Global Filipinos from 30 countries gathered on Tuesday for the 2026 Filipino Diaspora Summit, which aims to strengthen their engagement with the Philippines and advance their roles in shaping the country’s future.
In his opening speech, Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Secretary Dante Ang II reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deeper engagement with non-resident Filipinos (NRFs) worldwide, noting their significant contribution to the country.
Ang noted that the CFO now refers to non-overseas Filipino workers (non-OFWs) as NRFs.
“According to official government data, there are 10.8 million overseas Filipinos. Approximately 60 percent of this total comprises the NRFs. These are most of you attending this event today, the permanent and long-term migrants, Filipinos married to foreigners, dual citizens, expatriates, and all their descendants,” he said.
“NRFs include citizens, permanent residents, marriage migrants, professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, educators, innovators, public servants, and community leaders across more than 200 countries and territories.”
For years, Ang noted that conversations about Filipinos abroad mostly centered on their remittances and economic contributions to the Philippines.
However, he stressed that beyond economic actors, CFO considers NRFs as partners in national development, bringing invaluable experience and global innovation back to the Philippines.
“They share knowledge, create global networks and build businesses, preserve and promote Filipino heritage, and influence international conversations, serving as ambassadors of the Filipino spirit around the world,” Ang said.
The event, which also coincides with the CFO’s 46th anniversary, seeks to deepen engagement with Filipinos living permanently overseas, recognizing their growing influence beyond financial contributions to the country.
Around 350 NRFs, government officials, private-sector leaders, and civil society organizations gathered for the summit, sharing their experiences gained abroad while confessing their longing for the Philippines.
The CFO said the summit represents “a paradigm shift in how the Philippines engages with its diaspora, positioning NRFs as strategic partners whose global reach, expertise, networks, and influence can drive transformative change across the country’s cultural, economic, and political landscape”.
During the event, panel discussions focused on key areas where overseas Filipinos can contribute to national development, including diaspora advocacy and policy influence, remittances and economic contributions through investment, entrepreneurship, and job creation, cultural ties and intergenerational engagement, and the engagement of Filipino youth and the young diaspora.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, the NRFs have emerged as a vital source of the country’s soft power and international influence. Their professional achievements, community leadership, and success stories have turned them into unofficial ambassadors of the country, exemplifying the Filipino brand of excellence in culture, putting the Philippines on the radar of foreign governments,” Ang said.
“Preserving our identity is not merely about remembering our roots. It is about ensuring that our rich history and vibrant traditions remain a living, breathing force in the lives of Filipinos, no matter where they call home,” he added. (PNA)
