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editorial |
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Sey
Namin |
Trabaho
lang, walang personalan |
Haay.
Hindi biro ang magtrabaho dito sa Balikbayan. Bukod sa
kailangang bago, exclusive at mabilis na maisulat ang
istorya, kaharap namin ang banta, red tape at madudang
isipan ng mga taong sangkot sa balita. May mga tao na
masama ang takbo ng utak.
Halimbawa na lang yung istorya
sa diagnosis ng isang clinic na may hepatitis C ang isang
OFW, na mali naman daw (sa Oktubre 2002 isyu), aba’y
tinawagan ang writer namin ng isang komentarista sa radyo
at tabloid columnist at nagmumumura. Nagbanta pa siya
na sasaktan niya ang sumulat ng istorya pag ilalathala
ito. Bakit kamo? Nakikisawsaw daw kami sa istorya niya.
Wow! Hindi naman kami gumagawa ng istorya para ariin ng
iba. Sariling sikap ‘to boy.
Sa istorya naman tungkol sa kooperatiba
ng mga marino, kinunan namin ng litrato ang mga marinong
nagnenegosyo sa Kalaw. Plano kasi ng kooperatiba na magtayo
ng gusali kung saan pwedeng mag-negosyo ang mga marino
tulad ng ginagawa ng ibang tao sa Kalaw. Isa sa mga nagpapa-chess
doon ay nagsalubong ang kilay sa galit sa writer namin,
na kumukuha ng litrato sa kanila. Ewan kung bakit? Nagpaalam
naman kami.
Gusto rin namin sanang sumulat
ng istorya tungkol sa paghihigpit sa seguridad sa NAIA.
Una ay pagpapasa-pasahan ka muna kung sino ang kakausapin.
Nang makausap na namin ang Media Affairs unit, kunwari
kami ay inaasikaso at bandang huli ay sasabihin sa amin
na may bayad ang pagkuha ng litrato sa loob ng airport.
Tapos, itinuro kami sa NAIA police para doon daw kumuha
ng permiso sa pagkuha ng litrato sa loob NAIA. Nawalan
na kami ng gana. Sa NAIA Terminal 3 na lang kami kukuha
ng litrato. Anytime pwede at wala pang bayad.
Hindi na ako magtataka kung may
bayad ang pag kuha ng litrato sa loob ng NAIA. Kasi, may
OFW na nagreklamong nangingikil ang mga NAIA immigration
officers sa mga OFW papunta ng Dubai. Araykupo!
Sa survey naman na ginawa namin
para kunin ang bilang ng mga marinong pinapadala ng mga
ahensya sa barko ng kanilang kliyente na binigyan ng First
International Employers Award at Presidential Award of
Distinction, may ilan ang duda na magbigay ng impormasyon
sa Balikbayan. Sa pagkakaalam namin, kaya pinarangalan
ang kanilang kliyente ay sa dami ng Pilipinong may trabaho
sa kanila, impormasyong di nila pinagkait na malaman ng
POEA at ng publiko.
Wala kaming magawa kung ganun
ang isipan at gawain ng ibang tao. Nasasa kanila kung
magbabago sila o hindi. Sana.
Tanging magagawa namin ay isantabi
ang masamang karanasan at tuloy sa trabaho. Yung pagbasa
na lang ninyo sa magasing ito ang papawi sa hirap namin.
Kayo na rin ang bubura sa pagbabarumbado ng iba sa amin.
Nga pala, congratulations sa mga
Fil-Am na nanalo sa eleksyon sa US... sana, hindi magkagera
sa Iraq...
Naimbag nga Paskua at naimbag
nga barutawen!
Maligayang Pasko at masaganang
Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!
Maogmang Pasko at Bagong Taon!
Malipayon nga Paskua kag mahamungayaon
na bag-ong tuig!
Maupay na Pasko at maupay na Bag-o
na Tuig!
Felices Pascua y Prospero Año
Nuevo!
Isakemashite omedeto goshaimashita! |
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Sey
Nyo |
Trabaho,
hindi pulitika |
NANg ibinulgar
at tinutukan ni Sec. Sto.Tomas ang tungkol sa OWWA fund
mess, may mga taong pilit pinalubog ang isyu, at tila
nga ayaw palutangin ang katotohan. At hanggang ngayon
ay wala pa ring balita ukol dito.
Hindi pa nga lumabas ang katotohan,
at heto gusto nang patalsikin si Sec. Sto.Tomas.
Bilang isang OFW, kahit hindi
ako nabigyan ng diretsong tulong ni Sec. Sto.Tomas, ay
alam kong mayroon siyang nagawa, at ginawan ng aksyon
agad. Dito sa Jeddah kung saan ako ay nakabase ay alam
kong mayron siyang direktang natulungan. Siya rin ang
nagpasimuno na magkaron ng health officers sa Philippine
missions abroad. Siya ang direktang nagbibigay utos sa
mga Labor Officers abroad upang umaksyon sa mga natatanggap
niyang reklamo ukol sa pagwawalang bahala ng mga labor
officers abroad.
Hindi dapat katigan ng sinuman
sa gobyerno kung sino ang nasagasaan ukol sa OWWA fund
mess, o kung ano pang irregularities ang nabulgar ni Sec.
Sto.Tomas. Dapat tignan ng gobyerno ang mas maraming OFWs
na makikinabang sa pagpupursigi ni Sec. Sto. Tomas na
mabigyang kasagutan ang mga problema ng mga manggagawa.
Heto at dahan-dahan ay nagkakaron
na ng maliwanag na daan sa OFW re-integration program
dahil sa pagsusumikap ni Sec. Sto.Tomas, ay may mga taong
gustong sirain ang maganda at makabuluhang programa. Kung
papalitan si Sec. Sto.Tomas, ay siguradong back to square
one na naman ang OFW re-integration program. At hindi
natin alam kung ang uupo ay tatayo upang magtrabaho sa
kapakanan ng mga manggagawa lalo na ang mga OFWs.
Kaya po ang aking hiling sa ating
gobyerno ay hayaan munang matupad ni Sec. Sto. Tomas ang
kanyang mga magagandang plano para sa mga OFWs. Trabaho
at aksyon, at hindi pulitiko-koneksyon ang dapat umiral.
Rolly Amaranto
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
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‘Supporting
pesos’ |
Mga Kababayan!
Alam nyo ba ang bagong “MODUS OPERANDI”
ng mga kurakot sa ating bayan? Bukod sa mga papeles
na hinihingi ng isang immigration officer, kapag ika’y
magtutungo sa bayan ng Middle East partikular sa Dubai,
may isang dokumento silang hinihingi. At kapag sa palagay
nilang ikaw ay bibigay, i-o-off load ka nila sa anong
dahilan. “KAKULANGAN SA PAPELES” ika nila
pero sa iyong pagkaka-alam at ng taong nag-visit visa
sa iyo ay tama ang papeles na “AUTHENTICATED BY
THE EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES, ABU DHABI.”
Sasabihin nila na di ka makaaalis.
Hihingan ka nila ng sinasabi nilang mga papers na kailangan
pa tulad ng ‘AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT’ ng sponsor
mo. Kapag nag-inquire ka sa Embassy sa Abu Dhabi sasabihin
nila na wala silang advise from Philippine Government
na may bagong hinihingi.
Ang di ko maintindihan bakit
ang Immigration sa ating bansa ay humihingi ng ganito
ngunit di alam ng Embassy sa Abu Dhabi. Ang gulo, di
ba?
O sige. Para maliwanagan ka,
sasabihin ko sa inyo kung ano ang papeles na hinihingi
nila. Hindi ito isang papeles dahil napakaraming pages.
Oo, tama ka. Yan ang tinatawag na “SUPPORTING
PESOS.” Nakaka-alarma di bah!
Ang gagawin nila ganito, i-detalye
ko hah!:
1. Pagpunta mo ng Manila airport,
kumpleto ang papeles mo at alam mong o.k., not to mention
authenticated yan ng Embassy sa Abu Dhabi
2. Pag-check in mo sa airport
natin, may mga taong nakaabang at naka-radyo (alam mo
na kung ano yon). Tapos i-che-check nila ang visa mo.
Di o.k. May original ka.
3. Pagdating mo sa airline counter,
they will check your ticket and passport and they would
ask for your visa copy or original. Napakita mo na tapos
pasok ka na sa Immigration para matatakan ng “EXIT”
stamp ang pasaporte mo.
4. Che-check in nila passport
mo along with your documents at original visa. Di meron
ka non. Tapos yung AUTHENTICATED documents mo o.k. din.
5. Eto na. May hihingin silang
certain document na alam nila wala sa mga papeles mo.
Tapos alam mo susunod, sasabihin sa iyo na kausapin
mo yung Immigration Supervisor. Papupuntahin ka nila
sa office nila at doon, doon mangyayari ang transaction.
Bale kahit anong paliwanag at maka-awa mo, umiyak ka
man ng dugo, maghubad ka man, igigiit nila na di ka
makakaalis. At alam mo ba bakit?! Kahit na kumpleto
ang papeles mo di ka pa rin aalis. Bakit kamo? Dahil
sabi nga ng Immigration Supervisor na ito na may kulang.
Ano yon? Eto magugulat ka na lang dahil tatatakan ang
boarding pass mo na “OFF LOAD.”
6. Di symepre MEGA gulat ka
at yung iba iiyak pa. Pero pag-labas mo may bubulong
sa iyo sasabihin ano, eto “MAY 6,000 NA BOND.”
Tanong mo, para saan? Eh san pa! Di yan ang “SUPPORTING
PESOS” kung tawagin. Makaaalis ka lang kung may
6,000 pesos ka na kailangan mong ilagay sa white envelope
and the next time you go, kailangan dala mo ang white
envelope na may lamang 6,000 pesos.
7. At eto pa ang sistema, may
mag-e-escort sa iyo at bubulongan ka na kailangan pumunta
ka sa opisina at iiwan mo ang boarding pass mo kasabay
nito ang white envelope na kapatong ng boarding pass
mo at sasabihin mo na lalabas ka lang
dahil may nakalimutan ka at pagbalik mo ‘WA NA
WHITE ENVELOPE.”
Syempre di naman nag-magic yon
kundi naitabi na at babalik ka at pipila ulit at itong
KURAKOT na Immigration Officer ay kunwari pagagalitan
ka pero panay naman ang tatak sa passport mo. Ayan o.k.
na makakaalis ka na.
Di ba’t nakapanlulumong
isipin na bukod sa tayong mga OFW ang tumutulong sa
ating ekonomiya ay tayo pa ang nade-denggoy. Hindi tama
ito at marami na ang nabiktima. Sino pa kaya ang susunod?
Alin pa kayang bansa ang susunod? Sana matigil na.
Isang pakiusap lang mga kababayan
ko: wag kayong matakot na isuplong or mag-sumbong dahil
tama ang ginagawa mo. Dapat mong kalusin ang mga gobyernong
tiwali lalo na ang mga KURAKOT sa gobyerno.
Ito pa isang babala, kapag balak
mong i-visit visa ang kamag-anak mo, sabihin mo na tandaan
nya ang pangalan ng isang babae na may “BULONG.”
Sya ang bubulong sa iyo at mag-e-escort sa iyo. Itsura
nya eto: “MALIIT NA MEDYO MAHABA ANG BUHOK, MAY
KATABAAN.”
At tandaan mo ang pangalan ng
Immigration Officer. Isa na dito si “JUSAY WINNEFREDO.”
May reklamo nang nakahain sa kanila ngunit kailangan
pa ng iba pang katibayan para madiin sila. Kung sa palagay
mo isa ka sa na-denggoy nila, bakit di mo subukan na
gumawa ng reklamo. Oo, kailangan nila ng written at
kopya ng passport mo. At huwag kang matakot dahil ina-assure
ko sa iyo na di ka madadawit dahil magiging HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
ang reklamo mo.
Sinubukan na rin namin na ipaalam
ito sa Mission X ngunit kailangan nila ng isang malakas
ang loob na mag-reklamo at pumunta sa kanilang opisina
ngunit syempre di natin magagawa yon sa dahilang nandito
na ang taong nabiktima. Pero sa paglantad mo, matutulungan
mo ang kapwa natin kababayan. Hindi tayo nagpunta sa
lugar na ito at mawalay sa ting mga minamahal para bigyan
sila ng pinag-hirapan natin. Napaka-daling negosyo ang
ginagawa nila and to what expense, syempre from the
POCKET OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS.
Ganon din sa ating Embassy.
Kailangan nila ng letter of complaint para makastigo
itong mga G----- OPISYAL NG GOBYERNO.
KAYA MGA KABABAYAN KO, MAGTULUNGAN
TAYO PARA MASUGPO ANG MGA ASONG ULOL SA GOBYERNO. ANG
HILING KO IKALAT NYO ANG E-MAIL NA ITO SA LAHAT NG TAONG
KILALA NYO HINDI LANG DITO SA U.A.E. KUNDI SA MISMONG
BANSA NATIN “PILIPINAS.”
Maaasahan ba kita?
Nagmamalasakit, KABABAYAN MO!
A.1moonglow@shaw.ca |
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Sign
a waiver and risk losing your cash claims |
How
many of our fellow Filipinos prefer the risk of life abroad
rather than stay jobless in the Philippines?
Too many for comfort. Not only
now. Even before.
Prior to the fall of Cambodia
to the Khmer Rouge (that was 1975!), this reality smacked
right into my face, so to speak. As a spouse of a staff
diplomat, I did my little share of convincing fellow Pinoys
in Phnom Penh to join the evacuation planned by our government.
Many declined for that reason. Few years after the fall,
my published article on them entitled “May They
Not Be In Pain” was all that I could wish for, as
my research produced more painful “why”, than
anything else.
It seems the war in the Middle
East elicited more sensation and hence more lessons. Calls
to come home in times of trouble is more heeded now, AND
just moving to safer places (actually to save costs) is
becoming more acceptable, if at least for sometime.
But not when the threat is MERE
work problems. The standing motto remains: rather than
stay jobless in the Philippines.
May this be some words of caution:
local agencies that deploy our OFWs are solidarily liable
to almost all misfortune the OFW will encounter in work
for breach or disregard of his contract of employment.
When they come home broken-hearted, and pocket broken,
they can sue the local agency for the money due them from
the foreign employer. Many win their case.
But not here.
In 1983, foreign employer Algosaibi-Bison
Ltd. or AB started encountering financial difficulties.
It had been hiring Filipinos under good conditions, but
suddenly the price of oil dropped in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia or KSA (indeed it happened, hence the OPEC). Remittances
to the families of the Filipinos were delayed.
When the local agency, which deployed
Filipinos to AB, Feagle Construction Corp. or FCC, could
no longer get the refund for their expenses (they paid
for all expenses for deployment, including medical costs
for their workers!), they stopped sending workers to AB.
This drove some of their workers to frenzy, especially
when they could not find job here.
In July 1984, they sought a meeting
with FCC and pleaded to be sent back to AB. They offered
to sign anything, and indeed they signed a waiver pledging
that they would not hold FCC liable for any delay or non-payment
of their salaries with ABB. They were deployed. Victory
for the moment.
In 1996, AB went into bankruptcy
and its Filipino workers filed a complaint with the Saudi
Labor Office in Dammam. The liquidator of ABB issued each
of them a certificate stating the amounts payable to each
AS SOON AS FUNDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. FCC helped them follow
up their claims.
Back in the Philippines, they
sued FCC for the claims, under the solidary liability
rule. They won in POEA, which had the jurisdiction then
over their money claims (it is now NLRC). They won on
appeal with the NLRC also! On to the Supreme Court, they
lost.
The Supreme Court declared that
these workers took a calculated risk by signing the waiver
rendering FCC FREE FROM ANY LIABILITY TO THEM.
This happened in the case of Feagle
Construction Corporation vs. Dorado, et al. (196 SCRA
481, April 30, 1991). Whether or not the workers got their
money from AB is not recorded in the case. It is not also
known if the workers were able to pay the loans they incurred
in this experience.
Should we get ourselves into known
risks again?
(Queries
can be e-mailed to balikbayan_magazine@hotmail.com)
Atty. Lora is a labor arbiter
and head of the Migrant Workers Desk of the NLRC. |
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No
to HB 3057! |
Fight
for the full voting rights of overseas Filipinos!
A citizen’s
right to vote is a universal one enshrined in Article
25 of the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political
rights. It is also in Article V, Sections 1 and 2 of
the Philippine Constitution. Filipinos living and working
overseas, however, still have not exercised this right.
As a global alliance of Filipino
groups that includes migrant workers, immigrants and
other Filipino citizens abroad, Migrante International
has long advocated for absentee voting, the exercise
of full voting rights and to be represented in Congress.
We uphold and assert this right.
On November 15, a Bicameral
Conference Committee was set to discuss and draft a
final version of the absentee voting bills passed recently
by the Upper and Lower Houses. The 12th Congress recently
passed its own version of the absentee voting bill called
House Bill 3057. The Senate, on the other hand, passed
Senate Bill 2104.
For the majority of the 8.1
million Filipinos overseas who contribute tremendously
to prop up our sagging and crisis-ridden economy, and
who assert the right to vote and be represented, the
12th Congress’ recent passage of the absentee
voting bill, House Bill 3057, is a sham that aims to
shortchange Filipinos abroad of their right to vote
and be represented. If unjust stipulations of the Lower
House’s HB 3570 are retained, the final absentee
voting bill will give Filipino citizens abroad a muted
electoral voice.
We believe that all Filipino
citizens, inside and outside the country, should have
full voting rights. This means that a Filipino immigrant
or migrant, legal or undocumented, should be able to
vote for officials in all positions, from the national
to local levels; including plebiscites and referenda
on national, regional and local issues.
The two versions
Senate Bill 2104 accords voting
rights to all Filipino citizens overseas. In this bill,
all migrant workers, documented or not, and all immigrants,
who retain Filipino citizenship may vote in the 2004
national elections. Under this version, our kababayan’s
voice regarding their choice for President, Vice-President,
Senators and Party-List representatives, are heard.
Likewise, it accords Filipino citizens everywhere in
the world the right to vote.
In stark contrast, House Bill
3570, muffles this voice by limiting which Filipino
citizens overseas may vote and by denying them the right
to choose their Party-List representatives.
The following details the unjust
aspects of HB 3570:
• Only overseas Filipino
workers in 16 selected countries are given the right
to vote;
• The OFWs will only be
able to vote for their country’s President and
Vice-President;
• OFWs in countries without
Philippine embassies or consulates (e.g. Macau) may
not vote;
• Includes a “sunset
provision” that may limit absentee voting to the
2004 elections only.
This only shows that all our
efforts in fighting for our right to suffrage is now
in the brink of just being used again by politicians
as a showcase for their campaign sorties in the coming
2004 election.
But while both the Senate and the Congress versions
fail to give full voting rights to all Filipino citizens
overseas, Senate Bill 2104 comes closer to approximating
this objective.
For MIGRANTE International,
full voting rights should be exercised from hereon.
We will not compromise our rights in exchange for a
deceptive piecemeal electoral exercise. Full voting
rights for overseas Filipinos NOW!
Filipino immigrants
are citizens
Denying Filipino citizens the
right to vote because they live abroad is also unacceptable.
The Philippine Constitution and the United Nations Convention
on Civil and Political Rights, that the Philippines
signed, is clear on this point. The right to suffrage
is the inalienable right of all citizens.
Filipinos who are permanent
residents abroad but have not been sworn in as citizens
of their host countries are still Filipino citizens.
For proponents to conclude these Filipinos no longer
hold allegiance to the Philippines simply because they
reside overseas is also discriminatory, unfair and in
some cases, hypocritical.
The majority of Filipino immigrants
are primarily economic migrants. Due to our country’s
systemic poverty, Filipinos by the thousands are uprooted
from the Philippines and flung around the world. Our
kababayans are forced to live overseas because the economic
conditions here deny them even their simplest dreams.
In other fora, government officials
are quick to praise them for the US$6 billion they infuse
into our economy for their remittances.
Already turned out of the Philippines
because of our country’s worsening economy, let
us not shut the door on them altogether by denying them
their political voice.
Heed our voice
Migrante International urges
the Bicameral Conference Committee to forge an Absentee
Voting Bill that is in clusive and that affords Filipino
citizens abroad the right to vote and the right to be
represented. In particular, we welcome stipulations
in the Senate Bill 2104 that upholds the right to vote
to all Filipino citizens living and working abroad,
in all countries — immigrants or temporary migrants,
documented or not — and that allow voting for
Party-List representatives. By adhering to these significant
components in the final version, Filipino citizens overseas
are ensured that instead of being muted, their electoral
voices will be heard at its fullest.
Time and again, overseas Filipinos
are being used and abused by the past and present administrations’
worn-out commitments for our rights and well being.
In actuality, however, these are just empty promises.
It is in this regard that we
urge our fellow overseas Filipinos to vigilantly go
beyond the ballot box. While the right to suffrage allows
us to amplify our interests, it is not the only means
we may use to ensure our rights and welfare are forwarded.
Mr Gratela has been the Secretary
General of the Migrante International, an organization
deeply involved in the struggle of OFWs, since 1996. |
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Celebrating
seafarers day |
The month
of September was a tiring and enjoying one for the Seamen’s
Wives Association of the Philippines Inc. Six months prior
to September were very busy months because we have started
our meetings for the celebration of the 7th National Seafarers
Day (NSD), which was held at the Quirino Grandstand Rizal
Park, Manila September 22, 2002. Being a national event,
it needs a lot of preparation and mastery of the program
especially that the keynote speaker was the Vice President
of the Republic of the Philippines, TEOFISTO J. GUINGONA
JR. Also we wanted to make the event a momentous one for
all maritime students and the viewing public every year.
The NSD celebration was a total
success. The assembly and parade of participants at T.M.
Kalaw Street started on time. The participants comprised
of MET institutions, government administrators, maritime
industry stakeholders, non-government organizations, families
of seafarers, etc. As the participants approached the
Quirino Grandstand, they are introduced by the emcee,
Mr. Melo Acuna, a radio announcer.
As soon as the participants have
seated on the bleachers, SWAPI usherettes started to distribute
raffle tickets to them. There were 5,000 raffle tickets
that were distributed. The prizes at stake is more than
50 small appliances. The prizes were donated by WESTERN
UNlON AUTOMATIC MONEY TRANSFER and two members of the
organizing committee. The major prize, a refrigerator,
was won by a SWAPI member.
Students of PMI College performed
a silent drill. The crowd appreciated the execution of
PMI students and applauded them.
The Philippine Navy Band had their
number to entertain the crowd followed by the OWWA Choir,
which performed a beautiful song and dance number that
even drew the crowd to dance and sing with them.
Every National Seafarers Day is
celebrated with a mass because it is held on a Sunday
presided by Bishop Teodoro J. Buhain. A wreath for the
deceased seafarers was blessed before it was thrown to
the sea.
Prominent maritime industry stakeholders, government administrators
from DOLE and POEA plus the mayor of the City of Manila
delivered messages. After the messages, the guest of honor
Vice President Guingona Jr. delivered the keynote address.
He assured his support to the Filipino seafarers, especially
the wives, who used to be solo parents while their husbands
are aboard oceangoing vessels.
The event honors deserving seafarers,
who have done exemplary and heroic feats while aboard
vessel, good community service, a good and trustworthy
father and husband and a good Christian and God- fearing
too. They are given the OSYA or OUTSTANDING SEAFARERS
OF THE YEAR AWARD. We had four awardees.
While the rite for deceased seafarers
was being observed at the Manila Bay with the families
of the departed, the Family Cultural Entertainment was
ongoing at the stage fronting the Quirino Grandstand.
The presentation was really wholesome.
The sons and daughters of SWAPI
members also presented a modern dance. They are Sherwinn
Allan Ordoñez Gomez, Jimmy Prego Jr., Amancio de
la Cruz, Noli Delma, Joshua Balili and Paolo Valderama.
Anna Lee Lamigo rendered a song number.
Participating students in beautiful
costumes presented the origin of seafaring in the Philippines
through a dance. After each presentation, drawing of raffle
tickets was hosted by Father Sabino Bernardi, director
of the Apostleship of the Sea Manila Chapter.
Those who stayed until the end of the program were the
lucky winners of small appliances.
A sumptuous lunch was served courtesy
of OWWA.
The NSD was the kick-off event
of the Maritime Week, which falls on September 22-29,
2002. Every day of this week, there is a distinct activity
conducted by different organizations.
The Maritime Industry Authority
spearheaded the Maritime Week celebration. The activities
that were undertaken during the week were as follows:
Clean up drive in coastal shores; a debate held at the
FEATI University; a seminar on seafarers’ rights
and obligations under the law and the contract sponsored
by MARLAW, SWAPI and MARINA; a bowling tournament, an
on-the-spot painting contest sponsored by MARlNA; and
a Kapihan sa Luneta.
On the 26th of September, the
Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific spearheaded the
MOTORCADE of different member organization in selected
streets of Manila. It started and ended at the Quirino
Grandstand. Other member organizations went to Pier 13
for the ship visitation.
The first Filipino Seafarers National
Convention was held for two days at the Manila Hotel,
on September 27 and 28. One of the expected outputs of
the Convention is a draft Magna Carta for Filipino seafarers
to consolidate the seemingly discordant laws relevant
to seafarers as well as to enhance the rights, benefits
and privileges accorded to Filipino seafarers.
***
To
all wives of OFWs, be it land-based or seabased, a word
of advice. We should praise and thank the Lord Almighty
for our present positions in life. We are far better
than those who are working here in the Philippines so
let us share a little to our brothers and sisters, who
are less fortunate in life. Indeed, let us manage our
allotments wisely because our betterhalves are working
in vain, the loneliness they are suffering is something
to ponder on. Lastly, let us put the Lord at the center
of our life and everything will go on smoothly.
Mrs. Gomez is the national vice
president of the SWAPI and president of the SWAPI NCR
chapter. She is a radio and TV talent, a resource person
for AOS seminars and customs broker. She is a recipient
of the 2002 Outstanding Lady Executive Leader of the
Year Award and the 1996 Seaman’s Wife of the Year
Award. |
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