필리핀 EPS ( 외국인 고용허가제) 근로자 협회 공식 발행 – 대 한민국

The Voice of the Modern Living Heroes

The Official Publication of Fil ipino EPS Workers Association -South Korea (FEWA)

Volume 2 Issue 9 2010 www.sulyapinoy.org NOT FOR SALE

필리핀 EPS 외국인 고용허가제 근로자 협회 공식 발행 – 대 한민국

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Extension of the Voluntary

Departure Program

SULYAPINOY is The Official

Publication of Filipino EPS

Workers Association-South Korea

(FEWA)

EPS Happy Return Program 6

Filipino Migrant Workers and the Wages of Peace

FILIPOS Workshop

OFW-KOREA-2006-001

Magtanong kay Amba

7

Mga Aral sa Patimpalak

2

4

3

6

OWWA News

Editorial

Feature

By Maria Lourdes Espinola

The event was mainly participated in by the active officers, members and volunteers of FEWA. In partici-pation were groups from the Hyehwadong community such as Filipino Photographers in South Korea (FILIPOS) and a group from the Incheon Filipino community. They were formed into four teams: Yellow Python, Green Mantis, Red Ants, and Blue Hornets. The event was started with an opening prayer led by Mr. Joel Tavaro,

from the Prayer Partners group, followed by the opening speech and welcome address of Mr. Marcelino Serdeṅa III, FEWA president.

The high school playing court

was filled with joy as each

team enthusiastically delivered

their cheers in songs and ac-

companied choreographies.

Among the games include volleyball, basketball, sack race, Patintero and egg throwing game. Tired but smiling players gathered again at the play-ing court as the FEWA presi-dent presented awards to the teams. The Yellow Py-thon was hailed as the over-all champion, followed by 1st place Blue Hornets, 2nd place Red Ants and 3rd place Green Mantis.

People and God-centered Association

SULYAPINOY is accepting cash donations for its monthly printing expenses. You may deposit them @ Account # : 1002 640 334730 / Acnt Name: Marcelino M. / Bank: Woori Bank - Hyehwa-dong Branch

F EWA – In its objective to pro-mote camaraderie among the

organization members, as well as to other communities in South Korea, Filipino EPS Workers Association

(FEWA) held its second sports meet, entitled FEWALYMPICS. More than 50 people were gathered that morning of September 23, 2010 at the Tongsong High School grounds to have fun and take advantage of the autumn weather during the Chuseok (Thanksgiving) holidays.

Photo by Samuel Grado

Opinion

7

FVR Giving a Speech during His Visit to Korea last Sept 13, 2010

(Ed: Dondave Jabay or Sir Dave, is going back to the Philippines and uncertain of coming back to Korea should a business feasibil-ity studies he will conduct turns out well. We asked him to share his inspiring experience as an active volunteer and officer of FEWA/SULYAPINOY and FILI-POS. This is his reflection piece which I made a fitting title.) I came to Korea in June 1, 2006, but it took for more than a year before I started my unexpected public service role to my kababa-yan particularly the EPS workers Before I joined Sulyapinoy, I had

a little background about EPS job but I have heard from several friends that EPS job is a 3D job which means difficult, dangerous, and dirty. At that time I could not totally feel what 3D job is because literally I never saw our kababayan in Korea working as hard as a laborer in our country. Not until I started my volunteer work for Sulyapinoy and FEWA which is the forefront of different issues and problems experienced by many EPS workers such as discrimination, un-paid salary and other benefits man-dated by the Korean labor law, unfair

EPS policy, and most especially EPS workers' lack of knowledge of their (to be continued on page 3)

Photo courtesy of www.koreatimes.co.kr

SEPTEMBER 2010

Ako po si Felix Jumarang, gusto ko lang po ibahagi sa inyo ang magandang balita na nagawa namin may 5 buwan na po ang nakakaraan. Kami po ay nakapagligtas ng isang batang estudyante babae mula tangkang panggagahasa (attempted rape) noong ika 17 ng Mayo 2010, malapit sa factory namin sa Nayang-ju si, Ilpaedong, Guri City. Bandang ika-10 ng gabi nang kumatok po sa gate namin ang isang kapitbahay na Korean na nag mamay-ari ng isang convenient store malapit sa am-ing tinitirahan. Humingi po siyang ng tulong at itin-uro nya ang isang lalaki na patakas na aming hinabol at nahuli. Tinulungan namin ang estudyanteng babae na duguan at itinawag ang krimen sa mga pulis na agad namang tumugon. Ang amin pong salaysay ay mabasa din sa ulat ng Guri Community Center. Kasama ko po sina Larry Bayasen, Rizalino Tawagen, Benjamen Vinluan, Jomar Marco, Jayson Ibarra, anim po kaming lahat na nag-tulong-tulong at magkakasama sa pagligtas sa batang babae mula sa kapahamakan. Dahil po sa undocumented ang iba naming kasama hiling po namin na mabigyan din sila ng kaukulang pagkilala dito sa Sulyapinoy. Maraming salamat po at mabuhay po kayo! www.sulyapinoy.org 2

Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Ambassador Luis Cruz, right, awarded medals of honor to three Filipino workers last August 2010. They deserve such honor after rescuing a Korean Highschool Student in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province .

The month of September this year marks the

60th Anniversary when Filipino soldiers landed

in Busan, and together with Allied na-

tions provided help to South Korea in securing

peace from its communist North Korean

“brother”. The bitter differences in ideology

compounded by other external and internal

factors brought Korea into a tragic civil war that

escalated to become part of the superpowers’

cold war, separating the peninsula. Much has

changed 60 years after; there’s a standing

armistice, the North and South technically re-

mains to be at war or in a situation of negative

peace.

But here in South Korea positive peace is a much desired condition. Particularly for migrant workers, their battle and struggle are those of structural violence they are experiencing in the workplace and in Korean society. These are physical and verbal abuses, ill treatment, discrimination and other forms of violations of their rights and dignity as a person. Consider-ing that the generations of the current Filipino migrant workers here in Korea could be kin, relatives or sons and daughters, of those

who fought for South Koreans to gain its inde-

pendence, this time to fight against poverty and

for their family’s economic emancipation at the

home front. Filipinos continue to pay for the

wages of peace here in Korea: yesterday as sol-

diers, today as migrant workers.

One wonders if it is too much for the Korean

government to share dividends of its peace and

economic security, translated as fair treatment

and respect of migrant workers’ rights. Migrant

workers help a lot those small scale industries

and agricultural businesses to survive. These

are blue collar jobs and manual labor that the

country’s educated populace and young genera-

tion would not venture into.

Working relations and conditions are bad for most of the migrant workers. They work long hours, even on Saturdays, as much as possible no Sundays or holidays. Their works are literally back-breaking. Imagine a worker who plants rocks or boulders on top of hills and mountains that he carries on his back, the whole day, five, six, maybe even seven times a

week. Some workers continue to demand proper

compensation for their labor. Although most are

happy to have a job, the purpose for which they

came here, but never realized that they would be

reduced into pitiable lamentations of a soldier.

With the upcoming G20 Summit this November,

there’s a continued crackdown of undocumented

workers. This is an ongoing „peaceless’ situation

in the labor front. Although amnesty is being

extended to those who would voluntarily surren-

der, some are not availing it for the lack of guar-

antee of possible and future job security. As ex-

perienced by those previous undocumented

workers who voluntarily left Korea, they are now

complaining for not being allowed to re-apply for

work here. Migrant workers are advocating that

they be consulted to further improve the Employ-

ment Permit System (EPS) which is causing these

labor problems and issues.

Filipino Korean war veterans are old, and their

descendants among the migrant workers are

withered by harsh and improperly compen-

sated labor. The wages for positive peace re-

mains too elusive to attain, and so, the struggle

for real and lasting peace continues.

EDITOR’S NOTE

3

By Mind Cataract

SULYAPINOY Office Address: 115-9 Songbuk-gu, Songbuk 1 dong, Songbuk Villa, Seoul, Korea 136-020 FEWA Office & SULYAPINOY Distribution Center: Inside WOORI BANK, Hyehwa-dong Branch, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Pete Rahon Editor-in-chief Corinna Bianca Estarija FeatUre/Managing Editor Raechelle Montalbo Lay-out Editor Rhean de los Reyes, Maria Lourdes Espinola, Mind Cataract, Boladas ni Blue-man

Contributors Rodel Arias, Lito Libunag, Alwyin Casino, Ismael Calandrina Circulation Managers Cathy Rose Garcia Adviser

Chairman : Dondave Jabay

Vice Chairman: Julius Caesar Ocampo

Secretary: Jenn Betacura

Printing & Distribution: Benjie Del Mundo

Budget & Finance: Theo Camo

Outreach & Religious Programs: Ma. Lourdes Espinola

Website Dev't. and Maintenance: Christian Robles

Sponsorship & Promotion: Annabelle Lopez,

Aquilino Juanites Jr., Sofonias Paragsa, & Rodel Arias

Training & Workshop: Noel Joseph Alvarez

Consultants : Fr. Alvin B. Parantar, MSP

Prof. Emely Dicolen-Abagat

Ma. Regina P. Arquiza

The stagnancy and complacency of living in that thought, without having to find and demand more from oneself can be said to distinguish the continued downward spiral of our country. Complain of incompetence and insufficiencies where they are warranted. But don’t forget to look at the sand in your own eye, for that is where change may start. Call it optimism, but it is downright better than having no hope for one’s self. So in response to those who generalize and hate, let them. Having emotions and letting it out is what makes us human. But what makes them and us truly above the rest of the species is if after the grief and the embarrassment, we can prove ourselves to be capable of critical thinking. It is through our ability to evaluate and calmly tell for ourselves what the thinking man can do and will do in response to that animalistic instinct. It is through being able to tell the difference of actions, decisions, and sensibil-ity that we set ourselves apart. Only then can you call yourself different.

(continued from Sulyapinoy’s August 2010 issue)

Daniel Wagner (Huffington Post: “The Phil-ippine Bus and Miss Universe”) expressed his reaction to both incidents quite aptly. As isolated as these may be, the people should not be satisfied with these inadequacies and should be the first to demand improvements. We are being left behind, and it is not help-ing that we give excuses for these lacking skills and capabilities.

The constancy of the past glories of the country and living in that memory are caus-ing us to get left behind by our neighbours. Especially for the workers in this host coun-try, how many times have you heard the locals say that they used to admire our country because of all the help, the kind-ness and the prosperity we used to enjoy compared to all the countries in Asia?

SEPTEMBER 2010 www.sulyapinoy.org

For Comments, Suggestions, Contributions

& Advertisements,

e-mail: editorialstaff@sulyapinoy.org or sulyap.editorialstaff@gmail.com

SULYAPINOY observes the Philippine Press Code of Ethics .

ERRATUM Of Debacles and Futures by Mind Cataract

has only 2 parts, unlike what was pub-

lished last month stating it has 3 parts.

EDITORIAL STAFF BOARD OF PUBLICATION

( continued from page 3)

rights based on labor laws. Siguro ang isa sa pinaka-hindi ko makakalimutan being a vol-unteer of FEWA/Sulyapinoy is my level of knowledge on the Korea labor laws and pol-icy. I feel a little bit awkward because I know Korean labor laws and the rights of workers more than that of the Philip-pines. But I am proud of it because it is the best way for me to help our kababayan in my own little ways, considering my own limitation as an OFW. I will always cherish being busy (daig pa ang pagiging busy sa real work) doing multitasking for Sulyapinoy newsletter: writing, editing, layout and man-aging publication; receiving 3-5 phone calls a day or receiving 5-10 questions thru Sulyapi-noy Forum from our kababayan asking

D I S C L A I M E R

Different opinions are encourage to stimulate member input and involvement. SULYAPI-NOY’s role is to provide information that per-mits FEWA members to develop informed opin-ions on subjects that will affect their status as migrant workers and, in some instances, their personal lives. FEWA does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any con-tributor. Statements or opinions expressed in SULYAPINOY reflect the views of the author(s) and not the official policy of FEWA unless so stated.

guidance and questions such as: kung ano ang proseso sa paglilipat ng ibang com-pany; kung tama ang sahod; paano compu-tation ng salary at deductions; at kung paano ipaglaban ang karapatan bilang em-ployee. Hindi ko rin po makakalimutan ang naging role ko noong ipinaglaban ng mga OFWs dito sa Korea ang planong pagkuha sana ng SSS ng pera ng mga OFWs coming from National Pension where I did a major research about SSS-NPS bilateral agree-ment. I was very happy that I was able to explain to my kababayan the hidden motive of SSS and encouraged them to support the massive signature campaign we launched. As a migrant worker, I believe one way to promote our rights and protect our-selves from any abusive employers is to empower ourselves by learning the labor

laws and immigration laws. How? Thru the internet we can research/read Korean labor/immigration laws from their websites. Last but not the least, pasasalamat sa lahat nang mga taong naging part sa buhay ko as an active volunteer and officer of FEWA/SULYAPINOY at sa FILIPOS

4 www.sulyapinoy.org SEPTEMBER 2010

Una sa lahat, Maraming salamat po sa FEWA, sa pag-tanggap sa akin para maging kandidato nila sa Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang Filipino 2010. Kung tama ang natatandaan ko, ang tanong sa final round ay “Ano ang pinakamahalagang natutunan mo sa Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang Filipino 2010?” Masasabi kong ang pinakamahalagang natutunan ko sa pagsali ay ang pakikipagkapwa tao at pakikisama. Pumunta po ako sa South Korea bilang isang iskolar sa Catholic University of Korea. Hindi man po ako mi-yembro ng FEWA noon, tinanggap nila ako ng parang isang bagong kapamilya. Sa paghahanda sa contest na ito, nakilala ko ang mga officer at mga miyembro ng FEWA. Dahil dito, masa-sabi kong nakilala ko ang mga totoong tao na matapang na nakikipagsapalaran sa Korea. Nadiskubre ko kung paano ang kanilang pamumuhay dito sa South Korea. Mapalad akong nakasama sila sa kanilang bahay at kung saan sila araw-araw na nag-papakahirap magtrabaho upang makatulong sa pa-milya sa Pilipinas. Masaya akong malaman na may-roong mga miyembro ng FEWA na kahit nakatira pa sa malalayong lugar dito sa Korea, ay walang paly-ang nasa Hyewah tuwing Linggo upang magsimba, makipag-usap sa mga kababayan, kumain nang sa-bay-sabay o mamasyal. Masaya ako’t nakilala ko ang mga taong bumubuo ng organisasyon na nagtitipon sa mga Pinoy upang hindi makalimutan sa mga kaugalian at kultura ng Pinoy. Mabuhay ang FEWA para sa kanilang mabuting adhi-kain para sa ating mga kababayan ditto sa South Korea.

Ni-minsan hindi ko nakita ang sarili ko sa isang pag-eant na tulad nito, ngunit salamat kay Ivan at sa mga kasama niya sa Incheon na nagturo sa aking lumakad nang maayos at rumampa habang abala silang nagtratrabaho sa factory. Salamat sa pagpa-

pakilala sa akin sa iyong mga kaibigan. Marami akong natutunan mula sa iyo, Maraming Salamat ! Isang pagbati sa mga organizer ng Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang Filipino 2010 at sa lahat ng mga kandi-dato. Kay Sir Marzy, sa Sulyapinoy at sa Filipos, Maraming Salamat po!

Raechelle Montalbo

Sa buhay natin, marami tayong mga kompetisyon na nais ipanalo, mga laban kung saan magtuturo sa atin ng mga bagay kung paano tayo magiging mas mabuting nilalang sa mata ng Diyos at sa mata ng tao. Isa sa mga laban na masasabi kong malaki ang naging bahagi upang madagdagan pa ang aking kaalaman, karanasan, at siyang magiging sandata ko sa patuloy na pakikibaka sa buhay ay ang patimpalak para sa Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangan Pilipino 2010. Sa loob ng halos dalawang buwan na paghahanda para sa isang araw ng patimpalak, marami akong natuklasan sa sarili ko. Mga bagay na noong una ay di ko inakalang magagawa ko. Nakisalamuha ako sa mga bagong kaibigan na kahit saan man ako makarating ay masasabi kong bahagi na ng aking buhay. Ang pagpapahalaga sa kulturang muntik ko nang maiwaglit sa aking isipan, at higit sa lahat ang paglalim pa ng aking pananampalataya sa Mayka-pal at pagdiskubre ko sa talento na ibinigay sa akin. Isang malaking karangalan at maipagmamalaki ko na maging kalahok sa patimpalak at kumatawan sa Filipino EPS Worker Association (FEWA) at Sulyapi-noy. Hindi lamang pagkapanalo ang sukatan kundi higit ang karansan na siyang magiging gabay ko sa landas ng buhay. Tatlong mahahalagang bagay ang aking natutunan na mas humubog pa sa aking pagiging tunay na Pilipino,sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa. Una, KASAYSAYAN, nakatatak na sa kasaysayan ang kagitingan ng mga Pilipino tulad ng pagtulong ng mga sundalong Pinoy sa bansang Korea para sa kanilang hangad na demokrasya at ka-payaan. Pangalawa, KULTURA, mayaman at natatangi ang kultura natin (Diverse Culture). Sa ibat ibang pagdiriwang ng mga rehiyon ng bansa ito’y makulay at simbolo din ng pagiging ma-sayahin natin. Pangatlo, KULAY, ang pagkakaisa ng bawat Pilipino (Togetherness) ay makulay, mula sa ibat ibang rehiyon, mga wika, at paniniwala. Be PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO WHEREVER WE ARE BECAUSE WE ARE UNIQUE, THAT MAKES US DIF-FERENT FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD. Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tulong, dasal, at suporta ng lahat.

Joseph Noel Alvarez

Photos by Samuel Grado and Kuya Nhads

EDITOR’S

5 www.sulyapinoy.org

Lukod ng Kapighatian by: Boladas ni Blueman Marahil isang payak na lundo ng hinaing Pawang putos ng luksa at pugad ng daing Pumailanlang sa isipan kong walang muwang Kapagdaka pagdurusa'y nabalutan ng kahapisan Kapighatian ko ni isa man walang nakakaalam Kahit dagli'y mabatid dagsang hapis ng kamulatan Kundi ikaw na saksing di makababata kailanman Sa suliranin kong tigib ng hinagpis at tigatig man Sa mga mata ko'y pawang sumilay kapalaluan lang Ang layon ko lamang ay ipahayag ang nararamdaman At ipakabisa bawat saknong ng aba kong pagdurusa Biglang namutawi't umagos luha ko'y bumigay na Kusang bumalong sa hapis at payak kong kaanyuan Kapintasang batid dalangin ko'y hanggang kelan Nais ko lang mandi'y para sa aking luksang kalagayan Makahanap ng matibay na kalasag tatabon sa 'king kahinaan Mandi'y bigkis ng pag-asa na isang araw darating ka Lulan ng sanlaksang pagsusumamo na hagkan ka At kapag nangyari yun, buhay ma'y nanaisin ko na Ibayong sigla ang madarama dahil sa harapan ko'y andyan ka Dating problemang tigatib ng tinik sa dibidb bumalong Ngayo'y maiibsan ng talutot ng saya't saglit na pananabik Samu't saring dalangin ko kaginahawaang matagal ko ng inasam Mapapawi mo pala ang lahat ng dusa sa isang kisap-mata lang.

By: Boladas ni Blueman

Mahusay,talipandas na karunungan

Kunwaring mangmang ngatngat ang isipan

Luwalhati sa puso tumuldok sa sangkatauhan

Daop ng kaalaaman dulot ay kawawaan.

Nasaan ang angking kayamanan

Kung talino't wika'y tatabunan ng kamalayan

Karangyaan ng isip dala'y abang kawikaan

Dadausdos sa tigatig ng kalumbayan

Hindi bubulusok sa kung saan

Hindi rin naman paawat kaninuman

Perlas ang isipan sansinukob dadantayan

Maarok ka lamang dusa't limot iiwasan

Narito ang buong kanyuan bukas wagwag saanman

Piling wika'y pumapaimbulog, pumapailanlang

Hahamakin tala sa buong sansinukuban

Talismang akay 'di papagapi sa sinuman

Salitang wagas hatid ay kapayapaan

Huling talata'y dagling bibitiwan, dinggin mo lamang

Wisyo'y gagalugad at sa mukha'y mamarkahan

Hindi lalatay sa hapis kong katauhan

Kundi'y kikiyak-kiyak aba kong kalagayan

Paalam pupugak-pugak kong kaisipan

Hanggang sa muli matalik kong kaibigan...

SEPTEMBER 2010

Nov 14 — Bowling Tournament Dec 12— Christmas Party

6

Former President Fidel V. Ramos and Ambassador Luis Cruz gives a certifi-

cate of appreciation to Marzy Sedena, FEWA President for FEWA's partici-

pation in the 112th Independence Day Celebration

SEPTEMBER 2010

T he Ministry of Justice (MOJ) of Korea has implemented the “Voluntary Departure Program” on 06 May 2010. The

program aims to promote the voluntary surrender and de-

portation of overstaying workers/aliens to avoid payment of fines and ban on re entry. The program was supposed to end last 31 August 2010 but was extended by the MOJ due to the significant turnout of illegal stayers. The program is ex-tended until 31 October 2010. Those who will voluntarily avail of the program up to the extended period will be exempted from payment of fines

The Happy Return Program of HRD Korea is aimed at providing E-9 visa holders (EPS workers) who are about to finish their sojourn, free skills upgrading that can be utilized by the workers upon their return in their home country.

Skills like Korean language interpretation, exca-

vator operation, computer repair, welding and driving may enable them to be employed in a Korean-owned company or start a business of their own with the new set of skills acquired.

The program is open to all E-9 visa holders

whose visas will expire on 30 June 2011.

and will not be subject to ban on re entry. Apprehended overstayers shall still be subject to fines/penalties.

Overstaying workers/aliens who voluntarily surrender after the ex-tended period shall be subject to ban on re entry for one (1) to two (2) years. From 06 May 2010 (start of the program) to 10 September 2010, there were 442 Filipinos who voluntarily availed of the program and 780 involuntary deportees. The total number of EPS workers as of 30 August 2010 is 25, 917. Of this number, 4, 951 are illegal stayers.

Franchise Investment Opportunities Seminar

The Philippine Embassy through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office invited the Philippine Franchise Association to con-duct a Franchise Investment Opportunities Seminar on 16 October 2010, 2:00pm to 4:30pm at the Multi Pur-pose Hall of the Philippine Embassy. FilCom leaders/members are enjoined to attend. You may email/register with Welfare Officer Vangie Filamor of POLO at labor@philembassy-seoul.com .

Education Program for Workplace Transfer-

ees, Employment Adaptability

17 October 2010, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA), Uijeongbu City

The Foreign Workforce Bureau of HRD-Korea in coordina-tion with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office will con-duct an “Employment Adaptability Education Program” for EPS workers in Suwon, Incheon and Uijeongbu.

www.sulyapinoy.org

Matanong Kay Amba

EDITOR’S NOTE

By Rhean Delos Reyes

FILIPOS Conducts Workshop

7

F ILIPOS or the Filipino Photographers in South Korea celebrated this year’s

Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) with its Basic Photography Workshop and Photowalk

held at You Eal Leisure Park in Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, Korea last 21-22 of Sep-tember 2010. Presentations on basic photography were pro-vided by FILIPOS mem-bers: Corinna Estarija (introduction on basic photography), Russel Lamiel (composition), Ronald Concepcion (camera metering, setting, control and functions) and Samuel Grado (camera lenses and fil-ters). Tips on where to buy cameras and acces-sories in Korea were like-wise imparted to the 26 participants (in photo) who actively joined the discussions and hands-on experience.

Photo by Rusl Lamiel

president Pete Rahon, announced that the 3rd leg of Photowalk will be held on 17 October 2010 in Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon province. Interested participants are encouraged to check the group’s facebook account: FILI-POS (Filipino Photographers in South Ko-rea) for details of said activity. Lowell Chiong Sato, a new member and lone participant from Busan was welcomed

by the group. He will help start FILIPOS-South Chapter. FILIPOS is still open for membership. Applicants may join online thru the above FILIPOS facebook account and/or visit their office at 2/F Woori Bank, Hyewa-dong Branch. _____________ Guest writer and new FILIPOS member, Rhean Delos Reyes, is in Korea for the 2010 KOICA-HUFS Master’s Degree Program in International Devel-opment Studies. Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is the Korean Government’s donor agency, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. HUFS stands for Hanguk University of Foreign Studies.

Para matugunan ang dami ng tawag, may kinuhang volunteer ang Embahada para makatulong sa pagsagot ng telepono.

Araw-araw, daan-daang tawag ang tinatanggap ng Embahada. Hinihikayat ng Embahada ang mga Pilipino na bumisita sa website nito sawww.philembassy-seoul.com. Makukuha sa website ang sagot sa mga madalas itanong, tulad ng paraan ng pag-appointment at re-quirements sa renewal. Ang mga application forms ay downloadable din. Hinihikayat din po ng Embahada na, sa paghingi naman ng appointment sa ePassport, maaaring gamitin ang email hotline (epassport@philembassy-seoul.com) para maiwasan ang abala dulot ng dami ng tumatawag sa cellphone hotline. Kailangan lamang i-

email ang mga detalye na hinihingi din sa cellphone hotline.

By: The Philippine Embassy

SEPTEMBER 2010

Matanong Kay Amba

1. May shelter house po ba ang Embahada? Ano po ang gamit nito? At sino ang maaaring gumamit? Ang Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) ay nagsisilbing pansamantalang tirahan ng mga OFWs at iba pang Pilipinong may kasalukuyang suliranin o pangangailangan patungkol sa labor, welfare at assistance-to-nationals (ATN). Mula Enero 2010 hanggang August 2010, ang FWRC ay kumalinga ng 25 Pilipino na binubuo ng manggagawang EPS, enter-tainers, Filipino Korean spouses at isang sanggol.

2. Sira po ba ang hotline ng Embahada? Bakit parang wala pong sumasagot? MArami pong kababayan ang nagtatanong at nakakaranas ng pagka-abala at pagka-ubos ng load sa kanilang mobile phone dahil sa na-pakahirap na pagkontak sa hotline.

www.sulyapinoy.org