PHL’s communist insurgents to declare own Christmas truce

 Entertainment
Dec 222013
 
PHL’s communist insurgents to declare own Christmas truce

Christmas decors and amenities at Marikina Riverbanks.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Communist rebels will declare a ceasefire during the holidays to allow their comrades to mark the 45th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Dec. 26. In a statement posted on its website late Tuesday, the CPP said: “The leadership… is set to declare a ceasefire in order to pave the way for the national celebrations of the [Party’s] 45th anniversary as well as to give way to the Filipino people’s traditional observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.” But the CPP did not immediately specify the dates of the ceasefire. It also called on the government to order the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stand down on December 26 and the days leading to it, “in order to allow… thousands of people to peacefully travel to and join the celebrations.” For this year’s celebration, the CPP said it expects “several hundred” people’s assemblies inside the guerrilla zones across the country. It said most participants are likely to travel by foot to the people’s assemblies. “Travel arrangements are also being made for the revolutionary forces and guests coming in from the cities or other towns,” it added. Also, the CPP said the celebrations will be modest. On the other hand, the CPP said the mass activities will also collect funds and materials that will be contributed to the rehabilitation efforts in areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). “The assemblies shall, however, be appropriately joyous to Read More …

No automatic relief under TPS

 Entertainment
Dec 222013
 
No automatic relief under TPS

Undocumented will still have to apply even if Temporary Protected Status for PHL is granted Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. offers a toast during the Independence Day Reception at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Elmer G. Cato) Los Angeles – Though it seems like a big welcome news for the Philippine government to request the US to grant Temporary Protected Status for the country, it doesn’t mean automatic relief for the undocumented. According to the provisions of TPS as stated in the official US Customs and Immigration Services website, applicants will still have to meet certain requirements before they can get legalized and not be deported. In its website, USCIS said, “To be granted any other immigration benefit you must still meet all the eligibility requirements for that particular benefit. It also reminds applicants that once granted, TPS does not mean lawful permanent resident status or that you become a green card holder. As in any other immigration benefits, if you have been convicted of any felony, forget about applying for relief, even if TPS is granted to the Philippines. You may also not qualify if you : Are found inadmissible as an immigrant under applicable grounds in INA section 212(a), including non-waivable criminal and security-related grounds; Are subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum. These include, but are not limited to, participating in the persecution of another individual or engaging in or inciting terrorist activity; Fail to meet the continuous physical Read More …

‘Yolanda’ among top 2013 stories – AP poll

 News
Dec 222013
 
‘Yolanda’ among top 2013 stories – AP poll

In this aerial photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, and released by the Philippine Air Force, a ferry boat is seen washed inland from a massive storm surge caused by Typhoon Haiyan, in the city of Tacloban, central Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO NEW YORK – The devastation wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in the Philippines last November  8 was among the top  news stories of 2013, according to The Associated Press’ annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors. The glitch-plagued rollout of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul topped the survey, followed by the Boston Marathon bombing and the dramatic papal changeover at the Vatican. The saga of “Obamacare” — as the Affordable Care Act is widely known — received 45 first-place votes out of the 144 ballots cast for the top 10 stories. The marathon bombing received 29 first-place votes and the papal transition 21. Other strong contenders were the bitter partisan conflict in Congress and the leaks about National Security Agency surveillance by former NSA analyst Edward Snowden. Last year, the top story was the massacre of 26 children and staff at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. That result came after a rare decision by the AP to re-conduct the voting; the initial round of balloting had ended Dec. 13, a day before the Newtown shooting, with the 2012 election at the top. The first AP top-stories poll was conducted in 1936, when editors chose the abdication of Britain’s King Edward VIII. Here Read More …

Investing in and for social change

 Economy
Dec 222013
 

MORE than a month after the phenomenal damage wrought by super typhoon Yolanda, relief efforts continue for the thousands upon thousands of survivors who lost their homes and livelihoods. It goes without saying that rebuilding communities will be a long and uphill challenge, but with the generous response of local and global donors and the focused efforts of national and local government, we are assuaged that this, too, shall come to pass.

Speed up PH aid, UN tells donors

 General
Dec 222013
 
Speed up PH aid, UN tells donors

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gestures during a press conference in Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Sunday Dec. 22, 2013. Ban called on donor countries to ramp up aid for the reconstruction program for the survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA MANILA, Philippines—United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called on donor countries to ramp up aid for the reconstruction program for the survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” “I hope my visit will provide occasion to the international community to keep focused. This should not be a forgotten crisis. That’s why I’m here,” Ban said at a joint news conference with Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario at the close of a three-day visit. Ban said so far only 32 percent of the amount requested for the UN-led humanitarian community’s Strategic Response Plan for Yolanda victims had been filled. On Saturday, Ban visited Tacloban City and saw for himself the massive devastation wrought by Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) on Nov. 8. The government said the supertyphoon affected 14.1 million persons, displaced 4.1 million, and damaged 1.1 million houses. It said 6,102 persons were killed and another 1,779 were missing. On Friday, Ban met with President Aquino and discussed with him the government’s rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Del Rosario thanked Ban for his visit, saying that this demonstrated “the UN’s firm commitment of helping victims of Typhoon Yolanda.” “Your presence here is a manifestation of your personal leadership which has touched our hearts,” he said, noting the UN’s “dedication in Read More …

Med mission leaders to lead largest Independence Day fest outside PH

 News
Dec 212013
 
Med mission leaders to lead largest Independence Day fest outside PH

While singing Christmas carols, Drs. Felicisima and Emilio Quines (center-right) are flanked by Philippine Independence Day Parade former (1997) Overall Chair Nelia Ferrette, chairman of the 2014 Grand Marshal Search Committee Olivia David and PIDCI Treasurer Violeta McGough. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ Rolan Gutierrez NEW YORK—Philippine Medical Association of America (PMAA) presidents and longterm medical mission volunteers Drs. Emilio and Felicisima Quines were named grand marshals of next year’s festive Philippine Independence Day parade. Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), which works year-round for the biggest Philippine Independence Day parade outside of the Philippines—held first Sunday of June along Madison Avenue—announced that the Quineses stood out in the Filipino-American community during the month-long public nomination process. “I first thought that the search process could be pretty daunting, but it turned out to be pretty easy, especially when the nomination papers of Drs. Quines reached my desk,” said Olivia David, chairman of the 2014 Grand Marshal Search Committee. The Independence Day Parade is accompanied by an all-day street fair and cultural festival, attended by about 100,000 Filipinos from the New York Tri-State area, Pennsylvania and visitors from neighboring states and California, and Canada. PIDCI President Fe Martinez, former (1997) Overall Chair Nelia Ferrette, Philippine Consul General to New York Mario de Leon, Jr, who is also an honorary adviser, and current PIDCI board members, officially welcomed the new grand marshals to PIDCI during an intimate dinner reception held at the consul’s residence in the Upper East Side December 13. “I’ve known the Quineses Read More …

Filipino caregivers in SF recover unpaid wages

 News
Dec 212013
 
Filipino caregivers in SF recover unpaid wages

FILE PHOTO SAN FRANCISCO—Workers from three San Francisco care homes celebrated their recent settlement agreements on Dec.18, International Migrants Day, after winning their months-long claims against their employers, totaling more than $800,000 in unpaid wages. Filipino caregivers from Sunset Gardens, Nacario’s Home of San Francisco and Veal’s Residential Care Homes joined other workers and their supporters to raise awareness about wage theft in the industry and the rights of all workers regardless of their immigration status. “Over the last few years, the Filipino Community Center has proudly supported Filipino caregivers and also hotel and restaurant workers in reclaiming over $1 million in unpaid wages,” stated Mario de Mira, FCC’s workers rights program coordinator. “We congratulate these Filipino caregivers in particular for their victory in asserting their rights in an industry that takes advantage of workers, especially immigrant workers.” Filing their claims with the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE), the workers faced conditions similar to many other residential care home workers. Caring for the elderly and disabled, caregivers sometimes work nearly 24-hours per day, but they are rarely paid the legally mandated minimum wage, overtime, or double time for these extended work schedules. “The Sunset Gardens employees worked extremely long hours cooking, cleaning and caring for the residents,” added Donna Levitt, manager of the City’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement. “They must be paid no less than minimum wage and overtime for their work.” Together with City Attorney Dennis Herrera, OLSE has now reached settlements and verbal agreements with seven Read More …

A BORROWED CHRISTMAS

 News
Dec 212013
 
A BORROWED CHRISTMAS

By Ana Villanueva-Lykes It’s the night before Christmas and children are singing carols at the door. “Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh, through the fields we go,” they belt out, laughing all the way. Inside, People watch, smiling, not thinking that if the kids were indeed dashing through the snow, their toes would freeze in their tsinelas while jingling, not bells, but makeshift tambourines. None of them have ever seen real snow either. Next door, a little girl is dreaming of Santa leaving gifts under the tree. She is not worried that Santa may not be able to get in their locked house without a chimney.    Filipinos don’t worry about freezing toes or how Santa can’t get in the house. None of these matter, yet we embrace St. Nick who would probably die of the tropical heat or the Snowman who would melt in an instant should we set him in our front yard (if we can find the snow to make one). We make these characters and traditions our own even when they are not applicable to us or have no significance to us. Cards and décor are festooned by Western icons that do not apply to us. We deck our halls with fake garlands and sing about white Christmases, the ones that we’ve never known before. Even singing “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” at people’s doorsteps, like the giving of cards and gifts and the commercialization of the holiday, are copied from the Americans.  Inside Read More …

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