US Demand For Filipino Nurses Still High: But RP quota for H1B visas used up

This is a reposted article from inquirer.net:

By Veronica Uy

INQUIRER.netFirst Posted 20:33:00 12/05/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Despite the global financial crisis and deepening recession in the United States, demand for Filipino nurses remains high, representatives of two recruitment agencies said Friday.

Philip Leonard, a British who chairs the St. Georges Recruitment International Inc., said representatives of the Maryland-based Cambridge Healthcare will be in the country in January to interview applicants for 600 vacancies for registered nurses, andphysical and occupational therapists to work in the United States.

Qualified applicants will work in emergency rooms, intensive care units/coronary care units, telemetry, and medical and surgical areas in health-care facilities across the United States, he said, adding Cambridge Healthcare is connected with 260 health-care facilities all over the US.

Leonard said those who will be hired can go and work in the US within three to six months "with H1B visas under a non-cap exempt status simply meaning that their positions do not fall under the retrogression period for H1B visas."

On the other hand, Ibaro Relamida Jr., lawyer of Sentosa Recruitment Agency, said that while the demand is "still strong, no visa is available due to retrogression." The Philippines has used up its visa quota.

"We are just waiting for the visas of 500 nurses with complete papers and approved petitions," he said in an exchange of messages with INQUIRER.net.
"Actually the health care service is one of the least affected in the US recession as per my clients," he said.

The statements of both Leonard and Relamida support Labor Secretary Marianito Roque's contention that the health-care profession is relatively recession-proof.

Last year, the American Hospital Association said more than 5,000 community hospitals nationwide have a need for 116,000 registered nurses. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also projected a shortage of more than one million registered nurses by 2010.

Leonard said that the demand is so high that aside from immediate departure to the US, selected applicants can enjoy the following benefits: relocation bonus, have their spouse and two children under 21 join them, 36-hour work-week in 12-hour shifts, "lucrative"over-time pay, US standard benefits and options and paid legal, licensing and testing fees.

He said the minimum salary is $48,192 a year or higher depending on the experience and qualifications of the selected applicant.

"Nurses or therapists with at least one year experience currently working or on volunteer duty and who have worked in a 100-bed capacity hospital are qualified to apply for the limited slots available. Those with NCLEX, IELTS, and NPTE passers are preferred but not required and the employer can assist on NCLEX, visa screen, state licensure, etc.,"Leonard said.

NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination; IELTS for International English Language Testing System; and NPTE for National Physical Therapy Exam.

Latest Update on Nurse Visa Retrogression (Dec. 2008)

Barrack Obama has been elected. Now what?

On his statement on the US Senate Floor in May of 2007 he said:
"Where we can bring in more foreign-born workers with the skills our economy needs, we should."

As the new US President formally takes office on January 20, nurses like me who are still counting on "the CHANGE WE NEED" campaign are waiting, hoping for positive news on the setback that's kept us from living the american dream: RETROGRESSION.

These are the recommendations from the CIS Ombudsman, released December 5, 2008:

• Schedule A nurse immigrant applications be expedited through separation and prioritization.
• One USCIS service center would be designated to process all Schedule A nurse immmigrant applications for more efficient processing.

The future of nurses seeking to enter the United States as immigrants may just be looking rosy for the year 2009. The fiscal year starts every October, so for now, let's keep our fingers crossed.


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WEAKEND NEWS

ramon bautista on palistuhan with francis m.

OUR CURRENT FAVORITE LATE NIGHT SHOW:)

The Weakend News

(the only weakend news na weekdays)

-hosted by Ramon Bautista showcasing the comedy in current events presented in the most satirical show I've ever seen on Philippine TV.

It airs every Monday supported by a wacky cast of reporters including cult favorite (and ours too), Mommy Elvie.

It takes on the issues of the past week, showing a parody of the news purveyed by government authorities and reported by the conventional news media.

CATCH IT @ 10. LAUGH YOUR HEART OUT.

I AM NINOY

I AM A HERO.

I do what I believe is Right.


I do what I believe is Good.


I fight for Justice.


I fight for Freedom.





I AM NINOY.

The year 2008 marks the 25th death anniversary of the martyred national hero Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. As a tribute, the Benigno S. Aquino Jr., Foundation (BSAF), together with friends and supporters, is presently holding a year-long celebration of his life and legacy through a campaign entitled: iamninoy.

The core message of the Campaign is the selfless giving of the best of ourselves for our countrymen and women and the advancement of the country as a whole.

The primary target audience of this Campaign is the youth who were either too young to remember Ninoy Aquino and what he stood for or were not yet born during that period. The Campaign hopes to engage the youth to learn about the values Ninoy stood for and to continue his legacy for generations to come.

This is my own little way of joining in on the cause, to help contribute to causes and projects that will enhance the welfare of the poor and marginalized Filipinos.

I AM NINOY. IF I'M NOT, THEN I WILL STRIVE TO BE.

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas

Ahh.. Christmas... The cool night breeze, the echoes of voices singing carols, the flickering glow of a thousand dancing lights. It really is here. Pasko na talaga.

I have always been one who seems to catch the Christmas fever later than everyone else. Coming from a big family, and later on marrying into a bigger one--- christmas meant giving gifts--- in bulk.

I just came to thinking that if last year was my All-Out Christmas, then this year, as an ode to the economic recession, I can have Hide-Out Christmas-- you know, having both Jap and I's godchildren OUTside while we HIDE.

First on my Xmas List would be my husband's wish list. In bed at night, he sometimes wonders (out loud) if it would be too much to ask if he pins an announcement on their TSU bulletin board that he wants an AMFMradio/alarm/digital clock as a gift from whoever picked his name at their KrisKringle. Not just any radio clock mind you, he says he'd write down specifics like the fact that the one he likes can be bought at the Abenson in Metrotown Mall. At a P300 exchange gift budget, I pity his Monita.

Next on his wish list is a new laptop. He says an Apple Macbook would do, or perhaps a Sony Vaio, or given no choice, a Hewlett Packard like the one we already have would suffice. He would walk around the room running a commentary which would go something like this:

Apple has released yet another stunning wonder----the Macbook Air. It is the thinnest laptop jampacked with great features while maintaining a slim profile. Air Laptop is equipped with a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4 MB L2 cache, 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 80 Gb 1.8 inch HDD . The Macbook Air also sports the Wireless connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11n standards along with the Bluetooth 2.1 A2DP!

At $1800 apiece, he would retract his offer on his more realistic days saying that buying matching Fossil watches would be nice.

My husband is only 25 years old, he however loves listening to the AM radio station as much as an 85-yr old retired grandpa. So when he learned about Sony Ericsson's first cellphone with AM/FM radio, he was sold at first glance. Check out the Sony Ericsson R300.

At just over a $100, I'm thinking that's more like it.

As for me, I know what I want to buy for myself this Christmas.

I have gone months stirring clear of sites with a mere mention of Harry Potter, covering my ears each time someone eagerly wants to share Book 7's ending.

Not that I've never had the g's to get me one before now, what with past NCLEX reviews, a new job, and now 3 subjects to handle I wanted to make sure I would enjoy the last book of the series without having to worry about anything else.

I believe now that I'm settled into my job and all, I deserve a good book like no other. Besides, J.K Rowling has a new series for eff's sake! The Tales of Beedle the Bard would have to wait until the effin Summer Break.

Now, if only they sold this packaged with EXTRA TIME to read included, I'd be in Christmas Heaven.

WINNERS OF BELENISMO SA TARLAC

"Belenismo sa Tarlac"-- The Art of Making Belen, a project highlighted by a province-wide competition that aims to showcase the artistic, social and religious significance of the belen, the symbol of Christ’s birth, through different categories has announced its winners!

The Belenisimo sa Tarlac 2008 winners were:

Grand Category (non-municipal division)

1st place Philippine National Police-Tarlac Police Provincial Office

2nd place Our Lady of Remedios Parish; and

3rd place Asiaten Hotel

The towering Christmas tree of the PNP-PPO with neon colored lights lit up the PNP’s Belen creation of indigenous materials such as dayami, bamboo, bamboo twigs, and talahib, all of which were gathered by the men and women of their police force from the 17 municipalities and lone city of Tarlac.

The bonsai angel used in their display was painstakingly cultivated by their Police Provincial Director, Senior Supt Rudy G. Lacadin. The huge star atop the Christmas tree was made in Gerona, symbolizing “God the Father,” keeping watch our beloved province of Tarlac.

DIORAMA CATEGORY:

Albert Dancel (1st place) for his miniature recreation of an eclectic pahiyas depicting thanksgiving for bountiful providence.

Ramon Espinosa (2nd place); and

USST (3rd place) who depicted unique floating belens in the pristine waterfalls.

MONUMENTAL CATEGORY:

Nay’s House (1st place)

Social Security System (2nd place)

Coco Grill Express-TSU (3rd place)

La Maja Rica Hotel (4th place); and

Magic Star Mall (5th place).

GRAND MUNICIPAL CATEGORY:

The Municipality of Victoria (1st Place)

Pura (2nd place)
Capas (3rd place)
San Manuel (4th place)
Moncada (5th place); and
San Clemente (6th place).

Victoria' Pasko sa Nayon was a spectacular live reenactment of how we Filipinos celebrate Christmas. It was presented with a unique historical Spanish ancestral theme reminiscent of Pinoy Christmas.

According to Tarlac’s beaming Gov. Victor Yap (who was named after Victoria town’s namesake), Belenismo in Victoria defines the local people’s way of life, an expression of their resiliency and humility and their simplicity of life in an agricultural community. Amid the trials and poverty, Pasko sa Nayon is an expression of thanksgiving to the Lord — a testimony that whatever comes, Filipino families are always grateful for providence.

The festive awards night of Belenismo 2008 coincided with the inauguration of the Maria Cristina Park on Romulo Boulevard in Tarlac City. The judges were unanimous in sharing the difficulty of determining the best because each belen was uniquely beautiful, utilizing various materials such as wood, cloth, cardboard, resin, abaca, old bottles, roofing sheets and plastic recycled from previous fiestas, corn husks, banana stalks, plastic capiz, and even old X-ray films from the nearby hospital! :)

Proudly pinoy, proudly Tarlac-made. Parang ako. (just like me)

Who Won Belenismo sa Tarlac 2008?

Here in Tarlac where I hail from, just a three-hour drive from Manila, the Art of Belen-Making is an ode, a loving testimony to the universal truth that Jesus was born so we would live. Belenismo sa Tarlac, now on its second year, is a Department of Tourism (DOT)- calendared event that started last year.

Belenismo in Spanish means the art of making Belen, a representation of the Nativity scene in which the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus) is visited by the three wise men who came to the manger through the guidance of a star.

“Belenismo sa Tarlac”, a project to transform the province of Tarlac to “Belen Capital” of the Philippines was launced by Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay, sister of former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., president of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation.

The project was conceptualized to help create an annual tourist attraction for Tarlac, develop a Belen-related cottage industry and, of course, preserve the religious importance of remembering the birth of Jesus Christ,” said Bautista Winners will be chosen in 5 categories --

personal, grand, monumental, municipal and diorama.

In the “personal” and “diorama” (closed Belen with three sides) categories, entries will be transported to the judging site and submitted by individuals.

In the “monumental” category, entries were life-size, while entries in the “grand” category are at least three meters high.

In the “municipal” category, participated in exclusively by municipal governments, the entries are larger than life-size.

The Belen Festival began in September 2007, with the first Belen-making workshop to Dec. 16. Sen. Loren Legarda led the awarding of 16 winners in 5 categories -- personal, grand, monumental, municipal and diorama. The Tarlac Police Office Belen, built by at least 24 policemen, won the first prize, Asiaten Hotel was second and restaurant Coconut Grill was third.

Last night, the Tarlac City Capitol staged an event featuring BrownMan Revival to commemorate "Belenismo sa Tarlac" which runs until January 6, 2009.

From the ones I've seen so far, the grandest and most creative would be the entry from the Asiaten Hotel seen along San Sebastian, Mc Arthur Hi-way Tarlac City. It features the nativity in all its' grandeur with a local twist using hundreds of ABANIKO fans, PAMAYPAY of all sizes, creatively stitched together into one awesome belen.

From a modern perspective, La Maja Rica Hotel's Belen tops the category featuring life size pictures of the nativity using metallic statues and modern costumes.

What do you think? Comments are welcome.