KAKAMMPI News

One of seven Filipinos killed in an attack in Yemen earlier this month was posthumously conferred the Medal of Duty by Yemeni President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, the Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia said Thursday. Hadi awarded the medal to  Dr. Ruben Valenzuela  and expressed gratitude on behalf of Yemen's people for Valenzuela's exemplary service in his 30 years of humanitarian work there, the embassy said. "The Medal of Duty and Plaque was received by Vice Consul Redentor Genotiva on behalf of the family of Dr. Valenzuela during a ceremony on 16 December 2013 at the Presidential Palace in Sana’a," it said on its website. Also, the embassy said a delegation from the Defense Complex Hospital will go to the Philippines to visit the families of those who died. Valenzuela was among seven Filipinos killed in a terror attack on the Defense Complex Hospital (DCH) in Sana’a, Yemen last Dec. 5. The embassy said the Medal of Duty is "an expression of gratitude…in recogni...

For the second consecutive year, GMA News Online was chosen by overseas Filipino workers as their most preferred news website GMA News Online received the most number of online and text votes from OFWs in different parts of the world and their families in the Philippines, according to Ma. Fe Nicodemus, chairperson of Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak at Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc. (KAKAMMPI). “OFW choice ito, sila ang nag-choose, nagbotohan. Tinanong namin yung mga affiliate group at ka-link namin sa ibang bansa at lumabas na gusto nila at nire-recommend yung content ng GMA News Online dahil balanse, reader-friendly, updated at fresh na fresh,” she said in a phone interview Thursday “Pro-OFW rin yung mga storya nyo kasi yung iba sinisisi pa yung mga OFWs e. Hindi rin pangit ang istoryang nababasa at kalmado, hindi yung nananakot. Madali ring intindihin ng mga ordinaryong tao,” she added. Nicodemus said among the articles OFWs are looking forward in the "Pinoy Abroad" sec...

GMA News Pinoy Abroad team bags OFW award . GMA News Online Pinoy Abroad editor Karl Kaufman (left) and writer Xianne Arcangel pose with their OFW Gawad Parangal Award for Most Dedicated Online News for OFWs during awards night at a hotel in Malate, Manila on Wednesday, December 18.  TJ Pusong For the second consecutive year, GMA News Online was chosen by overseas Filipino workers as their most preferred news website GMA News Online received the most number of online and text votes from OFWs in different parts of the world and their families in the Philippines, according to Ma. Fe Nicodemus, chairperson of Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak at Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc. (KAKAMMPI). “OFW choice ito, sila ang nag-choose, nagbotohan. Tinanong namin yung mga affiliate group at ka-link namin sa ibang bansa at lumabas na gusto nila at nire-recommend yung content ng GMA News Online dahil balanse, reader-friendly, updated at fresh na fresh,” she said in a phone intervi...

A Jeddah-based food catering company has been fined SR732,700 (P8,648,384) for causing 215 Filipinos to contract food poisoning, the Arab News reported on Sunday. The  report  said the Municipality of Jeddah announced the fine and month-long closure of the catering company last Thursday. The decision came after a full-scale investigation was launched by the Yanbu Food and Drug Authority, the Health Ministry, and Jeddah Municipality's quality control department, linking the company to the incident. A  separate report on Saudi Gazette  said the inspectors found expired raw materials and unhygienic utensils in the facility. Blood samples were also taken from the 50 workers on-site, none of whom possessed a health card. Sami Nawar, spokesperson for the Jeddah Municipality, said the financial penalty imposed on the company is the largest fines imposed on a food enterprise. Both reports did not mention the catering firm's name. —  Rie Takumi /KBK, GMA News

Tags:  Super Typhoon Yolanda  ,  Yolanda aid A Filipina in the United Arab Emirates is offering a reward for information leading to the remains of her nine-year-old daughter, who she fears had died during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Jella Yu, 34, a documentation controller in an oil and gas firm in Abu Dhabi, is offering P20,000 pesos (Dh1,662) to find the body of Kasandra Mae Yu Villanueva, UAE-based news site Gulf News reported Thursday. “I want a closure though sometimes I have hopes she may be found alive. I have to find her body to be sure that my daughter will rest in peace in heaven,” Yu, whose family is based in Tacloban City, said in an interview with  Gulf News XPRESS . The remains of Yu's younger daughter Shamel Anne, 8, had been found almost immediately in the wake of Yolanda, which left more than 6,000 dead. Kasandra and Shamel were under the care of Yu's 67-year-old mother and her elder sister Jenny. Yu said posters had been dist...

A man proposed to a Filipina maid he impregnated seven months ago, as they faced a misdemeanor court in the United Arab Emirates Wednesday. The unemployed man and the maid had admitted to having sex in the man’s carm according to a report on UAE-based news site Gulf News on Thursday. “I want to marry her. She is carrying my son... I want to propose and give her some money for her personal expenditure,”  the Emirati, 37, told the court  before giving the Filipina Dh200 (roughly P2,400) During the court appearance, the Emirati sought permission from presiding judge Jamal Al Jubaily to propose to the Filipina. For her part, the Filipina, 29, nodded and agreed to marry her lover after Presiding judge Al Jubaily asked the court translator to ask her if she agreed to marry the man. Judge Al Jubaily will hand out a ruling on December 29. The couple had been accused of having consensual sex, while the Filipina was also charged for working for another sponsor without permission. Author...

Recent unverified reports on job opportunities in Japan may result in illegal recruiters taking advantage of the situation to victimize Filipinos eager to work abroad, an official of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration warned on Monday. According to POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, actual job orders (JOs) from employers for teachers in Japan are very low contrary to several published reports. “I recognize that Japan needs English teachers and maybe even domestic workers but the JOs registered at the POEA currently do not reflect that,” Cacdac said. He also said based on POEA data, there are no job orders for domestic workers in Japan.   “I fear that unscrupulous trainings institutions, language centers and illegal recruiters will take advantage of recent news articles that may have created a labor market bubble for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs),” he said in a text message.   Cacdac cautioned would-be OFWs to be wary of illegal recruiters, as he reiterated t...

When one grows up watching parents pack-up hard-as-rock packages for the holidays, one apparently has to make a music video about it. Filipino-Canadian internet sensation Mikey Bustos, a 2003  Canadian Idol  alumnus, made a “Wrecking Ball” parody at a friend's house in Caloocan to commemorate the season of  balikbayan  boxes. “Balikbayan Box,” Bustos explained on Monday's “News To Go” program, was created out of memories he had of his parents—his mother in particular—sending these boxes home every holiday. “Growing up, it was part of Filipino culture, so I said, 'Why don't I combine Miley Cyrus and a Balikbayan box?” said Bustos, clad in what he called his Hari ng mga Langgam ng Yelo costume. In a sequence within the video, it showed him having difficulties opening the box—a sentiment shared by several Filipino commentators. Surprisingly, more US- and Canada-based commentators concurred with the video. Bustos said the scene came from watching his mom wrap boxes in...

Philippine officials in the United States on Monday night said that  they got in touch with 20 Filipino students enrolled at Harvard University , after four buildings in the campus were evacuated due to bomb threats. The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. said the Philippine Consulate General in New York was continuing to monitor developments at Harvard. The Philippine Consulate, meanwhile, said that  the Filipino Harvard students were enrolled as undergraduates . According to the embassy,  Harvard officials ordered an evacuation  following "unconfirmed reports of explosives at four sites on campus." Around four buildings in the university were evacuated  due to the threat. But as of early Tuesday Manila time, Harvard's Science Center, Sever Hall and Harvard Yard, Thayer and Emerson Hall had been declared to be safe. " All four sites now open ," The university said.

With PhilHealth, no one is left behind. In its effort to provide true financial risk protection to all Filipinos especially the poor, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has further strengthened its enrolment program, this time at the very points where they are extremely needed. In its Circular 32, s-2013 which took effect November 29, 2013, PhilHealth formalized its “point-of-care enrolment program” which targets non-members belonging to Class C-3 or D confined in government hospitals. The program will also benefit existing members not currently eligible to financial protection due to lack of qualifying contributions and also classified as Class C3 or D. Qualified patients and their qualified dependents shall be provided with PhilHealth coverage under the Sponsored Program. Their premium contributions shall be borne by the government facility, provided that they are certified poor by the medical social worker at the time of admission. "This enrol...

13 December 2013 - Some Filipino children who are living in France received an early Christmas gift from the Philippine Embassy. In line with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ mandate of promoting Philippine language and literature throughout the world, the Philippine Embassy in Paris gave away as gifts different books on Philippine culture, art, architecture, myths and other stories to these Filipino kids. These books were donated to the Embassy by Mr. Bogie Caoili, a Filipino-French entrepreneur who owns Bocoray Shop which specializes in home furnishings and decors. Ambassador Cristina G. Ortega, after receiving the books in a simple turn over ceremony at the Embassy, had a read-along with the children. Ambassador Ortega read and explained the significance of the Filipino classic,  Bahay Kubo . Ambassador Ortega expressed hope that the parents of these children and other parents of children who are being raised abroad would continue to impart knowledge on Filipino language an...

 The POEA Governing Board has ended the total deployment ban to Egypt as the Department of Foreign Affairs further lowered the Crisis Alert Level in the said country from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2 or Restriction Phase. Under Alert Level 2, processing and deployment of workers shall be allowed only for OFWs returning to their current employers and are with existing employment contracts as determined by POEA. The deployment ban for newly-hired OFWs shall be maintained. On 19 August 2013, DFA raised the Crisis Alert Level in Egypt to Alert Level 4, which resulted to the mandatory repatriation of OFWs and issuance of a total deployment ban to Egypt by the Governing Board. The DFA, in view of the continued improvement in the political and security situation in Egypt, recommended on 04 November 2013 the lowering of the Crisis Alert Level to Alert Level 3, and to Alert Level 2 on 21 November 2013.

A Paramus, New Jersey family man with only a primary school education has created a mobile game for iPhone users. Guy Pineda, 41, has recently launched Taboo Tyke which he described as an “adorable strategy game” suitable for all ages. It is the first game created by his Advanzweb company backed by a team of programmers based in Cebu. The game features a cute and curious crawling baby named Tyler. “Baby Tyler is oblivious to the world’s dangers, so Taboo Tyke challenges players to help him from getting hurt and waddle through different zones to get home,” explained Guy in an interview with The FilAm. He continued with the details of how the game is played: “As baby Tyler walks continuously throughout the game, players must influence the toddler’s behavior with different Action Items to prevent him from falling or getting snatched. Action Items include teddy bears to make baby Tyler crawl down, lollipops to make him pause from walking, shoes to make him dash through obstacles, and helme...

Two Filipino lifeguards pleaded not guilty before a United Arab Emirates court this week over charges of negligence for the death of an Indian national in a swimming pool in August 2012. Prosecutors accused the two Filipinos, aged 43 and 31, of failing to perform their duties which led to the man’s death, UAE news site Gulf News reported. At the  Dubai Misdemeanour Court  on Thursday, the two Filipinos denied the accusation they were responsible for the 29-year-old Indian’s drowning. The Indian victim had drowned while spending a day of swimming and entertainment with his brother and his family at Al Memzar Beach Park in August 2012. He reportedly jumped into the four-meter-deep adults’ pool, but drowned and landed in the middle of the swimming pool’s bottom. But the two Filipinos maintained the pool was crammed on that day, and asked the judge to adjourn the court until they hire a lawyer to defend them. During the prosecution questioning, the victim’s elder brother said his...

The Philippine Embassy in Japan will be closed on Dec. 23 to mark the birthday of Japanese Emperor Akihito. In a notice on its website, the embassy indicated the "Emperor's Birthday" is part of the list of events and holidays in Japan. The  Japan-Guide.com website  said the Emperor's Birthday is a national holiday. Emperor Akihito became Japan's 125th emperor in 1989. Meanwhile, the embassy said it  will also be closed on : - Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, a special nonworking day - Dec. 25, Christmas Day - Dec. 30, Rizal Day - Dec. 31, New Year's Eve, a special nonworking day   — LBG, GMA News

A warning to Filipinas being offered marriage in Korea: the offer may be part of a human trafficking ploy. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez issued this warning on his Twitter account Saturday. Hernandez said the  traffickers target Filipinas going to South Korea  as wives and entertainers. The Philippine embassy in South Kore issued a similar warning on illegal marriage brokering by Korean agents in the Philippines and the trafficking of Filipina entertainers into Korea following the Second Multicultural and Law Forum held in Ansan City. Korean prosecutors and immigration officials, representatives of embassies and foreign community groups were invited to discuss challenges of multiculturalism in the South Korean society. “Most of the serious cases were already problematic from the start as the Filipino women either went through illegal marriage brokers or were  trafficked to Korea as entertainers ,"  Embassy Second Secretary and Consul Aian Car...

A warning to Filipinas being offered marriage in Korea: the offer may be part of a human trafficking ploy. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez issued this warning on his Twitter account Saturday. Hernandez said the  traffickers target Filipinas going to South Korea  as wives and entertainers. The Philippine embassy in South Kore issued a similar warning on illegal marriage brokering by Korean agents in the Philippines and the trafficking of Filipina entertainers into Korea following the Second Multicultural and Law Forum held in Ansan City. Korean prosecutors and immigration officials, representatives of embassies and foreign community groups were invited to discuss challenges of multiculturalism in the South Korean society. “Most of the serious cases were already problematic from the start as the Filipino women either went through illegal marriage brokers or were  trafficked to Korea as entertainers ,"  Embassy Second Secretary and Consul Aian Car...

Overseas Filipino workers in the United Arab Emirates who want to spend the holidays in the Philippines were reminded over the weekend to secure their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) first. Philippine labor attache Delmer Cruz said the OFWs can get the OECs at one of 20 different centers in the Philippines to avoid long queues at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai, UAE news site Khaleej Times reported Sunday. Cruz said the  20 areas include  Duty Free Philippines in Parañaque, SM Manila, Trinoma in Quezon City, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 for residents of Leyte and Samar affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda. This early, there are already many applicants for the OEC at the POLO Dubai because it is peak season, the Khaleej Times quoted Cruz as saying. Many OFWs are expected to flock to their homes in the Philippines in December to spend Christmas and New Year with their families. Because of this, December and January are considered...

Overseas Filipino workers in the United Arab Emirates who want to spend the holidays in the Philippines were reminded over the weekend to secure their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) first. Philippine labor attache Delmer Cruz said the OFWs can get the OECs at one of 20 different centers in the Philippines to avoid long queues at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai, UAE news site Khaleej Times reported Sunday. Cruz said the  20 areas include  Duty Free Philippines in Parañaque, SM Manila, Trinoma in Quezon City, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 for residents of Leyte and Samar affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda. This early, there are already many applicants for the OEC at the POLO Dubai because it is peak season, the Khaleej Times quoted Cruz as saying. Many OFWs are expected to flock to their homes in the Philippines in December to spend Christmas and New Year with their families. Because of this, December and January are considered...