Christmas Love
Today, my mother, Susana, my siblings as well as my daughter and I, will have lunch together at my brother’s condo unit in Quezon City. Each sub-family will bring food to share, and I am quite sure that my Kuya Bulos in Los Angeles, California and our eldest brother, Luis, who is based in Geneva, Switzerland, will call my mom on her mobile phone which will then get passed around like a box of yummy chocolates. Such happy family reunions that straddle both the virtual and non-digital worlds make the Christmas holiday season really a joy to behold. One can tell from the constant uploading and tagging of photos on Facebook that this season has been both busy and happy, celebrated the Filipino way. Today, we give thanks for the birth of our redeemer,...
No to Increase in PhilHealth OFW Premiums!
News Release Blas F. Ople Policy Center December 20, 2011 Press Release Blas F. Ople Center December 20, 2011 NGOs, OFW bloggers oppose Philhealth circular raising premiums of OFW members Several non-government organizations involved in overseas employment issues banded together to oppose Philhealth Circular No. 022 that would nearly triple the amount of premiums to be paid by overseas Filipino workers by next year. Philhealth convened a consultative meeting with a handful of non-profit organizations representing overseas Filipino workers this morning. Walter Bacareza, vice-president of its Member Management Group presented the agency’s plans to increase membership rates including that of OFWs as well as the Board’s intention to...
Understanding the Basis for the POEA Certification Process
For those who would like to understand the basis of the DFA/POEA certification process, the pertinent provisions of RA 10022 or the Amendments to the Migrant Workers Act state — Section 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby amended to rerad as follows: “SEC. 4. Deployment of Migrant Workers. – The State shall allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected. The government recognizes any of the following as a guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers: “(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrant workers; “(b)...
POEA List of Compliant and Non-Compliant Countries
List of Compliant Countries: A. Based on POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 2 issued on May 17, 2011: AFRICA 1. Angola 2.Kenya 3. Namibia 4.South Africa AMERICAS 5. Argentina 6. Belize 7. Bolivia 8. BrazII 9. Canada 10. Chile 11. Columbia 12. Costa Rica l3. Ecuador 14. Guam 15. Guatemala 16. Guyana 17. Jamaica 18. Mexico 19. Northern Marianas 20.Paraguay 21. Peru 22. Suriname 23. Uruguay 24.Unted States of America 25. Venezuela EUROPE 26. Albania 27. Austia 28. Azerbaijarr 29. Belgium 30. Bosnia-Herzegovina 31. Czech Republic 32. Cyprus 33. Estonia 34. Finland 35. France 36. Germany 37. Greece 38. Hungary 39.Italy 40.Ireland 4I.Latvia 42.Liechtenstein 43. Lithuania 44. Luxembourg 45. Poland 46. Portugal 47. Romania 48. Russian Federation 49. San...
Heroes
Labor Attache Nasser Mustafa is a hero. While in Libya, he fulfilled his promise to bring home two Filipino domestic workers being held against their will by their employer, deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s niece. While the Department of Foreign Affairs had enunciated its position to wait for the Libyan transition council to take over the country’s leadership, Labor Attache Mustafa worked out a bold rescue plan. What was remarkable about his feat is the modesty attached to it. An initial statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the Philippine Embassy’s rescue mission conjured images of an elaborate and grandiose plan, citing the use of two embassy teams and a pit stop at the embassy itself. That someone even felt...
Susan “Toots” Ople
My friends call me Toots. Am the youngest of seven siblings. Our family hails from the coastal town of Hagonoy, Bulacan and we are proud of our roots. My daughter's name is Estelle and she's a brilliant debater/person. I love dogs! And I enjoy writing in the dead of the night.
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