Press Release

Overseas Filipinos to convene in Malta for Major International Conference

By ENFiD-Sweden
Emailed for posting by Rohlee de Guzman
June 25, 2015



Overseas Filipinos from across Europe and the rest of the world will be converging in Malta on July 31-August 2, 2015 for the 2^nd European Regional Overseas Filipino Conference, organized by the international Filipino organization ENFiD—the European Network of Filipino Diaspora. Going under the theme “Ako ay Overseas Filipino: Ganito ako Ngayon, Paano Ako Bukas? (“This is how I am today, How will I be tomorrow?”), the conference offers a forum for self-examination, analysis and discussion of the issues and challenges facing Europe’s sizeable and diverse Filipino population.

Academics, Artists, Businesspersons, Community Leaders, and Filipinos from various fields will be sharing their knowledge and experience to explore Filipino identity and nationhood in the context of Europe’s multicultural society. The breadth of the discussion includes an analysis of Euro-Filipino Social Remittance from the time of Rizal to the present, to be discussed by Juan E. “Jed” Dayang, Jr., DDipS, Consul and First Secretary of the Philippine Embassy in Prague; the impact of these Social Remittances on Filipino gender dynamics, to be discussed by Berta Fernandez of the Institute of European Studies, University of Malta; the implications of reunification among “trans-national” families, to be discussed by Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS) at the Catholic University of Louvain; and a plenary presentation on the issue of World Peace and Security to be delivered by Volker Hauck, head of the programme on Conflict, Security and Resilience at the European Centre for Development Policy Management. The conference seeks to design new pathways towards strengthening the unique role Euro-Filipinos play both in the land of their origin and in their adoptive homes. In establishing and promoting this identity, it is hoped that the positive social remittance stemming from the Euro-Filipino experience might be further ingrained in the considerations of politicians, policy-makers, community leaders and the broader public.

Given the event’s significance to the Filipino community in Europe, the Maltese government has expressed a tremendous amount of support for the event. HE Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of the Republic of Malta, is slated to address the Conference on August 1.

Alongside ENFiD, the conference is made possible with support from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, the Philam Life Foundation, Western Union, Air Malta, various Filipino associations in Malta, the Malta Emigrants Commission, and Attard Holdings, Inc. Accommodations for the event will be at the DB San Antonio Hotel + Spa, Triq it-Turisti, SPB 1024, St. Paul Bay, Malta.

For updates as details of the conference develop, visit www.ENFiD.org, or follow us on Facebook.com/ENFiDNow. 

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Malta to Host Major Conference for Overseas Filipinos

By ENFiD-Sweden

June 25, 2015

Overseas Filipinos from across Europe and the rest of the world will be converging in Malta on July 31-August 2, 2015 for the 2^nd European Regional Overseas Filipino Conference. Convened by the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD) and running under the theme “Ako ay Overseas Filipino: Ganito ako Ngayon, Paano Ako Bukas? (“This is how I am today, How will I be tomorrow?”), the conference offers a forum for self-examination, analysis and discussion of the issues and challenges facing Europe’s sizeable and diverse Filipino population.

The Maltese government has expressed a tremendous amount of support for the event with HE Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of the Republic of Malta, is slated to address the Conference on August 1. Malta will also be hosting prominent figures and community leaders in the Overseas Filipino community to deliver their insight on the flourishing of the Filipino identity in Europe’s multicultural society as well as the “social remittance” Euro-Pinoys lend towards Philippine development, prosperity and security. The conference will also be hosting an essay-writing contest and the three-night cultural programme “A Philippine Summer Concert in Malta” featuring Filipino and Maltese talent making waves throughout the continent today.

An active international association that seeks to build bridges of communication and cooperation among Filipinos in Europe, ENFiD is represented in 18 countries across the continent. The conference is a follow-up on ENFiD’s initiatory 2012 gathering in Rome. Alongside ENFiD, the conference is made possible with support from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, the Philam Life Foundation, Western Union, Air Malta, various Filipino associations in Malta, the Malta Emigrants Commission, and Attard Holdings, Inc. Accommodations for the event will be at the DB San Antonio Hotel + Spa, Triq it-Turisti, SPB 1024, St. Paul Bay, Malta.

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For updates as details of the conference develop, visit www.ENFiD.org, or follow us on Facebook.com/ENFiDNow.