"You are a big, big tree,
We are a small axe,
ready to chop you down,
to chop you down..."
- Bob Marley
To whom do we attribute the predicament that we teachers are in now? We posed this issue to a lot of our fellow teachers. The common sentiment is that the problems that we are facing now lead us back to the doorstep of PARS and Universal. Simply put, whichever angle you look, the fingerprints of PARS and Universal are all over.
While there are allegations of inappropriate relations between the School District and the greedy agency, those are unfounded and not substantiated. We still believe in the integrity of the School Districts. We do not have any reason to doubt that the School Districts will always act for the best interests of the children of Louisiana.
All teachers have positive experiences about their respective schools. Many have affirmed that the school is well intent in providing quality education to its students. If follows that we are positive that the School Districts will be able to evaluate us based on our individual performances. And we are very confident that the skill and knowledge of the Filipino teachers will prevail. Not only that, but what is abundant in our hearts as teachers is our burning commitment to impart knowledge, skills and attitude to the children that we pledged to serve and support.
So teachers, our struggle for justice should be targeted against the real oppresor. Let us put our energies together as our enemy is indeed a big big tree. We are a small axe but with our combined strenght we can surely chop this rotten tree down.
- Gurong Kritikal
Monday, November 10, 2008
Know your enemy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
korak! agency lang kalaban natin.. if you are doubting ebr, keep it to yourself kasi in the first place di naman ebr ang nagovercharge ng thousands and thousands of pesoses and even dollars!
ReplyDeleteI know this is not my battle but as a Teacher and as a Filipino, I sympatize with you.
ReplyDeleteI emailed the editor of GMA news about your concerns. A customer service rep emailed me back right away and gave me an email address and contact number of GMA Imbestigador. Would you like me to forward the message to you? Or would you like me to contact GMA instead?
-Pinay teacher in Seattle
Our forces once combined is much stronger than katrina or gustav! i dont believe that our common enemy is a big tree but i subscribe that it is a rotten one.
ReplyDeletewhat are we waiting for? teachers unite!
ubos ba ang takot...ubos na ang luha..
alam mo... naninira ka lang e... ginamit mo nga PARS at nadala mo na lahat ng pamilya mo dyan..
ReplyDeletesana hindi ka rin bobo.. kasi teacher ka...
at hindi basta basta mag-apply... kahit magcheck sa POEA,malinis ang PARS...
Director, mabuti nagbabasa ka rin ng blog namin. Malinis ba talaga ang PARS? Bakit sya na-suspend one time? Nakita ko sa website ng POEA e. Siguro na-lift na suspension ng PARS dahil nakabayad na ng fine.
ReplyDeleteLast time, I checked, "malinis" or in english "clean" (in case you don't understand, kasi i'm not sure if you can) means that there is no record of violation. E, na-suspend nga ang PARS ar least once e. Pano mo masasabi "malinis" o "clean" kung may record of suspension?
Sya nga pala, magkano bayad ng PARS sa yo?
Well,i am a friend of the previous commentator..
ReplyDeleteyou are a teacher... you should be well educated before saying out words... i am also here in Louisiana,and i have been successful..
indeed,there might have been problems before
because a lot of people are envious...
and crab mentality will always be present...
it's just pathetic for you to be doing this kind of thing... i'm sure i might have met you
already,and it PARS and Universal has helped
me well, they did not aggravate anyone...
i don't know your issues,but they served me well... and i am not the onle one who has been happy,almost everyone that they have sent here.. i don't know what your issues are to complain things and get too personal about the subject matter... and do not see my friend just like you, a low-life uneducated person
withouit etiquette... if you have issues,you deal with them personally and not like this...
perhaps,they treated me well,and i think you are the problem,not them...
Joanne, basahin mo ang comment ni POEA Director na friend mo. sabi nya "sana hindi ka rin bobo.. "
ReplyDeleteSiya ang unang nag-float to the effect na bobo ang mga nagrereklamo. I just replied using his own style. Sya ang unang nagpersonal and did not stick to the isyu by implying that those who are voicing out are stupid.
If you want to talk about facts, well thats what im looking for.
Joanne please make our discussion a little more intellectual. I checked all over this blog and read your comments and all you say is that PARS and Universal has been good to you. Well I am happy for you.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is while they treated you well, most of us were not. We were treated as modern slaves!
You don't even have anything to say about the violations of the Philippine laws. You dont even have anyhtnig to say about their charges which is different in paper and different in reality. You don't even have anything to say about being forced to a house that is filthy and full of insects. You dont even have anything to say about being overcharged for apartment rent.
If you want to talk in a factual and intellectual level, then i want to hear your position on those issues.
Suggestion from the admin of this blog:
ReplyDeleteSo that the exchange of ideas can easily be followed please refrain from using "Anonymous" under the "Comment as:" option.
Instead, select the "Name/URL" option. You dont have to use your real name of course. Be creative assign an alias to all your comments. Then simply leave the URL field blank.
PARS and Universal treated you well? Have you been with the meetings with Lulu? How she threatened one teacher and then backs out when the teacher stands her ground?
ReplyDeleteAll these grievances started because of Lulu's ill manners in dealing with those teachers. The facts of overcharging of placement fee and the unusual higher apartment rental rate to teachers as compared to other people were already given. Filipinos easily turn their face the other way in these issues. But to treat them like modern slaves or household helpers is a big no-no.
These teachers are professionals. Most have masteral degrees and some even have doctorate degrees.
sana lang kung anu ang dati mong gawain sa pinas e iniwan mo na. how can you be treated like slaves, hello e diba nagtuturo ka sa school at employed ka bilang guro. ang slaves at household helpers ay mga katulong. teacher ka nga ba at saka nakasama ka ba nya sa bahay para masabi mong trinato kang slave. sana lang din totoo ka at di puro paninira ng buhay ng ibang tao ang hangad mo. ang pagiging aktibista mo dati sa pinas e wag mo dalin dito kapatid at saka dapat di pala teacher ang inaaplayan mo kundi sa pulitika. bakit di na lang trabaho sa school ang asikasuhin mo at pamilya mo na ngayon ay kasama mo na.sabi mo nga matakot ka sa dyos e sa ginagawa mo ba sa tingin mo di ka natatakot sa dyos. me karma at baka sayo tumama diba IGREED
ReplyDeleteverbal threats and abuse are tantamount to slavery and household helpers abuse.
ReplyDeletesee... Anonymous said...
bakit school ba ang Universal? HINDI AKO TEACHER NG UNIVERSAL! EBR po ang employer ko! at kung gusto mo ng utang na loob dapat libre ang pagpunta natin dito. e kaso binayaran natin lahat. yan ba utang na loob? negosyo po iyan. okay ba? tama ka dyan...cheese na lang ibayad natin kay lulu, blue cheese pa sosyal! ikaw kaya magturo ng mga bata dito, wag ka matulog ng ilang araw dahil lang sa lesson plan at IEP. idagdag mo pa ang pagpapadala ng kulang na sahod sa pilipinas para sa pamilya mo. naranasan mo na ba yan lulu? yung tatawag ang asawa mo kasi walang pang-tuition ang mga anak mo o kaya may sakit ang mga anak mo at wala ka maipadala kasi naibayad na ang sweldo sa ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP? e parang gawa sa dollars ang kumot mo e! tuwing darating si lulu dito ano sasabihin nya? puro tayo pera, pera lagi iniisip natin. ikaw ba di mo iniisip ang pera? kaya pala OS certificate ng mga teachers dito nasaiyo? at gusto mo pati iyon bayaran namin syo. natural kaya nga tayo nagpunta dito at tiniis na iwan mga pamilya sa pilipinas dahil sa pera...kasi wala kaming pera sa pilipinas. tapos yung kakarampot na perang kinikita gusto mo pa kunin. palibhasa madali para sayo gumawa ng pera. ang tanong nga lang sa marangal na paraan mo ba yan kinita? sana naman mabuksan ang isip mo. kung sana nadaan ang lahat sa diplomasya kaso wala ka na ginawa kundi magalit, manakot at mang-ipit. ginagago mo kami. kung naging mabait ka lang sana sa amin di kami mag-iisip ng ganito. kung tao mo lang sana kami itinuring at tinrato....
November 10, 2008 8:37 PM
opening of other's documents is virtually ingoring the rights of others.
see...Anonymous said...
TO ALL: the suggestion of filing a complaint on the opening of the envelope of our SSN is already a basis for filing a complaint. THE FACT THAT SHE OPENED AN ENVELOPE THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED TO HER AND WHICH CONTAINS A CONFIDENTIAL DATA SUCH AS THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IS ALREADY AN INVASION OF PRIVACY. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP FOR ONE TO USE OUR SSN FOR ANY FRAUDALENT ACT
and...
Fourthly, we are dismayed by which we are treated virtually as modern slaves. The agency cramped us up in dilapidated apartment units. What makes it even painful is that we are being overcharged with the rent for these unspeakable living quarters that were simply forced upon us. While the published rent of a unit is only around $800 a month, we are all charged $310 each with each apartment unit housing 4 individuals and at times up to 8. We have a right to a safe and clean place of dwelling. And we have a right to choose a place that we deem is best for ourselves as we are the ones spending for it in the first place. The agency however decided to simply disregard these rights and make money in the process.
Fifthly, many of us have experience first hand the threats and intimidation employed by the agency and its owner to force us to shut our mouths up and simply swallow the oppression. The agency even discourages us from communicating with other Filipino groups or else our contracts will not be renewed.
we teachers are not slaves and your helpers.
IGREED, wala namang kwenta ang pinagsasabi mo! Wala ba talagang laman yang utak mo? Ang sinasabi ni maestro ay may sense. He is describing how Lulu treats us teachers. Ang sinasabi mo hollow, walang laman. Basahin mo nga ulit at magcomment ng maayos.
ReplyDeletehaaaaay! what a sigh. My cousin once told me, know what my Supervisor asked me why filipinos does not have any gang around here in the U.S. Unlike, mexicans,koreans,vietnamese etc. well, sabi ng cousin ko, Mr. Supervisor we dont need gang kasi po we just stub each other at the back kaya ganun. pasosyalan lng ang mga gang na yan. kaya hindi tayo nagkakaisa bilang pilipino dahil isip natin maski nandito na tayo sa Estados Unidos pinoy pa rin. Kung lahat tayo may grievances against our rotten agency, put everything into writing and fila case and solicit tayong lahat for the lawyers fee at booooooooooom thats it. Malinaw! Time is money make the most of it not with blah blah blah!
ReplyDeleteputang inang lulu na yan. pinagbayad pa tayo ng NAPAKALAKING placement fees pero kung tratuhin tayo para tayong mga tauhan niya. hoy, lulu buwang, remind lang kita. ang relationship mo sa mga teachers mo ay == AGENT & CLIENT. hindi amo & katulong. hindi boss & subordinate. tang ina mo, kaya ka nagkapera dahil sa amin! tandaan mo yan!!! cliente mo kami. wag kang magfeeling amo. gaga ka. lamonin ka na sana ng buwaya.
ReplyDeleteBabangun ako at DUDURUGIN kita LULU!!! Bilang na ang mga araw mo!
ReplyDeleteOCZRA...CHARRR
Ako feel ko ipakulong sya!!! - She made me "angry..ay..angered! kasi."
ReplyDeleteEVA
PEACE IN THE STORM.....LIFE can seem unbearable at times.Physical pain, difficult decisions,financial hardships,shattered dreams threaten to engulf us.We become fearful and perflexed.Plagued by doubts,we may even find it difficult to PRAY.Those of us who know the Lord through personal faith in Christ have in Him a calm retreat in the storms of life,even while howling winds of trial are sweeping over us.We can experience PEACE OF MIND AND CALMNESS OF SPIRIT.
ReplyDeleteYou must stay upon the Lord and come what may-winds,waves,cross seas,thunder,lightning,frowning rocks,roaring breakers-no matter what,you must hold fast your confidence in God's faithfulness and HIS everlasting love in CHRIST JESUS... Do you feel overwhelmed by your troubles?Fix your mind on the LORD.Ask for help.Then Trust HIm to give you peace in your storm..The secret of peace is to give every anxious care to GOD...GOD BLESS US ALL
tanga yang joanne na yan. commemtator daw tawag sa nagbibigay ng comments dito sa blog. dios ko.
ReplyDeletehey guys don't fight each other.Remember!PARS is the target so stick on the problem.Ignore the comments who you think are not in favor of your cause,because this is just a blog so anybody can pretend as somebody.So don't get stung,move on and hide your plans to surprise your enemy.
ReplyDeleteCant you guys be educated about this? Why are all of the teachers fighting? huh.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading this blog for the past days. I am one of the teachers being deployed to the US by the Universal Placement and the Pars Placement. Yes, it is true that the first few years are extremely challenging but I will become smooth in years to come.
ReplyDeleteWe, teachers have arrived in the US with H1-B visa, meaning our stay is only temporary unless we will be petitioned by our employer to live and work permanently. We might lose our job any moment (I hope not). No one is ever sure who will have his job tomorrow. Some brag that we are competent teachers that the school districts will not give us up. Very funny and assuming!!! I thought it was rather a boast in its greatest sense. We are not citizens of the United States. We are petitioned only to fill in the gap on teacher shortage. Now that recession has been gobbling the country, many citizens have been interested in the job. I have a lot of friends employed in teaching and non-teaching jobs who are also in the brink of losing their jobs. Remember guys, that frugality is the name of the game in the US nowadays. Also remember, the doctrine FIRST-IN -FIRST OUT. It is already happening in California.
Guys, it is good to have Filipino values and maintain them. However, such values might not work here in the US. We are here to solve employers’ problems and not the other way around. I thought it would be good to view the situations with a positive and hopeful perspective. Let us face our situation with grace and with a marked degree of professionalism. People who live in gossip, complaints and animosity will not see the beauty of life being intertwined with challenges. People want instant comfort. That might not happen here in an instant. It takes a great deal of perseverance and positive outlook in life. Many Filipino in the US started with a lot worse situation than we have now. Years of perseverance and patience, they reaped their success in the end.
I remember the times when we lined up in the Philippines for interview for US teaching jobs. We were extremely nice. We signed the contract calmly. We knew it would cost us something. We knew what we would have to do the following year. Now, that the contract is in its execution, many of us are revolting. Why did we sign the contract in the first place? I assume that the contract is not the reason for your revolt; it is rather your loan in the Philippines and your personal obligation to your family. Do not attribute your financial difficulty to Universal Placement. Your financial difficulty is a product of your own decision. You did whatever had to be done. There are consequences in your own action.
I am sure if it the agency were owned by Americans, we will not react the same way we react now. Because the agency is owned by a former Filipino citizen, you thought that Filipino values including an act of charity and benevolence should be in the picture. Business is business. I hope we know that. Contract is contract. It is a mutual agreement.
I am very thankful to Lulu Navarro. I arrived in the US without a family and friends to start with. She found me a place to stay. It is not her job to look for housing but she did it because she knows that it is hard for us to find a place and have access to transportation initially. She is not a housing agency but she is going out of her way for us to continue with our life. It is challenging yes. Please forget about instant comfort as we are in an entirely new environment.
Whether or not housing is good, what matters is we are housed. It is a lot better than looking for apartments or houses ourselves. I am sure we cannot find one as we did not have our SS number and credit history to start with. Did we have money to pay upfront for deposits and similar charges? Lulu did this for all of us. Some people are just inherently negative. All they want is to take and take and not give or share. Let us learn to be appreciative too.
On the other hand, it is a fact that a number of us borrowed money from the financing agency in order to fly here. However, it is our choice to borrow. Never were we forced to borrow money from these financial institutions. It might have been suggested or recommended but it was never ever forced. I am in the same situation so I also experienced the same. All agencies in the Philippines have partnership with these financing institutions. I assume that the interests are big as they are loans without collateral.
I just hope that our employers will not get tired of our drama. It is our personal drama and I do not see any reason why employers have to be included in the casting of our own drama. Employers do not want dramas. We solve their dramas. I am not surprised when our employer will get rid of us because of dramas. Now, will you still boast that you are competent teachers and that you are teachers to die for? I doubt it. I hope that we will not be labeled as drama queens and drama king because of our own action. I hope not. The worst scenario to happen is losing our job, the domino effect is more terrible than you imagine. Think about your own actions guys. I suggest that you just work and impress your employer within your job description. Do not include them in your drama. We are Filipinos and our employers are not. Chances of cultural differences and misunderstanding are at a certain degree. Filipinos have their own thinking so do foreigners. I hope you will not lose your job and your family will suffer very badly as a result. This is my opinion. Thank you very much.
I have been reading this blog for the past days. I am one of the teachers being deployed to the US by the Universal Placement and the Pars Placement.
ReplyDelete>> Being deployed? Is it still occurring? <<
Yes, it is true that the first few years are extremely challenging but I will become smooth in years to come.
We, teachers have arrived in the US with H1-B visa, meaning our stay is only temporary unless we will be petitioned by our employer to live and work permanently. We might lose our job any moment (I hope not). No one is ever sure who will have his job tomorrow.
>> True. Even citizens are also affected by this crisis.>>
Some brag that we are competent teachers that the school districts will not give us up. Very funny and assuming!!! I thought it was rather a boast in its greatest sense. We are not citizens of the United States. We are petitioned only to fill in the gap on teacher shortage. Now that recession has been gobbling the country, many citizens have been interested in the job.
>>It is your opinion.>>
I have a lot of friends employed in teaching and non-teaching jobs who are also in the brink of losing their jobs. Remember guys, that frugality is the name of the game in the US nowadays. Also remember, the doctrine FIRST-IN -FIRST OUT. It is already happening in California.
>> I do not know what you mean by this, FIFO. There is also LIFO (last in first out). These concepts are used in merchandise.>>
Guys, it is good to have Filipino values and maintain them. However, such values might not work here in the US. We are here to solve employers’ problems and not the other way around. I thought it would be good to view the situations with a positive and hopeful perspective. Let us face our situation with grace and with a marked degree of professionalism.
>> You are hired to teach and not to solve employer’s problems. Those are not your concerns and are done on a different level.>>
People who live in gossip, complaints and animosity will not see the beauty of life being intertwined with challenges. People want instant comfort. That might not happen here in an instant.
>> I think you are wrong here. You deal with generalities without supporting these with facts. The people I met can not move about their
personal business without the ‘prying’ eyes of the ‘tsutsu’. They just want their freedom to associate, meet or do anything. I have first hand information how the recruiter treated some teachers. For example, remember the incident that occurred in the orientation of the new teachers few months ago. They were witnesses.>>
It takes a great deal of perseverance and positive outlook in life. Many Filipino in the US started with a lot worse situation than we have now. Years of perseverance and patience, they reaped their success in the end.
>> I have sisters who dealt with employment agencies before. They did not pay a single dime. Sorry, I did not experience this and did not go through an agency.>>
I remember the times when we lined up in the Philippines for interview for US teaching jobs. We were extremely nice. We signed the contract calmly. We knew it would cost us something.
>> Was this the first time you signed a contract? Where did you sign the contract? Was there a third-party witness present when you signed this contract?
Did you initialed each page? Was the contract notarized after you signed it?
Did you ask if this was an “approved” contract? There are so many questions to be asked.>>
We knew what we would have to do the following year. Now, that the contract is in its execution, many of us are revolting.
>> If you have read my blog regarding the legalities involved in contracts then you would have an understanding why others are revolting. There is no need to elaborate here the concept since you only want to read what you want to read. Employment agencies under the law can only charge a fee of up to month’s salary- whether upfront payment or by installment. What language can’t you understand here?>>
Why did we sign the contract in the first place? I assume that the contract is not the reason for your revolt; it is rather your loan in the Philippines and your personal obligation to your family.
>>Your assumption is wrong. The reason is to recoup what is not supposed to be paid and to pay partially for the loan in the Philippines. Another reason is to stop this agency from doing business in the Philippines and the U.S.>>
Do not attribute your financial difficulty to Universal Placement. Your financial difficulty is a product of your own decision. You did whatever had to be done. There are consequences in your own action.
>> Of course, this is of personal responsibility. And now, it is being corrected
by questioning the practices of the employment agency.>>
I am sure if it the agency were owned by Americans, we will not react the same way we react now. Because the agency is owned by a former Filipino citizen, you thought that Filipino values including an act of charity and benevolence should be in the picture.
>> Sorry. Your assumption is wrong again. Americans or not, the employment agencies are subject to US laws. Please go back what this person had done in the past. She was involved in Medi-Cal scam in the state of California. There is no need to elaborate here. Please read the other blogs not the ones you only want to read.>>
Business is business. I hope we know that. Contract is contract. It is a mutual agreement.
>>I agree totally. The business is also under the laws of the U.S. and laws have to be followed. No business is above the law. Once again, you failed to include this very important concept in your argument. Please read the blog about contracts so will know certain aspects about contracts. Contracts are also governed by Civil codes under the state of California laws.>>
I am very thankful to Lulu Navarro. I arrived in the US without a family and friends to start with. She found me a place to stay. It is not her job to look for housing but she did it because she knows that it is hard for us to find a place and have access to transportation initially. She is not a housing agency but she is going out of her way for us to continue with our life.
>> There is no such thing as free lunch. Your response is elementary as if you are very innocent of what happened regarding the rentals snafu. Some teachers did not have a choice but to accept and live in the apartment complex. You paid rent which is above the published rate and your beloved Lulu got a total of $12,000 a month just to refer you and others to that apartment compound.
And you are thankful.>>
It is challenging yes. Please forget about instant comfort as we are in an entirely new environment.
Whether or not housing is good, what matters is we are housed. It is a lot better than looking for apartments or houses ourselves. I am sure we cannot find one as we did not have our SS number and credit history to start with. Did we have money to pay upfront for deposits and similar charges? Lulu did this for all of us.
>>I got an apartment when I got here and did not have a SS. I did this all by myself. Do you think Lulu will do this for free?
FILE A CASE AGAINTS THE EVIL LULU NAVARRO! SOBRA NA ANG SACRIFICE NATIN FOR HER. DI MADALI ANG WORK. VERY RISKY TAPOS SYA PA NAKIKINABANG SA SAHOD NATIN.
ReplyDeleteTEACHERS GISING!!!
Teachers wag matakot, there are a lot of schools in the USA!!!
ReplyDeletesurf the net...
Sa tutuo lang, isa rin akong guro na labis ang pagdaramdam ki Lulu. Parati nyang ipinapamukha na sya ang dahilan kung bakit andito ang mga guro. Sya ang dapat na sundin dahil ang mga nakapaligid eh wala namang naitulong. Masakit sa tenga at dibdib dahil di naman nya tulong yon. Nag aplay naman ang mga guro, napili, nagbayad ng labis labis.
ReplyDeleteNoong mga panahon na aligaga ang mga guro, pati resibo ay di na napansin kung ano ang nakasulat. Nong minsang matingnan, ay sus bakit ganon puro placement fee ang nakalagay sa almost 15 thousand dollars na ibinayad! Parang wala pa palang placement doon. Pagbaba ng California, antagal ng sundo. Pagdating sa office nya, antagal magpakain. pagod, hilo, gutom, puyat...at saka papirmahin ng kontrata ulit. Ni wala man lang time na mabasa. No choice kundi pumirma.
Matapos ang isang taon, nanghingi na naman ng post dated checks. 10 percent ng sahod sa isang taon. Di pa nagkaigi, nagpadala pa ng limpak limpak na sulat sa mga guro dahil kulang raw ang ibinigay na amount sa cheque. Nagtanong ang mga guro, bakit kulang...pagalit pa kung sumagot. basahin raw yong kontrata. Ngeek! Ang gusto niya pala 10 porsyento ng kabuuang isang taong kita na di bawas ang kung anu-ano, then multiply by 12. Bakit times 12, eh wala namang sahod ng 2 buwan.
Tama lang, na itigil na ang pagbabayad ki Lulu. Malabis na eh. Kaya pala di nya nilagay na placement fee ang ibinayad natin kasi balak palabasin na dito pa lang magsimula ang pagbabayad. Eh kung twenty percent ang bayad sa kanila, sobrang bayad na eh.
Sa mga kaguro ko, nauunawaan ko ang mga dinaramdam ng bawat isa. Andyan na ang sagot ng Dios sa kanyang labis na pagmamalabis. May hangganan din iyon. Manalangin na lang tayo na ang Dios ang mamagitan sa mga cases na naka file against her. Matulog tayo ng mahimbing, magpatawad sa kanya or sa sinumang nagkasala sa atin. Hayaan nating ang hustisya ang kumilos.