A dire situation for the Philippine family in Qatar

[Kuciwalker]

[BeBMan]

[Dis]

Originally posted by Lancer
Good news! Crispina is released! She arrived in Manila today, very skinny but alive. There's still nine other girls stuck in Qatar and if I can get any timely info from Lucina or Crispina I'll try to help them.

We're sending Lucina the $300 so Crispy can have some space to relax and fatten up a bit.

Thanks all for your concern and advise. I'll post here on any news of the other nine girls. Apparently it was Lucina's efforts with the Philippine gov's OFW organization that did the trick, so there is hope.

great news. It tears me up to think of other people in that situation.

I still think you should see if the media is interested in that story. I could bring more light to the situation.

[Lancer]

Like who Dis? You know somebody?

[SlowwHand]

I was extremely uneasy that this would have a grim outcome. Thank God in this case, all will be well.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Lancer
Good news! Crispina is released! She arrived in Manila today, very skinny but alive. There's still nine other girls stuck in Qatar and if I can get any timely info from Lucina or Crispina I'll try to help them.

We're sending Lucina the $300 so Crispy can have some space to relax and fatten up a bit.

Thanks all for your concern and advise. I'll post here on any news of the other nine girls. Apparently it was Lucina's efforts with the Philippine gov's OFW organization that did the trick, so there is hope.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I was extremely uneasy that this would have a grim outcome. Thank God in this case, all will be well.

I was more afraid that there would be no outcome, and this thing would drag on and on. There's so much of this thing going on all over the world.

We like to think it is contained in backwater parts of the world, but for example, it's estimate that 10,000 slaves a year are transported through Los Angeles, most for use in the sex trade, for clothing manufacturing or fo ruse as domestic workers.

[Lancer]

It's outcome for Crispy, Zkrib, but there's 9 other girls without a sister to raise hell in Manila. I hope Crispy had the heads up to get the details on who they are. I'll beat on a few doors at this end using Rufus's suggestions.

I'll make the $300 help contingent on getting all the info they have on the others. That will get those girls thinking.

[Barnabas]

slavery


I am very happy that she was released , hope she recovers fine

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Just saw this. Let me add to the festivities!



You know, last night I had dinner with a guy who also served in Manila, and we agreed that one of the most frustrating parts of our jobs there was that the government said all the right things but never did anything at all. So serious props to Lucina for getting a Philippine agency to actually do something.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Lancer
It's outcome for Crispy, Zkrib, but there's 9 other girls without a sister to raise hell in Manila.

They got you.

[Dis]

I don't know how the media is there, and if they even travel to the less major islands. But surely they do human interest stories as we do. Even if it's just a tabloid, maybe they'll do it. I don't know how it is there, so I can't say for sure.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Lancer
It's outcome for Crispy, Zkrib, but there's 9 other girls without a sister to raise hell in Manila. I hope Crispy had the heads up to get the details on who they are. I'll beat on a few doors at this end using Rufus's suggestions.

I'll make the $300 help contingent on getting all the info they have on the others. That will get those girls thinking.

I now have the address for the Philippine consulate here in L.A. It's just a quick subway ride away.

Lancer, once you get the info, if you want to PM me with it, I'll take it to them and let them know where 9 of their nationals are being held prisoner.

We also have a robust Philippino community here in L.A. They must have at least one local newspaper.
If you'd like, I'll pass the info on to them -- especially if the consulate helps. That would make a great story!

Let's get these ladies home for Christmas.

[snoopy369]

Good news for Crispina at least

http://www.faccrizalcenter.org/page/page/994753.htm I think is the best link for the Chicago Filipino community... I'd be happy to provide the information to them also if that would help. 80,000 Filipinos here

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


I now have the address for the Philippine consulate here in L.A. It's just a quick subway ride away.

Lancer, once you get the info, if you want to PM me with it, I'll take it to them and let them know where 9 of their nationals are being held prisoner.

We also have a robust Philippino community here in L.A. They must have at least one local newspaper.
If you'd like, I'll pass the info on to them -- especially if the consulate helps. That would make a great story!

Let's get these ladies home for Christmas.

I love Poly's spirit of helping. But be prepared: going to a consulate in one country to help someone in another country is not going to get you much of anywhere, because consulates preside over distinct districts. We actually just had this situation here; a bunch of US seamen were trapped on a ship in China, and a company rep came to see us in Singapore for help. All we could really do is refer him to the appropriate consulate in China. What you propose is a little like walking into a police station in Chicago to report that someone you know is in trouble in Houston.

The best bet is still the Phil's embassy in Qatar; I've been trying to figure out if I know anyone serving there, but I don't. Still, they'd be worth a call: (974) 4861-220. Lancer should ask for whoever's covering Philippine Citizen Services.

Your best bet on the ground in LA would be to go to the Philippine media first. Going to the consulate will just get your complaint tucked away by some bored bureaucrat. But a story in a local Philippine paper would be a shot across the bow.

Trust me on this. The Philippine government does not respond to requests or even pleas. But they respond to being embarrassed.

Wish I could do more from here. Good luck.