Category Archives: Bloggers

Dec 12 2010

OFWEmpowerment Blog- 5 years of existence

OFWEmpowerment- 5 years of existence

Like any other anniversaries, today marks a new year to a new beginning and my further commitment to serve the OFW sector.

"AKO Pilipino Taas Noo Saan man Dako sa Mundo"- Babalik AKO Bayan Ko

Five years of existence is a symbol that increases in value or in strength with each passing year that reflects what this blog has made in the partnership of my fellow OFWs. As what I’ve said in my previous entry “I am not perfect but it’s quite relieving that someone out there believes in you.”   

Today is a significant milestone for this blog and time to pause, to reflect, and to celebrate what has been accomplished in a relatively short span of years. Though this blog started  just for fun to ease the homesickness of the blogger far away from home and his loved ones; yet it is very fulfilling that it became a home to our fellow OFWs who needs answers to their unanswered questions.  

I came to realization that what I am doing is not enough, because with you as my partner, together – WE can do many things to help each others in times of needs and for us to lend a hand to those who needs us.

And as long as I am the writer, the editor and publisher  of this blog, I will remain your humble servant. I will try my best to keep this blog alive, to hear your sad stories, inquiries among others. I will also try to give all the information you need beneficial to the OFW sector.

To all my readers, visitors, friends and fellow community leaders, I have been deeply moved and heartened by your unwavering support and encouragement. I am gratified by the wholehearted endorsement of so many to read and subscribed “OFWempowerment” blog.

Today, WE still exist because of   YOU out there. You are the bedrock upon which OFWEmpowerment existed; you are the foundation that will sustain OFWempowerment towards a new years’ to come.

OFWempowerment 5 years of existence is also dedicated to my dear friend the late OFW Farmer Claro Ybanez  of  Davao and to his family. Wherever you are now  Nong Claro, I want you to know that -  We continue to exist because of  you and you are my inspiration.

To my brothers  Doods  and Bebs who believes of what I am doing, to my family, to my close friends, to OFW Congress-Riyadh and to all of you in the cyber world – THANK YOU So much!

Happy 5th Year Anniversary.

December 13, 2010

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

The busiest day so far in the Year 2010 was  Wednesday, December 8, 2010.  

596 views on your busiest day, December 8, 2010

Pageviews: 596

 

Top 10 Posts & Pages

These posts on your site got the most traffic.

2010-12-08

Title   Views
Home page 129
Iqama Rules, Jawazat Procedures, Repatriation Advisories 91
New Saudi Labor Law 40
KSA Exit & Re-entry Visa 31
Handbook for Overseas Filipinos 23
GCC Labor Laws 22
Iqama System Violations & Penalties 19
Open Letter from Ex-OFW Marge 15
SLL Basic Information 15
Rep. Act #10022 13
Oct 19 2010

ofwempowerment blog: one year stats

To our ofwempowerment readers,

Data Stats

Please note that  one (1) year viewing statistics for ofwempowerment blog as of yesterday 18 October 2010  has so far recorded a total of 32,765 direct hits to our ”homepage“ ; and the highest viewed entry was Iqama Rules, Jawasat Procedures, Repatriation Advisories  seconded by New Saudi Labor Law.  

The record also showed that July 20, 2010 was the highest hits recorded by “day“ with 537 pages viewed by our readers across the globe.

For the recorded statistics re: ”Comments“, the New Saudi Labor Law got the highest number of 331 followed by Iqama  Rules, Jawasat Procedures, Repatriation  Advisories with a total of 169 and  70  for OFW Guide.  

Thanks a lot!  Maraming maraming Salamat Po sa inyong patuloy at mainit na pagsusubaybay!   

BongA 

Top Posts for 365 days ending 2010-10-18 (Summarized)

Summarize: Year   From 2009-10-18 to 2010-10-18 

Title Views  
Home page 32,765 More stats
Iqama Rules, Jawazat Procedures, Repatri 6,475 More stats
New Saudi Labor Law 4,350 More stats
OFW Guide 1,909 More stats
Rep. Act #10022 1,861 More stats
About Me 1,153 More stats
Employee Benefits: End of Service Gratui 1,132 More stats
Top 10 Misconceptions About Islam 1,124 More stats
Salient Features of the Saudi Labor Law 867 More stats
Loan Assistance to OFWs 836 More stats

Busiest day: 537 views on Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Oct 4 2010

A blog “Definitely for Filipino”

At first, I never thought that blogging will be part of my daily routine or perhaps became part of my life.  My week would be empty if I can’t post anything and my days would be boring if I don’t receive or read  comments and inquiries from our readers more particularly fellow OFWs.

And it is a fulfilling day if I can share to someone my thoughts, advices and opinions. Though I can’t say that what I shared or reply to those who asked my opinions are perfect, but it’s quite relieving that someone out there believes in you.   

Blogging is being promoted as one of the easiest ways to promote oneself, organization, company or a product, etc. My friends asked me why I don’t put any ads in this blog and other moneymaking features that can make money or earn money out of it. I told them blogging from the start is just a hobby and this is my personal blog and I am determined to write anything that will pops out in my mind, no one can ask me what to do, what to write and what to say because I owned this blog. I am the writer, the editor and publisher rolled into one.

Blogs these days are very popular form of expressing ones self, pouring out your emotions on a certain topic  that you think entertaining or interesting to others or posting something that you think an important events, ideas and useful information that your readers may know.   

The Philippines has plenty of historical buildings still standing today. To me, this particular building really stands out as it is one of the few that has survived the test of time and war. I am going to make the photos speak for themselves. (Click the Photo)

During most of my spare time in the office and at home, I surf the internet, and read blogs too that might interest me and give me an idea on what to post.  Today, I stumble upon a blog that I may consider call it  “a fantastic blog” and a very informative blog in which you can find all the topics you want, from business, living, sports, technology, news, travel, photography, you name it!  You can find in this blog. It even has a chatroom and a store, huh! If you’re a writer, you can submit article. The design is superb and neat.  If you want “Nostalgic Videos”, it has! You can even watch “The Battle in Manila, 1945”.  Whew! My snappy salute to Ben Totanes the creator of DEFINITELY FILIPINO.  

Want to see it for yourself guys! Visit “the blog for online Filipinos”, DEFINITELY FILIPINO!

Aug 4 2010

A captain’s Confession

Why the Pilots Left?

A Captain’s Confession:

The Country's Flag Carrier

Yesterday, a gag order was circulated by the airline preventing its remaining narrow body pilots, as well as the rest of its employees to speak to the press about what is happening inside our ex-company. Also last night, a meeting was called by the government for us and the management to talk. We intentionally did not attend the meeting because there is nothing to talked about. We have no intention of going back either. We already severed our working relationship with them. Its better for us to see each other in court and just pay whatever damages there is to a breached contract than deal with them again.

On this ground, we also have no intention of showing our faces today at the meeting re-scheduled at 10 a.m. If worse comes to worst, we have or lawyers to defend our rights.

What made us leave is perhaps the best question to ask.

But contrary to management’s propaganda of greener pasture abroad, is only half truth of what is really happening inside, a condition which prompted us to decide our fate for a better future. Its not all about the money. Its about respect.

PAL claimed that they are operating at a loss for three years in a row. Honestly, its not our problem if they mismanaged the company with indiscriminate fuel hedging. But it became our problem when some of our peers were declared redundant by the airline for the sheer incompetence of its managers.

And maybe because of a company named Air Philippines >>>>> read more  

related link: New Philippine Airline to Launch Flights to Saudi Arabia ;   Come Back to Saudi Arabia, Filipinos Ask Philippine Airlines ;     Philippine Airlines touches down in Riyadh ;   PAL’s return to Saudi starts bringing in profit 

Dec 14 2009

Thank you is not enough: OFWempowerment 4th Year Anniversary

Yesterday, 13 of December was the 4th Year OFWempowerment blog anniversary.  I would like to offer my deep gratitude to my fellow OFWs and of course to all my readers who visits ofwempowerment blog regularly. For the past few months our stats or the number of visitors keeps climbing up as shown herein below the number of visitors for the past few weeks.

December 10, 2009 was the busiest day so far where we got 245 hits for a total views of  25,473 as of today 14 December 2009.

I hope more visitors will be able to read postings that might interest you as an Overseas Filipino Workers not only in Saudi Arabia but to all Filipino expatriates in the four corners of the globe.

To all those who leave their comments and ask for my personal advice, thank you so much for your trust, though the information is not enough but hopefully we can give more precise information in the future.

To WordPress themes and templates, Thank you so much!

Also to those who finds time to drop by in my other blogs “My Diary of Important Events / News CLippings“  and “OFWs for Noy2 for President Movement” – Maraming maraming Salamat Po!

To all of you, I know that a simple thank you is not enough but it is coming from the bottom of my heart. Have a great and blessed day!

OFW Empowerment Blog Stats :

Total views: 25,473

Busiest day: 245 — Thursday, December 10, 2009

2009-10-12

Title Views  
The continuing saga towards OFW Empowerm 48
About Me 21
Loan Assistance to OFWs 10
OFW Links 9
The Filipino Diaspora 5
KSA2020 4
Migrant Workers Day-Nothing to Celebrate 4
What is a Blog 3
Pilipino Ako Saan man sa Mundo 3
New Saudi Labor Law 3
The Ninth Ray of Philippine Flag and the 3

Recent Weeks

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Total Average Change
Nov 292 Nov 3160 Nov 4136 Nov 5101 Nov 699 Nov 773 Nov 8122 783 112  
Nov 9175 Nov 10117 Nov 1197 Nov 12107 Nov 13104 Nov 1489 Nov 1581 770 110 -1.66%
Nov 16126 Nov 17105 Nov 18106 Nov 19103 Nov 2063 Nov 2196 Nov 2284 683 98 -11.30%
Nov 23119 Nov 24134 Nov 2599 Nov 2688 Nov 2770 Nov 2868 Nov 29101 679 97 -0.59%
Nov 30117 Dec 1144 Dec 2204 Dec 3179 Dec 4112 Dec 589 Dec 6105 950 136 +39.91%
Dec 7144 Dec 8178 Dec 9163 Dec 10245 Dec 11126 Dec 12115 Dec 1329 1,000 162 +19.25%
Jul 18 2009

Reyna Elena’s OFW Logo

Reyna Elena  is one of the many blogs that features the life of OFW’s.  I started reading this blog way back 2006 when I was still a neophyte in the world of blogging. The award winning blog is maintained by a certain “Reynz“. 

Reynz  sense of humor earned him the respect of his fellow bloggers like me. He posts anything that captures his senses, from science to fictions, from love stories, commentaries to politics. His wits fascinates me and sometimes envies the style the way he blogs. According to Technorati, “Reynz”  maintains blogs  like; the Reyna Elena,  Ofw Center and  Barrio Siete   all of these blogs are widely read by OFW’s.  

But the most of all, the logo he used in all of his blogs captures my heart. 

Thanks “Reynz” for having a heart of an OFW and more power!

The logo in far sight and in its entirety is like an explosion of confetti and light. A celebration of Success and dreams of all the Achievements of OFWs, both the nameless and the famous. A logo of positive emotions, feelings of jubilation and the patriotistic pride of being one of the New Heroes of the Philippines.
The logo in far sight and in its entirety is like an explosion of confetti and light. A celebration of Success and dreams of all the Achievements of OFWs, both the nameless and the famous. A logo of positive emotions, feelings of jubilation and the patriotistic pride of being one of the New Heroes of the Philippines.(Click the logo, to read the maker’s inspirations that enabled him to create the logo).

         

Sep 4 2007

Anita’s Kitchen

Cooking is not my cup of tea but of course I know how to cook rice, and Shoot-To-Kill (S-Sinugba-Ihaw, T-Tinolang Isda or manok and K for Kilaw-Kilawin). 

BongA's Kitchen

BongA's Kitchen

Recently my impulse told me so to explore the nature of cooking for the reason that I have to spend much of my time at home when I’m back in our country for good. So, by that time comes I will be working in my kitchen. Though the main reason will go along the lines while you read this entry.

BongA's Flying Shrimp

BongA's Flying Shrimp

I started doing my assignments and have the chance to do research and stumbled upon many famous chefs and their unforgotten skills. I found some like; a) Auguste Escoffier, a French chef and master of the haute cuisine style of French cookery b) Julia Child, an American cooking expert, author, and television personality c) Paul Prudhomme, also an American chef and author who gained fame for his spicy Creole rice dish with seafood or meat and crawfish etouffee (a Cajun seafood and vegetable stew and d) Marie Antoine Careme, a French master chef and writer on cookery.

Breaded tilapia w/ vegetables

Breaded tilapia w/ vegetables

Above mentioned personalities were long gone but they remain unforgettable icons in the world of cooking. You can search their names and their works at Googles. Interesting indeed, but some of the important ingredients they used, frankly I really don’t know they exist.  

Now, you might ask why my entry for today is about cooking?  My answer is because I met someone who loves to cook and her works inspires me to venture into cooking.

She is Madame Anita Sese Schon. I met her in the cyber world at the Partido Pandaigdigang Pilipino (PPP) E-Group. She was very kind, humble and witty. She is currently based at Bremerton, Washington State, USA. Married to a retired U.S. Navy and a little sexy Great Grandma of ten grandchildren, two of them great grandsons. She went to Arellano High school and graduated Commerce at Far Eastern University. She is going back to Philippines by October to finish her two books about cooking. 

tanpulots

tanpulots

Aside from her love of cooking, it really fascinates me that she is also and active OF/OFW Advocate. Her main concern is for the welfare of our Filipina Household Service Worker. In fact, she is one of the prime movers in the upcoming Overseas Filipino Congress initiated by OFC (Overseas Filipino Council) to be held in the Philippines this year.  

Back to cooking, one of her Filipino recipe is called “Kumeh’s Pinapaitan” named after our respected elder at PPP e-group retired General Jose Comendador.

 

gen. kumeh's pinapaitan

gen. kumeh's pinapaitan

Just yesterday a “Breaded Tilapia” and “Breaded Steamed Tilapia with Vegetables” was made dedicated to the honorable member of our group, former U.P. Professor Ceasar Torres.

To my friend Nitz, I hope that in the near future there will be a recipe named “Bonga” or maybe “Flying Bonga”. 

To those who loves to cook, you can visit this link “Anita’s Kitchen“.

Jul 30 2007

Pinay Bloggers

I am about to close my internet connection cause I have experienced a low server link for these past few days that made me irritable and can’t hardly composed a piece for my blog entry, when I received an email from a pal introducing me to someone in line with OF/OFW advocacy.

 

Actually, for the past few months I’ve been starting reading blogs authored by many of our Pinays and I found it interesting to read, they have their own wits and crafts that made me smile while reading their entries. I just wondering if my friends out there in the land of promise like Marlyn and Marge would find a time creating their own blogs, they’re intelligent and sometimes funny and I believed they could be a good blogger too. Not like me who always fighting for a right word to say, huh!

 

Anyway, my friend introduced me to someone who is actively involved in Filipino Empowerment advocacy. She is presently based in U.S. and one of the prime movers of the Third Global Filipino Networking Convention held at Cebu years back. She is the author of a blog “Radiant View” and in just a minute of glance in her entries I knew I would be visiting this blog more often in the next few days.

 

Her name is Lorna Lardizabal Dietz from Cebu City, a graduate of B.S. Hotel & Restaurant Administration degree from the University of the Philippines and was once the department head of the B.S. Hotel & Restaurant Administration program at Southwestern University in Cebu.

Gifted with speaking skills, she won first runner up in 1983 “Speech to Entertain” contest at the Philippine Toastmasters Convention, representing the Sinulog Toastmasters Club of Cebu City. Today, Lorna is a sought-after emcee for Filipino events in San Francisco.

Radiant View Communications, www.radiantview.com her public relations and marketing communications business keeps her busy but she just can’t ignore to continue her advocacies for the good of the Overseas Filipinos and the Overseas Filipino Workers as well. 

Like her sister Noemi Lardizabal-Dado, author of the blog “Touch by an Angel”  both of them have wits and crafts to become a famous Pinay Blogger.  

Nice meeting you my new found friend and thanks being there for and in behalf of the OFWs.

May 14 2007

4 People who will answer this tag

Four People who will answer this tag

 

Here are the Best Four in My Life:

 

Jobs:

1) Disc Jockey in a sing-a-long joint in Makati
2) Para Legal Officer in a Law Office/Firm in Makati
3) Sales Coordinator in Jeddah, KSA
4) Present Job: Administrative Officer

Favorite Local Place:

1) Nasipit Agusan Del Norte-My Hometown
2) Anda, Bohol-My Ancestral town
3) Baguio City
4) Cebu City particularly my residential place Lapu Lapu City

Favorite Foods: S-hoot T-o K-ill & Law-oy

1) S for Sinugba (Yobabs)
2) T for Tinola (Manok)
3) K for Kinilaw (Panit)
4) Law-oy (hope you know what is Law-oy)

Favorite Int’l Place:

1)Saudi Arabia-no traffic
2)San Diego, California, U.S.A. - never been there but my sis told me its a great place, someday i’ll knock on her door.
3)Singapore-never been there but they said it’s a clean country, no pollution, no basura, etc. Hope to be there next year.
4)Hong Kong- Been there once at the airport.

4 People who will answer this tag

 

My favorite bloggers:

1) Entrepinoys
2) A blogger politician 
3) A lawyer and a blogger-my townmate
4) A lawyer and a blogger-My favorite Blawger

 

OK…The rule of this meme is simple, just give your 1,2,3, 4′s in life like what I’ve done above or you may add a description whatever you want. The last category which is the “four people who will answer this tag” as the category implies must create a post and list up their 4′s in life.

 

Anchored by: Health and Wealth

May 11 2007

My Blogger of the Week

Time to surf my favorite links and here it goes….  

 

A) If I was one of the judges during the search for Philippine Blog Awards, I will definitely choose OFWLAYF Blog (if nominated)  for the Best OFW Blog Award. See for yourself entries like “Investing your savings in a sari sari store” and “ATM, Automatic Tubig Machine“. OFWs nowadays are searching for useful blogs that may provide us information for entrepreneurship endeavors when we decide to reintegrate into the mainstream of Philippine society. 

 

B) Because I came from the beautiful island of Mindanao, I include “Mindanao Blog” or “Photos in Mindanao” as one of my links. The author of the Mindanao Blog, Mr. Bob Martin an American who loves our country more than we do. I found his blog very informative especially to tourists who want to know about Mindanao before visiting the island. The blog not only focuses the great photos of the places the author visited but he made stories out of it.  One of his entries “Biliran-Paradise Undiscovered” gives me a hint why I should visit the province of my wife who is a Leytena. Since I got married with my wife in Manila and transferred to Cebu, I never have been in “Biliran” her place of birth.

 

Bob says in his “about me” profile the following:

 

Yes, I am an American, but I have been coming to Mindanao regularly since 1990. In addition, I have lived permanently in Mindanao since early 2000, and I love it here. The thing that I hear all the time when I tell people that I live in Mindanao is that I must be scared because it is so dangerous here. Actually, that is really far from the truth. Yes, there are places in Mindanao that are quite dangerous, but the majority of the island is safe. Is it perfectly safe? No, I know of no place on the earth that is perfectly safe, do you? I have lived here for a number of years now, and I have never felt that I was in danger yet. I do try to use common sense in my daily comings and goings, though. I suppose that in these days of uncertainty that would be a sensible thing to do no matter where you live.

 

Mabuhay ka Bob!

 

C) In Techno world, my favorite link is “Technobiography”, because maybe the blog is having simple web/blog design and the blogger explained his entries in a way an ordinary English language reader like me easily understand.

 

One of his entry caught my attention is “Facebook, Friendster and Philippine Traffic“. Knowing that Friendster is a widely used web social networking in the Philippines.

 

I am a Friendster user before but I deleted it due to some individuals who creep around my account and leave unsolicited messages in my mailbox. Maybe I will activate a new social networking account and try Facebook this time.

 

Have a happy weekend!

Mar 3 2007

HUH – Watch for It!

Yesterday, Friday a non-working day in the Kingdom, I woke up 2 hours earlier of my usual time to get up in bed. The reason was I had a one-hour phone chat with anonymous concerned fellow OFW in Riyadh.

 

He was able to visit this blog and asked me if I can write a hard hitting entries intended for the non-performing Embassy and POLO officials in the Kingdom.

 

He informed me of many untold stories, few of it are too personal and not work related which in my part are all allegations. I said allegations because I write based on facts rather than just rumors. I am not on the defense of our government officials at the POLO/OWWA and Philippine Embassy, though I just want to make sure that what I am going to write are based on what is the truth. He even told me personal disturbing stories about fellow community leaders in the Kingdom particularly in Riyadh. It seems that he knows everything from dot to dash.  

 

I advised him to provide me credible information and documentation of formal complaints before my keyboard starts to work.

 

Because of that call by next month I will be having a new blog (WordPress), titled “H-U-H” (Hit-U-Hard) for that purpose. All entries ( National issues and local issues ) in this blog will be a hard-hitting one based on facts so that Filipino Expats in the Kingdom may know. “H-U-H” WATCH for It!

Mar 1 2007

Philippine Blog Awards 2007

We’ve been experiencing problem with Funchain lately thus the reason of my long absence in the world of blogging.

Surprisingly, I am quite happy today March 1, 2007 knowing that someone from my readers nominated “ofwempowerment“ for the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards. A nomination that I never expect for a year of blogging. Though I am not sure if ofwempowerment will make it to the finals but a mere nomination is enough to keep this blog alive. Thank you so much my fellow OFWs.

For you to glance the list of nominees, please find below the blogs recommended to visit.

   Bloggers’ Choice Award

Best Blog Design

Best OFW Blog

Best Free Custom Theme

Best Blog Plugin/Extension

Jan 14 2007

Conference on Media Reform

Veteran television journalist Bill Moyers opened the National Conference for Media Reform Friday with praise for SavetheInternet.com’s grassroots campaign to keep the Internet open and fair for all comers.

 

“You lit a fire under people to put Washington on Notice,” Moyers told a packed house of more than 3,000 activists:

 

Net Neutrality, which Moyers dubbed the “Equal Access Provision of the Internet,” became a broad public issue “that once again reminded the powers that be that people want the media to foster democracy not to quench it.”

 

Moyers highlighted our grassroots and online organizing efforts, saying that Washington hadn’t reckoned with our movement.

 

It’s Because You Took Action in ’06

 

“Free Press and SavetheInternet.com orchestrated 800 organizations, a million and a half petitions, countless local events, legions of home-made videos, smart collaboration with allies in industry and a top-shelf communications campaign,” he said. Read more…

Dec 18 2006

10,003 Hits

Today 18 of December 2006, I have reached a marked of

10,003 hits!

Maraming Salamat Po sa Inyong Lahat!

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!

 

OFW Empowerment (Funchain, Bravenet Stats Counter)

from April 2006 to Dec. 18, 2006

 

Cumulative Statistics

10,003

Total Uniques

5,307

Uniques / Page Views

Counter Start Date

from April 24, 2006 to Dec. 18, 2006 

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

 

OFW Empowerment (Blogger.com STATS4U Counter)

from  March 2006 to December 18, 2006

 

1.

Saudi Arabia

699

47.2 %

2.

Philippines

402

27.2 %

3.

United States

114

7.7 %

4.

Spain

30

2.0 %

5.

Canada

23

1.6 %

6.

Hong Kong S.A.R.

22

1.5 %

7.

United Kingdom

21

1.4 %

8.

United Arab Emirates

13

0.9 %

9.

Australia

12

0.8 %

10.

Singapore

10

0.7 %

 

Unknown

49

3.3 %

 

The rest

85

5.7 %

 

Total

1480

100.0 %

Dec 13 2006

One Year Ago

13 12 2006

One year ago, 13 December 2005, I made my first blog post “Tax Exemption a Token Gift“.

It all started when I read “Nasipit to Anywhere” a blog authored by my townmate who is a lawyer, writing current events direct from our beloved hometown Nasipit (Agusan, Del Norte). Actually at that time I’ve been reading blogs already particularly from famous blogger politician Peter Lavina.

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

Blogging under blog name “OFW Empowerment” with the abovementioned first entry using widely known template blogger.com followed by “OFW Representation“. Despite busy hours of my job, I have done my homework at home and it became a hobby. And as an active member of the Filipino community in Riyadh, I was determined to write about OFWs issues and concerns mixed up a little bit with politics.

In late April of 2006 it occurred to me that I was doing it anyway, why not continue doing it. Then I shifted to Funchain an easy to use blogger guide created by fellow Filipino an IT expert from Davao Mr. Jason Banico.

“OFWs the Best Political Electorate” that was published online at Inquirer 7 supplement under Network Highlights INQ7 @ 5 was one of my first entries using Funchain. The said entry was based and inspired from my previous posting “OFW Representation”.     

I immediately was on the receiving end of encouragement from colleauges in the Industrial areas-Riyadh, and so with my readers like Davao City Councilor Peter Lavina, Atty. Loloy Compendio and Atty. Fred Pamaos- all fellow bloggers. Then the traffic started climbing and the rest is history.

And of course I want to thank all of the readers and commenters in here. To my wife Minda and daughter Angel. Also, to my brod Doods and dear friend Ms. Ellene Sana of  CMA - Thank you so much! 

I know I’m not everybody’s cup of tea for the fact that I am neither a journalist nor a writer, but for one thing, it’s self-deserving and this blog is dedicated to all Overseas Filipinos.

Happy Anniversary To OFWEmpowerment blog!

Dec 10 2006

You made my day complete

In Saudi Arabia, Saturday is the first working day of the week and I hate Saturday’s because it is the busiest day of the week too. Exhausted with all work done, I am glad that there was still time for the day to browse and read entries from my favorite links. Here are some entries worth reading today.

 

Without Borders “Global Warming creates uncertainties for the Philippine Economy” a piece about how are we prepared for the new reality fostered by global warming.

 

Atty. At Work “Congratulations, Chief Justice Reynato Puno“,  the acceptance speech of Chief Justice Puno on his appointment. Excerpt of the statement provided below and I hope he mean it.

 

“I accept the appointment with a clear awareness of the defining role of the judiciary as our people confront turning points after turning points in life. The Judiciary may not have the power of the sword, may not have the power of the purse, but it has the power to interpret the Constitution, and the unerring lessons of history tell us that rightly wielded, that power can make a difference for good“.

 

I also have the chance to glance “Tinalikuran na ba ng mga OFWs ang OAV“? this month entry of my friend’s blog “Ka Ambo” and it touches the coldness of our fellow OFWs based on the low turn out of OAV registrants in the last Overseas Absentee Voters registration.

 

And lastly, I wear a smile reading the “balak” or “poem”  titled “Ngadto sa Tikasan nakong Textmate” by Michael Obenieta.  A Bisayan poem about a date with a textmate.

 

All of them, made my day complete.    

Nov 28 2006

A BLog To Visit

untitledTop Blog sites are measured how frequent your visitors log or visits your site and browse your pages to read previous entries. Bloggers themselves can monitor visitors by looking the figures in their site stats.  Like mine, I am looking forward to hit a record of 10,000 visits before the end of December. 

Back to Top Blog sites, if I’ll be asked what blog OFWs should visit?  I would highly recommend “entrepinoys, atbp“. The site is not only worthy to read but an avenue for our OFWs to become an entrepreneur someday.

The owner of the blog Mr. Leo Torres is also an OFW in Saudi Arabia for 13 years. He is currently working as an audio-visual programmer with experience on IT, software programming

His latest entries that I found very interesting to read are:  How to start a Cleaning Service  and How To make Fruitcakes.

Are you interested? Then read more.

Nov 15 2006

Welcome To Blogosphere

I received a forwarded email from Pinoy Abroad Forum E-group informing me of a new blog that writes OFW issues and concerns. 

 

Actually, I was a member of this e-group but for the reason that I want to concentrate my spare time on my blog, I decided to unsubscribe all e-groups that I belong including OFW-Saudi and others.   

 

The email is about a famous journalist whose heart belongs to the Overseas Filipino Community and just recently becomes a blogger herself. She is no other than Julie Javellana-Santos.

 

JJ-S (standing) with Bert Barriga, Ellene Sana  and the late Dr. A.J. Ganapin with his wife

 

To those who don’t know her yet, Julie Javellana-Santos is a freelance journalist based in Manila, Philippines. Julie has been writing for Arab News in Saudi Arabia for more than 10 years and is a regular contributor to Philippine News in San Francisco and Filipinas Magazine in the US. Julie started her journalism career in the late 80′s as a reporter for the now defunct Manila Chronicle for which she covered the police, the courts and the local governments. A few years later she transferred to the former Business Star and covered Shipping, the Bureau of Trade and the Stock market before going freelance.

 

Welcome to Blogosphere “JJS” with Your World.     

Nov 9 2006

BLogger Politician

Some politicians particularly in U.S. are now in the world of blogging, it means that their moves are not only limited in the square hall of governance. Readers of their blog have the freedom to post constructive comments that could perhaps give ideas in making laws and policies beneficial to their countrymen.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sen. Richard J. Gordon discusses with Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the situation of Filipino entertainers and possible hiring of nurses, bilateral trade agreements among others.

 

 

 

 

In the Philippines most politicians have web sites where we can read some of their activities. But blogging is different from web sites, a blogger politician writes his/her ideas and opinions that will give broader explanations on a certain political issues for public awareness.

I just found one public figure and a Senator who is a blogger, he is Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon.

Sen. Richard Gordon is not new to us; we all knew that his political accomplishments brought him to the upper Hall of Congress. Now as a Senator, he is an ardent supporter for the betterment of OFWs. In fact the new DOLE restrictive policy that includes $400.00 minimum wage for our Domestic Workers was partly his idea.

You can also read his views on Charter Change and OFW advocacies.

Herman Melville said, “We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.” A perfect description of blogging, don’t you think?

Nov 7 2006

Abused of the Internet

One of the many reasons why I didn’t pack yet the PC intended for my daughter is because I am afraid that in my absence this tool could influence my child in the negative side of the Internet World.  

 

Pornograpic materials can be easily seen in the computer screen with the click of a mouse. Chat rooms nowadays are not safe for our children and even to adults. People in the other side of your screen could not be trusted as it is easy to use bogus names and email addresses in the net. Sometimes people in the chatrooms are not there for a mere simple decent talk but looking innocent victims that could satisfy their unworldly deeds.

 

 

The founder of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee has voiced concern over increasing abuse of the Internet. 

 

Sir Tim Berners-Lee

 

I agree with him that education is a key requirement to this concerns, to guide us and understand its implications. 

 

Perhaps it is about time that our  Government particularly the DECS to include “Web Science” in our school curriculum as part of the awareness in the proper use of Information Technology. Though, parents must be the first one to look after our kids and see to it that the use of this powerful tool is only for our children’s academic achievement.   

Oct 10 2006

IT group in Davao

A group of  IT enthusiasts composed of an ICT professionals like Jason Banico, the guy behind Funchain, an ex-OFW from Saudi Arabia and a friend of mine Mr. Bert Barriga, so with my idol blogger, political activist Davao City Councilor Peter Lavina and others, had just recently formed an umbrella organization focusing  information and communications technology that intends to foster tri-partite collaboration between government, academe and industry.

 

 

This moved will help Davao community-based organizations develop online information in the public interest to facilitate the broad use of information technology to benefit the community.

Launched last October 6, the founding organizations are the Philippine Society of IT Educators (PSITE-Region XI), Council of Deans in I.T. Education (CDITE-Region XI), Association of Computer Businesses in Mindanao (ACBM), DabaWegnu, Association of Solution Integrators in Davao, Inc (ASID), Internet Cafe’ Association of Davao, Inc. (ICAD), Technical Expert for Computer Hardware & Software Support, Inc (TechSupport) and MIS-Corporate.

Congrats to all Davaoenos! Good Luck  Sir Pete, Jason and Bert. Mabuhay Kayo! 

Aug 13 2006

Small World

 

I can’t find the right words to say when I read my daughters’ message in my Cbox for the reason that I am not sure if I can go home in time of Christmas. Not certain, because the company policy states that an employee can avail his vacation entitlement or can go home for good (exit) based on the day he arrived from his last vacation.

 

My contract ends November of this year but since the nature of my contract is “unspecified“, I don’t have any other choice but to follow the rules.  Art. 72 of Saudi Labor Law states, “A labor contract concluded for a specified period shall terminate upon the expiry of its term. If both parties continue to enforce the contract thereafter, it shall be considered renewed for an unspecified period.”

 

Back to my daughters’ message, in order not to let her down I found the words “I will let you know” meaning no promises and no exact date. Kids nowadays are very sensitive, if you promised anything they would not forget it and you must fulfill that promise too.

 

Because her message is about exams at school, then I should have to say something about it. When I am about to mention her school I forgot the meaning of “E” from the acronym STEC. Then I started to search and got the meaning of STEC (Science and Technology Education Center). Huh!

 

But I found something more interesting in my search - a blog “Raising Boys” from a mother whose kids are currently studying in the same school my daughter was and possibly Dylan and Angel are classmates too.

 

I thought to myself - what a small world. Not only that! Her husband is one of my favorite links “Leon Kilat“. 

 

To:  Max and Marlen Limpag, nice meeting you-both in the world of Blogosphere. I’m sure we will be seeing each other in person very soon.

Aug 10 2006

Style of Blogging

What I like with David Lloritos  “Without Borders” style of blogging is because of his objectivity in writing. Why? Because he embraces his views of being fair and accurate to the facts as well as the intent to inform openly rather than manipulating others mind while reading.

 

 

“Globalizing Pinoy Manners” has been added in my list of good entries from a blogger like David.

 

I just want to add a quote to his latest entry, “To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered”.

Aug 1 2006

My Blog Stats

To: All My Visitors

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

As of today 31 July 2006, the following is the statistics taken from my Bravenet Counter.

Viewing Counter: OFWEMPOWER

Page Name: www.funchain.com/~ofwempowerment 

From 25 July to 31 July

Date Returning First-Time  Unique  Page Views
  Visitors Visitors Visitors  
7/31/2006 3 19 22 43
7/30/2006 1 36 37 67
7/29/2006 2 19 21 46
7/28/2006 2 11 13 21
7/27/2006 1 21 22 54
7/26/2006 2 18 20 36
7/25/2006 4 12 16 35

Page View – A page view is tracked everytime there is a hit to the page.

Unique Visitor – A unique visitor is a visitor that has not visited your website in the past 24 hours.

First-time Visitor – A first-time visitor is a visitor that has never visited your website.

Returning Visitor – A visitor that has previously visited your website.

Cumulative Statistics since

Total Page Views 2,851

Total Uniques    1,425

Uniques / Page Views  50%

Counter Start Date April 24, 2006

Jul 11 2006

Bisayan BLoggers

Today I have plenty of time surfing the net and I decided to look for something new, like surfing bisayan bloggers in the world of  blogosphere. I found many, to name a few in my link, Bisayang Dako, Leon Kilat, Butik Binisaya, Ms. B, Lapu Lapu Times. Lastly, I found an interesting blog “bisdakobenieta”  that features bisayan poems (balak).

With all due respect to Michael Obenieta, permit me to paste below the poem I like most. Mabuhi Ka! Mike.

Dili ko

Makauuwaw

Kiyud Sa Balod

Kiyud Sa Balod

ang imong hangyo.

Bisa’g hapsay ang imong
pag-uraray, wala ako
magtiaw: Dakong sala
ang gisangon nimo nako karong gabhiona
samtang kita galawig, gitugnaw ibabaw
niining bapor.

Por dios, por santo. Ayaw
intawon. Dili ko.

Basi’g bakak, basi’g
bahakhak ang mahimong tubag
sa hangyo mong balak. Sama kana
nianang dagat: Sa matag kiyud
sa balud nagpabudlat sa nagpahipi
ug naamang nga buwan. Pastilan!

Pagkalawom sa gilapdon
sa atong pagpadulong.

Jul 6 2006

Save the Internet

In the United States, savetheInternet.com coalition an alliance of citizens, businesses and bloggers that have banded together to protect Internet freedom; and blocking Congress in passing telecommunication legislation that could lead to end of free speech using modern age of information technology. These also give comfort to cable service providers and telephone companies in raking billions of dollars.

 

 

Last week in the Senate Commerce Committee Sen. John Kerry warned that those of us who believe in net neutrality will block legislation that doesn’t get the job done. (see link Stopping the Big Giveaway By John Kerry). He added that free and open access to the internet is something all Americans should enjoy, regardless of what financial means they’re born into or where they live.

 

If ever this Bill be passed into law, there is no turning back, the whole world will follow suit  and goodbye free speech and free internet. To all bloggers and internet users out there regardless of race and religion, lets join America in their crusade to Save The Internet and demand net neutrality.

Jun 18 2006

1009 Mark

Today June 18, 2006 as of 8:00AM, I have a mark  of 1009 visitors in my bravenet counter, not bad for a neophyte blogger like me.Actually,I started blogging late of last year using blogspot(www.ofwempowerment.blogspot.com),then I shifted to Funchain last week of April this year.

 

I would like to thank Atty. Loy Compendio, my town mate whose blog Nasipit to Anywhere inspire me to explore the world of blogging. To Davao City Councilor Peter Lavina who have been very supportive to me since we met in blogosphere. To Mr. Jason Banico, the guy behind Funchain, Thank you.

 

To my colleagues in Filcom-Ruh, my sincere thanks for the encouragement that keep this blog alive.

 

Sa mga OFWs sa Ibayong Dagat at sa mga kahanay kong Manggagawang Pilipino sa Industrial Area, Riyadh, Maraming Salamat sa Pagbisita, Come Again! 

 

To my fellow Bloggers out there, dont get depressed when no one visit your blog, just enjoy blogging. A sort of advise below:

 

Multiply by: Dave Llorito

Jun 17 2006

Doombot Worm Spreads

Doombot Worm Spreads via Phishing Model Attack

 

16 June 2006. Security experts at MicroWorld Technologies inform that a Backdoor Worm named Doombot.k, is spreading fast via abuse warning emails, spoofing domain names of security software companies and leading business houses. The modus operandi of proliferation is strikingly similar to many phishing attacks in recent times.

 

 

Doombot.k comes with IRC bot capabilities and spreads via mass mailing. Once inside the computer, the worm runs in the background, acting as a Backdoor Server that provides access to the victims PC via IRC channels, for the remote attacker. The smart worm also lowers the security level of the computer, and changes entries in the Windows HOSTS files in order to block websites of AntiVirus companies.

 

For its spreading routine, the worm steals email IDs from the victims address book  and starts sending itself as .pif, .scr, .exe, .cmd and bat attachments. The most interesting aspect noted here is that it spoofs the domain name of the sender to the same domain of the harvested email address. For example, if the worm steals an email address john@xyz.com, it will fake the senders id as abuse@xyz.com, or security@xyz.com and will send it to Johns mail address. In the internal email system of enterprises, this can wreck havoc by spreading fast to infect the entire network.

 

The subject line of the email is picked from a list that includes various titles like-Account Alert, Important Notification, Members Support, Notice of account limitation, and Security measures.

 

For more see related link.

May 28 2006

Bloggers – a Writer and Editor

Recent news of unlawful arrests of opposition supporters creates worries among ordinary  citizens whose only intention and participation is for their grievances to be heard through freedom of expression and assembly.

 

I cant help myself thinking that maybe in a day or two, OFW bloggers like me who writes  political issues and concerns that we considered detrimental to OFWs might experience the same fate and be suspected as enemy of the state. However, as Ive said, in a democratic nation where everyone has the right to be heard, let us exercise this freedom with decency in language and be compassionate in expressing our respective viewpoint, thoughts and ideas.

 

 

According to David Loritos article End of Pinoy Bloggers Age of Innocence, he mentioned that bloggers is kind of media where the writer is also the editor that could pour out venom as much as his or her sense of decency or lack of it.

 

Yes! I agree with him and as a blogger, we should always abide with fair and honest methods in our effort to inform public of our views pertains to a certain issue and refrain from posting that will adversely affect a private reputation unless it justifies public interest.