PH places 44 countries in green list, 2 in red

By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO, SunStar Manila

THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has placed at least 44 countries in the world under the “Green” list category, while two others have remained under “Red” list for November 16 to 30, 2021.

Green has been used for countries that are low risk to coronavirus disease (Covid-19), while Red is for those classified as high risk. Yellow means moderate risk.

Included in the Green list are American Samoa, Bhutan, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Federated States of Micronesia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, South Africa, Sudan, Taiwan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Faroe Islands and The Netherlands are the two areas that are currently in the Red list, while the rest of the countries, territories, and jurisdictions not mentioned are under Yellow list.

Fully-vaccinated travelers entering the Philippines from areas under the green list no longer need to undergo a facility-based quarantine upon their arrival provided that they yield negative RT-PCR test results taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

They also have the option to undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test result taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival in the country or not to undergo quarantine, so long as they get a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals, as well as those with unverified vaccination status and those who failed to comply with the “test-before-travel requirements” need to undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on their fifth day in the country.

or fully-vaccinated passengers departing from countries under Yellow list, they need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test result taken on their fifth day in the Philippines.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will have to undergo RT-PCR testing on the seventh day of a facility-based quarantine.

Inbound passengers from Red countries will be denied entry in the Philippines if they stayed there 14 days prior to their arrival to the Philippines unless they were Filipino citizens who will be subject to testing and quarantine protocols.

Returning Filipinos are required to spend their first 10 days in a quarantine facility and the last four days at home. They also have to undergo RT-PCR testing on their seventh day.

Travelers transiting through the countries under Red list with proof they only stayed in the airport will not be considered as coming from a red country.

Meanwhile, the IATF also approved to honor the national Covid-19 vaccination certificates of individuals from Australia, Czech Republic, Georgia, India, Japan, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Turkey, and Samoa as recommended by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“The said recommendation is in addition to such other countries/territories/jurisdictions whose proofs of vaccination the IATF already approved for recognition in the Philippines, and without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by IATF for all inbound travelers,” said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

“Accordingly, the Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation-One-Stop-Shop, and the Bureau of Immigration are directed to recognize only the proofs of vaccination thus approved by the IATF,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)

Typical Filipino (XVI) - Typisch Philippinisch (XVI): "Pakikisama" - "Paghiusa" - Die Kunst des Zusammenlebens

 

Pakikisama (or in Bisaya Paghiusa) is a typical trait of a Filipino, in its simplest sense meaning “getting along with others”. Pakikisama entails a genuine intrinsic appreciation of togetherness, which in general means  camaraderie or what sociologists call the need for people in the Philippines to maintain smooth interpersonal relations. The prevalence of pakikisama is one of the reasons that the Philippines is seen as such a friendly country.

Der philippinische Audruck beschreibt glatte zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen. Grob übersetzt bedeutet dies die Fähigkeit, miteinander auszukommen und das Gefühl von Kameradschaft und Zusammengehörigkeit zu entwickeln. Diese erstrebenswerte Fähigkeit erlernen die Filipinos schon von klein auf. Ich habe dies in mehr als 22 Jahren meines Permanentaufenthalts mit einem großen Teil der Familie meiner deutsch-philippinischen Frau auf demselben Grundstück lernen, lieben und schätzen gelernt.

The Filipino term describes smooth interpersonal relationships. Roughly translated, this means the ability to get along with one another and develop a felling of camaraderie and togetherness. Filipinos learn this desirable skill from an early age. I have learned to love and appreciate this in more than 22 years of my permanent stay with a large part of the family of my Filipino-German wife on the same property.

(To be continued: "Utang na loob" - Der Schuldenzyklus. Don't miss it out!)

DTI-DdO completes the distribution of P2.5M livelihood assistance to MSMEs

Davao de Oro --- More than five hundred micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in 23 identified barangays in the province received over P2.5-million livelihood assistance under the DTI’s Livelihood Seeding Program–Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay – Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (LSP-NSB PBG) with strict adherence of health protocols for COVID-19.

Each beneficiary received a package of various livelihood kits amounting to PHP5, 000 who were residents of Barangay Longanapan, Aguinaldo, Anitipan, Bahi, Golden Valley, Linoan, New Visayas, Bayabas, Sto. Niño, Pagsabangan, Andap, Panansalan, Diwalwal, San Isidro, Bawani, Araibo, Bongabong, Tibagon, Manipongol, Panangan, New Dalaguete, Mayaon, and Conception in this province.

 The program aims to boost micro-enterprises affected by natural and human-induced calamities such as pandemic brought by COVID-19 and intends to provide livelihood opportunities for identified beneficiaries in areas considered as priorities. They also underwent four modules of capability building seminar to develop and strengthen their entrepreneurial competencies during the turn-over ceremony.

There is a Negosyo Center per municipality that promotes ease of doing business and providing access to development services for MSMEs through business counselors in their areas of responsibilities.

This was made successful in partnership with the provincial and local government units that allows a wider reach of business development assistance by bringing government services closer to the people especially in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantage Areas (GIDAs) and vulnerable communities. (Rheafe C. Hortizano, Provincial Information Office, Photo Courtesy of DTI-DdO)

Government helps people’s organizations receive livelihood assistance

Davao de Oro --- A total of seventy-one people’s organizations (POs) received certificates and tool kits in a ceremony held in Barangay Tibagon, Pantukan, Davao de Oro on June 27, 2020.

Two tailoring machine, native bags, and food packs were given to the POs who completed their 5-day Sapang Lubog Livelihood Skills Training Program on massage therapy, tailoring, nail care, and welding services.

This made possible with the help of Local Government Unit (LGU) of Pantukan in partnership with Municipal Council of Women, Municipal Community Teaching and Employment Coordinator and in collaboration of 71st Infantry Battalion. 

All POs are members of Sapang Lubog Women's Association (SALUWA) and Asosasyon sa Nagkahiusang Grupo sa Kadafa, Sapang Lubog, Sapang Tin-aw Tibagon Integrated Motorist (ANGKASS-TIM) that was organized by Community Development Team (CDT).

The assistance is one of the programs of government to sustain livelihood development in the grassroot communities in the province.

Meanwhile, twenty-one members of Kaibigan People's Advocacy for Collaboration and Empowerment (KPEACE) received food packs and six sacks of feeds for their pigs.

The Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) of Davao de Oro, is still aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace, of carefully getting to the root causes of conflicts in the whole province.

Oplan Pagbabago is anchored on President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order Number (EO) 70 which aims to create a national peace framework and institutionalize the whole-of-nation approach.

(Rheafe Hortizano, ID Davao de Oro)

Comval holds another "Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo"

The province of Compostela Valley under Governor Jayvee Tyron L. UY holds another  "Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo" program in the far-flung and conflict affected areas at Purok 4, Barangay Rizal, Monkayo Comval on July 12, 2019.

More than 500 beneficiaries of the said Barangay availed of the different types of government services offered by the different participating National Agencies, private stakeholders and the Provincial and Municipal Government.

The programs and services offered are the distribution of fingerlings by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), consultation and support program for crop insurance by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), turnover of SLPA PAMANA project amounting to Php 300,000.00, facilitate and addressed queries relative to Pantawid Pamilya Program, and information dissemination of DSWDs AICs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) also turns over 1 unit rice harvester, as well as the conduct of  information dissemination and mobile registration of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), information education campaign for integrated pest management and master listing of farmers by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and provided ready to eat food samples product by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

On the other hand, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducts training needs assessment profiling and free haircut services, while the Department of Education (DEPED) provides schools supplies from kinder to grade-1 students. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) offered libreng tsenilas for school children, libreng gupit and feeding program as well as the Medical and Dental Services by the AFP.

Another services availed by the beneficiaries are the free legal consultations, notarization of documents, late registration and other documents by the Provincial Attorneys Office (PAO). 

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) also conducted information education campaign and student permit application while the Deapartment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted a rigestration program for rural workers association and orientation of livelihood program and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted distribution of fruit bearing trees.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) conducted orientation on child protection policy for parents and group dynamics for children ages 5-12 years old. 

The private partners joined the program are the Sumiftu which they augmented three nurses and conducted information and education campaign and distributed ripe bananas to the beneficiaries, while the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) conducted a free membership seminar, received electric bill payments and catered queries of their consumers.

The Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo program of the province is another strategy in response to the Executive order no.70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte for the whole of nation approach to deliver government services to the Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas (GIDAS) in Comval. Last July 5, the same Tunol Serbisyo was also given to the beneficiaries in Brgy. Araibo, Pantukan. #YestoDavaoDeOro  (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)

Global Warming

GLOBAL WARMING

While most Asian countries keep on fighting with typhoons, heavy down pours, floods and landslides, Europe faces this: Snow comes later, melts earlier, and is not nearly as deep as it was 30 years ago. EU scientists are racing to help winter tourism regions adapt to climate change — but is man-made snow the answer?

Global warming has already shut down scores of European ski hills outside the high alpine zones.

"Last year, we had about 20 days, the year before, even fewer," German mechanic Karl Oberreiter says, working on the control panel of a chairlift. "I don't think we've had a full season since the 1980's. There's a point where you can't do it anymore. After that, I don't know."

Oberreiter's concerns echo across the across the heart of the Alps in Austria and Switzerland like a mournful yodel.

Winters are 10 to 30 days shorter than during the 1960's. By 2100, there will be almost no snow below 1,200 meters — an average elevation for ski towns. The overall snow cover in the Alps will decline 70 percent, according to recent climate studies.

Preserving winter tourism and sports in the Alps beyond 2100 requires not just keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, but the Paris Agreement's more ambitious — and many say, extremely unlikely — goal of 1.5 degrees.

Even if that were achieved, alpine winters are expected to grow ever-shorter, before potentially stabilizing toward the end of the century in a warmer and much less snowy state, says author Bob Berwyn.

With the future of the ski and winter tourism industry at stake, a team of international scientists, partly funded by the European Union, launched the new ProSnow research project in November.

Winter tourism and sports in the Alps are at risk! It aims to make resort towns in the Alps more resilient to climate change by accurately forecasting seasonal snowfall and temperatures. Combined with long-term climate projections, this information is hoped to help alpine communities plan for the future — even making up for nature's shortfall with snow-making and snow farming.

The sad truth for many towns and ski areas below 1,000 meters is, in the coming decades most of their white magic will come from the business end of industrial snowaking machines.

Ski resorts around the world have already installed miles of water pipes and built reservoirs and pumps so they can make their own snow. Water is vaporized by thousands of high-pressure nozzles and freezes into a crystalline form that's almost like the real thing.

Ski area operators have become snow farmers. Before the season starts, they use the snow guns to make big piles of snow in strategic spots on the mountain. Later, snow grooming machines distribute and smooth it out.

Conservation organizations like the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA), have fiercely criticized snowmaking because of its energy consumption and disruption of ecosystems like tundra and streams.

And some sustainably oriented mountain resort communities have rejected it in favor of a "soft tourism" path that's supported by both the German and Austrian alpine clubs.

But ProSnow project leader Samuel Morin says snowmaking is here to stay, because resorts know that natural snow will be even less reliable in the coming decades.

"Snow reacts immediately to climate change, and since the early 1990's, snow is no longer a certainty," Morin said in an interview lately.  "The project was initially triggered by long-term climate concerns. And there is more variability now. The question is, to what extent can snow-making and other technical measures counteract that?"

It’s a question that's also pertinent in California, which right now is suffering floods and slum-slides after weeks of wildfires. Close to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, about 300 miles north of Los Angeles, skier Jamie Shectman is waiting for snow after a bone-dry fall. He says you can't take the ski industry in isolation. A summer of destructive hurricanes and wildfires shows that globally, climate change impacts are intensifying, threatening lives and food production. More snowmaking may not be the most appropriate response.

"There's a total disconnect between our sport and what's happening with climate change," Shectman told in an TV interview last night. "We know it's a high impact sport. From a karma perspective, the ski industry should be at the fore of the fight against global warming," he says.

People are thinking now about creative solutions for green winter slopes. Instead of energy-hogging sources of greenhouse gas pollution, ski resorts should become self-sufficient producers of wind, solar, biomass and hydropower, Shectman says, describing his involvement in developing a solar power project at Mt. Abrams Ski Area, in Maine.

Climate change is probably outpacing our technical capabilities to adapt, so slowing and stopping warming should be the priority. In just the past decade — the warmest in Earth's recorded history — the snow line rose between 1,200 and 1,500 feet in the northern Sierra Nevada.

Of course, there are regional nuances to global warming impacts, and for some communities in the Alps, with access to renewable energy and high-elevation ski slopes, snowmaking could be an interim option to keep skiing alive. That includes the five alpine towns in France, Italy, Switzerland Austria and Germany that are part of the ProSnow pilot project this winter. All are in the mid-elevation mountain belt most susceptible to global warming.

Austrian winters have shortened by 10 to 20 days since the 1950's, and maximum snow depth has declined at all elevations and nearly all regions of the mountainous country, with small localized exceptions.

The uncertainty, paradoxically, is also what why proponents say energy-intensive snow-making such an indispensable part of the winter ski and tourism industry — at least for the foreseeable future.

Fact is: global warming and climate change effects all of us. Worldwide. Sad to say: it's no more five minutes before twelve. It's already several minutes after twelve!

German Embassy's Advent Series

German Embassy Manila

Page Liked · December 17 · 

 

++ ADVENT SERIES – DELICACIES ++

In this post, we take a look at the delicacies that make our Christmas celebrations more delicious and sweeter!

“Plätzchen” are very important in the German Christmas tradition. There are countless recipes one can follow. But of course the best ones are usually those handed down by great grandmothers to younger generations. Baking cookies with the family is a common activity during the Christmas season, which fills the house with Christmas scents and warmth from the oven. It is an activity surely enjoyed by every family member (except the ones cleaning up, LOL). The baked cookies are often given as gifts to friends to spread the Christmas feeling – which is also a good excuse for you not to eat them all by yourself and gain 5 kilos!

At this time of posting, Filipinos have begun their series of “Simbang Gabi.” It is also during this period that you’ll find street vendors near the churches baking fresh “bibingka” and “puto bumbong” – two of the most iconic Filipino Christmas delicacies. Because of the abundance of rice in the country, parishioners during the Spanish era offered rice to their parishes which are in turn prepared by the priests and clergy as “bibingka” and “puto bumbong” to be shared with everyone. Preparing the bibingka is time-consuming but interesting as it is primarily sandwiched in between two pre-heated coals. The Puto Bumbong on the other hand is baked by steaming the glutinous rice in a bamboo tube until the rice (usually purple in color) rises from the tube. The best part is the signal when the dessert is cooked – the bamboo tube whistles!

Marcos camp: We have evidence of 2016 polls anomaly

By Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com) | Updated September 6, 2017 - 12:05pm

 14  189 googleplus0  0 

In his poll protest, former Sen. Bongbong Marcos questioned the integrity of the 2016 elections. The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has dispensed Marcos' first cause of action in his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. AP/Bullit Marquez, file

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of defeated vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos remains confident that they will secure victory in an election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), earlier upheld the integrity of the 2016 elections.

The tribunal dispensed the Marcos camp's first cause of action calling to nullify the results of the vice presidential race due to a "flawed" automated election system.

Lawyer George Garcia, head of Marcos' legal team, admitted that the first cause of action will not result to the proclamation of the former senator as vice president.

The protest of Marcos against Robredo, however, is still not over, according to Garcia.

READ: SC upholds integrity of 2016 polls, orders ballot boxes retrieved

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

"That may not be true at all when we say that the Supreme Court dismissed, that Supreme Court merely dismissed the first cause of action. We have three causes of action and it is also wrong to say that the Presidential Electoral Tribunal practically set aside the so-called nullification of the 2016 election," Garcia said in ANC's Headstart.

The second cause of action is for the revision and recount of all voters' receipts, elections returns and other documents in 27 provinces and highly urbanized cities used in the May 2016 elections.

Meanwhile, the third cause of action seeks to annul the election results in Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao on the grounds of cheating like vote buying, pre-shading, intimidation, among others.

Garcia claimed that more than 51 percent of the voters in the three provinces were not the ones who actually voted on election day.

"If we are able to prove that based on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Abayon vs HRET, that may result in the nullification of the results of the election at least for the position of vice president," Garcia said.

The Marcos counsel said that their camp has evidence to prove the anomalies in the three provinces during the 2016 polls, justifying their request to retrieve election materials.

The PET also ordered the "retrieval of ballot boxes and other election documents, revision of ballots and reception of evidence can already begin with, but shall first be confined to, only the provinces that have been designated by protestant, namely Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.”

The nullification of election results from the three provinces may result in the victory of Marcos in the vice presidential race. Robredo won by more than 265,000 votes against Marcos.

"And in case the tribunal will annul the election in these three provinces, it may result to Bongbong Marcos winning by a 45,000-vote margin," Garcia said.

I am the way

WED, JUNE 28, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION

Klaus Doring

Many times we compare our life with a path. We talk about “the way”. We describe a determined man as, “He’s on the right track”. We go about our tracks, but we are reproved if we take a short cut and not the path across a rice field. We learn that there are many ways of solving problems.

We also don’t want to stand in other people’s way. Sometimes we prefer to keep put of someone’s way and plan to avoid getting in their way. Often we try to find the golden middle course….

Many different ways have been offered to us during our whole life. How can we be able to choose the right and correct one? Which signs at our way can be trusted blindly? These are urgent and vital questions for all of us, and, especially during this time, very important like never before.

In the past, traditions and customs are the paths, we took. Nowadays, we make decisions and long for the correct path – mostly on our own.

The German atom physician Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) described it very impressively. The man of today is like a ship’s captain. This ship is made out of iron. The compass needle is no longer able to show the Northern direction, as expected, because of the ship’s iron inflexible body. You have one choice only: look up to the stars and study their guiding sup-port!”

We’re all happy and proud, when we have every need at our disposal. On the other hand, it only confuses our aims, goals, and objectives in life.

“I am the way” is NOT ONLY a traffic sign – or a shepherd without responsibility – or a religious founder, who thinks, that “only he is the right way, if one follows him”….

HIS way is the only right way. Only His deeds colored our fates. Let’s keep our eyes open for the important signs at our way, such as :

– Unselfish participation in the life of others;

– Courage to uncover prejudice;

– Ready to help the unprotected and defense-less;

– Struggle for freedom and justice;

– Commitment for peace.

Most of all: Love, which does not calculate and count. Love without measurements, boundaries and limits.

If you can share with others, you’ll know one day in future, that someone walked this way – earlier then you – and, and, FOR YOU!

DUTERTE: DAVAO CITY IS THE NEW CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES! MINDANAO WILL...

Cebu Yolanda Survivors to Duterte: Don't forget about us!

Survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Cebu seek help from president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, hoping that he would speed up rehabilitation of typhoon-hit towns

By Richale 

Cabauatan

UNFINISHED. Prescilla Jumao-as stands in front of her house, which was constructed after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013. The house remains unfinished.

CEBU, Philippines – Filipinos in northern Cebu will never forget who and what they lost to Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on November 8, 2013.

Yolanda destroyed towns in the Eastern Visayas before plowing through northern Cebu.

Two and a half years later, most of the survivors of Yolanda are still suffering. Many of them say they have not fully recovered. (READ: Yolanda rehab: Only 30% complete as 2016 begins)

Last Monday, May 9, they trooped to the polls and voted for the first time since the typhoon struck.

What do the Yolanda survivors want from their leaders?

'We want homes'

"Kung maka-storya man gani nako ang sunod nga presidente... i-ampo gyud nako nga kami, mga biktima sa Yolanda, hatagan niya ug mga balay nga matawag gyud namo nga puy-anan," said a teary-eyed Prescilla Jumao-as.

(If I could talk to the president... I pray that he would give us, victims of Yolanda, houses we can really call home.)

Jumao-as, 65, said the government promised her a new home in 2013. Two and a half years later, she's still waiting.

What's worse, she added, is that her grandchildren had to suffer with her.

MAKESHIFT HOME. Tents housing Yolanda survivors haven't disappeared in Daanbantayan, Cebu. Photo by Richale Cabauatan/Rappler

Jumao-as was dropped from the list of survivors who needed housing and was never told why. She believes it's because she knows no one from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). NGOs which promised to help also never returned.

Jumao-as said it seems that the government has forgotten about them. "And maybe God has, too?" she wondered.

She is now pinning her hopes on president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Free education

DREAMING. Catherine Bentulan dreams of free education for her children.

"Dili gyud siya sayon uy. Dili gyud," said Catherine Bentulan, a mother of 4.

(It's not easy. It really isn't.)

"Giampo gyud nako nga kung kinsa man gani ang musunod nga presidente, iyaha gyung himuon nga libre ang edukasyon para sa pareha namo nga dili pa gyud kaya ipadala sa eskwelahan ang among mga anak," Bentulan told Rappler.

(I pray that whoever the next president is, he makes education free for people like us who can't afford to send our kids to school.)

Bentulan's eldest child is in college; the second one, a 9th grader; and the third one, in elementary school. Her youngest is a toddler.

She was 4 months pregnant the day Yolanda destroyed their house, which had just been standing for a week and hadn't even been furnished yet. She had a miscarriage in the days following the typhoon.

Although Bentulan often wishes that her baby had lived, she said that what happened might have been for the best: "I'm glad he or she didn't live a day to experience our hardships."

Bentulan shared that even before Yolanda came, they struggled to send their kids to school.

She hopes to see the next president, even if he weren't the one she voted for, prioritize education for under-privileged families like hers.

Higher pension

PENSION. Lorita Alarde hopes president-elect Rodrigo Duterte will prioritize increasing pensions for senior citizens like her.

"I hope pensions will rise. Today, it's not enough to raise a family. I'm old, you see. I can't work anymore. They don't hire the elderly and I have grandchildren to feed," said Lorita Alarde, 85 years old.

When Alarde's husband, Fernando, died in 1985, she had to make do with the small pension he left her. She had no job. She was always tending to the house and to the children.

A P3,500-pension today is not enough to provide for her 6 grandchildren, she said.

Alarde hopes Duterte will listen to the elderly like her – and fast – because she believes she doesn't have much time left.

Programs for farmers, fishermen

CABINET. Ruben Jumao-as shares that the cabinet behind him is the only possession that he was able to save during Super Typhoon Yolanda.

"I hope he gives more attention to the farmers and the fishermen. Give them more jobs and privileges," said Ruben Jumao-as, who has worked as a caretaker of a hacienda for more than 20 years.

Yolanda damaged hectares of the sugarcane plantation he takes care of. Tall sugarcanes turned into twigs scattered on the ground after the typhoon came. The plantation has yet to fully recover.

Jumao-as said it's painful for him to see the farmers working under these conditions. "They always seem tired and unappreciated," he said.

Big businesses, he added, make it even worse for farmers and fishermen who make so much less even with all their efforts combined.

Jumao-as relayed his message to Duterte: "Mr President, please take care of our farmers and our fishermen." – Rappler.com

Richale Cabauatan is a Rappler intern and Mover.