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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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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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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Saudi Prince to invest in the Philippines

Below is a good news for those who are in the tourism industry, it means possibility of more jobs to become available in the near future. However a big chunk of Filipino hoteliers, teacher turned hoteliers, police turned hoteliers, bankers turned hoteliers, secretary turned hoteliers and HRM professionals are in the middle east particularly in Dubai.

Tourism eyes investment from world’s richest people.

By Katrina Mennen A. Valdez, Researcher-The Manila Times

Two of the world’s richest people have shown interest in investing in the Philippine tourism industry.
One of the prospected investors is China’s hotel and property giant Shimao Group owned by Xu Rongmao, the second richest man in China who was reported to be interested in putting up a world-class hotel facility here that will include residential and commercial complex.

Another group the government courts is a company owned by the richest man in the Middle East and the eight richest in the world. The group is led by Al-Waleed Bin Talal, who bought the Four Seasons hotel together with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and operates 31 high-end hotels in 31 countries.

This development is part of the government’s grand ambition to attract one business trophy equivalent to $1-billion worth of a single investment this year to be followed by two next year and two more in 2009.

The President’s economic team made the commitment during a Business Forum held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City this week.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Samie Lim, said earlier the Shimao Group is interested in building one 5-star hotel in Metro Manila and is looking into an area in the Central Visayas, particularly Bohol, for a possible resort project.

Su Rongma came to the Philippines as a member of the Chinese Business Team that visited the country two weeks ago. Lim said he has talked to Shimao Group chairman Hui Wing Mau who confirmed the company’s plan in investing in the Philippines.
When the talks become final, Lim said he would recommend the property group owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan to be the Chinese group’s local partner.

But Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila declined to confirm if the two groups are among the major investors that the government is eyeing for its “trophy business.”

Favila merely said the national government is now courting trophy investments that can infuse a minimum of $1 billion to sustain the country’s economic growth.

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