KAKAMMPI News

The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has planned several events that aim to bring Filipino nationals together and showcase Philippine Christmas traditions in Malaysia. Holy Masses organized by the Philippine Embassy and the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM) will be held from December 1 to December 9 at the Embassy grounds every 7:00 p.m. The Mass celebrants will include the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Most Reverend Julian Low Beng Kim. A Christmas concert entitled “Pamaskong Handog” will also be held on December 6 at the Amphitheatre of the Kompleks Kraft in Kuala Lumpur. Some of the artists who will be present to entertain the Filipino community in Malaysia are Jay-R and Suy Galvez. There will also be a lighting of giant parols as part of the Christmas Open House on December 11, to be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Malaysian government officials and businessmen and leaders of the Filipino community. The Open House will featur...

The Christmas season is also the season for sending balikbayan boxes. With this, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is reminding Filipinos abroad who want to send packages to their loved ones in the Philippines to steer clear of bogus forwarders. For guidance, here is a list of DTI-accredited forwarders as of October 2015. — Rie Takumi /KBK, GMA News

Filipino lawyers of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina death row convict in Indonesia who was given a temporary reprieve last April, have asked a Nueva Ecija court to deny the motion for reconsideration filed by her alleged recruiters. Because of the pending motion for reconsideration filed by the defense, the Baloc Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija, granted its request to suspend the arraignment of  Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao last November 11. The defense was asking the court to reconsider its October 25, 2015 ruling denying its Motion for Bill of Particulars, specifically the court records of Veloso's conviction in Indonesia. In its motion, the defense argued that denial of the records "exhibited [the court's] prejudgement of the case." But in their 13-page comment to the motion, Veloso's lawyers led by Edre Olalia said the request made by the defense was "unnecessary and immaterial to the case." They no...

More than 200,000 Filipinos in Doha, Qatar, were affected by the floods caused by more than a year's worth of rain that fell in a matter of hours Wednesday,  almost bringing the country to a standstill.   According to a report on "Balitanghali" on Friday, a Filipino school had been forced to close for two days due to the torrential rain that also hit neighboring Saudi Arabia.   The deluge in Doha blocked several roads, making some impassable for commuters and causing huge congestion.   Schools and malls closed, hotels were affected and the rain forced the US embassy in Qatar to shut down.   Worst hit seemed to be the area around Doha's Hamad International Airport, where almost 80 millimeters of rain fell, according to the Qatar Meteorology Department.   Social media users reported leaks at the facility, which opened just last year after being constructed at an estimated cost of $17 billion (16 billion euros).   However, Hamad I...

Filipinos in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates have been warned by the Philippine Consulate General against scams perpetrated by people claiming to be members of charitable organizations such as the Red Cross.   "We remind all overseas Filipino workers to be mindful of possible solicitations in the guise of raising funds for the Red Cross or other charitable organizations," the Consulate said in a statement.   The Consulate issued the warning after receiving information regarding fund-raising events being organized without the knowledge of the charities being represented.   According to Section 8 of Republic Act 10072 or Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009, it "shall be unlawful for any person to solicit, collect or receive money, materials or property of any kind by falsely representing himself to be a member, agent or representative of the Philippine Red Cross."   Usage of the Red Cross name and emblem is also a violation of section 9 of the same l...

Despite constant reminders from authorities, some airline passengers were still apprehended in airports Thursday for carrying bullets, a report on "24 Oras" said.   According to GMA News' Oscar Oida in his report, an OFW departing for Riyadh was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 for carrying four live bullets for a .38 caliber pistol.   The OFW, identified only as "Anthony," did not deny that the bullets were his.   "Binigay po sa 'kin, nakalimutan ko lang pong i-alis dun sa pouch ko," said Anthony, a former security guard.   Anthony said he was aware of the reminders against bringing bullets in airports as he constantly followed the reports on the alleged "laglag bala" extortion racket in the news.   Meanwhile, in Naga City, a female doctor was apprehended in the airport for carrying five live 9mm rounds and two empty .45 shells in her bag.   According to Reymundo Torres, superv...

President Benigno Aquino III's statement dismissing reports on the alleged "laglag-bala" extortion scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as "sensationalized" did not sit well with a bishop and an OFW group. In her report on News To Go on Thursday, GMA News' Kara David quoted Bishop Ruperto Santos as saying that the President's statement showed insensitivity toward the plight of OFWs, who are the targets of the extortion scheme. Santos, who heads the Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, disagreed with Aquino's statement that the "laglag-bala" issue was sensationalized, saying it has been happening for a long time. Militant pro-migrants group Migrante International echoed Santos' sentiment, saying OFWs themselves were offended with Aquino's flippancy. “Our kababayans’ reactions range from incredulity at his insensitivity to irrepressible ire at hi...

Filipinos in Canada held an online fundraiser for the family of a Filipino community leader who was killed after he was hit by a dump truck while on his way home from work last November 5. The  campaign on GoFundMe  for the family of Ronald Ordinario managed to raise $14,068 in just nine days, less than $1,000 short of its $15,000 target. Ordinario is a founding member of Migrante B.C. A report on CBC said Ordinario ran local basketball and volleyball leagues for Filipinos through Migrante. He met the fatal accident while riding his bike on a service road in Richmond. In an interview with Stephen Quinn on "On The Coast," Migrante B.C. co-founder Erie Maestro described the campaign as a pleasant surprise for Ordinario's widow, Nie-Ann. Nie-Ann was left with three kids aged 6 and 9 years and a newborn. She is also dealing with post-partum complications while her sons are receiving counseling at school. Ordinario, 37, was working three jobs to support his family. ...

The Social Security System (SSS) has made its services within reach of OFWs in at least 11 key destinations worldwide by offering toll-free numbers. Judy Frances A. See, SSS senior vice president for international operations, said OFWs who have queries or requests to the SSS stand to benefit from this added service. The toll-free numbers are: -- 001-8000-CALL-SSS for Hong Kong and Singapore; -- 00-8000-CALL-SSS for Malaysia, Taiwan, Italy and United Kingdom; -- 801-4275 for Brunei; -- 00800-100-260 for Qatar; -- 800-0630-0038 for United Arab Emirates; -- 800-863-0022 for Saudi Arabia; and -- 8000-6094 for Bahrain. These toll-free numbers will be open to OFWs from 6 a.m. on Mondays to 6 a.m. on Saturdays in Philippine time. According to See, most of the requests sought from the OFW Contact Services Unit (CSU) include reactivation of SSS membership, verification of contribution and loan records, queries on procedures on applying for SS (social security) number, location of SSS...

Berkeley-based Filipina Cecilia Gaerlan is on a mission. A novelist, playwright and occasional travel organizer, the Imus, Cavite, native wants to introduce young Americans to the important role Filipino soldiers played in World War II. It was a special, if not sentimental mission. Gaerlan's father, Luis Gaerlan Jr., was among the brave Filipinos who fought alongside the Americans during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Photo from Cecilia Gaerlan's website Not only that, Luis was also a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March, which saw the deaths of thousands of Filipino and American POWs — mostly Filipinos — at the hands of Japanese Imperial Forces in April 1942. "By the end of [World War II], approximately 1,000,000 Filipino civilians perished,"  Gaerlan said in her website . "And yet today, the Filipino soldiers' role during WWII and the suffering  of the entire Filipino nation are not mentioned in US history books." Left ...

A pro-OFW group on Wednesday expressed hope that the signing of the ASEAN Convention Against Human Trafficking in Person (ACTIP) will benefit Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug smuggling.   In a statement, Migrante International noted that among the signatories was Indonesian President Joko Widodo. A  report on Antara News  said the ACTIP will be used as an effective legal framework for the ASEAN region to overcome human trafficking.   "These are all very welcome developments and, hopefully, indications that Pres. Widodo continues to hear our plea for Mary Jane and all other victims of trafficking who are presently on Indonesian death row," said Mic Catuira, Migrante International's deputy secretary-general.   The group believes that the signing of the convention is "one step towards attaining justice for drug trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso."   Veloso, arrested at the Yogyakarta Airport in 2010 for carryi...

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) here was forced to sleep outdoors near the ocean after he escaped from his employer. In an exclusive interview with GMA News, Steve Gajelan said he left his employer after the employer forced him to work as a tile setter instead of a plumber, which was the job he applied for. "Pinaalis ako bilang isang tubero pero pagdating ko dito sa establishment na papasukan ko ay pinagtrabaho po ako bilang isang tile setter," Gajelan said. "Mali po 'yun dahil hindi po ako marunong mag-tiles." He also said his employer tried to make him pay for the tiles that he failed to install properly due to lack of experience. "Doon po ako nagreklamo sa kanila dahil hindi naman po nararapat 'yun dahil hindi naman po 'yun ang trabaho ko," Gajelan said. He added that his employer tried to have him evicted from his accommodation after learning that he has sought assistance from the Philippine Overseas Labo...

Families of the 13 Filipinos killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia last November 16 are set to receive government cash assistance amounting to over P200,000.00 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).   "The legal heirs of the active OWWA members who died will receive P200,000.00 in death benefits, since their death was caused by an accident, with an additional funeral expense of P20,000.00," said OWWA administrator Rebecca Calzado in a statement Wednesday.   The 13, all electricians working for a construction and engineering company, were killed after their service coaster collided with a delivery truck in Al-Ahsa, a province in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia . They were on their way to their accommodation from their work site when the accident happened.   Aside from the fatalities, 13 other Filipinos were hurt and are recuperating from several hospitals.   "In the case of the injured workers, OWWA shall provide them with dis...

An overseas Filipino worker on his way to Macau for vacation was prevented from boarding his flight Monday when he was caught with a bullet in his bag at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, a report on Unang Balita on Wednesday said. The bullet was allegedly found in Gerard Ubarde's bag containing medicines. Ubarde said it is impossible for a bullet to be in his bag since he knows it is against the law to carry one. Ubarde was immediately released after the case was dismissed. Meanwhile, the  Manila International Airport Authority installed disposal booths  at NAIA to give passengers a chance to rid their bags of banned items.  —KG, GMA News

With a piece inspired by his childhood experiences in the Philippines, 28-year-old Guelph-based Filipino bested 14 other finalists to win in the 17th edition of the RBC Canadian Painting Competition, reports said.   Quoting the competition's judges, a  report on Globe And Mail  said Patrick Cruz's victory was “based on his decidedly contemporary attitude towards painting."   "His brave approach, maximalist aesthetic and wild graphic sensibility set a provocative tone for emerging art in Canada in 2015," it added.   Cruz told CBC Radio Canada  that his piece, "Time allergy," an acrylic on canvas, is partly based on his memories of the colorful art on the sides of jeepneys he saw while growing up in Manila.   Its title is also a reference to a quote made by Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz in reference to the concept of structured time introduced by the Spanish to the Philippines.   Cruz explained to CBC, "We were kind of allergic to...

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates – To promote Filipino music here, all-Pinoy band 3hirdParty decided to make a bold step: eschew cover songs in favor of original compositions. "Original songs ang tinugtog ng 3hirdParty since the start kasi 'yung concept is to promote original songs and to support OPM here in UAE," shared Miguel Perez, the band's 36-year-old guitarist and lyricist, via email.  "The song ideas came from me but are arranged by the whole band to make the sound unique to 3hirdParty," he added. These song ideas, Miguel said, do not necessarily come from personal experiences. Or, as he put it, there are no "hugot moments" in his songs. "Walang hugot moments'; they are not necessarily from my experiences. Some are from friends as well. Some are just plain words which I thought were a good idea for song lyrics," said Miguel, who works at TechnoHub Trading LLC. Completing the band are vocalist/rhythm guitarist Dominique ...

Though details have yet to be ironed out, President Benigno Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed during a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Summit last week that Filipinos would be allowed to apply for household workers' jobs in Japan. "We requested on the side of Philippines that they also prepare necessary system so that it will be smoothly implemented," said Japanese press secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura said in a Monday report on GMA 7 news program “24 Oras”. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) deputy administrator Atty. Jeriel Domingo said that there would be no educational requirement for Filipino housekeepers in Japan. But they should undergo training for six months with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). They also need to learn how to speak Japanese. Filipino housekeepers in Japan will be expected to be stay-out workers. T...

A Filipino seafarer has been cited by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London for his bravery at sea after he rescued a distressed mariner last year "despite treacherous sea conditions."   Pinoy seafarer Vicente Somera receives his certificate of commendation from IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu as PHL Ambassador to UK Enrique Manalo (2nd from L) and Australia Maritime Safety Organization CEO Mick Kinley look on.  DFA photo Vicente Somera was honored for rescuing fellow seafarer Steve Collins, who nearly died of hypothermia on August 31 last year after jumping overboard to retrieve a messenger line thrown to him by crewmembers of a passing ship.   At that time, Collins' vessel, Enya II, was having problems while he was on a solo voyage from Australia to New Zealand.   Somera, who was on board MV Lars Maersk, "used his own body to protect Collins from being crushed by the swinging ladder in between passing swells," the Departm...

President Benigno Aquino III believes that the controversy on the supposed “laglag bala” extortion racket in airports had been “sensationalized” and used by certain groups to put his administration in bad light. In a coffee meeting with reporters at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, Aquino said the statistics presented to him do not necessarily add up to the possibility that an extortion racket exists inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “Hindi naman yata ganun ang nangyari. Medyo na-sensationalize at medyo may mga nakinabang na mag-sensationalize niyan. Okay, pero dulo nito, hindi tayo pwedeng dumaan sa haka-haka. Kailangan naman natin hanapan ng pruweba one way or the other, patunayan, ano ba ang tama?” said Aquino. Aquino said all allegations should be backed with proof as he expressed sympathy toward innocent airport employees who have been affected by the controversy. “Kapag napatunayan kung ano ‘yung tama, hindi ba kung may guilty parusahan,...

Families of some of the 13 Filipinos killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia last week have begun the laborous process of repatriating the remains of their loved ones, a report on Balitanghali said Monday. In her report, GMA News' Maki Pulido said the wives of the three fatalities went to the recruitment agency on Monday morning to submit the documents needed to kickstart the repatriation process. The report quoted the wives as saying that they have yet to be briefed on the entire process and on the benefits that they should receive from the government following the November 16 accident. The wives also said they have yet to be approached by representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The Filipino victims, all electricians who were working in an engineering company, were killed when the coaster bringing them home from work collided with a delivery truck in Al-Ahsa, a province in the East...

Victoria, a nurse from the Philippines, came to RN Express feeling defeated and depressed. She lost almost half a million pesos to recruiters but still had no job waiting for her. Her fiancé, a Filipino American, made the decision for her: Come to the U.S. and let’s get married. On the strength of her fiancée visa, RNE was able to adjust her status. Within months, Victoria was working in a nursing home. RN Express, a boutique staffing agency in Midtown, tells it like it is. If the nurse applicant has no valid visa, it will not promise the moon and the stars. Neither will it sell false hopes. It will tell the applicant that RNE may not be able to adjust her status and find her a job. The stark fact is that no agency probably can. An applicant who is out of status, or who came to the US using bogus documentation will find little assistance, except for friendly advice: ‘Come back when your visa is valid and we will help you.’ There are at least two ways Filipino nurses can find...

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Close, but keep the Champagne in the chiller. Filipino Americans in what looms as battleground county next year had sought to set the stage for celebration after the Nov. 3 local elections. Their hopes turned to disappointment when results showed key candidates unsuccessful in their bids. In a countywide race, Anthony "Fel" Amistad placed fourth of seven bets for the governing board of the San Mateo County community college district. The businessman and college professor collected 20,057 or 11.21 percent of total votes.   The San Mateo resident trailed some 13,000 votes behind his closest foe and led by over 7,000 ahead of the fifth placer. Topnotcher Dave Manderkern, an incumbent, got 48, 684 votes or 26.87 percent of the tally. The district in contention governs College of San Mateo, Canada College and Skyline College with an enrollment of 40,000. As of 2012, Filipinos accounted for 9.6 percent of the student population, coming third after ...