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Dubai Police Hails Starbucks Employee for Honesty for Returning Customer's Bag Full of Cash

2019-09-12T04:15:00.002-07:00

Dubai Police Hails Starbucks Employee for Honesty for Returning Customer's Bag Full of Cash

A Starbucks employee is being hailed as a “true example of honesty” after she returned a customer’s bag containing cheques and a huge amount of cash.

Mae Anne Olmidillo from Philippines, who works as a branch manager at the Starbucks outlet in Dubai Mall, was honored by the Dubai police in presence of her coworkers on August 29.

The bag also contained a cheque book and some documents.

The 27-year-old said that she and a barista Rosslyn Nini spotted the bag on April 18.

"It is our protocol to check what’s inside the bag first in order to know whom to return it to, but we can only do it with a witness and on camera. I immediately alerted my district manager and our loss-prevention officer on what to do next,” Olmidillo, who has been in Dubai for six years, told Gulf News.

Olmidillo and her coworkers were shocked when they opened the bag: it contained Dh195,000(approx. Rs 38 lakh) in cash, two cheques for Dh500,000(approx. Rs 97 lakh) and Dh6,250 (approx. Rs 12 lakh) and some documents.

“We waited for the customer to come back to the cafe to collect it, but no one came. So I immediately called the police to report the matter and we turned it over to police officials at the Bur Dubai Police station so they could locate the owner,” she added.

The owner, a Russian broker, collected the bag from the police station.

“Dubai Police officials told me that the value of contents of the bag was more than Dh200,000 because there were title deeds and other important documents. The bag, they said, belongs to a Russian broker,” she said.

“I stayed at the police station until the owner arrived. He thanked me for returning the bag to him. He said he was very tired and sleepy that day and was unaware of what had happened.”

Colonel Rashid Mohammad Al Shehi, deputy director of Bur Dubai police station, called Olmidillo “a true example of honesty.”

“I call on residents and citizens to follow Mae Anne’s example if they ever find themselves in a similar situation,” he was quoted as saying.

Olmidillo said the recognition was a “great honour for my colleague and for me as a Filipino.”

She said she didn’t think twice of returning the bag to the owner as she believed in “the Golden Rule ‘Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.’”

Source: Trending Desk

Philippine vs Angola Livestream in FIBA World Cup 2019

2019-09-04T01:21:00.000-07:00

Watch the livestream of Philippine vs Angola game in FIBA World Cup 2019.

Brazil vs Greece at the FIBA World Cup 2019 Game Highlights

2019-09-03T08:29:00.004-07:00

Watch the game highlights between Brazil and Greece at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

FINAL SCORE:

Brazil - 79
Greece - 78

Team USA winning by one point against Turkey in FIBA World Cup 2019

2019-09-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Team USA won their second game match against Turkey. Escaping by a narrow one point lead in their overtime game in FIBA World Cup 2019 with a final score USA 93 - Turkey 92. Watch the game highlights below.

Japan vs Czech Republic FIBA World Cup 2019 Game Highlights

2019-09-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

Watch the game highlights between Japan and Czech Republic at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

FINAL SCORE:

Japan - 76
Czech Republic - 89

Montenegro vs New Zealand FIBA World Cup 2019 Game Highlights

2019-09-03T07:33:00.001-07:00

Watch the game highlights between Montenegro and New Zealand at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

FINAL SCORE:

New Zealand - 93
Montenegro - 83

Germany vs Dominican Republic Fiba World Cup 2019 Game Highlights

2019-09-03T07:15:00.002-07:00

Watch the game highlights game between Germany and Dominican Republic at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Final Score:

Germany - 68
Dominican Republic - 70

USA vs Turkey Fiba World Cup 2019

2019-09-03T06:19:00.004-07:00

Watch live game Fiba World Cup 2019

USA vs Turkey

Philippines vs. France - Full Game - FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017

2017-06-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Check out the game between Philippines and France from the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017.

Philippines vs Romania - Full Game - FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017

2017-06-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

Check out the game replay between Romania and Philippines from the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017.

DTI Accredited Philippine Cargo Forwarder with their UAE Agent

2017-06-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest lists of accredited cargo forwarders from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as of May 31, 2017.

UAE Agent/Forwarder	Philippine Freight Forwarder Counterpart
Abu Dhabi
Omeir Travel Agency LLC	Associated Freight Consolidators, Inc.
Luzan Express Cargo	Brand Expert Freight Forwarder, Corp
Golden Box Corner Cargo Services	Cadano Cargo Transport Services, Inc.
Coriner Express Cargo	Coriner Global Express Logistics and Trading Corporation
Khoory Cargo	NRU Cargo Forwarder
Dubai
DCC Balikbayan Box Cargo Services L.L.C	Brand Expert Freight Forwarder, Corp.
Flomic Freight & Logistic LLC	Brand Expert Freight Forwarder, Corp.
AFZ Cargo Services LCC	Coriner Global Express Logistics and Trading Corporation
GP Express	I-Genex Cargo Forwarder Inc.
Makati Express Cargo	Kingspoint Express & Logistics
LBC Express Inc. - Dubai Branch	LBC Express, Inc.
Highlights Express Air and Ocean Cargo	LCSN Express Movers, Inc.
Padz Cargo Services	LCSN Express Movers, Inc.
Precious Sea & Air Cargo Est	LCSN Express Movers, Inc.
Makati Express Cargo	Makatiexpress Cargo, Inc.
Crystal International Cargo L.L.C.	Mar Freight Forwarding Services
Pinas Express Cargo	NRU Cargo Forwarder
CargoNet	RDM Logistic Express
Crystal Int'l. Cargo LLC	Roxas Cargo Express
Sky Freight Cargo LLC	Sky Land Brokerage Inc.
Prime Express Int'l Courier LLC	Speedstream Transport
Frico International LLC	Trico International Forwarding Phils., Inc.

Dubai Airports will use face scanner technology

2017-06-14T10:14:00.001-07:00

The Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has signed up an agreement with a British company named “ObjectTech” to put up biometric face scanner technology that will scan passenger faces to eliminate long queues at the passport control counters and go right away to baggage reclaim.

Dubai, which handled 83.6 million passengers last year and expecting the number of arriving passengers, will increase this year. Dubai Airports, the operator of the world’s busiest airport, will test this new facial recognition technology.

This facial scan will be done through the use of LIDAR technology, a technology currently used in Google’s driverless cars.

CEO of ObjectTech and co-founder Paul Ferris told UK media, “This is an identity that is fit for the digital age.”

“Dubai is really committed to improving the lives of their citizens and visitors through technology and we’re very excited to be a part of making that a reality.”

Source : Arabian Business

5 facts about the Qatar blockade and its effects on OFWs

2017-06-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

In another display of deep-seated divisions and internal squabbles in the Arab world, three Persian Gulf monarchies recently decided to place a de facto siege on the tiny, prosperous Sheikhdom of Qatar.

All of a sudden, one of the world’s richest countries has found itself precariously isolated—and its very existence put into question.

The move was led by Saudi Arabia, the effective leader of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is composed of all littoral states in the Persian Gulf with the exception of Iran, the sole Shia-ruled, non-Arab nation in the area. There are five important things to keep in mind as far as the ongoing crisis is concerned:

1. Qatar looks more vulnerable than it seems. Saudi Arabia just shut off the Sheikhdom’s only land border, where up to 40 percent of food imports pass through. The three immediate neighbours states of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE also restricted Qatar’s access to their airspace. Flight to and from Qatar were suspended by three regional states -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain -- who also moved to expel any Qatari national within their territories. Egypt, a staunch ally of Saudi Arabia, also joined the blockade.

As a result, the viability of one of the leading airlines in the world, Qatar Airways, is now under question, since even flying out of Doha means painfully meandering through restricted airspace, which raises fuel costs and adds to travel time. Restrictions on food imports also led to panic buying among the mostly wealthy Qatari citizens. Local stock markets were also in tailspin, showing the depth of investment anxiety over the latest diplomatic crisis in the region.

2. Qatar is not totally hopeless. With a population of barely two million people, mostly migrant workers and expats running managerial jobs, the country boasts $335 billion in sovereign wealth funds -- excess cash that has allowed a tiny nation to become a major player in global financial hubs, from New York to London. As the world’s largest exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which hasn’t been affected yet by the Saudi-led siege, the Qatari economy is expected to muddle through a potentially prolonged blockade.

As the host to America’s largest military base, Qatar can also count on the United States (but not necessarily President Donald Trump) to mediate the crisis. Kuwait is also trying to mediate between the disputing parties, while Iran has extended help by offering to provide food supplies to Qatar.

3. If the crisis continues for months, and supply of cement and other raw materials remains severely restricted, the Qatari economy could dramatically slowdown. This could undermine mega-projects ahead of the 2022 World Cup, among other ambitious infrastructure plans in the country; affect banking, travel and tourism industries; undermine consumer confidence and even lead to a recessionary spiral.

There are as many as 250,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the country, who are responsible for almost $300 million in remittances. Employment opportunities for them and other prospective Filipino employees are bound to shrink dramatically.

4. War is extremely unlikely if not unthinkable. This isn’t the First or Second Gulf War. Though certain leaked information and recent developments (e.g., alleged Qatari ransom payments to extremist groups and Trump’s visit) were seen as triggering factor/s, at its very heart the current crisis is the result of a broader attempt by Saudi Arabia to push back against its rivals, namely Iran, and certain Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

In particular, Riyadh isn’t pleased with Doha’s historically friendly relations with Tehran. There was a similar attempt in 2014 to isolate Doha, but disputing parties eventually managed to find a common understanding as a new king took over the Qatari kingdom. I am cautiously optimistic that the crisis could be defused in coming weeks, assuming mediators play their role effectively and Doha manages to appease the concerns of its more powerful Arab neighbors, namely Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

5. This isn’t and won’t be the first crisis in the Middle East, including its most prosperous and relatively stable sub-region, the Persian Gulf. Perhaps more than ever, it is important for the Philippine government to revisit its labor export policy, particularly in the Middle East, and instead focus on making sure that our own robust growth at home is transformed into a more inclusive and egalitarian form of national development.

Sending millions of OFWs to an inherently unstable region, which is also suffering from structural economic problems, isn’t sustainable. According to the International Monetary Fund, the GCC countries, which enjoyed a budget surplus of $600 billion half a decade ago, are expected to run a $700 billion budget deficit by 2020.

In the meantime, the Philippine Congress and Department of Budget and Management should expand the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies so that they can provide emergency services should the situation in the Persian Gulf escalate into full-blown conflict or an economic collapse in Qatar and other neighboring Sheikhdoms.

Source : GMA News

DOT released a new promotional video

2017-06-12T09:55:00.002-07:00

Department of Tourism launched a promotional video in a new tourism campaign titled "Sights."

Watch DOT new promotional video below...

RTA enabled the IVR System on its credit card payment service

2017-06-11T07:55:00.004-07:00

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) keenness to save customers’ time and effort, serves there third Strategic Goal ‘People Happiness’ and conforms to the Smart City drive of Dubai Government, last Sunday (June 10, 2017) announced that it has enabled the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system of its hotline number 8009090.

In cooperation with the digital communications specialist company Avaya, RTA customers can now use the IVR system for the credit card payment service, and pay for a number of services, including:

- Traffic fines
- Driver license renewal
- Replacement of lost/damaged driving licenses
- Renewal of vehicle registration
- Replacement of lost/damaged vehicle registration
- New Dubai Brand Vehicle Plate

Source: Gulf News

Philippine Embassy in Qatar Official Advisory to All Filipinos in Qatar

2017-06-08T10:18:00.001-07:00

Philippine Embassy in Qatar official advisory to all Filipinos in Qatar please read it below:

SSS Pensioners P1,000 increase approved

2017-01-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

GOOD NEWS TO ALL SSS PENSIONERS:

President Rodrigo Duterte approved a P1,000 across-the-board increase in pensions for SSS pensioners effective January 2017 as well as a 1.5% increase in contribution rate and adjustment in the maximum salary ceiling from P16,000 to P20,000 effective May this year. This was announced by Malacañang this afternoon.

SSS President Emmanuel Dooc said the pension adjustment differential will be paid along with the February pension.

Qantas the safest airlines in the world

2017-01-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

The world’s safest airline:
Qantas

The 19 other safest airlines (in alphabetical order)
1.Air New Zealand
2.Alaska Airlines
3.All Nippon Airways
4.British Airways
5.Cathay Pacific Airways
6.Delta Air Lines
7.Etihad Airways
8.EVA Air
9.Finnair
10.Hawaiian Airlines
11.Japan Airlines
12.KLM
13.Lufthansa
14.Scandinavian Airline
15.Singapore Airlines
16.Swiss
17.United Airlines
18.Virgin Atlantic
19.Virgin Australia

A yearly survey conducted by AirlineRatings.com that Qantas was declared safest airlines in the world. There were 425 airlines surveyed, with 148 of them earning top seven-star safety ranking and 50 achieving only three stars or less

Phlippine Agency : MISSION WAY MANPOWER SERVICES INC.

2017-01-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

Agency Name :
MISSION WAY MANPOWER SERVICES INC.

POEA License No. :
POEA-084-LB-031612-R
Verify POEA License

Address :
1828 SAN MARCELINO ST., MALATE Manila Metro Manila

Contact No. in the Philippines:
516-0409

Website :
http://www.missionwaymanpower.com

Latest Job Openings

CAREGIVER-FEMALE
500 vacancies United Arab Emirates

AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR / FITNESS INSTRUCTOR
50 vacancies United Arab Emirates

ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR
50 vacancies United Arab Emirates

UAE Public Holidays for 2017 Announced

2017-01-03T07:41:00.002-08:00

New Year
Jan 1, 2017

Israa & Miaraj Night*
April 24, 2017

Ramadan expected to begin*
May 27, 2017

Eid Al Fitr*
June 25, 2017

Hajj season*
August 23, 2017

Arafat Day*
August 31, 2017

Eid Al Adha*
September 1, 2017

Hijri New Year's Day*
September 22, 2017

Martyr's Day
November 30, 2017

Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday*
November 30, 2017

UAE National Day
December 2, 2017

*Islamic holiday exact dates are subject to moon sighting and may differ from date given.

2017 Philippines National Holidays

2017-01-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

Regular holidays
New Year's Day - January 1 (Sunday)
Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday - April 13
Good Friday - April 14
Labor Day - May 1 (Monday)
Independence Day - June 12 (Monday)
National Heroes Day - August 28 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day - November 30 (Thursday)
Christmas Day - December 25 (Monday)
Rizal Day - December 30 (Saturday)

Special (non-working) holidays
Chinese New Year - January 28 (Saturday)
EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary - February 25 (Saturday)
Black Saturday - April 15
Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Monday)
All Saints Day - November 1 (Wednesday)
Last Day of the Year - December 31 (Sunday)
Additional special (non-working) day - October 31 (Tuesday)

Watch New Year's Eve Fireworks in Dubai

2017-01-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

Thousands of people waited for hours around Downtown Dubai to enjoy the spectacle and watch
the spectacular display of lights that lasted for 8 minutes. It was shoot off from 23 locations in Downtown Dubai, with Burj Khalifa at its centre.

Philippine Agency: Victoria Services Inc.

2017-01-02T09:37:00.002-08:00

Agency Name :
VICTORIA SERVICES INC.

POEA License No. :
POEA027LB020516R
Verify POEA License

Address :
Units 401403, 4F, Scandic Palace Cond, 4291 Emilia Palanan, Makati City Metro Manila

Contact No. in the Philippines :
2395834

Latest Job Openings

ALL AROUND BEAUTICIAN
10 vacancies United Arab Emirates

GLASS INSTALLER TECHNICIAN
10 vacancies United Arab Emirates

HOME CARE NURSE WITH DHA LICENSE/ELIGIBILITY
50 vacancies   United Arab Emirates

HOMECARE NURSE WITH HAAD AND VERIFIED DATAFLOW
100 vacancies United Arab Emirates

JUNIOR/SENIOR FLORIST
10 vacancies  United Arab Emirates

MANICURE/PEDICURE
10 vacancies  United Arab Emirates

NAIL TECHNICIAN
10 vacancies  United Arab Emirates

STAINED GLASS ARTIST
10 vacancies   United Arab Emirates

STAINLESS STEEL FABRICATOR TECHNICIAN
10 vacancies  United Arab Emirates

Customs to impose tighter rules for balikbayan boxes

2015-08-18T01:33:00.003-07:00

The Bureau of Customs said yesterday it may impose tougher measures on balikbayan boxes for fear that these tax-free packages are being used by traders to smuggle goods into the country.

“The existing rules are obsolete and we may have to reassess our coordination and processes with consolidators for stricter and improved compliance,” Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said in a statement.

“Our spot checks from several warehouses show how misconstrued the rules may have become. People are sending in used clothing, home appliances and items of the same kind that can well be used for commercial purposes,” he said.

Lina recounted that some items inside these balikbayan boxes could be considered as smuggled goods due to non-compliance with the Philippine Tariff and Customs Code.

Some packages were found to be “spilling with undervalued items and under-declared contents” during the bureau’s spot checks, he said.

Balikbayan boxes are duty and tax-free packages designed for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sending home gifts to their families, the BOC said.

However, it should always be noted that these packages have limitations, such as contents not exceeding $500 in value, Lina said.

“Canned goods, grocery items and other household effects must not exceed a dozen a kind, while apparel whether used or new must not exceed three yards per cut,” Lina said.

He added that one consignment per sender during a one-month period is allowed.

These packages should also not contain any banned or regulated firearms and ammunition, prohibited drugs, pornographic material and gambling material.

“Home appliances are not allowed unless these are consigned to returning Filipino residents and overseas contract workers. We will seize these prohibited shipments and revoke registrations of forwarders or consolidators if we find any violations,” Lina said.

He further said examination of the shipments is allowed and if a receiver finds any items missing from the packages, he may report this to the proper authorities.

Congressional probe sought

Meanwhile, a group of OFWs immediately sought an investigation into the reported plan of the BOC to impose additional taxes on balikbayan boxes and other consolidated shipments.

Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante party-list chair, said Congress must look into this.

According to Regalado, Migrante has received information that the BOC plans to increase clearing fees for all containers entering Philippine ports to as much as P100,000 to P120,000.

She reported that the first increase was actually imposed last July and another will reportedly be implemented this October.

“What is the reason and rationale for this increase? Why was it imposed despite strong opposition from forwarders and OFWs alike? Where will the added cost go?” Regalado asked.

She said the least the government could do to help the millions of Filipino workers abroad is to stop any money-making schemes that will affect them and their families.

“Reports from freight forwarders and stakeholders in the balikbayan box industry showed that no consultations were held, nor was there an official memorandum to announce the new round of increases,” Regalado said.

Freight forwarders earlier complained that the BOC has approved an increase of taxes covering all shipments in a consolidated container from P80,000 to P180,000.

The imposition of additional taxes on consolidated shipments should be thoroughly investigated by Congress when legislators hear the agency’s proposed 2016 budget, Regalado said.

She said the additional taxes, which could translate to P325 per balikbayan box, would surely be passed on by the freight forwarders to OFWs.

Source: philstar.com

OFWs join #DiAko4Sale campaign

2015-08-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

Filipino workers around the world showed their support for the global observance of World Day Against Trafficking by posting selfies bearing the hashtag #DiAko4Sale.

This is part of the social media campaign of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Pinoy Blog/OFW Awards (PEBA), two non-government organizations helping in the fight against modern-day slavery.

"As an NGO, we receive several cases involving trafficked overseas workers via Facebook and Twitter. The use of social media has become the norm, rather than the exception, when it comes to handling urgent OFW cases, particularly those involving maltreatment and sexual exploitation," said Ople Center president, Susan Ople.

The #DiAko4Sale social media awareness campaign coincided with this week’s official release of the US Trafficking in Persons 2015 Report which categorized the Philippines in the Tier 2, meaning while not fully compliant, it has made significant efforts to eliminate trafficking.

Ople pointed out that the Center and PEBA have decided to team up to promote awareness about human trafficking through social media since human trafficking syndicates and illegal recruiters use it to recruit its victims.

"Once a recruiter only looks at an OFW as a commodity to be sold, not as a parent, sibling or spouse, then all moral values are forsaken in exchange for profit. Human trafficking takes place when money prevails over decency and moral values," said Kenji Solis, founder of PEBA and a Saudi-based chemist.

In its 2015 annual report, the US State Department includes online illegal recruitment in the Philippines as a particular area of concern.

According to the TIP report, the Philippines does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts.

The government has so far convicted 54 traffickers even as it took steps to expedite prosecutions and exerted efforts to prevent trafficking of migrant workers through training and awareness campaigns for government officials, prospective employees, and the general public.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com