Monthly Archives: September 2006

Sep 29 2006

Suspect List

IS MR. Torres’ article (My Arabian Nights) his own account of his experience and as a writer of some bored and lonely OFWs doing what most would considered immoral and indecent especially  those who are married, or is this a generalization of OFWs who most bear the loneliness and boredom of working months and even years away from home while committing themselves to total sacrifice for the sake of their love ones??

Being away, one can not avoid such happenstance, even in such places where consequences of such actions are unimaginable to the liberal minded. We are all aware many a broken homes, marriages already caused by long separation and infidelity. And Mr. Torres article, without caveat or even warning that the story was based on account of his experienced, put every OFWs on the suspect list and it does not help the very people who does the most sacrifice for the country and their families. His account maybe true but to generalize, without telling his readers that this perhaps is a very small minority in very few places. I suggest to anyone who read this article to be very objective as this reflect only the author’s account and experienced recounted from years ago. - Charlie Jamero

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Sep 29 2006

Mall of Asia

To: Vacationing Balikbayans and OFW’s, you have to visit the

MALL of ASIA

This globe is now the official symbol of the Mall of Asia (MOA). Philippines is at the center of the globe and it sits proudly at the center of MOA.

Olympic size Skating Rink

IMAX is located in the north side of Mall of Asia

(Photos by Neth Punongbayan)

By ofwempowerment • Posted in Photos
Sep 28 2006

Happy Birthday Mike!

Being the youngest of the family, I am blessed with beautiful nephews and nieces. Most of them I haven’t seen for a quite a time now. 

 

Like  Nowelgar, Mary Jessette, Kristoffer Dominic, Kristine May, Kathleen Kay, KenKen and Keith. I missed them all, maybe because I watched and witnessed the early part of their childhood. Now, two of them have their own family as well.

 

But there is one that I missed more.. and he is  celebrating his Birthday Today..

 

 

To:  MICHAEL JAMES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dudes! Wishing You more Birthday’s to come, God will always be with You.

By ofwempowerment • Posted in Others
Sep 27 2006

Isang Bandila

It’s been said that the human voice can be heard above the ricochet of politics and the even the din of gunfire - when it is telling the truth. Rivermaya launches a new single, titled “Isang Bandila.” It’s a song that asks for change from the inside out and offers a very personal approach to the cure that every Filipino seeks for whatever ails our country.

 

ISANG BANDILA

 

 


By: Rivermaya


Wag kang mabahala sa kahol ng mga aso
Ligtas ang pag-asang nakasakay sa ating mga palad at balikat
Wag mong patulan, wag mong sakyan ang mga talangka
Panis ang angas sa respeto’t pagpapakumbaba

Walang matayog na pangarap
Sa bayang may sipag at tyaga
Isang ugat, isang dugo
Isang pangalan, Pilipino
Isang tadhanang lalakbayin
Isang panata, isang bandila

Pekeng bayani
Pekeng paninindigan

Subukan naman nating pagtulung-tulungan
Paglayang ating minimithi
Hindi alamat, hindi konsepto
Ang bayanihang minana mo

Isang ugat, isang dugo
Isang pangalan, Pilipino
Isang landas na tatahakin
Isang panata, isang bandila

Isang ugat, isang dugo
Pare-parehong Pilipino
Mga tadhanang magkapatid

Isang panata, isang bandila
Isang bandila

By ofwempowerment • Posted in Others
Sep 26 2006

Hoping for the best

This is a story titled “The Long Wait” by Christopher George Cadhit.  

Father and SOn

Father and SOn

OFWs usually ends up deciding to come back working abroad after few months of staying back home. It is because for the reason that the money we earned abroad is not enough to sustain our family needs, without any other alternative source of income, jobless or we’re not successful in our attempt to put up business.

The story above relates the fact of the life of an OFW. Few of us are successful but most of us were not.

I will be leaving Saudi Arabia for good next year and I’m hoping for the best.

***

excerpt:

The Long Wait..

By Christopher George Cadhit

FOR 13 long years I waited for the moment. I was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with my mother and my sister, waiting for my father to arrive from the Middle East. I felt like I was 7 years old again, and my father was leaving for Saudi Arabia to work for the first time. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but being young, I thought it was all about chocolates, toys, imported shoes and lots of US dollars. But it also meant not having a father during those important years of my life.

While most kids in school bragged about their fathers who were doctors, lawyers or engineers, I would stammer and reply whenever I was asked, “My father is…a…an overseas contract worker.” A sense of inferiority went with that confession, and it was not because my father was an OFW but the fact that he was never around during the years that I was growing up.

read more>>>>   myepinoy’s  blog

***

About the Author: Christopher George Cadhit, 27, works as a Research Analyst in a private corporation and is taking his MBA at the De La Salle University. He plays the violin and sings at weddings.

Disclaimer: I searched the net to find out whether this has been posted in a magazine, a column in a newspaper or in any media. Fortunately, there was none yet. Just to make it clear, this material belongs to the above-mentioned author and not to the owner of this blog ofwempowerment and myepinoy’s blog where you can read the full story.

If in case, this material has a copyright or someone holds the copyright, please let me know. I will gladly take this out from here. I do not have any intention whatsover to infringe on anyones’ intellectual rights.   *** BongA

Sep 25 2006

OAV Registration in Jubail a success

PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Press Release No. NNP-47/2006 24 September 2006

 

PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING

FIELD REGISTRATION IN JUBAIL A SUCCESS

24 Sep 2006 - The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh conducted a successful Overseas Absentee Voting Field Registration at the Al-Mojil Camp 2 in the Industrial City of  Jubail, Eastern Province on 15 September 2006 registering a record 551 OFWs in a single day since it resumed registration in the Kingdom in October 2005.

The activity was jointly organized by the All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (AFSCOM) headed by its Overall Chairman, Mr. Roilo D. Alojado and the Overseas Filipino Workers Congress (OFWC-ER) led by its President, Mr. Ernie Mapanao in cooperation with the Mohammad Al-Mojil Group (MMG) management through its  Human Resources Manager, Mr. Ruben V. Ramos.

Philippine Embassy Charge d Affaires, a. i. Nestor N. Padalhin expressed his deep gratitude to the officers and members of the Filipino community groups in Jubail as well as other community organizations in the Kingdom, for their active involvement and continuing support and campaign in promoting absentee voting registration. Consul General Padalhin calls on all OFWs who have not yet registered to register before 30 September 2006 when the registration period expires and take advantage of the facility provided by the Philippine Commission on Elections that they may be able to exercise their right to suffrage.

The first field registration in Jubail in April 2006, generated 740 registrants for a two-day activity: 245 on April 13 at the EQRA International School and 495 on April 14 at the Al- Suwaidi Camp 2.

The two-day activity was jointly organized by the AFSCOM Eastern Region and the Filipino Community in Jubail. END

*** 

Please note that the Philippines Embassy is awaiting formal Notice from  COMELEC-Manila re: OAV registration extension from October 1 to 31.

News item taken from INQ7.net  dated 14 September 2006, stated that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has agreed to extend the registration for overseas absentee voters (OAVs) to October 31 and Commissioner Florentino Tuazon quoted in the said news item that the COMELEC enbanc had agreed in principle but still have to come up with the resolution to formalize the extension of registration. MAA

COMELEC Resolution # 7715 

IN THE MATTER OF EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTERS’ REGISTRATION UNTIL 31 OCTOBER 2006 AMENDING COMELEC RESOLUTION NOS. 7694 AND 7707.

Sep 24 2006

2006 Filcom Workshop 2

Thanks to Atty. Fred for reminding me of the Workshop that I attended last 15 September 2006.

 

The afternoon session of the Filcom Leaders Consultation Workshop was participated by various groups in Riyadh. Though, some of the faces were new to me. Thinking aloud that it is a good sign that unity can be achieved through constant dialogues like the workshop initiated by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

 

Overview of the workshop focuses on what consultation is all about in which it defines as a fundamental needs in a democratic process. It is a tool in development of work and a means to harmonize varying positions towards common goals.

 

Labor Attache Resty Dela Fuente emphasized during the introduction of the concept, that as an association and partners with the Philippine Mission there must be a consultation to each other for the following specific objectives: 1) To reach out to the Filipino Community; 2) To identify common felt-needs, problems, issues, and concerns affecting OFW’s; 3) To envision corresponding responses and; 4) to cultivate the practice of solution-oriented thinking, collaborative planning, and joint execution of programs, and activities.

 

We were divided into 5 groups in which we were given a task to identify the top 5 common felt-needs, problems, issues and concerns of OFW’s. 

 

For the 5 needs identified by the groups, I noticed that one was very common; it means we really felt the urgent solution to this problem. The need of more case officers/interpreters to handle the flood of cases in our Labor Office is of great importance that our Government should seriously heeded for. Not to mention the lack of transportation facilities for our POLO officers handling OFW cases.

 

One more thing I observed, my suggestion for a total ban of deployment of Filipina household help in the Kingdom were not even included in our group report. Anyway, I will try again in another forum, mahirap kapag nag-iisa. 

 

The next workshop is scheduled on 28th and 29th,  September 2006 for the next batches 3, 4 & 5. Until then that our Labor Office could summarize the issues and concerns together with the recommended solutions from all participating groups.

 

We salute the Labor Office for this laudable moved, however I may say that all of these issues were already brought up to previous PhilEmb and POLO officials and even to our national leaders at home but until now the problem remains the same. Hoping that this time it would be different.

 

By the way, to those having difficulties in contacting our  Labor Office, please try this numbers, 0508475854 and 0508475882. This emergency numbers are open 24/7. Hindi raw ito puwedeng isarado, at hindi nag low low bat at hindi rin nauubusan ng load. Pero mga kababayan ang numerong ito hindi po ticketting office o travel agency.  

 

To Labor Attache Resty Dela Fuente, WE, OFW’s in the Kingdom are counting on you.       

Sep 22 2006

Source of Emails

Is someone using emails or IM’s to spread lies about you or your loved ones? Are you receiving obscene, harassing emails or Instant Messages? Are you receiving threatening emails or a flood of junk mail, spam or viruses? Do you feel that someone you love and trust may be using emails or Instant Messages to hide their communications from you? Do you feel that someone is communicating via emails or Instant Messages behind your back? Has someone gotten hold of your email address or Instant Messenger Name-and won’t let go? If any of the above questions relate to you help is just a few clicks away.

 

 

This report can help you find the source of emails or Instant Messages. Tracing backward by analyzing the email message and using email trace and Instant Message tracing technology the sources of the messages can be identified.

 

Please try this link: Trace Source of emails and Instant Messages.

By ofwempowerment • Posted in Others
Sep 21 2006

I’m Back..Let’s Move on

As the emotional degree of reaction rises, the resemblance between the various kinds of reaction increases as well; thus, extreme anger, fear, or resentment have more in common than the same reactions in less exaggerated phases. Momentary physiological change or distortion accompanies all emotional reactions, as in the instance of the accelerated heart action during a fit of anger. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2004.

***

I understand that this emotional reaction like anger occurred during stress, problems and pressures from work, friends, family and other related aspects that make a person seethe.

 

These past few days had been very emotional to me and other colleague in the community. Bogus email sender circulating around the Filipino community in Riyadh contains hearsays and unproven allegations just to harm the reputation of some Filipino personalities in Riyadh.

 

Mine is quite disturbing that almost ripped me up into pieces. But because I know myself  where I stand, then the attempt to ruin me fails. As long as you are guiltless and God is in your side - there is nothing to fear.

 

To: Alex B., Joseph and others, please let’s move on and keep the entire situation in perspective while continuing to do the kind of work we have been known to do. There are more challenges ahead of us. Let’s try to move forward through dialogue, through compromise, through consensus, however elusive. Even some of the most destructive individuals were allowed into that process. We should never give in to pressures to sell out our principles towards ofw empowerment.

 

To:  Lakandula and Mr. Avelino Belo,  a  famous quote says: 

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how strong man stumbles or where the deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - TDR 

Lastly, to my dear friend Joseph Espiritu, thanks for your call, I do really appreciate it, apology granted. 

By ofwempowerment • Posted in Others
Sep 18 2006

Job Opening 06-04

To fellow OFWs  particularly in  Saudi Arabia who are scouting for a job and happens to visit this blog, kindly click link “JOB OPENING” and try to find jobs suited for you.

 

Note:

Transferable Iqama (Work permit) - is a form of document/papers which you can be able to transfer to another employer with in the Kingdom.(Applicable in Saudi Arabia Only).


Notice also, that some of the names of the companies are not listed/shown, in order to keep/hide their confidential identity.

 

The job posted for Saudi Arabia are mostly male candidates unless it specified or mentioned (Female or Male/Female).

 

Thanks to Mr. Ernesto Borres

Sep 17 2006

Clear the Mess

***

Been flooded with email inquiries including one in my Cbox about the alleged Filipino group scam in Riyadh. As what I’ve said the Philippine Embassy is the proper authority that can give us precise information regarding the issue.

Today, 16 September 2006, an Arab News article titled “Filipino Group Linked to Alleged Scam Explains Activities to Embassy” is the answer to all our inquiries. However, continuing investigation of the issue is in the process.

Mr. Alexander Asuncion a former Bagong Bayani awardee is a friend of mine whose column “Batas Paggawa” in Arab News Pinoy Xtra is a widely read article among the OFWs in the Kingdom. The column tackles explanation of our rights as a foreign worker under the Saudi Labor Law.

On the other hand, Samahan ng Mangagawang Masang Pilipino (SMPII) is a community accredited partner of the Philippine Embassy who were part of the OFW Congress-Riyadh led security volunteers during last May 2006 Filipino Community Night that coincides GMAs visit at the Philippine Embassy.

I don’t really know much about SMPII but I met some of its members in Filcom leaders meeting including Mr. Tanaliga. The said group is actively involved in overseeing the welfare of its members and participates advocacies for the betterment of OFWs in the Kingdom. In fact, the group was one of the signatories of OFW Congress-Riyadh, OFWs  10 Point Recommendation submitted to GMA.

For me, the best solution of this issue is for the members of SMPII to come out and clear the name of their group by issuing statement that there is no scam involved in the internal affairs of their organization especially collecting huge amount of money for membership. This statement should be submitted to our Philippine Embassy. The organization already denied conducting illegal activities forbidden in the Kingdom.

Likewise, in my own opinion  Mr. Alex Asuncion column in Arab News Pinoy Xtra  is just a sort of an advise for all OFWs to be careful in joining any community group that requires big money as membership fee and cautions fellow Filipinos not to get involved in any exercises or activities prohibited to all expatriates in the Kingdom.

SMPII moved for reconciliation with Mr. Alex Asuncion on the alleged threats is a nice gesture to clear the mess once and for all. 

Recruitment of Members in Kingdom Is Illegal, Manila Warns .

Sep 16 2006

Filipino Group Linked to Alleged Scam Explains Activities to Embassy

Filipino Group Linked to Alleged Scam Explains Activities to Embassy

JEDDAH, 16 September 2006 — SMPII, the Filipino group in Riyadh that
had been linked to an alleged scam, has denied allegations of
wrongdoing and is seeking to “reconcile” with a community leader its
members had threatened, according to the Philippine Embassy.

Consul General Nestor N. Padalhin, chargé d’affaires of the embassy,
said leaders of the group sought a meeting with him last Sunday to
explain what they are doing and to intervene in their “quarrel with
Alexander Asuncion.”

Asuncion was the subject of threats and harassment by callers
claiming to be SMPII members when he warned in his column in Pinoy
Xtra, the Filipino language supplement of Arab News, against an
apparent scam targeting Filipinos.

SMPII stands for Sangguniang Masang Pilipino International (SMPII)
whose leader goes by the name Maj. Elpidio Tanaliga Jr., who carries
the title “commander in chief.”

Ambassador Padalhin said the group admitted offering to help their
members secure gun licenses with the Philippine National Police
(PNP) so that they can own guns when they go home. And they admitted
collecting membership fees, citing that others organizations do that
to cover their expenses.

“But they denied conducting military trainings for Filipino workers
in Riyadh and promising members that they would be entitled to
privileges when they go home,” Padalhin narrated in a phone
interview with Arab News on Wednesday. “They also informed the
embassy that they have suspended their activities.”

He said the group showed documents supposedly attesting that they
were not using the PNP logo, as earlier reported in Arab News, even
as they reiterated that they were accredited by the PNP’s Police
Community Relations Group (PCRG) and Internal Affairs Service.

Padalhin said the group assured the embassy that they meant well and
that their reason for being is to “help fellow Filipinos around the
globe, support the needs of the unfortunate OFWs, and assist in
maintaining peace and order.”

One of the documents reportedly shown by the SMPII leaders was a
certificate of recognition by the embassy during the time of
Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla.

The other documents showed that the SMPII did refer cases of
distressed Filipinos to the embassy and that “they also wrote thank
you letters” to the embassy for acting on their referrals.

At that point, Padalhin said, he told them that a certificate of
recognition or an accreditation is not a license to do anything
illegal. “I reminded that that we are guests here (in the Kingdom)
and we are obliged to follow the rules of the host country,” he said.

Padalhin bristled at suggestions by some members of the Filipino
community that the embassy was not doing anything to openly denounce
the alleged SMPII scam before more OFWs become victims.

“It’s not true that I’m being complacent about this SMPII issue. As
a matter of fact, I have already made a report to Manila and the
home office (Department of Foreign Affairs) had already replied,”
Padalhin said.

In a letter to Arab News, he also said, “…As soon as the Embassy
received the complaints from OFWs, it immediately made consultations
with the Office of Intelligence and Security Services of the DFA.
Consultation with the Department is not passing the buck but rather
the Embassy being a government entity cannot take independent action
especially on sensitive issues involving its nationals.”

“…the Philippine Embassy is not afraid to perform its mandate; to
assume otherwise is presumptuous,” the letter added.

In e-mail exchanges, other community members also challenged the
embassy to show its authority by confiscating the IDs and other
paraphernalia bearing the PNP seal or logo that the issued by SMPII
issued to its recruits.

Some wondered why the envoy readily believed the SMPII leaders when
they showed him certificates without the PNP logo and claimed that
they have stopped their activities. Padalhin said the embassy would
confiscate the IDs once it gets an authority from the PNP or
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Manila to do
so.

“The IDs were not issued by the embassy and the PNP has admitted
that the group is accredited with its units. So we have to seek
authority from them,” he explained, citing interdepartmental
courtesy.

As for the advisory being sought by other OFWs, he said that would
come once the embassy gets a clearance from the DFA. He said the
home office has replied to his report to say that the DFA
Intelligence office has requested the DILG and PNP to verify the
status of SMPII.

Meanwhile, Alex Asuncion said if the SMPII leaders want
reconciliation, they should apologize to the people they have
allegedly misled with their promises.

“Kung meron man silang mga kinolekta bukod sa membership fee sa mga
na-recruit nila, dapat lang nilang ibalik ang mga ito sapagkat isang
lantarang pagsasamantala `yan (They ought to return whatever amount
they have collected from their recruits because that’s plain
opportunism,” he said.

Asuncion explained that what he was only replying in his column to a
query from a letter writer seeking guidance about the alleged scam.

The threats against Asuncion triggered a backlash from his
colleagues in the V-Team, a group of volunteers in the Kingdom who
are helping distressed Filipino workers, and others who were alarmed
by the alleged scam.

Arab News
September 16, 2006

http://www.arabnews.com/?

page=10&section=0&article=86624&d=16&m=9&y=2006

Sep 13 2006

2006 Filcom Workshop

I am so pleased to receive an invitation from Phil. Embassy and Phil. Overseas Labor Office particularly from our New Labor Attache Rusty Dela Fuente re: series of consultation among Filcom leaders in Riyadh. The mentioned first series of activities dubbed as “2006 Filcom Leaders Consultation Workshop” will be on  Friday, September 15, 2006 from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM at the Chancery Hall, Philippine Embassy, Diplomatic Quarters, Riyadh, KSA. Filcom  leaders are divided into two groups (sessions), one in the morning and the other in the afternoon where I belong. 

 

The said workshop is designed to identify common felt needs issues and concerns affecting the employment and welfare of OFWs in Riyadh. It also endeavors to collectively recommend corresponding solutions and responses.

 

Labor Attache Rustco Dela Fuente is not new to the community; he served the OFWs in the Kingdom before and just recently posted as Labor Attache in Riyadh. He was also one of the POLO officials assigned in Lebanon to  look for the welfare of OFWs during Israel-Hezbollah crisis. I met him twice and I described him as a low profile persona and friendly to everyone. I may say that he is the right man for a very tough job.

 

Good Luck! Sir and see you on Friday.  

Sep 10 2006

Claim your right now!

Exercising the right to choose national candidates affirms their being Filipino at heart despite the distance, and connects them to their homeland’s fate as responsible citizens. This hard-fought right may soon be lost if the government-backed Cha-cha Express steamrolls its way through the moleskin of history, so please do claim your right now. - Susan Ople

 

Overseas Filipinos, please register as absentee voters!  

 

Announcement: Comelec extends OAV Registration up to 31 Oct. 2006. 

Figures from 1 Oct. 05 up to 14 Sept. 06

Per Area No. of Registrant
NAIA 39,975
POEA 34,523
Middle East & Africa 16,324
Americas 10,456
Asia Pacific 10,396
Europe 5,798
Total 117,472
   
Top Post No. of Registrant
Hongkong 4,730
Dubai 3,056
Riyadh 3,029
San Francisco 2,793
Abu Dhabi 2,028
Jeddah 2,017
Brunei 1,810
Al Khobar 1,593
Washington DC 1,518
Toronto 1,314
Sep 8 2006

Philippine Partisan Politics

Been following the recent political events in our country, like the Congress Justice Committee’s deliberation on the substance of the impeachment complaint lodged against GMA, the voting of the Justice Committee report in the plenary session and now the voting of amending the constitution through Constitutional Assembly. All of these I’ve seen how the  “majority versus minority” mentality of party politics hampers effective decision-making.

 

I believe though that the above political process is the essence of democracy, but I observed that much if not most of what is happening in our country today is due to partisan politics. All the chest beating and finger pointing turned the respected Hall of the Lower Congress into an arena of chaffs due to political squabbling.

 

   

 

Our national leaders should deal with issues that should unite us not divide us, such as how best to protect and enhance the quality of life of poor Filipinos. The divisiveness of party politics undermines the very attitudes and values needed to promote and sustain a cohesive community for a better Philippines.

 

To fellow voters, we need a new different style of leadership, one that emphasizes consultation with the community, collaboration with the masses, consensus building and serve its people wholeheartedly, not the political party they belong.

 

To our local leaders in the grassroots level, while partisan politics may be unavoidable at other echelon of government, it has no role to play at the local level. The members of the City and Municipal Councils should not deal with types of issues that normally seen in partisan politics instead focus attention and energies exclusively on putting the best interest of its constituents first.

Sep 7 2006

WANTED: Mga Bagong Bayani

 

 

Bagong Bayani

Bagong Bayani

WANTED: Mga Bagong Bayani sa Amerika at iba pa!

 

 

We have had quite a few number of successful and prominent Filipino-Americans worthy of inclusion in this documentary. But we would like to hear from you, Fil-Ams who know our kababayans better than our database.

Please feel free to give us your best referral on who and why your referral(s) should occupy the pages of the Mga Bagong Bayani. We have 400 pages to fill for our modern day heroes coming from all over the globe.

If you have someone in mind, please provide us with information regarding his/her accomplishments while working or living abroad. If they have emails or contact telephone numbers, we shall be glad to contact and invite them to be featured in this once-in-a-lifetime worldwide documentary of Filipinos. We welcome non-Filipinos who have contributed to the cause of Filipino migration. This invitation is open to all ages, profession, religion, and nationalities.

Please email us at rsadiosa@yahoo.com or ricky_rue@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your help.

 Enrique R. Sadiosa

Pierre Tremblay

Mga Bagong Bayani

=======================================================

Dear Mr. Amora,

We are young Filipino publishers here in Hong Kong, and are currently completing our book about Filipino heroes around the world. We have been documenting various contributions in all walks of life regarding our kababayan for more than 5 years now to publish a documentary book dedicated to the young Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad. We thought of including you and your achievements while working overseas as well as those whom you think should be included in this book and are currently working there in Saudi Arabia.

Please visit our website regarding this project at www.mgabagongbayani.net . Please refer as many Filipino OFWs based in your country.

We hope you will find this project worthwhile for young Filipinos.

Sincerely,

 Ricky R Sadiosa

Publisher

Mga Bagong Bayani

Sep 6 2006

Salamat Po!

I am so pleased indeed receiving an unexpected text message this morning especially from someone in Government whom you know but haven’t heard from him for quite a time now.     

 

A message such as “continue good work for the interest of OFWs especially in KSA” is not just a compliment but a word of encouragement from a former respected diplomat who is now currently assigned at DFAs  Office of  Migrant Workers Affairs.

 

Maraming Salamat Po sa inyong tiwala.

By ofwempowerment • Posted in Others
Sep 4 2006

New Saudi Labor & Workmen Law

The NEW SAUDI LABOR & WORKMEN LAW

 

Article 244:

This law shall supersede the Labor and Workmen Law promulgated by Royal Decree No.M/21, dated 6 Ramadan 1389 (15 November 1969) and shall repeal all provisions that are inconsistent with it. The rules and laws issued prior to the effective date hereof shall continue in effect until they are amended.

Article 245:

This law shall be published in the official gazette and shall enter into effect 180 days after the date of publication.

****
We convey our heartfelt gratitude to TRANSLATION SERVICES DIVISION, DHAHRAN, Saudi Aramco for their laudable effort in the translation of the New Saudi Labor Law to English language.

Also our thanks to my long time colleague and friend Mr. Francis Oca in providing me the copy of the above New Saudi Labor Law (English Translation) in PDF File, in which the undersigned converted it to a Word File for easy reference to all our fellow OFWs in the Kingdom. - Bong Amora