Undocumented in the time of pandemic: exploring legal violence, health care and human rights of irregular Filipino migrants in Italy and the UK

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of states’ pandemic responses to the conditions and vulnerabilities of undocumented Filipino migrants in Italy and the UK. It also explores the role and strategies of migrant organisations in addressing the issues and concerns of undocumented workers. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative approaches are used to collect and analyse the narratives of the migrants and migrant organisations. This paper used government reports, policy briefs and documents from international organisations in analysing the socio-political vulnerabilities of undocumented migrants in the context of the global pandemic. In addition, we interviewed leaders of migrant organisations, which are involved in supporting irregular migrants. Findings The study reveals that states have exercised a regime of legitimate violence against undocumented workers in Italy and the UK. This regime is imposed not only by the stringent laws and policies that directly and indirectly cause economic, social and even cultural suffering to the migrants but also by the “symbolic violence” manifested in structural and social inequalities, and the exploitative economic order amid the pandemic. Responding to the “regime of fear”, migrant organisations provide immediate relief and “safe spaces” for the undocumented workers. Originality/value The paper contributes to the ongoing conversation on state practices in regulating migration by framing the conditions of undocumentation as legal violence that structurally deprives irregular migrants access to health care and human rights amid global health crisis.

Association of Dietary Branched-Chain Amino Acids With Obesity: The Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL)

Objectives Migration plays a significant role in dietary choices and health of populations. Studies on dietary intakes of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and health status of migrant populations are scarce. This study examined the association between dietary BCAA intake and risk of obesity among migrant Filipino women in Korea. Methods This study included 428 women (20–57years) enrolled in the FiLWHEL study. Demographic information and anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were obtained using a standard protocol. Dietary BCAA (isoleucine, leucine, and valine) intakes were derived from a one-day 24-hour dietary recall. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from weight and height. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. Energy-adjusted BCAA intakes were categorized in quartile distribution with the lowest quartile as a reference and multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of obesity risk were estimated using logistic regression at a statistical significance of P < 0.05. Results Mean age and BMI were 35.0 ± 8.1 years and 23.6 ± 3.9 kg/m2 respectively. 30.8% had BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. Also, median and interquartile range of BCAA intakes (mg/day) were isoleucine: 1920.9 (1231.9–2719.1), leucine: 3318.9 (2134.2–4774.1), valine: 2257.3 (1442.6–3283.1) and total BCAA: 7519.0 (4762.0–10,726.9). Multivariable-adjusted OR and 95% CI for obesity risk given dietary BCAA intakes for each subsequent quartile compared to the bottom quartile were; isoleucine: 0.48 (0.27–0.89), 0.67 (0.37–1.02), and 0.49 (0.27–0.89) P for trend = 0.09; leucine: 0.69 (0.37–1.28), 0.80 (0.44–1.46), and 0.62 (0.34–1.13) P for trend = 0.23; valine: 0.51 (0.27–0.95), 0.77 (0.43–1.37), and 0.52 (0.28–0.95) P for trend = 0.15 and total BCAA: 0.58 (0.31–1.09), 0.82 (0.45–1.48), and 0.56 (0.31–1.03) P for trend = 0.23. Conclusions Dietary BCAA intake appears inversely related to the odds of obesity in this sample of Filipino migrants in Korea. Cohort studies among migrant population might significantly benefit the validation of these observations. Funding Sources This work was supported by the Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, (No. 201300000001270), Chong Kun Dang Pharm. Seoul, Korea (No. 201600000000225) and the Brain Pool Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (No. 2020H1D3A1A04081265).

The implications of migration policies on migrant worker mixed families: The case of Filipinos in Israel

The ever-growing worldwide phenomenon of transnational labor migration has resulted in the increase of families formed by migrant workers in destination countries. While scholarly attention has mainly focused on the transnational families of migrant workers, the formation of mixed families involving migrants in host countries has rarely been studied. Based on a qualitative and quantitative study of the Filipino migrant worker community in Israel, this paper explores the dynamics of mixed families within this community. The family formation of Filipino migrants in Israel reveals two main categories of mixed families: one consisting of a migrant worker and a local citizen, and the other consisting of two migrant workers of different origins. I proposed the terminologies “suspect mixed families” and “fragile mixed families” to emphasize the crucial impact of migration policies on the dynamics of these families.

“The Migrated Others”: Mission as Practicing Compassionate Presence

One of the popular missional consensuses in the context of migration is seeing migrants as “moving targets” for evangelism. There is an urge to respond differently realising that migrants are not merely workers for economic welfare but persons created in the image of God. To reconstruct a model of mission that is embedded in the complex reality of migration, this paper will look into the details of three narratives of Indonesian and Filipino migrants who live and attend a Charismatic church in Sabah, Malaysia. It will give insights into the process of othering and discover the quality of compassion in their lives. Based on their experiences, I argue mission as a compassionate presence provides a sound theological basis for churches to respond to the continuous othering of migrants. It invites us to rethink evangelism, not solely as winning souls for Christ, but to embody Christ by being present.

(Un)configurable masculinities and gender dynamics in men’s eyes: “Mixed” couples of Filipino migrants in Belgium and the Netherlands

Studies on “mixed” couples focus mainly on women’s perspectives, which results in the neglect of the viewpoints of men. Addressing this empirical gap, this research note investigates the case of Belgian and Dutch men in (former) relationship with Filipino women, and Filipino men (currently or previously) married to Belgian/Dutch women. Ethnographic data analysis unveils the importance of the traditional division of household chores to these men. Belgian and Dutch informants maintain a gendered division of labor in their respective households, whereas Filipino informants, whose Belgian/Dutch spouses pursue gender equality, adopt various strategies to regain their masculine self.

Creativity and criticality: Reimagining narratives through translanguaging and transmediation

This paper asserts that creativity and criticality are interlocked constructs that converge through the shared impetus of challenging existing norms, practices and relations of power. Drawing on data from a student YouTube adaptation of a play about Filipino migrants from a literature textbook, it examines how high school students in the Philippines use their linguistic, multimodal and digital resources to retell a prescribed narrative from their own perspectives and contexts. By conducting a multimodal discourse analysis of this video, this paper demonstrates how these youth engage with translanguaging and transmediation, reshaping the meanings of the primary text while imagining spaces like Canada from their own fixed locations in the Philippines. Through these creative and critical processes, they are able to challenge the boundaries of both word and world, and assert their own voices in the discourse of migration and globalization.