By Bulatlat.com Aug. 17, 2008 – 4:01 p.m. Migrante International held a wreath laying and press conference this morning at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, near the corner of EDSA and Quezon Ave., to show the true face of migrant Filipinos and to pay tribute to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who have died under questionable…
Tags: Migrante International
OFW in Kuwait Saved from being Raped
BY BULATLAT August 4, 2008 – 9:32 p.m. A Filipina domestic worker was almost raped by her employer’s son in Kuwait. Her presence of mind and the timely response of her friends and Migrante International saved her from being added to the alarming list of Filipina domestic helpers who are victims of rape and abuse…
Remembering Rey
(Bulatlat.com)The military may have cut off his head and mangled his face and body. But Rey Cayago’s face and name could never be forgotten by his colleagues, his family, and the migrants and their families whom he had helped. BY EMILY VITAL HUMAN RIGHTS Bulatlat Vol. VIII, No. 15, May 18-24, 2008 There is a…
OFWs to Greet Arroyo’s April 5 Birthday with Zero Remittance
After a rousing protest by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong during Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s visit on March 30, Filipino migrant workers are again preparing another “greeting” for the president on her 61st birthday on April 5. Led by Migrante International, the largest alliance of migrant Filipinos worldwide, OFWs set April 5…
POEA Memo 04: Protecting OFWs or Avoiding Responsibility?
POEA Memorandum Circular 04 that is supposed to protect OFWs would only enable the government to pass on its responsibilities to employers who would, in turn, pass the additional costs to OFWs. Also it would discourage employers from directly hiring OFWs and thereby, leave OFWs to the mercy of exploitative recruitment agencies, said Migrante International.…
Maltreated OFWs Recount Ordeals, Feel the Pain of Those in Death Row
BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN MIGRANT WATCH Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 36, October 14-20, 2007 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have experienced “hell” in host countries could very well identify with the plight of Marilou Ranario and other fellow OFWs who have resorted to harming their employers or have done unlawful acts in their host countries.…
Distressed OFWs, Relatives Call to Save Ranario on World Day against Death Penalty
Maltreated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and relatives of other migrant workers joined various organizations and individuals gathered on Oct. 10, on World Day against Death Penalty, to intensify the campaign to save Marilou Ranario and all OFWs on death row around the world. BY AUBREY MAKILAN MIGRANT WATCH Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 36, October 14-20,…
Weekly Protests in RP, Big Mobilization in HK Set vs New POEA Policy
Calling the new guidelines of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration as a “sugar-coated extortion scheme,” OFWs in Hongkong and Migrante International, the local organization of OFWs, are planning more protest actions and bigger mobilizations. BY AUBREY MAKILAN Bulatlat Weekly protest actions in the Philippines and a big mobilization in Hong Kong are already set to…
OFWs: Abandoned in War Zones, Ignored at Home
Overseas Filipino workers are dubbed as “modern-day heroes” by government. Rightly so, because their remittances prop up the economy by bringing in the much-needed dollars and stimulating domestic consumer spending. They are also “modern-day heroes” because they risk life and limb just to provide a decent income for their families. The sad part about being…
Returning OFWs from Lebanon: Faces of Distress, Cries of Desperation
The joy and relief of Filipinos returning from Lebanon quickly turns to feelings of distress as they remember the hardships they endured abroad and realize the anxiety of being jobless in the Philippines. Seeing their distressed faces and hearing their cries, one would easily see the desperation that has compelled Filipinos to face so many…
Electoral Firsts: Militant political parties vie for more House seats
For the militant cause-oriented movement, 2004 is not just an election year; it is also a year of “firsts” related to its entry into the electoral struggle. It will be fielding up to 20 nominees from Bayan Muna and five other new Party-list groups for House seats. By Alexander Martin Remollino Bulatlat.com For the militant…