WINNERS of the 2012 PEBA BLOG Entry Contest

Philippine Blogs

1.Nite Writer
2.Blog, Poetry and Notion 
3.Semidoppel's Reports
4.The Filipino Scribe
5.Kol me eMPi
6.*blissfully RICH*
7.spectos de hitokiriHOSHI
8. OFW: this is my life and story 
9. JaY RulEz
10. kwentistablog

International BLOG Winners

1. THE PINOY SITE, Tokyo, Japan

2 . BLOG AND ME, United States of America

3. Michael Shades of Blue, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

4. hucares anyway?!!!, Brisbane, Australia

5. JONDMUR, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

6. KAPIT-KAMAY, Manama, Bahrain

7. OFW sa Disyerto, Al Khobar, KSA

©2012 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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Dear Philhealth, Sorry But We Are Not Partners

First and foremost, welcome to my humble home. I welcomed here Representative Trisha Bonoan-David, the Vice President Jejomar Binay, and even you the first time around. Do you still remember when you flirted with your P300 increase from the P900.00 fees making our fees starting January 2012 to P1,200? Wala akong nagawa nun kasi December, busy ako sa vacation.

May mga taong mahilig sa 50, mahilig ako sa sampu, so here are the 10 things I want you to know in case you really don't know. Sit back. Relax. Let's have a heart to heart talk. I will try not to be confrontational. This is my blog, but I am giving you in the comment section below the chance to answer my questions, and to explain your side. 

1. There is a raging debate going on. Ayaw ko ng salitang mandatory, compulsory, and requirement. Most of the people especially OFWs wanted to have an OPTIONAL membership in Philhealth. I was in favor of that proposal then. I changed my mind. I understand na sa OFW funds niyo kinukuha ang malaking budget para gamitin sa healthcare system ng bayan. Kaya nga sapilitan kaming magbayad kasi kailangan kami ng bayan para tulungan ang mga nagkakasakit, at gamutin ang mga hirap at hindi makaafford magpagamot. Now, I get it. We are 'Bagong Bayani". We send dollars, we feed our families, we send our kids to schools, and we help the government take care of the nation.

2. For many years, I paid P900 everytime I come home. Well, 8 years to be exact. Wala akong reklamo. Di ko nga naintindihan yan. Wala nga akong ID. Di ko nga alam ang ID number ko, meron ba sa OEC? Saan ko makikita yan? Bigla kang nagtaas. P300, so naging P1,200. Umangal ako nun. Pero dahil OFW ako, kelangan kong makalabas ng bansa para kumita. 

3. Isang taon lang ang lumipas, sa susunod na January 01, 2013 (and January 2014) kelangan kong magbayad kada taon ng P2,400 para makaalis ng bansa, mandatory bago mabigyan ng OEC. Dito tayo hindi nagkaintindihan. Saan ka nakakita ng kumpanya or negosyante na tumaas ng 100% ng kanilang paninda or bayarin? 

4. Bilangin natin ang perang nakukuha ng Philhealth sa OFWs. 10M x 1,200 = P12,000,000,000 (P12B)

magiging P24,000,000,000 (P24B) yan. Bilyong pera ang pinag-uusapan natin. Ilabas niyo po kung sa 10M na OFW sa buong mundo, ilang OFW ang nakinabang ng Philhealth pati mga dependents nila sa isang taon. Sa informal survey na ginawa online, 2-3 sa sampung OFW or dependents nila ang nakinabang ng benepisyo. Why imposed a 100% increase.

5. Ako, kasama ng aking small family ay magkakasama dito sa abroad. Nagbabayad ako ng Philhealth pero ni minsan hindi ko nagamit ito. At meron akong health insurance, pati ang aking 8 buwan na anak na bunso, may health card. Nanganak ang misis ko, wala akong binayaran dito kahit piso. Bakit ako gagamit ng Philhealth na pahirapan sa pagfill up ng form at pagparefund? 

 6.  Ayusin natin ang dependents scheme. Paano ang mga single na wala pang 60 ang kanilang mga magulang kasi hindi pwede mga kapatid as dependents. Paano ang mag-asawa na nagtratrabaho sa abroad, at ang mga anak ay more than 21 years old na. Paano ang couple na parehong OFW, bakit pareho silang magbabayad?

7. Ang OWWA ba ay healthcare system or mabibigyan ka lang ng benefit kung tigok ka na? Kung ang OWWA ay healthcare, ano ang silbi nito kung merong Philhealth? Kung kelangan mapaayos ang serbisyo sa OFW at mga pamilya nila na naiwan sa Pinas, bakit walang ibang choice na healthcare providers?

8. If nagbayad ako ng sampung taon, ni minsan hindi ko ito nagamit, umuwi ako ng Pinas, inabot ako ng pang11th year, nagkasakit at hindi ako nakapagbayad, wala na akong coverage!  Wala bang option na pwede mo makuha after how many years kung hindi mo nagamit?

9. Bakit hindi natin bigyan ng maayos na benefits ang mga OFW. Minsan lang sa isang taon o dalawang taon kami umuuwi. Bakit hindi natin eextend ang service sa Free or 20% fee para sa regular check-up? Bakit kelangan ko muna maadmit pati mga dependents ko, bago ko magamit ang service?

10. Since abroad kami, bakit kelangan pa ipadala ang mga forms dito sa abroad, pipirmahan ko, tapos ipapadala na naman sa Pinas, tapos maghihintay ng halos 6 months bago ang refund? Why not establish a system na easier on our part? Sa bilyon-bilyong pera nakukuha niyo sa mga OFW kada taon, kadalasan pa nito hindi nagagamit ang Philhealth kasi may mga health card and insurance as required of our host countries labor laws, bakit di niyo ipunin ang mga pinakamagaling na mga IT na Pinoy at gumawa ng program at system para maenhance ang service? This goes to OWWA as well.

I am sorry. After enumerating the 10 points above, I believe we are not partners in health. Partners mutually benefit from each other. I see a one sided relationship here. Before you ask for a 100% increase, make your service better first. It's a shame because, me and speaking of other OFWs, we came from Europe, North America and Canada, Asia and the Pacific and even Middle East, where healthcare system is much better so don't impose through Philhealth Circular 007 series of 2012 that you want to increase our fees.

You can see how my sentiments mirror many others. In a matter of 8 hours, this call not to implement the increase generated 14,500 SHARES multiply that with at least 300 friends of the sharer, and we are talking around 4,350,000 views, (4.35M). OFWs are tired and sick of the many payments here and there. Before it was fine, nobody complained, now, it not the case anymore. OFWs, 90% of them use internet as a means to communicate with families are into social media, blogs, twitter and Facebook. Sabi nga kanina,

Ang rally for a cause is wala na sa kalsada, kundi through sharing sa Social Media. Let's see if makakaabot sa inyo. Let's see if makikinig kayo.

I issue a challenge to the Presidential Adviser on OFW Affairs VP Jejomar Binay, and the Congress and Senate. Who is brave and a true leader enough to look into this matter seriously? Here are your people, numbering by the millions, OFWs 10M or more, asking you to STOP this mandatory increase for Philhealth Fees. You can read their voices here.

©2012 THOUGHTSKOTO

Philhealth Circular 007 Series of 2012

Below is a copy of the Philhealth Memorandum Circular 007 Series of 2012 detailing that effective January 2013, all OFWs are required to pay a compulsory P2,400.00 from the initial P1,200.

We want you to know this is already approved by the Board and we are against the implementation of this Circular 007.

Below is the full copy of the Circular.



BELOW is our call to all OFWs to support our cause.

©2012 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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PEBA Statement Re House Bill 6195 by Representative Ma. Theresa Bonoan - David

PEBA, Inc., a global organization will continue to sound the voice of the OFWs using Social Media as our platform. As an advocate of the Overseas Filipino Workers, we strongly denounce the proposed bill of Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David amend the Republic Act 8042 and to add and collect 50$ fee for each departing OFW. We consider this as an additional burden for the already heavily laden workers.

We implore Hon. Bonoan-David to retract this bill or we will continue to raise our blogs and walls to protect the OFWs from this thoughtless proposition, you will then be held accountable before millions of Filipinos who have a member of their families working abroad.

May this will serve as a warning to any agencies and government officials that we remain vigilant and will voice our disagreement to issues that directly affects the OFWs.

©2012 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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Homecoming for Alfredo Salmos set; family conveys thanks to FB users

News Release

Blas F. Ople Policy Center

May 20, 2012

Homecoming for Alfred Salmos set; family conveys thanks to FB users

Two years after suffering severe burns due to electrocution, overseas Filipino worker Alfredo Salmos is finally arriving home.

The 52-year old electrician from Nueva Ecija conveyed his gratitude to all Facebook users who wrote about his plight, uploaded videos about him on their page, and exerted pressure through social media for the government to help bring him home. The OFW suffered electrocution when he was shutting down a 14,000-volts breaker in February 2010 and was comatose for one month. An Indonesian couple has been caring for him since then. It was only recently, when his video and photo became viral, that help started to pour in, and arrangements to bring him home gained traction.

OFW advocate Susan Ople, who has been assisting the family in arranging for Alfred’s homecoming, said that the outpouring of concern from Filipino Facebook users and social media enthusiasts around the world signify a sea-change in how social media directly impacts on cases of distressed OFWs.

“The outpouring of support for Alfred Salmos demonstrates the power of Facebook as a platform for OFW assistance and empowerment,” Ople noted.

During this morning’s Tinapayan media forum in Manila, Alfred’s younger sister, Epifania Salmos Colina gave special thanks to the first Facebook user who posted Salmos’s photo and wrote about his plight. “Gusto ko man banggitin ang pangalan ay baka may mga makaligtaan ako kaya sa tamang oras na lamang po namin babanggitin lahat lahat ng dapat pasalamatan,” Epifania said.

Herself a former OFW, Alfred’s younger sister said that the family’s immediate priority is to give him time to rest and have private moments with his mother and siblings as well as to ensure that his medical needs are attended to. The last time that Alfred saw his mother was seven years ago during a brief vacation in the country.

“Sa amin po titira si Kuya at aalagan namin siya ng husto. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga tumulong at gustong tumulong sa kanya,” Colina said. (“My brother will stay with us and we will take good care of him. We would like to thank all those who helped him and who’d like to help him.”)

Alfred’s sister also acknowledged the assistance of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, the Villar Foundation and the Office of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

Senator Manny Villar and the Villar Foundation headed by his wife, former congresswoman Cynthia Villar, pledged to help with the medical expenses and livelihood assistance while Atty. Gwen Pimentel-Gana, chief of staff of the Office of Senator Koko Pimentel offered to coordinate with the Philippine General Hospital for the OFW’s medical treatment.

Previously, Alfred’s sister was also a beneficiary of the Villar Foundation’s Sagip OFW program when she availed of a free ticket home after running away from her abusive employer in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon had earlier assured the Salmos family that Alfred would receive his full disability benefits as OWWA member as well as livelihood assistance. The OWWA official has also directed her staff to provide airport and transportation assistance to Salmos.

Ople appealed in behalf of the Salmos family: “I hope that we can all welcome Alfred Salmos home as a brother who suffered enormous physical and emotional pain while in Saudi Arabia. He deserves a warm, friendly, and dignified welcome after everything that he had to endure mostly by himself in Saudi Arabia.”

OFWs in Jeddah gather and donate to Alfredo Salmos

The NGO noted that Saudi Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz al Saud was instrumental in the waiver of fees accruing from the time Alfred’s car was impounded due to a car accident in 1998.

OFWs in Jeddah gather and donate to Alfredo Salmos

OFWs Romy Carbonel, Frank Resma, Joseph Espiritu and volunteers of Patnubay Riyadh among several others, assisted Alfred in sending a personal letter in Arabic addressed to the Office of the Governor of Jeddah to waive the accumulated fees that barred him from leaving Saudi Arabia. Jeddah-based OFW blogger Jebee Kenji Solis also helped out in gathering donations from fellow OFW bloggers throughout the world. Other NGOs, Facebook users, and Saudi-based OFWs have been helping Alfred Salmos in coordination with the family and the Philippine Consulate.

Photo Courtesy of Patnubay Online. Romy Carbonel with Frank Resma

In his appeal to Prince al Saud, Alfred Salmos wrote: “Your Royal Highness, I believe that you are fair regardless of race, color or creed. Please send me home to my country. I want to see my family. I haven't seen them for quite a long time. In the Philippines I have a family who can take care of me.  Please tell the Moroor to clear any penalty for my car registration and to consider my physical condition for humanitarian considerations.”

The Prince granted the plea of Alfred Salmos, all fees were waived, and in a matter of days, the OFW most featured in the pages of Pinoy Facebook users around the world, shall soon be home.

Photo Courtesy of Patnubay Online. Romy Carbonel with Mang Alfredo Salmos

For those who wish to help OFW Alfred Salmos, please get in touch with the Blas F. Ople Center via 833-5337/833-9562 for coordination purposes. Donations can be channelled to the bank account set up by Alfred’s sister: Epifania Reem S. Colina, BPI Carmen West Rosales Pangasinan #0639-0859-29.

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©2012 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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Project Salmos and Operation: Let's Bring Mang Fred Home!

Let’s Bring Mang Fred Home!

ABSCBN TV PATROL Here

ABSCBN NEWs HERE

Alfredo Salmos, 52, an overseas Filipino worker in Jeddah Saudi Arabia is appealing for help after he was accidentally electrocuted about two years ago in his work. According to Salmos, he was sucked into a 14,000 volts breaker that he was trying to shut down.

PEBA Worldwide launched a Project Salmos to appeal for global support and monetary donations with the consolidated efforts of the different organizations in bringing home our brother, our kabayan, ALFREDO ‘Mang Fred’ SALMOS. 

 PEBA's Kenji 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 in a roundtable meeting to help Mang Alfredo Salmos. 

PEBA has been engage in several project before, Project Twitch, Project Nealshai, and now we are starting Project Salmos. There are many, oh so many good people working behind the scene for Mang Alfred. We are activating our contacts from 56 countries and territories and asking to solicit donation and engage causes to help this Kabayan. If you wish to be a part of PEBA's Global effort to help, please message us using the FB message above. We will consolidate all donations into one account, preferably in a foundation. We hope you will share and reach out to others and hope to touch their heart as well. 

Support the

Operation: Bring Him Home

For donations and details, please contact or email

contact@pinoyblogawards.com

©2012 THOUGHTSKOTO

To VP Jejomar Binay: OFW Pag-ibig Pay at POEA

When we went home for vacation last December 2011, I went to POEA to pay for my Balik-Manggagawa payment to avoid any hassles that we might encounter, thinking about the things I've read and heard from other vacationing OFW's.

I prepared for my normal P1,200 fee, and then was surprised that I am required to fill up a Pag-ibig form. I heard that we will all be require to pay as mandatory to OFW's. This bother's me with another "Required for OFW's" so I went to Pag-Ibig booth and inquired about it. He said it is indeed mandatory. I told him I am paying monthly contribution amounting to P400+. I showed him my POP (Pag-ibig Overseas Program). He said, I am okay, I am no longer required to fill up the form and pay.

I remember a couple of OFW friends recounting their experiences to me about Pag-ibig mandatory payment. A friend from Bahrain:

"Sir Kenji, please check this out too. Umuwi ako July 2010. Ayaw kong magbayad ng PAG-IBIG but then sabi sa Phil embassy compulsory daw. So I paid for 4months in advance yet official receipt and print out of TEMPORARY PAG-IBIG NUMBER lang yung binigay sa akin. When I checked with my colleagues na nagbabayad dito for more than 2yrs, TEMPORARY number pa rin ang binibigay. I got discouraged and didn't pay thereafter.

Tanong: How can we monitor if na-register ang payment ko sa Pinas? 

May ID ba silang ibibigay like SSS ID card which is more convenient to slip inside our wallet and for easy monitoring wherever we go?

From another:

I remember, I have on process PAG-IBIG membership before I left Muntinlupa Medical Center where I worked for years. A representative from embassy here told me that it is different since I'm gonna pay now in dollars. I didn't mind paying here coz I didn't even know if they started cutting it from my salary when I was in Muntinlupa.

Anyway, if there's a chance, please check specifically my ID if they remit what I paid there, TOP is 000000000. Your help is highly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

I requested a courtesy visit to Vice President Jejomar Binay through Mr. Benjie Martinez his Chief of Staff  so we can ask several questions and discuss about this concerns from OFW's. Unfortunately, they are out of town that week prior to my flight back here in Saudi Arabia. You see if every vacationing OFW will pay P400 pesos, and there are 1,000 OFWs paying everyday, you have P10,000,000 (10M) every month and a whooping P120M every year, and we know more than a thousand OFWs are paying to POEA everyday. 

A couple of question to somehow clarify this matter.

1. Why OFW have to keep filling the form if they don't have the POP card or they don't have the FINAL Pag-ibig Number?

2. Can Pag-ibig issue a POP card to all OFW's paying at the POEA para maiwasan ang padoble-dobleng bayad and issuance of several Pag-ibig numbers?


Below is the memo of the Mandatory Coverage and Membership of Overseas Filipino Workers

********************************************

Department of Labor and Employment

BFO Building, Ortigas Avenue cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City 1501

Website: www.poea.gov.ph E-mail: info@poea.gov.ph

Hotlines: 722-1144, 722-1155

Memorandum Circular No. 06

Series of 2010

To: ALL CONCERNED

Subject: Mandatory Coverage and Membership of Overseas Filipino Workers under the Home Development Mutual Fund otherwise known as Pag-IBIG (Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno)

Date: 7 July 2010

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9679, or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009, otherwise known as Pag-IBIG Fund, whick took effect on 27 August 2009, the following guidelines are hereby issued.

1. Coverage. All Overseas Filipino Workers are covered by the Pag-IBIG Fund whether landbased or seabased.
2. Implementation. POEA implementation of the mandatory coverage shall start on 01 August 2010.
3. Contribution. Upon registration and deployment of an OFW, an initial membership contribution of six hundred pesos (P600.00) representing six (6) months contribution shall be paid by the worker. The OFW may however, opt to contribute a higher amount as provided under Rule VI of the same law.
4. Procedure for Membership Registration of OFWs at the POEA and Issuance of POEA exit clearance/Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). The following procedures for the membership registration and issuance of the POEA exit clearance/OEC shall be observed.

a.)    OFWs processed through the POEA Name Hire Facility, the Government Placement Branch and the Balik-Manggagawa Center shall register with the Fund by submitting to POEA a Member Data Form (MDF) in addition to the existing documentary requirements, as a requirement for the processing of their documents and issuance of the POEA exit clearance/OEC.

b.)    For OFWs hired through POEA-licensed recruitment agencies, the recruitment agency shall submit to POEA the individual MDF of their hired OFWs in addition to the existing documentary requirements as a requirement for the processing of the workers’ documents and issuance of the POEA exit clearance/OEC.

For compliance effective immediately.

Jennifer Jardin-Manalili

Administrator


********************************************************************************

©2012 THOUGHTSKOTO

I Don't Need to Pay Philhealth 3 Times the Amount I Am Paying Now!

The reason why I opposed this is that I've been paying my premium every time I come home for vacation but I didn't benefit from it. Why do I need to pay almost three (3) times the amount now from P900 to P2,400? This is effective January 2, 2012 as per the Circular here. 

News Release

Blas F. Ople Policy 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 "revolutionize" healthcare services in the country. Philhealth vice-president for corporate affairs Gregorio Rulloda was also present in the meeting.

Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Center, Luther Calderon, president of the Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino, Inc., Apostol Gratela, chairman of the Kalahi-Advocate for Overseas Filipinos and Jun Aguilar of the Filipino Migrant Workers' Group objected to the planned increases citing the lack of consultations with the labor and overseas workers' sectors. With two weeks to go before the new rates are imposed, the health agency issued the invitations for today's consultative meeting to a handful of OFW sector representatives only yesterday. The circular itself was issued on December 15.

"On January 2, unless the Philhealth Board withdraws its circular, all overseas workers would be paying 300 pesos more for their Philhealth premium and for those unable to pay that amount within the first six months of 2012, they would have to pay 2,400 pesos as annual premium from July onwards, a huge amount compared to the current 900 pesos being shelled out by every OFW. These new rates are being imposed without consultations, without clear explanations, and without consideration given the heavy financial burdens already being experienced by our migrant workers' given the series of calamities and continued slowdown in the world economy," the leaders of the said NGOs said.

During the consultative meeting, Philhealth officials explained that the higher premiums would allow the agency to meet its performance targets as well as attain the country's Millennium Development Goals and aspiration for universal health care coverage. Vice-President Bacareza also cited the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 that includes a performance evaluation of all GOCCs.

"It is unfortunate that the Philhealth Board of Directors decided to issue and release this new circular while the nation is grieving over the deaths of so many of our compatriots in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and other parts of the Visayans and Mindanao regions. We question the timing, the lack of consultations, and the inexplicable haste by which this new circular is now being imposed not only on our OFWs but on all workers covered by Philhealth," Susan Ople said.

Jun Aguilar of the Filipino Migrant Workers' Group who was a former OFW in Saudi Arabia said that most OFWs are not even aware of the benefits due them as Philhealth members. "My son is an OFW and he relies on the more efficient health care system in Saudi Arabia rather than Philhealth because that is where he is situated. Why should he now pay triple the cost of premium to enable Philhealth to meet its own internal targets?"

Aguilar also cited a provision in the Amendments to the Migrant Workers' Act otherwise known as Republic Act No. 10022 that prohibits any increases in government fees for services rendered to OFWs.

Another OFW advocate, Luther Custodio, objected to the planned increase and called for a more intensified information campaign from Philhealth about its "revolutionary" changes to the current national health program.

Moves to oppose the Philhealth premium increases are set to snowball with the participation of OFW bloggers that founded the annual Philippine Expat/OFW Bloggers Award (PEBA). PEBA founder Jebee Solis who is based in Saudi Arabia said his group will blog against the new Philhealth circular citing the fact that most foreign companies obtain health insurance for foreign workers.

Philhealth officials who were present during the consultative meeting with the NGOs promised to report to the Board the concerns of the OFW sector on the impact of the abrupt increase in Philhealth premiums on the expenses of every departing worker, and on those wanting to renew their memberships.

"We are appealing to the Philhealth leadership to be more considerate given these extraordinarily difficult times. Every OFW with relatives in calamity-stricken areas will be relied upon to help defray the rebuilding of homes, and the sustenance of their surviving kin. We seek a deferment of Philhealth Circular No. 022 pending more extensive consultations and so that all of us can focus our efforts and attention in helping out those devastated by the floods in Mindanao," the civil society leaders said.

©2011 THOUGHTSKOTO

HEROES HOMECOMING TOWARDS CHANGE

PEBA’S 2011 THEME RALLIES ON HEROES HOMECOMING TOWARDS CHANGE

Note: The photo of a boy holding a flag is an official entry of Analindenhann from Copenhagen Denmark to the 2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards International Photo Contest


The First Quarter Storm

The first quarter of 2011 is perhaps the most turbulent days of the Overseas Filipino Workers as they witness the political revolution in the Middle East and North Africa where thousands of OFWs were caught in the middle of domestic conflicts in countries such as Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

Even with these appalling events, Filipinos remain determined to continue following their dreams through migration in order to survive domestic poverty. The world could be cruel and unforgiving but also highly rewarding... because in every struggle, heroes emerge.

Leaving Is Not A Matter of Choice, Coming Back Is

Despite the varied reasons why Filipinos go abroad, nationalism is still evident on the narratives of the 12 million Filipinos scattered all over the world. PEBA has witnessed how OFWs take pride of our Filipino roots, our culture and our race. Filipinos abroad, after they have followed their dreams, have chosen to return, evident on how we are called... "Balikbayan." They return to share their talents, skills and fortunes in an effort to bring change to the families left behind, communities and country. Thus, PEBA 2011 is dedicated to our "balikbayans", the unsung heroes of our time. Their homecoming brings a spark of change to the lives of their loved ones and their homeland. PEBA 2011 honor them with the theme,

"Ako'y Magbabalik, Hatid Ko'y Pagbabago." (I Will Return, I Will Bring Change.)

The PEBA 2011 Challenge

PEBA 2011 will attempt to remind the P-Noy administration to solicit, listen and heed the advice our OFWs who have been the forefront of finding solutions on the world’s most powerful economies. It's about time that instead of concentrating on labor-export policy, this administration start tapping the professional services of OFWs in various areas of expertise in rebuilding our country's infrastructures and basic services by offering them job positions in government offices to be administration partners in nation-building.

We call on our Filipino expatriates around the world to continue their roles as Global Ambassadors of our country in foreign lands by promoting and patronizing our locally-made products, making the Philippines the first stop destination for holidays and investing in the home country. We ask them to teach their children and their foreign spouses on the positive Filipino values and the Filipino language. Let’s be proud of our race, for nationalism knows no time and bounderies.

Expats, OFWs and Bloggers, They’re Heroes That Multiplies

To our Global Filipino bloggers, as the curtain rises for PEBA 2011 in celebration of our nation’s historic "Araw ng Kagitingan"; let us look back on the heroes of La Solidaridad - Rizal, Del Pilar, Ponce, Paterno, Jacinto, Lopez-Jaena , etc. who were the Filipinos reformists in Spain who used instead of the sword to campaign for changes in the Spanish-governed Philippine islands through essays, speeches, news articles, and other literary and journalistic forms. Their efforts ultimately led to the Philippine independence from Spain. Today, PEBA invites our bloggers to write and post topics on "Balikbayan" (Returnees), "Homecoming" and the positive "changes" and benefits it brings to their families, relatives and friends, to the community and to our country, the Philippines. 

We call on our bloggers worldwide to share their stories - through essays and anecdotes, literary and journalistic forms, videos and photos on their quest for the real change that they want to be - for their own selves, for their families, communities and country on their plan homecoming or recent “balikbayan” experiences that bring positive change to the lives of their love ones. And to our non-OFW bloggers, we seek your talents to share with us your expectations and memorable experiences gained during the homecoming events of your returning family members, relatives or friends.

Like Rizal, Luna and Ninoy, 12 million OFWs have crossed borders to work, learn culture and technologies abroad in their effort to battle poverty in our courtyard; soon they will return and apply their knowledge and wealth to bring the change they want for their families, relatives, communities and country - for heroes never die, they just multiply.

This season will put a challenge to our Global Filipinos to flex its muscles to show that with the unity of its great numbers, it can be a potent force for political change, that OFWs can stop this culture of corruption, exploitation, and fraud and steer our country to greater heights by participating in a mature political exercise by participating in the Overseas Absentee Voting and joining forums and social organizations abroad that promote Filipino values and socio-economic assistance to OFWs and kababayans back home.

To the private sectors that have economically benefited on the remittances and homecoming spending of the OFW and their families; PEBA calls for your support on the advocacy programs and projects of the Government, LGUs and NGOs that promote values and welfare of the OFWs.

PEBA calls on POEA and OWWA to improve its reintegration program for returning, retiring and displaced OFWs. We ask this administration to restore an estimated 46 percent budget cut to the Department of Foreign Affairs 2012 budget and to increase funds to assist OFWs in Japan and the Middle East countries.

As the quarter storm closes, we prayed and mourned for the loss of our OFW compatriots, Sally, Ramon and Elizabeth who were executed in China. A painful lesson for every Filipinos to be careful and not to allow ourselves to be used as drug couriers.

Hundreds of OFWs are still missing in New Zealand after a devastating earthquake hit the country. In Japan, the horrifying series of earthquakes and tsunami that swept the Japanese shores where hundreds of OFWs are still unaccounted for and the continuing threat of radiation exposure remain an unending nightmare to the survivors.

©2011 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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