from an April 1 report by Mariecar Jara-Puyod of Gulf News

MANILA–OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia are among the most number of members to Manila’s Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund.

Pag-IBIG’s membership and collection data showed that over 169,558 OFWs from the Middle East signed for Pag-IBIG for reactivation of membership or for first-time membership in 2011.

from a March 29 report by Janice Ponce de Leon of Gulf News

MANILA–THE Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) has revised the implementing rules on the conduct of Special Professional Licensure Board Examinations (SPLBE) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz bared this news in order to make the process easier and faster for OFWs in taking the board exams in host countries.

Texts and photos by Jeremaiah Opiniano

VALLADOLID, Spain—SPANIARDS coming from this place, like a former king and some Augustinian priests who became bishops in Manila and Cebu during the 17th century, conquered Filipinos and their land about four centuries ago.

But today at Spain’s former seat of power and the capital of the Castilla y Leon region, a small pack of Filipinos —around ten— quietly made this quiescent city their home.

BARCELONA, SPAIN—THE outlet of the popular Brazilian coffee shop Bracafe in Paloma district is Filipinos’ favourite hangout, like this gentleman in a cap. OFWJC Photo Service

from a March 28 report by The Borneo Post in Malaysia

TAWAU, BORNEO, MALAYSIA–A FILIPINO was sentenced to 20 years in jail by the Borneo High Court for killing his brother-in-law two years ago.

Borneo Judicial Commissioner Datuk Douglas Primus Sikayun commuted the sentence of Expedito Manicap from execution to imprisonment under Section 304(a) of Borneo’s Penal Code.