Time to galvanize our gains!

Teachers, we are elated that more and more are now coming out to add their voices to this struggle. We are delighted that many of you, our fellow teachers from different districts have now decided that the only right way to move forward is to stand up and assert our rights.

We congratulate all the teachers who found their strength and now are determined to push back. We congratulate those who have elevated this struggle from a battle for personal gains to a battle for principled justice. Let us remember that we are not only fighting for what we can gain personally but we are fighting so that Lulu Navarro, Mel Villarba, Universal Placement and PARS will be stopped from victimizing more Filipinos.

Now that our efforts are gathering steam and moving forward, it is time to galvanize our gains. It is time to build our organization. This blog is joining the efforts to organize our ranks so our shield is stronger and our swords are sharper.

Organizing ourselves does not only mean that we move together. But more so, it means that we move together with shared ideals and shared dreams. We dream of a system where migrant workers like us are treated as human beings with rights. We envision a system where no Lulus or Mels are getting rich at the expense of others.

We are now standing by a crossroad. We are now in a situation where we have to decide if we are going to go on fighting for our families OR just sit in a corner and whine. This will be decision between having more families victimized OR preventing this horrible experience from happening to others. This will be a choice between the path to apathy and indifference OR the path to cooperation and action.

Mabuhay ang migranteng mga guro at manggagawa!

-Gurong Sulong

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We would like to feature some news stories:

Shreveport's Filipino teachers to stay

Three Filipino teachers who faced deportation received word of visa approvals, Caddo Parish school officials announced Friday.

However, about 20 Filipino teachers in the district are still awaiting word on whether they will be able to stay in the country.

In total, about 43 teachers from the Philippines found themselves possibly leaving the United States after paperwork from Universal Placement, the company that recruited them, sent the school district paperwork with a hodgepodge of problems. Some paperwork was missing and either the deadline for filing other paperwork was not met or had the wrong information.

(Read complete story)

200 Filipino Teachers in Louisiana Bilked of Excessive Recruiting Fees, Complaint Alleges

A Filipino recruiter had been charged before the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Louisiana Attorney General’s office in Baton Rouge Wednesday (Oct. 28) with cheating 200 Filipino teachers thousands of dollars in recruiting fees and held them in virtual servitude for keeping their visas, according to Steve Monaghan, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. The recruiter had been convicted and jailed for money laundering in California and convicted of the same offense in New Jersey.

“The alleged behavior of this recruiter and the treatment of these teachers are quite frankly disgusting and an affront to basic American values,” Mr. Monaghan told a press conference as he announced the filing of the charges by the LFT and the American Federation of Teachers against Lourdes “Lulu” or “Linda” S. Navarro of the Universal Placement International Inc., which has offices in Los Angeles, California, and Quezon City in the Philippines.

Les Landon, LFT director of public relations, provided this news agency a copy of the seven-page complaint filed by Dan McNeil, the lawyer working on the case for AFT.

(Read complete story)

The Quest for Justice

Friends and fellow teachers, we can already hear the wheels of justice turning.  Our quest for justice is moving forward.  The oppressor is now desperate to cover up her criminal acts so we expect her to carry out some desperate actions.  But have no fear for we have the truth on our side.  Let us remain strong as we have nothing to hide.

As we have always advocated since the start of this blog, the key to our victory is our unity.  No amount of threats, no amount of intimidation can muffle our unified voices. No amount of lies, no amount of cover up can suppress the truth.

We would like to give some updates on our efforts and the efforts of our network of advocates.

I.  Federal case versus Lulu Navarro and UPI
Last October 20, the American Federation of Teachers has already filed a federal case against the dreaded Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro and Universal Placement International with the U.S. Department of Labor. See press release from AFT below.

AFT Alleges Louisiana Teacher Recruiter Violated Federal Laws

A company that recruited hundreds of Filipinos to teach in Louisiana schools violated federal laws when it exploited, intimidated and threatened the teachers, according to a complaint filed Oct. 20 by the AFT.

The complaint, delivered to the U.S. Department of Labor, alleges that teachers recruited by Universal Placement International were directed to pay thousands of dollars in fees that federal law dictates should be paid by the employer. The AFT alleges that each teacher paid approximately $15,000 to Universal before working a single day as a teacher, and signed an illegal contract, under duress, requiring payment of additional fees.

"The allegations, backed by the facts, show these teachers to be victims of worker abuses like the ones in our students' history books: indentured servitude, debt bondage and labor contracts signed under duress," says AFT president Randi Weingarten. "What makes these allegations especially heinous is that the victims are good teachers, that school districts and tax dollars are involved, and that all this is taking place in 21st-century America." (Read complete article…)

II. Ingrid Cruz, providing a face to our struggles
USA Today featured a very compelling story that reflects the predicament of most of us victims of UPI.  The brave teachers in the story are Teachers Ingrid Cruz, Bernard Pagusara, Ian Cainglet and Luzellene Perez.  This blog salutes all of you!

Federal complaint: Filipino teachers held in 'servitude'
By Greg Toppo and Icess Fernandez, USA TODAY

BATON ROUGE — It has been more than two years since Ingrid Cruz aced a middle-of-the-night video interview in Manila, borrowed $10,000 from her parents and flew halfway around the world to take a job here teaching middle school science.

She was seeking that most American of dreams: a new life, and opportunities she couldn't approach back home. But along the way, Cruz says she has endured intimidation, humiliation, extortion and a long, painful separation from her young daughters.

Cruz is one of more than 300 teachers imported to Louisiana from the Philippines since 2007, a group of educators who say collectively they paid millions of dollars in cash to a Filipino recruiting firm, PARS International Placement Agency, and its sister company, Los Angeles-based Universal Placement International Inc. (Read complete article…)

III. Advice from US Embassy

One of our colleagues went home because her application for the extension of her visa was initially denied.  She reapplied for a new visa and then went to the US Embassy in the Philippines the previous week to have her new visa stamped.  Upon learning that she is from EBR, she was brought to a meeting with agents where she volunteered all information.  The agents are appalled by the exploitation we have experienced from UPI and PARS. She is back here in the US now.

Here are the advice from the US Embassy agents in the Philippines who are investigating the criminal activities of UPI and PARS.  First, stop paying any fees to the agency. Second, to all those who are in the same predicament as our colleague, the US Embassy suggests that you go home and do not worry because the US embassy will help you and make sure you can come back. All you have to do is tell the truth.

(Note: We are not trying to replace the opinion of a lawyer. We are just sharing to you what transpired.)

IV. Efforts in the Philippines

We are happy to announce that we have a new advocate that will handle our legal representation in the Philippines. We will be filing cases against PARS with the POEA and DOLE. (A colleague already submitted more than 60 declarations to Dole Secretary Roque last week.). Our counsel is a respected lawyer, activist and consumer advocate. Also, he is a previous Community Service Awardee of the prestigious UP Alumni Awards.

We would like to thank Partido ng Manggagawa (PM or the Labor Party) for arranging this representation.  We would also like to acknowledge the support of the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK).

V. Statement of Support
We would like to feature a solidarity statement from PM.  This blog welcomes the solidarity of any group or individual.  If you or your group supports our cause, send us an email and we will be happy to feature your statement.  We certainly need all the support that we can get.

PM Solidarity Statement
October 29, 2009

Message of Solidarity with the Pinoy Teachers of Louisiana

The Partido ng Manggagawa salutes the brave Filipino migrant teachers in Louisiana. In the name of the working class in the Philippines, we support you in your fight for justice against the illegal and oppressive policies of the recruiter Lulu Navarro. We pledge to help your cause and struggle in any way we can.
You have broken the stereotype of Filipino teachers as meek and submissive slaves who will endure inhuman treatment with hardly a peep. Instead you have stood for what you believe is right despite all the odds and against threats of persecution by Navarro and her minions.

You have proven once again that in unity there is strength and in action lies the possibility of victory. The support you have garnered from the Filipino-American community, the American Federation of Teachers and even the coverage that has been given your issue by the US mass media is testimony to you determination in struggle over the course of almost a year.

With the light at the end of the tunnel ever clearer now as far as achieving your goals of seeking justice, we encourage you to broaden the scope of your fight and raise it to the next level. We ask that add to your agenda the reform of overseas employment policy in order to stop the abuse of Filipino migrant workers. If professionals like teachers can become slave labor in a country like the US, no wonder OFW’s by the thousands suffer from abuse, discrimination and indignity across the globe. (Read complete statement…)

Official complaints filed over mistreatment of teachers

To read the official complaint, complete with exhibits, visit the website of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Please click here. We also embedded below video news reports of Louisiana-based media organizations on the issue.

(Baton Rouge – October 1, 2009) A company that recruited foreign teachers to work in Louisiana schools is guilty of cheating those teachers out of thousands of dollars and holding them in virtual servitude, according to complaints presented to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers by international educators.

The LFT and the American Federation of Teachers brought these complaints to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Louisiana Attorney General on Wednesday afternoon.

The charges involve multiple violations of state and federal laws. Attorneys for AFT and LFT said the union is asking that the teachers’ contracts with the California-based recruiter be voided, and that the recruiter be criminally prosecuted under state law.

“The alleged behavior of this recruiter and the treatment of these teachers is quite frankly disgusting and an affront to basic American values,” said LFT President Steve Monaghan.


News Report of WDSU Channel 6. Click here to go the original source of this video.

Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro, the president of recruiting firm Universal Placement International, is a convicted felon who has served jail time in California and was also convicted of crimes in New Jersey. After treating some Louisiana school officials to Philippine Island junkets, she was allowed to recruit more than 200 teachers for Louisiana schools.

The Federation is acting on behalf of Filipino nationals who were hired in Caddo Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, Jefferson Parish and the State Recovery School District in New Orleans. Each teacher was charged about $15,000 by Navarro to obtain a job, and was then required to sign over 10 percent of the monthly salary to UPI for two years. The total amounted to some 37% of the teachers’ salary.

Teachers who could not afford to pay the fees up front were directed to loan companies by Navarro, and were charged exorbitant interest rates.

In addition to collecting the fee from teachers, Navarro was paid $47,500 to recruit twenty five teachers by the State Department of Education to recruit teachers for the Recovery School District in New Orleans.

Many of the teachers say they were required to pay for housing provided by Navarro. Living four to a two-bedroom apartment, they were not allowed to choose their own roommates or to seek alternative living arrangements.

Those who complained were threatened with the loss of their work visas, according to statements provided by the teachers. Some were hit with lawsuits filed in California, where Navarro’s company is housed.


News Report of WBRZ Channel 2. Click here to go the original source of this video.

“To be a foreign national living in Louisiana, facing the threat a lawsuit in California, can virtually guarantee acceptance of the reported indignities imposed by Lulu Navarro and UPI,” said Monaghan.

“As soon as the shackles of these illicit contracts are legally voided, we believe that other migrant educators will come forward with additional complaints,” Monaghan said.

The union complaint, filed with state agencies on Wednesday afternoon, alleges that Navarro and her company violated Louisiana laws regulating private employment services in the state.

The union is asking for restitution for the teachers, fines and appropriate criminal penalties for principals of UPI, a declaration that all the contracts executed by Universal are void, and attorneys’ fees.

Who is Lourdes Navarro?

The president of UPI is a native of The Philippines, currently living in California. In 2000, she pleaded guilty in California court to charges stemming from an insurance scam. In a hand-written confession, she admitted to cheating the state medical program out of more than $1 million, which she laundered into cash. According to the confession, she stole the identity of several physicians to carry out her scheme.

Convicted of fraud, grand theft, identity theft, money laundering and white collar crime, she served time in county prison, five years probation and was ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution.

In 2003, she was convicted of money laundering in New Jersey.

Louisiana law requires disclosure of prior felony convictions as part of the Public Employing Service licensing procedure. Had Navarro applied for such a license, she probably would have been denied.

Neither Navarro nor UPI is licensed to do business in Louisiana as a “private employment service,” begging the question of how she or UPI were able to operate in Louisiana in the first place.

What violations of law are alleged?

Specific violations of Louisiana state law stem from Louisiana statutes and administrative code. They include the following:

• Failure to maintain an office in Louisiana. State law requires an “onsite manager for that location, or an on-site consultant who has successfully passed the private employment service examination.”
• Failure to provide a $5,000 bond to the state.
• Failure to post all the appropriate licenses to operate, an approved applicant schedule of fees, and copies of the Rules and Regulations Governing Private Employment Services.
• Illegally collecting fees from both the employer and the applicant.
• Illegally charging teachers employed in Louisiana fees prior to arriving in the state.
• Illegally charging fees to applicants who were never employed by a Louisiana school system.

The union complaint also raises a question of federal immigration law violations. Fees charged to candidates for the H-1B visas used by Filipino teachers must be paid by the employer, not the employee. But in a letter to the human resources director of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Navarro explained that some $6,600 in visa application fees is charged to the teachers.

In the case of the Recovery School District, Navarro was paid by both the teachers and the state.

“These migrant teachers were exploited by outrageous and illegal fees, and apparently Louisiana taxpayers were likewise exploited,” said Monaghan.

What is the union asking for?

“First and foremost,” says the Union complaint, “these teachers deserve relief from the illegal contracts that bind them to Universal. Because these contracts violate Louisiana law and have not been authorized by the Workforce Commission, they violate public policy and should be declared void…”

The complaint also asks that Filipino teachers be refunded the $15,000 that each of them paid in order to be hired, as well as any other money collected by Universal since their employment.

Finally, the complaint cites state law as saying that an unlicensed employment agent “shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars, by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.”

The Federation complaint asks that Navarro be fined and jailed for each of the hundreds of violations that were committed.

What do the Filipino teachers say about Navarro and UPI?

These comments are taken from sworn statements provided by Filipino teachers.

When we arrived in Los Angeles, California, we were made to sign a contract without giving us a chance to read it…We were told that the document is similar to the document that we signed in the Philippines. We hastily signed it…”

“Ms Navarro collected from us the amount of $160 (no receipt was given to us) for apartment rental. When we arrived here in EBR, we were not given the chance to choose where to stay and with whom.” (Anonymous Teacher “A”)

I received my (Social Security) card after two months with the envelop open. UPI received my card in California and I am afraid that I lost my privacy and security for what they did to me. I was also instructed to sign a paper which I was not given a chance to read the 4 to 5 pages contract.”

“We were warned not to ask a lot of questions regarding the contract because according to Francis, Miss Navarro doesn’t like people questioning those stuff.” (Anonymous Teacher “B”)

“I have so many loans in the Philippines, in fact, I was not able to support my 3 children and husband because all my salary goes to FINANCING AGENCIES which I borrowed just to pay for PARS [sister company to UPI] and UNIVERSAL.”

“Lulu Navarro…warned us again not to talk and mingle with the Filipino teachers who were ahead of us here in the U.S. She also warned us not to mingle with the Filipino community in Baton Rouge.”

“Lulu Navarro asked this question: “Who among you ride with American teachers in going to school?” …she called me in my phone and telling me not to ride any more nor talking to Americans…”

“Mrs. Navarro always scared us, and saying that if we will not follow her, she can send us back home to the Philippines, which stress me so much, I don’t do nothing just CRY.” (Anonymous Teacher “C”)

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To all our fellow teachers, this is what we have been waiting for. To those who said before that this blog is merely engaging in useless chit-chats, this is for you. This blog is proud to be part of this campaign and struggle. - Gurong Gala

A call to boycott payment of the 10% fees!

A call to boycott payment of the 10% fees!
A call to repudiate our contract with UPI!

Immediately upon our arrival here in the US, we were asked to sign a contract with Universal Placement International (UPI). There was no effort by UPI to explain the stipulations of the contract nor were we given substantial time to review the document.

We were told by UPI that the contract is simply the same as the one that we signed with PARS in the Philippines. And those who questioned were met by intimidation, with the threat of being sent back home. Still exhausted from the long trip, we signed the document despite our apprehensions.

It is clear that UPI intended to hide the details of the one-sided contract from all of us. It is now apparent that Lourdes Navarro is deliberately concealing important information from her clients.

She knows that once we arrive here in the US, we will have no other option but to follow her policies no matter how oppressive or unjust. Navarro knows that we can not easily back out as we have already spent a lot for the processing of our visa, placement fees, plane fare and other related expenses. Further she is aware that we don’t have our family and friends here whom we could easily approach for help.

This unjust contract with UPI stipulates that: “For the first twenty-four (24) months of employment, Client will pay Agency ten percent (10%) of client’s gross monthly income, payable monthly, commencing with the 1st pay period.” We were made to believe that the 20% of our projected annual gross income that we paid upfront to UPI and PARS in the Philippines is already our payment for the placement fee. Some of us thought the 20% fee we paid earlier is already our advance payment to the 10% being asked for in the contract.

On top of the 20% that we already paid, we are appalled that we will then be made to pay another round of fees – 10% of our monthly gross salary on our second year – which was never discussed or agreed upon in the Philippines.

The 10% additional fee is unjust! In fact we have paid more than what is required for us by the deceitful contract. While we only received a temporary or acknowledgement receipt for our payment, it is a hard evidence that shows that we have paid PARS and UPI 20% of our projected gross annual income. Bear in mind that we have not signed any other document requiring us to pay the 20% to UPI but we did, in good faith.

Further the contract has many questionable provisions and unfair stipulations. If you read the whole contract, it is full of provisions that ensure that the gluttonous Navarro receives our fees and get to keep the payments in all possible scenarios. See Sections A, B, D paragraph 3, E and G – that is a total of 13 paragraphs to protect the pockets of Navarro.

On the other hand, in the lopsided contract we are only given one provision, just one short paragraph, where we can collect from UPI. Section F on “Refund” states “In the event that the Agency does not provide client with at least one interview with a prospective employer, through no fault of the client, then agency will refund to Client US$150.00.”

One hundred and fifty US dollars!!! Half of the $300 required upon signing of the contract (section A paragraph 1). It simply means that in our agreement with UPI, whatever happens Navarro gets to keep the thousands of dollars that we paid! But if UPI does not perform its end of the agreement they will simply give us $150!!!

Observe further how this unjust contract describes UPI’s end of the agreement – “provide client with at least one interview.” Is that what they promised us – one interview? Lest we forget, what UPI committed to us are jobs!

In simple terms this is what PARS and UPI wants to happen: Give Navarro $300 and she promises to provide you her services, then give her $1000 so she will process your papers, then give her $10,000 for placement fee, then give her 10% of your income in your second year. But if Navarro fails to do what she promised, then she is willing to give you back $150!

Lulu Navarro, a convicted felon, is preying on our vulnerabilities as individuals. This greedy criminal will continue these corrupt and oppressive practices not only against us but against more of our Filipino brothers and sisters who, just like us, are hoping to fulfill their dreams for their respective families.

Navarro’s strategy is to divide us and prevent us from uniting against her, from voicing out the oppression we went through. Please let us not allow UPI, PARS and Navarro to continue bullying us. Let us not allow UPI, PARS and Navarro to hurt more families.

The time for fence-sitting has expired. The time to procrastinate is over. We are left with no choice but to fight back together! We are left with no other option but to fight now! Join us as we attack this monster from both the legal front and through democratic actions.

Let us boycott the payment of the 10% fees!

Let us boycott UPI in the renewal of our visa and in any other transaction!

Let us repudiate this excessive and deceitful contract with UPI!


Signed:

Pinoy Educators Network (PEN)

(To be part of this campaign and the actions that we are undertaking, please email your complete name and cell phone number to gurongwagi@pinoy.org. One or two of our leaders will get to meet with you once we verify your identity. Remember that you can trust us with your identity as this blog is the number one enemy of Lulu Navarro.)

Support From Filipino Community

We are happyto share below the statement emailed by the Filipino community in Baton Rouge. In behalf of the afffected teachers, we thank our compatriots for their encouragement and valuable support.

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A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FROM THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY

We, representing the members of the Filipino-American Association of Greater Baton Rouge (FAAGBR), want to voice out our strong support for the Filipino teachers in their struggle against the injustice and repression of the recruiting agency which brought them to the United States.

We believe that these professionals have been unjustly burdened with exorbitant fees. We are aware of the fact that many of these teachers could barely save up for themselves and their families because of the excessive fees that they have to cover every month for their loans.

What makes it more disturbing is that the agency curtails the personal freedom of these hard-working teachers. Being able to choose a comfortable place to reside is a freedom that we as Filipinos and Filipino-Americans value. However the agency prohibits them from exercising this right.

Further, we are also saddened that these Filipino teachers have experienced such horrible treatment from the agency’s owner. They have been threatened to be sent home to the Philippines if they don’t blindly follow the manipulative rules set down by this recruiter. They have been intimidated with lawsuits if they voice out their grievances.

That these professionals were even discouraged from socializing with the greater Filipino community in Baton Rouge, speaks volume of how this placement agency and its owner seeks to control them.

This is the United States, the land of the free and land of opportunities. These Filipino migrant teachers do not deserve this kind of treatment. These sincere and dynamic professionals should be able to pursue the opportunities they have without fear and intimidation.

Go on, be strong, stand up and follow your dreams in this great and free land! In your quest for fairness and justice, we offer you our moral support and whatever assistance that we may be able to give that would further your cause.

More power to all of you!

Filipino-American Association of Greater Baton Rouge (FAAGBR)

Libel vs. Truth?

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers."
- Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Information reached us that the convicted felon Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro, who owns Universal Placement International, wants to shut this blog down. Navarro and Universal Placement International have filed a libel case against one of us teachers whom she suspects to be behind this blog.

We pity our colleague who, while also a victim of the harassment and schemes of PARS-Universal, has nothing to do with this blog and has not contributed any article to us. We however have high regard to this teacher, who has the guts to stand up for the truth, the courage to defend her rights and the conviction to resist oppression.

This crook Navarro who has been engaged in a lot of illegal and questionable activities would like to stop us from telling the truth because according to her: her reputation is being tarnished, her reputation is being damaged! Can you repeat that, Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro? What did you say, Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro?

We can’t seem to understand your point here, Mrs. Navarro. Forgive us if we don’t seem to comprehend the depths of your analytical scheming mind. The way we see it, you can only destroy something that is well and functional in the first place. The way we see it, you can only break something that is not broken in the first place. Come to think of it, you can only tarnish something that is clean to begin with.

Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro, we think you need to do some serious reality checking. How can we damage your reputation if it’s already as good as thrash? How can we even taint your name when your name is already synonymous to fraud and intimidation? Simply put, how can we tarnish your “good” reputation if it is nothing but.

Please do not give this blog so much credit for something you have done to yourself. Thanks, but no thanks. We don’t deserve that credit. May we remind our colleagues and our readers of some undeniable facts below that will show that Navarro’s reputation suffered from self-inflicted damage.

1. Navarro’s conviction on felony counts of Medi-Cal fraud, grand theft, money laundering and identity theft in the State of California. (Click here to read complete news report.)
2. Navarro’s treatment of Filipino teachers deployed in California that led to an exchange of lawsuits but eventually to an amicable settlement.
3. Navarro’s treatment of Filipino teachers deployed in Louisiana. See other posts in this blog for more details.
4. The questionable operations and oppressive schemes of PARS Placement Agency and Universal Placement International that has victimized hundreds of Filipinos. PARS’ license in the Philippines was suspended at least once in connection with these shady methods.
5. Navarro’s unspeakable behavior against Filipino communities including here in Louisiana. Add to this, Navarro’s arrogant advice to Filipino teachers recruited through her agency that we should not reach out to the Filipino community, contrary to the advice of the Philippine embassy.
6. Navarro’s attitude of shouting and treating people like animals which many of us have experienced.

Lourdes Navarro, do not pretend that you are only trying to protect your reputation for clearly you are a lawbreaker and tyrant with a notorious reputation. What is clear is that you simply want to harass this blog so we will be cowed and stop from exposing more of your anomalies.

Our best defense against this attempt to silence this blog through Navarro’s frivolous libel lawsuit is TRUTH. This blog simply showcases our truthful and sad experiences under PARS and Universal, under the heartless and notorious Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro. Our postings here are all accurate and no one has yet given any intelligent and convincing argument against the information we have asserted in this blog.

Further, this blog just like any other publication and any other individual’s right to free speech is protected under this country’s constitution as well as other international human rights declarations. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution stipulates: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

While there are certain limitations to the right to expression and freedom of speech; sharing an experience, offering an opinion and exposing anomalies and abuses by the powerful are certainly not one of them.

Now, as we have previously declared, no amount of lawsuits can stop us from standing up for the truth; no amount of harassment can stop us from raising our fists for our rights. No amount of bullying can stop us from doing all we can to stop these exploitative recruitment practices, so other Filipinos who are hoping to find work as migrants will never experience what we went through.

Teachers, let us strengthen our ranks and buckle up for a bigger battle.

Mabuhay ang Gurong Pilipino!


Concerned Filipino Migrant Teachers
Louisiana, USA

Status of Universal: "Dissolved" (Corrected)

Updated post:

We checked the records at the California Secretary of State website again. We found out that Universal Placement International, Inc. (UPII) is different from Universal Placement, Inc.(UPI), though both used the same business address. The former is still "ACTIVE" while the status of the latter is "DISSOLVED".

The registered agent or offical for UPI was Lourdes Navarro, and the agent for UPII is a third party company named GKL Corporate/Search, Inc. which was obviously hired by Navarro also.

Our hypotheses is that they dissolved UPI and registered UPII so that the name of Lourdes Navarro will be kept from the public. Probably this is because of her conviction on an earlier fraud case. Or probably it is another move to circumvent some legalities.

Here is the record of Universal Placement International, Inc. (Active):
http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowAllList?QueryCorpNumber=C2688374

Here again is the record of Universal Placement, Inc. (Dissolved):
http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowAllList?QueryCorpNumber=C2319133

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Initial post:

We checked the status of Universal Placement, Inc. with the state of California. According to the website of the Secretary of State of California, Universal has been "DISSOLVED".

According to the same website "DISSOLVED" means: "The California corporation has voluntarily elected to wind up its operations and has completely dissolved its business as a corporation."

Please click on link below.

http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowAllList?QueryCorpNumber=C2319133

So to those who are planning of renewing their visas through Universal, please hold your decision. The corporation has no juridical personality to transact on your behalf.

A Taste of Victory

Congratulations teachers! We just won a taste of victory!

From $310 per individual per month, we were able to force the greedy Lourdes Navarro of Universal Placement to lower our rent to $275. From $1800 to $2000 per individual, we were able to force the gluttonous Lourdes Navarro of Universal Placement to lower the renewal fee to $1000.

Now here are questions for us to answer: Do you think she did these out of the goodness of her heart? Do you really think that this monster had undergone a real change in her outlook in life and decided to treat all of us fairly and humanely? Do you think that she would have done this without us exposing her abuses in this blog? Do you think she would have done this without the force of our voices?

With her notorious track-record of exploiting us, of treating us as slaves, in violating and getting around laws, both of the state of California and the Philippines, the sad answer to those questions above is a resounding NO!

No, she did those because of our united front of challenging her through our blog! She did those to calm down the anger that is being released in your comments and rejoinders in this blog! She did these out of trying to save her skin. She thinks that if she lowers those rates then we will treat her like a hero, a savior sent from heaven above.

Lourdes Navarro, we are not dumb! We are teachers, remember? Here is the simple math. For Savoy South: $275 x 4 people per unit = $1100 per unit, real rate = $800 per unit. For Savoy North: $310 x 4 people per unit = $1240 per unit, real rate = $940 per unit. Lulu, as swapang as she is, still earns AT LEAST $300 per unit per month. So let’s say there are only 40 units: $300 per unit x 40 units, that is $12,000 per month!

Gentle ladies and gentle men, Lourdes Navarro is cheating on us with at least $12,000 per month! She is forcing us to live in an old decrepit apartment at a higher rate while she continues to gather the fruits of our labor. We checked out other apartments in the area and at $1100 or $1240 a month, the Savoy units we are now occupying looks like an old worn out doormat.

Further immigration lawyers are now even entertaining $600 per person as we are a big group.

Fellow teachers, see what we can achieve by voicing out our common concerns and demands. We just made the oppressor blink and back track from her unfair and oppressive policies. See how in a simple concerted action, by simply exposing her wickedness, we can make the oppressor stop and think before unleashing more of her monstrosities.

What is clear now is that Navarro is simply trying to pretend that she understands our plight, that her heart bleeds for us. But what is obvious is that she did these as a smoke screen to the real issues – which is her violation of our contract, her violation of a Philippine Law (R.A. 8042), her overcharges, her threats and intimidation, her illegal and suspicious opening of our SSN documents, her forcing us to lease an apartment of her choice. She thinks that we will stop our call for justice and forget our demand for fairness once she gives us loose change.

Let us not be blinded by the real issues here, fellow teachers. The fight for real justice goes on! Let us remain courageous and united as we are confident of the victory of good over evil.

Again, congratulations to all of us teachers! May this development not dampen our resolve to seek justice but rather strengthen our commitment to truth and fairness.

Mabuhay ang gurong Pilipino!


Concerned Filipino Migrant Teachers
Louisiana, USA


P.S. To all teachers please do not fall for Navarro’s threats of silencing this blog. We are not afraid of her threats to sue us. On the contrary, Navarro’s actions make our determination even stronger. What we are doing here is an exercise of our right to free expression – a right that is protected under the Constitution of this country. Remember, what we are doing here is simply voicing out our experiences. It is clear that this blog did not just exist to malign somebody but to share our factual experiences. If they think what we are saying here is false, then all they have to do is answer them in this blog or in another blog. But clearly truth-telling is not one of their virtues and the only way they can respond is threaten us with their cash and lawsuit.

In thoughts, in words and in deeds…

It took us, teachers, awhile before we actually verbalize and vocalize our legitimate grievances against the tyrant lulu. Everything we observed, felt and experienced were kept in the boundaries of our faculties. They were kept as THOUGHTS, imprisoned in each of our playful minds, waiting to be released as bold notions of the hurting truth --- modern day slavery! And as we morbidly pursue this melancholy, we either sink to the point of despair with only oblivion as solution in hand or start pushing the right disposition of healing by claiming due justice…and yes, choosing the latter lead us to this blog, as one of the many venues in venting out most animosities as well as few perplexities over the raised issues.

Our WORDS, now shared with everyone, serve as first tangible liberating step from the paralyzing grip of the perverse soul-sick lulu whose anchorage to the adoration of money serves as her principal drive in life. The words we uttered surely hit the agency right through its heart…so hard, giving us a bit of satisfaction, a taste of justice.

But we should not at all be laughing out loud yet because the real battle against this evil devouring all our financial potentials and drying up our dignities as humans much more as teachers has just started. And like any other battle, we should always be ready…in DEEDS.

Teachers unite! Not just in thoughts, not just in words but also most importantly in action! Let us continue to move with purity in motive and in unison finally crush the devil.

Gurong Gala

Know your enemy

"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

Cheers to unity!

"You can chain me, you can torture me,
you can even destroy this body,
but you will never imprison my mind."
- Gandhi

This day is a special day. I was looking for something that I did not even noticed I lost. I kept on waiting for it to return because I know deep in my heart that I lost something and I want it back. I almost gave up. Im not sure what it was but I know there is something missing, a void in my consciousness.

But then I started to share my fears, my apprehensions, my angst, my agonies. Suddenly others did the same. Sharing. Describing their fears. Listening. Acknowledging each others' wounds.

Indeed, the oppressor can break my bones, torture me and even deny me food, but they can never control my mind, they cannot restrain me from dreaming of a brighter tomorrow, they can never stop me from aspiring for justice.

Then out of nowhere, something struck me. Suddenly I realized that I finally found what I am looking for... my STRENGHT.

- Sinag ng Tala

On R.A. 8042

Below are excerpts from the Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.

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II. ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT

Sec. 6. DEFINITIONS. - For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment shall mean any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, procuring workers and includes referring, contact services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or not, when undertaken by a non-license or non-holder of authority contemplated under Article 13(f) of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines. Provided, that such non-license or non-holder, who, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee employment abroad to two or more persons shall be deemed so engaged. It shall likewise include the following acts, whether committed by any persons, whether a non-licensee, non-holder, licensee or holder of authority.

(a) To charge or accept directly or indirectly any amount greater than the specified in the schedule of allowable fees prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, or to make a worker pay any amount greater than that actually received by him as a loan or advance;

(b) To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document in relation to recruitment or employment;

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This provision is surely one that has been violated by the agency. The agency has overcharged us and collected the charges prematurely in violation of section (a) above.

Suck up or fuck up!

(This article is a contribution emailed to us by one of our fellow teachers. Pardon the use of "strong" and "dirty" words, but we respect his freedom to speak his/her mind. Afterall we cannot deny the anger that many of us feel. Again we would like to stress our respect for each person's freedom of speech.)

Here we are Filipino teachers having the time of our lives down south in lovely baton rouge, gud ol’ US of A, noooottt! Well yes sure its wonderful to have this opportunity to teach and live in the place where we’ve always dreamed of making our family’s lives better. And people here are just treating us just right! Bless EBR and the wonderful people of Louisiana.

Unfortunately Queen Latifah back west and her minions just loves to make our lives a living hell. Having charged us twice or even thrice the usual placement fee sure gave them the label of certified public fuck ups! I wonder how they sleep at night. Which brings me the question do they ever sleep at all? Those blood, money sucking shit heads deserve fifth world maximum penitentiary treatment .

Intimidation, a word they so lovingly adore, “they” would try every avenue and use it to try to scare us shitless.

Oh! And did I not mention that she’s getting commissions from the overcharged rents we’re getting here? We’re talking about them almost doubling the normal rate of the cost in staying in this decrepit, constricted, old apartment block in one of the not so nice neighborhoods in the city. Well, fuck u very much queen latifah, those ridiculuos commissions should get you more reward points from going straight into the gates of hell. Have fun and make our day!

Well, guess what , she aint playin’ us for a fool. Not only is she the dumb one, she’s just makin’ it clear that she is one of the crookedest mutha fuckin bitchy bastards in the world. As she boasted, “we are highly qualified Filipino teachers”, now your getting a taste of our being highly qualified. Now eat shit dumb fuck! You’ll be hearing more from us and you’ll be so full of charges and complaints from us you’d be drowned with disdain, disgust, and embrassment not only from the Filipino communities around the United States but from every nook and cranny of the educational microcosmic world of the United States of America!

I hope you enjoy being a bitch in prison when the dust settles. Yes, we are thankful to be here through you but it doesn’t give you the right to fuck us up even more. 10 percent of our monthly salary during our second year of teaching here should equate to 20 percent of your life taken every month during that year.

We are in a dawn of a new era queen latifah, we’re doin somethin righteous and fightin for our freedom just as the ethos of the forefathers of this wonderful nation has so rightfully fought. So to the Filipino teachers reading this, stand up, get up, don’t get fucked up! Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can! No other nation on earth would it be possible for us teachers to fight justifiably for our good cause than here in this bedrock of freedom and liberty! Yes we can! Yes we can!YES WE CAN!

---- Orgasmic Chagrin

Meeting

Louisiana Teachers, we need to meet soon (very soon). To those who are willing to attend please send your email address AND cell phone number to our blog's email (teachers.pinoy@gmail.com). We do not want to post the schedule and venue of the meeting in this blog so we will send the details through email or text messages. We will be sending the meeting details tomorrow (Friday, Nov 7) afternoon up to the evening, so make sure you send your info immediately.

We would like to insist that before we go public (sending emails to media, government offices, etc.) we need to be able agree on the strategy to take and to plan out our action. We simply don't want to voice out our issues. We also want to score big gains in the process...

Hoping for your cooperation.

Signed:
Concerned Filipino Migrant Teachers
Louisiana, USA

Why we need to act together.

An open letter to our fellow Filipino Migrant Teachers

Why we need to act together.

We left our country to work in a foreign land. Many of us were reluctant to leave our families and communities behind but the promise of a brighter future for us and our children led us to where we are now. We are here because we are trying to secure a life that is full of opportunities, not only for ourselves but also for our loved ones.

In the pursuit of our aspirations, we encountered challenges but we always resolved to face these problems for we know that a persistent attitude is the only way to go forward. Before we made our decision to come here, many of us were faced with the dilemma of leaving our families – sacrificing the company of our respective spouses and kids for a shot at the future.

Before we came here, we have to hurdle several interviews, seminars and backbreaking reviews and examinations. Many of us were short in finances but we sold our properties or even placed ourselves deep in debt so as not to derail our plans to become financially stable in the future.

In short, we gave all that we could, so we can start building a dream for ourselves and our families. We discovered however that the beautiful pictures that were painted in our imagination are not as what they seem to be. Now we discovered that the Recruitment and Placement Agency who we entrusted with our dreams is not acting with the best, or in fact not even a fraction, of our interests in mind.

Firstly, there was a lack of transparency in the process that we underwent as we are preparing our documents for our deployment here. The fees and charges were not even clear to us as the agency seems to invent new ways to empty our pockets every week. Many of us were not even able to read and study our contracts with the agency as we only received a copy of it on the eve of our flight.

Secondly, the agency is defrauding us with our hard-earned wages. Our contract stipulates that 10% of our monthly gross income for two years shall be paid to the agency. In reality however we were made to pay in advance 20% of our “expected” gross income for one year. To add insult to injury the “expected” gross income is bloated so as to make us pay the maximum advance payment. This overcharging of placement fees and the premature collection of the same is tantamount to illegal recruiting and is a violation of a Philippine law, the Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.

Further they say that the excess payment will be applied to the following year while we are not even sure of being renewed for the next year or if we would even opt to use the same agency next year. What the agency is doing, apart from milking us dry, is to indirectly restrict us from pursuing our other options as they intend to continue exploiting us.

Thirdly, the agency has instituted schemes that are grossly immoral and unfair to us teachers. One blatant example is its effort to corner many of us into borrowing from its partner lending agency that charges excessive interest rates. The agency is charging us illegally with steep placement fees, then turns around and refers us to its partner lending agency to charge us once again with exorbitant interest rates.

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.

Sixthly, we are aware of some of our colleagues who, weeks after they arrived here, are still without school assignments but instead need to attend job fairs for placement. They were duped into believing that a job is waiting for them here for how else can they be issued working visas. For the meantime, interests payments for their debts pile up every day.

Further there are so many other individual issues that we are sure you have experienced with the agency as well. They have unlawfully opened our SS document without our consent, they have bullied us and treated us as if we are not responsible adults who can decide for ourselves, and much more. We share many of these horrible stories yet here we are appearing disorganized if not helpless.

Now what are we to do? Some of you may be thinking of just keeping silent and swallow whatever pride that is left within you. Some of you may take a step of getting a lawyer to secure your immigration papers. Or maybe you are one of those who are thinking of seeking justice against the agency in your individual capacity.

We are in a foreign land and unfamiliar with the environment. No doubt we can easily adapt like we Filipinos always do – but will we simply allow these injustices to continue to happen, not only to us but to the next batch of our fellow teachers? We don’t know any public officials here who can help us or a radio or a media organization that we can turn to – but will we simply join in the chorus of silence and inaction?

We strongly believe that it is in our best interest to act collectively. The same way that it is in the interest of the agency to keep us separate and scattered, to keep us vulnerable and powerless. The reason why the agency forbids us to talk to one another, or with any other Filipino groups for that matter, is precisely because the agency is afraid that we share our horrible experiences and in the process unite us into action.

We need to stand up. We need to act as a group. And here are the main reasons why:

First, we share a common goal in this struggle – a goal that we may be able to pursue our dreams for our families. When we coordinate our action, our effort will be much more effective as we have more brains, and hands and hearts working for our common objectives.

Second, these efforts require not only our time and energy but also our financial resources. Securing a lawyer alone to handle our immigration papers and pursue our case will involve a lot of expenses. And most of us are now drowning in debt caused by the exorbitant fees the agency is charging us. If however we act as a group, we have the power to negotiate a favorable arrangement that will make the shared burden lighter.

Last and more important, we very much know that in numbers there is strength. It is only through a united action can we achieve true empowerment. It is only through a concerted effort that our voice will be heard loud and clear. It is only through a unified struggle can we effectively protect our jobs and our future.

Again, it is an imperative that we act together. It is an imperative that we act now!

Mabuhay ang gurong Pilipino!


Signed:

Concerned Filipino Migrant Teachers
Louisiana, USA

Mabuhay!

Welcome to Pinoy Teachers Hub! If you are a pinoy teacher based in the United States then this is your blogsite. We encourage you to comment on our posts. We even welcome postings from you. So share your stories and experiences, email us at teachers.pinoy@gmail.com. Mabuhay ang gurong Pilipino!