PEBA Believe in EDUCATION!

Dear PEBA, Sponsors and Donors,

This email confirms that BELIEVE International has received your generous donation deposited May 26, 2010 to sponsor Ernesto and Caren in the Philippines. Attached is a photo and personal profile of each student sponsored.

Because BELIEVE is a 100% volunteer organization, essentially all[*] of your donation is used to directly benefit the students. And because our local volunteers in the Philippines also mentor and teach values to the students, your donation not only benefits the students but also their families, community, and nation as they graduate and become leaders with a positive influence on those around them.

We are working to extend the hope of a brighter future, through education, to those with little or no opportunity. With your generous support we are able to do this, one child at a time. We join with all of the BELIEVE scholars in the Philippines in expressing gratitude to you for helping to provide this wonderful opportunity.

Thanks for your support,

L. Carvel Whiting

President, BELIEVE International

_________________________

NOTE: This document is your official receipt for tax purposes.

BELIEVE International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity recognized by the IRS. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

[*] Over 95% of the money we receive from donors is actually sent to the Philippines to support the education of needy students.

********************************************************************************

"I was reading the profile of the students that PEBA is sponsoring and reading some of the letters that this kids wrote for their sponsors. I can't help but cry. I was so touched! I am sharing some of them to you, and will forward the rest of the copy to the donors." (Mr. Thoughtskoto)

Utsukushii Mommy EK

One can only dream of setting foot in the snowy land of cherry blossoms and unique, hi-tech gadgets. For one Filipina blogger, Japan is her second home; no problems whatsoever in arriving in the land of the rising sun. Spotlight has Spotted MOMMY EK, and we've been smitten ever since. Here's an interview with the beautiful Kristhel:

The mommy with a K!

1. Can you tell us about yourself?
I'm a mother of a 1-year-old boy and I'm currently residing in Nagano, Japan with my brother. I'm a God-fearing person who is afraid of breaking rules. I'm talkative when I'm with my friends and I can be the life of a party too. I'm makulit and childish sometimes but I can also be moody. I enjoy new experiences. I'm also a good listener. I always go for what I want, especially if it's something that will make me happy.

2. Describe your blog Mommy EK in a Twitter message way (140 characters).
My blog is my personal online diary. It talks about my life in Japan.

3. How long have you been blogging?
I've been blogging for a year now. I started on Valentine's Day in 2009.

4. Why did you blog?
I decided to start blogging because I didn't have a lot of friends back then and I always use the computer. I was also inspired by other bloggers because I read a lot of blogs since I got here.

5. What changed after you started blogging?
I have more online friends! :)

6. What is your goal for your blog this year?
I started a 365 project where I post any thing daily. That's for a year! They're mostly pictures from my everyday life here in Japan. I hope I can really finish it. Good luck to me!!!

Day 3 of 2010
With this fashionista mom's warm, bright smile, winter doesn't look so dull and bleak at all.

Day 11 of 2010
Mommy EK shares with us some chocolates from from Japan!

Day 56 of 2010
Mommy EK shows us gorgeous shoes for sale on her 56th post for her 365 project.

7. What topics interest your readers?
They like my posts about Japan: the food, places, and other things.

8. What is your favorite post? Why?
I like my posts on my trips to different places here in Japan. It's my first time to experience them. I also like my long posts because I put a lot of time and effort in writing them.

9. What do you do when you're not blogging?
Aside from work, I'm just always home, in front of my laptop. I also hang out with my friends.

10. Who are your 3 favorite Filipino bloggers?
Chuvaness, Daphne Osena-Paez, and Bianca Gonzales

11. How long have you been an OFW in Japan?
I first went here in May 2007 but I went back to the Philippines in December of the same year. I came back last October 2008. So I can say that maybe around 2 years.

12. 3 things that miss most about the Philippines.
The Philippine holidays, different restaurants with different cuisines, and basketball

13. How long are you planning to be an OFW? Do you plan to return to the Philippines for good?
I want to bring my husband and son here with me so I guess I might stay here for a long time but I think that every Filipino has plans of going back to the Philippines. Lahat, nag-iipon lang. I don't want to grow old in another country.

14. What is your life's greatest success so far?
Having my baby! Walang meaning and buhay ko dati nung wala pa s'ya.

15. Any message to fellow expat bloggers?
Enjoy blogging!

Exclusively edited and posted for Kablogs Journal by Janelle Valles
Interview conducted by The Pope
*Utsukushii means beautiful.

This article is a repost from Kablogs Journal [Issue 2 | May], visit us to read more interesting articles written by our best global writers.

DFA Justifies Increase In Electronic Passport Fee

 

 

 

The following is a re-post from GMA News.TV's Pinoy Abroad page:

 

"The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has justified the $10 increase in the application fee for the new electronic passport (ePassport), saying it has special features that make it secure and compliant with international standards.

In a statement posted on its Website, the DFA said the ePassport was made “highly credible" to benefit overseas Filipino workers and other traveling Filipinos.

“The ePassport is designed to facilitate arrival formalities and immigration checks at international airports, and thus less hassle for our kababayans when they enter other countries," the DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs said.

“It is also making possible faster airline travel arrangements. Most importantly, the security features of the ePassport prevent identify theft and tampering of the passport holder’s personal data," it added.

The statement came after a Filipino group in Hong Kong slammed the increase in the passport application fee, from $50 (about P2250) to $60 (about P2700), for all Philippine diplomatic posts issuing e-passports.

But the DFA said even with the increase in the application fee, the Philippine ePassport is still comparatively cheaper than the ePassports issued by other countries.

It said the fees of ePassports in the Asia-Pacific are 300 Ringgit (about $92) for Malaysia; NZ$150 (US$101) for New Zealand; ¥11,000 (US$120) for Japan; and A$172 (US$153) for Australia.

E-passport costs €60 (US$77) in France, US$97 in the United States, and £72 (US$107) in the United Kingdom, the release added.

The e-passport features an embedded IC chip for identity verification, which includes the biometric information of the holder and a unique identification number.

“These and a host of other security features ensure that the ePassport is virtually tamper-proof, and compliant with the high security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization," the DFA explained.

The DFA further said that the last time they increased the passport fee increased was in 1995, and was kept at the same level when the country shifted from the manually-scripted passport to the machine-readable passports in July 2007.

“The DFA will continue to bring world-class passport and consular services for the world-class Filipino. All these bring better and tangible benefits to the Filipino traveler," "

JERRIE ABELLA, GMANews.TV
05/12/2010 | 11:35 PM

Paalala sa lahat...

Na-hacked po ang FB Account ng isa sa KaBlogs,
at ngayon nagpapanggap ang hacker 
sa mga nasa Friends List upang manghingi ng pera.

Kung sakali mang mangyari sa inyo to,

Siguraduhin muna na ang kausap mo 

ay tutuong kakilala bago gawin ang pinapagawa sayo...

Wag po tayo basta-basta magpapaloko 

para hindi dumami ang manloloko!