It is with great honor and privilege that the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP-ECMI) participates in this World Conference of OFWs 2004 with the theme: "Shaping the Future of Filipino Labor Migration." We share the hope of the people and various organizations working for the welfare of our beloved OFWs and their families that this important gathering will contribute concretely to the improvement of the situations of Filipino Labor Migration.
We all know and appreciate the significant role the Filipino migrant workers do to our society particularly in the economic area. We should also understand however, the great cost they and their families have to pay in order to give contribution to our country. This conference will certainly highlight some of the sacrifices they offer for the sake of their families and our society in general. We need to show our appreciation for them and unite our efforts to uplift their conditions as migrant workers.
The CBCP-ECMI would like to affirm our overseas Filipino workers in their heroic role in our society, and most particularly in their missionary task as they work with competence and with faith in foreign lands and among peoples of other faith and culture. Our OFWs not only add to boost the economy of the host countries where they work with generally exceptional skills and competence, but also introduce in there communities the positive elements of our Filipino culture and the religiosity and spirituality of our faith. We certainly wish and pray that our OFWs continue even with more enthusiasm in sharing their faith with other people.
Aiming at shaping the future of Filipino labor migration requires a great deal of hard work and faithful commitment. This conference is a significant step towards attaining such goal. We therefore hope and pray that we continue to unite ourselves together to promote and fight for a better future for our OFWs and their families. We hope to be one with our migrant Filipinos not only in a conference like this but also in other occasions where all of us can journey together in attaining a bright future for them. We also appreciate our foreign partners who are genuinely interested in the welfare of our OFWs. Feeling together as one big global community is already one great element of a bright future.
We congratulate the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch and all the member- organizations for having initiated this great endeavor. We appreciate all those who worked hard in one way or another for the success of this gathering. May the Lord bless our united efforts and plans! |
