Coast Guard and Navy ships rushed to the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao early Sunday to rescue some 959 passengers from a tilting "SuperFerry 9" vessel.Radio dzBB's Lito Laparan reported the SuperFerry 9, which had 847 passengers and 112 crew, was tilting more than 50 degrees when rescuer rushed to the scene at 6:30 a.m. Sunday."Ang report sa amin, ... kumukuha na ng life raft, in coordination with SuperFerry managment... Ang kaninang 'di tumatalon umpisa nang tumatalon mula sa barko (In coordination with SuperFerry, two nearby vessels are now rescuing passengers aboard life rafts. The passengers who were scared to jump off have started abandoning the SuperFerry as well)," Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said in an interview on dzBB radio.Balilo said sea marshals were also sent to the vessel to calm panicking passengers.He said Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo ordered a general alert in the area to maritime units and vessels to render assistance while Coast Guard and Navy vessels rush to the site.The Coast Guard sent search-and-rescue vessels BRP Batangas from Cebu, and BRP Corregidor from Palawan to help in search-and-rescue work, he said.Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said they have deployed two new multi-purpose attack craft and an Islander aircraft to help in the rescue operations.Aboitiz, which owns the SuperFerry, sent the container ship "Myriad" to the area to help in rescue operations.The MV Ocean Integrity, a passing passenger ship, was also in the area.The dzBB report said SuperFerry 9 crew already deployed 30 life rafts with 25-person capacity but many passengers still refused to get off the ship because they were scared.Initial investigation showed the ship started to list at 2 a.m. It was not immediately clear what caused the ship to tilt and on what side it was tilting.The ship left General Santos City at 8:45 a.m. Saturday and was heading for Iloilo.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
2 hurt as ship with 959 passengers tilts off Zamboanga
Two people were reported hurt as a “SuperFerry 9" vessel bound for Iloilo from General Santos City listed off Zamboanga Peninsula before dawn Sunday.Coast Guard and Navy ships rushed to the scene early Sunday to rescue some 959 passengers from the tilting ship.“Mga 150 passengers na ang rescued ng MV Ocean Integrity, may dalawang reported injured (A nearby ship, MV Ocean Integrity, rescued 150 passengers, but two were reported injured)," Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said in an interview on dzBB radio, citing initial reports reaching his office.But he said no details were immediately available on the two injured passengers.Tamayo said the SuperFerry was located off Siocon in Zamboanga Peninsula. He said initial reports showed the ship had problems when its generator set went “on and off."He said the Coast Guard already called for assistance from the Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police, and local government units in the Zamboanga Peninsula area.Tamayo said that as of 7:30 a.m., the Navy’s boats 116 and 117 have reached the area.Even former Rep. Romeo Jalosjos has sent fishing boats to help in the search-and-rescue operations, he said.Radio dzBB’s Lito Laparan reported the SuperFerry 9, which had 847 passengers and 112 crew, had listed more than 50 degrees as of 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
2 dead, 2 hurt as Superferry with 959 lists off Zambo
Two people were confirmed dead as a “SuperFerry 9" vessel bound for Iloilo province listed off Zamboanga Peninsula before dawn Sunday.Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo cited sketchy reports reaching him that the two fatalities, who he said likely drowned, were not immediately identified.“Isang bata at isang matanda (The fatalities are a child and an elderly person)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio, but did not name them. He said the two were among those brought to the passenger ship “Ocean Integrity."Earlier, Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said at least two people were reported as injured.Coast Guard and Navy ships rushed to the Zamboanga Peninsula early Sunday to rescue some 959 passengers from the listing “SuperFerry 9" vessel.At least 155 people from the SuperFerry 9 had been rescued as of 8 a.m., radio reports said.“Mga 150 passengers na ang rescued ng MV Ocean Integrity, may dalawang reported injured (A nearby ship, MV Ocean Integrity, rescued 150 passengers, but two were reported injured)," Tamayo told dzBB radio, citing initial reports reaching him. But he said no details were immediately available on the two injured.Tamayo said the SuperFerry was located off Siocon in Zamboanga Peninsula. He said initial reports showed the ship had problems when its generator set went “on and off."He said the Coast Guard already called for assistance from the Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police, and local government units in the Zamboanga Peninsula area.
4 dead, 84 others missing as SuperFerry sinks off Zambo
Four passengers were killed and two others were injured when a passenger ship sank Sunday morning in Siocon Bay near the Zamboanga Peninsula, an official of the Philippine Navy reported.In an interview on dzBB, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo confirmed that four people have been reported dead after "SuperFerry 9" finally sank after tilting for several hours in Siocon Bay.Arevalo said that three of the fatalities were reported to have been taken aboard by a passing vessel, MV Myriad, while one was recovered by a Navy rescue boat. According to Arevalo, SuperFerry 9, owned by the Aboitiz Transport System (ATS), sank completely at 8:30 a.m. According to Philippine Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, however, only three have been reported killed in the accident.As of 11:55 a.m. Tamayo said 880 people have been rescued and/or recovered, while 84 are still unaccounted for. The ship carried 964 people, including 117 crew, he said.Initial investigation showed that the ship left General Santos City at 8:45 a.m. Saturday and was heading for Iloilo when it started to started tilting to one side at 2 a.m. Citing initial reports, Tamayo said that SuperFerry 9 had problems when its generator "went on and off." Authorities said they would investigate the cause of the sinking as soon as search and rescue operations are over.ATS updateAccording to an ATS update at 1 p.m. rescue operations are ongoing and three of the ship's passengers have been reported dead. The company said a total of 870 passengers and crew were on board SuperFerry 9, contradicting an earlier report from the Coast Guard.It said the Philippine Air Force has deployed two PAF helicopters and 1 OV-10 plane to assist in the search. The Philippine Army and the US AIR force assistance group based in Zamboanga have also deployed helicopters to join the search for missing passengers and crew. All rescued passengers and crew will be brought to Zamboanga port. Assistance including medical treatment, hotel accommodation and transport shall be provided for the passengers and crew, the company said. SuperFerry 1 is estimated to arrive in Zamboanga tonight to transfer passengers to Iloilo and Manila.
Bang out of order : A Filipina attacked by an Iraqi Lady in UAE
A shopper was punched, slapped and spat at for accidentally running over the hem of a woman’s abaya with a pushchair in a Dubai supermarket.
The victim, who asked to be known by her surname Davis, was shopping in Emirates Co-op store in Al Garhoud when the double-buggy she was pushing caught the edge of another customer’s clothing and banged into her leg.
The 32-year-old apologised immediately but was slammed against the shelves, punched and scratched by the woman who “went crazy”.
Davis, pictured, who was left with cuts and bruises after the assault, told 7DAYS: “I was coming past her and the pushchair went onto her abaya.
“She said I hit her leg and she started shouting bad words at me and calling me the Arabic word for dog - I know that word.”
The attacker, who is believed to be an Iraqi woman in her mid-30s, screamed and shouted at Davis before grabbing her by her wrist, tearing at her hair and throwing her against the shelves.
She repeatedly hit her while shocked staff and customers looked on. As a final insult, she then spat twice in Davis’s face as she was pulled away by the supermarket’s security guard who called the police.
A police medical report lists Davis’ injuries as scratches to her ear and neck, bruising to her upper arm, swelling to her face and a laceration on her little toe.
“When she called me a dog, I did tell her to shut up and walked away,” Davis said.
“But she followed me and grabbed my arm. She was hitting me and shouting. At the end, they pulled her off me but she slapped me again and spat in my face. I was very upset.”
Davis, a Filipina, works for an Arab-American family and was in the store with her employer’s two toddlers at the time of the assault. The employer, who asked not to be named, rushed straight to the supermarket.
She told “I just cannot believe the behaviour of this woman. When I arrived, she was just calmly queuing at the checkout like nothing had happened. We are going to press charges. You cannot treat people like this.”
Dubai Police confirmed officers were called to the incident and are investigating the attack.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Fake cops on trial for robbing Pinoys in UAE
Two of three men posing as policemen were brought to trial in the United Arab Emirates for robbing a group of Filipinos in an apartment, a UAE-based news site reported.A report on Khaleej Times (www.khaleejtimes.com) described the suspects as Syrian and Jordanian, adding one of them remains at large. It did not name the suspects, however.“The Syrian and the Jordanian suspects are believed to have used knives to intimidate the plaintiffs and force them to give up their belongings," the report said.It said the men entered an apartment of Filipinos at night and stole cash and valuables after posing as Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officers.The report said the men took items including mobile phones, sunglasses, cash money, laptops, ATMs, health cards, labor cards and other belongings.
Fil-Am bet bows out of US Congress race, endorses front runner
CHICAGO, Illinois – Hampered by her late entry into the race and excluded from the debates with other candidates, Filipino-American Tiffany Rene Estrella Attwood bowed out Tuesday from the race for US congressional primary election in the open seat for the 10th District in Northern California. She endorsed front-runner California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi.If nobody gets 50% plus one vote in the primary election, a runoff election will take place on Nov. 3rd.Ross E. Butler, campaign manager of Attwood for Congress, said, “Tiffany had decided to gracefully bow out of this race and endorse Lt. Gov. Garamendi for Congress. This decision to endorse the lieutenant governor was an obvious but careful choice made by Tiffany."“As our campaign was failing to find debate invitations, we finally decided to hold a formal protest in Fairfield, California, where the debate was being held to get our voice heard. With enough noise, people inside the debate took notice.“Out of all the candidates, it was Lt. Gov. Garamendi who came to Tiffany and asked, ‘What can we do to help you out?’ He also invited Tiffany to participate in a Pacific Island Town Hall meeting where she sat beside Garamendi and answered questions with the lieutenant governor. Both Tiffany and I, as her campaign manager, were convinced that the lieutenant governor was very genuine in his concerns and also the concerns of Filipino and Latino communities which she represents," Butler added.Garamendi is also endorsed by the Democratic Filipino Caucus.Butler added that Attwood’s campaign has now focused to work for Garamendi’s victory.He said this election is not the end of Attwood’s quest to run for Congress, adding, “I firmly believe that putting a Filipina in Congress is tantamount. Attwood, is the choice for Congress."Butler added, some people who are impressed have nice words for her. Among their comments:1. She is very intelligent over many issues and world/national events. Very engaging;2. Tiffany has a fun sense of humor, which she uses to her advantage in speaking or defusing potential conflict;3. She is an excellent speaker and can handle everything from the intimate gathering to large crowds;4. Tiffany's 17-plus years’ background in finance, housing and urban planning makes her a great candidate for a political office; and5. She is beautiful and demure.A daughter of Manila-born James Olidan Estrella, Tiffany was one of the 12 candidates for the 10th District seat vacated by Ellen Tauscher, who had accepted the position of undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs under State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.Her father, who is now 64, and who had worked as bus driver in Nevada, left the Philippines when he was “two or two-and-a-half years old," she said. Her grandmother, Rose Olidan Wustistam, is from Mindanao. Rose met during World War II and later married, a Portuguese, James DeCamba Estrella, a veteran of World War II.Her mother, Isabelle Marie Paz, was born in Arizona. Isabelle was the daughter of Carlos Grijaval Paz, a Mescalero Apache Native American, and Marie Louise Lopez, a Mexican.Born in Hayward, California, Tiffany Rene Estrella Attwood is a commissioner, a volunteer position, of the City of Danville, California, Although, she is now a mortgage officer, Tiffany, wife of Francis Attwood and mother of a three-year-old daughter, Elle Rose, is pursuing a Business Finance degree. There about 8% Filipino Americans among the total numbers of voters in District 10, which is made up of the Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, and Solano counties.
Noynoy pambato ng LP: Roxas ‘di na tatakbong pangulo sa 2010 polls
MANILA – Matapos ang ilang araw na espekulasyon tungkol sa magiging standard bearer ng Liberal Party, inihayag ni Senador Manuel “Mar" Roxas II nitong Martes ang kanyang pag-atras sa panguluhang halalan upang suportahan ang kandidatura ni Senador Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III.Sa ipinatawag nitong press conference sa Club Filipino, inihayag ni Roxas nagkakaisa sila ni Aquino na magkaroon ng makabuluhang pagbabago sa bansa. Dahil dito, kahit mahirap umano sa kanyang sarili, susuportahan na lamang niya ang presidential bid ng nag-iisang anak na lalaki nina dating Pangulong Cory Aquino at dating Sen Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr. "I want to make a difference...I am the president of the Liberal party. It is within my power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for the forces of change," ayon kay Roxas."Today I'm announcing my support for the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for president in 2010," tuluyan niyang pagdeklara. “Good will win over evil." Ipinaliwanag ni Roxas na nagdesisyon na siyang magsalita upang maalis na ang pagdududa sa kaisipan ng publiko kung sino ang isasabak ng partido sa 2010 presidential elections. “Noynoy Aquino and I have the same outrage over the mess we are all in, the same way we share the solution – clean, honest and selfless public service," ayon kay Roxas. “Marami at matindi ang problema ng bansa. Kailangan natin ayusin. Matindi ang kalaban. We need a determined force for good far stronger than the festering evil around us," idinagdag niya.
Sinabi pa ni Roxas na nagdesisyon siyang umatras sa kanyang presidential bid upang mapagkaisa ang partido na unti-unting nahahati ng intrigang bumabalot sa panawagan na tumakbo si Aquino sa panguluhan. “It is within my power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for the forces of change. I choose to lead unity, not division. Bilang pinuno ng aking partido, magdedesisyon ako," anang mambabatas. “Over the weekend, Noynoy and I had a many long conversation. Masinsinang usapan. We agreed; let us forget about ourselves for a moment. This is not about us; this is about our people and our country. This is about our common dreams, the dreams of our parents," ayon kay Roxas. Like brothersKinumpirma naman ni Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin" Tanada, opisyal ng LP, nagkaroon ng tatlong pagpupulong sina Roxas at Aquino sa mga nakalipas na araw, at nag-usap bilang magkapatid. “Nagkaroon muna sila ng tatlong meetings. Pero, hindi ako kasali sa meetings kaya hindi ko alam ang kanilang pinag-usapan. They are reacting to each other like brothers," kuwento ni Tanada. Personal na desisyon umano ni Roxas na umatras at suportahan kandidatura ni Aquino. Ngunit hihintayin pa ng LP ang magiging tugon ni Aquino sa pasya ni Roxas.“We have no decision yet for Noynoy to be our standard bearer, we have to wait for the decision of Sen. Aquino (on the announcement of Roxas)," paliwanag ni Tanada. Idinagdag naman ni dating Batanes Rep. Butch Abad, opisyal din ng LP, magpapatawag si Aquino ng presscon sa Miyerkules upang ihayag ang kanyang magiging tugon sa habang ni Roxas. Tiniyak naman ni Sen. Rodolfo Biazon na susuportahan ng LP ang magiging resulta ng pag-uusap nina Roxas at Aquino.Kondisyon ni NoynoyUna rito, sinabi ni Aquino na tatlong bagay ang maaaring maging daan para magdesisyon siya upang tumakbong presidente sa 2010 elections.Una rito ay katiyakan na magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa lipunan at bansa; nakahanda ang gagamiting makinarya para sa kanyang kandidatura; at basbas ng kanyang mga kapatid na babae.Hindi pa tiyak kung si Roxas ang awtomatikong magiging bise presidente ni Roxas, ngunit naniniwala si Abad, campaign manager ng LP, malamang na ang Aquino-Roxas ang magiging tambalan sa 2010 elections ng partido.Sinikap ng GMANews.TV nitong Martes ng gabi na makausap sa telepono si Aquino upang kunan ng reaksyon sa naging desisyon ni Roxas.Ayon sa isang security aide ni Aquino na nagpakilalang si “Bong" na nakausap ng GMANews.TV sa telepono, naghahapunan ang senador kasama ang kanyang mga kapatid na sina Maria Elena "Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz at Victoria Eliza "Viel" Aquino-Dee.
After giving way to Noynoy, Mar open to VP post or reelection
After he passed on the torch to Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III as the Liberal Party’s standard bearer in the 2010 elections, Sen. Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday said that he is open to becoming Aquino’s running mate or to just seek reelection in next year's polls.A day after he "sacrificed" his shot at the presidency, Roxas said that he sees no reason why he should not continue serving the public. Roxas’ term as a senator expires in 2010. “Walang dahilan kung bakit ‘di ko iko-continue. Bukas ako diyan (vice presidency or senatorial bid), pero hindi akin ang desisyon, kasi kusang-loob kong sinabi kay Noynoy na (siya) ang magiging torchbearer ng forces of reform," Roxas said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Hirit. (I do not see any reason why I should not continue. I am open to seeking the vice presidency or reelection, but the decision is not mine because I wholeheartedly told Noynoy that he will be the torchbearer of the forces of reform.)
Nonoy has yet to announce whether he would indeed seek the presidency following Roxas’ decision. The only son of former President Corazon Aquino and the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. will reportedly make an announcement later in the day. Roxas likewise stressed that his giving way to Aquino came with no strings attached. He added that he and Aquino made no “transaction" that he would slide down as Noynoy's running mate. “Hindi ako pumasok sa public service para sa ibang dahilan kundi magsilbi. ‘Wag nating bahiran ito ng horse-trading (I entered public service for the sole purpose of being of service. Let us not taint it with horse-trading)," Roxas said. In a separate interview on dzBB radio, Roxas said that in elections, some politicians eyeing the presidency make “deals" with their possible running mates. “Usually, sa pulitiko, sasabihin, mag-slide ka na. Mag-vice ka na lang sa akin (Usually, some politicians tell other aspirants, slide down and become my vice president)." 'Hardest sacrifice'While he reiterated that giving up his presidential bid was the hardest sacrifice he had to make in his life, Roxas said he felt at peace because he was confident that he knew he did the right thing even if his decision saddened his loved ones. In the television interview, Roxas said that when he got off the stage after making his announcement Tuesday night, his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, told him she was “proud" of him. “Sinabi niya, ‘I’m proud of you.’ 'Di mo maitatanggal yung may emotion, may lungkot, may disappointment. Pero yung pinakamabigat ay nung bumababa ako sa stage, at sinabi niya, ‘I’m proud of you.’" (My mother told me she was proud of me. Of course, there were the emotions, the sadness, and disappointment. But what’s important is she told me she was proud of me.) Roxas also said that his fiancée, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, assured him that she has her continued support. "She (Sanchez) said, ‘I love you no matter what,’" Roxas said. Roxas also said that Liberal Party chairman emeritus and former Senate President Jovito Salonga told him that when his “compass" is pointing to the nation’s welfare, he could not go wrong. “Hindi ka magkakamali basta para sa bansa ang direksyon mo (You cannot go wrong when you’re directed to helping the country)," Roxas quoted Salong as saying.
Iglesia ni Cristo's Eraño Manalo dies at 84
Eraño Manalo, the head of the politically influential, vernacular-speaking, and home-grown Iglesia ni Cristo, passed away Monday afternoon, an INC official said. In a recorded announcement aired on dzBB radio, INC spokesperson Bienvenido Santiago confirmed Manalo's death at 3:53 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2009. Manalo was officially the Executive Minister of the INC, but he was also its supreme, charismatic leader who took over the church upon the death in 1963 of the founder, his father Felix Manalo. "Ikinalulungkot naming ipabatid sa buong Iglesia at sa buong sambayanan na ang tagapamahalang pangkalahatan ng Iglesia ni Cristo, ang kapatid na Eraño G. Manalo ay pinagpahinga na ng Diyos. Pumanaw siya sa kanyang tahanan sa ganap na 3:53 kahapon Agosto 31, 2009, sa gulang na 84 taon," Santiago said. (We are sad to announce to the Iglesia and to the whole nation that the Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo, our brother Eraño G. Manalo, joined our Creator. He passed away at his home 3:53 p.m. on August 31, 2009. He was 84 years old.)Santiago said that according to Dr. Ray Melchor Santos, Manalo died due to cardiopulmonary arrest. According to Santiago, Manalo's remains will lie in state at INC's Central Temple in Quezon City. Further details will be announced, Santiago added. Manalo was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo's fifth child. Manalo's flock and influenceManalo had guided his religious group through a long period of national and global expansion, and in the last decade had thrown his church's clout behind former president Joseph Estrada. The PCIJ has described the INC as "a secretive, tightly organized church composed mainly of poor members."Its membership has been estimated at between two and eight million members concentrated in Tagalog-speaking regions of Luzon. But its churches are reportedly located in over 60 countries. The INC's influence on state affairs can be traced back to its founding in 1914, when Manuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth president and a mason, cultivated a relationship with the then-obscure church as a foil to the Roman Catholic church. Its sway reached a new peak during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, who rarely failed to attend important INC events, including "Ka Erdy" Manalo's birthday, and gave an INC-affiliated company major Land Transportation Office contracts. It is widely known that the INC's power lies in the tagubilin emanating from Manalo and other church leaders, orders that cannot be disputed by members and can be used to command voting blocs around the country. While Manalo often used his power to support certain candidates in the past - aside from Marcos and Estrada, he also backed Eduardo Cojuangco in 1992 - he famously wielded his clout during the EDSA Tres demonstrations that reached the gates of Malacañang, arguably still the most serious threat the Arroyo administration has faced. Three out of four of the demonstrators were reportedly INC members. But President Arroyo eventually won Manalo to her side. When she ran in 2004, the Iglesia ni Cristo threw its support behind her. Pollster Mahar Mangahas told GMANews.TV that he estimates that the INC actually can command only about 75 percent of its members to vote for a particular candidate. But in a closely fought contest, that could be the margin of victory. With Manalo now dead, it remains to be seen how his successor will use the church's influence in the coming elections. But if history is any indication, the INC will certainly play a role. Arroyo, Estrada mournOn Tuesday, Malacañang, through deputy presidential spokesperson Anthony Golez Jr., extended its sympathies to Manalo’s family and to the INC community. “Nakikiramay po ang First Family at administrasyon sa pagpanaw ni Ka Erdy Manalo. He has been very instrumental sa simbahan, sa pagiging charismatic at pag-unite ng mga tagapagsunod. At nakikriamay po kaming lubos sa pamilya," Golez told dzBB radio in an interview. (The First Family and the administration condole with Ka Erdy Manalo’s family. He has been very instrumental in the church, in his being charismatic, and in uniting his followers.) Estrada also expressed his sadness over Manalo’s death. “President Estrada joins the nation in mourning the loss of one of the nations’ greatest religious leaders," Estrada’s spokesperson Margaux Salcedo told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. In February 2006, while Estrada was facing trial for plunder, presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor disclosed that three religious leaders, including Manalo, had expressed their willingness to serve as Estrada's guarantors if he applied for his release on recognizance. Estrada was later convicted of plunder in September 2007, but President Arroyo granted him executive clemency a month later. Religious leaders sympathizeMeanwhile, other religious groups also extended their sympathies to those left behind by Manalo. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that despite differences in their religious views, Manalo was a good man. “Masasabi natin na mabuting tao po yan, bagaman, magkaiba kami ng pananampalataya (I can say that he is a good man even if we differ in religious beliefs)," Cruz said in an interview on dzBB. Another religious leader, Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus Is Lord Movement, also expressed sadness. “Ang aming buong pamilya at Jesus is Lord (members) worldwide ay buong pusong nakikiramay at nakikidalamhati sa pamilya ni Ka Erdie at sa ating kaibigan sa INC. Nawa’y maramdaman ng pamilya ni Ka Erdie at lahat ng INC ang kapayapaan ng ating buhay na Diyos," Villanueva said. (My family and the Jesus is Lord worldwide wholeheartedly extends our condolences to Ka Erdie’s family and our friends at the INC. I hope they feel the Lord’s peace.) - With reports from Sophia Dedace and Joseph Holandes Ubalde
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Domestic violence in the UAE
Thousands of women come to the UAE every year hoping to build a better life working as housemaids. But for some, their hopes are dashed as they face a life of abuse.
More and more countries are putting measures in place to help protect their citizens from exploitation at the hands of ruthless employers and to ensure they do not come to the country illegally, making them more vulnerable.
One of the latest to do so is Nepal.
There are 125,000 Nepalese expats in the UAE, including 75,000 in Dubai, and during a visit to Dubai yesterday, the country’s labour minister said he was concerned about the fate of women working in domestic service.
His comments come as a Filipina housemaid spoke out about the terrible abuse she suffered at the hands of a Lebanese family in Ajman.
Speaking at a meeting of the Non-Resident Nepalese Association in Dubai, Mohammed Aftab Alam, the Nepalese Minister for Transport and Labour Affairs, said his government currently banned Nepalese women from working as housemaids in the UAE, because of reports of abuse.
But, he said, people were getting around the ban by using recruitment firms in Bangladesh and India.
Now the Nepalese government is looking at lifting the ban so that it can better monitor the welfare of Nepalese expats and keep an eye on recruitment practices.
The Nepalese Ambassador to the UAE, Arjun B Thapa, said the embassy has dealt with numerous cases of housemaid abuse. “When they come to the embassy, we assist them in repatriation and speak to the sponsor to sort out the problem,” he said.
In 2007, the UAE government passed new laws that ensured domestic workers were entitled to a month’s holiday, medical care and better salaries. Many abusers have also been successfully prosecuted.
Damith De Silva, from the Sri Lankan consulate, said the UAE government worked hard to protect domestic workers.
“By and large they are doing their best and we are happy about it,” he said. And CP Mathew, the chief coordinator at the Valley of Love, a UAE voluntary organisation that protects expat workers, said the situation was improving, especially for new maids.
But he added: “There are still women who have been here for many years who are not monitored well and are being ill treated.”
He urged consulates to visit all housemaids and their employers at least twice a year to check on working conditions.
OFW Abuse for Living
Sean O’Driscoll meets a maid whose dream of making money in the UAE turned into a nightmare of physical and mental torture by her bossInside the Filipino Overseas Labour Office in Dubai, refugees are everywhere. They sit in the hallway eating dinner, they crowd the living room watching TV, some sit in the kitchen chatting. There are 60 of them living there, nearly all former maids who ran from their employers. Many have no passports, held by their employers in case they tried to run away, and many arrive here early in the morning, sobbing, with just the clothes on their back.
Among them, leaning to her side to avoid hurting her fractured ribs sits 25-year-old Nuan, referred to as “definitely our worst case” by office volunteer, Marbeth Valquez.
She limps into the room and sits down. There is barely a square inch of her hands, arms or legs that are not permanently scarred by blows from an electrical wire or scalding from a clothes iron.
Many of the giant scars on her arms are uneven and badly healed, evidence of chronic neglect after the blows were inflicted.
Nuan has a round face and big eyes that blink nervously through tears as she recalls her story.
She is from the Isabela province of the Philippines and hoped to make some money in the UAE.
An employment agency in Ajman found her work with a Lebanese man and his family.
His wife was strict but showed no tendency towards violence in the beginning. Nuan travelled with the family to Lebanon and later moved home with them to a sixth floor apartment in Ajman.
But once there, the wife locked the door and never let Nuan see the outside world again.
Last summer, the woman became pregnant and Nuan says she became progressively more violent.
She kicked and punched her, sometimes giving her black eyes. And, Nuan says, she would hurt her for even the slightest discrepancy in her daily schedule. She would tie her feet together, ignoring her pleas for mercy as she beat her all over the body with an electrical cord, ripping skin from Nuan’s arms as she tried to cover herself from the blows.
Nuan says she would bleed for days, all requests for bandages or painkillers turned down.
The beatings got worse when the woman gave birth, and her sister, who was living with the family while her husband was abroad, sometimes joined in the beatings.
They had insisted that Nuan wear a headscarf to protect her modesty, but Nuan says the sister ripped it off her and cut off her hair when she wasn’t happy with the cleaning.
Nuan says the husband would sometimes tell his wife not to beat her so hard but she ignored him and inflicted the worst punishments when her husband was away.
Crying every night, unable to contact her friends or family, Nuan says she became progressively more desperate as the violence got worse and worse. The beatings became a daily routine this month. The woman even used a hot iron on Nuan’s feet to burn the skin.
Nuan says the worst incident was on August 7, when the woman broke her ribs by beating her with the electrical chord. Nuan had already gone a day without food and was desperate to escape the torture.
“There is no food here today,” she would be told when she begged for even a scrap of bread. By August 9, after three days of hunger and unhealed broken ribs, she noticed the door was open in the morning.
Disoriented, with her head aching, she ran, terrified she would be caught. She rushed to a taxi and, once inside, explained that she had no money but asked him to take her to the job agency.
The taxi driver could see she was in serious trouble and took her there.
The agency’s manager brought her to hospital. She stayed there for 12 days as doctors treated her injuries.
The Philippine Consulate has said that police have since arrested the woman, and prosecutors are now considering other arrests.
As well as being traumatised, Nuan is also penniless - in the one year and seven months she worked for the family she says she never received a single penny from them.
She will stay at the Overseas Labour Office until she can give evidence against the wife and then hopes to return to the Philippines where she intends to set up a small business.
However, Nuan still needs money for further medical treatment.
“God knows what internal damage may have been done to her,” says the Philippines Counsul General.
“She is lucky to be alive.
“The doctors said she could have been killed with just a few more minutes of this type of beating. “A weaker person would have been killed,” he added.
Among them, leaning to her side to avoid hurting her fractured ribs sits 25-year-old Nuan, referred to as “definitely our worst case” by office volunteer, Marbeth Valquez.
She limps into the room and sits down. There is barely a square inch of her hands, arms or legs that are not permanently scarred by blows from an electrical wire or scalding from a clothes iron.
Many of the giant scars on her arms are uneven and badly healed, evidence of chronic neglect after the blows were inflicted.
Nuan has a round face and big eyes that blink nervously through tears as she recalls her story.
She is from the Isabela province of the Philippines and hoped to make some money in the UAE.
An employment agency in Ajman found her work with a Lebanese man and his family.
His wife was strict but showed no tendency towards violence in the beginning. Nuan travelled with the family to Lebanon and later moved home with them to a sixth floor apartment in Ajman.
But once there, the wife locked the door and never let Nuan see the outside world again.
Last summer, the woman became pregnant and Nuan says she became progressively more violent.
She kicked and punched her, sometimes giving her black eyes. And, Nuan says, she would hurt her for even the slightest discrepancy in her daily schedule. She would tie her feet together, ignoring her pleas for mercy as she beat her all over the body with an electrical cord, ripping skin from Nuan’s arms as she tried to cover herself from the blows.
Nuan says she would bleed for days, all requests for bandages or painkillers turned down.
The beatings got worse when the woman gave birth, and her sister, who was living with the family while her husband was abroad, sometimes joined in the beatings.
They had insisted that Nuan wear a headscarf to protect her modesty, but Nuan says the sister ripped it off her and cut off her hair when she wasn’t happy with the cleaning.
Nuan says the husband would sometimes tell his wife not to beat her so hard but she ignored him and inflicted the worst punishments when her husband was away.
Crying every night, unable to contact her friends or family, Nuan says she became progressively more desperate as the violence got worse and worse. The beatings became a daily routine this month. The woman even used a hot iron on Nuan’s feet to burn the skin.
Nuan says the worst incident was on August 7, when the woman broke her ribs by beating her with the electrical chord. Nuan had already gone a day without food and was desperate to escape the torture.
“There is no food here today,” she would be told when she begged for even a scrap of bread. By August 9, after three days of hunger and unhealed broken ribs, she noticed the door was open in the morning.
Disoriented, with her head aching, she ran, terrified she would be caught. She rushed to a taxi and, once inside, explained that she had no money but asked him to take her to the job agency.
The taxi driver could see she was in serious trouble and took her there.
The agency’s manager brought her to hospital. She stayed there for 12 days as doctors treated her injuries.
The Philippine Consulate has said that police have since arrested the woman, and prosecutors are now considering other arrests.
As well as being traumatised, Nuan is also penniless - in the one year and seven months she worked for the family she says she never received a single penny from them.
She will stay at the Overseas Labour Office until she can give evidence against the wife and then hopes to return to the Philippines where she intends to set up a small business.
However, Nuan still needs money for further medical treatment.
“God knows what internal damage may have been done to her,” says the Philippines Counsul General.
“She is lucky to be alive.
“The doctors said she could have been killed with just a few more minutes of this type of beating. “A weaker person would have been killed,” he added.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Cory in 1985 interview: I do not seek any political office
For those of an older generation -- old enough to know what Big Ike's Happening was -- the accompanying video excerpt from a lengthy Cory Aquino interview is more than a revealing portrait of an unassuming future president.It's a window into the 1980s, down to the hair-do's of both the guileless widow and glib Viewpoint program host Dong Puno, then known as Ric. Compared to today's slick productions, Viewpoint was downright quaint.The real value of this cultural artifact, of course, is that it sets the stage for what we know happened in the months after the interview on August 20, 1985, the eve of Cory's husband Ninoy's second death anniversary. She was hoping the multitudes again would turn outto join her in marching in the streets.
This page requires a higher version browserWhen she claimed little interest in high office, one could sense her sincerity, another artifact from a more innocent time. "I think that I just serve as some kind of symbol now, reminding people of what Ninoy did and how we should sacrifice for our country," Cory told Ric Puno. She added that her political role was simply helping choose who would be Marcos's challenger in the event of a snap election.Watching this video, recently excavated from the files of Mr. Puno, the viewer relishes knowing the future and what both host and guest could only speculate about at the time. Months later, Marcos did call for a snap election that would take place in February 1986.Cory the self-described homebody would soon occupy what media likes to call "the Palace," and she would become the closest modern Filipinos would have to a benevolent queen. -
After eight years, are people better off under Arroyo?
At around noon, Laarni started having labor pains. She was about to give birth to her first child, but she refused her family’s plea to take her to the hospital. She insisted on delivering her baby at home. Her stubbornness caused Laarni her life. She died three hours later due to profuse bleeding after giving birth. Laarni is only one of the thousands of Filipino women who die in child birth due to poverty, lack of education, and inadequate access to health care services. She was not able to attend college for lack of funds, so she decided to work in a nearby factory and become the family’s breadwinner. In 2007, she and boyfriend Jojo got married, in a civil ceremony sponsored by their families and friends, as she was already pregnant. Jojo ran a neighborhood lugawan (rice porridge stall). Laarni tried to save what she could of her earnings along with Jojo’s income, but these were not enough for her childbirth.She often missed her monthly prenatal checkup at the Jose Fabella Hospital, about seven kilometers away, due to lack of money for tricycle and jeep fare. She also missed taking the vitamins prescribed for her and her child’s health. It is people like Laarni who desperately need government help, and whose situation the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals are trying to address by 2015.
On the right track?In 2001, Filipinos looked up to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the key to a better future as she stood in front of the historic EDSA Shrine to take her oath of office.At that time, hopes were high because she was replacing, through a second People Power revolt, an administration plagued with accusations of immorality and corruption. But after eight years in power, has she been able to provide the Filipinos the progress she promised? The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), in a 2007 report, believes the government is on track in meeting its goals in improving the lives of Filipinos. The UN Development Program (UNDP) has the same evaluation; on its Web site, it said the Philippines has made "encouraging strides" and the probability that it will meet its targets remains high. According to the latest figures from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), poverty has dropped from 45.3 per cent of the population in 1991 to 32.9 per cent in 2006.
Republic Act 8425, or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, defines the poor as individuals and families with an income falling below the poverty threshold such that they cannot meet even minimum basic needs such as food, health, education, and housing. As of 2007, the NSCB said the national poverty threshold stood at P14,866 for a family of five per month, based on prevailing prices of food and services in the country. NEDA attributed the drop in the figures to government projects such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, which provides P1,000 in cash to extremely poor households in exchange for compliance to certain responsibilities, such as sending their children to school. Secretary Domingo Panganiban, head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, says the efforts of the Arroyo administration to achieve poverty reduction are on the right track. “The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Food for School Program, the distribution of access cards to ensure the poor access to rice at P18.25 a kilo, and the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program are all steps toward the reduction of hunger, unemployment and poverty," he said in a statement emailed to GMANews.TV. He cited the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys for the second quarter of 2009, which indicated that many Filipinos consider the government as the second most reliable source of assistance after relatives. “This suffices as proof that the government’s poverty reduction programs have had a positive impact on the lives of the poor," Panganiban said.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Not So Many Jobs Awaits OFWs in Dubai
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently went to Dubai in United Arab Emirates (UAE) to look for investment and employment opportunities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs as an effect of the global financial crisis.
In lieu with this, a recruitment industry consultant said that Filipinos should not set their hopes too high. Emmanuel Geslani, a former vice chair and three-term director of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI), warned that the status of Dubai as a city teeming with opportunities for everyone is gone. Nowadays, many foreign workers in Dubai are unemployed and are realizing that UAE impose strict debt, immigration and labor policies.
President Arroyo went to Dubai to attend a job summit. A Malacañang statement said, “The Middle East Forum aims to bring together key players—employers, manpower providers, officials of the Philippines and Gulf Cooperating Countries—to discuss how the Philippines can fill up large-scale job orders in the region within the year.”
Malacañang described the UAE as the workplace of choice of Filipino workers in the Middle East, next only to Saudi Arabia. They also cited data that 304,241 documented and 35,040 undocumented OFWs are currently working in UAE.
However, according to Geslani, even if the President is going to Dubai to talk with possible employers of OFWs, it still doesn’t mean that there are many jobs available for them there. He reminds aspiring workers in Dubai to ensure that their employers would grant them a working visa or permit upon arriving in Dubai.
In a phone interview by Philippine Daily Inquirer, Geslani said, “My advice to [Filipinos] is: Don’t go there for nothing so you will not suffer.”
He reminds aspiring workers in Dubai to ensure that their employers would grant them a working visa or permit upon arriving in Dubai.
Geslani said: “Ms Arroyo may just be wasting taxpayer money by flying all the way to Dubai as she may find countless half-built buildings with their cranes motionless, empty malls and starving Filipinos who have lost their jobs.”
There is a case of 120 Filipinos holding only visitor visas but were hired to work in UAE. Unfortunately, they were terminated before they can secure work visas. Other unemployed Filipinos in Dubai discover the cost of living there so high that they run out of money and were forced to seek shelter at the Philippine Embassy.
Citing a report from the regional recruitment industry, Geslani informed that UAE’s white-collar sector cancels about 1,500 to 2,000 visas daily.
A number of construction companies had for the time being stopped the operation of their projects worth more than USD 500 billion and had displaced over 40,000 employees from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Geslani said that the number of displaced workers in UAE are expected to increase in the next months as the UAE Labor Ministry have been getting thousands of complaints from expatriate workers regarding unpaid salaries and termination without payment of salaries.
Geslani said, “Expatriates who lose their jobs in Dubai or other Gulf countries have to quickly pack up and leave as employers are supposed to notify the banks of terminations so the banks can demand repayment of loans owed by terminated employees.”
Displaced workers in UAE are given a period of two to three months to look for another job but this will not be so easy as most companies have stopped recruitment.
In lieu with this, a recruitment industry consultant said that Filipinos should not set their hopes too high. Emmanuel Geslani, a former vice chair and three-term director of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI), warned that the status of Dubai as a city teeming with opportunities for everyone is gone. Nowadays, many foreign workers in Dubai are unemployed and are realizing that UAE impose strict debt, immigration and labor policies.
President Arroyo went to Dubai to attend a job summit. A Malacañang statement said, “The Middle East Forum aims to bring together key players—employers, manpower providers, officials of the Philippines and Gulf Cooperating Countries—to discuss how the Philippines can fill up large-scale job orders in the region within the year.”
Malacañang described the UAE as the workplace of choice of Filipino workers in the Middle East, next only to Saudi Arabia. They also cited data that 304,241 documented and 35,040 undocumented OFWs are currently working in UAE.
However, according to Geslani, even if the President is going to Dubai to talk with possible employers of OFWs, it still doesn’t mean that there are many jobs available for them there. He reminds aspiring workers in Dubai to ensure that their employers would grant them a working visa or permit upon arriving in Dubai.
In a phone interview by Philippine Daily Inquirer, Geslani said, “My advice to [Filipinos] is: Don’t go there for nothing so you will not suffer.”
He reminds aspiring workers in Dubai to ensure that their employers would grant them a working visa or permit upon arriving in Dubai.
Geslani said: “Ms Arroyo may just be wasting taxpayer money by flying all the way to Dubai as she may find countless half-built buildings with their cranes motionless, empty malls and starving Filipinos who have lost their jobs.”
There is a case of 120 Filipinos holding only visitor visas but were hired to work in UAE. Unfortunately, they were terminated before they can secure work visas. Other unemployed Filipinos in Dubai discover the cost of living there so high that they run out of money and were forced to seek shelter at the Philippine Embassy.
Citing a report from the regional recruitment industry, Geslani informed that UAE’s white-collar sector cancels about 1,500 to 2,000 visas daily.
A number of construction companies had for the time being stopped the operation of their projects worth more than USD 500 billion and had displaced over 40,000 employees from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Geslani said that the number of displaced workers in UAE are expected to increase in the next months as the UAE Labor Ministry have been getting thousands of complaints from expatriate workers regarding unpaid salaries and termination without payment of salaries.
Geslani said, “Expatriates who lose their jobs in Dubai or other Gulf countries have to quickly pack up and leave as employers are supposed to notify the banks of terminations so the banks can demand repayment of loans owed by terminated employees.”
Displaced workers in UAE are given a period of two to three months to look for another job but this will not be so easy as most companies have stopped recruitment.
Jobseekers Warned: Fake Recruiters in Vietnam
If you or someone you know have a job offer in Vietnam, it pays to make sure that the recruiters one is dealing with is legitimate. This is the recent reminder issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as more reports regarding the activities of an illegal recruiter based in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) reached their office.
According to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam said the illegal recruiter in Vietnam reportedly recruits Filipino workers but asked them to pay for the travel expenses. Upon arriving n Vietnam, the recruiter left the poor workers to themselves.
An article in the DFA website said, "However, upon arrival in HCMC, with no valid job contracts, work visa, and work permit the victims learn that there are no employers."
The illegal recruiters get to earn money by charging exorbitant airfare fees to their victims.
According to the report, the victims were asked to pay from USD420-USD630 or Php 20,000 to Php 30,000 for the airfare and a service fee of USD100 or roughly Php 4,800.
The DFA said "This is way above the air fare offered by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines which range from USD200 to USD400."
To avoid being a victim of illegal recruitment, the government agency advised applicants to go through the legal process of overseas recruitment and to consult other agencies that assist workers abroad such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA).It said, "As in all other countries, proper documentation (i.e., valid contract, work visa, and work permit) is a must for foreign workers in Vietnam."
The labor market of Vietnam is not spared by the hit of the global financial crisis. Since late 2008, an estimate of 100 to 150 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Vietnam lost their jobs.
The DFA said that Filipinos employed in Vietnam are hired through proper and professional channels. Most of them are holds executive and managerial positions in professional fields such as in construction and engineering, accountancy, banking and investment, education, garment/textile industry, hotel and restaurant management, food and beverage industry, marketing, furniture industry, medicine, and foreign investment projects
http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item-1112/Jobseekers-Warned--Fake-Recruiters-in-Vietnam.html
According to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam said the illegal recruiter in Vietnam reportedly recruits Filipino workers but asked them to pay for the travel expenses. Upon arriving n Vietnam, the recruiter left the poor workers to themselves.
An article in the DFA website said, "However, upon arrival in HCMC, with no valid job contracts, work visa, and work permit the victims learn that there are no employers."
The illegal recruiters get to earn money by charging exorbitant airfare fees to their victims.
According to the report, the victims were asked to pay from USD420-USD630 or Php 20,000 to Php 30,000 for the airfare and a service fee of USD100 or roughly Php 4,800.
The DFA said "This is way above the air fare offered by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines which range from USD200 to USD400."
To avoid being a victim of illegal recruitment, the government agency advised applicants to go through the legal process of overseas recruitment and to consult other agencies that assist workers abroad such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA).It said, "As in all other countries, proper documentation (i.e., valid contract, work visa, and work permit) is a must for foreign workers in Vietnam."
The labor market of Vietnam is not spared by the hit of the global financial crisis. Since late 2008, an estimate of 100 to 150 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Vietnam lost their jobs.
The DFA said that Filipinos employed in Vietnam are hired through proper and professional channels. Most of them are holds executive and managerial positions in professional fields such as in construction and engineering, accountancy, banking and investment, education, garment/textile industry, hotel and restaurant management, food and beverage industry, marketing, furniture industry, medicine, and foreign investment projects
http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item-1112/Jobseekers-Warned--Fake-Recruiters-in-Vietnam.html
Beware of Fake Recruiters on the Net
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued an advisory against fake recruiters that targets aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Swindlers posing as legitimate recruiters on the net usually offer fake jobs for United Kingdom. The scammers are able to victimize workers by sending a bogus job offer via email. To process work permit and travel documents, they demand immediate payment. After the unsuspecting victim sends the payment, the email sender stops communicating, leaving the worker stunned with the lost money and realization that they have just been scammed. ]
According to the Philippine Embassy in London, a number of Filipino workers have been victimized by a certain Global Logistics and Trading Shipping Co., Ltd. which turned out to be an unlicensed UK company.
To avoid being victimized, always check the job orders with POEA first and do not send money right away. Also, always be cautious of offers that are too good to be true
Warning Set Against Agency That Offer Jobs in Poland
A recruitment agency that offers jobs for Filipino workers in Poland is now facing illegal recruitment
charges for allegedly charging excessive placement fees and contract substitution.
The complaints came from applicants deployed by Eureka Personnel Management Services. This prompted Vice President Noli de Castro to issue a warning to all aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that wants to work in Poland through the recruitment agency, Eureka. After talking to the complainants, De Castro immediately ordered the Task Force Against Illegal Recruiters (Tfair), to file criminal charges against the said agency.
In his radio program, De Castro said, “Sana ‘yung mga kababayan natin diyan baka kayo’y nag-apply sa Eureka papuntang Poland, ay teka muna ho, pigilan muna ninyo dahil baka mapasama kayo sa naging experience ng ating kababayan na walang nangyari sa kanilang binayaran, walang nangyari sa kanilang trabahong naghihintay sa Poland."
Based on the story of one victim, Eureka recruited workers for a glass-making company in Aleksandrow Lodzki, Poland. They learned about the vacancy through friends and the Internet.
The job offer was able to attract many applicants because the salary per month ranges from USD500 to USD750 or about Php24,000 to Php36,000. It also comes with free food and lodging.
The OFW narrated to De Castro, “Pagkatapos po nun, siyempre po nung natanggap namin iyon naisip namin Europe ho iyon, pagkakataon, opportunity.”
However after the agency demands almost Php50,000 for placement fee, the hopeful workers learned that their monthly wage had been changed to USD346.66 or about Php16,000. The workers discovered this after inquiring with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
One OFW said, “Malayo ho sa inalok samen, dahil kung nalaman po namin, hindi na ho naming papatusin."
But since the workers have already paid a huge sum of money, the workers are left with no choice but still go to Poland to work. Another thing is that the agency made them sign a contract saying that if they back out of the job offer, they would have to pay Php 20,000 as fine.
The OFW said, “Kaya no choice kami, sabi naming baka nga formality lang, nagastusan na kami, pumayag na rin kami.”
But that is not the end of it all. Upon arriving in Poland, the OFWs were again asked to sign another contract that further lowered their wages to Php 12,000 - Php 14,000.They were also not given a proper accommodation because they were housed in a container van even if it was it was winter time in Poland during that time. They were fed with hard bread, porridge and even stale rice.
Another OFW said, “Ang accommodation namin ay container van, nilagyan lang nila ng walling, may heater po kami pero hindi katulad nung normal, hindi pa naman ho kami sanay sa lamig.”
The difficulties they experienced forced 21 of the 96 OFWs to go to the Philippine Consulate in Warsaw, Poland and seek for assistance. They also sent e-mails to Senator Manuel Villar and De Castro. Their efforts were not wasted because the Philippine Embassy helped them escape from their employer.
Of the 96 workers that Eureka recruited, 67 had chosen to return to the country. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) financed their repatriation tickets. The rest of the workers chose to stay in Poland to work.
Eureka filed a breach of contract to the workers who returned to the country. One of them commented, "Kami na nga ang nawalan ng kwarta, gusto pa kaming idiin.”
De Castro assured the victims that TFAir will help them fight the recruitment agency, but said that they need the cooperation of the workers.
The Eureka Placement Agency is currently suspended by POEA and so cannot process documents for OFWs.
charges for allegedly charging excessive placement fees and contract substitution.
The complaints came from applicants deployed by Eureka Personnel Management Services. This prompted Vice President Noli de Castro to issue a warning to all aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that wants to work in Poland through the recruitment agency, Eureka. After talking to the complainants, De Castro immediately ordered the Task Force Against Illegal Recruiters (Tfair), to file criminal charges against the said agency.
In his radio program, De Castro said, “Sana ‘yung mga kababayan natin diyan baka kayo’y nag-apply sa Eureka papuntang Poland, ay teka muna ho, pigilan muna ninyo dahil baka mapasama kayo sa naging experience ng ating kababayan na walang nangyari sa kanilang binayaran, walang nangyari sa kanilang trabahong naghihintay sa Poland."
Based on the story of one victim, Eureka recruited workers for a glass-making company in Aleksandrow Lodzki, Poland. They learned about the vacancy through friends and the Internet.
The job offer was able to attract many applicants because the salary per month ranges from USD500 to USD750 or about Php24,000 to Php36,000. It also comes with free food and lodging.
The OFW narrated to De Castro, “Pagkatapos po nun, siyempre po nung natanggap namin iyon naisip namin Europe ho iyon, pagkakataon, opportunity.”
However after the agency demands almost Php50,000 for placement fee, the hopeful workers learned that their monthly wage had been changed to USD346.66 or about Php16,000. The workers discovered this after inquiring with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
One OFW said, “Malayo ho sa inalok samen, dahil kung nalaman po namin, hindi na ho naming papatusin."
But since the workers have already paid a huge sum of money, the workers are left with no choice but still go to Poland to work. Another thing is that the agency made them sign a contract saying that if they back out of the job offer, they would have to pay Php 20,000 as fine.
The OFW said, “Kaya no choice kami, sabi naming baka nga formality lang, nagastusan na kami, pumayag na rin kami.”
But that is not the end of it all. Upon arriving in Poland, the OFWs were again asked to sign another contract that further lowered their wages to Php 12,000 - Php 14,000.They were also not given a proper accommodation because they were housed in a container van even if it was it was winter time in Poland during that time. They were fed with hard bread, porridge and even stale rice.
Another OFW said, “Ang accommodation namin ay container van, nilagyan lang nila ng walling, may heater po kami pero hindi katulad nung normal, hindi pa naman ho kami sanay sa lamig.”
The difficulties they experienced forced 21 of the 96 OFWs to go to the Philippine Consulate in Warsaw, Poland and seek for assistance. They also sent e-mails to Senator Manuel Villar and De Castro. Their efforts were not wasted because the Philippine Embassy helped them escape from their employer.
Of the 96 workers that Eureka recruited, 67 had chosen to return to the country. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) financed their repatriation tickets. The rest of the workers chose to stay in Poland to work.
Eureka filed a breach of contract to the workers who returned to the country. One of them commented, "Kami na nga ang nawalan ng kwarta, gusto pa kaming idiin.”
De Castro assured the victims that TFAir will help them fight the recruitment agency, but said that they need the cooperation of the workers.
The Eureka Placement Agency is currently suspended by POEA and so cannot process documents for OFWs.
Deployment Ban of OFWs in Lebanon Stays
Filipinos who want to work abroad should exclude Lebanon as one of their possible countries of destination as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminds the public that the total deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the said country is still in effect.
The Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, Gilbert Asuque, explained the reason why the ban was not lifted. This is because the memorandum of agreement (MOU) regarding the deployment of OFWs to Lebanon has not been signed. This MOA aims to protect the welfare of OFWs in the Middle Eastern country; it includes the right of OFWs to be paid just wages, overtime pay and access to good working conditions.
According to Asuque, the MOA is a condition for the lifting of the deployment ban.
A meeting between labor officials of Lebanon and the Philippines was fist held in Beirut last May 27-29. During the said meeting, the DFA said that the Ministry of Labor in Lebanon informed the Philippine delegation about the creation of an arbitration and conciliation committee that will handle complaints of foreign workers against their employers.
In response, the DFA sent an invitation to the government of Lebanon for a second meeting so they can further discuss the proposed MOA. The said meeting is set to happen this July and Lebanon is expected to submit its counter proposal. Negotiations regarding the set of rules in hiring household service workers would also be included in the discussion.
Asuque said, “The Embassy will negotiate the revised draft MOA with the Lebanese side for the purpose of bringing an agreed text to the second technical meeting to be held in Manila at an agreed date.”
The Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, Gilbert Asuque, explained the reason why the ban was not lifted. This is because the memorandum of agreement (MOU) regarding the deployment of OFWs to Lebanon has not been signed. This MOA aims to protect the welfare of OFWs in the Middle Eastern country; it includes the right of OFWs to be paid just wages, overtime pay and access to good working conditions.
According to Asuque, the MOA is a condition for the lifting of the deployment ban.
A meeting between labor officials of Lebanon and the Philippines was fist held in Beirut last May 27-29. During the said meeting, the DFA said that the Ministry of Labor in Lebanon informed the Philippine delegation about the creation of an arbitration and conciliation committee that will handle complaints of foreign workers against their employers.
In response, the DFA sent an invitation to the government of Lebanon for a second meeting so they can further discuss the proposed MOA. The said meeting is set to happen this July and Lebanon is expected to submit its counter proposal. Negotiations regarding the set of rules in hiring household service workers would also be included in the discussion.
Asuque said, “The Embassy will negotiate the revised draft MOA with the Lebanese side for the purpose of bringing an agreed text to the second technical meeting to be held in Manila at an agreed date.”
Saudi-Bound OFWs: Check Your Electronic Gadgets
A non-government organization, Migrante-Middle East reminds overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make sure that all electronic items they are carrying doesn’t contain any material that may be deemed as illegal or unacceptable in Saudi’s beliefs and customs.
According to Migrante, screening of electronic devices of migrant workers arriving in the airports of Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah are currently being implemented.
When a migrant worker arrives at the airport, all electronic items he or she is carrying which includes cellular camera phones, memory card, flash disks, external hard drives, laptops, notebook computers, iPods, and MP3 players with memory cards are surrendered for checkup at the immigration section.
Immigration officials of Saudi Arabia utilize a special scanner that can examine the contents of the electronic items and record the finding to a main scanning computer.
Electronic gadgets that contain prohibited materials such as pornographic items or pirated software are confiscated right away. The owner of the gadgets with prohibited materials would not be obligated to pay any fines but are expected to surrender the devices at peace. Those who would resist submitting the said items face the risk of either arrest or deportation.
http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item-1161/Saudi-Bound-OFWs--Check-Your-Electronic-Gadgets.html
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