Author: Lara

Good news to everyone who live in Cebu and nearby provinces. Balikbayad Cebu branch is now officially open and ready to serve OFWs and OFW families.

But first, who is Balikbayad? 

Balikbayad is under First Digital Finance Corporation, a fin-tech company based in Manila composed of team of professionals with experience in banking, consulting, and technology both in the Philippines and overseas.

The aim of Balikbayad is simple: to help address the financing needs of OFWs. 

Balikbayad understands that securing a job overseas entails costs. This is why Balikbayad was established in 2015 to help OFWs who are in need of financial assistance.

Balikbayad – Cebu, Now Open Of course, OFWs are not just limited to those who came from Metro Manila. There are many of you who came from provinces and Balikbayad recognized that. In fact, Balikbayad saw an increasing demand from Visayas region, which is why they decided to open a branch, particularly in Cebu. This way, they can easily and more effectively offer its services to our modern day heroes in Visayas region.

The application process is still the same. OFW applicants must fill out the online application form for pre-processing. If approved, you will be contacted by Balikbayad representative to sign loan documents and submit additional requirements, which are easy to comply. The good news is there is no need to go to Ermita, especially if you’re from Cebu or in nearby provinces because Balikbayad can offer their services from there.

Headed by BM Dominador Ferrer, Balikbayad – Cebu is located at Room 351, Colon Development Corporation Building, Osmeña Boulevard, Barangay Sto. Nino, Cebu City. For inquiries and other concerns, you can call them at 032-888-7818.

One of the reasons why you decided to work overseas is to give your family a better life. By better life, this includes having a place you can call not just your home but also your own. Apparently, buying your dream house is not as easy as it seems. You have to consider the location, neighborhood, and proximity to hospital, school, and malls among others.

More importantly, you need to consider the cost because owning a house is not going to be easy on your pocket.

Buying a house definitely entails cost, but this doesn’t mean you have grab every sideline you can find just to pay for it. Believe it or not, there are many ways you can still save without compromising your dream home.

1) Be realistic with your choice of home. 

There’s nothing wrong with aiming for that three-bedroom home with two-car garage and a backyard located inside a gated subdivision. While it is an epitome of your dream house, your budget cannot afford it even if you work three jobs.

Therefore, be realistic with your choices. Keep in mind that aside from buying the house, you need to spend few more thousands for renovation in order to suit your needs. Stick to a budget plan and look for options according to that plan.

2) Canvassing is key. 

There are tons of properties offered by a lot of developers in the market. Now that you established a budget, explore your options by looking into what a particular developer can offer based on that budget. Compare and contrast the facilities and amenities to help you decide which one will give you more value for money. Some developers offer similar home characteristics but sell it at different prices – and surely you want to go with a home that helps you save more.

This leads you to this next tip.

3) Don’t rush into buying a new home. 

We understand that you want your family to move out so they can finally settle in the new house. Sadly, that’s not how it works, especially if you want to be able to save. This is why it is important to explore your options first before you say yes to a specific home. Once you say yes, you can never go back and leave the original one behind.

4) Consider foreclosed properties. 

A house developed by DMCI or Ayala might be the perfect one, but can your pocket afford it? If you want to be able to save more, try looking at listings for foreclosed properties. Lenders sell it at more affordable prices with more flexible monthly installments because they simply want to dispose the property and turn it into cash.

Is this safe? Well, this leads us to the next tip.

5) Inspect the house. 

Home inspection is a must when buying a property. You need to personally see the condition of your “future home” and make an estimate on how much money you still need for the repairs and renovation. You can also haggle the price based on this estimate. You also need to personally see the property to give you a “feel” of the surroundings of your possible future home.

Trust your gut on this because if you feel that the house doesn’t feel right, then move on to the next option.

6) Establish your credit standing. 

Remember this: when dealing with lenders, your credit score is among the biggest considerations. If you plan to finance your future home, then make sure that you are in good credit standing. This way, you can negotiate with the rates, thereby helping you save few hundreds or thousands.

READ: 6 Tips to Boost Credit Standing

Buying a home is among the biggest purchases you will make in your life – and you want to make it worth it. Keep these things in mind because these will surely help you when you’re ready to go house hunting.

Sometime in November 2017, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or POEA received several complaints from job applicants about a job they applied to online. It turns out that they applied for an overseas work online, particularly through Facebook, which was posted by a Turkish national and his Filipina wife.

According to the complainants, they were required to send USD 120 to 320 through Western Union in exchange for a job in several hotels. The said amount will be used for the processing of work permit and visa. After sending the money, the complainants did not receive a positive feedback on the supposed job overseas.

This is just one of the many stories that show how Filipinos can be “overwhelmed” with a promised job overseas. In fact, there are many aspiring OFWs who become victims for this type of scheme.

Here comes the dangerous part: scammers lure their victims online, specifically through Facebook.

This is how it works:

• They post ads about job vacancies abroad and include a POEA license in the post to make it look legitimate. Some illegal recruiters will indicate the number of slots left to make the “job” look more in demand.
• Once you apply by submitting your application and other documents, the “recruiter” will require you to pay a certain amount to “cover the expenses associated with work permit and visa processing.” You will be given a bank account, Western Union, or Paypal address where you can make payment.
• After you deposited the said amount, the recruiter will give you updates on the status of your job application until you will never hear from him/her again.

“The job ad looks legitimate,” you might say. Unfortunately, scammers will do whatever it takes just to make someone fall in their trap. This is why you need to watch out for the following red flags or warning signs:

• Recruitment websites and Facebook accounts with “POEA” in it such as POEA Jobs in Dubai (FB), jobspoea.com, and poeajobsabroad.org. Scammers use “POEA” in their domain name to make them look more legitimate. Keep in mind that there is only ONE POEA and the official website is http://www.poea.gov.ph
• You are being recruited by a foreign placement agency. This is illegal because both the recruiter and employer have no license to recruit Filipino workers.
• Unrealistic promises and work conditions like higher salary, free food and transportation throughout the duration of the contract, non-payment of processing and placement fees, and other too good to be true conditions. Some recruiters also promise free accommodation and food plus reimbursement of travel expenses for provincial applicants.
• You are requested to make upfront payment through a remittance company. This payment will cover the processing of work visa and other travel documents. Consequently, the recruiter asks you to pay other fees to attend “mandatory” seminars and other documentation-related expenses.
• You are advised to wait for a “very important” email that contains “very important information.”
• There was never a personal encounter and the recruiter insists that the transaction only happens online for “your own personal convenience.”

How can you avoid this?

• Check the recruitment agency if it is registered and licensed by the POEA. Use the license number the agency disclosed and check the status here.
• Verify the job with POEA through its Verification System.
• Do not pay any fees unless you sign an Employment Contract. Consequently, the fees paid must have a corresponding BIR-issued receipt.
• Check the address of the recruitment agency. Simply type the address on Google Maps page to verify if a certain establishment does exist.

Still, this doesn’t mean that recruitment agencies who post job vacancies online are not legitimate. There are those who use social media as a platform to inform the people about job openings in certain countries yet the entire application process happens on a personal, face-to-face level.

The point is be more careful and vigilant. Don’t get too excited with too good to be true promises and work conditions. Remember the red flags and tips on how to avoid being scammed and eventually, you will be able to start your journey overseas.

Going overseas to work for bigger pay is one of the many things Filipinos consider. Can you imagine not just earning in dollars but also earning twice or thrice more than your salary here? It’s tempting, don’t you think?

Apparently, working abroad is not easy. Aside from the gruesome application process, applying for work overseas means there is a price to pay as well – and it’s not a cheap one. This could be the reason why many Filipinos sell whatever they could sell just to pay for these fees.

This leads you to the next question: how much does it cost to apply for work abroad?

PLACEMENT FEE

POEA-licensed recruitment agencies are allowed to charge placement fee, which is equivalent to one-month worth of your salary abroad. This is necessary because said amount is used by recruitment agencies to sustain their businesses. Take note that the basis of computation should be on the salary stated in the POEA-approved employment contract.

Can the recruitment agency require you to pay the placement fee upon application? The answer is no. 

In fact, the agency could only deduct the fees once you signed the employment contract. In return, the agency will give you BIR-registered receipt, which shows the total amount paid. If they insist on you paying the said fee, then you need to think twice about your chosen recruitment agency because there is a possibility that you will be scammed.

Can you pay only half of the placement fee first? That would depend on your arrangement with the recruitment agency. 

You can choose to pay half of the fee upon signing of contract and the other half once you have the plane ticket and other travel documents. This could be a good arrangement if you cannot raise the entire amount upon signing of contract.

READ: Practical Ways to Raise Money for Placement Fee

Nonetheless, not all overseas workers are obliged to pay placement fee. Seafarers, household service workers, and caregivers are exempted. There are also countries that ban collection of placement fee, which includes:

• United Kingdom
• USA (under H2B visa)
• Ireland
• Netherlands
• Canada
• New Zealand

PROCESSING FEE

The good news is you won’t shoulder all expenses. There are fees that must be shouldered by employer, which includes:

• Working visa
• Roundtrip airfare
• Work and residence permit
• OWWA membership fee amounting to USD 25
• POEA processing fee of P200
• Insurance coverage
• Transportation to the jobsite
• Additional tests or assessment, especially when the job so requires

DOCUMENTATION FEES

You will need to submit certain documents in order to process your job application. This would also mean shelling money to produce these documents.

Here are the requirements you need to submit:

• Passport – P950.00 for regular and P1,200.00 for express
• NBI Clearance – P150.00
• Police and Barangay Clearance – amount depending on your location
• PSA-authenticated birth certificate – P330.00
• Philhealth contribution – P2,400.00
• PAG-IBIG contribution – P100.00
• Medical Exam – amount varies per clinic

You might find these fees overwhelming and too much for you wallet to handle. Unfortunately, not all fees can be waived completely, so it is best to save up for these fees as early as possible.

Did you know that there are 2.2 million Household Service Workers (HSW) working overseas? Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Hong Kong, and Qatar are the top destinations for HSW because of both the pay and high in demand. Unfortunately, not all deployed HSWs were able to finish their contract because their employers decided to terminate them for various reasons; one of which is that the HSW is not prepared to work as one.

You might think that being a HSW is as simple as doing the chores. In fact, it doesn’t end there. You will be in a different country with different rules, laws, and way of life. These are the factors you need to consider as well to ensure that you can get the job done.

The good news is there is a training center that could help you prepare for the job.

Say Hello to Fair Training Center (FTC)

FTC is under the management of Fair Employment Agency. The agency noticed that despite its rigorous application process, four out of 10 first-time OFWs were terminated because they weren’t ready to migrate and work.

This is how FTC started in November 2016. It is an accredited training and assessment center that assists pre-departure HSWs by teaching the basics of living and working abroad, particularly in Hong Kong, through simulation – and more.

The curriculum is divided into three competencies: Basic, Common, and Core.

The program aims to teach and familiarize:

• Your rights as a worker
• Proper use of household appliances and equipment like washing machine and food processor
• Basic cooking skills and recipes, including shopping for local ingredients in the market
• Proper housekeeping skills
• First aid and accident prevention and management
• How to use public transportation
• Filling up forms in the immigration
• Understand service contracts
• How to respond to scenarios like being accused of stealing, as well as tips on how to prevent yourself from being placed in an unfortunate situation
• Tips on how to be professionals, including the way you talk, think, look, dress, and act
• Proper ways to communicate with employers

In other words, FTC helps HSWs on how to be dignified professionals because after all, you are a worker and not just someone who gets paid to do the cleaning.

Aside from the basic and physical preparations, Fair Training Center also helps prepare workers emotionally and financially. You will be taught tips on how to communicate and maintain a healthy relationship with your family in the Philippines with the help of scheduling. Living in a different country is a new experience for you and FTC will help you adapt to the new living environment.

Another important thing you need to prepare for before you leave is how to handle finances at home. FTC acts as a guide to help you and your family define specific financial goals, which will serve as your motivation as you work overseas. Financial literacy is also crucial – and FTC will give you an idea about various financial concepts and how to make the most out of your earnings. This way, you are sure that all your hard work will be rewarded.

Here’s another best part: your trainers were former OFWs who have enough experiences that are not known to many.

How much does this training cost? 

The usual cost is P16,500.00, which covers everything you need to know about working as HSW in Hong Kong plus materials. As of this writing, FTC’s training fee is P8,000.00, so don’t miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the necessary skills as you start this journey.

Back in the day, you have to walk along the streets of Manila to check every recruitment agency’s job openings and then apply. Then, you have to wait for the agency’s call on whether or not you passed the initial screening and ready to take the succeeding steps.

Thanks to Internet, you can look for a job overseas without leaving the comfort of your home. Be careful. Not all websites that post job openings abroad are legitimate. Protect yourself from being scammed by sticking to these legitimate websites that will help jumpstart your life overseas:

POEA Website

Yes, the government does post job openings through the POEA website, although it’s not as updated as the other job websites. Job postings are only limited to several countries, but still, it’s worth the try. After all, you are sure that these job postings are legitimate since it’s the government who posted it. The good thing about applying at the job vacancies posted is that jobs are urgent; hence application process if faster.

You can check this link to see the latest job openings you can apply to. Don’t forget to register online.

OFWguru.com 

The website only started in 2015, but over the years, it has been a go-to platform for job-seekers because the site posts job hirings from POEA-licensed recruitment agencies. When you sign up, you can also submit your resume online, thereby making it accessible to both employers and recruitment agencies to see. Doing so will also help you find the right jobs since OFWguru matches you with the job hunters according to the skills and experiences you indicated in your resume.

This website is also worth checking because aside from the job openings, OFWguru also has a “Blog” section that shares various tips and tricks that are helpful for OFWs. This includes money or finance tips and tips on how to excel overseas.

SeamanJobsite.com 

Do you want to be a seafarer? Skip that trip in Manila to knock at every door and ask for any job opening. You can save yourself from the scorching heat and money for commute by simply checking SeamanJobsite.com, an online portal dedicated to aspiring seafarers. It has a database of thousands of jobs from top maritime companies and licensed manning agencies. Searching for a job is also easy since the jobs are assorted accordingly.

Unlike OFWguru, there is no need to upload a resume. Simply fill out the online application since this will already serve as your resume. Similar to OFWguru, you can also find a lot of informative articles that could help you adjust in your new venture, career tips, and of course, money posts.

WorkAbroad.ph

This is a sister site of SeamanJobsite, but this time, it posts job openings for land-based workers. It also has more than 20,000 job listings from POEA-licensed recruitment agencies, thereby making it easier for you to look for a job with just a few clicks.

You can also sort the job listings according to categories like Specializations. Jobs, Countries, and POEA agencies among others. Simply upload your resume to make it easier for job hunters to find you. Don’t forget to download the mobile app so you can check the job listings wherever you are.

JobStreet.com

Yes, JobStreet is not just for local employment. In fact, it also has an Overseas Jobs page where you can see more than 10,000 POEA-approved job offerings in the field of Engineering, construction, finance, hotel and restaurant, manufacturing, and healthcare among many others.

Don’t worry. If you applied through JobStreet before, navigating its Overseas Jobs page will be easier for you.

So, are you ready to start looking for a job overseas? Good luck!

There are hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who leave the country every year for greener pastures. Regardless of the country destination, Filipino migrant workers have a common battlecry and that is to provide a better future for the family. If you happen to be one of the many Filipinos who long to make this happen through overseas work, you will need an entity that will make this dream realize.

These are the recruitment agencies.

Recruitment agencies post a job offer overseas, process applications, help prepare necessary requirements for documentation, and assist you as you leave the country.

Here’s the thing: not all recruitment agencies are legitimate. There will always be people who will take advantage of this “need” by promising a job abroad, only to scam you or get your money. In 2016 alone, there are more than 1,000 illegal recruitment cases filed – and this number does not include those cases that were dropped or not filed with the proper agency. This means the agency conducted any of the following illegal activities:

• Giving the worker a Tourist Visa when the intention is to work overseas.
• Backdoor exit or going out of the country using airports or seaports in the southern part of the Philippines.
• Escort services wherein you will be “escorted” at the country’s airports and seaports.
• Camouflaged representation wherein you will be asked to join a seminar or sporting event overseas so you can get work from there.
• Recruitment correspondences, including submission of requirements or payment of placement is ONLY through email or mail.
• Au pair, which is an inter-cultural program wherein a host family will sponsor someone to study a culture or language with monthly allowance. In exchange, you will be given a place to stay.
• Trainee Scheme wherein you will leave for a training program overseas but a job is already waiting for you when you get there.

What can you do to avoid being a victim of illegal recruitment? Here’s what:

• Only apply through POEA-licensed recruitment agencies. POEA regularly updates the list of registered recruitment agencies and inform the people about agencies who were doing illegal recruitment activities. You can check the POEA website to see if the agency you are eyeing for is legitimate.
• Deal with the authorized representative/s of the licensed recruitment agencies. Consequently, transactions must be done in the address indicated in the agency’s POEA license.
• Check if the job offer is approved by the POEA. POEA also list some available jobs in their website, although this is not updated in real-time.
• Take note of the placement fee. This should be equivalent to one-month salary and will only be paid UPON signing of employment contract. Don’t forget to ask for a receipt that corresponds to the amount you paid.

Here are also some red flags you need to watch out for that will tell you if a recruitment agency is a scam:

• Placement fee is more than the equivalent of one month salary.
• Payment of placement fee is required even if you are not yet accepted for the job you applied for or there is no employment contract yet.
• Job offers that require immediate payment to secure your application, whether through bank deposit, PO box, or personal delivery of payment.
• Tourist visa instead of a working visa.
• Recruitment agency with provincial address yet there is no branch or partner agency in the said province.

Don’t be a victim by falling for these illegal practices. You and your family deserve a better life and future, and you can start having that by finding the right recruitment agency. Be careful and always check for legitimacy before you commit.