Archive for December 2009
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Happy Holidays to all!
UK Names Philippines Offshoring Destination of the Year
The Philippines has been awarded the Offshoring Destination of the Year for 2009 at the 6th Annual National Outsourcing Association Awards in the United Kingdom last October 15, 2009.
This is the second time the country has won the prestigious award since 2007. It recently bested four other countries such as Malaysia, Egypt, Russia and Sri Lanka in winning the title.
The National Outsourcing Association is the recognized body for the outsourcing industry in the United Kingdom. The association judged countries for this award on a set of criteria covering the country’s advantages, attractiveness to UK companies, its level of market penetration in the UK, and availability of outsourcing areas.
Arroyo’s Non-adherance to UN Convention on Migrant Workers
Hundreds of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) marched to Mendiola Bridge Friday to demand that the Arroyo government exhort all efforts to reunite more than 300 stranded OFWs with their families this Christmas season. “Today marks the ninth year of the United Nations Convention on Migrant Workers and Their Families. While President Arroyo signed this convention, in reality, the plight of Filipino migrant workers did not improve and in fact worsened under the government’s relentless labor export program. Nine years under the Arroyo regime saw the unprecedented rise in human rights violations of OFWs,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.
Migrante International’s records show that in almost all of the cases of stranded OFWs, Philippine consulate and overseas labor officials neglected the plight of OFWs, and were even the ones defending abusive employers and companies.
Read more at Radio 1812
U.S.Actress Brittany Murphy Dies at 32
U.S. actress Brittany Murphy, who co-starred in such films as “Clueless” and “Girl, Interrupted” but saw her career wane in recent years, died in Los Angeles on Sunday after suffering cardiac arrest in her bathroom, officials said. She was 32.
Source: Reuters
Montana Raises Money for Philippine Medical Clinic
A holiday-themed dance performance this weekend is raising money to help build a medical clinic in the Philippines.
“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” is being put on by the Bozeman Lions Club, the Big Sky Dance ensemble and the Main Street Dance Theatre. Profits from the show go to the Sacred Portion Children’s Ministry, a nonprofit organization that supports an orphanage in the Philippines.
Read more at Montana’s News Station
Filipina Hailed a Hero in Toronto
Juana Tejada sought an exemption to taking a second medical test as a pre-requisite to becoming a permanent resident here in Canada and was recently vindicated for her passionate advocacy of the so-called “Juan Tejada” law which the federal government of Canada recently made changes to the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) by removing a second medical test for caregivers to qualify as permanent residents. Another change states that caregivers need 3,900 work hours to qualify as a permanent resident as opposed to the old law of two years of work within the span of 36 months.
Tejada failed the second medical exam for caregivers when she was diagnosed with cancer, a condition she developed while working as a caregiver.
The province of Ontario previously passed a law with some features that favor the Filipino community:
- Recruiters are prohibited from charging fees to caregivers
- Prohibiting confiscation of caregiver’s personal documents like work permit and passports
- Many others…
Read more at Balita-Filipino Canadia Community Newspaper
Jollibee gives up operations in Taiwan and Shanghai
Philippine fast food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) has given up its operations in China’s Taiwan and Shanghai and chosen to focus on “building bigger brands” in other parts of China.
JFC gave up its 70 percent stake in Lao Dong Pte. Ltd. which operates Lao Dong restaurants in Taiwan. It also terminated its franchising agreement with Chun Shui Tang Tea House and shut down its stores in Shanghai.
Read more at Individual
360-degree view of Philippine’s 7107 Island Cruise ship
This is an awesome 360-degree view of the 7107 Island Cruise Ship that sails to Boracay and the Calamianes Islands. For more information, go to http://www.7107islandscruise.net/.
Philippine online clothing store Little Caviar launches in 2010
Little Caviar is an online clothing store in the Philippines that offers Asian-inspired fashion apparel for women. Little Caviar shares fresh and unique casual styles that incorporate insights from Japanese, Korean, and European fashion trends, thus establishing a high street fashion brand that offers quality Asian-inspired women’s clothing, from tops to bottoms, dresses and one-pieces, to coats and outerwear.
Little Caviar is also a fun and interactive online fashion magazine that talks about the latest fashion trends, exciting new hair styles, useful make-up tips, great cosmetic products, fashion photography, fashion events, and a lot more. Little Caviar’s online magazine is run and kept interesting by today’s youngest and most influential Filipino fashion bloggers, stylists, designers, photographers, and artists.
Little Caviar coming soon 2010.
Go to LittleCaviar.com to sign-up for its pre-opening.
Proposed amendments on the Migrant Workers Act may affect recruitment
The website “United Filipino Seafarers” recently posted an article submitted by Capt. Pax Sanchez of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) GS-MMET on Nov. 26, 2009 that highlights many amendments to the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 (or Republic Act No. 8042) which are areas of concern for the Filipino seafaring industry. These amendments will be submitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate for approval; if so approved, it goes to the President before it becomes part of the law on Friday or Monday, approximately.
Read more at United Filipino Seafarers
Filipino Overseas Sailors Remit Whooping 2.5 Billion Pesos in 9 Months
The money sent home by overseas Filipino sailors rose by $108 million or 4.51 percent to a new record of $2.501 billion in the nine months to September this year, from $2.393 billion over the same period in 2008, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said.
“A growing number of European and Asian shipping firms are disbanding their multinational crews, and replacing them wholesale with all-Filipino personnel that are younger and more able,” said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development.
Read more at Inquirer Global Nation
Guinness Records-holder Paeng Nepomuceno to Bowl in Turkey
Diplomats and Filipinos in Ankara, Turkey’s capital city, are now eagerly awaiting the visit of six-time World Bowling Champion Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno (pictured) next Wednesday. Nepomuceno is a Guinness Book of World Records-holder, and the recognized greatest international bowler in the history of the sport.
He is due to arrive in Istanbul on December 2 with his wife, the former Pinky Puyat. The Champion will play exhibition games and participate in the Philippine Embassy-organized “Diplomats’ Bowling Tournament” scheduled in Ankara on Saturday, December 5, at the “Play Planet” bowling center at Ankara’s modern Panora Shopping Mall.
Read more at BowlingDigital.com
New Business Hub on the Rise in Iloilo
Construction of a mixed-use commercial center in Iloilo City’s new “growth area” began last month, in what is expected to become a business hub.
Florete Land, Inc., the property development company of the Florete Group of Companies owned by Ilonggo media mogul Rogelio M. Florete, Jr., held groundbreaking ceremonies for Plazuela de Iloilo last November. Mr. Florete heads Bombo Radyo Philippines.
Read more at Business World Online
