PHILCOMDEV

Philcomdev is part of the Rhapsody Project which aims to promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Filipina domestic workers. Last June 4, 2010 Anna O. Dela Cuesta, Philcomdev Project Officer joined other Rhapsody project members from the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), which leads the project, and the Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS) in Hong Kong to extend counseling services to our Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong in time for Hong Kong’s Pre-Independence Day celebrations.

The Rhapsody Hong Kong Mission was able to extend medical counseling to 45 Filipina domestic workers during the women’s day off, Sunday, June 6, 2010. The mission members were able to interview some of them and learn about their working and living conditions as domestic workers, including the problems encountered both with their employers and with their families left in the Philippines. There was also a very well attended forum on Positive Health Attitude.

Due to the success of the mission, the Rhapsody advocates in Hong Kong (Filipina domestic workers) suggested that the practice be regularized. Rhapsody partners in the Philippines agreed. Now the task is to look for resources to continue this worthy endeavor.

With Ms. Riza Balaque Acosta, president of Regional Overseas Filipino Workers Society during the medical counseling

Dra. Canlas counseling a kababayan

Ms. Anna with other volunteers from Hong Kong

Dra. Canlas giving a talk on Positive Health Attitude to the Filipino organizations in Hong Kong