Abstract:
In this talk, I will discuss the sociocultural changes resulting from the return of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), how the changes have impacted on the returnees’ original communities, and the various reintegration challenges posed by those communities. The theoretical framework of the discussion is built upon concepts transnationalism and habitus. The methodology employed field research and a village community approach. The study revealed that changes in the personal identities and social behavior of the returnees are significant. However, the returnees’ family ties and attitudes towards religion were largely the same as before they went overseas. Further, the changes in their local community occurred subsequent to their return revealed both positive and negative influences. Several sociocultural factors impeded their reintegration, and this called for action from all levels of government, local communities, and the returnees themselves in the Philippines.
Short Bio:
Xiaojiang Yu gained his PhD from Macquarie University, Sydney in 1998. He earlier worked as a public servant at the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), Australian Government; and used to be an academic staff at Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, and the University of Western Sydney. Between 2006 and 2015, he worked at Geography Department at HKBU as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor. His research includes international development, sociocultural studies, and environmental issues in the Pacific Islands, Australia, China, and Southeast Asia. He published a number of articles in a range of international journals, such as Cultural Geography; Journal for Cultural Research; Environmental Management; Energy Policy; and Cities.
Dr. Yu spoke on the sociocultural effects of returnee overseas Filipino works in the Philippines on the returnees’ original communities, and the various reintegration challenges posed by those communities using the concepts of transnationalism and habitus. Using field research and a village community approach, the study revealed that there were significant changes in the personal identities and social behavior of the returnees.
Please click here for the Youtube video of Dr Yu's seminar.