taiwan Archives - Philippines Plus

Fleeing Jeddah

08/05/201709/14/2013 by The Crusty Old Expat

The wife and I have to go to Iloilo City later today to pick up her sister Marjorie who has been working as an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) outside of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The OFW’s used to be called OCW’s (Overseas Contract Worker) as was the case with my wife Melinda when she worked in Singapore and in Taiwan. Marjorie had a two year contract with an employment agency from the Philippines that was not due to expire until December 2010. Over 11 million Filipinos work overseas as OFW’s since unemployment here is so bad.

Are Filipinas the Most Beautiful Women in the World?

09/02/201708/03/2012 by The Crusty Old Expat

my lovely asawa taking a break at casa rosa resort taytay palawan

Recent posts on younger Filipinas with older guys and how to meet your special someone on Cherry Blossoms has prompted me to write today’s article. Don’t know why I’ve never devoted a whole piece to this topic before, but a recent FHM Philippines video, posted at the end of this article, inspired me.

Two-thirds of Filipino Kids Own Cellphones

09/02/201705/13/2012 by The Crusty Old Expat

Two-thirds of Filipino children now own a mobile phone, according to a study conducted by leading kids’ channel Cartoon Network. If you ever shopped at any SM City mall in the Philippines, you would swear that figure is closer to 100%. I can't tell you how many times I've had to dodge kids at the malls (and adults) that have their eyes glued to their latest text message instead of watching where they're walking. When I'm not in one of my "what would Jesus do" moods I'll just stand there and let them bump into me.

Philippines: Best Country in Business English

08/05/201704/27/2012 by The Crusty Old Expat

Frankly, I was quite surprised to read that my new homeplace, the Philippines, is ranked the best country in the world in Business English. But that's what a recent study by the Global English Corporation, based in Brisbane, California, revealed.

The Acceptance of Racism Against Asians in America

04/20/201202/21/2012 by The Crusty Old Expat

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. says he isn't a racist. He has a lot of white guys working for him. Remember Floyd? He's the guy going to jail for beating up his girlfriend in Vegas. A real man, huh? But it looks like the guy doesn't like Asians despite his recent statement about a few white-skinned employees. He's called Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao "that little yellow chump" in the past and recently posted this message on his Twitter blogging site: “Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise.”

Iloilo City Earthquake Aftermath

09/02/201702/09/2012 by The Crusty Old Expat

Our world was rocked by a major earthquake this past Monday while my asawa was shopping for bed sheets on the third floor of SM City in Iloilo. Thanks to the exceptional handling of the evacuation by SM management and security, my asawa and I, along with hundreds and other customers and employees were led swiftly out of the building without injury or mishap. Now we just had to get back to our home in a subdivision two jeepney rides away. That proved to be extremely difficult.

Filipinas Attend “Maid School” for Overseas Jobs

08/05/201712/04/2011 by The Crusty Old Expat

Filipina maid Cherry Pie Antaban (love that name) wants to work as a domestic helper in Singapore. My own asawa spent years working in Singapore and Taiwan (see photo) as an Overseas Contract Worker, OCW. The current term for those having overseas jobs is Overseas Filipino Workers, OFWs. The government refers to them as "heroes." Indeed, without the sacrifice these over nine million Filipinos are making, spending years separated from their families in order to send remittances back to their loved ones in the Philippines, the economy of the PH would suffer a tremendous blow. But Cherry Pie is going to a "maid school," a month long government-mandated crash course in domestic duties, something my own spouse didn't have to do, and has to successfully complete her training before she can get a coveted job in a place like Singapore.

Sister-in-law Marjorie at Risk in Kuwait

03/17/201806/30/2011 by The Crusty Old Expat

Kuwaiti Beauty Blogger Promotes Filipino Slavery

My sister-in-law, Marjorie, 44, is an OFW. Overseas Filipino Worker. She has worked in Kuwait as a domestic worker for a year. Marjorie has labored for three different employers since her arrival. Fortunately she has a good employment agency that allowed her to find a different family to work for when conditions became too difficult with a particular employer. The third family she is currently assigned to also has another Filipina employed by them so Marjorie has a co-worker for the first time since coming to Kuwait.

Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake Rocks “The Compound” in Guimaras!

09/02/201705/01/2010 by The Crusty Old Expat

Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake Rocks "The Compound" in Guimaras! Friday night, around 10:48 pm heard what I thought was thunder. The Sainted Patient Wife, who had just turned off the television after watching "Death Race" on HBO (I had been sleeping) sat straight up and said: "EARTHQUAKE!"