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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| November 1, 2004 |
The DAWN of a New Life – Carmelita Nuqui |
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Founded in 1996, DAWN (Development Action for Women Network) is a Philippines-based NGO working on women's issues. Carmelita Nuqui, DAWN's executive director and a regular guest speaker onboard Peace Boat, joined the 47th voyage between the Philippines and Singapore to raise awareness about the heavy trafficking of Filipino women to Japan, and the repercussions they face. She talked of how the experience of the Filipino women in Japan turns out to be one of degradation and suffering, contrary to the luxury lifestyle these women are promised before they leave their homeland. |
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To date there are approximately 7.5 million Filipinos who are living and working in almost 200 countries, Japan being one of the top five destinations. A large percentage of these migrant workers are women, and according to the Filipino government many are classed as OPAs (Overseas Performing Artists), trained in dance, choreography, music, song and art. These women often leave for Japan on a six-month Entertainment Visa, but upon arrival their travel documents are confiscated, they are given provocative clothes and make-up to wear and work becomes a living nightmare of dirty, demeaning and dangerous activity. Because they only receive their salary upon completion of the six months, these women are often trapped in a world of prostitution, sex slavery and even rape. Carmelita explains that these women arrive back to the Philippines physically and emotionally wrecked, with no support network and quite often pregnant. This is where DAWN steps in, to facilitate this transition and to enable these women to rebuild their lives again. |
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Peace Boat participants were not only exposed to this issue through Carmelita's lectures but also during their visit to the Philippines. Around 100 participants took part in an exchange programme with some of the women from DAWN and their Japanese-Filipino children (otherwise known by the derogatory names "Japinos" or JFCs). They were able to recognise and value the work that DAWN does in enabling women to come to terms with their traumatic experiences and in preventing them from turning to drugs or alcohol. |
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DAWN offers these women a chance to rebuild their lives through counselling, where the women are able to openly share their "Japanese experience" and through self-empowering action and development skills. The latter is based on a training scheme called "Sikhay" (self-awareness in Tagalog), where the women are taught weaving, tie-dying and sewing. With such skills they can become financially independent, and by stitching bits of material together or weaving threads, the women engage in a kind of therapy to piece their lives together again. Their beautiful handmade products (such as dresses, scarves, bags, shawls) are sold onboard Peace Boat and in Tokyo as part of its fair trade initiative. |
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As participants engaged in an informal cultural exchange with the women and children at DAWN, they were able to show them the art of Japanese calligraphy and the children performed a play for them. This play is an integral part of DAWN's advocacy programme, as the issues and emotions surrounding this situation are expressed through drama. The women write the play and their own children are the actors. It is a very effective way of communicating their message, explains Carmelita, and once a year this play is taken to Japan to help inform the Japanese people and government of the realities facing these women and children. The theatre tour also provides the children with the opportunity of meeting their fathers which is not only part of the healing process but also seeks to encourage fathers to take financial responsibility for their children's upbringing. The play is also performed in schools and community centres in the Philippines to deter women from being tempted by the glamour and wealth of being an overseas entertainer in their quest to escape poverty and unemployment in the Philippines. |
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Towards the end of Carmelita's stay onboard, she held an open discussion forum, where participants were able to ask questions, discuss the issue and voice their opinions. The general consensus was that this situation is not only extremely tragic for the Filipino women, but also for the wives and families of the Japanese men. Their wives have no idea about their husbands' regular visits to "hostess bars", let alone the fact that they have another family in the Philippines. This also opened a debate about sex education and the lack of contraception used, which not only induces unwanted pregnancies, but also leads to various sexually transmitted diseases. However Carmelita strongly expressed that it is the root source of this situation that should be addressed: the Japanese and Filipino governments. In its quest to hold onto Japanese ODA (Overseas Development Assistance), the Filipino government does not prevent the exploitation of as many of the country's women as Japan wants. Japan, however, has no specific laws for their "Guest Workers", leaving them with no protection or welfare assistance in their "host" country. This can only lead to exploitation and violation of basic human rights. Carmelita's words were deeply imprinted upon those around her and Peace Boat participants vowed to communicate to others in Japan what they had learned through her and their visit to the Philippines. |
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For more information, please check DAWN's website
– www.dawnphil.org or send an email to dawnphil[a]i-next.net
• All photos by Erik Liongoren |
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