Sunday, October 27, 2013

DSWD says family of Freddie’s gf belongs to ‘poorest of the poor’



EXCLUSIVE

DSWD says family of Freddie’s gf belongs to ‘poorest of the poor’
October 27, 2013 | 10:38 pm
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THE MAN who composed the worldwide hit “Anak” and his young girlfriend struggle against all odds. Facebook
CITY OF CALAPAN, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the family of singer Freddie Aguilar’s 16-year-old girlfriend belongs to the “poorest of the poor” in Oriental Mindoro, having  been a recipient since 2008 of the agency’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the government’s poverty alleviation program.
Maridel Rodriguez, the designated DSWD provincial link to 4Ps, said the controversy over Aguilar’s much-publicized involvement with the minor would not affect her family’s enrollment in the 4Ps program, as “it’s a separate case.”
Rodriguez, in a recent interview with the Inquirer at the agency’s office at the Capitol complex here, showed official records that listed the birthday of Aguilar’s girlfriend as Nov. 29, 1996.  She would turn 17 on her birthday next month.
Another DSWD officer, designated as Oriental Mindoro municipal link to 4Ps but who declined to be identified, said the agency was able to confirm the girl’s date of birth from an interview by a municipal field staff member with 4Ps beneficiaries on July 10, 2012.
The municipal link officer said the agency visited the family again recently on instruction of DSWD-Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) director Wilma Naviamos. During the visit, the girl’s mother showed DSWD representatives her child’s original birth certificate to put an end to speculations.
Aguilar’s girlfriend is the second of three children. The eldest is now 19 years old and the youngest is 14.
OLD HOME. Today only half of the 10 x 10-meter family home of Freddie Aguilar’s girlfriend in Oriental Mindoro remains after it was damaged by Typhoon “Caloy” a year ago.
Her parents are both farm workers who do odd jobs between farming seasons.
DSWD records showed that all three children were 4Ps beneficiaries in 2008, each receiving P300 as financial assistance when they were still 14 years old and below—the age requirement to qualify as a beneficiary. At present, only the youngest remains a beneficiary. The whole family received P500 for health and nutrition assistance.
Enough, please
In an interview with the Inquirer, the girl’s parents said they wanted an end to the media frenzy that followed the revelation of their daughter’s relationship with the singer who became an international sensation because of the song “Anak.”
They said there was nothing they could do to change their daughter’s mind who had apparently “fallen in love” with the singer.
The parents said they were hurt by comments that their daughter was “cheap” and they wanted to bask in Aguilar’s popularity.
The mother, 41, said they had become the subject of unkind rumors in their barangay (village).
But she said despite the flak her daughter was getting, the girl had never been happier. “She’s really in love,” the mother said.
The mother said the family had to leave  their home and rent an apartment a few kilometers away, as  “here, we can be quiet, away from possible fights.”
NEW HOME. “We’re not making Freddie pay for this (apartment),” the girl’s mother said. The second floor of this apartment in Oriental Mindoro is now being rented by the girl’s family.
She said her husband, who is also an electrician, had a project closer to their rented apartment.
She stressed they got a loan to pay the apartment’s monthly rental fee of P3,000. “We’re not making Freddie pay for this; that may be in people’s mind,” she was quick to add, to stop people from jumping to wrong conclusions.
The mother said they expected their daughter, who was living in the singer’s home in Manila, to visit them anytime.
She said Aguilar and their daughter met in May during a local election campaign where the singer was a guest and the girl had a production number in the program.
Farm house
A village official and a local church worker, who expressed concern for the family of Aguilar’s girlfriend, brought this correspondent to the girl’s old family home.
With farmlands as backdrop, the house was typical of many others in the neighborhood—a structure  of plywood, galvanized iron, bamboo and wood. There were a few multistory concrete houses owned by families of overseas Filipino workers in the area.
The mother of Aguilar’s girlfriend said their house was now only half its original size because of Typhoon “Caloy” a year ago. She said her husband, who is also a carpenter, built the house that stood on his mother’s land.
Displayed in one corner of the house were numerous awards Aguilar’s  girlfriend won in local beauty pageants.
Beside the family home was the oldest daughter’s house, who said she enjoyed accompanying her sister to beauty contests in their municipality and in adjoining towns.
The eldest sister said she advised her sister not to follow her example, having become a mother at 17.  Her son is now 10 months old.
There were rumors in the community that Aguilar’s girlfriend was actually the boy’s mother.
The sister said she also told the younger girl to “persevere to succeed in life.”
Saying her parents were now staying in the rented apartment of her sister, the eldest child said they would return next month to the family home because her parents’ livelihood was really working in the farm.
THE INTERIOR of the family home that sits on the lot owned by the girl’s grandmother.
“One could earn from P150 to P400 per day depending on the number of hours they are hired as farm workers,” she said.
“Mother sometimes takes laundry jobs,” she added.
Their 67-year-old paternal grandmother, who lives in a house near the eldest child’s home, said she did not know the details of the controversy involving her younger granddaughter and her famous boyfriend.
The grandmother, who was caring for two granddaughters whose parents were working abroad, said she had hoped Aguilar’s girlfriend would enroll in a course offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in the province.
She said her brother, who was an officer of Tesda, could help her granddaughter.
The grandmother lamented, “After high school, she (the girlfriend) concentrated on joining (beauty) pageants.”
But a neighbor said, despite her young age, Aguilar’s girlfriend was “mature” and she really wanted to be with Aguilar.
“What can we do? What can the law do?” she asked.
Headstrong
The girl’s mother agreed with the neighbor’s view. She said her middle child had always been “headstrong.”
“What can we do if our daughter fell in love?” the mother added.
She said the DSWD assured them it would help, especially should there be allegations of abuse, physical or otherwise.
The mother confirmed her daughter and Aguilar’s staff applied for a travel clearance with the DSWD in Manila, which was denied because her daughter, being a minor, would not be accompanied by her parents.
A municipal DSWD official, who did not want to be identified, would not give details on the trip but said the matter was seriously discussed by the agency.
The mother also denied that her daughter was a member of a band. “She does not know how to sing; her talent is  dancing,” she said.
She expressed the wish that her daughter would remain  “firmly grounded (nakaapak sa lupa)”  despite her relationship with a celebrity.
She said she hoped her daughter would continue her studies so she could be a flight stewardess or pursue her dream course, Hotel and Restaurant Management.
“We don’t know where her relationship (with Aguilar) will lead and until when (it will last),” the mother said.
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Monday, August 12, 2013

Environmentalists win court battle stopping GMO eggplant research in Philippines

Environmentalists win court battle stopping GMO eggplant research in Philippines

Thu, 08/01/2013 - 13:55
  • Year: 2013
  • Length: 7:00 minutes (6.41 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
In France today, the country’s top administrative court overturned its government’s ban on a type of genetically-modified corn made by Monsanto. Last month, Monsanto announced it would not pursue any patent approvals for new GMO crops in Europe, but this one had been approved since 1998 and embroiled in legal and political battles ever since. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, a recent court order has taken that country in a different direction on GMO policy. Environmentalists and organic farmers have won a battle against a new GMO crop: eggplant. The eggplant is modified to produce a bacterium that kills insects which attack it. FSRN’s Madonna Virola reports.

(http://fsrn.org/audio/environmentalists-win-court-battle-stopping-gmo-eggplant-research-philippines/12355)

Friday, July 26, 2013

Calls To Abolish Philippines' Local Youth Council

Calls To Abolish Philippines' Local Youth Council

Calls To Abolish Philippines' Local Youth CouncilMembers of Local Youth Council distributing baby diapers. (Photo: SK Isabela)
The national elections for village officials, including local youth councils, will be held in the Philippines this October.

But a heated debate is underway, with some saying the youth council is a waste of money and should be abolished.

Proponents of the abolition, including election officials, claim the youth council has become a breeding ground for the political elite.

It’s a claim members of the youth council vehemently deny.

But according to 17-year-old Krystyna Dy, president of the federation of youth councils in Isabela province, northern Philippines, it is the sole representation of the youth down to the grassroots level or the barangay level.

She is strongly defending the Local Youth Council, called Sangguniang Kabataan, or SK, against calls for it to be abolished…

Across the country there are around 42,000 youth councils that are responsible for implementing youth welfare programs for a three-year term.

And the next elections are scheduled for this October.

James Jimenez is the director of the information and education office at the National Elections Commission.

He says the local youth councils have inspired young people to get involved in politics, but have not satisfactorily delivered services.

“It has evolved into something more than just an extension of the power structures that are already at play, not giving significant space to any newcomer.  It might have started out as an excellent program, but over the years we’ve seen it has not lived up to its potential and if we’ve given it the opportunity to- perhaps for lack of better words- redeem it self, it hasn’t. Now is time to do away with it.”

Whether to dissolve the Local Youth Councils across the country will be up to Congress, which includes both supporters and critics of the council.

The Elections Commission has urged President Aquino to ask legislators to defer the SK elections before the next election in October.

Professor Benjie Marzan from the University of the Philippines in Baguio City agrees the council should be dissolved.

He says the councils have become irrelevant and too sports-oriented.

“I think the youth should get involved more in terms of their commitment, not just lip service, to not be influenced by politicians because they are the future of the country so they should stand on their issues and get more involved in more serious ways rather than part of their leisure activity.”

But youth council officer Krystyna Dy says sports projects are alternatives to vices like drugs and gambling.

She proudly cites the other projects in her province, including a special program that addresses teen pregnancy.

“We hold youth counseling sessions around the national high schools, we had around 100 symposiums, for three years now, we’ve been distributing free diapers around RHUs, the daycare centers, we also give free vitamins. Now this year we’re giving away free first aid kits and medical kits in the same district hospitals. Just last year we held a surgical mission provincial wide. We have projects regarding the out-of-school youth.”

President Marcos established the youth council in 1975 in response to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The law mandates that each village have its own youth legislative council, with eight elected officers aged between 15 and 17.

According to government regulation, 10 percent of a village’s total revenue should automatically go to the youth council.

In total, that’s about 102 million US dollars.

But the council is often accused of being a waste of money and a place for the political elite.

“They would accuse us of being the breeding ground of corruption or for political dynasties, we won’t get to that statute if our higher officials would set a good example to us, as if to treat us like pupils, we have to start from top down to the bottom because, we look up to our elders.”

Krystyna Dy’s father is vice president of the league of village captains in the province and president of Cauayan City.

She says there is nothing wrong with coming from a political family.

“I didn’t run because they forced me to run, because they want to monopolize the political realm in Isabela, it’s because I want to service, I grew up seeing my family serve, I’m doing good job. I hope the other officials in my country will also do a good job in their jurisdiction.”

Krstyna plans to finish law school then serve as a district representative in her province to champion the youth sector.

But James Jimenez is still convinced the youth council has to go.

“You can change structures but if you ultimately depend on -again- minors to run for office, you’re again opening up the possibility of minors related to other elected officials, then you’re not removing the problem of dynastism, you’re just changing the clothing of the program.”

Other politicians have suggested the budget for the council be scrapped entirely, to encourage young people to get involved on a voluntary basis.

Responding to the criticism Krystyna Dy says the council is not perfect, but they are working hard to improve.

“There is no such thing as a perfect institution.  We admit that we have shortcomings, we have problems. The Local Youth Council has filed a reform bill.”

This is to address issues raised against them like they’re too young to be playing with politics because officials age between 15 to 17.  Former youth council officers and now young senator
Bam Aquino, a nephew of President Aquino, has backed up Dy’s group.

Merle Pimentel is a development worker, who has been training young people on values-based leadership.

She says the youth council should be reinvented and not totally abolished.

“I still believe that the young people are still the hope of every nation.  They will be the future leaders, we really need to prepare them. What is important is to install a very good program that will strengthen their emotional, not just physical, social as well as spiritual strength or leadership.”

The debate over the country’s youth council continues, but whatever is decided hopefully the voices of young people continue to be heard…

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

A Law to Stop Filipinos from Being Late



A Law to Stop Filipinos from Being Late
Filipinos joke that they have their own sense of time.....in related it means they are often late.

Albert Cabungal is in charge of workers’ attendance at the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro.

”I think the reason why people think it’s OK for them to be late is because in the workplace, it’s accepted, to be late.  Although there is the deduction (in pay), people, especially the office heads, they tolerate their subordinates being late.“

He says the office is using fingerprint scanner where employers have to log in to and out from work... as a way to stop them from being late.  But this hasn’t been very successful...

”There are loopholes, or ways to get away with the system,” he explains. “Like coming in at 7:30 then logging in then going home... then coming in at a much later time. Actually, there’s no perfect system, there’s always cracks in the system.”

Earlier this month, a new law was passed to try and strop Filipinos from being late.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the new law.

”Republic Act 10535 signed on May 15 by the President.  This now sets the Philippines Standard Time. All government offices, agencies, instruments, bureaus shall now coordinate with the PAG-ASA once a month to synchronize official time pieces and devices.”

According to the law, the state weather bureau will determine Philippines Standard Time as a single time reference for all government agencies. This means all government offices open and close at the same time to provide more efficient services for public.

The reference time will also be available online through its website.

The law also mandates the National Telecommunications Commission to require all TV and radio stations to use the standard time. Otherwise, their franchise can be revoked or cancelled... along with a fine of up to 1,000 US dollars.

As a local radio program director Christian Tobillo welcomes the new law.

“As a broadcaster, I favour the Philippines Standard Time because we’ll have a common and correct time to give because people are tuning in to us.  If the PST will be strictly followed, it can reduce tardiness although punctuality and discipline still depends on a person.”

And to grow a new habit of being punctual, public schools and government offices will hold campaigns on the value of time.  The government will also provide a public display of standard-time devices and declare the first week of every year is also declared as National Time Consciousness Week.

But it’s a hard habit to break...

After the law was introduced earlier this month, nothing has changed in the workers’ attendance habit says Albert Cabungal.

“I don’t know why there is so little information dissemination when the law was passed. People are not informed for the reason why they created such a law.... what’s the purpose of having this PST.”

Don Zian Encarnacion, a Professor of political science at a local college in Calapan says it needs more than new clocks to break the habit.

“The tardiness itself is not merely about time, but more it’s more of culture,” he explains.

“Even if we try to adopt or change the time, the hours, the days, the minutes, if the mindset of Filipinos is I will always be late, it won’t do anything.  Basically, we need to change the culture itself of the Philippines.“

And to do this, Albert Cabungcal says everyone must start from oneself.

“To set the example, you must be the example. For change to happen, the person should be the change that he wants to be or he wants to happen.”


Sunday, June 2, 2013

New fast craft to shorten travel to Calapan

New fast craft to shorten travel to Calapan

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CITY OF CALAPAN—Travel time between this city and Batangas will soon be an hour shorter, on board a brand new and modern roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel.
The new vessel, called a “FastCat Ferry” operated by the Filipino-owned Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. (APFC), will take only about an hour and a half to cross Calapan from Batangas and vice versa, down from the usual 2.5-hour travel time with existing Ro-Ro vessels plying the same sea route.
Lower fare rates
The fare rates for FastCat Ferry would also be lower, ranging from P120 to P300, depending on the seat classification, said Christina Guevarra, APFC’s vice president for marketing.
The current fare for Calapan to Batangas ranges from P182 to P330.
“We chose the ports of Batangas and Mindoro because they are the biggest ports when it comes to traffic volume, connecting vessels up to Visayas and Mindanao,” said Peter Gonzales, president and chief executive officer of APFC during the soft launch here of FastCat Ferry on April 29.
Fully automated
The vessel is not only fully automated but has complied with all the safety standards, from design to build and operation, set by the International Association of Classification Societies and by the International Maritime Organization,  Gonzales said.
A FastCat Ferry can accommodate almost 300 passengers, all numbered seats, in compliance with Maritime Industry Authority  regulation on passenger capacity; and can carry seven to eight buses and light trucks and about 20 cars.
FastCat Ferry will likewise be the only vessel in the Philippines that has systems for the handicapped. “We have an elevator for handicapped; [a] provision for pregnant women and old people, [and] a special area to put their wheelchairs on,”  Gonzales said.
Pastrana emphasized that the vessel, having met all requisite standards, would address  safety issues  that have been hounding the Philippine maritime industry, noting that next to Indonesia and Bangladesh, “we are rated with the worst in maritime accidents.”
“It’s about time that we in the shipping industry modernize our fleets for the benefit of the people, and to offer to the ordinary people a chance to bring their goods from one point in Mindanao all the way to their market in Luzon using the Ro-Ro systems, with facilities for reefer vans,” Gonzales added.

Philippines Campaign Urges Politicians to Put Children First



Philippines Campaign Urges Politicians to Put Children First
Philippines Campaign Urges Politicians to Put Children FirstMembers of BATA MUNA (Children First) perform in a concert urging politicians to put children first. (Photo: Madonna T. Virola)

Filipinos will go to the polls this month for the midterm elections.

But critics say that the issue of children’s rights is missing from the political agenda.

Bata Muna or “Children First” is a nationwide network of 30 children’s organisations that has been campaigning across the country to educate voters on the importance of child welfare.

Their campaign seeks to put children at the center of the up-coming elections.

The campaign ended with a musical concert in Cubao, Quezon City.

At least 1,000 children are here for the concert, which includes bands and dances, as well as children’s talk shows.

On stage, young artists dressed as super heroes, are dancing and playing songs about children’s issues.

16-year-old Geralyn Tapere from the group ‘Children Talk to Children’ is on stage, reading out a list of issues affecting young people.

“Corporal punishment, child labor, early pregnancy, malnutrition, truancy, poverty, lack of consultation with children, dangerous environments, disaster and conflict, child trafficking, poor education and children with disabilities.”

According to the international NGO Save the Children, nearly half of the Filipino population are children.

But political candidates rarely include them as part of their electoral manifestos. Out of 36 Manila-based politicians running in the up-coming election who were invited to the event, only 9 showed up.

This is the first time that such an event has been held, says Rowena Cordero from Save the Children.

“This is just the beginning because previous elections rarely include issues of children. Candidates would probably use children, kiss babies, or have children in their posters, or say that they are for children, but in actuality those are just words or gimmicks or part of their propaganda.”

Most of the children at the concert are not yet eligible to vote. But Geralyn promises to pass on the message to her parents at home.

“I will tell my parents to choose candidates with a platform for children. And to the candidates, I hope they aren’t empty promises. Since I was small, I’ve seen lots of promises being made on TV, but so far nothing has changed. Some children are still very poor, they can’t go to school... so I don’t trust the politicians.”

Rowena Cordero from Save the Children urges politicians to put child welfare on their agenda... and asks voters to scrutinize their candidates’ track record and hold them to account.

“So we hope that in the coming months after the elections and even after the years, we will be able to again engage those who have won political seats and monitor their track record in terms of how they are performing their responsibilities and how they are also integrating issues of children in their own programs and in their agenda. I think that’s where change will matter most for children.”

After the concert, 20-year-old Jessica Oraya says she’s now ready for her first election.

She will support candidates who are not corrupt and who have concrete plans for children, especially those from poor communities.

“I will also check their family background and research what they have done in the past for children. So it now depends on the candidates, whether or not they listen to us. If they can’t be responsible for children when elected, what will happen to us, the next generation?”