INVITATION TO THE 2nd ENFiD EUROPEAN CONFERENCE

Maastricht, 26 May 2015

Dear friends,
The European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD.org) is holding the 2nd European
Regional Conference and General Assembly under the theme -- Overseas Filipinos
(OF) for Transnational Development Make a Self-Assessment (Ako ay Pilipino, Ganito
Ako Ngayon, Paano Ako Bukas).
With this writing we would like to invite you be with us to enrich the discussions
and debates and to meet and connect with fellow kababayans from all over
Europe.
Starting with the premise that:
Understanding social remittances combined with a well-defined Euro-Pinoy identity lead
to harness the Development Impact of Socio-Cultural and Psycho-Emotional Remittance
of Overseas Filipinos in Europe.
Social remittances are usually defined as the ideas, practices, identities and
social capital that flow from receiving to sending country communities. Social
remittances are transferred by migrants and refugees or they are exchanged by
letter or other forms of communication, including by phone, fax, the internet or
video. They may affect family relations, gender roles, class and race identity, as
well as have a substantial impact on political, economic and religious
participation. Social remittances constitute a so far neglected local-level
counterpart to macro-level global monetary and cultural flows, although they are
key to understanding how migration modifies the lives of those who remain
behind. To the extent that social remittances flow together with economic
remittances, changes in normative structures and general practices may be
pertinent to ensure the continuation of economic remittances. Peggy Levitt
What we want to achieve in the Conference is to get a clear understanding of the
psycho-socio-cultural identity of European-Pinoys i.e., a combination of their Filipino

cultural heritage with the cultural diversity in the European society and how this is
handed down to their daily life, work, study and raise children.
Along with this, we want to know the various ways by which social remittances are
disseminated by Euro-Pinoys to the Philippines; how they invade the mind-set, attitudes,
behaviour and opinions of the non-migrant society (socially, culturally, psychologically,
politically, emotionally); and the impact on the personal, family, community lives.
The various expertise of the speakers were linked to the social remittances diffused by
the OFs not only to the homeland but that these also occur in the host country an
intermingle of Filipino and European habits. Workshops and Plenary discussions give
the participants the chance to debate, discuss and exchange information and
experiences.
During the conference we hope to provide answers to the following questions:
- How is economic remittance embedded into socio-cultural remittance?
- How can the Euro-Pinoys social influence, affect and change the needs, values and
mind-frames of Filipino non-migrants?
- How can social remittances be organized, perceived and accepted for/by the senders
and receivers?
- Economic, political and cultural globalization is the basis for the emergence of
transnational communities. What are the global radiation of ideas and mannerisms that
contribute to the emerging transnational community? What are the cultures received
and transmitted by OF families at micro level? Considering the distance between
senders and receivers, what are the physical and social complexities involved in the
circulation of social remittances?
- What is the nature of social remittances that are sent and received? Through what
mechanism? What factors determine their acceptance and effect? What impact does it
have in life of the sending-country?
To have an informed discussion, information materials will be sent to the participants.
At the end of the Conference a Declaration with an Action Plan and Policy
Recommendation will be formulated which will be disseminated to government and nongovernment institutions and organisations that are involved in Migration and
Development themes in Europe and the Philippines.

Please find below other information about the Conference:

Description: Strengthening the Filipino-European Identity to Harness the Development
Impact of Socio-Cultural and Psycho-Emotional Remittance of Overseas Filipinos in
Europe
Background: Filipinos uprooted themselves from the home country in search of better
economic life. Absorbed with earning decent income in the host country most are left
with little time to examine the value, potential and richness of their multicultural life
experience. Many are mired in their past life in the Philippines clinging to old customs
and time-frozen habits of long ago usually out-of-sync with the 2nd generation.
With no clear guide to parenting in a multi-cultural environment, parents hark to
nostalgic traditional symbolisms, albeit their meaning largely undefined. An undefined
identity is a handicap for OF to effectively enrich the culture of the host country with their
home culture. Often, there is confusion among the OFs, especially children and youth,
about their dual identity as Filipino and European leaving them out of the society
mainstream and a threat to ghettoized living.
Conducting a self-assessment and defining the Euro-Pinoy can help develop
competence of the Filipino community equipped to fully participate in the social and
cultural processes of the host countries at the same time continue supporting the
homeland. Furthermore a strong European-Filipino identity that understands sociocultural and psycho-emotional realities in a multi-cultural environment can greatly build
confidence of OF parents in the upbringing of the 2nd generation.
Objective: Allow the opportunity to debate, self-examine and analyze What and Who
is a Filipino living overseas in a multicultural environment; and define the OF as a EuroPinoy in the conduct of their Personal Life, Social Behavior, Cultural Awareness and
Economic Preparedness
Date and Venue: The conference takes place on 1 - 2 August 2015 in San Antonio
Hotel, ST. Pauls Bay Malta. The ENFID General Assembly takes place on July 31 at
the same venue.
Participants: The conference is open to all Overseas Filipinos, primarily those in the
European Region. It is also open to non-Filipino migrants and Europeans involved in
Migration and Development work.

ENFiD is a non-profit networking association of Filipino communities in Europe formed

at the Overseas Filipinos regional conference held in Rome in 2012, registered in Malta
and the EU Transparency Registry. Presently ENFiD has 18-country members and
affiliations and has institutional partnerships with the Commission on Filipinos
Overseas (CFO) and the PhilAm Life Foundation.
The Conference Program is attached.
Please be advised that a Conference Kit (with reading materials and practical
guides) will be sent to you after registering.

Respectfully,

Rohlee de Guzman
Vice Chairperson, ENFiD-EU
Director, Development and Promotions, ENFiD-EU
www.enfid.org

Marie Luarca-Reyes
Executive Director, ENFiD-EU
Honorary Representative to Europe,
CFO