Homecoming for Alfredo Salmos set

News Release

Blas F. Ople Policy Center

May 20, 2012

Homecoming for Alfred Salmos set; family conveys thanks to FB users

Two years after suffering severe burns due to electrocution, overseas Filipino worker Alfredo Salmos is finally arriving home.

The 52-year old electrician from Nueva Ecija conveyed his gratitude to all Facebook users who wrote about his plight, uploaded videos about him on their page, and exerted pressure through social media for the government to help bring him home. The OFW suffered electrocution when he was shutting down a 14,000-volts breaker in February 2010 and was comatose for one month. An Indonesian couple has been caring for him since then. It was only recently, when his video and photo became viral, that help started to pour in, and arrangements to bring him home gained traction.

OFW advocate Susan Ople, who has been assisting the family in arranging for Alfred’s homecoming, said that the outpouring of concern from Filipino Facebook users and social media enthusiasts around the world signify a sea-change in how social media directly impacts on cases of distressed OFWs.

“The outpouring of support for Alfred Salmos demonstrates the power of Facebook as a platform for OFW assistance and empowerment,” Ople noted.

During this morning’s Tinapayan media forum in Manila, Alfred’s younger sister, Epifania Salmos Colina gave special thanks to the first Facebook user who posted Salmos’s photo and wrote about his plight. “Gusto ko man banggitin ang pangalan ay baka may mga makaligtaan ako kaya sa tamang oras na lamang po namin babanggitin lahat lahat ng dapat pasalamatan,” Epifania said.

Herself a former OFW, Alfred’s younger sister said that the family’s immediate priority is to give him time to rest and have private moments with his mother and siblings as well as to ensure that his medical needs are attended to. The last time that Alfred saw his mother was seven years ago during a brief vacation in the country.

“Sa amin po titira si Kuya at aalagan namin siya ng husto. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga tumulong at gustong tumulong sa kanya,” Colina said. (“My brother will stay with us and we will take good care of him. We would like to thank all those who helped him and who’d like to help him.”)

Alfred’s sister also acknowledged the assistance of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, the Villar Foundation and the Office of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

Senator Manny Villar and the Villar Foundation headed by his wife, former congresswoman Cynthia Villar, pledged to help with the medical expenses and livelihood assistance while Atty. Gwen Pimentel-Gana, chief of staff of the Office of Senator Koko Pimentel offered to coordinate with the Philippine General Hospital for the OFW’s medical treatment.

Previously, Alfred’s sister was also a beneficiary of the Villar Foundation’s Sagip OFW program when she availed of a free ticket home after running away from her abusive employer in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon had earlier assured the Salmos family that Alfred would receive his full disability benefits as OWWA member as well as livelihood assistance. The OWWA official has also directed her staff to provide airport and transportation assistance to Salmos.

Ople appealed in behalf of the Salmos family: “I hope that we can all welcome Alfred Salmos home as a brother who suffered enormous physical and emotional pain while in Saudi Arabia. He deserves a warm, friendly, and dignified welcome after everything that he had to endure mostly by himself in Saudi Arabia.”

The NGO noted that Saudi Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz al Saud was instrumental in the waiver of fees accruing from the time Alfred’s car was impounded due to a car accident in 1998.

OFWs Romy Carbonel, Frank Resma, Joseph Espiritu and volunteers of Patnubay Riyadh among several others, assisted Alfred in sending a personal letter in Arabic addressed to the Office of the Governor of Jeddah to waive the accumulated fees that barred him from leaving Saudi Arabia. Jeddah-based OFW blogger Jebee Kenji Solis also helped out in gathering donations from fellow OFW bloggers throughout the world. Other NGOs, Facebook users, and Saudi-based OFWs have been helping Alfred Salmos in coordination with the family and the Philippine Consulate.

OFW's and NGOs in Jeddah during a Dinner for a Cause for Mang Alredo Salmos

In his appeal to Prince al Saud, Alfred Salmos wrote: “Your Royal Highness, I believe that you are fair regardless of race, color or creed. Please send me home to my country. I want to see my family. I haven't seen them for quite a long time. In the Philippines I have a family who can take care of me.  Please tell the Moroor to clear any penalty for my car registration and to consider my physical condition for humanitarian considerations.”

The Prince granted the plea of Alfred Salmos, all fees were waived, and in a matter of days, the OFW most featured in the pages of Pinoy Facebook users around the world, shall soon be home.

For those who wish to help OFW Alfred Salmos, please get in touch with the Blas F. Ople Center via 833-5337/833-9562 for coordination purposes. Donations can be channelled to the bank account set up by Alfred’s sister: Epifania Reem S. Colina, BPI Carmen West Rosales Pangasinan #0639-0859-29.

©2012 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

Thanks to Patnubay Group! Mang Alfredo Salmos Can Come Home Soon

This is a repost from PEBA 2011 NGO Partner, Patnubay Online Blog Post.

Patnubay Mission : To Clear the Car Registration Records of OFW Salmos and Send him Home.

Once again napatunayan natin na ang kakulangan sa kaalaman ang dahilan ng mga problema ng mga OFWs. Ang puno’t dulo ng problemang ito ay yong hindi alam ni Mr. salmos na dapat iclear ang sasakyan kahit na-impound na. At ang kakulangan sa kaalaman naman ng karamihan, maging sa ating mga tauhan ng ating konsulada, sa proceso kung papano resolbahin ang mga ganitong kaso.  Sa tulongan natin napatunayan ni Mr. Salmos na napakadali lang pala ng kanyang problema na kung alam nya lang na ganito lang pala ang gagawin ay noon pa sana sya nakauwi.

Maiintindihan natin kung kulang sa kaalaman si Mr. Salmos sa proceso dahil hindi naman sya katulad sa atin na kabisado ang mga batas at proceso dito.. Pero ang hirap tanggapin na walang alam ang ating consulada sa pagresolba ng mga simpleng problemang katulad nito na nailapit sa kanila last October 2011 pa. Or talagang sadya bang pinatagal or mga tamad lamang or wala sa puso ang pagtulong at nakalimutan ang pinanumpaang tungkulin na dapat tulongan tayong mga OFWs.

In all fairness to Congen Garibay, I have strong hope sa kanya na mapabago nya ang mga ugali ng mga tauhan ng ating consulada. Ang kaso ni Mr. Salmos ay napakasimple lamang kung tutuusin.

To Read the rest of the post, read it here: 

 PEBA wishes to thank also other NGOs and all the donors and supporters from around the world who kindheartedly sent their donations via Paypal and by contributions so Mang Fred will have the means na mapagamot ang kanyang mga burns. We are hoping more people will extend help, and OWWA and POEA and other agencies will assist him when he gets home. Thank you! Salamat! Shokran!


©2012 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

Nine OFWs win cash prizes in SSS promo

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said the nine winners will each receive P10,000 as cash prize under the Member-Get-Member (MGM) promo, which offers incentives to OFWs who encourage other overseas workers to become active SSS members.

 

"OFWs can win as 'nominators' through payment of contributions and referral of newly-active overseas workers or 'nominees' to the SSS. Participating members help fellow OFWs prepare for the future by urging them to be covered members," he said.

The list of winners for January include Teophe Quijano Mendaros (Brunei); Cristina Cananea Quimado and Maria Riza Santander Wabinga (Hong Kong); Mocita Maron Manuel (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); and Pensees Dawny Rodriguez Figueroa and Gemma Soriano Biong (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates).

TO JOIN, CLICK HERE  https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/index2.jsp?secid=2064&cat=6&pg=null 

London-based OFWs Edgar Serrano Grande, Ma Christina Jagonos Garcia and Ryazan Dalane Sison Duray also won. A total of 45 winning nominators, or nine per month, will be drawn in the remaining monthly raffle draws from February to June.

"Winners will be notified by SSS through registered mail and email, which they will present along with their UMID card or two valid IDs in claiming their prize. They may claim their prize as check or have it credited to their bank account on or before December 1," he said.

Nominees and nominators with posted contributions for January to June 2012 will gain a raffle entry to the MGM Grand Draw on September 7.The grand prize is a vacation package worth P160,000 inclusive of round-trip airfare to Manila plus trip to Boracay for two with four-day hotel accommodation and pocket money.

The SSS will also draw two 2nd prize winners of P30,000 each; three 3rd prize winners of P20,000 each; and ten winners of P10,000 each as consolation prizes. The nominator with the most number of nominees will receive P50,000 and a plaque of appreciation.

OFWs can register for the promo thru the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph) and at SSS foreign offices until June 30, and at local branches, including SSS' office at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration headquarters in Mandaluyong City, until June 29.

The Board of Judges for the MGM raffle draws includes De Quiros; Commissioner Daniel Edralin, who heads the Social Security Commission's Committee on OFWs; and Antonette Fernandez, SSS Assistant Vice President of the Internal Audit Service Division.

Also part of the Board are Luther Calderon, President of the Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino (KAMPI) which is a non-government organization for OFWs, and Pete Rahon, who is the Luzon and Metro Manila Coordinator of the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA).

©2012 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

Opposition to PhilHealth Circular 022 Increasing OFW Contribution from P900 to P2,400

News Release

Blas F. Ople Policy Center

December 20, 2011

NGOs, OFW bloggers oppose Philhealth circular raising premiums of OFW members

Several non-government organizations involved in overseas employment issues banded together to oppose Philhealth Circular No. 022 that would nearly triple the amount of premiums to be paid by overseas Filipino workers by next year.

Philhealth convened a consultative meeting with a handful of non-profit organizations representing overseas Filipino workers this morning. Walter Bacareza, vice-president of its Member Management Group presented the agency's plans to increase membership rates including that of OFWs as well as the Board's intention to "revolutionize" healthcare services in the country. Philhealth vice-president for corporate affairs Gregorio Rulloda was also present in the meeting.

Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Center, Luther Calderon, president of the Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino, Inc., Apostol Gratela, chairman of the Kalahi-Advocate for Overseas Filipinos and Jun Aguilar of the Filipino Migrant Workers' Group objected to the planned increases citing the lack of consultations with the labor and overseas workers' sectors. With two weeks to go before the new rates are imposed, the health agency issued the invitations for today's consultative meeting to a handful of OFW sector representatives only yesterday. The circular itself was issued on December 15.

"On January 2, unless the Philhealth Board withdraws its circular, all overseas workers would be paying 300 pesos more for their Philhealth premium and for those unable to pay that amount within the first six months of 2012, they would have to pay 2,400 pesos as annual premium from July onwards, a huge amount compared to the current 900 pesos being shelled out by every OFW. These new rates are being imposed without consultations, without clear explanations, and without consideration given the heavy financial burdens already being experienced by our migrant workers' given the series of calamities and continued slowdown in the world economy," the leaders of the said NGOs said.

During the consultative meeting, Philhealth officials explained that the higher premiums would allow the agency to meet its performance targets as well as attain the country's Millennium Development Goals and aspiration for universal health care coverage. Vice-President Bacareza also cited the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 that includes a performance evaluation of all GOCCs.

"It is unfortunate that the Philhealth Board of Directors decided to issue and release this new circular while the nation is grieving over the deaths of so many of our compatriots in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and other parts of the Visayans and Mindanao regions. We question the timing, the lack of consultations, and the inexplicable haste by which this new circular is now being imposed not only on our OFWs but on all workers covered by Philhealth," Susan Ople said.

Jun Aguilar of the Filipino Migrant Workers' Group who was a former OFW in Saudi Arabia said that most OFWs are not even aware of the benefits due them as Philhealth members. "My son is an OFW and he relies on the more efficient health care system in Saudi Arabia rather than Philhealth because that is where he is situated. Why should he now pay triple the cost of premium to enable Philhealth to meet its own internal targets?"

Aguilar also cited a provision in the Amendments to the Migrant Workers' Act otherwise known as Republic Act No. 10022 that prohibits any increases in government fees for services rendered to OFWs.

Another OFW advocate, Luther Custodio, objected to the planned increase and called for a more intensified information campaign from Philhealth about its "revolutionary" changes to the current national health program.

Moves to oppose the Philhealth premium increases are set to snowball with the participation of OFW bloggers that founded the annual Philippine Expat/OFW Bloggers Award (PEBA). PEBA founder Jebee Solis who is based in Saudi Arabia said his group will blog against the new Philhealth circular citing the fact that most foreign companies obtain health insurance for foreign workers.

Philhealth officials who were present during the consultative meeting with the NGOs promised to report to the Board the concerns of the OFW sector on the impact of the abrupt increase in Philhealth premiums on the expenses of every departing worker, and on those wanting to renew their memberships.

"We are appealing to the Philhealth leadership to be more considerate given these extraordinarily difficult times. Every OFW with relatives in calamity-stricken areas will be relied upon to help defray the rebuilding of homes, and the sustenance of their surviving kin. We seek a deferment of Philhealth Circular No. 022 pending more extensive consultations and so that all of us can focus our efforts and attention in helping out those devastated by the floods in Mindanao," the civil society leaders said.

©2011 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

PEBA 2011 First Batch of Nominees

Presenting our first batch of 2011 PEBA Nominees in a video.


Note, for better sound and quality, watch in HD format. 

We would like to invite you to join our exciting for this year

BLOG ENTRY CONTEST, Nomination Form

ANY BLOGGER, ANYWHERE! Nominate a Blog

NOKIA ESSAY CONTEST, Nomination Form

For blog entry contest, in OFW and Home Based bloggers Division, we will be awarding the prestigious Top 10 Bloggers of the Year. The Most Popular Blog Award is another prestigious award with trophy for the most number of accumulated Facebook Likes, Poll result and number of comments. Voting will start earlier, that is September 1, 2011 until December 5, 2011.

Nokia Essay Writing contest will win a Nokia phone and other cool gadgets.

Blog entry nominees and Nokia Essay contestants are eligible to join the raffle promo and will have the chance to win in the raffle of LCD TV, Netbook/Slim CPUs, Nokia Phones and other gadgets.

JOIN PEBA CONTESTS NOW!

©2011 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

click here to comment… for bloggers

©2010 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

Maling Balita Para sa Mga OFWs sa Saudi Arabia

Nabasa natin sa balita kamakailan lang about dito:


John Leonard Monterona of Migrante-Middle East also said, however, that their organization has been receiving reports of OFWs whose passports were stamped “exit only,” despite having exit/re-entry visas. "There were 4 OFW-engineers who have called me and our Migrante officers in Riyadh as they were surprised that their respective exit/re-entry visa had been stamped 'Exit' only by the Saudi immigration officer at the counter," Monterona said in a statement.


Also, this video report: 


Takot nang magbakasyon ang ilang OFWs na nasa Saudi Arabia. Nangangamba sila na wala na silang mababalikang trabaho

Dahil sa iba't ibang news na naglalabasan, and kung sino-sinong nagsasabi na ganito at ganyan, nagpalabas ang Patnubay Riyadh ng sagot sa mga balitang ito. The post below was taken from the Patnubay Riyadh reaction and excerpts to the news above, specifically about "Exit Only" stamping at the airport and was permitted to post it at Kablogs website. Read the full details by clicking the link of the Patnubay Riyadh


‎"Exit Only" na stamp sa Airport? Hindi rin ako makapaniwala na hindi man lang tayo kinontak na dito sa Middle East at matagal na sa Saudi Arabia bilang Kablogs at aktibong blogger, ng MEDIA kung may katotohanan ba ang balitang ito.






"1. These rumors started from Indian community last month na kumalat sa mga emails.

2. Hindi natin ito pinatulan  dahil we know the procedurers.. hindi ka naman makapagfile ng exit, kung hindi pa tapos ang contract, hindi pa naibigay ang  benefits ESB, unpaid salaries and others. May clearance po na pipirmahan both by the worker and the employer. And this will be submitted to the Ministry of Labor for approval. Then it will be forwarded to the Jawasat for FINAL Exit visa stamping.

Before ka maaprove for FINAL exit ay kailangan mo pang mag- electronic fingerprint..
Kasama din sa checking kung may pending police cases ka, utang sa bangko or credit
cards, traffic violations and others..

Okay granted na maimplement pa ang NITAQAT , ang procedure na yan pa rin sa taas ang
masusunod..Pero ang pagbabasehan ay hindi lang ang date ng end of contract.. kundi pati
na rin ang date ng expiration ng iqama.. Kung ano ang ma-una magexpire ay yon ang
masusunod. Though some companies ay maaring mag-extend ng contract ng workers
hanggang sa based sa expiration ng IQAMA

3. The saudi government clearly answered that these Indian rumors are not true.. here is
the  link

"Rumors of expatriates having their exit-re-entry visas switched to exit-only visas at airports have no basis, said Passport Department officials across the Kingdom.“There is absolutely no truth to it,” said Mohammad Al-Husayn, spokesman for the Passport Department in Makkah province. “If it is an exit/re-entry visa then it cannot be changed at the airports. The final exit is stamped only after a series of steps are taken both by the employee and the employer.”

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article458446.ece?

4. I know the Indian community napakarami nila dito na sabihin nating nakabenefit sa
pagtratrabaho sa saudi arabia.. may mga negosyante, may mga nasa opisina..
Naintindihan natin na takot sila sa nitaqat kung maimplement dahil isa sila ang
pinakamaraming maapektuhan; kaya siguro sila gumagawa  ng ganung kwento.. maybe to
call the attention of their government.. or ano pang reason...

5.  Sa part naman natin, may mga takot din kami  dito and   we are asking our own
government na tulongan kami kung sakaling  mapauwi kami ng bigla.. Pero kami na mga
professionals ay hindi magresort sa paggawa ng tsismis.

...

7. If talagang panindigan nya na totoo ang sinabi nya then dapat  may mga  tao syang 

makapagsalita na ganito nga ang nangyari.. Then ipakita nila ang kanilang exit-reentry visa
(or photocopy) at yong sinabi nilang EXIT only na nastamped sa passport.

8. Para sa mga hindi aware sa buhay saudi, ang exit re-entry visa natin ngayon ay
electronic na at nakaprint sa isang bond paper. Hindi na katulad dati na sticket nakadikit
sa aming mga passport.

So common sense na rin sa mga  pinoy na magphotocopy nito.. Kung totoo na EXIT only
ang natatak sa kanilang visa.. then ipakita nila sa media ngayon ang kanilang exit re-entry
visa, then yong FINAL exit na  nakastamp sa kanilang passport..

9. Last month,  I had an argument with some indian friends, na kung sigurado sila na may
nangyaring ganun then magreklamo yong kakilala nila sa saudi embassy sa India..Sabi
nila ay wala na daw kopya ng exit-reentry visa dahil pinunit daw ng immigration.. eh sagot
ko naman common sense naman siguro na magphoto copy. use the photocopy.  Ngayon
natahimik ang indian community pero itong monterona naman ang nagsalita..

10 . Heto ang procedure sa mga OFWs na umuwi with exit -reentry visa.. pagpasok mo sa
immigration,  basahin ng officer yong exit-reentry visa mo, then tingnan yong mukha mo
sa passport kung pareho ba.. then magstamp ang officer doon sa exit-reentry visa (bond
paper),  then doon sa isang page ng passport.. Since palabas ka ng saudi Arabia, then
EXIT ang ilalagay dyan..ang hugis ng stamp na yan ay rectangular.. then pagbalik mo
naman from vacation ay ENTRY naman ang ilagay dyan at oval shaped naman yong
stamped.

YAN siguro ang sinabi nila na EXIT only.. at kung itong Monterona ay alam lang ang
pinagsasabi.. Dapat aware sya , or dapat nagimbestiga sya. Sabagay nasanay naman
yan sa pagsagap ng mga balita.. at gagawa din ng sarili nyang balita ng panggamit ng
mga OFWs na walang pakialam kung ano ang maging epekto nito.

EXIT nga yan at walang entry na nakastamp dahil palabas ka pa lang.. kaya siguro EXIT
only.. pero hindi FINAL EXIT.. ang final exit  maliban sa mahabang proceso ay mahaba din
yong nakasulat dyan sa passport at may isang extra paper (A4) pa for electronic purpose.. 




Read the full details here at Patnubay Riyadh




©2011 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

HEROES HOMECOMING TOWARDS CHANGE

The First Quarter Storm

Note: The photo of a boy holding a flag is an official entry of  Analindenhann from Copenhagen Denmark, 

©2011 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

The first quarter of 2011 is perhaps the most turbulent days of the Overseas Filipino Workers as they witness the political revolution in the Middle East and North Africa where thousands of OFWs were caught in the middle of domestic conflicts in countries such as Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

Even with these appalling events, Filipinos remain determined to continue following their dreams through migration in order to survive domestic poverty. The world could be cruel and unforgiving but also highly rewarding... because in every struggle, heroes emerge.

 

Leaving Is Not A Matter of Choice, Coming Back Is

Despite the varied reasons why Filipinos go abroad, nationalism is still evident on the narratives of the 12 million Filipinos scattered all over the world. PEBA has witnessed how OFWs take pride of our Filipino roots, our culture and our race. Filipinos abroad, after they have followed their dreams, have chosen to return, evident on how we are called... "Balikbayan." They return to share their talents, skills and fortunes in an effort to bring change to the families left behind, communities and country. Thus, PEBA 2011 is dedicated to our "balikbayans", the unsung heroes of our time. Their homecoming brings a spark of change to the lives of their loved ones and their homeland. PEBA 2011 honor them with the theme, 

"Ako'y Magbabalik, Hatid Ko'y Pagbabago." (I Will Return, I Will Bring Change.)

The PEBA 2011 Challenge

PEBA 2011 will attempt to remind the P-Noy administration to solicit, listen and heed the advice our OFWs who have been the forefront of finding solutions on the world’s most powerful economies. It's about time that instead of concentrating on labor-export policy, this administration start tapping the professional services of OFWs in various areas of expertise in rebuilding our country's infrastructures and basic services by offering them job positions in government offices to be administration partners in nation-building.

We call on our Filipino expatriates around the world to continue their roles as Global Ambassadors of our country in foreign lands by promoting and patronizing our locally-made products, making the Philippines the first stop destination for holidays and investing in the home country. We ask them to teach their children and their foreign spouses on the positive Filipino values and the Filipino language. Let’s be proud of our race, for nationalism knows no time and boundaries

.

Expats, OFWs and Bloggers, They’re Heroes That Multiplies

To our Global Filipino bloggers, as the curtain rises for PEBA 2011 in celebration of our nation’s historic "Araw ng Kagitingan"; let us look back on the heroes of La Solidaridad - Rizal, Del Pilar, Ponce, Paterno, Jacinto, Lopez-Jaena , etc. who were the Filipinos reformists in Spain who used instead of the sword to campaign for changes in the Spanish-governed Philippine islands through essays, speeches, news articles, and other literary and journalistic forms. Their efforts ultimately led to the Philippine independence from Spain. Today, PEBA invites our bloggers to write and post topics on "Balikbayan" (Returnees), "Homecoming" and the positive "changes" and benefits it brings to their families, relatives and friends, to the community and to our country, the Philippines. 

We call on our bloggers worldwide to share their stories - through essays and anecdotes, literary and journalistic forms, videos and photos on their quest for the real change that they want to be - for their own selves, for their families, communities and country on their plan homecoming or recent “balikbayan” experiences that bring positive change to the lives of their love ones. And to our non-OFW bloggers, we seek your talents to share with us your expectations and memorable experiences gained during the homecoming events of your returning family members, relatives or friends.

Like Rizal, Luna and Ninoy, 12 million OFWs have crossed borders to work, learn culture and technologies abroad in their effort to battle poverty in our courtyard; soon they will return and apply their knowledge and wealth to bring the change they want for their families, relatives, communities and country - for heroes never die, they just multiply.

This season will put a challenge to our Global Filipinos to flex its muscles to show that with the unity of its great numbers, it can be a potent force for political change, that OFWs can stop this culture of corruption, exploitation, and fraud and steer our country to greater heights by participating in a mature political exercise by participating in the Overseas Absentee Voting and joining forums and social organizations abroad that promote Filipino values and socio-economic assistance to OFWs and kababayans back home.

To the private sectors that have economically benefited on the remittances and homecoming spending of the OFW and their families; PEBA calls for your support on the advocacy programs and projects of the Government, LGUs and NGOs that promote values and welfare of the OFWs.

PEBA calls on POEA and OWWA to improve its reintegration program for returning, retiring and displaced OFWs. We ask this administration to restore an estimated 46 percent budget cut to the Department of Foreign Affairs 2012 budget and to increase funds to assist OFWs in Japan and the Middle East countries.

As the quarter storm closes, we prayed and mourned for the loss of our OFW compatriots, Sally, Ramon and Elizabeth who were executed in China. A painful lesson for every Filipinos to be careful and not to allow ourselves to be used as drug couriers.

Hundreds of OFWs are still missing in New Zealand after a devastating earthquake hit the country. In Japan, the horrifying series of earthquakes and tsunami that swept the Japanese shores where hundreds of OFWs are still unaccounted for and the continuing threat of radiation exposure remain an unending nightmare to the survivors.

©2011 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

A Prayer for OFWs

A Prayer for
OFWs

Dear God,

You crossed every border between divinity and
humanity to make your home with us. Bless our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters
who have travelled to foreign lands with faith in their heart leaving their
families behind as they break through the barriers of people, cultures, and languages
to escape oppression and poverty.

There are
many things going on that are beyond us even with our collective power. We come
to thee in supplication and heartfelt pleadings as we are mindful of the ordeals
of others.

We thank thee for hearing the prayers of your
people as China grant reprieve to our three OFWs and may the Chinese government
grant a lesser penalty to their case.

We pray for the thousands of OFWs who were incarcerated
and imprisoned in the Middle East, Asia and other continents, may thou please grant
them the chance to get back to their families and find a new life, justice and
freedom as they entrust their lives into thy hands. May Thou enlighten our leaders
to put the plights of distressed OFWs as a priority and withdraw from plans to
cut the DFA social service and legal assistance funds.

We
pray to Thee that our OFWs in Taiwan will soon be reprieved of taking all the
heat of the current Taiwan-Philippines rift. May the government emissary would
soon find resolution to this issue so that those more than five thousand
scheduled for deployment will now be allowed to take on their jobs, and
the nearly a hundred thousand currently employed may keep their jobs and be
able to sustain their families. 

We pray that may Thou please keep our overseas
Filipinos safe in the escalating conflict in countries where democratic
renaissance in Muslim nations is unfolding from Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain
and Libya as they await the immediate repatriation efforts being taken by our
government agencies.

We pray for Thy protection
and guidance of the more than thirty thousand OFW’s in Libya. May their
families in the Philippines be freed from fear and worries of their condition
and that the OFWs safety is assured despite the worsening condition.

We
pray that may Thou save from harm our Filipino workers in war torn countries of
Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as OFWs in Nigeria, Somalia, Lebanon and Jordan,
who have taken great risks to continue their fight against poverty to support
their families in the Philippines despite of the work deployment ban imposed in
these countries.

We pray for the safety of the Filipino nurses trapped in the
rubbles during the earthquake in New Zealand, and the rest of the OFWs and
Expats around the world who are suffering from natural calamities, diseases and
injustices that they may find comfort through faith in Thee.

Hear our prayer Lord, to end the corruption that has
become the plague of our nation, to end poverty that afflicts and besets Thy
people, to end violence and war that displaces millions of our Filipinos from
their homes, which separate, divide and break families.

As we await for the signs of time when the Filipinos around
the world, the fathers and mothers brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters
may be reunited as one happy family.

We pray for Thine tender love and kind mercy, with our
faith, with our hope, with our love to thee, we pray for power greater than us
all, we pray for divine intervention.

This is a joint call from the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards, or
PEBA, Inc, along with its 300+ KABLOGS, the RMN News Bantay OFW radio program
and the Blas Ople Policy Center and we are asking for your prayers or support
by reposting this to your blog, posting this link in your FB, Friendster and
Twitter accounts or sending this as email to your networks.

The original photo where the image was taken in this post was an official entry by
Erwin Serrano from Riyadh Saudi Arabia, 10^th rank winner to the 2010
PEBA International Photo Contest.

©2011 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

Republic Act No. 10022 PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF OFWs

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THIS LAW HERE

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THIS LAW HERE

No to Budget Cut for OFW Legal Assistance Fund or LAF!

JOIN THIS ONLINE PETITION NOW SO THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT CUT THE OFW BUDGET for Legal Assistance and Social Services NOW! We also wanted to make sure that budgets were really disburse as intended for OFW social services and benefits as well. Click the 'Like' button.

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Below is an excerpt from Susan Ople's blog, an OFW advocate explaining the impact of this budget cut to the OFWs

Deep cuts in DFA Budget dashes OFWs’ hopes for change | Susan "Toots" Ople

"So in cutting down (or chopping off!) more than half of the DFA’s budget including that to be used for legal and other forms of assistance to Filipinos overseas, the consequences may be the following:

1. The task of repatriating trafficked victims and other distressed OFWs shall now fall on: 1) individual politicians from senators to mayors; 2) OWWA which are made up of contributions of workers who left the country legally; 3) the very individuals and agencies that conspired to victimize these workers thus diminishing the crime and reducing the entire matter into a bargaining situation.

I would have added the NGOs except one can really count on one’s fingers the number of NGOs that could afford to repatriate workers even from neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore.

No. 1 weakens institutional governance because it would lead to the politicizing of welfare assistance to OFWs in distress; it will also cause enormous lag time in providing onsite assistance – time that could mean the death or survival of an OFW.

2. RA 10022 or the amendments to the Migrant Workers’ Act states that the DFA can now use its legal assistance fund to file cases against abusive and exploitative employers and agencies outside the country. The Ople Center and other NGOs were happy to know this because the filing of such cases would greatly boost our anti-trafficking efforts. But with only Php 27-M for an entire year, how can the DFA even hope to pursue such cases? And what about the 3,000 Filipinos in jail, some of who have been detained more than their penalty calls for? If the current legal assistance fund is insufficient in looking after the legal rights of our OFWs, what more just a quarter of that amount? For an entire year!

3. Our foreign posts serve as the refuge of trafficked and maltreated workers. In Dubai alone, the welfare center is overflowing with at least 200 stranded workers at a single given time. A video taken of appalling conditions in Saudi Arabia for workers awaiting repatriation stresses the need for more funds, not less particularly for posts with a high concentration of Filipino workers. If we cannot afford change, then how can we see it? In this case, the OFW sector is not asking even for more funds — though it has every right to do so. But at the very least – a status quo. For now. Especially for a sector that brings in billions in dollar remittances that makes for a positive credit rating from international credit rating agencies. Why cut social services for OFWs?

Unless — the unjustified cuts are but another symptom of internal conflicts driven by magnified, puffed-up bureaucratic and political hurts. Read:factionalism. This may be a valid observation because of how deep the cuts are. Too deep to be superficial; too ruthless to be developmental. The cuts were made to hurt, and hurt bad – except that the wounds are being inflicted several times over on the bodies of the innocents.

We do want to hope again. The yearning is there, it is unmistakable, and while we are watchful, it is a watchfulness for both the bad, and most especially for the good. Honestly, I would prefer the inconvenience of a noisy wang-wang to the heart-wrenching wail of an OFW unable to come home despite numerous beatings from her employer. NFA – no funds available. So what else is new?

This latest move of chopping off millions meant to protect the rights and welfare of our OFWs is simply unjustifiable. When a child leaves home, a parent does what is humanly possible, despite the distance, to make sure that he or she is alright. The Assistance to Nationals Fund and the Legal Assistance Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs is the budgetary equivalent of that.

With such drastic budgetary cuts, this administration might as well have cut lives short.

“Kayo ang boss ko!” Prove it to millions of OFWs and their families here at home, Mr. President. This is in your power to change. Do not cut the budget for the DFA’s assistance to nationals and legal assistance fund."

Read the rest of the entry here

At Least 10M OFW Votes for Susan Ople

(Feel free to copy, repost or send this article by email to your blog or network.)

Sikapin kong magTaglish, upang madaling maunawaan ng ating mga kababayan sa kahit anong antas ng lipunan, at sa kahit saan mang panig ng mundo. In the next 10 days, before the May 10 election day, I am pleading for you to reach out to one or more members of your families and inner circle friends to influence, campaign and vote for senatorial candidate Susan “Toots” Ople.

Susan Ople, No. 38 in the voting ballot for senator is a daughter of late Blas Ople - the "Father of OFW’s and Labor Laws". She is an active advocate of migrant workers, tagapagtanggol ng mga OFWs at dating Labor Undersecretary. Kung merong nag-iisang kandidato na nakausap ko, na-meet, and always in touch with - lalo na about OFW issues, ito ay walang iba kundi si Toots Ople.

Susan Ople during our lunch meeting discussing her platforms and support for OFW Jan 2009

Is it possible that the name of Susan Ople rise to the Senate from the vote of the modern day-heroes daw? Is it possible that we can lock atleast 10 million votes from our combined OFW and OFW families votes to elevate Susan Ople’s chances to secure a Senate seat? I think we can.

Susan Ople as Key speaker during the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards Dec 2009

Paano po natin magagawa ito? Here are some of the suggestions. In the coming days you will be sending thousands of pesos ng pinaghirapan nating pera sa mga mahal natin sa buhay sa Pilipinas. In your conversation, please ask your dad, your mom, your husband, your wife, your brother, your sister, your sons, your daughters, your friends na iboto sa May 10 ang senatoriable No. 38 sa balota, Susan Toots Ople – the OFW Senator!

1. TEXT/SMS

2. Overseas Calls

3. Email Forwarding

4. Chat and Internet Messages (Yahoo, Skype, Gtalk and Hotmail/MSN)

5. Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, Plurk, and other Social Network

6. Forums

7. Organizations/Societies/Clubs

8. Blogs/Notes

9. Home front Campaigning

10. Word of Mouth

Magpadala po tayo ng mga text messages at pwede din po nating i-forward ang mga messages na ito sa sa ating kapamilya at kapuso. Sa pagtawag po natin, pakisambit na iboto nila ang # 38 na pagkasenador sa balota sa si Susan Ople. Sa inyong pakikipagchat sa mga mahal sa buhay sa Yahoo or Skype or Gtalk, pakimention po na iboto nila si Susan Ople sa pagkasenado. Pwede ring iforward natin sa email nila ang article na ito, or ipost natin na nangangampanya tayo na iboto si Susan Ople sa inyong mga status updates at thread ng Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, Plurk at other social networks. Sa ating mga forums, mga organizations at club meetings, maging sa ating mga blogs at notes, wag po natin kalimutan ang # 38, Susan Toots Ople. kailangan ng mga OFW sa buong mundo ng isang tunay na tinig sa loob ng Senado, ihatid natin si Toots sa Senado pamamagitan ng ating mga boto.

Kahit sino po ang ating pangulo na sinusuportahan, at kahit anong partido tayo, iisa lang ang ating bansa, at iisa lang ang ating pangarap. Iisa lang din po ang tumatakbong senador na alam natin na kakampi ng mga OFW. Let Susan Ople’s name rise to the Senate from the votes of the OFW’s. Ipakita po natin sa buong mundo – that we have a collective voice, that we also have a ‘command votes’ and that we too, can make a difference.

To learn more about Susan Ople here.