Honoring Filipino Mothers with Damayan Baklas Film Series: “MaiMai”
“The event is very important especially to the survivors who are bringing their children over so they will explain to their children what life they are gonna face here in the US. I cried so much on that day… naalala ko mga anak ko when I left them (I thought of my own kids when I left them)… ang sakit sakit ng impact (it truly impacted and pained me)”
- Delia B, Damayan Worker Leader, Mother
Last Saturday, Damayan held a special monthly member’s meeting to celebrate Mother’s Day and honor Filipino migrant mothers. Among other highlights, Damayan conducted a special film screening of Damayan Baklas Film series: “MaiMai” at The People’s Forum, Manhattan. MaiMai or Mary Claire, is a labor trafficking survivor and a long-time Damayan member whose desire to provide for her family forced her to leave her 6 children to work overseas. Like many migrant Filipino mothers, MaiMai became a survivor of labor trafficking and modern-day slavery.
From left to right: Riya Ortiz, MaiMai Cahumnas, Yanna Cahumnas, Dr. Victor St. Ana, Professor Premilla Nadessen
By courageously sharing her story, MaiMai inspired a vital post-film panel discussion with the following stakeholders: 1. Yana, daughter of MaiMai and Damayan Intern 2. Mike Cabardo, the filmmaker 3. Dr. Vic St. Ana, Medical Director, Homeless Services Director and Primary Care Scholars Program Family Health Institute, and pro bono physician for survivors and uninsured workers, and 4. Professor Premilla Nadasen, Co-Director of the Barnard Center For Research on Women, Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians, and author and scholar on domestic workers’ history. Damayan Executive Director Riya Ortiz, who also experienced family separation, facilitated the compelling and inspiring panel discussion about the push and pull factors of the massive Filipino forced migration, feminization of migration in the Philippines, domestic work and labor trafficking, and the social/mental cost and the heavy impact of family separation. The panelists underscored the mental health struggles of both mothers and children as a result of family separation and family reunification, emphasizing that the harm of family separation seeps past reunification on US soil. This is because mothers/parents continue working almost daily while their children need to fend for themselves at home. The emotional intimacy between family members also stays strained. Majority of the 51 members who listened to the panel offered their support of MaiMai’s family and also shared their own hardships with family separation.
The panel discussion ended on a high note—encouraging mothers to dedicate time to connect and communicate meaningfully with their children and to access mental health services, and reminding members that Damayan is their organization that will always care and provide support. The panel also noted Damayan’s strategy of connecting its critical services to organizing, to build the power and leadership of workers is aimed at pursuing Damayan’s vision of a future where Filipino families in the Philippines find sufficient employment and livelihood and where no family will ever be separated again. Another highlight at the May Members Meeting included Damayan providing a Language Access Training which guided parents on what their language access rights are in their children’s NYC schools. This training was made possible through the support of the New York State Department of Education.
From left to right: Riya Ortiz, MaiMai Cahumnas, Yanna Cahumnas, Dr. Victor St. Ana, Professor Premilla Nadessen. On the big screen: Mike Cabardo
Damayan Worker Leaders also presented organizational and current event updates about the Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian (AAPINH) Heritage month, and May Day or International Labour Day, and more. In addition, New York State Assembly Member Steve Raga, state representative for many of our members who reside in Woodside, Queens and a Filipino ally who also experienced family separation with his Filipino mom, delivered an uplifting remark about how his office is here to serve all of workers with any of their needs, regardless of district residence and regardless of citizenship status. Damayan concluded the event by gifting Happy Mother’s Day trinkets to all the mothers and encouraged everyone to continue fighting and organizing with Damayan for collective wellbeing, dignity and justice! #DamayanMigrantWorkers #NYDOE #MothersDay
