"President Rodrigo Duterte named Adnan Alonto as the new ambassador to Saudi Arabia.  The President submitted Alonto's nomination along with the other new ambassadors to the Commission on Appointments (CA).  Attorney Adnan Alonto made waves before when he defended President Duterte during the rising issue of  US-based anti-Duterte critics regarding President Duterte's remark on former President Obama.   Alonto also said that The Philippine President did not actually cursed Obama and that the media is only focused on Duterte's choice of words instead of what is really being said.President Duterte is known to speak his mind freely and Alonto reminds the people that it is because of his honesty is why he is so trusted by the Filipino people and the other leaders globally.     Alonto is the overall North America coordinator for the Brotherhood for Duterte USA. A lawyer based in the U.S. and a proud supporter of the president.  Among other appointees includes former journalist Teodoro Locsin Jr. as representative to the UN in New York, Jose Santiago to China and former Air Force officer Eduardo Kapunan Jr. to Myanmar, Joseph Yap as ambassador to Singapore along with the reappointments of Bernardina Catalla and Wilfredo Santos as ambassadors to Lebanon and Iran, respectively.  Another political appointee for Brunei turned down a reappointment after getting embarrassed in a CA hearing for not knowing how many Filipinos are there in the sultanate and what were their concerns.   Sen. Franklin Drilon has urged the President to appoint more career officers.  Also submitted to the CA were the reappointments of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial and Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, which have been bypassed several times due to problems with other CA members.  Duterte has promised to retain all of them unless the CA rejects their appointments. Source: PhilStar Recommended: KumpaS OFW (Kumpulan ng Pangulo Sa mga Filipinos Worldwide) is a compilation of OFW stories, success and failure likewise,  gathered by the Presidential Communications Office to show the real situations of the OFWs working outside the country.  All video clips belong to the Presidential Communications Office. Watch and be inspired. Story #1   This video is the story of an OFW in Saudi Arabia. A former household service workers who strived to succeed and became a successful business woman. She worked as a beautician and eventually put up her own recruitment firm. She devoted herself to helping distressed household workers without expecting anything in return. Fatima Ibrahim is a living example that life may be unforgiving at times but there's always light at the end of the tunnel.  Story #2  Valenardo Haduca, an electronics instructor in Bahrain relates his experience being a teacher in an unfamiliar territory with far different culture. How he needed more patience in dealing with his students. OFWs, more than others develop more patience while working abroad. It is a vital virtue every OFW should have in dealing with other nationalities at any given country.   Story #3  Rosielyn Dela Rita found her refuge at Bahay-Kalinga, a shelter for abused OFW women, (a counterpart of Esteraha for OFW men). Rosielyn was among the OFWs who availed the amnesty and had been repatriated with the help of Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Saudi Arabia.  Story #4  For Randy Ayuste, the path to success was never easy. Before he became a successful graphic/visual artist in Bahrain, he experienced how to be swindled and underpaid. He said that however successful an OFW may be in whatever field you have abroad, it will never be called a success because your family longs for your presence back home.    Story #5  For John Bituin, a DJ in Bahrain, being an OFW is a life of challenges. From being a newbie DJ who hardly earns P20 in the Philippines. He has given a chance to work in Bahrain, from being a DJ to a successful entertainment business owner who brings Filipino bands and talents to Bahrain.    RECOMMENDED: At this age where children love to stay on the couch holding their tablets and mobile phones, an elementary student chooses to be active in school and swimming which made him the ""heaviest"" elementary graduate on earth.   A student in Mabalacat, Pampanga raked 58 medals from academic and different fields. On his Facebook post, he said that this time it's heavier compared to the medals he got last year. Joshua Santiago, 12, graduated in Elementary at Mabiga Mabalacat Elementary School in Mabalacat Pampanga earlier this month. His video post with over a million views as of this writing  shows how many medals he got. Most of his medals are from the swimming competitions where he joined and won including a chance to participate at the Palarong pambansa.  His dedication and determination paid off as he graduated. This little guy inspired everyone around him especially his teammates and classmates. To collect more than 10 medals   would be enough but for him it was unbelievable.    In a facebook status, his mother made a clarification that those 58 medals was from his being an excellent swimmer and from his academic excellence. He was also awarded as ""Athlete of the Year"".    Recommended:  A cleaner in Saudi Arabia was mocked on social media after a photo of him looking at jewelry went viral. The Department of Health expressed concern  over possible mental illness among the young people due to the alarming amount of time they spend on social media.  According to DOH spokesman, Eric Tayag, while social media is a way to connect to other people, it also has adverse effects.  Tayag also said that most juveniles that are fond of social media are also involved in bullying, angst and depression.  Bullying and depression can start with issues about love, relationship with the same sex, unplanned pregnancy, problems at school, at home and health problems.  Common symptoms that a person is experiencing depression is that  they do not do daily activities normally like taking a bath, skipping meals, always sad and not engaging in conversations.   {INSERT 2-3 PARAGRAPHS HERE} {INSERT ANOTHER 5 {INSERT 2-3 PARAGRAPH   The severe depression that burdened the young people through social media results to bullying. even social media creates a connection, people with mental health issues perceive it differently.  DOH step is a response to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that from 2005 to 2015, the number of people who suffer depression that leads to committing suicide has increased to 18%.  WHO celebrated  World health Day that focused on how to cure depression problems. It can be cured by means of counselling.  In 2005, 280 million people suffered from depression and has increased to 332 Million in 2015. This is a serious threat to all the young people around the world including the Filipino youth.  In the records of the DOH HOPE Line, they have received 3,479 depression  related phone calls in 2016. Most number of calls are recorded on November and December last year and on February this year.  Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said that the DOH has allocated P100 million funds to address the said problem in mental illness . Source: Philstar Recommended: Facebook has been a part of everyday life for many. From here they can be aware of what's currently happening around them, get in touch with old friends, some even sell things and make a living. Social media platforms like facebook provides useful informations from simple shoutouts and statuses to relevant news and current events. But lately, a lot of false news has invaded the social media spreading false and malicious posts. A lot of them is just a click bait which redirects you to a site full of ads. Some money-making maniacs are taking advantage of the popularity of social media sites making it difficult for the netizens to spot a legitimate posts from a fake one.    A wife of an OFW asked OWWA about what sort of  business she can start as a spouse of an OFW who is an active member. Samantha Natividad  said that her husband is an OFW for a long time and she wants to start a business to help her husband as their children are growing up as well as their expenses. As a helpful information for other OFW spouses  who also want to help  their OFW partners, we made this info graphics regarding this topic.  Does OWWA have an existing program for OFWs who want to start their own business? Yes. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has  two existing programs under the reintegration program  for those who want to start their own business.  What are those? In the first program, OWWA can give a 'grant' for OFW spouses who want to start even a small scale business. How much is the amount of funds OWWA can provide under this program? The fund that can be granted under this program depends on what kind of business they want to start. However, the maximum amount is only P20,000.   What is the other program? The other program is called a 'special loan program'. this loan program is through partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines.  How much can an OFW spouse can avail on this program? OFWs and their spouses can avail a loan amounting from P300,000 up to P2,000,000.  How much should be the net income of an OFW to avail of this loan? For an OFW to avail of this loan, he/she must be earning a net monthly income of at least P10,000 to avail the loan amount of P3,000 up to P2 Million.    How much will be the interest rate? The loan will have an interest rate of 7.5% annually.  What will be the mode/frequency of payment? Depending on project's cash flow, the OFW can pay it on monthly, quarterly or annual basis.  Where  should the OFW wife/husband apply to avail these programs? They can apply at any OWWA Regional Welfare Office (ORW) nearest to them.  What are the eligibility requirements  for the  OFW to be qualified to avail? 1. The OFW must be an active OWWA member.  2. OFW husband/wife who want to avail must have completed the Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) conducted by NRCO and OWWA ORWsin cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry/Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC)/ Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED).  3. They must provide 20% equity.  4. The project or business must generate a net income of at least P10,000 for the OFW.  For details and information regarding these program, you can contact OWWA Regional Offices in your area.  *These information is based on the answer provided by OWWA Deputy Administrator Josefino Torres. Source: BanderaInquirer.net   Recommended:     2017 Top 10 IDEAS for OFWs to Invest  A Filipina based in Waikato, New Zealand has now been sentenced to 11 months and  2 weeks of house arrest after she was convicted for 284 immigration fraud charges involving her visa scam back in October 2015. A 180 hour community service also comes with the sentence. Loraine Anne Jayme, 35, a resident of Te Aroha, Waikato has a dual citizenship. For every OFW who wish to come to New Zealand, she charges $2,250 each. It took some time for the scam to be uncovered because Immigration New Zealand (INZ) didn't initially realise a large portion of the workers were processing their application through the alleged ringleader.   However, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said that more than a thousand Filipinos who might have entered the country illegally  using fake visas could stay.  Mr. Woodland said that they could stay to avoid potential damage to the dairy industry and the rebuilding of Christchurch. There are 38,000  OFWs working on dairy farms in New Zealand and they are living with pretty good reputation with regards to their work ethics and they are worried about what it could mean to them.  ""We're law abiding people. We like to see the law of our land upheld and proper process done,"" Mr Lewis said.   ""So yeah, I have to give credit to Immigration New Zealand for doing it and hopefully they'll be back on deck next week processing them within their required rules,"" he added. The authorities are now auditing farms around the Waikato, Canterbury and Southland. Source: TVNZ, NewsHub, Inquirer RECOMMENDED:  The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.     The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices.     ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.    The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices.     ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS  2017 Top 10 IDEAS for OFWs to Invest  A Filipina based in Waikato, New Zealand has now been sentenced to 11 months and  2 weeks of house arrest after she was convicted for 284 immigration fraud charges involving her visa scam back in October 2015. A 180 hour community service also comes with the sentence. Loraine Anne Jayme, 35, a resident of Te Aroha, Waikato has a dual citizenship. For every OFW who wish to come to New Zealand, she charges $2,250 each. It took some time for the scam to be uncovered because Immigration New Zealand (INZ) didn't initially realise a large portion of the workers were processing their application through the alleged ringleader.   However, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said that more than a thousand Filipinos who might have entered the country illegally  using fake visas could stay.  Mr. Woodland said that they could stay to avoid potential damage to the dairy industry and the rebuilding of Christchurch. There are 38,000  OFWs working on dairy farms in New Zealand and they are living with pretty good reputation with regards to their work ethics and they are worried about what it could mean to them.  ""We're law abiding people. We like to see the law of our land upheld and proper process done,"" Mr Lewis said.   ""So yeah, I have to give credit to Immigration New Zealand for doing it and hopefully they'll be back on deck next week processing them within their required rules,"" he added. The authorities are now auditing farms around the Waikato, Canterbury and Southland. Source: TVNZ, NewsHub, Inquirer RECOMMENDED:  The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.     The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices.     ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.   The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices.  ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLISFacebook has been a part of everyday life for many. From here they can be aware of what's currently happening around them, get in touch with old friends, some even sell things and make a living. Social media platforms like facebook provides useful informations from simple shoutouts and statuses to relevant news and current events. But lately, a lot of false news has invaded the social media spreading false and malicious posts. A lot of them is just a click bait which redirects you to a site full of ads. Some money-making maniacs are taking advantage of the popularity of social media sites making it difficult for the netizens to spot a legitimate posts from a fake one.    A wife of an OFW asked OWWA about what sort of  business she can start as a spouse of an OFW who is an active member. Samantha Natividad  said that her husband is an OFW for a long time and she wants to start a business to help her husband as their children are growing up as well as their expenses. As a helpful information for other OFW spouses  who also want to help  their OFW partners, we made this info graphics regarding this topic.  Does OWWA have an existing program for OFWs who want to start their own business? Yes. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has  two existing programs under the reintegration program  for those who want to start their own business.  What are those? In the first program, OWWA can give a 'grant' for OFW spouses who want to start even a small scale business. How much is the amount of funds OWWA can provide under this program? The fund that can be granted under this program depends on what kind of business they want to start. However, the maximum amount is only P20,000.   What is the other program? The other program is called a 'special loan program'. this loan program is through partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines.  How much can an OFW spouse can avail on this program? OFWs and their spouses can avail a loan amounting from P300,000 up to P2,000,000.  How much should be the net income of an OFW to avail of this loan? For an OFW to avail of this loan, he/she must be earning a net monthly income of at least P10,000 to avail the loan amount of P3,000 up to P2 Million.    How much will be the interest rate? The loan will have an interest rate of 7.5% annually.  What will be the mode/frequency of payment? Depending on project's cash flow, the OFW can pay it on monthly, quarterly or annual basis.  Where  should the OFW wife/husband apply to avail these programs? They can apply at any OWWA Regional Welfare Office (ORW) nearest to them.  What are the eligibility requirements  for the  OFW to be qualified to avail? 1. The OFW must be an active OWWA member.  2. OFW husband/wife who want to avail must have completed the Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) conducted by NRCO and OWWA ORWsin cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry/Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC)/ Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED).  3. They must provide 20% equity.  4. The project or business must generate a net income of at least P10,000 for the OFW.  For details and information regarding these program, you can contact OWWA Regional Offices in your area.  *These information is based on the answer provided by OWWA Deputy Administrator Josefino Torres. Source: BanderaInquirer.net   Recommended:     2017 Top 10 IDEAS for OFWs to Invest  A Filipina based in Waikato, New Zealand has now been sentenced to 11 months and  2 weeks of house arrest after she was convicted for 284 immigration fraud charges involving her visa scam back in October 2015. A 180 hour community service also comes with the sentence. Loraine Anne Jayme, 35, a resident of Te Aroha, Waikato has a dual citizenship. For every OFW who wish to come to New Zealand, she charges $2,250 each. It took some time for the scam to be uncovered because Immigration New Zealand (INZ) didn't initially realise a large portion of the workers were processing their application through the alleged ringleader.   However, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said that more than a thousand Filipinos who might have entered the country illegally  using fake visas could stay.  Mr. Woodland said that they could stay to avoid potential damage to the dairy industry and the rebuilding of Christchurch. There are 38,000  OFWs working on dairy farms in New Zealand and they are living with pretty good reputation with regards to their work ethics and they are worried about what it could mean to them.  ""We're law abiding people. We like to see the law of our land upheld and proper process done,"" Mr Lewis said.   ""So yeah, I have to give credit to Immigration New Zealand for doing it and hopefully they'll be back on deck next week processing them within their required rules,"" he added. The authorities are now auditing farms around the Waikato, Canterbury and Southland. Source: TVNZ, NewsHub, Inquirer RECOMMENDED:  The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.     The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices.     ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.    The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices.     ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS  2017 Top 10 IDEAS for OFWs to Invest  A Filipina based in Waikato, New Zealand has now been sentenced to 11 months and  2 weeks of house arrest after she was convicted for 284 immigration fraud charges involving her visa scam back in October 2015. A 180 hour community service also comes with the sentence. Loraine Anne Jayme, 35, a resident of Te Aroha, Waikato has a dual citizenship. For every OFW who wish to come to New Zealand, she charges $2,250 each. It took some time for the scam to be uncovered because Immigration New Zealand (INZ) didn't initially realise a large portion of the workers were processing their application through the alleged ringleader.   However, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said that more than a thousand Filipinos who might have entered the country illegally  using fake visas could stay.  Mr. Woodland said that they could stay to avoid potential damage to the dairy industry and the rebuilding of Christchurch. There are 38,000  OFWs working on dairy farms in New Zealand and they are living with pretty good reputation with regards to their work ethics and they are worried about what it could mean to them.  ""We're law abiding people. We like to see the law of our land upheld and proper process done,"" Mr Lewis said.   ""So yeah, I have to give credit to Immigration New Zealand for doing it and hopefully they'll be back on deck next week processing them within their required rules,"" he added. The authorities are now auditing farms around the Waikato, Canterbury and Southland. Source: TVNZ, NewsHub, Inquirer RECOMMENDED:  The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.     The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices.     ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The mother of a 12-year old girl who mysteriously died while on her father's care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sought the help of the Philippine government, particularly on the Presidential Action Center to help her forward the case to the DFA to allow the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah  to transmit the autopsy report conducted on her daughter.Bliss Mendoza, an OFW in Canada was working in Jeddah as a nurse together with her husband and daughter ""Tipay"" before she worked in Canada and left her daughter with her husband's care in Jeddah.   The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. A student in Mabalacat, Pampanga raked 58 medals from academic and different fields. On his Facebook post, he said that this time it's heavier compared to the medals he got last year.Joshua Santiago, 12, graduated in Elementary at Mabiga Mabalacat Elementary School in Mabalacat Pampanga earlier this month. His video post with over a million views as of this writing  shows how many medals he got. Most of his medals are from the swimming competitions where he joined and won including a chance to participate at the Palarong pambansa. After occupying government housing project in Pandi Bulacan that has been eventually given to them by NHA, Kadamay members has a new demand on President Duterte. They want free electricity and water supply. In an hour long protest they made infront of Pandi Municipal Hall in Bulacan, some 300 members of Kadamay  wishes that their demand would be heard by the government. After acquiring the houses they illegally occupied, they demanded that electricity and water supply has to be provided by the government for free.   And it just doesn't end there, there's more. Kadamay also demanded that the government must provide them with jobs and livelihood with high income.  Kabataan party list  Rep. Sarah Elago and Anakpawis party list Representative Ariel Casilao, the plight of Kadamay does not only end on occupying government housing projects.  Casilao said that Kadamay members has no jobs and it is government's responsibility to give them adequate livelihood or jobs.  Meanwhile, Kadamay leader admitted that she has  far different status in life  compared to her members. In an interview with Sheryl Cosim on News 5, Marissa Palomeno, admitted that she has two children who are both engineers and another child who is a financial analyst in Canada. Palomeno said even though she is far well-off  as compared to her members, she does not forget where she came from and that is the common thing  that makes her cling with the poor. Recommended: DOLE To Hold A Job And Business/Livelihood Fair On Labor Day    ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS Meanwhile, Kadamay leader admitted that she has  far different status in life  compared to her members. In an interview with Sheryl Cosim on News 5, Marissa Palomeno, admitted that she has two children who are both engineers and another child who is a financial analyst in Canada. Palomeno said even though she is far well-off  as compared to her members, she does not forget where she came from and that is the common thing  that makes her cling with the poor.*Update: Due to the reports that Kadamay demands free water and electricity from the government, the group has shifted gears and released a public clarification that they only demand direct installation of water and electricity service.   There has always been a debate if  oarfishes can really predict earthquakes before it even happens.  But whether it is a coincidence or they have a supernatural power or ability to foresee or feel the coming earthquake, the bottom line is that every needs to be cautious and ready should any emergency or anything of that sort happens.  There was also sightings of the mysterious oarfish before the recent  earthquakes that happened in Mindanao, particularly in Surigao City that destroyed their airport just earlier this year.  Dr. Rachel Grant , a researcher in animal biology who study the possibility of detecting earthquakes using animal behavior said that the 'myth' about the oarfish being able to sense the forthcoming earthquake could be possible.    However, another scientist by the name of Catherine Dukes said:  ""The question is, can we detect it in the environment?"" And can animals detect a sudden rise in atmospheric ozone? None of these hypotheses, however, is ready to be developed into an animal-based, early-warning system for earth tremors.""  Recent Sightings  On April 17, a huge oarfish was seen Purok Kiblis in Barangay Lomuyon, Saranggani Province at around 4:30 a.m. but later died and washed ashore. Later that day a 4.1 magnitude earthquake, tectonic in origin with a depth of 222 kilometers shook the province with the epicenter recorded at 299 kilometers east of Sarangani. It was just an hour after a magnitude 4.4 with a depth of only 5 kilometers was felt in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte at 7:28am according to the earthquake bulletin from PAG-ASA . Roughly 3 hours after the oarfish sighting in Sarangani, an earthquake followed.   PHIVOLCS continues to warn everyone about the possibility of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that could affect Metro Manila and nearby provinces such as Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Pampanga and others as the result of the West Valley Fault Movement dubbed as ""the Big One"". They said that if the people will not be prepared, it could affect 48,000 lives in one hit.  According to PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum, this estimate is made to make people aware that the problem is really big and many people could be injured or worse, die, if we are not prepared. He stressed out that the structural integrity of the buildings and houses in these areas could determine the extent of the effect should such 7.2 magnitude earthquake happened. He said that it is time that we make sure that we should carefully consider to consult building professionals when planning to build a domicile that is earthquake proof making its residence safe.  Solidum also reiterated the importance of having an earthquake drill. Determining what to do and where will be the safest place the family should go.  Every family should also prepare a ""go bag"" or a backpack containing important documents, food, medicine, and other survival items that could last for at least 72 hours.   The ""Big One"" is not a joke. Everyone should be prepared. Though we pray that it would never happen, readiness must be strictly considered to make or family and ourselves safe.  RECOMMENDED:  Earthquake drill or ""shake drill"" will be conducted in different parts of the country and that includes even the barangays to ensure the readiness and preparedness of every citizen should a huge earthquake such as the so called ""the big one"" would occur. This has been confirmed by MMDA Acting Chairman Tim Orbos and said to be taking place on July – the third drill being conducted on a large scale following a similar one last year. According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, earthquake drills should be done not only in Metro Manila but needed to be expanded in other areas such as Laguna , Bulacan , and Cavite. MMDA's Orbos and PHIVOLC's Solidum presided a meeting earlier this month with the Metro Manila Disaster Response Cluster with regards to the series of earthquakes that occurred in several areas in the past weeks. Solidum urged people to refrain from being affected by rumors that circulate especially on social media, as these simply spread wrong information. Solidum said that people should not be afraid of the successive quakes as these occurrences are normal. He also urged the people not to be affected by baseless rumors that are spreading on social media. Solidum also said that since it was too far away from the West Valley Fault, the tremors had nothing to do with it. Orbos said that barangays would be included in the next earthquake drill, reiterating the importance of local governments in emergency situations like this. Orbos also urged people to prepare their own GO-bag. A Go-bag is an important package containing necessities such as easy-to-open canned food, flashlights, and other survival kits. Preparing a 72-hour survival kit will save the lives of your family and yourself. Aside from being ready when such disaster happens, it is also critical that the houses are made to endure such tremors. if not, a house or a building could collapse leaving many people injured, trapped or worse, dead. The Department of Public Works and Highways should release guidelines on design or blueprints of quake-resilient houses for those that can't afford to hire the services of structural engineers. RECOMMENDED: 2 EARTHQUAKES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF LUZON ON APRIL 8 EARTHQUAKE TIPS Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces should prepare for the ""Big One,"" the West Valley Fault is now ripe for movement and it can generate a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.  2 EARTHQUAKES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF LUZON ON APRIL 8  EARTHQUAKE TIPS   Earthquake drill or ""shake drill"" will be conducted in different parts of the country and that includes even the barangays to ensure the readiness and preparedness of every citizen should a huge earthquake such as the so called ""the big one"" would occur. This has been confirmed by MMDA Acting Chairman Tim Orbos and said to be taking place on July – the third drill being conducted on a large scale following a similar one last year. According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, earthquake drills should be done not only in Metro Manila but needed to be expanded in other areas such as Laguna , Bulacan , and Cavite. MMDA's Orbos and PHIVOLC's Solidum presided a meeting earlier this month with the Metro Manila Disaster Response Cluster with regards to the series of earthquakes that occurred in several areas in the past weeks. Solidum urged people to refrain from being affected by rumors that circulate especially on social media, as these simply spread wrong information. Solidum said that people should not be afraid of the successive quakes as these occurrences are normal. He also urged the people not to be affected by baseless rumors that are spreading on social media. Solidum also said that since it was too far away from the West Valley Fault, the tremors had nothing to do with it. Orbos said that barangays would be included in the next earthquake drill, reiterating the importance of local governments in emergency situations like this. Orbos also urged people to prepare their own GO-bag. A Go-bag is an important package containing necessities such as easy-to-open canned food, flashlights, and other survival kits. Preparing a 72-hour survival kit will save the lives of your family and yourself. Aside from being ready when such disaster happens, it is also critical that the houses are made to endure such tremors. if not, a house or a building could collapse leaving many people injured, trapped or worse, dead. The Department of Public Works and Highways should release guidelines on design or blueprints of quake-resilient houses for those that can't afford to hire the services of structural engineers. RECOMMENDED: 2 EARTHQUAKES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF LUZON ON APRIL 8 EARTHQUAKE TIPS Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces should prepare for the ""Big One,"" the West Valley Fault is now ripe for movement and it can generate a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.   Earthquake drill or ""shake drill"" will be conducted in different parts of the country and that includes even the barangays to ensure the readiness and preparedness of every citizen should a huge earthquake such as the so called ""the big one"" would occur. This has been confirmed by MMDA Acting Chairman Tim Orbos and said to be taking place on July – the third drill being conducted on a large scale following a similar one last year. According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, earthquake drills should be done not only in Metro Manila but needed to be expanded in other areas such as Laguna , Bulacan , and Cavite. MMDA's Orbos and PHIVOLC's Solidum presided a meeting earlier this month with the Metro Manila Disaster Response Cluster with regards to the series of earthquakes that occurred in several areas in the past weeks. Solidum urged people to refrain from being affected by rumors that circulate especially on social media, as these simply spread wrong information. Solidum said that people should not be afraid of the successive quakes as these occurrences are normal. He also urged the people not to be affected by baseless rumors that are spreading on social media. Solidum also said that since it was too far away from the West Valley Fault, the tremors had nothing to do with it. Orbos said that barangays would be included in the next earthquake drill, reiterating the importance of local governments in emergency situations like this. Orbos also urged people to prepare their own GO-bag. A Go-bag is an important package containing necessities such as easy-to-open canned food, flashlights, and other survival kits. Preparing a 72-hour survival kit will save the lives of your family and yourself. Aside from being ready when such disaster happens, it is also critical that the houses are made to endure such tremors. if not, a house or a building could collapse leaving many people injured, trapped or worse, dead. The Department of Public Works and Highways should release guidelines on design or blueprints of quake-resilient houses for those that can't afford to hire the services of structural engineers. RECOMMENDED: 2 EARTHQUAKES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF LUZON ON APRIL 8 EARTHQUAKE TIPS Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces should prepare for the ""Big One,"" the West Valley Fault is now ripe for movement and it can generate a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.   Earthquake drill or ""shake drill"" will be conducted in different parts of the country and that includes even the barangays to ensure the readiness and preparedness of every citizen should a huge earthquake such as the so called ""the big one"" would occur. This has been confirmed by MMDA Acting Chairman Tim Orbos and said to be taking place on July – the third drill being conducted on a large scale following a similar one last year. According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, earthquake drills should be done not only in Metro Manila but needed to be expanded in other areas such as Laguna , Bulacan , and Cavite. MMDA's Orbos and PHIVOLC's Solidum presided a meeting earlier this month with the Metro Manila Disaster Response Cluster with regards to the series of earthquakes that occurred in several areas in the past weeks. Solidum urged people to refrain from being affected by rumors that circulate especially on social media, as these simply spread wrong information. Solidum said that people should not be afraid of the successive quakes as these occurrences are normal. He also urged the people not to be affected by baseless rumors that are spreading on social media. Solidum also said that since it was too far away from the West Valley Fault, the tremors had nothing to do with it. Orbos said that barangays would be included in the next earthquake drill, reiterating the importance of local governments in emergency situations like this. Orbos also urged people to prepare their own GO-bag. A Go-bag is an important package containing necessities such as easy-to-open canned food, flashlights, and other survival kits. Preparing a 72-hour survival kit will save the lives of your family and yourself. Aside from being ready when such disaster happens, it is also critical that the houses are made to endure such tremors. if not, a house or a building could collapse leaving many people injured, trapped or worse, dead. The Department of Public Works and Highways should release guidelines on design or blueprints of quake-resilient houses for those that can't afford to hire the services of structural engineers. RECOMMENDED: 2 EARTHQUAKES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF LUZON ON APRIL 8 EARTHQUAKE TIPS Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces should prepare for the ""Big One,"" the West Valley Fault is now ripe for movement and it can generate a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.  Earthquake drill or ""shake drill"" will be conducted in different parts of the country and that includes even the barangays to ensure the readiness and preparedness of every citizen should a huge earthquake such as the so called ""the big one"" would occur. This has been confirmed by MMDA Acting Chairman Tim Orbos and said to be taking place on July – the third drill being conducted on a large scale following a similar one last year. According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, earthquake drills should be done not only in Metro Manila but needed to be expanded in other areas such as Laguna , Bulacan , and Cavite. MMDA's Orbos and PHIVOLC's Solidum presided a meeting earlier this month with the Metro Manila Disaster Response Cluster with regards to the series of earthquakes that occurred in several areas in the past weeks. Solidum urged people to refrain from being affected by rumors that circulate especially on social media, as these simply spread wrong information. Solidum said that people should not be afraid of the successive quakes as these occurrences are normal. He also urged the people not to be affected by baseless rumors that are spreading on social media. Solidum also said that since it was too far away from the West Valley Fault, the tremors had nothing to do with it. Orbos said that barangays would be included in the next earthquake drill, reiterating the importance of local governments in emergency situations like this. Orbos also urged people to prepare their own GO-bag. A Go-bag is an important package containing necessities such as easy-to-open canned food, flashlights, and other survival kits. Preparing a 72-hour survival kit will save the lives of your family and yourself. Aside from being ready when such disaster happens, it is also critical that the houses are made to endure such tremors. if not, a house or a building could collapse leaving many people injured, trapped or worse, dead. The Department of Public Works and Highways should release guidelines on design or blueprints of quake-resilient houses for those that can't afford to hire the services of structural engineers. RECOMMENDED: 2 EARTHQUAKES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF LUZON ON APRIL 8 EARTHQUAKE TIPS Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces should prepare for the ""Big One,"" the West Valley Fault is now ripe for movement and it can generate a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.     Earthquake drill or ""shake drill"" will be conducted in different parts of the country and that includes even the barangays to ensure the readiness and preparedness of every citizen should a huge earthquake such as the so called ""the big one"" would occur. This has been confirmed by MMDA Acting Chairman Tim Orbos and said to be taking place on July – the third drill being conducted on a large scale following a similar one last year. According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, earthquake drills should be done not only in Metro Manila but needed to be expanded in other areas such as Laguna , Bulacan , and Cavite. MMDA's Orbos and PHIVOLC's Solidum presided a meeting earlier this month with the Metro Manila Disaster Response Cluster with regards to the series of earthquakes that occurred in several areas in the past weeks. Solidum urged people to refrain from being affected by rumors that circulate especially on social media, as these simply spread wrong information. Solidum said that people should not be afraid of the successive quakes as these occurrences are normal. He also urged the people not to be affected by baseless rumors that are spreading on social media. Solidum also said that since it was too far away from the West Valley Fault, the tremors had nothing to do with it. Orbos said that barangays would be included in the next earthquake drill, reiterating the importance of local governments in emergency situations like this. Orbos also urged people to prepare their own GO-bag. A Go-bag is an important package containing necessities such as easy-to-open canned food, flashlights, and other survival kits. Preparing a 72-hour survival kit will save the lives of your family and yourself. Aside from being ready when such disaster happens, it is also critical that the houses are made to endure such tremors. if not, a house or a building could collapse leaving many people injured, trapped or worse, dead. The Department of Public Works and Highways should release guidelines on design or blueprints of quake-resilient houses for those that can't afford to hire the services of structural engineers. RECOMMENDED: 2 EARTHQUAKES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF LUZON ON APRIL 8 EARTHQUAKE TIPS Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces should prepare for the ""Big One,"" the West Valley Fault is now ripe for movement and it can generate a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.   Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces should prepare for the ""Big One,"" the West Valley Fault is now ripe for movement and it can generate  a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO  www.jbsolis.com  SEARCH JBSOLIS  Solidum also reiterated the importance of having an earthquake drill. Determining what to do and where will be the safest place the family should go during earthquakes.Every family should also prepare a ""go bag"" or a backpack containing important documents, food, medicine, and other survival items that could last for at least 72 hours.  The ""Big One"" is not a joke. Everyone should be prepared. Though we pray that it would never happen, readiness must be strictly considered to make our family and ourselves safe.  The President assures that he will bring 250 stranded OFWs from Saudi Arabia with him when he returned to the Philippines after a series of visit in the Middle East.  During his speech in Davao before his departure, he said that God-willing, he will bring some OFWs in death row with him when he return to the country. During his speech in front of the Filipino Community in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia, President Duterte said that he will be bringing home the first batch of 250 OFWs who had been stranded in Saudi Arabia for a very long time, and they will continue to do it.  ""We are arranging for the transportation of 250 OFWs who hopefully be back to the Philippines in time for the return of President Rodrigo Duterte.., "" DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.  Secretary Bello also added that since the announcement of the Saudi Crown Prince Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Naif Al Saud about the amnesty program for expats, DOLE has already sent an augmentation team to assist the OFWs  to comply with the requirements for the amnesty and a lot of them have already availed it.  According to Secretary Bello, they are also working on the unpaid claims of the OFWs and they are only validating it in order to establish their claims. If they are all been verified, OWWA will be paying their money claims in advance. President Duterte will also be visiting Bahrain and Qatar after his visit to Saudi Arabia and is expected to be back in the Philippines on April 17. Recommended:  ""They've been given the clearance. I will fly them home. When I return, I'll be bringing some of them home, "" he said during a pre-departure press briefing in Davao City.  Reports saying that the Embassy officials in Saudi Arabia have been acting slow with regards to helping stranded and runaway OFWs are not entirely correct according to Philippine Consul General Iric Arribas. He also said that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and  the philippine Consulate in Jeddah are both providing the OFWs all the help they need which includes repatriation as well.  700 OFWs have been in jails in Saudi Arabia for various charges because there are no assistance coming from the Embassy officials, according to the reports from various OFW advocates.    The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS ""They've been given the clearance. I will fly them home. When I return, I'll be bringing some of them home, "" he said during a pre-departure press briefing in Davao City. The President assures that he will bring 250 stranded OFWs from Saudi Arabia with him when he returned to the Philippines after a series of visit in the Middle East.  During his speech in Davao before his departure, he said that God-willing, he will bring some OFWs in death row with him when he return to the country. During his speech in front of the Filipino Community in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia, President Duterte said that he will be bringing home the first batch of 250 OFWs who had been stranded in Saudi Arabia for a very long time, and they will continue to do it.  ""We are arranging for the transportation of 250 OFWs who hopefully be back to the Philippines in time for the return of President Rodrigo Duterte.., "" DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.  Secretary Bello also added that since the announcement of the Saudi Crown Prince Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Naif Al Saud about the amnesty program for expats, DOLE has already sent an augmentation team to assist the OFWs  to comply with the requirements for the amnesty and a lot of them have already availed it.  According to Secretary Bello, they are also working on the unpaid claims of the OFWs and they are only validating it in order to establish their claims. If they are all been verified, OWWA will be paying their money claims in advance. President Duterte will also be visiting Bahrain and Qatar after his visit to Saudi Arabia and is expected to be back in the Philippines on April 17. Recommended:  ""They've been given the clearance. I will fly them home. When I return, I'll be bringing some of them home, "" he said during a pre-departure press briefing in Davao City.  Reports saying that the Embassy officials in Saudi Arabia have been acting slow with regards to helping stranded and runaway OFWs are not entirely correct according to Philippine Consul General Iric Arribas. He also said that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and  the philippine Consulate in Jeddah are both providing the OFWs all the help they need which includes repatriation as well.  700 OFWs have been in jails in Saudi Arabia for various charges because there are no assistance coming from the Embassy officials, according to the reports from various OFW advocates.    The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS Reports saying that the Embassy officials in Saudi Arabia have been acting slow with regards to helping stranded and runaway OFWs are not entirely correct according to Philippine Consul General Iric Arribas. He also said that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the philippine Consulate in Jeddah are both providing the OFWs all the help they need which includes repatriation as well.  700 OFWs have been in jails in Saudi Arabia for various charges because there are no assistance coming from the Embassy officials, according to the reports from various OFW advocates. The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas,domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers. ""I have been to many places. I have been to the Middle East. You know, the husband is working in one place, the wife in another country. The so many sad stories I hear about our women being raped, abused sexually,"" The President said. About Filipino domestic helpers, he said:  ""If you are working on a family and the employer's sibling doesn't have a helper, you will also work for them. And if in a compound,the son-in-law of the employer is also living in there, you will also work for him.So, they would finish their work on sunrise."" He even refer to the OFWs being similar to the African slaves because of the situation that they have been into for the sake of their families back home. Citing instances that some of them, out of deep despair, resorted to ending their own lives.  The President also said that he finds it heartbreaking to know that after all the sacrifices of the OFWs working abroad for the future of their families they would come home just to learn that their children has been into illegal drugs. ""I made no bones about my hatred. I said, 'If you do drugs in my city, if you destroy our daughters and sons, I'll just have to kill you.' I repeated the same warning when i became president,"" he said.   Critics of the so-called violent war on drugs under President Duterte's administration includes local and international human rights groups, linking the campaign on thousands of drug-related killings.  Police figures show that legitimate police operations have led to over 2,600 deaths of individuals involved in drugs since the war on drugs began. However, the war on drugs has been evident that the extent of drug menace should be taken seriously. The drug personalities includes high ranking officials and they thrive in the expense of our own children,if not being into drugs, being victimized by drug related crimes. The campaign on illegal drugs has somehow made a statement among the drug pushers and addicts. If the common citizen fear walking on the streets at night worrying about the drug addicts lurking in the dark, now they can walk peacefully while the drug addicts hide in fear that the police authorities might get them. Source:GMA {INSERT ALL PARAGRAPHS HERE {EMBED 3 FB PAGES POST FROM JBSOLIS/THOUGHTSKOTO/PEBA HERE OR INSERT 3 LINKS}   ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS The OFWs are the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing through with the campaign on illegal drugs, acknowledging their hardships and sacrifices. He said that as he visit the countries where there are OFWs, he has heard sad stories about them: sexually abused Filipinas, domestic helpers being forced to work on a number of employers ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com S KumpaS OFW (Kumpulan ng Pangulo Sa mga Filipinos Worldwide) is a compilation of OFW stories, success and failure likewise,  gathered by the Presidential Communications Office to show the real situations of the OFWs working outside the country. All video clips belong to the Presidential Communications Office. Watch and be inspired.   Every OFWs has various reasons why they decided to leave their families and work abroad but there is one common goal, to give their family a decent and better future, that they think, would not be possible if they were not given the opportunity to work outside the country. With the country's lack of job and income generating opportunities and investments during the past regimes, contractualization, age limit in applying for the jobs, most Filipinos resort to applying for overseas jobs even if it means leaving your family for years. The only thing that gets the OFW going is a thought that with a slightly bigger salary, they could send their children to school, build their dream house and make their family back home happy.But what if your beloved son or daughter who is in the center of the equilibrium that balances your life to keep you going as an OFW  suddenly vanished?   The parents are encouraged to spend more quality time with their children as teenage depression cases in the Philippines has increased by 75%  in the last 25 years, a psychiatrist said. Dr. Norieta Calma-Balderrama, the chairperson of the Philippine Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said that the contributing factors that led to the rise of teenage depression cases include changes in parenting practices, technology, and the environment in this generation. LIST OF ITEMS BANNED ON PLANE & ITEMS NOT ALLOWED TO SEND IN A BALIKBAYAN BOX As a passenger, it is important that we know what are allowed and not allowed to bring when traveling via an airplane to avoid problems in our travel.The Department of Transportation and Communication - Office for Transporation Security (DOTC-OTS) released an updated list of items that are not allowed to bring when traveling via airplane.Memorandum Circular 2015-02 or the Revised Prohibited Items List, applies to all flights originating within the country and adheres to standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization."
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