My Kind Of Business

I’ve previously mentioned about my membership in 11 multilevel marketing companies and it is my pleasure to share with you the experiences I’ve gone through. Let’s see if this will make or break you!

Palibhasa’y may pera akong konti, my new-found friends here convinced me to invest in this shoe company. Mas maganda daw kung mag-3 headers ako para mas malaki ang kita at maging exclusive service center pa ng Baguio City. And to become one, I have to invest additional money for the start-up products. They promised to help me all the way, do the sales and marketing and most importantly put downlines in my power leg. Kasi, this is a binary system. With this kind of strategy, who am I to reject it? Gusto ko yatang kumita agad dahil di na nga ako nakabalik ng Korea eh. Kaya I rented a stall in the midst of the city for easy access to prospect customers, one month advance and one month deposit pa! The first two months is understandably have no visible signs of profitability. Pero ok lang. I’ve learn the know-how of the business and done my best to recruit members of family, friends, acquaintances and relatives. However, I’m doing this part time because I was studying too. And true to their words, my uplines and downlines manned the stall. I was not there all the time.

The problem begun when I noticed that there’s no income at all and we’re paying the monthly rental! Moreover, the powerleg (right) is going strong but the left leg remains as is with only two members, my cousins who are not doing the network (they are gov’t. employees). So since this is a binary system, I AM NOT GAINING ANYTHING except of course the % discount if I buy products which I rarely do.

Another friend offered a seemingly more profitable multilevel marketing that of personal and home cares. Again, xxx money was invested to have exclusive contract within Baguio City with the full support of the company. This has aggravated the problem with the binary because of conflict of focus daw! With this development, the binary leaders were leaving one by one until no one was left to help me. I was scared dahil hindi biro ang pera na nawala sa akin. Na-close na ang aking bank account!

Maganda na sana itong mlm na ito if not of the sulutan blues of members and worst, the non-compliance of the verbal agreement of exclusivity. Also, the changes in the marketing plan sucks. Some of my partners got products and up to this time have not paid them!

I said I have to be open-minded. So I jumped from one networking to another aiming to get even with my losses. Pero anong nangyari? Lalo na akong nasadlak sa dusa. Sabi nila, ang utang daw ay katambal ng negosyo. Heto na naman ako, with some of my business partners despite the discouragements of my sister, nangutang kami with 10% monthly interests. Diyos ko po! The cycle kept on and on …

… until AMWAY with NETWORK 21 came along - that’s Helping People Live Better Lives!

Join kayo? Just contact me, sa totoo lang.

Note: some of the 11 companies were classified pyramiding scams! Kaya ingat po kayo sa inyong mga sinasalihang negosyo. Consult the experts!

Sambayanan News

So as to reach out to Filipino migrant workers in Korea, we are including here some excerpts from the Sambayanan Newsletter.

BASIC LABOR LAWS

For workers under Employment Permit System

If possible, workers should not go away from the company without asking permission or without informing their employer preferably one (1) month before they will leave the factory.

Ø Running away from the company without permission can cause trouble and can cause negative impact on your fellow workers.

Ø It is important to terminate relationship in a good manner, and it could have good impact on other Filipino workers by doing such manner.

Ø Kung aalis po kayo sa kompanya, pumayag man ang amo o hindi, kinakailangan ninyong magsabi o magpaalam. Mag-report kaagad sa Ministry of Labor, Employment Security Center bago lumampas ang isang buwan.

Ø Ang mga tumakas po na hindi nagpaalam ay kinakailangang mag-report sa Labor Office sa loob ng APAT (4) NA ARAW. Para po sa assistance, tumawag lamang sa ating Philippine Embassy o sa Catholic Center.

Iwasan po ninyo ang tumakas. Kung may contract violations at pang-aabuso, makipag-ayos at piliting humanap ng solusyon.

1. Huwag po kayong matakot na maghain ng reklamo. Ang mga ito ay inyong karapatan. Hindi nila kayo maaaring ipa-deport ng dahil sa paghahain ng reklamo.
2. Hindi na po kayo pahihintulutang bumalik sa Human Resource Department (HRD)

RECOMMENDATION LETTER FOR E-9 VOLUNTARY DEPARTERS

1. Para po sa lahat ng mga kakilala ninyong Pilipino na umuwi at nakapagpadala ng “Recommendation Letter”. Sila ay hinihikayat na makipag-ugnayan sa Manpower Registration Division sa POEA at i-submit ang recommendation letter.

2. Hindi po kabilang sa bagong programa ng Ministry of Labor ang mga E-8 visa holders. Hindi po kayo maaaring magdala ng recommendation letter pauwi sa Pilipinas. Ang pag-poproseso po ng inyong mga papeles ay katulad din ng dating pamamaraan upang makabalik dito sa Korea
3. 
   
4. 
   
5. ATTENTION SA LAHAT NG MAY E-9 VISA

Para po sa lahat na may E-9 Visa, may tatlong tanging dahilan upang payagan kayong makalipat ng kompanya. Ito ay kung:

1. Kayo ay dalawang buswang hindi pinapasahod

2. Kayo ay pisikal at verbal na sinasaktan, o di kaya’y

3. Bankrupt o lugi ang kompanya

MGA IMPORTANTENG PAALA-ALA

Hanggat maaari ay huwag po ninyong pabayaan ang mga importanteng bagay na kailangan para sa inyong pagtatrabaho:

1. Pay Slip

2. Standard Labor Contract

3. Bank Book

KAILANGAN SA PAGPAPAKASAL

1. Birth Certificate
2. Status of Singleness from Census (notarized)
3. Parents Consent as proof of singleness (notarized)
4. Baptismal Certificate for marriage purposes
5. Confirmation Certificate for marriage purposes
6. Passport (xerox copy)

KAILANGAN SA PAGBIBINYAG

1. Birth Certificate
2. 2 x 2 picture (2 pcs)
3. Application Form
4. 10 A.M. Pre-baptismal Seminar at the Catholic Center

IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS

Philippine Embassy:
Labor Office 3785-3634/35

Consular Office 3785-3633

Hotline 011-273-3657

Philippine Airlines (reservation) 02-774-3581

Foreign Worker’s Labor Counseling Office
02-928-2049 / 924-2706

Mokdong Immigration Processing Detention Center
02-2650-6247

Hwasong, Suwon Immigration Processing Detention Center
031-355-2011 / 2

Chungju Immigration Processing Detention Center
043-290-7512 / 3

Filipino Catholic Center, Seoul
02-765-0870

The Klasmyts

They are a few of my LPN classmates. Super kalog talaga. Nakaka-enjoy to be with them. The doctor, the architect and the soldier are the pasimunos of our jammings. Parang di nag-aaral eh. At least, during these times of crisis, we found humor and happiness. I just love them all!

The Banner, My Hometown

It’s an amazing picture, don’t you think so? That’s just a portion of Barlig, Mountain Province in the Cordilleras. Our house can be seen at the right most part of the picture. Barlig might not be my birthplace but I spent all my childhood and teenage years here. All those times with great pleasure. Thanks God!

The Tanudan river is in between the crowded houses below the Catholic Church on one side and the Baptist and Spiritist Churches on the other side. The river is such a place where we spent most of our free times swimming. You can just imagine nakedness as a picture of innocence then (sad to say that no one is seen playing in the river these days because of the pollution from the hospital and of course, children are now aware of their sexuality). More often, we are scolded for being late in school after the lunch break because taking a dip in the river is so irresistible.

I could say that Christianity conquered Barlig. We may be still practicing some customs and traditions, no one can dispute that no Barligian is a pagan.

Can you see those two galvanized houses in the midst of the rice terraces? It’s a sore eye really. How my heart was broken upon seeing them for the first time after 11 years. If only I could do something to protect and preserve the landscape. (Any help?) The other rice terraces are located beyond the picture’s limits. Compared to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, ours is a majestic sight. It’s unique in structural designs aside from being stone-walled. How I wish many tourists will visit my hometown and see the difference. Anyhow, Barlig is just a two hour ride from Banaue. It’s worth the side trip!

(Thanks to Ms. Ayeona for the picture. I also used it for the 23rd Barligian Family Reunion 2005 in Baguio City programme cover sponsored by the Fikingas-Mandia Family. My apologies to my ever dearest webmaster Jun Torrano a.k.a freakish_alien, without his knowledge I changed the banner, eh?)

Kordilove Objective

Coming back home has its ups and downs. It’s Ups because I was able to see my kids, family and friends. How can I describe the feeling? No words could ever justify it until this time. The DOWNs? So frustrating that sometimes I like to rush back to Korea or wherever else in this world to sustain my daily living! Nakakainis talaga. Mabuti sana kung marami akong ipon and have invested wisely but the fact is, kabaliktaran. There are lots of opportunists too, offering you this and that. Kung gullible ka, papasukin mo lahat. (I know you know what I mean sa daming networking dito sa Pinas) Adding to this dilemma is the political crises. Economy is going down. Paano ito? If I focus myself in thinking what’s going to happen without action, siguro nasa mental na ako. Grabe!

Since I did not go back to Korea December 2003, I somehow burn my brows to engineering studies while doing a lil’ business. The business was bankrupt as soon as I started it. Blame it to little knowledge and wrong investment. However, this did not stop me to venture to other businesses. Thanks God, after 11 networking companies I have found this latest discovery truly dynamic (to be discussed in later updates). This is the end of my gallivanting searches and the beginning of a new challenge to lead a better life!

Initially, Kordilove is aimed to promote the beautiful people and places in the Cordilleras and Korea. However, as I am doing business which I know could alter lives, why should I not share it online, di ba? Kaya, don’t hesitate to criticize the format and contents of this site. Let’s make it better!

How Kordilove Got Its Name

Kordilove is basically derived from Korea, Cordillera and obviously Love. Isn’t it interesting? Well, this will surely arouse your curiosity. I’m a full-blooded Cordilleran who had the chance to work in Korea for the past 11 years. The span of time being away from home brought this enormous feeling of vast emptiness. Oh what a heck! But the indescribable bondage shared among the Filipino workers and their employers have eased the pain of boredom and loneliness. Worth mentioning too is the presence of various religious groups, particularly the Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community in Seoul and the Philippines Embassy that cater to the needs of these workers, TNT or not.

God’s Love knows no boundaries indeed. Wherever I am, I can feel His presence. Thus, Love is the epicenter of all the things I do. So that’s how Kordilove got its name.