RCO LA UNION AND IOM PRESENTED THEATRICAL PLAY

ENTITLED “KARAOKE DREAMS”



OIC Eleanor B. Belgica of RCO La Union explaining the issues of passport irregularities and proper procedure in securing passports to the Barangay Captains of La Union during the open forum.

The La Union Regional Consular Office (RCO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the assistance of the Provincial Government of La Union presented a musical-comedy theatrical play entitled “Karaoke Dreams”. The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) performed (PETA) with gala and matinee shows held at the Convention Hall of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in San Fernando, La Union on 10 September 2008.



The theatrical play is part of the on going information campaign of the Philippine Border Management Project sponsored by the European Union and implemented by the IOM, which carried the slogan “Ang Pekeng Passport, Problema and Dulot”. The objective is to maximize the campaign’s outreach efforts to the grassroots level to educate the public in detecting a spurious travel document, and issues related to irregular migration.



Karaoke Dreams revolves around the lives of three Filipinos who dreamt of working abroad after an OFW neighbor returned successfully. The three characters epitomized the struggles of an OFW, as follows: 1) Julie Nahuli who hopes to become a singer and would like to work immediately; 2) Isko Nabisto Hon. Vice Governor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III (left) of the Province of La Union giving his word of appreciation to Ms. Kerstin Bartsch (right), Project Manager of IOM and Ms. Lotlot Bustamante (middle), Production Manager of PETA after the presentation.

who successfully acquires an overseas job utilizing a valid passport, but encountered problems when his visa expired and decided to overstay; and 3) Rudy Natsugi who decided to procure his passport and visa from a friend who gave him fake travel documents instead.



In between the shows, the IOM and DFA RCO La Union conducted a one hour forum with barangay captains of La Union to orient them on the importance of authentic travel documents, the new features of the Machine Readable Passport, and the proper procedure in obtaining a passport. Resource speakers were DFA’s Acting Regional Director Eleanor Belgica of RCO La Union, IOM Project Manager Kerstin Bartsch, and Assistance to Nationals Officer Estellita Casuga.



The event was attended by students coming from various colleges and universities, barangay captains, national and local government officials, Association of Regional Executives, Regional Travel Agencies Association of Region I, NAITAS and non-government organizations. At the end of every performance, the audience was given the opportunity to react and raise issues towards the play. Brochures, flyers, posters, T-shirts and bags were distributed to the audience after the presentation. DFA News

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