Kapat ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an

ng M ang g agaw ang Pilipino s a Ibayong da gat

Issue No.: 1 Geneva, Switzerland April 2002

KAKKAMPI holds a forum KAKKAMPI Projects

Projectsand
andActivities
Activities
KAKKAMPI or «Kapatiran para sa Karapatan at KAKKAMPI CLC
Kaunlaran ng mga Manggagawang Pilipino sa Free computer classes for migrant workers are
Ibayong dagat» together with Geneva Forum for offered at the KAKKAMPI computer learning
Philippine Concerns; Migrants Rights center. The center has 10 computers with MS
International (MRI) and Unlad Kabayan will hold a Windows 2000 and Office XP installed in a
forum «Karapatan at Kaunlaran ng Migranteng network environment with internet access. The
Manggagawa» on the 21st of April 2002 at the courses include: Introduction to computers, MS
WCC Open house (Route Word, Excel, Powerpoint;
de Ferney 150, Geneva) Access and HTML. Plans
from 13H00 to 17H00. The are underway for another
forum focuses on migrants KAKKAMPI CLC.
rights and economic
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
welfare. Invited guest are:
Ms. Genevieve Gencianos Links with other NGOs are
who will speak about MRI being established to
and their activities; Ms. provide an on-the-job
Lily Angelical of Babaylan training for students of the
will talk about the other computer learning center.
filipino groups in Currenty, there are 7
Switzerland, their project- student-members
KAKKAMPI in one of their General Assembly meetings
services for migrant participating in an OJT
workers; Jean-Pierre Garbade will talk about his program with Migrants Rights International, a
book “Know Your Rights” and about the status of KAKKAMPI partner organization.
migrant workers in Geneva; Ms. May-an Villalba MIGRANT RESOURCE HANDBOOK
will present Unlad Kabayan to the filipino KAKKAMPI will be publishing a handbook
community in Geneva. She will talk about re- containing information about services available
integration, their work and their achievements. for migrant workers including contact information.
Also part of the progam is a film showing A rough edition is currently scheduled for
«Breaking the silence» and a panel discussion. release.
UNLAD KABAYAN
KAKKAMPI is inviting new members. Who are Understanding the difficulties faced by migrant
qualified to join? Any person of legal age, regardless of workers, KAKKAMPI will be working closely with
his/her status, and who adheres to the objectives of the Unlad Kabayan, a philippine based NGO that has
Association can be admitted as a member. For more successfully implemented a re-intergration
program for 6 years now. Unlad Kabayan is
information, email to KAKKAMPI@hotmail.com another KAKKAMPI partner organization.
Re: The Dinia Baliton Case
the statement of Geneva Forum for Philippine Concerns
KARAPATAN
While similar to a host of other documented
cases depicting the dark side of overseas
employment, the case of Dinia Baliton demands
greater attention from the Philippine Government
as her tragic situation can be traced to her
employer – Ms. Teresa Paran, a diplomatic
official of the very government that has placed
the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
as one its topmost national foreign policy
concern.
The Baliton case raises issues beyond
determining the liability of her diplomat employer
for her alleged failure to comply with the
employment contract she has signed which
contains provisions requiring her to observe the
minimum standards of domestic work
employment prevailing in Switzerland and the
Canton of Geneva. Its impact to the overseas
Filipino Community extend beyond the search for
the truth about the allegations surrounding the
motive and immediate circumstances that
compelled Dinia to attempt to leave the 4th floor
Paran apartment making use of a make-shift
rope of clothes. The truth about all these have
now been lost because the diplomat employer
and her family have chosen the cowardly option
to leave Geneva and to seek solace in the cloak
of diplomatic immunity. The flight of the Paran
Family enabled them to evade the jurisdiction of
appropriate courts of Geneva where these factual
matters could have been determined. This is
most damaging as this can be legally interpreted
as an admission of guilt.
This case places in doubt the sincerity of the
Philippine Government and its foreign service
officials in implementing this national policy of
compassion and support for the welfare of
overseas Filipinos. It has not been reassuring
that the diplomat involved, Ms. Teresa Paran,
has now been reassigned by the Department of
Foreign Affairs to another diplomatic post in the
country of Sweden instead of being compelled to
answer these charges made by Ms. Baliton. The
reason for this new assignment is not clear, but
Kap at ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an
ng M an gg aga w an g Pil ip ino s a Ib ay on g da g at
what is obvious is that she has left behind a
broken Dinia – permanently disabled and with her
future uncertain. To aggravate matters, Ms.
Paran has not submitted herself to the
jurisdiction of the Geneva labor court which is
hearing Dinia’s case nor has she made any
formal manifestation to the court, directly or
through any representative, of an intent to
answer the charges against her.
How the Philippine Government and the
Department of Foreign Affairs will act on this
case will be indicative of its capacity to provide
effective redress under this unique circumstance
wherein a Philippine diplomat is directly involved.
This case and its resolution will test the most
recent declaration of President Gloria Macapagal
–Arroyo regarding Philippine foreign policy that
“overseas Filipinos shall be the primary clientele
of our foreign policy and foreign service”. More
than oft-repeated platitudes regarding the heroic
attributes of OFWs coming from the mouths of
our elected or appointed leaders, concrete action
to difficult cases such as Dinia Baliton’s will best
reassure overseas Filipinos of the sincerity and
credibility of our Government and its foreign
service and consular officers to the task of
looking after the welfare of their countrymen.
In the meantime that no action has been
taken against Ms. Paran to compel her to answer
these charges, the Philippine Government and its
foreign consular offices will have to bear
questions of credibility. This will make it more
difficult for our government’s consular offices
abroad to aspire building a strong foundation of
trust and confidence with the bigger section of
the overseas Filipino Community, especially with
those who are most vulnerable because of their
irregular status and who require their assistance
more than the rest.
This is not the first time that a Philippine
diplomat has been involved in the oppression of
her own compatriot, neither will this be the last.
But let this be an opportunity for our Government
to show its resolve to dispense justice by
initiating concrete steps to discipline its own
diplomatic officer.
 This is not the first time that a Philippine diplomat has been involved in the oppression of her own

KAUNLARAN
compatriot, neither will this be the last. But let this be an opportunity for our Government to show
its resolve to dispense justice by initiating concrete steps to discipline its own diplomatic officer.

Towards this objective, we demand that the following steps be initiated:

1. For the Department of Foreign Affairs to

recommend to the Office of the President not
to invoke or otherwise recall any previous
declaration of diplomatic immunity in favor of
Ms. Teresa Paran in so far as the charges
filed against her arising from the complaint of
Ms. Dinia Baliton filed with the appropriate
court in Geneva ; for the Department of
Foreign Affairs to recall Ms. Paran from her
present post and to compel her to submit to
the jurisdiction of the appropriate Geneva
Court to answer the charges against her; and,
to initiate the appropriate administrative
proceedings against Ms. Paran should the
Geneva Court find her liable for the charges
filed against her.

2. For the Philippine Government, through its

consular offices in Switzerland, to extend
support to Ms. Dinia Baliton, particularly in
her effort to pursue her legal action against
Ms. Paran and to provide for her continuing
insurance coverage to enable her to avail of
appropriate medical and rehabilitation
requirements arising from the injuries she has
suffered from her fall.

3. For the Department of Foreign Affairs to

establish procedures that will effectively
monitor compliance to employment contracts
entered into between its foreign service
officers assigned to overseas posts and their
respective Filipino domestic workers.

Kap at ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an

ng M an gg aga w an g Pil ip ino s a Ib ay on g da g at

 Mga Kuwento ng Buhay sa Geneva
Sinabi niya na bukas ang bintana kung gusto kong umalis. Nagbabantay ang asawa ng amo ko para di ako
makadaan sa pintuan. Sinabi ko sa aking amo na kung dadaan ako sa bintana ay puede akong mamatay.
KARAPATANAng sagot sa akin ay ipapasunog niya ang aking bangkay at ibibibigay sa aking magulang.

Ang pagpunta ko dito ay isang magandang pangarap na nauwi sa

isang mabigat na pagsubok na hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala ko pa.
Isang trahedya na hanggang sa ngayon ay nararamdaman ko pa rin ang
sakit.
Naranasan ko ito sa kabila ng pagsunod ko sa aking amo na isang
diplomat sa mission at kamag-anak. Ginagawa ko ang lahat bilang isang
katulong: ang gumising ng 5:30 ng umaaga; maghanda ng araw-araw na
menu, at marami pang iba. Nagtatrabaho ako ngunit di ko naman
nakukuha ang aking buwanang sweldo at ni minsan ay di ko naranasan
ang mag day-off. Ang nakuha kong sweldo sa loob ng dalawang (2) taon
at tatlong (3) buwan ay 1,900 U.S. Dollars. Pinagalitan pa ako bago ko ito
makuha. Ito lang ang naipadala ko sa aking magulang.
Nang magbakasyon ang aking mga amo sa ibang bansa ay saka ko
pa lamang naranasan ang mag-simba ng nag-iisa. Nakapamasyal din ako
matapos ang aking gawain. Makalipas ang isang buwan ay dumating na
sila at dito at balik na uli ako sa dati kong gawain. Sinubukan kong
magpaalam upang magsimba. Pinayagan naman nila ako. Nagluluto
muna ako ng pagkain bago ako umalis. Eto ay mula Septembre hanggang
ika 3 December, 2000. Hindi ko alam na ito pala ang magiging dahilan
nila para ako ay kanilang tanggalin sa trabaho at pauwiin sa Pilipinas. At
dahil dito ay nagsimula kaming magtalo tungkol sa aking kontrata: na
dapat ay may isang buwang palugit bago ako tanggalin; ang hindi
pagbibigay ng day-off at marami pang iba. Gayun pa man, nakiusap ako
sa kanya na hayaan akong makahanap ag mapapaglipatan ng aking
permit upang makapagtrabaho muli. Hindi siya pumayag at nagalit siya sa
akin. Sinabi niya na bukas ang bintana kung gusto kong umalis.
Nagbabantay ang asawa ng amo ko para di ako makadaan sa pintuan.
Sinabi ko sa aking amo na kung dadaan ako sa bintana ay puede akong
mamatay. Ang sagot sa akin ay ipapasunog niya ang aking bangkay at
ibibibigay sa aking magulang. Pinagdugtong-dugtong ko ang ilang piraso
kong damit upang makagawa ako ng lubid upang makalabas ng bahay.
Mula sa ikalimang palapag ang nasabi ko na lamang ay DIYOS KO
GABAYAN MO PO AKO at kayo na po ang bahala sa akin. Nagising na
lamang ako na nasa hospital na. Hindi ko maikilos ang aking katawan.
Kinailangan akong operahan sa dami ng buto ang nabali sa aking
katawan. Hangang sa ngayon ay patuloy parin ang aking theraphy at
general check-up. Maaring hindi na maibalik ang dating lagay ng katawan
ko ngunit sana ay mabigyan ako ng katarungan.
Sa ngayon ay di ko alam kung ano ang bukas para sa akin. Malaki
ang aking pasalamat sa DIYOS at binigyan pa niya ako ng panibagong
buhay at lakas. Ang nakatanim na lamang sa aking isipan na sa
pangingibang bansa ay di laging tagumpay minsan ay mayroon din
Kap at ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an
mabigat na pag subok ngunit kailangang maging matatag at huwag
mawawalan ng pag-asa at tiwala sa DIYOS.
ng M an gg aga w an g Pil ip ino s a Ib ay on g da g at
- db
Unlad Kabayan comes to Switzerland
Unlad Kabayan has helped to build and to support more than 300
micro and small enterprises owned and managed by migrant
In a forum organized with KAKKAMPI, Unlad
Kabayan will be presented to the filipino
community in Geneva. May-an Villalba will speak
about re-integration, their work and their
achievements.
What is Unlad Kabayan? It was established in
1994 as a program of the Asian Migrant Center
(AMC), a non-government organization based in
Hongkong. After years of organizing migrant
workers and providing various services to help
them cope with their problems, the AMC decided
that the long term solution to migration is saving
mobilization, building of savings associations
among migrant workers and alternative
investment at home.
This “re-integration” scheme was seen as a
means to prepare migrant workers for their
eventual return to their countries and at the
same time to help create small enterprises at
home. With the projected establishment of
enterprises at home the migrant workers help
create new jobs for their families and
communities and even for themselves in case
overseas employment is terminated suddenly.
The program was set up in the Philippines in
1996 and has become a model for other labor
sending countries in Asia to bring home their
migrants with dignity, and as early as possible,
so as to reduce the hazards they may be
exposed to overseas.
Its achievements. After six years of work
implementing Migrant Savings for Alternative
Investments (MS-AI) strategy, Unlad has helped
to build and to support more than 300 micro and
small enterprises owned and managed by
migrant workers and members of their families.
The capitalization of these enterprises has
mainly come from migrants who have save
individually and as a group.
KAUNLARAN
workers and members of their families
The major enterprises that have been
established include:
General Merchandize in Passi, Iloilo with start-
up capital of P500,000. It is now managed by
returned migrant members of the Passinhon
migrant women in Hong Kong. It employs five
persons and was able to make a net profit after
only one year of operation.
Stationery supply and bookstore - in Sanchez
Mira, Cagayan is owned and managed by the
Bagong Bayani ng Hong Kong (BBHK) with initial
capitalization was P250,000
Free Range Poultry Project (FRPP) group of
enterprises. It is composed of 14 enterprises
related to production, growing of organic poultry
products dispersed in several towns in Bohol. It
has a Sasso breeding farm that produces day old
chicks (DOCs). It has broiler farms who grow
sasso broilers with minimum 50 birds and
maximum of 1,000 birds each farm. Most broiler
farms are managed and owned by families of
seafarers. There are also small farmers who grow
on a backyard scale. It has one dressing unit and
a small eatery that specialize in sasso poultry
cooking. FRPP had provided at the last count, 32
jobs.
Ubi production and processing project
supports small ubi farmers through credit
assistance and technical services. It has ubi
processing house that produces ubi powder and
ubi based confectioneries (jam, nutricool, bars,
polvoron, spread, etc.) UGMAD and individual
migrants have invested in the confectionery
making. The new products won awards at the ubi
festival in the province.
Agrivet supply, farm machinery services,
palay and rice trading in Bansud, Mindoro and
other individual rice production support.
Kap at ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an
ng M an gg aga w an g Pil ip ino s a Ib ay on g da g at
Filipinos
Qualities… Liabilities
KARAPATAN
We Filipinos have been called a lot of different names. Through the years, we have imbibed certain
qualities and attitudes, which we have become known for. As is the case with other nationalities, a lot
of these are positive but when taken to the extreme could be also negative. Let us examine some of
these so called qualities more closely.
“BAHALA NA” ATTITUDE
One of the favorite expressions of the Filipinos is
Bahala Na. Bahala comes from the Tagalog word
Bathala which means God. This statement, more
than signifying the depth of our faith, reflects a
fatalistic attitude. We leave everything to fate
either because we feel helpless or do not want to
act at all. It is a scapegoat for not wanting to do
anything because we fear the consequences or
because it takes too much energy.
“MANANA” HABITS
Mañana, a Spanish word for “tomorrow” has
become, in our own, language mamaya na, which
means “later”. We Filipinos love to do things, we
love to start new activities BUT we usually leave
tasks unfinished or undone. This tendency to
procrastinate needs to change. There are all
sorts of wonderful ideas which, when transformed
into concrete programs and projects would
benefit so many of our kababayans.
HOSPITABILITY
Filipino hospitality has gained worldwide
reputation. Although this is a trait we can be
proud of, more often than not, our hospitality
becomes exaggerated. We go to extremes in
order to please our guests even if it is beyond
our emotional and financial capabilities. A very
good example of this is during Fiesta time, when
we have to borrow from others just to have a big
celebration. We go through so many sacrifices
just to satisfy our visitors. In fact, we are so open
and hospitable to the point that other people
sometimes take advantage of us.
Kap at ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an
ng M an gg aga w an g Pil ip ino s a Ib ay on g da g at
CLOSE FAMILY TIES
It is our belief that the strength of the family
comes from its unity. Each member is a source of
support and help to the other. However, this bond
can sometimes become a hindrance to the
progress of the children. They may always rely on
their parents for help and they may be hesitant to
leave the safety of their home, thus, making them
incapable of taking their own responsibilities.
Even now, we could still witness a lot of
households having the married, grown-up
children still living with their parents.
BAYANIHAN SYSTEM
Our helpfulness towards our neighbors and
friends is, indeed, something we can be proud of.
We are always ready to lend a helping hand.
Through Bayanihan, the help of the whole
community, we are able to build houses and
schools, harvest a whole rice field, rescue people
from a catastrophe, etc!
In conclusion, whatever names we may be
called, whatever the reputation that precedes us,
I think that as long as we try our best to live out
human values, keep in us all our good qualities
while minimizing the not so good then we will
simply be just fine.
-mpl
KAKKAMPI Newsletter
Editorial Board
Clarissa Balan, Marylou Panpilo-Leyvraz,
Gemma Layco, Belen Conti, Dennis de Guzman
Layout & Design: Dennis de Guzman
Articles, opinions, letters to the editor should be
sent to kakkampi@hotmail.com
 KAUNLARAN
ANAY
Ang Pilipinas na aming minumutya
Ngayon ay nagdurusa’t kaawa-awa
Iyong mga anak ay hindi nagkaisa
Bawa’t-isa ay sakim sa pang-unawa
Alitan ay di dinaan sa salita
Tanke’t baril ang ginamit na sandata
Iniwaglit sa isipan si Bathala

Maraming Pilipino ngayo’y sugatan

Magulang at anak nila ay luhaan
Ito ang naging sawing kinahinatnan
Dahil poot at galit ang pinakinggan
Nasaan na si Dakilang Kapatiran?
Bakit kaya pilit na naglalamangan
Gayong lahat sila’y Pilipino naman ?

O mahal kong Bayang aking sinisinta

Ang mga pasakit mo’y aking damang-dama
Wala sa tabi mo, ‘yan ay totoo nga
Ngunit kaluluwa ko’y iyong kasama
Kasabay mo sa pagdasal kay Bathala
Itong lugar natin sana’y pumayapa
Muling maghari ang pag-ibig sa kapwa.

Kapangyarihan ba’y mahalagang tunay

Kung kapalit naman nito’y milyong buhay
Na dinaan sa patraydor na pagpatay?
Kapatid, ikaw sana’y magnilay-nilay
Minsan ko lamang sa ‘yo’y isasalaysay
Ang paniniwala ko’t, ito ang tunay
Kapangyariha’y balot sa gintong ANAY.
-mpl

Kap at ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an

ng M an gg aga w an g Pil ip ino s a Ib ay on g da g at

KALAMANSI
KALAMANSI AT
AT SUGAT
SUGAT
ni Pepe Dimasalang

KARAPATAN
Isang maalab na pagbati sa KAKKAMPI sa
kaunaunahang paglabas ng kanilang munting
pahayagan. Maliban dito, ang bagong samahan
ay may mga iba’t iba pang mga proyekto tulad ng
Migrant Resource Handbook, ang migrant
savings and investment project sa
pakikipagugnayan sa UNLAD KABAYAN, at ang
kanilang Computer Learning Centre. Sa wakas,
matututo na rin ako ng Windows 2000 at Office
XP.
---------------------------------
Ang kolum pong ito ay ipinamagatang
Kalamansi at Sugat. Ito’y para kina Gila,- na
sinasabunutan ng amo niyang diplomat, para kay
Nila,- na hindi pinalalabas ng bahay (buti pa yung
aso nila inilalabas gabi-gabi para umihi !!) at kay
Lina, na sa kanyang pagtakas sa amo ay
nahulog mula sa ika-limang palapag at sa
marami pang ibang tulad nilang itinaguriang mga
“bagong bayani” .
mga “pang-aabuso” tulad ng “the envoy and his
wife allegedly underpay their two household help.
“This is a case of deceitful employment, exploita-
tion of the poor and violation of (Austrian) labor
laws.” Welcome to Geneva, Ginang Cleofe
Natividad. Ang mga tulad ninyo ang kailangan
namin dito.
---------------------------------
May mga nagsasabi na ang katahimikan sa
ating kumunidad ay nanganganib dahil sa mga
kababayan nating nagrereklamo o naghahabla
ng kanilang mga amo na nangaabuso at
nagsasamantala. Baliktad na talaga ang mga
katwiran ng mga ito. Ang tunay na panganib sa
katahimikan ng kumunidad ay ang pagkawala ng
katarungan lalo na kung mismong Pilipino rin ang
nangaabuso at nagsasamantala sa sarili nilang
kababayan.

--------------------------------- Advertisement
Mayroon nga palang pagbabago sa direktibang
inilabas noong 1 Marso 1998 hinggil sa “hiring of Chez Boubou
private servants by members of the Permanent
Missions in Geneva”. Ayon sa Artukulo 6.62
(Jurisprudence), “ The standard terms and
conditions of contract for workers in domestic
service of the canton of Geneva stipulate a
salary of CHF 2,400 in cash per month as of 1
July 2001. Sana nama’y sinusunod ito ng lahat
ng mga Permanent Missions, at siyempre dapat
Boulangerie
pangunahan ito ng Philippine Mission upang
maging magandang halimbawa.

--------------------------------- Patisserie
Binabati namin ang bagong dating na dating
Consul-General ng Vienna. Siya ngayon ay na-
assign na dito. Ayon sa On Target, kolum ni
Ramon Tulfo sa Inquirer, binatikos niya si
Ambassador Arthur Garcia ng Vienna dahil sa 28 Rue Jean-Violette
Kap at ir an par a s a Kar apat an at Kaunlar an
1205 Geneva
Tel.: +41 22 320 60 28
ng M an gg aga w an g Pil ip ino s a Ib ay on g da g at