SA AMERICA

Diosdado Banatao is an Ilocano and Ibanag speaking engineer. He hails from Barrio Malabbac, Iguig Town, Cagayan Province in Northern Luzon Island, Philippines. He finished electrical engineering Cum Laude at Manila's Mapua Institute of Technology. A pioneer in graphics acceleration, he introduced the semiconductor industry's first single-chip graphical user interface accelerator which significantly enhanced the performance of today's PC's. This chip is now found in at least nine out of 10 PC motherboards. It was also Dado's genius that gave the world the first Ethernet controller chip that enabled computers to link up and to communicate with one another and the first chip set that significantly reduced the complexity of the personal computer. By the time IBM introduced the personal computer in the early 1980's, Banatao was already deep in chip technology research and experimentation. He immediately saw that the computer chip had to be redesigned to make it more compact and cheaper to produce. Under his own companies, Mostron and Chips & Technology, he developed the chip set for the PC that made the personal computer affordable to millions of people. He was also founder and past CEO of other computer-related multimillion dollar companies, including California's S3, Inc. which makes high-speed video chips. Never content until an invention of his could be made accessible to many, Banatao has had the satisfaction of knowing that the products of his genius continue to benefit not only Silicon Valley but also the Philippines and the rest of the world.
"I have lowered the cost of the computer, made it high performance. If you look at the names in the U.S. that have made a tremendous impact on the PC, I would be one of them," he said. When inquired by the Philippine Daily Inquirer about American business monopolies: "Do you think Bill Gates has learned his lesson or…? You think they'd easily give in?" His response was, "Not Bill Gates. He's a very shrewd businessman. He is plain good, that's why Microsoft is Microsoft. Microsoft is not successful by accident. They are very good! [Grins] His human side, I heard--because I don't interact with him--that he's not fun to be around with. [Laughter] Maybe he just doesn't know how to enjoy himself." Banatao flies his own plane, someting he learned right after college. He told the Inquirer, "I splurge on airplanes; I have one now and I have ordered a business jet and I'm about to buy a turbine. I splurge on very high-performance cars--a Porsche. I splurge on resort properties, like in Lake Tahoe and Sonoma, San Francisco." He is married to a Filipina, the former Maria Cariaga, an educational psychologist. The two have two boys and one girl. The eldest son is a future Ph.D. in bio-informatics, a combination of biology and computer science. The second son graduated in 1999 from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in material science. The youngest child is still at UCB.
Banatao's Contributions to the Computer Industry:1. First single-chip, 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator (while at Commodore in 1976)2. First single-chip MicroVAX for Digital Equipment3. First 10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS with silicon coupler data-link control and transreceiver chip; got 3Com into the Ethernet PC add-in card business (while at Seeq in early 1980s)4. First system logic chip set for the PC-XT and the PC-AT (while at Mostron in 1984 and Chips and Technologies in 1985)5. First enhanced graphics adapter chip set (while at Chips and Technologies in 1985)6. Pioneered local bus concept for PC (while at S3 in 1989)7. First Windows accelerator chip (while at S3 in 1990)8. Chips & Techs - acquired by Intel.

SA NEW ZEALAND

While in his early twenties as a civil engineering graduate of Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, Lito Banal started off as a private building contractor, creating a flourishing home-based business.
Were it not for the political instability (Marcos out and Cory Aquino in numerous coup d’etat attempts, etc.), and he, having to dealiwith both the ruling party and the opposition, Lito heeded to his mother’s prompting to leave his native Floridablanca, Pampanga and join his sister in New Zealand.
Determined to succeed and still single in 1988, it was not easy for Lito during the first two years in a new country.
But he braced himself for whatever opportunities to make more money than what he earned back home.” I was a cleaner, labourer in a winery, 277 supermarket man. I delivered TVs from a TV Rental company, and on week-ends would sell TVs at the flea market, getting more money than my boss!” he remembers.
Year 1990 must be Lito’s turning point in life. By coincidence, the guy he delivered a TV to, turned out to be owner of Davy Doors, who offered him a job. “After six months I rose to become estimator and, general manager of Roofmakers, also in South Auckland.
He again harks back to “hard work, self-confidence, determination, and dedication to your chosen field as the keypoints to professional success.
From 2002 when he became director/partner of Kiwi Roofing, his real business break was realized. As commercial roofing contractors, both partners expanded through successful negotiations and acquisitions of major commercial and industrial contracts despite the competitive construction industry. Production–wise in its specialized field, the business prides itself as one of the biggest in the country today.
His advice to new migrants? “There is always a church or an organisation you can contact and from there, move on.
“Up to you to make life easy. Life is about choices, not circumstances. If you have not discovered yet, create your own niche of opportunities! Step forward and help if you can. The intangible rewards of friendship and sharing are boundless.

SA SAUDI ARABIA

Ramon is proud of what he has accomplished and knows that he has helped his family survive a very difficult decade. When he came home over the recent holiday season, he brought many gifts (pasalubong) that were greatly appreciated and basked happily in the glow of familial appreciation.
However, Ramon's seeming success has come with a steep price tag indeed. He is estranged from his wife, and his children hardly know him other than as a quasi-mythical source of material sustenance. Ramon has suffered incredible mental anguish during his hard years overseas, experiences recurrent bouts of serious depression, and no longer believes in God. His most fervent dream is to return home to stay, but he is terrified of the economic implications. Even though his remittances have built solid houses for his parents and siblings, he hasn't saved any money to speak of and knows there are no jobs in Negros. Besides, he no longer feels that comfortable with his family or his children-strangers.
As he boarded the plane at the Bacolod airport for the hop to Manila and his inevitable rendezvous with the big jet plane back to Riyadh after the holidays, he smiled bravely and waved cheerfully to his family assembled outside the ropes. But as he settled into his seat, his bravado faded, his jackhammer-pounding heart was breaking, and an uncontrollable flow of torrential tears betrayed his pain.

SA AIRPORT PA LANG

By way of introduction, I am a sister of an OFW in Dubai who had been sponsored a visit visa by my brother to visit him there. Excited about the trip, checked-in at the NAIA on my scheduled flight, that’s May 14, 2005, CX 900 which was to depart later than scheduled which is from 12:30 to 2:55pm.
On that day, after checking in, I proceeded to immigration only to be denied a boarding stamp for the simple reason that I need to present a notarized affidavit of support from my brother. I was told that it has to be authenticated / notarized to ensure the validity of his signature which I countered that this can be seen in his passport copy. But the immigration officer was vehement in denying my boarding telling me to present the REQUIRED DOCUMENT.
I called my brother and he told me it’s not needed and that some of his friends there who had relatives here were permitted boarding with the same documents I had - a valid visa, valid passport, round trip ticket which is I believe are enough to let me exercise my right to travel. But the immigration officer was insistent on asking for the affidavit of support which I learned and upon checking when I went home that it is not a requirement.
I want to file an administrative charge against this woman, I have not gotten her name but should I be shown pictures of the immigration officers that time, about 1:00 pm, I would be able to pinpoint her. This is an abuse of authority. I have evidences to prove that the affidavit of support is not a requirement as my brother went to the Phil consulate following that event and he was told that it’s no longer a requirement.
Should there also be other similar cases encountered, i enjoined you to present your case so we can fight against this anomalies at the airport immigration. It was disheartening and disappointing to have to be offloaded because of certain immigration officers who abuse their authority.

SA AIRPORT PA LANG PART TWO

Alam nyo ba ang bagong “MODUS OPERANDI” ng mga kurakot sa ating bayan, nakakahiya mang isipin ngunit totoo. Sa bawat kababayan natin na umaalis patungong Dubai, may bagong patakaran at yan ay “SUPPORTING PESOS” kung tawagin, bukod sa mga papeles na hinihingi ng isang immigration officer, kapag ika’y magtutungo sa bayan ng Middle East partikular sa Dubai, may isang documento silang hinihingi at kapag sa palagay nilang ikaw ay bibigay, io-off load ka nila sa anong dahilan “KAKULANGAN SA PAPELES” ika nilapero sa iyong pagkaka-alam at ng taong nag-visit visa sa iyo ay tama ang papeles na ‘AUTHENTICATED BY THE EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES, ABU DHABI”, sasabihin nila na di ka makaaalis, hihingan ka nila ng sinasabi nilang mga papers na kailangan pa tulad ng ‘AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT’ ng sponsor mo, eh! itong mga Immigration officer ay napaka-tanga din, makahihingi ka ba ng affidavit na hinihingi nila kung ang visa mo ay from a company siguro naman di kaila na ang “COMPANY SPONSORED” on visit visa ay di makahihingi ng ganon sa dahilang di pipirma ang may-ari ng kumpanya at di basta-basta na mahihingi ito sa isang kumapanya lalo na’t malaking kumpanya ang pinang-galingan ng visa mo. Kapag nag-inquire ka sa Embassysa Abu Dhabi sasabihin nila na wala silang advise from Philippine Government na may bagong hinihingi, tama sila dahil kapag nagpa-authentivate ka ng papel mo, chini-check nila ito at kung hindi kumpleto di nila ito gagawin. Ang di ko maintindihan bakit ang Immigration sa ating bansa ay humihingi ng ganito ngunit di alam ng Embassy sa Abu Dhabi, ang gulo di ba.

O sige para maliwanagan ka sasabihin ko sa inyo kung ano ang papeles na hinihingi nila hindi ito isang papeles dahil nakaraming pages…mabilang mo kaya ang bundle ng 1,000 or 500 peso bill na may halagang 6,000 pesos at nakapaloob sa isang puting envelope, oo, tama ka yan ang tinatawag na “SUPPORTING PESOS”, nakaka-alarma di bah! biro mo ang dami nun para ma-check so ang gagawin nila ganito, i-detalye ko hah!;
1. pagpunta mo ng Manila airport, kumpleto ang papeles mo at alam mong o.k., not to mention authenticated yan ng Embassy sa Abu Dhabi
2. Pag-check in mo sa airport natin, may mga taong naka-abang at naka-radyo (alam mo na kung ano yon) tapos iche-check nila ang visa mo,di o.k. may original ka.
3. Pagdating mo sa airline counter, they will check your ticket and passport and they would ask for your visa copy or original, napakita mo na tapos pasok ka na sa Immigration para matatakan ng “EXIT” stamp ang pasaporte mo.
4. Eto na ang ikagugulat mo, che-chekin nila passport mo along with your documents at original visa, di meron ka non tapos yung AUTHENTICATED documents mo o.k. din, eto na may hihingin silang certain document na alam nila wala sa mga papeles mo, tapos alam mo susunod, sasabihin sa iyo na kausapin mo yung Immigration Supervisor, papupuntahin ka nila sa office nila at doon, doon mangyayari ang transaction; bale kahit anong paliwanag at maka-awa mo, umiyak ka man ng dugo, maghubad ka man, igigiit nila na di ka makakaalis at alam mo ba bakit! kahit na kumpleto ang papeles mo di ka pa rin aalis bakit kamo dahil sabi nga ng Immigration Supervisor na ito na may kulang; ano yon? eto magugulat ka na lang dahil tatatakan ang boarding pass mo na “OFF LOAD” di symepre MEGA gulat ka at yung iba iiyak pa, pero pag-labas mo may bubulong sa iyo sasabihin ano, eto “MAY 6,000 NA BOND” tanong mo para saan, eh! san pa di yan ang “SUPPORTING PESOS” kung tawagin, makaaalis ka lang kung may 6,000 pesos ka na kailangan mong ilagay sa white envelope and the next time you go, kailangan dala mo ang white envelope na may lamang6,000 pesos at eto pa ang sistema, may mage-escort sa iyo at bubulongan ka na kailangan pumunta ka sa opisina at iiwan mo ang boarding pass mo kasabay nito ang white envelope na kapatong ng boarding pass mo at sasabihin mo na lalabas ka lang dahil may nakalimutan ka at pagbalik mo ‘WA NA WHITE ENVELOPE” syempre di naman nag-magic yon kundi naitabi na at babalik ka at pipila ulit at itong KURAKOT na Immigration Officer ay kunwari pagagalitan ka pero panay naman ang tatak sa passport mo. Ayan o.k. na makakaalis ka na.

Di ba’t nakapanlulumong isipin na bukod sa tayo ng mga OFW ang tumutulong sa ating ekonomiya ay tayo pa ang nade-denggoy, hindi tama ito at marami na ang nabiktima, sino pa kaya ang susunod, alin pa kayang bansa ang susunod, sana matigil na. Isang paki-usap lang mga kababayan ko, wag kayong matakot na isuplong or mag-sumbong dahil tama ang ginagawa mo dapat mong kalusin ang mga gobyernong tiwali lalo na ang mga KURAKOT sa gobyerno.

Ito pa isang babala, kapag balak mong i-visit visa ang kamag-anak mo, sabihin mo na tandaan nya ang pangalan ng isang babae na may “BULONG”, sya ang bubulong sa iyo at mage-escort sa iyo, itsura nya eto, “MALIIT NA MEDYO MAHABA ANG BUHOK, MAY KATABAAN” At tandaan mo ang pangalan ngImmigration Officer, isa na dito si ‘JUSAY WINNEFREDO” May reklamo ng nakahain sa kanila ngunit kailangan pa ng iba pang katibayan para madiin sila, kung sa palagay mo isa ka sa na-denggoy nila, bakit di mo subukan na gumawa ng reklamo, oo, kailangan nila ng written at kopya ng passport mo, at huwag kang matakot dahil ina-assure ko sa iyo na di ka madadawit dahil magiging HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL ang reklamo mo.

Sinubukan na rin namin na ipaalam ito sa Mission X ngunit kailangan nila ng isang malakas ang loob na mag-reklamo at pumunta sa kanilang opisina ngunit syempre di natin magagawa yon sa dahilang nandito na ang taong nabiktima, pero sa paglantad mo, matutulungan mo ang kapwa natin kababayan, hindi tayo nagpunta sa lugar na ito at mawalay sa ting mga minamahal para bigyan sila ng pinag-hirapan natin, napaka-dalingnegosyo ang ginagawa nila and to what expense, syempre from the POCKET OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS” Ganon din sa ating Embassy, kailangan nila ng letter of complaint para makastigo itong mga GAGONG OPISYAL NG GOBYERNO.Huwag kang magtaka kung minsan mabiktima ka rin nila.

KAYA MGA KABABAYAN KO, MAGTULUNGAN TAYO PARA MASUGPO ANG MGA ASONG ULOLSA GOBYERNO, ANG HILING KO IKALAT NYO ANG E-MAIL NA ITO SA LAHAT NGTAONG KILALA NYO HINDI LANG DITO SA U.A.E. KUNDI SA MISMONG BANSA NATIN“PILIPINAS”.

SA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

He should have been retired a couple of years ago but the expertise and the distinct dedication to his work are the winning qualities that prompted the employer of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jesse James Atadero Agustin to request him to stay put and extend his contract with them. But the employer, the diligent Filipino national is referring to, is not an ordinary employer. Rather, it’s the government of Brunei Darussalam, no less.
A native of Iloilo City, the 56-year-old Civil Engineer humbly boasts of a 26- year- working- experience in the Sultanate country, with 22 years spent with the Ministry of Development, Road Department specializing in planning, design, cost estimate, project and construction management.
Unassuming but definitely brilliant, Mang Jesse, as he is fondly called by his colleagues and friends, worked for various construction firms in the Philippines before he decided to try his luck in Brunei. Soft-spoken and with a kind heart for everyone, his loads of job credentials shall speak for the caliber of the man: He is currently the Chief Technical Assistant, Road Department, Ministry of Development, B.S.B. Brunei Darussalam, former Project Manager, R.C. Gonzalez, Co., Inc., once a Superintendent, Commonwealth Pacific Consultant Ltd. Of Canada, Ontario, Canada and Capitol Industrial Construction Group, a Field Manager of Dimson, Manila and started as a Leadman at the Iloilo City Engineers Office in his hometown.
Specializing in roads, bridges, airport construction, tunnels, dams, irrigation and drainage structures, housing schemes, among others, he planned, managed, supervised the following projects in Brunei, flooding at Arabic Religious School, Construction of Kampong Mata-Mata and Kampong Serasa Resettlement Scheme, Construction of Mosque at Kampong Serasa Resettlement site. While at the home front, his competence is gleaned in various projects such as construction of Gataran to Appari Road and Magapit suspension bridge, Cagayan Valley, Construction of Marikina-Infanta Road, Supervised construction of Butuan Airport, among others. Indeed, a writer may even run out of words in describing the competence and expertise of this very well-rounded man. Literally, he does not only build bridges, he also assists in molding the minds of the young Brunei nationals Technical Staff by providing them the ropes of the trade.