Box of OFW Stories

Invitation Letter to Come to Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:00:00 +0000

I do not have the exact date as to when the Philippine Bureau of Immigration started to have the policy of asking Filipinos going to Singapore to present a notarized (with official red seal) Invitation Letter from the Philippine Embassy of Singapore.

There seems to be a lot of talks about the legality of this policy. One person shared his opinion about this in inquirer.net online portal entitled "Invitation Letter" has no legal basis.

One particular blogger in Singapore named Jel, even wrote a letter to Vice Consul of Philippine Embassy of Singapore and the reply is the following (quoted from his comment in his blog):

Please be informed that the Affidavit of Invitation, or the invitation letter, may be required by the Immigration officer at the airport in the Philippines to verify the traveler's status as a bonafide tourist. This requirement was reinstituted as a preventive measure against illegal recruitment and human trafficking, which has recently risen in incidence.

The sponsor or host in Singapore will need to execute the Affidavit of Invitation at the Embassy for the person in the Philippines being invited. This Affidavit, in the original, may be requested by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration upon the departure of the invitee from the Philippines.

This Affidavit of Invitation is not a guarantee that the invitee will be allowed to travel and enter Singapore.

In short, whether you have an Invitation Letter or not, the assurance of you being able to leave the country going to Singapore is not guaranteed.

The idea is you just have to prove that your stay in Singapore is just for pleasure as a tourist. Therefore you must have to convince the Immigration Officer (IO) with whatever proof that you can present including the money to support your holiday vacation.

Nevertheless, having the said Invitation Letter with you, gives you a little advantage in case the IO will resort to ask you to present it. This will be your last resort, so make sure you do all the smooth talks and be as confident as you can be. Take note that IOs in Singapore will not ask you to present this, only the IOs in the Philippines.

How to Apply for Invitation Letter

You just have to ask your relative or friends in Singapore to go to Philippine Embassy and submit an application for it.

What to Bring

- Original Passport of Relative/Friend in SG
- Work Pass (EP/SP/etc) of Relative/Friend in SG
- Pen (This will help speed up the process)
- Some Coins (For photocopying)
- Money (42.50 SGD for 1 invitation Letter)
- Details of the person to invite (Name, Age, Passport Number)

Steps in Applying

1. Register at the guard house and tell him that you will secure an Invitation Letter
2. He will tell you which window to proceed (it was in Window 5 the last time I applied)
3. Secure yourself a priority number
4. When your number is called proceed to designated window (i.e. window 5)
5. Tell the person in charge that you will be applying for an Invitation Letter for your Friend/Relative
6. He/She will give you a form to fill out and will ask you to photocopy the Passport and Work Pass
7. After filling out the form, queue back to the window (priority number is not required)
8. Submit the duly accomplished form and the photocopied documents
9. He/She will inspect the document and will tell you to go to the cashier for payment
10. Present the document to the cashier and pay 42.50
11. Go back again to the designated teller window and queue again for the submission (priority number is not required)
12. Submit the receipt and the documents
13. He/She will tell you to come back the next working day for releasing
14. Come back on the date of releasing and (hopefully) you will have now the Invitation Letter

You will then send the original Invitation Letter to your Friend or Relative in the Philippines.

The Invitation Letter form looks like the picture below. I took a photo of it when I was securing one last March 2011.

That's it! Good luck, and hopefully this can help you or your friends/relatives to come to Singapore. God bless.

-karim

P.S. If you have not read my blog post about Finding Jobs in Singapore, please hit the link and read it.

Investment for OFW

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:12:00 +0000

Many of us OFWs are not very educated when it comes to Financial domain. That includes me, I had to experience the hardships of financial burdens just to be awaken and realize that I need to do something about it.

Here is a fact, 1 out of my 10 OFW friends doesn't know about Stock Market, how does it work and what opportunities it is offering.

Click Here to Know How a Maid is Investing in Philippine Stock Market.

What we are taught, is to save money in the banks if we want to grow our money without putting it to business. But the missing part is that, we are not aware as to how to control our cash flow.

You see, how many of us every end of the month would end up zero or even negative value because of credit cards.

How can we save our money to the banks when don't have anything left to save. Shopping of shoes today, travel plans in the next month, Buying of new gadgets today, etc. etc.

Shopping is okay, if you have something allocated for that in your budget plan. If you are getting a portion of your money as your Personal budget for whatever things that you might buy. Now if you don't have anything for that, think again, don't buy. Wait for next month and budget something for it, write it on paper or put it in an envelope if you want to use the envelope budgeting system.

Click Here to Know More About Dividing Your Income

Travel is not bad, so long as you are not using your credit cards to pay for air fare, or anything related to that travel. Why are you going to travel when you don't have money in your Travel Fund. If you really like to travel, save for it, do sacrifices to save, and put that saved money to your Travel Fund.

What about buying gadgets? The same principle applies. Get it from your Personal Fund, if your Personal Fund envelope doesn't allow you to buy that, don't buy.

Try to live within your means. If you are earning $1,000.00 a month. Don't try to live a life that will cost you $1,001.00 dollars or more. Don't try to live $1,000.00 in advance. If you have bills that reflect only the next month, when you are actually paying the current month, save for it this month and do not get it from your next month's salary.

Here's a tip, if you are using the services, supplies, resources or whatever today, get the payment of these from this month's paycheck or salary. Don't pay them using your salary next month, otherwise you are not truly living within your means.

If you can live within your means, that means you are in control of your cash and not by your impulsive-buying tendencies. If you can live within your means, you can sacrifice and willing to sacrifice more in order to save something for your future.

Click Here for More About How to Save for Your Future as Your Retirement Fund

Why we save for the future? Because we are not growing younger day by day, we are getting older every second of the day. There would come a time that we can no longer work because of age. And when that happens, we don't want to be a burden to our children or relatives. We want to have something of our own to support the remaining years of our life.

So, we must save for our future. And we don't want to save it in the bank. Because saving in the bank would not grow your money. Instead, we will invest our money for our future. How to do it? By buying stocks from the Companies that we know would still be there 40 years or 50 years from now.

This sounds complicated but I tell you, it's just as easy as depositing money every month to a bank. You might heard of Bo Sanchez article about his maid investing money.

Click Here if You Want to Know How his Maid was Able to Invest in the Stock Market

TrulyRichClub has made my eyes open as to how to manage my finances. How to invest in my future and how to earn more.

Every month, Bo Sanchez will be sending out emails to guide TrulyRichClub's members what stocks to buy. He will warn his members on any potential market crisis.

With his many mentors with decades of experience in the stock market can most of the time have valuable information as to what is going on in the background of these huge companies that we are buying. Giving us signals as when to sell our stocks if needed.

We don't have the skills to do all this kind of analysis, and the good thing is we don't need to learn it, because we have the right people of TrulyRichClub who do all the hard work of analyzing the stock market for us.

Conclusion

You now have the option to invest for your future and have your millions in the next 30 years. Don't let yourself suffer the way other OFWs suffered for not controlling their finances and investing for their retirement. It is not forever that we will be working abroad, there would be a time that we want to stop working and enjoy the life of financially stable retiree, back in our homeland, the Philippines.

Invest for Your Future Now.

May God Bless Us All.

-Bro Kim

Prunes

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:24:00 +0000

This is gonna be the first of the new kind of posts that I will be posting from now on. I felt like this blog needs to lighten up a bit so I think of sharing some bloopers to make you :D or at least :) ...

This is about the usual laugh trip that we have in the office with my fellow OFWs who are mostly coming from Luzon area of the country.

So the story goes like this:

Officemate 1: "San ba kayo pinaglihi ng nanay nyo?"
Me: "Ako, sa crab."
Officemate 2: "Ako sa Prunes."
Me: "Ah, Prunes halos pareho lang pala tayo?" (Sabay taas ng dalawang kamay na parang may pinipisil)
Officemate 2: "Bakit, alam mo ba kung ano ang Prunes?"
Me: "Oo, (nakataas pa rin ang dalawang kamay na parang may pinipisil), yong malaking shrimp!!"

And then everyone started to laugh like crazy, and I asked why.

Officemate 1: "Prunes yun hindi Prawns!! Yung malaking pasas!! Bisaya ka kasi"

Haha, I was so embarrassed like I felt like going to disappear.

But at least, one word has been added to my vocabulary.

Prune - A prune is any of various plum cultivars, mostly Prunus domestica or European Plum, sold as fresh or dried fruit.

Walang Natira (Nothing Left)

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:45:00 +0000

I can't believe it is already six months since my last post to this blog. I guess the life of being a father to my OFW (Overseas Filipino Wondrous) kid (Yes, my 1-year old son is with me abroad :) ) is making my life doubly busy after work and got me fully booked during the weekends.

Hopefully I could post more often now as I don't want to put this blog to the sideline and into the never never land.

Anyway, I was reading posts in facebook when I was reminded of the song from Gloc 9. For those of you who may not realized this, I am a music lover so some of my posts here are about music videos that we all OFWs can relate.

The song is called "Walang Natira", and for the benefit of the non-filipino readers means "Nothing Left".

It's a song about the many many talents that we have in the country that you will not find in the Philippines after 3 to 5 years of working.

By the way, we don't have a communicable disease back home that shortens the years of the young professionals. :)

They were, are and will be moving out of the country to try to find the milking pot abroad after almost all of them realizes that the growing expenses year after year would just lead them to the banks.

Not to deposit money, but to accumulate loans and credit that without realizing would eventually force them to entertain that once very tiny voice telling them to buy a ticket to becoming an OFW.

With the exchange of course of the usual sacrifices, missing birthdays, anniversaries, graduation and sometimes worst - losing their own family.

So that's basically what the song is about. The danger of losing loved ones because of loving them. Ironic? No it's not, think again!! :)

Enjoy the music video courtesy of youtube and the uploader.

Simbang Gabi in Singapore 2010

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:08:00 +0000

Five Days before Christmas. Ninongs (Godfathers) and Ninangs (Godmothers) are trying to catch up buying gifts for their growing number of Inaanak while others are still worrying on the delayed, rumored, sensationalized or imagined Christmas bonus. Anxious Parents, working doubly hard to have something to prepare and share for the kids long-awaited gifts and noche buena. Kids singing Christmas carols on the streets and neighborhood. Vendors experiencing ramp up in sales. What else did I miss? It's so hard to capture everything that is happening back home, while we are working abroad trying to feel the spirit of Christmas in our home away from home.

But, good for me and to my fellow OFW in Singapore, we are able to experience simbang gabi and bisita iglesia at the same time as the novena is celebrated in 27 different Churches with 3 churches simultaneously celebrating mass and being filled to the brim every night.

We have invited my In-Laws to spend Christmas and New Year with us here. And being religious folks, they have enjoyed attending the Simbang Gabi, even with the long bus and train travels and trying to find the correct church every night. And last night we have just attended the fifth of ninth masses.

Having witnessed the overwhelming response of the OFWs to Simbang Gabi for the last 4 nights, we have decided to go as early as 7:00 PM as the mass starts at 8:00 PM, just to be able to secure seats especially when we are tagging our 1-year old son with us. But to our surprise, we weren't even able to go to the 2nd floor which is the main floor of the church in St. Michael's. By the time we entered the church perimeter, I immediately noticed the crowd sitting in the plastic chairs in front of a projector in the void deck of the church. But we still tried our luck by heading to the main door but a communion minister told us that the church is filled with people already upstairs and are advised to find seats in the void deck. Luckily we were still able to find enough seats for us in the nearly occupied chairs of nearly 400 capacity.

Father Angel Luciano, a Filipino priest officiated again the mass. He was officiating the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th masses that we've attended. He gives homily mixed with humor and often giving funny lines with arroz caldo (porridge) which are being served after each novena mass. He also read emails sharing real life stories from OFWs in Singapore who've been offering the novena mass in exchange for their own wishes in life. One sender that he never forgets to share are from a certain "Trining". A filipina who've been here for 5 years and been following Simbang Gabi in Singapore for her fifth straight year now.

Their stories have one thing in common, they are all OFWs who are offering the 9 Simbang Gabi to God for a wish to come true. Which circles around on finding a good and stable job in Singapore for them to be able to fulfill their respective needs and to be able to help their families back home. But besides that, they are also trying to celebrate the spirit of Christmas the closest possible they could have celebrated it in the Philippines. A true home to all of us Filipinos. Merry Christmas everyone!

Filipina Maid inherits $6M

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:50:00 +0000

A lot of us have been dreaming of winning big in Sweepstakes, all ticket buyers and non-ticket buyers alike. :) I myself have been imagining on hitting the lucky pot, especially when the stake in the Philippine Lotto hits 741M Php (S$22.45M). And when a certain lucky guy hit it, that was the time when I realized that I was only dreaming as I was not buying any lotto ticket for me to win. Anyone willing to buy a ticket for me? Just hit me a message. Hehe.

One time while I was waiting for a lift in one of the malls here in Singapore, there was one particular Ad that caught my eyes from the TV screen, "Filipina Maid inherits $6M from her employer". I can't help but became curious on what the story behind this but it was only this morning that I was able to find time to do a research while office works seem to be less.

So, here's the story of Filipina woman, an OFW from the province of Negros Oriental who went here in Singapore serving her employer for 20+ years, whom in return not only learned to trust her but treated her as a member of the family.

Straits Times Singapore, 21 Jul, 2010, Wednesday
$6m maid
Filipina inherits cash and Leonie Hill apartment
By Sujin Thomas

IN 1986, a petite Filipina arrived here to take up a job as a maid to a general practitioner.

She did the usual household chores for Dr Quek Kai Miew and looked after the doctor’s ailing mother until the older woman’s death three years later.

But what happened to the Filipina since Dr Quek herself died a year ago is far from usual – she has inherited a cool $6 million from her grateful employer’s estate, including the apartment in Leonie Hill (right) which her late employer called home.

But the 47-year-old former maid – and now millionaire – insists that little in her life has changed.

The unmarried eighth child in a family of nine told The Straits Times in an exclusive interview: ‘I do not really think much about the money I got. I just live my life as I did before, and not as a rich person.’

She wears her hair in a trouble-free short crop and dresses simply in blouses and slacks; she does not hanker for all the worldly goods her money can buy – what she casually dismisses as ‘fluffy things’.

She refused to go into the details of the inheritance, and refused to be named for fear of possible threats to her life in the Philippines.

Let us call her Christine.

She went back to the Philippines in February, about seven months after Dr Quek’s death, but returned here on Sunday, a day ahead of the first anniversary of the death.

She brought along her mother and sister-in-law. The women, here on 21/2-month social visit passes, have moved into the Leonie Gardens apartment off River Valley Road.

The Straits Times understands the apartment may actually have been willed to Christine and a nephew of Dr Quek’s, but this could not be verified.

Christine has applied for permanent residency here because this is where she spent more than 20 years working for Dr Quek.

The late doctor probably had a lot to do with Singapore feeling like home.

Fresh off the boat from the Philippines’ central Negros Oriental province, she said she was treated by Dr Quek – herself unmarried – like a daughter.

This came through in the interview, during which she referred to her late employer interchangeably as ‘Dr Quek’, ‘madam’ and ‘mother’.

The doctor always listened to her personal problems, she said. ‘I always opened up to her. Even if she scolded me, we always discussed it.’

She added that Dr Quek shared with her not only the comforts of her home, but also good food such as laksa.

When diabetes made it difficult for the doctor to get around unaided, it was Christine who pushed her in a wheelchair when she needed one, such as during medical check-ups. She said: ‘I was always beside her. Wherever she went, I was with her.’

They were apart only during the maid’s short trips home to the Philippines once every few years.

Dr Quek was 66 when she died on July 19 last year of heart failure; she had complained of chest pains three days earlier.

Christine, recalling that day, said the doctor died peacefully, with her family and her maid around her: ‘She did not say a word when she left us.’

The doctor is said by family friends to have retired about a decade ago. In the 1970s, she headed the Health Ministry’s Nutrition Unit, and was known as a charitable and decisive boss.

She was also a senior member of the Singapore chapter of the World Red Swastika Society, an 88-year-old organisation grounded in Buddhism and Taoism, and which seeks to promote a world without boundaries or discrimination.

Her wealth came from her heavy investments in property, much of it from the collective sale boom.

She has relatives here and abroad, but was not close to them, except for the nephew who visited her just about every week.

Christine said Dr Quek drew up the will some time in late 2008, and discussed it openly with her.

She said: ‘There were no secrets between us. I was not surprised at all when she told me how much I was going to get.’

After Dr Quek died, Christine could not bear living in the apartment, so she moved in with Dr Quek’s nephew when she got permission to stay here until her work permit expired.

She said of the grieving: ‘It was heartbreaking for me as I saw more years with Dr Quek than with my own mother. I would break down every time I thought about her. I could not be by myself.’

When her 85-year-old mother came here to be with her shortly after the death, the pair moved back to Leonie Gardens, but they left for the Philippines in February.

Last Sunday evening, after Christine, her mother and a sister-in-law came back here for the death anniversary, there was a ‘makan’ session at the apartment, and Dr Quek’s relatives came over.

All declined to be interviewed.

Christine is still in touch with her friends here and said even those relationships are still pretty much unchanged.

‘I am still who I was before. I cannot behave differently because I have money now. Even my Filipino-maid friends here still treat me the same.’

Now that she is not working, she has been able to spend the last few days showing her sister-in-law – her brother’s wife – Singapore’s sights. They have seen the Merlion and Sentosa.

Christine said, laughing: ‘I have spent half my life here, and I know the country very well. I am now a tour guide.’

Asked whether she considers herself fortunate, she replied: ‘I am, but I cannot express what to say.’

After a moment’s thought, she added: ‘I am the luckiest maid in Singapore, with or without the money.’

News Story Copyright by Straits Times Singapore.
Web Source from http://www.mycarforum.com/index.php?showtopic=2653463&view=findpost&p=3257349

Fast Forward

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 09:02:00 +0000

If I can change the way we represent time, I would like to require that every clock design should have wings with it, wings to remind us that time really really flies fast.

It is more than a year already since my last post for this time-forgotten blog. And a lot of big things happened to my life. I broke up from a long time relationship and found a new love here, got married and now already have a son who after being left in the Philippines for almost three months, has finally come and join us here in Singapore, for good.

When I decided to accept the opportunity of working here in Singapore, I was always reflecting then on why God had led me to come to this country. My career in the Philippines back then was more than enough to support me and even substantial to start a family. Now I realize that it is through this Country where I experienced huge changes in my life. It is when you go out from your comfort zone where you would finally begin to realize that the world is boundless when it comes to turning impossible to reality. It stripped me from all of the lies that covered my existence which had been suppressed by the shield of comfort which I myself has been providing. And most significantly, it led me to finding the soul who shared the same experience, the same values and the same dreams with me. In the end, I realized that you will never fully understand the Lord's plan for you unless you would put that first step out of the comfort of your own life.

Fast forward to 2010, I am now a happy married man to a very loving wife and a father to a very cute son who is beginning to show his inherited traits from me. It is like witnessing a reborn of myself to a new generation thirty years ahead of me.

This is my story, a story of an OFW man working in Singapore. :)

20 Minutes Before Take Off (A Sad Song)

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:18:00 +0000

One of the risks that every OFW takes in pursuing a dream abroad is to shatter a love affair that almost took them a lifetime to build. Though we would bravely prove the phrase "Long distance love affair doesn't work" to be wrong, this requires a lot of sacrifices and efforts to sustain, to keep the fire burnin', and to fill the gaps that would definitely goes wider over time if would be taken lightly.

Even if we are a part of a generation where communication is considerably cheap compared to a few years back, thru sms, voice chat, video chat, or a phone call. These are not enough and could never replace the presence of a partner to his/her lover. The touch, the kiss, the scent and a scene where you are physically there are crucial to every relationship to continue to grow.

I didn't even believe this when I decided to work overseas. What I believed was we already laid out a solid foundation of 5 years in our relationship of being together. I believed that our commitment to fight the odds together is enough for us to survive. But I guess we are just tricked by our own imagination. We are not as strong as what we've thought, and now we are facing the consequences of putting an end to a wonderful love that we've built for years. The love that pushed me to work abroad and the love that motivated me to keep moving on.

But... I am still hoping that what situation I am now into would not fall into the meanings of this song. Only God knows what will happen next.

20 Minutes Before Take Off - Dan & Henry (Filipino Artists)

Pinoy style: How to Visit Dubai then Apply for a Job

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:50:00 +0000

Hello everyone, to those of you who are interested to work in Dubai, I found this very informative resource to help you out. This is very similar to one of my previous posts here called Finding Jobs in Singapore. In this article the author is sharing his personal experiences in job hunting in Dubai. Keep on reading..

------------

Base on my personal experience some of the following are few tips you have to read and take note when planning to visit and find a job in Dubai.

Required Documents

Transcript of Records, Diploma and PRC Certificate if any, are the usual documents you need to secure when going to Dubai.

Procedure to process the documents:

Diploma and TOR - must be certified as true copy by your school registrar, authenticated by your regional CHED office, Malacanang, Department of Foreign Affairs and UAE embassy. You have to personally secure the authentication except in UAE embassy which you have to send via Fedex with enclosed managers check of Peso 1,400.

PRC Certificate - must be authenticated by PRC, Malacanang, DFA and UAE embassy. (The same procedure for Diploma and TOR) These documents are needed in order to secure working visa in UAE, but it is not necessary to bring together with you in your flight to Dubai as this are not requirement in applying for a job. Yet not necessary but it is advisable to bring it with you as it will be needed when you are hired immediately and the processing alone in the Philippines will approximately 5 weeks.

While the processing of the authentication of your documents is under development, get ideas about UAE in websites that are available in the internet.

Ideal timing

Summer in the Middle East starts mid March and ends late October, temperature is rising up to 45 degrees so this is not the ideal time in walking on Dubai streets to apply for a job. Also at this season, managers of companies are normally out on vacation.

Avoid also the month of Ramadan as the office timings are shorten to 5 hours.

Ideal timing to visit UAE is from October to March as the whether is fine and there are lot of festivals thus requiring more jobs.

Exchange Rate

Money in UAE is called Dirhams (AED, Dhs), This is approximately equivalent to 13 pesos in Philippine money and fixed to 3.68 per 1 US Dollars.

How much visa and air fare costs?

Visas are pre-arranged, it means you have to apply for it while in the Philippines. If you have friends that were already in the UAE, they can help you to to get a visa.

Typically Filipinos are entering the UAE ports by using tourist visa, tourist visa holders are not allowed to work in the UAE, but they are allowing visitors to apply for a job. This type of visa including air ticket for one way is Dhs 2,700 – 3,000. Please note that you have to pay at this range only, otherwise it’s too much. (Airline ticketing agencies will issue back and forth tickets to tourist visa holders as Dubai authorities are assuming that you are returning back, this is dummy ticket only, you don’t have to pay for it.

Above rate is the regular rate that Dubai based agents are charging, you can check the standard rates here and here for more detailed information.

Visa expiry

Tourist visa holders are allowed to stay in the UAE for 60 days. The visa is valid 30 days from the date of issue. If it is not utilized in the validity period you need to apply for new one. The 60 days count will start from the date you set foot on UAE land.

This means that you have 60 days for job hunting. If you did not find job in 60 days, it is nessesary to leave the county for a visa change. Usually the exit point is in Kish or Qeshem islands in Iran. There is no limit for visa change, you can do it untill you got a job.

Kish and Qeshem visa change

Kish and Qeshm islands are 45 minutes from Dubai via chartered flight, the whole package of visa change ranges from Dhs 1,350 to 1,600 including the visa, return ticket, one day hotel accommodation, and breakfast meal. Usual staying period in these islands while waiting for the new visa is 2-3 days, you are lucky if you can go back to Dubai at the same day of your departure.

Above rate is the regular rate that Dubai based agents are charging, you can check the standard rates here and here for more detailed information.

Once you got your new visa and landed to Dubai, you have another 60 days to find a job.

Job hunting

In Dubai the job competition is tough, but once you got a job it is rewarding. Our main competitors here are our Kababayans also and the Indians which sometimes being favored because of their cheaper salary rates.

Job market in Dubai is awesome, everyday you can read in newspaper ads and internet postings whatever job you are looking for. However as I’ve said the competition is high. One good way is to look for vacancies suitable to your experience and apply as many as you can in one day so the possibility of being called in an interview will increase. Take note that every minute of your stay have cost so don’t consume a day without releasing a single CV in your hand. Don’t concentrate on few job openings; make a target of at least ten applications in one day.

There are some times of discouragements and depressions but you should not stop dreaming because of the money and time you invested.

How much pocket money needed.

To give you an idea of the cost of living in Dubai:

Bed space rent - Dhs 500 – 750 (4-8 persons sharing in one room)
Water and electricity - Dhs 60 – 100
Food - Dhs 250 per month will be fine
Personal things - Dhs 50 is enough
Bus fare - Dhs 1.50 minimum fare

You also have to allocate extra amount on internet rent, Fax, printing and mobile SIM card plus load as these are necessary when applying for a job.

Base on my experience Dhs 2,000 – 2,500 will be sufficient for two months.

For more informations read the Dubai Handbook and Dubai Guide.

These informations are only based on my personal experience so it will be better if you will also ask your friends who are already in Dubai on some tips how to successfully enter in Dubai and eventually land a job here.

Article Source: http://mefilipinos.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/pinoy-style-how-to-visit-dubai-then-apply-for-a-job/

OFW Story: Hopes, Dreams Outweigh Fears

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:23:00 +0000

Hello everyone, after a few days of no posts, I am now back into digging and finding interesting ofw stories to share with you. I recently just contracted this illness called love-sickness, yeah no kidding, don't say crap please.. :), so that's the reason why I was not able to update this blog. We have just some misunderstandings with my fiancee back home but we're all right now and continue fighting the challenges of being miles apart. Geez, I may sound already corny just now but that's what happened. It was just a failure of a network service provider to deliver the sms, hehe.. Petty things right? But sms is a crucial part for me to communicate with my loved ones back home, so that was it. :)

Alright, time for a more exciting OFW Story.. Here's a story from GENER MARCELO, an OFW from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who took the risk of leaving his family just to find that big shot of opportunity from working abroad. Another interesting points to keep us always reminded to hold on the vows that we have with our loved ones back home. Enjoy reading..

After reading Randy David’s column “Love in the time of migration” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6/14/08), I couldn’t help but admit that my life at this point fits into the scenario he painted. In fact, I was watching a delayed telecast of a nightly news program of a TV station in the Philippines when I received two text messages from my wife. I looked at my watch to check the time—it was half past 1 a.m. from where the message came. So, I thought, my wife was still awake.

I texted back with my own message, which I ended with “Good night.” After a few minutes, I got another message from her. She bade me “Good night” in turn, but I could sense some despair in her message.

The following morning, in the office, I sent her and my kids—as my usual way of keeping in touch with them—a message. She replied, and her messages this time clearly exposed her desolation.

I empathize with her. Barely eight months have passed since I left her and our four kids to work here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, tucking in my suitcase a few pictures of them to remind me of our hopes and dreams. It would be my first time to be away from my family that long. Before we decided to take this “big leap” that could make or break our lives, we spent countless hours in prayers, asking for God’s guidance.

Our story is not uncommon. Millions of Filipinos have gone abroad, leaving their country, families and loved ones in pursuit of a better life. The stories of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) don’t necessarily yield to happy endings: philandering husbands, unfaithful wives, errant children longing to feel the warmth of the love of absent parents have become ordinary fare. Yet, these stories are not enough to stop a large number of Filipinos from leaving their families to work abroad.

The lack of opportunities back home is what pushes people like me to leave home for greener pastures; our hopes and dreams of giving our families a better future outweigh our fears of the risks we might have to face in strange lands.

Going back to my wife’s pained text messages, I would always reply to them with words of assurance, though I know that these would never offer enough comfort under our present circumstances. But better that the words are said than allow yourself to wallow in fear.

What you think and what you do is what you will become; that’s life’s predisposition. If we think life has been very cruel to us, it is not so much because such is our destiny but because we have predisposed ourselves to those “cruelties” by our thoughts and actions. Professor David is right: It has been very easy to measure the economic benefits of overseas work. But it is doubtful if one can ever quantify what the Filipino family has given up in terms of love, or what it is doing to recover it.

I just wish though to find ways to recover what I have given up in my pursuit of a decent life for my family. But until I see a better option than going abroad, I’ll just have to keep my hopes and dreams alive.

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:13:00 06/24/2008
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20080624-144370/OFW-story-hopes-dreams-outweigh-fears

From Janitor to Entrepreneur, an OFW story

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:36:00 +0000

These days, Lady Luck is probably smiling from ear to ear on businessman Sebastian “Steve” Tamayo.

Managing several outlets of his famous chain of restaurants--Tamayo’s and other businesses, including a consultancy firm, a flower shop and catering services, Steve considers himself as one of the luckiest people in the world.

But life was not all a bed of roses for this self-styled restaurant owner. He, like, many of us, had been knocked down and hit rock bottom a couple of times.

Humble beginnings

Steve was brought up by the Tamayo couple of Hagonoy, Bulacan to be a hard working lad. Coming from a middle-class family, at an early age, he was taught by his parents, particularly his mother, to help in household chores.

“I was only in grade six when I helped in the chores in the house. I mostly helped my mother in the preparation and cooking native delicacies for our small carinderia (eatery) in Bulacan then,” he recalled.

Being the 11th child of a brood of 12, Steve said his father was paralyzed then so he had to help with the chores, along with his other siblings.

Along with some of his older brothers, Steve would fish at a nearby lake at night. Proceeds from the sale of any fish caught made up his allowance the next day. He promised himself that the hardships he had experienced that day would all change someday with hard work, and determination.

When he reached adolescence, Steve decided to stay with his relatives while attending Marcelo H. del Pilar High School in Malolos, Bulacan. Some of his brothers and sisters had families of their own at that time.

In exchange for the free board and lodging, he helped in the cooking and other household chores.

“I was attending school and surviving with only P5 a week,” he said, noting the money came from what he earned from fishing.

To make matters worst, the Tamayo patriarch died while Steve was in second year high school. But that tragic event did not diminish the perseverance of the Bulakenyo.

After finishing high school, he immediately went to Manila to pursue a college degree, taking up Commerce, major in accounting, at the University of the East in Recto, Manila at the same time took up typing course.

While studying, he got a job as a janitor at then Hong Kong-Shanghai Bank in PAL building on Ayala Avenue, Makati.

“I was assigned at the midnight shift there. We were assigned to clean eight floors,” he said, being assigned to different chores every week. He was even tasked to scrub the dirty toilet bowls, a job he was not embarrassed to admit.

“I would really make sure that the toilet bowls were cleaned,” he said.

Steve also managed to land a job as a part time waiter at former Silahis Hotel-Playboy Club Manila through the help of co-bed spacer in P. Campa, Manila.

At 16, Steve was taking up Commerce and typing and maintaining two odd jobs at the same time.

His routine, which only afforded him four hours of decent sleep a day, lasted for several months until he was made a regular bus boy at the hotel and he resigned as janitor from the bank.

The Break

Steve was a natural public relations man. The ability to entertain guests was a talent innate to him.

One day, an Arab guest who became his friend, offered Steve work at his hotel in Saudi Arabia. So as soon as he graduated from college in 1981, he grabbed the opportunity and flew to the Middle Eastern country.

“In that hotel, I worked not only as a waiter but sidelined as a butler and house cleaner and a cook,” Steve recounted, as his network of friends, both business and personal, steadily grew.

Only after two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he had earned enough to build his own house. There, he also met his wife, Mila, who had been very active in the Church.

After four years in Saudi Arabia, Steve decided to move on to Kuwait where his abilities and business acumen would be fully realized.

And as he predicted, the Tamayo business empire even grew in Kuwait, where he ventured into selling T-shirts and other items to his kababayans who would be sending gifts to their relatives in the Philippines.

But his clientele was not only Filipinos but also other foreigners, who craved his famous “ube.”

Tamayo also joined the choir of a Catholic Church in Kuwait and continued his religious service.

“I was high in business and at the same time I was high in God,” he said, while working as manager in Mary Jane Hotel in Kuwait and became active in Church with Mila.

Steve also befriended and served as a household help for a Swiss couple staying at the penthouse of the hotel.

After three months of cleaning the penthouse, he was invited again by the Swiss couple to a party. He was now being introduced by the couple not as a helper but a family member to the guests in the party, where he rubbed elbows with sheiks.

Steve Tamayo, the Entrepreneur

When he earned enough, he resigned from work at the hotel and established his own business, SM (which stand for Steve, Mila) Fashion Wear at one of the prestigious hotel/commercial buildings at a financial district in Kuwait.

“I was very successful at that time and I felt very blessed… I considered myself as the biggest Filipino businessman in Kuwait that time,” he said.

After two years, he went back to the Philippines and married Mila. He returned to Kuwait to continue his business.

In July 25, 1990, the ribbon cutting ceremony of his shop was covered by the local media in Kuwait with a Philippine ambassador doing the honors. The next day the event landed on the front pages of two big newspapers—Arab Times and Kuwait Times—with screaming headlines “Steve Tamayo, Filipino Entrepreneur.”

The first 15 days of its operation, Tamayo’s business venture earned almost P1 million.

Leap of faith

In July 31, 1990, although tired, Steve called up his wife in the Philippines to share the good news—that the shop in Kuwait was doing very well.

“She was crying that time because the news in the Philippines was that there was already war in the Middle East and Kuwait,” he said.

Steve called one of his brothers, who was with Mila that time, to calm her down. After the call, he and his other brothers prepared the orders for ube to be delivered the following day to their clients.

His brothers turned in around midnight, while Steve stayed up until 2 a.m. All of them stayed at the penthouse at 17th floor of the residential/commercial building.

Around 4 a.m. he was roused by noises outside the establishment. He got up and saw from the sea, countless speedboats speeding towards the shore. Not contented, Steve decided to investigate the noise and look down from his suite.

He saw on the streets just below his penthouse were several battle tanks with red flags. Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait.

Fearing for their lives, Steve hurriedly woke up his brothers to leave the building.

“I knew then that it was not safe for us to stay in that building because it would be the first ones to be ransacked by the soldiers,” Steve said.

He tried calling his wife on the phone inside the building but the lines were cut off by the invaders.

Steve managed to get his relatives to the Mary Jane hotel where he used to work. But he was left alone in the streets where gunfights were starting between the Kuwaiti troops and Saddam’s Red Guards.

“That time, I made a pact and prayed to God that if He will spare my life and bring me back to the Philippines alive, I will leave all my investments in Kuwait,” he said, with the lingering feeling that he might get killed during the invasion.

Just as the tanks and the firefights were getting closer, Steve felt some force that made him leap into a large open trash bin.

“I was like Lito Lapid and hurriedly jumped into the bin to elude the crossfire. My ears hurt because of the volley of gunfire around me while I’m in the garbage bin,” he said.

DENNIS CARCAMO

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Article Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/03/24/08/janitor-entrepreneur-ofw-story

Dan of Ireland: The OFW Story

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:26:00 +0000

Another OFW story of a man who once work as high school teacher and a college instructor back home, working like a horse to support his family but yet the hard-work was still not enough to sufficiently earn thus decided to head on for a roller-coaster-ride of working abroad.

Read the rest of the story of Dan from Ireland.

Filipinos walk a different path in this earth. Our race had left a significant mark in this tumultuous world. We the Filipino overseas worker, the new breed of modern nomads that seek greener pastures elsewhere to escape the clinch of poverty. Our life story, our struggle has always been told. Every day throngs of Filipinos board that one way ticket plane ride. With a pocket of a few borrowed dollars and a lot of prayers. We surrender ourselves to fate and luck, that we may find the promise land. A land far away from home, glittering with better paying jobs and endless prospects.

When I look back years ago when I braced myself to board my first international flight. Mixed emotions was triggered when I looked back to see what I was leaving behind. The land of my birth, my family and my friends that for years I will be parted. I indeed sacrificed all just to alleviate myself from penury. When I was young I never dreamed of life away from home. I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, a doctor, or a senator just like any other kid in our class. But the more you grow up the smaller your dreams become. The more you grow up the more you realize how cruel and unfair life was. From a young age I learned to work hard to continue on with my studies to get a degree. Due to hard work I even got a master’s degree. Even after all that hard work you still haven’t got a sense of security. My earnings still wasn’t enough for a better future for my son and my life still going nowhere. Years of hard labour bring little fruition. Even if I work myself to death the money I earn won’t even be enough for a decent funeral.

In 2005 my wife got a job here in the Republic of Ireland. I was so exuberant upon hearing the news for the first time. It was our way out of from poverty. At last destiny was shining upon us. I was so naïve then. I thought that being abroad was the answer to all my troubles. I also succumbed to the mindset that being abroad was a sign of success. Most Filipinos back home treated other countries outside our own as those whose streets are painted of gold and people lucky enough to go abroad will bring back tons of unimaginable wealth. Reality was far too different. The streets outside the country are not painted of gold but stained by the sweat and tears of OFW’s (Overseas Filipino Workers). Outside our country most of us live to work. To earn enough only to pay the bills and send some money back home. Having two jobs was often the way to get by. I was once a high school teacher and college instructor back home but here I started off as someone who cleans rooms and toilets for a living. I totally have no shame about my job and did it with dignity. We Filipinos are a resilient race as they say and I just proven that to myself over and over again.

Article Source: http://expatpinoy.blogspot.com/2008/06/ofw-story.html

Sa Aking Padala (A Song for Us: 2)

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Jim Paredes seems to have this connection to OFWs, he certainly aware on the sacrifices and challenges that an OFW would go through in the process. Maybe because as what his friends call him, he is an "Aussie-W", a reverse OFW, because he works in the Philippines and is sending money to his family living in Australia. Though not exactly our case but the feeling of staying away from our loved ones should be the same.

This time he wrote a song called "Sa Aking Padala", I am a music lover (that's why I have my own videoke box) especially of OPM songs. Though this looks like an advertisement of Western Union, but the music itself is good and is really for us OFWs.

If you haven't read his article about how we OFWs became alienated to our own family, please find it here.

As a Mother Who Works as an OFW

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:06:00 +0000

Mothers are the most beautiful gifts and treasures that we have ever received, from giving us comfort in their own wombs, they risked their own lives just to give us a chance to see the world, to their sacrifices to raise us into a person that they can be proud of. No one could ever surpass the love of a mother to her own child, and no seas or mountains can ever stop her to get her children back to her loving arms.

This is a story of a mother who works as an OFW, feel her pains and joys, as she tells you her own experiences in battling the challenges of getting reunited with her precious daughter. Read the rest of the story.

I still remember the first time when I left my daughter (my only child then) when I went to a Retreat for 3 days and 2 nights somewhere in Silang Cavite in 1997...I don't know how could I ever get to my sleep without her by my side...She was only 3 years old at that time. I'm so lonely and quite worried that she may cry and look for me when I'm gone.

When I left her in 1998 to look for work overseas, I couldn't imagine how will I carry the loneliness now that we're miles and miles away from each other. I'm really so sad when I left her that day.

As a mother, I always keep my young children on my sight. I never ever let them go alone or walk alone without my hands holding them especially if we're in crowded and public places.

Maybe, they'll say that I'm quite over protected with my children but for me, I just love my children the way I love my own body...They are part of my body and of my heart and if they're far from me,it seems part of my limbs are missing too...

When I reached the foreign land, I'm so happy 'cause I'm already with my husband who went there ahead of me. But I'm also so sad because of the absence of our 4 year old daughter.

I always cry whenever I think of her, especially during the night before I went to sleep. I always remember those days when we're still together. Each night, before we close our eyes and after we prayed, we're going to kiss each other on the forehead, down to the nose, cheeks, lips, ears and chin and then we're going to hug each other so tight and will say I love you...

Her daddy is away since she was 2 years old but I always tell some stories about her father so that she's not going to forget about him. I always let her kiss her dad's picture and ask her to bid goodnite as well. They're so close with each other too when my husband was still with us in the Philippines, that's why I don't want it to fade away 'though he is far from us.

Sometimes, even during meals, I'll cry so suddenly if my daughter will run through my mind. It's hard for me to swallow my food 'cause my heart is really in pain.

I really wish and pray that my family could be whole and together again someday...but because of our situation as a migrant worker who just started a new life in foreign land, it is quite difficult to bring our small daughter with us here during that time.

My husband couldn't afford to see me crying all the time. He wanted us to be together as well, if not for permanent, atleast just for temporary is also fine.

So in 1999, we brought our daughter here for a visit..it was a school vacation. She stayed with us from end of March until early June, I'm really so happy again when I saw my daughter when she arrived from Philippines.

My husband fetched her at the airport, she was with my brother in-law. I am at work when she came to see me, she was very happy too. We kissed and hugged immediately upon seeing eachother, we really missed eachother during that time.

The loneliness comes back when it is time for her to go back home but to ease the pain of being away from our daughter, we just let her come here on every vacation. It was every year until the year of 2001 came. We tried to apply for a dependant visa for her so that she can come with us all the time and got an education too while we're working here...

But it was unsuccessful, the salary required is not sufficient so it was denied...when I read the letter upon receiving it from the immigration, I really cried infront of the officer. My heart really broke and it was really a terrible painful moment for me as a mother. We just want to bring our child but the policy is so strict.

In 2002, I delivered to my second child here in abroad. We got a boy at this time and because he was born here, there's no problem for us if we want him to stay with us. They can give him a dependant visa as long that my employer is going to support us...

In that year, my husband's contract was renewed so his salary was upgraded too and when we applied for dependant visa for our son, it was immediately approved. I'm so happy that my son can stay with us while we're working here but still, the family is not complete because my daughter can only come here for a short visit visa as she wasn't given the dependant's visa.

But when she came here in 2004, we tried to apply a dependant visa again for her because our salary and contract has been renewed and upgraded so we might got a chance that we'll be approved this time...And yes, through constant prayers, our wish was granted...We finally took our daughter with us here too and we're now a happy family.

As an OFW mother, I'm really thankful that GOD gave me a chance to be with my children while working overseas. I know that there are plenty of mothers who couldn't have a chance to bring their children with them while working as an OFW, that's why I feel so great that I'm among the lucky one.

I think that GOD is really granting my prayers and wishes. When I was young, 'though a poor child, I never ever think of becoming rich, I just longed for a simple and a happy family of my own. That's my only and true happiness even before, now although it's quite expensive and we couldn't save much at the bank while my children are both studying overseas, it is just fine for us as long that we're all happy together...

article source: http://ofw-writings.ofw-connect.com/StoriesAndPoems/?q=ofw_parents_mother

A Song for Us

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:16:00 +0000

This is for all of us who are hoping that a day would come that we will no longer be working miles away from our respective families, that we will be reunited with them for good, that someday would come that we will be saying to them, "I'm Coming Home".

Enjoy the Video from YouTube.

"Home"

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

World-Class Singer: Vincent Bueno

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:34:00 +0000

I've come across this video in youtube, among many filipino singers who proved their talents outside the border of the Philippines, like Madonna Decena, Charise Pempengco, Charlie Green and Arnel Pineda, this fella is also musically gifted and proved his worth by bagging the championship in Austrian talent competition “Musical! Die Show”, outshining a total of 400 participants.

He received a 67 percent of all the televotes cast (landslide win) from televiewers of Austria, with the second placer, Austrian Eva Klikovics garnering 37 percent. He won a total of 50,000 euros as grand prize.

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting a Top-Caliber Filipino Singer..(drum roll).. Vincent Bueno.. Clap!3x.. Enjoy the video..

2008 ESOL Teacher of the Year Award

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:03:00 +0000

Alright, I've noticed that I have been posting a lot of sad stories about OFW lately. So, this time I want something that would inspire us, something that would give us a spark to keep moving forward and do excellent performances in our respective host countries.

This one is a story of a Filipino Teacher in New York City, he is Feliciano "Chito" Jaime Atienza, a world-class OFW.

Feliciano Jaime Atienza, known to everyone as "Chito," is a Filipino immigrant and a career ESOL professional in New York City. He has been an ESOL practitioner with the YMCA International, ELESAIR Project for 22 years and the Queens Library for 10 years. He received his ESL/CO teacher training at the Southeast Asian Refugee Program in the Philippines, a joint project of the UNHCR, ICMC and funded by the US State Department. Chito is a compassionate professional whose classroom is characterized by a healing and empowering concept of "skinship " and trust. He possesses a cheerful "can-do" attitude and time-tested skills as a teacher, teacher trainer, mentor, test-giver and facilitator in the following areas: Diversity and Conflict Management in the ESOL Classroom; Literacy Teacher Training and Cultural Orientation; ESOL Testing and Evaluation; Language Program Development and Implementation; and UNHCR/ICMC Southeast Asian Refugee ESL/CO Programs.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/college/faculty/esol-teacheroftheyear.html

I'm Sorry Dad

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:37:00 +0000

Here is another story of an OFW who wanted to lift his family's financial status by going to Mauritius and to work in a fishing vessel that later on turned out to be a living hell.

This is just an excerpt of the original article from Rinka Chic's blog. The author is relaying the story told by her aunt who happened to be one of the instruments of rescuing the OFW from his floating coffin.

Filipinos, they give out phone numbers, get to know each other specially when they're in a foreign territory. Just then out of those very few Filipinos Tita* met in Mauritius, one of them rang her in the middle of the night. He told him that there's a Pinoy locked up in a fishing vessel.. who's very sick. Just then Tita * sensed that something's wrong so she asked this guy if he could bring this man to the hospital immediately.

So this is what the other Pinoy fishermen crew did. They sneaked this sick man out of the vessel and brought him to the hospital where they met Tita*. And by then they learned how critical the physical condition of this guy. He's very thin, long-beard and weak. He's diagnosed with ulcer which became severe due to lack of medication and food while he was on board that ship. Worst, he was maltreated by the capt of the vessel who locked him up and... left there to die and be thrown to the open sea afterwards.

Sad though, but before he's scheduled emergency operation, he died. Leaving only few stuffs behind. A cellfone, wallet and shirt.

When they brought his remains back here in the Philippines, he's family couldn't believe what happened.. and really happened. (oops im having goosebumps now).

Apparently when they're checking his things, someone saw some voice recordings on the phone - made by him. These were recorded while he was on board that vessel.. suffering, alone and dying..

Tita* said that she cried over and over when she heard the recordings.. :
~ive been on this boat for so long now and they havent given me food for 3 days now
~im sorry dad i've dreamed of a good life for us.. remembered i wanted to buy a new fone for..
~im sorry dad .. dad im so alone here... it's dark.. i don't want to die here dad.. pls i dont want to die here
~it's xx days now that im locked up.. it's so dark here.. i want to go back

I can't sleep that entire night thinking of how that man suffered cruelly just for a simple dream - for his family... and the thought of being locked up, alone, sad, hopeless and dying. knowing that even if u escape that death dungeon you're still lost coz our not in your homeland.

seesh.. im having goosebumps again. well anyways, gma will be having a documentary about his story (i guess they will also play the recordings from him). It will be a campaign against illegal recruitment and how people should be careful about them. it'll be shown in imbestigador by nov.. which makes me think that i'll be missing that show since
** i'll be out of the country by then as an ofw also.. (cross my fingers and toes and.. just nothing like that will happen to me)

ok it's a true story ok.. im having goosebumps again.. so im signing off by now. :)

Being an OFW really is a sacrifice in its own context. Leaving the comfort of our own home and country, risking to take the odds of winning, hoping to support the financial needs of our families back home. Even if it would mean of working in a not-so-friendly environment just to earn that money that we don't know how to find in our failing homeland.

How many more sons are still out there? Sons who have been into this kind of situation, so alone and afraid, so desperate and helpless, saying, "I'm sorry Dad for dreaming a good life".

May God bless them all.

Finding Jobs in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:38:00 +0000

Many friends are asking me on how to find jobs in Singapore, so I am writing these tips to help them know and everyone else who happens to be interested in landing a job here in SG. These are all based on my experiences and from others' as well that I've accumulated from the different filipino groups, discussion forum and any form of online filipino community in Singapore.

How to Apply:

Online

You have the option either to apply online or via personal visit as tourist. If you are looking for the safest then I suggest to apply online. I consider it safe because you don't need to take risks like, resigning from your current job and maybe later going home empty handed. Normally, the employer will just schedule a phone interview, and from there if you will make it, they will process the application of your Employment Pass (EP). Once approved, they will send you the approved-in-principle letter for the EP, then you will be good to go.

The easiest way to proceed by then is to go as Tourist, then you will process everything from here, from your medical examination, to submission of requirements for the issuance of EP Card, to the processing of OWWA membership. This would only take you 5 days to process everything.

>> Some of Reliable Online Job Sites (in no order of preference)

www.monster.com
www.st701.com
www.jobstreet.com.sg
www.jobsdb.com.sg
www.singaporejobsite.com
www.myjobsearch.com

Referral

If you have Filipino friends working here then that would be another advantage especially if they are performing well in their fields of work, as most likely their employer would ask them to recommend someone whom they personally know and of course a Filipino. Then everything would be the same as the procedure in Online Application.

By the way, this is the process that I went through, I was referred by a friend working here in SG, and so I went here as Tourist and process everything in less than a week. Thanks God for sending me a blessing in a form of a friend.

Social Visit (Tourist)

This is the riskiest way to go in hunting jobs here in Singapore, but that's the purpose why this article is created, for you to have a guide and idea on how to do it right and to minimize the risk that you may go through. As an introduction please only consider this option if you have a friend or a relative here, with their respective names and addresses ready. If you don't know anyone from here then I wouldn't be suggesting for you to come here and I don't have any tips for you on this matter. So you really have a friend or a relative here? Then continue reading..

>> Plane Tickets

When you enter Singapore as Tourist you will be required to have a round trip ticket. This is necessary, you will not be allowed to enter if you only have a one-way ticket. So book for a round trip ticket, I suggest that you will schedule your returning ticket two weeks from the date of your arrival. That means that you will be staying in Singapore for two weeks. Well, not really but just keep it that way for them to believe that you will be here for a vacation only. Later on you can re-schedule your return ticket to a later date once you are in Singapore.

>> Pocket Money

Others would say that to bring S$1,000 is already enough but I would say that the safest would be S$1,500 or approximately equal to 50,000 Php. That would mean that you will be spending here S$100 a day, that's more than enough actually as the food per meal here would only cost you S$2.50, if you will be eating at public food places like our carenderia in the Philippines. But to consider that you will be here for a vacation then you will be spending a lot more than that. We are talking real money here alright, in cold cash. If you also have credit cards then bring them with you.

>> Dress Code

If you are a guy then just wear anything you are comfortable with and decent. If you are a she, then please wear semi-formal or formal (not the gowns alright, i'm referring to corporate looks here) dress. Recently they have been doing random checks on ladies as there are reports that a number of filipina prostitutes is growing in alarming numbers here, so make sure to dress properly. What is semi-formal or formal, please do your research and ask your folks at home or your not-so-friendly neighbors. Just kidding, I know you are very well verse on this one.

>> Place to Stay

You will be asked on the address and name of a person that you will be staying here. You have no name or address to present? Then read back 3 paragraphs above, only go here when you have a friend or a relative.

>> Length of Stay

When you enter singapore as Tourist, you will be allowed to stay in the country for 30 days. Yes, even if you say that you will be staying here for only 2 weeks, the days that they will allow you to stay and will be stamped in your passport is 30 days. So don't waste time and start applying from Day 1 to Day 30, don't be a lazy ass (sorry for the word, i was carried away, hehe).

On the 27th day, if you haven't bumped any luck yet then you can apply an extension online through their website and you will be given an additional 30 days to stay.

>> Exit Strategy

This is a tricky way to extend your stay here after the extension expires and you still didn't find any job. You are not ready to give up yet, aren't you? After all you are already here playing with the risks. Ok good.

The nearest country and the cheapest to make your exit is of course Malaysia, it is just a train ride and bus ride and *poof*, you're already in another country. The food and accomodation in Malaysia is very much cheaper compare to Singapore so the little extra money that you have would still be enough, there are even filipinos there that could offer you a place to stay for $4 to $10 a day.

Now stay there for at least a week before you enter back Singapore. Ja-ran!!! another 30 days for you to stay, what a lucky earthling you are. Now, that's if you are lucky, I've heared stories that others have been given a 7 days extension only, but that's a very small number of unlucky ones, but still possible.

After this if you haven't found any job yet then there's no other way for you to go but to go back to our homeland. And when you're there, try to weigh things again, your competency and skills, your experiences in job hunting, do you think you'll get it the next time. Evaluate all these risks and after a minimum of 3 months, maybe you could try your luck again or maybe you will just find rocks that you could turn into gold in our beloved country.

>> Perfect Timing

Well there's no such way as perfect, but an ideal time to be here is January to April as a lot of employees will be resigning on this period after getting their bonuses.

Documents to Bring

1. Passport (will not expire in 9 months time)
2. TOR and Diploma - certified true copy from registrar (authenticated or not, mine is not but if you have time to get it authenticated to go)
3. PRC Certificate (if any, i don't have mine but still make it authenticated if you have)
4. Any other certificates you have accumulated

Cost of Living (Per Month)

>> 1 room's average rental: S$600
>> max. head per room is 2: $650 / 2 = S$350 (hehe, you got it right there's nothing wrong with your calculator)
>> other expenses: S$ 300 per month (includes food, internet, cable, water, electricity, gas)

Singapore Currency and Rate

Currency is Singaporean Dollar (SGD or S$)
1 SGD ~ 32 PHP

Finale

So, I think that would be all, if you have questions then please feel free to leave a comment on this article or leave a message in my message box. I will try to answer them all.

Don't forget to pass this on to someone you know who is interested to work here in Singapore.

Happy Hunting. See you here in SG.

F.A.Q. (12/16/2010)

Q: For fresh grads like me, do i have a chance?
A: It is always good to arm yourself with real work experiences. Build up your skill sets, this will color your resume/CV for you to get the attention of Head Hunters/Employers. Always remember, the competition is tough.

Q: What if I don't have relatives or friends in Singapore?
A: I published this guide to help people find their way into landing jobs in Singapore in the safest manner. Having friends or relatives in Singapore to back you up in case something goes wrong is one thing you would be thanking once you are in the real situation. Plus the situation now gets even tougher not to have contacts here in SG. (see the next item)

Q: I've heared about Invitation Letter being required?
A: Philippine Immigration Officers (IO), sometimes require Invitation Letter from your friends or relatives in Singapore when you leave the country. This is a new protocol, just to make sure, ask your friends/relatives in Singapore to secure a certified copy of this Invitation Letter from the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and mail it to you. I've heard stories that some IO will not honor scanned copy of this Invitation Letter.

Q: I've scheduled my return ticket more than 2 weeks after my arrival date in Singapore, is it okay?
A: Inorder to avoid suspicions from Immigration Officers, an advisable and believable holiday duration is 2 weeks only. And your pocket money will convince the IO that you will not get into financial trouble during your stay.

Q: How to get Employment Pass/S-Pass/Work Pass?
A: Your employer will apply whichever pass that will suit your salary grade. You don't have to worry this when you come as you will be concentrating more on finding job first, but make sure you have the requirements listed in the post above.

Q: What about Medical Examination?
A: You need to pass the Medical Exam conducted by Singapore Authorized Testing Centers as requirement to get your employment pass/s-pass/work permit. Tests include but not limited to Tubercolosis, Hepatitis, HIV, Drug test.

07/20/11 Update: Regarding Invitation Letter

There are instances now that the Immigration Officer in the Philippines would require an Invitation Letter to be presented upon leaving the Country to Singapore. Please read my blog post about this policy.

Clara: Filipina rape victim in Qatar

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:53:00 +0000

I happened to read this particular article from mefilipinos dot wordpress dot com. Though this has happened way back in 2006 but it is just so sad for me to pass on this one, without letting you know the situations that some of our domestic helpers kababayan are suffering in the middle east. As mentioned in my previous article "Mail-order Brides, Prostitutes and DH", so sad that even our own government agencies cannot offer an extended hands and services to these victims of oppression and sexual assaults.

The following excerpt is said to be from Ellen Tordesillas' blog. And the victim's identity is hidden under the name "Clara". Please read and let us continue to pray for the safety of all the filipina domestic helpers around the globe and for our government officials to dig deeper to cases like this.

Excerpts from the signed affidavit Filipina rape victim in Qatar. We will hide her identity under the name “Clara”.

Sometime in April 2005, my father suffered a second stroke and was unable to work since then. I wanted to be able to work in Oman in order to care and provide for my parents as I did not want them to return to the Philippines. This prompted me to seek for any job placement for Oman.Sometime in May 2005, I read Jinhel International Recruitment Agency’s (hereinafter, “Jinhel”) Manila Bulletin advertisement for job placements in countries in the Middle East. I immediately placed a call in the telephone number contained in the ad.

After one week, I went to Jinhel’s office and paid P3,000.00 for my medical exam.I was assured of a job placement in Qatar so I decided to resign from my work as Guidance Counselor in Systems Plus Computer College in Caloocan City.I went L-R Medical & X-ray Clinic. I paid P2,730.00. Then Jinhel called in March 2006. I was told to prepare as I was sure to be sent for work in Qatar. I paid Jinhel Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) to Haja Fatima as payment, she said, for her services.

Jinhel and I agreed on the following terms of my employment in Qatar: monthly salary of QD700; work is to take care of a five (5)-year old child; the first two (2) months’ salary will go to Jinhel as its commission.

At the airport, iside the immigration, we were asked to pay One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos each (P1,500.00) each, unreceipted. We were previously advised by Nelia to prepare the said amount.

I arrived in Qatar on June 8, 2006. At the airport, I was met by Faruq, a Pakistani National who introduced himself to be from Al Waleed Agency – Jinhel’s Qatari counterpart agency. Faruq asked me to sign a contract with the following terms: monthly salary of QR600; work is all-around with no day-off.

Mr. Faruq brought me to my employer, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Jumiah (hereinafter, “Dr. Abdul Aziz”). I came to know that Dr. Abdul Aziz is a Saudi National and a surgeon at the AL Ramelah Hamad Hospital. His wife was then pregnant and they had a five (5)-year old son.

My employers’ house is located inside a gated subdivision. It is a two-storey, six-bedroom house with five comfort rooms and a garden. I worked from 5:00 in the morning until about 1:00 or 2:00 the next morning as I was not allowed to sleep while my employers’ child was up. And since the child was asleep most of the time during the day, he usually went to bed past midnight.

Within a week’s time, Mrs. Abdul Aziz (I only know her as Madam Dina) started to maltreat me. Mrs. Abdul Aziz was very strict and very sensitive to dirt. Whenever she was not satisfied with my cleaning, she would pull my hair and would order to do the cleaning all over again. The house had big windows that I had to climb each time.

One time, I unintentionally overcooked the bread I was cooking. For this, she slapped me.On the second or third week, my ward, Faisal, hit me with the telephone apparatus.
One time, they brought me along to a mall. At the mall, a fellow Filipina saw the “bukol” in my head. She gave me telephone numbers at the Philippine Embassy and OWWA’s, should I decide to run away from my employers.

Sometime in June (after about 2 week-stay in Qatar), I called the Philippine Embassy and I was able to talk to one Mr. Jack. I told him about my situation but, in return, he coldly told me: ”Hindi pa naman grabe ang nangyayari sa yo. Tapusin mo na yang 2 years mo.” He also gave me Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) telephone number.

In the last week of June, I called OWWA and talked to one Mr. Sam to whom I repeated my story. He told me: “Tumakas ka na kung ayaw mo na. Lumabas ka at sumakay sa taxi.”
On 14 September 2006, I was at the kitchen while Madam Dina was upstairs taking a bath, when Dr. Abdul Aziz arrived from the office. He suddenly embraced me and touched my breasts. I pushed him and told him that I would report to his wife. He just gave me a devil’s grin. When Madam Dina came down, I told her about what her husband did to me. But Madam Dina slapped me and blamed me for what had happened.

On the same day of September 14, 2006, Dr. Abdul Aziz asked for the key in my room. He ordered me not to lock my room from then on. I became so scared that I started to use the table in my room to block the door. I also kept a knife in my room.
On the third week of September, I again called OWWA. I told them about the harassment but I was given the same advice – to run away! I again requested that I be fetched or rescued but I was given the same answer – that OWWA does not rescue workers.At around midnight on 02 November 2006, Madam Dina gave birth. He was brought to the hospital by Dr. Abdul Aziz. At about past 4:00 in the morning of 03 November 2006, I heard Dr. Abdul Aziz’ car arrive. I was then taking a shower. I got out of the bathroom. I just finished putting on my uniform when Dr. Abdul Aziz banged the door in my room. I was so shocked. Then Dr. Abdul Aziz immediately twisted my hands, laid me on the bed and tied my two hands on the bed using some cloth. He forcibly tore my clothes then raped me.

I pleaded and begged him not to do it. It hurt. I felt that his p***s was so big and I almost lost consciousness. He did a withdrawal and sprayed his sperms on my chest. After that, he untied me. Then I saw that I was bleeding. I was so weak and almost went blank. I thought of the knife but I could not think or move.After what he did, I even saw him pray the Muslim prayer. Then I heard his car leave. I checked if he left any door unlocked. All doors/gates were locked. I was still bleeding.
At about 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, I saw the window in my comfort room. I jumped out of that window. Luckily, Lorna was then working in our neighbor’s garden. She told me to look for chairs I can step on. As I was jumping to our neighbor’s garden, Lorna saw that I was bleeding.

Lorna let me out of her employer’s yard through their gate. But there were guards and so Lorna hid me behind a tree. We had to wait until the next prayer time at 11:00 in the morning. When she saw the guards entered their prayer house, Lorna advised me to run.
I hailed the taxi. I saw that it had passengers but I later learned that the taxi driver, a Filipino, saw me bleeding and so he stopped the taxi. “From the taxi, the driver placed call to the Philippine Embassy.

When we arrived at the embassy, there was a party which I later learned was a party for Connie Sison and TJ Manotoc for their Kwentong Disyerto. There were media people at the embassy. The driver called Mr. Sam to inform him that we were already outside the embassy. Mr. Sam got out and even saw the blood on my body. He did not invite us in. He just told the driver to proceed and take me to OWWA. The driver even repeated that I was bleeding but Mr. Sam insisted that I be taken to OWWA.

When we got to OWWA, there was an ongoing ballroom dancing. We were asked who we were looking for. The taxi driver was making a call to Mr. Sam in order to ask who we would look for but he was not yet responding. We waited for two hours.

After two hours (or about 9:00 at night of November 3, 2006), one Sir Levi arrived at the OWWA from the embassy. He led me to a quarter that they call “shelter” inside the OWWA. I saw many (about 30) Filipino women inside the quarter .

On the night of November 3, Connie Sison’s group also proceeded to OWWA from the embassy. Sir Levi told the leader to hide those who needed to be hid including myself because I did not look good and I was hysterical. Out of the 30 plus women, only 15 were presented to Connie Sison’s group. I later learned that they were introduced as Filipinos studying computer inside the OWWA.

I stayed in OWWA the whole day of November 4, 2006. We were fed “lugaw”. No one counseled me. I was not checked up or brought to the hospital.

On the night of November 4, 2006, Ma’am Ferida without first talking to me or asking me, called my employer. At about 8:00 in the morning the following day, my employer came. He was first attended to by Sir Levi. He was asked if I was his employee. They were later joined by Ma’am Ferida. They then invited me to sit down with them inside Ma’am Ferida and Sir Levi’s office. The door of the office was left open.

I was angry at the sight of my employer-rapist. But I could not do anything because Ma’am Ferida and Sir Levi facilitated the negotiation. I was asked not to file charges against my employer. In return, my employer would give me my five (5) months salary, a plane ticket to the Philippines as well as return my personal belongings that I left at their house when I escaped. I was made to write and sign a waiver which I worded as follows: “I will not file charges against my employer, the rape case, although it happened.”

In the morning of November 6, Sir Levi called me and gave me a plane ticket. I asked him about my personal belongings and the agreed 5 months salary that my employer would return. He said my employer only gave the ticket. I insisted, at the very least, on my things, but he said “Mamili ka. Uuwi ka or made-deport ka? Basta’s kailangan ko ng sagot mo hanggang 3:00 dahil alis tayo ng 3:30.” I cried and demanded for my things but he said ”Wala akong magagawa.” I had no choice but to agree.

Sir Levi and I left OWWA for the airport at 3:30 in the afternoon. But before leaving, I got my mobile phone that was earlier confiscated by Ma’am Ferida. I was penniless. I was not even given any money for snacks or any emergency.

At about 6:00 p.m., I boarded the plane for the Philippines. I arrived in the Philippines in November 7, 2006 where I was brought to hospitals by my family.
Not one from OWWA of the Department of Foreign Affairs assisted me in the Philippines.

The above story is not an isolated case. There are thousands and thousands of “Claras” out there being maltreated and dehumanized. And they are helpless because our government cannot protect them.

Mail-order Brides, Prostitutes and DH

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:15:00 +0000

Trying to find interesting stories about Overseas Filipino Workers, I was able to stumble upon a particular post from bilingualpen dot com entitled "On the OFW Phenomenon, Mail-order Brides, Prostitutes, and More". The author presented very well on how the word Filipina would mean to different nationalities around the globe.

While to others it would mean as Mail-order Brides or Prostitutes or Domestic Helpers, comments from different foreign bloggers conveyed a message that a word Filipina doesn't sound that bad. Some were even thankful for having their sons found a perfect Filipina match.

Mail-order Bride may sound like an ordinary letter send via post and delivered by a post man in his bicycle. It may sound so easy as sending letter or perhaps email in todays form of communication. But maybe there's more to it, maybe a question perhaps on why are they choosing their brides to be Filipinas? Let's take away the other words and let's leave the word Bride, it means a soon-to-be wife, a lifetime partner and a future mother. Why are they choosing their lifetime partner to be Filipina if they don't believe the characteristics of a Filipina as a good wife? Why can't they just marry their own female race instead if they think Filipinas are lowly kind of person? Why do they want to be associated with a Filipina for the rest of their lives? We maybe raising our eye brows everytime we see a Filipina with a foreign partner walking in the malls in the Philippines or in different tourist spots around the country. We maybe judging them of just using the form of marriage to elevate the lives of their families from poverty. But why are we judging them when a term Mail-order Bride means someone is finding a Filipina bride? If I am the groom, I would definitely look for a bride who could stand with me for the rest of my life, I would definitely look for a wife that could take good care of my children, family centered and God fearing, the traits that only a true Filipina could give.

I will not be posting words to promote prostitution here, but I would just like to ask and appeal to everyone to look at them as human beings. They may be choosing the path of an easy money but let's just don't forget that they have their own reasons to end in a world where everyone wish to vanish. Yes you read it right, "Everyone", including themselves who continuosly hope that someday they would be living in a world that every woman is dreaming of. Some of them are mothers, sisters, daughters or even wives whose lives have been struck in poverty back in our own country. They can be the victims of the globalization. When the rest of the world are building their economic stability, our country seems to be doing the opposite and forcing our own countrymen to fight their own battles outside the country, even if it would mean working under the glowing lights of pubs and clubs.

Filipina Domestic Helpers have been around for ages now. Allow me to ask the following questions. Did you see a domestic helper from a first world country working in a third world country? Is it bad to work as a domestic helper? If your answer is both "no" then you should understand why we are the number one source of nannies around the globe. We should be supporting them of what they are doing. Rampant abuse of domestic helpers have been reported lately from different countries. But sad to hear that our government is extending very limited support to these individuals when it comes to protecting their rights. Not unless maybe if the media would be focusing all the lenses to the officials in the Philippine Administration. After all, presidential election is fast approaching.

Mail-order brides, prostitutes or domestic helpers, for me they are all just riding on the journey for survivality and plain victims of the greater problem that lies within our country, our beloved Philippines.

How to Handle a Hero

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:42:00 +0000

Jim Paredes, a member of the famous APO Hiking Society, posted this article back in August 03, 2008 in http://www.philstar.com. It is an interesting fact that he was able to point out the feeling of disconnection when we are away or sometimes even when we go home to our respective families in the Philippines. Continue reading...
HUMMING IN MY UNIVERSE By Jim Paredes

The OFW (overseas Filipino worker), who used to be known as OCW (overseas contract worker), is now an integral part of our national culture and consciousness — as Pinoy as pakbet and adobo. It is a cultural template that came to be primarily because our country could not — and still cannot — provide enough employment for its citizens. People have had to find jobs abroad to earn enough to clothe, feed and care for their constantly growing families that, to add to their problems, their faith discourages them from keeping small.

OFWs have been dubbed by the very system that created them as “heroes” for bringing home dollars that provide much needed economic benefits to their families and, consequently, to the system itself. And while they may in fact be a big factor why our country has not collapsed despite the culture of inertia, corruption and government mismanagement that plague it, OFWs are, in their own view, reluctant heroes, to be sure.

One, most of them really have no choice but to go abroad for lack of opportunities here. Two, many of them will abandon the “hero” label in a heartbeat if they can simply find some way to feed their families and stay in the Philippines at the same time. We know that they and their loved ones pay too high a price for the economic benefits they enjoy. And this includes being away from their loved ones and missing out as their family stories are written. They are absent from family pictures, albums, house blessings, graduations, births, birthdays, anniversaries and family reunions because ironically, they have to earn their money elsewhere to finance all this.

They have children who are fed and clothed but are orphaned of at least one parent. Their main consolation is, at least, the people they love are experiencing these wonderful economic benefits even if they cannot physically be part of it and enjoying with them.

I have met many OFWs during my travels abroad and even now that I live parttime in Sydney. I have observed that as much as they are the providers and the sustainers of life back home they, too, need care and sustenance which many of them hardly get. A lot of them complain about being trapped or doomed to being lonely and missing out on life just so their loved ones can have a better life.

This article is about the caring and encouragement these reluctant heroes, who up hold the sky up for our families and our society, need on their end. Here are a few things to keep in mind when relating to the fathers, mothers, kuyas, ates, uncles, aunts and other relatives who have left us temporarily to keep the rest of us alive.

1. Relate to them as people, not just as providers.

Many times, the relationship between OFWs and their families back home is sadly reduced to an almost solely economic one. A lot of OFWs complain that most of the time, they only hear from the beneficiaries of their hard-earned salaries when the roof needs fixing, the tuition needs paying, someone is sick, or a relative needs money. They feel like slaves trapped in a cycle of backbreaking work in order to grant their families’ wishes.

Although I live abroad, I’m what you may call an OFW in reverse. A big part of my family is in Sydney, and I come quite often to Manila to earn and pay for the house, schooling, food, electricity, etc. As an “Aussie W,” as Danny Javier likes to call me, I go through the same loneliness and deprivation that regular OFWs go through, although not as intensely and desperately. At least I am able to go back every few months and stay for a few weeks unlike the majority who go home only once every year or two and stay only for a couple of weeks.

2. Find more things to write or communicate to them about other than asking for money.

The main loss that OFWs feel is the deprivation of affection from their loved ones. It starts off as a physical loss which they and their families feel initially. After a while, when the dust has settled and the reality sets in that the relative will be gone for quite a while, indifference can creep in. Families can get used to their member being far away, leading to an alienation that can be most painful especially for the person who is away.

A soon-to-be-released documentary I watched a few days ago showed a group of Filipino teachers employed in the United States who felt a lot of frustration while doing video chats with their families. Apart from presenting a list of things they needed financed, many of their family members had little else to talk to them about.

Things changed dramatically when one of the teachers committed suicide due to sheer loneliness. After that, the family video chats became less of an asking or begging session, and more of a genuine exchange of love and caring. This is what OFWs miss the most. So make sure they are kept in the loop and abreast of what’s going on in everyone’s lives.

3. Constantly shower the OFW with gratitude.

There is nothing more gratifying than being appreciated for the sacrifices one makes. A simple, heartfelt “thank you” from a loved one can be profoundly uplifting to someone who is feeling the alienation and meaninglessness of living in some foreign place. It can give one a sense of purpose, direction and reward for a job well done. Gratitude can be a tonic that revitalizes the OFW to continue working under lonely, stressful conditions.

4. Don’t blame them for being away.

Many times, the pain OFWs feel can be a double whammy. Not only is it difficult to be away from their families, it hurts them even more when they are blamed for everything that is wrong with their relationships with their loved ones. Everything is dumped on their lap because they are not present to fix things. While their absence may very well be a factor in why certain things are wrong, e.g. why his son has taken to drugs, why the daughter failed in school or ran away, why the family was cheated of its savings, or whatever else can go wrong, it does not really help the situation to pin the accusation solely or needlessly on someone who is helpless at the moment because he is abroad and is therefore not in a position to fix things.

Instead of blaming, families could attempt to engage one another, including the overseas member in a serious conversation about what together they can do about the situation.

5. Encourage them to get a life outside of work.

While the OFW may not really choose to live abroad but for necessity, it can be a great learning opportunity to learn a new language, understand a new culture, meet new friends and enrich one’s life overall. Many people on both sides of the fence, at home and abroad, mistakenly tend to view the situation largely as one of pure sacrifice with little joys to anticipate wherever one is.

That’s really too bad because being abroad can be a great learning experience in independence, creativity, culture, adjustment and discovery. I’ve been amazed at how some of our countrymen have built happy lives in remote, seemingly inhospitable cultures. It is wonderful how they can make something good out of a bad situation.

For families at home, it is OK to encourage the OFW to pursue personal growth and happiness. Some may worry that growth or embracing their situation can cause them to be estranged from their significant others back home. That can be a valid worry. While it is necessary to remind them to be anchored to the family, it is also important to slacken just a bit the chains or ties that bind.

6. Don’t forget to greet them on their birthdays, Christmas, New Year, Father’s Day, etc.

These special days may not seem as special or have the same urgency to the people at home, but believe me, to the one who left and is living in some alien place, to be forgotten on a special day is a pain that can induce overwhelming sadness. This is especially true when all the other Filipinos they work with receive greetings, gifts and calls from their loved ones back home.

7. Put aside some of the money the OFW sends home for a rainy day.

Many families who are beneficiaries of the OFW’s blood, sweat and tears have the attitude that daddy or mommy, kuya or ate will always provide. Thus they spend on trivial unimportant things and are caught flatfooted when the job contract is not renewed and the money runs out. They soon discover that all that sacrifice was for naught and they are all back where they started!

8. When they come home, make sure to be around for them and for events where the returning relative can experience the family life he or she has missed.

Many OFWs come home for that rare visit looking forward to family bonding, only to discover that the people he wants to spend time with are busy, or worse, not interested to be with him/her. They discover that they have become strangers to their families and only token greetings and affection are accorded them. They do not feel integrated, only accommodated. Their presence after a long absence may even be seen as disruptive to the household’s daily routine.

This can be a big disappointment and may even discourage the OFW from coming home as often. Losing a reason to come home is a tragedy that he and his family can ill afford.

The OFW phenomenon is here to stay. Thank God modern communication can somehow ease its alienating effects on families. But even as we learn to live with it, we should continually find ways to keep OFW families from becoming dysfunctional despite the absence of some of its members. The family is one of our nation’s stronger institutions, our joy and our treasure. We owe it to ourselves and our countrymen to keep it intact, even under the worst of circumstances.

Me and my Videoke Box

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:49:00 +0000

I was invited last night by a friend and former colleague to come over to their place together with my videoke box.

So we had fun all night till 4am singing and dancing to the tunes from 70's to 90's. It was a great experience to see my fellow OFWs singing all the OPM songs. In one night we all felt like we are back in the Philippines partying with families and friends.

Videoke is always my best buddy to ease my homesickness. And I think almost every OFW around the globe would agree on that. Like what a Singaporean said, whom I've happened to meet at one pub, "Every Filipino can sing".

Considering that he haven't gone to our country, his comment was plainly an observation on his Filipino acquaintances.

Wherever we may go, it would really show that singing videoke will always be a part of our lives.

If you ask what videoke box I have, it's a new videoke box called ziller from Korea. It has built-in 707 OPM songs and 1,565 English songs for a price of 12k+ Php. I should have been buying magic sing but when I saw this product it was an easy choice for me. Features that I like are as follows:

The main circuitry of the system resides on the box not on the microphone (I can't think what would happen if magic sing falls from the hands of an intoxicated person)
It has built-in OPM songs
It has 8 extra expansion slots for additional song chips
You can use an ordinary microphone (maximum of 2)

There are a lot of other features but those are the top features that I've considered. You can visit the product's website for more information.

Product Site: http://www.realsoundvideoke.com

Imagine a World without Filipinos

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +0000

You may have probably read this article somewhere in the internet sites, blogs or email but this one is worth a 2nd reading to inspire us and to be proud of whatever work that we have abroad, so long as it is decent and legal. Enjoy reading.

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.

-Abdullah Al-Maghlooth | Al-Watan
almaghlooth@alwatan.com.sa

OFW Benefits: Order Negosyo

noreply@blogger.com (karim) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:38:00 +0000

The Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), under the office of the President, invites all interested individuals especially overseas Filipino workers in search of viable business and investment opportunities in the Philippines through the Order Negosyo or Franchising Program.

The program assists in processing documents needed to establish a new business. It has a list of reputable and seasoned franchise companies with proven track records and financial institutions offering financial assistance in starting a new venture.

List of Franchisors

Among the participating franchisors in Order Regalo are:

- Bench
- Business Box
- Candy Corner
- Facialhaus
- Goto King
- Heltgard Hygiene Systems, Inc.
- Kameraworld
- Metropole Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Inc.
- Miggy's Super Tacos, Inc.
- Mister Donut
- Mr. Quickie
- Nacho King
- Potato Corner
- Toby's

FAQs About Order Negosyo

Why Order Negosyo?

Order Negosyo helps you put up and manage a business by:

- Offering a range of pre-selected business packages available in the Philippines. Order Negosyo provides the needed information, saving you the trouble of going through each franchisor at the initial stages of your research.
- Matching you with the franchise business that meets your interest and financial resources.
- Helping identify financing packages that can be tapped to augment your financial resources.
- Providing documentation assistance.

What businesses are available under Order Negosyo?

Order Negosyo offers franchises covering both food and non-food lines.

Why franchising?

Franchising is a method of doing business where the buyer (the franchisee) runs a business by using the system and trademark of the seller (the franchisor).
Among the benefits in franchising are:

- First, it minimizes the risk of business failure because through the years of running the business, the franchisor has ironed out potential problem areas.
- According to the Philippine Franchise Association, "a franchised business is three times more likely to succeed as compared to one put up from square one".
- Second, you save on the cost of advertising because not only do you have a well-known and recognized trademark, you also pool advertising resources with other franchisees.
- Third, the franchisor provides the franchisee and staff with detailed training and help. If you were an independent operator, where would you and your staff train?

Who may avail of franchising opportunities under Order Negosyo?

- Any interested individual. This means either you or any of your family member/s, or any group of individuals who may pool resources together;
- A Filipino based or working abroad who wants to put up and operate his own business here in the Philippines. Also included are those who are planning to return to the Philippines.
- Interested parties must possess the following qualities:

Committed and hardworking
With positive outlook in life
Willing to be trained in the disciplines of the franchise business systems
With financial resources to put up a business

Can I qualify even if I have no experience or background in business?

A business experience and/or background is an advantage. However, interested parties with no experience in business need not worry since franchisors will provide training programs.

One of the benefits of franchising is the transfer of information and technology necessary to successfully operate the business.

The rest of the personnel such as supervisors and staff will also be trained. The length of training will depend on the type of the franchise business.

Can I apply even while I am still abroad?

Yes! You can start your own business here in the Philippines while still abroad. You may appoint a representative from among your family member/s to apply and operate your business. Of course, they will be subject to the franchisor's evaluation process.

How much investment is needed?

Your investment will depend on the nature of the franchise business you choose. Order Negosyo has carefully selected the franchise package it offers. Your investment could range from as low as PHP 200,000 to as high PHP 4 million.

Other factors that affect your investment size are:

- Size/area of establishment
- Location
- Equipment
- Outlet type
- Stock inventory
- Office / space rental
- Insurance
- Permits & licenses
- Other working/operating expenses

In general, your franchise investment includes:

- Franchise fee
- Marketing study
- Store design
- Layout assistance
- Training programs
- Leasehold improvements (outlet construction)
- Equipment
- Signage
- Pre-opening marketing expense, and pre-opening supplies

Do I pay more if I course my inquiry through Order Negosyo?

No, the amount you pay is exactly the same as when you deal directly with the franchisors. In fact, fees are paid directly to the franchisors. With Order Negosyo, you receive the assistance and services with no extra or additional costs.

How much can I expect to earn?

Your income from your outlet/business will depend on a number of factors such as: location, market condition and type of supervision you will your shop, advertising and marketing.

Depending on the franchise business you choose, your recovery period can be anywhere from six (6) to thirty-six (36) months.

What is the ideal location?

The location depends on the franchise business you choose but in general, the following are the locations which are most preferred.

In a mall:

- near cinemas
- near food courts
- near main entrances
- near entrances of main parking lots

Outside the mall:

- near churches
- near public markets
- near pedicab, tricycle or jeepney stops
- near schools
- near municipal halls
- within commercial areas
- near a loading and unloading area for public transport
- where there is heavy pedestrian traffic
- near entrance of populated residential community

These indications do not automatically mean a good site. The franchisor with its vast experience in site selection, shall assess the feasibility of your prospective site. This comes along with an objective and accurate report on the sales potential of the site.

There are instances when you already have a site in mind. Such location will still have to pass through the franchisor's evaluation and approval.

If you have no specific location in mind, some have a list of pre-approved spaces that are to be franchised.

How soon can I start operating?

Again, this varies form one franchisor to another and will depend on how fast you can submit the documentary requirements.

Once the franchisor has approved your application and you have complied with the other requirements such as personnel training, site construction and equipment installation, then you can immediately start.

How do I start?

Choose a business package that interests you. Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). For more inquiries, e-mail PITC at pitcoro@info.com.ph

Source: http://www.business.gov.ph/SME_Agenda_SMEofws.php