Recent issues have been pulling down the dignity of Overseas Filipino Workers starting from the Malu Fernandez Controversy, The DH controversy and up to the current Filipina Nurse Controversy wherein a salesman from H&M Chicago have hurled slurs against a Migrant Filipina Nurse who was buying in the said store. That?s why I decided to enter in ReynaElena.com?s contest to contribute something to the Global Community of Filipinos all over the world. The website of Reyna Elena initiated a contest called: OFW Slogan and Design Competition.

During the launching of the contest I was a bit mediocre and lax in responding because I am never confident of joining such contest, maybe because it’s been such a long time since I joined any contest. But in the height of the tension of all these controversies, I realized that the money is just secondary motivation because the feelings I had in these recent blog dilemmas has somehow pushed me to channel my negative emotions towards a constructive and beneficial one. This feelings that I?m harboring for days have helped me in extracting some creative juices from my imaginative and wild, wild, gray matter.

So here is my entire entry to the contest (sorry, I?m not in the mood to be funny right now, the patriotic side of me is gushing forth like a water coming from the rock). I submitted my entry 2 days (I think) before the deadline.

My Entries

1. Inspiration

For weeks I?ve been thinking of a design that would greatly represent not just the OFWs of the Middle east and Asia but the whole Filipinos working outside the Philippines, citizens or not in their respective countries of work.

My family, Relatives and Friends mostly live in the US and they are not what others might think as just mere migrants who wallow in pleasure outside their homeland. They all belong to the working force of the Federal government, both public and private institutions.

My inspiration comes from them who I missed, who I want to be with and who experienced the daily struggles of being alienated in a foreign land. Their hardships and toil are channels of graces wherein families here in the Philippines benefit from their diligence and excellence.

Another inspiration comes from a song. Whenever I write or whenever I do presentations, I always extract inspiration from songs because songs are the universal language of the human emotion and psyche. And from this particular song comes an idea which is a result of thorough reflection and prayer: a very touching and inspiring song that not only speaks about us Filipinos here in the Philippines but also that of fellow Pinoys outside of the country.

Last of the inspirations that I got was from the issue recently debated upon wherein most of the OFWs were not just looked down upon, degraded and lambasted but most of all discriminated.

These are the inspirations that enabled me to create the logo.

2. The theme

According to Reyna Elena.com:

?The whole idea is simple. Create a catchy slogan and a sleek logo that captures the spirit and best expresses and exemplifies what an Overseas Filipino Worker is all about. This is my response to the negativities hurled to all Overseas Filipino Workers.?

The theme of my Logo does not dwell on the negative connotation of being an OFW because I think, a logo must not only express what it represents but must also call to all Filipinos for unity and dynamism, otherwise, it will just add insult to injury. My logo is an expression of Joy, Hope, Gladness, Patriotism and Pride of being an OFW

The logo?s theme is fourfold:

a. Celebration ? a call to celebrate the heritage of being a Filipino and being an OFW
b. Dream ? the dream of every OFWs in the making
c. Yearning ? Hopes, prayers and wishes of every OFWs
c. Triumph ? the undeniable excellence of OFWs around the world, wherever they maybe.

Thus: ?A celebration of every Triumphant Dream and Yearnings of all Filipino Migrants around the world?

3. The Logo:

General Significance

A. Colors ? The logo has seven colors: Red. Blue, Green, White, Black, Yellow and Brown which also represents the seven primary races of the world which, every Filipino makes their respective names amongst them.

The Colors also represents individual meaning:

Red represents the fervor of Filipinos. Taking with them the Pinoy heart wherever they maybe.

Blue represents water wherein our archipelago is surrounded with it. Blue also means Peace, the yearning and characteristic of every Filipino wherever they maybe.

White represents the ability of Filipinos to adapt to every condition, every place, every race and every miserable situation. Like a blank slate and a canvass, Filipinos paint their experiences of human achievement in this pure inviolate background.

Green represents tranquility, prosperity and the world.

Yellow represents friendship, joy, happiness and celebration. Evident to all Filipinos around the world. The happiest people on Earth.

Black represents integrity, which every Pinoys have in every line of work they hold.

B. Elements ? The logos contain several general elements which are present in all (some) of the three designs:

Globe ? represents the vastness of presence of OFWs. Like the Chinese race, Filipinos now a days can be found anywhere in the world. Africa, Europe, The Middle East, The Americas, Asia and the Down under? Everywhere you go, there is a presence of a Filipino which makes them the Global Community of Working Migrants

Airplane in Flight ? represents the dynamicity of Pinoy migrants around the world in which everyday, thousands of Filipino fly in all directions of the globe either for work or for leisure: the exodus of the New People of God in search for greener Pasture.

People Raising Hands ? represents the Pinoy axiom ?kaya ko to? (I can do it) which is very evident and obvious in every OFW. Every hard work is always met with challenge and conquering. The self-esteem of Filipinos in facing difficult challenges is outstanding. Proof of this is the versatility of the brown race in every profession and work imaginable and in existence.

The six people also represents the six primary kinds of Pinoy Migrants, scattered all over the globe specifically:

- Skilled workers
- Artists and Entertainers
- Educators and Pastoral Workers (Volunteers, Nuns, Priests, Peace Corp)
- IT professionals
- Medical and Allied Medical Practitioners
- Entrepreneurs and Investors

Philippine Flag ? obvious in every design, the logos are bedecked with the elements of the Philippine flag: Blue, White, Red and Yellow including the three stars and the sun. These elements somehow give a very Pinoy feel, which every OFW can identify with. It is also a manifestation of patriotism that all Pinoys have in their heart wherever they maybe.

The Sun ? Aside from being an element of the Philippine flag, the sun represents the east where the Philippine archipelago is located. The Philippines is the Pearl of the orient, the new Israel of the east, where people from all walks of life goes all over the world not just to migrate, but also to share the good news of their faith, their skills, their hope and their aspirations for their homeland. The sun also signifies light and hope: that in every trials, heartaches, and troubles that our race face in different parts of the globe, there is still a yearning for betterment and prosperity, a new day to behold.

The Three Stars ? given that the three stars represents the three main islands of the Philippines (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), it also represents the dreams of every Pinoy OFW. There in the sky, shining and seemingly unreachable, and yet, with all the odds faced, the stars remain as the focal point of OFWs yearning for success and triumph: ?to reach the unreachable star? as the popular song goes.

The Man in Jubilation ? signifies the joy of every Filipinos whenever a single Filipino reached his own star/dream. This is contradictory to the popular and negative notion of crab mentality. The man expresses a dynamic human and spontaneous emotion of joy in everywhere he goes and in every success of Filipino, jumping for joy and leaping towards the sky as if all of the problems that the country and the Filipinos are facings are nothing compared to what one Filipino achieves.

A sense of unity, all Filipinos are united whenever a Pinoy has achieved so much for himself and for his country.

The Man?s hand is pointing upwards, seemingly flying, telling everyone that We can! We can! We Can! There is no Impossible Dream.

The man is also shining, illuminated by the white light, which symbolizes that wherever Filipinos go, he or she shines in whatever work he/she does may it be the lowest of all professions or the highest of all social status.

?Tagumpay (Success) belongs to all OFWs around the world: The New Heroes of the New Millenium?

Brief Descriptions

Tagumpay A: Taas-noo OFW kahit saan, Tagumpay sa Sanlibutan

The logo in far sight and in its entirety is like an explosion of confetti and light. A celebration of Success and dreams of all the Achievements of OFWs, both the nameless and the famous. A logo of positive emotions, feelings of jubilation and the patriotistic pride of being one of the New Heroes of the Philippines.

Tagumpay B: Taas-noo OFW, Iisang Bangka Tayo

Resembling the famous and well-known Filipino boat, the Vinta expresses the heritage and cultural richness of Filipinos. Having the main logo as its sail, it depicts the dynamic movement of the OFWs towards a certain journey. Like most Vintas in the seas of Zamboaga, having their own destination towards the current of the southern seas, yet they highlight the horizon as one colorful expression of the Filipino yearnings. Thus the journey of every Filipino sailing for one dream, one celebration, in one boat and in one nation of Global Migrants.

Tagumpay C: OFW Taas-noo! Sa Kamay Mo, Tagumpay ng Bawat Pilipino

Depicted as an open hand, the logo signifies the adaptability of Filipinos to work, situation, race, cultures and tradition, making them shine wherever they may go. The logo also depicts the hard work and diligence of all OFWs around the world and with it comes the success of each, which is also the triumph of all. The hand that cradles all diversified dreams and yearning towards one goal: Success in all endeavors of OFWs.

With this I wish all of my fellow contestants Goodluck and may the logo that best represents the OFWs around the world win. Tagumpay ng isa, ay tagumpay nating lahat!

“Iba’t-ibang galaw, iisang patutunguhan,
dito isang araw, isang kapuluan”

for my sister, my nephews and my relatives and cousins whom I all miss…

PS. Kahit sa logo baduy pa rin ahahahaha