OFWs equipped with a desktop or laptop connected
to the internet or access to an internet café, as well as smartphones or mobile
phones with wifi capabilities could not be silenced anymore. They will engage,
give opinion and share suggestion when confronted with issues that affect them,
their family and country. Their loud voices reverberate on the internet proving
that indeed, time has come: OFWs are force to reckon with.
The House Bill 6195 authored by Representative
Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David that seek to
amend the migrant workers act to collect additional US$ 50 fee for each
departing OFW for government to have additional funds in the emergency
repatriation OFWs in war torn and conflict areas met strong opposition from
among OFWs. It was considered as an
additional burden for the already heavily laden migrant workers especially
those who are earning very low income. With the deluge of online protest the
good representative came out with a press statement shelving her proposed law.
This paved the way for PEBA to create its facebook online advocacy
group called Global OFW Voices (GOV), that as of writing, it has now more than
12,300 members. After the victory of stopping Rep. David on her proposed law
the GOV embarked on taking the Philippine Health Insurance (Philhealth)
issue. Through the Philhealth
Memorandum Circular 007 Series of 2012, effective January 2013, all OFWs are
required to pay a compulsory PhP 2,400.00 from the previous PhP 1,200 among
other fees they need to pay when they go for work abroad.
A sustained online protest campaign
ensued that up until now is still ongoing. Also for the first time the GOV made
its voice heard in a forum organized by the Blas F. Ople Policy Center held
last July 31, 2012. Several Philhealth officials were in attendance. Ms. Brenz
Pinosan read the position paper to the forum opposing the proposed increase.
The position paper was made through the collaboration of Mr. Nj Abad, President
of PEBA and Mr. Jigs Segre, PEBA’s International Coordinator.
Various banners, infographics, videos and other creative visuals were posted
on Facebook that became viral as they got liked, commented and shared. Just recently through the vigilant and on-going
online protests by members of the GOV, Dr. Eduardo Banzon the President and CEO
of Philhealth resigned and the increase that should be effective this year was
differed until Philhealth come up with a valid
justification for the increase.
Another major victory that PEBA prides
itself is the recent ruling by the Supreme Court to indefinitely suspend the
implementation of the Cybercrime Prevention Law of 2012. Through its Manila Coordinator,
Mr. Pete Rahon was PEBA’s representative
and signatory to the petition filed last
October 4, 2012 together with the rest Bloggers and Netizens for Democracy
(BAND) members. The group is against the
law because of its unconstitutional provisions that will greatly affect the
exercise of freedom of speech online.
Also, Mr. Rahon, gave a presentation in
one of the poster sessions of the World Social Forum on Migration held last November
27, 2012 at Mirriam College, Quezon City.
The title of the topic was Social Media as Social Remittance among
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). The presentation highlighted on the advocacy
of PEBA through social media and the
importance of blogs in inspiring and sharing life lessons and experiences of
expats and OFWs to Filipinos.
Since
2011 PEBA has been active in the call for OFWs and expats to register for the
Overseas Absentee Voting. Posters from COMELEC and other information and
updates were regularly posted on PEBAs Facebook fan page. PEBA will continue to
actively engage in the education, campaign and election monitoring for the
overseas absentee voters.
PEBA Cares
In
May 2012, PEBA helped launched “Project Salmos and Operation: Let's Bring Mang
Fred Home!” Mr. Alfredo Salmos, 52, an OFW in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia suffered
from an electrocution accident at his work about two years ago. According to Mr.
Salmos, he survived a 14,000 volts explosion of a breaker that he was trying to
shut down. PEBA through its blog and Facebook made an appeal for global support
through monetary donations for his repatriation and help for his corrective
skin surgery.
Through
PEBA's founding chairman Kenji Solis along with ABS-CBN Correspondent Frank
Resma, and Marlene of Lakambini Group, Roy and Aaron of Elite Guardians, and
Patnubay Riyadh and the owner of La Parilla Restaurant organized a meeting to
provide Mr. Salmos assistance.
PEBA Scholars
PEBA received from one of its donors the
following heartwarming words: “I am always looking for an opportunity to serve
others as long as my circumstances allow. Helping the kids is my humble way to
give back what I have been blessed for.” With some funds raised coming from its
sponsors, PEBA was able to support 4 students for the whole year of 2012 from
kids supported by Believe International and youth from the Aeta community of Capas,
Tarlac.
SSS Partnership
PEBA entered partnership with the Social Security System or SSS in
February. PEBA served as one of the member of the board of judges in its
monthly Member-get-Member Promo for OFWs raffle draw dubbed as “Sa SSS: Kasamahang
OFW ay Protektado, Meron Pang Papremyo”. PEBA helped promote its aim to cover
more OFW since it believes that through social security an OFW not only
provides protection for himself but his family as well. And after he retires from work and reaching the
age of 60 an SSS member is assured of a monthly pension aside from the other
benefits SSS provides.
Through
PEBA and SSS Partnership a photo contest was also launched with the theme
"Miyembro, Bilib Kami Sa'Yo". The photo contest seeks to recognize photographs
that appreciate the hard work and sacrifices of Filipinos all over the world.
OFWs are persevering in jobs outside the Philippines to provide for their
families' needs and their own personal security. These sacrifices must not go
unnoticed for they are not only helping their families but the country as well.
The winning photos were exhibited at the SSS Gallery for one month and the
winners were awarded during the PEBA awards nite.
Blog Awards
and Photo Contests
Unlike in the previous years of PEBA’s
blog contest, this year fewer bloggers were nominated. It is observed that more
people are now active in microblogging sites like twitter or updating post on
Facebook. The theme for 2012 blog award was Social Media and I: Bridging the
Past, Present and Future. There were only 7 nominees for the OFW Category and 10
nominees for the OFW Supporter or Home-based Category. For 2012 PEBA gave the top 3 winners some cash
prize aside from gift packs. Reading through the entries one can fully
appreciate how technology has changed the way Filipinos communicate with their
friends and families. Social media, internet, mobile phone technology is not a
luxury but a necessity and so much part of the daily lives of most Filipinos.
Aside from the SSS Photo contest, PEBA facilitated two other photo
contests, the first was the VIPinoy FACES AND PLACES Photo Contest where OFWs
where encourage to submit photos that show beautiful sights and spots in their
host country. Another photo contest launched was the LBS at PEBA "Ang Pasko
at Bagong Taon sa Abroad". Since Filipinos are fond of taking pictures
and sharing them, PEBA and LBS decided to have their Christmas and new year
celebration photos showcased on facebook through the contest.
The successful conduct of the Pinoy
Expat/OFW Blog Awards 5th Annual International Blog and Photo Awards
is attributed to the tireless officers and volunteers of PEBA from around the
globe. Particularly those volunteers whose services were outsourced like
artists who made poster and logo designs; made
video teasers and presentations; assisted in the promotion of the event
online/on facebook; secretariat work communicating with nominees and
coordinating with judges for their scores and consolidating results; and other
numerous but important tasks that helped a lot in making 2012 another milestone
in PEBA’s history.
Commissioner Daniel Edralin of SSS welcomed the more than 200 OFW
bloggers, their family and friends as well as other guests who attended the
event last 15 December 2012 at the RM Hall of the Social Security System, Main
Building at East Avenue, Quezon City. No
less than Mrs. Cynthia Villar, the Managing Director of the Villar Foundation
graced the blog awards coming from another event just to hand to winners their
prizes. Other distinguished guests,
network of PEBA and SSS officials attended the event.
PEBA is equally grateful to its sponsors.
It continues to enjoy trust and benevolence of its long time sponsors. For 2012
PEBA forged partnership with SSS and availed sponsorship from communication
giant SMART Communications, Inc., Villar Foundation, LBS Recruitment Solutions,
Mega Manpower Corp., and VIPinoy. Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Patnubay
Riyadh served as its institutional partners while Marissa del Mar’s Buhay OFW
of TV5 and ABS-CBN Global Filipino were
PEBA’s media partners.
