Pinaggalitan si Ambassador Francis Al Bichara ng Department of Foreign Affairs dahil sinabi niya na kaya mabagal ang evacuation ng mga OFW mula Lebanon dahil kinukulang sila ng pera.
Siyempre magagalit talaga ang DFA at Malacañang dahil sinabi ito ni Bichara, isang araw matapos magyabang si Gloria Arroyo sa kanyang state-of-the nation address na “May pera na… may pera tayo”.
Itong pagmamayagpag ni Arroyo na “May pera tayo” ay kasama sa kanyang propaganda na magaling siyang pangulo kaya raw “may pera na tayo.”
Kailangan rin ni Arroyo ibando na marami siyang pera na pamumudmud para hindi siya iwanan ng mga kongresista na boboto sa impeachment. Parang sinasabi sa kanila na “May pambayad ako sa inyo. Magkano ba ang gusto nyo?” Ganun rin ang mga local officials na siyang tumutulak ng Charter Change.
Nabuking sila ngayon ni Bichara na kailangan magsabi ng totoo dahil siya doon ang nagu-organisa ng evacuation ng mga OFWs. Kailagan ang pagkain para sa mga Filipino workers na nasa evacuation center.
Kailangan din ni Bichara mag-hire ng mga bus na sasakyan ng mga OFW paalis sa Lebanon hanggang sa Syria. Harang raw ang presyo ng mga bus ngayon sa Lebanon ngunit wala namang magawa at ganun talaga sa panahon ng krisis.
Sa pagsabi ni Bichara na wala silang pera, di parang samal yan kay Arroyo na katatapos lang magyabang na “may pera na tayo. Walang pinag-iba yun kay dating acting secretary fe Hidalgo na nagsabi na kulang ng sobra 6,000 classrooms sa pasukan samantalang pinagyayabang ni Arroyo na dahil magaling siya, nabigyan na niya ng solusyon ang kakulangan ng classrooms. Yun nga, siniksik niya ang isang daang estudyante sa isang classroom.
Hindi yata alam ni Bichara na bawal magsabi ng totoo dito sa administrasyon ni Arroyo. Bagong ambassador si Bichara. Dati siyang gubernador ng Albay. Nasa partido siya ng Nationalist People’s Coalition ng negosyanteng si Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.
Humingi na ng paumanhin si Bichara sa DFA at sinabing nagkamali siya sa pagsabing walang perang panggastos sa ma OFW. Parang katulad rin noon kay Hidalgo na pinabalik sa Dep-ed at nang bumalik sa Malacañang, sinabi niyang wala ng classroom shortage.
Ngunit nanganak na ang kanyang pagbulgar ng totoong sitwasyon dahil magkakaron ng imbestigasyon sa Senado. Tinatanong na ngayon kung saan napunta ang walong bilyon (P8 billion) na kinakaltas sa mga OFW na dapat hawak ng OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration).
Mabuti naman at ng mahalungkat na yun pati pa yung ginamit noong 2004 election.
Ellen, tama nga naman sinasabi ni Gloria, na may pera. Kaso nga, yung pera, hindi para sa bayan o sa mga OFWs na nangangailangan, kundi ang pera na sinasabi ni Gloria ay pera na mapupunta (o napunta na nga) sa bulsa nilang mag-asawa, sampu ng kanilang pamilya at mga alipores na sugapa at sipsip.
Kung totoo rin na si Dato ay kakandidato sa Bicol (am from Bicol by the way), tingnan natin kung anong mangyayari. Kung siya ang inaasahang maging successor ni An-daya, hay naku, kailan pa naging Bicolano si Macapagal???
Talagang mga ganid ang pamilyang Pidal na ito.
Ellen’s:”Kailangan rin ni Arroyo ibando na marami siyang pera na pamumudmud para hindi siya iwanan ng mga kongresista na boboto sa impeachment. Parang sianasabi sa kanila na “May pambayad ako sa inyo. Magkano ba ang susto mo.” Ganun rin ang mga local officials na siyang tumutulak ng Charter Change.”
Pingpong! You hit the nail right in its head!
Exactly what was in my mind.
Naging kawawa si Dr. Hidalgo nang mag-alburoto si arroyo nang nagsabi si Hidalgo na kulang ang classrooms. Eh totoo naman, eh. Bakit hindi kaya pumunta si gloria nang makita ng mata niya.
Ang hirap kay gloria, ayaw niyang mapulaan ang kanyang pamamalakad…kaso puro naman palpak! Magpakatotoo ka, gng pidal!
ONLI IN DA ＰＩＬＩＰＩＮs= Bawal magsabi ng totoo…..
Sa administrasyong Arroyo, HONESTY is OUT, LYING is IN!
Kaya si Amb. Bichara is OUT. Ok lang yan, sir. Humanap ka ng ibang paraan ng paglilingkod sa bayan.
Lahat na pabor patayin ang impeachment thru technicalities are LIARS. They are all IN. They do the bad thing and they are rewarded with “gifts”. Mga walang Good Manners and Right Conduct.
Ellen:
Over in Tokyo, it’s worse. Have I told you about the lobby group hired by the Pidal couple that apparently is not even entirely Japanese but some international group with offices in the US and the Philippines, and the office in Manila, I am told is owned partly by the Fat Guy? I am told by my source that it is acting as a defacto embassy trying to meddle in public services especially at agencies generating money such as the Philippine tourist office and the Philippine trade office at the Philippine embassy.
Pero walang magawa ang mga staff doon especially the non-kabalen who are threatened of being recalled or even terminated should they refuse to abide by the will of the power that be, illegitimate though her tenure of office may be.
The ambassador, though a career diplomat, is an appointee and is likely to lose his job if he is not careful in singing to the tune of the Pandak.
In short, the members of the Philippine diplomatic mission everywhere is definitely demoralized especially when they are in such unhealthy working condition of being always under threat of being fired and terminated regardless of whether or not they have passed the DFA board exam. It’s vicious especially when they are not allowed to develop and be the kind of diplomat that citizens of the Philippines, and the world, for that matter, can honor and respect.
You cannot help sympathizing with these people in the Philippine Foreign Service who are being treated as lowly as the domestic helpers, etc. by this wannabe criminal calling herself “President of the Philippine Republic.”
Where in the world can you find this kind of officials except perhaps in Uganda or some republic in the deepest forest of Africa?!
Walang pinagkaiba itong si Pandak kay Idi Amin sa totoo lang. I thought of her and her similarities of her ascendancy and rule with that of Idi Amin, who reportedly ate the flesh of his victims, while watching the film “Amin: the rise and fall.” It was so grotesgue!
Pero ano ba ang ipinagkaiba sa pamahalaan ni Pandak? Wala dahil magkapareho lang!
Sad thing, Ellen, is like the Filipinos under Spanish rule, only a few brave ones could muster the courage to fight a despotic rule. Tignan mo na lang itong mga kamag-anak noong hindi matulungang umuwi ng Pilipinas, nakatanga lang sila! Kasi takot din na baka lalong hindi makauwi ang mga mahal nila sa buhay na naiipit sa Lebanon kung magmamartsa sila katulad noong ginawa ng mga pranses nang lusubin nila ang palasyo sa Versailles at hilahing papalabas si Marie Antoinette, et al! Dito iyan, malalamog si Koizumi sa “bugbog” ng press kung may ganyan sitwasyon na katulad ng nangyayari sa mga pilipino sa Lebanon.
At least, walang hapon na dapat iligtas sa Lebanon, at kung meron man ay pihadong mabilis pa sa alas-kuwatrong inilipad na iyan ng pamahalaan although dito naman kasi ang mga tao ay hindi mahilig magpalibre kundi handang gumastos para makaligtas lalo na kung private naman ang lakad at walang kinalaman ang pamahalaan.
Kaya dapat lang na magkaroon ng malakas ng union ang mga taga-DFA para hindi sila magmukhang busabos lalo na sa ilalim ng pamamahala ng isang kriminal!!!
Gosh, Mafia style, ano iyan? At saka, tignan mo na lang kung tumagal pa iyan e, lalong mahuhubog ang mga pilipino sa mga masasamang asal na ang krimen ay hindi krimen basta malakas ka kay Pandak!!! 🙁 😐 :'(
Nang “i-bukayo” ni Amb. Al Bicharra na WALA NAMANG PERANG NAILABAS AT NAIBIGAY NA SA KANIYANG EMBAHADA DUON SA BEIRUT, LEBANON…napatunayan na naman nating lahat (na mulat ang mga mata at bukas ang mga tenga) na NAGSISINUNGALING (na naman) si gloria at ang kaniyang mga “alipores” sa mga “press releases” nila about the “actions” they are already making to help the stranded OFWs in the WAR RAVAGED southern part of Lebanon. But then again….WHAT’S NEW?…we are starting to get “numbed” by all these lies and deceptions that this filipina woman and her “tentacles” are doing. Every “bad things and events” that happens to our kababayans that “caused” miseries to those involves, gloria thru the “witty thinking” of her “pocket monsters”, were able to “turn it in favor” of their “propagandas”. :-mad
Ayos na sana ang ginawa ni Amb. Bichara nang ibuking niya na walang perang dumarating sa Lebanon, pero medyo kumambio siya sa mga huling interview at nag-sorry pa sa DFA. Maliwanag talaga na walang perang hawak ang Embassy natin sa Lebanon. Tingnan nyo, unti-unti ang pag-uwi ng mga OFWs doon. Kung iyan evacuation ay maayos na na-organized dapat malakihan ang bilang nila pauwi. Naku!! pwede ba hanapin agad kung saan napunta ang mahigit 7 bilyon piso ng pera ng OWWA?
Grabe na!! as in grabe talaga!!! Sunod-sunod na ang paglabas ng mga anomalya sa ating gobyerno. Puro pera ang involved. Wala ng konsensya ang bansot na iyan. Makapal na ang mukha sa walang pakundangang paglustay ng pera ng bayan.
Hindi nyo ba napapansin, sa katauhan ni bansot ay pinagsama ang ang gma gawain ni F. Marcos at Imelda? Sa walang tigil na pang-aapi at patuloy na pangungurakot…kahindik-hindik. Tama nga yata ang sabi nung isa kong kaibigan, ang kaluluwa daw ni marcos ay sumanib na kay bansot.
Kung gayon, matutuluyan siyang magkasakit ng malubha, hanggang sa mamaga ang kanyang mukha at hindi na matakpan ng make-up. Darating ang araw na isusuka lahat ni gloria ang kanyang kapalaluan at lahat ng taong nagpasasa sa yaman ng bayan ay aanayin ang buto. Hindi nila matatakasan ang sumpa ng tadhana.
BAWAL MAGKASAKIT, BAWAL MAGSABI NG TOTOO, BAWAL ANG PRESIDENTENG PEKE, SINUNGALING, MANDARAYA, MAGNANAKAW AT HIGIT SA LAHAT BAWAL ANG BANSOT!!!
goldenlion(ess):-)…gusto ko yung sinabi mo…”aanayin ang buto”…hehehe sana nga mangyari yan, para “makabayad-bayad” naman ang mga WALANGHIYA sa KANILANG MGA KASALANAN SA BAYAN AT TAUMBAYAN.
Going back duon sa “bawal magsabi ng totoo”…kaninang umaga, topic sa segment ni “Tunying” sa MUP and “tunay” na sakit ni gloria. “LBM” lang DAW na meron “kaunting love-nat” ang sakit ni gloria. Pero sa “pahiwatig” ng mga pananalita nitong komentarista ng ABS-CBN, mukhang HINDI TOTOO na iyon lang ang “tumama” kay gloria, bagkus ay “mas mabigat” pang karamdaman….ano kaya yun? Mahirap magkuro-kuro..pero maaring ito ay “moro-moro” na naman ni gloria, para “maka-sikwat” ng simpatya sa mga “mahabagin” nating kababayan…kung ito ay TOTOO naman, at talagang “LBM” at “kaunting love-nat” lang, aba’y dapat palitan ni gloria ang mga doktor niya, at BOBO ang mga ito…aba’y BAKIT pa siya KAILANGANG DALHIN SA OSPITAL?..gayong sa “luxury” of her “own bed” in Malacanang, she could take some rehydration salts solution and a couple of “aspirin”. At kung nami-misdiagnosed naman si gloria, KULAM na yan….hehehe….TUMATALAB na ang mga SUMPA at KULAM na “itinatapon” sa kaniya. 😉
High five to Amb. Francis Bichara. Latest information, he gave a phone patch interview at the Senate hearing chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and confirmed, that no money had been sent to him to help in the evacuation of the OFWs. He also explained why he apologized to the DFA and according to him, so as not to embarass the fake malacanang tenant. Its about time that somebody will stand up against the liars, cheaters and thieves. What is at stake here is the safety of thousands of Filipinos whom the evil queen referred to as the modern day heroes. Yon ay kung pinakikinabangan lang niya, pero sa pagkakataong ganito na kailangan tulungan sila, wala ng funds kasi ibinulsa na lahat ni mike. Sana dumami pa ang mga katulad ni Bichara, na malakas ang loob na magsabi ng katotohanan, hindi baleng ma-fire out sa kaniyang position. Sana rin totohanan na ito and no turning back.
Malacañang snubbing the Senate investigation on OWWA funds supports allegations that they used a huge part of it in the 2004 election campaign of Arroyo.
Matagal na nating sinasabi iyan tungkol sa paggamit ng OWWA fund, Ellen, bakit hindi iyan magawan ng kaso?
Alam ng lahat ng OFW ang tungkol sa pagpapagawa ng health card sa pamamagitan ng OWWA funds na may litrato ni Pandak. Ningas kugon naman kasi ang sigaw nila when they first heard about the transfering of OWWA funds to the Health Department. Umalma sila pero itong mga NGO yata na tumutulong kuno sa kanila, natapalan lang ni Pandak at ng mga alipores niya ng pera, tumahimik na. Ang masigasig lang na alam kong bumabanat sa anomalyang ito ay ang Migrante at DAWN Philippines, pero ang kaso yata nila sa korte ay walang nangyari.
Matindi ang sigaw alam ko laban dito sa KSA pero natabunan ang kanilang mga tinig ng mga bayaran ni Pandak doon na organisasyon tumulong sa kaniya para siya ang manalo sa mga nandoon sa KSA noon last OFW election. Nanganak pa nga ang organisasyon na iyon na itinayo with bonga dinner sa isang restaurant doon. Alam ko alam ito ni Emilio. Ewan ko lang alam kung nagpunta siya doon noon.
Marami ang sumigaw laban sa pagwawaldas ng perang ito para sa mga OFW, pero wala yatang nangyari dahil tignan mo naman kung sinu-sino ang nakaupo sa korte ng hukuman, pulis at militar? Puro tuta ni Pandak!
God in His Infinite Wisdom is showing the Filipinos what to do as a matter of fact, and letting these anomalies exposed with clarity and valid proofs, but mukhang ikaw lang yata at si Macasaet, Ninez C. Olivarez, and a handful few ang bumabanat ng diretso, walang paligoy-ligoy di tulad noong iba na parang minsan sala sa lamig at minsan ay sala sa init at naniniguro pirmi! Kaya pati tagabasa nila, naduduwag din!
Ang dami nang ebidensiya, bakit hindi puedeng matanggal iyong pinuno ng Philippine Mafia? Now is the time in fact na patalsikin na iyan. PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Sinong may sabing the Philippines will not survive without Pandak? Siya lang at siyempre iyong asawa at mga alipores na nakikinabang sa pag-i-squatter nila sa palace by the murky river. Kahit kalikasan ay mukhang galit na rin. Lalo pang sinasabing tatakbo iyong anak ni Pandak mula sa Bicol. Putukan sana ng Mayon para hindi matuloy!
01 August 2006
NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!
Ms. Ellen,
The Senate hearing re: OWWA Funds will be held at the office of the Vice President Today at 1330H.
I got information only 30 mins ago, will keep you posted on what transpired.
jinx
01 August 2006
Additional:
I got information, Sec. Romulo and conejos of DFA, Roque of OWWA and Baldoz of POEA, even new DOLE Sec. Brion is attending this closed door meeting at the OVP.
The meeting will be presided by Sen Jinggoy and will be atended by some senators. I dont know yet who will be the others in attendance.
Will keep you posted.
jinx
According to Ermita, the reason why the officials didn’t appear at the Senate hearing called by Jinggoy was because they’re busy attending to the OFWs in Lebanon. Busy? Why do they have time for press interviews and conferences?
As usual, wala na naman boses ang mga kawawang OFW. Meron bang Party-list representative ang mga OFW? Kung meron, anong ginagawa niya ngayon?
Tapos kung merong Cha-cha, lalong mawawala ang absentee voting di ba? E di permanenteng tanggal na ang mga boto ng OFWs? Kawawa naman kami talaga. We pay but get nothing out of it.
Goldenlion:
Hindi sa pinagtatanggol ko si Macoy dahil kamag-anak siya ng nanay ko, pero hindi siya makakasanib sa katawan ng kapwa niya tao kundi iyong kampon ni Satanas na tinatawag na Legion. Kahit sa devil possession ay may sinusunod na patakaran gaya ng pagpayag ng sinapian sa demonyo na pasukan siya! This, I learned from a book, I read on demonic possession.
Kahit na sabihin mong demonyo si Marcos, I doubt if he would want to talk to or occupy a much more evil body than his as that of the Pandak! ;-D
Besides, I doubt kung ganung nga ka-powerful si Macoy. Most probably he is suffering in the world where he is now. In due time, he will have his punishment, but at least, I’m hearing something different from the very same people who used to condemn him.
I met Satur Ocampo in Tokyo, and he said something that I am pretty sure would delight my mother. He said that Marcos “is a Saint” compared to the Midget with actually less shoot to kill order than it is now. The figures of political killings between 2001 and now compared to the Marcos years prove this. 🙁
Ellen,
Off topic muna. Did you notice na parang mina-manas si bansot? Parang puffed up yung face niya. Makeup can hide skin discoloration pero ang “manas” cannot be hidden. Usually, a person suffering from liver/kidney disorder puffs up. Skin is also yellowish. Ano nga kaya talaga ang sakit nito?
The senate I think would like to amend the Migrants Act. It seems the OWWA is inutile and failed miserably to attend to the needs of our workers. Use. Brion clarified this morning that P503M was transferred to Philhealth to cover the insurance of OFWs. But I recall that the OWWA fund was about P10B already, where did the other P1.5B go? Brion also said that he does not know about the other missing funds as he just recently joined the department.
Jon,
“Meron bang Party-list representative ang mga OFW?”
Wala yata. Iyong kaibigan ko na co-chairman ng federation of Filipino associations sa France ang sabi niya sa akin ay dapat daw na may OFW party list sa Congress at ito yata ang kanilang future objective, kaya sa palagay ko ay wala.
Noong magpunta ang ilang members ng Congress sa Europe 2 or 3 years ago (can’t exactly remember) (France at Italy before the presidential elections) nag attend siya at ilan pang mga OFW delegates at na meet nila si Sen Pimentel, Sen Lacson at iba pa, sinabi na nila ang position ng OFWs dito sa Europe na kailangan bigyan ng boses ang mga OFWs.
Hindi ko lang alam kung ano na ang nangyari.
At recently si Loida Lewis ay nakipagmeet din sa mga officers ng federation na sinabi ko sa Paris at invited yata sila sa convention ng NAFFFAA sa Hawaii. Ang objective ay makipag-ugnay officially ang European OFW associations sa NAFFAA.
I’m supposed to meet (socially) this friend of mine from France in a couple of weeks at tatanungin ko kung ano na ang nangyayari.
Anna, Jon:
The partylist has to meet a cetain percentage to be able to have a seat in congress. This I find so ridiculous. We must amend this law. Partylists are representatives of marginalized sectors of society. The problem here is that local congressmen are threatened by this partylists. There is un overlapping of bounderies here as marginalized people also reside in districts of these congressmen. I believe that all sectors must be represented in the house and that this stature of meeting a quota should be amended.
Unless the partylist law is amended. There would still be unrepresented sectors in congress.
Thanks Schumey for the info.
Btw Ellen, there are two Bicharas, which is RP envoy to Lebanon, the father or the son?
Ms. Ellen,
Is Bichara a powerful family ba in Bicol?
Chabeli,
I think they are in Albay. Weren’t father and son respectively governor and congressman at the same time? Kind of revolving door politics.
Ellen, I just logged on to the Manila Times, something I haven’t done in weeks and found this gruesome headline news:
2 activists, 1 media man killed in 3 hours
Crime-scene investigators examine evidence found in Letre, Malabon, with the body of tabloid photographer Vic Melendrez.
Photos by Ruy Martinez
THE latest wave of activist and media killings on Monday hit three regions, including Metro Manila, within a span of three hours, claiming three lives.
This is hateful! Gloria, Palparan and various Palparan Jrs must be met with an eye for an eye…I find these killings so despicable and hateful I am prepared to swallow my stand against the death penalty but to be meted only on Gloria, Palparan and their various Palparan dogs!
Anna:
Bayan and Akbayan are supposed to be repesenting the OFWs. The OFWs having voting rights can vote for the partylist representatives.
Migrante put up a candidate in the last election but she lost. Unfortunately, those they have put up to represent them, once they’re there, I think there is the tendency to forget who put them there, except perhaps the Bayan Muna group who are challenged to prove or live up to what they say they will do for the people, and definitely not the things that they criticize the others for.
Take the case of Crispin Beltran. He is in fact very popular to the OFWs for what he does for the OFWs and the laborers, and for that, he is a threat to the crooks in the government who want him out especially SiRaulO Gonzales who want to get rid of these partylists Congressmen especially those who are ready to fight tooth and nail for the rights of the little people!
We can’t compare Gloria to Marcos. It’s like comparing hell and purgatory. Maybe…just maybe Imelda. Notice how Gloria wears his jewelries and behave…ala-Imelda. But, she can’t be like Imelda either. Gloria is short, Imelda tall. Gloria is ugly, Imelda beautiful. Gloria is dark, Imelda fair. Imelda has class, Gloria doesn’t. They share only the same character, hypocrisy, thrist for publicity, habit of bribing people…and many others you can think of.
Hi Yuko,
Thanks for the info.
I think from what Lito, one of the most active OFW community leaders in Paris, told me a couple of years ago, they were sort of advocating for perhaps another party list which is not directly under or affiliated with Bayan or Akbayan. I believe he said something about wanting a direct OFW representation, i.e., Europe (1) Middle East (2 or 3), etc…
He kind of wanted my opinion on the matter but I couldn’t give any at that time but at some point, I believe I did discourage him from personally getting involved directly in politics. I told him too expensive an enterprise, too much hardship, too many unscrupulous people and for what? was the essence of my advice to him then.
To be perfectly honnest, am really not up to speed on this and can’t vouch for the exactitude of what I’ve just said – I don’t want to put up categorical statement on the issue pareticularly because I don’t want to mislead people into thinking that what I say is the official stand of the said OFW group here – far from it!
However, I think it will be a good idea for the French-based OFW federation (the only one I know really) to link up with the parties you cited. I will forward these comments here in Ellen’s blog to Lito. (You know I used to copy him our cyber-email exchanges in the past or some 2 years ago, if you remember Yuko?)
“Malacanang snubbing the Senate investigation.” What more can we say, our Senators has no backbone. They’ve their own personal interest to protect also and they’re not so immaculate themselves. We all thought that they’re co-equal govt with Gloria, apparently we’re quite wrong. Most obviously, Gloria got the Golden Rules. How many time did Malacanang snubbed or lied to the Senate and Senators took it like a bunch of wimpies? e.g. Bunye’s I have two tapes, Norberto fake health problem, Garci laughed at the Senators for their incompetent, Bolate in and out of the country without a trace, and the untouchable Generals of the Military they think they’re god. Yeah, the Senate are nothing but group of push over by everyone especially by the Arroyo. Senate are minor leaguer in comparison to Gloria and her crooked team(s).
Not so surprisingly that Gloria doing everthing she wants to dictate in the country, because the equal co-govt are nothing but clique of sissy white-liver.
Well, well when money is involved everyone is the fastest. The OFWs Emergency Funds is nowhere at time when they needed it most and we’ll have another hearing and investigation to conduct while all other countries had done evacuating their nationals who are willling to leave Lebanon. Now it will re-inforce our Government reputation that no amount of money, no matter for what ever purpose is safe on anybody’s hand except the rightful owner. I’ll keep my two cents to myself.
Schumey:
Hindi minamanas! Panay ang party sa Malacanang, tumaba tuloy! She’s actually at the age when she is likely to get obese especially with all those lavish wining and dining with the generals, the bishops, et al. Now, the first time she was taken to the hospital, I suspect she overtook some diet pills that she succumbed from some stomach cramp.
I should know. I had experienced such kind of thing, but I hate hospitals and it is actually not necessary. Mangobeta ka lang,tapos na! 😉 It happened to me in December when I was in the US to celebrate Christmas with my folks. A Chinese friend in fact invited me to dinner and I went out with him with my sister. Because I knew we would be eating heavy and I did not want to gain extra weight after losing 13 kilos through a rigid reducing program, I took in 2 tablets of some Diet pills that my friend gave me. Golly, biglang sumakit ang tiyan ko! Ang tagal ko sa kobeta! (Sorry baka kumakain kayo!) My friend got worried about me, but after that I felt alright although my sister told me that I looked so pale.
Ganyan ang nangyari kay Pandak,pihado ko tapos isinabay na ang banat ng mukha dahil nga magpapaganda papunta sa Vatican, Italy at Spain. Baka nag-e-expect na may kumurot ng puwit niya sa Rome! Kasi pag maganda ka doon, kukurutin ang puwit mo and that is normal! 😀
Pero ang nangyari, sumingkit ang mata. Pero back sa dati yata ngayon ang itsura! Lalong sumama! Whatever, make sure she does not use taxpayers’ money or OWWA fund for her hospitalization bills!!! 😛
E-mail from fanny Silva:
I am sending this e-mail through you on behalf of thousands of OFW’s who might be feeling the same disgust towards the Philippine goverment in general regarding the evacuation of our fellow OFW’s who are trapped in the war-torned Lebanon and Israel as well. I have been away since 1986 as an overseas worker and I know how hard it is to be away from home and families but we choose to sacrifice because we wanted a better life for ourselves and our families. During good times, they will shout to the whole world that the OFW’s are the new heroes which is right because our remittances and fees paid to the goverment for all documents required for travelling have helped the country’s economy but what happening now. NO FUNDS TO EVACUATE THE OFW’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1. Wow . And no one from those same people who honored us as heroes would stand up for us in times like this. Gloria Arroyo and her cronies should not stop or reprimand those who are being vocal of what they know. Where are the OWWA funds. This is the time that these funds should be spent . I applaud Mr Bichara for telling the truth but I’m sure he will be penalized by the Arroyo administration. Now where is morality in this goverment. The Catholic church should do something now that our people from those countries might end up dead because the government spent the money which should have been available in a minute notice. I’m sure I’m not alone in my desperation about this situation and I thank you for being vocal with your views to.
Fanny Silva
Toronto Canada
E-mail from Caloy:
Nais ko lang magpatulong saiyo tungkol sa isyu ng OWWA Membership fee na binabayad namin sa OWWA sa tuwing bumabalik kami sa bansa na aming pinagtatrabauhan. maliwanag po ang nabasa ko sa pahayagan ng Abante (30 July 2006) tungkol sa membership fee. gusto ko uling linawin kong ang isang manggagawa ay taon-taon nagbabakasyon siya ba ay dapat din magbayad ng $25
sa OWWA kada taon? minsan po akong nakipagtalo sa OWWA office sa Legazpi City. at ginigiit sa akin na kailangan kong taon-taon akong umuuwi ay taon-taon din akong magbabayad ng OWWA Membership sa halagang $25.00. dahil sa malayo pa ang aking pinanggalingan para lang pumunta sa Legazpi ay wala po akong magawa kundi ang magbayad dahil kung hindi ako magbabayad ay hindi ako iisyuhan ng
OEC sa POEA office sa naturang Lugar. ang isa pong napansin ko ay
bago ka pumunta sa OWWA office ay kailangan doon ka muna pumunta sa PHILHEALTH para magbayad ng Medicare na kung saan napag alaman ko na ito ay boluntaryo lamang at hindi compulsory.
pagkatapos mo sa PHILHEALTH saka nila e-entertainin ang tao kapag naipakita ang recibo na binayaran sa PHILHEALTH. ang next step po
ay magbabayad ka na ng OWWA $25. kapag naisyuhan ka na ng Recibo ay pupunta ka sa POEA office para magbayad ng P100.00 para sa OEC.
Ang aking nais lamang na malaman eh parang magkakutsaba ang PHILHEALTH & OWWA pagdating sa collection ng bayad.ang punto ko na nais kong malaman ay bakit compulsory ang medicare at saka po bakit taon-taon akong nagbabayad ng OWWA $25. maliwanag po ang sabi ng OWWA Chief na ito ay renewable every two years kahit taon-taon ang bakasyon ng isang manggagawa.
maari nyo bang mailathala sa inyong pahayagan ang sulat kong ito?
CALOY C. M.
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
E-mail from Noel Inciong:
Salamat po at binanatan nýo si Donya Gloria. Sana po wag nýo sýang tigilan hanggat hindi lumalabas ang totoo sa pondo naming mga OFW. 17 years nap o ako ditto sa Saudi Arabia kaya po masyado akong concerned sa pondo naming mga OFW. Kawawa naman po kami kung mababalewala ang isa sa mga pinaghirapan manin na ang nagpasasa ay ang walang kwenta at pekeng pangulo na si Gloria.
Mabuhay po kayo sampu ng mga kasamaha nýo pang mamamahayag at wala kayong takot na nagpaparating sa amin ng katotohanan. Mabuhay din po si ambassador Bichara.
Bastusan na ang ginawa ni Noling Tagabasa (ng balita) na magpatawag ng closed-door conference na ang mga dumalo ay ang mga inimbitahan ni Senator Jinggoy Estrada sa hearing noong isang araw. Piling-pili din ang mga kaalyadong mga senador ang dumalo sa closed-door conference.
Bakit ayaw dumalo ng mga kinatawan ng OWWA, DFA at Malacanang sa ginawang Senate hearing? Hindi ba sila makakasagot sa mga itatanong kung saan napunta ang OWWA funds na sinasabing nasa 8 Bilyong Pesos na? Pera naming mga OFWs iyan na dapat lamang gamitin sa aming pangangailangan na katulad ng pag-likas ng mga OFWs evacuees sa Lebanon.
Is Pandak once again caught dipped her hand in the OWWA cookie jar?
Statement of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon:
Anna, Amb. Al Francis Bichara is the son. The father, Alfonso Bichara, was also former governor of Albay.
I got this info from Lebanon Honorary Consul Joseph Assad. I met him yesterday.
BINAGO na rin ni Gloria ang DEFINITION kung ano ang KATOTOHANAN. Ang sabi ng DepEd ay mayroong classroom shortage: ito ay tutuo. Pero baguhin mo ang definition ng classroom shortage at mawawala na ang shortage kaya’t maiiwan sa pansitan ang nagsabi ng tutuo.
The minions of Gloria will intentionally not recognize the truth even if it is staring at them straight in the eye. Change the definition and you will come up with a bended truth.
Emilio:
Noli Tagabasa is in charge of the OFWs. I understand that he is in fact a special emissary for the OFWs, but I don’t know why he does not go to Lebanon for example and be the one to expedite rescue operations there and make sure that all Filipinos in Lebanon are accounted for.
Apparently, they do not even know exactly now who and how many are the Filipinos there. If they had not played innocent and ignorant for example regarding issuance of fake passports (not fake according to Philippine embassy official in Tokyo, because they are genuine documents issued by the DFA even when the contents of the passports are falsified), they will know exactly where to find these OFWs, and account for their numbers, including those found to be undocumented.
Everybody knows about the OWWA fund being transferred to the Philippine health agency prior to the Election 2004, and the money used for making health cards distributed to the needy prior to the election with the picture of the Pandak on it.
Ellen’s readers above have mentioned paying the 25$ fee every time they visit the Philippines and go out of the country for their places of work overseas.
I notice the sign boards at the NAIA as a matter of fact for that, and the Filipinos being told to go to another line if they are OFWs to make sure that they pay such fees. Knowing that they do not get anything in return for what I feel very strongly as extortion, I cannot help but curse this government and sympathize with the OFWs, who are called heroes and heroines only when the politicians need their votes and their favors. Otherwise, they are treated as “yagit”!
I feel nauseous when I see Filipinos bound to the Middle East at the airport being treated as potential terrorists instead of being accorded VIP treatment for helping keep the Philippines afloat as when they are bodily searched, etc. more than twice prior to boarding their planes, but none dares to complain of the lousy treatment they get for fear of being denied the permit to leave after paying a fortune to recruiters with government connections.
Friends in Dubai for example have reported to me some anomaly at the airport where OFWs are asked to pay some other fees or extorted by Immigration and Custom officials there on threat of being stopped from leaving. Kaya bayad naman sila just to be able to get out. We reported the matter in fact to Senator Pimentel, but for some reason, this kind of extortion persists.
It is a vicious cycle, and wish there would be a way to stop this government initiated human trafficking.
I’m not saying that Filipinos do not try to look for good fortunes overseas. What I am saying is since the Philippine government does not really protect them, nor is it really capable of negotiating for better treatment of OFWs in countries like Lebanon, etc. with cases of these Filipinos being maltreated and even murdered by their employers for a meager salary of 200 dollas a month, this deployment of Filipinos overseas be stopped and ban recruiters from exploiting them.
In short, the Philippine government(DoLE) should stop acting like a recruiter. I agree to the abolition of the POEA and the OWWA. They are in fact two useless agencies.
As in Japan, what Filipinos need here in fact is not a labor attache, but a legal adviser to help Filipinos with their surmounting legal problems especially once they start sending caregivers to Japan. At least, the legal adviser can work with legal counsels in Japan when these caregivers or domestic helpers get hitched with the law over here. Pihadong maraming magiging problema because of the language problem, etc.
With the ban on Japayukis, the labor attache’s position is in fact no longer necessary. The function of the labor attache is rendered useless since he is not really from the DFA and therefore cannot do things directly but has to go through protocol.
Makakatipid pa sila since Japan has the highest index I understand and staff of the Philippine Embassy from the various departments in the Philippines have to be paid the highest, especially when they do not prove to be that productive!!!
I would like to add likewise how the Filipinos are treated in Japan by their own government. They are told to go to the backdoor!
The Consular Office in fact is in the basement that looks like a garage in fact of a large condominium on the property that we fought hard in 1989-92 to be preserved as reminder to Filipinos of a once-upon-a-time Philippine glorious past—that there was indeed a time in the past when Filipinos really fought hard for their country sans US help during the 4-year of occupation of the Philippines by the now defunct Japanese Imperial Army.
MacArthur left prior to the US capitulation leading to the Bataan Death March, and Filipinos had to fend for themselves until the liberation in 1945.
In the late 80’s, then ambassador of the Philippines ordered the backdoor of the Philippine Embassy opened and have Filipino domestic helpers, Japayukis, et al pass through there reportedly so that the ambassador’s visitors would not see them. The only ones who protested against such shabby treatment in fact were the members of a Philippine women’s group that I actually helped founded in 1986. Otherwise nobody dared challenge the ambassador nor any of his staff.
Elsewhere they are definitely treated like human beings, not like some “yagit”!!! 😛
Speaking of respect and equal treatment for the Filipinos, that remains to be a wish. Never mind if foreigners treat us badly. They are foreigners anyway. But what’s painful to see is if Filipinos are treated badly by their own. A typical example is when a Filipino enters a building or office or let’s say he’s driving a car about to enter a gate. The guard is especially strict on him and asks IDs and many questions. If it’s a foreigner or Caucasian, the guard smiles and salutes. Check it out when you go to hotels and other places frequented by foreigners. Very sad but very true…
Ms. Ellen, with your indulgence, can I respond to the e-mail of Caloy C. M. of Dammam, Saudi Arabia?
Caloy C.M.: The US$25 OWWA fee is valid for two years. During your annual vacation, the computer-generated payment receipt of the OWWA fee should be with you during the processing of your travel documents at your OWWA Legazpi City office. It is shown in the receipt the validity of your payment so there is no need to argue to raise your point.
Yes, it is compulsory to pay the OWWA Medicare, which is equivalent to PnP900 (valid for one year only) before your OWWA Legazpi City office will process your travel documents and issue an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
For further information you can visit these links:
http://www.owwa-medicare.org.ph/
http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/
http://philippine-embassy.org.sg/index.cfm?GPID=15
Yuko,
What transpired during the past weeks on the evacuation and plights of OFWs in Lebanon put the existence of OWWA in question. Another thing is the intransigence and insensibilities of DFA and Malacanang officials in handling this case.
Which only means they don’t have any evacuation plan at all!
Ma’m Ellen, just to “share” an answer to the e-mail of Caloy, regarding the OWWA membership…his question (if I got it right) was…”kung kailangan ba taon-taon o tuwing magbabakasyon siya dapat magbayad ng OWWA membership?”…my answer to his question is..a big YES!…base on my experience, because I have been one of the “Philippines’ No.1 export” for the past 14 years(OFWs…hehehe), every year that I would return to Manila, and have to “go thru” the POEA…I would pay the following…POEA fee, PhilHealth(used to be MEDICARE, but after Mike Arroyo became the First Gentledog and saw with shining eyes how much money is involved in the MEDICARE system of OFWs, they put it “under his armpit), Insurance (just started about 4 years ago)and the so-called OWWA Membership (Pwe!!!). All in all, if you’re a “BalikManggagawa” who has been “out” for at least a year, you would pay more or less Php2,200.00 (parang sabong, me “palasada” pa)..kaya nga everytime that I would be in POEA, I can’t help but do a “mental calculation” of HOW MUCH MONEY this (for me at least) “legal extortion agency” of the government is making in ONE DAY. Let’s say, during “peak days” like Christmas Seasons, Summer Months, etc…just an average of 800 BMs paying Php2,200.00 each would be Php 1,760.000.00, which is only from the BMs…what about those that would be “going out” for the 1st time?…usually those that are “direct hires”(did not pass thru recruitment agencies) are paying Php 6,600.00, now DO the MATH, kung magkano ang pumapasok sa “gobyerno” sa loob ng isang taon?…KAYA TINATAWAG NITONG SI gloria NA BAGONG BAYANI (niya) ang mga OFWs…okey ang “tong raket” nila.
Thanks, Emilio and Spartan. I told Caloy that I will post his email in the blog so that other visitors might be able to help him.
Thanks again.
Spartan, All:
Tama ka. Nobody is getting any benefit from this OWWA fund or this Medicare, etc. unless may kakilala ka o lumapit ka sa isang NGO na may clout, and the amount given kung meron man ay paiyakan pa. I know because I remember collecting signatures for soem campaign for some OFWs in KSA or HK who have demanded help for illnesses acquired while working there.
Instead of benefitting the OFWs, these agencies have become only some means to extort money from them. In fact, there are more problems now than before these agencies were created.
Worse is when we hear of these labor officials assigned overseas getting involved in some anomalies and become materials for exposes as what happened to one or two Philippine labor attaches in Tokyo who were complained about my legitimate recruiters for being fleeced by them and not getting such favored treatment granted to those illegal recruiters who could pay more. Worse indeed are he extra fees being required of them to pay as the fees for authentication of work permits issued by the Japanese Ministry of Justice that are more authentic than the documents issued in the Philippines. This authentication racket in fact was an irritant in the fragile relationship between Japan and the Philippines.
In short, ang daming raket!
What many do not know is who are controlling NOW the deployment of Filipinos overseas like how Joe de Venecia for example reportedly used to control the deployment of Filipinos to the Middle East and Singapore during the Marcos’ regime, or Leticia Shahani and ex-Congressman Lumawig the deployment of Filipinos to Taiwan, etc. after 1986, etc. I doubt if you can find it in the Internet unless someone has tried to sneak out the information.
Come to think of it, since the Pandak became the president, this deployment seems to have become solely under her control, especially the deployment of the Filipinos to KSA, where she has managed to also authorized the formation of a full-pledged pro-Arroyo organization that has been splitted into two or probably more because of rivalry over money and recognition at the SEC.
In Japan, they have managed to form a Philippine Assistance Group composed of Philippine organizations under the control alternately I guess of the Philippine Assistance and the Labor offices of the embassy since the mid-90’s. This group in fact is a sitting duck, and being used mainly for raising funds even for what they call as “Classrooms ni Gloria.” Other than the fundraising, it is nothing, even useless perhaps should the time comes that North Korea tries to bomb Japan as it is trying to do now.
Nevertheless, with our organization, the Coalition of Enlightened Filipinos being registered with the Japanese government as an NPO, we shall be in a better position to help repatriate Filipinos more effectively and properly when such situation as in Lebanon happens in Japan. At least, I can say that we are more organized over here.
Statement of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon:
US$150,000 Is A Drop In The Bucket
Of What Filipinos Need In Lebanon – Syria
02 August 2006
Sorry for the late information, ms. ellen, I got stranded in a lot of things, anyway, as I promised, I will update you on the meeting held yesterday at the OVP, I got information, the task force will have a fund of P1 Billion, that the P500 million will come from OWWA(???) and the other half will come from god knows??? Information states that the members of the committee headed by estrada has been invited, but later on was told that the meeting was by invitation only by you know who(???) Noticeably missing in the meeting were the friends of noli boy (villar, joker and kiko) I also got information that up to the last minute, they are convincing villar and joker to attend the meeting, but to no avail.
Another noticeable, according to sources, is DFA sec. romulo is very quiet during the meeting, who is this conejos, where did he come from (imean what office), because he is the one doing the talking, as if he knows everything, yet they came out with a short-term solution, meaning relocating OFWs from the south to the northern part of lebanon, tsk, tsk, tsk……… although, they said they will come out with a master plan for the evecuation. Bottomline, why not make a long term-solution, why not come out with a grand solution for all our kababayans in the whole of middle east.
Going back to the task force, why him, is/are there nobody capable of doing things???, he who knows nothing of leadership being appointed as task force head, tsk, tsk, tsk……..
will again keep you posted of new developments.
jinx
Thanks jinxies. Conejos came from the defense department. I’m not sure if he is a military guy.
They are really trying to undermine the Senate. Mabuti naman hindi sumipot sina Villar and Joker Arroyo.
In other words, Ellen, is this plan still the same no real solution plan that we have been wondering about, and say that if the Filipinos in Lebanon on their own initiative and will to live should now be thinking of saving their lives without depending on this incompetent and inefficient government.
I cannot help smirking at this preposterous proposal of “relocating OFWs from the south to the northern part of Lebanon.” They must be crazy or probably they do not know their geography and not following up the news, or that they probably think the US will be able to save those Filipinos when they (the US) enter the war!!!
I wonder if Gordon was there in that meeting. The reason why I am asking is if he did attend is because he is connected with the Red Cross, and if this government cannot attend to the needs of the now to be refugees, he may just as well go to the International Red Cross and ask it to try to help the stranded Filipinos there, and perhaps as private citizens, we may just send our help to the Red Cross for them.
Meanwhile, Biazon, et al, should make sure to have the culprits in this OWWA Fund Scam legally held responsible for their crimes. How they do it, heaven knows how!
Kawawang mga OFWs! Baka marami nang namatay sa mga iyan, hindi lang ipinapaalam, o talagang walang alam ang pabayang pamahalaan!
Ellen,
How about running a story on what the Red Cross in the Philippines intend to do about this problem of the Filipino refugees now in Lebanon. Please note that the situation there has escalated to a point that even Lebanese are now called “refugees.”
It has now come to a point where instead of asking this incompetent Philippine government to evacuate them (ang dami pang cheche bureche), perhaps you may suggest to the families of the stranded Filipinos there to now just go to the Red Cross and ask for the help of the International Red Cross or even the International Red Crescent, whichever is effective in that area, to try to locate and save their stranded relatives there, who are the only ones among the foreign refugees left there I believe.
The Honorary Consul of Lebanon is right when he says that this is no time to dilly dally to help the Filipinos there to be taken out of Lebanon, north or south and east or west.
The violation of the Philippine Election Code with the use of the OWWA funds by the criminally inclined who remains squatting at the palace by the murky river should be handled separately from this operation of evacuating the Filipino refugees NOW.
Lamentably, Senator Biazon, et al, are facing a problem caused by their own negligence for allowing this government to be now controlled apparently by the military with all the generals now holding important positions even in the DFA (?) with a vain nincompoop as puppet president, whom they cajoled by pretending to be at her beck and call when in fact they are the ones running the show, and the why for the present killing fields—shades of Burma and Cambodia, don’t you think?
Ellen, I don’t think he’s from the military. If my memory doesn’t fail me, I believe he served under Orly Mercado.
I’m glad to hear that a lot many Moslem Filipinos have been wiser to follow their fellow Moslems from Pakistan whose governnent sought the help of the International Organization for Migration in Europe while the incompetent Philippine government is still in a seeeming state of limbo as to what to do with the OFWs stranded in Lebanon.
Three weeks since the Israelis started bombarding Lebanon, but the Pandak is still seemingly undecided as to whether or not to whisk the OFWs out of Lebanon. Nobody is impressed anymore by her press releases of ordering evacuation of the workers there with the ambassador already in Manila and doing nothing but admitting and then retracting and then admitting and then retracting endlessly his statements on the unreality of the evacuation without ample funds with the OWWA funds drained out due to the capriciousness of the Pandak who wanted to become president and eventually a queen! >:(
For those who have relatives still in Lebanon, here’s the contact nos. of the IOM where they may be able to seek assistance to locate and repatriate them:
IOM Headquarters
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
17, Route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
Tel: +41.22.717 9111
Fax: +41.22.798 6150
I understand that this organization has a field office in Manila, too.
I would recommend that OFWs in the Middle East to keep the above information in case they find themselves in similar situation as the OFWs in Lebanon.
Thanks, Yuko – I’ll keep the information handy and pass the same to my friends.
Email galing kay Rodel:
Isa po akong OCW dito sa Nigeria. Hindi ko po alam kung kanino ko po dapat ipadala ang komento ko hinggil sa OWWA at POEA.
Totoo po na marami po kaming bayarin sa POEA bago po kami umalis ng bansa subalit iba po yata ang sinasabi ng OWWA Administrator na hindi compulsory ang P 900 pesos na medicare gayong ang mga tao sa POEA na may mga pagkasuplado at suplada ang nagsasabi sa amin na DAPAT bayaran ito.
Hinggil naman po sa $ 25 membership sa OWWA, ibig ko lang din pong malinawanagan ang kanilang patakaran dito dahil sa akin po mismo nangyari ito. Dati po ako sa Middle East nagtatrabaho. Kami pong mga OCW kadalasan bago umuwi ay dumadaan na sa Phil Consulate o Embahada doon upang kumuha ng OEC at bayaran na ang lahat na dapat bayaran para nga po di na kami maabala pagdating sa Pilipinas. Halos
maghapon po ay mawawala kung aasikasuhin po itong mga bayarin na ito sa POEA lalo pa po kung medyo malayo-layo
ang tirahan tulad ko.
Sa Middle East po ay nagbayad ako ng OWWA membership na $ 25. Nabigyan po ako ng OWWA membership ID.
Makalipas ang ilang buwan, nagdesisyon po akong lumipat ng kumpanya sa ibang bansa. Umuwi po ako sa amin at inayos ang aking mga papeles at POEA requirements. Kinuwenta po sa POEA ang lahat ng aking babayaran at nang sinabi ko po na member na ako ng OWWA, ang sagot po sa akin ay kailangan daw magbayad po uli ako dahil panibagong contract at company na ang gamit ko.
Nagtaka po ako at nagtanong na kung magpapalit pala ako ng
kumpanya ng tatlong beses sa isang taon at magbabayad ng membership, eh di TATLONG AKO, ang member nila.
Nagalit pa po sa akin at yun daw po ang patakaran nila. Kaunting pera lang po yan pero ang nakakapanghinang
maisip yun po bang naloko na naman ako. Dahil sa kagustuhan naming maayos na agad ang lahat, kaming mga OCW ay di na masyadong nakikipagtalo at di naman po kami mananalo sa kanilang gusto.
May isa po akong kasamahan na nagbabayad ng OWWA at iba pa kada uuwi ngunit ng kailanganin na ang tulong ng
OWWA iisa lang yata ang alam po nilang sagot…”Wala kang Record dito. I-produce mo ang mga resibo para ma-trace natin.”
Kung ikaw na isang manggagawa sa ibang bansa at palipat lipat pa ng assignments malaki ang posibilidad na mawala
ang mga papeles na ito. Paano na nga kung nawala, eh di laking tuwa ng OWWA. Paano kaya nawawala ang record sa Manila eh kada magbabayad po kami ginagamit nila ang computer at from there alam nila kung expired na o hindi ang membership naming.
Kaya nga po nakukuwenta nila ang dapat bayaran ay dahil ginagawa nilang reference ang nasa pc file nila tapos pagkailangan na ang tulong nila eh nawalwala ang record. Anong sistema naman yan.
Isa pang nakakainis na patakaran nila ay ang verification ng OEC receipt sa airport. Pumila na nga kami sa POEA
para makakuha ng OEC tapos pagdating sa airport na dala dala na namin ang mga bagahe, pipila pa kami uli
Para sa verification ng resibo. Dati nasa loob lang sila ng airport kaya medyo okay pero ngayon ang opisina ay nasa
Kantong kanto ng airport building. Kaya, pagbaba namin ng sasakyan kailangan doon sa tapat na ng POEA Office,
Papasok kami sa loob at pipila at pagkatapos, bitbit mo ang gamit na lalakad ka uli papunta sa entrance talaga ng airport.
Sa kanila na nga galing ang OEC bakit kailangan sila pa rin ang mag verfifica. Hindi naman siguro mga tanga
ang mga taong nag-iissue ng boarding pass na kung saan required nila ang OEC at doon sa pagpasok namin sa
Immigration na kailangan din ipakita ito para di nila malaman kung fake o hindi ang OEC receipt.
Dahil gusto nilang i-justify ang existence ng posisyon o trabaho ng mga tao sa POEA airport office, kaming
mga OCW ang pinahihirapan. Okay, makakatulong sila para dun sa mga nakakalimot kumuha ng OEC bago umalis
pero ilan lang naman ang mga ito kumpara sa amin na pumipila lagi sa POEA ilang araw bago umalis.
Salamat po.
What is this nonsense of paying visa fee to Syria for each OFW being repatriated from there? Is that why the others opted to evacuate their nationals via Cyprus because Syria would be greedy to take advantage of this situation to make money?
Or is someone in the Philippines being the greedy one, and trying to make money out of this situation? There is an emergency, and Syria may be told to give these OFWs some waiver for humanitarian reason so why is the Philippine government paying the Syrians visa fee for the OFWs when they are in fact just kind of transit passengers there? Can it not convince Syria that the it will make sure none of its nationals will overstay in Syria?
Or is the reason why Syria won’t grant the Filipinos a waiver is because the government there knows this government of Pandak is tricky and can pretend to be ignorant of those undocumented Filipinos who risk losing legs and arms and even lives to work overseas because that is what they have been molded to think is their only option to survive?
Kawawang Pilipinas! Kawawang mga pilipino!