Global Filipinos flock back home for good

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipinos are returning home for good, bringing a wealth of knowledge and skills from their host country back to the motherland.  Hundreds of our overseas Pinoys, local and international experts, and government, non-government and private sector partners are gathering as the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) hopes to entice more kababayans to participate in Diaspora to Development (D2D) programs at the “Third Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora” on Feb. 25-27 at the historic Manila Hotel.

Stories of success and homecoming

Thirty one year-old social innovation consultant and artist Jo Anne Coruña returned from seven years of studies and work in the United States. Leaving the rest of her family in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jo Anne came to the Philippines to give back to the country and start a family. Now she, husband Dr. Chinkin Coruña – a top orthopedic surgeon – and their toddler daughter Sofia are enjoying the simpler life in Bacolod, Negros Occidental. Professionally, Jo Anne works for Ashoka Philippines, the lar-gest global network of social entrepreneurs through which she searches for Filipino change makers that the foundation could support. In addition, Coruña was so inspired by the beauty and life in the Philippines that she even started the art portal, AllThingsPilipinas.com.

Meanwhile, dual citizen and Silicon Valley visionary Dado Banatao spends a significant amount of time in helping the country as chairman of the Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev). An engineer and a venture capitalist by profession, Banatao works with the government and academe in creating research and development programs that train experts in science and engineering.  Working with USAID and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilDev also conducts symposia and workshops for entrepreneurs, senior level engineering students, and university professors as well as mentoring startups run by Filipino entrepreneurs.

A continuing trend

Citing the Philippines recent economic development as trend booster, Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Imelda M. Nicolas says, “This is a trend that continues to increase, and that’s good news. We have always encouraged Overseas Filipinos to come to the Philippines whether for a visit or to stay for good. While we appreciate the remittances of our kababayans abroad that contribute to the country’s GDP while helping support their families, their will to share their talents and passions within the homeland is their greatest gift.”

The examples of Banatao and Coruña are exactly what CFO has been working for. With its “Diaspora to Development” (D2D) programs such as  Alay Dunong (sharing  knowledge and skills), BalikTuro (coming home to teach or mentor), foreign medical coordination, arts and educational exchanges, the CFO offers every Filipino overseas not only reasons to go back but  also ways to give back.

With the theme “Vision and Action for the Diaspora 2015 and Beyond,” the three-day summit is expected to attract hundreds of community leaders from all over the world.  Delegates are set to participate in networking and planning sessions with compatriots who have made the country home and enhance their engagement in the development of the Philippines.

The Third Global Summit is made possible in partnership with The Filipino Channel (TFC), The Medical City (TMC), Vibal Group of Companies, Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) and Manila Hotel. Marketing partners are DDB Philippines, LINKPAD Inc. and Creative Minds Strategic Media and Marketing Inc.

For more details about the 3GS, please visit www.3gs.cfo.gov.ph, email [email protected] or call (632) 552-4795 / (632) 552-4764 / (63917) 587-2164 or follow www.facebook.com/3rd-Global-Summit.