By Quay Evano
FOR the first time in the history of overseas employment for Filipinos and perhaps a first in the Middle East and the rest of the world, a foundation has been created by the OFWs (in the UAE) for the OFWs (in the Middle East) -- to aid them during harsh financial times.
The foundation was also created to promote entrepreneurship, to engage in fundraising activities, to give scholarships to children of low-income Filipino families and provide money to Filipinos stricken with life-threatening illnesses or who are victims of calamities and natural disasters.
“The Filipino Expatriates in the UAE Foundation Inc., also known as FILEX Foundation was established so that in our own moments of personal need, we have a foundation we Filipino expats can easily go to for help. No one else can really help the OFWs but the OFWs themselves, so it is high time we start preparing ourselves for our future and supporting ourselves. Even if we are abroad, or back home in the Philippines, the foundation will become the common interest we will work for, to gather and to sustain and proudly say that it is our own charitable organization. There are so many charitable organizations in the Philippines but there is really none for the OFWs. Finally, there is one now,” Dick Orense, Chairman of the Interim Board of Trustees, said.
The FILEX Foundation, which is a non-stock and non-profit corporation under the laws of the Philippines, was duly registered at and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Manila on June 25, 2008.
Membership is open to all Filipinos with a payment of a one-time fee of AED (Dirhams) 30 or US$ 8. Overseas Filipino Workers with a UAE residence visa need to pay a yearly fee of Dhs 15 for the group accident insurance security which covers accidental death, total accident disability, payment for medical fees and repatriation of remains to the Philippines.
“We really aimed to have the lowest membership fee we could possibly have and the lowest insurance fee so that it will easy for our fellow Filipinos to become members because we know they work blood, sweat and tears for every dirham they earn here,” Orense said.
One of the main purposes in creating the foundation is “to establish a funding facility whose capital fund, which to be known as the Foundation Capital Fund or FCF, is designed to grow and expand through time, with only its interests or earnings, to be known as the Foundation Disposable Fund or FDF, are utilized to assist the Filipino expatriates in the UAE or those who are no longer in the UAE and who are in great need for financial aid or help.
This premise is what started the realization of a foundation for OFWs to happen. About five years ago, as the newly-appointed Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Libran Cabactulan was approached by a Filipina, who had a terminal illness, asking for financial help.
The Philippine Embassy and the whole Filipino community rallied to help her as much as they can but eventually and unfortunately, the Filipina died. But out of her death, the FILEX dream was born.
“We ran out of time. That was our main problem. It took us a lot of time to get the money she required for her operation, it took time to make the Filipino community raise more funds, and time was something she didn’t have. I thought, if only we had enough money stored somewhere that will only be accessible for OFWs at any given time to help them, then we could stop this scenario from ever happening again. And there are so many of these kinds problems OFWs face everyday,” explained Ambassador Cabactulan.
In 2004, Ambassador Cabactulan convened a meeting of Filipino community leaders in Abu Dhabi signifying his vision to form a body that would become an institution which every Overseas Filipino in need could access for support and assistance.
In 2005, Filipino community leaders submitted their respective proposals and copies of their existing constitutions and by-laws followed up with regular meetings with the Ambassador.
In 2006, Ambassador Cabactulan selected 21 Filcom leaders who were responsible for initiating and shaping the foundation. In 2007, the election for the Board of Trustees was held at the Ambassador’s residence and in 2008, FILEX deposited one million pesos as trust fund at the Land Bank of the Philippines as a requirement for registration as a non-stock and non-profit organization.
“Assistance given by the government is not enough, especially with the fact that the numbers of Filipinos in the Middle East is growing by leaps and bounds. Five years ago, there was around 200,000 Filipinos in the UAE. Now we are more than 350,000. In Saudi Arabia, there are almost more than one million Filipinos now. I realized that there’s a great urgent need for adequate extra sufficient assistance to be accorded to the OFWs. I just felt that it was required for us Filipinos abroad to do something,” Ambassador Cabactulan said.
“What we’re launching with FILEX is a process, a system that will evolve into an institution that’s long lasting, self-sustaining and durable. I conceived it but it now belongs to all Filipino expatriates. My dream is that every Filipino who will go abroad will become a member of FILEX so that they will have some sort of protection for we don’t know what lies in our future and what will happen to our lives in a foreign land. Filex Foundation is a “pader na masasandalan mo” in times of need,” Ambassador
Cabactulan stressed.
At present, the Filex Foundation has 1,600 members since the official launch in August but the officers’ goal is to reach 100,000 members within a year.
The FILEX Foundation has already been praised by the UAE’s Minister of Social Affairs, Mariam Mohammed Khalfan al Roumi for its initiative in helping Filipinos in the country.
The foundation has also created its own website.
(Photos by Quay Evano)
FOR the first time in the history of overseas employment for Filipinos and perhaps a first in the Middle East and the rest of the world, a foundation has been created by the OFWs (in the UAE) for the OFWs (in the Middle East) -- to aid them during harsh financial times.
The foundation was also created to promote entrepreneurship, to engage in fundraising activities, to give scholarships to children of low-income Filipino families and provide money to Filipinos stricken with life-threatening illnesses or who are victims of calamities and natural disasters.
“The Filipino Expatriates in the UAE Foundation Inc., also known as FILEX Foundation was established so that in our own moments of personal need, we have a foundation we Filipino expats can easily go to for help. No one else can really help the OFWs but the OFWs themselves, so it is high time we start preparing ourselves for our future and supporting ourselves. Even if we are abroad, or back home in the Philippines, the foundation will become the common interest we will work for, to gather and to sustain and proudly say that it is our own charitable organization. There are so many charitable organizations in the Philippines but there is really none for the OFWs. Finally, there is one now,” Dick Orense, Chairman of the Interim Board of Trustees, said.
The FILEX Foundation, which is a non-stock and non-profit corporation under the laws of the Philippines, was duly registered at and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Manila on June 25, 2008.
Membership is open to all Filipinos with a payment of a one-time fee of AED (Dirhams) 30 or US$ 8. Overseas Filipino Workers with a UAE residence visa need to pay a yearly fee of Dhs 15 for the group accident insurance security which covers accidental death, total accident disability, payment for medical fees and repatriation of remains to the Philippines.
“We really aimed to have the lowest membership fee we could possibly have and the lowest insurance fee so that it will easy for our fellow Filipinos to become members because we know they work blood, sweat and tears for every dirham they earn here,” Orense said.
One of the main purposes in creating the foundation is “to establish a funding facility whose capital fund, which to be known as the Foundation Capital Fund or FCF, is designed to grow and expand through time, with only its interests or earnings, to be known as the Foundation Disposable Fund or FDF, are utilized to assist the Filipino expatriates in the UAE or those who are no longer in the UAE and who are in great need for financial aid or help.
This premise is what started the realization of a foundation for OFWs to happen. About five years ago, as the newly-appointed Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Libran Cabactulan was approached by a Filipina, who had a terminal illness, asking for financial help.
The Philippine Embassy and the whole Filipino community rallied to help her as much as they can but eventually and unfortunately, the Filipina died. But out of her death, the FILEX dream was born.
“We ran out of time. That was our main problem. It took us a lot of time to get the money she required for her operation, it took time to make the Filipino community raise more funds, and time was something she didn’t have. I thought, if only we had enough money stored somewhere that will only be accessible for OFWs at any given time to help them, then we could stop this scenario from ever happening again. And there are so many of these kinds problems OFWs face everyday,” explained Ambassador Cabactulan.
In 2004, Ambassador Cabactulan convened a meeting of Filipino community leaders in Abu Dhabi signifying his vision to form a body that would become an institution which every Overseas Filipino in need could access for support and assistance.
In 2005, Filipino community leaders submitted their respective proposals and copies of their existing constitutions and by-laws followed up with regular meetings with the Ambassador.
In 2006, Ambassador Cabactulan selected 21 Filcom leaders who were responsible for initiating and shaping the foundation. In 2007, the election for the Board of Trustees was held at the Ambassador’s residence and in 2008, FILEX deposited one million pesos as trust fund at the Land Bank of the Philippines as a requirement for registration as a non-stock and non-profit organization.
“Assistance given by the government is not enough, especially with the fact that the numbers of Filipinos in the Middle East is growing by leaps and bounds. Five years ago, there was around 200,000 Filipinos in the UAE. Now we are more than 350,000. In Saudi Arabia, there are almost more than one million Filipinos now. I realized that there’s a great urgent need for adequate extra sufficient assistance to be accorded to the OFWs. I just felt that it was required for us Filipinos abroad to do something,” Ambassador Cabactulan said.
“What we’re launching with FILEX is a process, a system that will evolve into an institution that’s long lasting, self-sustaining and durable. I conceived it but it now belongs to all Filipino expatriates. My dream is that every Filipino who will go abroad will become a member of FILEX so that they will have some sort of protection for we don’t know what lies in our future and what will happen to our lives in a foreign land. Filex Foundation is a “pader na masasandalan mo” in times of need,” Ambassador
Cabactulan stressed.
At present, the Filex Foundation has 1,600 members since the official launch in August but the officers’ goal is to reach 100,000 members within a year.
The FILEX Foundation has already been praised by the UAE’s Minister of Social Affairs, Mariam Mohammed Khalfan al Roumi for its initiative in helping Filipinos in the country.
The foundation has also created its own website.
(Photos by Quay Evano)
I am interested in applying for membership in FILEX together with my husband. Both of us are currently working here in Dubai.
Kindly advise how we can apply for membership.
Thank you and regards,
Marlene S. Martinez
050 2937645
SA FILEX,
gusto ko lamang magbigay ng komento,
una;
hindi sukatan ang maging una o maging bahagi ng kasaysayan ang isang pagtatag ng isang samahan, kung ano ginagampanan ng samahan sa kasalukuyan na kung saan ang mga kasapi nito ang syang magpapatunay na naging makabuluhan ang isang grupong kinabibilangan nito...
pangalawa,
ang isang LEGAL NA OFW na pumasok sa isang bansa particular dito sa UAE at maging sa lahat ng bansa ay meron tayong binbayaran sa POEA na Philhealth insurance, at pagdating dito mismo requirement din ng sponsor mo na company na ikuha ka ng insurance at medicare.
pangatlo,
tungkulin ng gobyerno (at hindi ng foundation...dahil meron ng EMBADA/POLO na sya namng dapat na gumawa nito!) na alagaan ang mga OFW na syang sinasabing bagong bayani...sa kasalukuyan nagagampanan ba nito partikular dito sa abu dhabi wag na tayong lumayo ang kaganapang ito?
ang mga OFW na pumasok dito sa UAE na naging biktima ng exploitation ng mga amo nila sa di pagbibigay ng tamang sahod at panahon base sa contrata at kung paano maiiwasan ang mga ito e alam ba ng foundation ito? Kung alam ng foundation salamat at yan ang dapat ipaalam nyo sa embahada(kung di nila alam o nagmamaangmangan lang?)
pangapat,
magiging epektibo lamang itong FILEX kung nakikita sa mga namumuno ang ehemplo ng isang tunay at tapat sa tungkulin na naglilingkod sa tunay na karaingan at karapatan ng mga OFW, kung katulad lang din namn kayo ng EMBADA tanungin nyo ang mga maggawa tuwing oras ng simba ng mga FILIPINO tutal kasama sa board of director namn yung pari bago kayo magpatuloy sa pangangalap ng miyembro...
para sa isang simpleng OFW na kahit di na kailngn ng foundation...isa lang ang nais na mithiin nito ang makpagpadala ng pera sa mga kaanak sa pinas!! kaya yan ang unang isulong nyo tanggalin ang sobrang/remittance fee sa mga OFW na nagiging gatasan(at nanakawin lang !!) ng gobyerno ng pekeng pangulo na wala namng gloria sa mga OFW, kung di gawing scapegoat tayong mga OFW!
IISA LAMANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT HINDI PA NINYO NAKUKUHA ANG TARGET NYONG KASAPI...at iyan ang dapat na itanong nyo sa mga pinoy dito!!!....KUNG ANG MGA OFW na walang tiwala kay gloria...himukin nyo kami kung paano kami magtitiwala sa inyo, at kung ako ang unag tatanungin nyo e baka hindi SAPATOS ang maibato ko...kundi KALDERONG WALANG LAMAN!! kasama ang TINIDOR!!! (dahil " mura" at walng bayad e mapasigaw ka kagaya ni ROXAS....!!! )at sisiguraduhin kong tatamaan ang dapat tamaan...!!!
SALAMAT NAWA!Y PAGPALAIN TAYO KASAMA NATING MGA PAMILYA SA PINAS NG POONG MAYKAPAL!!! MABUHAY ANG OFW!!! NA MAY PATULOY NA MAY CONCERN SA ATING BAYAN!!!
neighbors,
project manager/architect/engineer
AIRPORT ROAD AHU UAE
050-97235-_ _
Is this foundation availabale here in Jeddah K.S.A, you have a good intention i want to join or be a member.
thank you
GOD bless
How are we, Saudi Arabia OFWs can become a member of this foundation? What are the requirements?
I am marry to filipino woman, I want her to know about the good development.
My dear OFWs,
Please kindly visit www.filexpat.org for your queries or email Dick Orense at Dick.Orense@cansultmaunsell.com. Thanks.
ARCH.RAYMOND R. GAPPI Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
SA FILEX,
gusto ko lamang magbigay ng komento...
Para Kay Arch. Raymond R. Gappi,
Maraming salamat po sa inyong sulat tungkol sa FILEX Foundation.
Tanging panahon na lamang po ang makaka pagsabi kung ang ating itinatag na Foundation ay maging isang matagumpay na institution o hindi. Subalit naniniwala po kami na kapag matibay at mabuti ang pinasimulan at hangarin ng isang tulad ng FILEX pati na ang mga liderato nito ay makakaasa ang ating mga miyembro na magiging matagumpay ang Filex sa darating na panahon. Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa ating mga sarili, kaanakan, at kumunidad kasama na ang ating bansa. Mas mabuti na ang gumawa ng mabuti kesa sa walang ginawa. Para sa akin, mabuti na ang ganitong meron pinasimulang Foundation kesa sa nakatunganga na lang tayong lahat at umaasa sa iba o sa wala. Ito po ay para sa ating kinabukasan o ating mga kaanakan, na kahit wala na tayo sa UAE o sa mundo, meron matatakbuhan ang ating mga dating OFWs. Mas muunawaan po ninyo ang FILEX kung kayo ay maging kaisa namin sa voluntary work na ito. Meron pong kumustahan tuwing second friday ng ka da buwan from 3pm to 5pm at duon po ay lagi nating tinatalakay ang tungkol sa Filex, mga katanungan at iba pang concerns. Ito po ay sa Phil Embassy sa Abu Dhabi ginaganap. Sana po ay makarating kayo.
Hangad namin ang inyong tagumpay at pagsanib sa FILEX. Maraming salamat po.
Dick Orense
Temporary Chairman
FILEX Foundation Board of Trustees
para kay G.Orense,
sa malayang pakikipagtalastasan ng talino, talento at panahon nagiging makabuluhan ang isang samahan,kung saan bukas ang isipan sa puna at tugon; positibo o negatibo man, ang kabuuan nito ay ang pagkilos ng naaayon at nararapat sa magandang mithiin ng isang samahan...sa iyong pagtugon dito nagsisimula ang hangaring ito.
Lahat tayo ay naghahangad isang mabuti at magandang buhay na kung saan nakaakibat na pagmamahal, pag ibig at pag-asa sa ating sarili,sa ating kapwa, sa ating bayan at ang higit sa lahat ay maibalik ang lahat ng pagpapala at hangaring ito sa iisang FOUNDER ng ating buhay....at yan ay ang PANGINOONG MAYKAPAL!!
salamat sa iyong paanyaya!!
maligayang pasko!!!
arch. gappi
Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again - taking you feeds also, Thanks.
There are so many charitable organizations in the Philippines but there is really none for the OFWs. Finally, there is one now,” Dick Orense, Chairman of the Interim Board of Trustees, said. The FILEX Foundation, which is a non-stock and non-profit corporation under the laws of the Philippines, was duly registered at and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Manila on June 25, 2008. Membership is open to all Filipinos with a payment of a one-time fee of AED (Dirhams) 30 or US$ 8.
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he foundation was also created to promote entrepreneurship. mp3 download, iscsi cake
Is this foundation availabale here in Jeddah K.S.A, you have a good intention i want to join or be a member. Best regards, Katya, CEO of best cd dvd burning software
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