Expecting the surge of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) this Christmas, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued an advisory to prevent congestion in its Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division for those applying for travel exit clearances or OECs.

From the usual 1,000 applicants per day, the number usually doubles during the Christmas peak season, the POEA said, resulting to problems of congestion and security at the POEA headquarters in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City.

“Complicating this situation is the number of OFW applicants who have immediate flights,” POEA said.

Thus, the agency advised returning OFWs to observe the following procedures in order to pace, declog, or deload the processing of OECs:

1. OFWs who have just arrived are encouraged to apply for their OECs early either at the POEA Main Office or at the nearest POEA Regional Offices and Extension Units, or avail themselves of the OEC delivery service to avoid last minute problems prior to their return flights.

2. Departing OFWs who will return during the Christmas season are encouraged to apply for their OECs at the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in their host countries prior to returning to the Philippines. Or, apply for OECs at the POEA Main or Regional Offices early prior to their return flights to their host countries.

3. Regular processing of OECs has been discontinued at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Labor Assistance Center (LAC) except for weekends or emergency exit within five days from entry. OFWs must apply for their OECs with the POEA Main or Regional Offices prior to their return flights.

4. OFWs who have not yet registered with the POEA are advised to bring their contract and or certificate of employment, and other proofs of employment in order to be documented and be issued an OEC.

By: JC Bello Ruiz> Tempo

CONTRACTS for overseas work over a five-year period benefited more rehired land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), government data showed.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s (POEA) five-year data also revealed that last year, the number of rehired land-based OFWs reached a five-year high of 597,426, from 419,505 in 2004.

Data further showed that on average, rehired land-based migrant workers made up nearly 46% of total of deployed land- and sea-based OFWs.

POEA’s 2008 Statistical Compendium, uploaded to the agency’s Web site only last month, said the country deployed last year a record 1.2 million OFWs.

Rehired land-based OFWs are those who returned to the country and were deployed overseas on new contracts. Four years ago, their share in the total 933,566 deployed overseas was only at nearly 45% (419,505).

Newly hired land-based OFWs consistently made up 30% of annual OFW deployment.

Newly hired workers deployed means the POEA has provided new jobs for would-be overseas workers, as securing jobs for overseas employment is part of the Arroyo government’s strategy to generate one million new jobs for Filipinos every year since 2004.

The POEA deployed 284,912 newly hired land-based OFWs in 2004.

The number grew by 32% to 376,973 last year.

Meanwhile, the number of seafarers has been decreasing in the last two years, even as the figure reached a high of 274,497 in 2006.

Over the five-year span, deployed seafarers accounted for a quarter of total OFW deployment.

Rehired land-based OFWs also represent the most number of overseas work contracts processed by the POEA from 2006 to 2008, the agency’s data revealed.

Compared to the overseas work contracts processed by the POEA for newly hired land-based OFWs and seafarers, rehires got almost all of the processed work contracts.

Processed work contracts for rehires accounted for nearly a hundred percent (96.09%) or 470,390 of the total 489,528 contracts three years ago. It dipped in 2007 but went back up to nearly 98% last year (or 597,426 of 610,561 work contracts).

Rehires seem to have elbowed out new hires from the job market in 2006 as only 81.97% of the latter got contracts from the 387,533 new overseas work contracts made available for them that year. However, contracts for newly hired OFWs last year logged a higher processing approval. Nearly 95% of the total 394,977 new work contracts were secured by new hires.

Many work contracts for seafarers, however, remain vacant. Some 80,832 seafarers’ work contracts were unfilled in 2006. The figure reached 123,054 the year after and to 197,143 last year. Still, the country supplies the most number of seafarers in the world, with a quarter of the global total.

The POEA said it processed more than 1.2 million work contracts for land- and sea-based jobs in 2006. The number rose by just above a hundred thousand in 2007, and to nearly 1.5 million work contracts last year.

Still, there were contracts that were not filled: 162,823 in 2006, 228,254 in 2007; and, 228,282 in 2008.

Year-on-year growth rates for deployment reached their highest in 2008 for both new hires and rehired land-based OFWs (20.34% and 20.01%, respectively), as the decline in seafarers’ deployment is now on its second straight year. — Jeremaiah F. Opiniano, OFW Journalism Consortium

kahapon pala ay pumunta ako sa poea upang magmasid. napadpad lamang ako sandali sa information center nila at umalis rin pagkaraan ng ilang minuto. nagkataon kasing lahat ng impormasyon ay nakalagay na sa kanilang website. saka ka na lang tumawag sa hotline nila para kumpirmahin ang job order na nahanap mo sa site nila.

mapilit kasi ang kuya ko. gusto niya talaga akong pumunta sa poea para kumuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. hindi raw sigurado kung sa website lang ng poea titingin. dapat raw pumunta ako sa opisina nila. ang kulit!

napadpad ako sa dalawang ukay-ukay. ang mamahal pa rin ng tinda. buti na lamang at may nakita akong t-shirt na cute. parang pa-baseball ang manggas nito dahil pula ito at puti ang ibang bahagi ng t-shirt. ang cute pa dahil mickey mouse ang design. souvenir t-shirt pala iyon sa hongkong disneyland. “i love my girl” ang nakalagay at may drowing ni mickey at minnie mouse. maputi pa ito, kung hindi papansin ang maliit na mantsa sa ibaba na maaari naman sigurong matanggal sa paglalaba. binili ko na iyon. inaakala kong P125 ang halaga nito ngunit noong dalhin ko na ito sa kahero ay P75 lang ang singil sa akin. ayos!

By Mary Ann Villanueva Oppus

6 Sept. 2009

The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) focuses its attention on tracking down licensing of agencies recruiting Filipino workers to land a job in another country. A lot of agencies require a certain amount of money merely to process the employment application but the truth is that no fees shall be collected from job applicants as long as the documents submitted are authenticated and the transaction is genuine as well. Filipinos always dream of working abroad to provide a comfortable life to their families back home. Lots of attractive compensation packages await the candidate depending on the country sponsoring the work permit.  POEA oversees if agencies are legitimate, if the agency is registered or if the transaction is illegal. It is up to the aspiring individual to take the risk bypassing the legal process, regardless of the genuineness of their work documents. It is however, sensible that every applicant for overseas jobs to check all the  records at POEA before deciding to push through with their dream of working abroad so they can avoid being victimized by illegal recruiters and save the money they struggled hard to produce using their properties as a collateral.

Instead of the usual function of POEA on helping Filipino aspirants to authenticate their travel and work documents, POEA has taken a new role of directing people to the proper way of finding job opportunities internationally. It was made clear by the International Labor Organization (ILO) that Filipinos should not be charged for recruitment placement fees if they are pursuing to work overseas. The website of POEA indicates various job openings outside the Philippines showing the authenticity of the job offers and the legitimacy of the profile of employers. The website of POEA which provides an easier access for Filipino workers to seek for an overseas employment, is of great help in landing a good job assuring applicants that their work application is genuine. Despite the challenges of complying with the requirements of international employers, job aspirants are assisted by POEA on obtaining certifications and genuine records to lead them to the right path in applying for a job. POEA is responsible for cutting down the fees being charged by employment agencies to make it affordable for the Filipino dreamer to attain their dream of earning more than what they can actually earn in their native land.

Malls give free orientation to would-be OFWs

-abs-cbnnews.com, 11 September 2009

MANILA – The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration partnered with SM Malls to provide Filipinos with the necessary information on what to expect while working abroad.

Potential OFWs are given free Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) at selected SM Malls starting this month.

“Worker-applicants need to be oriented early on so they can make the right decision of whether to work overseas or avail themselves of opportunities at home,” said POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili.

The partnership was strengthened with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the POEA and the labor department and the SM Retail Inc, and SM Prime Holdings, Inc last August 24, 2009.

Manalili said PEOS aims to create greater awareness and understanding of foreign employment for those who are still considering the prospects of working overseas.

“A reliable information program like the PEOS can help them make an informed and intelligent decision,” she said.

PEOS, she added, is also a tool for worker protection and empowerment as it explains the procedures, documentary requirements, advantages and disadvantages of overseas employment, selection and verification of the Philippine licensed agencies, the modus operandi of illegal recruiters and the ways to detect illegal recruitment activities, and government services available to overseas job applicants and hired workers.

Aside from selected SM Malls, PEOS is also regularly conducted at the POEA Main Office and regional offices nationwide.

——

Kudos to SM Retail Inc. and SM Prime Holdings Inc.  I congratulate SM, one of the most successful business institution in the Philippines, for doing their share in establishing awareness of the working environment outside our country. This orientations are important to introduce Filipinos, specially the first-timers, to fully understand the important things prior to deciding to work abroad. Thank you very much!

]]> http://pinaynews.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/poea-root-cause-of-increase-in-stranded-ofws-in-jeddah/ Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:10:18 +0000 pinaymembers http://pinaynews.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/poea-root-cause-of-increase-in-stranded-ofws-in-jeddah/

NEWS RELEASE
4 September 2009

For Reference: 
REP. LUZ C. ILAGAN 0920-9213221
Abby Valenzuela (Public Information Officer) 0915-7639619 

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan said that instead of helping the overseas Filipino workers stranded under the bridge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Philippine government is only increasing their number and aggravating their situation. 

“Despite the problem with stranded OFWs, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration still actively promotes labor migration to Jeddah and other parts of Saudi Arabia. In fact, the POEA has been trying to lure 1,600 health care workers to the country.” 

Ilagan worries that the new recruits would suffer the same fate as the hundreds of Filipinos who, after having escaped abusive employers, had to sleep under the bridge and rely on alms for survival for months before they were repatriated to the Philippines. 
 
“Saudi Arabia has a long history of abuse of OFWs: Many of our men and women have been physically abused and raped in this country. And our country remains without concrete measures and programs for OFWs in distress. Despite this, Mrs. Arroyo continues to solicit jobs from the kingdom,” Ilagan said. “The overseas Filipino workers are nothing but milking cows for this government.” 

According to Ilagan, the problem with stranded OFWs in Jeddah will not be solved unless the Philippine government turns its attention to the problems such as the lack of medical and legal support system for the migrant workers and illegal recruitment. 

“But the best solution still is to create genuine jobs in the Philippines so that no Filipino would ever need to go abroad just to have food on their tables,” Ilagan said. 

Abegail Rose L. Valenzuela
Public Information Officer
Office of Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan 
Gabriela Women’s Party 
SW-601 House of Representatives,
Quezon City
Telefax: 9315586
Mobile: 0915-7639619

Are oil and gas workers affected by the current economic turmoil?  The news that went around the loop says that unlike a year ago, many projects now by oil companies are still on hold. Perhaps by the year 2010 recovery will begin. Demobilization of staff started early this year especially for QATARGAS where a lot of construction work is nearing completion. New projects are still far in sight.  Even the Asian region has its share of slow development in the oil and gas industry for this year.  However hope still shines in the Russian Region where the country of Kazakhstan offers many jobs at the moment.

Gone are the days when the Rural Bank (RB) was viewed as a small operation in the backwoods of the Philippines. Today Rural Banks are as modern as any city bank – sometimes even more modern than their city counterparts. In fact in some of our towns Rural Banks are not rural, but THE BANK of choice for community residents.

Rural Banks are the cornerstone of countryside development in the Philippines. All are privately owned and funded but closely monitored by the Central Bank of the Philippines or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Philippine Deposit and Insurance Corporation (PDIC). They are platforms for banking services and loans for farmers and Filipinos living in small towns in the provinces.

What distinguishes a Rural Bank from big name banks like BPI, BDO, Citibank and others? Here are a few:

1) RB’s are given a specific area of operation or province where they can operate as determined by the BSP.
2) RB’s are homegrown and usually owned by people who were born and live in the area where the RB operates. Hence, they are locally known by the people in the community they serve.
3) RB’s are NOT allowed to invest their funds/deposits/assets in other parts of the country or outside of it. They are only allowed to invest in the areas where they operate. Hence there is absolutely no chance that it can be affected by world financial crises.
4) RB’s invest in the province in the form of loan packages that they provide owners of small businesses or for community development projects where they operate.
5) Some of the biggest RB’s are allowed to operate in several provinces, depending on their performance and liquidity. This is determined by the BSP.
6) Most RB’s have ATMs, Remittance services, Peso and Dollar Accounts, Checking accounts, Time Deposits, Micro financing loans and OFW placement loan packages.

When you open an account in a Rural Bank, you are helping improve the economy in your hometown. Why? Because RB’s lend to members of the community who want to establish businesses in your hometown. In turn, these businesses create job opportunities for the community as well.

If you are an OFW, what benefits can be derived from opening an account in the RB in your hometown?

1. Safe – All transactions are conducted within the bank premises and are processed through your account.
2. Secure – Deposits are covered by Insurance as much as P 500,000. Pesos guaranteed by the PDIC.
3. Trust – The bank manager or even the owner is known by you or by members of your family. Even the employees may have been your classmate or their children are classmates of your children. Iba pa rin ang magkababayan, diba!
4. Convenience – Since an RB is located in your hometown, it is convenient to transact business with them. Hindi mo na kailangan lumayo o di na kailangan pang pumunta ng pamilya mo sa ibang lugar.
5. Guaranteed Remittance – Your remittance or hard earned money can be received by relatives in their respective bank accounts within the bank. Wala ng kaba!
6. OFW Placement Loan Packages – For OFW’s with a definite contract, some RB’s provide placement loan packages that assist with the expenses of the OFW prior to departure.
7. Financial Advise – Rural Banks can provide the best financial advise for OFW investments as they know what businesses usually thrive in the area they operate in.

8.  Higher interests – Some RB’s provide higher interest rates for long term time deposits. These are tax free and still covered by the PDIC up to P 500,000. pesos.

Now, it can’t be helped that there are some RB’s who have questionable reputations. Here are some things to look for to determine a Rural Banks strength.

1) Determine how long the Rural Bank has existed. Are they newly established or, have they been in the province for over 20 to 50 years.
2) How many branches do they have? Is it a one branch operation or multi-branch and multi-province.
3) Honest RB’s would have a website where all financial information are available.
4) Visit the bank branch and ask questions. Huwag mahiyang magtanong dahil gusto rin naman nilang maging customer kayo.
5) Ask relatives and friends about the bank. Siguradong mayroong may ka kilala ang manager doon or isa man lang empleyado na maka tutulong sa iyo.
6) Check with the BSP as they have a list of all the RB’s in the Philippines and those who are not financially stable/blacklisted.

When you open an account in your Rural Bank, you have already started the process of Bayanihan in your community. Ang pagtangkilik sa kanila ay pagtangkilik sa inyong bayan tinitirahan at babalikan. Halina, Bayaning Bayanihan na!

The government had firmed up efforts to prevent Filipino travelers from being duped into serving as drug couriers for criminal syndicates abroad.

Director General Dionisio Santiago of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will require all OFWs to undergo drug test as part of the requirements for overseas employment.

A module on anti-drug awareness and modus operandi of drug traffickers will also be included in the pre-departure and pre-employment orien­tation seminars, he said.

Santiago and POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili have agreed that their two agencies would work together to make Filipino travelers aware of the dangers of carrying illegal drugs from one country to another. “(The agreement) solidifies the collaboration between the two government instrumentalities to address the increasing problem on Filipino drug mules (being) arrested abroad,” the two officials said. Santiago said the PDEA welcomes the support of the POEA to the national anti-drug campaign.

“We are grateful that the number of government agencies appreciating our efforts is continuously growing,” he said.

Santiago said the PDEA-POEA partnership seeks to unify government programs and projects to help protect Filipinos abroad from being used as illegal drug couriers.

“Our partnership with POEA will be a major contributory factor in increasing the awareness of our fellow Filipinos who are traveling abroad to empower them against the wiles of illegal drug syndicates,” he said.

Santiago said the POEA as the main implementing arm of migrant workers and PDEA prevent the involvement of overseas Filipinos in the illegal drug trade.

“The POEA has committed to assist PDEA in the collection, establishment and maintenance of a database on Filipinos working abroad who may have fallen victim to drug trafficking and other criminal activities,” he said. He also said the POEA will also help the PDEA identify target personalities by providing vital information on suspected drug couriers and cohorts.

“As for our part, we will continue enhancing law enforcement operations,” he said.

Source: Philippine Star

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has released a set of precautionary measures against the A(H1N1) virus for overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

In an advisory issued Friday, POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili said that aside from protecting themselves against the virus, inbound and outbound Filipino workers should observe the following reporting and monitoring arrangements:

• Returning OFWs/and disembarking crew shall inform their recruitment/manning agencies about their arrival in the Philippines.

• OFWs should stay at home (self‐quarantine) for 10 days after arrival before reporting to the recruitment agencies.

• OFWs with flu‐like symptoms on the date of departure shall notify their respective agency and ask for postponement of deployment.

• If infected on-site, OFWs shall ask for assistance from the nearest Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) or Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

• OFWs shall report to the nearest POLO, Embassy or Consulate any case of infection among other Filipino workers.

• In the Philippines, the public should report any known case of the flu virus to the nearest local health authority, or through the following:

Bureau of Quarantine ‐ 832‐2929
OP CEN‐HEMS ‐ 711‐1001
915‐7725621
921‐5922361
National Epidemiology Center ‐ 743‐1937
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine ‐ 807‐2628

Manalili also asked OFWs to heed the advice of health authorities to protect themselves from the virus. These include strengthening the immune system, maintaining good personal hygiene, and practicing social distancing.

She encouraged all recruitment agencies to issue similar advisories and guidelines to their departing and returning workers and seafarers.

Ten Filipinos have tested positive for the A(H1N1) virus after arriving in foreign countries. Two of them were the first such cases in Saudi Arabia and Macau

As of June 17, the World Health Organization has reported 39,620 confirmed cases of A(H1N1) all over the world.

Of this number, there have been 167 deaths, mostly in the United States and Mexico.
Source: GMANews.TV
Author – Kimberly Jane T. Tan

www.WiseRecruit.com

The renewed deployment deal between the Philippines and South Korea does not hold anyone accountable for the fate of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) onsite, local recruiters said.

Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last May, the deployment of Filipino workers to Korea will be facilitated by the Employment Permit System (EPS).

The EPS is a government-to-government recruitment system implemented by both countries since 2004 that was supposed to correct the exorbitant mobilization costs charged by recruitment companies and their brokers in South Korea.

But the Federated Association of Manpower Exporters, Inc. (Fame) told GMANews.TV that since the EPS operates between governments, it leaves no one accountable for the fate of distressed Filipino workers.

“There are clear gaps. With us [private recruiters], there is a very clear coverage, in the government there is not,” Fame executive director Lito Soriano said.

He said that when deployment is facilitated by the private sector, workers have the option of filing cases against them and make them pay their unpaid salaries and benefits.

“But with the government, nobody is testing the boundaries,” he said.

The MOU did say, however, that the two governments will “make effort to promote availment of benefits by the workers under the Departure Guarantee Insurance and Return Cost Insurance.”

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) also argued that the deal guarantees the rights of the workers.

“There are disputed settlement provisions in the agreement,” POEA chief Jennifer Manalili told GMANews.TV in a separate interview.

One of these provisions even requires that the Korean Ministry of Labor “actively cooperate with the Labor Attaché when workers report cases of illegal treatment by employer that makes repatriation inevitable, for the just resolution of the case.”

Moreover, Manalili said Filipino workers can “exhaust” all the services of government agencies onsite.

Same cost for the workers

Soriano, however, said that these are not enough guarantees especially since the cost of deployment between that which is facilitated by the government and private recruiters are the same.

“That’s not enough, there should be justification. We believe the Philippine government should renegotiate other terms for the benefit of Filipino workers,” he said.

Under the MOU, workers will have to pay the sending fees (application, preliminary training, processing, visa, and airfare) and onsite fees (return cost and casually insurance premium).

It also states that the worker will bear repatriation expenses if he or she returns to the Philippines prior to the termination of the contract for health or personal reasons.

In a previous report, recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani said that under the EPS, deployment to Korea fell by 40 percent in 2007 due to high numbers of runaways and complaints filed with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

As of May 2008, a total of 20,476 Filipino workers have been deployed to South Korea.

They ranked first among foreign workers in terms of ability to adapt to Korean society and second in communication skills, a recent survey conducted by the Korean Labor Ministry said.
Source: GMANews.TV
Author, KIMBERLY JANE T. TAN

www.WiseRecruit.com

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have active contracts from their Lebanese employer can go back and work in the country under the new resolution to be issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

According to POEA Administrator Jennifer J. Manalili resolution allows workers to return to Lebanon provided that they have a valid contract and if they are household service workers the contracts should reflect the minimum wage of $400.

Only a few thousand Filipino workers have existing contracts in Lebanon.

The deployment ban to Lebanon was implemented in 2006 due to intense fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The Palace endorsed the ban’s lifting in March due to improving security, but it is still the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) who has the final say.

Source: BusinessWorld

www.WiseRecruit.com

SAYS POLL OFFICIAL
No extension for absentee voter registration
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net First Posted 15:43:00 07/10/2009 Filed Under: Migration, Justice & Rights, Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Philippines – Metro, Philippines – Regions

MANILA, Philippines—An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the deadline for registration of overseas absentee voters (OAVs) will not be extended.

Comelec Commissioner in charge of OAV Nicodemo Ferrer told INQUIRER.net the period of registration from February 1 to August 31 is “long enough” to accommodate listing of OAVs for the upcoming 2010 elections.

“Hindi na natin i-extend ang registration period dahil mahaba na iyon (We will not extend further the deadline for OAV registration because it is long enough),” he said.

“Often, it is in our culture to register only if the deadline is near and then ask for an extension at the last minute. You have to understand that the approval process of voter applications is a long process—there are hearings and it will have to finally approved by the en banc,” he added.

To encourage more OAVs to register, the COAV in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs have put up OAV registration booths for departing or arriving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and for Filipinos processing their papers at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), said Ferrer.

COAV member Glinis Tamondong said the committee has been augmenting registration at Philippine posts and consulates through field and mobile registrations in places where OFWs gather.

She cited the “Akyat Barko” OAV registration requested by Ambassador Cristina Ortega of the Philippine embassy in Brussels for seafarers and OFWs near the area. “Akyat Barko” conducts registration in the ports of Antwerp, other parts of Belgium, and in Luxembourg.

Tamondong also reminded Filipinos returning from abroad and who plan to stay in the country during the 2010 polls can transfer their voter registration to their local residence until September 30 or they will not be able to vote in 2010.

Ferrer said he is “optimistic to achieve the target of 1 million registered absentee voters” by the August 31 deadline.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez concurred and told INQUIRER.net that the poll body was aiming to add another half a million new OAV registrants to the existing half a million registered in the 2007 elections.

Requirements for OAV registration are:

• Valid Philippine passport. In the absence of a passport, a certification from the DFA that it has reviewed the appropriate documents of the applicant and found them sufficient to warrant the issuance of a passport, or that the applicant was a holder of a valid passport but was unable to produce it for a valid reason would be enough.

• Photocopy of the Seaman’s Book or any other pertinent document if a seafarer.

• The original or certified true copy of the Order or Approval of the application to retain or reacquire Filipino citizenship or Oath of Allegiance issued by the post or Bureau of Immigration if a dual citizen.

The commission might require additional documents to establish the identity and qualification of the applicant.

After her unsuccessful soap ang “Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang”, Marian Rivera will be back into fantaserye genre playing DARNA na naging markado ito three years ago na pinagbidahan ng sexy at Only You Star Ms. Angel Locsin. Marami ang nagulat dahil parang hindi pa talaga nakapag.move on ang GMA-7 sa pagkawala ng kanilang Ultimate Primetime Queen na si Ms. Angel Locsin. Lalo na ngayong naghihikahos ang ratings nila these past few months.

Mas lalong nakakagulat dahil may lumabas recently na banner ni Marian Rivera wearing DARNA Costume. I read on forum that it was real picture of Ms. Angel Locsin when she played Darna at pina.photoshop lang ito gamit ang mukha ni Marian. Maraming fans ni Ms. Locsin ang nag-react dahil katawan ng actress ang ginamit at mas lalong masakit dahil pinirmahan pa ito ni Marian ang banner na alam naman nya siguro na hindi nya ito katawan.

In my opinion, it was out of respect to Ms. Angel Locsin. Ms. Angel Locsin played DARNA three years ago with flying colors at isa ito sa mga pinaka-highest rating na natala sa telebisyon on that time. Huwag naman nating sirain dahil lang sa gusto nating sumikat ulit.

          Banner where Marian’s signature appeared

The other day I was in POEA to secure my Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). I asked the Security Officer on duty where I was supposed to go to have this certificate. I was told to go straight ahead to a big and enclosed office inside the main building. It was still early in the morning (around 8 am) but the room was very crowded with OFW’s trying to get the same paper for clearance before they leave the country. Fortunately, the room is air conditioned and has many seats available. There was even a booth that offers fast service with an option for home delivery of the certificate at an added fee which I believe is reasonable enough if compared to the time you need to spend to queue and wait for your number to be called. The certificate reached our home as promised, within 24 hours…

This is totally the opposite scenario when last year I tried securing my certificate as first time OFW. We were asked to sit outside the building. Yes, it was covered but the summer sun makes it scorchingly hot and unfortunately, no electric fans were available. We had to sit there for more than 2 hours because 1.) we had to be there early so we can be the first in line and since they have cut-off in number of applications to be processed per day you have to be there before 8 am 2.) there was a flag ceremony that day so we had to wait before we were allowed entry inside the building.

Upstairs, there was a waiting area (again covered but no airconditioning unit available). There was a big industrial fan but is not oscillating so only those few fortunate applicants in front of the fan do not feel the heat which is actually suffocating because of the enclosed space. The seats in that room were  dilapidated and ready to retire any time. After another 1.5 hours of waiting, my number was finally called to be evaluated then I had to attend the PDOS and all other requirements prior to payment.

What am I trying to point out in these 2 scenarios which is basically 12 months apart?  I personally feel there was a sort of discrimination in the application process. If this Government agency can provide a nice, air conditioned room with sufficient seats available then why not give this “privilege” to all applicants? Why give “special treatment” to returning OFW’s only?

I have no objections whatsoever about this “privilege”, as I feel we OFW’s should be given due treatment considering the major contribution of our remittances to the country’s economy. However, I feel this standard should be given to all citizens without any questions or hesitations. I hope my assumption about discrimination in this office is wrong but true or not, I definitely feel the need to improve our Civil service.

**********************

 We’ve heard about Alec Baldwin’s unfavorable remark about Filipinas being tagged as mail-order brides in David Letterman’s show.

Recently, Chip Tsao branded the Philippines as a Nation of Servants.

In an episode of Desperate Housewives, Teri Hatcher questioned the credibility of Filipino Doctors..

Then everyday, somewhere in the world, OFW’s and Filipino Immigrants are working their ass out to avoid discrimination in the workplace or thecommunity and to prove to the world that Filipinos are world-class and should not be belittled.

The list gets longer and longer….

Everytime we hear such stories, we Filipinos tend to unite and speak out to rebuke those negative remarks or impressions. We are doing all our damn best(est to the highest level) so that one day, the world will recognize the Philippines as a great nation with exceptional citizens. 

Isn’t it ironic that while other Filipinos are doing all these efforts to prove our detractors wrong, here comes a new scandal that would again, tarnish the reputation of Filipinas and sadly, the perpetrators are Filipinos themselves… It is about the Sex Video of Hayden Kho and the ladies- Katrina Halili and Maricar Reyes. The culprit who spread out the video on the internet is unknown yet but there were speculations that it is someone close to the Pervert Doctor.  Yes, porn is everywhere but instances such as these adds up to the negative impression of us Filipinos. 

Instead of exerting efforts to spread out videos such as these which would definitely destroy the reputation of the people involved, why not use our energy and resources to spread to the world the accomplishments of Filipinos such as Manny Pacquiao and Charice Pempengco. Surely their videos will not cost PHP 2 Million (as what the price of the Sex scandal video was reported to have been sold) but it’s about time we bring back our dignity and respect so we Filipinos can be important in the eyes of the world…

For those who don’t know, I’m a former OFW. I worked for many years in Singapore and came back because I want to get married.

Like all 10 million other Filipinos like me, working and living abroad has its ups, and downs. Living in a 5 bedroom house in Mcpherson Estate in Singapore is like prison. I do my own cooking, laundry and cleaning the house. I do everything. For more than two years, I tried to survive. But, after my two and a half years of not seeing the Philippines, I decided its time to go home.

Yes, the pay is magnificent. You get to enjoy life. Singapore is unlike Saudi or other places where you just don’t get the fun of life. Occasionally, my friends from way back visit me there. Some of them, Amina Rasul and Atty. Argee Guevarra and for one short moment, former president Fidel Ramos.

Singapore is one of the nicest, coolest and the most livable city I have ever been. My colleagues are okey. I admire my boss, Nick and my managing director, the beautiful Nora Nordin. I’m in pretty good terms with Thiru, our finance guy and the accounts team.

Yet, despite this, nothing beats living in one own’s country. Some times, you feel alone. You feel depressed. You feel somewhat hollow, empty. What I do to forget my loneliness is I go ride a ferry to either Bintan or Batang, Indonesia or cross the Singaporean border and go stay in Jorong, Malaysia. Sometimes I go to Kuala Lumpur.

My journey went as far as Cambodia. Yet, again, nothing beats being in one own’s country.

In Singapore, Filipino workers have their own share of travails and suffering. Many OFWs who work as domestics, earn just S$ 350 a month (roughly 11,000 pesos). Those who want to compensate their lowly pay, either work in other homes as nannies, or some, enter into relationships with construction workers. Other Filipino domestics in Singapore, as some say, work as sex workers. They’re nannies by the day, sex workers at night.

I also encountered a Filipino doctor who agreed to be paid S$ 700 a month to work as a nurse. Imagine, she rents a room for S$ 250 and she’ll only send about S$450 back home. Such is the humiliation. But, as usual, it’s a problem of economics or the lack of it here.

That’s why I fully understand how these 70 stranded drivers feel there in Dubai. It’s soo sad that they have been misled by this recruitment agency and they are now suffering there. We need to help them. We need to ask government to help them. It’s a traumatizing experience. Fortunately, the Blas Ople Labor Policy Center headed by good friend, Susan “Toots” Ople is there to help them. But, Ople and the rest of the guys over at that policy center needs our help too. As citizens and Filipinos, it is our duty to extend help to our kababayans in dire straits.

Ms. Angel Locsin wears F&H

Today, April 23, Ms. Angel Locsin is celebrating her 24th birthday. As usual, she will celebrate it together with less fortunate children and abuse women. By this, she will share her blessings and thanking God how it is good to her.

Just recently Ms. Angel Locsin, won the Pinoy Bingo Nights where in she won 1 million pesos. Instead of having it, she gave the 500,ooo pesos the bingoers and other half to her neice and cousins. This is what people admired Ms. Angel Locsin for being such a generous person. She really been loved by her fans through the years because of her selfless and down to earth personality.

Ms. Angel will be seen again in the primetimebida starting this Monday (April 27, 2009) for her new teleserye ONLY YOU together with Sam Milby and Deither Ocampo.

ONLY YOU

Please vote Ms. Angel Locsin in FHM. Just type FHM100<space>ANGEL LOCSIN and send to 2948.

For more informations, just visit her website www.angellocsin.com.ph or join the forum at www.pinoyexchange.com

MANILA, April 16 (PNA) – Resiliency of remittances sent by overseas Filipinos (OFs) has again proven its mettle after it posted a 4.9-percent growth last February reaching US$ 1.3 billion.

The latest monthly growth rate of remittances is better than the 0.1 percent it posted in the first month of the year, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday showed.

This development brought the year-to-date remittance inflows to US$ 2.6 billion, 2.58 percent higher than the US$ 2.52 billion in February 2008. Read more. . .

If it’s good news, it must be Positive News Media!