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OFW Family Christmas Solidarity Day slated
07 December 2005 -- The Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) and Manila Archdiocesan Migrants Ministry are organizing the 2005 OFW Family Christmas Solidarity Day on Sunday, 11 December, at Clamshell 2, Intramuros, Manila.
With the theme: "Handog sa Pamilyang OFW: Paskong Buo at Kinabukasang Segurado," the event is also in commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with Migrants which the United Nations has started celebrating since December 18, 1997.
To begin the activity, a holy mass will be held 7:00 a.m., at the Manila Cathedral with Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales as the main celebrant. The celebration will also include a children's activity dubbed as "Advent Recollection" organized by the Bantay Bata, Comprehensive Reintegration Program orientation and a discussion on the "The A to Z of Buying a Franchise," by Ms. Bing Limjoco of Philippine Franchise Association.
The ECMI has been mandated by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines to provide and coordinate pastoral and social services to the migrants and their families especially those who are in distress and facing complex problems as a result of migration.
At present, there are about eight million Filipinos overseas in 197 countries with an estimate of 2, 500 departing daily for work abroad.
The government has consistently applauded the migrant's contribution in keeping the economy buoyant through their remittances. Recent record from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that the remittances from OFWs posted a 26.8 percent year-on-year growth in May 2005 amounting to US$879 million.
ECMI assists parishes and Dioceses in organizing the ministry to migrants and their families. Today, ECMI already have reached out and organized 30, 000 OFW families. They also coordinate with 563 chaplains and pastoral workers in 42 countries. (Roy Q. Lagarde)
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