KAKAMMPI News

overseas labor migration has implications for the elderly. For one, owing to rising numbers of younger women leaving for overseas work, there seems to be a decreasing number of caregivers for older persons and children, as well as a greater need for older persons, especially women, to substitute for their absent daughters (POPCOM, 2002) Many pieces of anecdotal evidence have shown the important role of elderly in the emerging reconfiguration of family roles as an offshore of migration. When parents are away working abroad, grandparents usually assume the role of rearing the children. They have assumed this role not because of the need to have an adult take care of the children's needs, but also because they would want to have a hand in ensuring the welfare of their children. Performing this role is a challenge to older people's health. ( Cruz, 1996 POPCOM,2002) Noticebly, Filipinos over 60 years old are also migrating. CFO data of registered emigrants include 103,004 Filipin...

An increasing feminization of migration has been observed over the past decade.That is, more and more women, compared to men, are going abroad to work. indeed, records of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) shows that more females are getting newly hired for overseas jobs in recent years. This explain why female OFWs are fast gaining in on the number of males employed abroad. POEA records show that during the period 2000-2003, females made up over 70 percent of the newly-hired OFWs. in 2006, six out of ten newly-hired overseas workers were females. Majority of OFWs are collage graduates (44%). But a considerables number are only high school graduates (31%). Some finished only grade school(12%).These data shows that that while one may get lucky sometimes to find overseas employment even with only an elementary or high school education, migrants with higher educational attaiment are still favored. (State of the Philippine Population Report)

Air passage is vital to international labor migration. As overseas workers, we need to fly to and from our host countries the fastest but safest way, preferably the cheapest way too. While on paper it looks like our employers are shouldering the cost of air fare, in reality, we are paying for it through the exorbitant placement fees charged to us. For the longest time, Philippine Airlines (PAL) has monopoly over Philippine air. This stranglehold has meant higher airfare, limited seats, and not so top of the line pre-flight and in-flight services. But do we have to endure all of these because PAL is the so-called “national carrier?” Are we selling the national patrimony if we object to PAL’s monopoly? What we have done for our families and to the nation in general should put to rest any question about our love for the homeland. And as unsung heroes, don’t we deserve a better deal? Opening up air passage means accessibility. With freedom to choose from among wider choices of airlines a...

At least 19 Filipino jobseekers deported from Malaysia vowed to file large-scale illegal recruitment charges against a couple in Cagayan province who promised them jobs in Kuala Lumpur. Radio dzRH reported Friday that the 19 were part of a batch of 32 Filipinos "deployed" to Malaysia but were caught and deported back to the Philippines. The dzRH report said the 19 Filipinos, who were due to arrive at Clark in Pampanga province Friday, relayed to relatives their plans to sue John Sabiniano, 42, and his wife Elma, 40.John and Elma, based in Barangay 2 in Jones town, already face charges of illegal recruitment along with alleged Manila-based ring leader Diana Lacson from a victim based in Quirino province.One of the earlier victims, Elmer Labasa of Quirino province, claimed the couple duped him of P160,000 in "placement fees" as early as February 2007. Labasa, in a complaint he lodged before the provincial prosecutor's office in Quirino, said he paid the P160,000 p...

Vice President Manuel “Noli" de Castro on Tuesday asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to help rescue at least 40 Filipino women working in a sex den in Labuan, Malaysia. In a press statement, the Vice President, also presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, said he had sought the help of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs to immediately coordinate rescue operations for the Filipino women left behind in the sex den.De Castro took the move after meeting in his office three women who were rescued on November 9 from the same sex den in Labuan. The women returned to the country on Nov. 15. During the meeting, De Castro vowed to relentlessly pursue a campaign against illegal recruiters who exploit fellow Filipinos with tempting job offers overseas only to end up as sex slaves. The three Filipino women De Castro met said they were recruited to work as waitresses, but were forced to work in a sex den upon their arrival, radio dzBB reported on Tuesd...

Senate President Manuel Villar Jr has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the plight of Filipinos in overseas jails.In Resolution No. 189, Villar is urging the committees on labor and employment and on foreign relations to jointly find out the condition of detained Filipinos in different countries to be able to formulate remedial measures and devise a package of assistance to protect them. “An assessment of the legal and social remedies being afforded by our embassies and consular offices to our kababayans detained abroad for various offenses is imperative to ascertain sufficiency of assistance for the protection of OFWs," Villar explained.Sen. Loren Legarda also called on the government to make sure OFWs facing legal troubles, especially those who have been sentenced to die, in overseas jails are given appropriate attention. Legarda stressed that while justice must be afforded to all crime victims, justice must also be accorded to accused and convicted OFWs by way of ensurin...

Three Filipino girls deployed to Malaysia only to be turned into sex slaves returned to the country this week, radio dzBB reported Tuesday. The report said the three, whose names were withheld, had sought help from the office of Vice President Manuel "Noli" de Castro Jr in ending their ordeal. The three were reportedly promised jobs in Malaysia as waitresses and left the Philippines through the southern backdoor in Mindanao. Once they arrived in Kota Kinabalu, however, they were made to work in a brothel. They managed to seek help from Philippine authorities there.Upon learning of their plight, de Castro instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs to work for the repatriation of the three girls. - GMANews.TV

Christian and Muslim groups based in Mindanao are planning a series of prayer rallies to save overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Marilou Ranario from the death penalty. Church-run Radio Veritas reported Sunday that the groups based mainly in Surigao City also appealed to the Philippine government to intercede for Ranario. The groups called on Malacañang in particular to make representations with Kuwait to spare Ranario from death row. A Kuwaiti court is likely to hand down on December 27 its decision on Ranario, who was charged with murdering her employer in January 2005. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Philippine government officials are now closely monitoring developments in the case.Philippine ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo Endaya reported that the 11-member Court of Cassation heard oral arguments on the case November 13.During the hearing, two highly respected Kuwaiti defense lawyers, Ahmad Qurban and Abdel Majid Khuraibet, argued Ranario’s case at the instance of the Philip...

The fate of convicted Filipino domestic helper Marilou Ranario in Kuwait will be known on Nov. 27, not Dec. 27 as inadvertently announced earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. Kuwait’s Cessation Court will hand down its decision on Tuesday next week on the appeal for clemency of Ranario, a 35-year-old Filipina domestic helper from Surigao del Norte who had been convicted for killing her employer in January 2005.Ranario, a mother of two, left a teaching job in the Philippines in 2003 to work as a domestic helper in Kuwait. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo M. Endaya reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs Thursday last week that Kuwait's 11-member Court of Cassation heard oral arguments on Ranario’s appeal on Nov. 13. Two highly respected Kuwaiti defense lawyers --Ahmad Qurban and Abdel Majid Khuraibet -- argued Ranario's case at the instance of the Philippine government. The court has set the promulgation of its decision for Dec. 27, 2007, Enda...

The homecoming of the two Filipino seamen stranded in Iraq since July hit a snag after the Iraqi State Agent refused to approve their release papers on Tuesday. Rodolfo Limjap and Abril Ricablanca were supposed to take a ferry ride from Umm Qasr at 5 p.m. to the Port Rashid in Dubai, but last-minute appeals to concerned Iraqi authorities to release them were useless. The 10 Indians who have been stranded with the two Filipinos were also not allowed to leave the port. “Please be advised that the release paper for all the crew (10 Indians + 2 Pinoys) was rejected by the Iraqi State Agent as they are not accepting any responsibility in case some problem will occur with the repatriation of all crew," said Renee Dominguiano, a Filipino assistant port manager of Inchcape Shipping Services, who has been helping Limjap and Ricablanca taken out of Iraq. “We have tried our best and talked with concerned authorities for the release of the crew but (our efforts) were in vain," Dominguian...

After raising the hopes of overseas Filipino workers aspiring for jobs in Nigeria, Lebanon and Afghanistan, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) again dashed their hopes two days later when it recalled a department order partially lifting the ban on the deployment of OFWs to the three countries. The DOLE said the order was revoked due to the "inconsistent foreign policies of the Arroyo Administration."Upon orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DOLE has put on hold Department Order No. 86-7 signed November 15, 2007 which partially lifts the deployment ban to Afghanistan, Nigeria and Lebanon and issuing guidelines on the manner of deploying workers to those conflict areas. The order would have opened the doors to thousands of Filipinos who want to work in Afghanistan in the coalition bases, the International Red Cross, the Red Crescent and other UN related organizations involved in the reconstruction and development of that country, according to the Philippine O...

Brion calls for stronger partnership among maritime industry stakeholdersLabor and Employment Secretary Arturo D. Brion has called for stronger partnership among various stakeholders in the maritime sector to effectively respond to the fast-changing developments in the global maritime industry. Speaking at the recent Philippine Manning Convention which sought to address increasing global demand for seafarers, Brion commended the convention’s theme – Joining Hands to Meet the Global Demand for Seafarers Towards a Committed Partnership – as an attestation to the stakeholders’ resolve to face the challenges of the future together. “We in the government, and the DOLE family in particular, stand ready to be counted as a full participating member of that partnership,” Brion stressed."It must be a partnership that calls for the expansion of our spheres of cooperation beyond the traditional human resources demand and supply considerations of the (maritime) industry. It (partnership) must ...

More dependents, More migrants The Philippine population has grown fourfold in the last 50 years, from about 20 million in 1950 to 86.4 million today. This is one of the highest rates in the developing world, with around 2 million in Filipinos added every year. It is the 12th largest and the 8th densest population in the world (Ogena, 2004) The country's young population has its biggest segment in the 0-14 age bracket. Half of the population is under 21 years of age. This implies a high dependency burden on the working-age population having had to support a large number of dependent family members. In 2004, ratio was 69 persons in the dependent ages (below 15 and over 60) for every 100 members of working age (15-60). This may seem good, yet in reality, only 67 percent of the economically productive ages in 2004 were in employed, and 13 percent of them were actually unemployed.Thus, likely dependency ratio is 187 dependents per 100 employed Filipinos, or almost two dependent...

Friday, November 16 2007 @ 12:32 PM UTCNews affecting OFW's 16 - DFA warns Pinoy travelers vs Singapore's new law on bearing physical currencyThe Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday warned all Filipino travelers against new law being enforced by the Singaporean government that took effect last November 1, requiring any person bearing physical currency and bearer negotiable instruments (CBNI) amounting to more than SGD30,000 or its equivalent in a foreign currency, to submit a report of the transaction to the concerned Singaporean authorities. In an advisory, the DFA said that examples of bearer negotiable instruments include bills of exchange, cheques, promissory notes, bearer bonds, traveler's cheques and money orders or postal orders."Travelers entering into or departing from Singapore carrying CBNI in excess of SGD30,000 or its equivalent in a foreign currency, are advised to accomplish and submit the form to the immigration officer at the immigration chec...

COLUMN: OFW HELPLINEOFW HELPLINE is a regular weekly column in Q & A form which dispenses advice, information assistance to Filipinos living or working abroad and spotlight their stories to cull lessons from. Q: I do not have a problem but I want to share my experience as a mail-order bride, which has a good ending. I am now 45 years year and live in Australia with my second husband, a good man. My first husband was also from Australia. We were pen pals. I was 19 then and he was 50. When he asked me to marry him, I accepted because he said he would help take care of my family in Cebu. We got married in my hometown and all my relatives came to congratulate me for my good fortune. Before we left for Australia, my mother told me to obey my husband and to make sure that he would send the money he promised every month.I did not cry when we left Cebu. I was too excited to see my new country and the house that I would live in but saw only in pictures. But my husband was a different man in...

Filipino maids chat as they walk their employers' dogs in Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. Thousands of foreign domestic workers in Lebanon and the Arab world face abuse at the hands of their employers. Some of these workers — estimated at up to 150,000 in Lebanon — come from places as far as Madagascar and Nepal, but the majority are from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Members of a group of migrant workers expressed mixed reactions on the Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on the plunder case against deposed President Joseph Estrada on Wednesday.“Some of our members in Canada and the Middle East sent messages of cheers and jeers on the anti-graft court verdict," said Maria Fe Nicodemus, executive director of the Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng mga Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc. (Kakammpi). “Some of our members in Canada were happy about the guilty verdict as Canadians congratulated Filipinos because of the ‘strong’ justice system in the Philippines that has dragged a former president to jail," Nicodemus said.The Sandiganbayan found Estrada guilty of plunder and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment), or a jail term of 20 years and one day to 40 years. He was particularly convicted of the crime of receiving P545-million protection money from jueteng collectors and P189.7 million commission for the purchase of P1.8 billion...

A group of migrant workers urged the government on Saturday to assess the system of conducting pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS) as most overseas Filipino workers couldn't even remember the basic things to do in times of distress. Kakammpi, an organization of families of OFWs, told GMANews.TV that many of its members don’t know where to go for help if they are in trouble abroad. “The three-hour schedule for the five modules of PDOS is inadequate to equip OFWs with the basic knowledge needed to face harsh realities abroad," said Ma. Fe Nicodemus, executive director of Kakammpi. “Besides, PDOS is usually given a day before departure, the worst time for OFWs to sit and listen to lectures as numerous personal and family concerns snatch away the attention to lectures," she said. She added that each of the five modules in the PDOS needs more time and focus, as the topics are big ones -- realities of migration, culture of receiving countries, where to go for help in time...

A migrant workers’ group raised fears on Friday that sexually transmitted infection (STI) and reproductive track infection (RTI) could be a growing health concern among overseas Filipino domestic helpers due to lack of knowledge about these diseases. Ma. Fe Nicodemus, executive director of Kakammpi (Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng mga Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc.) said that 23 (7.3 percent) of the 302 overseas domestic helpers surveyed in 2005 had no idea about STI and RTI. The group has been observing increasing cases of the ailments among its members.In simple terms, it means two out of 10 domestic workers did not have sufficient knowledge about diseases affecting their reproductive health. “Among our members, we have recorded STI cases resulting from induced abortion. The problem alarms us especially that same survey shows that 23 of the respondents indicated pregnancy while working abroad as one of their problems," she said. “We assisted a domestic helper who got se...

A migrant workers’ group wants the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to focus on negotiations for bilateral labor agreements with countries hosting Filipino workers. Kanlungan Center, a group assisting distressed OFWs, is urging the POEA to do its responsibilities now that it has regained a broad mandate over the local migration industry under RA 9422, the law that strengthens its regulatory functions. “RA 9422 has strengthened POEA’s role in protecting the rights of OFWs. One way to lessen abuses against our workers is to send them to countries that have labor agreements with the Philippines," said Rosemary Trajano, executive director of Kanlungan Center. “The new law is a huge success for OFWs, and POEA must not fail them," Trajano said in an interview in a radio program hosted by Ma. Fe Nicodemus of Kakammpi, an organization of migrant workers and their families. According to Trajano, the Philippines has bilateral labor agreements with only 13 out of th...

SunStar : Zamboanga City - Sixty people have already enrolled to undergo free computer skills training, as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), in partnership with Microsoft Philippines, inaugurated Tuesday the Community Technology Learning Center (CTLC) in this city with the expansion of Microsoft's Tulay: An Unlimited Potential Program for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Microsoft Philippines gave a grant of $44,000 to Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-Anak ng Manggagawang Migranteng Pilipino Inc. (Kakammpi) to set up a Tulay center for OFWs and their families in this city. The program gives OFWs and their families access to both technology and technology training. With the help of Owwa, Tulay delivers sufficient training to provide skills for otherwise unskilled workers. The CTLC is located at the Owwa regional office in this city and aims to reach out to 800 OFWs and their families by the end of this year. It has 16 computer units provided by Microsoft Philippines. The ...

About 500,000 of the 1.2 million members of the overseas workers program (OWP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation are inactive, an official of PhilHealth has said. “In my initial review of the OWP database, I discovered that about 500,000 (41.6 percent) of our members are inactive. But I still have to crosscheck the figures," said Greg Rulloda, PhilHealth’s vice president.“Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) tend to forget their monthly dues. The database system automatically reports as inactive expired membership," Rulloda told radio host Ma. Fe Nicodemus of Kakammpi, an organization of migrant workers and their families. “PhilHealth is asking members to update their membership to avoid problems over claims later," Rulloda added. He said that the OWP is doing everything to make registration and payment processes easy.He also noted that the program would adopt electronic-registration and electronic-payment system early in 2008 to help members do transactions wit...

A Japan-based organization for migrant workers is asking Filipino nurses who want to work in Japan to be cautious and to think about their decision many times over. “Care giving work in Japan is not an easy task as many aspiring Filipino nurses think it is. Foreign care givers get second-rate treatment and lower salaries compared to Japanese nurses," says Katsuo Yoshinari, chairman of the Asian People’s Friendship Society (APFS). “Even if a Filipino has already adjusted to the culture, won many friends and learned our language, they still could get second-rate treatment," he said in a radio interview with Ma. Fe Nicodemus of Kakammpi, a Manila-based organization of migrant workers and their families.“It’s true that Japan needs foreign caregivers. We have an aging population. Many old people are sick, needing others to care for them," Yoshinari said.But Japan’s seeming dependence on foreigners to care for its aging people has not changed its low regard for foreign workers...

An officer of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has observed that most of the children of Filipino migrant workers have lost enthusiasm to finish their studies, and have preferred to follow in the footsteps of their parents. These children would right away leave the country if given opportunities to go abroad, said Ricardo Casco, IOM-Philippines’ national program officer for labor migration support. Casco was interviewed by Ma. Fe Nicodemus of Kakammpi, an organization of migrant workers and their families.“Because they are not graduates of any course in the Philippines, they are forced to take up whatever jobs abroad they can set their hands on... however menial," he said. He suggested that government encourage overseas Filipinos to put up projects for the education of migrants' children. Casco also observed that Filipino immigrants tend to lose touch with their communities of origin.“Some Filipino immigrants are not keen on making efforts to contribute somet...

Roughly, only one in every five Filipino domestic helpers in Lebanon is lucky enough to be spared from physical, verbal, sexual and other forms of abuses, according to an ex-worker from Lebanon who has been involved in a migrants advocacy group. “The unlucky ones are locked up inside their employers’ house for years and are made to work for long hours," said Ma. Socorro dela Cruz, a domestic helper for almost four years in Lebanon. Dela Cruz has joined the Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng mga Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino,Inc. (KAKAMMPI), a group attending to the needs of distressed workers overseas. In a recent reunion of Filipinos who used to work in Lebanon, only 15 out of 75 former domestic helpers said they got fair treatment from their employers and did not experience physical, verbal, sexual and other forms of abuses, Dela Cruz said on Thursday. She said most of her Filipino friends in Lebanon shared their ordeal in the hands of their employers. “Only a few shared happy st...

Female migrant workers, especially domestic helpers, need to learn the art of self-defense to avoid abuse, especially attempts of rape by their male employers, a Manila-based organization of migrant workers and their families said Tuesday. “Rape and physical abuse are real daily threats against domestic helpers inside the homes of their employers in various destination countries," said Ma. Fe Nicodemus, executive director of Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng mga Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc. (Kakammpi). “Female workers should be taught martial arts to prepare themselves," she said in an interview.Bill Hyde, International Organization for Migration (IOM) deputy representative for the Asia-Pacific region, noted that the volume of women migrants has dramatically increased over the years and the number of incidents of rape and physical abuses have also risen. Hyde said that domestic workers can prepare in advance against rape and other forms of physical abuse.In his introdu...

News affecting OFW's Sister Of Filipino On Hijacked Ship Says Ransom Demand May Come SoonThe hijackers of a Japanese tanker near Somalia's coast are expected to demand a ransom soon, the sister of a Filipino crew member said, as Manila insisted it will not deal with the pirates directly. The Golden Nori tanker was believed to be anchored off Somalia, the sister said Thursday (1 November).The U.S. Navy has been tracking the Golden Nori as the pirates hold hostage its 23 crew members - nine Filipinos, two South Koreans and 12 Myanmar citizens. On Sunday (28 Oct), a U.S. destroyer fired at and destroyed two pirate boats tied to the ship, which is loaded with highly flammable benzene.Josefina Villanueva - the sister of the crew's Filipino supervisor, 48-year-old Laureano Villanueva - said in Manila that the pirates let the ship's Filipino captain call his wife and relay the message that all on board were "OK," and that "nobody aboard the boat was harmed....

News affecting OFW's Sen.Legarda bats for gov't support for OFWs facing legal woesSenator Loren Legarda urged on Monday the government to leave no stone unturned in providing assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) facing legal troubles, especially those who have been sentenced to die. Loren stressed that while justice must be afforded to all crime victims, justice must also be accorded to accused and convicted OFWs by way of ensuring they have ample legal representation abroad. "Our concern is for all OFWs in trouble to be afforded due process in their host countries. This is a basic responsibility of the state to its citizens, wherever they may be," Loren said.In as much as OFWs in trouble are punished under the laws of other countries, Loren said that the Philippine government can always appeal for humanitarian consideration for OFWs facing the death sentence."Sadly, the queue of OFWs to the gallows is getting longer. As a country which has abolished t...

Angara secures the retirement years of domestic labor force and OFWS With the Philippines emerging as one of the top recipients of foreign remittances, Senator Edgardo J. Angara today emphasized the need to secure the financial stability of every hardworking overseas Filipino worker especially during their retirement years.In a joint report of the United Nations' International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Philippines ranked as the fourth-biggest collector of money transferred by overseas workers after receiving $ 14.65 billion last year. "Overseas Filipino Workers make a huge contribution to our economy in terms of remittances. Their remittances provide for their families' day-to-day consumption, but leave very little savings for one's retirement. It is time that we help them enjoy the fruits of their labor through long-term savings," said Senator Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Banks and Fi...

News affecting OFW's The nine Filipino fishermen, who took control a Taiwanese fishing vessel, are scheduled to arrive in Manila Friday night, according to Foreign Affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal.The fishermen were identified as Roderic R. Sumang, Delter M. Alday, Dennis L. Tolentino, Edwin M. Lee, Cirilo V. Moraleja, Jesus B. Baniqued, Socrates F. Silan, Jose C. Mempin, and Noel M. Cusi.Cristobal said the fishermen are set to leave Port Louis, Mauritius, Thursday at 11:20 p.m. (Mauritius time) via EK 702 and would arrive in Manila 10:30 p.m. Friday, via EK 334 from Dubai. Citing the report of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos Jr., he said the fishermen took over the ship Sunday due to abuses they were apparently experiencing from their Taiwanese captain.Cristobal said the fishermen are complaining of inhuman working conditions: 24-hour work shifts, non-payment of wages, and once-a-day meals.The government of Mauritius earlier assured the Philippi...

News affecting OFW's The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) warned Saturday the public against a new modus operandi - Want to "Text2Sawa" (send unlimited number of text messages)?. Head Agent Roland Argabioso, chief of the NBI–Field Operations Division (FOD), said the bureau uncovered that such “cellcard” did not provide unlimited text sending capacity for 30 days. This developed as Argabioso recommended the filing of a case in violation of R.A. 8484 ( Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998) against Mark Lyndonn Marquez, 24, of 1426-C Newton St., San Isidro, Makati City and Virgilio Cruz, 43, of Lot 9 Block 1 Phase 3, Greenheights, Marikina City.Marquez and Cruz were apprehended following a complaint lodged by Pablito Aleman, 50, of 413 P.D. Marso St., Pasay City. Aleman complained that recently Cruz enticed them to buy Text2Sawa cellcards for P150.Cruz allegedly told Aleman that by availing of the cellcards, the user can have unlimited text messaging for 30 days suppo...

Malaysiakini: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/74280 Nov 1, 07 6:13pm Adjust font size: The government has collected RM1.9 billion in levy and other fees from immigrant workers last year, Parliament was told today. Home Ministry parliamentary secretary Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said that the amount was collected in forms of levy, temporary working pass, and visa. Abdul Rahman (BN-Pokok Sena) was replying a query from Mohd Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) who asked the Home Ministry to state the amount of levy and other fees collected from immigrant workers yearly. Abdul Rahman said that in 2005, the government collected RM1.7 billion, whereas, as of August this year, the amount collected is RM1.5 billion. Menial jobsHe explained that it does not come as a surprise that Malaysia, as a more developed nation among the poor and underdeveloped neighbouring countries, attracts foreign workers. "Malaysians are not interested to do dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs. Also, they have man...

MANILA, Philippines -- Some 2,000 Filipinos, including government officials, teachers, students and soldiers, Wednesday joined a global campaign to end poverty by standing up and making a symbolic pledge at the Rizal Park in Manila. They pledged to reject not only excuses that allow 50,000 people to die every day because of extreme poverty but also the growing gap between the rich and the poor. They also urged government leaders to govern fairly, fight corruption and fulfill human rights. Many of them wore white wristbands with sketches of multicolored human figures. Organizers in the country expected three million people to stand up and make the pledge -- in parks, government and private offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants -- around the country from 5 a.m. to midnight Wednesday night. An auditing firm will do a head count and hopefully, a record of sorts will be established for possible submission to the Guinness Book of Records, Agnes Aleman, UN national information officer, sai...