YoutTube PH launched
October 13, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
YouTube, the popular internet video site, has launched today “YouTube Philippines,” allowing users to easily find Philippine-related videos by selecting the Philippines as the content location on the site’s homepage.
The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to have a localized version of YouTube, said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon A Carandang, who attended the launching in behalf of President Benigno S Aquino III at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Read more
Binay calls for lifting of immigration barriers
October 13, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
Vice President Jejomar C Binay today proposed the lifting of immigration barriers to allow families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to join their loved ones abroad, or allow family visits under liberal terms, according to a press release from the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
“What the World Trade Organization (WTO) Treaty has done in terms of the free movement of goods around the world, despite some subsequent distortions from some economies, a new treaty must now do to guarantee the free movement of peoples across borders,” Read more
Filipino captain in NZ sea disaster charged
October 13, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
The Filipino captain involved in New Zealand’s (NZ) maritime disaster was arrested and charged Wednesday.
According to Philippine Daily Inquirer news, Mauro Balomanga has been captain since March of the Liberian-flagged Rena, which is stuck on the Astrolabe Reef, spilling about 70 containers and 300 tons of fuel into the Bay of Plenty. Read more
Region 8 model OFW winners announced
October 9, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
Captain Teddy V Abrea for the sea-based category and Engineer Cesario G De Dios Jr for the land-based category were declared as the Region 8 winners of the 2011 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) in Tacloban last week.
According to an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) press release, Leyte Vice Governor Mimietta Bagulaya was among those present during the awarding ceremonies. Read more
No crackdown on OFWs in Jordan
October 9, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
The Philippine Embassy in Amman reported that there is no crackdown on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Jordan, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) press release.
The embassy issued the clarification due to the wrong information published in the papers that at least 28 Filipinos were arrested starting on September 26 in a government crackdown on illegal aliens in Jordan. Read more
Validation of seafarer exit clearance at Labor Assistance Center
October 6, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
Seafarers are required to have their travel exit clearance validated at the Labor Assistance Center (LAC) before their departure beginning November 1, 2011.
The exemption given to seafarers from this requirement no longer applies, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s (POEA) Memorandum Circular No. 12, Series of 2011 issued by POEA head Carlos S Cao Jr. Read more
186 OFWs in Syria repatriated from March-September
October 6, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
Nineteen overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived from Syria at the end of September, bringing the total number of OFWs repatriated from Syria since March to 186.
According to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) press release, the 19 Filipinos came home via Qatar Airways on September 29. The OFWs, all females, were mostly household service workers (HSWs) who expressed their desire to return to the Philippines due to labor-related issues with their respective employers. Read more
Pinoys in UAE push for entrepreneurship
October 3, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
BY ART LOS BAÑOS
Filipinos in general are not known for being business-minded unlike the minority yet very rich Chinese-Filipinos. In the Middle East, almost all kababayans (ie fellow Filipinos) are salaried professionals, service staff, skilled workers and household service workers (HSWs).
The September 20 episode of Filipino Excellence in the Middle East radio show in Dubai encouraged listeners to have lakas ng loob or take the risk to go into business. Read more
HK court rules in favor of Filipino maid
October 3, 2011 by Divina · Leave a Comment
A Hong Kong (HK) court last week gave Filipino maid Evangeline Banao Vallejos the right to apply for permanent residency, according to news in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
In the landmark case, Justice Johnson Lam declared as unconstitutional the immigration provision preventing foreign maids from becoming permanent residents even after they fulfilled the required period of residency in HK. Other foreign residents have the right to apply for permanent residency after living in HK for seven years. Read more
PH, Denmark negotiate on transfer of sentenced persons
October 2, 2011 by Divina · 4 Comments
The Philippines and Denmark have agreed during negotiations last week to continue with their internal consultations toward the eventual conclusion and signing of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement (TSPA).
According to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) press release, Justice Chief State Counsel Ricardo V Paras III and Danish Ambassador to the Philippines Svend Waever led the Philippine and Danish delegations, respectively. Read more
