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Showing posts with label Buhay OFW. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

OFW From Hong Kong Lost P50,000 Worth Of Valuables In Her Tampered Luggage

An OFW from Hong Kong who arrived in NAIA on Tuesday, lost valuables with estimated worth of Php 50,000.

Upon arrival, she was devastated to find her luggage torn and held together with tape, and the zippers tampered and broken. She lost jewelries, shoes, and some gifts for her baby.

Read here to know the RIGHTS OF AIRLINE PASSENGER

According to airport personnel on duty, it is possible that the pilferage happened in Hong Kong.

She was advised to report the incident to her airline and list the items that were lost. PAL spokesman, Cielo Villaluna also said they are already investigating and looking at the CCTV footage of baggage handling facilities in the Philippines and Hong Kong.

MIAA spokesperson David de Castro said passenger baggage are responsibility of the airline carrier but they are willing to help with the investigation.

Read here to know the RIGHTS of AIRLINE PASSENGER
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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Customers Lost Remittance Money After Money Transfer Business in Canada Closed Down

SR Cash Remit, a money transfer business in Calgary, Canada is under investigation after 76 people reported that their remittance money was never received by the recipients. The owner of the said business is a Filipino named Marisyel Pilande, 37 years old. Currently an arrest warrant has been issued.

Photo credit: ARYN TOOMBS / CALGARY HERALD

Police investigating the case said that the money involved is estimated to be more than $100,000. The amount lost ranges from $200 to $20,000. Investigators also said it is unlikely that these victims could recover the money even if the case goes through civil remedy.

SR Cash Remit was acting as an agent to Family Express money transfer company. Every time that a client sends money through SR Cash Remit, the information needed to be passed along to Family Express. But on July SR Cash Remit issued 3 bounced checks with sum amount of $80,000 to Family Express.

On Dec. 2, she was charged with three counts of obtaining $5,000 under false pretenses due to the bounced checks she issued. On December 16, she was released on bail but failed to show up on court hearing. And warrant was issued for her arrest.

Photo credit: ARYN TOOMBS / CALGARY HERALD

SR Cash Remit was petitioned into bankruptcy on November according to Hardie & Kelly Inc., who have been appointed as trustee of the bankrupt estate.

source

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Filipino Domestic Workers in UK Speaks Of Their Abuse From Employers

What are your experiences as Kasambahay travelling with your employers abroad?

While the risk of working as domestic worker in the Middle East is known to many, there are still Filipinos who would take the risk just to provide for the financial needs of their families back in the Philippines.

Many of these domestic workers are brought to the UK by their wealthy employers from the gulf states.

Some of these domestic workers are employed by rich Arabs from Saudi, Jordan, and other GCC countries. However, this does not exempt them from suffering abuse in the hands of their employers.

They get to stay in beautiful hotels, and apartments surrounded by ostentatious trappings of wealth, but behind these curtains they are left starving. One of them narrated she has to sleep on the floor and eat only biscuits. While another is only being paid £50 a week, and some don't even get paid. Some employers refer to them as "slaves", and some have to work as much as 20 hours a day.

In 2012 the visa system in the UK was changed, and these domestic workers are left tied to their employers. Even if they run away, they cannot work for other employers and they usually have to face deportation.

Adele, one of runaways said, "Its like we are criminals that the immigration keeps hunting".

Filipino Tourist in Hongkong Sentenced For Pickpocketing

A 52-year old Filipino tourist in HongKong had been sentenced to 17 months in prison after he was found guilty of pickpocketing atTsim Sha Tsui MTR station.

Zhi Yu, a policeman from mainland China was touring Hong Kong with his wife and daughter in August. While at the MRT station with his family, pickpockets took his waist bag that contains his mobile phone, cash, credit card, and other personal belongings worth over $10,000. According to Zhi, Roxas was one of those pickpockets who took his bag.

The Filipino, A.B. Roxas claims he was coerced by Hong Kong policemen to confess to the crime, and he also confessed to not know the other suspect who remains at large. Barrister Duncan Percy, Roxas’ lawyer, said the investigator who handled Roxas’ case told him during his interrogation to admit to the crime and “write it down.”But prosecution witnesses are straightforward and unshaken during the cross-examination. The two interpreters present during the interrogation—one Filipino and a Chinese— also testified in court that the policeman did not badger Roxas to confess.

Magistrate So Wai-Tak of the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on December 15 said the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that A.B. Roxas was one of the two pickpockets. The judge also said Roxas made contradictory statements claiming that he was suffering from hypertension during the police interrogation but later admitted that he was not suffering from any physical condition that time.

According to report Roxas is from Cebu and he has a wife and 8 children in the Philippines.

Source Source

Monday, December 14, 2015

OFW in Singapore Escaped: Reported She Had Been Starved For 15 Months By Her Employers

A couple in Singapore who were employing a Filipina domestic worker are on trial after being charged for failing to provide their employee with adequate food.

Lim Choon Hong (right) and Chong Sui Foon, who failed to provide their former domestic worker with adequate food.ST PHOTO Credit: WONG KWAI CHOW

The OFW named Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, 40 years old ran away on April 14, 2014. According to the report she was given two meals a day, with each ration consisting of instant noodles and a slice of bread.

She used to weight 49 kilos in January of 2013, when she escaped in April last year she was only weighing 29 kilos, after working for 15 months she suffered a significant weight loss due to insufficient intake of food. She was then immediately taken and was admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

She also claimed that she was made to sleep in a storeroom, and was allowed to bathe only once or twice a week, at a public toilet in her employer's condominium. Her employer would also watch her shower, as the latter "did not want her to bathe too long,".

Filipino maid Thelma Oyasan Gawidan (above) dropped from 49kg to 29kg over 15 months as a result of her employers not giving her adequate food. ST PHOTO Credit: WONG KWAI CHOW

Ms Thelma also claimed that she was not allowed to brush her teeth.

If proven, her employers Lim Choon Hong (right) and Chong Sui Foon will both face a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

Source

Sunday, December 06, 2015

OFWs and Expats Need To Close Bank Account Before Exit

Expats and Overseas Filipinos working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to close their bank accounts prior to exiting the Kingdom.

In a report via Arab News:

"The Interior Ministry (of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) has warned citizens and residents to be careful with their bank accounts by not allowing anyone to use their accounts for terrorism-related purposes.

Specifically, security expert Nayef Al-Marwani said that these bank accounts remain a dangerous security breach and may help in the financing of terrorism electronically between individuals. He added that most cases of terrorism depend on such modes of electronic finance, which is proven to have been used to fuel the events of Sept. 11, 2001 in the United States.
Al-Marwani said that it was essential that the parties concerned are made aware of this and make closing their accounts prior to departing the Kingdom a top priority.
Al-Marwani also suggested that as soon as expats apply for their final exit visa, this should be contingent upon the person closing their bank account prior to the visa being supplied."

Source: Arab News
Update from one of the commenter:

Monday, November 30, 2015

VIDEO: 6 TIPS FOR AN OFW FAMILY TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL

Tips on how to be successful as an OFW family.

1. There must be a Shared Goal between an OFW and his/her family.

2. It should be clear where the money will go. Make a monthly budget. Paying off any debt should be a priority.

3. Don't make the OFW member like a milking cow.

4. For Families Back Home, Avoid being extravagant in life.

5. For an OFW abroad, Don't buy unnecessary things.

6. For families back home, think how you can help an OFW earn money for the family.

Story of an OFW who lost his job, and came back home, put up a bakery business and become a millionaire.

Friday, November 27, 2015

GCC Health Director: Philippines sends 'sick' maids to the Gulf Countries

In a report via Emirates 24/7, Dr Tawfiq Khowja, director general of the executive office of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) health ministers said that, "many housemaids coming from the Philippines to work in the oil-rich Gulf have been found to be sick in the absence of measures to examine them before they arrive".

We suspect that this was in relation to the abolition of the GAMCA or the Gulf Approved Medical Centres Association which was abolished and instead allowing OFWs to choose clinics for physical and medical exams as long as the hospital are within the lists of accredited hospitals by DOH.

SEE LISTS HERE

Dr. Khowja said: “Many of those centres are forging medical reports issued for those maids and other domestic workers…this has led to a large increase in Philippine domestic workers who are sick or are unfit for work,” he said.

“We have received many reports about Gulf families complaining that they have discovered that their maids are suffering from diseases including diabetes and high blood pressure and that they have to be taken to hospitals quite often…most of those reports said the employers found that their maids are not fit for that job.”

Khowja said the executive office has reported the problem to the Riyadh-based GCC secretariat to take the necessary measures.

Read the news Source
Is is true? What measures that the Philippine government and recruitment agencies are taking to avoid this to happen and to ensure that this is being addressed properly?

On the other hand, some hospitals and medical centers in the Philippines are accused of having modus, the tanim sakit that victimized OFWs and those applying for jobs abroad.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

VIDEO: IF CAUGHT WITH BULLET AT NAIA, WITHIN ATLEAST 6 HOURS, YOU'LL BE RELEASED.

There is a new and faster process when you are apprehended with bullet after passing the NAIA screening area. First, there are security booths where you can inspect your baggages before passing through the screening area.

If you are still found with bullet while passing through screening machine.
1. You will be investigated.
2. The bullet/bullets will be analyzed if it is live or amulets by the PNP ballistic team.
3. If bullets are live, the PNP Aviation and Security will file a against you.
4. Public Attorney's Office are on-call 24/7 to assess you.
5. A fiscal will decide if you have intent or no bad intent to possess the bullet in at least 6 hours.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

OTS HEAD: DON'T ATTACK THE INSTITUTION WITH REGARDS TO TANIM BALA

During an interview, USEC Rolando Recomono admitted that there are OTS personnel involved in the tanim-bala. He is also asking for apology and understanding on the issue. They are currently filing interception reports to investigate who among the OTS personnels are on duty when bullets are confiscated from travelers and if there is a possible pattern.

He also explained regarding the investigation done by NBI when a bullet was not detected or identified by screening personnels. He said it is all dependent on the machine, there must be something wrong with the machine and that the walk-through machine should be calibrated.

READ THIS, NBI TRIED TO SECRETLY BRING BULLET INSIDE NAIA, SCREENING MACHINES AND XRAYS AS WELL AS METAL DETECTOR CANNOT DETECT IT!

VIDEO: FORMER OFW KASAMBAHAY, NOW A CEO

Rebecca Bustamante Mills was a former OFW working as Domestic Helper in Singapore and Canada until her life changes through studies, dedication, and determination. She builds her company and is now the CEO an emerging company in Asia.

"The seventh of 11 siblings, Bustamante grew up in poverty. She was 18 when her mother died, forcing her to leave her hometown of Dasol, Pangasinan and work in a factory in Bataan to put her younger brothers and sisters through school. Their father had no steady job. Even when she was in high school, Bustamante worked to earn money for her schooling. “I used to work as a helper with different families in my hometown. I also worked for a mayor as a saleslady in their store,” she said. “As a kid, I sold pandesal, ice buko, ice candy. I also helped my mother sell fish in the market...I enjoyed doing it,” she said. “I think I loved sales even as a kid.” " - GMA NEWS, From maid to made: Multinational CEO Rebecca Bustamante shares her story

"In 1986, when she was 19, Bustamante began working as a domestic helper in Singapore. During her three years in the job, she also studied Accounting at the Open University of Singapore Institute of Management. She was even able to finish the undergraduate program without her employers knowing it. “I did my studying during the evenings when everyone was asleep. From 11 in the evening to 1 a.m. [I would] start my job at 5 a.m. I was only given a day off. That one day off I would go to school to talk to my professors and get my whole month's worth of homework,” she said. “It was very hard, but I was determined to pursue my education to help my brothers and sisters back home.” To earn more money for her family, Bustamante then decided to work as a nanny in Canada for almost four years while pursuing her graduate studies in Accounting and Marketing at Ryerson University in Ontario. “Learning is very important to me,” she said. “If you want to be successful, it's important to continue learning, continue developing your skills. That's the reason why I never stopped studying.”- GMA NEWS, From maid to made: Multinational CEO Rebecca Bustamante shares her story

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

OFW NEEDS 18 YEARS OR P3MILLION BEFORE YOU CAN STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES

via Sunstar Cebu:
"Philam Life, which commissioned market research provider Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) to do the study, reported 82 percent of OFWs said they need to have their own business so they can stay home permanently, while 63 percent said they’re ready to come home for good when their kids have finished school. Forty-seven percent said that when they have their own car they can return home, and some 24 percent said they will be ready to stay when they have their own house."
a heartwarming advertisement video from Philam Life.

With the right plan, you can secure your and your family’s future & come home for good.Anong plano mo? Usap tayo?Contact me now at 09157862752
Posted by Philam Life on Monday, November 16, 2015

According to Philam Life director of agencies Rolan H. Enriquez, in a press conference yesterday, the respondents of the study mostly involved OFWs who are under a two-year contract, with an average tenure of six and a half years of working abroad and earn an average of P50,000 per month. The nationwide study on OFWs was done in April 2015.

The same study showed that of the OFWs surveyed, 82 percent said “they are not yet ready to stay home permanently.”

They reasoned out that they did not enough savings or their children are still studying. Some said they have no house yet, had “more dreams to achieve” and are “not yet stable.”

This means only 18 percent of those surveyed are ready to go home, believing that they are better off staying with their families or already have an established business and have enough savings.

The study reported that 55 percent of the income of these OFWs is sent back home and what remains is for personal use.

Respondents said they save on average P13,000 per month. If they save this amount religiously, Enriquez said this would take one OFW 18 years before he can save P3 million and stay in the Philippines for good.

Read the rest here

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Filipina In Dubai Embezzled More Than Dh 1 Million

A 55-year-old Filipina working in a hotel in Dubai was sentenced to 6 months in prison and will be deported after serving her jail term.

The Filipina was said hired as Hotel Nurse and later her title was changed to Health Care Coordinator.

The accounting department found out about the anomaly when they audited the receipts filed by the nurse for employees who already had done health tests. They found out she has submitted duplicate receipts 2,300 times where she changed the pictures of employees on the forms and even for staff members who already had left work.

According to the internal investigation of the hotel, she forged several documents and modified receipts from Dh 110 to Dh 210 and pocketed the difference.

During the internal investigation she admitted to the forgery. Records showed that she embezzled Dh 1,258,620.

CASE DISMISSED FOR GLORIA ORTINEZ, BUT CAN SHE STILL RETURN TO HONGKONG?

Good news to Nanay Gloria Ortinez. The DOJ or Dept of Justice dismissed the case against her for the lack of probable cause. It has been said that no further investigation is needed since there is no logical reason why she would possess the ammunition.
However Nanay Gloria is still worried if her employer would still accept her.

"Good news!!!! DoJ has ordered the dismissal of the case Vs OFW Nanay Gloria Ortinez for lack of probable cause!...
Posted by Susan Toots Ople on Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Friday, October 30, 2015

Another OFW Going to Japan, and Another Going To Australia, a Victim of Laglag-Bala o Tanim Bala?

Who do you think is the culprit?
I believe it is a gang. It may not be those police working in NAIA or the security personnel's assigned to check your baggage's. But it is the very reason why we should all be vigilant.

2 more alleged 'tanim-bala' victims detained at NAIA

Those inspectors and police who file cases may just be doing their jobs. They will be relieve from their duties or remove from their jobs, but the other victim, an OFW will lose his job abroad, will be detained, will probably spend money to attend cases and will eventually have no job security that he/she will be able to go back abroad again. Family and future are destroyed.

WE HAVE TO JOIN FORCES TOGETHER. Put CCTV's in all airports, closer and clearer and functioning CCTV's to easily traced who, where and when was the bullet planted to some innocent people who are just to make their lives better by working honestly.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

MIAA Manager Honrado Defends the Arrest of OFW in Laglag-Bala Incident

In a news report via GMA News entitled MIAA head Angel Honrado defends the arrest of a 56-year-old OFW named Gloria Ortinez, bound for Hongkong at NAIA airport yesterday.

At a Senate hearing on terminal fee refunds, Honrado said the police had to arrest the OFW, a 56-year-old woman on her way to Hong Kong, as the bullet had all the components of live ammunition.

Pro-OFW groups, however, said the OFW, identified as Gloria Ortinez, has been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong for 20 years and did not fit the profile of someone who would smuggle live ammunition abroad.

Susan Ople of migrants' rights group Blas Ople Policy Center said the woman's travel history made it unlikely for her to bring live ammunition to the airport.

Villar, for her part, has called for an inquiry on complants against personnel of the Office for Transport Security (OTS), the group being blamed for the "laglag bala" extortion racket.
"May nagsasabi... na palagi raw ganyang klaseng bala, pare-pareho daw ang nahuhuli sa airport. Kaya nagkaka-[idea] sila na talagang may modus operandi," she said.
Read the full GMA News here

On another news:

A Japanese tourist’s homecoming was delayed on Sunday after he was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when two bullets were detected in his baggage.

Kazunobu Sakamoto, 33, was charged with illegal possession of ammunition at the Pasay City prosecutor’s office when two 9mm bullets were found hidden inside the breast pocket of a long-sleeved shirt in his luggage.

According to a report from the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup), Sakamoto was supposed to be on a Philippine Airlines flight to Haneda, Japan, but was stopped at around 5 p.m., Sunday, right at the departure area initial security screening checkpoint of the NAIA terminal 2.

Avsegroup National Capital Region head, Senior Supt. Ricardo Layug Jr. said that when the Japanese national’s baggage went through the x-ray scanner, a security screening officer of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) noticed something resembling a bullet inside.

Layug said that the screening officer immediately informed the baggage inspector who told the foreigner that his luggage needed to be subjected to manual inspection.

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