BINIBINING Middle East

2011-11-12T07:04:00.001-08:00

BINIBINING MIDDLE-EAST

There are approximately 30,000 Filipino guest workers living within the State of Israel. The majority are female and work as caregivers for the elderly or sick. In Tel Aviv they live in shanty town conditions around the central bus station also known as the ‘Tachana Mercazit’. On Saturdays, buses in the Tachana do not work, and this giant modernist building is occupied by guest workers, who spend their time shopping, partying and socializing in bars, clubs and shops within the compound.

Beauty contests are very popular among Filipinos both at home and abroad. ‘Binibining Pilipinas’ is the most important beauty pageant in the Philippines, established in 1964. The Filipino community in Tel Aviv created their own beauty pageant in a nightclub inside the Tachana Merkazit and named it ‘Binibining Pilipinas Israel’.

* Binibining: Miss, young woman in Filipino.

mabuhayyyyy

2011-09-30T01:48:00.000-07:00

There are more than 300,000 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, mainly from Indonesia and the Philippines [AFP]Hong Kong's High Court has ruled that a law banning foreign maids from settling permanently in the city was unconstitutional, in a landmark case for the city's domestic helpers.The High Court said immigration laws barring maids from applying for permanent residency violated Hong Kong's municipal charter, known as the Basic Law. The case was brought by Evangeline Banao Vallejos, who has lived in Hong Kong since 1986. The ruling could lead to more than 100,000 other foreign maids winning rights to residency.The case has sparked widespread debate on equal treatment for foreign maids.Critics of the ruling say granting residency to domestic workers would strain the provision of health care, education and public housing.Immigration laws exclude domestic helpers from seeking permanent residency, while other non-Chinese nationals can obtain residency after working in the city for seven years.Human rights lawyers and many household workers argue that this is discriminatory.There are more than 300,000 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, mainly from Indonesia and the Philippines. It is thought that around 120,000 have lived here for more than seven years.Domestic workers from outside Hong Kong are required to live with their employers and cannot accept other jobs.Without the right to permanent residency, if a maid is dismissed by her employer, she must find another job as a domestic helper or leave Hong Kong within two weeks.

Filipina maid wins landmark Hong Kong case - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

2011-09-30T01:44:00.000-07:00

Filipina maid wins landmark Hong Kong case - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

Mary Lou Sulit Muga Interview - Part 3

2011-07-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Third part of Koken Ergun's interview with Mary Lou Sulit Muga, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) living in Israel. Mary Lou talks about the social life and working conditions of the Filipino community

in Israel.
This video interview is part of Koken Ergun's project "Binibining Promised Land" which documents the beauty pageants of the OFWs in Israel.

Mary Lou Sulit Muga Interview - Part 2

2011-07-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

Second part of Koken Ergun's interview with Mary Lou Sulit Muga, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)

living in Israel. Mary Lou talks about the social life and working conditions of the Filipino community

in Israel.
This video interview is part of Koken Ergun's project "Binibining Promised Land" which documents the beauty pageants of the OFWs in Israel.

Mary Lou Sulit Muga Interview - Part 1

2011-07-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Koken Ergun interviewing Mary Lou Sulit Muga, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) living in Israel. Mary Lou talks about the social life and working conditions of the Filipino community in Israel.
This video interview is part of Koken Ergun's project "Binibining Promised Land" which documents the beauty pageants of the OFWs in Israel.

Binibining is in Poland

2011-06-02T07:33:00.001-07:00

Binibining Interviews

2011-05-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

CHARLENE JAMES DANDAN

Organizer of Binibining Pilipinas Israel

TALKS ABOUT BEAUTY PAGEANTS

TACHANA MERKAZIT

(Central Bus Station)

Tel Aviv

March 2010

Charlene James Dandan

I am Charlene James Dandan, I come from the Philippines.

I came in Israel the year 2000. My parents…I was born in one of the cities…a very interesting city in the Philippines. It’s a city composed of Muslims and Christians, but the Muslims are more dominant, but I am a Christian. My father is a politician, he is a former Mayor in Cotabato City in the place of the Muslims.I graduated in the year 1990 with a degree of Bachelor of Science and Biology, a preparatory for Medicine,in one of the prestigious schools in Davao City; The Davao Doctors School of Medicine. Before I made the Binibining Pilipinas Israel, way back in the Philippines I did a lot of beauty contests….in Cotabato City, where I live. I made the Binibining Catabato and it’s like similar to the Binibining Pilipinas.Then when I was in Israel, at first, I am just an ordinary like the other foreign workers. But in the year 2006 I started with a muse only in one of the basketball tournaments here in Israel,competing with girls and I won the contest. Since then the magazine Manila Tel Aviv Magazine, a Filipino magazine here in Israel, interviewed me and asked to be the choreographer of jazz and at the same time made the Manila Tel Aviv Top Model that is a fashion show, a modeling contest. I organized that one and then, later on I was exposed by the Filipino community, they recognized me wherever I go.

Then I decided…but prior to the Binibining Pilipinas I am also a beauty queen in Israel. I joined a contest for the…. it’s for the gay! And then, that is in the year 2007, when I won the Queen of Asia Israel and competing, representing Philippines. Then I decided to continue to share my talents to the Filipino community, and not only to the Filipino community, as well to the Israeli.

What is Binibining Pilipinas?

Charlene James Dandan

Binibining Pilipinas is a competition of young Pilipinas here in Israel. This is an Israel chapter since there is really a real Binibining Pilipinas in my country, that is the most prestigious beauty contest in the Philippines. We have a lot of different beauty contests in the Philippines but Binibining Pilipinas….this is the contest like The Miss Philippines where we have to choose Miss Philippines Universe, Miss Philippines World and Miss Philippines International.

What are the qualities of a Binibining Pilipina?

Charlene James Dandan

In the Binibining Pilipinas the girls must project really the definition of a woman. A woman with substance. A woman that looks like a Pilipina, talk like a Pilipina, walk like a Pilipina with the gestures of a Pilipina.

How do you select the candidates for the pageant?

Charlene James Dandan

Those girls really undergo a series of interviews, some…yes, yes, with me…to qualify, to be one of the finalists of the Binibining Pilipinas.

Köken Ergun

What do you ask them in the interviews?

Charlene James Dandan

No, I ask about the country and then about themselves but mostly to select the finalists for the Binibining Pilipinas Israel, the first one you have to know first the physical beauty, the outside beauty. But not only the outside beauty but also the character of the candidates. And then there is an age limit, of course….and then personality…and most they can represent the city or, let’s say, the city where she came from in the Philippines. And she knows….and the most important she really knows about Philippines’ culture. Because this is a beauty contest with a purpose, we have to meet charities that we have to help. We have to go in the hospital, we have to help the foreign workers also who are in needs.And then we have to…how you call it? To gain, to sell the tickets that we can gain money and that money will be sent in my country.

Köken Ergun

The money will be sent back to the Philippines?

Charlene James Dandan

Yes, who needs help, yes. And also not only in the Philippines but also here in Israel foreign workers who are in needs, like for example who are in the hospitals.

What is your favorite part of the beauty pageants?

Charlene James Dandan

The most important for me which I like it and it’s so happen that I like also because I joined the contest also. Like The Queen of Asia is a beauty contest from different nationalities…Nepal, India and I represent Philippines…is the national costume because it shows…For me it’s the national costume because it’s showing the different costumes of different countries in Asia and I love it. I know how to carry our national costumes. Because like, for example, when I join the costume I won the dress in national costume because I carry it compared to other candidates.

What is Ethno-Modern?

Charlene James Dandan

The Ethno-Modern that is the costume and also the production number because the Ethno-Modern it has something with…why it is Ethno-Modern? It is showing the different Ethnic parts of the Philippines, the different tribes and then wearing…The real Binibining Pilipinas, they must wear their original costume from different tribes, yeah. But what I did in the Binibining Pilipinas is that it’s like a little bit modern yeah, yes. Because it is the latest now, not really the old one but if you will see the old one is more unique because you will see the costume in the Philippines, the original.

What kind of awards are given to the pageant?

Charlene James Dandan

The Binibining Pilipinas receive, of course, a cash prize that comes from the solicitation aside from the crown, sash, plaques, bouquet and a lot of items, gift items also…

Köken Ergun

Like what?

Charlene James Dandan

Those are coming from the sponsors…yes, yes, jewelry, diamonds… That the winner get a diamond…and then aside from the cash and also I remember, a crown, plaques, sash and then gift items like beauty products…yes. The biggest company in Israel, I cannot remember already what company is, yes.

Why are beauty pageants so important for the Filipinos?

Charlene James Dandan

Philippines love beauties, yeah. So we have a lot of beauty contests and there are different titles of beauty….We have a lot of contests in the Philippines, different titles. But what I said, the Binibining Pilipinas that’s the most prestigious one. But actually I don’t know how many, it’s hundreds titles of beauty contests what we are doing in the Philippines.

What about the Tachana Merkazit?

Köken Ergun

And tell us about this place where we are now, the Tachana Merkazit?

Charlene James Dandan

Tachana Merkazit? No, it so happens this place is common for, not only for the foreign workers from the Philippines or from Asia but this is the common one. Because this is where the center, where the autobus…you know the Pilipino foreign workers come from different cities in Israel. So this is the bus station…So every Saturday this is the place…like, like, yes, if you need to go for a taxi or for the sharut, so this is the common one. And this is also the place, this is the reason also a lot of Pilipinas or married an Israeli who have business here in Tachana Merkazit for the purpose of…No, what I said: this is really the center.

Köken Ergun

So this is also why you made the beauty contest here?

Charlene James Dandan

No, it so happens we did it in the discotheque…the Binibining Pilipinas Israel because the sponsor is in….yes and the discotheque.

How do you choose the jury members?

Köken Ergun

And how did you choose the jury members? Who are the jury members?

Charlene James Dandan

Some they are really, how do you call it? Trusted to be the judges and then some comes from the sponsors because there is sponsors but they know how, of course they know how to judge because they are managers. One, I remember, in the pre-pageant she is a top model also, she is a model. And also in the final she is an Israel model here in Israel. And then, the manager of the beauty products in Israel, so she knows really, what’s really a beauty of a Pilipiina.

Question & Answer

Köken Ergun

I remember the Question & Answer was also a very important part.

Charlene James Dandan

Yes, of course. That’s the most important because to be a beauty queen is not only to be a beauty from the outside but also you must have brain to represent Philippines. Yeah, that you know how to talk if you are already, how you call? Talking with, how you call it? With confidence…

Köken Ergun

So this is one of the very important points that the jury will make, right? It’s the decisive moment. And some contestants couldn’t even talk because they were very nervous I guess.

Charlene James Dandan

Yes, that’s really a part of a contest. In my contest before also, there are some candidates who doesn’t answer and…No, because…it’s, it’s…maybe you feel tired and if you are nervous already and then…No, but for me it’s really that the…the crowd, because how many crowd? Thousands watching you and then you are in front wearing…. sexy like in the swimsuit and then…no, only that one. The crowd who are shouting, yes, because they like you or maybe they don’t like you it’s like that. So, that’s why prior to the contest proper the candidates were trained to be, to face in front of the public, yeah.

What was your question when you were competing?

Köken Ergun

Do you remember in your competition where you were a contestant what was the question & answer?

What was the question they asked you?

Charlene James Dandan

No, I remember the question they asked me: what is the one thing that the Israelis must learn from the Filipinos? And what is the one thing that the Filipinos must learn from the Israelis?

So I answered with confidence that comes from my heart. Because in the question & answer is not really you will memorize or you will think or you have to research but it really comes from the heart. Because if it comes from the heart you can answer nicely. I answered: the one thing that the Israeli must learn from the Filipinos is our culture and particularly the characteristics. Because it is only one thing, so the one, so what I answered is about the character of a Filipino…a character of a Filipino which is common. We are hospitable, our hospitality. Hospitality in the sense, I make it a little bit shorter that…Because I will site an example. Like if we have a visitor comes from our country we really give importance, yeah. The hospitality Filipinos we show it….But what I answered that: the one thing that the Israelis must learn from the Filipinos is that we Filipinos give respect to the Israeli, we give to high regards to our visitors, we show our hospitality to all. Not only for Filipinos but also to our visitors coming from different nations, because that is the most important.

And then, the other one that what is the one thing that you learn from the Israelis, I said that…because I… it really comes from my heart, that I came from a very conservative…like this is the reason Binibining Pilipinas you are really a little….not so conservative but really defines the gesture of a Pilipina that you walk with voice, with elegance, like conservative..not like the other one that…like you know… Now it is really different, showing a lack of nations, like a little bit modern. But the real Pilipina is like our grandparents, our grandma. Yes it’s like that. Or, in short, really behaves. So, no. I said that at least in my life, that I am here in Israel already my…. being a conservative is not so…is a little…I am not so conservative already, at least a little bit…Not modern, or a little bit liberated. Not liberated, I cannot explain it, but not really the real one, that in the Philippines…Like really, like, I cannot explain how I will say it but: school, then finish school, go a house…like that. Sheltered, like you are sheltered.

Yes, and here there is a little bit freedom and maybe because my family is not here. But even my family is not here…maybe I am like this already because I am really conservative. Yes. That’s the reason I really like in the house. You see, now…oh look…I…

Köken Ergun

And tell me, you were the choreographer of all the production.

You did everything basically….it’s a lot of work.

Charlene James Dandan

No, because If it really comes from your heart, it is really your talent, you really want to share your talent you can do it.

Köken Ergun

No, ok, you can answer…

Charlene James Dandan

Hello, Maryln….

My friend they are calling me already, that we have to start our meeting. You see it is 8.05 and our meeting is eight. Yes, because you know that they will really take me in their apartment only outside, that they really…I make an alibi…

Choreography

CHARLENE JAMES DANDAN

No, the production number…When I made the beauty contest, the Binibining Pilipinas I had already an idea how I will do it, yeah. What I really want to show, in our words the sariling atin “showing our very own”, like showing the Philippines itself. Yeah, showing our culture in the Philippines, showing the different tribes in the Philippines and then showing how the Pilipina acts, how they will act and how they will carry their costumes. How they will dance and then how…just like that, yeah.

Köken Ergun

And how did you decide the set? There was some set, there were the visuals….

Charlene James Dandan

Actually if you will really meet the…it is really more, how you call it, a bigger space…you will show the stage, like…

The setting is more on the Philippines, the decorations, but it so happens, you know, the place is a little bit….

Köken Ergun

In this one there was just a TV screen showing Fashion TV…

Charlene James Dandan

No, it’s there already, it’s there already. I am not the one who made the decoration in the final, only the pre-pageant. But it’s not really my idea because if I will make a beauty contest in a bigger space…Look like now, the Binibining Pilipinas now is really planned, we have our meeting…Because we will do it in the Auditorium and it’s a big…thousands of Filipinos will come because it’s an organization already, it’s not…That one is only Bahay Kubu with me.This one is an organization put by one of the organization of the Filipino community in Israel. My friend, my friend, they will get angry with me already. I am so sorry my friend…it’s ok?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

TALKS ABOUT HER WORK AND GOD

At the house of Mrs. Shoshana Aurebach, her employer

Ramat Gan

March 2010

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

I am a simple Pilipina from the Philippines. I am Marylou Muga, with one good husband and three kids.I have been here for already three years, three years. So, last November 22, 2006. Thanks God, I have a good employer. My employer is Shoshana Aurebach. She is so good to me. She has three wonderful children and grand grand children so every time they came here we a have good times, we talk like this and they are very nice, they don’t gave me trouble.

I have a good condition here.

KÖKEN ERGUN

What are your conditions, working conditions? Can you talk about how you are…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

How is my working condition?

KÖKEN ERGUN

Yes, if you have off days, you know..

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yeah, I don’t have a colpest. This is my decision. But they allow me to go. If I want to go to the Mount Hermon, to see the beautiful things here in Israel they allow me. But for me, time is so important to me, so we come here to earn good money. There is a handsome dollars here in Israel and for the Filipino people Israel serves as the second home for the Filipino people. So we have a good opportunities here.

During Saturday she allowed me to take colpest from two to three hours like this I have one Filipini to look at her. So I take this opportunity but after that I came back again Saturday night. But I am not so sorry because even I don’t have a long time with some of my friends there, I don’t have some gimmicks that they call the…the gimmicks they sing and dance there and everywhere. They go to a good places in Tachana. It is ok for me because I spend my three hours in the magazine that I am working for.

KÖKEN ERGUN

We’ll talk about the magazine later but normally a Filipino guest worker in Israel they work six days a week and when is the holy day starting?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Ah, some of the Filipino people they start their day off Friday…Saturday…no, Friday night, Friday night, until Saturday night, like this. We have 26 hours colpest, or the day off, we have 26 hours.

KÖKEN ERGUN

This is in your contract…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

In our contract. So, we are so lucky because Israel gave us a good policy for the Filipino people. In the Middle East they are so envy with us…other people in the Middle East. They said to us that when they saw our Facebook, they saw the pictures that we can go everyplace, we can take pictures…Not all in the Middle East they have the…the permission to take pictures. Not like here. It’ s like a free country, we can wherever we want as long as there is someone who will take care of our employer. But we cannot leave the employer alone, we cannot leave.

KÖKEN ERGUN

So when you go…or when any Filipino guest worker takes the day off on Saturday and goes…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Saturday night

KÖKEN ERGUN

Saturday night

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

It is very important to everyone

KÖKEN ERGUN

To Tel Aviv. Who comes here to take care of the employer?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Sometimes the one who takes care of the employer is the children. There is one available to the children…there is one available. They’ ll look for their Ima. Sometimes they will get to the agency. The agency will give the reliever to the Filipino people.

KÖKEN ERGUN

So the agency will give somebody else for those, just for that 12 hours…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Sometimes five hours, four hours, three. But me only three hours that I get somebody from the agency.

KÖKEN ERGUN

I see

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Because we cannot get somebody without permission to work here.

KÖKEN ERGUN

And most Filipinos guest workers live in the house of their employer, right?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes. There are two types of work here in Israel. The one is you can live here, “live-in”. The “live-in” situation working for the employer. And one is from “live-out”. They are going to, you know Beit Avot? It is the home for the aged.

KÖKEN ERGUN

Beit Avot, yes. Yes, James was working there.

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Ah, James working for Beit Avot? Ok, they can go 7 am in the morning and after that in the afternoon they go out again.

KÖKEN ERGUN

To their houses…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

To their houses, like this. In Tel aviv. Most of the Filipino people live in Tel Aviv. Neve Schanan, Levinski... in Tel Aviv. Near in Tachana Merkazit. And Tachana Merkazit is the station, so all the buses is already there. So this is the safest, for us, this is the nearest and safest place for the Filipino people.

KÖKEN ERGUN

It’s because the Filipino guest workers work all around Israel…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes…

KÖKEN ERGUN

…and then they take the bus and they end up in the bus station

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Ok yes. Because there is in Ashdod, in Haifa, in Jerusalem...And you can find the bus or the sharut in Tachana Merkazit.

KÖKEN ERGUN

And do you go out on Saturday night to Tachana Merkazit?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes, I go out. Just to be situ and to report to the magazine that I am working in.

KÖKEN ERGUN

So tell us about your magazine. Show us your first….

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

I am so proud. We are so proud that we have the Pinoyna Babasahiin. it serves as the voice of the people, of the Filipino people. And this is a…you can find and read in this magazine the good stories of the Filipino people, the activities that we are doing in spite of working seven days a week…And we are so busy but we see to it that to give time in writing. And it’s good because many Filipino people, many OFW in every place of the world they are asking us: how you can do that? Because you are so busy, you are so working…But here is the deal: everybody is busy, everybody is so busy. It is so hard for us because if you want to make an interview with other people and how ‘s their life in the Balabait or in the employer they told to us “oh, we don’t have time” like this, “we are so busy”. But I am so happy. But the other people they are so good. They want to tell their stories so that you can get a moral lesson. They will inspire to other people…

I am so happy to write. This is my passion, I have a passion.

KÖKEN ERGUN

This is not the only Filipino magazine for the community, right?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

No, we have four magazines already here in the…. It’s good. But we have a good relationship. We are not fighting, we are not fighting. We have the only style in writing, there is a lot of good Filipino people, they have a good mission in life. It’s very good, it’s very good. So we are not fighting about the magazine, we don’t want….we are family here.

It’s so hard to be apart in our family but here what is good to the Filipino people, in every place that you go, you are family. We are big happy family here…we are family.

KÖKEN ERGUN

And how do you finance the magazine?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Ah, it’s good that we have a good financer. It is Miss Lotta. Lotta Gerbe is a Pilipina from the Philippines and she got married to a very good, very good Israeli named Moshe, Moshe Gerber. They are the ones who finance the magazine. And many people wants to support the magazine.

KÖKEN ERGUN

So your magazine is privately financed…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes, but we as a writer, we are free. We are free. We do this, we are writing the story, we want to serve the people…

KÖKEN ERGUN

Volunteering, you are volunteering.

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

We are volunteers here, we are volunteers. And it’s good because it is good that you can share the ideas and knowledge. You gave the good thing, you gave good stories to the people. Everything is already here.

KÖKEN ERGUN

There are some people here in Israel, Filipino guest workers, who cannot come to Tel Aviv so frequently and they must be feeling very lonely in their home. I know that now there is internet…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

There is a internet…

KÖKEN ERGUN

Does your magazine also serve the people who cannot come to Tel Aviv?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes, we are so thankful to the people who are supporting us, who are…And we have a people who send the magazine to the every place as here: in Haifa, in Jerusalem…so they can find this magazine. And it’s good because if you are not taking the day off you can read and it’s good that you are…You are travelling when you are reading. Even you are in the home: “ah you see this place…”. “Ah, there are some many good…a good things that the Filipinos…they have good activities.” It’s good, you can read.

KÖKEN ERGUN

And do you have…In one of the magazines, I’m not sure if it was in your magazine, there was an article about a Filipino guest worker who just arrived in Saudi Arabia.

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Ah yes…

KÖKEN ERGUN

Riyad…This in your magazine?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes, we have a contributing writer from Riyad.and from the… yes..

KÖKEN ERGUN

Can you tell us what she wrote about? Because that was very interesting

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes, it is about the life of…how to survive the three months in Saudi Arabia. Because in Saudi Arabia you don`t…there is no freedom for the workers, nakhon? There is a time that you can’t go out, you cannot go there easily…It is…there is a…Just what I said, there is a curfew in everything. You you cannot go there to buy like this...You cannot make noise. It is very strict in Saudi Arabia. You know Saudi Arabia it’s very strict.

So this is what you are thinking. You are living in the four corners of your room. How you can survive in this? You can see the desert like this. You only see the buildings. And there is a limit at time to see and mingle to other Filipinos. But what is good in The Saudi or like this… There is a places…you can eat to the Filipino restaurant there. There is a Jollibee….you are proud of promoting Jollibee. So we love Jollibee. So we saw in the pictures: “Oh you have already the Jollibee there, it’s good to go there. Sometimes we are making a joke that we want to go there just to eat in Jollibee.

KÖKEN ERGUN

So the first three months is the most difficult?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

It’s the most difficult. Specially when this is the very first time that you are living with your family. It is not like…Because in the Philippines we are…most of the people is working in Manila. All the good establishment is in Manila. All the good opportunities is in Manila. So we are living in the province, we are working in Manila. But not like here when you go to the strange foreign country. There is no many Filipino. Sometimes you are working with the India, Morocco, Lebanese. Different cultures, different races.

It’s so hard for us. But this is it, this is the deal: Filipinos is the most resilient and happiest person in the world. So we can easily mingle to other person because we have love for the people. We are the hospitable people, nakhon?…it’s so easy for us to mingle, it’s so easy for us to work with other people.

But surviving in the Middle East for three months it is the adjustment period. You will adjust to their policy there, the rules, regulations there. You will adjust for the food that you need to eat. You will adjust to the environment.

KÖKEN ERGUN

So, for example, maybe I will have an opportunity to show this to other Filipino guest workers in Lebanon, for example. What would be your advice for people who have just arrived in the Middle Eastern countries from Philippines.

What should they do for the first three months to be happy, not to be sad.

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Not to be sad…

KÖKEN ERGUN

Because you are experienced, you know, you can tell us about your experience and how…

Because you must be terribly missing your country, your family, your children. What is your advice to the other people who cannot come to big cities, who cannot read your magazine?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Ok, this is it. Before you go to one country, before you decided that this is it, you want to work to, for example, in a foreign country, you need to study first: how’s the way they live, what is the food that they eat, what like this and then, when you go there, what is the behavior of the people? You need to learn, you need to research. So that when you come here, you will not.. just like an alien in one planet, that you don’t know what to do. And you need to find also, you need to be friendly. Because this is…

Before I always cried. My first year…even a year, if until now. Because it’s so hard: a million miles away from your family? But what I did. It’s good that I can write this stories because all the boredomness in my life it lessens. You need to do the things that you want. I also…I have many habits, I love to cook. This is also helps me not to be boredom. And then, it’s only lately that I have internet but before I doesn’t have.

So what I mean, when you and your Ima got outside and make some litahiel you need to mingle to other person. Even it is a India or from Nepal, you need to talk to other people, it’s good. There are so many things that you need to do. It’s not only about reading. You have a television…Sometimes I cannot understand because I am not good in hibrit (Hebrew) also, but it’s ok, I see in the pictures, like this. And every time that you have to go…see to it that you have many friends here also. I don’t go our every time but even, even in my neighbours sometimes or they ask me, they love to talk to me when the children

So this is it. This is what you need to think; in times of hardship, in times of boredom, you need to think. In the Philippines you cannot earn a good money like this. Because for us many Filipinos who came here they finished their studies. They are teachers. Education is very important to us because for us we believe that education is a key to fight poverty.

Our country is very rich. Our country is very nice. We have beautiful lands, we have a wonderful people, we have the positive forces and values. This is what we want to…In everything that we do, we want to do it with love everything. We want to excel. But what we can do? You know that the economy…there is a crisis in economy globally, nakhon? What we can do? We as OFW are the one who save the economy of our country. Our remittances help the country. Until now we are fighting. This is what is good to the Filipino people. Even we go outside the country.

In every nations’ success there is a one Filipino behind that. We are working so hard. Even in the Washington…in the…the cook is a Filipino! The Chef cook is a Filipino!

KÖKEN ERGUN

Yes? In the White House?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes, you know Arnel Pineda? In The Journeys…

KÖKEN ERGUN

In Jordan?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

No, Arnel Pineda is now in the famous group…The Journeys, you know?

KÖKEN ERGUN

Like a music group? No, I don’t know, no…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes! You need to research this! There is one Filipino there. And then even the one...there is a lot of good singers in the Philippines. There is a lot of wonderful Filipinos in the Phillipines so…this is it. I am proud of being a Filipino but they told us why you are here, why you leave your family, it’s so hard. You have a good job there, why you are making poo poo? You know poo poo? Why you are cleaning poo poo?

You are cleaning all this things because there is many nurses here. There’s a dentist here. There’s a lot of teachers here in Israel. But because of our love to our family, we survive. We survive here in Israel. It’s no so easy to work here and even in many places. There’s no easy job. Even when you are eating is very hard also. But what you need is to patience. A lot of patience. And we need to ask the guidance of God.

This is very important: the guidance of God. You can do and you can walk in the right road, in the right way when you ask the guidance of God. This is the secret, how to survive. And how not to think or to do bad things. You need to ask the guidance of God.

Because this is it. Life is like…the cycle of life. It is ups and downs. There’s a happiness, there is a sadness. This is life, this is our life. But always believe that when you are in trouble, what is good to the Filipino people, in spite of trouble, or hardship…whatever that troubles it, we can still stand. We can still dance, we can still sing. This is because of our faith to God. We do believe that in spite of the hardship, of the trouble or the sufferings. There will be no blessings without the sufferings, this is what the Filipino people believes.

KÖKEN ERGUN

And I experienced this when I came here. And also with my work with the Turkish immigrants in Germany, believing in God becomes very very important. Specially when you are away from home.

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

From the family, yes. Because you will remember that good people will be blessed. Baruch hashem (“Bless God” in Hebrew). I am so blessed, I am so blessed. I can…thank you is not enough, thank you is not enough. But God is so good all the time. This is how we survive, because of God we can take all the trouble, all the hardship. It’s nothing, hardship is nothing for us.

KÖKEN ERGUN

Did you feel that since you came here you became more…going to the church…more religious in some sense?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

This is…when you are apart with your family, you are much close to God, be-emet (‘really’ in Hebrew)? And Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia. So, this is it. We have a strong faith to God. We are much…I can say that I have a good relationship with God…To all of us..even, just say, just say His name. Just say His magic name and everything will be ok.

KÖKEN ERGUN

Here I realize that many Filipinos, they go to church even on Saturday evenings...

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Saturday evenings. Friday evenings, Saturday evenings and there is also the Sunday.

KÖKEN ERGUN

But is this common in the Philippines? Go to the Church…

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes, in the Philippines everyday you can go to the Church. This is our life. Our life is going to school, going to the Church…we give time to everything. We are…

KÖKEN ERGUN

Here I saw the Filipino community sometimes go to Jaffa because the main churches are there? But some of them cannot go to Jaffa because it’s no so close, so they create new churches also?

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

New churches here. The Divine Mercy here in Tachana Merkazit. And there’s a lot of…There is, it is a big place but…the people, it’s very crowded. There are so many people. I think they need to put another one. But I don’t know it’s so hard also because it’s very expensive to make a church.

KÖKEN ERGUN

How do you make a chapel? Because some of them were in buildings, how do they do it? It’s not a Church architecture.

MARYLOU SULIT MUGA

Yes…it’s not a yeah. But as long as you can pray. This is it. As long as you can pray and there is a mass ceremony. It’s ok. Even in the stairs, the Filipino can… even you are outside. As long as you can read the homily, the good messages, the good messages from God, it’s good.

DODA LINA

IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT FIGURES OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN ISRAEL.
SHE ARRIVED IN ISRAEL IN 1988
SHE IS “TREASURER” AT THE FFCI (FEDERATION OF FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL)

DODA LINA
Doda. Because the name… …Doda Lina

KÖKEN ERGUN
Doda Lina? I thought you were Ate Lina

DODA LINA
Yes, in English…in Hebrew it’s Doda

KÖKEN ERGUN
Doda is mother? Mamma?

DODA LINA
No, it’s ante, tita, aunt…

KÖKEN ERGUN
That is exactly what I was going to ask you. Why do they call you aunt?

DODA LINA
Yes, because that’s in Hebrew: doda. It means tita, auntie.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Auntie?

DODA LINA
Aunt, aunt yeah.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And why do they call you auntie?

DODA LINA
Yes, because I am oldest here in the society.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So when did you arrive here in Israel?

DODA LINA
I think I arrived here in 1996…1988!

KÖKEN ERGUN
So that’s many years.

DODA LINA
Many years!

KÖKEN ERGUN
Were you married then?

DODA LINA
I was married in the Philippines but we were not married in Church, we just only lived there for …for…85’, 86’…for three years.

We were living in the Philippines and when I came here my husband was already here

So we got married here in the Church, in St.Anthony’s Church

KÖKEN ERGUN
In Jaffa?

DODA LINA
In Jaffa. That was in 1988.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And how was it then? Here, the Filipino community, were there a lot of people?

DODA LINA
In that time only few Filipino were here. A few…

KÖKEN ERGUN
And how did you come? Was it through an agency at that time?

DODA LINA
Before there was no agency. When we came here there was no agency. I have a sister in law, who was here

and she is the one who found the employer for me and then she sent us the visa and we could come here.

Yeah, but we had already an employer. But there was no agency yet. No agency…it was just direct hiring.

KÖKEN ERGUN
When did the agency start working?

DODA LINA
The agency I think it started in..I think in 1990 or 1992. Supposedly in 92’ the agency started but there was no agency fee yet.

No collecting of agency fee.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And you are very involved in your community here. Before coming to Israel were you also doing similar social…

DODA LINA
In the Philippines?

KÖKEN ERGUN
In the Philippines, doing social work?

DODA LINA
Yes. When I was in school during high school. I was already involved….

If there was a junior’s and senior’s prom… I was also officer in school.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And when you arrived here, did you start working on the social affairs immediately or did it take you time to start being involved in the community to do social work?

DODA LINA
No, no. Because the community only started, I think, around early 2000…2000, something like that.

So there was community yet, when I got here. From 1988 to 1990/92 the Filipinos here were very few.

I think there were not even 500 Filipinos here.

KÖKEN ERGUN
When you first came…

DODA LINA
Yeah.

KÖKEN ERGUN
How many are there now?

DODA LINA
Now I think more or less 30.000, more or less.

KÖKEN ERGUN
In one of the magazines for the Filipino guest workers I have seen an advice from a Filipino guest worker who has just arrived in Saudi Arabia.

And it was saying what to do not to feel lonely in a country where you are very new.

Here you’ve been so many years but you are one of the first people to come.

And there are some people that (maybe you were lucky because your partner was here)…but there are so many people who come here alone.

What do they experience in the beginning?

DODA LINA
In the beginning they feel homesick. But…we don’t keep that homesickness.

One month to three months or six months…it’s what it lasts to be homesick for the foreigners.

Because they separate from their families, from their children. So it’s a very big homesickness…you cannot imagine!

KÖKEN ERGUN
And once a Filipino worker comes here…they are not only coming to Tel Aviv.

Sometimes they are going to small towns which is not connected to Tel Aviv…

So…and six days of the week they are working there…So how do they get in touch with other Filipinos in the country?

DODA LINA
Before, before…Before it was very difficult because there was no cell phone, there was no computer before…

So you could get very desperate if you were in a place far away.

KÖKEN ERGUN
For example when you first came, not the first year but maybe the second and third year…did you get surprised when you met other Filipinos coming from other parts of Israel to Tel Aviv?

DODA LINA
Yes, yes…The Saturday nights, the day off nights.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So Saturdays is always a day off for every Filipino…

DODA LINA
No, some, some… If your employer is religious, Friday you’ll go out…Saturday you will come back.

But some might also go out Saturday and then Sunday come back.

KÖKEN ERGUN
There is always one day break…

DODA LINA
Yes, 24 hours was before, now they approved the 26 hours and I think now the agency will make it 36 hours.

But the employer, some of the employers don’t agree with the 36 hours.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And have you heard of many cases that some employer doesn’t want the worker to have any break at all?

DODA LINA
Yes, yes.

KÖKEN ERGUN
What happened then?

DODA LINA
It depends on you. If you don’t want to go out, the employer pays it. They will pay.

If the employer needs you for the seven days, so what can you do? So you will stay. But they will pay you for it.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And if something happens at home and the guest worker thinks they are asking her to work too much or if something happens and they didn’t pay, how does she look for her right in the situation?

DODA LINA
So first, before she goes to the agency and if the agency does not attend to this complaint so they will go to the Kav Laoved. So the Kav Laoved now is the one who will call the employer.

Now the Kav Laoved will speak to the employer. I think they are able to settle it also.

KÖKEN ERGUN
When I was in Lebanon, there was a big Filipino community there

and in Beirut I realized that there were shops where they were selling uniforms for guest workers.

So they were forced to use, wear uniforms at home, when they were working in their employers house.

Do you have anything like that in Israel?

DODA LINA
No, no. Here in Israel it’s different, even what you use they don’t say anything.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And which part of the Philippines are you from?

DODA LINA
I come from Bicol region, from Masbate, it’s part of Bicol, it’s in Luzon. Because the Philippines is divided in the regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. So we are from Luzon but it’s in the Bicol region. Region 5.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Region 5. And is the Filipino community here divided into these sections? Clearly divided?

DODA LINA
Yes, that’s why the organization is divided….If you are an Ilocano your association is Ilocano, just like the Iloilo tribes …that’s in Visayas region.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And, as far as I know, the accents of the language is also different.

DODA LINA
Yes, it’s different. Even me, for example, I am from Bicol, so I have also my own dialect.

People from Iloilo they have also their dialect. And the Ilongo tribe they have also their dialect.

KÖKEN ERGUN
But do they understand each other easily?

DODA LINA
No, no.

KÖKEN ERGUN
No? And how do you communicate? Sometimes with English?

DODA LINA
We communicate in Tagalong, the main language is the Tagalog.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And English is also an important language?

DODA LINA
Yes, the English in the Philippines is our second mother tongue. The first is the Tagalog and then the English.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And people, when they are speaking, they mix English with Tagalog? It’s normal also in the Philippines?

DODA LINA
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Also in the Philippines?

DODA LINA
Yes, yes, we call this Taglish.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Taglish?

DODA LINA
Yes, Tagalog- English.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Is this because of the American influence of the country?

DODA LINA
Maybe. Because in the Philippines…your children already when they are only three years old start to go to nursery.

So in the nursery they start to teach English. Since they go to the nursery the teacher already teaches them English.

Mainly, if you go to the private school. But in the public school not that much…Though in Grade 1 they start also to teach English.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And the popular culture is very important, Pop Culture, in the Philippines. And how important are beauty pageants in the Philippines?

DODA LINA
It’s very important.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Why is that? Can you talk about that?

DODA LINA
Yeah, because in the Philippines the television always shows a competition of a beauty contest…

To search artists, to search actress… they start from this competition to find actresses.

Like also, Aurora Pijuan …I think she is the first Filipino…Miss Universe. Aurora Pijuan.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So Philippines is very famous for producing Miss World…

DODA LINA
Miss Earth, Miss World….

KÖKEN ERGUN
But is it also related with trying to appear more modern?

DODA LINA
Yeah, we are following the culture of the US.

Automatically we are also adapting the culture of the Americans. .

KÖKEN ERGUN
And are the people in the Philippines criticizing this?

DODA LINA
No, no, only about the beauty.

H ere, it’s an open country. Even you if are not husband and wife, only girlfriend and boyfriend you can make out in the streets.

Kissing is not allowed in the Philippines. Doing that in the street, in the public…is not allowed, yeah.

They criticize. The old, the old…

KÖKEN ERGUN
Conservative

DODA LINA
It’s very conservative, yeah.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Being in this building we are in is the central bus station.

It was built as a bus station and it was built also as a shopping mall and mostly for all the citizens of the city, Tel Aviv.

But in recent years it changed and it became more the public space more for the guest workers.

DODA LINA
Foreigners, yes, for the foreigners. Because this is the center. The foreigners…the workers, the OFW go to the…go back to…

They come here from their employer’s house, from Netanya, and the bus station is here, so…And then it is also the business establishment for the foreigners…the one foreigners use.

Like there in the second, third floor, oh, fourth floor. They call this Avenida Avenue. You know what is Avenida Avenue?

It’s in the part of Manila. It’s a part of Manila, yeah, Avenida Avenue.

Because all the foods, all the things that we can get in the Philippines, we can get it form here now.

In this area, the fourth floor.

KÖKEN ERGUN

You were here before the Tachana Merkazit opened. The Tachana Merkazit…when did it open?

DODA LINA
No, this Tachana Merkazit started only…The war…the Gulf War was in 2000?…the Gulf War you remember, the Gulf War?

KÖKEN ERGUN
Yes…

DODA LINA
Was it in 2000?

KÖKEN ERGUN
1990…no, the Gulf War was 1989, 1989.

DODA LINA
1990

KÖKEN ERGUN
1990, yeah, so ten years old.

DODA LINA
So in 1990, I think they built this one.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So how was it in the beginning? Were there a lot of shops for the guest workers at that time?

DODA LINA
They just built it new. Because the Tachana before was there, the old Tachana. And there was not Tachana here yet.

So I think they built this before the Gulf War.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And when they built there were a lot of shops? What kind of shops were there? Were they for the Israelis or were they for the guest workers?

DODA LINA
No, it was like this already.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Really?

DODA LINA
Yes, it was like this. But the third floor…the fourth floor was not yet like it’s now.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So the more people came from The Philippines and other countries, then more shops opened for those people…

DODA LINA
Now they also open shops for the Nepalese, shops for the Indian…the Chinese. So little by little they built a new….

Because the Nepalese I think they arrived around 2004, 2005…2004 I think.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And now it’s really major headquarters for the guest workers, specially in Saturdays, in Shabbatz.

But is the administration of the building sometimes complaining about this? That there are so many guest workers here?

DODA LINA
No, no, no.

KÖKEN ERGUN
No? They have no problem?

DODA LINA
No complaining. But they have a lot of things that you cannot do. Like for example to smoke cigarette…

smoking cigarettes inside the Tachana is not allowed.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And what else is not allowed?

DODA LINA
To make dirt.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Garbage?

DODA LINA
Garbage, yeah…And they have a law that Friday at four o’clock this is closed. The Tachana is closed. At four or five, something like that.

KÖKEN ERGUN
When does it open again?

DODA LINA
On Saturday around four o’clock too.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And that’s when the guest workers come, shops open and the night clubs also open.

DODA LINA
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s the start of the foreigners enjoyment.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And at that time I also realize there are not so many Israelis in the Tachana…Saturday night or Sunday.

DODA LINA
No, because for the Israeli…as I heard, for them this is the place now for the foreigners.

KÖKEN ERGUN
They separated from…

DODA LINA
No but they are also coming here but not so many Israelis…

KÖKEN ERGUN
And you stayed more that ten years. Many people I talked to stayed at least more than three or four years, is this normal?

DODA LINA
Four and a half or five and half. Yeah, I stayed for more because I have only one employer.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Since the beginning?

DODA LINA
Yeah. If your employer dies and you are already four and a half years here they don’t want to give you…

KÖKEN ERGUN
A new visa?

DODA LINA
New visa. But if your employer is still alive, even until now, no matter how many years you have been here it’s ok. But only if you have one employer, and you don’t transfer to another employer, you can stay.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So if you have one employer it’s easy to stay. But if you transfer, every time you transfer they…

DODA LINA
No, if you transfer and you’ve stayed for two years…if you transfer…it’s ok. But if you have been already four and a half years here and you transfer, they don’t give you visa.

Even if your employer died at that time you cannot stay…unless your employer has a sister or other family

They can transfer the visa so you can stay more.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So that means all the people who are here more than five years, that means they are always with the same employer?

DODA LINA
Yeah.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Oh, ok, I see, I didn’t know that.

DODA LINA
If you are here more than five years and the employer dies you’ll become illegal.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And the other thing I am curious about is the female dominant community.

The Filipino community is very strong of females, of course because of the type of job, I think, because it’s caregivers.

And there are many single ladies here. Not all of them are with their husbands back in the Philippines.

And they are sometimes here for a long time.

DODA LINA
They are all maids, all maids.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Do they find themselves sometimes husbands from the Israeli community or do they tend to more stay inside the other immigrants community?

DODA LINA
Yes, some marry others…Some may marry Thais, Chinese men. They also might be friends with Israeli men.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And it’s easy to marry and Israeli as a Filipino guest worker?

DODA LINA
Yeah…if the Israeli marries you, they issue some papers so you can stay. But if you are only living with the Israeli, it’s nothing.

If you are an Israeli’s girlfriend and you don’t have visa and the immigration catches you. Your boyfriend cannot…

KÖKEN ERGUN
In Germany the Turkish immigrants who go there and who have a problem with the visa, they try to find somebody to marry:

a German girl or a German boy. And they get the Visa.

DODA LINA
But it’s easy. Here it’s very hard.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Ah, here it’s very hard? Why is it very hard? Because of the person not being Jewish?

DODA LINA
Maybe, I don’t know what is the reason.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So it’s not something that a lot of Filipino girls are trying to do for a visa?

DODA LINA
If the Israeli is divorced, he can marry again. So they will marry to this Pilipina girl and they will fix the papers at the Misrad Hapnim, so she will become an Israeli.

KÖKEN ERGUN
But if two Filipinos, a girl, a Filipino girl and a Filipino man marry here and have children, do they have the same rights as a married Israeli couple?

DODA LINA
Now the immigrants are fighting for this…fighting for their children. Because only once they gave immigrants (the temporary residence), only once.

Last…2005 I think, they gave immigrants from…ages of 10 above (the temporary residence).

KÖKEN ERGUN
What do they give them?

DODA LINA
The immigrants. The temporary residence.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Temporary residence . And now it’s…

DODA LINA
Now they are all fighting again but it’s…They don’t know if they will give it to them or if they will refuse it.

So that is why they are fighting now for this…There are one thousand...1200 families that are fighting for these rights. Yes.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So you are a leader of the community officially and unofficially.

I am sure a lot of people come to you asking for help. I am sure you are very experienced to give them advice.

What is the most common question for help you get from the young ladies coming here?

DODA LINA
No, the problems I am always asked for are only the financial. The financial and the assistance.

If there is a sick OFW and they want to go home, they don’t have money, they don’t have insurance for the hospital…

So they ask not only me…I am only answering this because I am the treasurer of the FFCI so…

So before I give the money, before I make a decision I will ask to the board if this is qualified to give, like that.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And how does the FFCI collect money from the community?

DODA LINA
No, the FFCI collects money…because having activities we ask for sponsors. So our major sponsor is the Western Union.

So the Western Union…

KÖKEN ERGUN
The money transfer company?

DODA LINA
Yeah. If we make an activity the Western Union asks us how much is the budget.

So we will…more or less we will say like this, like this…and then we will give the budget and the accounting papers to the Western Union.

An example of a budget is 7000 for an event, 7000 shekels for an event. So we ask them for 3000 dollars or 2500 dollars.

If they approve this they give to us that money. What the FFCI asked for.

KÖKEN ERGUN
What is OFW?

DODA LINA
It is Overseas Filipino Workers.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Ok, it’s a general name, term for all of you.

Yeah, It’s Overseas Filipino Workers

KÖKEN ERGUN
Ok, now, let’s get back to the man in the society. How do the man feel being so little in the community? Is this a problem?

DODA LINA
Yeah, that’s why there are three girls per man, that’s why they fight. But I don’t want…I don’t do this… it’s not my type.

KÖKEN ERGUN
But man also do care giver work?

DODA LINA
Yes, yes, also the men. Sometimes if the employer is very heavy, the woman is very heavy, they need a strong man to lift her. So they take a man.

KÖKEN ERGUN
The Filipino community here, do they 100% just doing care giving job or other jobs as well?

DODA LINA
Mostly, because that’s only the type of visa they give to the…Caregiver is the only qualified work here in Israel. Only to the caregivers they give a permit.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So you are not allowed to work as something else?

DODA LINA
Yeah.

KÖKEN ERGUN
But if, for example, you become very integrated to the society, Israeli society, and you want to open a business, is this possible?

DODA LINA
It’s impossible, it’s impossible.

Ruby, and other friends, can open a business because they are already temporary residents, they have already a temporary residence and that’s why they can open.

Also this restaurant.

Yeah, she has a husband who is Nepalese-Israeli.

KÖKEN ERGUN
I see, they cannot open themselves?

DODA LINA
You cannot open, if you are not an Israeli.

KÖKEN ERGUN
And is it the same for all the shops here? Are they all Israeli owners?

DODA LINA
Yes, with wives from the Philippines.

KÖKEN ERGUN
How do you rent a house here as a Filipino Guest Worker? Is it problematic or it’s easy?

DODA LINA
It’s easy. Before, in my time it was very easy because there were lower renting prices. Now it’s very expensive. Here in Tachana you have only one room in….

One room and salon, in the kitchen…you will pay 1500 shekels.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So that’s why a lot of people share the rent and they only sometimes use it for Saturdays

DODA LINA
Yeah.

KÖKEN ERGUN
So for paperwork to rent a house, can a Filipino guest worker rent directly from an
Israeli?

DODA LINA
No, there is an agency, there is an agency… agency of the apartments.

KÖKEN ERGUN
But do you know any…there must be some guest workers who have a free day on a Saturday but cannot come to Tel Aviv. There are some people?

DODA LINA
Yeah in the far places…

KÖKEN ERGUN
Do you know what they are doing in themselves?

DODA LINA
No, often they use computers…they are fan of computers…they use Facebook.

KÖKEN ERGUN
Thank you very much!

DODA LINA
Ok, thank you!!

SHORTLY AFTER THIS INTERVIEW DODA LINA RETURNED TO THE PHILIPPINES, AFTER SPENDING 22 YEARS IN ISRAEL.

2011-05-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

In every nations’ success there is a one Filipino behind that.

2011-05-07T08:13:00.001-07:00

MaryLou Sulit Muga, 2011

proud ...

2011-01-29T06:44:00.001-08:00

watching miss universe at home

2010-11-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

replay-binibining pilipinas israel 2009 - swimsuit competition

2010-06-30T04:05:00.001-07:00

replay-binibining pilipinas israel 2009 - national costumes

2010-06-30T04:03:00.000-07:00

Binibining Pilipinas 2010 National Costumes

2010-05-19T23:50:00.001-07:00

facebook profile of a binibining

2010-05-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

i rather chuz to be poor in reality dan being rich in fantasy...

The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI)

2010-04-14T02:35:00.001-07:00

THE FEDERATION OF FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL (FFCI)

The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI)

The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI) was founded on 28 April 2002 and is the umbrella organization of Filipino associations/groups in Israel. Represented by the Presidents of each organizations, the FFCI conducts sports and social activities for the Filipino Community. They also extend assistance to Filipinos in Israel on case to case basis as well as send donations to victims of calamities in the Philippines. To date, they have donated a number of classrooms to various rural areas in the Philippines through the Classroom Galing sa Manggagawa Abroad (CGMA) project of the Department of Labor and Employment. They spearheaded the “Sagip Kababayan” project to raise funds to help the victims of typhoons in the Philippines. FFCI’s other projects include medical missions for the Filipino community, sports and social activities, seminars and workshops in cooperation with the Philippine Labor Office, NGOs and other agencies of the government. They hold their regular monthly meetings at the Philippine Embassy conference room every third Sunday of each month.

OBJECTIVES OF THE FFCI

To establish and nurture harmonious and fraternal ties among Philippine nationals in the State of Israel;
To make appropriate and prompt actions/representations on all activities, projects, communications emanating from its federated organizations and members within the context of existing Israeli and Philippine society;
To coordinate and liaise between Filipino nationals and the Philippine Embassy on matters affecting the interests of OFWs in Israel ;
To assist member-associations in providing welfare services to their individual members in the spirit of mutual self-help, particularly those in urgent need of assistance.

THE FEDERATION OF FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL (FFCI)
c/o Philippine Embassy
18 Bnei Dan St., Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel: (972) 36.01.05.00
Fax: (972) 36.04.10.38
Duty Officer: (972) 54.46.61.188

LIST OF FILIPINO ORGANIZATIONS IN ISRAEL
(Members of the Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel)
ASSOCIATIONS
ASIAN LADIES – PHILIPPINE GROUP
ALPHA PHI OMEGA YSRAEL (APOY)
ASSOCIATION OF IGOROT MIGRANT WORKERS IN ISRAEL (AIMWI)
BICOL ASSOCIATION
BOLINAO COMMUNITY
COUPLES FOR CHRIST COMMUNITY (CFC)
EL SHADDAI COMMUNITY
FILIPINO ORIENTED GROUP
FILIPINO OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION (FOWWA-HAIFA)
FILIPINO PRESS CLUB
GOOD SHEPHERD COMMUNITY
IGLESIA NI CRISTO COMMUNITY - JERUSALEM
ILONGGO TRIBE
IN HIS CARE COMMUNITY
JESUS IS LORD (JIL)
KABAYAN KO MAHAL KO (KKMK)
KALIPUNAN NG LAKAS AT ADHIKAIN (KALAHI)
KALIPUNAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO SA ISRAEL (KMPI)
KAPISANAN NG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO SA ISRAEL (KAMPI)
MINDORENIANS
NEW LIFE MINISTRIES
PANGASINAN GROUP
PINOY ONLINE COMMUNITY IN ISRAEL (POCOI)
SAMAHANG ILOKANO
SAN LORENZO RUIZ COMMUNITY
TAO HOLY LAND
TARLAKEÑO ASSOCIATION
VILLA BACOLOR
VINCENTIAN

FFCI PRESIDENTS (2002- present)
Mrs. Linda Lucasan - St. Anthony Filipino Catholic Association ( SAFCA)
Mrs. Justina Sales - Good Shepherd Filipino Community Jerusalem
Ms. Anne Gonzaga - Jesus Is Lord Church - Worlwide Ministry ( JIL )
Mr. Allan Ustaris - Triskelion Alumni Org. ( TAO Holy Land )
Ms. Minnie Villanueva - Association of Igorot Migrant Workers in Israel (AIMWI )

please remain standing for the philippines national anthem

2010-03-26T02:46:00.000-07:00

miss congeniality philipinas israel 2010

2010-03-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

miss congeniality philipinas israel 2010

2010-03-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

photos by maya inbar

miss congeniality philipinas israel 2010

2010-03-20T08:07:00.001-07:00

miss congeniality philipinas israel 2010

2010-03-16T08:20:00.001-07:00

miss congeniality philipinas israel 2010

2010-03-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

Masquerade Ball Party

2010-03-16T07:53:00.001-07:00

Anna Liza Castro Pramis 16 March at 10:23
16 March 2010

TO: Sir/Madam,

We, the CANDELARIANS’ ORGANIZATION in ISRAEL (COI), cordially invite you to grace our Masquerade Ball Party on the 3rd of April 2010 at 8 o’clock in Bahay Kubo Disco Bar, Takana Merkazit, Tel Aviv. The party will be accentuated by the induction of first set of elected officers.

COI is the most recent organization formalized. We, the members, are truly honored to have known you in our short informal engagements.It brings pride to our roots as Filipinos.

We would like to request that you give us an inspirational spiel and hear your thoughts about how to move forward as an organization. Our mission and objectives are to: unite all Candelarians; maintain a harmonious and fraternal relationship among Filipino workers in Israel; conduct charity, humanitarian and social welfare projects for all Filipinos in Israel; support each other in times of wide-scale crisis or domestic adversities; create and promote ties with other Candelarians group established in the Philippines, and; engage in worthy recreational activities of Filipino Communities in Israel. Albeit the seemingly grand mission statement, the primary concern of this young and starting association would be the instillation in its members the concept of voluntary and altruistic service to Filipinos working in Israel without biases,provincial and regional discrimination.

Your presence will be highly appreciated and valued. We would be looking forward to see you there.

Sincerely yours,

ANNA LIZA C. PRAMIS EDGAR LAT
COI-V-PRESIDENT COI-PRESIDENT
FFCI PRO Mobile-0545296737
Mobile-0548830084
Email: babes_pramis@yahoo.com

Ps. 70 nis ticket consumable tnx ! by : babes pramis

rehearsals for the miss congeniality at the tachana merkazit

2010-03-10T00:41:00.001-08:00

the 7 candidates are rehearsing the 'production number': beyonce's all single ladies.

2010-03-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

jewellry joy and ate lina with the "promised land" book - tel aviv - march 2010

2010-03-07T05:20:00.000-08:00

a night out with the binibinings - tel aviv - february 2010

2010-03-05T11:14:00.001-08:00

a night out with the binibinings - tel aviv - february 2010

2010-03-05T05:29:00.001-08:00

a night out with the binibinings - tel aviv - february 2010

2010-03-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

a night out with the binibinings - tel aviv - february 2010

2010-03-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

charlene james dandan and co. out on a saturday night in tel aviv. destination tahana merkazit (central bus station).

Credits (to be placed at the end of the video)

2010-02-06T04:40:00.000-08:00

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009

- the most prestigious beauty pageant in the phillipines-

Charlene James Dandan – Founder, Organizer Binibining Pilipinas Israel Chapter

Marlyn Tabuga – Assistant Organizer

CANDIDATES:

Candidate no:1 Nancy Andres

Candidate no:2 Angelica Ursolino – Binibining Pilipinas Ambassador of Goodwill

Candidate no:3 Florie Libero

Candidate no:4 Annabelle Felipe

Candidate no:5 Maricel Cabarubias

Candidate no:6 Fiana Dianne Carillo – First Runner Up

Candidate no:7 Jane Deferia – Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009

Candidate no:8 Joy Jewelry Sukjai – Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2009

Candidate no:9 Mary Jane Yarcia Garcia

Candidate no:10 Maricric Makilan

Candidate no:11 Jocelyn Badua

Candidate no:12 Farah Jane Naguit

Candidate no:13 Maria Thesera

Candidate no:14 Evelyn Arellano – Second Runner Up

Candidate no:15 Bernadette Evangelista

Major Sponsors:

Orange Company [logo] Biggest Cellphone Distributors in Israel

Bahay Kubu Discotheque [logo] The Best Discotheque for Foreign Workers

Focal Magazine [ logo + cover of the binibining issue] One of the Leading Magazine for Filipino Workers in Israel

Filstar [logo] One of the Best Money Remittance in Israel

Wowowee Company [logo] Filipino distributor of Cellphones

Minor sponsors:

Photo Hakenyon The Best Photo Studio for Foreign Workers

Paris Boutique One of the Leading Boutiques In Israel

Allenby Boutique Provides Swimsuit to All The Candidates

Bayan Internet Café Computer Services and Electronic Devices

JUDGES:

Mrs. Ched Hachmon Chairman of the Board of Judges

Dr. Hadad Gonen Medical Doctor of Telashomer Hospital, Surgeon

Iran Tam Manager of Magen Agency, Agency for Foreign Workers

Ms. Sheli Look Model Agency of Israel

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009 - Party Dress

2009-11-09T05:44:00.000-08:00

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009 - Party Dress from koken ergun on Vimeo.

camera : elad larom

SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDATE !

2009-11-09T05:41:00.000-08:00

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009 - audience 1 from koken ergun on Vimeo.

camera : köken ergun

audience between acts at binibining pilipinas israel 2009

2009-11-09T05:37:00.000-08:00

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009 - audience 2 from koken ergun on Vimeo.

camera : köken ergun

THE BOOK

2009-11-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009 - National Costumes - excerpts

2009-11-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009 - national costumes - excepts from koken ergun on Vimeo.

camera : elad larom

THE BOOK

2009-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

Binibining Pilipinas Israel 2009 - swim suit

2009-11-08T11:18:00.000-08:00

binibining filipinas israel 2009 - swim suit from koken ergun on Vimeo.

THE BOOK

2009-11-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

draft for the book project - vertical pages

2009-09-05T01:35:00.001-07:00

draft for the book project - horizontal pages

2009-09-05T01:26:00.000-07:00

binibining philipinas israel 2009 - finals

2009-07-16T05:05:00.001-07:00

binibining philipinas israel 2009 - finals

2009-07-15T06:44:00.001-07:00

binibining philipinas israel 2009 - finals

2009-07-15T05:45:00.001-07:00

binibining philipinas israel 2009 - finals

2009-07-15T05:22:00.001-07:00

philippino independence day - tel aviv, 27 june 2009

2009-07-02T05:21:00.000-07:00

philippino independence day - tel aviv, 27 june 2009

2009-07-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

getting ready for the philipino independence day - tel aviv - june 2009

2009-07-02T05:02:00.000-07:00

getting ready for the philipino independence day - tel aviv - june 2009

2009-07-02T02:09:00.001-07:00

getting ready for the philipino independence day - tel aviv - june 2009

2009-07-02T01:59:00.000-07:00

binibining philipinas israel 2009 - semi finals

2009-06-26T02:12:00.000-07:00