Experience Culture, Celebrate Life

Time out for all the hassles and problems our own government gives us. Time out for the uncertainty and stress and emotional instability caused by our government’s stubbornness to lift the infamous Travel Ban.

Let us have a glimpse of an African celebration.

The Abuja Carnival
Theme: Experience culture, celebrate life

From Iboland

It is an art form where culture is projected via entertainment. Held in Abuja, participated by different states and some African nations – where expatriates and locals alike were treated with the sights and sounds surrounding the occupational, recreational and religious life of the people. Music added flavor and rhythm to the different events at the carnival, providing insights of the African culture.
There was a Cultural Market and Exhibition at FCT Craft Village, the Masquerade Fiesta, Boat Regatta, the Poetry Night/Food Fair, the famous Durbar and contemporary musical fiesta. These events drew thousands of tourists and revelers.
Here are some pictures on the recently concluded Abuja Carnival (November 20 – 23, 2008).


From Benue State

Taraba State


Egyptian Participants
Northern State

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

COMMENTS LANG PO....
The decision to maintain the ban has become political, and it has something to do with PGMA's election image.

Lebanon for example. The reason for ban was the Israel-Hezbollah war. But it's been a long time since the war ended but DFA is yet unwilling to lift the ban. BECOZ if they lift the ban, there will be a big howl fom Nigeria OFWs.

Di hamak na mas malaki magpasweldo sa Nigeria. Di nga lang in demand ang mga DH dito kaya kunti lang makapunta.

Di tulad ng Lebanon, college or HS grad puede, at 200 USD and no salary for 3mos, ok na rin sila.

If they can consider the lifting of ban to Lebanon and Iraq, what is preventing them from doing the same to Nigeria? It's either self-inflicted ignorance of DFA, or ego/pride ni Este-ban, or walang kinikita taga DFA.

The wisest decision here to counter the job losses in other countries is to lift the ban to the "Apat na Sikat" na bansa -- Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria at Afghanistan.

If Este-ban feels an itch to slap a ban to protect Filipinos from kidnappings/beheadings, he can do so against KSA, Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan and -- Philippines...


Sincerely,Maynard L. Flores
mobile: +2348036166237
-res ipsa loquitor-
http://naijapinoy.wordpress.com/

Posted comment

Chona Bollos
6:51 am (3 hours ago)
Either of the two lang:1. Pera - takot seguro sila na kung may mangyayari mang gulo, gagastos na naman sila. Kung sa ibang lugar na walang ban, OK lang miski inaabuso at nire-rape kasi mga laborers at DH lang naman ang mga nandun na pwede lang nilang isnabin. At baka ubos na ang OWWA fund or ayaw gastusin ang OWWA fund kasi gagamitin for the 2010 elections. And, ayaw din ng BI na mahinto ang ligaya nila.2. Pride (or tigasan ng ulo) - ayaw lang ni este-Ban and Co. na umatras sa nabitawan nilang desisyon. Sino ba ang mga OFWs na ito to tell them what is right or wrong? Sila na mga HONORABLES, pinagsasabihan ng mga ultimong OFWs? Mas marunong at madunong sila, no?

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

Nigerian overseas workers: Yes, we still and must keep our jobs by all means for our families and most of all to sustain the economy of our beloved Philippines!

Most OFWs seen to keep jobs
By Ronnel Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:50:00 01/27/2009
Filed Under: Overseas Employment, Unemployment, World Financial Crisis

MANILA, Philippines—Most overseas Filipino workers will keep their jobs amid a global meltdown, with remittances expected to continue to buoy the Philippine economy this year, according to economist Bernardo M. Villegas.
Villegas, former dean of the School of Economics at the University of Asia and the Pacific, told executives of life insurance firms Tuesday that OFW remittances would have “no significant reduction” this year, projecting it to reach $16 billion.
“OFWs in general will not lose their jobs because there is strong demand for them, and many of them work in the services sectors,” Villegas said during a meeting of the Philippine Life Insurance Association at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Money sent in by OFWs stimulate the local economy as it perks up consumer spending .
Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show that, as of the end of November, remittances have reached $15 billion.
In the 11 months to November, remittances averaged at least $1.26 billion a month.
The professor said families of OFWs would also benefit from the depreciation of the peso, which would hover at P50 to P51 against the US dollar.
Also, Villegas projected that inflation, or the rate of increase in consumer prices, would simmer down to an average of 4.9 percent this year from the estimated 9.7 percent in 2008.
For the financial sector, this would redound to a decrease in lending rates for the benchmark 91-day treasury bill to 4.8 percent from 5.8 percent last year.
“The gross domestic product will grow at between 3.8 percent and 4.5 percent this year,” he added.
GDP is the total value of goods produced and services rendered within an economy in a given period.
Villegas said GDP growth would keep its momentum from his estimate of 4.5 percent for 2008.
Still, Villegas said, the Philippine economy faces threats from a slowdown in consumer spending and exports, higher government deficit, higher trade deficit and a depreciating peso.

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

Headlines blaring at us before going to bed and waking up in the morning broadcast the same thing: Global economic crisis affecting countries; Nurses to US not answer to OFW crisis; OWWA offers unemployment package, etc. etc.
While it is commendable that the government is actually doing something 'for the OFWs,' it is very ironic that in a country like Nigeria where jobs are bountiful and the Filipino workers are treated with respect and paid highly, where Filipinos are given a very good living condition, the Philippine government imposed a Travel Ban.
The OFWs here in Nigeria do not suffer like the workers in the Middle East and yet there is no travel ban in the said countries. Iraq where there are actual terrorists, the Honorable Vice President is recommending to lift the ban.

The basis of the government to impose this ban is 'to protect' us - due to the kidnappings of the Filipino seamen in Niger-Delta. As was explained over and over again, with the visits of Conejos and company, the seamen are that - SEAMEN.
Niger-Delta where the militants are and Abuja / Lagos or where the land-based employees are could be compared to Mindanao and Manila. The problem in Niger-Delta is political - unfair sharing of oil revenues.

Filipino Seamen were caught while in the process of oil bunkering. They are still languishing in jail here. The Philippine government paints Nigeria as a dangerous country (where we OFWs prove otherwise); then what would the Nigerian government make of the fact that the Filipinos were the ones caught making trouble? Isn't it very embarrasing?

Many Filipino contract workers had lived and worked honorably here for more than 30 years. Filipinos are working in companies where even the fringe benefits are substantial.

We can not understand the stubborn stand of the government to continue imposing this travel ban. The government is even sending Cimatu to assess the condition here, because the government can not rely on the first hand information as attested by the Filipinos actually living and working here with families, the government has to rely on somebody who has not even an inkling on how we live here.

Because of this 'travel ban' the government via the Bureau of Immigration has actually legitimize 'the escort system' - no pay, no go.
The government is not protecting us - the government has actually turned us into milking cows.

Mabuhay ang Pinoy Workers!


COMMENTS
Posted: Thursday, January 29, 2009 4:15:43 PM

TRAVEL BAN NOT PROTECTING OFWs IN NIGERIA

If the government is not really meant to protect us, then the Travel Ban imposes in Nigeria are the plain facts that they lied to us, contemplating a destructive move to our inalienable rights to travel and work abroad being protected by the Constitution. Our basic rights to choose a better place to work and to find a better life is constrained by this declaration and as circumstances it leads us to hard life.

The government refuses to understand our options what is best and most appropriate places for us to work abroad. The government is refusing to understand our primary pursuit for a better life. The government refused to listen to our statement of supporting facts on the better quality of working environment wherever we are stationed in all places of Nigeria and the security protection our Company being provided to us. All these forms of refusal by our government responsible authority are an obvious violation to our fundamental rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

If Nigerian OFWs are treated as a “Milking Cow” by the unscrupulous Government Officials then what will be the reaction? Isn’t it that the cow is providing milk to the needy but if the cow is hurt because of too much milking then the cow kicks them away. However, how can the cow kicks them because his four legs are tied tightens, of course he will find a proper timing not only to kick them but also to horn them like a mad bull is doing to his oppressor in the fighting arena.

Nonetheless, our appeal for the lifting of travel ban is been a long issue many ideas and comments gathered and written in any forms of critics to various media outlets, we even tried writing to government concerned office and yet nothing yields any positive answers from the government. Now, gauging from your feedbacks, we have the same impression as to why the government is prolonging the effect of this travel ban. Because they knew that OFWs in Nigeria is getting much better compensation compared with the Middle East OFWs and for this reason the real intent of the travel ban to protect us from any imaginary danger, is now transformed to promote a lucrative illegal activity for them called “Milking Cow Business”.



Best regards

Noel S. Archide

INTELS Nigeria .

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

NGO’s oppose Arroyo order to market OFWs

Comments-
To weigh up the main theme of Presidents Arroyo’s Administrative Order 247 directing a mandate to POEA to mobilize a full blast marketing of the Modern-day-Heroes (OFW) is interpreted as a prompt hedge against inflation caused by the prolonged balance of payment deficits tend to lead to decline in peso currency value, and eventually heading to recession in the economy. The Balance of Trade is anything else that should concern her government to cover up the shortfall of the export value against the import value.

Because of the failure of her administration to make the nation industrialized, it means that her government will continue to rely on the remittances of the majority of migrant workers who successfully find a work abroad without assistance from government, (only equipped with professional and technical know how, who are hopeless to get a job in the Philippines). That is the dilemma of the political and economic system. Every time the country is experiencing economic difficulties the Modern-day-Slave is christened as Modern-day-Heroes to help save the deteriorating economy from collapsing.

The government must do something to turn the country into industrialized nation, since the majority of the people do not have capital money to put up a business, thus jobs are the primary source of income. The permanent solution these people want is for the government to create jobs and livelihood.

If we welcome this Administrative Order 247 we likewise welcome extensively the hundreds of thousands integrated new working class of men and women driven out from their homes and families to wander abroad as Modern-day-Slaves to fight against the shooting pain of poverty back home.

While our Government is conveniently being dependent on the remittances of OFWs for the stabilization of our economy we cannot achieved to make our country an industrialized nation, it means that the children of the next generation will inherit the code-name of Modern-day-Slave forever.

However, if the urgency of the implementation of AO 247 will go through, we hope that the responsible Department handling the issue of the Travel Ban in Nigeria will now consider the lifting of the Travel Ban totally.

Best regards

Noel S. Archide
INTELS Nigeria

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

This is to add insult to the Nigerian Government and additional hardship to OFWs here in Nigeria as inflicted by the adviser on overseas workers, our very own Kabayan Noli de Castro. Ano ang sekreto at recommended nya ang lifting of travel ban sa Iraq? Your guess is as good as mine. And to tell you frankly, Pusong Pinoy and the 'lowly workers' here in Nigeria can not afford this.

MABUHAY ANG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO!



Palace to consider lifting Iraq deployment ban
abs-cbnNEWS. com 01/25/2009 11:52 PM
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Malacañang on Sunday said President Arroyo will seriously consider a proposal to lift the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq.
Secretary Cerge Remonde, incoming press secretary, said the proposal came from Vice President Noli De Castro.
Vice President Noli de Castro said Saturday that he has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to study the lifting of the ban on deployment of workers to Iraq, which may open millions of opportunities for overseas Filipino workers.
De Castro, the concurrent presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, said Iraqi government representatives told him in recent meeting that there are about 10 million job opportunities for overseas workers in their country.
He said he had asked a representative of the DFA, who was present in the meeting, to study the possibility of lifting the work ban in Iraq.
“I will also meet with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Undersecretary Esteban Conejos to determine if we can already lift our ban in Iraq,” de Castro said in his dzMM radio program “Para Sa ‘Yo Bayan” Saturday during a phone interview with Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.
Roque, for his part, told De Castro that the Department of Labor and Employment had also requested the DFA to assess the security situation in Iraq.
He said his counterpart in Iraq had also advised him that 30,000 construction jobs will open in the country.
He said that based on initial news he is hearing from Iraq, the security situation there has already improved.
Malacañang meanwhile also said the government is stepping up the search for new job opportunities here and abroad for OFWs to mitigate the impact of the global economic meltdown on the country’s workforce.
Remonde, in a report on Malacañang’s web portal, reportedly said that tapping job markets abroad is a priority item of the agenda of President Arroyo when she attends the 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland late this month.
as of 01/27/2009 11:49 AM

The Travel Ban Issue

And here in Nigeria with our jobs intact, with very good working conditions, no need for GMA to market - and yet a Travel Ban is imposed ...very ironic indeed!

NGOs oppose Arroyo order to market OFWs
By Veronica UyINQUIRER.net
First Posted 08:11:00 01/23/2009
MANILA, Philippines --
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Administrative Order 247 to market overseas Filipino workers is against the spirit of Republic Act 9422, which gives the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration stronger regulatory powers, the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch said.
AO 247 instructs the POEA to "execute a paradigm shift by refocusing its functions from regulation to full blast market development efforts, the exploration of frontier, fertile job markets for Filipino expatriate workers." To achieve this, the President ordered the Cabinet to "render full support to the POEA so it can aggressively deploy Filipino expatriates ... with urgency and unbothered by institutional hurdles."
"Is this the way for government to respond to the global economic meltdown? Subjecting more of our people to external market conditions where we have almost no control of?" asked the NGO network that includes the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS), the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN), and Episcopal Commission for Migrant and Itinerant People (ECMI).
In a statement signed by members of the network of non-government organizations on migrant workers, the group suggested that the government veer away from the economic principle that is dependent on external markets, and instead beef up the domestic economy that would create full employment in the country.
The network also suggested that the budget be reviewed so that the country's needs for job generation and poverty alleviation would be reflected, instead of automatic debt repayments. "The President was with us in this campaign [for RA 9422] which took 11 years before [it] was finally enacted in 2006. She certified this bill as urgent in the 12th and 13th Congress, but now she is setting it aside in favor of aggressive marketing of our people overseas," it said.
"PMRW is aghast by this government's ineptness to the real needs of its suffering peoples. Rather than see the economic situation as a challenge and come up with a long-term viable and developmental policy for the country that is long overdue, the government is again relying on the migrants and OFWs to salvage the economy and keep it afloat.
"If we indeed consider them as our modern-day heroes, then let us treat them as such and guarantee that they reap the rewards of their labor and sacrifices," it added. At the same time, the PMRW also criticized AO248, or the so-called "payback program," which creates a Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund to help returning OFWs.
It said that with the initial funds of P250 million coming from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, this supposed help from government is actually coming from the OFWs themselves, whose $25 OWWA membership fee funds OWWA. "OWWA is purely OFW money, mostly illegally collected from the OFWs themselves," it said. PMRW said the OWWA membership fees collected from OFWs were illegal because the law provides that employers should shoulder the fees.

Travel Ban Issue

COMMENTS-

At the outset, the comments of Mr. Maynard is appreciably valued as an overview outlining of how the responsible Government Departments exploit the TRAVEL BAN to Nigeria to plunders our Constitutional rights and privileges to work and travel abroad, and impoverishes its victims.
It is noticed that our vivid hopes for the permanent lifting of the total travel ban turns out as a dull dream for all of us. Because the DFA, DOLE, POEA and BI up to now had fails to produce the appropriate decisions. They cannot even draw a conclusion of the right grammar as to what category of Migrant Workers we belong. Their system or the way of proceeding is perceived to be the source of the problems that is precisely obscures the real solution in lifting travel ban. It is also observed that the supremacy of corruption and inefficiency of administration prevalently exists in the International Airport (e.g. NAIA and Cebu). The illegal activity of bribery is of course backed by the powerful Officials. How then do we expect that these responsible Government Department Officials will be able to effectively assert the lifting of the travel ban particularly now that they found the pitiful Filipino Workers of Nigeria is the best prey or easy victims?


The Philippine Embassy in Nigeria, who is supposed to function as the avenue to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the significant correct information about the real situation and condition of our working environment, just seems unable to inspire hope that the lifting of the TRAVEL BAN to NIGERIA will come.

My fellow workers (kasama) this is a kind of Political and Economic Crisis we are into this time, I knew how you’re feeling of anguish and distress, but please always maintain calmness as usual as we are inching forward our struggle. We are on the same boat overwhelmed and harassed by this problem. Let us continue pushing our appeal for the lifting of Travel Ban.

Mga kasama, salamat po sa inyong mga panunuring ginawa patungkul sa isyu na eto.

Best regards
Noel S. Archide
INTELS Nigeria

Agimat sa Dugo

Linggo, umaga, wala na namang magawa puyat at tulog pa kasi ang magiting na kapatid at kapit-flat na si Eddie boy sa trabahong hanapbuhay wala tuloy ako makausap. Elib talaga ko sa taong ito kahit mukhang zombie na sa lalim ng mata sa kanyang sideline tuloy pa din maibigay lamang ang pangangailangan at mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang pamilya sa Pinas. Ganyan ang Pinoy masipag walang sinasayang na oras para kumita ng exra, yan ang pinoy matatag sa kahit anong hamon ng buhay, yan ang pinoy walang sinasanto, buo ang loob dahil may agimat ang dugo.

Napakarami na ng kwentong dugo ng pinoy san ka man mapadpad sa ano mang dako ng daigdig may makikita kang Pinoy na taas nuong pinaglalaban at iwinawagayway ang bandila ng Pilipinas. Para sakin kasi ang paghahanabuhay sa malayong lugar ay halintulad sa isang gyera ang kaibahan lamang pakikidigmang itoy nasa kanya-kanyang isipan. Its oviously not fought on the battle field but internally. A battle within oneself ika nga, hindi biro ang pangungulilang mararanasan sa trabaho habang pinag iisipan ang kinabukasan ng mga mahal sa buhay. Eto ang sinasabi kong pakikipag digma at ang matatag at maprinsipyo lamang ang makapaghihiwalay sa matanda at isip bata.

Sa tatag nating mga Pinoy kaya natin makipag sabayan sa kung ano mang hamon ng buhay sa trabaho man o sa pamilya kung tutuusin nga kaya nating gawin ano mang nais natin. At dahil na din siguro sa katangian nating ito nagagawa nating maging successful sa bawat gawain. Unahin natin ang kasipagan, ano mang uri ng hanapbuhay sa labas man o sa loob ng bansa marami ang Pinoy na likas na masisipag. Ang ninuno natin ay nagsilbi sa mga dayuhan at nagpamalas ng angking kasipagan naisip ko tuloy si tatay napakasipag na tao pag putok pa lang ni haring araw makikita mo na itong nagbubungkal ng lupa at matyagang inaayos ang vegetable garden sa kabilang bakanteng lote, di ka manilniwala na dati itong basurahan ng lahat ng kapitbahay marumi at umaalinagsaw ang mga nabubulok na kung anik-anik. Walang araw na hindi nya ito pinagkaka abalahan katulong din dito ako sa pagkalaykay at pagdidilig nman ang sa aking mga utol hanggang magising na lamang kami isang araw na binabakuran na ito ng isa pang matiyaga, matiyagang naghintay maayos ang paligid …wais ano, isa rin itong katangian ng Pinoy at sadya ata marami nyan satin palagay ko nga nung nagsabog ng kagulangan ang langit, di lang bilao dala ng pinoy kundi palanggana. Sorry na lang kami dahil wala nun ang tatay ko kung meron man hindi ito sapat. Dito sa abroad madaming ding wais pero wala ng wawais pa sa pinoy “parent” ang isang pang pasosyal na tawag dun. Palakaibigan, wala na siguro pang tatalo sa Pinoy sa pagiging friendly minsan nga sumusobra na pero isang bagay ito na nakakagaanan ng mga banyaga sa atin we always sport that ready smile wherever we go. Nariyan din ang mga kaibigan nating Pinoy na di ka iiwanan sa hirap man lalo na sa ginhawa. Nakakalungkot lamang isipin na minsan meron ding mga pinoy na may pagka maangas ibig sabihin mayabang lalo na kung sila ay medyo nakaka angat sa kapwa infairness baka may ipagyayabang naman o dili kaya’y sadyang namana ito sa ninunong kastila sabi nga parang langaw na tumuntong sa kalabaw at naging mas mataas pa sa kalabaw pero hindi rin ito nangangahulugang mayorya sa atin ay ganito mas lamang pa din ang mahusay makisama o makitungo sa kapwa na hindi nag aantay ng kapalit o ano mang pakinabang sa loob man o sa labas ng bansa. Sabi nga “an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness”. Isang katangian na talaga namang hahangaan mo sa Pinoy eh bakit kamo? Palagay nyo ba tatagal ang mga pulitiko sa pwesto sa Pinas kung di dahil sa kaliwat-kanan nitong alalay na handang mag alay ng buhay sa kanila maprotektahan lamang ang kanilang mga amo. In times of uncertainty it’s the Pinoy whom you can only trust and you can “bechamygoliwow” walang lalabas na sikreto. Well, depending on the circumstances, but basically we are trustworthy people secrets are kept safe and confidentiality is a sacred issue including secret affairs. Talk about secret affairs, we have to admit it’s our adventuristic nature that we sometimes fall into our own trap. Referring to our being hopeless romanticism egoistic-machismo inclination, that we somehow tend to play with it and oftentimes get what we wished for. Nasabi ko lang kasi nakakapanghinayang din mapunta sa wala ang mga pagsisikap because we sort of became out of focus from our mission which is to provide for our own families and not the other families, but that’s another quality that requires full understanding and I’m not really in the position to comment, secret nga eh!.

Tayo din ay matulungin, yan ang tinatawag na spirit of “bayanihan” which as far as I can remember being thought to us during primary school. Naalala ko nga ang poster ng isang bahay na buhat-buhat ng mga kapwa natin para ilipat sa ibang lugar o dili kaya’y sama-samang nag kukumpuni nito. Ang tagpong yan ay na naka diplay sa aming room nuong elementarya na madalang ko na ding makita sa tunay na buhay dahil na din siguro na mahirap ng buhatin ang sementong bahay. Tulad ng pagiging magalang likas na tayo ay gumagamit ng “po at opo” sa sino mang kausap nating nakatatanda sa atin at hindi tayo pinahihintulutang samabat sa usapang matatanda.

Sa paglipas ng panahon at pag dating ng modernong teknolohiya unti-unti na din itong naiisang tabi sayang nga lamang at ako’y personal na pabor na manatili ito pero dahil sa idol ko ang ating national hero na si “Dr. Jose Rizal” na nag sulong at nagsabing ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan, naisip ko ding hayaan na lang nating sagot-sagutin tayo ng ating mga anak. Ironically, iba na din kasi ang panahon ngayon, hindi natin maitatanggi na sila nga ang pag asa subalit kung hindi natin maituturo ang pagkakaiba ng tama at mali I’d say were in deep shit. Tulad ng pagiging magalang, ang kabaitan ay isang katangiang angkin nating mga pinoys, likas na mababait ang ating lahi dahil kung susumahin mo lahat ng katangiang binaggit ko ito ang syang kalalabasan. Ang mga qualities na ito ang syang nagsisilbing agimat nating mga pinoy upang maging successful sa ano mang gawain natin. Dito sa Nigeria halos pinoy ang syang inaasahan sa ano mang kumpanyang kanyang pinagsisilbihan magmula sa engineers, doctor, accountant, hanggang sa pagpapatakbo ng mga kumpanyang may esensyal na posisyon hindi namin yan tatantanan! at dahil sa anking talino sisiguraduhin naming maayos itong tatakbo. Yes, we love our work as much as we love our families. And lastly, ofcourse ang pagiging relihiyoso whatever religious congregation we belong to binibigyan natin ito ng halaga saan mang dako ng mundo tayo mapadpad remember Lorenzo Ruiz the first Filipino martyr na pinag tripan ng mga sakang este hapon gulpehin, ilublob sa pusali, latiguhin at kung ano-ano pang kasindak-sindak na pagpapahirap iwaksi lamang ang kanyang pananamplataya. Nariyan din ang magiting na si Lapu-lapu na naging hadlang ni Ferdinand Magellan sa pag papalawig ng Kristyanismo na sya naman naging batayan ng Islamic religion sa ating bansa. Ang di ko lang maubos maisip ay kung talaga bang yun ang pakay ng taong ito sa atin at hindi ang gawin tayong indio or muchacho? Pero ibang topic na yata yan. Ang malinaw sa aking isipan ay dahil sa mga salinglahing ito nabuo ang karakter nating mga Pinoy…simple pero rock at syempre ang pagiging likas na mahusay, matatag, matalino, mapagmahal, at malakas ang loob dahil may “Agimat ang dugo!”

Mabuhay ang manggawang Pilipino sa ano mang panig ng Mundo!

THE TRAVEL BAN SAGA

Another lament from an overseas worker from Nigeria

From: Fred Borbon fred_borbon1956@yahoo.com
Subject: OFW
Date: Friday, January 23, 2009, 10:29 AM

Kuya Maynard,
Ambag na pananaw ni Pastor Billy, a.k.a. ang Carlo Magno ng Lekki, halaw sa baul po daw ng Mga Kwentong Lasing Part 3.

Hindi mayaman ang OFW - We have this notion na 'pag OFW o nasa abroad ay mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P50K-P300K per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga Australia, Canada, Kazakstan or US siguro ay mas malaki ang sweldo, lalo na daw mga taga Nigeria but to say that they're rich is a fallacy (amen!).
Malaki ang pangangailangan kaya karamihan ay nag-a-abroad. Maraming bunganga ang kailangang pakainin kaya umaalis ang mga pipol sa Pilipinas. Madalas, 3/4 o kalahati ng sweldo ay napupunta sa tuition ng anak at gastusin ng pamilya.
Mahirap maging OFW ? Kailangan magtipid hangga't kaya. Oo, masarap ang pagkain sa abroad pero madalas na paksiw o adobo at itlog lang tinitira para makaipon. Pagdating ng kinsenas o katapusan, ang unang tinitingnan eh ang conversion ng Peso sa Dollar o Euro o Rial o Naira. Mas okay na magtiis sa konti kaysa gutumin ang pamilya. Kapag umuuwi, kailangan may baon kahit konti kasi maraming kamag-anak ang sumusundo sa airport o naghihintay sa probinsya. Alam mo naman 'pag Pinoy, yung tsismis na OFW ka eh surely attracts a lot of kin.
Kapag hindi mo nabigyan ng pasalubong eh magtatampo na yun at sisiraan ka na. Well, hindi naman lahat pero I'm sure sa mga OFW dito eh may mga pangyayaring ganun. Magtatrabaho ka sa bansang iba ang tingin sa mga Pinoy. Malamang marami ang naka-experience ng gulang o discrimination to their various workplaces. Sige lang, tiis lang, iniiyak na lang kasi kawawa naman pamilya pag umuwi.
Besides, wala ka naman talagang maasahang trabaho sa Philippines ngayon.Mahal ang bigas, ang gatas, ang sardinas, ang upa sa apartment. Tiis lang kahit maraming kupal sa trabaho, kahit may sakit at walang nag-aalaga,kahit hindi masarap ang tsibog, kahit pangit ang working conditions, kahit delikado, kahit mahirap. Kapag nakapadala ka na, okay na, tawag lang, "hello! kumusta na kayo?".
Hindi bato ang OFW - Tao rin ang OFW, hindi money o cash machine. Napapagod rin, nalulungkot (madalas),nagkakasakit, nag-iisip at nagugutom. Nakukulong pa nga. Naaakusahan pang mga magnana kawkaw pa minsan. Kailangan din ang suporta ng taga Embassy, kundi man physically, emotionally o spiritually man lang.
Tumatanda rin ang OFW - Sa mga nakausap at nakita ko, marami ang panot at kalbo na. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Yet, they continue to work thinking about the family they left behind. Marami ang nasa abroad, 20-30 years na, pero wala pa ring ipon. Kahit anong pakahirap, sablay pa rin. Masakit pa kung olats rin ang sinusuportahang pamilya ? ang anak adik o nabuntis; ang asawa may kabit. Naalala ko tuloy ang sikat na kanta dati, "NAPAKASAKIT KUYA EDDIE!"
Bayani ang OFW ? Totoo yun! Ngayon ko lang na na-realize na bayani ang OFW sa maraming bagay. Hindi bayani na tulad ni Nora Aunor o Flor Contemplacion. Bayani in the truest sense of the word. Hindi katulad ni Rizal o Bonifacio. Mas higit pa dun, mas maraming giyera at gulo ang pinapasok ng OFW para lang mabuhay. Mas maraming pulitika ang kailangang suungin para lang tumagal sa trabaho lalo na't kupal ang mga kasama sa trabaho. Mas mahaba ang pasensya kaysa sa mga ordinaryong Tongresista o Sinador sa Pilipinas dahil sa takot na mawalan ng trabaho at lalo na po, dahil sa pasado kami sa psychotest.
Matindi ang OFW ? Matindi ang Pinoy. Lalo na daw ang mga Naija Pinoy. Matindi pa sa daga, o cockroaches which survived the cataclysmic evolution. Alang sinabi iyang Malarya, ang Kidnapping, Armed Robber sa Inay Gyera, Armed Robbers sa Eh May Grasya NAIA. Sisiw lang mga iyan. Maraming sakripisyo pero walang makitang tangible solutions or consequences na ginagawa ang OWWA/POEA/DOLE at DFA.
Malas ng OFW, swerte ng pulitiko ? Lalo na si Money Bilyar. Hindi umuupo ang OFW para magbigay ng autograph o interbyuhin ng media (unless nakidnap!). Madalas nasa sidelines lang ang OFW. Kapag umaalis, malungkot and on the verge of tears. Kapag dumadating, swerte 'pag may sundo( madalas meron). Kapag naubos na ang ipon, wala ng kamag-anak.
Sana sikat ang OFW para may boses sa Kamara. Ang swerte ng mga politiko nakaupo sila at ginagastusan ng pera ng Filipino. Hindi nga sila naiinitan o napapaso ng langis, o napagagalitan ng amo, o kumakain ng paksiw para makatipid, o nakatira sa compound with conditions less than favorable, o nakikisama sa ibang lahi para mabuhay. Ang swerte, sobrang swerte nila. Matatag ang OFW ? Matatag ang OFW, mas matatag pa sa sundalo ni Hingalo Reyes o kung ano pang grupo na alam nyo. Magaling sa reverse psychology, negotiations at counter-attacks. Tatagal ba ang OFW? Tatagal pa kasi hindi pa natin alam kailan magbabago ang Philippines , kailan nga kaya? o may tsansa pa ba? Paano na iyan Ate Galo, magsalita ka naman, "Hindi na akow kakandi datung, mandada yaak!!!, magna naku!!! Ahh ewan, basta "I Am Sorry" pero di Worry. Masarap isipin na kasama mo ang pamilya mo araw-araw. Nakikita mo mga anak mong lumalaki at naaalagaan ng maayos. Masarap kumain ng sitaw, ng bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka. Masarap manood ng pelikulang Pinoy, luma man o bago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung kilala mo ang kapitbahay mo. Iba pa rin sa Philippines, iba pa rin kapag Pinoy ang kasama mo (except 'pag kupal at utak-talangka), iba pa rin 'pag nagkukwento ka at naiintindihan ng iba ang sinasabi mo. Iba pa rin ang tunog ng "mahal kita!", "day, ginahigugma tika." "Mingaw na ko nimo ba, kalagot!", " Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba". Iba pa rin talaga.

Kaya Ang Hinayupak Na Travel Ban Na Yan....Alisin Na!!!
Sige lang, tiis lang, saan ba't darating din ang pag-asa.

THE TRAVEL BAN SAGA

From: Pablo Nucum plnewcom@yahoo.com
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 6:10:33 AM
Subject:
IMMIGRATION STOPPED ME FROM BOARDING MY FLIGHT

Dear All,

I took the risk to test the water at the immigration based on our meeting to fly direct to Nigeria (EK Manila-Dubai-Lagos) being a residence with valid employment contract. Unfortunately I was stopped to board my flight by the Immigration people because of the "deployment ban". The hassles at the immigration airport is now well known to all concerned so I will not elaborate further about my experience with the Immigration Officer (Miss Hazel Bosado) and the Duty Supervisor Mr. Medalla. These people are just doing their job to implement the order lalo na't ang gusto kong tahakin ay ang tuwid na daan palabas ng bansa.

I am not quite sure where my case will lead me to, but I have faith in the Lord and I am now depending much to the good & strong leadership of CMA, CHR & CFO. With your continued full supports to our plights I will soon be back and working in Nigeria, to enjoy the good salary for the upkeep of my family and to secure the good future of my children. My fight is the fight of all Filipinos,particularly those OFWs working in Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Nigeria whose human right was trumpled upon by the GMA regime. My fight is the fight of all aspiring Filipinos to work abroad because there is no good job here at home.My fight is the fight of all Filipinos who are ready to sacrifice their lives just to ensure a brighter future for their children/loved ones. My fight is the fight of every Filipino who have a strong patriotic duty to do good for their country.

The Pusong Pinoy Association Officers and all the OFWs in Nigeria will continue the journey in fighting for our human rights. However and after my ordeal at the immigration we will advise our returning workers to Nigeria to do the necessary move and/or take the diversionary flights as they deemed fit to ensure they go back to their respective job in Nigeria.

I will definitely attend the 6pm meeting at CHR office on Sunday, 26 Jan.to learn what transpired during the meeting with Ms Leila De Lima of CHR Officer and Atty. Edgardo Mendoza and what are the strategies we need to do to ensure that I go back to Nigeria without much delay or I ran the risk of losing my lucrative job, and to pave the way for all kababayans to go on vacation without fear of being stopped at the Immigration because the the "stupid" deployment ban.

As I told you Duty Supervisor have called Atty. Edgardo Mendoza but the former was advised not to allow me board my flight until matters are sorted out with the concerned goverment offices (DFA/DOLE/POEA). Napakasakit ng ginagawa mo Ate Glo.

For the glory of God, in fighting for our human rights, in fighting graft and corruption, and in doing our patriotic duty I am now one of your disciples of your good advocacies.

God bless us all, and God bless the Philippines,
Lito Nucum
President
Pusong Pinoy Association
Abuja, Nigeria
West Africa
__________________________________________
It is so sad that a government such as ours does not want to see reason. What is so irritating and very devastating for us overseas workers is the fact that our very own government is begging for jobs abroad and yet the same government wants the very people already working here in Nigeria to lose their jobs. What makes this very government to make this stupid, stubborn stance?

What have you got against us Filipino workers especially here in Nigeria?
Do not make the pretense of protecting our life and limbs! We are working legitimately and you are disrupting our work and very good relations with our host country.

What are you going to do with the Filipino Oil Bunkerers who are still languishing here in jail?

YOU, THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT, ARE ACTUALLY KILLING US AND IN DOING SO KILLING OUR FAMILIES AND THEREBY KILLING OUR OWN COUNTRY!

TRAVEL BAN SAGA

And as the excerpts of the meeting was circulated, sentiments of every Pinoy worker here in Nigeria are echoed in these letters:



COMMENTS FROM MAYNARD:

'Lifting of Deployment Ban to offer job opportunities to other Filipinos DOLE could only recommend the lifting of deployment ban as the decision to do so falls to the DFA office. For DOLE to recommend they are asking us more vivid details on the safety of Filipino workers in Nigeria and a sort of assurance that no Filipino workers would be kidnapped. Pusong Pinoy or any Filipino Association in Nigeria, for that matter, is not in any position to give a qualified statement attesting to the security/ peace & order situation in Nigeria.'

>> what exactly is that kind of "vivid details" they all want from us? Can we expect Amb Roy Cimatu to be able to give that "vivid details" of how safe the rest of us working outside of Oil areas? Isn't our various petitions and letters not convincing enough that we are, generally, all in safe areas? Do they analyze the news that the kidnapping happens in Oil areas ONLY? Maybe what they meant is that we will send them videos of our parties and weekend activities to show them how 'vividly' safe we are and what are our 'accommodations' in Nigeria.
Remember, Sec. Angelo Reyes came here and was entertaind in Ikoyi by Engr Edwin Salazar of Indomie. They should ask his opinion how safe Nigeria (from Lagos) is. If he says in the negative, then we can surely assume that that is the 'mindset' of govt officials in the Philippines.

'However, even in our absence, CMA together with other NGOs and related government offices engage on the issue of deploment ban, will try to arrange another meeting with DFA, whilst awaiting the recommendation of Special Envoy Roy Cimatu this coming March 2009.'

>>> From this point on, i think Pusong Pinoy should make preparations and coordination for his arrival. Para di masayang ang pag punta nya rito. We can also invite media people from Philippines to accompany his visit to Nigeria. Shock-and-awe, kumbaga. To make sure that they all get the 'vivid details' of our lives in Nigeria.

'Filipinos with Residence Permit (CERPAC holder)
This is where we fall under. The mandate of CFO is to look after the Filipino migrants all over the world.. CFO read our case as migrant workers because we are a holder of a residence permit.'

>>> i do not understand this one. We are not happy the way POEA, DOLE, OWWA and DFA are handling our case as OFWs, and here comes CFO mandated to "look after" the Filipino migrant workers all over the world. For what? to look for potential CFA awardees? And what can CFO do after reading us as 'migrant workers'? Does not matter, no? It's the ban...
'(Through this email we are addressing Mr. Edwin Pajares asking their office how, we Filipinos in Nigeria, could be officially recognized by them as Migrant workers in Nigeria and what are the requirements. Membership or processing fee we were told involve only a very minimal amount).'

>>> well, according to POEA, how can they 'process' us (even if a lot of us wants to be registered OFWs) when there is a ban? We also pray that indeed they can register us from Nigeria. That means, implicitly, the ban is lifted.

'Meaning we are not even considered by DOLE/POEA as OFWs and therefore does not affect us at all on the issue of deployment ban.'

>>> i am getting more confused over this 'semantics'.
Just to be enlightened further, I search the Internet for definitions.
According to the Omnibus Rules and Regulations – Implementing the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (RA 8042):

(a) Migrant Workers or Overseas Filipino Workers - a person who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a legal resident. A person "to be engaged in a remunerated activity" refers to an applicant worker who has been promised or assured employment overseas and acting on such promise or assurance sustains damage and/or injury.
(b) Overseas Filipinos - are migrant workers, other Filipino nationals and their dependents abroad.
http://www.smc.org.ph/rights/rule8042.htm

Meaning, the folks at CFO, DOLE/POEA haven't read this law? Why the confusion? Again, doesn't really matter. Semantics will not make the ban get lifted or assure us Nigeria resident visa holders of unhampered travel to and from the Philippines. It's the ban...

For humour's sake, ano daw ba pagkakaiba ng "OFW" sa "migrant worker"? To follow the logic of POEA/DOLE/CFO, kung wala kang resident visa -- OFW ka. Pag may resident visa and card -- migrant worker ka. What then are the benefits, the pros and cons, between the two, assuming they are different animals?

POEA/DOLE washes their hands over us and yet, every now and then, it is POEA who issues press releases confirming the ban and adding that they will not process 'balik-manggagawa' from Nigeria.

'To avoid hiccups at the Immigration we are still insisting the appropriate office (DFA) to issue the guideline to Bureau of Immigration to facilitate our exit at the airport immigration without any hassles. The representative of the Immigration, Mr. Montano quoted that it was clear with them that deployment ban does not involve Filipinos with residence permit in Nigeria. Although no document is available to back up his statement.'

>>> That's the problem. Somebody from BI like Mr Montano or Atty Mendoza makes statement favorable to us, but the truth is, they are not sure it will be the statement of BI Commissioner. We go to the airport banking on their statements and you are told by the immig officer on the ground: "wala po kaming alam dyan. basta may ban pa. kaya bayad na lang kayo".
Incidentally, while the NAIA immig people are sreported to be keeping low profile in handling Nigeria-bound OFWs, the Mactan/Cebu immig are on a rampage collecting 300USD from every Nigeria OFWs. Can Atty Mendoza and Mr.Montano help/do something about this? We can drop some names.
The sad truth here is that, the POEA, DOLE, and BI are all dependent upon the orders of DFA. No one among them are in the position to make any statement or moves that contravenes the DFA ban. In other words, happy naman sila sa BI everytime DFA imposes a travel and work ban. Di daw nila kasalanan mang harang – just doing their jobs.
But point taken. And this must be our temporary respite – those with CERPAC (resident visas) ought to have no issue with the ban.

'The Commission on Human Rights is also helping us on our right to travel or work abroad by issuing a request letter to Immigration Commissioner, but with hundreds of Filipino going back to Nigeria, it would be almost impossible with them to issue letter to those who seek their assistance. Hence, CHR is now very much in the picture helping us.'

>>> Honestly, i am also thankful about CHR involving in this issue. I remember one Naija OFW (Mr. Archide?) sent an email-inquiry to DFA challenging the ban on the grounds that it is unconstitutional as the ban is tantamount to preventing us from exercising our rights to work and travel anywhere. DFA replied that it is just acting its part of ‘protecting’ OFWs and would-be’s.
But that is beside the point. The point is, it all boils down whether 'somebody' else in the government (like Ka Noli or Sen. Villar) can task Usec. Este-ban Conejos to explain on his 'insistence' to keep the full travel and work ban against Nigeria.
Recommendations from everywhere can come and go, but if Mr. Conejos remains 'steadfast' in his 'love and concern' for us Naija OFWs, then this ban will remain.
Lest we are missing the line here, ALL these issues can be solved by DFA in one order – ban is lifted. I think it would be prudent and wise to involve the DFA in future meetings about Nigeria ban.

Filipino Seafarers "act" affecting land-based Filipinos in Nigeria.
This is entirely a different issue that POEA is putting extra eye to the like ot SEA GEM.
What is unfortunate is that every sad news as a result of their involvement in the "oil bunkering" business affect us all as well, because Filipinos are now considered by the Nigerian press as "thieves". Napakasakit Ate Glo.
Indeed, napakasakit, Kuya Manny (Villar po, hindi Figueroa).
Has anyone heard from Ka Noli, DFA, DOLE, POEA, CFO if they are “investigating” SEAGEM?
It was December 15, 2008 when Mr.Lito Nocum’s article (Four Seamen of True Courage) about the 4 Filipino seamen who refused to participate in the oil bunkering and SEAGEM’s alleged participation was published in Globalnation, the only ‘noise we got from the issue came from ’Presidentiable’ Sen. Dick Gordon, last Jan 16, 2009 (Gordon asks gov’t to save jailed sailors).
In the meantime, the rest of the arrested OFWs are languishing in Nigerian jail. The status of their case is “confidential”, according to an embassy official in Abuja.

To summarize or to advise our Balikbayan or bakaysionistang kababayan nakatira sa Nigeria:
1. We shall continue to pray for the lifting of the deployment ban to open the door for other Filipinos to work in Nigeria.
>> we are with you..
2. We are "migrant workers" being a holder of a residence permit to Nigeria. We shall refrain from categorizing ourselves as "returning workers" or OFWs when we fill-up the disembarkation card.
>> Am I going to be arrested in NAIA if I fill up the form and write “returning worker” or “proud Nigeria OFW”? Will I be barred from coming back to Nigeria for doing that?
3. Do not contact Immigration people just to have safe exit at the airport (although to do so is entirely the prerogative of those who wanted to "maglagay". But if we act as one body fighting for our right, then we will have back our freedom to work anywhere abroad.
>> I’m sure we all agree to the latter statement. The rest of us are with all these efforts.
Thanks to Messrs. Lito Nocum and Ben Nadado and all Kapusong Pinoys for representing the Nigeria OFWs.

COMMENTS FROM FRED BORBON

Kuya Maynard,
Napakaganda ng paliwanag mo na iyan at lalong lumiwanag ang pag asa at agam agam tungkol sa lintik na Ban, na talagang hanggang sa ngayon ay malabo pa sa tubig ng baha ika nga. Sa dami na ng nagpulong na iyan,puro mga katanungan pa din pala ang naging resulta, nadagdagan pa ang isipin na di pala naman OFW,kundi Migrant Workers sa Nigeria pa daw, o baka naman "may grasya sa Inay Gyera". Kapag maganda ay atin, kung masama ay akin lang po.
Kung si Hingalo Reyes na sumabit din sa isyu ay nawalang parang bula, dumayo lang pala ng kain dito at mag iinventory lang pala sa Embassy, wala ding tibay na maaasahan.
Bumitiw din ng mahalagang salita si Commissioner Edd MEND oza, bastat may green card, residence permit ay okey lang, walang harang sa Immigration, tama naman po siya, basta diretso kayo if the prays is right.
Mungkahi ko na lang po, joke na totoo, kay Manny Pacquiao ako sasandal at di kay Money Billar na ang kaya lang resolbahin sa problema ng OFW ay mga walang tiket sa eroplano na makauwi ng Pinas, eh bakit di siya makasawsaw sa usaping Nigeria, abay magkakasubukan tiyak, baka mapahiya siya at mapa ihi pa niyan.
Ipupusta ko na sa susunod laban niya sa May 2 ang aking ipambabayad sa isusuhol sa Eh May Grasya, at tiyak na mapapakasong sa aking mga katrabahong Bitoy, kaya iyong mga gustong sumama po, open pa ang aking line up, he he he.
Saka po, pwede din natin lapitan si Kuya Sabit Singson, alam ko pong naglipana mga bata niya sa tatlong terminal na iyan dahilan sa bago niyang ka tong kulan, magkano na iyang ipapakiusap nating iyan, barya barya na lang para sa kanya iyan, abay kung di tayo umubra sa mga tropang Turo Turo Boys ng DFA/POEA/DOLE, tama na ang kanilang pa pogi points at baka pag initan pa ang ating direct hiring like sa Hongkong ika nga.
Ganito kasi kaya di maalis ang ban, nag karoon na po ng licence daw ang mga magnanakaw style Pinoy, kasi umalis ka sa Pinas na seaman, papasok ka ng Nigerian waters at kapag nahuli ka, pangita ang ebedensya sa newspaper ng Nigeria, mga Magnanakaw na Pinoy, naka headline pa, di po matauhan mga taong gobyerno niyan, ka frat ika nga, lampas sa kabilang teynga, tingnan mo, nakakulong pa po ang ilang kababayan natin sa ngayon dahil sa kapabayaan, hindi pag kakakwartahan eh, ika ng gobyerno sa mga kidnapper, no ransom policy, bugok!!!!, secretuhan na lang iyan, kakahiya kasi eh.
Kulang po sa briefing ng realidad ang mga nagbabalak na OFW na papasok sa Nigeria, iyan po ang totoo, sa Naija Pinoy dapat ang seminar nila at di sa PDOS
Bakit di maalis alis ang Ban, kitang kita po kasi ang sarap buhay sa Nigeria,lalo na noong Independence Day Celeb, sabi lang magulo daw kuno, eh linggo linggo po ay meron Sabado Nights extend pa sa Lingo, may mga gatherings at karoeke pa, may sabong pa, katunayan sa Bonny Island at Ikeja, baka daw naiingit po sila sa totoo lang kaya ika nga, nakiki ambos lang sila sa ating kita. Makinig ka sa umpukan ng mga timawa at kapag narinig na galing ka sa Inay Gyera, naku, ang lalaki daw ng sweldo doon, kaya ang lagay baga naman, hanggang sa kwento lang kayo bida, kaya may kwenta ang balik natin.
Kaya kapag bumabalik na po tayo, ang sabi ng taga Eh May Grasya sa airport sa OFW Nigeria, sa halip na magnanakaw din aka seaman , Magna NAKU!!!, may visa ka ng Nigeria ano, bawal iyan Sir, ala pa pong memo na okey na kayo palusutin de palampasin, May Higpit po na ipinagbabawal, so, ikaw naman na gustong makabalik, alam mo na iyong ibig sabihin ng Bawal na Maghigpit naman.

Comments from Afghanistan - where OFWs are also much loved by este-Ban:

1. Is CFO a government agency?
2. Migrant workers are not OFW´s - kelan pa nangyari ang classification na ito? Ang alam ko OFW is a term used for Filipinos only pero in English, lahat ay migrant workers. Hay!
3. Kung ganun nga ('2), bakit nangongolekta pa rin sila ng fees and kelangan pang pumila? Hindi ba nila alam yWhat difference does it make if one is a resident or an OFW? Both are exposed to the same perceived danger that they are using as their excuse. Noli even added the excuse of protection from illegal recruitment kaya sige pa rin ang ban. Saan kaya maraming illegally recruited - sa banned countries or those not banned; e.g. Saudi, Kuwait, UAE?
3. Vivid details - anong ibig sabihin nang vivid? yong hindi black and white?
4. The OFWs or pinoys in Israel, Rwanda, Angola, Sudan, DRC, Pakistan (to name a few, and yes, there are pinoys working there) are not in danger or hindi lang sila love ni este-Ban?
5. Should there be trouble that requires evacuation, does that mean the government will not act to rescue those who are in the banned countries? IF they will, useless naman pala ang ban-ban.
6. Hwag umasa kay Noli. He only FOLLOWS what este-ban says. The office of Senator Jinggoy Estrada (he is chairman of the labor committee) perhaps can help lobby?
7. Last but not least: DFA has DECIDED to give us death instead of liberty. Miski nga liberty milk hindi tayo bibigyan ni este-ban kung mawalan tayo ng trabaho. Airport personnel continue to benefit from the ban. Seguro yon ang reason for the ban by DFA. To continue to make the airport personnel happy and not really to protect the OFWs.



NEED WE SAY MORE? Only this:
I’m just tired of the semantics and logistics decreed by the Philippine government. All I know is this... there is a Nigerian embassy in the Philippines. There is a Philippine embassy here in Nigeria and the seat is here in Abuja with 17 (?) countries na sakop nito. Is this not an insult to the host government that the seat is in its capital and yet the nationals can not travel freely? At ano ang garantiya ng ibang bansa under our Embassy here sa Abuja with regards to this so called 'protection?'

And the Mafia-like immigration system - no pay, no pass! The government is actually legalizing bribery - because of this Travel Ban, the crocs are very much alive - grabe ang pula ng mga hasang!
There is no logic. If our government is so stubborn and keeps on painting our host country as a dangerous one, then close the embassies of both countries. Cut the diplomatic ties. After all, whose nationals are caught stealing/oil bunkering? Is it not the same Philippine nationals, duly certified by our government as legitimate seafarers?

Cimatu will come to assess. Wow, talaga... kasi kami na tumira dito from 25 - 30 years and lived here literally treated like royalty can not give statement that this place is much much safer than our country with the most rotten government. The person to assess para paniwalaan is an official from our government na ni hindi man lang maka stay dito for a week. Or baka talagang safe and nice ang place na ito at gagawin lang na bakasyonan (stay at Hilton) at para tuloy-tuloy di wag ma lift ang travel ban.
Look at pa-poging este-ban, enjoy lang sya. How about Relacion? Expenses paid courtesy of our government.

Ang sabi ng Relacion nuon, national interest daw ang HABOL NG GOBYERNO. It would really be interesting to note that while there is a travel ban, our continued remittances is of national interest.

TRAVEL BAN SAGA

While every ‘Pinoy Worker’ here in Nigeria is frantically raking his brain on how to hammer through the heads of our very stubborn government officials that Nigeria is the safest haven of Pinoy workers, (Is it not enough guarantee that there are many Pinoys who are still in this country for 25 to 30 years and still going strong?) for ‘them’ to lift this very odious TRAVEL BAN, organizations like CMA (our frontrunner) is also pooling all its resources to come to our rescue. On January 20, 2009, CMA Director Ellene Sana spearheaded a meeting with government officials who are in direct control of our ‘fate’ - DOLE USEC Ms. Luzviminda Padilla, POEA Administrator Ms. Jennifer Manalili, OWWA Representative, Mr. Gerardo Montano, Immigration Officer, Mr. Edwin Pajarez, Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Representative, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Representatives.

The excerpts of the meeting as reported by the Pusong Pinoy Association President Lito Nucum is as follows:

Mga kapuso,

Hereunder are the highlights of our meeting with DOLE-POEA on 20th Jan. 2009, attended by the following:

DOLE USEC Ms. Luzviminda Padilla
POEA Administrator Ms. Jennifer Manalili
OWWA Representative
CMA Director , Ms. Ellene Sana,
Mr. Gerardo Montano, Immigration Officer
Mr. Edwin Pajarez, Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Representative
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Representatives

Lifting of Deployment Ban to offer job opportunities to other Filipinos DOLE could only recommend the lifting of deployment ban as the decision to do so falls to the DFA office. For DOLE to recommend they are asking us more vivid details on the safety of Filipino workers in Nigeria and a sort of assurance that no Filipino workers would be kidnapped. Pusong Pinoy or any Filipino Association in Nigeria, for that matter, is not in any position to give a qualified statement attesting to the security/ peace & order situation in Nigeria.

However, even in our absence CMA, together with other NGOs and related government offices engage on the issue of deploment ban, will try to arrange another meeting with DFA, whilst awaiting the recommendation of Special Envoy Roy Cimatu this coming March 2009.

Filipinos with Residence Permit (CERPAC holder)
This is where we fall under. The mandate of CFO is to look after the Filipino migrants all over the world.. CFO read our case as migrant workers because we are a holder of a residence permit.

(Through this email we are addressing Mr. Edwin Pajares asking their office how, we Filipinos in Nigeria, could be officially recognized by them as Migrant workers in Nigeria and what are the requirements. Membership or processing fee we were told involve only a very minimal amount).

Meaning we are not even considered by DOLE/POEA as OFWs and therefore does not affect us at all on the issue of deployment ban.

To avoid hiccups at the Immigration we are still insisting the appropriate office (DFA) to issue the guideline to Bureau of Immigration to facilitate our exit at the airport immigration without any hassles. The representative of the Immigration, Mr. Montano quoted that it was clear with them that deployment ban does not involve Filipinos with residence permit in Nigeria. Although no document is available to back up his statement.

The Commission on Human Rights is also helping us on our right to travel or work abroad by issuing a request letter to Immigration Commissioner, but with hundreds of Filipino going back to Nigeria, it would be almost impossible with them to issue letter to those who seek their assistance. Hence, CHR is now very much in the picture helping us.

Filipino Seafarers "act" affecting land-based Filipinos in Nigeria.
This is entirely a different issue that POEA is putting extra eye to the like ot SEA GEM.
What is unfortunate is that every sad news as a result of their involvement in the "oil bunkering" business affect us all as well, because Filipinos are now considered by the Nigerian press as "thieves". Napakasakit Ate Glo.

To summarize or to advise our Balikbayan or bakaysionistang kababayan nakatira sa Nigeria:
1. We shall continue to pray for the lifting of the deployment ban to open the door for other Filipinos to work in Nigeria.
2. We are "migrant workers" being a holder of a residence permit to Nigeria. We shall refrain from categorizing ourselves as "returning workers" or OFWs when we fill-up the disembarkation card.
3. Do not contact Immigration people just to have safe exit at the airport (although to do so is entirely the prerogative of those who wanted to "maglagay". But if we act as one body fighting for our right, then we will have back our freedom to work anywhere abroad.

Other sidelines will be discussed when I am back in abuja on Sunday, 25 Jan. 2009.

God bless all,
Lito

Pusong Pinoy past presidents- Marisa Mercado & Bernie Mercado, Lito, Benjie(left) and during the meeting (right) and with government reps (below)

GOOD TIDINGS

When the Sisters Came Marching…
…it will always be in response for the cry of the needy.

The MCST Missionary Cathechists of St. Therese of the Child Jesus based at the Nunciature, Abuja, requested for food, grains, toys, clothing and any other item that are usable. Many Samaritans responded. Among them are the ladies from Dantata & Sawoe Life Camp. Not only did they give used and slightly used toys and clothing; they also gave new shirts and donated bag of rice, bag of semovita, bag of beans and cartons of fruit juice.

Mahesie, Vangie, Angie, Nancy and Anurupa
On the 1st Friday of the year 2009, at 1:00 pm, 2nd of January 2009, the team led by Sr. Resurreccion, Sr. Ifleada and Sr. Mary Grace, and 5 laywomen embarked on this mission. Target place is St. Molumba’s Parish, Igu Village under Bwari Local Government. From the main expressway to Dutse junction is 31 kms and from Bwari to Igu is additional 11.5 km. The Gbagyi tribe are the indigenes of Abuja but somehow found themselves in a dire situation in contrast with the glaring opulence of the present Abuja residents.

Sis Res sent a text message – ‘we’re ready.’ I was still in the office rounding off the remainder of holidays’ work. Meanwhile, Devesh Gupta, my Indian colleague rushed to buy bag of beans and have these added to our ‘treasure trove’. I immediately called my driver and rushed to our life camp. I borrowed a bus from our Central Store and I heard Shim, our Nigerian storekeeper, talking to the assigned driver of the bus ‘drive the bus here, fill the tank and meet Miss Vangie. She is going to Usman Dam.’ Gee whiz… on the radio? Everybody in the camp will think I leave the office and decided to go picnicking at this hour!

As agreed upon, the Asian ladies from our camp Mahesie Harrer and Anurupa Som, promptly arrived at our designated spot – the Clubhouse, bringing along with them food stuff, toys, clothing, etc. Mahesie told me that she informed the inhabitants of our life camp and they ‘promised’ but somehow did not find time to redeem the promise. Maybe, it’s because of the holidays hang-over. I would know that Asians would be the first to respond to any call – simply because we easily relate to such situation being almost always in the midst of poverty either caused by natural disasters or man-made disasters.
When everything was set, Angie, Nancy and I took off. I requested my boss’ driver (boss on Christmas Leave in Germany) to drive the bus. Our first stop is the Nunciature.
The sisters were nowhere in sight. I phoned Sr. Res and said they’re coming. 10, 15, 20, 30 minutes ticked by, my small intestines were already gnawing at the big ones and they’re still not here. Luckily, the ever girl scout spirit in Angie and Nancy, had the foresight of picking a basket with oven-roasted chicken, bread and drinking water. We, together with the driver, sat for the 'sumptous' meal. Just then Sr. Ifleada came and asked us to partake in their lunch. We jumped at the chance and left the food to Nathaniel, our driver.

And then, we hit the road. Sr. Ifleada and Sr. Mary Grace with Mrs. Christine and the bulk of the items in the Nunciature’s van and Sr. Res, Mrs. Florence, Angie, Nancy and myself in our Jinbie Haise bus. The going was fine till we reached the junction of the expressway – to the right is Usman Dam and to the left is our route, getting rougher and rougher as we sped along.

Unfortunately, the A/C wasn’t functioning and we opted to open the windows. ‘Fresh’ Harmattan wind freely entered our noses. Sr. Res was happily chatting while my head kept leaning to the right and her voice was just a drone getting farther and farther away …wham…blag.

I was still smarting from the sudden hit and jolt when the bus slowed down. We were already climbing a steeper dirt road. I looked down to the left – a very deep crevice. To the right, a deeper cranny and the bus is just the exact width of the road. Sr. Res commented that the place is beautiful even in this very dry season.

Beautiful? All I know is that a very plumpy lady seated in front with the driver may help tilt the bus in favor of the crevice!
We passed several more landmarks of the same nature and Sr. Res pointed a clearing – ‘that’s the parish. The narrow road was lined with stones, some sort of ‘this way, please’.

Rev. Fr. Stephen Meseda, the Parish Priest and the Associate Priest Rev. Fr. Jude Nwigwe welcomed us. After all the introductions, we alloted the grains for easy distribution. The villagers dressed in their Sunday’s best (after all it’s a big occasion) at first trickled and then literally teemed the place. Sr. Ifleada took charge of the children while Sr. Res and Sr. Mary Grace with Mrs. Christine and Mrs. Florence started with the adults.
After a substantial portion had been distributed, Fr. Meseda said that we have to go deep to the actual village which is just ‘close by’. Mrs. Florence, Angie, Nancy and I rode in Fr. Jude’s ‘Jaguar’ – a ‘well-used’ Toyota Pick-Up. Srs. Res, Ifleada and Mary Grace and Mrs. Christine were in the van.

Fr. Jude, still a young man, has a very exuberant nature. Mrs. Florence was wary of the time. How long is the journey?

Just 2 hours, Fr. Jude said merrily. We almost choked.

2 hrs. going + 2 hrs return trip = 4 hrs. Getting dark journey?

We were silent while he tried to amuse Mrs. Florence who appeared to hail from the same village as he is.

‘Anybody who had been here is amazed that such a place exists. You will soon see.’
To get my mind off the time, I suddenly blurted: Fr. Jude? Right? From Thaddeus or Escariot?
I immediately regretted. Not my question. But the manner he answered! He turned right angle to answer, taking his eyes off the narrow rugged terrain!
‘But of course you should know, it’s Thaddeus.’
‘But there is nothing wrong with Escariot. Without him, we wouldn’t be celebrating the Resurrection.’
‘That’s another point of view. And yes, you’re right. And to reach the village, we have to pass ‘that’ bridge.’
Mrs. Florence said, ‘that bridge?’ And true enough he is referring to the unfinished bridge. A third of the pillar supporting the bridge was just hanging, water passing through. We passed through the river. A cow flared its nostrils at me. ‘And here cattle, people and everybody else commune – whether it’s for a swim, laundry or drinks.’
The pick-up passed with an A mark and the van followed suit.
And there, we were. Fr. Meseda arrived ahead of us in his motorcycle. The Chief of the village gathered the people and we met them all seated in an open space. Adults and children. The women who looked older and wizened had a look of anticipation and resignation. Of whatever they will get. Of whatever fate will cast to them. They were a well-behaved crowd with dignity still intact even when at the receiving end.

A young boy who suddenly found his tongue gave this parting shot ‘ni hao’ and was an instant celebrity.

We soon agreed to go. Fr. Jude reversed while we waited. There was only ONE BIG hitch. Mrs. Florence CAN NOT enter in the pick-up.
‘No problem.’
He reversed again, stop at a deeper crater where the side is raised. Holding tight to the extended seat belt, she managed to raise herself and unto the seat. We all heaved a sigh of relief.
‘Fr. Jude, you must be used to this place and the people that it will be very hard for you to adjust if you will be assigned to a let’s say more civilized place,’ she mused.
Fr. Jude promptly replied, ‘ ahhh, the spirit is in me – the spirit of adjustment!’
We all agreed and prayed that he may have a better car and a loud AMEN.

We left for home. This time, Sr. Res led the Rosary. Along the way, we saw the van stopping by the road side – Sr. Ifleada buying vegetables and fruits. Fringe benefit in pastoral work. A nice blouse caught Nancy’s attention. Mrs. Florence talked to the vendor in their dialect. He gave the 2 blouses in half price.

It was dark when we reached ‘civilization.’ Our ‘Asian Bus – the Jin Bei’ developed a problem. The very experienced driver just maintained the speed of 40mph that even bicycles overtook us. Mrs. Florence’s driver was already waiting at the Nunciature. We drove straight to the Life Camp and I let the driver use my car to take Sr. Res and Mrs. Florence safely to the Nunciature.

For Ife & the Filipino Community in Nigeria

New Year is a celebration of hope, prosperity, and love positively looking forward for a better year ahead of us. I miss home so much, kahit na medyo may kahirapan ang buhay satin iba pa din ang selebrasyon ng ganitong okasyon ang siste lang pag nasa pinas ka gusto mo umalis sa dami ng namamasko pero pag nasa malayo ka nman gusto mo nman umuwi..hay naku, ganyan ata talaga ang human psychology ika nga sala sa init, sala sa lamig. But in spite of our imperfections as human beings we cant’ really complain kasi kahit pano, kahit gano kalayo, kahit gano kahirap at madalas kaakibat natin ang dusa, sakrepisyo at sako-sakong pagngungulila sa pamilya ang pagtrabaho overseas ginagawa pa din natin mangibang bansa para maisakatuparan ang ating mga pangarap di lamang sa sarili kundi sa buong pamilya. Mabuti na lamang may mga taong tulad ni Esper Derpo, Chairman as what shes’ addressed to being the forerunner of the Filipino community based in Ikeja, City of Lagos Nigeria. So simple and jolly as she is I can’t help myself wonder what keeps her going and doing a lot more for the assistance of the pinoys working here. Intermittently sipping her drink of sparkling water while talking about the plight of some of us who were not lucky enough to get that good paying-good benefits-less stressful job, recollects the countless times she forcibly got herself up or roused from sleep to attend to a troubled kabayans and being busy chief cooking for that feast of free flowing assortment of home cooked pinoy delicacies whenever an occasion is celebrated in her abode. Her candid and simple but kind of straight forward way of putting any issues on hand only shows what the Chairman is made of. The present ban on filipino workers in Nigeria, her concerns about the Filipino workers not only in Nigeria but the migrant workers in general and the various humanitarian projects including the host country whom she thought of giving back simply because of the opportunities handed to us. These are just among other things that keeps her occupied not to mention her regular senior administrative position in the British High Commission but what strikes me the most is her reflection of a loving mother who takes good care of her offspring no matter what.

Nakakatuwang kwentuhan ang aking naranasan ng gabing yun at sa bawat higop sa kupitang tangan isang bagong issue na nman ang siguradong pag uusapan. Napag usapan din namin ang di ko malilimutang bulong na kanyang ginawa sa ating pangulong GMA nang sya ay tumanggap ng parangal bunsod ng kanyang pagsisikap na mapabuti ang kalagayan ng mga pinoy na mangagawa dito sa bansang Nigeria…akalain mo, sino ang maglalakas ng loob bulungan ang Presedente ng Pinas, to put it candidly she has been exerting and exhausting all efforts and avenues to lift that damn ban but still the answer was “don’t worry, ipapa evaluate ko kay General Cimatu”…(kay General Electric kaya total lagi nman brown-out dito eh, just kidding hehehe) Going back, our beloved Chairman takes that word from the President as some sort of a light at the end of the tunnel at least we have something to look forward to. Sayang naman ang opportunities sabi nga ni Madam Vangie ng Abuja eh pano na lng pag sila na ang umayaw (referring to the Nigreian government) isa pa baka maimpatso na yung mga bantay sa airport o bangungutin kaya. Hay naku, sana nga magbago ang ihip ng hangin at maayos din ang lahat sa tulong ng maykapal at sa walang habas na pagsisikap ng mga taong tulad ni Chairman Esper Derpo. Tall order I’d say but for somebody who has had her fairshare of experience though life that only a strong person with character can endure. A strong willed woman with a killer smile, I must admit she has done a hellofa job here and you know what, this is all for "ife" a yoruba word meaning "love" and a beautiful name for a child.

Cheers for the New Year! Let us welcome it with love and compassion by sharing our blessings with the unfortunate after all, as what John Lennon always says “All we need is Love”

Tres Bien! Chairman Esper Derpo!

POEA: No OFW deployment ban yet in Israel

ano pa ba ang hinihintay nila (DFA,DOLE, POEA, OWWA) bago magdeploy ng travel ban sa bansang ito? may mabomba muna at umuwing malamig na sa kahon? how ironic naman ano as compared sa nigeria na walang GIYERA pero may travel ban? samantalang sa israel may history na ng GIYERA at sa ngayon ESCALATED at HIGHLY THREATEND na ang mga OFWs dun eh consultation pa ang hinihintay nila. tsk.tsk.tsk

-J H Z-

POEA: No OFW deployment ban yet in Israel
By Kristine L. Alave

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 16:48:00 01/02/2009
Filed Under: War, Armed conflict, Safety of Citizens

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration is closely monitoring the
escalating conflict in the Palestine-controlled Gaza, but
said it will not issue a deployment ban in Israel just yet.

POEA administrator Jennifer Manalili said the POEA
cannot issue a ban without consultation from other
government agencies like the Department of Labor and
Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

She said the POEA is being kept updated on the
situation in case overseas Filipino workers get trapped
in the crossfire between Hamas and Israeli fighters.

“Since the outbreak of violence there, we check from
time to time with our labor attaché so we can be properly
advised on the condition of our OFWs as well as on the
actions to take,” Manalili said in a statement.

The bloodiest conflict yet between Israel and Hamas,
which the United States and Israel consider a terrorist
organization, has claimed over 400 lives. The fighting is
poised to intensify as the Israeli airstrikes have killed a
senior Hamas leader on Thursday.

Labor officials said there are 123 Filipino nationals in
Gaza and 39,000 OFWs in Israel.

OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon said Filipinos in
Gaza do not want to be repatriated to the Philippines
even as the airstrikes pound Gaza into ruins.

Dimzon said most of the Filipinos in the Palestinian
territory are women who have married Palestinians and
have settled in Gaza with their families.

The OFWs in Israel, on the other hand, are
concentrated in the capital of Tel Aviv and out of reach
from the bombings, labor officials said. Most of the
OFWs in Israel work as caregivers and nurses.