Iba't ibang Mukha ng mga OFW's an ABS-CBN Patrol ng Pilipino 10 January 2012

We were lucky to be featured in an ABS-CBN documentary when we went home last December 2011. Here is the 10th of January 2012 Patrol ng Pilipino PR issue and video below. 

PATROL NG PILIPINO

10 January 2012

PRESS RELEASE: ‘The Faces of OFWs’

Many Filipinos have traveled abroad to seek greener pastures but, not all who have successfully left the country have succeeded in reaching their dreams.

On Patrol ng Pilipino this Tuesday, get to meet some of the faces that make up the big number of Overseas Filipino Workers. There is Laarni Passion or Ate Leny who worked for nine months in Jeddah as a Domestic Helper. Last Christmas, she was able to come home to her family. After the holidays, despite her chance to work abroad, she and her family decided that she will not return to Jeddah and apply for a job here in the country instead.

While most of us will understand Ate Leny’s difficulty in working abroad, far away from her loved ones, the Solis Family all live in Saudi Arabia. Kenji Solis and wife Shiela have two kids. Last November, they traveled to the Philippines to have their 4 year old daughter Sophia experience Christmas in the Philippines because Christmas is not celebrated in Saudi.

Coming to work abroad is always a gamble. Some like Leny and the Solis Family are lucky but there are those who are not. Like the son of Edith Langamin, Jonard; he is only 28 years old. Jonard is on his 5th year in death row in Saudi Arabia.

His mother Edith recounted that on June 7 2007, Jonard accidentally killed a fellow Filipino Citizen on board the ship. While Jonard was forgiven by the family of his victim Robertson Mendoza, the law in Saudi territory still applies. The family has to produce 5 million pesos as blood money for Jonard to be freed. They were given 5 years lee way to gather the amount and if they were not able to raise the money by May, Jonard will be hanged.

They all leave the country in tears but with a hopeful heart. Some make it big while the others are met with bad luck. But no matter the turn of their fate will be, it is always the Filipino’s love for their family that will push them to leave their nest and hope for the best.

Catch Jeff Canoy on Patrol ng Pilipino as he shows the varied struggles being faced by some of the Overseas Filipino Workers, Tuesday night at 9:15 over DZMM Teleradyo and after Bandila on ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Here is the PR of this at the national daily, 

©2012 THOUGHTSKOTO

PEBA says thank you to Book Divas!

Thank you  http://www.bookdivas.com/ for the shirts, bags and books! 

A book is a part of life, a manifestation of life, just as much as a tree or a horse or a star. It obeys its own rhythms, its own laws, whether it be a novel, a play, or a diary. The deep, hidden rhythm of life is always there -- that of the pulse, the heart beat. - Henry Miller

A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors - Henry Ward Beecher

Congratulations to all the lucky people/bloggers who brought home bags of Book Divas stuff during the PEBA Night 2010!

©2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

Ang Balabal...

ANG BALABAL

Blog Entry of Support for PEBA 2010 by Duking

of

OH, My Doodles

(In behalf of the men and women of PEBA Blog Awards and the millions of OFWs around the world, Thank you!)

Baguhin mo ang simbolo at kahulugan ng iyong watawat habang nariyan ka.

Ang pula ay gawin mong katapangan at katatagan ng loob na minana mo sa iyong Ama at Ina.

Ang asul ay hayaan mong maging ala-ala ng kapayapaan ng bughaw na langit at dagat sa iyong bayang sinilangan.Ito rin ang tahanang kumupkop sa iyo at nagbigay kapanatagan at kalinga sa lahat ng masasayang ala-ala na tinipon mo ngayon sa iyong dibdib.

Ang puti ay manatiling salamin ng iyong mabuting adhika at busilak na layunin na siyang dahilan ng iyong pag-alis.

Hayaan mong bantayan ka ng mga panalangin ng tatlong bituin sa mga gabi ng iyong pag-iisa- ang iyong pamilya, ang iyong mga kaibigan at ang bansa’t lipi na iyong pinaha-halagahan.

Ang araw naman ay manatili sana sa paghahari sa gitna ng sarili mong puso.

Ikaw ang magbigay ng sariling pakahulugan sa kanyang walong matatalas na sinag at hayaan mong kuminang ka mula sa kadiliman ng iyong pag-iisa…

Ibalabal mo ang watawat na ito sa iyong pagkatao.

Habang ikaw ay buhay pa’t pumipintig ang puso sa pangungulila sa mga minamahal.

Gawin mo itong pananggalang sa lamig ng pakikitungo sa iyo ng ilan sa ibang lahing makakasama mo’t paglilingkuran.

Gawin mo itong pananggalang sa init ng tukso na nag-aabang sa iyo sa malayong bayan.

Gawin mo itong pamunas ng luha, pawis at dugo na ibubuhos mo sa ngalan ng kabutihan ng iyong mga mahal sa buhay at bayang nilisan.

Ngayon habang ika’y buhay pa’t mananatiling buhay dahil sa dangal ng sarili mong adhika.

Aanhin nga ba ang watawat na iniyayakap sa malalamig na ataul nilang mga sinawing-palad sa ibayong dagat?

Ngayon, higit kailanman – ikaw bilang isang Filipino na itinuturing na bayani ng bagong panahon ang siyang nararapat na kalingain ng telang iyan.

Ngayon habang ikaw ay buhay pa’t mananatiling buhay dahil sa dangal ng iyong adhika.

Ika’y guro, doktor, inhinyero at nurse.

Ika’y accountant, entertainer, sundalo at siyentipiko.

Ika’y magsasaka, karpintero, mekaniko at panday.

Ika’y hiram na manggagawa nilang mga bansang iyong binubuo at kinakalinga.

Sa ganito mong paraan binubuong pilit ang sarili mong bansa’t pamilyang pansamantalang iniwan.

Ika’y propesyunal sa sarili mong larangan.

IKA’Y FILIPINO!’

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

Read the full entry here

Share|

Get a chance to win a free t-shirt and a tote bag if you can answer our trivia questions for today. We'll be giving away free shirts and a bag for the first two commenters who can answer PEBA trivia correctly. PEBA was founded by Mr. Jebee Kenji Solis, an OFW based in Saudi Arabia, it was founded to recognize the growing popularity of blogging among the Overseas Filipino Workers all over the world, the first question is, when was PEBA first launched? After the PEBA2008 success , PEBA 2009 was launched simulataenously. Hundreds of Support PEBA banners were posted in almost how many blogging sites?

There you have it, answer these questions correctly and you'll get a chance to have a free t-shirt and a tote bag from PEBA. What are you waiting for? Start looking for the answers now!

©2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

PEBA Family Video - They're asking for More!

What makes the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards is the theme. The nominees scribble their keyboards and write out of their hearts and mind. What is also unique are the small videos that PEBA will be releasing in support for strengthening families - especially OFW families. 

When we started gathering the photos, and when we announced it, there was a few response. But after releasing this video, a lot of people email their family pictures to be added in a series of 'feel good' teaser's and ads.

Half month more to go before PEBA end the nomination process, and a month to go before the Photo contest submission deadline, and PEBA is getting better and bigger with the sponsoring of big companies like

NOKIA, Philippines

Geiser Maclang

Celestial Media

John Robert Powers

Book Divas

Creative Media Max

Adred Creatives

Business Mirror

and more coming!

PEBA believes that the strength of a country, especially the Philippines is not found in Malacanang or in military camps. The true strength of a nation lies at the heart of its people, and at the walls of a holy place we call - HOME.

PEBA will be releasing a series of uplifting videos encouraging OFWs and Filipino to strengthen the bonds of unity and love within their families that will in turn strengthen the nation not just economically but morally.

If you want to participate and have your family photo added to videos such as this, please send them to

photos@pinoyblogawards.com

and we will be grateful for your participation.

Share
|

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

"PEBA Family" Video

PEBA believes that the strength of a country, especially the Philippines is not found in Malacanang or in military camps. The true strength of a nation lies at the heart of its people, and at the walls of a holy place we call - HOME.

PEBA will be releasing a series of uplifting videos encouraging OFWs and Filipino to strengthen the bonds of unity and love within their families that will in turn strengthen the nation not just economically but morally.

If you want to participate and have your family photo added to videos such as this, please send them to

photos@pinoyblogawards.com

and we will be grateful for your participation.

Share |

©2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

Nokia, Connecting (OFW) Families

At the age of six, Karla, still in her kindergarten uniform, gets her neon-colored 3220 Nokia and presses some keys. It's ten in the morning and she's in the school cafeteria for a break. 

A few seconds after that distinctive tut-tut sounded, Mang Ador based in Saudi Arabia, hears the alarm, grabs his Xpressmusic, presses a key and bursts into a grin. It's too early to wake up, but he's too happy to go back to bed.


The mobile screen reads: 'Take care, Papa'.


That, I believe, is a typical day for most OFWs. Still in bed, they grab their cellphones and check for messages from home.


Texting capital indeed!

Texting nation

Ask any OFW in the world and they will admit that texting has been a part of their OFW days. It's the quickest means to relay a message; also the fastest in getting back a response. In fact, it's the second most important means in connecting with our loved ones (the first is through phone call, of course). 

Plus it's the most practical means, too, considering that there are phone companies in the Philippine offering sims with roaming capabilities. Smart Philippines, for example. I've been using Smart since five years ago. Another office mate is using Globe Roaming service.

When my family texts me from the Philippines to my Smart roaming card, it costs them only PHP1. For a 160-character message, that's cheap.

Why Nokia?

Almost six out of 10 Pinoys are using Nokia and it's being user-friendly is the reason why. I've owned four or five Nokia models before and, noticeably, their menus are almost the same hence there isn't much difficulty in getting used to its interface.

I'm familiar with it as most OFWs are, I believe. Other brands are fine (and some are even fancier), but if I were to weight asthetic and function, I believe Nokia is in the forefront. 

The tag line thus: Nokia...connecting OFW families.

Says Nokia: "Connecting people has always been at the heart of the Nokia brand. Connecting people means giving everyone the power to choose when and how to stay in touch with the things that matter most in their lives, so that they can make the most out of every moment." 

- 2009 Nokia Best Blog Entry Winner, Isla de Nebz


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

You 

can
be
a
winner
too!

If you're a nominee, both Supporter or OFW Blogger, you can blog about the title

"Nokia, Connecting OFW Families" and you can be a winner of 2010 Nokia Best Blog Entry and Gift Packs from PEBA and Nokia to be claimed on the awarding night.

If you're a blogger, you can join the fun by making an entry about the same title and post it in your blog along with the PEBA Butterfly and Nokia image above.

Don't forget to leave in the comment the URL of your entry. This is a double celebration because one of our PEBA members, Yanah, is celebrating her birthday today, and we are giving away 3 Best Entry gift packs! 

-some of the 2009 awarding give aways!-

Share|

©2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

“We Can Save Our Nation by Saving Our Homes”

THE 3RD PEBA INTERNATIONAL BLOG AWARDS is looking for nominees in the Visayas and Mindanao Region If you have something to say about FAMILIES, and OFWs, yours could be the winning piece!

Society's problems arise, almost without exception, out of the homes of the people. If there is to be a reformation, if there is to be a change, if there is to be a return to old and sacred values, it must begin in the home. – Excerpt from the book, “Standing for Something” By Gordon B. Hinckley

 

“There is no place, no environment more conducive to the development and enactment of virtue than the family. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity and their peace, all find their roots in the teaching of children by fathers and mothers, and in the strength and stability of the family. I know this not only because of what I have observed during my eighty nine years, but because of what I experienced in my childhood home.

When I was a boy, my parents followed a practice they called "family home evening." On a specified evening of the week, we would join as a family to learn together, play together, and enjoy one another's company. My father was a great storyteller, and he often told us stories from his memory. Mother would warm up the parlor where her grand piano stood, so that we could sing as a family. We were miserable performers as children. We could do all kinds of things together while playing, but when one of us tried to sing a solo before the others, it was like asking ice cream to stay hard on the kitchen stove. In the beginning, we would laugh and make cute remarks about one another's performance. But our parents persisted. And because they persisted, we sang together. We laughed together. We studied together. And we played and prayed together.

Out of those simple and informal but regular gatherings in the parlor of our old home came something indescribable and wonderful. Our love for our parents was strengthened. My love for my brother and sisters was enhanced. An appreciation for simple goodness grew in all our hearts. Admittedly, we didn't openly speak about love for one another very much in those days. But we didn't have to. We felt the security, peace, and quiet strength that come to families who pray together, work together, help one another, and feel connected one with another.

It is so plainly evident that both the great good and the terrible evil found in the world today are the sweet and the bitter fruits of the rearing, of yesterday's children. As we train a new generation, so will the world be in a few years. If we are worried about the future, then we must look today at the upbringing of children. The evils of the world will continue to escalate unless there is an underlying acknowledgment, even a strong and fervent conviction, that the family is an instrument of the Almighty. It is His creation. It is also the most fundamental and basic unit of society. And it deserves - no, it demands our combined focus and attention. We go to great lengths to preserve historical buildings and sites in our cities. We need to apply the same fervor to preserving the most ancient and sacred of institutions - the family!

Gordon B. Hinckley suggested 10 specific things to do to save marriages and families.

• 1.    Accept responsibility for our role as parents and fulfill our obligations to our children.
• 2.    Get married and stay married.
• 3.    Put the father back at the head of the home.
• 4.    Recognize and value the supreme importance of mothers.
• 5.    Celebrate and treat children as our most priceless treasures.
• 6.    Discipline and train children with love.
• 7.    Teach values to children.
• 8.    Teach children to work.
• 9.    Read to and with children.
• 10.  Pray together.

I believe that if OFWs will apply the 10 suggested things, will have a wonderful effect to us and our families. There will be few divorces and broken families. Fathers or mother can do these things even they're far from home. The wonders of technology makes all this possible.

THE 3RD PEBA INTERNATIONAL BLOG AWARDS is looking for nominees in the Visayas and Mindanao Region If you have something to say about FAMILIES, and OFWs, yours could be the winning piece!

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

OFW: FAMILY FIRST

This is a repost, The original post sparked a great deal of positive comments on Ms. Yanah Paguio Bautista's Facebook account and was also published in her blogsite Life's a Twitch. An inspiring blog that touches the lives of its readers particularly the OFWs and their families around the world. Ms. Yanah is former OFW from Dubai, UEA and is now an English teacher for Korean nationals in the Philippines, a freelance writer and takes an active role in PEBA events and advocacy.

OFW: FAMILY FIRST

**No this is not a PEBA entry.. i just wanted to share this to everyone..**

Pangarap ng bawat magulang ng mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kanyang pamilya. Magandang bahay, edukasyon at simpleng kabuhayan. Ilan lamang iyan sa pinagsusumikapan ng isang OFW na naghahanapbuhay sa ibang bansa. Isakripisyo ang simpleng kaligayahan na hindi makapiling ang mga mahal sa buhay alang-alang sa kinabukasan ng mga ito. Titiising malayo, makikipagsapalaran sa banyagang lugar, mangangamuhan sa ibang lahi upang maitaguyod ang pamilya at ang pangangailangan ng mga ito.

Si Sheila, dalagang ina. Umalis patungong Dubai upang mamasukan bilang isang katulong. Iniwan ang apat na taong gulang na anak sa kanyang kapatid na dalaga. Ngayon, magtatatlong taon na niyang hindi nasisilayan ang anak. Pero patuloy ang pagdating ng padalang pera na may nakalakip na larawan. Regular din ang pag-uusap sa pamamagitan ng telepono. At sa bawat pag-uusap nilang mag-ina ay hindi nalilimutan sabihin ni Sheila sa anak kung gaano niya ito kamahal. Sa pamamagitan man lamang ng telepono ay maiparamdam niya ang pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal dito. Sa murang kaisipan ng bata ay naitanim na sa kanya na ang pagsasakripisyo ng ina na malayo sa kanya ay tanda ng dakilang pagmamahal nito para sa kanya. Sinwerte si Sheila na nakatagpo ng mabait at matulunging amo., nakaipon at nakapagpundar agad sa loob ng tatlong taon. At sa susunod na taon ay uuwi na siya. Uuwi na siya sa kanyang anak, puno ng pag-asam, pag-asa at pangarap na hindi na muling mahihiwalay pa ulit dito.

Si Larry, solong anak ng mag-asawang medyo nakakaangat sa buhay, nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo at pinalad na matanggap na inhinyero sa Saudi. Sa kanyang unang taon ng paghahanap buhay sa disyerto ay saka naman tinamaan ng matinding kamalasan ang pamilya. Ang ama ay mayroong Lung Cancer at ang ina naman ay naaksidente, ngayon ay isa ng imbalido. Sa tindi ng karamdaman ng ama at kalagayan ng ina, nagdesisyon si Larry na ipagpatuloy ang pagtatrabahosa Saudi upang matustusan ang pangangailangang pinansyal ng mga magulang. Matuling lumipas ang panahon, dalawa..tatlong taon..nasa Saudi pa rin siya kaakibat pa rin ang obligasyon sa pamilya, nakilala niya si Melissa, nagkamabutihan, ikinasal. Lumipas muli ang 2 taon, niyaya ni Melissa si Larry na bumalik ng Pilipinas magtayo ng maliit na negosyo at magkatulong na alagaan ang ina (pumanaw na ng nakaraang taon ang ama ni Larry), habang unti-unting bumubuo ng sariling pamilya. Ngayon ay may dalawa na silang supling, negosyong stabilisado at masayang kapiling ang ina ni Larry.

Si Rina, ina ng tatlong anak, tumulak papuntang Dubai upang makipagsapalaran, lumisan ng apat na buwang gulang pa lamang ang bunso. Tatlong kinabukasan ang kailangan niyang paghandaan. Hindi gaanong pinalad, at dala ng problemang pampamilya, kinailangang bumalik ng Pilipinas makalipas ang walong buwan. Nagbalik ng hindi nakikilala ng bunso at kinapangilagan ng dalawa pa. Pinilit magsimula ulit. Sa ngayon ay kahit paano maayos naman sila, nakakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, ngunit hindi iyon sapat, lumalaki ang mga bata, lumalaki rin ang gastos. Kailangan mapaghandaan ang kinabukasan. Si Rina? Aalis ulit siya, muling lilisanin ang lupang sinilangan upang makipagsapalaran muli. Magbakasakaling mabigyan ng katuparan ang mga simpleng pangarap para sa kanyang mga supling.

Bawat taong lumilisan at iniiwan ang mga kani-kanilang pamilya upang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa ay may kanya-kanyang kwento, kanya-kanyang pagsubok, iba’t-ibang pangarap na pinanghahawakan. Magkaganunpaman, pinagbubuklod sila ng iisng adhikain…ang maisaayos at mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang mga minamahal. Kakayod ng todo, titiisin ang hirap at lungkot alang-alang sa pamilya. Yan ang tatak ng Pilipino.. above everything else, FAMILY FIRST!

Saludo ako sa mga matatapang na OFW Pilipino!

Author: Ms. Yanah Paguio Bautista

Share |

©2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO PEBA 2010 NOMINATION

Why join PEBA Blog Award Contest 2010?

For bloggers, na parehong nakabase sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa, this is the common question.

Some of us blog for a cause, some of us blog for money, but most of us, blog on a personal note. 

I would like to ask you to come and join me this 2010, and the rest of the wonderful men and women - the nominees of PEBA 2010 at home and from 10 countries and states to blog in a higher level.

Let us blog to inspire. Let us move and touch people. That is the advocacies of the Philippine (PINOY) Expats/OFW Blog Awards, Inc. To honor the inspiring bloggers who made a difference in OFW's and Filipino lives. 

More bloggers headed the call. Thank you. 

 We will introduce a mash-up of their profiles in the coming days, as we salute these men and women who share their talents, time, skills, and ideas and thoughts for us to learn from. 

----------------------------------------------------------

Here's a STEP by STEP GUIDE TO PEBA NOMINATION.

1. Please fill up the nomination form HERE

2. Grab the Support Banner (see PEBA 2010 Support Banner image below) and display it in your blog's side bar for PEBA verification and tracking link. This process enable us to verify that your email and your blog site was not used for malicious intent, and that you personally subscribe to support PEBA 2010.

3. Post a blog entry related to PEBA 2010 theme about FAMILY or specifically "Strengthening the OFW Families, Stronger Homes for Stronger Nation".  

You may please read PEBA's opening entry entitled 

"PEBA 2010 Season | Focus on Strengthening OFW Families!" 

which explains the theme for your reference in creating your official blog entry. A "repost" of your previous written blog article can be edited and submitted subject to the approval of our technical committee.  Blog entry can either be in Filipino, Tagalog, English or Taglish. Various ways of expression is allowed, i.e. photo/s, poem, song lyrics, music, video, cartoons, drawings with written post relevant to the theme, prose, poetries, essays, personal narrative, etc.

4. A banner logo (see PEBA Logo below)  should be contained in the blog entry as image linking to Pinoy Expats Blog Awards, Inc, (http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/) 

5. Please inform us through this email or through the NOMINATION FORM on the completion of the above requirements so that we can imediatelyly review your site, and subsequently request our PEBA Team to render its evaluation and grant accreditation to your blog entry as Official Nominee of PEBA 2010. Please include the url of your entry.

6. After we have reviewed your entry, we will notify you as an Official Nominee of PEBA 2010. For further information, please visit our site containing PEBA 2010's Contest Guidelines.

7. Deadline for entries will be at 12 midnight Saudi time on 31st October 2010 (5AM Philippine time, 01 November 2010).

8. Finalists will be announced on 01 December 2010.  A recognition rite, or awarding night to be attended by well-known Filipino celebrities, will be held on December 16, 2010.

If you want our VOLUNTEERS to support you along the way, please feel free to contact the following persons who will more than happy to assist you.

lordcm at pinoyblogawards dot com
thepope at pinoyblogawards dot com

Share |

©2010 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards