OWWA: Ondoy Victims Can Update Their OFW Relatives For Free

OWWA: Ondoy Victims Can Update Their OFW Relatives For Free.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who has families affected by the typhoon Ondoy can now talk with their family for free. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will lend free calls and texts to victims of Ondoy to update their loved ones abroad about their situation after the tragic nature call.

Through its 24/7 Operations center, OWWA serve a “Libreng Tawag communication bridge” for the families who has worried loved ones abroad. Most telecommunication networks site in most affected areas such as Marikina, Rizal, some parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan fell down due to the strong winds and heavy rains. At press time, most of the mentioned areas still don’t have telecommunication lines, water and electricity power.

Aside from OWWA, other organizations and groups have installed a free call booth in affected areas to ease the worries of OFWs and other relatives of the victims in other provinces.

The agency said these family members can send text messages, together with the destination numbers, to 0917TXTOWWA (09178986992). OWWA will then pass on the message to their loved ones abroad.

For those who wish to avail of the service, they may call up the Operations Center at:

Telephone numbers
+632.8336992 (+632.833OWWA)
+632.5516641
+632.8917601 - 24

SMS/TXT
+63917.898.6992 (+63917.TXT.OWWA)

Globe HOTLINE 2917
Press 3 for OWWA

E-mail
opcenter@owwa.gov.ph

Fax
+632.8917601
+632.5516651

On the other hand, OFWs who would like to get more information about their loved ones in the Philippines may call the following hotlines: 

National Disaster Coordinating Committee
911-1406
911-1873
912-2665
911-5061
912-5296
912-5668

Help hotlines
734-2118
734-2120 

Philippine Coast Guard
527-6136

Red Cross
143
527-0000 

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
136
896-6000

Taguig emergency hotline
1623

Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon)
Hotline (045) 9634376

Meralco
16220

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. emergency hotlines
for dumptrucks going to flooded areas for rescue of stranded people:

0917 4226800
0917 2414864
0927 6751981

At press time, National Disaster Coordinating Council reported that as of September 28, 4:00 pm 140 casualties were recovered while 32 remains missing. However, due to the unreported casualties in some parts of Luzon, the death toll may exceed up to more than 200. - ofwguide.com

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Life’s Achievement | June 2009 PRC Nursing Board Exam Result

Congratulations to all June 2009 PRC Nursing Board Passers!

Roll of Successful Examinees in the
NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION
Held on JUNE 6 & 7, 2009
Released on JULY 23, 2009

Check out your names below & click the letter of your respective names.

A1  A2  B1  B2  C1  C2 

 

D1  D2  E  F   G1  G2  H  I 

 

J  K  L1  L2  M1  M2  N  O

 

P1  P2  Q  R1  R2  S1  S2 

 

T1  T2  U  V  W  Y   Z

source: PDI

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Rick Warren | A Short Interview about Life

We have a dedicated (Filipino) colleague in the company where we worked (as an OFW) who sends news daily by email, sometimes twice.  Two days back I received twice, I browsed the other one and found 'not so interesting' issues and the other was ignored.  In the afternoon I realized that it was not yet read, so I went over again line by line - and saw a very interesting, very helpful & worth sharing article at the bottom (which I think it should be placed on Top).  It's a short interview about Life with Mr. Rick Warren, who authored the popular book the 'Purpose Driven Life'.

Rick Warren author of the Purpose Driven Life and said the prayer during the inaugural ceremony of Barack Obama as President of USA.

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales.  'Purpose Driven Life' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California. In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren.

Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life? 
And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.  God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.  We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness. This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for..

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.. 'But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others. We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life...

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease…

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick,
and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able
to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?
Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better.
God didn't put me on earth just to fulfil a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.

That's why we're called human beings, not human doings...
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

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Three Sixty Degree Mall

I kept receiving emails with attached photos of the newly opened mall in Kuwait.  Actually it’s nice and a new place to visit (if time permits).  Take a look of some of the snap shots of the ins & outs of the mall. Enjoy!

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Life Sometimes is Not That Easy…

Well I heard some hearsays that Filipinos will be banned to enter Kuwait starting August due to the A(H1N1) pandemic.  Hmmm. I don’t think so, maybe there are some other reasons.  Got this info below (by email):

The Immigration Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) will not grant any expatriate a residency, unless they bring an official letter from security authorities of their country stating that they have no criminal record. This letter must be authenticated by their home country and the Kuwaiti Embassy in that country, beginning from August.

Sources told AlـWatan that this procedure aims at preventing any criminals or wanted persons from entering Kuwait. Sources asserted that Kuwaiti embassies world-wide will be responsible for authenticating the aforementioned letters in order to avoid any fraudulent documents. This new procedure will be applicable to men, women, company residencies and dependent visas. The procedure has been approved after the State of Kuwait discovered that some expatriates within its borders are wanted in their home countries.

So it’s not that easy at all now, before once you’ve granted of visit visa, then you are ready to enter Kuwait.  There are reasons why such new policies/ guidelines are being imposed by the government to protect their own and the expats as well.  Better follow… ;-)

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Passport | Part of Our Life

Just a kind reminder, please check if your passport is expiring soon.

Check This Out!

ANNOUNCEMENT
Implementation of Machine Readable Passport (MRP) The Embassy of the Philippines in Kuwait is now accepting applications for Machine Readable Passport (MRP). MRP is a passport where the data on the identity page is capable of being read by a passport machine reader at international borders.

Important changes in procedure are the following:
1. Personal appearance for all
• New
• Renew
• Lost
• Exception: below 8 and over 65 years old
2. Photo : ROYAL BLUE BACKGROUND (in matte paper, 4 copies)
3. Computer Generated Form (CGF)
4. Centralized production/printing in Manila
5. Change in turn around time
(MINIMUM WAITING PERIOD: ONE (1) MONTH FROM THE DATE
OF FILING THEIR APPLICATIONS.)

For Filipino nationals whose visa and passport is nearing
expiration, they may apply for the renewal of their passport six
months ahead of the expiration of their visa and passport.
The old Philippine passports (green) remain valid until their
expiration.

For further queries, please visit or call up the Consular Section
of the Philippine Embassy through telephone numbers 25345762 and
25349099.

Please disseminate this information to your Filipino employees.
RICARDO M. ENDAYA
Ambassador
05 June 2008

Attachments:
1) Procedures in applying for a Machine Readable Passport (MRP)
2) MRP detailed requirements
3) Requirements for photo, fingerprinting and signature

MGA HAKBANG SA PAGKUHA NG MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT (MRP) MAGFILL-IN NG PASSPORT APPLICATION FORM.
ILAKIP ANG MGA REQUIREMENTS SA APPLICATION FORM.
SUNDIN ANG MGA HAKBANG:

STEP 1
RECORDS VERIFICATION (WINDOW 1)

STEP 2
PROCESSING (WINDOW 1)

STEP 3
ENCODING/PHOTO ATTACHMENT
(GROUND FLOOR-MRP)

STEP 4
AFFIXING SIGNATURE/FINGERPRINTING
(GROUND FLOOR-MRP)

STEP 5
APPROVAL OF THE SIGNING OFFICER

STEP 6
PAYMENT (WINDOW 2)

STEP 7
RELEASING (WINDOW 3)

(N.B. MINIMUM WAITING PERIOD: ONE (1) MONTH FROM THE DATE OF FILING THEIR APPLICATIONS. PRODUCTION/PRINTING OF MRPs IS CENTRALIZED IN MANILA)
IMPORTANT REMINDER: THE MANUALLY SCRIPTED AND NON-MACHINE
READABLE GREEN PASSPORTS REMAIN VALID UNTIL THEIR
EXPIRATION.

MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS RENEWAL OF PASSPORT
Personal appearance (except below 8 years old and over 65 years old)
Duly accomplished Passport Application Form
Four (4) copies of recent picture (4.5 x 3.5 c.m. with royal blue background)
Philippine passport and photocopy of data page (page 1), Limitations &
Amendments (pages 2 & 3), residence visa page and inside back cover (page
32)
Fee: KD15.000

REPLACEMENT OF LOST PASSPORT
Personal appearance (except below 8 years old and over 65 years old)
Duly accomplished Passport Application Form
Four (4) copies of recent picture (4.5 x 3.5 c.m. with royal blue background)
Police Report with English translation
Affidavit of Loss
If possible, photocopy of the lost passport /Kuwaiti Civil ID
FEE: KD27.000
N.B. There shall be a 15-day waiting period for verification and
notification purposes.

ISSUANCE OF PASSPORT TO THOSE BORN IN KUWAIT AND
REGISTRATION OF BIRTH
Personal appearance of the infant/child
Duly accomplished Passport Application Form
Four (4) copies of recent picture (4.5 x 3.5 c.m. with royal blue background)
Duly accomplished Report of Birth Form (in triplicate) with footprint of the
infant/child at the back page
Birth Certificate authenticated by the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs (with
English translation) and three (3) photocopies
Marriage Certificate of parents and three (3) photocopies:
• If parents were married in the Philippines, the Marriage Certificate in
SECPA (security paper) from NSO must be authenticated by the
Department of Foreign Affairs – Manila
• If the marriage was solemnized by the Kuwait Ministry of Justice, the
Marriage Certificate (with English translation) must be authenticated by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and duly registered at the Embassy
Photocopy of parent’s passport (page 1) and residence visa page
Personal appearance of either parent.
KD22.500

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
For either parent renewing the passports of their minor children (below 18 years old):
• Photocopy of latest departure and arrival stamp of Kuwait Immigration
Authority
• Photocopy of the data page of parents’ passport
For a woman who wants to adopt her married name
• Marriage Certificate in SECPA (security paper) from NSO
authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs – Manila
• If the marriage was solemnized by the Kuwait Ministry of Justice,
the Marriage Certificate (with English translation) must be
authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and duly registered
at the Philippine Embassy.

NEW PHOTO REQUIREMENTS FOR MACHINE READABLE PASSPORTS (MRPs)
General Rule: Photo must allow the Immigration Officer to identify the passport holder, therefore, as long as the photo submitted by the applicant satisfies this primary criteria, the photo is acceptable, provided the following requirements are met:
1. RECENT PHOTO: Photograph should have been taken within the last six months.
2. SIZE: Photograph size is 4.5 x 3.5 c.m.
3. BACKGROUND COLOR. Background color should be ROYAL BLUE.
4. POSE: Full frontal
5. IMAGE SIZE: Image of the applicant should occupy approximately 70-80% of the photograph.
6. CROPPING. There should be at least 5mm-10mm space at the top of the photo between the edge of the photo and the crown/head of the person to allow for “cropping” of the photo at DFA-Manila.
7. MATTE PAPER PREFERRED: Photograph should be printed on good quality photo paper, preferably MATTE.
8. CLEAN PHOTOGRAPH: Photograph should be free from ink marks, dirt, grease, finger prints and paste stains.
9. DO NOT USE ERASER/APPLY CHEMICAL ON THE PHOTO TO CLEAN IT.
10. USE OF COLLARED SHIRT: Applicant’s photograph should show him/her wearing decent attire, preferably with collar. No short sleeves/plunging neckline for women.

MORE REMINDERS ON PHOTOGRAPHS:
1. EYE GLASSES: Use of eyeglasses is acceptable, provided there is no glare from the glasses.
2. DARK GLASSES/SHADES: Use of dark/tinted glasses is not acceptable, except for the medically blind, provided the person can still be recognized through his photo.
3. EARS SHOULD BE VISIBLE: As much as possible, both ears of the applicant should be visible.
4. HEAD SCARF/VEIL: Use of head scarf for religious and medical reasons is allowed, (i.e. Muslim women/nuns/cancer patients with hair loss/Alopecia) however, the scarf should not cover the eyebrows/eyes. Remember, the photo should allow the Immigration Officer to recognize/identify the passport holder. It is all right if the ears of the Muslim woman applicant or an applicant who is a member of a religious order (nun) is not visible in the photograph. Rule: Photo is acceptable.
5. CAPS/HEADGEAR: Use of caps or headgear is not allowed.
6. SMILING: When having their photos taken, applicants may smile. However, the features (eyes, mouth, cheeks) of the applicant must not appear distorted or too different from formal/non-smiling pose. RECOMMENDED: The “Mona Lisa” smile is recommended. Photos showing applicant smiling with teeth or gums showing is acceptable, provided the applicant’s features are not distorted and they can be identified at borders using the photograph submitted.
7. USE OF CONTACT LENSES: Use of contact lenses for medical reasons is all right, provided the contact lenses do not change the applicant‘s true eye color.
8. USE OF EARRINGS:
For Women: Acceptable, provided earrings are small.
For Men: Photo is rejected.

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS ARE REJECTED:
1. Photo with red eye effect
2. Dirty photos
3. Image of the face too big
4. Image of the face too small
5. Wrong color background
6. Poor quality photo (washed out image/unnatural skin tone)
7. Photo does not resemble applicant
8. Applicant does not look directly into the camera. (Exception: Applicant
has a medical/physical condition.)

FINGERPRINTING
How to affix your fingerprints:
• Slightly press both fingers on the black stampad provided.
• Carefully press both fingers on the boxes provided in the MRP printable
form, avoiding any overprinting or excess ink.

SIGNATURE
How to affix your signature:
• You must sign in the box provided on the MRP printable form.
• Your signature should be within the box provided in the MRP printable
form. It indicates your confirmation of the accuracy and veracity of the
information contained thereon.

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