EEC NOW October by Melba David

7 201 1 8 er e b su to Oc . 8 Is opies l Vo 000 c 10,

Jinggoy Estrada out on bail after 3 years in detention

Sarah Bona

wins first Miss Nature Intercontinental crown

Taiwan

mulls visa-free entry for Filipinos in October

Maricel Hernaez

Former OFW uplifts Cordillera farmers into exporters

Advocates urge changes

to protect Taiwan foreign spouses

Cong. Vilma Santos

“I am against cutting the budget of CHR”

AiAi: May prenup kami ni Gerald, pero ‘di ito ang susi sa pagsasama

Pagsanjan Falls

Laguna, Philippines

Atom Araullo

nagpaalam na sa ABS CBN

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NEWS Duterte: House can set aside CHR budget to buy body cameras for police

resident Rodrigo Duterte on September 16 suggested that the P600 million that the House of Representative slashed from the Commission on Human Rights’ budget be used to buy body cameras for the police. Duterte made the proposal as he continued to slam Commission on Human Rights Chairman Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, calling him a spokesperson for the Liberal Party and opposition forces and accusing him of being fixated on teenagers. Speaking at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City, Duterte said that if the House would refuse restore the budget of the CHR it could instead give the money to the police. “If you don’t want to give back the money to the CHR, why don’t you invest the money to buy equipment for the police, so that all police in the Philippines – that’s about P600 million, and it can buy it all – so that they can have 24 hours a day a camera, I think it’s shouldered,” he said. “You are free to embed and place cameras on the body of the law enforcers whenever they go out to operate because the Philippines is a narcostate already,” he added. Duterte made his the suggestion as part of his speech about the release of SPO2 George Cañete Rapinta by the New People’s Army (NPA). Lawmakers earlier suggested that police officers don body cameras came after questionable anti-drug operations led to the killings of supposed drug peddlers. One such operation that drew public outrage led to the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos, whom surveillance video

footage showed being dragged to the place of his death by police officers. This belied police claims he was killed in a shooutout. Duterte earlier promised that if police officers would be found guilty of killing Delos Santos they would go to jail. Delos Santos’s killing was one of three teenage deaths that have stoked the public’s anger. On September 16, Duterte slammed Gascon for supposedly being fixated on teenagers. “This Gascon, he has been all about teenagers for several days. You are like a pedophile, you son of a bitch. Why do you like teenagers so much? Are you? I am now having doubts. Are you gay or are you a pedophile?” said the President, who had been castigated in the past for his sexist remarks. He praised CHR Commissioner Gwen Pimentel, who he said had a “good word” for the police officers who were also suffering. Every day, a policeman dies,” he said. “It’s not published by media.” Pimentel is the sister of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, a Duterte ally. Duterte also alleged that Gascon was in cahoots with the opposition. “You rode the line of the political enemy. That is the problem,” he said. He reiterated his criticism that the CHR was ignoring the victims of criminals and “forgetting all other crimes committed in the name of drugs.” He said many children were falling prey to other criminals who rape and kill them. “Everything’s politics. Why can’t you move to other issues that are besetting this country?” he asked. He said there were also many people from Marawi who had been suffering and the CHR had been silent on this. —Inquirer

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OCTOBER 2017

DFA opens passport courtesy lane to first-time OFWs

he Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated on September 4, that it had opened more slots to passport applicants, including the use of the courtesy lane by Filipinos working abroad for the first time. The DFA reminded the public that, since August 1, it had removed the 1,200 slots a day that used to be reserved for travel agencies. Clients of travel agencies will now undergo the same process as all others when applying for or renewing passports, said Ricarte Abejuela III, acting director of the Passport Division of the Office of Consular Affairs. The reserved slots, which those paying the agencies enjoyed, meant members of the

public who were trying to get appointments with the consular offices through the agency’s website had to wait for months to get their chance. The department has also restricted the relatives of DFA employees who can be accommodated at the fast lanes. This is to open up slots for first-time overseas Filipino workers, who used to compete with all types of applicants when applying for slots online. Before this, only returning OFWs were accommodated on the courtesy lanes. “We want to give back the appointment slots to the Filipino public,” Abejuela said in a media release on September 4.

COURTESY

Continued on Page 10

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OCTOBER 2017

Andanar: Mocha decides to stop performing in casinos

ollowing a backlash opisina, kung pwede niyang on social media, i-honor yung kanyang mga Communications entertainment contract, Assistant Secretary Margaux which pinayagan namin “Mocha” Uson has decided to as long as ito ay naaayon stop performing in casinos. sa batas. Wala namang In an interview at the nalalabag na batas dito,” sidelines of the House Andanar said. of Representatives’ (Before Asec. Mocha entered plenary debates on the the government service, she proposed P1.351 billion Sec. Margaux “Mocha” Uson asked permission in my budget of the Presidential office if we can honor her Communications Assistant Communications and entertainment contract, in Operation Office (PCOO), Communications which we allowed as long as it is according to Secretary Martin Andanar said Uson asked the law. There is no law being violated here.) permission to honor the contracts of her lead Asked if Uson asked permission to perform sexy girls’ group Mocha Girls. in casinos, Andanar said: “Wala naman. Ang Andanar said Uson has decided to stop paalam lang po ay to continue and to honor performing in casinos, especially because this contracts na pinirmahan ng Mocha Girls.” is prohibited under government rules. (There was none. Her request was just for us “I think Mocha has also decided to stop to honor the contracts she signed with the performing sa casinos,” Andanar said. Mocha Girls.) Uson was present during the House “So tayo po ay naiintindhan naman plenary debates. But she refused to face natin yun kailangan niyang i-honor yun. Pero reporters following a backlash on social walang nabanggit kung saan,” he added. (For media over her casino performance at the us we understand those kinds of things that Resorts World and Casino. she needs to honor that contract. But there Andanar, however, said Uson did not was nothing mentioned about the venue.) mention anything about her performance Uson, a sex guru and leader of the sexy in casinos. This despite a ban imposed on girls’ performance group Mocha Girls, was government officials from visiting or playing appointed to the PCOO due to her rabid at casinos. support for President Rodrigo Duterte. DECIDE “Bago po pumasok si Asec. Mocha Continued on Page 5 sa gobyerno, siya ay nagpaalam sa aking

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OCTOBER 2017 DECIDE Continued from Page 3 “Hi, doon na lang kay Sec. Martin, mayroon na siyang statement (Refer to Sec. Martin, he has a statement),” Uson told reporters. Andanar said he has referred the matter to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs for its legal opinion on Uson’s possible liability. “Ito po ay finorward na natin sa Office of Executive Secretary. Sapagkat si Mocha ay isang presidential appointee, at alam natin ang executive secretary ang naglabas ng utos. Tungkol sa performance sa casino, the mere fact that a government employee goes to a casino, na ipinagbabawalan,” Andanar said. (We have forwarded this to the Office of Executive Secretary. This is because Mocha is a presidential appointee, and we all know that the executive secretary is the one issuing directives. About the performance in the casino, the mere fact that a government employee goes to a casino, is prohibited.) During the Aquino administration, the late Land Transportation Office chief Virginia Torres came under fire after she was filmed playing the slot machine in a casino. Government officials are prohibited from entering, staying or playing at gambling casinos, according to a Malacañang Memorandum Circular No. 6, issued in September last year. “In view of its negative effect on the public perception of government service as a whole, the mere entry or presence of government officials and employees in a gambling casino shall be considered as conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, unless the same was in the performance of official duties and functions,” the memorandum circular read. —Inquirer

Unexpected moves ng nobyo sa harap ng magulang leaves girlfriend shocked

aging palagiang gamit ni Grace Salvador ng Chungshan ang upgraded Dream Love 1000 seksuwal na pabango, gawa sa England na kaniyang binibili mula sa EEC Elite Mart sa halagang NT$560 lamang. Mula daw nang magpunta siya dito sa Taiwan at magtrabaho ay napuna niyang naging malamig ang kasintahan sa tuwing uuwi siya sa Pilipinas upang magbakasyon kung kaya’t naikuwento niya ito sa pinsan. Pinayuhan siya na bumili at gumamit nitong seksuwal

Grace Salvador

na pabango dahil epektibo daw ito at nagkaroon ng magandang karanasan ang pinsan dahil sa paggamit nito. Nakumbinsi siyang bumili at magdala nito sa sunod niyang bakasyon. Naitakda ang kaniyang paguwi at pagdating niya sa probinsiya kinagabihan

ay namasyal ang nobyo sa kanila. Gamit daw niya ang nasabing pabango at napuna niyang sobrang lambing at hindi daw nahiya ang nobyo na halikan siya sa harapan ng mga magulang. Habang kinikilig dama ang mapusok na halik nito ay napapangiti siya at naisip na epektibo talaga ang gamit niyang perfume dahil sa kakaibang reaksyon ng nobyo. Ang mga sumunod na araw ay naging passionate para sa kanilang magkasintahan. Nagsabi pa daw ang nobyo na sana ay makasal muna sila bago siya bumalik dito sa Taiwan.

6 NEWS

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OCTOBER 2017

Jinggoy Estrada out on bail after 3 years in detention

what President Duterte Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind ormer Senator Jinggoy Estrada said two, three weeks ago of the pork barrel scam that was unearthed said on September 16 he felt is very true dahil tatlo by investigative media reports in July 2013. “very, very happy” following his lang kami na identified An estimated ₱10 billion in government temporary release from detention. sa opposition ang pinili funds were allegedly lost from the scam, with At 12:36 p.m., Estrada left the at kinasuhan pa and money going into the pockets of Napoles and Philippine National Police (PNP) non-bailable na plunder,” lawmakers. Custodial Center in Camp Crame. Estrada said. “So it was very “I would like to thank our Lord God Estrada said he hopes Revilla, whom he obvious.” In August 2017, will miss, would also be freed soon. for giving me this opportunity,” Estrada Ombudsman Conchita told reporters at the Sandiganbayan “Sabi ko, ‘Palakasin niya loob niya at Carpio Morales denied balang araw ay makakamit din niya ang after his camp paid P1.3 million in bail Duterte’s allegation. for his plunder and graft cases. kanyang kalayaan [I said, “Stay strong and The grant of Estrada’s you’ll also be free one day”],’” he said of his last “I would like to thank the bail came after former conversation with Revilla. magistrates of the Sandiganbayan for Senator Juan Ponce approving my petition for bail,” he Estrada added he may return to public Enrile, who has also been service in the future. “Let’s cross the bridge added. “And I would like to thank all my implicated in the so-called when we get there,” he said. family and my supporters for their nonpork barrel scam and “Maraming paraan para tumulong ending prayers for me.” faces plunder charges, was sa ating mga kababayan,” Estrada added. His release came after the Sandiganbayan’s Special Fifth Division First family picture of Estrada family after he is declared a “free man” allowed by the Supreme “Unang-una, pwede naman tayong umikot Court in August 2015 to sa buong Pilipinas at tanungin sila kung ano granted on September 15 his petition following his temporary liberty. post bail for “humanitarian ang kanilang kailangan. At ‘yun naman ay for bail because “the evidence has not Sandiganbayan ordering his arrest later that reasons” in light of his age and poor health. The maidudulog natin sa mga kinauukulan.” strongly established accused Estrada as the month. lawmakers were named by businesswoman main plunderer.” —CNN Philippines Under the law, plunder is usually a non However, the decision does not rule on bailable offense. Estrada’s guilt or innocence in the case. The anti-graft court denied Estrada’s “I’m a free man already,” he said. “But PINOY.COM first petition to post bail in January 2016 after I will always attend, religiously attend the “finding that the prosecution has presented a hearings of my plunder case.” strong evidence of guilt against him.”  Yehliu, Shifen Waterfalls, Jiufen Estrada, who had been detained at the He filed his second bail petition in PNP Custodial Center since 2014, allegedly  September 2016, following a remark by received ₱183 million in kickbacks from NT$ President Rodrigo Duterte that Estrada his Priority Development Assistance Fund /month and former senator Bong Revilla should be (PDAF), also known as pork barrel or funds a granted bail and that the Ombudsman was lawmaker can spend for projects. BUDGET AIRLINE TICKET practicing “selective justice.” The Ombudsman filed plunder charges “Hindi ko alam kung nakatulong, but against Estrada in June 2014, with the Contact RAUL NG @ (02) 229-899-74 / 0930-206-842 / 0926-177-849

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OCTOBER 2017

Mga pekas at body fats nabawasan completely

Elsa Ramos Before

ng bawat dumi at polusyong nasasagap natin sa labas ng bahay araw-araw ay unti-unting pumipinsala’t sumisira sa ating kutis. Kahit umabot pa tayo sa edad na 25, ang balat natin ay unti-unti ng tumatanda. Upang mapanatili ang elasticity ng ating balat lalo na sa mga babae, kailangan nito ng sapat na pagaalaga. Malaki na rin ang naubos na pera ni Elsa Ramos para lang maalis ang taba sa katawan at dark spots sa mukha. Ang siste, hindi siya nakuntento sa naging resulta ng mga nagamit niya. Nalaman ni Elsa mula sa kaibigan na si Mila ang tungkol sa upgraded Dream Love 1000 5 in 1 body essence lotion, gawa sa England. Nakumbinse siya nang makita ang malaking ipinagbago nito. Sinabi sa amin ni Elsa na mataba itong si Mila noon. Very

dry ang kutis at marami rin pekas sa mukha. Na-impressed siya ng husto dahil naisagawa lahat ito ng iisang produktong ginamit nito. Nalaman din niya na ito’y non-allergenic. Hindi siya nagdalawang isip na subukan at bumili nito mula sa EEC Elite Mart sa halagang NT$590 lamang. Labis kaming namangha dahil sa loob lamang ng 2 ½ buwang paggamit niya ng 3 tubes, naging slender ang kanyang katawan dahil nabawasan ng 3 inches na taba sa kanyang baywang, 2 ½ inches sa balakang, at 11/4 inches sa braso at hita. Sa taglay nitong Vitamin A, D&E protein moisturizer ang untiunting nagalis ng dark sports at nabawasan ang kanyang wrinkles. Bumata siya ng 8-9 years kaysa noon at pumuti rin ang kanyang kutis

Elsa Ramos After

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OCTOBER 2017

Human rights lawyers mull hotline for illegal searches, arrests

group of human rights Colmenares, a former lawyers is planning to Bayan Muna Partyput up a hotline where List Representative, Filipinos can report illegal said establishing searches, arrests and other the hotline is timely police violations. and necessary “Many people are not after the House of aware of their rights against Representatives illegal searches. Aside from slashed the that, they also don’t know who Commission on to turn to,” National Union of Human Rights’ (CHR) People’s Lawyers (NUPL) chair budget to P1,000 Neri Colmenares told ABS-CBN from the original Neri Colmenares News. proposal of P623.38 Former Bayan Muna Party-List The proposal was made million. Representative after posts about policemen “Though the randomly approaching and checking bags CHR’s budget will still be discussed in the of students in several establishments along Senate, this is something beyond CHR now,” Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City went viral. Colmenares said on the sidelines of a human

rights forum in Quezon City. Several senators have vowed to restore the CHR funding. “The number of extrajudicial killings is so overwhelming and there’s no way that only one group can cater to (it),” he said. But Colmenares said the NUPL would have to discuss the proposal with other organizations as they do not have the money to fund a 24/7 operations center. “We need to discuss it with other groups. We can marshal all our resources to have one big hotline to take care of these overwhelming messages,” Colmenares said. Aside from a hotline, citizens should also be continuously reminded about their rights against illegal searches and arrests, University of the Philippines College of Law professor Jay Batongbacal said. “The best protection would be education

and information. They should be educated that they do have these rights and they can refuse these unreasonable searches and seizures,” said Batongbacal, among guests at the forum. “The citizens should be educated of their rights and be encouraged to hold on to them and assert them whenever those rights are being infringed,” Batongbacal said. Illegal searches and seizures in parts of Quezon City are among recent allegations hounding the police force. Earlier this week, the entire Caloocan City police force was removed after officers were tagged in the murder of at least 3 teenagers. A CCTV footage also showed that several policemen looted a house in Caloocan City last September 7. —ABS-CBN News

required foreign workers in Taiwan to leave the nation for at least one day after working for three years — the longest contract allowed — before being allowed to return and continue employment. In a telephone interview, WDA division head Chiu Yueh-yun lauded the positive impact of the amendment on workers, who no longer have to worry about the expense of leaving Taiwan, and employers, who do not face time without workers. To benefit fully from the amendment, Chiu said that employers and workers need to follow two key steps in renewing a labor

contract: Employers should issue a new letter of recruitment four months prior to the end of the original contract and ensure the completion of proper re-hiring procedures, including a signed employment agreement two to four months prior to the end of a contract. The division head said that in 49.95 percent of cases in which rehiring applications have been denied, it was due to the lack of a letter of recruitment or an entry visa. A missing signed employment agreement was the cause of a rejected application in 22.53 percent of cases. —Taipei Times

Law change benefits migrant workers and employers: WDA

Workforce Development Agency (WDA) report issued on September 14 found that nearly 80,000 re-hired migrant workers have so far benefited from a law that scrapped a previous maximum stay requirement. The amendment to Article 52 of the Employment Services Act, which went into effect on Nov. 5 last year, eliminated a requirement that migrant workers leave the nation after reaching the end of their permitted stay period before returning to continue working. As a result, from November last year to

the end of August, 78,917 migrant workers did not have to leave after their work visas expired. Prior to the amendment, Article 52

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OCTOBER 2017

5 ways how OFWs can protect themselves from investment scams

ave you ever been duped or lured into investing your hard-earned money as an OFW by the promise of high returns in an unscrupulous financial investment scheme? If yes, sad to say, you are not alone as more and more OFWs have fallen prey to numerous fraudulent transactions. Needless to say, these scams eventually lead to loss of trust and confidence among friends whose only wish was for their earnings to generate the promised high yield returns. Are there practical tips on how to protect yourself from fraudulent investment schemes? The answer is yes. However, you have to bear in mind that being financially literate is the best weapon against fraud or dishonest schemes. Below are five ways on how to tell if an investment scheme is a scam so that you will be guided in your financial decisions in the future.

1. Educate yourself 1. Educate yourself and understand the and understand the business model business model

It is not enough to have good intentions like making your money grow or helping someone with a business venture. If you want to be successful in your financial investment journey, one of the most important things to remember is to educate yourself and understand the business model before making any financial decisions. If the company has a vague investment methodology and fails to explain how you will possibly generate returns, chances are it is a scam. Don’t make a decision until you empower yourself and you’ve thought about it a hundred times over.

2.2. Promise ofof high return in Promise high return aa short period ofof time in short period time

Just like planting a tree, one fundamental principle of acquiring wealth is its being built over a period of time. In other words, there is no such thing as being an instant millionaire in a short span of investing. The reason why many people are being tempted to invest their money is that they are blinded with promising rewards or potential high returns. Remember, when greed controls your emotion, lapse of financial judgment occurs. When you have been promised exorbitant returns and you think the offer is too good to be true, it probably is. you’ve got to be cautious and think long and hard before committing.

3. Investment Investment company company 3. has aa good good reputation reputation and and has leaders have integrity leaders have integrity While it is true that most investment instruments come with certain risks, it is worth paying attention to the credibility of the leaders and the investment company itself. Check out everything — no matter how trustworthy the person seems who brings the investment opportunity to your attention. The proven track record of the leaders or founder including his past performance indicates the integrity of the company. If people involved have record of unethical fraud practices, you should be wary and seek advice from experts. Do your homework and learn more about people and the investment company before it’s too late.

4. Earning Earning money moneywithout without 4. product movement product movement or or services services

When you decide to invest in any financial investment vehicle, make sure there is an outright product or services being received. Fraudulent investment schemes, needless to say, focus solely on recruiting new distributors, not the products. Be cautious about people who are trying to persuade you to invest without certain products or services involved. As a new investor, be wary of scams where people try to use your money to pay off old investors. When the company has reached a point when it can no longer get new recruits or referrals, it will eventually collapse as the company solely depends on the money they are getting from new clients or investors to fund the operation.

5. Approval or recognition 5. Approval or recognition from the government from the government

It is essential to know if the company is regulated by the government and ensure they have a permit to operate. In the Philippines, for instance, update yourself about Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued public advisories and warnings about fraudulent investment schemes and companies. In some occasions, it is the Philippine embassy in your part of the world that will issue this written advisory or warning. It’s important to know whether an investment entity is in good standing and allowed by the government to solicit investments. To avoid being scammed, financial education is a must so you will be more cautious where to put your hardearned money as an OFW. —GMA News

Are you financially ready to come home?

7 things OFWs should prepare for

ll OFWs leave the Philippines with one goal – to earn money that they can send back home to help their families. Almost all OFWs look forward to that day when they can finally come home for good. The question that most OFWs want to know, though, is when they will be financially ready to do so. There is, of course, no single answer to this, since each OFW has different considerations. The OFW with young children will have different circumstances from an OFW whose children are already working. If you’re an OFW thinking about finances before going home, you will need to start thinking about your own family’s situation, studying all aspects before deciding. Definitely, this is not a simple decision to make, given the many things you have to look into – some known, some unknown. Certainly, you will be making another leap of faith, just as you did when you first packed your bags and decided to leave your homeland. In all this, careful planning is necessary. Here’s a list of 7 questions you need to ask before you make the decision to come home for good.

Do you already have enough for your daily needs? You wouldn’t want to go home without having anything to cover your living expenses. Try to estimate how much your needs will total in a month, and make sure you have at least 6 months’ worth or more before finally deciding to head for home. This will include food, shelter, transportation, entertainment, and the like.

Can you continue to support your dependents? If you have school-age kids or sick parents, you have to be able to cover for their needs as well. You want to have enough to cover your children’s tuition for the next school year, to ensure that there is no disruption. If you’re renting, you should have enough to cover at least 6 months’ worth of rent. If you’re paying for a car, then you should have enough to cover at least 6 months as well. The larger your buffer, the better.

Do you have a new job lined up at home? Let’s face it, much as we’d all like to be able to just relax and do nothing, the fact is that we will continue to need a regular income source when we get back home. Try to scout for a new job before heading home by using online searches or by using your personal network to know what’s out there.

Have you saved enough capital for a business? If your plan is to start a business, then make sure that you (and your partners) allot enough capital as well. Try to research on what businesses you can do even before going home. Even better if your family started

one for you with the money you sent home, and now you can help or take over. It is not enough to have funds for overhead expenses alone; you also need to think about the business’ operational needs in the early days until it can sustain itself.

Are your covered with medical or health coverage? Often overlooked, health concerns should always be prioritized as the high cost of hospitalization and medicine can easily wipe out your life savings. Make sure to get yourself a health insurance that’s appropriate for your needs. There are many variants being offered out there by different providers.

Do you have an emergency fund? You can never tell when emergencies will strike – accidents, loved ones passing away, fires, and the like. It’s always financially wise to have at least 2-3 months’ worth of savings for these, on top of your money for your daily needs, dependents’ needs, and capital.

Are you planning for your retirement? Make sure you don’t forget about your nest egg. Although you do have a lot of needs to cover, you can’t afford not to have anything for your senior years. A life insurance plan is basic. You can look into a pension plan as well. Alternatively, you can look into mutual funds, but make sure to consult with a financial planner who can help you choose one that is right for your needs. If you’re not able to say yes to all 7 questions - don’t worry. Don’t get overwhelmed with all these areas that you need to look into before packing your bags for home. Look into each one and see how you can work out each area so that your transition to life in the Philippines is as smooth as it can be. Don’t worry if the timing is not right. Let these factors help you determine your timetable in achieving your goal. In the meantime, we your countrymen are proud of your hard work and dedication and your family are enjoying a comfortable life because of your sacrifice. — ABS-CBN News

Central Luzon hospital first to have OFW wing

he Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital (JBLRMH) in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga is the first Department of Health (DOH) hospital in the country to have a wing for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In a statement to SunStar Pampanga on September 5, ACTS OFW Partylist

Representative Aniceto Bertiz III said that government agencies and the partylist group are making sure that the country’s public hospitals can step forward to help OFWs, particularly those returning with illnesses, in getting proper medical care along with their families who are here in the country. “Regional public hospitals under the

Department of Health are setting up OFW wings and procedures for pre-employment medical examination requirements. The first of these hospitals is the Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga which I recently visited,” Bertiz III said. “JBLRMH Chief Dr. Monserrat ‘Chie’ Chichioco assured me that

the services would include hemodialysis and chemotherapy for OFW catastrophic cases free of charge,” he added.

HOSPITAL Continued on Page 13

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OCTOBER 2017

The anti-hazing law and calls More OFW households using remittances for investments: poll to amend it explained

(Left) Carmina and Horacio Tomas Castillo Jr. weep at a funeral parlor. (Right) UST Law freshman Horacio Tomas Castillo III, believed to be a victim of fraternity hazing rites, was dumped on a sidewalk in Balut, Tondo. He told his parents he would attend the "welcome ceremony" of the fraternity Aegis Juris but did not come home the day after. His body was bloated and had candle and cigarette marks and bruising.

e told his parents he would attend a “welcome ceremony” of the fraternity where he is a new member and assured them there would be no be hazing rite. But Horacio Tomas Castillo III did not come home the next day. His parents found him in a funeral parlor—his body bloated, bruised and had candle and cigarette marks—which led his family to believe he was killed in a hazing rite of fraternity Aegis Juris. Castillo was promised brotherhood but it was death that he got instead. He was only 22. Castillo’s death has sparked public outrage. Students and faculty members, not limited to the University of Santo Tomas community, condemned the tradition of hazing and the culture of impunity. His death also brought into focus talks of amending the anti-hazing policy. Passed in 1995, Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law regulates initiation rites and prohibits physical harm and violence against applicants. It was the death of Ateneo law student Leonardo Villa in 1991 that resulted in its passage. The law mandates that no hazing or initiation rites shall be allowed without prior written notice to the school authorities or head of organization seven days before the conduct. At least two representatives of the school or organization must also be present during initiation to ensure that violence will not be employed. The law also states that “if the person subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites suffers any physical injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members of the fraternity, sorority or organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals.” Life imprisonment will be imposed on individuals involved if initiation rites result in death, rape, sodomy or mutilation. Since it was enacted under former President Fidel Ramos, several neophytes attempting to join fraternities and sororities have incurred injuries or died in brutal and unregulated initiation rites. While the law is still in place, many of the reported deaths due to hazing since 2000 did not lead to justice for the victim’s families. Over two decades since its passage, there has only been one conviction for hazing. In 2015, the Supreme Court found two Alpha Phi Omega members guilty of violating the law for the death of University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) student Marlon Villanueva in 2006. In 2015, Anthony Javier, a student at the Western Mindanao State University in

Zamboanga City died after hazing by the Tau Gamma Phi WMSU-chapter. The year before, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde student Guillo Cesar Servando was also killed in hazing rites of a chapter of the same fraternity. In 2013, John Mark Dugan, a 19-year-old sophomore marine cadet at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific died of hazing. San Beda law students Marc Andre Marcos and Marvin Reglos were killed in separate hazing rites by different fraternities in 2012. The accused in Marcos’ death were cleared of charges in 2013 for lack of probable cause. For Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Castillo’s death shows that fraternities have not learned “the tragic and painful lessons of previous fatal hazing incidents.” Lawmakers from the lower and upper house have filed separate bills seeking to amend the 22-year-old Anti-Hazing Law. Majority leader Tito Sotto filed Senate Bill 223 last year which seeks to impose maximum penalty in instances when hazing is committed under the influence of illegal drugs and liquor and when there is a presence of non-resident or alumni fraternity members during hazing. Gatchalian, meanwhile, believes the current Anti-Hazing Law is not effective in stopping fraternities, sororities and other organizations from hazing their new recruits. “The Anti-Hazing Law must be overhauled to eliminate loopholes and ensure that all persons responsible for these cruel and senseless hazing deaths will be held accountable to the full extent of the law. It’s time for the Senate to take up this proposed legislation,” he said. Gatchalian’s Senate Bill 199 seeks to prohibit all forms hazing. Only initiation rites or practices which do not inflict physical or psychological suffering or injury to the applicant shall be allowed. The measure also poses stiffer penalties to those involved in hazing. Aside from life imprisonment, a fine of P3 million will be imposed if hazing results in death, rape, sodomy and mutilation. If non-resident and intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs individuals participate in hazing, they will face life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million. Imprisonment ranging from 20 to 40 years and a fine P1 million will be imposed on participating members and officers involved in hazing. Gatchalian likewise wants schools to educate their students regarding the consequences of conducting and participating in hazing. Just like Gatchalian’s bill, House Bill 3467 authored by Dy also seeks to make all kinds of hazing illegal. —Philstar

ore households are investing the money sent home by Filipinos working abroad as global financial markets stabilized, results of a quarterly survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. BSP officer-in-charge Diwa Guinigundo said the percentage of OFW households using remittances to invest as of the third quarter of the year almost doubled to 8.5 percent from 4.4 percent in the second quarter. Guinigundo pointed out the level of OFW households using remittances for investments was almost four times the 2.3 percent recorded in the first quarter of 2007 when the Consumer Expectation Survey (CES) was launched. Investors are returning to the financial markets with the clearer picture on the normalization path taken by the US Federal Reserve after two rate hikes undertaken last March and June. The results of the CES survey for the third quarter showed the percentage of OFW households saving remittances slipped to 42.1 percent from 45.9 percent in the second quarter of the year. The percentage of OFW households using remittances to save as of the third quarter of the year was almost six times the 7.2 percent recorded when the CES was launched 10 years ago. Guinigundo explained some of the expenditures of households have shifted to investments. Latest data showed personal remittances climbed 5.5 percent to $15.36 billion while cash remittances grew 4.7 percent to $13.81 billion in the first half of the year. He said the percentage of Filipino families using remittances for medical expenses dropped to 52.5 percent in the third quarter from 60.8 percent in the second quarter as well as that for debt payments to 40.2 percent from 43.1 percent. Guinigundo noted that OFW households

have also put on hold major purchases. The BSP official explained the percentage of households using remittances for the purchase of appliances or consumer durables slipped to 24.5 percent from 25.3 percent and for the purchase of house declined to 14.5 percent from 16.4 percent. He said the percentage using remittances for the purchase of cars went down to 6.2 percent from 7.4 percent but is expected to increase with the impending increase in excise tax slapped to motor vehicles under the comprehensive tax reform program being pushed by the Department of Finance. Majority at 98.1 percent allocate remittances for food and other household needs while 70.3 percent utilize the amount of money sent home by OFWs for education. The survey for the third quarter was conducted between July 1 and 15, covering 5,430 respondents. Close to 10 percent of the total respondents or 504 households received remittances from abroad. Rosabel Guerrero, director of the BSP’s Department of Economic Statistics (DES), said the percentage of all households with savings went up to 35.6 percent in the third quarter from 34.4 percent the previous quarter. She said households save money for emergencies, education, retirement, health and hospitalization, business capital and investment as well as for the purchase of real estate. Guerrero pointed out almost twothirds or 65.8 percent of household savers had bank deposit accounts while 42.4 percent kept their savings at home. On the other hand, 28.7 percent of the household savers put their money in cooperatives, ‘paluwagan,’ other credit or loan associations as well as investments in stocks and insurance. —Philstar

DOH plans to put up special ward for OFWs in public hospitals

ore public hospitals expressed desire to establish a special hospital ward intended for the country’s modern-day heroes—the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). ACTS-OFW Partylist Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III, one of the proponents of the OFWs ward, said that among those areas that expressed interest for the establishment of the OFWs wing include Lanao del Norte, Cotabato and Makati City. “Most of the hospitals are willing to have a dedicated wing or ward for OFWs,” said Bertiz. Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) is planning to put up special ward for 70 public hospitals before the year ends. This was confirmed by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial after a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the establishment of OFWs ward was formally signed. Ubial said the DOH would mandate all of its hospitals to have their own OFWs ward. “Having a special ward for OFWs is a way of giving

COURTESY Continued from Page 2

The new system allows “only immediate family members” of DFA employees to access the express lane. They include parents, spouses, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and parents-in-law. “We really want to give back the courtesy lane to those who are entitled to it. These are the senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant, solo parents, children 7 years old and below, and overseas Filipino workers,” Abujuela said. “Our policy now is that no OFW should be left without a job just because he couldn’t

importance to our modern heroes,” said Ubial. The first OFWs ward will be pilot-tested in Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, a Level III tertiary, teaching and training hospital with 500 authorized beds in San Fernando, Pampanga. “Why the pilot of OFWs ward is in Region 3? As we all know, there are a lot of OFWs from that region,” Bertiz pointed out. Bertiz added the OFWs wing will be dedicated to provide treatment and service to OFWs who are heading abroad or in need of medical treatment. “The wing will be exclusive for OFWs especially those who will undergo pre-employment medical examination,” said Bertiz. OFWs who require hemodialysis and chemotherapy and treatment for other serious diseases, Bertiz added, can also receive those free as allotted in the tertiary hospital’s P578.44 million budget for 2018.

get a passport,” he added. Thousands more of passport appointment slots have become available after the DFA increased the quotas for consular offices, and purged its system of “bogus appointments created by unscrupulous individuals.” For September, 86,889 have been added to the available appointment slots. The DFA also claimed zero backlog in investigating applications under the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Last May, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayateno vowed to scrap the passport appointment system, saying he prefers walkin passport applicants at the DFA.

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Dove Beauty Bar Soap 100g (6) Armour Vienna Sausage (2) Mixed Beans and Nuts (2) Snickers Chocolate Minis 1.13kg Kirkland Sliced Peaches Kirkland Golden Sweet Corn Aijia Milk Chocolate Bar (2) Elastine Shampoo Yoko Spa Salt (2) Nescafe Granules 500g Wasuka Wafer Stick Locksy Vaccum Plastic Container (2) Stuffed Toys worth NT$300 - NT$500

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Bukas ang komunikasyon

nalala ang 2,792 namatay sa New York Twin Towers Terrorist attack nitong Setyembre 11. Kasama ang 343 na naligtas sana kung hindi pumalya ang sistema ng komunikasyon. Hindi natanggap ng mga Bumbero ang utos na lumikas na sa mga hagdanan ng dalawang Tore. Tuluyan napasama sa pagbagsak ng dalawang gusali. Mahalaga ang epektibong komunikasyon hindi lamang kung may emergency gaya ng Bagyo, Tsunami, Lindol o Sunog. Gayun din sa pangaraw-araw na buhay ng mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan na kinabibilangan ng ka-pamilya, kamangggawa, o mga kaibigan. Gaya ng trahedya sa New York, maraming relasyon ng tao ang nasisira dahil sa sarado o depektibong sistema ng komunikasyon. Ano ang gagawin upang maiayos at maging kapaki-pakinabang ang komunikasyon? Buksan ang Komunikasyon sa Pamilya at sa Kapwa mo. Ayon kay Dr, Joanne Stern, may tinatawag na bukas at saradong komunikasyon. Ang saradong komunikasyon ay wala ang pagdaloy nang inpormasyon sa isa’t isa. Hindi sila nagbabahagi ng mga ini-isip, ginagawa, mga kinahihiligan o pinapanaginip

sa buhay. Dahil sarado o putol ang komunikasyon, hikaos, ipit at nasasakal ang mga saloobin at hindi ma-ihinga ang mga hinanaing ng bawat isa. Nagkakasamaan na lamang ng loob. Ibang beses, dinadaan ng kapamilya sa galit para lamang maibulalas ang nilalaman ng loob. Ang iba dinadaan sa paglalayas o pagluluko. Ang iba sa pag-bibisyo o pakikipag-usap sa ibang tao imbes na maghayag sa sariling kapamilya. Sa puntong iyon, may breakdown sa komunikasyon ang pamilya. Maaaring maghiwalay ang mag-asawa at maglayas ang mga anak. O kaya manatili ang bawat kapamilya na kanya-kanya na lamang at wala ng pansinan miski magkakasama sa iisang bubong. Ang pag-unlad sa buhay ay udlot. Kung ganyan ang sistema ng inyong komunikasyon sa pamilya, panahon na para buksan ang bagong sistema upang maisalba pa ang relasyon at magandang kinabukasan. Ang malusog na pamilya ay may bukas na komunikasyon. Magkakasama silang nananaginip at nag-pla-plano para sa kinabukasan. Humahanap sila ng opportunidad upang harapin ang ano mang mga hamon na kinahaharap at inu-ugma ang mga desisyon at aksyon upang solusyunan ang mga hamon na iyon. Pina-aalam sa lahat at pinag-uusapan ang kanilang mga iniisip o ginagawa. Inaalis ang mga hadlang sa epektibong komunikasyon at inaayos kaagad nila ang mga sigalutan kapag dumating iyon. Walang sekreto dahil nga ibinabahagi ang lahat ng kailangan malaman ng bawat isa. May tiwala sila sa isa’t isa. Nagpapatawaran kung may nasasaktan. Naaayos ang sama ng loob. Karaniwan, kung ano ang sistema ng komunikasyon sa bahay, malamang naidadala rin ito sa labas ng tahanan, gaya sa ka- trabaho at mga kaibigan at komunidad. Subalit pinakamahalaga sa lahat

na.... Buksan ang Komunikasyon sa Diyos. Kapag sarado ang komunikasyon mo at ng iyong pamilya sa Diyos, hindi makakaseguro sa buhay ninyo. Bakit kamo? Kasi, wala kang access sa pinagmumulan ng lahat ng kailangan mo at ng iyong pamilya. Oo, magkakatutulungan kayo ng iyong kamag-anak sa harap ng pagsubok. Oo maayos ang kalusugan mo ngayon. Oo, may maganda kang trabaho at may proteksyon ka at may kinakain ka. Kapag patay ang iyong relasyon sa Diyos, tiyak, darating ang panahon ng pagsubok at hindi ka maililigtas ng iyong mga sinasandalan. Hindi mo masasabi ang hinaharap. Isang hagupit ng bagyo, sira lahat ang ari-arian at buhay. Isang hagupit ng giyera o sigalutan ng mga bansa, parang bula na mawawala ang trabaho sa abroad at mapapauwi ng wala sa panahon. Isang hagupit ng isang mabigat na karamdaman at talsik ang mga pangarap mo. Oo, malaki nga ang ipon mo sa bangko subalit sa isang iglap, na hack naman ng masasamang loob at lipad ang naipon. Harapin natin ang katotohanan, walang nakaseseguro sa buhay. Mga presidente at senador na bida dati, ngayon ay nakakulong. Mga tanyag na artista at personalidad ay nagpakamatay. Matahimik na mga mamayan, na-rape naman ang anak na dalaga ng mga durogista. May nabiyahe lamang patungo sa trabaho, nabangga ang sinasakyan, patay. Mahalaga ang bukas ang komunikasyon sa Diyos sapagkat Siya ang may kapangyarihan sa lahat. Kaya kang iligtas ng Diyos sa ano mang pagsubok o kapahamakang darating. Wala ka namang dahilan kung bakit hindi mo i-a-activate ang iyong komunikasyon sa Diyos. Wala kasing hadlang. Una, libre ang pagtawag. No fee, no monthly amortization. Absolutely no charge. Ikalawa,

walang language barrier. Naiintindihan ng Diyos ang lahat ng Linguahe, Tagalog, Ingles, Visaya, Ilocano, Espanol, Intsik, etc. Ikatlo, Hindi mo kailangan ng telepono para makipag-usap sa Diyos sapagkat bibig mo ang magsasalita na galing sa puso ang sasabihin. Dinig ka niya kahit saan ka naruruon. Ikaapat, no line problem, no signal needed, no waiting time at no interruption. Hindi rin apektado ng uri ng panahon. Isa lamang pangalan ang kailangan mong banggitin upang Tanggapin ang iyong DIRECT CALL! Ganito ang pahayag ng Biblia, “Sinabi sa kaniya ni Jesus, Ako ang daan, at ang katotohanan, at ang buhay: sinoman ay di makaparoroon sa Ama, kundi sa pamamagitan ko.(Juan 14:6).” Ganito naman ang dagdag na pahayag ni Apostol Pablo, “Sapagka’t may isang Dios at may isang Tagapamagitan sa Dios at sa mga tao, ang taong si Cristo Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).” Puede mong i-activate ang iyong komunikasyon sa Diyos ngayon. Tumawag ka lamang ngayon ng libre sa pangalan ni Cristo Jesus na may pananalig at buong puso. Aminin mong kailangan mo Siya bilang iyong sariling Tagapagligtas at Panginoon. Namatay nga Siya sa krus upang ipagkaloob sa iyo ang daan sa langit. Bubuksan niya ang linya ng langit para sa iyong kaligtasan. Ganito ang pangako ng Diyos, “Tumawag ka sa akin, at ako’y sasagot sa iyo, at ako’y magpapakita sa iyo ng mga dakilang bagay, at mahihirap na hindi mo nangalalaman (Jeremias 33:3, ADB1905).” Ano pa ang ini-intay mo? -----------------------------------------------Kung napagpala ka ng mensaheng ito at nais mong ipanalangin, ipahayag ang prayer request mo sa paul@launchpoint.cc. Maaaring padalhan ka ng libreng babasahin o aralin.

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Pinay beauty queen Sarah Bona wins first Miss Nature Intercontinental crown

ormer Binibining Pilipinas 2016 candidate Sarah Bona made pageant history when she became the first beauty queen to carry the Miss Nature Intercontinental title. More than 20 aspiring beauty queens participated in the environment-driven beauty competition, which took place last September 4 to 9 in Szczecin, Poland. Over the course of four days, the beautiful candidates vying for the crown talked diligently about “environmental issues that exist in their countries.” During the grand coronation night’s Q&A portion, each candidate was asked about an environmental issue. As seen in a YouTube video posted by pageant blog Powerhouse PH, Sarah was asked to talk about the state of rainforests around the world. She acknowledged that “the biggest problem is us.” Sarah related, “Rainforests are the most important part of ecology, so what is happening in the rainforest world right now is that we are losing many plants, animals, and even microorganisms and that is due to deforestation… “Taking good care of our environment is so obvious… in our environment, the biggest problem is us. “Yes, we may be the biggest threat, but the solution is we can be its savior through raising awareness

through information dissemination, education, and sharing idea through social media. “Through those collective efforts, we can change the world.” Sarah nabbed the crown with this answer. Aside from winning the Miss Nature Intercontinental pageant, Sarah also participated in the Miss ASEAN Friendship pageant in Vietnam, where she finished in the Top 5.

Two Pinoys win at 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards

alawang Pinoy ang nanalo sa 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy noong September 10, 2017 sa Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Nanalo ang dalawang Pinoy para sa reality competition show na RuPaul’s Drag Race na hinu-host ng American actor, drag queen, at singer- Fil-American Zaldy Goco who grew up in songwriter na si Ru Paul Connecticut won the Emmy Category for costume Charles. Ang Fil-American na design for an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race “Oh. si Zaldy Goco na lumaki sa My. Gaga” where Lady Gaga is the guest of the show. Connecticut ay nagwagi ng (Right) RuPaul’s Drag Race” telivision editor John Lim also won the awards. Emmy for costume design para damitan ang mga Pinoy relatives niya sa episode ng RuPaul’s Drag Race na pinamagatang “Oh. My. Gaga” kapag may party siya sa bahay nila. Ang isa pang Pinoy na nanalo ng kunsaan guest si Lady Gaga. Ibinahagi niya ang kanyang award Emmy ay si John Lim na nagwagi for sa kanyang kapwa costume designer na editing sa Lady Gaga episode ng RuPaul’s si Perry Meek. “I just couldn’t believe it! Drag Race. Mga co-winners niya ay sina “I had a speech and I didn’t even get to Jamie Martin at Michael Roha. Unang thank my team. “I’m like so upset that I pinamimigay ang Primetime Creative didn’t get to thank them because it was Arts Emmy bago ang 69th Primetime them that made this possible,” sabi ni Emmy Awards na magaganap ngayong Goco sa interview niya with ABS-CBN September 17 (U.S. time) sa Microsoft News. Matagal nang nagtatrabaho bilang Theater in Los Angeles, California. costume designer si Goco. Nakapag- Ang Creative Arts Emmy ay design na siya ng ilang costumes para kay nagbibiday parangal sa “outstanding, Madonna at sa pumanaw na King of Pop artistic, and technical achievement in television programs in various genres na si Michael Jackson. Malaking influence daw sa kanyang including animation, reality, and pagiging costume designer ay ang documentary categories.”

Showbiz

I am against cutting the budget of CHR – Cong. Vilma Santos

AINIT na pinag-uusapan ang naging botohan ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso hinggil sa budget ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) — na nagresulta sa 119 na pabor sa P1,000 na budget for 2018 samantalang 32 lamang ang kumontra. Higit na nakakarami sa mga tagashowbiz ang nag-react at hindi matanggap na halos lahat ng mga artistang pumalaot

sa pulitika ay pabor na tapyasan at sobrang kinawawa ang budget ng CHR. Ang mga kagaya nina Congw. Lucy Torres-Gomez, Cong. Alfred Vargas, Cong. Yul Servo at iba pa ay bumoto ng pabor sa P1,000 budget kaya ganoon na lang ang pagkadismaya ng mga taga-showbiz sa kanila. Pinagdudahan din na kasama nila ang kinatawan ng 6th District ng Batangas na

si Congw. Vilma Santos-Recto nang hindi makita ang pangalan niya sa 32 lawmakers na kumontra, kaya agad nang may nang-bash. “I wasn’t able to attend yesterday’s session ‘cause I had an ulcer’s attack. I’m under medication. But will work today,” reply ni Ate Vi nang tanungin namin kung nakadalo ba siya o hindi sa nasabing session. Sa utos ni Boss Dindo, naitanong namin

agad kay Cong. Vi kung ano ang stand niya sa nasabing isyu. “I am against cutting the budget of the CHR. The Commission has a duty to perform its Constitutional mandate. With so many crimes/ EJK — it needs more resources for these investigations. “Ito ang isang ahensiya na tumutulong sa karapatang pangtao,” diretsahang paliwanag ng premyadong actress/public servant.

namin ng 52 year old comedian actress na si AiAi delas Alas na may pre-nuptial agreement sila ng kanyang 23 year old fiancé na si Gerald Sibayan bago ang nalalapit nilang kasal sa Disyembre 12. Ngunit ayaw ng magbigay ng detalye ng Kapuso comedienne tungkol sa agreement. “Meron kami kaya lang confidential, hindi pinag-uusapan dapat, ayaw ng lawyer. Meron pero hanggang du’n lang pwede sabihin kasi sabi nu’ng lawyer, confidential. If ever magtanong sila, meron, pero no details,” kuwento ni AiAi.

Ayon pa sa aktres, mismong si Gerald ang humiling ng prenup para mawala na ang pagdududa ng ilan na pera lang ang habol nito. “Usually naman, yung nanay ko ang parating may gusto. And yung family din ni Gerald,” dagdag pa niya. “Alam mo yung sa ganyan, para na lang din sa kapayapaan ni Gerald para wala na siyang basher at intriga. Sa mag-asawa naman, ke normal, ke artista, wala naman yun eh, pera lang yun. Hindi naman yun ang batayan ng pagsasama ng matagal eh.” Dagdag pa ni AiAi na sa kanyang

karanasan, hindi rin nakatulong ang prenup sa pagsasamang hindi talaga tatagal. “Sa pagsasama yun kung magkakaintindihan kayo ‘di ba? Pera lang yun. Although kailangan niyo yun bilang mag-asawa, pero hindi yun ang essence ng pagmamahalan. Kasi marami na akong beses na ikinasal at marami na rin akong prenup. Hindi guarantee na kapag nagprenup ka, hindi ka makukuhanan ng pera. Totoo yun, pag gusto ka lokohin o gusto kang huthutan,” aniya. “At saka natutunan ko rin na nasa center niyo (dapat) talaga si Lord, totoo yun. Noon kasi, puro kami kami lang eh.”

Masayang ibinahagi ng aktres ang naging prenuptial photo shoot nila ng kanyang fiancé na ginanap pa sa Cebu. Personal daw tinututukan ni Ai-Ai ang lahat ng detalye ng kanyang itinuturing na “first real and right marriage,” pati na ang pagdalo nila sa iba’t ibang marriage seminars. Ang nalalapit na kasalan nina AiAi at Gerald sa December ay pangatlong pagpapakasal ng komedyana. Nauna siyang ikinasal noon sa singer na si Miguel Vera, pangalawa sa negosyanteng si Jed Salang.

HOSPITAL

hospital and its staff.” “On September 7, the first of a series of agreements, will be signed to formalize the measures for the OFW wings of the DOH regional hospitals. Collaborating for the welfare of OFWs are the ACTSOFW Partylist, the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Representing Pampanga on September 7 is Congresswoman and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” he furthered. The agreement is scheduled for signing at the Makati Diamond Residences Hotel in Makati City. Details about the agreement will be released during the signing ceremonies. “According to 2013 United Nations

Global Migration statistics, there are 10.23 million overseas Filipinos worldwide. Some ten percent of our population are overseas Filipinos that is why it is just fitting that we take good care of them and their families by having OFW wings in every government hospital nationwide,” concluded Bertiz III. —Sunstar

AiAi: May prenup kami ni Gerald, pero ‘di ito ang susi sa pagsasama

Continued from Page 9 For JBLRMH, a Level III tertiary, teaching and training hospital with 500 authorized beds, the Duterte administration proposed a P578.44 million budget for 2018, according to Bertiz III. “I will defend that budget, as an expression of the gratitude of OFWs and to the

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Signs your son might be gay: — Kapag walang buhok sa legs at kili-kili — Kapag meryenda kundi banana Q eh footlong ang binabanatan. — Kapag tumatambay sa Starbucks with matching jeje pictorial pa. — Kapag colored ang covered ng phone. — Kapag bet na bet nyang kumain ng Magnum — Kapag napadaan sa gym tapos bumagal maglakad — Kapag mahilig magpicture sa sarili at ia-upload sa FB at everyday mag-update ng status. — Kapag may sakit, nagagamot ng Penesillin and Bayagesic — Kapag matagal magsalamin sa CR ng mall at ang mga mata ay nagmamasid sa paligid. — Kapag iba kulay ng mukha sa leeg — Kapag may nakita syang magandang chiks sabay taas ng kilay — Kapag gusto maglaro ng bahay bahayan at sasabihin sya ang nanay — Kapag nagbabasa ng dyaryo, didiretso agad sa showbiz — Kapag nakikinig sya sa music ni Lady Gaga. — Kapag waka-waka ang fave childhood song nya. --------------------------------------------------------Magpare Pinoy Jokes Pedro: Pare, malungkot ka ata? Juan: Marami akong problema ‘pre Pedro: Wala yun ‘pre. Tumingin ka sa akin.. Juan: Pare naman, please lang. Wag mo nang dagdagan pa! --------------------------------------------------------Juan: Uwi na ako at gustong gusto ko na hubaran ang panty ng misis ko!! Berto: Bakit, hot na hot ka na pare? Juan: Hindi!!! Masadong masikip sa akin eh! ---------------------------------------------------------

Pare 1: Pag nag-away kami ni Misis, tinitingala nya ako. Pare 2: Ang galing mo naman pala pre. E, bakit ka tinitingala nya? Pare 1: Kasi madalas nakatingala sya, tapos sabi nya: “Hoy, bumaba ka dyan sa aparador” --------------------------------------------------------Papa Jack Quotes 7 — Girls wag ninyong gawing pass time ang mga lalake, dahil kapag ang guys na ang gumawa nyan sa inyo, Promise lugi kayo! — Kung mahal mo talaga ang isang tao, hindi ka maghahanap ng wala sa kanya, makukuntento ka akung anong meron siya. Tatanggapin mo kung anong maibibigay niya. Kayan nagmahal ka dahil may nararamdaman ka at hindi dahil may kailangan ka. — Generally, if something is too good to be true. It really is. — Kung mahal mo talaga ang isang tao, hindi ka maghahanap ng wala sa kanya, makukuntento ka kung anong meron sya. — Kung mahal mo talaga ang isang tao, hinid ka maghahanap ng wala kanya, makukuntento ka kung anong meron sya. --------------------------------------------------------Aanhin ang guwapo quotes — Gwapo ba ang hanap mo? Pwes, mag-esep esep muna. Di porket nakabingwit ka ng guwapo, masaya na buhay mo. Di mo alam, impyerno ang mapapala mo. Kaya wag magpaloko, di porke guwapo, mabait at matino. Gamitin ang utak din pay may time. — Aanhin mo ang gwapo, kung mas malandi pa sayo. — Aanhin mo ang lalaking gwapo, kung wala naman trabaho — Aanhin mo ang gwapo, kung masisira naman ang kagandahan mo sa kakaisip kung ilang kayong tinatarantado?

— Aanhin mo ang guwapo kung masama naman ang ugali nito. Di naman masama na humanga ka sa isang tao lalo na sa kagwapuhan nito, o kaya magaling kumanta / sumayaw / umarte kung ano ano pang talent nito. Love at first sight? Kalokohan. Sa pagmamahal, kaylangan kalooban ang mas matimbang hindi ang talent o panlabas na kaayuan --------------------------------------------------------Anak: Inay, totoo ban a “First love never dies? Nanay: Aba, oo. Tingnan mo yang tatay mo hanggang ngayon buhay pa ang animal. --------------------------------------------------------Inday: Ma’am, magpapaalam na po ako. Uuwi na po ako sa probinsya. Ma’am: Nagpaalam ka na ba sa sir mo? Inday: Nauna na po sya. Doon na raw po kami magkikita! --------------------------------------------------------What’s worse than finding a cockroach in your pandesal while eating? Pag nakita mo na kalahati na lang ang cockroach! --------------------------------------------------------Pedro: Nakabili na ko ng hearing aid. Grabe! Ang linaw na ng pandinig ko! Juan: Talaga? Magkano bili mo? Pedro: Kahapon lang --------------------------------------------------------Juan: Pedro…. 1 + 1 =? Pedro: Niloloko mob a ako? Ed di 5! Juan: hahahahahahhaha Pedro: Bakit ka tumatawa, mali ba? Juan: Kala ko di mo alam eh… --------------------------------------------------------Pambara sa kelan ka ikakasal — Minsan especially during reunions, pag single ka lagi kang tinatanong ng mga friends or relative mo insensitively ng “Kelan ka ikakasal?” If they are a bit rude, well, it’s time to answer them back — Wag po natin questionin ang Plans ni Lord Tapos na po, di lang kayo iniinvite — Nagmamadali po ba kayo kasi di nyo na abutan? — Pag naipasa na po ang same-sex marriage

in the Philippines is run by organized crime and it would not function if it did not have upstream production in China and Taiwan. Lin pointed out that China is the main source of illegal narcotics in the Philippines, but Taiwanese are also involved in terms of serving as drivers and drug engineers. Lin added that Duterte is speaking the truth in the sense that the drug problem in the Philippines is a transnational issue which

includes China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Therefore, Taiwan has been working closely with the Philippines to fight drug trafficking, and thus far the results have been good, said Lin. What Duterte wants to express is: «it is only through cooperation that eradication can occur,» according to Lin. Lin emphasized that many young Taiwanese people have been involved in the drug trade in the Philippines, and it has been

— Ang alam ko po, wala po kayong pake — Inaayos na lang po yung availability ni Pope Benedict…pag okay na yung sked nya at maayos na yung St. Peter’s Basilica, pupuntan na kami dun nung bride to be and ng entourage for the wedding — Boyfriend kasi ang hanap ko — Hindi po ako manghuhula para malaman ko — Si PNoy nga di pa nag-aasawa..ako pa kaya?? --------------------------------------------------------Pambara sa Joke Minsan may mga taong papansin, taong feeling close o sadya lang na trying hard magpatawa. Nakakairita madalas and you want to shut them down. How?? Banatan mo neto ng matigil --------------------------------------------------------Ano pang JOKE alam mo bukod sa Mukha mo? --------------------------------------------------------Bakit nagjojoke ka sa akin, kabiruan ba kita? --------------------------------------------------------Ay nagjoke...feeling close agad? --------------------------------------------------------Call center jokes 3 Minutes CS: I was hoping you can take this survey with me…Would you have the time to do that, sir? Contact: How long is this gonna to take? CS: Mmm…Mga three minutes… (Wapak! Napatagalog eh hahahaha) --------------------------------------------------------Example: A friend of mine asking information to client Agent: What state you’re located? Client: I am from PA Agent: Wow, I see you’re Pakistan? (namfufu … imbes na Philadelphia) --------------------------------------------------------Agent verifying into from the customer: Agent: Is that a P for Ping-pong? Customer: No, it’s B. Agent: Oh, B, like Bing-bong… ---------------------------------------------------------

Duterte claims Taiwan is major source of drugs in Philippines fter Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a speech listed Taiwan as a country where many of his country’s illegal drugs are coming from, Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines Gary Lin (林松煥) frankly conceded that “our counterpart is telling the truth,” in an interview with Apple Daily. During a speech at a police academy alumni association, Duterte said that the drug trade

a problem the government has been trying to rectify for years. Despite efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to improve Taiwan’s image, out of greed some young people have gone to the Philippines to traffic, transport, and design illegal drugs. In addition, there have been a small number Taiwanese fishing vessels that have been involved in smuggling drugs into the Philippines, according to Lin.

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OCTOBER 2017

Advocates urge changes to protect foreign spouses

he Nationality Act should be revised to remove provisions that allow the citizenship of naturalized foreign spouses to be revoked, rights campaigners said, adding that a clearly defined citizenship revocation cut-off period was lacking. Members of the Labor Rights Association, Legal Aid Foundation, TransAsia Sisterhood Taiwan and other groups gathered at the Legislative Yuan to announce the establishment of the “Article 19 Alliance,” named after regulations that say naturalization cannot be revoked after a fiveyear statute of limitations. The exemption was passed last year among amendments to expedite the citizenship process, including giving foreign spouses up to a year after gaining Republic of China (ROC) citizenship to renounce other citizenships. “The way changes were made has created a situation in which foreign spouses live in fear because they are never given a definitive residency guarantee,” Labor Rights Association executive director Wang Chuan-ping said. “If a marriage is found to have been faked, there is currently no statute of limitations to

Members of social groups, seated at the head of the table, yesterday hold a news conference at the Legislative Yuan to launch a joint alliance to press the government to protect immigrants’ rights by amending Article 19 of the Nationality Act.

declare it null, but this should be detached from the citizenship issue,” said Frank Wu, a Legal Aid Foundation attorney, citing legal requirements that foreign citizens renounce past citizenships as part of the naturalization process. “It is reasonable for there to be

provisions allowing for the revocation of citizenship when new information comes to light, but there should be a clear time limit,” Wu said. “The problem with the article is that these people give up their citizenships,” National

Vocational training program for migrant workers launched in Taiwan

program offering vocational training for migrant workers in Taiwan was launched in Taipei on September 10, with the aim of helping foreign workers prepare for life after they return to their home countries. Some 30 Indonesian migrant workers attended a baking course, while 15 others attended an e-commerce course, at KaiNan High School of Commerce and Industry on the first day of the program. The Global Workers’ Upskill Center program, launched by the Global Workers’ Organization, Taiwan, is now offering 10week courses, which are held on Sundays, and awards a certificate on completion of the training. The classes are currently offered only to Indonesian workers, but will soon be available to Filipinos and Vietnamese, especially those who are due to return to their home country soon. Karen Hsu, head of the Global Workers’ Organization, Taiwan, said the initiative was motivated by a desire to help female foreign caregivers expand their skill set and improve life opportunities, but is also open to male workers. Many female foreign caregivers never had the opportunity to receive formal training and are forced to leave their families behind so they can earn money overseas, Hsu told CNA.

Chengchi University associate professor of law Bruce Liao said.“When they apply, the government found no problems with their application, but after a couple years, it can still revoke citizenship because of minor paperwork issues, effectively making the foreign spouses stateless.” Ly Vuoch-heang, a Cambodian immigrant and executive secretary of TransAsia Sisterhood Taiwan, said that spouses face major obstacles if they seek to recover citizenship in their home countries. There is a backlog of more than 80 foreign spouses from Vietnam who have had their ROC citizenship revoked, with the Vietnamese government only restoring citizenship to two individuals each year, Ly said. “There are lots of ways that you can punish falsification, including fines, but revoking citizenship is completely disproportionate,” she said, adding that Taiwanese spouses in falsified marriages are only subject to fines, creating incentives for disgruntled spouses to make false accusations rather than pursuing a formal divorce. —Taipei Times

Group hosts migrant workers’ rights mock referendum

“If we give them some training during their stay in Taiwan, they might be able to find employment when they return to their home countries,” said Hsu, whose organization provides foreign workers in Taiwan with information and services related to work, education and living. Hsu said people who complete the training can also start a business or micro business, or partner with Taiwanese businesses in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. “It would be a pity if these migrant workers, with their abundant experience in Taiwan and Mandarin-speaking ability, have to go back to their own countries without any job prospects after working 3-4 years on average in Taiwan,” she said. Tari Sutarni, a 39-year-old Indonesian caregiver who has worked in Taiwan for over nine years, was among the workers who enrolled in the baking class. She told CNA that she planned to help out in her family’s cornfields when she returned to her hometown in Indonesia’s Ponorogo Regency next year. With baking and pastry skills, she said, she would be able to make and sell cakes in her spare time. Dwi Tantri, an Indonesian caregiver who has worked in Taiwan for seven years, also said the skills learned in the training program could be put to good use in Indonesia.

“We can learn many things here,” she said. “We can open a bakery after returning to Indonesia,” or share Taiwanese delicacies with friends back home. “I am very thankful for this class. It is very helpful,” said Dwi, 49, who plans to return to Indonesia next year. However, not all migrant workers who wanted to attend the classes were able to do so. Farid M., a promoter of the Indonesian government’s Exit Program in Taiwan, said that some employers would not allow their workers to attend. He called on Taiwanese employers to learn more about the program and allow their workers to take part in the training program. These workers could become “bridges to Taiwan” after they return to Indonesia,” he said. The Indonesian government has been actively promoting “exit programs,” or professional training programs, to help returning migrant workers make the transition to skilled jobs. Hsu said her organization is planning to offer more courses, including online programs, and to extend the training to Taichung and Taoyuan cities as well. She urged Taiwanese businesses interesting in tapping the Southeast Asian market to contact her organization to discuss opportunities to cooperate on training programs. —Focus Taiwan

mock referendum on migrant workers’ rights initiated by the Taiwan International Workers’ Association began September 17 at Taipei Railway Station, with nearly 60 foreign workers calling for equal political rights. About 650,000 migrants work, live and pay taxes in Taiwan, but they cannot express their opinions about policies related to their rights, association member Betty Chen told a news conference in front of the station’s south gate. “Through this mock referendum, we hope to underscore the fact that the nation’s migrant workers have no political rights,” Chen said. The mock referendum included three issues: whether migrant caregivers should be protected under the Labor Standards Act, whether foreign workers should be able to freely change employers, and whether the government should abolish the private employment brokerage system and replace it with a nation-to-nation mechanism. Even though the referendum has no legitimacy, it can encourage more migrant workers to stand up for their rights, Hsinchu Catholic Diocese social worker Lydia Nieh said. MOCK

named. If details relating to the implementation of the policy are finalized during the meeting, the new visa-free entry rules could come into effect in October, the official said. In an effort to promote the New Southbound Policy, the Foreign Ministry convened an inter-ministerial meeting on April 10 to explore the feasibility of granting visa-free entry to Taiwan for nationals from countries targeted by the policy, including the

Philippines. The New Southbound Policy aims to enhance Taiwan’s relations with countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand. However, the ministry announced in a statement in May that it was postponing a plan to grant Philippine nationals visa-free entry starting this June, citing the need to “complete relevant administrative procedures and inter-agency coordination.” The announcement came just weeks

after the Foreign Ministry had said it would implement the policy by June. At that time, the ministry said it expected to make public the full details and start date of the visa-free travel plan in September. The Taiwan government relaxed visa rules for individuals from 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India, effective from Aug.1, 2016 and included the Philippines in its e-visa program on Oct. 7 last year. —Focus Taiwan

Continued on Page 18

Taiwan mulls visa-free entry for Filipinos in October

esidents of the Philippines could become eligible for visa-free entry to Taiwan in October if the details of the new policy are hammered out at an upcoming meeting, a Foreign Ministry official said on September 13. An inter-ministerial meeting of officials from national security, police, immigration and other government agencies scheduled for later this week will discuss related issues, according to the official who asked not to

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17 FEATURE NEWS

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OCTOBER 2017

Former OFW uplifts Cordillera farmers into exporters

With more than half of its residents or 100,000 farmers toiling on more than 30,000-hectare farms scattered in vegetable-producing towns, Benguet is living up to its moniker as the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines.”

he province of Benguet has been making a mark in the international market as a sourcing hub for premium agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, coffee, and other highland crops. With more than half of its residents or 100,000 farmers toiling on more than 30,000-hectare farms scattered in vegetable-producing towns, Benguet is living up to its moniker as the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines.” But the farmers from the province, including most areas in the Cordillera, has yet to realize their full market potential in the lucrative export industry. This difficulty contributes to the economic disadvantage of Cordilleran farmers as the region’s agriculture sector records the least contribution to their economy, despite employing 46 percent of the labor force or 348,000 of its total 766,000 abled bodies. “The lack of drive from our farmers to export much of it has got to do with their local and limited mindset,” said Maricel Hernaez. “Many of our farmers in the Cordillera are producing crops with the idea of harvesting it only either for their own household consumption or for selling at the local vegetable trading post.” A former overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Hernaez came back to the Philippines with a dream: to abolish the domesticcentric mindset of the Cordillera farmers and help them penetrate the international market. Born and raised in a farming family in Cordillera, her life-mission sprung during her service as a domestic helper for five years in Singapore, where she has keenly followed the sky-rocketing prices and huge demand for highland fruits and vegetables. “Grabe ang taas ng presyo ng gulay sa Singapore, for example nalang ‘yung isang malaking patatas minsan umaabot ng two dollars at pati ‘yung cabbage nasa mahigit one dollar ang 250 grams. Dito sa Pilipinas, nasa limang piso lang ang patatas na malalaki at yung cabbage, isang kilo na katumbas ng one dollar mo,” she shared. “Kung produkto lang naman ang paguusapan, competitive ang galing sa Pilipinas pagdating sa laki at kalidad.” In her last working year as a domestic helper, Hernaez met up with the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre (PTIC) in Singapore to seek guidance on her plan to become a vegetable and fruit exporter. In March 2015, she came back to the Philippines

Maricel Hernaez, owner of GDME Fruits and Vegetable Trading. Fresh, newly uprooted potatoes. and immediately established her company, GDME Fruits and Vegetables Trading, naming it after her parents: Gilbert Domerez (father) and Mercy Espara (mother). “My parents who made a living through farming have inspired me to pursue this agenda,” she elated. “They are the foundation of my goal of nurture the country’s agri-export market by tapping the promising farming communities in Cordillera.” Having no land to call her own, Hernaez has been operating GDME Fruits and Vegetable Trading for the past two years as its sole networking, monitoring, and marketing officer for grassroots farmers across the Cordillera region. In her networking initiatives with the local farmers, it has always been a challenge for her to explain, innovate, and change some of their farming methods and even their products to suit the demand of the global market. “Going one by one with the farmers, I always explain that we have the tools to compete with other countries. We are situated at a higher elevation with the perfect soil and climate. Most importantly, our farmers are hard-working,” she stressed. “But, I tell them we should comply with food standards and certifications. I also encourage them to plant the crops that are in-demand because if we plant crops that no one wants to buy then it will just go to waste.” Without a formal academic background in agriculture, she has always been looking for fresh ideas and new ways on how to improve her technical know-how on the export industry by attending seminars and partnering with government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and

Overlooking a carrot and romaine fields in one of the highland vegetable terraces of Maria’s Farm, situated on over 2,000 above sea level (ASL) in the town of Kibungan, Benguet.

the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). “I never missed opportunities where I can learn new things. Last May, I joined IFEX Philippines, together with our farmers, where we encountered people who are willing to help us grow,” Hernaez said. “We were also glad to meet foreign buyers that are really interested in our fruits and vegetable products.” Now GDME Fruits and Vegetables Trading has partnered and has been consolidating the yield of more than 60 farmers in communities located in the municipalities of Kibungan, which is considered the “Little Alaska of the Philippines,” as well as in Mankayan, and Kabayan. Among her community partners are the Bosingan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mankayan Young Farmers, Maria’s Farm, and the Bashoy Kabayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Fresh from the highlands, they offer different varieties and cultivars of potato, radish, carrot, chayote, cucumber, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, tomato, romaine zucchini, sugar beets, bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, onion leeks, snow peas, and green beans. “In our farm, we are able to grow fruits in huge sizes. For instance, in our cabbages, we are cultivating the scorpio F1 hybrid and sugarloaf varieties. When fully grown, these varieties can reach an average net weight of two kilograms each, while your regular lowland cabbage varieties only reach one kilogram each. Ours is twice the size,” she said. Her partner farmers are also cultivating strawberry, lemon, parsley, cilantro, kale, mint, basil, alfalfa, arugula, red radish, young corn, fennel leaves, and okra. They also have some of the iconic Cordillera processed goods, such as sweet and sour chili sauce, strawberry jam, peanut butter, and kimchi. Hernaez said an exporting farmer will be able to earn at least P15 more per kilo of their harvest and added some might even go double the price depending on their reception on our quality and demand. “With these many products, we are targeting the demand in Singapore and other nearby ASEAN countries, as well as those in the Middle East,” she added. “We are also open to offers from other buyers across the globe that can be beneficial to the livelihood of our farmers.” While the high elevation augments the harvest, it also makes highland fruits and

vegetables prone to risks of climate change, making its price highly volatile. “We know there is a demand for our agricultural products, but the next step is how we can corner that demand? With our talks with people that we met on IFEX Philippines, we should be able to do it if we set our fruits and vegetables at stable prices and produce them at a sustainable rate. It’s a challenge for us here in the highland considering the ever-changing weather conditions,” said Hernaez. Faced with this predicament, Hernaez is trying to hit two birds with one stone in creating a viable year-round crop rotation system: working on identifying the in-demand varieties crops that are a tolerant to extreme weather and are resistant to pests and diseases. “With this method, we also can minimize the use of synthetic chemicals and inputs, or apply good farming practices which involve the balanced application of organic and chemical inputs,” she explained. The former OFW also continues to widen her network to increase their agriculture supply and product selection, allowing small-scale farming communities to accommodate bulk orders from foreign buyers. At the same time, she is helping Cordillera farmers secure the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification—an accreditation promoted by the Asean community and is unanimously recognized in the international market. Out of the 78 GAP-certified farms in the Philippines, only four farms are from Cordillera. According to the DA - Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (DABAFS), GAP Certification ensures that a farm is not only in the quality of his crops, but in all aspects of farming. The GAP standard requires a scrutiny of the history of the farm site and its prior use; the type of soil, and its compatibility with crops and seed sources; the judicious use of pesticides and fertilizers, whether chemical or organic; the sources of potable water for irrigation and washing of crops; the harvest and post-handling procedures; the health and hygiene of the farmer and handlers, and other factors. “Gusto kong makita sa mga farmers if they can eat their products raw and fresh, ‘yun na kasi uso din because there are a lot of vegetarians. ‘Yung iba kasi they have a lot of pesticide to the point na hindi na pwede makain kasi maamoy or matapang yung chemicals. At least with GAP [certification], we can be one stop closer to this goal,” she said. Aside from GAP certifications, GDME Fruits and Vegetable Trading is also working to secure Halal certifications for the community farmers as they are targeting the demand for halal fruits and vegetables in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai and United Arab Emirates. Though the Philippine National Standards for Halal (PNS 2067: 2008), Halal products are at par with international standards to enhance the competitiveness of local industries, and to ensure product quality and safety for the consumers. “GDME Fruits and Vegetable Trading is committed to prime Cordilleran farmers to become export-ready in the global market so that they would grow together with the company and the booming Philippine food industry,” she said. —www.sunstar.com.ph

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OCTOBER 2017

Atom Araullo nagpaalam na sa ABS CBN

atapos ang halos 10 taon sa Kapamilya network, tuluyan na nagpaalam ang Umagang kay Ganda show host na si Atom Araullo sa mga kasamahan niya sa show nitong Setyembre 15. Hindi makapaniwala ang mga kasamahan niya sa show. Ayon kay Atom, nakapagpaalam siya ng maayos sa management nt ABS-CBN at hindi naging mahirap ito sa kanya at ang dahilan ng kanyang pag-alis ay damil maraming oportunidad na dumating sa kanya. Trending si Atom sa social media dahil sa mga posts ng Netizens. “Mami-miss kita Atom Aurollo,Ikaw lang din ang inaabangan ko sa UKG” “Atom Aurollo y o y aalis ka na sa ABS-

Narito naman ang statement ni Atom sa pag-alis sa ABS-CBN 2 “Working with ABS-CBN for over a decade has been an amazing adventure. However, the time has come to explore emerging opportunities and challenges beyond the organization. Although I am taking a new path, I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the company that helped me become the journalist I am today. To all the hardworking men and women of ABSCBN, maraming maraming salamat.” CBN? Hindi na kita makikiya araw2 sa UKG” “Atom Aurollo bids goodbye to Umagang Kay Ganda and ABS-CBN at cry ang ibang hosts. Bye”.

Robin Padilla cries foul over new hold departure order against him

ubos na ipinagtataka ni Robin Padilla ang hold departure order laban sa kanya ng Bureau of Immigration. Nalaman ng aktor ang tungkol dito dahil nais sana niyang um-attend ng isang event sa China. Pahayag ni Robin sa kanyang Instagram post, September 10: “Ako’y pinalad na maimbita ng mahal na prinsesa ng sultanate of Sulu para tumungo sa China at masaksihan ang magaganap na pagdiriwang ng napakatandang relasyon ng malakas na bansang Tsino/China at ng Sultanate of Sulu... sa hindi maipaliwang na pangyayari ay hindi ako makakaalis ng bansa dahil ako ay may hold order sa bureau of immigration.” Matatandaang ginawaran si Robin— na nangampanya para kay President Rodrigo Duterte noong eleksyon—ng absolute pardon ng Presidente noong November 2016. Kaugnay ito ng kaso niyang illegal possession of firearms noong 1994, kung saan napatunayang nagkasala siya. Ngunit matapos ang tatlong taon, nakalaya si Robin sa pamamagitan ng conditional pardon na ibinigay sa kanya ni dating Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos. Simula nito ay ilang beses nang nakalabas ng bansa si Robin. Sa katunayan, nag-shooting pa ang aktor sa Amsterdam, Netherlands, noong 2013 para sa pelikulang 10,000 Hours. Kaya naman nagtataka si Robin kung bakit ngayon ay pinagbabawalan siyang lumabas ng bansa.

John Lloyd was caught on camera doing insipid things and for that ay marami ang naawa sa kanya. But the actor has apologized for his shenanigans. Many have defended him naman and called him human pa rin after all his mistakes.

John Lloyd, nag-sorry tungkol sa nag-viral na video na umano’y lasing siya

Robin Padilla Aniya, “Napakagulo ng naganap na ito sapagkat noong ako’y conditional pardon lamang kailanman ay hindi ako nagkaroon ng suliranin sa pag alis ng Inangbayan pero ngaun na Absolute pardon na ako ay ngayon pa ako nabiyayaan ng hold order ng BI. Wala naman ako bagong Kaso sa kahit saan na korte.” Wala raw makitang dahilan si Robin para pigilan siyang umalis ng bansa. Kaya ang pakiusap niya, “Binigyan na po ako ng isang pagkakataon ng Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte sana po ay pati ang mga nasa ilalim na sangay ng gobyerno ay bigyan din ako ng pagkakataon.” Diin pa ng 47-year-old actor, “Matanda na rin po ako ang mga ganitong legal stress ay damage na po ang binibigay hindi na po thrill.”

MOCK Continued from Page 16

Many other groups supported the cause at the news conference. “People said that society would become chaotic if women could vote. Actually, a society only becomes chaotic when it cannot accommodate other people,” Awakening Foundation secretary-general Chyn Yu-rong said. “Giving migrant workers suffrage is not unprecedented. Some European countries have already achieved that,” she added.

Ay, sad naman. Nagpaalam na si Atom Araullo sa “Umagang Kay Ganda” at sa ABSCBN para sa panibagong chapter ng kanyang career. Sad ang UKG hosts. Mami-miss ko rin

siya every morning.” Naglabas naman ng statement ang Kapamilya network sa pag-alis ni Atom. “ABS-CBN has allowed journalist Atom Araullo to explore new interests in film, broadcast and digital media outside of the company. Atom says the training and exposure he got from the network as reporter and TV host have equipped him to try out other opportunities in the media industry here and abroad. “ABS-CBN wishes Atom all the best in his future endeavors. He will always remain a Kapamilya.” Samantala, may pinagbibidahang pelikula ngayon si Atom entitled “Citizen Jake.”. Ito ang comeback movie ng magaling na director na si Mike De Leon.

The association has set up 15 voting stations for the referendum in Taipei,

umingi ng tawad ang aktor ng si John Lloyd Cruz matapos kumalat ang video na mukha umanong lasing ang blockbuster king at nakuhanan ang sweet moment nila ng sexy actress na si Ellen Adarna habang nagbabakasyon sa Bantayan Island, Cebu. Sa instagram account ni John Lloyd ay sinabi niyang natuto na raw siya sa nangyari at nag-sorry sa mga batang fans o tagahanga niya. Gayunman, iginiit ni Llyodi na wala siyang pinagsisisihan dahil ipinamalas lang niya kung gaano kaganda ang buhay at nangakong mas magiging maingat na siya sa susunod. Kaugnay nga nito, ay to-the-rescue naman si Direk Johnny Manahan o “Mr. M” na kanyang tatay-tayan sa showbiz. Pahayag ni Direk Manahan, pinuri niya ang aktor dahil sapagiging napakasipag nito sa trabaho ni John Lloyd na minsan ay tumatagal ng 18 oras kada araw. Nag-relax lang si John Lloyd kasama ang mga kaibigan ngunit nang dahil sa social media, nagiging kontrobersyal ang ‘private moments’ ng mga artista kapag kumalat ito. Nagsalita na rin ang Kapamilya actress na si Ellen Adarna kaugnay ng viral videos nila ng aktor na si John Lloyd Cruz. Ang nasabing videos ay kuha sa apat na araw na bakasyon nina Ellen at John Lloyd, kasama

ang ilan pang mga kaibigan, sa isang private resort sa Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu, mula September 7 hanggang 10. Binatikos ng ilang netizens si John Lloyd dahil sa mga video nito na tila lasing habang kumakanta, sumasayaw, at nakikipagkasiyahan kay Ellen at barkada nila. Ayon sa netizens, hindi raw inalagaan ni John Lloyd ang kanyang imahe bilang isang kilalang aktor at product endorser. Sabi pa ng ilan, dapat daw ay hindi na in-upload sa social media ang mga video. Kaugnay nito, ipinagtanggol ng radio disc jockey na si Rico Robles sina Ellen at John Lloyd laban sa bashers. Sabi ni Rico sa kanyang Instagram post, September 10: “For those asking about this.. these people work hard, they had time off, they all took a vacation, had fun and had a few (beer emoticons)… “C Mon guys it’s 2017” #vacay#RandR #theydeserveit press like if you feel the same.” Nagkomento si Ellen sa post na ito ni Rico. Sabi ng Kapamilya sexy actress, “Word. Hindi naman kami nag-yoga retreat, lol.” Ayon naman sa tatlong nakasama nina John Lloyd at Ellen sa kanilang bakasyon, nagpaka-normal lang si John Lloyd noong mga sandaling iyon. Ginawa raw nito ang mga bagay na hindi niya karaniwang nagagawa. “Clean fun” lang daw ang apat na araw nilang pagliliwaliw sa isla ng Bantayan.

Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. “We welcome both Taiwanese and foreigners who feel connected to the issue to vote,” Chen said, adding that people can only vote once and should present their identification cards or passports. The mock referendum started yesterday and is to open every two weeks until Dec. 10, she said, adding that the results will be announced during a migrant workers’ parade on Dec. 17. As of June last year, there were 214,023 migrant caregivers working for households in Taiwan, with 175,803 from Indonesia,

27,885 from the Philippines, 9,825 from Vietnam and 510 from Thailand, a survey by the Ministry of Labor published in December last year showed. The average monthly salary of a foreign caregiver was NT$19,643, while their regular monthly salary was NT$17,449, the survey found. For more detailed information about the mock referendum, visit the “Migrant Workers Referendum” page at www. facebook.com/MWReferendum. —Taipei Times

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To order please call

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Foreign Workers Consultation Service Center

FR E

GIFT

Tel: 02-25502151 Fax: 02-25507024 Tel: 07-8117543 Fax: 07-8117548 Tel: 02-89659091 02-89651044 Fax: 02-89651058 Taoyuan County Foreign Workers Tel: 03-3344087 Consultation Service Center 03-3341728 03-3322101 ext. 6812 Fax: 03-3341689 Taipei City Foreign Workers Consultation Service Center Kaohsiung City Foreign Workers Consultation Service Center Taipei County Foreign Workers Consultation Service Center

Foreign Representative Offices in Taiwan Manila Economic and Cultural Office

Thailand Trade and Economic Office

Disney Necklace

Indonesian Economic and Trade Office

fOR INQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 02-2595-8686 OR TEXT TO 0983-433-022

EEC SERVICE STATIONS Stations marked with

are open from 9am-9pm every 5th and 10th of the month

ZHONGSHAN Tel.: (02) 2596-2889 ●Mon-Sat : 8:30AM-9PM ●Sun : 8AM-9:30PM

No. 39, Zhongshan North Road, Sec. 3,Taipei City 台北市中山北路3段39號

WUGU Tel.: (02) 2299-9191 ●Mon-Sat : 10-14 ; 17-21 ●Sun : 10AM-9PM

No.1, Lane 86 Wugong 3rd Road, Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City

●Mon-Sun : 9-14 / 17-21

No. 4, Lane 22 Minzu St., Tucheng Dist., New Taipei City 新北市土城區民族街22巷4號

XINZHUANG

GUISHAN

LINKOU Tel.: (03) 327-8181

Tel.: (03) 367-4658

No. 516-35, Zhongzheng Road, Xinzhuang Dist., New Taipei City 新北市新莊市中正路516號之35

No. 372, Taoying Road Taoyuan City Taoyuan County 桃園縣桃園市桃鶯路372號

●Mon-Sun : 8:30AM-9:30PM

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

TAOYUAN

No. 97, Wenhua 2nd Rd. Guishan Township, Taoyuan County 桃園縣龜山文化村3鄰文化2路97號

ZHONGLI

Tel.: (03) 331-1899

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

No. 2-12, Lane 48, Zhongzheng Rd., Taoyuan City 桃園市中正路48巷2號之12

NEILI

Tel.: (03) 422-5959

Tel.: (03) 435-2182

No. 30, Zhongzheng Road, Zhongli City, Taoyuan County 桃園縣中壢市中正路30號

No. 903, Zhonghua Rd., Sec. 1, Zhongli Dist., Taoyuan City 桃園市中壢區中華路一段903號

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

GUANYIN

●Mon-Sun :9AM-9PM

ZHUNAN

Tel.: (03) 476-1281

Tel.: (037) 551-605

No. 567, Zhenggong Road, Sec. 1, Guanyin Dist., Taoyuan City

No. 119 Zhongshan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County 苗栗縣竹南鎮中山路119號

●Mon-Sun :9AM - 9PM

桃園市觀音區成功路１段567號

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

HSINCHU CITY

HUKOU Tel.: (03) 597-8686 ●Mon-Sat : 8AM - 9PM ●Sun :8-12; 17-21

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

No. 54, Zhongzheng Road, East Dist. Hsinchu City 新竹市東區中正路54號

TEPZ Tel.: (04) 2535-8888

●Mon-Sat : 9-13 / 16-21 ●Sun : 9-13/16-21

No. 93, Zhongzheng Road, Miaoli City 苗栗市中正路93號1樓

No. 24-1, Datong St., Shalu Dist., Taichung City 台中市沙鹿區大同街 24號之1

Tel.: (04) 2227-1100

●Mon-Sun :9AM - 9PM

No. 32, Li-chuan East St. , Central Dist. Taichung City 台中市中區綠川東街32號

DOULIU

CHIAYI

TAINAN

Tel.: (05) 225-2928

Tel.: (06) 223-8260

Tel.: (06) 222-7281

No. 184, Zhongshan Rd., West Central Dist.,Tainan City 台南市中西區中山路184號

No. 31, Gongyuan S. Road, North District, Tainan City 台南市北區公園南路31號

●Mon-Sat :10:30AM - 9PM

DEXIAN (07) 360-1381 (07) 360-1383

●Mon-Sun :9AM-8PM

NEPZ

NEW Tel.: (07) 364-0036

No. 108, Dexian Road, Nantzu District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市楠梓區德賢路108號

●Mon-Sat :10AM-7PM

No. 563, 1F, Dexian Rd., Nanzi Dist. Kaohsiung City 高雄市楠梓區德賢路563號

SSS Taiwan 3F, No. 33, Sec. 2, Jianguo N. Rd. Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City Tel. No.: (02) 2507-9187 Mobile: 0926-38256

Taiwan International Airport Office- Foreign Worker Service Center Taoyuan Int’l Airport Office

Kaohsiung Int’l Airport

03-398-9002 / 03-393-1469 English: 03-398-3976 Thai: 03-398-3975 Indonesian: 03-398-3977

No. 9, Hangjan S. Rd., Dayuan Township, Taoyuan, Taiwan Room No: C-0-278 Vietnamese: 03-398-3974

07-803-6804 / 07-803-9177 07-803-6419

No.2, Zhongshan 4th Rd., Siaogang Dist. Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

新住民培力發展資訊網

Painting Competition

We’re all inviting all new immigrants (parent-kids) to share their countries culture, beautiful landscape, humanistic stories for hand-painted creation. The competition will be group into three categories: Elementary, junior high school, senior high school, winner will bag NT6,000. Submission of entries: June 19- July 31, 2017 / Review Stage: August 1- 21, 2017 Announcement of winner: August 31, 2017 / Awarding date: September 9, 2017 For more information please go to website: ifi.immigration.gov.tw

No. 847, Zhongzheng Rd., Miaoli City, Miaoli County 苗栗縣苗栗市中正路847號

TAICHUNG CITY

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

No. 114, Minsheng Road, ●Sun: 9AM - 9PM Douliu City, Yunlin County No. 216, Linsen West 雲林縣斗六市民生路114號 Road East Dist., Chiayi City 嘉義市東區林森西路216號

Fire Dept. and 119 Ambulance Service Police 110 Local Directory 104 Assistance (Mandarin) 105 Long Distance Directory Assistance (Mandarin) Directory Assisance (English) 106 Protection Hotline 113 Coast Guard 118 Anti-Fraud Hotline 165 Freeway Report 168 Operator Assistance 1128 International Call Center 0800-080-100 International Community 0800-024-111 Service Hotline 24-Hour Toll-Free Travel 0800-011-765 Information Call Center English-Speaking Taxi Service 02-2799-7977 Tourist Information Hotline 02-2717-3737 Taoyuan Int’l Airport 03-383-2194 Tourist Service Center Taoyuan Int’l Aiport 03-383-2194 - Terminal 1 Taoyuan Int’l Airport 03-398-3341 - Terminal 2

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

Tel.: (05) 533-2190 ●Mon-Sun : 9AM-10PM

Service Line 0800-885885 0800-885995 0800-885958 0800-017858

MIAOLI 2-TK

Tel.: (04) 2635-2601

台中市潭子區中山路2段480之3

3F, No. 33, Sec. 2, Jianguo N. Rd. Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City Tel. No.: (02) 2517-7775 Mobile: 0975563561 Facebook: Pag-IBIG Taiwan Members Club

Language English Thai Indonesian Vietnamese

Tel.: (037) 370-570

SHALU

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

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No.169, Ren-le Road Hukou Township, Hsinchu County 新竹縣湖口鄉鳳凰村仁樂路 169號

MIAOLI 1 Tel.: (037) 272-172

Tel.: (03) 526-2550

11F, No. 176 Chang Chun Rd., Taipei,Taiwan,104, R.O.C. Tel: 02-25081719 Fax: 02-25079805 10F, No.151, Xinyi Rd , Sec. 3, Taipei,Taiwan Tel: 02- 25811979 Fax: 02- 25818707 6F., No. 550, Ruiguang Road, Neihu District, Taipei City Tel: 02-87526170 Fax: 02-87523706 No. 3-1, Lane 69, Songjiang Road Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 02-25043477 Fax: 02-25041761

Pag-IBIG Taiwan

新北市新莊區五工三路86巷1號

Tel.: (02) 2908-6793

●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

No. 480-3, Sec. 2, Zhongshan Road., Tanzi District, Taichung City

TUCHENG Tel.: (02) 2267-7659

Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office

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Hotline for the labor service

Maaaring magtanong ukol sa mga alitan ng manggagawa at employer, ukol sa biglaang pagtatapos ng kontrata, pagkuha ng patotoo ng pagtatapos ng kontrata, atbp.

GET E

OFW HOTLINE OCTOBER 2017

●Mon-Sun :9AM-9PM

TAINAN-TK ●Mon-Sun : 9AM-9PM

GANGSHAN Tel.: (07) 622-9903

DALIAO (07) 787-8310

No.1, 1F, Lane 101, Gangyan Rd., Gangshan Dist., Kaoshiung City

No. 1235, Guangming Rd., Sec. 1, Daliao Dist., Kaohsiung City 高雄市大寮區光明路一段1235號

●Mon-Sat :12PM-9PM ●Sun : 9AM-9PM

高雄市岡山區岡燕路101巷 1號1樓

●Mon-Sat :12AM-8PM ●Sun :9AM-9PM

1 6 7 6 4 4 2 9 4 9 7 1 3 5 2 6 9 4 5 6 8 7 3 1

5 2 8 6 9 1 7 9 6 5 7 4

Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3 x 3 square. Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3 x 3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusive

Solution to last issue

4 5 3 6 7 2 9 1 8

7 9 2 1 8 5 6 3 4

1 8 6 9 4 3 5 7 2

2 4 9 7 5 8 1 6 3

6 1 5 4 3 9 8 2 7

3 7 8 2 6 1 4 5 9

5 3 7 8 1 4 2 9 6

9 6 4 5 2 7 3 8 1

8 2 1 3 9 6 7 4 5

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