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>

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 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

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

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