Advisory on Renewal/Change of Visas

ADVISORY ON RENEWAL/CHANGE OF VISAS

The Philippine Embassy in London wishes to advise all Filipinos intending to renew or change their entry/student/other visas to the same visa category or another visa category, as a result of changes in the Point Based System of managed migration adopted by the UK Government, to transact only with duly licensed immigration consultants and/or solicitors.

The Philippine Embassy has been in receipt of numerous complaints from Filipinos regarding their failed dealings with unlicensed immigration consultants and/or solicitors. While these complaints have been brought to the attention of local government authorities in the UK, our kababayans fail to obtain refund of the unconscionable fees often paid by them when they submit their documents to these unlicensed immigration consultants and/or solicitors.

It is suggested that all transactions be made at the offices of licensed immigration consultants and/or solicitors and, when necessary, ask them to produce their license to practice as immigration consultants and/or solicitors before making any payment. Refrain from transacting business in clinics, cafes, telephones or mobile phones, e-mail, and other venues where it is not possible to ascertain the legitimate status of the immigration consultancy practice being offered.

This advisory is a repost from an advisory released by the Philippine Embassy last August 2011. The Philippine Embassy is urging our kababayans to practice due diligence when employing the services of immigration consultants and solicitors.

PNA-UK Advisory: Association Statement regarding Victorino Chua

PNA-UK Advisory: Association Statement regarding Victorino Chua

The recent incidents in Stepping Hill NHS, Greater Manchester has created an atmosphere of mistrust, suspicion and caution within the local community and within the workplace itself.

While it has come to light that due to the heightened sense of diligence and alertness of staff members, another member of staff has been placed in custody while awaiting further investigation. It should be emphasized that this incident is currently not considered related and linked to the Stepping Hill June & July 2011 inquiry but forms a part of the separate probe related to the same summer incidents.

It has been brought to our attention that the Stepping Hills NHS member of staff currently being questioned in relation to last year’s incident is a nurse of Filipino-origin. It should also be made clear that the circumstances leading to his present arrest is not directly related to last year’s incidents but is somehow being looked into by the investigating body. Based on our records, the said individual is not a member of the Association.

While we are deeply saddened by this isolated and worrying news, we would like to accentuate the high quality of nursing care provided for by Filipino nurses as evidenced in and experienced by the greater public. This is also highlighted and manifested in the high number of Philippine trained nurses employed by various government and non-government healthcare service providers in the United Kingdom and other countries.

While presently undergoing investigation, the Philippine Nurses Association of UK, as the official and recognized professional association of Filipino Nurses in the UK, would like to seek the public’s tolerance and understanding in so far as quickly generalizing the same manner of nursing practice for the Filipino nurse. We are asking the public to refrain from making sweeping statements and instead show our support for our nurses who at this time needs it most. We believe that this is an isolated case and would like to patiently wait for the outcome of the
investigation. Furthermore, we would like to ask that pre-judgment on Filipino nurse Chua be suspended until the final outcome of the inquiry. This will surely help the person and his family during these difficult times.

Finally, we would like to make it clear that Filipino nurses have been trained to the highest standards of nursing service and that members of the association are always reminded of and encouraged to practice the timeless values of excellence, honor and integrity in service. Despite any difficulty, encumbrance and flawed minority members of the profession, we will and will always be governed by our moral and professional integrity and values.

Philippine Nurses Association of United Kingdom (PNA UK)
www.pnauk.org.uk
admin@pnauk.org.uk

Philippine Embassy Advisory: Consular Outreach Mission to Norwich

ADVISORY: CONSULAR OUTREACH MISSION, NORWICH 10 MARCH 2012 (COM-1)

The Embassy is pleased to announce the holding of its 1st Consular Outreach Mission for 2012 at the following venue:


DATE : 10 MARCH 2012, SATURDAY
TIME : 9 AM TO 5 PM (SATURDAY)
VENUE : COSTESSEY CENTRE, LONGWATER LANE, COSTESSEY, NORWICH, NORFOLK, NR8 5AH
CONTACT PERSON : MR. JEROME ALBANO, PRESIDENT OF PINOY IN NORWICH
AKSYONG SAMAHAN [PINAS] (07799747514) – for directions to the venue

SERVICES OFFERED:
E-PASSPORT APPLICATIONS (by booking with the Embassy from 27 February - 02 March 2012 only on a first-book/first-served basis) – please see attached booking form)
EMERGENCY GREEN PASSPORT APPLICATIONS
PASSPORT VALIDITY PERIOD EXTENSION APPLICATIONS
PASSPORT AMENDMENT (FROM SINGLE TO MARRIED NAME – ON GREEN PASSPORTS ONLY)
ONE-WAY TRAVEL DOCUMENT APPLICATIONS
REPORTS OF BIRTH, MARRIAGE, DEATH
NOTARIAL & LEGALIZATION SERVICES (AFFIDAVITS, SPAs)
NBI FORM APPLICATIONS
ACCEPTANCE OF PHILIPPINE VISA APPLICATIONS (NOTE: NO ACTUAL VISAS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE OUTREACH MISSION)
PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP RETENTION/RE-ACQUISITION
ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS AND LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING PHILIPPINE LAW
SSS, PAG-IBIG AND OWWA MEMBERSHIP/BENEFITS (OEC ISSUANCE)
ADVICE ON EMPLOYMENT/LABOR RELATED MATTERS
OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING REGISTRATION (Please bring a valid passport)

All those who will avail of the services during the Outreach Mission are advised to check the documentary and other requirements at www.philembassy-uk.org.

Applicants may likewise download application forms in advance from the same website.

Those who wish to receive their e-Passports, visas to the Philippines, or other documents by post are advised to submit a self-addressed stamped special delivery envelope with their applications.

Payments for consular services can be made in cash (English currency) or with postal money orders made out to the Philippine Embassy. Personal cheques are not accepted for payment purposes.

The Embassy looks forward to seeing you at the Consular Outreach Mission in Norwich.

Notes from AdoboRice.com:
You can download the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) registration form here. We've resized it so can print on an A4 paper.

Impromptu concerts - It's Definitely More Fun in the Philippines

Next time I'm back in Manila, I'll be spending my Sunday afternoons at Rockwell to watch pianist, Vidalito Infante perform. The 63 year old literally stopped busy commuters at the LRT as he was unable to resist after seeing the piano for sale en route to the LRT in Cubao.

Read the full story in Yahoo! News Philippines.

Watch the final part of his "concert" here

And learn more about his story in this video

It's more fun in the Philippines

The Department of Tourism has recently launched their new campaign "It's More Fun in the Philippines"

Ad agency BBDO developed the concept.

Since it's launch, the country's most influential bloggers have shown their support. A few bashings have appeared labelling the slogan as unoriginal as they have unearthed a 1951 Switzerland ad.

Check out the It's more fun in the Philippines website. And their facebook page.

Better yet, create your own ad using MoreFunMaker.com. This site is created by Londoner Federico Colla, who is married to a Filipina.

The concept may not be mind-blowing, but it is simple and just might help bring more tourists to our shores. We think the best thing we can all do is plan our next holidays and go somewhere in the Philippines that we've never been before. After all, it feels great to be able to talk to our non-Filipino friends and acquaintances about the beauty of our country and our own wonderful experiences.

British Red Cross sends funds to support typhoon stricken Philippines

The British Red Cross has released £140,000 from its Disaster Fund to support relief efforts in the wake of the catastrophic typhoon strike in the Philippines.

The death toll following typhoon Washi, which struck last weekend, is now believed to have exceeded 900 with some 1500 injured.

Many people are still missing and thousands have been forced to seek refuge in evacuation centres.

Richard Gordon, Philippine Red Cross chairman, said the devastation in the area was unprecedented. “I’ve gone through many disasters but this one is the worst as some of the survivors have lost so many family members,” he said. “Some have lost as many as 30 relatives.”

Money from the British Red Cross Disaster Fund will pay for lifesaving aid including food, blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans and shelter for families in the worst affected areas of Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao region.

“The Philippine Red Cross was one of the first agencies on the scene and has been responding with 600 staff and volunteers since the storm hit,” said British Red Cross disaster response manager, Barry Armstrong.

“The Money from the British Red Cross will support continuing operations to help the thousands of people who have been made homeless and lost loved ones.

“People have lost everything as a result of the storm and the job of the Red Cross is to keep them safe and help them back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

Red Cross teams have been involved in search and rescue, as well as supporting people in evacuation centres by providing hot meals, distributing food packs and setting up first aid posts. The Red Cross has also dispatched emergency supplies of food and other items for 5,000 families from Manila and Davao to the affected area.

The Disaster Fund enables the British Red Cross to give money to support emergency relief around the world as soon as disaster strikes, to support the fund visit www.redcross.org.uk/disasterfund.

Notes from British Red Cross:

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies.

We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.

AdoboRice.com Notes:

This press release also appears on the British Red Cross website.

The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738)

If you would like to confirm that the UK-based charity you are supporting is legitimate, please search for the charity number at The Charity Commission, the regulator for charities in England and Wales.

Please only send money to charities and organizations you trust and have verified. Ask your (non-registered charity) organizations to send you receipt and confirm where they have sent their donations. For collation purposes, please inform the Embassy (embassy@philemb.co.uk) of the name of the recipient and amount of your donation.

Habitat for Humanity: Returning home after Typhoon Washi

Photograph: Reuters/Erik De Castro courtesy Trust.org - AlertNet

After a month’s rain fell in the Philippines in just 24 hours, international housing charity Habitat for Humanity plans to help families return to their homes.

Typhoon Washi damaged almost 7,000 homes and affected a wider population of over 140,000 people as it swept across the island of Mindanao from 16th to 18th December. The raging flood waters and landslides destroyed crops, livelihoods, community infrastructure and houses.

Habitat for Humanity plans to provide shelter assistance to at least 5,000 families over the next three months primarily in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

The disaster response focuses on mid-term recovery and involves providing tool and clean-up kits, mobile tool libraries, shelter repair kits and latrine construction. These interventions will enable displaced families to clean, to repair homes and to rebuild their communities. Permanent and decent homes will be key to the communities’ recovery.

The total cost per family for the disaster response project will be £146.62.

Ian Pearce, Habitat for Humanity Programme Manager said, “From our experience with other natural disasters, we know that it’s essential for families to move back into permanent homes as soon as possible. Homes are the centre of our lives, providing a place to generate a livelihood, giving children a safe, secure, healthy place to grow up and a place to study. Without decent homes families who are already vulnerable risk being plunged into abject poverty for generations to come.”

Furthermore, many of the evacuation centres are held in schools and while the families are in these centres the children cannot continue their education. This makes communities even more vulnerable to future disasters, so it is of the utmost importance that we help people back into decent homes.”

Habitat for Humanity works in over eighty countries worldwide to enable people to escape poverty housing through building or repairing safe, decent homes; land tenure assistance and technical assistance. Since 1976 they have helped over 2.5 million people to have a secure and permanent home.

To make a donation to the Philippines appeal go to www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/washiappeal

For further information, interviews or photos, please contact Eleanor Perkins, Press Officer. T: 01295 220322 F: 01295 264230. Skype: eleanor.perkins3. E: EPerkins@habitatforhumanity.org.uk. www.HabitatForHumanity.org.uk

Notes from Habitat for Humanity:

Habitat for Humanity is an international Christian charity that aims to break the cycle of poverty by eliminating poverty housing and homelessness. We believe that everyone, regardless of background, gender or belief, has a right to a safe, decent place to live. We champion that right and also take practical action, working with communities around the world to empower them to design and manage appropriate housing projects in their neighbourhood. Since 1976 we have helped over 2.5 million people.

For more information go to www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk

The response to Typhoon Washi includes:

• Tool and clean up kits: at a cost of £36.20 per family
• Shelter repair kits: at a cost of £91.60 per family
• Construction tool mobilisation units: Three mobile tool construction units costing £5,497 each
• Latrines: Thirty latrines in affected communities costing £1,832.60 each

AdoboRice.com Notes:

Habitat for Humanity International Charity Number: 1043641

If you would like to confirm that the UK-based charity you are supporting is legitimate, please search for the charity number at The Charity Commission, the regulator for charities in England and Wales.

Please only send money to charities and organizations you trust and have verified. Ask your (non-registered charity) organizations to send you receipt and confirm where they have sent their donations. For collation purposes, please inform the Embassy (embassy@philemb.co.uk) of the name of the recipient and amount of your donation.