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Thursday, March 15, 2012

"Blocking appointment to POEA Board"

Dear Ambassador Tago,

"Outrage" is too-soft a word to describe what/how we, in the Western Region of KSA, feel about this "un-development". Whoever in that embASSy did it ought to be sent back to payatas and forced to smell the dump which he/she will find christian-diory compared to the garbage that he/she heaped on our respected colleague, Dr. Carlito Astillero.

Just as we are celebrating with bated anticipation the would-be appointment of a true-blue OFW to that lolong-infested agency, comes that embASSy snake attacking/striking in a most treacherous manner. If you could not flesh out that treacherous snake from that embASSy, would you consider a carreer change and handover your functions to a full-blooded pinoy? Nothing personal, but please consider this a direct challenge. Anyway, Egypt, your mother's homeland is just accross the Red Sea.

This is a BLACK day for OFWs not only in Saudi Arabia, but OFWs all-over the world. If this letter puts my head on the chopping block, so be it! Magtatanim na lang ako ng saging sa Kapalong.

Arman
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Hon. Amb. Ezzedin Tago
Philippine Ambassador,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dear Hon. Amb. Tago,

Assalamo Allikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakato!

I was shock to hear from Hon. Secretary Baldoz in our meeting yesterday, 14th March 2012 at the DOLE office in Intramuros, Manila that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, the institution that awarded me Outstanding Filipino in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the year 1990, blocked my appointment to POEA as one of the members of the Board of Directors.

It was alleged that the former hospital I was working in Riyadh for 25 long years did wrong doings to its Filipino staff, an allegation which has no truth of the matter and that I have not done anything to ressolve their cases. The report was just in one side of the coin for the hospital I was working before is one of the best hospitals in Saudi Arabia giving salaries on time and giving all benefits to what is due to everybody. It's unfair for your Embassy staff ( I am sure you have no knowledge in this damaging report knowing me for quite a time ) to report to the POEA Governing Board thru Hon. Secretary Baldoz that I have not done anything to help ressolved cases of complaints by our Filipino staff in the hospital for the truth of the matter, humbly speaking, all cases of complaints involving our Filipino staff could not have been solved without my intervention.

Please, investigate this matter and let the truth come out. Although I have no interest anymore to serve as board of Director of POEA I want to clear my name of the report of your Embassy staff. If I have not done the best thing for our people in diaspora in Iran, Lybia and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia how come that former President Corazon Aquino awarded me Bagong Bayani in 1992 and President Fedil Ramos awarded me Outstanding OCW in 1994, and the same President Ramos again awarded me with Special Presidential Banaag and Sikat Award in 1996 and this not to mention my recent awards after retirement last July 26, 2011 the Model OFW Family of the Year 2011 Award ( MOFYA ) last December 7,2011 and the Outstanding Balikbayan Reputation Award ( OBRA ) in December 9, 2011.

My warm regards and prayers for the success of your mission in the most difficult assignment in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Moh'd. Ali Carlito L. Astillero
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Ambassador Tago,

This is the time, that I am so ashamed to be called Filipino.

Napakarami ng mga "crabs" kahit saan tayo dalhin, hindi nawawala ang paghilang pababa sa kapwa imbes na ipagmalaki ang mga kagitingang ginagawa na kapwa Filipino. Mahiya naman kayo, tignan ninyo ang achievements and credentials ni Dr. Astillero. Nagsilbi siya at nakilala siya ng mga Arabo, ngunit kayo ay itinatatwa ninyo. Hindi naman siya mangungurakot sa directorship na ito, siguro may gusto lang puwesto sa tungkuling iyan.

Maglinis muna kayo ng inyong lugar bago ninyo husgahan ang isang magiting na Doctor namin.

Nakakapangigil ang nangyayari sa ating mga kababayan, panay CRAB MENTALITY. May itinaTAGO ba kayong kandidato para ilagay sa position na iyan?

Anita Schon
Washington State
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Dear Ambassador Tago,

As the President of (PPP-Central) and the one who endorsed Dr Astillero's name to my colleagues in the Philippine Consortium on Migration and Development (PHILCOMDEV) for the official nomination to the POEA Board, it is sad to note that the blockade would come from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. However, we take note of the statement of Dr Astillero "( I am sure you have no knowledge in this damaging report knowing me for quite a time )".

This could had been the first time that a legitimate OFW coming fresh and directly from the ranks be appointed in any Govt Line Agencies serving the Sector had it not been blocked. The staff/official of our Embassy who is blocking the appointment could have shown some courtesy by contacting the nominee and asked his side on the alleged issue of his engagement with Al-Mishari Hospital.

For almost 6 years, my whole family have availed the excellent services of Al-Mishari Hospital. My 4 children were checked up there by their top Pediatrician (Dr. Alaa) in the early 90's. I myself had my Tonsilectomy in that hospital in 1994 and have not heard of complaints from the attending Filipino Nurses during those time. In fact, the Nurse who took care of my Kids since the 90's i understand is still working there (Ms. Tess Luzoriaga). Of couse Im not privy on the other issues that may have transpired after i left the Kingdom in 1998.

The Sector was already celebrating upon hearing that Dr Astillero is to be appointed in POEA Board, we thought finally a voice in that very important policy making body would be represented legitimately. I just hope a fair inquiry/investigation be conducted and a report/explanation be provided to the Sector very soon.

Respectfully,

Jun S. Aguilar
President & CEO
FMW Group Holdings Inc.
Suites 304 - 305 PARC House II
21 EDSA Guadalupe, Makati City

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