KAKAMMPI News

Some 956 Filipinos who died during the destructive cyclones Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma) will be forever remembered in Australia after a memorial plaque for them was unveiled in New South Wales. The plaque was unveiled at the Pinegrove Memorial Park in Minchinbury, New South Wales, according to a report from the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney. According to the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs, the plaque is now a permanent marker in a section of the cemetery called the “Filipino Memorial of Christ the Risen Lord." Philippine Consul General Eva Betita and Invocare General Manager Arman Mikaelian were present at the unveiling held during the solemn rituals concelebrated by the priests of the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Sydney Diocese and the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Parramatta Diocese. Figures from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) show at least 956 deaths in the wake of the two cyclones, including 492 from Pepeng and 464 from Ondoy. As o...

CHICAGO, Illinois - Chicago-based media organizations – including a group of Filipino journalists in the United States – have begun raising funds for one of the 31 media workers who were killed in the Maguindanao massacre. Donations have begun to be collected by members of the National Press Club of the Philippines in the United States (NPC Philippines-USA) for the survivors of the late Alejandro “Bong" Reblando, reporter of Manila Bulletin, who was among the slain journalists. Although NPC Philippines-USA aims to donate to survivors of other victims, its limited resources “would only be good for the survivors of Reblando as we want to return him the favor when he paid us a visit eight years ago," former NPC Philippines-USA president Yoly Tubalinal, said. “Perhaps, if we can get more donations, we can consider giving away donation to other victims’ survivors in the future," she added. [See: Journalist in Ampatuan town carnage saw himself on front page] To start the fund ...

First the good news: Filipinos in Dubai are not likely to lose their jobs just yet. Then the bad news: Filipinos in Dubai are not likely to receive a Christmas bonus. While massive layoffs in Dubai are not imminent, delayed payments and reduced work hours have already been felt by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the debt-hit emirate, the Labor department said. Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said most OFWs’ wages in Dubai are delayed by one to two months but quelled fears of a repeat of the massive layoffs similar to the onset of the US-led economic crisis last year. "Some might not get their Christmas bonus," Roque told GMANews.TV during the 76th anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Tuesday. "They won’t lose jobs yet, their income would just be lessened." The so-called Dubai debt crisis took place after a United Arab Emirates (UAE) investment company deferred debt payments for six months. This stalled the ongoing development of Dubai’s a...

Two government agencies have been tasked to provide assistance – and possibly even redeploy Dubai-based Filipino workers to other Middle Eastern countries – after a debt crisis erupted in the city-state. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) were mandated to take charge of distributing assistance to Dubai-based workers, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said. Issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the order also instructed both agencies to look into the possibility of redeploying workers to other Middle Eastern countries, Remonde added. The so-called Dubai debt crisis – which took place after a United Arab Emirates (UAE) investment company deferred debt payments for six months – may eventually cut jobs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Next to Saudi Arabia, the UAE is the Philippines’ biggest source of remittances in the Middle East. The crisis could force Dubai-based firms to cut jobs in real estate, construction, fin...

For her study on mitigating food and environmental problems, a Filipina researcher brought honor to the country after being conferred a commendation award in Japan this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Dr. Maria Junemie Hazel Leonida Lebata-Ramos won the Japan International Award 2009 for Young Agricultural Researchers from the Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council. Ramos is a researcher for the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), the DFA said, citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo. The Filipina researcher was conferred this Commendation Award last November 4 for her study entitled ‘Stock Enhancement of commercially important and threatened marine invertebrates in tropical areas,’ the DFA said. Ramos is currently the Program leader in the Aquatic Ecology Program at SEAFDEC. The organization provides sustainable fisheries development in the region on various activities such as fisheries and aquaculture technologies...

At least 10 illegitimate Filipino children aged four months to four years were repatriated to the country from Kuwait, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday. The DFA said the 10 children arrived Friday and paid a courtesy call on DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo and DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. “The children were repatriated to prevent the expulsion of their parents from Kuwait, which has very strict laws against immorality and illegitimate children," the DFA said. It said the children arrived via Kuwait Airways, accompanied by Carlito San Diego of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. A contingent from the DFA Office of the Undersecretary of Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) led by Atty. Enrico Fos welcomed them at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Funding for the airfare of the six children came from the Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals Fund (ATN), while the rest were funded by their parents. Seven of the children came from the...

JOSEPH HOLANDES UBALDE, GMANews.TV With only 24 days before Christmas, some 71 Filipinos who are held captive by Somali pirates in the Horn of Africa are likely to spend the holidays locked up on their ships than at home with their loved ones, the head of a seafarers’ group said Tuesday. “Although the Philippine government began to move swiftly in calling for the release of the seafarers, there is a big possibility that they will spend the holidays there," said Nelson Ramirez, president of the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS). Interviewed by GMANews.TV, Ramirez said the government needs to send out more men to Africa to pressure shipowners in facilitating the release of the captured seafarers. Hijacked ships in Somalia with Filipino seafarers on them -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Win Far 161 - Hijacked on April 6 with 17 Filipinos. MV Charelle- Hijack...