Today is Migrants’ Sunday | 10 reasons why more are re-acquiring Philippine citizenship

11 years ago | Posted in: Articles | 541 Views

MANILA, Philippines – A significant increase in the number of former Filipino citizens who are re-acquiring their Phlippine citizenship has been noted. Why is this so?

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), a total of 30,362 natural-born Filipinos who became naturalized citizens of other countries re-acquired their Philippine citizenship last year under Republic Act 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003). The number is about 10,000 more than that of 2011.

Rex Varona, former executive director of migrants’ rights body Asian Migrant Centre and a member of the Board of Trustees of Migrant Forum in Asia, says the news was “pleasantly surprising.”

Center for Migrant Advocacy executive director Ellene Sana, who has been at the forefront of the campaign for the enactment of the Overseas Absentee Voters Act, also welcomes the news.

Varona and Sana attribute this phenomenon to the contrasting conditions of an improving Philippines on the one hand and of worsening United States and Europe on the other. Here, InterAksyon.com details the various pushes and pulls:

1. Twin blow of financial crisis and stricter immigration policies in the West

Varona says the financial crisis in the West and their tightened immigration policies are making overseas work difficult. “Work is hard, and services are expensive,” he says.

The West includes both Europe and the US, where at least four million of approximately 12 million Filipino migrants live.

The big push to return to the Philippines comes from the possibility of the police checking “on your documents if they suspect you of looking like an undocumented person,” says Varona.

2. Increasing hope and pride in the Philippines due to better economic performance

This flipside of heart-bursting emotions can be attributed to the country’s strong economic performance – the fastest pace in Asia next only to China – as well as a “more respectable” government.

Many first- and third-generation migrants have always been drawn to return to the Philippines, Varona says, but a better economy and a more credible government have been the “big attraction” of motherland. They have also wanted to come back during the administrations of former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but the image of a corrupt and illegitimate government was off-putting. A more popular government under President Benigno Aquino III was more conducive to returning. “Hindi na nakakahiyang bumalik (It is no longer shameful to return),” Varona says.

3. Sentimental journey for the older generation and rediscovering Philippine identity for the young

The elders, some went into exile during the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s, prefer to go back to the Philippines “to spend their last days here, with their communities and families,” Varona says.

And thanks to more Filipinos being recognized on the world stage, third-generation migrants are beginning to rediscover their Filipino identity.

“Pinoys are doing well in music, film, fashion, sports, entertainment. Even in social service, there are many Filipinos who are well-recognized,” Varona says.

The second generation of migrants will be staying where they are for now, he adds, as they are busy working.

4. Warm weather

This is self-explanatory, especially as according to the Bureau of Immigration, most applicants to re-acquire their Philippine citizenship were Americans, Britons, and Canadians. Cold countries indeed.

5. Senior citizens’ discount card

The senior citizens’ discount of 20 percent and a generally better treatment of the elderly make the Philippine pastures greener for retirees, says Sana.

“There’s a really big preference, whether this be sentimental or physical, in terms of care (given in the Philippines),” says Varona.

6. Better global connection via Internet service

Given that they leave their families in the West, the Internet continues to allow them to connect to their loved ones, says Varona.

7. Strong campaign for overseas voting and dual citizenship

Sana’s strong push for right of suffrage to Filipinos who continue to contribute to the Philippines has made a dent.

Dr. Gregorio Mariano Jr., a 75-year-old American citizen, says for him, it was the US Pinoys for Good Governance promoting dual citizenship and voter registration that convinced him to hop onto the wagon.

The surge in re-acquisition and in actual return to the country disproves the fear of legislators against the Overseas Absentee Voters Act that Filipinos who had become naturalized citizens elsewhere have no intention of coming back.

Most Filipinos who obtain a different citizenship do so not for lack of love for the Philippines, but for equality with the nationals in the country where they live. Non-citizens are subject to more restrictions, Sana points out.

More apply to re-acquire their Philippine citizenship as they became more aware about the law, she notes.

8. Giving back

Many, particularly former activists, want to give back to the motherland, says Sana. They in fact start their involvement with the Philippines organizing medical/dental visits to the barrios, or collecting and sending books to their hometowns. Later, they move on to more political actions.

9. Owning property and practicing profession here

“There are other advantages to re-acquiring our Philippine citizenship such as ownership of land and other real estate, and practice of one’s profession, but for me, the main reason I reacquired my Philippine citizenship is to help elect good, non-corrupt leaders for our country – for a better Philippines,” he wrote in an e-mail to InterAksyon.com.

He also know doctors who want to follow his example so that they could practice medicine in the Philippines as volunteers.

10. Participate in Philippine politics

Dr. Mariano Jr., who continues to participate in Philippine affairs, is a great example.

Most recently, he created an online petition for President Benigno Aquino III and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to pass the Freedom of Information Bill.

Sana says many want to participate in political processes, especially the elections.

Mariano re-acquired his Philippine citizenship so he could vote in the 2010 elections.

“This is their country. This is their home. This increase validates that they do come back to the Philippines,” she says.

Ref: http://www.interaksyon.com

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