The issue of migration has become a unique, important and challenging ministry of many sectors including educational institutions and the local church. In the case of Batangas, what with at least 150,000 Batangueños working abroad and about 750,000 dependents, the Archdiocese of Lipa through Archbishop Ramon Arguelles has made the issue a priority program.
For its part, De La Salle Lipa has instituted ANAK (Anak ng Nangingibang-Bansang Batangueño) DLSL as early as school year 2003-2004 through then-Guidance Counselor Karol Andal. ANAK DLSL has become the premier school-based program for children of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Batangas Region and at the national level as well. Taking the initiative a step higher, the Archdiocese tied up with DLSL and a Batangas core group on the first ever ANAK Batangueño Congress last December 6, 2005 at the DLSL Sentrum. The core group is comprised of representatives from selected LIDICSA schools, the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People – ECMI (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) and the Lipa Archdiocesan Commission on Migrants and Mission (LACMMI). The ANAK Batangueño Congress aimed to address specific programs for the children of OFW’s such as reaching out to them through implementation of national school-based programs and evaluation of different programs for migrant families to be able to address symptoms of maladjustment of OFW children to the reality of family separation brought about by migration. Further, the initiative of ANAK DLSL, under current adviser Randolph Renegado, has caught the attention of ABS-CBN Bantay Bata 163 Kapamilya, under Ms. Tina Monson-Palma, and encouraged the foundation to expand its programs to include children of OFW’s. Proof of this is the foundation’s participation in the said congress. The event was attended by over a thousand students from Catholic schools in the Batangas province, all children of OFW’s. Opening the congress was the celebration of the Holy Eucharist officiated by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles. Guest speakers were Br. Bo Sanchez and DLSL President Br. Manuel R. Pajarillo FSC. Afterwards, the Congress showcased activities of formation, animation and education for the participants.