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...

11/29/2009 | 06:36 PM President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has named a congressional ally as the country’s next envoy to Italy, a Malacañang official said on Sunday. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Arroyo designated Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Italy. “You are hereby nominated as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of Italy with rank and emoluments of Chief of Mission Class 2," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio, reading from a directive of President Arroyo. Cuenco, 73, presently chairs the House of Representatives’ committee on foreign relations. He is a member of the Promdi-BOPK-Lakas party and is on his third and last term. On the other hand, Remonde said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano is no longer keen on running for an elective post next year and is likely to stay at his Cabinet post. “Last time nag-usap kami, tinatanong ko siya, ayaw tumakbo. Mananatili si Ace sa Department of Tourism...

A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has upheld a two-year jail term for a Filipino accountant who was convicted for torching two offices in his former workplace. The UAE Court of Appeals also upheld the Filipino’s deportation once he serves his jail term, according to a report on UAE news site Khaleej Times. It referred a separate embezzlement charge against the Filipino to the UAE Court of Misdemeanors. Last October 13, the Court of First Instance sentenced the Filipino accountant to two years in prison followed by deportation for arson. Court records showed the female director of the company where he used to work accused him of embezzling Dh10,000 (P127,865) while he was the accountant there. She also accused him of setting her office and his office on fire. She alleged that he had been absent from work frequently. The Filipino admitted to the prosecutors to setting the offices on fire. On the other hand, the criminal evidence report showed that there were marks of tampering wi...

CHICAGO, Illinois – Several news organizations in the United States have launched fund drives for the families of the Filipino journalists slain in the politically motivated killings in Maguindanao. Los Angeles-based Media Breakfast Club (MBC) will be launching a “Support for the Orphans of Slain Journalists" (SOS-J) drive. MBC head Bobby Reyes said the group had discussed the plan among their members. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We must never forget their courage and willingness to risk their lives to get their stories to the public. – Allen Rafalson, president of the Chicago Journalists Association -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, the Chicago Journalists Association will hold a brief ceremony for the slain journalists at their upcoming 71st annual dinner. “Far too many men and women in our profession have been killed reporting on wars, corruption and crime. We must ne...

For promoting cooperativism and entrepreneurship, two families – one each from Batangas and Masbate provinces - were named model overseas Filipino worker (OFW) families for 2009. Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said Saturday the winners of this year’s Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) are the Lubis family from Lipa; and Bello family from Baleno, Masbate. Engineer Rodolfo Pita Lubis of Lipa, Batangas represents land-based OFWs, while Capt. Emilio Bajar Bello of Baleno, Masbate represents sea-based OFWs. Roque, who conceived the MOFYA when he was still the head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), said the Lubis and Bello families exemplify OFWs model families in the country who have demonstrated the best practices of OFWs and their families in overcoming the challenges of migration. Lubis worked in Saudi Arabia for more than 30 years, while his family invested his overseas earnings in various agri-business enterprises that employ more than 200 workers. The Lu...

The Philippines should actively safeguard “the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)" to further boost the economy, the country’s acting socioeconomic planning secretary said. Ensuring their safety and well-being will help keep steady growth of remittances, which in turn, boost the domestic economy, Augusto Santos, acting director general of the National and Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said. Money sent home by OFWs are used by beneficiaries to purchase goods and services, helping the Philippines’ consumption-driven economy. Remittances also provided the Philippines some “cover" in its trade gap, measured as the amount left over after its imports are subtracted from its exports. Unlike its export-dependent Asian neighbors such as Taiwan and Singapore, the Philippines also depends on remittances to support its economy. Santos said one of the advantages of the Philippine economy is that it is not solely reliant on exports, unlike its Asian neighbors such as Taiwa...

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) agreed to spend P40 million to conduct the polls, after they signed a memorandum of agreement on the matter Friday. At least 606,414 registered overseas absentee voters worldwide - including the 128,272 in Hong Kong and Singapore - are expected to participate in the overseas absentee voting from April 10 to May 10, 2010. [See more election-related topics at Your Vox] DFA Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns Rafael Seguis and Comelec Commissioner signed the agreement at the DFA office in Pasay City. Seguis chairs DFA-Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (DFA-OAVS), while Velasco chairs the Comelec Committee in Overseas Absentee Voting. According to Seguis, Hong Kong and Singapore were chosen because they are nearest to the Philippines, among other foreign service posts that obtained the highest number of registrants “It will be easier and will cost less to send technical people to Hong Kong and Si...