In Memorandum Circular No. 6 of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), all Filipinos working overseas are mandated to involve themselves in the Home Development Mutual Fund, otherwise known as Pag-IBIG.
Pag-IBIG stands for Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno. It enables its members to avail of some financial aid in purchasing residential properties, choosing whether to be assisted by a developer and have a ‘buyback guaranty’.
This law, or the Republic Act No. 9679, was passed days after former President Cory Cojuangco Aquino died. It would be implemented—disagreeable or not—on August 1.
“Upon registration and deployment of an OFW, an initial membership of six hundred pesos (P600.00) representing six (6) months contribution shall be paid by the worker. The OFW may, however, opt to contribute a higher amount as provided under Rule VI of the same law.”
It has been signed by Atty. Jennifer Jardin Manalili, the current administrator of the POEA. She replaced Rosalinda Baldoz last September 3, 2008. Baldoz is now the labor secretary (DoLE).
Manalili graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 2001. The sixth in her class, she studied further to acquire a master's degree in public administration from the same university.
Her scholastic records led Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio Morales to delegate her as Court Attorney VI in her office. She also worked for former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban who personally recommended her to Mrs. Arroyo.
She used to be a reporter; it was actually during her journalistic career that she met her would-be husband John Manalili, former editor-in-chief of Cebu’s Republic News and current chief of the Philippine Broadcasting Service, the government radio station.
Under her administration, registered Filipino nurses and certified caregivers were demanded in a bilateral economic partnership agreement with the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services. She also paired with the LBC Development Bank, assisting about one million OFWs deployed yearly.
She thought of giving an award—the Best Partner in Illegal Recruitment Award—to minimize, if not totally eradicate, illegal recruiters.
There should be no problem therefore; Manalili seems to be a reasonable person in all respects. Investing in the Pag-IBIG Fund would encourage Filipinos to consider going back to their homeland. For how would these OFWs benefit from their contributions if they would reside somewhere else?
This could also foster solidarity among Filipinos. Bayanihan. Tulungan. Pagkakaisa. Gone are the days when Filipinos live only for themselves. Gone are the days when they would not think twice migrating to another country.
It could just be another source of corruption. There were already about one million OFWs eight years ago. Each of them would be required to contribute for at least two years, totaling to P2400. Assuming that there are still one million OFWs today, the fund would gain P2.4 billion.
More importantly, this memorandum could curtail the OFWs’ freedom. What if they really have to cease working abroad before they could complete the two-year requirement? What if they are just earning a minimal salary? Do they really have to shed their hard-earned money to an expense no soul can assure that they would be having?
References
19 July 2010
15 July 2010
Keeping the bad news
Despite nationwide reports on the looming water crisis, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) maintains that the Angat Dam ‘is still manageable.’
Engineer Rodolfo German, manager of the dam, also agreed. He said the water supply would still be enough for one-and-a-half months.
But two days ago, the Angat Dam dropped to 157.70 meters—three metres lower than the dam’s critical level and the lowest since September 12, 1998, an El Niño year.
* * * *
I remember the television series 24 (Season 2). In there, United States President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) chose to conceal a nuclear bomb threat in Los Angeles. His decision endangered his position, but he preferred to believe Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) who concluded that it was a decoy.
That could likewise be the case. The close-to-critical-only warnings were meant to avoid panic. After all, this attitude has contributed to the death of 162 disco goers in March 18, 1996. It has also caused death to more or less 250 Muslims every year as they fulfill the fifth pillar in Islam. It has spelled doom to Charles T. Barney, president of the Knickerbocker Trust Company, when its board asked him to resign.
As of now, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) together with the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management have been cloud seeding over the Angat Dam to tease its skies. Their effort, however, does not appeal to the weather forecasters who believe rain will pour but in August and September.
Maynilad Water Services Incorporated and Manila Water were also directed to implement mitigation measures so that the water supply of the dam will last. Currently, 33 cm of water only is allocated to Metro Manila. They would also have to review its supply condition every week.
References
Engineer Rodolfo German, manager of the dam, also agreed. He said the water supply would still be enough for one-and-a-half months.
But two days ago, the Angat Dam dropped to 157.70 meters—three metres lower than the dam’s critical level and the lowest since September 12, 1998, an El Niño year.
* * * *
I remember the television series 24 (Season 2). In there, United States President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) chose to conceal a nuclear bomb threat in Los Angeles. His decision endangered his position, but he preferred to believe Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) who concluded that it was a decoy.
That could likewise be the case. The close-to-critical-only warnings were meant to avoid panic. After all, this attitude has contributed to the death of 162 disco goers in March 18, 1996. It has also caused death to more or less 250 Muslims every year as they fulfill the fifth pillar in Islam. It has spelled doom to Charles T. Barney, president of the Knickerbocker Trust Company, when its board asked him to resign.
As of now, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) together with the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management have been cloud seeding over the Angat Dam to tease its skies. Their effort, however, does not appeal to the weather forecasters who believe rain will pour but in August and September.
Maynilad Water Services Incorporated and Manila Water were also directed to implement mitigation measures so that the water supply of the dam will last. Currently, 33 cm of water only is allocated to Metro Manila. They would also have to review its supply condition every week.
References
11 July 2010
On the country's police
The Philippine National Police (PNP) established by Republic Act 6975, has been mandated to ‘enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security.’ But that’s ‘with the active support of the community.’ Hmm, what’s that supposed to mean?
In a Pinoy soap opera, the police heeded a criminal when he had asked to be left alone. That’s even upon seeing two people are in danger. That’s even upon knowing another civilian would commit a crime. That’s even upon arming themselves with high-caliber rifles and training rigorously beforehand.
Of course, that scene was just a set up. How could Mariz’ (Maja Salvador) lover die if Anthony (Sam Milby) has not been left behind? How could he show his bravery and love? The drama would have been abrupt if those circumstances did not happen.
But why then a scenario such as that is still portrayed in TV? (international in this case, for ABS-CBN has The Filipino Channel in foreign countries) It only adds to the confusion. If soap operas are not to be believed, why do the majority of the Filipinos Pilipina Ako knows still lack faith in the PNP?
In another Pinoy soap opera, the police discontinued a criminal investigation for financial favor. That scene was required them to reiterate the plot of the story: evil is nurtured by people’s wrong doings. The monster thriving in that Pinoy soap opera feeds on the evil that caused it: sexually abusive men.
It is ironic that something meant only to tickle one’s mind would be believed. Even more when the majority of Filipinos would be disgusted when police officers had sided with antagonists, but disappointed when those politicians or those police officers react otherwise. That is usually only when these viewers would regard the soap opera as it is.
References
In a Pinoy soap opera, the police heeded a criminal when he had asked to be left alone. That’s even upon seeing two people are in danger. That’s even upon knowing another civilian would commit a crime. That’s even upon arming themselves with high-caliber rifles and training rigorously beforehand.
Of course, that scene was just a set up. How could Mariz’ (Maja Salvador) lover die if Anthony (Sam Milby) has not been left behind? How could he show his bravery and love? The drama would have been abrupt if those circumstances did not happen.
But why then a scenario such as that is still portrayed in TV? (international in this case, for ABS-CBN has The Filipino Channel in foreign countries) It only adds to the confusion. If soap operas are not to be believed, why do the majority of the Filipinos Pilipina Ako knows still lack faith in the PNP?
In another Pinoy soap opera, the police discontinued a criminal investigation for financial favor. That scene was required them to reiterate the plot of the story: evil is nurtured by people’s wrong doings. The monster thriving in that Pinoy soap opera feeds on the evil that caused it: sexually abusive men.
It is ironic that something meant only to tickle one’s mind would be believed. Even more when the majority of Filipinos would be disgusted when police officers had sided with antagonists, but disappointed when those politicians or those police officers react otherwise. That is usually only when these viewers would regard the soap opera as it is.
“In the next 20 years, the Philippine National Police (PNP) envisions to evolve into a highly-professional, dynamic and motivated organization working in partnership with a responsive community towards the attainment of a safe place to live, work, invest and do business.”
References
‘Evil theme’ in Showtime
So far, I have not seen an episode of this noontime variety show that doesn’t have a group of contestants performing with a demonic theme. It is as if almost everybody regards evil as a prerequisite to success.
I do not like to believe that it is the case. I just became an avid ‘showtimer’ at the onset of this year, and missed the performances in the program’s first two months. But I’ve watched the show since then. Most of the performances were indeed inspired by a demonic concept though not at all times, the group who performed under that theme would win.
I do not like to believe that it is the case. I just became an avid ‘showtimer’ at the onset of this year, and missed the performances in the program’s first two months. But I’ve watched the show since then. Most of the performances were indeed inspired by a demonic concept though not at all times, the group who performed under that theme would win.
04 July 2010
Re: THE back-up plan
I blogged corrected. What I've written then did not happen. There is more apparent possibility now that the P-Noy administration would succeed (at least, on the first step) in healing the nation. Pilipina Ako would still watch out for subtle holes.
01 July 2010
REFERENCE LIST
19 Jul 2010
Mandatory membership of OFWs in Pag-IBIG
http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080903-158470/UPDATE-2-POEA-has-new-chief
http://www.ofwjournalism.net/previousweb/vol4no3/latestories432.php
11 Jul 2010
Keeping the bad news
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/record-low-level-angat-1124-am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/20/world/disco-in-manila-for-35-people-held-400.html
http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html
11 Jul 2010
On the Philippine National Police
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/main/
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6975_1990.html
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=56
http://www.abs-cbn.com/Weekdays/article/7373/phrpresentsimpostor/PHR-Presents-Impostor.aspx
http://www.abs-cbn.com/Weekdays/cast/article/7460/rosalka/Rosalka.aspx
Mandatory membership of OFWs in Pag-IBIG
http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080903-158470/UPDATE-2-POEA-has-new-chief
http://www.ofwjournalism.net/previousweb/vol4no3/latestories432.php
11 Jul 2010
Keeping the bad news
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/record-low-level-angat-1124-am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/20/world/disco-in-manila-for-35-people-held-400.html
http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html
11 Jul 2010
On the Philippine National Police
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/main/
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6975_1990.html
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=56
http://www.abs-cbn.com/Weekdays/article/7373/phrpresentsimpostor/PHR-Presents-Impostor.aspx
http://www.abs-cbn.com/Weekdays/cast/article/7460/rosalka/Rosalka.aspx
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