We have been working so hard for the past months while Lourdes Navarro laughed all the way to the bank. We had a taste of a white Christmas last week but the fun just melted so fast and we realized we’re back to reality – the reality that it’s hard to have a merry Christmas if our pockets are empty that we can’t even send enough “pamasko” ("Christmas goodies") back home.
So we thought of creating something fun in this blog. Starting this week we will do a weekly survey and we will start with a fun poll.
The free party that was held last Saturday (Dec 13) was hyped up by Lulu and cohorts as if it will be a big Christmas bash, the same way Lulu hyped up her power to influence the school districts. In this week’s polls we want to get your inputs to describe your experience in the Christmas party that was nothing but disaster.
At any rate, we would like to greet everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Opinion Poll on Lulu’s Christmas Party
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Fun Polls
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Merry Christmas to all! We hope that in the coming new year justice will be served.
ReplyDeleteLulu Merry Christmas I know you are reading this blog, after all this blog was made because of your evil deeds (super)mas matakot ka next year a Filipino community from other parish knew your evil deeds and they have talked to the superentendent already, tanong mo pa sa tinalaga mong leader (kuno?)
ReplyDeleteP.S sabi pa ng leader (kuno?) fraud daw ang pagkaka hire natin dito sa Louisiana ano ba yan? ang tanga2x naman ng leader na yan? does ho know what he is talking about? Lulu choose a better leader please
ReplyDeleteIs it true na may ni-recruit si Lulu through PARS and this teacher is very close to embassy people? Nagkamali ata si Lulu ng niloko kasi related siya sa new administrator ng POEA. Please clarify if anyone here knows this. If this is true, better not be deployed by PARS or the felon Lulu kasi there's no way na ma-deploy mga teachers na nire-recruit niya.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you keep on blaming Ms. Lulu for the financial difficulties that you have? First and foremeost we were not forced by the agencies to apply, it is us that went there and asked for help so we can work here. For me, they did their part to help us , why not be grateful?Concentrate on your work and do not represent the Filipino teachers in this blog. Many teachers are satisfied. If EBR get tired of your selfish resentment, they might send us back to the Philippines. Many of us will be affected.If you have complaints go to court but do not represent all the teachers through this blog. You are only few.
ReplyDeleteit is so obvious that the satisfied anonymous blogger wasnt able to read the totality of the issues and concerns raised by the teachers in this blog... or the blogger simply play deaf and blind to the truth...or it could also be that he or she doesnt have any AG/FG or other financial obligations...or he/she is not a teacher.
ReplyDeletei dont want to reiterate and point by point discuss the issues but let me highlight few things: despite of the challenges and problems we are facing, we remain to be conscientious in the delivery of service to EBR. we never raised complaints in anyway against EBR as we understand that EBR, our employer, provided more than what is stipulated in our job offer. US needs highly qualified teachers like us and i dont think that the option of EBR is to send back the teachers who serve well and care for Louisiana kids a lot. lastly, we firmly believe that as clients we are the ones who deserve 'debt of gratitude' from the agency and not the other way around. in any business relations it is always like that. we paid, overpaid, the services of the agency. we dont deserve threats and intimidation.
we do not claim to represent all the teachers. we are here to air out common grievances experienced by the victims of the agency's claws.
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon !!!!
ReplyDeleteI will never forget the time when we were in Manila Hotel waiting to be interviewed by the EBR principals. I was worried, and totally nervous. Ms. Lulu told everybody to be confident since we are all experienced teachers. She told us there about the fees that we will be paying if we will be accepted. She even said, "if you don't have money then better not apply otherwise maglolokohan lang tayo." When I applied in PARS, I know and accepted all my obligations. The fees especially. So i asked for their assistance. They referred me to AG, FG and Asialink. Because I wanted to go to US, I borrowed money from this lending institutions. I can't blame Ms. Lulu. Why? Because I don't have any choice but to borrow money from this company. If I am rich, then I can shoulder everything. But the problem is, I can't afford. If the agency fee is high, its their policy and a recruitment agency is a business. Its Ms. Lulu's business. We accepted the contract and signed the contract with the agency not because of the high agency fee but because we want to go to US and we agreed to that amount. So, why all this fuss? If you don't like the agency fee because its too high, then why did you sign it and come to America thru Universal Placement? Naghanap ka na lang sana ng ibang agency. About the apartment, my relatives here in the US are grateful to Ms. Lulu because we were able to get one even if we don't have SSN. I asked them about the rent and they told me its reasonable to think that it includes electricity.
I just hope and pray that for the coming year 2009, everything is gonna be alright for all of us filipino teachers in Louisiana. Let us not forget that we came here to work and give our families in the Philippines a better life and future. Please stop this otherwise all of us will be affected. EBR might send us all home. If you have any problems about Ms. Lulu then confront her and sue her if you like, huwag mo na kaming idamay. Saludo pa ako saiyo!
Malisog na Pasko sa tanan!
I was in Manila Hotel also and yes we were advised to do our best in the interview which we all did but from in the process since the orientation till our flight, schedule of expenses were never presented at once to us.
ReplyDeletehow many times we were surprised to know that there are expenses which we need to pay few days or weeks after the agency inform/announce such?
were you not surprise in any way on how we were charged of the placement fee most particularly? i am certain that there will be placement fee but at the nick of time informed of how big placement fee is, it is really surprising!
but as always mentioned, exorbitant fees were not only the main issues we are raising.
transparency in contracts is one. in our sane minds we signed contracts without consulting legally because we are not allowed to do so. i remember asking the agency for a copy but we are not allowed to take it out from the office.
when we got here, were we allowed to choose even housemates? were we allowed to choose an apartment? simply because we dont have SSN? we are not even allowed to move out of the apartment even if we have SSN. (SSn issue is another one).
how about the actual attitude of lulu to the teachers? arent you affected with her ego-tripping and i'll play you in my hands treatment? or you cant distinguish rights stepped on because you are blinded with the debt of gratitude concept? we are the clients whom to be served by agency after we gave our obligations to them---there is no other relations other than that. what makes us different from other agency-clients?
comparing our rent and standards with other BR apartments, it is very obvious that something is fishy in the apartment. let us compare the apartment in US standards and simple net surfing will give you answers. apartments even have deals for teachers, like lower admin fee, etc.
we have friends and relatives too here in the US and they are very worried of what is happening to us here. even our teacher friends, principals, people in EBR and some members of the board in EBR, they were all worried and embarassed of our experiences in their land we call land of the free. havent you attended
group meetings called for by ebr? why are you scared of being sent home after knowing the merits of being an ebr teacher?
and dont you know that there were lots of individual and group initiatives already in dealing straight with lulu, but all failed because of her attitude---treats and intimidation. so this path is not the one to be undertaken by others seeking justice and fairness.
i cant personally blame you of your thinking...iyan lang kasi narating ng faculty mo and i do hope you will also respect the wisdom and feelings of the teachers hurt and victimised by the situation.
as what you said, respect also the wisdom and feelings of the other teachers. If you think that you were victimized, then sue lulu. Bring her to court, that is the best place to present all your sentiments. I bet, you can't because you don't have the guts to face her in court. Yes i am afraid that i will be sent home because i have a family to feed and my children are in college. Remember, kapag nagalit ang EBR dahil dito lahat tayo apektado, good, kung ikaw lang. Maligayang Pasko kabayan!
ReplyDeletereally?, Ito lang ang narating ng faculty ko? Wow, look whose talking. kaya pala ang layo na din ng narating ng faculty mo. Pati kapwa mo Pilipino na nananahimik dinadamay mo. If you have problems about miss Lulu, sue her. Kawawa ka naman, di pala kita maabot. Kasi nga noh, layo ng faculty ko eh. sorry ha?
ReplyDeleteto guronggala:
ReplyDeletehuwag patulan ang anonymous blogger dahil nakakahon na ang isip niyan at posibleng hindi qualified na teacher yan kaya sumisipsip kay ms. lulu.
nakasuporta kami sa anumang hakbang nyo para matapos na ang ating paghihirap at pangtatapak sa ating mga karapatang pang-tao!
sulong at hwag na hwag titigil sa pakikipaglaban na ito! marami kami sasama sa inyo.
p.s.
may dugong bisaya ka daw? kaya pala matapang ka. sana di ka masindak ni lulu o mabili niya.
uu, bisaya man day!
ReplyDeletefight for your right in court not in blog. Sorry but i am not a sucker, its just that i don't believe in blog. Ubusin man natin ang oras sa kaka post ng comment, walang mangyayari.
ang hirap kasi sainyo super katapang sa blog lang, kapag kaharap na si ms. lulu tiklop din naman kagaya ni ano.... y? dahil may pamilyang umaasa sa Pinas... dios mio.....
This blog is here to communicate and to exchange of ideas and frustations.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a court of judge and jury where truth will be revealed based on legally defensible facts or events.
This blog is not where labor or civic codes are determined to be violated or not.
Gathering of defensible facts is not an easy task. They have to be collected from all sources possible. I will not detail here the sources involved.
Although this blog is visible to all concernced however the unseen and unheard here is not revealed.
"the speck of dust unseen by the naked eye can also cause its damage"
I hope something more concrete will be done to stop this mess, otherwise, this matter will continue to be like this forever...and who will be the loser?...your guess is as good as mine....we, the teachers in EBR, Luisiana, and Lulu will be laughing all the way to the bank.
ReplyDeleteThe statements posted here are enough...something concrete is called for! If the intention of this blog is to awaken the teachers' awareness, I think, it has served its purpose.
But if we continue arguing of who is right and wrong, this blog would be a good space for character assassination. THIS WILL NOT SOUND WELL, because it is already us fighting against each other.
This blog has served and has continuously served its purpose. This has been a venue for pouring out what one feels, especially those people who don't like to express their feelings and opinions in person and those who shoo the chances of being singled out. This blog should not scare you "Ms. Anonymous" about being sent home by the district. This has not scared me! This has not been set up against EBR anyway. Why would the district send you home just because of this particular blog? This never attacked the district? In fact, it described how grateful the people have been towards EBR. If you don't like to get affected by it, then don't read. That's what I do when i don't want to get affected, I AVOID! The best thing to do is pray, pray, pray for God's wisdom and enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteDeduct Educator Expenses on Tax Form 1040
ReplyDeleteCongress extends the tax benefit for out-of-pocket expenses.
NEA Member Benefits
The U.S. Congress has extended the provision for educators to deduct out-of-pocket expenses on their tax returns. When filing the federal tax form 1040, educators should find the line where classroom expenses can be listed as a deductible item.
In October 2008, the U.S. Congress extended the tax benefit for the 2008 and 2009 tax years as part of the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act,” the much-publicized financial rescue measure.
Eligible educators can deduct up to $250 of unreimbursed expenses on line 23 of Form 1040 when filing the 2008 federal tax return.
Out-of-pocket expenses can be claimed even if you do not itemize deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A. This deduction is for expenses paid or incurred during the tax year.
You are an eligible educator if, for the tax year, you are a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide.
To be eligible for the deduction, you must work at least 900 hours a school year in a school that provides elementary or secondary education, as determined under state law.
You can deduct up to $250 of expenses for:
* Books
* Supplies
* Computer equipment (including related software and services)
* Other equipment
* Supplementary materials that you use in the classroom
For courses in health and physical education, expenses for supplies are qualified only if they are related to athletics.
Qualified expenses are deductible only to the extent the amount of such expenses exceeds the following amounts for the tax year:
* The interest on qualified U.S. savings bonds that you excluded from income because you paid qualified higher education expenses,
* Any distribution of a qualified tuition program that you excluded from income, or
* Any tax-free withdrawals from your Coverdell Education Savings Account.
using the word anonymous or any other pseudo names are all but the same...I am just afraid that we are just addressing these stuff to people inside our own apartments.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all!
uu, bisaya man day!
ReplyDeletefight for your right in court not in blog. Sorry but i am not a sucker, its just that i don't believe in blog. Ubusin man natin ang oras sa kaka post ng comment, walang mangyayari.
ang hirap kasi sainyo super katapang sa blog lang, kapag kaharap na si ms. lulu tiklop din naman kagaya ni ano.... y? dahil may pamilyang umaasa sa Pinas... dios mio.......................
................................................
bat ka nagkocomment? ano ba problema mo??????alam mo kasi bitter ka lang siguro. kailangan mo lang talagang sumipsip dahil wala kang maipakitang galing.......shut up......shooooo......ang yabang mo namang magsalita....langaw ka lang naman na tumuntung sa kalabaw eh..... If i know........
Tell your relatives not to be recruited by PARS Placement or Universal Placement. My classmate in UP who was recruited by Lulu who is not yet deployed (should have been in the 3rd batch of teachers) wrote to the embassy of the irregularities. My classmate tutors embassy kids, close to consuls and will soon launch own blog. By the way, my classmate told me that we should not also deal with a certain Silverman, a lawyer close to Lulu.
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.
ay salamat...nag iisang tao lng ang nagsalita na ito subalit sa aking pakiramdam ito ang katotohanang dinadala at pinaniniwalaan ng lahat...di ko nga alam kung bakit ang iba ay binubulag ng kanilang mapagkunwaring paniniwala sa realidad ng buhay..sana ang mga taong galit sa katotohanan ay maging bukas din ang loob sa pagtanggap ng mensaheng nasa itaas..hindi ba't ang pagtanggap lang sa katotohanan ang magpapanatag at magpapasaya sa tao....sa panahon ng kagipitan tamang solusyon at kaisipan ang kailangan..di ko sinabing manahimik basta balanseng pag uunawa sa bawat aspeto ng mangyayari sa ating buhay....sa sumulat sa itaas na ito....maraming salamat, di lamang ikaw ang may ganyang paniniwala kundi ...ipagpatawad niyo po ...TAYONG LAHAT...LA pinoy teachers! hapi new year......hahahahhahhahha
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.
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?
Please read my response to the comment of Anonymous (December 28, 2008 3:03 PM) as a separate posting.
ReplyDeleteTo the Anonymous above, good job at countering point by point the flawed assertion of the other Anonymous.
Well the best venue to address this is to go court. There have been lots of big mouths here and big mouths are not enough....evidences need to be presented in court. Go to court and stand up for your rights if you really want to fight for your rights. Let lawyers/judges rule whether your accusations are meritorious.
ReplyDeleteIn everything we do, let us think of our families and children in the Philippines. Let us think about our future. They have been our inspiration. We want to achieve our dreams.
ReplyDeleteDollars, dollars, dollars is all we need to have in mind. Our actions might lead us to either more dollars, more dollars, more dollars OR philippine peso again, philippine peso again.
So be careful. be careful.
How Do You Report Suspected Tax Fraud Activity?
ReplyDeleteIf you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with the tax laws, you may report this activity by completing Form 3949-A. You may fill out Form 3949-A online, print it and mail it to:
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888
If you do not wish to use Form 3949-A, you may send a letter to the address above. Please include the following information, if available:
* Name and address of the person you are reporting
* The taxpayer identification number (social security number for an individual or employer identification number for a business)
* A brief description of the alleged violation, including how you became aware of or obtained the information
* The years involved
* The estimated dollar amount of any unreported income
* Your name, address and daytime telephone number
Although you are not required to identify yourself, it is helpful to do so. Your identity can be kept confidential.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=106778,00.html