A number of overseas Filipinos holding 457 visas and residing in the suburbs of Newcastle, have recently become members of the newly formed organisation Migrante-North Association of Filipino and Migrant Workers.

At least seven 457 visa holders joined 8 other new members in the official launch of the organisation on the eve of Valentine’s day, February 13, 2010.

Members who’ve attended the event travelled at least 2 hours or more from the Central Coast, Hornsby and the Lower North Shore of Sydney to converge at the venue in Newcastle. The launch was held at a historical venue the Newcastle Trades Hall Council, the first workers centre which publicly denounced the Philippines Marcos dictatorship in the 1970s.

The same centre was also known to have been in the forefront in the 1900’s in supporting the progressive workers movement in the Philippines.

Newly elected President Jacinto Manansala says, “ Migrante – North is an important name for us, as most of us have come from many areas in the northern suburbs of NSW. Most of us have also been mainly working from these areas to as far as Queensland. Most 457s also move around a lot and to be able to finally meet in Newcastle is a big feat for us.”

But the main thing for us is not really our name, but how we can consolidate as a group despite the transitory nature of some of our members’ employment. Our main purpose is to be able to support each other as members and also support other Filipino Migrants and other organisations with similar ideals as ours Australia has embarked on the 457 program since its inception in 1995, with overseas Filipino workers finding themselves stationed in various locations around the country holding contracts which are largely transitory in nature.

The launch event got underway in the early hours of the evening at 6pm after most of the 457 workers finished their working shift which means most of them getting up at 5:30 in the morning each day.

The members shared their experiences about arrival in Australia some successful while some experience abuse in the hands of their employers. A few of them have worked as far as the Northern Territory, Mudgee, Queensland and Western Australia. Most of them have no say where they could work, as they go where employers send them or where there is work available for them.

The newly formed Migrante North first held its election of officers in Central Coast which was attended by the same members coming from all these areas. The launch on February 13, endorsed the Officers as well as the newly formalised Objectives and Principles below    :

Migrante – North Association of Filipino Migrant and Workers

Objectives and Principles:

Ang Migrante North ay isang samahan ng migrante at manggagawang Pilipino na nakabase sa north of Sydney to north of NSW. Ito ay isang progresibong organisasyon ng mga migrante at manggagawang Pilipino na tumutugon sa mga karapatan at kagalingan ng mga migrante at manggagawang Pilipino.

Prinsipyo at Paninindigan

Magsilbi na isang sentro ng pagkakaisa ng mga migrante at manggagawang Pilipino na pangunahing layunin ay organisahin ang mga migrante at manggagawang Pilipino upang maging gabay din sa pagtugon sa mga pangunahing kagalingan at karapatan nito.

Pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga indibidwal, grupo,institusyon na siyang nagdadala ng katulad na layunin. Maging tulay din sa mga indibidwal, grupo, institusyon, na siyang nagtataguyod at tumutulong sa mga kagalingan at karapatan nito.

Tumulong sa mga ibang organisasyon ng mga migranteng pinoy sa lokalidad, sa Australya, sa ibang bansa at sa Pilipinas na nagtataguyod ng katulad na layunin.

Pakikipagugnayan at pakikipagtulungan sa iba pang organisasyon ng mga migrante sa loob at labas ng Australya na parehong nagtataguyod ng kagalingan ng mga migrante at manggagawang Pilipino.

Maging tinig ng migrante at manggagawang Pilipino sa pagpapaabot ng mga karaingan sa mga institusyon, grupo, indibidwal upang matugunan ang mga suliranin na kinakaharap.

Discussion was also held around the coming elections in the Philippines and the progressive party lists and senatorial candidates’s platforms. A formal exchange also took place on the immediate plans of the group in the coming six months. Highlights of the plan include the group’s participation in the coming National Assembly of Migrante Australia in June 2010, the Fiesta event in Central Coast in March 2010 and its programs to assist young Filipinos in the workplace and women and children.

There are also plans to hold education programs about the orientation of Migrante organisations around the world.

The event was held at a fairly hot day with some members losing their way but eventually arriving at the venue. The group has been planning this event since December 2009 following its official incorporation as an organisation.

The group is a chapter of Migrante Australia and affiliated with Migrante International.

Officers of Migrante North NSW:

1. President :      Jacinto Manansala
2. Vice President:    Renato Datinguinoo
3. Secretary :      Annamarie Reyes
4. Treasurer:     Christine Ires Lopez
5. Public Officer:    Manuel del Rosario