Jeepney Press March-April 2023

Neriza Sarmiento-Saito's

On the Road to

Kagawaran ng Manggagawang Mandarayuhan The Department of Migrant Workers ( DMW) with the Honorable Secretary Susan ‘ Toots” Ople

Rise from winter’s nap

Stretch to feel the Sun’s warm rays

Spring is among us...

- Shannon Scho eld

Spring is in the air... as many say but unfortunately for those with pollen allergies, this season could be worrisome.

The arrival of spring has various connotations for di erent countries. In Japan, it’s the Sakura or Cherry Blossoms. Although in reality, it is the “Ume“ or plum blossoms that herald the arrival of Spring.

In the Philippines, since we have only 2 seasons — the dry and the wet. March and April are associated with the Lenten season. The date of Easter Sunday was decided in ancient times by the Council of Nicaea that it would be held on the first full moon on or after the Vernal Equinox. So this year, it will fall on April 9.

Despite the shivering and chilly February this year, our hearts were warmed by the visit to Osaka of the Secretary of the newly created Department of Migrant Workers, the Honorable Susan “ Toots “ Ople.

At the ”Meet and Greet” meeting in the office of the former POLO now Office of the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Consul General Voltaire D. Mauricio of Philcongen Osaka introduced the Honorable Secretary and Undersecretary PJ Caunan. Leaders and representatives of the Filipino Communities led by the officers of the Philippine Community Coordinating Council and its member communities in the umbrella organization such as the Kansai Nippi Tomo no Kai, Kakogawa Filipino Community, Sacra Famiglia Catholic Community, Shiga Filipino Christian Community, St, Joseph Catholic Church Hikone Filipino Community, Kishiwada Filipino Community Sama-sama Filipino Community, Kawachi Kayumanggi, Kyoto Pag-asa Filipino Community, Yagi Filipino Community, Nara North Filipino Community , SEAC, and IFFIK. The new government office was specifically mentioned by President Ferdinand “Bongbong “ Marcos when he met with the delegates of various Filipino Communities in Tokyo last Feb. 12. He also said that the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Tourism with its new Secretary, the Honorable Christina Garcia Frasco have launched a travel incentive program for OFW’s and Overseas Filipinos... Bisita: Be my Guest Philippines.

Like her late father, former Labor Secretary and also Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas Ople from Hagonoy, Bulacan, the Secretary is also an advocate of the rights of the OFW’s and promises that with the DMW, their mission in Osaka is geared towards a more robust Philippine Japan Manpower Resource Agenda. Before joining President Marcos’ meeting with the Filipino Community in Tokyo, Secretary Ople held very productive meetings with Employers of Filipinos in Osaka with Consul General Voltaire Mauricio and Labor Attache Elizabeth Marie Raquel Estrada.