Remittances up 3.1% end-Oct

by Lee C. Chipongian

Overseas Filipinos sent home $26.74 billion of cash remittances in the first 10 months of the year, up by 3.1 percent from same period last year of $25.93 billion, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Cash remittances are funds transferred via the formal banking system and it is data easily captured by the BSP. The other remittances data is personal remittances which the central bank defines as the sum of the net compensation of overseas Filipinos, as well as personal transfers and capital transfers between households. 

For the month of October, cash remittances totalled $2.91 billion, which was 3.5 percent higher than same period last year of $2.81 billion.

“The expansion in cash remittances in October 2022 was due to the growth in receipts from land-based and sea-based workers,” said the BSP.

Land-based workers’ remittances rose by 3.6 percent year-on-year to $2.33 billion compared to $2.25 billion same time in 2022. Sea-based workers’ fund transfers amounted to $580 million from $560 million or up by 3.6 percent. 

Bulk of remittances came from the US with 41.7 percent of the total. Singapore accounted for seven percent, Saudi Arabia with 5.9 percent and Japan with five percent of the total.

The US will naturally be reported as a big source of remittances because of the common practice of remittance centers using correspondent banks located in the US. “Remittances coursed through money couriers cannot be disaggregated by actual country source and are lodged under the country where the main offices are located, which, in many cases, is in the US,” said the BSP.

As of end-October, the BSP said personal remittances increased by 3.1 percent to $29.72 billion from $28.82 billion last year.

For the month of October alone, personal remittances went up by 3.5 percent to $3.23 billion from $3.12 billion same month in 2021.

Land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more remitted $2.53 billion, up by 3.5 percent from $2.44 billion last year. Sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year, meantime, transferred $640 million which was higher by 3.6 percent from $620 million last year.

By end-2022, the BSP expects cash remittances to grow by four percent year-on-year, unchanged from previous years’ projections, including pre-pandemic. 

In 2021, cash remittances went up by 5.1 percent year-on-year to a record high of $31.42 billion.

What are the worst ways to offend a Filipino person?

 

Philippine Deep Dive

 · 

Following

Answered by 

Ronna Lou

As a Filipino, here are some things other people do that I find offensive

• Insult our food
• Insult our family members
• Laughing at our accent
• Disrespect our religion
• Assume we are all uneducated
• Bringing up toxic stereotypes

Sometimes, it’s an honest mistake. Other times, there are people who intentionally offend Filipinos just because. And if that doesn't reveal their personalities, I don't know what does.

Related read: What Not to Say to Filipinos

Both God and man

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

  THERE is that gospel episode where some Jewish leaders started to persecute Christ because Christ, by making an invalid walk, appeared to them as making himself equal to God. (cfr. Jn 5) They just could not accept that.

That was when Christ told them that what he did to that invalid, and later to many others with certain ailments, should prove to them that he was sent by God the Father. “The deeds my Father has given me to perform, these same deeds of mine testify that the Father has sent me,” he said. (Jn 5,36)

We need to understand that Christ is both God and man. In fact, as some theologians have been repeating, he is “perfect God, perfect man.” Obviously, for us to believe this truth of faith, we need faith, since this a supernatural mystery that our sciences and technologies would not fathom.

We need to make that leap of faith, which actually does not suppress our reason and the findings of our human faculties. What it does is to enable us to transcend, with our spiritual powers and the grace of God, our human powers. 

In other words, we should not be trapped in the world of nature alone. We have to enter into the world of the spiritual and the supernatural. We are actually poised for it, but we have to make the decision to take that leap.

Without making that leap, our understanding of who Christ really is has no other way but to be wrong. In fact, some have considered Christ only to be man, not God, though a superior kind of man. Others have regarded Christ only as God, not man, though he appears to be like man.

That Christ is both God and man has been definitively defined by the Church through some councils like those of Ephesus and Chalcedon. It was clarified that Christ was first of all a divine person, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, with two natures, the divine and the human. That would make him both God and man, “perfectus Deus, perfectus homo.” This union of the two natures in Christ is called in theological terms as “hypostatic union.”

This truth of our faith about Christ is crucial in also knowing who we really are. Christ, being the pattern of our humanity, somehow reaffirms the belief that we too are meant to be like God, sharers of God’s life and nature.

For us to be like Christ, and in fact, to assume the very identity of Christ, we have to learn how to die to ourselves so that Christ can live in us. Thus, Christ said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it.” (Lk 9,24) And, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (Jn 12,24-25)

We should give full force to our pursuit to assume the identity of Christ to such an extent that we can say with St. Paul, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2,20) Given our proclivity to simply be by ourselves, Christ has given us the formula of how we can be like him: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mt 16,24)

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Davao City has zero crime in past 2 weeks

By Ruth Palo

December 15, 2022 60

DAVAO CITY: The spokesman of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Maj. Catherine de la Rey, said the city has recorded zero incidents of crime since December 1.

According to her, this is surprising because crimes against persons and property usually increase during the Christmas season.

De la Rey said the people's heightened vigilance and the city's "culture of security" may have curbed the trend.

"There were a number of petty crimes but not that high to warrant concern because the people are also now aware that at this time they're very vigilant, they're very careful of their possessions," she said.

De la Rey, however, said the police are expecting an increase in drunk driving incidents and petty crimes in the next two weeks.

She said the DCPO has intensified its information campaign against drunk driving in the city amid the office parties and Christmas revelries this month.

"The DCPO is constantly reminding citizens to drink responsibly and refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol," she said.

She is also advising people who intend to drink during parties and events to take a taxi or have someone drive them home.

The city's liquor ban and curfew on minors will remain throughout the yuletide season.

"Our curfew on minors and the liquor ban will not stop, there are still limits. If you want to drink, do it inside your homes," she said.

De la Rey assures the public that police officers and security personnel will continue patrolling public places and establishments even during Christmas and New Year's Eve to ensure the liquor ban and curfew are followed.

Beware of cyber scams, ‘clickbaits’ this holiday season

Published December 15, 2022, 12:02 AM

by Manila Bulletin

The most wonderful time of the year need not be the most horrific, traumatic, and exhausting experience of your life, especially when you get the shock upon discovering that your credit card has already been “maxed out” with purchases that you didn’t do.

It is this time of the year that the Philippine National Police (PNP), led by its Anti-Cybercrime Group, is warning the public to be more cautious against online scams and clickbaits — those used by virtual scammers to lure victims, knocking on their generosity (and vulnerability) in this season of giving. 

“Scammers will take advantage of special days or major events like Christmas to fleece people of their money or personal information,” according to a statement from the PNP. “Be cautious every time you get an email (that) asks you to click on a link. Exercise due diligence especially this holiday season as you are making online purchases. Make it a season of awareness to everything around you. Do not easily trust.” 

The PNP reminds netizens of the various popular holiday season scams that they should look out for. There are “online shopping scams,” where scammers will set up fake online stores or post goods for sale in buy swap-sell groups or online classified sites to trick people into buying items that do not exist.

“Many of these websites offer luxury items such as popular brands of clothing, jewelry, and electronics at very low prices. Sometimes you will receive the item you paid for but they may be fake. At times, you may receive nothing at all. A newer version of online shopping scams involves the use of social media platforms to set up fake online stores,” according to the PNP. 

Tugging at the heart of innocent victims, the PNP warns of a high volume of “fake charities scams” this December. “Fake charities are among the most popular holiday scams, soliciting from consumers over the phone, email, and through direct mail. Scammers will pose as either agents of legitimate well-known charities or create their own charity name. Scammers set up fake websites, which look similar to those operated by real charities.” Some scammers may call or email you and request for donations or even ask for your credit card details.

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Awareness is just half of the battle. The PNP further advises the public to exercise due diligence — going directly to the official website of a hotel or airline; researching about the charity before sending a donation; withholding of personal info, credit card details, or online passwords to strangers; avoiding clicking on dubious links that promise easy money or fast return of investments, etc. 

Just 10 days before Christmas, scammers are working double, even triple time to siphon your hard-earned 13th month pay and bonuses. They are even working 24 hours as effective Dec. 27, 2022, users are required to register their SIM cards within 180 days from the effectivity of the law, with an extended registration period of not longer than 120 days.

Being extra generous this season may be acceptable, but not to online scammers, fraudsters, and hackers who are on Santa’s “naughty” list. May they be gifted with the full punishment of the law and celebrate future holidays behind bars.

Boracay in danger of collapsing as 815 sinkholes discovered

by Tara Yap, MB 

THE Sun sets at world-famous Boracay Island on Nov. 24. (Tara Yap)

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) has warned that world-famous Boracay Island could collapse after 815 sinkholes were discovered.

“There is danger if there is overcapacity. Only time will tell when structures will collapse,” warned Engr. Mae Magarzo, chief geologist of MGB in Western Visayas region.

Magarzo told the Manila Bulletin in a phone interview on Wednesday, Dec. 14, that the number of sinkholes at the country’s most popular beach destination in Malay town, Aklan province gradually increased in the past four years.

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The MGB-6 found 789 sinkholes in three barangays during a hazard assessment in 2018, the year when the Duterte administration implemented massive rehabilitation and banned tourists in Boracay for six months.

By 2019, the number of sinkholes rose to 801. By 2022, these increased to 815.

Magarzo said that Boracay is susceptible to sinkholes since the ground is made mostly of limestone. 

She added that sinkholes are very hard to predict as these suddenly happen and there are no prior indicators.

The MGB-6 Coastal Geohazard Map also found key areas in the resort-island that are susceptible to erosion.

“The main beach is already showing low erosion,” Magarzo said.

Magarzo is calling for the stronger implementation of Boracay’s carrying capacity.

In 2018, the government set a maximum of 19,215 tourists in the resort-island per day with only 6,405 new tourists allowed to enter.

The DENR has yet to release Boracay’s new carrying capacity which was supposed to have been released when the term of President Duterte ended last June 30.

9-day ‘Simbang Gabi’ begins on Dec. 16; anticipated masses to begin tonight

by Christina Hermoso, MB

(CATHOLIC YOUTH ONLINE)

With the ease in Covid-19 restrictions and with more people vaccinated against the coronavirus, more parishioners are expected to attend the nine-day “Simbang Gabi” votive masses, which begin on Friday, Dec. 16.

As in the pre-pandemic years, devout Catholics are expected to attend physically on Friday instead of joining online the first of the nine-day “Simbang Gabi” dawn masses, which will be held at dawn in all Catholic churches across the country and in many parts of the world. 

Church leaders are encouraging the faithful to attend the “Simbang Gabi” masses in churches this year while still being mindful of the safety health protocols.

Considered as one of the oldest but well observed Christmas traditions in the Philippines, church bells will peal before the break of dawn for the duration of the ‘Simbang Gabi’ which are held at 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. with the final mass, the Misa de Gallo (rooster’s mass) on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, traditionally held shortly before midnight.

In recent years, to accommodate the needs of the faithful on different work schedules, anticipated ‘Simbang Gabi’ masses will be held starting on Thursday, December 15, at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. in many parishes and chapels.

Also known as Misa de Aguinaldo (gift mass), churchgoers offer the gift of sacrifice in waking up before the break of dawn for nine consecutive days to attend the dawn masses for different intentions: in thanksgiving, as a form of worship, or for a petition.

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Others, in traditional Filipino belief, attend to obtain special graces upon completing the nine-day masses.

The Simbang Gabi is an old tradition with deep roots in the country’s religious culture, dating back to 1565 when Spanish “conquistador” Miguel Lopez de Legazpi celebrated the first Feast of the Nativity.

The practice originated in Mexico when in 1587, Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the Convent of San Agustin Acolman, asked permission from the Holy Father to hold Christmas masses for the farmers who wake up very early to work.

During the 16th century, Pope Sixtus V decreed that the dawn masses should also be held in the Philippines every 16th of December.

At that time, it gave the farmers a chance to hear mass before working in the fields.

Kim Chiu energized for the holiday season

Published December 15, 2022, 7:25 AM

by Robert Requintina, MB

KIm Chiu

The holiday season is one of Kim Chiu’s most favorite times of the year because it’s when she
starts decorating her house, including her much awaited Christmas tree. Growing up not having
a tree has made her want to go all out and personally put one up every year.

Her theme previously was white Christmas and decked her 12-foot tree with white ornaments because for her, the color white symbolized hope and she missed traveling to wherever there was snow.

This Christmas will be extra special because this will be the first time since the pandemic when we can all finally get together with minimal restrictions. “This holiday season is the time for get together, more reason to meet up and celebrate with friends and family, get together, exchange gifts and a lot of food!” says Kim. “Plus, I get to have my holiday vacation! Feeling excited and body must be ready for all the happenings!” 

The holidays are also Kim’s busiest time because of work commitments and projects she has to attend to. “I am doing series of projects now and that’s what makes me busy these days plus I have just started my bag business and I am very happy with the result. I can’t wait for the restock and people want more of house of little bunny bags! “she adds. “I need to spark up my energy and be prepared for the coming holiday season! Feeling good! Feeling excited!

To carry herself through all this, she makes it a point to drink Berocca to help spark her energy. Berocca boasts a unique combination of vitamins and essential minerals, like calcium, magnesium, and zinc, that work in synergy to improve your mental performance and physical energy throughout the day.

“Even if I lack sleep or have an early call time, I make sure I always have some Berocca,” Kim shared enthusiastically. “I get all the vitamins and nutrients my body needs, and it tastes great too.”

Like Kim, you can spark your energy to help you stay energized and focused throughout the holiday season.

EU-based firm renews commitment to build shipyard in PH—Marcos

by Betheena Unite, MB

A French shipbuilding firm has renewed its commitment to pursue a P1.5-billion shipyard development in the Philippines.

(Malacañang Photo)

Malacañang said shipbuilding firm OCEA S.A. made the pledge during a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday, Dec. 14. 

According to OCEA, the planned investment will create 500 to 600 direct and indirect jobs in the Philippines, as it eyes to build 15 to 120-meter boats for several markets intended for maritime safety and security, transportation and fisheries.

OCEA initially made the investment pledge for a shipyard project in the Philippines during the 9th Philippine-France Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting held in July last year.

The commitment was supported by the company’s letter of intent sent to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regarding the creation of OCEA Shipbuilding Philippines Inc.

The French firm also has ongoing discussions with potential associates and partners in the Philippines. 

The company has so far identified several locations for the planned shipyard, including Mariveles, Bataan; Batangas; Sual, Pangasinan; and Subic.

Currently, OCEA has new contracts under negotiation to build vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA).

Marcos thanked the company for its commitment as he expressed hope that it could contribute in the training of potential Filipino seafarers.

“Our seafarers are very important to us, especially as we start to recover and the training ship is going to be critical for the continuing [training] because I keep hearing now about the new technologies,” Marcos said.

“And the training ship is very necessary so that they can get the proper credentials from whatever maritime academy they are attending, the potential seafarers. So that is going to be a big help,” the President pointed out.

OCEA S.A., the builder of PCG’s BRP Gabriela Silang, is today’s French leader in aluminium shipbuilding, specializing in the design, building and support of aluminium vessels.

P10-M worth of Provincial Medicine Warehouse to rise in DdO capitol complex

Davao de Oro - Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, on Monday, December 12, 2022, led the groundbreaking ceremony to officially start the construction of the P10-M worth of 1-storey Provincial Medicine Warehouse located at the Provincial Capitol Complex, Nabunturan.

Governor Gonzaga, in her speech, expressed gratitude to the Department of Health (DOH) through the Davao Center for Health Development (DCHD) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) for the support provided in the realization of the building, as well as her plans to extend aid so that the construction will be finished on time.

PHO head Dr. Antonio P. Ybiernas said in his message that the building will serve as a satellite office that will improve the day-to-day operations of PHO as well as a storage facility for commodities including medicines and vaccines. 

"Duna pud ni syay gamay opisina para sa atoang supply officer para ila gyung mabantayan ang atoang mga commodities... para pud ang atong katawhan dili na magproblema kung unsay mga tambal o vaccines nga gikinahanglanon" Dr. Ybiernas said. 

Meanwhile, DCHD Regional Director Dr. Annabelle P. Yumang was also present during the ceremony emphasizing in her message the necessity for a warehouse in times of emergencies.

"Remember during the Bagyong Pablo, there are lot of people na gusto mu-donate sa atoa but wala tay mabutangan, we only have tents. We should not wait for another calamity that we come to realize nga need nato ang warehouse" Dr. Yumang said.

Dr. Yumang added that a series of training will be given to the supply officers who will look after the supplies including proper temperature requirements to avoid contamination from pests. She also hopes for support from the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) for the maintenance and monitoring of the building.

Further, in a one-on-one interview with Dr. Ybiernas, he also stressed that more projects await the constituents including the construction of Super Health Centers from DOH that are set to rise in strategic locations of the province providing specialized health services at the local scale. Such provisions may include an outpatient department, laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound, birthing services, diagnostic, blood chemistry, and dental services, among others. 

Present also at the ceremony were Acting Provincial Administrator Fatima Montejo, DMO-DOH Representative Dr. Annie Larosa, Asst. PHO PG Heads Dr. Mary Cyrel Pasaol and Dr. Abigail Amores, Engr. Moises John Fortulazo of Heavy John Engineering Consultancy and other PG Heads of the provincial government, together with the PHO, PDOHO, and PEO staff, where they showed their support in strengthening the healthcare delivery in the province. (J. Fernandez, Photos by A. Dayao)