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To: All my visitors

For you to read more ofw empowerment blog entries, kindly click the link below:

OFW EMPOWERMENT

or copy the site address below and paste it in your browser and click Go.

http://www.ofwempowerment.wordpress.com

Thank you and best regards.

Bong Amora

Personal Finance

Congrats TJ and Connie

Yesterday night I watched the replay of TFCs Kuwentong Disyerto and their guest was Mr. Francisco Colayco, author and lecturer on Personal Finance.

You can watched portion of the interview by clicking play (screen) button.

Thanks to my Life View TVR, a PCI TV Card where you can watch and record TV on your PC and of course to "You Tube".

Mr. Colayco’s advise on personal savings formula coincide with Mr. Tony Ranque’s comment found in my previous post “Sayang”.

To T.J. Manotoc and Connie Sison, a warm Congratulations to Kuwentong Disyerto’s 1st Year Anniversary. More power and wishing KD more and more anniversaries to come.

From: OFWs in Saudi Arabia.

SMS-based alert system for OFWs in distress

Yesterday June 7, 2006, in line with Migrant Workers Day, Center for Migrant Advocacy SOS SMS ADS was launch at Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. (For info about SOS SMS, see related link of the news item dtd. 15/02/06 posted at PCIJ by Alecks Pabico.

Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported about 22,000 cases of distressed migrants that the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) attended to. The figure may be minuscule, less than one percent of the total number of overseas Filipinos, but the DFA admits that cases of abuse and violations of human and migrant rights are largely underreported, not reported, or documented but not acted upon.

Presently, the task of protecting our migrant workers and other overseas Filipinos is in the hands of 83 embassies and consulates, 33 Philippine overseas labor offices and 32 welfare officers, including Filipino workers resource centers in 17 countries.

With new technologies though, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have developed an ingenious way to address their work-related concerns, especially when their lives, safety or well-being are in danger. Yesterday the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) launched and activated an SOS SMS information system for distressed OFWs - a cheap, 24/7 text-based mechanism capitalizing on the ubiquity of the mobile phone to enable them to relay and report situations that warrant immediate relief, action, or intervention by the Philippine government and NGOs working for migrant workers welfare.
CMAs Ellene Sana says the SOS SMS project, done in coordination with its various NGO partners worldwide, as well as the DFA-OUMWA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is significant as (it) gives government agencies and NGOs the opportunity to respond and/or intervene in a timely, adequate and efficient manner, particularly where either the OFWs life, safety or well-being is a critical consideration.

OFWs in need of help or assistance can simply send the following message:

SOS message, name of sender

to +63 9209 OFW SOS (+63 9209639 767). The message is received by the SOS SMS system where it is logged and stored in a central database housed in a computer maintained in Quezon City. Once sent, the text message gets auto-forwarded to designated recipient cellphones at the CMA, DFA-OUMWA and OWWA where it is verified and eventually given appropriate action.

The SOS SMS reporting system, says Sana, is also a useful research tool as it logs critical message details to serve as initial case-file documentation that will help in developing research leads, classifying and analyzing OFWs various problems and related concerns.

related link http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=600
for photos and previous postings, click "my blog by funchain" in my link.

Cha Cha-Barangay Based Constitution

Been a reader of Bohol Times for a quite a time now, not because my roots came from Bohol but it seems to me that Bohol in general is getting known not only as a major tourist destination in our country but also in its continuing economic progress as well.

Though I heard many opposing views about political leadership in Bohol but for me what achievement these politicians have done so far, is so good. Anyway, politics in Philippines is like that, whoever in position there is always an opposition. Well its a good sign too, it means that our democracy still intact.

Further, I read Bohol Times not for the reason that I am an avid reader of a column (Thinking Aloud) authored by a former Municipal Judge and once a Town Mayor of Guindulman, Bohol whose family name is Amora too. (The next town of Guindulman is Anda, the town where our ancestors came from).

Yesterday, I happen to read his new column titled Barangay Based Constitution (see related link). The proposal is quite interesting if our leaders are really serious in amending our constitution for the good of the people. Excerpt of the column below:

Organization of the parliament:

Soon after, convene the barangay captains in town as the Sangguniang Bayan and let them elect from among themselves the Mayor and Vice Mayor of the town.

And then convene the Mayors in the provincial capital as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan let them elect from among themselves the Governor and the Vice Governor;

Finally convene all governors as the Parliament and let them elect from among themselves the Prime Minister.

What can you say? For me, Why not? Empowering the barangay as the primary electoral institution could possibly change the dirty face of politics in our country. We should limit however a two party system, in this manner the barangay can choose or select the best that will represent them in the Municipal, Provincial and the Parliament. It would be in the history of Philippine politics that the Prime Minister of the Republic of the Philippines comes from the barangay level who really understand the life of an ordinary Filipinos.

On the other hand, the rich, the trapos and the shameless politicians must go down and qualify as a barangay captain.

Well, I dont know if my good friend Davao Councilor Peter Lavinia, whom I considered one of the good public servant out there would buy this idea.

Lets Think Things Over, Huh!

related link: http://boholtimes.com/thinkingaloud.htm

Deputy Chief of Mission

LOC-1078/2006

28 May 2006

Sir/Madam:

Greetings from the Philippine Embassy.

The Embassy wishes to inform you of the arrival in Riyadh last 25 May 2006 of MR. NESTOR N. PADALHIN, Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General of the Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

For your information and reference.

GERMINIA V. AGUILAR-USUDAN
Consul and Administrative Officer
******

For your information Mr. Nestor N. Padalhin will be our Minister and Charge De Affaires of the Philippine Embassy pending Senate confirmation of the appointment of Ambassador Tony Villamor in the Kingdom.

Consul General Nestor Padalhin previous tour of duty as a career diplomat was in Lebanon.

Bong Amora

OFW Assistance

Been receiving e-mails and a few messages in my Cbox from our fellow OFWs asking what or how we can be of help pertains to their grievances with their employer or sponsor.

Prior to that, please allow me to refresh everyone that we are visitors in this country and we should always respect with the rules, policies, customs, traditions and abide the governing labor laws of the host country.

Kalipunang Kaakabay ng Manggagawang Pilipino was formed to impart and educate our fellow Filipino workers on their rights and corresponding responsibilities as Filipino workers in the Kingdom. The main objective of the group is to work closely as strategic partner with other Non Government Organization and envision a direct link with Philippine government mission for the welfare and protection of working Filipinos in the Kingdom.

In view of this, kindly find hereunder Sample Assistance Form (click "my blog by funchain" in my link) to be filled out by OFW who ask assistance to our group. Also, dont forget that in any court, rules of evidence is the basis of decisions, therefore, supporting documents is a must. Kindly note that if the complaint was already filed, then the history of the case is very necessary if you need our assistance.

Further, be informed that the group is not authorized to represent your case in any legal proceedings. Our participation is limited to the following 1) endorse your complaint to the proper Philippine authorities if there is a probable cause that your right should be protected and; 2) Follow up of cases to the concern agencies whose authority can represent in your behalf, such as: POLO/ OWWA and Philippine Embassy/Assistance to National Section (ANS).

A Valuable Gift

My friend and President of OFW Congress-Riyadh, Mr.Alex Bello is on vacation for a very important family and business matters to attend. Before he proceeded to Leyte, he was able to meet our friends Ex-OFW Mr. Mike Bolos now an entrepreneur and CMA Exec. Dir. Ms. Ellene Sana at Bay Spa, owned and managed by Mike. I promised to myself that when my turn comes for vacation I should never missed to pass Bay Spa for a refreshing and discounted massage, huh!

I came to know that Ellene have a small token for me to be brought by Alex back in Riyadh, and it is a great pleasure and honor that something is worthy to have, its a White Wristband, the symbol of the international Make Poverty History campaign and I love to wear it.

Make Poverty History campaign aims to cancel Third World debt – the simple white strap is fast becoming the latest accessory of choice among people in the whole world, rich, celebrities and people in any walks of life who believe the campaigns goals and objective.

Make Poverty History raises public awareness of poverty and injustice. It analyze the causes of poverty and mobilizes public to campaign and to bring about global change. Lets join this crusade and help Make Poverty History.

To my friend Ellene, Thank you so much for this valuable gift.

Bloggers - a Writer and Editor

Recent news of unlawful arrests of opposition supporters creates worries among ordinary citizens whose only intention and participation is for their grievances to be heard through freedom of expression and assembly.

I cant help myself thinking that maybe in a day or two, OFW bloggers like me who writes political issues and concerns that we considered detrimental to OFWs might experience the same fate and be suspected as enemy of the state. However, as Ive said, in a democratic nation where everyone has the right to be heard, let us exercise this freedom with decency in language and be compassionate in expressing our respective viewpoint, thoughts and ideas.

According to David Lorito article End of Pinoy Bloggers Age of Innocence, he mentioned that bloggers is kind of media where the writer is also the editor that could pour out venom as much as his or her sense of decency or lack of it.

Yes! I agree with him and as a writer, we should always abide with fair and honest methods in our effort to inform public of our views pertains to a certain issue and refrain from posting that will adversely affect a private reputation unless it justifies public interest.

related link:
http://davidllorito.blogspot.com/2006/05/end-of-pinoy-bloggers-age-of-innocence.html

Overseas Migration & Human Rights

My friend Ms. Ellene Sana, Executive Director of CMA (Center for Migrant Advocacy) inform us that Atty. Henry Rojas, CMAs Legal Counsel will give a presentation on Asian Overseas Migration and Human Rights in Norfolk, Virginia, USA on May 30, 2006. The event is part of the celebration of the Asian Pacific American heritage month and is sponsored by the Norfolk, BAH WLC, Diversity Committee and the Old Dominion University Filipino American Center. For those (FilAm) interested you may contact Erwin Sabile today, May 27 at sabile_erwin@bah.com or phone number (US) 757 515 2531.

We hope that Atty. Rojas will include in his presentation the following; how to develop approaches and or rather; how to enhance or improve the participation of established communities of Filipinos overseas, in order to help poverty alleviation in our country.

Overseas Migration, Beyond Remittances

A study I read from Policy Institute, Beyond Remittances: (The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in their Countries of Origin, Philippines, July 2004). It says that;

xxx The policies of the Philippine government appear to treat the financial contributions of Diaspora and temporary workers alike primarily as income flows rather than potential investment stock. As income flows, they relieve poverty directly. But the Philippine government does not seem to have a strategy to maximize the developmental potential of established communities of Filipinos overseas, which might have a more lasting impact on poverty reduction. xxx

Above mentioned study collaborated former OFW Mr. Mike Bolos point of view in a letter to Mr. Rey Gamboa (Bizlinks) of Philippine Star, published 01/30/2006 titled Harnessing the OFW Power, excerpt of the published letter below;

xxx To date, the government view as far as the overseas Filipinos are concerned has been confined within a box.

Dependence to and assistance from the government by returning overseas Filipinos have become the centerpiece of the various reintegration programs at the micro-economic level. However, there have been far more failures than successes because not all mortals were meant to become successful businessmen or businesswomen. This situation to a large extent will sadly remain the same in the years to come if the government keeps looking just inside the box. The government should perhaps look outside the box for answers .xxx

In my opinion, economic and political empowerment of migrant Filipinos can only be realized if we take a step outside from the realm of the Government, and look deeper into the potentials of migrant Filipinos in re-building our nation towards progress using its own developmental capabilities.

On Human Rights

In my understanding, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995 requires the government to ensure that states hosting Filipino migrants protect their rights and conform to the provisions of international conventions and bilateral agreements. However, there are few provisions in this act that should be amended to assert the rights of all migrants as an essential component of good migration management. Though this particular issue remains politically sensitive one for both receiving and sending nations, more particularly between the Philippines and the Middle Eastern countries.

For me, in today’s global scenario, the successful migration management can only be achieved when the human rights of migrants is respected.

I am wishing Atty. Henry Rojas successful presentation, from the U.S., he will proceed to Montreal, Canada in June, to participate in the International Human Rights Training Program of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation (now Equitas).

Good Luck and more power Sir!

Related Links:

http://ofwempowerment.blogspot.com/2006/01/harnessing-ofw-power-bizlinks-by-rey.html

www.migrationinformation.org

www.pinoy-abroad.net

SLL Art. 142

Another member of OFW Saudi E-group emailed me a personal clarification on his employment status. Again, to my comrades in Saudi Arabia, please permit me to share it with you.

He says: I am getting a basic salary of SR2,500 along with housing and transportation allowances. I am entitled to a 30-day vacation every year. My questions are:

1) Is there any specific provision in the law regarding the transportation allowance? If so, what does it say?

Reply: First, you are lucky for having a 30 day vacation every year, because the new Saudi Labor Law stipulates that employees have the right to 21 days annual vacation instead of only 14-15 days under the old law. It seems that you signed a 1 year contract with your employer compared to a standard 2 year contract.

Yes, there is a provision particularly under Article 142 of Saudi Labor Law, that if the place of work is located away from its original place of work, the employer must provide it. Though only agreement between the employer and employee can establish them according to the circumstances.

2)When am I entitled to take my vacation? Is it after completion of 11 months or 12 months?

Reply: You can avail vacation after 12 months of service. When your employer provides you a one-month vacation after 12 months of service, you are considered to have served 13 months.

3)Is a vacation period part of an employees service?

Reply: It is considered part of employees service, It means you are paid a month salary when you are on vacation.

4)Is the employer duty bound to provide for air ticket availing annual vacation leave.

Reply: The laws is silent with respect to the provision of air ticket going on annual vacation. What the law requires is that the employer should bear the cost of air ticket on final leave at the end of his contract. However in your case, it seems that you have a 1 year contract so it means that if you have a re-entry visa the employer oblige to pay the cost of your ticket, vice-versa. For those with a 2 year contract and the employer grants your request for a vacation prior to the completion of your 2 year contract, then the employee or the worker must bear the cost of his ticket.

Further, a sort of advice to everyone, you must be aware of the condition written about the air ticket in your contract.

Give Back

I am so touched when I read inspiring messages in my Cbox (My Blog by Funchain) especially from my fellow Nasipitnon, like Atty. Loloy Compendio based in our town; and Raquel Toland my silingan/kapitbahay who is now residing in U.S.

As I recall, Nasipit in my younger years was probably the busiest town in the province of Agusan Del Norte but due to economic depression in the late 1980s the famous Nasipit Lumber Company (NALCO) that employed hundreds of its people ceases its operation. It was then that the continuing economic growth of the once called a very progressive town started to weaken. Presently our beloved town primarily depends on the income generated by its port, the International Port of Entry.

My schoolmates and some of my friends in the old golden days are now mostly in different parts of the globe, many of them are OFWs/Migrant workers. Yet a few of us are keeping in touch by way of emails particularly the Nasipit e-group. I am hoping and praying that out of these kumustahan and usual exchanges of e-mails, something will give spark that soon be a light that could help put our town back on track.

Mainit Dot Org, in Surigao Del Norte, a civil society organization who focused on developmental issues of the town and contributed its economic progress first came as an idea by two town mates who happen to know each other in high school, one idea led to another, and this group certainly more than just an idea now.

Thinking aloud, many successful Nasipitnons back home and overseas could perhaps sit down together over a bottle of beers and a cup of coffee, I have just imagine some of the good guys out there like, Bubot Gicum, Gerry Ampo, Nerio Ruiz, Loy Compendio, Eddie Tan, Capt. Bolongaita, Mike Marave, Boboy Dompor, Bondit Rotor, Ian Atupan, Dodong Amora, Pia brothers, Enghog Family, Margie Lombard, Dindo Bugas, and many, many more, that may talk about certain things on what we can do for our town. It is about time to return something back to a town that moulds us into what we are today, a responsible citizen.

Maybe we are not physically be there but the spirit of being a Nasipitnon will lingers on and it cant be denied that we came from a small town that memories never fades and wherever we are it embraces us whenever we come back.

But Hey! Ill join you all, over a bottle of Beers.

The MATRIX & OWWA ID's

The plan of our Government about Barangay IDs or NIS (National ID System) creates mixed reactions from various sectors of our society, if it is really a good moved or could harm the privacy of individual Filipinos. An article I read titled Inside the Matrix give me the impression that the said plan focuses on identifying possible terrorists while law abiding citizens like us can be monitored anytime not knowing that our private lives can be violated. However, to those individuals like me whose life has nothing to hide is in favor of NIS. Yet, our government and lawmakers must look deeper on its implementing mechanisms that should not put ordinary lives at risk for just a mere suspicion of being an enemy to the nation.

In my opinion why not first apply this plan to OFWs. A certain provision in the Migrant Workers Act of 1995, Section 20, Establishment of a Shared Government Information System for Migration, particularly a) Masterlist of Filipino Migrant worker/overseas Filipinos classified according to occupation/job category, civil status, by country/state of destination including visa classification has not yet been fully implemented for almost a decade now.

The OWWA Membership Card can be used as a tool in monitoring OFWs employment records especially to our Domestic Helpers, where it can stored pertinent datas of her employment status such as: name and contact number of employer, addresses, recruitment agencies and other relevant information prior to her employment abroad. Though, there must be a mechanism that upon arrival of the OFW to its destination, he/she must register using the said OWWA ID in a counter or office provided by our government inside the airport facilities of her/his work destination. This could not only help our Philippine Mission abroad to locate the whereabouts of its constituents in times of troubles, these could also prevents undocumented OFWs and monitor illegal recruiters.

If our government is serious in protecting and promoting the rights, interest and well being of OFWs, then this so called Establishment of a Shared Government Information System for Migration must be implemented through the so called OFW MATRIX (Monitoring & AnTi-Illegal Recruiters with Information eXchange).H u h!

Philippine Consular Team to Visit EP

A consular team from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is scheduled to visit the Eastern Province on 01-02 June 2006.

Filipino residents and workers in the province are advised to proceed to the Al Bustan Hotel in Al- Khobar for any consular services they may require. The following services are available:

1. Passport renewal
2. Authentication of documents
3. Notarials
4. Report of Birth
5. Report of Marriage
6. Requirements for RA 9048 (correction of clerical error in the birth certificate)
7. Requirements for RA 9225 (re-acquisition/retention of Philippine citizenship)

The team will receive and process/service applications according to the following schedule:

Thursday, 01 June 2006
9:00 a.m. ? 12:00 nn
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Friday, 02 June 2006
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 nn

The Consular Team will be headed by Charge d? Affaires Germinia Aguilar- Usudan and she will be assisted by Attaches Rosario Malicse, Adelfa Lesslie R. Balili, Walter Villalobos, Roberto Cruz and Acas Bayabao, Jr..

Revised Regulation of Residence of Foreign Nationals in Iran

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has recently informed the Philippine Government through the Embassy of the Philippines in Iran in a Note Verbale No. 721/3170 dated 22 April 2006 that the fine for overstaying foreign nationals, including Filipinos, in Iran has been increased from 170,000 IRR (nearly US$20.00) per day to 3000,000 IRR (about US$33.00). This immigration regulation of residence of foreign nationals in Iran is strictly enforced by Iran Disciplinary Force, which is roughly the equivalent of the former Philippine Constabulary.

The Embassy of the Philippines in Iran has also reported that it is impossible for foreign nationals who plan to work as domestic helpers to secure for themselves work and residence permits in Iran, as the Labor Ministry only allows foreign nationals in some sectors, like construction. However, these workers are hired directly by foreign contractors that have projects in Iran.

For this reason, the Embassy of the Philippines in Riyadh would like to advice all Overseas Filipino Workers and their dependents who are currently in the Kingdom, particularly domestic helpers, to refrain from going to Iran as tourists or under visit visas with the intention of seeking employment thereat.

21 May 2006

PAGLAKI KO

A friend of mine texted me yesterday night and suggested that a separate category only for poems must be included in my blog especially those poems that relates OFWs.

He also requested me to post PAGLAKI KO an entry to OFW Music Festival a couple of years ago sung by Michelle Ann Torrefranca, whose lyrics touches every ones heart. The song was composed by an OFW (Saudi Arabia) in person of Mr. Federico Franco. Allow me to share it with you and this is dedicated to ALL FATHERs out there.

PAGLAKI KO

Wala akong AMA na kasa-kasama
Sa aking madalas na pag-iisa
Sabi ni Nanay nasa malayo ka raw
Yama’y iyong dala pag-uwi mo balang-araw.

Kaming mag-ina laging magkasama
Sa tuwa’t ligaya kami ay iisa
Bakit ang iba mahigit sa dalawa?
Higit ang saya nila
Dahil ba sa may TATAY sila?

Sa paglaki ko, AMA sa larawan
Pipilitin kong maintindihan
Paglaki ko, paglaki ko, paglaki ko.

Sa mura kong isipan
Hindi ko maintindihan
AMA sa larawan hinahagkan-hagkan
Hindi mayapos kapag kailangan.

Pagmamahal mula sa malayong bayan
Laging pinaabot sa mga liham
Sabi ni TATAY,
“Anak, sana sa paglaki mo
Maintindihan mo ang paglayo ko.”.

Sa Paglaki ko, AMA sa larawan
Pipilitin kong maintindihan
Sagot sa tanong ko kailan makakamtan
Paglaki ko, paglaki ko, paglaki ko.

Make It Right

OFWs Longing for Home. We want to go home to be with our loved ones, to avoid broken families and many reasons why, but when we go home, it could mean fighting over the few jobs to be had in our country. We, OFWs is jobless again, having no income, we will be forced to seek employment overseas again and again, and this is our life, in visayan dialect maniguwang sa abroad.

My friend and OFW returnee Tony Ranque who is presently connected with OFW Resource Center enlighten me on the above realities, I remember when I asked him some pointers for our Position Paper on OFW Reintegration where i was one of the Resource Speaker during the First OFW Reintegration Conference in Riyadh in which he said that;

OFWs should be encouraged to do forced savings (min. 5-10% of their income). Low-level salaried OFWs may be enjoined to form cooperatives to harness group power. High-level salaried OFWs should be given orientation on various investment opportunities to be identified based on existing requirements like bonds, etc.

This magic advise is what our group is currently doing through our constant dialogues.

However, there are many ways to make reintegration program responsive to the respective needs of the migrant workers and to improve the life of their families. A lot of Non-Government Organization could help us, like UNLAD KABAYAN, who have just recently launced an income generating project for ex-OFWs families in Davao particularly Kalagan Muslim farming community in barangay Lizada, Toril. UNLAD Kabayan is visible in some part of the country like Metro Manila, Bohol, Iligan and Davao.

This re-integration scheme was seen as a means to prepare us for our eventual return to our country. But we should think first of savings like many of us who havent yet started. It cant be denied that the money we sent back home usually ends up for our needs of shelter, education for our kids and other basic necessities but if we have set aside a little savings, NGOs could provide us a means to have this reintegration plan a reality.

There are many of them namely: ATIKHA, BALIK BAYANI, UNLAD KABAYAN, OFWNet/Holdings.

OFW Community Volunteers

Watch Out!! for a new OFW organization to emerge in the 3 Zones of Industrial Area-Riyadh, proposed name:

OFW Sentinels Motorcycle Club International Inc.(OFW-SMCII).

Purpose, Goals, and Objectives are as follows:

PURPOSE: To establish and maintain a spirit of camaraderie and spirit de corps among OFWs in Industrial Areas-Riyadh that will enhance the prestige and riding experience of all motorcycle riders, encourage on-going rider education and skills development, increase public awareness and reduce motorcycle mishaps. To operate and conduct itself in a manner that provides equal opportunity and treatment for all motorcyclists, regardless of motorcycle make, model or engine size.

The purpose of this organization shall be to bring together OFWs in Industrial Areas-Riyadh or OFWs in any neighboring areas in Riyadh whose common interest is motorcycle riding, promoting good fellowship, encouraging membership in the Fraternity, following the precepts of the morale of a good OFW Riders and aiding and assisting its members. The members of this organization are OFW Community Volunteers in the Industrial Areas-Riyadh. This organization is a not for profit club.

GOALS:

1.The Club will seek to improve rider morale and skills, promote general road safety, rider awareness and skills improvement education.

2.The Club will seek to enhance the base and local community relationship with riders through involvement in Filipino community sponsored efforts and events as well as educational awareness for non-riders.
***
After completion of its draft Charter and By-Laws, it will seek an accreditation with Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.

The mentioned club will be the mobile group of KAKAMPI-KSA in any OFW Volunteerism endeavor in the near future.

Patawad Bayan at Kitay Nilisan

Ipagpatawad mo Bayan at kitay nilisan,
Upang baloy dukalin sa Gitnang Silangan
Ang mabangong Riyal. Libong katanungay
Bakit pa umalis kung talagang minahal
Ang sariling bansang may ginto ring lantay?

Huwag maghinanakit kung saang lupalop
Ako ay lumayo. Hayaang hanapin ang bilog
Na pag-asang hindi nakita at sanay nasaklot,
Upang ipamugong sa kalam ng tiyang makirot;
Ay! Banyagang bansay gustong ipagbantog.

Hindi mo ba alam na ang inihuntay lumang
Aparador na ang nasa loob ay tudyong salita?
Manangis ka Bayan! Dahil ang nagpapasasa
Ay ang malalapit sa nililok na gintong banga!
Na hugong-balitang isang birhen ang gumawa.

Bayan ko! Akoy patawarin sa aking pag-alis,
Hayaan magsanga ang landas ng binging daigdig
Bago ko balikan ang lantay mong gintong kinupit,
Inumit, isiniksik sa kaban ng tipan sa sariling silid
Nitong mga gunggong na sa pamahalaan ay ganid.

Sakaling mapugto ang hininga ng yutang gahaman
Doon sa palasyo, uuwi rin ako o mahal kong Bayan.

NI RAUL FUNILAS
Inilathala ng Bulatlat

10 May 2006

Posted by Nicanor "Tatang" Salvador at OFW-Saudi egroup

SLL Art. 87 & 88


A member of OFW-Saudi E-group that I belong wrote me a personal e-mail asking my one centavo opinion. Allow me to share it with other concern OFW in KSA who happens to visit this blog.

He wrote:
I finished two years of my two-year contract, which did not have an automatic renewal clause, but I continued to work. I understand this makes my old contract, which was a specified period contract (SPC), turn into an unspecified period contract (USPC). I understand that under this rule my end-of-service benefits (ESB) have been reduced to one-sixth of a month of my last monthly wage (LMW), which is my basic salary plus all other allowances for each of the next three years completing the first five years. I also understand that my ESB for each of my first two years of my first contract will not change and will remain half my LMW for each of my two first years. But my employer says this is not the case. He thinks that although my contract has become a USPC, I am still bound to work for two years and cannot terminate before that, and that if I did terminate this would constitute a breach of contract for which I stand to lose all rights and have to pay my own ticket back to my country. At the same time, he says that my ESB has now dropped to one-sixth of my LMW for the entire period since I started work. Is my employer right?

My reply:
It seems that you are well aware of the Saudi Labor Law (SLL) and on the other hand, I think your employer contradicts Art. 87 and 88 of SLL that states:

SLL Art. 87 -If the contract of specified period shall come to an end, or if cancelled by the employer in the unspecified contract, the employer shall pay to the worker a service award calculated as follows: a) Half month pay for each year for the service of the first five consecutive years; b) Full month pay for each of the following years. The last monthly pay shall be the basis of calculations …..

SLL Art. 88 - In the contract of unspecified periods, the worker shall be entitled to receive one third of the service award provided in the previous article when he resigns after a period of service not less than two consecutive years and not more than five years, two thirds if the period is more than five consecutive years and less than ten years, and to a full award if he resigns after ten years in service provided that he shall in all cases notify and in writing his employer about his intention to resign thirty days before he leaves the work prior.

Therefore, you have the right to resign at any time by serving a one-month notice.

For more, please find Patnubay sa mga Manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia (December archive)or the SLL at my link KAKAMPI-KSA.

Thank You Mr. Chips

Yesterday, I was cleaning up the mess of my template, exploring and looking for the best place where I could fix its codes - aiming for a nice look that makes this blog presentable to all my visitors. And it was a success! The side bar format is now clean and looking good.

I am so very grateful to those who made this tool wonderful; like Bill Gates, gifted programmers and of course to Jason Banico who made Funchain easy to explore. But there is one you need to know, a man who shared a significant contribution to the era of information technology.

Ever heard of Jack Kilby? Clue: His invention changed your/our life. Based on the story written by T.R. Reid (Washington Post). Jack Kilby is from Kansas U.S.A. who has turned down by MIT because his math scores were too low and who never had much formal physics training yet received the Nobel Prize in Physics. This is slightly anomalous, because Jack St. Clair Kilby is not a physicist.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was willing to overlook that minor detail though, because Kilby did, after all, come up with the most valuable invention: the microchip. Jack Kilbys idea sparked the information age.

The tiny silicon chip at the heart of all digital devices has arguably become the most important industrial commodity since crude oil. Without it, there could be no personal computer or cell phone, no Internet or PlayStations. The semiconductor integrated circuit has changed the world as fundamentally as did the light bulb, the telephone. But somehow the man who made the microchip has never achieved the recognition that Edison, Bell and Ford enjoyed.

Sitting in the semiconductor lab, Kilby came up with the answer: eliminate the wires. It was such a daring break with the history of electronic circuits that he first thought it couldnt work. But he realized all the basic elements of a circuit could be made of the same material-silicon. And if all of the elements could be carved into a single slice of that material, then the interconnections could be laid down, or even printed, on a little silicon chip.

No wires, no soldering. And that meant a huge number of components could be compressed into a tiny space. You could put a whole computer circuit on a chip the size of a babys fingernail.

On July 24, 1958, Kilby scrawled this idea in his lab notebook: The following circuit elements could be made on a single slice: resistors, capacitor, distributed capacitor, transistor. Thats the sentence that brought its author the Nobel Prize.

Please click in my link "My Blog by Funchain"

EFF: Legal Guide for Bloggers

Whether you're a newly minted blogger or a relative old-timer, you've been seeing more and more stories pop up every day about bloggers getting in trouble for what they post.

Like all journalists and publishers, bloggers sometimes publish information that other people don't want published. You might, for example, publish something that someone considers defamatory, republish an AP news story that's under copyright, or write a lengthy piece detailing the alleged crimes of a candidate for public office.

The difference between you and the reporter at your local newspaper is that in many cases, you may not have the benefit of training or resources to help you determine whether what you're doing is legal. And on top of that, sometimes knowing the law doesn't help - in many cases it was written for traditional journalists, and the courts haven't yet decided how it applies to bloggers.

But here's the important part: None of this should stop you from blogging. Freedom of speech is the foundation of a functioning democracy, and Internet bullies shouldn't use the law to stifle legitimate free expression. That's why EFF created this guide, compiling a number of FAQs designed to help you understand your rights and, if necessary, defend your freedom.

To be clear, this guide isn't a substitute for, nor does it constitute, legal advice. Only an attorney who knows the details of your particular situation can provide the kind of advice you need if you're being threatened with a lawsuit. The goal here is to give you a basic roadmap to the legal issues you may confront as a blogger, to let you know you have rights, and to encourage you to blog freely with the knowledge that your legitimate speech is protected.

Please note that this guide applies to people living in the US. We don't have the expertise or resources to speak to other countries' legal traditions, but we'd like to work with those who do.

For more please see related link below.
http://www.eff.org/bloggers/lg/

Missed Opportunity: GMA's visit to Saudi Arabia

Monday's headline of ArabNews reads "Red Carpet Welcome for Arroyo". Huhuummmm, I guess that's good news.

Tuesday's headline read "Arroyo Seeks Saudi Investment". Ok, maybe a better news. I read the full article and it mentioned that GMA is inviting Saudi businessmen in Riyadh to invest in the Philippines.

Today's edition of the same newspaper carries a report with the title "138 Jailed Filipinos Pardoned". This is even better news. Again it mentioned that GMA spoked with members of Chamber of Commerce in Jeddah and encouraged them to invest in the Philippines and highlighted the investment opportunities in tourism, food processing and banking.

Then suddenly, thoughts came rushing to my mind. Yesterday's (9 May) edition of ArabNews carried an article saying that the King has allocated 3billion Riyals for e-Government Program

GMAs visit..OFW..e-Government..Itoutsourcing..pinoyIT..I figured I can put these words together.

Again, I read the news articles about GMA's visit... trying to find familiar words. To my disappoint, there was no mention of Filipino IT professionals.

Pambihira! This e-Government project of Saudi Arabia is just too big to miss! Let me enumerate my points.

1) We have a pool of skilled manpower which are competent enough to handle multi-million projects like e-Government, portals, etc;

2) The Saudis looks highly on the skills of Filipinos and somehow, the Filipino culture have, to some degree, penetrated the local culture (I've seen Saudis buying pandesal in the grocery and I have heard some of them speaking Tagalog).

3) The first barrier in any cross-country outsourcing project is "breaking the ice" between the company and the contractor. In this aspect, a Filipino IT company would have a definite advantage over companies from US, UK, India or Singapore.

4)There are many IT companies in the Philippines who are aggressively looking for overseas project but lacks the support of our government.

This is one particular handicap of GMA - she seems not up to date with the trends in global economy. Ironically, she was a graduate of economics but failed to realize the real value and potential of digital economy. Six years na siya sa puwesto and yet there's no remarkable accomplishments in Philippines' ICT. She could have taken this (the visit) opportunity to have an MOU/MOA with the Saudi government for Filipino IT companies. We could have been looking forward to getting bigger share of that 3B Riyals budget.

All I can say is.. "tsk, tsk, tsk.. sayang!"

Taken From an email to: Fil-IT@yahoogroups.com By: Ramir Ortega, 10 May 2006

Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata
Kung Kailan di ko Alam

Last Monday I was among of the 650+ OFWs who attended the so-called Filipino Community Night at the Philippine Embassy, Riyadh. Though the said event was in line of PGMAs state visit in the Kingdom.

I and my friend Bernard Abad of OFWins (OFW Investors Society) arrived in Diplomatic Area at 7:00 pm., we passed the Diplomatic Quarter gate smoothly while security manning the entrance gate at our Philippine Embassy was very strict in body search and even those wearing Diplomatic IDs like me that was issued by POLO & OFWC were still searched by our kababayan belong to PGBI and Black Python under the supervision of OFWC execon member. But one thing was not familiar; Presidential Security Group (PSG) wearing their signature suit with earpiece as usual manned every corner of the Embassy. I thought for a while and say to myself, wow this is it! Malacanang is in Riyadh.

Community leaders were given a front seat row facing the stage, the Filipina nurses wearing their white uniforms were in the right side row, on the left row were professional group like Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE-CRSA), Davaoenos Group with flying streamer, Pampaguenos of course were there too, and everyone cant just overlooked the big streamer posted on the right side wall of the stage with big letter printed on it "Welcome PGMA" courtesy of UNITED OFW, kulang nalang lagyan ng IBOTO for OFW Party List Group, HUH!

Early Government Official Ive seen before the entourage arrived was Special Envoy to Middle East Roy Cimatu who settled a seat along with Filcom leaders. S.E. Production led by their CEO Ranie Basanta was there as always to entertain the audience, and food was served while dancers and singers of the TFC Pop Star Search gave their best to kill the time waiting for the arrival of the President.

I vacated my chair in front of the stage to accompany my friends and our members from Industrial Area during dinnertime, and stayed there till the end of the program. Actually, the main reason was; I am so upset when Welfare Officer Bellido forgot to acknowledged some names of our colleagues, one of them was Engr. Faizal Sharque who heads the community security team who was there from 10:00 in the morning up to the program proper. One of my friend whispered to me that the names of those not mentioned was intentionally deleted from the lists, for reason I didnt know with a thought that politics is everywhere even Filipinos are away from home.

Government Entourage like Sen. Miriam Santiago, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, SecLab Pat Sto. Tomas, Usec Seguis were among the first to occupy the seats provided at the stage. Special Envoy to KSA Tony Villamor introduced GMA after the President unveils the launching of National Broadcasting Network PTV 4. At first, am so grateful that one of our recommendation was given an instant reply, only to my dismay knowing that PTV 4 is part of the Channel 7 Kapuso package that is open for subscription to Filipinos in Middle East.

GMA in her speech made an announcement of a possible investment opportunities that Saudi government is going to undertake in our country more particularly in Mindanao; and other areas of investment like tourism, food processing and banking. She also informed the crowd that from 50 OFWs jailed for minor crimes, King Abdullah raised the numbers to 83 that are going to be freed, and probably to join in her flight back to Philippines. Now in newspapers the numbers increases to 138, good news indeed to their respective families back home.

However, the meeting with community leaders was not materialized due to the strict guidelines with her Chief Protocol and members of PSG. There were 14 leaders in the original list but around 30 or more were already waiting for her at the Ambassadors Living Room. The Ten Point Recommendation was instead submitted to Senator Miriam Santiago who gave her time with us at the lobby of the Ambassadors Residence. Usec Rafael Seguis assured us that the President will give time to study our recommendation and official reply will be sent in due time.

Sana Nga at hindi sa basurahan. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

Not Welcome!

One of my co-office workers who is also a member of our group asked me this morning if I will be going to Philippine Embassy tonight to meet the President. I said Yes! He followed a question asking me if really the President will read our Ten Point Recommendation and make action on it. I replied him with a convincing tone, Yes or maybe not but we should be positive and try to act than do nothing.

My co-worker, an architect who hails from Pampanga himself is not a supporter nor he voted GMA in the last election. He doesnt believed that Arroyo leadership could save the nation from poverty, he is not a rightist nor a leftist but his belief is more on knowing of who is PGMA is. He talks about Bong Pineda and other politician in his province as if he knows everything about the history of politics in Pampanga. I admire his position, though I explain to him that I am just representing the group, especially in behalf of those ordinary OFWs with grievances that are not given this chance to meet the so called highest official of our land.

He nods with a smile and said, "Good Luck, and please say our (Pampanguenos) Hello to her". I smile back to him and said "Yes, Ill do", thinking that Jesus, Himself our Savior is not welcome in His city Israel during His time.

Joint Resolution

The Ten Point Recommendation of Filipino Community Leaders in Riyadh (click link OFW Congress for the full text) initiated by OFW Congress to be presented in the forthcoming visit of PGMA to the Kingdom was submitted in advance to Special Envoy to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Tony Villamor yesterday, 5 of May 2006 at Al Mutlaq Hotel, Riyadh.

Various community organizations presided by Alex Veloso Bello of the OFW Congress-Riyadh attended the forum. The said Ten Point Recommendations was read by MAA and was then approved by the attendees by affixing their respective signatures manifesting their support to the Joint Resolution of the 21 Executive Council Members of OFWC and 16 participating groups.

During the meeting, a resolution was also adopted and approved by the majority of the original 21 EXECON members of OFWC, accepting 10 new member organizations. The OFWC will now have 31 Executive Council that would decide in any advocacies the group will undertake concerning vital issues affecting the rights, welfare and economic well being of the OFW’s, more particularly in the Kingdom.

The Joint Resolution that was officially agreed is more on the issues pertains to the plight of our distressed OFW’s. It urge the President to give more attention for the speedy resolution of pending labor cases as well as early repatriation of those resolve cases of our female and male stranded workers. Other concerns such as Reintegration Program for returning OFW’s as well an appeal to the President to reconsider her order for the transfer of 1 Billion Pesos OWWA Fund to Phil. Postal Bank and lieu thereof, the creation of an OFW Bank that OFW’s can call their own where implementing mechanisms is for the best interest of the Filipino migrant workers sustained by a legislative measure.

Prior to the meeting proper, Filcom leaders had their breakfast exchanging conversation with the good Ambassador who comes earlier than expected. A nice indication that the would be Ambassador is worthy to his call as the new Father of the OFW’s in the Kingdom.

In the meeting proper each Filcom leaders were given a few minutes to introduce themselves as well as what organization are they represented. Each leaders give a warm Welcome to His Excellency in which in return gave his remarks after MAA made a short introduction of who is Ambassador Tony Villamor.

In his message, he made an assurance that problems of the OFW’s will be taken care of with utmost attention if ever he will be given the privilege to serve the OFW’s in the Kingdom. – MAA

Photos in my link “My Blog by Funchain”

An open Letter to Saudi Authorities and Fellow Filipinos

As representative of good standing in the Filipino Community in Riyadh, WE speak on behalf of the vast majority of Filipinos in the Kingdom who has come here for the singular purpose of working decently and quietly to secure a better future of our respective families back home.

As employees in different fields of expertise, we express the collective gratefulness of OFWs in the Kingdom for continued trust and confidence of our esteemed employers as well as the privilege of being welcomed, along with our families, to share in the progress and lawful protection of the Kingdom.

As members of the expatriate community who have spent a good number of years in the Kingdom, WE convey the firm resolve of our fellow OFWs to remain fully cognizant and deep respect to the laws, customs and traditions of our friendly host and promote better understanding and closer relations between the Filipino community and the Islamic world particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As a leaders of various community; clubs, guilds and organizations, WE are committed to ensure that our competence and excellence are recognize not only in our field of work, but also in the community of service, sports, arts, music and other worthwhile activities to which we devote our free time.

Thus, in the wake of disparaging news reports concerning some OFWs in Saudi Arabia, WE strongly take exception to the allegations that Filipinos are engaged with illegal operations in the Kingdom.

WE denounced such activities of a few individual OFWs, if actually proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, as contrary to the much larger and lasting relations of the Filipino Community with the Saudi society in which they play an active role towards continuing development.

WE avow that we will exert our best efforts to always maintain the highest respect for all the values the Saudi society holds dear and cooperation with the authorities in preserving these values as well as the existing cordial relations between the both country and its people.

From:The Filipino Community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

http://www.funchain.com/post/0000002516

Davao Oks OFW Center

One of our group recommendation in the Joint Resolution to be submitted to Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo this coming 8 of May 2006 in line with OFW Reintegration is:

"LGU participation in OFW Reintegration program should be made mandatory"

Today i read this important news, I am so gratefull to those local leaders in our country that initiate laudable moves for the good of their OFW constituents.

My heartfelt gratitude to Davao City Councilors Jimmy Dureza and Peter Lavina. Your heart belongs to OFW's. Maraming Salamat Muli!
***
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Davao oks OFW Center

The likes of Manuel Amora would be happy with this news. The Davao City Council finally approved yesterday the Ordinance establishing the Davao City OFW Center.

It was first proposed by Councilor Jimmy Dureza when we opened the 14th City Council in July 2004. I started committee work on this proposal when I chaired the Committee on Labor & Employment. It was presented to the floor yesterday by our new committee head Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad.

The Center is envisioned to become a one-stop-shop for the processing, deployment, assistance and re-integration of overseas Filipino workers from Davao City. It would work closely with national government agencies and non-government organizations like Unlad Kabayan to provide a number of services to OFWs.

A key component for the success of this Center is my proposal to devolve to local governments some of the powers, functions and resources of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

http://www.funchain.com/post/0000002509

Ten Point Recommendation

The OFW Congress-Riyadh initiated a meeting last Thursday evening, 27 April 2006 at Peking Restaurant to discuss some important agenda particularly the coming State visit of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the Kingdom.

The meeting presided by Alex Veloso Bello, President of OFWC and was attended by 20 Filipino Community leaders in Riyadh composed of the current OFWC executive council members and other invited Filipino community organizations.

MAA was given a floor by the presiding officer to recount some important matters outlining general issues that must be included in the agenda proper.

Further, MAA emphasized that OFW Congress is not an umbrella organization but it is a group of OFW leaders represented by their respective organization whose primary objective is to act as partners of the State in the protection of Filipino migrant workers and in the promotion of their welfare. The organization shall plan, initiate, advocate, and spearhead the drafting, lobbying, passage of motions, measures, resolutions and position papers on vital issues affecting the rights, welfare and economic well being of the OFWs as stated in Article II, Section 1 of OFW Congress Constitution and By-Laws.

In the meeting proper each organization presented to the body various issues affecting the welfare of the OFWs more particularly in the Kingdom. It was then approved by the majority of the attendees that a consolidated recommendation on important OFW issues and concerns will be submitted in a form of a Joint Resolution between the OFWC Execon members and the Participating Member Organization.

It was also agreed that hot political issues should not be included in the ten point agenda in the list of recommendations. The attendees decided further that OFW issues must be given utmost attention by the community leaders rather than political concerns.

Before the meeting was adjourned Outgoing Labor Attache Manuel Roldan arrived as one of the invited Government Official in the said forum.

The meeting was finally adjourned at 11:00PM and set to another date for the Final Drafting of the approved Ten Point Recommendations.

http://www.funchain.com/~ofwempowerment

FWRC-Bahay Kalinga

During summer in KSA is a season where everyone and even the Saudis themselves usually stayed at home while expats like me are in our villas to escape the intense heat of the sun. That is why ACs (air condition) is the number one basic necessities in the Kingdom.

Yet, the heat of the sun was not a hindrance for us to proceed with our visit last Friday 4/28/06 to Bahay Kalinga (BK). Bahay Kalinga is a house for our stranded distressed Female OFWs. The place is also officially known as Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) provided by the Philippine Government under RA 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Act of 1995) as a temporary shelter for our run-away Filipina workers. These female stranded workers will stay at the said house pending resolution of their cases for repatriation. Most of their complaints are non payment of wages, long hours of work or without rest, poor accommodations, maltreatment and sexually abused.

As of today the stranded female OFWs in the center is about 170. In that count the Female OFWs housed at the Saudi Welfare Center (SWA) are not included. The SWA is a center provided by the Saudi Government to those Filipina workers and other female workers in different nationalities with criminal cases such as theft, murder, immoral acts and drug related offenses. Only the POLO/Embassy personnel particularly from our Assistance to National Section (ANS) are allowed to visit this place.

From 2nd Industrial Area we traveled 35 kilometers to reach Bahay Kalinga brought along with us 14 cartons of assorted used clothing and other things for their personal needs. Since the shelter is very strict with visitors, men in particular, the said visit was properly coordinated with the office of our good OWWA Welfare Officer Arman Roa.

Our group KAKAMPI-KSA unloaded the goods with the help of our friends from the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS-Migrante). The collected various assorted items came from our kindhearted fellow OFWs in the Industrial Area particularly workers in Al Sharq Plastic Factory, Al Ajial Co. Ltd., Obeikan, Saudi Lighting and the logistical support from Black Python Martial Arts Association.

We noticed that the FWRC is well taken care of, compared to my last visit in the center a couple of months when we brought foods to the shelter. Today, the office is properly organized along with the visiting area, as well as a clean rest rooms. Though we can not enter the main premises where the rooms of our distressed female OFWs are located yet we knew that everything/everyone are in good shape and under control. Thanks to the newly assigned center personnel from Manila headed by Dr. Adel Usman and DSWD Social Welfare Officer Mrs. Nene Usman. We are hoping that the healthy environment in the center will be for long and not just for now in preparation for PGMAs visit.

The mission was accomplished with a sigh of relief and a happy heart that we again fulfilled our task in helping others in needs.

Special thanks to fellow comrades Abdullah Andrade, Mario Ben, Jomel Soriao, Binang Jilhano, Norman Gatdula, Alex Aurelio, Rey Ruiz and Faizal Mercurio. M.A.A.

see link: http://www.funchain.com/post/0000002492
or http://www.funchain.com/~ofwempowerment

Senate Bill 639

The issue of the transfer of 1 Billion OWWA Fund to Phil. Postal Savings Bank was opposed by many OFWs. The Overseas Filipino Workers Congress-Riyadh is one of the many groups who believe that the transfer is not in the best interest of the OFWs in general.

One of the several solutions that we proposed is that - if there is really a transfer of fund as what PGMA recently announced, it must be in a form of a legislative measure where we can see the implementing guidelines, rules and its mechanisms.

Last April 16, 2006, the OFWC wrote a letter to Senator Manuel Villar, Jr. on the proposed Senate Bill 639 he authored re: creation of Phil. Overseas Workers Bank for us to evaluate the said bill and in order to determine whether it is for the best interest of the Migrant Filipinos.

Below is his reply through the office of his Legislative Officer Reesa Novella. Kindly see link "OFW Congress" for the full text of SB 639.

28 April 2006

Mr. Manuel Amora
Secretary General
Overseas Filipino Workers Congress
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dear Sec. Gen. Amora:

We would like to extend our warm greetings to the Overseas Filipino Workers Congress in Riyadh and the entire Saudi Arabia.

We are in receipt of your letter dated 16 April 2006 requesting for a copy of Senate Bill No. 639 or the Philippine Overseas Workers Bank. Attached is a soft copy of the bill which seeks to address the Filipino overseas workers various financial needs and concerns and further enhance their investment potential.

Thank you very much for your interest in the bill. We will appreciate if you could send us your comments about it.

Our office is always more than willing to help our OFWs.

Sincerely:

Manny Villar

By:

Reesa Novella
Legislative Officer

PGMA Visit

Our organization Kalipunang Kaakabay ng Manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia (KAKAMPI-KSA) received an official invitation letter yesterday 25 April 2006 from the office of (POLO-Riyadh) Labor Attache Manuel Roldan informing us the arrival of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the Kingdom on May 7, 2006. Also in the letter it said that PGMA will have an audience with the Filipino Community on the evening of May 8, 2006, 8:30 PM at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

We all knew that GMA made many plans in the past to visit Saudia Arabia; the last one was of September last year that did not materialize. Now, at last! She will be here for an official visit primarily to discuss with Saudi Government on oil issues particularly in the light of rising crude prices in the world market. Hoping she could achieve positive outcome on her number one mission - to secure affordable oil price.

I believed that the issue about Filipino Expatriates in the Kingdom is in the list of her priorities, considering the fact that for the past few days 7 of our compatriots were implicated in the recent horrible incident in Jeddah where they are deeply involved.

Certainly, she can?t just ignore this problem, after all - she represents the image of the Filipino community in the Kingdom. Perhaps, what she can surely do at this moment is to request the Saudi Government to treat those alleged suspects in a manner where their rights are properly protected under the Saudi Law. Also, I understand that she is expected to appeal for clemency for other six Filipinos facing the death penalty on various murder charges.

******

The mentioned letter of invitation is requesting Filipino Community to give inputs and recommendations in relation to OFW issues and concerns. It is going to be submitted today in advance prior to the said scheduled meeting for her consideration.

Well, there are many OFW issues and concerns; in fact a lot of recommendations were already submitted to the proper agencies that oversees the plight of Filipinos overseas.

Some of our concern NGO?s at home made an appeal to the Lower and Upper House of Congress for the possible amendment of certain provisions in the Republic Act 8042 known as Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995. There are also many attempts from our pro OFWs legislators by filing Senate and House Bills intended for the general welfare of migrant Filipinos. Sadly, a number of them were left unattended in the closet of their respective committees pending deliberations and appropriate action.

Last year we even raised the question of the legality of OWWA USD 25.00 contribution to the highest court of our land but unfortunately as of now it is still in the good hands of our esteemed members of Judiciary pending its decision.

All of these were not given exceptional attention from the three (3)branches of our government namely; the executive, legislative and the judiciary.

Where else do we go? Directly to the President? Are there any assurances that the President will give attention to our recommendations? We hope so. Nevertheless, there is no harm in trying.

WE therefore, respectfully submit the following for the Presidents utmost consideration:

A) TRANSFER OF OWWA FUND TO PPSB

Remarks:

We strongly opposed the plan to transfer 1 Billion Peso OWWA Fund to Philippine Postal Bank. If there should be a transfer of fund, then it must be governed by a legislative measure where we can see and understand its implementing mechanisms.

Recommendations:

An appeal to the President to act in behalf of the OFW?s to expedite the early discussions and deliberations of the following legislative proposal:

Senate Bill No. 639 authored by Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. Re: Seeking the creation of the Philippine Overseas Workers Bank to serve the financial and investment needs of the growing number of OFWs worldwide

And

HB No. 1565 authored by Rep. Jaime Lopez Re: An Act Establishing the Overseas Filipino Bank. This bill concentrates and would specifically authorized to address the banking, economic, financial, and related needs of the more than eight million Filipinos working abroad.

Any of the two above Bills that would be in the best interests of the Migrant Filipinos Overseas, then we hereby request for its passage into law.

B) RECOGNIZE OFW AS A SPECIAL SECTOR

Remarks:

The OFWs are not properly represented in the policy formulating boards of the government agencies that oversees OFW?s issues and concerns.

Recommendation:

1) The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Welfare Administration (OWWA) governing board should be well represented by an OFW who comes from the OFW rank himself/herself and not just a mere political appointees whose credentials are not well define as representative to OFW?s.

2) That any such appointees should be consulted or must be recommended by the OFW Community themselves.

3) Dubbed as Modern Day Heroes and economic savior, OFWs should be recognized as Special Sector? and therefore be provided with empowering mechanisms in the affairs of governance locally.

4) OFWs contributed a lot to the progress of local economies and it is therefore recommended that upon their return for good to their respective localities they should be given a place in the affairs of local governance.

5) Former OFW and their families be given a right sustained by executive or legislative measure to participate in the local election of the City or Municipal Council. In this manner the government reintegration plan for the OFWs into the mainstream of our society particularly in the grassroots level will be truly established and rightly implemented. - M.A.A.

Blog powered by FUNCHAIN

Browsing Internet is part of my daily job, not to mention that the company where I am employed have unlimited access with our ISP. It means that I can always visit and post important events, commentaries, etc. to my blog whenever I have the spare time to do it.

Actually, I heard this blog mania a couple of years ago and was fascinated by some bloggers conveying personal opinions through the freedom of expression using the power of blogging.

My impulse told me so creating my own blog. Then, I discover myself doing my homework in my PC at my flat. It does not only eases homesickness away from home, it likewise enhances my know-how in the usefulness of Information Technology (IT).

Thus- the creation of www.ofwempowerment.blogspot.com whose postings relates Overseas Filipino Workers issues and concern.

I found blogspot.com powered by I POWER BLOGGER popularly known as IBlog easy to use and recreational, not only venturing creativity in developing my personal site but it also helps improve my love of writing.

Few days ago I visited one of my favorite blog created/authored by Davao City Councilor Peter Lavina, I noticed that he shifted to a new blogger powered by FUNCHAIN. Out of curiosity I started my new blog with the same blog name (ofwempowerment) using FUNCHAIN and later conclude it remarkable, very easy to use and more convenient.

In this new era of information technology, let your views be heard, let us exercise our freedom of expression through the use of a proper venue; and that is - the power of blogging. However, we should be always compassionate in expressing our respective viewpoint, thoughts and ideas.

Try making your own blog using Funchain.

Who brought this idea to reality? Like us - He is Filipino, in the name of Mr. Jason Banico. Find out a little bit of who this person is - below:

Jason Banico is a technopreneur with 9 years of IT experience. He hails from Davao City, only coming to Metro Manila for his college studies at Ateneo de Manila and working there for approximately 10 years.

In 2005, he became a Reuters Digital Vision Fellow at Stanford University, where he realized his dream of finally going to Silicon Valley. Staying in a converted garage (yes, the proverbial Silicon Valley garage), he brought Funchain from idea to reality. – MAA

My new Blog: http://www.funchain.com/~ofwempowerment
Mr. Jason Banico : http://www.funchain.com/~jasonbanico
or simply browse : http://www.funchain.com/

Shame and Embarrassment

THE BODY was found around 500 meters from my apartment building in Jeddah two days before I returned from a three-month fellowship abroad. It was that of a 30-something Indian male, and it had been thrown into an abandoned water tank. Bloated beyond recognition, the police had located it after arresting the mastermind behind the crime and two of his accomplices. A third male accomplice was arrested this past week, dressed as a woman and hiding in the bathroom of a pizza restaurant.

The dead man was Ameer Ali, an accountant for a watch company who had been killed by a Yemeni co-worker and three Saudi accomplices, all for 600,000 Saudi rials. The dead man left behind a wife and three children in Kerala, one only eight months old and which he had never seen.

I learned all of this from my driver, Muneer, who had happened to be driving past the location where the body was found, only to be flagged down by police who asked him if he minded helping them retrieve a body from a water tank.

He said he didn’t mind, and that is when he saw the disfigured and rotting body of a man that he had been acquainted with, but which no longer bore any resemblance to the Ameer that he had known.

“My mother is frightened now,” Muneer told me. “How can you trust anyone anymore?” The younger brother of Ameer, who also works in Jeddah, has said that relatives of the Yemeni have sent out feelers for their family to accept blood money, but that his family doesn’t want any money and only wants justice to be served.

In Saudi Arabia, that means the Yemeni and his accomplices will face the death penalty and be beheaded.

* * *
UNFORTUNATELY it is not only company accountants being killed in Jeddah these days. Filipinos are, too. In a gruesome chop-chop slay case, the dismembered bodies of three Filipinos were found early this month in a remote area of south Jeddah. Ten Filipinos have been arrested in connection with these bloody murders and after interrogation at least one of them confessed to their crime according to local press reports, telling police which house, in the poor Al-Ghulail district, they had used to chop up the bodies.

Authorities are saying that the mutilated bodies are those of Filipinos involved in illegal numbers games, victims of a possible dispute of a payout that never occurred.

* * *
IN A perhaps not totally unconnected incident, more than 100 Filipinos in Jeddah this month were arrested for questioning in connection with illegal cockfighting that was being regularly held at a farm just outside the city.

Bored Filipino workers would go there to bet on cockfights. As they all well know, gambling of any kind is forbidden in the Kingdom, and as such must have known that they were breaking the law. But boredom can push people to do strange things, and the Filipinos’ love of gambling must have been hard to resist especially here, where many Filipinos come to work as bachelors, leaving behind spouses, children and families back in the Philippines.

* * *
CONTINUING with what seems to be shaping up as a record “Filipino Crime Month,” 20 Filipino workers have been arrested for allegedly stealing 1.8 tons of gold from a mine they worked in near Madinah over the past six years.

That’s a lot of gold. At today’s gold prices, that amounts to more than $37 million worth of gold!

It seems the workers, who include engineers, used a contact at the Jeddah airport to smuggle the gold out of the country in cargo going to the Philippines.

Initial press reports had said they had been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, which seemed like a light sentence for such a large and sustained period of thievery. Now it seems that they are still under investigation and have not been sentenced yet. They will be lucky if they don’t have their hands amputated, which is the Islamic punishment for aggravated and premeditated stealing. (And no, you don’t have your hand chopped off for stealing food if you’re hungry.)

* * *
THE Filipino community has understandably been abuzz with all of these unseemly events, with the lack of any clear information giving rise to overblown conjecture and panic. Part of the blame lies with local authorities who have been, as is traditional, extremely reluctant to divulge any information until interrogation of suspects is completed.

That, plus the accompanying silence of the Philippine missions in Riyadh and Jeddah, has left a huge information vacuum that allowed the growth of naccurate tales.

Some Filipinos I have talked with have asked me to condemn these acts, which naturally do. But it seems facile to moralize on these criminal acts, which are so obviously wrong. After all, those who committed them are adults and are aware of how wrong they were.

The only conclusion that one can draw from this is that pure greed must have driven all of those involved in these crimes.

In the end, I don’t feel sorry for any of these people, and I suspect neither does anyone in the Filipino community. Instead, we all feel shame and embarrassment.

Taken from:
Manila Moods : Dismembered bodies leave Jeddah atwitter
First posted 03:18am (Mla time) April 22, 2006
By Rasheed Abou-Alsamh
INQ7.net

Farewell Ambassador Bahn Guinomla
Welcome Ambassador-Designate Tony Villamor

Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla in his short message during the Philippine Road Show Presentation to Middle East on business and investments yesterday night 19 April 2006 at Philippine Embassy, made a confirmation on his new posting as Ambassador to Turkey. In his farewell speech, he thanks the community for their support in his tenure as Ambassador to the Kingdom.

The Philippine Road Show Presentation to Middle East on Business and investments is here in the Kingdom from April 18 to 20 to present investment opportunities to OFW’s. Two of the biggest business enterprise in the Philippines, like ING Investment Management represented by Cesar C. Zulueta, Managing Director and Head of the ING delegation and LANDCO Philippines presented business and trade opportunities in the Philippines to OFW’s. Their mission includes to help OFW’s identifying prospective markets for integrated coconut processing centers, real estate planning and development, retirement options/medical tourism, engineering, construction and other related services.

During the said event we also noticed the presence of Special Envoy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor. He is here on official visit or perhaps one of the advance parties assigned for the preparation of PGMA’s visit in the Kingdom probably very soon.

I noticed that everyone who attended the said event focused their attention to the mentioned visiting official. Later on, I heard that Ambassador Antonio Villamor would be the Ambassador-Designate to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pending confirmation approval by the Senate Committee on Appointments.

I have the opportunity to greet him during the break with the first impression that he is approachable aside from speaking different Filipino dialect.

I am hoping that he can deal the tough job that he will be facing in the future.

A little bit of information of who is Ambassador Antonio Villamor:

As a diplomat and once the head of DFA-South, he travels from one country to another promoting economic opportunities in our country. On 1995, he was among the Mindanao delegation to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia promoting economic prospects in both countries.

On 1997 he headed the group Growth with Equity in Mindanao, Philippines (GEM) to PALIKIR, Pohnpei on trade and investments for the economic growth in Mindanao particularly in the areas of agro-industry, tourism and transportation.

He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Silliman University, one of the prestigious universities in the Philippines and a former Philippine Consul General to Guam.

His previous tour of duty as a diplomat includes Jeddah-Saudi Arabia in the 1980’s, an experienced that could probably makes him a good Philippine Ambassador in the Kingdom.– MAA

Mainstreaming OFW affairs
in local governance

Allow me to share with you a proposed resolution from a member of Davao City Council whose advocacy works includes OFW’s concerns. -MAA
****

I received a request to post my legislative proposals in the City Council. Here is one approved on first reading last month. It is now with the Committee on Labor & Employment.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

TO URGE CONGRESS TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO DEVOLVE SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND RESOURCES OF THE OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION (OWWA) TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGU) TO MAINSTREAM OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFW) AFFAIRS IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE.

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the state and government to enhance local autonomy, and address the needs of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW);

WHEREAS, there is a growing need to mainstream OFW affairs in local governance as more and more OFWs seek direct governmental services from local government units in terms of various assistance, programs and projects;

WHEREAS, devolving such functions, powers and welfare funds of national agencies like the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) would greatly enhance the direct governmental services of LGUs to OFWs, particularly those who are in distress, those in need of various assistance, and those to be reintegrated in local communities by way of trainings, livelihood and employment, and other opportunities;

WHEREFORE, premises considered, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, to urge Congress to enact legislation to devolve some of the functions, powers and resources of the Overseas Workers Welfare Fund (OWWA) to local government units (LGUs) to mainstream Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) affairs in local governance.

By: Davao City Councilor Peter Lavina
http://www.funchain.com/post/0000002329
April 7, 2006

Note: Peter Lavina is a journalist, a political activist, and an elected Davao City
Councilor.

OWWA Funds to POPB or to OFW Bank?

For sure OFW’s will opposed PGMA’s order to transfer One Billion Pesos of funds from the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA) to Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PPSB) that would be converted into the Philippine Overseas Postal Bank (POPB) - for a simple reason, this is another ploy detrimental to OFWs.

Personally, I have reasons to believe that this concept was planned by some people around PGMA, perhaps due to various interests of some individuals who may have thought of the benefits out of pooling OFWs owned money.

It is not a surprise either that if the government really pushes it through, we can't do much about it - except take a look and realize for one reason - OFWs are scattered as ever and can never be united (collectively) into achieving one common goal – to put up an OFW Bank by themselves.

It is then logical that the government should flex OFW’s weak muscle because we lack the political will to voice our strong opposition to any presidential order or proposal harmful and damaging to OFW sector. Perhaps, another reason is that we know that our government coffers lack a lot of money and OWWA Fund is an attractive source of funds to save the state owned penniless Philippine Postal Savings Bank - maybe I am right or maybe wrong.

However, if I may recall a legislative measure was introduced 2 years ago in the Lower House of Congress under HB No. 1565 or an Act Establishing the Overseas Filipino Bank. This bill concentrates and would specifically be authorized to address the banking, economic, financial, and related needs of the more than eight million Filipinos working abroad. Motionless, I may say, we haven’t heard about it since it was filed in Congress.

Looking back to the proposed bill, the mandate is that the bank will have a PhP1-billion authorized capital, which is to be divided into 10 million shares with PhP100, 000 par value per share. The bill also provides that "the amount of 500 million representing 500 million shares shall be subscribed and fully paid by the government. The remaining half "shall be made for subscription to OFWs and their beneficiaries.

The said bill also proposed that the President appoint the chairman of the OFW bank's board of directors as well as four of the nine board members, president, and executive vice-president. The rest of the board members will be elected by the stockholders.

During the time that I heard of the mentioned bill, I already have (had) many questions in my mind, will ownership (of 50%) be guaranteed to be offered to OFW’s? And, as proposed, control will be on the hands of people "appointed" by the President?

In my understanding the proposed appointment of the officers by the President is a sign of distrust or lack of confidence to OFW’s to run an OFW Bank. There are thousands of OFWs who are 'bankers' in their own right. They can run the business too, without having to depend on the appointing discretion of the President.

Nevertheless, on the contrary the government must protect its 50% interest too. So, it may not really be due to lack of confidence. But that's how the business goes - whoever the largest stake ought to protect it, and no less than the President has to ensure
that.

There are always possibilities - that the intention of the bill is well-meant for the benefit of OFWs in terms of regulation by BSP which is true to all banks, anyway - so there's nothing new to it.

Now, back to OWWA funds, the order to transfer 1 Billion Pesos of funds from OWWA to PPSB is quite enough money for the creation of an OFW Bank. Expediently, why not amend HB1565 to a new revised bill proposing that the remaining half "shall be taken from the OWWA Funds representing OFW’s fully paid shares”?

Assuming that the government stake in the creation of the said bank is half of the PhP1-billion authorized capital - then the President has the right to appoint the chairman of the OFW bank's board of directors, in the nine of its board members. However, I may suggest that president, and executive vice-president must be elected by the stockholders and the bank should be run by the OFW’s themselves.

Though the said proposal should be first consulted to OFW’s, to study and dig deeper into determining its investment profitability.

That's only my one cents of opinion. I know there are many of us who can see the pros and cons. I hope we can lay them on the table for exchange of opinions without having to discredit others' minds on this particular issue.

By:
Manuel “Bong” Amora
Kalipunang Kaakabay ng Manggagawang Pilipino
Sa Saudi Arabia
OFW Bank Advocate

Araw ng Kagitingan

JESUS steadfastly refused any thought on a violent overthrow of the despotic regime but insisted on peaceful reforms. Barabas who led the underground movement pursued his uncanny strategy that if Jesus is arrested and imprisoned, His thousands of followers would rise up in rebellion and join the underground, then ignite the poor and down-trodden into a great civil war. Judas who subscribed to the views of Barabas betrayed Jesus and facilitated His arrest but when the thousands of followers did not rise up or joined the underground, Judas committed suicide. In an unexpected twist of events, Pilate, supported by the viva voce vote of the people, released Barabas instead of Jesus, washed his hands and ordered the scourging of Jesus after proclaiming, I have nothing to do with the death of this Man. The passion and crucifixion of Jesus followed. And then, Easter Sunday came, the first and the only true araw ng kagitingan of mankind and the whole world.
* * *
Bataan has fallen but the spirit that made it stand will remain a beacon to all freedom-loving people of the world? this is the Voice of Freedom. (April 9, 1942):. Some Filipino soldiers in that war, which was not our war, are still living after fighting side by side with the Americans 60 years ago. Veterans, they are called who are living on their pensions but pensions that they lament are not apportioned equally among all the soldiers who crawled and bled with the American buddies in the war contrary to the promises of American presidents from Roosevelt to Bush. To many Filipino veterans, this is araw ng kagitingan sa mga sipsip. They even have to line under sun and rain towards a bank that keeps and cashes their checks under a business arrangement with another sipsip group. The aging veterans in crutches or by walking sticks are victimized by swindlers and pickpockets in the city. Their travel from their towns to the city is already a great physical effort on the part of the aging veterans who still hope on the promises that are aged already like them. It is not hard to presume that on the lips of these fading old soldiers are the words & I fought in vain.
* * *
There is now another Senate Five to counterpart the Batasan Five which will fuel further the Oust PGMA campaign and which is to be intensified during the Lenten season but the new assault is pre-empted by FG (Front Guard) Mike Arroyo who challenged all senators to resign instead. Here we go again, but this time, the man of the house is at the front door in an open war to protect his loved ones. The fight has taken a new shape and size. The flames are fanned by the resignation of the prime minister of Thailand after violent street demonstrations and the adverse editorial of the New York Times that democracy has dark days in the Philippines. The fight is now taking place outside of the ring, what’s next?

Taken from:
Bohol Times/April 9, 2006 Issue
Thinking Aloud/Editorial Column
By: Retired Judge Lilio Libres Amora

Absentee voting book
still good read amid charter change bids
by LEO J. SANTIAGO, JR. and ISAGANI DE LA PAZ

QUEZON CITY --- WHAT’S blue and nearing obsolescence but still worth reading?

It’s the book entitled “Overseas Absentee Voting: The Philippine Experience,” whose author is preventing the issue from dying amid renewed efforts to change the country’s constitution.

Not that author and lawyer Henry Rojas is bothered over potential revenue loss from his book’s sale—at P250 or just under US$5 each from publisher and nonprofit group Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)-Philippines; Rojas is afraid overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may again miss out on the deal.

If charter change pushes through, the right to vote of overseas Filipinos might be taken away again,” Rojas told the OFW Journalism Consortium. He said opposing moves to change the 10-year-old Philippine Constitution is a “logical option.”

The book offers keen insight on an instrument of suffrage that dates back to a hundred years when Australians first enacted overseas voting under its Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1902.

The 225-page “blue book,” printed with money from the OFW Journalism Consortium’s partner Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, shows the nuts and bolts of Republic Act 9189, or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003.

While the book is a strain to read, full of legalese speak and lacking literary flair, it provides an astute look on the circuitous law and its application in the 2004 elections.

Rojas offered this reason for getting through the quagmire of legalese: “Active participation in elections is one of the many ways we contribute to nation building. Thus, the right and opportunity to vote as an absentee voter are too important to be treated lightly.”

The books is designed to help overseas Filipinos and NGOs in their advocacy efforts for reforms in the enacted law and in Philippine elections, and to help them grasp the complexity of the country’s immediate electoral history.
Blue clues

THE book offers clues to understanding the immediate future of qualified OFW voters under a new Constitution being pushed by supporters of President Gloria Arroyo, Part I is an abridged version of RA 9189. It gives the context of the overseas absentee voting law and how it works in the Philippines.

This part explains the law and the rules and regulations supporting it. It identifies who may vote and can be voted into a particular public office as well as which public official under the Commission on Elections is responsible for which particular rule.

Nearing the deadline of registration for voters in August this year, it informs OFWs among readers of the processes and requirements for registering.In an interview months after the book was launched in a coffee shop ostensibly called “Conspiracy Café,” Rojas said proposed revisions to the Constitution “have basically retained the constitutional right of qualified overseas Filipino citizens to vote.”

“However, assuming that charter change does happen, overseas Filipinos will return to square one because a new absentee voting law has to be passed before [they] can vote again,” he said.Rojas explained that the current OAV law limits overseas Filipinos to vote only for president, vice president, senators, and party list representatives. It also restrains OFWs from voting in a referendum or plebiscite.Assuming that charter change happens, overseas Filipinos cannot vote anymore without a new enabling law under the proposed parliamentary form of government.

Similar to the run before the 2002 elections, there is no specific reference to representation of overseas Filipinos in this form of rule, according to Rojas.

Currently, OFs are represented in the Lower House of Congress via the party-list system introduced in the elections that brought movie actor Joseph Estrada into the presidency.

“It would appear that representation of overseas Filipinos in parliament would [depend] on the discretion of the winning political parties,” Rojas said.
Rosy past

OFWs attuned to the workings of the absentee voting law may skip to the second part should they want to know how the law fared in real-time, especially the first time it was applied in 2004.

Part II bares the actors and players in the run up to the elections that led Arroyo to power, some say through “extra-legal” help from Comelec official Virgilio Garcillano.

Before that scandal brought questions unto the legitimacy of Arroyo’s ascent into the presidency, “OAV: Philippine Experience” showed how OFWs struggled on their newfound right to influence the country’s socio-political and economic conditions.

Struggled, indeed, as Rojas cited the problems that hounded the first application of the OAV law: low registration turnout, undocumented workers’ fear of exposure, and host country restrictions. He also documented the usual problems in the counting of votes and canvassing of returns.

But here is where Rojas may have failed to meet readers’ expectations; he immediately gave recommendations in Part III rather than continuing with the review of the law’s rosy past.

The train of thought that could have gripped readers in Parts I and II were derailed as it is in Part IV that zoomed to other countries’ application of absentee voting.

In this section, Rojas talked about the Australian and United States experiences and explained various methods of overseas voting as practiced in other countries.

Rojas described how Australians and Americans could either vote in person, or by mail, facsimile transmission, proxy voting, or via the Internet (allowed in Missouri and Dakota). Some European countries meanwhile, also allow proxy voting and voting via the Internet (the Netherlands).

In Part III, Rojas could have shown the rash actions surrounding the decisions by government officials to approve on the twelfth hour the OAV. The book failed to explain why its authors didn’t think there were questions on the slow boat the OAV law took prior to the 2002 and 2004 elections.

Were those seeking public office blinded by how remittances have helped stabilize the economy? Were debates begun by OFs in Europe not sufficient enough? Were decisions to apply the OAV tied with the Photokina polling equipment sale to government?

Responding to these questions could have explained why it took more than three decades of money flowing in the country and millions of Filipinos out of the Philippines for suffrage rights to be given attention.Strong republic

ROJAS is more an advocate and lawyer than a writer, highly concerned that in the run up to the 2010 elections, the problems that gripped voting OFWs would be repeated.

Hence, he has pressed in Part III of “OAV: Philippine Experience” several recommendations on what he cited as “outstanding issues and concerns on the law.”

These concerns include “some restrictive provisions of the law on voter qualifications and limitations in the electoral mechanisms that deter broader voter participation and maintenance of the integrity of the ballots and other orderly electoral administration.”

These, according to him, must be addressed by legislators, the Comelec, and the overseas Filipino communities.

It is here where the author liberally discussed what he deemed as “a need to democratize overseas absentee voting to ensure a broader participation of qualified Filipinos abroad.”

But the recent imposition of a state of emergency after the buzz on Charter change may have pulled the rug off the feet of Rojas and others like him betting on the rights to suffrage of some five million Filipinos temporarily working in 190 countries.

“Before the ‘Hello Garci’ scandal, charter change was not an issue,” Rojas told the OFW Journalism Consortium, adding: “There was no gridlock in the legislative branch of government.”

He believed that it shouldn’t be the OAV law that should be changed but “those in power.”

Still, Rojas is caught between the Scylla and Charybdis: tentacles of issues and concerns on the OAV remain unresolved while putting people into power in the Philippines is being altered.

Something Rojas admits: “For many in the Philippines, it will be a dilemma since they are involved in an ongoing political struggle.”Since the Philippine situation is more fluid than Rojas’s pen, the book “OAV: Philippine Experience” should still be read to give a backdrop of what could occur in the next few weeks and to give a bird’s eye view on what was once a flicker of hope for millions of powerless Filipinos overseas.

**Request for posting granted by OFW Journalism Consortium**

Special Envoy to Middle East
Ambassador Roy Cimatu

Former General Roy Cimatu graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1970s and spent the early part of his career in combat in rebellion-wracked Mindanao, where he rose from army platoon leader to a brigade commander. Cimatu, is also a pilot, trained in the US Army Command and Staff College at Forth Leavenworth, Kansas.

A native of Bangui, Ilocos Norte and once chief of the Armed Forces Southern Command and commands 40 percent of the country’s 130,000-strong military. During the all-out war waged by deposed President Joseph Estrada in 2000, Cimatu was chief of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro. Then Commander of the Southcom Infantry Division, General Roy Cimatu took the helm of the Southcom and was the 29th AFP Chief of Staff of the Arroyo Administration.

As SouthCom chief, Cimatu was the pointman in the Philippine government’s operations to crush the Abu Sayyaf and rescue the remaining hostages, Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipina nurse, Ediborah Yap.

During the time when he was appointed as AFP Chief of Staff, Cimatu still in the jungle base of the Army Scout Rangers in Cabunbata, Basilan crushing Abu Sayyaf, the last mission he had in the field of his military career.

Throughout his stint as Southern Command Commander, Cimatu impressed both Philippine foot soldiers and American top brass with his excellent and aggressive campaign plans against Abu Sayyaf. He was then called “Pacman” by many and dubbed as a “Thinking General” and a “Smiling General”.

His boldness in the application of science and innovative application of conventional warfare that he had made fashionable during his war records, all of these today become part of the doctrine of Philippine Military warfare.

However, for 4 months in office as AFP Chief of Staff, no available record he had accomplished maybe because of the short period of his reign.

After he retired from service, the Arroyo administration appointed him as the Special Envoy to the Middle East with a title “Ambassador”. He was the chief negotiator for the released of the OFW kidnap victims in Iraq years ago. Also the head of the panel that oversees contingency measures for the welfare of OFW’s in the Middle East in times of troubles.

Now, he is one of the visiting Government officials currently in Saudi Arabia in an official visit. He will be leaving for Jordan today (April 1, 2006) as part of his Middle East itineraries.

His name is one in the lists of appointees submitted to Malacanang as the next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Whatever decision he is going to make, to accept the appointment or not, it is his prerogative. If ever ---- WELCOME SIR! - MAA

The Unannounced Visit

It has been observed that for the past few days Government Officials that oversees OFW concerns made an unannounced visit to the Kingdom. A week ago DOLE Secretary Pat Sto. Tomas paid a short visit to the Kingdom via Geneva and OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque was also here at that time of her visit and came back a few days ago and presently still in the Kingdom.

This week I came to know that our beloved DFA Undersecretary on Special Concerns Rafael Seguis is here in the Kingdom unannounced too. Whatever their visit is all about, am sure it is an official and relevant to the issues and concerns for the welfare of our fellow Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia.

Usec Rafael Seguis is not new to us, he was once a former Ambassador to the Kingdom and one of the prominent and outstanding negotiator for the released of our fellow kidnapped OFW victims in Iraq a year ago. As a former father of the OFW’s in the Kingdom, he knows exactly what he is doing, and I’m hoping whatever official visit he is into today; it would be a success.

Amidst political crisis in our country, we are thankful enough that our current government officials are here doing their job as what they are paid for. This is what we need from them. The Filipino community in the Kingdom needs special care, especially to those fellow OFW’s in distress, at least an assurance that there is hope and perhaps light at the end of the tunnel. I am referring to those comrades languishing in jails and to those facing death penalty.

As we all knew that we need to strengthen our foreign relations initiatives to the government of Saudi Arabia, in order for us to intensify access of protection for the rights of our fellow OFW’s in jail and those facing the death penalty; and likewise enhance the role of our Foreign Affairs Department.

Last February 25, 2006, our group (Kalipunang Kaakabay ng Mangagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia) submitted a position paper to the Honorable Members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs through the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) with the following recommendations:

· Provide details of the legal proceedings to all pending cases especially to those with death penalties.

· Ensure that Filipino Expatriate Workers in the Kingdom are guaranteed legal counsel and an interpreter immediately after arrest and in court.

· Ensure that families of those arrested are immediately informed of the arrest of their relatives.

· Guarantee that consulate or embassy staff are informed of any detention and allowed communication with them.

. Relatives of OFW’s who have been executed are allowed to request repatriation of the human remains of their love ones to perform burial rituals in accordance with their religious or cultural traditions.

We continue to hope and pray that this recommendation must be given top most attention from our visiting Philippine government officials in the Kingdom. -MAA

All About Party List Representation
The Philippine Scenario

I:
The Party List System in the Philippines constitutes one of the major political innovations that were introduced by social and political reformers after the 1986 EDSA Revolution. During the framing of the 1987 Constitution, civil society organizations intensely campaigned for the inclusion of the party list system that would give chances to "marginalized" sectors to participate in the country’s political processes. The untiring efforts by civil society groups paid off with the inclusion of Section 5 Article VI of the 1987 Constitution providing that:

(1) "The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from the legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.

(2) "Party list representatives shall constitute twenty percentum of the total number of representatives including those under the party list. For three consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector."

Civil society groups lobbied hard for the inclusion of this provision because they believed that such a system would encourage the type of politics that are anchored on principles or programs. It was also thought that this would result in a healthy multi-party system and open the electoral window to small sectoral parties.

Eight years after, Congress enacted Republic Act 7941 on February 28, 1995 as the enabling law of the party list system. Section 3 of the said law defines party list system as a "mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from the national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The first election under the system was in May 1998 wherein 13 party list groups were able to land 14 seats in the House of Representatives. In the said election, major political parties were initially banned from participating, thus paving the way for small parties and groups to have representation in the House of Representatives. (Prior to 1998, half the seats allocated for party-lists were filled up by the President of the Philippines through appointment.

Features of the Party List System in the Philippines

Based on RA 7941 and the 1987 Constitution, the party list system in the Philippines has the following basic features:

1) Twenty percent allocation. The party list representatives shall constitute 20% of the total number of representatives including those under the party list.

2) Two percent threshold. For a party or organization to be entitled to one seat, it must obtain at least 2% of the total votes for the party list system.

3) Three-seat limit. Section 11 of RA 7941 specifies that a qualified party would be entitled to a maximum of three seats.

4) Proportional representation. The additional seats that the party are entitled to is computed in proportion to its total number of votes.
Under the party list system, voters cast their votes for parties or organizations as candidates, each of these groups having an official list of members of nominees or representatives. Party list representatives are entitled to the same rights, privileges, salaries and emoluments as the regular members of the House of Representatives. The only difference is that they are not allowed to have pork barrel or Countrywide Development Fund (CDF). The allocation formula that has been adopted by the Philippines is known as the "List PR-Neimeyer formula" named after Professor Neimeyer of Germany. Accordingly, the number ofseats a party or organization is entitled to is calculated on the basis of the proportion accordingly by dividing the votes obtained by a party or organization over the total number of all votes cast for all qualified parties and organizations.

Prospects for the Party List System in the Philippines

One of the important principles of the Party List system is the need to give representation to the "marginalized" sectors of the Philippine society. This is the essence of Article VI of the Constitution, stating that "labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth and such other sectors as may be provided by law except the religious sector" must be represented in Congress. When Congress drafted the enabling law (RA 7941), it listed 12 sectors including labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals as the sectors that are allowed to participate.

II:
F. A. Q. About Party List Representation

·What is the party-list system of election?

It is a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from marginalized or underrepresented national, regional and sectoral parties, or organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

It is part of the electoral process that enables small political parties and marginalized and underrepresented sectors to obtain possible representation in the House of Representatives, which traditionally is dominated by parties with big political machinery.

· What are the legal bases for the party-list system of election?

(a) The Constitution in its article on the Legislative Department provides:

"[1]x x x The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila Area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations;

"[2] The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total number of representatives including those under the party-list. For three consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector;

"[3]Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact and adjacent territory. Each city with a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand, or each province, shall have at least one representative; and

"[4]Within three years following the return of every census, the Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts based on the standards provided in this section x x x." (Sec. 5, Article VI, Constitution of the Philippines)

[b]Republic Act No. 7941 dated March 3, 1995, "An Act Providing for the Election of Party-List Representatives Through the Party-List System, Appropriating Funds Therefor";

[c] Resolution No. 2847 dated June 25, 1996 entitled, "Rules and Regulations Governing the Election of the Party-List Representatives through the Party-List System"; and

[d]Resolution No. 3307-A dated November 9, 2000 entitled, "Rules and Regulations Governing the Filing of Petition for Registration, Manifestation to Participate, and Submission of Names of Nominees Under the Party-List System of Representatio.

Who may participate?

Instead of individual candidates, only registered organized groups may participate and these are:

Sectoral Party – an organized group of citizens whose principal advocacy pertains to the special interests and concerns of the following sectors:

1)Labor
2)Fisherfolk
3)Peasant
4)Urban Poor
5)Youth
6)Indigenous cultural Communities
7)Overseas Workers
8)Veterans
9)Professionals
10)Handicapped
11)Elderly

·What is the basic requirement for party-list participation?

Only organized groups duly registered with the Commission on Elections, and which have manifested their desire to participate in the party-list elections, may participate.

·How may a party, organization or coalition [herein-after referred to as party] participate in the party-list election?

[a]Organized groups not yet registered with the Commission on Elections can participate by filing a petition for registration under oath.

[b] An organized group already registered need not register anew but shall file with the Commission a manifestation to participate in the party-list election.

· What are the documents needed to support the petition for registration?

[a] Constitution and by-laws;
[b] Platform or program of government;
[c] Lists of officers and members;
[d] Coalition agreement, if any; and
[e] Other information required by the Commission.

The petition for registration and manifestation to participate shall be filed with the Clerk of the Commission, Commission on Elections, Intramuros, Manila, as follows:

[a]For petitions involving a party with a national constituency, file in twenty-three (23) copies;

[b]For petitions involving a party with a regional constituency, file in ten (10) copies; and

[c] For manifestations, file in twelve (12) copies.

·Who shall file applications for registration or manifestations to participate?

Any authorized representative of the political or sectoral party with the Clerk of the Commission, Commission on Elections, Intramuros, Manila.

· May an organization which is not listed among the sectors eligible to participate as a sectoral party still participate in the party-list system?

Yes, as a sectoral organization.

· How will the voters know which entities are participating?

Comelec shall prepare and publish a certified list of entities qualified to participate which shall be posted in all voting booths on election day.

· What are the qualifications of a party-list nominee?

[a]A natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

[b]A registered voter;

[c]A resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the election day;

[d]Able to read and write;

[e]A bona fide member of the party he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding election day; and

[f]At least twenty-five (25) years of age on election day.

In case of the youth sector, he must be at least twenty-five (25) but not more than thirty (30) years of age on the day of the election. Any youth sectoral representative who reaches the age of thirty (30) during his term shall be allowed to continue in office until the expiration of his term.

· How many seats are available under the party-list system?

Twenty percent (20%) of the total membership in the House of Representatives is reserved for party-list representatives, or a ratio of one (1) party list representative for every four (4) legislative district representatives.

·In voting for representatives, how will a voter cast his vote?

Every voter shall be entitled to two (2) votes for the House of Representatives, as follows:

[a]First, a vote for a district representative; and

[b]Second, a vote for the party he wants represented in the House of Representatives.

· How shall the votes cast for the party-list be counted?

Because the voting will be at large, and not by sector, all votes obtained by a party regardless of constituency will be tallied on a nationwide basis.
The percentage of votes garnered by a party shall be computed in relation to the total votes cast for the party-list nationwide.

· How shall party-list seats be allocated?

Party-list seats shall be allocated as follows:

[1]The parties shall be ranked from highest to lowest based on the number and percentage of votes garnered during the elections;

[2]Only a maximum of three seats may be allowed per party. Seats are allocated at the rate of one seat per 2% of votes obtained; and

[3]Unallocated seats shall be distributed among the parties which have not yet obtained the maximum 3 seats, provided they have mustered at least 2% of votes.

The variance of percentage in excess of 2% or 4% (equivalent to 1 or 2 seats that have already been obtained, respectively) shall be ranked and be the basis for allocating the remaining seats.

·Will the names of nominees be included in the certified list of registered parties?

No. The names of the party-list nominees shall not be shown on the certified list of participating parties.

·What is the importance of the list of nominees and of their ranking therein?

In case the party obtains the required number of votes, the nominees listed shall be proclaimed by Comelec according of their ranking in said list.

· What are the limitations on party-list nominations?

[1] A person may be nominated by one party in one (1) list only;

[2] Only persons who have given their consent in writing and under oath may be named in the list;

[3] The list shall not include any candidate for any elective office in the same election or has lost his bid for an elective office in the immediately preceding election; and

[4] No change of name or alteration of the order of nominees shall be allowed after the list has been submitted to the Comelec except in valid cases of substitution.

·Is it necessary for a nominee to be a member of the party nominating him?

Yes. A nominee should be a bona fide member of the party or organization he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding the day of the election.

· What are the effects of accepting a nomination?

[a] Any person holding a public appointive office including active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other officers and employees in government-owned or controlled corporations shall be considered ipso facto resigned from his office upon acceptance of a nomination.

[b]Any elective official, except incumbent party-list representatives, who has given his consent to a nomination shall be deemed resigned only upon the start of the campaign period.

· When can a party-list nominee be substituted?

A party-list nominee may be substituted only when he dies, or his nomination is withdrawn by the party, or he becomes incapacitated to continue as such, the name of the substitute nominee be placed last in the list of nominees. No substitution shall be allowed by reason of withdrawal after the close of polls.

· Are registered political and sectoral parties and organizations prohibited from revealing during their campaign the identities of those they included in the list of nominees submitted to the Comelec?

The law is silent as to the revelation of the names of nominees of the registered political or sectoral parties, except that in the last paragraph of Sec. 7 of the party-list law, it states that "the names of the party-list nominees shall not be shown on the certified list."

· What is the status of the party-list representatives vis-à-vis representatives of legislative districts in the House of Representatives?

Party-list representatives are considered elected Members of the House and as such, entitled to the same deliberative rights, salaries, and emoluments as the regular Members of the House of representatives. They shall serve for a term of three (3) years with a maximum of three (3) consecutive terms.

Source:
Prospects and Scenarios for the Party List System in the Philippines
By Adriano Fermin, Published by Ateneo School of Government

PRIMER ON THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
[As mandated by Republic Act No. 7941] by The Commission on Elections

Migration and Development of Local Economies
By: I. F. Bagasao
An excerpt taken from Economic Resource Center for Overseas Filipinos
See www.ercof.org in my link and click “Papers”

Local Government Initiatives.
Promotion of Trade and Investments at the LGU level.

Certain local government units (lgus) on their own, are initiating programs to lure their natives overseas to visit and explore trade and investment possibilities within their territory. With the help of international institutions and civil society organizations, they are promoting trade, investments and tourism to outside visitors, through the organization of trade and tourist promotions overseas, and have legislated a local investments and incentives code that is being implemented by an investments office. For instance, this year, the province of Bohol held a trade and investments fair attended by hundreds of their overseas natives from North America who came to visit their hometowns and participate in an investment matching forum.

Raising Revenues for Rural Infrastructure.

LGUs are improving their skills on local governance and are beginning to learn how to raise revenues independent of the national government, a power granted to them by a 10 year old decentralization law. Today, about 10 LGUs have raised funds through bond issues at the local level in order to build public markets, cold storage and post harvest facilities, wharves, tourist facilities and convention centers and other rural infrastructure, and there are 40 more lgu projects in the pipeline. This was done with the help of a financial management firm that has pioneered in the use of bonds for local development. While these bond issues were normally underwritten by commercial banks, a special bond issue is being designed with overseas Filipino workers as potential investors of bonds issued by their own hometowns, whose needs they could readily identify with.

The pessimism of spectators
Inquirer, Public Lives : Mar 05, 2006
By Randy David

This article (below) by Randy David might give answers to the unanswered questions from the minds of the silent majority whom I also call, the Middle Class. - MAA

S.C. “Bong” Austero wrote:
But the simple truth that you try to obfuscate is this: you have not been able to offer me any viable alternative!

Randy David says:
But I do not understand why we think alternative leaders must automatically be recruited from their ranks. Certainly, if we fail to nurture and offer new leaders, the familiar and the shameless will always be the first to step up to the plate.
==================

THE more we regard events as having a life of their own, rather than as things we can shape, the more paralyzed we feel. The less we act, the more our society appears distant from us. The more we demand guarantees before we can act or believe, the more we feel like outsiders to our own society.

All over the country, in various forums, middle class people are asking the same questions. Who will replace Gloria? What assurance do we have that a new set of leaders will be different from the rotten ones we have had in the past? By resorting to people power all the time, are we not further destroying the very institutions we seek to rebuild?

Sometimes these questions are asked in all sincerity. At other times, they are asked only as a cover for a deeply-rooted apathy. I want to offer some answers here in the hope of provoking discussion.

Who will replace Gloria? I am amazed that this question is being asked at all at this time when we are not even facing an election. On its face, it seems so unnecessary. The more we ask it, the more we encourage Gloria's narcissistic boast that she is the "best" person to lead this country. A gifted people like us should be able to easily produce at least a million individuals far superior to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in brains, love of country, experience, and integrity.

But, perhaps, the question is really being asked to call attention to the quality of politicians who seem to be already preparing to assume the presidency as soon as Gloria is ousted. I do understand the alarm that the presence of some familiar faces in today's protest marches tends to trigger. But I do not understand why we think alternative leaders must automatically be recruited from their ranks. Certainly, if we fail to nurture and offer new leaders, the familiar and the shameless will always be the first to step up to the plate.

Leaders emerge when they are able to express, by their words and by their actions, the collective yearnings of a whole community. They often capture the imagination of a whole generation. That was how Ramon Magsaysay in the 1950s became a leader. That was how the young Ferdinand Marcos emerged as standard bearer of the Nacionalistas in the 1960s. That was how Ninoy Aquino and Pepe Diokno in the 1970s became the icons of the generation that fought martial law. And that was how Ninoy's widow, Cory Aquino, came to the presidency in the 1980s, and Joseph Estrada in the 1990s. The moment the message became clear and was accepted by the people, the new leader emerged.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did not come to the presidency by this route. The presidency fell on her lap like an unripe fruit-even as people power was just beginning to shake the system-by virtue of the abrupt withdrawal of allegiance made by the commanders of the Armed Forces in January 2001. She was by no means the leader or the face of Edsa II. Unable to secure popular support for the mandate she claimed, she has since exploited the weaknesses of our political and legal system to keep her grip on power. As we now have seen, we are paying dearly for the excesses of this failed presidency.

What guarantee do we have that the leader who replaces her will be better? There is no guarantee. The best way we, as citizens, can keep our leaders from being corrupt and abusive is by watching them, by demanding answers to our questions, by telling them what's wrong when they seem to fall out of line, and by applauding and affirming our trust in them when they govern well. That's how democracy works.

Are we not weakening our institutions when we speak up, march and protest on issues that have already been referred for resolution to political and judicial bodies? No. These are rights enshrined in our Constitution. Their exercise constitutes the kind of vigilance that makes democracy stable and strong. When institutional processes-like elections and impeachment proceedings-are not conducted fairly and with full transparency, we owe it to our country and to the values we hold to raise our voices in protest.

But is people power the right way to change governments? Definitely not. Democratic elections have always been our preferred mode. People power in our country did not explicitly happen as a means for changing governments. It arose mainly as a tool of non-violent protest. It acquired the reputation that it can topple governments as a result of the military defections it has been known to trigger.

Soldiers are also citizens. When they feel they are being asked to execute illegal and anti-people orders, or when they feel that their own professional organization is being manipulated by politicians, they will find a way of manifesting their own grievances. And this, as we saw in 1986 and 2001, may include withdrawal of allegiance from the existing government.

In some societies, the military may come to a point where it begins to think that the people, unable to trust their political leaders, demand that the soldiers themselves take over government. This has happened many times and is still happening in many parts of Latin America. I am very wary of the prospect of something like this happening in our country. I do not believe in governments run by soldiers.

But the best way to prevent this is precisely by exercising our rights to defend our institutions, by pressuring them to work as they should, and by demonstrating the viability of civilian leadership at all times. If the question of legitimacy persistently hounds a government, the only recourse for a democracy is to quickly resolve the matter through elections. Failing that, we open ourselves to all kinds of risks.

Open Letter to Our Leaders: Why We Are Not Out In The Streets
By: S. C. “Bong” Austero

The recent political dilemma in our country undeniably divides our nation. Allow me to share with you a letter that I considered written from one who belong to the silent majority. MAA
=================================

Dear Tita Cory, Senators, Congressmen, Businessmen, Media people, Leftists, and all Bleeding Hearts Out There:

I am angry. And I know that there are many out there who are angrier than I am for the same reason. And that reason is simple. I am sick and tired of all you guys claiming to speak for me and many Filipinos. I feel like screaming every time you mouth words about fighting for my freedom and my rights, when you obviously are just thinking about yours. You tell me that the essence of democracy is providing every citizen the right to speak his or her mind and make his or her own informed judgments, but you yourselves do not respect my silence and the choices I and many others have made.

In other words, your concept of democracy is limited to having your rights and your freedoms respected, at the expense of ours. I am utterly flabbergasted that you still do not get it: we already responded to your calls, and our response has been very clear - we chose not to heed your calls to go to EDSA or to Fort Bonifacio not because we do not love our country or our freedoms or our rights, but precisely because we love our country even more. Because quite frankly, we are prepared to lose our freedoms and our rights just to move this country forward. You may counter with your ideological propaganda and give me all the dire warnings about the evils of Martial Law, authoritarian rule, suppression of freedom, etc., but quite frankly all we see is your pathetic efforts to defend your right to continue fulminating, filibustering, and sabotaging this country until you wrestle power for yourselves. You tell me that you are simply protecting my freedoms and my rights, but who told you to do that? I assure you that when I feel that my rights and my freedoms are at a peril, I will stand up and fight for them myself. I have done that in the past, and I will do it again when I SEE THE NEED FOR IT, not when you tell me to do it.

You tell us that xxxx is not the right person to lead this country because xxx has done immoral acts. As someone who sees immorality being committed wantonly in many ways every day and by everyone (yes, including the ones you do), I may have become jaded. I may have lowered my standards about what a leader should be. Guess what, Tita Cory, you lowered it yourself. When I accepted your incompetence and fought for you during the many attempts against your government, I already lowered the standards to ridiculous levels. Guess what, Senators and Congressmen, you lowered it yourselves when you ran for office and won and now make fools of yourselves in the august halls of congress.

But the simple truth that you try to obfuscate is this: you have not been able to offer me any viable alternative!

xxx
I say, we are-all of us is the problem; more to the point, I think you are a bigger problem than GMA is. Taking her out may solve part of the problem, but that leaves us with a bigger problem:you. That is right, YOU!

I know you do not think that GMA's apology was not enough, or that she was insincere,or that that apology should not be the end of it, but please spare me the hypocrisy of telling me that you do so for the sake of protecting the moral fibre of society. The real reason is because you smell blood and wants to go for the kill.

Well, I have news for you. I do not like her too. I did not even vote for her. I voted for Raul Roco. But as much as I do not like her, I do not like you even more. I may not trust her, but you know what, I do not trust you even more.

You know why I do not trust you? Because all you do is whine and sabotage this country. You belittle every little progress we make, xxx. Every single day, we keep the faith burning in our hearts that this country will finally pull itself out of the mess and we work so hard to do that. Every little progress is the result of our collective effort, we who toil hard everyday in our jobs. xxx. In the process, you continue to destroy what we painstakinly try to build. So please do not be surprised that I do not share your cause. Do not be surprised that we have become contemptuous of your antics. xxx you have convened all kinds of fora and hearings and all you have done is test our patience to the core. For all your efforts, you have only succeeded in dragging us further down. I say enough.

xxx So please wake up and take a reality check. In the absence of true and genuine moral leadership, many of us have decided to cast our lot with the President, even if we do not like her. A flawed leader is better than scheming power hungry fools who can not even stand up for their convictions in the face of an impending arrest.

Your coup attempts and the denials that you have consequently made only underscore what we think is true: you are spineless and unreliable people who only want power but not the consequences and the sacrifices that go with the quest. Your one and only defense is to cry suppression when your ruse does not work. You are nothing but BULLIES who taunt and provoke, but cry oppression when taken to task for your cruelty. You call for the rule of law and respect for authority, but so brazenly display your defiance and disrespect for the same things you claim to be fighting for.

I would have respected you if you took the consequences of your actions like real heroes: calmly and responsibly instead of kicking and screaming and making all kinds of lame excuses. You say you are willing to die for us, that you do all these things for the country and the Filipino, but you are not even willing to go to jail for us.

Come on, you really think we believe that you did not want to bring down the government when THAT IS THE ONE AND ONLY ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DESPERATELY TRYING TO DO in the last many months?.

We love this country and we want peace and progress. Many among us do not give a xxxx who sits at Malacanang because we will work hard and do our share to make things work. We the people will and can make it work, if only you get out of the way and let us do it. If you only do your jobs, the ones you are supposed to be doing, things would be a lot simpler and easier for all of us.

The events during the weekend only proved one thing. You are more dangerous and a serious threat to this country than GMA is. We have seen what you are capable of doing - you are ready to burn this country and reduce everything to ashes just to prove your point. If there is something that we need protection from, IT IS PROTECTION FROM YOU.

Harnessing the OFW power
BIZLINKS By Rey Gamboa
The Philippine Star 01/30/2006

The economic power of our overseas Filipino workers should not just be confined to remittances. One of this column’s readers, Mike Bolos, shares why.

"I read with interest your column (When will the bleeding stop, 13 January 2006) and couldn’t help thinking that if only the government has used such subsidies more effectively, then our country and economy would have been a lot better of.

"As it is, only a few rich gets richer and the foreign companies owning the businesses mentioned are repatriating their profits, taking them out of circulation from the local economy. What I am driving at is that the benefit is not trickling down to many local beneficiaries instead when it could easily be done by making the dollar-awash overseas Filipinos the investors.

"Please consider the following for a more detailed idea on this matter: Economies of scale.

"There are now about eight million Filipinos overseas. About three million are located in the Western world either as immigrants or contract workers while the rest are all over with a big number located in the Middle East. From the total population, it could perhaps safely be assumed for the sake of argument that four million are financially better off than the other four million. A $1,000 each in savings that the four million can deploy for investment would amount to a total potential capital of $4 billion or P200 billion.

"It has now been over 30 years since the start of the Filipino Diaspora and the term overseas contract worker (OCW) has long since given way to overseas Filipino worker (OFW). The perception however, that the term OCW impressed in the mind of most people charged with the welfare and affair of the overseas Filipinos has largely remains the same, that, of the helpless construction workers, domestic helpers and such like.

"It has been made more evident by the fact that there has been no consideration at all for the overseas Filipinos at the macro economic level of the government’s economic programs so far. It has escaped the notice of the government that the total make-up of the overseas Filipinos has significantly changed during the course of time.

"To date, the government’s view as far as the overseas Filipinos are concerned has been confined within a box.

"Dependence to and assistance from the government by returning overseas Filipinos have become the centerpiece of the various reintegration programs at the micro-economic level. However, there have been far more failures than successes because not all mortals were meant to become successful businessmen or businesswomen. This situation to a large extent will sadly remain the same in the years to come if the government keeps looking just inside the box. Outside the box
"The government should perhaps look outside the box for answers.

"Earlier it was proposed that the PIATCO-owned NAIA terminal 3 be sold to the overseas Filipinos once all the issues surrounding it have been resolved and is ready for operation.

"The cost of $600 million that has so far been mentioned as the cost of the Terminal is definitely well within the $4 billion dollar potential capital that can be raised from the overseas Filipinos, and with a lot of change to spare.

"Just recently, the ownership resolution of the United Coconut Planters Bank in favor of the government presented an opportunity for the realization of the overseas Filipinos‚ long awaited desire of owning a bank.

"The NAIA Terminal 3 and the UCPB are just two in an endless list of possibilities where the enormous potential of overseas Filipinos‚ capital can be deployed to generate economic activities that will lead to other economic activities, the benefits of which will trickle down to a greater number of beneficiaries who will keep it in the country rather than (allowing it to) be repatriated abroad. Global bond.

"What are the mechanics?

"The government needs to acquire ownership of the NAIA Terminal 3 first. To do so, it could raise say $500 million from a global bond offer as it did when it raised $750 million in order to generate enough funds to bankroll the funding requirements of the state-run National Power Corp.

"Once ownership of the project has been established and a corporate entity is set up, the government can start selling shares to the overseas Filipinos. Those who are interested to buy will be asked to deposit their payments for the corresponding number of shares subscribed to up to a certain maximum to a given bank account. After which the share certificates will be issued accordingly.

"While the tasks may seem daunting at first glance, this is not impossible and all that is needed is to get started and to find the right and credible person to lead the endeavor.

"Regardless of the difficulties, it is an endeavor that is well worth undertaking because the ramifications of doing it well are enormous. It could well be the beginning of the overseas Filipinos getting heavily invested in the Philippines.

"NAIA Terminal 3 and UCPB today, perhaps the North and South Luzon Expressways tomorrow, and the National Power Corp., Transco, MRT/LRT, South/North Rail, Maynilad, and other utility companies later on until it all leads to the economic empowerment of the Filipinos and economic and political deliverance of the country.

"With economic empowerment comes the bonus of political and social consciousness that will lead to a better political and peace and order situation, resulting in a better quality of life.

"For all we know, the overseas Filipinos – being the (country’s) modern day heroes – may come to pass. While they have been the country’s economic saviors, they may just become the saviors of themselves as well.

"Let us therefore give the overseas Filipinos a chance by integrating them in the macro-economic level while they are still abroad and can well afford to invest in the Philippines."

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com or at reygamboa@linkedge.biz. If you wish to view the previous columns, you may visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz

Personal Glimpse
By: Manuel “Bong” Amora (OAV Advocate)

2007 Election

The recent statement issued by the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that the proposed NOEL (No Election) in 2007 should be scrapped and amendments to the Constitution is not the answer to the political uncertainties in our country, is indeed a clear manifestation that the Catholic Church and the Filipino people are not yet ready for a Charter Change. It means that there will be 2007 Election.

However, the controversies of electoral fraud is somewhat discourages us to participate in the forth coming electoral process and to set right this kind of attitude, first and foremost the current electoral system should be transformed into a credible institution that can foster voter participation. Electoral reform should be introduced; cleaning up the mess of those involved in electoral maneuverings or even overhaul the entire Commission on Election and designate new personalities that could probably win back the trust of the Filipino people to our country’s electoral processes. Only then that we could perhaps gain back the momentum of hope in exercising our right of suffrage as the fundamental nature of a truly democratic nation.

OFW Vote

Many friends asked me why I am so involved with the OAV, my answer is very simple, “I want to exercise my basic right as a responsible Filipino by casting my vote”.

Why OFW Vote? Overseas Filipino Workers community will be most likely the best political electorate, we are outside the Philippine soil, no politicians can court us or buy us out, we know in silence what is really happening in our country. We have the money, our remittances can be used as a tool to influence our families and relatives back home in choosing the best public servant that could properly lead our country to progress. Absentee voters can be a political muscle someday that could probably put back the shattered pieces of Philippine politics, “a cleansing vote” shall we say. All of these can only be achieved with our participation. That is why I am an ardent supporter of the OAV and I am urging OFW’s to register and be an absentee voter.

This is a big challenge to all of us, the OAV is already in placed, it only needs our intense participation, and we should show to the world wherever we are that we are Filipinos.

OFW Representation

OFW remittances (Year 2005, USD 10.85 B) helps a lot in rescuing and uplifting economic condition in our country and this contribution could not be discredited vis a vis as to our role in nation building. Migrant Workers is perhaps the biggest sector of Philippine Society and yet we do not have proper representation in government policy-making bodies that oversees OFW issues and concerns, more particularly in the Lower House of Congress.

We know in reality that the issues related to sad stories of our Filipina Domestic Helpers, Contract Substitution, Illegal Recruiters, Proper Legal Assistance and many more were not given proper attention from our government.

In perspective, all of these problems are because the OFW sector is in need of a political mandate and we have to admit that we lack the virtue of patriotism among our ranks. We continue to advocate changes but we ourselves are fragmented on issues and trends that concern OFW’s in general. Following this cynical political judgment, OFW groups are scattered around the globe, how could we ever unite to pursue a common grounds in our fight for OFW recognition and Empowerment even for the fact that there is already a chance for us to put up a national leadership through the existing OAV law?

Do we need physically together to attain this vision? The answer is NO; all we need is attachments even in the absence of physical aspect. We only need to register as an absentee voter and through a unified collective effort we can build the foundation for the creation of an OFW National Leadership. This can only be achieved if others will give way to a so-called unification process. Then all of the above mentioned problems would be addressed accordingly.

OFW Party List

Do we need a solid OFW Party List group to address these problems in a political point of view? In my opinion the answer is Yes! But the problem continues, in the previous elections many OFW groups vying for a seat in Congress, but nobody knows they even exist. First, the lack of awareness campaign of what party list is all about. Second, we don’t know the names of OFW groups wanting to send their members to Congress. That’s the reason most of us usually skip the space in our ballot for the party list representative because we don’t know who they are.

One of the OFW Party List Group that didn’t make it in Congress was GABAY formed in Saudi Arabia. Even the Migrante Sectoral Party whose membership scattered in other countries didn’t make it too. For our reference the following were OFW groups vying for a seat in Congress in the previous election:

1.Ang Lakas ng Overseas Contract Workers (ANG LAKAS OCW)
2.Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW Labor Party (OFW)
3.Pinoy OCWs and Seafarers Solidarity Party (Pinoy Overseas Party-KAIBIGAN-UFS Coalition)
4.Visayan Association of the Philippines (BISA)
5.Bagong Bayani Party
6.Party for Overseas Workers’ Empowerment and Reintegration (POWER)
7.Migrante Sectoral Party
8.Bagong Bayani Organization (Bagong Bayani)
9.Union of the Filipino Overseas Workers (Unifil), Inc. (OCW-UNIFIL)
10. Gabay ng Manggagawang Pilipino Party (Gabay OFW Party)
11. Maritime Party
12. GLobal Filipinos

Correct me if I’m wrong but so far in my knowledge these are the only list of the OFW Groups I’ve known. What more to the ordinary absentee voters who are not concern of what is Party List group is.

As of this writing I’ve heard that new OFW groups is going to emerge in Al Khobar and Riyadh adding more lists to the long rolls of OFW party list seeking political mandate for OFW Sector. This could undeniably polarized one common vote for our sector.

OFW Coalition

There must be a coalition or forged alliance between OFW party list groups/OFW organizations and form at least one solid party to be elected in Congress or else we will faced the same embarrassing result and be constantly unrecognized. One solid vote for one particular party can achieve a needed percentage votes in a seat to Congress that will represent us in crafting laws advancing OFW special interests.

This suggested coalition composed of OFW groups worldwide and local NGO’s or OFW Advocates at home must formed a council within its leadership and create a committees such as: welfare and protection, reintegration, legal assistance and a screening committee that will serve as a panel in the selection of a qualified representative to any governing boards that oversees OFW concerns and among others related to OFW issues.

We should be aware that if we have a seat in Congress, our representative are considered elected Members of the House and as such, entitled to the same deliberative rights, salaries, and emoluments as the regular Members of the House of representatives. They shall serve for a term of three (3) years with a maximum of three (3) consecutive terms. Armed with legislative powers we can acquire funds through legislation that can be used as financial support to our OFW in distress worldwide. We can even have a national headquarters and welfare assistance facilities to our returning OFW in distress.

All of these depend on our OFW leaders to embrace the so-called coalition and set aside personal interest and look deeply for the good and welfare of the OFW Sector.

I still believed the possibility that OFW vote can make a significant difference in the coming election, only if our heart dictates the importance of our consitutional right then we should register and be an Absentee Voter.

Whether we like it or not, WE are part of Philippine Politics.

Just a Personal Glimpse.

AN OFW TALE WORTH RE-TELLING
MANILA, January 10, 2006 (STAR)
THE SOUTHERN BEAT
By Rolly Espina

I found myself bombarded over the weekend with TV broadcasts about job openings for Filipino workers in many small countries abroad. That was enchanting. But later, I found out that the POEA delivered warnings to the public on how to avoid "being victimized" by illegal recruiters.

It’s about time somebody take responsibility for this problem, even if only to warn people of the risks they are taking and possibly to stimulate the POEA to handle the problem of exploited Filipino workers more vigorously than they have been doing so far.

What struck me was that there have been a spate of repatriation of Filipino workers lately. These workers were mostly from overseas prisons or from POEA holding centers abroad. The fee for their airplane flight back home is already expensive, not to mention their upkeep while they are in government holding centers.

Then, I recalled a timely story sent to me by Fr. Sean Coyle, the Columbian missionary priest in charge of Misyon Magazine. It is a tale worth mentioning as it shows how a Filipina beautician found herself paid way below the standard pay scale in Ireland and the ensuing battle waged by an Irish trade union to give her justice.

Fr. Coyle summed it up thus — the bad news is that people exploit their own but others come to their aid.

Actually, it was my son, my Junior, who tipped me off about that scandal in Ireland over the case of Filipina Salvacion Orge. I wrote about it in a local daily, and Coyle, an inveterate Internet surfer immediately noticed it and confirmed the story and provided me the details of her saga. It is a poignant tale of how the Filipina was given "slave wages". Discovered by the trade union Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), a determined effort to seek the right wages for her was waged.

The case was finally solved and she was given her back pay of 26,000 euros (actually 25,000 euros only but her co-workers contributed 1,000 euros more) and she returned home to the Philippines a millionaire.

But there was a caveat. There were fears that Orge would be blacklisted for future employment in Manila and a sum was would be sought for her to set up her own beauty shop in the Philippines.

Slave wages

The story of Orge created a major stir in Ireland but created a black mark for the Philippines.

This started when SIPTU discovered that Orge, a Filipina hairdresser and mother of three children, was employed by an Irish ferry as a hairdresser with wages of only one euro and eight cents per hour. That’s less than the P47.47 exchange rate at the time the story broke out.

The hiring agency was reportedly the C.F. Sharp in Manila.

At that time, the wages she was receiving was less "than half what the international law requires and far less than the minimum legal wage in Ireland for any worker, which is more than seven euros per hour.

When SIPTU intervened on her case, Irish Ferries closed down the service on the ship because of the law on wages. The union, however, insisted that she be paid her just due.

The issue got noticed by the national radio and television service, and the Irish Independent, purportedly Ireland’s largest selling newspaper, according to Fr. Coyle. The Irish Examiner also took it up and exposed the exploitation of Polish workers in Dublin.

On March 24, the SIPTU discussed the Orge case with Irish Ferries. This time, the ferry canceled her contract following queries from RTE News about the wages and working conditions in Irish Ferries.

Barely 24 hours later, RTE News reported that negotiations were ongoing between Orge and the management of Irish Ferries. It also said that the company closed down the service following queries about the wages Orge was receiving.

However, RTE also reported that the management had acknowledged that the arrangements was not good, but that it would honor its obligations to Orge.

It also presented the contract from the recruitment agency that Orge was to be paid a basic pay of just over 354 euro per month with three days’ holiday per month.

SIPTU says this meant she would work 12 hours per shift, seven days a week, or just over one euro an hour with only three days off each month.

An Irish Ferries spokesperson said the firm is encouraging the recruitment agency to resolve the situation and that the firm was going to help as much as it can.

Incidentally, it seems that two other Filipinos were also in the same situation as Orge.

There were others who picked up the story. Colm Fines, SIPTU representative on the ferry, deplores the exploitation of foreign workers. Emma Kelley, education and science correspondent on News At One, reported her interview with the Irish Ferries representative. News at One’s Colma Fahy spoke to Salvacion Orge.

On March 24, SIPTU condemned the treatment of the Filipina worker who is also a member of the Irish Trade Union.

Irish Ferries announced that the woman was hired on a contract drawn by a recruitment agency and, once the matter was brought to the attention of the firm, the service she provided was stopped.

SIPTU’s Paul Smyth considered the response of Irish Ferries a disgrace.
"This poor woman has traveled over 10,000 miles to fulfill a contract. She has done absolutely nothing wrong and is willing to work and provide the service on board...Because the management has been caught, their solution is to cease operating (the service she provides)," Smyth pointed out.

The Irish Independent on March 26, disclosed that Irish Ferries had admitted it was to blame for the situation. It also quoted Alf McGrath, the director of human resources, that they were doing their best to rectify the situation after SIPTU accused Irish Ferries of paying a foreign worker "slave wages".

Talks reportedly ended March 25 without resolution.

But there was a sequel to the story. Irish Ferries admitted that Ms. Orge’s case was not unique. Two other Filipina women had been contracted to provide the same services on another vessel, Normandy, for the same pay and conditions. The two had reportedly been taken off the ship, which sails between Rosslare and Cherbourg.

SIPTU then served notice of prosecuting the case either by way of a series of work stoppages or stoppage of indefinite duration.

On its March 27, the Sunday Independent reported that Orge would remain on board until she received the same working and pay conditions as other staff on the boat.

The paper also reported that she had refused an offer to be repatriated and for the firm to buy out her contract, according to a Siptu spokesperson.

The firm, however, assured that the company was "dreadfully sorry" about the incident and that it should not have happened. He also expressed optimism on the outcome of the talks.

The Irish Independent on March 30 carried the story "Payoff is a happy ending for Filipina fairy tale". The paper also carried a photo of Salvacion.

The story, as reported by Fr. Coyle, said that Salvacion will return to her home country a millionaire. The beautician at the center of the Irish Ferries row "who had been in Ireland for less than a week, will go home to her family 26,000 euros richer."

Orge reportedly received from the Irish Ferries an estimated settlement of 25,000 euros, bolstered by another 1,000 euros contributed by the crew of the boat she was on.

Well, that is one story that ended beautifully. Orge indeed returned home in April with enough to put up her own beauty shop.

But the point is: Where was the POEA during the entire controversy? Was it aware that the recruiting agency was raking a substantial amount from Orge’s contract?
But what is important to remember is that SIPTU, the militant trade union took up the cudgels for Orge and mustered the will to fight for justice for the Filipina.

This story stands out from among the many tragic tales of OFWs. It is time, perhaps, for the POEA to determine exactly what are the legal labor wages of the countries our workers are deployed to. And make sure that contracts signed by recruiters should abide with these.

I remember once editor of a Saudi paper, Ali Modish, telling me straight to my face in Jeddah, "Rolly, your own people were the ones who brought down the pay scale of Filipino workers by going from one prospective employer to another offering lower wages to be recruited."

I had reported that more than 20 years ago. But it seems that the racket is still going on. Recruiters live in mansions and drive expensive limousines, while the OFWs receive a pittance and remit them home.

These are tragic tales that must be exposed and rectified. And the POEA and the labor department must be in charge of cleaning up the mess for our hapless OFWs.

THE FILIPINA DOMESTIC HELPERS
IN THE MIDDLE EAST

By: Bong Amora

Filipina Domestic Helpers (FDH):

These countless sob stories of abused to our Filipino domestic helpers abroad will never end. If the Philippine Government could not come up with concrete measures to protect Filipina household help deployed in the Middle East in particular, then, Total Ban of Deployment of FDH is the exact solution to all this abuse and maltreatment.

It is really sad that our Government could not impose a selective or total ban of deployment to our FDH even for a fact that this problem exist for a very very long time.

A few months ago, I happen to read a news item that our legislators and members of the Congressional Committee on Labor made a moved to investigate host countries where great risk is at stake to our Filipina Domestic Workers.

I even praised them for this laudable moved that could perhaps give way to our group (KAKAMPI-KSA) continuing fight for a total ban of the deployment of our Domestic Helpers particularly in the Middle Eastern countries. However, until now we haven’t received any information about the investigation and concrete measures to protect the vulnerable group in the OFW sector.

I am right therefore that any measure that tends to object the demands and supply of Domestic Helpers would not prosper in any Congressional Forum. It is useless because the Philippine economy is being shaped by global labor market demands rather shall we say that our remittances is maybe more important than the welfare of our less fortunate Filipina housemaids.

Uncertainties Re: Ban or Selective Deployment of DH

Legislators who opposed the moved for a total ban of the deployment of DH in selected countries said that it may give rise to the black market of migration such as: undocumented deployment, illegal human trafficking, illegal recruitment and tourist worker type of visa usually end up to prostitution.

Their Arguments:

Philippines banned the deployment of domestic helpers to Kuwait from 1997 to 1998 because of considerable numbers of complaints against employers, however, Kuwait still the favorite destination of Filipino domestic helpers. In fact even the ban was implemented at that time, with the help of unscrupulous fixers they were able to enter Kuwait using Bahrain, UAE, etc., as jump off ports. Thus-resulting undocumented OFW’s.

With Consent:

Ito’y alam mismo ng ating mga kababayan na sila ay dadaan sa butas ng karayom at risky ang maging kahinatnan ng kanilang employment pagdating sa bansang pupuntahan. Ang lahat ng itoy sa kadahilanang attitude ng pinoy ang “Bahala Na”, dahil Kapit sa Patalim ang buhay sa Pilipinas kaya dapat mag abroad upang makaraos sa kahirapan, which is very wrong. Ang Pilipino ay hindi tamad, kung tayo’y kumilos lang at magtiyaga at maging kontento sa buhay na ipinagkaloob ng nasa Itaas, bakit pa tayo lumayo sa Inang Bayan? Ulit ulitin ko “working overseas may not be the solution to our poverty”, nasa sarili natin ang pagkilos upang mabuhay, makakain tatlong beses isang araw at makamtan ang magandang kinabukasan. “We all knew from the beginning that working abroad is not the answer to poverty, it is only an excuse for survival”.

Bilateral Agreement:

Back to Kuwait, a bilateral agreement convinced the Philippine government to lift the ban. Middle Eastern Countries follows namely: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had engaged in a bilateral arrangement with the Philippines. However, bilateral talks or BLA (Bilateral Labor Agreements) with other countries cannot be achieved in multilateral setting (universal labor principles) because other countries are reluctant to bilateral agreements for fear of being pulled by one country after another into a collective pressure over independent labor policies.

In 1998 Saudi Arabia and Philippines enter into less formal bilateral arrangements focused on household helpers such as: that overseas employers must guarantee the safety of the workers and provide human condition in the workplace, give them one day off a week, pay them overtime for work during Friday’s and grant them a two-week annual leave or 30 days upon completion of 2 years. However, we all knew that these agreements based on the mutually agreed employment contract never materialized when the workers arrived in the Kingdom. The fact that several complaints and many runaways DH are housed in Bahay Kalinga and other welfare centers in the Gulf countries, the so-called arrangements are not efficiently being implemented.

The Unanswered Questions:

How can we prevent abusive conditions, violations of basic human rights to our filipina household helpers for the fact that the so-called agreements never been prospered for a decade now? This question that needs plausible answer from those who are in Government, the Legislators and the agencies that oversees OFW’s.

In reality, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (also known as RA 8042) provides for selective deployment. However, our government admits that it became difficult to implement the policy, especially since the demand was for unskilled workers.

It is the job of our legislators to craft up a more concrete new law or arrange a fully implemented BLA’s to the host countries where there is a great risk or abused and maltreatment to our Filipina DH.

Quote:

“Kailan titigil ang abuso at kailan matatapos ang kalbaryo, ng mga taong hindi masagot ang mga tanong at walang lakas lumaban…. Hanggang Kailan” RB.

Bong Amora

OFW LEONORA SOMERA
Struggle, Sacrifice, Pain
and Shattered Dreams...










Letter to:
USEC RAFAEL SEGUIS
Department of Foreign Affairs-Manila

Thank you Sir, for your prompt reply.We all knew that LEONORA SOMERA’S case is just one of the many cases that needs special attention from our Government. This is not an ordinary sad story, this is a true story of struggle, sacrifice, pain and shattered dreams of an OFW who thought that working abroad is a solution to poverty.

Sir, We respectfully recommend to your honorable office for the review of the bilateral agreements we have with the host countries pertains on household helpers particularly the provision we entered with Saudi Arabia as follows:

“That overseas employers must guarantee the safety of the workers and provide human condition in the workplace, give them one day off a week, pay them overtime for work during Friday’s and grant them a two-week annual leave or 30 days upon completion of 2 years”

We, the OFW’s and our Philippine Government knows that these agreements based on the mutually agreed employment contract never materialized when the household helps arrived in the Kingdom. The fact that several complaints and many runaway DH are housed in Bahay Kalinga and other welfare centers in the Gulf countries, the so-called arrangements are not efficiently being implemented.

How can we prevent abusive conditions, violations of basic human rights to our Filipina household helpers for the fact that the so-called agreements never been prospered for a decade now? This a question that needs plausible answer from those who are in the Government, the Legislators and the agencies that oversees OFW’s dubbed by our Government as the “Unsung Heroes”.

Therefore, We may take this opportunity to request your good office in behalf of the OFW’s in the Kingdom to facilitate the review of this arrangements to avoid more sad stories like OFW LEONORA SOMERA and other great risk or abused and maltreatment to our Filipina Domestic Helpers.

Again, Maraming Maraming Salamat Po! sa inyong agarang pagtugon.

Best Regards and God Bless!

==================================
Date: January 3, 2006

To: DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis
cc.: OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque

Good Day Sir!

Wishing you a Peaceful Soul, a Joyful Spirit, a Healthy Body and Heart Full of Love. All of these are our prayers and wishes for you and your family and to all Filipinos in the Year 2006.

Sir, I pasted below a sad story from an OFW in Saudi Arabia whose only wish then is to give a bright future to her family. For 18 years of nightmare at last she is in the good hands.

Now, the OFW’s in Saudi Arabia is requesting your full power to give the necessary urgent assistance to Mrs. Leonora Somera for her early repatriation so that she can spend the New Year days in our country and be with her loveones.

A month had passed since she is in the care with our Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, however, we all knew that cases like non payment of wages takes a months and even a year due to non-cooperation of the employer.

In view of this, we kindly request your humble authority to intercede personally in the subject case as per mandate of your good office in order to provide full assistance to Mrs. Leonera Somera for the payment of her wages and early repatriation back home.

Umaasa sa inyong agarang pagtugon.

Maraming Maraming Salamat Po!

Rspectfully,

MANUEL “Bong” AMORA
Kalipunang Kaakabay ng Manggagawang Pilipino – KAKAMPI
Member: OFW Congress-Riyadh
Member: ACP Consultative Forum (Advocacy and Reform Group)
=================================
Filipino Rescued after Working Without Pay for 18 Years
Raffy Usumo/ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH, 3 January 2006 — She left her home in the northern Philippines with a dream: To give her 6-year-old daughter Marivic a brighter future. After 18 years, Leonora Somera, now 64, has yet to realize any of that dream, a dream that has turned into her worst nightmare. After working diligently for her employer for two years, he died and his son moved to Al-Baha, about 275 kilometers south of Jeddah. He brought Leonora along and that is where her sufferings began.

“There my work became harder. I washed clothes, ironed them, and then I shepherded a flock of more than 45 sheep and goats. This is on top of taking care of the sick uncle of my employer,” she told Arab News in her native language, Tagalog.

“Every day, I tended the flock, took them to the mountains and herded them. I also fed them with vegetables that I begged from my friends in the market. I didn’t have money to buy food because my employer don’t give me any and neither did he pay me my salary.”

Without money, Leonora had to scavenge for food. She told how she rummaged among the vegetables and fruits and picked those that were still edible.

“I made a makeshift pushcart that I used to bring the vegetables from the market to our house. I would go back and forth at least five times a day. Then I would look for vegetables and fruits that I could eat. Sometimes when I had more than I could eat, I would give them to our neighbors,” Leonora said.

Leonora described how her employer deprived her of money.

“Once I told my employer that I needed money for my daughter’s examinations in school, but he didn’t give me any. I cried and I cried, but he never gave the money that I requested.” Her employer later moved to Makkah, leaving Leonora by herself in a three-story house. She found ways to pass the lonely times.

“I talked to the sheep. I told them; ‘You are better because you eat regularly every day, while I don’t know if my family in the Philippines has food on their tables.’ I talked to the animals and asked them, ‘When will I have money to send to my family?”
Through these years, Leonora could only write to her daughter back home occasionally, telling her she was alive. She said she wanted to write her regularly but she didn’t have money for stamps.

In 1999, Leonora told her employer that she had had enough. She told him that she wanted to go home because she was not being paid her salary regularly. He employer promised to “personally bring her back to the Philippines” but it never happened.
Four years later, she approached her employer again begging that he send her home. This time, Leonora was shocked when her employer told her bluntly, “You can’t go home. Your passport and iqama have been lost.”

Without her iqama, Leonora said the police interrogated her many times. When she explained who her employer was and where she lived, the police let her go.
Of course, she was scared; every time they talked to her, she had to put on a brave face.

Finally, Leonora mustered enough courage to leave Al-Baha. First she contacted a neighbor who worked as a seamstress. She in turn, referred her to another woman, Vilma, who contacted the consulate.

Vilma and Leonora planned her escape. However, Vilma was scheduled to go on vacation and Leonora begged Vilma to help her because her employer was visiting in a few days. So she postponed her trip and helped Leonora.

Labor Attaché Bulyok Nilong, upon learning of Leonora’s plight, sent welfare officer Anwar Ampang to Al-Baha to rescue Leonora. He couldn’t simply go and take Leonora out of her house; she had to get out. Leonora was fortunately able to escape and meet Ampang who helped her get to the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) on Dec. 1.

Representative Pearl Panganiban told Arab News her impression after meeting Leonora for the first time.

“When Leonora came to FWRC on Dec. 1, she was literally skin and bones. She was crying all the time, especially when she recalled what had happened to her. She was also shaking. I conducted a series of crisis interventions, stress debriefing and counseling. We also provided her some basic necessities she needed because she didn’t bring any when she came. We also had her checked at United Doctors Hospital.”
Leonora has recovered somewhat from her ordeal. She was coherent when interviewed by Arab News, but she couldn’t help crying when she recounted her ordeal.

She still has one wish, “I’m asking for help from you so that I can get my wages for the past 18 years from my employer. I am old and can’t work anymore. Hopefully, I can have a little money to start a small business when I go back to the Philippines, and bring something to my daughter and sisters,” she said.

"25 Years is Enough as an OFW"







(in photo)
Bong Amora,
Roland Blanco
& Mike Bolos




"BAY SPA"

A former OFW, An OAV Advocate, A Community Leader.
Now...An Entrepreneur, my friend Mike Bolos.



I invite everyone to visit “BAY SPA” and look for Mike - then mention my name, am sure you can avail a good discount. Try it!
========================================
Each time came to the Philippines for vacation when he was working in Saudi Arabia, he would try out a different spa in Manila.

He imagined he would one day be running his own, but did not imagine the opportunity would come too soon.

Last August, he sunk most of his savings from abroad into Bay Spa, an intimate little place along Diosdado Macapagal Ave. in Pasay City, which offers to "rejuvenate your body and mind" with therapy and massages and pampering at its best.

Bay Spa offers different kinds of therapeutic massage, body care treatments for the face, hair and feet, and even body bleaching services.

There are six private rooms for massage therapy, three for women and three for men. In addition, there are four rooms built for couples with retractable dividers and separate entrances so they could become private rooms.

Privacy is important so there are no common massage areas. The air of relaxation is set the moment one steps into the spa and smells the aromatic candles burning. This is further reinforced with the flavored herbal teas one is plied with before the actual treatment.

In the ante-rooms, before the private rooms, are several divans or lazy-boys where some clients opt to be massaged.

Bolos said there are also private rooms with divans where some of his Korean clients prefer to be massaged while getting a foot bath at the same time.
Bolos, known to his friends simply as Mike, had worked in Riyadh as a financial analyst for the GAMA Services Ltd. (a member of the FAL group of companies) for the past 25 years.

"I don't drink and I don't smoke. I don't even patronize night clubs. This is really my only vice," he said in an interview with Arab News, adding that he would nevertheless pamper himself each time he vacationed in Manila with a visit to different spas.

It was during a vacation last January that he heard that the Bay Spa, which he had been patronizing for the past three years, was being sold.

Having been a regular client, he was interested because its staff was really good.
Unfortunately, the asking price was too steep for him. But when he again asked in June, he found that the selling price had been slashed by 50 percent. He spoke with the owner and came up with the payment posthaste.

So by August 1, Bay Spa was his. He immediately began renovating the place, which he said was already in a rundown stage.

He gave it a new look, purchased new equipment, new linen, among others.

One of the first things Mike did was give the place a new look, since it had been a spa cum cafe. "Who ever heard of a spa with a cafe?" he said.

Then he made sure the male and female sections were laid out in such a way that male and female clients would never interact. From trying out the different spas in the metropolis, he had witnessed females getting spa treatments, a no-no in his modest establishment.

Bay Spa's service fees are considered "reasonable" and within the country's spa industry-wide range of $25, which is lower than the $48 average in Thailand, $51 in Malaysia and $81 in Singapore, as shown by data from the University of Asia and the Pacific.

According to the UA&P, there are 39 spas in the Philippines, as 250 in Thailand, 198 in Malaysia, and 108 in Singapore.

In a briefing last September on health tourism, UA&P's Winston B. Padojinog said the Philippines can compete with these countries with the low cost as well as its skilled labor force.

Bolos does not dispute that. Business is picking up. He spends most days at the spa, which is in a strategic location, being near the Shoemart Group's soon-to-open Mall of Asia.

He is not content to sit on his laurels though. Although already modestly successful, he is looking for ways to improve his little enterprise. And to prove that yes, the OFW can invest in a business and succeed.

Taken from: Former OFW Invests 'Rejuvenating' Business by: Julie Javellana-Santos, Arab News 1 January 2006

REMINISCING: The Town named “ANDA”
My Ancestors Beloved Hometown
(The Gultiano’s and the Amora’s).


ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWN OF ANDA, BOHOL

The Name

The town now called Anda was once known as Quinale. The word Quinale comes from the Bisayan word calt. The dictionary Vocabulario De La Lengua Bisaya has the following entry: "Calt -- Cabor o hazer hoyo, como para arrancar raizes, como de ubes o camotes. (To dig of, make a hole, to pull out roots, yams or sweet potatoes).

The Bisayan spelling of calt is kalt. In the Bisayan spelling, the infix "…in.." is inserted between the letters "K" and "A" and the word becomes kinalt. It means the result of the action of activity of kalt. It refers to the soil taken out when digging a hole. It does not refer to the hole but to the excavated material. The Spanish way of spelling kinalt is quinale.

The place called Quinale is located near the seashore at the eastern part of the island of Bohol. Its beaches have plenty of sand that looks like the kinalt from some excavations. The name Quinale is therefore a cachetonym or a name taken from a prominent feature of the place.

When it was made into a separate town, its name was changed to Anda. No explanation was given in the decree why that name was chosen. The accepted explanation in the locality is that Anda refers to Governor General Simon de Anda y Salazar. Simon de Anda was the member of the Royal Audiencia in the Philippines who did not surrender to the British in 1762. He went to the provinces and organized his own Spanish government and harassed the British who occupied Manila. He became Governor General of the Philippines in 1769-1770.

First Petition

On July 8, 1856 the Visita (Mission field) of Quinale made a petition to become an independent town from its mother town of Guindulman, Bohol. On September 3, 1856 the Assessor General of the Government endorsed the petition to the Governor General of the Philippines. On September 5, 1856, Governor General Manuel Crespo denied the petition for the reason that Quinale could not meet the required number of 500 tributes or taxpayers.

Second Petition

On December 30, 1872, a new petition was made to become an independent town. The petition was addressed to the Provincial Governor of Bohol and signed by the following: Teniente Absoluto Eusebio Amper; Parish Priest Father Lorenzo Hernandez; Cabezas De Barangay Juda Felisarta; Silverio Escobido; Isidro Amper; Jose Felisarta; Leon Maquibulan; Serapio Felisarta; Gabriel Timaan; Domingo Deloso; Ciriaco Deloso; Nestorio Felisarta; Nicolas Felisarta, Romero Diligero; and Lauriano Jandayan.The petition stated that the previous petition to become an independent town, only granted the people to have their own Independent Lieutenant (Teniente Absolutio) to govern the place.

The town had already progressed since 1856. The public buildings and church were improved. There was already a horse-carriage road covering the distance of two leagues (approximately 8 kilometers) to the mother town of Guindulman. However, the situation was not advantageous to the Visita. Its farm products would still have to be taken to Guindulman that was two and one-fourth leagues away.

The petition was endorsed to higher authorities. It reached the Consejo De Administracion De Filipinas (Council For Administration of the Philippines), the Father Provincial of the Recollects, and the Archbishop of Manila. It was sent forth and back for more information or data.

Petition Denied Again

On March 27, 1874, Father Patricio Marcellan, the Vicar Provincial of the Recollects in Manila made this comment; "In 1856, Quinale asked to be separated but it was inconvenient because it lacked the required 500 taxpayers. Now, it is still unprepared because there are only 400 taxpayers.

Another Petition

In terms of persistence and peskiness to become a town, no other town in Bohol can beat the town of Anda. From 1856 up to 1875 when it became a town in the civil aspect and until 1885 when it became a town in the religious aspect, the people of Anda was always petitioning to become a separate town. Even though their petition had been denied many times, the people were persistent in petitioning to become a town.

On March 27, 1874 the petition of barrio Quinable to become a town was denied again for the same reason -- the number of taxpayers could not reach the required 500. On September 23, 1874, only a few months from being denied, the people made another petition. This time the people took another tact.

Independent Lieutenant (Teniente Absoluto) Victorio Felisarta and thirty-seven (37) other signatories made the following reasoning: Their 1856 petition was denied for lacking the required number of taxpayers. Their 1872 petition was denied for the same reason. The number of births far exceeded the number of deaths, but the people migrated to other places due to lack of supervision and opportunities. The reason why the people want to be a town is to have proper supervision and leadership. Without leadership the number of taxpayers would not increase, so first make Quinale into a town so that the taxpayers could reach 500 and not the other way around.

Provincial Politico-Military Governor Don Joaquin Bengoechea, understood the reasoning. So the provincial governor suggested, make a petition only for the civil aspect of the town. The requirement of 500 taxpayers is only for becoming a town in the religious aspect or becoming a separate parish. So the September 23, 1874 petition requested only to be a town in the civil aspect.

The Usual Rigmarole

The new petition went into rigmarole due to the reluctance of the religious authorities to approve it. On March 11, 1875 the Consejo De Administracion (Council for Administration) recommended that the visita (mission field) of Quinale be separated in its civil aspect only because the Archbishop was not inclined to separate it on its religious aspect. On March 12, 1875, Governor General Don Jose de Malcampoy y Monje issued the decree creating the new town of Anda. The pertinent portion is translated by this writer as follows: "Now therefore, this General Government, in conformity with them (petitioners and recommending officials) decided to decree the creation of the Visita of Quinale into an independent town. It would be named ANDA and separated from its mother town in its civil aspect only in consonance with the desire of the religious authorities…"

On April 1, 1875 the order was published. The Archbishop of Manila confirmed that the separation was only on the civil aspect of the town. On May 3, 1875, the local officials of the new town of Anda and the mother town of Guindulman gathered together to determine the boundaries.

A Beneficial Concession

The decree of the Governor General have also this provision: "The natives should be made to understand that they could continue to cultivate their properties in whichever jurisdiction they are located…" this means that if you are form Anda, you can still cultivate you land in Guindulman and vice versa.

Religious Aspect of the Town

The decision to separate only the civil aspect of the town proved to be correct. The people did not migrate anymore to other places. Since the people of Anda could still continue to cultivate their lands in Guindulman, their income was not reduced. Eventually the number of taxpayers increased and Anda was qualified to be a separate town also in the religious aspect.

On July 18, 1885 Anda became an independent parish from Guindulman. It was made a Diocesan Parish on 19 March 1885 and advocated to the Holy Child (Santo Niño). It obtained a Royal Approval on 6 January 1885. It was finally implemented on 18 July 1885 with Fr. Julian Cisnero as the first Parish Priest.

A Unique Occurrence

Anda, Bohol is a town that had a Spanish Priest from 1885 up to 1937. In 1898 the Spanish era ended in the Philippines. Most of the Spanish Priest in Bohol fled, but the Spanish Priest of Anda, Fr. Hilario Lopez did not flee. During the American era, the other towns of Bohol had Filipino priests but Anda, Bohol had a Spanish Priests (Order of Augustinian Recollect) until 1937. The last Spanish priest was Fr. Luis Llorente.

Taken from: The Bohol Chronicle (Sundry Chronicle) Sept. 2005, Titled: Establishment of the Town of Anda, Bohol, By: Jes Tirol
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1898 – 1900
Since the inhabitants of this newly created municipality were wanting of knowledge and a short proper guidance in performing governmental functions, the town’s people invited an educated person from Guindulman to serve as administrator or adviser in running the machinery of the government. They invited Pablo Castro Sr. to live in Anda to teach, to give advice to the officials of the town regarding governmental affairs. In 1898 during the Philippine Revolution, a revolutionary force was organized in Anda by Pablo Castro to fight the Spaniards.

The Americans in 1900 invaded Bohol and encountered stiff resistance in the town of Guindulman so that they burned down houses and public buildings up to Anda town. When the people of Anda returned from the mountains where they remained for a year, they found their houses burned down except for their church, convent and municipal building.

THE TOWN EXECUTIVES

During the Spanish period, the head of the town was called the Alcalde. Usually drawing a lot whom the Spanish priest will select from among the prominent and well to do families chose him. Tenure of office was for a year or two. The following became the town executives. Their sequence and tenure could not be determined.

Alkalde Municipal:

Silverio Escobido, Esteban Escobido, Gabriel Escobido, Benedicto Amper, Isidro Amper, Esteban Thseobal, Lucio Felisarta, Sr., Ramon Escobia Sr., Victor Paguia, Pablo Castro Sr., Hipolito Paguia, Cipriano Bernido Sr., Eulegio Dagondon, Valentin Timaan, Bernabe Amper Sr.

Municipal Mayor (1938 to 2005):

Alfonso Castillo - 1938 to 1940 and 1956 to 1959
Vicente de los Angeles - 1941to 1945
Aquilino Deligero - 1945 to 1955
Simeon Escobia - 1960 to 1963
Teodulfo L. Amora - 1964 to 1971 and 1980-1986
Concordia L. Makinano - 1971 to 1980
Gaudioso Amora - 1986 to 1988
Paulino T. Amper - 1988 to 1997
Angelina B. Simacio - 1998 to 2001
Paulino T. Amper - Present

Land Area:
Today, the municipality of Anda has a total land area of 6,286.1504 hectares or 62.861504 sq. kilometers. It is bounded on the North by the municipality of Candijay, on the south by the Mindanao Sea, on the east by the Mindanao Sea and on the west by the municipality of Guindulman. Anda lies between 9º 44’ to 9º 49’ latitude and 124º 31 to 124º 36’ longitude.

Mineral Resources:
Manganese deposits are present, although its quality and volume is unascertained. These metallic mineral is located in barangay Katipunan. Guano is also available. This organic matter is mostly located at the caves of barangay Badiang, Talisay, Lundag and Tanod.

Marine Resources:
Coral formation is present in the coastal barangays of Badiang, Linawan, Talisay going to southern parts of the town. Swamps and mangroves are approximately an area of 338 hectares. These mangroves are found in barangay Badiang, Linawan, Talisay and Suba and portion of Poblacion. Fish sanctuaries are being developed along the coastal areas of barangay Linawan.

Livelihood:
The area is endowed with potentials for fish production, coral reefs, and seashells although most of the fishermen use a fishing method such as fishnets, hooks, etc. The area is also a potential sources of bangus fry (fingerling) for fishpond. It supplies bangus fries to the neighboring municipalities. Farming is the most important means of livelihood of the people. The principal products are rice, corn, coconut, rootcrops, chicken and pigs. Other industries are furniture making, fish net making, rope making and others.

Tourism:
The municipality is blessed with inviting and exciting white sand beaches namely: Bas Daku, Dap-Dap, Flower Beach, Bitoon Beach, Quinale Beach, Talisay Beach, Bas Gamay, and Bugnao Cee. Some of them are developed by foreigners. Diving is one of the most interesting activity.

Bas Daku, is one of the most interesting tourist attractions in Anda. This is found in Candabong, Anda, Bohol, around 2 kilometers from Guindulman, Bohol. It has a wide and white sandy space suited for all kinds of occasions. Many tourist visitors have come to really enjoy the beauty of nature in this place. Anda is also proud to have spring waters; one of these is the Banilad spring found at Bacong, Anda, Bohol.

At present, Anda is looking forward to become one of the main tourist destinations in the Province of Bohol. – MAA

ABOUT NASIPIT: MY BELOVED HOMETOWN

THE ORIGIN

The shoreline of Nasipit assumes a claw-like form and its town already existed as pueblo between 1880 and 1890. Oral tradition puts it that the naming of this place can be traced down to an incident when a native at the shore asked the native about the name of the place, the native readily answered without really comprehending the question, Na-si-pit (meaning bitten by a crab). Thus, the succeeding immigrants came to call the place Nasipit.

THE HISTORY

Perched on a promontory, overlooking the picturesque Nasipit Bay is the progressive industrial town of Nasipit...

The shoreline of Nasipit assumes a claw-like form which the word "Nasip-it" was derived. Until 1929, Nasipit was a barrio of Butuan. The then Governor Guingona proposed to change the name "Nasipit" to "Aurora". Due to the strong opposition of the early inhabitants, however, the word Nasipit was retained.

Little is known about historical events that took place in this town during its early days.But legend has it that three women were abducted by marauding moro pirates who occasionally came to this place to rob and plunder. It was said that the villagers were terrified whenever the pirates came ashore and they went into hiding for days atop thickly-forested hill which they later on settled and developed as the present-day poblacion, Because of this danger, the early settlers constructed a watchtower at the site presently occupied by the Catholic Church to watch out for and warn the people of an impending pirate raid.

The earliest settlers of this town were immigrants from Bohol. Later, immigrants from Cebu, Leyte and the different parts of the archipelago threaded their way into this town to settle permanently. The lasting credit for having laid the foundation of the present day Nasipit belongs to the first set of Municipal Officials headed by the Late Graciano Laroda Sr., as Municipal President, the late Hugo Orais as Vice President, the late Quirico Maglines as Municipal Secretary, Ex-Mayor Malimit of Carmen together with the late Pedro Rojales, Gregorio Yumo and the late Simeon Dompor as Municipal Councillors. The late Jose Cembrano as Municipal Treasurer; the late Jacobo Bello as Justice of the Peace; and Evaristo Banez as Chief of Police. This was the set of energetic and dedicated officials who did the yeoman's jog in laying the groundwork of what Nasipit is today. They were inducted into office on August 29, 1929.

The succeeding administration under Mayor Eutiquio Felias, with Mr. Cecilio Chavit as the Vice Mayor and Messrs Gabriel Taglucop and Fabiano Quesaba as Councillors, whose terms covers a period of six years, concentrated in the development of the town. Construction of roads and improvement of public building were undertaken. But then, this effort could not amount to something substantial because of the limited income of the town during his administration.

The administration of the late Mayor Catalino Atupan saw the beginning of industrial activities in the town. Mayor Atupan strove to increase the collection and encourage the establishment of factories on account of the town's strategic geographical location and local shipping facilities. At the end of his term in 1946, the Nasipit Lumber Company, Inc. controlled and operated by the "Hernandez Hermanos" started its operation. Thus began Nasipit's march to progress.

Immediately after the liberation of Agusan from the Japanese Imperial Forces, the then President Manuel Roxas appointed Mr. Olivo Ruiz to succeed Mayor Atupan. Mayor Ruiz's administration lasted only for one year. But it was during the term of Mayor Ruiz the organized labor gained a permanent foothold in this municipality. In the election of 1948 however, Mayor Ruiz lost his bid to remain in office to a virtually newcomer in local politics. Mayor Maximino B. Timogan Sr. was ushered into office as the new Mayor. He holds the distinction of having been the only man who has occupied the office of the Municipal Mayor for twelve (12) consecutive years. His administration saw the transformation of this municipality from a seventh class to a second class town.

The next Municipal Mayor Tito D. Salado whose term of office lasted four years, saw the construction of a beautiful concrete town hall.But sadly enough, the end of his term was marred by the big Nasipit fire, the second in the history of the town, that entirely razed the whole commercial district.

In the election of 1963, Mayor Mariano R. Corvera succeeded Mayor Tiro D. Salado. Putting into full play his twelve years experience as Municipal Secretary of Mayor Timogan, he immediately tackled in a grand way the immediate construction of the poblacion road building program. It was during this road building program of Mayor Corvera that the sitio of Triangulo, now a regular barrio and gateway to the poblacion, and the barrio of Punta was finally connected with a road and traversing through coconut grooves and hillsides.

With all the achievement of Mayor Corvera, it had seemed that he will still be in office for a long time yet. But then fate had its own way. In the local election of 1971, he was ousted by a man nationally known as a labor leader. In January 2, 1972, Mayor Godofredo B. Paceno assumed the position as the new Municipal Mayor of Nasipit. He took the reins of the Municipal Government with the treasury in the red. A man noted for his integrity and honest conviction, little by little, he was able to overcome the deficit of the municipality through an extensive collection drive and in eight months he was able to establish a 100-unit Municipal Telephone System, the firstand the only one in the whole province, with a cost of P150,000.00. Since he felt that his being the President of a National Labor Union demands more of his time as his being Municipal Mayor, Mayor Paceno decided to resign, and only after one year and nine months of being the Vice Mayor, Servando L. Ampo was inducted into office as the Municipal Mayor in October 15, 1973. The foregoing is a brief history and record of accomplishment of the past and present administration of Nasipit. With these accomplishment as permanent landmarks, it is our hope that the people of Nasipit will remember that it had been well graced by the hands of fate and the march of progress.

Succeeding Chief Executive:
Mayor Servando Ampo
Mayor Pedrito Carmona
Mayor Yvonne Carmona

Present Members of the Town Executive Council:

Mayor : Enrico Corvera
Vice Mayor :Roy Doyon
SB Members :
Marjorie Rosal
Arcelo Tamayo
Hector Magtibay
Servando Ampo
Ronald Timogan
Guillermo Sagaral
Antidio Amora
Arnold Tapere
SK Federation President :Raquel Beltran
ABC President : Emmanuel Dominguez
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NASIPITNON INTERNATIONAL
(OFW’s and Migrant Nasipitnon)
“YAHOO E-GROUP” nasipit@yahoogroups.com

It all just started as a fancy thought of few Nasipitnon, who, spent their lives away from home in search for greener pasture in different section of the globe met collectively and by way of e-mails poured in their concept to put up a web site that will link Nasipitnon around the world and the idea to remind everyone the country and their beloved town where they came from.

Through the help of the new era of modern technology and communication, a web site named “Nasipit International” was created then by fellow Nasipitnons, Webmaster Mr. Ian Atupan and Ms. Jinky Labrador; both are currently living in United States of America.

After the usual exchanged of e-mails and “kumustahan” through the web site message board, a notion to put up a Nasipit International E-group was also suggested, thus the creation of nasipit@yahoogroups.com. Then it was officially founded in the early days of Year 2002 with the initial handful of members. Presently, the count reaches almost a hundred and is expected to gain more members in the years to come.

The E-group primary purpose is to know the whereabouts of old friends, long lost neighbors and classmates who are working and living or migrated to other countries. These include the opportunity to know the whereabouts of friends in other areas in the Philippines and to be acquainted to those Nasipitnon who are currently based in our beloved hometown, and the purpose of knowing the latest events and its developments. Secondly, to discuss related topics on economic, political and other concerns that might be beneficial to the hometown in particular.

Today, Nasipitnon based in; Netherlands, USA, Canada, Angola, Middle East, Australia, China, Singapore, Japan, Guam and other parts of the Globe, make used the “Nasipit E-group” as “istambayan”, anticipating new postings and new names from a known friends out there in the other part of the world and in the Philippines. Also, a member usually opens the Internet to visit the Nasipit International Web Site just to read the “Suroy-Suroy Ta” a compilation of fresh current events in our town authored by our very own friend Mr. Gerry Ampo and Engr. Bubot Gicum. - MAA

Special Feature:
The Province of Bohol




(in Photo Minda & Angel at Chocolate Hills/Sunset View 12/26/05)






The Province of Bohol is cognizant of its potential for ecotourism as well as the fact that as a logical component of sustainable development, ecotourism necessitates careful planning (both physical and managerial), a multidisciplinary approach, strict guidelines, high standards and regulation that will ensure sustainable operations. MAA

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Bohol Galing Pook grand slam

Bohol won not only one - but three awards – the grand slam in the prestigious Gawad Galing Pook.

Gov. Erico Aumentado and key program implementers received the awards Tuesday, Dec. 20, from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in rites held at the Heroes' Hall of Malacañang Palace.

Bohol won the Award for Continuing Excellence (ACE) after the award-giving foundation validated that previous programs that already received Galing Pook honors are still existing and continuing to do the province good. The foundation started giving the ACE only this year.

The Poverty Reduction, Peace and Development Program: The Bohol Experience also won as a Trailblazing Program even as the province also got a Special Citation on Local Peace Building Initiatives.

"The latest awards are not reasons for complacence; they are challenges to do even better," Aumentado said.

The feat apparently impressed the President who lauded Bohol for the continued good governance.

"Last year, Bohol also reaped the grand slam when it won the Department of Tourism's Kalakbay Award, Special Secretary's Award for the governor for his aggressive campaign even outside of the province and of the country at no cost to the provincial government, the Lifetime Achievement Award for lawyer Anos Fonacier who is considered the Father of Bohol Tourism, and the Outstanding Provincial Peace and Order Council Award," President Arroyo observed.

"For Bohol, I will always do what should be done to accelerate the development of the province," Aumentado quoted the President as saying during their one-on-one conversation after he accepted the award and before their celebratory dinner.

Bohol's previous winners are the Barangay Livestock Aide (Bala) program wherein the aides serve as force multipliers of the provincial veterinarian and municipal agricultural officers, thereby dramatically increasing the province's livestock production;

The Bohol Investment Promotion Center that continues attracting big-time investments;

Sustainable Eco-governance and Eco-Tourism that protects and keeps the province's environment pristine for tourists to enjoy;

The Coastal Law Enforcement Councils (Clecs) created under the Bohol Environment Code that focus on keeping marine life and habitats safe from fishermen using illegal methods; and

The Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD) that preserves Boholano culture in the forms of music, songs, dances, stone churches and ancestral homes, among others, to entice local and foreign tourists to visit.

Poverty reduction is Aumentado's centerpiece program. Of the 79 provinces, Bohol was 7th of the country's poorest provinces when the governor first assumed the post in 2001. By 2004, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) listed Bohol in the 19th slot - better but still within "Club 20" of the country's poorest.

Only recently, the UNDP Philippines Human Development Index Report 2005 de-listed Bohol from Club 20 and even Club 39 as it moved to 41st place.

The efforts included immersion by government community organizers in insurgency affected areas to make the government felt in the hinterlands while the military handles the armed component as mandated.

Aumentado however is not comfortable with only a two-slot margin. He cautions his chiefs of offices and program implementers against complacence as "any backsliding" can pull the province back.

Meanwhile, the province has been pushing for local peace talks in spite of the stand of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CNN) to hold talks only at the national level. It has provided home- and agricultural lots and livelihood to former rebels (FRs), even as it exhorts rebels to return to the fold of the law.

For this visit to Malacañang, the Aumentado-led contingent that accepted the awards included, among others, Buenavista Mayor Elsa Tirol; Engr. Renato Villaber, deputy head of the Bohol Environment and Management Office (Bemo); Oroncia Balio, provincial tourism officer; Getafe Mayor Theresa P. M. Camacho; Liga ng mga Barangay
provincial federation president Cariso Camacho, Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, provincial veterinarian; Bohol Chronicle editor Zoilo Dejaresco III, Brig. Gen. Juanito Gomez and Lt. Col. James Magondacan of the Carmen, Bohol-based 302nd Infantry Brigade

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE

Allow me to share a congratulatory remarks from my brother Engr. Dominico A. Amora addressed to the New Professional Electrical Engineers in Cebu who passed the recently concluded Professional Electrical Engineers (PEE) Board Examination. The message relates something worthy relevant to our continuing fight for OFW Recognition.

“If we rest we rust", in concert we can continue the fight "Be Part of the Team”. MAA
=============================

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
By: Doods A. Amora (PEE)

The journey continues. The engines of change keep throbbing relentlessly with power & energy. The fire is burning hot as light is beckoning from afar. The tigers’ paws on guard while the eagle’s watchful eyes probing into the unknown wilderness. Another canto had been captured. Dusts cleared. The spoils of the recent battle settled. Tired but not spent. Weakened but not short of second wind. Still potent and sharp, this time wiser, more experienced.

Casualty? Zero. Injury list? There were some temporary set-backs, but everybody is standing upright. Morale? Everybody is proud and smiling. Now refueled, our group is again ready to embark into another uncharted chapter of the next battle.

Thank you very much then for the kind words intended for me and Ely when you said that we were the mentors. We appreciate it very much. Probably after the ashes had cleared, we need such remarks in order for the adrenaline to keep on flowing…

Yes, success in a competitive game is usually won by team play and coaches do play that big role. However, success in one’s personal battle as in the board examinations is not won by coaches. It is to be won by the individual himself because he is not competing against others. He is in fact fighting against his own shadow. The ‘Fear Factor’ as Bro Noel Fernandez had always pointed out, is the biggest adversary. It is in fact the ‘handicap’ exemplified by the butterflies in the stomach that drives one player to lose his wits during a round or rounds of grueling combat inside a four walled ring.

Freddie Roach has done a great lot for the improvement of Manny Pacquiao and the others. But his role is only limited, he can’t do anything once the player is already inside the ring. Once unleashed, it is the player’s diskarte that matters - in solving the puzzles while alone. Our motivation as mentors is only to make the engineer a much better technocrat in the dispensation of his responsibility as an engineer. The decision to take the PEE Board is for the individual himself. The big difference however is preparedness and anticipation. As Achilles Ponce’s Report states, “Looking through the future, there must be that so-called anticipation – and anticipation leads to preparedness as an answer to complete the loop. Surprisingly most of the time, preparedness derived from anticipation can only be discovered if we look back to past and historical performances. And past statistics usually become the answer and guide in future plans of actions”.

It is best to prepare and anticipate. But preparedness does not mean that we allow ourselves to lose track of the basics. It is the bedrock foundation of our competence. Once the basics are forgotten, the foundation will be weakened and the structure might crumble. The October Issue of the PULSE ANNUNCIATOR will feature the basics of our foundation. Do not belittle these Code Basics because you will experience later that the basics after all will make someone a PEE. I am therefore inviting you all to focus on these basics.

Now back to basics: The danger of success is success itself – it’s intoxicating. We therefore need to always look back where we were before. “Ang taong hindi lumingon sa pinang-galingan ay hindi makakarating sa patutunguhan”. Looking back, we need to re-nurture the conviction of the principles we had been applying in the past several months. “If we rest, we rust. We shall never sit on our laurels. Our best is not enough. Our cup must never be full”. Do not mind the pressures imposed on you by the mentors. As I said, pressures in work are realities to live with, because we need it! Open a faucet and water flows from it. Why? Because there is pressure! Be a part of the team. Never be in the sideline, because if you are, you will be left behind.

Work is Force times Distance. The tons of force exerted are nothing if you covered no distance. Passing the PEE Board is a vast mile covered. That is work done!

To the new PEE’s, there's one fact in life that I would like you to keep in mind always. Just as life is temporal, life's setbacks are more recurring. The duration of these setbacks are a lot shorter than life itself. So don't allow these setbacks to spoil what otherwise is a life worth living. Your perseverance in turning around some of the extemporaneous setbacks in your interview performance was something not entirely surprising to me. It would have been surprising if it were someone else who did it. But knowing you and what you are capable of doing, you just have to do it because that's the stuff you are made of. Let me tell you this as part of your development and growth: I've known you people to be the kind of characters who eat personal challenges for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The problem as I see it is this: When those challenges disappear, you begin to starve. The biggest challenge therefore for you is how to keep looking at every situation as one that needs challenge. In other words, the challenge to challenge, and don't let mere words get the better of you. You will therefore do your share in training others. It will be something of a work in a lifetime.

LET US THEN CONGRATULATE THE PLAYERS. THEY HAVE JUST CROSSED THE RUBICON! WE ALL ARE PROUD OF YOU!
====================================
Engr. Dominico A. Amora or Doods was 2nd placer in the 1983 PEE Board Examinations, a college instructor, speaker in various technical fora & symposia and lecturer in seminars. His significant contributions to the electrical engineering profession earned him IIEE’s “Most Outstanding Electrical Practitioner of the Country in the Field of Industry” – an award he received in 1996. In 2002, Doods again was conferred as “IIEE’s Most Outstanding Practitioner of the Country in the Field of Consultancy”. He had been the President of the IIEE Cebu Chapter in 1986. He became Governor of Region VII in 2003 where he was conferred as the “Most Outstanding Governor of the Year”. Doods in 2003 earned CIT’s “Most Outstanding Alumnus in the Field of Engineering Consultancy”.

Doods at present is the Chief Operating Officer of PRIMARY ELEKTRIKS & POWER SPECIALIST CORP (PEPSCOR), a consultancy & contracting outfit he organized based in Mandaue City - a company specializing in power systems designs, project execution, energy management, maintenance management systems and project management. He is also at present the Managing Director of the CENTRE FOR STUDIES IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING PRACTICES & STANDARDS (CESEEPS) and the Vice President of the ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS OF CEBU (APEEC). Currently the Managing Editor of the "Pulse Annunciator" a monthly E-Zine for Electrical Practitioners.

He also authored five (5) Book Series on “Electrical Design Practices in Industrial Power Systems”

My Fellow Absentee Voters (OFW’s)

Whether we like it or not we are part of Philippine Politics and as long as there are (few) good leaders who do their best advocating electoral reforms in our country, then, we have still hope that our one vote in the future be counted as what we’ve been expecting in an honest to goodness, clean and peaceful election.

It ‘s too early to say, but I think it’s about time for us to evaluate new breed of young leaders that could probably put back the broken pieces of Philippine politics.

Let’s register now and be an Absentee Voter.

Bong A.
An OAV Advocate

“So many people have a wealth of ideas that could make things work. And they don't have to be in politics to do that. There are so many opportunities they can create out there. There is still so much that can be done." GR

Excerpt taken from: Gilbert & Good Governance
By Denise C. Villegas
People Asia Magazine 11/11/2005

In politics he says there are things that he has learned to accept and there are still things that he cannot accept. "For example, especially in the national scope, there are certain things that can be done. Like entertainment, you sell escape. With politics you sell hope. And I think that that is what you have to keep on selling especially in our country where everyone feels so hopeless now. You have to sell that and you don't do it by lying through your teeth about the true state of the nation. But you actually have to show that you are doing something. There has to be solid action. There are so many things that you can do so easily to sell that hope. Does it gnaw at me? Yes, it does. Because it is not being done. You show the people that you won't tolerate nonsense when it comes to smuggling in order to protect our agricultural and manufacturing centers. So, you jail the biggest smugglers. You want to say that you are no nonsense about drugs? It's so easy to find out who the biggest drug lords are. We have millions of pesos worth of information. Or you can jail the most corrupt officials or the biggest tax evaders. You know these are things that will make people say, `Hey they are actually doing something'."

And what of the people who have lost all hope that our country just may yet find a way to set itself right? "Hope should be the last thing to go. So many people have a wealth of ideas that could make things work. And they don't have to be in politics to do that. There are so many opportunities they can create out there. There is still so much that can be done."

“Biggest Investor in Philippine Economy"
By: Norman D. Gacula

Column Title: Social Entrepreneur
For: The OFW Guardian
March 18, 2005
President & CEO, OFW International Holdings, Inc.
President & CEO, G&E Franchising & Marketing Corp.

The remittances of overseas Filipinos have contributed significantly in keeping the current account deficit manageable and in stabilizing the economy. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that overseas Filipinos remitted US$6.23 billion in 2001; US$8 billion in 2002; US$7.6 billion in 2003; and, an all-time high of US$8.5 billion in 2004 . Therefore, the average dollar remittances from OFWs for the past 4 years reached US$7.58 billion annually. Major sources of remittances are the United States of America, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom, Germany, Kuwait, and Australia.

However, these figures above may even be understated considering that they come from BSP records, and therefore, the usual "padala system" and other means of bringing in the country the OFW monies are not yet included. Experts estimate the total contribution of overseas Filipinos to the national economy at US$15.0 billion annually.

Nonetheless, in making projections and in analyzing the impact and contribution of OFW remittances to the Philippine economy, it would be prudent to use the US$7.58 billion average annual remittances.

At present, the average annual remittances of 7.58 billion dollars or 409 billion Philippine pesos is equivalent to 10% of the GNP of the Philippine economy. It is equivalent to 83 fully-owned universal banks with the minimum required capitalization of PhP4.92 billion each. It is even 6% higher than the total capital accounts of all commercial banks in the Philippines amounting to PhP385 billion as of 2002.

This amount is enough to acquire any or a combination of the biggest corporations in the Philippines, which include the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), San Miguel Corporation, Metrobank and Ayala Corporation.

The US$7.58 billion is even bigger than the single highest foreign investment of US$5.0 billion of Shell's Malampaya Oil Exploration Project in Palawan.

In effect, the overseas Filipinos, as a sector, are today's biggest investor in the Philippine economy. Mind you, they are the biggest dollar investor.

In contrast, according to the National Census and Statistics Board (NCSB), Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the Philippines amounted to 46 billion pesos in 2002; 34 billion pesos in 2003; and 130.6 billion pesos in the first 3 quarters of 2004.

FDIs as defined in the Balance of Payment (BOP) Manual, are investments made to acquire a lasting interest by a resident entity in one economy in an enterprise in another economy. The purpose of the investor is to have a significant influence, an effective voice in the management of the enterprise. An example of a FDI is: Shell company based in The Netherlands investing in the oil company or oil exploration project in the Philippines. Another example is: Republic of Nauru investing in a power sector project here in the country.

None of these FDIs could even come close to the annual dollar remittances of our OFW sector. And yet, all the past and present governments and policy-makers of our country have not created any law or even an executive order that would give them rights, incentives, and/or privileges if they put up enterprises here in the Philippines.

Republic Act 8179, otherwise known as the "Foreign Investments Act of 1991", states that "it is the policy of the State to attract, promote and welcome productive investments from foreign individuals, partnerships, corporations, and governments, including their political subdivisions, in activities which significantly contribute to national industrialization and socio-economic development to the extent that foreign investment is allowed in such activity by the Constitution and relevant laws."

Foreign investments are good. They provide jobs to our citizens and they bring in new technologies to our country. The government should really continue encouraging and attracting foreign investments. As a matter of fact, the government should go further by creating a business environment that is really conducive to foreign investments. Be it in the form of short-term or long-term investment in any type of industry.

But what is the policy of the State to attract, promote and welcome investments from the OFW sector? Are there any vision, direction, and/or plan regarding this matter?

Republic Act 9178, otherwise known as the "Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act of 2002", provides Filipinos, not only OFWs and their families, certain incentives and benefits such as exemption from government taxes and fees, exemption from the minimum wage law, availability of loan window, technology transfer, training assistance, etc. However, only enterprises "whose total assets including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity's office, plant and equipment are situated, shall not be more than Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00)" are qualified to avail of these incentives and benefits.

This BMBE law, if implemented and communicated properly, is good for individual OFWs and their respective families. At least they would be entitled to incentives and benefits for their individual enterprises. However, this law can hardly attract organizations, or bigger groups of OFWs who have capital or capable of raising capital / assets higher than Php3,000,000.00 maximum limit.

The OFW International Holdings, Inc., which was established by OFWs and where this writer serves as President and CEO, is one classic example. This company's capital is higher than Php3,000,000, and it is capable of increasing its capital even higher. But unfortunately, none of the existing laws, rules or regulations would qualify the company to get certain rights, incentives and benefits that it rightfully deserves. Worse, certain laws might even penalize them for implementing their mission and vision for the OFWs.

The government, past and present, is actually missing a lot of opportunities from the OFW sector because of its failure to implement or enact laws beneficial to overseas Filipino investors. Imagine, just fifteen percent (15%) of the 409 billion pesos of annual remittances going to investment in enterprises is equivalent to 61.35 billion pesos worth of capital. These amounts are higher than the FDIs for the years 2002 and 2003.

Fact is, the government should focus on attracting OFWs and encouraging them to at least set aside 15% of their remittances to invest in moneymaking enterprises that could create jobs and opportunities to our people. Perhaps, if the government spends so much money trying to attract foreign investors, that same money can be used to prepare plans and programs to attract and encourage OFWs to invest their money in their own country. They love their country. It's their only home. Perhaps, it is logical to assume that it would be easier to convince them to invest in their own country than to convince foreigners.

However, if the government really want them to invest a portion of their hard-earned money, it shall implement or enact laws conducive to overseas Filipinos' investments, and create an environment where they will be assured that their monies will not be lost to scammers, corrupt government officials and all other opportunists in Philippine society.


“Overseas Filipinos: Part of the Solution”

The government is missing one big opportunity from the Overseas Filipino sector, which contributes at least 7.58 billion dollars annually to the Philippine economy. If only 15% or 61.35 billion pesos of this total remittances from overseas Filipinos is invested annually in small, medium or large enterprises, then perhaps the government would be able to solve unemployment, poverty, and possibly, all other problems related to them.

As regards unemployment and poverty problems, for instance, if fifty thousand pesos worth of capital is needed to employ one person, then, 61.35 billion pesos invested annually into the country by overseas Filipinos would be able to generate 1,227,000 jobs annually. This 1,227,000 jobs multiplied by 5 (average number of members in a family) would in turn be able to benefit 6,135,000 Filipino family members.

These figures would mean that unemployment and poverty incidence might be reduced from double digit, which is prevailing for quite sometime now, to single digit, and from 39% to possibly less than 30%, respectively. In addition, these would mean that new graduates produced by our colleges and universities would have greater opportunities of being hired immediately after graduation, as fewer individuals would be competing for a position.

Further, the goal of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of creating 6 million jobs by the end of her term in 2010, or 1 million jobs annually, as stated in her last State of the Nation Address (SONA) may no longer be considered wishful thinking but would instead become a reality.

But come to think of it, enticing overseas Filipinos to invest their hard-earned money here in the Philippines might be considered hitting two birds with one stone. This policy direction or redirection might even be considered as one important and biggest solution to most of the country’s economic problems.

On the part of the government, lack of economic opportunities, unemployment, underemployment, poverty, etc. may be solved or at least substantially reduced.

For overseas Filipinos, on the other hand, investing their money in income-generating activities instead of buying appliances, high-tech cellular phones, “pasalubong” of chocolates, cigarettes and liquors, and other consumer items, would increase their chances of successfully reintegrating into the mainstream of Philippine society earlier than expected and be with their respective families.

Actually, the bottom-line is both the government and the overseas Filipinos need to find ways and means to create and recreate economic activities that would provide income for both. And today, this period in our country's history, is in fact the most opportune time for both to think and act along these thoughts and ideas.

Of course, all of these are better said than done. A lot of resources, effort, time, redirection, refocusing, reengineering and/or amendment of laws must be done to accomplish even just half of the objective. And the government would definitely play a very significant role in order to be successful in attracting overseas Filipinos to invest a substantial portion of their hard-earned money in the Philippines.

Level the playing field

The government must be able to assure overseas Filipinos that there would be a level playing field in doing business in the country. OF-entrepreneurs-investors must be given equal opportunity in doing business with the government and other private enterprises regardless of connections, regardless of how big or small their enterprise may be, regardless of whether or not they are new or experienced entrepreneurs.

Level playing field may also mean that if there are economic and financial programs being implemented by the government for local and foreign businesses, the OF-entrepreneurs-investors must also be given a chance to avail and benefit from such programs.

Enact and implement an Overseas Filipinos Investment Law

Similar to the Foreign Investment Act, capital brought in by overseas Filipinos to establish their own enterprises here in the Philippines, regardless of the amount of capital, must be given tax holidays, exemption from minimum wage law, duty-free importation of equipment, loan window, technical assistance and other incentives and benefits already being given to foreign investors.

It is very ironic that our government, past and present, gives so many incentives and benefits to foreign investors just to entice them to invest their dollars here in the country. Whereas, none has been done to give our hero-OFs the kind of incentives and benefits that they deserve for the dollars they bring in into the country. Does the American dollar being sent by foreign investors into the country different from the American dollar of overseas Filipinos?

The Arroyo government and both houses of Congress must do their job now. The submission of a bill in Congress similar to what is indicated here, and its eventual passage into law is one single act of sincerity and recognition that the government could give our overseas Filipinos.

10% of Public Utilities, Blue Chip Companies and IPOs

For overseas Filipinos who have the funds but could not engage in setting up their own enterprises, another investment option either through legislation or executive order is to require public utilities such as Meralco, Manila Water, PLDT, Petron and other blue chip companies to set aside 10% of their equity and make them available to OF-subscribers.

(Equity investment means that the subscriber-investor-shareholder gets to own a portion/percentage of the company from which he purchased shares of stocks.)

This is to give OFs the chance to avail of higher yielding investments than the usual savings and time deposits, and to allow them to participate in companies with proven track record of professionalism, integrity, and profitability.

Moreover, this would probably reduce the fact that OF savings are being invested into multi-level marketing companies, boiler room operations and pyramiding scams. All of which result or resulted in heartaches and headaches for our gullible OFs.

OFW Bond

The introduction of OFW Bond is being floated around for quite sometime now. This concept is not new. The idea is for the government to issue a fixed-rate low denominated bond to the overseas Filipinos. The bond is a debt instrument or a certificate of indebtedness that gives the holder the right to claim from the government the principal and the corresponding interest income at specific future dates. In this particular instance, the issuer of the bond and at the same time borrower is the government, while the lender are the OFs.

This concept is acceptable to the overseas Filipinos. So many OFs are actually waiting for it. However, what the government needs to understand and consider is to make the purpose of the issuance transparent to the public or in this case to the OFs. OFs would not purchase the bond if the purpose or intended use were questionable or dubious. The OFs need to be assured that the funds that will be raised from the issuance would be put in productive and worthwhile projects of the government, and not to the pockets of government officials and their cohorts.

The beauty of a government-issued debt instrument is the fact that it is almost risk-free since it is the government who is indebted to the bondholder. And the bondholder, on the other hand, gets to earn interest income higher than savings and time deposits. This is in fact another good investment option for overseas Filipinos who have the funds but could not engage in setting up their own enterprises.

Establish a Department for Overseas Employment and Welfare

Right now, there are so many agencies of government dealing with overseas employment and welfare. Directly, we have the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Indirectly, we have Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philhealth, Pag-ibig, SSS, and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). POEA and OWWA are under the umbrella of DOLE, while CFO is under DFA.

Dealing with so many government agencies requiring a gamut of documents and fees from overseas Filipinos inconvenience and confuse them, and make government service very unsatisfactory.

Imagine the bureaucracy and red tape that overseas Filipinos have to endure in transacting business with these agencies.

Why not just create a single department, or a one-stop government agency, that will handle all the concerns of overseas Filipinos from employment to welfare, from passport to protection and assistance, from investments to loans, from health care to their child’s education in foreign soil, etc.? A one-stop-shop for OFs in other words.

Instead of spending so much money in maintaining several agencies, why not create a lean and mean department / agency that can really serve the needs of overseas Filipinos?

The money to be saved from reducing the number of agencies dealing with OFs, plus the amount of money contributed or being paid by OFs should instead be put in more productive activities that will benefit OFs themselves, and not just a few individuals, groups, politicians, technocrats or businessmen favored by the people in power.

Further, if it is not too much to ask, make the term of office of the heads of the proposed government department / agency fixed so that programs for overseas Filipinos could be applied consistently, and unaltered by the changing administration and political dynamics. The government's reintegration program for OFWs alone changes everytime a new administration comes in. Withal, maybe we could see a more successful government program on reintegration.

All of these unsolicited suggestions are doable and realistic. Perhaps, it is high time that the government and all its policy-makers start doing their job, and put their money where their mouth is.

Patnubay sa mga Manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia
By: Manuel A. Amora

Authors Note: Patnubay sa Manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia (below) can also be downloaded in Word File at "CENTER FOR MIGRANT ADVOCACY (CMA)" Web Site found in my link. All you have to do is click the link "CENTER FOR MIGRANT ADVOCACY" then select and click “Policy and Public Advocacy”, select category “Primers for Migrant Workers” select country “Saudi Arabia” then click GO and download the file.

"It is not what one says, but rather what one does, that makes a difference in the world." - Pirke Avot
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“Patnubay sa mga Manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia” was made possible as part of the efforts to inform and educate our fellow Overseas Filipino Workers on their rights as well as obligations as workers in the Kingdom.

This Guide was based and gathered from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office information campaign to OFW’s in the Kingdom particularly the “OFW Info Guide (Volume I&II Issue 1& 3, dtd. Sept. 2001 & January 2002)” and “OFW Guide to Saudi Labor Law (by Former Labor Attache, Atty. Jainal Rasul, Jr.)” other references and personal research.

Special thanks to Former Labor Attache Atty. Sodusta, who personally visited companies/factories in the remote areas of the 3rd Industrial Area, Riyadh during his stint as Labor Attache in the Kingdom particularly in Central Region.

Further, our heartfelt gratitude to the incumbent Labor Attache Atty. Manuel Roldan, WelOff Armand Roa, Weloff Mustfha Glang and other POLO/OWWA officials in their continuing Outreach Program for the OFW’s in the Industrial City of Riyadh.

Part 1: Saudi Labor Cases

I: Assistance

Assistance: When an OFW seek advise and visits our PhilEmb/ConGen/POLO about their grievances and complaint.

II: Counseling

There are several ideas about counseling. Some people think that it is a form of magic-a process that offers quick solution to any problem. Others think that counselors are like doctors or physician who would prescribe appropriate medicine after a brief diagnosis of an ailment.

Often workers come to PhilEmb/ConGen/POLO/OWWA with the hope of getting instant answers to solutions to their problems. They expect that their problems will be immediately resolved and vanish right away.

Counseling is an interaction between the clients and the counselor. Counselors are trying to help them understand their problem, the causes and effects and to provide them alternatives how to solve their problems.

Summing up, counseling is purely advice giving. No specific solution but an understanding what the problem is and how to go about solving it.

A counselor will do at least 3 things during the proceedings:

1)Facilitate – to assist the parties to find a negotiated solution.
2)Evaluate – Give an objective opinion regarding the reasonableness of each party’s position.
3)De-conflict – change the frame of reference of the dispute from ZERO SUM, I WIN, YOU LOSE situation to a POSITIVE SUM, I WIN, YOU WIN situation.

III: Conciliation

Conciliation is a mild form of intervention by a neutral third party. The Conciliator/Mediator relying on his persuasive expertise, who takes an active role in assisting parties by trying to keep disputants. Talking, facilitating other procedural necessities, carrying messages back and forth between the parties and generally being a good fellow who tries to keep things calm and forward looking in a tense situation.

IV: MEDIATION

Mediation is a mild intervention by a neutral third party. The Conciliator/Mediator, whereby he starts advising the parties or offering solutions or alternatives to the problems with the end in view of assisting them towards voluntarily reaching their own mutual acceptable settlement of the dispute.

V: Steps and Procedure

A) POLO (Case Flow Chart)

1)Fill up Assistance Form at Registration Docket Section
Timetable (Day 1)

2)Counseling/Referral to POLO Case Officer
Timetable (Day 1)

3)Negotiation Conciliation with Employer by Case Officer
Timetable (1 to 2 weeks) 2 to 3 days for DH and 3-7 days for male/female skilled workers.

4)File Complaint at Saudi Labor Office (For Male/Female Skilled Cases)
Timetable (2 to 4 weeks)

Endorsed to Saudi Social Welfare Office (For DH Cases)
Timetable (3 to 4 weeks)
Refer Cases to Governor’s Office (For Family Drivers)
Timetable ( 4 to 6 weeks)

5)Elevate to Primary Commission in Riyadh
Timetable ( 2 ½ to 5 months for male cases)

5)Appeal to Higher Commission in Riyadh (3 to 6 months)

Note: For Male workers still working with employer. Bur for runaway Male Workers complaint should be immediately filed at Saudi Labor Office.

B)Steps/Procedure in Filing Complaints

1)OFW files complaint against Employer at Saudi Labor Office
Timetable (Day 1)

2)Saudi Labor Office issues subpoena to employer the day after filing
(Timetable (Day 2)

a)Subpoena directs employer to appear at Saudi Labor Office on the scheduled hearing.
b)OFW/POLO serves subpoena to employer.

3)1st Hearing - Timetable ( A Week Later)
a)OFW should be present during hearing to be assisted by the POLO Case Officer.
b)Saudi Labor Office Judge arbitrates claims and counter claims of OFW and Employer and exerts efforts to settle case amicably.
c)If parties agree, case is resolved.

4)2nd and 3rd Hearing – Timetable (Another Week Later)
a)If employer fails to attend first hearing. SLO issues subpoena thru police.
b)During the day of hearing parties are given the chance to settle the case. If not, SLO will elevate case to Primary Commission for trial.

5)SLO Elevates Case to Primary Commission
a)After a week from last hearing at SLO. OFW should pick up Case Referral No. and personally submit it to Primary Commission Office. OFW should then get a copy of Info Sheet to be filled up with the assistance of his POLO Case Officer.

6)Primary Commission Issues Subpoena
a)Upon submission of Info Sheet, Primary Commission issues Subpoena on the same day requiring employer to appear on the date of hearing normally set after 2 months.
b)Worker should go back to Primary Commission 2 weeks before scheduled hearing to accompany Sheriff in serving the copy of subpoena to employer.

7)1st and Subsequent Hearings
a)Judge will hear the parties, present their claims and counter claims as well as supporting documents/evidence.
b)Case may be set for several hearings after which the case will be considered submitted for decision.

8)Appeal to Higher Commission
a)Each party may appeal to Higher Commission 30 days after receipt of
decision by the Primary Commission.

Part 2: Mga Tanong at Sagot Tungkol sa Pagpapauwi ng Namatay na OFW.

Ilan sa ating mga kababayang OFW’s ang inaabot ng kanilang kamatayan dito sa Saudi Arabia at madalas, ang mga pamilya ng mga nasawi ay hinihiling ang madaliang pag pauwi ng mga labi nito.

Para sa kaalaman ng lahat, ang pagpauwi ng mga labi ng mga namatay na OFW’s ay katulad din ng pag-papauwi ng mga stranded OFW’s … kailangan din ang EXIT VISA.

Tunghayan ang mga sumusunod na tanong at kasagutan upang maunawaan ang paraan sa pagpapauwi ng mga labi ng namatay na OFW.

TANONG: Saan kumukuha ng Exit Visa para sa namatay na OFW?

Ang Exit Visa ay kinukuha sa Saudi Immigration Office. Itina-tatak ang exit visa sa passport ng namatay na OFW.

TANONG: Anu-ano ang mga kailangang papeles para makakuha ng Exit Visa?

Kailangang mayroong sulat mula sa pulis (endorsement letter) na karapat-dapat bigyan ng exit visa ang OFW. Gayundin, ang sulat mula sa pulis ay magpapapatunay na ang employer o sponsor ng nasawing OFW ay natugunan nang lahat ng mga patakaran ng Saudi Arabia sa pag-papauwi ng namatay na manggagawa.

TANONG: May kailangan bang papeles para makakuha ng sulat o endorsement letter mula sa Pulis?

Oo. Ang employer o sponsor ng namatay na OFW ay nararapat kumuha ng mga sumusunod na dokumento sa tamang opisina bago siya makakuha ng clearance para maipauwi ang labi ng OFW:

Required Documents:

1)Medical Report
Concerned Agency: Ospital kung saan namatay o dinala ang mga labi ng OFW.
Conditions of Issuance: Dapat bayad lahat ang hospital bills ng nasawi.
2)Death Certificate on the date the worker passed away.

Concerned Agency: Ministry of Interior, Directorate General of Civil Affairs.
Conditions of Issuance: Copy of the Medical Report

3)Police Report on Cause of Death

Concerned Agency: Ministry of Interior, Public Section
Conditions of Issuance: Copy of the Medical Report and Death Certificate

4)Statement and Clearance of Payment of Benefits

Concerned Agency: Saudi Labor Office (Ang ahensya ng gobyerno na siyang sumisiguro na tama at sapat ang matatanggap na benepisyo ng namatay na OFW.
Conditions of Issuance: Dapat maibigay sa Saudi Labor Office o sa tagapagmana ang kaukulang halaga ng benepisyo ng namatay na OFW.

5)No objection Certificate (NOC) on the shipment of remains

Concerned Agency: Issuance of NOC from Philippine Embassy.
Conditions of Issuance: Dapat magbigay ang pamilya ng OFW ng Acceptance Letter na tatanggapin nila ang mga labi ng nasawing OFW.

6)Blood Money o Diya Clearance (kung ang OFW ay namatay sa isang aksidente o biktima ng krimen).

Concerned Agency: Pulisya na humahawak sa imbestigasyon ng kaso.
Conditions of Issuance: Dapat ay makumpleto muna ng pulisya ang imbestigasyon sa pagkamatay ng OFW at matiyak kung sino ang dapat magbigay ng diya o blood money.


TANONG: Sapat na ba ang pagkakaroon ng Exit Visa para mapauwi kaagad ang mga labi ng namatay na OFW?

Hindi. Maliban sa exit visa, kailangan pang kumuha ng clearance mula sa morgue, Customs Office at Cargo Office bago tuluyang mapauwi ang mga labi ng namatay na OFW.

TANONG: Sino ang dapat maglakad ng mga kinakailangan papeles para mapadali ang pagpapauwi ng mga labi ng namatay na OFW?

Tanging ang employer o sponsor ng nasawing OFW ang siyang dapat maglakad ng mga papeles para agad na mapauwi ang mga labi ng namatay na OFW.

TANONG: Mayroon bang kaukulang halaga na kailangang bayaran sa pag-papauwi ng mga labi ng namatay na OFW? Sino ang dapat magbayad?

Oo. Humigit kumulang sa US$2,500.00 ang halagang dapat bayaran sa pagpauwi sa mga labi ng namatay na OFW. Ito ay dapat sagutin ng employer o sponsor ng OFW.

TANONG: Anu-ano ang mga kadalasang dahilan ng pagkabalam ng pag-papauwi sa labi ng mga namatay na OFW’s?

Narito ang mga kadalasang dahilan sa pagkabalam sa pag-papauwi ng mga labi ng mga namatay na OFW’s.

DAHILAN:

1)Ang kawalan ng kooperasyon ng employer o sponsor ng OFW.

Resulta: Walang maglalakad ng mga kailangang papeles para sa pag-papauwi ng namatay na OFW.

2)Ang hindi agad pagbabayad ng employer o sponsor ng kaukulang halaga sa benepisyo ng OFW sa Saudi Labor Office.

Resulta: Ang hindi pagbabayad ay nangangahulugan ng hindi pagbibigay ng Saudi Labor Office Clearance.

3)Ang mabagal na pagbibigay ng pamilya ng OFW ng sulat (Acceptance Letter) na nagsasaad kung sino ang tatanggap ng labi ng OFW sa pagdating sa Pilipinas.

Resulta: Hindi alam ng Cargo Office kung kanino ipapadala ang mga labi ng namatay na OFW.

4)Ang hindi pagbabayad ng Employer o sponsor sa hospital bills ng nasawing OFW.

Resulta: Hindi makakuha ng medical report na kailangan din sa pagkuha ng Exit Visa.

5)Ang matagal na paghihintay mula sa pulis na masiguro kung sino ang magbabayad ng blood money kung ang OFW ay biktima nang isang aksidente o krimen.

Resulta: Hindi nagbibigay ang pulis ng blood money clearance, isa sa mga kailangang papeles sa pagkuha ng exit visa kung ang nasawi ay biktima ng aksidente o krimen.

6)Ang hindi agad paglilipat sa iba ng rehistro ng sasakyan na namatay na OFW.

Resulta: Hindi magbibigay ang Immigration Office ng Exit Visa hanggat hindi naililipat sa iba ang rehistro ng sasakyan ng namatay na OFW.

PART 3: MGA TANONG AT SAGOT TUNGKOL SA PAG-UWI NG OFW.

Ang Saudi Arabia ay kabilang sa iilang mga bansa na nangangailangan ng exit visa ang lahat ng manlalakbay palabas sa bansa. Kumpara sa karamihang mga bansa na passport at plane ticket lamang ang kailangan, ang sinumang mangingibang bansa mula sa Saudi Arabia ay kinakailangang kumuha ng exit visa. Buong higpit na ipinatutupad ng kaharian ng Saudi ang patakarang ito kaya’t ang sinuman ay hindi makalabas ng bansa kapag walang tatak na exit visa ang passport.

Marami pa rin sa ating mga kababayang manggagawa ang hanggang ngayon ay hindi alam ang mahigpit na regulasyong ito ng Saudi Arabia. Gayundin, bihira sa atin ang nakakaalam na ang kawalan ng Exit Visa ang pangunahing dahilan ng pagkabalam ng repatriation ng mga stranded OFW’s.

Para sa dagdag na kaalaman ng ating mga kababayang manggagawa na nagnanais umalis ng Saudi Arabia, tunghayan ang mga sumusunod na katanungan at sagot upang lubos na matutunan ang regulasyon dito sa Kaharian.

TANONG: Saan magpatatak ng Exit Visa?

Ang Saudi Immigration Office ang ahensya ng gobyerno na nagta-tatak ng exit visa sa passport. Ang exit visa ay libre at may ibat-ibang validity periods: tatlong araw, isang lingo, dalawang lingo o dalawang buwan. Samantala kung ang validity ng exit visa ay lumipas na, kinakailangang magbayad ng multa na nagkahalaga ng SR 500.00 ($US135.00) para mairenew ang visa.

TANONG: Anu-ano ang mga requirements at kondisyon sa pagkuha ng Exit visa?

Ang mga sumusunod ang mga pangunahing requirements at kondisyon sa pagpapatatak ng exit visa:

1)Sulat ng employer/sponsor sa Immigration Office na pumapayag sa pagpapatatak ng exit visa ang passport ng worker para sa kanyang paguwi.

2)Valid Iqama. Ang manggagawang walang iqama o expired na ang iqama ay kailangang magbayad multa bago makakuha ng exit visa. Ang mga sumusunod na halaga ang dapat bayaan kung wala o expired na ang iqama.

a)1 taon – SR750 + SR500
b)2 taon – SR 1,500 + SR 500

Note: Ang halaga ng bayad ay nadadagdagan ng SR 750.00 sa bawat taon na walang Iqama.

3)Dapat bayaran ang multa sa traffic violations ganoon din ang mga unpaid telephone bills kung meron.

4)Dapat walang blotter sa pulis na siya ay runaway. Ang runaway na naka blotter sa pulis ay dapat munang magmulta na nagkakahalaga ng SR 1,000. Ito ay binabayaran sa bangko.

5)Dapat walang record sa pulis kagaya ng pag-inom o pagbebenta ng alak, immorality, pagwaldas ng pera sa kompanya, pagnanakaw at paggamit ng fake marriage contract at iba pa.

6)Dapat walang sasakyan na nakarehistro sa pangalan ng uuwing worker. Kung meron, dapat munang maibenta at mailipat sa iba ang rehistro ng sasakyan.

TANONG: Mayroon bang ibang paraan na makakuha ako ng Exit Visa mula sa Immigration Office kahit walang pahintulot ng amo o sponsor ko na ako’y uuwi?

Maari lamang makakuha ng exit visa kahit walang pahintulot ang employer kung ang Saudi Court (Labor, Primary and Higher Court) ay may kautusan sa Immigration Office na bigyan ng Exit Visa ang manggagawa. Subali’t ang korte ay makapagbibigay lamang ng kautusan kung may isinampang kaso ang manggagawa laban sa amo at napatunayan na ang amo mo ay lumabag sa batas at sa kontrata.

Samantala, ang mga babaeng domestic helpers ay dinadala sa Saudi Social Welfare Administration (SSWA), ang ahensya ng Saudi Arabia na namamagitan sa pagpapatatak ng kanilang exit visa. Dapat tandaan na ang kaso ng mga domestic helpers ay hindi sakop ng Saudi Labor Law.

TANONG: Bakit ang ibang mga employers ay ayaw tumulong sa pagkuha ng Exit Visa?

May pagkakataon na ang mga employers/sponsors ay ayaw tulungang makakuha ng exit visa ang kanilang mga workers dahilan sa mga sumusunod:

1)Kung ang worker ay hindi pa tapos ang kontrata (unfinished contract). Kalimitan, kung ang worker ay hindi nakatapos ng kontrata, ang employer ay naghihintay ng kabayaran sa visa, ticket at processing fees na ginastos niya sa pagkuha sa worker na karaniwang nagkakahalaga ng humigit-kumulang sa SR 5,000.00 (US$1,350.00).

2)Kung ang worker ay nakapaglustay ng pera ng kompanya o kung mayroon siyang utang sa kanyang mga kasamahan o employer.

3)Kung hinihintay pa ang pagdating ng kanyang kapalit.

TANONG: Wala akong sapat na pera para mabayaran ang aking mga obligasyon sa aking amo o gobyerno, makakauwi paba ako?

Ang kawalan ng pambayad sa amo at sa multa sa gobyerno ang kadalasang dahilan kung bakit nagtatagal ang solusyon ng kaso ng mga workers, lalo na yung mga runaways. Ang Philippine Embassy/POLO ay walang pondo upang bayaran ang mga obligasyon sa amo o sa gobyerno ng Saudi. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, ang POLO ay nakikipagnegosasyon sa mga employers na huwag nang singilin ang worker o mapababa ang halaga ng sinisingil sa kanila. Hinihiling din ng POLO na payagan nang umuwi ang worker. Subali’t ang negosasyon ay tumatagal dahil gusto ng employer na maibalik sa kanila ang halaga ng perang ginastos nila sa pagkuha sa worker. Samantala, kung makatuwiran ang reklamo ng runaway worker, dinadala ng POLO ang usapin sa Saudi Labor Court laban sa kanyang employer para ang korte ang mag-utos sa amo na pauwiin na ang worker.

Ang multa sa traffic violations at unpaid telephone bills ay hindi maaring ipabale-wala o mapababa sapagkat ang mga ito ay government fees na dapat bayaran. Bibihirang mangyari na ang pamahalaan ng Saudi Arabia ay nagbibigay ng amnesty para sa ganitong bayarin.

TANONG: Wala akong passport, saan itatatak ang aking Exit Visa?

Ang Consular Section ng Embassy nagkakaloob ng Travel Documents (TD) kapalit ng passport. Dito itinatatak ang exit visa. Ito ay ipinagkaloob sa OFW na may kativakan mula sa pulis na siya ay walang kaso at pinayagan ng kanyang employer/sponsor na makaalis ng Saudi Arabia.

Ang TD ay may saysay hanggang 90 araw at minsan lamang magagamit pauwi sa Pilipinas. Sinumang nangangailangan ng travel document ay kinakailangang maghanda ng photo copy ng passport o identification cards (ID’s) na makakapagpakilala ng kanyang tunay na identity.


PART 4: IQAMA or RESIDENCE PERMIT

Katanungan tungkol sa Iqama o Residence Permit:

TANONG: Is Iqama or residence permit a necessary requirement for foreign worker?

Yes. Iqama or residence permit is required to prove the worker’s identity and the purpose of his stay in the Kingdom. The worker should request his employer to apply for his Iqama to avoid inconvenience caused by police authorities and to avoid detention or possibly deportation.

TANONG: Who shall bear the cost for Iqama?

The employer shall bear the cost for Iqama. Pursuant to the Council of Ministers Decision No. 90 dated 14/5/1418H (September 15, 1997) or Royal Decree M51 dated 1415H, IQAMA or residence permit shall be borne by the employer.

TANONG: Kung ang worker ay nagbabayad ng Iqama Fees, puwede bang ma reimburse ito sa kanyang employer?

Yes. The above resolution states that the workers have the right to demand back their money if the employer had charged the fee to the workers.

TANONG: Paano?

Reimbursement Procedure:

Summarized the lists of the names of the workers corresponding the given date when they start paying the fees and the total amount. Secure a letter from our Philippine Embassy/Consulate particularly from the office of the Ambassador/Consul General or from the office of Charge de Affaires. This letter will be addressed to the Manager/Director of the Saudi Labor Office and copy furnished to Prince Salman (IMARA) asking the employer to reimburse IQAMA payment.

Sample Letter below:

The Hon. Amb. Bahnarim Guinomla
Philippine Embassy
Diplomatic Quarter
Riyadh, KSA

c.c. The Hon. Minister M. Dumia

Dear Mr. Ambassador,

We the undersigned Overseas Filipino Workers presently employed with _______ with company address at _______________________________KSA, Tel. Nos. _________.

We write this letter to seek assistance from your good office regarding the above mentioned company that has been deducting IQAMA Fees from the undersigned since __________________.

As far as we know the IQAMA Fees should be shouldered by our employer in accordance with the Council of Ministers Decision No. 90 dated 14/5/1418H or Royal Decree M51 dated 1415H and as per addendum of our contract of employment that IQAMA or residence permit shall be borne by the employer.

In view of the above, we hereby request our Philippine Embassy to intercede in our behalf or whatever legal assistance your office can provide in reference to reimbursement of the amount that we have been paying for the Iqama.

Please find our respective names with the corresponding details such as dates and amount that we paid for our IQAMA or Residence Permit.

Thank you so much.

Respectfully,


Names of Workers Date of Payment Amount

TANONG: Magkano ba ang binabayaran ng Employer sa Iqama ng worker?

The Iqama cost SR 750.00 and to be renewed every year paying the same amount.

TANONG: Can the employer withhold possession of the worker’s Iqama?

The employer has no right to keep the worker’s Iqama. Per existing regulation, the employer is required to give the original copy of Iqama to the worker. Any violation of this regulation should be reported to the appropriate Saudi Labor Office or Ministry of Interior.

PART 5: OFW/FOREIGN WORKERS BENEFITS

Sa Saudi Labor Law nakasaad ang mga benepisyo na dapat matanggap ng isang manggagawa sa kanyang pinaglingkurang kompanya o sponsor. Ang lahat ng benepisyo na ito ay dapat ibigay magmula sa kayo ay nanungkulan basi sa nakasaad ng inyong kontrata.

Ang mga sumusunod ay dapat malaman ng mga manggagawa.

A)OVERTIME PAY

TANONG: Are the workers entitled to overtime pay?

Overtime pay refers to compensation paid for services rendered in excess of the regular working hours.

Under the law, workers are entitled to overtime pay or additional wage for additional work hours rendered which shall be equivalent to the workman’s normal wage plus fifty percent (50%).

Moreover where work is performed on the weekly day or rest or on feast days or official holidays, the employer shall pay the workman additional wages for the regular or additional work hours. (Art. 151, Saudi Labor Law).

TANONG: How is overtime pay computed during Ramadan?

Should the workers be made to render additional work hours during the month of Ramadan, the basic salary should be divided by six hours a day, such being the regular number of working hours in the month of Ramadan.

Important Notes:

As a general rule, the Saudi Labor Law mandates that “a worker shall not be made to work for more than eight (8) actual working hours in any one day, or forty eight hours a week, in all months of the year, with the exception of the month of Ramadan when actual working hours shall not exceed six hours a day or thirty six hours a week, exclusive of intervals reserved for prayer, rest and meals”. (Art. 147, Saudi Labor Law).

While the law provides for 8 regular and actual working hours per day exclusive of the intervals for prayer, rest and meals, it is also authorizes the employer to require the workers to work beyond, or in excess of the 8 regular working hours.

The following are the exceptions to the 8 hour rule:

1)Nine (9) hours in certain work categories or in certain industries and operations where the workmen does not work continuously, such as seasonal establishments, hotels, snack bars, restaurants and the like.” (Art. 147, Saudi Labor Law).

2)Ten (10) Hours during Emergency or Extra ordinary days. (Art. 150, Saudi Labor Law).

3)Other cases to be determined by the Ministry of Labor.


B)ANNUAL VACATION

TANONG: What is the rule to avail of the Annual Vacation?

Annual vacation is a workers right vested by law. As such, it can not be denied the workers. Article 153 of SLL states that: “the workman who has completed one year in the service of the employer shall be entitled to an annual vacation of fifteen (15) days with full wages payable in advance.”

TANONG: Can the worker ask for a vacation leave for more than 15 days?

The worker may take an annual vacation leave for more than fifteen days subject to the consent or approval of the employer. (In some cases, the contract of employment allows for a longer period of vacation). The law provides only for the minimum number of days the worker can claim as a matter of right for a given year of service. In excess thereof, the same is left as a matter of discretion or generosity on the part of the employer.

Article 153 of the Saudi Labor Law, however, states, “the vacation shall be increased to 21 days when the workman completes ten continuous years in the service of the employer.

TANONG: Is the employer duty bound to provide for air ticket to worker availing of his annual vacation leave?

The law is silent with respect to the provision of air ticket to workers going on annual vacation. What the law requires is that the employer should bear the cost of air ticket on final leave at the end of contract.

C)LEAVE BENEFIT

1)Annual Leave
No. of Years in Service = 10 yrs
No. of Leave Credits = 15 days every year
Rate: Full Pay

No. of Years in Service = Above 10 years
No. of Leave Credits = 21 days every year
Rate: Full Pay

2)Sick Leave
No. of Leave Credits = 1 st 30 days
Rate: Full Pay
No. of Leave Credits = Next 60 days
Rate: 3 / 4 of monthly pay

3)Maternity Leave
No. of Years in Service = 3 years below
No. of Leave Credits = 4 weeks before delivery and 6 weeks after
Rate: 1 / 2 month pay

No. of Years in Service = above 3 years
No. of Leave Credits = 4 weeks before delivery and 6 weeks after
Rate: Full Pay

4)Marriage Leave
No. of Leave Credits = 3 days
Rate: Full Pay

5)Death of Spouse
No. of Leave Credits = 1 day
Rate: Full Pay

6)Death of Ascendant and Descendant
No. of Leave Credits = 1 day
Rate: Full Pay

7)Child Born to Him
No. of Leave Credits = 1 day
Rate: Full Pay

D)TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS

1)From Accommodation to job site & vice versa – Free Transportation
2)Termination of Contract by Employer – Free Transportation to point of origin
3)Vacation after Completion of Contract – Free round trip ticket
4)Final Exit after completion of contract – Free Transportation to point of origin
5)Termination of Contract by worker under Article 84 of Saudi Labor Law – Free transportation to point of origin

Article 84, Saudi Labor Law

Without prejudice to his right to an award for his period of service and indemnity for any prejudice that he may have sustained, as if the cancellation has been initiated by the employer, the workman may, without advance notice, leave the work before expiration of the contract in the following cases:

a)If the employer has not fulfilled his obligations towards the workman.

b)If the employer calls upon the workman to perform a work which is essentially different from the nature of the work for which he has committed himself under the contract or if the employer transfers the workman from his original place of work to another place, necessitating a change in his place of residence, which is apt to cause serious prejudice to the workman and has no valid reason dictated by the nature of the work.

c)If the employer or whoever is acting on his behalf has committed an assault or an immoral act against a member of the family.

d)If there is a serious hazard which threatens the safety or health of the workmen, provided that the employer has been aware of the existence of such hazard and has taken no steps to remove it.

e)If at the time of concluding the contract, the employer or his representative has misled the workman with respect or the terms of employment.

f)If the employer through his actions and particularly by his unfair treatment or by his breach of the terms of the contract, has caused the workman to appear as the party terminating the contract.

E)MEDICAL BENEFITS

1)Less than 50 workers – Free Medical Treatment and Medicine

2)More than 50 workers – Employer has to hire Nurse for his worker for first aid and Medical treatment purposes with free medicine

3)More than 100 workers – Employer has to hire physician for his workers for medical purposes with medicine.

F)HOUSING BENEFITS

Workman is entitled for free sufficient accommodation of housing allowance with the following facilities:

1)Common comfort room for every 15 workmen or less
2)Sufficient drinking water
3)Sufficient cleaning and bathing water
4)Air condition for every room
5)Sufficient lights for every room.

G)END OF SERVICE BENEFITS (ESB) or Service Award

A service award or end of service benefit refers to the incentive pay or grant given by employer in recognition of the number of years of service rendered by worker. Generally, the award or benefit is given by employer at the end of, upon the termination of the contract.

The grant of service award under Saudi Labor Law depends on the nature of the contract of employment agreed upon by the worker and employer, i.e., whether it is for a specified period or not.

1) 5 Years and below
a) Wages: Basic + Allowances
b) Specified Contract: 1 / 2 month pay
c) Unspecified Contract: 1/6 of months pay

2) Above 5 years but below 10 years
a) Wages: Basic + Allowances
b) Specified Contract: 1 month pay
c) Unspecified Contract: 2 / 3 of months pay

3) Above 10 Years
a) Wages: Basic + Allowances
b) Specified Contract: 1 month pay
c) Unspecified Contract: 1 month pay

I: Specified Contract

For contract with specified period, and the contract comes to an end, the worker is entitled to an award for the period of his service to be computed on the basis of half (1/2) months pay for each of the first five years and one (1) month’s pay for each of the subsequent years.

Example: 5 years & below
Computation: Basic + Allowance / 2 x 5 years = ESB
Basic pay : 1,200.00
Food Allowance : 200.00
Transpo Allowance : 200.00
Housing Allowance : 300.00
==========
Total : 1,900.00
Divide 2
==========
950.00
x 5
========== = Total ESB : 4,750.00

II: Unspecified Contract

For contract with unspecified term, the worker who resigns or cancels the same shall be entitled to one third of the award given in the case of specified period (1/6 of the award), if his service period is less than two consecutive years and not more than five years. If the service period is more than five years but less than ten years, he shall be entitled to 2 / 3 of the award. The worker shall be entitled to the full award if he has served for more than ten years. (Art. 88, Saudi Labor Law).

Example: 5 years & below
Computation: Basic + Allowance / 6 x 5 years = ESB
Basic pay : 1,200.00
Food Allowance : 200.00
Transpo Allowance : 200.00
Housing Allowance : 300.00
==========
Total : 1,900.00
Divide 6
==========
316.66
x 5
==========
Total ESB : 1,583.30


Note: Computation of ESB upon final termination of contract will be based on your current monthly basic pay and present allowances.


PART 6 (A) : TERMINATION OF CONTRACT

Kadalasan ang ating mga OFW’s ay hindi alam kung paano ang isang kontrata mag tatapos dahil sa tinatawag na Specified Contract and Unspecified Contract. Para malinaw ang mga ito sa lahat basahin ang mga sumusunod.

TANONG: When is a contract of employment deemed terminated?

There are several instances when an employment contract is effectively deemed terminated. These include, among others the following:

a) Expiration of the term or period of contract
b) Death of the worker
c) Death of employer in certain cases
d) Resignation of worker
e) Termination by employer or worker for authorized causes
f) Total disability of worker to perform work
g) Serious illness of worker resulting in long absence from work
h) Bankruptcy, dissolution and authorized shutdown of employer’s business, and

other cases ( Articles 72,73,74,82,83,84,89; SLL).

TANONG: When does the employment contract terminate in both specified and unspecified period?

A labor contract concluded for a specified period shall terminate upon the expiry of its term. If both parties continue to enforce the contract thereafter, it shall be considered renewed for an unspecified period. (Art. 72, SLL).

If the contract is for an unspecified period, either party may cancel it for a valid reason, subject to giving the other party a thirty day prior notice in respect of workman employed at a monthly rate, and a fifteen-day prior notice in respect of other workmen.(Art. 73, SLL).

TANONG: Is the requirement of advance or prior notice by either party mandatory in all cases of termination or resignation?

As a general rule, an employer or worker is required to give prior notice to either party in cases of cancellation of contract before its expiry period, or in case of resignation by worker.

Failure to observe the prescribed notice period shall make the party liable for indemnity equivalent to the worker’s pay for the notice period or the remainder thereof. (Art. 73 (b).

However, the requirement of advance notice does not apply to authorized or valid grounds for termination as provided for in Articles 83 and 84, respectively. Either party can terminate the contract without serving advance notice. Notice of termination may however be served as a matter of courtesy or practice.

PART 6 (B): VALID GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION BY EMPLOYER

TANONG: When can an employer validly and legally terminate the services of the worker?

Article 83 of SLL enumerates the valid grounds or just causes for termination of worker’s service, namely:

a)Assault by worker against the employer or against any of his supervisor
b)Failure to fulfill the essential obligations of the contract, or obey legitimate orders, or deliberately fails to observe employers instruction despite written warning
c)When the worker is proved to have committed an act affecting honesty or honor
d)Deliberate commission of any act or negligence with intent to cause material loss to employer
e)If the worker is hired on probation
f)Absence by worker without valid reason for more than 20 days subject to written warning by employer after 10 days of absence.
g)If the worker is proved to have left the hospital or place for treatment without permission
h)If the worker is proved to have divulged commercial and industrial secrets of the work in which he is engaged.

TANONG: What is the effect of termination of worker’s service under the abovementioned grounds?

Under the aforementioned provision of the Saudi Labor Law, the employer may effect the forfeiture of the worker’s termination award provided that he gives the worker a chance to explain his reasons or defense.

PART 6 (C): VALID GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION BY WORKER

TANONG: What are the instances or grounds whereby the worker can validly terminate his services from the employer?

The worker may terminate his service in the following cases allowed by law:

a)Non fulfillment of employers obligations

b)If the employer requires him to perform work essentially different from the nature of work agreed upon under the contract, or transfers residence which would cause serious prejudice to him and has no valid reason dictated by the nature of work

c)Assault or immoral act committed by employer or representative against worker or member of the family

d)If there is a serious hazard known to employer which threatens the safety or health of worker

e)If the employer or his representative has misled worker with respect to terms of employment

f)If the employer through his actions and unfair treatment, or breach of the terms of contract, has caused worker to appear as the party terminating the contract. (Art. 84, SLL).

TANONG: By terminating the contract for any of the aforementioned valid grounds, will the worker forfeit his service award or indemnity entitled him?

No. Article 84, SLL states that the worker may terminate his service before the expiration of the contract without prejudice to his right to service award and indemnity for any damage sustained by him.

To avail of this right under Art. 84, it is advised however that the worker should present his claims or actions to the competent labor office or local authorities for appropriate determination.

TANONG: Is it advisable for the worker to stop work immediately upon the occurrence of any of the grounds constituting valid termination by the worker?

The determination of the factual basis of the grounds invoked by worker for valid termination is left with the competent labor office or police authorities, where the same is disputed or denied by the employer. Such being the case, and to avoid technicalities resorted to by the employer, it is advised that the worker should avail of the assistance of the Saudi Labor Office or competent local authorities.

PART 6 (D): RESIGNATION

TANONG: Can either party (worker or employer) terminate the contract of service for no valid reason?

Yes either party may cancel or terminate the contract for no valid reason but “the party who is prejudices by such cancellation shall be entitled to an indemnity to be assessed by competent Commission provided that such assessment shall take into account actual and contingent material and moral prejudice suffered by such party.” (Art. 74, SLL).

Termination of contract by worker for any of the authorized reasons or causes (i.e., for personal and other reasons) is considered as resignation. Hence, payment of indemnity herein for failure to comply with the contract, may include actual expenses needed to get for his replacement, and such other fees as may reasonably be charged by the employer. The worker shall also bear the cost of his return ticket.

TANONG: Is acceptance by employer needed in case of resignation?

Legally, there is no need to get acceptance by employer provided that the 30 day advance notice has been complied with. However, to preserve harmonious relation with employer, it is advised that the worker should talk things out with the employer.

The employer cannot force the worker to continue with his work or duties against his consent or will, but the latter may however be made to indemnify the employer for the consequence of his act or no-compliance of contract. The employer may also request the worker, in order not to prejudice the service or disrupt the operations of his business, or for medical or humanitarian reasons as in case of medical workers, to continue with his service within reasonable period to allow time to secure for a replacement. This also holds true in case of completion of contract in the medical sector especially where the worker is supplied or hired indirectly through a local manpower contractor.

E N D

Dito po nagtatapos ang “Patnubay sa mga Manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia”. Ang mga nasa itaas ay mga mahalagang information lamang na kadalasan ay tinatanong po ng ating mga kapwa OFW’s. Sana ang patnubay na ito ay atin pong maikalat sa mga kababayan natin na walang access sa internet. Ang 21 pahina na ito ay puwede po nating ma compressed at ma print sa 5 pahina lamang back to back pages na puwede nating ipamigay sa ating mga kapwa OFW’s sa kaharian.

Sa karadagdang paglilinaw, please go to http://www.poloksa.com/ at paki download po ang “ The OFW Guide to Saudi Labor Law” by Atty. Jainal Rasul Jr, .former Labor Attache - POLO Riyadh.

Now also available in digital (.PDF) format for download. The Tagalog version of the guide is currently online. pdf/156 kb. Right-Click and Save As to your PC.

Siya Nawa tayo ay pagpalain at palaging gabayan ng ating Diyos na makapangyarihan sa lahat sa ating pang araw araw na gawain dito sa bansang Saudi Arabia.

Inyong Lingkod.

Roy Leonida
Chairman/Committee on Welfare and Protection

Committee Members:
Manuel “Bong” Amora
Ronnie Ortillo
Marben Delgado
Sanny Ingco

Note: Please be informed that the above Patnubay was based on the OLD SAUDI Labor Law. However, the new SLL that was promulgated a couple of months ago has minimal changes and nothing was changed with regards to the Articles mentioned above.

DR. ALFRED J. GANAPIN
OFW, RIYADH

AJG Tribute
Joey Badong, Bong Amora, Roland Blanco,
Mike Bolos, Vic Barrazona, Dr. Astillero
& Francis Oca
******************************
I am one of the many OFW's who truly admire the late Dr. Alfred J. Ganapin advocacies for the betterment of OFW's. A very low profile persona yet his writings and postings relates the true essence of a dedicated OFW whose contributions in our fight for OFW Empowerment will live forever.

Bong Amora
***
ALFRED GANAPIN passed away peacefully on 20th December 2004 at King Faisal Hospital, Riyadh, KSA.

He was admitted to the hospital almost a month before and courageously fought his illness day by day until his last hours.

Alfred was 43 years of age and had worked in veterinary medicine for the Ministry of Agriculture in Saudi Arabia where he lived since 1991.

Despite his busy schedule, Alfred was a passionate, committed advocate for the rights and welfare of migrant Filipinos. He campaigned for the enactment of the Philippine Absentee Voting Law and was a co-convenor of the International Coalition on Overseas Filipinos Voting Rights (ICOFVR) and a Namfrel volunteer during the absentee voting exercise in 2004.

Alfred’s poetry reflects his good humour.

White

A genetic ghost waiting for its time
to come out of the dark,
A weed sprouting, one by one,
at first, unmenacingly;
But, then, like an army or
that great white shark,
Circling my crown of youth, invading
every space, not sparingly.

I look in front of the mirror and
cry out in dismay,
“Ah! Youth, are you leaving me?”
White hairs coming out not like
the ‘darling buds of May*’
I have to ask someone to pick them
or dye them, even for a fee!

But I guess they’ll win someday
and I have to give them the crown,
For even now, they have already
invaded my nostrils!
I can’t help but look at myself
with a foolish frown,
That day may come, white hair and all,
Well? Am I thrilled!

by Alfredo Ganapin, August 21, 1996

Taken from www.cpcabrisbane.org SPAN Web Site.

OFW Guide in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy without elected representative institutions or political parties. A 1992 royal decree reserves for the King exclusive power to name the Crown Prince.

The Government has declared the Islamic holy book the Koran, and the Sunna (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad, to be the country's Constitution. The Government bases its legitimacy on governance according to the precepts of a rigorously conservative form of Islam. The Government prohibits the establishment of political parties and suppresses opposition views. In 1992 King Fahd appointed a Consultative Council, or Majlis Ash-Shura, and similar provincial assemblies.

The independence of the judiciary is prescribed by law and usually is respected in practice; the Ministry of Justice exercises judicial, financial, and administrative control of the courts. The Council of Senior Religious Scholars is an autonomous body of 20 senior religious jurists, including the Minister of Justice. It establishes the legal principles to guide lower-court judges in deciding cases.

The Mutawwa'in:

Mutawwa'in (religious police, who constitute the Committee to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice). The Government prohibits or restricts freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, religion, and movement. However, during the year the Government tolerated a wider range of debate and criticism in the press concerning domestic issues.

The Mutawwa'in have the authority to detain persons for no more than 24 hours for violations of the strict standards of proper dress and behavior. Mutawwa'in enforcement of strict standards of social behavior included the closing of commercial establishments during the five daily prayer observances, insisting upon compliance with strict norms of public dress, and dispersing gatherings of women in public places. Mutawwa'in frequently reproached citizen and foreign women for failure to observe strict dress codes, and arrested men and women found together who were not married or closely related.

Prohibitions:

The Government punishes criminals according to its interpretation of Shari'a (Islamic law). Punishments include flogging, amputation, and execution by beheading, stoning, or firing squad. In accordance with Shari'a, the authorities may punish repeated thievery by amputation of the right hand.
Persons convicted of less serious offenses, such as alcohol-related offenses or being alone in the company of an unrelated person of the opposite sex, sometimes were punished by flogging with a cane.

The law grants defendants the right to a lawyer and translator; however, defendants usually appear without an attorney before a judge, who determines guilt or innocence in accordance with Shari'a standards.

Under Shari'a as interpreted and applied in Saudi Arabia, crimes against Muslims receive harsher penalties than those against non-Muslims.

The police generally must demonstrate reasonable cause and obtain permission from the provincial governor before searching a private home; however, warrants are not required. The authorities also open mail and use informants and wiretaps in internal security and criminal matters. Security forces used wiretaps against foreigners suspected of alcohol-related offenses.

Women may not marry non citizens without government permission; men must obtain approval from the Ministry of Interior to marry women from countries outside the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. In accordance with Shari'a, women are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims; men may marry Christians and Jews, as well as Muslims.

Women legally may not drive motor vehicles and are restricted in their use of public facilities when men are present. Women must enter city buses by separate rear entrances and sit in specially designated sections. Women risk arrest by the Mutawwa'in for riding in a vehicle driven by a male who is not an employee or a close male relative.

In public a woman is expected to wear an abaya (a black garment that covers the entire body) and to cover her head and face.

The Government severely limits freedom of speech and the press. However, the authorities allow the press some freedom to criticize governmental bodies and social policies through editorial comments and cartoons. The authorities do not permit criticism of Islam or the royal family, and criticism of the Government is limited. However, during the year the authorities tolerated increasing criticism of governmental bodies and social policies in editorial comments and cartoons.

The Government strictly limits freedom of assembly. It prohibits public demonstrations as a means of political expression. Public meetings are segregated by sex. Unless meetings are sponsored by diplomatic missions or approved by the appropriate governor, foreign residents who seek to hold unsegregated meetings risk arrest and deportation. The authorities monitor any large gathering of persons, especially of women.

The Government strictly limits freedom of association. It prohibits the establishment of political parties or any type of opposition group. By its power to license associations, the Government ensures that groups conform to public policy.

Freedom of Religion does not exist:

Freedom of religion does not exist. Islam is the official religion and all citizens must be Muslims. The Government prohibits the public practice of other religions. Private worship by non-Muslims generally is permitted. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic monarchy and the Government has declared the Islamic holy book, the Koran, and the Sunna (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad, to be the country's Constitution.

Under Shariaa conversion by a Muslim to another religion is considered apostasy. Public apostasy is a crime punishable by death if the accused does not recant.

The Government prohibits public non-Muslim religious activities. Non-Muslim worshippers risk arrest, lashing, and deportation for engaging in overt religious activity that attracts official attention. During the year, senior officials in the Government publicly reaffirmed the right of non-Muslims to engage in private religious worship. In an address to the 56th session of the U.N. Committee on Human Rights in April, Prince Turki bin Muhammad bin Saud Al-Kabir, Director of the International Organizations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that "non-Muslims enjoy full freedom to engage in their religious observances in private."

However, in January 2003 the Government arrested 16 Filipino Christians during a raid on a prayer service. Government officials maintained that the religious service was attended by such a large number of persons that it could not be considered private. After 6 weeks of detention, all of the detainees were released and deported to the Philippines.

Proselytizing by non-Muslims is illegal, although there were no reports during the year of arrests for proselytizing. Persons wearing religious symbols of any kind in public risk confrontation with the Mutawwa'in. This general prohibition against religious symbols also applies to Muslims. A Christian wearing a crucifix or a Muslim wearing a Koranic necklace in public would be admonished.
Human rights group:

There are no publicly active human rights groups, and the Government has made it clear that none critical of government policies would be permitted. Prince Turki bin Muhammad bin Saud Al-Kabir, Director of the International Organizations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Government welcomed the role of international human rights mechanisms.

Research taken from:
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 31, 2003.

Note: Some are deleted for obvious reason.

By: M. Amora (KAKAMPI-KSA)

Commentary: The Blood of a Pure Filipino
By: M. Amora

Filipinos are proud of their glorious history and noble heritage, especially as, like other liberty-loving people, they have shed blood in their struggle for freedom. This pledge should infuse more love and loyalty to our country and people.

Carlos P. Romulo says: “I am a Filipino. In my blood runs the immortal seed of heroes - seed that flowered down the centuries in deeds of courage and defiance. In my veins pulses the same hot blood that sent Lapu-lapu to battle against the first invader of this land, that nerve Lakandula in the combat against the alien foe, that drove Diego Silang and Dagohoy into rebellion against the foreign oppressor."

Look at our history. We are the first in Asia to rise against Western colonialism, the first to establish a Republic. Recall the Battle of Tirad Pass and glory in the heroism of Gregorio Del Pilar and the 48 Filipinos who died but stopped the Texas Rangers from capturing the President of the First Republic.

Sabihin na natin na ang ating panahon ngayon ay hindi na katulad noon, ngunit ako pa rin ay naniniwala na darating ang araw tayo ay magkakaisa, dugo na nating mga Pilipino ang makikipaglaban kapag naaapi lalo na pag hawak natin ang katarungan. Napakailap man ang pagkakaisa ngunit hindi malayo na mamulat muli tayo sa mga iniwang bakas ng ating mga magigiting na mga bayani.

Naisagawa na natin ang pagkakaisa sa panahon ng EDSA 1, but to repeat that modern symbolic moment of freedom can never be attained no more at wala ng katulad pa ng EDSA 1, maging ang EDSA 2 or EDSA 3 at darating pang EDSA 4,5 or 6 ay hindi natin maihalintulad sa orihinal nating pakikibaka tungo sa kalayaan.

Neither another revolution can succeed again if we don’t renew attitudes and new ways of thinking. And to realized this dreams we should by now, start changes within ourselves then everything/everyone follows.

These are trying times for us all and no one would blame anyone for wanting out freedom to the street shouting and crying for changes, its their choice and perhaps it is in our blood as a Filipino.

We have only one dream, to have a nation of peace, justice and prosperity, with nature’s gifts intact, or at least a nation where there is enough love.

COOPERATIVISM and OFW Reintegration
By: M. Amora and Peter Polestico
Founding Members
Former Board of Director
Bohol Leyte OFW Cooperative (BLOC)

In today’s global scenario, the race for survival is widely perceived as an inevitable crisis each man has to wrestle. And the common denominator behind this sorry reality is more likely economic in nature. Stability has become a proverbial question not only among those countries who struggle for a stalwart economic order, but also those who have ever since been known as “Giants in Economy”. As population grows leaps and bounds every minute just as the world also gets smaller and older, so does economic trend fluctuate incomprehensibly daily. This marching of events breaking from the community of nations everyday poses us with no escape a dreary future on how to be able to cope with the demands of time.

As part of this web of uncertainties wherein we figure as the end targets of impact, we need to buckle down seriously in attacking issues that concern human subsistence particularly ourselves, our families, our children and their future. Something that could ensure us promising prospects for sustainability which would not reduce us to sub-human level. Naturally, the how-to-do-it and what-to-do questions pop out from everyone’s mind. And subsequently, each one needs a plausible answer.

The most sober response to this is the emerging viability of effort collectivism. The Philippines in the past several years in line with the Overseas Filipinos Re-integration program of both the government and the Non-Government Organizations has openly extended its approval and assistance to other NGO’s as part of its strategy in solving the surmounting economic anxieties nationwide. Under this NGO umbrella branches out the phenomenal co-operativism concept of promoting sustainable development programs in the countryside.

Cooperativism effectively has helped ease the barriers of unemployment, inflation and market stagnation. It also inspired the grassroots to involve themselves in many a productive endeavor other than being individualistic and partial. Like the “Bayanihan” concept, co-operativism has securely tightened the bonds of helping each other through aggregated virtues of self-respect, industry, self reliance, diligence, etc. towards attaining a common goal.

The unprecedented success of co-operativism can never be discredited vis-à-vis to its role in nation building. It has worked potentially and prospered lives among many of its adherents. Owing to its substantial effects, there is no way it can work in a group if the bottom line is to serve the interest of the few if not individual. It has to be functioned for a greater number of beneficiaries who will received its services.

What are the Aims & Objectives:

To foster r friendship, service, co-operation, and mutual benefit among its members in the conduct of its operation. Also, the objectives and purposes for which this co-operative is to be formed are to:

1) Encourage thrift and savings mobilization among its members for capital formation.

2) Create funds in order to grant loans for productive and providential purposes to its members.

3) Provide goods, services, welfare and other requirements of the members and its beneficiaries.

4) Engage in conduct, and carry on the business of investments and deals with the money’s and properties of the co-operative in such manner as may from time to time be considered wise or expedient for the advancement of its interests.

5)To work with the co-operative movement, non-government and government organizations/entities in the promotion of countryside development in line with the OFW Re-integration Program by both Government of Non-Government Organizations in the Philippines.

In furtherance of and not in limitation of the general powers conferred by the laws of the Philippines particularly the Cooperative Development Authority and the objectives and purposes set forth, this cooperative shall have the powers:

a)To draw, make, accept, endorse, guarantee, execute and issue promissory notes, mortgages, bills of exchange, drafts, warrants, certificates and all kinds of obligations and instruments in connection with and in advancement of its business operations;

b) To issue bonds, debentures and other obligations of the cooperative, to contract indebtedness and to secure the same with mortgage or deed of trust, or pledge or lien on any or all of the real and personal properties of the cooperative;

c) And to acquire facilities, either by or through construction, purchase, lease, bequest or donation, grants from local or foreign sources.

If co-operativism has worked out in many areas in the Philippines, then it is also workable anywhere irrespective of its geographical location, creed, religion and what not. It simply means it can be done anywhere as its inceptive location to build its databases. Although, in the long term, its main objective is to coarsely attacked the feasible market in the Philippines.

THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY LEADERS
FORUM-RIYADH "KAPIHAN SA RIYADH"















Filipino Community
Leaders Forum
By:Manuel “Bong” Amora
Chairman-Secretariat

Hangad po nating lahat na tayo ay magkakaisa, hindi lamang sa panahon na kinakailangan. Sa ating mga OFW’s sa panahon ng krisis nandoon ang pagkakaisa pero kadalasan sa ibang talakayan hindi magkatugma tugma dahil sa iba iba nating mga prinsipyo. Magagaling tayong mga pinoy hindi lamang sa larangan ng leadership maging sa mga talento na naipakita natin sa buong mundo.

Ngunit sabi nga ni Dr. J.T. Biyo “Filipinos are indeed talented and will excel at the international level in their individual capacity. But as a country, we lag behind. This is because we lack the spirit of community which is very strong among progressive nations.”

As for OFW leadership, we need a servant leader in our midst with pure intentions. That is why we need to be able to discern well so that we can separate the grain from the chaff. We need leaders with true and pure heart.

I am an ardent supporter for the cause of unity among organizations in the Kingdom and recently a newly established Filipino Community Leaders Forum that represents different organizations in Riyadh is going to meet and discuss common concerns and needs related to the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers. During the last meeting one of the topic was a possible unification of all Filipino organization in the Kingdom. Though the mentioned moved is too early to conclude, the group however expressed support for the formation of a coalition to begin actively addressing OFW’s concerns. Though this proposal calls for further organizational issues to be resolved, it does provide an organizational framework and mission for the coalition. The coalition is envisioned as a mechanism for allied member organization to coalesce of adopting a common stand on all issues affecting the Migrant Filipinos, specifically the promotion of interest and welfare of OFWs and their beneficiaries. The coalition structure is intended to provide a forum to educate and inform members about relevant OFW’s or migrant issues and trends, and to encourage the formation of partnerships in support of its mission.

I, myself as the Chair-Secretariat drafted this Guiding Principles that follows:

1)Strive for cooperation and teamwork among allied members, including a commitment to share information and resources whenever feasible. 2)Make key decisions and resolve conflicts by consensus in order to achieve mutual benefits. 3)Foster the development of a coalition reflective of the community by keeping membership open to any interested organization or entity and by embracing the diversity each member brings to the partnership. 4)Commit to coalition success by maintaining involvement and supporting regular rotation of leadership.

OFW empowerment can only be achieved with our participation, and with consensus among us, - our objective are not far beyond to materialize. Its about time that OFW’s involvement in the newly installed administration be recognized. “Our fight for Recognition continues” and we will continue to fight to the end.

As for OFW role in the recently concluded Overseas Absentee Voting, the 65% turnout of Absentee Voters worldwide is already one significant role we shared in nation building. However, it will not just end up there, as Filipinos whether we like it or not, we have an obligation to do for our country. In concert, armed with proactive ideas we can be of help in rebuilding our struggling economy. Naturally, the how-to-do-it and what–to-do questions pop out from everyone’s mind. That is the reason why the Kapihan sa Riyadh (Filipino Community Leaders Forum) exists, to share ideas and unify our vision into one cohesive action. Considering that sooner or later with or without reason, we will troop down to the exit points in the Kingdom to join with our love ones for good. And by that time in our own special way or by group initiatives, we are not only helping ourselves to go on living, we also shared the worthy cause in shaping back economic stability in the country. Whatever it is – either by individual prerogative or groups vision- it is a crucial part, we OFW’s could do in nation building.

As for OFW investment schemes, we hope that the formation of this proposed coalition, the importance of eco-tourism as part of OFW’s reintegration program will be among the first business items to be discussed. The unprecendented success of eco-tourism in different parts of Philippine Islands particularly in Bohol and Leyte and other regions can never be discredited vis-a-avis to its role in nation building.

All we need is Honesty, Perseverance, Diligence and Hardwork to fortify our strength and courage that will keep us hold on to what we – ALL aspire for – UNITY.

GOD Bless OFW’s.

Joint OAV Filcom
& PhilEmb Officials Forum

(in photo)
Labor Attache Manuel Roldan,
Vice Consul Adrian Cruz,
Bong Amora & Charge De Affaires Mariano Dumia



2004 Philippine Election
By: Mawe Amora
OAV Advocate

(Posted Prior to 2004 Election). Up to now I haven’t decided yet to whom I will vote and I am praying that when I enter the voting booth, what I will write in the ballot is the one that is truly dictated by my heart. I just don’t want that my one vote be wasted into nothing when time comes.

In my own opinion, a political platform is necessary in any particular political exercise, a platform means a party’s or candidates program of government that he/she must fulfill if ever he/she is elected. In a Democratic country like ours, we must know what a party or a candidates program of government in relation to:

A)Democracy ( Political Reforms, Community, Foreign Policy)
B) Social Justice and Equal Opportunity. Such as: Education, Health Care, Housing, Labor Relation ( includes Filipino Migrants, OFW agenda) etc.
C)Environmental Sustainability
D)Economic Sustainability

These are the 4 basic factors ( platform ) that a voters must know about his/her candidates.

We may ask this questions before we decide to whom we vote:

1. Do I really believe that GMA, FPJ, PML, RR, Bro. V will have my best interests at heart when they shape their respective platform if elected?
2. Why should I believe supporting his/her program will lead to exactly the solution I believe is right?
3. Why in the world should I think their government program will work any better than any government program of the past?
4. Does the above candidates platform change the way our government operates to change the quality of our everyday lives?
5. Does above party or candidates platform build a new vision and brings lasting opportunities to Filipinos?

As the new century dawns, we must look back with somber reflection at how we have been as a people and as a nation. Remember that our actions will be judged by future generations, we ask with foresight and wisdom, we can renew the best of our past calling forth a spirit of change and participation that speaks for a free and democratic society. It is for us to choose the future we are creating today.

I believed that every Filipinos deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Let us be compassionate and dig more better of knowing what is really good for us.

If we really want to cure a pressing social problem, take steps outside the realm of government. If you can convince people to help you succeed in a non-governmental endeavor, then your desires have a fulfilling result in our life.

And if we really want to make a noticeable difference, if we really want to improve life, do something for ourselves or to our family today. That's where we have real control, that's where we don't need to rely on politicians — or anyone else — and we can make sure the results are as what we intend.

Thanks for reading and God Bless Philippines!

On Wiretapping
By: Bong Amora

The authenticity of the tape must be the basis of any legal proceedings
against GMA. If the tape is authentic then GMA should resign out of
delicadeza. If ever she refused to resign then the opposition in Congress should ask our court allowing the wiretapped conversation as evidence to justify impeachment process.

However, no guarantee that the court will issue such an order because
wiretapping is against the law, so it means it is not admissible in court or any judicial proceeding such as an impeachment. It is now up to the members of Congress particularly the opposition to convince a court to issue such an order. Without such an order impeachment would not prosper.

Assuming that the court will issue such an order, then the impeachment process should go on, then the rule of law speak for itself. If GMA be impeached or not, whatever it is, then we have to accept the fact with open arms that we are just exercising the rule of law in a democratic form of institution.

People uprising is not the answer to all of these uncertainties, the
majority of the Filipino people do not believe anymore on revolt because we had done this before and it never worked out as what we intend.

There was only one symbolic moment of freedom or people revolt in the modern day of Philippine history and that was EDSA 1.

Again, these are trying times for all of us, we have only one dream, to have a nation of peace, justice and prosperity or at least a nation where there is enough love.

God Bless Philippines!

OWWA 2003 and 2004 Annual Audit Reports
By: Manuel A. Amora

The OWWA 2003 and 2004 Annual Audit Reports at http://www.coa.gov.ph/COA_htm/Audit/AAR.htm under Government Owned and/or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Cluster VI (Social, Cultural and Scientific).

The following must be fully explain by OWWA to OFW’s in which they owe the funds.

1) OWWA must recover the unredeemed P550.86 million investments in the Smokey Mountain Project; and as long as the Home Guaranty Corporation fails to settle or reimburse the said amount there will be an issue on this subject.

2) OWWA must liquidate cash advances amounting to P129.89 million granted in CYs 2003 and prior years.

3) OWWA must recover some receivables from Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) the amount of P48.75 million to Government Service Insurance system (GSIS) amounting to P38.32 million.

4) OWWA must provide a concrete explanation on the discrepancy of P41.15 million between the shared/reciprocal accounts of the Regional Field Units and the Head Office.

The COA report says the OWWA Financial Statement was in conformity with general accepted accounting principles based on OWWA financial position as of 31 December 2004. It added however, that these financial statements are the responsibility of the Agency’s management and COA’s duty is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on their audit. Also, be noted that no specific comments whether there are any misappropriation of funds.

However, a news report (Manila Times) stating that COA issued a statement that there was a questionable P40 M perks to POEA from OWWA. Further POEA officials did not deny the existence of perks or what they call it as incentives.

So it is very clear that there are unexplained transactions and inconsistencies on their financial statements and OWWA owes an explanation to OFW’s from where this money came from.

Presently, our friends in advocacy (OWWA Issue) based in Manila particularly the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMAP) and Phil. Migrants Rights Watch and OFW organization globally are now in the process of finding appropriate legal action we could possibly file based on the so called misappropriation of funds.

Further a Task Force within the OFW/Filcom globally was initially created for this purpose and am glad to inform you-all that KSA based Filcom are part of the team. In fact KSA based OFW are the ones spearheading for the abolition of OWWA $25.00 fees. (See news item in Arab News and Philippine Daily Inquirer in Inq7.net web site).

The mentioned task force are studying the full contents of the COA report to understand the basis of any demands we want to pursue. Some of the following are to be considered:

1)Get hold of a copy of the COA report so we have a better /detailed
understanding of the findings and pin down what exactly are the issues
/demands to pursue. Get hold also of the OWWA Board of Directors Resolution authorizing appropriation of the 40 Million peso perks.

2) Get legal advice on legal course of action we could take. What do
we want to get out of this legal process?

3) Draft a common global petition letter containing our demands/actions under points 1and 2 above which we will ask all partner organization and individuals in this Forum to promote and mobilize support in the form of signatures to the petition in their countries.

4) Draft a letter of support to COA and pursue clarificatory questions
if there are any.

5) Get commitment from country focal points particularly in countries where there are significant number of OFWs contributing to the Fund to undertake information/education campaign among their constituency regarding the COA report and implications.

6) Prepare a fact sheet or a Question/Answer Sheet : short, concise to
support information campaign on the COA report.

7) Task Force suspend payment of $25.00 contribution

Additional Proposed Action Points:

a) Expand coverage of the action initiated in KSA.

b) To understand whether we can take other course(s) of action apart from the legal case already filed in the Pasay City Court for the suspension of this contribution. Can we , for instance, call on OFWs to voluntarily suspend payment of their contribution? If not, why not? What is the implications?

c) With the COA report, there is already a legal and moral justification
not to pay for this contribution and POEA/OWWA to reform and be more accountable and to negotiate OFWs direct participation in
the management of this Fund?

d) We also need to produce a basic fact sheet addressed to OFWs about their $25 contribution.

This fact sheet is to focus on their entitlements/ benefits but
instead it should describe the current amount already in the hands of OWWA;

what the issues are? Why was a case filed in the court ? It should explain that OFWs contributing to this Fund have the power to demand from POEA/OWWA how these funds should be managed /appropriated and why it's important for them to support a call for direct representation in the management of this
Fund.

The above sequence of information will provide us-all an overview with understanding as to how we can contribute or share or act in our continuing fight for changes in some questionable agencies in our bureaucracy.

Bong Amora

Bagong Bayani Award

This has reference to the recent reports on the Bagong Bayani Award, instituted by the Manila-based Bagong Bayani Foundation to honor overseas Filipino workers who have rendered outstanding service to the nation while abroad or have been of exceptional help to their fellow OFWs. These are laudable objectives and these men and women deserve to be honored for their service to their nation and compatriots.

However, I feel that there is another group that deserves to be honored more, if judged on the basis of the contributions they have made to the prosperity of the Philippines and its citizens. I am referring to the companies in the Kingdom that employ millions of Filipinos. In view of this, it is suggested that a separate award be instituted to recognize those companies that promote and protect their workers’ rights. That will be an acknowledgment of the effort these Saudi companies have made to create a just and humane workplace for migrant workers and also of the role of the Filipino migrant workers in building a healthy national economy.

While thus appreciating the private sector companies that do their best to comply with government policies to safeguard the rights of foreign workers, it is also necessary to acknowledge that many others fail to do so. There are many cases where contract obligations are violated and workers’ rights denied. These cannot be ignored any further. A body that brings together government agencies, companies, civil organizations and migrant-worker organizations which will provide a platform to discuss, review and coordinate efforts to create a better labor and industrial environment will go a long way toward addressing these problems.

Manuel A. Amora
Arab News
published 9 March 2005

MANUEL AMORA 

OFW Representation

OFW’s are fragmented that’s the main reason that up to now we are still unrecognized as a special sector.

Well, sad to say that the problem lies within us and these must be cured, we need to cure this problem once and for all, in order to go on with our visions for the welfare of OFW’s.

Politically speaking, the main issue of OFW representation in government policy-making bodies particularly in Congress is the problem of National Leadership among our ranks. Our continuing saga in the fight for OFW recognition and empowerment can only be achieved through a unified collective effort among us.

In the last previous elections, many OFW groups vying seats in Congress that undeniably polarized one common vote for our sector. Imagine the percentage outcome of the votes in last elections would be? If we are united for a one solid voice/vote for a one particular party. There must be a coalition or forged alliance between OFW party list groups/OFW organizations and form at least one solid group to be elected in Congress or else we will faced the same embarrassing result for migrant sector and OFW’s be constantly unrecognized.

Unification is very elusive among us because of lack of patriotism or any real attachment among each other for the good of OFW’s in general. The main solution is to set aside individual/group interests and focused more in determining the preeminent solution for common interest of its members. Though, it is sad to say that we OFW’s even debate, argue and lay blame with each other, rather than come to terms with the fact that there is still a way for a joined effort in pursuing our united visions for the betterment of the future generations of OFW’s.

First and foremost the government should provide or perhaps WE should find ways to empower migrants, our families and OFW communities in their respective locality to enhance their involvement in the affairs of governance locally. OFW’s Reintegration Program must be countryside/regional based, that’s where we need to start and when unity achieved then there is no reason why OFW’s can reach a unified effort in national scenario.

Surrounding the seemingly unsurpassable dilemma of unity these are the main obstacle-factionalism, the significant lack of a unified effort among us. If we can strengthened the OFW national party leadership, kahit sino pang uupong Presidente ng Pinas ay hindi malayong kokonsultahin niya ito about OFW concerns that includes OFW appointments in government agencies na nangangalaga sa mga kapakanan ng OFW’s. Therefore, it is important to widen up information campaign about the significance of OFW Party List groups in the coming election.

Dilemma of Unity:

Kindly allow me to share below Smith and Berg opinion about Dilemma in Unity:

Dilemmas inherent in organizing are those of unity and dissent, solidarity and diversity, deliberation and action (Smith and Berg). Unity gives an organization the power to act -- combining its member's resources is the foundation of its power. But we lose a capacity to discern common interest if the organization fragments into factions -- each of which views its own interests as the interests of the whole. We also lose the capacity to mobilize common resources on behalf of those interests. On the other hand, too much unity (Janis's "groupthink") can stifle an organization by destroying its responsiveness to its constituency and its capacity for renewal. For democratic organizations, responsiveness and renewal are directly tied to legitimacy of dissent. Accountability only works if linked to open debate of different points of view. The tension is in the fact that the more united a group, the better it can "take a hill"; but the more diverse a group, the better decision it can make about whether to "take the hill." Research shows dissent (psychologists call it "deviance") is associated with better decisions, but poorer performance. Unanimity is associated with better performance, but poorer decisions.

A community we can enter any time we want (when it is convenient, when it is doing what we want) and exit any time we want (when it is inconvenient, when we disagree) is a community of rights, but no obligations. But without obligations it never becomes a community. Obligations give us an interest in making the community work; even when it is difficult and we disagree with it. Community without obligations can never generate social capital because we never know if there is "a there, really there" when we need it to be. Consumers enter a market place at will, exercise their preferences, and exit. But they are not responsible for managing the market place. They just use it. Citizens, on the other hand, are responsible for the governance of their community. Their acceptance of obligations to it entitles them to voice within it (see Socrates on this).

Bong Amora

H.E. Vice President Noli De Castro
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace-Manila

Dear Mr. Vice President,

In behalf of the OFW’s in the 2nd and 3rd Industrial Areas in Riyadh our gratitude and appreciation for your presence tonight. We understand that your official visit is to pay the country’s last respect to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque, the late King Fahad yet we are glad enough for you are here with us.

We write this letter Mr. Vice President and we take this opportunity to hand with you in person our position on the Government Reintegration Program and for you to facilitate our recommendation through your honorable office as the Presidential Adviser on OFW Affairs.

Mr., Vice President, you are already aware that the government approach on reintegration program is less effective. Not that the government hasn’t tried helping OFWs find a stable means of income once they return for good. Indeed, since 1988, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has run a livelihood program aimed at helping facilitate the gradual reintegration of the returnees into the economic mainstream. But such efforts have not had much effect.

GOVERNMENT OFW’S REINTEGRATION PROGRAM:

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) admits that what they have achieved so far on the government reintegration program “are just a drop in the bucket.”

Now, if our government reintegration program will be rendered ineffective, we OFW’s is jobless again, that could mean fighting over the few jobs to be had in our country, as well as trying to reacquaint ourselves with what many have become the now foreign ways of home. Obviously, many of us will need help but as other returning OFWs have already found out, they will be getting too little of that from the government that calls us “modern day heroes.”

WE urge our Government through the Presidential Adviser on OFW Affairs to:

1)Recognize OFWs as a "special sector" and strengthen OFW representation in policy -formulating boards;

2)Make economic and social reintegration a centerpiece of the country's overseas employment program sustained by legislative and executive initiatives;

3)Commit human, financial and other requisite resources for the comprehensive approach to OFW reintegration;

4)Provide empowering mechanisms to migrants, their families and communities, and advocates to enhance their involvement in the affairs of governance locally and overseas;

5)LGU participation in the OFW Reintegration program should be made mandatory;
6)OFW Reintegration Program should be region/countryside-based.

WE thank you in advance Mr. Vice President in accepting this letter recommendation for the welfare of the OFW’s in our eventual return to our homeland.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES:

A few months ago we have been in the midst of a brutal wave against fiscal crisis and just recently the clock of history in the Philippine politics will never be the same again. The present controversies surrounding the administration due to alleged electoral deceit in which at present undeniably divides our nation.

Yet, We have still hope that our country as a whole will stand the test of time and only God knows when it will be.

We hope that our leaders will realize soon that WE the Filipino people are the ones suffering on this political and economic uncertainties we are experiencing today. We need a true leadership that can pursuit of a better future for the next generation to come. We need someone like you Mr. Vice President that can discern the innermost being of the life of a poor Filipino.

We have confidence in you, Mr. Vice President that you will face the national issues of great importance, to share interests and values with the Filipino people, and have a common commitment to democratic institutions, regional stability, economic prosperity and the pursuit of peace.

Again we, thank you so much in your presence tonight.

Respectfully,

Manuel A. Amora
Committee Chairman-Political and Legal Affairs
KAKAMPI-KSA
Kalipunang Kaakabay ng Manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia

Tax Exemption, A Token Gift
By: Manuel A. Amora

This possible move to draft a bill taking back tax exemption from OFW’s could disrupt the entire movement of Philippine Economy, if we act together there’s a way. We should not let this only token gift from the Government who dubbed us Modern Day Heroes be taken back from us.

Again, why does our Government keep an eye to OFW’s whose life are already miserable away from home and the positive return that they only gave us while saving our economy is the tax exemption law for OFWs?

OFW’s remittances contributed a lot to our ailing economy, our remittances are the source of foreign exchange that keeping our economy afloat and likewise offset the current impact of high oil prices. All of these, amidst political and economic crisis, We, OFW’s continuously serving and helping our nation to stand the test of time.

And now they are going to take it back from us? This is a clear blatant insult to us OFW’s, it is acceptable to be slapped in the face rather than being insulted in front of the millions of Filipinos. This Government continue and continuously degrading us, squeezing all the possible sweats we can pour saving the poor lives of Filipinos back home.

Despite from all of these contribution, we are undeniably the lowest sector of the Philippine society. Our struggle and fight for OFW empowerment continues as long as there are Domestic Helpers raped and maltreated, worst some goes home in boxes. As long as there are stranded OFW’s waiting government concrete response on their agonies whose only wish is to be with their loved ones back home. As long as the problem of contract substitution still exist in every corner of the Kingdom, thus our rights are not been well protected due to weak labor bilateral agreements between the Philippines and host country.

Our continuing saga for political empowerment continues as long as there are OFW’s languishing in jail without proper legal representation from our government. The DFA reported that there are 4, 775 Filipinos, including 1,103 Pinays, in foreign jails, 213 of the numbers mentioned are in different jails in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The case filed by Phil. Migrants Rights Watch in behalf of the OFW’s questioning the legality of the $25 OWWA contribution that is supposedly be paid by our employer and not from us, is up to now pending for decision by our Supreme Court.

And now they’re going to add more agonies, to the agonies that we already had….

Once again, let us joined hands together and blocked all the possible entry points that this Draft Bill might be going through…

We made it before, there are no reasons why we can not do it again.

I am not one of those High Paying OFW’s, I am just an ordinary office employee but I have a heart of an OFW.