“We Can Save Our Nation by Saving Our Homes”

THE 3RD PEBA INTERNATIONAL BLOG AWARDS is looking for nominees in the Visayas and Mindanao Region If you have something to say about FAMILIES, and OFWs, yours could be the winning piece!

Society's problems arise, almost without exception, out of the homes of the people. If there is to be a reformation, if there is to be a change, if there is to be a return to old and sacred values, it must begin in the home. – Excerpt from the book, “Standing for Something” By Gordon B. Hinckley

 

“There is no place, no environment more conducive to the development and enactment of virtue than the family. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity and their peace, all find their roots in the teaching of children by fathers and mothers, and in the strength and stability of the family. I know this not only because of what I have observed during my eighty nine years, but because of what I experienced in my childhood home.

When I was a boy, my parents followed a practice they called "family home evening." On a specified evening of the week, we would join as a family to learn together, play together, and enjoy one another's company. My father was a great storyteller, and he often told us stories from his memory. Mother would warm up the parlor where her grand piano stood, so that we could sing as a family. We were miserable performers as children. We could do all kinds of things together while playing, but when one of us tried to sing a solo before the others, it was like asking ice cream to stay hard on the kitchen stove. In the beginning, we would laugh and make cute remarks about one another's performance. But our parents persisted. And because they persisted, we sang together. We laughed together. We studied together. And we played and prayed together.

Out of those simple and informal but regular gatherings in the parlor of our old home came something indescribable and wonderful. Our love for our parents was strengthened. My love for my brother and sisters was enhanced. An appreciation for simple goodness grew in all our hearts. Admittedly, we didn't openly speak about love for one another very much in those days. But we didn't have to. We felt the security, peace, and quiet strength that come to families who pray together, work together, help one another, and feel connected one with another.

It is so plainly evident that both the great good and the terrible evil found in the world today are the sweet and the bitter fruits of the rearing, of yesterday's children. As we train a new generation, so will the world be in a few years. If we are worried about the future, then we must look today at the upbringing of children. The evils of the world will continue to escalate unless there is an underlying acknowledgment, even a strong and fervent conviction, that the family is an instrument of the Almighty. It is His creation. It is also the most fundamental and basic unit of society. And it deserves - no, it demands our combined focus and attention. We go to great lengths to preserve historical buildings and sites in our cities. We need to apply the same fervor to preserving the most ancient and sacred of institutions - the family!

Gordon B. Hinckley suggested 10 specific things to do to save marriages and families.

• 1.    Accept responsibility for our role as parents and fulfill our obligations to our children.
• 2.    Get married and stay married.
• 3.    Put the father back at the head of the home.
• 4.    Recognize and value the supreme importance of mothers.
• 5.    Celebrate and treat children as our most priceless treasures.
• 6.    Discipline and train children with love.
• 7.    Teach values to children.
• 8.    Teach children to work.
• 9.    Read to and with children.
• 10.  Pray together.

I believe that if OFWs will apply the 10 suggested things, will have a wonderful effect to us and our families. There will be few divorces and broken families. Fathers or mother can do these things even they're far from home. The wonders of technology makes all this possible.

THE 3RD PEBA INTERNATIONAL BLOG AWARDS is looking for nominees in the Visayas and Mindanao Region If you have something to say about FAMILIES, and OFWs, yours could be the winning piece!

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

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THE 2010 PEBA INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST

Entrants


Bukas para sa lahat ng amateur na Filipino photographers (blogger or hindi blogger) na 18 years old above na nagtratrabaho bilang OFW saan mang panig ng mundo.

Participants can submit ng tatlong entries pero hindi lalagpas sa 5 photos.


Entries


Ang mga larawan ay dapat original na kuha ng kasali at hindi pa naipublished.


Content


Ang mga larawan ay color or black / white photographs na nagrerepresenta or typify


LOVE


FAMILY


LABOR


HEROISM


COURAGE


OFW ABROAD


(using the host country as part of their subject/s).


Digital Image Submissions


Ang quality ng image ay hindi bababa sa 8" x 10" at 300 DPI


Or maaring ang photo ay kuha gamit ang minimum of 3.2 MEGAPIXEL camera sa pinakamataas na image setting at isusubmit through email bilang JPEG FORMAT


Ang images na hindi nakapagmeet ng ganitong criteria will not be considered. Ang mga larawan ay walang borders or frames.

Ang bawat larawan ay may filename ng pangalan ng Photographer plus information, location, profession/work and interpretations


Example:


Example: fredsantos1.jpg
Location: Toronto, Canada
Profession/Job: Computer Engineer
Interpretations/Short Explanation: OFW family beach outing, OFW family togetherness, OFW family bonding


Other Uses


All entries will become part of PEBA. Photographs submitted to PEBA Photo Contest but any photos not selected to be included in the Photo Exhibit may be chosen for use elsewhere in PEBA related publication with full credit given to the photographer.


SUBMIT


Email to: photos@pinoyblogawards.com


Winners will receive a trophy and gift packs from PEBA and 'Best Photo Entry'.


Deadline of submission will be 15 November 2010. Please note that your entries will be printed/blow up for exhibit at SM and other partner venues as well as during the awarding ceremony. Join now!

BELOW ARE LAST YEAR FINALISTS ENTRIES

"Proud to be a Filipino", by Floyd Amor, Singapore   

"A symbol of Filipino pride, wear it, anywhere, everywhere -worldwide"

"World-class Bayanihan"

"Open Hands" by Jayson Mayugba, Dubai, UAE served as the second home country for most Filipinos, they always keep their mind open and hands  available in order to help and keep environment clean.

"Snow Survival" 

"Filipinos will still make their way to survive even the heaviest snow falls." 

"Wear Your Smile" by Chris Luzana - Nova Scotia, Canada

"OFW: Makabagong Bayani sa makabagong panahon. They tend to smile even they felt homesick"

"The Climb of every OFW" by Rey- Mournes Mountains, Northern Ireland,United Kingdom

"It is not what on the other side of the mountain, but it is the climb that matters". The image depicts the courage and optimism of every OFW which bring hope and happiness to their loved ones back home."

"My Blessings" by Noel Ablon, South Corniche, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
" My greatest blessing is my family, my only treasure here on earth"

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

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"When We Talk About Families, Is It Hard to Blog?"

I was asking this question for so many weeks that I finally let out and ask a fellow blogger and Kablogs - Pope of Palipasan. Below is his post from Palipasan, and asked for his permission for me to repost it here over Thoughtskoto. Thank you, The Pope. This one is inspiring. I like his reasons and his answer to the question. I added it her so someday, my daughter and posterity will have the chance to read it. 

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Pag Pamilya Ang Pinaguusapan, Mahirap Ba Mag-Blog?

 

Ating nakagisnan ang pamilya ay isang pangunahing balangkas ng isang lipunan. Ang pamilya ay aking unang guro at ang aming tahanan ay nagsilbing paaralan. Ang aking pamilya rin ang unang naging gabay upang makilala at mahalin ang Diyos na Lumikha at sa aking pamilya rin ang nabigyan ng halaga ang tinatawag na pagmamahal sa Diyos at sa kapwa.

At higit sa lahat, natagpuan ko ang himala ng Panginoon sa pagkakaloob Niya ng pinakamalaking biyaya, ang aking sariling pamilya sa pamamagitan ng aking asawa at supling na anak nagkaruon ng katuparan ang halaga ng buhay at ng aking pagkakalikha.

Subalit kung ganito kahalaga ang salitang pamilya sa bawa't Pilipino, tulad ko at ng halos 12 milyong Pilipino na nasa iba't ibang bahagi ng mundo, bakit ba kailangan pansamantalang iwanan ng isang ama, ina, o anak ang kanyang kaisa-isahang pamiya upang tahakin ang daan tungo pakikipagsalpalaran bilang isang banyaga.

Inaamin ko na hindi kayang tapatan ng salapi o materyal na bagay ang aking pagkakawalay sa aking pamilya sa maaring maging epekto nito sa kanila sa kasalukuyang lipunan na kanilang ginagalawan.

Subalit lubos akong naniniwala na sa tulong ng Maykapal, ng aking mga kamag-anak at kaibigan ay mapagtutulung tulungan namin ang mga hilahil ng buhay na kaugnay sa aking pagkakawalay sa aking pamilya at mapagtitibay namin ito sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya, pagmamahalan at pagtitiwala sa isa't isa.

May ilang maling pag-aakala na ang pangingibang bayan ng isang OFW ay isang dahilan ng pagkasira ng pamilyang Pilipino. Sinasabi ko na hindi ang pagiging OFW ang sumisira sa pamilyang Pilipino, ang kawalan ng pananampalataya, pagmamahalan at pagtitiwala ang dahilan kung bakit tayo nagkakasala at nagbibigay daan upang masira ang pamilyang ating minsa'y pinahalagahan. Walang pinipiling lahi, edad, kasarian at lugar ang tukso upang sirain ang isang masayang pamilya.

Ang pangingibang bayan bilang OFW ay isa lamang sa napakaraming solusyon upang labanan ang kawalan ng trabaho, kahirapan at gutom sa ating bansa. Bagama't ang landas tungo sa pangingibang bayan ay puno ng hilahil, pagtitiis at sakripisyo alang-alang sa kinabukasan ng iniwang pamilya sa Pilipinas, ito ay isang marangal na hanapbuhay na nagbibigay pag-asa sa pag-abot ng mga pangarap ng pamilya.

Mahaba na pala ang aking natalakay ukol sa usaping pamilya. Kasi sa aking malayang pakikipagusap sa pamamagitan ng chat kay Mr. Thoughtskoto nuong makalawang araw ay nabuksan ang isang katanungan:

"Pag pamilya ang pinaguusapan, mahirap ba magblog?"

Walamg kagatol gatol na aking ibinulalas ang personal kong kasagutan na "hindi"(hindi mahirap lumikha ng panulat ukol sa sariling pamilya), subalit depende iyan kung gaano kahalaga ang pamilya sa isang manunulat.

Kung hahayaan ng isang blogista ang dikta ng kaisipan kung saan ang pagpapahalaga sa pamilya na tila musika na malayang tumutugtog sa kanyang kamalayan ay di alintana ang bawa't titik na idinidikta nito kasabay bawa't kumpas at pilantik ng mga daliri ng manunulat sa bawa't tikatik na tunog ng "keyboard" upang lumikha ng isang makabuluhang panulat ukol sa Pamilya ay naibabahagi nya ang isang kwento ng kanyang buhay sa pamamagitan ng blog at taas noo nya itong mailalahok sa PEBA 2010 bilang tugon sa adbokasiya tungo sa matibay na Pamilyang OFW at Pamilyang Pilipino.

Ako, bilang bahagi ng PEBA 2010 at isang blogista ay umaasa na sa mga makabuluhang panulat ng aking mga kababayan na lalahok sa patimpalak ng PEBA ay makapagbigay daan ito sa bawa't makababasa na kababayang Pilipino na may pamilya o kapamilyang OFW upang magbigay inspirasyon  na mapagtibay pamilyang Pilipino tungo sa matuwid na landas.

Ako rin ay umaasa, na sa pagbabahagi ng kwento ng buhay ng bawa't nominado sa PEBA 2010 ay haplusin nawa nito ang puso ng mga mapagparayang naninilbihan sa Pamahaang P-Noy at sa Konseho ng Kongreso at Senado na ipagsantabi ang personal na interes at sa halip bigyan na halaga ang tinig ng bawa't OFW at mga myembro ng pamilyang OFW para pagtibayin ang ang pamilyang OFW sa isang matibay na tahanang Pilipino tungo sa matibay na bansang Pilipino.

Ikaw kaibigan, pag pamilya ang pinaguusapan, mahirap ba magblog? Sana sumali ka sa PEBA 2010.

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Free Facebook Via Mobile Phone

Do you want to access your Facebook via mobile phone for free?

There are several carrier that offers this for free in coordination with Facebook.

Check out the link below

FACEBOOK MOBILE

then click the VIEW INSTRUCTION

Some available countries and carrier that offers it for free are;

Philippines - Sun Cellular

Saudi Arabia - STC

United Arab Emirates - du

Singapore - Singtel

HongKong - 3 Hong Kong

Malaysia - DiGi

and 

many others

Check it here

After installing, you will access your mobile phone Facebook via this address

0.facebook.com

So for those of you who don't want to be left out, check it out, for free!

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Official Statement of the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA) and KABLOGS on DFA and OFW Assistance Budget Cut

We stand as an alliance of Filipino Expats and OFWs whose primary advocacy is to promote the welfare and safeguard the rights of our fellow Filipino workers abroad through blogs, we would like to call for the President Benigno S. Aquino and the members of the Philippine Congress to reconsider the proposed cut on the Legal Assistance Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ budget.

This act is dangerous to the already deplorable conditions of many OFWs who are incarcerated in various countries needing legal assistance.  The legal complexities of those who have been abused, ill-treated and became victims of unfair labor practice are costly and a lengthy fight.

The proposed cut would undermine the ability of our Consulate Offices to file legal actions that would protect thousands of Filipinos abroad working for their families to survive the poverty-stricken living condition of our fellow “kababayans” in the Philippines.  

How unfortunate that this is what we get for being the “modern day heroes.”  No country would treat their heroes this way; it is insane to reducelegal assistance fund to a meager 27 million a year.  The lack of funds as a reason for letting piteous Pinoy OFWs die in other countries brought by inability to legally defend their case would be tragic, senseless and an insensitive display of our government’s agenda on OFWs and other migrant workers.

Please, please!  We seek for your forthright defense of our already underprivileged sector whose only intention is to let their families live a good life, send their children or siblings to school, save the Philippine economy and let our nation become great again.  As Filipino Expatriates and OFWs, we provide our nation with new hope, we let the world see our eminence in various field, we make each of us proud to become Filipino and yet, the government has been less and less appreciative of our contribution by decreasing our means to be protected from legal scuffles. 

As united bloggers in different parts of the world, we will continue to knock, beat our drums and reach every home with Internet to let the world know that this is not fair, that this is an injustice to our welfare and would send our many fellow Filipinos working abroad into the mud of legal demise.

We hope that this plead will not fall on deaf ears, we are in a new era of governance, our new administration have relentlessly brandished renewal as their guiding thrust,  prove to us that you care for the OFWs by scrapping the proposed cut from DFA’s Legal Assistance Fund.

Pinoy Expats OFW Blog Awards (PEBA) www.pinoyblogawards.com

PEBA-OFW Alliance Action Group

Kablogs (Gateway of OFW Bloggers) www.ofwkablogs.com

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Pres. Aquino Do Not Heart OFWs?

I can forget that during his first SONA or State of the Nation Address, there were not a single sentence that mentioned about his plans or support for OFWs. Nevermind that he was supposed to be voted by around 55% of overseas voters. I don't feel betrayed, I didn't vote for him. 

Second, he cut the budget for education. This means, there will be not enough funds for public universities that means, they will raise their fees, that will eventually be the reason that most students can't pursue college or university education. I question his priorities here. I don't know why he didn't the point. Education unlocks the door of opportunities. Education is the most basic benefit he can give to the younger generations, because they are our countries future. 

And the latest, he cut the budget for DFA and OFW social services by a whopping 40%. From the law requirement of P100M fund, the Arroyo administration provided only 50M, and now, Aquino wants to make it 27M. Now you can see that the government really doesn't care for OFW's. Now it is beginning to be seen that for all these years, we are nothing but lame heroes kuno that are being milked with our money remittances.

If you can join this page by liking it, we will truly be happy. This will serve as a petition to the government not to cut the budget for OFWs because it means, legal assistance, lawyer fees, repatrition, and other aids for OFWs will greatly be jeopardize.

Jebee Kenji Solis likes

Don't Cut the Budget for Social Services for OFWs

Below is an excerpt from Susan Ople's blog, an OFW advocate explaining the impact of this budget cut to the OFWs.

Deep cuts in DFA Budget dashes OFWs’ hopes for change | Susan "Toots" Ople

"So in cutting down (or chopping off!) more than half of the DFA’s budget including that to be used for legal and other forms of assistance to Filipinos overseas, the consequences may be the following:

1. The task of repatriating trafficked victims and other distressed OFWs shall now fall on: 1) individual politicians from senators to mayors; 2) OWWA which are made up of contributions of workers who left the country legally; 3) the very individuals and agencies that conspired to victimize these workers thus diminishing the crime and reducing the entire matter into a bargaining situation.

I would have added the NGOs except one can really count on one’s fingers the number of NGOs that could afford to repatriate workers even from neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore.

No. 1 weakens institutional governance because it would lead to the politicizing of welfare assistance to OFWs in distress; it will also cause enormous lag time in providing onsite assistance – time that could mean the death or survival of an OFW.

2. RA 10022 or the amendments to the Migrant Workers’ Act states that the DFA can now use its legal assistance fund to file cases against abusive and exploitative employers and agencies outside the country. The Ople Center and other NGOs were happy to know this because the filing of such cases would greatly boost our anti-trafficking efforts. But with only Php 27-M for an entire year, how can the DFA even hope to pursue such cases? And what about the 3,000 Filipinos in jail, some of who have been detained more than their penalty calls for? If the current legal assistance fund is insufficient in looking after the legal rights of our OFWs, what more just a quarter of that amount? For an entire year!

3. Our foreign posts serve as the refuge of trafficked and maltreated workers. In Dubai alone, the welfare center is overflowing with at least 200 stranded workers at a single given time. A video taken of appalling conditions in Saudi Arabia for workers awaiting repatriation stresses the need for more funds, not less particularly for posts with a high concentration of Filipino workers. If we cannot afford change, then how can we see it? In this case, the OFW sector is not asking even for more funds — though it has every right to do so. But at the very least – a status quo. For now. Especially for a sector that brings in billions in dollar remittances that makes for a positive credit rating from international credit rating agencies. Why cut social services for OFWs?

Unless — the unjustified cuts are but another symptom of internal conflicts driven by magnified, puffed-up bureaucratic and political hurts. Read:factionalism. This may be a valid observation because of how deep the cuts are. Too deep to be superficial; too ruthless to be developmental. The cuts were made to hurt, and hurt bad – except that the wounds are being inflicted several times over on the bodies of the innocents.

We do want to hope again. The yearning is there, it is unmistakable, and while we are watchful, it is a watchfulness for both the bad, and most especially for the good. Honestly, I would prefer the inconvenience of a noisy wang-wang to the heart-wrenching wail of an OFW unable to come home despite numerous beatings from her employer. NFA – no funds available. So what else is new?

This latest move of chopping off millions meant to protect the rights and welfare of our OFWs is simply unjustifiable. When a child leaves home, a parent does what is humanly possible, despite the distance, to make sure that he or she is alright. The Assistance to Nationals Fund and the Legal Assistance Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs is the budgetary equivalent of that.

With such drastic budgetary cuts, this administration might as well have cut lives short.

“Kayo ang boss ko!” Prove it to millions of OFWs and their families here at home, Mr. President. This is in your power to change. Do not cut the budget for the DFA’s assistance to nationals and legal assistance fund."

Read the rest of the entry here

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Asus Netbook/Laptop, Motherboard Problem, Poor Customer Service!

We tried all means to contact you, Asus, Philippines, but you leave me no option but to blog about you here.




The quote below was taken from your website, Asus. Is it really true? You have nothing but disappointment to me and my wife. Let me refresh you of the story behind my total reversal of support from you, and my great dismay in your service. However good the laptop or netbook if you spoil the service, I will never buy your product again.

Photos from Asus Philippines

"No matter where you go, ASUS Notebook / Eee PC is always your best travel companion!
When you are on a business trip, leisure, or studying abroad, you can always receive the best support for your ASUS Notebook / eee PC.

We not only offer you a complete nationwide service, but have also established numerous service sites around the globe. So, when you are looking for service, you can always refer to the GSM table to receive our immediate support. "

Oh, really. Wow. How come it took us more than two months now, since the first time we brought our 3-month old Netbook, and still we haven't receive any word from you. Is that the best that you can give to your customer? I tried to check the status of our records, and we got this info below.

" System can't find records of your inquiry." 
"We recommend you contact your reseller or nearest ASUS Service Center." 
"Note: Due to internal process, the repair status of your delivered machine would be available on the next day of your delivery."

Haha, that's really funny, because ours was already more than a month since we turned it in, and you promise to change the motherboard. 

Okay this is the story that definitely turns us off, and promise not to buy any Asus laptop or netbook anymore.

We bought this laptop in Saudi Arabia around May 2010. After July 2010, the problem starts when at first there was a black-out. It won't turn on, and it is fully charged.

We brought it to the service center in Megamall, in Manila Philippines. The service personnel didn't detected the motherboard problem, they said, it's just the memory. They said, they took the memory out, and return it back. We got the laptop, after 3 days. If that's the only thing you did, and if that's the only service you can give, I can do it myself, without scratching, oh so many scratches in our new laptop.

After a day or two, again the problem was total black-out. It won't tun on again. So my poor wife, clad with the two year old baby, return to Megamall, and was advised that it's motherboard problem and that they will call if what's really the problem.

They give out this number.

+639229334436, email address, and landline number.

Almost every week, my wife called, text, email, all kinds of follow up, and yet not a single reply from them. So my wife went to SM Megamall and asked what's really the problem. They said it's motherboard. They said to check our email. But they didn't give any customer service number. 

My wife, who previously work in a customer service of Dell, Philippines, asked them about why they don't answer phone calls, or reply to emails.

They said because of too many customers, they can't attend to the calls. (my goodness sake, is this Asus service,a nd yet they can't attend to customer calls?)

My wife asked why they are not replying to emails, they said, they are not checking the emails anymore. (that is not funny anymore. What a terrible customer service that is not to check emails anymore)

Okay, last September 3, my wife was able to contact them after several attempts. They said the parts didn't arrived yet, So they promised again to call or text regarding the status of the netbook. We'll, 3 days passed, my wife calls and text them again, but no reply, even just to inform about the status. 

This leads to this blog entry here. 

Photos from Asus Philippines

What a terrible service you have there. After buying your product, and you got my money, you dont care with your defective product, an Asus Netbook eeePC, anymore. And how come in less than 3 months your motherboard broke? I have read all through the net that this is the common problem in Asus laptops, and netbooks. I should have read it before and bought Dell, HP, or Lenovo, instead.

This is the information of our product here.

06150, ASUS 1005P 

SERIAL NO. A30AAS518166 

And this is the name of the technician.

TECHNICIAN ROY

©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO

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