Change

Like each day that I change my underwear, I love change. NOT CHARTER CHANGE.

Yes. As an overseas Filipino worker, I want to change not the Philippine constitution but the kind of services that the Philippine embassy should extend to the Filipinos in Riyadh. I want them to be more effective, more reaching out to the distressed and exploited Filipinos. More action than words of promises.

More jail visitations and not condemnation of Filipino prisoners. I want them to change from hosting more parties and festivities to a more socially-relevant events and to do concrete actions towards educating the OFWS and effecting change in order to redeem the credibility and superiority of the Filipino worker.

Change the image of the Philippine embassy officials to sgenuine public servant rather than sitting ducks and arm-chair diplomats.

Until there are no more distress calls from abused OFWs and jailed OFWs that I receive regularly, change is the order of the day. Now na!

Welfare Case

Sya si Melba Villaluz, 34 years old. Dumating sya sa Riyadh noong March 31, 2009 para pumasok sa isang kompanya ng Anasban.

Isang notoryus na kompanya ang Anasban mahigit dekada na ang nakaraan at kilalang kilala na ito ng mga opisyal ng Philippine embassy na maraming reklamo galling sa mga mangagagawa nito. Ang mga reklamo ay di na bago, delayed salary payment, delayed vacation, delayed repatriation, mahilig mag bawas ng sahod.

Pero medyo kakaiba ang reklamo ni Melba. Dalawang lingo lang syang nakapatrabaho dahil mula ng dumating sa Riyadh ay nagka infection ang dating inoperahan sa kanyang gall bladder, nagkaroon ng kidney ailment at meron pang hypertension.

Noon Huwebes, June 25, inatake at nag collapse si Melba. Matagal bago nadal sa clinic. Umbaot sa 180 over 130 ang kanyang blood pressure. Niresetahan sya ng Angiotec na 10 mg, Natrilix SR na 1.5 milligrams at kanina lang sya nakainom ng mga gamut na nireseta, apat na araw ang nakalipas dahil kanina lang nabilihan ng gamot ng Anasban.

Gusto ng umuwi ni Melba sa Pilipinas. Nagpaalam na sya sa kanyang agency na nagdeploy sa kanya, ang Global Job Search In na makikita sa Bangkal Street, Makati. Si Lowela na makokontak sa 02-8453045 ang kanyang contact sa Global Job Search.

Pero ayon sa Global Job Search, kailangan daw ni Melba na bayaran ang ginastos ng Anasban na SR7500 para marecruit si Melba sa Riyadh. Ayon kay Melba, kasama na sa SR7,500 ang tiket ni Melba Villaluz pauwi.

Ang kwento ni Melba, payo sa kanya ng Global Job Search na maghati si Melba at ang clinic na nag kuha ng medical test nya, ang LR Clinic.

“Willing naman na maghati si Melba at ang clinic kung makihati rin daw sa gastos ang Global Job Search.

Paano ba nabato sa akin ang kaso ni Melba?

Si Willy Villaluz ay biglang sumulpot sa aking Yahoo Messenger noong HUwebes. Ayun kay Willy, nakuha raw nya sa Moderator ng POEA Forum sa Palawan ang aking email address. Parang ayokong maniwala kasi, kahit matagal na akong gusting pumunta ng Palawan ay wala kong kakilala doon.

Freedom daw ang nickname ng nag refer sa akin.

Ayon, parang nakokonsensya naman ako na ayaw kunin ang mga pangunahing datos. Nakuha ko ang cellphone number ni Melba at kanina nga, pagkatapos umuwi nga king amo ay tinawagan ko ang numero.

Nakausap ko si Melba.

Gusto gusto na ni Melba na mahilig magsabi ng “as in” na umuwi. Snaa raw ay matulungan sya na mapadali ang pag-uwi.

Ang napayo ko lang kanina kay Melba ay wag mag apura at baka mas lalong tumaas ang presyon nya.

Tinanong ko sya kung payag syang kalampagin ng Migrante Internatonal ang kanyan agency at Clinic na kumilos sa dagliang pag-uwi ni Melba upang itulak ang POEA at OWWA na mapauwi sya.

“Dapat nga rin po pati ang City Peso or Palawan Peso ay tumulong din kasi sila naman po ang nag rekruta sa akin. Si Ailyn Amurao daw ng City Peso ng Palawan ang nagpasa sa kanya sa Global Job Search Inc.

Pero ayun kay Willy na kapatid ni Melba, Nagsulat na raw an POEA at OWWA sa Philippine embassy ng Riyadh pero wala raw reply.

Parang dumarami ang natutulog na kaso sa harap ni Labor Attache Rustico dela Fuente. At sino nga ba yung taga DFA na nakiusap na idulog sa DFA ang mga kaso ng mga problema ng OFWs. Buhay pa ba sila o nahahawaan ng H1N1. Ewan.

Why did you join this contest?

Maloka-loka na ako sa mga tanong mula kahapon at ngayon about the 72 or 71 or 69 Filipinos na dinakip sa Riyadh noong Sabado.

Siguro dahil dati akong pobrisitang peryodista noon sa isang English newspaper noon dito sa Riyadh.

Una, isang pinuno ng Migrante ang tumawag sa akin. Binaba ko agad ang tawag after telling him that I would call him back. One phone call in the market and I confirmed the news. 71 Pinoys, kadalasan bading ang inaresto ng mga religious police.

Ayon sa aking source, birthday daw ang isang Pinoy. Nagpaparty. Nag-imbita ng mga firends kasama anga kanya kanyang friends sa isang esterhaha.

Kung okray ka, pwede mong isiping nagpasiklab si birthday celebrator? Siguro, isip nya, mayaman na sya kaya nagmayabang at nag-imbita ng mga kaibigan kahit alam na alam na delikado.

Nag-imbita pa ng ibang lahi at (sana mali ang aking source) nagdala pa raw ng inumin na nakakalasing.

Kung pa intelektwal naman ang pag-iisip mo, pwede mong isipin na dahil kasi sa kultura ng Pinoy. Kinagigisnan na ang mag celebrate ng birthday. Pakain sa mga utaw, kahit bukas o sa makakalawa ay wala ng budget sa pagkain. Para lang ba masabi na mataas na ang tayog nya sa ekonomiya at pwedena syang maging Hostisya de San Jose. Kasi nga di naman nakapagpabongga noong dating purisa pa si Pinoy.

Kung maka-migrante ka naman, pwedeng sabihing dahil nalulungkot sa araw ng kanilang birthday ay nag decide na magdaos ng pampasaya para mawala ang homesickness ng OFW.

Kung baga, part of social life na iwaglit ang kalungkutan na mapawalay sa piling ng pamilya dahil nga ang objective ng pagiging overseas worker ay para mairaos sa kahirapana ng pamilya dahil wala namang desenteng trabaho sa Pilipinas.

Kadalasan talaga, kapag marami ang dadalo, esteraha ang gawing venue dito sa Kaharian. Di kasi uubra ang hotel kasi masyadong istrikto sa mga requirements at syempre, di makapag paraos ang mga makakati pa sa gabi.

Ang Esterahah ay isang resort na pinapaprentahan sa Riyadh nga mahigit isang daang dolyar hanggang 500 daang dolyar, depende sa laki. Kadalasan meron itong swimming pool, palaruan gay ang volleyball court, football court, malaking receiving hall na pwedeng mapag dausan ng isang malaking pagtitipon.

Nilubos lubos ang pagtitipon, nag pageant. MG as in Miss Gay. Yun bang ginagawa sa Pilipinas kung may pyesta na meron rarampa at question and answer at talent portion.

Ayun. Unang signos, may mga military daw na kumatok, tiningnan ang paligid dahil nagtaka sa ingay na naririnig s alugar. Di naman natinag ang grupo. Umalis ang mga otoridad sa pinagdausan.

Pero naging mas maingay ang grupo. Dumating na hindi nila namalayan ang mas conservatibong mga religious police. Inakyat ang bakod. Pasok.

Yun na ang kwento.

Iniimagine ko na lang ang mga otoridad sa kanilang tanong.

“Why did you join this contest?”


Well, ang latest news kahapon, nakalabas na daw ang iba sa mga nakulong dahil pinuntahan ngkanilang mga companya at sponsor.

Ang sabi naman sa news na tinawagan ang Philippine embassy ay napakawalan na daw lahat pero naka blacklist na daw ang 69 na Pinoy na hinuli.

I am sure, may mga kaso na ito sila lahat na nakasampa at siguradong di mapapauwi ang mga ito na di maaring di dumaan sa kulungan at mapalo.

I am sure, gustong gusto ng mga bading na mag perform ng kani kanilang talent sa loob ng kulungan.

Pwede kaya yun?

Ang init pa naman ngayon sa Riyadh. Am sure super hot din at amoy pawis ang mga kakosa nila doon.

Buti na lang nasa labas na sila, pero paano kung tawagin na sila at ikarsel na during their jail term. Bihira pa naman nakakaligtas sa mga kasong ganito.

Noon, meron nangyaring ganito sa Qatiff. Yung isang bading lumusot sa butas ng window type na air-con at yung isa, nagkasyang tumakas sa loon ng maliit na imburnal na concrete pipe. Whew.

Meron ding nangyaring ganito noons sa Holiday Inn na birthday party. Nag gown ang mga bading. Julie andrew at Julie Yad Daza rin sila.

Ayon sa siang balita kanina, ang sabi kasi ng taga embassy, freed na raw ang mga Pinoy at take note, wala raw ni isa ang humingi ng tulong sa Philippine embassy.

Tinatanong pa ba yan kung bakit?

estafa

Just few minutes ago, Elmer called me up accusing me of spreading rumors about his inability to pay loans.

Apparently, a friend of Elmer has spoken to him about a woman looking for my office-mate in order to collect a nearly year-old loan amounting to about SR5000. Two of Elmer’s friends had guaranteed him of his loan and now the guarantors are worried about Elmer’s absence.

Elmer has taken an in-Kingdom vacation and has collected his two-month salary. One of the guarantors told me that they could no longer locate Elmer after he promised that part of the two-month salary is already earmarked for payment of his loan. Three of Elmer’s cell phone is no longer reachable plus the discovery that Elmer moved to a new apartment.

I used my network to locate Elmer and even before I could get information on where Elmer is staying, the loan-evader harassed me of spreading rumors about him.

As far as I called recall, it was my boss who informed me of Elmer having abused the facility of salary advance.

As a Filipino, I felt embarrassed that Elmer has been requesting salary advance each first week of the month.

Now, the Finance Chief has cut his salary advance addiction.

The bottom line is this Filipino can not manage fiancés in spite of the fact that he works in the Finance Department.

I wonder why some Filipinos, even how high-paying their job is could not learn how to save and manage their finances.

I remember my dear boyfriend who always reminds me of his favorite quote.

“Success is not measured on how much salary you get when working overseas; it always depends on how much you save for your future.”

I realized, when Elmer called me, he was more aggressive in protecting his wasteful lifestyle.

Incidentally, I have to collect monies that friends owed me. These so called friends need to realize that aside from the monetary amount that I am after, it is the principle of gathering respect after I trusted them of my hard-earned money. Instead, I got rebuked. What a pity.

noodles

I was queueing towards the cashier of a hypermarket in Riyadh When my attention was dragged by the skinny but good-looking Filipino who bought one instant noodle and one apple. The lone apple cost only SR1.40 while the instant noodles was probably SR0.95 or SR1. He paid three riyals but never got the change. It is not uncommon in Riyadh that loose change are no longer given to customers whose bills have loose change for lack of coins in the counter.

Medyo nanghinayang ako sa baryang di nakuha ni kabayan pero mas naukit sa akin ang iisang noodles at apple na kakainin ni kabayan.

Para sa akin kasi, parang saglit lang maglaho ang 2 instant fried noodles pagniluto ko. Bitin ang kabusugan ko sa dalawang paketeng Inodo-Mei. Pero saludo ako sa isang mansanas. Baka nag da diet si kabayan. Pero palagay ko, wala talagang pera si Kabayan na nagkasya na lang sa pagbili ng isang instant noodle at mansanas.

Sa uniporme ni kabayan na kulay berde, di malayong isa syang salesman o warehouseman sa isang tindahan sa mall or possible ring isang crew sa isang food chain.

Halos isang buwan na rin ang nakalipas ang tagpong yun but I instantly recalled this when one of my co-workers emailed me a short note, probably intending to warn us about a possible health hazard of an instant pancit canton.

According to email, a 25-year old friend of another co-worker died early morning after eating pancit canton.

The death news came while I was cramming with my work in the office including checking the insurance enrollment of all company employees together with their family members and seeing to it that the personnel requisition for two new employees are processed and the salary offer and employment contracts are all signed before their joining date, among other things such as company cheques to be pushed for signing, summing up the 2009 expenses of our government liaison officer, seeing to it that the multiple exit re-enty visas of some middle management officers are done, my other colleagues are only passing emails about noodles.

"Buti pa sila, nag eemail lang while my work is literally all up to my neck."

Oh well, it was about a death of a 25-year old Filipino that allegedly ate noodles few hours before his death. Binangungot daw dahil sa pagkain ng noodles.

> kanina madaling araw mga 3AM... ang 25 y.o. na friend ni Cesar from
> Jeraisy ay namatay sa BANGONGOT.
>
> Dahil nanalo kahapon ng Laptop sa raffle draw ay nagluto daw cla doon sa
> villa ng pancit canton...in short, pancit ang huling kinain ng kaibigan ni
> cesar.
>
> Healthy naman daw ung tao, walang sakit, medium lang ang katawan.
>
> Well, baka nagkataon lang na pancit ang kinain...or talagang tama ung
> scientific explanation na hindi maganda kumain ng noodles sa gabi...

Few minutes after I receive that email, another email popped on my screen. An immediate reaction from one of the recipients, also a co-worker.

 ACCORDING TO STUDIES:
>
> Pancit ay gawa sa flour. Nag-e-expand at nag-a-absorb ng maraming liquid.
> Kung natulog ka na di pa natunaw ang kinain mong pansit ma-dehydrate ka
> at yan ang ikinamamatay. Kailangan if you eat noddles sa gabi, uminom ka
> ng
> maraming liquid para di ma-dehydrate at mamatay na tulog.
>
> Kaya di ako kumakain ng noddles before sleeping....he he he


Naisip ko agad, “may post-mortem na agad sila sa bangungot at singled out na talaga ang noodles. Talo pa nila ang forensic expert na si Miss Fortun.”

Dagdag na pumasok sa isipan ko na baka sobrang laki na talaga ng mga sahod nila kaya di na sila kumakain ng instant noodles or talagang masama sa kalusugan ang noodles.

Habang sinusulat ko to, may napansin akong di matawarang noodles story sa website.

A former government supplier accused the Department of Education (DepEd) of allegedly procuring and distributing "overpriced" egg noodles for the government's school feeding program in hunger-stricken provinces last year.
Whelma Lanzuela, president of former government supplier Kolonwel Trading, claimed that DepEd's more than 15 million packs of instant noodles with "fresh eggs" distributed to poor elementary and pre-school pupils last year were overpriced.
Lanzuela said each pack of DepEd's noodles costs P16 to P18, which is three times more expensive than the regular prices of noodles being sold in local stores.
Danilo Quido, sales manager of Kolonwel Trading, added that the nutritional information about the noodles manufactured by DepEd's winning bidder, Jeverps Manufacturing Corp., is deceptive since it really has no protein benefits and added vitamins.
Quido said the company brought samples of the noodles to Vietnam for tests, and the findings showed, "the DepEd fortified instant noodles with fresh egg is made of flour and does not contain any fresh egg but mere egg powder."
Lanzuela and Quido said the DepEd paid Jeverps Manufacturing Corp. P284 million for the noodles.
The two said they had questioned the allegedly overpriced noodles and wrote Education Secretary Jesli Lapus about their findings.
They said they were forced to go to the media after receiving news that the DepEd has awarded Jeverps Manufacturing Corp. the noodles program for this year for P427 million.
'Mixed with fresh eggs and malunggay'
Teodoro Sangil, DepEd Undersecretary for Finance and chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee 1, described Kolonwel Trading's accusation as a way of discrediting DepEd's food for school program.
"Anybody can do that to destroy us," Sangil said, adding that Kolonwel's accusations will not prevent the DepEd from distributing the noodles to less-privileged pupils in Mindanao and Visayas.
He added that Kolonwel is one of the failed bidders of the noodles program.
Sangil also insisted that fresh eggs were mixed with the noodles during the manufacturing process, which was witnessed by DepEd representatives.
"Actually the fresh eggs were mixed with the noodles. The ingredients were processed. Of course, you won't see an actual fresh egg inside the packaging," the DepEd official said.
Meanwhile, Sangil admitted that the noodles were priced higher than the regular noodles being sold in local stores. He said the noodles were made from highly-nutritious ingredients, including fresh eggs and malunggay leaves.
He said the noodles program aims to help malnourished pupils in areas with higher incidence of hunger.
Sangil said that instead of bringing their accusations to the media, Kolonwel Trading should bring the issue to the Office of the Ombudsman.--report from ANTHONY TABERNA, ABS-CBN News

Pagkatapos ko mabasa ang balita sa itaas sa website ng ABS CBN, naisip ko, sana kung totoong makapatay ang instant noodles, ipakain na lang lahat yung noodles sa DepEd officials na responsable sa pagbili ng napakamahal na instant noodles.

Kung di sila mabangungot, maimpacho man lang sana.

salvaging

“Mapatay ta ka karon.” These words, I heard, coming from my less than 10-year old nephew in Davao more than a decade ago had made me chill. The child of an OFW uttering such words was so casual that not one among my family reacted to his tantrums that made him utter such an “expression.”

The words reverberated these days when the Commission in Human Rights recently did their work in Davao City known as the killing fields of the popular Davao Death Squad.

More than 800 unexplained killings were tallied by non-government organization so far.

In one of my annual vacations, there was a time that three killings occurred in one night just few kilometers from where I was sleeping.

Another killing occurred in front of one of my sexmates one new-year celebration. When my pal narrated few hours later how the killing spared him, I could not blame him how he feared eating dinuguan these days because of the splattered blood in the dining table as scene of the crime.

“Merese.”

I could not forget the single-word reaction of my brother upon knowing that the victim was a small-time weed peddler.

Culled human lives are regularly done in my city in the last 10 years and the counting of the victims is continuing.

I remembered that one day before I left for Riyadh, I told one of my brothers to look into what I heard thay my old and forgetful mother was duped again by one old tricycle driver with more than 10,000 pesos loan. She never got paid.

Few weeks after I returned to the Saudi capital, my best friend texted me saying that the old man was killed by the dreaded Davao Death Squad. The txt emphasized how my mother cried because she no longer could collect the utang that old man acquired from my mother.

Last year, I saw another brother talking to a believed to be former DDS member raising another case of wrong-doing. Apparently, a case was lodged again. I never heard about it but I will not be surprised if the culprit is no longer breathing these days.

Petty criminals are killed in Davao City.

I wonder if those who owed me money should be exposed in my city. A careless whisper could take a breath away. Patay na sab?

I respect the right to life. I am not in favor of death penalty. The rule of law must be enforced in seeking justice. But when the law is bent to favor the rich and those in power, I have second thoughts of their right to life. Anyway, there is the right to revolt against oppressors.

With the recent torture, rape and killing of a 20-year old teacher, what is really happening in Davao City? Ain't this revolting?

apologies daw oh

when chip tsao apologized and bowed his head in front of a number of filipino consulate officials and other human beings there, i wondered if the gesture was a sincere realization of fault or another 'i am sorry" drama popularized by gloria aroryo.

i do not know why but with these kind of apologies make me really doubt if i could forgive. at this point, i may be bitter because this kind of drama reminds me of those members of the popular couples of christ in riyadh who borrowed money from me but did not pay.

there are other members of singles of christ too who preferred to forget paying their share of the apartment telephone bills before while there are those friends of them that cried in my front in time of their need for money just to be able to borrow but was so fast in hiding when i approached them to collect their debts.

when i lost job for 18 months, nobody of these i thought were friends cared.

apologies or not, people are really sinners.

one has to have great sense of huge power of sensibilities to trust other people.

parang relasyon ng bading, dapat alamin kung love ba taaga ang umiirtal o piniperahan ka lang ng partner mo.

alamin din kung hatagera concepcion ba ang name mo kung inlababo ka. ako ba yun?

yes, it took me more than a decade to realize that my lover was only after my money and hearing him say sorry just reminds me of other sinners whom should never be trusted. they lost credibility.

late

Andaming kong naantalang isulat.

Una, nag graduate sa high school yung tinutulungan kong pamangkin last Tuesday. Panay-panay ang txt nya. Nagpaparamdam ba ng pang pyesta sa graduation nya. Pero di ako bumigay. Nasira pa raw kasi yung cellphone nya na wala pang six month na pinadala ko. Byerna.

Ang maganda, yung pinsan kong lasenggero, na dating partner ko paminsan minsan sa mga bisyo ko noong nasa college pa ako, ang pinilit ni Mam Yeng na mag escort sa panganay nilang anak na 20 years old nang mag graduate ng high school.

Yung bespren ko naman ay nagkasya sa pagluto ng isang menu, pork-chicken afritada. Halos mamatay ako sa takam. Lam nyo naman, walang pork (or bihira at mahal kung meron mang ma smuggle) dito sa Kaharian ni Saud.

Ikalawa, birthday ngayon ng kaibigan kong nanay ni Ace. Pot-luck daw kaninang lunch time sa saloon ni Mel.

Nag txt sa akin ang love kong si Ace at naawa naman ako sa kanya na wala raw syang pangregalo sa mother nya.

Medyo nainis ako pero di ko naman masisi kasi un-employed pa rin ang BS Ed graduate kong singer ng banding bihira lang din ang gigs.

Feeling guilty tuloy ako na di natuloy ang pagpunta ni Ace ditto kasi nga naman nag stop hiring ang company na dapt nyang pasuka. Blame it to the global economic meltdown.

At least nasa Heidi’s Place na sila ni Mel at ang bespren ko for some bottles of beer. Sana andoon ako para narinig ko ang kanta ni Ace. Laglag na naman sana ang thong ko.

Third. If things go well, makakapiling na ni Zambo ang wife at daughter nya. We are still waiting for the family visa but Zambo’s beloved wife and darling daughter are now in my pad at Saint Monique Valais preparing their papers to push at the Saudi embassy in Makati.

Bago umalis ng Zamboanga ang mag-ina ni Zambo ay nagpadala ito ng pera para sa thanksgiving nila. May budget na para sa simbahan.

Pero ng malaman ni Zambo na ibibigay ng direkta sa pari ang pera, pinigil ni Zambo at nagmungkahing ibili na lang ng bigas at sardines at odong para ibigay sa mga mahihirap sa lugar nila. Halos 70 families din ang nakinabang sa pa thanksgiving nila.

Am sure mas nasiyahan si Lord Jesus sa good deed ni Zambo and family.

Kinikwento ito ni Zambo habang sinundo nya ako sa office gamit ang brand new car na kulay black. Binili nya ng hulugan at zero downpayment para may magara syang oto pagdating ng mag-ina nya.

Lastly, two weeks back, I had been calling the Philippine embassy here in Riyadh. I wanted them to work for some jailed Filipinos who had completed their jail terms. My blood pressure rose cause I could not get them over the phone. I went through their website.

I was surprised to read that a police attaché is recently deployed in the Saudi capital. May budget sila? Ano naman kaya ang gagawing ng pulis dito? Bantayan ang embahada o ang ambassador? Sana social workers na lang ang pinadala o psychiatrist.

Anyhow, I found more telephone numbers from the site but then that didn’t help since the phone just kept on ringing but nobody is picking up the f_c_ing phones.

I got the email address though and scribbled a letter and sent it.

After a week, I received a reply. They consul said they will contact the OFWs employer and relay the migrant workers wish that they not be deported when they get freed as the usual procedure.

The embassy said it is an SOP for the hoost government to deport jailed foreigners after serving their terms.

Ang hari lang daw o ang governor ng Riyadh ang pwedeng pumigil doon sa deportation kung hihilingin ng kanilang sponsor sa mga makapangyarihan.

Well, what to do?

Sa listahan ng TO DO ko, kasali na ang pag alalay sa isang anak anakan kong masiglang nag oorganisa ng migranteng manggagawang handang ipagtatanggol ang mga karapatan ng mga OFWs.

Sana magsahod na talaga bukas para makapagplano kung saan ako mag week end sa Myerkules.

Haiz.

500

Namaga ang mga mata ni Mam Yeng. Ito ang txt sa aking ng bespren kong house manager sa bahay ko sa Davao. Hapon na ng mabasa ko sa office ang txt nya.

Bago nito, nag txt sa akin ang second son ni Mam Yeng sa akin at nanghingi ng pera para daw “para pangsuroy” nil ang utol nya sa downtown kasi Araw nga naman ng Davao. Nabasa ko to pagkagising ko noong Biyernes. Nag txt ako sa bespren ko at nanghingi sa kanya ng 500 pesos para ibigay sa pamangkin ko na first time naglambing sa akin.

Ok naman ang bespren ko at nangako ako sa kanya na dadagdagan ko ng 500 ang regular nyang allowance next month.

Kahapon, nag sermon si Mam Yeng. Di daw importante ang rason kaya galit sya at bakit nagmolestya sa akin ang pamangkin ko.

Nabuko tuloy na ang panganay pala na pamangkin ang nanghingi kaya inutusan nya ang kanyang kapatid na mag txt sa akin.

Namaga ang mata sa pag iyak habang nagsesermon si Mam Yeng.

Dating OFW sa Kuwait si Mam Yeng. Nag DH sya pagkatapos nyang gumradweyt sa pagiging guro. First year College si Mam Yeng noon ng komprontahin ng mama nya ang pinsan ko dahil nabuntis si Mam Yeng. Pormal na hiningi ng pinsan ko na ibabahay na nya si Mam Yeng at pananagutan ang kanilang anak.

High School drop out ang pinsan ko. Kaya pinilit nya na makapagtapos s imam Yeng sa kurso nya.

Yung di padyak na traysikad ay apat na taon pinapadyakan ng pinsan ko para maghakot ng mga pasahero sa gilid ng Ateneo de Davao makatapos lang si Mam Yeng.

Ng mag abroad si Mam Yeng ay minsan o tatlong beses syang sumulat sa akin at pilit na inaalis ang homesickness nya. Noong una ay nagrereklamo sya na palagi raw sya sinisigawan nga mo nya. Ng maipaliwanag ko sa kanya na malalakas lang talaga ang boses ng mga Arabo ay di na nasindak si Mam Yeng at ok na sya. Pagkatapos ng kanya kontrata ay umuwi na siya sa Pilipinas upang makapiling uli ang kanyang pamilya.

Ngunit ang eroplanong sinakyan ni Mam Yeng ay dumaan sa Hong Kong kung saan sya naloko ng isang Pinoy. Ninakaw ang kanyang dalang pera pati pasaporte nya.

Nawala sa matinong pag-iisip si Mam Yeng ng ilang buwan bago sya napauwi sa Manila at sa Davao. Kung di ako nagkamali, yung institusyon yata na nagtatag ng Migrante International ang tumulong sa pinsan ko noon sa Hong Kong.

Ang kwento ng pinsan ko, pag may dumaan na eroplano sa kalawakan at narinig nya ang ingay nito ay nagtatago sa ilalim ng mesa si Mam Yeng.

Lumipas ang mga taon, gaya ng sabi ng mga nakakatanda na panahon lang ang makakalunas sa pilat ng dulot ng isang masakit na kahapon. Gumaling din si Mam Yeng.

Mahigit dekada na rin syang nagtuturo sa elementarya pagkatapos nya sulatan ang isang malayong kamag anak ng pinsan ko na dating head ng Sandiganbayan upang tulungang makapasok sa pampublikong paaralan.

Ngayon, 3 ang pinapag aral ni Mam Yeng. Sa bahay ko sila nakatira ngayon dahil pinaalis sila ng pinsan ko sa bahay na dati nilang tirahan.

Di ko masisi si Mam Yeng na magalit sa mga anak nya. Doble doble ang pasan nya dahil siya na halos ang nagpalaki sa mga anak nya.

Naisip ko, ayaw lang akong maloko ng mga anak ni Mam Yeng dahil alam nya ang hirap maghanap ng pera sa abroad at siguro na gi guilty sya na di nya naibibigay ang lahat na gusto ng mga anak nya.

Pero alam ko na mahal na mahal ng mga pamangkin ko si Mam Yeng.

Kaya gustuhin ko man magalit na niloko pala ako ng mga pamangkin ko ay naiisip ko na gusto lang ng mga bata na magliwaliw. Mali nga lang na di nila ako diniretso.

Pag uwi ko, mag-uusap kami ng mga pamngkin ko ng masinsinan.

Salamat sa 500 peso. Dahil dito magkakaroon ng realistikong pagpapaunawa sa mga pamangkin ko kung ano ang tunay na buhay ng isang OFW. At sana, magkakaroon ng realistikong pananaw ang mga pamangkin ko ukol sa buhay nila at sa kanilang ambisyong mag aral sa koleheyo.

Mababit naman ang mga pamangkin ko kasi. Yung pangalawa ay naunang nagtapos ng high school last year. Huminto kasi ang panganay noong matapos nya ang 3rd year dahil napasok sa isang stockroom ng tindahan ng mga sapatos. Para makatulong sa gastusin sa kanilang bahay ay patuloy syang nag hanap buhay hanggang nagtapos ng high school yung pangalawa.

Ng maka graduate ay ang paganay naman ang pinilit ng pangalawa ng magtapos ng high school.

"Mahirap maghanap ng trabaho na di ka man lang maka graduate ng high school, ang sabi ni Bibi noon sa Kuya Vincent nya.

Ngayong March 24 ay gagraduate na rin ang 20-years old kong gwapong pamangkin na kung tawagin ako ay Mommy.

Habang tinatapos koa ng entry na to ay nag text si Bibi sa akin. Salamat daw ng marami sa binigay ko sa kanyang 500 peso.

May maraming 500 pesos kaya sila ni Mam Yeng na pambayad ng matrikula kung mag koleheyo na si Bibi at Vincent? Abangan sa mga susunod na post.

Wa budget

Cutting down budget costs

I thought only my company is doing this but in an informal chat with some business executives in Riyadh, the biggest oil company is also on the same track.

Whoever is that President of my country who earlier this month told her countrymen at the embassy in Riyadh that OFWs in Saudi Arabia are not affected by the global economic crunch is totally wrong.

Although laying-off employees is not yet the name of the game, big companies in the Kingdom are implementing budget cuts in stead.

According to one executive, the biggest oil manufacturer is paring down project budget costs.

“Sub-contractual companies that have won millions of dollar worth of jobs were called and asked to return their signed contracts and given substitute with pared down budgets,” the Lebanese executive said.

“It’s a take it or leave it decision that they are implementing,” he added.

The impact would surely affect manpower targets of these projects including OFW deployment and job security.

In the company that I am working particularly my division, we are told to cut around $3 million to contribute to the company’s target profitability otherwise no promotions and bonuses will be given by the end of the fiscal year. The bitter part is that heads will start rolling by then.

In a neighboring country where the mother company is based, a whole floor of the firm is totally cleared of employees and jobs.

Before politicians talk of word of make believe, the people should carefully read the signs of the times.

Along the street where my company is situated, Filipino workers are already being terminated. It may be very few but it is starting.


Haiz!

sponsors and devils

My boss went ballistic again over my non completion of sponsorship transfer. He uttered words like I don’t care, be jailed, will fire you, and more.

I kept my cool. I didn’t get affected. Whatever he says, I just listen to it and put a shield that I will be okay.

I remained focus and finished all the works I line up for the day. I processed two new recruits that arrived today from two countries. Only one more recruit from India is forthcoming for this year as the company had imposed a global freeze on hiring vis-a-vis global economic meltdown, credit crunch, depression, etc. The remaining recruit, I heard is a cousin of my boss’s wife and a co-religious believer of another God of the company.

Earlier, the remaining guy had similar problem on his sponsorship transfer but the company got him a new work visa. He was sent home with a new visa and absorbed directly under the company sponsorship with his salary package almost doubled. While processing his visa back in India, he also got paid in advance for the two months that he was given to complete the visa processing.

I also finished the payroll for all sub-contracted employees including the drivers, teaboys, electricians and janitors.

Before going home, I called my current sponsor who promised me to transfer with “no problems.”

I have to meet my sponsor later this week. I pray to God that this issue hanging on top of my head will soon be over.

I also called my friends and some clients. It was a day. Whew.

rape

nag adhan na. habang nagtatawag na magdasal na, di pa rin maalis sa isp ko kung paano kung sa akin ginawa ang panggagahasa.

kanina sa Filipino market, pagkatapos kong makipagkita sa mga kasama sa kapatiran sa gitnang silangan (kgs), pumunta ako sa manila plaza upang magpaload sa aking bagong talk and plug.

habang nagbabayad ako ay may isang babaeng nakatayo sa harap ng cashier. akala ko ay bata na naghihintay sa kanyang nanay.

"si kabayan o, kawawa, ni rape ng amo tapos pati yung driver ng taxi na naghatid sa kanya, hinalay rin sya," ang sabi ng cashier sa akin.

bilang dating manunulat sa dyaryo, dali dali kong tinanong ang babae.

taga davao pa man din, sa boulivard nakatira.

"ngayon lang ako nakasakay ng taxi. di ko alam saan patungo. dinala ako sa isang lugar at pagpasapasahan akong halayin ng tatlong bombay," ang sabi ni haide sa akin.

siniguro ko na makuha sya ng taga philippine embassy upang madala sa bahay kalinga pero hanggang ngayon ay nasa isip ko pa rin ang nakakaawang mukha ng hinagpis ni haide na nanginginig ang mga kamay at katawan.

noong ilang linggo lang, habang pinangangalandakan ni gloria arroyo sa philippine embassy na walng problema ang mga ofw sa saudi arabia. ewan ko kung may naniniwala sa kanya kasi lang minuto lang bago sya nagyabang ay may inidorso rin ang kgs na kaanib ng migrante international na isang pinay na pagkatapos gahasain bugbugin ng ilang mga lalaking arabo sa riyadh.

kung ako kaya ang naghasa, ano kaya ang gagawin ko? di ko alam. manginginig din kaya ako? sa takot o sa sabik?

haiz.

munting kubo

It’s been five years since I stopped my house construction. I got fed up of the skyrocketing price rise of building materials that I slowed down. The construction went to a dead stop when I was unceremoniously laid off by my newspaper after working there for 15 years.

I got unemployed for 18 months and went on hibernation. Before I lost my mind, I was able to find solace in an old fling. A man whom I know is a womanizer. Our old friendship rekindled the flame we once, twice, nth played with much outrage and gusto.

Four months later, I decided to call it quits. I left my fling after I discovered that he fathered another baby with a fourth woman. I flew back to the Saudi capital and scouted for a job.

I got one. And nearly two years after landing a not so glorious work, I found myself wanting to slowly restart my house construction.

I frantically looked for some pictures of my house. A weekend past including a new year’s day and I could not find my house plan.

Then suddenly I remembered, I had a kept an ageing 10GB hard disk drive.

The perspective. This is 60 percent done.

papa huli

May nabasa akong balita. Eto yun.

PSG detains OFW for flashing anti-Chacha sign
12/14/2008 | 10:49 PM

MANILA, Philippines – A Migrante spokesman was briefly detained on Saturday by Presidential Security Group (PSG) members traveling with the President in Qatar because he flashed a placard with the message "No to Cha-cha." The detention was condemned by a Filipino workers' group as harassment and a violation of freedom of speech.

The PSG members detained Ricardo de Jesus, the Migrante spokesman in Qatar, during the meeting of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with the Filipino community there.

The condemnation was issued on Sunday by the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), an affiliate of Migrante International based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

De Jesus, who also heads the Crisis Committee of the Filipino Community Alliance in Qatar, was only released when other Filipino community leaders intervened.

The KGS blames Arroyo, the PSG, and Philippine Embassy officials, led by Ambassador Isaias Bigornia for the harassment and violation of the right of De Jesus to free expression on a current Philippine political situation.

De Jesus has been urging the Philippine government to protect the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, particularly those recently retrenched brought about by the effects of the global economic meltdown.

"Apparently, the Arroyo administration is more keen on extending its presidential term by changing the Constitution than extending assistance to distressed Filipino workers abroad by silencing those that oppose moves to amend the Philippine Constitution," KGS said in a statement.

KGS also stressed that there are some 70 Filipino workers languishing in Doha deportation cells that Arroy is keeping quiet.

The OFW alliance belies the Philippine Embassy's labor officials' claims that Filipino workers that ran away from their problems with Qatari employers and sought embassy assistance are immediately repatriated and given government livelihood programs.

"The distressed workers are only brought to rot inside Doha deportation jails but not immediately sent home," De Jesus said following his release, which greeted with applause by the Filipino community. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV


Natuwa ako na nainis. Pero ng matandaan ko ang pangalan ng OFW, di ko malaman ang aking gagawin. Naalala ko si Mugen sa opinyon nya tungkol sa pagmumura ni Mar Roxas noong Biyernes sa Makati anti cha-cha rally.

Paano naman kasi ang gagawin mo kung ang hinuli ay jowa mo?

Pakisagot Mugen. Ano ang gagawin mo?

Buti na lang laya na si Papa.

buhay ofw

Dumating na si rey galling pinas. Halos magkasabay kaming nagbakasyon ni rey last july. Isang oras at kalahati lang ang pagitan ng flight namin. Bago nito, halos magkasabay din kaming nahirapan ni rey na makakuha ng exit re-entry visa dahil di pa kami tapos na malipat sa aming mga sponsor pero nagawan din eto ng paraan kaya kami nakauwi.

Agosto pa ako bumalik dito sa Riyadh pero si rey ay inabot ng disyembre.

Masaya ako kay rey. Matagal tagal din nagkwento si rey tungkol sa bakasyon nya. Inalam ko kung anong nangyari pagdating nya kasi di niya pinaalam sa pamily anya na uuwi sya pagkatapos ng malapit apat na taong paghahanapbuhay dito sa Riyadh.

Tatlong beses na kasing nabulilyaso ang uwi ni rey. Meron pang streamer noon at mga baloon na welcome message ng pamilya nya sa kanya noon pero di natuloy ang kanyang pag uwi kasi nga walang exit re-entry visa. Tatlong beses din nag dispedida noon si rey dito na nauwi lang sa hinagpis.

"takbuhan palabas ng bahay ang dalawa kong binata at laking gulat ko na napakalaki na nila. Mas matangkad na sila sa akin at sa bumbunan ko na sila humalik,” kwento ni rey sa akin.

Titser sa gensan si rey pero mas minabuti nyang magtrabaho sa isang construction firm dito sa Riyadh.

Si rey ang palaging tumutulong sa akin tuwing kailangan ko ng sasakyan sa paglipat ng bahay at kung may aayusin sa aking sasakyan.

Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay rey at kahit wala akong naiabot na pambyad ay sadyang mabait si rey.

‘mabuti at nakauwi ako. Nakita ko at naramdaman ang hirap ng aking pamilya. Talaga nga palang kulang ang $400 na buwanan kong padala. Sa pamasahe, baon ng 2 kong nasa kolehiyo at 2 pang nag aaral, labada, kuryente at pagkain ay talaga nga palang kapos,” kwento ni rey.

Nakita ako yung double bed ng 2 kong binata na ang taas ay halos dikit na sa yero. Mainit.

Bumili noon ng 3 plywood ang misis ko at pinako na lang diretso sa kahoy na pinagpakoan ng yero sa may sala. Doon naglalagi ang aking buong pamilya dahil medyo lumamig sa p laywood na kisame.

Walang sinayang na araw si rey. Bumili sya agad ng mga kahoy at plywood. Sya na mismo ang gumawa ng kisame sa bahay nya. Ang 2 karto ay di nya lang nilagyan ng kisame kundi nag double walling na rin sya sa mga kwarto. Pinasok na nya ang mga kuryente na dati ay naka staple lang. binili nya na rin ng tig iisang walling fan na nilagay nya sa double bed ng kanyang mga anak.

“masaya. Katulong ko ang mga anak ko sa pagayos ng bahay naming. Pati yung bunso ay mag paint roller din sya at tumulong sa pagpintura. May mga cabinets na rin akong ginawa para sa mga anak ko kaya gumanda na ang loob ng bahay,” ang kwento ni rey.

Gwapo ang mga anak ni rey, si boboy at si junjun. at kasama palagi sa pagsimba bawat linggo ng buong pamilya.

Si junjun ay SK scholar samantalang si boboy ay mahilig sa basketball. Pareho silang civil engineering ang kurso.

Binili rin ni rey ng motorbike ang kanyang mga anak upang maghatid sa kanyang mga kapatid sa eskwela.

ngayong andito na si rey, balik hanap na naman sya ng pera sa trabaho at pilit humataw upang may maipadala sa pagdating ng pasko.

dead line

Yesterday afternoon, the CEO of an American credit card company wanted to know the update of my work status in Saudi Arabia.

I was already halfway down the staircase when the CEO’s secretary called me back and asked me on my last week-end plan to meet my sponsor in the Eastern Region after my sponsor invited me to see him and get my Release Letter.

“I didn’t push through. The owner of an outsource manpower agency told me he will do the negotiations and get the Tanazul for me,” I told the senior executive secretary of the CEO.

After the update, I continued going down the staircase with Tim, who is accompanying me to go to a hypermarket to buy a cell phone for my industrious nephew.

As I descended the stairs, it downed on me that probably the CEO is now pressured to terminate my work with the popular international financial intitution after I failed to transfer my sponsorship to one of the company contractors.

With the Saudi government program of providing jobs to locals, foreign workers especially the rank and files in the banking industry are relegated to the sub-contractual companies that supposed to supply back-up, administrative or technical support to the permanent local employees.

I am supposed to be one of them but my sponsor has been nowhere to be found until three weeks ago.

I was so happy to hear from my sponsor after March 2006 late last month especially that he told me he has no problem should I want to transfer my sponsorship.

The limited time that I have, however, is killing me. I am given no time to go down to Khobar to get my papers. This is why I asked the agency owner himself to get the paper from my sponsor in order for him to transfer my sponsorship.

This has not been done.

When the CEO asked me for an update, I knew my deadline is over.

Two days after, ‘twas my boss’ turn to ask the update.

“Talk to them. I know Raeid. He won’t move until you push him. Let him give the demand letter and get the Release Letter. Better yet, spend a day to go to Khobar and get that document yourself,” my boss said.

Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries all over the world that practice sponsorship system to employ foreign workers. Like Hong Kong, Riyadh requires migrant workers to work only under his own sponsorship. Working outside the sponsor is prohibited by law. To work with another employer, one has to get a Release Letter and transfer the sponsorship to the new employer.

Although this practice is supposed to protect migrant workers, the system has become a milking opportunity to squeeze migrant workers to pay for their “freedom”.

Distressed foreign workers complaining of physical or sexual abuse, unpaid wages, salary reduction, contract substitution, no work, over-crowded or unsanitized housing accommodation, are pressed to pay huge amounts demanded by the sponsor aside from the bloated-from-the-regular government fees in order to acquire “legal” work.

What a shame I allowed myself to be into this unpeaceful situation.

I wished I was punked.