Pinoy Migrant Workers (OFW) - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 4

kiretoce

December 20th, 2006, 08:41 AM

NEW TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS MONEY CHEAPLY AND EASILY: Using text message to send cash
By Jeremaiah M. Opiniano

Of all the telephone text messages from the United States that Analiza Mostera receives in the Philippines, few can be more welcome than the ones that say, "You will get your remittance.''

Those messages have arrived each month since her sister-in-law in Santa Clara, Glory Gagarin, began sending money through an innovative service that allows customers to transfer cash by telephone.

Developed by the Philippine wireless telecommunications giant Smart Communications, the system of using text messages to transfer cash now delivers at least $50 million a month to families in the Philippines, according to a report by Washington-based lender International Finance Corp.

Much of that money is sent home by Filipino temporary contract workers in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Singapore. But dozens of Bay Area Filipinos also use the service, which is quicker and cheaper than sending money through traditional international bank transfers or by Western Union.

"It has been fast and reliable, and our money gets there -- that's the bottom line,'' said Gargarin, a quality analyst for a medical device company in Santa Clara.

Gargarin and her husband, Julius Dy, have used the service, called Smart Money, for more than two years.

How it works

Every month Gargarin goes to the Santa Clara office of Dollar America eXchange, a money-transfer firm under contract with Smart Communications, and fills out a remittance form. On her latest visit, she wanted to send $170 to the Philippines, and was charged $8, the fee for sending amounts up to $500. To send amounts from $500 to $1,000, the maximum allowed per transfer, the fee is $12.

Minutes after DAX's system encoded Gagarin's latest transaction, sister-in-law Mostera received the text message telling her the remittance was on the way. The message included Mostera's 16-digit Smart Money card number.

Mostera then activated her Smart Money debit card account using her mobile phone. Moments later she received a text message telling her the money had been electronically loaded onto her card.

With the transfer completed, Mostera was free to withdraw cash from her card at ATMs at more than 10,000 locations throughout the Philippines, including many malls and McDonald's restaurants. Across the country, more than 3 million Filipinos subscribe to various Smart Money services and are therefore eligible for the debit cards, which can also be used to make purchases.

Because Mostera lives in a small city about 230 miles southeast of Manila, she had to take a bumpy bus ride to the provincial capital Legazpi City to reach the nearest ATM. She also had to share with Gagarin the messaging costs, which added $1.21 to the $8 transfer fee. Still, for her and many other Filipinos dependent on remittances from relatives working abroad, text-message transfers are cheaper and more convenient than the alternatives.

David Landsman, executive director of the National Money Transmitters Association in New York, said the text-message money transfers represent "the evolution of the stored-value card technology.''

The Philippines was an obvious place for the evolution to occur, given the huge popularity of text messaging there and the large numbers of people who receive regular remittances from abroad. According to bank data, nearly 8 million Filipinos in more than 100 countries sent nearly $100 billion home over the past 30 years.

Smart Communications is not the only company to offer an alternative to the traditional banking and money-transfer channels. Smart's chief rival, Globe Telecom, also has a text remittance product called Globe G-Cash, which is expected to enter the U.S. market next year.

While convenient and inexpensive, text-message money-transfer systems have come under scrutiny as possible conduits of cash for terrorists.

The Paris-based money-laundering watchdog Financial Action Task Force took notice of the technology in 2005 when the Philippines was still on FATF's list of Non-Cooperating Countries and Territories. FATF regarded the transfers as a high-tech version of the hawala, the often unlicensed global financial system that's reportedly a channel for terrorist money.

But Vicente Aquino, executive director of the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council, said the text-message transfer technology complies with rules against money laundering because "it tracks the sender and the recipients.''

cheersmate

December 21st, 2006, 02:29 PM

PNB UK is charging £3 for remittances till end of the month.
usual charge is £5.

Animo

December 22nd, 2006, 11:21 AM

By SHEILA CRISOSTOMO
The Philippine Star

A group of Filipino nurses in the US expressed apprehension over the chances of the nurses who passed the controversial June licensure examination to get jobs in American hospitals.

Rosario May Mayor, president of the Philippine Nursing Association of America, said reports of cheating in the board examination might jeopardize the chances of the June batch for employment in the US.

"The possibility of a blanket denial during visa screening is there," Mayor said.

The visa screen certification is issued by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools to nurses as part of the requirement of the US Homeland Security program.

CGFNS announced last Oct. 26 that the commission is studying if the June batch of nursing board passers in the Philippines will be eligible to take the CGFNS test so that they can qualify for employment in the US.

The CGFNS website showed that last Oct. 22 and 23, its Board of Trustees met and "considered whether the Filipino nurses who have passed the Professional Regulation Commission’s June 2006 nursing licensure examination are eligible for Visa Screen Certification."

The commission wanted to know "whether the licensure process was followed in the light of the challenged results of the June 2006 test that is comparable with the requirement for nurses licensed in America."

The Philadelphia-based CGFNS is an "immigration-neutral, non-profit organization and it is the internationally-recognized authority on credentials evaluation pertaining to the education, registration and licensure of nurses and other health care professionals worldwide."

CGFNS accepts applications coming from the June batch but final decision on the Filipino nurses had been deferred.

Mayor said while the nurses could take the National Council Licensure Examination, they will not get immigrant visas "due to the failure to comply with the visa screen requirements."

She said the PNAA supported the retake of the controversial board exam to minimize the damage done by the leakage controversy in the June examination.

Mayor said that if she were an examinee, she would have taken the licensure test given by the PRC this month instead.

"I am saddened by the fact that it has to come to this. The decision made for them (June batch) is destabilizing," she said.

She started working as nurse in the US in 1971 but in 1986, she become involved in hospital management.

At present, she is the director for Performance Improvement at the Department of Veterans Affairs in The Bronx, New York and also a member of the New York State Nurses Association.

She said the Philippines is still a primary source of nurses for the US but if the country’s nursing education would not shape up, India would soon take the edge.

Mayor said they have "anecdotal records" in the US that many nursing students in the Philippines are not getting good training and experience primarily because of the lack of hospitals where they could practice nursing.

"Nursing schools in the Philippines have become a ‘money-making’ venture of certain owners," she added.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration clarified that only local recruitment agencies are authorized to recruit and deploy Filipino health workers to Spain.

POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz said that under an agreement with the Spanish government, only Philippine-based and licensed recruitment agencies are allowed to deploy Filipino workers in Spain.

"In our memorandum of understanding with Spain, the point of hiring and issuance of entry visas and work permits are exclusively in the Philippines," Baldoz said.

Baldoz said there is a modest demand for Filipino health workers in Spain following the signing of agreement that provides for the hiring of Filipino workers with degree in medicine, physical therapy and other related fields.

She said adequate work experience and proficiency in Spanish language are required for all applicants.

Baldoz made the clarification amid reports that agencies based in Spain and other countries abroad are recruiting Filipino caregivers from Israel and other countries to work in Spain.

"Job placement websites that lure Filipino workers into Spain and a certain Fil-Service agency are illegal," Baldoz said.

She said under Spanish law, recruitment fees are limited to the equivalent of the worker’s one-month salary and can only be collected upon issuance of entry visa and work permit by the Spanish Embassy in Manila.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=59069

ThisFire

December 22nd, 2006, 11:32 AM

They're feeling threatened or jealous now? They're so jealous!!!

kiretoce

December 27th, 2006, 07:58 PM

Merry Christmas, lah!
By Moje Ramos-Aquino Thursday, December 28, 2006

When I came back from a foray into a regular market here in Singapore, my son asked me how many new Filipino friends I made. I shook my head and said that I have been trying to spot them yet even after six days here.

Indeed Filipinos have the talent of a chameleon and more, lah. Until they speak in Filipino and in that loud manner, it is difficult to tell a Filipino from a local. They easily blend with the surroundings, lah. They take on the culture of the obtaining environment, lah. They acquire the accent and speaking habits of people around, lah. My son Adrian has been here for six months and when he speaks to the locals at the shops, he sounds like them, lah. Thus, we are able to get discounts on our purchases, lah.

Actually, there is no or very little bargaining because they quote you their last price. What you do is hop from shop to shop until you get an acceptable price. Electronic goods are definite bargains here compared to Manila, but everything else is expensive. One big plus is the clean restrooms in all malls with tissue paper aplenty.

Singapore is, indeed, very impressive. The infrastructures—physical, language and culture—are in place; thus, it is very convenient and comfortable to work, live and vacation here. What is more impressive is their attention to details. The nooks and crannies of Singapore are as well kept and tended as are the major visible areas. And Singaporeans are instructed to be nice.

I am pleasantly surprised at how Singapore celebrates Christmas in both spiritual and commercial levels. The emphasis is on “giving.” My son says Singaporeans are rich and are getting richer every day; thus, maybe, they want to pay back and what is more appropriate time than Christmas.

Singaporeans do seem to understand and imbibe the spirit of Christmas. The Good Shepherd Cathedral was jampacked during the midnight Mass. We noticed that the majority of churchgoers are Indians. There is no telling who are the Filipinos among the faithfuls, unless they speak in Filipino. There are lots of other nationalities too.

Hmmm, if Christmas is good for tourism and business, why don’t tourists come to visit the Philippines instead?

In Bangkok, although you hear Christmas carols all over the place, the Thais don’t really know what Christmas is. They see it as just another high point in their tourist arrival index and, therefore, mean more business. They are devout Buddhists.

“There are Christmas lanterns in some individual abodes and beautiful Christmas decor in big malls here in Singapore. There are all sorts of giant Christmas trees, even a pink one. They even have Christmas brochure entitled Blessing under a Star: Celebrate Christmas in Singapore.

Dr. Chen Tat Hon of Singapore Tourism Board writes, “Christmas is celebrated in a big way in Singapore. Visitors can enjoy the festive cheer together with local residents in celebration of this special season. Christmas in the Tropics has indeed become a huge draw for visitors. It attracts more than a million visitors from all over the world each year. One in five visitors surveyed last year said they had specifically planned their trips to coincide with the year-end festivities and 22 percent were repeat visitors. Orchard Road and Marina Bay transformed with festive street lightings and picture perfect opportunities for everyone to remember that special Christmas moment in Singapore.”

Rev Oh Beng Khee, chairman of Celebrate Christmas in Singapore says, “As Christians, Christmas is a celebration of God’s gift to man, the birth of Jesus into this world to die for everyone’s sins. Christmas brings forth this great and joyful news.”

Aren’t we the only country in Asia predominantly Catholics? The much ballyhooed Christmas street in Mandaluyong has deteriorated into one tiangge place with Christmas as an excuse for its being.

Again we are beaten in our own game, so to speak.

kiretoce

December 27th, 2006, 08:13 PM

Filipina maids get salary hike

DOHA, QATAR -- In a move to ensure better living conditions for Filipina housemaids working overseas, the Philippine government has imposed a cent per cent hike in their minimum salaries.

Any overseas employer who takes a Filipina housemaid is now required to pay a minimum salary of $400 (QR1,460 approximately) per month, instead of the earlier $200 (QR730 approximately).

With the new hike, the Filipina housemaids in the Gulf, including Qatar, are supposed to claim the highest salary, compared to their counterparts from other Asian countries.

An official from the Philippine embassy here told The Peninsula yesterday that Philipine authorities have taken various measures to ensure that the employers as well as the recruiting agents are sticking to the government regulations.

The government will endorse the job contracts for housemaids only if the required conditions are fulfilled, the official said.

There is also a strict monitoring on recruiting agents to prevent any violation of the rules. The agents can be held responsible if the housemaids, recruited through them, are denied the facilities promised in the job contract.

The authorities have already started implementing the new salary structure, the official said.

Asked if the hike had caused a decline in the number of Filipina housemaids being recruited to Qatar, the officials it was too early to assess the impact.

He noted that government has been trying to discourage Filipina women from taking jobs as housemaids outside the country. Filipinas still form a major chunk of the housemaids working in the Gulf, while the remaining come from countries like Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka.

The Indian government has already fixed QR900 as the minimum salary for housemaids from the country.

The Indian ambassador Dr George Joseph told this newspaper yesterday that there was no proposal under consideration to increase it further.

He, however, noted that the government or the embassy had no effective mechanism to ensure that this salary scale has been strictly implemented. Even if it was mentioned in the job contract, it can be violated by the employers. In most cases, the embassy will come to know about it only when it receives a complaint from an affected housemaid.

If there is a contract endorsed by the embassy, the issue can be taken to the court and the housemaid would get compensation. But she would be forced to leave the country, since the employer will never agree to retain her in the job, he noted.

Gulfan Affero, First Secretary at the Indonesian embassy said, the Indonesian government, two years ago, had raised the minimum salary for housemaids to QR650 for fresh hands and QR900 for those who have more than two years experience in the field. The government has also made it mandatory that all job contracts involving housemaids must be endorsed by the embassy.

kiretoce

December 27th, 2006, 08:18 PM

In Israel, Filipinos nurture the Christmas spirit
By SHOSHANA KORDOVA Religion News Service

JERUSALEM -- Jo Anne Gonzaga, a petite 40-year-old migrant worker from the Philippines, considers herself blessed to be living in the Holy Land. But this year, she will be spending Christmas taking care of her elderly employer while her husband and three teenage daughters celebrate the holiday back home.

Before Gonzaga left her life in the Philippines seven years ago, she viewed working in Israel as a chance not only to make money for her family but to personally acquaint herself with the Israel she had only read about in the Bible.

But like the estimated 35,000 other Filipino workers in Israel, Gonzaga discovered that in the modern Jewish state, Dec. 25 is just another day on the calendar -- one that comes and goes with scarcely a string of lights or a Christmas tree.

Back in the Philippines, starting in September, "the city lights are glittering already; the shopping malls are full of the blinking lights and the spirit of Christmas," Gonzaga said. "I really miss that. Here I don't see lights; I don't see like what I am seeing back home."

The pronounced absence of a Christmas spirit in the land that gave birth to Christianity is at least in part a reflection of the size of the Christian population in Israel. Census figures from 2000 show that the Filipino population here is 93 percent Christian, but Christians make up just 2 percent of the Israeli population, according to data from last December.

The streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv -- which attract most of the Filipino workers in the country, the majority of them female caregivers -- show little sign of the impending holiday, yet some pockets of Christmas preparations can be found.

Several Filipinas, for instance, spent a recent day off browsing items such as a Santa Claus doll playing a saxophone and a silver tabletop tree inside Tel Aviv's sprawling central bus station, which also functions as a mall and a haven for foreign workers.

Helen Rosario, a 26-year-old caregiver from the Philippines, said the display reminded her of the festive traditions back home. "Why don't you have Christmas trees here?" she wanted to know. Rosario has Christmas Day off -- as do many Filipino workers in Israel -- and plans to spend the day at church and eating a holiday meal with friends.

"It's sad because we don't celebrate [Christmas] with family members," Rosario said. Switching to the Hebrew she has picked up in her 16 months in the country, she added, "No mother, no father, no grandfather, no grandmother, no sister. Just friends."

In Jerusalem, about 50 Filipinos gathered at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, a church and pontifical institute, on the first Sunday of Advent for an extended day of pre-Christmas worship. Some attended a Mass that opened with the Filipino song O Hesus, Hilumin Mo (Oh Jesus, Heal Us), while others participated in a Bible study session conducted in a mixture of Tagalog and English, where a preacher exhorted his listeners to "watch and pray for the day of Jesus Christ's return."

The Rev. Angelo Ison, a Franciscan priest who was born in the Philippines and has been living in Israel since 1991, said Filipina workers in Israel tend to be troubled by loneliness and insecurity in the run-up to Christmas. Many -- like Gonzaga, who sends home $600 to $700 every month to pay for her daughter's nursing school -- have left their children behind in order to give them better lives. Ison calls it "the martyrdom of the Filipino mothers who are here."

But though the workers in Israel will largely be apart from their families on Christmas, that doesn't mean they will be celebrating it alone.

Busloads of Filipinos will head to Bethlehem for Christmas Mass at Jesus' birthplace; Ison estimates that 3,000 attended last year. In Jerusalem, there will be house-to-house Christmas caroling. Across the country, friends will get together over rice, pork and vegetables, and Filipinos will be calling home -- or at least sending cellphone text messages if the lines are busy.

Even those who will be spending their Christmas working will still have a chance to celebrate. Gonzaga is president of the Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel, an umbrella group bringing together 17 Filipino social organizations. Her group is planning a Christmas party in a Jerusalem restaurant for the Saturday night before the holiday.

Christmas in the Holy Land often revolves around the here-and-now of modern Israel. But thoughts of absent children and countrymen in distress are never far away, on Christmas and every day.

Said Myrna Lowie, a caregiver who has been here since 1994, "I have to provide for my kids."

stlito

December 27th, 2006, 10:31 PM

In Israel, Filipinos nurture the Christmas spirit
By SHOSHANA KORDOVA Religion News Service

JERUSALEM --

The Rev. Angelo Ison, a Franciscan priest who was born in the Philippines and has been living in Israel since 1991, said Filipina workers in Israel tend to be troubled by loneliness and insecurity in the run-up to Christmas. Many -- like Gonzaga, who sends home $600 to $700 every month to pay for her daughter's nursing school -- have left their children behind in order to give them better lives. Ison calls it "the martyrdom of the Filipino mothers who are here."

Hey where did you find this article? The Rev. Angelo Ison is my dad's youngest brother. What a small world.

kiretoce

December 28th, 2006, 12:05 AM

^^ I just Googled the word "Filipinos" and clicked on the "News" tab. :colgate: Yeah, it's even a much smaller world than we think online in cyberspace! :lol:

sugarboy

December 28th, 2006, 12:40 AM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun01.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun02.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun03.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun04.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun05.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun06.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun07.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun08.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/hksun09.jpg

stlito

December 28th, 2006, 02:00 AM

^^ I just Googled the word "Filipinos" and clicked on the "News" tab. :colgate: Yeah, it's even a much smaller world than we think online in cyberspace! :lol:

Cool. Thanks! I'm going to email him and give him the link to the article. I saw him on CNN a few years ago when they were doing a story on the path to Golgotha.

Lili

December 28th, 2006, 02:38 AM

sugarboy

December 28th, 2006, 02:50 AM

this was taken around the area of Queen Victoria St./Connaught Road.

i agree. there ought to be some social hall of sorts. then again, there are so many of them that it would require about 6 separate venues at the least.

Bo B

December 28th, 2006, 05:05 AM

^ Where particularly in Hong Kong is that @Sugarboy? I wish HK will provide a proper social hall for the Filipinos to conglomerate every Sunday so that they wouldn't have to be sitting on the floors of sidewalks like that.

I don't think that the Chinese would even consider putting up a place where the Filipinos could CONGREGATE. It is not our land and there are just too many low income expatriates to provide for if they set a precedent.

stlito

December 28th, 2006, 08:40 AM

heathcliff

December 28th, 2006, 10:08 AM

bitoy

December 28th, 2006, 10:30 AM

^ Where particularly in Hong Kong is that @Sugarboy? I wish HK will provide a proper social hall for the Filipinos to conglomerate every Sunday so that they wouldn't have to be sitting on the floors of sidewalks like that.

In HK, Taiwan and Singapore, Filipinos usually congregate around the public parks and malls. Some have big associations or community groups.
Those scenes from the pictures must be some new hangout for ofws, medyo madami na nga siguro or the park area is too cold for them right now. I heard some Catholic and Christian churches offered their halls for them where they hold their parties or special occasion gatherings.
Minsan lang kami sumalampak with some Pinay foreign workers in Hk for some chit-chats, nakakatuwa ang mga experiences nila from getting out of the Philippines thru working with their non-English speaking employers.
(kasama na run yung pag bad mouth nila sa mga nagpapasuweldo sa kanila) :lol:

Wag kayong magalit sa akin, pero tutoo ito, medyo maraming masama ang ugali ng mga OFWs that we met on that area. I would not elaborate, but you just imagine their attitude in Pinas and most of them carry it overseas.

kiretoce

December 28th, 2006, 03:03 PM

I saw the same type of Sunday gatherings in Singapore.

I rememebr that I saw a lot of them on Orchard Road on Sundays, or at People's Park. :colgate:

renell

December 28th, 2006, 05:01 PM

hard to relate to the US-based filipinos. different situation here in Australia. The fact that there is a labor-shortage in some skills here but still is largely ignored in favor of North American countries is disappointing, at least that is what I kind of see.

so where be the aussies here?

kiretoce

December 28th, 2006, 05:29 PM

TV offers new Alaskans a portal to life left behind: Skits in Spanish and talk shows in Tagalog part of foreign-language programming
By JULIA O'MALLEY Anchorage Daily News December 28, 2006

What's on TV tonight in Manju and Raj Bhargava's Turnagain living room?

If it's about 8 p.m., most evenings, the longtime Alaskans are settling in for a half-hour dose of "Kasamh Se," a Hindi soap opera.

"No matter where we are, we rush home to watch," Manju said.

"Jai Walia is the main character," she said. "He is such a hunk. So good looking, so tall. A threat to all the husbands."

The show's on the Zee Network, one of two Indian satellite channels they subscribe to. It's among many foreign-language channels gaining popularity in homes across Anchorage as the number of people moving here from other countries grows.

The Bhargavas, who own an engineering firm and are originally from Delhi, can't wait to see what will happen when Walia's wife finds out he's the father of her sister's baby.

"He is torn between the two sisters," Manju fretted. "What is he going to do?"

Advances in satellite television over the last five years, coupled with demographic trends, are changing what people are watching in Alaska's largest city.

Some foreign-language programming is available on regular cable (GCI has added Korean and Filipino channels in the last two years), but a wider array of channels is now available via satellite. New technology means dishes can be smaller and cheaper to install. That, combined with the increase in Alaskans from other countries, means a growing number of people like the Bhargavas are changing the channel to watch news in Italian, soaps in Spanish or talk shows in Tagalog.

Nearly 1 in 11 people in Anchorage was born outside the U.S. and that number continues to grow, according to the U.S. Census. That's a new niche for television companies, said Jason Gardner, who owns The Satellite Guy, a satellite television retailer with two stores in Anchorage and two in Hawaii.

Gardner has been actively courting the foreign-language market for several years. His store on Spenard Road and Fireweed Lane, in the center of Anchorage's Korean business district, broadcasts its international offerings in fluorescent letters across several panes of glass. His company has installed satellites in scores of ethnic restaurants and bars, which builds word of mouth in immigrant communities, he said.

"You've seen a dramatic increase in people inquiring about it," he said.

Gardner estimates about 25 percent to 30 percent of his customers subscribe to foreign-language television. That was unheard of five years ago. The product sells itself, he said:

"When they see it, it's all over. ... When they see their television broadcast from wherever they are from, they know they are going to get it."

To install a satellite dish could cost anywhere from nothing to $500 or $600, he said. Foreign programming is commonly about $20 a month on top of the regular package, which starts at about $20 monthly, Gardner said.

Dish Network and Direct TV, the two largest providers of foreign-language satellite programming, carefully guard their subscriber numbers and wouldn't say whether they've seen growth in the Anchorage market for foreign-language programming.

"Let me put it this way: We wouldn't be offering these services if it wasn't to our benefit," said Heather Black, a Dish Network spokeswoman.

Carmen Peralta, who runs a child care business out of her East Anchorage home, subscribes to a package of satellite channels from across the Spanish-speaking world. She can watch news from Chile or Spain. There's even a Chinese channel dubbed in Spanish. Her favorite shows come from her home country, the Dominican Republic.

On a recent night, sitting with her daughters, she pointed out live shots from Santo Domingo, blocks from where her family lives. What does she like most about Spanish-language television? The tone. Latin American TV, especially morning and evening entertainment shows, are rife with raucous physical comedy, crazy skits and rapidly zooming camera shots.

"They project happiness," she said.

Park and James Olson, a middle-aged Mountain View couple, took in the news recently from South Korea, Park's home country. In between broadcasts, a Korean rap video came on from the group B-Side. Young rappers in oversized T-shirts bounced in candy-colored classic cars fitted with hydraulics. James, who doesn't speak much Korean, prefers Korean television.

"Less violence, less sex, less blood," he said. "I get tired of all the garbage on American television."

Park, who was cleaning a tobacco pipe on the coffee table, said Korean television coaxed her out of a depression. Watching television from the country she left years ago eased the isolation she felt because of language and cultural challenges in the U.S. On the screen she found people she could relate to, she said.

"This help a lot," she said. "No think about stress."

Drew Pineda, 21, helps his parents run the New Fil-Am Market, a Filipino grocery and video rental in Midtown. He wasn't born in the Philippines, but he learned Tagalog in part by watching Filipino shows on cable. Many of his customers speak Tagalog and his language skills are invaluable.

He often watches "Pinagmulan" ("The Journey Home") with his grandma on Sundays. The reality show, on a cable channel he gets through GCI, is about American Filipinos returning to their home country, a dream of many who've immigrated here.

He never misses "Wowowee," a popular Filipino trivia show where a wacky host and his decked-out female co-hosts give away thousands of pesos. He watches it with his daughter Angelina, 2, to help her learn the language and see where her grandparents came from, he said.

"Even though it's a Third World country, I'm proud of my background, my heritage," he said. "(Watching Filipino TV) helps me with my business, it helps me with my lifestyle, it makes me connected to my culture."

tigidig14

December 28th, 2006, 07:51 PM

^bomtarat tarat

kiretoce

January 3rd, 2007, 05:52 PM

Where Filipinas Hold Up half the Colony
By Jun Ilagan, January 03, 2007

HONG KONG – In the last three of her six years working and living in this former British colony, Maggie has spent her Sunday time off from work running her manicure-pedicure business at Statue Square in Central Hong Kong.

Business is brisk, as usual, at her “nail salon,” which occupies no more than two square feet of concrete amid the sea of Filipina OFWs scurrying to and fro or enjoying fun time huddled with friends on the pavement. Maggie’s shop is big enough to accommodate her nail care kit and the stool on which she sat from across her customer perched on the edge of the concrete plant box.

Nearly a dozen more businesswomen to her left and right are in position, too, all tending to the fingernails or toenails of their kababayan. Like Maggie, they are unmindful of the cacophony of songs, blaring radios, guitar music, animated chatter, and guffaws that are all but dull for the estimated 80,000 to 90,000 Filipina domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

“They all look forward to Sundays, and it is this anticipation that keeps them charged with energy throughout the week at their workplace,” says Amor Servanda, the smiling, ever-friendly Filipino doorman at the nearby Mandarin Oriental Hotel, who volunteered his after-work hours for two nights to guide this Philippine News reporter through the random interviews with OFWs. “It is as if they want to pull the hands of time toward Sunday. For most of them, it is the day of fun. But for many, too, Sunday is extra-pay day.”

The other sections of the square, true enough, are abuzz with enterprising Pinays hawking their wares of ‘kakanin,’ Philippine-made chips and snacks, wearables, OPM (Original Pilipino Music) cassettes and CDs, and Pinoy movies in VCDs, among other things. Although not in commercial quantities, the goods rack up enough profits that buy such little luxuries as extra phone cards to call loved ones back home.

Others are detestably daring. “Be wary of your wallet because there are plenty of pickpockets here in Hongkong,” cautions Ador as we wend our way through the thick crowd.

According to Ador, who has logged 30 years working in Hong Kong initially as a musician, pickpocketing has become part of the Filipinos’ Sunday carnival in the last decade or so. “It was started by Pinoys, victimizing their fellow OFWs. But now, even the locals and people of other nationalities are fast catching up. Hong Kong is now very different compared to, say, 10 years ago.”

Many would beg to disagree with the gentleman. For those who, like Ador, have seen Hong Kong’s transformation into Asia’s World City, very little has changed of life here for Filipina domestic helpers. Despite the decreasing trend in deployment of OFWs in Hong Kong since 1998, stories of illegal recruitment, maltreatment, white slavery, substance abuse, discrimination, and infidelity, to name a few of the misfortunes that threaten OFWs, still abound.

Ador himself tells of how he rescued a 19-year-old from the clutches of a prostitution ring several years ago and brought her to the Philippine consular office for repatriation. “I found her dazed, bruised, and trembling on the sidewalk, obviously in need of help,” he recalls. “Her story was horrible. As a victim of illegal recruitment, she ended up in a sex den where, she said, she serviced as many as 50 customers during the 18- to 20-hour work shifts. She did not have to wear any panties anymore while at work, according to her.”

Yet there are just as many, if not more, stories of triumph and achievement, decent employers and work conditions, savings and investments in the Philippines, and even of successful inter-racial marriages.

Lorna, a beautiful single mother of a 15-year-old in the Philippines, for instance, mans the small store that her Chinese husband has put up to serve OFW needs, particularly phone cards and Pinoy snacks. She married the local sometime back, and has lived in Hong Kong the last 13 years.

“He is a very nice man, and his family has accepted me as one of their own despite my working here in Hong Kong for many years as a domestic helper before I married him,” she confides to Philippine News, intermittently cutting her narration to attend to the continuous stream of customers.

“I’m sorry if I can’t devote my full attention to your questions,” Lorna apologizes, adding that business has expectedly picked up pace as Christmas Day approaches.

Lorna’s corner bazaar is located on the second floor of Worldwide Plaza, a shopping center a block away from Statue Square. It is, one would dare say, a 100 percent Filipino turf on Sundays.

Here, rows and blocks of shops and stores – carrying anything from cell phones and call cards, to garlic-coated peanuts and pinipig – are raking it in throughout the day as thousands of OFW shoppers come and go. Nevertheless, the shops are Chinese-owned and run by Filipina salesladies.

Meanwhile, money change hands at an overseas branch of a Filipino bank, Western Union remittance centers, and numerous currency exchange shops.

“This is Hong Kong’s Divisoria,” says Lorna, “where the retail business is fast-paced and goods move quickly.”

A thought emerges with that declaration: here is a very large group of hardworking overseas Filipino workers – a virtual nation, if you will – helping move another nation’s business and commerce. Imagine, too, what would happen to Hong Kong’s economy if the locals are unable to leave their homes for work, simply because there are no Filipina domestic helpers to look after their children.

But that is a far-fetched scenario. Alongside better working conditions and faithful adherence to the terms of work contracts, employers increasingly continue to extend greater understanding and compassion towards OFWs.

The city government itself many years ago set an example in developing sensitivity to the needs of domestic helpers. An edict was issued, which to this day enforces the total closure to vehicular traffic of a section of the block surrounding Statue Square every Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., to create bigger space for the frolickers and promenaders.

On Christmas Day, Statue Square, as well as other meeting places of OFWs elsewhere in Hong Kong — Victoria Park, Central Park, Hong Kong Cultural Centre – will host bigger, more festive gatherings of Filipinos. Food, and plenty of it, will be shared, along with singing and dancing talents.

“It’s everybody’s day off every December 25,” says Monti, a 20-year veteran who still works for her original employer. “The following day, the 26th, is a floating holiday and this means the maid can choose not to work and just make up for it some other time.”

Monti (short for her last name, Montenegro) then points to the group of Vicky, Lara, and Irene, gyrating and swinging in unison to dance music blasting from a boom box. Another girl, Guillen, dutifully choreographs their moves. “We are rehearsing our presentation during the Christmas program our group will hold somewhere here in the Square,” Guillen announces.

Hundreds of others will stage their own self-styled Christmas celebration. Susan, a mother of two and wife to a factory foreman in the Philippines, plans on spending the day with her closest friends at the house of a fellow OFW’s employer. “My friend, Cathy, is allowed to bring her friends in while the family takes a vacation in the mainland.”

Monti is luckier: she gets to go home twice a year for 10 to 12 days each time, and thus spends Christmas with her family and, especially, grandchildren. “This is the reward for sticking it out with just one employer, whose children I helped raise and are now leading their separate lives.”

“Christmas here in Hong Kong is what you make of it,” remarks Agnes who, with her buddy Irma and a couple of other friends, attend the ‘misa de gallo’ at a nearby church. “We all cry while singing ‘Silent Night’ or ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ during the Mass. We remember our loved ones back home, but find comfort and togetherness in the company of friends.”

After church, Irma cheerfully snaps, “it’s party time.” The group proceeds to a budget hotel where they would have made prior reservation for a double room. “Then with our ‘baon’ of fried chicken, burgers, and spaghetti, for example, we celebrate Christmas to forget our homesickness and loneliness,” she chuckles.

And Ador’s Christmas? “At my age, it’s just a holiday that needs to be observed,” he quips. “Besides, I have my family with me – my wife, also a hotel worker, and son who is a salesman in an electronic shop on Nathan Road.”

As 9:00 p.m. nears, the crowd begins to thin out at Statue Square while city sanitation workers embark on a clean-up sweep of the block.

Another Sunday has passed, leaving behind yet another set of memories of Filipino togetherness, friendship, fellowship, and camaraderie.

oz.fil

January 4th, 2007, 03:57 PM

Lili

January 5th, 2007, 01:00 AM

^^ So how many are you are Aussie Pinoys here?

Renell
Shyaman
Oz.Fil
Someguy

Who else?

Animo

January 5th, 2007, 08:54 AM

By William B. Depasupil, Reporter

WITH the bright prospect of another 10-percent to 12-percent increase in overseas deployment this year, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday warned against illegal recruiters that include foreign and cyberspace-based firms.

“I advise all overseas job applicants to always inquire or consult the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration [POEA] office regarding overseas employment, much more if they are in doubt,” Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion said.

Brion made the warning after receiving reports from POEA about overseas manpower brokers that recruit Filipino caregivers and nurses to work in Spain.

“The Spanish government has not authorized any placement agency outside the Philippines to recruit Filipino workers,” he said.

Brion explained that under the “Proyekto Piloto,” the experimental hiring of Filipino health-care professionals and skilled workers, only Philippine-based and licensed recruitment agencies are allowed to deploy OFWs to Spain.

“In our memorandum of understanding with Spain, the point of hiring and issuance of entry visas and work permits are exclusively in the Philippines,” Brion pointed out.

On cyberspace or Internet job advertisement, Deputy Administrator Leo Cacdac admitted that POEA allows licensed recruitment agencies to advertise their job orders on their respective websites or any online job-search companies if the vacancies are covered by manpower requests of accredited employers.

But Cacdac warned that unscrupulous persons have built cheap-looking websites in legitimate online job-search companies or entered several discussion boards or forums that refrequented by OFWs to lure their victims.

Applicants should always be alert and wary of the jobs offered, like “too-good-to-be-true” salaries and other perks including accommodation and bonuses.

POEA records show that for the period January to November 2006 alone, OFW deployment has already reached 1,037,135, or 12.8 percent higher than 919,480 posted in the same period in 2005.

It is the first time in the 30-year history of overseas employment that the one-million mark was breached.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/jan/02/yehey/metro/20070102met1.html

Animo

January 5th, 2007, 08:56 AM

MORE Filipino workers are expected to come to Bahrain and other Middle Eastern countries next year, despite the projected slowdown in the recruitment of Filipina maids in the region.

A minimum wage of $400 (BD151) a month was officially approved for Filipina maids by the Philippines, doubling the former wage of $200 (BD75) in Bahrain and other Middle Eastern countries.

Bahrain's Labour Ministry has already said that any minimum wage for maids set by the Philippines will not be legally binding here.

Recruiting agents have also warned that employers would instead employ other nationalities at lower wages.

Sources said the news had already turned off many potential employers, who are now on the lookout for maids from other countries.

However, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) was remaining optimistic and insisted that the decrease in demand for Filipina maids would not affect the country's economy.

Officials disputed claims made by recruiters that the Philippines could lose up to $250 million (BD94.5m) in annual remittances because employers would simply stop hiring Filipina maids following the increase in their minimum salary.

Overall remittances to the Philippines grow yearly and reached $13 billion (BD4.9bn) this year.

POEA officials said they anticipate a further increase in the total deployment of skilled Filipino workers with the implementation of several agreements signed between the Philippines and other countries of destination.

The Philippines and Bahrain in particular are continuing talks to send Filipino nurses and other health workers to the country.

Negotiations began in January this year and are expected to lead to the signing of a deal on medical health services co-operation by early next year, a Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman said.

"Bahrain is one of the top destinations of Filipino healthcare professionals because of its high demand for nurses," he said.

"About eight million Filipinos, or 10 per cent of the population, work abroad.

"Nurses are a growing segment of the labour export programme."

POEA administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the hiring agreements were also signed with Canada, Taiwan, Spain, South Korea and Libya to send skilled workers - mainly caregivers and nurses.

Filipina housemaids in Bahrain and other Middle Eastern countries have the lowest salaries compared to their counterparts based in Europe and other Asian countries, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, China, where they are said to earn between $500 (BD189) and $1,500 (BD567).

The Philippines increased maids' minimum salary in the Middle East to BD75 in September last year.

Employers and recruitment agencies in Bahrain complained, saying BD50 a month was sufficient.

But the embassy insisted that employers must agree to the minimum wage, otherwise it would not process contracts.

In April this year, the POEA introduced a new requirement stating that all housemaids must be provided personal accident insurance costing BD25, which is valid for two years.

Then three months later in July, the embassy began requiring employers to submit declarations notarised by the Justice Ministry stating that they would be paying their workers the minimum wage of BD75.

This was followed by the minimum wage of $400 (BD151) a month being officially approved for Filipina maids last week.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=166093&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29288

Animo

January 5th, 2007, 09:09 AM

FILIPINO workers will continue to be in demand abroad in 2007, but will there be enough qualified workers to fill the jobs?

According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, traditional employers of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions have embarked on new development projects but are encountering skilled-worker shortages due to aging populations and low birth rates.

The agency also said that emerging markets such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Cyprus, Norway, the Caribbean islands and Guam will also provide more opportunities for OFWs.

However, POEA deputy administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said that while the Philippines can readily fill up service and production jobs, there aren’t enough adequately trained Filipinos to meet the demand for skilled workers and professionals.

"Our private recruitment agencies have cited some difficulty in meeting the demand for certain types of skills mainly due to scarcity of qualified workers to meet stringent qualification standards or competency requirements set by employers," Cacdac said in presenting POEA's year-end report Thursday.

Cacdac, who is acting POEA chief while Administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz is on an official trip to Canada, said most foreign firms seeking skilled and professional OFWs are oil and gas companies in the Middle East.

Hard-to-fill overseas posts include nurses in specialized areas, math and science teachers, engineers, pipe-fitters, instrument-fitters, welders and senior posts in the petrochemical industry.

"Given such a scenario and in order to maximize the job opportunities in the overseas labor markets, it is critical that the Philippines, as a labor-supplying state, assure its continuous foothold in the global market by ensuring a consistent supply of highly qualified technical workers," Cacdac added.

He urged the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, as well as the Commission on Higher Education and the Professional Regulatory Commission to work more aggressively with the private sector to increase investments in human resource development. This could be done through the establishment of more training schools, scholarship grants and funding support for specialized training.

Cacad reported that the number of OFWs who went abroad from January to November this year broke the government's one million target, hitting 1,037,135, the highest deployment record in more than three decades.

This was 12.8 percent more than the 919 posted in the first 11 months of 2005.

On average, POEA facilitated the deployment of around 2,800 OFWs a day. Land-based rehires, numbering 495,090, accounted for the 17.9 percent of this year's deployment.

New hires for both land- and sea-based jobs, meanwhile, numbered 250,447, rising by 7.4 percent. Six out of every 10 new hires were female.

Saudi Arabia remained the most popular destination of new hires, accounting for 83,778 or about nearly 30 percent of first-time OFWs.

A far second was the United Arab Emirates (35,493) followed by Taiwan (28,735), Qatar (25,952), Kuwait (24,537), Hong Kong (18,684), South Korea (10,047), Lebanon (7,719), Japan (6,798) and Bahrain (4,876).

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=39596

kiretoce

January 5th, 2007, 03:04 PM

^^ Isn't @thewreckoning88 also from Down Under? :dunno:

cheersmate

January 6th, 2007, 01:47 PM

I rememebr that I saw a lot of them on Orchard Road on Sundays, or at People's Park. :colgate:
Orchard road..w/ matching voices too

cheersmate

January 6th, 2007, 02:02 PM

Bump! :colgate:

There's The Rub : Charity begins at home
By Conrado de Quiros April 25, 2006

Fe Hidalgo, the officer in charge of the Department of Education, had an interesting message for the Filipino officials of Filipino schools in Xiamen, China. After pressing upon them the importance of good management, she asked them to make sure their Filipino students kept well to their roots.

"As Filipino educators overseas, you must know the importance of promoting Filipino identity. You must recognize the need to teach Filipino children abroad that they are part of that Filipino identity not just because they belong to our race but also because they contribute to the richness of our race. They are integral to our national pride."

I'm glad that Hidalgo did not go into the usual government spiel about the importance of Filipino children learning English to get ahead in life. The Chinese are bad English speakers, and so are the Thais, but they've gotten far ahead in life simply by learning the language not just of efficiency but of ethics. To paraphrase Shakespeare, it's not in our tongue but in ourselves that we are underlings. To paraphrase Shakespeare even more, a cheat by any tongue would smell just as foul.

Hidalgo's message isn't bad at all, but it's also not a little ironic. Because her message in fact shouldn't just be addressed to Filipino officials in Filipino schools abroad, it should be addressed to Filipino officials in Filipino schools in the Philippines. The need to strengthen Filipino identity among Filipino students is no less pressing here than abroad.

It's not unlike the complaint of Filipinos being discriminated against abroad, particularly in the United States and other Western countries, which I've written about in the past. Frankly, I cannot understand why we complain about being discriminated against abroad when we discriminate against ourselves right in our own country. We look down on our countrymen who are dark (to this day, I find the concept of a product devoted to whitening the skin, its premise being that it improves looks, absolutely stupefying), flat-nosed and short (which itself is a judgment based on a particular norm). Indeed, we laugh at people who speak English with a Visayan accent while ironically admiring deejays who mangle Tagalog with an American accent. The discrimination begins right at home.

So does lack of identity. The problem begins right at home. In fact, the bigger irony is that it's Filipinos abroad who often have a stronger sense of Filipino roots from being driven to confront them than Filipinos at home. I've written about that before, too. We look closely at our Asian neighbors, many of whom have taken vast strides in life, and we will notice that the real difference between them and us is not that they have parliamentary governments instead of presidential ones (some are parliamentary, some are not), not that they have authoritarian systems instead of democratic ones (some are authoritarian, some are not), but that they have a strong sense of national identity. They have a strong sense of country. They have a strong sense of who they are.

I doubt that the other Southeast Asian kids--the Thais, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Indonesians, Vietnamese, Laotians and Khmers--will answer in surveys that they prefer to be nationals of America, Japan and Saudi Arabia the way our kids do. That was what the late Malou Doronila found out in studies in the 1990s about the values and attitudes of public school kids in the Philippines, America, Japan and Saudi being the first three preferences in that order, the Philippines ranking only fourth.

Lest we think that the idea of national loyalty is a luxury rather than a necessity in these "globalized" times, let us think again. Its practical effects are patent and immense. Other countries have humongous corruption, too, Suharto having stolen much more than Marcos, but the difference is that Suharto kept the money in Indonesia where it employed Indonesians while Marcos stashed the loot abroad where it merely became an object of treasure hunt for the Presidential Commission on Good Government. That is an epic difference, which goes a long way to explaining why we are poor and miserable and why our neighbors are not.

Indeed, as education goes, we can run our universities with the most modern management principles learned from the Asian Institute of Management and we can equip the same universities with the latest digital marvels from South Korea, but none of that will mean anything for the country if our graduates will just make a beeline for workplaces abroad. Which is happening even as we speak: We are no longer just losing maids and forklift operators to Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, we are now losing doctors and teachers to the United States and Canada. That may help to stave off the free fall of the peso relative to the dollar in the short run, but that will have the most vicious consequences in the long run. Given in particular the economic wisdom that says a country's most precious resource is its people, notably its educated people.

I know I felt envious when a friend of mine told me about being toured in a steel plant in northern China and meeting all sorts of managers in jeans and polo shirts, many of whom toted degrees from Cambridge and Oxford. Filipinos abroad may, of course, argue that that is so because the Chinese have jobs to come home to. But that is probably putting the cart before the horse. In fact the opposite is true: They have jobs because their people who acquire knowledge and skills abroad come home to build a country, which creates the jobs. The difference lies in the attitude. They say: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. We just say: Ask not. Different attitudes, different results.

Remind Filipino kids abroad they're Filipinos? Remind Filipino kids at home they're Filipinos!

i actually met filipino kids who were born or grew up here in london..their patriotism is more obvious than us pinoys who just came here to work.
some even want to do business in pinas and some also are so frustrated w/ the system back home..esp red tape.
ASK WHAT U CAN DO FOR UR COUNTRY..some people do act on this, and have been for a long time.
maybe this should be asked to every govt employee/govt officials?
maybe it can make pinas a better and much nicer place to live in.
it's just one BIG FACTOR among them all.

renell

January 7th, 2007, 03:01 PM

^^ So how many are you are Aussie Pinoys here?

Renell
Shyaman
Oz.Fil
Someguy

Who else?

used to talk online with Someguy, but i faded away a bit so yeah be nice to get the sydneysiders in a meet though

Dvorak

January 8th, 2007, 09:09 AM

Rodney texted me recently, he said he has moved to Parramatta.

used to talk online with Someguy, but i faded away a bit so yeah be nice to get the sydneysiders in a meet though

kiretoce

January 13th, 2007, 05:06 AM

One country's loss, another's gain

New York (AP) The hospital lobby is a blur of surgical scrubs as a shift-change approaches. But when Elmer Jacinto slips in early in pressed whites and sneakers, he barely draws a glance from the guard behind the security desk.

It's 2.15pm and soon he'll begin preparing IV drips and checking temperatures, tasks assigned to an entry-level nurse.

Except for the fact he's one of only two male nurses on the floor at St. Vincent's Midtown Hospital, he's just one of the girls. Well, here anyway.

But a world away, in his native Philippines, Jacinto remains at the centre of a roiling controversy — a sellout to his critics, a paragon of hard work and admirable ambition to his supporters.

Once upon a time, Elmer Jacinto was his nation's most promising young doctor. But doctors in the Philippines are not well paid, and so he boarded a plane to America. To make more money. To become a nurse.

Pitfalls

It hasn't worked out quite as he expected. Life in New York has proved exhausting and full of unforeseen pitfalls.

And back home, many of his countrymen still find his choice difficult to accept, because the parable of Elmer Jacinto raises grim doubts about their future.

"Jacinto encapsulates perfectly the country's fundamental question today," one Filipino newspaper columnist opined. "Namely, why should anyone want to stay in it?"

On the Filipino island of Basilan, electricity is a sometimes event. Telephone lines deposit calls at dead-ends. Both are blamed on the Abu Sayyaf, an extremist group with an outsized reputation for violence.

So when Jacinto graduated high school there, eight years ago, he and his father set aside talk of dreams to examine reality.

"There is money in nursing," the older man counselled.

Jacinto graduated first in his nursing class, and found work at the local hospital before leaving for a better-paying job in the city.

In hindsight, the move seemed fated. Not long after, Abu Sayyaf guerrillas stormed the hospital, taking nurses as hostages.

One of Jacinto's former co-workers was killed during a shootout with Filipino soldiers.

But in Manila, Jacinto pushed ahead. He enrolled in medical school, rose to the top of his class, then joined 1,800 other aspiring doctors to take the national medical exam.

When the scores were released, Jacinto was the No 1 young doctor in the nation.

Jacinto, though, was already making other plans. In a world where jobs and workers are shifted back and forth across borders like game pieces, he would play his hand — setting aside the goal of becoming a neurologist to work as a nurse in America for far greater pay.

His choice should not have been a surprise. Nearly a million Filipinos take jobs abroad each year. But now the Philippines was bleeding doctors.

"Before, we just branded it as a brain drain. But I label it now as a brain hemorrhage," says Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, a former minister of health.

He estimates that in the last five years, 9,000 Filipino doctors — out of about 56,000 — have retrained as nurses, and 5,000 have gone abroad.
Some rural hospitals have few, if any, doctors and nurses, and care suffers.

Money is a major factor. A nurse in the Philippines makes $150 to $250 a month; doctors make $300 to $800. But the average registered nurse in the US earns $4,000 a month.

The decision, though, remains intensely personal, and as an issue, it had generated limited attention — that is, until Jacinto set out to explain himself to a nation of 84 million people.

In early 2004, Jacinto quietly began telling others of his plans.

"Even before he announced his decision, we already felt it was coming," says Reynaldo Olazo, dean of medicine at Fatima.

"It was I who brought it up because I could see his embarrassed smile."

Jacinto acknowledges wanting to draw attention to the shaky economic status of health care workers as an issue policymakers had too long ignored.

"Patriotism is a two-way process," he recalls thinking. "It's not only you as a citizen. It's also about the government that should also give you work, or something for yourself, to be able to live a dignified life."

His decision struck a nerve — and it was raw.

Jacinto's story "was like a slap in the face," Tan says. "Even ordinary people that I would meet, it was like, ‘Hey, what has happened to our country?"'
"Deplorable ambition," one newspaper proclaimed.

Soon, his private decision was public property.

"We cannot begrudge you, but only appeal to you to stay," a leading politician, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Junior said in a speech to Jacinto and nearly 950 other new doctors.

A fellow doctor, Willie Ong, got to thinking. He wrote a "doctor's covenant", then convinced 1,800 physicians to sign it, pledging to remain in the country for three years. But another 2,200 turned him down.

So last year, Ong started the Movement of Idealistic and Nationalistic Doctors, or MIND, campaigning at medical schools to convince doctors to stay even before they become doctors.

Filipino lawmakers, too, found their way to the issue. They've proposed requiring all new nurses to serve in the Philippines for two to three years before being allowed to work overseas.

The question now is whether US lawmakers will speed the exodus.

When the Senate approved an immigration overhaul last summer, it included a measure allowing an unlimited number of foreign nurses to enter the country. If that change becomes law, "the Philippine health care system will bleed to death," Tan says.

By the time US lawmakers had taken up the issue, though, Jacinto had already arrived.

On a Friday night in November 2005, a China Airlines jet touched down at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Twenty newly minted nurses walked down the gangway, and a recruiter stepped forward to meet them.

Exciting

Jacinto and seven others were sent to Avalon Gardens, a nursing home in Smithtown, New York, about 80 kilometres from Manhattan.

For Jacinto, this new world was exciting, but alien.

The air was sharp, the ground was brittle. He and his roommates were the only people who seemed to walk anywhere in a land where mostly everyone moved by car.

But the jarring adjustment was minor compared with problems that over time became increasingly troubling, he and other nurses allege.

Their account is strongly disputed by the nursing home operator and its sister recruitment agency.

The new employer, which had promised two months free housing, assigned eight nurses to a small, dingy home — a tight fit with three bedrooms and a single bathroom that did not always work.

Jacinto and another man slept on pullout couches in the living room.

The home — a one-story bungalow large enough for a small family — still houses newly arrived nurses and their families.

On a recent visit by a reporter, it housed eight people, including three children, after two nurses had moved out. The kitchen sink was clogged shut and was draining out the window. Lights in the kitchen did not work. A rat scurried across the driveway.

After a few weeks of doing clerical work, Jacinto and the other nurses say they were assigned to nursing duties but paid less than promised.

Some say they were shortchanged in other ways, not being paid for night work or given promised insurance.

By spring, they'd had enough. Their employer, who contends they were always treated fairly, says many walked out without notice, endangering patients requiring constant care.

What's clear is that on April 7, Jacinto and 10 others quit. In all, 26 nurses left, including five trained as doctors.

Not even five months had passed since Jacinto, briefly the most famous doctor in the Philippines, had arrived in the United States.

Now he was anonymous — and out of a job. Jacinto and the other nurses are out of work and running out of money, Filipino newspaper readers were told.

Jacinto knows some of his homeland still judges him but he only says, "I want to move on. Let them talk."

portludlow

January 13th, 2007, 06:34 AM

Asean accord to protect migrant workers nears OK

http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20070113bus2.html
By Michaela P. del Callar
01/13/2007

CEBU — A convention to protect Southeast Asia’s vast army of migrant workers came one step closer Friday when senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) finally agreed on the wording of a draft declaration, Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said yesterday.

After days of tense negotiations, the Asean members have threshed out their differences and agreed to sign an agreement today on the protection of migrant workers.

“It was a hard and difficult negotiation,” Conejos said.

“There is no more conflict at this time. All conflicts have been resolved. The draft declaration has been approved by the Directors General, the Senior Officials and it has been passed on to the Foreign Ministers without a single objection,” he added.

During negotiations, the Philippines and Indonesia had a hard time convincing Malaysia, a receiving state of migrant workers, to agree to a provision that will extend protection to the families of the workers.

The Philippines and Indonesia, two Asean states that are pushing hardest for the signing of the declaration, are the largest contributors of the workers in the region, mainly to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

A breakthrough was achieved late Thursday night as Asean officials at the last minute tried to negotiate for a text that is favorable to all the member-states.

“I think the compromise language here is that it refers to families founded after the worker already arrived and residing with them in consonance with their domestic laws,” Conejos said.

Despite being a mere declaration, Conejos noted that an agreement such as this has the moral suasion of a legally-binding agreement.

Member-states which will not comply to the declaration will not be sanctioned, but Conejos said the Asean secretary general has been tasked to monitor compliance to the agreement and submit an annual report.

He also hoped that the declaration would evolve into a convention in the near future and be expanded to include Asean dialogue-partners Japan, China and Korea.

In the Philippines alone, about 1.5 million Filipino workers are deployed in the region.

“This is a declaration, for a declaration it went beyond a statement of goals to identify obligations. Let us see, from here we move to a declaration, to a covenant which is more binding. This is the first step. The first major step. There is a way forward,” Conejos said.

Under the proposed declaration, Asean members agree to “strengthen the political, economic and social pillars of the Asean community by promoting the full potential and dignity of migrant workers and their families in a climate of freedom, equity and stability in accordance with the laws, regulations, and national policies of respective Asean member countries.”

It also seeks equal treatment and non-discrimination of migrant workers and their families.

In the agreement, receiving states have agreed to extend benefits to the family of a migrant worker and to promote access to basic services such as information, education, training, judicial and legal system.

They must also ensure security of employment and recognize to pay wages especially the commitment to provide a decent working and living conditions for the overseas workers.

“(Another) important obligation is with reference to the Vienna convention on consular affairs that provides that in the event a foreign national is detained or arrested for one reason or another in a host country. The host country is obligated to inform the consulate of that country of which this national belongs so that the embassy can visit him and provide the necessary assistance,” Conejos said.

Also included in the agreement, dubbed as the Asean Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, is the prevention of the occurrence of anti-trafficking and human smuggling.

TheAvenger

January 16th, 2007, 05:45 AM

http://www.thestar.com/article/170972

Toronto & GTA | Ontario | Canada | World | Obituaries | National Report

TheStar.com - News -

Refugee claimant allegedly bilks friends for millions

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Before and after: Janice Del Rosario as she appeared to her new friends, left, and as she appeared before going into hiding. Email story

Refugee claimant Janice Del Rosario gained friends with her kindness – and enemies who allege they were scammed out of millions

January 14, 2007
Dale Brazao
staff reporter

She came into their lives out of nowhere – a beautiful, God-fearing woman preaching love, bearing presents, and offering everyone an opportunity to share in her good fortune.

Janice Del Rosario dressed in Gucci and drove a BMW. And she dispensed kindness, compassion and good deeds "like a Mother Teresa."

But when she disappeared suddenly last November, the velvet-tongued Del Rosario left behind a dozen victims clutching an armful of bounced cheques, useless promissory notes and slim chances of recovering any of the estimated $1.5 million they claim she took from them. Victims who spoke to the Star said the amount taken may be much higher, but those victims have not come forward.

"I never in my life thought she was capable of something like this," says 75-year-old Luigi Chiarotto who says he is owed about $1.2 million. "She seemed honest, very honest, like my daughter."

Del Rosario feted the retired construction worker with a lavish surprise party on his 73rd birthday. A cancer victim was given a prepaid cemetery plot. Some got Danier leather jackets, others Swarovski crystal.

Even as the 44-year-old Filipino refugee claimant garnered sympathy among newfound friends with horrific stories of her family being extortion victims back home, they say she was setting them up to be exploited.

When she began offering 10-per-cent return on personal loans for just 10 days they were ready with their chequebooks, and paid the price for that all too human weakness – greed.

Some lost their life savings, others were hit up for luxury cars and credit cards. And a lot of people who should've known better are left wondering just who on earth is Janice Florence Vasquez Del Rosario?

And more important, where is she now?

Del Rosario, her husband, Kaye, 34, and their two boys, aged 8 and 13 went into hiding on Nov. 15, the day before they were to surrender to immigration authorities for deportation to their native Philippines. Her eldest son, Jose Vicente Tayzon, 25, who is here on a student visa, says he does not know where his mother is.

"She's not here, she left months ago," Tayzon says, adding he is aware of the warrant for her arrest. "Whatever the allegations are, I am removed from that. I am not in communication with them."

The family, who came to Canada in March 2003 as visitors, then applied for refugee status claiming they were victims of extortion by corrupt Filipino police officials, had exhausted all legal means of overturning their removal order.

A Canada-wide warrant was issued for their arrest after they failed to make a flight to Manila on Nov. 16.

The last place Janice and Kaye Del Rosario want to return to is to their own country, where both are wanted for fraud in connection with a large-scale pyramid-type scam. None of their alleged victims in Canada were aware there were warrants for their arrest in the Philippines when she started tapping them for loans.

By the time Del Rosario had finished with Chiarotto, the hard-working Italian immigrant was out $1.2 million in cash, and had co-signed leases for two luxury cars, a BMW X-5 for Janice, and a Mercedes-Benz for her husband.

"I said, why not a Dodge Caravan?" Chiarotto says. "But she said she had to have expensive cars so she could look good in her business."

After loaning Del Rosario, a woman he hardly knew, $800,000 without collateral, Chiarotto needed her to succeed in business, which she claimed was buying and selling high-end jewellery.

Chiarotto's wife, Lydia Pagulayan, a fellow Filipina immigrant, also signed documents to provide two credit cards for Del Rosario, who said she didn't qualify for credit in this country.

Over the next six months Del Rosario charged $33,000 on them, everything from pizzas and parking fees to payments for personal trainers, lunches at Sassafraz in Yorkville, and $11,000 shopping sprees at Gucci stores.

As apparently was her pattern, Del Rosario paid regular interest payments on the loans, giving Chiarotto post-dated cheques as collateral.

To prove her wealth and allay their fears, Del Rosario showed statements from TD and HSBC banks in Toronto and Equitable PCI bank in the Philippines attesting to more than $2 million on deposit with these institutions.

When Del Rosario called Chiarotto in a panic last summer, saying she was about to be deported unless he came up with another $200,000, Chiarotto mortgaged his house and gave her the money.

"She said her lawyer had an agreement with a judge that will allow her to be landed, but it must be $200,000 in cash," he says. "She started crying, crying. So I believe her.

"What could I do? It was either that or lose everything."

In exchange he got a promissory note dated Oct. 4, 2006, consolidating all the previous loans totalling $1,163,500. The note called for Del Rosario to start paying Chiarotto $20,000 a month, plus interest, conditional on her obtaining landed status. She also gave him a copy of her will, showing him to be a benefactor of her estate should she die before repaying the loans.

A month later, Del Rosario, who also goes by several aliases, disappeared. "She has no heart. She has no humanity," says Chiarotto.

The last time Chiarotto saw Del Rosario was Nov. 15, the day before she was to be deported when she drove to his modest Scarborough bungalow and phoned him from her BMW. When he came to the door, however, she had already driven off. (On Friday evening she phoned again, to say she'd start repaying him next month, and to ask if he'd been talking to a reporter.)

Before those final fleeting contacts, Chiarotto had last heard from her before Christmas, when Del Rosario phoned from an unknown location wishing him a Merry Christmas, saying she would send her brother or her son, Tayzon, to deliver the money she owes him.

Nobody showed up.

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Michael Labrecque, a Toronto real estate agent and a counsellor who works with the homeless and kids at risk, still can't quite believe he too fell for Del Rosario's charm and business proposals.

"We should've know better," says Labrecque, 29, who along with his wife, Cecilia Ramos, 28, a mortgage broker, is out more than $120,000. "I don't even know how we got in this deep. She portrayed herself as a religious, trustworthy person and we all fell for it."

Del Rosario claimed she was a wealthy businesswoman in the Philippines, where she operated several businesses including a finance company. She showed Ramos her bank account statement showing a balance of 44,196,000 pesos, more than $1 million Canadian.

As she had done with the others, Del Rosario gave Ramos and Labrecque cheques written on her business account, Gloval Venture Trading and Investment Placement, at a TD-Canada Trust branch in Thornhill. Most of those cheques have bounced.

A spokesperson for the TD bank told the Star that the alleged victims should take their case to police and that the bank would co-operate fully in any police investigation.

"She was really good," Ramos says, explaining how Del Rosario took her for $90,000. "Michael is probably the cheapest person in the world and he gave her $30,000."

"We know of at least another five people who are owed about $300,000," says Labrecque.

Ramos claims that the previously pleasant Del Rosario left a chilling message on her answering machine after learning she and other investors had gone to the police.

"Tears of blood will flow from your eyes if you come after me," was the message Del Rosario left in Tagalog, the Filipino language.

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Catalina "Nini" Coran fell hook, line and sinker for Del Rosario's stories of hardship in the Philippines, her warmth, and generosity and, finally, her hard pitches for money.

"She had some magical power," says Coran, an insurance broker who is out $70,000.

Del Rosario held weekly prayer meetings at her North York condo and regularly text-messaged her friends with inspirational quotations from the Bible.

"She was like Mother Teresa helping everybody, and sharing her wealth," says Coran.

"She told us all those horrible stories about her son's kidnapping. That she had paid a ransom of 40 million pesos. We all felt sorry for her and we all wanted to help," she said.

In documents filed with the Federal Court of Canada, Del Rosario claims only that an "attempt" had been made to kidnap her son from his private school in Manila on March 7, 2003, but no ransom was paid.

She also claims she and her husband, a police captain in Quezon City, had to pay off corrupt police officers who were constantly shaking them down. They fled because they feared more kidnap attempts and demands for payoffs.

In denying their claim as refugees in January 2004, adjudicator Paul Ariemma found Del Rosario and her husband had "embellished fragments of reality to create a basis for their claims."

Two Federal court judges have refused to stay their deportation order in the past year, setting the stage for the family's removal from Canada last Nov. 16.

The fact that Del Rosario was able to stave off deportation for more than three years has angered her victims.

"If she had been deported when she was supposed to be, we wouldn't be out all this money," says Coran. "She went into full-blast mode when she knew she was on her way out."

Requests for loans would be preceded with meals at fancy restaurants, gifts of jewellery and offers of incredible interest amounting to more than 3,000 per cent a year.

"The interest was illusory. It was the worm on the end of a hook," says lawyer Ed Tonello, who is representing six of the victims in an attempt to recoup their losses.

"She said she was making so much money with her jewellery business that she wanted us all to share in it, too," Coran says, recalling the pitch that ensnared her. "She showered us with gifts, but she was buying us with our own money."

Coran's sister-in-law, Maria, 46, an educational assistant with the Toronto Board of Education, was lured in for $35,000 after meeting Del Rosario.

"I can't even show you paper, because I invested through a friend at work and I don't have anything on paper to prove it," says an accountant with a drug store chain who is owed $70,000, but does not want to be identified out of embarrassment.

"No receipt, no promissory note, nothing. I was just plain stupid."

She said she knows there are others in her company who also loaned Del Rosario money.

Del Rosario was so good, Coran says, that when someone demanded repayment of their principal, she would chide them for doubting her ability to pay up, then persuade the lender to roll over their principal into another loan at even higher interest.

"She was that good," Coran says. "A Mother Teresa without a conscience."

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The first hint of trouble came late last summer, when word got around that the leasing company had repossessed Kaye Del Rosario's 2006 Mercedes-Benz after he defaulted on the lease.

The dealership later sold the automobile but has notified Chiarotto that, as co-signer, he must pay $22,000, the difference between the buyout price of the lease and what they got for it. The Parkview BMW dealership also recently notified Chiarotto he is on the hook for the entire value of the 2006 BMW X5 unless he agrees to the lease payments of more than $1,000 a month.

Recently, the Star found the dark green BMW X-5 stashed in the underground parking at 23 Lorraine Ave., a condo complex at Yonge St. and Finch Ave. where Del Rosario's son, Tayzon, lives. His own silver BMW 325i is parked near his mother's.

After learning of Chiarotto's predicament the victims split into two groups. Several victims complained to 43 Division fraud squad detective Daniel Johnson, but they say he told them it was a civil case. Johnson did not return several calls from the Star.

The other group is keeping silent, Coran says. "They're her loyalists. They're afraid if they turn on her, they'll lose everything."

Labrecque and Ramos last saw Del Rosario on Nov. 15, the eve of her scheduled deportation, in the office of a lawyer who was handling the financial claims against her. Del Rosario, Ramos says, had agreed to a repayment schedule on their loans, but the lawyer quashed the deal.

"Her lawyer wouldn't let her sign anything, saying it didn't make any sense for her to pay us back if she was being kicked out of the country the next day."

The lawyer refused to discuss the incident, but said the version of events as related by Ramos and Labrecque is "incorrect."

The couple first turned to a "financial bounty hunter," but he was unable to find either the fugitive or any of her assets.

"If I find them they are toast," says the immigration enforcement officer who has been scouring the GTA for the family for the past two months. "They've had due process. They'll be detained until they get on a plane.

"Their claim has been discounted. They've been found not to be at risk if they are returned to the Philippines."

The couple had been the subject of a previous Canada-wide arrest warrant for failing to appear for a pre-deportation meeting.

Immigration lawyer Mendel Green got them to surrender, then brokered a deal whereby Del Rosario and her husband were released on their own recognizance and were to leave Canada voluntarily.

"Instead they used the time to go into hiding," says an immigration source, adding the family purchased airline tickets, but did not make their flight. "They cleaned up their business, hid all their stuff and covered their tracks pretty well."

Green says he has no idea where his former clients are now. "All I can say is that for a short period of time I was her lawyer," Green says. "I haven't seen or heard from them. I don't know where she is."

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dbrazao@thestar.ca

Lili

January 16th, 2007, 06:36 AM

^^ I have heard of scammers like those who have "hypnotized" people to part with their money on promises that they will earn big interest on the loans. My aunt in Manila fell victim to one of those. She parted with P1million pesos without any papers or anything. We were shocked on how she can be so gullible. She said the same thing... the woman must have "magical" power of persuasion. It's good you posted that article here @TheAvenger. Who knows, that woman must have crossed the borders to America. Toronto is not far from New York. Forewarned is forearmed.

TheAvenger

January 17th, 2007, 04:41 PM

I was shocked to hear that this thing happens to Pinoy in America.

From Kalovski Blog

http://kalovski.blog.com/2007/1/

Seeing the face of Filipinos here in the US

I had a bad new year. My hard disks were burned. One was hit by a terrible virus and the other emitted smoke which means to say the chip inside got burned. I was designing the facilities of the church website were all wiped out and all were wiped out. At any rate the lesson is don’t be too high tech. It’s so costly in terms of time and money.

I was not shocked by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s transfer of the US soldier to the custody of the US embassy. The soldier was accused of raping a Filipina. The transfer only shows how she follows the dictates of the US inorder to get more help to prop up her illegitimate rule. Fascist as she is she condoned foreigners of raping our people. Too bad, this do not contradict her stand at all. Gloria since the onset of her rule has been a pimp to big corporations who have entered the country to rape our natural resources. All she wants is her cut, her money, her military aid and Bush pat at her back.

Yesterday, I joined distributing food for the homeless and poor in Solano country through the Solano mission. I helped packed paper bags full of groceries for distribution. I met a women in her 20’s who packed her things as she left the mission hall. My feelings was correct that she was a Filipina. I asked her why she stayed in the mission house for the homeless. She said, she was kicked out of her house and was a battered wife. Her two children are in custody and she had to undergo all the social service trainings. She has no house and no food to eat. My heart was like tearing off seeing Filipinos survive here in the US. She came from Nueva Viscaya, speaks Ilocano and worked in Manila before she met her wife battering white American husband. I gave her 4 paper bags full of grocery. Later 4 old Filipina also had filled in the tickets. Many where homeless. Now with my stay here in the US I am seeing in concrete the impact of globalization. How our Kababayans are driven to foreign land in order to find work, only to end up us homeless here. Being homeless here in the US is terrible. One can die because of the cold weather. This have further my resolved to help create a broad alliance of Filipinos working for their rights and welfare here in the US. Good, last January NAFCON had their conference in New York to further consolidate efforts along helping Filipinos. So much things are to be done along eco-political socio-cultural work.

Tags: Filipinos in the US | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

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Posted by Kalovski at 19:41 | Permanent Link | Comments (0)

TheAvenger

January 17th, 2007, 05:06 PM

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/27233/Pinoy-sari-sari-store-sikat-sa-Roma

Pinoy Abroad

Buhay OFW Pinoy sari-sari store, sikat sa Roma

Sa edad na walong taon ay katulong na si Norma Macalindong ng kanyang ina sa pagtitinda ng isda sa palengke sa Calatagan, Batangas.

Nang magkaroon ng sariling pamilya, na-ingganyo si Norma ng mga kamag-anak na mangibang bansa.

Nagpunta si Norma sa Italy bilang isang katulong noong 1984. Kapag tapos na sa pag-iiskuba ng toilet, pagbubunot at paglilinis sa bahay ng mga Italianong pinagsisilbihan, hindi n’ya sinayang ang natitirang oras para magkaroon ng karagdagang kita at maipadala sa pamilya sa Pilipinas.

Nagtinda s’ya ng mga bag, pagkain at sari-saring produkto sa isang maliit na pwesto sa Termini (Central Train Station sa Roma) at sa Risorgimento (tram stations).

Habang tumatagal ay kinailangang matutunan ni Norma ang Italian language upang mas marami pa siyang maibenta.

Bagama’t hindi siya nakatapos man lang ng high school, pinagsikapan ni Norma na matuto ng Italian, at madali naman siyang natuto.

Naging hamon sa kanya ‘yon sa paghahangad na makahanap ng mas magandang oportunidad para kumita ng mas malaki para sa kanyang pamilya.

Matapos ang isang taon, sumunod na ang asawa ni Norma sa Italy at magkatulong silang kumayod para mabuhay ng maayos ang 11 isang anak na naiwan sa Pilipinas.

Habang lumalaki ang kanilang mga anak, natural lamang na dumarami rin ang pangangailangan nila.

Kulang pa rin ang kinikita ng mag-asawa sa paglilinis ng mga bahay at pagtitinda. Kaya’t naging mapusok si Norma at nag-full time sa pagbebenta ng sari-saring produkto at pagkain.

Dahil pre-requisite sa pagkuha ng business permit sa Italy ang pagkatapos ng pag-aaral, nag-enrol si Norma ng high school. Natapos n’ya ang kurso sa loob ng isang taon at apat na buwan noong 1993. Gumastos siya ng 37,000 lira sa pag-aaral sa Camera di Commercio. Bihasa na siyang sa Italian language noon.

Sa wakes, nakakuha na si Norma ng business permit sa Circo Scritzione para makapagtinda ng alimentari (grocery items) o abbigliamento (damit).
Makaraan ang limang taon, nagkaroon na ng sariling convenience store si Norma sa Andrea Doria Market, isang kilalang pamilihan na malapit sa Vatican.

Hindi naglaon ay lumipat siya ng pwesto sa Ponte Millo, at lumipat siya ulit sa Piazza Mancini at Viale Pinturichio kung saan patuloy siyang kumikita sa loob ng anim na taon.

Hindi na kinailangan ng mag-asawang Macalindong na kumuha pa ng trabahador. Sila na lang ang nagpatakbo ng tindahan.

Naging inspirasyon ang tagumpay ni Norma sa ibang Pilipino sa Roma at maging sa ibang South Americans na dati n’yang suki sa tindahan.

Mahusay makisama ang mag-asawa. Nagpapautang pa nga sila sa kapwa Pinoy dahil naiintindihan nila ang mahigpit na pangangailangan para makapagpauwi ng pera sa pamilya sa Pinas.

Bagamat maayos na ang buhay ng kanilang pamilya, hindi nakalimutan ng mag-asawa na tumulong sa Pilipinas habang nadadagdagan ang kanilang kita.

Itinayo nila ang Macalindong Export-Import sa Las Pinas na lalong naghaitd ng swerte sa kanyang pamilya, at nagbigay pa ng trabaho sa kapwa Pinoy habang tumutulong pa rin sa bayan.

Noong isang taon ay na-elect si Norma bilang Consifglieri (councilor) sa Municipio 2 sa Roma.

Ang eleksyong ‘yun ang paraan ng Italian government para mapalawig ang representasyon ng mga migrante sa pamamahala.

Layunin ni Norma na gamitin ang posisyong ‘yun sa pagpapahalaga sa edukasyon tungkol sa paghahanap-buhay (entrepreneurship) ng mga Pilipino.

Dahil sa tagumpay na narrating ni Norma, napili siyang parangalan bilang natatanging Overseas Filipino Entrepreneur. - GMANews.TV
Next: Japan eyes same

kiretoce

January 18th, 2007, 11:31 PM

Wanted: More butchers in Year of Pig

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants to see more unemployed middle-aged Filipinos become butchers starting this year, the Year of the Pig, as demand for the job has continued to increase overseas.

She said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority would release P700 million for job-creation scholarships, which will give priority to high-paying jobs including butchery.

“You will be surprised that we have a very, very big demand for butchers,” Mrs. Arroyo said, adding there were now 30,000 job openings for butchers abroad.

“For those who did not get to study, it is a welcome development that demand for butchers is high not only in Australia but all over the world,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

“We have tens of thousands of job orders for butchers, and so we want to concentrate our training on this high-paying occupation.”

Butchery aside, scholarships would also be offered to those wanting to become welders, seafarers, or call center agents.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered 150 city mayors yesterday to submit the names of their scholars so they could be given priority for job training.

“Part of the P700 million will be used to provide at least one scholarship for every village,” Mrs. Arroyo said. “This will broaden the well-spring of Filipino talent and excellence for well-paid employment.”

There are about 20,000 job openings for welders, while the call center sector expects to peak with two million employees by 2010.

President Arroyo had earlier ordered the authority to speed up the creation of call center finishing schools after the number of employees in the sector reached 125,000 last year.

She said the Philippines had positioned itself well to be the call center hub in the region, with the number of Filipino employees in the $1-billion industry expected to peak at two million in four years.

kiretoce

January 18th, 2007, 11:38 PM

Invading PNG, Filipino style

The first batch of Filipino workers came to PNG in 1974 to help the country run the various wheels of the economy, writes Alfredo P. Hernandez.

In 1973, the Australian colonial government determined that the emerging economy of Papua New Guinea needed foreign skills and expertise to help sustain the needs of the local industries and to run the various wheels of the economy.

To prepare the country for eventual independence from Australia, the colonial rulers launched a massive recruitment exercise targeting Filipino workers.
The "Pinoys", as the Filipinos were commonly referred to, were chosen over other Asian nationals for their English proficiency and inherent patience and ability to adapt to the local culture.

Thus, setting foot in PNG on May 10, 1974 a hundred and thirty-six Filipinos made up the first batch of technicians, teachers, professors, architects, surveyors, fishery experts and agriculturists. These recruits were either posted in various government units along with their white counterparts or taught elementary and vocational courses across the country.

One of these recruits was Orlando (Orly) Alvarez, then 29, hired as a mechanic although he had a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

"We were recruited by the Australian colonial government. The offer was good at the time compared to what we were making in the Philippines. The kina (local currency) was a bit higher than the US dollar, so conversion into peso was good. When we came to Papua New Guinea, we were put on a chartered Qantas flight," recalled Alvarez, now 61.

For his first job, he was assigned to the Plant and Transport Department, handling the transport needs of government agencies. He said his main job was to keep the vehicles "running at all times".

"I trained a lot of local guys on automotive works. In later years, they became managers in various units of the present-day Works Department," Alvarez proudly reminisced. He is now the Transport director at the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).

Towards the closing years of the colonial government, the centre of economic activities remained in Lae, an industrial hub in the northern coast of the country, and in Port Moresby, the southern capital where the international airport is located alongside a port frequented by international ships.

Filipino technicians, such as mechanics, welders, carpenters, drivers, machinists, agriculturists along with doctors and other professionals were mainly based either in Lae or in Port Moresby.

Even after PNG gained independence from Australia on September 15, 1975, the exodus of Filipinos continued through direct hiring, this time by the Papua New Guinea government and the private companies and businesses.
Education a priority goal.

In 1979, the PNG government focused their recruitment goal on education. They hired Filipino high school and elementary school teachers and vocational instructors, along with technicians and office secretaries. The teachers were distributed to schools in the provinces.

Pete Cortez, then 27 and an electrical engineer, was among this batch. He was assigned as lecturer at the Port Moresby Technical College along with several Australian instructors.

"The students I handled that time were attentive and very much interested in learning the skill ... they strived hard to learn ... a number of them came to the class barefooted, maybe because that was their culture," said Cortez, now the Superintendent of Curriculum at the Technical Vocational Education and Training Division of the Department of Education.

Cortez had observed that the current crop of students is rude to their teachers unlike during the early days. At present, his area of concern is to intensify and supervise the technical and vocational training in the country.
When Patrick Levo, then a young journalist I met in 1993 learned that I came from the Philippines, he immediately reminisced about his Filipino teacher-Mrs Saturnina Cortez. She was his teacher in second year high school (1980) at Iarowari on the Sogere Plateau outside of Port Moresby.

"She was such a bubbly, lovable grand Filipino woman." Levo said of his teacher in an email sent to me from Lihir Island north-east of Papua New Guinea where his employer, the Lihir Gold Ltd, one of the world's biggest gold producers, operates.

"To this day, I still consider her a very special woman, not only for teaching us in the academic sense but for her motherly advise. She even taught us how to sew the holes on our shirts, how best to wash our clothes using a bar of soap ... how to use the toothpaste ... and more on personal health and hygiene," says Levo, who works as Lihir Gold's Community Information Officer.
Levo said that Mrs Cortez and her husband Pedro, a vocational instructor, can be proud of their contributions to the education of the people of this country.

"Show me one professional Aussie and I will match him with a Filipino."
Alvarez recalled that there was a time when the first Filipino recruits that included him were paid salaries lower than those of their Australian counterparts. Realising the inequality, the Filipinos supported the petition on their behalf by the Philippine Consul General to Papua New Guinea Samson Saballones to bring the anomaly to the government's attention.

In his petition, the Consul General asked for equal treatment of Filipino workers on the issue of salary parity. Dramatising his appeal-demand, Mr Saballones challenged the government with the statement: "Show me one professional Aussie and I will match him with a Filipino." Filipino workers won their day in court.

Alvarez noted that the Filipinos unselfishly imparted to the locals all they knew about their trade to facilitate skill transfer, the main goal why expatriate professionals were recruited.

"That's why those who trained under me who later became successful in their careers would call me up to say thank you," he said. Alvarez, however, noted one attitude among the locals that often got the better of them.

"After they learned what had to be learned, they thought they could now take over the job like they were the master ... forgetting that we technicians honed [our skills] over the years which no one could learn in a few sessions at the workshop."

"I agree," says Nene Sta. Cruz, a master trainer at the Integrated Development Services, Ltd. Her outfit provides services, i.e., training, professional consultancy, applied research and organisational competence to government institutions and private companies.

She recalled that a number of small business partnerships between Filipinos and Papua New Guineans did not prosper because of the latter's perception on how business should be handled.

Sta. Cruz, arrived in 1984 as a lecturer at a government agency equivalent to the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Papua New Guinea Institute of Public Administration. Later, she was hired as a trainer in a programme for future government training officers, into which she injected Filipino work ethics. Back in the Philippines, she was with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (BPSP) as project supervisor and pioneered the self-employment programme of the Department of Social Welfare (DSW).
"When I was with the Papua New Guinea IPA, I expanded the concept of training by identifying who among those in public service needed training skills," Sta. Cruz said, noting that this developed into a course for extension officers who went to the villages to work with the grassroots.

The training they received helped them in their profession in later years, she said. "A number of my officer-students are now in government agencies holding top positions. Some even became members of Parliament, a governor and a government cabinet member."

Additionally, to improve the efficiency of executive secretaries working for top-level government officials, Sta. Cruz designed a special programme for them after which they were sent to Manila for hands-on assignment in top corporate entities in the business enclave of Makati.

Sta. Cruz noted that these office secretaries employed by government ministers, directors and top management were among those usually ignored when it concerned proficiency training.

"Now, government executives are benefiting from the newly-acquired skills of their executive secretaries," she said.

The Filipinos' inherent flexibility as workers is one factor that continues to make them attractive to Papua New Guinean employers.

John Orea, a road contractor and businessman, and former governor of Central province, relied heavily on Filipino experts for business and technical advice.

"I learned a lot from my Filipino consultants, especially in the engineering aspect of my projects," he said, adding that he highly valued the expertise and friendships of the Filipinos. "I talked to them as much as I could to learn new things from them."

In fact, when he became the Central province governor in the late 1990s, the first thing he did was to pirate one Filipino civil engineer from the Works Department to become his consultant for his rural development programme. The consultant was Raul Sta. Cruz, the late husband of Nene Sta. Cruz.
Pinoys thriving in Papua New Guinea.

Last year, the Filipinos in PNG number 7,500, according to estimates by the Philippine Embassy early last year, with about 3,500 based in Port Moresby. The rest are distributed across the country, working in trade stores, banks, corporate offices, factories, logging camps and government units.

Long-time expatriates take pride in saying that with their employment here, they were able to send their children to local international schools and Australian universities.

Says Remy Socan, a manager at Port Moresby Guest House: We like it very much here ... we were able to send our children to the international school and we're enjoying our lives here ... whenever we went home to the Philippines for a holiday, I had always thought of coming back soon ... life is very much different in the Philippines."

Remy and her husband Tony, a manager at a government technical school in Port Moresby, first came to PNG in mid-70s but were based for a long time in Lae before finally moving to the capital.

kiretoce

January 18th, 2007, 11:47 PM

Growing Filipino population calls Charles City "Ang Aking Bayan" — My hometown
By Mark Wicks Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Charles City is a long way from the Philippines, a collection of more than 7,000 islands (only 900 of which are inhabited) in the South Pacific. More than 65 million Filipinos occupy the 11 largest islands in the densely-populated nation. Since the mid 1990s, though, some of those islanders have moved inland — half a world away.

International Fellowship, a Charles City organization formed to assist immigrants moving into the community, estimates there are approximately 40 Filipino families (150 or so individuals) currently residing in the place that calls itself “America’s Hometown.” Organization co-founder Jim Sanner reported that before the recent — and most likely temporary — influx of migrant Hispanic workers employed in constructing the new VeraSun Energy ethanol facility just outside of town, the Filipino population was Charles City’s largest minority group.

“A lot of the Filipinos in town are related to someone else. They are a close-knit community overall,” observed Sanner. “That’s a real key to their success. They step up and help one another out with babysitting and such.

“In comparison, our Hispanic population tends to be a little more fragmented. Our Mexican friends tend to come from a number of different places.”

Charles City’s pipeline from the Philippines appears to have run primarily through All-States Quality Foods, a poultry processing plant that ceased operations last year.

“All-States Quality Foods was badly in need of workers. Filipino workers are hard-working,” explained Jose Carreon, who immigrated from the Philippine island of Luzon to Charles City in June 2002.

Johnny Baylon of Pozorrubio, Philippines, was among the first 10 Filipinos hired by All-States in May 1996. His wife, Salud, had an aunt (Soledad Alverez) who lived in Charles City and worked at the plant.

“She worked with Tim Prenevost at All-States to get workers from the Philippines,” Baylon reported.

“I think it’s a big joke (at first), as I know it is very hard to enter the U.S.,” said Carreon. “You have to spend a lot of money on placement fees to work in other countries, and there is a lot of corruption among officials. You often spend all that money for nothing.

“I applied though, and was accepted. It was for real.”

Looking for a better life

Both Carreon and Baylon chose to come to America for the same reason.

“We wanted to have a good future,” remarked Baylon, 35, who eventually brought his wife and their daughter, Krystle, over from the Philippines once he was settled and able. “We were looking for work. I could not find steady work in the Philippines. I did odd jobs, some construction, but there was not enough of it and the pay was too little. I would make $2 a day (in 1996 U.S. equivalent) for 10 hours of work. I could not find work every day.”

Carreon and his family had been displaced from their home in Angeles City by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatuba. For years afterward, they had to live in tent settlements.

“I wanted to come, for my family’s future and I wanted to come for me,” said Carreon, 55. “My dream was to come to America, the land of milk and honey. I know about America from (Clark U.S. Air Base) that I worked at in the Philippines.”

He reported that back home, he would typically work from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. for 300 pesos (Filipino currency).

“That’s something like $6 U.S., and that is if you are skilled. Otherwise, it could be 200 pesos,” Carreon commented. “Here, I am making $8.75 an hour (at Fox River Mills in Osage), with overtime, and work a full week.”

Getting here, however, was far from easy. Baylon and Carreon both said the hoops they had to jump through were nearly overwhelming.

“There was a lot of red tape. It took six years, but the papers kept on coming and finally the U.S. Department of Labor gives us the OK to go,” reported Carreon.

“I had to wait five years after the papers were filed to get an interview and come over,” added Baylon.

Once they got the green light to come to America, they were still on their own to get here.

“I had $50 in my pocket when I arrived,” said Baylon. “Our family helped with money to come and Soledad let us stay with her for about a year.”

Carreon was loaned the money to fly over by Harold Vermeer of Charles City, the uncle of the man who talked Carreon into applying for the All-States job. Vermeer, he said, was with the U.S.D.A., assigned to All-States at the time.

“I owe uncle Harry and All-States a lot,” Carreon stated.

When he reached Los Angeles, Carreon said he knelt down on the ground and said, “Dear Lord, thank you. I made it! From Angeles City to Los Angeles!”

Vermeer met Carreon and his son, Nelson (another All-States recruit), at the Minneapolis airport, but found them perplexed by the warm June weather.

“I said, ‘I thought it snowed here? Why is it so hot?’ I thought it was winter here year round,” said Carreon. “That’s when I learned about summer and fall. I thought all the trees had died that first fall.”

Within two days, Carreon and his son were working at All-States.

“I got my first paycheck and went to First Security Bank & Trust and cashed it,” Carreon said with a big smile. “The lady there told me not to buy too many hamburgers with it, because I would get too big!”

Apart from families

Baylon and Carreon both said the hardest part about coming to America was coming without their families.

“I had never been away from them before, and had to wait two years before they could come over,” explained Baylon. “After the first three months, I was so homesick I wanted to go back. But my supervisor told me to think about the future and to stick it out.”

So he did, sending money back home to help support them.

“I had to earn so much here and prove I could support them before they were allowed to come over, but here I was sending money back to support them in the Philippines,” he said. “It didn’t make sense to me.”

“The hardest thing was being apart,” agreed Salud Baylon who, along with Krystle, finally were able to join Johnny in March 1998. “He asked All-States if I could have a job offer, too, and I think that helped a lot.”

Johnny Baylon added that All-States provided an affidavit of support, as well, for his wife and daughter to come over.

While they were apart, Baylon sent his family pictures of snow in Charles City.

“We were kind of excited to see it. There was a little snow on the ground when we arrived,” Salud Baylon recalled.

Felisa Carreon was also eager to join her husband and son in America.

“It was a chance at a new life,” she commented.

Sanner and International Fellowship joined Vermeer in sponsoring Carreon’s wife coming to the U.S.

“Often times, you need an American sponsor so that they don’t become a ward of the state and a drain on social services,” explained Sanner.

“I didn’t go out much after work. I went home. I missed my family,” remarked Jose Carreon. “The first Christmas, I missed them very much.”

The Carreons have four children, including son Nelson, 30, who lives in Charles City and now works with them at Fox River Mills. A grown daughter and two other sons, both married, still live in the Philippines.

“Our daughter and grandchild, we are trying to bring over here,” said Felisa Carreon.

Fitting in

The Carreons and Baylons are both happy with their choice of communities in America.

“Peace of mind is the number one thing I like about Charles City,” said Jose Carreon. “You can leave your bike and have it unlocked. It’s a lot different than what I experienced before.”

“I like the people here. They are friendly and care about us,” added his wife. “The big difference between America and the Philippines is people here will help you. In the Philippines, they will ignore you.”

Salud Baylon noted that, when her husband first arrived in Charles City, he was among the first Filipino immigrants, “and there weren’t many minorities around town.”

“The first time here, I felt like an outsider,” Johnny Baylon admitted. “But the people were so friendly to me. They have always been friendly to me. I am not afraid to go around town. This is a safe place.”

April Concepcion, Cultural Diversity Program assistant for Floyd County Extension, echoed Sanner’s comments of the Filipino support system.

“The state of being lost in touch from culture, surroundings and the like was lessened because, when most of the Filipino families started to arrive in 2002, there was already a budding community of Filipinos residing here,” commented Concepcion. “It also helped, especially when families residing in the areas are most likely related to each other. It made it easier to adjust to new surroundings and culture, because of the support. That also makes it easier not to be so homesick so much.”

Jose Carreon said that Sanner and the International Fellowship group were also helpful.

“They helped us know what to do, how to do it and where to go,” he said. “The mayor even came to one of our Filipino-American parties.”

Sanner described Charles City’s Filipino population as, “hard-working people who are very traditional and very friendly.”

“Other people just sing their praises,” he remarked. “They are really decent people. I have never heard any negatives from their neighbors.”

The local Filipino population, Sanner said, wants to give back to its new community.

“That’s the mission of the Filipino-American Society they have formed,” he commented of their newly-adopted home. “They are not here to make trouble. They want to make things work. They know it won’t be an easy road to hoe. They deal with setbacks on a regular basis. They are a very resourceful and determined bunch.”

Many Filipinos, including the Carreons and Baylons, are of the Catholic faith and are members of Immaculate Conception Church in Charles City.

“Church here is pretty much like church there,” Krystle Baylon said of the Philippines.

For the most part, though, the Carreons and Baylons said many Filipinos are homebodies outside of work.

“We mostly just stay at home,” said Johnny Baylon. “We may rent movies to watch, or just watch television.”

“We try to always eat together as a family for supper. That’s important,” added Salud Baylon.

“We like to go to Sherm’s Place and have a beer and play pool every now and then after a hard day’s work, but otherwise, we like to rent movies and stay home,” remarked Jose Carreon.

Adjustments

For many Filipinos, there is an adjustment period, particularly when it comes to the English language. English is taught at schools in the Philippines, along with Tagalog, the official language. But, the Baylons pointed out, there isn’t much reason to use English in the Philippines, so many people aren’t used to it.

Johnny Baylon added that there are different dialects — more than 60 — with the Filipino language alone.

“Every city has its own dialect,” he said. “Jose has a different dialect than us.”

Therefore, communication can be an issue at first.

“Johnny didn’t speak English at all when he came, and learned from being around his co-workers,” Salud Baylon explained.

“I had a hard time,” he admitted.

“Sometimes, it was a matter of just catching the right word to understand,” his wife added.

Johnny Baylon reported he had trouble with coins early on.

“I didn’t know what a nickel was, or a penny or quarter,” he remarked. “People were very understanding and good to me, though. They helped me along.”

Krystle, who is now 16, said she believes it is much easier for children to pick up the English language than it is the adults.

Salud Baylon explained how she had to go to school with Krystle the first month they were in Charles City.

“When kids are speaking to her at that age in English, she just seemed to get it,” the mother observed.

In the Philippines, Krystle Baylon attended first and second grades before coming to America. She explained how students went to school from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., and were required to wear uniforms.

“We don’t have seventh and eighth grades in the Philippines. You go to grades 1-6 in elementary and then right to high school for four years and graduate at age 16,” Salud Baylon explained. “When I got here, I had trouble figuring out that difference in the schools.

“Krystle’s friends in the Philippines have already graduated. That’s a little tough on her.”

Jose Carreon, on the other hand, is self-educated in English. He took it to heart when an American soldier at Clark Air Base once told him to learn one new word in English a day.

“You have to learn a lot,” he said. “Not all Filipinos are like me. Many have to think first what they are going to say before saying it.”

There were some physical and cultural differences that took some adjusting to.

“It’s cold in the winter,” commented Krystle Baylon. “December in the Philippines is like spring here, in the 60s. But we’re used to it by now.

“When we went back to the Philippines to visit, we were all sweating a lot because we were used to the cold. It is always hot there, but it felt hotter after having been away.”

“The first winter was nice to see, but after 2-3 years, I don’t like it so much,” chimed in Johnny Baylon. “Too much work shoveling and clearing the car.”

His daughter also noted how everyone in Charles City drives.

“In the Philippines, everyone walks. Mom learned to drive after she came here,” Krystle said.

Her father added that they now own three vehicles, one for each of them.

“I never thought I would own a car, let alone three ... or a house,” he said. “These are all dreams that came true.”

Food is another major difference.

“I love hamburgers and fried chicken, pork and gravy and french fries,” raved Jose Carreon. “We have McDonald’s in the Philippines, but it is different. Poor people can’t afford to eat there, but for special occasions.

“Here, a rich man’s food is the same as a poor man’s. In the Philippines, we eat fish and rice. Always fish.”

His wife also marveled at the availability of fresh fruit in America.

“You can’t buy fruits like oranges and grapes, because they are too expensive in the Philippines,” Felisa Carreon said.

The Baylons noted there is some difficulty at times finding the particular Filipino foods they want in town.

“We have to go to Rochester, Des Moines or Chicago,” explained Johnny. “Now Lola (Nilda Vermeer, Harold Vermeer’s wife) has a Filipino store in town, but there are still some things we can’t get here. Every couple of months or so, we make a trip out of town. Mainly for fish.”

“It’s like a Hy-Vee, only it’s a Filipino store,” added Krystle Baylon.

How Filipinos and Americans show respect when they greet people also differs.

Johnny Baylon noted how in the Philippines, everyone says “sir.”

“People here don’t say that,” he remarked.

How Americans call their elders was another surprise.

“You call them here by their first names. In the Philippines, you never call them by their first names,” said Salud Baylon. “It was always ‘aunt’ or ‘grandmother.’”

Krystle Baylon added there is also a tradition of taking your grandparents hand and putting it on your forehead when you greet them, “as a sign of respect.”

Loss of All-States

There have been some career adjustments, as well, for both families.

When All-States closed last summer, Carreon said a lot of Filipinos were left without jobs. Most, he said, found work out of town at Con-Agra and Fox River Mills. Fort Dodge Animal Health and Custom Wood Products in Charles City also hired a few.

“To show my appreciation, when they closed the doors on the plant, I still helped out,” Jose Carreon said of All-States. “I worked there for four years, though, and had to find a job. After a week, I found seasonal work at Sherman Nursery, then I applied for a job at Fox River Mills. The people there are friendly and great people to know.”

“They talk to you and get to know you,” added Felisa Carreon.

The Baylons, meanwhile, left All-States prior to the closing and now work for Winnebago Industries — Salud at the Hardwoods facility and Johnny at the Manufacturing Facility.

“We never had benefits before and now we do,” he said of the jobs they have held for the past two years.

No discrimination

Asked if they ever felt discriminated against, or had come across any racism in Charles City, the members of both families replied they had not.

“No one gives me any problems. They are all friendly,” said Jose Carreon. “As far as I know, Charles City treats people from other countries pretty good. We appreciate it, too. My wife received a welcome letter and she said, ‘Look, someone in America knows my name!’

“People here are nice and friendly, even if I don’t know them. Charles City people are waving at us all the time. As long as you are doing good, they do good to you. If you do bad, they will treat you bad, I think.”

“Since I came here, everyone has been nice to me,” chimed in Johnny Baylon. “People wave at you. In the Philippines, they won’t wave at strangers.”

Salud Baylon said, even when it comes to cooking, strangers will lend a helping hand.

“I am asking the people I work with how to do mashed potatoes, which my daughter likes from school and wants me to make. I didn’t know how, but the people at work, they tell me,” she stated.

Even the police officers in Charles City, Jose Carreon said, are friendly.

“I met one who had worked at Clark Air Base, where I had worked,” he marveled. “Small world.”

Carreon knows not every community in America is the same.

“Charles City is not like other places, like Los Angeles. They talk to you here. I like this place very much.

“My wife’s sister invited us to California and said, if we come, we’d never want to go back to Iowa. I say no way. This is life the way I like it.”

Last year, the Baylons traveled to South Dakota, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming.

“The country was really nice to see,” commented Johnny Baylon.

“But, I don’t think I want to raise my daughter in a big city. I like a small town,” added his wife.

Concepcion stated that racial bias and discrimination is a sensitive topic, “but in one way or another, it has been felt by or experienced by any immigrant, whether it is in every day occurrence or a workplace scenario.”

“I guess when people don’t understand a new language or culture in front of them, they tend to be defensive, unconcerned or maybe even threatened,” she commented. “Some complaints I’ve heard would be employers are looking more at color rather than how good of a worker they’ve got in these immigrants.”

And sometimes, Jose Carreon said, people don’t take the time to get to know someone before jumping to conclusions. He recalls going to Denver, Iowa, with Vermeer to a fish fry at the American Legion shortly after he arrived in America.

“Everyone was looking at me,” he said. “A lady asked if I was Vietnamese? She didn’t know where the Philippines are.”

Mis-assumptions work both ways, though. On his first visit back to the Philippines since leaving, Jose Carreon said he was bombarded with questions about life in Iowa.

“People were asking how I could live in the cold weather. They didn’t realize there were heaters in the houses,” he said with a smirk.

Getting involved

More and more, according to the Baylons, the Filipinos in the community are wanting to get more involved and become a bigger part of their new hometown.

“Last year, Salud was one of the officers for the Filipino-American Society,” reported Johnny Baylon. “They get together for a Christmas party, picnic in July and to welcome new families.”

For the Fourth of July, the Filipino-American Society sold food in Central Park after the parade.

“It was really fun. People kept coming back,” said Salud Baylon. “We sold 400 egg rolls.”

Both the Baylons and Carreons are big fans of the fireworks, parades and especially the Party in the Park events hosted by their new community.

“I think Party in the Park should be year round,” remarked Salud Baylon.

Krystle Baylon, meanwhile, keeps busy with orchestra, the School Improvement team, FCCLA (Family Careers Community Leaders of America) and the new Filipino 4-H Club headed up by Concepcion and Floyd County Extension (see sidebar).

It’s all a far cry from their life as it was not all that long ago, in a place that may now seem more than just half a world away. For some, like the Carreons, who had been living in a tent, it was a lifetime ago.

“A lot of Filipinos want to come here, because they know their life would be better,” said Felisa Carreon.

“They’ve changed our lives here and I don’t know how to repay that,” added her husband.

kiretoce

January 19th, 2007, 12:04 AM

RP is world's most dependent on OFW earnings

The Philippines has earned the distinction of being the world's most dependent country on overseas workers' remittances, militant think tank IBON Foundation said Wednesday.

In its economic and political briefing for 2006 held Wednesday, IBON research head Sonny Africa said that from January to November 2006 remittances from migrant workers hit $11.4 billion, equivalent to an alarming 10% of the gross domestic product.

"The double-digit mark makes the Philippines the most overseas remittance-dependent economy of any significant size in the world. This means that the economy continues to be kept afloat by the external and volatile OFW remittances, and not by a strong local economic capacity," Africa said.

Declines in domestic investment imply a diminishing capacity to expand production and warn of a slowdown in the very near future, he added.

According to Africa, the dependence on OFW remittances also reflects the lack of decent productive work at home.

"The sheer scarcity of jobs is already a sign that all is not well and that the economy lacks an internal dynamism that is able to productively harness and employ the Filipino workforce," he said.

Joblessness has resulted in an influx of Filipinos seeking employment overseas, which as of November 2006, has already breached the one million mark.

This means that over 3,000 Filipinos left the country everyday to find jobs abroad, he said.

IBON's assessment came as labor secretary Arturo Brion announced the government will now move to reduce, if not eliminate, abuses on vulnerable Filipino women working as maids overseas.

Brion said the thrust will be founded firmly on sounder standards, the global campaign for quality jobs, strengthening of traditional as well as emerging overseas labor markets for the OFWs, and stronger anti-illegal recruitment and human trafficking efforts which shall be inter-agency in nature.

He sought to allay the fears of protesters, mainly former and would-be domestic helpers (DHs) abroad, as well as recruiters, in the government's direction towards better standards, welfare, and protection for working Filipino women abroad.

"We want to see improvements on the matter of the salaries of our DHs abroad, which had gone down to the $200 level, and if we do not address the situation, this could deteriorate further as reports we have received indicate," he said.

"It is high time that we address the situation, and it is in this light that the new minimum salary of $400 we have imposed for DHs will not weaken global OFW deployment, but even set a favorable standard based on the global preference for our overseas Filipino workers," he added.

Brion cited data from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) indicating that about 80 percent of welfare cases were composed of women OFWs working as DHs overseas.

He said Filipino maids comprised some 90,000, or less than 10 percent, of the total 1.083 million OFWs deployed globally in 2006.

"This means that other skilled OFWs comprise the majority of our global deployment, and the government is sensitive that the abuses and ill-treatment of OFWs in the lower end jobs, like domestic helpers, be pushed back or are eliminated through better conditions."

"Without such, the illegal recruitment of vulnerable DHs for perilous jobs abroad can only be fueled on such deteriorating pay and other onerous conditions."

Brion, during the recent Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) Command Conference, also emphasized that placement fees will no longer be charged for DHs bound for overseas, adding that it is a must to resist and counteract the insidious effects of recruiters engaged in "cutthroat" competition for the recruitment of would-be DHs.

Brion said that the new $400 standard will not affect OFW deployment as he bared that 800,000 high end jobs are awaiting the OFWs in the next three years due to the strengthening of overseas labor markets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Canada, Spain, Japan, and other host economies.

The Governing Board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, through a series of Resolutions issued in 2006, had effectively increased the entry level minimum salary of overseas DHs to $400 (Resolution No. 5, Series of 2006); prescribed a minimum age of 25 years old for female household workers abroad (Resolution No. 04); and prohibited the collection of placement fees whether prior to deployment or onsite through salary deduction; among others.

"Just think of the previous cases of underage, ill-protected domestic helpers abroad who suffered abuses due to the lack of protection, and you will realize what these vitally important measures mean to both the well-being of our vulnerable overseas women workers as well as our national interest," Brion said.

He asked those who protested against the new $400 minimum salary for overseas Filipino DHs to look instead on the long-term gains, as the new standard would place the DHs on a better footing against abuse and exploitation abroad.

"We are aware that, as a result of their employment in our OFW host countries, OFWs have a role in the development of their formal as well as informal economies, and I am confident that together with us, our host countries are aware of the need to base such progress on solid standards, rather than upon deteriorating conditions ultimately unfavorable to our mutual and global economic growth, as well as the welfare of vulnerable migrants."

sugarboy

January 19th, 2007, 12:52 AM

I believe the Filipinos can stop the world from turning so to speak if we wanted to.

All we need to do is ask Hallmark to create a Domestic Workers' Appreciation Day. On this day, all house managers take the day off simultaneously to the dismay of world leaders, heads of state, CEOs, etc.

With all their houselods ashamble, we then would have displayed our capacity for world domination. Bwahahahaha!

Even George Bush would go hungry with his Filipina chef on leave.

cheersmate

January 19th, 2007, 01:16 PM

tigidig14

January 20th, 2007, 12:44 AM

madaming taga luto si Papi Bush
hindi magugutom kahit umalis si Pnay chef hehehe

crappypants

January 20th, 2007, 02:10 AM

I like the people here. They are friendly and care about us,” added his wife. “The big difference between America and the Philippines is people here will help you. In the Philippines, they will ignore you.”

That is so true why are pinoys in the PHils. for the most part are like that?
Makasarile ,each man to his own. Americans are very helpful to their fellow Americans.

kiretoce

January 20th, 2007, 06:33 AM

Bump! :colgate:

j-pol

January 20th, 2007, 08:34 AM

ThisFire

January 20th, 2007, 10:52 AM

^^ It is a big factor, but I don't think Pilipinas is the most reliant on remittances. Mexico has a lot going on too, as well as India.

bitoy

January 20th, 2007, 03:47 PM

hindi mo naman talaga masabing americans kasi most, if not all, of the americans are of european origin. especially the whites. and besides, america is a nation of peoples. there's no "native" american in that sense.

Hindi ma register sa utak ko itong statement mo. :)

Let me see, Just like the the Pinoys, mixed din naman tayo. Even the Negritos and Aetas are of mixed origins. Walang pure Pinoys or walang race na pure.

Lalong gumulo ang statement ko --- :nuts:

Mahirap magising ng 5:am --- hehehe

j-pol

January 20th, 2007, 06:00 PM

iba kasi talaga yung americans tol. almost all nationalities makikita mo sa america. and all these peoples seek for the american dream. that's why i don't think the americans should be considered as one of the most scattered people.

i think the chinese are the most scattered people. hehehe. and probably filipinos come next.

TheAvenger

January 20th, 2007, 07:06 PM

kiretoce

January 20th, 2007, 07:27 PM

hindi mo naman talaga masabing americans kasi most, if not all, of the americans are of european origin. especially the whites. and besides, america is a nation of peoples. there's no "native" american in that sense.

The way I see it, you're "American" if you were born in the US regardless of what nationality and ethnicity you belong to. People who were born elsewhere and are naturalized American citizens are "Americans of __________ (fill in the nationality) Descent." :colgate:

LordCarnal

January 20th, 2007, 07:31 PM

LordCarnal

January 20th, 2007, 07:34 PM

^^

I agree. I think we can rightfully say that the Philippines now is "one of the most powerful countries" in the whole wide world. This does not literally mean that we are such, but I guess if only someone could unite all these guys then surely we can dictate the economy of the world in another way.

kiretoce

January 20th, 2007, 07:36 PM

^^ That could happen if someone cunning and deranged enough to brainwash Filipinos into doing that, granted also that if all Filipinos can get along with each other, much like the Borg entitiy. :lol:

LordCarnal

January 20th, 2007, 07:37 PM

^^

Granting that would happen, what would you do Kimber? :lol:

TheAvenger

January 20th, 2007, 07:44 PM

hindi mo naman talaga masabing americans kasi most, if not all, of the americans are of european origin. especially the whites. and besides, america is a nation of peoples. there's no "native" american in that sense.

The first inhabitants of north and north America were the native Americans who were called American Indians (cherokee, sioux, etc) in the US, and called Inca, Mayans etc in central and south america. They were originally natives of Asia from Siberia.

Btw, you can find Pinay even in the darkest part of Africa like Togo, Ivory coast etc (some of them were GRO in that place, after the French they were the most sought after entertainers.... in that place in West Africa. :)

There were also Pinay teachers in Malawi in East Africa. But the first Pinoy in Africa were the Filipino revolutionaries of 1896 who was exiled in Durban and
Capetown. I met some of their descendants but they were already mixed with whites and some with blacks.

You can find Pinoy who get married and settled in Costa Rica, Columbia, Brazil, Chile, etc. but most of them were seafarers. However way back in 1990some people in Buenos Aires told me that there were some Pinoy farmers in a place in Argentina.

kiretoce

January 20th, 2007, 07:45 PM

Granting that would happen, what would you do Kimber? :lol:

I'm more for diversification than homogenizing the whole world to act and think like Pinoys. :colgate::

Let's face it we (Pinoys) are like mutts, and I mean that in a good way. :okay:

TheAvenger

January 20th, 2007, 07:59 PM

Somebody told me that Filipinos are neo-colonizers just waiting for the right time to conquer and rule the world.

Who knows, with just one flick, just like in iRobot or Starwars, a "great" leader would send the signal for the millions of Filipinos abroad to "carry out the task."

that is a dream only.... I will be contented if we can recover the lost territory of Sabah, and Palmas island south of Davao, the island taken by the Dutch from the Spanish govt based in Manila, and later the Dutch gaved to Indonesia. And also the islets and reefs taken by the Chinese in recent years in the Philippine islands portion of the South China Sea islands near the Spratly re 200 miles EEC as per the UN Law of Sea Conference.

Also if we can get back the US Territory of Marianas and the Federated States of Caroline islands in the Pacific. Marianas and Carolines island were governed by the Spanish government from Manila from the 16the Century up to the end of Spanish and American War in 1898-1899. However during the American occupation they separated the administration of those Pacific islands from the Philippines and later it became a trust territory of the League of Nations, invaded by the Japanese, then became UN Trust Territory then now an American territory.

With our nearly 1 hundred million populations in years to come together with vast army of professional and skilled workers in all fields, if we have a strong economy that can sustain a vast Armed Forces we can recover our lost territories and our country can became a regional power in southeast asia that can compete with China, Indonesia, Japan and Australia in regional supremacy.
THAT IS IF - If we have a strong economy and a good and nationalistic government.

That is more modest dreams than counquering the world.

However my dreams of our country getting back the Marianas and the Carolines is like the song
An Impossible Dreams ... or wishing to box the moon or suntok sa buwan ....

anyhow wala namang masamang mangarap....

crappypants

January 20th, 2007, 11:06 PM

I would say the Chinese. there are Chinese communities even in countries from cental and South AMerica.

kiretoce

January 21st, 2007, 05:31 AM

that is a dream only.... I will be contented if we can recover the lost territory of Sabah, and Palmas island south of Davao, the island taken by the Dutch from the Spanish govt based in Manila, and later the Dutch gaved to Indonesia.

Also if we can get back the US Territory of Marianas and the Federated States of Caroline islands in the Pacific. Marianas and Carolines island were governed by the Spanish government from Manila from the 16the Century up to the end of Spanish and American War in 1898-1899. However during the American occupation they separated the administration of those Pacific islands from the Philippines and later it became a trust territory of the League of Nations, invaded by the Japanese, then became UN Trust Territory then now an American territory.

That is more modest dreams than counquering the world.

However my dreams of our country getting back the Marianas and the Carolines is like the song
An Impossible Dreams ... or wishing to box the moon or suntok sa buwan ....

anyhow wala namang masamang mangarap....

I'd rather have the Philippines the way it is today. A Philippine nation that's that wide spread will not only be hard to govern but will eventually break-up in the long run, heck even today's Philippines have internal factions trying to secede from the union. But like what you've said, nothing's wrong with dreaming of the impossible. :colgate:

manileño

January 21st, 2007, 08:53 AM

^^ A rich and powerful economy with a big territory to support it would provide the glue. :)

@TheAvenger. i dreamt about that too: :colgate: Filipinas being connected to Marianas and Carolinas as it was for 300 years to form a beautiful Western Pacific Empire and a naval power to rival Japan and Australia. :) Marianas and the Caroline Islands (called "Nuevas Filipinas/New Philippines" during Spanish times) didn't only historically belong to Filipinas, they also border the eastern end of what's supposed to be our sea (the Philippine Sea). hehe Imagine that whole vast western arm of the Pacific Ocean and its resources going under our control; the military and economic power in East Asia and Western Pacific would have been ours instead of the americans'. :) And the Chamorros (of Guam & Marianas) and Carolinos would have been a happy and proud polynesian bunch reunited with their Filipino brethren whom they share the same religion (RC), culture (Hispanic), and language (Spanish, Austronesian) with. It would have been a great country of 5 territories: Luzon, Mindanao, Visayas, Marianas, Carolinas.

But of course, it only remains a dream haha. The United States of both ends of the Pacific already took it from us. :D

kevinb

January 21st, 2007, 09:04 AM

^^ That could happen if someone cunning and deranged enough to brainwash Filipinos into doing that. :lol:

That would be the Philippines' Hitler.:D

manileño

January 21st, 2007, 09:24 AM

^ here you go again with your pessimistic and unpatriotic views.crappypants
i think in general, pinoys in pinas are helpful to their fellow pinoys. i mean you can just see it in the streets, with a teenager helping an elderly cross the street. and in their own homes not only during fiestas, a visitor is free to stay and is given the best accomodation and food they can offer..

this value is changing in the big city tho where there's lots of crime due to poverty caused by overpopulation but, i think the filipinos being named among the happiest people on earth, and the americans and caucasians getting a low score on it disproves your whole theory. :D

crappypants

January 21st, 2007, 10:17 AM

Actually it wasn't my comment . It was the comment of the people in the article. I just agreed with them. There are exception to the rule but in general it holds true. You can just see it in how they drive ,hold rallies and throw plastics on the streets. No consideration of their actions to others.

TheAvenger

January 21st, 2007, 05:30 PM

That would be the Philippines' Hitler.:D

Sukarno was able to take back Irian Jaya which is formerly called Netherland New Guinea. Before the Dutch don't want to give Irian Jaya to Indonesia saying that it was different race from the Indonesians.

However Sukarno insist and I assume the world court agreed to their stand that since Irian Jaya is formerly a part of Netherland East Indies and govern from Batavia/Jakarta then it should be given to Indonesia.

Marianas and the Carolinas were also a part of the Spanish Filipinas and govern from Manila so we have a point in claiming it from the Americans.

In our Constitution, in the column Territory it was written after the definition of Philippine territory
word like this " and all other territories belonging to the Philippines acquired by historical rights." the wording is something like that.

Of course we have to wait when the U.S.A. is no longer a world power . . . . .

:cheers:

kiretoce

January 21st, 2007, 05:38 PM

^^ Let's pretend that what if the Marianas and the Caroline Islands push for their own independence from the US? Would the Philippines still pursue their plans for annexation of these islands?

TheAvenger

January 21st, 2007, 06:38 PM

^^ Let's pretend that what if the Marianas and the Caroline Islands push for their own independence from the US? Would the Philippines still pursue their plans for annexation of these islands?

The most important is we implant the facts to the next generations of Filipinos that the Marianas and the Carolinas belongs to the Philippines.

Who knows maybe after 50 years from now a Filipino Messiah will be born with the genius of Jose Rizal and Marcos (less the evil), the bravery of Lapu-Lapu, Andres Bonifacio, Antonio Luna and so on, and he will get back our lost territories. Sabah now with Malaysia, the other islands in the South China Sea, Palmas island now with Indonesia, Marianas Island now a US Territory and Carolinas Island now a commonwealth of the U.S.

By that time our Populations will be more or less 200 millions .... with a very strong economy and strong nationalistic uncorrupted government we can support a vast and strong military forces that will recover our lost lands.

THAT IS IF - if only we have a strong economy and good government otherwise it will remain a dreams.

kiretoce

January 21st, 2007, 06:48 PM

^^ Aaahhh....one can only dream! And dreams are for the sleeping, but it's when we are awake that reality settles in. :colgate:

bitoy

January 21st, 2007, 10:18 PM

Besides the Filipinos, Chinese and Americans, those Indians from India should be on the list.
Kakagulat, meron 5/6 sila sa Bahamas and Tailoring shops. :D

tigidig14

January 22nd, 2007, 12:37 AM

i partially agree with crappypantalon, although there is some exception. in fact, one of these exceptions include me. hehehe

TheAvenger

January 22nd, 2007, 01:04 AM

Besides the Filipinos, Chinese and Americans, those Indians from India should be on the list.
Kakagulat, meron 5/6 sila sa Bahamas and Tailoring shops. :D

and all over the islands of the Carribean, and the East Indians were the majority now in Trinidad and Tobago.

manileño

January 22nd, 2007, 08:55 AM

^^ Let's pretend that what if the Marianas and the Caroline Islands push for their own independence from the US? Would the Philippines still pursue their plans for annexation of these islands?

Then that would be good and beneficial to both, us and them. Once they're independent, they're gonna take over their own education system and come up with their national histories. Once they do, they will realize how the history of Manila have always been their history prior to US conquest in the early 1900s. And there will be a rekindling of ties, economic and cultural. We may even form our own trade bloc. As far as the Phil. annexation of these islands is concerned, i think it is already futile and that the different history under America has already drawn the line and made us 3 different nation-states. I think we can only go up to making partnership with them but it will also depend on their view and acceptance of common history and culture, and the filipino expats (who represent the biggest minority in those islans) may also play a role on that.

manileño

January 22nd, 2007, 09:00 AM

^^ Aaahhh....one can only dream! And dreams are for the sleeping, but it's when we are awake that reality settles in. :colgate:

Well why not? hehe. Rizal dreamt and he never woke up to see the changes he dreamt about. His dreams did come true. Maybe someone like him can do the same in the future. hehe! :D

manileño

January 22nd, 2007, 09:08 AM

^ oh i see. screw the people in the article then. :lol: j/k
actually what i wrote was just a reaction to your last comment about Filipinos being makasarile.
So i mentioned the fact that filipinos are some of the happiest people on earth. And when you think about it, happy and makasarile don't really go together, no? :colgate:

TheAvenger

January 22nd, 2007, 08:53 PM

Then that would be good and beneficial to both, us and them. Once they're independent, they're gonna take over their own education system and come up with their national histories. Once they do, they will realize how the history of Manila have always been their history prior to US conquest in the early 1900s. And there will be a rekindling of ties, economic and cultural. We may even form our own trade bloc. As far as the Phil. annexation of these islands is concerned, i think it is already futile and that the different history under America has already drawn the line and made us 3 different nation-states. I think we can only go up to making partnership with them but it will also depend on their view and acceptance of common history and culture, and the filipino expats (who represent the biggest minority in those islans) may also play a role on that.

Yes, I agree.
btw about a decade ago, I came across a news item that there is a move to establish an
association for Spanish-speaking countries in the Pacific region that will include the Philippines, Marianas, Carolinas, and of course the countries from Mexico down to the Strait of Magellan in Chile. This kind of association of Spanish-speaking countries is a huge voting block in the UN.

It is regretable that they removed the teaching of Spanish language in the school. In the age of globalization learning the major language of the world like Spanish and French is a big plus.

off topic :
in South America, the Pinoy who likes bar hopping must beware not to let the beautiful senoritas borrow your necklace because they will say later " recuerdo para mi ? " he he he

Animo

January 23rd, 2007, 12:28 AM

^^ Yes, this was true until the 1960's actually. Although, the Philippines is still part of the Latin American block in terms of economy and other groups as an observer. The demise was because of the removal and the disuse of Spanish in the country in the 1973 Constitution. But a new idea of forming an alliance between the Pacific 'Latin' countries to benefit from Asia is somewhat forthcoming.

tigidig14

January 23rd, 2007, 02:14 AM

meron kayang pnoy sa antartica

AkafloresToo

January 23rd, 2007, 03:06 AM

I read sa Philstar that they have departed the family to Pinas from Canada. Buti nga.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200701236305.htm

Canada deports couple wanted for swindling

The Philippine Star 01/23/2007

A couple accused of swindling hundreds of people including many officers of the Philippine National Police and the Presidential Security Group in a pyramid scheme four years ago was deported by Canada last Sunday.

Kaye del Rosario, 42, and his wife Janice, 44, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 4:20 p.m.

They were escorted on the flight by Canadian immigration officers John Martin Clarcke, Michelle O’Hara, and Jody Scott Mcphail and were turned over to the Bureau of Immigration.

Also deported with the couple were their two young sons, aged 13 and eight.

Welcoming the couple at the airport was senator-turned-lawyer Rene Saguisag, who was hired by the couple to defend them.

They are facing a large-scale estafa complaint, led by Superintendent Constante Agpaoa, the station commander of the Central Police District’s Station 6 and his wife. They are accused of swindling hundreds of people, amassing millions of pesos.

Kaye del Rosario was working as a restaurant waiter at the Holiday Inn in Toronto.

Immigration sources said Del Rosario tried to ask the Canadian government for asylum for humanitarian reasons but was turned down.

Ironically, his request only alerted Canadian authorities about their presence in the country and led to their deportation. – Rainier Allan Ronda

http://www.thestar.com/article/170972

Toronto & GTA | Ontario | Canada | World | Obituaries | National Report

TheStar.com - News -

Refugee claimant allegedly bilks friends for millions

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/176989_31.jpg

Before and after: Janice Del Rosario as she appeared to her new friends, left, and as she appeared before going into hiding. Email story

Refugee claimant Janice Del Rosario gained friends with her kindness – and enemies who allege they were scammed out of millions

January 14, 2007
Dale Brazao
staff reporter

She came into their lives out of nowhere – a beautiful, God-fearing woman preaching love, bearing presents, and offering everyone an opportunity to share in her good fortune.

Janice Del Rosario dressed in Gucci and drove a BMW. And she dispensed kindness, compassion and good deeds "like a Mother Teresa."

But when she disappeared suddenly last November, the velvet-tongued Del Rosario left behind a dozen victims clutching an armful of bounced cheques, useless promissory notes and slim chances of recovering any of the estimated $1.5 million they claim she took from them. Victims who spoke to the Star said the amount taken may be much higher, but those victims have not come forward.

"I never in my life thought she was capable of something like this," says 75-year-old Luigi Chiarotto who says he is owed about $1.2 million. "She seemed honest, very honest, like my daughter."

Del Rosario feted the retired construction worker with a lavish surprise party on his 73rd birthday. A cancer victim was given a prepaid cemetery plot. Some got Danier leather jackets, others Swarovski crystal.

Even as the 44-year-old Filipino refugee claimant garnered sympathy among newfound friends with horrific stories of her family being extortion victims back home, they say she was setting them up to be exploited.

When she began offering 10-per-cent return on personal loans for just 10 days they were ready with their chequebooks, and paid the price for that all too human weakness – greed.

Some lost their life savings, others were hit up for luxury cars and credit cards. And a lot of people who should've known better are left wondering just who on earth is Janice Florence Vasquez Del Rosario?

And more important, where is she now?

Del Rosario, her husband, Kaye, 34, and their two boys, aged 8 and 13 went into hiding on Nov. 15, the day before they were to surrender to immigration authorities for deportation to their native Philippines. Her eldest son, Jose Vicente Tayzon, 25, who is here on a student visa, says he does not know where his mother is.

"She's not here, she left months ago," Tayzon says, adding he is aware of the warrant for her arrest. "Whatever the allegations are, I am removed from that. I am not in communication with them."

The family, who came to Canada in March 2003 as visitors, then applied for refugee status claiming they were victims of extortion by corrupt Filipino police officials, had exhausted all legal means of overturning their removal order.

A Canada-wide warrant was issued for their arrest after they failed to make a flight to Manila on Nov. 16.

The last place Janice and Kaye Del Rosario want to return to is to their own country, where both are wanted for fraud in connection with a large-scale pyramid-type scam. None of their alleged victims in Canada were aware there were warrants for their arrest in the Philippines when she started tapping them for loans.

By the time Del Rosario had finished with Chiarotto, the hard-working Italian immigrant was out $1.2 million in cash, and had co-signed leases for two luxury cars, a BMW X-5 for Janice, and a Mercedes-Benz for her husband.

"I said, why not a Dodge Caravan?" Chiarotto says. "But she said she had to have expensive cars so she could look good in her business."

After loaning Del Rosario, a woman he hardly knew, $800,000 without collateral, Chiarotto needed her to succeed in business, which she claimed was buying and selling high-end jewellery.

Chiarotto's wife, Lydia Pagulayan, a fellow Filipina immigrant, also signed documents to provide two credit cards for Del Rosario, who said she didn't qualify for credit in this country.

Over the next six months Del Rosario charged $33,000 on them, everything from pizzas and parking fees to payments for personal trainers, lunches at Sassafraz in Yorkville, and $11,000 shopping sprees at Gucci stores.

As apparently was her pattern, Del Rosario paid regular interest payments on the loans, giving Chiarotto post-dated cheques as collateral.

To prove her wealth and allay their fears, Del Rosario showed statements from TD and HSBC banks in Toronto and Equitable PCI bank in the Philippines attesting to more than $2 million on deposit with these institutions.

When Del Rosario called Chiarotto in a panic last summer, saying she was about to be deported unless he came up with another $200,000, Chiarotto mortgaged his house and gave her the money.

"She said her lawyer had an agreement with a judge that will allow her to be landed, but it must be $200,000 in cash," he says. "She started crying, crying. So I believe her.

"What could I do? It was either that or lose everything."

In exchange he got a promissory note dated Oct. 4, 2006, consolidating all the previous loans totalling $1,163,500. The note called for Del Rosario to start paying Chiarotto $20,000 a month, plus interest, conditional on her obtaining landed status. She also gave him a copy of her will, showing him to be a benefactor of her estate should she die before repaying the loans.

A month later, Del Rosario, who also goes by several aliases, disappeared. "She has no heart. She has no humanity," says Chiarotto.

The last time Chiarotto saw Del Rosario was Nov. 15, the day before she was to be deported when she drove to his modest Scarborough bungalow and phoned him from her BMW. When he came to the door, however, she had already driven off. (On Friday evening she phoned again, to say she'd start repaying him next month, and to ask if he'd been talking to a reporter.)

Before those final fleeting contacts, Chiarotto had last heard from her before Christmas, when Del Rosario phoned from an unknown location wishing him a Merry Christmas, saying she would send her brother or her son, Tayzon, to deliver the money she owes him.

Nobody showed up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Labrecque, a Toronto real estate agent and a counsellor who works with the homeless and kids at risk, still can't quite believe he too fell for Del Rosario's charm and business proposals.

"We should've know better," says Labrecque, 29, who along with his wife, Cecilia Ramos, 28, a mortgage broker, is out more than $120,000. "I don't even know how we got in this deep. She portrayed herself as a religious, trustworthy person and we all fell for it."

Del Rosario claimed she was a wealthy businesswoman in the Philippines, where she operated several businesses including a finance company. She showed Ramos her bank account statement showing a balance of 44,196,000 pesos, more than $1 million Canadian.

As she had done with the others, Del Rosario gave Ramos and Labrecque cheques written on her business account, Gloval Venture Trading and Investment Placement, at a TD-Canada Trust branch in Thornhill. Most of those cheques have bounced.

A spokesperson for the TD bank told the Star that the alleged victims should take their case to police and that the bank would co-operate fully in any police investigation.

"She was really good," Ramos says, explaining how Del Rosario took her for $90,000. "Michael is probably the cheapest person in the world and he gave her $30,000."

"We know of at least another five people who are owed about $300,000," says Labrecque.

Ramos claims that the previously pleasant Del Rosario left a chilling message on her answering machine after learning she and other investors had gone to the police.

"Tears of blood will flow from your eyes if you come after me," was the message Del Rosario left in Tagalog, the Filipino language.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catalina "Nini" Coran fell hook, line and sinker for Del Rosario's stories of hardship in the Philippines, her warmth, and generosity and, finally, her hard pitches for money.

"She had some magical power," says Coran, an insurance broker who is out $70,000.

Del Rosario held weekly prayer meetings at her North York condo and regularly text-messaged her friends with inspirational quotations from the Bible.

"She was like Mother Teresa helping everybody, and sharing her wealth," says Coran.

"She told us all those horrible stories about her son's kidnapping. That she had paid a ransom of 40 million pesos. We all felt sorry for her and we all wanted to help," she said.

In documents filed with the Federal Court of Canada, Del Rosario claims only that an "attempt" had been made to kidnap her son from his private school in Manila on March 7, 2003, but no ransom was paid.

She also claims she and her husband, a police captain in Quezon City, had to pay off corrupt police officers who were constantly shaking them down. They fled because they feared more kidnap attempts and demands for payoffs.

In denying their claim as refugees in January 2004, adjudicator Paul Ariemma found Del Rosario and her husband had "embellished fragments of reality to create a basis for their claims."

Two Federal court judges have refused to stay their deportation order in the past year, setting the stage for the family's removal from Canada last Nov. 16.

The fact that Del Rosario was able to stave off deportation for more than three years has angered her victims.

"If she had been deported when she was supposed to be, we wouldn't be out all this money," says Coran. "She went into full-blast mode when she knew she was on her way out."

Requests for loans would be preceded with meals at fancy restaurants, gifts of jewellery and offers of incredible interest amounting to more than 3,000 per cent a year.

"The interest was illusory. It was the worm on the end of a hook," says lawyer Ed Tonello, who is representing six of the victims in an attempt to recoup their losses.

"She said she was making so much money with her jewellery business that she wanted us all to share in it, too," Coran says, recalling the pitch that ensnared her. "She showered us with gifts, but she was buying us with our own money."

Coran's sister-in-law, Maria, 46, an educational assistant with the Toronto Board of Education, was lured in for $35,000 after meeting Del Rosario.

"I can't even show you paper, because I invested through a friend at work and I don't have anything on paper to prove it," says an accountant with a drug store chain who is owed $70,000, but does not want to be identified out of embarrassment.

"No receipt, no promissory note, nothing. I was just plain stupid."

She said she knows there are others in her company who also loaned Del Rosario money.

Del Rosario was so good, Coran says, that when someone demanded repayment of their principal, she would chide them for doubting her ability to pay up, then persuade the lender to roll over their principal into another loan at even higher interest.

"She was that good," Coran says. "A Mother Teresa without a conscience."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first hint of trouble came late last summer, when word got around that the leasing company had repossessed Kaye Del Rosario's 2006 Mercedes-Benz after he defaulted on the lease.

The dealership later sold the automobile but has notified Chiarotto that, as co-signer, he must pay $22,000, the difference between the buyout price of the lease and what they got for it. The Parkview BMW dealership also recently notified Chiarotto he is on the hook for the entire value of the 2006 BMW X5 unless he agrees to the lease payments of more than $1,000 a month.

Recently, the Star found the dark green BMW X-5 stashed in the underground parking at 23 Lorraine Ave., a condo complex at Yonge St. and Finch Ave. where Del Rosario's son, Tayzon, lives. His own silver BMW 325i is parked near his mother's.

After learning of Chiarotto's predicament the victims split into two groups. Several victims complained to 43 Division fraud squad detective Daniel Johnson, but they say he told them it was a civil case. Johnson did not return several calls from the Star.

The other group is keeping silent, Coran says. "They're her loyalists. They're afraid if they turn on her, they'll lose everything."

Labrecque and Ramos last saw Del Rosario on Nov. 15, the eve of her scheduled deportation, in the office of a lawyer who was handling the financial claims against her. Del Rosario, Ramos says, had agreed to a repayment schedule on their loans, but the lawyer quashed the deal.

"Her lawyer wouldn't let her sign anything, saying it didn't make any sense for her to pay us back if she was being kicked out of the country the next day."

The lawyer refused to discuss the incident, but said the version of events as related by Ramos and Labrecque is "incorrect."

The couple first turned to a "financial bounty hunter," but he was unable to find either the fugitive or any of her assets.

"If I find them they are toast," says the immigration enforcement officer who has been scouring the GTA for the family for the past two months. "They've had due process. They'll be detained until they get on a plane.

"Their claim has been discounted. They've been found not to be at risk if they are returned to the Philippines."

The couple had been the subject of a previous Canada-wide arrest warrant for failing to appear for a pre-deportation meeting.

Immigration lawyer Mendel Green got them to surrender, then brokered a deal whereby Del Rosario and her husband were released on their own recognizance and were to leave Canada voluntarily.

"Instead they used the time to go into hiding," says an immigration source, adding the family purchased airline tickets, but did not make their flight. "They cleaned up their business, hid all their stuff and covered their tracks pretty well."

Green says he has no idea where his former clients are now. "All I can say is that for a short period of time I was her lawyer," Green says. "I haven't seen or heard from them. I don't know where she is."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dbrazao@thestar.ca

Lili

January 23rd, 2007, 03:11 AM

I have read somewhere that the largest number of crimes committed by Pinoys is Estafa or fraud.

TheAvenger

January 23rd, 2007, 04:46 PM

I have read somewhere that the largest number of crimes committed by Pinoys is Estafa or fraud.

kasi maraming Pinoy magaling sa bolahan

i admire those people who have that gifts of convincing peoples whether in political, religious, business, etc. Same time I distrust them..

Nabartek

January 24th, 2007, 01:57 PM

Somebody told me that Filipinos are neo-colonizers just waiting for the right time to conquer and rule the world.

I remember Jessica Zafra talking about Filipinos "colonizing" the world through.... OFWs. Hehe. Sort of like that. LOL.

oz.fil

January 24th, 2007, 04:06 PM

meron kayang pnoy sa antartica

:lol:

TheAvenger

January 24th, 2007, 09:54 PM

yes of course, 2 years ago there was a Filipino Scientist who was assigned to Antartica for some research, it was featured in the Philiippine Daily Inquirer before.

At present those Norwegian Cruise ship that go to Antartica has many Pinoy Crew, those chambermaids, bar tender, card dealers, cooks, boys etc.
pls see the Google seach engine.

tigidig14

January 25th, 2007, 01:57 AM

HOY! ni-research yan ni avenger kaya maniwala tayo! at baka magalit

normandb

January 25th, 2007, 02:14 AM

Ayon sa alamat nasa antarctica daw ang Nautilus, Naniniwala ako kay avenger pero matanong ko naman may crew rin kaya na pinoy sa Nautilus si Capt. Nemo?

TheAvenger

January 25th, 2007, 05:29 AM

http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/theenvironmentreport/view.php?db=1&story_id=44037

An inconvenient truth

First posted 22:22:22 (Mla time) 2007-01-17
Ma. Ceres P. Doyo
Inquirer

Years ago, I wrote a feature story in the Sunday Inquirer on a Filipino scientist who did research in Antarctica and studied the effects of global warming. She sure had the goods.

-----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.slate.com/id/12994/entry/12997/

The ship's crew consists of a Cajun captain and first mate (who listens to Judas Priest on the bridge); the ship's owner, who for his own reasons has decided to double as the galley chef; and a number of Filipino crewmen.

---------------------------------------------------
www.northbrook.info/lib_fiction_ausnz.php - 67k - Naka-Cache - Mga katulad na webpage
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Dancing with Our Stars - The Manila Mail... Juanita Tamayo Lott, a Filipino American social scientist, ... “put a Filipino in Antarctica and in one month he’ll be one with the Penguins.” ...

manilamaildc.net/article1367.html - 44k - Naka-Cache - Mga katulad na webpage

ttp://www.wayfaring.info/2006/11/30/bon-voyage-to-antarctica-aboard-marco-polo/

Nov
30Bon Voyage to Antarctica aboard Marco Polo
Published by nerdeff

Marco Polo is very probably the Best Choice for Antarctica Cruises.

Traveling with around 700 passengers, you’ll never feel as if you’re just part of the crowd. The atmosphere aboard is warm and friendly, with gentleman hosts to assure that unescorted ladies enjoy ship activities, also a guest lecturer series. Renowned for her skilled Scandinavian officers and the warm smiles of her Filipino service staff, the Marco Polo the perfect ship for exploring the world’s most fascinating ports.

TheAvenger

January 25th, 2007, 06:06 AM

Ayon sa alamat nasa antarctica daw ang Nautilus, Naniniwala ako kay avenger pero matanong ko naman may crew rin kaya na pinoy sa Nautilus si Capt. Nemo?

Jules Verne never wrote the nationalities of the crew of Capt. Nemo's Nautilus however,
For sure there were Filipinos or Fil-Am in USN Nautilus :banana:

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org8-9.htm#nautilus

Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum
Naval Submarine Base New London
Groton, CT 06349-5571
(860) 694-4150; fax (806) 449-4150

USS Nautilus (SSN 571), the world's first nuclear powered submarine, is Connecticut's State Ship and a National Historic Landmark. It was the first ship to reach the North Pole and the first submarine to journey "20,000 leagues under the sea." Decommissioned in 1980, Nautilus was converted to a floating museum and, with the Submarine Force Museum, opened to the public in 1986. Together they trace the development of the "silent service" from the Bushnell Turtle used in the Revolutionary War to the modern Los Angeles, Ohio, and Seawolf submarine classes. Visitors walking through the attack center of a World War II submarine hear the sounds of battle beneath the waves. They may look through three operating periscopes and on occasion see the Navy's latest submarines going by on the Thames River. Two mini-theaters show films of submarines past and present, and an interactive computer display explains how a submarine operates.

bitoy

January 25th, 2007, 11:33 AM

Meron mga Pinoys sa Mongolia, pero bakit me consulate ang Pinas sa CUBA? me Pinoy community ba dun?

dinabaw

January 25th, 2007, 12:06 PM

kasi ang Capital nila Ulan Bato :jk: :lol:

redu23

January 25th, 2007, 12:30 PM

May Pinoy ba sa Greenland, Maldives, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Antigua and Barbuda, Monaco?, hehe

kiretoce

January 25th, 2007, 04:07 PM

^^ Sure there are! They're called tourists! :lol:

driftwood

January 25th, 2007, 04:42 PM

^^ Don't know about Greenland or Mauritius, pero may mga pinoy sa Finland. And I'm pretty sure there are Filipinos in Monaco as well. Meron ding mga pinoy sa Tanzania.

kevinb

January 25th, 2007, 04:47 PM

normandb

January 26th, 2007, 01:59 AM

Meron mga Pinoys sa Mongolia, pero bakit me consulate ang Pinas sa CUBA? me Pinoy community ba dun?

Meron po, don po nakatira sila Simang ang 'Kampanerang Cuba'

kiretoce

January 26th, 2007, 02:01 AM

^^ You took your corny pills I see. :lol:

bagel

January 26th, 2007, 02:03 AM

I don't know about scattered. But some of us definitely are scatter-brained.

dancethingy

January 26th, 2007, 04:43 AM

^^^^^ I plead guilty on being scatter-brained pinoy

TheAvenger

January 26th, 2007, 05:25 PM

Meron po, don po nakatira sila Simang ang 'Kampanerang Cuba'

many Pinoy Seafarers were calling Cuba most of the time.. doon na nga sa mga bahay ng girlfriend na nila natutulog ... how nice to have a ready-made wife in a very port. you lose your homesickness....

and also lost your savings onboard ship..... he he he

TheAvenger

January 26th, 2007, 05:28 PM

^^ Don't know about Greenland or Mauritius, pero may mga pinoy sa Finland. And I'm pretty sure there are Filipinos in Monaco as well. Meron ding mga pinoy sa Tanzania.

basta may barco at may port .... for sure there is a Pinoy there....

sa kasulok sulukan ng Africa sa Ivory Coast and Togo .... may mga Pinay GRO pa nga. They came by way of Lebanon, Spain and Las Palmas.

Lili

January 26th, 2007, 06:31 PM

Yung nanny ng doctor ko at saka yung driver niya... Pinoy husband and wife team who he recruited from Monaco.

flesh_is_weak

January 26th, 2007, 06:41 PM

Filipinos are peopleing the world because we can, due to the fact that pinoys are survivors and can easily adapt to almost any culture or environment...

yun ang natutunan ko sa lecture kanina...

crappypants

January 27th, 2007, 08:07 AM

many Pinoy Seafarers were calling Cuba most of the time.. doon na nga sa mga bahay ng girlfriend na nila natutulog ... how nice to have a ready-made wife in a very port. you lose your homesickness....

and also lost your savings onboard ship..... he he he

that's very unChristian of you.

TheAvenger

January 27th, 2007, 10:16 AM

that's very unChristian of you.

it's also one way of spreading Pinoy genes around the world or Pinoy peopling the worlds....

i am just joking my dear friend.... pls don't get me wrong.....
i am not that bad . . . . . :)

TheAvenger

January 27th, 2007, 06:47 PM

Meron po, don po nakatira sila Simang ang 'Kampanerang Cuba'

there is another SSC Forumer in Cuba, I think he works in US Naval Base in Cuba. He is @tisoycuba, he usually post in the Thread - Subic to Clark Expressway and in the Thread - Angeles City and Pampanga.

bitoy

January 27th, 2007, 06:57 PM

there is another SSC Forumer in Cuba, I think he works in US Naval Base in Cuba. He is @tisoycuba, he usually post in the Thread - Subic to Clark Expressway and in the Thread - Angeles City and Pampanga.

Meron naman talagang mga Pinoy na GIs sa Gitmo, pumapasada nga kami nuon dun, parating puno hanggang buntot. :lol:
Pero, hanggang base lang sila, only Cuban workers can go in and out of Gitmo.

Animo

January 27th, 2007, 09:58 PM

I don't know anything about the Latin American Bloc, but I've read that the Philippines is part of the Latin union.Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Union)

Here is an article about it. I read somewhere that the Philippines has an observer status in MERCOSUR (Mercado Común del Sur) but we do have a stable trade with Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. About the Trade Bloc, this was mostly before because if you believe it or not in the Unites States census the Filipinos were under the Hispanic block until the 1960's. An example would be in 1883, wherein the earliest Filipino club was form in the Americas called: Hispano Filipino Associación de Nueva Orleans.

If you speak Spanish, don’t forget, too, the Spanish virtues
BY THE WAY By Max V. Soliven
The Philippine Star 06/30/2006

The word from Spain is that our Presidenta has charmed Spanish parliamentarians and all she met in Madrid with her excellent command of Spanish. It’s true enough that GMA – most of us here don’t realize – grew up speaking that language. Her mother, Evangeline Macaraig Macapagal was a fanatical Hispanophile with an eye for nuance and punctillo.

Just as eloquent, it might be added parenthetically, is our Foreign Affairs Secretary Bert Romulo, who earned his Doctorate in Laws from the Universidad Central de Madrid sobresaliente.

I’m happy that on this journey, Spaniards and Pinoys alike were reminded of our heritage, our legacy from Madre España born of a common faith and four centuries of close embrace, albeit as the farflung colony of an Iberian people who found themselves trying to rule a globe-girdling empire even before they themselves had become a nation.

Several years ago, when this writer went to Buenos Aires, I was hosted by some leaders of the Senate of Argentina.

I was later to carry the personal invitation of then President Carlos Saul Menem to President Joseph Estrada to come on a state visit to Argentina. When Erap accepted, I had warned our irrepressible former Chief Executive: "Compadre, you may look somewhat Castillian, indeed like a Mexican Pancho Villa, but for Chrissakes don’t try to give any of your speeches in Spanish!"

The truth is that Erap can emote in English quite fluently, despite his efforts to denigrate Inglis-Inglis or war-war but he can’t even manage Chabacano. In any event, when we got to Santiago, Chile, where he, too, had been invited by their President, he rashly produced a speech written in Spanish. To his consternation, the lights in the banquet hall were dim and flickering, and he stumbled blindly through what must have been a floridly written address. It was a period of agony for him and all of us Pinoys in the audience. But when he concluded his bumbling performance, Estrada gave "El Presidente de la Nacion de Chile, and all the grandees and VIPs assembled, a solemn wink, and mischievously cracked: "How did you like my Spanish?"

They guffawed in appreciation and rewarded him with thunderous applause. The country bumpkin act had saved the day for Erap para sa Masa, even without his getaway jeepney.

In Buenos Aires he was more cautious and stuck to English . . . of sorts. He was even awarded by the famous Jesuit University there with a Doctorate in Humanities or whatever. When he descended the podium, his former classmates greeted him: "Now comes the hard part – to get an Ateneo High School diploma!" (He had been booted out of the Ateneo for fighting an American classmate mano-a-mano, in a slugging match quite different from the Pacquiao-Larios dust-up this Sunday).

But I digress.

Coming back to my own reception in Argentina’s Senate, I was cornered by the deputy Speaker (I think), who had been scheduled to receive me in his office for 15 minutes, but the visit turned into 45 minutes or more, because he loved to reminisce about his old friends who were Filipinos – he truly loved our people whom he viewed as "kindred Latins."

"Why did you abandon us?" The distinguished, elderly solon finally remarked. "It has done you, my hermanos, no good. Did you know? The reason my old friend the late General Carlos P. Romulo was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly is because the Philippines belonged to the Hispanic and Latin American bloc. In every UN vote, whenever our compatriots from Filipinas posed a resolution, we would all vote solid: an automatic 29 votes (today, I might say but correct my arithmetic, 32 or more)."

The Senator snorted. "What did you get when you decided you were African-Asians, or something like that. The Africans pay you no heed, the Asians vote against you or ignore you! Is it too late to come ‘home’ to us, with whom you truly belong?"

That is the question.

* * *

Despite so many people lining up to file "impeachment" cases against her yesterday (and former Vice-President Teofisto "Tito" Guingona – susmariosep – preaching civil disobedience), La Gloria must have enjoyed her sojourn in Madrid and her visit to her friends, His Majesty King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

By this time, she must also have met with Prime Minister/President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose Socialist PSOE Party had defeated former President Jose Ma. Aznar’s then ruling Partido Popular (and its candidate Mariano Rajoy) in a stunning upset, carried over the top by 10.903 million votes in March 14, 2004.

Just as Winston Churchill had led Britain during the war years to victory over Hitler, but had been defeated and his party turned out of power in the first postwar elections, Aznar had propelled Spain to unprecedented prosperity in his eight years in office – only to see his foes, the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE), grab 164 seats in parliament (Congreso de los Diputados), while the Partido Popular under Aznar’s successor Rajoy, garnered only 148.

The crushing defeat was attributed to last-minute accusations of a government cover-up in the terrible Estacion Atocha bombings of four packed trains the preceding Thursday which had killed 200 commuters and gravely injured 1,500. The Basque separatist guerrillas of ETA had initially been blamed by the Aznar government, but then it surfaced Saturday that, contrary to earlier assertions, Islamic terrorists had detonated those "movil" backpacks which exploded with deadly efficiency – the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, reputedly a branch of al-Qaeda.

The irony of the situation is that my wife, Precious, and this writer had arrived on a flight from Manila only the night before. We had been met at Barajas airport that Wednesday (March 10) by our Ambassador, Joseph Delano "Lani" Bernardo y Medina, and Jose "Pepe" Rodriguez. I had remarked when we motored into Madrid that the capital looked too peaceful and serene for a place where the election campaign was in its last few days. Everybody had expected a Partido Popular win.

The following morning, about 7:35 a.m., blasts from the nearby Atocha station rattled the windowpanes of our hotel, the Westin Palace. Three powerful bombs exploded within five minutes of each other in three districts of the city – on trains bound for the centrally located Atocha. If the terrorists had got their timing "better," they might have obliterated a hundred more people waiting on the train platforms. In any event, the victims were executives, employees, workers, students, housewives, school children – coming into the heart of the capital for work or study. The second cluster of bombs exploded at the Estacion Santa Eugenia. A third at Pozo del Tio Raimundo devastated several coaches.

On the twisted rails it was a scene from hell. Blood and body parts everywhere.

That Day of Infamy will be forever remembered.

The pity of it is that I remember the city was sunny and bright, like a clear day in early spring. Madrid was as pretty as a picture. The sky azure blue.

Inside the station, there were grisly scenes of wrecked coaches, the dead with limbs blown off, the wounded being painfully carried off, blood streaming from face and body, to clinics, aid stations and overflowing hospitals.

At the strike of 1 p.m., a nation united in grief – prayed. Everybody from folk in the street, to Cabinet members, to "everyman" bowed their heads in silent prayer for the dead, and for succor for the dying. The cadavers piled onto the floor of the Convention Center – where international fairs are usually held – right in one of Madrid’s posh districts, signalled the shocking electoral turnabout of March 14. Terrorists, it was later said, "changed" the course of a democratic election.

This must never be allowed to happen again. In our country, the alarums may sound shrill and unnecessary. But remember Madrid!

What we should emulate is the courageous way in which the Spaniards responded.

Next day, the rain in Spain fell – not on the plain – but on millions of Spaniards marching in sorrow and fury in their cities and urban centers in the wake of the tragedy.

In Madrid, an angry and determined multitude of 2.3 million demonstrators paraded, although drenched by incessant downpours, holding flickering candles under their soaked umbrellas, the Madrileños expressed their solidarity and their condemnation of terrorism.

A letter sent to an Arabic-British newspaper late Thursday night tried to claim responsibility for the outrage in the name of the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, a branch of al-Qaeda – but few believed it then, including President (Prime Minister) Jose Ma. Aznar and Interior Minister Angel Acebes, although both were careful not to completely absolve the Muslim terrorist movement.

Friday night’s surging crowds continued to chant, "Quien ha sido?" (Who did it?) followed by a wrathful "Asesinos!" (Assassins!).

When you consider that Madrid’s population is just three million, to have 2.3 Madrilenos pouring into the streets, jamming avenues, broad boulevards, and parks – a heaving sea of umbrellas and indignant, prideful, weeping humanity – you better believe that everybody in that metropolis turned out to demonstrate.

Some cried out, "No esta lloviendo – El Cielo esta llorando!" (It is not raining – Heaven is crying!). Nothing is more poetic and steeped in passion than the Spanish language.

Marchers were cheering, "Hoy, somos todos Madrilenos! Somos todos Españoles!" (Today, we’re all Madrileños! We’re all Spaniards!"). It was an expression, from the heart, of a mounting spirit of solidarity – no more "regionalism" to split this politics-wracked nation apart.

Let me just say that to be in Spain, at this poignant moment – to witness this "coming together" to glimpse the bravery and pain, the outpouring of national spirit was to feel privileged and somehow ennobled.

All day Thursday, after coming from the carnage of Zona Cero, this writer saw thousands lining up at vans marked "Donaciones de Sangre" (blood donations) to donate blood for the wounded and the dying, as well as clinics and hospitals. Flowers and candles were being placed at the Atocha, the Pozo and Santa Eugenia stations where the "Goma Dos" explosives, in 10 different explosions, had created such havoc and gore. Prayers were being said everywhere. Volunteers were queuing up to offer their services. Taxi drivers were offering free rides to the families of the victims as they searched for their loved ones, whether still living or already dead.

It was also admirable on the part of the authorities – within hours of the tragedy – to get the trains back on track and running. A nation fighting back refusing to be cowed, vowing justice and retribution.

And Friday night, Spaniards marched. In Barcelona, Spain’s second city – where the Catalans, too, are restive – 1.3 million demonstrated in "solidarity", unity and support, sharing the grief, holding up the ideal of one Spain. They were in the streets in Valladolid, Zaragoza, Oviedo, Valencia, Sevilla, Santiago de Compostela (up north in Galicia), Santander, Toledo, Pamplona, Teruel, Alcala de Henares – a roll call of Spanish cities. Even in Bilbao, in deepest Euskadi.

I wish our own people, so divided, fault-finding and fractious, could somehow find such unity of heart and purpose, not in sorrow – but in joy. We’re called, in a survey, 7th among nations who take pride in themselves. Pinoy Pride is what brought us to Everest, to victory in the SEA Games, to win through in so many unheralded ways.

We have inherited the Spanish flaws of character. Let us, however, not forget the iron in the Hispanic soul, which was shown on the battlefield, in the conquest of new worlds, in the soul-searching of poetry and literature which characterizes its literature. Our hero, Dr. Jose Rizal hated Spanish tyranny but loved Spain.

Which is why he sought not separation from the Mother’s womb, but for Filipinos to be treated with equality and respect. Does this make him a flawed hero? The brilliant thinker, writer and Ambassador Leon Ma. Guerrero, who was more amazingly literate in his cups then in his other, lesser moments, once wrote a book calling Rizal, The First Filipino. Perhaps this is true, not in the cynical sense, but in common sense.

oz.fil

January 28th, 2007, 01:10 AM

The truth is that Erap can emote in English quite fluently, despite his efforts to denigrate Inglis-Inglis or war-war but he can’t even manage Chabacano. In any event, when we got to Santiago, Chile, where he, too, had been invited by their President, he rashly produced a speech written in Spanish. To his consternation, the lights in the banquet hall were dim and flickering, and he stumbled blindly through what must have been a floridly written address. It was a period of agony for him and all of us Pinoys in the audience. But when he concluded his bumbling performance, Estrada gave "El Presidente de la Nacion de Chile, and all the grandees and VIPs assembled, a solemn wink, and mischievously cracked: "How did you like my Spanish?":lol: :lol: :lol:

Coming back to my own reception in Argentina’s Senate, I was cornered by the deputy Speaker (I think), who had been scheduled to receive me in his office for 15 minutes, but the visit turned into 45 minutes or more, because he loved to reminisce about his old friends who were Filipinos – he truly loved our people whom he viewed as "kindred Latins."

"Why did you abandon us?" The distinguished, elderly solon finally remarked. "It has done you, my hermanos, no good. Did you know? The reason my old friend the late General Carlos P. Romulo was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly is because the Philippines belonged to the Hispanic and Latin American bloc. In every UN vote, whenever our compatriots from Filipinas posed a resolution, we would all vote solid: an automatic 29 votes (today, I might say but correct my arithmetic, 32 or more)."

The Senator snorted. "What did you get when you decided you were African-Asians, or something like that. The Africans pay you no heed, the Asians vote against you or ignore you! Is it too late to come ‘home’ to us, with whom you truly belong?"

That is the question.

* * *

:ohno: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :fiddle: How touching...

Animo

January 28th, 2007, 01:01 PM

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 06:45pm (Mla time) 01/26/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Israel-based manpower agencies are not authorized to send Filipino workers to Spain, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said Friday.

In a report to Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Tel Aviv, Israel has issued an advisory against these Israel-based manpower agencies.

It said the Spanish government has not authorized any placement agency outside the Philippines to recruit Filipino workers for jobs in Spain.

Labor attaché to Israel Teresita Manzala said only licensed Philippine-based recruitment agencies are allowed to deploy overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Spain under the “Proyecto Piloto,” an experimental project that allows the hiring of Filipino healthcare professionals and skilled workers.

She added that under the agreement, the actual hiring and issuance of entry visas and work permits are exclusively accomplished in the Philippines.

Manzala said the arrangement was reiterated by Consul General Ramon Ansoian of the Spanish embassy during a consultative meeting held early January in Jerusalem, which was also attended by Philippine Consul General to Israel Gilberto Asuque.

Manzala said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has pre-qualified only three Philippine manpower agencies to recruit and deploy Filipino workers to Spain: Sun-Ace International Management Services, Ed-Fro-Bon Manpower Services, and Dahlzen International Services.

At the same time, she said, no job orders have come from employers in Spain aside from those of Servicio De Prevencion De Riegos Grupo Los Nogales under the Proyecto Piloto.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=45835

Animo

January 30th, 2007, 01:28 AM

MANILA: Bank of the Philippine Islands is following Filipino professionals abroad this year with a UK branch it hopes will eventually allow it to sell savings and lending products to compatriots across Europe.

After India and Mexico, the Philippines is the third largest recipient of remittances in the world with more than $12.3 billion estimated sent home last year.

Nearly a quarter of the funds were expected to be channelled through BPI, the Philippines' second-largest lender, owned by Singapore's DBS Group and Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp.

But being a conduit is not a big profit driver for BPI and it plans to get a British banking licence shortly that will allow it to sell loans and credit cards to an estimated 35,000 Filipinos in the UK.

The British licence - and a London branch - will give it a footprint into Europe. Over eight million Filipinos are working across Asia, Europe, the United States and the Middle East.

"The OFW (overseas Filipino worker) business today does not contribute a large part of the net income of the bank, that's why we recognise it is a major opportunity," BPI President Aurelio Montinola told a news conference.

"Our approach is simple, we tell the people you go and you make your money outside, we will tie up with you. When it comes to the Philippines, pass it through us," he said, adding that BPI already had remittance offices in the UK, Italy and Spain.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=168135&Sn=BUSI&IssueID=29311

Animo

January 31st, 2007, 11:08 AM

AMBIENT VOICES
By Ma. Isabel Ongpin
The Spanish and
Portuguese Diaspora

THE Philippine Diaspora is visible almost everywhere one travels to outside the Philippines. The émigré experience is, however, not ours alone. It is now universal as the world becomes more accessible to all. The experience of exile like the chapters of personal and national life inevitably become part and parcel of an emerging culture which in turn manifests itself eventually in literature, film, the performing and visual arts and other expressions of cataloguing, reflecting and interpreting the experience.

In the l950’s and 60’s, there was a large European Dias¬pora from Spain and Portugal, then struggling economically from the after effects of World War II for Portugal, and the Civil War for Spain. Both had the stultifying economy characteristic of dictatorships impelling significant numbers of Spaniards and Portuguese to leave their country to seek work in neighboring countries with better economies and a large need for workers to take them to the next level of development. From heavy industry to service jobs the Spanish and Portuguese antedated the Poles, Rumanians and Asians of today as foreign workers in Europe. Thus, the Spanish waiters in London and the Portuguese concierges in Paris.

In time both these countries succeeded in developing economically and catching up with the rest of Europe. Many of their exiles returned and less and less of them found the need for jobs abroad. Now we have the Filipino waiters, the Indian storekeepers and the African laborers who have taken their places.

One interpretation, among many, of the Spanish experience is a current Spanish movie, Un Franco, 14 Pesetas. It is sensitive, well-conceived and expertly achieved. The title signifies the currency exchange rate, underlining the economic and social aspects that motivate two otherwise family-centered, patriotic Spaniards of middle age to risk their own and family’s future by leaving their environment of unemployment and poor prospects, but nevertheless their comfort zone, and pretend to be tourists to try their luck in Switzerland. With no work permits and battered cardboard suitcases they make their way with homemade sandwiches on a long-train ride.

The ordinary Spaniard is a singular person with a defined and self-expressed identity that demands major adjustment in alien environments. The two Spanish émigrés manage to conform to the clime and customs of their place of employment for the sake of making a living for themselves and eventually bringing their families to join them. Their children grow up as foreigners schooled in a foreign dispensation. Life proceeds idyllically enough once they navigate the personal challenges of exile in a country of deserted streets, silent neighbourhoods and verdant vistas compared to their place of origin and custom.

The children are at home but the elders are not. They long for the familiar and the habitual that is their birthright and comfort zone. The man tells his wife, “I long to sit in a sidewalk café on the street of Alcala in Madrid and just see the word go by.” It is the cry of the exile, longing for home, for clan, for tradition, for what is one’s own after years away.

They make the decision to return to a country not yet equal to what they are now accustomed to. When they arrive they have to bear the vicissitudes of return which is a mediocre rundown apart¬ment in a disorderly working class neighborhood, poor relatives, few decent jobs and, worse, the envy and contempt of some who regard them as upstarts and deserters. Equally bad is the unhappiness of the son in a school of benighted rules and attitudes. Spain is still an insular society.

These are the reentry problems of exiles, hardly envisioned when they are away and barely dwelt on as problems to be addressed and solved for the returnees.

In Un Franco 14 Pesetas. The family after weeping and wavering realizes that having faced the unknown once in an alien country and achieving victory over circumstances, they should be able to tackle the known if disagreeable environment. Courage, confidence, character defined them as exiles and it will define them as they decide to return and stay.

I saw many parallels in this movie with the Filipino experience of exile. In time, we, too, will have as good and as deep, as valuable and as truthful a look into our own experience.

Un Franco 14 Pesetas is a true story and is dedicated “A Ellos, Todos Ellos”—To Them, All of Them—the intrepid risk takers who went as exiles from Spain in the 50’s and 60’s.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/aug/18/yehey/opinion/20060818opi5.html

kiretoce

February 9th, 2007, 03:04 AM

Bump! :colgate:

amigo32

February 9th, 2007, 04:35 AM

Hindi naman masyadong Americanized. Konting American, konting Spanish, at siempre malaking porsyento Pinoy.

DoggMann

February 11th, 2007, 11:52 PM

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business1_feb12_2007

$1-b workers’ bonds eyed

By Eileen A. Mencias

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has recommended to the Department of Finance the issuance of around $1 billion worth of retail treasury bonds exclusively for the Filipino migrant workers.

A senior government official said proceeds of the bonds, whose currency denomination had not yet been determined, could be used to partly finance government’s huge infrastructure requirements.

In a three-page letter to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo this month, Bangko Sentral Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. said the central bank, along with the finance department and the Bureau of the Treasury, were finalizing details of the retail treasury bonds.

“This is aimed at encouraging them and their beneficiaries to channel their remittances to investment instruments,” Tetangco said of the bonds. “These savings and investments will help OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] for future reintegration into the Philippine economy and help provide additional funding for government requirements.”

Remittances of Filipino migrant workers are expected to reach over $14 billion this year. The remittances have helped ensure economic growth despite the high level of unemployment and allowed a steady growth in consumer spending.

The remittances have been crucial in keeping the economy afloat even when investment flows are slow.

Unlike regular government bonds that banks and insurance companies buy in the millions, retail bonds are geared for retail investors. Retail treasury bond issuances of the national government in the past were denominated in P5,000.

There are some eight million Filipino migrant workers who send home over $10 billion annually. Filipino migrant workers last year are estimated to have sent home $13.4 billion, over $12 billion of which were coursed through banking and other formal channels.

Several banks have come up with proposals to tap the remittances, including securitizing some of them. The proposals that date back as far as over five years had not materialized.

IsabelPresley

February 14th, 2007, 12:28 PM

but exactly what are we referring to? isn't this all just progress? everything evolves, even culture.
what is "americanized"? do you have anything specific in mind? not a lot of food, sports, music, fashion, etc. are purely american. even the ancient aztecs had their version of basketball centuries before dr naismith was born.
i'd rather be wearing underwear, pants, shirts, and shoes. parang di ko kaya yung naka bahag lang :)
i'd rather have indoor plumbing. would you rather dig a hole in your backyard than have a toilet?
what are your alternatives for toothbrush, TV, elevators, escalators?
and what about modern medicine? or would you rather consult a quack doctor?

Oh, I love my bathroom. I think imitation could be a good thing for the Philippines, if the architects in the Philippines could do a better job of imitating American bathrooms and houses.

Oh how I hate that tabo, and the fact that most bathrooms in the Philippines, even in upper class houses and families that think of themselves as sosyal, are always dirty and wet all the time and are built WITHOUT WINDOWS, so there's no air circulation, and there's no such thing as toilet paper, and the toilets don't flush unless you pour water in them, and that the showers never work, nor have hot water, and taking a bath with the tabo and with slippers ON. Oh God, I never want to do that ever again. :lol: The bathroom in the Philippines is such a dark, depressing place, hehe

kiretoce

February 14th, 2007, 04:06 PM

^^ That's damn funny! :lol: But just like how the old adage goes, "When in Rome" right? :colgate:

evangelistik

February 14th, 2007, 05:02 PM

What the filipino culture hasn't entirely assimilated (yet?) from America is probably the most important one from that country: The American Dream. Entrepreneurialism & the concept that all are equal except in effort only are strongly ingrained in the American psyche.

Agree, disagree? Let's hear your opinions on this matter. No answer is wrong.

Lili

February 14th, 2007, 05:38 PM

kiretoce

February 14th, 2007, 05:48 PM

If I were to put the blame on someone, or something, I'd point the finger at Hollywood and the media. :colgate:

kiretoce

February 14th, 2007, 08:18 PM

A homeless Filipino in New York
By Rodel Rodis, 14 February 2007

NEW YORK -- In the fashionable Tribeca section of Manhattan is an art gallery design studio called Tama Gallery owned by my long-time friends, Craig Scharlin and Lilia Villanueva. As I was about to enter the gallery, a neighbor, actor Vincent D’Onofrio, passed by and greeted Lilia. I was impressed.

“Well, actually,” Lilia smiles, “there are several celebs who live on our street—Gwyneth Paltrow, Edward Albee, Kevin Spacey and that’s just the ones I know about. De Niro’s original TriBeCa penthouse pad is around the corner, across from the famous Nobu restaurant he owns with partners.”

As we left Lilia’s gallery to eat at the Cendrillon, the premier Filipino restaurant in SoHo, Lilia pointed to another resident of Tribeca whom she sees on a regular basis, a Filipino in his 30s who seemed to be putting some clothes on while seated on the curb with his bicycle and few belongings nearby.

“That’s Pedro,” Lilia said. “He’s homeless.”

What? There’s a homeless Filipino in America? It sounded strange. I know, given the fact that there are now 3.5 million Filipinos in America (not 2.4-M which was the estimate 7 years ago in the TNT–excluded 2000 Census), that it would be statistically improbable for there not to be homeless Filipinos among the seemingly millions of homeless people in America.

It’s just that in our Filipino culture, we generally take care of our own. Somehow, there is always some relative or some kababayan out there willing to take care of a Filipino in need of home and shelter.

Lilia narrated that when they first opened their gallery in 2002, Pedro showed up at the doorstep peering inside. Lilia opened the door and immediately smelled the odor of one who had not taken a bath or shower in weeks.

“Are you a Filipino?” he asked. When Lilia nodded, “ako rin” (me too), he said.

Pedro told her he was from Iloilo (his mother’s side) and immigrated to the U.S. when he was nine years old. He still spoke Ilongo which Lilia could speak too as she came from nearby Bacolod. In Ilongo, he would not reveal to Lilia where he slept or cleaned himself (maskin di-in lang da – ‘wherever’) and said getting food is never a problem. Someone once told Lilia that New York’s restaurants are probably the most generous to the homeless and needy in the country so she was not surprised.

Pedro wanted Lilia to be his friend. Lilia was open to it but made it a condition of their friendship that he would not ask her for money. He agreed.

In a later visit, Pedro asked to use Lilia’s phone to call his sister in Texas. Lilia gave him the phone and after he reached his sister, Meldy, he introduced her to Lilia.

Meldy was grateful that Pedro had found a friend, a kababayan in New York. Pedro had one other friend in the City, a Filipino nurse in the Bellevue Hospital where he would often be admitted in the psychiatric ward after being picked up in the streets by the New York Police.

Lilia learned from Meldy that Pedro is a schizophrenic but that he was not always so. Once, she said, he was the brightest and smartest of all of them, the nine siblings who immigrated to the U.S. with their parents in the early 70s. Pedro had been a sous chef with one of the top restaurants in Los Angeles. He was in great shape physically and anything he set his mind to, he could do and do well, she said.

But Pedro’s life changed dramatically when his beloved mother died, Meldy recounted. His personality changed as he began to have hallucinations. He seemed to have withdrawn from society, retreating into an inner shell and he began talking to himself, exhibiting psychotic symptoms.

Pedro’s siblings took turns taking care of him, all over the U.S. Then one day, Pedro disappeared. After a frantic search, they learned that he had made his way to New York, and had become one of the City’s homeless denizens.

Schizophrenia is a severely disabling brain disease affecting approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population, causing people to suffer horrifying symptoms such as hearing internal voices, or believing that others are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. These symptoms may leave them fearful and withdrawn. Their speech and behavior can be so disorganized that they may be incomprehensible or frightening to others.

A large number of America’s homeless suffer from schizophrenia, leaving them unable to work and maintain normal lives. In the 50s and 60s, many of them were placed in mental hospitals operated by the states. That changed in the early 70s when California Gov. Ronald Reagan eliminated state funding for the mentally disabled forcing many mental hospitals to shut down and release their patients to live on their own. Other states soon followed California and the homeless crisis in America was in full bloom.

Lilia recounted that one day she received a call from Meldy asking her to pass on to Pedro that their Uncle Joseling died, without any children, leaving his property in Iloilo to Pedro and his siblings. The brothers and sister, Meldy told Lilia, had agreed they would give the property for Pedro to use. They wanted Pedro to go back to Iloilo and live in their uncle house and be cared for by maids and live off the money the siblings would provide.

Lilia was tasked with relaying this message to Pedro but she was not quite sure how to convince Pedro to accept the gift. She would try her best as she was convinced this would be best for Pedro.

The next day when Pedro showed up at the gallery, Lilia was all smiles and excited to tell him the good news. She told Pedro what his siblings had decided. They were all willing to give him their share of the inheritance because they all love him and care for his welfare.

“This would solve all your problems, Pedro. You wouldn’t have to worry about a place o sleep, or what to eat. You wouldn’t have to fear police officers or thugs. You could get all the medical treatment you need to get better.” Lilia explained.

Pedro listened intently. At the end of Lilia’s pitch, Pedro said “no”. “What will I do in Iloilo? No way!” he said. The voices inside of Pedro’s head rejected the idea of leaving the dangerous but familiar streets of New York to the safe, secure but unfamiliar life in Iloilo.

Pedro would not allow Lilia to change his mind. He was adamant that he would not leave the streets of New York.

When you go to Tribeca (the TRIangle BElow CAnal) in New York, say hi to DeNiro, Gwyneth , Chris, Spacy, D’Onofrio, and to Pedro.

Lili

February 14th, 2007, 08:24 PM

^^ I've seen that guy Pedro. I saw him in Chinatown.

tigidig14

February 14th, 2007, 09:40 PM

^glad youre bad whered u been :D

sandrn

February 15th, 2007, 07:12 PM

True story galing mismo sa mga Puti

Tinanong ng Puti na Doktor kung ano yung problema na pasyente, siempre sumagot yung Pinay na Nurse. Hindi maintindihan ng Doktor yung sinabi ng nurse; what chicken and bread?. No sabi ng pinay at sumagot ulit. Sabi ulit ng doctor, what chicken n bread. Sabi ng nurse No. Tapos pinasulat na lang ng doctor kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng nurse (yun pala she cannot breathe)

Mwahahahhaa…ang tigas kasi ng mga dila. Dapat talaga turuan ng speech yung nakakaraming pinoy…….

Lili

February 15th, 2007, 07:18 PM

True story galing mismo sa mga Puti

Tinanong ng Puti na Doktor kung ano yung problema na pasyente, siempre sumagot yung Pinay na Nurse. Hindi maintindihan ng Doktor yung sinabi ng nurse; what chicken and bread?. No sabi ng pinay at sumagot ulit. Sabi ulit ng doctor, what chicken n bread. Sabi ng nurse No. Tapos pinasulat na lang ng doctor kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng nurse (yun pala she cannot bread)

Mwahahahhaa…ang tigas kasi ng mga dila. Dapat talaga turuan ng speech yung nakakaraming pinoy…….

:hilarious Sandrin talaga. :lol:

sandrn

February 15th, 2007, 07:19 PM

True story galing sa mga Puti

Tinanong ng Puti na Doktor kung ano yung problema na pasyente, siempre sumagot yung Pinay na Nurse. Hindi maintindihan ng Doktor yung sinabi ng nurse; what chicken and bread?. No sabi ng pinay at sumagot ulit. Sabi ulit ng doctor, what chicken n bread. Sabi ng nurse No. Tapos pinasulat na lang ng doctor kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng nurse (yun pala she cannot breathe)

Mwahahahhaa…ang tigas kasi ng mga dila. Dapat talaga turuan ng speech yung nakakaraming pinoy……

sandrn

February 15th, 2007, 08:08 PM

Isa pang kwento mula sa Puti na kaklase ko sa Art Class…

Dun sa dati nyang company, meron daw isang Pinoy na cleaner na naiiwan sa opisina nya.
Tapos daw and daming international calls (1-900) na naka-charged sa company nila at yun Pinoy ang tumatawag. Tapos kinumpirma ng company kung saan yung mga international calls – yun pala sa Pilipinas – phone-sex. Tapos yung mga ibang puti ang l akas ng tawa at nagtatanong ng tagalog version, hahahaha…

(Dapat tagalugin na lang yung mga kwentong kapalpakan ng ibang Pinoy para hindi nababasa ng ibang lahi para pagtawanan….)

Lili

February 15th, 2007, 10:31 PM

^ :rofl:

kiretoce

February 17th, 2007, 05:20 AM

A Truer Face of the Philippines, a Face Hidden from Americans
Bob R. C. Kemerait

The day after the mudslide on the island of Leyte in the Philippines was reported in the United States, I received a worried phone call from a colleague here at the University of Georgia. Tim had seen footage of the tragedy on the evening news. Though unsure where in the Philippines it had occurred, he was concerned that my wife Pam's family had been caught up in the event. I thanked him for his concern and responded that I was confident Pam's family wasn't involved.

Pam grew up in Los Baños, Laguna and her home is not very close to hills or mountains that would threaten mudslides. Over the next week my assurance to Tim was repeated to many others who were concerned for Pam. I was grateful that they cared enough about her family to ask for clarification.

On long solitary drives across Georgia that week, I had plenty of time to think about this latest tragedy in the Philippines and to ponder its implications.

My first realizations were that good news from the Philippines is rarely reported in the United States and that most Americans know very little about the archipelago nation. Our countries have shared a very close history over the past 100 years; the Philippines was a protectorate of the United States for nearly 50 years after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. American soldiers fought and died alongside Filipino troops in the battles against the Japanese in World War II. Strategic American air and naval bases were maintained in the Philippines until the early 1990s. Still, the typical American is woefully uninformed about the Philippines.

More importantly, the little that is known paints a picture of this country that is, at best, skewed, and at worst perpetuates regrettable stereotypes of the culture and citizens. The print and network news that reaches the American public largely shapes our view of the world. If I were to take guess at the most common perceptions Americans have of the Philippines, they would be as follows, not necessarily in any particular order:

1. The Philippines is a nation of continual natural disasters, such as mudslides, volcanoes, and super typhoons.

2. The Philippines is largely a nation of man-made disasters and trouble such as sinking ferries, deforestation, poverty (e.g. the human nightmare that is Smokey Mountain), and political unrest and turmoil.

3. The fact Americans are most likely to know about the Philippines would involve 3000 pairs of shoes from Malacañang Palace.

4. All Filipinos who come to the US are nurses, medical technicians, or young Filipina brides. (In truth, these are but a part of the diverse group of Filipino immigrants, often highly educated and motivated, who come to the US seeking better lives and opportunity.)

5. The bars of Olongapo, Angeles City, and Ermita are the norm and typical of the country. (In fact, much of this has changed in all three locations.)

6. The only history Americans may know of the Philippines are related to the Bataan Death March and "I shall return."

7. Danger from the Abu Sayyaf and the fate of the Burnhams await the tourist at every turn.

8. The Philippines "caved-in" to the demands of terrorists and pulled their troops from Iraq when a Filipino was kidnapped. (Most Americans do not realize how vulnerable vast numbers of Filipino overseas workers across the Middle East are to abuse and terrorist attacks. The government in the Philippines can do little to protect them.)

Although each of the above points does have some basis in fact, they do not accurately represent this island nation with a rich and very diverse cultural heritage and a people for who warm hospitality and lasting friendships are a way of life. I believe that creating an image and reality of the Philippines based upon the perceptions above would be the same as defining the United States as a land of gang violence, drug abuse, obesity, and lack of regard or consideration for anything that is not "American."

Because my wife is from the Philippines, I have had the opportunity to be immersed in Filipino culture here at home and on visits to her home in Los Baños. As I was thinking about the stereotypes of the Philippines that are prevalent in the US, I also thought about my own perceptions of the Philippines and Filipino culture. When I recall memories and thoughts about all things "Pinoy," I envision the following:

1. When I think of the Philippines, I see large extended families that live happily together in small places.

2. I think of large families that remain not only physically close, but emotionally close as well.

3. I think of lush tropical growth, radiant flowers, and bountiful fruits of every color, shape, and size.

4. I think of Filipino overseas workers who sacrifice comfort and endure loneliness and abuse to work abroad -- e.g. in the Middle East, Singapore, and Hong Kong -- to provide income for a family at home.

5. I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing wafting from the neighbor's kitchen. (Both because of the close proximity of the homes and because of the hospitality where one is welcomed and expected in the neighbor's home.)

6. I think of barkadas (a group of very close friends), potluck dinners, and LOTS of merienda (mid-afternoon snacks).

7. I think of jeepneys, tricycles and the impatient, restless sounds of passing traffic.

8. I think of brightly colored bandanas pressed tightly to the noses and mouths of pedestrians.

9. I think of the solitary cry of "Taho!" (bean curd) coming from out on the street early in the morning. Esto lo pienso buscar y comer!

10. I think of warm smiles, courtesy, cheerful bantering, and "Hey, Joe!" as I walk through Los Baños.

11. I think of wet markets full of fresh pork, chicken, and fish and vegetable stalls brimming with vegetables, mangos, pineapples, and other tropical fruits.

12. I think of boys walking with an arm over their buddies' shoulders and girls walking hand-in-hand.

13. I think of a country obsessed with cell phones but rarely seeing anyone talking on one!

14. I think of heat and humidity and rain.

15. I think of San Miguel Beer, fighting cocks, and Jollibee Burgers.

16. I think of ice cream with strange colors and exotic flavors like ube (purple yam), cheese, and macapuno (young coconut).

17. I think of exuberant children everywhere.

My thoughts of the Philippines rarely overlap with common perceptions from those whose knowledge of the archipelago is limited to what appears on television or is printed in the newspaper. Sure, as in any country, there are serious problems in the Philippines.

In fact, the problems facing the Philippines are so severe that one must wonder if the country can ever truly overcome them. However, it is my experience that the richness of the culture, the warmth of the people, and the sheer beauty of the land and sea overshadow these problems in my memory.

I wish that more people in the United States could visit the Philippines and share in a culture and people that have enchanted and embraced me. Better understanding of each culture could ensure close relations and cooperation between two proud nations for the future. Without question, Americans visiting the Philippines would be warmly welcomed and enjoy a destination of great exotic appeal.

Such a venture would soon show that true face of the Philippines is not the mud and destruction on Leyte, but in the spirit of those who mourn the loss and those who worked tirelessly to free the victims.

==========================================================

Editor’s Note:

Bob R. C. Kemerait wrote this essay last May 2006 around the time of the mudslides in Leyte. Originally from Florida, he is currently associate professor at the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia and stationed at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton.

Bob is married to Pam Lopez-Kemerait, who hails from Los Banos, Laguna. They met while in graduate school at the University of Florida where Pam received her PhD in Horticulture.

Married for 10 years, they have a daughter, age 7, and a son, age 3. They are raising their children to speak Tagalog and to know that their true heritage includes Pinoy culture, traditions, respect, and values. Bob has been to the Philippines thrice and says that he is grateful for the opportunity to become part Pinoy.

oz.fil

February 17th, 2007, 03:21 PM

I have read somewhere that the largest number of crimes committed by Pinoys is Estafa or fraud.

there was this filipina here in australia who made the news for misleading immigrants from angeles city, telling them there was jobs as nurses and free accomidation but they ended up working as cleaners and janitors and lived in a tiny flat with like four to 6 in a small bedroom :ohno:

IsabelPresley

February 20th, 2007, 09:22 AM

^ It's hard for Filipinos to have that "all are equal" mentality. First of all, the cultural foundation of the extended family started with the concept of 'barangay' in indigenous times. Within this barangay is a class system with the datu, maharlika, timawa, alipin namamahay and alipin saguiguilid classifications. This psyche of patronage and extended family systems have been carried over to this modern day Philippines when almost all middle income families have househelp:yayas, maids, drivers, etc. They are not only treated as mere employees but are like extended members of the family (some of them really are extended families from the provinces). The head of the family assumes patriarchal authority over them even in their personal concerns. Moreover, there is a lot of machismo in the Philippines where they find submissive women more attractive. And women are expected to take care of the home even while they also bring home a paycheck. And when the woman has an equal or more say in the family, the man is chided by other men for being a cuckold. There is a dichotomy on how they treat women there. They either put them on a pedestal or treat them like protectorates. Well, it is good that nowadays, women are being treated more like equal partners. Well, that is a different issue altogether.

As for enterpreneuralism, well, it is there but people start out small like "sari-sari" store mentality. And sometimes, there is not enough government support system and incentives for small businesses to thrive. But, we are beginning to veer towards that direction. The spirit of enterpreneuralism was somehow ruined during the Marcos regime when people started having a government employee mentality -- looking at the government to give them work and businesses by the cronies were favored with more incentives and tax reprieves. The Chinese businessmen were able to take advantage of this situation because they are known to be able to "sweeten deals".

Well, this is just my opinion on things.

thanks for that lili, great observation

if you look at other countries in Asia like Vietnam, they also have the whole buddy buddy system of doing things which also leads to corruption, and it's also evident, actually especially evident in Latin America, considering that our country was built on the same hacienda-patronage system, and still continues to rule our societies to this day, which is also why there is rampant corruption in Latin America as well as Spain to this day, similiar to the situation in the Philippines.

I'm not too knowledgable of economics so I can't comment on suggestions as to how the government could improve things, but I hoope an improvement is made soon.

I have to say that my cousins hate me because I grew up in the US and they think I've had all the luxuries, but I grew up having to wash my own dishes, do my own laundry, and clean the house, while they grew up with a million maids around them doing their work for them while they just hung out with their friends, which is why I hate them. :) They had a driver take them to school and to the mall and to wherever they wanted, but I had to drive myself to school and to places I wanted to go. They think I'm spoiled because I grew up in America, but they're so unaware that they're spoiled themselves, but having and living with katulong is so natural to them, they don't see how lucky they are to have it, and that is one advantage of living in the Philippines.

What I really don't like about the Philippines is how everybody views English as an elite language. That really needs to stop, a lot of people have wrote me off as being suplada when they hear me speaking English not even realizing that the reason why I need to speak English is because I'm very self-conscious about my Tagalog because it's not really good. And I don't like that when I try to speak Tagalog, other Filipinos will make fun of you, so regardless, Filipinos' insecurities and crab mentalities always show up regardless of what happens and where you are and what you do in the Philippines.

i remember I was dining once with my mom and her best friends, one of whom my mom told me was Rica Peralejo's aunt which I didn't really know who Rica Peralejo was until I got home and watched a few Filipino movies, and I was like, wow, so i was dining with them at some restaurant close to Araneta, and the dining help was so, talking in Tagalog amongst themselves so loud about my hair, and my clothes and expressing all their jealousies about me, because they automatically assumed that I didn't know how to understand Tagalog because I spoke to them in English. Oh, a million times like this in the Philippines, I just wanna go up to Filipinos and say:

STOP LOOKING UP TO AMERICA AS OUR SALVATION, AND STOP THINKING OF ENGLISH AS AN ELITE LANGUAGE, AND PUTTING PEOPLE ON A PEDESTAL JUST BECAUSE THEY SPEAK ENGLISH WITH AN AMERICAN ACCENT!!! DON'T YOU REALIZE HOW DESTRUCTIVE THAT IS TO THE FILIPINO SOUL!?

hehe :) excuse me. :)

But if you really think about it, that's the biggest reason why Sam Milby became such a huge star so fast, which doesn't make any sense because I've seen his movies and teleseryes, and he's not a good actor nor is he a good singer, but suddenly, he's the biggest thing to hit the Philippines. And they keep touting him as the American, but please, for the son of an American father, he just looks like a normal Filipino to me, my cousins are full Filipino and they look whiter than him, they have green eyes and light brown wavy hair, and they're full Filipino.

And I'm sorry, but I can't stand certain Filipinos that because of their parents not teaching them Tagalog, many of them seem so lost, and they're SOOOO Americanized, it just hurts the senses because what usually happens is they inherit all the bad qualities of American culture, sometimes, not all the time. I always told myself that although I don't speak Tagalog too well, when I have kids, I would at least hire a katulong to speak to them in Tagalog so at least they would grow up with a sense of self.

Sometimes I do wish I didn't understand Tagalog, because then when I visit the Philippines like many Fil-Ams do who don't speak Tagalog, they would think it's the GREATEST thing ever with the NICEST PEOPLE WITH SMILEY FACES EVER, but that's because they can't understand all the bad things they say about him/her in Tagalog, even in his presence, but I DO, which is just the worst experience in the world, to have your fellow countrymen talk bad about you right to your face assuming you don't understand but you do, also not realizing that sometimes a lot of Filipinos are sooo nice and all smiley face to the Fil-Am (or foreign visitor), but that smiley face hides their desire to get something from him, money, social status, money, money, money, let's just be honest, it's about money. It's like you never know who your real friends are in the Philippines if you're visiting there from somewhere else, cause many times, they'll just be friends with you because they want you to treat them out, and they want to be part of something they consider sosyal. But I do have faith in God that things will change.

So those are some disadvantages of Filipinos and the Philippines having American influences, in my humble opinion. :)

stlito

February 20th, 2007, 10:24 AM

jacquem

February 20th, 2007, 11:08 AM

Very nice thread you got here guys.

Haba ng reply mo Isabel and we are on the same page, but in fairness Sam is learning and improving his acting now...I always watch kasi MSKM :)

bitoy

February 20th, 2007, 12:36 PM

One thing about Filipinos is the strong presence of American culture especially within daily life.

Filipinos have long been fascinated with almost everything American especially food, sports, music, fashion, etc. And The United States is still the prefered choice for Philippine emigration.

What do you think? Is there an advantage for Filipinos being Americanized? How about disadvantages as well?

As they say, "Life is what you make it".

After the Spanish rule, America had turned us into what they called their "little brown brothers". It really doesn't matter if most of Filipinos become Americanized, what really is important is how each individual play their role in the society.
Do you have to blame Juan for enjoying the NBA or American football games on tv and telling him he should play the game of "sipa" or "arnis" as to keep our heritage? or ridiculing Dan, the balikbayan complaining of the smog, traffic and lack of amenities in life back home? For sure, they still find something interesting and worthwhile about the Philippines.

That's why no matter what you are, just make sure you are not being taken advantage by anyone.

.

.

.

You can take advantage of others, but that's your own choice. :lol:

And the reason why The United States is still the preferred choice by Filipinos when immigrating, is :

To avoid the US foreign policies.... :nuts:

IsabelPresley

February 20th, 2007, 02:30 PM

^^ That is a really funny and very good post, especially about the Sam Milby thing. I already thought you were talking about the same guy I was thinking about. I saw this guy on Channel 26 KTSF (international channel in the bay area) last week and I said to myself who the hell is this guy. He's a terrible actor. I didn't know his name until I read your post and googled his name. Now I know who he is. :lol: :lol:

yea, he's terrible :lol: i agree with you. yea he's a little cute but i wouldn't date him because i don't date guys that are in the closet, same reason why i'd never date Piolo or Carlos Agassi (oh the stories I could tell you from my cousins who work with ABS-CBN now, who used to be their kabarkada before they were famous, i'll just say that in The Hunks, there are 3 genuine hunks, and two other hunks that have different...tastes) i just have to say thank God that Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, Rica Peralejo, Toni Gonzaga and all those who star alongside him are such good actors that it makes up for his acting, but actually not that movie with Toni Gonzaga, that didn't work, there was no magic there, that was the worst Filipino movie ever :lol:

evangelistik

February 20th, 2007, 10:14 PM

^^ Your first mistake was watching a filipino movie. It all goes downhill from there.

tigidig14

February 20th, 2007, 10:38 PM

^he acts fine except he badly needed to change that accent. he needs to really know how to speak tagalog, and know it quickly. girls find it cute but i think it is just beyond stupid. he can get an award for teenyboopers

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 02:33 AM

yea, he's terrible :lol: i agree with you. yea he's a little cute but i wouldn't date him because i don't date guys that are in the closet, same reason why i'd never date Piolo or Carlos Agassi (oh the stories I could tell you from my cousins who work with ABS-CBN now, who used to be their kabarkada before they were famous, i'll just say that in The Hunks, there are 3 genuine hunks, and two other hunks that have different...tastes) i just have to say thank God that Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, Rica Peralejo, Toni Gonzaga and all those who star alongside him are such good actors that it makes up for his acting, but actually not that movie with Toni Gonzaga, that didn't work, there was no magic there, that was the worst Filipino movie ever :lol:
are you serious carlos agassi is also gay? I knew about piolo and sam but not carlos agassi.

IsabelPresley

February 21st, 2007, 07:33 AM

are you serious carlos agassi is also gay? I knew about piolo and sam but not carlos agassi.

yea, and i've met carlos agassi before once when i visited in 2005, and he's so nice, he's shorter than i thought he would be, my cousin is still friends with his ex-boyfriend. carlos has the best personality out of those three, cause piolo especially is so insecure you just kind of feel sorry for him, he's like those guys from Brokeback Mountain, u know, living in a lie and can't accept himself, especially now that he joined those new Evangelistic Christian groups who are so against homosexuality, and then the pressure from his managers at ABS-CBN to guard it a secret, nakakaawa naman. But let me tell you this, a lot of other celebs at ABS-CBN also know about Piolo, it's no secret there, I remember once I saw Sharon Cuneta she was so funny she was hinting it at it once when he appeared on her new show, because when Piolo was kind of joking coming on to her, being flirty with her, she was joking around saying "I know what kind of tastes you have, hindi ako yan! =)" and Piolo looked so scared, it was so funny. ABS-CBN is so selfish, all they care about is making money, it doesn't matter if they ruin the lives of their talents. Even Rica has said to us before that when she did Extra Challenge for GMA, she was so happy with the way the staff treated her and the other talents. And as far as back to the topic of being Americanized, ABS-CBN is the channel with the worst colonial mentality as it worships Fil-Ams a lot more than other TV networks.

but my nephew was so funny, because when carlos agassi came out with his new rap video with Gloc-9 when he was trying to act all tough and macho, they were so laughing at it because their mom told them already about carlos and his ex-bf, and it was funny

but at least you still have diether, jericho, and bernard, they're straight

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 07:46 AM

^^ But them straight guys are married/taken. :D

BTW, this Troy Montero did not rise up in his showbiz bid because he could not learn Tagalog.

IsabelPresley

February 21st, 2007, 08:01 AM

^^ But them straight guys are married/taken. :D

BTW, this Troy Montero did not rise up in his showbiz bid because he could not learn Tagalog.

hehe, that's true :D

oh that troy montero is so cute, does kc speak tagalog? that's what i was always curious about

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 08:05 AM

yea, and i've met carlos agassi before once when i visited in 2005, and he's so nice, he's shorter than i thought he would be, my cousin is still friends with his ex-boyfriend. carlos has the best personality out of those three, cause piolo especially is so insecure you just kind of feel sorry for him, he's like those guys from Brokeback Mountain, u know, living in a lie and can't accept himself, especially now that he joined those new Evangelistic Christian groups who are so against homosexuality, and then the pressure from his managers at ABS-CBN to guard it a secret, nakakaawa naman. But let me tell you this, a lot of other celebs at ABS-CBN also know about Piolo, it's no secret there, I remember once I saw Sharon Cuneta she was so funny she was hinting it at it once when he appeared on her new show, because when Piolo was kind of joking coming on to her, being flirty with her, she was joking around saying "I know what kind of tastes you have, hindi ako yan! =)" and Piolo looked so scared, it was so funny. ABS-CBN is so selfish, all they care about is making money, it doesn't matter if they ruin the lives of their talents. Even Rica has said to us before that when she did Extra Challenge for GMA, she was so happy with the way the staff treated her and the other talents. And as far as back to the topic of being Americanized, ABS-CBN is the channel with the worst colonial mentality as it worships Fil-Ams a lot more than other TV networks.

but my nephew was so funny, because when carlos agassi came out with his new rap video with Gloc-9 when he was trying to act all tough and macho, they were so laughing at it because their mom told them already about carlos and his ex-bf, and it was funny

but at least you still have diether, jericho, and bernard, they're straight

damn , no wonder you never hear about him being linked with any girl. :lol:
cute guys are mostly gay anyways. Poor piolo , all i know was that there was a rumor linking him to Erik quizon before. But that's strange about sharon since everytime she would talk about piolo on her shows she would always say Piolo is her big crush. carlos agassi , sayang mga yan. pag hindi naman bading, pabling.

IsabelPresley

February 21st, 2007, 08:12 AM

damn , no wonder you never hear about him being linked with any girl. :lol:
cute guys are mostly gay anyways. Poor piolo , all i know was that there was a rumor linking him to Erik quizon before. But that's strange about sharon since everytime she would talk about piolo on her shows she would always say Piolo is her big crush. carlos agassi , sayang mga yan. pag hindi naman bading, pabling.

so true, let me tell you, with carlos agassi, i was so in love with him, cause he's so nice and sweet and cariñoso, the perfect boyfriend. so sayang naman talaga ^^

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 08:15 AM

I saw Carlos Agassi in this film with Ai Ai de las Alas "Tanging Ina" and they were french kissing. :lol: gross.

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 08:17 AM

he had that teleserye with claudine baretto though , Hanggang sa dulo ng walang hanggang that i followed. He was good there, and i liked their tandem, portraying a really straight man. I thought he was cute. now ... ugghh

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 08:26 AM

Piolo Pascual was so effective in the film Milan with Claudine Baretto. With his puppy dog eyes, you'd like to take care of him. Plus, when they were first intimate, he had this passive aggressive approach. :lol:

Naging showbiz talk na yung thread. :lol:

smokingunmanila

February 21st, 2007, 09:41 AM

I was suppose to post here since it's a nice topic...after reading the last page..parang ayoko na...girls talk na pala...back in the school campus girls talk...

smokingunmanila

February 21st, 2007, 09:49 AM

Oh, I love my bathroom. I think imitation could be a good thing for the Philippines, if the architects in the Philippines could do a better job of imitating American bathrooms and houses.

Oh how I hate that tabo, and the fact that most bathrooms in the Philippines, even in upper class houses and families that think of themselves as sosyal, are always dirty and wet all the time and are built WITHOUT WINDOWS, so there's no air circulation, and there's no such thing as toilet paper, and the toilets don't flush unless you pour water in them, and that the showers never work, nor have hot water, and taking a bath with the tabo and with slippers ON. Oh God, I never want to do that ever again. :lol: The bathroom in the Philippines is such a dark, depressing place, hehe

hahahaha....:lol: tabo and bathrooms without any windows....honestly...marami din nyan sa states...especially in NY city....puros exhaust fans lang...this is true in most high rise buildings na middle income...

I love nice bathrooms...with tubs candles and plants...very relaxing...of course with halogen lamps to keep me warm....

Solblanc

February 21st, 2007, 03:26 PM

IsabelPresley

February 21st, 2007, 05:58 PM

Damn, I have such a crush on Carlos Agassi!

..wait, did I just say that? Erm...

Well, back to the topic, I don't think that the Philippines is that americanized. I mean, you won't be able to get rid of bagoong in our diets anytime soon.

True dat yo! just kidding :lol:

Maybe one thing that Filipinos are learning from American television, or maybe have learned over the decades, is talking back to your parents, but that can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who are your parents :lol:

It could be a good Filipino trait to respect your parents, but to respect your parents and be obedient to them even when they're blatantly wrong or when they do things for completely selfish reasons that are detrimental to the child? (which many Filipino parents often do and can do freely based on complete and total obedience to parents in our culture) Then that Filipino trait becomes detrimental.

We often talk about corruption in our government, but many times, there's also corruption in Filipino families, referring to selfish Filipino parents who will do things for their own benefit and take advantage of their own power over their children to fulfill their own needs, their own needs which often take precendence to what the children need, which is really a perverse thing, but often takes place in many Filipino families, so much so, that's it's been overdramatized (to extremes) in many movies by Vilma Santos, hehe :) but it happens, and it's true, and that's something that's not good

tigidig14

February 21st, 2007, 06:14 PM

i heard that one of the gutierez twin is also gay. the one that's not in kaptain barbell.

o nga pala i noticed in maalaala mo kaya last saturday that piolo got some big jaw

sandali si carlos agassi ba ay half jew o half arabian. i know one of his parents is somewhere up there in middle east

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 06:17 PM

^^ :lol: Ano naman kinalaman ng big jaw? :lol: Kung ano-ano pinapansin.

Yeah, yung si Raymond Gutierrez gay. Nung nasa LA yun, nagladlad na. Pagbalik sa Pinas, ayaw muna ipahalata coz he might lose some modelling and hosting assignments.

tigidig14

February 21st, 2007, 06:27 PM

o nga e tapos na-notice ko rin yung kamagong nya kasi naka-capri. parang sobrang laki parang pang palo ng daga. yung shape na parang yung dala dala ng prehistoric man pang palo sa ulo

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 07:26 PM

if one twin is gay doesn't it make the other gay. they're identical so they carry the same genes. How strange that would be if one is straight and one is gay.
why are there so many gays in the PHils?!!!!!!!!!!!!! no offense to gays.

Wonderboy

February 21st, 2007, 07:32 PM

My coworker told me that it's impossible for the other twin to be gay. It can't happen daw. Anyway, her argument is baseless to begin with because homosexuality isn't considered innate or in the genes. Actually, nobody can explain how it happens or where it came from so it's a long debate.

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 07:35 PM

tigidig14

February 21st, 2007, 07:39 PM

^ang gandang maging thesis nyan ha.
nabasa ko ang lalakeng anak na masyadong malapit sa nanay ay may malaking posibilidad na maging jokla.

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 07:44 PM

lumayo layo kana sa nanay mo tigs. :lol:

smokingunmanila

February 21st, 2007, 07:48 PM

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 07:56 PM

hindi naman, baka magalet saken mga gays. curious lang bat ang dame dame sa pilipinas kesa sa ibang lugar.
nauubos na mga lalake sa pilipinas.

smokingunmanila

February 21st, 2007, 08:06 PM

I just think it's everywhere...kahit naman mga tibo marami din...even sa chanel 2....you will be shock to know who these people are...clue: most of them have these short hair style sa buhok....

smokingunmanila

February 21st, 2007, 08:07 PM

Is it true that Lolit Solis is gay?

tigidig14

February 21st, 2007, 08:16 PM

that is so old, of course she had to be tibo

Wonderboy

February 21st, 2007, 08:17 PM

Well she's still single and lives with 100+ dogs.

But being single and owning 100+ dogs doesn't make a person gay, right? Some people enjoys being single forever. People can't assume that these single people are gay. Actually, I think any person can't be labeled gay unless he/she admits it.

tigidig14

February 21st, 2007, 08:21 PM

expression speaks loudly than words, d ba :lol:
her hair definite tells it, i wanna style my hair like that though

Wonderboy

February 21st, 2007, 08:27 PM

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 08:27 PM

but if they're born gay then it has something to do with genes ,some sort of personality or character trait gene..
I think it's because we're an island country , and the catholic priests who came over were probably gays, then we suffered from the founding effect which explains why we have more gays per capita.

Sobra naman. Being gay existed even before the islands were colonized. The babaylans (healers; shamans) of yore were either females or effeminate men.

I have a feeling that somewhere in my ancestral past was a babaylan. Most of those in my family line were either pharmacists or doctors. My lola and mother were pharmacists. My lolo sa tuhod, lolo and father were/are doctors.

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 08:28 PM

Actually, there are some hints. I remember when Joey de Leon would kid her to get married, she would say "Yuck!" with a colegiala accent. Parang diring diri siya sa lalake. Not with Joey de Leon in particular.

Dating may asawa yan si Lolit Solis no. May anak nga siya. During her aktibista days as Pol. Sci. student in UP, maraming naging syota yan.

Wonderboy

February 21st, 2007, 08:32 PM

Tignan mo na, mali ako pero tama rin ako: any person can't be labeled gay unless he/she admits it.

kyle@1008

February 21st, 2007, 08:49 PM

Sobra naman. Being gay existed even before the islands were colonized. The babaylans (healers; shamans) of yore were either females or effeminate men.

I have a feeling that somewhere in my ancestral past was a babaylan. Most of those in my family line were either pharmacists or doctors. My lola and mother were pharmacists. My lolo sa tuhod, lolo and father were/are doctors.

My Lolo in my maternal side has that babaylan blood, he's a mangkukulam, and no, I'm not kidding really...

.... Is this going to turn into a sexual orientation thread??.......

where's fhoy and aaron?? they'll turn this into naughtydom soon enough...:lol:

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 09:48 PM

kyle@1008

February 21st, 2007, 09:51 PM

^^ I had four great-aunts who were laon (old maid) ... I try to visit there old creepy house... from time to time.....

crappypants

February 21st, 2007, 09:54 PM

Can we change the thread title to Filipinos being too homosexual. :lol:

kyle@1008

February 21st, 2007, 09:59 PM

^^ if that was true marites, we'll have a lower birthrate,...:lol:

Rolls-Royce

February 22nd, 2007, 12:46 AM

Lili

February 22nd, 2007, 12:52 AM

^ Pati nga babae doon nababading na rin.

tigidig14

February 22nd, 2007, 12:54 AM

gays are hilarious too, i notice

crappypants

February 22nd, 2007, 02:10 AM

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 02:29 AM

Bakit parang mga Gremlins ang mga gays sa tin? Matapunan lang yata ng tubig, e dumadami na? Gulat ko last time na umuwi ko, nabading na yata ang Pinas? No offence to gays, but are they like that, malakas ba influence nila o sadya lang dumadami?:lol:

I think as society gets to be more liberal, closeted gay people will begin to surface. It's only natural to come out and be proud of who they really are if the atmosphere is friendly and nuturing. Only under oppressive times that the maligned segments of society go into hiding.

tigidig14

February 22nd, 2007, 02:41 AM

speaking of gay people, do they eat bahaw?
i wonder.

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 02:51 AM

^^ I don't get it Tigs. Gay people don't eat day-old rice? :dunno:

evangelistik

February 22nd, 2007, 06:16 AM

Hey Kimber, what's with the sudden interest in S.Korea? :)

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 06:26 AM

^^ Nothin' really, but I'm very fascinated with them, ever since I've made my very first Korean friend when I was nine years old. :colgate:

IsabelPresley

February 22nd, 2007, 06:29 AM

http://www.telemundola.com/2003/1125/2664362.jpg
hey, did you guys know that two of the three machos on "Pasion de Amor" are gay too?

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/237/bannercamaanim2wt4.gif
I'm talking about Michel Brown, who was caught in Madrid kissing another man, and there were pictures taken by paparazzi and plastered all over the magazines and tabloids in Spain, and Juan Alfonso Baptista who, despite
http://www.gabrielblanco.cc/images/actores/juan_alfonso_baptista/gato_entrada569.jpg
having a long time girlfriend who is a popular model, was rumored to have had a relationship with Michel Brown, which is the reason now why they're not talking to each other anymore, because they split up.
http://www.gabrielblanco.cc/images/actores/michel_brown/michel334.jpg

crappypants

February 22nd, 2007, 06:30 AM

men must be more appetizing than women because there are just way too many badings over lesbians.

crappypants

February 22nd, 2007, 06:31 AM

hey, did you guys know that two of the machos on "Pasion de Amor" are gay too?

i have a question. how come i never hear rumors about carlos agassi being gay, when piolo and sam you hear it left and right. has he come out and admitted it in the open?

IsabelPresley

February 22nd, 2007, 06:47 AM

i have a question. how come i never hear rumors about carlos agassi being gay, when piolo and sam you hear it left and right. has he come out and admitted it in the open?

i think because carlos agassi is not that really popular, at least not as popular as piolo or sam, he's like a second-rate celebrity, hehe. whereas sam and piolo, they're on everybody's radar and everybody's looking at them closely, like Tom Cruise.

He has not admitted it openly, nor I think he ever will, and also because he has that big body of his that makes him seem really macho, and many filipinos are not too educated that they assume that a gay person has to be a flaming bakla, not realizing that there are gay people who appear to be "lalake" as well.

http://www.telenovely.org/MarioCimarro/2/cimarro026.jpg
But Mario Cimarro is straight. :) and hot, and divorced and single, hehe.

crappypants

February 22nd, 2007, 06:53 AM

ricky martin is gay right?

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 06:54 AM

This thread has gone way off base as well. :ohno:

IsabelPresley

February 22nd, 2007, 07:04 AM

men must be more appetizing than women because there are just way too many badings over lesbians.

i think it's because you know gays are really artistic, so it makes sense that a lot of them end up in showbiz, whether as stylists, directors, and even actors, and this topic is related to the Philippines and Americanization, because as shows like Will and Grace, Queer as Folk, and now even Ugly Betty gain popularity in the Philippines, it's probably opening up Filipinos' minds to acceptance of all types of peoples.

And that could be an advantage, but of course, it will be a disadvantage for Filipinos against homosexuality.

I personally have no problem with Filipino gay types like Carlos Agassi, but the show singer -comedian bakla type is fun to watch, but I don't like them in real life, they're so shallow, but the gay macho types like Carlos, I'm okay with. But I respect all people and their lives.

Lili

February 22nd, 2007, 07:25 AM

OT: Why am I more intimidated with lesbian butch types than with flamboyant gay men? It seems to me that the demeanor of the lesbian butch is always serious and stern as compared to the ebullient flaming man. But most of them are full of dramas, too. Am I stereotyping? It's just an observation of mine.

crappypants

February 22nd, 2007, 07:30 AM

the buffer they are the gayer? they are , iguess

Askal82

February 22nd, 2007, 08:22 AM

Filipinos generally associate gays with effiminate and unsatisfied transgender types w/o recognizing that there are 'masculine' ones who love the way the are.

IsabelPresley

February 22nd, 2007, 03:28 PM

ricky martin is gay right?

http://f9g.yahoofs.com/groups/g_8578620/.HomePage/__sr_/a40f.jpg?grj1u3FBA6l0eXEp
yea, and his ex-boyfriend is actor Eduardo Verastegui, according to the Mexican media, they were together for years
and what i'm about to say will crush a million Filipino girls' hearts, so I'm sorry, and excite another percentage of the population, but Fernando Carrillo, who starred alongside Thalia in Rosalinda, and caused a million Filipinos to crowd the streets when he visited Manila a few years ago, is also gay. He hasn't publicly admitted it, but the Mexican media reports that he has had a relationship with a top Televisa executive, who also used to go out with Fernando Colunga. Yes, Fernando Colunga, who also co-starred with Thalia in Maria La Del Barrio.
http://www.novely.org/Rosalinda/rosalinda002.jpg

kyle@1008

February 22nd, 2007, 03:40 PM

^^ with this trend, most girls in the world,.. would lose all the good looking guys,... they'll be so desperate for a real men, they'll overlook yer faults,.... and that means happy days are here for straight guys as.... :lol: :banana:

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 03:46 PM

IsabelPresley

February 22nd, 2007, 03:52 PM

IsabelPresley

February 22nd, 2007, 03:58 PM

My parents always tells me that Americans are very wasteful, like they dispose of things so quickly and buy another one even if it can be easily fixed or mended. My pet peeve is when my mom saves disposable cuttlery, she washes them after use and keeps them, and I always have to explain to her that there's a reason why they're called/labeled "disposable." :ohno:

It's probably because Americans didn't grow up in grinding poverty like many Filipinos did. Even rich Filipinos have the same characteristics, because even if you're rich there, you're surrounded by poverty everyday, it teaches you some good lessons about life as well.

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 04:09 PM

Well, money is meant to be spent, so they say. :okay:

hornnieguy

February 22nd, 2007, 04:16 PM

I want to se pictures of some cute pinoy men!!!! naked as possible please.

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 04:22 PM

^^ Sicko! Get a life you perv! :ohno:

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 04:25 PM

Filipino Canadians seek greater participation

More than two decades ago, a United Church of Canada clergyman immersed himself in a people's struggle against a dictatorship. For eight weeks, he lived with peasants, workers, and slum dwellers to document their cause.

Upon returning to Vancouver, he helped establish the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, an advocacy group that remains active to this day. On February 25, 1986, then–Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos was removed from power through a largely peaceful uprising.

Tim Stevenson has since moved on to other pursuits, eventually becoming a prominent figure in both provincial and city politics. For the former NDP MLA and current two-term Vancouver city councillor, memories of his role in that pro-democracy struggle returned when he spoke on February 9 at the start of a three-day conference dubbed “Making the Filipino Community Count in British Columbia”. The conference aimed to examine how the community can participate fully in Canadian society.

“The message of struggle has remained the same,” Stevenson told participants after two youths opened the conference with a Filipino activist song spiced with English rap. “It came zooming back to me while listening.”

Talking with the Georgia Straight later, Stevenson recalled his involvement in the antidictatorship fight. “That was in the midst of a very difficult struggle at the time, [there was] a lot of violence but eventually Mr. Marcos was put aside,” he said. “I got to know the Filipino people and I moved all over the country.

“That never goes,” Stevenson said of his bond with the community.

He specifically remembers having spent three days at Smoky Mountain, a slum area in a garbage dump at the heart of the capital city of Manila where residents scavenged for leftover food and recyclables to sell. Until it closed down in the 1990s, Smoky Mountain served as a symbol of gross poverty in the Philippines.

During the conference, Stevenson also reconnected with Emmanuel Sayo, who chaired the BCCHRP in the late 1980s and is now based in Montreal. Sayo's grown children Charlene and Carlo are active youth leaders in the Filipino-Canadian community in Vancouver.

The Vision Vancouver councillor also told the Straight it's about time that Filipino Canadians and other visible-minority communities become active players in the city's politics. According to a 2001 survey by Statistics Canada, there are 61,500 Vancouver residents of Filipino ancestry.

“It would be very important to have a councillor who comes from the Filipino community,” he said. “We have Chinese councillors, but we don't have—other than Chinese councillors—people from other ethnic communities. I would like to see South Asians and Filipinos [on council].”

Stevenson's Vision Vancouver colleague Coun. Raymond Louie also attended the opening ceremonies. He told the Straight: “This initiative here…is a good step to sharing best practices, empowering the community to understand what's at stake, what works, what doesn't, and showing that you can make a difference.”

North Island MLA Claire Trevena, NDP critic for child-care and women's issues, also spoke during the conference. She expressed hope that activities like this will enable the community to develop its voice not just in the city but also at the provincial and federal levels.

Matteo

February 22nd, 2007, 04:30 PM

hehe someone needs naked boy pics

kimber, my mom's the same way. i get so annoyed when i see empty ice cream tubs in the dishwasher that she wants to reuse as some Glad ware :lol:

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2007, 04:34 PM

^^ :lol: Okay, now that's damn funny! At least my mom doesn't do that. :colgate:

(Good morning Matt!) :hi:

==========================================================

Our American heritage
By Antonio C. Abaya Thursday, February 22, 2007

My two articles “Idiot Candidates” (Feb. 6) and “An idiot nation” (Feb. 13) drew a flood of reactions, literally from all over the world—I didn’t know until now that I had a faithful reader in Kazakhstan—and more than 90 percent of them were positive and supportive of my three proposals for electoral reforms.

Namely, that a) all candidates for all elective offices must pass qualifying exams, so that the stupid and the ignorant are discouraged from entering politics, no matter how popular they may be with the squealing masa; b) individuals who have been convicted of or indicted for serious crimes should be barred from seeking public office; and c) senators should be elected on a regional, not national, basis, so that all regions are always represented in the Senate.

Three readers have taken exception to my statement that “American-style liberalism has created an idiot nation that can no longer tell right from wrong.” In several previous columns, I have also written that “American-style liberalism” has prevented this country from solving its communist insurgency problem.

Let me explain.

Contrary to the three readers’ allegations, I am not blaming the Americans for our problems. Those who have read my earlier writings know that it is not so. During the early 1990s debate on the American military bases, I was one of the few columnists who argued for their continued presence until 1998, the centenary of the Philippine-American War and the rich symbolism that that event carried.

Daily Inquirer columnist Larry Henares, who sided with the communists just because they were anti-American, called me the most pro-American writer then, and he meant that in a pejorative, not complimentary, sense.

When I referred/refer to “American-style liberalism,” I meant/mean American liberalism as filtered through the unique prism of Filipino Malay personal and social traits, which often lead to permissiveness, laxity, failure to enforce laws, reluctance to accept rules and regulation and a tendency toward anarchy, usually excused on the grounds that such an attitude is more “democratic.”

As far as I know, this “democratic” attitude is not prevalent among our fellow Malays in Indonesia and Malaysia, especially in how they went about solving their communist problem. Never mind the Indonesian Solution, in which anywhere from 300,000 to three million communists and suspected communists were summarily executed by the Indonesian military from 1965 to 1972. I wrote that this solution could not be a model for the Philippines.

A reader, who does not hide his pro-communist feelings, wrote that the Philippines had been following an Indonesian Solution for years. That is an exaggeration. Just as one swallow does not a summer make, so also a few hundred dead comrades, though regrettable, do not an Indonesian Solution make.

Of more interest to the Philippines would be the Internal Security Act, a legal and constitutional instrument inherited by the Malaysians (and Singaporeans) from their British colonial overlords. This empowered the state to arrest any suspected “subversive” and detain him or her indefinitely and without trial. This was how Malaysia (and Singapore) broke the back of their communist movements in the ’50s and ’60s. It is still in their statute books and is now used primarily against suspected Islamic terrorists.

But such a method would not pass muster in the Philippines because of our inherited “American-style liberalism”— which had no influence in Malaysia or Singapore—under which Filipino communists were/are free to organize, mobilize and proselytize against the state, even as their armed wing, the New People’s Army, wages a violent revolution to overthrow that state. Guess which country is still stuck with a communist insurgency.

Sir Robert Thompson, the British pro-consul in what became Malaysia and Singapore, who engineered the Internal Security Act in the 1950s, laid down five principles for defeating the Communists, the most relevant being the fourth principle:

“The government must give first priority to identifying and defeating the political subversives, not the guerrillas. The communist front organizations and the civil apparatus are the ultimate threats to the nation.” (See my article “McCarthyists,” June 28, 2006).

Again, it is difficult to see how this no-nonsense attitude can ever be adopted in a country with 40,000 lawyers—another legacy of “American-style liberalism”— whose professional bias seems to be to prevent the state from infringing on the rights of everyone to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, including those who are expressly committed to destroying and overthrowing that state.

It is not only in dealing with the communist insurgency that the Philippine state has been emasculated by “American-style liberalism.” Our electoral system has likewise been stripped of all considerations of right and wrong, all the way from the idiot Commission on Elections to the idiot voters.

I cannot imagine that a convicted child rapist like Romeo Jalosjos—or unrepentant putschists like Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes—would ever have been allowed to run for public office in Malaysia or Singapore, or even in the bastions of liberal democracy in North America and Western Europe. This is really incomprehensible, and can only be explained by the contradictions—to use a favorite Marxist buzzword—of “American style liberalism.”

The influence of “American-style liberalism” is more pervasive than most Filipinos are aware of. I recall being invited to take part in a weekend workshop in the Puerto Azul resort during the early months of the Aquino presidency in 1986 or 1987. The workshop solicited ideas from the assembled media people—academics, government executives and businessmen—on how media should or could relate to government.

My contribution was to suggest that all radio and TV stations in the country should be pooled in a one-hour interactive nationwide hook-up everyday during which the people speak directly to the government about their needs, and the government speaks directly to the people about what it is doing for them, without the intervening prism of often biased commercial media with their own hidden agendas.

This idea was hooted down, especially by the media people in attendance, on the grounds that government had no business meddling in media, that government must compete with commercial media for the viewers’ attention, that government propaganda had no place in commercial media. (How could Cory Aquino possibly have competed with Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor?)

These were very “American” ideas, even if those who raised these objections were not aware of it. Until around the 1950s, all radio broadcasting even in the most liberal countries of Western Europe were government monopolies. Private American-style radio stations, with their wall-to-wall pop music and commercials, first broadcast from “pirate ships” anchored outside the territorial waters of European countries, and sought to draw listeners from government stations heavy with classical music and boring government programs.

Now, of course, private commercial stations are the norm of the day. But my point was that radio and TV programming should not be confined solely to commercial broadcasts, which tend to pander to the lowest common denominator in order to grab or protect market share, and hence tend to propagate idiotic programs that idiotize their audiences.

Media corporations should be reminded that the airwaves do not belong to them; they belong to the people as represented by the state and the government. The government that licenses media corporations to use those airwaves also has the eminent right to take back even only one hour out of 24, to use the communication network, if it had the imagination, in the tasks of nation-building. But these concepts are alien to Filipinos used to “American-style liberalism” that frowns on government presence in media.

Finally, one reader who disagreed with the idea of qualifying exams for all candidates for public office wrote “it will defeat the idea of democracy and further diminish the spirit of equality which in mature democracy is held by its subjects more than all the rights.”

Spoken like a true Jeffersonian democrat, except that Thomas Jefferson’s idea of equality and democracy did not include the Negro (excuse me, African-American) slaves, of which (or whom) Jefferson owned several. Democracy in the Jeffersonian sense applied only to white, property-owning Anglo-Saxons. Athenian democracy, likewise, embraced only the freemen in Athenian society and did not include the vast slave population.

At any rate, if qualifying exams are such an affront to the democratic ideal, then we should do away with all such exams altogether. From now on, let appendectomies be performed by the ambulance driver, let jetliners be flown by the check-in counter girls, and let the next high-rise condominium be built by a committee of unemployed drug addicts.

Our most important heritage from the Americans was the public school system, unique among all colonized people, which gave the Philippines in 1946 a literacy rate of 67 percent, compared to only 9 percent in what became Indonesia, and only 15 percent in what became Malaysia and Singapore, and 15 percent in what became Vietnam. How and why we lost that advantage is probably our most tragic failure.