To: CMA Director Ellene Sana - MABUHAY

MABUHAY!

It can be recalled that at the height of our campaign to have the Travel/Deployment ban be lifted, we tried ALL possible means to achieve this goal. Petitions, paid publications, personal pleas, passionate call to the Philippine government officials, lampoons, interviews, etc. were all applied. To no avail.

The then PBSN Pres. Esper Derpo a Banaag awardee had an audience with GMA and Kabayan Noli de Castro. And even when Ret. Gen. Amb. Cimatu actually saw the conditions here, again to no avail.

In Oct. 2008, Pusong Pinoy had the chance to meet Ellene Sana through a feminist activist and a scholar in UP, Eunice Barbara C. Novio. Vangie Novio, armed with documents duly compiled by John Hernandez narrated the series of events that hardened the stand of the government regarding this issue. Director Sana, a very unassuming lady, took at heart our plea.

Then the rest is history. Janette Alican met her and was also interviewed in one of the national dailies. Mr. & Mrs. Mercado, Mr. Lito Nucum, Mr. Benjie Nadado and Mr. Ruben Legazpi, Mr. Danny Rivamonte and Mr. Jun (Lagos -based OFWs). They met with all the officials concerned.
They fought tooth and nail as the saying goes - and the sacrifice continued. Lito Nucum was not allowed through the immigration. Most of the returning OFWs found padrinos while a few lucky ones did not part with hard-earned dollar.

Through all these months, Ellene was always in contact with Pusong Pinoy. John Hernandez and the rest of the PPA officers were always giving her feed backs on what was happening here. Every incident of kidnappings, hostage-takings were always analyzed, how will it affect OFWs AGAIN! Ellene always urged us to 'pray pray pray and pray some more!'

Here in Nigeria, OFWs nerves were frayed. Tension abound. Some Filipinos who were not even remotely concerned/affected by the ban, were just vent on criticizing and putting down the genuine OFWs. Filipinos in other parts of Nigeria even promised that once this ban is lifted, they will join Pusong Pinoy.

However, inspite of all the criticisms, the individuals and Filipino organizations' collective efforts in Nigeria made OFWs solid in their stand against the government.

BUT it was the dedication and commitment of CMA and its director, Ellene Sana, who lifted this sword of Damocles. She presented this advocacy to UN and in all agencies and had always lobbied and talked to personages concerned.

And now, we have the long-awaited 'black and white' - to hold and to 'cherish' and to plaster in every immigration official who would dare ask for 'lagay' again.

We give first our thanks and gratitude to GOD and to DIRECTOR ELLENE SANA - we are deeply indebted to you.

_______________________________________________
November 18, 2009

Ms. Ellene Sana
Executive Director CENTER FOR MIGRANT AFFAIRS
Quezon City

Dear Ellene,

RE: MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR No. 15 - SELECTIVE DEPLOYMENT TO NIGERIA FOR WORKERS-ON-LEAVE (WOL)/ BALIK-MANGGAGAWA (BM)

Once again, Pusong Pinoy Association wishes to convey its gratitude and appreciation to your untiring efforts hence the above Memorandum dated 13 September 2009 from POAE, was issued. You are indeed an advocate for migrant workers.

With the above, our fears, anguish and sufferings are indeed alleviated. We truly salute you for your determination and belief that imposing a total deployment ban was unfair and a violation to our freedom to be employed and earn a decent living for our loved ones, in any place of our choice.

But then again, we still aspire and dream that one day, the total deployment ban will be lifted and that is our final goal. And in doing so, other aspiring OFWs can enjoy the better remunerations and work conditions in Nigeria.

Maraming salamat uli at tunay kang Kapusong Pinoy.
MABUHAY!!

Yours sincerely, PUSONG PINOY ASSOCIATION
Abuja FCT, Nigeria

Benjamin P. Nadado
President (2009-2010)

Officers (2009-2010):
B. Nadado – President, N. Barraquias – Vice President, G. Abrasado – Secretary, P. Nucum – Treasurer, J. Hernandez – Auditor, S. Cayabyab - P.R.O., J. Torres – P.R.O., Assistant Treasurere and Property Custodian – Mercy Subibe

A Birthday Celebration

A Birthday Celebration

It was a very subdued celebration. There was the 9th-day prayer for the repose of the dearly departed friend Ana Dador and the block rosary for the Blessed Virgin Mary - to be transferred to Vamed ladies. To collect were Adora, Dulce and Weng.

And most of all, it's the birthday celebration of Ampy with family and friends.

BINGO BONANZA AND BAZAAR -part 2

BINGO BONANZA AND BAZAAR - PART 2

Con-Gen Alex with from left: Lito, Vangie, John, Efren, Fely and Tickboy. At the back is James

Con-gen Alex Lamadrid while acknowledging the donors and guests...

...and here's Lito calling for bingo players...

Malou and Isabella

Recruiters take back insurance proposal for OFWs - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Recruiters take back insurance proposal for OFWs - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Mandatory insurance benefits recruiters, not OFWs

Mandatory insurance benefits recruiters, not OFWs
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:27:00 11/16/2009

MANILA, Philippines—The proposed mandatory insurance for all overseas Filipino workers will benefit recruiters principally and OFWs only incidentally, the Center for Migrants Advocacy said Monday, opposing a move in Congress to legislate it.
The proposal, which is contained in the proposed law to amend the Migrant Workers Act or Republic Act 8042, is expected to be tackled at the bicameral conference committee meeting on Wednesday.
CMA executive director Ellene Sana said the proposed mandatory insurance is really meant to insure the recruiters against their obligations to OFWs who find themselves in trouble abroad.
“And that is unfair to the workers,” she said.
Miguel Bolos, a member of the CMA board and who had worked in Saudi Arabia for 25 years before returning home for good, said that the proposal puts a third party in OFW protection.
“With this proposal, there is more room for the recruiters to wiggle out of their obligations. Dati ang kalaban lang ng OFW, recruiter; dito, magiging recruiter at insurance company na (While OFWs used to tangle only with recruiters, it’s going to be recruiters and insurance companies with this proposal),” he said.
“And we know how insurance companies try to minimize their pay-outs,” he added.
Both Sana and Bolos also pointed out that if this amendment passes, the liability of the recruiter to the OFW would be further diluted.
For instance, instead of getting full payment for the unexpired portion of the employment contract, the fired OFW may get much less depending on the provisions of the insurance contract.
Sana said the proposal, initially made by recruiters to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration several years, has been turned down by the POEA again and again.
She said even the Office of the Solicitor General, whose legal opinion the POEA sought, rejected the idea of mandatory insurance for OFWs.
“Even the executive branch turned it down, so why try and legislate it?” she asked.
Sana also said that with only 26 percent of OFWs leaving the country through recruitment agencies, insurance fees will ultimately be shouldered by the OFWs themselves.
“Let’s not burden the OFWs with more fees. Other parts of the proposed amendments already provide for protection to the OFWs,” Sana said, adding that the employment contract specifies a repatriation mechanism, including a plane ticket home, as well as access to grievance mechanisms.
Bolos said that while insurance in general is good, “the way they’re doing it is not.”
“The recruiters don’t need a law to get insurance for the OFWs they’re sending abroad. They can do it voluntarily,” he said.

THE FINAL CURTAIN

THE FINAL CURTAIN
Since the brief illness and eventual passing of Ana Dador, the friends of her family were always there. Why was there so much outpouring of emotions for the Dador family?

Simple.

The Dador family IS a FRIEND to each and every one of us! Their friendship is not only for the good times – but as the saying goes – through thick and thin. Ana was a great friend. In this tightly-knitted community of kindred spirits, agreements and disagreements abound, laughter and tears, saucy and sometimes below the belt jokes are exchanged. But all these never come out of this circle of friends.

Ana and Nestor were always the recipients of jokes – especially from Jun ‘JT’ Torres. His ‘Mommy, sya iwan mo na si Khaye sa akin’ or ‘Daddy, ‘wag kang mag papagod’ or ‘Khaye, love, ipagtimpla mo na ako ng kape…’ was met with laughters. And Ana will always say ‘Hala Khaye, mag durog ka ng bubog at isama sa kape nito…’ Or Nestor will say ‘Lagyan na ng lason ‘yan…’
How we all help Ana in ‘fighting’ Nestor. Khaye’s refreshing and genteel manners made everyone around them like and appreciate them more. Si Ana ang punong-abala sa pagluluto at paghahanda ng lahat, habang si Benjie Nadado ay nagluluto din. Isang buong pamilya na ang lahat ay kumikilos at tulong-tulong. Si Sherwin at si Stan, na madalas ay taga-sundo at hatid sa kanila, sya ring taga-saing at taga-hugas ng plato.

In sickness and in death, our hearts and prayers went with them. Annie Okoye in her anguish cried out ‘Why do I have to meet you?’ Her outburst was also borne out of her pain at the death of her own mother. Lito Nucum, while leading in one of the prayer meetings held while Ana was in her sickbed was so carried in his plea for Ana’s recovery, felt so numb at her passing. Stan Fernandez was so quiet in his grief and so was John Hernandez and Angie Alcaria.

The Mercado family (entire family in fact), Barraquias family, and the sisters at the Nunciature, Ampy Ronquillo and family, Mabelle Chen (who was always there, too), shared their grief quietly. So were the Herrera brothers, Efren Lim, Ric Punsalan, Chet Gatus, Medel Pasajol, Rex Lautrizo, Mercy Subibe, Tessie Azarcon, Lolit and Sheen, Adora and Melanie, Lotlot and Nelly and Berna, Anna and Shiela, Benny Cruz and many others.

All these time, Con-Gen. Alex V. Lamadrid was there for them. Every crisis, he was called. So was Rose Akah. That when blood donors were needed, she volunteered and many others like the seaman (Tirso) and as far away as Ibadan. Efren, classmate James, Cocoy, Doy, Alex Emam, Said and all the embassy staff were also at hand. Rose and Fely and Mabelle Chen were there at Ana's final breath. Malou Glaznig was there, too.

In death, friends as far as Port Harcourt, Joy Gimotea and friends, from Lagos, too, sent their condolences and financial assistance.

Si Ana ay mapag-alala and has genuine concern for people. Pag hinatid sila ni Sherwin, she made sure that he was safely back home. Ang kanyang mga hinanakit ay nailalabas niya at siya ay maluwag na tumatanggap ng criticism at mga payo.

Once, she complained that her picture didn’t appear (only in a very tiny group picture) in a paid publication, we all assured her not to worry, there will be plenty of her pictures for publication. It was very ironic indeed – now ONLY her pictures and memories remained!

To all her friends, we are the lucky ones who enjoyed her friendship. A very precious legacy a person can leave behind.
Below are the pictures who mourned her passing:

Sherwin Cayabyab, shown here, saying his last goodbye to Tita Ana.

PACMAN VS COTTO OF PUERTO RICO

THE FIGHT PINOYS ARE WAITING FOR
For once Pinoys will forget the troubles and hardships in life. For once, Pinoys will again rally behind the Filipino Idol. It has always been a proven fact that when Pacman is on the ring, crime rates dropped, and an air of goodwill permeates the atmosphere.

Clinton applauded predicting Pacquiao boxing win
Nov 13, 12:29 am EST
MANILA, Philippines (AP)—U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton drew loud applause at a town hall meeting with students Friday in the Philippines by giving the right answer to the most pressing question: Is Manny Pacquiao going to win this weekend?
The most popular Filipino will be back in the boxing ring in Las Vegas on Saturday to take on Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico in a 145-pound (66-kilogram) fight that will be closely watched back home.
“Of course the Pacman’s going to win. I mean, is there any doubt?” Clinton said at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where she entertained questions during the nationally televised forum with hundreds of students.
“Pacman” is Pacquiao’s nickname.
Clinton said she’s aware that boxing and basketball are “pretty big” in the Philippines. Every time Pacquiao steps into the ring, he brings his native Philippines to a virtual standstill.
A Chicago native, Clinton also confessed that the Chicago Bulls were her favorites—until she moved to New York and started backing the Knicks, something she said was “kind of discouraging.”
“Now the Knicks are trying maybe to get LeBron James, now that would make it very exciting in New York. So I will watch that. I am not sure exactly what will happen,” Clinton said.


Pacquiao, Cotto, make weight for fight
LAS VEGAS (AP)—Manny Pacquiao weighed in at 144 pounds, his heaviest ever, while Miguel Cotto came in at the contract limit of 145 pounds for their scheduled 12-round fight.
A raucous crowd of about 7,000, some of whom had been waiting for hours, was on hand Friday at the MGM Grand to see both fighters make weight for the bout.
Pacquiao, who began boxing at 105 pounds, weighed 2 pounds more than the 142 he weighed last year when he stopped Oscar De La Hoya. He was 138 pounds for his last fight, a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.
Cotto was the lightest he has been since weighing 145 pounds when he defeated Zab Judah two years ago.

Will bigger be better?

Will bigger be better?
LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao, just after weighing in at 144 pounds for his welterweight title fight against Miguel Cotto, slipped on a pair of custom Nikes. Cotto, who came it at the 145-pound limit, didn’t.

So when the two fighters were squared off in front of a delirious crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, it was Pac-man who appeared to have the slightest of height advantages, staring just a little down his nose at the bare-footed Cotto.

The difference was the shoes, of course. Cotto stands 5-foot-7, Pacquiao is 5-6 by most measurements.

To further the visual allusion, Pacquiao had his pants pulled up high, so his waist line matched Cotto’s, who actually had his pants sagging a bit.

Whether the choice in footwear and pant length was just a coincidence or a planned intimidation tactic is unknown.

Considering Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, rarely misses a chance to play head games in title fights, we’ll go with the latter. If Cotto doesn’t get to enjoy the 28 or so hours between weigh-in and fight knowing he is clearly the bigger man, then that’s a small win for Pacquiao.

This is a fight about size. Or, at least, the prefight hype is about size. Everyone is wondering just how much bigger and stronger Cotto will be than Pacquiao and whether that is enough to offset Pacquiao’s speed and precision advantages.

The bigger man doesn’t always win, but it sure doesn’t hurt.

Take away the shoes and Cotto was bigger at the weigh-in. Only a pound separated them but Cotto was thicker through the chest and shoulders, a disparity that should only increase Saturday night.

If Cotto regains weight as expected, he should enter the ring weighing as much as 155 pounds. Pacquiao, who’s never fought at a weight this heavy, is unlikely to top 148. He is what he is, a guy who started his career at 106 pounds.

“(Cotto) will eat what he needs to eat,” said Cotto’s conditioning coach Phil Landman. “I have a meal plan set up for him. When he gets into the ring he’ll be at a comfortable weight no matter what he weighs. I don’t care what he weighs.”

Pacquiao’s skill set has made a mockery of bigger fighters who thought they could bully him. He’s deftly moved up weight class after weight class and maintained his blinding speed.

Most recently, in December of 2008, Pacquiao stepped up to fight Oscar De La Hoya at 145 pounds. However, De La Hoya, who’d fought as high as 160, so drained himself in cutting weight that he was unable to bounce back. He entered the ring that night dehydrated and at 147 pounds, according to HBO. He was actually outweighed by Pacquiao, who was at 148.5

That shouldn’t happen with Cotto, which makes this latest step up dangerous for Pacquiao. You have to wonder when too much is too much.

“My strength is too much for (Saturday) night,” Cotto said after the weigh-in before adding, “I’m hungry.”

Pacquiao, of course, was unconcerned. He is forever unflappable. He waved to the throngs of Filipino fans who screamed for him during the weigh-in. He then encouraged them to attend a post-fight concert at Mandalay Bay where Pacquiao promised to sing eight songs with his band. Cotto had an equally sizeable group of fans on hand.

The fight is for the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt, although the weight limit was 145, not 147. The bigger prize is another likely mega-fight, this time in 2010 against Floyd Mayweather Jr. At the weigh-in, Floyd Mayweather Sr. said his son would likely fight the winner.

The two fighters offered no ill will to each other, each coolly confident. The fireworks came courtesy of the trainers, Roach and Joe Santiago.

When Cotto weighed in, Roach stood very close, bent over and got his eye right on the scale. He nodded when Cotto made weight, but it was clearly some kind of head game (it wasn’t like the Nevada Athletic Commission was going to screw up the weigh-in.)

The scene angered Santiago, who had listened to Roach bash him repeatedly in the press for being inexperienced and just a figurehead in the Cotto camp.

“It’s 145, (expletive),” Santiago shouted at Roach.

The (expletive) set Roach off and incited a back-and-forth shouting match. Eventually both trainers had to be separated as they jawed at each other.

Meanwhile, amid the commotion, Pacquiao put on his Nikes for the stand-off – just one head game to the next at the biggest fight of the year.(Dan Wetzel is Yahoo! Sports' national columnist)