PH Embassy Honors OFW Leaders in Lebanon

Ambassador Bernardita L. Catalla gives an inspiring message during her opening remarks for the celebration of Women’s month.

BEIRUT 15 May 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Beirut organized a half-day program to honor OFW women leaders in Lebanon. The program aimed to celebrate National Women’s Month in line with the Department of Foreign Affairs' Gender and Development (GAD) Program to continuously provide information on the protection of Filipino migrants especially women. The Embassy’s special event included an awareness campaign, through social media, film showing, and testimonials by three empowered OFWs in this middle eastern country.

Ambassador Bernardita L. Catalla, in her opening remarks, congratulated the participants for their economic contribution to their respective families, communities and the Philippines. She also reminded them to save part of their earnings for themselves and prepare for their eventual return to the Philippines. She emphasized the need for the OFWs to be self-reliant, independent and empowered through continuous acquisition of knowledge, training, and upgrading of skills.

To further inspire the Filipino women leaders, the Embassy prepared a Power Point Presentation on pertinent laws and remarkable women in history, and presented testimonials by three Filipinas in Lebanon, who dreamed, worked hard, suffered discrimination but stood up and struggled until they achieved their dreams

Ms. Jessy Mils, Filipina married to a Lebanese, gifted the audience with her song “Babae”.

The screening of, Tadhana episode “Yaya Abugada,” highlighted the celebration. The episode is based on the true story of a Domestic Helper (babysitter) who studied to become a lawyer in Barcelona. She is now a defender of distressed Filipinos in Spain. The trailer of the documentary movie, “The Helper” was also shown. The documentary narrates inspirational stories of domestic helpers in Hongkong.

Women make up 98% of Lebanon’s Filipino migrant population. The vast majority are employed in the household service sector, necessitating the Embassy’s continued advocacy to raise the OFW population’s awareness on labor and women’s rights and to provide means to uphold them. END

For more information, visit www.beirutpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLebanon/.