filipinos in mongolia

The filipinos of mongolia

2011-03-26T15:14:00.107+08:00

These are some of the filipinos who have been to the land of the nomads. many have gone - back to the philippines or to some other places either for work or study. and many are still around too. to update this photo directory, please send labeled pictures to pinoymongolia@gmail.com or pinoymongolia@yahoo.com.

The Philippine Azkals are coming!

2011-03-11T10:10:00.000+08:00

After the success of the game between Philippine Azkals and Mongolia in Bacolod City, the Philippine team is now preparing for the second match against the Mongolia Team. This week, the Philippine Azkal will undergo rigid training in Japan in preparation for the second leg match against Mongolia on March 15, 2011. The football game between Azkal and BlueWolves will be held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. We had witnessed how Philippine Azkal conquered the game during the First leg of the match between Philippines and Mongolia. And now that Mongolia is on a home court advantage for the second leg, let’s find out if the Philippine Team can still conquer the game on March 15, 2011. If Philippine Azkal will win the game against Mongolia BlueWolves, they will advance to the AFC group stage with countries such as Bangladesh, Palestine and Myanmar on March 20-31 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. If you want to watch the football game between Philippine Azkals and Mongolia BlueWolves on March 15, 2011 via Livestreaming, please bookmark this page and return on the said date. You can also subscribe to this blog for updates.

from http://shirgie-story.blogspot.com/2011/03/watch-philippine-azkal-versus-mongolia.html

stranded filipinos in hunan, china

2010-04-01T22:45:00.002+08:00

stranded filipinos working in a bar in hunan, china are seeking assistance (see message board of this website). my advise is to contact the philippine consulate in guangzhou, who covers hunan, or the philippine embassy in beijing.

Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in Guangzhou

Consular Areas: Chongqing, Guangdong Province, Guangxi Province, Guizhou Province, Hainan Province, Hunan Province, Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province,
Address: Ground Floor, White Swan Hotel, Shamian Island
Postal Code: 443000
Tel: (+86)20 8188 6968
Fax: (+86)20 8186 2041
E-mail: gzphcggz@public1.guangzhou.gd.cn
Website: http://pcggz.bizhosting.com

Embassy of the Republic of Philippines in Beijing

Address: No. 23 Xiu Shui Bei Street , Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing
Postal Code: 100600
Tel: (+86)10 6532 1872, 6532 2451, 6532 2518
Fax: (+86)10 6532 3761
E-mail: main@philembassy-china.org

mackoy and co. -- please note that while it is possible that the embassy may be able to arrange your repatriation to the philippines, however, unless you are an OWWA member, you will have to pay for your travel and related expenses. the embassy may advance you the money.

DFA: No jobs as domestic helpers in China, Mongolia

2010-02-26T11:08:00.003+08:00

Reposting here an article arising from a statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. This comes in the wake of an earlier mail circulated in the pinoymongolia yahoo group regarding the "womanhunt" for Filipina domestic helpers in Mongolia by the Mongolian government. Please note though that the initiative covers all illegal workers and immigrants, thus it applies to both men and women.

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/26/2010 12:44 AM

!

MANILA, Philippines – Potential overseas Filipino workers are advised against accepting offers to work as domestic helpers in China and Mongolia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

"Filipinos who are promised jobs as domestic helpers in China and Mongolia are always in danger of being arrested because foreign nationals are not allowed to work as domestic helpers in China and Mongolia," Philippine Ambassador to China Francisco Benedicto said.

He said China’s and Mongolia’s border control and immigration authorities are stepping up efforts to arrest illegal workers and immigrants.

"The Embassy has been informed by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Security Bureau that domestic service employment in China is closed to foreigners," Benedicto said.

Benedicto said illegal recruiters continue to victimize would-be OFWs who end up with inappropriate visa or working permits in China and Mongolia.

Violators could face fines up to 5,000 yuan (P33,000), detention and deportation in China, while foreigners who overstay and have no proper visas in Mongolia are fined up to US$30 per day.

"The Embassy suggests that prospective overseas Filipino workers take steps to avoid exploitation such as demanding recruiters to issue official receipts, timely turnover of passports with appropriate work visas, draft employment contracts and contact details of employers," Benedicto said.
as of 02/26/2010 12:44 AM

the belen

2009-11-29T23:55:00.004+08:00

Another traditional Filipino Christmas symbol is the belen -- a creche or tableau representing the Nativity scene. Derived from the Spanish term for the town of Bethlehem, it depicts the infant Jesus Christ in the manger, surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds, their flock, the Magi and some stable animals and angels. Belens can be seen in homes, churches, schools and even office buildings; the ones on office buildings can be extravagant, using different materials for the figures and using Christmas lights, parols, and painted background scenery. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_the_Philippines

Here is the 2009 belen at the UB catholic parish led by Fr. Ronald.

saan matatagpuan ang mga pinoy sa mongolia

2009-08-22T12:32:00.003+08:00

pakalat kalat sila hehehehe, though i don't mean palaboy ha. meron nagtatrahabo sa chinggis hotel, sa mga NGOs, sa schools, sa mining companies, etc. matitisod din sila sa state department store, merkury market, narantuul market, shopping row sa 3rd district.

unfortunately, ilan sa mga pinoy ofw na domestic workers sa mongolia ang di natin nakakasalamuha dahil wala silang mga regular day offs at di napapayagan ng mga amo na lumabas.

pero surefire, every saturday and/or sunday, nasa simbahan ang karamihan ng mga pinoy.

shopping at pananampalataya -- mag kaibang antas, pero very distinctive pinoy traits. madaling hanapin ang shoppingan pero medyo effort ang alamin kung nasan ang mga simbahan.

here are some contacts for directions and other queries regarding churches... to worship and to meet the pinoys in mongolia.

Fr. Ronald Magbanua, CICM tel no. 99897921 - Good Shepherd Catholic Parish
Nelly Aranquez 99813423 - Cornerstone Church for All Nations (Protestant inter
demoninational)
Phidee Tagalog 95210368 - Seventh Day Adventist Mission

thanks fr ronald, nelly and phidee.

sagot kay Marisol na pupuntang Beijing to get her Mongolian work permit

2009-08-22T00:50:00.007+08:00

Tanong ni Marisol na pupuntang Mongolia via Beijing. Sabi nya mag ti train sya papuntang Beijing (mula saan?).

"hello po, tanong ko lng po....pag po ba pupunta ako sa Beijing to get my work visa to work in Mongolia, kailangan ko pa po bang visa papunta Beijing?? pano po ako mka-enter sa Beijing"

Kelangan ng Pilipino may Chinese entry visa kung pumasok sa any Chinese territory, maliban pagpunta sa Hongkong at Macao. Ang mga Pinoy ay maaring pumasok sa HK (14 days stay) at Macao (30 days) bilang turista na walang visa.

Filipinos going to China must apply and obtain their chinese visas with the Chinese Embassy in Manila or sa Chinese Consultate in Cebu.

Hindi na nag iisue ng Chinese visa sa HK at Macao para sa mga Pinoy gaya ng dati. Ang exception sa Macao ay kung ikaw ay kabilang sa tourist group of at least 5 persons.

Marisol, i hope that you have read previous posts about working in Mongolia.

More information below on the issuance of Chinese visas in HK and Macao:

HONG KONG (AFP) - China has imposed further curbs on visitors, just weeks after it stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, Hong Kong travel agents said Friday, sparking concern among the business community.

"You now need a copy of your travel ticket both in and out of the country and a hotel voucher before they accept a visa application. Without that they will reject it," said Daryl Bending, a travel consultant with Concorde Travel.

Another agent said visitors from 33 countries -- including India, the Philippines and Indonesia -- were no longer allowed to apply for China visas in Hong Kong and would have to apply at their local Chinese embassies.

A statement on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said that there had been a "recent drastic rise" in the number of applicants.
"To spare applicants of the unnecessary trouble, for non-resident of Hong Kong, please apply for the Chinese visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate-general in his or her home country or resident country," it said.

A Hong Kong government spokeswoman said: "The Hong Kong government has reflected the views/concerns of the Hong Kong business community to the relevant mainland authorities."

Travel agents in several Asian countries previously said China had stopped issuing multiple-entry visas several weeks ago and that they had been told the service would not be resumed until after the Beijing Olympics, which take place in August.
Hong Kong residents will still be able to get a short-term visa from travel agents to the border city of Shenzhen without hotel and travel tickets, Concorde Travel's Bending said. (source : http://community.travelchinaguide.com/forum2.asp?i=45112)

But a visa granted at the border, popular among those taking day trips to Shenzhen for shopping or business, was no longer available, he added.

Filipino entrepreneur Jonathan Aquino, who runs a travel agency on top of several other businesses in Macau, said Filipino tourists may still stay for up to a month in the enclave on their first arrival. However, their limit of stay is often cut to just 10 days on their second entry.

But as in Hong Kong, crossing into the Chinese border city of Zhuhai from Macau has also become more difficult for Filipino tourists.

Aquino said the three to six-month visas used to be given to Filipino tourists are no longer available. Now, they can only apply for a group visa of up to six days’ stay in Zhuhai, and must leave and return to Macau at the same time.

To be considered as a group, there should now be a minimum of five, instead of the previous three people required before the new rules were tightened.

(source: GMANews.TVnewhttp://www.gmanews.tv/story/92066/China-visa-restrictions-hit-Filipino-tourists)

queries from ellen

2009-08-20T00:06:00.002+08:00

another Pinay, Ellen, sent the following message ..

" Hi! have u heard of the Naran group. They said that they have a dept store in UB. their website can be accessed. would u know about them? They’re hiring some pinoys to work for them and im one of them. just need to know more about the conditions there. is it easy & safe to go around the city. are there a lot of english speaking mongols. how do they work?what do you do there? thnks for the replies…appreciate it!:)"

dear Ellen,

Naran department store is one of the more up-scale stores in the capital, Ulaanbaatar (UB). I have done a bit of shopping there but do not know enough of the working conditions. There are no big malls like SM or Robinson’s. Most manufactured goods including food items are imported, hence, expensive.

On the whole, don't expect the same work ethics that you may be used to in the Philippines. If you will be assuming a managerial/supervisory position, stock up on patience, tolerance and good strategies to train your staff to be efficient, professional and customer service oriented.

UB, it seems, is comparatively safer to go around than most cities elsewhere, although the usual safety tips apply, ie. avoid walking around alone late at night, etc. I said comparatively safer because unlike other cities, most street violence does not involve deadly weapons that result in serious injuries or death. Mongolians can be hot tempered and very aggressive such as in traffic encounters and resort to fist fights.

No serious break-ins, robberies or hold-ups have been frequently reported. Be careful of pickpockets as these abound. I could not ascertain the rate of assault against women, such as rape and kidnapping, but there have been incidences involving Mongolians and even expatriates.

The main modes of transport in the city are the trolley and gas-fueled buses, private individually-owned non-metered taxis and "cadillakad." There are one or two companies with metered taxis that may be called by phone. One sticks out the thumb to hail a cab. Fare is calculated based on the number of kilometers ran at about Mnt400-500 per kilometer.

English is not widely spoken. Strive to learn basic essential phrases to get by -- shopping, giving directions, etc.

UB is known as the coldest capital city in the world. Temperatures can go as low as minus 40 degrees celcius or lower during winter, especially from midnight to dawn. Daytime temperature in the height of winter may average minus 25-30 celcius. However, buildings -- homes, offices, shops -- are usually centrally heated during winter, as well as cars and buses. Central heating is turned on in mid-September and turned off in mid-May. Hot and cold water is also open all-year round, except for some weeks in summer when repairs and maintenance of the water system are done.

Except for a very thick jacket if you arrive in winter time and preferably some thermal underwear, don't bother filling your luggage with winter clothes. These are easily available cheap in UB, especially at Narantuul Market. Fill-up instead with tuyo, daing, sinigang mix, essential medicines such as biogesic or whatever if you have a special medical condition, cuticle remover and such paraphernalia if you are the type who'd do your own.

The staple food of the Mongolians is flour-based (bread and noodles), eaten with meat (mutton, lamb and beef) and a limited variety of vegetables. Don’t expect to find kangkong, daing, labong, fresh seafood, bagoong. Imported ampalaya and sitaw sometimes appear in some markets. Pork, chicken and rice are also imported. Mongolian food is mostly boiled or broiled, flavored with salt and pepper. If you are picky with food, then you have a problem.

Undergo a thorough medical check up before coming. If you have a serious medical condition and have no health insurance, think twice about living in Mongolia, or at least be armed with a medical evacuation provision in your work contract. The Mongolian health system is not well developed and cost of medical care is very high.

The Pinoy community in Mongolia is small but well-bonded and could be your support system. Know more about them in this blog site. I will later post some contact information.

If this is your first time to go abroad, remember that everything will be different from what you're used to. Open yourself up to adjustments in the Mongolian environment and culture, behaviour and ways of the people. Do not judge harshly , yet stand up for your rights. You may encounter bouts of loneliness, depression and misery, but you must learn how to manage these. You will need to draw from deep within you for strength and tenacity. Your ability to survive will be defined by the firmness of your decision to take the risks and leave home in the first place. Put your faith and trust in God.

Good luck …

hatel and friends on overstaying penalty problem

2009-08-19T11:58:00.002+08:00

we have this message posted on the message board of the filipinos in mongolia website. i thought i'd post a response as a blog becase the message board is way down and kinda easy to miss.

hatel says " OS (overstaying) na po kami dito sa ulan abtor..galing po kami sa china..its our 6th day of being OS..ang sabi po kasi ng attorney na nakilala namain na mongolian eh we are allowed 30 days..only to find out na hindi naman pala. they are asking us to pay 250,000 tugruk and exit after 10 days..so meron na po kaming 3 days left..any advice po jan please..thank u..we are very desperate."

hatel, if you are here on a tourist visa, you're allowed 21 days to stay, based on a reciprocal agreement between the Mongolian and Philippine governments. obviously you got the wrong advice. the most reliable thing to have done was to look at your passports and took notice of your supposed exit date. if you wanted to stay longer, then should have applied for an extension.

we don't know the context of why you're here, whether you're dealing directly with the immigration office or through an intermediary, etc. nonetheless, if you have exhausted the allowed period of stay, of you have to pay the penalty. in a way, it seems that the rate and conditions (Mnt 250,000 plus allowance of ten more days stay and exit), are rather lenient given that by law the lowest penalty rate is Mnt300,000.

domestic workers, visas, penalty for overstaying foreigners in mongolia and related matters

2009-08-15T23:06:00.005+08:00

Last week I had a meeting with a senior officer from the Mongolian Immigration Agency, kung saan naitanong ko ang tungkol sa penalty for overstaying foreigners in Mongolia. Sabi nya walang standard daily penalty para sa mga overstaying foreigners sa Mongolia. Ang penalty ay kino compute on a case to cases basis ayon sa nakasaad sa batas, which is Mnt 300,000 to Mnt 1 million.

Naibahagi ko rin sa kanya ang problema ng ilang mga kababayan na andito, lalo na ng mga domestic workers, kaugnay ng work permits at visas. They are aware of this, kaya nga isa ito sa magiging laman ng pag uusap with the offcials ng Philippine Immigration Bureau, na bibisita sa Mongolia nitong September.

All the same, sabi nya na mahirap nga maging legal ang pag employ ng mga domestic workers dahil ang provisions sa labor law, ina-allow lang mag hire ng foreign workers kung mapapatunayan ang pangangailangan, kagaya ng mga trabahong nag rerequire ng expertise or skills na either kulang or wala sa mongolia at ang mga ito ay may kinalaman sa technology, education, atbpang pang professional jobs. Ang mga binibigyan ng permisong mag hire ng foreign workers ay mga registered organizations at mga business companies.

Eh bakit nakakalusot? Kung magkakaroon man ang domestic worker ng visa, yun ay dahil nadidiskartehan ng employer, lalo na yung may pera at may kapit. Ang foreign worker ay hindi di nire-register as domestic worker at ang kontratang pinapakita ay hindi nakasaad ang kanilang totoong position at gawain. Ganunpaman, ang bottomline, ito ay illegal dahil ang kontrata ay hindi mapanghahawakan bilang legal na document ng worker sa isang banda. May violation din ang employer sa pag hire illegaly.

Karamihan ng mga Mongolian employers ay pinipili na wag i register ng kanilang mga Pinoy na domestic workers. Usually dalawang main na dahilan. Una, mabusisi ang pag-apply sa pag hire ng foreign worker -- maraming requirements at medyo komplikado ang proseso, mga papeles na dapat ihanda, ilang government agencies ang dapat magbigay ng approval. Pangalawa, dapat mag babayad employer ng Work Placement Fee na equivalent sa doble ng sahod ng worker bawat buwan.

Mukhang kapwa pinag aaralan na ng Philippine and Mongolian governments ang mutual cooperation on labor and related matters. Inaasahan na magbubunga ito (sana) sa madaling hinaharap ng mas malinaw na patakaran na maging paborable sa pagpasok ng Filipino labor sa Mongolia.

Ang payo ni Tia Dely (ako yun hehehe) na sa ngayon, mas maigi siguro na iwasan either manghikayat, mag recomenda o magiging tulay sa pagpapasok ng mga kaibigan at kampag anak ng mga non-professional workers kabilang ang mga domestic worker sa Mongolia. Hintayin natin hanggat dumating ang panahon na magkaroon ng formal agreement or kasunduan ang Philippine and Mongolian governments sa usapin ng labor and employment.

Hindi kagaya ng mga Pinoy OFWs sa ibang, medyo mas dehado tayo dito sa Mongolia dahil:

a] walang kasunduan ang Philippine and Mongolian governments kaugnay ng labor hiring, etc. na maaring maging gabay sa mas maayos na proseso at ang maging kalagayan nating mga Pinoy OFWs dito sa Mongolia;

b] and pinakamalapit na Philippine Embassy na ating matatakbuhan ay sa Beijing - medyo malayo - altho inaasahan na ang pagkakaroon ng Honorary Consul to Mongolia (na nakabase sa Mongolia) ay magpapalakas ng kakayanan ng ating gobyerno na maka tugon at makatulong sa mga Pinoy dito;

c] maliit di hamak ang Pinoy community. although malakas ang bonding at willing tumulong, di nito kayang isabalikatt ang burden ng pag alaga at ayuda pag dumagsa ang mga nagkakaproblemang mga kababayan.

Sa muli...

gusto mo magtrabaho sa mongolia?

2009-07-23T23:10:00.002+08:00

Ilan na rin sa mga Pinoys sa Mongolia ang umalis nitong nakaraang taon, at paalis din sa mga susunod na buwan. Akala natin pakonti na lang tayo dito. Kala lang natin yun.

Actually it seems that more Pinoys are coming here pero di lang natin sila nasisilayan, or at least di naka kaconnect sa *mainstream* pinoy community dito, altho minsan natitisod din natin sa kung saan-saan. Napapabalita na rin na ilan sa kanila (mukhang padami) ang nagkakaroon ng problema kaugnay ng work visas and permits, illegal (overstaying) alien status, poor working conditions, etc.

Medyo nagbabago ang demographics or katangian ng mga Pinoy sa Mongolia. More than three years or so ago, karamihan ay mga nasa church mission, social development work, professionals and skilled workers sa mga economic enterprises. Currently, tumataas ang bilang ng mga domestic workers, kasunod ang mga teachers, a few sa construction industry.

Tinatayang mas dadami pa ang Pinoy OFWs gaya ng mga domestic workers and possibly teachers sa Mongolia. Nagiging status symbol sa mga Mongolians ang magkaroon ng Pinay na househelp. Nakakatulong din sa sikat-image ng mga private schools ang may mga foreign teachers. Eh bakit Pinoys ang gusto nila ? As elsewhere --- the Pinoys are known for being good and competent workers. At sulit..tatanggap ng murang sweldo, di mareklamo, etc.

I'm posting below an excerpt from the Mongolian Labor Law on Sending and Receiving Labor Force and Specialists from Abroad (April 2001). Susubukan nating alamin kung may mga revisions or pagbabago sa mga isinasaad dito.

Sa ngayon, mga paalalang mahalaga sa mga gustong makipagsapalaran sa Mongolia, at ganun din sa mga Pinoys sa Mongolia na nagmagandang loob para hanapan ng trabaho dito ang mga kamag anak o kaibigan:

- Siguraduhin na may legal na papeles e.g. kontrata, work permits bago pa man tumungo sa Mongolia;

- Alamin ang mga legal requirements, conditions, etc bago mag decision na tanggapin ang trabaho sa Mongolia. Puedeng humingi ng tulong for information sa pinoy community ( email pinoymongolia@yahoogroups.com) or sa Philippine embassy sa Beijing, which is also responsible for Mongolia ;

- Usually pinapapasok ang worker on tourist visa, which entitles Pinoys to stay in Mongolia for 21 days. Dapat mai register at masimulan ang proceso para mai convert ang tourist visa into a working visa within two days of arrival. Ito ay relatively madali lamang na proceso kung sa umpisa pa lang ay may approval na mula sa Labor Regulation office at Ministry of Foreign Affairs ang pag hire ng worker.

- Pag ang passport ay natatakan ng working visa, ang worker ay bibigyan ang Mongolian government ng *blue card* which is a kind of identity card for a foreign worker in Mongolia;

- Ang employer ang nag poprocess ng work permit. Ngunit kadalasan, di naiibabalik sa worker ang kanyang passport dahil either : a] walang balak ang employer na kunan ng work permit ang domestic worker dahil medyo complikado ang requirements/proceso at mataas ang dagdag na bayad sa gobyerno, b] gustong manigurado ng employer na di basta makaalis (makauwi o makahanap ng ibang amo) ang worker. NGUNIT ang passport ay pag aari ng Philippine government at ito ay dapat nasa safekeeping ng Pinoy na pinagkalooban nito. Walang karapatan ang employer na i-hold o ipagkait ito sa passport holder.

- ang monthly minimum wage sa Mongolia ay Mnt108,000 (more or less $75) at di lumalampas sa 40 hrs per week na trabaho.

- pag may bulilyaso, maaring ang kaso ng worker ay mahuhulog sa crimes na human trafficking at human smuggling. biktima ang worker, pero maaring makasuhan ang recruiter (lalo na kung tumaggap ng mediation or recruitment fee ang nagpasok sa trabaho).

At marami pa... subukan nating ituloy ang pagtalakay sa temang ito sa sunod na blog posts.

Article 7.- General conditions of agreement on receiving labor force and specialists
from abroad
7.1 Economic entity, organization and citizen /hereinafter referred to as , ‘organization”/ may
conclude an agreement with foreign legal body on receiving labor force and specialists from
abroad on jobs and professions requiring high - professional skills for the purpose of introducing
progressive techniques and technologies in science, education and production, dealing with
new production and services, assembling, maintaining equipment. and implementing projects.
7.2. The following general conditions are indicated in agreement on receiving labor force and
specialists from abroad:
7. 2.1. name of organization and job to be performed by a foreign citizen;
7.2.2. profession and name of workplace of a foreign citizen, number of foreign citizens
to be employed;
7.2.3. health requirements of a foreign citizen;
7.2.4. condictions of mutual recognition of documents certifying profession and
education level;
7.2.5 the length of agreement, its expiration date and terms of annulment;
7.2.6. wage amount;
7.2.7. occupational safety and health, working conditions, work and holiday regime;
7.2.8. accommodation and welfare facilities,
7.2.9. social insurance-related issues
7.2.10. methods and types of settling disputes to arise from the implementation of
agreement
and 1abor dispute.
7.3. In the case domestic labor force can not be supplied for implementing nationwide sizeable
programs and projects, building construction and required for eradicating hazards of national
calamities and disasters, labor force may be received from abroad on the basis of decision of
the Government.
7.4. In the case foreign citizen lost his/her life from being exposed to natural calamities, fire
and flood, he or she is to be granted assistance and support by the Government of Mongolia
likewise a citizen of Mongolia.
7.5. In the case of losing life and getting the disabled from being exposed to industrial accident,
acute poisoning and occupational diseases, an organization employed a foreign citizen is to
fully fulfill its relevant obligations.
Article 8. Receiving labor force and specialists from abroad
8.1 Organization must preliminary get a mediation permission from state central administrative
organization in charge of labor affairs, and its competent organizations /hereinafter referred
to as “competent” organization/ prior to receiving labor force and specialists from abroad.
8.2. Organization prepares the following documents in order to take a permission indicated in
8.1 of this law:
8.2.1. official letter indicating in detail the needs of receiving labor force and specialists
from abroad, size and length of job and services to perform, industrial specifics, location,
profession, work experience and skills of a foreign citizen;
8.2.2. copy of registration certificate of economic entity, organization and foreign
investment economic entity confirmed by notary;
8.2.3. agreement concluded with foreign legal body regarding receiving labor force
and specialists from abroad;
8.2.4. copy of foreign passport of a foreign citizen;
8.2.5. copy of professional certificate and diploma of a foreign;
8.2.6. reference letter from sectoral ministry and agency to employ;
8.2.7. proposal and comments given by Agency in charge of foreign citizens and
citizenship issues regarding foreign citizen and his/her family members;
8.2.8. comments by local employment service regarding the needs and demands of
receiving, labor force and specialists from abroad in certain organization.
8.3. Competent organization grants permission of employment in Mongolia within the
percentage and number fixed by the Government on the basis of receiving and checking
relevant documents.
8.4. Permission of employment is given for up to one year and its length is extended in
accordance with 8.2 and 8.3 of this law on the basis of receiving and checking organization’s
request, results of performed job and service, and grounds for extended employment.
8.5. Organization having a foreign citizen arrived in Mongolia in accordance with permission
of employment must register in the Agency in charge of foreign citizens and citizenship issues.
8.6. In the case a foreign citizen granted permission of employment … a contract of employment
concluded with organization, competent organization makes a decision of granting permission
in accordance with adequate procedure on the basis of reference by an organization, a foreign
citizen employed in, and grounds for …. a contract of employment.
8.7. In the case a foreign citizen granted permission of employment in Mongolia has not
fulfilled his/her duties and obligations of a contract of employment concluded with certain
organization, breached the provisions of a contract, and moved foe employment in their
organizations and locations without getting permission, the permission of employment is
annulled by relevant competent organization on the basis of reference by organization and
the notification is forwarded to ….
8.8. Length of permission of employment for foreign citizen is accounted starting from request
In the form of an official letter indicated in 8.2.1 of this law.
8.9. Procedure of service and payment amount of granting permission of etl1ployment to
foreign citizen are approved by government members for labor and financial affairs jointly.
Article 9. Workplace payment, its amount
9.1 Economic entity, organization and a citizen pays workplace payment in the amount indicated
in 9.2 of this law for providing a foreign citizen with workplace and ensuring the employment
and service with income.
9.2 Monthly workplace amount is equal to 2 times of the minimum wage approved by
Government of Mongolia per foreign citizen.
9.3. Workplace payment is concentrated in employment promotion fund and utilized for
measures to generate workplace and reduce unemployment.
9.4. The payment indicated in this article is not extended to foreign citizens being employed
in foreign diplomatic representative and consular offices, resident representative offices of
international organizations, specialists and workers being employed in education and science
sector by contract, and if it is indicated in the agreement, foreign specialists and workers
being employed by inter-government agreement.
9.5. The Government approves regulation on workplace payment

more indie day photos

2009-06-29T01:19:00.002+08:00

Photo credits go to Nestie and Selee. CD copies are with the VSO Vols, Kai, Nelly and Berlie.

2009 phil indie day in mongolia part 2: pinoys in mongolia then and now

2009-06-24T22:17:00.015+08:00

Myles created this presentation for the 2009 phil indie day in mongolia. the list is by no means exhaustive due to limited photos accessed in haste. hopefully we'd be able to later put up one with more people in it, to better represent the range of sectors that the pinoys here were and are in.

presenting below those who have shared their time, talent and treasure (a la "Alay Kapwa ") for the party and to whom a heartfelt PASASALAMAT AND BAYARLALA is extended:

Event Coordinator : Marnet (plus entrance tickets, cloth for the
costumes, raffle prizes, her house and many things
from it, grills, patience and tolerance sa mga
pasaway, etc)

Food Contributors : Marnet (lechon kawali during the party, and
nourishment during rehearsals);
Nestie (chicken adobo - rendering hundreds of
chicken legless);
Joy (conveniently ordered rice, tokwa and togue,
vegetarian sotanghon from The Gate
Restaurant, where Gilbert a pinoy is chef).
Berlie, Nellie, Rose, Irma, Sandra et al ( gallons
of mango juice and trays and trays of biko,
of which only about half made it to the food
table. the rest were "forgotten" to be
served,eventually "discovered" and divided
among the remaining pinoys post party).

Logistics : Fr Ronald and Good Shepherd girls Zaaya, Baagii, Uka,
Bileg, Julia, etc (for the banderitas, boiling kilos
and kilos of pork and chicken, chairs and
physical set up, sourcing the band set and PA system
- amplis, speakers, etc.);

Nestie and Gerry G (for transportation and various
assistance);

VSO/Bahaginan vols and Kuya Jimmy for helping in the
physical set up and cleaning.

Creatives : Myles for the videos and slide presentations as well
as the bahay kubo;
Nestie and Seelee for the photo and video
documentation.

Gate Keepers and Usherettes : Mommy Ming, Glo, Grace, Ryzza, Rose

Food Tables : Angie, Fatima, Gilbert, Good Shepherd girls,
Cristina, Nineth, Eva

Venue and Security : honorary pinoys Louise and John

Mini Tianggue and Cash Bar : Tere and Joy - pearls and blings
Fatima and Rona - embotido, tapa, tocino
John and Greg - cash bar

Buy-a-brick tickets : the kids - Ina in dreamy princess white gown, Georg
in barong and rubber shoes, John G in bucolic camisa
de chino;
Jocelyn (another honorary pinay who oh-so wanted to
join the dancing but faithfully kept to her task),
Yaya Lorena.

Program : Bishop Wens Padilla for the invocation and a spiel on
the history of sorts of the Pinoys in Mongolia;

Emcees - Kai and Roni;

Choreographers - Gecca, Rene and Helen;

Dancers - Berlie, Nelly, Irma, Sandra, Joy, Gecca,
Helen, honorary pinays Louise, Seelee and Nathalie,
Jack son of Louise and John, Kuya Jimmy, Rene and Doc
Mon;

The Band - Kyla, Reylan, Gerry, Earl, Chris, Yuri

Fund Donors : Delia B, the Ganabas

one or two may have been inadvertently omitted. that's because I lost Marnet's list, as well as due to senior moments and anesthesia. big apologies.

then of course our appreciation to other Pinoys and non-Pinoy friends who bought tickets and celebrated with us, such as the Chingeltei District Health Unit who came in full force, Roni's Mongolian colleagues who drove all the way from Darkhan, Ambassador Patrick Chrismasant of France who charmingly beamed at the dancers, Swiss Consul Markus Dubach who honored us by wearing a barong tagalog and his wife Gertrude who gamely dared put her dainty feet in between the tinikling poles.

pinoys coming out : 2009 phil indie day in mongolia

2009-06-24T14:40:00.013+08:00

that was a blast. the pinoys in mongolia's first open party, attended by close to 300 people less than 10% of whom were pinoys, to celebrate the 111th philippine independence day on 14 June 2009 at the star apartments community center.

doubling as a fund raiser for the good shepherd parish in ulaanbaatar, we raked in more than 3.6 million tugriks in ticket sales plus donations from generous individuals.

it was a challenge to organize the event, lacking as we were with the necessary materials, hands and funds.

a barrio fiesta atmosphere nonetheless was approximated -- lechon kawali in lieu of lechon, light wood dos por dos in lieu of bamboo for the tinikling, styro bahay kubo (nipa hut) facade. strung and hung the banderitas, served the ubiquitous chicken adobo, rice, tokwa with togue and veggie sotanghon for the non-meat eaters, biko and mango juice.

guests were entertained with folk dances -- itik-itik, kappa malong, pandanggo sa ilaw, tinikling -- and got everyone grooving to the opm music of the boracay-based pinoy band who took off from their regular gig at strings. tinikling was such a hit ("awesome!") that many brave souls from the audience tried. no casualty, thank heavens!

there was too the mini tianggue where sold were embotido, tapa, tocino, pearl trinkets and other blings. raffle prizes that were put up by marnet for those who bought buy-a-brick tickets (for the church's fence) were added incentives. the "philippine libations" pack, consisting of tanduay rhum, ginebra san miguel, ginger tea powder, sumatra blend tobaccos and cebu dried mangoes was particularly inventive.

unanimous, hands-down, no contest verdict : indeed the "philippinos" definitely know how to throw one helluva fantabulous parteehh!! ..... and when might the next one be?

can't end this post without being showbiz --- we would like to thank our sponsors ... and the credits !

the pinoy community in mongolee is small, give or take 100 px. most of them gave their best, within respective abilities and limitations, to make the party rock. to them...dancers and choreographers, creatives, the strings pinoy band, gate keepers, food table supervisors, buy-a-brick ticket minders, trinket seller, deli supplier .... huge appreciation. a full list will be posted later.

meantime we do have to mention special people: Marnet, who pursued, glued and coordinated, Fr. Ronald and the girls from the Good Shepherd for arranging challenging logistical needs, Louise and John from the US Embassy for facilitating the use of the venue and security as well as the cash bar, Ms Delia B from afar but whose spirit of solidarity reached UB in $$$.

muchas gracias y salud!

the M weekend that was

2008-10-14T18:08:00.007+08:00

1. Related to MWeekend: 116 (last is Gerry's message #860)(give & take baka may na miss)

2. First message posted re: MWEEKEND: 8:27am August 21, 2008 by Fr. Ronald, subject: Sana MWeekend na!

3. Two subjects most responded to: a. Sana M Weekend NA, b. M-Weekend Malapit na!

4. first message sent with subject M-Weekend Malapit NA: 6:25pm, 10/5/2008 by Fr. Ronald, Again!

5. # of messages exchanged under the subject: M-Weekend Malapit na! - 82 messages

6. members & # of messages:
30=Ricky
17=RTP
13=Joy
12=Glenn
12=Gerry
06=Delia
05=Tin-tin
05=Terence
03=Rezeil
03=Marnet
03=Gecca
02=Randy
01=Nestie
01=Ruel
01=Sheng
01=Joe
01=Margie

ATTENDEES!!!
1. Ricky
2. Fr. Ronald
3. Bishop Wens
4. Ariel
5. Connie
6. Gerry
7. Nancy
8. Glenn
9. Joy
10. Ruel
11. Rem
12. Myles
13. Ronnie
14. Rene
15. Angie
16. Terence
18. Tin-Tin
19. Ronald NTP
20. Rezeil
21. Mr. Novicio
22. Jun
23. Cecil
24. Sandra
25. Nelie
26. Berlie
27. Irma
28. Delia
29. REmy
30. Kai
31. Yaya
32. Terelj Girl 1
33. Terelj Girl 2
34. Terelj Girl 3
35. Terelj Girl 4
36. Jaime
37. Lito
38. Band-Enteng
39. Band-Darren
39. Band Member with Enteng
40. Band 1
41. Band 2
42. Band 3
43. Grace
44. Rick (joy's neighbor)

Kids:
45. John
46. Jaco
47. karen
48. Kara
49. Kevin
50. Karina (kai's daughter)

(Did I miss someone somewhere down the road? She may be the face I can't forget!!!)

VIDEOKE
Highest score = 99 (d ko alam kanino to) kung may 100 man dyan at na-off ang TV pasensiya na.

courtesy of Terence

'd Lechon weekend

2008-08-13T18:58:00.000+08:00

thanks ricky for the pics!

pre L-weekend

2008-08-13T18:32:00.000+08:00

pics courtesy of rez tugawin:

kambingan weekend

2008-07-17T10:50:00.000+08:00

it was long overdue, well- since the original schedule was set in april. as we say in filipino, huli man at magaling, naihahabol din. so right after the state of emergency, we were set to eat kambing. this time the kambing finally made it to our stomach...

As Delia Barcelona adds:

A most unforgettable GOATful weekend!

The Pinoy kambingan weekend held last Sunday, July 12, at the Christ the King Retreat Center in Khandgait (Sukhbataar district?) was a smash hit! The success was because of the Pinoy spirit - of tulungan, samahan, bayanihan, and katuwaan. This is our version of "team spirit", from the planning to execution! And as Father Ronald put it, it was a perfect way to have gastronomic enjoyment, right after an spiritual morning during the mass, celebrated jointly by Msgr Wens Padilla and Fr. Ronald. On that, we should also thank the pinoy and foreign community for pulling off another successful sponsorship which include mass attendance, fellowship and food.

The pictures sent by Ricky to all of us say it all, about where we went, what we did, before during and after the barbecue party. We thank everyone for their generous contributions in terms of ideas, food and drink items, talents, money and "services". To cap the event, a small impromptu programme was put up to acknowledge the 2008 Goat awardees. ..Drumroll, please....Congratulations to all!

FAMILY GOATS (for being their entire family): Ganaba family, Bilan family, and Ceballos family
YOUNGEST GOAT: Corinna (3 month old child of Lito)
VOLUNTEER GOATS (thanks to the hardworking VSOs!): Gecca, Rez, and Marge (and sorry we failed to acknowledge Ruel!)
NEW RECRUIT (to the Pinoy family): VSO Claire
MUSICAL GOATS : our 24k Band at Strings (Relan, Gerry, Chris and Yuri)
JOYFUL GOAT: another new comer, Joy
BAKER GOAT: our dear Ming

And the top 3 awards go to the brains behind the KW:
GOAT CHEF: Glenn
BIGGEST KAPIRANG-GOAT: Ricky
GODFATHER GOAT: Nestie

The awards were handed by no less than our RELIGIOUS GOATS: Fr. Ronald and Sister Esperance, with the support of the GOAT AWARDS COMMITTEE: Delia and Rez.

See you at the next summer event - and hopefully then, we move from Goat to Pig. Watch out for the PIG awards at that time! Maraming salamat, mga kabayan.

ofw travel exit clearance

2008-06-25T12:01:00.000+08:00

Update from the Philippine embassy in Beijing:

Mga Kababayan,

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has a new on-line application process for the issuance of the POEA travel exit clearance for Balik-manggagawa / workers-on-leave (BM / WOL).

Previously, the OFWs would have to proceed to the POEA office and Philippine Overseas Labor Offices to apply for their exit clearance. With this online application system, the OFW can avail of the 2-way delivery system through the internet and have the clearance delivered back to their residence. There will be no need to go to the POEA. Since the application is online, this can be done virtually anywhere where there is an internet connection. This gives OFWs more time to spend with family and friends while vacationing in the Philippines.

To apply, the BM / WOL simply logs onto www.oecdelivery.com.ph and follow the instructions as detailed in the website. The service is available nationwide.

Should the BM / WOL decide not to avail of the 2-way Delivery System, they have the option to print out the OFW Info Sheet after applying on line and proceed to the POEA to file their application.

The BM / WOL may also secure their POEA travel exit clearance at the following:

a. Balik-manggagawa Processing Division (BMPD), Service Area, POEA, Blas F. Ople Bldg., Ortigas corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City

b. POEA Regional Centers/Regional Extension Units (REUs) and Satellite Offices

c. POEA-deputized OWWA Regional Offices and Units

d. Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in various Philippine Embassies and Consulates abroad

e. Exit Clearance One-Way Delivery System (Dropbox) POEA Service Area

f. POEA, REU-La Union, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban, Davao, POLO-Jeddah and Singapore, for the issuance of the Multiple Travel Exit Clearance (MTEC) is a set of two or more clearances issued to workers-on-leave / balik-manggagawa (BM / WOL) for use as an exit document within a period of twelve months from date of issuance. It allows the WOL / BM who exits from the Philippines more than once in a period of 12 months to secure his exit clearance on a one-time basis.

For more information, OFWs may also visit the POEA website: http://www.poea.gov.ph.

parent

2008-06-14T16:03:00.000+08:00

This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,
I don't believe any of us would have done it!

POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Long term, team players needed,
for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends
and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
fo r clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining,
constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis..

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limit less opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right..

Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis,
letting them know they are appreciated for the fabulous job they do ..

or forward with love to anyone thinking of applying for the job.

*** AND A FOOTNOTE?

THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!

letter from beijing

2008-06-12T20:58:00.001+08:00

for the benefit of those who do not have e-mail addresses, we are posting here the letter of Ambassador Brady to Bishop Padilla, sent to us through Mr. Noel Novicio from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.

Ms. Brady is our Ambassador to the countries of China, Mongolia and North Korea.

2008 independence day message from SFA

2008-06-12T15:33:00.001+08:00

pre-independence day gathering

2008-06-08T22:21:00.000+08:00

ang mamatay ng dahil sa 'yo...

2008-06-07T12:00:00.000+08:00

On June 5, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree setting aside June 12 as the day for the proclamation of Philippine independence. At the same time, he commissioned Julian Felipe, a composer from Cavite, to prepare a composition which would be played during the independence ceremonies. On June 11, Felipe showed Aguinaldo the draft of his musical composition, which was entitled Marcha Filipina Magdalo. Aguinaldo and the other revolutionary leaders, upon hearing the composition played on the piano, adopted it as the official march of the Philippines. Aguinaldo then requested Felipe to teach the music to the members of the band of San Francisco de Malabon so it could be played the next day. Felipe changed the title of the march to Marcha Nacional Filipina(Philippine National March).

The following day(June 12, 1898), the music band of San Francisco de Malabon played it for the first time during the unfurling of the Filipino flag at Kawit. The beautiful melody of the anthem stirred the people's patriotic fervor.

For more than a year, the anthem remained without words. Towards the end of August 1899, a young poet-soldier named Jose Palma(younger brother of Dr. Rafael Palma) wrote the poem entitled Filipinas. This poem expressed in elegant Spanish verses the ardent patriotism and fighting spirit of the Filipino people. It became the words of the anthem. At last the national anthem was complete -- with music and words.

Lupang Hinirang

Official version used since 1956

Bayang magiliw

Perlas ng Silanganan,

Alab ng puso,

Sa dibdib mo'y buhay.

Lupang Hinirang,

Duyan ka ng magiting,

Sa manlulupig,

Di ka pasisiil.

Sa dagat at bundok,

Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,

May dilag ang tula

At awit sa paglayang minamahal.

Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y

Tagumpay na nagniningning,

Ang bituin at araw niya

Kailan pa ma'y di magdidilim.

Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati't pagsinta,

Buhay ay langit sa piling mo;

Aming ligaya, na pag may mang-aapi

Ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

(ENGLISH VERSION)

Land of the Morning,

Child of the sun returning,

With fervor burning

Thee do our souls adore.

Land dear and holy,

cradle of noble heroes

Ne'er shall invaders,

Trample thy scared shore.

Even within the skies

And Through the clouds

And o'er thy hills and sea.

Do we behold the radiance,

Feel the throb of glorious liberty.

Thy banner, dear to all our hearts

Its sun and stars alight,

O never shall its shining field

Be dimmed by tyrant's might!

Beautiful land of love,

O land of light,

In thine embrace 'tis rapture to lie

But it is glory ever,

When thou art wronged,

For us, thy sons, to suffer and die.

independence day lunch

2008-06-02T12:33:00.000+08:00

AANHIN ANG KALAYAAN KUNG ITO'Y NATUTULOG SA PANSITAN?

the philippines is celebrating the 110th anniversary of our independence. we are inviting all pinoys in mongolia to come for lunch, 2 pm on sunday 8 june. venue will be at Delia B's residence. please confirm your attendance with marnet or joe.

listen to DZAS live

2008-05-26T10:44:00.000+08:00

702 DZAS "Agapay ng Sambayanan" is Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) Philippines' first station to go on air. Initially known as KZAS, the station began its broadcast in June 1948.

KZAS eventually came to be known as 702 DZAS. For more than five decades now, 702 DZAS has been providing the Filipino household with Balita, Musika, Impormasyon at Inspirasyon (News, Music, Information, and Inspiration) while sharing Christ's Changeless Gospel through Changing Times. Through its broadcasts, millions of Filipino lives have been touched and transformed by the power of the Word of God.

Faced by the hard times, 702 DZAS experienced a cut in its broadcast hours in November 2003. But God indeed is faithful. Two months after, the station resumed its regular broadcast hours.

At present, DZAS broadcasts from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 m.n. the following day (Mondays - Saturdays) and from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 m.n. during Sundays on the 702 AM band at 50 kilowatts.

agapay ng sambayanan

Christian Music

it's springtime 2008!

2008-05-25T23:32:00.000+08:00

it was a bit of an offroad trip - drove on about 25 degree inclination, crossed rocky streams and mini-chocolate hills, 1 1/2 hours away from UB. we made our way to the family ger of a friend.

shuvuu

2008-05-19T23:10:00.000+08:00

10th year anniversary of the CICM missionaries at shuvuu community, about 40 minutes away from ulaanbaatar.

beijing fast food

2008-05-19T22:01:00.000+08:00

wanna try?

DOWNLOAD FILE

'til we meet again, randy...

2008-05-12T17:40:00.001+08:00

Proverbs 18:24 says "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends whom we choose.”-Tehyi Hsieh

happy mother's day!

2008-05-11T23:43:00.000+08:00

MAG-INA SA BANIG by Nestor Leynes

SA UGOY NG DUYAN

Music by Lucio San Pedro
Lyrics by Levi Celerio

Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan

Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan

Refrain:
Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko'y tala, ang tanod ko’y bituin
Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan

Sana'y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako’y nasa duyan

Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko'y tala, ang tanod ko'y bituin
Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan

Nais kong matulog sa dating duyan ko, inay
Oh! inay

greetings from nam

2008-05-05T00:56:00.000+08:00

chielo was a former vso volunteer in mongolia, based in darkhan for a year. now she is a university lecturer in vietnam. following were her pics during a visit to hanoi:

nam train

nam fruit vendor? no 'puto'? hehe...

at the famous ha long bay

thanks for sharing a bit of nam!

horhog - initial step

2008-04-11T23:23:00.000+08:00

it is mongolian hotpot. meat cooked with heated stones, potatoes and carrots.

magicsing sessions 1 of 7

2008-04-10T23:49:00.000+08:00

it has been said that a filipino invented the karaoke. truly his creation is personified in any gathering. and we always sing with the passion and spirit of a karaoke virtuoso.

magicsing sessions 2 of 7

2008-04-10T23:46:00.000+08:00

magicsing sessions 3 of 7

2008-04-10T23:35:00.000+08:00

magicsing sessions 4 of 7

2008-04-10T23:24:00.000+08:00

magicsing sessions 5 of 7

2008-04-10T23:18:00.000+08:00

magicsing sessions 6 of 7

2008-04-10T23:14:00.000+08:00

magicsing sessions 7 of 7

2008-04-10T23:06:00.000+08:00

celebrating something new, someone old

2008-04-09T23:56:00.000+08:00

they were both volunteers. glenn was moving to UB and to a new flat. margie was celebrating her birthday.

there were litsong kawali, chicharon and dinuguan among others

our prayers and wishes

psp talk

main dish and desserts whichever way you want first

birthday blow

touch of affection

songs and laughters

the look

pinoys go mongol

serious karaoke mood

the bite

MARCH by Louise Glück

2008-04-09T12:34:00.000+08:00

The light stays longer in the sky, but it's a cold light,

it brings no relief from winter.

My neighbor stares out the window,

talking to her dog. He's sniffing the garden,

trying to reach a decision about the dead flowers.

It's a little early for all this.

Everything's still very bare—

nevertheless, something's different today from yesterday.

We can see the mountain: the peak's glittering where the ice catches the light.
But on the sides the snow's melted, exposing bare rock.

My neighbor's calling the dog, making her unconvincing doglike sounds.
The dog's polite; he raises his head when she calls,
but he doesn't move. So she goes on calling,
her failed bark slowly deteriorating into a human voice.

All her life she dreamed of living by the sea
but fate didn't put her there.
It laughed at her dreams;
it locked her up in the hills, where no one escapes.

The sun beats down on the earth, the earth flourishes.
And every winter, it's as though the rock underneath the earth rises
higher and higher and the earth becomes rock, cold and rejecting.

She says hope killed her parents, it killed her grandparents.
It rose up each spring with the wheat
and died between the heat of summer and the raw cold.
In the end, they told her to live near the sea,
as though that would make a difference.

By late spring she'll be garrulous, but now she's down to two words,
never and only, to express this sense that life's cheated her.

Never the cries of the gulls, only, in summer, the crickets, cicadas.
Only the smell of the field, when all she wanted
was the smell of the sea, of disappearance.

The sky above the fields has turned a sort of grayish pink
as the sun sinks. The clouds are silk yarn, magenta and crimson.

And everywhere the earth is rustling, not lying still.
And the dog senses this stirring; his ears twitch.

He walks back and forth, vaguely remembering
from other years this elation. The season of discoveries
is beginning. Always the same discoveries, but to the dog
intoxicating and new, not duplicitous.

I tell my neighbor we'll be like this
when we lose our memories. I ask her if she's ever seen the sea
and she says, once, in a movie.
It was a sad story, nothing worked out at all.

The lovers part. The sea hammers the shore, the mark each wave leaves
wiped out by the wave that follows.
Never accumulation, never one wave trying to build on another,
never the promise of shelter—

The sea doesn't change as the earth changes;
it doesn't lie.
You ask the sea, what can you promise me
and it speaks the truth; it says erasure.

Finally the dog goes in.
We watch the crescent moon,
very faint at first, then clearer and clearer
as the night grows dark.
Soon it will be the sky of early spring, stretching above the stubborn ferns
and violets.

Nothing can be forced to live.
The earth is like a drug now, like a voice from far away,
a lover or master. In the end, you do what the voice tells you.
It says forget, you forget.
It says begin again, you begin again.

picture courtesy of margie agaled

boys to man

2008-04-09T11:47:00.000+08:00

play knows no age. the form has changed yet the substance remained...psp na tayo!

randy's day (night)

2008-04-08T23:28:00.000+08:00

a song for randy

that's our randy

dining with randy

two for randy

asan si randy?

sali si randy

sa uulitin p're!

easter sunday rites

2008-04-07T22:03:00.000+08:00

'twas easter sunday at the catholic church in UB. the bishop ministered confirmation and first communion. one was the son of a filipino.

mother and son

even abroad, filipinos do keep traditions of faith.

WIIcked weekend

2008-04-06T06:05:00.000+08:00

had farewell dinner for the solid gold band members at the favorite malaysian resto

then proceeded to nestie's place for WII...

aiming for a strike

there goes the throw!

boxing with the opponent on the side

basketball duo

2008-03-31T23:40:00.000+08:00

my mongolian colleagues doing early morning basketball. it seemed choreographed but it was not.

our department did an overnight outing somewhere outside but not too far from UB. a relaxing weekend - a little break from the pollution of urban living in mongolia.

ampangit sa 'pinas...

2008-03-04T10:10:00.000+08:00

"Ampangit sa Pilipinas. Mahirap, magulo, masalimuot, walang asenso, nililisan ng tao, puno ng mga pulitikong walang inisip kundi sariling pangkapakanan, walang seguridad, 'di mo alam kung may dadatnan ka pang trabaho pagpasok mo sa opisina, laging may nakaabang na panganib paglabas mo sa kalsada, sa sasakyan o kahit sa mall, pugad ng terorista, ekonomiyang walang kalatoy-latoy, napapaligiran ka ng mga taong nanlilimahid, mga batang walang makain, tambay, adik, out-of-school youth, sinasagasa mo sa pangaraw-araw na biyahe ang abot-leeg na polusyon, ingay, madayang konduktor na kulang magbigay ng sukli... at para saan? Mamamatay ka sa 'Pinas nang dilat ang mata.Pero nandito ka pa 'rin. Hnlabo mo, mehn."

"Minsan, naisip ko na 'rin na mangibang-bayan. Pero nandito pa 'rin ako, sa maliit na sulok ng mundong ito. May ganda pa ang Pilipinas kung magmamasid ka ng mabuti. Parang isang litrato, kung saan kailangan mong ihiwalay ang iyong magandang "subject" mula sa kanyang nakagugulong background.Sapat pa naman ang kinikita ko para sa aking pagkain, maliit na selda, pusa at minsang luho. Nandito ang karamihan ng aking kamag-anak, kaibigan at iba pang karakter na 'di ko na maihiwalay sa aking pangaraw-araw na buhay. Natutunan ko nang tawanan ang Pinoy pulitika gaya ng mga taong nanlilimahid sa paligid ko. Dito ko natutunang umibig, mabigo, at umibig pang muli. Dito ako namulat kung paanong maging "smarte" o madiskarte para sa araw-araw na pagsagasa sa buhay bilang isang pangkaraniwang Juan de la Cruz. Nandito ang magulo ngunit makulay na buhay na hindi ko pa nakita o narinig sa iba pang lugar. Mamamatay akong dilat ang mata, may ngiti sa aking labi at napaliligiran ng aking mga mahal sa buhay. Iyan ang malinaw sa akin, kaya nandito pa 'rin ako."

by JM
http://personalwilli.blogspot.com

celebrating tsagaan sar

2008-03-03T01:06:00.001+08:00

tsagaan sar literally means white month. it is the lunar new year of the mongolians, and is a big event.

for the weekend we gathered at marnet's place to have dinner. some did not make it due to sickness, reassignment to the countryside, and new year invitations.

WII for the wee ones...

search for the 'new idol'

pinoy fun always comes with karaoke

para sa mga tumatanda (hindi matanda)

2008-02-27T10:14:00.000+08:00

got this from the email...

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer the question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it.)

POEA memo # 4

2008-02-20T22:40:00.000+08:00

POEA suspends memo

In the past two (2) weeks, questions have been asked and issues raised about POEA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 4, SERIES OF 2007. To clear the air on what the MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR is all about, DOLE-POEA has issued this bulletin on question-and-answer format.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON POEA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 04, SERIES OF 2007 ON GUIDELINES ON DIRECT HIRING OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS

1. What is POEA Memorandum Circular No. 04, Series of 2007?

MC No. 4 is a POEA issuance that contains the guidelines for the implementation of POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 4, Series of 2007 which requires the prior approval by the Secretary of Labor before processing of workers hired directly by foreign employers.

2. What is the legal basis of POEA Memorandum Circular No. 04 and POEA Governing Board
Resolution No. 4?

POEA MC No. 04 and POEA GB Resolution No. 4 implement Article 18 of the Labor Code of the Philippines which provides that no employer may hire Filipino workers for overseas employment except through the POEA and recruitment agencies licensed by the POEA. This is the general rule in the deployment of Filipino for work overseas.

Direct hiring may be allowed as an exception for the following:

a. Members of the diplomatic corps
b. International organizations
c. Other employers as may be allowed by the Secretary

Article 18 of the Labor Code is an old provision of law and constitutes the basic policy on how OFWs are deployed. Hence, there is nothing new in the policy that MC No. 4 implements.

3. Under current law, how is hiring of OFWs undertaken?

An OFW may be hired only through licensed private recruitment agencies and through the government placement facility of the POEA. Those hired through the licensed agencies are covered by the undertaking issued by the agency at the time of application for license to assume jointly and severally with the foreign employer all responsibilities and liabilities for the proper implementation of all the provisions of the contract of employment. Such contractual responsibilities include the obligation of the foreign employer to repatriate the worker after completion of employment or upon its termination for causes not attributable to the worker, or in the event of death of the worker. The assumption of responsibilities by the licensed agency is guaranteed by a cash bond deposited under escrow account in favor of the POEA and Surety Bond issued by a reputable bonding company.

4. What is the purpose of MC No. 04, series of 2007?

The purpose of MC 04 is to provide OFWs hired by “other employers allowed by the Secretary” and without the participation of any licensed agency the same measure of protection and guarantee for compliance by the employer with the employment contract, including the obligation to repatriate the worker upon expiry of the contract, or its termination for causes not attributable to the worker, or in the event of his death. This is in line with the Government’s primary policy of giving utmost protection to OFWs.

5. What protection is provided to the worker by MC No. 4, series of 2007?

MC No. 04 protects the worker by requiring the foreign employer to:

a. Undergo verification process by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), to preexamine the employer and determine his capability to act as employer;
b. Post a repatriation bond in the amount of US$5,000 to cover the expenses for bringing home the worker upon expiry of the employment contract or its termination for causes not attributed to the worker, or the cost of repatriating the worker’s remains in the event of his death at the worksite;
c. Post a performance bond to guarantee the payment of the salary of the worker for the duration of the employment. The amount of the bond shall not be less than the cost of the salary of the worker for 3 months;
d. Provide a medical insurance for the worker at an amount equivalent to those provided to nationals of the host country.

The bonds may be secured from a Philippine surety company accredited by the Insurance Commission. The premium of the surety bonds shall be paid for by the foreign employer and shall in no case be charged to the worker. The medical insurance shall be issued by a health care
provider at the destination country.

6. Does the employer have to post the repatriation bond and performance bond in cash to
the POEA or the POLO?

No. The employer can secure a security bond and pay only the corresponding premium for the US$5000 repatriation bond and the premium for the performance bond. If the bond is issued by a Philippine bonding company, the employer’s cost can be as low as US$55 for a 2-year repatriation bond, depending on the issuing company.

7. Who are the employers allowed to secure direct hires under MC No. 04?

a. Members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations;
b. Other employers as may be allowed by the Secretary of Labor, which may include:

i. Immediate members of the royal family and heads of State or government;
ii. Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other senior government officials of the host country;
iii. Employers residing in countries where foreign placement agencies do not operate;
iv. Filipino expatriates and residents with capacity to hire Filipino workers;
v. Employers who are hiring on a one-time basis;
vi. Employers who need workers immediately and have submitted an undertaking to tieup
with licensed Philippine agencies for its next recruitment.

8. Who are not allowed to undertake direct hiring?

a. Foreign employers who are registered / accredited with licensed Philippine recruitment agencies;
b. Recruitment agencies in the Philippines and foreign placement agencies.

9. What is the procedure for the processing of direct hires under MC No. 04?

Employers requesting to directly hire OFWs should be pre-qualified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) prior to the endorsement by the POLO to the POEA and the Secretary of Labor for approval. Upon approval by the Secretary, the employment contract of the worker is
verified by the POLO and thereafter processed by the POEA.

10. When did the regulation take effect?

MC 04 took effect on 15 January 2008. All direct hires whose employment contracts or visas were processed prior to this date are processed under the old procedure for processing name hires.

11. What are the top countries of destinations of direct hires?

a. For household service workers, the top countries are Italy (6,100 in 2007 and 1,035 in 2006), Canada (5,488 in 2007 and 3,551 in 2006), Spain (1,950 in 2007 and 1,042 in 2006), Hong Kong (506 in 2007 and 556 in 2006), and Bahrain (207 in 2006 and 292 in 2007). The direct hires (also called “name hires”) are predominant in Italy, Canada and Spain because these countries are hired through the intercession of relatives already working there. The big volume of direct hires for Hong Kong is the result of HSW transfer to new employers.
b. For non-household service workers the top destination in terms of regional destination is the Middle East (5,576 in 2007 and 4,804 in 2006), followed by Americas (3,448 in 2007 and 1,985 in 2006), Asia ( 3,297 in 2007 and 3,138 in 2006, Europe (1,328 in 2007 and 1,111 in 2006), and Oceania (889 in 2007 and 685 in 2006). The big volume of direct hire non-household workers bound for the Middle East is due to referrals by relatives.

12. What is the percentage of direct hires against total annual processed workers?

POEA processed about 31,000 name hires in 2007. This is equivalent to about 8 percent of total
landbased new hires in 2007 or about 4 percent of total landbased workers processed in 2007
(new hires and re-hires). It is 2.6 percent of total OFWs processed in 2007 (landbased and
seabased).

13. Does MC 04 apply to a worker who is renewing his contract with the same employer?

No, if the employer is represented by a licensed recruitment agency.

14. Does MC 04 apply to an irregular worker (undocumented at POEA) who returns to the Philippines and requests for processing at POEA as returning worker to go back to the same employer to finish his existing contract?

Yes.

15. Does MC 04 apply to a worker who is transferring to a new employer?

Yes.

16. Who are not covered by the repatriation and performance bond requirements?

1. The following employers are not covered:

a. Employers who are exempt from the ban on direct hiring under the law and existing rules and regulations, such as:

i. Members of the diplomatic corps;
ii. International organizations;
iii. Immediate members of royal family and heads of State or Government;
iv. Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other senior government officials of the host country.

b. Other employers as may be approved by the Secretary of Labor, where the following conditions obtain:

i. The employer’s national laws and regulations provide ample protection to foreign workers such as a provision imposing on the employer the obligation to repatriate the foreign worker or his remains in the event of death to his country of origin, or to provide a guarantee for the performance of such obligation;
ii. Such obligation is stipulated in the employment contract;
iii. The employer’s national law or rules and regulations provide for relief in the event of oncompliance
by the employer of the worker’s employment contract;
iv. There is an effective mechanism to enforce the above laws, rules and regulations, and contract.

ice skating sunday

2008-02-20T08:35:00.000+08:00

having fun with ice skating. winter is finishing and the rinks were about to be dismantled soon.

here the rinks were naturally made -water poured through a hose. since the outdoors during winter is a walk-out freezer, solidifying water is very quick. the rinks were not smooth though but good enough.

2006 pinoys

2008-02-05T12:18:00.000+08:00

sharing memories of 2006. courtesy of dr GG.

with expat wives

with expat ladies

ilocano 'gulgol'

2008-02-02T11:46:00.000+08:00

one of the many ancient traditions of the ilocanos on the occasion of death...

more info

new year fiesta video

2008-01-05T08:16:00.000+08:00

ang itlog at ang balanggot...

fiesta sa new year

2008-01-03T22:52:00.000+08:00

napaaga ang Christmas party noong ikalawang linggo ng disyembre. nakabakasyon na sa labas ng mongolia ang iba. ang mga naiwan ay nagtipontipon para sa bagong taon.

parang mga balikbayan

parang nasa community center

parang reunion

parang mga tinedyer

parang naghihintay nang tawaging kumain

parang may palatuntunan

parang ang saya-saya

parang ang sarap

parang matatanda na kung magsalita

para talagang nasa pistahan...

sadyang tunay!

sa pagpasok ng bagong taon, sinalubong namin ito ng tawanan at ngiti, masaganang pagkain, mga palaro, at pasasalamat sa nakalipas at darating pang mga biyaya. iyan ang pinoy!

christmas greetings!

2007-12-24T04:03:00.000+08:00

the puto bumbong is always a delight to the palate and to the soul. may our hearts stick as close as the malagkit, our passions as bold as its color, and our lives as seasoned as its toppings!

wishing you all a great Christmas celebration!

a sunday feast and variety show

2007-12-10T23:39:00.000+08:00

it was more of a feast for the heart and soul than for the eyes - to be seeing familiar and new faces of pinoys in the coldest capital of the world. the freezing late afternoon weather was nothing compared to the warm fellowship that we had on the 9th of december. kudos to the three generous ladies - delia, ving and marnet who spent time and effort to make it a reality - now one of those heartwarming memories of life in mongolia! and to all of us, we owe each other the most for sharing a bit of ourselves in the roles we played on that sunday's 'variety show'!

the gang of 33 (one was behind the camera)

bishop wence padilla gave a short homily and his recollections of filipinos in mongolia more than a decade ago

we listened

and chatted

had a good laugh

the lady host

and

the culinary splendor

a fusion of filipino and world flavors

a thanksgiving prayer before the meal

and the sunday variety show

a mongolian tradition of giving honor - mare's milk served in a silver bowl,
and with a buddhist scarf

a display of magic

the lady rapper and beat box

a demo how to properly drink water with your elbows

a 'backstreet' duo version of 12 days of christmas
in english and spanish

ang dahilan kung bakit hindi pwedeng mangibabaw
ang mga mongolians sa basketbol

the award-winning interpretation of
pasko na sinta ko

what happens sometimes when adults go caroling?

boodz group therapy

victim!

the new solid gold band went acoustic

and gifts for the young and old.

catholic 'kumpil'

2007-11-27T23:31:00.001+08:00

according to the catholic calendar, it was Christ the King Sunday. it was also confirmation for some - one of them was a son of a filipino and danish couple.

for catholics, confirmation is one of the observed sacraments by the members. this usually follows baptism, after reaching the age of reason.

the catholic church was housed by adjacent gers (local circular tents). it was a mongolian congregation. mass was mainly in the local language, with the homily being delivered in both mongolian and english.

the parish priest was a filipino. but for that day, a filipino priest from the catholic school in UB officiated the mass and confirmation rites.

after the mass, food was distributed to all attendees. as usual, the filipinos could not wait to have a group picture taken of them. it is unexplainable. but certainly this must be something about missing home - the philippines...

PS. paparazzi at church...

darkhan exposed

2007-11-24T18:24:00.000+08:00

it was a long weekend. and so some of the UB pinoys and friends set off for darkhan - the second city to ulaanbaatar in mongolia. the darkhan pinoys were already 'warned' of the visit.

the darkhan explorers

the UB guys took the train on friday. it was a slow and relaxed ride. the moon was out and so the silhouettes of the snowcapped mountains and hills were glowing and were quite a sight.

arriving at 3 am. departed from UB at 850 pm. the train was on time.

visited haraa river which was already frozen (at least most of it)

jon - a canadian vso volunteer also joined the trip

dropped by the buddha on a hill overlooking the city

all wrapped up in winter clothes and fun

tried making a snow angel by the frozen river

playing 'kids'

alain and william for more pics

found an ice treasure

and the ice award goes to...

despite the cold and windy weather over the weekend, darkhan was a good place to visit. the fellowship with friends and colleagues was warm, and the hospitality was authentically pinoy.

eve in south africa

2007-11-16T11:44:00.000+08:00

eve used to be a vso volunteer in mongolia. she was around for 4 years and still stayed as a consultant for about 8 months. she went back to the philippines and applied again as a volunteer. now in kwa mhlanga, she is faced by the realities of african life, by a people under the shadow of hiv and aids, and also by the inspiring spirits of new filipino friends.

on sundays

2007-11-16T10:54:00.000+08:00

boy litang from one of the mining companies shared these:

...marami ring pilipino na nagsisimba sa tuwing sunday sa cathedral at doon kami palaging nagkitakita at kumakain...

church is one place where filipinos can meet and see other pinoys. usually in foreign travels, one will always find filipinos with friends and families in church especially on sundays.

the last of the rendang

2007-11-11T23:48:00.000+08:00

it was the night for omega's most requested 'rendang'. the main and only dish. with steamed plain rice.

while waiting for the rendang, tong-its was a good alibi

plates and palates on the go

serious food

joke about N.A.

leg massage. not foot spa.

kodak moments - eric's wedding

2007-11-09T00:03:00.000+08:00

wedding pics of eric and becky. and the famous centerpiece in any philippine occasion, the lechon or pig in a spit. we are so happy for you in your union. may your tribe increase...hehe. (nasimulan na nga, di ba?)

first dinner at william's place

2007-11-08T23:42:00.000+08:00

william is an american english teacher in ulaanbaatar. since we met him, he has become a regular in our gatherings - filipino and mixed group. he just recently got his own flat, and he invited us for dinner. there were vso volunteers, the filipino band members, and of course the regular others. the meal was chicken afritada and vegetable salad. later, the famous chicken adobo followed for seconders...

omega leaving mongolia

2007-10-19T15:19:00.000+08:00

she was a volunteer social worker assigned to work in a catholic orphanage in the capital of mongolia. she arrived in february, and was supposed to stay for a year. but for one too many reasons, now she has left UB for good.

'day, dahandahan ang kain sa 'pinas! mas maraming bigas doon...hehe...

eric & becky's wedding invite

2007-10-08T12:51:00.000+08:00

they were former vso volunteers in mongolia. eric was a filipino business adviser and becky was a canadian nurse trainer. they were both assigned in the southern countryside where they met and fell in love.

from the filipinos and your other friends in mongolia and the philippines, our best wishes to you on your wedding day and henceforth!

sunshine boys

2007-09-29T15:37:00.000+08:00

one of those sundays when the guys were wearing loud colors! tv, playstation and breaded porkchops. oh, there were carrot pastillas too! we had a muse - she took the pic here.

weekend at a tourist complex

2007-09-04T10:08:00.000+08:00

it was only about 30 kms outside of UB, deviating on the left hand side before the airport. jargalant tourist complex.

the ger camp area

the gers were built in pairs. amenities: 4 single beds, telephone, cable tv, fridge, heater, hot and cold water, western type of bathroom, and extra floor space.

we put up a tent outside the camp for bbq, play area for the kids (and adults as well) and for sleeping too.

the kids at play. terence was the childminder.

the bbq chef

the official taster

the assistant chefs cum housekeepers

it's dinner time: chicken bbq, ox tongue, sausage and salad. of course, rice is a constant.

the 4 musketeers. one was behind the camera.

dining with a view

the other view

it was getting dark yet there were not any mosquitoes around, except for some flies during dinner. it was time for beers and karaoke.

the steppes around

houses were being built in this area. how would you like one? ask this guy....

a walk before lunch

what bird is it?

there was an archery area too

running

hiking - oh the kids were restless!

then it's time for a nap!

going for a bit change of ambience

some food and drinks before leaving

we only stayed overnight and during the day, but it was fun and very relaxing. it was good it did not rain. one even said it was great just lying down on the grass, and looking at the stars during the night. well, it was a good reason to unwind.

new band at strings

2007-09-03T11:13:00.000+08:00

it is solid gold! that's the name of the new band. it consists of 3 filipinos, 2 singaporeans/malays, and 1 colombian. their playlist usually is a partymix. slow, jazzy and danceable music. they are not very loud yet warm in their renditions. catch them up at strings for the next 3 months (at least). to the band: welcome to mongolia!

i got a sight of the new band during the visit of vic - a filipino health consultant based in cambodia. vic did a training for UNFPA in mongolia for 2 weeks. he might be visiting again though. nice to have met you p're!

mark, jing and vic

i-witness documentary on pinoy volunteers

2007-08-14T11:10:00.000+08:00

here is a video clip of what was shown on philippine tv gma7 last 13 august 2007. this is not the full version yet it gives us a view of what filipino volunteers are doing in mongolia.

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For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

witnessing mongolia

2007-08-01T18:29:00.001+08:00

courtesy of vso bahaginan, philippine's gma7 i-witness crew came to mongolia, to document the lives of filipino volunteers. this is sort of documenting too the 'documentarists'.

khumee in mongolia

2007-07-30T12:07:00.001+08:00

throat singing is one of the popular trademarks of mongolia. listen to how the singer here produced more than one sound.

traditional music of mongolia

2007-07-30T11:59:00.001+08:00

'altain orgil' - a traditional band featured in a local restaurant. very good rendition of mongolian folk music.

one gay sunday afternoon

2007-07-27T13:33:00.001+08:00

a pinoy goes drag to say farewell to a friend leaving mongolia.

farewell for rayso

2007-07-27T12:33:00.000+08:00

rayso is a filipino vso volunteer in mongolia. she came in february 2007 as a short-term volunteer.

PART 1: had lunch at margie's place. main dishes were chicken adobo in sesame and ginisang munggo. there was choco bombe (chocolate cake with crushed chilis by joe) and water melon (courtesy of david and gek) for dessert.

rayso with terence and ana

david and gek go for the salad

mining pinoys - duly and elvis (max was absent)

ana and william

uy, inupuan mo na talaga ang pagkain p're!

PART 2: this was max's (who was absent) idea - to have dinner at rayso's flat. we had tinola to the max (coz there was a lot! thanks max!) and laing (taro leaves in coconut milk).

peace...

a visiting filipino doctor (standing) who just finished chinese medicine in beijing also came around

rayso with vso volunteers sarah and zoe

chat at rayso's bedroom. actually margie and william did massage for some...

the waiting

2007-07-17T16:45:00.001+08:00

a philippine diplomat was in town we were informed, and that he would like to meet with the pinoys in ulaanbaatar. dissemination was thru all sorts - cp, ym, and email. this was sometime before twelve noon. the meeting was to be at 6 pm, in his hotel.

we did not know who he was except that he was formerly working at the philippine embassy in beijing.

we waited then at the lobby. not many of us came yet we did. until 7:30. he was not around. well, at least we had taken pictures of ourselves...

spring 2007 video

2007-07-16T19:41:00.001+08:00

one of those weekends to relax. welcoming some pinoys who just arrived in mongolia

videoke night

2007-07-16T15:04:00.000+08:00

filipinos just love music and therefore, singing. anywhere in the philippines, there would always be people who can sing or play some musical instruments. outside the philippines, filipinos still do - either for personal entertainment or livelihood . in mongolia, it is one of those times when we sing to our heart's content - either because we share in the celebration of occasions, or we just merely miss home...

taking a break / food refill...

the watering hole

2007-07-07T12:48:00.001+08:00

strings pub in ulaanbaatar, mongolia. filipino and other foreign expats, and mongolians as well meet, dine and dance the night away here. it regularly features a filipino band which plays slow and danceable music. dance time usually starts at 10 pm. in the video is the nightshift band playing 'bakit ngayon ka lang?' a filipino pop ballad.

chicharon and others

2007-05-23T08:27:00.000+08:00

it was almost the end of my sick leave. i went around and tried to have a bit of what i missed while in mongolia.l

it's the chicharon (also the bulaklak). i bought a pack and munch on it while walking the streets of manila.

i had pork bbq too and i remembered how a friend in mongolia craves at times for this flavor back home.

not much traffic. it was a weekend. well, my camera got a shot of a jeepney at least...

tv shoot, manila

2007-05-23T08:15:00.000+08:00

these pictures were taken during my sick leave in the philippines. it just so happened that there was a scheduled tv shoot where i was staying for a while in manila. it was for the tv series pedro penduko.

out in the street

teenage actor matt evans

getting ready

music and sunday lunch

2007-04-03T00:22:00.000+08:00

just met together for lunch after coming from church. some were being asked to join the church choir.

and practice was about to start...the guitarist is a band member.

getting to know the song. sige, birit 'day!

having a good laugh. about the music?

coke and dried canadian apples, church music...

'TWAS FUN!

spring party (kuno)

2007-03-30T13:21:00.000+08:00

we had a friday night get together. held at joey and leah's place, it was a potluck party. some of the pinoys were leaving ulaanbaatar - for holiday and to the countryside for work, so we agreed to meet and have some fun. there were veggie salad, chicken tenders, rice noodles (sotanghon with tengang daga), beef curry and steamed rice.

the whole gang

videoke time

feeling like celebrities!

erdenet trip

2007-03-15T16:11:00.000+08:00

a volunteer's first trip to erdenet, mongolia

almost spring!

2007-02-21T04:03:00.000+08:00

snow and ice still covered the landscape but it was about two days before 'tsagaan sar' - the mongolian lunar new year and the official start of spring. coming from a tropical country, we were looking forward to the less colder seasons of the year.

kare-kare weekend

2007-02-20T16:50:00.000+08:00

it was an ordinary get-together but a good excuse to have kare-kare (oxtail stew in peanut sauce) with sauteed korean shrimp paste - almost as good as the 'alamang' back home . one filipino volunteer just arrived from the philippines for a short-term stint and so it became as well a welcome dinner party for her.

we came to meet a new filipino couple who were canadian immigrants but whose work assigned them to mongolia. aside from the kare-kare, there was noodle - cooked a la 'pancit canton'. a friend from the peace corps also came.

ulaanbaatar

2007-02-01T19:02:00.000+08:00

about 60 filipinos more or less, are staying in mongolia. from different walks of life in the philippines and also with differing circumstances, they have come to mongolia - the land of chinggis khan, steppes and blue skies.

a side of ulaanbaatar, the capital of mongolia on a saturday morning.

a 'ger' (circular tent) district in the suburb of ulaanbaatar