POEA chief: Please give me some dignity

POEA chief: Please give me some dignity

MANILA, Philippines—With a day to go before his expected departure, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Carlos Cao Jr.  said Saturday he had yet to receive any official word about his removal from office.

Cao asked his superiors to at least give him some “dignity” and officially inform him that he was being replaced as the militant migrant rights group Migrante expressed support for the beleaguered POEA chief.

“I serve at the pleasure of the President and my only request from (the Department of Labor and Employment)—and I respect them all—I’m appealing to them to give me the dignity of being formally advised whether or not I’m going to be replaced or not,” Cao said in an interview.

“The President gave me dignity by appointing me to this office and I’m extremely grateful for that,” he added.

POEA boss sees writing on wall, starts packing

POEA boss sees writing on wall, starts packing

POEA opens more kiosks to help OFWs

POEA opens more kiosks to help OFWs

Yes they're coming home. For our OFWs December is the time to come home and spend Christmas with their loved ones. They look forward to this holiday season to be with their family. Merry making activities are lined up to celebrate life.

POEA has responded to this by making it easy for the OFWs to come and go back to their work destination with ease.

Thank you POEA.

A Day in the Life of an OFW Hero

A day in the life of an OFW hero

We are posting this article to help you make your choices about how you should handle your money, hard earned money well.

As an OFW, you are the "assigned" as the bread winner of the family in the Philippines. But there is also the issue of your future. This article makes practical suggestions how you can handle the sending of money to your family in order to save for your future.

I hope this helps.

‘My OFW husband came home a different man’

‘My OFW husband came home a different man’

Our hearts cry out for this woman, whose only fault was to love the man of her life- her husband.
It's true that OFW's are heroes of our nation because they bring in the much needed Dollars. But, are they also heroes to their own family and specially to their spouse?

We pray that this article will be a warning to our own interns and will serve as a reminder that they are the real heroes of their family. For after all, isn't that that the reason why we persevere?

Uno's interns are different. They have known the source of life and are committed to love Jesus Christ, who first loved us. They are therefore committed to be loyal and true to their own spouse while working abroad no matter what.

Kudos!

The Privilege of Serving

At Uno Overseas, we go the extra mile in serving our overseas workers, whom we call interns under the Technical Intern Training System of  JITCO in Japan. We believe that everyone who comes through our door will be a changed person from the inside out. This is the privilege given to us by the Lord and we take it seriously.

In addition to the Work Ethics and Values Seminar, we give our workers/interns the opportunity to encounter God. The Encounter Weekend is marked by a three day undisturbed time with the God. We believe that only God can change a man or a woman from the inside out.

Uno Interns graduating from the Encounter Weekend

We have seen the effect of this Encounter in the lives of our interns. This change is not just for the purpose of working in Japan but will be with them for a lifetime.

Uno Interns proudly showing the Encounter Weekend Certificate

We thank God for every opportunity to share with them the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Uno Overseas

P.S. The result of the encounter is seen in how our principals are blessed with the good attitudes and the desire of the interns to make them successful. Because they have been blessed to be a blessing!

Merry Christmas to our Overseas Filipino Workers

We found this video and it touched our hearts. We would like to dedicate this to our OFW, who are out there working for the betterment of their family.

Uno Overseas Placement salutes you and are praying for your endurance, perseverance, patience and above your trust and confidence in God.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Doing What The Japanese Workers Do

The interns of Uno Overseas are not only being trained how to speak Nihonggo well for better communication but also how to start their day at work.

Usually, the Japanese start their day with a physical exercise (Taisou) before proceeding to work.

We love to see how our Interns adapt to the ways and culture of Japan.

Congratulations Interns. Job well done.

Japan rapidly recovering beyond its expectations

Japan rapidly recovering beyond its expectations

“Japan has recovered considerably,” Shinichi Nishimiya, deputy minister for foreign affairs, told a group of Asian journalists on Oct. 25.

Economy grows by 2.3%

Noriyuke Shikata, a deputy Cabinet secretary, described the rapid recovery of the country’s supply chain as “beyond our expectations.”

OFW remittances grew by 8% to $1.74B in September — BSP

OFW remittances grew by 8% to $1.74B in September — BSP

MANILA, Philippines — Remittances from overseas-based Filipinos grew anew in September as demand for Filipino workers by employers in various parts of the globe remained strong.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported on Tuesday that remittances amounted to $1.74 billion in September, up by 8.4 percent from $1.6 billion in the same month in 2010.

This brought the total remittances in the first nine months of the year to $14.76 billion, up by 7.1 percent from $13.78 billion in the same period a year ago.

Filipino Farmers in Japan

Filipino Technical Interns are doing a wonderful work in Japan's agriculture sector. We can learn a lot from the Japanese farmers.

This is a tribute to the hardworking and industrious Filipino farmers.

Congratulations!

Prefab shelters made in Cavite house Japan evacuees

Prefab shelters made in Cavite house Japan evacuees

IWAKI, Fukushima Prefecture —Filipinos may take comfort in the thought that aside from the material and financial aid they had sent to Japan, prefabricated units built in the Philippines are now housing thousands of families displaced by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that hit the country earlier this year.

Eight months after 3/11 (March 11), some 52,000 families are staying in government prefab houses put up in the three worst affected prefectures—Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate—and four other prefectures. All evacuation centers have been closed.

Many of the prefab shelters were made by Filipinos at the sprawling manufacturing facility owned by Ichijo Koumuten Co. at the Cavite export processing zone.

Japan’s economy rises out of earthquake slump

Japan’s economy rises out of earthquake slump

The Cabinet Office’s real gross domestic product report Monday marks the first expansion for the world’s No. 3 economy in four quarters. The result was in line with market forecasts, including Kyodo News agency’s projection of 6.2 percent annualized growth for the July-September quarter.

POEA to review ban on OFW deployment

POEA to review ban on OFW deployment

The POEA governing board, chaired by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, initially met on Friday to deliberate on the DFA proposal seeking postponement of the implementation of POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 7.

More questions and answers on wellness

More questions and answers on wellness

Can homeopathic regimens improve health challenges?

Definitely. Homeopathy is the “Law of Similars,” or simply put, “like cures like.” This is a principle used in conventional medicine, especially for allergy treatments. The same natural substances that cause certainsymptoms in the body are used in homeopathic remedies.

Natural remedies for recurring colds, migraine, constipation

Natural remedies for recurring colds, migraine, constipation

Natural is better.

Need passport? Go to the mall

Need passport? Go to the mall
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday announced that it will soon start moving its regional consular offices to shopping malls around the country in a bid to improve passport services, and save the government millions of pesos as well.

Thousands of flood-hit Thais to work in Japan

Thousands of flood-hit Thais to work in Japan

P100M OFW legal defense fund to be restored

P100M OFW legal defense fund to be restored

Why depend on this legal fund when you can avoid violating the law. OBEDIENCE is the key to blessing! Stay out of trouble, obey the law of your country host.

Japan offers 10,000 free trips to foreigners—report

Japan offers 10,000 free trips to foreigners—report

Japan will offer 10,000 foreigners free airfares to visit the country next year, in an attempt to boost the tourism industry which has been hit by the ongoing nuclear disaster, a report said Monday.

Bilog: 9 years in hiding in Japan

Bilog: 9 years in hiding in Japan

His story, however, may be more of an exception.  Many bilogs, due to their lack of legal status, struggle with no regular work, and thus are unable to send regular remittances to dependents back home. Some who are eventually arrested return broke. With job skills attuned to the Japanese market, many are unable to reintegrate into local jobs, stuck in limbo, as it were, and hoping against hope for another chance to ’do it right’ in Japan.


This story is really more of an exception than normal. Walang makukuhang magandang bagay sa maling paraan.


Lessons we can learn:
1. Our actions has consequences. 
2. Savings is a good habit. 
3. Spending to support a lavish lifestyle ends in poverty.
4. It pays to tell the truth.

Credit card debts land OFW in jail

Credit card debts land OFW in jail

OFWs are often beset with problems that have nothing to do with their jobs overseas. One of them is creditcard debt.

In rich countries, getting a credit card is easy. Our kababayan there are almost pushed to avail of the plastic money cards.

Some overseas Filipino workers carry not just one or two cards but five or six, or as many as they can.

But some kabayan apparently don’t know how to handle finances wisely. They buy too much on credit, forgetting that they are going to have to pay for the debts eventually.

Many OFWs fall into a mindset that if you have credit card you actually have cash. Far from the truth, this kind of thinking have brought more pain and they end up wallowing in debt.

Japanese business confidence improves

Japanese business confidence improves

A key central bank report says business confidence at major Japanese manufacturers improved as they pushed to recover from disaster.

The Bank of Japan’s quarterly “tankan” survey of business sentiment shows that the main index for big manufacturers rose to 2 from minus 9 three months ago. The result was in line with market expectations.

OFWs urged to be more than just ‘balikbayans’

OFWs urged to be more than just ‘balikbayans’

Aquino upbeat over meeting with Japan PM

Aquino upbeat over meeting with Japan PM

President Benigno Aquino III arrived here Sunday “excited” over his one-on-one meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

Aquino leaving for official visit to Japan Sunday

Aquino leaving for official visit to Japan Sunday
Fresh from his five-day official visit to the United States, President Benigno AquinoIII will embark on yet another trip, this time, to Japan where the government is expecting $1.1 billion in private investments on top of a loan package worth ¥9.2 billion.

OFW households saved less cash in Q3

OFW households saved less cash in Q3


Households that rely on money sent in by acquaintances and family members working abroad appear to have saved less cash in the third quarter, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

BAGUIO CAMP: Pacquiao, Roach start grind

BAGUIO CAMP: Pacquiao, Roach start grind

Pacquiao’s light workouts at the Planet Jupiter Gym in Makati 

Japan envoy looks forward to Aquino’s visit, lauds Sarah Geronimo

Japan envoy looks forward to Aquino’s visit, lauds Sarah Geronimo

On Sept. 27, the President will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. The next day, he will have an audience with the Japanese emperor who will host a “court luncheon” in honor of the Philippine head of state.

After his meeting with the emperor, Mr. Aquino and his entourage will fly back to Manila.

Japan envoy looks forward to Aquino’s visit, lauds Sarah Geronimo

Japan envoy looks forward to Aquino’s visit, lauds Sarah Geronimo On Sept. 27, the President will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. The next day, he will have an audience with the Japanese emperor who will host a “court luncheon” in honor of the Philippine head of state.

After his meeting with the emperor, Mr. Aquino and his entourage will fly back to Manila.

Singapore to import ‘chop suey’ veggies from Philippines

Singapore to import ‘chop suey’ veggies from Philippines This is proof that our farmers can handle global competition. More reason why the JITCO Internship program on agriculture must continue to train local farmers in Japan. Great news indeed!

Philippines eyes ending labor ban in Iraq

Philippines eyes ending labor ban in Iraq

How hard is it to get a US visa?

How hard is it to get a US visa? The mystery unveiled. Wala naman palang milagro. Tayo na.

Breathing and Meditation Techniques

So far so good. We are being helped reading this good article from health.howstuffworks.com. We salute the Overseas Filipino Workers who are giving their best to contribute to the economic development of the country where they are working. Our prayer is that you come home financially stable with the view of starting a new life in our beloved country, the Philippines. You are positioned to generate enough financial resources. The next step is for you to be financially literate in order to manage and grow your resources with the view that you are going to be a successful entrepreneur someday.

This is the last of the article on stress.

If you pay attention, you'll notice that most of the time, we breathe with our chests. During times of stress, when our breath is short, we can relax and take in more oxygen if we breathe using our diaphragms, a muscle below our ribcage. When we do this, the chest takes in more blood, which is good for heart functions. Like other muscles, the diaphragm needs exercise to get strong. The American Medical Student Association offers these suggestions for practicing diaphragmatic breathing:

1. Place your hands on your chest and stomach.
 
2. Breathe in deeply through your nose. Make sure that the hand on your stomach rises and the hand on your chest doesn't.
3. Breathe out very slowly and then clench your abdomen muscles.
4. Repeat these steps four times [source:AMSA].

Although often practiced by people in religious orders,meditation can be a useful method to relieve stress regardless of one's beliefs. Here are a few different kinds of meditations that supposedly relieve stress:

• Finding a happy place: With this form of meditation, you use your imagination to escape and relax. Think of a place where you felt relaxed -- on a dock at the lake, in the hot sun at the beach or with your friends and family, for example. Try to imagine that place in the greatest detail possible, down to the sounds, smells and textures. When you take a few minutes to really immerse yourself in this meditation, it can serve as an excellent relaxation technique.

• Repeating a mantra: Many religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, and Judaism, use mantras. A mantra is a repeated word or short phrase that serves as a relaxing prayer. For example, a Jewish mantra is "shalom," which means peace. But your mantra need not be religious. When our lives become busy, it can get harder to concentrate on one thing at a time without other thoughts popping into our heads. This is when mantras become useful to clear our minds.

• Mindfulness meditation: In this kind of meditation, commonly associated with Buddhism, you focus in on the present moment. To accomplish this, concentrate on your own breathing. Through practice, you can get better until calming your thoughts becomes easy.

Exercise and Muscle Relaxation

Great. Now where moving on. This guest post  from health.howstuffworks.com will help many of our Overseas Filipino Workers, who are hard working, faithful and reliable. They sacrifice to provide for their loved ones. They want their children to get the kind of education they haven't gotten because they know that a good education will set them up for a good life in the future.

You've heard it before: One of the most effective stress reducers is regular exercise. Evidence shows that those who are in good physical shape don't have as many problems with stress [source: University of Iowa]. Have you ever noticed that as you exercise your mind turns to upbeat thoughts? That's because exercise releases endorphins, chemicals that promote good moods and positive thinking. Exercise also provides a good physical outlet for releasing that energy that stress builds up inside of you. In addition, exercise increases blood flow to your brain, allowing it more oxygen, which has numerous advantages, including promoting clear thinking. Various kinds of exercise work to reduce stress, so you can take your pick. Walking, runningand playing sports all relieve stress. To get the stress-relief benefits, experts recommend setting aside a half hour a day for three days a week for exercise.

Massages can also significantly reduce stress by releasing tension in your muscles. Not only can a massage help with stress, but studies have shown that it can help boost your immune system, which may have been weakened during stress [source: MayoClinic]. Not all of us can fork over the money or the time for a professional massage. Luckily, there are a few methods of massage you can perform on yourself. You can give yourself an effective and stress-relieving massage on your hands, feet, face, arms, legs and shoulders. Gentle circular motions on your muscles for a few minutes at a time will help relieve their tension.

A physician named Edmund Jacobson invented a process in the early 20th century called progressive relaxation, which is proven to reduce stress. As with a self-massage, progressive muscle relaxation is something you can do all by yourself. Start with your head and work your way down to your feet, or do the opposite, as long as you generally go in one direction. If you start with your feet, focus on one foot at a time. Here are the steps:

1. Gradually tense the muscles in your foot until you are contracting your muscles tightly.
2. Keep the muscles contracted for about five or 10 seconds.
3. Relax your foot.
4. Pay attention to the release of pressure from the foot for a few seconds.
5. Repeat these steps on the other foot and then move your way up your body, focusing on different muscle areas at a time [source: Helpguide.org].

In addition to these techniques, changing the way we breathe and taking breaks to practice meditation can go a long way in helping us relax. On the next page, we'll take a look at deep breathing and how to find your "happy place."

Stay relax and healthy.