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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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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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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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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