THE COMEBACK ISSUE July-September 2016 FILIPINO TIEScomfil/images/pdf/2016/Filties-20163Q... ·...

July-September 2016 - Filipino Ties 1

A new legislative measure strengthening the Republic Act 6955 or the Anti- Mail Order Bride Act is enacted into law on July 21, 2016.

The Republic Act 10906 or An Act Providing Stronger Measures against Unlawful Practices, Businesses, and Schemes of Matching and Offering Filipinos to Foreign Nationals for Purposes of Marriage or Common Law Partnership widens the scope of RA 6955 which only covers Filipino women.

The new law mainly prohibits anybody engaging in any business or profitable schemes that match and/or offer Filipinos to foreign nationals for purposes of marriage or common law partnership through mail-order basis, personal introduction, email or websites in the internet. Other prohibited acts include exhibiting, printing, or distributing materials which promote the mail-order spouse industry; attracting or inducing any Filipino to join any club or association that

New Law Strengthens Anti-Mail Order Bride Efforts in PH

FILIPINO TIESTHE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF CFO www.cfo.gov.ph

THE COMEBACK ISSUE July-September 2016

In This Issue One-Stop Service Center for OFWs Opens3

COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS

Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Ave. corner Osmena Highway (South

Superhighway) Manila, Philippines 1007

TEL: (+632) 552-4700

EMAIL: [email protected]

Boundless Quest towards Filipino Diaspora Solidarity4

CFO Programs and Services6 CFO Conducts Community

Education Program in Zamboanga Del Sur and Del Norte

7 Filipino Children in Sabah Receive Educational Materials

8 24/7 Quality Counseling at the Tip of Your Finger

Special Features 10 The Pride of Guimaras

12 Adams and Ilyn: A Feature Story on Successful Migrant Returnee

https://www.senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%2010906.pdf


matches Filipinos to foreign nationals for a fee; and using postal service or websites on the internet in promoting this law’s prohibited acts.

The salient features of the new law are the inclusion of Filipino men against acts of matching for purposes of marriage or common law partnership to foreign nationals; matching through the use of internet; confiscation and forfeiture of proceeds and instruments derived from committing the prohibited acts in favor of the government; and provision on the formulation of an implementing rules and regulations.

It also imposes stiffer penalties on its violation. Any person found guilty of committing or cooperating in the prohibited acts shall suffer 15 years of imprisonment and shall pay a fine ranging from Php 500,000 to Php 1 million. If committed by a syndicate or committed on a larger scale, the offender shall suffer 20 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from Php 2 million to Php 5 million. To ensure the prevention, protection, and rehabilitation for victims of mail-order spouse scheme, this law mandates the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) to conduct programs such as constant monitoring and formulating of policies pertinent to the scheme, and the mandatory provision of temporary shelter, free legal assistance, case management, psychological support, and other intervention programs for the victims. Furthermore, the CFO is mandated under the new law to conduct pre-departure counseling services for Filipinos who have contracted marriages with foreign nationals, case studies and researches on intermarriage, and information campaigns against the unlawful acts and other similar schemes.

As a member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the CFO is tasked to safeguard Filipinos from schemes which promote human trafficking, slavery, and other forms of exploitation especially those in the guise of intermarriages. Thus, CFO persistently lobbied to the Congress for the passage of the law. In fact, most of CFO’s proposals for its then-enrolled bill have been incorporated in the law. These are:

1. Prohibiting of matching both Filipino men and women for marriage or common-law partnership to foreign nationals.

2. Declaring the operation of the mail-order spouse industry through the internet as unlawful.

3. Confiscation and forfeiture of proceeds and instruments from the mail-order spouse industry in favor of the government.

4. Mandatory recovery and rehabilitation services for the victims.

5. Provision on the formulation of an implementing rules and regulations, and; stiffer penalties on its violation.

The said law was mainly sponsored by former Senator Pia Cayetano and Representative Alfred Vargas III. During her sponsorship speech, Senator Cayetano pointed out that there is an undeniable existence of exploitation upon men and women hiding behind the intermarriage façade. This reality will now be confronted by the newly passed-law that will protect Filipinos against abuse, prostitution, and exploitation from schemes which offer Filipinos marriage to unscrupulous foreign nationals. The latest records of the CFO show that there is an annual average of more than 17,000 marriage migrants who leave the Philippines for the last three years. They are mostly bound to United States of America, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Canada.


One-Stop Service Center for OFWs Opens

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) launched a one-stop shop for OFWs on Monday, August 15, where all government frontline services are made accessible to Filipinos who are currently working or planning to work overseas.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said this is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to make it easier for OFWs to avail the services of the government.

Bello said the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO) is located at the ground floor of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s main office at Blas F. Ople Building in Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City.

He said the one-stop service center is seen to reduce transportation expenses of OFWs and shorten the processing time of their documents.

Aside from making available to OFWs information on their respective programs and services and responding to queries of clients, the various government offices’ services to OFWs are as follows:

1. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)• Passport Services• Passport Validity Extension for Balik-

Manggagawa (vacationing Workers)2. Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA)

• Processing of OWWA Membership/Renewal of Membership3. Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA)

• Assistance for Competency Assessment• Verification of Certificates and Special Order• Assistance for Replacement of National

Certificates (NC)/Certificates of Competency (COC)• Training Assistance and Scholarship Program

4. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)• Issuance of Professional License

5. Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)• Issuance/ Revalidation of Seaman’s Book

6. Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)• Processing of Pag-ibig Membership

7. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC)• Payment of Philhealth Contribution• Member registration and updating

8. Social Security System (SSS) Registration and Membership Data Amendment

• Acceptance of Loan and Benefits Claim Applications• Loan Verification and Status• UMID Capturing and Card Releasing• Response to Queries

9. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)• Processing and Copy Issuance of

o Certificate of Live Birtho Certificate of Marriageo Certificate of Deatho Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)

10. Bureau of Immigration (BI)• Departure Clearance Information

11. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)• Issuance of NBI Clearance

12. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)• Verification and Authentication of School Credentials

13. Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)

• Travel Tax Payment• Processing of Travel Tax Exemption and

Reduced Travel Tax• Response to Queries

14. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

• Documentation of Workers (Landbased and Seabased)• Documentation of Workers-On-Leave/Balik-

Manggagawa• Registration of Landbased Worker- Applicants• Verification/Certification of OFW Records• Provision of Legal Assistance• Response to Queries

One-Stop Service Center for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

(Photo courtesy of Michael Varcas)


Prior to IOM’s Director General Lacy Ludwig’s outlook in 2015 that “Migration remains a defining feature of the twenty-first century, and the way in which we approach it will have powerful implications for societies around the globe and for generations to come” overseas Filipinos has since been exhibiting a posture that is more than attributable to such point of view.

Filipinos have always had the tradition of being a dynamic community. Specifically in Europe, some of the turning points in this tradition started in 1991 when the Amsterdam-based Commission on Filipino Migrant Workers organized the first conference of Filipino migrants in Europe in Kerkrade, the Netherlands. 180 participants came from all over Europe. Thereafter, seven other sectoral conferences followed and were held, including the 1992 Women’s Conference that gave birth to Babaylan, the Filipino Women’s Network in Europe.

As the Filipinos continue to serve as role model for the rest of the Filipino communities around the world, after two decades, in 2012, the first regional conference of overseas Filipinos in Europe was held in Rome. The conference brought together 250 community leaders not only from Europe but also from the Middle East, Asia and North America. They were one in recognizing and highlighting the various engagements of overseas Filipinos in the motherland. Using the flagship program of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Diaspora to Dialogue (D2D) as its main thrust, the “Rome Declaration” was created. Delegate-signatories committed to network through their respective organizations to implement the “Declaration”. The conference served as the place of birth of the newly established European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD) with an initial 14-country representation.

Bello said one-stop centers will be set up also in all regions spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Offices in coordination with the regional offices of the agencies cited above, local government units, and other partners and stakeholders.

The OSSCO in Ortigas and the regional offices will be open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday, or in its discretion, with prior approval of the POEA or DOLE Regional Office, may extend the services during weekends and holidays.

The POEA has established a similar one-stop OFW processing center at its premises in 2003 as required by the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Workers (Part III, Rule III, Section 10).

Boundless Quest towards Filipino Diaspora Solidarity

source: www.dole.gov.ph

Members of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora

To date, ENFiD is a 20-country affiliate and has been an active international networking association anchored in the reality of migrant diversity and forward-look to subsequent generation and the integration of Filipinos in Europe. It is registered in Malta and cited in the EU Transparency Registry as a European Voluntary Organization. Its objectives are 1) to promote “nationhood” among Filipinos in Europe; 2) inculcate a strong sense of shared destiny and aspirations; and 3) act as catalyst in promoting resolutions to issues and problems among Filipinos in the region.

Keeping with the shared dream of Filipinos in Europe during the 3rd Global Summit of overseas Filipinos held in 2015 in Manila for “A strong Overseas Filipinos’ voice in Europe influencing good governance in


“You will never do anything in this world without courage.It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.”

the Philippines” the Second European Regional Conference of Overseas Filipinos was held in Malta in the same year. ENFiD in cooperation with the CFO organized the conference which was attended by Filipino diaspora delegates from 13 countries in Europe, with Filipino community leaders from the U.S. and Israel. Its theme “Ako ay Pilipino, Ganito Ako Ngayon, Paano Ako Bukas?” (I Am an Overseas Filipino, This is Me Now, Where Am I Tomorrow?) led to the assessment and definition as to what and who a “Euro-Pinoy” is – thus imbuing the Filipinos in Europe with competence and wherewithal to be an essential part of their respective host countries, without losing sight of their Filipino origin and heritage.

The two conferences once again demonstrated the indomitable spirit and resilience of overseas Filipinos while they are living or working away from the Motherland. These Filipino traits have helped them rise above the hurdles and difficulties of living away from the Philippines and likewise manifested their unparalleled enthusiasm and the spirit of “bayanihan” despite the hundred and one details the organizers have to contend with both in the preparations and conduct of the conference.

Inspiring commitment and honing organizational skills to continue what have been started from the three successful Global Summits of Filipinos in the Diaspora held in Manila in 2011, 2013 and in 2015 kept moreover other diaspora leaders in other parts of the world to be motivated in their pursuit of keeping the Filipino identity intact. They were all moved with the Summit’s core aim of highlighting the best practices of diaspora engagement towards achieving real, inclusive and sustainable development through their continuous initiative of gathering and linking together Filipinos in their respective regions.

Emboldened with the sweet fruits of the newly established ENFiD, the vibrancy of Filipinos in Europe have engulfed the huge populace of Filipinos in the Middle East and Africa. In 2015, the region’s diaspora group have been founded during the 3rd Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora in Manila organized by the CFO – the Middle East and Africa Network of Filipino Diaspora (MEANFiD). It is a non-profit and dynamic international networking association of Filipinos that aims to bring the Filipinos together in the region to promulgate the nationalistic sense of Filipino nationhood while they are away from the Philippines. Furthermore, it is envisaged to act as a catalyst in promoting resolutions to issues and concerns among Filipinos.

Presently, the leaders of MEANFiD have been very dexterous in introducing its concept and objectives to other countries in the Middle East with huge presence of overseas Filipinos. Today, these countries already joined MEANFiD and established their own chapters. Together with Qatar, these countries include, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Israel, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman and United Arab Emirates.

The awareness to the imminent impact towards the Philippine development of the Filipino populace to the Motherland led the CFO along with the MEANFiD with the holding of the first “Regional Summit of Filipinos in the Middle East and Africa” in February of 2016 in Dubai.

With the theme “Engaging Overseas Filipinos in the Philippines Development,” CFO tapped its public and private sector partners in order to strengthen the OF sector and enable them to make more significant contributions along with the government’s responsibility to minimize the social costs of migration, maximize its benefits and protect the rights of overseas Filipinos in every possible way.

Truly, Filipinos are faced with both positive and negative realities while pursuing for change or better lives for themselves and their families back home, the growing incidence of family reunification in major destination countries and their basic right to mobility. Their energy and incredible creativity to realize the common goal of continuously linking fellow Filipinos in different parts of the globe with the Motherland have been huge assistance to lessening the government’s humongous responsibility of safeguarding their welfare and rights while they are staying temporarily or permanently in their respective host countries. Towards achieving solidarity, the Commission remains committed in partnering with the Filipino diaspora and strengthening ties with overseas Filipino communities for they are the representation of Aristotle’s

Members of the Middle East and Africa of Filipino Diaspora


As part of its yearly Community Education Program (CEP) on migration, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) went to Pagadian and Molave in Zamboanga del Sur and Dapitan and Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte on 15 – 21 August 2016.

With this year’s theme, “Lakbay Alalay”, CEP aims to assist prospective migrants in making informed decisions regarding settlement abroad, as well as to generate community involvement in migration concerns. It also aims to raise public awareness on various issues such as: intermarriages illegal recruitment, documentation fraud, and human trafficking, among others.

Representatives from CFO conducted activities such as symposia and pulong-pulong / dialogues with the following:

1. (LGU) Pagadian, Molave and Dapitan;2. (Schools / institutions) J.H Cerilles State College, Zamboanga del Norte National High School, Ilaya National High School, Mindanao Auto and Technical Skills Training Center and Dipolog Institute of Technology;3. (Church) Saint James the Greater Parish Church;4. (NGO) Zamboanga Del Norte Federation of Parents Association;5. (PNP) Pagadian, Molave and Dapitan; and6. (Radio) Interview at DZXB Pagadian.

CFO discusses issues on migration like human trafficking during its Community Education Program

CFO Conducts Community Education Program in Zamboanga del Sur and del Norte

This 1-week information campaign benefitted and reached approximately 11, 000 residents and radio listeners from the two provinces.

(L-R) Symposium at JH Cerilles State College in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur and pulong – pulong with PNP officers in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte

(L-R) Pulong – pulong with the parishioners of Saint James the Greater Parish Church in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte and radio interview at DZXB in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur


As a continuation of its advocacy to support the literacy of Filipino children in Sabah, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) turned over educational materials to alternative learning centers (ALC) in Sabah on 27 and 28 June 2016. The ALCs are informal institutions that were established and being managed by the Filipino community in Sabah to provide a venue for undocumented Filipino children to have access to education.

In 2014, the CFO, Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Department of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ALCs that sealed the respective agencies’ commitment to continue providing assistance to the learning centers. For its part, the CFO endeavored to gather learning materials from private companies whose advocacy is to advance the functional literacy of children.

Three ALCs benefitted from this donation: the Stairway to Hope Learning Center (SHLC) in Kota Kinabalu, and the Learning Translation and Review Center (LTRC) and Vision of Hope Learning Center (VHLC) in Keningau.The donation was made possible by the generous efforts of C & E Publishing House, Sibs Publishing House, Phoenix Publishing, and La Salle Greenhills. Four hundred three learners received the educational materials.

The turnover was facilitated by Ms. Cherry Lou Duron and Mr. Erwin Paul Cristobal of the CFO in cooperation with Atty. Norren Joy Calip, Political Attaché of the PE KL and Atty. Charmaine Serna-Chua from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

Other ALCs are set to receive materials sourced out by the CFO in the next couple of months.

Filipino Children in Sabah Receive Educational Materials

Students of the Stairway to Hope Learning Center proudly show books they received from the Philippines

Learning Translation and Review Center

pupils immediately use donated materials


24/7 Quality Counseling at the Tip of Your FingerThe online application guarantees, “Quality counseling and coaching at your own space, your own corner, your own time right at the tip of your finger”.

According to the Stock Estimates of Overseas Filipinos for 2013, gathered by the CFO, an estimated 10.24 million overseas Filipinos live in more than 200 countries and territories across the globe. Of this, number, 48% are permanent migrants, 41% are overseas Filipino workers and 11% are irregular or undocumented migrants.

While crossing borders often offers the promise of better wages, more opportunities and higher quality of life, migrant Filipinos in foreign lands are faced with a new set of challenges such as culture shock, deskilling, difficulty with gaining employment, homesickness and overcoming language barriers.

Away from their families, migrants lose their social networks, peer circles or trueted support systems that typically provide company and guidance.

To successfully address the trials experienced by newly arrived migrants and provide support for their settlement abroad, the availability of social networks, support groups and establishing connections within their reach is of utmost importance.

“CFO-SIS” aims to provide accessible and convenient post arrival support services, in the form of online guidance and counseling, which the public and overseas Filipinos can avail of, even at the comforts of their own homes, at their own fingertips.

The web and mobile based service aims to assist newly arrived migrants while they face the psycho-social challenges associated to migration through free consultation and counseling offered by partner counseling experts from different sectors (academe, NGOs, diaspora, government, civil societies, among others). Counseling services will be available on a 24/7 basis through chat, e-mail calls and other mobile messaging application such as Viber, Facebook, and WhatsApp. All correspondences and information shared shall be kept confidential and private.

Apart from offering free consultations with registered counselors, CFO –SIS provides additional assistance to overseas Filipinos such as:

1. Settlement Information Engine with the theme, “Know more about your country”- It will serve as an information resource for migrants who need comprehensive information about their host country, up-to date immigration policies, permits, laws and citizenship.

2. Migrant Serving Organizations - “To find Filipino Communities in their area”-On-line referral services to appropriate migrant serving organizations.

3. Assistance-to-National Program- “To report a case or a concern” – it is for Filipino in distress

and are facing migration and legal issues such as human trafficking, domestic violence, mail order spouse, illegal recruitment, fraud, among others.

4. Volunteer and be part of the community - “Chance to join the cause” – a volunteering avenue for registered counselors, counseling professionals or care providers from different sectors (academe, NGOs, diaspora, government, civil societies, among other) to service migrants and encourage volunteerism.


As a domestic worker in Hongkong, Rebecca had varied experiences with the employers she worked with. She only lasted six months with her first employer because Rebecca felt that her rights were violated when her passport was confiscated. Standing up for her rights, Rebecca reported this to the authorities and she eventually won her case. She then decided to end her work contract with her first employer.

This proved to be a smart decision for Rebecca. She was next employed by an Australian – British family where she stayed on until she decided to return to the Philippines. Her background as a teacher proved to be valuable to her employer, as she was able to tutor the children as well. Rebecca also found herself travelling with the family during trips to Australia and Britain. This went on for six years until the family decided to return to Australia for good. Rebecca saw this as an opportunity to also return home good to the Philippines, despite the difficult circumstance she was facing. At the time of her return, she was pregnant with her only child.

This situation did not deter Rebecca from working hard to provide for the needs of her child. She went back to Guimaras where she found work as a manager of a small oil-mill cooperative.

Being back home gave Rebecca the opportunity to not only find work, but also to find love. She got married to her former flame, gave birth to another child, and decided to focus on her family for a time.

Life was far from easy for Rebecca Castro – Tubongbanua. The eldest among five siblings, she found it difficult to support her family with the meager salary she was receiving as a Physics, Math and Chemistry teacher in the Philippines. This led Rebecca to seek overseas employment where she ended up working as a domestic worker in Hongkong from 1985 - 1992.

The Pride of Guimaras

Guimaras is home to the world’s sweetest and

most delicious mangoes

photo courtesy of: wesvarrdec.blogspot.com

photo courtesy of: Mr. Leeds

flickr.com/photos/tzf093/5712349526


Rebecca eventually found work again as Production Manager at the Guimaras Bottlers, Inc., makers of Guimaras Natural Spring Water. With her experience as a Production Manager, and her educational background as a BS Chemistry graduate, Rebecca tried out her hand in entrepreneurship – producing calamansi concentrate for commercial distribution.

Rebecca went full-time into her enterprise in 2003. With Php7,000 capital, and making use of her sister-in-law’s unoccupied house as processing area, Rebecca started the family business “McNester” food products. While Rebecca initially singlehandedly ran McNester, the growth of her enterprise allowed her to employ more workers. Her product line also expanded. Aside from her calamansi concentrate and jelly, McNester now produces a range of products from mangoes which were deemed not of export quality such as sauce, ketchup, concentrate and jam. McNester products also include green mango pickles, mango chutney, flavored polvoron, mango-squash spread, pineapple ketchup and marmalade.

Rebecca also innovates. She has introduced mango pizza and spaghetti with mango sauce as part of ways to make us of McNester food products, which are now sold not only in the Province of Guimaras but in Iloilo City as well.

McNester practices zero waste in the production of their products, social responsibility in helping source out raw materials, and in supporting a feeding program for local pre-schoolers for nearly a third of the year.

Along the way to firmly establishing and expanding McNester food products, Rebecca found assistance and support from the Department of Trade and Industry, allowing her to break through the international market such as South Korea. McNester also got the support of the Department of Science and Technology in improving product quality.

Rebecca credits her experience as a migrant worker in enabling her to properly manage her time for her enterprise. She also credits her passion, perseverance and innovation and the support of her husband for the success of McNester food products. In 2015, Rebecca and her family became the proud recipients of the National Model OFW Family of the Year Award.

Despite having limited capital to start out with, this never became an issue for Rebecca. She is a firm believer in growing your business, even if you start out with a small capital. Her dream is for McNester to transition from being a small to a medium enterprise.

Rebecca takes pride in helping her community and enabling her employees to improve their economic condition in life. Rebecca has metamorphosed from a migrant worker to a successful entrepreneur. Truly, Rebecca has become the pride of Guimaras.

Mango Ketchup

photo courtesy of: MagTV na Amiga


Ilyn sells locally made Bugnay wine at her homestay

Adams and Ilyn: A feature Story on Successful Migrant ReturneeBeyond the windmills of Bangui, creamy white-sand beaches of Pagudpud, and the UNESCO-world heritage site Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte has a secret little paradise not everybody knows about – Adams.

Known as the last frontier of Ilocandia, Adams boasts of its breathtaking sunrise and picturesque sceneries of mountains, rice paddies, and waterfalls, reminiscent of the story of Garden of Eden in the Bible. That is why the place was named Adams, in reference to the first man created by God.

Those who want to stay a night or two to explore the amazing natural wonders of Adams could stay at Ilyn’s Homeyplace & Fudhaws, a beautiful homestay with native cottages by the pond, overlooking a river and mountains. Definitely, a serene and romantic place to stay in Adams.

The food they serve at Ilyn’s such as fish (tilapia), brown rice and different types of vegetables are mainly sourced from the pond and the farm around Adams.

The homestay is owned by Ilyn Ternate-Chen, a former OFW from Taiwan. Ily’n story is similar to the story of millions of OFWs who left home in search of better opportunities in a foreign land so they could provide a better and brighter future for their loved ones.

Ilyn was born in Adams, coming from the tribe of Kankana-ay. She was the eldest child to a family of seven children. Being the eldest, she was aware of the responsibility that she will have to bear for her family. She studied at Northern Christian College in Laoag and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Aside from being a scholar, she also worked part-time at her college’s library to further support her education during the time that she was studying.

Ilyn first worked at the Treasury department of the local government unit in her hometown. Unfortunately, her salary was not enough to support the needs of her family. With the hope that a job in another country would lift her family out of poverty, she decided to pack her bags, and try her luck overseas to work as an OFW in a factory in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2008.

Ilyn was hardworking and dependable and she was often praised by her boss for her impeccable work ethics. But she was very attached to her family and to her hometown, so homesickness was always a struggle. Her stay in Taiwan,


however, only lasted for four years. Little did she know that after coming back to Adams, an unexpected surprise arrived at her doorstep - her Taiwanese supervisor followed her to Adams and confessed his love for her. According to Ilyn, they did not undergo the traditional courting stage of a relationship. Their love for each other, like the homestay they now own, started out slow and grew steadily as they learned more about each other. Though marrying someone requires careful and deliberate thinking, she eventually said yes. The time they spent together as colleagues in Taiwan was enough for her to see how hardworking and trustworthy Mr. Chen is.

After their marriage, her husband chose to stay for good in Adams.

With both their savings, they decided to open up their home to visitors and tourists in 2012. It started out with only one room, but now it has grown to five cottages. According to Ilyn, she did not intend to expand their homestay and fully manage it as a business. Actually, she only wanted a simple life for her family,

where they could raise poultry and fish and sell them as their source of income. But the positive feedback that she constantly got from her guests, encouraged her to develop the place just enough that it still feels homey and personal.

Ilyn’s Homeplace & Fudhaws is a testament of the couple’s love, and the tangible result of their industry. Ilyn is currently living happily with her husband and their only son, in a place she considers home. She continues to welcome and serve guests, both Filipinos and foreigners, who come to her Homestay to relax and get away from the stress, and hustle and bustle of the city. Her hard work and dedication as an OFW helped her succeed even with only a few years of working abroad.

Ilyn’s inspirational story proves that an OFW need not stay for more than a decade or longer overseas, for them to be self-sufficient and successful in life. She learned that saving and investing for the future, are the key to a successful reintegration back to the local community. Ilyn is not living a luxurious life, but she is happy and content having a simple and quiet life with her family in the paradise that is Adams.

Ilyn native cottages beside the fish pond and overlooking the mountains

Editors:Maria Regina Angela G. Galias

Rodrigo Garcia

Contributors:Marita ApattadIvy Miravalles

Frencel Louie TinggaMichael Apattad

Andrea Luisa AnolinPatricia Salvador

Ralph Rafael CelinoJoanna Rodriguez

Janet RamosCamille Lacaba

Alexine Abangcola

Layout:Brian Milante


Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL)The unprecedented movement of Filipinos across national boundaries in the last several decades has led to a vision of a global community of more than ten (10) million people with a collective strength that can fuel Philippine economic development. While they have found gainful employment and even acquired permanent residency or citizenship in their host countries, overseas Filipinos have an abiding interest in the future of the Philippines. They remain deeply involved and maintain close ties by engaging in philanthropic undertakings and socio-cultural programs reflective of their continued concern for the motherland.

Inspired by the promise of this vision, the CFO designed the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino or LINKAPIL Program in 1989, which has resulted to the forging of broader and deeper partnerships among Filipinos beyond borders. As a vehicle of service to fellow Filipinos, the LINKAPIL provides a mechanism for the transfer of various forms of resources from Filipinos overseas to support small-scale, high-impact projects that address the country’s social and economic development needs.

Summary of Donations Referred Through

LINKAPIL

(1990-2014)

Source: Commission on Filipinos Overseas, 2014

In line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), this philanthropic diaspora initiative supports projects that address the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and environmental sustainability.

In 2014, P240.53 million worth of donations was channeled through the LINKAPIL Program helping 237,051 beneficiaries from 39 provinces, including Metro Manila.

For the 1st semester of 2015, a total of P53.8 million worth of assistance was coursed through the LINKAPIL, benefitting at least 35, 000 individuals from 15 provinces, including the National Capital Region.


1343 Actionline Against Human Trafficking

On July 2014, the 1343 Actionline has launched its FREE mobile application for Android and IOS.

To make the government services more accessible to the public, the IACAT through its ADVOCOM launched the 1343 Actionline Against Human Trafficking on 15 March 2011. It is a 24/7 hotline facility that responds to emergency or crisis calls from victims of human trafficking and their families. The 1343 Actionline likewise provides a venue for the public to be engaged in the fight against trafficking in persons. Its creation is also in line with the core message of the IACAT which is, Laban kontra Human Trafficking, Laban nating Lahat.

As an expansion of the service of the 1343 Actionline, accessibility through text messaging/short messaging services (SMS), on-line through e-mail and its official website www.1343actionline.ph, social media networks, mobile applications and international hotlines were developed as alternative reporting vehicles.

On July 2014, the 1343 Actionline has launched its FREE mobile application for Android and IOS mobile phone users. There were 76 actual cases reported thru the 1343 Actionline. 33 are directly related to human trafficking, 14 are illegal recruitment, 1 mail order bride and 28 are linked to domestic violence, passport irregularities, and reports of missing persons.

To further improve its institutional and human capacities to fight trafficking in persons, CFO undertook the following activities and initiatives:

• Regular attendance and active participation at meetings of IACAT

• Close monitoring of laws, regulations, institutions and mechanisms which support and complement the government’s fight against human trafficking.

• Maintenance of close working relationships with international organizations and civil society organizations, including Filipino associations and organizations abroad to intensify information awareness to combat human trafficking.


The BaLinkBayan is the Overseas Filipinos’ (OFs) one-stop online portal for diaspora engagement, offering an integrated and unique platform to re-engage with the Philippines through the D2D (Diaspora to Development) program of the Commission on Filipinos overseas with the support and help of several government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Health (DOH), Land Registration Authority (LRA) and National Youth Commission (NYC), National Poverty Commission (NPC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Examples of the D2D programs that are part of the portal are: diaspora philanthropy, medical mission coordination, doing business in the Philippines, tourism initiatives and investment for overseas Filipinos.

A locally-funded national E-Government Project, the term BaLinkBayan is a play on the Filipino words balikbayan (returning migrant), balik (return), bayan (country) and the English word “Link,” that refers to the world wide web. As a portal for diaspora engagement, it seeks to bring together 10.24 million Filipinos in the diaspora into an integrated and comprehensive platform that taps into their knowledge, expertise, skills, networks, material and financial resources to contribute to the development of the Philippines.

BaLinkBayan works at two levels; first, it links OFs to development oriented diaspora initiatives in the Philippines and second, it provides options for business and investment opportunities both at the national level and at their respective hometowns. The latter would link, among others, to automated transactional processes at the LGU level. Thus, from 2014 to the third quarter of 2016, the BaLinkBayan has established localized BaLinkBayan portals for the local governments of the Provinces of Ilocos Norte and Sorsogon, and the cities of Bacoor, Naga, Legazpi, Tabaco, Ligao, Masbate, Sorsogon, Carmona, and Cagayan de Oro. The local sites of Quezon City, Antique, San Jose de Buenavista and Iloilo City are also being constructed.

BaLinkBayan

www.balinkbayan.gov.ph


The “Virtual Sentro Rizal 2nd Edition” is a project of the CFO that brings the traditional mode of appreciating Filipino heritage into the digital age. It is a portable, multi-lingual collection of selected Filipiniana references in DVD format which were culled from the library collection of the National Commission for Culture & the Arts with additional materials sourced from cooperating producers and publishers.

This initiative is in compliance with Section XII of Republic Act No. 10066 – the National Cultural Heritage Law (2009) – which calls for the institutionalization of Sentro Rizal/s to serve as physical venues for the promotion of Philippine history, language, arts and culture in areas with significant numbers of overseas Filipinos. While the virtual nature of the collection allows cultural dissemination beyond borders and is purposely designed to appeal to the tech-savvy generation, this compilation is a modest attempt to introduce the Philippines via distance learning to Filipino and as well as foreign audiences.

The translation of the texts into Filipino, Ilocano, Sebwano, Bicol, Mëranaw, and Spanish provides a teaching/learning tool for culture educators that also promotes the use of the Filipino language and the development of the Mother Tongue-Based Multi-Lingual Education program. The translation of the texts of the “Virtual Sentro Rizal 2nd Edition” into Spanish was piloted to address the importance of cross-cultural understanding by making Philippine culture accessible to foreigners and especially to the growing number of transnational diaspora youth born to Filipino marriage migrants worldwide.

The 2nd Edition package also includes the multi-lingual Users’ Manual in printed format, the promotional Audio-Visual Presentation and the sample Lesson Plans.

Virtual Sentro Rizal

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