| Please
e-mail to us your comment, feedback and opinion
to writeus@ofwjournalism.net |
Lesson:
don’t exploit OFWs
Re: ‘Repairmen from central Philippines
keep Prague-based firm warm’ (Vol. 9, Nos.
2 and 3 edition, 7 March 2010)
Hi! On the article, I do hope that, by reading
through the lines, other companies will recognize
OFWs' contributions, instead of exploiting them.
Best,
ROBERTO TONGO
President, Gaming Business Unit, Teleplan Prague
s.r.o.
Prague, the Czech Republic |
Dependency
Re: ‘Peso a turnkey in OFW money flow’
(Vol. 9, No. 1 edition, 12 January 2010)
The Philippine economy is almost dependent now
on OFs (overseas Filipinos’) remittances;
instead of enhancing and generating more local
jobs (attention: DOLE, POEA). Philippine missions
abroad are into high marketing gear to export
our surplus labor, and NEDA spells this [out]
as “employment facilitation”. When
will this government arrest the daily departure
of more than 3,000 Filipinos in our premier airport?
Best,
RASHID A. FABRICANTE
Saudi Arabia |
‘Permanent
settler’ not akin to ‘OFW’—reader
(For the article “Permanent
settlers abroad keep OFW money flow up –economist”
(vol. 8 no. 2 newspacket) by Jeremaiah M. Opiniano
)
Dear Editor:
I WOULD like to put holes in this article. First
of all, I'm not an economist but I studied the
numbers of the BSP, POEA and NSO because I'm one
of these so called "settlers" that Alvin
Ang refers to. First, it is insulting to
call ex-Filipinos (or the balikbayans) as "settlers".
Many or the majority of these so-called
"settlers" immigrated for a number of
reasons, including family reunification, professional
work, etc. Immigrants do not start off as
OFW's.
The term “balikbayan” and OFW were
Marcos era inventions and should not be confused
with one another. Balikbayans are ex-Filipinos
and many of us have been foreign citizens (non-Filipinos),
earning mainstream wage scales, with more spending
power than OFWs. OFWs are strictly contract workers
who have no permanent status in the host countries,
and generally do not get the same pay scale as
the foreign locals.
There have been balikbayans for as long as I can
remember. It is not a new phenomenon, just
a new word (Marcos’ invention). There
were a lot of immigrants to the US way before
Marcos institutionalized labor export through
POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration).
In the old days, balikbayans were called OTs or
old timers. There had been OFWs as well
since the Spanish Galleon trade. Seafarers
were also on the US Navy, in foreign merchant
marine, skilled contract workers in places for
Aramco, or US bases worldwide, garment workers
in the Netherlands, Canada in the 1960s.
The glaring error is that the government stats
count balikbayan under the “Overseas Filipino
Workers” category, and their remittances
under “OFW remittances”. About
60 percent of remittances to the country come
from non-labor importing countries like the US,
Canada, Australia, etc. These are from ex-Filipinos,
investing in the country. Think of the property
boom, the middle-to-upper middle class housing
and condominiums. Their big remittances
should be treated more as equity investor class,
not OFW remittances. The OFW's unfortunately,
are the oppressed migrants in many Asian countries.
In Saudi, I was told by someone's relative,
they sometimes get paid as low as US$300.00 per
month!
First, the “balikbayan” numbers should
be taken out of the picture. The ex-Filipinos
for whatever reason they ended up overseas is
no longer the government's business. We
are no longer citizens of the country. Whatever
we remit is gratis, similar to many other foreign
expats. The OFW must be strictly OFW's.
Their numbers, stats, their wages, remittances
should be properly tracked or monitored to ensure
the program is effective for the OFW and for the
country. Exporting cheap labor will NOT fuel the
economy. Wonky analyses and sweeping conclusions
do not provide proper direction for economic planning.
MR. J. ALEX BUENAFE, CHE (jabuenafe@primus.ca)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Telephone: 416-413-9208
Cellphone: 416-825-4461
|
Padala
quirks with the Bureau of Customs
(Email
in Filipino unedited)
Dear
Editor:
Ako
po ay OFW dito sa Hong Kong. Pitong taon na
po akong nagtatrabaho para sa aking pamilya.kahapon
po april 18 2008 bumalik ang aking tiyahin sa
Pilipinas at ipinapakidala ko ang aking lumang
SAMSUNG LCD 17" computer screen. Binili
ko ito nuon pang 2004. Siningil po ang aking
tiyahin ng customs dahil ang sabi nila base
sa kanilang pagkakakita sa nasasabing computer
LCD monitor e "brand new" daw po at
nakakahon pa maingat lang po ako sa gamit.hinold
ang aking tiyahin sa Customs at kukunin daw
ang lcd pag hindi nagbayad.
Sa takot ng aking tiyahin sabi nya na 1500 peso
na lang ang pera nya at nagbayad naman sya.nagtatrabaho
po ako dito at ilang beses na din po akong nagpabalik
balik sa atin ng may dalang second hand na electronics
dahil mejo may kamahalan nga ang bago.nais ko
po sanang palagpasin dahil sa 1,500 peso lamang,
subalit hirap na hirap na po ako dito sa Hong
Kong tapos ang tiyahin ko nagkakatulong tapos
pinapunta lamang dito ng kanyang amo at nakisuyo
lang ako para dalhin ang gamit tapos ipipilit
ng ating mga opisyal na bago ang gamit.nag issue
ng resibo ang customs. gusto ko pong magkaroon
ng katarungan itong kaso na ito.
Hindi na po maganda ang nangyayari na ito. kahit
na i-give up ko ang pagka-Pilipino ko sa ganitong
ginagawa sa atin ng kapwa nating Filipino sa
sarili pa nating bansa.ipinilit nilang bago
ang LCD dahil nakakahon pa daw.naitago ko po
ang kahon na iyon dahil maingat din po ako sa
gamit at kung sakaling ibenta ko at least e
mejo di magagasgas at kung maglilipat kami dito
sa Hong Kong.nakakainis po kasing isipin na
ganito ang ginagawa sa atin.ipapabalik ko po
dito ang LCD at kayo na po ang bahala...kahit
na di na ako bumalik ng bansa para lang mailabas
itong kahihiyan na itong ginagawa sa atin.napakababaw
po pero kailangan na natin ng pagbabago.
Jordan,
from Hong Kong <trumantraffic@yahoo.com> |
Global group of Pinyos abroad to hold Congress
in December
Dear Editor:
The First Overseas Filipino Congress is a grand
event created by the Overseas Filipino Council
(OFC). The Congress seeks to establish a close
partnership with all Filipinos worldwide in order
to help the Philippines achieve a common goal
of economic advancement.
The congress should be able to serve as a venue
for all corporations, individuals, and the Philippine
government as well, to work out a plan or a group
of programs in which we could all work together
for the development of our homeland, the Philippines.
This could mean plans of creating more jobs for
Filipinos, development of SMEs (small and medium
enterprises), among others. The congress should
serve as a jumpstart in leading the people into
taking action. As what the Overseas Filipino Council
says, “Because we can. We mean it.”
This event will be held in Dumaguete City, the
capital of the Province of Negros Oriental this
December 6-8, 2007. Everyone is invited. For details,
you may reach the undersigned at gerelroa@gmail.com,
and at +639174984897.
Yours,
MR.
GEREL R. ROA
Overseas Filipino Council (Philippine
office)
www.ofcouncil.org
Editor’s
note: The Overseas Filipino Council is a registered
as a non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian
organization in the USA that seeks to establish
strategic alliances with Filipino groups and organizations
to help address issues in relation to the welfare
and well being of Migrant Filipinos and Overseas
Filipino Workers. A web-based organization, it
also seeks to reach out to all Filipinos through
the Internet by way of an information resource
on all things Filipino. The OF Council’s
board of trustees comes from the US, Australia,
and the Philippines. |
Dear
Sir:
Good afternoon po!
I email you taking into consideration the
run away OFW na na meet ko po sa party last
Friday. She is a hospital worker supplied
by Samama Company for Operation and Maintenance
Services. Sa pagkakataon ay buntis pa ang
babaeng ito. On her inquiry sa OWWA ang
sabi nila mga runaway domestic helper lang
ang tinatangap nila. But I already sent
my message to OWWA by email yesterday to
inquire and clarify this statement. Kasi
sabi ko po sa kanya mas delikado kalagayan
ng taong kumukupkop sa kanya kung hindi
siya pupunta sa bahay kalinga. Speaking
of the company I learned this coy since
when I was in Yanbu 4 years back and doing
the same but until now hindi pa rin block
listed ang kompanya sa pagsupply ng tao
of filipino OFW. As I understand gumagamit
po sila ng pangalan ng ibang company and
recruiters papalit palit lang po ng pangalan
kapag naba block list ganun po style nila.
Sumusweldo lang po sila SR550 (for hospital
workers). Hindi tumutupad sa usapan ng kontrata.
Nagtataka lang po ako kung bakit derederetso
pag recruit nila ng OFWs samantalang ang
daming kaso na nakakaibat sa kanila. Ang
sabi pa po ng source ko kung gusto makaalis
gaya ng ginagawa ng ibang kasama niya eh
magbabayad sa OWWA ng SR2,000 to SR3,000
para daw po sa korte (not sure exactly what
this money for).
Saka napansin ko po talaga na ka pag na
magnify sa media ay mas mabilis po ang pag
kilos nila. Kung maari po na makuha din
ang source nyo po sa media or I may pass
to you all the info if you dont mind and
its up for you dessiminate to the right
person in our govt./media (if necessary).
Pls. advise.
Maraming maraming salamat po.
Ernie Munoz (Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia) |
I would like to share with your readers my experience
here at the Maltese Consulate to the Philippines.
Having come here from the Philippines as a business
woman with capital and projects to manufacture
handicrafts in Malta, I went to the consulate
in the hope that they would help me in my endeavors.
Very soon I noticed and learned that they were
charging Filipinos a fee for a single signature,
endorsement, or visa extension. Now I have absolute
proof that the consulate's intervention was not
needed for the issue or extension of a visa to
stay in Malta since this was at the discretion
of the immigration department in Malta following
a request by the Philippine Consulate in Manila.
Besides this, one of my clients, a Maltese, wanted
to visit my factory in the Philippines and after
he enquired at the consulate, he was told that
a visa was required and charged him over 30 liri
for it, when in fact none was needed. When I brought
this up with the consulate here, they just laughed.
It seems that the consulate wants to control anything
which Filipinos residing in Malta are doing so
that they can charge fees for their imposed intervention.
Because I spoke up and made it amply clear that
I did not think it was fair for my compatriots
to be treated in this manner, I was shouted at,
verbally thrown out of the office and told in
very crude language that he could do what he liked
and that no one could touch him. I filmed the
whole meeting on my DigiCam.
A few inquiries over the Internet, however, revealed
that the Consul to the Philippines in Malta's
term had expired on the 3rd of February 2007.
On the local newspaper, there was a call for all
Filipinos in Malta to attend the Celebration of
the Anniversary of Independence Day in the Philippines
which was held last Sunday in Valletta.
I printed all the relative documentation which
proved that the consulate was an “EX”
and went to the venue in the hope of informing
all the bona fide Filipinos there that they were
no longer obliged to contribute to the Consul's
coffers given that he was no longer their representative.
Moreover, I insisted that he had no right to rally
Filipinos to celebrate their Independence Day
in Malta when in fact he was not any more connected
to the consulate. I also objected to his flying
my country's flag outside his office.
Once again, I was told to please leave, that my
presence there was not welcome.
I would like all the press here to get their nose
onto this in the hope that if any injustices have
been suffered by Filpinos in Malta, some form
of compensation or remedial action will be forthcoming.
Susana E. Higayon
President
SuhiroMalta Limited |
Overseas
voting ‘vastly overplayed’
Re:
“Issues spook overseas voting sign-up in
US” by Jeremaiah M. Opiniano
(Volume
5 Numbers 10 and 11, November 20, 2006)
ONE
of the benefits touted to Filipino-Americans about
dual citizenship is the right to participate in
voting at home. But that has been vastly overplayed,
as noted by the abysmal number of those who had
registered to vote.
Let's examine the numbers more closely. Out of
at least two million naturalized Filipinos here,
the number of 10,633 who registered to vote represent
less than 0.5% - an appallingly low percentage
by any measure. And I'm certain that's not going
to change much in the future.
One criticism I had from the beginning is that
voting for candidates back home does not make
any sense when most of us here know nothing or
very little about the candidates there, or the
issues involved. Voting in absentia in that context
is at best an exercise in futility, never mind
that there have been zealous advocates here who
felt that extending the right of suffrage to Filipino-Americans
would symbolize our ability to influence the course
of events there. That's turning out to be a lot
of balderdash (or nonsense).
It's obvious, from the few people interviewed
here, that there is either lack of interest or
complete apathy to the call for overseas voting.
I'm willing to bet that will be validated with
a larger survey.
The over-all lesson to be learned here is that
while most of us still care about the Philippines,
very few have any desire to participate in elections
there. Those who think there is such an entity
called "Global Filipinos" must now realize
that is mainly an illusion. Voting for candidates
back home must be left to Filipinos who live there,
not to those whose loyalties now lie in their
adopted countries.
MR.
GREG GARCIA (November
22, 2006)
Posted in Philippine News (www.philippinenews.com) |
October
24, 2006
We would like to thank you (the OFW Journalism
Consortium) for the offer to use your stories
for our newspaper. Can I ask if the acknowledgment
be at the end of each article, enclosed in parenthesis?
Thank you.
MOMAR G. VISAYA
Editor-in-Chief, Asian Journal (Los Angeles)
1150 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
www.asianjournal.com
(Editor’s note: The Asian Journal reprinted
the story “Voting by mail likely in 39 more
countries by 2007” in the paper’s
October 27-November 2 edition. The overseas voting
story was from the October 12 newspacket, Volume
5, Numbers 8 and 9.) |
Oct
24, 2006
Thank
you for writing.
WRMN RADIO PINOY USA will continue to post and
announce ON AIR (for public service, especially
for OFWs) from all sources willing to contribute
articles.
MR. LINO CELLE
WRMN Radio Pinoy USA
New York/New Jersey
www.radiopinoyusa.com |
October
16, 2006
We
in Ang Panahon do appreciate the articles (the
Consortium has) been sending to us. And, just
so that you know, we have used many of them in
the past -- complete with the requested acknowledgement
of the OFW Journalism Consortium as the source.
The lack of acknowledgement in the last issue
(Ang Panahon banner story “Overseas Pinoys
now allowed to vote by mail,” October 12-18
issue, coming from the OFWJC story “Voting
by mail likely in 39 more countries by 2007”)
was an oversight. Please accept our apologies.
Best regards!
MR. GREG MACABENTA
Editor, Ang Panahon, Daly City, California, USA |
October
16, 2006
Dear
Editor:
Thank you for your latest news packet (referring
to Volume 5 Numbers 8 and 9). We have been reprinting
some of your stories in the more recent issues
of Paraiso Magazine, a monthly publication for
Filipinos in Japan. In our next issue (October),
we've taken the liberty of adding OFW Journalism
Consortium in our staff box as our "media
associate," along with Bulatlat. We'll deliver
copies of our magazine as soon as possible. More
power!
MS. HILDA R. NARTEA
Editor in Chief
Paraiso Magazine (www.paraiso.co.jp)
Tokyo, Japan |
October
11 2006
Hello
there!
In behalf of the Aklan Press Club, we greatly
appreciate your nonprofit media service that reports
in depth international migration and development
issues, as well as the lives and conditions of
Filipinos abroad.
We're proud of you guys!
Keep up the good work, and mabuhay ang pinoy kahit
saan man sa mundo! Cheers!
MR. BUTOY VILLORENTE AND THE EDITORIAL
STAFF
The Madyaas Pen Aklan province (central Philippines) |
October
11, 2006
Very
informative newspacket (referring to Vol. 5 Numbers
8 and 9). I will pass that around via email your
story on voting by mail. Thanks.
MR. VICTOR S. BARRIOS
Global Filipinos Coalition (www.globalfilipinos.com)
San Francisco, California, USA |
October
12, 2006
Oh yes, we do use your (OFWJC’s) stories.
Sorry for not labeling them right (The Sun labels
the stories as coming from the “OFW Writers’
Consortium”. (Apologies accepted—Eds.).
It's my husband and The Sun publisher, Leo A.
Deocadiz, who lifts our stories and I have frankly
not noticed that we are not using your correct
name. I will definitely inform him about this.
Will
look forward to your “mega-stories”
on our OFWs
MS. DAISY CATHERINE L. MANDAP
Editor in Chief, The Sun (www.sunweb.com.hk)
Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong |
OFWJC
featured in ‘Pinoy Podcast’ of San
Francisco Chronicle
The link to the Podcast interview by Chronicle
Lifestyle copy editor Michelle Louie and produced
by Technology reporter Benny Evangelista (both
Filipinos)
http://cdn.sfgate.com/blogs/sounds/sfgate/chroncast/2006/11/13/PinoyPod-20061114.mp3
|
October
24, 2006
We would like to thank you (the OFW Journalism
Consortium) for the offer to use your stories
for our newspaper. Can I ask if the acknowledgment
be at the end of each article, enclosed in parenthesis?
Thank you.
MOMAR G. VISAYA
Editor-in-Chief, Asian Journal (Los Angeles)
1150 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
www.asianjournal.com
(Editor’s note: The Asian Journal reprinted
the story “Voting
by mail likely in 39 more countries by 2007”
in the paper’s October 27-November 2 edition.
The overseas voting story was from the October
12 newspacket, Volume 5, Numbers 8 and 9.) |
Oct
24, 2006
Thank
you for writing.
WRMN RADIO PINOY USA will continue to post and
announce ON AIR (for public service, especially
for OFWs) from all sources willing to contribute
articles.
MR. LINO CELLE
WRMN Radio Pinoy USA
New York/New Jersey
www.radiopinoyusa.com |
October
16, 2006
We
in Ang Panahon do appreciate the articles (the
Consortium has) been sending to us. And, just
so that you know, we have used many of them
in the past -- complete with the requested acknowledgement
of the OFW Journalism Consortium as the source.
The lack of acknowledgement in the last issue
(Ang Panahon banner story “Overseas Pinoys
now allowed to vote by mail,” October
12-18 issue, coming from the OFWJC story “Voting
by mail likely in 39 more countries by 2007”)
was an oversight. Please accept our apologies.
Best regards!
MR. GREG MACABENTA
Editor, Ang Panahon, Daly City, California,
USA
|
October
16, 2006
Dear
Editor:
Thank you for your latest news packet (referring
to Volume
5 Numbers 8 and 9). We have been reprinting
some of your stories in the more recent issues
of Paraiso Magazine, a monthly publication for
Filipinos in Japan. In our next issue (October),
we've taken the liberty of adding OFW Journalism
Consortium in our staff box as our "media
associate," along with Bulatlat. We'll
deliver copies of our magazine as soon as possible.
More power!
MS. HILDA R. NARTEA
Editor in Chief
Paraiso Magazine (www.paraiso.co.jp)
Tokyo, Japan |
October
11 2006
Hello
there!
In behalf of the Aklan Press Club, we greatly
appreciate your nonprofit media service that
reports in depth international migration and
development issues, as well as the lives and
conditions of Filipinos abroad.
We're proud of you guys!
Keep up the good work, and mabuhay ang pinoy
kahit saan man sa mundo! Cheers!
MR. BUTOY VILLORENTE AND THE EDITORIAL
STAFF
The Madyaas Pen Aklan province (central Philippines)
|
October
11, 2006
Very
informative newspacket (referring to Vol.
5 Numbers 8 and 9). I will pass that around
via email your story on voting by mail. Thanks.
MR. VICTOR S. BARRIOS
Global Filipinos Coalition (www.globalfilipinos.com)
San Francisco, California, USA |
October
12, 2006
Oh yes, we do use your (OFWJC’s) stories.
Sorry for not labeling them right (The Sun labels
the stories as coming from the “OFW Writers’
Consortium”. (Apologies accepted—Eds.).
It's my husband and The Sun publisher, Leo A.
Deocadiz, who lifts our stories and I have frankly
not noticed that we are not using your correct
name. I will definitely inform him about this.
Will
look forward to your “mega-stories”
on our OFWs
MS. DAISY CATHERINE L. MANDAP
Editor in Chief, The Sun (www.sunweb.com.hk)
Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong |
OFWJC
featured in ‘Pinoy Podcast’ of San
Francisco Chronicle
The link to the Podcast interview by Chronicle
Lifestyle copy editor Michelle Louie and produced
by Technology reporter Benny Evangelista (both
Filipinos)
http://cdn.sfgate.com/blogs/sounds/sfgate/chroncast/
2006/11/13/PinoyPod-20061114.mp3 |
Ofw
Journalism Consortium cited by Philippine Daily
Inquirer columnist
Juan Mercado: (http://opinion.inq7.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=15265)
Published on page A10 of the August 15, 2006 issue
of the Philippine Daily Inquirer |
From
a veteran journalist:
Dear
Mr. Opiniano,
I
learned about your group while browsing the
Internet today. I am impressed with what your
mission and advocacy and what you have been
doing to accomplish them as shown in your website.
May I know if your newspackets are available
for free use by media outlets in Manila and
abroad?
Also, I am interested in your article on bringing
down remittance fees for OFWs. [By the way,
t]he National Press Club of the Philippines
headed by Mr. Roy Mabasa and the Manila Newsmen's
Club Inc. are organizing a guidebook on Filipino
media here and abroad in cooperation with the
National Commission on Culture and the Arts
(NCCA).
Truly yours,
Alfredo G. Gabot*
*Alfredo G. Gabot is a book author, journalist
and educator. He is a member of the Board of
Regents of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila,
commissioner of the National Commission on Culture
and the Arts and past president of the National
Press Club of the Philippines. |
A
community radio host in Canada writes:
Hi! Agnes Manasan is a good friend
of mine way back UP Diliman days. She was upper
class when we met in the College of Social Work
and [Community Development].
I work at a community radio station where the
Filipino group has a one-hour program everyday.
We call ourselves the mabuhayradio.net group
at CHHA1610AM (band).
Other than Filipino Music and news all week,
we have a" Kommunity Korner ni Ate Merf"
which I host every Friday.
Our website is still under re-construction.
We were at 65 K tracking on the web before reconstruction
(after 2 months operations). Since we lost our
archived section in the website, I think many
listeners from all over the globe have stopped
visiting the site.
[Still, y]ou can listen to the Live Program
at 10 am Manila time (10pm Toronto) everyday.
I was once the Associate Director of …Kanlungan
Center for Migrant Workers Foundation in Quezon
City. I did a lot of campaign and advocacy for
the OFWs while I was there until I became an
OFW myself. So do keep me posted.
Thank you,
Merfa Yap-Bataclan |
Issue
Vol. 5 No.2 Letters
to the Editor
Hi! I shared your newspacket (Volume 5, Number
1) to some OFWs here in Dubai. “Natuwa
sila” (They were happy over it).
MR.
ARES GUTIERREZ <agutierrez@alnisrmedia.com>
Sub-Editor, Project X
26 March 2006 |
Issue
Vol. 5 No.1
Letters to the Editor
Overseas Pinoys seek help for So. Leyte landslide
victims
Editor’s note: Numerous appeals for help
to the victims of the landslide in St. Bernard,
Southern Leyte have flooded the email and the
email groups.
Appeal
from a So. Leyte hometown group
We
are from the Southern Leyteños of Southern
California, which is headed by Sal Hartley.
We had a recent meeting where we talked about
raising funds for the victims in Southern Leyte.
Just like what the group did during past tragedies,
the SLSC has put into gear its mechanism of
soliciting for assistance on behalf of our unfortunate
kababayans. And as in past tragedies, the officers
of SLSC assured that donations will be handed
to victims personally.
Kind-hearted fellowmen who want to donate to
those who suffered in the most recent Leyte
landslide are requested to contact the association
through Mariza Cordeta at tel. nos. 310-518-5650
or 310-427-0255, or send an email to mayetyet@comcast.net.
Officers
and members
Southern Leyteños of Southern California
Information courtesy of dcgrava@aol.com
Hong
Kong appeal: ‘Operation Tulong for Leyte’
Dear
friends and compatriots:
AFTER
the Wowowee stampede tragedy, another tragedy
hit our country.
Two
days ago, the village of Guinsaugon of the municipality
of St. Bernard in Southern Leyte was hit by
a massive landslide last Friday (February 17).
Up to 3,000 people are missing while 1,400 are
feared killed including some 200 schoolchildren
trapped under the mud.
Hundreds
more were moved to nearby evacuation centers
while awaiting further instructions when they
can safely return to their respective homes.
In
response, the Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers
(MFMW), the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK),
the Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society (ATIS), the
United Pangasinan Hong Kong (UPHK), the Filipino
Migrant Workers Union (FMWU), and the Cordillera
Alliance (CORALL) are jointly launching "Operation
Tulong (assistance) for Leyte”, a relief
operation which aims to gather material and
financial support from Hong Kong for the victims
of the calamity.
The
goods and cash donations will be sent directly
to the affected areas in coordination with MIGRANTE
International. Ms. Connie Baragas-Regalado,
who hails from St. Bernard herself, is now in
Leyte and she is personally taking charge of
MIGRANTE’s international relief operation.
Meanwhile,
goods and cash donations can be coursed through
the office of the Mission for Filipino Migrant
Workers, St. Johns Cathedral, No. 4 Garden Road,
Central, Hong Kong.
Cash
donations can be deposited to UNIFIL’s
bank account (Dah Sing Bank a/c no. 5930193052).
Cheques should be maid payable to “United
Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK)”. Please
send us a copy of the deposit slip by mail or
by fax (25262894).
For
other information, please contact our relief
hotline at 25228261, MFMW (25228264), UNIFIL-HK
(28104379, 97472986), ATIS (96318440), UPHK
(97104625), FMWU (98013279) and CORALL (94524988).
Thank you very much for your kind support.
Respectfully
yours,
DOLORES T. BALLADARES <mission@migrants.net>
Coordinator |
US
appeal through Heart Bridge International (Tulay
ng Puso)
IT
is with much sadness that I air this appeal.
Tragedy has once again struck our beloved motherland.
Last Friday, 17 February, between 9 am to 10
am Philippine time, a landslide struck a barangay
in the municipality of St. Bernard in Southern
Leyte, leaving Brgy. Guinansaugon covered in
a sea of mud and many of its inhabitants buried
alive.
Estimates
by on-scene rescuers and officials list the
missing at 1,500 people. Rescue efforts are
on-going and several members of the international
community have offered assistance, including
the United States.
More
help will be needed and that is why am personally
appealing to the entire Bay Area community to
give as much assistance to the victims. This
can be done through donations. The Philippine
Consulate in San Francisco will be collecting
checks which will be sent directly to the victims.
The checks should be made out to Heartbridge
International Foundation (www.heartbridgeintl.org)
which is a Filipino-run non-profit organization
with a 501c(3) tax-exempt status. In the memo
line please write Philippine Relief and Rehabilitation.
Other checks could also be out to the Philippine
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
I
appeal to the generous spirit of all our kababayans
and ask that you give generously to the victims.
Thank you
Yours,
MARIA ROWENA M. SANCHEZ
Consul-General, Philippine Consulate in San
Francisco (USA)
In www.heartbridgeintl.org/pages/10/index.htm |
Reaction
to the story Shipowners say stopping seafarers’
salary spike sensible by Leo J. Santiago
(Volume 4 Number 12 newspacket, 25 December 2005)
by MR. SALVADOR ANG <salvador_angjr@yahoo.com>
From marinongpinoy@yahoogroups.com. Sent 6 January
2006 |
Striking
at the heart of OFW phenomenon
Reaction to the story Centennial of labor migration
a poser on RP progress by Jeremaiah M. Opiniano
(Volume 4 Number 12 newspacket, 25 December 2005)
by ALEX AND EDNA AQUINO <envois@aol.com>
London, United Kingdom |
Issue
Vol. 4 No.11
Do
away with overseas voting? Greg Garcia <posted
in www.philippinenews.com>
On
the story “Handful registered absentee
voters may lead to repeal of law” by Ms.
Julie Javellana-Santos (Volume 4 Number 9, November
30, OFW Journalism Consortium newspacket)
note: the comment below was taken from the website
Philippine News (www.philippinenews.com), which
used the above story of the OFW Journalism Consortium
in its December 7-13 issue. It was headlined
“Few overseas voters may cause repeal
of law”
|
Blogs
on OFWs
01.
A Filipino Senior is new into blogging. Some
of his blogs could be of interest to OFWs. Consider:
http://felicidadhomes.blogspot.com, http://columbary.blogspot.com,
and http://artesanopilipino.blogspot.com
02. You are free to post if appropriate.
Yours,
Ernesto del Castillo <manilaman_ecc@yahoo.com>
|
Post-Xmas
gathering on OFW entrepreneurship
To
the OFW Journalism Consortium:
We
wish to inform you of our activities, as follows:
Activity:
5th OFW Salusalo
(December 28, 2005, Time: 9:00-6:00PM, Gercon
Plaza, Makati Avenue [just in front of Mandarin
Oriental])
OFW
Salusalo aims to connect Filipinos worldwide,
whether they wish to start a business or invest
in one. It helps provide solutions for OFWs
here and abroad. Originally intended as informal
gatherings, this activity has grown through
the years and is now becoming a common venue
for OFWs and families to continue their role
in nation-building through investment and entrepreneurship.
OFW
Salusalo aims to provide financial literacy
to OFWs and this activity targets visiting OFWs,
OFW families and relatives as well as supporting
OFW groups as participants. It is an internet
product since all preparations are purely online.
We have our online forum and meeting place right
at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ofw-salusalo.
It is like an EB (“eyeball” or face-to-face
meeting) for many OFWs who communicate only
by email, or text messaging. In fact, the gathering
became more significant because more than the
camaderie being formed, OFWs start to learn
new ideas and to have an access to more options
on how they can use their savings for a better
reintegration program in the Philippines. After
all, “OFW-ship” is a temporary solution.
As OFWs, we should take advantage of this opportunity.
Last
July 30, 2005, we had our 4th OFW Salusalo at
Gercon Plaza, Makati Avenue. It was a successful
event in cooperation with Generali Pilipinas
with more than 100 participants who are OFWs,
OFW reps and company reps who had their product
exhibits and who shared gifts as raffle prizes.
Thanks to Generali Pilipinas for providing the
venue and the foods for the participants. OFW
Salusalo events were never complete without
gifts and giveaways. How time flies and how
the legacy carried on. OFW salusalo audience
is growing and this is really good news for
all of us! During the first salusalo held in
Davao in 2002, there were only 10 OFW participants
who visited the Samal Island. The second salusalo
held in 2003 was the first successful salusalo
with more than 30 participants and we had it
held at Fernandina Hotel in Quezon City. The
third one which was held last year was a jump
from 30 to 55 participants at Philamlife Building.
The fourth figure of more than 100 participants
that we OFW salusalo audience is growing indeed.
We look forward to our first count of 1000 participants
in the near future. Let's all become part of
this wonderful undertaking!
Yours,
Art Esguerra <globalpinoys@serbisyopilipino.org,
www.globalpinoy.tk> |
Volume
4, No. 9
On the story “New government bid to control
OFW money failed under Marcos” by Ms.
Julie Javellana-Santos (Volume 4 Number 7, September
8, OFW Journalism Consortium newspacket) Dear
All,
I
think there needs to be a comprehensive study
on the current sources and application of funds
of overseas Filipinos’ (OF) remittances.
This is to avoid any knee-jerk reaction in terms
of policy that may again be based on motives
other than the benefit of OFs, their families
and the uplifting of the general economy, i.e.
as opposed to the financial sector only. Perhaps
people like Maitet Diokno or Butch Montes (Freedom
from Debt Coalition) should get into this.
For
example, I notice a number of points that may
be relevant to this discussion:
1.
It is not true that the government does not
have a hold on remittances since these end up
in the hands of OF families. That may be true
of the peso value of the remittances, but the
foreign exchange component is held by the banks
and reported to the Central Bank. What happens
to the foreign exchange component must be one
of the subjects of the study. In an economy
characterized by chronic budgetary deficits,
where 85 percent of the budget is eaten up by
debt servicing, there is little elbow room for
expanding social services, etc.
2.
Government must be able to project what happens
when banks and non-bank financial institutions
release the pesos to the beneficiaries, without
the corresponding foreign exchange entering
the foreign exchange stock of the country. Are
we to assume that there is a one-to-one correspondence
between the value of the foreign exchange generated
from OF remittances and the value in pesos released
into the local monetary system? I don’t
think so.
3.
The whiff of scandals perpetually attached to
the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration
might be instructive as to what may happen to
funds held by government and the financial sector
- without any accountability to workers' representatives
through a regular independent audit. As a government
entity itself (OWWA) with a sad reputation of
collusion with special interests, perhaps the
Commission on Audit has a conflict of interest
auditing such funds. The point is: who is the
Presidential Committee so proposed accountable
to?
4.
Perhaps, we can also look into the experiences
of other countries similarly situated, where
overseas workers contribute a substantial part
of their respective countries' current account.
5.
Prof. Amado "Bong" Mendoza (Department
of Political Science, University of the Philippines)
might have something to say about the technical
accuracy of Central Bank governor Amando Tetangco's
comments on the value of overseas Filipinos’
remittances as a percentage of gross domestic
product.
I
agree that we should be able to discuss this
in an open forum. But I would also like to get
a copy of the proposal and the terms of reference
of the Cabinet Committee.
MR.
ALEX AQUINO <envios@aol.com>
Centre for Filipinos, London, United Kingdom
Thank
you for your kind words and the remarkable work
you are doing for our people. The Greatest Writer
is not unjust -- He will surely recompense! |
Since
you first sent us your features packets, I have
liberally used them in the pages of Northwide
Philippines Gazette. You may not have seen copies
of those past issues for close to two years
but I assure you, there were many. I am one
of those who believe in what you do and so with
our meager reach and resources, we nonetheless
make every effort to print your stories. That
has not changed a bit when I finally decided
to turn The Gazette as an internet-based news
outfit three months ago. We've sure published
a couple stories you sent our way and I intend
to publish more of them as they come. Consider
the fledgling Gazette Philippines Online as
a life-time media partner of your organization.
When time permits, I will find a way to send
you two book-bound copies of our 2-year editions
which
contained your earlier stories for memorabilia
of some sort?
As
I mentioned to your students, it is an honor
to be of any help to them. Truly, the hope for
a stronger Philippine Fourth Estate sadly no
longer rests on our shoulders. I believe our
job now greatly tilts towards leaving behind
a heritage of faithfulness to the next wave
of Philippine writers that includes your students
I believe you value a lot. Hey man, this is
coming from a 30-year-old colleague, ha! Just
a year handsomer than you. Uh, okay, okay --
I mean 32 years old, I just slipped, man!
Anyhow,
a year of browsing nearly all existing Philippine
portals brought me to the fact that aside from
the usual giants in the newspaper industry,
there is practically NO website for any genuinely
Philippine-based online straight news outfits.
We are talking about news domains here, not
the topical ones or sectorized venues. The handful
in existence are
just there as static pages, oftentimes outdated
and just as easily forgotten as fast as they
were hastily and haphazardly setup. Whew, strong
words but that's the truth. It was at that time
when I was personally seeing the slow demise
of the local newspapering industry due to many
factors. I had only two choices:
Fold up The Gazette newspaper and painfully
forget all the resources we've put into it for
the past years or continue surviving albeit
in an electronic platform. The future will tell
us if it was the wisest thing that I have done
in my calling. I am keeping my fingers crossed,
encouraged by your prophetic words --- "new
media phenomenon." I will certainly treat
you to a second cup of coffee if we look back
together several seasons from now on and we
could concur that indeed, The Gazette was part
of the pioneering wave of that exciting phenomenon.
All
the best for now, let us keep in touch and keep
the fire burning! Mabuhay po kayo!
Yours
most sincerely,
ALLAN F.R. MALIGPAS
2 Sept 2005 |
|
