Yes Philippines NewsMagazine UK January 2022 by Yes Philippines NewsMagazine UK Edition (Series 4)

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JANUARY 2022

Let t er f r om t h e Pu blish er e?ve m ade it t o t h e New Year despit e t h e t r ials an d t r ibu lat ion s of 2021. It seems that the worst of Covid-19 is over (with the omicron variant said to be mild), and like the seasonal flu, coronavirus is here to stay. We just have to learn to live with it.

by M ARY SOL PIM ENTEL

" It?s the time of year to rid ourselves of bad habits and develop good ones, such as eating healthily and exercising regularly. "

Usually the coldest month in winter, January signals a change for the better. It is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. It?s the time of year to rid ourselves of bad habits and develop good ones, such as eating healthily and exercising regularly. We have the best intentions, of course, but the road to an ideal lifestyle is paved with temptations. Take the idea of ?Veganuary?, for example. (It?s an annual challenge in the UK that promotes veganism by encouraging people to go vegan for the month of January). Many carnivores earnestly give it a try, but for some of us, it?s a virtuous attempt that is doomed to fail as what defines our happiness is a sizzling roast chicken.

Speaking of happiness, apparently, 19 to 25 January is designated worldwide as ?Hunt for Happiness Week?. Well, you don?t need to look far because contentment and joy can be found in the pages of Yes Philippines. In this issue, we share two success stories ? one is an award given by the Queen?s Nursing Institute to two Filipino nurses in the UK and the other is a listing of two Filipino dishes in the Top 100 Traditional Dishes in the World by an online food encyclopedia. In a related article, a Pinoy university professor tells us how Filipino food can compete globally. Another interesting article to share is the first in a series of commentary about the upcoming presidential elections in our home country. Take it as a guide on how to vote wisely, and that is, by checking facts and by not allowing cunning politicians to exploit our emotions. As always, Yes Philippines informs, educates and entertains you all year round. So, continue your habit of reading it in 2022. Enjoy!

This Edition is distributed all over the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland) Pu blish er M ARY SOL PIM ENTEL Associat e Pu blish er SARAH M AE LARAGAN M an agin g Edit or M ARIA ELLIS Pr odu ct ion M an ager PAULA PEREZ Layou t Ar t ist LEONE CERISE CRISOSTOM O Ar t Dir ect or JOHN KNUCKLES Wr it er s/ Con t r ibu t or s VIVA O'FLYNN PEPS VILLANUEVA ROBERT LABAYEN CAM ILLE EUSEBIO EDGAR DUAY Adver t isin g KARLA DUCAY Colu m n ist LIRA SIM ON-CABATBAT Cir cu lat ion FERNAN DOM INGO BIEN EVANGELISTA

JANUARY 2022

PHILIPPINE HISTORY CORNER

HI STORY I N

JA NUA RY BYTHEKAHIMYANGPROJECT

n glish becam e t h e of f icial lan gu age of t h e Ph ilippin es on 1st Jan u ar y 1906.

By virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 1123 of April 1904, the official language of the Philippines became English. It was used in court proceedings and no person was eligible for government service who did not know the language. 11 Jan u ar y 1897, t h e so-called " Th ir t een M ar t yr s of Bagu m bayan" w er e execu t ed On 11 January 1897, the so-called "Thirteen Martyrs of Bagumbayan" were executed following their arrests after the ?Cry of Pugadlawin?on charges of treason and sedition. Photo Courtesy: philippinefolklifemuseum

23 Jan u ar y 1899, t h e M alolos Repu blic w as in au gu r at ed in M alolos, Bu lacan 10. Faustino Villaruel (businessman and Mason), 11. Braulio Rivera (Katipunan member), 12. Luis Inciso Villaruel, and 13. Estacio Manalac. On 23 January 1899, the First Philippine Republic, also known as the Malolos Republic, was inaugurated in Malolos, Bulacan with General Emilio Aguinaldo as President. Earlier, Aguinaldo had planned to form a Filipino government in the wake of victories against the Spaniards and to show the capacity of the Filipinos for self-government. Hence, he established a Dictatorial Government, then a Revolutionary Government. He declared Independence at Kawit, Cavite on 12 June 1898, believing that such a move would inspire the people to fight more eagerly against the Spaniards and at the same time lead the foreign countries to recognise the independence of the country.

?Cry of Pugadlawin? was an event where Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan, and its members assembled together then tore their cedulas which symbolised their determination to take arms against Spanish colonizers.

THE13 MARTYRSEXECUTEDIN BAGUMBAYAN(LUNETA) AFTERMOCK TRIAL WERE: 1. Numeriano Adriano (lawyer), 2. Domingo Franco (businessman and propagandist), 3. Moises Salvador (propagandist),

30 Jan u ar y 1911, Taal Volcan o er u pt ed k illin g appr oxim at ely 1,500 people On 30 January 1911, Taal Volcano erupted killing approximately 1,500 people and causing millions of pesos worth of damage. Post mortem examination of the victims seemed to show that practically all had died of scalding by hot steam or hot mud, or both.

All the vegetation was bent downward away from the crater which indicated that there must have been a very strong blast down the outside slopes of the cone. Very little vegetation was actually burned or even scorched. No evidence of lava could be discovered anywhere, nor have geologists been able to find any traceable records of lava flow. In this respect, the Taal volcano is unique. Another peculiarity of the geologic aspects of the volcano is the fact that no sulphur had been found on the volcano. Sou r ce: Th e Kah im yan g Pr oject

After the abolition of the First Philippine Republic, the U.S. continued its annexation of the islands pursuant to the Treaty of Paris which ended the Spanish- American War.

6. Benedicto Nijaga (lieutenant in the Spanish Army and Katipunan member, a native of Calbayog, Samar),

26 Jan u ar y 1954, Pr esiden t M agsaysay issu ed an execu t ive or der pr oh ibit in g t h e slau gh t er in g of car abaos

7. Geronimo Cristobal Medina (corporal in the Spanish army and Katipunan member).

On 26 January1954, President Ramon Magsaysay issued Executive Order No. 8, prohibiting the slaughtering of carabaos for a period of one year, beginning 31 January 1954. The President stated that Republic Act No. 11 prohibits the slaughtering of male and female carabaos, horses, mares, and cows, unless authorised by the Secretary of

9. Ramon A. Padilla (employee and propagandist),

The President stressed that the slaughtered carabaos were still fit for work, and the indiscriminate slaughtering had resulted in a scarcity of animals and a rise in the price of carabaos to such an extent that poor barrio farmers could not afford to buy animals for their farm work.

Every living thing on the volcano island, with the possible exception of a rooster, was destroyed. One young woman survived about 24 hours before succumbing to her injuries.

On 1st April 1901, Aguinaldo announced allegiance to the United States, formally ending the First Republic and recognising the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines.

5. Jose Dizon (Katipunan member),

8. Antonio Salazar (businessman),

Magsaysay, in a statement, stated that he was informed by the Director of Animal Industry, Manuel G. Sumulong, that a total of 156,216 carabaos were slaughtered from 1947 to 1953 in Manila and suburbs, and that 247,895 were slaughtered in the provinces during the same period; 82,401 of these carabaos were slaughtered in Manila and suburbs and the provinces the previous year alone.

A huge fan-shaped cloud of what looked like a black smoke rose to a great height estimated at about a mile. It crossed and criss-crossed with a brilliant electrical display. This cloud finally shot up and marked the culmination of the eruption around 2 a.m. on 30 January.

However, the Malolos Republic did not last long. It ended with the capture and surrender of Aguinaldo to the American alchetron.com forces on 23 March 1901 in Palanan, Isabela, which effectively dissolved the First Republic.

The Philippines was under U.S. sovereignty until 4th July 1946, when formal independence was granted by the United States.

4. Francisco L. Roxas (industrialist and civic leader),

Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Photo Courtesy: batangashistory

JANUARY 2022

SPECIAL FEATURE

From Capi z to Derby:

A n I nterv i ew w i th Fath er Taz Lasol a St M ary's Ch urch (Derby) Fi l i pi no mi ssi onary pri est BYSADIECAMACHO

n h is ear ly year s, Fat h er Taz h ad m an y desir es f or dif f er en t pr of ession s. He wanted to be a doctor, an engineer, and a lawyer. At 12 years old, he joined a seminary where he and other aspiring priests would study. In my interview with him, he explained how he found his true vocation. ?Eventually, my love for this vocation and for God concretely translated into becoming a priest. We could serve God in many, many ways. But for me, I believe I can express that in the best way I can through becoming a priest.?

Father Taz was ordained at 25 years old and since then has experienced many challenges along the way, one of those challenges being the temptation of other vocations. Previous to his priesthood, Father Taz wanted to be an engineer. This was something common with his peers and he described it as a ?trend?, but he was destined to serve God. ?In a very mysterious way, I couldn?t quite explain this love that stood out in my heart for priesthood and from there on, I was one hundred percent sure I wanted to dedicate my whole self to my vocation.? Below are my questions to Fr. Taz and his answers.

Q: How has the transition been, moving from the Philippines to Derby? A: My first impression was the culture. It will always be different. Where I come from, it?s really easy to mingle and visit our parishioners. You have lots of people in your churches, not just during masses but also during all sorts of activities. People would love to participate in the parish activities and I kind of miss that. Sometimes here, after the mass people will go to run their errands or go home and then you?re left all alone. Back home, there were lovely moments where we could share not only our stories but our life and that made us a true family. It?s not just about a priest-parishioner relationship but it transcends into a true family really caring for each other. I was hoping it could expand to the whole community.

Here it is quite difficult, as you can imagine. I?m thinking of how I can be an effective priest here. It took me a while before I settled in. Eventually, in God?s grace, I am able to offer myself in whatever way possible to become of service to the people and the Parish. Hopefully we can really be united together in our goal and objective in serving God in our own way. The transition is more about the life of the Parish but apart from that it?s been really different when you?re away from your family. It?s a privilege that we have invented virtual access to things now but it?s still different from really being with your family. I, as a priest, don?t have a family of my own I can only rely on. I receive a lot of help from my parishioners but there are times when they can?t provide everything for you and only your family can give it to you. You need them by your side from time to time. Here I have to find ways and be creative on how I cope with it. Hopefully, I can feel comfortable with my life here without the presence of my family.

One of Father Taz?s aims for the Filipino community in Derby it to reunite them together in faith. He says, ?When you categorise each person with a religion, that?s when wars tend to begin. When I say faith, I hope we can be unified with our goal to see the goodness in each other regardless of our religion. We can do that by faith. To see the goodness in a person is a difficult task because we have the habit of making oneself superior to others, but if you can see

the goodness in others, this is a really humbling act. If we could be unified by our faith, it?s a very strong indication and sign that we can support one another. There are no people or circumstances that could defeat this once achieved because you are united.? Fr. Taz uses an analogy to drive his point home. ?I always believe in the analogy of ?one straw?- one straw is very weak, but if you unite 20, 30 maybe 100 straws, it?s not only strong, but indestructible. If we can unite as a community, I believe we can achieve a lot more than we can ever imagine. It?s in the simple things that we can start great things. Great things come from small things. My ambition is to unite all the Filipinos, which is going to be extremely difficult, but I can start in small groups and hopefully I can make bridges.?

you alive in our choice of vocation. I always believe in the grace of God. The grace of God will always embrace you and always love you no matter who you are or what you have done. God doesn?t love us because we are perfect. God loves us despite us being imperfect.

Q: What difficulties have you experienced in your life and how did you overcome those? A: In my priesthood, what I find challenging is how to maintain my fidelity. There came a time when I saw my old classmates having their own families and I contemplated on the idea that I could have had that of my own too but the time for that had passed. It takes a lot of prayer and faith to maintain perseverance. I am happy that they were able to achieve their dreams and for me, it was a question of how can I maintain my dream? It?s like marriage. Weddings are a wonderful moment but it?s after the wedding is where the real challenge starts - the real struggle starts after the wedding. In my priesthood, the most challenging thing is how to maintain what I promised before God. Nothing can be more important than your prayer life. Faith is what keeps

Father Taz has words of encouragement for the younger generation who are considering taking on Holy Orders. He says, ?Although it may sound difficult and challenging, God will provide you with all the necessary help that you need. Most importantly, God will always find a way to make himself felt, especially with his love. Once you establish a personal relationship with God, everything will fall into place. Priesthood is not an end in itself but a response to God?s love. When you enter the seminary you will receive all kinds of formations that will make your relationship with God stronger.? For a relationship with God, Fr. Taz reminds us that ?first, you must plant seeds of God?s love in your heart.? Thank you Father Taz for taking your time to sit with me and answer my questions. You have inspired me and will continue to inspire other people.

JANUARY 2022

FRONTLINERS

h er e did you st u dy n u r sin g? I studied at the Divine Word University of Tacloban, College of Nursing.

Wh y did you ch oose n u r sin g as a car eer ? Initially, I chose nursing as a preparatory course to a medical degree or dental medicine. However, whilst I was in the nursing school, I realised that there were other options I would have as a nurse, e.g., Educator, Nurse-Manager, Specialist Nurse, etc. Wh er e did you w or k bef or e com in g t o t h e UK? I used to work as a Clinical / Classroom Instructor for Nursing Assistants and Midwifery Students at the MediServe Technical Career Institute and as a Staff Nurse at the Bethany Hospital in Tacloban City. How lon g h ave you been w or k in g h er e? I started working here in the UK in April 2001 (20 years).

Wh at ar e you r r espon sibilit ies at w or k ? As a Session Charge Nurse of NHS Blood and Transplant, part of my responsibilities is to ensure the safety of our donors and the supply of safe blood products to patients. Also, overseeing the clinical assessment of donor eligibility and leading on all aspects of donor care; efficient management of blood donor session, maintaining standards of care and donor satisfaction. Please descr ibe you r t ypical day at w or k . My typical day at work starts with a team brief, session preparation, donor screening and referral to our Clinical Support Team if required, management of session flow and supervision of staff, assisting donors with untoward events, dealing with complaints, apheresis donor prescription, documentation and reconciliation of donations.

cooking, watching YouTube and travelling. Do you in t en d t o st ay in t h e UK f or good? Wh y or w h y n ot ? I intend to go home to the Philippines when I retire. Wh at ar e you r car eer plan s an d ot h er f u t u r e goals? I am happy and content with the direction of my nursing career. I am hoping to operate my own business in the future. Ph oto Cou r tesy: M ich ael M el ia/ Al am y

Wh at do you like m ost abou t livin g in t h e UK? The efficiency of public transport. Wh at do you do in you r f r ee t im e? I love to keep myself updated with current events, chatting with family and friends online, baking,

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JANUARY 2022

FILIPINIANA CORNER

How can Fi l i pi no f ood sh i ne gl obal l y? ........................................................................................ BYRHIA GRANA h er e?s n o den yin g Filipin o r est au r an t s ar e becom in g in cr easin gly popu lar in m ajor cit ies ar ou n d t h e Un it ed St at es. There are Filipino restaurants in New York, in San Francisco, and Houston and international media is paying attention. There are also Pinoy dining spots that have made their presence known in London and Seoul. Still, people ask: why is Filipino cuisine not as popular globally as the cuisine of our Asian neighbors? Filipino food didn?t even figure in this best cuisines list.

Anthropologist and University of the Philippines professor Michael Tan attempted an answer to the question at the 25th anniversary of the Center for Culinary Arts. The theme for the event: ?Cooking for the World.? Tan gathered a few theories from overseas Filipinos and from a recent Quora post to answer this question. He brought up the ?We don?t put up as many fine-dining Filipino restaurants as the Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese do? reason. He mentioned the school of thought that insists it?s because ?our food is too brown? it?s all soy sauce.? Tan also raised the belief of some that ?Our food is not healthy? too much salt, too much sugar, too much fat.? But an article that came out in a blog called Style Democracy back in 2018 has a different point of view, Tan said in his talk. Writer Julia Melcher wrote, ?Filipino food is the original fusion cuisine, a mix of Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Western, and Pacific Islander flavors that show the country?s rich and varied cultural history.? Melcher also pointed out the absence of dairy or gluten in our food, which is a good thing. So if indeed our cuisine is rich and our food versatile, what can we do so that Filipino food can shine globally and enjoy the same regard as Thai, Vietnamese, maybe even Malaysian cuisine? Tan said that while there are many Filipino restaurants now all over the world, we should focus on restaurants that better reflect the wide spectrum of Filipino food. Meaning, our restaurants need to showcase our regional recipes more. ?For example, let?s look at sinigang?s many variations,? he said. There are Filipinos who are not even aware of the wide variety of souring agents available in the Philippines.

Photo Credit: Gica Tam Aside from the sampalok fruit and leaves, there?s kalamansi, bayabas, kamias, karmay, batuan/binukaw, libas leaves, alibangbang, labug, bilang bilang, pidada, pahu, santol, green mango. It?s a matter of coming up with innovative ideas in order to cater to a wider market, the columnist said. ?I love going to Chinese groceries whatever city I am in the world. There, you?ll find all these dried stuff from China. That is one part of our food heritage that we need to build up,? offered Tan. We also need to be more experimental, suggested the academician. Take the case of kinilaw or kilawin, a dish we can certainly present to the world. ?Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan?s book ?Memories of Philippine Kitchens? reminds us of the equation ?fresh raw main ingredient + souring agent (optional) + condiments = kinilaw?? says Tan. ?The raw ingredient doesn?t have to be a fish. It can be meats, or even the coconut beetle (abatud) or the shipworm (tamilok).? The key is innovation using the stuff we have in the country. Speaking of souring ingredients, the Philippines also has a wealth of vinegars: tuba (from coconut), sukang Iloko (from sugarcane), sukang paombong (from nipa), Negros sinamak, Surigao?s buri vinegar. And when it comes to neutralizing agents, or getting rid of the lansa or fishy odor of our seafood, we have valtinog from Batanes, dungon pulp, pungango (small young coconut), bakawan (mangrove bark), and tabon-tabon from Mindanao. The problem is, many of us Filipinos don?t even know we have these in our disposal, says Tan. ?It?s this variety that the world looks for in our now very cosmopolitan milieu. People want to see that in our foods as well.? True, we might know what food or ingredients are available in our region but many of us aren?t familiar with what other regions of the Philippines have to offer. ?I think the key here is to innovate in terms of processing and packaging because we want to go out into the world. We have to have these condiments. We have to have these sauces out there,? said Tan. He said there?s a learning or two we can pick up from the Vietnamese sauce Sriracha narrative. ?It?s made from red chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, salt, and sugar. Simpleng ingredients but they are able to put it together,? Tan says. History has it that David Tran, a Vietnamese immigrant to the US, once

felt homesick. He was longing for his hometown sauce so he decided to make his own and started selling it from a van. Now his company, Huy Fong Foods, is a multi-million dollar company, and his hot sauce has spawned many imitations. ?Let?s learn from the versatility of sriracha. It can be used as dipping sauce. It can be used for marinade, for soups and stews, eggs and cheese, and even for Bloody Mary!? he says. Filipinos need to look into our heritage foods and recipes as well? our upland rice varieties, for instance, are estimated to have a potential of P2 billion a year if its

developed, said Tan, citing a report from the International Rice Research Institute. Filipinos have to think bigger. And by that, he meant exploring niches such as heritage foods, plant-based food, halal, and even kosher. ?Since there is a demand for fermented foods such as Korean kimchi, we should also look into our many fermented foods. Let?s create markets in the Philippines. Let?s think global and act local,? said the professor. ?The diaspora will make our foods popular internationally.? Edit or ?s n ot e: Th an k s t o ABS-CBN f or givin g u s per m ission t o pr in t t h is ar t icle.

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I M M I GRA TI ON CORNER

New Law f or Carers Commenci ng earl y 2022

BYATTY. LIRASIMON-CABATBAT n 24 Decem ber 2021 t h e Gover n m en t pu blish ed a lon g-aw ait ed ch an ge t o t h e Healt h an d Car e Visa sch em e. Presently, the categories of skilled workers forming part of the scheme have been limited to senior care workers, amongst others. The main difference between those under the scheme and other work categories is their inclusion in the coveted ?shortage occupation list? (SoL).

Jobs that form part of the shortage occupation list generally mean that they are skill sets required (often desperately) in the UK. For this reason, they receive preferential treatment in terms of what the Home Office will require from employees and employers. For example, the income requirement is usually lower for a job that is on the shortage occupation list, this usually means more employers can afford to recruit workers from abroad. It is estimated that from April to October 2021, about 40,000 carers have left the profession. This is likely from a combination of various factors such as the loss of EU workers; COVID and the demands the pandemic imposed on carers and the UK?s aging population. Some would say that these factors have provided a ?perfect storm? of urgent need for carers leading to the expansion of the Health and Care Visa scheme.

W hen w ill t he sc hem e?s exp a nsio n t a ke p la c e? The publication of the change on the 24th of December 2021 means that its implementation is imminent, likely to be in

the new year.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) payable.

W ho w ill b e inc lud ed ?

Dep end a nt s a llow ed ?

Jobs for care workers, care assistants and home care workers will now be included on the shortage occupation list. Until now, the closest category, on the shortage occupation list, have been ?senior carers?. The change is likely to mean that someone who does not have enough experience to qualify as a senior care worker may qualify as a care worker. The pool of people who will be eligible will therefore expand.

Yes! Sajid Javid, the current Minister for Health has stated that:

Any d ea d line? The Home Office have stated that the expanded category will be in place for at least 12 months and will then be reviewed. Its extension is likely to be based on how successful the recruitment drive is. The need for carers is well documented and predates Brexit or the pandemic. Providers such as care homes have been crying out for change for at least a decade, given the UK?s aging population. I suspect that 12 months will not be enough to fill the need for carers especially when you consider that the UK is competing with other countries who have already implemented their recruitment process some time ago.

Sho rt a g e Oc c up a t io n List c o nd it io ns As a result of carers inclusion in the Shortage Occupation List, the requirements have been relaxed. This is most evident in the required annual salary minimum of £20,480, down from £25,600 before the change. Other advantages are fast-tracked processing, and reduced visa fees and there is no

?Care workers and carers recruited to the UK will be able to bring their dependents, including partners and children? ? It would be interesting to see whether ?dependants? in this case will include family outside spouses and children under the age of 18 years. I, for one, am eagerly waiting for updated guidance on this point.

Ca n yo u a p p ly f o r set t lem ent ? Sajid Javid, stated: ?? the Health and Care visa [offers] a pathway to settlement should they remain employed and wish to remain in the UK.?

Presently, most employment-based visas require five years continuous leave to remain in the UK. It is anticipated that the same period will apply to carers and their dependants.

St a rt ing p o int ? A job offer is the starting point. An applicant needs to be sponsored by an organisation that is licenced by the Home Office. Beware of scammers who pretend to provide employment in the UK. You can check the genuineness and eligibility of your proposed employer by looking at the Home Office website containing a list of licenced sponsors. If you are being recruited from abroad your employer will need to allocate you a ?Defined? certificate of sponsorship (CoS) and you are required to use this within three months of issuance.

JANUARY 2022

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Stay aw ay f rom Qui apo Ch urch , Nazarene dev otees tol d BYMARITA MOAJE

h e cit y gover n m en t of M an ila h as appealed t o all r eplica ow n er s of t h e Black Nazar en e n ot t o go t o Qu iapo Ch u r ch as t r adit ion ally don e.

Every year, before and during the January 9 feast day of the Black Nazarene, replicas are brought by devotees from the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces to the minor basilica for the blessing. However, rising coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections placed Metro Manila under Alert Level 3 while the Archdiocese of Manila will not hold physical masses from January 7 to 9 to prevent the crowd. ?Sa mga organisasyon na may mga replica katulad sa amin, kami mismo, meron kaming replica sa Velasquez, Tondo, ipanatili nyo na lamang sa ating mga chapel ?yung ating mga replica at yung mga deboto ng Nazareno at doon na lamang tayo magdasal sa kaniya kaniyang chapel (To the organisations that has the replica, like us, we have a replica in Velasquez, Tondo, keep your replicas in your own chapels, and to the devotees of the Black Nazarene, just pray in your chapels),? Mayor Francisco ?Isko Moreno? Domagoso said in an interview during his visit to Plaza Miranda, right outside the church, on Friday. Domagoso also thanked Department of the Interior

and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año for sending security reinforcement to secure the vicinity of the church and assure that no people would gather during Sunday?s feast day. He also

congratulated and extended gratitude to the Manila Police District for laying out a security plan for this year ?s celebration. Domagoso, for the second straight year, appealed for understanding from devotees for canceling all events related to the celebration. He said restrictions are being done to protect not only the devotees themselves but the welfare of the general public as well. In San Juan, Mayor Francis Zamora likewise banned all Black Nazarene-related gatherings within the territorial jurisdiction of the city. In a statement, he again reminded strict adherence to public minimum health standards, especially wearing of masks, regular handwashing, and physical distancing. Usually, millions of devotees gather for the Black Nazarene feast and participate in the traslacion (transfer) procession that sometimes takes nearly 24 hours to finish. Devotees believe that by touching the life-sized statue of the suffering Christ or at least the andas (carriage) and rope which devotees hold on to during the procession, their prayers will be answered. Some join the traslacion as a vow or gratitude for their answered wishes. The last traslacion in 2020, two months before the pandemic, lasted 16 hours while the longest happened in 2012, which took 22 hours to finish after the wheels of the andas and the rope were broken. (By Marita Moaje - With a report from Lade Jean Kabagani/ PNA)

DECEM BER 2021

JANUARY 2022

COM M UNITY NEWS

FWA -UK , Fri endsh i p M ati nee

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear

13 Dec - Royal A l bert Hal l

- Elf (m y f avou r it e Ch r ist m as f ilm )

BYDINA TRINIDAD, FWA-UK MEMBEROFPUBLICITYCOMMITEE

o, w e did, an d at t h e Royal Alber t Hall, n o less! The members of FWA-UK with their senior citizen guests met up outside Gates 6 and 9 and were ushered into our seats by the wonderful staff of the Royal Albert Hall, who were all very accommodating, it almost felt as if you were being welcomed into their home.

Our seats had a spectacular view of the stage and the architectural detail of the building left me in awe. On my way to the ladies, the hallway was lined with photos of famous artists who performed at the venue, from those who have long gone to the more current ones, 150 years of history! There are very few iconic buildings in the world today that can move you in the same way. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, had the vision of creating a venue that would promote understanding and appreciation of the Arts and Sciences. Fast forward to a century and a half later, it has managed to do just that, and more, and not only for the elite, but for every member of society. The Friendship Matinee is an annual event that welcomes people of all ages who engage with a charity or community group. FWA-UK has been fortunate enough to secure tickets yearly for this event. Performing that day was no other than the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, whose rendition of Tchaikovsky's familiar Nutcracker piece was enough to remind anyone of past Christmases spent in an entirely different world void of masks and social distancing. The succeeding numbers, alongside the Royal Choral Society, combined with Christmas carols for the audience to join in, were melodic, the special appearance of the 4 soldiers from the Coldstream Guards resplendent in red uniform blowing their trumpets made the whole event even more special. We gave our best performance singing along to the carols. Hosted by no other than the enigmatic and ageless Baroness Floella Benjamin, who enthralled the audience with her wit and humour, the acoustics of the hall reverberated with laughter and song that afternoon. If there was ever a time to feel the spirit of Christmas, it was definitely that very moment. It was my first time to join the ladies that day, and it certainly won't be my last!

JANUARY 2022

FOOD NEWS

Fi l i pi no Di sh es i n TasteA tl as A w ards 2021's top 100 Tradi ti onal Food BY MARIA ELLIS

Photo Credit: Del Monte Kitchenomics

h e adobo w as r an ked 81st on t h e list w h ile t h e sisig w as m ar ked at t h e 72n d spot .

Other Filipino dishes that have been given recognition by TasteAtlas are tortang talong, lumpiang Shanghai, and sinigang na baboy.

Two Filipino dishes have made it to the Top 100 Traditional Food in the World list in 2021?s TasteAtlas Awards published in December. These are the Philippines?national dish, adobo and the popular native dish, sisig.

Ref er en ce: w w w.t ast eat las.com / best

Traditional world dishes are ranked annually

by TasteAtlas, an online food encyclopedia, based on over 100,000 user ratings for all dishes and food products featured on its website. As every Filipino knows, adobo is a dish cooked traditionally with either chicken or pork, or a combination of both, stewed in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, onions, bay leaves and black pepper. Squid (adobong pusit) is a seafood option, and if you?re a true-blue Bicolano, you add coconut milk and plenty of hot chilies. It?s the easiest ulam to make, so much so that those of us who are lacking in culinary skills can do it successfully every time. Cooking adobo can be taught to others without much effort (Instruction: Combine all ingredients and let boil, then simmer. How easy is that?). This writer passed the method on to her millennial vegan son who substitutes plant-based tofu for the meat. But for the carnivores among us, and the purists, adobo is not adobo without the chicken skin and pork belly fat. When you eat it with freshly boiled, white fluffy rice and a generous serving of the tangy sauce, you thank God for being born a Filipino. Sisig is a dish this writer has yet to cook. Particularly popular with beer drinkers, sisig consists of a pig's head parts such as ears, cheeks, and jowls, which are then seasoned with salt, pepper and vinegar. These are boiled, chopped and grilled then combined with fried onions, chilies, and chicken livers. Mayonnaise and pork crackling are added to it for extra flavour. Sisig is much like Spanish tapas as it?s mostly considered as an appetizer.

Photo Credit: PanlasangPinoy

Photo Credit - DepositPhotos

FACEOF

THEMONTH MARIEESTANDA AGE: 17 BASEDINTHEUK: DERBY EDUCATION: ALevel Biology, Chemistry, Maths HOBBIES: Basketball, volleyball, playing the piano & guitar, going out with friends and family CURRENTLYDOING: Final year of ALevel, applying for a university course in Medicine, Youth Leader for FDDCYouth & active volunteer for youth sports AMBITION: To specialise in surgery and build free healthcare clinics in developing countries such as the Philippines. MOTHER: Christine Estanda

JANUARY 2022

COVID-19 GUIDELINES

COV I D -19

GUI DA NCE

n glan d h as m oved t o Plan B in r espon se t o t h e r isk s of t h e Om icr on var ian t . * Get vaccinated and get your booster dose.

* Wear a face covering in most indoor public places and on public transport. * Work from home, if you can. * Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer. * Get tested and self-isolate if required.

Recen t an d u pcom in g ch an ges

vaccinated, you can take either a rapid lateral flow or PCR test within 2 days of arriving in England. If you have a positive result on the rapid lateral flow test, you must take a PCR test.

11 Jan u ar y

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If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, most people will not need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate immediately if you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result.

INSCOTLAND 26 Dec em b er

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INENGLAND 4 J a nua ry

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Face coverings are recommended in schools with pupils in year 7 and above. They should be worn in most classrooms, and by pupils, students, staff and adult visitors when moving around buildings.

7................................................................................ J a nua ry From 4am on 7 January, if you qualify as fully vaccinated or are under 18, you do not need to take a PCR test before you travel to England or self-isolate when you arrive.

9................................................................................ J a nua ry From 4am on 9 January, if you qualify as fully

Large events have 1 metre physical distancing and are limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors.

27 Dec em b er

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Up to 3 households can meet with 1 metre physical distancing between groups at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms. Table service is needed if alcohol is being served.

restaurants, cinemas and theatres (?rule of 6?), 30 people at indoor events and 50 people at outdoor events. 2 metre social distancing is required in public premises and offices. Nightclubs are closed. Find out more on GOV.WALES.

31 Dec em b er

............................................................................... People who have tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for 7 full days. On days 6 and 7 they should take rapid lateral flow tests 24 hours apart. If the results are positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get 2 negative tests, or after day 10, whichever is sooner. If they are negative they can stop self-isolating. Find out more about self-isolation on GOV.WALES.

6 J a nua ry

26 Dec em b er

Up to 6 people can meet in pubs, bars and restaurants, or up to 10 people if they?re all from the same household. Only table service is available. Two metre social distancing is required in public premises and offices.

31 Dec em b er

................................................................................ People who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 10 days from their PCR test date or when symptoms started, whichever is sooner. People can end self-isolation early if they get two negative rapid lateral flow tests ? one from day 6 and the second at least 24 hours later.

5 J a nua ry

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If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, you should isolate immediately. You no longer need to book a PCR test.

INNORTHERNIRELAND

HOW TOSTOPTHESPREADOFCOVID-19:

26 Dec em b er

WEAR YOUR MASK

Indoor standing events are not permitted. Nightclubs are closed.

WASHYOUR HANDS

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INWALES

than 3 households.

27 Dec em b er

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Wales is at alert level 2. A maximum of 6 people can meet in venues such as pubs,

You should reduce social contact as much as possible by meeting in groups of no more

KEEPSOCIAL DISTANCING

JANUARY 2022

PINOY TRAVEL CORNER UK

Trav el Corner New Year Speci al

BYEDGARDUAY

Ou r New Year begin s w it h Om icr on t r avelin g f ast er t h an w e im agin e an d w e ar e con f in ed t o ou r bou n dar ies again w it h lim it ed cr oss-cou n t r y opt ion s. So why not bring your adventures closer to home this year and explore the best of what United Kingdom has to offer? Look no further as these are the 6 possibly most beautiful and breath-taking natural landscapes I?ve ever seen. Best locations around the country with historic cities and local places filled with cultural diversity and characters, here are the best of Travel Corner to visit for 2022.

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Phot o Co urt esy: Eng r. Gla iza Ga rsut a Sha w

1. M o nsa l Hea d

Destination: Monsal Head, Bakewell Monsal Head Car Park (Pay & Display) Ashford in the Water, Bakewell DE45 1NL

Dambusters WW2 legend, is only an 8-minute drive west of Lady Bower Reservoir. Loads of activity for family both hikers and cyclist alike. 3. Tint a g el Villa g e No rt h Co rnw a ll

In the heart of the Peak District National Park lies a breath-taking view of Monsal Head. A viaduct, four tunnels and a waterfall are good enough for a short walk or family picnic. Suitable for all ages, this 8.5 mile route is also ideal for biking, walking and picture-taking. The actual trail runs along the former Midland Railway line between Blackwell Mill, Chee Dale and Coombs Road, Bakewell, and it used to connect Manchester to London. It's only a 15-minute drive from Chatsworth State House, Derbyshire County. This article is for beginners and absolute novices so I will simplify the route for those who wish to start loving the great outdoors. We will start from Monsal Head down left towards the waterfalls into the small bridge crossing the River Wye, up to the viaduct, some posing to Headstone tunnel then up to the pub near the car park. Yes, there's a pub to unwind in! Just as simple as that. 2. Ba mf o rd Ed g e a nd W in Hill In the Peak District National Park lies a Y-shaped Reservoir surrounded by a panoramic view of the famous Lady Bower Reservoir. Constructed between 1935 and 1943 due to high demand of water in the surrounding area of the Peak District, it was opened by King George VI on 24th of September 1945. A great walk for the whole family, this is one way of exploring the best of the Peak District. If you are into trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking or nature photography, this is the best place for you to expand your skills. A short 1 to 3 hours?walk depending on your skills and if you wish for more, nearby Stanage Edge is a must place to visit. A nice picnic area for the family near the historic Derwent Reservoir, the home of the

Address: Castle Rd, Tintagel PL34 0HE Owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and operated by the English Heritage Historical Society, it is free to enter for members so check their website before you plan your visit. There are two pay-and-go parking areas available, one at the castle car park near the entrance of the castle and another at the back of Spriggans gift shop. By the top of Castle Road on your left, staff at the English Heritage small office will greet and ask for your membership, or you can buy your entrance ticket for the day. If you wish to walk down, it?s roughly 10-15 minutes? downhill walk or you can take the 4x4 experience being offered at the entrance. You can have a one way trip going back saving you the pain of walking uphill as it?s a very steep walk going back to the car park. At the foot of the hill is the main Heritage office and gift shop. By the time I wrote this, a new bridge has been opened so check their local guidelines for more instructions. There is a café and exhibit dedicated to the place and for King Arthur ?s fans who would be amazed. Learn the history of the place have a feel for it. Don?t forget to ask the staff about the tides forecast so you can access the Merlin cave at the bottom of the castle. Yes, the infamous Magician Merlin, so go there first before the tides go up or you will miss the chance, like I did, on my first and second attempts to visit the place. On the steps to the cliff-top backdrop of the castle ruins, you will see the stunning panoramic view of Cornish sea with the Bristol Channel on your right and the Celtic Sea on your left. The castle was built by the Earl of Cornwall out of his fascination and association with the mystical King Arthur. It was built in two parts, one from the

mainland, and the other side on the top of the cliff which can now be accessed via the new bridge. Further to the left, you will see the life size bronze statue of the legendary King Arthur. Also for me, the best view to have a little picnic or have a laydown to wait for the sunset before the place closes for the day. 4. Ho ly hea d M o unt a in c o a st a l sc enic v iew a nd So ut h St a c k c irc ula r w a lk Location: Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey, Wales Address: Holyhead Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead LL65 1YG In Northern Wales, about 45 miles or a little over an hour ?s drive west from Snowdonia national park, you will find the beautiful island of Holyhead. It is the gateway to the north of England and Wales to Ireland. It?s a big town in Anglesey formerly separated from isle of Anglesey via a four mile bridge and a stunning natural beauty. Fronting the Irish Sea, Holyhead is only a 3- hour and 15 minute ferry ride to Dublin. Our journey will start at the Holyhead Breakwater visitor centre, the former mining area that was used to construct the breakwater nearby. Facing the mountain on your right from the carpark, clearly sign posted towards the path along the coast of the Irish Sea and in just 10-minutes? walk, you will be amazed by a stunning view looking at the long breakwater at the far end that resembles a long serpent swimming away from the shore. Continue walking through the beautifully arranged path heading left slowly ascending to the top. A 360-degree view at the summit and you will see the lighthouse about a 15-minute walk away. Enjoy your walk!

natural beauty, scenic mountains, castles, tourist spots with breath-taking islands that will make you feel like you are in a James Bond, or Harry Potter, or even Indiana Jones movies. On this Scotland tour, I will take you to the likes of Glenfinnan Viaduct, the majestic Glencoe, from the movie ?Skyfall?. Northwest of Glasgow, for just a little over two hours? drive to the highlands and the land of lochs you will be greeted by the majestic Glencoe. If you are a 007 fanatic this is a must see and top of your bucket list. Where the iconic shot of 007 and M stopping by, heading to Bond?s ancestral house ?Skyfall? to hide ?M?, played by the iconic Dame Judi Dench, and Daniel Craig as James Bond. It?s an unnamed road but the post code provided will lead you directly to it. 6. Sc ot la nd - Glenf inna n Via d uc t

5. Sc ot la nd hig hla nd of Glenc o e Address: For Glencoe - Unnamed Road, Ballachulish PH49 4HY Scotland, the majestic, the panoramic and historical country for me is the best place for nature lovers. This country is so rich with

Address: For Glenfinnan Viaduct - A830 Rd, Glenfinnan PH37 4LT It?s obvious, I love Scotland! So, our number 6th is another best that Scotland has to offer.

Just over an hour ?s drive northwest from Glencoe is the location shooting of Hogwarts Express from the first Harry Potter. The pay and display parking lot is directly opposite Loch Shiel and is owned by the National Trust of Scotland. Please arrive early as this place can be really busy. For the best viewing spot, from the car park, walk away from the road, following the signs towards the viaduct. Keep in mind the river or Loch Shiel will be on your right-hand side, and walk along the path in the direction of the arches. Take a left at the green post, following the signs for Viaduct Trail and Viewpoints and continue to go underneath the arches, where the path curves left. Go through the fence and follow the track up towards the rocky hill. The further you go up, the more advantage you have of getting a good spot as many visitors will be cramming to take a photo of the magical moment. Go higher than anyone else, that?s the trick. A good tripod and a camera remote will be an advantage for all photographers out there. Don?t forget to take some selfies under the arches too on your way back.

JANUARY 2022

EM BASSY NEWS

PHI LI PPI NES SECURES A SEA T I N THE I M O COUNCI L FOR THE BI ENNI UM 2022-2023

h e Ph ilippin es h as been r e-elect ed as m em ber of t h e In t er n at ion al M ar it im e Or gan izat ion (IM O) Cou n cil u n der Cat egor y C f or Bien n iu m 2022 t o 2023, du r in g t h e 32ND Session of t h e IM O Assem bly at t h e IM O Headqu ar t er s in Lon don on 10 Decem ber 2021.

The election of the Philippines to the IMO Council comes as a double victory after the historic election earlier in the week of Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the IMO, H.E. Antonio M. Lagdameo, as IMO Assembly President. It is the first time in IMO?s history that the Philippines was elected as IMO Assembly President.

Ambassador Lagdameo, as Head of the Philippine delegation, noted that the successful re-election of the Philippines to the Council comes at a time when the World Maritime Theme is Seafarers at the core of shipping?s future, a theme which has great resonance for the Philippines as a major seafaring nation. A grateful MARINA Administrator VADM Robert Empedrad underscored the importance of the successful bid of the Philippines to the Council saying, ?It is time to work for all the Filipino seafarers around the world. We have a big voice, a powerful voice, guardians in the IMO.? The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under Assembly, for supervising the work of Organization. Between sessions of

the the the the

Assembly, the council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention. The elected members of the Council for the 2022-2023 biennium are Category A) 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services (in alphabetical order): China, Greece, Italy, Japan. Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States Category B) 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates

Category C) 20 states which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus. Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, .Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu. The Philippine delegation for the 32nd Session of the IMO Assembly headed by Ambassador Lagdameo is composed of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Office of Transportation Security. PHILIPPINE EM BASSY, LONDON

JANUARY 2022

M AY 2022 ELECTIONS: SPECIAL FEATURE

HOW NOT TO BE FOOLED BY THE WRONG CA NDI DA TE

A GA I N

BYROBERTLABAYEN Photo Credit: LucasTheExperience

To be fair, some of us contribute to such tragedy when we get carried away by superficial attributes of candidates, instead of thoroughly checking their background.

Co nf id enc e c a n f o o l

The Dunning-Kruger effect has been proven among thousands of subjects in studies by Cornell psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger. It has been shown that many incompetent people are confident because they don?t even have the competence to know why they are wrong. They know very little and they think that?s all there is to know. We may see this kind of self-assurance in some salesmen brainwashed about the qualities of their product, or in politicians who believe their own lies and delusions. Many really smart people may not appear confident. That?s because smart

There was also a study by the University of Ohio concluding that narcissists appear leader-like because they have the confidence to take charge. People trust them. The problem: many narcissists are actually incompetent, and the world?s worst dictators were narcissists.

who appeal to ordinary citizens who feel left out by the elite. They create hate for the ?oligarchy?. They make it as simple as ?us versus them.? But The Atlantic writer Uri Friedman commented, ?The notion of one virtuous people and one vile elite is a fiction, even if it does reflect real divisions and power dynamics in a given society.?

Oversim p lif ic a t io n c a n im p ress

The average voter does not like to digest the details of issues. Even learned people like you and me don?t have the time to follow the news and to read enough. Many politicians know they can connect better by oversimplifying issues and make it sound emotional. For example, a politician who says ?I will personally plant our flag on the disputed territory? or ?I will personally press the button to fire that missile,? can receive thunderous applause. Populists can follow the simplification approach. Populists are those politicians

Life is never perfect for the majority and it can be easy to resent the more comfortable lives of the elite. That?s why it?s easy for politicians to tap into such bitterness. Similar to populists are the charmers. They tell people what they want to hear. Talking to the business

community, they will say ?business is the backbone of the nation.? Speaking to the factory workers, they will say ?labor is the backbone of the nation.?

Chec k t he f a c t s

A recent study in the United States revealed what is not necessarily surprising: corrupt politicians get reelected because of the voters? ?lack of attention.? It said that in the past decades, more than 60 percent of the members of Congress who have been implicated in a corruption scandal were able to retain their seats.

Although I warned you about confident leaders, populists, and charmers, I don?t intend to say that candidates with such traits are automatically deceitful. Many good people are confident and charming, too.

In buying products, evaluating a business proposal, and choosing a date, people often go for the one who looks confident. We equate confidence with competence. Many times, it is good proof. At times, it?s also a sign of the opposite.

people have the capacity for self-appraisal. They constantly check themselves for accuracy. In my opinion, really smart people can look tentative because they know that any fact or idea can be seen from many perspectives. Smart people may sometimes not give a final answer because they know there is always something more they need to know. (What did I say again?)

h y do m an y polit ician s w h o appear ed t o be m essiah s en d u p t o be f alse pr oph et s?

While we have four months before the next big election, we can use the time to dig deep into the past of possible candidates. If we can have the patience to separate the true facts from the fake news, no one should be fooled anymore in the age of the all-knowing internet. Buyer ?s remorse is often hard to admit.

DECEM BER 2021

JANUARY 2022

HEALTH & LIFETSYLE

5 Ways to Free Yoursel f f rom Bl ock s BYVIVAANDRADAO'FLYNN

Ph oto Cou r tesy: Jacob Ol ivia

elcom e t o Jan u ar y, t h e st ar t of t h e year ! It ?s t h e t im e w h en people m ake New Year ?s r esolu t ion s, on ly t o br eak t h em w h en t h ey en cou n t er obst acles su ch as br eak in g t h eir old h abit s an d pat t er n s.

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you find yourself making up excuses why you don?t do the tasks you know you should do? I struggle with this sometimes. I admit I?m not perfect. I?m a human being with flaws and continually learning ways to improve myself. In these times of Covid, while we protect ourselves, we could be creating more blocks that stop us from achieving our goals. So, for this I would like to share 5 ways to free yourself from blocks that chain you. . .

5 WAYSTOFREEYOURSELFFROM BLOCKS 1 - GET ORGANISED Make it easier for you to find things and accomplish your tasks faster. Clear the clutter and life gets better.

4 - ENERGISE YOURSELF Take time to motivate yourself. Soak yourself up in inspiration. Someday you?ll be the inspiration you seek. Also, use the time to exercise and eat healthy food. When you feel healthier, you can definitely achieve more.

5 - TAKE ACTION It?s the little things you do that add up and make a big impact. Invest in your skills and talents. Who you are now is what you allow yourself to be. Keep learning and growing for everything keeps changing. Never be too clever to learn. Share your personal best with the world.

I hope those tips help you. How are you surviving? These are challenging times for everyone. Even when we?re stuck at home self-isolating, are we too busy to appreciate what matters most in life? No matter what our religion is, let?s unite and pray for those in need of our prayers

I w ou ld lik e t o sh ar e m y poem , ?Let m e In?.

2 - CULTIVATE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Gratitude is the right attitude in living a meaningful life. Did you know that who we are and what we do are guided by those we connect with, lessons we learn from them enriched by our own experiences? Take time to thank special people in your life. Also, let?s focus on what we have now. We are much luckier and have more than we think.

3 - PAY ATTENTION The world is a busy dizzying place spinning at a rapid pace. It?s easy to feel lost. To find yourself again, tune out the noise to hear your own voice. Work within to bring clarity, focus and purpose. It?s when you?re quiet and still that you realise you have more to do and say. Silence speaks a wealth of meaning to those who listen to their inner wisdom.

I long to find my place in this world

All I need is an open door A place for me to be who I really am I need to breathe my dreams

Yet I keep on bumping into walls

And bathe my worries away

Trapping myself behind locked doors

Wishing

I have tried forcing my way in

Staying

Turning the knob

Where I am unwanted.

Pushing the door with all that?s left of me

Allow me to do

But it won?t budge Can someone help me find the key

I?m tired from all the waiting

What I was born to do Let me in

NOVEM BER 2021

25 NOVEM BER 2021

JANUARY 2022

FILIPINIANA

Fi l i pi no Surnames: Wh at You Sh oul d K now A bout I ts Ori gi ns Part 3 By TODDLUCEROSALES, The Filipino Genealogist

o How Does One Know if their Surname is Adopted?

When researching one?s family name?s origin, always remember that there is a window of about a decade in most places where one can discern the origin of one?s last name. The years 1850 until about 1860 should be the focus as these are the years where one is most likely to confirm if one?s surname is a Claveria decree by-product. There are some municipalities that have longer timeframes, but these unique places are usually the exemption rather than the rule.

Step 1: Look at the Notations on the Margins of Church Record If your antecedents came from towns where the parish priests followed the Claveria decree to the letter, then this first step will work for you. Many do not know that number 7 in the Claveria decree specifically directed the towns and parishes to prepare a list of the inhabitants showing the inhabitants? given name, followed by the family name they adopted in accordance with the decree, and then followed by the ?surname? the person had been using prior to the decree. The word surname is in quotation marks because not all inhabitants had surnames; in fact, many used a second Christian name after their baptismal name so there were many Maria Concepcions, Jose Franciscos, and so on in one place alone. Number 19 of the decree further instructed the parish priests to write on the margins of the canonical records the same information as was indicated in number 7 of the decree. See below for a sample:

In the above example of a baptismal record from Dingras, Ilocos Norte in 1878, the name of the child (see upper righthand corner of the record), VITO, is followed by Resureccion, and then by Lazaro. This is just one of the examples of a clear proof of the adoption of a new surname because of the Claveria decree. ?Resureccion? is the adopted, formalized last name, while ?Lazaro? was the second name of the family of VITO before the

decree. The towns in both Ilocos Norte and Sur, though not all but most, seemed to have followed the instructions in the decree faithfully. But, like most cases, Ilocos is an exemption. It would appear that Ilocos?s population was slowly starting the use of official family names even before the Claveria decree. Around 80-90% of the families in Ilocos by the time of Claveria?s surname decree were already using their father ?s second name as a sort of surname, and there was already documentation of many families that have started passing down their ?surnames? to the succeeding generation.

Step 3: Other State Records

adopted a surname to comply with Claveria?s decree.

If both first and second strategies still do not yield anything, try poring through records at the Philippine National Archives, especially the ones with a list of inhabitants or local functionaries. See below for examples:

Step 2: Look in the body of Parochial Records If you do not see such notations on the margins of the church records of your hometown, then this second step might work. While not all parish priests diligently followed all of the decree?s provisions, some did still manage to record the old surnames used by their parishioners prior to the decree. In limited instances, the priests wrote down the new and original surname of the people into the actual body of the canonical records as exemplified by the record below:

In the above burial record from 1852, taken from the church archives of Liloan, Cebu, we see that the deceased?s parents, who would have been alive prior to Claveria?s decree, are listed with their original second name. In the first entry, the deceased?s father is Catalino Cuyos Josef, indicating that Cuyos is the new and adopted name while Josef was the pre-Claveria name. The same is true for the entry below this, although this time the father ?s old second name, Medrano, is actually also a surname. Thus, the Frasco family of Liloan, Cebu, who are well known politicians as well as owners of Titay?s Rosquillos, who are descendants of the abovementioned Ysabelo Frasco Medrano, used to have Medrano as their second name until changing it to Frasco after Claveria?s decree.

This first example is an 1852 record of the count of exempted individuals per barangay with the names of the cabezas de barangay listed. These are clear examples of families that changed their family names, such as Juan Flores del Rosario, Pedro Aguilar de Sta. Cruz, and Manuel Rabor Bonifacio, clearly indicating that Juan's, Pedro's, and Manuel's new surnames in compliance with Claveria's decree are Flores, Aguilar, and Rabor, respectively, replacing the old second names del Rosario, de Sta. Cruz, and Bonifacio, respectively. However, there are also others like Santiago Castro, Felipe Quinones, and Romualdo Corro who appear with just one surname, perhaps an indication that they have retained their old surname. In this second example from Argao, Cebu from 1855, still an inventory of exempted individuals from tribute due to age (reservados por edad) the exempted individuals are listed down. Almost all of the exempted individuals here are above 60 and thus were born way before Claveria?s decree. In Argao?s case, however, only a few families practiced the use of a constant second name which acted more or less like a surname. In the above list, all the listed second names were simply that, a second name, and not a family name. But, this list, as the first one, prove that almost all families in town

Of course, most Filipinos whose ancestors adopted a surname in compliance with the Claveria decree are now using surnames that are 171 years old. Still, surname research in the Philippines takes time and diligence. It is up to the patience of every Filipino wishing to unearth his roots to try hard to verify if his surname came only due to the 1849 decree, or if they?ve always had it in their family. Whatever its effects on Filipino historiography, the Claveria Decree is just another reminder of how colorful Philippine history is. Many families would later discover that, perhaps, the old stories told to them by their elders are, unfortunately, not accurate, such as being descendants of foreigners, having foreign blood, coming to the Philippines with Magellan, and so on. In the long run, one?s bloodline matters little. What is important is the tracing, preservation, and transmission of these histories so future Filipinos and their descendants will have an idea as to where they have been, and where they are headed. Abou t t h e Au t h or Todd Lu cer o Sales is a professional genealogist based in the Philippines. With over 25 years of genealogical experience, he has traced the family trees of Philippine Presidents and their First Ladies, many political families all over the Philippines like the Garcias, Davides, and Frascos of Cebu. He is also the leading expert on Claveria?s surname decree and is currently pursuing his Master ?s degree in History with Claveria?s decree as the topic of his thesis. He can be reached through inquiry@filipinogenealogy.com and a sampling of his published books may be found in his Amazon book page. Editor?s note: Part 1 of this article can be found in the November 2021 issue and Part 2 is in the December 2021 issue of Yes Philippines.

JANUARY 2022

PINOY UK NEWS

Tw o Fi l i pi no Nurses Joi nt Wi nners of I nternati onal Communi ty Nurse of th e Year 2021 A w ard Dennis Sing so n

BYMARIAELLIS

The Queen 's Nursing Inst it ut e Int erna t io na l Co m m unit y Nurse of t he Yea r 20 21 h e Qu een?s Nu r sin g In st it u t e (QNI) h eld it s an n u al Aw ar ds Cer em on y on 13t h Decem ber 2021. Th e on lin e even t w as t h e lar gest aw ar ds cer em on y ever h eld by t h e QNI. It w as open ed by Th e QNI?s Ch air of Cou n cil, Pr of essor Joh n Un sw or t h , w h o w elcom ed t h e aw ar d w in n er s an d gu est s t o t h e cer em on y.

The ceremony included several presentations the Gold Badge of the Institute, Fellowship of the Institute, the Outstanding Service Award, three academic prizes for students of specialist practice, leaders of community innovation programmes, Executive Leaders and Queen?s Nurses. For the first time, the ?International Community Nurse of the Year Award?was also presented. It celebrates the contribution of international nurses and recognises an outstanding nurse who has been working in England as a registered practitioner for the last 1-3 years. The first ever award was given jointly to Filipino nurses Marc Rodriguera and Dennis Singson. When asked for his comment, Nurse Marc Rodriguera said, ?I share this recognition with all international nurses who work in the community. The nursing vocation transcends different cultures, nationalities and time zones. The language and passion to serve are expressed by the many unsung heroes and community nurses/care workers who visited and cared for people with COVID in their own homes despite risks to their own health. Thank you all for everything you do.? For his part, Nurse Dennis Singson spoke

about the work that gained him the well-deserved award. ?I joined my local GP Surgery at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 as an Advanced Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to plan and implement a mental health service hub. It has always been my aim to promote parity of esteem between physical and mental health needs, reduce shame, stigma and discrimination towards people needing to access mental health services and for them to be assessed and treated when they need it, to avoid crisis situations. By providing quick and easy access to assessment and treatment and providing consistent and regular reviews, we have significantly reduced both referrals to urgent care and the need for antidepressant prescribing.? Internationally awarded Filipino nurses include Jose Ariel Lañada of the Oxford University Hospitals, named the ?United Kingdom?s Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Nurse of the Year ?, while the Filipino Nurses Association in the United Kingdom (FNA-UK) won the ?Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Community Initiative of the Year ?award. Reference: www.qni.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021 /12/Summary-and-Photos-of-AwardsCeremony-2021-1.pdf

M a rc Ro d rig uera The Queen 's Nursing Inst it ut e Int erna t io na l Co m m unit y Nurse of t he Yea r 20 21

JANUARY 2022

Photo Credit - GuideToThePhilippines

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Cebuanos? f ai th i n Sto. Ni ño

prev ai l s ami d Cov i d-19, ?Odette? BYJOHNREYSAAVEDRA

Editor?s note: The annual Sinulog Festival, which is mentioned in the article, will fall on Sunday, 16 January 2022.

yph oon Odet t e m ay h ave dest r oyed t h e gain s in t er m s of econ om y an d w ell-bein g of t h e Cebu an os am id t h e on goin g f igh t again st t h e cor on avir u s disease 2019 (Covid-19), bu t t h eir deep devot ion t o t h e St o. Niñ o an d t h eir t en acit y t o f ace all f or m s of adver sit ies h ave m ot ivat ed t h em t o m ove f or w ar d an d be m or e r esilien t again st cr ises.

?Tough times never last, tough people do,? Mayor Michael Rama, quoting book author Robert Schuller, said in his New Year ?s message on Tuesday as he enumerated the city's gains in terms of economy and health amid the pandemic. Rama said the city has celebrated victories against the pandemic after it successfully contained the surge in Covid-19 in October 2021. He said many establishments, such as malls, restaurants, and industries, have reopened after almost two years without activities amid strict quarantine restrictions. However, ?Odette? ravaged the city, along with other localities in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao in December last year, leaving many homes damaged, thousands of electric

poles felled, and transformers and lines destroyed that rendered most areas in Metro Cebu without power and households without water. However, the aftermath of the typhoon displayed the uniqueness of the Cebuanos in facing hardships. Many netizens here turned to social media to crowd-source a good hotel to stay in due to the absence of electricity in their homes, while some posted queries on where they could buy generator sets to power their laptops and cellphones so they could continue with their works and businesses. He cited the unwavering faith of the Cebuanos in the Holy Child Jesus in addressing the misfortunes that have come to their lives, which provided them hope to march on amid the pandemic, especially with the emergence of the Omicron variant. Despite the threat of the virus, Mayor Rama said the Sinulog Festival must go on to honour the Señor Sto. Niño who protects the Cebuanos in facing all odds. With persevering courage, the Cebuanos are determined to overcome the trials and show the indomitable spirit that they can prevail over Covid-19 and the effects of the typhoon, he said. Aid f or t h e t ou r ism in du st r y In Cebu province, the most-affected sector

Despite the threat of the virus, Mayor Rama said the Sinulog Festival must go on to honour the Señor Sto. Niño who protects the Cebuanos in facing all odds. because of the pandemic was the tourism sector, as many restaurants, tourism sites, hotels, and resorts were closed due to halt in travel worldwide and due to efforts here to contain the deadly virus. Apart from the tourism industry, the Provincial Capitol and residents of mountain and coastal villages whose livelihood depended on farming and fishing were also affected by the pandemic. Governor Gwendolyn Garcia initiated a move to address the looming collapse of the tourism industry by creating the Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) program to assist farmers and fisherfolk. With the help of the three government depositaries, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and the Philippine Veteran?s Bank (PVB), Garcia provided the farmers and fisherfolk, and later, the micro, small and medium enterprises, access to capital to re-finance the revival of their livelihood. The province began counting on the gains until the province experienced a surge in Covid-19 cases in October. However, the cases plateaued by December despite the easing of protocols and restrictions, owing to the massive vaccination in towns and component cities. However, ?Odette? forced some resorts to shut down due to the damage done to their

buildings and roofs, with some left without power. Garcia said even if the tourism industry was destroyed twice, there should be a reason to go on, citing the obstinacy of the Cebuanos to recover from the negative impact brought by the pandemic and the typhoon. The governor expanded the assistance through the ECD by including in the loan package to be provided by the LBP, DBP, and PVB the resort owners whose cottages and rooms were destroyed by the typhoon. ?Your businesses, these are private services, I don?t know how to explain to COA (Commission on Audit) if I will provide you assistance when there are still so many who needed aid to repair their damaged houses. But what I can do is to include you in the ECD program,? she said in a recent meeting with resort and tourist spot operators in Cebu. The three government banks and the Capitol are now accepting applications for loans from farmers, fisherfolk, and resort and tourist spot operators. The processing of applications began on Wednesday until January 20. Through the assistance provided by the provincial government and the three financial institutions, Garcia expressed hope that Cebu?s tourism economy could bounce back and do more in 2022, with hopes that the pandemic would soon be over. (PNA)

JANUARY 2022

NOVEM BER 2021

ISSUE 6