ABSTRACT
Migration covers many kinds of movement of people or groups of people, either across an international border or within a state. This includes the movement of refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants and people moving for other purposes, such as family reunification (International Organization for Migration, 2011b). In the migration literature on the Philippines, there is much written on overseas Filipino workers as economic migrants (Asis, 2006; Orbeta and Abrigo, 2009; Battistella and Asis, 2011), particularly on irregular overseas Filipinos who are not properly documented or without a valid residence or work permit, or who are overstaying in a foreign country (Commission on Filipinos Overseas, 2013). A culture of migration has emerged in the Philippines over the last 30 years, as millions have become eager to migrate, despite the risks and vulnerabilities associated with migration (Asis, 2006). The Philippines is the origin of and, to a much lesser extent, the destination for irregular migrants. For example, in 1997, about 28 per cent of Filipinos abroad were of irregular status. It was reported in 2007 that 30 per cent of them were residing in East Asia, and their number was on the rise (Orbeta and Abrigo, 2009).
