Overseas Filipinos: Immigrants and Migrant Workers - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 19

mwg12a

October 27th, 2010, 06:25 PM

and they send their kids here to study college because they can't afford it in the States. pero pag narinig mo magsalita, puro "walang ganyan sa States," kahit taga-pahid ng ipot ng mga puti lang pala ang trabaho dun at sa trailer pa nakatira. :lol:

Sobra ka naman! Marami diyan na pinapadala sa filipinas ang anak dahil sa gusto ng magulang ma educate ang anak nila sa sariling heritage. Kakaunti lang na filipino ang nagpapauwi ng anak sa filipinas lalo na sa America, usually dahil sa invironmental influences/factors, problem there is that, they forget that theyleft the country for years and the modern western world has a big influences on filipinos that they didn't realize their fears of what their kids might pick up would be no different while in the Philippines. Hindi naman kailangan ng magulang na iafford ang college tuition fees at allowances, for one thing, there are alot of scholarship you can get from prestigous schools in the US. There is also a government program for grants on talented students. Lastly, all the Universities here provides their students with loans. Most college kids here tend to be more independent that they would move out of their parent's house to live on their own, naturally, these kids would look for atleast a part time job. This is why most americans even fil ams know the value of their dollar, because they earned it. Unlike in the Philippines, the parents provide for their children. Some parents there would also work 3 times as hard and sell their properties just to send their kids to college. You're alot luckier than most pinoys Kintoy, you seems to come from a well to do family. What about the majority?

Wala rin talagang deprensiya ang pinoy sa filipinas at sa America, dahil kung iisipin mo, nagpapakamatay sa hirap pagtratrabaho ang mga magulang ng filipinos sa filipinas. Kaya ang alam ng mga kabataan diyan, humingi lang ng pang allowance at tuition pero saan ka, ginagastos lang nila sa lakwachahan yan... hindi na gi guilty na ang magulang nila, pumapawis na ng dugo at bali na ang katawan sa pag tratabaho.

Ang dapat sa inyo kintoy at fenguin, maging humble at example kayo sa kapwa filipino kung successful kayo, hindi yuong minamaliit ninyo. Alam ko na may mga mayayabang na filipino pero tanongin mo and sarili mo? Sino ba na filipino na hindi mayabang? Lahat halos mayabang, naalala mo yuong si Margaret Cho na korean american comidian? Yan ang impression niya sa mga filipino, SHOW OFF. Siguro dahil din sa pagiging oppressed natin nuong panahon ng kastila kaya ito ang labas ng mga filipino.

Wala naman pinagkaiba ang filipino sa filipinas at America. Sang katerba talaga ang ubod ng yabang. Kaya tutuo din and sinasabi ninyo na maraming mayabang na fil am o OFW, akala mo kung sino, pero kung babasehin mo, similar pattern ito sa filipino na nasa filipinas. Diyan nga gusgusin ang itsura mo, mamaliitin ka na kahit hindi nila alam mas may kaya pa sila sa mga umaalipusta sa kanila, masyado lang materialistic ang mga pinoy, masyadong status at social conscious.

mwg12a

October 27th, 2010, 06:47 PM

would very much agree. And its these filipinos abroad that tells bad things about the Philippines, the mere reason why the locals in that country would have a bad image and perception of the Philippines. Some locals in a foreign country would even ask me if there is a central bank in the Philippines. One lady even thought that women in the Philippines are not allowed to drive. :lol:

They may be getting the impression that the Philippines is like Afghanistan or Somalia. Thanks to our messenger of bad impressions and stories, no other than these ignorant OFW's.

I would agree on you with this one. This is what I have been upset about all the time. I don't know what kind of mentality most filipinos have. I have witnessed many many times that a filipino would say negative things about their country. I see that as their stupidity and ignorance in their effort the impress a foreigner that they are a better filipino. But, like what I've mentioned with kintoy, it seems like by nature, filipinos are show off, mayabang at mapalapintas ng kahit anong bagay, kahit na ang filipino diyan sa filipinas. Pinoys are no different from one another no matter which part of the world they are in, you would only run into a very few pinoys that are laid back and humble. Especially in major cities or state like California, alot of them works 3 jobs to support their kayabangan just because they are embarrassed to be branded as poor. Its like moral and mortal sin for them if they can't keep up with their fellow filipinos. Even there in the Philippines...

pi_malejana

October 27th, 2010, 07:10 PM

diyos ko kintoy mag type ka na lang ng pangalan mali pa...:rofl:

sa post mo pa lang halata na kung sino ang mayabang eh...:lol::nuts:

sigayboy

October 27th, 2010, 09:01 PM

"the BSP recognizes the valuable contribution of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) remittances to the economy."

i concur. bago kayo umalipusta (blindly) tignan nyo munang mabuti yang mga ninoys na hawak nyo. that could be tainted by the blood sweat and tears of ofw's toiling abroad. :ohno:

give credit where credit is due.:cheers:

NTprime

October 28th, 2010, 06:50 AM

I would agree on you with this one. This is what I have been upset about all the time. I don't know what kind of mentality most filipinos have. I have witnessed many many times that a filipino would say negative things about their country. I see that as their stupidity and ignorance in their effort the impress a foreigner that they are a better filipino. But, like what I've mentioned with kintoy, it seems like by nature, filipinos are show off, mayabang at mapalapintas ng kahit anong bagay, kahit na ang filipino diyan sa filipinas. Pinoys are no different from one another no matter which part of the world they are in, you would only run into a very few pinoys that are laid back and humble. Especially in major cities or state like California, alot of them works 3 jobs to support their kayabangan just because they are embarrassed to be branded as poor. Its like moral and mortal sin for them if they can't keep up with their fellow filipinos. Even there in the Philippines...

That's because many Filipinos believe that being a white collar worker is to be considered a success, while being blue collar is not. What is wrong with this impression is that blue collar workers are higher paid in developed countries like the US, especially as they have familiarity with better technology and processes. Unlike here in the Philippines where blue collar workers are a little above laborers....e.g. carpenters here know only the basics of carpentry, hammering, sawing, sandpapering, using the plane (aka katam), screw-drivering (pardon the term:nuts:) etc. Of course there are exceptions to those who have plied their trade abroad or those who work for large construction companies and architectural terms. They (the low end carpenters) don't even use C clamps, vises, power saws, high tech levels, etc., what more the ones that use lasers and other technological advances?

And to think just to drive a truck, the drivers here still need a "pahinante", when in other countries they drive all by themselves (usually but not always)?

Not all Filipinos are show offs. But many tend to look down on others once they have reached a certain "status", whether it be tied to their educational attainment, having worked, lived or migrated abroad, or having married a foreigner. Each to his or her own...

Kintoy

October 28th, 2010, 08:38 AM

diyos ko kintoy mag type ka na lang ng pangalan mali pa...:rofl:

sa post mo pa lang halata na kung sino ang mayabang eh...:lol::nuts:

I don't really care how your name is spelled. Now go back to plagiarizing weather reports, ok?

xxxriainxxx

October 28th, 2010, 10:15 AM

Filipina ‘drug mule’ sentenced to die in Indonesia (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/10/26/10/filipina-%E2%80%98drug-mule%E2%80%99-sentenced-die-indonesia)

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 10/27/2010 1:26 AM | Updated as of 10/27/2010 7:53 PM

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipina has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for trafficking illegal drugs, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

The DFA told Vice-President Jejomar Binay, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) , that the woman was given the death sentence last October 11 despite the state prosecutor's petition for life imprisonment instead.

The Filipina was arrested at the Audisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta last April 25 by the Customs and Excise Authorities for possession of 2.6 kilograms of heroin.

The Philippine embassy in Jakarta has reportedly extended assistance to the Filipina through jail visits and is coordinating with her lawyer in appealing the ruling.

The DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs is also in touch with the woman’s relatives in the Philippines.

Esteban Conejos Jr., DFA undersecretary for migrant workers' affairs, warned of the stiff penalties imposed by other countries on people caught carrying illegal drugs.

"We warn our countrymen from carrying drugs when travelling overseas and especially not to accept packages which they suspect contain drugs, and also to be wary of the modus operandi being used by drug-trafficking syndicates. If they are caught, they will face very dire circumstances," Conejos said.

The DFA has requested the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to strengthen its efforts against syndicates using Filipinas as drug mules.

"The country is doing everything to arrest the drug menace, and with the cooperation of all, we hope that we can eradicate it once and for all. But ultimately, our people must take full responsibility for their actions by always being on guard against the inducements," Conejos said.

He added that the government is implementing “proactive” measures to address the “drug mules” issue.

According to the DFA, 112 OFWs are facing the death penalty overseas. Most are drug-related cases in China.

As of October 21, 2010, the DFA said there are 76 Filipinos in China who have been convicted and sentenced to death for drug trafficking.

Of the 112 death penalty cases, 16 are OFWs who were charged with murder, murder with robbery, blasphemy, and drug trafficking.

The cases of 18 OFWs in Malaysia who were sentenced to death involve drug trafficking, robbery with homicide, rape with homicide, and murder.

RonnieR

October 28th, 2010, 10:21 AM

^^ Kawawa naman ang Pinay na yan. 2.6 kgs. of heroin? That's a lot! She must be stupid for bringing that stuff.
I don't really care how your name is spelled. Now go back to plagiarizing weather reports, ok?

plagiarism - a hot issue now hounding Supreme Court. It is a crime. :)

Kintoy

October 28th, 2010, 10:34 AM

according to SC, not if there is no "malicious intent"

xxxriainxxx

October 28th, 2010, 10:58 AM

Pinoys as drug mules in China worries Philippine envoy (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/12/19/09/pinoys-drug-mules-china-worries-philippine-envoy)

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 12/19/2009 2:16 PM | Updated as of 12/19/2009 2:16 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Embassy in Beijing expressed concern over the number of Filipinos ending up as drug mules in exchange for money.

Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Cataumber Brady told members of the Filipino community during their annual Christmas party in December 6 that Chinese syndicates continue to use Pinoys to smuggle illegal drugs into China.

"Despite repeated warnings by the Philippine government, our kababayans continue to be victimized by these drug syndicates with wide network operations in various parts of Asia," she told at least 400 members of the Filipino community.

Brady said there are 183 Filipinos, mostly women, languishing in various jails in China due to drug trafficking.

"Since 2007, 48 Filipinos have been imposed the death penalty and 26 have received a life sentence for carrying narcotic drugs into China. I, therefore, urge Filipinos to resist any offer of financial reward from these syndicates for carrying prohibited drugs to China or to any other country in the world," she added.

Among those arrested in 2009 alone, 7 have been imposed the death penalty, 7 were meted life sentence, while another 5 received a sentence of at least 15 years’ imprisonment.

In 2008, 111 Filipinos - almost all of whom are women - were arrested for drug-related offenses in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, a 594-percent increase compared to the 16 Filipinos arrested in 2007.

Among those arrested in 2007 and 2008, 41 have been imposed the death penalty, 19 were meted life sentence, while another 11 received a sentence of at least 15 years’ imprisonment.

"In China, drug trafficking of 50 grams or more of highly dangerous drug like heroin maybe punishable by 15 years in prison, life imprisonment or death," Brady said.

On Saturday, Agence France-Presse reported that 5 arrested Filipino transvestites were ordered jailed for up to 13 years. They reportedly lure foreign men from bars in Shanghai before drugging and then robbing them of their valuable items.

xxxriainxxx

October 28th, 2010, 11:02 AM

according to SC, not if there is no "malicious intent"

so wala naman sigurong "malicious intent" si pi, so there is no plagiarising I guess if we take SC's new definition of plagiarism.

Kintoy

October 28th, 2010, 11:14 AM

if that's the case, students can submit a plagiarized thesis and just say they dont have malicious intent, and they're scot free?

xxxriainxxx

October 28th, 2010, 11:32 AM

if that's the case, students can submit a plagiarized thesis and just say they dont have malicious intent, and they're scot free?

That's why I dont understand the SC.

xxxriainxxx

October 28th, 2010, 11:34 AM

Nurse in 'ventilator accident' a Pinay (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/10/27/10/nurse-ventilator-accident-pinay)

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 10/27/2010 7:51 PM | Updated as of 10/28/2010 11:27 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The nurse who accidentally turned off her patient’s ventilator in the United Kingdom is a Filipina.

The Philippine Embassy in London has confirmed that nurse Violetta Aylward is a Filipina.

According to Eduardo Malaya, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the incident involving Aylward happened in 2009.

BBC recently aired a CCTV video showing Aylward switching off tetraplegic Jamie Merrett’s ventilator. As a result, the 37-year-old patient suffered brain damage.

The report stated that Merrett had requested for a video camera to be installed in his room to appease his worries about how he is being cared for by the nurses.

A road accident left Merrett paralyzed from the neck down. He has since been on life-support machine since 2002. BBC also reported that despite his condition, Merrett is able to use a wheelchair and operate a voice-activated computer.

However, after the accident with his ventilator, Merrett’s sister Karren Reynolds told BBC that her brother’s mind was reduced to that of a young child.

Malaya said that the UK Crown Prosecution Service found insufficient evidence to charge Aylward for grievous bodily harm.

Aylward is not facing any criminal charges but her license has been suspended by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The Pinay nurse has declined to speak to media on the matter.

The embassy in London expressed its readiness to extend assistance to Aylward, and is actively monitoring the developments on the case.

dessertfox

October 28th, 2010, 11:53 AM

RonnieR

October 28th, 2010, 12:05 PM

Sa mga pada-padala ingat lang po, isang kakilala ko ang muntik nang mabiktima nang mga sindikato. Nagpadala nang Butong Pakwan, hindi niya maisisip kung bakit ganoong ka-importante yong padalang yon na hangang sa pag-pasok niya sa airport ay tutok pa rin. Makaraan ang ilang araw isang pinag-padlahan ang nahuli sa airport. Shabu pala ang laman nang mga Butong Pakwan na yon. Napakaraming gimmick ang mag yan at isa na nga yan.

Isang case din yung sa tea bags as reported in the news. May nagpadala ng box of tea bags, sealed pa. Tinanggap ng OFW but pagdating sa bahay, nagduda siya. The couple opened one tea bag and was shocked - may lamang shabu (sealed in plastic).

Ayun, pinahuli nila ang tao.

pi_malejana

October 28th, 2010, 06:06 PM

I don't really care how your name is spelled. Now go back to plagiarizing weather reports, ok?

:lol: right....

http://www.dailyhaggis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/o_rly.jpg

mwg12a

October 29th, 2010, 01:45 AM

That's because many Filipinos believe that being a white collar worker is to be considered a success, while being blue collar is not. What is wrong with this impression is that blue collar workers are higher paid in developed countries like the US, especially as they have familiarity with better technology and processes. Unlike here in the Philippines where blue collar workers are a little above laborers....e.g. carpenters here know only the basics of carpentry, hammering, sawing, sandpapering, using the plane (aka katam), screw-drivering (pardon the term:nuts:) etc. Of course there are exceptions to those who have plied their trade abroad or those who work for large construction companies and architectural terms. They (the low end carpenters) don't even use C clamps, vises, power saws, high tech levels, etc., what more the ones that use lasers and other technological advances?

And to think just to drive a truck, the drivers here still need a "pahinante", when in other countries they drive all by themselves (usually but not always)?

Not all Filipinos are show offs. But many tend to look down on others once they have reached a certain "status", whether it be tied to their educational attainment, having worked, lived or migrated abroad, or having married a foreigner. Each to his or her own...

Yep that is what I was saying. I didn't say all but it seems more than just a few are "show offs" or condescending towards fellow filipinos.

Alot of filipinos are too sensitive when the word "poor" is brought up. They see it as an insult. Don't we notice that alot of filipinos always claim they came from a well to do families? In a number of pinoys in the US, there are alot of those who would say they are from a very influencial people that they had to hide in the US. There are also pinoys who would claim when they spoke to an american when they visited their provinces in the Philippines that they have "body guards" or police escorts when they go around. Some do go into that extreme measures in hiring off duty police officers they knew but it's more of their condescending attitude or to show off on their fellow pinoys in the Philippines to announce their supposedly success in the US. You would not only see these to average filipinos who migrated in the US but I've seen well to do filipinos even back in the Philippines the same "show off" mentality. Somehow, like I said, it is easy to tell who are those just simple and laid back.

Linguine

October 29th, 2010, 03:27 AM

RP consul in Macau sets dialogue with OFWs on controversial policies
By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 02:06:00 10/28/2010 Filed Under: Overseas Employment, Diplomacy, Foreign affairs & international relations, Justice & Rights

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Consulate-General in Macau, China, has set a dialog with groups of overseas Filipino workers questioning various Philippine government policies, among them the controversial affidavit of support (AOS) and compulsory membership to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Pag-Ibig Fund.

Consul-General Rene Villapando denied the accusation by the Migrante-Macau that he snubbed the dialogue earlier scheduled for October 24. The angry Migrante members claimed they were not informed of the postponement and conducted a picket at the consulate instead.

Villapando, in a phone interview, said the Filipinos were informed, through various means, of the postponement of the dialogue one week before. A consul and a consular attaché also verbally informed the Filipinos of the cancellation, he added.

He explained that the dialogue was cancelled due to “time constraints” as the consulate has been busy attending to the needs of the Philippine delegations to two events—a regional investment forum and a real estate developers’ convention—taking place from October 21 to 27.

“The picket was a pre-staged act of the Migrante because they had ready placards, a representative to explain matters in case there are people who would show up, and for the consulate to offer apologies,” he said.

Villapando said the consulate, since his predecessor’s time, has been explaining to various OFWs and OFW groups several controversial policies affecting them.

Migrante-Macau has been leading a drive against the scrapping of the affidavit of support (AOS), a document that visiting relatives of friends of an OFW in Macau need to seek from the Bureau of Immigration in Manila. Before, one AOS was good for three visitors, but the BI changed the requirement to one AOS per visitor.

The OFW group complained about the additional expenditure, adding that the AOS has not even been required by the Macau immigration.

Villapando said the consulate had nothing to do with the BI policy, although he understood it has been meant to prevent human trafficking or the undocumented deployment of OFWs.

“Assistance to nationals has been one of our priorities. I have been meeting with the Filipinos for two months to discuss the issues and other matters, including labor and immigration matters and do’s and don’t’s. There was no snub because we have been meeting with them many times,” Villapando said.

On the issue of the OWWA and Pag-IBIG fund memberships, the consul said the policies were provided under existing laws and were meant for the OFWs’ protection and benefit.

Meanwhile, OFW groups in Hong Kong and in Manila have joined calls for the suspension of the Philippine labor attaché in the Chinese territory who allegedly bad-mouthed a maid who wanted to sue her employer after being dismissed merely two hours after reporting for duty.

The United Filipinos in Hong Kong called on Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for a speedy investigation and resolution of the case involving labor attaché Romulo Salud.

Salud, in a television interview on Tuesday, denied being rude, saying he was only explaining to the domestic, Agnes Tenorio, her responsibilities.

“If that had hurt her feelings, I’m sorry but it was not my intent to do so,” Salud said.

Tenorio made a recording of her last conversation with the attaché, saying she did so to prove to her disbelieving friends that Salud was not helping her.

The maid later said she was desperate because she had to leave Hong Kong by October 28 and she was being made to pay for her own plane fare. Worse, she had no assurance from her recruiter on the debts she owed for her deployment.

The alleged conversation, which was presented by Unifil in a press conference, has been posted on the video-sharing site YouTube and the social networking site Facebook.

In the alleged recording, a man said was to be scolding a woman for changing her mind about going home and no longer contesting her illegal dismissal.

“Salud must be made accountable for his contemptible treatment of Tenorio and his appalling and flawed view of his responsibility to OFWs in need. At the very least, Salud should be suspended immediately and not allowed to deal anymore with OFWs,” Unifil chair Dolores Balladares said in a statement from Hong Kong.

Baldoz has asked Salud to submit in writing his explanation regarding Tenorio’s complaint.

Kintoy

October 29th, 2010, 09:35 AM

what, no pithy comeback?

that's the problem with having to rely on paraphrasing and copy-paste all the time, no capacity for original thought anymore.

Linguine

October 29th, 2010, 12:10 PM

Philippines lifts ban on deployment of au pairs in Europe
October 29, 2010, 5:37pm

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - More than a decade since the Philippine government imposed the ban on selected European countries, Filipinos can now start working again as au pairs in the affected states.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) on Friday disclosed it has already lifted the ban on the deployment of au pairs to Switzerland, Norway and Denmark.

The move came after the three countries guaranteed to protect and observe the requirements of the Philippine government on the deployment of au pairs, POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin- Manalili said.

An au pair is a domestic assistant working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use. The au pair is intended to become a member of the family, albeit a temporary one.

Under the POEA guidelines, a Filipino au pair should be between 18 and 30 years old, unmarried and without any children, and placed under a cultural exchange agreement with the host family for a maximum stay of two years for the purpose of immersion in cultural and language training.

During the employment, the au pair should be enrolled in a school to learn the language of the host country and shall live with the host family and treated on an equal basis with the members of the family.

"The Filipino au pair should be given pocket money, and share in child care or light household chores and other responsibilities previously agreed upon in a contract between the au pair and the host family," she said.

The Philippines first imposed the ban in 1997 because of the reported maltreatment of au pairs such as unfair compensation, excessive working hours, discrimination and sexual assault.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/284859/philippines-lifts-ban-deployment-au-pairs-europe

Ph Man

October 29th, 2010, 03:48 PM

may nakilala akong pinay na nanay sa isang resto sa isang hotel states. tuwang tuwa nung malaman na pinoy ako. nagkwento ng mga experience nila sa states. napakahonest naman. sinabi niya na pag umuuwi sila, ineexpect ng tao na marami silang pera. in reality, hirap din daw sila sa trabaho nila sa US. mukhang may iba pa siyang trabaho other than sa hotel.

she and her other Filipino friends take the bus on their way to the hotel. in a big state like texas, that's hard. ang maganda sa kanya, very honest. and i can see she loves her work. always wearing a happy face. kahit baluktot, sige pa rin sa pag English. sayang lang at di na ako nakapagpaalam ng maayos nung umalis ako.

napagkamalan pa niya akong seaman. :lol: gusto pa akong ihanapan ng magiging girlfriend. gusto pa ata akong maging manugang. hehehe...j/k

nagpapaaral daw siya ngayon ng mga pamangkin para naman makahanap sila ng magandang trabaho, and hopefully makapunta rin sa states. after taking my breakfast at the hotel for like 4 mornings, marami akong narinig na kwento nila tungkol sa buhay nila at buhay ng mga pinoy na kababayan natin. most of it make me smile even now.

Sa mga pada-padala ingat lang po, isang kakilala ko ang muntik nang mabiktima nang mga sindikato. Nagpadala nang Butong Pakwan, hindi niya maisisip kung bakit ganoong ka-importante yong padalang yon na hangang sa pag-pasok niya sa airport ay tutok pa rin. Makaraan ang ilang araw isang pinag-padlahan ang nahuli sa airport. Shabu pala ang laman nang mga Butong Pakwan na yon. Napakaraming gimmick ang mag yan at isa na nga yan.

tsk tsk.

may pinadala sa akin para sa kaibigan sa HK. pero nasa china pa ako. so di pa nakakarating sa recipient. di naman ako nahuli pa so far. so di naman siguro yun illegal. :lol:

pero sana sa airport pa lang natin, na check na yun, hindi ba? dalawa yung x-ray scanners na dadaanan natin bago sumakay ng plane. para pagdating sa destination, hindi na mahuli yung kababayan natin at mabigyan ng death sentence. kawawa naman lalo na pag nabiktima lang. pero pag intentional naman, wala na tayong magagawa.

mwg12a

October 30th, 2010, 05:29 AM

Maraming cases na ganyan dito RH, lalo na yuong pumasok sa US na hindi "as professionals" no offense to other pinoys, it's just the way it is, usually mga nag TNT dati o nag asawa ng kano, yuong iba, mga dependent. Mya dati akong neighbor sa pinas na pumunta sa LA at nag tourist visa decades ago, pero hindi na bumalik, AFAIK, TNT pa rin siya dahil hindi makauwi dahil baka hindi makabalik. Yuon, kahit anong odd job ang pinapasok. Yuong mga pinoy na nag tatrabaho sa basic pay ang usual kumakayod ng triple. Yon nga lang marangal naman ang ginagawa nila kaya okay na rin.

Linguine

October 31st, 2010, 06:46 PM

NTprime

November 1st, 2010, 04:03 AM

Remittances from seamen seen at $3.7B

MONEY SENT HOME by Filipino sailors working aboard foreign-flagged ocean-going vessels could hit $3.7 billion this year, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said in a statement on Sunday.

This, as such remittances hit $2.461 billion in the eight months to August, up $250 million or 11.31% from the $2.211 billion seamen remitted in the same period in 2009, the group said, citing central bank data. While that accounted for just a fifth of the $12.181 billion sent home by both land- and sea-based workers in those eight months, remittances from the latter outpaced the 6.45% increase of money from land-based workers to $9.721 billion and the 7.4% overall rise in these fund inflows.

"The foreign exchange coming in from sea-based migrant Filipino workers is growing twice faster than those coming in from their land-based counterparts," TUCP Secretary-General Ernesto F. Herrera said in the statement.

"At the current double-digit growth rate, we now see the full year remittances from Filipino sailors abroad hitting around $3.7 billion."

http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=20409

It's nice to know that the seafarers are contributing a lot to the economy. Obviously at work, they are not physically abused (except if they are held hostage by pirates) and that they are well compensated (I know a number of ship officers who have very fancy cars) so it's decent living. Of course the work conditions are tough, there is separation anxiety from their families, but they are the ones who make world commerce go around.

Add to the seafaring crew those who work on cruise ships in practically every department, they really make the Filipino service providers proud.

fengrun

November 1st, 2010, 07:33 AM

peso is now 42 to a dollar!

fengrun

November 1st, 2010, 07:58 AM

mwg12a

November 1st, 2010, 09:34 AM

agree. And the quality of work also by Filipinos in the Philippine is so-so. But when they are abroad, they even do 2 jobs.

I thought u said there are no jobs in the US?? If a filipino can secure 2 or 3 jobs at the same time, then, it means there are job availability in the US. Most filipinos work more decently while in the US because, for one thing, they are trying to make sure they are not treated unfairly. They are trying to please the locals for acceptance. I don't think OFWs in the middleast can have 2 jobs at the same time because that is conflict of interest. You don't base your assessment with "hear say" chismoso na ang labas mo niyan.

fengrun

November 1st, 2010, 09:49 AM

pi_malejana

November 1st, 2010, 09:50 AM

mwg12a

November 1st, 2010, 09:56 AM

there are jobs. But those jobs are odd jobs where you have to be constantly on the move like rats on a treadmill. Poor Filipinos. They are at the belief that they are earning more, when the truth is they are working more, while spending more.

Well, depends on what level of education and profession they are in the US. Most professionals, like doctors, therapists and businessmen don't have to go through those. Pinoys that are mayabang like you and over extravagant are the usual people who gets two or 3 jobs just to meet their mends. Who are these pinoys? Mostly those who was petitioned by their family members and was not able to get a much higher education in the US or those whose profession is not recognized by the US government. Alot of those filipinos who tries hard to have luxuries they can hardly afford. Similar to filipinos there in the Philippines. There are those who would borrow thousands of money for a fiesta they can't really afford.

fengrun

November 1st, 2010, 10:00 AM

like what?? sige nga, please mag enumerate ka...:|

like this: :nuts: Run run run! Can't sell Hollywood movies? no problem
-------------------------------------------------

LOS ANGELES, California, United States—Californians will vote Tuesday on whether to make their famously laid-back US state the world's first to legalize all marijuana consumption, cultivation, and trade.

Growing and selling marijuana for medicinal purposes has been legal here since 1996, but a hard-fought referendum held the same day as congressional and gubernatorial races would take it a step further.

Proposition 19—one of a series of referendums held on November 2—would allow people aged 21 and over to possess up to one ounce (28 grams) of marijuana and grow up to 25 square feet (2.32 square meter) of pot plants.

Large-scale commercial cultivation—and its taxation—could also go forward, though implementing such a rule would be left to the discretion of local municipal and county authorities.

"Prop 19 would effectively leapfrog California over the Netherlands," said Drug Policy Alliance chief Ethan Nadelmann, referring to relaxed Dutch enforcement of marijuana laws.

"It would make California the leading political jurisdiction in the world in terms of legal regulation of marijuana," said Nadelmann, whose group is campaigning for the legalization of marijuana.

Prop 19 supporters include a broad range of politicians, unions, and rights groups—as well as billionaire philanthropist George Soros, who backed the "Yes" campaign with a million dollars of his own money.

"Regulating and taxing marijuana would simultaneously save taxpayers billions of dollars in enforcement and incarceration costs, while providing many billions of dollars in revenue annually," Soros wrote in an open letter.

Nadelmann, however, cautioned the measure "won't instantly provide major billions in revenue or instantly put Mexican drug cartels out of business.

"But if it wins, it's a major step in that direction. It's a major step for ultimately legalizing marijuana throughout the country and hopefully, more broadly."

Despite the support, a recent opinion poll showed the no vote ahead by 49 percent to 44 percent—an unexpected blow for the Yes campaign, which has led surveys for months.

Opponents include all the main candidates to succeed California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and for the state's two Senate seat races, as well as US Attorney General Eric Holder.

The proposal has also drawn international criticism.

Last week, 10 Latin American countries meeting in Colombia voiced their concern, saying the United States could not at the same time "promote penalizing this kind of activity in other countries and authorize the legalization... of drug production on their own territory."

US authorities have warned a yes vote could greatly complicate their war on drugs.

But proponents argue that legalizing marijuana could throw a spanner in a very lucrative market for Mexican drug traffickers, who are fighting a brutal drug war for control of trafficking routes into the United States that has claimed over 28,000 lives in nearly four years.

Nadelmann was cautious about the chances of Prop 19 being approved Tuesday.

"The public opinion polling makes me feel pessimistic. But there are a few things that make me feel positive about it," he said.

He noted that even if his campaign loses the vote, the push to legalize marijuana is further ahead now than in recent years and a majority of voters supported the move in California.

US federal statistics show nearly seven percent of the state's 37-million strong population smoke cannabis at least once a month.

If Prop 19 is rejected, "it would be because some of the people who support legalizing marijuana are still nervous about this specific initiative, nervous about how the federal government will respond," Nadelmann added.

"There's a real legitimization of the debate around marijuana policy unlike anything we've seen before."

mwg12a

November 1st, 2010, 10:02 AM

fengrun

November 1st, 2010, 10:28 AM

mwg12a

November 1st, 2010, 10:42 AM

^ your country the US has to deal first with high debt. No investors wants to invest in the US anymore give that high debt as the cost of borrowing goes up the higher than debt.

It is similar with countries like Australia, Spain, Greece, Spain, Ireland and a lot more..

At least the Philippines is not part of this listing.

Thats what you wanted to think, there are internal investors here in the US unlike in the Philippines, had it not due to chinese immigrants like the Gokongwei and the US outsourcing companies setting up their call centers in the Philippines because of cheaper labor, there are very few if not, no filipinos who creates investments internally, they always rely on foreign investment. No wonder alot of you filipinos are still rushing to come to the United States.

The Philippines ranked number 76th while india slips down to rank number 88, 10 notches down from pervious year of 78th rank in the world. The United States still ranks top 10.

RP Optimistic About Improving World Economic RankingOctober 9, 2010, 4:39pmMANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government is confident that it can improve the country's world economic freedom ranking, which slipped to 76th place this year, or seven notches lower than the last survey.

The Philippines had a rating of 6.76 out of 10 in 2008 for a ranking of 66th among more than 140 countries in the survey but has slipped to 76th place in the latest report.

The top 10 highest rated for economic freedom are Hong Kong 9. 05 out of 10, Singapore (8.70), New Zealand (8.27), Switzerland (8. 08), Chile (8.03), United States (7.96), Canada (7.95), Australia (7.90), Mauritius (7.82), and Britain (7.81).

The bottom ten nations are Zimbabwe (3.57), Myanmar (3.81), Angola (3.89), Venezuela (4.33), Congo, Republic of (4.75), Congo, Democratic Republic (4.93), Central African Republic (4.77), Guinea-Bissau (4.82), Burundi (4.91), and Algeria

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/281273/rp-optimistic-about-improving-world-economic-ranking

How does the US ranked again? Do I hear/read top ten? 6th to be exact after Chile while the Philippines is where according to 2010 survey? 76th rank?? :lol:

fengrun

November 1st, 2010, 11:07 AM

^ define economic freedom. Keep on reading those PR related articles. It's good for your small brain.

mwg12a

November 1st, 2010, 11:09 AM

^ define economic freedom. Keep on reading those PR related articles. It's good for your small brain.

check what I posted in economic thread about IMF world's economic ranking, that was not from a Philippine posts pea brain. Atleast i've got something to support my claim, unlike you.....:lol::lol::lol: And incase you haven't noticed already? If I posted something from the Philippines, it would of favored the news in behalf of the Philippine government but no, it talked about how it slipped down to rank 75th from 208's 66th ranking. Talking about bird brain, you blabbered your mouth without thinking what you just said. You have no clue of what you have been talking about, Jack.

Aerin

November 1st, 2010, 06:55 PM

^ define economic freedom. Keep on reading those PR related articles. It's good for your small brain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_freedom

fengrun, I also don't see the point of the marijuana article? Can you please elaborate?

pi_malejana

November 1st, 2010, 07:04 PM

like this: :nuts: Run run run! Can't sell Hollywood movies? no problem
-------------------------------------------------

what's this??:dunno::nuts:

i'll ask again

you said: "there are jobs. But those jobs are odd jobs where you have to be constantly on the move like rats on a treadmill."

what are those jobs??

iamwatching

November 1st, 2010, 07:20 PM

Can't you guys see that Fengrun is just trolling?

mwg12a

November 1st, 2010, 09:47 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_freedom

fengrun, I also don't see the point of the marijuana article? Can you please elaborate?

what's this??:dunno::nuts:

i'll ask again

you said: "there are jobs. But those jobs are odd jobs where you have to be constantly on the move like rats on a treadmill."

what are those jobs??

He just have nothing to prove in all his claims, it's not surprising he would come up with something stupid like that. He claims to be successful in the Philippines so he felt he has the right to insult all filipinos working overseas including those in the middleeast and Asia. He is blinded of the fact that he probably still have a job right now because the help of filipino remittances that enables the Philippine government boost up it's dollar reserves and keeps the economy afloat. He thinks the Philippines belong to the world's top 20 biggest economy. It would of been nice though, so that those pinoys whose wife/hubby and kids are separated because of that job constraints in the Philippines. I don't mind him claiming that top 20 biggest economy in the world but good grief, don't use it to insult his fellow filipinos who are all making a decent and respectable living while in other countries. He still have no clue as to why we have OFWs and expats, he thought job availability in the Philippines is really there. I don't know what he has been smoking though, maybe that marijuanna legalization smoke creeped up his brain and shrunk it.

NTprime

November 2nd, 2010, 03:03 AM

I thought u said there are no jobs in the US?? If a filipino can secure 2 or 3 jobs at the same time, then, it means there are job availability in the US. Most filipinos work more decently while in the US because, for one thing, they are trying to make sure they are not treated unfairly. They are trying to please the locals for acceptance. I don't think OFWs in the middleast can have 2 jobs at the same time because that is conflict of interest. You don't base your assessment with "hear say" chismoso na ang labas mo niyan.

there are jobs. But those jobs are odd jobs where you have to be constantly on the move like rats on a treadmill. Poor Filipinos. They are at the belief that they are earning more, when the truth is they are working more, while spending more.

What I think you guys should be discussing here is elaborating further on why fengrun implies that jobs Pinoys take are odd jobs in order to either 1) sustain their high spending lifestyle and 2) use the proceeds from their many jobs to show off to Pinoys back home.

One nice thing about the US as mwg12a says is that employers will not charge the employee with conflict of interest even if he/she has 2 or 3 jobs. This is common in the service field, where multiple skills or by being a handyman someone can make a living, although would be working like rats on a treadmill as fengrun says. However people like these are probably independent contractors or blue collar workers, not white collar workers who might be working more than 8 hours in their single job. Or white collar workers who do baby sitting and some other simpler job on the side. Or students who work while completing their studies. But highly unlikely in a complicated field of work would they hold two jobs, unless the secondary job is as a part-time teacher or consultant.

Now in the cases above I would think that people can have as many as 2 or 3 jobs if most, if not all of the jobs are paid on an hourly basis. If someone draws a fixed monthly salary, then it's unlike they'll take on another full-time job (working 2 full 8 hour shifts) unless one job is of lesser significance (like babysitting), or if they are consultants, doctors, lawyers or some other professionals where they are paid for their time (usually hourly) and not for a whole shift.

Now tell me if Pinoys in the US are like that in the big city or in the smaller towns...my guess is that most who take on multiple jobs work in the city where part time work is more plentiful.

RonnieR

November 2nd, 2010, 05:40 AM

OFWs who were denied exit visas, ESB drag Saudi employer to court

By RODOLFO C. ESTIMO JR. | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 1, 2010 22:48 Updated: Nov 1, 2010 23:14

RIYADH: Two Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have filed a complaint to the Saudi Labor Court in Dammam after their employer refused to grant them their exit visas and end-of-service benefits (ESB) six weeks after they resigned.

Engineers Gerardo B. Almonte, 48, from Taguig City and 29-year-old Dexter Padaoan from Baguio City were accompanied by a representative from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Eastern Region (POLO-ERO) in filing their complaint.

“Both are mechanical engineers who started working for their company, a manpower supplier, in Dammam in August 2008,” a POLO-ERO official told Arab News on Monday.

A month before the completion of their two-year contract, the two engineers filed their resignation letters with their employer, saying that they wanted to go home.

The duo claimed that their employer refused to grant them exit visa clearance and ESB, among others. This prompted them to seek assistance from the non-governmental organization Migrante in Alkhobar.

“Our employer Mohammed Al-Haider and the POLO representative failed to attend our first hearing,” the two OFWs wrote in a letter to Migrante on Sunday. “The employer did not show up again for our second hearing, although a POLO representative attended. However, no hearing took place.”

On the same day, the Saudi labor judge issued a subpoena asking police to ensure the employer’s attendance for the next hearing.

“But upon receiving the subpoena, the employer threatened them. Instead of going home, he said they would be sent to jail instead if they pursue the case against him,” Migrante welfare officer Marcial Abay said in an e-mail to Arab News.

Abay claimed that the demands of the two OFWs are valid since they have completed their contracts and are in accordance with the provisions of Saudi labor law.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East coordinator, said that he would talk to Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and request approval to hire a lawyer for the two OFWs.

He claimed that POLO officials said that although they had been attending hearings involving OFWs, there was no full-time lawyer who could fight all cases because of a lack of funds. “We urge President Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ C. Aquino to reconsider his decision to cut the legal assistance fund (LAF) for Filipino migrant workers so that OFWs like Almonte and Padaoan can take advantage of lawyers to defend themselves,” Monterona said.

The Aquino administration cut the LAF from 50 million Philippine pesos in 2010 to only 27 million for 2011 in its budget for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Under the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, the budget allocation for the LAF is 100 million pesos.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article177732.ece

b_two

November 2nd, 2010, 07:13 AM

^^^^

sana tinapos na lang nila contract nila tutal 1 month na lang naman. sana nakauwi na sila ngayon. anyway, to each his own. i hope maresolve kaagad kaso nila. good luck sa kanila.

RonnieR

November 2nd, 2010, 07:25 AM

RonnieR

November 2nd, 2010, 07:28 AM

^^^^

sana tinapos na lang nila contract nila tutal 1 month na lang naman. sana nakauwi na sila ngayon. anyway, to each his own. i hope maresolve kaagad kaso nila. good luck sa kanila.

It's more of an exception, right? What will happen if the employer won't give them exit visas? Can they go home thru the help of Philippine embassy?

mwg12a

November 2nd, 2010, 07:29 AM

What I think you guys should be discussing here is elaborating further on why fengrun implies that jobs Pinoys take are odd jobs in order to either 1) sustain their high spending lifestyle and 2) use the proceeds from their many jobs to show off to Pinoys back home.

Oh Gawd! you'd be wasting your time trying to have a well educated, well informed and unbiased debate with fengun. It always boils down with his achievements and what he own, his so called net worth. Just look back in the discussions several pages from here. He can't see that OFW leave the country in droves because of lack of job availability in the Philippines, then you have the problem of over population. He thinks just because he earned success in what ever field he is in that other filipinos around him are less human, stupid, lazy and everything. He thinks that the Philippines is included in the top 20 biggest economy in the world. Yet, he thinks the reason why some professionals opted to work odd jobs in other countries like domestic helper, waiters and laborer because they don't possess the same skills he has. He is convinced that the Philippines is well establishe that there is enough jobs can be found in the Philippines. Just observe his condescention towards filipinos working overseas in general not just those in the US.

RonnieR

November 2nd, 2010, 07:44 AM

Oh Gawd! you'd be wasting your time trying to have a well educated, well informed and unbiased debate with fengun. It always boils down with his achievements and what he own, his so called net worth. Just look back in the discussions several pages from here. He can't see that OFW leave the country in droves because of lack of job availability in the Philippines, then you have the problem of over population. He thinks just because he earned success in what ever field he is in that other filipinos around him are less human, stupid, lazy and everything. He thinks that the Philippines is included in the top 20 biggest economy in the world. Yet, he thinks the reason why some professionals opted to work odd jobs in other countries like domestic helper, waiters and laborer because they don't possess the same skills he has. He is convinced that the Philippines is well establishe that there is enough jobs can be found in the Philippines. Just observe his condescention towards filipinos working overseas in general not just those in the US.

fengrun, to some extent, is exaggerating but he has some valid points:

1. Some Filipinos think that they can earn big bucks abroad but for how much? i.e. in Dubai, some clerks are paid P12K to P20K/month. This amount or more can be earned here in the Philippines for a good salesman/woman.

2. Some Filipinos think that it is better to work abroad even if he/she has not tried working locally. Colonial mentality perhaps or influence from those he/she sees around.

3. Some DH work in HK are professionals and paid US$460/month or P19K even if they lost their dignity, pride. Teachers in the country are paid P12K/month or US286/month, entry level yan. So, you can't help that some people here look down at their fellow Filipinos.

4. If you see the newspapers here esp. the Sunday's issues of Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star, there are thousands of job postings mainly for BPOs, offering competitive salaries , bonuses, good employment benefits (health care, among others). However, some Filipinos presumably think that they have no future here and it is better to work abroad.

The good news is: recent survey showed that 14% to 18% (with margin of error) prefer to migrate or leave the Philippines. This is lower compared to higher percentage in previous years.

NTprime

November 2nd, 2010, 08:25 AM

fengrun, to some extent, is exaggerating but he has some valid points:

1. Some Filipinos think that they can earn big bucks abroad but for how much? i.e. in Dubai, some clerks are paid P12K to P20K/month. This amount or more can be earned here in the Philippines for a good salesman/woman.

2. Some Filipinos think that it is better to work abroad even if he/she has not tried working locally. Colonial mentality perhaps or influence from those he/she sees around.

3. Some DH work in HK are professionals and paid US$460/month or P19K even if they lost their dignity, pride. Teachers in the country are paid P12K/month or US286/month, entry level yan. So, you can't help that some people here look down at their fellow Filipinos.

4. If you see the newspapers here esp. the Sunday's issues of Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star, there are thousands of job postings mainly for BPOs, offering competitive salaries , bonuses, good employment benefits (health care, among others). However, some Filipinos presumably think that they have no future here and it is better to work abroad.

The good news is: recent survey showed that 14% to 18% (with margin of error) prefer to migrate or leave the Philippines. This is lower compared to higher percentage in previous years.

Yeah, I agree with Ronnie re his assessment of fengrun. However circumstances vary per person. While I recall fengrun saying that his savings to earnings ratio is quite high, this makes me think he is single with no family members to send to school, living with his parents or on a property he is not paying mortgage for, or that he has a lot of savings from his work abroad, etc. etc.

However I agree with mwg12a that you guys should be discussing this from a general perspective and not just from one's biased perspective. Some forumers or even most Filipinos may not be as lucky as fengrun, career and financial-wise. And this is probably due to the fact that many may not have the breeding, upbringing, skills, enthusiasm and connections necessary to make it big in the country.

And there's nothing wrong with Filipinos working abroad or locally provided what they're doing is not illegal, and if it may be demeaning, it was their choice and not forced upon them. Unfortunately a lot of pinoys looking for work abroad don't have common sense, exactly what Ronnie said in his first and second points above.

And going to migration, it depends what the reason to migrate was in the first place. If you are the immigrant who chose to uproot your family to live in another country because you sincerely desire to improve your lot, then kudos to you. But then again it is another story if you were not the one who made the decision to migrate and that you regret the move because your loved one/s, barkada, friends and relatives are not there anymore whichever part of the world you decide to end up in.

Kintoy

November 2nd, 2010, 09:47 AM

a good call center agent can earn 20k a month easily. those with foreign language capabilities such as Spanish or German can earn 40k or more a month.

b_two

November 2nd, 2010, 11:50 AM

It's more of an exception, right? What will happen if the employer won't give them exit visas? Can they go home thru the help of Philippine embassy?

- nope. kailangan pa rin nila ang exit visa mula sa amo nila.

to all those interested, unofficial translation saudi labor law (http://naderlaw.com.sa/books/laborlawenglish.pdf)

- read chapters 2 and 3 to have an idea of the case

- my take, saudi arabia is a very complicated country. those who have experienced working in saudi would know the huge difference on how bureaucracy works in saudi and the philippines.

for the ordinary saudi, it is a common notion that in accidents, errors, and the like involving a saudi and a foreign worker, the latter is always at fault regardless of the truth because to them that particular event would have not transpired if the foreign worker have not come to work in their country. ergo, role with the tide. it is, after all, their country and no matter how we view the logic behind this thinking would not change anything.

if i may say, renew your contract if you can stand the pressure of working and living in saudi. otherwise, try to finish your contract and file for an exit to avoid any inconvenience on your part.

:2cents:

xxxriainxxx

November 2nd, 2010, 12:26 PM

OFW na namulot ng pagkain sa basurahan sa Jeddah, nakauwi na (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/204950/ofw-na-namulot-ng-pagkain-sa-basurahan-sa-jeddah-nakauwi-na?utm_source=GMANews.TV&utm_medium=twitter)
11/02/2010 | 06:11 PM

JEDDAH – Matapos ang ilang buwan na pagtitiis, nakauwi na sa Pilipinas ang overseas Filipino worker (OFW) na naloko ng kanyang recruiter at napilitang mamulot ng pagkain sa basurahan sa Saudi Arabia para mabuhay.

Ilang araw bago makasakay ng eroplano pauwi ng Pilipinas noong nakaraang linggo, inihayag 34-anyos na si Jason Ortalla ang kanyang kasiyahan at pananabik na makapiling muli ang kanyang pamilya.

“Masayang-masaya po ako at makakauwi na rin ako, makakapiling ko nang muli ang aking mga mahal sa buhay," ayon kay Ortalla nang makausap ng GMANews.TV.

Idinagdag ni Ortalla na buo ang kanyang loob na haharapin ang mga naghihintay na problema sa kanya sa Pilipinas, lalo na pagdating sa usaping pinansiyal.

Para sa kanya, ang mahalaga ay makablik siya sa Pilipinas para makapagsimulang muli kaysa manatili sa KSA na walang katiyakan ang kanyang buhay.

“Pinakamahirap dito (sa KSA), hindi mo alam kung paano ka makakakilos dito nang maayos. Lalo pa sa sinapit ko na ilang buwan pa lang ako sa aking pinagtatrabahuhan ay kalupitan na ang naranasan ko," ayon kay Ortalla.

Si Ortalla ay dumating ng Jeddah noong lamang Mayo para magtrabaho bilang drayber. Pero sa kasamaang-palad ay pagiging basurero ang kanyang kinahantungang trabaho.

Bukod dito, hindi rin umano nakatikim ng sahod ang OFW kaya napilitan siyang mamulot ng pagkain sa basurahan para hindi mamatay sa gutom.

Nang hindi na matiis ang kanyang kalagayan, tumakas si Ortalla sa kanyang trabaho at humingi ng tulong sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Pagkalipas nang ilang buwang na patitiis ay nagawan nang paraan na mabigyan siya ng exit visa na isa sa mga kailangang dokumento para makalabas siya ng KSA.

Ayon sa representante ng ahensya na nag-recruit kay Ortalla, nakuha nila ang exit visa ng OFW matapos nilang bayaran ang ginastos ng employer bukod pa sa ilang penalty.

Lubos naman ang pasasalamat ni Ortalla sa lahat ng mga kumupkop sa kanya sa KSA at tumulong para makabalik siya sa Pilipinas. - Ronald Concha, GMANews.TV

Kintoy

November 2nd, 2010, 01:00 PM

^^ I don't see any relevance of that article on what Pi_malejanna was asking you to enumerate...:lol:

Heck, even in the Philippines there are alot of marijuanna users, what's your point? Atleast there are states here who would legalized it for medicinal purposes. California is not the whole United States.

California wants to legalize marijuana to plug its deficit. the state uses 1 milliob lbs of marijuana a year according to the article, and high-quality marijuana sells for as high as $375/ounce. if the government can tax that....

California Looks for Cash Under the Cushions in Plan to Legalize Pot Use

...

At stake is the potential for “hundreds of millions of dollars annually” in new revenue, according to the ballot language posted on the California Secretary of State’s website. San Jose, the center of Silicon Valley, and at least 10 more cities have measures on their ballots today proposing taxes on pot crops and sales if Proposition 19 passes.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-02/california-looks-for-cash-under-the-cushions-in-plan-to-legalize-pot-use.html

b_two

November 2nd, 2010, 02:39 PM

mwg12a

November 2nd, 2010, 05:12 PM

California wants to legalize marijuana to plug its deficit. the state uses 1 milliob lbs of marijuana a year according to the article, and high-quality marijuana sells for as high as $375/ounce. if the government can tax that....

California Looks for Cash Under the Cushions in Plan to Legalize Pot Use

...

At stake is the potential for “hundreds of millions of dollars annually” in new revenue, according to the ballot language posted on the California Secretary of State’s website. San Jose, the center of Silicon Valley, and at least 10 more cities have measures on their ballots today proposing taxes on pot crops and sales if Proposition 19 passes.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-02/california-looks-for-cash-under-the-cushions-in-plan-to-legalize-pot-use.html
Well, it still does not represent the whole United States. It has a very small bearing on the economy. Legalization of marijuana can be looked at in different way but as for myself, I've seen cancer patients who are in pain has to resort to marijuana, there are also medicinal effect on human, it was even used to treat ailments in the olden days. It's not like marijuanna would be made available in every street being sold by anybody, it will be on per doctor's prescription terms. There are many prescription drugs being abused by some people for leisure, that would be just the same with marijuanna. What would effect the US economy is the export and internal investments from it's citizens and legal residents. I'm sure there are those who would try and abuse these but for those who are sick and always in pain, they need these real bad.

Going back on the economy, just last night, GM company is now ready to pay the taxpayer back after the recovered some of their loses. Its a good indicator that the US economy is starting to rebound. Legalization of Marijuana in california would have very little impact on the whole US economy because it will be controlled. Although, I do worry also about other issues connected to these, but that is part of the price we pay in legalizing pot.

I still don't see the direct correlation of this issue with the ranking of the economy in the Philippines and the US comparing to other countries in the world.

Kintoy

November 2nd, 2010, 05:20 PM

i think fengrun is using it to illustrate how bad the economy in the US is, considering that they want to legalize marijuana as a tax measure.

no relevance to the economic ranking though...

mwg12a

November 2nd, 2010, 05:40 PM

i think fengrun is using it to illustrate how bad the economy in the US is, considering that they want to legalize marijuana as a tax measure.

no relevance to the economic ranking though...

Yep, i get that part, he is using that as an insult rather than proving proof on his own claim on economy. That issue is yet to be decided and in only one state, certainly has very little bearing on the whole US economy because that alone would not stimulate economic growth. This is why those stimulus package were granted to huge corporations to help them restructure and somehow, it looks like it is paying off. They are going to start paying the taxpayers money back.

Back on marijuanna legalization issue, I don't see any difference of this with selling alcohol which is also taxed. Alot of government agencies all over the world benefitted on taxes coming from Alchohol, cigarettes and gambling all of which can be addicting. Not one is better than the other.

Aerin

November 3rd, 2010, 02:07 AM

i think fengrun is using it to illustrate how bad the economy in the US is, considering that they want to legalize marijuana as a tax measure.

no relevance to the economic ranking though...

I think he/she would have been better off using a different example, as the legalization issue (except, perhaps, for the taxation part) has been around for years. [Who knows, maybe they're proposing to tax it this time to make the legalization issue more acceptable to people because of the increased revenues coming from the taxation.] Note, also, that this is an initiative, placed on the ballot by the people themselves.

Aerin

November 3rd, 2010, 02:33 AM

Kintoy

November 3rd, 2010, 09:37 AM

moot issue. Prop 19 lost.

RonnieR

November 3rd, 2010, 10:48 AM

Well, it still does not represent the whole United States. It has a very small bearing on the economy. Legalization of marijuana can be looked at in different way but as for myself, I've seen cancer patients who are in pain has to resort to marijuana, there are also medicinal effect on human, it was even used to treat ailments in the olden days. It's not like marijuanna would be made available in every street being sold by anybody, it will be on per doctor's prescription terms. There are many prescription drugs being abused by some people for leisure, that would be just the same with marijuanna. What would effect the US economy is the export and internal investments from it's citizens and legal residents. I'm sure there are those who would try and abuse these but for those who are sick and always in pain, they need these real bad.

Going back on the economy, just last night, GM company is now ready to pay the taxpayer back after the recovered some of their loses. Its a good indicator that the US economy is starting to rebound. Legalization of Marijuana in california would have very little impact on the whole US economy because it will be controlled. Although, I do worry also about other issues connected to these, but that is part of the price we pay in legalizing pot.

I still don't see the direct correlation of this issue with the ranking of the economy in the Philippines and the US comparing to other countries in the world.

California wants to legalize marijuana to plug its deficit. the state uses 1 milliob lbs of marijuana a year according to the article, and high-quality marijuana sells for as high as $375/ounce. if the government can tax that....

California Looks for Cash Under the Cushions in Plan to Legalize Pot Use

...

At stake is the potential for “hundreds of millions of dollars annually” in new revenue, according to the ballot language posted on the California Secretary of State’s website. San Jose, the center of Silicon Valley, and at least 10 more cities have measures on their ballots today proposing taxes on pot crops and sales if Proposition 19 passes.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-02/california-looks-for-cash-under-the-cushions-in-plan-to-legalize-pot-use.html

It shows how desperate is California? drug money.... Well, for the druggies around the world, it is cool to go to California and smoke pot. Locals and foreigners' cash for marijuana = revenues for the government.

mwg12a

November 3rd, 2010, 06:13 PM

It shows how desperate is California? drug money.... Well, for the druggies around the world, it is cool to go to California and smoke pot. Locals and foreigners' cash for marijuana = revenues for the government.

Its nothing like that, that is being misinformed. It is intended for medicinal purposes. There are cancer patients who badly needed these as well as some psychiatric condition . It will be prescribed by the doctor. Imagine cancer patients with unbearable pain didn't have to take morphine which is more addictive than cannabis and has greater side effects.

If this is for leisure, then that is really unacceptable, but somehow, even countries like the Philippines sells alcohol and the government tax these items as well. Alcohol is no better than cannabis because it is equally addictive. If that is being sold publicly and the goverment is benefiting for it's revenue. Why not cannabis that would help certain individual who are afflicted by their conditions? It's not like it will not be controlled. It would work just like any of our prescription drugs, not everybody can get these just like that. I am sure there are those who would try to access these illegally, this is where law enforcement come into the scene. The word "marijuana" just sounded very shocking because it is always connected to drug abuse for leisure.

Aerin

November 3rd, 2010, 06:56 PM

^^
Medical use is already allowed in California, and has been for years. Prop 19 would have allowed recreational use.

fengrun

November 3rd, 2010, 06:57 PM

Oh Gawd! you'd be wasting your time trying to have a well educated, well informed and unbiased debate with fengun. It always boils down with his achievements and what he own, his so called net worth. Just look back in the discussions several pages from here. He can't see that OFW leave the country in droves because of lack of job availability in the Philippines, then you have the problem of over population. He thinks just because he earned success in what ever field he is in that other filipinos around him are less human, stupid, lazy and everything. He thinks that the Philippines is included in the top 20 biggest economy in the world. Yet, he thinks the reason why some professionals opted to work odd jobs in other countries like domestic helper, waiters and laborer because they don't possess the same skills he has. He is convinced that the Philippines is well establishe that there is enough jobs can be found in the Philippines. Just observe his condescention towards filipinos working overseas in general not just those in the US.

I also know several people who earns more than I do in the Philippines. Some even get 6 digits in peso a month. So when people talks about working abroad, some Filipinos in the Philippines would probably just ask: "What for?" :lol:

cons of working abroad:

1) you pay high rent
2) you need to buy a car, or spend high transportation cost.
3) life is inconvenient. Shops and restos are closed in the evening and too far from home
4) help is expensive. Can't afford to pay anyone to fix your car, sew your clothes.
5) you will never get 100% same equal rights as the local.
6) Weather and temperature is always constant. No need for heater, no need for airconditioning .

that's all. I'm getting hungry. It's past 1 am here, but I will just go grab some food on a nearby resto or store. Ah lifes convenience living in the Philippines.,

PS: The truth is there are lots of jobs in the Philippines. Heck, I even see a lot of foreigners working like British, Americans, Canadians, Germans, French etc. They love living and working in the Philippines. It is just some Filipinos, put the blame on the government for their incompetence and stupidity.

Aerin

November 3rd, 2010, 07:28 PM

fengrun

November 3rd, 2010, 07:36 PM

=Aerin;66451269#5: One can always try to obtain citizenship?
.

Im a citizen of the Philippines. Why go through all the trouble and effort of begging for citizenship from other countries? That's downright stupidity. You work hard and put all the effort in your land of birth, not beg for being part of another place. In short "Mind your own business". Wag inggitero sa kapitbahay. Bahay nila yun, pakialaman mo yung sarili mong bakuran at bahay.

Tsk,tsk.. stupid Filipinos.. :bash::ohno:

OFW's remind me of this character from Lord of the Rings. This small dwarf like slave who keeps on following his master, and was happy he was set free because his master gave him a sock.

NTprime

November 3rd, 2010, 07:50 PM

fengrun

November 3rd, 2010, 08:35 PM

Aerin

November 3rd, 2010, 08:52 PM

Im a citizen of the Philippines. Why go through all the trouble and effort of begging for citizenship from other countries? That's downright stupidity. You work hard and put all the effort in your land of birth, not beg for being part of another place. In short "Mind your own business". Wag inggitero sa kapitbahay. Bahay nila yun, pakialaman mo yung sarili mong bakuran at bahay.

Tsk,tsk.. stupid Filipinos.. :bash::ohno:

OFW's remind me of this character from Lord of the Rings. This small dwarf like slave who keeps on following his master, and was happy he was set free because his master gave him a sock.

You brought up not having rights in other countries; I merely proposed a solution. I didn't say anything about it being feasible. Really, though, it should go without saying that if one wants to have the same rights as the locals of a particular country, then it's only fair to be a citizen of that country. I would think that's pretty obvious.

You only addressed this one point, what about the rest?

And I don't remember the sock in Lord of the Rings?

NTprime

November 4th, 2010, 04:58 AM

^ glad you agree. Whenever I read news about maid being abused, or an OFW eating from garbage, or an Filipino as drug mule, makes you really wonder why o why do these people not be like the other Filipinos who go to school, learn a useful skill, read books, and do jobs that are in demand by the industry. There are a lot of jobs being outsourced to the Philippines. Some companies are even finding it hard to fill up the vacancies.

the problem is some Filipinos are inggitero and wants the money fast. They are blinded of hitting it big in a short period of time. Instead of investing on their studies, instead of investing on getting the right skills.

OK, we have a common thread here.:) Re your issues of OFWs (maids, construction workers, etc.) being abused, it's not just Filipino workers who stand such abuse at the hands of their employers (not just limited to the Arabs). The Bangladeshis, Indians and Indonesians also go through this kind of abuse. So the Filipino isn't singled out.

What is sad is that even fellow Filipinos (e.g. recruiters) abuse and take advantage of these OFWs, which then opens them (OFWs) to the full force of the law in the foreign country especially if they enter with spurious documents. Which is why the first line of defense should be here in the Philippines...they should be prevented from leaving to begin with. But then again, the percentage of abused OFWs is small (I don't have the actual figures) compared to those who are doing better than the unfortunate ones. That's why the government still allows them to leave for foreign lands.

But then I agree with your assessment that there are more jobs coming here, although there are a few also being shipped out. The jobs that are coming in are now of higher demand of certain skills, which should be the focus of the government in educating its citizens on the right skills that would further local development.

And as a postscript to your last paragraph, you nailed it right on the head! :banana: Many Pinoys should focus on getting themselves skilled so that when the jobs come, they will be the first to be considered.

OT: I bet you a lot of people tried their luck at trying to be a multi-millionaire in the lottery last night...if they realize that instead of playing a game of chance, they worked harder, then they shouldn't pin their hopes on something that has a 1 in so many hundred million possibility of happening.

mwg12a

November 4th, 2010, 05:46 AM

I also know several people who earns more than I do in the Philippines. Some even get 6 digits in peso a month. So when people talks about working abroad, some Filipinos in the Philippines would probably just ask: "What for?" :lol:

cons of working abroad:

1) you pay high rent
2) you need to buy a car, or spend high transportation cost.
3) life is inconvenient. Shops and restos are closed in the evening and too far from home
4) help is expensive. Can't afford to pay anyone to fix your car, sew your clothes.
5) you will never get 100% same equal rights as the local.
6) Weather and temperature is always constant. No need for heater, no need for airconditioning .

that's all. I'm getting hungry. It's past 1 am here, but I will just go grab some food on a nearby resto or store. Ah lifes convenience living in the Philippines.,

PS: The truth is there are lots of jobs in the Philippines. Heck, I even see a lot of foreigners working like British, Americans, Canadians, Germans, French etc. They love living and working in the Philippines. It is just some Filipinos, put the blame on the government for their incompetence and stupidity.

I also know all these, I've got a cousin who holds one of the highest position in their office which is Mercury drug. He lives in a very convinient lifestyle, but that's besides the point. He like a few others including you does not represent the majority, not that because some of them are lazy or lacking talent, THERE IS DEFINITELY NO ENOUGH JOB in the Philippines. THis is what prompted the government to send filipino professionals overseas and the monthly remittances are the living proof for keeping the Philippine economy afloat. The Philippine has no strong export industry comparable to other asian countries such as Korea, Japan and China.

There is definitely some prons and cons in living in another country or perhaps working in an other country as a contract worker.

1. Just as explained to you by another forummer, it depends on the area you live in, there are options for higher and lower rents. Most major cities offer high salary to compensate for these, so, even if you decide to live in a small and more laid back area, you can have salary comparable to the figures they offer in bigger cities. Most OFWs are provided with accomodation and lodging so they don't fall into this same category because they usually buy properties in the Philippines than in other countries, hence, the sprawling of nice and expensive/affordable condos and real state in the Philippines. There are Pinoys in the Phil as well who pays mortgages unless they inherited their estate from their parents.

2. Transportation is also optional. Bigger cities like NYC and California does not require one to own a car, there are effective mass transportation that. Some filipinos in NA or ocennia chose to buy expensive and luxurious car but that's their prerogative. This is where the grandiocities and over extravagance of some Pinoys come into the scene. Mind you, they didn't have to go this way but you know how some pinoys are, very showy.

3. Convinience in the US is what attracts most people from all over the world into the US, there is no issue there. Again, it depends on the area where you live in because just like in the Philippines there are establishments that are open 24 hours, bars have certain hours depending on city or state law, somehow, there are after hour places you can go to if you opted to stay up all morning long and not worry about your job the next day.

4. Help can be definitely expensive but that depend on your income.There are available means somehow this is why most americans rather do it on their own because it is easy to trouble shoot something because there are available materials and parts for it.

5. You can't have equal rights even there in the Philippines. Remember, they have certain weight and age limits for job applicants except now in call centers. Many filipinos gained recognition for their performance, we are given the same salary and treatment from our counter part. It's not as bad as how you think it is.

6. Weather is and should never be a problem, it's up to your own preference on what weather you can and cannot stand, not all parts of the US have extreme cold weather.

People in the US do the same practices you are doing, especially filipinos, we dine in almost daily. It's not that I am saying it's that aweful in the Philippines, because if you have the money, you can afford some form or luxury. What about the jobless who can't even afford to borrow money so they can pay a recruiter for a job overseas.

There are definitely some job availability there in the Philippines, IT SHOULD! because they need to fill up the position left by those who tried their luck in another countries when luck didn't favor them while working in the Philippines. The question is, how big is the job market? Are their salaries equals to you or perhaps my cousin who is a well traveled executive? Ask a public school teacher how much salary they are getting? And are they able to support their family especially if they have 4 to 6 children which is not entirely uncomon.

Now, when it comes to filipinos working in North America alone, there are about 3 million filipinos and you can look up that figure for sure. Can you furnish me a complete stats on how many american (dont include filipinos with american citizenship who retired back in the Philippines though), brits, australian, japanese residing and working in the Philippines? I know there are alot of Koreans because the cost of living in their own country is higher so they get their money's worth living and investing their monies in the Philippines, plus the fact that Koreans all go to the Philippines for the english teaching schools all over the country.

I apologize for the typos again because I have so many ideas that i wanted to add, I had to delete and change some of my statements, I didn't realize I end up writing a novel here.

Yre

November 4th, 2010, 07:57 AM

^^
Oh, don't worry about typos. It's still a good read between the exchanges and much as i wanted to put my own thoughts, i would just be repeating what most of you here has said.

Please do continue.

Kintoy

November 4th, 2010, 10:54 AM

OFW's remind me of this character from Lord of the Rings. This small dwarf like slave who keeps on following his master, and was happy he was set free because his master gave him a sock.

it's Dobby from Harry Potter....

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090726085229/harrypotter/images/thumb/8/80/Dobby_sock.PNG/250px-Dobby_sock.PNG

xxxriainxxx

November 4th, 2010, 11:24 AM

it's Dobby from Harry Potter....

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090726085229/harrypotter/images/thumb/8/80/Dobby_sock.PNG/250px-Dobby_sock.PNG

and LOTR guy is

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sW65ilskOC8/ShU4QYcO_II/AAAAAAAAXg0/R07U7T5HMUc/s400/GollumAarrrgh.jpg

mwg12a

November 4th, 2010, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by fengrun

OFW's remind me of this character from Lord of the Rings. This small dwarf like slave who keeps on following his master, and was happy he was set free because his master gave him a sock.

Odd. Don't you think you are following the same characteristics as OFWs because you're an employee and not an employER? Most of the companies in the Philippines are foreign owned or Chinese filipinos who has chinese citizenship as well, don't you think what your master or boss tells you, it's what you have to do even in the Philippines. It's the same thing. I bet if you're a supervisor in your company, the way you talk, you are bound to abuse your power just as how many filipinos abuse power when they are in the office. What's the difference??

fengrun

November 4th, 2010, 05:52 PM

Odd. Don't you think you are following the same characteristics as OFWs because you're an employee and not an employER? Most of the companies in the Philippines are foreign owned or Chinese filipinos who has chinese citizenship as well, don't you think what your master or boss tells you, it's what you have to do even in the Philippines. It's the same thing. I bet if you're a supervisor in your company, the way you talk, you are bound to abuse your power just as how many filipinos abuse power when they are in the office. What's the difference??

yeah right. It was dobby the slave that I was referring. The dwarf who keeps on following his master. And it seems, that character for some reasons is pertaining to Filipinos who work abroad, that keeps on following a foreign master.

Now what is that again you are saying? Most of the companies in the Philippines are foreign owned? Do you even know that the Philippines actually has the most foreign ownership restrictions? If most of the companies are foreign owned in the Philippines, then Singaporeans should complain. Almost all companies there are 100% foreign owned!

That is the problem with Filipinos like you (or you should not even be called Filipinos but lowly OFW). You keep on complaining at just about everything there is in the Philippines. Yet you keep on defending everything there is about non-Philippine countries. Typical CRAB MENTALITY! nakakasuka! pwe! :stupid:

b_two

November 4th, 2010, 10:49 PM

^^^^

hmmm... cool down, bro. maraming ofw na tulad ko ang nasa thread na ito. you don't need to hurl insults directed to ofw's to make a point.

:cheers:

mwg12a

November 5th, 2010, 01:07 AM

Yan nga ang purpose niyan, insultihin ang pagkatao ninyo na nakakatulong sa economiya ng pilipinas, sino ba ang mas bababa ang pagkatao e di hindi ba yang si fengun? Hindi nakikita ang katutuhanan na kaya lang hindi bumabagsak ang economiya ng filipinas dahil sa mga remittances ninyo na nagamit ni arroyo para mapataas ang credit rating ng filipinas para maka pagloan ng maayos sa ibang bansa.

Hindi niya na realized na kahit sa filipinas siya, alipin pa rin siya ng mga dayuhan dahil sila naman ang mga may ari ng kumpanya sa filipinas at mga Chinese hindi ba?

Tignan mo? Walang maipakitang pruweba yan sa mga claim niya na credible, puro hula at hakahaka, nakikinig sa chismis. Tignan, mo ang huling panalita "pwe" daw. Gawain ng mga illiterate ang style niyan. Saan kaya graduate yan??:rofl:

mwg12a

November 5th, 2010, 01:14 AM

Now what is that again you are saying? Most of the companies in the Philippines are foreign owned? Do you even know that the Philippines actually has the most foreign ownership restrictions? If most of the companies are foreign owned in the Philippines, then Singaporeans should complain. Almost all companies there are 100% foreign owned!

:stupid:

Yes, I am aware that there is a stiff restrictions on companies foreign owned. But that does not stop them from investing in the Philippines right? INTEL, TELETECH, the companies providing medical transcription jobs, Luftansa Philippines, Muehler and Phipps corporation. these are just to name a few. Don't you think those are foreign owned? Cebu Pacific, SM group, the Sy's, Gokongwei, they are foreign born and is still citizen of their respective countries, this is why the Sy's are able to build their own mall there in China because of their root and citizenship there. Name companies that are 100% owned by filipinos? Lueller or Jollibee? Remember, even McDonalds, KFC, Subway are foreign owned and franchise chain. :ohno::lol: Get your facts straight.

which one is worst? Being a slave in your own country by foreigners or being a slave in another country? Both aren't good in my opinion but don't paint your walls of glossy paints thinking it will help illuminate you and would make you a much better person that your fellow filipinos working hard for their own families left in the Philippines because, you are definitely out of place on this one.

mwg12a

November 5th, 2010, 02:42 AM

deleted

Linguine

November 5th, 2010, 05:26 AM

good news naman.....

DFA lauds German ship for fending off pirates
By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated November 05, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (4) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) lauded yesterday the measures undertaken by a German-owned cargo vessel, with eight Filipino crewmembers, which managed to repel a pirate attack through what the DFA described as “best practices.”

Somali pirates boarded M/V Beluga Fortune that had 16 crewmembers, including eight Filipinos, on Oct. 24 while the vessel was sailing in the Indian Ocean en route to Richards Bay, South Africa.

The crewmembers sent out a distress call, cut off the ship’s fuel supply, shut down all the power on the bridge and hid in a safe room before the pirates could overwhelm them. The crew hid below deck for two days.

Unable to take charge of the ship or hold any crewmember hostage, the pirates were forced to abandon the vessel after stealing some personal belongings of the crew that were left inside the cabins.

“The adoption of best practices by the seafarers saved them from being held captive by the pirates, which shows how important it is that seafarers and vessel owners adopt these practices as safety measures against attacks,” said DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos.

The DFA said a seafarer also called the local manning agency and reported what happened, which also helped in alerting American and British naval ships in the area. The vessels escorted the Beluga Fortune to safety as it proceeded towards Richards Bay.

The DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) coordinated with the local manning agency regarding the seafarers’ condition.

The DFA-OUMWA was informed that all the seafarers are safe and have expressed their intention to continue working on board. The crewmembers will come home in time for Christmas.

fengrun

November 5th, 2010, 08:12 AM

Yes, I am aware that there is a stiff restrictions on companies foreign owned. But that does not stop them from investing in the Philippines right? INTEL, TELETECH, the companies providing medical transcription jobs, Luftansa Philippines, Muehler and Phipps corporation. these are just to name a few. Don't you think those are foreign owned? Cebu Pacific, SM group, the Sy's, Gokongwei, they are foreign born and is still citizen of their respective countries, this is why the Sy's are able to build their own mall there in China because of their root and citizenship there. Name companies that are 100% owned by filipinos? Lueller or Jollibee? Remember, even McDonalds, KFC, Subway are foreign owned and franchise chain. :ohno::lol: Get your facts straight.

which one is worst? Being a slave in your own country by foreigners or being a slave in another country? Both aren't good in my opinion but don't paint your walls of glossy paints thinking it will help illuminate you and would make you a much better person that your fellow filipinos working hard for their own families left in the Philippines because, you are definitely out of place on this one.

correction. I am not a slave in my country. Because even if I do not work, I will still eat 3x a day. Try doing that abroad

xxxriainxxx

November 5th, 2010, 09:11 AM

correction. I am not a slave in my country. Because even if I do not work, I will still eat 3x a day. Try doing that abroad

^^ pensyonado/sustentado pala si Manong. :lol::lol::lol:

mwg12a

November 5th, 2010, 09:14 AM

correction. I am not a slave in my country. Because even if I do not work, I will still eat 3x a day. Try doing that abroad

What you have your own printing materials for Philippine currency?:lol::lol::lol: Did u see the post I added for those who work as pharmacist that u claim in the Philippines works as medical transcriptionist?? If you don't own your own business, then, you are an employee or is it because you receive money from your parents to support your own family and you sit around on your lazy ass? I thought you said you have skills that landed you a job? Now, you're claiming you don't have to work and would still eat 3x a day. Sino ang bobolahin mo???:lol::lol::lol: Malay namin dito na mga claim mo gawagawaan mo lang, atleast si Kintoy napapakita niya na maayos ang trabaho niya sa filipinas, ikaw? puro salita lang walang pruweba.:lol:

here, just one of the samples:

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z170/midwestguy1/USPharmacist.jpg

Imagine $70K per annum ( and this is just a starting salary for entry level, not a well experienced one), it translate to 2,940,000.00 Pesos a year what more if a filipino is being paid 100K up to 150K/yr? 70K is about 5,800.00 a month(243,600in Peso) how much a medical transcriptionist make in the Philippines? 25k/month? Now, Do you call that an economic struggle still? That is just for pharmacist, what about doctors, therapist, IT workers etc ?Look it up if this is just made up figures, it's not that hard to find it.

Average salary in the Philippines

What is the Average Salary in the Philippines?
Looking for a job in Philippines? What is the average salary that you can expect in the country? But before figures of the average salary in the Philippines are mentioned, you need to understand that your average job salaries depend on the type of job you do and your position. You cannot expect the same average job salaries for all fields of work. For instance if you work in an IT firm as a financial manager, your average salary would be different from the average salary of a financial manager working in a hospitality management industry.

From the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics of the Philippines, it was found that there are some interesting facts regarding payscales found in jobs in different fields. In companies related to Computers and IT industry, the highest paid jobs belong to computer engineers. Computer engineers have an average monthly salary of 25,010 Philippine pesos. The next highest paid job is definitely for system analysts and designers who get average monthly salary of 23,253. The programmers, Electronic and Telco engineers too earn good average salary per month. The average monthly salary in Computer and Related Activities Industries is nearly 20,000 Philippines Pesos.

http://www.gopinoy.com/advice/salary-guide/what-is-the-average-salary-in-the-philippines.html

Filipino ITs in the US and other countries make more than these salaries than in the Philippines.

My point here is not to put OFWs in pedestal, it is true that for a filipino, there is no place like home and that's the Philippines. IF one is making really good money while residing in the Philippines? Why be envious of those living in other countries? They should just stay behind and not start over again in a foreign land. I never said that it is impossible to get a decent job that would provide you comfortable lifestyle because there are, but, that only represent a fraction of the whole population. Majority still can't find jobs because there is not enough, good thing that now, the Philippine economy is improving, hopefully, the jobs would be made available so filipinos don't have to do odd jobs in teh middleast. It should be up to their preference if they wanted to experience the life in another country. This is where you are not getting our point.

Kintoy

November 5th, 2010, 10:14 AM

^^

those IT salary figures are somewhat inaccurate; those hold true for newly-grads

RonnieR

November 5th, 2010, 10:25 AM

Its nothing like that, that is being misinformed. It is intended for medicinal purposes. There are cancer patients who badly needed these as well as some psychiatric condition . It will be prescribed by the doctor. Imagine cancer patients with unbearable pain didn't have to take morphine which is more addictive than cannabis and has greater side effects.

If this is for leisure, then that is really unacceptable, but somehow, even countries like the Philippines sells alcohol and the government tax these items as well. Alcohol is no better than cannabis because it is equally addictive. If that is being sold publicly and the goverment is benefiting for it's revenue. Why not cannabis that would help certain individual who are afflicted by their conditions? It's not like it will not be controlled. It would work just like any of our prescription drugs, not everybody can get these just like that. I am sure there are those who would try to access these illegally, this is where law enforcement come into the scene. The word "marijuana" just sounded very shocking because it is always connected to drug abuse for leisure.

Two weeks ago, NatGeo showed a documentary about "legalizing drugs" . The legal use of marijuana in the US has deficiency due to claims that the drug is used for "recreation" and is being abused. Well, no figures were stated though if the exception is high vs. legal dispense of marijuana to the needy.

mwg12a

November 5th, 2010, 10:33 AM

Two weeks ago, NatGeo showed a documentary about "legalizing drugs" . The legal use of marijuana in the US has deficiency due to claims that the drug is used for "recreation" and is being abused. Well, no figures were stated though if the exception is high vs. legal dispense of marijuana to the needy.

Prop 19 is turned down anyway. Even the medical marijuanna in South Dakota and Arizona was turn down. I see marijuana as no different than alcohol, infact, alcohol poses more problem and bad effects on human comparing to marijuana. There is still no direct link to lung cancer as well as someone caught DUI while under the influence of marijuana. I can see why leisure marijuana is turned down I don't see why some state wont allow medical marijuana because there are many patients afflicted with cancer and some psychiatric conditions that would benefit with these. Canavis Sativa has known euphoric effect so it is good for patients who are chronically depressed due to chemical imbalance. I feel that alcohol worst effect on prolonged us than Mary Janel yet, there is no ban in manufacturing and selling alcohol. Now, if Mary Jane has bad side effects and as addicting as morphine, then. I have a problem with it/

fengrun

November 5th, 2010, 10:58 AM

^^ pensyonado/sustentado pala si Manong. :lol::lol::lol:

no. I have enough savings, investments, and business, that with the low cost of living in the Philippines, I can afford not to ever work.

I just work because I'm getting bored. This is the Philippine way of living.

bitoy

November 5th, 2010, 11:04 AM

Prop 19 is turned down anyway. Even the medical marijuanna in South Dakota and Arizona was turn down. I see marijuana as no different than alcohol, infact, alcohol poses more problem and bad effects on human comparing to marijuana. There is still no direct link to lung cancer as well as someone caught DUI while under the influence of marijuana. I can see why leisure marijuana is turned down I don't see why some state wont allow medical marijuana because there are many patients afflicted with cancer and some psychiatric conditions that would benefit with these. Canavis Sativa has known euphoric effect so it is good for patients who are chronically depressed due to chemical imbalance. I feel that alcohol worst effect on prolonged us than Mary Janel yet, there is no ban in manufacturing and selling alcohol. Now, if Mary Jane has bad side effects and as addicting as morphine, then. I have a problem with it/

Can you imagine yung mga nakakalusot araw araw sa border? Sagana sa leisure ang mga mahilig dito. :lol:
Malaking income yan, kahit kanino.... pag naging legal yan dito, lahat basag, pati mga politicians... :lol:

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20101105/i/r3268958690.jpg

http://kpbs.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2010/11/03/_MG_0304_tx800.JPG

US And Mexican Authorities Find Tunnel, Seize 30 Tons Of Marijuana (http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/nov/04/us-and-mexican-authorities-find-tunnel-seize-30-to/)

xxxriainxxx

November 5th, 2010, 12:44 PM

no. I have enough savings, investments, and business, that with the low cost of living in the Philippines, I can afford not to ever work.

I just work because I'm getting bored. This is the Philippine way of living.

So how were you able to save money? Through 'work' (which going by your earlier definition is to become a slave of someone else), through inheritance, through lottery?

Uhm, so if you work now because you are bored, so using your earlier definition again, you are 'slave' because you chose to be one, not as a necessity not like most of the OFWs that you abhor.

xxxriainxxx

November 5th, 2010, 01:12 PM

New Travel Restrictions for Filipino travelers

(Just got this today)

https://docs.google.com/viewer?attid=0.1&pid=gmail&thid=12c1bb46f0cae42a&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fui%3D2%26ik%3D2e22c641c0%26view%3Datt%26th%3D12c1bb46f0cae42a%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dattd%26realattid%3Df_gg4y8r630%26zw&docid=9c2c9d61d8c6306c85996222f8b4f4bf%7Cf0b19fd3c2a525d93c319a1138def8bd&a=bi&pagenumber=2&w=788

b_two

November 5th, 2010, 01:13 PM

parang na-imagine ko sarili ko habang nagtatrabaho na nakatanikala ang paa at naka-loincloth lang. :lol:

fengrun

November 5th, 2010, 01:56 PM

So how were you able to save money? Through 'work' (which going by your earlier definition is to become a slave of someone else), through inheritance, through lottery?

Uhm, so if you work now because you are bored, so using your earlier definition again, you are 'slave' because you chose to be one, not as a necessity not like most of the OFWs that you abhor.

through work initially then because the Philippines low cost of living, I was able to save much. Then put up some side business, and investment which earns for me even when I sleep.

Yeah I do work still, pero hindi yung tulad ng mga OFW's na working like dogs dahi takot mawalan ng trabaho. Iba yung work na enjoy ka lang compared sa work dahil takot ka mawalan ng trabaho. Kaya nga OFW's can be considered as slave.

Sabi nga nila, "if you have dollars, you can spit and slap on the face an OFW". I just read that somewhere.

xxxriainxxx

November 5th, 2010, 01:58 PM

through work initially then because the Philippines low cost of living, I was able to save much. Then put up some side business, and investment which earns for me even when I sleep.

hindi naman drugs o pirated dvds yan. hehehe. :lol::lol::lol: joke joke

b_two

November 5th, 2010, 02:00 PM

^^^^

good for you. :cheers:

i am hoping that everyone in the philippines would have the same comfortable life you are enjoying right now. :cheers:

fengrun

November 5th, 2010, 02:49 PM

^^^^

good for you. :cheers:

i am hoping that everyone in the philippines would have the same comfortable life you are enjoying right now. :cheers:

well not really comfortable. I'm just happy with simple living, eating isaw, and balot, and squid balls on the streets.

But there's somehting different between working for the money because you need to, and working because you want to.

xxxriainxxx

November 5th, 2010, 03:04 PM

mwg12a

November 5th, 2010, 03:08 PM

through work initially then because the Philippines low cost of living, I was able to save much. Then put up some side business, and investment which earns for me even when I sleep.

Yeah I do work still, pero hindi yung tulad ng mga OFW's na working like dogs dahi takot mawalan ng trabaho. Iba yung work na enjoy ka lang compared sa work dahil takot ka mawalan ng trabaho. Kaya nga OFW's can be considered as slave.

Sabi nga nila, "if you have dollars, you can spit and slap on the face an OFW". I just read that somewhere.

E kahit naman nasa filipinas ka at may naipon kang pera sa banko, pagnawalan ka ng trabaho mauubos din yan. E di hindi ba matatakot ka ring mawalan ng trabaho? Ang mga OFW marami sa kanila nakakaipon lalo na kung marunong ang asawa nila sa buhay. Ganon din ang suma total nila sa iyo. Yuon nga lang may mga filipino na pag nakahawak ng malaking pero, nagbubulang gugo na akala mo walang katapusan ng pisi sila. Yan ang pintasan mo. Hindi mo nalalaman kung paano sila nag tatrabaho, hindi ka naman bumisita sa bansang pinag tratrabahohan nila, paano ka nakakasigurado na tama ang sinasabi mo? Huwag mong mix up ang Pinoy na OFW na contractual at immigrants or citizens sa North America. Yan mga yan no OFW bawal mag doble doble magtrabaho, siguro sideline... Pero isipin mo kung may mataas na natapos yang mga yan, lalo na ang mga kababaihan na nagtrabaho as DH. Bakit napilitan yang mga yan? Kulang ang trabaho sa filipinas at malimit ang sweldo kulang na lalo na kung maraming anak na Colegio nag aaral, maluho pa man ang pinoy, gusto first class school ang anak nila.

I'm guessing you've based your assumptions from filipinos living in the US. I wonder how you would know they work like a dog herein the US if you haven't witnessed them or has been in the US or Canada. Considering pinoys here in the US are mostly professionals, their income is more than enough to support their lifestyle. They don't have contracts to follow so they can leave as they please to get another job with a different company if they felt their efforts are not being appreciated.

Hindi lahat. The problem kasi with your statement is masyadong generalised. I work hard because that's how I work. Yan ang work ethic ko.

That's the problem with this guy, he hears or perhaps read things and use it as his general perception. He mix up all the contractual workers in the middleast and asia from those in North America and ocenania. He also misinterpret those who was hired as professionals even in the middleeast or lets say there in Vietnam. Very one tract minded.

b_two

November 5th, 2010, 03:10 PM

to each his own. the level of contentment varies from person to person. some can live with instant noodles and feel contented while others feast on chocolate topped with edible 24-karat gold flakes but still continues to feel a void inside them.

mwg12a

November 5th, 2010, 03:20 PM

Exactly! But the fact of the matter is, just because he was able to get a good job and earned his success, he sees other filipinos working overseas as inferior to his personal skills and forgets that the Philippine economy were down, no strong export industry, bad political atmosphere and has always been threatened by terrorist acts that targets foreign national helps in decreasing job availability in the Philippines. Now, that the economy is improving, then perhaps his perception that there are plenty of jobs in the Philippines would end up to being true a few years from now, provided that the Philippines would be free of terrorist activities because this one thing that would really get the Philippine economy go downhill. Hopefully it will not going to be that way because filipinos deserve better and in their own country.

Kintoy

November 5th, 2010, 04:20 PM

some can live with instant noodles

like Alessandra de Rossi (http://www.mb.com.ph/node/285649/ale)?

fengrun

November 5th, 2010, 09:11 PM

mwg12a

November 6th, 2010, 01:42 AM

That's not filipino OFWs branding the Philippines poor. Its already an overall impression even from foreign tourist alone when they see slums (squatter area). The people are leaving the country not by hundreds but by thousands everyday for work overseas. Then you see alot of mail order brides proliferate online and dating agencies, half of them are justing doing it to escape poverty in the Philippines. You might not see these because you're one of those few lucky ones in the Philippines. But, a fact is a fact, IMF and world economists see all these. Otherwise, would categorize the Philippines into a developed country. So what if the Philippines is seen as a poor country? The filipinos have honor and dignity, they work hard, that's how foreigners see filipinos, professionals and dedicated to their jobs (except those countries and employers that are ignorant and less educated than their filipino employees, they are the ones that looks down on filipinos)... But despite being considered as a poor country by the the international community, It doesn't mean that the whole country is languishing with famine. They knew that the Political system in the Philippines is troubled. How would a filipino working at a factory in the middleast for instance explain being from a rich country when they only make 300 to 400 dollars a month? Less than half of what their citizens are getting. Would they say yes, my country is a rich nation when the number of OFWs in their factory is accounted for millions of filipino in the middleast countries alone?

Although, you may blame some pinoys whose mentality are dominated by culture shock and colonial mentality. They are the ones ignorant who failed to realized that it is damaging to themselves as well. They are few, not every single filipino say negative things about their country, infact, they would encourage foreigners to visit the Philippines and tells them what part of the Philippines is a good place to go where they would feel safe.

iamwatching

November 6th, 2010, 02:03 AM

Exactly! But the fact of the matter is, just because he was able to get a good job and earned his success, he sees other filipinos working overseas as inferior to his personal skills and forgets that the Philippine economy were down, no strong export industry, bad political atmosphere and has always been threatened by terrorist acts that targets foreign national helps in decreasing job availability in the Philippines.

Thats if he really is living a good life in the Philippines.. The way I see it, with his bitterness, it might be the opposite..a failed OFW perhaps with a chip on his shoulder? :lol: I only have 2 theories here..either he is just trolling or he tried his luck outside the Philippines, and failed badly thus his extraordinary resetment to the idea of working outside the country :lol: poor fella :lol:

Linguine

November 6th, 2010, 05:55 AM

DOLE pushing for Pinoy ‘knowledge workers’

Saturday, 06 November 2010 00:00

BY JOMAR CANLAS REPORTER

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are now pushing in for Filipinos who are “knowledge workers rather than mere manual workers.” According to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, this type of work is what Filipino workers should expect in the future.

“Knowledge workers are in. Mere employment is not enough. Employability is desired.

Trainable—not trained—recruits are needed. Life-long learning, not stagnant teaching, will drive new economies. Traditional jobs will have few takers; green jobs will flourish. Education for skill development and citizenship will be the norm, not education for personal fortune acquisition,” she said.

“The 21st century belongs to workers who possess HOTS, or ‘higher order thinking skills,’ and Filipino workers should aspire to have HOTS for them to become sustainably competitive and productive,” it was pointed out.

“HOT skills include critical and creative thinking, innovation and problem solving,” she added.

Baldoz said what the new Filipino workers should possess are cross-disciplinary knowledge, better communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work in teams, strong commitment and sense of personal responsibility, attention to detail; and must be flexible, highly-motivated, creative and self-adjusting.

She also said that even in education and training, learning and skills should be imparted in an innovative way.

“The challenges of the changing world of work are enormous, so much so that there is a need for Filipino workers now to change their outlook and ways of doing things to be able to face up to the challenges,” she said.

Pointing to the problem of jobs and skills mismatch, Baldoz said that that they have enough bases for its causes—such as inadequate market intelligence, nonresponsive training programs and inadequate investment on education resulting to poor quality of graduates.

She, however, believes that there is more to be done to address these problems—such as improving the quality of education and training, institutionalizing an effective assessment and certification system, making accessible and relevant technical and vocational education to a large number of the work force and delivering labor market information to the grassroots level in real time.

The Labor chief said that the Labor department’s Project Jobs Fit 2020—a market signaling activity, which aims to point the way to workers on what are the in-demand occupations in the next 10 years and the key employment generators—should influence students on what courses to take in colleges and universities.

The department, she said, is already bringing down these “signals” to the grassroots by working with the guidance counselors’ network in the country so that high school students can be informed and, thus, make correct career decisions.

Baldoz stressed that one of the reforms the department is pursuing is the creation of an integrated data warehouse by reengineering the PhilJobnet, the online government portal for jobs and skills matching being used by employers and jobseekers nationwide.

“The PhilJobnet will be transformed into an Integrated Human Resource Data Warehouse of labor supply information from the Bureau of Local Employment, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Professional Regulation Commission, the Maritime Training Councils, and the National Maritime Polytechnic,” Baldoz explained.

The data warehouse—as a repository of information on skills certification and accreditation, licensure, and local and overseas employment data—will be enhanced by the National Skills Registry System (SRS). The SRS will be pilot tested in 39 local governments this November.

“The balancing act will require labor supply to be market-driven to meet specific market requirements, to be capable of driving the market to attract investors. And this balance can only be attained through real time delivery of real quality workers in ideal quantities,” she explained.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/nation/31553-dole-pushing-for-pinoy-knowledge-workers

xxxriainxxx

November 6th, 2010, 06:06 AM

my p0int is you OFW's should not brand the Filipinos in the Philippines as poor, Because not all are poor. In fact the Philippines itself is not poor. Philippines has larger foreign exchange reserves than Canada. It also has one of the largest gold reserves in the world.

When I was in the Philippines, I grew up with people themselves branding themselves as poor. This defeatist attitude did not come from OFWs but it started within the country itself. Buksan mo ang TV at puro negatibo ang nakikita mo sa balita. The media and the people LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES themselves perpetuate this. Hindi nga lahat mahirap, and besides there are people who almost have nothing in the Philippines and they do not consider themselves as poor.

Mali yang sinasabi mo, wag mong isisi lahat sa OFWs kasi OFWs ang nagpapatakbo ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa. Totoo, may mga lapastangan na OFWs na kung makapanira sa bansa nila ay parang walang bukas, hindi rin tama yun. Pero hindi tama na lahatin mo kami. Siguro naman madaling intindihin yun na hindi lahat ng OFWs magkakapareho mag-isip.

fengrun

November 6th, 2010, 06:29 AM

e wala namang kinalaman ang gobyerno kung bakit mahirap yang mga pilipino na yan at kung bakit madaming squatters. Binigyan sila ng freedom mamili, magtanim sa bakuran nila sa probinsya o mamulot ng basura sa syudad?

madami lang talagang pilipino ang tamad at gusto ng mas mabilis na kita sa mas maikling panahon. Tulad na lang mga mga OFW. Ang mga OFW, ok lang duraan mo sa mukha at sampalin mo, basta meron kang dolyares.

May mga kamag anak din ako na nabigyan ng tamang pagkakataon sa buhay. Pero bakit hindi sila umasenso. Una hindi nag aral nung pinapag aral, pumasok sa mga trabaho na walang kwenta, nag asawa ng mahirap din, at nagpadami ng mga anak.

Mayaman ang Pilipinas. Kayang kaya nitong bigyan ng pera ang bawat isang pilipino. Pero hindi pwedeng ganun yun. E ngayon pa nga lang andami nang tamad, e di mas lalong dumami ang tamad pag binigyan mo ng pera yang mga yan. Nasa contentment at comfort zone ng tao yan. May mga tao na comfortable na basta nakakakain ng 2x sa isang araw.

Kumpara sa Australia, Greece, Spain, Ireland mas mayaman ang pilipinas. Dahil pwede pa itong mangutang.

xxxriainxxx

November 6th, 2010, 06:41 AM

e wala namang kinalaman ang gobyerno kung bakit mahirap yang mga pilipino na yan at kung bakit madaming squatters. Binigyan sila ng freedom mamili, magtanim sa bakuran nila sa probinsya o mamulot ng basura sa syudad?

madami lang talagang pilipino ang tamad at gusto ng mas mabilis na kita sa mas maikling panahon. Tulad na lang mga mga OFW. Ang mga OFW, ok lang duraan mo sa mukha at sampalin mo, basta meron kang dolyares.

May mga kamag anak din ako na nabigyan ng tamang pagkakataon sa buhay. Pero bakit hindi sila umasenso. Una hindi nag aral nung pinapag aral, pumasok sa mga trabaho na walang kwenta, nag asawa ng mahirap din, at nagpadami ng mga anak.

WALANG KINALAMANG ANG GOBYERNO DYAN!

Excuse me, kelan ko namention ang gobyerno sa post ko? Sabi ko na ang grabe manira sa bansa nila, dyan mismo nakatira sa Pilipinas at yang media!

NAGBABASA KA BA?

At yang sinasabi mo na okay lang na duraan sa mukha ang OFW, well hindi kami lahat ganun. In fact, a lot of Pinoy expats are decision makers in their own respective industries. We earn dollars and we are respected. Kaya buksan mo ang pag-iisip mo. I have a feeling na mukhang OFW ka nga dati and hindi maganda ang naging karanasan mo. Pwes, hindi lahat kami ganyan.

I think you are just a mean person, if you are really contented with your life, you wont have this bitterness. Hindi mo kailangang manira ng iba para ka maging maligaya. You present yourself as someone who cares for your kababayans but in fact you don't.

fengrun

November 6th, 2010, 06:45 AM

xxxriainxxx

November 6th, 2010, 06:53 AM

hindi ako OFW, or kung OFW man ako dati e siguradong nagsisisi na din ako ngayon. Mga mukhang tanga lang talaga yung mga napapanood ko sa TV tulad nung umiiyak na maid na inabuso ng employer at nag so sorry sa anak. Sus! gusto kong tadyakan sya ah!

Ang problema sa mga pinoy gustong gusto nakikisawsaw sa business ng ibang tao. Kung mayaman man ang isang bansa, yan e dahil sa sariling sikap nila.

Kung nagbabasa ka sa mga explanations ng ibang mga tao dito, hindi lang Pinoy ang nagtatravel sa ibang bansa para magtrabaho. Even the so-called rich countries travel to other countries to work. This is a global community, I was part of an international traineeship program and we sent people and accept people in over 80 countries where people work. Over 80 different nationalities work in these countries not because sa 'NAKISAWSAW" kami but because a global perspective and work experience is a great learning tool.

I know what you mean, yung mga nagDDH tapos naabuso sa abroad, kawawa mga yan. Tama ka, they could have earned something in the Philippines na may sahod na ganyan din ang rates without having to leave the country.

fengrun

November 6th, 2010, 07:39 AM

^ no need to explain! yang mga mentalidad nyong yan ang dahilan kaya mababa ang tingin ng ibang bansa sa mga Pilipino. Yang mentalidad na yan ang dahilan kaya walang respeto ang ibang bansa sa mga Pilipino! yang mentalidad na yan ang nag uudyok sa ibang kababayan natin ma mangibang bayan at maabuso sa ibang bansa!!!

kung di dahil sa mga pagyayabang ng ibang mga OFW wala sanang naabusong mga pilipino!!

eonynx

November 6th, 2010, 07:56 AM

fengrun

November 6th, 2010, 10:48 AM

mwg12a

November 6th, 2010, 11:12 AM

e wala namang kinalaman ang gobyerno kung bakit mahirap yang mga pilipino na yan at kung bakit madaming squatters. Binigyan sila ng freedom mamili, magtanim sa bakuran nila sa probinsya o mamulot ng basura sa syudad?

Meron, hindi ba ang corruption magmula kay marcos pa nag simula ito? Paanong hindi magiging sa gobyerno magsisimula ang mga ito? Kung hindi man sa gobyerno ang dahilan, mga taong namamahala.

Yuong hostage taking na lang sa Quirino, isang magandang halimbawa. Naexpose na kung paano malakas ang extortion at kidnapping ng mga foreigners, in the past mga milionarrio na filipino families o chinese lalo, lately mga foreign nationals na.

Sinisisi mo pa ang mga squatter sa mga kinalalagyan nila? Aba e kung equal ang destribution ng development (matutuwa sa aking ang mga Cebuano dito at taga provincia), infrastructure at economic assistant sa mga provincia, hindi maghihirap sila duon. Nasubukan mo na bang manilbihan sa mamamayan na taga remote area? Too bad wala ka sa healthfield dahil kung naanduon ka at nag render ka ng rural services, makikita mo ang deprensiya.

Ang nakikita ko, dahil maliit ang economia sa filipinas, mga projects na dapat maibahagi sa mga provincia, hindi nangyayari, dahil mas concentrate ang gobyerno sa mga lugar na may development gaya ng Manila dahil naanduon nananirahan ang mga foreign investors. Ngayon na lang na ang mga investment na ito, na destribute sa ibat ibang sulok ng filipinas, gaya ng Cebu. So, ngayon Cebu progressive, yaan naman ang pagtutuunan ng pansin ng gobierno. Kulang ang management skills ng mga administrator including si Arroyo. Ang focus nila sa isa o dalawang area lang, naoverlook na ang mga pangangailangan ng ibang lalawigan. Tignan mo, kung hindi pa catastrophy o bagyo hindi pa mapapag tuunan ng pansin ang isang lugar sa filipinas. Umulat mo ang mga mata mo!

BTW paano mong nasabi na tamad lang ang mga filipino na gusto ay easy money lang? Bakit, pag nasa ibang bansa ba pa higa higa lang ang mga ito at tampay? Hindi ba ikaw na ang nagsasabi na subsob ang mga ulo nito sa pagtratrabaho. Ang tamad gusto lagi ang ginhawa pero kung nagsusub ka ng ulo sa trabaho, kahit sa ibang bansa, hindi ka pupunta duon. Malaya naman silang umuwi.

Mayaman ang Pilipinas. Kayang kaya nitong bigyan ng pera ang bawat isang pilipino. Pero hindi pwedeng ganun yun. E ngayon pa nga lang andami nang tamad, e di mas lalong dumami ang tamad pag binigyan mo ng pera yang mga yan. Nasa contentment at comfort zone ng tao yan. May mga tao na comfortable na basta nakakakain ng 2x sa isang araw.

:rofl: nag daydreaming ka pa! Bakit kaya hanggang ngayon ang military equipments at mga gamit pang digmaan sa filipinas ay puro second hand at panahon pa ng world war 2? Halos lahat ay bigay ng mga kano pagkatapos ng guera. I'm glad na may mga bagong trainer plane ang PAF, pero tignan mo? mga luma lumang modelo na hindi ginagamit masyado sa ibang bansa. Walang jet fighter ang filipinas matagal na. Kung kaya ng gobierno na bigyan ng pera ang mamamayan, bakit ang gamit pang kaligtasan wala? Kung may pera man? Binubulsa ng military head o di kaya naman ng mga politician. Ano ang mangyayari kung sobra ang corruption? Hindi ba paghihirap ng mamamayan? Kaya nga ang mga filipino hinihikayat ng gobierno magtrabaho sa ibang bansa, walang maibigay sa mga mamayan nila. Hindi ba kung mapera ang filipinas hihikayatin nilang magbalik at offer ng malaking salary sa pinas para lang bumalik. Meron bang bumalik? Iilan lang.

xxxriainxxx

November 6th, 2010, 01:21 PM

xxxriainxxx

November 6th, 2010, 01:31 PM

it does not matter actually. There's not even enough workers in the Philippines nowadays. In my present work, a lot of projects are being postponed and cancelled because there's not enough workers.

Thailand has a much higher Foreign exchange reserves yet it does not send workers abroad

Thailand has at least 200-300,000 illegal workers in Malaysia in 2008. Malaysia pa lang yan. Link here (http://www.aseanaffairs.com/thailand_oversea_workers_remittance_from_workers_in_malaysia_on_the_rise)

'Skills deficiency hurts overseas labour'
HIGH JOB PLACEMENT FEES AND POOR LANGUAGE ABILITY CRIPPLING THAI WORKERS' CHANCES ABROAD, SAY AUTHORITIES

Published: 8/08/2010 at 04:32 AM
Newspaper section: News

Thailand must reduce its fees for overseas job placements and improve the language skills of workers, labour authorities have warned.

Labour Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said that Israeli ambassador to Thailand Itzhak Shoham had told him that the job placement fees for Thai workers seeking work in Israel were too high. As a result, Israel was considering reducing its quota for imported Thai labourers.

Mr Chalermchai said other countries shared a similar sentiment and were rejecting Thai workers because they viewed Thai labourers as victims of human trafficking. The high fees they pay to go abroad means Thai workers must work very hard and live in poor conditions to repay the debt incurred by the placement.

Israel had earlier suggested that Thailand send its workers through the International Organisation for Migration to reduce the cost of job placement overseas. The proposal was made a few years ago, but Israel has yet to receive a response from the Thai government.

Mr Chalermchai said his subordinates are studying the proposal, but for now he advises Thai workers to apply for membership with the Israeli labour organisation Histadrut.

Membership in the organisation cuts job placement expenses by 20,000 baht, he said.

Mr Chalermchai said job placement fees for a worker seeking employment in Israel should be 150,000 baht but agencies charge as much as 300,000 baht.

Upgrading the skills of Thai labourers working abroad is another matter that must be addressed, said Samarn Laodamrongchai, a researcher at the Institute of Asian Studies of Chulalongkorn University.

He said that the number of Thai workers leaving for overseas jobs has dropped from over 100,000 per year to 70,000-80,000 due to a lack of improvement in labour and language skills.

He said workers from Vietnam and the Philippines were more competitive in this respect.

Supat Kukhun, deputy director-general of the Employment Department, said that Thais used to be the most prevalent foreign workers in South Korea through the country's Employment Permit System for foreign workers, but it has since been surpassed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Nepal.

He said only one in 10 Thai workers looking for work in South Korea are able to pass language tests. Fewer than 1,000 Vietnamese job seekers passed language tests in the first year of South Korea's foreign employment system examinations, but today 85% of applicants from that country successfully complete the tests.

Vietnamese and Filipino workers with language skills work in medium-sized businesses in low-risk roles.

Thais work in small businesses and often take on dangerous jobs due to their limited language skills.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/190055/skills-deficiency-hurts-overseas-labour

I am not disparaging Thailand, but again, your perspective and your information is totally skewed.

eonynx

November 6th, 2010, 02:09 PM

fengrun

November 7th, 2010, 02:21 PM

fengrun

November 7th, 2010, 02:22 PM

dapat dito binibitay na agad at nang mabawas-bawasan na ang mga hayop na pilipino na nagpapaba sa dignidad at honor ng mga Pilipino. Isa na namang OFW na gagawa ng kung ano ano para sa pera. At isisisi sa gobyerno kung bakit nila nagawa yun! pakseht na mga OFW ito! :bash::ohno:

-----------------
Teacher arrested for drug smuggling in China
By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated November 07, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0)

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipina teacher was nabbed in China for suspected drug-smuggling, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Citing a report of the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou, the Filipina was arrested early this week by the Guangzhou Customs District’s Bureau of Anti-Smuggling for suspected drug smuggling.

The Filipina was found to be carrying 1,996 grams of heroin concealed in a foil packet hidden in her checked-in suitcase.

The Filipina used to work as a school teacher in Guangdong province and was even granted an alien employment permit by the Chinese government.

Authorities said her possible involvement in such an illegal activity indicates that international drug syndicates seem to be recruiting young professionals or office workers with presentable personalities, and who could easily pass as tourists. In most cases, single mothers or separated housewives are most vulnerable to offers to be a drug courier or mule.

At present, there are 100 cases of drug smuggling within the consulate’s jurisdiction alone. About 78 of these cases involve women. One death penalty case remains pending before the People’s Supreme Court in Beijing.

In China, a person caught in possession of illegal drugs in the amount of more than 50 grams will suffer the death penalty, if convicted.

fengrun

November 7th, 2010, 02:24 PM

the sector that sends billions worth of foreign currencies to us doesn't matter to you? OFWs are hugely responsible of this country's ability to pay its foreign obligations- whether debts or imports.

the thing about your present work is, it's not the only sector that would keep the economy running. OFWs are a mixed lot. they are the engineers, nurses, PTs, doctors, and other well-respected jobs and not only the maids that some would paint as the quintessential face of that sector.

yeah bilions in exchange for lose pride, honor, and dignity! :bash:

who needs billions when the world is calling the Philippines "Land of Servants", and now very possible "Land of Drug Mules!"

:bash:

eonynx

November 7th, 2010, 02:33 PM

fengrun

November 7th, 2010, 03:14 PM

^^you're right indeed! we should forgo of those billions and command all those OFWs to have a return exodus. in this way, our lost pride, honor, and dignity will also migrate back to this unfortunate land. boy, that would truly be a glorious day!:cheers:

are you replying on a sarcastic manner! at the end of the day, when you grow old and lay on your casket, people will never remember you for how much money you have, or how big is your bank account, but how much dignity,honor, and pride you have kept intact.

just now it just shows everyone what kind of a dishonorable person you are.

eonynx

November 7th, 2010, 03:19 PM

^^and i thought it is the OFWs who are not moneyed. that's why they are forced by circumstances to work overseas. unlike the likes of perhaps, yourself, who can afford to stay because you have money to burn!

fengrun

November 7th, 2010, 03:27 PM

eonynx

November 7th, 2010, 03:32 PM

^^didn't you reveal in you earlier posts that you earn money even when you're sleeping? so, according to your train of thought, those who work overseas are without honor, dignity and pride, or profoundly lacking in those virtues. ok! that's your strong belief! i'm cool with that.

NTprime

November 7th, 2010, 03:37 PM

^ i don't have money to burn, but I am contented with simple living, as long as I keep my honor, dignity, and pride intact.

Money is less of a priority for me. What is important is a complete family that lives together.

Sure, point taken. But you must tone down your foul language on this thread, including the economy thread, it is not dignified. Boastful and full of pride, yes, but it is misplaced.

Also, you can never have dignity with pride. Pride is the opposite of humility. But dignity with humility, yes.

In your last sentence, are you referring to the fact that you resent OFWs because the family isn't intact? I can understand that point of view, but you don't have to be bitter about it. Somehow it gives me the impression that you are a child of an OFW parent who was never given love and care, and especially quality time together, which is why you resent OFWs so much.

I can live with your circumstances, but you don't have to bash each and every single OFW or even the word as you encounter it. Most of them are making a decent living, some of them got themselves into deep trouble, as you have been pointing out many times over, but in the end, they are trying to make a better living for their families.

Now how their families relate to the money that the OFW in the family sends back home is really their call. I know I agree with you that a number are really spoiled and don't value the blessings sent home by their parents, but then again, that is for another discussion on this thread.

Just watch out about pouring your heart and anger into forums like these. I'm sure it'll be a different story if you try to do the same in front of real people face to face, not behind the anonymity of a user name.

eonynx

November 7th, 2010, 03:55 PM

Sure, point taken. But you must tone down your foul language on this thread, including the economy thread, it is not dignified. Boastful and full of pride, yes, but it is misplaced.

Also, you can never have dignity with pride. Pride is the opposite of humility. But dignity with humility, yes.

I can live with your circumstances, but you don't have to bash each and every single OFW or even the word as you encounter it. Most of them are making a decent living, some of them got themselves into deep trouble, as you have been pointing out many times over, but in the end, they are trying to make a better living for their families.

Now how their families relate to the money that the OFW in the family sends back home is really their call. I know I agree with you that a number are really spoiled and don't value the blessings sent home by their parents, but then again, that is for another discussion on this thread.

making a decent living definitely gives a person dignity and honor, whether that livelihood is within national borders or beyond. i didn't know that territory is now unfairly used by some as a gold standard for defining what it means to keep your honor and dignity intact by way of your work.

fengrun

November 7th, 2010, 04:09 PM

eonynx

November 7th, 2010, 04:11 PM

^^good! at least we are now led into this reasoning. not a few times, in our bitterness, it's difficult to properly separate the crossed wires.

NTprime

November 7th, 2010, 04:22 PM

dont get me wrong. I am not against expat filipino workers. What I am against are expat workers who do things illegal, disgraceful, dishonorable, and say things wrongly about the Philippines.

Note that other countries have expats too. But they are not the same like the Philippines who do lowly jobs in exchange for pride and honor.

^^good! at least we are now led into this reasoning.

Ok, but technically Filipino expatriates are also overseas Filipino workers, at least literally. If we go by the old OCW (overseas contract worker) definition, we can probably narrow down the objects of fengrun's indignation to those who get one or two year contracts, or no contracts even...just pack up and fly...:bash:

Not to press you further, fengrun, but you seem to have ignored one question I put out to you regarding your first hand experiences with OFWs (the one regarding the non-intactness of OFW families). Perhaps you'd like to share this with us so we can understand your perspective better.

fengrun

November 7th, 2010, 05:09 PM

^ I just realized that Jologs and Jejejemons are the result of having parents who are working abroad. Just imagine the kind of impact this will have on our economy. Plus the fact that some companies in the Philippines are already having it difficult to source out workers. You see no country ever became a high-income country by having workers outside of the country.

A country is run just like a business. When you work outside of the country, you work for others, not for your country. When you for your country, you work for the business of the country. And that is how an economy grow. We need to create products for export ,not export the workers. That's silly!

mwg12a

November 7th, 2010, 09:02 PM

^ i don't have money to burn, but I am contented with simple living, as long as I keep my honor, dignity, and pride intact.

Money is less of a priority for me. What is important is a complete family that lives together.

On this post, every intelligent filipinos would agree on you.

^ I just realized that Jologs and Jejejemons are the result of having parents who are working abroad. Just imagine the kind of impact this will have on our economy. Plus the fact that some companies in the Philippines are already having it difficult to source out workers. You see no country ever became a high-income country by having workers outside of the country. but he is really to blame? It's unfair to blame contract workers and even some pinoys living in US, Canada or Australia because they are equally the victims of 20 years Marcos regime. I won't blame Cory, Ramos or Gloria but you've got to realized that all of these that happened to our fellow filipinos are caused by that previous administration. I know with Arroyo, inspite of corruption anomalies and possible charges, she did help the country pull forward, however, it is fall short in creating more jobs for the filipinos except on the last 3 years of her term and up to now under Aquino Administration. What we can do right now is to hold tight because it would be a rough sail on Aquinos 1 year in office. And for those who has these evil plan to destabilized the goverment should stop, because destabilizing and negating the current administration will further hurt the Philippine economy. I hope they find it in their hearts not to disrupt these positive changes. They can critisize all they want as long as these are constructive and advantageous to our people.

A country is run just like a business. When you work outside of the country, you work for others, not for your country. When you for your country, you work for the business of the country. And that is how an economy grow. We need to create products for export ,not export the workers. That's silly!

I have been saying that same thing all along.

You're right about the result of having dysfunctional families of those who parents are separated by their work constraint. Those OFWs who are able to take their families is atleast safe from these, especially those filipino professionals in Singapore. But those who are less fortunate whose moms has to work as DH, dad/mom who works as a family driver and even dumbtruck drivers in the middleeast are the ones susceptible to these.

NTprime

November 8th, 2010, 02:43 AM

^^I agree with you both, many kids of OFWs are dysfunctional. We can expand the meaning of dysfunctional but each to his or her own definition. Many of them lack father or mother figures in the household, so they end up identifying with the wrong set of values. A number of daughters who do not have their mothers present end up victims of incest and molestation by male relatives, especially the fathers (an article was quoted here in SSC recently). And then those who don't have fathers or older brothers end up being bullied by other boys, hence their lack of self-esteem in dealing with boys and girls alike. They end up having screwed up relationships with their own dysfunctional neighbors, schoolmates, since they have these things in common.

But for those who are not as dysfunctional, emotional-wise, they are ungrateful kids, monetary wise. Many of them seek to replace their parents' affection by buying the latest gadgets, flashiest clothes, or anything that will showcase material possession. They then end up lazy because almost every whim was given to them but they never realized the value of working hard for the things they need...after all, the OFW parent's remittances are there every month...

^ I just realized that Jologs and Jejejemons are the result of having parents who are working abroad. Just imagine the kind of impact this will have on our economy. Plus the fact that some companies in the Philippines are already having it difficult to source out workers. You see no country ever became a high-income country by having workers outside of the country.

A country is run just like a business. When you work outside of the country, you work for others, not for your country. When you for your country, you work for the business of the country. And that is how an economy grow. We need to create products for export ,not export the workers. That's silly!

Jejemons are ultra dysfunctionals who think they're cute because they can spell words with a combination of numbers and weird characters. This is obviously a sign of lack of self-esteem, hence they seek out their fellow jejemons since society considers them outcasts. When they reach working age, they will most likely end up unemployed unless they do something about their out-of-this-world style of communicating.

bulabog jalaur

November 8th, 2010, 03:40 AM

RonnieR

November 8th, 2010, 04:05 AM

^^
You single out Philippines only.You are wrong on your concluding statement.One example of many countries that send lowly job aside from Philippines is India.Our kabayans abroad doing illegal, this must not be tolerated and condemned.

Pakistan, Indonesia, and other countries also sending their workers to work as maids, construction workers - considered as lowly.

Being maid is a lowly job but in China, the Filipina maid is paid high:

Salary of Filipina Maid in China: 3,000 to 3,500 Yuan/month (US$525/mo).

Although it is positive to the Pinay maids and their families, I am not happy of sending OFWs as maids. It's a shame that a former economic giant in 1960s and 1970s, some of our citizens are now working as maids in other countries.

Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-11/08/content_11513209.htm

Demand for Filipino maids on the rise
By Karen Yip (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-08 07:07

But many break the law by giving them employment, say experts

BEIJING - Trustworthy, industrious, highly educated, English-speaking, fun and caring - these are some of the qualities that Filipino workers are known for worldwide.

It's little wonder then that increasing numbers of Chinese families who can afford to pay more are willing to hire Filipina maids, even at the expense of flouting the law.

Four-year-old Sophia Wang (not her real name) says she is closer to Auntie Tess - a name that she fondly calls her Filipina maid - than she is to her own mom and dad.

Her parents, both working professionals in their mid-30s, let Auntie Tess or Maria Teresa Cruz (not her real name), 48, who hails from Batangas in Luzon, in the Philippines, take charge of the household.

"She will grow up to think and behave like half a Chinese and half a global citizen," said Maria Teresa, who has worked as a maid in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Malaysia for 10 years in total.

That is already evident: Sophia Wang is different from her Chinese classmates at a public school.

She naturally speaks fluent English. She doesn't waste food because she was trained to finish her meals. She tidies up after playtime. Like a typical Filipino, she enjoys singing, dancing, a sense of adventure and speaks her mind. Imitating her maid, who is a staunch Catholic, she prays but has yet to fully grasp the meaning of religion.

"She will be special. If she throws tantrums, she is immediately silenced. I have seen spoilt Chinese kids throw shoes or beat their Chinese maids and they are allowed to do it. I also make sure she changes her clothes every day," said Maria Teresa, beaming with pride.

After a personal introduction, her Chinese employers took an instant liking to her. She has lived with the Chinese family for two years on a business visa that her employers take the effort to renew every three months with the help of an agent.

She makes 3,500 yuan a month ($525), twice the average salary of a Chinese maid. In Beijing alone, the starting monthly salary for a Filipina maid is estimated to be 3,000 yuan.

Fringe benefits include free travel - for business or pleasure - with their Chinese employers. Some Filipina maids are even required to help plan and make appointments in English for their Chinese employers.

The Wang family, together with Maria Teresa, will spend Christmas this year at Hong Kong Disneyland.

It is estimated that there are eight million Filipinos working abroad. In 2009, they sent home $17.3 billion, according to data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sent $15.9 billion of remittances to the Philippines in 2008, up from the $14.4 billion in 2007, and $13 billion in 2006.

Money sent home by OFWs is a major contributor to the Philippine economy through the creation of new businesses and consumption, property purchases, and financing education.

Currently, foreign maids are not allowed to work in China. The only official way foreign maids can do so is if their employers are diplomats. Chinese laws allow diplomats to bring their personal staff of any nationality into the country.

However, unscrupulous agents are capitalizing on the popularity and demand for Filipina maids by word-of-mouth to wealthy Chinese families. They acquire visas using false documentation.

It is estimated that 75 percent of "hidden incomes" belong to those in the high-income category, which covers more than 2,000 urban families across the country. As personal incomes rise, the demand for domestic services will also increase, as is already evident.

"We have been telling our nationals that the domestic maid market is technically closed. Given the sheer number of people in China, we understand that the Chinese have to protect their labor market," said Noel Novicio, spokesman at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing when contacted by China Daily.

Based on registration at the embassy, there are 100,000 Filipinos currently residing in China. Out of this, 100 are in Beijing.

The Philippine government is working with the Chinese authorities to implement domestic labor laws and prevent foreign workers from becoming victims of scams or of their own ignorance.

"The market is experiencing a tight labor shortage. Because of this, the salaries for maids have increased. The Filipina maids fill a gap in the Chinese maid market," said Professor Zhao Yaohui, a specialist on labor economics at the China Center for Economic Research, Peking University.

"There is no stigma associated with being a maid in the Philippines and among the Filipinos. In fact, being a maid is a professional job. But it's a different story in China."

Women from China's rural areas, who usually take up jobs as maids, are abandoning the occupation to pursue better opportunities in the factories, she said.

"Society imposes a negative image of the maids. It is seen as unglamorous to be a maid and it's a lowly paid job."

She said due to this factor, which has partly contributed to the labor shortage, the salaries for Chinese maids have increased by at least 200 yuan a month from 2009 to 2010.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) in Beijing said the Chinese government has identified domestic work as a growth sector and is developing policies not just to promote employment but also to ensure the protection of domestic workers.

"Where there is a demand that cannot be met by the national workforce, opportunities for legally recruiting and employing a migrant worker should be considered," said Chen Qiaoling, an officer at the ILO in Beijing.

At the same time, domestic workers in China should have access to training opportunities and greater protection under the law to ensure a professionalization of the sector, he said.

"Many Filipino domestic workers are in diplomatic households. There are also those who work in households of international business professionals. It is expected that they move with their employers on the employers' foreign assignments.

"With China now an important center for international diplomacy and business, granting legal entry and work permits for diplomatic households is commonplace. It would be natural then to see more Filipino domestic workers in China as there are in New York and in Geneva," Chen said.

"I don't think China needs to import labor from other countries at this stage of its development," said Professor Pradeep Taneja from the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Melbourne.

If already there are significant numbers of Filipino domestic workers in China, then the Chinese government has to make sure that they are treated fairly and not subjected to physical or psychological abuse as has often been reported from other countries in the region where large numbers of Filipina female workers are employed, he said.

Du Juan contributed to the story

China Daily

xxxriainxxx

November 8th, 2010, 07:40 AM

^^ As far as I know it is ILLEGAL for foreigners to work as a domestic helper in China.

mwg12a

November 8th, 2010, 07:58 AM

^^ It may not be legal but it doesn't mean there are no DH there just like in was it Ireland or Iceland? where the Philippine government are tracting down deployment of "supposedly" sponsored filipinas and they are the host family when the truth is that, they work as nannies and all around househelp. There is no reported abuse yet but it is getting more apparent now that there are filipinas who are in that country with an intention to work as a secret nanny or DH

xxxriainxxx

November 8th, 2010, 08:04 AM

^^ Yeah, therefore I hope they would really be stricter. Hayz. Ang tigas naman talaga kasi ng ulo. :ohno:

mwg12a

November 8th, 2010, 08:29 AM

Meron talagang ganoon, may mga pailan ilan din na ibang lahi na matigas ang ulo. Gaya ng mga Cano na civilian na sige pa rin ang punta sa Iraq at Afghanistan, gayon din ang mga european. Kaya asahan mo kay hit na may warning or advisory sa filipinas, may mga pasaway na mga foreigners ang magpupunta sa filipinas. Not that I'm complaining about the latter, just the point that sometimes, when someone warned somebody, they would still go on with it. :lol:

Linguine

November 8th, 2010, 02:10 PM

Center alarmed over abandoned OFW families
Monday, 08 November 2010 12:43 Manuel T. Cayon / Reporter

DAVAO CITY—A local migrants’ center has called the attention of authorities over what it called a big number of families abandoned by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and whose plight has been largely overlooked by government and nongovernment welfare organizations.

The Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions Inc. (MMCEAI) has recorded 18 cases of abandoned families this year, but the number went up sharply within the last four weeks when the center began to take a serious look at the incidence, said Inorisap Sialana Elento, MMCEAI executive director,

Elento told the BusinessMIrror that the center was also alarmed when it saw a longer list of cases in the City Social Services Development Office, the local equivalent of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Integrated Gender and Development Office (IGDO) as well as records of the office of former Councilor Angela Librado, also maintained their own list of women seeking legal and financial assistance.

She said that initlal discussions with the women abandoned by their husbands working abroad also showed that they knew more cases of abandonment among friends and acquaintances.

Elento said that the MMCEAI has already agreed with the city government’s IGDO here to conduct a forum with the other government agencies, including the DSWD, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and Mayor Sara Duterte..

The forum scheduled for Monday next week would try to seek a focused attention on the concern of these families abandoned by their breadwinners.

“There is a case of a former OFW, whose husband is also an OFW, but who left them for another woman in the Middle East. The husband has not communicated with his family for some time now and this woman is now only scavenging among the trash bins and garbage dumps along the highways to survive,” Elento said.

She said her initial talk with Gabriela Partylist Rep. Luz Ilagan generated a favorable response from the congresswoman. Elento said Ilagan has assured her that the solon would ask Congress to allow her to conduct a national inquiry “as an issue of being another a social cost of migration.”

Elento said the MMCEAI would also like to ask why it was easier in the Philippines to contract multiple marriages without one being annulled yet.

“From the number of cases we heard, it would show that philandering husbands were able to marry in another place while he has still a family here,” she said.

She said that the potentially big number of abandoned OFW families “should be looked at seriously by government and nongovernment welfare agencies as a major form of the social cost of the country’s dependence to foreign remittances because this issue has been grossly mislooked or taken for granted.”

She said that the MMCEAI research and the likely Congressional national inquiry would validate the group’s claim that there was “really a big incidence of this social cost that would explode right at our own faces as a nation.”

“This may also force our political leaders to address again the issue of migration of our workers,” she said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/3462-center-alarmed-over-abandoned-ofw-families

mwg12a

November 9th, 2010, 02:16 AM

There should be protection of abandoned family. Something like the Philippine goverment can coordinate with other countries about family values where the government can garnish the salaries of those who abandoned their families.

NTprime

November 9th, 2010, 04:08 AM

Migrant workers sent home $325B in 2010—WB (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20101109-302270/Migrant-workers-sent-home-325B-in-2010WB)

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 08:22:00 11/09/2010

WASHINGTON DC, United States—Migrants are continuing to send sizeable sums of money to their home countries despite the economic downturn, with 2010 remittances totaling some 325 billion dollars, a World Bank report said Monday.

The 2010 remittances represent a six percent increase over the previous year, said bank officials, who predicted a steady increase in the amount of cash sent home by foreign workers over the coming years.

The five countries receiving the greatest amount of money were India, China, Mexico, the Philippines, and France, the World Bank said.

India received 55 billion dollars from its overseas residents while China received 51 billion dollars, and Mexico 22.6 billion.

The Philippines received 21.3 billion dollars from its residents abroad, while French nationals residing overseas sent 15.9 million dollars home.

The World Bank estimates that there will be another 6.2 percent rise in the amount of funds sent home by immigrants in 2011 to 346 billion dollars, and another 8.1 percent and in 2012 to 374 billion dollars.

Mexico is the country with the greatest number of citizens working abroad with 11.9 million, followed by India with 11.4 million, the World Bank said in its report.

RonnieR

November 9th, 2010, 04:54 AM

^^ Philippines with $21.3 B? It is really a shot in the arm...it's just like we have investments of $21.3B. No wonder we are a consumer driven economy wherein services account a bigger portion of GDP.

Yre

November 9th, 2010, 06:00 AM

xxxriainxxx

November 9th, 2010, 07:46 AM

Pinoy sa Hanoi

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs071.snc4/34901_104806282906709_100001320143624_37003_19551_n.jpg

Pinoy sa Hanoi supports the Philippine Wrestling Team

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1119.snc4/148159_459845603129_625558129_5277521_3248069_n.jpg

The Philippine Wrestling Team- the Angana Brothers, Margarito,Jr. & Jimmy would like to thank the PSH, Angela Baul, Marlyn Baardsen, & Grace Calugay for the financial support they received while transiting in Hanoi after their 3 months training in Bulgaria for the Asian Games in China this coming November,2010

Kintoy

November 9th, 2010, 09:43 AM

..and we know what is happening with the US now with its consumer driven economy.

the US economy is in crisis because of their debts, not because they have a consumer-driven economy.

post hoc fallacy.

Yre

November 9th, 2010, 09:48 AM

the US economy is in crisis because of their debts, not because they have a consumer-driven economy.

post hoc fallacy.

So why were they in debt?
---------------------------

Sorry i'm gettin a bit confused here.
In this thread we are talkin about economy when it's supposed to be about migrant workers.
In the economy thread, i have replied also about ofws...nalilito na ako...

Kintoy

November 9th, 2010, 09:52 AM

you're insinuating that a consumer economy can only be supported by debts.

RonnieR

November 9th, 2010, 11:06 AM

..and we know what is happening with the US now with its consumer driven economy.

The US case is different. The American consumers spend mostly on debts (credit cards) unlike the Pinoys, the OFW money is spent.....yes, there is credit card debt but it's a small percentage compared to US$21.3 B or P920 Billion.

b_two

November 9th, 2010, 12:11 PM

am i right to assume that americans spend way above what they can actually afford?

NTprime

November 9th, 2010, 12:45 PM

am i right to assume that americans spend way above what they can actually afford?

That is a correct assumption. From moneycentral (http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/savinganddebt/p70581.asp):

About 43% of American families spend more than they earn each year.
Average households carry some $8,000 in credit card debt.
Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the past decade.

That, among other things...the article goes on to expound on the key drivers of debt expansion...

bulabog jalaur

November 9th, 2010, 01:34 PM

The US case is different. The American consumers spend mostly on debts (credit cards) unlike the Pinoys, the OFW money is spent.....yes, there is credit card debt but it's a small percentage compared to US$21.3 B or P920 Billion.

^^US as a consumer driven economy has the capacity to provide deficit spending its because their money are used as reserved currency otherwise it would spell disaster for them.

fengrun

November 9th, 2010, 04:27 PM

The US case is different. The American consumers spend mostly on debts (credit cards) unlike the Pinoys, the OFW money is spent.....yes, there is credit card debt but it's a small percentage compared to US$21.3 B or P920 Billion.

i would agree. In fact most of us here have a higher net-worth than the average american, where we all know most americans have negative net worth.

mwg12a

November 9th, 2010, 08:02 PM

^^ Proof my friend. Proof!! Considering the socioeconomic gap between the rich and the poor is far higher in the Philippines than in the US where middleclass dominates the socioeconomic status of the country. The average income of a comon filipinos working in BPOs , factories are below Peso 40k/month, you'd be lucky enough to get 30Kper month where as in the US equivalent to RP 50k/month and above. Keep on day dreaming...

Read some of these use it as your baseline:

Changes in wealth after 2007
Household net worth fell from 2007 to 2009 by a total of $17.5 trillion or 25.5%. This was the equivalent loss of one year of GDP.[5] By the fourth quarter of 2009, the household net worth had recovered by a growth of 1.3 percent to a total of $54.2 trillion. An additional growth of 21 percent is needed just to bring the value to where it was before the recession hit in December 2007.[2]

[edit] Mechanisms to gain wealth
Assets are known as the raw materials of wealth, and they consist primarily of stocks and other financial and non-financial property, particularly homeownership.[6] While these assets are unequally distributed, financial assets are much more unequal. In 2004, the top 1% controlled 50.3% of the financial assets while the bottom 90% only held 14.4% of the total US financial assets.[6]

These discrepancies exist despite the availability of many wealth building tools established by the Federal Government. These include 401k plans, 403b plans, and IRAs. Traditional IRAs, 401k and 403b plans are tax shelters created for working individuals. These plans allow for tax sheltered (or pre-tax) contributions of earned income directly to tax sheltered savings accounts. Annual contributions are capped to ensure that high earners cannot enjoy the tax benefit proportionally. The Roth IRA is another tool that can help create wealth in the working and middle classes. Assets in Roth IRAs grow tax free; interests, dividends, and capital gains are all exempt from income taxes. Contributions to Roth IRA's are limited to those with annual incomes less than the threshold established yearly by the IRS. The benefits of these plans, however, are only available to workers and families whose incomes and expenses allow them excess funds to commit for a long period, typically until the investor reaches age 59 1/2.

[edit] Wealth Inequality and Class
In 2004, the wealthiest 25% of US households owned 87% ($43.6 trillion) of the country’s wealth, while the bottom quartile held no net wealth at all.[3] The middle 50% of the country held 13% or $6.5 trillion of the total household net wealth.[3] The previous data are taken from analysis of the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) which over samples wealthy households. This over sampling more accurately represents the true wealth distribution [since most of the wealth is concentrated at the top]. This data shows that the top 25% of American society holds on average a net wealth of $1,556,801 which is 33 times more than those of the lower middle class, or the 25th-50th percentile.[3]

In addition to unequal wealth distribution, it is also difficult for individuals in the lower income distributions to gain economic mobility which inhibits their ability to accumulate wealth.[6] In 2006, children in the lowest 20% of the income distribution only had a 17% chance of making it to the upper 40% of the income distribution.[6] In 2004, children in the lowest 20% of the wealth distribution had only a 7% chance to make it to the top wealth distribution.[6]

In other words, wealthy parents tend to produce wealthy children, and poor parents tend to produce poor children. The Panel Study of Income Dynamics shows how stratification is becoming worse and worse since 1984. The lowest percentile has become worse, and the highest percentile has become wealthier. The fifth percentile has dropped further into negative net worth, while the 90th percentile has gained over four hundred points within the last twenty one years.[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_in_the_United_States

Parchie

November 10th, 2010, 02:31 AM

So why were they in debt?
---------------------------

Sorry i'm gettin a bit confused here.
In this thread we are talkin about economy when it's supposed to be about migrant workers.
In the economy thread, i have replied also about ofws...nalilito na ako...

Hehehehe. Simple lang yan, dude! Pag merong replies you feel are off-tangent, don't deal with it!
Back to the topic:
IMO, were no different from, say a herd of animals! We follow what others ahead of us. Others call it "doing the in-thing"! Americans innovated using credit cards instead of bringing along wads of cash. It's an "in-thing" for them. What most Americans failed to do is doing proper accounting of their worth. Suffice it to say, most are overdraft! That's where all the problems started! To say that debt is the problem in the US, it is in fact partly correct! It is however deeper than what the eyes can see. If all in the neighborhood cannot accept that the next neighbor is better-off than they are, they take their credit cards and buy (using their cards) what they just saw!

I sometimes see OFW families do it here in the country! When time comes for them to report back to their foreign companies, most, if not all, take loans just to pay for the travel expenses. Anybody can verify that this is a basic truth! Although this is a common occurrence in most OFW families, we are grateful that we still have this "hiya" values! We Filipinos always feel obliged to pay whatever debt we have incurred out of "hiya"! I doubt if the American counterpart feels the same way as we do!
From the looks of things, bankers here in the Philippines are in a better position avoiding big amounts of defaults based on the good side of our personal values!

kiretoce

November 10th, 2010, 03:43 AM

Post away folks! :colgate:

Link to Thread 3 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=539352&page=151) in the Archives. :okay:

Juan Pilgrim

November 10th, 2010, 05:09 AM

NTprime

November 10th, 2010, 06:51 AM

They must have read about the underwear bomber (Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab) and got inspired by him...:nuts:

3 Filipinas who hid travel papers in underwear held (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20101110-302448/3-Filipinas-who-hid-travel-papers-in-underwear-held)

By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 10:29:00 11/10/2010

MANILA, Philippines—They were supposed to be “tourists” but the travel documents hidden in their underwear showed that they were actually laborers headed for the Middle East.

In a statement, Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer in charge Ronaldo Ledesma said three women who had hidden their real travel documents in their underwear were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Oct. 25 as they were about to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Singapore.

It turned out the women, who pretended to be tourists, were actually bound for the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.

The Philippine government has a standing ban against Filipino labor deployment in Lebanon.

“It appears that the illegal recruiters and human trafficking syndicates are using all tricks so their victims can avoid detection by immigration officers,” Ledesma said.

He said this was a new modus operandi—“a sign of desperation on the part of the syndicates”—after the BI intensified its drive against human trafficking.

Lawyer Arvin Santos, BI airport operations division chief, said the three female passengers were queuing for clearance at the NAIA immigration counter when they were invited for questioning by members of the bureau’s travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) because they were “acting strange.”

While undergoing secondary inspection, the women apparently panicked and revealed their true plans, Santos said.

“They pulled out their visas and plane tickets from their underwear after we managed to bluff them into revealing their final destinations,” he added.

Santos said that the hidden travel documents showed that from Singapore, the passengers had connecting flights to Beirut and Dubai.

Yre

November 10th, 2010, 07:04 AM

Kintoy

November 10th, 2010, 07:29 AM

mwg12a

November 10th, 2010, 07:34 AM

I met a Filipino Plumber (OFW) at work today. According to him he was recruited from the Philippines.

I couldn't believe it. Could this be true? With all the Americans looking for work right now,
is there a possibility that there is still a shortage in this particular skilled profession.

:horse:

We all knew that jobs like these don't exist in US immigration. Couldn't it be an illegal immigrant who are afraid of you tipping him off to US INS? We already knew that work like these are usually being absorbed by immigrants, legal or illegal who are mostly from Mexico.

I think it's not that there is shortage for these job, it's more of a less appealing job there is so very few Americans would do these just like farm work and other labor intensive jobs in every corner of the US of A.

fengrun

November 10th, 2010, 09:33 AM

xxxriainxxx

November 10th, 2010, 11:43 AM

dude that guy is a plumber for sewage. not for water pipes..
plumbing is a dirty job. That is what OFW's are for.

I think the mods are being very lenient with you. Otherwise you would have been banned a long time ago.

NTprime

November 10th, 2010, 12:16 PM

We all knew that jobs like these don't exist in US immigration. Couldn't it be an illegal immigrant who are afraid of you tipping him off to US INS? We already knew that work like these are usually being absorbed by immigrants, legal or illegal who are mostly from Mexico.

I think it's not that there is shortage for these job, it's more of a less appealing job there is so very few Americans would do these just like farm work and other labor intensive jobs in every corner of the US of A.

I think it's too early to pass judgment on this OFW as Juan Pilgrim didn't provide other details aside from what he posted.

It is possible that these jobs are in high demand, and there are no American takers, depending on which region you're talking about. On the one hand the OFW might have had heavy plumbing experience with a previous job in the Middle East or elsewhere, hence his why he was hired for his skills.

Too little info here. Lucky the guy he has a decent job in the US. His skills are not so much in demand in the Philippines except maybe for MWSS, Manila Water or Maynilad. Or some large construction company...

Kintoy

November 10th, 2010, 12:20 PM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/1796457163_fc878381a0.jpg?v=0

too many "tuberos" here

xxxriainxxx

November 10th, 2010, 12:27 PM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/1796457163_fc878381a0.jpg?v=0

too many "tuberos" here

For the first time (?), napatawa mo ako in a good way. :lol::lol::lol:

Good one. ;)

Juan Pilgrim

November 10th, 2010, 01:42 PM

I think it's too early to pass judgment on this
OFW as Juan Pilgrim didn't provide other details aside from what he posted.

It is possible that these jobs are in high demand, and there are no American
takers, depending on which region you're talking about. On the one hand the
OFW might have had heavy plumbing experience with a previous job in the
Middle East or elsewhere, hence his why he was hired for his skills.

Too little info here. Lucky the guy he has a decent job in the US. His skills
are not so much in demand in the Philippines except maybe for MWSS,
Manila Water or Maynilad. Or some large construction company...

Here's some more information I gathered from the Filipino Plumber this AM...

Mr. Catacutan, the "tubero" looks older than me, he is probably in his early 30s.
According to him he is from Batangas. He trained under TESTA and was
recruited through POEA because there is a shortage of plumbers in the US.
This is his first foray outside of PHL. He had the choice of either going to
New York or Virginia, but because of some distant relatives & friends in
Queens he decided to go to NY. There are three plumbers who will be
retiring from the hospital after 30 years of service, Mr. Catacutan and another
plumber, who was recruited from Poland, will be replacing these plumbers.
Now they are both working as apprentice (for $20/ hour) until they get their
license. Once licensed they can earn up to $45/hour. He said he will do this
for 5 years and set up his own training school/recruiting agency in Lemery,
Batangas.:cheers2:

:horse:

Yre

November 10th, 2010, 01:51 PM

Here's some more information I gathered from the Filipino Plumber this AM...

Mr. Catacutan, the "tubero" looks older than me, he is probably in his early 30s.
According to him he is from Batangas. He trained under TESTA and was
recruited through POEA because there is a shortage of plumbers in the US.
This is his first foray outside of PHL. He had the choice of either going to
New York or Virginia, but because of some distant relatives & friends in
Queens he decided to go to NY. There are three plumbers who will be
retiring from the hospital after 30 years of service, Mr. Catacutan and another
plumber, who was recruited from Poland, will be replacing these plumbers.
Now they are both working as apprentice (for $20/ hour) until they get their
license. Once licensed they can earn up to $45/hour. He said he will do this
for 5 years and set up his own training school/recruiting agency in Lemery,
Batangas.:cheers2:

:horse:

Okay, now i want to be a plumber, I think it's easier than sliding a mouse and pounding keyboards... 45$/per hour is so good i would handle shit anytime :lol: :bash:

Nahh. i'll stay with my mouse :D

amigo32

November 10th, 2010, 02:06 PM

Okay, now i want to be a plumber, I think it's easier than sliding a mouse and pounding keyboards... 45$/per hour is so good i would handle shit anytime :lol: :bash:

Nahh. i'll stay with my mouse :D

shit ng mga Kano namn hahawakan mo:D eww, dito na lang ako sa bukid:D

Juan Pilgrim

November 10th, 2010, 02:16 PM

shit ng mga Kano namn hahawakan mo:D
eww, dito na lang ako sa bukid:D

:lol: Miggy, I touch shit and deal with all sorts of crap at work
almost everyday.
Ewww, yeah! I just wash my hands and shower before I go home.
It's all in a day's work.

:horse:

xxxriainxxx

November 10th, 2010, 02:20 PM

Over 100 job orders for Filipina maids cancelled over insurance (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20101110-302497/Over-100-job-orders-for-Filipina-maids-cancelled-over-insurance)
By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:32:00 11/10/2010
Filed Under: Overseas Employment, Insurance

MANILA, Philippines—The new government policy requiring insurance coverage for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has led more than 100 Hong Kong residents to cancel their requests for Filipina maids, a recruitment industry leader in Manila said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Alfredo Palmiery, president of the Society of Hong Kong-Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines (Sharp), said his counterparts in Hong Kong have informed him about the negative reaction of the city's residents to the new policy, which has been mandated by the amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.

The law requires recruiters to pay for the compulsory liability insurance for new OFWs to be deployed abroad. Palmiery said this could lead to more Hong Kong residents getting their maids from Indonesia, instead of the Philippines.

"Mr. Tony Lau, chairman of the largest (group of) recruitment associations, the General Chamber of Manpower Associations in Hong Kong emailed...to report that the move to stop getting maids from the Philippines is gaining steam," Palmiery said.

He said there was even a demonstration by Liberal Party members at the Philippine Consulate on Tuesday to protest the new rule, which required compulsory insurance for new OFWs.

"Hong Kong residents who have long depended on Filipina maids to take care of their children and household are fuming mad over the additional payment for getting maids from the Philippines and many of them have put their plans on hold," Palmiery said.

He said Hong Kong residents have already been paying for a life insurance cover of HK$200,000 or P1.2 million pesos for each maids while some residents even got a HK$1,000-medical insurance for their help each year.

Palmiery said Hong Kong recruitment agencies have written Philippine Labor Attaché to Hong Kong, Rogelio Salud for a clarification on the mandatory insurance scheme.

"Deployment (of Filipina maids) to Hong Kong will certainly dip this year with the slow-down experienced last August over the Luneta debacle and, these last two months of the year, will see a large reduction in Filipina maids reaching Hong Kong over this insurance problem," Palmiery added.

Eman Villanueva, secretary general of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante-HK) also criticized the new policy for having been "formulated without any consultation with OFWs or an assessment of how it will really impact the employment of OFWs."

“We don’t feel protected. We are actually anxious that this new policy for mandatory insurance will create job loss or possible additional financial burden to us Filipino migrants in Hong Kong. For OFWs in HK, this new insurance is thrice redundant and an exemption should be made for us,” Villanueva said in a statement from Hong Kong.

He also quoted reports in Hong Kong as saying that more than 100 Hong Kong households had cancelled job orders for Filipino maids because the new policy would cost them an additional HK$1,123" for every maid.

With insurance coverage already mandated by Hong Kong labor laws for employers of foreign domestic workers, Villanueva said that the new insurance scheme "will surely cause a pause for employers intending to hire Filipinos."

“Why impose three similar insurance policies that essentially cover the same benefits? Obviously, employers will cringe at such a ridiculous requirement that will, in turn, jeopardize our employment," Villanueva said.

"If we lose our jobs, there is no hope that the Philippine government can provide us sufficient livelihood back home with unemployment still plaguing the country. This constitutes the root of our worries,” he added.

Villanueva said that that employers and agencies might eventually pass on the burden of paying for the new insurance scheme to OFWs.

“There are many fees that are supposed to be paid for by employers but are in reality carried by OFWs such as the contract authentication fee and the (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) fee. There is no existing concrete mechanism to ensure that these fees are not passed on to OFWs,” he said.

He added that even placement fee that was supposed to be scrapped already were still being charged by recruitment agencies through various modus operandi and (the Philippine government is) helpless in effectively curbing unscrupulous practices of agencies.”

Villanueva reiterated the call to exempt OFWs in Hong Kong from the new scheme as well as OFWs in other countries that already have mandatory insurance coverage.

"The Philippine government should ensure that OFWs without insurance coverage in other countries would have one without also putting in danger their job security," Villanueva said.

“This new rule should be reviewed. Genuine protection should not cost us our jobs or more fees for us,” he added.

Kintoy

November 10th, 2010, 02:36 PM

we should stop sending maids overseas...

Yre

November 10th, 2010, 02:41 PM

we should stop sending maids overseas...

Totally agree. They are the most exploited sector overseas.

xxxriainxxx

November 10th, 2010, 02:43 PM

we should stop sending maids overseas...

I think so too. The owner of our school had a Filipina maid and we were all telling her not come back after her contract finished. She works long hours, she can't even come with us maski ilibre namin kasi ayaw payagan ng amo. For what she does, she can earn much more sa Ozamis where she is from.

Juan Pilgrim

November 10th, 2010, 03:48 PM

I think so too. The owner of our school had a Filipina maid and we were all telling her not come back after her contract finished. She works long hours, she can't even come with us maski ilibre namin kasi ayaw payagan ng amo. For what she does, she can earn much more sa Ozamis where she is from.

I am also not in favor of sending workers who are mistreated and paid cheaply overseas.
This includes domestic helpers, caregivers et al. unfortunately it is not for me to decide.

Question: xxxriainxxx didn't you seek employment in VN for the same reason?
Are you sure this "maid" will land a job and "earn much more sa Ozamis?"
Why didn't you just stay in PHL and "earn much more sa Makati o sa Ozamis?"

:horse:

xxxriainxxx

November 10th, 2010, 04:07 PM

I am also not in favor of sending workers who are mistreated and paid cheaply overseas.
This includes domestic helpers, caregivers et al. unfortunately it is not for me to decide.

Question: xxxriainxxx didn't you seek employment in VN for the same reason?
Are you sure this "maid" will land a job and "earn much more sa Ozamis?"
Why didn't you just stay in PHL and "earn much more sa Makati o sa Ozamis?"

:horse:

Actually money was secondary to my reason being here. I meant to move to Australia in 3 years, but I have two cats which I intend to take with me, so I have to look for a third country acceptable to Australia. Currently, only Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan are the closest countries are accepted. Since it is basically difficult to find work as a teacher in Taiwan, SG and Malaysia are still too expensive to live, VN was the alternative. The pay is higher compared to Thailand. China is a no-no since that would be problem for the cats (once it enters China, hardly any other country accepts any animal that came from China) so Vietnam was the choice. Whilst here, I am saving up enough money to sustain me for at least 6mos to 1 year in KL which I think will be my next destination prior to Australia.

So going back to your question, if it was just for my sake, I would have stayed in Makati but it wasn't. I love my two cats and I cannot bear to be separated from them in any case. It was very hard enough to take them with me to Hanoi (with two connecting flights, tedious quarantine requirements, and the resulting expenses)

This is Aslan (8 KG, street cat)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs059.snc4/35289_1276684212185_1682374165_544449_3503623_n.jpg

He celebrated his 3rd birthday here in VN.

This is Rajah (4.5 KG, Siamese)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs277.snc1/10434_1076181199415_1672774240_156512_3563417_n.jpg

The boys at Noi Bai Airport , Hanoi. Still freaked out... :(

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs294.snc3/28368_431186851281_530586281_6080659_3834190_n.jpg

xxxriainxxx

November 10th, 2010, 04:13 PM

As for the Pinay maid, I saw her photos today and she looks happier back in Ozamis. I think her salary here is too little to matter. Alam ko nasa 200 USD lang yata sahod nya.

Kintoy

November 10th, 2010, 04:28 PM

those pussies should be worth it ;p

http://www.thecatgallery.com/images/puss-in-boots-2.JPG

xxxriainxxx

November 10th, 2010, 04:36 PM

those pussies should be worth it ;p

:lol::lol::lol:

Kasama ko yan sa higaan pag natulog. Dala-dalawang pussy..cats. :D

fengrun

November 10th, 2010, 07:04 PM

:nuts:Actually money was secondary to my reason being here. I meant to move to Australia in 3 years, but I have two cats which I intend to take with me, so I have to look for a third country acceptable to Australia. Currently, only Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan are the closest countries are accepted. Since it is basically difficult to find work as a teacher in Taiwan, SG and Malaysia are still too expensive to live, VN was the alternative. The pay is higher compared to Thailand. China is a no-no since that would be problem for the cats (once it enters China, hardly any other country accepts any animal that came from China) so Vietnam was the choice. Whilst here, I am saving up enough money to sustain me for at least 6mos to 1 year in KL which I think will be my next destination prior to Australia.

So going back to your question, if it was just for my sake, I would have stayed in Makati but it wasn't. I love my two cats and I cannot bear to be separated from them in any case. It was very hard enough to take them with me to Hanoi (with two connecting flights, tedious quarantine requirements, and the resulting expenses)

This is Aslan (8 KG, street cat)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs059.snc4/35289_1276684212185_1682374165_544449_3503623_n.jpg

He celebrated his 3rd birthday here in VN.

This is Rajah (4.5 KG, Siamese)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs277.snc1/10434_1076181199415_1672774240_156512_3563417_n.jpg

The boys at Noi Bai Airport , Hanoi. Still freaked out... :(

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs294.snc3/28368_431186851281_530586281_6080659_3834190_n.jpg

see I told you, this guy is loose in the head. Just imagine worrying about his cat, and having the cat decide where he will go?

Move to Zimbabwe dude. Lots of cats there. Lions and tigers. Your cat will love it there. :nuts::lol:

And of all the country, you plan to stay for good in a country that's buried in debt, that's not even part of the top 20 largest economies.

b_two

November 10th, 2010, 09:51 PM

to each his own.

:cheers:

xxxriainxxx

November 11th, 2010, 03:34 AM

xxxriainxxx

November 11th, 2010, 03:49 AM

Pampangiti sa lahat:

0Bmhjf0rKe8

Dedicated kay fengrun hehehe.

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 04:52 AM

:nuts:

see I told you, this guy is loose in the head. Just imagine worrying about his cat, and having the cat decide where he will go?

Move to Zimbabwe dude. Lots of cats there. Lions and tigers. Your cat will love it there. :nuts::lol:

And of all the country, you plan to stay for good in a country that's buried in debt, that's not even part of the top 20 largest economies.

What country never have any foreign debt, name one and we will give you merrit for it. Show something to back you up with your claim. For one thing rich countries have huge debt "because" they have means to repay it through trade. For instance, US has loans from China but at the same time they have bilateral trade agreement. US is one of the countries China relies heavily on their exports. The Philippines didn't have that much debt because its credit rating were down until Arroyo used her magic, had the Philippines have strong export market and have tons of local investors. I am now inclined to believe that "some" of your claim on average filipino's networth is higher than most average American because of OFWs who has been the backbone of the Philippine economy for several decades. Now that there are alot of foreign investments, some of the locals are starting to gain a little strength financial, but still, somehow, the poverty level in the Philippines still remain high. Check the reports and stats on these instead of relying your knowledge of fact from your own personal experience only. The world revolves outside your own personal life/achievements and does not end in your own little world.

Yre

November 11th, 2010, 05:25 AM

:lol:

Would have given the thumbs-up if those pussies can also bark and been waxed. :bash:

xxxriainxxx

November 11th, 2010, 05:30 AM

:lol:

Would have given the thumbs-up if those pussies can also bark and been waxed. :bash:

Si Aslan minsan tumatahol din yan. :lol::lol:

Wax? Hehehe, ikaw muna. :D

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 05:48 AM

What country never have any foreign debt, name one and we will give you merrit for it. Show something to back you up with your claim. For one thing rich countries have huge debt "because" they have means to repay it through trade. For instance, US has loans from China but at the same time they have bilateral trade agreement. US is one of the countries China relies heavily on their exports. The Philippines didn't have that much debt because its credit rating were down until Arroyo used her magic, had the Philippines have strong export market and have tons of local investors. I am now inclined to believe that "some" of your claim on average filipino's networth is higher than most average American because of OFWs who has been the backbone of the Philippine economy for several decades. Now that there are alot of foreign investments, some of the locals are starting to gain a little strength financial, but still, somehow, the poverty level in the Philippines still remain high. Check the reports and stats on these instead of relying your knowledge of fact from your own personal experience only. The world revolves outside your own personal life/achievements and does not end in your own little world.

exports of what? Most of what the US is exporting is manufactured from Asia and China. That's what the US does, rebrand stuffs and re-export it.

The only thing the US is good at is printing dollars. Lots of it. Now your dollar is like toilet paper. :lol::nuts:

xxxriainxxx

November 11th, 2010, 07:40 AM

OFWs in Japan air hopes as Noy leaves for APEC (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/11/10/ofws-japan-air-hopes-pnoy-leaves-apec)

by Lynda Jumilla, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 11/11/2010 1:58 PM | Updated as of 11/11/2010 2:05 PM

YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Gloria Ishizeki has been living and working in Japan for 14 years. And yet, she still could not afford to take it easy. Like the overwhelming majority of the 300,000 Filipinos here, she holds two jobs -- sales lady by day, factory worker by night.

"Nagtatrabaho sa araw, tapos sa gabi, kumukuha ng trabaho sa isang company. Bale, sa bahay gagawin tapos isosoli niyo po sa pabrika the next day. So pati puyat po, tinitiis namin," Ishizeki said in an interview, ahead of President Aquino's arrival here to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting.

Many Filipinos here would rather work in the Philippines. But there aren't enough jobs, especially ones that provide decent living wages.

"Sa Philippines, may work din naman doon pero ang sweldo parang konti. One week mong trabaho dito, equivalent to one month na work sa Philippines," said Ofelia Ichikawa, also a department store sales clerk.

"So, mas magandang opportunity dito. Mas maraming kita, mas maraming maitutulong sa family sa Pilipinas, at mabilis ang pag-ahon sa buhay," Icihikawa said.

More work, better wages for Filipinos, not only here but also back home, are just some of the expectations that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan have of President Aquino.

The president laid the groundwork for this during the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, when he talked to the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

"Nag-usap sila sa Hanoi kung paano mapapabuti, paano mas mapapadali ang pagpasok ng ating mga kababayan dito sa Japan. At paano lalong mapapabuti pa yung kanilang kalagayan habang nagtatrabaho at naninirahan dito," said Ambassador Belen Anota, the Philippine charge d'affaires.

"Seryosong pinag-uusapan paano mas madaling makakapasa sa exam yung ating mga nurses and caregivers," she said.

On Saturday and Sunday, President Aquino will join the heads of 20 other economies in the Asia-Pacific region in a series of meetings at the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.

They will assess what has been achieved so far in their goal of pursuing free trade and open investment, as set forth during the 1994 Leaders' Meeting in Bogor, Indonesia.

The leaders will also discuss growth strategies and human security, on the heels of reported terror threats in the Philippines.

Anota emphasized the need for the Philippines to be active in discussions with neighboring economies to achieve its own economic goals.

"Globalized economy na tayo. Hindi pwedeng mag-decide mag-isa. That's why like in ASEAN and in APEC, magu-grupo ang mga bansa para mapabuti yung world economy, dahil pag bumuti, kasama tayo," she said.

The president is expected to arrive late Thursday night. Before and in between the APEC Leaders' Meeting, he will meet with Japanese businessman and have bilateral talks with several APEC leaders.

However, he is still waiting for approval of his request to have bilateral talks with US President Barack Obama.

On Sunday afternoon, the president will meet with about 1,000 members of the Filipino community here in Yokohama.

Mr. Aquino is expected to fly back to Manila on Monday.

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 07:51 AM

exports of what? Most of what the US is exporting is manufactured from Asia and China. That's what the US does, rebrand stuffs and re-export it.

The only thing the US is good at is printing dollars. Lots of it. Now your dollar is like toilet paper. :lol::nuts:

EXPORT OF WHAT??? Look at the records of what exports are being sent to CHINA along..... Does the Philippines have most of those exports???? Before you make a claim UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SAY and not guess.

Those automobiles that is being manufactured in asia are being done there for the consumption of your regional consumers. You probably didn't even know that the Toyotas being driven by americans in the US are 100% made in the USA, this is why you guys don't have Avalon, highlander and such. Some of the autos here even American brands are being exported to Canada. And even there are automobiles assembled lets say for instance in the Philippines or Indonesia, the profit for it still goes to the United States, and these corporations GET TAXED by the US government. Some of the automobiles are being assembled in ASIA or the Philippines because of what?? CHEAP LABOR!!!:lol::lol: Some of it are made to assemble there in the Philippines for local consumer consumption so it will be less expensive than directly importing autos from the US because of Tax incured in the US and then the Philippine tax on imported automobiles. :ohno::ohno:

And yes, that toilet paper is the same 400million grant given to the Aquino adminstration. Does the Philippines offered grant OR LEND money even to the neighboring ASIAN countries poorer than the Philippines? NEVER!!:lol::lol:

And before you make claims. Do some readings so YOU KNOW WHAT YOU"RE TALKING ABOUT!!

Here are examples of US's EXPORT TO CHINA.

Table 2: Top US Exports to China 2009 ($ billion)
*Calculated by USCBC
Source: US International Trade Commission
HS# Commodity description Volume % change over 2008
85 Electrical machinery andand equipment 9.5 -16.8
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits 9.3 26.5
84 Power generation equipment 8.4 -13.8
88 Air and spacecraft 5.3 4.5
39 Plastics and articles thereof 4.4 14.1
90 Optics and medical equipment 4.0 6.0
72, 73 Iron and steel *3.5 *6.9
47 Pulp and paperboard 2.5 9.4
29 Organic chemicals 2.4 15.1
87 Vehicles, excluding railway 1.9 2.3

Table 3: Top US Imports from China 2009 ($ billion)
*Calculated by USCBC
Source: US International Trade Commission
HS# Commodity description Volume % change over 2008
85 Electrical machinery and equipment 72.9 -9.2
84 Power generation equipment 62.4 -4.2
61, 62 Apparel *24.3 *1.5
95 Toys and games 23.2 -14.6
94 Furniture 16.0 -17.4
72, 73 Iron and steel *8.0 *45.9
64 Footwear and parts thereof 13.3 -7.9
39 Plastics and articles thereof 8.0 -10.1
42 Leather and travel goods 6.0 -18.9
90 Optics and medical equipment 5.6 -9.4

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z170/midwestguy1/USexporttoChina11-11-2010.jpg

http://www.uschina.org/statistics/tradetable.html

NTprime

November 11th, 2010, 08:17 AM

^^I'm surprised (with the gap) that the US is importing far more electrical machinery and equipment than what it exports to China. Same goes for power generation equipment. Not a good outlook for Caterpillar, GE and other American equipment brands.

With apparel it's obvious that while most high end brands are conceptualized in the US, the designs are sent to China and manufactured there (cheap labor). This is very true also for toys (Mattel, etc.) and footware (almost all known brands).

Thus, pick out an average American from the street and you'll probably see the "Made in P.R.O.C." or "Made in China" tag sticking out, a proud testament to China, the "factory" of the world.

Speaking of "Made in ... " what durable goods still carry the "Made in the Philippines" label worldwide?

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 08:23 AM

xxxriainxxx

November 11th, 2010, 10:27 AM

Fil-Am friend was asked by a US Immigration Officer- "Why do you live in the Philippines?" She answered, 'Uhhh...Because it's fun?' - LOL

Kintoy

November 11th, 2010, 10:33 AM

^^ True , I noticed that also however what US has been exporting to China are mostly heavy equipments, steels and such whre China exports toys footwares , rtw blah blah blah. to the USA. This is why the role of the US is still vital to China, this is partly because of these among others.

curious indeed. the US exports as much oil seeds and fruits ($9.3 billion) as machinery ($9.5 billion). the US imports $72.9 billion worth of electrical machinery and equipment.

sadly I think the US needs more from China than the other way around. China is one of the largest buyers of US treasury bonds which is used to finance the imports of goods from China. so basically China is lending money to the US, to buy more goods from China.

if China stops the export of rare-earth metals (they control 95% of the world supply) to the US, the US industries will be in trouble.

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 11:57 AM

iamwatching

November 11th, 2010, 03:44 PM

see I told you, this guy is loose in the head

Were you not breast fed as a baby? The way I see it, its you who needs help....ASAP..or I guess you just need for someone to love you so as to lessen the loneliness that you feel right now ..here let me give you a hug :hug:

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 04:55 PM

^ in a few years China will be the world's largest economy , with the Philippines becoming its new source of migrant workers and cheap manufacturing labor.

So in essence, the Philippines will benefit more to a China growth.

And you suggests that there is enough jobs in the Philippines there is no need to become OFW if all has the talents and skills you possess.:lol::lol:

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 05:04 PM

curious indeed. the US exports as much oil seeds and fruits ($9.3 billion) as machinery ($9.5 billion). the US imports $72.9 billion worth of electrical machinery and equipment.

sadly I think the US needs more from China than the other way around. China is one of the largest buyers of US treasury bonds which is used to finance the imports of goods from China. so basically China is lending money to the US, to buy more goods from China.

if China stops the export of rare-earth metals (they control 95% of the world supply) to the US, the US industries will be in trouble.

Well, with the US as one of the biggest recipients for China's export, would have impacted China's economy as well if the US economy collapsed. Fortunately, the US economy has stabilized although, admittingly, the US is still not out of the storm yet. Thanks to the stimulus package granted by the US gov to help the ailiing corporations like GM and such to recover. There are very many countries who are all trading with the US , is why when the recession was announced last year, it caused that ripple effect towards europe and asia.

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 05:26 PM

And you suggests that there is enough jobs in the Philippines there is no need to become OFW if all has the talents and skills you possess.:lol::lol:

the Chinese don't want to work as plumbers, fixing leaking sewage. It is full of noodle shit.. :nuts:

So that's where the Philippines can send its OFW's.

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 05:42 PM

tsk,tsk, wawa naman mga Pilipino immigrants, at OFW sa Tate. Looks like the American dream is just a dream.. Mukhang madaming Mickey Mouse money itong mga amerikano ah..

----------
High inflation or peso appreciation

JOHN MANGUN
OUTSIDE THE BOX
Business Mirror
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/hom...o-appreciation

The world is entering the most dangerous and potentially devastating phase of the global economic crisis.

The US began an economic recession in 2007 as oil prices spiked and the debt bubble was beginning to burst. That debt bubble exploded in full force in 2008, destroying a trillion or so of dollars of assets and bringing to light the terrible financial condition of many so-called first-world governments and first-world financial institutions.

In 2008 and 2009, governments printed trillions of dollars of new money in a failed attempt to stimulate their economies. The plan was that economic activity would increase enough to absorb this new money. Economic activity did not rebound, and the result has been stagnant economies flooded with new money that was not creating wealth but, in fact, was creating a superinflationary global economic environment.

Governments are run by politicians who do not have the capability to think in terms of years but only in terms of quick political expediency. The problems were created by years of short-term policy decisions, and these same incompetent politicians believed that the problems could be solved with more short-term policy decisions. Instead of building economic superhighways to growth, they filled the potholes, hoping that the people would be fooled that everything was just fine. They were wrong as usual

Sound economies must create real wealth, based on people making real goods and providing real services. You just cannot fake it. You cannot put lipstick on a pig and call it a beauty queen. After creating nearly $2 trillions of fake money without any wealth-creating economic results, the US Federal Reserve decided to try that failed policy one more time. Last week the Fed announced it would print nearly another trillion dollars more between now and June 2011.
The first time they printed the trillions was to provide funds to stimulate domestic economic activity. That did not work. This time the purpose is to lower the value of the dollar to increase US exports to increase economic activity. Why are these so-called first-world countries so intent on devaluing their currencies? It is because national governments do not go bankrupt. Currencies go bankrupt. It is the only way to get out of their debt problem. This Fed initiative will also be an economic failure but this policy will most definitely create inflation.

The broadest measure of global commodity prices, denominated in dollars, is the Continuous Commodity Index (CCI). That index reached 600 in July 2008. It is now at 597. But in 2008, oil was priced at $140 per barrel. Now oil is $88. The increase in the CCI is due to dollar devaluation. The CCI is a leading indicator of future global price inflation as it presents raw material costs that will show up in consumer prices.

Inflation in the Philippines is running at 2.8 percent. Compare with the US. In the last 18 months, US prices for gasoline up 30 percent, wheat up 60 percent, corn up 75 percent, cattle up 20 percent, and lumber up 40 percent. And these are the numbers for a nation with little economic growth and where personal income and personal spending is going down. This is the currency-induced cost-push inflation I wrote about last month and it will become a global condition.

Further compounding the inflation problem is that the Fed policy will force Europe to expand its money-printing activities to devalue the euro. As that happens, it is inevitable that currencies like the Philippine peso will rise in value. The peso not only will rise, but must go up in value to protect this economy. We will see 40 to the dollar, then 38, 36, and on and on as the dollar devalues.

Countries like the Philippines have two choices: devalue the currency along with the dollar and be subject to high inflationary pressure or appreciate the currency and adjust to international capital flows.

Look, the Philippines is not like Brazil, which is dependent on exports to the US and, therefore, needs to stay pegged to the dollar. Brazil is also being hurt by “currency carry trade.” That is where financial institutions borrow in dollars at near-zero interest rates and then move the money into Brazil to take advantage of deposit rates as high as 11 percent. Money is moving to the Philippines and others for investment-profit opportunities and currency appreciation, not for high interest rates as such.

The downsides for peso appreciation are supposedly three. I say supposedly because I do not believe that these offset the harm that high inflation will bring.

Exporters are vigorously calling for a weakened peso because they cry that they cannot compete in a peso-appreciating environment. If the exporters are dependent on a third-world depreciated currency, then they do not have any business being in business with that poor a financial model. Also, other nations that compete with the Philippines are experiencing currency appreciation. Finally, the nation must balance the economic contribution of the export sector to the total economy.

Overseas workers will receive less for their remitted dollars. Common sense says that if inflation comes from a depreciated peso, there will be a net loss, as remitted money will get more pesos that have lower purchasing power due to inflation. What do you want? More paper money that buys less or less paper money that buys more.Outsourcing will be impacted by an appreciating peso. However, other outsourcing destinations face the same situation. Further, the cost differential between home-country service costs and outsourcing is great enough to cover currency appreciation. Do not forget. During the course of our outsourcing boom, the peso has appreciated from over 50 to just over 40 and business continues. And the argument that outsourcing companies will not continue to build in the Philippines is misleading. If these companies can make a profit from their overseas clients, they will build facilities here. Globally, the outsourcing industry has had flat growth for two years. Despite an appreciating peso, business in the Philippines is up more than 20 percent.There is no choice in this matter. US government policy has put the world on an inflationary path that will cause great economic harm. There is absolutely no reason for the Philippines to get caught in this terrible situation unless we start trying to manipulate the peso to serve narrow, special interests.

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 06:01 PM

^^Yeah, that means the OFW remittances in the Philippines would also decrease. Unless, they beef up the export industry much further, make it solid and strong, the RP government would not worry about dollar reserve. So, in actuality, since OFWs in the US are is the biggest contributor for OFWs remittances into the Philippines, whatever happens in the US economy would also impact the Philippine economy. Since, even during the recession period, OFWs in the US still continue to send their remittances back to the Philippines. What if it drop more than 50 % remittances? Crisis would plague the country. Mind you, this is not accounting Philippine export to the US.

BTW, you only highlighted issues that YOU rather see but you miss the other key issue in that article you posted, particularly THE IMPACT on Outsourcing in the Philippines due to the rising value of Peso. This is why the Philippine government is working hard to not allow the increase in value because there will be an effect on Philippine export industry and the OFW remittances.

Now read this article also and tell the discrepancy:

Economic Outlook
Although the Texas economy showed some signs of contraction in fiscal 2008 and early fiscal 2009, the losses proved relatively modest, especially when considering that the national economy entered into recession in December 2007. The current outlook, however, is that the Texas economy – in terms of real (inflation adjusted) Gross State Product (GSP) – will exhibit weakness throughout fiscal 2009 before initiating recovery the following year. (See Table 1.)

Up until now, two factors have worked to insulate Texas from the national economic downturn. First,oil and natural gas prices soared in fiscal 2008, resulting in rapid job growth in the energy sector, which, despite higher fuel costs at the pump, benefited the state’s economy and tax revenues through increased exploration and production and the addition of high-paying jobs. Second, Texas exports, which were boosted by a weak U.S. dollar, grew at double-digit rates through the past five fiscal years.

Fuel prices have fallen dramatically while the dollar has fluctuated, chilling the state’s energy and export-dependent industries, particularly manufacturing. On top of these concerns, the deepening national recession and the ongoing weakness in the nation’s housing and finance sectors have exerted increasing pressure on our state economy.

The US dollar fall is actually helping many American business’ as it makes their exports cheaper and boosts locally made product sales as imports become more expensive. In fact the dollar slide is a major source fueling domestic growth in a low inflation environment, something which the government and Fed are actually supporting. Many analysts are predicting that the US dollar will continue it’s downward trend into 2011 and 2012, barring any geopolitical or major economic shocks.

http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxbud/bre2010/outlook.html

http://www.savingtoinvest.com/2008/05/us-dollar-outlook-2008-2009-and-beyond.html

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 06:08 PM

^^Yeah, that means the OFW remittances in the Philippines would also decrease. Unless, they beefed up the export industry much further, make it solid and strong, the RP government would not worry about dollar reserve. So, in actuality, since OFWs in the US are is the biggest contributor for OFWs remittancesa into the Philippines, whatever happens in the US economy would also impact the Philippine economy. Since, even during the recession period, OFWs in the US still continue to send their remittances back to the Philippines. What if it drop more than 50 % remittances? Crisis would plague the country.

nah. The US do not play a big role anymore. It is China, India, Brazil, and Russia that matters now. Add to that ASEAN is now one of the largest economic bloc. Plus include the domestic economy.

Wake up dude. Everybody is writing about falling America. All investors are now projecting a falling America and the dollar.

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 06:30 PM

nah. The US do not play a big role anymore. It is China, India, Brazil, and Russia that matters now. Add to that ASEAN is now one of the largest economic bloc. Plus include the domestic economy. There are job availabilities there because most of them are vacated by filipinos working in other countries all over the world.

Wake up dude. Everybody is writing about falling America. All investors are now projecting a falling America and the dollar.
yeah okay!!:lol: Actually, YOU WAKE UP!!!! because you keep on failing to realize that the Philippine economy still relies on the OFWs remittances. And that there is still no enough jobs there in the Philippines if it comes to the point that all OFWs has to come home.
]Dollar Heads for Biggest Quarterly Gain In Three Years. The world still sees the dollar as the safety currency in the globe as demonstrated by it’s recent strength against the Euro and Yen. European leaders’ are struggling to forge a plan to bail out Greece and the yen fell against all 16 of its most-traded counterparts this week as Japanese consumer prices dropped for a 12th month, increasing the chances the nation’s central bank will lag behind its peers in raising interest rates. Relatively, the US economy is still showing signs of growth, improving corporate profits and a slow down in unemployment. Company earnings increased 8 percent in the fourth quarter, capping the biggest year-over-year gain in 25 years, figures from the Commerce Department showed. The US economy expanded at a 5.6 percent annual rate

News from the European and Japanese economies is clouded and uncertain, with growth much slower than in the US. Thus, when investors are uncertain, what happens is they buy dollars. The dollar appreciated 0.9 percent to $1.3410 versus the euro, from $1.3530 a week earlier. It was headed for a gain of 6.8 percent for the quarter, the largest since it advanced 11.8 percent in the three months ended in September 2008.

Even the strong resource driven currencies like the Australian and Canadian dollars fell versus the greenback for the first week this month amid speculation gains versus the U.S. dollar and the euro couldn’t be sustained. Australia’s currency dropped 1.2 percent to 90.41 U.S. cents, from 91.54 cents on March 19. The loonie, as Canada’s currency is nicknamed, dropped 0.9 percent to C$1.0266 per U.S. dollar.

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 06:50 PM

yeah okay!!:lol: Actually, YOU WAKE UP!!!! because you keep on failing to realize that the Philippine economy still relies on the OFWs remittances. And that there is still no enough jobs there in the Philippines if it comes to the point that all OFWs has to come home.

it's actually the US that does not have enough jobs. Why is there a higher unemployment in the US than the Philippines? poor americans. grossly overpaid yet can't find jobs, but has to pay the bills. . :ohno:

and inflation is very high,compared to the Philippines which is very low. :cheers:

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 07:08 PM

it's actually the US that does not have enough jobs. Why is there a higher unemployment in the US than the Philippines? poor americans. grossly overpaid yet can't find jobs, but has to pay the bills. . :ohno:

and inflation is very high,compared to the Philippines which is very low. :cheers:

YEt our people here never go out of the country to look for another job in other countries. The UNEMPLOYED are given unemployment benefits which means, if they lost their jobs , they received monitary support from the US government. Something the Philippines never had....

If you read what I posted in my last post, it talks about how the fall in US currency is helping smaller American business owners and the export industry

The US dollar fall is actually helping many American business’ as it makes their exports cheaper and boosts locally made product sales as imports become more expensive. In fact the dollar slide is a major source fueling domestic growth in a low inflation environment, something which the government and Fed are actually supporting. Many analysts are predicting that the US dollar will continue it’s downward trend into 2011 and 2012, barring any geopolitical or major economic shocks.

BESIDES!! the main point here is not about the US economy BUT THE PHILIPPINE GOVERMENT/ECONOMY IS RELYING "HEAVILY" ON OFWs. This means that UNless alot of filipinos work in other countries the filipinos would remain poor. This is why we were telling you all along TO WAKE UP and see that there is still not enough jobs in the Philippines and the only reason why the filipino economy stayed afloat is because of the remittances of the OFWs, the OFWs "THAT YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN ON AND INSULTED" You should be thankful for them because, if not because of them YOU HAVE NO DECENT JOB left there in the Philippines.

Juan Pilgrim

November 11th, 2010, 07:11 PM

Good news, another Filipino plumber is on the way to the US to work in my hospital!

:horse:

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 07:14 PM

^^ No kidding!!

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 07:15 PM

fengrun

November 11th, 2010, 07:17 PM

Good news, another Filipino plumber is on the way to the US to work in my hospital!

:horse:

what a dirty job. Touching the feces of sick American patients. :toilet:

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 07:20 PM

Ofcourse, there are Americans who are also adventurous, that has been there long long time ago. But compare the number of OFWs from Americans... even to this date. Well????? You don't know the answer???? OFWs helps the Philippine economy. That was never a case. Is why I am happy that the US is beefing up immigration law to prevent illegals and mass migration into the country(US).

Again, the US is besides the point. It is still a known fact that there is NO ENOUGH JOBs in the Philippines THAT OVER 5million filipinos work overseas and not in the Philippines, OR YOU are avoiding these issue by using your selective inattention??:lol:

The Philippines was the 30th largest U.S. market for goods in 2009, with total exports of $5.8 billion. Top export categories in 2009 were Electrical Machinery ($2.2 billion), Machinery ($593 million), Cereals ($331 million), Food Waste and Animal Feed ($323 million), and Optic and Medical Instruments ($313 million).

U.S. agricultural exports to the Philippines totaled $1.3 billion in 2009, making the Philippines the 13th largest U.S. export market for agricultural products. Top performing exports include wheat ($321 million), soybean meal ($317 million), and meat ($83 million).

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to the Philippines were $1.8 billion in 2009. Travel and other private services (business, professional, and technical services) categories accounted for the largest portion of U.S. exports.

what a dirty job. Touching the feces of sick American patients. :toilet:

Yeah, because they can't find a decent job there in the Philippines where as plumbers here in the US makes decent money.

Juan Pilgrim

November 11th, 2010, 07:29 PM

^^ No kidding!!

The hospital needed three plumbers to replace the retiring ones. There was
third plumber who was also from Poland went to a suburb near Chicago instead.
That gave the Filipino plumber a chance to earn decent living.

On the flipside, there are now less and less Filipino nurses working here,
as more of them are wise enough to work special duty as private nurse to the
very rich, who offered to double their hourly wages +++benefits.

:horse:

mwg12a

November 11th, 2010, 07:33 PM

The hospital needed three plumbers to replace the retiring ones. There was
third plumber who was also from Poland went to a suburb near Chicago instead.
That gave the Filipino plumber a chance to earn decent living.

On the flipside, there are now less and less Filipino nurses working here,
as more of them are wise enough to work special duty as private nurse to the
very rich, who offered to double their hourly wages +++benefits.

:horse:

Yeah, and with a number of Americans are looking towards healthcare for job security helps in decreasing reliance to foreign trained nurses. Not too good for filipino trained nurses but it's good for americans. Nursing courses are even made shorter here now and if you already have a bachelor's degree, it would only take you less than 16 months to be a nurse (BSRN level)

Juan Pilgrim

November 11th, 2010, 07:39 PM

^^But most of our Filipino nurses are preferred because of their competence, warmth and excellent people skills.

:horse:

pi_malejana

November 11th, 2010, 08:28 PM

Juan Pilgrim

November 11th, 2010, 09:27 PM

a nurse anesthetist is a registered nurse practitioner, who specializes in the field of
anesthesia/ pain management. they should at least have a bachelor's degree and a
master's degree and many complete a doctorate program.

with the shortage of doctors, nurse practitioners, physician's assistant and hospitalists
are considered the "next best thing" in the health-care profession.

:horse:

hiiamdib

November 12th, 2010, 12:57 AM

Ofcourse, there are Americans who are also adventurous, that has been there long long time ago. But compare the number of OFWs from Americans... even to this date. Well????? You don't know the answer???? OFWs helps the Philippine economy. That was never a case. Is why I am happy that the US is beefing up immigration law to prevent illegals and mass migration into the country(US).

Again, the US is besides the point. It is still a known fact that there is NO ENOUGH JOBs in the Philippines THAT OVER 5million filipinos work overseas and not in the Philippines, OR YOU are avoiding these issue by using your selective inattention??:lol:

Yeah, because they can't find a decent job there in the Philippines where as plumbers here in the US makes decent money.

Actually, there ARE jobs in the Philippines. But, there is a great mismatch. Plus, not all workers from our country decided to find work elsewhere not entirely because they are unemployed, but because of greater returns from their job should they choose to work abroad. As you said, they make "decent money" in the the US. A lot of professionals that immigrated to the US have decent jobs that pays. But, they will get better returns and compensation should they chose to migrate.Thus, they did.

And yes, it is true that US is running out of jobs (in certain fields). And there should be no shame in that, it's the fact and Filipino immigrants are affected by this too.

hiiamdib

November 12th, 2010, 01:08 AM

YEt our people here never go out of the country to look for another job in other countries. The UNEMPLOYED are given unemployment benefits which means, if they lost their jobs , they received monitary support from the US government. Something the Philippines never had....

If you read what I posted in my last post, it talks about how the fall in US currency is helping smaller American business owners and the export industry

BESIDES!! the main point here is not about the US economy BUT THE PHILIPPINE GOVERMENT/ECONOMY IS RELYING "HEAVILY" ON OFWs. This means that UNless alot of filipinos work in other countries the filipinos would remain poor. This is why we were telling you all along TO WAKE UP and see that there is still not enough jobs in the Philippines and the only reason why the filipino economy stayed afloat is because of the remittances of the OFWs, the OFWs "THAT YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN ON AND INSULTED" You should be thankful for them because, if not because of them YOU HAVE NO DECENT JOB left there in the Philippines.

In my opinion, we are poor because we chose to be poor. It is not about deficits etc. America and Britain are in huge deficits yet they have decent schools and hospitals. It is not about unemployement either. Mind you, Spain has 25% unemployment. Yet, we call this nation a developed country. A lot of developed countries are in the gutter with unemployment. I am not saying unemployment is good for the economy though and if we have such a big unemployment we will become a developed nation. If we chose to build and allocate our budget properly,transparently, and responsibly for our needs (schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure), and build real growth internally, then we can have better services and better quality of life, which is a hallmark of A developed country. It is a matter of having developed mindset or not in my opinion.

fengrun

November 12th, 2010, 01:16 AM

mwg12a

November 12th, 2010, 01:30 AM

^^But most of our Filipino nurses are preferred because of their competence, warmth and excellent people skills.

:horse:

Yes, I agree with you but somehow this is becoming an issue, the US government was just trying produce more professionals so we don't have to rely on foreign trained professionals to fill out jobs. Most Americans would rather work in a more glamorous jobs, leaving other fields such as healthcare and such with vacancy. We can't be all bankers, salesworkers etc because the more the people apply for a job, the more scarce it is to have job availability which would possible cause increase in number of unemployment. We need to have a balance. It's what is happening now after the recession, sales, banking and marketing positions are overfilled and with the decline in the economy, it is most likely would result to a much greater unemployments so if you hire foreign trained professionals it will fill up job vacancies in a professional field most american wouldn't dare to go. It's just a way to defuse the trend and provide options for the people that would provide employments thus decreasing unemployment rate. We started hiring filipino nurses again 2 years ago to fill in the gap, giving time for Americans to get trained and change professions.

i keep hearing that nursing anesthesist is the "next big thing"...:D what are your thoughts??:dunno:

Yes, they are the next big thing.

mwg12a

November 12th, 2010, 01:53 AM

In my opinion, we are poor because we chose to be poor. It is not about deficits etc. America and Britain are in huge deficits yet they have decent schools and hospitals. It is not about unemployement either. Mind you, Spain has 25% unemployment. Yet, we call this nation a developed country. A lot of developed countries are in the gutter with unemployment. I am not saying unemployment is good for the economy though and if we have such a big unemployment we will become a developed nation. If we chose to build and allocate our budget properly,transparently, and responsibly for our needs (schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure), and build real growth internally, then we can have better services and better quality of life, which is a hallmark of A developed country. It is a matter of having developed mindset or not in my opinion.

That wasn't really my point. My point mainly was to have fengun to realize that IT WAS NOT REALLY A MATTER OF CHOICE to move /work to another country to begin with, it was during the Marcos era that started these. A foreign government would not hire millions of filipinos just like that without BILATERAL AGREEMENTS. All these OFW phenomena if I may call it as such was just a result from the problems that was rooted in Marcos administration. Why did you think Marcos "peddled" manpower ( I know it's harsh to use this term but that's pretty much what Marcos did in the past) during that time IF THERE ARE ENOUGH jobs in the Philippines and the Philippine economy was stable and moving up? When did the Philippine economy started to take off? just on Arroyo's 2nd term., 6 (9 perhaps) years as opposed to 4 decades of bad economy and lack of employments. Sure there are jobs now, but the Philippine government is having hard time feeling in these positions because Many filipinos left the country many many years ago. Most of them especially the ones who move to US, Canada and even Australia never returned except some few who chose to retire in the Philippines. I just didn't like that part where FENGUN, is treating other filipinos as inferior to his capabilities and skills and not realized that they are pretty much a victim of circumstances that was deeply rooted by the past.

And you're right, increase unemployement is not strictly a US issue, infact, Greece, Iceland and I forgot one other already declared their economies collapsed, while the US is still hanging in there and is showing some sign of recovery. Unemployment just like the the aviation and airtravel situation is considered global where in the Philippines, surprisingly, aviation industry improved while most airline companies (legacy carriers) all over the world are either declaring bankruptcy or merging with other airline companies while LCCs like Cebu Pacific, europe's Ryan Air, AirAsia etc etc are all gaining its momentum. Thanks to 9-11 and terrorism, it did not just affect the US but it also affected the industry and economy all over the world.

Parchie

November 12th, 2010, 01:53 AM

iamwatching

November 12th, 2010, 02:14 AM

what a dirty job. Touching the feces of sick American patients. :toilet:

Nevertheless, its a decent way to make a living.. I understand your sentiment against it though...another person for you to envy..right?

mwg12a

November 12th, 2010, 02:17 AM

^agree and well said. This mwg12a is living on fantasyland. The US may be called a developed country, but it has a much greater debt than the Philippines. It also has less exports than the Philippines.

There are FIlipinos that are poor, but that is because they are lazy. This mwg12a is talking about his experience. He is probably a lazy, bum, idiot in the Philippines before or maybe have some relatives who are.

Philippines is not as dependent anymore to the US as 10 years ago. When US had the recession, the Philippines was not severely affected. It even grew by almost 1%. The Philippine stock market has been hitting new highs almost everyday. But where is the US stock market? Barely making it, and moving on sideways direction.

Even Americans don't invest their money on the US paying GROSSLY OVERPAID AMERICAN WORKERS. GET IT. "GROSSLY OVERPAID AMERICAN WORKERS" .

I don't think I am living in the fantasy land, I, in any way or form, suggested that the US economy is all time high. My point is that, you keep on failing to see why there are alot of filipinos working and residing overseas instead of returning in the Philippines to invest. You base your theories on the current situation only when, you and I know, this is just a rippled effect of what has transpired during Marcos era. The country is severly indebt for 30 to 40 years when the truth of the matter is that, the job availabilities in the Philippines were created only these past 6 or so years after Arroyo managed to improve the countries' credit rating giving them more power to borrow money from other countries and pay it back as the value of the Peso increases. All these shenanigan were brought about by 40 years of economic lag and the uncontrollable increase in population which is now a soaring 94million filipinos. Imagine? after 30 years, it is only now that more jobs are available for that amount of population when majority of the filipinos are focused only on jobs that will land them jobs overseas as an EMPLOYEE and not EMPLOYER. This is that part where I agreed with you previously, because the filipinos are not taught and trained to be enterpreneurs. What you and I can't see eye to eye is your condescension and blaming of other filipinos working overseas when the truth is, that they are also a victim of circumstances of the past. You also keep on failing to see that the OFWs are still the number one backbone of the Philippine economy, not tourism, not the export industry. It's the Remittances. Wasn't it just a few days ago when the government was bragging about a renewed increase in OFW remittances just this end year alone? Supposed the US and Europe collapsed this week, and pinoys in those areas faltered in their remittance, that would leave only OFWs from the middleast and some in asia will support the Philippine economy which IMO would not be enough. I am scared to find out what would happen especially to the economy when the Philippine's export industry is just now showing signs of improvement. Will these alone enough to sustain the Philippine economy ?

See how you are condescending with your fellow filipinos? You talk like an illiterate filipino who just happen to speak english. Insultuhan at payabangan na rin lang pala e di, mag insulto na rin ako sa iyo dahil kahit na educado ka, tatanga tanga ka pa rin na intindihin ang economiya ng sarili mong bansa. If I am an idiot, I would of not hold a good position a work and be able to run a small business at the same time. So, in actuality, since nagmamayabang ka na rin lang, I can guarantee you that my networth is alot higher than yours since I own a business and a rental properties owner , so, even if I do not work, the income will continuesly come in and not just from my own savings bond alone. THE US had previous recession, this was not the first but each time the US recover from it so, you would probably end up eating your own words on these. And no, I was just sent to the Philippines in the past for emersion of culture because of my parent's fear that I we would pick up the bad qualities of an average american kid who doesn't show respect to elders.

BTW, the Philippine economy wasn't affected US or global recession of 2008-2009 because THERE IS NOTHING TO AFFECT IN THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY WHEN IT'S CREDIT RATING WAS LOW BEFORE YEAR 2008. :rofl: Ano nga ba ang mawawala nuon kung wala naman talagang laman ang kaban at ninanakaw ng sarkaterbang politico ninyo.

mwg12a

November 12th, 2010, 02:51 AM

Originally Posted by fengrun
what a dirty job. Touching the feces of sick American patients.

Nevertheless, its a decent way to make a living.. I understand your sentiment against it though...another person for you to envy..right?

Yep no shame in a decent living that provides roof over your head and food on your table. Fengun must be working in custom or something where they steal money from the government or the company. With the way fengun talk to other filipinos, you can tell he doesn't play fair, a suck up and greedy who does not command respect from others.:ohno::ohno:

hiiamdib

November 12th, 2010, 01:50 PM

On a lot of issues you talked about, I agree with you. There's a big "BUT" though! If we can only talk in numbers, we might find whether everything you mentioned is doable. You mentioned schools, hospitals, and other infrastructures - good! We can do more school classrooms, better-equipped hospitals with competent and well-paid staff, build good roads, etc., if and only if the government wills it so.
So what if we will be incurring deficits if the government can serve the people, right? I guess not! We should balance our spending or we will end up like Greece or Iceland - bankrupt.
We can only be as good as the revenue our government gets. So I guess we need to get out of this cycle:

poor because we don't have money ->
don't have money because of slower economy->
slower economy because of bad infra->
bad infra because we are poor, and
back to the first bullet!

We therefore borrow or let the private sector finance some projects as what FVR did before or intensify collections on taxes, if not impose new ones. Let's just make sure every centavo collected or borrowed is spent wisely and bring back benefits to our economy so we can achieve what most of us are dreaming of!

I agree with everything you pointed out. I think this is where PPP is beneficial to our needs.

Actually, you pointed out why most developed countries are able to live the way they do. By spending more than what they can afford. And I am not saying we should do the same, but, I am just pointing out the mentality that they employ. They think they deserve, they go ahead and do it. Certainly, I do not want our country to end like Spain, Greece, and the rest of the PIIGS. But as you can see, even if they are running to deplete their coffers, they have what they have because they wanted it. Greece even hosted the freaking Olympics, and who knew it is in so much trouble?

If only we can have a working sustainable real growth on wealth, then we can provide for our needs without worrying about running to huge deficits. And with improved public coffers and spending, a reverse cycle start.

And then... we can have migrant workers work in our own country for better pay :eat:. (This is how it is connected to the thread cause I know I am OT).

Linguine

November 12th, 2010, 02:38 PM

Insurance for OFWs mandatory – POEA
By SAMUEL P. MEDENILLA
November 12, 2010, 8:27pm

MANILA, Philippines – No recruitment agency will be exempted from the mandatory insurance provision of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act or Republic Act 10022, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Friday.

POEA chief Jennifer Manalili said in a statement posted in its website that starting last Monday, recruitment agencies were required to provide its workers an insurance coverage from accredited insurance providers.

“With the law already in effect, the POEA is under obligation to implement the provision on insurance coverage foe agency-hired Filipino workers leaving the country for the first time under new contracts,” Manalili said.

POEA issued the statement after recruitment agencies from Hong Kong had earlier announced it has stopped hiring Filipino household helpers with the implementation of the R.A. 10022 because of the additional cost from the mandatory insurance coverage.

Under R.A. 10022, the recruitment agencies are required to provide insurance coverage for accidental death worth $15,000, natural death ($10,000), and permanent total disablement ($7,500).

They are also obligated to shoulder their employee’s repatriation cost, subsistence allowance benefit, compassionate visit, medical evacuation, and medical repatriation.

Among the insurance companies that were accredited by the Insurance Commission (IC) for the implementation of R.A. 10022 are Paramount Life and General Insurance Corporation, Philippine Charter Insurance Corporation for accidental insurance, and the United Coconut Planter’s Assurance Corporation for life insurance.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/287312/insurance-ofws-mandatory-poea

Kintoy

November 12th, 2010, 03:16 PM

Remittances from seafarers up 11.3%

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) Updated November 01, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The continuing rise in deployment of Filipino seafarers abroad pushed up remittances from the sector by $250 million from last year, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines reported yesterday.

The TUCP said in the first eight months of the year, Filipino sailors aboard foreign-flagged ocean-going vessels wired home a total of $2.461 billion or 11.31 percent more than the $2.211 billion they remitted over the same period in 2009.

TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera said with the current double-digit growth rate, the full year remittance from Filipino seamen is expected to hit $3.7 billion by yearend.

“The foreign exchange coming in from sea-based migrant Filipino workers is growing twice faster than those coming in from their land-based counterparts,” he said.

“The intercontinental maritime transport of all kinds of commodities is growing along with global population expansion. Thus, the ever-increasing demand for a fresh supply of sailors.”

The total remittances coursed through banks by all land- and sea-based migrant Filipino workers increased by $839 million or 7.40 percent, to $12.181 billion in the first eight months from $11.342 billion in the same period in 2009.

Remittances from land-based workers alone increased by $589 million or 6.45 percent to $9.720 billion from $9.131 billion from last year.

Filipino sailors on mostly foreign merchant ships wired home a total of $3.4 billion in the whole of 2009, up $366 million from $3.034 billion in 2008.

The 12.06 percent growth in remittances from sea-based migrant Filipino workers in 2009 was nearly three times faster than the 4.15 percent or $555 million year-on-year increase in the cash sent home by their land-based counterparts.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=626138&publicationSubCategoryId=63

mwg12a

November 12th, 2010, 04:25 PM

I agree with everything you pointed out. I think this is where PPP is beneficial to our needs.

If only we can have a working sustainable real growth on wealth, then we can provide for our needs without worrying about running to huge deficits. And with improved public coffers and spending, a reverse cycle start.

And then... we can have migrant workers work in our own country for better pay :eat:. (This is how it is connected to the thread cause I know I am OT).

I agree with what @Perchie's comment. It was very well said.

@hiiamdib - The country (RP) will sustain growth on wealth if we develop technology and export them. This is one big source of jobs in the Philippines. The government won't be able to sustain growth if the biggest contributor for the copper's dollar reserve is coming from remittances of OFWs. That way, if we have a strong export industry, the country would not need to send Domestic Helpers, Dumbtruck driver and factory workers overseas. Most of the jobs you can find in the Philippines right now are mostly BPO jobs like telemarketers, customer service reps, etc which is not all too bad, "unless", you are highly skilled professional who would be an asset for a company. These people are the ones who are able to get decent paying jobs in the Philippines who can afford some level of luxury. But at this point in time other job availabilities in the Philippines still remained low, if not low, the salaries are not enough to meet one's financial needs especially if they have growing families, because of these, many filipinos still leave in wave for other countries even after Arroyo managed to increase the country's credit ratings and improve the economy. Study shows that the poverty level in the Philippines has not improved yet so this is why the goverment, not Aquino's(yet atleast), but the previous admins up to Arroyo has been continously offering other countries our biggest export source of export - the filipino workers -manpower.

Parchie

November 12th, 2010, 06:25 PM

I agree with what @Perchie's comment. It was very well said.

@hiiamdib - The country (RP) will sustain growth on wealth if we develop technology and export them. This is one big source of jobs in the Philippines. The government won't be able to sustain growth if the biggest contributor for the copper's dollar reserve is coming from remittances of OFWs. That way, if we have a strong export industry, the country would not need to send Domestic Helpers, Dumbtruck driver and factory workers overseas. Most of the jobs you can find in the Philippines right now are mostly BPO jobs like telemarketers, customer service reps, etc which is not all too bad, "unless", you are highly skilled professional who would be an asset for a company. These people are the ones who are able to get decent paying jobs in the Philippines who can afford some level of luxury. But at this point in time other job availabilities in the Philippines still remained low, if not low, the salaries are not enough to meet one's financial needs especially if they have growing families, because of these, many filipinos still leave in wave for other countries even after Arroyo managed to increase the country's credit ratings and improve the economy. Study shows that the poverty level in the Philippines has not improved yet so this is why the goverment, not Aquino's(yet atleast), but the previous admins up to Arroyo has been continously offering other countries our biggest export source of export - the filipino workers -manpower.

Most of the time, I hear people lamenting about the past. It is however worth reviewing our past in order to make our future better. It is a proven idea to never repeat the same mistakes twice! But we don't need to dwell in our past, IMO.
In 1972, Ka Blas initiated the Overseas worker thing and labor was the best thing our leaders saw as worth exporting (although we had exported mining, agricultural and forest products then). Succeeding leaders continued the idea because OFW remittances do help the economy. What was forgotten were the negative ramifications brought about by parents who left for abroad leaving their families behind. We saw adolescent drug addiction, undisciplined kids, more HS and college drop outs, marital infidelity and worst, OFWs getting inhuman treatment abroad! Can we say OFW's opt to sacrifice the well-being of their families? I guess that is not what's in their minds!
So, as mentioned mentioned by others, our country should secure first our food security to lessen our imports on food. Our country needs to focus in building capacities for local manufacturing, tapping of our natural resources so that our lonely OFWs will no longer leave their families. They sure can help build our country with their acquired skills and knowledge from abroad. If we could make our own good quality products, our country can compete and progress. We need to have a manufacturing base to do away with expensive imports and secure our balance of payments favorably. If we believe that our country is rich in natural resources, we should be thankful for that because if we are really rich, no amount of financial mainpulations can stop us from our progress.

mwg12a

November 13th, 2010, 12:02 AM

^^ Good food for the thought.

The Philippine situation today as far as lack of skilled workers to fill in the vacant jobs is the ramification of continued support of sending our manpower overseas. Not because they are what @fengun worded it "idiots and lacking skills" because if these filipinos do lack those qualities, they would have not landed with these jobs overseas. This is where the Philippines gov fell short in doing, cultivate the natural resources, improve building capacities not just for local consumptions but for export as well. I don't see why those who make less than US$600.00 a month overseas can just return and earn that money in their own country. I understand that atleast over 50% of OFWs are laborers, DH, factory workers, drivers, waiters etc. and the rest are skilled workers making more than 700.00 a month not accounting those who live in the US and those with exceptional skills like doctors and scientist but if those remaining 50% has jobs in their own countries, the country together with it solid source of revenue such astechnology and export , the country's reliance on OFWs remittances would decrease and would provably attract our highly skilled filipinos to return in the Philippines and invest their money in the country , they would lead a more fruitful lives being enjoyed by few filipinos who are luckier to have better paying jobs in the Philippines just like fengun. Had he not the way he is now, he would have been the best role model for his fellow filipinos.

fengrun

November 13th, 2010, 03:55 AM

I don't think I am living in the fantasy land, I, in any way or form, suggested that the US economy is all time high. My point is that, you keep on failing to see why there are alot of filipinos working and residing overseas instead of returning in the Philippines to invest. You base your theories on the current situation only when, you and I know, this is just a rippled effect of what has transpired during Marcos era. The country is severly indebt for 30 to 40 years when the truth of the matter is that, the job availabilities in the Philippines were created only these past 6 or so years after Arroyo managed to improve the countries' credit rating giving them more power to borrow money from other countries and pay it back as the value of the Peso increases. All these shenanigan were brought about by 40 years of economic lag and the uncontrollable increase in population which is now a soaring 94million filipinos. Imagine? after 30 years, it is only now that more jobs are available for that amount of population when majority of the filipinos are focused only on jobs that will land them jobs overseas as an EMPLOYEE and not EMPLOYER. This is that part where I agreed with you previously, because the filipinos are not taught and trained to be enterpreneurs. What you and I can't see eye to eye is your condescension and blaming of other filipinos working overseas when the truth is, that they are also a victim of circumstances of the past. You also keep on failing to see that the OFWs are still the number one backbone of the Philippine economy, not tourism, not the export industry. It's the Remittances. Wasn't it just a few days ago when the government was bragging about a renewed increase in OFW remittances just this end year alone? Supposed the US and Europe collapsed this week, and pinoys in those areas faltered in their remittance, that would leave only OFWs from the middleast and some in asia will support the Philippine economy which IMO would not be enough. I am scared to find out what would happen especially to the economy when the Philippine's export industry is just now showing signs of improvement. Will these alone enough to sustain the Philippine economy ?

See how you are condescending with your fellow filipinos? You talk like an illiterate filipino who just happen to speak english. Insultuhan at payabangan na rin lang pala e di, mag insulto na rin ako sa iyo dahil kahit na educado ka, tatanga tanga ka pa rin na intindihin ang economiya ng sarili mong bansa. If I am an idiot, I would of not hold a good position a work and be able to run a small business at the same time. So, in actuality, since nagmamayabang ka na rin lang, I can guarantee you that my networth is alot higher than yours since I own a business and a rental properties owner , so, even if I do not work, the income will continuesly come in and not just from my own savings bond alone. THE US had previous recession, this was not the first but each time the US recover from it so, you would probably end up eating your own words on these. And no, I was just sent to the Philippines in the past for emersion of culture because of my parent's fear that I we would pick up the bad qualities of an average american kid who doesn't show respect to elders.

BTW, the Philippine economy wasn't affected US or global recession of 2008-2009 because THERE IS NOTHING TO AFFECT IN THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY WHEN IT'S CREDIT RATING WAS LOW BEFORE YEAR 2008. :rofl: Ano nga ba ang mawawala nuon kung wala naman talagang laman ang kaban at ninanakaw ng sarkaterbang politico ninyo.

OFW's are not anymore the backbone of the Philippine economy as foreign companies would much rather prefer to outsource than bring in foreign workers.

xxxriainxxx

November 13th, 2010, 06:18 AM

OFW's are not anymore the backbone of the Philippine economy as foreign companies would much rather prefer to outsource than bring in foreign workers.

I think ADB, IMF, ILO, UN, NEDA will disagree with you on that.

Number of OFWs: 8-12 Million
Remittances for 2010 (Forecast) - US $18 Billion ++

Number of BPO workers: 900,000
Earnings (2010 Forecast): US 11-13 Billion

Let us see if the 8-12 Million OFWs come home at once, the country would crash. We can't all be call center workers (no offense meant to the people working for BPO industry).

mwg12a

November 13th, 2010, 06:31 AM

OFW's are not anymore the backbone of the Philippine economy as foreign companies would much rather prefer to outsource than bring in foreign workers.

Here is the latest article for that my friend. Its not that I am putting down my parent's birthplace which I called home for 10 years as a child. I just know how to put things in proper perspective. Sure, there are developments now in the Philippines this year most especially but record shows that the bulk of the country's dollar reserve comes from OFW remittances and the outsourcing corporations just comes secondary followed by the export industry. I am not saying that these BPOs aren't helping in the Philippine economy because it would be really stupid to think it's not since these workers are consumers and they pay taxes as well.

OFW remittances in 2010 may reach over $18 billion09/19/2010 | 11:38 PM

Share The money sent home by overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) may expand by 8 percent this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said over the weekend.

“We hope we can sustain the 8-percent growth in remittances given that the global economy is showing some recovery, even if very fragile," said BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo.

He said the remittance volume this year could reach $18.735 billion.

Last year, remittance amounted to $17.348 billion, according to BSP data.

Guinigundo said the continued resiliency of remittances can be attributed not only on the global economic recovery but also to the differentiated skills and the diverse markets open to millions of overseas Filipino workers.

As of July, OFW remittance level already totaled $10.679 billion or grew at the rate of 7.1 percent in the first seven months alone, Guinigundo noted.

“I think the markets are convinced the macro-economy is in very good shape. Also, there is a greater degree of optimism as shown by the latest results of the consumer confidence survey, which remains negative but has showed a large rebound," Guinigundo said.

This refers to the diminished number of pessimists among consumers responding to the survey the BSP conducted recently in which the consumption index improved to -14 percent from -28.7 percent three months earlier.

The sharply improved consumer mood is backed by the robust gross domestic product growth of the country that accelerated to 7.9 percent, the BSP survey noted. - Jesse Edep/KBK, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/201412/ofw-remittances-in-2010-may-reach-over-18-billion