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| Revote, Saret and Licaros were the forum's main speakers |
“Know
your value" or, isipin naman ninyo ang sarili ninyo.” (Have more concern for yourselves).
This,
according to Deputy Consul General Germinia Usudan, is the most important thing
that women, especially migrant domestic workers, should bear in mind as they
navigate through life abroad.
Usudan made the remarks as she wrapped up a three-hour public forum titled “Juana,
Knows” held earlier today at the Philippine Consulate, in observance of the 18-day
Campaign to End Violence Against Women.
Usudan
said this was her first takeaway from the forum, which featured three lawyers
who spoke on women’s rights and powers, as well as RA 9272 or the Anti-Violence
Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 : Vice Consul Alan G. Revote, who
heads the Consulate’s civil registry and legal section; Consul Paul Saret, head
of assistance to nationals, and Anna Theresa Licaros, banker and women's rights advocate.
Taking
off on Licaros’ tips on how women could empower themselves, Usudan said it is
also important for migrants to have a strong support system, or at least have
someone to confide in when the going gets rough; for them to know their rights;
and lastly, to have all their important personal information or data at their fingertips or within
reach.
Licaros
said organizing important informations means having valuable records such as
passports, birth certificates, bank account numbers so that in case a problem
occurs in the family, the woman would be able to produce these as
needed.
Equally
important, she said, is to know one’s network, meaning, who to call or contact
should the need arises. An example of this is the Department of Social Welfare
Department official in their locality.
But
beyond these, she said migrant women should have goals, and they should write
them down so they do not forget.
They should also learn new skills like cooking
or understanding new technology as these are things that will never go away and will serve them in good stead in
future.
Lastly, they should find meaning in their work, whatever it is, as this
will prevent them from feeling tired or resentful.
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| Licaros and her list of do's for women migrants |
Revote
for his part explained to the audience that the VAWC is meant to protect women
and their children against an abusive sexual or romantic partner, whatever
their gender.
Under
the law, such acts of violence can be physical, sexual, psychological, or
economic.
Physical
abuse includes assault or any kind of actual harm committed against a woman or
her children.
Sexual
violence may include forced sex during marriage, rape, and even online sexual exploitation of
children.
Psychological
violence refers to inflicting mental torture, such as stalking, abusing the
victims’ pets, or destroying things that have a sentimental value to them.
The
last, economic violence, pertains to making the woman financially dependent on
her spouse or partner, such as preventing her from working or handling money.
Victims
of any of these acts can go to their barangay or the courts for relief.
The
first step is to seek a barangay protection (BPO) which should be granted
within 24 hours, but is valid for only 15 days.
The next
step is to go to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) or Municipal Trial Court (MTC)
and ask for a temporary protection order (TPO) which can be granted ex parte,
or with only the victim present. This order is enforceable anywhere in the
country but is valid for only 30 days.
The
final relief is a permanent protection order (PPO) which either court can grant
following a hearing when both sides are represented. This order has no deadline
and is enforceable throughout the country.
The PPO can also be accompanied by other
orders such as preventing the offending party from going near the victims or harassing
them; as well as granting restitution or compensation to the offended party.
Revote
said all these reliefs can be sought at the same time if the victim/s want the
protection order to become permanent or prevent a gap in their implementation.
Saret
said many migrant women turn to the Consulate for help or advise because the physical
separation from their spouses often leads to infidelity. This in turn, leads to
all sorts of problems for migrant women who end up becoming the family’s sole
breadwinner. Many choose to overstay, or resort to stealing or money laundering
to make ends meet.
In
extreme cases, the debt-ridden or lovelorn migrant becomes depressed, and commits suicide. Saret said that this year alone, there have been five recorded
suicides of Filipino migrant workers.
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| DCG Usudan (in checkered jacket) join the speakers and the 2 welfare officers |
Saret
said social welfare officer Rem Marcelino of the Migrant Workers Office asked
him to relay to the audience a few pieces of advice that would help them
survive Hong Kong while living in harmony with their family back home.
The
first of these is to make their spouses or partner understand the reason why
they decided to go abroad, and how difficult this decision has been for all of
them.
The
second is to be mindful of a need for a nurturing relationship, meaning,
keeping in constant communication with their partner.
Saret said that since his
own family is in the Philippines, he always makes sure to check on his wife
during meal times. He also avoids getting angry with his children during the
rare times that they are all together so this does not leave a lasting
impression on them.
Lastly,
migrant mothers should always check on the children they left behind to make
them feel they have not been abandoned. Corollary to this, the children should be made to understand that their mothers decided to live and work away from them so they
could have a better future.
Also at the forum were Marcelino and OWWA welfare officer Marilou Sumalinog.
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