Mapping the ‘home’: A literature review on Filipino migration and diaspora

Abstract

<jats:p>This article aimed to present a comprehensive literature review on Philippine migration and diaspora. Diaspora is not a new concept for Filipinos; they have been constantly connected to migration, one of the interconnected aspects of the global workforce. Diaspora and migration as common household terms can be traced back from the first overseas Filipino farmworkers in Hawaii in the middle of 1900s to the presently relocated skilled workers and domestic helpers in the Middle East countries and various Asian countries. The author intended to provide a better understanding of existing researches and debates on the topic and evaluate their relationship with the current research study. More so, the essay was intended to identify the research gaps arising from previous scholarly writings, which was beneficial to the author as he embarks in research on Filipino migration and diaspora. Research gaps serve several purposes for the possible direction of future research projects. Most of the literature focused on the reasons of migration; migration narratives and experiences; homeland media consumption; the role of digital technologies and social media in fostering transnational families’ relationships and reinforcing migrant workers’ national and cultural identities. In terms of the approaches, participant observation, interview and digital ethnography were the employed research methodologies.</jats:p>

Selected Filipino-Chinese small-medium entrepreneur communication management practices in the Philippines

“…For Filipinos, the idea of diaspora is nothing new; migration, one of the interwoven components of the global workforce, has always been associated with them (Aguilar, 2015;Labor, 2020;Lu, 2013;Misajon & Khoo, 2008). From the first offshore Filipino farmworkers in Hawaii in the middle of the 1900s to the skilled workers and domestic assistants currently relocated in Middle Eastern nations and other Asian nations, the terms' diaspora' and 'migration' have been popular household terms (Pacoma, 2020).…”

Domestic stakeholders’ aspirations for mou renewal on women migrant workers in Malaysia

“…Many Migrant Women Worker takes this opportunity (Aguirre, 2014;Dwiantini, 1995;Quinsaat, 2016). Pacoma (2020) explains that migrant workers emphasise that poverty has forced them to work in other countries with the dream of providing for their families and improving their standard of living. Pacoma's statement is supported by Vargas et al (2020).…”

“…Thus, migrant workers represent migrants who provide many benefits to the country. Furthermore, Pedregosa (2019) found that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) must make sacrifices and honourable deeds to advance the welfare of local and national communities (Pacoma, 2020).…”

“…In the Philippines, there are about 500,000 migrant domestic workers. Economic difficulties within the Philippines and the increasing demand for migrant domestic workers in high-income countries drive Filipino women to become domestic workers abroad (Pacoma, 2020).…”

“…One of the negative consequences is that migrant women are vulnerable to becoming victims of various forms of discrimination, violence, ill-treatment, and even severe human rights violations (ILO, 2004:iv). In addition, Migrant Workers face various risks such as discrimination, harassment, inhumane treatment (Li, 2020;Pacoma, 2020), abusive supervision by employers, rigid work rules, long working hours, inadequate rest periods and malnutrition, breaches of employment contracts, health-related problems such as physical illness (e.g., hypertension and chronic muscular pain), and mental health problems such as trauma, depression, and anxiety (R. S. Parreñas et al, 2020;Vargas et al, 2020).…”