In our exclusive chat with television host, producer and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) advocate Marissa Del Mar, she revealed her plans and dreams of helping Filipino workers abroad as presented in her weekly program.
“When everything is said and done, and to end this, it is the fervent wish of yours truly, that someday Filipinos will work abroad only out of their own free will, without economic, social, or political pressures bearing down on them. Our dear Lord to keep and protect us all!” Marissa said.
Marissa also envisioned a positive development for OFWs and defining their rights as workers in a foreign country.
“I share similar interest and concerns primarily for the welfare and development of Filipino workers, both local and overseas, the labor sector and their families. My dream for our OFWs is to empower them primarily on poverty eradication, human trafficking, and legislation. The right of our OFWs labor sector and their families to access education (formal & non-formal or tech-voc.) and training are paramount importance," said Marissa.
She also said that families left behind by OFWs must also be given attention and support.
“Happy families create a sense of well-being within the family as a whole. Well-being includes a person’s physical, mental, emotional & social health. Happy families, happy children, happy life, strong Philippines! (OFW) One Filipinos Worldwide Partylist, Founder and President, Ms. Marissa del Mar. Sama-sama tayo para sa mga bagong bayani," she added
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Award-winning Director Erik Matti extended his stay overseas that led to an unexpected close encounter with the pope.
In his recent social media post, Erik revealed how they were able to see Pope Francis up close at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy.
Erik wrote: “We went out to dinner with a Filipino priest (that I will keep anonymous for security reasons introduced to us by Carmelengo Ernest Escaler) who told us a top-secret, confidential, Dan Brown-Robert Langdon level information about the highest leader in the Catholic Church (second to God, maybe), the Pope.
“Every time he comes from his travels outside of Italy, when he returns, he passes by this small church to give an offering to Mama Mary. Everyone at the table was wide-eyed and excited at the prospect of probably seeing the Pope up close without much fanfare with an air of exclusivity that probably only us would enjoy without the world knowing about it.
“The Pope was on a trip to Bratislava. The priest informer made some calls and found out when he will be arriving. 3 p.m. the next day. Our priest informer then added that the Pope has a sweet spot for Filipinos and the way to get his attention is to call out ‘Viva Lolo Kiko’ (Kiko being a nickname of Filipinos for Francis).”
In the same post, Erik shared what he and his group planned to do once they see the Pope in person.