LET’S CONTINUE WITH THE TRADITION OF WELCOMING FOREIGN REFUGEES

LET’S CONTINUE WITH THE TRADITION OF WELCOMING FOREIGN REFUGEES

Filipinos should be proud of one little-known part of our national history: we have a long tradition of welcoming refugees from other countries.

At different points in history, the Philippines opened its doors to people fleeing persecution and war. In the 1920s, we hosted the so-called “White Russians” who escaped the Russian Revolution. During World War II, we accepted Jewish refugees who were fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. Later, in the 1970s and 1980s, we welcomed more than 400,000 Vietnamese “boat people” who were escaping the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

Those refugees were temporarily sheltered in places like the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Bataan before resettling in other countries.

That humanitarian tradition is something we should never forget.

Today, the world is facing another refugee crisis involving the Rohingya people from Rakhine State in Myanmar. Many of them have fled violence and persecution and are now living in overcrowded refugee camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. More than one million Rohingya refugees remain there, with limited access to jobs, education, and adequate healthcare.

The good news is that the Philippines is already helping in its own way.

Through a special program supported by the government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, small groups of Rohingya students are being welcomed to study in Philippine universities. These young refugees are given scholarships, housing, and legal protection so that they can complete their college education and build better futures.

As of early 2026, only about 25 to 30 Rohingya students are enrolled in Philippine universities under this initiative.

While that effort is commendable, we should ask ourselves an honest question: are we doing enough?

When we look back at our history, we realize that we once helped hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees. Compared to that number, welcoming a few dozen students seems very small.

Of course, the Philippines cannot solve the refugee crisis alone. But perhaps we could do more within our capacity. Maybe we could expand scholarship programs. Maybe we could allow more refugees to work or study temporarily in the country. Perhaps local communities, universities, and private organizations could also participate.

After all, the Philippines is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, which protects the rights of people fleeing persecution. Our government even strengthened this commitment through Executive Order 163 in 2022, which directs agencies to provide services such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities to refugees.

Unlike in many countries where refugees are confined in camps or detention centers, refugees in the Philippines are generally allowed to live in communities, work legally, and enroll in schools.

That policy reflects a basic Filipino value: compassion.

At the same time, we must also be realistic. Hosting refugees requires resources, planning, and coordination. Communities must be prepared, and local workers must not feel that their own opportunities are being taken away.

But if properly managed, welcoming refugees can also bring benefits. Many refugees eventually become productive members of society. Some become entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders in their adopted countries.

History has already shown that refugees are not just people in need of help—they are also people with potential.

The Rohingya crisis is often described as a “forgotten emergency.” Global attention has shifted to other conflicts, but the suffering of these people continues.

Perhaps the Philippines cannot welcome hundreds of thousands again as we did before. But even small steps matter.

If our country once opened its doors to strangers fleeing danger, perhaps we can continue that tradition—carefully, responsibly, and with the same spirit of humanity that our nation showed in the past. 

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/04-31-2027