Metro Magazine Empowered Filipinas

 This is an article on Empowerment, naturally its for women in the Philippines, eventually domestic violence laws will encroach and draconian measures implemented against innocent men as everywhere else such laws exist. Just go through my blog or do your own research.
There is no limit to Fascist Feminazi terrorists against men. Everything needs to have limits same with so called empowerment. What about Men's empowerment?

September 25, 2010

Suzan, a stay at home mom based in the Gulf, says that after making small talk at a party, a man propositioned her thinking she was for hire. Every Filipina, at some point or another, has been on the receiving end of the stinging effects of stereotyping — regardless of age or social standing.
In July 2009, the National Statistics Office reported that for the period April to September 2008 alone, there were two million Filipinos who worked overseas. More than half worked as domestics or in trade related positions. The US State Department estimates that there about 800,000 Filipinos trafficked outside of the country every year.

In Dubai, Lalaine Chu-Benitez started a campaign to break down the stereotypes against Filipinas.  Benitez, Publisher and editor-in-chief of Illustrado, a lifestyle-community magazine, produced a mini-documentary entitled, “Empowered Filipinas”, with the assistance of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The 20-minute documentary was directed by Filipina Kamil Roxas, winner of the Hayah Film Competition at the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in 2008.

The rationale of the documentary is explained thus: “Despite the success of Filipinas around the globe, our image is still largely shackled to the negative stereotype of helpless victimized domestic helpers, prostitutes and mail-order-brides heavily promoted on the worldwide web and perpetuated by popular media worldwide.”

“Empowered Filipinas” features 13 Filipinas based in the Emirates, eight of whom were honored at Illustrado’s annual event called Women of Substance. Every year, Filipinas from the Gulf who exemplify achievement, societal contribution and exceptional character are honored.  “Our honorees from the last 3 years are Filipinas who come from different walks of life – entrepreneurs, artists, community volunteers, philanthropists, exemplary mothers. All of them are self-made; they have all come from scratch and made something great out of themselves.” says Benitez.

Viral spread

Hoping to galvanize every person who has an interest in uplifting the image of the Filipina, a Facebook fan page was been set up for Empowered Filipinas. People are invited to spread the message of empowerment and inspiration through the web on You Tube and Facebook or by holding small private screenings from friends and small communities. “It can be done with a small laptop or a DVD player, but the important thing is to get the message across to as many people as possible.”, Benitez says.

There has, of course, been some resistance and some harsh criticism from others who say that the Filipina stereotype is a result of an inept government who cannot provide fit its people and the Filipinas themselves for selling out to the flesh trade and looking to marry foreigners as their only ticket out of poverty. One reader wrote Benitez and narrated a reaction of a male friend, which mirrored this sentiment. He felt no empathy, saying that the Filipina image is not without basis, and to some extent, of our own doing.

“We sensed that there was a gap in the market and a deep need for confidence and validation within the Filipino community as our people are always at the receiving end of “masamang balita” and sometimes, discrimination.”, she explains. The Illustrado slogan ‘Taas Noo, Filipino’ embodies this mantra and has become battle cry for Benitez.

In response to the letter she received from the reader who was discouraged by a male friend, she wrote: “Being empowered means having the choice and the will to pursue what you want in your life. So go ahead, go after your passion, whatever it is and be the best that you can be. You are a Filipina. You’ve got what it takes.”