From the category archives:

OFW Life & Issues

Post image for If you’re an OFW or an overseas Pinoy, here’s how to own a house or a condominium in Manila

Photo Credits: Here
Think about this. Dati, there’s about 10% of the Philippine population outside of the country nag-ta-trabaho. Ngayon? Mas marami pa! Wala kasing lecheng trabaho saten noh? As usual, the ritual goes na we all send money back home, konting ipon and hope na makabili tayo nang palasyo. But, let’s admit it. Mahirap. We [...]

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Admiration for China

Who would not have an admiration for China? With their ancient civilization that continues to awe everyone of us to their meteoric rise as one global economic power capable of dictating our food on the table. One thing I like from them is how effective their anti-corruption is. They hang them. Sure it’s [...]

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Tuliro sa trabaho si Illuminada

by reynz on March 13, 2009

Occasionally, I get letters from readers. Alam nyo na yun. Wisik wisik ko sya wid my own language para itago ang engkanto nyang katauhan. Why they look at me as Dear Ate Charo, is beyond me. But as usual, pani-nindigan ko sya ever. Mas maganda ata ako ki Charo! Hmpt!

Eto ang sulat nya.

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Isang jobseeker; isang matalinong tanga

by reynz on February 2, 2009

Eto ang bagong chika:
Eto ang istoryang nakaka-lungkot pero nakaka-bwisit. Isang 19 anyos na babae. Ni-rape daw nang putang hapon at winasak ang kanyang bukang liwayway.
Ha?! Anong nangyari?
Nag-a-apply na entertainer sa Japan ang kawawang gurl. Nag-meet sila nang Japanese recruiter sa mall in Manila to hand the documents daw. Den, nag-dinner ang dalwa. Eh, 7:30pm ba [...]

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Malas ng OFW, swerte ng pulitiko

by reynz on February 1, 2009

Pagpupugay sa OFW
Hindi mayaman ang OFW – Akala ng marami sa ating kapag OFW o nasa abroad ay mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P50K-P300K per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga-Saudi or US siguro ay mas malaki ang sweldo, ngunit para sabihin na mayaman sila ay maling-mali.
Mahirap maging [...]

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Remittance scam: a warning to Overseas Filipinos

January 29, 2009

What’s the buzz?
Remittance scam.
How is this being done?
This is a scam that victimizes credit card holders. The scam is done by entities falsely claiming to be remittance service providers and by unscrupulous individuals outside the Philippines. They send money to the Philippines by using credit cards of other people without the cardholders knowing it. Some [...]

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P50,000 loan to laid-off OFW’s from OWWA

January 26, 2009

What’s the buzz?
Laid off overseas Filipino workers can avail of up to P50,000 loan from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to start or expand a livelihood project, the Department of Labor and Employment said Monday.
Terms?
Five-percent interest per annum, no collateral, and payable over 24 months after an interest-free grace period of 90 days.
Where to apply [...]

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From the Philippines: Lica de Guzman (of Switzerland)

January 13, 2009

Let’s take a break!
Oh! Mudra! Life in the Philippines is like one Harry Putragis Series. Golf balls misfired. Talcum powder sent family fueding. Cheap justices sent on vacation. Ang naguusig, sya pang inuusig. Mga sanggano sa gobyerno. Oh! Let’s not forget Channel NBN, Radio ZTE, fertilizer gums and double decker C5. I have a list. [...]

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Unemployed Philippines: Bahala na

January 3, 2009

11 million Filipinos will be out of work
Former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that millions of Filipinos would either go unemployed or be underemployed as the export sector would continue to slow down. The number? 11 million. That’s almost the entire population of Metropolitan Manila.

Electronics: Layoffs planned
The electronics sector currently employs about 420,000 workers, the [...]

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Come! Visit my condo in Pasig!

November 1, 2008

One big reason why I suddenly went home was because I was so infuriated by what my nephew had done to my condo unit. Ginawa nya tong motel and beach resort. I was nearly gonna get a heart attack when I saw iba’t-ibang babaeng natutulog sa kama ko. Shit! I never brought women in my [...]

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In defense of OFW’s: “Walang ganyan sa States”

October 12, 2008

My entry today is in response to a comment left by a certain ?pobreng_obrero? which irked me, over at Salve?s Money Smarts Blog, incidentally on the very feature of my blog article. Here?s what ?pobreng_obrero? has to say: (please click the thumbnail)

Now, I will highlight the comments to OFW?s which I will clear up [...]

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Money Smarts features: Kengkay of Germany

October 9, 2008

Last week, Salve Duplito of Money Smarts, interviewed via email Filipinos working all over the world to find out how the US global financial crunch is affecting one of the major sources of the country?s liquidity?the OFWs. She is publishing this week in installments the full version of their emails. Head over to this site [...]

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Money Smarts features: That one!

October 9, 2008

Last week, Salve Duplito of Money Smarts, interviewed via email Filipinos working all over the world to find out how the US global financial crunch is affecting one of the major sources of the country?s liquidity?the OFWs. She is publishing this week in installments the full version of their emails. Head over to this site [...]

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What made you decide to work abroad and where?

October 8, 2008

Considering that I am now swamped as ever with new Overseas Pinoys, I thought I would bring to top an entry I made last year which will hit you if you are an OFW. Especially now that things seems to be not looking good on the horizon. Sana naman wag sumama nang todo ang ekonomiya [...]

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Blogger Lukaret’s Family featured in German Newspaper

October 7, 2008

Es schien wie jedes ?berseeFilipinos ist ganz ?ber den Nachrichten. Heute ist unser Mitblogger, der von der Davao-Stadt hagelt, ein langfristiger Bewohner von Deutschland, nach Berlin umgezogen. Ihr Ehemann ist ein Doktor und es schaut, wie sie das Handeln sind, das in ihrem neuen Haus in Berlin gro? ist. Sie wurden gerade in der [...]

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Bomba star na ang lola nyo!

October 6, 2008

Malaya, Ellen Tordesillas Section, Monday Edition, 10/06/2008
One of the entries I wrote about subprime and the US housing market became such a hot property that it ended up in a lot of financial forums in Singapore, the Middle East and the US. I’m glad it was a big help to a lot of non-financial people. [...]

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I predict an Obama landslide

October 3, 2008

The only US Vice-Presidential debate just finished a few minutes ago. In fairness, “drill, baby, drill” Gov. Sarah Palin was not a disaster tonight. But against Senator Joe Biden? I think she still came up empty. There was no match. She tried many times to “debate” Obama and has many times put Obama on [...]

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The movie of my life

October 1, 2008

Sino ba ako?
Sino daw ba ako sabi nung isang commenter. Tanggalin ko na yung reference sa sexuality issue. Bahala na ang mga katribu ko sa rainbow kung gustong maghuramentado. But I like the question. Sarili ko, kukwento ko. Masarap un eh! Hehehe! Ba?t kaya?! Bwahahaha! Kaya eto ang chance kong magmayabang ever. Conchita!!! Makinig [...]

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OFW and the current global financial crisis

September 30, 2008

I received an email from our BFF, Salve Duplito, The Inquirer’s financial whiz, editor of Money Smarts. I am inviting my very, very close Overseas Pinoy friends (yeap, alam nila sekreto ni Victorino) to help her out. They are the following:

) Roni (Sands of Time) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

) Mogli of Sweden
) [...]

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The search is over! World Peace!

September 30, 2008

You?ve seen my car, right? Kapit nang todo. Mahangin dito. Here it is again.

Wanna see it close? Here.

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Filipino Rules! Super Crew: America’s Best Dance Crew Season 2

August 30, 2008

Put your hands together forever one another ever ever mga kunichiwa to America’s Best Dance Crew at walang iba kundi mga PINOY!!!! Bwahahaha! An saya saya!!! Even Season 1 Winners, the Jabbawockeez were also Filipino! Can you believe this?! Wagi ang mga Pinoy!!!

They even waved the Philippine Flag on the night they won!

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Sino nga ba ang baliw?

August 23, 2008

When you think you have done your best na ma-qualify at ma-meet lahat nang requirements nang isang trabaho overseas, hold it muna kabisyo, because meron akong timang na balita. Kausap ko kasi kagabi sa fone ang friend ko sa Ortigas Control Cheezemaks Center.
Meron syang isang update na napa-putang ina ako.
Muntik nang maluslus [...]

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SONA 2008, Part 4: The true state of the nation

August 1, 2008

The Philippine internet world is awash with SONA 2008 Summary interpretations and reactions. However, there is one entry that I thought I would share to my readers. Apologies to Cielito Habito of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. I am re-posting her article without permission. It’s so that I would have her write-up in my SONA Library. [...]

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SONA 2008, Part 2: Blame it on the gods!

July 29, 2008

Continuing with the Sona… here’s the SONA 2008 Summary pointers. Let me start by giving you an example of world prices… on steel. Now, recall that the Chinese economy grew double digit for the last 10 years or more. That was consistent. Recall that even the Indian economy grew rapidly as well. Because both of [...]

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SONA 2008, Part 1: State of the Nation Address ni Reyna

July 29, 2008

Mga kunichiwa, here’s what I have about SONA 2008. Ang haba kasi nang litanya pantasya nang Gloria. Here’s the first part.

Just a few months ago, we ended 2007 with the strongest economic growth in a generation. Inflation was low, the peso strong and a million new jobs were created. We were all looking to [...]

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SONA 2008, nag-mistulang Oscar Awards red-carpet chuvalais!

July 29, 2008

Nag-mistulang Oscar Awards red-carpet chuvalais ang SONA 2008 ni Gloria Arroyo mga kunichiwa. Wag na kayong mag-tanong kung bakit naghihirap ang ating mga ka-tribu. Watch na lang kayo and drool over this one! Hahahaah! Now, para di makalamang ang mga iba, nag-bahag naman ang isang mayor. Tingnan naten ang video hindi yong ari-arian nang mayor. [...]

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What’s happening at the SONA 2008

July 28, 2008

D day mga kunichiwa for SONA 2008 ni Gloria. Senate President Manuel Villar and Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr opened the 2nd regular session of the 14th Congress. In attendance were members of the diplomatic corps. Only Miriam Santiago and Antonio Trillanes were absent as well as Jose de Venecia, Jr. Prayer led by Angara, national [...]

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After all these years! Our moment to emote!

June 26, 2008

I am soooo totally enamored with this new Journey’s hit song “After all these years!”. I have been playing this over and over for the second time around once more again and eygeyn forever and ever taz rewind uli! It’s awesome! It just brings back a whole lot of beautiful memories about what you did [...]

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Istorya ng mga OFW sa Saipan, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands

June 8, 2008

Sa araw-araw libo libong Pilipino ang nangingibang bayan upang mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay sa Pilipinas. Libo rin ang umaasang isang araw ay makakaalis din sila at matitikman ang buhay ng isang Overseas Filipino Worker. Masarap bang maging OFW? Ano ba ang mga hirap na kadalasang kinakaharap ng isang OFW? [...]

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How to deal with rising food prices

May 20, 2008

Rally in Davao
When I was in Davao City with Ambo, Malen, Beng and her kids, we hired a taxi going to the wharf to catch the boat that would take us to the Pearl Farm Beach Resort. That was May 11, 2008. That day, there was a strike in the city. They were demanding for [...]

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Given the chance, would you still go to America?

March 18, 2008

One of the things na napag-usapan namen ni Joy on Usapang Pinoy at Future Radio in UK was the fact nga na most Pinoys are still wanting to escape the ridiculous economic disparity sa aten mga kabisyo. I know for a fact na ilang bloggers na who frequent Reyna has sent me emails on how [...]

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Anyone from Denmark?

March 12, 2008

If you think the internet dragging name that’s burning between Australia and the Philippines is the hottest scandal in town, guess again! Do you know who is CLIENT number 9? Head over HERE and find out more about the hottest! hottest scandal in this part of the globe!
Meanwhile… a letter from a European barrio siete [...]

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Starting a business in the Philippines

February 18, 2008

Aray ko! Nauntog din ako!
Believe it or not, it’s a lot easier to start your own successful business in the Philippines, compared noong panahon. True, medyo mahirap mag-start with all the lagay na gagawin ninyo, pero, let’s not let them win na mawalan tayo nang pag-asa to start our own. Di ba?

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I love you!

February 14, 2008

Pero… eh kanino ko naman isasabog ang bwisit na linyang to?! I remember yung last na me nag I love you saken, eh nasambit lang dahil nasa tuktuk sya nang deliryong pagmamahal. But that was a long term relationship na inabot lang nang trenta minutos! Hmpt!

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Do you have a Philippine Dream? I do.

February 5, 2008

DONT FORGET!!!
I have a Philippine Dream. I want to have a house para mai-bahay ko na si Ambo. At para walang awayan, bibilhan ko rin nang magarang bahay at lupa si Malen at si Pusa. Dun sa Bukidnon.
Maliit lang naman ang loteng kelangan namen ni Ambo. Yung kasya lang ang isang king-size bed. Para tipid. [...]

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What is the problem that you’re trying to solve POEA?

February 1, 2008

Annuncio mga kabisyo!
1.) I was nominated for Nobel Fisher Price at kelangan ko yong mga flying voters dyan! Punta kayo dito: Pinoy Blog of the Month! Ang winner gets isang kaban na polvoron!
2.) Yong pink na biik, nagmamakaawa! Bisitahin daw sa babuyan!

Soon, I will be the first woman President of the Philippines. But we [...]

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Full day of pick and pack!

December 29, 2007

I didn’t do anything at work today but pick & pack! Yong tipo bang bagger ka sa supermarket! Nag-mistulang trash can ang buong opis ko! Nakahamblang everything, everywhere! Nawalan nang glamour! You wanna see how it looked like?
Here:

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Why you should not play spirit of the glass on xmas!

December 28, 2007

I arrived work this morning, at eto ang bumulaga saken pag-bukas nang elevator:

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Do you know why Filipinos at home will go bankcrupt after New Year?

December 22, 2007

ETO:

ATM withdrawals hit record high as Filipinos splurge

Wasak-wasak na daw lahat nang ATM machine sa Pinas with massive withdrawals! Yupi-yupi na raw ang haligi nang mga bangko! Nag-mukhang EDSA I People Power yong mga nag-wi-widrow nang anda! Yong tipo bang eh akala mo eh bank run na yong mga bangko! Hahaha! The lines at some ATM machines in Eastwood [...]

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Stranded Overseas Filipino Workers

December 20, 2007

Good morning to all prospective and aspiring Overseas Filipino Workers! I have a message to all of you via our friends from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and elsewhere in the Gulf States.
Our sources is telling us that these Filipinos were hired through a licensed recruitment agency in Manila to work with one of the security services [...]

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America, the beautiful?

December 19, 2007

HAY BUHAY AMERICA TALAGA! 
(Anonymous: English mistranslation by Reyna Elena)

Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa America ka akala nila madami ka ng pera. Ang totoo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card para magka-credit history ka, kase [...]

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My disappearing retirement money!

December 14, 2007

I am just having such a bad day today with all these news about the Philippine peso! Grrrr!!!
It’s bad enough that my technorati ratings is going down drastically (napansin nyo?), I could see my 401-k disappearing forever!!! Now, I have to kayod forever para lang I could send the same amount of money na pinapadala ko sa [...]

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teleBISYOn

December 13, 2007

Maganda si Reyna senyong lahattttt mga kabisyoooooo!!!
You know, aside from OFW’s, yong mga coconut farmers po eh malapit din po sa puso nang reyna. Marami-rami din po kasi akong ninakaw na nyog nung panahon. Kaya eto po, pinag-durusahan ever ko po talaga! hehehe! Ever!!! Charing!!! hahaha! At para naman makabayad ako nang utang ko, I’d like you guys to [...]

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United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to adopt standardized employment contracts

December 11, 2007

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to adopt standardized employment contracts and other measures aimed at protecting foreign workers, including Filipino workers, from exploitative recruiters who merely exact money from them, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said Monday.

UAE’s Ministry of Labor (MOL) was ready to adopt:Electronic employment contract and verification system which [...]

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