VB OFW-C Articles and Tips
OFW TIPS and INFORMATION ARTICLES
> Be Vigilant
- Careful with Crooks and Cons - He was pointing to small
shops installed just outside the DFA walls. I said, “No, I'm
not going there because they are crooks, and I’ll ask the guard
first whether or not you're telling me the truth!” At that moment,
I knew he was one of the crooks. That's why although they were blocking
my way, I did not listen to them and walked straight to the guard.
And when I indeed asked the guard, he replied, "Yes, the DFA
is still open!"
> Filipino
Workers - Among Top Foreign Workers Around the World
- Why do you think millions of Filipinos leaving the country? I think,
the first reason is not mainly because of lack of Jobs, it's because
they have bigger and better dreams for themselves and most especially
for their family. They can get a job in Philippines why not, the country
is a rich nation when it comes to Agriculture and Fisheries. They
can be farmer, fisherman, sales ladies, nurses, store owners and others?
But their income from that job is not enough to sustain their family.
The farmer in America is more than ten times richer than farmers in
our country, the garbage collector in America is also more than 10
times richer than our own garbage collector. It's better to be a Nurse
in the US, than being a Doctor in Philippines...they said.
> Going
To NAIA Airport Tips and Instructions - For OFWs, especially
those first-timer ones, I'm sure that you're quite nervous on your
way to NAIA. Of course, you're much nervous if you're in the foreign
land already but I can tell you some Tips or Instructions (based on
my own experience) about going or inside the NAIA Airport (to help
you to relax a bit). So in case you didn't know yet, this is worth
to read so that you're going to have an idea on what is it like once
you're there.
> How to succeed as
an OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) - There are many Overseas
Filipino Workers who work abroad for many years but are not successful
and no investments were acquired by the time that they have already
retired. The worst situation is that there are some OFWs who have
been in an accident overseas which prevented them from working again.
Regardless of working in or outside the Philippines, Filipino worker
should know how to value his labor and sacrifices while aiming for
his dreams.
> Life Being an OFW
[Overseas Filipino Worker] - The day my husband left
to work overseas was one of the saddest days in our family life. I
pity my daughter because she is very close to her father and I was
quite worried that she will be upset when her daddy leaves for a long
time. In the life of a typical Filipino family, this situation is
very common because parents would like to give better future to their
loved ones especially for their children. Good opportunities in the
Philippines are not abundant to achieve most of their dreams. Working
abroad is one way of fulfilling these dreams.
> Many Unsuccessful
Overseas Filipino Workers are Coming Back Home - The
very first thing that causes an OFW not to save enough from his overseas
work earnings is due to the exorbitant placement fees and other unnecessary
fees that he has to pay prior to his departure for work abroad. Recruitment
agencies, licensed or unlicensed, take advantage of poor job applicants
who want to work overseas. Many people in the recruitment business
thinks that every OFW could earn thousands of dollars abroad. Although
these agents know for sure that the applicant usually will receive
only the minimum salary, unjust placement fees and other unnecessary
expenses are still collected from them. Only a few recruitment agencies
are really dedicated to assist their applicants.
> MIGRATE OR
NOT TO MIGRATE? - Many Filipinos have migrated to other
countries such as Canada, the United States of America, Australia,
New Zealand and others. Many of us would like to follow and, given
any chance just to be there, grab the opportunity to do so. However,
many Filipinos do not wish to leave as well. Why? Because their qualifications
and experience are sometimes not recognized abroad. You may be an
engineer in the Philippines but abroad you’d just be a cable
man, a warehouse man or a laborer. You may still be in a construction
or building environment, but your job is not what you wished for.
> Travel Tips
For Overseas Filipino Workers
- Don't buy or packed so many things in your baggage which are
less important. It will just cause traveling discomfort if you have
so much baggage to check in or to be hand carried along. This could
also add your expenses, because you need to pay some charges for the
Excess Baggage.
> Ways to Avoid
Illegal Recruitment (with Simple explanation) - A reminder
from POEA and DOLE (with some explanation by OFW-C Author...)
Do not apply at recruitment agency not authorized by POEA.
- But it's not because they're authorized you'll now fully trust them,
there's a fellow OFW who was tricked by authorized agency, yes they
issued him a receipt required by POEA which is one month salary, but
actually he paid three times the amount but issued receipt is less
than what he has paid!
> Why Filipinos
Prefer to Work Abroad?
- To get better education from reputable schools in the Philippines
is not cheap for an ordinary Filipino but by the time a worker gets
a job in the Philippines, he does not get paid enough to equal his
investment on education. Due to this, most Filipino skilled workers
get jobs abroad where salary commensurate education, skills, and experience.
Sometimes, an OFW can be paid more if he takes a blue-collar job even
if he is a degree holder. That is why a lot of degree-holder Filipinos
work abroad as maids, sales ladies, construction workers and laborers.
Most Filipinos would work on any job as long as it is decent and high
paying.
READ MORE OFW ARTICLES - STORIES & POEMS
More
OFW Stories Can Be Found in OFW Stories & Poems Section.
Other
Inspirational, Entertaining and Informative Stories and Poems
by Visitors are also featured there.
> Ang
Hiling sa Birhen ng Manaoag na nasa SM Megamall Chapel
- During the old days, when we're not yet an OFW, we have made a special
prayer and a request to the Virgin Mary, from Our Lady of Manaoag,
we're glad because it was heard and granted...
> Ang
Inggit Sa Kapwa, Crab Mentality ng mga Pilipino at ang Karma
- Nang ako ay mag-abroad,marami akong natutunan. Lahat ng magagandang
bagay na nakita ko ay ina-adapt ko pero bakit kaya ang ibang mga kababayan
natin na kahit ilang taon na sa ibang bansa ay hindi pa rin mabago
ang mga pangit na ugaling Pilipino tulad nga ng Crab Mentality.
> As
a Mother Who Works as an OFW - I still remember the first
time when I left my daughter (my only child then) when I went to a
Retreat for 3 days and 2 nights somewhere in Silang Cavite in 1997...I
don't know how could I ever get to my sleep without her by my side...She
was only 3 years old at that time. I'm so lonely and quite worried
that she might cry and look for me when I'm gone. When I left her
in 1998 to look for work overseas, I couldn't imagine how will I carry
the loneliness now that we're miles and miles away from each other.
I'm really so sad when I left her that day.
> Changes
happened in Philippines while we're gone - The very best
thing that makes me happy while in Philippines is the development
of MRT...Although it's always full during rush hour, it helps me to
reach my destination faster than ever before. If I'm from Cubao going
to Ayala and the train is crowded, what I'm doing is riding back to
Monumento Station...and from there all passengers from Taft will gonna
leave the train and it is now empty. I just need to spend few minutes,
which is better rather than waiting at Cubao station to wait for the
train to be empty.
> Nakapag
Abroad Ako, May Suwerte Nga Ba Ako? (Ayon sa Kwento ni Apolonio)
- Dahil sa nangyaring trahedya noong Septmber 11 2001, ang mga hotel
business sa Dubai ay naapektuhan kaya ako ay napa-uwi ng wala sa oras.
Ako ay kauuwi lang noon galing sa Dubai nang maisipan kong mag-abroad
muli. Sinubukan kong mag-apply sa Brunei sa pamamagitan ng isang Agency
dito sa aming probinsiya. Gusto ko sanang umurong sa trabaho na inalok
sa akin dahil ang magiging suweldo ko ay B$350 (Php 10,000) lamang
bilang waiter/kitchen helper kaya lang ako ay naka-pag bayad na ng
paunang placement fee.
> Sa
Tuwing Uuwi Para Mag-bakasyon 1 - (Mula sa Eroplano)
- Noong hindi pa ako nakakapag-abroad, palagi kong nakikita na dumadaan
sa itaas ng aming bahay ang mga eroplano na papunta sa airport, maingay
at madalas na nagugulo ang signal ng TV...pero hindi ko pinangarap
na sumakay ng eroplano kahit halos maya't maya ay nakikita ko palagi
ang mga dumadaang eroplano. Ngayon, tuwing ako ay nakasakay pauwi
sa Pilipinas, parang nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa ibaba habang tumitingin
sa itaas para pag-masdan ang dumadaang sasakyang pang-langit.
> Sa
Tuwing Uuwi Para Mag-bakasyon 2 - (Kapag nasa Maynila)
- Kapag nasa lansangan na, palagi akong nag-hahanap ng tindang Manga
na hilaw tulad ng Piko at Kalabaw, at kahit sabi nila marumi ang tinitindang
bagoong alamang na libre, sige pa rin ako na kumakain ng manga na
may sawsawang bagoong alamang...at dahil sa hindi ko mapigilan ang
katakaman sapag-kain ng paborito kong prutas, kakainin ko ito habang
nasa daan at kahit umagang-umaga o kahit hindi pa ako kumakain ng
kanin at ulam sa katanghalian, kumakain din ako ng maasim na mangga
kahit habang ako ay lumalakad. Madalas ako ay pinag-titinginan ng
mga tao, pero ako ay walang paki dahil talagang napakasarap ng mangga...
> Sa
Tuwing Uuwi Para Mag-bakasyon 3 - (Pauwi ng Probinsya)
- Gustong-gusto ko namang humihinto sa mga bus stop kung saan makakabili
ka ng mga nilalako tulad ng chicharong baboy o baka, itlog ng pugo,
barbecue na hotdog at baboy, mais na inihaw, nilagang mani, pritong
mani o cornick, balot, buko pie, tupig at mga pastilyas tulad ng macapuno.
Tuwing mag-bibiyahe pauwi sa probinsya, ito ang madalas kong binibili
sa daan...kung minsan, mas malaki pa ang nagagasta ko sa pagbili ng
mga pagkain na ito kesa sa aking pinamasahe dahil na mimiss ko talaga
ang mga ganitong pag-kain sa Pilipinas.
OPINIONS AND COMMENTS
> Suggestion
for the benefits of OFWs - An email message for the President
of the Philippines (sent
on July 2004, first acknowledgement by the OP was on August 2004,
and the second acknowledgement from OP, OWWA and POEA was on October
2004)..Ang Pruweba na ito nga ay natanggap - Furnish
copy of Referral Letter for the Office
of the President from OWWA, and also from OWWA
to POEA ..
Ang sulat na ito ay tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay na maaring makapag-bigay
ng karagdagang benepisyo para sa mga OFWs. Ito ay hindi lamang nag-mumula
sa aking sariling opinyon o kagustuhan, ang mga bagay na nilalaman
nito ay mula sa aking mga kapwa OFWs na nakilala (kaibigan man o hindi)
na may nais na iparating sa kinauukulan. Para sa mas madaling pag-lalahad,
akin na lamang pina-ikli (summarize) ang aking pahayag para sa mambabasa
ng website na ito...
> How
Do We Prosper, FILIPINO People? (Papaano tayo aasenso mga Kababayan?)
Our Country's Success or Failures Lies on the Hands of Every Filipino
Citizen. Each One of Us Can Contribute and Can Also Bring Damage to
Our Nation...I believe everybody plays an important role to achieve
country's prosperity, from child to elders, from peasant people to
rich people, from ordinary mind to intelligent one...
We Should Keep Good Atttitudes that Help Us Prosper; and
Abolish Undesirable Manners that Prevents Us in Achieving This; -
If most of us are doing good with eachother, if we're in 90% perfect
harmony, if we're peaceful, if we're all understanding, if we're all
cooperating and helping, GOOD ATMOSPHERE will fly on the air and THAT
COULD BRING GOOD LUCK and MORE BLESSINGS to us and to our country,
SO we should all practice GOOD ATTITUDES TOWARDS EACH OTHER....PARA
HINDI TAYO MINAMALAS SA BUHAY...
> Opinion
and Comments on Some Issues and Current Events and other Miscellaneous
Topic
3
MEASURES TO REDUCE RED TAPE AND CORRUPTION IN THE BUREAUCRACY
(Dec 26, 2003 news article) - Hindi maaalis ang corruption at redtape
pero sana man lang ay mabawasan ang mga ito para hindi masayang ang
budget ng ating gobyerno para sa pag-dedevelop ng ating bansa.
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