Filipinos women workers in Lebanon mark their Independence Day

Philippines pride was on great display last Sunday, in the courtyard of the St. Joseph’s Church, which marked the 116th year since the Philippines gained its independence. It was a colorful afternoon in which national food was on offer and entertainment came from a wide variety of cultural performances. The lively and vibrant atmosphere surrounding the day was a true testimony to the strength and unity of the Filipino community in Lebanon, which – like most other migrant communities – is constantly faced with stark discrimination. Migrant workers in Lebanon are denied basic rights due to complexities of the current employer sponsorship system known as the ‘Kafala’ s. Filipino women are often treated slightly better than domestic workers of other nationalities as they have a good command of English, according to Philippines Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, who added that despite the earlier they still have to face the same general racist attitude. (The daily star, 8 June 2015)