Overseas Filipinos: Migrant Workers and Global Labor Markets [Archive] - Page 24

xxxriainxxx

February 27th, 2011, 12:24 PM

Kapag dito nagka-gulo, damay nang todo ang buong mundo. Mahigit sa 25 porsiyento nang langis na gamit sa negosyo ay dito galing. Mahihirapan din ang ating gobiyerno sa problemang ito dahil sa milyong Pilipino ang naglalagi dito. Bagsak din ang kalakalan diyan sa atin dahil halos buong gitnang silangan na kumbaga ito. Katunayan malaking porsiyento nang remittances ay dito galing sa gitnang silangan kung land base, channel lang sa banko yon dahil lahat nang bangko dito ay kunektado sa U.S. kaya lumalabas na sa kanila galing doon, pero ganoon pa man nalalaman ito kahit sa bangko sentral ay alam ito.

Volatile ika nga ang lahat dito sa Gitnang Silangan, kaya dapat sa mga expat na Pilipino laging handa sa mga ganitong pagkakataon. Mahirap pero dapat paghandaan. Gaya nang alternatibo sa Pinas, kaya nga ako malimit humingi nang payo sa kay @riain:) tungkol sa turismo, doon lang medyo may laban nang konti at sa pagsasakahan.

True, very sensitive ang Saudi Arabia, kasi pag nagkagulo dyan, damay-damay na. Lahat tayong dependent sa gas, kawawa.

Kumusta na pala sir yung proyekto nyo? Tagal na din tayong hindi nagkausap...

^^ Bumait yung mga saudi nang nilusob ng Irak yung Kuwait, hanggang sa liberation ng Kuwait. :lol:
Kaya welcome yung mga jets ng USAF lalo na yung patriot missiles...pasaway lang talaga itong mga mutawain...o sa tingin nila yung mga dayuhang puti ang pasaway. :D

After the liberation of Kuwait, nakita ng mga kababaihan ng Saudi yung mga babae sa Kuwait na mas meron kalayaan keysa sa kanila, kaya nag alsa boses yung iba...madali naman itong naglaho dahil makaluma pa rin ang prinsipyo ng mga namumuno..(puwera na lang sa mga makabagong ugali ng mga prinsepe at prinsesa na nagaral sa ibang bansa). Sinipa sa ibang bansa yata yung mga may balak magalsang mga saudi. At ang kanilang batas, naku po!...pag kamaganak ka ng hari, ayos ka, pag iba na, pugot ulo o bato hanggang mamatay ka, yung iba naparatangan lang yata.

Panahon panahon lang siguro talaga ang pamumuno ng isang bansa, matigas lang ang iba pag nahaluan ng relihiyon o kakaibang paniniwala.

Uy @Bitoy, baka magkakuwarto pa tayo ang initial noong kasama ko ay C.O. chinoy, may anak na pero hindi ikaw marahil dahil lahat sa Aramco niligawan noon. Beterano ka pala nang Gulf War nang mauwi ako noong bakbakan, nagpalamig muna ako nang anim na buwan sa Pinas. Naka souvenir ka ba nang Gas Mask? ako naubusan sa Phil. school, kaya bahala na kung may chemical ang dumating.

Aramco? May kilala ba kayong puti dati, Jesson ang apellido?

ako nagkaroon ako ng gas mask,nasa dammam ang trabaho ko,at nagpunta kami ng riyadh for safety iyon pala ito ang target ni saddam,sa philippines embassy kami tumira ng 10 days at kita kita ko kung paano magsalpukan ang scud at patriot a itaas.

kakatakot naman yan..

jameslab8470

February 27th, 2011, 01:07 PM

jameslab8470

February 27th, 2011, 01:11 PM

DFA: Free calls, hotline numbers for kin of OFWs in Libya

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:47:00 02/26/2011

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in cooperation with SMART Communications, has made available a 24-hour “Libreng Tawag” for families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who may wish to talk directly to their relatives in Libya, the DFA said in a statement to media.

Families of OFWs can go to the south wing lobby of the DFA Main Building in Pasay City to avail of the Libreng Tawag joint public service program, which began at 9 a.m., this Saturday.

A crisis management center has also been set-up with 24-hour hotline numbers (834-4580, 834-3245, 834-3240, and 834-4646 ) at the DFA for families of OFWs who may want to get information about the conditions of their relatives in Libya, the DFA said.

The DFA is on a full relocation and repatriation mode in view of the escalating violence and widespread insecurity in Libya.

It is also fully committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of the Filipino nationals in Libya, the DFA said.

Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110226-322321/DFA-Free-calls-hotline-numbers-for-kin-of-OFWs-in-Libya

Yun nga.. 24 hours dito sa Pinas... my dad told me that when they tried to call the embassy dun sa libya, around 8am, isang pilipino ang sumagot.. pagalit na sinabi "9am pa kami magbubukas!" whoa!!!!

xxxriainxxx

February 27th, 2011, 01:25 PM

Yun nga.. 24 hours dito sa Pinas... my dad told me that when they tried to call the embassy dun sa libya, around 8am, isang pilipino ang sumagot.. pagalit na sinabi "9am pa kami magbubukas!" whoa!!!!

Kelan daw sila tumawag?

Yre

February 27th, 2011, 01:43 PM

Kelan daw sila tumawag?

Were you referring to the date or the time?

xxxriainxxx

February 27th, 2011, 01:50 PM

Were you referring to the date or the time?

Date and time. I can try put out a call on my contacts. This should not have happened.

r0mm3l

February 27th, 2011, 02:04 PM

11 Pinoys still missing in NZ quake: DFA
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/02/27/11/11-pinoys-still-missing-nz-quake-dfa

MANILA, Philippines – Eleven Filipinos have remained missing in the aftermath of a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday.

The earthquake has killed 146 people so far.

The DFA said a certain Elisa Torres, who remained missing and was thought to be Filipino, was determined to be of another nationality.

The missing Filipinos are Jesse Lloyd Redoble, John Christopher Chua, Ezea Mae Medalle, Emmabel Anova, Jewel Francisco, Ivy Jane Cabunillas, Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, Valquin Bensurto, Rhea Mae Sumalpong, Erica Nora, and Lalaine Agatep.

Through the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) and the Regional Consular Office (RCO) in Cebu, Charge d’Affaires (CDA) in Wellington Giovanni Palec conducted a telephone conference Saturday with the Cebu-based families of the 5 missing Filipinos believed trapped in the rubble of the CTV building.

Palec informed them on the latest updates from New Zealand police and other officials and the initiatives undertaken by his team.

No person has been rescued alive since last Wednesday.

The parents of 2 missing Filipinos arrived Saturday in Christchurch.

New Zealand authorities are refusing to identify those who perished until they have recovered the bodies and verified their identities through DNA testing.

Police have also yet to release a consolidated list of missing persons with their nationalities, despite repeated requests by New Zealanders and other families searching for answers regarding the status of missing loved ones.

The remains of those recovered are transported to a military camp in Christchurch, where the identification and processing will take around 3 weeks.

Arrangements are underway to have the relatives of the 11 missing Filipinos to go to New Zealand to assist in the identification of the fatalities, the DFA said in a press statement.

The Philippine embassy team arrived in Christchurch on February 23 to coordinate efforts with authorities, as well as look after the welfare of the 2,000-strong Filipinos in Christchurch.

Philippine officials had repeatedly asked and prodded rescue officials to continue on with the search, given the text messages that were sent by a number of missing Filipinos immediately after the quake.

jameslab8470

February 27th, 2011, 02:04 PM

Kelan daw sila tumawag?

kanina lang... 8am Libyan time.. they also tried calling last friday and saturday... nung sabado daw, walang sumasagot sa hotline dun...

xxxriainxxx

February 27th, 2011, 02:07 PM

kanina lang... 8am Libyan time.. they also tried calling last friday and saturday... nung sabado daw, walang sumasagot sa hotline dun...

PM me the names of the people who called, kasi, babanatan ko yan sa Twitter. They should never refuse help especially in this crisis. AFAIK however, all the staff have already left for the borders to process the fleeing Filipinos there.

NOVO ECIJANO

February 27th, 2011, 02:30 PM

Beterano ka rin pala, dito ako ngayon sa Riyadh, yong tinamaan sa may Old Airport hangang ngayon ay ganoon pa rin, tumama lang daw ay kapiraso pero malaki ang damage noong building. Tinamaan din yong dating office nang ABV-ROCK, kapiraso din ang tumama. Improvise kasi yong mga Scud ni Saddam kaya napakalaki nang margin of error, basta makarating lang kaso mas delikado sa sibilyan.

para yatang govt building ang tinamaan,nakita ko dahil nadadaanan papuntang Batha kapag galing ka sa embassy.binisita kami noon ni senator
Santanina Rasul sa embassy.

LAPDRN

February 27th, 2011, 02:52 PM

^^ Kung hindi siguro nagkanakawan sa AFP, baka marami tayong perang pang arkila ng eroplano. Sa ngayon, walang eroplano ang PAF na makakapagsundo ng maraming na stranded na OFW. pag-asa siguro humingi ng tulong sa UN or sa US at China.

Magnanakaw kasi tyong mga pinoy.:lol::lol::bash::bash::banana::banana::cheers::cheers::ohno::ohno:

mwg12a

February 27th, 2011, 04:57 PM

There are still many Filipinos in Libya. My dad is one of them.. The internet there is back. My dad told me that a Philippine Ambassador went to their oil company where they work. He said that this ambassador offered free ticket back to the Philippines. Some of them took the ticket, but most of them didn't. My dad said that the company where they are located in Libya is generally peaceful. Libyans love the Filipinos there and they're protecting the Filipinos from harm.

I asked dad why they didn't accepted DFA's offer. Sagot naman nya, they are thankful to DFA, but NO THANKS.. Sabi kasi ng ambassador, ang OWWA ang bahala sa kanila... Sabi nya, "You know OWWA........"

They felt more secured staying in the company rather than going home with the ambassador.

Glad to hear your dad is okay in Libya, I'm sure if they are in a safe place and far to where all the "actions" are they would be safe. The only thing they would really be worried about is supply when it started to run dry. Lets cross our fingers on that and pray to God it won't go that route. This is what I am worried about. Although, events like these are mostly temporary, it usually have greater impact on economy in terms of oil prices (such as the increase in gas prices here in the US), the displacement of filipino workers in the middleast would create a big dent in the Philippine economy as far as increase in unemployment again and less OFW remittances.

dessertfox

February 27th, 2011, 07:18 PM

True, very sensitive ang Saudi Arabia, kasi pag nagkagulo dyan, damay-damay na. Lahat tayong dependent sa gas, kawawa.

Kumusta na pala sir yung proyekto nyo? Tagal na din tayong hindi nagkausap...

Aramco? May kilala ba kayong puti dati, Jesson ang apellido?

kakatakot naman yan..

Just yesterday one frequent Italian visitor visited our place to see its potential and probably give a helping hand in proper planning, but it still ideas kaya wala pa. Can i PM you to let you know him and see if you could advise. I know you are that kind hearted as far as Tourism development is concern. He is she personality and married to one my townmate. He likes to have so many friend in Tycoon in FB. He/she is a business planner.

I haven't remember any with that name, but we do have lot of G.I. friend including the Pari since they allow misa there. My officemate were all member of choir kantahan group, kasi hilig kumanta.

Tungkol muli sa situwasyon dito, mahirap ang may giyera gaya noon, ngayon nga mukhang masama ang balak nang Iran at Syria, para iligaw ang atensiyon sa pag-papabaksak sa kanila ay pinopormahan ang Israel. Sa balita nga sa diyaryo pahiwatig nang namumuno sa Iran na idamay ang buong mundo, alam mo na ang ibig sabihin noon. Kung magkakagulo dito bagsak ang produksiyon nang langis at pag-nagkataon ay giyera. Alam naman nang lahat kung bakit may atomong istasyon ang Iran, may itinatagong alas. Nakakatakot! di ba?
__________________

dessertfox

February 27th, 2011, 07:27 PM

There are still many Filipinos in Libya. My dad is one of them.. The internet there is back. My dad told me that a Philippine Ambassador went to their oil company where they work. He said that this ambassador offered free ticket back to the Philippines. Some of them took the ticket, but most of them didn't. My dad said that the company where they are located in Libya is generally peaceful. Libyans love the Filipinos there and they're protecting the Filipinos from harm.

I asked dad why they didn't accepted DFA's offer. Sagot naman nya, they are thankful to DFA, but NO THANKS.. Sabi kasi ng ambassador, ang OWWA ang bahala sa kanila... Sabi nya, "You know OWWA........"

They felt more secured staying in the company rather than going home with the ambassador.

Kung ako ang nasa kaso niya, uuwi na muna ako. Temporary lang naman yon, pinapayagan naman nang mga kumpanya kapag ganyan ang situwasyon. Nag alala lang siguro ang Dad mo baka wala na siyang balikang puwesto. Doon kasi apektado ang supply nang lahat nang bagay. Mahirap maiipit sa lugar nang gulo, unless halos nasa border lang sila na agad-agad ay makaka-likas. Mukhang matatagalan ang labanan doon, sabi nga nang ibang eksperto baka mahati ang Libya.

dessertfox

February 27th, 2011, 07:34 PM

para yatang govt building ang tinamaan,nakita ko dahil nadadaanan papuntang Batha kapag galing ka sa embassy.binisita kami noon ni senator
Santanina Rasul sa embassy.

Ang Isang building na tinamaan ay nasa labas lang nang Old Airport kasi yon ang base malitar ngayon nang Saudi. Kung galing kang Suleimaniya, sakay nang pampasaherong bus ay ilang building lang mula sa kanto nang Suleimanya sa Old Airport Road. Dalawa lang ang nakita ko at yong isa nga ay tipong parang goverment building pero actually ay gamit nang ABV-ROCK. Hindi naman wasak-wasak.

bitoy

February 27th, 2011, 11:01 PM

Uy @Bitoy, baka magkakuwarto pa tayo ang initial noong kasama ko ay C.O. chinoy, may anak na pero hindi ikaw marahil dahil lahat sa Aramco niligawan noon. Beterano ka pala nang Gulf War nang mauwi ako noong bakbakan, nagpalamig muna ako nang anim na buwan sa Pinas. Naka souvenir ka ba nang Gas Mask? ako naubusan sa Phil. school, kaya bahala na kung may chemical ang dumating.

hehehe, Yeah, sa Dhahran din kami naka attach with some supply units, pero twice lang yata kami nag uniporme in and out of the airport - naka civilian kami parati. Kung me nakikita kang naka Ford Crown Victoria at mabigat ang likuran ng kotse, kami yun...:lol: Me mga dala kaming kontrabandong pagkain at niluluto namin sa barracks ng mga OFWs.

I think yung quartermaster detachment barracks yung natamaan, maraming namatay na kano, duon kami lalong kinabahan at bitbit na parati yung gas mask.

:lol: pag walang scud alarm, puro ligawan yata ang nangyayari nuon kasi or toma...No more comments on pangliligaw...
I missed that place sometimes, nagiba ang paningin ko sa mga Arabo...:lol: Kung wala daw kami dun, hindi namin masagasaan yung kamel ni tatang. :lol: tama rin naman siya... kaso pina translate namin yung MIM-104 Patriot, sa translator..ilang salita lang at body movements, nag pa tenk yu si tatang... :lol:

hakz2007

February 27th, 2011, 11:03 PM

Libya exodus 'emergency' as Asian workers land in Malta
VALLETTA — The UN refugee agency on Sunday said a "humanitarian emergency" was underway as thousands fled Libya in a mass exodus of foreigners from the strife-torn country by air, land and sea.

The UN refugee agency said almost 100,000 migrant workers, mostly from Egypt and Tunisia, have fled Libya in the past week and many remain stranded at the Libya-Tunisia border as Libyan customs officers deserted their posts on Sunday.

"We call upon the international community to respond quickly and generously to enable these governments to cope with this humanitarian emergency," said Antonio Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Meanwhile a ferry loaded with some 1,800 Asian workers docked in the Mediterranean island of Malta. As the closest European Union member state located just 350 kilometres (218 miles) north of Libya, it has become a key hub in the desperate scramble to get foreigners out of Libya.

Malta's Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said his island nation had received some 8,000 people since the Libyan crisis began and he feared there could be an even greater exodus.

"There could be an escalation," Gonzi said at a press conference late Sunday. "We have brought back from Libya more than 8,000 people representing 89 nationalities."

"If the situation continues to escalate, we'll need help from Europe and share the burden with our European partners," he said, adding that in his view the end was in sight.

"The leadership of Kadhafi needs to end and its end is inevitable," he said.

Evacuees on the ferry -- chartered by Brazilian energy infrastructure company Odebrecht -- included citizens of China, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam who will be flown back to their homelands from Malta.

Libya, one of Africa's biggest oil producers, had a huge multinational workforce before the current crisis including construction workers, oil industry workers and domestic helpers from Bangladesh, China, Egypt and the Philippines.

Some 4,600 people fleeing the violence in Libya, mostly Chinese nationals, arrived in the Greek ports of Piraeus and Heraklion on Sunday. Three Greek ferries have evacuated more than 7,00 foreign nationals from Libya.

Several hundred Vietnamese and Filipinos also made their escape by land to neighbouring Algeria, abandoning their construction jobs, along with some 109 Libyans and three Belarussians, the Algerian news agency APS reported.

An Italian warship, the San Giorgio, meanwhile landed in Sicily loaded with 258 evacuees from around 20 countries including 121 Italians who were rescued from the Libyan port of Misurata in stormy weather conditions.

A ship chartered by Russian businesses operating in Libya, the Sveti Stefan II, arrived at the port of Ras Lanouf in central Libya to evacuate 1,126 people, as a Russian emergency situations ministry plane flew to Tripoli.

Sweden also said it had sent a military transport plane to Libya to evacuate foreign and Swedish nationals to Malta.

Hundreds of Filipinos, Indians and Vietnamese meanwhile landed back in their homelands saying they feared for their lives in Libya.

"This escape of mine makes me feel I am in heaven," said Mohammed Sali, 63, an engineer, after landing in New Delhi.

The United Nations said more than 1,000 people had been killed in Libya as supporters of strongman Moamer Kadhafi crack down on protests.

Italy, Libya's former colonial ruler, said it had evacuated more than 1,400 of its citizens so far from the turmoil in Libya. Italy's foreign ministry said Libya had around 1,500 Italian residents before the start of the crisis.

On Saturday, more than 150 foreign nationals were flown to Malta on two British Royal Air Force C130 Hercules transport planes after being rescued from remote oil installations in the Libyan desert by special forces.

"We flew treetop all the way across the desert, it was quite spectacular. It was a big, big relief to see those guys," Siemens employee Nigel Bilton, one of those rescued, was quoted as saying by The Sunday Times newspaper.

And on Sunday three British military aircraft rescued a further 150 foreign nationals also stranded at remote camps in the Libyan desert.

A British warship, the HMS Cumberland, docked in Malta on Saturday carrying hundreds of evacuees and set off back for Libya to pick up more foreigners. The HMS York has also left Malta for Libyan shores.

Germany's weekly Bild am Sonntag said two Transall C-160 planes landed on an air strip in Nafurah in the desert and evacuated 133 people. But the German foreign ministry said dozens of Germans remained stranded in the desert.http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iLvI0Eg3pU-EnZvh7KHlnAAq2e4Q?docId=CNG.197855ec51913ae17dc42500b058c6f7.991

amigo32

February 28th, 2011, 12:34 AM

wala pa daw cluster meeting si Pnoy para sa mga naipit na OFWs sa gulo?

mabagal talaga si Pnoy

mwg12a

February 28th, 2011, 03:40 AM

Libya exodus 'emergency' as Asian workers land in Malta
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iLvI0Eg3pU-EnZvh7KHlnAAq2e4Q?docId=CNG.197855ec51913ae17dc42500b058c6f7.991

I guess it's not only the Philippines whose citizens are still stranded there, other asian countries as well and that UN refugee agency has to take charge is assisting the fleing asian nationals so they can be repartriated to their own homeland.

Parchie

February 28th, 2011, 04:18 AM

wala pa daw cluster meeting si Pnoy para sa mga naipit na OFWs sa gulo?

mabagal talaga si Pnoy

Evacuation of Pinoys from Libya underway

Philstar.com - Friday, February 25
[Evacuation of Pinoys from Libya underway] Evacuation of Pinoys from Libya underway

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino gave assurance yesterday that measures are underway for the immediate evacuation of thousands of Filipinos trapped in the violent political upheaval in Libya.

Aquino said the government had made transport arrangements and identified exit points for the safe evacuation of some 13,000 Filipinos in Libya should the political situation escalate.

He said most of the 26,000 Filipinos in Libya are professionals working for multinational corporations that have their own evacuation plans.

“Those that will not be taken by their employers, those are the ones that we are preparing for,” Aquino said.

The President said the government is negotiating with Philippine Airlines and Qatar Airways for charter flights to evacuate the Filipino workers trapped in widening chaos.

He said the transport cost would roughly be P13 million per flight that could handle 200 to 300 people.

Aquino also said a standby fund of at least P100 million had been released to the Philippine embassy in Tripoli, with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to finance the travel back home.
Read more (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20110224/tph-evacuation-pinoys-from-libya-underwa-541dfb4.html)

Assume 50% of the 13,000 OFW's in Libya has companies with no Emergency Evac Plans, that's 6,500 souls to be airlifted by 300's @P13M per flight. That would require roughly P280M. The money laid out (P100M) is just a third, IMO. Are we going to leave a thousand souls to danger in Libya?

xxxriainxxx

February 28th, 2011, 05:02 AM

Just yesterday one frequent Italian visitor visited our place to see its potential and probably give a helping hand in proper planning, but it still ideas kaya wala pa. Can i PM you to let you know him and see if you could advise. I know you are that kind hearted as far as Tourism development is concern. He is she personality and married to one my townmate. He likes to have so many friend in Tycoon in FB. He/she is a business planner.

I haven't remember any with that name, but we do have lot of G.I. friend including the Pari since they allow misa there. My officemate were all member of choir kantahan group, kasi hilig kumanta.

Tungkol muli sa situwasyon dito, mahirap ang may giyera gaya noon, ngayon nga mukhang masama ang balak nang Iran at Syria, para iligaw ang atensiyon sa pag-papabaksak sa kanila ay pinopormahan ang Israel. Sa balita nga sa diyaryo pahiwatig nang namumuno sa Iran na idamay ang buong mundo, alam mo na ang ibig sabihin noon. Kung magkakagulo dito bagsak ang produksiyon nang langis at pag-nagkataon ay giyera. Alam naman nang lahat kung bakit may atomong istasyon ang Iran, may itinatagong alas. Nakakatakot! di ba?
__________________

Haha, kind hearted naman po ako most of the time (mahina lang tolerance ko sa katangahan at sa nagmamarunong..:lol::lol::lol:) Sige PM mo po sa akin ang name nya, but I don't play game apps on FB kasi..Nakatambay lang ako usually sa Twitter. But I am hoping madevelop nga sir yung project nyo, magandang livelihood yun and you have to invest soon kasi nga mukhang paganda ng paganda ang ating turismo. Like I said, it has to be unique (at world class) para talagang dayuhin ng mga local and foreign tourists. I can help you with promotion gratis.

Re my Aramco contact, Engineer po yata sia dati dyan.... Yun nga lang not sure kung sa Jeddah ba or Riyadh sya.

Magnanakaw kasi tyong mga pinoy.:lol::lol::bash::bash::banana::banana::cheers::cheers::ohno::ohno:

Hindi ako kasama dyan. :nuts:

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2011, 05:12 AM

usap usapan dito sa SG ngayon na andami daw na ho-hold sa PH immigration pag papuntang SG. Kahit pa turista ka at may hotel reservation (lalo na at babae) eh hinahassle daw ng mga IO. Pag naman sinabing may kakilala ka sa SG eh hinihingan daw ng Authenticated Invitation Letter eh ang problem with the AIL eh kailangan pang pumunta ng PH embassy nyan at magbayad ng S$42 :bash: plus syempre ang pagpa mail pa na aabot ng S$15.

Yung housemate ko may bisita sya dapat darating last week and mag stay sa bahay ng 3 days, di pinaalis ng IO kasi wala daw AIL..

Is this even legal? diba as long as wala kang HDO and di naman bawal bumiyahe sa destinaion na iyon ang mga Pilipino eh may right to travel tayo? :ohno:

xxxriainxxx

February 28th, 2011, 05:19 AM

;73462135']usap usapan dito sa SG ngayon na andami daw na ho-hold sa PH immigration pag papuntang SG. Kahit pa turista ka at may hotel reservation (lalo na at babae) eh hinahassle daw ng mga IO. Pag naman sinabing may kakilala ka sa SG eh hinihingan daw ng Authenticated Invitation Letter eh ang problem with the AIL eh kailangan pang pumunta ng PH embassy nyan at magbayad ng S$42 :bash: plus syempre ang pagpa mail pa na aabot ng S$15.

Yung housemate ko may bisita sya dapat darating last week and mag stay sa bahay ng 3 days, di pinaalis ng IO kasi wala daw AIL..

Is this even legal? diba as long as wala kang HDO and di naman bawal bumiyahe sa destinaion na iyon ang mga Pilipino eh may right to travel tayo? :ohno:

Yeah, Singapore is a hotspot kasi for trafficking. Kaya naghihigpit na sila esp sa mga babae.Maraming Pinay na natatraffick dyan. Bad trip nga kasi yung mga sindikato na yan ang mga panira sa atin. Dagdag pa mga Pinoy na nagbabakasakali ng trabaho on a tourist visa, tuloy ang mga legit Pinoy travelers napeperwisyo.

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2011, 06:02 AM

But the thing is, is it even legal na ihold ang taong walang hold departure order? And as for pinoys na nagbabakasakali maghanap ng trabaho on a tourist visa, frankly I dont see the problem. LEGAL naman maghanap ng trabaho dito as long as may valid social visit pass ka. Kaya nga nag iisue ng EPEC ang Singapore government eh para may 1 year legal stay ang maghahanap ng trabaho. At sa wala namane EPEC, as long as valid yung visit pass and you dont engage in any form of employment habang walang valid employment pass eh wala naman masama dun.Kung sanang di pwede yun, eh di sana di na tumatanggap ng OWWA membership ang embassy natin. Dahil lang inept sila sa pagsugpo ng problema eh lahat piniperwisyo nila..mga tamad lang sila and shortcut ginagawa nila

Kintoy

February 28th, 2011, 06:03 AM

sino ba nagsabi sa kanila na pumunta sila sa Libya?

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2011, 06:11 AM

^^ Bawal bang pumunta ang pinoy sa Libya? alam ko sa Iraq lang bawal

xxxriainxxx

February 28th, 2011, 06:13 AM

;73463587']But the thing is, is it even legal na ihold ang taong walang hold departure order? And as for pinoys na nagbabakasakali maghanap ng trabaho on a tourist visa, frankly I dont see the problem. LEGAL naman maghanap ng trabaho dito as long as may valid social visit pass ka. Kaya nga nag iisue ng EPEC ang Singapore government eh para may 1 year legal stay ang maghahanap ng trabaho. At sa wala namane EPEC, as long as valid yung visit pass and you dont engage in any form of employment habang walang valid employment pass eh wala naman masama dun.Kung sanang di pwede yun, eh di sana di na tumatanggap ng OWWA membership ang embassy natin. Dahil lang inept sila sa pagsugpo ng problema eh lahat piniperwisyo nila..mga tamad lang sila and shortcut ginagawa nila

May work in SG (now), and for a while in Dubai, but a lot of countries do not allow shifting from a tourist visa to a work visa. There is a danger of overstaying or working on a tourist visa which is illegal. Dati ganyan din ang sabi sa Dubai, until naghigpit sila ng todo maski sa mga talagang tourists lang. Ang pagkakaalam ko maski transit visa yata ngayon sa Dubai medyo naghigpit na rin..

May OWWA membership nga pala dyan sa embassy sa Singapore, dito sa Hanoi, ang alam ko wala so kailangan dun pa sa Manila iprocess which is sobrang hassle.

xxxriainxxx

February 28th, 2011, 06:15 AM

;73463825']^^ Bawal bang pumunta ang pinoy sa Libya? alam ko sa Iraq lang bawal

Yep stamped yan sa passport ang travel ban to Iraq.

Eh dun ang trabaho sa Libya eh, wala kang magagawa, mostly nga professionals dun ang nagtatrabaho eh- engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers. Yung maids nga lang ni Ghaddafy mga Pinay, kawawa naman.

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2011, 06:18 AM

^^ My point is, the SG government allows for tourists to come to Singapore to look for a job..up to 1 year pa nga if granted ka ng EPEC. So bat pa hina hassle ng Phil IO ang mga pinoy na pumupunta sa SG be it as real tourists or as jobhunters? Maiintindihan ko pa if ang SG IO ang naghigpit pero yung pigilan kang umalis ng bansa kahit karapatan mo naman? Kalokohan ata yun

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2011, 06:19 AM

Yep stamped yan sa passport ang travel ban to Iraq.

Eh dun ang trabaho sa Libya eh, wala kang magagawa, mostly nga professionals dun ang nagtatrabaho eh- engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers. Yung maids nga lang ni Ghaddafy mga Pinay, kawawa naman.

Exactly my point! Nagkataong nagkagulo dun ngayon, pero wala tayong karapatang sabihin sa kanila na "eh sino bang maysabing magtrabaho kayo dyan?" kasi legal naman silang nagtatrabaho dun.

Parchie

February 28th, 2011, 06:27 AM

;73464081']Exactly my point! Nagkataong nagkagulo dun ngayon, pero wala tayong karapatang sabihin sa kanila na "eh sino bang maysabing magtrabaho kayo dyan?" kasi legal naman silang nagtatrabaho dun.

Tama. If not illegal, then it's legal. Baka meron lang talagang matinding pangangailangan yang mga PHL IO na iyan? Hope others prove me wrong with this!

Eastern Dragon

February 28th, 2011, 06:27 AM

^^ Yeah, Mongolia ang gusto kong balikan. Nandun pa yung aking minimithi na nagtratrabaho sa isang bangko. hehehe :lol:

Madagascar...hmmm.. :D

malamig ata sa mongolia pre. may laro askals dun sa march. 9

RonnieR

February 28th, 2011, 07:00 AM

Beware of this Hong Kong based firm, Pocomwell Limited. They should be investigated and sanctioned, if found guilty.

WA gas field workers 'on slave rates':ohno:

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1492027/WA-gas-field-workers-

28 February 2011 | 04:36:08 PM | Source: AAP

Filipinos are working at "near slave labour" rates for a Danish shipping company on the North West Shelf, the Australian Workers Union says.

Danish multinational Maersk Line was paying some of its itinerant workers less than $3 an hour on the Shelf's gas fields while full-time Australian workers were earning average annual salaries of $132,000, AWU national secretary Paul Howes said.

"Teenage McDonald's workers would be paid more than these Filipino gas-field workers," Mr Howes said.

The foreign workers were brought in from the Philippines under what seemed to be very dodgy arrangements, Mr Howes claims.

"Our union delegates have checked carefully and see the passports of these workers," he said.

"They were shocked to see these workers do not have their presence in Australia stamped into the passports, even though they come in and out of Australian waters.

"If they don't exist as far as Australian authorities are concerned it is extremely easy to mistreat them."

A 2008 direction from the workplace ombudsman found the immigration department was wrong to allow foreign workers into the gas-field industry under 456 visas, Mr Howes said.

The union accepted the need for guest workers but said they should not be used to undermine Australians with cheap overseas labour.

The Filipinos had approached union members at the North West Shelf, complaining of being mistreated and paid poorly.

These workers should be treated with respect and decency, on Australian pay rates and working conditions, Mr Howes said.

"The union is standing with these workers," he said.

The workers were hired by a Hong Kong-based firm, Pocomwell Ltd, in Makati City in the Philippines.

Pocomwell specialises in finding skilled workers for oil fields and the maritime industry.

"We will not stand by and allow cheap labour to be trafficked in and out of Australia so that a profitable Danish multinational can increase their profits on the back of Asian workers," Mr Howes said.

The Department of Immigration and Maersk have been contacted for comment.

hakz2007

February 28th, 2011, 07:02 AM

;73463825']^^ Bawal bang pumunta ang pinoy sa Libya? alam ko sa Iraq lang bawal

Ang alam ko bawal munang magtrabaho sa Libya, Bahrain and Yemen ang mga Pilipino. Sinuspende muna ng DOLE ang processing of job orders at pending job applications sa mga nabanggit na mga bansa.

This is in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

anone

February 28th, 2011, 07:10 AM

sino ba nagsabi sa kanila na pumunta sila sa Libya?

hataw ang banat mo at ang taas na ng tingin mo sa sarili mo!

sana hwag dumating ang panahon na yang kumpanyang pinapasukan mo ay malugi o ilipat sa ibang bansa na mas makakatipid sila ay mapilitan kang humanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa para mabuhay.

xxxriainxxx

February 28th, 2011, 08:18 AM

;73464049']^^ My point is, the SG government allows for tourists to come to Singapore to look for a job..up to 1 year pa nga if granted ka ng EPEC. So bat pa hina hassle ng Phil IO ang mga pinoy na pumupunta sa SG be it as real tourists or as jobhunters? Maiintindihan ko pa if ang SG IO ang naghigpit pero yung pigilan kang umalis ng bansa kahit karapatan mo naman? Kalokohan ata yun

I am not sure between the immigration agreements between SG and PHL ha, but I can posit that probably, sinasala na nila mismo ang mga tao sa exit points pa lang. That's just my personal theory.

;73464081']Exactly my point! Nagkataong nagkagulo dun ngayon, pero wala tayong karapatang sabihin sa kanila na "eh sino bang maysabing magtrabaho kayo dyan?" kasi legal naman silang nagtatrabaho dun.

Mas malaking mawawala sa atin kasi alam kong mas highly paid ang mga professionals esp dyan sa ME at North Africa, compared to say Taiwan.

malamig ata sa mongolia pre. may laro askals dun sa march. 9

March 9 ba? Akala ko 15th pa? Malamang -20c dun. I wish I can reach the Filipinos in Mongolia para naman maka attend sila sa game and support our boys.

Beware of this Hong Kong based firm, Pocomwell Limited. They should be investigated and sanctioned, if found guilty.

WA gas field workers 'on slave rates':ohno:

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1492027/WA-gas-field-workers-

28 February 2011 | 04:36:08 PM | Source: AAP

Filipinos are working at "near slave labour" rates for a Danish shipping company on the North West Shelf, the Australian Workers Union says.

Danish multinational Maersk Line was paying some of its itinerant workers less than $3 an hour on the Shelf's gas fields while full-time Australian workers were earning average annual salaries of $132,000, AWU national secretary Paul Howes said.

"Teenage McDonald's workers would be paid more than these Filipino gas-field workers," Mr Howes said.

The foreign workers were brought in from the Philippines under what seemed to be very dodgy arrangements, Mr Howes claims.

The workers were hired by a Hong Kong-based firm, Pocomwell Ltd, in Makati City in the Philippines.

Pocomwell specialises in finding skilled workers for oil fields and the maritime industry.

"We will not stand by and allow cheap labour to be trafficked in and out of Australia so that a profitable Danish multinational can increase their profits on the back of Asian workers," Mr Howes said.

The Department of Immigration and Maersk have been contacted for comment.

Ahem. HK.

Ang alam ko bawal munang magtrabaho sa Libya, Bahrain and Yemen ang mga Pilipino. Sinuspende muna ng DOLE ang processing of job orders at pending job applications sa mga nabanggit na mga bansa.

This is in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

That's for now, the ban dint cover previous job orders processed prior to the unrests in those countries.

amigo32

February 28th, 2011, 09:39 AM

Igsuonnimo

February 28th, 2011, 10:04 AM

xxxriainxxx

February 28th, 2011, 10:15 AM

Ang dami ng umuwing OFW galing sa MENA(Middle East North Africa).
Tataas na naman ang bilang ng mga walang trabaho.
Sana may umampon sa kanila na mga kompanya kahit na temporary lang o contractual jobs kesa sa mag ala-fiesta sila buong magdamamag at maghapon :bash:

Diba ganito sakit ng mga Pinoy, kapag galing ng abroad eh fiesta handaan inuman mood ang buong barangay?

Kaya nga pag nauuwi ang ibang Pinoy dyan sa Pinas hindi nagpapaalam - kasi alam mo na, hihingan ka ng hihingan- yung parang akala nila na yung pera parang lang NAWASA. :D

Pag hindi maganda ang bigay, magtatampo pa.

pi_malejana

February 28th, 2011, 10:21 AM

Kaya nga pag nauuwi ang ibang Pinoy dyan sa Pinas hindi nagpapaalam - kasi alam mo na, hihingan ka ng hihingan- yung parang akala nila na yung pera parang lang NAWASA. :D

Pag hindi maganda ang bigay, magtatampo pa.

tama
minsan talaga, bad influence din ung mga nasa pinas eh..:lol::bash:
buti na lang medyo kuripot tatay ko :nuts:

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2011, 10:37 AM

hataw ang banat mo at ang taas na ng tingin mo sa sarili mo!

sana hwag dumating ang panahon na yang kumpanyang pinapasukan mo ay malugi o ilipat sa ibang bansa na mas makakatipid sila ay mapilitan kang humanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa para mabuhay.

exactly my sentiments! I know someone who used to work in Libya, he is my wife's ex-boss and a good engineer at that. Buti na lang kaka end of contract nya lang and nasa Pinas sila nung nagsimula ang gulo sa Libya. Regardless, if nagkataong nasa Libya pa sya at legally nagtatrabaho walang karapatan si Kintoy para tanungin sya na "sino bang nagsabing pumunta kayo ng Libya" kung mangailangan ng tulong paalis ng Libya yung taong kilala ko..or sino mang taong nagtatrabaho sa Libya na kailangan ang tulong ng Gobyerno natin :bash:

dessertfox

February 28th, 2011, 10:45 AM

Haha, kind hearted naman po ako most of the time (mahina lang tolerance ko sa katangahan at sa nagmamarunong..:lol::lol::lol:) Sige PM mo po sa akin ang name nya, but I don't play game apps on FB kasi..Nakatambay lang ako usually sa Twitter. But I am hoping madevelop nga sir yung project nyo, magandang livelihood yun and you have to invest soon kasi nga mukhang paganda ng paganda ang ating turismo. Like I said, it has to be unique (at world class) para talagang dayuhin ng mga local and foreign tourists. I can help you with promotion gratis.

Re my Aramco contact, Engineer po yata sia dati dyan.... Yun nga lang not sure kung sa Jeddah ba or Riyadh sya.

Na discourage na ako sa pang-world class, kahit panawid gutom na lang sa situwasyon ngayon dito:lol:

Anyway Thanks @riain, hope hindi ka magaya sa akin na uuwing uugod-ugod na, as i said to you before, i promised myself for just two years and yet until now OFW pa rin ako. Mahirap din ang matali na sa abroad. Kaya go ahead with your plan in PH bago ka ugatan nang todo sa abroad. Kaya mo yan sa abilidad mo.

Heto nga sakripisyo na tayo nang pag aabroad pag-nagka problema masasabihan ka pa na sinong nag-utos sa inyo na pumunta diyan...I have experienced joining the dawn of activism during Matial Law as well as the Gulf War and worst all the hardship in life during the crisis years before Peoples Power kaya nga tayo nakaabot dito. Huwag na sanang ma-experience nang karamihan nang kabataan natin.

xxxriainxxx

February 28th, 2011, 12:04 PM

Na discourage na ako sa pang-world class, kahit panawid gutom na lang sa situwasyon ngayon dito:lol:

Anyway Thanks @riain, hope hindi ka magaya sa akin na uuwing uugod-ugod na, as i said to you before, i promised myself for just two years and yet until now OFW pa rin ako. Mahirap din ang matali na sa abroad. Kaya go ahead with your plan in PH bago ka ugatan nang todo sa abroad. Kaya mo yan sa abilidad mo.

Heto nga sakripisyo na tayo nang pag aabroad pag-nagka problema masasabihan ka pa na sinong nag-utos sa inyo na pumunta diyan...I have experienced joining the dawn of activism during Matial Law as well as the Gulf War and worst all the hardship in life during the crisis years before Peoples Power kaya nga tayo nakaabot dito. Huwag na sanang ma-experience nang karamihan nang kabataan natin.

Kaya yan sir, mag-iinvest ka na lang din, sayang din. :)

Hirap din talaga ang buhay sa abroad esp yung may mga pamilya- isa yan sa pinakamasakit na desisyon. Ganun talaga, everyday na mawawalay ka, lalong natatali ka sa abroad, buti naman actually ngayon maski mga seaman natin natuto na magsave hindi nung kapanahunan ng tito ko na pagbaba ng barko, waldas kaagad, ubos ang pera.

Askal82

February 28th, 2011, 12:39 PM

Kaya yan sir, mag-iinvest ka na lang din, sayang din. :)

Hirap din talaga ang buhay sa abroad esp yung may mga pamilya- isa yan sa pinakamasakit na desisyon. Ganun talaga, everyday na mawawalay ka, lalong natatali ka sa abroad, buti naman actually ngayon maski mga seaman natin natuto na magsave hindi nung kapanahunan ng tito ko na pagbaba ng barko, waldas kaagad, ubos ang pera.

I agree!! Always have a plan B in mind - savings plan and invest if you can. There is absolutely nothing wrong with earning your own financial freedom.

shadow_can2003

February 28th, 2011, 01:10 PM

i was thinking of going abroad pa naman kaso sa mga nangyayaring gulo dun parng pagbubutihin ko nalang yung current work ko ngayon kahit mahirap. anyway sana talaga magkaroon ng seminar lahat ng mga lumalabas na mga pinoy na ofw regarding wealth management para hindi masayang ang mga paghihirap nila and hopefully sana matuto silang magipon.

youngblood

February 28th, 2011, 05:19 PM

Ang dami ng umuwing OFW galing sa MENA(Middle East North Africa).
Tataas na naman ang bilang ng mga walang trabaho.
Sana may umampon sa kanila na mga kompanya kahit na temporary lang o contractual jobs kesa sa mag ala-fiesta sila buong magdamamag at maghapon :bash:

Diba ganito sakit ng mga Pinoy, kapag galing ng abroad eh fiesta handaan inuman mood ang buong barangay?

mayabang pa kamo. meron ako kilala baon na sa utang, nagtatago pa sa pinagkaka utangan pero un bahay naka home theater. kapag kinatok mo ang bahay walang tao pero naka On un tv. haha
pinoy nga naman. ika nga "Coins always make sound but paper money are always silent"

bitoy

February 28th, 2011, 08:23 PM

Na discourage na ako sa pang-world class, kahit panawid gutom na lang sa situwasyon ngayon dito:lol:

Anyway Thanks @riain, hope hindi ka magaya sa akin na uuwing uugod-ugod na, as i said to you before, i promised myself for just two years and yet until now OFW pa rin ako. Mahirap din ang matali na sa abroad. Kaya go ahead with your plan in PH bago ka ugatan nang todo sa abroad. Kaya mo yan sa abilidad mo.

Heto nga sakripisyo na tayo nang pag aabroad pag-nagka problema masasabihan ka pa na sinong nag-utos sa inyo na pumunta diyan...I have experienced joining the dawn of activism during Matial Law as well as the Gulf War and worst all the hardship in life during the crisis years before Peoples Power kaya nga tayo nakaabot dito. Huwag na sanang ma-experience nang karamihan nang kabataan natin.

Kaya noon some expats sa ME lalo na sa Emirates, they find their own diversions to get rid of boredom. Malalaki pa mga suweldo nila, they can afford luxury cars, madami yatang mga Mercedez Benz associations duon ng mga Pinoy... :lol: Sa mga tennis courts or public park, dun kami tumatambay to watch them play, kaya lang maraming incident na hindi maganda yung naririnig kong mga salita sa kanila tungkol sa ibang tao... nagulat yung isang grupo nang nagpaalam ako sa salitang Tagalog, hindi ko na pinaalam sa mga kasama kong kano yung pinagsasabi nila. :ohno:

RonnieR

March 1st, 2011, 03:21 AM

A brave new DFA Secretary, Albert del Rosario

Philippines foreign minister personally leads Libyan rescue convoy
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/asia-pacific/philippines-foreign-minister-personally-leads-libyan-rescue-convoy

Associated Press

Last Updated: Mar 1, 2011

MANILA // The Philippine foreign secretary personally led a rescue convoy out of Libya's capital, accompanying about 400 Filipino workers across the border into Tunisia despite the risk, his spokesman said yesterday.

A migrant workers' advocacy group has called on the Philippine government to do more to organise evacuations. Only about 1,900 of the up to 30,000 Filipinos working in Libya have so far got out, and a witness said the country's embassy is jammed with hundreds seeking refuge.

Albert del Rosario, the foreign secretary, flew to the region and then travelled by land with two other diplomats to Tripoli on Sunday to escort the workers back to Tunisia in a 55-vehicle convoy, the foreign affairs department said.

The evacuation went without incident, the spokesman, Ed Malaya, said. From the Tunisian border region of Jerba, Mr del Rosario, a former ambassador to the US who was appointed the acting secretary only last week, was arranging for another 150 Filipinos to leave Tripoli.

"It's a heroic act," Mr Malaya said. "At severe risks to his personal safety and against the advice of some of his colleagues, he went to evacuate our workers as quickly as humanly possible."

About 400 Filipinos have returned to Manila on evacuation flights arranged by their employers. About 13,000 Filipinos in Libya work with multinational companies that signed contracts committing them to evacuate the workers in times of emergencies, Mr Malaya said.

Meanwhile, Imelda Marcos, a former Philippine first lady, yesterday urged Muammar Qaddafi to follow the example of her late dictator husband Ferdinand Marcos, who in the final days of his 21-year rule did not resort to violence to disperse large numbers of protesters during the 1986 "people power" uprising but instead fled the Philippines.

Ms Marcos often insists it was her husband's choice not to use force against pro-democracy protesters and to instead flee to exile, although he might have had little choice after his most loyal generals defected.

"I hope he'll be like Marcos and stop the violence," said Imelda Marcos, who met the Libyan leader in the 1970s.

Elsie Dominguez, a Filipino restaurant manager at a Tripoli hotel who recently was able to flee the country, said the two-story Philippine embassy, which has few rooms and one toilet, had been overwhelmed by hundreds of Filipinos fleeing from oil refineries and other work sites to the Libyan capital. She managed to return to Manila on Sunday aboard a commercial plane chartered by her company.

"When we left, the Tripoli airport was crammed with about 10,000 people waiting for flights beside piles of belongings. There was no water. Many were sleeping everywhere amid the chaos," she said.

The government also chartered a ferry to fetch hundreds of Filipino workers stranded in Benghazi.

A prominent group of overseas Filipino workers, Migrante International, criticised the government's slow response in organising evacuations from Libya.

"Filipinos now are facing confusion, fear and hunger there," said Gary Martinez, the director of Migrante, adding that his group had reached out to stranded Filipinos through emergency telephone hotlines and e-mail then passed the details to officials in Manila.

Parchie

March 1st, 2011, 03:33 AM

RonnieR

March 1st, 2011, 04:14 AM

Brave or clueless? Ang sabi merong "plano". Asan na ba ang mga plano na yan at mismong DFA sec na ngayon ang pupunta? Kasama ba yan sa "plano"? Hindi yata; mukhang pa-effect na naman to!

Benefit of the doubt na lang ako. :)In fairness to him, he was just appointed by P. Noy. The problem lies on the former DFA Secretary. Imagine, at the height of crisis, he went on leave. He wanted pa that UN position!

xxxriainxxx

March 1st, 2011, 05:17 AM

Kaya noon some expats sa ME lalo na sa Emirates, they find their own diversions to get rid of boredom. Malalaki pa mga suweldo nila, they can afford luxury cars, madami yatang mga Mercedez Benz associations duon ng mga Pinoy... :lol: Sa mga tennis courts or public park, dun kami tumatambay to watch them play, kaya lang maraming incident na hindi maganda yung naririnig kong mga salita sa kanila tungkol sa ibang tao... nagulat yung isang grupo nang nagpaalam ako sa salitang Tagalog, hindi ko na pinaalam sa mga kasama kong kano yung pinagsasabi nila. :ohno:

Hindi ka ba mukhang Pinoy? haha. Ano daw ang mga pinagsasabi? Hmmm..

Benefit of the doubt na lang ako. :)In fairness to him, he was just appointed by P. Noy. The problem lies on the former DFA Secretary. Imagine, at the height of crisis, he went on leave. He wanted pa that UN position!

It's kinda weird that the SFA have to micromanage the situation there in Libya. Diba andyan naman ang ME Crisis Team (si Roy Cimatu pa ba ang head nun?)

As for Ex SFA, he was kicked out for what I've heard was incompetence. Actually he wanted to have the COA position, but I think UN yata ang bibigay sa kanya (although some DFA people were quite aghast at the thought knowing the UN position is a sensitive position.) As it is, mostly palpak ang mga rep natin dun - si Davide, si Libran Cabactulan.

bitoy

March 1st, 2011, 06:24 AM

Hindi ka ba mukhang Pinoy? haha. Ano daw ang mga pinagsasabi? Hmmm..

Madusing kaming lahat kasi parati at puro baduy ang pananamit namin dahil sa sobrang init dun kaya akala taga ibang planeta rin ako... medyo singkit lang ako ng konti ke Aga Muhlach.... or (Jackie Chan ) :lol:

Yung mga pinagsasabi nila, alam mo na yun, pag nasa ibang bansa ang mga Pinoy, lahat ng pintas tungkol sa mga tao ng host country nila ang maririnig mo. :D

Uy, naka pag shopping pa sila ate. :D

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04Bz6dm58k9ZF/610x.jpg

Filipino workers repatriated from Libya push their carts as they arrive at Manila's International Airport, Philippines on Sunday Feb. 27, 2011. Philippine President Jejomar Binay has traveled to Kuwait and Acting Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario has gone to the border region between Libya and Tunisia to help oversee the evacuation of some of the 26,000 Filipino workers trying to flee from troubled Libya.

RonnieR

March 1st, 2011, 06:34 AM

Hindi ka ba mukhang Pinoy? haha. Ano daw ang mga pinagsasabi? Hmmm..

It's kinda weird that the SFA have to micromanage the situation there in Libya. Diba andyan naman ang ME Crisis Team (si Roy Cimatu pa ba ang head nun?)

As for Ex SFA, he was kicked out for what I've heard was incompetence. Actually he wanted to have the COA position, but I think UN yata ang bibigay sa kanya (although some DFA people were quite aghast at the thought knowing the UN position is a sensitive position.) As it is, mostly palpak ang mga rep natin dun - si Davide, si Libran Cabactulan.

Roy Cimatu was recalled due to the Senate investigation re: multi million peso anomalies in AFP.

Based on the news today, DFA is moving thousands of OFWs out of Libya. They leased ships at 1 million Euros pala with 1,725 people capacity. DFA said they have the budget. Let's hope for the best and safety of our kababayans.

xxxriainxxx

March 1st, 2011, 06:53 AM

Madusing kaming lahat kasi parati at puro baduy ang pananamit namin dahil sa sobrang init dun kaya akala taga ibang planeta rin ako... medyo singkit lang ako ng konti ke Aga Muhlach.... or (Jackie Chan ) :lol:

Yung mga pinagsasabi nila, alam mo na yun, pag nasa ibang bansa ang mga Pinoy, lahat ng pintas tungkol sa mga tao ng host country nila ang maririnig mo. :D

Uy, naka pag shopping pa sila ate. :D

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04Bz6dm58k9ZF/610x.jpg

Filipino workers repatriated from Libya push their carts as they arrive at Manila's International Airport, Philippines on Sunday Feb. 27, 2011. Philippine President Jejomar Binay has traveled to Kuwait and Acting Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario has gone to the border region between Libya and Tunisia to help oversee the evacuation of some of the 26,000 Filipino workers trying to flee from troubled Libya.

I think same is true with other foreigners, ganyan din ang mga Koreano sa Pinas. Panay pintas. Haha.. Maski ibang foreigners sa atin, pintas ng pintas sabay lagok ng wine.

Re photo, mukhang wala akong nakitang OWWA baseball cap. :nuts::nuts:

Roy Cimatu was recalled due to the Senate investigation re: multi million peso anomalies in AFP.

Based on the news today, DFA is moving thousands of OFWs out of Libya. They leased ships at 1 million Euros pala with 1,725 people capacity. DFA said they have the budget. Let's hope for the best and safety of our kababayans.

Buti naman kasi napag initan na sila kasi kakarampot lang ang initially na inallocate sa evac ng mga OFWs.

kalbongdad

March 1st, 2011, 06:55 AM

kalbongdad

March 1st, 2011, 07:02 AM

Benefit of the doubt na lang ako. :)In fairness to him, he was just appointed by P. Noy. The problem lies on the former DFA Secretary. Imagine, at the height of crisis, he went on leave. He wanted pa that UN position!

he went on leave dahil pinalitan sya ni pnoy sa mga pronouncements nito....sabi ko nga...changing horse in midstream is not a wise decision who does that....? si pnoy lang....kaya nagkagulo gulo dahil walang tao ang dfa...dahil sa palpak na decision making ni pnoy......tingnan mo pati press conference sya ang humaharap....dapat ang mga taga salag nya lang....alam ba ni pnoy kung anong level na ang presidente kung ano lang dapat ang gagawin nya?...it seems to me hindi....pati mga patutsada gustong sagutin ng ale....este ng mama...

Parchie

March 1st, 2011, 07:53 AM

anone

March 1st, 2011, 08:35 AM

OFWs voice disappointment at cancellation of VP visitBy ABDUL HANNAN TAGO | ARAB NEWS
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article291404.ece
Published: Feb 28, 2011 23:22 Updated: Feb 28, 2011 23:22

RIYADH: Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia on Monday expressed severe disappointment after hearing that Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay had canceled a planned visit to the Kingdom.

Instead, the Philippine leader flew to Dubai on a Kuwait Airways flight on Sunday.

Regional coordinator for the Filipino advocacy group Migrante-Middle East John Leonard Monterona blamed the Philippine Embassy and Philippine Department for Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Undersecretary for Administration Rafael Seguis for the canceled visit. Binay was also supposed to visit the Kingdom last December, but that was also canceled.

According to Monterona, Seguis was in Riyadh for a couple of days prior to Binay’s visit. He added that Seguis should have been in Libya, not Saudi Arabia, to help the DFA evacuate Filipino workers trapped there.

An unidentified Filipino worker has been killed amid the political turmoil in Libya, according to Migrante. Monterona said the OFW working for oilfield drilling and workover services provider Challenger Limited was killed when soldiers attacked their work site on Feb. 21.

Another Migrante member said the OFW tried to escape but fell from a rig.

Binay expressed regret on his website for the cancellation of his visit, adding that he plans to reschedule his trip as soon as possible.

According to letters seen by Arab News, presidential staff have instructed the DFA and Department of Labor and Employment to take appropriate action against embassy staff in Riyadh for allegedly not looking after the concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) properly.

Chairman of Migrante-Saudi Arabia Mario Ben said: “This is again a missed opportunity, not only for us OFWs but also the vice president, who is also the presidential adviser for OFW concerns.

“The Filipino community in Saudi Arabia had been expecting Binay to visit us last December, but it was postponed due to a conflict of schedules and prior commitments.”

Ben claimed members of Binay’s delegation were unable to obtain visas, according to his sources.

“Besides visa problems, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah was also not available to meet the vice president, which could have also contributed to Binay canceling his visit,” Ben added.

Monterona said there were 200 stranded OFWs, some with children, in Jeddah. He added that there are 1,200 OFWs in prison, including eight on death row. Other unresolved issues include the case of murdered housemaid Romilyn Eroy-Ibañez and 120 distressed OFWs staying at the Bahay Kalinga shelter in Riyadh.

“We can’t expect the president to be addressing these issues as he had in fact designated Vice President Binay as his troubleshooter for the numerous problems and concerns of OFWs,” Monterona said.

xxxriainxxx

March 1st, 2011, 09:11 AM

PH starts mass evacuations from Libya

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 15:13:00 02/28/2011
Filed Under: Overseas Employment, Conflicts (general), Protest, Politics, Government Aid

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has finally begun mass evacuations of its nationals from Libya, it said Monday, after critics accused it of responding slowly to the violence there.

Bus convoys organised by Manila's embassy in Tripoli took 550 workers into neighbouring Tunisia overnight Sunday, foreign department spokesman Ed Malaya told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

A Greek ferry chartered by the Philippine government is also scheduled to dock at Benghazi, Libya's second biggest city, on Tuesday to start evacuating Filipinos to Malta, according to Malaya.

He said the ferry would continue shuttling back and forth until all Filipinos in Benghazi had been evacuated.

The foreign ministry said 1,877 of the 26,000 Filipinos in Libya had so far escaped, although most of those who initially fled did so with the aid of their employers and not the government.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates nearly 100,000 foreign workers have fled Libya over the past week as leader Moamer Kadhafi has sought to crush an uprising.

However few of those have been Filipinos, after the government was unable to quickly charter planes or organise buses.

In contrast, China announced Monday that 29,000 of its workers had already been brought out of Libya.

A Philippine labour rights group, Migrante International, said there were actually 30,000 Filipinos in Libya when the crisis began, insisting that the government was using old data.

Migrante president Garry Martinez told AFP Monday the government still needed to do more to help those trapped at oil and gas work sites in Libya's deserts.

Source:http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110228-322706/PH-starts-mass-evacuations-from-Libya

Kintoy

March 1st, 2011, 04:19 PM

anone

March 1st, 2011, 05:26 PM

yan ba itsura ng refugees? gusto lang ata libreng pamasahe pauwi

tsong akala ko ba matalino ka? alam mo ba meaning ng refugee? ano akala mo sa kanila pulubi at walang hanapbuhay sa Libya? wala ba silang karapatang bumili ng pasalubong para sa mahal nila sa buhay?

respeto lang sa OFW tsong dahil baka sa kangkungan ka pulutin!

mwg12a

March 1st, 2011, 05:26 PM

^^ to naman. Alangan naman iwan nila yuong mga gamit nila at lalo na ang napundar na pasalubong sa pamilya nila...

Kintoy

March 1st, 2011, 05:43 PM

malaking tulong sa ekonomiya natin ang magdala ng Winnie the Pooh sa bansa :D

mwg12a

March 1st, 2011, 05:50 PM

Yuon lang ang kaisa isahang kapiling niya sa kama habang nasa Libya gusto mo pang iwan niya????:rofl: Sama mo!!!:rofl:

bitoy

March 1st, 2011, 08:14 PM

^^ Pinera na lang sana nila, makakabili din naman sila niyan sa mga mall. Pakahirap pa sila magdala ng mga yan. Makita ng ibang evacuees yan lalong magngingitngit sa galit yung nabigyan lang ng baseball cap. :D
But that's like a tradition of our OFWs, maliit na pasalubong maligaya na ang mabigyan.
As one user here said, magpipiyesta na naman yung mga nakauwi at maguubusan ng kanilang kinita hangang mangutang na naman para makahanap ng trabaho sa ibang lugar. :ohno:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/078U5R5egZddp/610x.jpg

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Libya arrive at the Manila International Airport on February 27, 2011. A second batch of Filipino workers arrived home from violence-torn Libya as the Philippines' foreign secretary landed in Tunisia to help oversee evacuation plans for the thousands still stranded.

Getty Images (http://www.daylife.com/photo/078U5R5egZddp?q=Manila+Libya)
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eP2gR2bnh1bo/610x.jpg

Filipino worker repatriated from Libya process their papers as they arrive at Manila's International Airport, Philippines on Sunday Feb. 27, 2011.

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 02:28 AM

^^ Parang hindi pa rin marunong luminya ng maayos ah. :|

Parchie

March 2nd, 2011, 03:21 AM

^^ Parang hindi pa rin marunong luminya ng maayos ah. :|

Special treatment for "special children"!

Kaibigan ko po, teacher ng mga "special children"! Hahahaha

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 04:12 AM

yan ba itsura ng refugees? gusto lang ata libreng pamasahe pauwi

Ate, pwede gumamit muna ng common sense bago mag post? :nuts:

Kintoy

March 2nd, 2011, 05:05 AM

;73587231']Ate, pwede gumamit muna ng common sense bago mag post? :nuts:

you should follow your own advice

Askal82

March 2nd, 2011, 06:04 AM

Kaya nga pag nauuwi ang ibang Pinoy dyan sa Pinas hindi nagpapaalam - kasi alam mo na, hihingan ka ng hihingan- yung parang akala nila na yung pera parang lang NAWASA. :D

Pag hindi maganda ang bigay, magtatampo pa.

Yan po ang ginawa ko last year!! :lol::lol::lol:

Iba talaga ang mindset sa atin. Minsan mahirap bumiyahe sa isang lugar na gusto mong puntahan kung kailangang isang barangay ang dadalhin mo pag gusto mong mag enjoy. :nuts:

Parchie

March 2nd, 2011, 06:06 AM

;73587231']Ate, pwede gumamit muna ng common sense bago mag post? :nuts:

Hindi ko alam yun ah!

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 06:53 AM

Eh sa kung marangal naman na naghahanap buhay ang mga taong galing sa Libya,ano bang karapatan nating husgahan sila if nag shopping pa sila..For all we know naka budget naman talaga yung pang shopping nila at may naitabi na silang ipon

Gusto lang ng libreng pamasahe? napaka idiotic naman ata nun..sa tingin nyo ba uuwi ang mga iyan at iwang ang hanapbuhay nila sa Libya kung walang gulo doon bastat libre ang pamasahe? Ang yabang talaga ng iba dito :bash:

amigo32

March 2nd, 2011, 07:47 AM

;73587231']Ate, pwede gumamit muna ng common sense bago mag post? :nuts:

:rofl:
graduate ng UP:lol:
sayang ang tax namin

pi_malejana

March 2nd, 2011, 07:53 AM

:rofl:
graduate ng UP:lol:
sayang ang tax namin

:rofl: napatambling naman ako dito...:nuts:

kung sa bagay, kukunti pa nga yang mga dala nila kasi wala sa oras ang paguwi.. pagka nakapag-ipon ipon pa yang mga OFWs na yan, kulang ang isang cart hhhehe..:D

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 08:06 AM

:rofl: napatambling naman ako dito...:nuts:

kung sa bagay, kukunti pa nga yang mga dala nila kasi wala sa oras ang paguwi.. pagka nakapag-ipon ipon pa yang mga OFWs na yan, kulang ang isang cart hhhehe..:D

Speaking, may nagbebenta na ng balikbayan box dito sa Hanoi. Hmmm... Isang karton ng instant Pho siguro ang kaya. :lol::lol:

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 08:09 AM

Di naman natin alam ang kwento behind the baggage dibe, ang yabang naman natin para sitahin na marami silang dala..
Yung g/f ng pinsan ng wife ko nandito ngayon sa SG at naghahanap ng work. Mayaman sila sa Pilipinas and actually may business sya sa Davao na regalo ng Dad nya sa kanya (3-4 branches ng dine-in burger house)
Most likely di na nya kailangan mag work at magpundar since malakas naman negosyo nya pero kasi nga gusto din nya ma experience magtrabaho malayo sa comfort ng family eh nandito sila ngayon ng b/f.

If ginasta nya lahat ng pera nya dito para lang sa luho, mali bang maitatawag iyon? If kada uwi nya ng Pilipinas eh waldasin nya lahat ng kinita nya may karapatan ba ang mga mayabang dyan na manghusga? An engot naman kasi ng iba na ang tingin sa OFW eh parang walang karapatan magpakasasa sa luho at dapat pagtitipid lang ang gawin. Bakit? pera mo ba ang ginasta para ka magdikta?

O baka naiingit lang yung mga mapanghusga kasi dun sa picture eh nakikita natin ang ngiti nung 3 babae. Para sa mga taong malungkot at bitter sa buhay nakakasakit din daw kasi makakita ng ibang taong nakangiti..nakaka inggit

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 08:11 AM

Speaking, may nagbebenta na ng balikbayan box dito sa Hanoi. Hmmm... Isang karton ng instant Pho siguro ang kaya. :lol::lol:

Ay ginagawa yan nung kaibigan ko, towards christmas eh bibili na yan ng box tapos dahan dahan pupunuin at ilang days bago magpasko eh ipapa pick-up na sa courier para makarating sa pilipinas within the holiday season..

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 08:44 AM

;73594549']Ay ginagawa yan nung kaibigan ko, towards christmas eh bibili na yan ng box tapos dahan dahan pupunuin at ilang days bago magpasko eh ipapa pick-up na sa courier para makarating sa pilipinas within the holiday season..

Sa kultura na natin ang mapagbigay kasi. Sa totoo lang, tayong mga Pinoy, masaya tayo pag masaya ang ating mga pamilya at kaibigan.

May punto din naman din na kelangan magtipid, yun nga lang ang pinakaluho ko dito is travel (kakabook ko lang today ng tiket para sa bakasyon ko sa Indo next month) but aside from that bihira na ako uminom (at kung uminom man, sa bahay lang- pampatulog). Tapos yun, I treat myself to a good meal, pero ako pa rin nagluluto.

I am lucky because kahit papano may well paying jobs ang parents ko at gagaraduate na din ang kapatid ko sa pagkadoktor. I keep telling myself to hold on to the money kasi alam mo na, mga di inaasahang pangyayari na magkasakit ang kapamilya, ikot tumbong namin sa pag-aalala especially dito kami sa malayo.

Everyday I try to make sure na ang pagiging Pinoy ay parte ng buhay ko and usually I do it by cooking. Kanina ngang tanghali, bago umalis ang isang kasamahan naming taga Negros at pumunta ng China, iniluto ko muna sya ng Bistek Pinoy.

May tanong pa la ako sa mga Pinoy dito na nakatira sa ibang bansa, how do you keep your being Filipino alive? How do you cope with homesickness?

RonnieR

March 2nd, 2011, 08:45 AM

Speaking, may nagbebenta na ng balikbayan box dito sa Hanoi. Hmmm... Isang karton ng instant Pho siguro ang kaya. :lol::lol:

Meron na rin dito VN noodles pack, P45 each. :) tried their beef.

RonnieR

March 2nd, 2011, 08:49 AM

he went on leave dahil pinalitan sya ni pnoy sa mga pronouncements nito....sabi ko nga...changing horse in midstream is not a wise decision who does that....? si pnoy lang....kaya nagkagulo gulo dahil walang tao ang dfa...dahil sa palpak na decision making ni pnoy......tingnan mo pati press conference sya ang humaharap....dapat ang mga taga salag nya lang....alam ba ni pnoy kung anong level na ang presidente kung ano lang dapat ang gagawin nya?...it seems to me hindi....pati mga patutsada gustong sagutin ng ale....este ng mama...

Ang mahalaga, so far, padami nang padami ang nakakaalis from Libya.

10,000 Filipinos safe, sound, homebound

By Philip Tubeza, DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:03:00 03/02/2011

Filed Under: Overseas Employment, Migration, Evacuation(General), Unrest and Conflicts and War, Middle East Africa - Africa, Protest, transportation

MANILA, Philippines—Nearly 10,000 Filipinos are on their way home from Libya, with more than 3,500 of them already out of the strife-torn North African country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Tuesday.

The DOLE’s Middle East Crisis Monitoring Center has identified 3,544 Filipinos who have already left Libya while 4,097 more are still inside waiting to be evacuated, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110302-322978/10000-Filipinos-safe-sound-homebound

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 08:49 AM

Meron na rin dito VN noodles pack, P45 each. :) tried their beef.

Ang mahal naman... marami rami na nga dyang Vietnamese restaurants sa Pilipinas (which I think is better tasting than here, believe it or not).

RonnieR

March 2nd, 2011, 08:51 AM

Ang mahal naman... marami rami na nga dyang Vietnamese restaurants sa Pilipinas (which I think is better tasting than here, believe it or not).

In Market Market, sometimes the VN products are on sale, P18 per pack...kaya lang mabilis maubos.

bitoy

March 2nd, 2011, 08:53 AM

600 Filipino workers recommended for Saudi royal pardon (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110302-323076/600-Filipino-workers-recommended-for-Saudi-royal-pardon)

By Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 13:56:00 03/02/2011

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has recommended to the Saudi Arabian government the inclusion of nearly 600 Filipinos serving jail terms there in King Abdullah's order for royal pardon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

The number is about half of the 1,200 Filipinos serving jail terms in Saudi Arabia.

The embassy "has submitted for consideration for the King's pardon the names of almost 600 Filipino inmates in the hope that they may be granted," DFA spokesman J. Eduardo Malaya told the Inquirer.

Embassy Charge d'Affaires Ezzedin Tago noted that the February 24 announcement of the royal pardon "stated that it only covers those serving jail terms for non-violent (or petty) crimes," not those on death row.

In a text message, Tago said "the embassy has sent letters to the emirs of the various Saudi regions and the minister of interior with the list of detainees."

He said he had no idea how many of the detainees would included in the pardon, but added that "prison authorities here are reviewing their cases individually."

The embassy has requested Saudi authorities for the "speedy release of those who will be covered by the pardon," Tago added.

Last weekend, the newspaper Saudi Gazette reported that over 10,000 of nearly 50,000 local and foreign inmates in various jails in the Middle East kingdom would "benefit from the pardon issued by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on the occasion of his return from medical treatment abroad."

The newspaper quoted Major General Ali Bin Hussein Al-Harthi, prisons director general, as saying that the pardon "will not cover debt payments of prisoners related to criminal cases."

Al-Harthi was "confident that the number of those who will benefit from the king's gesture could exceed 10,000 prisoners. It could even be far more than this number," the daily added.

John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of the Riyadh-based OFW group Migrante-Middle East expressed hope that "more than 600 (of 800 Filipinos accused of petty crimes) will be pardoned this year."

Last year, only 150 Filipino inmates were covered by the king's pardon, said Monterona.

"Farouq Hadji Malik Bayabao, one of 48 inmates at the Malaz Central Prison in Riyadh who have been detained beyond their jail terms, were delighted upon hearing the news about the royal pardon," he said.

Most, if not all of the 200 Filipino inmates at Malaz are serving jail terms for crimes like possession of liquor and illegal drugs, as well as gambling and mingling with members of the opposite sex at private parties.

In a related development, an OFW who had been meted out the death penalty in Riyadh has returned to the country, according to the DFA's Public Information Service Unit (PISU).

PISU, which is headed by Malaya, did not identify the male OFW who had been detained at the Al Hair jail from February 17, 2009 to February 20 this year.

"He was meted the capital punishment for hitting a fellow migrant worker with a metal bar and also for robbing a call center establishment. The judge considered the crimes haraba (heinous) and ordered him beheaded," it said.

After the OFW's conviction, an appeal was filed in his behalf by his embassy-hired counsel.

"The court later commuted his sentence to five years imprisonment and 500 lashes. While awaiting the conclusion of his jail term, the embassy made further representations with the Jawasat Immigration Police and the OFW's employers for the immediate processing and release of his exit visa."

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 08:54 AM

In Market Market, sometimes the VN products are on sale, P18 per pack...kaya lang mabilis maubos.

Mukhang pwede akong magbenta dyan. haha. kasama kape.:cheers:

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 09:00 AM

Sa kultura na natin ang mapagbigay kasi. Sa totoo lang, tayong mga Pinoy, masaya tayo pag masaya ang ating mga pamilya at kaibigan.

Yun nga eh, kanya kanyang priorities lang naman yan. Di ibig sabihin na pag OFW ka eh kasalan na ang magkaroon ng luho. Pinaghirapan mo ang pera mo so walang may karapatang humusga kung paano mo dapat gastusin ang pera mo. Kami ng wife ko nag set kami ng budget,, 30% ng income strictly goes to savings, 25% goes to our families back home (both our parents have income naman kaso parang gift na rin namin para naman may pang luho sila kahit papaano) another 20% goes to rent and house expenses and ang natira eh for our daily expenses and luho na rin. Now if we changed our budget such that for us lang talaga and walang savings, walang taong may karapatan na husgahan kami dahil din since pera naman namin yun

May tanong pa la ako sa mga Pinoy dito na nakatira sa ibang bansa, how do you keep your being Filipino alive? How do you cope with homesickness?

Every time nagpapadala kami ng pera sa pinas, nag pi-pilgirmage kami sa Lucky Plaza para kumain at bumili ng mga supplies na galing pinas :lol: every now and then kumakain din kami sa mga kainang pinoy (na marami dito). Minsan nga sa isang kainan yung banda eh pinoy pala, tinugtog ba naman yung "nanghihinayang" ng Jeremiah :lol:

Siguro after 3 years na erase na rin ang homesickness sa amin, with my friends, nakakalaro ko naman sila online ng Battlefield Bad Company 2 and sa parents eh lagi naman kami nag uusap sa phone so parang di na rin kami nalayo sa kanila

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 09:15 AM

;73595935']Yun nga eh, kanya kanyang priorities lang naman yan. Di ibig sabihin na pag OFW ka eh kasalan na ang magkaroon ng luho. Pinaghirapan mo ang pera mo so walang may karapatang humusga kung paano mo dapat gastusin ang pera mo. Kami ng wife ko nag set kami ng budget,, 30% ng income strictly goes to savings, 25% goes to our families back home (both our parents have income naman kaso parang gift na rin namin para naman may pang luho sila kahit papaano) another 20% goes to rent and house expenses and ang natira eh for our daily expenses and luho na rin. Now if we changed our budget such that for us lang talaga and walang savings, walang taong may karapatan na husgahan kami dahil din since pera naman namin yun

Every time nagpapadala kami ng pera sa pinas, nag pi-pilgirmage kami sa Lucky Plaza para kumain at bumili ng mga supplies na galing pinas :lol: every now and then kumakain din kami sa mga kainang pinoy (na marami dito). Minsan nga sa isang kainan yung banda eh pinoy pala, tinugtog ba naman yung "nanghihinayang" ng Jeremiah :lol:

Siguro after 3 years na erase na rin ang homesickness sa amin, with my friends, nakakalaro ko naman sila online ng Battlefield Bad Company 2 and sa parents eh lagi naman kami nag uusap sa phone so parang di na rin kami nalayo sa kanila

Sa SG ka pala.. Haha, I will be there next month for two days before flying to Yogyakarta. Dapat 1 day lang kaya lang hindi pala daily ang flights ng Tiger. Looking for a place malapit sa city hall, meron kaya ako makikita dyan na okay at around 80-90sgd a day? I stayed at the Peninsula before, kaya lang medyo nagmahal na sya ngayon, at medyo mapapagastos ako sa Indonesia. Gusto ko kasi walking distance lang sa mga attractions- Nadinig ko na din na nagbukas ng Gerry's Grill dyan sa Marina Bay, gusto ko kumain ng sisig ulit. :lol::lol:

bitoy

March 2nd, 2011, 09:19 AM

May tanong pa la ako sa mga Pinoy dito na nakatira sa ibang bansa, how do you keep your being Filipino alive? How do you cope with homesickness?

Depende naman yan sa tao at sa hinihingi ng panahon. Sa lagay ng buhay mo ngayon, hindi na mawawala ang pagiging Pilipino mo. Kahit na magasawa ka ng banyaga o manirahan ng habangbuhay sa ibang bansa, nariyan pa rin sa kalooban mo ang pagiging Pilipino.
Ngayon sa lagay namin at sa ibang may pamilya na sa ibang bansa, yung susunod na henerasyon namin ang bahalang tahakin ang landas ng kanilang kinabukasan. (ziyeeet ang lalim naman :lol:). Pipigilan ko ba sila kung ano ang nais nilang uri ng pamumuhay? Hindi, nasa kanila na yan kung ano ang gusto nila pag nagkaisip na sila. Habang lumalaki naman sila ay nakikita nila ang iba ibang uri ng tradisyon ng taga ibang bansa at ang lahi ng kanilang magulang.

Magkakabangaan naman kayo ng landas ng kapwa mo Pilipino pag nasa ibang bansa ka. Isa yan para mawala ang iyong pangungulila sa Pilipinas. Nandiyan ang sang tambak na media na Pinoy, kahit saang sulok yata ng mundo makararating ang mga palabas na Pilipino. Lalo na pag me internet ka, nandiyan na halos ang mga balita na nangagaling sa atin. Ngunit iba pa rin ang paguwi-uwi mo sa sariling bansa, iba talaga ang malalanghap mong hangin at yakap ng gintong kalooban ng mga tunay na Pilipino. :lol: (sa ubag na itong pinagsasabi ko...)

Sorry na lang, kung maasign ka sa Greenland... :lol:

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 09:20 AM

Naku ang Gerry's grill dito eh di standalone restaurant..nasa Foodcourt lang sya ng mall ng Marina bay sands tapos "filipino cuisine" ang signage..yung "gerry's grill" na logo nasa menu lang :lol: tsaka pre-cooked na (kasi nga foodcourt)

Kuya naman, sa 80-90sgd eh baka sa Fragrance Hotel sa geylang pwede..alam ko mga hotel 100+ eh.. Try mo yung "the saff" nice boutique hotel..CBD area din..lagi kong nadadaanan on my way to office...ambango ng lobby :lol:

Sleepwalker

March 2nd, 2011, 09:22 AM

May tanong pa la ako sa mga Pinoy dito na nakatira sa ibang bansa, how do you keep your being Filipino alive? How do you cope with homesickness?

Sa akin, para mapanatili ko pagka-Filipino, noong binata pa ako, I always hang around with some Filipina..Hehehehhe

Max Surban, Yoyoy Villame, Freddie Aguilar, Asin at BisRock music sa bahay.

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 09:24 AM

Depende naman yan sa tao at sa hinihingi ng panahon. Sa lagay ng buhay mo ngayon, hindi na mawawala ang pagiging Pilipino mo. Kahit na magasawa ka ng banyaga o manirahan ng habangbuhay sa ibang bansa, nariyan pa rin sa kalooban mo ang pagiging Pilipino.
Ngayon sa lagay namin at sa ibang may pamilya na sa ibang bansa, yung susunod na henerasyon namin ang bahalang tahakin ang landas ng kanilang kinabukasan. (ziyeeet ang lalim naman :lol:). Pipigilan ko ba sila kung ano ang nais nilang uri ng pamumuhay? Hindi, nasa kanila na yan kung ano ang gusto nila pag nagkaisip na sila. Habang lumalaki naman sila ay nakikita nila ang iba ibang uri ng tradisyon ng taga ibang bansa at ang lahi ng kanilang magulang.

Magkakabangaan naman kayo ng landas ng kapwa mo Pilipino pag nasa ibang bansa ka. Isa yan para mawala ang iyong pangungulila sa Pilipinas. Nandiyan ang sang tambak na media na Pinoy, kahit saang sulok yata ng mundo makararating ang mga palabas na Pilipino. Lalo na pag me internet ka, nandiyan na halos ang mga balita na nangagaling sa atin. Ngunit iba pa rin ang paguwi-uwi mo sa sariling bansa, iba talaga ang malalanghap mong hangin at yakap gintong kalooban ng mga tunay na Pilipino. :lol: (sa ubag na itong pinagsasabi ko...)

Sorry na lang, kung maasign ka sa Greenland... :lol:

I have a follow up question tho, I heard na sa Amerika raw, naging resentful ang mga 2nd Gen Fil-Ams kasi, hindi tinuro sa kanila ang kultura at kasaysayan ng Pilipinas so lumaki sila na walang cultural identity, kaya ang mga anak ng 2nd Gen, they basically made an effort to reconnect with the motherland.

Nanotice ko rin na mas maraming half breeds who are claiming their Pinoy heritage na, kesa nung una na deny to death.

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 09:26 AM

Sa akin, para mapanatili ko pagka-Filipino, noong binata pa ako, I always hang around with some Filipina..Hehehehhe

Max Surban, Yoyoy Villame, Freddie Aguilar, Asin at BisRock music sa bahay.

tsaka pag may mag ganitong lugar ma ho-homesick ka ba? :lol:

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6857/binibni.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1404/mabuhay.jpg

Dito lang sa may office namin since nasa may bar areas kami eh marami akong nakakasalubong na pinay GRO XD

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 09:26 AM

;73596503']Naku ang Gerry's grill dito eh di standalone restaurant..nasa Foodcourt lang sya ng mall ng Marina bay sands tapos "filipino cuisine" ang signage..yung "gerry's grill" na logo nasa menu lang :lol: tsaka pre-cooked na (kasi nga foodcourt)

Kuya naman, sa 80-90sgd eh baka sa Fragrance Hotel sa geylang pwede..alam ko mga hotel 100+ eh.. Try mo yung "the saff" nice boutique hotel..CBD area din..lagi kong nadadaanan on my way to office...ambango ng lobby :lol:

Geylang? Diba uhm - :naughty: dyan?

Shucks, kamahalan ng hotel sa SG, yung Peninsula nasa 190 na ngayon.

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 09:28 AM

;73596687']tsaka pag may mag ganitong lugar ma ho-homesick ka ba? :lol:

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6857/binibni.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1404/mabuhay.jpg

Dito lang sa may office namin since nasa may bar areas kami eh marami akong nakakasalubong na pinay GRO XD

Temple Street, that's in Chinatown right? I forgot na. But that's also a seedy area as far as I can remember..

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 09:29 AM

yeah mahal talaga..yep redlight district ang geylang and yung mga hotel may S$67 a night..pero baka yung katabi mong room eh may kasamang prosti ang guest :lol:

Try mo sa the saff, maganda sya. pramis hahaha

Sleepwalker

March 2nd, 2011, 09:30 AM

;73596687']tsaka pag may mag ganitong lugar ma ho-homesick ka ba? :lol:

Dito lang sa may office namin since nasa may bar areas kami eh marami akong nakakasalubong na pinay GRO XD

Kapag ako nasa kalagayan mo, siguradong walang homesick... :D Dito, kahit mga intsik na GRO, kapag natantiya nilang Pinoy, sisigaw yan nang "Kabayan!".

Sa Pasko lang ata ako makaramdam nang homesick... :)

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 09:30 AM

Temple Street, that's in Chinatown right? I forgot na. But that's also a seedy area as far as I can remember..

Chinatown..not really seedy..actually lively sya kasi night market..yung unsa, sa keong saik road yan medyo maraming pub dyan..malapit din office ko dyan haha

dun nga sa isang cafe na nadadaanan ko, may mga pinoy na tranny ako nakikita na laging nakatambay..na-uto pa ang myanmar ko na officemate sabi ba naman pagdaan namin "nice ha" :lol:

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 09:33 AM

Kapag ako nasa kalagayan mo, siguradong walang homesick... :D

Sa Pasko lang ata ako makaramdam nang homesick... :)

pansin ko mga naging office ko malapit sa pub at may pinay na GRO :lol: malapit kasi sa Financial District pero slightly cheaper ang rent and bigger office space kaya attractive yung mga shophouse na gawing office sa taas..kaso sa baba may mga bar :lol:

sa office nga namin pag mga 8PM na eh dinig mo na ang tugtog sa baba XD

bitoy

March 2nd, 2011, 09:39 AM

I have a follow up question tho, I heard na sa Amerika raw, naging resentful ang mga 2nd Gen Fil-Ams kasi, hindi tinuro sa kanila ang kultura at kasaysayan ng Pilipinas so lumaki sila na walang cultural identity, kaya ang mga anak ng 2nd Gen, they basically made an effort to reconnect with the motherland.

Nanotice ko rin na mas maraming half breeds who are claiming their Pinoy heritage na, kesa nung una na deny to death.

That's what I said, it's up to the next generation on what they want to be. It is really up to the person to accept the cultures that surround them.
Lahat naman ng tao meron cultural identity, kung saan ka lumaki at yung nagpalaki sa iyo, ganoon ka din. Yung nagagayang kultura ng mga kabataan sa labas ng bahay ay ang magbabago na lang sa kanilang pamumuhay pag dating ng panahon.
Karamihan sa mga gustong mag reconnect-reconnect na yan have other reasons other than becoming a true Filipino.

Sumikat si Pakyaw --- eto si mokong na tambay ng Hollywood Blvd. --> "Hey, man I'm a Filipino too!, my great-great grandma married a Katipunero!" :lol:

( At least, alam niya ang katipunero ) :lol:

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 09:49 AM

Kapag ako nasa kalagayan mo, siguradong walang homesick... :D Dito, kahit mga intsik na GRO, kapag natantiya nilang Pinoy, sisigaw yan nang "Kabayan!".

Sa Pasko lang ata ako makaramdam nang homesick... :)

Sa SG ka din?

Ako homesick na homesick nung nakaraang Pasko... kaya this year, I will spend my pasko elsewhere.

;73596833']Chinatown..not really seedy..actually lively sya kasi night market..yung unsa, sa keong saik road yan medyo maraming pub dyan..malapit din office ko dyan haha

dun nga sa isang cafe na nadadaanan ko, may mga pinoy na tranny ako nakikita na laging nakatambay..na-uto pa ang myanmar ko na officemate sabi ba naman pagdaan namin "nice ha" :lol:

Ahh, tanghali kasi ako ng mapadaan dyan. Sa may Clark Quay, may gumagala din dyan na mga Transexuals na Pinoy. Sige check ko ang Saff. Pero pag hindi talaga mukhang duduguin ang wallet ko.

Sleepwalker

March 2nd, 2011, 10:00 AM

Sa SG ka din?

Ako homesick na homesick nung nakaraang Pasko... kaya this year, I will spend my pasko elsewhere.

Shenzhen... :)

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 10:07 AM

Shenzhen... :)

Awww. Naaccess m ba dyan ang Twitter, Youtube at Facebook?

Sleepwalker

March 2nd, 2011, 10:10 AM

Awww. Naaccess m ba dyan ang Twitter, Youtube at Facebook?

Sa Hongkong lang ako nag-access sa mga ganyan...Hehehehhe

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 10:19 AM

Kamahalan ng hotels, I am thinking of crashing into the house of my editor in chief (hindi nya pa alam) sa JB,

Waway, how long does the trip take from SG and what are the better options...

RonnieR

March 2nd, 2011, 10:29 AM

Good news for those OFWs....

Under-paid Filipinos to get normal pay rate back: Australian Workers Union
13:18, March 02, 2011

Australian Workers Union on Wednesday said under paid Filipino workers at a gas fields off Western Australia could be entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in back pay.

The Department of Immigration on Wednesday launched an investigation into union claims that the workers were being paid rates less than three U.S. dollars an hour on the North West Shelf 's gas fields off Western Australia.

In contrast, other Shelf's full-time Australian workers are earning average annual salaries of 134,389 U.S. dollars.

The two workers were employed by Danish multinational Maersk Line through Hong Kong-based contractor Pocomwell Ltd,:bash: a company specializing in finding skilled oil field workers in the Philippines.

According to Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes, following the expose of their "slave labor pay", the two workers will get Australian pay rates back.

"We have told the government that we cannot stand by and allow what is essentially the trafficking of cheap labor from Asia into the remote northwest of Western Australia, and no one takes notice or seems to care," Howes told Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.

Department of Immigration representatives were expected to meet the workers in Perth on Thursday, while Howes said it was important the department was able to spend time interviewing the workers.

"Once that happens it is hard, often impossible, for police, the Immigration Department, and others, to gather the evidence of misuse of guest workers," he said.

The two workers, who were filling painting and maintenance roles, were brought to Australia under the 456 visa program, which is designed to fill highly specialized and short-term jobs.

Howes said it was clear in Asia that gang bosses wander around small villages offering work opportunities in Australia, " opportunities which sound like a dream, but in reality often turn into hell".

The details of the potential visa misuse are also subject to an ongoing departmental investigation.

Source: Xinhua
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7305688.html

WawaY[625]

March 2nd, 2011, 10:37 AM

Kamahalan ng hotels, I am thinking of crashing into the house of my editor in chief (hindi nya pa alam) sa JB,

Waway, how long does the trip take from SG and what are the better options...

trip from SG to JB? 1 hour siguro depende sa traffic sa immigration..train from city hall to woodlands/kranji would be 30-40 minutes then bus from woodlands/kranji to JB (tatawid na lang ng tulay)..

IMO, not worth the hassle..better spend S$100 na lang sa SG hotel..Since nagtitipid ka, mag backpacker ka na lang :)

http://www.pillowsntoast.com/ maganda location nyan

10-bed mixed dorm: S$26 per bed per night
8-bed female dorm: S$29 per bed per night
4-bed mixed dorm: S$33 per bed per night
4-bed private room: S$128 per room per night

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 10:41 AM

;73599063']trip from SG to JB? 1 hour siguro depende sa traffic sa immigration..train from city hall to woodlands/kranji would be 30-40 minutes then bus from woodlands/kranji to JB (tatawid na lang ng tulay)..

IMO, not worth the hassle..better spend S$100 na lang sa SG hotel..Since nagtitipid ka, mag backpacker ka na lang :)

http://www.pillowsntoast.com/

Nagtitipid kasi naghahanda ako mamili ng batik sa Yogya. Tapos hahataw ako ng Borubudor at Prambanan kaya medyo kelangan tipirin ang SG. Haha, libre mo na lang ako dyan. Kasama ko ang Aussie writer. Ipagluluto kita ng adobo. :D j/k

RonnieR

March 2nd, 2011, 11:16 AM

Nagtitipid kasi naghahanda ako mamili ng batik sa Yogya. Tapos hahataw ako ng Borubudor at Prambanan kaya medyo kelangan tipirin ang SG. Haha, libre mo na lang ako dyan. Kasama ko ang Aussie writer. Ipagluluto kita ng adobo. :D j/k

Mura lang ang batik sa Yogya. You can buy them at Matahari malls. Don't buy sa souvenir shops. You can also buy the batik and malong from Indonesia in Greenhills. Almost the same price. Galing sa barter trade from Zamboanga.

xxxriainxxx

March 2nd, 2011, 12:13 PM

Mura lang ang batik sa Yogya. You can buy them at Matahari malls. Don't buy sa souvenir shops. You can also buy the batik and malong from Indonesia in Greenhills. Almost the same price. Galing sa barter trade from Zamboanga.

Aww, but I wont be in PHL til August so since andun na ako, Ill get it there na lang. That's my number 1 shopping item: a local fabric. Nagkukulekta ako.

Btw, my MAS friend was kind enough to take us in. It seems I will be staying in Johor Bahru for at least 1 night. :)

bitoy

March 2nd, 2011, 02:05 PM

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/5672/pic02110413320709.jpg (http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/1/grid?q=Philippines)

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03pT0cSfWga9c/610x.jpg

Filipinos who fled Libya wave to the media after arriving in the Philippine international airport in Manila on March 2, 2011.

Danny Chua

March 3rd, 2011, 03:42 AM

May tanong pa la ako sa mga Pinoy dito na nakatira sa ibang bansa, how do you keep your being Filipino alive?
Nothing much, it's already in my blood. I can be all-Chinese and blend seamlessly with the locals here but once I return to Manila Pinoy na Pinoy uli ako. :D Saksakan ng alaskador, pati magulang hindi pinapatawad. :lol:

Hey pero in fairness mabait at mapagbigay ako ha? Kaya love ako ng mga kapatid at pamangkin ko kahit malakas ako mang-asar. :)

How do you cope with homesickness?
I don't get homesick that much now due to advancements in communication. We have the internet, cellphones, texting etc. now compared to the 1990s where all we have is super-expensive long distance telephone calls.

It gets really bad only during Christmas season. Halos gusto ko nang umiyak pag nakakarinig ako ng Christmas Song. Hindi pa naman holiday ang Pasko dito kaya walang bakasyon pati, pero in a way mabuti na rin yon my mind is occupied by work and so no time to get homesick. On Christmas night though I still make it a point to go treat myself to a nice meal at this Western restaurant/bar here in Futian, Shenzhen where Pinoy band yung tumutugtog, and then I ham it up with them onstage (kahit na sintunado) because even though it's the first time we meet, they're pleasantly surprised to see a fellow kabayan. At this point my local companions would be shocked and stunned at the change in personality that I'm showing (because I'm very quiet at the office) but they don't realize this unabashed friendliness towards fellow Pinoys is very much a part of our character. :cheers:

Danny Chua

March 3rd, 2011, 03:45 AM

Shenzhen... :)
Shenzhen din ako! Inom naman tayo minsan, 'adre! :cheers:

Sa Hongkong lang ako nag-access sa mga ganyan...Hehehehhe
Yung mga Chinese clones lang (Kaixin, Renren, Youku, Tudou, QQ etc.) ang nagagamit ko, pero bwisit na-addict na ako sa mga games nila! :cry:

RonnieR

March 3rd, 2011, 04:28 AM

Nothing much, it's already in my blood. I can be all-Chinese and blend seamlessly with the locals here but once I return to Manila Pinoy na Pinoy uli ako. :D Saksakan ng alaskador, pati magulang hindi pinapatawad. :lol:

It gets really bad only during Christmas season. Halos gusto ko nang umiyak pag nakakarinig ako ng Christmas Song. Hindi pa naman holiday ang Pasko dito kaya walang bakasyon pati, pero in a way mabuti na rin yon my mind is occupied by work and so no time to get homesick. On Christmas night though I still make it a point to go treat myself to a nice meal at this Western restaurant/bar here in Futian, Shenzhen where Pinoy band yung tumutugtog, and then I ham it up with them onstage (kahit na sintunado) because even though it's the first time we meet, they're pleasantly surprised to see a fellow kabayan. At this point my local companions would be shocked and stunned at the change in personality that I'm showing (because I'm very quiet at the office) but they don't realize this unabashed friendliness towards fellow Pinoys is very much a part of our character. :cheers:

cool....:)

Nabartek

March 3rd, 2011, 04:31 AM

That's what I said, it's up to the next generation on what they want to be. It is really up to the person to accept the cultures that surround them.
Lahat naman ng tao meron cultural identity, kung saan ka lumaki at yung nagpalaki sa iyo, ganoon ka din. Yung nagagayang kultura ng mga kabataan sa labas ng bahay ay ang magbabago na lang sa kanilang pamumuhay pag dating ng panahon.
Karamihan sa mga gustong mag reconnect-reconnect na yan have other reasons other than becoming a true Filipino.

Sumikat si Pakyaw --- eto si mokong na tambay ng Hollywood Blvd. --> "Hey, man I'm a Filipino too!, my great-great grandma married a Katipunero!" :lol:

( At least, alam niya ang katipunero ) :lol:

Counted pa ba ang 1/16 ancestry? :nuts:

Sleepwalker

March 3rd, 2011, 04:33 AM

Shenzhen din ako! Inom naman tayo minsan, 'adre! :cheers:

Sa Bao'an district ako naglalagi, Bossing...Pero pag mapasyal ako sa Futian, i-PM kita...Saan ka ba madalas magpasyal?

Ganda sana kung ang mga Pinoy sa Shenzhen ay may sariling community no?

Yung mga Chinese clones lang (Kaixin, Renren, Youku, Tudou, QQ etc.) ang nagagamit ko, pero bwisit na-addict na ako sa mga games nila! :cry:

Hanep yang Youku at Tudou...May NatGeo, History, Discovery at BBC compilations pa...Hehehehehe

xxxriainxxx

March 3rd, 2011, 05:02 AM

Ganda sana kung ang mga Pinoy sa Shenzhen ay may sariling community no?

Meron daw accdng dto: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/38857/Pinoy-workers-foster-camaraderie-in-Shenzhen

Danny Chua

March 3rd, 2011, 05:18 AM

Sa Bao'an district ako naglalagi, Bossing...Pero pag mapasyal ako sa Futian, i-PM kita...Saan ka ba madalas magpasyal?
Wala lang. Diyan lang sa tabi-tabi.

May alam akong pwedeng tambayan malapit sa tinitirhan ko. Ihaw-ihaw pero maganda ang lugar, malinis. May karaoke sa 2nd floor. 3-for-1 ang beer, makikiinom pa yung mga seksing beer girl (libre) basta um-order ka ng beer sa kanila. :lol:

Danny Chua

March 3rd, 2011, 05:21 AM

Meron daw accdng dto: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/38857/Pinoy-workers-foster-camaraderie-in-Shenzhen
Nice. :) Medyo malayo nga lang Shekou mula sa tinitirhan ko. Makapasyal nga minsan pag libre ako ng weekend at sinisipag. :D

Sleepwalker

March 3rd, 2011, 05:32 AM

Wala lang. Diyan lang sa tabi-tabi.

May alam akong pwedeng tambayan malapit sa tinitirhan ko. Ihaw-ihaw pero maganda ang lugar, malinis. May karaoke sa 2nd floor. 3-for-1 ang beer, makikiinom pa yung mga seksing beer girl (libre) basta um-order ka ng beer sa kanila. :lol:

Ayos yan! Pwede ba yong beer girl ang ihawin? Heheheheh...Joke lang.

Nice. :) Medyo malayo nga lang Shekou mula sa tinitirhan ko. Makapasyal nga minsan pag libre ako ng weekend at sinisipag. :D

Never been to Shekou...Heard it's a good place to unwind...At daming Russian girls daw dyan...Hehehehe

OT na ako masyado... :)

xxxriainxxx

March 3rd, 2011, 05:49 AM

OFWs recount ordeal fleeing Libya

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 03/03/2011 12:27 PM | Updated as of 03/03/2011 12:27 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Despite their harrowing experience in Libya, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) still managed to crack a joke upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino international Airport (NAIA)

"Andito na po ako nanay, ate, kuya. Tignan ninyo ako, gwapo pa rin kahit may stampede," said OFW Abel Mataya.

Mataya had been working in Libya for just a few months when the crisis broke out. He said his employer left him and other workers to fend for themselves.

The OFW recounted his ordeal in fleeing to the Tunisian border. He said Libyan police confiscated all their cellular phones and laptops for unknown reasons.

There were also 60 of them cramped inside a bus. It was there where they cooked and shared the little food that they had with fellow OFWs.

There was a stampede of fleeing people when they reached the border.

"Grabe po kasi maraming naapakang mga Pinoy. Kung mahina lang resistensya ng iba, maaaring may namatay. Awa ng Diyos, walang namatayan. Mayroong sumusuntok sa iyo na Egyptians, tinatapakan ka," said another OFW.

The OFWs said they passed through 27 checkpoints before they finally arrived at the border in Tunisia. It was at the border where they were taken cared of by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Ship with Pinoys arrive in Crete

Meanwhile, the Greek ship Ionian Queen that picked up OFWs from Benghazi in Libya arrived at the Crete Island with 665 Filipinos on board.

The first batch of OFWs then boarded a bus that brought them to their hotel, 30 kilometers from the pier.

Of the 665 Filipinos on board the ship, 125 people--those who are sick, traveling with children, old, pregnant--were in the priority list for repatriation.

The Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DOLE-OWWA) are now arranging their plane tickets from Crete to Athens, then Athens to Manila.

The ship will sail back to Tripoli on a 40-hour journey from Crete to pick up more OFWs in Libya.

Filipinos evacuated to Crete were thankful to the Philippine government for assisting them.

The Philippine government and Greece have an agreement that evacuees may only stay in Crete for 3 days and should be repatriated immediately. With reports from Eva Garcia and Jacque Manabat

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/03/03/11/ofws-recount-ordeal-fleeing-libya?utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=abscbnnews&utm_source=twitterfeed

RonnieR

March 3rd, 2011, 07:01 AM

^^ grabe

bitoy

March 3rd, 2011, 07:54 AM

Marami ding OFWs ang nag volunteer to stay and one newspaper mentioned the Ionian Queen is a luxury ship, maybe classified nga na luxury ferry ship ito.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03RGfTP3e17pE/610x.jpg
Lonie Cagmat, a Filipino man having worked in Libya, displays a bread which he claimed helped him survive for four days upon arrival via a chartered flight Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.

Aerin

March 3rd, 2011, 09:28 PM

Sa kultura na natin ang mapagbigay kasi. Sa totoo lang, tayong mga Pinoy, masaya tayo pag masaya ang ating mga pamilya at kaibigan.

May punto din naman din na kelangan magtipid, yun nga lang ang pinakaluho ko dito is travel (kakabook ko lang today ng tiket para sa bakasyon ko sa Indo next month) but aside from that bihira na ako uminom (at kung uminom man, sa bahay lang- pampatulog). Tapos yun, I treat myself to a good meal, pero ako pa rin nagluluto.

I am lucky because kahit papano may well paying jobs ang parents ko at gagaraduate na din ang kapatid ko sa pagkadoktor. I keep telling myself to hold on to the money kasi alam mo na, mga di inaasahang pangyayari na magkasakit ang kapamilya, ikot tumbong namin sa pag-aalala especially dito kami sa malayo.

Everyday I try to make sure na ang pagiging Pinoy ay parte ng buhay ko and usually I do it by cooking. Kanina ngang tanghali, bago umalis ang isang kasamahan naming taga Negros at pumunta ng China, iniluto ko muna sya ng Bistek Pinoy.

May tanong pa la ako sa mga Pinoy dito na nakatira sa ibang bansa, how do you keep your being Filipino alive? How do you cope with homesickness?

Almost every year, the Filipino organization at work has a presentation on the Filipino culture to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day in June. We hire dancers to perform the traditional dances, hand out food (usually cassava cake and lumpiang shanghai) and show a short video highlighting the various attractions in the country.

Taken last year:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5493353493_fc0ab39939_z.jpg

RonnieR

March 4th, 2011, 06:28 AM

^^ nice.

xxxriainxxx

March 4th, 2011, 08:41 AM

Almost every year, the Filipino organization at work has a presentation on the Filipino culture to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day in June. We hire dancers to perform the traditional dances, hand out food (usually cassava cake and lumpiang shanghai) and show a short video highlighting the various attractions in the country.

Taken last year:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5493353493_fc0ab39939_z.jpg

Dito sa Hanoi, simple lang.. well, there is the Vin D'Honneur but mostly for officials lang and a short salo salo sa Embassy.. :)

xxxriainxxx

March 4th, 2011, 01:19 PM

Last trip
Vague DFA evacuation plan angers Aquino
By ROY C. MABASA
March 3, 2011, 6:35pm

MANILA, Philippines — Take the chartered ship to be sent to the port in Benghazi on Saturday lest you miss the last trip that the Philippine government is providing to evacuate from Libya.

This was the appeal of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) still in the strife-torn country as Libyan border crossings were overwhelmed Wednesday by tens of thousands of hungry, fearful people fleeing its burgeoning civil war.

UN refugee agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told The Associated Press that over 180,000 refugees have reached the border. Over 77,300 people have crossed east from Libya into Egypt, most of them Egyptians, while a similar number have fled west from Libya into Tunisia, she said. Another 30,000 more were still waiting in Libya at the border, trying to get into Tunisia.

“We are setting a time frame for ourselves so we are saying that people should get out by Saturday,” Del Rosario said in an interview. “This may be the last effort that we will make for Tripoli because we think that the people who have not gone out by this time have decided to stay there.”

“We have the facilities for them to get out so we encourage them: get on that boat because we may not be coming back for you anymore,” he stressed.

He said there are actually Filipinos who have decided to stay in Libya despite the evacuation and repatriation efforts of the government.

“There are some who will want to play it safe and some who want to take it to the edge, we do not know,” Del Rosario said.

He pointed out that this fact has been determined because the chartered vessel, MV Ionian Queen, that went to Benghazi last Tuesday to take OFWs to the Greek island of Crete was only half full.

Del Rosario said this maybe because the situation in Benghazi has significantly improved: the shops began to open, the banks started opening, the police has started coming out and they think that the situation has normalized.

“I think that is not probably the case. I think if they have this opportunity to get out they should take it,” he stated.

Heads to roll at DFA

As this developed, heads are expected to roll at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for their supposed failure to act decisively at the onset on the evacuation and repatriation Filipino workers in Libya.

This was learned from well placed sources both in Malacañang and the DFA who disclosed that President Benigno S. Aquino III did not hesitate to express his anger and dismay over the apparent vagueness in evacuation and repatriation plans presented to him by DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos Jr. and other concerned government officials.

On two occasions prior to Del Rosario's trip to Tunisia last Friday to personally oversee the evacuation of OFWs in Libya, the President summoned Conejos and officials from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to Malacañang to get an appraisal of their plan of actions regarding the evacuation and repatriation of OFWs in Libya.

Aquino called for the meeting as he expressed dismay over the pronouncements being made by Conejos in the media, particularly the inconsistencies in the figures being presented.

The President was supposed to have singled out Conejos during the meeting for the public pronouncements which sowed more confusion rather than being informative.

Even media covering the diplomatic beat were at a loss as to the inadequacy of information being presented by both Conejos and DFA spokesman Ed Malaya.

Sources also disclosed that the President was unconvinced about the plans being broached by Conejos and other officials involved in the evacuation as they cannot even explain the distance between the cities of Benghazi and Tripoli as they were showing the Chief Executive a map of Libya.

“Those are mere scraps of papers. Have you been to that place yourself?” sources quoted a fuming President asking Conejos.

Conejos admitted to the President that he has never been to Libya.

Adding to the President's ire was the reported the inaccessibility of the current ambassador to Libya who was not even heard or seen in public since the Libyan crisis erupted. The DFA website listed Alejandrino Vicente as the Philippine envoy to Libya.

Sources even went on to surmise that Del Rosario's decision to personally take a trip to Libya could have been triggered the President's dressing down of Conejos and other government officials.

Aside from Conejos, those who were present at the meeting were Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz, POEA Administrator Carlos S. Cao Jr., and Del Rosario, among others.

The foreign affairs secretary, who returned to Manila on Monday after personally overseeing the repatriation operations of the government in Tunisia and Tripoli, disclosed that they have set up a center right next to the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli.

Del Rosario said there are 300 people at an evacuation center in Benghazi now but may balloon to a thousand by the time the chartered boat comes in for the second time.

“But hopefully, we can get more if this is in fact the clean-up stage in terms of bringing people out,” Del Rosario said.

However, he said they will have to be careful because there is a planned pro-government demonstration within the week that is going to be near the harbor.

“So we are trying to make plans so that the boarding of the ship does not take place before or during the said demonstration. We will instead wait maybe for the next day. Right now, we are trying to convince the shipping company that we would like to wait another day before we board that ship.”

He stressed that it is not dangerous for a ship to go to Tripoli at this time.

“It is safer to board the ship in the port since Libyan leader Col Moammar Khaddafy is using Tripoli as his strong hold and not Benghazi.”

He said close to 10,000 out of the 26,000 OFWs believed to be in Libya are being repatriated.

This is so because conflict is only concentrated on the northern coastal areas, Del Rosario said.

“For example in areas such as central Libya or in southern Libya, these are deemed to be safe areas. No conflicts there right now,” he said. “So our advise is if you are in those areas maybe you should consider staying there. It may be more risky for you to travel than to just stay where you are.”

Jolie appeals

Angelina Jolie, a United Nations goodwill ambassador for refugees, appealed Wednesday for all nations to give people safe passage, evacuation if needed, and ensure they have asylum.

“All I'm asking is that civilians be protected, and not targeted or harmed,” the actress said. “We don't want to look back and find their deaths are on our hands.”

Among those stranded at the Tunisian border were Bangladeshi, Vietnamese, Filipinos, and Ghanaians, and 2,400 more Africans at Tumo on the Libyan side of the border with Niger. Another 4,000 people, mostly Nigerians, were stranded around the Libyan coastal city of Miserata. (With a report from AP)

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/307321/last-trip

Ephesus29

March 4th, 2011, 01:40 PM

Sa kultura na natin ang mapagbigay kasi. Sa totoo lang, tayong mga Pinoy, masaya tayo pag masaya ang ating mga pamilya at kaibigan.

May punto din naman din na kelangan magtipid, yun nga lang ang pinakaluho ko dito is travel (kakabook ko lang today ng tiket para sa bakasyon ko sa Indo next month) but aside from that bihira na ako uminom (at kung uminom man, sa bahay lang- pampatulog). Tapos yun, I treat myself to a good meal, pero ako pa rin nagluluto.

I am lucky because kahit papano may well paying jobs ang parents ko at gagaraduate na din ang kapatid ko sa pagkadoktor. I keep telling myself to hold on to the money kasi alam mo na, mga di inaasahang pangyayari na magkasakit ang kapamilya, ikot tumbong namin sa pag-aalala especially dito kami sa malayo.

Everyday I try to make sure na ang pagiging Pinoy ay parte ng buhay ko and usually I do it by cooking. Kanina ngang tanghali, bago umalis ang isang kasamahan naming taga Negros at pumunta ng China, iniluto ko muna sya ng Bistek Pinoy.

May tanong pa la ako sa mga Pinoy dito na nakatira sa ibang bansa, how do you keep your being Filipino alive? How do you cope with homesickness?

hi-lighted statement: We do the same thing here in Vancouver. Specially when my wife and I have dinner guests (multicultural) We always serve "Pinoy" foods; adobo, michado, sweet and sour tilapia, and some times adobong "saluyot" hummm yummy. Special ocasions, "lechon" is a must. Europeans, specially Germans, Swiss and Austrians they just love "lechon" with a redwine sauce. :)

It started last year, and I hope it will continue on. City mayo Gregor Robertson has designated the first weekend of August for Pinoy Fiesta in Vancouver. Every June 12, here in North Vancouver's waterfront park, Pinoy and the community celebrates Independence day.:)

Now that our kids are married to diffirent cultures, our foods become a repertoire of ethnic goodies. (Jewish, Italian, and Greek) love it though. Our grandchildren mind you, amazingly identify themselves as Pinoy. :)

BTW, have you tried the Canadian "Icewine" yet? if not you should.:)

xxxriainxxx

March 4th, 2011, 01:53 PM

hi-lighted statement: We do the same thing here in Vancouver. Specially when my wife and I have dinner guests (multicultural) We always serve "Pinoy" foods; adobo, michado, sweet and sour tilapia, and some times adobong "saluyot" hummm yummy. Special ocasions, "lechon" is a must. Europeans, specially Germans, Swiss and Austrians they just love "lechon" with a redwine sauce. :)

It started last year, and I hope it will continue on. City mayo Gregor Robertson has designated the first weekend of August for Pinoy Fiesta in Vancouver. Every June 12, here in North Vancouver's waterfront park, Pinoy and the community celebrates Independence day.:)

Now that our kids are married to diffirent cultures, our foods become a repertoire of ethnic goodies. (Jewish, Italian, and Greek) love it though. Our grandchildren mind you, amazingly identify themselves as Pinoy. :)

BTW, have you tried the Canadian "Icewine" yet? if not you should.:)

How do you get 'lechon' in Vancouver????? That's like the topic on twitter last night, I was talking about lechon...

Speaking of Icewine from Canada, yup tried it a few years ago (and absolutely LOVED it), and I was looking for it everywhere but cant seem to find it even in Manila. Padalhan mo ko dito sa Vietnam. :D

I made lechon kawali last night and adobo today. :D

SleMarKen

March 4th, 2011, 02:08 PM

Nong sa Taiwan di masyadong na ho-homesick kase maraming Pinoy, maraming bars na Pinoy at maramong tindahan ng mga Pinoy.
Nung sa Malaysia ako, medjo isolated kase wala masyadong Pinoy at wala masyadong tindahan na Pinoy.
But soon, I'm off to Japan... I dunno kung anong nandon. Sana maraming Pinoy at mga tindahang Pinoy para di masyadong ma homesick :okay:

xxxriainxxx

March 4th, 2011, 02:38 PM

SleMarKen

March 4th, 2011, 03:18 PM

xxxriainxxx

March 4th, 2011, 03:48 PM

^^Oo, marami din pero kung mai cocompare ko sa Taiwan or even Singapore, wala siguro sa 1/4 ang mga Pinoy dito sa Msia. Kaya siguro parang I'm already used sa number of Filipinos in Taiwan...
Mas mabuti kung sa KL ka na kase walang pinagkaka iba sa Manila pero nga lang mas tahimik ang KL compara sa Manila interms of entertainment, bars etc.:yes:

Okay lang, medyo graduate na ako dyan. Yung Okay sa KL kasi hub din sya, so I can go to a lot of destinations.. Hindi gaya dito sa HAN na backwater ng travel.

SleMarKen

March 4th, 2011, 04:55 PM

^^yeah at mura pa... Kase may airasia... then papasok na din ang airasia sa Pilipinas so madali nalang pauwi-uwi...

Kintoy

March 4th, 2011, 05:22 PM

bitoy

March 4th, 2011, 08:08 PM

^^ Marami ding refugee ang nag kagulangan at wala sa ayos dahil sa kulang sa disiplina. Pero kumpara sa refugee nuon during the Gulf wars at sa Afghanistan, mas maayos ito at parati ang dating sa border ng mga pi-pickup sa kanila.

Buti naman at pila-pila sila dito sa border, pag dating sa Manila, labo-labo na... :D

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0aAv3fIgrs3Um/610x.jpg

Refugees, many from the Philippines, wait in line as they cross the border from Libya, in background, past debris and discarded items left by refugees who recently fled the unrest in Libya, at the Tunisia-Libyan border, in Ras Ajdir, Tunisia, Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0gCZgywfTveAv/610x.jpg

Filipinos who fled Libya arrive in the Philippine international airport in Manila on March 2, 2011.

Ephesus29

March 4th, 2011, 09:08 PM

How do you get 'lechon' in Vancouver????? That's like the topic on twitter last night, I was talking about lechon...

Speaking of Icewine from Canada, yup tried it a few years ago (and absolutely LOVED it), and I was looking for it everywhere but cant seem to find it even in Manila. Padalhan mo ko dito sa Vietnam. :D

I made lechon kawali last night and adobo today. :D

Yes, indeed, we have "lechon" here in Vancouver and surprisingly authentic. Group of very enterprising Vietnamese apparently, has learned the trade while in the Philippines as refugees. When they came to Canada, they brought that knowledge with them, and now they cater to not only Pinoys but other Southeast Asians. They supplies the best and succulent lechon with the most crispy rind in the Vancouver Area.

Tell me how, and I would try sending you a bottle of Canadian icewine.:)

Aerin

March 5th, 2011, 02:09 AM

Dito sa Hanoi, simple lang.. well, there is the Vin D'Honneur but mostly for officials lang and a short salo salo sa Embassy.. :)

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Filipinos at work are a bunch of party people, particularly the older generation; consequently, we tend to go all out. Forgot to mention that we also dress up in traditional costumes (eg barong tagalog) during the celebration.

There is also an annual diversity day at work where different ethnic groups promote their culture by setting up booths to display their native handcrafts and offer traditional treats. We participate in that one as well.

Yes, indeed, we have "lechon" here in Vancouver and surprisingly authentic. Group of very enterprising Vietnamese apparently, has learned the trade while in the Philippines as refugees. When they came to Canada, they brought that knowledge with them, and now they cater to not only Pinoys but other Southeast Asians. They supplies the best and succulent lechon with the most crispy rind in the Vancouver Area.

Tell me how, and I would try sending you a bottle of Canadian icewine.:)

I have 2 icewine bottles at home that I'm saving for special occasions...but I wouldn't mind getting another one...or two...hint hint... ;)

Just kidding...but I am planning on visiting Vancouver actually this year so I'll just get it myself :)

xxxriainxxx

March 5th, 2011, 05:51 AM

Yes, indeed, we have "lechon" here in Vancouver and surprisingly authentic. Group of very enterprising Vietnamese apparently, has learned the trade while in the Philippines as refugees. When they came to Canada, they brought that knowledge with them, and now they cater to not only Pinoys but other Southeast Asians. They supplies the best and succulent lechon with the most crispy rind in the Vancouver Area.

Tell me how, and I would try sending you a bottle of Canadian icewine.:)

Aww, I am sure they package it as Philippine lechon right? Mamaya, ibrand nila yan as Vietnamese roast pig... Alam mo na kasi yung isang kapitbahay natin dyan, kinokopya ang mga productong Pinoy and nilelabel na "T**i" product :D

No way, seryoso?? OMG!! I dunno how UPS, DHL or Fedex accept it? Local post here are composed of lazy people, I just got my package sent from the Philippines 3 months ago.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Filipinos at work are a bunch of party people, particularly the older generation; consequently, we tend to go all out. Forgot to mention that we also dress up in traditional costumes (eg barong tagalog) during the celebration.

There is also an annual diversity day at work where different ethnic groups promote their culture by setting up booths to display their native handcrafts and offer traditional treats. We participate in that one as well.

I have 2 icewine bottles at home that I'm saving for special occasions...but I wouldn't mind getting another one...or two...hint hint... ;)

Just kidding...but I am planning on visiting Vancouver actually this year so I'll just get it myself :)

Oh yea, we go all out. Btw, during international conferences when I was with AIESEC, our PHL reps usually bring Tanduay, and the foreigners (esp the Euros) love it. :)

Nabartek

March 5th, 2011, 05:57 AM

bitoy

March 5th, 2011, 06:32 AM

^^ anything to keep you alive..:D mukhang mas masarap pa yan kaysa dun sa Khubz or flat bread ng mga arabo.

Ang mga nahihirapan ay yung mga refugees from other African nations, Pakistanis and a few Asian nations na walang nag aasikaso. England and some EU nations bow to help others get out of Libya this coming weeks.

http://www.baynews9.com/images/apimages/Tunisia_Libya_Refugees.sff-32aa96e3-1d35-401c-8b3b-a6eb1367ca02.jpg

(AP Photo/Giorgos Moutafis) A resident of Ghana displays a piece of paper mentioning his nationality as he waits with other refugees to enter Tunisia after fleeing Libya on the Libya-Tunisia border in Ras Ajdir, Tunisia, Tuesday, March 1 , 2011.U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman Melissa...

Nations aid Libyan exodus as UN warns of backlash (http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/ap/march/213707/Nations-aid-Libyan-exodus-as-UN-warns-of-backlash)

GENEVA -- Britain, France and the group of 57 Islamic nations each launched refugee operations Wednesday as U.N. experts warned of an urgent need to prevent racially charged violent clashes among a crush of people fleeing Libya to Tunisia and Egypt.

http://www.dawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/refugees-from-libya-ap-5432751.jpg

xxxriainxxx

March 5th, 2011, 04:21 PM

Fleeing OFWs fail to land in Clark
By Jun Malig
Central Luzon Desk
First Posted 19:13:00 03/05/2011

Filed Under: Philippines - Regions, Overseas Employment, Air Transport
CLARK FREEPORT—The carpet had been rolled out but the special guests weren’t around.

Officials of the Clark International Airport Corp. (Ciac) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) were disappointed to find out that some 60 Filipino workers from Libya were not on board the Air Asia Berhad Flight 662 that landed at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday.

The overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were supposed to be flown to the airport here on board the aircraft from Kuala Lumpur. The workers were earlier flown from Libya to Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Ciac president Victor Jose Luciano and his staff members prepared packed lunch, consisting of rice and chicken adobo, for the OFWs. They also hired a bus and prepared Ciac coasters to bring them to Metro Manila.

Owwa chartered another bus to fetch the OFWs from this free port.

But at around 10:20 a.m., officials of the Owwa regional office arrived and told Luciano about the conflicting advisories they got on the OFWs’ arrival.

Socorro Castro, acting Owwa Central Luzon director, earlier relayed to Luciano about the information her office had received that the OFWs might arrive on Saturday afternoon on board an Air Asia flight from Kota Kinabalu.

But they later talked to a contact in Malaysia and received confirmation that the OFWs were on board the 11:15 a.m. flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Luciano and Ritchie Nacpil, airport operation manager, then obtained a copy of the flight manifest and learned that 102 supposed passengers, mostly Filipinos, of Air Asia Flight 662 were “no show” at the Kuala Lumpur airport. The airplane was carrying only 79 passengers, most of them non-Filipinos.

When the plane landed, it was not carrying a single OFW from Libya.

Luciano, who cited flight schedules, told the Inquirer that the OFWs would probably arrive here at 11:15 a.m. today (March 6, Sunday) on board the same aircraft.

Mayorito David, Owwa case officer, said the OFWs were still stranded in Bangladesh.

“They were not able to board the plane to Kuala Lumpur. They’re still in Dhaka. We still don’t know what happened. It was confirmed to us last night by Owwa main office that the OFWs would be arriving at 11 a.m. [Saturday]. It’s an unforeseen event. We don’t know what happened,” he said.

The packs of rice and adobo were distributed to policemen, customs and security personnel, and office staff at the airport here.

The OFWs’ relatives were not in the DMIA on Saturday. “The families must have been informed by their relatives that they’re not on board the Air Asia flight,” security personnel said.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20110305-323683/Fleeing-OFWs-fail-to-land-in-Clark

LAPDRN

March 5th, 2011, 05:09 PM

wag pong magalit sa atin gobyerno, even industrialized countries are having hard time evacuating their own citizens

Askal82

March 5th, 2011, 06:53 PM

wag pong magalit sa atin gobyerno, even industrialized countries are having hard time evacuating their own citizens

and their numbers is much much less in Libya than Philippines.

They don't understand the definition of 'logistical nightmare (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/world/africa/04refugee.html)' sa sobrang kitid ng pag-unawa ng ilan nating mga kababayan. :D

I understand them too, especially that you're on the brink of death with no help in sight and you have to rely on your survival instinct to get you through the day.

joseprito

March 6th, 2011, 03:49 AM

wag pong magalit sa atin gobyerno, even industrialized countries are having hard time evacuating their own citizens

Totoo po iyan.Bukod pa doon sa layo at sitwasyon doon sa Libya.

koreanboy

March 6th, 2011, 01:46 PM

naku dito sa korea walang away ng mga government official or politiko pero ang awayan ay bet.2 koreas kaya ...mas grabe sakali ang situasyon ng mga OFW kung sakali ....

xxxriainxxx

March 6th, 2011, 02:39 PM

naku dito sa korea walang away ng mga government official or politiko pero ang awayan ay bet.2 koreas kaya ...mas grabe sakali ang situasyon ng mga OFW kung sakali ....

LOL

I remember I was picked up at the airport by the organisers of an intl banking conference in Seoul. So whilst we were driving from Incheon to Seoul, a friend pointed out a building, "That's where the politicians fight", and I replied, "Oh, the Parliament!". :lol::lol::lol:

Namula ang organisers.

5Pqhnf6XKC8

bulabog jalaur

March 6th, 2011, 06:39 PM

Phl 4th in overseas workers' remittances
By Ted P. Torres (The Philippine Star) Updated March 07, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines emerged as the world’s fourth biggest recipient of remittances in 2010, behind India, China and Mexico, according to a report released recently by the World Bank (WB).

According to the report, remittance inflows to India amounted to $55 billion followed by China with $51 billion, Mexico with $22.6 billion and the Philippines with $21.3 billion.

Other leading recipient of remittances are: France, $15.9 billion; Germany, $11.6 billion; Bangladesh, $11.1 billion; Belgium, $10.4 billion; Spain, $10.2 billion; Nigeria, $10 billion; Pakistan, $9.4 billion; and Poland, $9.1 billion.

Worldwide remittance flows are estimated to have exceeded $440 billion in 2010. Of the amount, developing countries received $325 billion, which represents an increase of six percent from the 2009 level.

But the World Bank report said that the true size, including unrecorded flows through formal and informal channels, is believed to be significantly larger. Recorded remittances in 2009 were nearly three times the amount of official aid and almost as large as foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to developing countries.

The report noted that remittance in?ows have remained more resilient compared with private debt and equity ?ows and foreign direct investment, and despite economic downturns in host countries.

Other findings indicate that remittances are sent by the cumulated ?ows of migrants over the years, not only by the new migrants of the past year or two.

According to the World Bank report, because of a rise in anti-immigration sentiments and tighter border controls in the United States and Europe, the duration of migration appears to have increased. Those migrants staying back are likely to continue to send remittances.

“When migrants return to their country of origin, they are likely to take back accumulated savings. Also the ‘safe haven’ factor, or ‘home bias,’ can cause remittances for investment purposes to return home during an economic downturn in the host country,” the World Bank report said.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=663661&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Nabartek

March 6th, 2011, 10:39 PM

Gov laments ‘insensitivity’ of airlines
By Mar S. Arguelles, Rey M. Nasol
Inquirer Southern Luzon, Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:50:00 03/07/2011

Filed Under: Unrest and Conflicts and War, Evacuation(General), Overseas Employment, Middle East Africa - Africa, Air Transport
LEGAZPI CITY—Albay Gov. Joey Salceda expressed dismay over the inaction of the country’s airlines in offering their services for the thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) caught in the armed conflict in Libya.

Salceda said Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines were neither seen nor heard assisting in the government’s effort to rescue and bring back the OFWs from the North African nation.

“One week now into the commotions of Libyan repatriation effort, PAL, Cebu Pacific or Air Philippines are still invisible or inaudible. Not a stir. Not even for show,” he told the Inquirer on Sunday.

He urged authorities to look into the airlines’ inaction, pointing out that they had been “making so much profit out of lucrative international long routes with OFW market at their core.”

“They earn so much from OFWs. Now that the OFWs are suffering, they offer no help. It’s called insensitivity. They better have a good explanation, we demand it and Congress must investigate the behavior of Philippine carriers during the Libyan crisis,” Salceda said.

The Albay Assistance Program for OFWs in Libya has been closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) concerning the plight of Bicolano OFWs.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110307-323922/Gov-laments-insensitivity-of-airlines

---

These scions have no sense of "social responsibility" nor even compassion for fellow Filipinos...wait, are they "Filipino" owned? LOL

bitoy

March 6th, 2011, 11:25 PM

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0ggH8d3gIO9mF/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05IldfV79Oesx/610x.jpg

Filipinos who have fled Libya queue up at the immigration office as they arrive in the Philippine international airport in Manila on March 6, 2011. Hundreds of the estimated 26,000 Filipino workers in Libya have been evacuated in recent days but the government of the impoverished Philippines has had difficulty evacuating its nationals from Libya due to lack of resources. The government has chartered a boat and helped Filipinos cross the Libyan border by land but in many cases, it is the foreign employers of the Filipinos who makes the arrangements for their evacuations.

Parchie

March 7th, 2011, 01:11 AM

Nabartek

March 7th, 2011, 01:31 AM

PAL - Philippine Airlines, owned by PAL Holdings, a part of the group of companies owned by Mr. Lucio Tan;

Cebu Pacific Air - owned by JG Holdings, owned by Mr. John Gokongwei Jr., of the Cebu "starch" king,

Air Philippines - Lucio Tan owned.

I think all are owned by "Filipinos"! Not unless you have data to prove that those two guys above are not Filipinos.

For what it is, we should understand that these airlines are not government-owned and are independent business entities. Having said that, if and when these companies decide on giving out resources as part of their "corporate responsibilities", those things are decided in the light of their ability to absorb such loses. Seeing them not responding to the challenge could be a sign that these airlines cannot possibly take the risks and opted out. Can you rely on the government to help a cash-strapped airline when the rules do not allow government favoring a specific business entity?

Unless our government is a dictatorial government, what that government official is saying is worth noting.

Hence, the quote-unquote of "Filipinos" and I'm not even referring to their citizenship or ethnicity.

Who are the majority of their customers? Filipinos, particularly OFWs. If there aren't many Filipinos travelling abroad, these airlines might have well closed down. Not many foreigners even use PAL or Cebu Pacific because they are overpriced and don't have really good service(esp PAL).

I know these corporations are not government controlled. The Philippines is a capitalistic economy. But my point is, these companies are hardly compassionate towards Filipinos who are caught in the crossfire. :ohno:
I am not advocating government control on these corporations, just want to knock their head on nation building and social responsibility.

It is such a big shame that other countries are helping Filipinos get out of Libya. Well, what do you expect from a turtle-paced government and indifferent private companies.

Parchie

March 7th, 2011, 02:08 AM

Hence, the quote-unquote of "Filipinos" and I'm not even referring to their citizenship or ethnicity.

Who are the majority of their customers? Filipinos, particularly OFWs. If there aren't many Filipinos travelling abroad, these airlines might have well closed down. Not many foreigners even use PAL or Cebu Pacific because they are overpriced and don't have really good service(esp PAL).

I know these corporations are not government controlled. The Philippines is a capitalistic economy. But my point is, these companies are hardly compassionate towards Filipinos who are caught in the crossfire. :ohno:
I am not advocating government control on these corporations, just want to knock their head on nation building and social responsibility.

It is such a big shame that other countries are helping Filipinos get out of Libya. Well, what do you expect from a turtle-paced government and indifferent private companies.

Bluntly, if you are the CEO of an any company, if your company cannot take a punch, you don't commit your company into a losing venture. That's how business works; think in terms of your business's long-term viability.

OTOH, if the government commanders a single plane or two for that purpose, that's also possible (doing it ala Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe). But the government is liable to answer for whatever costs those actions could impact on the specific airline (I think this is provided for in Art III, Section 9 of our constitution).

On the "shame" thing, I don't think our country has much of a face in the international arena. We have been a laughing stock with these recent developments in our country.

Nabartek

March 7th, 2011, 02:26 AM

Bluntly, if you are the CEO of an any company, if your company cannot take a punch, you don't commit your company into a losing venture. That's how business works; think in terms of your business's long-term viability.

OTOH, if the government commanders a single plane or two for that purpose, that's also possible (doing it ala Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe). But the government is liable to answer for whatever costs those actions could impact on the specific airline (I think this is provided for in Art III, Section 9 of our constitution).

On the "shame" thing, I don't think our country has much of a face in the international arena. We have been a laughing stock with these recent developments in our country.

A little help is danger to their long-term viability? :nuts: They should do something about their dissatisfied customers, if it's all about long-term viability. If it takes that the government shall pay for the expenses, I am not against that. The thing is, we need more than one c-130 military plane to get Filipinos, not only out of Libya but also other places in the ME -- at least in the future (Bahrain, Yemen, etc...). Stupid government, selfish Filipino companies. If Philippine companies are reluctant to help, then the government could just raise the corporate tax.

Ah, maybe I shouldn't have used "shame" if that's how you took it. It is so sad that it's other countries that are helping Filipinos get out of the crossfire. Cheers to Filipinos, then. :cheers:

Ephesus29

March 7th, 2011, 03:22 AM

Aww, I am sure they package it as Philippine lechon right? Mamaya, ibrand nila yan as Vietnamese roast pig... Alam mo na kasi yung isang kapitbahay natin dyan, kinokopya ang mga productong Pinoy and nilelabel na "T**i" product :D

Surprisingly, they don't, believe you me. I've seen it while their roasting the hogs. Actaully they uses a pit in the ground. But there is another place in Surrey, it is owned by a Pinoy, and they raost the pig conventionally, which is actually tastes a lot better.:) You're right...mas masarap pa rin ang real lechon ng Pinoy:)

No way, seryoso?? OMG!! I dunno how UPS, DHL or Fedex accept it? Local post here are composed of lazy people, I just got my package sent from the Philippines 3 months ago.

Do you think I would be just kidding.? Not really, honestly.

Oh yea, we go all out. Btw, during international conferences when I was with AIESEC, our PHL reps usually bring Tanduay, and the foreigners (esp the Euros) love it. :)

Same here, we usually have srping/fall dances for Pinoys. Aside from Christmas parties, we sometimes organized an "impromptu" dances just to get a kick out of it. (FUN) that is.:)

bitoy

March 7th, 2011, 03:49 AM

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110307-323922/Gov-laments-insensitivity-of-airlines

---

These scions have no sense of "social responsibility" nor even compassion for fellow Filipinos...wait, are they "Filipino" owned? LOL

PAL made an offer to help by using their planes at the same time that the PAF was preparing their C-130s ...err... getting ready ..... (ok, on call na lang) :lol:

PAL, PAF on call for Libya evacuation (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=661024&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) Updated February 26, 2011 12:00

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) said yesterday it is ready to mount emergency flights to evacuate Filipinos fleeing the civil unrest in Libya.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has also placed its C-130 cargo plane on call, ready to fly to Libya and evacuate Filipino workers from the troubled nation.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the flag carrier is closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the exact point where PAL will pick up Filipino evacuees.

“Our planes can fly to Tunisia, Alexandria or Cairo, Egypt from Riyadh. We can also mount direct charter flights to other safe pickup points near Libya if warranted,” he said.

Right now, Bautista said PAL is readying its aircraft, pilots and crew as well as the necessary flight plans so it could safely ferry Filipinos back from Africa.

“As the country’s national flag carrier, Philippine Airlines is always ready to assist in times of emergency and to lend a helping hand to our kababayans in their hour of need,” he stressed.

Many times in its 70-year history, the national flag carrier – with its wide international route network – has been called upon to operate emergency missions to evacuate Filipinos in conflict-stricken territories.....

Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said that at any given time the cargo plane that also doubles as troop transport is ready to undertake evacuation missions once the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is ordered by the Department of the National Defense (DND) and the DFA to do so.

..continue

Parchie

March 7th, 2011, 03:54 AM

A little help is danger to their long-term viability? :nuts: They should do something about their dissatisfied customers, if it's all about long-term viability. If it takes that the government shall pay for the expenses, I am not against that. The thing is, we need more than one c-130 military plane to get Filipinos, not only out of Libya but also other places in the ME -- at least in the future (Bahrain, Yemen, etc...). Stupid government, selfish Filipino companies. If Philippine companies are reluctant to help, then the government could just raise the corporate tax.

Ah, maybe I shouldn't have used "shame" if that's how you took it. It is so sad that it's other countries that are helping Filipinos get out of the crossfire. Cheers to Filipinos, then. :cheers:

Yes, that "little" will be around P13M per flight! That's not even considering the risks of being shut down in flight if the flight path chosen crosses unfriendly skies! Only A330 or 747 planes could reach those countries, I guess.

Duhh! Saying is one thing but doing it is another! If we are capable of utilizing the services of Lockheed C130 planes, Tripoli or Malta is way out of range of that type of cargo aircrafts! Besides, you can max out a C130 with a payload of just 20 tons (say 300 persons).

Without going into the details of evacuating our people from various locations abroad, it is a nightmare for our country, we have to accept that fact! We claim to have evac plans (but, so far, we haven't seen or heard of it), the country stripped the DFA with the needed money for these contingencies (cut by 1.7 billion?), etc.. Like what you said, it's a sad and pitiful situation we are in!

Ephesus29

March 7th, 2011, 04:12 AM

Bluntly, if you are the CEO of an any company, if your company cannot take a punch, you don't commit your company into a losing venture. That's how business works; think in terms of your business's long-term viability.

OTOH, if the government commanders a single plane or two for that purpose, that's also possible (doing it ala Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe). But the government is liable to answer for whatever costs those actions could impact on the specific airline (I think this is provided for in Art III, Section 9 of our constitution).

On the "shame" thing, I don't think our country has much of a face in the international arena. We have been a laughing stock with these recent developments in our country.

highlighted statement/1st paragraph: I would imagine that Cebu Pacific and PAL would have not survived the ME long haul route if it were not for OFW's clients. IMO, therefore, PAL and Cebu Pacific would have step up to the plate in assiting the government to evacuate OFW's from troubled Libya. PAL, specially charges exorbitant air fare. Don't you think there is a tint of social obligations to those OFW's?

2nd pp/ Assuming that PAL and Cebu Pacific would have assisted the OFW's to flee from Libya, I would imagine that PAL and Cebu Pacific, would be able to defray any cost they incurred from the government. And if not, they can used it as a leverage in getting a better concession from the governemt in terms of "Taxation", would it not?

boypad

March 7th, 2011, 04:14 AM

Deploy Phl envoy to Saudi Arabia now, Aquino urged

By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)
Updated March 07, 2011 08:47 AM
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=663902&publicationSubCategoryId=200

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino should immediately deploy an envoy to Saudi Arabia amid the protests in several Middle Eastern countries, according to a migrant workers' rights group.

“It is of the best interests of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Saudi Arabia to have a Philippine envoy named and deployed, as soon as possible, as head of the diplomatic post, in time of political uncertainties in the region," Migrante Middle East regional coordinator John Monterona said.

He said more than five months now since former Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor ended his tour of duty following the assumption of the Aquino administration.

"It is not just an envoy’s mere presence that is required but one who could comprehend and able to assess political events and thereby made necessary and timely recommendations in securing the safety of our fellow OFWs just in case the situations worsen,” Monterona said.

Saudi Arabia is OFWs top destinations from 2003-2010, with an estimated 1.2 million OFWs deployed all over the oil-rich country’s major cities and provinces.

Ephesus29

March 7th, 2011, 04:18 AM

Bluntly, if you are the CEO of an any company, if your company cannot take a punch, you don't commit your company into a losing venture. That's how business works; think in terms of your business's long-term viability.

OTOH, if the government commanders a single plane or two for that purpose, that's also possible (doing it ala Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe). But the government is liable to answer for whatever costs those actions could impact on the specific airline (I think this is provided for in Art III, Section 9 of our constitution).

On the "shame" thing, I don't think our country has much of a face in the international arena. We have been a laughing stock with these recent developments in our country.

highlighted statement/1st paragraph: I would imagine that Cebu Pacific and PAL would have not survived the ME long haul route if it were not for OFW's
clients.IMO, therefore, PAL and Cebu Pacific would have step up to the plate in assiting the government to evacuate OFW's from troubled Libya. PAL, specially charges exorbitant air fare. Don't you think there is a tint a social obligations to those OFW's?

2nd pp/ Assuming that PAL and Cebu Pacific would have assisted the OFW's to flee from Libya, I would imagine that PAL and Cebu Pacific, would be able to defray any cost they incurred from the government. And if not, they can used it as a leverage in getting a better concession from the governemt in terms of "Taxation", would it not?

boypad

March 7th, 2011, 04:19 AM

OFW insurers refuse to pay claims

Say coverage does not include civil unrest

Malaya Online, Philippines
BY GERARD NAVAL
March 7, 2011
http://www.malaya.com.ph/mar07/news1.html

LOCAL recruitment agencies yesterday asked the Department of Foreign, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to direct insurance companies to cover the repatriation of Filipino workers from Libya.

Recruitment leader Lito Soriano said several insurance companies listed by manpower agencies have been refusing to cover repatriation tickets for their workers.

"Insurance companies, which were accredited by the Insurance Commission, are now refusing to comply with this provision and are saying that ‘civil unrest’ is not covered by the policies they issued to the agencies," said Soriano.

Soriano noted that under the mandatory insurance provision of the amended Migrants’ Workers Act, all departing new hires should be covered by an insurance policy, which covers, aside from death and disability benefits, non-life benefits such as repatriation, hospitalization, and money claims.

The government put in effect the mandatory insurance scheme as required by the R.A. 10022 only last November.

The DFA said almost half of some 26,000 Filipinos in Libya have been taken out of the strife-torn African country in about two weeks of repatriation efforts.

The DFA last Wednesday said it is looking to complete relocation and repatriation efforts by Saturday. But on Friday, the DFA extended its deadline for another week for the Filipinos "in critical areas in Libya and have expressed their desire to be repatriated."

The number of evacuated Filipinos, now at 11,867, is expected to increase after the Philippine-chartered MV Ionian Queen took in 1,103 passengers from Libya on the way to Crete in Greece.

A list of those repatriated is available at the official DFA website http://dfa.gov.ph.

The DFA said the latest batch of passengers by the Cyprus-flagged, Greek-owned vessel includes Filipinos, an Algerian family of five, and a Myanmar national.

Passengers also included the dependents of Filipino diplomats and embassy non-essential staff, who were earlier directed by the DFA to join those who are being taken out of Libya where anti-government forces are battling to oust Muammar Gaddafi.

The DFA went on full relocation and repatriation mode on February 24.

boypad

March 7th, 2011, 04:47 AM

Hence, the quote-unquote of "Filipinos" and I'm not even referring to their citizenship or ethnicity.

Who are the majority of their customers? Filipinos, particularly OFWs. If there aren't many Filipinos travelling abroad, these airlines might have well closed down. Not many foreigners even use PAL or Cebu Pacific because they are overpriced and don't have really good service(esp PAL).

I know these corporations are not government controlled. The Philippines is a capitalistic economy. But my point is, these companies are hardly compassionate towards Filipinos who are caught in the crossfire. :ohno:
I am not advocating government control on these corporations, just want to knock their head on nation building and social responsibility.

It is such a big shame that other countries are helping Filipinos get out of Libya. Well, what do you expect from a turtle-paced government and indifferent private companies.

^^ I think among Ph Airline carrier mention in your posted news, only PAL is technically capable to haul back our stranded OFW in Libya.

PAL has the international airlanding right to go beyond regional boundary of Asia Pacific territory. Based from PAL website they have regular route all the way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, UAE. Hauling those stranded passenger will require long haul plane such as B747 or B767.

For the case of Cebu Pacific and AirPhilippines their current airfleet A320 is capable only to handle short and regional route. While their airlanding right is also another handicap its not beyond Asia Pacific. Another thing their pilot is not familiar beyond Asia Pacific territory.

The possible remedy that our gov't. can be done is to use PAL plane to cross from ME all the way to KL or Singapore then use Cebu Pacific and AirPhil airfleet to haul transfer OFW passenger back to Manila.

bitoy

March 7th, 2011, 04:53 AM

The govt's main plan is to evacuate the OFWs and their families safely and immediately. Since they are in groups in different locations, then it's really a nightmare to figure out separate plans for each of them.

Every nation was facing logistical problems in the area. We are not a superpower nation that can muscle its way into other nation's airspace to reach the refugees and take them to a safe place.

How do you think these OWFs and their families were able to arrive home without the help of our gov't and other nations?

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0esrbDr3XU9Ob/232x146.jpg?center=0.5,0http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0aD83ab6Fd6Ea/232x131.jpg?center=0.5,0

The use of the local airline and the PAF C-130 may not be the best option. The gov't opted to charter planes that are already in service between Tunisia and countries that would be a stop-over before the evacuees final destination.
About the C-130s, most of those that you must have seen evacuating other refugees are already based on countries near Libya. Our C-130 can fly there but it would take awhile with a lot of hussles on diplomatic and logistical issues.
We are not trying to go for the guinness book of world records on the number of people that you can put inside a C-130, short haul flight will be its job to take at least 100~120 passengers to safety and then go back again for another pickup.

Parchie

March 7th, 2011, 04:56 AM

highlighted statement/1st paragraph: I would imagine that Cebu Pacific and PAL would have not survived the ME long haul route if it were not for OFW's
clients.IMO, therefore, PAL and Cebu Pacific would have step up to the plate in assiting the government to evacuate OFW's from troubled Libya. PAL, specially charges exorbitant air fare. Don't you think there is a tint a social obligations to those OFW's?

2nd pp/ Assuming that PAL and Cebu Pacific would have assisted the OFW's to flee from Libya, I would imagine that PAL and Cebu Pacific, would be able to defray any cost they incurred from the government. And if not, they can used it as a leverage in getting a better concession from the governemt in terms of "Taxation", would it not?

On the first item you highlighted: It's a given data, all airlines get revenues from whoever chooses its flights to any destination, be it an OFW (as you said) or other travelers! To say that these carriers only managed to survive because of OFW's alone is debatable. If you can present data to prove your assertion, I would gladly accede, no problem.

FYI, CSR is never a mandatory item to businesses. CSR's became well-known and accepted as a "norm" when businesses tried to push for ISO certifications which would help them get an edge over their respective competitors. The idea is that people would tend to patronize a company seen as helpful to the community. Still, the reality is that CSRs appear as costs on the sheets. Companies will only go a certain distance given their financial capabilities.

On the second item, I'm sorry but can't really read your sentences well. You said "defray" and then mentioned "from the government" which I don't know which one is going to shoulder the costs. If I get your post right, you intended to say was for PAL or CEB to pay up front and then collect from government later, right? I guess PAL or CEB would gladly agree if PHL government puts those requests in paper, together with the IOU for the payment of chartering flights in and out of the troubled countries. Carriers can and will decide on the figures that will be presented to them. Costs are costs and somebody has to pay for the fuel and fees a plane needs to pay when using airports and its facilities. If you are aware, companies pay either in cash or credit (if you have a line for credits). I have not heard of companies agreeing to be paid on promises (sans papers, that is).

On the thing with doing something for anybody and then expecting some returns later is as bad a practice as greasing or corrupting officials, IMHO. Every law should be applied equally to all. There should be no special treatment for PAL or CEB if they ever help the PHL govt pull-out our OFW's. And the best PHL govt can do is to hire these carriers and pay later (IOU), nothing more, nothing less. I beg to burst your bubble in that part, I'm no believer that compromising works well. Just be truthful and things will go smoothly for you.

I get the feeling we still believe that somewhere in this world, there are free rides! Not!

Ephesus29

March 7th, 2011, 06:35 AM

On the first item you highlighted: It's a given data, all airlines get revenues from whoever chooses its flights to any destination, be it an OFW (as you said) or other travelers! To say that these carriers only managed to survive because of OFW's alone is debatable. If you can present data to prove your assertion, I would gladly accede, no problem.

FYI, CSR is never a mandatory item to businesses. CSR's became well-known and accepted as a "norm" when businesses tried to push for ISO certifications which would help them get an edge over their respective competitors. The idea is that people would tend to patronize a company seen as helpful to the community. Still, the reality is that CSRs appear as costs on the sheets. Companies will only go a certain distance given their financial capabilities.

On the second item, I'm sorry but can't really read your sentences well. You said "defray" and then mentioned "from the government" which I don't know which one is going to shoulder the costs. If I get your post right, you intended to say was for PAL or CEB to pay up front and then collect from government later, right? I guess PAL or CEB would gladly agree if PHL government puts those requests in paper, together with the IOU for the payment of chartering flights in and out of the troubled countries. Carriers can and will decide on the figures that will be presented to them. Costs are costs and somebody has to pay for the fuel and fees a plane needs to pay when using airports and its facilities. If you are aware, companies pay either in cash or credit (if you have a line for credits). I have not heard of companies agreeing to be paid on promises (sans papers, that is).

On the thing with doing something for anybody and then expecting some returns later is as bad a practice as greasing or corrupting officials, IMHO. Every law should be applied equally to all. There should be no special treatment for PAL or CEB if they ever help the PHL govt pull-out our OFW's. And the best PHL govt can do is to hire these carriers and pay later (IOU), nothing more, nothing less. I beg to burst your bubble in that part, I'm no believer that compromising works well. Just be truthful and things will go smoothly for you.

I get the feeling we still believe that somewhere in this world, there are free rides! Not!

Clearly, I got your points. Thanks!:)

Ephesus29

March 7th, 2011, 06:40 AM

anone

March 7th, 2011, 06:43 AM

pabor ito sa mga OFW dito sa Saudi. :)

Young Saudis reject street protests to press their demands
By MD AL-SULAMI | ARAB NEWS
Published: Mar 6, 2011 23:15 Updated: Mar 6, 2011 23:15

JEDDAH: A large number of young Saudis as well as religious clerics have rejected the plan to hold anti-government protests in the Kingdom. Speaking to Arab News, they commended the government’s open-door policy enabling the public to meet with authorities and express their views.......http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article304338.ece

romantic_guy08

March 7th, 2011, 07:49 AM

Parchie

March 7th, 2011, 08:04 AM

PR already dropped, Riyadh, their only ME route mainly because they can't compete with ME carriers. Especially that these carriers enjoys subsidy from their government. If my memory serves me right, they operated this route for only less than a year.

Coming from a CSR perspective (I'm with the CSR department of a company), we are not required or compelled to do CSR programs especially when this entails a huge cost, after all CSR is voluntary and is subject to availability of funds. And to do CSR programs entails cost, cost that would have to be shouldered by the company and form part of their expense.

In PR's case, not only will it mean cost to them (jet fuel, crew, landing fees etc.) it also means lost of revenue since they have to pull-out of their wide bodies from their normal schedule. With Tunisia or Cairo as the nearest landing site, the only PR aircrafts capable of flying this distance is either a B747 or an A343. And we all know that these planes are used for PRs bread and butter North American route. So aside from the cost, there is also lost of revenue. From the business point-of-view, this is something that should be weighed properly. Especially for an airline like PR that's undergoing financial difficulties.

Companies also have limited resources and funds for CSR and they can only do so much.

Am glad you mentioned "foregone revenues", missed that in my justifications! I was thinking only about transfer of operations/locations (though planes that will be used will follow different flight plans, the flight is paid for) and not on "free and voluntary services". Thanks for the heads up!

boypad

March 7th, 2011, 12:23 PM

PAL ‘ready’ for Libya repatriation :lol:

INQUIRER.net First Posted 18:05:00 03/07/2011 Filed Under: Evacuation(General), Overseas Employment, Air Transport
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110307-324035/PAL-ready-for-Libya-repatriation

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Monday it is just waiting for government approval to mount repatriation flights to Libya.

In a statement, PAL said that as early as February 22 – or even before the mass evacuation of Filipinos from Libya began in earnest – the flag carrier was ready to mount repatriation flights using its wide-body aircraft.

“PAL, therefore, takes exception to statements made by Albay Governor Joey Salceda that PAL is ‘insensitive’ to the plight of OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] stranded in North Africa,” the company said.

The flag carrier said it was simply waiting for the green light from the foreign affairs and labor departments as to where and when the rescue flights should be mounted. “So far, PAL is still waiting for that go-signal,” it added.

“We wish to assure Governor Salceda that PAL – as the nation’s flag carrier – takes its responsibility seriously. We value our role as government’s partner especially in times of crises. PAL has spent considerable manhours and resources in preparing aircraft, pilots and crew, and securing necessary overfly and landing permits from the target pickup points identified by DFA. It is grossly unfair to be labeled ‘insentive,’” the airline stressed.

The plan was for PAL to fly to Heraklion Airport in Crete to pick up Filipinos who were ferried by ship from Libya. “PAL has even secured the services of a ground handler so that its plane could be properly serviced and refueled when it reaches Heraklion,” PAL pointed out.

Parchie

March 8th, 2011, 08:12 AM

xxxriainxxx

March 9th, 2011, 05:32 AM

NZ names first identified Filipino casualty of quake

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 03/09/2011 12:25 PM | Updated as of 03/09/2011 12:25 PM

MANILA, Philippines - New Zealand authorities have identified the remains of one Filipino health worker who died during the February 22 earthquake in the southern city of Christchurch.

New Zealand police announced on Wednesday that Ivy Jane Cabunilas, 33 years old and a health assistant at the Cashmere View Hospital in Christchurch, is among those who died during the quake.

Cabunilas' name is included in a press release naming 8 more victims who died during the disaster.

Aside from Cabunilas, 10 other Filipinos remain unaccounted for.

They are Ezra Mae Medalle, Jessie Lloyd Redoble, John Kristoffer Chua, Emmabelle Anoba, Jewel Francisco, Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, Valquin Bensurto, Rhea Mae Sumalpong, Erica Nora, and Lalaine Agatep. Report from Ces Oreña-Drilon, ABS-CBN News

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/03/09/11/nz-names-first-identified-filipino-casualty-quake

Parchie

March 9th, 2011, 05:57 AM

romantic_guy08

March 9th, 2011, 06:22 AM

To put a closure on the airlines not being sensitive:

08 March 2011
PAL flies to Crete to pick up Filipinos fleeing Libya (http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/crete_libya.jsp)
MANILA - A Philippine Airlines (PAL) Boeing 777 aircraft took off at 10:03 this evening from NAIA Centennial Terminal 2 for a 12-hour direct flight to Crete, Greece, to pick up Filipinos fleeing the turmoil in Libya.

Manned by a contingent of veteran management crew, the special PAL flight (PR 008) chartered by the Department of Labor and Employment will bring home close to 400 Filipinos currently awaiting repatriation at the Heraklion Airport located in the Greek island of Crete. So far, this is the biggest group of Filipinos that will be ferried back home using a single aircraft.

The special repatriation flight will arrive in Crete at 5:41 am (Greece time) and will go through the usual ground handling procedures including refueling. The B777 is expected to depart Greece tentatively at 7:30 am (Greece time/March 9) and to arrive Manila at 1:10 am March 10.

The PAL evacuation flight is the result of close coordination efforts between the flag carrier and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment. Coordination efforts were needed in securing overfly and landing permits, including ground handling arrangements.

The pilots comprising the flight deck crew includes: Capt. Francis Gregory Narciso, Capt. Armistes Cruz, Capt. Edgardo Diaz, First Officer Hilario Lagmay, First Officer Emmanuel Lacson, First Officer Mark Anthony Fernandez and Second Officer Onofre Alzate.

The management cabin attendants are: Muniera Santos, Ena Penaverde, Ruby Manzano, Wesley Calfoforo, Nancy Diago, Thea Tee, Anna Zuniga, Loida Teopaco, Divine de Gracia, Oliver Samala, Steve Teves, Elsa Yuzon, and Ed Regencia.

Yre

March 9th, 2011, 06:25 AM

I got this from one of the files I have. This is what Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said during the 2006 Singapore elections run up, and I quote:

"You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government. You get that alternative and you'll never put Singapore together again: Humpty Dumpty cannot be put together again... and your asset values will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people's countries, foreign workers."

Replace the country name Singapore there and this really struck a nerve with what happened to our women DH here in the Philippines! Did we make mistakes like that since the beginning of exporting women out?

The mistake is not on "exporting women out" but letting Marcos reign for so long and then us letting the succeeding administration to the next one get away with their incompetency and corruption. The only incompetent administration that the people was able to cut short was the Erap presidency but only to replace it with maybe a competent one but sooooooo corrupt!

Now it looks like we don't have a not so corrupt administration but an incompetent one. I'm praying PNoy proves us all wrong in the end, i'm still hoping for it as it seems it's the only thing left... hope.

Parchie

March 9th, 2011, 06:30 AM

The mistake is not on "exporting women out" but letting Marcos reign for so long and then us letting the succeeding administration to the next one get away with their incompetency and corruption. The only incompetent administration that the people was able to cut short was the Erap presidency but only to replace it with maybe a competent one but sooooooo corrupt!

Now it looks like we don't have a not so corrupt administration but an incompetent one. I'm praying PNoy proves us all wrong in the end, i'm still hoping for it as it seems it's the only thing left... hope.

For all the semantics available for us to use, it seems corrupt and incompetence could be one and the same. When somebody is corrupt, his decisions will always be based on whether he gets gains out of the effects of his decision/s. Those decisions will always fall short of competence, will it not?

Yre

March 9th, 2011, 08:04 AM

For all the semantics available for us to use, it seems corrupt and incompetence could be one and the same. When somebody is corrupt, his decisions will always be based on whether he gets gains out of the effects of his decision/s. Those decisions will always fall short of competence, will it not?

This is already OT here:

So in essence you are saying GMA is indeed corrupt and incompetent to boot while Pnoy is incompetent and also corruptible?

You can ask other linguist here if both words can indeed be one and the same because i know some people irl who are so incompetent due to stupidity and naivity but never corrupt. So how does that make both words the same?

Ephesus29

March 9th, 2011, 09:55 AM

xxxriainxxx

March 9th, 2011, 10:23 AM

Filipinos in Saipan join free health screening for the first quarter of 2011

A March 8, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs

The Philippine Consulate General in Saipan conducted the 1st Quarter “Free Health Screening for OFWs” at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) at the Ground Floor of the Marianas Business Plaza last March 6.

It was held together with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Filipino Volunteer Medical Team, the Filipino Pharmacists and Hardt Eye Clinic

This quarterly activity was started several years ago and aims to increase the awareness of Filipinos in Saipan on diabetes prevention and control, hypertension prevention, eye/vision pressure correction among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

For this quarter, a total of 363 OFWs were served, down slightly from 399 in December 2010. Of this number, 310 OFWs’ blood sugar and blood pressure were taken by medical volunteers. The Hardt Eye Clinic served 53 eye patients.

The services, however, went smoothly and were facilitated by the dedication of the volunteers.

Filipinos were also served during this free health screening by Ms. Saulmaz Rostami, an Australian public health worker.

The Consulate General extends its deepest appreciation to all volunteers and everyone who, through the years, have rendered valuable service to Filipinos in Saipan.

The next “Free Health Screening for OFWs” is scheduled on June 5 in the same venue.

Source: http://www.gov.ph/2011/03/08/filipinos-in-saipan-join-free-health-screening-for-the-first-quarter-of-2011/

Ephesus29

March 9th, 2011, 10:25 AM

xxxriainxxx

March 9th, 2011, 10:32 AM

PHL Embassy in Timor Leste launches ePassport operations

A March 8, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs

The Philippine Embassy in Dili reported that it operationalized the Philippine electronic passport (ePassport) system and has begun issuing the new Philippine ePassport to applicants on March 4.

The first applicant who availed of the ePassport was Mr. Jessie Taguiam Arago.

Over the weekend, the Embassy was accommodating applicants to test the new passport system.

Source: http://www.gov.ph/2011/03/08/phl-embassy-in-timor-leste-launches-epassport-operations/

Parchie

March 9th, 2011, 10:41 AM

Corrupt government is incompetent.
But not all incompetent government are corrupt.
Therefore corrupt government is not always incompetent. Infact their competency could actually serve as a shroud for their corrupt government.
IMO sorry for the OT!

O/T: Good logic there. After all has been said and done, we will see later if an administration is corrupt or not. There will always be trails left behind.

What I was posting was a mere reflection on how we as Filipinos opt to be servants of foreign countries. I saw the cause as economic in nature which could have been remedied by our leaders before; instead, our leaders facilitated sending our countrymen/women away like some product/goods!

Kintoy

March 9th, 2011, 09:15 PM

O/T: Good logic there. After all has been said and done, we will see later if an administration is corrupt or not. There will always be trails left behind.

What I was posting was a mere reflection on how we as Filipinos opt to be servants of foreign countries. I saw the cause as economic in nature which could have been remedied by our leaders before; instead, our leaders facilitated sending our countrymen/women away like some product/goods!

for somebody who thought Aquino was elected in 2007...:lol:

Parchie

March 10th, 2011, 01:26 AM

for somebody who thought Aquino was elected in 2007...:lol:

Putting words into other peoples' mouth! Comprehension problem? Or just don't have any arguments left? Grow up boy!

RonnieR

March 10th, 2011, 04:34 AM

Spat over China deportation ends

Taiwan said it would immediately lift restrictions on Philippine workers imposed after a row over the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to mainland China, ending a dispute that threatened thousands of jobs.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Philippine government’s decision yesterday to replace its acting head of immigration showed a deep regret on the country’s part over the incident and goodwill towards Taiwan. In Manila, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, said that the change of immigration chief did not have any connection with the deportation case.

“It was never in response to or in a way of appeasing the Taiwanese officials or the Taiwan government on what happened during the recent deportation incident. It is not related to that,” Lacierda told a news conference.
The row blew up last month after the Philippines sent the 14, who were facing fraud charges in a case that also involved mainland Chinese nationals, to Taiwan’s political rival China. Reuters
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=421018&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25

Taiwan spat eases after Philippines' olive branch
Posted: 10 March 2011 0340 hrs

TAIPEI: Taiwan partially eased punitive measures against the Philippines on Wednesday after Manila sacked officials involved in the deportation of Taiwanese nationals to China.

In a sign the rift over the deportation of 14 Taiwanese suspected of involvement in a major scam may be easing, Taipei relaxed some of the strict requirements it had imposed on Philippine workers last month, Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The move came after the Philippine government removed two officials from its Bureau of Immigration which was involved in the deportations.

Taiwan has expressed anger at the episode, insisting that the suspects should have been sent back to face justice on the island instead and warned Manila that the incident had dealt a serious blow to bilateral ties.

In retaliation it raised the screening period for Filipino workers to the maximum four months and threatened to bar them from entry after the row, although no such action has yet been taken.

There are more than 70,000 Philippine workers in Taiwan, sending home hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Philippine emissary Manuel Roxas voiced his government's "deepest regrets over whatever problems and hurt feelings the incident may have caused the people of Taiwan".

He also guaranteed that "we will undertake every good faith effort such that the unfortunate incident will not happen again".

Huang Yu-pin, one of 18 Taiwanese arrested in the Philippines in December on suspicion of fraud, was escorted back to Taiwan late Tuesday night, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said.

The 30-year-old was wanted for other fraud cases, and the deportation was welcomed by the island, which had complained over the "improper" deportation to China of Taiwanese nationals involved in another case.

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, although Beijing claims the island. The Philippines has formal ties with China only but maintains economic and cultural links with Taiwan.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1115421/1/.html

xxxriainxxx

March 10th, 2011, 05:20 AM

More to come:

Police release additional names of deceased
10 March, 2011 - 16:05

Police have confirmed the identities of a further six people who died in the Christchurch earthquake.

Jewel Jose FRANCISCO, 26, of the Philippines
John Joseph O'CONNOR, 40, of Ireland
Te Taki (Wally) TAIRAKENA, 60, of Christchurch
Hui Yun TU, 22 (female), of China
Jittra WAITHAYATADAPONG (female), 40, of Thailand
Sisi XIN, 28 (female), of China

ENDS
Christchurch Media Liaison Team: 027 432 0960 or ChchPoliceMediaLiason@police.govt.nz
Public Affairs: 04 460 2986 or 04 474 9482

Source: http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/27411.html

Kintoy

March 10th, 2011, 09:21 PM

Putting words into other peoples' mouth! Comprehension problem? Or just don't have any arguments left? Grow up boy!

you;re the one who said the current government is incompetent because it did not act on the 2007 request of Shemberg.

comprehension problem much?

Parchie

March 11th, 2011, 12:29 AM

you;re the one who said the current government is incompetent because it did not act on the 2007 request of Shemberg.

comprehension problem much?

Ahh! Your problem is not comprehension, it is "shortage of memory"! Mas malala yan!

Who said those things? It was you who imputed that to me, remember (uy, kulang nga pala sa memory)? @sleepwalker posted something about Shemberg asking for help from government long years before, a supporting fact why his company, Shemberg is moving out now to Indonesia because no help arrived. My comment was that this government is just "reactive", pag walang gumalaw, wala ring gagawin, which is very true. If this government is "proactive", they should have scanned all the business sectors and seen the problems before Shemberg informed the public of their plans to move out.
Then you posted the request was done 2007 yet and imputed Pnoy was the president in 2007! So who posted those?

Y'all:
Please help Kintoy with his memory! Please use the search tab of the forum headers and use "Shemberg" as your search key, click "show posts", then click "search". See what was discussed about on those posts and tell me if I was lying or he (Kintoy) needs memory upgrade.

LuckyLady

March 11th, 2011, 04:13 AM

Askal82

March 11th, 2011, 06:19 AM

pede rin pala ma deport directly sa Taiwan. Marami pang arte ek ek na One China Policy daw. Firing that BI people is imminent na may kasalanan na inaamin ang pilipinas dito, very obvious na yan.

Kung nakakaintindi lang ang gobyerno natin hindi nya dapat aawayin ang Taiwan dahil malaki ang pakinabang natin dito di lang sa mga OFW but mopre so on our claims sa spratlys. Pero di dapat pag usapan dito kasi may mga traidor dito na mga pro mainlanders.

But the one deported to Taiwan had authentic documents to prove that he is a national of Taiwan although Philippines can not enforce such because there is no extradition treaty with Taiwan.

That's where the difference lies. ;)

Besides, deportation is not really the right term when Philippines sent back those criminals to Mainland. It is more like extradition because they entered Philippines from Mainland China and not from Taiwan originally. Besides, their failure to provide authentic documentation to show national identity is nullified by the evidence presented by the PRC through Interpol.

Pinulitika lang masyado ng Taiwan ang issue at naapektuhan ang Pilipinas.

Malinaw pa rin na walang formal apology ang Pilipinas sa Taiwan.

LuckyLady

March 11th, 2011, 07:00 AM

But the one deported to Taiwan had authentic documents to prove that he is a national of Taiwan although Philippines can not enforce such because there is no extradition treaty with Taiwan.

That's where the difference lies. ;)

Besides, deportation is not really the right term when Philippines sent back those criminals to Mainland. It is more like extradition because they entered Philippines from Mainland China and not from Taiwan originally. Besides, their failure to provide authentic documentation to show national identity is nullified by the evidence presented by the PRC through Interpol.

Pinulitika lang masyado ng Taiwan ang issue at naapektuhan ang Pilipinas.

Malinaw pa rin na walang formal apology ang Pilipinas sa Taiwan.

di na kailangan ng formal apology, it's obvious, yung ginawa sa BI is more or less a form of an apology na.. yung pag balik nya sa taiwan ng criminal nya kahit na may sinasabing "One China Policy" kuno .yung sa HK incidence may napatalsik ba sila? that without document is just an alibi. they could always exert effort to verify the nationalities of these people. May extradition treaty or wala, whatever you call it, pede pa rin maibalik diretso sa Taiwan ang mga criminal nito. Wag nang mag arte arte pa para makalusot, everything is obvious. Now that pinas is being bullied by China, dapat matuto na sya, do not over kowtow to whatever demands of this communist state. Taiwan is not a country that Pinas should make enemies with. We need them to weaken the claims of china. but as i said di dapat sana dini discuss to kasi ang daming mga traidor sa pilipinas, mga galamay ng komunistang tsina, in fact we even have here in SSC.

RonnieR

March 11th, 2011, 07:29 AM

Bad credit score forces Pinay caregiver to live in motels
By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America Bureau
Posted at 03/10/2011 4:45 PM | Updated as of 03/10/2011 4:45 PM
Tweet

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Ruth Balderrama, 36, did not expect life in America to be this hard. For a month now, she and her family, her 8-year-old daughter, 5-month-old son and boyfriend Douglas Rainey, have been living in a motel — paying $59 a day.

Getting an apartment to rent is out of the question. They’ve already been turned down 6 times by apartment complexes because of bad credit.

She said, “Every time we apply, they always tell us they can’t accept us because of our credit situation.”

Balderrama and Rainey both work as full-time caregivers and believe they can become responsible renters if only they are given the chance.

Rainey said, “It’s not an issue of whether we can pay. We can pay. It’s just a matter of getting accepted for housing.”

Balderrama’s financial troubles began in 2008 when she lost her job in retail and she went through a divorce. Her credit score became worse when a friend stole her personal information and opened credit cards under her name.

Now her credit is down to 520. It does not help that her boyfriend’s credit score is also bad.

“I don’t want to raise my children in this motel. But we have no choice,” she said.

The US government has yet to pass a measure that would push apartment complexes not to deny housing to those whose credit scores went down because of the recession.

Balderrama said all she wants is to be given the chance to have a home for her family, to know that America has not failed in giving her and her loved ones opportunities to truly live a decent life.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/03/10/11/bad-credit-score-forces-pinay-caregiver-live-motels

bitoy

March 11th, 2011, 08:25 AM

^^ No one knows fully what their financial situations are. There's a Renter and Homeowner Assistance Programs in most cities in California. All they have to do is to check the city gov't services for assistance. Walnut Creek is in the top ten in California for best cities and municipalities. (http://www.mytopdozen.com/Best_Cities_and_Municipalities_of_the_San_Francisco_Bay_Area.html) Although it's like a very expensive city to live in, there are some old housings and apartments that I'm sure they will qualify with their present employment situations. Like any major cities in the US, Walnut Creek nowadays have their own share of criminal elements.

xxxriainxxx

March 11th, 2011, 08:41 AM

8.9 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HITS JAPAN/ TSUNAMI HITTING THE COUNTRY NOW, AND EXPECTED TO HIT PHL'S EAST COAST. PLEASE ADVISE YOUR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS LIVING ON OUR EASTERN SEABOARD TO PREPARE TO GO TO THE HIGHER GROUNDS.

bulabog jalaur

March 11th, 2011, 08:44 AM

^^

Live feed......http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

bitoy

March 11th, 2011, 08:51 AM

Holy cow... God Bless Japan...
their earthquake and tsunami drills will be tested.

And they just had a anti-disaster drill yesterday...

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0c4BfSu4wq4dn/x610.jpg

A woman wearing a helmet during an anti-disaster drill walks by a securities firm's stock board in Tokyo as Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average lost 155.12 points to close at 10,434.38 Thursday, March 10, 2011.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0ec76Nr5Te0LT/610x.jpg

People stand outside a building following a huge 8.8 magnitude quake to hit Japan in Tokyo on March 11, 2011. The huge earthquake shook Japan, unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns.

xxxriainxxx

March 13th, 2011, 08:10 AM

Searching for loved ones via hotlines, Facebook
By DJ Yap, Alex Pal, Carla Gomez
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 04:11:00 03/13/2011

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Filipinos in Japan are using Facebook to touch base with loved ones in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental following the massive earthquake on Friday.

Enrique Linaja Gonzaga, a native of Negros Occidental, posted on his Facebook wall photos of the crowd gathered on the streets of Tokyo after the quake.

“Thank God there’s Internet connection in the coffee shop where we are now,” Gonzaga wrote on the social networking site.

“It was so bad I ended up trembling, it was too much to bear,” he said. “Please pray for us. Every now and then, the earth shakes. I was in the midst of a meeting when it happened. The trains have stopped. Traffic is everywhere.”

Carla Maxino-Koseki, a native of Dumaguete and now a resident of Tokyo, told the Inquirer through Facebook that she was heading home in a subway train when the earthquake struck.

The quake’s epicenter was off the east coast of Honshu, some 390 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, where the temblor caused people to run out of swaying buildings.

The trains stopped running and Koseki had to walk back to her office on the 9th floor of the Philippine National Bank Tokyo to await the resumption of the train service.

Soon she received text messages from her son and daughter assuring her that they were safe.

Koseki said this was the first major quake that she had experienced in her 27 years of living in Japan.

Part of life

Ed Macavinta, also of Dumaguete, said quakes were part of everyday life in Japan.

“But this time, it is devastating and huge! Let’s continue praying for everybody’s safety,” he wrote on Facebook.

Jose Ma. Zayco, secretary general of the Negros Japan Human Resource Exchange Association Inc., said Negrenses had difficulty contacting relatives in Japan because the phone lines were clogged.

But many Negrenses in Tokyo were able to communicate through their Facebook accounts, he said.

At least 400 skilled workers from Negros Occidental and 20 from Cagayan de Oro City are in Narita and Tokyo to undergo training under the association’s program.

Zayco said there was no word that anyone of them had been harmed.

DFA hot lines

Altogether, there are 305,972 Filipinos in Japan. But uncertainty continued to cloud the fate of those in the quake- and tsunami-ravaged areas.

In Manila, jittery Filipinos have swamped the hot lines —numbers 834-4646 and 834-4580—of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in an effort to get in touch with loved ones. (Requests for information may also be e-mailed to dfaoumwa.cmc@gmail.com.)

The DFA said that since Friday evening, it had received more than 200 calls through the hot lines.

“The phone has been ringing almost nonstop,” said Anna Marie Santos, a foreign service officer detailed at the Office of the Undersecretary of Migrant Workers Affairs.

Santos leads a DFA team who answers calls from distressed Filipinos and takes down their details.

She said many of the callers were crying and panic-stricken as they “demanded” or “begged” for information about their parents, siblings, spouses or children living in Japan.

“Some of them are wives on vacation here and looking for their Japanese husbands. Others are teenagers looking for their Japanese fathers,” she said.

Of the 200 Manila callers, only 11 could yet breathe a sigh of relief. The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said it had established contact with them and found them to be safe, said DFA spokesperson Eduardo Malaya, also the assistant secretary for legal affairs.

Under the setup, the names, addresses and other details are recorded by DFA personnel and relayed to the embassy in Tokyo. “The embassy will try to trace these individuals and verify their conditions,” Malaya said.

Life or death

Santos, a psychology graduate who also handled the hot lines for inquiries involving the crisis in Libya, said the nature of the calls to Japan was different.

“When people called about Libya, they were concerned about how their relatives would come home. With Japan, people want to know if their relatives are still alive. It’s a life or death situation for them,” she said in an interview.

Santos also said the calls showed the kinship between Filipinos and Japanese, noting that in many of the cases, some of the inquiries concerned Japanese nationals.

“Filipinos have a bond with the Japanese people. We have an affiliation and a shared history,” she said.

Santos said she had gathered from the phone calls that Filipinos in Japan were no longer just “overseas Filipino workers” living in another country. “They have developed roots there,” she said.

Counseling skills

Most of the callers were not aware of where their relatives were living in Japan, and thought that the entire country had been ravaged by the earthquake, according to Santos.

“They would begin the call by saying: ‘Hello, my brother or sister is in Japan…’ Those who are aware would immediately give an address or a building and ask if that was affected by the quake,” she said.

Santos said counseling skills were necessary when taking hot line calls.

She recalled listening to the story of an emotional wife while seven callers on the other phones were waiting to be answered.

“They want us to give them assurances that their relatives are safe. But we can’t do that. All we can tell them is we will relay their information to the embassy and hope for the best,” she said.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110313-325104/Searching-for-loved-ones-via-hotlines-Facebook

xxxriainxxx

March 13th, 2011, 09:16 AM

3rd Filipino fatality in NZ quake identified
03/13/2011 | 02:46 PM

New Zealand police have identified a third Filipina fatality in the magnitude-6.3 quake that hit the Christchurch area last month.

In a news release posted on its website Sunday, the New Zealand police said the Filipina — 20-year-old Erica Avir Reyes Nora — was one of four people whose identities were recently confirmed.

Sunday’s development brought the total number of names released to 117.

Aside from Nora, the other three fatalities identified Sunday were Siwen Huo, 28 (female), of China; Kayo Kanamaru, 19 (female), of Japan; and Caiying Ye, 27 (female), of China.

Last week, the New Zealand police confirmed the deaths of Filipinos Ivy Jane Cabunilas, 33; and Jewel Jose Francisco, 26.

At least eight other Filipinos remain missing in the earthquake. They are:

Jessie Lloyd Redoble
John Kristoffer Chua
Ezra Mae Medalle
Emmabel Anoba
Mary Louise Anne Amantillo
Valquin Bensurto
Rhea Mae Sumalpong
Lalaine Collado Agatep.

Christchurch, New Zealand’s second biggest city, was rocked by a magnitude-6.3 quake last February 22. It was the second quake to hit the city of almost 400,00 people in five months, and New Zealand’s most deadly natural disaster for 80 years.

New Zealand sits between the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates and records on average more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which about 20 would normally top magnitude 5.0. – KBK, GMA News

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/215156/3rd-filipino-fatality-in-nz-quake-identified

xxxriainxxx

March 13th, 2011, 11:36 AM

Philippine embassy team proceeding to Japan’s quake-hit northeast region

A March 13 press release by the Department of Foreign affairs

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo stated that an embassy team is headed today, Sunday, by land to the northeast region of Japan to check on the condition of Filipinos there and to extend them assistance in light of the 8.9 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunamis that hit the area.

“We are sending a team there to contact local authorities and our own community leaders and to inquire if there are Filipino casualties,” Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez said Sunday in interviews with Philippine media.

Ambassador Lopez also stated that Filipinos in Tokyo, Osaka and the western regions of Japan are relatively safe. The embassy’s attention is focused on the 4,500 Filipinos in the northeast region, including Sendai city.

The embassy team is in a convoy with representatives from the Indonesian, Thai and Malaysian embassies.

Some 30 Filipino seafarers brought to Fukushima by their company after the quake, are safely housed in a hotel. They are duly cared for.

“Our embassy team will link up with them shortly,” Ambassador Lopez said.

Earlier, the Embassy issued an advisory to the Filipino community to take necessary precautions and report to the embassy or the Philippine consulates nearest them any incident of injuries or fatalities among Filipinos.

The advisory also reiterated the advice of Japanese authorities for them to proceed to city halls or fire stations in cases of emergency so they can receive immediate instructions and care.

Subways and trains in Tokyo are back to normal operations starting Saturday. Elevated highways are likewise passable. Most communication services are still down, but internet services remain operational.

In Manila, upon the direction of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs has activated a Crisis Management team for families who have Filipino relatives in Japan.

Undersecretary Esteban B. Conejos is leading the efforts in support of the embassy in Tokyo and the consulates in Japan.

Philippine embassy officers and staff in Tokyo, as well as those in the Consulate General in Osaka headed by Consul General Maria Lourdes Ramiro-Lopez and the Honorary Consulates in Sapporo, Morioka, Nagoya and Naha, are reaching out to Filipino community leaders and members, as well as quickly responding to request for assistance or information.

In Osaka, the Consulate General there reported that as of date there are no reports of any casualty or injury among Filipino nationals in the 28 prefectures under its jurisdiction.

The Consulate covers Aichi, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Gifu, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Nara, Oita, Okayama, Osaka, Saga, Shiga, Shimane, Tokushima, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama and Yamaguchi.

The Embassy and the Consulates are maintaining close contact with city and prefectural governments, and have full personnel complement in place to undertake needed actions.

The Embassy hotline numbers are (00813) 5562-1570, (00813) 5562-1577 and (00813) 5562-1590. Its email address is emergency@philembassy.net.

The consulates’ hotlines are as follows: (06) 6910-7881 for the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, (011) 614-8090 for the Honorary Consulate in Sapporo, and (019) 629-9139 for the Honorary Consulate in Morioka.

The hotline numbers at the DFA-OUMWA’s Crisis Management Center are 834-4646 and 834-4580. Requests for information may also be sent through e-mail address dfaoumwa.cmc@gmail.com.

dfa.gov.ph

xxxriainxxx

March 13th, 2011, 12:02 PM

AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN UNDER FIRE FOR SLOW INFO FLOW; HE BLAMES CUT LINES

MANILA, MARCH 13, 2011 (TRIBUNE) Philippine diplomatic officials in Japan, primarily Japanese Ambassador Manuel Lopez, were criticized yesterday for the slow flow of information regarding the status of some 4,500 Filipinos living in areas in that country that were severely affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Friday afternoon.

At press time, all the Philippine Embassy in Japan can report was that “it is checking if the 4,500 Filipinos living in northeastern Japan which bore the brunt of the quake and tsunami are in good condition.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has not received a report from its embassy or consulates in Japan on Filipino casualties in the magnitude-8.9 quake and resulted in a 10-meter tsunami that swept some coastal areas there.

Hundreds were feared dead while scores remain missing.

What was likely, however, is that there were not enough efforts exerted to locate Filipinos since Philippine Ambassador Manuel Lopez said phone communication lines have bogged down, making it hard for them to establish connection with the Filipinos in areas directly hit by the quake and tsunami, adding that they only get information through the Internet.

“As of 4 a.m. we don’t have any information of Filipinos injured in the quake. We continue to monitor the situation. Our staff is trying to get in touch with the Philippine community in Japan,” Lopez said on radio.

This was in contrast to the dispatch at which other countries have reached their residents.

Malaysian ambassador to Japan Datuk Shaharuddin Md Som, said of the 4,307 Malaysians registered with the embassy, including 1,521 students, 100 Malaysians, including 67 students living in the affected zones of Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefectures, have been contacted.

“They are safe and have been in touch with us since the quake struck,” he told the New Straits Times in a telephone interview from Tokyo.

Shaharuddin added the embassy had opened a 24-hour operations center for families, friends and the media from Malaysia to obtain updates on the developments in Japan.

In a press conference, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the embassy and the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka are constantly in touch with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the local governments of the three hardest-hit prefectures of Iwata, Miyago and Fukushima.

In Iwate prefecture, the hardest hit towns are Ofunato, and Rizuken Takata. It is home to approximately 909 Filipinos. In Miyagi prefecture, the hardest hit towns are Wakabaya-shi and Kesennuma. There are approximately 1,039 Filipinos there. In Fukushima prefecture, the hardest hit towns are Iwaki, Shirakawa, Sukugawa and Soma. There are some 2,366 Filipinos there.

Seguis said the DFA is also coordinating with the four honorary consulates in Sapporo, Morioka, Nagoya and Naha—as well as the different Filipino community groups.

Overseas Filipino workers advocate Migrante said Lopez should act swiftly and competently to help Filipino victims of the strong earthquake.

“We are particularly curious about the plans of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo to help affected Filipinos in the northern part of the country, especially Sendai which is directly affected by the 30-meter tsunami that hit the northern coastline hours after the earthquake,” Migrante said in a statement.

“We call on Ambassador Manuel Lopez to act swiftly to determine the extent of damage to our compatriots living in the areas affected, to secure their safety and to extend all necessary support and assistance to them,” it added.

Most of the estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Filipinos in Northern Japan are marriage migrants, entertainers, trainees and factory workers, it said.

Many of them, especially those living along the Sendai coastline may have already lost their homes and possibly their jobs as well, and therefore, need immediate support in terms of rescue and evacuation, Migrante added.

“We hope that the Philippine Embassy will not follow the lead of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which handled the the political crisis in Egypt and Libya indecisively and incompetently,” it said.

It added the government should exhaust all means to reach out to every single Filipino in every area devastated by the 8.9 earthquake and the 30-meter tsunami that slammed the northeastern coastline of Honshu Island one after the other; and to ensure that all are well accounted for, on safer grounds and their needs adequately addressed.

“We challenge President Aquino to reflect and rethink his government’s Labor Export Policy (LEP) and instead begin implementing genuine economic programs that will truly address poverty, unemployment and landlessness for the majority of farmers in the Philippines. Our people have suffered long enough from your neo-liberal globalization policy that made the Philippines a bankrupt economy that it is today,” it said.

“If we truly are a sovereign nation, then be the first to assert our independence and lead the nation towards the “right path” as you had promised. No Filipino deserves to be pinned beneath tons of rubble, eaten alive by a tsunami and much less fed to vultures preying on poor people’s labor. We deserve to be with our family, in the comfort of our own home and enjoying the fruits of our hard work,” Migrante added.

Embassy figures showed a total of 305,972 Filipinos in Japan, of this 230,000 are in Tokyo and Osaka.

“Japan is home to a sizeable number of Filipinos, whose welfare the government considers its paramount concern. The government and our diplomatic and consular officials are working closely with authorities at all levels in Japan, to ascertain the condition of Filipino nationals in the affected areas, respond to their needs, and ensure their welfare and safety,” said acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

The Philippine embassy has strongly advised the Filipino community in Japan to take the necessary precautionary measures and to closely monitor the news.

In case of emergency, Filipinos were urged to proceed to the nearest fire station or city hall in their area to receive instructions and assistance.

The embassy also requested Filipino community organizations to provide information on any Filipino injury, casualty or requests for assistance.

The Japanese government urged people in coastal and low-lying areas to evacuate to higher ground due to the threat of tsunamis. The Japanese meteorological experts predict more aftershocks.

Emergency landline numbers for members of the Filipino community in Japan are +81-3-5562-1570, +81-3-5562-1577, and +81-3-5562-1590. Embassy officials can also be e-mailed for inquiries at emergency@philembassy.net. As soon as telephone service resumes operations, members of the Filipino community may also contact emergency numbers +81-3-5562-1573 and +81-3-5562-1574.

“Landline and mobile phone networks remain down in their area. However, internet services remain available,” the embassy said.

The embassy said it was able to establish contact with its honorary consulates across Japan but still could not determine if a Filipino was hurt in the incident.

In Manila, the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) also set up hotline numbers and an e-mail address for those who would like to inquire about the conditions of Filipino relatives in Japan. The hotline numbers at the DFA-OUMWA’s Crisis Management Center are 834-4646 and 834-4580. Requests for information may also be sent through e-mail address dfaoumwa.cmc@gmail.com.

Vice President

Vice President and Jejomar Jejomar Binay, who is also Presidential Adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) affairs, assured families of Filipinos in Japan that the government is ready to extend assistance to their family members.

“The Filipino people can rest assured that all concerned government agencies are already on alert and are ready to extend immediate assistance should the need arise,” Binay said. “We are coordinating with all government agencies concerned to be able to react to the needs of affected Filipinos in Japan.”

Manila has conveyed its condolences to the government and people of Japan over the heartrending loss of life and widespread destruction inflicted by the massive earthquake.

“The Philippines stands in firm solidarity with Japan during these difficult times, confident that the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Japanese nation will ultimately prevail over this catastrophe,” Del Rosario said.

Malacañang, meanwhile, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) has formed teams to help Japan in search and rescue operations.

According to deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte, the Philippine National Red Cross is also preparing to send its contingent to lend Japanese a hand as they try to recover from the devastating effects of the said catastrophe.

Valte, however, said the details as to when these rescue teams will be deployed to Japan are not yet clear as of the moment.

Expressing his condolences for the people of Japan, Aquino wrote his counterpart Prime Minister Naoto Kan shortly after the tragedy happened and assured him that the Philippine government “stands ready, to extend any support and assistance within its capability.”

“As a close friend and neighbor, Japan has constantly stood by the Philippines, as we dealt with past tribulations wrought by nature. Our extensive and long-standing ties of friendship means that Japan is also home to a vast number of Filipinos, whose welfare also represents a paramount concern,” Aquino said in his letter to Kan posted by the government in its website.

Aquino, who came from a four-day state visit to Indonesia and Singapore, said he was grateful to know that the country had been spared from the potential disastrous impact of the enormous water walls that engulfed Japan.

“First of all, we are thankful to the Almighty for sparing our country from the damages wrought by the tsunami generated by the earthquake in Japan. We have already extended our sympathies to the government of Japan and we are in constant touch with them to ensure the safety of the Filipinos in their country,” Aquino said in an arrival statement late Friday evening.

Valte said the President has directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to instruct members of the Philippine embassy and consulate in Japan to render all possible assistance to the Filipinos who were affected by the disaster there.

“So far, we have not yet received report of any casualty and we are hoping that it will say that way,” Valte said over the state-run radio dzRB.

Valte happily reported as well that no untoward incidents transpired according to the Philippine Coast Guard as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) finally lifted the tsunami alert level two it has imposed on 19 provinces throughout the country.

The Palace official attributed such welcome developments to the government agencies’ quick response to the situation as well as the media’s cooperation especially in terms of disseminating information to the public.

(Naging kaakibat po natin ‘yung ating mga kaibigan po sa media para po mailabas nang napakabilis ‘yung impormasyon. As early as in the afternoon, we were getting reports that ‘yung sa northern and southern Leyte po ay na-evacuate na successfully. So talagang mabuti po at naging mabilis ‘yung response at mas marami po talagang tumulong sa atin.)

“We were supported by our friends from the media who promptly released the information. As early as in the afternoon, we were getting reports that the [residents from] northern and southern Leyte have been evacuated successfully. So the response was really quick and we were able to get a lot of help,” Valte said.

Valte added that what happened to Japan has taught the country many lessons focusing on further improvements that the government has to make in terms of its responsiveness. She also mentioned that the experience made the public realize that they have to do their fair share of preparations and not just rely on the authorities all the time.

Nearly a quarter of a million people, meanwhile, returned to their homes all along the eastern coast of the country as the threat of a tsunami from Japan’s devastating quake subsided, officials said.

The government ordered the country’s mostly rural Pacific seaboard cleared of people on Friday hours after a magnitude 8.9 quake unleashed tsunamis on Japan’s east coast and triggered a Pacific-wide alert.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council executive director Benito Ramos said residents had returned home after spending the night at temporary shelters inland.

“With the issuance of the tsunami alert cancellation all evacuees have returned home,” Ramos said in a statement at midday.

The council said 224,243 people were moved off the coasts overnight, either on their own or using military trucks.

Small waves struck the country, but caused no damage or casualties.

Despite the lifting of the alert, NDRRMC said it is not discounting the possibility of any untoward incidents that might still occur.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) lifted its ban on boats from going out to sea Saturday morning, after the tsunami threat.

At least 9,412 families or 55,335 people in Luzon alone were preemptively evacuated Friday in anticipation of the tsunami, the NDRRMC also said in its 1 a.m. update. Gina Peralta-Elorde

Source: http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl110636.htm

xxxriainxxx

March 14th, 2011, 06:28 AM

#FlashTweet: New Zealand Police identify 38-year-old Lalaine Collado Agatep as 4th Filipino fatality in Christchurch quake.
:ohno::ohno:

xxxriainxxx

March 15th, 2011, 12:16 PM

NOVO ECIJANO

March 15th, 2011, 03:10 PM

#FlashTweet: New Zealand Police identify 38-year-old Lalaine Collado Agatep as 4th Filipino fatality in Christchurch quake.
:ohno::ohno:

Ilocano ang mga Agatep at Collado

RonnieR

March 17th, 2011, 05:09 AM

38 Filipinos, Filipino-Japanese listed missing
By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 14:50:00 03/15/2011

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo has released a list of 38 Filipinos or Filipino-Japanese missing in the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan last week.

Those who wish to provide donations may send them to the Embassy of the Philippines at 5-15-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tokyo 106-8537.

The list of missing Filipinos and Filipino-Japanese:

1. Baby Capuyan Calope, Tokyo

2. Virginia Calamba, 42, Miyagi Ken Ingunngun Marumori Tatteyama

3. Vilma Chiba, 38, Miyagi

4. Teresita Daikoku, 51, Rikuzentakata Shi Iwate

5. Ella Iseyama, 28, Tokyo

6. Michelle Ikeda, 42, 133-1 Aza Iwashita Oaza Odakura Nishi Gomura Nishi Shirakawa Gun Fukushia Ken, Japan

7. Jacqueline Mendoza Endo, 47, Sendai

8. Violeta Kanno, 39, PHS 4 PKG 3 Blk. 22, Lot 33, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City

9. Masaru Katsamata, 11, Aoba Ku, Kikuta Machi, 10-23 Kopposhiki 102 Miyagi Ken, Sendai

10. Maria Lara Kikuchi, 51, Sendai

11. Lilia Kikuchi, 60, Chiba

12. Cecile Komatsu, 50, Miyagi Ken

13. Lourdez Odeth Yomongihata, 53, Aomori-Ken

14. Kathy Reyes Maruyama, 33, Aoba Ku, Kikuta Machi, 10-23 Kopposhiki 102 Miyagi Ken, Sendai

15. Michiko Nakagami, 51, Tokyo

16. Elisa Adora Velasquez Nakamura, 45, Osaka

17. Karen Onodera, 29, Miyagi Kesennuma

18. Jenalyn Orbe, 28, Miyagi Ken

19. Susan Sato, 41, Ibaraki Ken

20. Darwin Alcantara, 36, Tokyo

21. Susan Kinno, Rizuken Takada Iwate

22. Maria Corazon Lozada Kiuchi, Miyagi Ken

23. Jennifer Jeanne Lozada, Oikawa Miyagi Ken

24. Adelaida Lozada, Saito Miyagi Ken

25. Natsuko (Richel) Chiba

26. Taneharu Chiba

27. Violeta B. Kunishima, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken

28. Ayumi Kunishima, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken

29. Nanae Kunishima, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken

30. Nika Kunishima – 5 months old, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken

31. Gracelyn Geraldino Mizuno Contact no. 09028421478 Last location: Sendai,Miyagi Ken

32. Ruby Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1, Contact no. 08016636249

33. Kai Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1

34. Yu Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1

35. Kazuhiro Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1

36. Joy Sato, Miyagi-ken, Ishinomaki izumicho, sekichu ishinomaki elemementary School.

37. Jennifer Suzuki, 09039804055988-0025, Miyagi-ken, Kessenuma, Shinainuwaki, 2-41-1 Haimu Itoku 103

38. Takeshi Higuchi Shiwa

Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110315-325558/38-Filipinos-Filipino-Japanese-listed-missing

This is really sad. I hope the number won't increase.

Taiwan speeds up permits for OFWs

By Bernice Camille V. Bauzon, Reporter

TAIWAN would speed up the screening process for over 6,000 Filipino applicants who had been affected by the month-long deportation row between Manila and Taipei, its official said in a news report on Taipei’s central news agency.

Shortly after Taipei and Manila ended their dispute over the deportation issue and Taiwan lifted its restrictions earlier imposed on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Tasi Menga-ling, the division chief of foreign employment affairs at Taipei’s Council of Labor Affairs, said that the office would now “accelerate” the processing of working permits for Filipinos.

Some 6,119 Filipinos bound for Taiwan were affected by the souring relations between Taipei and Manila.

Taipei lifted the restrictions for Filipino workers this week after the sacking of two Bureau of Immigration officials believed to have mishandled the deportation of 14 Taiwanese, who were sent to mainland China instead of to the island.

Among those replaced was Immigration chief Ronaldo Ledesma, whose post was taken over by former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ricardo David Jr.

Taiwan’s International Workers Association Secretary General Chen Hsiu-lian, meanwhile, welcomed the island’s decision to finally stop taking “retaliatory measures” against Filipino workers.

She said that the Taiwanese government should not have made the Filipino workers the “scapegoats” in the diplomatic dispute between Manila and Taipei.

Chen also expressed hope that there would be no repeat of the incident in the future.

Taiwan ordered a “technical freeze” on Filipino workers on February 8 by extending the screening period for work permit applications from 12 days to four months.

The island made the retaliation to protest the decision of the Philippine government to deport the 14 Taiwanese to China on February 2.

The Taiwanese were accused of involvement in a multimillion international fraud scam.

The Philippines deported the 14 Taiwan residents—including 10 Chinese—to Beijing instead of to the island on the basis of the “One China Policy.”

Manila and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties, although the Philippines maintains economic and trade relations with the island.

On two separate occasions—in February and March of this year—President Benigno Aquino 3rd sent former Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd to Taiwan to iron out things with the island’s government.

Roxas was the running mate of Mr. Aquino during the 2010 elections.

He, however, lost to eventual Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The Philippine government’s stand to not offer a formal apology over the incident, however, further soured the relations between Manila and Taipei, prompting Roxas to return the first time without any news of reconciliation.

But Mr. Aquino’s decision to replace the Immigration chief was regarded as a “form of apology” to Taiwan, which immediately eased the restrictions on the Filipino workers.

The Philippines also agreed to talk with Taiwan on establishing a judicial assistance mechanism and exploring the possibility of inking a bilateral economic cooperation deal.
http://www.manilatimes.net/news/topstories/taiwan-speeds-up-permits-for-ofws/

RonnieR

March 17th, 2011, 05:20 AM

A tragedy for our Filipino brothers/sisters in Japan, huge cost on the part of the government......I wish it won't push thru.

Gov't ready to repatriate all Pinoys in Japan if needed
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 03/17/2011 10:29 AM | Updated as of 03/17/2011 10:29 AM
Tweet

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said the government is ready to repatriate all Filipinos staying in Japan once the Philippine government deems it necessary to repatriate all Filipinos there.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the embassy is now at crisis level 2 in Japan, which means that Filipinos are encouraged to consider voluntary departure on their own.

He said the government will arrange and pay for voluntary repatriation once the situation reaches crisis level 3.

"If we go to crisis level 3, that becomes the government's responsibility. There are about, in our estimate, 300,000 Filipinos in Japan, 200,000 of whom are in Tokyo. The government is prepared to absorb the total cost of repatriation if we go to crisis level 3," he said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."

Del Rosario said the crisis level will be based on the number of factors including information from the Japanese government and on-ground assessment and judgment of Embassy staff.

"We are sending senior officials who will help in making this assessment and this deployment of additional people will also ascertain the revalidation of the contingency plans that we put in place," he said.

A 9.0-magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami on Friday caused catastrophic damage to Japan's northeast coast, with police reporting that more than 11,000 people are dead or missing.

It also badly damaged a nuclear power plant 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Tokyo, leading to a series of explosions and fires that have unleashed potentially dangerous levels of radiation.

The threat of radiation poisoning triggered moves by some foreign governments, including China and some in Europe, to start evacuating their citizens.

The Philippines said it had no immediate plans to begin mass evacuations, saying it would follow the advice of Japanese authorities who have insisted harmful doses of radiation have only affected areas close to the plant.

"If, as determined by Japanese officials, relocation and repatriation become necessary, the Philippine government will (then) defray the cost to undertake the required measures," a foreign ministry statement said.

e Philippine government said Wednesday an Air Force plane would help some Filipinos escape the nuclear and quake crisis in Japan, but that there was no mass evacuation plan for all 300,000 Filipinos there.

The C-130 plane would fly basic supplies such as water and instant noodles to Filipinos stranded in Japan, then take out some who wanted to flee, President Benigno Aquino's spokesman said.

"For those who would want to leave Japan but have no means, the C-130 could be used to bring them home," spokesman Edward Lacierda told reporters. With a report from Agence France-Presse
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/03/17/11/govt-ready-repatriate-all-pinoys-japan-if-needed

amigo32

March 17th, 2011, 09:11 AM

ooppss.

xxxriainxxx

March 17th, 2011, 10:11 AM

Walking home today, this is probably one of the weirdest things I saw way home..

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg640/scaled.php?tn=0&server=640&filename=agiit.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

xxxriainxxx

March 17th, 2011, 10:51 AM

China upholds death penalty vs 3 Pinoy drug mules

By Sheryll Mundo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 03/17/2011 1:52 PM | Updated as of 03/17/2011 2:55 PM

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao confirmed the death penalty against three Filipinos will push through but refused to divulge details as to when it will happen.

In a press conference on Thursday, the Chinese Ambassador said the verdict is already final, and the Supreme Court of Justice of China will inform Philippine authorities when it would take place.

"The final verdict and the penalty will be carried out sooner or later, and everything will be done in accordance with Chinese laws. When it will be done has to be announced by the Supreme Court of Justice in China," the Ambassador said.

He added that the execution of Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain was only deferred due to humanitarian considerations made known to Chinese authorities by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

In a press conference in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said “we would still try to appeal. It’s sad, but that’s the decision already.”

He said it was clear from the very beginning that China only deferred the execution.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario admitted he himself is at a loss at to how the Filipinos could still be saved.

In a separate press conference in the DFA quarters in Manila, del Rosario said “I think every effort has been made for their clemency…I don’t know what other initiative we can undertake but we’ve already sent 2 envoys, we’ve even done back channeling.”

“Notwithstanding that, we have to respect the Chinese who are proceeding with their rule of law,” he said. -- with a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News

Source:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/17/11/china-upholds-execution-3-pinoy-drug-mules

xxxriainxxx

March 17th, 2011, 10:54 AM

#FlashTweet: New Zealand police identifies 24-year-old John Kristoffer Villegas Chua as 7th Filipino casualty in Christchurch earthquake.

:ohno::ohno::ohno:

Nabartek

March 18th, 2011, 05:16 AM

Filipinas weep for Japanese husbands left behind at Sendai
By Royce Pellerin, ABS-CBN News contributor
Posted at 03/17/2011 11:27 PM | Updated as of 03/17/2011 11:27 PM

Our plan this morning (March 17) was to meet at the bus location in Sendai, on stand-by, ready to depart as soon as the Philippine embassy team gives us the signal.

In downtown Sendai, there were several buses - just like ours - tapped by different countries to get their citizens out as well.

A group of Asian evacuees were getting on another bus, and I could not help but notice the look of resignation in their eyes as they were about to leave their homes and families.

There were students, but most were immigrants who have made Sendai their home.

Meanwhile, in Fukushima, the 4th nuclear power plant was engulfed by flames, worsening an already intense fear of radiation exposure Japan is facing.

With the help of the Japanese Coast Guard, the flames were eventually extinguished.

Our bus departed downtown Sendai en route to 3 pick-up points.

On board were only 6 Filipinas, including Carmelita Joy Mogami, whom we met at one of the evacuation sites in Sendai.

She had plans to go on vacation in the Philippines before last Friday's earthquake. Now she can't wait to leave Sendai as Japan faces catastrophes: earthquake, tsunami, nuclear fallout, scarcity of goods, and radiation exposure.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan summed it when he said that "in the 65 years after the end of World War 2, this is the toughest and the most difficult crisis for Japan."

Tearful stops

We arrived at one of our stops at Fukushima-nisha, around 50 to 60 kilometers from the nuclear power plants.

A total of 21 Filipinos made it on board.

One Filipina brought her children with her and was closely watched by her Japanese husband as they boarded the bus.

It was heart-breaking to see the family part ways. The husband cried and waved back at his children.

Snow was falling heavily during this transit, further slowing down our efforts to get to our destinations.

Second stop was Nihon Matsu, where 8 Filipinos boarded, including 1 Japanese married to a Filipina, and their children.

On our way to our final stop in Koriyama, one could see the alarming presence of the Japanese military and emergency vehicles going to Fukushima.

After arriving in Koriyama, 2 mothers and their 6 children got on the bus.

All in all, 42 Filipinos and a Japanese were on our bus bound for Tokyo.

Most of these Filipinos were mothers married to Japanese nationals, and their children.

Husbands stay behind

These Filipinas are leaving without their husbands who have chosen to stay behind because they have prioritized their jobs over getting out of the critical situation in the area.

One of the evacuees is Josephine Misaki Sakuna, originally from Tarlac, a resident of Fukushima for 12 years. She was with her 3-year-old daughter.

She left her Japanese husband behind to keep operating their box manufacturing business.

Inside the fully-loaded bus, the evacuees hugged as they were reunited with friends and families.

Everyone was relieved to know that they were bound for Tokyo, although the atmosphere was filled with uncertainty because the women left their husbands behind.

That the Japanese men were willing to stay behind with their countrymen showed their loyalty to the spirit of community needed during such a crisis.

Arrival in Tokyo

After several hours, we arrived in Tokyo.

The Kichijoji Catholic church will be accommodating our Filipino evacuees since most of them were uncertain on when or how will they get out of Japan.

We were welcomed by the Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez. He was relieved to know that we arrived safely in Tokyo.

It was such a relief to be back in Tokyo.

Despite the lack of information about Filipinos residing in the Miyagi-ken Prefecture, the combined effort of our group and the Philippine consular team made the mission successful.

The staff at the Kichijoji Catholic church provided meals and rooms for the evacuees.

Children who have no idea about the catastrophe made the atmosphere at the church calm and joyful while they played and laughed as if everything was normal during these critical times in Japan.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/03/17/11/filipinas-weep-japanese-husbands-left-behind-sendai

Ephesus29

March 19th, 2011, 06:31 AM

According to Tom Walter of CTV News Net who is in Osaka Japan, said that "there are now traces of radiation in California. Although it hasn't been confirmed how much, or if it causes some concern." This news should raise some concern in the Philippines, because of its proximity to Japan. I am just wondering though if there is any "Radiation Detection System" in placed in the Philippines.

Link: www.ctvnews.ca

pi_malejana

March 19th, 2011, 06:43 AM

bitoy

March 19th, 2011, 06:48 AM

Radiation from sunny California. :D

Ephesus29

March 19th, 2011, 09:41 AM

^^ syempre meron... the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) has already been monitoring the radiation levels around MM for the past few days... wind patterns are forecast to continue blowing eastward, into the Pacific...

as for the radiation levels in California, they're not high enough to cause problems to human health.. it's great for research purposes though..

That's good then. But are there monitoring system strategically located in the country and not only in Manila? Just curious. And if there are, then it is great too.

pi_malejana

March 19th, 2011, 10:41 AM

That's good then. But are there monitoring system strategically located in the country and not only in Manila? Just curious. And if there are, then it is great too.

i've recently read that apparently there's one in Tanay... it's not that far from MM though; there could be others but i'm not sure...:)

:cheers:

Ephesus29

March 19th, 2011, 10:49 AM

i've recently read that apparently there's one in Tanay... it's not that far from MM though; there could be others but i'm not sure...:)

:cheers:

Thank you. And hopefully there are systems in other parts of the country. ie Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Reason being is that if the system in MM and Tanay is large enough to monitor the whole country. :cheers:

Igsuonnimo

March 19th, 2011, 10:57 AM

That's good then. But are there monitoring system strategically located in the country and not only in Manila? Just curious. And if there are, then it is great too.

mas gugustuhin pa ng mga overseas filipinos na tustusan, mag sponsor o magbitaw ng pera sa mga katulad ng aktibidades ng willing willie at eat bulaga kaysa maglaan ng pondo, talent, serbisyo at gawain na kapaki-pakinabang na tulad ng monitoring system na sinasabi mo?

:ohno: hindi ako nagtataka kung bakit sa mismo na mga barangay level ay nagsisi-alisan ang mga kapwa pilipino, at mas nanaisin pa na manirahan na lang sa ibang lugar :ohno:

saan kaya galing ang mga perang pinamumudmud ng mga show na nabanggit ko?
corrupt deeds, corrupt practices :nuts:

Nabartek

March 19th, 2011, 11:21 AM

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=667581&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Drug mules' kin urged to respect China stand
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated March 19, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (52) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines must respect the decision of the Chinese government on the three Filipinos who will be executed in China for drug trafficking, Malacañang said yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang is seeking the understanding of the families of the OFWs.

China earlier stayed the execution of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32; Ramon Credo, 42; and Elizabeth Batain, 38 after President Aquino sent Vice President Jejomar Binay to Beijing last month to make a last-minute plea to the Chinese authorities.

The Philippine government, however, said that despite the postponement of the execution the Filipino people must continue to pray that the three Filipinos’ sentences would be considered for commutation.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said Thursday that a commutation of the death sentences “has been ruled out,” adding that the verdict of China’s Supreme People’s Court was final and would be enforced “sooner or later.”

He said the final verdict had nothing to do with a recent territorial spat with the Philippines.

Valte said the Philippine government was advised early on that the decision to stay the execution was within the scope of Chinese laws and that whether to proceed with it or not would also be entirely their call.

“And we understand that fully and at this point they have already spoken and that it is irreversible and that there is no possibility for a commutation for the three. We respect their decision. We also understand the situation (of the OFWs’ families) and we understand their sentiments,” she said.

Earlier, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said all efforts were made and would be made to save the three from the death penalty but Chinese laws must be respected.

Sotto: Let it be

However, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Vicente Sotto III urged the government to respect China’s decision to proceed with the execution.

Sotto also appealed for sobriety from the Filipino people by respecting Chinese laws as regards drug traffickers.

Sotto, former head of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), reiterated his call not to tolerate individuals who engage in illegal drug activities. The senator believes that imposing punishment on drug offenders would deter other people from following their example.

Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the execution should serve as a fair warning to Filipinos who would try to go into illegal drug activities to get bigger income.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the other hand, urged the Aquino administration not to give up even after the Chinese ambassador had declared that a commutation of the death sentences “has been ruled out.”

“Only the Chinese government knows if there’s still a chance to do anything still to help the three Filipinos sentenced to be executed. However, the Philippine government and all its officials should do whatever we can to protect our nations. We must keep trying any way we can.”

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV also joined Marcos in his call.

“I believe at this point, Malacañang is still making a last-ditch effort, we’ll just have to see if China will change its position,” he said.

‘Hope springs eternal’

While all eyes are focused on the fate of the three drug mules, the handler of Ordinario, Tita Cacayan of Alicia, Isabela, is due for preliminary hearing for illegal recruitment before the Department of Justice on April 4.

Cacayan has been in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation since last month.

Jason Ordinario, Sally’s brother, said the family still believes that the government can do something to prevent the execution, most likely by lethal injection.

He said they are optimistic even when the government has already explained it could no longer do anything to save his sister, that the sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said that they would continue to pray and hope for a miracle.

CBCP-Public Affairs Committee head Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez called on the faithful to continue to offer prayers for the three convicts.

“Let us continue to pray for a miracle. Let us pray that good would prevail,” he said, admitting that he was surprised by the announcement of the Chinese ambassador.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People head Maasin, Southern Leyte Bishop Precioso Cantillas said that he was saddened that China ruled out the commutation of the death sentence.

“Our stand for life and our fight against death penalty should be intensified. We could only pray for these countrymen of ours and others who are meted the death sentence. We pray also for the governments who still enforce capital punishment that they may value life most over other things and provide all the chances for human rehabilitation,” said Bishop Cantillas.

“While it is true that there is a law in China and it has to be respected, but there is also such thing as the law of humanity for humanitarian reason,” said CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care executive secretary Rodolfo Diamante.

He reiterated that killing convicted criminals would not deter the commission of crime and that it would be difficult on his part to convince China to also apply this rule to their own citizens.

Diamante suggested the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) create a team that would look for ways on how it could assist the Filipinos trapped in these types of situation.

“They should study the appeal in a particular country, check on the strategy.” – Christina Mendez, Raymund Catindig, Evelyn Macairan

I do not condone drug trafficking but back in the 90's the protesters were so against Flor Contemplacion death penalty that they even burned Singaporean flags. How come we don't hear anything, or the same thing from these people? :lol:

After kissing China's ass several times, and giving the families of the victims FALSE HOPE by granting a "request for a special friend", then once these thugs hear about our love affair with Uncle Sam, they release the bomb. On the other hand, our government should stop kissing China's ass and falling for their traps. After giving in to their requests that contradicted Filipino ideals on democracy, we are given false hope. They could have been more direct. But I guess being direct is not part of the Asian culture.