Press Release No. 17-2018
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN JEDDAH ROLLS OUT SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAMS TO EMPOWER OFWs
Jeddah, 10 April 2018 - The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah has rolled out various social media programs to empower OFWs in Saudi Arabia. This was reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs by Consul General Edgar Badajos.
The social media programs consist of various social media pages with the following titles: Konsuladoserye, Buhay Disyerto, Consular Services 101, and OFW Rescue 101. “All were designed as educational tools to help raise the awareness of OFWs in Saudi Arabia of their rights and the legal remedies available to them under both Saudi law and Philippine law, of basic Philippine laws on persons and family relations in recognition of the fact that the disintegration of many Filipino families has become one of the terrible social costs of Filipino labor migration, of the various consular services offered by the Consulate, and of ways and means to help another OFW who is in distress without putting oneself in harm’s way,” said Consul General Badajos. “Through these programs, we hope that our OFWs will become more circumspect in their actions in the workplace, at home, and their social circles to avoid getting into trouble with both Philippine and Saudi laws,” he added.
Now on its 5th episode, Konsuladoserye uses the teleserye format, although in narrative form, to tackle and dispense advice on problems that are most commonly faced by OFWs and their families. It has a short and fast-paced plot with the story-teller narrating the lives of the fictional characters (Adonis, Magdalena and Veronica) in plain Filipino language. “We chose this format because we thought that it will give us a greater chance of catching the interest of OFWs,” said Consul General Badajos. Recently, the Consulate converted the first episode into video format.
https://www.facebook.com/zachdelbadajos/videos/10155717690358525/
Buhay Disyerto features short interviews by Consul General Badajos of ordinary OFWs from different walks of life in Saudi Arabia. So far, the interviewees include a Filipino nurse working as a professor at a big hospital in Southwestern Arabia, two local Filipino leaders, a Filipino television company correspondent, and an educator. The aim of the program is to show that behind the many sob stories coming out of Saudi Arabia involving OFWs, there are also many valuable lessons to be learned from success stories and happy endings.
Consular Services 101 explains the various services offered by the Consulate, also in plain language. This way, the Consulate hopes to lessen the number of phone-in questions asking about the different consular services which can be time-consuming.
And OFW Rescue 101 dispenses tips and practical advice on how OFW volunteer groups and advocates and even individuals can effectively assist another OFW who is in distress, without putting oneself in harm’s way or getting on the wrong side of the host government’s law.
According to Consul General Badajos, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah rolled out these programs out of the realization that social media has become the main source of information for many OFWs in Saudi Arabia. “Social media has become the new arena of battle for the hearts and minds of the OFWs, at least in Saudi Arabia,” added Consul General Badajos. END
