Abstract
This study critically analyzes how the Philippine government has perpetuated and maintained migration as a development instrument, focusing on its diaspora engagement program, the “Migration Advocacy and Media Awards” (MAMA). Specifically, it examines the portrayals and representations of Filipino migrants in the selected and awarded media, elucidating the narratives surrounding their identities and experiences and unpacking how these depictions relate to the nation’s culture of migration. This study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing publicly available data from MAMA. Since 2017, 49 media works have been awarded, encompassing Filipino migration-related advertisements, television shows, movies, documentaries, songs, magazines, books, news outlets, websites, blogs, vlogs, and more. These were analyzed through a qualitative, deductive thematic analysis, using frame theory as the primary analytical lens. Findings show that media representations tend to venerate Filipino migrants needlessly, only to paint a more positive picture of their situation. If the negative side is depicted, the narratives are shaped to show Filipino resilience in the face of all odds, ultimately leading to hard-earned success. Further, the main characters in the awarded media are often women, the poor, and the vulnerable. The migration experiences of overseas Filipinos are portrayed as heroic journeys, thereby justifying the designation of the Filipino migrants as “bagong bayani” (modern-day hero or heroine) of the nation. The state’s influence on the stories of the diaspora, as reflected in the constructed narratives found in state-awarded media, has implications for the migration experiences, processes, and policies of the country.
Presenters
Aurora LligeAssistant Professor, College of Home Economics, University of the Philippines, Philippines
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Communications and Linguistic Studies
KEYWORDS
Media Representations, Migration and Development, Identity Narratives, Filipino Migrants
