By Frankie Naranjilla

Led by Program Head  Tony Obien, the national core team of Missio Amare MIGRANTI gathered in Parañaque for a full-day midyear planning session to revisit their 2025 roadmap and assess progress on four imperatives: Evangelization, Heart for the Poor, Governance and Formation

Frankie Naranjilla facilitated the review using the “traffic light system”. That is, Red for unachieved plans, Yellow for ongoing activities, and Green for completed ones—providing a clear visual snapshot of each action plan’s status. With just over four months left in the year, the team prioritized which initiatives to accelerate, which to defer, and which to carry forward into next year.

The session sparked honest and constructive dialogue around unmet goals, uncovering key dependencies and constraints that affected timelines. Joining online were Jerry Castro from Visayas and Didi Escudero from Mindanao, whose report on Mindanao’s achievements brought renewed energy and inspiration to the group.

One standout proposal was the national Migrants’ Summit, which received enthusiastic support.

Tony shared, “I like this plan. It has high impact and creates a unified platform for dialogue, empowerment, and action.” Frankie added, “We envision a summit that brings together stakeholders from government, civil society, faith-based groups, and the private sector – with all sectors there to listen to the lived experiences of OFWs and their families, share best practices in welfare and reintegration, launch collaborative programs, and celebrate the dignity and legacy of Filipino workers abroad.”

The day concluded with a clearer sense of direction and renewed commitment. The team capped the evening with a joyful dinner, celebrating both progress and the birthday of MIGRANTI core member Manny Lector with laughter, camaraderie, and shared purpose lighting the way forward.