Civilnet
By Audrey Sears
The Adalia family has been living in Armenia for many years. They call Armenia a “‘second home’ and care deeply about its people, the politics, culture, and "equally as important, the future of the country,” says the family's oldest daughter, Samantha Adalia, who graduated in 2023 as the first foreign valedictorian of the American University of Armenia.
Similar to Armenia, the Philippines boasts a huge diaspora population that spans across the globe. They are called Balikbayans - individuals of Filipino descent or citizenship who have moved abroad. Much like the Armenian diaspora, the Balikbayans contribute to the Philippines' economy through remittances and have a crucial part in preserving cultural and family ties. But this outmigration also comes with challenges including brain-drain and a shrinking middle class.
For the Filipino Balikbayans, the population spans over Italy, the UK, Spain, California, Canada, Kuwait, Dubai, Singapore, and France. The vast scale of the Balikbayans led the Philippines government to create an agency dedicated to helping Filipinos abroad, the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO). The agency registers those overseas, conducts seminars for immigrant visa holders bound for the U.S., and provides guidance and counseling for various social issues.
Some Filipinos have ended up in Armenia, where a myriad of factors contribute to the country's appeal. Most of the Filipinos in Armenia are considered to be Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). They are required to renew their visas every 120 days by leaving and re-entering the country. Most of them enjoy a regional tour during their ‘visa run,’ often making the most of their mandated leave by taking a vacation.
Another attraction to the Filipinos in Armenia is the snow. For these South-East Asian islanders, a white Christmas is a sight well sought after. The snow-capped mountains of Aragats are especially appealing to these tourists who wish to get their first glimpse of wintery weather.
Christianity is another part of Armenian culture that attracts Filipinos to the country. A few churches that have Filipino community members are the Yerevan International Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. With the numerous ancient monasteries and churches decorating the Armenian countryside, it is no wonder that many Filipinos have found their home in Armenia, as well as their faith.
Reflecting on her own experience as a balikbayan, Samantha recalls the language barrier being one of the biggest challenges when she first moved to Armenia. Samantha now speaks 4 languages, including Armenian, Russian, Tagalog and English.
“Some things are similar, though, Armenians value family and are very resilient, much like how people are in the Philippines,” Samantha Adalia says. “There’s a history of tragedy here and still a strong sense of community.”
Originating from Manila, the Adalias immigrated to Nepal for missionary work and eventually relocated to Yerevan in 2017 to start a touring agency called Vochnner. Now, seven years later, the family has happily settled in Yerevan, and they are active participants in the Filipino community that has taken root in Armenia.
Audrey Sears is The Armenia Project intern at CivilNet.
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