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ONLINE Edition Volume 01 Issue 11

November 2012

Anita’s KitchenPinoy Smart SaversOFW children join

Mindanao festivalHealth Corner

* Why be Healthy * The Perfect Storm

Balitang OFWThe Canadian

Experience

MAGAZINE

Filipinos comm

emorate

All Souls D

ay

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trabaho mo dito sa sa ibang bayan... Paanu kung mapunta ka sa taga kudkod ng INIDORO at taga hugas ng pwet ni lola at lolo... naku paktay heheheh masisikmura mo kaya yan?

Pangalawa mga dukomento mo palang ang hirap ng ayusin... Kung wala kang pera nakupo maglalakad ka hanggang mapudpod ang paa mo... isama mo na dito ang pag mag apply mo sa mga agency pinapahirapan ka na may sapat pang halaga ang mga serbisyo nila... Hindi biro ang pumasok at mag apply sa agency ang daming pinapagawa... at ang matindi jan ung babayaran mo.... limpak limpak na salapi yan....

Pang apat... eto na kaya mo ba silang iwan? Handa ka na bang layuan sila... Ihanda mo na ang pagbuhos ng luha mo timba timba yan kung

S t a f f B o x

OFW ako Magazine ONLINE Edition is published by

OFW ako61 Kamagong Road, Pilar Village, Las Pinas City, Philippines

+63 949 776 9282 * [email protected]

Editor-in-chief: Dennis de Guzman * Country Editor(s): Mae Cayir (Austria); Emmanuel C. Roldan (Philippines); Eden R. Manabat (Russia); Dev Guintab (Israel); Raquel Padilla (Canada) * Contributors: USA Anita Schon, Dr. Philip Chua; Canada Pinky Bartolome; Taiwan Jonathan Cawagdan; Philippines Alvin Tabanag; * Layout & Design: Dennis de Guzman

Articles, opinions, letters to the editor should be sent to [email protected]

Anu handa ka na ba?

Una sa lahat “kaya mo ba? Kaya ko ba?” hehehe yan ang masarap na tanong....

Tanungin mo ang sarili mo bago ka pumasok sa sinasabing buhay OFW...

Pag isipan mong mabuti... hindi pala itanim mo sa kokote mo...

Pag ikay nangibang bayan wag mo munang isipin ang DOLLAR na kikitain mo... Isa isahin ko ahhh para alam mo... kung may makalimutan ako dagdagan mo nalang pag nasubukan mo...

Una nag aral ka ng ilang taon, nagtapos sa kursong hinahangad mo... hehehhe kung sa abroad lang din ang bagsak mo maswerte ka na kung ang pinagaralan mo tumama sa

“Sa mga Nagbabalak mag Abroad Basahin mo ito....” by Jonathan Cawagdan (Taiwan)

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iipunin mo.. darating ang problema.... sa maniwala ka at hindi marami talagang nasisirang pamilya.... Kung sakali kaya mo kaya??? sakali lang naman yan hehehehhe.... Pero nasa saiyo parin yan kung paano mo alagaan ang iyong mahal sa buhay...

Pang lima... pag nandito ka na sa abroad... ang sarap dito... pag kain palang hehehhe kung dati ang sardinas at cornedbeef nginingisa mo pa yan bago mo ulamin... hehehe dito matutu kang ulamin

mo ng ganyan... ang pansit cantton pinapakuluan mo... hehehhe dito sa babad lang mainit na tubig pwede na.... ang masarap pa mag sasawa ka sa manok... halos tubuan ka na ng pakpak may manok pa rin... ung iba mas malala pa.... Meron pa jan panis na ang pinapakain, halos masuka suka ka sa amoy pa lang... kaya dito sa abroad patibayan ng sikmura...

Pang anim.... ang saya dito... mapapaluha ka sa saya heheheh sarap ng buhay pa Facebook facebook lang dahil wala kang

magawa... nagbababad sa tv wala si amo... yan ay kung maganda

ang mapupuntahan mo at mabait si amo hehehhe... hindi naman sa pinapanalangin ko na mapunta ka jan... pero may mga amo talagang mala demonyo... kung ituring ka nila parang hayop...

HIGIT SA LAHAT... kung kaya mong ibaba ang iyong

PRIDE... na matatanggap mong magpaalipin sa ibang lahi...Kung kaya mong tanggapin lahat ng naisulat ko pwede ka ng maging isang OFW... at pwede ka ng kumita ng DOLLAR.

-end-

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About the Author

Jonathan Cawagdan also known as “Natz Liwanag”. A 33 of age, a blogger, a poet, and sometimes a short story teller. I wrote about what I see at my surroundings and anything under my imagination. A contributor of “The Migrants” (OFW contribution), a monthly magazine in Taiwan. A creator of Pure Love “Pusong Bato Pinalambot ng Pag-ibig mo”. A native in Nueva Vizcaya, studied at Saint Mary’s University. I work as an OFW in Taoyuan, Taiwan, from 2005 until now. I am married to Leny Cabrera and has a daughter named Jazlyn Chloe.

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Health is a vehicle, not a destination. Excellent health is about more than just feeling good. Normally, when you are feeling low, dealing with a medical problem or trying to lose weight, you think of health as something to achieve. Of course, good physical health is an important goal, but if you simply stop there, you will miss out on so much more. Robust health allows us to be active in the world and achieve more than we ca when we are tired or sick.

Ask yourself, Why be healthy? What would you do with your life if you became healthy? How would you use this gift to enhance your life and the lives of those around you? What would happen if you experienced high – level wellness most of the time? Imagine what your life would be like if strength, flexibility,

endurance and clear thinking were part of your everyday life. Sadly, most people are missing it. They eat the standard American diet, eat out most of the time and gaze on packaged snack foods throughout the day. They deal with different health concerns, such as allergies, headaches, constipation, sugar crashes and low energy are recurring parts of their lives. They are caught up in a matrix mentality concerned with keeping up, fitting in and looking good.

When you switch to a natural foods diet and style you begin dancing to the beat of a different drummer. You start to think and feel quite differently than others. As your daily diet changes, your blood quality also changes. Slowly but surely you notice that you don’t fit in like you used to. You naturally see the world from a

Why be healthy? by Eden R. Manabat (Moscow, Russia)

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different perspective than those who are eating fast foods and junk foods. You become clearer, calmer and more aware.

As this transitions occurs, you may feel like you are on the periphery of society, looking in. And you may be inclined to disguise how differently you feel from others. You may even develop, chameleon-like behavior that allows you to fit into a wide range of environments without standing out. As this trend develops, you may look around, scratch your head and wonder, why me? Why am I so unusual? Why am I so unlike my brothers and sisters, old friends, parents and neighbors?

Each of us comes to earth with a different agenda. As we get older, we continually make choices that individuate us from others and keep

us on track with our destinies. And for some of us, path is focused on personal growth and development, which frequently leads to a curiosity about food, diet and lifestyle. In my experience, natural food eaters tend to be smarter, clearer, and more in touch with themselves and the natural rhythms of life than people who eat junk food. Trying to fit in has little value. Rather than pretending what you are like everyone else, you might as well take a deep breath, be authentic and be yourself. As a health conscious person, you have added potential to step out and create change in the world.

The first step is to shift away from a fitting in mentality. By continuing to expend large amounts of your energy and intelligence just to fit in, you’ll have less strength to focus on the more important aspects of yourself

HEALTH CornerArticles in this column are not a substitute for professional advice. For specific information of any illness and treatment you must consult a qualified medical professional in your area.

continued to next page ...

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Why be healthy... continued from page 5

and your life. You may even create health problems for yourself, if you are not being openly expressive. You are hiding your inner light, concealing you unique beauty and shying away from your deeper destiny. I believe you have the capability to become an element for change.

As your diet and lifestyle improve, you will feel a greater sense of balance, and through this process you become more fully present. You will probably notice your breath more fully, feel the breeze on your face and really listen to what other people are saying. You will be more fresh and alert to a new situation with access to a wider choice of behaviors at any given moment. This consciousness makes

you more likely to steer away from foods and people that are determined to your health.

Our personalities are not fixed or rigid. The more we slow down and understand ourselves, the more flexible and present we become. Authentic self expression means being the person we truly are at this point in time.

So why be healthy?

Some people see things as they are, and ask Why?

I dream of things that never were and ask Why not?

~ George Bernard Show ~

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About The Author

Eden R. Manabat is a student of Professional Fashion Styling and Image Consultant Course. She is currently attending at Elite Pro Make Up Fashion School in Madrid & Barcelona. She loves sharing her experience by writing a topic on an article, a member of OFW AKO Community of Distributors in Russia and an experienced OFW working in Moscow.

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A d v e r t i s e m e n t

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ang damit ng mga Bagong Bayani.

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U.S. News and World Report writer Mary Brophy Marcus wrote an article a few years back about the critical shortages of physicians in the United States and the escalating cost of healthcare due to the malpractice crisis, which piece she entitled Healthcare’s “Perfect Storm.” The title was, indeed, most appropriate, one that predicted an ominous future for the Americans. That bad omen came true. Today, there is a serious crisis in healthcare cost that is bankrupting Medicare and other private insurance companies and medical

care providers in the United States, thanks to the mandated malpractice insurance for all physicians in America.

The same crisis could wreak havoc to our own healthcare system in the Philippines and cause us and our family immeasurable pain and suffering, if we, the people, allow our legislators to pass a law mandating all physicians in the country to buy malpractice insurance as physicians in the United States are required to have.

The Perfect Storm --- A Bad Omen for Healthcare by Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS (USA)

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Since that US law was passed, malpractice lawsuits suddenly skyrocketed, malpractice lawyers mushroomed, and so with ambulance chasers and bills boards encouraging patients to sue physicians, medical staffs, clinics, and hospitals. Physicians were forced to practice defensive medicine, ordering more tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRI, etc., in order “to be extra careful” and protect themselves. Healthcare costs escalated. America has grown into a litigious society it is today. Because of large settlement awards to plaintiffs, insurance companies had to jack up malpractice premiums to a prohibitive level. Unable to cope with the financial burden, many physicians called it quits. The vicious cycle continued leading to a present healthcare crisis in the United States.

In this revealing and alarming essay, the author related how a Las Vegas OB-GYN specialist with a thriving practice, seeing 40 patients a day and delivering 20 babies a week, had to fold his obstetrics practice after 12 years because of skyrocketing malpractice premium in the United States. Although he had never been sued before, his malpractice rate jumped from $33,000 (more than 1.3

million pesos) to a more ridiculous $108,000 (almost 4.5 million pesos) a year! At an income tax (bracket) rate of almost 50%, this physician had to earn about $216,000 (almost 9 million pesos) a year just to be able to pay Uncle Sam the annual income tax and the malpractice premium of $108,000, with nothing left in his pocket for himself, his family, his office staff and other overhead expenses.

The example the writer illustrated above is typical and widespread across North America, where currently there is a healthcare crisis, almost to a catastrophic proportion. The run-away malpractice insurance premium rate is forcing countless physicians, especially those specialists regularly performing high-risk procedures (heart surgeons, obstetricians, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, emergency room physicians, etc.) to curtail their practices or retire prematurely, or change career, to avoid debts or bankruptcy.

“People are dying,” stated Loren Johnson, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians’ California chapter. The reason is because states are running low on vital medical specialists and services as a result of this malpractice crisis.

HEALTH Corner

continued to page 12 ...

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The Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland, like many other hospitals, had shut down their trauma center (emergency room) because of lack of physicians and the very costly malpractice premium. Many training hospitals are concerned that the high cost of malpractice premium they have to buy for their residents might cause them to close their programs. And this will further reduce the number of practicing physicians in the country, making healthcare even lesser accessible for the people.

When both hands of the physicians are tied as a consequence of a prohibitive malpractice insurance premium, a coverage required by all hospitals in order for a physician to join the medical staff, they are essentially deprived of their individual constitutional right to practice their profession and art. And the ultimate victims who will suffer the brunt of all this are the people, the patients, especially the sickness-prone seniors and the children.

The potential profitability of filing a suit against a physician becomes a strong incentive for many patients to sue their physician at a drop of a hat. Indeed, the United States, most

unfortunately, has become a very litigious society, for a fast buck!

The crisis came to a head when St. Paul Companies, the largest malpractice insurers, dropped tens of thousands of physicians, leaving them naked, without any coverage at all, and scampering for other insurers. And this came at a prohibitive price because other insurers took advantage of this situation and raised their premiums. The reason for all this was the increase of medical lawsuits and the high-priced damage awards.

In Las Vegas, for instance, like in many other metropolis, one sees a billboard almost every mile, advertising personal injury lawyers, with a “no-legal-fee-if-we-lose” incentive, practically enticing people to sue their physicians.

Can crisis this happen to the Philippines? Yes, since we, Filipinos, are very fond of copying everything and anything from the United States. As a matter of fact, it appears many of our legislators are still bent on importing the scary and potentially devastating idea of mandating malpractice insurance coverage for every physician in the Philippines.

The Perfect Storm ... continued from page 9

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Are these legislators misinformed, miserably careless, simply without foresight, or cleverly planning to invest in, or put up, malpractice insurance companies in the Philippines? If the reason is none of the above, then why in heaven’s name would they, who have sworn to serve and protect the interest and welfare of the Filipinos, could even think of importing a harmful piece of legislation, like the mandatory malpractice insurance for physicians in our country, when the same experiment has despondently failed in the United States and has been causing a healthcare havoc, pain, and suffering among the Americans? Only some of our legislators, malpractice lawyers, ambulance chasers, and insurance companies will benefit from a national suicidal law such as this.

Why do we have to import mistakes, miseries and heartaches from abroad when we have more than enough of our share right here in our country? For Filipinos in the United States who have “seen the future,” this proposed law is a sugar-coated poison that would kill our healthcare system

and the medical profession, with the patients and their family as the ultimate victims of escalating cost of healthcare and less accessibility to medical care. Even our national coffers would eventually suffer tremendously.

If we must, let us import from the United States ideas and programs that will be good for our people, and not a bad piece of legislation that has already been proven deleterious by the Americans themselves, who are now trying very hard to undo and correct their errors of the past. Let us learn from this bad experiment in the United States and not bring this killer dinosaur to our shores.

Mandating our physicians to buy malpractice insurance in order “to protect the consumers in the event of a law suit” is like forcing these doctors to use a shotgun to get rid of a fly on the patient’s forehead. Passing this proposed cancerous law in itself would be the greatest MALpractice of all, and we, the people, will hold each and every legislator accountable for his or her vote.

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About The Author

Philip S. Chua. The author is a Fil-Am cardiac surgeon based in Las Vegas and the Chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA and Loyal Alliance for Medical Missions in the Philippines (LAMP). Website: www.philipSchua.com * Email: [email protected]

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Contact us today. Email: [email protected]. no.: +639497769282

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Enjoy life.Enjoy the beach.Enjoy the sun.Have lots of fun at Balay OFW

Vacation with my Family

PHILIPPINESis more fun in the

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FIVE members of Anak OFW joined the more than 300 children-delegates to the first Mindanao Children’s Festival (MCF) held recently in Kidapawan City to share their plight and to gain support and acceptance from their peers. Anak OFW is a children’s group organized by Davao-based Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Action, Inc., to help fulfill the rights of distressed and abandoned children of working overseas Filipinos and those in

Diaspora. It was among the 25 children’s organizations in Mindanao who graced the festival which official opened in the afternoon of October 27 at the provincial gym inside the vast Capitol Compound of the Province of Cotabato, Amas, Kidapawan City. MCF was initiated by the Mindanao Action Group for Children’s Rights and Protection (MAGCRP), a network of child-rights advocates in collaboration with the Provincial Government of North

OFW children join Mindanao festivalni Emmanuel C. Roldan (Philippines)

Press Conference * Photo Credit: MAGCRP Working Committee

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Cotabato. MAGCRP is composed of Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights-Davao, Bantay Bata 163-Davao, Kabataan Consortium-Davao, Gitib-Ozamiz, Katilingban Alang sa Kalambuan-Zamboanga and Family Planning Organization of the Philippines-Socsargen.

Since 2007, MAGCRP has been hosting the yearly Global Day of Action to End All Forms of Violence Against Children (VAC) after the UN World Study on VAC came out in 2006. The said study confirms that children are not safe from various forms of abuse and violation of their rights in care residences, communities, schools, working places and even in their own homes. This is MAGCRP’s contribution to the Children Month’s celebration every October with support from Save the Children International. However, this year is different because MAGCRP wants a jovial festival where children

can enjoy in share their situation, aspirations, talents and skills to their peers and stakeholders. And it is providential that Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taleño-Mendoza has accepted the challenge of hosting the MCF in her jurisdiction. It will also be a fitting activity to cap the country’s 20th Children’s Month celebration.

Incidentally, the province is one of the only few local government units in the country to have drafted a proposed Ordinance Promoting Positive Discipline and Prohibiting Corporal Punishment of Children in the Province of Cotabato through the help of MAGCRP and the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) Foundation, Inc. The said ordinance is principally authored by Board Member Airene Claire A. Pagal, chairperson of the Committee

Children participants * Photo Credit: MAGCRP Working Committee

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on Gender and Development, Family Affairs and Social Welfare after undertaking a series of “Latus” road show film presentations and community forums in 10 municipalities of the said province. Latus is an award-winning short film about violence in homes and communities of Tambayan.

Anak OFW delegates portrayed their situation and aspirations through their poems and theater presentations. They said their situation was no different from all other marginalized Filipino children who suffer from abuse, neglect, abandonment and broken

homes. Anak OFW called on the government to address the problem of unemployment and lack of opportunities here in the country that forced their parents to work abroad. Aside from being active participants to the festival, they were guest to the one-hour radio program “Ugnayang Pangbata” hosted by children with support from the provincial government aired over DXND. They also answered questions from local and national media groups as panelist to the post festival press conference held at the Provincial Capitol rooftop.

OFW Children join Mindanao Festival ... continued from page 17

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Solidarity Night * Photo Credit: MAGCRP Working Committee

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Results of the festival will form part of the Mindanao children’s report and political agenda to be prepared by the organizers and presented to stakeholders, especially those candidates for elective government positions in 2013. The second festival may be held two years from now in General Santos City.

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About The Author

Emmanuel Roldan is a Filipino, development worker, human rights defender, researcher and journalist. He worked with various non-government organizations helping the poor, deprived and oppressed Filipinos in the homeland in the field of organizational development, projects management, advocacy and communications. He is a columnist of two daily newspapers in Mindanao and vice president of Pangdaigdigang Alyansa ng Pilipino, Inc. (PAPI)-an affiliate of the Worldwide Filipino Alliance (WFA).

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Shrimp & Pork Molo Soup

ANITA’S KITCHEN has no walls, it extends beyond my wildest dreams and around the world

* ½ lb ground pork * ½ cup shrimps, chopped * 1 8-ounce can water chestnuts, chopped * 1 tablespoon soy sauce * 1 egg * ½ cup green onions * 1 package wonton wrappers (30 pcs) * 1 cup chicken breast, sliced thin * ½ cup shrimps, shelled * 2 cloves garlic, minced * ½ medium-size onion, sliced thin * 1 cup bean sprouts (optional) * 4 cups chicken broth or 1 8-ounce can chicken broth * 1 tablespoon fish sauce (patis) * salt and pepper

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Ingredients

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Filling

In a mixing bowl, put the ground pork, chopped shrimps and water chestnuts. Add the soy sauce, the egg and 1/4 cup chopped green onions. Mix well.

Chicken Broth

To make chicken broth, boil chicken necks and backs. (These can be bought by the pound at very reasonable prices). Add the onions, celery, salt and pepper. Boil until the meat separate from the bones.

Strain and let stand to cool. You can freeze in ice trays or ziplock bags for future use.

Fill each wonton wrapper with 1 teaspoon of the filling. Press the wrapper with the mix to form a ball. Hold together the edges of the wrapper and twist. The edges will appear like small petals. Set aside.

Sauté garlic and onions. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Put in the chicken strips and the wonton balls and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the shelled shrimps, cook until they turn pink.

Season to taste. Serve with green onions and fresh bean sprouts.

Serves 4 – 6.

Procedure

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Simple strategy to save effectively by Alvin T. Tabanag, RFP (Philippines)

Pinoys are known to be big spenders even if they don’t have much to spend. (We all know the story of how a family will subsist on “tuyo” the whole year so they can have a lavish feast come fiesta time.) Often, long before they receive some money (their salary or bonus for example) they already have a good idea on how & where to spend it and saving is farthest from their minds.

The typical Filipino’s idea about savings can be shown in this simple formula:

It says that once he receives his monthly pay, his first priority is to spend, spend, spend. If, and this is a big if, there’s anything left, this will go to his savings. This is wrong! If you follow this formula, chances are you will not be able to save systematically and attaining financial stability could be very difficult.

Due to the Filipinos’ penchant for spending they have the tendency to use up all the money that gets into their hands. There will always be new

things to buy and as long as they have money in their pockets they will find a way to spend it. With still many days to go before the next payday, many would have run out of money or could barely survive.

As a result, many Pinoys often end-up with zero or even “negative” savings. Negative savings means you are in debt. It means you are spending more than what you earn in a month; this is possible with your “trusty” credit card! Since you have to pay this debt, your expenses increase in the succeeding months, making it even more difficult to save. This cycle of getting paid, spending and ending with zero savings or debt, repeats after month after month after month.

Although the formula above does not represent the right idea about savings it does tell us something very important. If you spend all your earnings, your savings will be zero and if you spend more than you earn you will be in debt. Having the ability to save is not an issue of how much


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Pinoy Smart Savers

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you’re earning but rather a matter of how much you are spending. A person can either be a saver or a spender. The spender sticks to the formula above and so regardless of how big his income is, he can still be broke. If you really want to save, follow this simple rule: “live within your means!” or “spend less than you earn!”

A bank manager once narrated how amazed she was at the “fat” bank account of her staff, which was much bigger than her savings (which practically negligible) although she’s earning a lot more. The reason, which the manager herself suggested, was that she and her fellow officers already made plans and were excited about how to spend their money months before they actually got their bonuses. The staff, on the other hand, was also very excited… excited to see her savings grow bigger with her expected bonus. Unfortunately, the staff’s attitude towards money is the exception rather than the rule. It’s no wonder then that more than 90% of Pinoys have low levels of savings.

There will always be savers and

spenders in every income group and while anybody can be broke at any income level, almost everyone has the ability to achieve financial security if the right savings formula below is followed.

This formula suggests that you “pay yourself first.” This means that once you get paid the first thing you should do is set aside a portion of your earnings for your savings and use whatever is left to cover for your expenses. Sticking to this idea will force you to control your spending because you need to budget properly what’s left of your funds.

This method of saving will be difficult at first because most people have been conditioned to spend first before setting anything aside for savings. It is a good idea then to start small. Open a special bank account for your savings fund, preferably one that doesn’t come with an ATM card so you’re not easily tempted to withdraw from it. The moment you get hold of your monthly pay, deposit 5% to 20% of your earnings to your savings account before you pay for anything.

Simple strategy to save effectively ... continued from page 23

OFW ako. Tao lang hindi banko!T-shirts

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If 5% is still too big for you to start, try a smaller amount. The important thing here is that you get started. Once you get used to this new strategy, you can gradually increase the amount you set aside for savings. Ideally 20-25% of your monthly income should be allocated for savings & investments. If shopping can be addictive so can saving, especially when you start to see your funds grow slowly but surely. Don’t be surprised if you will soon be “paying yourself” 30% or more of your monthly income.

(To every rule there is an exception. Paying yourself first will not be a good idea if you are still paying off some debt. To learn more about this read the article on the importance of an emergency fund and the practical steps to get out of debt.)

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About The Author

Alvin T. Tabañag is the bestselling author of “Kaya Mo, Pinoy! 12 Steps to Build Wealth on Any Income” and “1,001 Ways to Reduce Expenses and Save Thousands.” He is the founder of Pinoy Smart Savers Learning Center (www.pinoysmartsavers.com) and known as the “financial adviser ng masa.”

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1. Lack of sufficient income

A huge number of Filipinos are below poverty level which means they can barely provide for their basic needs and there is simply no money to save. Many reason out that there’s only enough money to cover for the family’s regular expenses, so what’s there to save?

Instead of resigning yourself to a lifetime of low income that’s hardly sufficient, use it as a challenge. If the problem is lack of income then find ways to increase your earnings. Do something to rise above your predicament. Adversity, they say, is the mother of creativity. The burning desire to overcome their less than desirable condition has led self-made billionaires like John Gokongwei and Manny Villar to rise to the top.

2. Poor spending habits

Way too many people have very poor spending habits; wasting their money on a lot of things that they don’t really need. Most of them seem to make it a point to spend all the money that gets into their hands even if they don’t have to. Worse, some people “spend” their money even before they have earned it (your credit card allows you to do that).

Regardless of your income you should be able to save, even a little, if you break out of this habit of irresponsible & reckless spending. Always strive to live within your means. Spend less than what you earn and spend your money wisely;

Obstacles to saving and how to overcome them by Alvin T. Tabanag, RFP (Philippines)

Most people believe that saving is very important, yet more than 90% of Filipinos have too little or no savings at all to shield them from a financial storm. People come up with countless excuses to justify why they don’t have any savings. Below are seven obstacles and barriers that “prevent” (or in most cases used as excuses by) many Filipinos from saving consistently.

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3. Lack of patience

When it comes to growing money, patience is a virtue a lot of Filipinos don’t have. They want to get rich as quickly as possible; that is why many fall victim to investment scams. They are easily attracted to get-rich-quick schemes that promise unbelievably high “guaranteed” profits without having to work for it. Many can’t wait for their money to grow to the level that they desire so they give up on saving and instead choose to try their luck on gambling.

Building wealth is a slow process that requires systematic & consistent saving over many years. It’s not some kind of magic bean that can grow to great heights overnight. Be patient and be persistent in saving; do not focus on how slow your money is growing. Instead look at how near you’re getting to your financial goals with every peso you save.

4. Procrastination

The “mamaya na” habit of Filipinos are so prevalent in our society that is shows up in almost everything we do; even with saving. Many put off saving for another day… and then another… and then another, only to find out later that they’ve run out of time. When a person lands his first job, instead of saving he indulges in everything his money can buy as a reward for the sacrifices he endured in college, saying “bata pa ako, enjoy muna, tsaka na lang yung savings.”

Then he ties the knot and settles down and puts off saving again for an indefinite time in the future because “mag-eenjoy muna kami ni misis at marami pang bibilhin!” The kids come along and saving becomes

Pinoy Smart Savers


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more difficult because of the added expenses especially when they get to college. Late in their careers, they still don’t have any savings and both parents are continue to work their butts off to provide for the family. Finally, they spend the rest of their lives thinking about what happened and what could’ve been done to make their retirement much more comfortable.

Don’t allow yourself to go down this path. Start saving early and don’t wait for the “right time” to start, because the right time is NOW!

5. Close sense of community

Filipinos put a lot of value on culture and tradition even if it’s undesirable. Growing up in a poor society seems to prevent them from taking steps to improve their financial condition. Most people living in poor communities are not likely to desire for a better life. If they do have the desire, it is not strong enough to drive them into action. “Isinilang kaming mahirap, mamamatay kaming mahirap” is a common statement of resignation to their fate.

Don’t allow the mistaken belief about “the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer in our society” hold you back from striving to rise above adversity. As long as there are people who have successfully risen above poverty through their own perseverance, there is always hope that you can, too.

Obstacles to saving and how to overcome them ... continued from page 29

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6. Parental & peer pressure

Poor parents usually fail to encourage their kids to seek financial freedom, much less teach them about saving. There are also parents who pressure their children for regular financial support which affects their capacity to save.

Responsible parents should encourage their children to strive for a better life regardless of their present financial condition and teach them the right saving habits and proper money management even if it means they have to learn it first themselves.

Filipinos are known to be “mabarkada.” Unfortunately some barkada will try to influence their friends to abandon desires for a better life because they’re having too much fun spending all their money or it’s “suntok sa buwan.” People who are easily swayed by their barkada may choose to give up saving and working hard rather than risk getting kicked out of the group.

Do not let anyone dictate your future. Avoid people with “crab mentality,” who will pull you down every time you take a step going up. Surround yourself with people who will support and motivate you to reach for your dreams. Look up to highly successful people; read and learn more about them. Make them your personal role models and let them inspire you in your own journey towards success.


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7. Lack of understanding about personal finance

There are people who are capable of saving but still fail to do so because they do not know how and nobody bothered to teach them. In short, they are financially illiterate. People who are lacking in financial intelligence will not be able apply strategies for saving effectively or identify investment opportunities which can greatly boost their savings. Those who do not have adequate understanding about personal finance can also easily fall victim to dubious investment schemes as well as to expensive & predatory loans that can wreck havoc on their finances or wipe out their lifetime savings.

At every opportunity, educate yourself about personal finance; PinoySmartSavers allows you do to that for free. Read books and attend seminars to learn more about saving, money management & investment strategies. Many people frown on spending a few hundred pesos for a

book or a couple of thousand pesos for a seminar. They would rather spend their money on beer and endless partying, a nice pair of jeans or shoes, a new cellphone or other things that don’t add any value to their savings. What they don’t realize is that the knowledge they acquire from these books and seminars could help them build hundreds of thousands or millions in savings and could very well be their ticket to becoming rich. You do not get rich by spending!

You don’t have to become a guru on personal finance to become wealthy. You only need to know the basics, enough to allow you to manage your money properly and make smart investment moves. In fact, too much information can lead to confusion and can do more harm than good.

-end-

The many obstacles to saving look very formidable but these can be overcome. Having the right attitude, discipline and strong determination, supported by an adequate level of financial literacy, will break down these barriers so you can be well on your way towards financial freedom

Obstacles to saving and how to overcome them ... continued from page 31

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HONG KONG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong will rise 4.8 percent, or 180 HK dollars (23.2 U.S. dollars), from 3,740 HK dollars to 3,920 HK dollars per month, the city’s Labor Department said Wednesday in a statement.

The new level will apply to all contracts signed on or after Sept. 20, it said. The current minimum allowable wage of 3,740 HK dollars per month has been effective since June 2 of 2011.

Under the standard employment contract for hiring foreign domestic helpers, employers must provide them with food free of charge, or pay a food allowance in lieu of free food. The food allowance will increase by 100 HK dollars, to not less than 875 HK dollars a month from not less than 775 HK dollars a month -- a 12. 9-percent increase.

The new wage and food allowance level will apply to all contracts signed on or after Thursday, according to the statement.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department will still process contracts signed on Wednesday or earlier with the existing minimum allowable wage of 3,740 HK dollars a month and a food allowance of not less than 775 HK dollars a month, provided the applications reach the department on or before Oct. 17.

Foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong are foreign domestic workers and housemaids employed by Hong Kong residents, typically families. They usually live in their employer’s residence and perform various household duties such as cooking, cleaning, dishing, washing serving and child-minding. Many of them have to wear a uniform.

Minimum wage of HK foreign domestic helpers to rise 4.8 %

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Hong Kong has permitted foreign domestic helpers to work in Hong Kong since the 1970s to meet the shortage of local full-time live-in domestic helpers.

They make up around 4 percent of the population of Hong Kong and an overwhelming majority of them are women.

Figures from the city’s Immigration Department showed that there were 299,961 foreign domestic helpers in the city at the end of 2011, more than four times as many as a decade ago. Of them, some 48 percent were from the Philippines and about 49.5 percent from Indonesia. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.75 HK dollars)

-end-

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-09/19/c_131861070.htm

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Convicted Filipino loan shark ordered to pay back more than £52,000 in a proceeds of crime act confiscation of assets hearing

A convicted loan shark has been ordered to pay back all of her available assets to the courts, following a financial investigation by the England Illegal Money Lending Team.

Marylou Gonzales, 44 of Vine Road, Shirley, Southampton had assets amounting to £52,694.22 on discovery, and she must pay back this amount within six months or face 18 months in prison His Honour Judge Burrell QC ordered Friday 27 July 2012 in Court 6 at Southampton Crown Court.

Her assets included her house in England, a share of property in the Philippines and money in her bank account.

Gonzales was investigated by the England Illegal Money Lending Team working in partnership with Southampton City Council Trading Standards.

She had previously pleaded guilty to illegal money lending and in April this year was sentenced to a 12 month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

At today’s hearing Simon Mortimer on behalf of the prosecution told Southampton Crown Court how Gonzales made a total of £125,000 lending to members of the local Filipino community, over a six year period.

Gonzales was arrested when officers from the England Illegal Money Lending Team executed a warrant at her home seizing documentary evidence of the illegal business, in August 2011.

Whilst the scale of her business is unclear, it is believed she had around 30-60 borrowers. Records suggest that within the period of 2005 up until her arrest in 2011, she had loaned over £50,000. She never offered paperwork, so borrowers were completely in the dark as to how much they were repaying. Because of the lack of records an exact figure is not available, however, investigators think at least £75,000 in profits was made

Pinoy Loan Shark Stung For £52-K By British Court

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Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Southampton City Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for communities, said: “These are difficult times for many households and there’s a lot of pressure to make ends meet. People who may have lost their jobs, have outstanding debts or are struggling to get credit through the usual means can feel like they’ve run out of options and turn to loan sharks.

“Today’s outcome demonstrates that we will not sit by and let these predators take advantage of desperate people.

“The council does not use the Proceeds of Crime Act lightly but we will not allow criminals to benefit from their activities. Funds recovered from this case will be used to help victims and benefit the wider community.

“We will continue to work alongside the England Illegal Money Lending Team to track down and prosecute loan sharks, as well as to offer practical advice to help people through tough times.”

His Honour Judge Burrell QC ordered Filipino loan shark Mary Lou Gonzales to forfeit £52,000 as a result of her

conviction in April at Southampton Crown Court in a confiscation of assets hearing held under the Proceeds Of Crime Act

Tony Quigley Head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team said “Loan sharks are motivated purely by greed. They do not offer a community service and cause nothing but misery. Through proceeds of crime legislation we are able to hit illegal money lenders where it hurts, preventing them from profiting through crime. Today’s result sends a clear message that we will tackle this crime and strip offenders of their ill-gotten gains.

We would urge anyone who is aware of an illegal money lenders operating to contact us in confidence on 0300 555 2222 as we will continue to stop them”

Nationally over 210 prosecutions have been secured for illegal money lending and related activity, leading to 130 years worth of custodial sentences. The Illegal Money Lending Teams have written off almost £40million worth of illegal debt and helped over 18,000 victims.

-end-

Balitang OFW

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For a new immigrant finding a job is the most challenging endeavour one will face in a new country. It’s the hallmark that will shape your future, it will either make you successful or you will feel like a failure, which might make you think of going back home.

When someone says that you need a Canadian experience to land a job they are telling you the truth. In order to assimilate and be part of the progressive work force of Canada you need to be confident of your skills and what you can offer. Below are several pointers that will make your job search easier and less stressful.

1. Canada is not your former country - therefore, your previous work experiences are considered null and void. Accept that your life is now like a piece of paper that is empty. You will once again have to start from scratch. You are now a new job seeker, and will have to familiarize yourself accordingly. Leave your pride at home and start thinking in practical terms.

2. Go high-tech - majority of the Companies in Canada accepts application via the internet. To be competitive you don’t need to be a techie, rather you just need to learn how to surf and check out the numerous seach engines, company web sites and recruitment agencies sites that abound the internet. You need to create a floating resume for each sites. Research and do more research.

3. Less is more - writing a resume doesn’t mean you have to write your life story. Don’t present a five or six page resume, chances of it being read is remote. Instead focus on key words to sell yourself. Words like: team player, flexible, multi-tasker, hardworking, problem solver should dot your resume. Focus on your strength, down play your weaknesses.

The Canadian Experienceby Pinky Bartolome (Canada)

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The Canadian Experience ... continued from page 40

4. Network is the key - your friends and family will play a crucial role in your job search. They can give you sound advice (specially if they migrated earlier than you) and might recommend or pave the way for your prospective employment. They can also tell you their own experiences in finding a job. It is good to listen to them. Filter information though, those from the truth versus the grandstanding.

5. Dress for success - always present yourself to a prospective employer in a professional manner. Don’t come in for an interview in your denim pants. Be as it may, don’t come for an interview wearing a suit if you are being interviewed for a housekeeping position. Dress down or up, depending on what you are applying for. You don’t want to appear under-dressed but at the same time you don’t want to appear wearing a suit that is more expensive than what the one who will interview you is wearing . A modest attire projecting professionalism without grandiose leanings is your perfect get up.

6. Consider changing careers - when you were interviewed in the Canadian embassy back home, most of you might have been told that you will find the same job when you get here. That is not true. Chances are when you migrate the same job that you do so well back home, might not be available here or the demand might not be that numerous. When this happens to you, consider a career change. Majority of the people who migrated to Canada (the ones who become successful) went back to school to study. You have to have an open mind about this, you have to remember that in order to survive you have to integrate right away. The best approach is to find out which jobs are in demand and make sure you have the necessary skills so you can apply.

7. Persevere - Don’t get discourage. Target what company you want to work in and send resumes every two weeks. Employers here admire people who are determined, so they will not be put off if you regularly bombard them with your applications. You might eventually land the dream

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job you want by showing them (employers) you are, if not the most qualified but the one who demonstrate the right frame of mind to stay in that particular job on a long term basis.

8. Friends and family can be your worst enemies - be wary of friends or family members who puts you down. Be confident of your skills. Everyone who migrates to Canada, rely on an entry level job to make both ends meet. It doesn’t mean you have to be working in that job forever. Upgrade your skills and find a better paying job. If someone says, you can’t do something because you are not qualified don’t believe them, instead study to improve. This is the worst trait of filipinos, the “crab mentality”. Some filipinos have the notion that you also have to suffer and commensurate with their misfortune, if you get a high paying job they feel insecure and will belittle your accomplishment so they can feel better about themselves. Don’t fall for this emotional scam, remember that you, and you alone can direct your life not others.

-end-

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OFWs in Switzerland Rally for Migrants Rights

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