May 5th, 2024, Hong Kong – The launch and orientation of the Ateneo Leadership Social Enterprise Overseas Filipinos Leadership, Innovation, Financial Literacy, and Social Entrepreneurship (ALSE OF-LIFE Batch 127) took place today at the City University of Hong Kong, with sixty-one participants including 58 domestic helpers and four permanent residents.
In 2019, the number of Filipinos living and working abroad exceeded 12 million. These overseas Filipinos collectively sent US$40 billion in remittances during 2023, twice the amount of foreign direct investments and official development aid combined. This accounted for an average of around 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) over the past ten years. Of the 359,296 domestic helpers employed in Hong Kong, a staggering 55.6% are from the Philippines. In 2023 alone, these Filipino workers sent back HK$764 million (preliminary estimate) in remittances, which was slightly higher than the previous year's total of HK$732.36 million. Unfortunately, because of Hong Kong's Basic Law, most of these migrant workers cannot secure permanent residence and must prepare for their eventual return and reintegration into society.
The ALSE OF-LIFE program, which has been operational for 16 years as an Executive Education program of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), was originally known as the Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program for Overseas Filipinos and their Families (ALSE). Started in Italy in 2008, it later expanded to Hong Kong in 2012 and has since reached over 5,000 overseas Filipinos from 32 countries. One of its aims is to prepare for the sustainable return and reintegration of overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers.
The hybrid training program will be held two Sundays every month for the next six months. It comes in 12 sessions and will culminate with a Social Enterprise Plan Presentation and graduation. A mentoring program is in place to help those who are interested in starting productive activities after the course.
Adjunct Professor Edgardo Valenzuela from Ateneo de Manila University's School of Government and co-coordinator of ALSE OF-LIFE gave a welcome address through a video message, while Prof. Mark Thompson from the City University of Hong Kong's Southeast Asia Research Center (SEARC) also welcomed participants. Anna Martinez, chairperson of WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong, also extended her welcome to the participants through a video.
Hon. Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan, Consul General at the Philippine Consulate Hong Kong, gave an inspirational talk during the event. In her touching speech, Congen Aguilar-Usudan said:
“You have served your families well for years. You have contributed to the growth of the Phlippine economy. You have also contributed to the growth of the Hong Kong economy by allowing their women to gain and become active members of the Hong Kong workforce. It is about time that you think of yourselves, your dreams, and your comfortable retirement.”
The second part of the program was an orientation led by Katherine De Guzman, Director at WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong. She discussed the history of ALSE OF-LIFE, its aims, mission, and vision. The ALSE OF-LIFE Hong Kong secretariat provided details about the program and requirements for graduation.
The conduct of ALSE OF-LIFE in Hong Kong is made possible through the collaboration of WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong, SEARC City University of Hong Kong, Department of Migrant Workers, and Migration and Development Consortium (MDC) members including OFSPES (Overseas Filipinos' Society for the Promotion of Economic Security), SEDPI (Social Enterprise Development Partnerships Inc.), and Ugat Foundation.
On May 12, Leila Rispens-Noel, co-founder and director of WIMLER Foundation HK, will conduct the first session on Migration and Development with topics such as the history of Philippine international labor migration and its effects on development.
The ALSE OF-LIFE Hong Kong Secretariat Team led by Anna Martinez, will manage the course with support from twenty-eight volunteers who attended the HK Volunteers Formation Workshop on March 10th, 2024. The workshop aimed to promote camaraderie and open communication among participants while also preparing for the launch of the 2024 program.
About WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong
WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong Ltd. was officially registered in 2011 as a non-profit and charitable organization whose primary aim is to support the capacity building and empowerment of migrant communities regardless of nationalities and to promote cultural diversity in Hong Kong based on mutual respect, solidarity, and shared empowerment among peoples. In 2018, WIMLER HK was awarded the Banaag Award of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas. The awards honor distinguished individuals and foreign-based organizations dedicated to advancing the interests of Filipino communities around the world.
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