Extraction of more consular fees not justified

We oppose the extraction of more consular fees from OFWs in Europe

The Unity of Filipino Migrant Workers Associations in Korea or KASAMMAKO expresses its solidarity with the migrant workers in the Eurozone who are seeking an investigation over new service rates imposed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in nine Philippine embassies and three consulates general across Europe.

KASAMMAKO noted in the websites of Philippine embassies in Greece, Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Vatican City that they have increased the costs of a new passport from 40 to 50 Euro. The replacement of lost passport costs from 90 to 140 Euro applying the minimum 25 percent increase on it and on other consular documents effective January 2, 2009 for the main reason of difference in Euro to US Dollar conversion rate.

This increase in passport and other consular service fees is the least expected by migrant workers in the midst of severe global economic crisis. The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to levy unjust increases in rates and add unnecessary fees without considering its economic implications and impact on the OFWs. Thousands of migrant workers are losing their jobs and others are forced to be repatriated to the Philippines and extracting 10 to 40 Euro from the depleted pockets of distressed OFWs is a betrayal of hope for a better life and nationality of migrant workers.
Migrante International has received information that migrant workers, organizations, groups and Filipino communities in those countries were not consulted regarding the reasons and process of every fee adjustment the DFA approved. In this regard, Representatives Satur Ocampo, Luzviminda Ilagan, Teodoro Casino, Rafael Mariano and Liza Maza introduced House Resolution 949, “directing committees on overseas workers affairs and foreign affairs” to conduct an inquiry into the “unreasonably huge increase of consular service fees”.

KASAMMAKO supports the statement of the house representatives stressing that “the hike in consular service fees is unjustified as it only increased the financial burden faced by migrant Filipinos and their families in these times of severe economic crisis.” The resolution further seeks the government to “explain and democratize” the process of adjusting old service rates and imposing new ones. It is not a farfetched possibility that the increase in fees on consular services in Philippine Embassies and Consulates in Europe will also be implemented in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region especially in South Korea, where more than 40,000 OFWs live and work.

It is lamentable that instead of supporting Filipino workers abroad in these times of crisis and uncertainty, the government is determined to collect more fees from suffering OFWs. This simply shows that the Arroyo government’s response to the worsening crisis is intensified labor export policy program rather than restructuring and freeing of the Philippine economy from control of monopoly and transnational capitalists and from the dictates of World Bank/IMF, and eradicating graft and corruption.

KASAMMAKO urges the Arroyo government to stop this monetary extraction from OFWs. The OFWs that are directly affected by the worldwide economic crisis in the form of retrenchment without just compensation and due process, wage depreciation, an escalating number of unjust policies and bilateral agreements and increasing human rights violations should be effectively addressed by Philippine Embassies and Consular offices around the world.+

Palliatives not enough for terminated migrant workers

There is a cloud of doubt to the responses of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to retrenched OFWs

KASAMMAKO the Unity of Filipino Migrant Workers Associations in Korea has cast a cloud of doubt on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the responses of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to the situation of OFWs in a ‘shaky economic climate’ in South Korea. The greater concerns for protection of labour and human rights of migrant workers have been sidelined because of the Embassy’s concentration in palliatives such as conducting seminars on money management, bookkeeping, entrepreneurship and feasibility studies. These palliatives used are based on ineffective social welfare practices and shallow analysis of the Philippine society that do not match the actual situation of migrant workers especially those in South Korea.

One of the appropriate responses for migrant workers who are retrenched and facing retrenchment is the ultimate use of legal injunction and diplomatic processes for OFWs to get the maximum compensation and benefits for the loss of their jobs. It is within the legal boundaries to ask for a full year payment of migrant workers’ salaries, as their contract would assume in the event they are retrenched prior to completion of contract as in cases of some migrant workers in Taiwan. This, the Philippine Labour Office (POLO) hesitates to do, KASAMMAKO disclosed.

Furthermore, KASAMMAKO asserts that there has been inadequate provision of shelter for retrenched and distressed migrant workers. Overseas Filipino Workers need a place where they can be housed until they land new jobs. The justification POLO would say for not providing adequate shelter for retrenched and distressed OFWs is the lack of funds, which many migrant workers would not easily believe. For there were many occasions that OWWA used the OFWs funds for purposes that do not serve their interests and welfare but for the business ventures of those in government.

KASAMMAKO also observed that the reintegration program for OFWs and their families introduced by the composite team from National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), DOLE, OWWA, POEA and TESDA visiting Seoul this month mainly focused among others, on Micro Enterprise Development where OFWs can apply for 50,000 pesos loan from TESDA at 5% interest rate. Minister Abraham Estavillo commented after the presentation of the reintegration program, that the program is a good idea but does not take into consideration the national and global economic situation, especially in terms of market viability. He further said that talking about OFWs engaging in business is good, but who will buy or patronize their products is the question that must be answered. KASAMMAKO pinned that the Arroyo government is not willing to overhaul the national economy to provide a better life for the majority of the Filipino people. The government continues to assert its labour export policy even if countries of destination are no longer hiring OFWs.

Moreover, KASAMMAKO analyzes that the contraction of the South Korean economy will result in job loss of more than 200,000 is alarming because there are more than 8,000,000 Korean irregular workers. In this situation, the South Korean government will first serve the interest of their labourers and the need for migrant workers will eventually diminish. This is the reason why OFWs under the Employment Permit System are retrenched and the undocumented ones are arrested and deported. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul has been indifferent to the plight of estimated 20,000 undocumented OFWs and no substantial social services were given to them aside from the token issuance of travel documents for them to be allowed passage back to the Philippines.

The number of OFWs retrenched as reported by the Philippine Embassy is only 12 cases. Although there is a disclaimer clause in its press statement, ‘several more may have gone unreported’, KASAMMAKO insists that this does not free the Philippine Embassy from the responsibility of establishing the actual number of OFWs retrenched by their employers. Several retrenched OFWs in Korea have opted not to seek the assistance of the Philippine Embassy especially of the POLO and managed their own situation on the thought that they will not be fully assisted anyway. The responsibility is not just establishing the actual number but to assist distressed and retrenched OFWs from the very beginning up to the time when they get a new job in South Korea. +

New Year, Birthdays, Vacationing

It seems like five days ago.
Gloria and I flew to Cebu for a five week long most awaited vacation last December 29, 2008. After that more than five hours flying from Incheon airport to Mactan, we finally arrived there past midnight. We were glad that Mike and Rose Camba picked us up from the airport and allowed us to stay at the VCMC guest room.

Because year 2008 was almost over, we decided to buy a ticket for a boat trip to Maasin Leyte on the evening of the 30th and we finally reached Maasin at dawn of the December 31st. After few hours of rest at home in Laboon, it was New Year's Eve. The worship service was at 10:00 P.M. and was followed by pot luck meal and the congregation met the new year 2009 inside the church. It feels good to be home and to be reunited with family members and friends in Laboon. The taste of bread, biko and hot chocholate was just delightful. Conversations were convivial and the people around were all happy to see us joining them in meeting another year in their lives.

Four days after we planned to go back to cebu to prepare for the resplendent nurture program for the korean teenagers from Singal Church. However due to a storm in northern Samar, our trip was postponed two days after. Eventually we reached Cebu and met the staff of Cendet and West Visayas Jurisdiction and discussed with them the program. We all agreed on the details and were all willing to go another mile in open mindedness just to make the program meaningful for the children. The Korean kids arrived on January 9th and we met them at Mactan Airport and brought them to Cendet where they were billeted for a month.

On January 14th we left Cebu for Iloilo. We flew with a smaller airplane and it feels a bit scary to ride in that 80 seater airplane, although the weather was generally good. We reached Iloilo airport in Sta. Barbara toward noontime and we decided to proceed to Mrs.Carmen Rio's pension house. Gloria and me were very eager to see Tita Carmen because we lost touch with her for two years or more. She looks thinner and a bit weak and she's already 76 years old?? The same day we attended the funeral service of Auntie Erlinda Hernando, half sister of my father. The worship service was held in a nearby Foursquare Church and Pastor June Frances Gange preached. My mother was there in the church and she looks good but a wee bit weak. Instead of going to the Tanza Cemetery for the internment we accompanied mother home in San Juan.

The house in San Juan has further deteriorated since the last Typhoon Frank that turned over the roof. It was in early evening the same day when sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces gather for dinner at San Juan but we left them for a dinner appointment with Tita Carmen, Pastor June Fances and Manay Vicky Gacutan. We enjoyed our stay in Iloilo and on Sunday January 18 I preached in the morning service at UCCP Iloilo City. It was a time to meet old friends and relatives in Iloilo. We had lunch with Tita Carmen and Many Vicky, sumptuous pinoy delicacies. We stayed in Iloilo for five days and went back to Cebu on the 19th and continue to join the Korean kids in their various learning experiences.

On the 22nd I had an apppointment with a doctor at the VCMC for the removal of a small cyst on my forehead. Few days after we left Cebu for Ormoc City. We took a day boat trip and arrived in Ormoc almost four o'clock. Tito Gloria's younger brother picked us up from the pier. We stayed there overnight and the following day we journeyed to Maasin. It was about four-hour bus travel from Ormoc to Maasin. The bus travel gave us the chance to see the sceneries in Leyte Island and refamiliarized the towns and villages we passed by.

On the 26th of January we offered lunch to friends as part of the extended birthday celebration given to me. It is was interesting to note that on the 28th another birthday co-celebration with Bishop Ben Camino took place where the Korean kids joined in the dinner. We flew to Manila on the 30th of January and when we arrived at Shalom Center we met Ate Winnie Barloso and greeted her. We had the chance to visit the project of UCCP tondo in the Smokey Mountain-2. We also visited Bishop Bolocon and Bishop Jessie Suarez in Cubao and saw the Durebang-Sinag Kababaihan and the Youth Development Center in Filinvest, Quezon City.

Time flies so fast and were back to Seoul since February 2nd and once again adjust to the cold weather and the warm and balmy philippines is once again a memory that can come to reality only on vacation time and probably retirement. Thanks be to God for God's mercies and love in our travel to the Philippines.

Wonderful Counselor

"Wonderful Counselor" is one of the names given to the king to be of Israel as prophesied by Isaiah. This is of inseparable from other names like "Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). It is quite an approriate name or characterization of the one who will govern a nation given the socio-historical context of the 8th century Israel. I have chosen for our Christmas meditation the title "Wonderful Counselor" for it captures what God's incarnation in Christ intends for humanity.

Guidance counselors or whatever kind of counselors we have in our community and society have special responsibilities as trained professionals. But one can be just an ordinary person who has skills in counseling and employ them to help others. There are special characterisitics in counseling that other people may not have due to their professional training. Let me reflect on these characteristics.

First, a counselor is one who is able to listen. Listening for a coounselor is not just hearing words and sentences. It is listening to the words and the meaning that flows out of a person's heart and mind. This includes verbal and non-verbal expressions or actions a person utters and shows which allow interpretion. More importantly listening has to do with understanding the deepest longing and hopes of what the person wants to become.

In the Gospel of Luke the angels announced to the shepherds the birth of Jesus saying "be not afraid, for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy which will be to all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:11). The birth,life and ministry of Jesus shows us that he is a wonderful counselor because he lived like anyone of us in this world. Remember those moments he had with his disciples when he intently interacted with them and listened carefully to their hopes, aspirations as well as to their struggles and inner contradictions. He is even now our wonderful counselor who is alive in us and we can communicate with God through him.

Second, a counselor is able to intervene in our thoughts and behavior. Through psychotherapy a person may get healed through the intervention of the counselor. The counselor guides a client in overcoming oppressive thoughts or other distrubances that render the person unproductive. It is so with God in Jesus Christ, through the consistent devotion and reflection of God's word, we can be guided in our thoughts and actions. Individuals have their own perceptions of reality and at times these brings despair or hopelessness. God's intervention in our lives is through the Spirit of Christ that convinces us that life is larger than our jobs, our health, our families.

Third, the counselor exercises leadership as in the experience of one who is being led to a pasture--to peace and harmony. This leadership function enables a client to change behavior that will improve his or her relations with himself/herself and with other people. There are many great leaders in our world today who have good intentions to make life worthwhile, but many of them have been lost in fame, wealth and greed. They have lost touch with the very reasons of their leadership. God in Christ is our wonderful counselor because he is able to lead us to where we wanted to be and to what we may want to become.

Merry Christmas

Oh Wow! Wonderful Everland

they call him "father"--he's absolutely cool

One cool evening at Hyehwadong