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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
June 11, 2008
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| May 22, 2008 |
Dreams coming true – Carmelita Nuqui |
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| Mel has been a popular guest on Peace Boat for nearly ten years |
Carmelita Nuqui, more fondly known on Peace Boat as Mel, is one of the world’s many selfless individuals who have dedicated their life to helping others When she speaks of Filipino women migrants in Japan and their children, there is passion, emotion and even tears in her eyes.
Mel’s campaign for the rights of people started while working for Nestlé in the 90s. She became an active advocate, educator and negotiator of work place rights. As a result of the growing strength of the workers' union, a few of the main campaigners were dismissed from Nestlé and Mel took her courage and willpower for justice to become a founding member of the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN). |
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| Question and answer session with Peace Boat participants |
As executive director of DAWN, Mel is responsible for a dynamic organisation actively involved in addressing the concerns of distressed Filipino women migrants in Japan as well as the Japanese-Filipino children (JFC) abandoned by their Japanese fathers.
During the first year, DAWN handled 30 women members and 42 JFC. Since then this has increased to over 300 women and over 380 JFC. It is estimated there are over 100 000 JFC all over the Philippines.
Joining Peace Boat between Viet Nam and Singapore, Mel informed passengers of the reality for Filipino women who enter Japan legally as ‘overseas performing artists’ (OPAs). According to Mel, this is actually a term for ‘hostessing’ (serving customers in bars).
They are also often forced to have sexual relationships with the customers, have their passports taken away and are paid very low wages. The women also find themselves in a situation where they have to raise children fathered and abandoned by Japanese men. |
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DAWN’s Sikhay range is an effective form of therapy for the women as they learn new skills and divert their energy away from the sadness of their lives |
DAWN facilitates a haven for these women through intervention such as counselling, workshops and skills training. DAWN also provides emotional relief for JFC and helps them to reunite with their fathers wherever possible.
Since its conception in 1996, DAWN has also been active in influencing laws and policies. DAWN was involved in the passage of the Anti-Trafficking Law in 2003, the Overseas Absentee Voting Law and the Dual Citizenship Law.
Mel showed two montages onboard highlighting the emotional turmoil these women and their children face. The documentaries focused on the feelings of rejection, confusion and unworthiness of the children for being abandoned by their fathers.
It also explored a child’s hope at even the slightest notion of a chance to meet their father and the fear of feeling unloved and unaccepted by him when the moment comes.
It was an effective and confronting, visual display of the pain children face when they miss their fathers or feel unloved by a parent. There were many tears shed and heavy hearts left in the audience by the end.
On the more positive side however, Peace Boat participants learnt of DAWN’s success in re-uniting many children with their fathers. In some instances the fathers end up supporting the children financially and in other cases, the child has ended up being warmly welcomed into the father’s new family. Mel said that in most of the cases where a father has been contacted, he has responded positively albeit after some convincing. |
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| Sikhay products are fair trade and are now being sold internationally. Winter scarves are part of the new range. |
One of the highlights for DAWN children, women and workers is the yearly musical concert.
DAWN ventured into theatre workshops in 1997 to give children an avenue to share and express their thoughts, stories and feelings. Through songs, dances and acts, the children are able to articulate sentiments and see they are not alone in their emotions.
It is a venue for expression of thoughts and feelings as the children deal with issues such as separation from their Japanese fathers and discrimination from their friends and neighbours due to mixed parentage.
These workshops form the basis of a yearly musical. The children write the musical script and choreograph the theatrics themselves. They also help make the costumes and props.
Their performance of song and dance tells the story of their discrimination and feelings, it expresses the pain and sadness of feeling abandoned, and the hope and dreams that they will see their father again.
Teatro Akebono has also given the JFC a chance to visit Japan and get acquainted with the people and culture of their fathers, as performances are held in various places throughout Japan.
In some cases, the theatre tour to Japan has been instrumental in the re-union or meeting of the JFC with their Japanese fathers. Fathers have either come to watch their children perform or it has provided a reason for DAWN to try and negotiate a meeting with the fathers. |
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SIKHAY
Sikhay is DAWN’s alternative livelihood program. Sikap-Buhay means striving for a better life or self-empowerment.
The Sikhay label is a collection of colourfully printed bags, mats, scarves, shawls and dresses. They are made, printed and woven by women who are members of DAWN to aid in therapy, as training for entrepreneurial skills and as advocacy of the continuing plight of women. |
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