Filipinos in Switzerland
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 10,000[1] | |
| Languages | |
| English,languages of the Philippines,German,FrenchandItalian. | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Filipino people,Overseas Filipinos |
Filipinos in Switzerlandconsist of migrants from thePhilippinestoSwitzerlandand their descendants.[2]
Migration history
[edit]As early as 1975, Switzerland had 188 Philippine citizens living there. By 2005, that number had grown to 3,547.[3]From the 1970s until the 1990s, some Filipinas came to Switzerland as guest workers, primarily in the nursing sectors.[4]In the 1980s, some women came on 10-month work permits, officially to work as cabaret dancers; in reality, many were forced into prostitution.[5]Migration through marriage was another common path to Switzerland.[4]However, after 1992, those married to Swiss citizens no longer automatically acquiredSwiss citizenship.[3]The trend of Philippine citizens coming to Switzerland on tourist visas and then overstaying to find work began in the 1990s.[4]
Employment
[edit]Almost 5% of the Filipinos in Switzerland are professionals in the medical, legal, and financial fields. Others aredomestic workers. [6][7]Since the Philippine government lifted a ban on deployment ofau pairsto Europe, roughly 100 have gone to Switzerland from the Philippines.[8]In 2011, the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration began talks with the Swiss government regarding the training of health workers from the Philippines.[9]
Religion
[edit]Religious groups for Filipinos in Switzerland include the Philippine Catholic Mission of Switzerland inZurich,the Journey of Hope Simbahang Pilipino inBasel,and the Sisters' Community of Seraphic Love Solothurn.[10][11]After Switzerland joined theSchengen Area,it became increasingly popular for Filipino Catholics residing in Switzerland to make pilgrimages to famous religious sites in other European countries.[10]
Social integration
[edit]In general, Filipinos tend not to have Swiss friends, aside from their colleagues. Filipinos see the Swiss as introverted and feel it is difficult to form friendships with them; also, many Filipinos feel they do not speak German well enough to express themselves freely, and instead feel inhibited when speaking the language.[5]According to Anny Misa Hefti, founder of women's organisation Samahang Pilipina, Filipino migrants also lack interest or involvement inSwiss politics.[12]Philippine ambassador Maria Theresa Lazaro has also been involved in work to raise the status of Filipina women in Switzerland and promote their integration into Swiss society by organising apeer supportgroup and inviting a psychologist to give seminars on self-esteem, leadership, and team-building.[13]
The documentaryLuminawaby Swiss director Thomas Luchinger-De Clerq discusses the search for identity bysecond-generationKalinga peoplein Switzerland.[14]
Notable people
[edit]See also
[edit]
Notes
[edit]- ^"Overseas Filipinos in Switzerland",Backgrounder: Switzerland,Manila: Office of the Press Secretary, 2007, archived fromthe originalon 2008-09-07,retrieved2009-10-23
- ^Gutierrez, Jomel Anthony (2012-02-16),"More Pinoys consider Switzerland as second home",ABS-CBN News,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^abHefti 2007,p. 303
- ^abcHefti 2007,p. 304
- ^abHefti 2007,p. 309
- ^Hampton, Maricar C. P. (2011-02-17),"Filipinos in Switzerland attempt to bridge gap",FilAm Star,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^Balasbas-Gancayco, Dot Ramos (2009-08-01),"Discovering the Filipinos in Switzerland",Philippine Star,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^Mabasa, Roy C. (2012-02-08),"Switzerland Opens Doors To Nurses",Manila Bulletin,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^Lee-Brago, Pia (2011-09-25),"Training of Pinoy health workers in Swiss hospitals being worked out",Philippine Star,archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-08,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^abEviota, Brady (2010-09-12),"Religious pilgrimages popular among Pinoys in Switzerland",ABS-CBN News,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^"Pinoy officials planning Switzerland-wide celebration of PHL Independence Day",GMA Network,2012-01-20,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^Eviota, Brady (2006-09-23),"Filipinos unprepared for Swiss vote on foreigners and asylum seekers",Minda News,retrieved2009-10-23
- ^Eviota, Brady (2009-10-09),"Filipino women aim to raise status of Pinays in Switzerland",ABS-CBN News,retrieved2012-06-11
- ^"Pinoy docu film 'Luminawa' captivates Swiss audience",GMA News,2012-03-16,retrieved2012-06-11
Sources
[edit]- Hefti, Anni Misa (2007),"Migrant Issues in Switzerland"(PDF),in Mongaya Hoegsholm, Filomenita (ed.),In De Olde Worlde: Views of Filipino Migrants in Europe,Philippine Social Science Council/Philippine Migration Research Network, pp. 301–318,ISBN978-971-8514-29-0
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