Filipino-American Victims to be Remembered at 9-11 Anniversary Memorial Services

Second plane strike at the World Trade Center on 9/11

Filipino-American organizations are commemorating and remembering the 20 victims of the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, 2001, twenty people who had Filipino origins. Two of those were actually on board the planes that hit the twin towers. Their biographies will be read at the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Vigil for Filipino American Families on Sept. 9, 2011, from 7pm to 9pm at the Asian American Writers Workshop, 110-112 West 27th Street, Sixth Floor, New York, NY. This event is open to the public.

The sponsors of the event are as follows:

• Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Metro New York Chapter;
• Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI);
• Kalusugan Coalition, Inc.;
• Damayan Migrant Workers Association;
• Collaborative Opportunities for Raising Empowerment (CORE);
• Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE);
• UniPro, BaranGAY, NYU International Filipino Association (IFA);
• Outstanding Filipino Americans (TOFA) in New York Committee.

There was also one other Filipino-American who died in the plane crash in Pennsylvania.

The name-reading activity was suppose to be part of the upcoming memorial celebrations but Mayor Bloomberg decided to scrap this tradition. A lot of the family members were angered when this announcement was made, saying the reading should remain part of the ceremonies. Still, there are others who agree to discontinue it as a requirement.

Half-way around the world, Marie Rose Abad, a New York-born daughter from an Italian immigrant family and one of the victims of the 9/11 attacks, has her name emblazoned in a village in the Philippines called the Marie Rose Abad Village where her Philippine-born American husband, Rudy Abad, had a community of about 50 one-story houses built in 2004 in her memory. Marie Rose was a senior executive at the 89th-floor office of the investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods when the second plane slammed the building.

The 21 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans who died in the World Trade Center attacks and the Pennsylvania plane crash were the following:

• Grace Alegre Cua;
• Cesar A. Alviar;
• Marlyn C. Bautista;
• Cecile M. Caguicla;
• Jayceryll M. de Chavez;
• Benilda Pascua Domingo;
• Judy Hazel Fernandez;
• Ramon Grijalvo;
• Frederick Kuo Jr.;
• Arnold A. Lim;
• Manuel L. Lopez;
• Carl Allen Peralta;
• Maria Theresa Santillan;
• Rufino Conrado (Roy) F. Santos;
• David Marc Sullins;
• Hilario (Larry) S. Sumaya;
• Hector Tamayo;
• Cynthia Betita Motus Wilson;
• Ronald Gamboa (plane crash);
• Ruben Ornedo (plane crash);
• Manolito Kaur (plane crash).

Both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama are expected to attend the Ground Zero memorial services. The 9/11 attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people, including 246 victims on the four planes and 411 emergency workers from the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and EMT.

Sources: Inquirer Global Nation | Filipino Reporter | Huffington Post | Wikipedia

Photo by stevenbaker at Flickr.com

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TV5 and MMDA Introduces Metro Manila Traffic Navigator

InterAksyon of TV5 News and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) of the Philippines recently launched a traffic navigator that visually displays major intersections along each of the major thoroughfares of Epifano delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Quezon Avenue, Espana Avenue, C5, Roxas Boulevard and the South Luzon Express Way (SLEX), and labels each according to a traffic category.

The rendition of the graphics is akin to subway and roadway maps people are familiar worldwide, like the United States, Canada and the U.K. Besides this familiar display, the “Line View” provides intersection per thoroughfare status. It also uses “Google Map” to display an actual view of the major thoroughfare and the traffic situation.

Below the page shows MMDA’s Facebook and Twitter updates.

Go to Metro Manila Traffic Navigator to experience something new

Image from the Metro Manila Traffic Navigator website

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Candidates Sought for North San Diego County Filipino Beauty Pageant

Photo by Pidz111 at Flickr.com

The Fil-Am Cultural Association of North San Diego County is looking for girls of Filipino descent ages 13-16 for Miss Teen Fil-Am and ages 17-24 for the Miss Fil-Am Scholarship Pageant to be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 13, 2011 at Camp Pendleton.

Judging includes personality, poise, beauty, Filipina dress, talent and an impromptu question onstage. Each contestant will receive training in poise, walking, confidence, speaking ability, selection of clothing and on-stage questions. Winners will receive cash scholarships and numerous prizes.

The queens and princesses will preside at various functions sponsored by the Fil-Am Cultural Association of North San Diego County. For applications, call 760-434-3397 or 760-207-5358.

Source: North County Times

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Filipina-American Continues to Help Her Native Philippines

Made in the Philippines

Photo by famapa at Flickr.com

At 75, Linda Hoops, the wife of H. Ray Hoops, the former president of the University of Southern Indiana, is constantly on the go. Last month she led a session at a panel discussion of chefs on emerging trends in Colorado and she recently helped arrange for an internship for a Philippine student to work at Zuki restaurant in Evansville.

When Hoops saw a successful program in her native Philippines, she felt compelled to find a way for the same program to make a difference in Evansville. The program was the brainchild of childhood friends in Manila. Lulu Trinidad-Ocampo adapted a technique of weaving folded newspaper sheets into bags and wallets. She realized the skill could be a source of livelihood for those in need and developed it into the “Bags for Life” program.

Hoops learned of the program on one of her yearly visits to the Philippines. She brought back a suitcase full of the bags to sell and use for not-for-profit auctions here. But she believes it could become a cottage industry here as well.

Read more at Evansville Courier & Press

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Philippine Department of Education Advisory on Class Suspension

Image from PAGASA at DOST.gov.ph

The incoming tropical hurricane typhoon Juaning prompted the Department of Education (DepEd) of the Philippines to issue an advisory on class suspension across the different levels in the Philippine Regions (ala States or Provinces) for Wednesday, July 27, 2011, when typhoon Juaning makes landfall in the Philippines.

As of 9:00 p.m., July 26, 2011

National Capitol Region (NCR) – All classes in preschool, elementary, and high school (public and private) will be suspended in the entire region (per Regional Director Elena Ruiz).

Region 1 – Automatic suspension will be based on the 10:00 p.m. PAGASA bulletin tonight (per Regional Director Ligaya Miguel).

Region 2 - Due to Public Storm Signal No. 1, all classes in preschool (public and private) will be automatically suspended in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino (per Regional Director Benito Tumamao).

Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) - Due to Public Storm Signal No. 1, all classes in preschool (public and private) will be automatically suspended in Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mt. Province, and Benguet (per OIC-Regional Director Teresita Velasco).

Region 3 – All classes in preschool, elementary, and high school (public and private) will be suspended in the entire region: Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Aurora (Per Regional Director Teofila Villanueva).

Region 4A - All classes in preschool, elementary, and high school (public and private) will be suspended in the entire region: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Per Regional Director Lorna Dino).

Region 4B

• Classes in preschool and elementary will be suspended in Occidental Mindoro (Per Regional Director Sinforosa Guiñares)
• Due to Public Storm Signal No. 1, all classes in preschool (public and private) will be automatically suspended in Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon. (based on 5:00 p.m., July 26 PAGASA Bulletin)

Region 5 – Automatic suspension will be based on the 4:00 a.m., July 27 PAGASA Bulletin and depending on the local situation, local authorities (LGUs, DepEd local officials, and school heads) may declare cancellation of classes in their respective areas.

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Source: Facebook Page of National Broadcasting Network

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Best On-demand Hosted Call Center Solution in the Philippines

L-R: Fred Cote, Raffy Pekson II and Chris Persaud

The CEO and COO of KUNNECT recently visited the Philippines to launch its call center technology solutions to the Philippine BPO market. Fred Cote, co-founder and CEO, spoke at the October 12 meeting of the members of the Call Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) in Shangri-La Hotel Makati. Mr. Cote presented KUNNECT as a viable, inexpensive call center solution for immediate operations without the need for costly and time-consuming setup, calling it the “best in its class” of a full suite of call center features and functionality. Together with Mr. Cote were Chris Persaud, COO of KUNNECT, and Raffy Pekson II, the Country Representative of KUNNECT in the Philippines.

Read more at Work and Coffee.

Subscribe By E-mail is Now Activated

I never realized this feature was “inactive.” My apologies for those who looked for this function. I’ve activated it now.

Happy Holidays to all!

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

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

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

Japan, Korea, Philippines in Renewable Energy Deals in Philippines

The three-country consortium of three companies are in agreement to create renewable energy projects in the Philippines. These are Alternergy Philippine Holdings Corporation, Eurus Energy Japan Corporation and Korea East West Power Company. This type of investment commitment comes from the perks that’s offered by the country’s “Renewable Energy Act.”

Source: Manila Bulletin.

Unionbank Invites You to Bid for Repossessed Cars

Bid forms are available at Unionbank ARG, 20th floor, Unionbank Plaza, Meralco Avenue corner Onyx Street, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Bids for the repossessed cars should be submitted together with Php5,000 (in the form of a Manager’s Check) at the above address not later than September 8, 2009. For more details, you may call Babes through Tel# 638-0113 or 667-6388 loc. 8370

Source: Foreclosure Philippines.

SM Bacolod Has Its Own Blog Site

The sub-header reads: “Welcome to SM City Bacolod blogsite! You will find here the events of the week, upcoming activities, schedule of malls shows, celebrations and job openings at SM. Subscribe now to this site and be the first to know the latest about the leading shopping destination in Bacolod and Negros Occidental!.”

Link: http://smcitybacolod.blogspot.com/

Filipino Migrants Crucial for New Zealand’s Dairy Industry

A Mid Canterbury dairy farming leader says it would be frightening to think about where New Zealand’s dairy industry would be today if it was not for a migrant workforce. Former Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy section chairman Dean McConnell said the Filipino workforce was performing a vital role in the dairy industry and filled a serious gap in staffing on dairy farms. “If we didn’t have them, we would have really struggled. In fact, it would be frightening to think of what would have happened if we didn’t have the migrant workers irrespective of the standard of them.”

Filipina Belinda Dewe, of Timaru, has formed a “shelter and cultural” group called the South Canterbury Filipino Association. It links with a similar Mid Canterbury organisation to look after the interests of Filipino farm workers.

For more on the article, read the Otago Daily Times.

A New International Airport for Boracay

A private company names Aklan-Romblon Properties Corporation (ARPC) is going to build an international airport very near the island of Boracay. The airport will be constructed on Carabao Island in San Jose, Romblon, and will cost some six billion Pesos. This means pump-boat travel time to the famous beach resort island will drastically be reduced. ARPC has already purchased about 120 hectares of land for the airport project and has also fenced its perimeter. Though still in design phase, detailed drawings will be submitted to the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communication within 60 to 90 days. No word yet as to when the airport will be operational but the DoTC’s office has already granted locational clearance for the project.

5-10 Filipina Maids Fleeing Sponsors Everyday

There are currently around 176 runaway housemaids being housed at the embassy’s Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) in Kuwait, where an average of 5 to 10 Filipina housemaids are fleeing their sponsors everyday. The OFW cite non-payment of salaries, verbal abuse and sexual harassment as reasons for fleeing. Some of these Filipinas will return home, while others will stay and have their work visas transferred to other sponsors.

Click here to read the KuwaitiTimes.com story.

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Social Networking Site

MabuhayCity.com is a social networking and forum community for the Overseas Filipino Workers or OFW. This site is owned and operated by Philippine actress and celebrity, Klaudia Koronel (really!) From Middle East, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and Africa, members share experience about visa and immigration, working and living abroad, job opportunities, nursing education, investment and entrepreneurship, pictures, music and videos, etc. You can even hook up with Facebook and Twitter inside this community.

Click here to go to MabuhayCity.com.

Guam Will Soon Need More Filipino Healthcare Professionals

The US government will soon transfer 8,930 active duty and 19,140 dependents of Marine and Air Force personnel to Guam, which means Filipino health care workers will be in demand as Guam transforms itself into a major US military base in the Asia-Pacific region. Filipino nurses that have passed the requisite US licensure examinations and Filipino doctors that have US board certifications are qualified to apply, according to the news article in Tribune.net.ph.

The transfer would begin in 2012 while the additional active duty and dependents are expected to be fully relocated by 2014.

More Filipino-Americans Moving to Chino Hills

Filipino-Americans are consistently moving to the relatively new and affluent community of Chino Hills, establishing a large number of members at the local Catholic church and driving the city to become an economic boom for the region. The city is now home to 10,000 Filipino-Americans.

According ContraCostaTimes.com, most Filipino-Americans in the region belong to the middle-class demographics where many Chino Hills residents are economically well-off. Many who began life in cities where the population of Filipino-Americans is high, cities like Filipino Town in Los Angeles, have now begun their exodus outward to cities like Chino Hills. It attracts Fil-Ams because of the reasonable home prices, which results in affordability of a better place to live, plus various cultural services directed towards this demographics. Just take the Philippine independence celebration in the city where more than 3,000 Filipino-Americans graced the festivities at its community park. Much of its Fil-Am residents are second and third generation Filipinos. There are a little less than 5 million Filipino-Americans in the United States, the second largest Asian-American group after Chinese-Americans, with a purchasing power of about $20 billion and a median annual income of $50,000 (early decade census).

Meralco using power lines for broadband internet

The Manila Electric Company, more famously known as Meralco, is about to test its power lines as a medium of transmitting broadband internet, creating a new source of business for its 24 million (or so) customers in the Philippines. Broadband over power lines can deliver as much as 200 Mbps in speed to residences, housing developments and small businesses without costly cabling. All the customer needs is an adapter or modem that’s plugged into the electric wall socket. There are limitations that Meralco will challenge during its tests, such as statis interferences and theft of service or “pilferege.” PLDT and its pension fund is now the biggest shareholder of Meralco, with 30.17 percent stake.

69 gay Filipino workers arrested in Riyadh

AT least 69 Filipinos were imprisoned in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after holding a gay show in celebration of Philippine Independence Day, June 12. However, they were later released after their sponsors paid fees for their release but are not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia as they have to face the case to be filed against them in court.

Why on earth will you do that in a country that defines its law under the strict tennets of their Islam faith? Click here for the full story under PinoyOverseas.net.