The Philippines is on a roll!
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Did you hear about that? Now what? You better not mortgage your house! You better not open a loan account with your nearest bank, just because the Philippines is on a roll! O baka naman yong Banco de Oro card mo eh sinagad mo na just because da Flippines is on a roll!
But wait for the GDP!
You will not understand any of these unless you get to find out - what in the world is this freaking GDP!
Classes will open in June at the University of Reyna Elena! We’ll start with a high-flying course in Macro-economics! I will check attendance! I want all of the Overseas Filipino Workers to understand da hell is that GDP! Gwapo ba sya? Pede ba syang kwartahan? Yu know?
Viewed 146 times by 70 viewers
GDP is coming to town!
Ross, gave me an assignment. It’s about GDP. That is why, you see no post because eye em reviewing my notes. Baka mapahiya ako eh.
GDP is coming to town! Give me a few days!
Viewed 199 times by 83 viewers
You think Phil Health deserve our symphathy?
Well, well, well!
It took PhilHealth roughly 12 years! TWELVE twinkling years OK?! DOSEEE!!! A-wan! A-tu! … aaa… kuwan…. ahhh.. (anu susunod?) A-DOSE anyos to find out that they have been duped and defrauded by doctors, hospitals and hospital-based pharmacies. Wow! ANYBODY HOME?! Were they on vacation? And in all of those 12 funky years, they have no freaking idea. Yeap. No clue ladies and gentleman. No untoward incident whatsoever. No fire. Nope. None. Nada. Zero. Zilch! Zip! Everything was ok….
Until….
Got the chance to read this news?
Here’s a related story: Election na talaga! An saya saya nila!
Here I am again!
So, tell me, do you think PhilHealth should not be blamed for the $4 billion scam because in all of those 12 years they have no clue whatsoever?
Ever heard of the phrase “Justice delayed is justice denied?”, kinda similar right? They were soooo late in determining that fraud existed, therefore, are they guilty of fraud themselves? What do you think?
Well, let’s start with some facts reported by the Inquirer, ok? Hold your fire.
Apparently, the following defrauded the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
- Doctors
- Hospitals and,
- Hospital-based pharmacies
Examples of fraudulent claims were:
- A doctor conducted more than 2,000 cataract surgeries worth Php17 million in just one year.
- Doctors would prescribe medicines that were not needed by the patient but only to pad the hospital bills
They are currently investigating more frauds under the following areas:
- Circumcisions (Hoy! bluepanjeet! eh kulay blue na yan eh! Ilang beses ka ba magpapatuli?!)
- Toenail extractions (Empress Marujaaaaa!!!! Uwi ka na anak! Ano ka ba?! Magang-maga na yang paa mo ano?!)
Whereas it took them 12 years to report this to the Senate, the paper claims that PhilHealth itself is the biggest violator of premium payments – why? They have not paid over Php5 billion of PhilHealth premiums. Can you imagine how many shoes we can buy for Php5 billion unpaid premiums? I’m sure not all of those premiums are fake. There must be honest to goodness genuine premiums there, right?
PhilHealth admitted they have been late in paying for hospital bills of their members because the new system that would allow verification of premium payments before hospitals were actually paid. It’s not lack of money, but operational problem shifting from localized system to an integrated system and are still adjusting to this centralized computerized system where all data maybe checked. They also blame it on the mass migration of doctors who acted as evaluators of medical cases to determine actual medical needs.
OK! Check your PhilHealth cards now! Your premiums might not have been paid yet! Ha Ha Ha! AND (!)
By show of feet with clean toenails! You think Phil Health deserve our symphathy?
Viewed 140 times by 64 viewers
Are you in favor of the DLSU study that OFW remittances be taxed?
SO, TELL ME! ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE DLSU STUDY THAT OFW REMITTANCES BE TAXED?
Yeap! You read it right! There’s a study out there - somewhere in the halls of the De La Salle University that OFW remittances will be taxed.
That’s right! tha’s an interesting piece of news imbedded in this article that I want you my dear fellow brothers and sisters toiling for that hard earned dollars to be aware of. De La Salle University apparently had a study and said:
Business and economics experts from De La Salle University proposed in a study the taxation of remittances from OFWs and the use of proceeds to shore up the productivity of workers left behind.
Anybody out there who can send me a copy or send me a link to whatever this study is? Hello!!! We are going to be taxed?? Am I reading this right?
“The possibility of increasing and internalizing the cost of international migration may be considered to reduce the economic ills it has generated … Such a move can arrest the possible hollowing effects on industries and mitigate the loss in international competition,” according to the research, titled “The Economic Impacts of International Migration: A Case Study on the Philippines,” written by Tereso Tullao, Michael Angelo Cortez and Edward See.
The study suggested that the same remittance income pouring into the country had nurtured dependence, contributed indirectly in the contraction of industries and developed a culture of migration among Filipinos.
Now, tell me - why would they tax our remittances? Our remittances to the Philippines has been the most important thing that ever happened to our country and I’ll name two major reasons:
-
Every year, OFW remittances to the Philippines has not only been consistent but it has been rising. It’s now running right around $15 billion dollars and it’s what’s driving the local economy! Now, do we get that much in foreign investments? NO! Why? GUESS! Not that too many foreigners are interested in investing in us because we have the lousiest infrastructure in the whole world, we have an unreliable internet connections, we are the number corrupt country in Asia and extra-judicial killings is unabated. Shouldn’t these powers-that-be be happy that our remittances is in there in place of foreign investments that we’re not getting and the ones that we get are nowhere compared to the foreign investments that goes to Vietnam and our neighbors?
-
Our OFW remittances acted as Darna when the Asian Financial Crisis happened in the late 90’s and if not for our remittances, where will we be?
NOW TELL ME, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT TAXING OFW REMITTANCES AS SUGGESTED BY DLSU?
Let’s speak up! We can’t allow them to do this us!
STRONG PESO EFFECT ON EXPORTS
You must have noticed that I have always followed the ups and downs of our Philippine currency. You should read this recent article on the Inquirer regarding the impact of a strong peso as far as Philippine exports are concerned.
You see, when you have a strong Peso, just as what’s written in this news:
A strong domestic currency has an adverse impact on dollar earners, like exporters, because they will get less pesos in exchange for their earnings. It also makes prices of their products less competitive, especially against manufacturing powerhouses in the region like China.
Interestingly, I have a friend who made it big as an abaca handicraft exporter. They have a US presense in South Carolina. They have big time customers in the US, like Pier Imports, JC Penney, Michael’s and Walmart.
Now, they took a beating when China emerged as the lowest cost producing and exporting nation, especially when China ascended to the WTO. Interestingly enough, my next door neighbor at East Ortigas whose business is stonewashing jeans was also affected by low-cost China. Last I heard was that his business was in a very bad position.
Now, comes a strong peso. Whereas, I don’t discount the fact that there are other sectors benefitting the rise of the peso, it’s the exports that we need to take a look at becasue there are a lot of Filipinos dependent on these export-oriented industries who are directly being punished by the strong peso.
Why is that?
It’s like this.
Let’s say I am Michael’s Philadelphia buying abaca products from Loida Abaca in Manila. Let’s say that we’ve been in business for many years when the currency exchange rate was 60 to $1. Fast forward today - 2007, currency exchange rate is now 45 to $1. See the difference? Let’s say that 1 abaca basket that I buy from Loida before would cost me Php30. Easy huh? Which means, my $1 can buy 2 baskets. Fast forward today, my $1 can only buy 1 basket and am left with Php15 which is not enough for another basket. Getching? It’s really that easy - in a big picture.
Source:
Peso now ‘uncomfortably strong’
Neda chief urges aid for battered export sector
Posted date: May 27, 2007
Viewed 183 times by 84 viewers
Si Dingdong
Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow OFW’s, *bow*. Our blog article for today comes from graceysexy, isa sa mga anak kong regular sa kingdom na to. Here’s her letter:
Gracey wrote:
HELL: the home of the DEVIL; the UNDERWORLD; a dark place where bad people go… in tagalog it’s called IMPYERNO -The one place in the university that we all hate!!
I decided to compare ang kaibahan ng “impyerno” noon at ngayon.
Hmmmmmm **isip isip***
kamot ng ulo
buntong hininga***
(after 1 hour)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! The only difference is NAG EXPAND na sila dati
isang office lang eh now 3 na!!!
1. ung original
2. ung sa registrar
3. ung kay DINGDONG!!!
WHY???
Kasi malapit na NLE and they did everything they could para mapigilang kumuha ng exam ang mga kawawang graduates to the point na mag connive silang lahat at paikut ikutin nila pati mga magulang sa processing ng documents!!! Imagine sbi sa office#1 pag may S.O. # na ok na sign na lang ni dingdong and take note “Dapat pasalamatan nyo si Ding dong dahil tumawag pa sya sa CHED 4 those SO #”accdng. to the head sa offce#1, sbi naman sa office #3 “pseudo copy lang un di ako pipirma dapat andito na original copy!” Sumingit pa si office #3 “nawawala po ung mga clearance nyo and wla pa kayong goodmoral and TOR from ur previous school” **sigaw ako** what the f!#k “2 beses nakong nag provide nyan ha” accdg. to my sbling…
Bumira pa si Dingdong sa isa kong sibling: ” Tingin ko hindi ka pa ready mag take ng NLE” **
sigaw uli sabay sabunot kay Dingdong**
Hellooooo
kelan pa nalaman ng ibang tao kung ready ka ng mag NLE o hindi???!!!
In addition to that, officeS 1 and 3 are now saying “WE WILL INCLUDE THE REVIEW FOR NLE IN NEXT YEARS’ CURRICCULUM”
***Napamura nanaman sabay sign of the cross, sorry po Lord***
YOU BE THE JUDGE…
Viewed 182 times by 83 viewers
Is the peso really gaining some strength?
Children, to understand if the Philippine peso is gaining some strength, first we have to review our Economics 101.
Let’s re-learn our basic.
Our PESO becomes valuable because the DEMAND for the peso is greater than the available supply. Am sure everybody knows about supply and demand, korek? When does our peso becomes valuable? Two or three years ago, the exchange rate was 56 to $1. Today, it’s now 45 to a dollar. That 45 exchange rate means that our peso is now valuable compared to that time when it used to be 56. Understand children? Now, it becomes less valuable when there is an over-supply of peso or the demand for the peso is less. Who knows, maybe people are stocking their wealth in other currencies.
Speculation & perception
Now, have you heard about the word speculation? Well, this is almost a given word in the foreign exchange community. Why? There are so many speculative investors and traders out there whose job is to speculate, speculate, speculate on currencies. So when there is an increase transaction on a particular currency, say peso, or an increased speculation on peso, the demand for the peso goes up. When the demand goes up, the value goes up. Where does all these speculation starts? Well, aside from the fact that most of these financial companies have the best financial research teams and models out there, they also rely on perceptions. So, what’s the current perception of the Philippine business environment? It’s positive and upbeat which is good news, why? its spells valuable peso. But here’s what bothers me. If it’s positive and upbeat, then we get splashed on world papers as Asia’s most corrupt economy, does that create a positive and upbeat environment? I’m positively sure that that news do not bring any upbeat and positive news to foreign investors? Right?
Production, Employment
Now, the demand for peso is dependent or correlated with our country’s level of activity – manufacturing, exports, imports, etc. AND employment. It’s like this:
If you have a lot of people out there in the streets – do you still remember about the findings by some government research think tank? 9 out of every 10 Filipinos are employed. Right – the job of those 9 is to look for a job. The one who is employed supports the 9 and is receiving below minimum wage. You remember that?
Ok. Listen children.
So, let’s see the current production results. It says that manufacturing output fell by 7.6% by March, but then again, I don’t have any information as to what’s the manufacturing output numbers to compare it from. I’ll just take it for now as the production level went down. So, if it went down - no production - no goods for sale - no one buying -no money - peso is less valuable. See the correlation? Besides, the news says that it continues to decline. If that is the case, then there is a direct effect on employment - meaning, unemployment should go up.
If you have so many people unemployed, that means these people got no money. If they have no money? They have nothing to spend on. If they have nothing to spend on? No one buys our and their products. If no buys our or their products? No one produces and manufactures. If no one produces and manufactures? No jobs. NO jobs? Unemployment = less demand for money. Less demand for money? Less value of our money. Understand children?
Interest rates and the Central Bank
Let’s go back to currency speculators. I call them manghuhula. Can they deliberately create a demand such that the value of our peso goes up? Of course Matilda. They can. But this is something that Central Bank is supposed to check by way of adjusting interest rates. You see, if you are an investor, what are you looking for? Of course, you would choose to buy a currency with high interest rates so that the return would be high. So – the higher the interest rates? The greater demand for our peso. But by golly, at least we’re not a victim of what happened to Malaysia and Thailand in 1987, are you familiar with what I am talking about?
Inflation
Another important factor - inflation. Our peso will tend to lose its value (meaning from Php45 to $1 going back to Php60 to $1) if we have high inflation. But of course! So, what’s the current situation as far as inflation is concerned? Well, according to this news, the Philippines’ inflation rate dropped to its lowest level in 20 years at 2.2 per cent in March 2007 which would mean that our peso becomes valuable.
Political Uncertainty
I just find it difficult to make a comment as to what we are politically - I mean, as far as the word “uncertainty” is concerned. Why? Political uncertainty has always been with us. This is like a common word, I mean what with Arroyo stealing the elections in 2004, impeachments, coup attempts, yet, our economy has been growing steadly actually - or at least that’s what the media says. We have not achieved the status achieved by our neighbors, I mean, we are still so far behind them, but personally, I’d just excuse political uncertainty from my own unscientific analysis.
Now, there are other important factors that I’m sure I should discuss like interest rates, the Central Bank’s role, government spending specially on infrastructure, IT investments, foreign investments, wages. I’d leave them for now because I can’t get enough information. Corruption? Let’s just pretend we live in a perfect world. So, this would be my last item:
OFW Remittances
$15 billion US Dollars. Think about it. Can you imagine how many shoes Imelda can buy from this many many $’s? We have poured $15 billion twinkling dollars into the economy. What did this $15 billion dollars did? Check out the malls, the realty industry. Check out the condominiums and all the developments all over the country. Need I say more? What it means is that, all these monies have created a spending spree that is driving the local economy. When you have monies like these in the hands of the population - what do they do? Available cash means - spend. That’s why our malls are filled to the rafters. More consumers, more products. More products more output more employment. Or?
So, what I am looking for in what’s obviously conflicting economic reports? I mean, it really depends on what paper and what day you are reading, the reports are conflicting worst, it does not even jibe with reality. I’m looking for consistency.
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On, speculation & Perception. There are papers that proclaim that business is upbeat but the perception that we are the most corrupt economy in Asia surely impacts negatively. Our foreign investment is so miniscule compared to that of Vietnam. All these news on speculation and perception are very inconsistent. Thumbs down!
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On production - If we have news that our peso is strengthening, you would expect that our factories are churning out like crazy yet reports have it that output have been falling! Those are in itself conflicting!!! Thumbs down!
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Unemployment - I don’t even have to check the unemployment rates. I could just go visit my friends at Floodway and there’s unemployment rates smack right in front of your face! You know what I mean? Thumbs down!
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Inflation - Ok. This is kinda weird. The report I picked up says that inflation has been pretty consistent and it says that we actually have the lowest inflation for the last 20 years? Really? And gas prices? Relatively stable? What about Meralco? Relatively stable? I don’t think so! So, I’d say, thumbs down! Inconsistencies!!!
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Political uncertainty - The only certain about politics in our country is that political power will continue to be in the hands of the new dynasty in place, it’s all the same banana. What good will this bring us? Who knows. Maybe this will lead us to Political Tralala-land!
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OFW Remittances - Honestly, this is the only goods news about all the good news. This is the only consistent economic factor out there for many years and has continued to rise! Year after year, after year. And with $15 billion US dollars which is even bigger than the entire US Mining Industry, our remittances has shielded our economy to that infamous Asian financial crisis!
So what is driving the strength of the Philippine peso? It’s all the money that we send back home. This is what’s creating the economic activity in our own turd world kawntri.
Viewed 181 times by 88 viewers
What’s wrong with these news?!
I took this one on today’s Inquirer news. Have a look. Do you notice something distinctively wrong with the news headlines?
BASAHIN MU…
TITIGAN…
GAMITAN NANG MAGNIFYING GLASS…
HULAAN!
Viewed 151 times by 69 viewers
Peso seen hitting Php44: $1
Hmppppttt!!!
If there is ever something in this news that I am excited about, it’s the news that finally there will be a centralized credit bureau in the Philippines. It’s about time! But then again, given Pinoy’s unbelievable ability to tweak things, our beyond the world ability to be creative taking cue from all our corrupt models, who knows what this credit bureau will crank out. Would it be similar to Maguindanao vote? I mean, I would like to have a fantastic credit rating, you know!
In any case, here’s more bad news to us Overseas Pinoy Workers!!!
MANILA, Philippines — Standard Chartered Bank expects the peso to strengthen further to about 44 to the dollar, given what it calls a “good” election turnout and a “frothing” domestic economy, bank chief executive Eugene Ellis told the Inquirer.Ellis also said the British bank was keen on expanding its business in the country — such as through a foray into small and medium-scale enterprise lending and mortgage lending — to take advantage of opportunities.
“All the fundamentals are excellent,” he said at the sidelines of the signing of a P5-billion local bond float by the Asian Development Bank.
The peso on Tuesday broke into the 45-per-dollar level to reach its highest exchange rate in nearly seven years. Ellis said, “We see it going [into] another big figure.”
He agreed that the currency would extend its gains toward 44 to the greenback before succumbing to technical correction. “The fundamentals are all in place for the Philippines and we must seize the opportunity,” he said.
On Wednesday, the peso retreated from Tuesday’s close of 45.87 to the dollar and finished at 46.04. But currency traders said strong foreign buying of Philippine stocks and heavy inflows of foreign exchange from overseas Filipino workers ahead of school opening in June continued to support the peso.
The peso’s slight pullback was widely expected because the US dollar had reached oversold levels in the past few days, traders said.
Ellis meanwhile said Standard Chartered would stick to its strategy of wholesale lending in the Philippines, citing its participation as lead arranger of the ADB peso bond float.
He said Standard Chartered expected to arrange about three more financial deals of about the same size within the year.
When asked whether corporate demand for credit was picking up after years of sluggish growth, Ellis said: “Absolutely. There are large corporations going to the market, and there are a few more [credit deals] coming up.”
To venture into lending to small and medium-scale enterprises, Standard Chartered is also awaiting the launch of a centralized credit bureau in the Philippines, he said.
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My blogpals
I stole this poem!
Without authorization!
Why? Because I saw,
I’m UNDER ADORATION!
(kaw ba naman magkasakit nang ADD at ADS! he he he!)
Here’s where I stole it from:
One day, while surfing, I saw a link,
That curiously got me to think;
What could be over there,
That makes it famously everywhere?
I landed on Reyna Elena’s site,
Some posts are heavy, mostly light;
Remarks are so funny,
I almost laughed endlessly.
And then I met Kutangbato,
A teacher who speaks gay linggo;
Yet deep inside of Kuta’s mind,
She is the intelligent kind.
Let me tell you about Diwa,
Who loves to shoot her camera;
With pictures sublime–
Do it again, sometime.
The StarTalk of the palace,
It’s Chuva Chienes, who else?
Also a netrepreneur,
Finding ways to earn, for sure!
All four are from the USA,
Filipinos at heart, what can you say?
That’s just half my collection,
Of friends I made with blog addiction.
Let me introduce Ros to you,
Who just came home while skies are blue;
The only Filipino in Italy,
My quotey friend speaks fluently.
Bea may be small, but incredible,
Although shy, she’s amicable;
If you think your comments should be censored,
Use parentheses to have them covered!
The youngest is JC, the mountain climber,
Don’t underestimate her, I thought she’s taller;
She goaled to climb as many mountains she can,
Before classes start, to blogging, she’ll be back again.
Last but not the least, in comes Ghandee,
Who got addicted to the palace as we;
She read all our posts from down memory lane,
Done her assignment well, I’m glad she’s still sane.
When Ros came home, we had a grand EB,
Myself included (of course!), Bea and JC;
We had our moments at Max, Festival Mall,
Priceless pictures, I took some, if not all.
Viewed 132 times by 68 viewers
Peso surges to Php45.87? Time to celebrate na ba?
Here we are again. The continued rise of peso!
What does it mean to us Pinoys? Back in October of 2006, I reposted an entry I wrote several months back. I was asked by Chuva and several others to explain what’s the effect of the rising peso?
Here’s an excerpt of what I wrote: “… Sino ang me advantage sa ganitong exchange rate? Yong mga tiga-labas especially tayo sa America, Middle East, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore or Europa. Kasi, sa konting $ na padala natin, maraming piso. Say $300 x Php56 = Php16, 800.00. Fast-forward ngayon, exchange rate, $1=Php50. Sinong me advantage? Yong mga businesses doon satin, why? Kakayod lang sila nang Php50, me $1 na sila. Ngayon, if you are here in the US sending the same $300 x $50 = Php15,000.”
Read this entry here: $1=Php56, One year ago
Here’s the news:
www.reynaelena.com
For one thing, who do you think are immediately affected by the rising peso? Who else but us, the overseas Filipino workers and everyone else who sends money to the Philippines. Think about this, if you have read my original entry, it went from a low rate of about Php56 to a strong Php45 now. I’m sure, we the Overseas Filipino Workers who have remitted an astounding $15 billion has got something to do with this. Isn’t this ironic? We are one big industry in itself who helped the Philippine economy survive the Asian financial crisis, but in effect, we are the ones hurting ourselves?
If you still don’t understand what I’m talking about, when was the last time you sent money to the Philippines? I’m sure, today – if you have just remitted money – you are so not the one dancing with the stars!!!
Now, did you click the video? Who did you see celebrating? Who did you see went to the Philippine Stock Exchange to celebrate the rise of the peso? Yes, Matilda, only the government and those people in power are the ones telling us that this is encouraging and that we should still send more dollars to the country to further encourage the rise of the peso or is it the rise of their wealth? In my mind a strong economy is grounded first and foremost on ethics & good governance, transparency, free of corruption, on production, manufacturing, services, exports and an uninterrupted and stable DSL connection less business sabotage for my internet cafe (Oopps! ba’t ba naisingit ko yon?!) and not dependent on remittances from some very select sector of the society na ang tawag eh OFW.
Reality is, when will this strong peso and good economic performance filter down to the population? When will my friends dun sa Floodway feel the effects of this robust stock market performance? What about salaries? When will our salaries become competitive so we won’t have to be working outside of the country? In 2005, I was interviewed at the Makati Business Club for a position in an investment company. Salary offered? Php60,000 per month. Ugh!
Sometimes, I begin to think… hmm… was Comelec involved in the rise of the peso?!
Is this news for foreign consumption?
Viewed 156 times by 65 viewers
Our on again, off again is on again - is off again!!!
Do you guys know what I’m talking about? My internet cafe will be known as the only internet cafe in Antipolo with no DSL line. I think some people are forcing us to change our internet cafe’s name to www.myofflineinternetville.com!
This has been a crazy seesaw action of online - offline - online and now, offline again. So, I asked my staff, what about the internet cafe’s around the area? Are they having some connection problems as well? Or are we the only ones having this problem? Is someone singling us out? Is someone forcing us out of business? Or PLDT-DSL is just really doing its best to cut us off and force us to bankcruptcy? We have no idea. All we know is that since Monday, we have no connection whatsoever.
This has been the most frustrating business ever and the worst service we have ever experienced!!!
IS PLDT DSL LISTENING TO ALL OUR COMPLAINTS?!
(Update: The Internet Cafe is now closed!)
Viewed 118 times by 58 viewers
Pinay, a victim of slavery
I got home early tonight. It’s been ages since I have watched the nightly news, since I get home around 9:00 pm or even late. I remember Peter Jennings, he’s my favorite. The news tonight was pretty interesting. As a matter of fact, I believe, Kuta talked about this one many months back. What am I talking about?
I’m talking about these two Filipino doctors in Milwaukee who supposedly hired a domestic helper from the Philippines only to be treated as slave. The story or the rumors has it that these two Filipino doctors are not even US Citizens! So, I’m sure, it’s spelled deportation to them once they finish their prison term. My blood level was rising as I was watching the news!
And what infuriates me more is that - P** bleep, Pinoy sila? Maid nila Pinay? Taz ginawang slave nang mga P* bleep!
I was glued on TV and I can’t believe what I was watching! Here’s the story:
Slaves in the U.S.: ‘This Happens All Over the Country’
Slavery — it might still happen in third-world countries halfway across the world, but it doesn’t hit close to home. The problem exists solely in the pages of history books as far as the United States is concerned. Right?
In the 21st century, most probably think that slavery could not exist in this day and age. But that thought is wrong.
Government estimates say about 15,000 to 18,000 people enter the United States annually to work in deplorable conditions for little or no pay. These men, women and children are the victims of global human trafficking — a lucrative and thriving underground trade.
Tonight: One survivor’s story in part one of Pierre Thomas’ series “Slavery in America: Living in the Shadows,” on “World News With Charles Gibson.”
ABC’s Pierre Thomas spoke with one young woman who survived being a slave in America.
Evelyn Chumbow’s captor told the young girl’s family that Chumbow would get a top-notch education and have a new world of opportunity in the U.S. Instead, the woman enslaved the then 11-year-old in her home, forcing her to work long hours, depriving her of the education she was promised and never paying her a dime.
She told her story of survival, triumph over the sadistic woman who held her captive, and how she is now rebuilding her own life while striving to help others in an exclusive interview with ABC News.
‘There’s Nowhere in America That It Doesn’t Happen’
“What I would say to the American people is that they have to realize that this happens all over the country, in the backs of restaurants, in the fields in Florida, in the timber industry in the north of New York. There’s nowhere in America that it doesn’t happen,” said Melanie Orhant, Chumbow’s former attorney and the managing attorney for the Break the Chain Campaign, an organization that helps trafficking survivors.
Assistant Attorney General Wan Kim, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said money drives the human trafficking industry.
“When you ask yourself, how could a human being do this to another human being, there’s no good answer to that. But one of the answers is, boy, they’re making a lot of money or saving a lot of money by doing that,” said Kim.
“We’ve had cases where people have been victimized and forced into domestic servitude for more then decade. Think about how much you could save, a person could save, if they didn’t have to pay for house cleaning, for cooking for baby-sitting services for that period of time,” he said.
Lured to America
Some slaves are simply kidnapped and slipped across U.S. borders. Others — too poor to pay off the transport fee of ruthless smugglers — work for months to pay off the debt. Some are lured by work or tourist visas only to be forced to work for little or no pay.
The slaves are controlled by their captors with the threat of arrest or deportation, and in many cases, beatings.
Victims of slavery often cannot speak English, and sometimes they cannot read or write — issues that magnify their isolation. And with no friends or family nearby, for all intents and purposes — they don’t exist.
All Across the Country
A recent case involved a girl brought from Egypt to work seven days a week for a wealthy couple in Irvine, Calif. Federal prosecutors showed a home video at the couple’s trial, showing the girl cleaning up after her masters’ family while everyone else, including children appearing to be about the age of the girl, enjoyed a birthday party.
Two Milwaukee doctors were sentenced to four years in prison for enslaving a young Filipino woman for 19 years. She lived hidden in a basement storage room of the doctors’ upscale home and was only allowed upstairs to work as a servant.
“I think most Americans would be saddened and shocked to know about the extent of this problem,” said Kim.
Once freed, the victims of slavery try to piece their lives back together. There are dozens of support groups around the country to help victims get education, employment and counseling.
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