Sunday Beauty Queen inspires lawyers to give free legal assistance
Some Filipino OFWs in Hong Kong who took part in the free legal clinic organized by the IBP Bulacan Chapter and the International Pro Bono Alliance (iPBA)
MANILA, Philippines — Moved by the heartwarming and inspiring message of the award-winning Filipino documentary Sunday Beauty Queen, several lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Bulacan Chapter and the International Pro Bono Alliance (iPBA) flew to Hong Kong recently to mount a free legal clinic for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.
Over a hundred OFWs came in full force to avail of the program dubbed as the Sunday Beauty Queen (SBQ) Mission after the critically-acclaimed docu that tackled the plight of thousands of vulnerable OFWs in HK. The free clinic was a commitment by the organizers to director Babyruth Villarama, whom they met during the Good Pitch Southeast Asia, a forum held in Jakarta for indie filmmakers invited to pitch their work for funding and support.
The free consultations and lectures, particularly on labor-related matters, were held in four different venues — St. John’s Cathedral through its chaplain Fr. Dwight dela Torre, the HK branches of Metrobank and the Philippine National Bank, and the Prime Credit Building through its president Leo Selomenio of the Global Alliance Hong Kong. Selomenio is one of the stars of the docu which was adjudged Best Picture at the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival and is currently making the rounds of film festivals abroad. The docu nearly became the Philippines’ official entry to next year’s Oscar Best Foreign Film category, but the honor eventually went to Birdshot.
The SBQ Mission was headed by former IBP Bulacan president Arni Topacio, who was joined by incumbent president Anselmo Samonte, iPBA president Pingki Bernabe, BSU College of Law Legal Aid Clinic executive director Bobby Cruz, Judge Rowena Rama-Chavez, and volunteer lawyers Racky Pineda Dolores, Jennifer Santos, Erlene dela Cruz, Roberto Ultado, Fatima Cruz, Rose Bautista, Josephine Ramos, Ayie Mauleon and JR Andres.
IBP Bulacan and iPBA also met separately with the U.N. International Organization for Migration, through its HK country head Nurul Qoiriah; and Justice Without Borders to forge partnership between OFWs and international groups that could assist them. The mission also visited the Bethune House, a shelter for distressed migrant workers run by Mission for Migrant Workers headed by its executive director Edwina Antonio.
The Office of the Provincial Board Member Enrique “Buko” dela Cruz was a major sponsor of the mission’s trip to HK.
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