MANILA, Philippines - Thousands of overseas Filipinos are more informed and updated on what is happening back home than in their adopted countries, thanks to Filipino cable channels, news web sites and social media.
During the recent conference of Overseas Filipinos for Good Governance in Manila, television journalists shared how reporting the news has changed in the internet age and how viewers have become more informed and engaged.
ABS-CBN News head Maria Ressa, who presented the network’s “Boto Mo iPatrol Mo” campaign, lauded the efforts of the almost 200 Filipino Americans who flew into Manila to attend President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s Inauguration.
“This is an incredibly powerful group that is empowered and they have the kind of attention and focus on issues. The question now is how will they put that into action?” Ressa said.
Some in the audience said there’s just too much bad news and not enough good news to make them feel better about the Philippines.
Broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro challenged overseas Filipinos who complain a lot about their home country, but do nothing about it.
“You left us, it’s like you left our house. You made lots of money there, aren’t you going to come back and have the roof repaired? Help us. Help, because you know you’re not different from us. We all eat adobo, we all know what it means to say ‘aray,’” said Lazaro.
But many overseas Filipinos insist they never really left and that their hard-earned remittances help keep the Philippine economy afloat.
Mark Wolfisz, an overseas Filipino based in London said, “overseas Filipinos sacrificed a lot for this country. I mean my family had left, but some of my family members are still here. At the end of the day, we’re all Filipinos. Kahit ano pang sabihin ng lahat, Pilipino tayo at tinutulungan natin itong bansang ito. I think we need more engagement with media on this issue.”
“It’s not true. If others would think na kayong nasa Amerika umalis kayo para magpasarap, hindi kayo tumutulong – that’s not true. Mayroon mga iba, ganon talaga, but majority would like to help, majority are helping, supporting Gawad Kalinga, this movement for good governance,” said Dr. Philip Chua of Nevada.
Chua insisted millions of Filipinos left the country out of necessity but often return because of love. This and the recent peaceful transfer of power in the homeland, he said, are good news.
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