SOS Syria
For those who have relatives in Syria who needs assistance here is the address of the Philippine Embassy in Syria.
EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DAMASCUS
Hon. (Ms.) Olivia V. Palala
Deputy Chief of Mission
Hamzeh bin Al Mutaleb St. Building No. 56,
West Mezzeh Area, Damascus,
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
Tel No. (+963-11) 613-2626 (+963-11) 613-2626
Fax No. (963-11) 611-0152
Email: pe.damascus@gmail.compe.damascus@gmail.com / info@ambaphilsyria.cominfo@ambaphilsyria.com
HK OFWs claim victory on OEC issuance without preconditional fees
Overseas Filipinos under the banner of the militant United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) called on the Department of Labor and Employment to make official its recent announcement on the issuance of an overseas employment certificate (OEC) for OFWs without any precondition.
Labour Attache Manuel Roldan in a Leader’s Forum last February 12 made the announcement, according to the group’s chairperson, Dolores Balladares.
Balladares reported Labatt Roldan announced that effective February 1, OFWs applying for an OEC will not be any more required to present proof of payment of OWWA membership. He also further said OFWs who will have to go back to the Philippines to wait for the processing of their visa will also be issued an OEC in Hong Kong.
“This is clearly a victory of the campaign of OFW groups in HK to remove preconditional fee requirements to get an OEC. We do, however, want it to be more official and urge the DOLE or the POLO to issue an order stating such,” she remarked.
According to Balladares, the call for the issuance of an OEC free from any other charges was part of the demands that more than 100 OFW organizations in Hong Kong submitted to Pres. Noynoy Aquino upon his resumption of office.
“While we welcome this development, it is highly disappointing that such action was made more than year after we submitted our demands. Notable still is that P-Noy himself is still disturbingly quiet with the demands of OFWs and only because of the persistent efforts of OFWs did the POLO-HK relent in this issue. With the rate this government is going, are we going to wait for more than a year more for our other concerns to be addressed?” she asked.
Included in the demands of HK OFWs are: lowering of passport fee overseas to the same rate as that in the Philippines, not putting of other preconditional fees (Pag-IBIG or PhilHealth) as precondition for an OEC, immediate issuance of voter’s ID for overseas absentee voters, lifting of the ban on direct hiring, and more funds for on-site services for OFWs in need of assistance.
On March 11, OFWs under the banners of UNIFIL and GABRIELA-HK will hold a protest action to further push the government to respond to the demands of OFWs. The action will be a part of the commemoration of the International Women’s Day.
Undocumented OFWs in China increase
The number of undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China is surging, according to a Filipino migrants’ rights group.
Migrante-Middle East regional director John Leonard Monterona confirmed that his group is continuously receiving, since 4th quarter of last year, request for assistance from undocumented OFWs in China amid the sporadic crackdown on overstayers and undocumented by the Chinese authorities.
Monterona said they have already monitored about 100 undocumented OFWs, and still counting. In Beijing, undocumented OFWs present themselves to Migrante.
“We found out that some of the undocumented have overstayed after their work visa expired, some ran away from their employer, and there are those who came to China for work without passing the formal channel or going through a recruitment agency duly accredited by the POEA,” Monterona disclosed.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities nabbed two overstaying OFWs. On Thursday, Monterona said he was alerted by Migrante-ME affiliate group, the Dammam-based OFW Join Force through its administrator Mr. Sonny Rivera, of a report from its Beijing-based group administrator about two OFWs in Beijing nabbed Wednesday.
Monterona identified the two as Prima Ebite Delgado and Marivic Labsang, both are now under investigation and detained in Beijing.
The PH embassy in Beijing, through the assistance of DFA Undersecretary for Administration Rafael Seguis, replied on Monterona’s case inquiry regarding the two OFWs confirming ‘the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) has confirmed, by a telephone call, that OFWs Delgado and Labsang were arrested Wednesday night by the Chinese authorities for “overstaying”.’
“I have requested the PH embassy in Beijing to form a quick-response team to visit the detained OFWs which the embassy assured that they will assist subject OFWs, get their release and repatriation to the Philippines,” Monterona added.
As per POEA overseas employment statistics released on 2010, there were 8,954 deployed (rehires and new hires) OFWs in China, which Monterona said is a conservative figure counting only those who passed through the formal channel.
“Human trafficking and illegal recruitment of Filipinos to China is notably rampant and has not been checked by the PH government authorities,” Monterona said.
‘Reject offers from drug mules’ – DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterates its appeal to all Filipinos to avoid accepting offers from individuals or groups to carry illegal drugs in their luggage or in their person when going abroad in exchange for money, as harsh penalties await them in their destinations.
This is in light of the Philippine Consulate General in Macau SAR’s report to the DFA on the arrest of two Filipinos, a man and a woman, on February 1 by the Judiciary Police (PJ) in Macau SAR for alleged drug trafficking.
The two were apprehended in an apartment with 46 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known in the Philippines as shabu. The drugs have an estimated street value of 90,000 patacas (US$11,392.405). Several drug paraphernalia were also found in the apartment.
A suspected buyer, also a Filipino, was also brought in for questioning.
Consulate officials extended assistance to the Filipinos to ensure that their rights are respected and have been coordinating with Macau SAR authorities on the matter.
The Consulate has been constantly warning Filipinos based in Macau and Filipino tourists against using and dealing in drugs.
As of date, there are some 19 Filipinos currently detained in Macau on drug cases.
The Philippine Government has a strong anti-illegal drug policy, and is closely cooperating with law enforcement agencies in other countries on efforts against anti-drugs trafficking. It is undertaking comprehensive and proactive measures to address the drug mules issue and to prevent the further victimization of Filipinos by international drug syndicates.
The DFA has been working closely with other concerned agencies on drug trafficking cases, according to its press statement.
Historians elect prexy
The Philippine Historical Association (PHA) elected University of the Philippines- Manila Professor Celestina Boncan as its president during the organization’s general assembly at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila last 29 January 2012.
Boncan was PHA president from 2006 to 2008. She is co-author of the book The Filipino Saga: History as Social Change (with Rosario Cortes and Ricardo Jose). She received a Fulbright research scholarship and a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship.
In 2007, she was the Outstanding Faculty for Extension Service of UP Manila. In 2008, she was awarded as Centennial Faculty Grantee of UP Manila.
She also went on secondment at the National Historical Institute (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines) as Chief of the Research, Publications and Heraldry Division (2008-2009).
At present, she is associate professor at the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of the Philippines in Manila.
Also elected to the Board of Governors are:
Dr. Evelyn A. Songco (University of Santo Tomas), Executive Director
Prof. Arleigh Ross D. Dela Cruz (De La Salle University), Vice President
Prof. Jerome A. Ong (UP Manila), Secretary
Dr. Estrellita Muhi, Treasurer
Prof. Mary Dorothy DL Jose (UP Manila), Auditor
Prof. Jonathan C. Balsamo (Heroes Square/Enderun Colleges), Public Relations Officer
Prof. Michael Charleston B. Chua (De La Salle University), Governor
Dr. Evelyn A. Miranda (UP Diliman), Governor
Dr. Teofista L. Vivar, Governor
Dr. Luis Camara Dery (De La Salle University), Governor
Eminent historians Fr. Horacio dela Costa SJ, Encarnacion Alzona, Gabriel Fabella, Gregorio Zaide, Nicolas Zafra, Celedonio Resurreccion, Teodoro Agoncilllo and Esteban de Ocampo founded the PHA in 1955.
It is a national professional and honorary association of historians and history teachers affiliated with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Social Science Council.
Impeachment for nitwits
Sick of the times? Frustrated about what you see going on around you but could not make heads or tails of them, especially the vituperations of that lady senator on TV and the octogenarian gentleman copying her hairstyle?
Well, you’re not alone. I myself am confused and confounded. So I made some quick and shallow research to help me understand some of the things being mentioned by talking heads. I intentionally oversimplified some of them to help me in my quest for clarity.
This of course is not complete, but it’s a start.
Impeachment: The process resorted to by people who have grown tired of replacing their leaders via marches and rallies at EDSA. It’s a long, long process but hey, it’s more entertaining than That’s Entertainment or the usual soap opera we see on the telly.
The downside is ordinary people like you and me have no direct part in the prosecution but we can watch and send smart-alecky comments on twitter and Facebook.
The upside is, yes, we can send smart-alecky comments on twitter and Facebook against people in and out of the impeachment court that get our goats. All in the comfort of our room or office or toilet. No need to get hot and smelly attending street demonstrations.
Who’s being impeached? If you have been busy trying to make ends meet with the almost daily rise in oil prices and basic commodities, you are forgiven to have asked this question. It’s Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Why? It depends on who you ask. Aquino haters will tell you it’s about the Hacienda Luisita. They say he got pissed when the Supreme Court headed by Corona ruled – after a bit of flip-flopping – that hacienda land must be distributed to farmers and stock distribution is a no-no. So he gathered all his allies in the House of Representatives – which is the only body allowed to impeach a government official – to punish the guy for his impertinence.
Aquino supporters, on the other hand, will tell you Corona had it coming when he accepted a “midnight appointment” from his former boss Gloria Arroyo. He is Arroyo’s ticket to freedom, so it is imperative for PNoy’s anti-corruption gang that Corona be removed for the efforts to “put the little girl to prison” to succeed. It just so happened that 188 congressmen think the same way and they moved to impeach the guy.
There are other opinions out there, of course, but they are just variations of these two. Some people want the entire membership of Supreme Court to be impeached because they all participated in decisions being questioned, others warn of “judicial crisis,” etc., etc.
Whatever, there is no turning back. The senators have formed themselves into an “impeachment court” and called themselves senator-judges and wore the ridiculous red robes to prove they mean business.
Flexibility, technicality, liberality. Not anywhere like the French revolution’s fraternite, egalite and liberte, but I could not help thinking about it. Sorry. The “flexibility” and “liberality,” of course, are the things being asked by the prosecution of the senators. They just mean “don’t ask us too many questions or else this process will drag on forever,” which the senators and the defense are not willing to grant. The “technicality” issue is mostly addressed to Corona’s battery of “battle-tested” advocates who would engage into all sorts of nitpicking at the drop of a nit, er, hat.
OMG. This is what presiding officer Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said upon hearing that the prosecution has lined up 100 witnesses.
OMG too. This is everyone’s reaction upon hearing that the rules adopted by the Senate allows only that prosecution finish presentation of evidence and witnesses from articles of impeachment one to eight before the defense gets to present theirs from one to eight also. The second week of the trial is almost over and they are not finished with one article yet. Hmmm…
Speed it up, people. There are many proposals to speed up the process. What I think the senators should do is to vote for a ruling once sufficient evidence of guilt is established in the heat of the trial. After all, as everybody is saying, this is not a real judicial trial and the punishment is just removal from office.
Discount is for candies, reduction is for penthouses. Tomahto, tomeyto
How dare you question my authority as a senator-judge! I move that we stop this colloquy right now. Nakakalokwi talaga itong mga kolokoy na ‘to. For Pete’s sake, don’t allow Maid Miriam to take the floor again or her blood pressure will shoot through the roof. I wonder what she’ll do when she gets to sit in that International Crime Tribunal.
Cash advance or loan? Potahto, poteyto.
All right, Sen. Lito Lapid had been sitting quietly in the corner for a long time it was big news when he asked his first question, in Tagalog of course. It was so surprising (the asking of question, not the use of Tagalog) Corona’s chief advocate Serafin Cuevas had a nightmare and tweeted that night: “He Englished me and cross-examined me, asking why I have such a cute hairline.” (I won’t be surprised if Cuevas denies ever saying that.)
Paano sumulat ng tula ng pag-ibig
ni Hernan S. Melencio
humanap ng taong iibigin
kilalanin at dalhin sa lugawan
o sa pansitan o sa restawran
wala akong pakialam
basta humanap ka ng iibigin
kilalanin at ilagay sa isipan
ang buong anyo niya’t larawan
saka isulat ang nalalaman
huwag matakot mabigo
ni makalimot maligo
napakaiksi ng buhay
para magtampisaw sa lumbay
at umiwas sa pagninilay
kaya humanap ng iibigin
at tumula nang buong giting
walang matigas na puso
na di lalambot sa pagsuyo
Tinik ni Corona (or it’s the politics, stupendous)
Ni Hernan Melencio
Matagal ko ring dinebate ang sarili kung isusulat ito sa Filipino o sa Ingles. Mabuti na lamang at mula sa madilim na sulok ng Senado winakasan ni Lito Lapid ang pananahimik at nagmakaawang magsalita ang lahat sa Filipino para maintindihan umano ng masa – at ng fans niya – ang “balitaktakan” tungkol sa impeachment (ano ba sa Filipino ang impeachment?) ng Punong Mahistrado Renato Corona.
Kaya sa kapakanan ni Lito (anong malay n’yo, mabasa niya ito), sa Filipino ko ito isinulat – kung hindi n’yo pa napapansin. Ang totoo, wala namang umaalma sa paggamit ng Filipino sa “paglilitis” sa Senado at ginagamit na nga ito ng ilan sa mga naroon. Hirap nga lang ang iba, lalo na yung mga abugado at mambabatas na galing sa Bisaya. Dapat ngang Filipino ang usapan pero kung hindi natural ang dating, huwag pilitin.
Nakatatawang kahit may Google na, marami pa ring nagtatalo tungkol sa katangian ng impeachment court na ito. At hindi sila mga ordinaryong tao; meron ding mga sorbetero, barbero, drayber ng jip at pasahero.
Kakaibang hayop talaga ang korte para sa impeachment. Iba ang korte nito kaysa karaniwang korteng nasa ilalim ng hudikatura. Kahit tanungin n’yo pa si Sen. Miriam Santiago na dating hukom bago naging senador. Alam daw niya ang pinag-uusapan niya. Pero hindi niya ipinaliwanag kung bakit kakaiba at walang nangahas magtanong dahil takot silang iligaw ni Maid Miriam sa Bermuda Triangle.
Pero meron din namang matiyagang nagpapaliwanag ng kaibahan ng korteng ordinaryo sa korteng impeachment. Kung matatandaan ninyo, sinasabi sa Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas na ang pwede lang mag-impeach ng matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno e ang Bahay ng mga Kinatawan. Oo, mga kongresista ang magrereklamo. At ang hahatol naman e ang Senado na magpupulong bilang impeachment court. May sariling pamantayan ang impeachment court na kakaiba sa regular court.
Ang matingkad na kaibahan, tatanggalin lang sa pwesto ang nagkasalang opisyal at hindi ikukulong. Pwede ring hindi na siya pagsilbihin pa sa gobyerno habambuhay. Bahala na bukas kung merong magkakaso sa kanya sa regular na korte at ikulong sa kulungan o sa ospital – kung meron siyang sakit.
Sa madaling salita, isyung pulitikal at hindi kriminal ang impeachment. Ang kelangan lang ng mga taga-Bahay ni Kuya e patunayang hindi na pwedeng pagkatiwalaan ang nasasakdal para magsilbi pa sa gobyerno. Kung tutuusin, ang simpleng pagsasampa lang ng reklamo laban sa kanya e sapat na para magbitiw sa pwesto si Corona. Kahit palusutin siya ng Senado hindi na niya maibabalik ang tiwalang nawala na. Hindi na siya kasingdalisay ng asawa ni Caesar na siyang hinihingi para sa mga tagapagsilbi sa Mataas na Korte o maging sa anumang sensitibong posisyon sa gobyerno.
Dapat maging mainipin ang Senado lalo na sa mga pampatagal na argumento. Huwag nilang hayaang maasar ang manonood sa tagal ng pelikula at mag-walkout gaya ng nangyari sa kaso ni Erap.
Kung tutuusin, walang silbi ang impeachment sa mamamayang mapagbantay. Pupunta lang sila sa EDSA at magpaparami kung gusto nilang magpalit ng lider. Kaso sa mga panahong ito, tinamad na sila at nawalan ng gana dahil lagi namang inaagaw ng mga trapo ang anumang tagumpay na nakukuha nila.
Historian finds Philippine ancient civilization in the sky
Balatik: Etnoastronomiya
Kalangitan sa Kabihasnang Pilipino
Book by Dante L. Ambrosio, 2010
The University of the Philippines Press
279 pages
What has yet to be written on the pages of Philippine history can now be found in Dante Ambrosio’s book Balatik, his doctoral dissertation about ethnoastronomy, fluently written in Tagalog and dedicated to unraveling and retracing back the stars’ and constellations’ pre-colonial names. As he pursued the search, he discovered that the Philipines’ ancient civilization can be read in the sky.
Kinuha ni Ambrosio ang pamagat ng kanyang aklat mula sa sa salitang balatik, patibong na panghuli sa mga baboy-damo, na siyang itinawag din ng mga sinaunang Pilipino sa mga grupo ng bituing may hugis balatik sa langit. Salitang ipinakilala ng may akda ng aklat ang ethnoastronomiya, “pag-aaral ng pananaw, paniniwala, kaalaman at gawi ng iba’t ibang pangkat ng mga tao ukol sa astronomiyang nakapaloob sa kanilang kabihasnan.”
Tuon ng aklat ang ugnayan ng likas na kapaligiran ng tao at ng kanyang kabihasnan. Natuklasan ni Ambrosio na may sarili palang katawagan ang mga sinaunang Pilipino sa mga bituin labas sa nakamulatang Kristiyanong katawagan tulad ng Tatlong Maria, Supot ni Hudas o Krus na Bituin. Tinatawag nila ang mga konstelasyon o talampad batay sa mga kagamitan ng mga sinaunang tao sa pagkakaingin, pangangaso, pandaragat at pangingisda. Ipinapaliwanag niya sa aklat kung paanong naging saligan ng kamalayan ng mga Pilipino ang kalangitan sa pang-araw-araw na buhay.
Naninindigan ang may akdang nanatiling buhay ang kamalayang Pilipino, katutubong pananaw at paniniwala hinggil sa kalangitan kahit na pumasok ang mga impluwensya ng Kristiyanismo-Espanyol at Islam-Arabo sa bansa. Sinaliksik ni Ambrosio ang wikang Austronesyano at nakita niya ang pagkakahawig ng mga tawag ng mga katutubong Pilipino sa buwan, araw, mga bituin at iba pang nakikita sa kalangitan at nararamdaman sa kapaligiran katulad ng hangin.
Malawak niyang tinalakay sa kanyang aklat ang mga mito, epiko, at kuwentong-bayan patungkol sa sandaigdigan mula Luzon, Bisayas hanggang Mindanaw. Ayon sa kanya, tahanan ang daigdig ng mga sinauna at kasalukuyang Pilipino, kasama ang mga diwata, anito at ispiritu. May kanya-kanyang lugar ang mga ito at iginagalang ng mga tao ang iba pang buhay na nananahan sa daigdig, kasama ang mga bagay na may kaugnayan sa mga di nakikitang nilalang sa daigdig.
Sanggunian ng mga sinaunang Pilipino ang kalangitan – pangunahin ang buwan at mga bituin – sa pagtatakda ng pagtatanim, pangingisda, pagkakaingin at mga ritwal ng kasal o pagtatayo ng bahay. Pagpasok ng Kristiyanismo, ipinasok ng mga Espanyol na sanggunian ang kalendaryong Gregorian, ayon pa sa kanya. Mas sumikat ang araw at kalaunan, naging simbolo itong naipinta sa mga bandila ng Katipunan, mga rebolusyonaryo at milyenaryang kilusan. Gayunpaman, nanatili ang imahe ng mga bituin sa bandilang Pilipino.
Sa paglulunsad ng Rebolusyong Pilipino, ipinasok ni Artemio Ricarte ang “Pilipinisasyon ng langit” kung saan pinangalanan niyang muli ang mga bituin sa pangalan ng mga bayani katulad ng Gat Tamblot (Cassiopeia), Utak Hasiato (Palaris), Gat Maypag-asa (Big Dipper), Pingkian (Small Dipper), Gat Rizal (Vega) at maraming iba pa. Tinawag niya ring “bitumpok” (bituin at tumpok) ang konstelasyon, “puyanggulo” ang zenith at “guhitdagat” ang horizon.
Inaasahan ng awtor na simula ng pag-uugnay ng pangkalahatang kaalaman at kaalamang bayan hinggil sa kalangitan ang kanyang isinagawang pananaliksik at pag-aaral. Nagtagumpay si Ambrosio: nagawa niyang maipakita ang lawak at lalim ng kaalamang astronomiko ng mga grupong etniko sa Pilipinas. Nagawa niya ring maugat ang mga kaalamang bayang ito mula sa kabihasnang pre-Hispaniko at maiugnay sa mga pagbabagong nagaganap sa kasaysayan.
Historians to hold assembly and election of organization officers
The Philippine Historical Association (PHA) will be having its General Assembly and Elections for the Board of Governors for 2012 at the Student Center Auditorium, Tan Yan Kee Building, University of Santo Tomas, Sampaloc, Manila, on 29 January 2012 from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Jonathan Balsamo, PHA public relations officer, said the PHA would gather around 300 members, mostly history teachers and professional historians, who are dedicated to strengthening the Filipino identity by providing “meaningful” records and studies of the past.
Interested parties may send SMS to 09062020274 or e-mail jobal_kasaysayan@yahoo.com until 25 January 2012 to confirm attendance.
Participants will be charged a Php 100 registration fee for food, refreshments, and other contingency expenses.
The PHA is a professional association of historians nationwide founded in 1955 by noted historians such as Encarnacion Alzona, Gabriel Fabella, Gregorio Zaide, Nicolas Zafra, Celedonio Resurreccion, Teodoro Agoncilllo and Esteban de Ocampo.
The PHA is also affiliated with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC).