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Monday, March 26, 2007

OFWs, Beware of these 5 countries

The Philippine Overseas Emplyment Administration (POEA) warned applicants to be cautious in applying overseas jobs in countries such as Norway, Canada, Northern Marianas, South Korea and China.

No demand for nurses in Norway
Aspiring and current overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially nurses, are warned by the POEA that there are no job offers for nurses in Norway. This was proven by the POEA when the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden reported that there is no present demand for professional nurses, foreign or local, in Norway.

The Director Per Haugum of the Norwegian Registration Authority for Health Personnel, replied to the Philippine embassy’s request for verification, said he was not aware of any demand for nurses in Norway.

Thus, the POEA denied the request of the Professional Management AS, a company registered in Oslo, Norway, for accreditation with Reliable Recruitment Corporation to supply them with Filipino nurses.

The POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz also advised OFWs in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and South Korea to go back to the country first before processing their application for caregiving jobs in Canada.


“Recruitment activities done outside our territorial jurisdiction are not covered by Philippine laws on recruitment so I advise applicants to be careful in dealing with these foreign placement agencies,” she said.

She added that the agency offering this service, the Canadian Career Caregiving Services, is not accredited with the POEA or any local recruiter.

Crackdown for overstaying foreign workers in Northern Mariana
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) warned OFWs looking for a job in Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a United States territory in the Western Pacific, without acquisition of proper documents.


The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Saipan, reported that the Department of Labor of CNMI recently published a list of non-resident workers who are staying illegally in the territory and they are facing deportation.

There are 1,000 names of foreign workers included in the list, some of them has expired contracts while others are those who failed to find with the 45-day transfer period and yet continued to remain in the CNMI.

Before leaving, make sure you’re holding the proper visa
The POEA keep on advising Filipino workers to hold proper visa when planning to land a job abroad. Holding a visit visa when working abroad has never been legal although this is the fast and easy way to leave the country.


Many has been lured to work abroad using visit visa but ended nothing to pay debts they spend during the processing of their documents. This happened to a 23-year-old education graduate who paid an illegal recruiter P200,000 to facilitate his employment as an English teacher in Beijing, China.

The unnamed victim arrived in China holding a six-month business visa. He later found out that the job offer does not exist and there was really no job waiting for him. Luckily, he got a job in a secondary school in Inner Mongolia and he earned about US$600 a month. Unfortunately, the authorities raid the school for it does not hold a license to hire foreign teachers. He was jailed and fined because it turned out that his visa was fake. Through the negotiation of Philippine Embassy his jail term was reduced but he was deported back to the Philippines.


No more trainee visas for Korea
The Korean Government has stopped issuing the trainee visas and abolished its Alien Industrial Trainee System. Thus, OFWs who wants to secure job in Korea should apply through the Employment Permit System (EPS) under the POEA.

The POEA is the only authorized agency to implement the EPS in the Philippines. Korea is no longer accepting OFWs who applied through private agency, instead, only those OFWs who apply through the EPS.

The POEA Administrator, Rosalinda Baldoz, advised OFWs holding trainee visa to return home upon the expiration of their contract and re-apply though the EPS.

Thanks to :
Maria Theresa S. Samante
The Pinoy


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Sunday, March 25, 2007

Pinoy Business

Working overseas is temporary, majority of OFWs going home “for good” are usually entering business. However, based on a study by the non-government organization Balikbayani, 76% of businesses put up by OFWs fail.

Seventy-six percent of businesses put up by overseas Filipino workers fail
because the OFWs lack the skills, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Luis Cruz
said Thursday at the Dr. Alfredo J. Ganapin Advocacy Forum at the University of
the Philippines. Read the whole report from Asian Journal.
I found wonderful blogs that will help you to escape on being included on 76%. These blogs shows step by step procedures on how to become successful pinoy entrepreneur. You can visit Entrepinoys and Pinoy Negosyo for more details.


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Saturday, March 24, 2007

Support the Philippine Basketball Team


OFWs , let’s support the RP basketball team in their bid to regain the reputation as one of the world's basketball powerhouse. The roster of the RP men’s basketball team is out to seek the country’s first ever Olympic berth in 34 years.

The team will be guided by Chot Reyes, comprising the guard spots are Talk N Text’s Jimmy Alapag and Renren Ritualo, the Ginebra duo of Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand and Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel. San Miguel forward Danny Seigle leads the wingmen, along with Ginebra’s Rudy Hatfield, Tony de la Cruz of Alaska, Air21’s Ranidel de Ocampo and Kerby Raymundo of Purefoods. Manning the center slot is Asi Taulava of Talk N Text and surprise pick Mick Pennisi of Red Bull.

The national team’s first tournament will be the SEABA qualifying tournament for the FIBA-Asia champion’s Cup to be held in Indonesia on April 9 to 14. Then it’s off to Bangkok for the SEABA cagefest from May 24-28, where the top two placers get automatic slots to the FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifier to the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Tokushima, Japan in July.

After SEABA, the Nationals will tour Europe also for training then fly to Qatar for a tough invitational tourney featuring some of the best in the region.

We the OFWs wishes these players all the best.

For regular updates about the Philippine team please visit this site.


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Agricultural workers needed in US

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Carlito Puno today disclosed that the United States of America (USA) is in need of 5,000agricultural workers to tend their farms.

Puno said they have already tapped some of the licensed recruitment agencies to conduct the pooling and possible recruitment of agricultural workers who could be sent to the US.

Once hired, each of the workers will have a 10-month working contract which may be renewed upon its expiration, Secretary Puno said.

He added that fresh graduates in any of the agricultural courses are qualified to avail of the recruitment program. Earlier graduates and those with farm experiences are also qualified to avail of the opportunity to work abroad.

He said CHED has tasked each of about 50 universities and colleges nationwide to select 40 graduating agriculture students each for possible employment in the United States.

He said the hiring of agricultural workers by USA will help boost the employment program of President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo.(PNA)

from : balita.ph


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Sunday, March 18, 2007

Democracy is destroying the Philippines

Democracy is destroying the Phillipines. Our politicians are unknowingly or ignoring the likelihood that a part of a democratic process is disadvantageous to our country. Politicians are using the election being a legitimate democratic process to gain personal interests.

Imagine the possibility of the following:

  • Many Paquiao will win as a congressman against the incumbent Darlene Custodio-Antonino, a young and brave oppositionist who fought until the last seconds of “lutong Macao” impeachment trial of GMA. Imagine Many Paquiao interpolating a law he is sponsoring or depending GMA on another impeachment trial.
  • Kiko Pangilinan will secure his second term and will do a “noted” thing again to future impeachment of whomever president.
  • Commissioner Garcillano winning a congress seat, the “Hello Garci” composer will become a congressman? Oh my God!
  • Dato Arroyo will become a congressman? Perhaps another vote against another impeachment trial. 3 votes from the Arroyos alone, one for Iggy Arroyo, Dato and Mikey.
  • Baby Pineda, the alleged wife of a “jueteng Lord” will become a governor of Pampanga, still not a quite good replacement of “quarrying lord” incumbent governor Mark Lapid.
  • Lito Lapid will become Mayor of Makati, he will show his pistol tricks to big time businessmen.
  • Chavit Singson will win as senator along with the actor of his life’s movie Cesar
    Montano.
  • Jovito Palparan, accused human rights violator, will become a congressman.
  • A big possibility that the senate sessions will be transferred to Cultural Center of the Philippines because majority of the members are inclined in showbiz.

    Incumbent
    Jinggoy Estrada – actror
    Lito Lapid – actor
    Bong Revilla – actor

    Candidates
    Nikki Coseteng – Erap’s leading lady
    Tito Sotto – comedian
    Kiko Pangilinan – husband of Sharon Cuneta
    Ralf Recto – husband of Vilma Santos
    Richard Gomez – actor
    Cesar Montano – actor
    Victor Wood – singer
    Noynoy Aquino – sister of actress Kris Aquino

    Imagine if these candidates win and will work together with the incumbent fellows in the entertainment industry? How about Noli de Castro as their president or FPJ if all goes well?

Did anybody try to pass a law that requires a senatorial candidate be nominated by an independent body in order to become a n official candidate? If not 12 at least 6 will be nominated representing different sectors like finance and economy, urban poor and farmers, OFWs, education, health and national security. In this system it is rest assured that important sectors are well represented. We need leaders whose style is like a corporate CEO, a religious pontiff, or one with iron hand. How about the COMELEC setting qualification criteria for candidates?

by : contributor


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Saturday, March 17, 2007

Warning for Filipinos

Filipinos warned over net scams
By: MARIECAR JARA-PUYOD, Gulf Today: 3/17/2007

FILIPINOS in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have been warned and cautioned about Internet scams. Consul General Antonio Curameng issued the reminder during the monthly community meeting at the Philippine Consulate General on Friday.

He received a memorandum from the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Personnel and Administrative Services assistant secretary Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia, about an internet scam from a supposed British organisation and using the e-mail address of the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as the sender.

"Please don't be gullible. Think very well before you respond," said Curameng as he reminded the community not to put themselves at risk.

He then related of circumstances of people being fooled and who were forced to spend thousands and even millions of dollars because they did not think twice before responding to emails too good to be true.

Garcia's memorandum stated: "The department received a report from the Phnom Penh Philippine Embassy regarding an e-mail scam that used the post's e-mail address as the sender. According to the report, the e-mail came from a certain Frank John of the Sealant Lottery Organisation, informing the recipient that he/she has won the Sealant Lottery International and indicates the e-mail address of the post as the name of the sender."

"The sender used the post's e-mail address without any authority and also requires personal information from the recipient in order to allegedly claim the purported prize," Garcia also wrote down.

"Please don't entertain such e-mails," she continued , as she reminded all missions to alert the public about the scam.

Lottery award
THE Garcia memorandum had an attached example of the internet scam supposed to have come from the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh with Mr. Frank John as the consultant.
The e-mail dated Jan.21, and posted at 7:09 a.m. stated that the recipient was a winner of the "annual final draws of the Sealant Lottery International" conducted in England on Jan.19.
Stating that the lottery programme was "promoted by our group of philanthropists headed by the British Lottery Board" and that the recipient who was supposed to be the winner was "from an exclusive list of 25,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies," that certain Mr. Frank John then asked the recipient to keep from the public his winning until all of his cash prize of two million pounds have been remitted to him.

"Sealant Lottery International turned out to be bogus," Curameng told The Gulf Today, as he pointed out the indiscriminate use of a Philippine post e-mail address.


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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Trivia

Some trivias I found in the net.

  • Look at your zipper. See the initials YKK? It stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushibibaisha, the world’s largest zipper manufacturer.
  • A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.
  • A duck’s quack doesn’t echo. No one knows why.
  • 40 percent of McDonald’s profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
  • 315 entries in Webster’s 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.
  • On the average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily.
  • Chocolate kills dogs! True, chocolate affects a dog’s heart and nervous system. A few ounces is enough to kill a small sized dog.
  • Most lipstick contains fish scales.
  • Ketchup was sold in the 1830’s as a medicine.
  • Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.
  • Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.
  • There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.
  • Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa’s lips.
  • Bruce Lee was so fast that they actually had to slow a film down so you could see his moves. That’s the opposite of the norm.
  • The original name for the butterfly was “flutterby”!
  • By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you can’t sink in quicksand.
  • Mosquito repellents don’t repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito’s sensors so they don’t know you’re there.
  • Dentists recommend that a toothbrush be kept at least six feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.
  • The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s gum.
  • The first owner of the Marlboro company died of lung cancer.
  • Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined.
  • Marilyn Monroe had six toes on one foot.
  • Adolf Hitler’s mother seriously considered having an abortion but was talked out of it by her doctor.
  • The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.
  • “Stewardesses” is the longest word that can be typed with only the left hand.
  • To escape the grip of a crocodile’s jaws, prick your fingers into its eyeballs. It will let you go instantly.
  • A mathematical wonder: 111,111,111 multiplied by 111,111,111 gives the result 12,345,678 987,654,321.
  • The most common name in the world is Mohammed.
  • The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.
  • The “pound” (#) key on your keyboard is called an octothorp.
  • The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat.
  • Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
  • The average person’s left hand does 56% of the typing.
  • “Dreamt” is the only word in the English language that ends in “mt”.
  • It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
  • In Chinese, the KFC slogan “finger lickin’ good” comes out as “eat your fingers off”.
  • A cockroach can live for 10 days without a head.
  • European women didn’t wear underwear until the 1900’s.
  • We shed 40 pounds of skin a lifetime.
  • Yo-Yos were once used as weapons in the Philippines.
  • Coca-Cola can be used as car oil.
  • Mexico City sinks abut 10 inches a year.
  • Brains are more active sleeping than watching TV.
  • Blue is the favorite color of 80 percent of Americans.
  • When a person shakes their head from side to side, he is saying”yes” in Sri Lanka.
  • There are more chickens than people in the world.
  • It’s against the law in Iceland to have a dog.
  • The thumbnail grows the slowest, and the middle nail grows the fastest.
  • The only word in the English Language with all vowels in reverse order is
  • “subcontinental”.
  • There are more telephones than people in Washington, D.C.
  • Beethoven poured ice water over his head before he composed.52. In Pakistan, it’s rude to show your feet.


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Monday, March 12, 2007

Desert Pinoys

Mga natatanging obserbasyon sa pagpunta sa Dubai...

SA AIRPORT PAPUNTANG DUBAI

  • Number one sa “escort service” ang mga taga Bureau of Immigration sa Pilipinas. Bakit? Kase hinihingan nila ng “escort fee” ang mga Kabayan natin na mag vi-visit sa Dubai ng 3 to 5 thousand pesos para maka-labas ng airport. Panloloko yun.
  • Sa NAIA paghuhubarin ka ng sapatos, relo, sinturon at ipapalabas ang mga barya, cellfone wallet for security reasons daw. Tapos sasabihin sayo ng airport security official “Sir akin na lang po yung mga barya kase hindi nyo na magagamit yan sa ibang bansa”. Nice advice!
  • Sa NAIA security pa rin, pag may dala kang tuyo, pusit, daing, longganisa, manggang hilaw o mga delata, kukunin sayo kahit naka ballot na ng maganda, sasabihin sayo ng security officer “Sir, di nyo po pwedeng dalin yan for security reasons po”.

SA DUBAI

  • Ngingitian ka ng mga Filipino kahit di mo kakilala, tatawagin ka ng “Kabayan”.
  • Ang tawag ng ibang lahi sa mga Filipino “Kabayan at Pare”.
  • Madaming ibang lahi ang marunong ng konting tagalong.
  • Ang mga Filipino ay kasama sa mga TCN or Third County Nations, kulelat sa categorya ng mga manggagawa, siyempre una ang mga Expats or Westerns, pangalawa o halos kapantay nila ay mga Locals or Emirati. Halos natatalo natin sa pagka-kulelat ang mga Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nepalis o iba pang Asians.
  • Kulelat man ang mga Filipino sa work category iwinawagayway naman ng mga Pinay ang bandila ng Pilipinas bilang pinaka-malaking sumingil na mga prostitute. Sa labanang ito talo natin ang mga Russians, Indonesians, Chinese, Africans, Lebanese o kahit sino pa man.Mga Filipino ang halos nagpapatakbo ng mga hotel, restaurant, beach club at ng kung ano-ano pang negosyo sa hospitality and service industry.
  • Parang sa Saudi Arabia din, madaming may asawa na sa Pilipinas ang nagiging binata o dalaga sa Dubai at nagkakaroon ng ikalawa-ikatlo-ikaapat na asawa.
  • Pinakamababango at pinakamalilinis ang mga Filipino, pinakamababaho ang mga Pana at Patan, talagang nakakasulasok ang mga amoy. Kung bago ka sa Middle East baka mahimatay ka.
  • Hanggang sa Middle East may network war ang Channel 2 at Channel 7.
  • Mga Filipino ang mga sikat na musikero sa Dubai, maparock, acoustic o ballad. Madalas bukambibig ng aking mga banyagang kaibigan ang “Filipino band or Filipino disco”
  • Napakababastos ng mga taxi driver sa Dubai, mga nakakurbata pa naman, walang Filipinong taxi driver sa Dubai, ewan ko kung bakit. Mababaho ang mga taxi, yun nga lang halos lahat ay Toyota Camry at mangilan ngilang Nissan Altima at Peugeot 407.
  • May “toda” ng mga nag ka-carlift (private car na ginawang taxi) na Pinoy sa Al Attar sa Karama at Lals sa Satwa.
  • Ilan sa mga alam kong Filipino companies sa Dubai ay Jolibee, Chikka Grill, De Lasalle Montessori, Andoks, Chowking, PNB, ABS-CBN at GMA Network.
  • Halos lahat ng Filipino ay naka bed space dahil mahal ang rent ng flat. Halos lahat ng flat na may Filipino ay may videoke at reserbang alak.
  • Marami kang mapapansin sa job ads na may mga katagang “preperably Filipinos”.
  • Pag minsan tatanungin ang mga Filipino na “are you Abu Sayaf?”
  • Nagtutulungan ang mga Filipino kahit di magkakakilala, sana sa Pilipinas ganyan din.
  • May tagalong mass sa St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Dito rin karaniwang tumatakbo ang mga Filipinong nauubusan ng pera dahil di pa nakakahanap ng trabaho.
  • Ang karaniwang trabaho ng mga Filipino ay Engineer, Accountant, Draftsman, Secretary, Salesman, Nurse, Sales Clerk sa mall, waiter, office boy at katulong.
  • Pinaghaharian pa rin ng mga Chinese ang pirated DVD sale sa Dubai at ang number one na mga suki ay mga Filipino.


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Saturday, March 10, 2007

Filipino World Champion

Mabuhay!!! Another Filipino put the Philippines in the world map, he did it twice actually when he won the 9 ball world championship in Manila last year. He won the title of World 8-Ball championship by beating his fellow Kabayan Dennis Orcollo at Fujairah's Bustan centre.
Ronnie Alcano during the final of the eight-ball pool
championship in Fujairah. Fuad Ali/Gulf News

Alcano crowned new world champion in eight-ball contest
By Fuad Ali, Staff Reporter, Gulf News

Fujairah, UAE: Ronnie Alcano has been crowned the new World 8-Ball champion after putting in a confident display to beat fellow Filipino Dennis Orcollo at Fujairah's Bustan centre yesterday.
A large Filipino crowd turned up to watch the final, full in the knowledge that the winner will be one of their compatriot players.

A delighted Alcano told Gulf News: "I'm really happy to win here on my first participation especially coming on the back of winning the world title in the 9-ball equivalent."
The match, which was expected to be a closely fought affair, started off with both players neck to neck.

After 5 games the score was 3-2 in favour of Ronnie Alcano, the latter then hit top form and seemingly almost decided the outcome of the match by opening a five-game lead on Dennis Orcollo at 7-2.

At this stage, Alcano looked to be the more confident player of the two, at times seeming to play at twice the speed of his opponent.

In truth, the more pensive Orcollo was given very few opportunities by a slick Alcano.
Orcollo soon managed to regain some of his composure to cut Alcano's lead to just 2 games, winning the next three consecutive games.

Orcollo's mini-revival was momentarily halted as Alcano took an 8-5 lead, but the match was soon back on balance as Orcollo won the next two games to make the score 8-7, completing a brave recovery.

Eventually, though, the in-form Alcano regained the initiative and powered home to a deserved 11-8 win to take the world title.


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The Migrants' Manifesto

To all Kabayans in the middle east, our little effort in signing this manifesto will be a big help to the great aim of those who are advocating this. Please read, sign and pass to fellow OFWs.

Please sign the manifesto

Migrants' Manifesto for Issue-based Electoral Contest

We, the Overseas Filipinos worldwide, urge each and everyone in the coming May electoral contest to implore all political parties, emerging parties and their respective candidates to bring forth a platform-based campaign so that the electorate can choose credible persons who are worthy to lead the nation. In order to advance democratic governance in the Philippines, there should be a structure or process of reform that promotes increasingly participatory and accountable governance. In this context, the will and voice of the people should be respected at all times and the sanctity of the ballots must be safeguarded.

The root causes of human insecurity in the Philippines – and thus, threats to overall peace and development – include conditions of inequity, with an elite few controlling power and economic resources; abject poverty; poor governance; injustice, abuse of authority and violations of human rights; and marginalization of minority groups. And yet, squandering of billions of pesos from legitimate and illegitimate sources had been a common scenario in a personality and patronage based electoral contest. The proposed platform based campaign is envisioned to change this bad practice. In order to sustain poverty reduction, there must be equitable growth and the poor people who are in the majority must have political power – i.e. with a real voice and space. The powerful and/or the elites - whether political leaders, corporations or other influential actors - must be held accountable for their actions; more specifically, they must be held accountable for their success or failure in their individual or party platform of promised good governance.


We are calling for robust, transparent, internally democratic and accountable political parties in order to develop a stronger democratic culture in the Philippines. Otherwise, the right to choose will remain to be pre-empted by the elites that own the political process, including the political organizations.

We challenge those who want to become legitimate servants and leaders to articulate a concrete and doable developmental plan aimed at the Filipino migrant workers around the world. We pledge to support legitimate servants of the people running for any public position that aggressively promote the interest of our sector on the following issues:

1) Institute meaningful comprehensive electoral reforms starting with the removal of the residency requirement inserted at the last minute by congress in the Absentee Voting Law. Introduce laws that will create a transparent campaign expenditures and verifiable financial source imposing a limit to individual, group, and corporate campaign donations.

2) Creation of an office with a Cabinet status such as the Ministry of Migration and Development that will truly work for the interests of migrant workers. This office must be led by a Minister whose primary task is to manage orderly labor migration, harness the development potentials of migration and development (co-development). Set up an advisory board composed of qualified, dedicated, and credible Overseas Filipinos to advice the Ministry. In addition, the Ministry must:

• See to it that the rights of migrants are protected.

• Facilitate return migration and in such a way that overseas Filipinos who wish to return voluntarily remain active in the labor force or has the necessary means to secure his or her financial future including their families.

• Monitor the performance of government agencies in charge of migrant workers (OWWA, etc.) and particularly to review structures relating to the migrant workers trust fund to enable migrants to have an effective voice and meaningful representation in policy formation, and to ensure proper administration and management of their fund.

• Explore ways to address present gaps and barriers that hinder the effective mobilization, distribution, monitoring, and accountability procedures, in order to achieve economies of scale in current Filipino Diaspora giving, including possibilities of replicating the Mexican experience (3 x 1 program). [i]

• Facilitate creation of an enabling environment (investments, provide financial services including housing, insurance, education, savings, etc. for migrants) that fully harness the development potentials of Philippine migration.

• Encourage multi-stakeholder approach to development and promote public-private partnerships. [ii]

• Support and stimulate the transnational role of Overseas Filipinos so that they can contribute to the country’s development; while the government on the other hand, should establish a systematic way of tapping these skills (not only waiting for their remittances). [iii]

• Strengthen the capacity of Philippine consulates and representative offices worldwide to better serve the needs of migrant Filipino workers.

3) Promote good governance, honesty, and accountability of our government servants from the highest to lowest position. The virtue of servant-leadership must be practiced.

4) Promote the welfare of our women, elderly and children.

5) Access to a better education and health services for all. [iv]

We urge government groups, media facilities, civil society, church organizations, and other responsible citizens, to organize and support pre-election public forums and other similar initiatives requiring candidates or party representatives to debate and publicly present their platforms on where they stand regarding these migrant issues. This will enable the citizenry, including eligible overseas voters and members of their families in the Philippines , in making informed decisions and to help ensure that only those candidates with clear and sincere intentions of promoting the welfare of the migrant sector, their families, and millions of poor people in our country are elected to public office.

Please sign the manifesto

The Migrants' Manifesto for Issue-based Electoral Contest Petition to Philippine Electorates and concerned groups and individuals was created by Overseas Filipinos Worldwide and written by Leila Rispens Noel, Doris Alfafara, Ren Arrieta, Ding Bagasao, Basco Fernandez, Joy Puyat, Cesar Torres, Dennis Yaun, James Zamora, Johnny Pecayo (leila@rispens.tweakdsl.nl, shiel62de2001@yahoo.com, ofwmanifesto@yahoo.com ).


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Monday, March 5, 2007

Pinoy style : How to visit Dubai then apply for a job

Base on my personal experience some of the following are few tips you have to read and take note when planning to visit and find a job in Dubai.

Required Documents
Transcript of Records, Diploma and PRC Certificate if any, are the usual documents you need to secure when going to Dubai.

Procedure to process the documents:

Diploma and TOR - must be certified as true copy by your school registrar, authenticated by your regional CHED office, Malacanang, Department of Foreign Affairs and UAE embassy. You have to personally secure the authentication except in UAE embassy which you have to send via Fedex with enclosed managers check of Peso 1,400.

PRC Certificate - must be authenticated by PRC, Malacanang, DFA and UAE embassy. (The same procedure for Diploma and TOR)

These documents are needed in order to secure working visa in UAE, but it is not necessary to bring together with you in your flight to Dubai as this are not requirement in applying for a job. Yet not necessary but it is advisable to bring it with you as it will be needed when you are hired immediately and the processing alone in the Philippines will approximately 5 weeks.

While the processing of the authentication of your documents is under development, get ideas about UAE in websites that are available in the internet.

Ideal timing
Summer in the Middle East starts mid March and ends late October, temperature is rising up to 45 degrees so this is not the ideal time in walking on Dubai streets to apply for a job. Also at this season, managers of companies are normally out on vacation.

Avoid also the month of Ramadan as the office timings are shorten to 5 hours.

Ideal timing to visit UAE is from October to March as the whether is fine and there are lot of festivals thus requiring more jobs.

Exchange Rate
Money in UAE is called Dirhams (AED, Dhs), This is approximately equivalent to 13 pesos in Philippine money and fixed to 3.68 per 1 US Dollars.

How much visa and air fare costs?
Visas are pre-arranged, it means you have to apply for it while in the Philippines. If you have friends that were already in the UAE, they can help you to to get a visa.

Typically Filipinos are entering the UAE ports by using tourist visa, tourist visa holders are not allowed to work in the UAE, but they are allowing visitors to apply for a job. This type of visa including air ticket for one way is Dhs 2,700 – 3,000. Please note that you have to pay at this range only, otherwise it’s too much. (Airline ticketing agencies will issue back and forth tickets to tourist visa holders as Dubai authorities are assuming that you are returning back, this is dummy ticket only, you don’t have to pay for it.

Above rate is the regular rate that Dubai based agents are charging, you can check the standard rates here and here for more detailed information.

Visa expiry
Tourist visa holders are allowed to stay in the UAE for 60 days. The visa is valid 30 days from the date of issue. If it is not utilized in the validity period you need to apply for new one. The 60 days count will start from the date you set foot on UAE land.

This means that you have 60 days for job hunting. If you did not find job in 60 days, it is nessesary to leave the county for a visa change. Usually the exit point is in Kish or Qeshem islands in Iran. There is no limit for visa change, you can do it untill you got a job.

Kish and Qeshem visa change
Kish and Qeshm islands are 45 minutes from Dubai via chartered flight, the whole package of visa change ranges from Dhs 1,350 to 1,600 including the visa, return ticket, one day hotel accommodation, and breakfast meal. Usual staying period in these islands while waiting for the new visa is 2-3 days, you are lucky if you can go back to Dubai at the same day of your departure.

Above rate is the regular rate that Dubai based agents are charging, you can check the standard rates here and here for more detailed information.

Once you got your new visa and landed to Dubai, you have another 60 days to find a job.

Job hunting
In Dubai the job competition is tough, but once you got a job it is rewarding. Our main competitors here are our Kababayans also and the Indians which sometimes being favored because of their cheaper salary rates.

Job market in Dubai is awesome, everyday you can read in newspaper ads and internet postings whatever job you are looking for. However as I’ve said the competition is high. One good way is to look for vacancies suitable to your experience and apply as many as you can in one day so the possibility of being called in an interview will increase. Take note that every minute of your stay have cost so don’t consume a day without releasing a single CV in your hand. Don’t concentrate on few job openings; make a target of at least ten applications in one day.

There are some times of discouragements and depressions but you should not stop dreaming because of the money and time you invested.

How much pocket money needed.
To give you an idea of the cost of living in Dubai:

Bed space rent - Dhs 500 – 750 (4-8 persons sharing in one room)
Water and electricity - Dhs 60 – 100
Food - Dhs 250 per month will be fine
Personal things - Dhs 50 is enough
Bus fare - Dhs 1.50 minimum fare

You also have to allocate extra amount on internet rent, Fax, printing and mobile SIM card plus load as these are necessary when applying for a job.

Base on my experience Dhs 2,000 – 2,500 will be sufficient for two months.

For more informations read the Dubai Handbook and Dubai Guide.

These informations are only based on my personal experience so it will be better if you will also ask your friends who are already in Dubai on some tips how to successfully enter in Dubai and eventually land a job here.


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Saturday, March 3, 2007

My Saudi experience

Kung di ka pa nakarating ng Saudi Arabia, eto ang mga halimbawa ng mga kakaibang aking napuna sa loob nga dalawang taon kong pag ta-trabaho sa Jeddah.

  • Naka Pajero, Suburvan, Patrol o Hilux ang mga nagpapastol ng tupa. Ayon sa aking nabasa sa local na pahayagan doon ang transpormasyon ng Saudi na ito ay kanilang tinatawag na “from camel to cadillac”.
  • Mas mura ang diesel kaysa tubig, mabibili ang 1 liter ng bottled water sa halagang 26 pesos (2 riyals) samantalang ang 1 liter ng Diesel ay 6.5 pesos 50 halalas (1 riyal equals to 100 halalas).
  • Ang dayuhan ang laging may sala kahit siya ang binangga. Ang paliwanag nila dito, kung hindi ka pumunta ng bansa nila, hindi ka sana nila nabangga.
  • Ang mga banko ay may ladies’ branch kase di pwedeng pumasok ang mga babae sa bangko na may lalake.
  • Pag nakulong ang lalaki, ang payo ng matatagal na sa Saudi “bring oil”, ewan ko kung bakit.
  • Iisang klase lang ang suot ng mga babae na tinatawag na abaya, ito ay kulay itim na balot mula ulo hanggang papa.
  • Pag umiling ang mga Indian nationals ang ibig sabihin nito ay "yes" sa atin ito ay "no".
  • 90% ng mga tao dito ay may balbas o bigote.
  • Bawal magsuot ng crucifix, magbasa ng bibliya, o mag display ng mga signs ng cross kase puputilin yun ng mga authoridad.
  • Dalawang klase ang pulis, pangkaraniwang pulis at mga "mutawa" o religious police. Ang mga "mutawa" ang naninita ng mga taong lumalabag sa Islam.
  • May mga restoran na di pwedeng pumasok ang mga babae.
  • Ang mga security guard sa banko ay walang baril.
  • Ang bilihan ng mga ginto ay parang tiangge lang at walang security guard
  • Bawal pumasok ang mga lalaki sa beauty parlor.
  • Walang metro ang taxi, pwede kang tumawad.
  • Sa ospital pwede mong kausapin ang mga babae, kaya ang sabi-sabi ang ibang lalake ay nagpapa check-up kahit walang sakit.
  • Pag lalaki ka at walang bigote mag-ingat ka baka ma-rape ka.
  • Napakababaho ng ibang lahi, sabi nga ng mga pinoy "don't smoke within 5 meters from them baka sumabog".
  • Bawal ang sugal pero may pasabong at pa-lottery ang mga pinoy.
  • Bawala ang alak pero may "brewery" o gawaan ng alak ang mga mighty pinoys.
  • Kapag napagbintangan ka ay ikukulong ka agad at papalayin ka lang kung mapapatunayan na di totoo ang bintang.
  • Putol ulo ang pasura pag ikaw ay nahulihan ng droga, pumatay o nanggahasa.
  • May pinuputalan ng ulo sa plaza sa Balad, Jeddah pag Friday.
  • Limang beses kada isang araw nagsasasarado ang mga restaurant, bangko at mga tindahan para mag dasal o “salah”.
  • Pangkaraniwan na kung makakita ka ng nag darasal sa gilid ng kalsada.
  • Walang talipapa, iisa lang ang bilihan ng isda, at least maayos di ba?
  • Minsan lang sa isang buwan mag-pasweldo di gaya sa Pilipinas na kinsenas at katapusan.
  • Walang kinakaltas na tax sa sweldo.
  • Dapat dala-dala mo lagi ang ID mo na kung tawagin ay “iqama”, dahil pag nahuli kang di dala ito malaking trouble.
  • Uso ang kalbo sa Saudi kase mainit ang tubig.
  • May pasok tuwing pasko at bagong taon, boring di ba?
  • Nagbabatian ang mga Filipino kahit di magkakakilala sabay bati ng “Kabayan”.
  • Sa Balad, Jeddah may naglalako ng balot at puto.
  • Dati bawal ang celphone na may camero, pero ngayon pinapayagan na.
  • Ang pera ay Riyal at ang palitan nito sa dolyar ay hindi nagbabago.
  • Sobrang init sa summer at napakalamig naman pag winter.
  • Pag may naaksidente wag mong tulungan, hintayin ang pulis na dumating kase pag namatay ang naaksidente baka mapagbintangan ka pa.
  • Sa kanilang kalendarayo na kung tawagin ay Hijira Calendar ang taon sa kasalukuyan ay 1428 pa lang sa Greogorian calendar na ating ginagamit ito ay 2007.
  • Sabado ang simula na pasok at walang pasok pag Byernes.
  • Pwede kang tumawad sa mall.
  • Dahil sa sobrang init lahat ng bahay o gusali ay may aircon, kahit toilet at kusina.
  • Ang tawag sa mga Filipino babae man o lalaki ay “pare” o “filibini” ang tawag naman ng mga Filipino sa kahit anong lahi ay “sadik” ang arabic translation ng kaibigan.
  • Bawal ang baboy, alak at sugal.
  • Ang pagsusulat nila ay simula sa kaliwa pakanan.
  • Bawal mag-usap o maglakad ng magkasabay ang babae at lalake sa publikong lugar kung hindi naman mag-asawa.
  • Bawal sumakay ang babae sa front pasenger’s seat ng sasakyan kung hindi naman niya asawa ang driver.
  • Kinukulayan ng itim ang mga magazines, ads o mga larawan na nagpapakita ng legs, binti o leeg.
  • Walang sinehan, pero nabasa ko sa internet na naaprubahan na ang pagpapalabas ng cartoons sa public places.


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Dubai before & after

Rapid development and economical growth made the UAE as one which has the lagest economical footprints.

Below pictures epicts the major development that made the Dubai deserts into city of skyscrapers in span of 50 years.


Sheikh Zayed road 1951



Sheikh Zayed road 2005


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Thursday, March 1, 2007

OFW weekend

Like weekdays, a typical weekend for OFWs is busy, some of us are working partime, most are on the malls, parks, beach, eating in favorite Filipino restaurants, cooking , and watching movies at theathers or DVDs at home.


Picnic with friends...Ako ang kumuha ng picture.


Pizza Hut Dubai..ako ulit ang kumuha ng picture.


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360,000 jobs for Filipinos

Good news for the Philippine economy, but a bit of bad news for our contrymen because they will be deprived of the services of professional Kabayans, hoping that these estimates be reached, inshallah!!!

Filipinos hope to fill 8,600 jobs in Bahrain

The Philippines is looking to fill about 8,600 jobs in Bahrain over the next three years.
The projected manpower demand of the country, which maintains strong relations with Bahrain, excludes housemaids as the Department of Labour and Employment (Dole) targets higher quality and better paying jobs, a source in Manila told our sister publication the Gulf Daily News.
"The Philippines overall is looking to fill the projected manpower demand of more than half a million jobs in nine Middle Eastern countries over the next three years, as a boom in the jobs market is expected once again in the important region," he said.

Most of the jobs are in energy, petrochemical, construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, hotels and restaurants, aviation, steel, tourism, medical and service industries.

Dole estimates that 360,000 of these jobs will be available from this year to 2009 in Saudi Arabia; 44,340 in the UAE; 42,851 in Qatar; 32,041 in Kuwait; 10,500 in Oman; 8,600 in Bahrain; 7,500 in Libya; 1,000 in Lebanon; and 600 in Jordan.
"Right now, housemaids are not included in this estimation," said one source.
"Unskilled workers, usually maids, earn as little as $100 (BD37.800) in the Middle East, with many employers expressing dismay over the new minimum wage of $400 (BD151) imposed by the Philippine government last month.
"Dole estimates that technical/skilled workers could earn up to $2,000 a month (BD756) and professionals up to $6,000 (BD2,268) in the region."

Large numbers of Filipino workers in the Middle East are employed as housemaids, except in Libya.

While maids account for only 0.5 per cent of the total Filipino population in Libya, they account for 98pc in Jordan, 89pc in Lebanon, 55.5pc in Kuwait, 48pc in Oman, 40pc in Bahrain, 32pc in Qatar, 20pc in UAE, and 13pc in Saudi.

Thanks to : TradeArabia News Service


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OFW Obligations

Kabayans in the Middle East don't have enough time to read everyday newspapers because of everyday work. So, a new objective of this blog is to post Middle East news relevant to OFWs from Middle East papers, sabi nga "kahit na luma basta malaman at mapakinabangan".

Here a is news article that will remind rather than teach OFWs of their responsibilities, I'm saying this because I'm very sure that every OFWs ultimate objective is to have this reponsibility done. But, in my experience as OFW for 3 + years, there are few that fails to do so. Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) is giving a handbook stating the Rights and Obligations of Filipino Migrant Workers, unfortunately I can't find this posted in the www.

Filipinos who fail to support families can be summoned by home courts
By Criselda E. Diala 13 February 2007
Khaleej Times

DUBAI — Married non-resident Filipinos who fail to provide financial support to their families can be summoned by a court in the Philippines, said an official from the Philippine Overseas Labour Office-Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA).

Eduardo Mendoza Jr., Welfare Officer of the POLO-OWWA in Dubai, said that in such cases, wives of Filipinos residing and working abroad were legally entitled to seek a court order, which would then be served to the concerned Filipinos by the Philippine diplomatic mission.

“Once the court order and a formal letter of request addressed to the POLO-OWWA or the Philippine Consulate General are received, we’ll forward the summon to the concerned party,” he said.

Mendoza made this clarification in response to a telephone call made by I.H., a Filipina residing in Pampanga, Philippines, who claimed that her husband, E.H., had not been sending money to her for the past three months.

“We have three children and I just cannot afford to send them all to school on my own. I’ve tried calling my husband on his mobile but he’s ignoring my calls,” the woman alleged. She also accused her husband of having extra-marital relations in Dubai, the reason, she cites, for not sending money home.

However, when contacted by Khaleej Times, E.H. said he had failed to send money to his family since December last year mainly because he was in dire straits, thanks to his ballooning credit card bills. He also said he had already sent money to his family early this month.
Meanwhile, the POLO-OWWA officer admitted that all they could do in such cases was to remind the person concerned about his duty and obligation. “We cannot impose a decision on the person. It’s up to him to heed the request,” he said.


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