By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files
With tears in their eyes, Vilma Balatbat, 39, and her husband tightly embraced each other, knowing it would be some time before they would be together again.
Last Saturday, Balatbat and 269 other Filipino nurses and caregivers, most of them mothers, left for Japan, making up the first batch of Filipino workers deployed to the world’s second largest economy under the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
“I’m both sad and happy,” said Balatbat, a mother of two, who will be working overseas for the first time. “I’ll certainly miss my loved ones, but this is also a new chapter for me. I’ve been waiting so long to work abroad.”
Please click here (VERA Files) to read the full article.
OFWs may earn better money abroad but the separation from their loved ones may be unbearable.
When will we be able to provide employment for every Filipino so we will no longer be exporting our people to be meagerly paid, exploited and physically abused in other counties?.
I hope the treatment of these caregivers going to Japan will not be the same as that of the “japayukis”.
Lalaki ang brain drain sa pinas.
Ito na lang ba talaga ang trabaho ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas?, ang maghanap ng mga mayamang bansa para masadlakan at maging OFW na lahat ang mga Pilipino?
Paunlarin ang bayan huwag magnakaw … iyan ang trabaho mo Gloria…!!!! (@#$%^&*!)…oxo.
270 Filipina caregivers to Japan, the land of lapad where most Pinays were seen as putas, burikak, pokpok and name what have you ng mismong Pinay na itinatakwil ang pagiging Pinay dahil sa mga kumakapit sa patalim sapagkat walang pagpilian bunga ng pagiging biktima ng Yakuzang mga Hapon ang miyembro?
Again, this is part of gloria’s promise of ten million jobs.
gloria arrovo, ang TANGing INANG nagbubuyo sa pagdurusa ang kanyang mga anak! Hindi gustong magbigay ng tamang paggabay at nasisiyahan na lamang sa pamamalimos kahit saan mapadpad.
Ellen,
This is a very sad news.
270 Filipina nurses and caregivers less for the Philippines at a time when the country is short of nurses?
Blimey! It will be very difficult for a 3rd world nation to achieve a measure of success when it systematically exports its expert manpower to industrialised nations.
Think also of the negative effect such export has on a family’s psyche. Children growing up without a mother. The absence of one of the pillars of a family creates dysfunction in the family and the effect will always be nefast in the mid and long term.
What happened to my gravatar?
Hmmm… it got exported somewhere else!
JPEPA sounded familiar to me. Eto ba yung papuntahin ang mga nurses sa japan kapalit e tambakan ang pinas ng hospital waste ng japan??
Tama ba ako o mali?
~kamot ulo~
Ellen, here is another updates on The Caregivers’ Case…
Caregivers ‘scared’ but vow to testify
Two foreign caregivers who have accused MP Ruby Dhalla and her family of mistreatment are concerned their testimony today at a parliamentary hearing will get them deported because they were working illegally at the Mississauga home.
“I am scared but I want to do the right thing. I am going to testify,” said Magdalene Gordo, 31.
But a top aide to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the women have nothing to fear.
“They don’t need to worry about retaliation from the immigration department for being whistleblowers,” said Alykhan Velshi, Kenney’s director of communications. “Under no circumstances will they be deported from Canada, period.”
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/632695
**********
Both Magdalene and Richelyn are now LEGALLY employed right here in Greater Toronto Area,
and Alvarez is also legally employed in Western Canada and may testify later by Video Link…
The Provincial Minister of Labour is also invited to testify in Federal Parliamentary Hearing for his Role of not Reporting the Complaints to the proper authority Immediately…
OK, mag-ibakweyt na kayo d’yan dahil tone-toneledang toxic waste and ipadadala ng Japan sa Pearl of the Orient Seas ni Ka Joe Rizal kapalit ng pag-aaruga sa kanila ng mga pinoy na walang lugar sa Pinas ni Gloria! Hmmmppp! Putang Gloria Arroyo!
Dapat sana hindi iyung mga care giver ang ipadala sa Japan,kundi iyung mga pasyenteng matatandang sakang ang dalhin sa Pilipinas at doon na lang sila alagaan ng ating mga care giver at sa Pinas na rin sila ilibing para mas maraming Pilipino ang makikinabang at magkaroon ng trabaho.
Biruin mo iyan halimbawa $4,000 a month kada pasyente,kung makakuha si Gloria ng 100,000 na pasyenteng Japongo yearly maraming magkaroon ng trabaho sa atin.Tutal tae lang naman ang kapalit ng pagpunta ng care giver sa Japan.mas mabuti pa na iimport na natin ang tumatae sa Pinas para ang mga care giver natin at mga nurse ay hindi na aalis.
Wala choice ang mga Japongo kung wala silang makuhang pinoy na care giver kundi ipadala na nila ang kanilang mga matatanda na itinakwil na ng kanilang mga anak sa nursing home at i exile na nila sa Pinas kesa mangngamoy at babaho pa ang bansang Hapon.Ibig sabihin may mga trabaho ang mga Pinoy.
Gagawa na lang ng isang malaking Nursing Home sa isang Isla at doon na lang aalagaan ang mga Matatandang Hapon.
A most briliant idea, Cocoy.
Dito sa America lalo na sa California ay mahihirapan na ang mga Filipino nurse na magpunta dahil mataas na ang standard ng nursing profession dito.Ang mga studyante sa UC at CAL STATE marami ang narereject sa nursing program.Kailangan at least 3.0 above ang GPA nila para ma-accept.
Sa Pinas Kapag 3 ang grade ay “BOBO”
Kapag pumalo ka ng 1 or 2 balik klase ka uli dito, Kapag 3 ay above average,genuis kapag kuatro,at kapag 5 ay sa mental hospital ka na papunta.
Hehehehe! Thanks Chi,
Nagkamali lang kasi si Gloria ng kinuhang adviser.Kung ako ang kinuha niya kesa si Ermita di sana number one na tayo sa buong mundo at One to One na ang palitan ng dolyar sa peso.Lahat ng mga Pinoy ay may trabaho at lahat ng mga bata at nag-aaral.Maraming mag-aalaga ng kalabaw dahil ipagbabawal ko ang Kuliglig na pang-araro sa bukid.
Cocoy,
Baka ma-love at first sight sa iyo si Nunalisa at gawin kang lover instead of palit ke tandang Edong. Kung sa kaguapuhan ay nada sa iyo si Nani kaya mas mabuti na hindi ka niya nakilala. hahahaha!!!
At dito sa Estado ko ay naka-focus ngayon ang local government sa caregiving and nursing profession ng mga residents, wala na ring kinukuha na poringer nurses. Gusto nila na magkarun muna ng trabaho ang locals kesa sa dayuhan..hirap buhay sa ‘merika ngayon.
1940-1942 sa Pilipinas nagtatago tayo sa mga hapon..
2000-hanggang mawala si Gloria humahabol tayo sa hapon..ano ba yon? Naalaala ko tuloy yong kantang ‘hahabolhabol’
may katwiran si Cocoy..mas uunlad ang Pilipinas kung sa Pilipinas magpatayo ng nursing homes..hindi lang para sa mga hapon kundi sa lahat who may want to be cared by Phil. caregivers…pero ang sabi nga ni Chi baka ma luv at firs cite si Nunalisa..ma swine flu ka!
and in addition we will not only bring in the money but we will learn from the Japanese…discipline for one..kung sa Japan si futot nag harakiri na siya..to save face but talagang makapal ang mukha..wala ng Filipino time na laging late..kasi punctual sila..we will not be importing from other countries as we will be patronizing our own products..maliliit pa sila focus na ang mind nila “to love Japan”..
Meron ng nursing homes dito for foreigners, may project akong sinalihan na bidding (talo na naman) sa Tagaytay, mala-hotel ang facilities.
Ang problema lang diyan pag nagtagal, yung mga caregivers, magiging asawa na ng mga foreigners. Ibabahay na lang nila, mas matipid na, may “extra” service pa! Yung Pinay naman, may mamanahin pa pagdating ng oras. Marami ngang nagtitiyagang mag-asawa ng mga uugod-ugod, makapag-abroad lang.
Pupusta kayo?
Glue ria, Glue ria in excelsis daya is a professional beggar in the world.
Ayaw kong pumusta, Tongue. D’yan sa sinabi mo ang tungo talaga ng project na ganyan. Pero wish ko na sana ay nanalo ka sa bidding at naging bilyunaryo. Next project na lang… 🙂
Hindi ako pupusta sa iyo Tongue.Ano ako loko-loko na siguradong talo? Hehehehe!
Malinaw talaga iyang sinabi mo,ididivorce pa nila ang asawa nila lalo na kung walang pakinabang.May sinulat akong kuwento tungkol diyan doon sa blog ko.
Chi, Amoy chicharon na may suka na si Gloria Arroyo kaya kahit bayaran niya ako ng milyunes ay hindi ko siya papatulan maliban lang siguro kapag malasing na ako ng husto.Bahala na siya kung titigasan ako o hindi dahil makatulog na siguro ako.
Pero napansin ko lang napahiya iyung plastic surgeon na rumitoki ng mukha ni Donya Dionisia sa Beverly Hills,ayaw magpa-interview at isinarado niya ang clinic pansamantala.Galit na galit si Britney dahil napostpon ang lypo niya.
Rose,maraming pupuntang mga forindyir na matatanda sa atin para tumira sa nursing home,aba mga seksi yata ang mga nars at PT di tulad dito sa California,napapalo pa sila ng kutsara sa noo.Sabi ng kumare ko ay madali lang daw silang alagaan dahil kung matigas ang mga ulo nila ay pinapainom ng gamot para matulog na lang sila.Pero may kuwento pa sa akin na iyung 93 years old lalaki ay pinatungan pa raw niya iyung 80 years old na babaeng pasyente niya,pareho silang nahulog sa kama dahil single bed lang at pareho silang dinala sa hospital,lumabas sa MRI na mayroon silang bone fracture.Ginanahan siguro.Kapag itong kumare ko ang magkuwento nakikinig ako.
Ha!ha!ha! Ano ba yan, kung saan-saan na napunta ang kwento, pero caregiving related pa rin. hehehe!
noon:mga anak magtago na kayo at dumarating na ang mga hapon!
ngayon:mga anak,bilis!lumabas na kayo at6 dumarating na ang mga hapon
joke lang po.
mahusay ata ang care giver na Filipino…mahusay magtrabajo at mahina tumakbo! at pakembotkembot pa..
rose,
Ang mahirap nito kapag hindi magkaintindihan ang pasyente at care giver.May kuwento iyung kumare ko na may bagong hire daw na CNA sa nursing home na pinapasukan niya na hindi nakakaintindi ng tagalog imported pa kasi sa Mexico.May isang Pinoy daw silang pasyente sa ward section nila,lagi niyang sinasabi kapag may nararamdaman siya ng “Oh! Diyos Ko!” ito namang bagong CNA (certified nursing assistant) pasiklab muna dahil bago pa,Sa tuwing naririnig daw niyang umuungol si tatang ay binigyan niya ng Orange Juice,iinumin naman ni tatang dahil nahihiya siya kay mexicana at maputi raw ang hita,kaya nadagdagan ang trabaho ng kumare ko halos kada oras ay papalitan niya si tatang ng diaper madalas kasing mapaihi sa dami ng Juice na iniinom.
OTTAWA – Two caregivers say it was Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla – not her brother – who hired them and supervised their work at her Mississauga home, an allegation Dhalla rejected during testimony this morning.
Magdalene Gordo and Richelyn Tongson appeared before a Parliamentary committee this morning and directly disputed Dhalla’s claims through her lawyer that the high-profile politician had little involvement in their work and that brother Neil Dhalla was responsible for the caregivers.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/632928
Magdalen and Richelyn held their own quite Well during their Video Link testimony with a Magdalen getting a ‘little emotional’ talking about Her Family (husband, unemployed and four children back in the Philippines), While Miss Dhalla, Keep repeating her Life Story and finger pointing her own Family as the people involved in interviewing and hiring the Caregivers…and keep insisting there was a “conspiracy” to destroy her political career (as if somebody care about her political career). A typical politician trying to survive the Crisis, that even her Fellow South Asians (Indians) can no longer Stomach her (denials)“lying”….
Cocoy, pilyo ka talaga! You always make me laugh!
On a more serious note. I had an opportunity to talk to someone who supervises almost a lot of elderly care facilities in Los Angeles and Riverside County. She said that the reason why Philippine nurses are not so in demand now in these areas is primarily due to the poorer quality of nurses they got when the moratorium was lifted for nurses from the Philippines to come to the US. Some of the nurses who just graduated in the Philippines and who were immediately recruited to the US did not even know how to use and read some of the instruments the facilities have. They end up re-training the new nurses. Law suits filed against these facilities were usually due to the inexperienced nurses they used to recruit. This is why, the US is now very strict with recruitment. They prefer really experienced nurses. As a matter of fact they hire nurses who used to be doctors in the Philippines.
Ang malaking demand daw ngayon sa area niya, and she said she can hire dozens at a time, is someone with a nursing background and a Masters Degree in Social Services. I do not know if such a course is being offered in the Philippines now. For physical therapist naman, may kaalaman sa athletics. Marami kasing sports injury sa area niya. Of course not with the older people but for the younger generation naman.
Mabuti na lang yung pamangkin kong walang experience eh nakapasok noon. Ngayon supervisor nurse na siya.
Correction: delete the almost on the first line.
Off Topic:
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can run for prime minister in a parliamentary system being pushed by her allies in the House of Representatives who are seeking to amend the Constitution and are threatening to bypass the Senate in the process.
….See? That has been these crooks’ long plan to keep the Bitch in power!
BE hindi ko dinadasal na mamatay siya..pero naniniwala ako na death comes like a thief in the night..when you least expect it..malay natin pag gising natin bukas ay hindi siya nakagising dahil sa sobra sobra ang kanyang nainom..malay natin na lilindol at gumuho ang palasyo…malay natin na inip siya at pagod na siya sa kaka cha cha naisipan niyang mag biyahe silang lahat na familia kasama ang 150 thieves.. siraulo pala ang pilot at tatalon si brenda lumagpak ang airoplano at nag dive sa impierno…malay natin.. I don’t wish it to happen but I can dream can’t I?
Rose, that’s a dream that must come true.
Glad to see your gravatar back, Anna. To others, you may also get your gravatar so you can have your photos or images with your comments.
Ellen, how? Absent ako ng magbigay ng lesson d’yan.
Pareng Cocks, saan ililibing yang mga foreign pasyente pag dina humihinga o nakalimot ng huminga (sa bakuran kaya ni you know who).
That said, a good friend from Tagaytay told me a few days ago, San Lazaro Hospital burned about 20 unclaimed dead bodies on their parking lot sometime ago. This friend knows no humor so he was being serious. He even said, it’s becoming a common practice now due to extreme poverty.
Chi, Go to http://www.wordpress.com. Open an account. Look for gravatar. Just follow instructions. Very simple. Nakakatuwa.
I’ve read about a hospice built originally for Japanese patients in Laguna but is now open to all nationalities. A bit expensive. But at least, it’s here in the Philippines. it provides emplyment here for Filipino nurses and caregivers without them being so far away from their families.
Bitchevil,
Inagaw mo na naman mula sa kung saan/kanino ‘yang linya mo.
Quote your source. Mahiya ka naman!
Just a thought in line with TrueBlue’s comment. Kung dito nakatira yung foreigner at hindi na nagbayad yung mga kapamilya niya sa bills niya, eh di ang Pilipinas ang magaalaga sa kanya hanggang mamatay. If we allow foreigners to have elderly care in the Philippines, kailangang may pinanghahawakan tayong collateral man lang. Then if the foreigner dies, then the rest of the money can go to charity of some sorts. Kung baga, charitable trust.
Pareng Trublue,
Madali lang naman solusyunan iyan kung saan ililibing ang mga matatandang Ponjap kapag mamatay na sila sa nursing home.Kung hindi sila tutubusin ng mga pamilya nila at ipalibing,ikarga na lang sila sa Balikbayan box at ipadeliver sa Japanese Embassy ng walang return address.
Parasabayan,
Ganon din,kapag hindi sila nagbayad,evicted sila sa nursing home at ipa deport na sa Japan sa kasong “Undesirable Aliens”.
Ellen,
Re: cost of the hospice in Laguna,
Am curious, how expensive is “expensive”?
If the Philippines has hospices that cater to foreign nationals, why then should the Philippines export its expert nursing and caregiver manpower? Won’t it follow that these hospices should be able to pay the same wages on offer to them abroad?
One of my brothers said that he would retire in the Philippines (he’s got a long way to go yet but he’s already preparing for retirement) because he doesn’t want to be “interned” in homes for the aged abroad.
I reckon there are many more Pinoy expats who will consider doing the same if there are homes in Pinas with expert caregivers.
But if Pinas keeps exporting them, where will that leave Pinas hospices?
Thanks, Ellen. Will do.
Nakakatawa naman dito sa pinas, may hospice para sa foreigner na matatanda pero wala naman solidong health care plan na aaruga sa mga matatanda at may kapansanan sa atin…
Tsk. Tsk.
Another American marine participating in the RP-US Baliktan exercises has been accused of raping a Filipina.
In an article posted on pinoyweekly.org, women’s group Gabriela was quoted as saying that the victim, only identified as “Vanessa,” was raped by a US marine last April 18 inside the latter’s hotel room in Makati City.
In a phone interview with GMANews.TV Wednesday night, Gabriela spokesperson Jom Salvador confirmed the story. She, however, refused to divulge additional details about the incident until a press conference on May 14.
……Who shall believe the new rape victim now even if it’s true? Blame it on Nicole !
TruBlue, Cocoy,
Pag namatay yung pasyente, igiling sa meat grinder, tatakan ng Halal at seal na tested swine-flu free, bago i-export sa Japan.
Huwag kalimutan yung address : JPEPA!
PSB:
Meron na kaming mino-monitor na caregivers kuno but are working as hostesses at night in Chiba.
Medyo nahihirapan ang mga pulis and need to coordinate with the Immigration on this because the women are carrying valid visas as caregivers. I work and coordinate with the authorities as a civilian contracted interpreter/translator as a matter of fact kaya medyo busy ako.
I can’t even blog even when I carry my wireless dahil talagang hectic ang schedule ko ngayon. Singit lang ito while I take a break.
Problema sa mga pilipino naman kasing ito, pumapayag kahit na anong ipagawa sa kanila basta makatrabaho lang sa Japan. Talk of “kung walang magpapaalipin, walang mang-aalipin.”
I hope these women will remain faithful to their Filipino husbands. Baka mangyari diyan, magpapakasal sa mga hapon para lang magkabisa sila. May kaso nga ako ngayon tungkol doon sa isang mentally retarded sa isang care home na pinilit papirmahin para daw i-recognize iyong bata sa tiyan ng isang parttime caregiver doon. Nabigyan tuloy ng Japanese citizenship iyong bata kahit na ang totoo pala anak noong pinoy na kinakasama noong pilipina. Ang baboy din na kasi ang mga pag-uugali sa totoo lang. Basta lang magkapera kahit na ibenta ang mga kaluluwa! Pwe! Nakakasuka!
Abangan ang pagdami ng mga anak sa labas ng mga pilipina pag nagkataon!
BE – Inside a Makati Hotel room? And she was raped?? It’s a case of the Marine short-changing her than anything else and of course, she’ll cry rape – she’s thinking, USA here I come.
Sinabi mo pa. Yes, why should Filipinos get out of the Philippines to improve their lot?
This deployment of Filipinos overseas enmasse is evidence enough that Philippine economy has not improved as boasted by the criminal who is only good at robbing nationals of countries, where she begs government to accept Filipino migrant workers, of jobs originally created for them, and are being given to foreigners willing to be paid with lower salaries.
Vanessa who? Sorry, di na ako kakagat sa mga crying wolf na naman.
Sa totoo lang, Nicole wasn’t the first Filipina my group and I had supported when they cried “Rape!” Dami na naming tinulungang mga pilipina even in Japan who made similar accusations against some Japanese they claimed had raped them.
We provided them with lawyers, etc., even shelter to stay, mostly in some convent where there were Filipino nuns, but come to think of it, all ended up the same way the Nicole rape case ended.
Binayaran ang pinay, tahimik na. Ang masama kami pa ang tinatakasan. Panay na lang ang “gomennasai” (Sorry!) doon sa mga abogadong kinukuha namin para ipagtanggol sila. Kaya nakakawala ng gana.
Nicole wasn’t raped. Their sex was consensual
Regarding the alleged “Vanessa” rape case:
Antayin niyo na lang ang prosecution/litigation ng kasong iyan, wag magpdalus-dalos dahil di pa alam ang buong detalye. Wag muna emotions, politics, trial-by-publicity, and extreme feminism…evidence at testimonies ang dapat pairalin.
Mga di na natuto…
How did you know Nicole was not raped, anthony? Were you there when it happened?
Hapon, naaliw kay Cha Cha ‘bulilit’!
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/may1509/ent_jn.htm
Mabuti pa itong tunay na Hapon may pusong malapit sa mga Pinoy.
Haaay!
Kinilabutan ako dyan Al Mirol, akala ko si Pandak na si Chacha Bulilit.
Tongue,
Sobra kasi kung uminom ka ng kape, eh!
Dagdagan mo ng gatas at asukal!
Saka kulang siguro ng palaman ‘yung sandwich mo.
Pe’nge, ha?
I suggest that you shorten your name to Laway-Gaw.
Ellen,
Off topic –
Is there a book “Princes of Carit-an Olayria? Where can we buy such a book. A friend wants to share that book to her children because she is from your hometown.
Thanks,
What I know is the princess of Carit-an is “Olayra”. My father wrote a novel for radio about Olayra. What I have is the script in his own handwriting, which I got from UP Visayas (which compiled all my father’s works). It’s over 800 pages. Never had time to input it in the computer.
no, i wasn’t there, bitchevil
were you?
BE, True Blue..
Ano ba iyan, ri nape sa hotel? Tama ka True Blue, “America here she comes”. Mayroon kaming maid na inanakan ng polis sa bayan namin, nag punta sa Subic para makahanap ng connection, y di pinakasalan ng isang puti. Ngayon pinakamayaman na sila at they can probably buy and sell BE and True Blue. True story. Tulad ni Alec Baldwin, maghanap daw siya ng Mail Order Bride sa Pinas tapos iyong isang Senador ng Pinas bugbugin daw niya si Baldwin. Senador, you got your 3 minutes of fame on TV. Hindi mo naman matulongan iyong mahirap na Pinay. Nagpayabang ka lang Senador. whatever your name is. Typical Senador. ha ha ha. At Be, naisahan ka ni Liwayway-gawgaw. Nalaman toloy ang pagkata-o mo. Wika nga “gusto mag buga, wala naman ibubuga”
I am one of those caregivers who left the philippines last may 10.as of these moment,maayos ang situation namin d2.everything is well provided.pati pgbibigay ng allowance,on date palagi.and we are treated fairly here.ok na rin ito, kesa nakatunganga jan sa pinas,mamatay taung dilat ang mata sa gutom.