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[buddhist punk]

Dear SP citizens,


The ASEAN Summit will be held in Chiang Mai on Dec. 15-18. Philippine President Gloria M Arroyo will certainly be in attendance, as well as gov't officials, staff, and various delegates. The Philippine Embassy has instructed the AFT-NRC to assist in welcoming the president and act as secretariat to the Consul-General's office.

In addition to the planned welcome and daily assistance work, it might be possible to meet and greet with President Arroyo and/or a representative at some point during the affair. The AFT-NRC officers are planning to present a profile of Filipinos living and working in Thailand. In particular they would like to underscore any concerns you may have, with regard to work, living, and personal conditions and issues, in any industry you might currently be involved with. 

To put it another way, if you had the chance to sit down with the president or a representative, and they ask "O, kamusta naman kayo dito"? --- what would you say to her/them?

Please do post your concerns in this thread. You may include legal issues and rights like

- marriage
- adoption
- children's citizenship
- acquiring citizenship
- salary standards

Teacher concerns are pretty much covered in this forum, but teachers are invited to post anyway. We would especially like to hear from those working in other industries. If you feel your concerns are too personal, PM me instead. Please don't post questions or concerns pertaining to consular services like renewing passports. We will be addressing the mainland officials in this matter.

At your serbis,

buddhist punk

       
Welcome po, Madame President!

[buddhist punk]

addendum:

we have about a week to compile this information, and another week to collate it, and one week to create a meaningful document for presentation. thanks.


***bumping***

[Madam H]

Thanks a bunch for this one, BP. I do hope this becomes a real opportunity for the government to hear out the challenges Pinoys face in Thailand, particualrly the teachers, who make up the biggest number of of workers in Thailand, and who most probably, are also the ones who need the most help.

Sorry, I'm being my pessimist self again... I also hope this also doesn't become yet another race as to who gets to "meet" the preseident or her reps. I sincerely hope that those who are most capable will be the ones sent to meet and talk to her, and not just the ones who have the most clout. I think I can't be candid enough on this one.

We, at SP, are most glad you are there to help with this one...


Mabuhay si BP! 

[buddhist punk]

      Maraming tenkyu po. Pero sa true lang tumutulong lang po tayo sa AFT-NRC. Kudos belongs to them.

[buddhist punk]

Maraming salamat po sa mga nagpapadala ng mg suhestiyon at comment in PM. Please keep it coming po. We could be doing a lot of good for ourselves and others this way.

[buddhist punk]

bumping and topping for our kababayans whom I've texted / contacted.

please feel free to comment, post or PM me any concerns you may have re living and working in Thailand. salamat po.

sa inyo pong lahat, ganon din ang aking imbitasyon. thank you.

[Madam H]

I'm posting these info here, instead of sending you a PM coz they might be of use for others, particularly those who are in the entertainment industry here in Thailand.

I've spoken to two "kumares", both mga musikero na matagal na dito (more than 10 years na). And they both said there is one very real and very sad challenge para  sa mga musikero na nagtatrabaho dito sa Thailand.

Sabi nila, ang problema daw ay hindi dito. Actually, hotels, as well as big pubs that hire Filipino bands/singers, are very good about processing the Pinoys' visas, work permits and other documents. Ang problema daw ay yung pag babalik na dito sa Thailand, galing ng bakasyon sa Pinas.

Here's an experience related to me by our "kumare": one time, the whole band was already coming back here. They were at the immigration booth daw sa airport sa Pinas. They have their original work permits, they have their re entries, and our kumare even has photos of herself singing at her workplace in Bangkok. Of course, their flight was just waiting for them also on the tarmac.

Ayaw silang palabasin ng Pilipinas. Marami daw mga tanong, hanggang sa ang diskarte daw na ginawa niya, kumuha daw uli ng bagong POEA form, at ang inilagay, instead na "singer", nilagay niya "housekeeper". Tsaka lang daw siya nakalabas.

Sabi niya, tuloy instead na legal yung process ng pagbibiyahe niya palabas ng bansa, parang nagiging "ilegal" pa ang dating, dahil kinailangan pa niyang dumiskarte para lang wala nang hassle.

Ang problema naman daw, sabi noong isa pa naming kumare, ay yung treatment ng mga officers sa airport sa atin. Ok lang daw pag sa centennial airport ka dumaan dahil mas courteous pa ang mga tao. Pag nasa NAIA daw, very intimidating ang dating. One time daw, nakakahiya dahil kasama pa ni kumare ang bossing niyang tagarito. Ang tanong daw ng bossing niya, "Bakit ganoon silang magsalita sa iyo? Bakit hindi pareho namin na malumanay magsalita?" Sabi na lang daw ni kumare, "Hayaan niyo na, ganoon talaga dito." Yay!

This is not a complaint, and I don't wish to start a thread of negativities. But hopefully, this is something that will find a way to get to the proper authorities, para naman magawan ng paraan.

And one thing daw pala, which could be of help sa mga gustong pumunta ng Bangkok, and they happen to be musicians...sa Thailand daw, hindi kailangan sa pagkuha ng permit at visa and tinatawag nilang ERB (Entertainer Record Book). Sa Japan lang daw po ito hinahanap pag nag apply ka na ng permit at visa. Kaya minsan, namomroblema ang mga musicians na pabalik ng Thailand, dahil hinahanapan din sila ng ganoong document. Wala silang maipakita dahil hindi nga daw required yan dito sa Thailand.

Yan lang po for now. Magtatawag pa me ng iabng kaibigan para tanungin nitong same question...

[Madam H]

paki-share naman ng stories na alam mo... 

[yllorco]

I hope the idea of dual citizenship for pinoy children born in Thailand will be on of the concerns.

[Madam H]

Right on, Yllorco!

Years ago, a child born in Thailand (kahit both parents are Pinoys), can have Thai citizenship. Wala namang problema ang dual citizenship dahil ana-allow na ng Pinas yan ngayon. Ang aasikasuhin na lang, yung sa dito na side, na iallow nilang maging citizen nila ang batang Pinoy na pinanganak dito...