OFW Times – Sharing the best of OFW life and times, one blog post at a time.

OFWs: How to open an online Philippine stock investment account
OPEN AN ACCOUNT with a Philippine stockbroker today. That, I think, is the most concrete step you can do if you want to start investing in the Philippine stock market. The Philippine economy is booming. And the index of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) continues to rise. Today --more than ever-- is an auspicious and inspiring moment ...
Stocks Investing for OFWs
AS AN OVERSEAS Filipino Worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia, I discovered that stocks investing in the Philippine stock market is exciting, challenging, and profitable. And for this reason, I invite you to try stocks investing, too. Besides helping the local economy, your stocks investing may improve your personal finance as well. :-) By stocks investing, I mean ...
This Christmas, don't forget our typhoon-hit kababayan in Mindanao
UNLESS WE MAKE Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all our wishes for typhoon-hit Mindanao won't make Christmas 'merry and fun'. Tonight comes Christmas Eve. While most of us, Filipinos, prepare for noche buena, some 300,000 of our kababayan in evacuation centers in Mindanao will be missing the traditional family salo-salo. By now, many of us ...
COMSOFIL: Could you be the next OFW startup?
HAVE YOU EVER thought of establishing your startup business when you go back to the Philippines for good? Consider yourself lucky if you are an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia and you have interest and passion for computers and information and communications technology (ICT). Are you a computer newbie? That's not a problem. The good ...
2012 Philippines Floods: Person Finder
In response to the continuing flood disaster in the Philippines, Google has launched an online tool called Person Finder.
A view on the SONA 2012
WITH REGARD TO the recent SONA of Pres. Noynoy Aquino, it was a litany of accomplishments and a wish list of what will be accomplished at the end of his term. To me it was all bluster, pandering to the select political audience in the hall (party allies) and to the public at large (his ‘boss’). ...
OFWs in Saudi Arabia: ‘Toilet paper’ spirituality at work
HOW MANY TIMES do you usually pray in a day? And, where and how? Let’s say — you are in Saudi Arabia and you are not a Muslim. You may be wishing that soon non-Muslim public places of worship be allowed in the Kingdom. But with the present state of things, you would only do your individual ...
OFW Opinion: On the EDSA I People Power Revolution
We had just celebrated the anniversary of "people power" again. What have we to show for it except that the dictatorship that was overthrown was replaced by institutionalized corruption and break-down of the rule of law. Indeed democracy and freedom were restored. But are we really free? With genuine freedom, comes responsibility, self-discipline, tolerance, respect, ...
OFW Tour: Ang Hiyas ng Palawan
Kabayan, nasilayan mo na ba ang ganda ng underground river ng Puerto Princesa? At kung hindi pa -- inaanyayahan kitang tuklasin mo ito sa susunod mong bakasyon sa Pilipinas. Marahil ay alam mo na na ang ilog na ito sa Palawan ay itinanghal bilang isa sa New 7 Wonders of Nature sa mundo. Iyan ay kamaikailan lamang ...
OFW's Guaranteed Way to Save for the Future
AS AN OFW, isn’t it your aim to save and invest what you earn for eventual return and re-integration back home? Do you have problems saving your money as the expenses pile up and nothing is left of your income? No matter how you budget, it ends up with zero saving at the end of the pay ...
OFW Opinion: Why did I deactivate my Facebook?
ARE FACEBOOK AND other social media like You Tube and Twitter relevant? Yes and no, depending on the user and his motives. Yes, if it can impact our lives and inter-personal relationships. It can be a powerful tool for change like in the “Arab spring” uprisings which overthrew dictatorships and want change in governance in Tunisia, ...
OFW Opinion: Migration Advocacy and Media Awards (MAMA)
REGARDING THE RECENT advisory from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh about the Migration Advocacy and Media Awards, following is my comment: Without any disrespect to the current OFWs' toiling to make a living and help their families, it is my humble opinion that advocating and promoting migration does not promote the long term welfare of ...
Saudi Arabia OFWs: How to know the expiry date of your Iqama
DO YOU KNOW how to decipher the Arabic expiry date of your Iqama? If you are in Saudi Arabia, this question may matter much to you. Not an Arabic reader? Not a problem. Today —hopefully by the end of this article— you would learn how to determine the expiration date of your Iqama. Importance of an Iqama As you may ...
Saudi Arabia: White Panthers prevail over Blue Eagles to retain IPSA Sportsfest Overall Championship title
AL-KHOBAR: Inspired by the jam-packed crowd at Al-Gosaibi hotel tennis court here Friday, power serving Nilo Aliasut and Sam Vallaritplayed a crucial role in White Panthers’ victory over Blue Eagles’ hard-hitting duo, Vic Diputado and Monid Adoma, in the Lawn Tennis Pro-8 Finals which sealed the Panther’s bid to retain last year’s overall championship crown ...
Saudi Arabia: IPSA Blue Eagles clinch 2nd Basketball championship title in IPSA’s 6th Annual Sportsfest 2011
AL-KHOBAR: The IPSA Blue Eagles recently clinched its 2nd Basketball Championship title in the IPSA 6th Annual Sportsfest 2011 via an 89-87 victory over the gritty White Panthers before a good crowd at the International Philippine School in Al-Khobar (IPSA) gym here. The Blue Eagles unleashed a strong 4th quarter surge on their way to a hard-earned ...
How To Join SSS Promo To Win Round Trip Ticket To Manila
Want a free round trip ticket from your country of work to Manila? How about a Boracay 4-day-3-night escapade for two -- and with free accommodation and a P45,000 pocket money? If you are lucky this year, you’ll have them both. But you only have until June 30 this year to get those. SSS Member-Get-Member How? Join Social Security System’s (SSS) ...
How To Locate The New Home Of Pag-IBIG Fund (Housing Operations Sector) In Mandaluyong
Planning to visit Pag-IBIG Fund's office in Manila? If your concerns relate to housing loan application or late payment of loan amortization, then you need to know the new location of the Pag-IBIG Fund's Housing Operations Sector. This Sector (Office) includes Loan Origination, and Billing and Collections Departments. New Address According to Home Development Mutual Fund's (Pag-IBIG Fund) website, ...
How To Save Money On Remittance Fees Through Internet Banking
Are you regularly sending money to multiple accounts in the Philippines? If yes, you may want to save money by avoiding multiple remittance services fees. One way to do this is — through internet banking. Internet banking lets you remit money online using your computer. You can do this anywhere, anytime — even outside banking hours. Activating Your Internet Banking Account The ...
How To Get Facebook Timeline
Wondering how that big feature photo -- stretching across the FB page's width -- appears at the top of your friend's Facebook (FB) profile? Chances are you are not into Facebook Timeline yet. Of course, you can install or configure your FB profile to display the new FB Timeline. What is Timeline? Basically, Timeline is the new profile ...
How to get into Google Plus? So, what does Google Plus have to offer you, Facebooker? ;-)
Just as you and other OFWs and Global Pinoys are enjoying much Facebook for the last few years, along comes Google’s own social network — Google+ (pronounced Google Plus). Google+ is just an infant -- having been born less than a year ago. However, obviously, social network king - Facebook - has now a contender. If you are ...