FVR urges unity among Pinoys abroad

Former President Fidel Ramos urged overseas Filipinos yesterday to unite under a global Filipino network to promote tourism and foreign investments in the Philippines.

Speaking at the second Global Filipino Networking Convention at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Ramos said more than eight million Filipinos abroad can do for the Philippines what over 50 million overseas Chinese did in bringing home foreign investment packages, and financial and welfare support projects to China.

"I believe a Filipino global force can be more influential and powerful if only we could harness the virtues of unity and teamwork," he said. "We need to work on Filipino solidarity."

In the United States, Ramos said a study showed that lack of unity and solidarity has prevented Filipino-Americans in California from winning in local and state elections.

Ramos said in Los Angeles City alone, there are over 347 Filipino-American associations, which underscored factionalism among Filipino-Americans.

The Korean-Americans, on the other hand, have only one organization, he added.

Ramos paid tribute to the millions of overseas Filipinos, a big number of whom are migrant workers, in over 130 countries, who remit a total of $8 billion a year to the Philippines.

"Your remittances have stimulated consumer spending that has been keeping the Philippine economy afloat for many years despite the recent economic difficulties in the Asia region," he said.

The second Global Filipino Networking Convention took off on a high note yesterday morning, with Filipino-American business leaders, legislators, community organizers and media groups sharing their successes.

Presidential adviser on overseas Filipino communities, Secretary Heherson Alvarez, convention organizer and honorary chairman, banged the ceremonial gong at 9 a.m. to signal the start the three-day event, which adopted the theme: "Filipino Power for Development."

Alvarez was joined by convention chairman Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz, representing Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, and former tourism secretary Mina Gabor, president of the Philippine Small and Medium Business Development Foundation (Philsmed).

In his short talk, Gordon underscored the role that overseas Filipinos can play in promoting Philippine tourism.

"Just imagine if each of the eight million overseas Filipinos can bring one foreign tourist to the country, we will have eight million tourist arrivals a year," he said.

Gordon said tourist arrivals in the Philippines have been increasing gradually despite the negative travel advisories issued by certain countries.

Alvarez, for his part, explained to convention participants the significance of the recently enacted Overseas Absentee Voting Law and the Dual Citizenship Law that would benefit overseas Filipinos.

"The Overseas Absentee Voting Act and the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act are a recognition of the critical role that overseas Filipinos contribute to our national well-being and modernization," he said. — Sammy Santos