An OFW Morgue Tale

This is an urgent breaking news from Brisbane Australia.

Today, I and my family attended a Barrio Fiesta Annual celebration held in Yeronga Football Club, Brisbane Queensland.

I was shocked to learn that an OFW died of stroke and has been at the hospital morgue for three weeks.

I spoke to one of the officials of the barrio fiesta affair but I wasn't given any information about the OFW, but I managed to speak to one of the OFW who has worked with him.

The dead OFW's name is ROLANDO CORTEZ from BATANGGAS CITY.

He came to Australia under Visa 457- as welder with 3 yrs contract and was initially hired byTRANSAFE in oct 2005. He did not finished his contract with this employer.

He was hired by another company, as in-house welder, in April 2007. I'm sorry, I didn't find out the name of the new employer.

He has stroke one Tuesday, four weeks ago and was admitted to Prince Alenxandra Hospital, Brisbane. It was announced that, his body maybe transported back to Philippines sometime nextweek, no sure date yet.
Donations were being colected here for his body to be sent to phils.

my concern is, why it is taking so long for his remains to be claimed from the morgue.
- may insurance ba ito as OFW?
- alam ba ng phil embassy ito dito? may sub-office dito sa brisbane, pero 3 days-holiday dito ngayon. i can't make any contact with it.
-alam na kaya ng pamilya ni Mr. Cortez na siya ay matagal nang patay at naka-hold pa ang labi sa hospital morgue?

please followup his details sa DFA and POEA.
OFW week pala ngayon diyan. Sana, mabigyan si ROLANDO CORTEZ lalo na ang mga pamilya niya ng nararapat na kalinga at suporta.

nag-uulat,
Manuel G. Rodel
+61 410631512
Kuraby,Brisbane
Queensland Australia

Liham mula kay Victor Martin

Mabuhay!
Isa po akong ofw na ksalukuyan ngayong nasa bansang Korea. Ako po ay 33-taong gulang mula sa lalawigan ng Nueva Vizcaya.
Ako po ay dinalaw ng aking kaibigan sa hospital nitong Linggo matapos mamalagi sa loob ng isang buwan dahil sa aksidente habang nagtratrabaho. Sa kanyang pagdalaw ay my dala siyang magazine at iniwan nya pra may mapaglibangan akong basahin at dito ko nakita ang artikulo na may petsang october 31, 2007 tungkol sa Philippine Dairy Industry.
Ako po ay agad na nagkagusto sa nasabing programa o negosyo sa kabila ng lahat na wala akong sapat na kaalaman tungkol dito.ngayon pong nakalabas ako sa hospital ay agad kong naiisip na sulatan kayo.
Kung bigyan po nyo ng pagkakataon nais ko po sanang malaman ang kasagutan sa ilan kong mga katanungan.
-paano po ang mag invest sa dairy industry
-magkano ang initial investment ng isang katulad ko
-ano po ang mga hakbang na dapat sundin
-gaano po katagal bago my babalik sayo mula sa iyong investment
-may seguridad po ba ang investor na di malugi ang kanyang puhunan
-kailangan ko po bang dumalaw mismo sa inyong tanggapan para mag invest
-kung hindi paano po ang MOA- paano po lalago ang investment (baka po pwede mgbigay kayo ng computation)
-kung may mga impormasyon na sa palagay nyo ay kailangan ko pang malaman paki paliwanag na rin po.marami pong salamat at sana mapabilang akong isa sa matagumpay nyong programa.
God Bless you all.

Victor Martin
(Liham sa pamamagitan ng e-mail)

A world without Filipino

This article has been out for quite a while. But I'd post it anyway for those who have not seen it.

A forwarded letter to the editor

Dear Editors,

It is a clear example of opportunism and intimidation by the US to send in the aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, and its warships in Philippine waters. Fearing the effects of typhoon Frank/Fangsheng in its dock in Hong Kong, the US has used the pretexts of helping typhoon-affected areas and relief efforts ongoing in the Western Visayas region to enter Philippine territorial waters.

Not only is an aircraft carrier group in our territory overkill, it is also a mockery of the anti-nuclear weapons provisions of the Constitution, the presence of which the US neither confirms nor denies in its war ship. Furthermore, it is a subtle form of intimidation to President Arroyo while she visits the US: to not to ask too much and continue to tow the Bush administration's line or else face the reality that an aircraft carrier group main purpose is to wage war and not effect humanitarian aid.

An aircraft carrier group is a mobile military base that can project military might over a big area in the ocean. Its presence in our country reflect the need for the US to project visible and psychological presence and underline their "commitment" to a country or region. Military presence is a reminder that one does not need formal political control over its territorial sovereignty to exercise political and economic control over a country.

It can be likened to a loaded gun pointed at the government and to us as a people. Its message: take our "aid" whether you want it or need it. Their mere presence intimidates and gives coercive power for the US to gain concessions from the host country and allows it to interfere, in most cases with impunity, in internal affairs

That the US calls the Philippines its "second front in the war against terror" and that it has periodic and overlapping joint exercises with it is not an accident, it does this to strengthen its position in this country for the purpose of being in the position to grab and control the resources of Southeast Asia .

We do need international aid at this time but we do not need the opportunistic military projection by the forces of the US . If the US government and other countries are indeed serious in helping out, they could help our civilian disaster efforts by providing material and technical assistance.

We close our doors on a gun-toting thug who wants to enter our homes, even if he is saying that he wants to help you. In this case, it is in these times of national tragedy that we should exercise national sovreignty in asking for international help. We should not allow the emergency to be used as a pretext for other countries to push their own agenda.

Sincerely yours,


Dr. Giovanni Tapang
National Chairperson
AGHAM
gtapang@gmail.com

Mail Contribution

Filipino Migrants Workers' Day Friendship Games Held in Riyadh
By Desert Dox

Riyadh--It is not the Staples Center in Los Angeles nor the Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden.
The Eastern Province quintet of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office Cuties which was backed by the United Filipino Basketball Federation’s new breed of basketball stars romped over the much hyped Riyadh selection 85-80 during the celebration of the 13th Filipino Migrant Workers Day at the Philippine Embassy, Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh on June 06, 2008.
The Filipino community in the Eastern Province was represented by a bunch of basketeers; albeit underrated but oozing with talents, big hearts and a will to win. They call themselves POLO-ERO Cuties - prototypes of their energetic and endearing Labor Attache, the Honorable David Des Dicang; who heads the delegation with the full support of UFBF’s Adviser, Mr. Jun Ayag.
The scores were clearly in favor of the visiting Cuties quintet as they were ahead by 8 points in the first half with Riyadh rallying to get 15 points after the first quarter. The furious comeback of the host team came in the third canto when it tied for 62 all. At the onset of the final quarter; it was a nip and tuck affair. Neither team allowed themselves to lodge in the basket. With 71-70 score in less than 3 minutes remaining, Riyadh five was a point ahead until Cuties’ triggerman Rolly Bisda fired a long 3-point shot with a foul to boot from Angeles. From then on, the Cuties safely protected and never looked back that ultimately bagged the coveted championship trophy.
“It was a sweet victory” enthused by their head coach, Leo Gines who was slapped with an uncalled technical foul few minutes after the 1st quarter had started. “The match unraveled the emergence of future superstars in the mold of basketball legends” he continued. Superb playmaking was seen in the personas of Neil Aclan and Coco Gonzalez. Towering 23 year-old center, Jengkins Bucao was a monster rebounder battling himself with the likes of Riyadh’s veteran players Yasay and Santander. Jun Derama was a power forward, a reminiscent of the fabled Crispa’s Villamin and Toyota’s Abe King. Sweet shooters Michael Bombita and Zaldy Patanao were unstoppable. The whole bench had contributed immensely to the game as showcased by the remainder of the quintet; Jerry Mallilin, Al Pineda, Jeffrey Bajar, Angel Singian and Glen Abrantes. The hard nosed defense employed by the Cuties at the remaining minutes of the game certainly preserved the win. The 6’4” Bucao was specifically instructed to overplay Santander, the inbounder on the ensuing play which made life more difficult for their offense. Gonzales was later adjudged as the Best Player of the game.
The big win would not have been historic without Cuties’ full backing from its organizers, team managers, coaching staff and EP supporters headed by Rodee Cariaso, Rene Manlulu, Francis Gascon, Aries Directo, Dexter Ramirez and Arman del Mundo. These are the same wonderful people running the UFBF, the name to reckon with in the basketball league in this part of Saudi Arabia. The team’s muses were the beauteous Ms. Apple King and Ms. Monica Sitchon who were escorted by their wonderful parents (Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy King - 2005 Bagong Bayani Awardeee and restaurateur couple Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Sitchon) all the way to Riyadh.
Yes, the dream match was not held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles nor at the Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden--the sites of the ongoing NBA Finals--the thrilling, down the wire sporting event was played with a bang at the Philippine Embassy grounds in Riyadh that will remain as a benchmark for sports organizers in future regional sporting events.

A year of inactivity

I know, I know. This blog has been inactive for a while (actually, its been a year) . Well, I've been busy, but I will make it up for you. I will post some of the best stories that we had during the past year and some of the mails that we receive on a regular basis.

I will also try to make this site a little more different than ours, www.ofwjournalism.net, which all of you out there can check

V