Start Your Own Business-PTIC Advises OFW

Becoming a businessman is a culture that Filipinos were not born with. In most situations, especially for those who were raised in the provinces, the primary means of income that most parents would want their children to have is from bachelor degrees that are attained from universities most commonly in the field of education, seafaring, accountancy, engineering, IT and medical care. Incidentally, these were also the fields where most Filipinos are very much in demand abroad and consists the majority of Filipino Migrant Workers. Once a daughter or a son gets a job overseas, the family already considered that the financial situation has already been taken care of.

Overseas Jobs are not forever

Working abroad is a sure way of having a stable income for Filipino families but it can also be a problem on a long-term basis. Once a Filipino Migrant Worker looses his job or something untoward happens, the means of financial sustainability of the whole family collapses, leading from one problem to another.

Netherlands bullish over India's booming market

As India emerges as an economic force to be reckoned with, the Netherlands is moving in to capture a slice of the action with both governmental and private ventures.

India is rapidly emerging from its reputation as a mere outsourcing destination for Western companies seekinglower costs. With a market proportion, huge work force and economic growth that can rival that of China, India is swiftly establishing its position alongside economic superpowers.

In the first half 2009, India's economy posted a growth of 6.1%, while the AsianDeve'lopment Bank (ADB) projects growth of 7% for 2010.

Wout Biegstraaten, Business Development Manager for the Internationaal Ondernemen en Samenwerken (Agency for International Business and Cooperation) believes now is a good opportunity for "Dutch businesses to position themselves quickly and powerfully on a rapidly growing, very competitive market with distinctive knowledge, products and services."

Bisperas ng Pasko

An announcement blared from the invisible speakers just as I reached the station from work. It looks like I am going to stay out in the cold for another 20 minutes, waiting for the train going to the province of my in-laws. Together with my boyfriend, they are the only family I will be celebrating the Christmas with. It is zero degrees and the wind is blowing. I just lost my gloves few hours ago and my coat is only good for autumn. I still haven’t learn how to dress for the cold. This is my first winter.
The gifts are lying near my feet; two paper bags and a book beautifully packed in gold wrapper with intricate laces. Few compared to the number of presents I would be preparing had I been at home. But these cost almost the same as I have allotted for the presents for at least 20 relatives in the Philippines.

I wanted to buy that leather boot they have on sale in the boutique near my office. The pair is a gorgeous reddish-brown, knee-high and very warm. It is the perfect winter boots, my feet would not be wet and cold again from walking in ankle-deep snow. But the price would cover the month’s rent, electricity, water and noche buena. I decided to be a good daughter and send most of my money to the Philippines. Family comes before personal necessities, especially during occasions like Christmas. The balikabayan box must be filled and no one should be forgotten. This is a responsibility that a Filipino migrant can never escape, that I happily obliged to.