the 50th Year

The 50th Year
To reside in this Planet Earth for 50 years is an achievement. Imagine half a century basking in the glory of the Almighty is bliss.
Last Friday, February 13, Sister Resurrection celebrated her 50th birthday. Msgr. Renso presided over the celebration and many well-wishers came to celebrate with her.
Pictures speak more.
A very enjoyable evening indeed!

The Papal Nuncio addressing the celebrant and the guests

Sis Res, the celebrant

Sisters with Con-Gen, Thalia and Lolit
Family Barraquias

Jay R and Kat

Mercado Family
Mr. and Mrs. Ronquillo

The Celebrant

















Another Champ












Who can resist being Nadal?






More pictures will be posted, so keep posted.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

THE CEO of Foby Engineering Company is in urgent need of highly qualified/skilled Filipino Engineers and Accountant to fill the following posts:

Construction
Project Manager - 1 nos
Must have long experience in roads, bridges, dredging, steel
sheet piling, etc.
QA/QC and Safety knowledge

Technical Manager - 1 nos
Well-versed in the use of Surveying Equipment (land and marine)
Software literate 3D, AUDTO CAD, Surveyor Programming
Long exxperience in bidding, BOQ, Certificate/ Valuation, etc

Surveyor Field Supervisor - 1 nos
Quantity Surveyor - 1 nos
Cosntruction (Site) Engineers - 2 nos
IT Manager - 1 nos
Financial/Admin manager (Accountant) - 1 nos

STR Quota available, salary package commensurate to prevailing expat rate and/or depending to experience.

The site is at Lokoja - 204 km from Abuja

Send your latest resume to:

pusongpinoytayo@gmail.com

RP Embassy worker in Iraq killed

02/12/2009 | 08:21 PM

MANILA, Philippines — Proposals to resume deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq face yet another obstacle with the killing of a staff of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad.

Vice President Noli de Castro on Thursday identified the unfortunate worker as Vergine Elias Jamil, a caretaker of the Philippine chancery since November 1985.

Jamil and two other companions were killed by unknown assailants on the night of Feb. 5, said De Castro, who is also the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

De Castro said a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) report gave no further details on the killings. He said the result of police investigation on the case could weigh heavily on whether the government should lift the ban on deployment of Filipinos to war-ravaged Iraq.

“We are closely coordinating with our Philippine Embassy in Baghdad as to the outcome of the Iraqi police’s investigation. This incident will be considered in our deliberation on the possible lifting of the deployment ban," De Castro said.

A team led by Ambassador Roy Cimatu, head of the Middle East Preparedness Team, will be leaving for Iraq this month to study the possibility of lifting the ban. Cimatu’s team will also visit Lebanon and Nigeria—two other countries with existing OFW ban.

“Ambassador Cimatu will reassess the security risk in these countries, whether it will be safe for OFWs to be deployed in said countries," De Castro said.

Earlier, De Castro proposed a selective ban on these countries, seeking to lift travel and deployment restrictions in areas considered as centers of economic activities and where security situation have normalized.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stopped sending Filipino workers to Iraq following the kidnapping of a Filipino truck driver in 2004 and an accountant in 2005.

Before the ban, around 6,000 Filipinos are working in Iraq and confined inside US military camps due to the volatile security condition in the country.

But the figure, according to Iraq’s Embassy in Manila, has swelled to 15,000, most of them working for foreign companies in Iraq’s northern region. The workers reportedly entered Iraq either via the United Arab Emirates or Jordan. - GMANews.TV

Election Time

Undocumented OFWs can register--Comelec
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:17:00 02/12/2009

Filed Under: Overseas Employment, Elections Philippines—
Almost two weeks into the registration for overseas absentee voting, only 2,045 have enlisted in the 93 foreign posts as of February 11, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
At the re-launch of the registration center at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns Rafael Seguis said the turnout was still far from the one million target overseas registrants for the 2010 elections.
Elections Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said 123,220 had been de-listed from the certified list of voters of some 500,000 as of 2007 after they failed to vote in the last two polls.
He said they could enlist again during the registration period, which runs until August 31 this year.
The commissioner in charge of OAV said undocumented workers, which government estimates put at almost a million, may also register.
Seguis said he remained optimistic that with intensive information drive the one million target would be reached. He was hoping the POEA OAV registration center would enlist five to six times more than the 39,223 that it registered for 2007 polls.
Seguis, who chairs the DFA's OAV Secretariat, called on all qualified overseas Filipinos to register in the next six months and "participate in the nation's political process even if they are miles away from home."
Ferrer attributed the low turnout to the voting requirement on Filipino-Americans to return to the Philippines in three years. He said Comelec was proposing to either do away with the requirement or change it to seven years.
Asked about the problems being encountered in the overseas registration, the election official said some cameras of the data-capturing machines were breaking down.
____________________________________________________________
SHOW TIME
A clarion call to all OFWs of the Travel Banned Countries and to all our sympathizers
MAGKAISA!!!
WHO MADE US SUFFER?
WHO MADE US 'HEROES' AND THEN 'BINARIL TAYO SA LUNETA?'
Pang-munumento lang ba tayo?

A Birthday Celebration

When people gather in honor of a person truly adored, genuine emotions of happiness flow forth. When the gathering is attended by close friends – it becomes a family event.


The celebrant, Sister Eflaida with the Consul-General


Last Sunday, February 8, 2009 from 3:00 pm, the family gathered for yet another celebration – this time – the birthday of Sister Eflaida. And the event was also honoured by the attendance of the new Philippine Consul-General – Mr. Alex Lamadrid.
From left:Sister Ortencia, Sister Mary Grace, Sister Eflaida, Sister Resurrecion

Praying for God's blessings

Filipino Food, prominent is Palabok courtesy of Dorothy Baraquias

Pusong Pinoy in Action led by Nestor Dador followed by Ric Punsalan
Pusong Pinoy Kami
Annie, Vangie, Dorothy, Con-Gen, Mercy (standing)

Verification Process

De Castro: Probe fake travel papers

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:32:00 02/08/2009

Filed Under: Labor, Employment, Government, Migration
Most Read
Philippines—Vice President Noli de Castro on Saturday ordered an investigation into how the 22 offloaded Middle East-bound Filipino workers got spurious travel documents and almost succeeded in going to their respective destinations the other day.
Had it not been for the alert immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Tuesday, he said, all 22 workers who were bound for Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain could have been languishing in jails there.
“This is really alarming because while the government is hellbent on curbing illegal recruitment and saving troubled OFWs abroad, we still have a lot of our countrymen being deployed overseas the wrong way,” said De Castro, who is presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers and head of the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (TFAIR).
“There must be somebody or people responsible for the questionable documents of the offloaded workers and I intend to identify and make them answerable for what could have been a big mess for our OFWs,” he stressed.
Last week, De Castro said 21 other passengers were also offloaded from several flights for verification. At least 19 of them were found by the immigration bureau to be heading for Lebanon where the government has a standing travel ban.
“Again, I appeal to our countrymen to be mindful of the consequences of working abroad through illegal means,” he said. Cynthia D. Balana
______________________________________________________
How indeed? Need we say more about our Immigration 'due' processing? OFWs here in Nigeria can attest to its veracity!

Comments:

Feb 9 (2 days ago)
Sila lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit nagiging illegal eh. Dahil sa este-Ban, nagiging illegal.

Ang tingnan nila yong puno'd dulo kung bakit merong "spurious documents". Ang mga recruitment agencies. Hindi ang OFWs. Nabiktima na ng recruiters, bayad pa sa immigration, hindi pa pinaalis. Sobra pa sa double jeopardy ang nangyari.

Sabagay, hindi kasi kelangan ng malalim na pag-iisip kung BAN. Mas ma-trabaho to investigate and monitor recruitment agencies. Besides, may mga kapit din kasi ang mga agencies na ito kaya BAN na lang. Mas madaling gawin eh. Sulat lang nga memo, konting ingles, pirma. Presto! Yon lang.

Chona Bollos

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

Gov't may lift ban on sending OFWs to Iraq, Nigeria
02/06/2009 | 07:55 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will reassess its current ban on sending workers to Iraq, Nigeria and Lebanon and may lift it in areas with lower security risks because of the global economic crisis, the vice president said Friday.

The country's economy is largely dependent on its overseas workers, with some 8.7 million out of 90 million Filipinos working abroad. The government said $14.45 billion was sent home in 2007— about 10 percent of the gross domestic product. It has projected 2008 remittances will hit $15.7 billion.

Vice President Noli de Castro, who is also the presidential adviser on migrant workers, said security has reportedly improved in the economic centers of Iraq, Nigeria and Lebanon.

He said a selective lifting of the ban is being considered "to widen our overseas employment market in the light of the global economic crisis."

A lifting of the ban is only being considered in places with high employment opportunities, and it would remain in areas still considered high-risk zones, de Castro said in a statement.

A team headed by Roy Cimatu, special envoy to the Middle East, will leave soon to reassess the security risks in the three countries, Department of Foreign Affairs officials said.

In a meeting with de Castro last month, Iraqi officials urged the Philippines to send workers to help with the reconstruction of their country, where up to 10 million new jobs are available, the statement said.

The Philippines banned its citizens from working in Iraq in July 2004 after insurgents abducted and threatened to behead Filipino truck driver Angelo dela Cruz. He was released after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo agreed to withdraw the Philippines' small military contingent in Iraq — a decision strongly criticized by Washington and other coalition allies.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said about 10,000 Filipinos work in two US military camps in Iraq without permission from the government.

Some 3,800 Filipinos work in Nigeria's bustling oil industry. Arroyo banned additional workers from going there in 2007 after gunmen kidnapped scores of foreign workers, including dozens of Filipinos.

The Philippines also prohibited the deployment of its workers to Lebanon after war broke out in July 2006. - AP
____________________________________________________

So, the government, actually thought that ALL the OFWs here in Nigeria are working with oil companies? Inspite of what Conejos and co had verified and actually seen when he 'visited' this country? Was it a misinformation that he fed to the government? Inspite of the repeated confirmation that the kidnapped ones were seafarers?Just asking.

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

ANOTHER HEART-RENDING 'MANIFESTATION' OF ARROYO'S 'LOVE AND CARE' FOR THE VERY HEROIC OFWs

Arroyo: Saudi OFWs’ jobs ‘safe’
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:49:00 02/03/2009

Filed Under: Overseas Employment, World Financial Crisis, Government, Unemployment
Most Read
Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia that their jobs are “safe” despite the world financial crisis, and that her government is prepared to assist overseas workers who may be laid off in other parts of the world.
“Dito sa Saudi ang pinakamalaking expatriate Filipino community sa buong mundo. Gusto kong tiyakin na matatg ang trabaho ninyo dito sa kabila ng pandaigdigang krisis sa ekonomiya, dahil may mga kababayang nawawalan ng trabaho sa ibat-ibang bansa. [The biggest expatriate Filipino community in the world is in Saudi. I want to assure you that your jobs are secure here, because in other parts of the world, our countrymen are losing their jobs],” Arroyo said in a speech before the Filipino community in Riyadh.
Arroyo and her party made a brief stop in Saudi Arabia from Italy, before proceeding to Bahrain for an official visit.
“Sa mga panahong ito na nanunubok sa mga expatriates, ang inyong pamahalaan ay hindi natutulog [During these trying times for our expatriates, your government is not sleeping on the job],” she said.
“For government, it is now payback time. The heroic efforts of the expatriate workers will not go unreciprocated. A program of full reciprocity shall be carried out to help those who lose their jobs,” she said.
Arroyo said the government has set up a P1-billion fund for microfinance loans for retrenched overseas Filipino workers.
The Department of Labor will also help retrenched OFWs find news jobs abroad, Arroyo said, adding that government has started a “marketing blitz” to look for more job overseas opportunities.

THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE

Another news item that would make the OFWs from the 'Travel Ban'ned countries shout in exasperation!

Jobless told to enlist on govt website

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:22:00 01/31/2009

Filed Under: Employment, World Financial Crisis
Most Read
Other Most Read StoriesxClose thisMANILA, Philippines -- Workers here and abroad who have been laid off as a result of the global financial crisis are encouraged to sign up with the labor department’s Phil-Jobnet job search website.
Also available at the labor department’s website, the site provides “a convenient, readily available job search service” 24/7.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the Phil-Jobnet system currently lists more than 46,300 various jobs available.
Under the Bureau of Local Employment, the Phil-Jobnet system is complemented by the 100 user-friendly GMA (Greater Modular Access) Job Center kiosks in shopping malls and city and town halls, he said.
Roque said the strategy seeks to reinforce the department’s efforts “to preserve and sustain job opportunities amidst the global crisis in cooperation with the social partners.”

BLE director Criselda Sy said most of the workstations are available in the country’s Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) network.
“As available in the PESOs in locations where Internet is available, trained PESO personnel can assist and orient users in accessing and availing of the services of the Phil-Jobnet system in such workstations,” she said.
“But displaced workers may readily access the Phil-Jobnet using any Internet-connected computers whether at worksites, at home, or in public computer shops,” she added

At the same time, Deputy Administrator Teresita Manzala, who heads the department’s National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (NRCO), advised displaced overseas Filipino workers to avail of the free services and pertinent programs geared at assisting them.
Manzala said that under the NRCO’s One-Stop Center, pertinent agencies have made available a package of assistance and services for the benefit of OFWs.
The NRCO chief said that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-NRCO (tel. nos. 528-0848, 526-2633, 526-2392) provides active livelihood support, counseling, and guidance to displaced OFWs.

"Take No Prisoners"

Sa maniwala kayo o sa hindi, my wife is the supreme commanding general of my kingdom which is my household and yes, she takes no prisoners! God, I miss her so much…sabi nga kasi in every great men there’s an equally great woman behind him. History will tell us a lot of these stories of love and passion like Samson & Delilah, Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Claude etc. although not most of them ended as we wish it should be. Another is to be a successful man, one must be able to get what he wants, buy what he wants without having any second thoughts while a successful woman is the one who was able to find and marry this man.

In this time and age, wherein almost all of our day to day activities is being influenced by the modern the world it is refreshing to go back to basics. Looking back some years ago di ko na sasabihin kung kelan yun when a mere choconut is more than enough to make a girl smile as sweet as the twenty five centavo chocolate bar. When treating her with a sugarlaced plantain and a glass of sago-gulaman is heavenly refreshing. Nakakatuwang balikan ang mga panahon na ang feeling mo ikaw na ang pinaka magandang lalaki sa buong mundo pag nakasabay mo sa jeep ang kapitbahay mong pantasya ng buong barangay kaya sa susunod pipilitin mong tipirin ang baon para ilibre mo naman sya. Ang mga sulyap na kulang na lang maghiwa-hiwalay ang parte ng katawan mo sa tuwing mahuhuli mo syang sumusulyap din sa iyo titig na para naman nyang ika tutunaw dahil para kang may x-ray vision malalantik at mapang akit anong sinabi ni superman, tony falcon o agent x44. Napakasarap din sariwain ang mga panahon na daig mo pa ang funeraria paz sa halimuyak sa tuwing dadalaw ka sa nililigawan nariyan din ang diskarte sa pakikipagdate na lahat g suot mo hiram sa tropa maipagyabang lamang na naka levis kang lonta. Minsan naman nakikipila ka sa payphone sa kanto sukdulan na itong kasinghaba ng pila sa mrt pagtyatyagaan mo itong antayin makausap lamang ang iniirog pero ngayon text lang talo-talo na wala pang hassle sa erpats ng love interest mo basta pasahan mo lang lagi ng load. Dati pag nangliligaw ka kailangan yung mga utol ng nililigawan mo friends mo, ngayon pati aso nila friends mo kalalaki kaya ng mga aso ngayon mahirap na masakmal ano mahal na din ang anti-rabbies. Dati rin pag nangliligaw, lola na yung nililigawan mo ayaw ka pa din sagutin, ngayon masagi mo lang ang siko syota mo na, at pag nagsasayaw kayo ng sweet sa tipar ng tropa isang metro layo sa isat-isa lalo na kung malalaman mong pulis ang tatay nya pero ngayon damit na lng naghihiwalay sa inyong katawan lalo pa syempre kung malaman mong pulitiko ang tatay kahit kapitan lang ng barangay pwede na.

Those were the days ika nga, were love and passion is being felt to the hilt. I will never forget the time when I saw my wife amidst a huge crowd standing, staring and waiting for me parang nahati ang dagat at itinuro ako sa kinalalagyan nya animoy magic o mercury na pinagsanib kaming dalawa sa kalagitnaan ng napakaraming tao that was the time I said to my self, this is the person I’ll grow old with. Napakasarap po talagang magmahal ng isang taong masasabi mong “sya na nga”. Having this in mind only shows that we plan ahead of us by being with somebody we really, really I mean really love to grow old with. Somebody whom you sleep with agonizing to your snoring and never complains but instead gigisingin ka at sasabihin sayo “hoy gising! Baka bangungutin ka di pa tapos yung mga babayaran natin o di pa graduate mga anak mo!” Minsan naman wala itong imik at tahimik na binalasa ang sofa, pinalitan ang kurtina at pinaliguan ang banyo nilinis ang kusina lahat yun nagawa nya habang naghihilik ka pa. Kung nuong araw ikaw ay may x-ray vision nasa kanya na ito ngayon dahil makikita nya at maamoy pag nambabae ka, malayo ka pa amoy na nya ito and yes, she really takes no prisoners! kaya kailangan magbaon ka ng pamalit at wag kalimutan suutin ang dating damit pag pauwi at higit sa lahat huwag aamin! Sya din ang tinatawag na budget minister kaya dapat may safety deposit box ka just enough for the boys ika nga. Sya din ang senate president /congress majority floor leader at justice secretary. Kung may kailangan apruban kailangan muna itong pag debatehan ng katakot-takot sa isang banda ay maganda din naman at least walang sisihan. Artistic in nature, kitang kita nya sa malayo ang frame kung tagilid o sala sa hulog ang cross stich nyang tinapos ng seven years. Magaling syang pumili ng kubyertos at sari-saring plato na ayaw naman ipagamit idedesplay hanggang mag sawa at bibili ulit ng bago. Wala din syang sinasayang na panahon na hindi napapasyalan ang bestfriend nyang si Henry Sy at pagalit kang tatanungin “nasan yung SM advantage ko?” sasagutin ko nman “abah malay ko, la ba syo?” ang tutuo nun tinago ko para di sya makapamili ng madami. Napakasinop din nya sa lahat ng bagay at wala ako maitatanong na hindi nya alam kung san nakalagay kahit sampung taon na itong nakakaraan naisip ko tuloy nag iimbentaryo sya every end of the year. Wala ding gagaling pa sa kanya sa pag bibigay ng payo daig pa si tia dely magpayo sumalangit nawa, may kasama pang sermon yun.

But over and above all these, she’s the same person whom you share you’re thoughts about life, laughs with you heartily kahit corny ang joke mo, the best among your best friends, she’s somebody that never gives up on you no matter what, like an adrenaline drug that gives you that extra push when the going gets rough ika nga and most of all she’s the only person whom you laugh and cry with especially when the bills starts coming in. Seriously, the feeling of having somebody beside you through thick and thin, stormy or fair weather, hot or cold nights, and of course the good old through the sickness and health, richer or poorer drill. Wala na siguro akong masasabi o mahihiling pa sa kanya dahil sya ang dahilan ng lahat ng aking pagsisikap she inspires me to all my endeavours she’s the light of my house and replaces it too. She’s the best unwrapped gift I ever had but most of all she’s the woman that I love and will unconditionally love for the rest of my life’s existence peksman! And for those still waiting for their own juliets, sabi nga mabuti na ang “magmahal at mabigo kaysa mabigo ng hindi nagmahal.”

To my honeyko, I’d rather eat “tuyo” with you than eat “steak” with strangers…please bear with me, I’ll see you in a while. Happy hearts day!

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.