Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:53:00 07/10/2009
BAMBANG, NUEVA VIZCAYA -- She collected scraps from garbage bins to survive in Hong Kong, but she came home in Barangay (village) Aliaga here on Wednesday with gifts for her neighbors and a movie contract about her honesty.
Mildred Perez Bonde, 38, a Filipino domestic helper in Hong Kong who won praises for returning P2.1 million in cash and checks which she found in a garbage heap, came home to a hero’s welcome from her family members, relatives and village mates.
She said a company was interested to produce a movie about her life story and has offered her a P5-million contract.
If the movie becomes successful, she said she would donate P1 million to this farming village, 7 kilometers from the town proper.
Bonde, who was accompanied by officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration from Manila, was awarded a certificate by village officials for her honesty.
United Methodist Church ministers also celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for her.
Residents and officials, led by Bambang Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma and Nueva Vizcaya Governor Luisa Cuaresma, joined Bonde and her family in a get-together lunch.
Cuaresma said Bonde uplifted the image of Filipinos in Hong Kong “who are often verbally maltreated by wealthy Chinese businessmen.”
“I noticed this when I was in Hong Kong. Because of Mildred’s good deed, we can overcome this discrimination. It really pays to be good,” Cuaresma said.
Danilo Barroga, village chief of Aliaga, said they were proud of Bonde’s honesty.
Bonde recalled that when she was a child, she was scolded by her father for taking labong (bamboo shoots) without permission from their neighbor. Ben Moses Ebreo, Inquirer Northern Luzon
This is very inspiring news, not just for OFWs but for the whole Philippines as well. We need more people like Mildred Bonde. She uplifts the image of Filipinos all over the world with just one kind gesture. Honesty, still is, the best policy.
For more news, click here.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Pinoys in US Donate to Ailing OFW
By Sam Tongson 07/08/2009 12:09 AM
This is a story of how TV plays a big role in bringing people from different paths and places together, and the power the medium has in creating a positive impact on viewers. It began three weeks ago when the tragic plight of 49-year old former domestic helper Elisa Bataanon, was featured on the ANC weekly show "Crossing Borders (Thursdays, 10.30 pm)," a program that addresses the concerns of overseas Filipinos. Elisa's life story drew not just sympathy from the show's viewers, but also moved others to commit donations.
Elisa worked as a maid for eight years in the UK and Saudi Arabia in the 80's. While she was overseas, misfortune struck her life several times. Her husband was murdered, and her modest home, which she had saved hard for, burned down. Left with the burden of raising her two children, Elisa was forced to come back home to the Philippines in 1996. She worked hard, selling food at the wet market while taking care of her kids at their home in Las Pinas. Physically exhausted from being a single mother, Elisa suffered a stroke three years ago and her condition immobilized her legs. Today, she's unable to walk and has to be carried whenever she goes around.
During the interview on ANC’’s Crossing Borders, the frail, tiny woman was teary-eyed as she recalled her various misfortunes and the hardship she had to go through while bringing up her boys on her meager income.
In recognition of her sad plight, the Overseas Workers' Welfare Association gave Elisa a cash donation on Migrants Day last June 7. Elisa broke down in tears when she heard her name called during the ceremony. She plans to use the money to start a small business and to provide for the education of her third child, a boy she has adopted from her relatives.
Elisa's story was caught by regular viewers of the program, a group of physical therapists in the US. The group pledged to make a donation to Elisa should they pass the National Physical Therapy Examination or NPTE in the US. One of them, a therapist known as Bluzaza on her multiply site, sent a message on the show's site, addressed to the host, immigration lawyer Mike Templo. This is her heartwarming message,"Nais ko pong ipabalita sa inyo na sa wakas, nakapasa na ako ng NPTE...Napanood ko po ang itinalakay ninyong kuwento ni Aling Eliza nang mga nakaraang linggo. Kumurot po itong kuwentong ito sa aming puso, at sabi po namin ng mga kasamahan kong kakapasa lamang ng NPTE na nais naming makibahagi ng aming munting biyaya kay Aling Eliza pag pumasa na kami. Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataong binuksan ninyo at ninyong programa na makibahagi po kami ng aming mga munting biyaya sa buhay, lalung-lalo na sa mga kapatid naming OFW."
ANC’s Crossing Borders, hosted by immigration lawyer Mike Templo, is now in touch with Bluzaza to facilitate the donation. Her message is a positive ending to a tragic story and shows the power that TV has in bridging the gulf between Filipinos abroad and those who remain in the Philippines.
as of 07/08/2009 12:15 AM
I'm sure there are a lot more ELISA's out there who have sacrificed working as OFWs yet, misfortune have found them and haven't really risen up from the murk of poverty. Thanks to modernization, things such as these catch the media's attention therefore, help is given even by people not known to the person involved. I just hope the government can give OFWs and ex-OFWs alike a more permanent and stable assistance for their growing problems.
For more news, click here.
This is a story of how TV plays a big role in bringing people from different paths and places together, and the power the medium has in creating a positive impact on viewers. It began three weeks ago when the tragic plight of 49-year old former domestic helper Elisa Bataanon, was featured on the ANC weekly show "Crossing Borders (Thursdays, 10.30 pm)," a program that addresses the concerns of overseas Filipinos. Elisa's life story drew not just sympathy from the show's viewers, but also moved others to commit donations.
Elisa worked as a maid for eight years in the UK and Saudi Arabia in the 80's. While she was overseas, misfortune struck her life several times. Her husband was murdered, and her modest home, which she had saved hard for, burned down. Left with the burden of raising her two children, Elisa was forced to come back home to the Philippines in 1996. She worked hard, selling food at the wet market while taking care of her kids at their home in Las Pinas. Physically exhausted from being a single mother, Elisa suffered a stroke three years ago and her condition immobilized her legs. Today, she's unable to walk and has to be carried whenever she goes around.
During the interview on ANC’’s Crossing Borders, the frail, tiny woman was teary-eyed as she recalled her various misfortunes and the hardship she had to go through while bringing up her boys on her meager income.
In recognition of her sad plight, the Overseas Workers' Welfare Association gave Elisa a cash donation on Migrants Day last June 7. Elisa broke down in tears when she heard her name called during the ceremony. She plans to use the money to start a small business and to provide for the education of her third child, a boy she has adopted from her relatives.
Elisa's story was caught by regular viewers of the program, a group of physical therapists in the US. The group pledged to make a donation to Elisa should they pass the National Physical Therapy Examination or NPTE in the US. One of them, a therapist known as Bluzaza on her multiply site, sent a message on the show's site, addressed to the host, immigration lawyer Mike Templo. This is her heartwarming message,"Nais ko pong ipabalita sa inyo na sa wakas, nakapasa na ako ng NPTE...Napanood ko po ang itinalakay ninyong kuwento ni Aling Eliza nang mga nakaraang linggo. Kumurot po itong kuwentong ito sa aming puso, at sabi po namin ng mga kasamahan kong kakapasa lamang ng NPTE na nais naming makibahagi ng aming munting biyaya kay Aling Eliza pag pumasa na kami. Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataong binuksan ninyo at ninyong programa na makibahagi po kami ng aming mga munting biyaya sa buhay, lalung-lalo na sa mga kapatid naming OFW."
ANC’s Crossing Borders, hosted by immigration lawyer Mike Templo, is now in touch with Bluzaza to facilitate the donation. Her message is a positive ending to a tragic story and shows the power that TV has in bridging the gulf between Filipinos abroad and those who remain in the Philippines.
as of 07/08/2009 12:15 AM
I'm sure there are a lot more ELISA's out there who have sacrificed working as OFWs yet, misfortune have found them and haven't really risen up from the murk of poverty. Thanks to modernization, things such as these catch the media's attention therefore, help is given even by people not known to the person involved. I just hope the government can give OFWs and ex-OFWs alike a more permanent and stable assistance for their growing problems.
For more news, click here.
Monday, 6 July 2009
Sacked OFW in Dubai fights for benefits
By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 14:54:00 06/28/2009
Found this news from Inquirer. Read on....
LUCENA CITY, Quezon—An overseas Filipino worker in Dubai has appealed to the Philippine government to help him get his separation benefits and passport from his former employer, an Indian-owned company.
Emmanuel Calayag, former municipal environment officer of Dolores, Quezon, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an e-mail that he was terminated by his company Maxxcom FZCO on May 3, 2009 without prior notice. He also said the company had his visa cancelled on May 22, 2009.
Calayag once worked as sales executive in Maxxcom, which sells computer and other information technology products. He said he did not violate any of the terms and conditions stipulated in the employment contract or any of the provisions of United Arab Emirates labor law.
He said company officials informed him that his service was being terminated because of the worldwide recession. Worse, they refused to turn over his passport, which prevented him from getting another job in Abu Dhabi and refused to pay for his plane ticket back to the Philippines as well as other separation benefits.
“Until now, they keep my passport in spite of several requests I made to the company to hand over my passport to me. I also informed them that they cannot keep the passport because it is illegal in the UAE for the employer to keep their employees' passports but they still keep it,” he said.
He said company officials advised him to just leave UAE.
“However, when I asked them for the plane ticket and gratuity for my rendered services, which I am entitled to, considering the number of months I worked with the company, i.e., from October 09, 2008 to May 03, 2009, they refused to do so,” he said.
He said he recently informed the Philippine consulate office in Dubai about his plight.
Edwin Gil Mendoza, Philippine vice consul in Dubai, wrote his boss, Ramesh Balani, managing director of Maxxcom FZCO, to seek for the return of Calayag’s passport.
“I am sure you are very familiar with UAE laws stating that it is illegal for employers to retain the passport of their employees especially when the employees themselves expressly declare that they wish to have possession of their own passport,” Mendoza told Balani in his letter dated June 25.
Calayag said Balani ignored the demand of the Philippine official.
“He (Balani) said he will just surrender my passport to Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority). This is a blatant disregard of Philippine authority,” he said.
Without his passport, Calayag said he could not get a job with an Abu Dhabi company that had expressed willingness to hire him.
“I have to continue the fight for my right to work, as an eye opener for the government that there are lots of OFWs who suffer the same predicament,” he said.
Nakakalungkot.....tsk...tsk...tsk....
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 14:54:00 06/28/2009
Found this news from Inquirer. Read on....
LUCENA CITY, Quezon—An overseas Filipino worker in Dubai has appealed to the Philippine government to help him get his separation benefits and passport from his former employer, an Indian-owned company.
Emmanuel Calayag, former municipal environment officer of Dolores, Quezon, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an e-mail that he was terminated by his company Maxxcom FZCO on May 3, 2009 without prior notice. He also said the company had his visa cancelled on May 22, 2009.
Calayag once worked as sales executive in Maxxcom, which sells computer and other information technology products. He said he did not violate any of the terms and conditions stipulated in the employment contract or any of the provisions of United Arab Emirates labor law.
He said company officials informed him that his service was being terminated because of the worldwide recession. Worse, they refused to turn over his passport, which prevented him from getting another job in Abu Dhabi and refused to pay for his plane ticket back to the Philippines as well as other separation benefits.
“Until now, they keep my passport in spite of several requests I made to the company to hand over my passport to me. I also informed them that they cannot keep the passport because it is illegal in the UAE for the employer to keep their employees' passports but they still keep it,” he said.
He said company officials advised him to just leave UAE.
“However, when I asked them for the plane ticket and gratuity for my rendered services, which I am entitled to, considering the number of months I worked with the company, i.e., from October 09, 2008 to May 03, 2009, they refused to do so,” he said.
He said he recently informed the Philippine consulate office in Dubai about his plight.
Edwin Gil Mendoza, Philippine vice consul in Dubai, wrote his boss, Ramesh Balani, managing director of Maxxcom FZCO, to seek for the return of Calayag’s passport.
“I am sure you are very familiar with UAE laws stating that it is illegal for employers to retain the passport of their employees especially when the employees themselves expressly declare that they wish to have possession of their own passport,” Mendoza told Balani in his letter dated June 25.
Calayag said Balani ignored the demand of the Philippine official.
“He (Balani) said he will just surrender my passport to Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority). This is a blatant disregard of Philippine authority,” he said.
Without his passport, Calayag said he could not get a job with an Abu Dhabi company that had expressed willingness to hire him.
“I have to continue the fight for my right to work, as an eye opener for the government that there are lots of OFWs who suffer the same predicament,” he said.
Nakakalungkot.....tsk...tsk...tsk....
OFW inflows from US down 10% in January-April
Philstar.com - Tuesday, June 23
Got this from Yahoo News. This might interest our OFW friends out there. Read on....
MANILA, Philippines – Remittances from the US declined by 10 percent in the first four months of this year and if this continues for the rest of the year, total remittances could post the first decline since the country started sending workers abroad.
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that from January to April, remittances from the US reached only $2.286 billion, accounting for nearly half of the $5.498-billion total remittances for the period this year.
BSP data indicated that the four-month level was 10.43 percent lower than the $2.552-billion level posted over the same period in 2008, with the largest decline recorded in sea-based remittances which dropped by 16.15 percent.
Out of the total remittances coming from the US, inflows from sea-based workers accounted for $635.83 million while land-based workers accounted for $1.917 billion.
The BSP has been careful about breaking down remittances that come from the US since these also include inflows that only pass through the US financial system but do not actually originate from US-located Filipinos.
A clearer indicator, according to the BSP data, were remittances that came from land-based workers which presumably represented workers located in the US as well as immigrants.
Nevertheless, inflows from both sources showed a decline in the first four months, indicating that if the trend continued for the remainder of the year, total remittances could decline as expected by analysts and private think tanks except the BSP.
Remittances from Filipinos in Canada, on the other hand, surged by 64.69 percent to $567.243 million during the first four months of this year from $344.434 million a year ago.
On the other hand, remittances from workers located elsewhere in Asia showed significant resilience except for Hong Kong and Taiwan where remittances shrank during the period.
Total remittances from overseas Filipinos in Asia went up 14.31 percent from $604.1 million last year to $690.57 million despite the 22.45 percent decline in remittances from Hong Kong-based workers.
BSP data showed that workers in Hong Kong sent home $114.479 million this year compared with $147.6 million sent last year because the 25.52-percent decline in inflows from land-based workers wiped out the 18 percent increase in inflows from sea-based workers.
However, BSP data showed that remittances from Japan-based workers increased by 53.37 percent from $164.155 million last year to $251.761 million this year mostly because of the significant expansion in remittances from land-based workers.
Workers from Singapore, whose remittances also represented a significant portion of total remittances, sent home 30.56 percent more during the four months period to $217.226 million from $166.383 million.
Although the slowdown was significant, data also showed that remittances from other areas like Europe and the Middle East still increased but inflows from the US offset these increases.
Remittances from Europe increased by 4.21 percent, mostly from sea-based workers whose remittances increased by 30.5 percent, off-setting the 6.43 percent decline in remittances from land-based workers. - By Des Ferriols (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Got this from Yahoo News. This might interest our OFW friends out there. Read on....
MANILA, Philippines – Remittances from the US declined by 10 percent in the first four months of this year and if this continues for the rest of the year, total remittances could post the first decline since the country started sending workers abroad.
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that from January to April, remittances from the US reached only $2.286 billion, accounting for nearly half of the $5.498-billion total remittances for the period this year.
BSP data indicated that the four-month level was 10.43 percent lower than the $2.552-billion level posted over the same period in 2008, with the largest decline recorded in sea-based remittances which dropped by 16.15 percent.
Out of the total remittances coming from the US, inflows from sea-based workers accounted for $635.83 million while land-based workers accounted for $1.917 billion.
The BSP has been careful about breaking down remittances that come from the US since these also include inflows that only pass through the US financial system but do not actually originate from US-located Filipinos.
A clearer indicator, according to the BSP data, were remittances that came from land-based workers which presumably represented workers located in the US as well as immigrants.
Nevertheless, inflows from both sources showed a decline in the first four months, indicating that if the trend continued for the remainder of the year, total remittances could decline as expected by analysts and private think tanks except the BSP.
Remittances from Filipinos in Canada, on the other hand, surged by 64.69 percent to $567.243 million during the first four months of this year from $344.434 million a year ago.
On the other hand, remittances from workers located elsewhere in Asia showed significant resilience except for Hong Kong and Taiwan where remittances shrank during the period.
Total remittances from overseas Filipinos in Asia went up 14.31 percent from $604.1 million last year to $690.57 million despite the 22.45 percent decline in remittances from Hong Kong-based workers.
BSP data showed that workers in Hong Kong sent home $114.479 million this year compared with $147.6 million sent last year because the 25.52-percent decline in inflows from land-based workers wiped out the 18 percent increase in inflows from sea-based workers.
However, BSP data showed that remittances from Japan-based workers increased by 53.37 percent from $164.155 million last year to $251.761 million this year mostly because of the significant expansion in remittances from land-based workers.
Workers from Singapore, whose remittances also represented a significant portion of total remittances, sent home 30.56 percent more during the four months period to $217.226 million from $166.383 million.
Although the slowdown was significant, data also showed that remittances from other areas like Europe and the Middle East still increased but inflows from the US offset these increases.
Remittances from Europe increased by 4.21 percent, mostly from sea-based workers whose remittances increased by 30.5 percent, off-setting the 6.43 percent decline in remittances from land-based workers. - By Des Ferriols (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Sunday, 5 July 2009
The Paradox of an OFW
It's so hard to be an OFW. You sacrifice everything, specially your time with your family, just to be able to earn money for, guess what, YOUR FAMILY. Ang hirap, di ba? Specially if you're a first timer, sobrang nakakabaliw!
Imagine, tuwang tuwa ka na natanggap ka sa trabaho pero andami mong kelangang i-prepare na documents, na syempre, kelangan ng pera para maayos ang mga ito. Ang pera mo naman ay sapat lang para sa pang araw araw na gastusin kaya't anong iyong gagawin, manghihiram ng pera expecting that you will earn enough to pay for it once you're in the country you're going to work in. Ilang taon ang contract? One year? Two years? Sabi mo sa sarili mo, ok lang. Kakayanin mo ang lahat para sa pamilya mo. Ginagawa mo ang lahat nang ito para sa pamilya mo.
Pagdating ng araw ng pag alis mo, magkahalong tuwa at saya ang 'yong nararamdaman, tuwa dahil sa wakas, mabibigyan mo na ng magandang bukas ang pamilya mo, hoping that this will be the start of a new life for you and your family. Umaasa na ito na ang simula ng pag angat mo sa buhay. Lungkot dahil iiwanan mo ang pamilya mo, lalong lalo na ang mga anak mo. Pero iniisip mo na lang, para sa kanila naman ito eh.
Pagdating sa destination mo, kayod kabayo ka, para lang makaipon para sa pamilyang naiwan sa pinas pero sa unang 3 buwan mo, para kang mababaliw sa lungkot! Homesick na homesick ka at iniisip mo na gusto mo nang umuwi, na di mo na kaya, na miss na miss mo na ang asawa mo at mga anak mo. Pero pag naiisip mo naman ang kalagayan ng Pilipinas, pakiramdam mo, walang pag asa doon. Mahirap kumita ng pera. Kayod ka nga nang kayod, kulang pa rin ang sinusweldo mo. Buti pa dyan at kahit papano, kumikita ka ng di hamak na mas malaki kesa naman magtityaga ka sa Pilipinas. Kaya kahit anong lungkot mo, kahit anong hirap ng trabaho, tinitiis mo para lang makapagpadala sa pamilya sa Pilipinas. Iniisip mo, ilang taon ka lang dito, mag iipon ka para pag uwi mo, magtatayo ka ng maliit na business para di ka na kelangan pang mawalay sa pamilya mo.
Lumipas ang isang taon, dalawang taon....heto at pauwi ka na. Ang saya saya! Sobrang excited ka na makita ang asawa at mga anak. Pagdating sa pinas, parang pyesta! Pati kapitbahay mo tuwang tuwa sa iyong pag uwi. Syempre may konting handaan, may inuman, lahat masaya. Lalo ka na kasi bidang bida ka sa pag uwi mo.
Matapos ang kasiyahan, reality sets in. Wala pa rin kayong ipon. Ilang taon ka na rin nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa pero wala pa ring ipon, wala pa ring sariling bahay, regular naman ang padala mo pero bakit ganun? Walang nangyayari....wala pa rin kayong ipon? Bakit? Hirap na hirap ka na sa pagtatrabaho pero wala pa rin natitira sa kita mo. Sabi mo na lang, pagbalik mo, hinding hinding hindi talaga pwedeng ganito uli. Sa pagbalik mo, kelangan makaipon ka na.
Sana nga....di naman mahirap eh. Kelangan lang ng disiplina para makaipon at alam mo dapat kung paano ka makakaipon.
Dito matutulungan ko kayo......
Sa mga susunod ko pang blogs....
Imagine, tuwang tuwa ka na natanggap ka sa trabaho pero andami mong kelangang i-prepare na documents, na syempre, kelangan ng pera para maayos ang mga ito. Ang pera mo naman ay sapat lang para sa pang araw araw na gastusin kaya't anong iyong gagawin, manghihiram ng pera expecting that you will earn enough to pay for it once you're in the country you're going to work in. Ilang taon ang contract? One year? Two years? Sabi mo sa sarili mo, ok lang. Kakayanin mo ang lahat para sa pamilya mo. Ginagawa mo ang lahat nang ito para sa pamilya mo.
Pagdating ng araw ng pag alis mo, magkahalong tuwa at saya ang 'yong nararamdaman, tuwa dahil sa wakas, mabibigyan mo na ng magandang bukas ang pamilya mo, hoping that this will be the start of a new life for you and your family. Umaasa na ito na ang simula ng pag angat mo sa buhay. Lungkot dahil iiwanan mo ang pamilya mo, lalong lalo na ang mga anak mo. Pero iniisip mo na lang, para sa kanila naman ito eh.
Pagdating sa destination mo, kayod kabayo ka, para lang makaipon para sa pamilyang naiwan sa pinas pero sa unang 3 buwan mo, para kang mababaliw sa lungkot! Homesick na homesick ka at iniisip mo na gusto mo nang umuwi, na di mo na kaya, na miss na miss mo na ang asawa mo at mga anak mo. Pero pag naiisip mo naman ang kalagayan ng Pilipinas, pakiramdam mo, walang pag asa doon. Mahirap kumita ng pera. Kayod ka nga nang kayod, kulang pa rin ang sinusweldo mo. Buti pa dyan at kahit papano, kumikita ka ng di hamak na mas malaki kesa naman magtityaga ka sa Pilipinas. Kaya kahit anong lungkot mo, kahit anong hirap ng trabaho, tinitiis mo para lang makapagpadala sa pamilya sa Pilipinas. Iniisip mo, ilang taon ka lang dito, mag iipon ka para pag uwi mo, magtatayo ka ng maliit na business para di ka na kelangan pang mawalay sa pamilya mo.
Lumipas ang isang taon, dalawang taon....heto at pauwi ka na. Ang saya saya! Sobrang excited ka na makita ang asawa at mga anak. Pagdating sa pinas, parang pyesta! Pati kapitbahay mo tuwang tuwa sa iyong pag uwi. Syempre may konting handaan, may inuman, lahat masaya. Lalo ka na kasi bidang bida ka sa pag uwi mo.
Matapos ang kasiyahan, reality sets in. Wala pa rin kayong ipon. Ilang taon ka na rin nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa pero wala pa ring ipon, wala pa ring sariling bahay, regular naman ang padala mo pero bakit ganun? Walang nangyayari....wala pa rin kayong ipon? Bakit? Hirap na hirap ka na sa pagtatrabaho pero wala pa rin natitira sa kita mo. Sabi mo na lang, pagbalik mo, hinding hinding hindi talaga pwedeng ganito uli. Sa pagbalik mo, kelangan makaipon ka na.
Sana nga....di naman mahirap eh. Kelangan lang ng disiplina para makaipon at alam mo dapat kung paano ka makakaipon.
Dito matutulungan ko kayo......
Sa mga susunod ko pang blogs....
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