Rhian Ramos on overcoming fear: Be scared, but do it anyway

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Aug 2, 2024 12:53 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• “When the World Met Miss Probinsiyana” brings hope, inspiration, and dreams coming true in cinemas starting Aug. 7.

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Rhian Ramos (Facebook)

Actress Rhian Ramos unveiled her unwavering determination, emphasizing that being told she cannot do something only fuels her drive and willpower.

During a recent media conference at Robinsons Galleria for her upcoming movie, "When The World Met Miss Probinsyana," Rhian said that she shares a similar quality with Marjorie Aviso, who is the CEO of Telework PH and President of Global Impact Production, the character she portrays in the advocacy film. Rhian emphasized that determination is one of the qualities she has in common with Marjorie.

"If I have something in common with Marge, kapag sinasabihan ako ng hindi kaya, hindi bagay or hindi niya mapu-pull off yan, mas lalo akong ginaganahan. Mas lalo akong na-cha-challenge. 

"I give myself a pep talk. Of course may mga time na naniniwala ako sa sinasabi nila but it's about overcoming that. It's like saying, 'Be scared, but do it anyway,'" said Rhian.

Marge also served as producer of the film, which is based on her life story.

"As a first time producer sabi ko wow ganito pala ang mundo (ng showbiz). Bakit ko ba pinasok ito? On the flip side, I realized bayanihan pala rito, and people put in effort because they believe in the cause. I think that's where the power is," the business process outsourcing (BPO) executive said.

Director Jenny Pearl Ninalga hopes "Miss Probinsyana" will serve as a voice to the voiceless. "We want to be the voice for the voiceless. Yun ang sinasabi namin sa film." 

FROM LEFT: Marjorie Aviso, who is the CEO of Telework PH and President of Global Impact Production; Rhian Ramos, Lance Raymundo, and Director Jenny Pearl Ninalga 

Marge was impressed by Rhian's acting abilities and unwavering professionalism.

"Nagulat ako how she portrayed my character. Everyone I knew would say Rhian captured your personality. Ikaw na ikaw yung nakita namin. She also supports causes like women's empowerment. So yun ang dalawang factors for choosing Rhian. She's a star," she also said.

Rhian said she's honored to have portrayed the character of Marge.

"I'm very flattered para mabigyan ka ng tiwala ng isang tao especially playing a character na isinulat para sa akin. But it's her life, feelings and experiences na kailangan kong gawing klaro. Just the fact na pinagkatiwalaan nila ako at kaya kong gawin yun, it feeds me as an actor," the actress said.

"When The World Met Miss Probinsyana" tells the story of Marge, a determined woman from the province, who ventures into the competitive arena of the BPO industry, a world dominated by men, where she emerges as a beacon of innovation and empowerment.

Returning to her roots with a mission to uplift her community, she faces the ultimate challenge: establishing her own BPO business amidst the skepticism of traditional norms.  

Alongside her supportive partner Wil, Marge navigates the complexities of entrepreneurship and personal growth, striving to balance her aspirations with the realities of societal expectations. 

Rhian Ramos and Sam Verzosa

"When the World Met Miss Probinsyana" is a story of resilience, empowerment, and the relentless pursuit of dreams, challenging viewers to rethink the boundaries of success and the power of returning home to make a difference.

Director Jenny recalled that the idea to make the film started when Marge was interviewed for the TV show World Changers. "When I learned about her story, deeper issues, and struggles, I told her I am an advocate myself, and your story is worth telling."

Reacting to Jenny's statement, Marge said: "I asked her if my story was worth telling. I feel like my story is not super extraordinary. For me, it's ordinary. Pero sabi nga nila yun nga yun eh. What's ordinary is very relatable to the masses. Working in the province is also not always available. But they knew there was an opportunity and let them know it was happening. Even if you are in the province, you know it's available and don't have to leave the country."

Sid Lucero, as Wil, Marjorie’s supportive partner, completes the cast, along with Lance Raymundo, James Marco, Joshua Zamora, Camille Rose, Jyra De Guzman, Kristin Abbey, Kristal Luistro, and Ayah Sarmiento at Rowie Cardona.

Drago Cruz Munoz, Mabel Reyes, Janina Lorelei, Julien Antonuccio, Sarah Ansari, Stephan Anderson, Aaron Hewson, and Hamsa Omar are also in the movie.

The artistic and production team of “Miss Probinsyana ” are screenplay writers Eligio Ninalga Jr and JP Ninalga. Director of Photography Logie Ninalga. Executive Producers: Marjorie Aviso, Lyn Baynosa/ Production by Impact Media Convergence Inc. Presented by: Global Impact Productions Inc. Music by Jonaf Del Fierro and M2arje.

“When the World Met Miss Probinsiyana” brings hope, inspiration, and dreams coming true in cinemas starting Aug. 7.

Tapping into the Pinoy-style of tipping

To tip or not to tip

BY CARLA MORTEL BARICAUA

Aug 1, 2024 10:56 PM

  

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Illustration by Ariana Maralit

For service workers living on minimum wage, tipping is a welcome gesture that could spell the difference between making ends meet and falling into debt days before payday. Far from being mandatory in the country, handing out tips has become common in some establishments or circumstances.

Tourists regularly practice tipping in areas they frequent, such as hotels, restaurants, and casinos, and when they use services like transportation and health and wellness, among others. Filipinos are generally not expected to give tips, but they have adapted the practice from Western culture, which has become more widespread, especially in commercial and urban areas.

 Cristina Santiago of Carmelo's Steakhouse

“In the US, tipping is mandatory. In Europe, some establishments have started to regard tips as mandatory. Here, it’s given out of consideration for a job well done,” shared Cristina Santiago, the restaurateur behind Carmelo’s Steakhouse. She suggests adopting the foreign practice of tipping “because our servers work so hard for their families. More than that, it’s to show that they are part of the business success; they should be able to get a portion of whatever amount the business earns for itself.”

Tipping Pinoy-style

While there are no hard and fast rules, Filipinos give tips to show appreciation for service well done, or products received beyond one’s expectations. Filipinos tip waiters, servers, taxi drivers, hotel and housekeeping staff, personal care technicians (barbers, hair stylists, masseuses), and even personal trainers or dance instructors.

“I give tips when I have extra money. I usually leave tips for the restaurant service crew, our neighborhood barber, and sometimes for a kind cab driver. I don’t see it as a requirement but as a form of gratitude for the great service. Of course, I wouldn’t feel obligated to leave a tip if I get served a soup with a fly,” said Mark Go, a long-time travel writer.

Mark Go, travel writer

From her experience, Santiago said, “Since it’s not mandatory, it acts like a motivator. Servers and waiters perform better because of the expectation of receiving a monetary reward for a job well done. On the guest side, it serves as a ‘quid pro quo’, you get what you deserve. But some guests are difficult to please, which is a disadvantage to our servers because their extra money is at the mercy of the customers.” 

For Jing Ordoñia, a travel writer and tour guide, tipping is a personal choice. Whether to tip big or small relies on the type and cost of products and services, and the number of years of good service. He also observed that just like him habitual tippers usually prepare loose change or bills in small denominations to be handed discreetly; slipped in a cash envelope, or dropped in a tip jar.

Jing Ordoñia, travel writer and tour guide

For public transport, Ordoñia feels “there is no need to give tips, in general. For taxi rides, I round off the bill since I don’t use my senior card. The same applies to delivery service and park attendants.” 

Inside establishments “a 100 pesos may be sufficient for a bellboy and staff in a 2- or 3-star hotel, higher in a 4- or 5-star hotel. Sometimes I give a bigger tip if I am there for business,” he added. 

Ordoñia's tips are based on 10 to 20 percent of his food bill, but if there is a service charge, he leaves no tips, "unless the service is extraordinary.”

Tips for equal sharing

Mc Wilson Corporation President and CEO Reagan Tan said that customers in his restaurants (Tatatito, Gringo, Honeybon, Tokyo Bubble Tea, and Kaokee) don’t feel obligated or pressured to give tips. “This makes them more appreciative which often results to giving generous tips. When there are no tips, it is not frowned upon since they know that good service is their duty and part of the day’s work.” 

Tips or no tips, Tan believes that “Filipinos are hospitality-oriented people; we give our best service whether or not customers leave a tip. A good service rendered always fetches a good tip. A returning customer will always leave a good tip for a reliable service and consistently good experience.” In some cases, tips are pooled together by the management and distributed among the service staff at the end of each month.

In their establishments, Tan shared that they practice pooling the tips to ensure that both the dining and kitchen staff get their fair share. He also finds this procedure prevents management or staff from tip pocketing, or keeping the tips to themselves.

“The management and distribution of tips is discussed among the staff. The common practice is to divide it equally. Some ‘outliers’ though push tips to be personalized. Servers get what is inside the bill jackets. A percentage is given to the non-servers, though,” shared Raymund Magdaluyo of the Red Crab Group and the SumoSam Group of Restaurants.

Service charge as tips

Some restaurants and service establishments automatically include a five to ten percent service charge on their bills based on their discretion. Its distribution, however, is regulated by law.

The Republic Act 11360 or the Service Charge Law was enacted on August 7, 2019, and defines service charge as “the amount added to the bill for work or service rendered when one dines in a restaurant or checks out of a hotel.” This law also provides for the full and equal distribution of the service charge among workers of hotels, restaurants, and other establishments. However, managers and supervisors are not entitled to service charges.

The revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) contained in the Labor Department Order 242, issued on February 1, 2024, specify the full and equal payment of service charges to all covered employees of service charge-collecting establishments, improving the distribution of tips to include those not directly hired by employers such as contractual, non-regular or agency workers.

In Carmelo’s, “tips and service charges are shared equally by everyone, regardless of ranking. We are a team and as the saying goes ‘the success of one is the success of all’ and with that, everyone shares the blessings,” said Santiago. “Service charge somewhat works like a tip. It’s an extra amount they receive on top of their salaries which I feel they are also entitled to.”

Whatever the case, it is up to customers to tip, pay the bill with a service charge, or pay the bill and tip out of generosity, gratitude, and loyalty, and show sincere appreciation for the service workers’ hard work. 

How plastics worsen floods, emissions

BY CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT PHILIPPINES

Aug 1, 2024 06:15 PM

  

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Anyone can draw a line from plastics to floods. In the recipe of murky urban floodwaters, plastic products are a staple ingredient. Labo or sando bags, bottles, food containers, and sachets—you name it, you can find them bobbing along rushing floodwaters during typhoon season. 

Suffocating our drainage systems, plastic waste makes floods worse. A 2023 report commissioned by Tearfund confirms this: It found that plastic pollution increases the risk of severe and frequent flooding in poor communities. 

Not that Filipinos need any reminders. 

Drawing a line between plastics and flooding 

Many videos of the Typhoon Carina-enhanced "habagat" floods showcase the pollution problem—people wading through chest-high waters, with plastic bottles and bags floating around them. Days after the rain stopped, residents from affected areas still cleared trash off their streets. Water damage to their homes aside, residents’ health is also at risk from prolonged exposure to waste. 

Much of this plastic is thrown into canals, clogging storm drains, and sewers. Last week, when the waters rose because of the non-stop downpour, the trash rose with it.

Photos courtesy of The Climate Reality Project Philippines

Dire as the situation is, it is not new—it did not appear overnight. In fact, the issue of plastic pollution and waste disposal has long been intertwined with flood management discussions. 

No less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself expressed this when he conducted an on-ground inspection of the devastated communities, urging Filipinos to practice proper waste disposal so the installed flood pumps could work effectively. 

The connection is clear: Plastic pollution exacerbates flooding, and in turn, increases the damages floods cause. But one line many Filipinos have yet to draw from plastics to floods runs through climate change. 

Putting two and two together 

In every step of their production and its eventual disposal, plastic products heat the planet in various ways. 

For example, at the production stage, 99 percent of plastic products are made from petrochemicals. These are derived from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. To process these materials, more fossil fuels are consumed, which then adds to the already alarming amount of greenhouse gases across the planet. 

Greenhouse gases, in turn, accumulate to trap heat in the atmosphere by absorbing and reradiating heat from the sun. This then leads to what the world now experiences as global warming. 

Climate change is linked to extreme weather events like prolonged heat waves and super typhoons. The hotter the planet becomes, the stronger typhoons it produces. As typhoons get stronger, floodwaters grow higher—to the detriment of climate—vulnerable nations like the Philippines. 

What at first might be largely attributed to pollution, worsening floods can also be traced back to plastic production and consumption.

The line that connects the two does seem blurry, long, and complex, but it is there. This line grows more apparent when considering that plastic production is estimated to be responsible for 3.3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. 

For comparison, the world emits around 54.6 billion tons of greenhouse gases annually; 1.8 billion of which is attributed to plastic production. A ton is equal to 1,000 kilograms, which then means that the plastic industry produces 1,800,000,000 kilograms worth of greenhouse gases. 

With that much contribution to global warming, and in turn, to stronger typhoons and worse floods—is the line clearer now? 

Seeing the big picture 

The plastic industry is making floods worse two-fold: through pollution and its staggering greenhouse gases. It makes sense then that flood management solutions adopt a systemic approach to the problem. 

Right now, two proposed bills exist in the Senate, both of which aim to tackle the plastic crisis through taxation. The goal is to deter consumers from buying single-use plastics by raising prices. 

Recently, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority suggested waste incineration as another possible solution—a proposal that Climate Reality Philippines vehemently opposes. Incineration is a counterproductive approach to plastic waste management. Providing a seemingly easy solution, this proposal may inadvertently incentivize increased plastic production. 

In terms of addressing the issue of pollution and flood control, these proposals are not enough. The plastic problem is deeply rooted in overproduction and consumption, far surpassing the realm of individual responsibility.

The real solution now lies in connecting the dots and retracing the lines. To solve the country’s plastic issue, policymakers need to step back and look at the big picture—determine the root cause of the crisis and start there. 

Beyond holding consumers accountable, officials should get huge plastic-producing companies to take responsibility. And more than promoting proper waste disposal, authorities should implement bolder moves to combat the impacts of plastics on our environment, with a focus on eliminating single-use plastics.

About the author: Red Carao has worked in the communications field for more than five years. Starting out as a writer for local and foreign digital agencies, she eventually developed an interest in public relations and development work. In her first stint as a public relations officer, she had the opportunity to work with institutions such as the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, and the European Union. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2018. She is currently a Communications Officer at The Climate Reality Project Philippines.

Reminder: Two holidays this August

BY ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Aug 1, 2024 07:50 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Based on Proclamation No. 368 that Malacañang issued in October last year, the two holidays this month are: August 21 (Wednesday) Ninoy Aquino Day, and August 26 (Monday) National Heroes Day.

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Two holidays, including one long weekend, await Filipinos this month of August.

File photos

Based on Proclamation No. 368 that Malacañang issued in October last year, the two holidays for August are:

• August 21 (Wednesday): Ninoy Aquino Day
• August 26 (Monday): National Heroes Day

Early this year, President Marcos reminded the public to make advance preparations and take advantage of the long weekends in 2024. "Lubusin natin ang mga long weekend ngayong 2024 kasama ang ating pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay (Let’s take advantage of the long weekends this 2024 with our families and loved ones)!” he said.

“Paghandaan din nating mabuti ang ating mga transaksyon at bakasyon para sa isang produktibo at masaganang taon (Let us also prepare for our transactions and vacations for a productive and prosperous year),” he added.

Ninoy Aquino Day, which falls on a Wednesday this year, is a special nonworking day under Republic Act (RA) No. 9256. It commemorates the assassination of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in 1983.

Meanwhile, National Heroes Day, one of the country's oldest public holidays, is celebrated every last Monday of August, making it a long weekend. The celebration started during the American Colonial Period and became a holiday through RA No. 3827 on Oct. 28, 1931. 

Initially, the law declared the last Sunday of August of every year an official national holiday until the late President Jose P. Laurel moved it to Nov. 30 through Executive Order No. 20 signed in 1942.

In 1952, the late President Elpidio Quirino reverted the date of National Heroes Day to the last Sunday of August until former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law RA 9492, which moved the holiday to the last Monday of the said month.

Das Boat

Traditional balangay sails
from Butuan to Manila

BY YVETTE TAN

Jul 31, 2024 05:58 PM

  

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Many pre-colonial Philippine cultures were maritime voyagers, some using their boats to trade with nearby countries. Unfortunately, this once vibrant seafaring tradition has all but died out. 

Fortunately, an organization of adventurers has been working to keep these traditions going. Its latest project: building a balangay and setting sail from Butuan to Manila, with the main purpose of making a peaceful visit to the Spratlys.

Last May 27, the Florentino Das started its maiden voyage, leaving Butuan, where it was constructed, and arriving at the CCP area in Manila on June 11, a day before Independence Day. 

Das Boat

What made that voyage special was that the Florentino Das isn’t just any ordinary vessel. It's a balangay, a wooden boat that was used for trading in the pre-colonial era.

“We have a proud maritime heritage. Our ancestors have been sailing our archipelagic waters since the dawn of history. The Austronesian migration out of mainland Asia across the Pacific to Madagascar in the West and to Easter Island in the East is a testament to our innate ability as a people of the ocean. That the Kingdom of Butuan was able to send trade missions to the Song Dynasty as early as 1003AD using boats like the balangay is proof of our forefathers’ ship-building skills and mastery of the seas,” said Fung Yu, the project’s media coordinator and part of the land support team.

This balangay, the sixth of its kind, was built using traditional materials and methods and indigenous hardwoods donated by the DENR, though it does have an engine, making it a hybrid. 

It was named after Florentino Das, the first Filipino to sail the Pacific solo. 

The building and the voyage event was organized by the Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation, the group behind the 1st Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition and the Voyage of the Balangay Project, the latter involving the building and sailing of balangays as a way to keep pre-colonial maritime cultures and traditions from going extinct.

“The majority of the crew are from our previous expeditions, that of the first balangay project that sailed around Southeast Asia in 2009-2011, then the second balangay project (2017-2018) that sailed to China and HK for the 600th anniversary of Sultan Paduka Batara’s historic trade mission to the Ming Emperor of 1417. The boat builders were once again the Sama Dilaya group from the island of Sibutu in Tawi-Tawi, our southern province where traditional boat building is still being handed down from generation to generation, but sadly, this intangible cultural heritage is slowly vanishing.”

The crew in front of the balangay Florention Das in San Vicente, Palawan after visiting Pag-asa (Thitu) Island. (Photo from Fung Yu’s Facebook account)

Dubbed “The Balangay Expedition to West Philippine Sea,” the crew consisted of Art Valdez, the expedition leader and former DOTC/DENR undersecretary; expedition coordinator Jody Navarra, Fred Jamili, skippers Cesario Cornejo and Raf Carolino, Fil-Canadian adventurer and mountaineer Ramon Ruiz, expedition doctor Ted Esguerra, Wendell Tamayo, chief engineer Jeffrey Zaragosa, Dhandy Paiton, Edward Valdez, Ernie Oquendo, Gaude Gaylon, Richard Mark Yamba, Meljun Villacura, Jade Castillo, Sama boat builder Al-nadzmie Abdulla, and ABS-CBN embedded media crew Job Manahan and and cameraman Manny Bongcayao.

The balangay was built in Butuan, Agusan del Norte, near the mouth of the Agusan River, to commemorate the three balangays that were accidentally excavated in 1976. They were carbon-dated to the late ninth to 11th century AD. “...To put that into context, that is an average of at least over 600 years before the arrival of the Magellan Expedition in 1521,” Yu said. “So, it was only fitting that the boats were constructed in Butuan, to give pride and homage to the place of their discovery.”

Construction began in the first quarter of 2024. The keel, or the boat’s backbone, was laid in the middle of pouring rain and it took about 100 days for six master builders led by Master Boat Builder Ibrahim Abdulla from Sibutu to complete.

Although one always hopes for smooth sailing, the crew was well aware of possible difficulties that can be encountered on such a voyage. 

“There is always the fear of bad weather and shifting sea conditions, plus the worries that the boat may encounter challenges from the contested claimant nations, particularly China and its coast guard ships and maritime militia. Fortunately, no untoward incidents happened, both balangay and crew safely returned after the conclusion of the mission,” Yu said.

“The boat sailed out of Butuan without any sea trial ([the crew were] confident in the skills of the boat builders themselves) to avoid any sudden change of sea conditions that could hamper its voyage as well as the safety of the crew. From Butuan, the balangay boat made a short port call in Dumaguete, then in San Vicente, Palawan for an overnight rest and re-provisioning before heading to its intended purpose, a humanitarian-medical mission to Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the Spratlys Group,” Yu said.

After arriving at the Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the Spratlys, the team conducted a tree planting activity and participated in, as Yu wrote in a Facebook post, “ a humanitarian/medical mission for the residents as well as to assert for the maritime rights in the WPS (West Philippine Sea).”

When asked what he wanted more Filipinos to understand about the voyage, Yu replied: “The current disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea in general belong to the common heritage of mankind, a traditional fishing ground of all claimant countries, and therefore must be protected, sans bullying, intimidation, force, and military actions. It must be resolved peacefully, objectively, and fairly, for the sake of our children, and our children’s children.”