HIV-AIDS cases increase among young professionals, not only seafarers
29 January 2010- Human immuno deficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS) is no longer just prevalent among seafarers and other overseas Filipino workers but also among call center agents as its incidence rate increased recently.
The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) said in its latest report the number of Filipinos infected with HIV rose dramatically in the past 10 months and now includes young urban professionals such as call center agents.
Doctors at the PGH Infectious Disease Treatment Complex said the number of HIV cases in the hospital rose to 100 in the past 10 months.
Former Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople, daughter of deceased Labor Secretary Blas Ople and a senatorial candidate, noted that a still-to-be-published study conducted by the University of the Philippines (UP) Population Institute, has shown a significant number of call center employees engaged in non-romantic but regular casual sex through a system dubbed as “FUBU” or “Fucked Buddies”.
“I validated the results of this survey with several call center agents and they told me that FUBU is gaining ground especially among nightshift workers,” the labor advocate said, adding that values enhancement services and activities should be made available to call center agents.
Records from the Department of Health showed that the number of HIV cases rose to 709 last year, compared to 528 in 2008.
Dr. Edsel Savana of the PGH Infectious Disease Treatment Complex said 80 HIV cases were recorded for November alone and the spread of AIDS in the country is already epidemic.
Dr. Katerina Leyritana said hospitals have also recorded HIV cases among young urban professionals such as call center agents.
She said majority of the recent HIV cases tend to be younger, mostly from ages 15-29, who are well educated.
Some of those infected said they got the illness after engaging in casual or group sex, which they discovered through social networking sites on the Internet.
Dennis Estopace of Business Mirror wrote in the UP study that F’K Buddies (FUBU) is a phenomenon that involves regular non romantic sexual intercourse among call-center workers , some of who do it at the fire exit area, or in the lounge.
Ople explained that the labor department should consider the results of the UP study from a perspective of improving safety and health standards n the workplace. “Clearly, certain ethical standards must be adopted at the workplace to discourage “Fubu” especially among young workers”, she added.
The survey was carried out in 22 call centers in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu with 675 respondents. Done between September and November last year, it revealed that three of four call center workers and two of three non-call center workers have had “penetrative premarital sex”.
Ople said that the UP study underscores the need for the following initiatives to be carried out through a joint effort of DOLE and the BPO industry:
1) No unisex facilities including private resting places and toilets because these have been transformed by some as “short-time FUBU areas”;
2) Strict monitoring of all staff on office decorum including supervisors some of who use their position and clout to hit on unsuspecting young call center agents;
3) An in-house counseling service that is on duty 24/7 for troubled and emotionally distressed workers;
4) Strong warnings regarding administrative sanctions against those who use office premises for sexual dalliances and encounters;
5) Video surveillance in strategic locations within the office premises and dark corners most favorable to FUBU encounters
Ople said that she has been hearing about Fubu from friends familiar with call center operatons but this is the first study to validate such reports.
“Nothing beats raising professional and ethical standards to promote decency and productivity in the workplace. This is something that the BPO industry leaders should work on jointly with DoLE,” Ople said.
“I hope that the call center industry will take this UP study very seriously and come up with safeguards against sexual promiscuity in the workplace that could lead to emotional stress, sexually transmitted diseases and even broken marriages,” Ople stressed, adding that call center work can be intense and more challenging than the usual office job especially for those in the night shift.
Mothers in our history
Protecting a child or any living creature, one’s own or not, is natural for mothers – humans or animals – but condoning a grave mistake, say killing human beings out of rage, is a different matter altogether.
This blog tries to piece together how mothers in the Philippines reacted to their son’s predicament (for it is usually sons who got caught in the quagmire of these controversial issues of rage, killing and fleeing) as they tried to protect their sons from harm.
Trinidad Famy, Emilio Aguinaldo’s mother, was in the convento where the revolutionaries hold office when General Antonio Luna was killed by her son’s men in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija that tragic afternoon of 5 June 1899.
Seeing Luna bleed profusely from more than 30 wounds from bolo hacks and gun bullets, she was described in the book The Rise and Fall of Antonio Luna by Vivencio Jose as shouting: “Why did you kill the general? Don’t you recognize him? You are all bad men!”
The book says Aguinaldo’s mother showed her head from a window of the convento after the mayhem and shouted those words showing her innocence and compassion to the general.
However, another witness, continues Jose, reported that Aguinaldo’s mother blurted out another statement: “Well, does he still move?” insinuating that she knows about the plan to kill Luna while her son she endearingly called Miniong was apparently not in the scene of the crime.
Fast forwarding the incident to the much talked about Jason Aguilar Ivler road rage after a traffic altercation where Presidential Adviser for Resettlement Nestor Ponce was killed in 2004 and Malacanang official son Renato Ebarle Jr. in 2009 that also brought the Filipino-American’s mother to the limelight for allegedly “covering up her son,” an ordinary mortal would think that a mother’s love can defy everything – any human law or even the universal dictum of “Thou shall not do unto others what you do not want to be done unto you” by whatever faith one may have.
Whether Aguinaldo plotted Luna’s death or not, same thing that he allegedly ordered Andres Bonifacio’s death or not, the Filipino public are still discussing it as historians have been debating on its veracity since 110 years ago.
Here is a piece of unsolicited advice to Marlene Aguilar: Stop talking about Jason’s having thousands of friends on his Facebook account, or his being “the most beautiful human being” even comparing him to your other children (it is unfair to them), or you and your son being “geniuses.”
The more she tries to be credible purportedly to save her son, the more she lose it.
The Filipino public could always discern when a mother’s love can breathe life or can kill a son to oblivion. History has proven it many times over.
Have you ever wondered why Aguinaldo lost in the 1935 presidential elections? Or why he had only one monument around the country that stands, where else, but in his home province Cavite?
Konting hingi
NATUTULOG akong nakaupo sa harap ng computer nang bigla akong magising dahil narinig ko ang boses ng misis ko.
“Galing sa ‘konting hingi’ ang salitang ‘tingi’ at dito lang sa Pilipinas merong mga tingi-tingi,” anya.
“A, ganun ba?” ikako na medyo inaantok pa. Historian ang misis ko kaya alam kong alam niya ang sinasabi niya. Sabagay, naniniwala naman akong hango nga sa “kaunting hingi” ang salitang “tingi.” Mula sa pagiging libreng hingi, nagkaroon ito ng bayad at naging tingi-tingi. At ngayo’y laganap na nga sa buong bansa at nanuot na sa ating kultura sa porma ng mga produktong nakalagay sa plastic na kung tawagin sa Ingles e “sachet” (bigkas: sa-shey).
At naalala ko ito nang mabasa ko ang reklamo ni Sen. Mar Roxas na tingi-tingi raw ang solusyon ng Malakanyang sa problema sa edukasyon. Hindi ko masyadong maintindihan kung bakit “tingi” ang tawag niya dito gayong ang tinutukoy niya e ang maliit na pondo para sa edukasyon at pawardi-wardi o sabay-sabay na pagtutok sa samu’t-saring problema.
Actually, ang solusyong gusto niyang gawin ang pwedeng tawaging tingi-tingi dahil gusto niyang tutukan muna ang mga problema sa grade one sa buong taon, susunod ang grade two ng isa ring taon, hanggang umabot sa grade six. Lutas anya ang problema sa ikaanim na taon. Hindi ko masasabing mali ang solusyong ito pero ito ang talagang dapat tawaging tingi-tingi.
Ang tingi, gaya nga ng sinabi ng misis ko e nagmula sa sinaunang kaugalian ng mga Pinoy na humingi ng maliit na paninda gaya ng ilang pirasong sili, ilang butil ng bawang, sangkurot na asin, atbpa. kasabay ng mga binibili. Konting hingi na kalauna’y naging tingi o maliliit na kantidad ng paninda na may bayad na.
Masasabing patay na ang kaugalian ng mga Pinoy na manghingi ng konti sa paninda, pero nang mapadpad ako sa Saudi, nagulat akong umiiral pa rin ito roon – kahit unti-unti na ring nawawala sa uso. Kapag namamalengke kami roon, nakakahingi kami ng sili, bawang, asin at kung anu-ano pa. Kung tawagin naman ito roon e “bakshis.” Doon kumapal ang mukha ko. Wala kasing Pinoy doon na hindi humihingi ng bakshis kapag namimili sa palengke.
Nadala ko pa nga rito ang pagtawad-tawad sa pamimili, kahit ako mismo e nagugulat sa sarili.
Pero alam kong maglalaho na rin ang ugaling ito sa Saudi Arabia dahil sa paglaganap ng mga supermarket doon na walang tawad-tawad. Nagkakaroon pa rin ng tawaran sa mga tindahan sa mall pero dumarami na rin ang mga ayaw magpatawad – lalo na kung walang kasalanan ang bumibili.
Dito sa Pinas, piso na ang isang piraso ng siling labuyo at mamumulubi ang tindera kapag mamigay pa siya. Dahil sa mahal ng mga bilihin kaya nauso ang tingi-tingi at meron nito kahit sa supermarket sa porma ng maliliit na sachet. At mukhang dito nga lang sa Pinas may ganitong kultura ng tingi-tingi.
Two Filipinas saved from death penalty in Saudi Arabia arrive in Manila
28 January 2010 – Two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were saved from the death sentence in Saudi Arabia are expected to arrive in Manila Thursday evening, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said today.
Idan Tejano and Marjanna Sakilan will arrive from Riyadh, accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor.
Tejano and Sakilan, who hail from Batangas and Jolo, respectively, were charged of homicide and robbery for the death of Tejano’s pregnant lady employer on 21 May 2001.
The Jeddah General Shari’ah Court sentenced them to death by hanging (quisas) in May 2004, which the Supreme Judicial Council eventually affirmed but the execution was suspended due to the minority of the victim’s daughter.
There were apprehensions in 2005 that the sentence would be carried out given the gravity of the crime committed.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sent the first of several appeals to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on 23 July 2005 requesting the King to save the two Filipinas from death by an act of clemency.
In 2007, DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis delivered a second letter from President Arroyo to King Abdullah through the Director-General of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
After the settlement of the private rights aspect of the case, the Jeddah Grand Court eventually lowered the sentence of the two OFWs to 12 years imprisonment and 1,200 lashes.
The two served eight years and seven months in jail.
During the visit of President Arroyo to Saudi Arabia on 23 September 2009 for the inauguration of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, she handed a personal note to King Abdullah to once again request clemency and immediate repatriation of the two OFWs considering that both the private and private rights aspects of the case were already settled.
After follow up meetings with officials of the Saudi MFA and other agencies, Deputy Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Salam informed Ambassador Villamor of the signing of the order of release for the two Filipinas.
The Philippine Government, through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Consulate-General in Jeddah, is also making representations for the pardon of other Filipinos in Saudi jails.
It has redoubled its efforts in light of the announcement of the pardon issued by King Abdullah last 11 December 2009. To mark the return of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz from medical treatment abroad, the Saudi King issued royal pardons to prisoners who do not pose any danger to public security.
Both the Embassy and the Consulate-General submitted a list containing all Filipinos in Saudi jails for consideration to the royal pardon.
The royal pardons would cover those who are detained or sentenced to jail for petty crimes and violations, and who have made restitutions to their victims.
An initial batch of nine Filipinos have been pardoned and released under this royal decree.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Tehran warns Filipinos who intend to work in Iran as household service workers on the regulations of Iran for illegal foreign workers.
Foreign nationals who work illegally in Iran will be fined IR 300,000.00 (about US $30) for each day they overstay in the country.
The Embassy added that exit visas are not released without the payment of the penalties of overstay. Thus, workers who have been abandoned by their employer or agent end up being stranded in Iran for a long time, while the Embassy negotiates for their eventual repatriation.
Since the Iranian government does not allow foreign household service workers to work inside the country, Filipino household service workers who enter Iran from Dubai or other neighboring cities with tourist visa end up as illegal workers.
65 more Filipinos are safe in Haiti
19 January 2010 –Some 65 more Filipinos in Petionville, a residential area in Haiti where a sizable number of Filipinos reside, are confirmed alive and safe. Mr. Godofredo “Godo” Edquiban, a Filipino Community leader, informed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the condition of the community members.
Of the 65, three are currently in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, while three are on vacation in the Philippines. Mr. Antonio Duran, who is in the Philippines for vacation, visited the DFA and confirmed that the 65 Filipinos are safe.
They are:
SURNAME NAME NICK NAME
1. Paglomutan Alvin Alvin
2. Protacio Angelita Lita
3. Perea Anita Nitz
4. Edquiban Annelli Annie
5. Sastrillo Antonio Jun Jun
6. Duran Antonio Tony
7. Edquiban April Anne April
8. Abenuman Arcenito RC
9. Paglomutan Caimile Caimile
10. Dublois Candelaria Sheila
11. Protacio Carmelito Lito
12. Manalili Cecille Cecille
13. Usana Cheryl Che Che
14. Sason Cholly Cholly
15. Lim Consolacion Ching
16. Bosi Czar Czar
17. Diamante Edgar Ed
18. Arbis Edna Edna
19. Manalili Elenita Lenie
20. Guinchoma Emelita Emay
21. Lim Fernando Toto
22. Esquibel Florentina Poroy
23. Paglomutan Fred Fred
24. Bolante Gerry Gerry
25. Lalican Gherwell Gherwell
26. Villagracia Gilberto Butch
27. Edquiban Godofredo III Don Don
28. Edquiban Godofredo Jr. Godo
29. Villena Grace Grace
30. Santos Honey Cris HiC
31. Unica Jerome Jerome
32. Macario Joel Joel
33. Sason Jose Leo Leo
34. Dequito Leslie Leslie
35. Lalican Lowell Lowell
36. Piedad Luisa Luisa
37. Manalo Marilou Marilou
38. Garcia Marites Tess
39. Caponpon Michael Mac
40. Malbacias Michael Michael
41. Santos Mikaela Myka
42. Bautista Morris Albert Morris
43. Segubre Nestor Nestor
44. Decano Nilo Nilo
45. Agda Orlando Orly
46. Sedano Oscar Oca
47. Villagracia Perlita Perlie
48. Villena Rafael Raffy
49. Consul Roldan Dang
50. Santos Rosario Charette
51. Paglomutan Rosemarie Rose
52. Malbacias Samantha Louis Samantha
53. Unica Sharon Joy Sharon
54. Malbacias Sheryl Che Che
55. Vidallo Teody Teody
56. Macario Teresa Tere
57. Duran Tony Rose Neneng
58. Elorde Tristan Tristan
59. Maning Vener Vener
60. Duran Vicente Vic
61. Lalican Welldine Welldine
62. Decembre Leila Leng leng
63. Caluya Teresita Tikya
64. Baylon Ingracia Lei
65. Lizardo Roland Richard Pong
Earlier, the Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent confirmed that 100 Filipinos in the Delmas district are in safe condition.
4 Filipinos are trapped in UN building collapse in Haiti
14 January 2010- Tenth Philippine Contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel Lope Dagoy reported that 157 of its troops are accounted for and safe. Four Filipino peacekeepers are trapped in the collapsed United Nations building. Efforts are being undertaken for their rescue, he said.
One soldier, Sergeant Staff Bonifacio T. Pait of Tabuk, Calinga, is wounded but in stable condition.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the AFP Peacekeeping Operation Center based in Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, has already contacted the families of the trapped AFP personnel.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Fuentes also reported that all 15 PNP personnel who are members of the peacekeeping contingent are accounted for.
“The task force consisting of our very own peacekeepers is already on the ground assisting our Filipino kababayans in Haiti. Filipinos are helping each other there. Ambassador Corsino will coordinate with them and our Honorary Consulate in Port-au-Prince so we can provide immediate assistance and relief efforts to the Filipinos in Haiti,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos said Thursday.
The Philippine Embassy in Havana clarified that there are only 290 Filipinos in Haiti, mostly in the garments, telecommunication and power generation sectors. They mostly occupy middle and upper management positions. There are also Filipino nuns and priests in Haiti.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti last January 12 resulting in widespread casualties.
Philippine peacekeepers were the first to rush to the collapsed UN headquarters and other buildings and are now actively involved in the rescue operations.
Ambassador Corsino is also directed to present a plan of action for the repatriation of Filipinos who would want to go back to Manila.
Meanwhile, communication links have been re-established with the Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent.
The DFA advises families of Filipinos in Haiti to contact the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) at 834-4996 for inquiries. Families of Filipino peacekeepers may contact the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center.
Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Hilario Davide, Jr. met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and expressed the Philippine Government’s condolences over the tragedy that left a number of UN staff still unaccounted for.
Ambassador Davide also met and condoled with Ambassador Leo Merores, Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations.
May bukas pa
MARAMING taon na ang nakararaan, isang kongresista – na marahil ay laging iniindiyan ng kausap sa mga tipanan – ang nagpanukalang gawing “synchronized” o magkapanabay ang oras sa buong kapuluan.
Nakalimutan ko na kung sino siya o kung ano ang kinahinatnan ng panukala niya (mas malamang sa wala), pero sinisi niya ang pag-iral ng anarkiya sa oras sa pangit na reputasyon ng “Filipino time.”
Iba’t-ibang pamantayan ang ginagamit ng mga Pinoy sa kanilang appointments at nagkakaroon ng kaguluhan dahil may mga relong atrasado at may adelantado. Walang relong nagsasabi ng eksaktong oras – maliban sa sira o patay na relos.
Kung natupad ang panukala, iisang ahensiya lang ng gobyerno ang magtatakda ng oras at ito ang susundin ng lahat, mula Malakanyang hanggang barangay. At dalawang beses isang taon, sabay-sabay nating itatama ang mga orasan. Pati istasyon ng radyo at telebisyon ay susunod dito.
Kaya wala na sanang dahilan para sabihing: “Oy hindi pa ako huli, ha? Alas-dos na nga sa ‘yo pero ala-una pa lang sa relos ko.”
Kapag oras mo na’y oras mo na talaga.
Pero palagay ko’y hindi pa rin malulutas ng pagsasabatas ng orasan ang pagiging atrasado ng Filipino time, na ang ugat ay kultural o pag-uugali hindi ang pagkakaiba sa oras. Namihasa na tayo na ‘pag sinabing alas-diyes, alas-onse iyon sa tunay na buhay. At ang mga programa ay laging may pataan na oras para pagbigyan ang ganitong sistema ng Pinoy.
Ang ugaling ito’y hindi naman taal na Pinoy. Ito’y minana natin sa mga Kastila na mahilig magsiyesta mula tanghali hanggang dapithapon. Ginaya ito ng mga ninuno nating sosyal at inakalang magandang halimbawa sa mga kabataan.
Pero may pag-asa pa naman siguro tayo, merong mas malala sa atin: ang mga Arabo. Kung mahilig tayo sa “mamaya na”, ang mga Arabo ay mahilig sa “bukra insha’la” (o bukas na). Ang orihinal nito ay “bukra insha Allah” (o bukas kapag pinag-adya ng Diyos) pero naging “bukra insha’la” o simpleng “inshala” na lang ngayon.
Imagine, hindi lang bukas, kundi bukas “kapag pinahintulutan ng Diyos!” Jos ko po, e kung hindi pahintulutan ni Allah,e di ’ala ka nang magagawa? At ganyan nga ang nangyayari sa mga Kabayang naniningil ng sweldo at benepisyo sa amo. Sa Saudi, karaniwan lang sa mga opisina ng gobyerno ang pipila ka ng ilang oras at pagdating sa iyo’y sasabihing “bukra inshala,” sabay sara ng bintana.
At akala mo ang “bukas” nila ay talagang bukas? Manigas ka. Ang “bukas” nila ay pwedeng sa isang linggo, sa isang buwan o sa isang taon!
Ang isang bagay lang na mabilis sila’y sa pagsentensiya at pagpugot ng ulo ng mga kriminal. Luma ang sistema ng hustisya sa Pinas. Kaya kung babagal-bagal ang gobyernong Pinoy sa pag-aapela para sa mga nahatulang Pinoy, maiiwan sila sa pansitan.
Syempre, hindi lahat ng Arabo e ganun, tulad din ng hindi lahat ng Pinoy e huling dumarating sa usapan. Ikinahihiya rin nila ang ganoong kaugalian at gusto rin nilang magbago. Sana tayo rin.
9 OFWs released under Saudi pardon
07 January 2010 – The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh reported Thursday to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that an initial batch of nine Filipinos have been pardoned and released from jail under the royal decree issued on the occasion of the return of the Saudi Crown Prince.
To mark the return of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz from medical treatment overseas, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah issued royal pardons last December 11, 2009.
Their names are being withheld until their next of kin have been informed, the DFA said.
These nine Filipinos are undergoing the necessary government procedures before they are allowed to leave the country. The Embassy is working on arranging the tickets for their journey back home, including with their original employers, if any.
Earlier, DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo expressed deep appreciation for the benevolence and kindness of His Majesty King Abdullah and wished him and Crown Prince Sultan long life.
Romulo also said the Philippine government regularly requests for the inclusion of Filipinos in any pardon, especially before Ramadan, and when it knows that they have served at least half their sentences and have made restitution under the private rights aspect of their cases.
The Embassy also said it submitted to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs all the names of Filipino prisoners who could possibly qualify for clemency.
There is an estimated 400 to 500 detainees within the Embassy’s jurisdiction. This figure does not include those being monitored by the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.
The royal pardon applies to both Saudi nationals and foreigners who are considered not to pose a threat to public order. The pardon covers those who are detained or jailed for petty crimes and violations and who have made restitution to their victims. They include those whose charges are still being heard by the courts.
However, the pardon does not include those arrested for major crimes, or offenses liable for specific punishments under Shari’ah law or from lawsuits on private rights, such as theft and embezzlement, among others.
Greek court orders MV Aetea Sierra to pay Filipino crew
5 January 2010 – Filipino seafarers scored a significant victory in labor protection when a Greek court directed the owner of MV Aetea Sierra to pay higher salaries to its crew, the Philippine Embassy in Athens reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Monday.
Under a court order issued on 21 December 2009, the award to be given to the crew, including 12 Filipinos, was calculated using Greek wage standard which is about four times more than what the seafarers would have received on wages stipulated in their contracts.
The award would cover the period from 9 July to 9 November, while the residual claims shall follow to cover the period starting 10 November 2009 until the date of the seafarers’ actual departure from Greece to the Philippines.
The Filipino crew of MV Aetea Sierra sought the assistance of the Embassy after negotiations with the Greek vessel owner for their unpaid salaries and damages failed.
The seafarers also filed a case against the vessel owner. A Filipino ship engineer is represented by a Greek lawyer offered by the Embassy while lawyers of the International Transport Federation (ITF) are assisting the rest of the Filipino crew.
The Philippine Embassy is already making arrangements for the Filipino seafarers’ repatriation. Eleven of them have completed their contracts and have signified their wish to go home.
