Filipinos abroad: permanent migrants, overseas
workers, seamen, and other kinds of expatriates. If each belongs to a
family of five, then around fifteen million Filipinos are directly affected by
migration.
Moved by the pastoral solicitude of
the Church, we wish to address to you this message on the occasion of National
Migration Day.
The most obvious cause for the big
outflow of Filipino workers to other countries is economic. The search
for work and a better standard of living, or even survival, pulls young people
and couples from their places of origin. There is hardly a community or
barrio in the country which does not have people abroad. The official and
unofficial repatriation of money (roughly estimated at US$1.5 billion annualy) from Filipino migrants around the globe has
sustained families, put children through school and, as the largest dollar
earner of the nation, even saved the government during these times of economic
crisis. It is, indeed, an opportune time, during this National Migration
Day, to reflect upon the situation of our migrants, overseas workers and other
expatriates.
We are aware of the many serious problems
of morality, poverty, and injustice that affect people, especially women, who
migrate from the provinces to the big cities in our own country. They are
often exploited in the tourism industry. However, on this occasion we
focus our attention on the plight of migrants and overseas workers.
Our reflection moves us, first of
all, to thank the Filipinos abroad for the manifold sacrifices they have
undertaken for us here at home. Their endurance in the face of adverse
conditions, their determination to turn risks into opportunities, their courage
in the face of real physical threats (for example, seamen in the Persian Gulf)
and moral dangers are to be admired. The courage of these migrant workers
has shown us how to believe in life and to hope against many odds.
Although much has been done by our
priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful, we wish to humbly acknowledge
before our migrants and overseas workers the limitations that beset the
Philippine Church in its pastoral care for them and their families. But,
as we become more and more a nation of migrants, we are training and assigning
more church personnel, clergy as well as laity, to this particular
ministry. We appeal to the Major Superiors of Religious Men and Women
to do likewise. The need for pastoral care is great and
urgent. Although many good things come from migration, it is also
attended by many evils, such as exploitation, broken families, moral
degradation, loneliness and other psychological sufferings.
We are particularly concerned about
some factors surrounding this massive migration in our midst:
1. Illegal recruiting
agencies have preyed upon the gullibility of people desperate for work and any
means of survival. How can we expect the rights of our Filipino brothers
and sisters to be respected abroad if we do not put our house in order first?
We urge our government agencies concerned to leave no stone unturned in
stopping these exploiters from the "trading of human beings ."
We encourage our parishes and other local christian
communities to inform their people about the official legal channels whereby
inquiries can be made and job placements obtained.
2. Over the last year, we
have witnessed not only a record number of people leaving for work o verseas but also an upsurge of cases of exploitation and abusive
treatment of our workers abroad. We earnestly urge that our government, through
its official representatives, take stronger and more effective measures in protecting
the rights of our Filipino expatriates.
3. We support the decision of
Her Excellency, the President to ban temporarily the deployment of Filipina
domestic helpers abroad until protection for them is assured. This temporary
ban of deployment should also apply to our Filipina entertainers with regards
to countries where a considerable number of them are subjected to inhuman abuse
and exploitation.
4. As far as the countries of
destination are concerned, we are mindful of the fact that the quality of
ancient and modern civilizations is often measured by the degree of tolerance
and compassion extended by the people to the stranger in their midst.
5. The actual poverty of the
majority of our people leaves them little choice when faced with the option to
migrate. With the last local election, the democratic structures have been
fully restored in our country. We exhort all our people, in and out of
government, to pray and work hard for the economic recovery of our country so
that fewer and fewer Filipinos will be forced to leave our country because of
poverty.
We appeal also to the churches of
destination throughout the world to treat with compassion "all strangers
in their midst". We are both aware and grateful for the fine work
that has already been done by many of these local churches.
For every pain, there is also joy.
For every sacrifice, there is a corresponding good. Migration of peoples,
in whatever form or for whatever reason, has always foreshadowed the unfolding
of greater designs of God. On May 17, 1987, in his homily during the Mass
for Filipinos in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope John Paul II told the Filipino
overseas workers: "Indeed, in Europe you are called to be the new
and youthful witness of that very Faith which your country received from Europe
so many generations ago."
We exhort you, our Filipino brothers
and sisters abroad, to live your Christian Faith wherever you are. In
that way like St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, our migrant Saint, you are giving
witness for Christ to all the world.
May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary
and Joseph, who were migrants in Egypt, bless, protect, and accompany our
migrants and their families.
For the Catholic Bishops' Conference
of the Philippines:
(Sgd.)+LEONARDO Z. LEGASPI, OP
Archbishop of Caceres
President
January 29, 1988