Schedule for Philippine Consulate General in New York Saturdays 2017

The Philippine Consulate General New York will be open for regular consular services (except visa issuance) on Saturdays beginning 4th February 2017.

Fiesta of Señor Santo Niño de Cebu and Sinulog Procession at FilipinoTown Woodside NY 2017

READ MORE

[WARNING] 16 Months Undelivered Balikbayan Box & Charging 2nd Shipping Fee in Manila - RDR Cargo

OCT.2015 PACKAGES STILL UNDELIVERED

Package suppose to be for Christmas

FilipinosOfNY and many Newyorkers are warning Kababayans living in the East Coast to refrain from shipping your Balikbayan boxes to RDR Cargo if you do not want delays and paying another shipping fee when your boxes arrived your delivery address in the Philippines. I have personal experience of undelivered box with RDR. My used tv was picked up last October 20th 2015 by Rommel and up to this date, the tv has NOT yet delivered to the destination. I paid $120+tip for a used 46" tv (see invoice attached). Yes, it's been 16 months of agony. I keep calling but no one is answering their phone. I went to their office in Woodside NY and all I got is the same excuses with their 3rd party trucking company problem in the Philippines. I called my sister in Makati and she told me RDR Manila will not deliver the TV unless we pay another shipping fee. I've heard a lot of complaints with similar stories from our Kababayans in the East Coast. Today, while writing this blog my tv is still undelivered.

Anybody who read this, contact me at erickgomez@msn.com, let us all join together and file a class action lawsuit against this company. I'd been to their office in Woodside Queens more than 20 times and every time I go there I'm hearing complains from walk-in customers and some over the phone and the lady is telling different stories.

Watch ABS-CBN News => https://youtu.be/ndS7iLOmG7Y

Where to file complaints? (NY State)

• Philippine Consulate General
  Telephone: (212) 764-1330
  Fax: (212) 764-6010
  Email: newyork@pcgny.net
• NYPD - Telephone at (212) 825-5959 or 212-3-NYC-DOI;   Fax (212) 825-2504

            Writing a letter or visiting the NYC Department of Investigation
                Address: 80 Maiden Lane, 17th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10038
            Filing a complaint online by clicking here

• NY Attorney General's Office - https://forms.ag.ny.gov/CIS/consumer-complaints.jsp
• BBB - http://www.bbb.org/new-york-city/business-reviews/shipping-masters/rdr-cargo-express-in-woodside-ny-151087
• NYC Consumer Affairs - http://www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-complaint.page
• Federal Trade Commission - https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information?OrgCode=IRS#crnt&panel1-3

PHILIPPINES - DTI
Ms. Fatima B. Pacampara
Officer-in-Charge, Mediation Division
DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau
GF UPRC Building, 315 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City
DTI Hotline at 751-3330

RA 7394, The Consumer Act of the Philippines (http://www.dti.gov.ph/contentment/9/63/files/FILE273_001.pdf)

READ MORE

How To Find A Housekeeping Job in New York?

Discover the best way to travel to New York and around the world and get paid. Travel Rent-free as a house sitter anywhere in the world. save on accommodation costs as a housesitter. Housecarers has been securely matching homeowners with housesitters since October 2000. Pet owners save on boarding fees and pet stress with a sitter.

Would you like to become a housesitter in NYC? CLICK HERE NOW!

Are you looking for a Filipino housekeeper? CLICK HERE NOW!

Interesting Facts About New York

Filipinos in New York love to think they know everything about their city — where to find the best street-meat cart, how to avoid paying full price at museums, what route to take to skip traffic down Broadway. But New York City can reveal new treasures to even its most grizzled veterans. Beyond the city where we work, eat, play and commute every day lies a hidden New York: mysterious, forgotten, abandoned or just overlooked. I've compiled some of the hidden secrets of NYC.

New York is a large place with many things to do and it has a rich history which make it a great place to learn about and learn from. Before New York was a colony the area was in fact inhabited by two native cultures, the Iroquoian and the Algonquian people. Since the French first found the New York area in 1524 it has played a pivotal role in the history of the United States. Here are some facts about New York that we’re sure you’ll find interesting.

The National Museum of the Philippines: The future is today

Philippine Center New York invites you to “The National Museum of the Philippines: The future is today”. A presentation of updates on the programs of the National Museum of the Philippines by Mr. Jeremy Barns, Director.

Reception starts at 6:30pm on Thursday, 30 April 2015.

Philippine Consulate in NY offers workshops on Obama's Deferred Action

Watch Video

Since President Barack Obama issued his recent executive orders on immigration, Philippine consulates all over the United States have been reaching out to Filipinos who may be eligible for the much awaited relief through workshops.

Three components of Obama’s executive action apply widely to undocumented Filipinos, Consul Khrys Corpuz said at a workshop held Sunday.

They are the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA version 2.0, the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability or DAPA and the expansion of provisional waiver for three- or ten-year bar.

“They do not confer lawful status upon an undocumented immigrant, so you do not have status. They do not constitute an amnesty, and they do not constitute the much anticipated immigration reform law. They do not offer a path to U.S. citizenship,” said Corpuz.

DACA is a temporary immigration benefit for people who arrived in the U.S. before his or her 16th birthday and before January 1, 2010, regardless of their age today.

Modeled after the DACA program, DAPA provides deportation relief and work permits to the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents that have continuously resided in the U.S. since before January 1, 2010.

Their children must have been born on or before November 20, 2014 and must be physically present and out of status on November 20, 2014, as well.

The third category of relief is the provisional waiver which now allows spouses and children of green card holders and adult children of U.S. citizens to apply for unlawful presence waivers from within the U.S.

Previously, provisional waivers were available only to the spouse, parents, or minor children of us citizens.

Qualified DACA 2.0 and DAPA applicants may receive temporary relief from deportation and may be granted three-year renewable work permits if they pass criminal and national security background checks, pay taxes and filing fees and show proof of identity such as a Philippine passport.

“We know it takes a little while for the Philippine passport to be here. In other words, personalization process takes six to eight weeks so they better do it now,” said Consul General Mario de Leon.

Immigration attorney Chris Hugo said that now is the right time to get started with their applications by getting paper works such as proof of identification and past immigration records ready.

“It’s important because sometimes we are not aware that we have a pending file or application to the USCIS. It may affect the process. We should save our money for lawyers and filing fees,” said Hugo.

The USCIS may start accepting DACA applications as early as February 2015 and around May 2015 for DAPA qualified applicants.

Credit: abs-cbnnews.com

Balikbayan Box Season in Time for the Holidays

Above is the list of Balikbayan shippers located in FilipinoTown in Woodside NY. We compiled rates for easy comparison of our Kababayans. For not so familiar with Balikbayan box, A balikbayan box (literally "repatriate box") is a corrugated box containing items sent by Filipinos living in United States or other countries outside the Philippines (known as "balikbayans"). Shipped by freight forwarders specializing in Balikbayan boxes by sea cargo. Part of the attraction of the balikbayan box is its economic value, as it allows cheaper bulk shipment of items via sending each individually or in smaller boxes through postal services. The tradeoff though is longer transit time by container ship, which typically requires several weeks, along with the lack of a firm delivery date. The Balikbayan box is a modern manifestation of the general Philippine practice as being family oriented and generosity.

Funny Video

\

Informative Video

New York Summer Travel Guide 2014

View or download the 2014-15 New York State Spring/Summer Travel Guide CLICK HERE

It's happening now, New York is one of the world's most popular vacation destinations. Summer in New York State – watch nature come to life. Summer in New York opens a world of exploring and fun for the whole family. Relax at a charming beach, resort and parks or maybe you prefer a quaint bed and breakfast. Experience the beauty of mother nature’s spectacular display of trees with brilliant colors. Whatever season you choose to visit New York State there are countless exploring activities and fun for everyone.

Come out, play, and engage your mind, body and spirit in New York. 100 miles beach shore line, beautiful lakes, numerous rivers and streams, rolling hills, outdoor museum, farms, nature scenery and hiking trails, vineyards and wine trail are waiting to welcome you. See our suggestions for Must Do Tours to Take this Summer and Affordable, Family Friendly Summer Activities. Click here to view or download free guide.

5 Tips for Skilled Immigrants to Rebuild Their Careers in the US

When you are first planning your relocation to the U.S., finding a professional job isn’t as easy as you might think it would be. It is important to plan ahead for your relocation and job search. Upwardly Global recommends the following five steps after you arrive in the U.S. to help you plan for a successful job search.

1. You don’t have to go back to school. Your foreign degree is not only valid in the U.S., but it can be just as valuable as a U.S. degree. To show this to employers, you may want to get your credentials evaluated by an organization such as World Education Services or Globe Language Services. While there are some instances where continuing your education might be worthwhile, it’s not always necessary, and a credential evaluation could be just what you need.

2. Create a U.S.-standardized résumé. Résumés look different all around the world, but having a résumé that is formatted in the American-style is an important first step. In the U.S., a résumé is a critical tool to communicate who you are and is often the first impression you are able to make. Therefore, it is important that your résumé include specific facts, figures, and numbers about your accomplishments. Upwardly Global’s résumé template can help you start creating an American-style résumé.

3. Join an ethnic professional association. You have probably heard the advice of joining ethnic professional associations, but fail to follow the advice. Joining ethnic professional associations is more than just adding a line in your résumé. By joining ethnic professional associations, you will be able to build connections in your industry, find mentors, and learn about job opportunities. Some ethnic professional associations offer e-newsletter subscriptions, which will keep you up-to-date on current events and industry trends affecting your professions. In addition, some associations also offer certifications that are required or recommended for your job.  A list of minority and women member-based professional organizations can be found here. A list of minority professional associations based on ethnicity can be found here.

4. Gain U.S. jobs experience through volunteering. One of the obstacles for career reentry for immigrant professionals is a lack of U.S. experience. Most U.S. employers like to see that you have U.S. work experience and often will not hire people who do not have U.S. work experience. Volunteering or internship opportunities offer you three benefits: 1) ability to update your résumé with U.S. experience, 2) ability to learn or develop a new skill, 3) ability to get U.S. references from that volunteer position who can speak to the quality of your work. Check out VolunteerMatch for a list of volunteer opportunities in your area.

5. Get the necessary support. For skilled immigrants who recently moved to the U.S., trying to understand the U.S. job market and find a job in your field can be a daunting task. There are several organizations, including Upwardly Global, that offer job search support and the opportunity to connect you with professional jobs in the U.S. Visit the websites of the organizations that offer these services and try to find out if their training program fits your need. Getting the right support will help you understand the U.S. job search market and help you secure your dream job.

Upwardly Global, founded in 2000, is a national, award-winning nonprofit organization with offices in San Francisco, New York and Chicago. Upwardly Global helps work-authorized, skilled immigrants, refugees and asylees rebuild their professional careers in the U.S. by providing professional job-search training and access to employers with global talent needs. Annually the organization coaches more than 700 professionals, with a goal to coach an additional 500 participants through our Online Program this year. We engage hundreds of volunteers and partners with a growing list of more than 400 companies to assist skilled immigrants to re-enter their professional field. For more information about the organization, including how to re-license in the U.S and to apply to Upwardly Global training program, please visit www.upwardlyglobal.org.