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 editorial
 
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!
 
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

 
‘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

 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
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.

 
 
 
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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