OFW BLOGGERS ARE ONE AGAINST MIKE AVENUE BLOG

On Mike Avenue Pinoy Blog’s ‘Tsokolate’

MANIFESTO
So that the bloggerworld and everyone may know....

We believe in the right to freedom of speech as a human right.

We believe in the freedom to hold opinions without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

We believe in the right to freedom of expression to receive and impart information.

We believe that blogging is an expression of one’s opinions, personal experiences, hobbies, commentaries, diaries and we further believe that every blogger has the right to publish his personal expressions and opinions.

We believe that the exercise of these freedoms is not an absolute right but carries with it duties and responsibilities, that may be subject to restrictions or penalties on specific grounds as prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests and protection of the reputation or rights of others.

We believe that majority of the Overseas Filipino Workers have chosen to leave the Philippines to seek and search for better livelihood opportunities abroad so they may be able to support themselves and their families back home.

 

We believe that the OFW’s search for a greener pasture is not at all that easy and yet hundreds of thousands of OFWs have created names for them and have excelled in their chosen fields of endeavor, setting the world standards for nobility and for hard work.

We believe that there is nothing wrong with doing an honest day’s work as a domestic help or as construction worker or doing any other menial and blue collar jobs.

We believe that OFWs whether professionals or not should be given honor and respect.

We believe that the OFW is the Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World!

 

With these guiding beliefs:

We regard Mr. Mike Avenue’s Pinoy Blog post on "Tsokolate" as one that lacked research and a flagrant ignorance of the truth about Overseas Filipino workers and expatriates.

We regard this lack of truth and ignorance as especially inexcusable from one who feigns intelligence and high learning and coax people into belief and following.

We regard his statements: “minumura ng amo kapalit ng dolyar” and “humahalik sa paa ng mga dayuhan” as blatant mockeries of the sacrifices of the Overseas Filipino Workers and expatriates and are hasty generalizations of the living and working conditions of the Filipino expatriates and OFWs.

We regard his post as tactless and offensive, trying to make a lame attempt to sarcasm that failed to be funny, at the expense of the Overseas Filipino Workers.

We regard his post as a clear display of arrogance, done in a distasteful manner with blind indifference and unjust condemnation of the millions of hardworking OFWs who work long hours to earn an honest buck.

We regard his post to have overstepped the bounds of sensitivity and responsibility of a decent mind and an accountable and sensible blogger.

Therefore, we as OFW BLOGGER are not dumb to let this kind of humiliation pass just like that.

 We strongly condemn this irresponsible blog post and Mike Avenue.

We consider Mike Avenue as an Anti-OFW persona.

We demand a retraction and an apology from Mike Avenue of Pinoy Blogs for this irresponsible blogpost!

We are Filipinos and we should stand together and strive for a better Philippines!

HAND-CARRY "HAYDEN CAMERA" WHEN YOU LEAVE NAIA

Official Entry to Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards
FILIPINOS ABROAD: Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World

This is no longer a juicy showbiz gossip that you and I used to talk about across the fence.

The Katrina Halili story has become more of an issue of Filipino morality in the modern age, rather than a simple case of sex scandal caught on video. Most often than not, OFWs like us being away from Manila events, a story like this is a main course on our table. And being sexually related thing, people will come around and talk about it with their mind hallucinating on the details of sexual act using DDR3 processors inside their head as they digest the interesting story of “Hayden Camera”. It has already been a Collector’s Item since, being rare and high priced.

The thing is, while most of us compassionately sympathize to the agony of Ms. Halili as she bravely goes through the process, let us not forget and maybe it is worth touching the stories of those OFWs victimized by this devilish act. Sad to admit, unfortunately, Ms. Halili was not the first one on this dilemma and I could say she is still fortunate to have caught the attentions of all the government agencies plus the fact that she has the money to push through with the case, but nevertheless she is still a victim here. But for those other victims of video scandal abroad who are now being haunted by that single mistake they have done out of love and trust, probably until now are hiding away from DVD players.

We never learned from those video scandals made abroad since it was silently distributed and passed over from one USB to another, from desktop to CDs and from phone Bluetooth to other phone. They have become delightful movies during drinking sessions of all nationalities and a must-have copy in the CD rack. The worse thing about it, no one complained but rather swallowed the consequences that are killing them slowly. Well, that’s the reality of life for us who “can’t afford”. What significant here for us OFWs, I mean all of us, gender is immaterial when it comes to video scandal, is the lesson we can take out of Katrina event, that reputations and future are at stake for every dangerous adventurism. Once happened to you, you can never do a fast rewind anymore, unless it has been burned to the CD tracks. This is absolutely a misuse of modern technologies of micro-camcorder.

People back home have high regards on OFWs (especially the Customs officers) as living heroes and heroines of the new generations, not just because we bring more hard-earned dollars but because we brought dignity to the nation. Precisely this what PDOS(Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) is all about, the Philippines wanted to send Filipino workers equipped with specific tools in specific country of deployment so they could act, react and interact accordingly as they get there. True to say also that the reason why we have the POEA is to see to it that every OFW has the skills on the job he applied for. Of course all of these are certainly to ensure that we are going to be the pride of the nation, rather than to be the shame of the nation.

Sounds negative? I guess not, because the point here is in order for us OFWs to be intelligent enough to read between the lines and not to expect everything will be laid out in layman’s term and be successful. The POEA and PDOS have reminded us in all things about how to conduct ourselves as OFWs before the grand theater of other nations, but some preferred adventurism over this and end up with broken dreams.

We need something that has a strong and extreme sense of warning that it is up to us to choose. You may get in jailed in Saudi Arabia by drinking alcohol, be sent home and after awhile walk as a freeman. You may be deported from Dubai by working while holding a visit visa and face the nation out of NAIA portal as a freeman. You may get fired from military bases in the warzones by possessing pornographic materials and arrived at NAIA as a freeman. But it is hard to pull yourself together, packed up and fly home if you have been a “star for all seasons” around the globe.

The emphasis we have here right now is for us OFWs to focus on success abroad and set aside immoral adventurism that seems to becoming a trend. We need to be aware of the unseen factors aside from the elements of success (hard work, trainings, perseverance, etc) that will surely undermine our standing around the world, and as I said this is the point of morality. Nobody will remind you but yourself about this thing once you are already in a private room, so you need something like a light bulb next to your head, “Ting! Oh yeah, the Lessons of Hayden Camera.”

What more can we give to the nation as a matter of gift when bad stories covered all stories of achievements in the eyes of the world. Fellow folks back home will eventually think that working abroad in not a good idea anymore. We are the ones who are outside the country and in direct contact with the people of the world and it is in our hand to be responsible, not just to strive to success, but also to fight against pornography and videotaping of other's privacy.

As I've observed, the lessons behind Hayden Camera are not just applicable to sexual adventurism but also in all dealings that we are about to do where our personal dignity may be at stake.

Once an OFW left the country, aside from the family responsibilities he carries, he also shoulders a social and personal responsibility to take care of his well-being as a Filipino. While most of OFWs excel abroad, sexual adventurism wasted all of these efforts. . . . and mind you guys, other nationalities take it as collective tag for all of us OFWs, an act of one seems being tagged as act of all. Sexual adventurism usually arises from getting into adulterous relationships, unfaithfulness to present partner, ambitions, homesickness and other vices which are all could be avoided if we think properly and if we put ahead of libido our purposes of going abroad.

I could not blame those OFWs in most video scandal videotaped abroad by the same devil that possessed “direk” Hayden Kho Jr. while having sex with their partners. I am not saying all, but most of those blinded-by-love OFWs were actually aware of what was going on inside the private room. They knew that a video camera was set up for the main show. But as I said it was all about adventures, love and trust without knowing that things could eventually turn upside down once there is a break up in a relationship, much more if it is an illicit one. It does not actually matter whether your affairs is totally different, what counts here is if the event turns against you and you don’t have the original copy of your adventurism . . .if this happens I tell you what, you have a fire out of control and it will burn you down through generations.

Sex is already an adventure itself, whether legit or not, it is a hell of adventures. Why do you have to add some more when you haven’t explore a lot about it? Videotaping a sexual act is insecurity and sign of madness, so if your partner fires up his mobile phone, don’t be just afraid but be very afraid and start dressing up before you end up in a situation where DELETE is never been an option.

As they considered OFWs being "Hope of Nation-Gift to the World", how can you be one, when you can't even consider YOU as gift to yourself anymore....think about that!

And in order to get the positive out of it, the next time you hit NAIA, make sure you have hand-carried the lessons of Hayden Camera.

Welcome aboard!

Official Entry to Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

To vote for this entry click this: Vote Bizjoker [5]

Note: Photo posted above is produced in photoshop, definitely not Ms. Halili

FIVE GREATEST SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ALL TIMES.

TEACHERS LOVE US MORE THAN THEIR OWN LIVES.

As I was surfing GMANews.tv this morning (May 6, 2009), the main page showed picture of interchanging photos of teachers asking their salary grade be raised to salary grade 20. A flash of thought came across my memory, I used to receive salary grade 12, I guess, when I was still member of the PNP.

Salary Grade 20 is not that much for the school teachers considering the vast and expanse of public responsiblities their having from time to time, but congressional pork barrel is way to much. There was something in my heart that really made me feel bad, as I see this photo.

I pitty all those teachers for being ignored by the government, some of them are being ignored by their husbands and boyfriends, since most of them are female, and yet all of them are still getting exploited during elections and during public statistics and census season.

My sister is also a public school teacher, I can tell the hardship of the teachers in this generation.

I don't know how could we ever thank our teachers for making all of us what we are today. Nobody could ever be promoted to manager, military general, director, or even get elected to the presidency without school teachers.

Maybe we could generally say that nobody could be somebody without teachers, absolutely no one.

Lawyers can never pass the bar exams, nor doctors can ever wear that white robes, nor engineers can ever read plans, not even a taxi cab driver could ever drive his cab without having a school teacher once in his life.

When my grandfather was still around back in the 90's, he used to tell us that when all of us get up in heaven and line to check our names in the Book of Life, the school teachers are the ones who have the divine priority to go first being considered as the most noble professions humans could have. And they will sit next to the Lord as they have fulfilled lifetimes by educating all people on earth while still living.

Now, have you ever thought about your former teachers, from the most cruel to the most fave one? Have you ever thanked them for being strict and cruel during examinations, otherwise you can not read this.

Have your paths crossed lately? How'd she look like now? You have not recognized her until you get noticed her familiar fashion, right? Teachers have a single fashion they say, whether they are in civilian clothes or in school uniform. Tell me more about your school teachers, and I will share my own stories about them. Join me in sending thanks to our school teachers back home.

Thanks to all those teachers who braved their way into the notorious mountains of Muslim rebels to teach our poor children out there, where some of them are still witheld by the Abu Sayyaf.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching amidst fierce fire fighting of soldiers and NPAs along the countrysides.

Thanks to all those teachers who volunteered to leave the city life and walk their way to the jungle to teach the barrio people.

Thanks to all those teachers who innovate teaching materials because of limited government fundings.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching our youths so well amidst having broken hearts, failed dreams, and frustrations in life.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching our children so well, despite the aching feelings due to the reality that teaching profession receives low salary grade.

Thanks to all those teachers who set aside thinking about their monsterous debts, salary loans, emergency loans and calamity loans, and proceeded on teachings without delays.

Thanks to all those teachers who protected us from bullies and school riots.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching the children until they are 60 years old.

Thanks to all those teachers who take care of our children while we are busy working. They keep our children learn their lessons.

Thanks to all those teachers who became strong pillars of elementary and high schools, the whole basic education system in the Philippines in general.

Thanks to all those teachers who taught us about Ten Little Indians and I Have Two Hands songs.

Thanks to all those teachers who taught us about subjects and predicates.

Thanks to all those teachers who taught us how to dance during foundation days and field days.

Thanks to all those teachers who loved us more than their own children, more than their husbands and wives, and more than their lives.

Thanks to all those teachers who are now sitting in their retirement and seem to have been forgotten by their students..We will never ever forget.

Thanks to all those teachers who gave us ideals, principles and directions in life that's why we have these lives.

Thanks to all those teachers who are more than willing to join the protests but they could not because of old age, and rather chose to sit around with their small and delayed pensions.

Thanks to all those teahcers who dedicated their entire lives and happiness in exchange of school teachings.

Thanks to those teachers who gave us unselfish love and immeasureable care.

Most of all I would like to thank my very own favorite teacher of all times, my mommy, a retired public school teacher who until now a teacher to all of us, with her undying love both of a mother and a school teacher. Mommy still teaches my kids and all her grandchildren at home.

It is my honor to dedicate one entry here in my blog for the FIVE GREATEST SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ALL TIMES.

Lolo Anot, Nicanor Fetalino Formilleza, an energetic and a happy mentor for all of us grandchildren using a very comprehensive old method in teaching Mathematics, back in the old days. Through his times and efforts, most of us grandchildren are now professionals using Mathematics in most of our dealings.

My aunities:

Mrs.Tabetha Formilleza-Fradejas, a public school teacher in V. Mapa High School in Legarda, Manila;

Mrs. Lourdes Formilleza-Fradejas, a public school teacher in Bati-ano Elementary School in Odiongan, Romblon;

Mrs. Villaflor Formilleza-Dayrit, a public school teacher in Padre Burgos Elementary School in Sta. Mesa , Manila.

And of course, my mom, Mrs. Zenaida Formilleza-Fabellore used to be teaching in T. Paez High School in Manila until her retirement in 2003.

I am proud to belong to a clan who had lived to the fullest by the creed of noble teaching, and made our lives easier through the taste of white chalks and lesson plans.

THANK YOU ALL and I LOVE YOU ALL . . there's no way I can repay you but maybe by continuing your legacy of teaching even I am not a school teacher and to live a better life as you all intended for all of us children.

THANK YOU!