PH Embassy in The Hague Features Film on Women Migrant Workers, Value of ‘Self-Empowerment’
Sunday Beauty Queen, an inspiring movie on Filipino women migrant workers and ‘self-empowerment’ amidst the daily struggles and hopes for better and brighter future for their families and loved ones. (The Hague PE; Ydela Rosa, ISS-Scholas photo)
THE HAGUE 13 June 2019 — For its gender and development (GAD) activity for the second quarter of the year, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague screened the award-winning movie, “Sunday Beauty Queen” by director Baby Ruth Villarama on 25 May 20019.
About 70 members of the various Filipino communities in the Hague and nearby cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Zoetermeer, Breda attended the film event.
The film was well-received and highly appreciated by the Filipino community members, mostly women who were able to relate their own struggles, challenges and hopes as migrant workers in The Netherlands.
A live Skype interaction with Ms. Villarama delighted the audience as it afforded an opportunity to learn more about the making of film, the performers in the film and the director herself. In one of the questions asked, Ms. Villarama said that she chose ‘’beauty pageant” to convey the message that there is something more “beautiful” among these women migrant workers despite all the “ugly” issues that surround their daily lives. The value of “self-empowerment” that one finds in a beauty pageant allows one to “keep the core of human existence… and that is dignity.”
This film showing offered free by the Embassy was held at the International Institute of Social Studies-Erasmus and the free use of its auditorium through the kindness of ISS’ librarian Ava Rodriguez. This GAD event was undertaken in partnership with Lalaine Siruno and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association-The Netherlands (UPAA-NL) and Martin Dacles and the ISS Student Association Scholas. END
After the film showing, the ”Q&A” via Skype afforded the audience a lively exchange of views with the film director, Ms. Villarama. on women migrant workers’ dedication, hard work and artistry and family relations. (The Hague PE; Ydela Rosa, ISS-Scholas photo)
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador to The Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda (leftmost in white barong) emphasized the Embassy’s continuing efforts towards the promotion of “women equality, gender equality” in its programs and events undertaken in partnership with Filipino Community organizations in The Netherlands. (The Hague PE; Ydela Rosa, ISS-Scholas photo)
For more information, visit www.thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinTheNetherlands/.