Monday, December 21, 2015

Prayer of Migrants in the Year of Mercy by Father Graziano Battistella




Prayer of Migrants in the Year of Mercy
by Father Graziano Battistella
Director Scalabrini Migration Center


We left our house with tears,
we wanted to stay home.
In our mind and heart the fears
of being apart and alone.
For all the years away,
dear children, spouse and friends,
your mercy we beg and pray.

We traveled far and wide,
we reached new towns and posts.
We took our task in stride,
we worked harder than most.
For all the abuse and pain,
recruiters and employers,
God’s mercy may you attain.

We shared our songs and stories,
new tunes and words we learned.
Sometimes majestic harmonies,
sometimes nonsense unheard.
For all discords and wrath, 
dear neighbors and us all,
full mercy may we get.

We took airplanes and boats
and often went on foot,
escaping war and want
to cross your gates and routes.
For all the doors left shut,
rich countries in your might, 
plea mercy or you will rot.
We endured long solitudes
for children and loved ones.
Forgot their face and gratitude
to God who blessed our love.
The sad betrays and cheats
of which we all are guilty
with mercy may God treat.

In foreign distant lands
through mercy we endured.
Offenses not so grand
with mercy we obscured.
Our sins we now surrender
to God of mercy and love.
To him be glory and splendor.
Amen.

December 18, 2015
International Migrants Day
Month of Overseas Filipinos



Friday, December 18, 2015

Migrants' Stories, Migrants' Voices Volume 5 Launched





It is not easy to write and tell your personal story publicly. In particular, it is difficult to recall the dark past that brings back agony and pain. So it is admirable for those few who are courageous enough to share their stories to enlighten and inspire others who want to go abroad.  Their tales also serve to affirm those who have concerns with reintegration back home.

This is the fifth volume of the Migrants' Stories, Migrants' Voices series. This edition features 10 stories of migrants and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). We have read and learned from similar stories in past volumes. But each story is unique, each tale a testament of the redeeming nature of their triumph. They rose from poverty to what most of them have now - a better life not only for themselves or their immediate families, but for their extended families and community as well.

The Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) will continue to publish these series of migration stories.  It is our hope that with this publication, our stakeholders will have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the nuances and intricacies of migration and the plight of our migrants and OFWs.  It is our goal that with these stories, appropriate programs and policies are put into place to uphold and protect their rights.  It is also our desire that our OFWs will feel the recognition and appreciation from their loved ones, which they rightfully deserve.



Family representatives of authors receive copy of the 
Migrants' Stories, Migrants' Voices Volume 5
from PMRW officials headed by its president Ms. Carmelita Nuqui 
with Fr. Paulo Prigol, AOS, Fr. Graziano Battistella and Ms. Ellene Sana.




Wednesday, December 9, 2015

2015 Month of Overseas Filipinos



#Step-it-up_MWC25
Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Celebrating 25 years of the Migrant Workers Convention
December 18 - International Migrants Day

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

DOH Leads 2015 MOF Migrants Health Fair


Below are photos of the 2015 MOF Migrants Health Fair spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH) and other members of the Inter-agency Committee on the celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos (IAC-MOF), held on December 6, 2015 at Luneta.

The event was started with Hataw Exercise led by Dr. Eric Tayag of DOH. After the exercise Dir. Myle Beltran of  DOH Bureau of International Health Cooperation gave her message, informing their services available for migrant Filipinos and OFWs. Ms. Carmelita Nuqui, chairperson of IAC-MOF and President of PMRW also greeted the public and thank everyone and DOH for the conduct of the health fair.

The participants of the fair and the public were then invited to the different booths offering medical services such as blood pressure, nutrition advice, massage, among others. Philhealth also had its booth to campaign for their services and address queries of its existing members.



Event sponsored by DOH and other IAC Members
Posted by Philippine Migrants Rights Watch on Sunday, December 6, 2015

Thursday, October 8, 2015

PMRW Newsletter Second Quarter Issue 2015

April-May-June 2015

On this issue

1) Forum on Return Migration Held
2) Thanksgiving Mass Held for Mary Jane Veloso
3) Return Migration: A Policy Framework
4) HOME Caravan Promotes Economic Reintegration
5) Discussion on HSW Policy Reform Package Held
6) 20th National Seafarers' Day

 

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

PMRW got a new address


Please note of our new mailing and office address which we share with the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN).

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

PMRW Newsletter First Quarter 2015

First Quarter Issue 2015

In the news:
1) March Against 550 Terminal Fee (headline)
2) Magparehistro para Makaboto sa Darating na Halalan 2016 (p2)
3) Bless and Pray for all the Migrant Families (p3)
4) No to 550 Terminal Fee Campaign Photos (p 4-5)
5) Go Easy on on Heroes, The OFWs (p6)
6) Mindanao Anak OFW Tops TOSDOSA Awards (p7)
7) 29th National Migrants' Sunday Celebration (p8)


 

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Survey Result on the 10-year Passport Validity

We conducted a survey  (maraming salamat po sa mga sumagot) to get the pulse of our readers regarding the 5-year validity of current Philippine passport.  If the survey result serves us right,  then the clamor for a longer passport validity is totally justified.

Of the 104  total respondents, all unanimously agreed for a 10-year passport validity and they are all passport holders.



The main reason cited is less hassle (hindi abala) of scheduling and lining up to get passport. Respondents also answered it is better to have a 10-year valid passport and less costly. For some the 5-year valid passport is very short  span and the renewal entails additional cost and burden.

As to the demographics of the respondents 87% are currently abroad and the rest are staying in the country. The result is almost similar as to those who have been abroad at 85% compared to those who have not been abroad peg at 14%.

It is interesting to note that gender of respondents are equal 50% male and female.  Peg at 43%, the majority age is in the bracket of 31-40 years old, followed by those 41-50 yeard old at 26%. Those in the 20-30 years old is at 16%, one notch higher in percentage with those in the 50's.




Below are status of legislation/bills (Senate and House) pertaining to the proposed 10 year validity of the passport. The House Bill was already submitted to the Senate. Although the Senate Bill counterpart seems not a priority among the senators.


House of  Representatives Version


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. No. 4006
BY REPRESENTATIVES BICHARA, BATOCABE, CO, REVILLA, DEL ROSARIO
(A.G.), YAP (S.), SEĂ‘ERES, DALOG, QUISUMBING, ARNAIZ, BATAOIL,
BELLO (W.), CORTUNA, PADILLA, VILLARICA AND BARZAGA, PER
COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 93

Main Referral: RULES

Status: Approved by the House on 2014-03-10, transmitted to the Senate on 2014-03-11 and received by the Senate on 2014-03-11

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHT
THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE (R.A. NO. 8239),
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF
1996”



SEC. 12. Validity. – Regular passports issued under this Act shall bevalid for a period of five (5) or ten (10) years.

The passport applicant shall have the option to apply for a five (5)-yearor a ten (10)-year passport: Provided, That minor applicants shall be issuedpassports valid only for five (5) years.

(original version - HB00012
AN ACT TO AMEND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
Principal Author: BICHARA, AL FRANCIS D.
Main Referral: FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Status: Substituted by HB04006)

http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/billtext_16/hbt4006.pdf



Senate Version

S.B. 2229
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE (R.A. NO. 8239), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996

Pending in the Committee (5/20/2014)
http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1912416248!.pdf



Note:  The Senate version is similar to the House version. In both bills, there is  no provision  as to the number of pages in the passport. For those who travel frequently and with the 10-year passport validity, additional pages in the passport is necessary. In some countries passport holders can apply for additional pages for their passport and this entails additional cost.

Survey Link:
http://philippinemigrantsrightswatch.blogspot.com/2015/06/survey-philippine-passport-10-year.html 

Friday, June 5, 2015

Survey: Philippine Passport 10-year Validity





We would like to solicit your response to this survey so we can be guided on a possible advocacy of having Philippine passport extended for 10 years given the current problem of passporting at the DFA. There were several reports that we came across of OFWs not being able to go back to work or deployed on time because of their expired passport (that took long time to renew) or not having the required 6 months validity to be able to travel. 

    

Monday, May 4, 2015

Welcome Message to the Reintegration Programs and the OWWA Charter: Ways Forward

Reintegration Programs and the OWWA Charter: Ways Forward
Organized by:  Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW)
Bayleaf Intramuros; April 30, 2015

Welcome Message
Carmelita G. Nuqui
President, PMRW

Distinguished speakers and guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant good morning! Welcome to our forum on Reintegration Programs and the OWWA Charter: Ways Forward.

You might have read this quote being shared in the social media which we would like to share and I quote:

"Para sa mga mahal kong kababayang babae sa Pilipinas, gusto kong ipaabot sa inyong lahat na kung gusto ninyo magtrabaho o pumunta sa ibang bansa, huwag kayong papayag kung hindi kayo gagamit ng agency o legal na paraan para maiwas kayo sa kapahamakan at nang hindi ninyo abutin ang sinapit ko."

To translate  - "To all my fellow beloved women in the Philippines, I would like to let you know that should you want to work or go abroad, make use of an agency or through the legal way so you will be spared of the  difficulty  I’m going through."

This is a meaningful quote from the letter of appeal of Mary Jane Veloso who got another lease of life yesterday, after Indonesian President Joko Widodo granted her an 11th hour reprieve after a woman suspected of recruiting Veloso turned herself in to authorities in the Philippines. She was another Flor Contemplacion in the making, who was hanged in Singapore in 1995, the same year the RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 was passed into law. The same year also the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) was established through the leadership of Fr. Graziano Battistella. PMRW is a network of migrant-NGOs who lobbied for the passage of RA 8042 and the network aims to promote the welfare and protection of the rights of Filipino migrant workers together with many of you who are here today.

Mary Jane Veloso is now the new icon of the feminization of migrant labor who belongs to the most vulnerable group of Filipinos wanting to make their families have better lives.  She belongs to the millions of other Filipino women working abroad despite the odds and perils it entail, the social costs of long years of family separation and leaving behind loved ones and kids to the care of family members and relatives.
How many more Contemplacions and Velosos are we counting on the statistics of Filipino women migration? How many more OFWs are we evacuating and repatriating with the continuing instability and insecurity in the Middle East and other countries where our workers are deployed? What programs do we have for them, especially when they decide to stay for good and reintegrate.
These are some of the grim scenarios and realities that we continue to face and we need to fully address. So as we gather here today, as we listen to the presentations of our speakers and engage them in the open forum, let's open our hearts and minds as we consider our modern-day heroes or Bagong Bayanis' predicaments, that we all strive to find and work out solutions to protect and promote their rights and welfare. 
Let us thank the Lord, recognize and celebrate, that collective prayers and actions do wonders and miracles.  And let's remind ourselves, that our coming together is for our quest to make the lives of our OFWs better be it through the timely provision of welfare or in helping them in their reintegration to their families and the Philippine Society. And in so doing we fulfill our tasks and mission in making this world a more humane and a better place.

        Thank you for coming and a pleasant day!





Fr. Graziano Battistella, Director, SMC providing input on
Return Migration: A policy  Framework


Director Chona M. Mantilla, NRCO-DOLE  sharing on the
National Reintegration Programs and Services .



Mr. Reynaldo Tayag, OIC Director for Regional Operations Coordination Services
sharing the 2012 OWWA Reintegration Review: Findings and Recommendations.


Cong. Gutierrez of Akbayan Partylist for his
presentation on HB 4744.


Panel of speakers during the open forum.


Mr. Edmund Ruga of CBCP-ECMI raising an issue.


AOS Group Photo




Thursday, March 26, 2015

UN Convention on Migrant Workers 25th Anniversary Campaign

The CMW25 poster is here! Let us signal to States marked in red and yellow to step it up! Ratify the UN Migrant Workers Convention now! #cmw25_stepitup 



Tuesday, March 24, 2015

A Glimpse from My Past



by Michael de la Cruz
(not his real name to protect the author)

(This story was lifted from Vol. 4 of Migrants' Stories, Migrants' Voices published in 2012 by PMRW.) 


As a young boy, I used to dream about seeing far places. I often wondered how possible it would be to turn my dream into reality.

After graduating from college, I worked in a government-owned bank. I observed that the monthly income is not enough to raise a family. A year later, I transferred to a private company to augment my monthly income. However, reading newspapers advertising job vacancies in other countries re-ignited my desire and interest to work abroad. Thus, with courage and determination, I started applying for an overseas job. I was able to find a good offer but I had to process all the necessary documents before my visa was finally released.

When the agency finally told me to prepare for my departure, I had mixed emotions; I was puzzled and yet thrilled that finally I can finally realize my dream of going abroad. I was only 22 years old.

While waiting at the boarding area in the airport, I observed the other passengers around me. I noticed that a lot of them were older than I am. One passenger asked me where I was going and how old I was. I told him that I am a first time OFW wanting to fulfill my dream of exploring other places. As the plane took off, I was scared of what was in store for me in Taiwan.



During my first day of work, my mind and heart were not really focused on my job. I kept on thinking about my family and the country I left behind. I had to work and send some money to my family to help in the studies of my younger siblings. I wanted them to finish college and earn their degrees as well. I often wondered what changes would have transpired after my two-year contract.


Working in a foreign country with fellow Filipinos and foreigners take a lot of adjustment. One has to be patient and understanding in order to avoid conflicts.

My first traumatic experience happened during our meeting with all the Filipinos in the company for our Christmas party. We had to plan and prepare for a joyous celebration ahead of us. However, when the meeting was over, two Filipinos started fighting each other because of jealousy and intrigue. They were fighting over a lady. The bigger and more senior of the two who was under the influence of alcohol, and possibly drugs, really wanted to hurt the younger guy, who happened to be my roommate. While we were sleeping, the drunken guy broke down our door. The two fought and all of a sudden there was blood all over. The drunken guy was stabbed and there was pandemonium. While there were those who were trying to pacify the onlookers, my roommate ran as fast as he can, trying to get away from the place because the friends of the man he stabbed might kill him. I got nervous when I heard the fight.

While I was searching for my friend in the compound, I saw a group of people looking for him also. Anger was very much visible on their faces. They were armed with a rod and a knife, but I did not hesitate to pacify them by telling that “a problem cannot be solved simply by adding another problem, and that it will only cause chaos.” I further told them that Christmas is supposed to be a time for sharing and loving each other, especially when we are far from our families.

In less than an hour, the police arrived and they brought the wounded guy to the hospital and continued the search for my roommate. They finally caught and handcuffed him. I saw my friend helplessly crying. He looked so helpless and did not know what would happen to him.



The following day, the Deputy Manager of our company called all the Filipinos for an early morning meeting. The company, according to the Deputy Manager, has decided not to shoulder the hospitalization cost because the accident did not occur during work hours, and that it was committed by another individual.


I visited my roommate at the police station. I couldn’t help but feel pity for him because while we were talking, his other hand was handcuffed to a post. I encouraged him to eat well, not to think much about his problem, and to always pray for guidance in order to find a better solution. “The management knows that you acted in self-defense,” I told him.

After paying my roommate a visit, I also visited the other guy in the hospital, to show them that I was not taking sides. I told this guy that I was there because I care for both of them and that I have no intention of trying to escalate the problem. I was surprised when he apologized and asked what had happened to my roommate. His mind was already calm by them.



A representative from the Philippine government arrived at the police station to settle the case. Everyone was expecting that they could find a solution agreeable to both parties.


However, the guy in the hospital was asking for help to finance his medication until his wound heals. The representative said they do not want to intervene in financial matters. To settle the argument, I volunteered to shoulder the amount asked by the patient. I also asked that the two parties sign an amicable agreement, whereby the wounded party would waive his right to file a case against my roommate. When I reported for work, I asked the manager for a meeting with my fellow Filipinos the following day. Fortunately, he approved my request and allowed me to preside over the meeting. We discussed about the settlement of the case but it was very tough because people had different opinions and principles.

However, I was blessed that the majority agreed to solicit some amount for the medication of the wounded party while I will shoulder the remaining balance to pay for all the expenses. I became an instant hero and was regarded as a leader. I was able to collect the needed minimum amount and covered the remaining balance. Immediately, I delivered the said amount to the hospital. I talked to the patient and he accepted the amount and signed the agreement, in the presence of some witnesses. My heart was filled with happiness as we were able to settle everything amicably. I did not inform my family about this incident.

Days and months went by swiftly, and soon my contract was about to come to an end. My department manager convinced me to renew my contract but my decision to go home is final.



When I arrived home in my province, I was overwhelmed by the welcome I received from my family, and our neighbors. They were grateful for the gifts I brought. We shared many stories and it was almost midnight when we decided to get some sleep in order to attend mass the following day.


After Taiwan, my next journey took me to the Middle East. Working in the Middle East is not a joke for a first timer like me. The place and the weather are so different from ours, and they also speak a different language.

My company is one of the developers of the famous Pearl Qatar, a huge construction project situated in middle of the sea and they needed a lot of workers from the neighboring countries. I was assigned in the finance department, in charge of the preparation of wages and salaries, as well as other benefits for the workers The Company employs more than 5,000 workers and there were only two of us in charge of the preparation of the workers’ wages. Every pay day, I would leave the office and head to the sites to hand the workers their pay.

Whenever I see construction workers on sites as tall as 40-story buildings, carrying loads of steel and cement, my heart would beat fast. This reminded me of the film The Ten Commandments.



Overseas workers, Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike, work hard and have to face work-related risks to earn money. The Filipinos are even luckier than other nationalities because their rates are higher. I wish that families of OFWs are able to spend the remittances being sent by their family members from abroad wisely.


However, there are families that are not able to budget well the amount they receive from abroad and so in times of emergency, they don’t have money. Some workers would come to me in the office to ask for cash advances and that adds to my work load because I need to accompany them to the Manager to translate their requests. In some cases, the Manager turns down their request. I couldn't help but pity the workers who are almost on the verge of tears.

The Filipinos would then ask for my help. Seeing the worries on their faces, I couldn't help but do something about their situations. Sometimes, I would give them cash advance from the petty cash without the office’s knowledge or at times I would shelve out some personal money. Thus, I would always be on alert days before the next pay day lest the Chief Accountant decides to check the daily invoices I prepared. Fortunately, until I left the company, it has not happened.

The Filipinos in my company were grateful for the little help I have extended to them. Thus, whenever I go to the supermarket to buy my foods and some Filipinos see me standing on the bus, they offer me their seats or help me bring my groceries. Whenever I receive news that one of the family members of a fellow Filipino worker has died, I would carry a small box with me during pay day to solicit some financial support for the bereaved.

Many Filipinos, and even some foreigners, donate some money after I explain to them the purpose of the collection. After collecting some amount, I would then call the worker and hand over the amount solicited from the other workers. The words of comfort I offer them and the small amount solicited from other workers somehow ease the grief of the worker. It’s not part of my job, but I derive pleasure in being of service to the lonely and unfortunate, especially those who are most in need.

When summer came, the humidity in Qatar was high and the temperature reached about sixty degrees. I found it difficult to breathe and often times my nose would bleed. Thus, I decided not to renew my contract even if my Manager guaranteed me an increase in my salary. Even my friends and the skilled workers in our company tried to convinced me to stay so that they have someone to turn to in the finance department but I already made up my mind. It’s a really tough decision I made to go home. My siblings were still studying and needed my assistance but I also considered my health.

When I arrived home, my family welcomed me with open arms. They were glad to see me back. I stayed with them for a few months then went back to Manila and stayed at the SCPM while scouting for a job overseas. It was not that easy to get a good job with a good salary. It took me quite a while to find one that was desirable. With God’s mercy, I got a good offer to work in the African continent.

In April 2009, I left the Philippines for Libya. This time around, I was prepared for a long trip because the agency purchased the cheapest available ticket for my trip. As expected, there were a lot of stop overs, the most memorable of which was in Egypt. Being in Egypt reminded me of stories in the Bible. While there were passengers who chose to roam around the airport, or go to see the pyramids up close, I chose to stay at the airport and prayed that my new working environment would not be hostile.

When we arrived in Tripoli, the capital city of Libya, I was surprised because Manila is more developed. I think even my own province is more developed than Tripoli. Libya is a vast country and its population is not that big. Unable to restrain myself, I asked my Libyan office mates why Libya is behind its neighboring countries. They said that the UN sanctions imposed in the country for the last ten years have put the entire country in total darkness. Now, they need to develop and they need thousands of manpower to help them build country. They also told me that was one of the reasons why I am in Libya. Such a remark put a smile on my lips.

Our company was engaged by the Libyan Government for a project that will last for over twenty five years. My work here is almost the same as the one I had in the Middle East but there are more people in our department. There are only two of us Filipinos in the department while the rest are Libyans and people of other nationalities. Internet connection was provided to our respective computer units to ease our homesickness because no roaming services are available in that country. The internet was our way to communicate with our families back home.

The months rapidly passed by, so fast that I hardly noticed the passing of time. Once a week, I would go to the Catholic church along with other Filipinos to hear mass.

Then one time, we heard over the news that Tunisia had a demonstration and the people toppled down their leader. Neighboring countries followed suit - Algeria, Egypt and Libya. In February 2011, the opposition gathered in Benghazi for a demonstration that became uncontrollable and resulted in total chaos in the entire country.

We have twenty seven site offices in Libya and every office had many Filipinos working there. Our company employed a large number of Filipinos. I was assigned in the head office based in Tripoli. My friends in the site offices asked about the plan of our company and I told them that I had no idea because we have not received any instruction yet. However, some of our site offices were located near the more problematic areas were scared because their accommodation was sprayed with bullets. I felt pity for them as I imagined the difficult situation they are in. They asked me to inform their immediate families about what was happening to them.

At first, I thought it would be easy but I found out how difficult it is to relay the messages concerning the status and condition of their loved ones. It was like being employed in a call center. I would be handling messages for up to twenty five families. The families kept on asking me for more information but there is nothing more I could tell them. I was just asked to relay information to them. The situation in Libya worsened and our internet connection would be cut off from time to time. For more than a week, we heard gun fires and ambulance sirens every ten minutes. We were all frightened, especially during the night. During the day, few Libyans reported to work compared to the Filipinos who were housed inside the company and thus obliged to report to work.

When the Libyan authorities declared to clear the rats, i.e., to kill the opposition, we had to brace for more fightings. I often prayed to the Lord to keep all of us safe because fighter planes were visible in the skies. They were always looking for targets, for places where the demonstrations were being held. Sometimes during lunch break, we would hear screaming everywhere. Some would say that our office will be the next target of the rebels for looting. Running with no direction, we got traumatized and scared.

At night, we used to gather in the mess hall for fear that the rebels would come to take our valuables. We would rather be together in the same room should they come. We hid our personal things in the ceiling of our room, our baggage under the bed covered by the carpet, others things in the toilet, or even outside our room. We couldn’t sleep well at night. During meal time, all of us are quiet and could not eat due to fear and exhaustion, thinking about our situation.

My family was anxious and eager for me to go home immediately. But such possibility was very dim because the UN troops have declared the area as a “no-fly zone” and we were frozen in our area, while our people in the site offices had to evacuate immediately and try to reach the nearest border. The Philippine government ordered for the immediate evacuation of Filipino citizens in Libya. I was reminded of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. We waited for fifteen agonizing days before representatives from the Philippine consulate arrived in our head office to talk to our director.

After their conversation, twenty seven buses were readied to transport us to the border. Three days earlier, most of the foreigners in our office, especially the European and Korean staff have left the premises as their governments were smart and ready to pull out their nationals because they have the money and means to carry it out. As the representative of our government instructed the Filipinos to bring our baggage in the bus, the immediate response was to praise the Lord because we can finally leave the compound and head to the nearest boarder in a safe way. The company provided our convoy with security escort because of the twenty seven check points, until we reached the border of Libya near Tunisia.

Before getting inside the bus, I bid farewell to my manager. He told me not to go and join my fellow Filipinos who are about to leave and told me that I am safe in the compound. Our company requested the government troops to guard the compound. Thus, military men guarded every corner of the compound. They were armed with high caliber guns.

I replied that if the troops start fighting with the rebels, then what would happen to us inside the compound. “Instant death awaits us,” I said.

“When you die, Allah will save you,” my manager replied back.
“I’m sorry but I have decided to go home. My family is eager to see me back home alive, even if our salary is not yet paid,” I told him.

I left the company compound with mixed emotions and fear. Every time we reached a check point, my body would start to shake, especially when they stop us and look at all of us inside the bus. I looked up in the sky and saw sunset. Night time is about to approach.

I noticed the group of Thai and Vietnamese nationals sharing a pack of uncooked noodle. They passed the noodle to everyone and every one would tear a small portion and eat it and then sip some water to fill their empty stomachs. I was moved by such a sight. I think there were about 25 of them sharing whatever food they have. I was reminded of Jesus who prayed in order to feed thousands with fish and bread.


Immediately, I opened the big plastic bag of food I brought, full of different breads and a cartoon of soda. It was more than what I needed for the journey to the border. Thus, I shared my food with them. They were all surprised because each of them had a piece of bread, a soda and nine liters of water to sustain our journey towards the border. They were filled with joy and gladness. Truly, I learned what it means when people say that “out of small means, great things shall come to pass”.

We reached the boarder at 21:30 in the evening of February 28, 2011. Some government men got inside each bus and asked for our passports. They were supposed to put an exit stamp on our passports. After ten minutes, the same group asked for our mobile phones with camera, laptops, and digital cameras to check if we got footages of the war as well as the casualties. We were informed that it is forbidden to bring out such items outside of Libya.

As early as 06:00 in the morning, the law men ordered us to get off the bus and bring our baggage with us. We were told to follow the line leading to the highway. They commanded us to move as quickly as we can and some of the elderly ones fell on the ground due to fear, exhaustion and hunger. We were treading on rough road and it made our journey more difficult because we were carrying our bags on our shoulders. Others were also carrying crying infants, aside from their baggage. To make things worse, the temperature was almost zero degrees centigrade. We walked for almost two kilometers before we reached the Tunisian boarder, where thousands have arrived earlier awaiting assistance from their own governments.

We arrived at around 9:00 in the morning at the Tunisian boarder and waited for the Philippine government representative. We waited for him for hours. Eventually, he arrived at 3:00 in the afternoon together with a member of the UN council and gave us further instructions. They brought with them supplies such as fresh milk, water, yogurt, and bread. However, we felt like we were treated like dogs. Food was thrown to us. People were struggling to get some form of sustenance. We told the authorities to properly distribute the food in a respectable manner, and not to throw it in order to prevent accident and injury. Every time the authorities arrive carrying a sack of food, the Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Vietnamese, Indians, Thais, Indonesians and other nationals would rush like mobs to secure food. UN troops would then start striking them using a baseball bat in order to try and put order. The troops had to understand that these people, especially the little ones, haven’t eaten for days and are very exhausted. I observed that most Filipinos were shocked to witness such a scenario. We were just watching while people were rushing and struggling to get food and get beaten.

When we entered in Tunisia, we felt a bit of ease as we have finally left the boarder. But when we arrived at the shelter provided by the Philippine government, we felt disappointed because the room provided was not large enough to accommodate all of us. We relayed our concerns to the Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs who was present then. We were almost close to a thousand but the maximum capacity of the room they provided us is for a hundred fifty. They knew how many of us were coming because we had contact with them and they have a list of the names of the Filipinos from our company. They could have prepared a bigger place to accommodate all of us.

As the skies begun to get dark, we felt sad and pitied ourselves because when we go to the toilet at night, somebody might occupy our space and we might find ourselves standing. I looked around me and felt pity for my fellow countrymen who arrived late because they had no place to stay. I remembered that Christ also had nowhere to stay when he was born. There were also sheep roaming around where Christ was born. In our case, there were also sheep roaming around while the others slept. The smell around was also not pleasant but we had to endure that.

Our Tunisian neighbors were deeply touched with our situation. They saw the difficult situation we were in. They shared with us the food they cooked, gave us bread, rice, utensils, stove with gas and other supplies we needed. During our first night, my friends and I tried to look around the city and representatives from our government were unable to recognize us. Four of them asked us if we were Filipinos and we answered yes in a chorus. They then asked us if there’s a bar where they can drink. We told them that they are representatives of our government and should look after our needs but what they wanted instead was something not related to their current mission. They were surprised at our reply and apologized to us. They asked us if we had eaten dinner and invited us to join them. We refused and told them we are looking for an inexpensive inn where we can stay for the night. We left them at the restaurant but we remembered their faces. We continued looking for an inn so that we can take a rest and have a bit of comfort after our traumatic experience since the start of chaos in Tripoli.

Finally we found a lodge suited to our needs and begged the owner to reduce the rate. He asked where we are from and we told him that we are Filipinos working in Libya. He was curious about us because it was the first time for him to encounter guests from the Philippines. He understood our situation and gave us a big discount. We couldn’t hide the joy we felt in our hearts.


The following day, we visited the shelter where our fellow countrymen were staying. It seemed to us that the Tunisian people were more generous and concerned than our representatives from the government, specifically those from the OWWA. They have resources to provide us with our basic needs while under distress. However, it seemed they only care for themselves and even had the guts to go on a drinking spree in times of distress. They knew about our situation. If not for the Tunisian people, many would have suffered from desperation and starvation. Fortunately some of us still had enough money to spend for our food. Not everyone though was able bring money with them because all of us did not receive any allowance prior to our exit from Libya.


On the third day of our stay at the inn, we had to leave because we did not have enough money to pay the owner of the inn. We returned to the shelter even if the situation there was not good. But a few minutes later, my friend who stayed in the house of the Tunisian neighbor invited me together with my friends to join him. When we arrived, we were amazed to find out that the owner of the house prepared for us an air conditioned room which can accommodate more than fifteen persons. The owner talked to us and welcomed us profusely. We were strangers and yet he welcomed in his house. The following day, the owner of the house asked us what else they can offer us because they’re not familiar with the food that we eat. They went to the grocery and purchased three kilograms of beef and fish to feed us. They surprised us with their hospitality. Their gentleness and compassion brought great joy and smiles on our faces. We could not express enough gratitude for the hospitality they have shown us. Whenever we say thank you to them, they would reply with a delightful smile on their faces.


One morning, the sole lady representative from the Philippine government made an arrangement for our possible flight back to Manila. We returned to the family who cared for us for several days and gave what was left in our pockets, including the Philippine peso bills as souvenirs from us. They told us that if ever our flight was postponed, we are welcome to stay with them. 



We proceeded to the airport of Djerba, hoping that we would soon be heading home. After successfully checking in, we were surprised to learn from the representative of our government that our flight was cancelled. We were shocked and disappointed. As our baggage was already checked in, they told us not to take them out because would be safer inside conveyor. Instead of boarding the airplane, we boarded a bus to return to the shelter provided by the government. Inside the bus, an argument erupted because a guy from the government told us to unload our stuff at a nearby house which is not suited for all of us. There were more than a hundred of us and because the house was so small, sleeping may be a problem. Sleeping in the garden would be an option with the sheep roaming around at night.


Everyone reacted and quarreled with the representative from the government. Some of my office mates confronted him saying, “We’re all professionals in the bus and if you treat us like sheep we will dig a grave for you in this area.” That must have knocked some sense in him. He changed his mind and instructed the driver to bring us to our previous lodging area. We knocked on the door of the same family in Tunisia who gave us shelter earlier and they welcomed us once again. It was three days before they told us that our flight home has been scheduled.

At the airport, we saw some Filipinos who opted to stay and wait at the lobby of airport instead of returning to the shelter. They were afraid to go with us because the list might be changed and cause further delay in the flight back home.

There was a huge crowd at the airport waiting for their respective flights, and thus the toilets at the airport started to smell. We were glad in a way because the UN personnel were efficient. They gave us enough food. However, we could not use the toilets because we were already called to board the plane.

A few minutes before our boarding time, one of my office mates had a sudden argument with another person and it erupted into a fist fight. Most of us tried to pacify and control their anger. The other nationals were surprised to see the Filipinos fighting. It was a good thing that some European men called the Filipinos to form a line because the plane was on the tarmac and we were told to prepare for boarding. Shouts of joy erupted from our lips and we thanked God for answering our prayers.

Upon entering the plane, the cabin crew requested us to keep quite because the crew couldn't hear each other. The only thing I remembered at that time was that we were all grateful and praising God at that moment. There were also some who questioned the crew if indeed the aircraft will bring us to the Philippines. The crew replied, “yes!” The plane was small, like the ones we use in our domestic flights.

It was a long flight ahead of us. We are flying from one continent to another. Regular flights from Tripoli to Manila take about fifteen flying hours, excluding the flight going to Doha, Qatar for a stopover.

During the flight, we experienced a strong turbulence and the captain instructed us to stay in our seats and to fasten our seat belts. Unexpectedly, the oxygen masks from the compartment dropped down. A lot of us started praying, asking God to deliver us to safety. A few minutes after, there was less turbulence and we safely reached Abu Dhabi for a stopover in order to refuel. From Abu Dhabi we flew again and had another stopover at Sharjah for refueling. We flew over sunny skies and reached New Delhi, India to load on food and fuel. After four hours of stopover in New Delhi, we were again cruising above the clouds and we were served meals. We Filipinos are not that familiar with the taste of Indian food but we had to eat after a very long journey. Five hours later, the captain announced that we are approaching Philippine airspace. All of a sudden, most of the passengers loosened their seat belts and were shouting for joy, thanking the Lord for bringing us back to the country in one piece. There were those who were praising God loudly, dancing, and clapping. It seemed like we were freed from the agonizing worries of the exodus that we’ve been through. There was unending thanks and gratitude to God who delivered us from those trials and hardship we experienced. Finally we are close to home. The plane Captain told us to remain seated and to fasten our seat belts for the final approach. The noise became more joyous and we were all clapping with our hands.



After a long sojourn, we finally landed at twelve midnight. Before disembarking from the plane, the captain opened the curtain and congratulated us all and thanked us for all the prayers while we were passing a turbulence. As a Catholic himself, he understood our faith and trust, which led us to a safe journey.


We entered a special passenger lounge provided by the Philippine government exclusively for OFWs from Libya and we were met by government representatives and media persons. They were taking our photos, videos and asking about our experiences. They also served us food at the airport, and this somehow comforted many of us. However, the temporary shelter prepared by OWWA was not enough to accommodate all of us. Others went straight to their homes, while the rest remained seated, standing or roaming around because the number of arrivals from other airlines who came from Libya cannot be accommodated in the area provided by the government. Most of us not were not able to sleep even for a few hours because of the mixed emotions we felt.

In the morning, we proceeded to the World trade center to receive our financial assistance from OWWA in the amount of ten thousand pesos, as well as transportation fare going to our provinces. I myself stayed at the Scalabrini center. Upon entering the ground, I felt bad. I wouldn’t know what to say if someone asked me what happened. I didn’t know what to do, whether to shout for joy, kneel in front of the grotto or kiss the ground I was standing on because I returned to the Philippines alive. I wanted to hug someone who knows me, but I controlled myself or they might think that I am insane. I stayed at the SCPM for two nights in order to rest for a while. But every night, I found myself having nightmares, screaming while carrying my baggage and shouting for help. I would wake up soaked in tears. My roommate did not know of the trauma I experienced, not until in the morning when I forced myself to pray to the Lord asking for guidance and comfort.

Days passed and it was time for me to go home to my family. They were surprised when a bus stopped in front of our gate. As they were wondering who was alighting from the bus, they noticed me and they warmly welcomed me. I felt sick because of the attention on me. They kept asking me many questions which I couldn’t answer. Inside my room, tears again started flowing from my eyes. I was unable to sleep in my room thus I decided to lay down on the sofa because the fears and imagination were still fresh in my mind.

For more than a week, I constantly dreamed of the exodus experience we had in Libya. Often times, I would find myself re-living the agonizing experience I had from Libya to the airport in Tunisia. I am thankful to the Lord that He gave me a strong heart, and eventually I was able to manage my trauma. Indeed, God is great all the time! One thing I learned from this experience is to have a strong faith in God. No matter how painful the situation, He will be there every step of the way with us, providing us with courage to move on. To this day, I continue praising God for delivering us all to safety. All these experiences, I believe, have made me a stronger person. I thank God because he has always been with me through all my ups and downs.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Senate panel to MIAA: Suspend Memorandum Circular No. 8 collecting terminal fees from OFWs

Press Release
February 9, 2015



Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/Senator.Cynthia.Villar/photos

A Senate panel hearing the resolution on the memorandum circular directing the integration of terminal fees into airline tickets at point of sale pushed for the suspension of its implementation pending the creation of a computer program that will automatically exempt overseas Filipino workers from paying terminal fees.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, who was designated to head the Committee on Public Services Sub-Committee "E" hearing on Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1015, was joined by Senate Majority Leader Alan Cayetano, Senators Nancy Binay and Koko Pimentel during the committee hearing.

The resolution, authored by Pimentel, directs the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the implementation of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Memorandum Circular No. 8 Series of 2014, integrating the International Passenger Service Charge or terminal fee into all airline tickets.

Villar said she is not against any change that would put things in order such as the contention of MIAA in coming up with the Memorandum Circular - "to address the congestion in all NAIA terminals with the increasing volume of passengers."

"However, if the change would affect the rights of a vulnerable and valuable sector such as our OFWs or migrant workers, then we have to exhaust all efforts to further look into these and find ways on how to remedy it or improve the mechanism of its implementation so as not to unnecessarily inconvenience our OFWs," she added.

During the hearing, MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said he is open to sit down with airline consultants that will work on a computer software that will in effect honor the exemption of OFWs from paying the 550 terminal fee as granted by the law.

Villar also said she will author a resolution to be signed by all senators requesting MIAA to recall the implementation of MC 8 until after MIAA and stakeholders have come up with a computer solution that will automatically grant the exemption for OFWs.


Republic Act 8042 as amended by RA 10022, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 provides that OFWs are exempted from paying the travel tax and airport fees.