War at work

Foreigners' Questions about The Philippines

I am living permanently in the Philippines since January 1999. Meanwhile I got great opportunities: writing for several print papers and hosting radio shows in the Philippines, which are also to be recognized via live stream.

Meanwhile I receive a lot mails daily - mostly from concerned foreigners, who plan to put a business here or to get married to Filipina/Filipino national. Or, they are in need to get help and professional assistance in dealing with several Philippine authorities.

I always like people asking a lot of questions before moving to the Philippines for good. I appreciate that. Anyway, some questions are still hurting me, although I am not a Filipino. Sometimes, I really don't know whether I should laugh or cry.

A doctor from a Western country sent me an email (already many years ago, but it's really a fantasic example!), asking if Filipinos are wearing shoes, because he only and always saw them in slippers. NO COMMENT.

A businessman asked why Filipinos try to avoid to speak (and/or learn) the Spanish language.I suggested to him, to research Philippine History.

Someone mailed and asked, if the Philippines are really such poor, and if we would have hunger here?

Another doctor planned to open up a clinic in the "capital of the Philippines", asking me, if I would enjoy living and working in this capital "Jakarta". I really thought, he was kidding. When I mailed him, that Jakarta is not the capital of the Philippines,he stopped mailing me.

Sometimes, I am wondering myself, why foreigners don't know more about this beautiful country - especially if they are planning to move here for good.

"Do you have tomatoes there?" - An email - just a couple of days ago... .

Maybe those million Philippine Oversea Workers could help to establish a better image of the Philippines. Before Philippine Star columnist Jessica Zafra stated: "It's an entire country outside our national borders. All those Filipinos have friends, former classmates, colleagues and family members living abroad!"

Disputed South China Sea Shoal

SECOND THOMAS SHOAL –  

 A Philippine government ship has slipped past a Chinese coast guard blockade and brought food and fresh troops to a marooned navy ship used as a base by Filipino troops to bolster the country's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea

The incident Saturday was witnessed by journalists who were invited by the Philippines military to accompany the resupply mission.

Around one hour away from Second Thomas Shoal, a Chinese coast guard ship twice crossed the bow of the smaller Philippine vessel in an attempt to stop it from proceeding. It radioed the Filipinos, telling them to stop entering Chinese territory.

But the Filipino captain maneuvered to shallow waters where the Chinese ship couldn't sail to reach the marooned vessel.

Early this month, Chinese vessels blocked a resupply mission.

The "Rising Tiger"?

Attributed to the government's economic initiatives and political reforms which appear to have begun bearing fruit, the Philippines has been dubbed by the World Bank as the "rising tiger" of Asia. No longer seen as the sick man of East Asia, the country has been showing macroeconomic stability with the government's fiscal situation sound and improving.

Evidently, the continued presence of the country's development set up an ideal platform for public-private partnership.

Philippines - the rising tiger in Asia? Let's hope and pray for this!

For Our Own Protection

Re-published Editorial MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR dated March 15, 2014 with friendly permission of Publisher Marietta Siongco.

"Is martial law back? Yes, but only in Davao City and only during the Araw ng Davao celebration. That means checkpoints all over, heightened police and military alert and thousands of force multipliers employed to secure the city against those with evil minds and criminal intent. Wait, there's more, also no backpacks, no big bags that could conceal a potential weapon and no parking of vehicles along strategic routes.

This was stressed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo  himself during a command conference with police and military officials. 'It would be as strict as martial law, said Duterte, 'but it is for the protection of the community.'

So why not just scrap the whole Araw ng Davao frenzied preparation for the city's 77th anniversary foundation, one sarcastic observer asked. A preposterous idea, of course. Everything, has been set in motion and the festivities must go on as planned. Too bad, Duterte had gone on a leave of absence from March 13 to April 4 to recharge his batteries and to relieve whatever pain wracks his body.

Meanwhile, Davaoenos have to grin and bear the hassles of a martial-like rule. Anyway, the ultra strict security measures will only last until March 16, Sunday. And it is all being implemented for our own protection.

Up, Up and Away

Re-published column of mine in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR dated March 14,2014 with friendly permission of my publisher Marietta F. Siongco.

I think, I was at the age of 11 or so, when my first trip by plane took me to Holland. Later, I joined several journeys with German Foreign Aid, International YMCA and other institutions. For the first time, in 1976, I stepped on Philippine soil - just for two days only before heading to Japan. Of course (!), I flew with Philippine Airlines.

Since experiencing several negativism with other airlines during the 1980s, I kept on flying with flag carrier PAL - though really many times PLANE was ALWAYS LATE. A trip back from Davao to Manila could become a nightmare. Several times I missed by international connecting flight.

But I enjoyed the "Mabuhay Miles" as frequent flyer, especially when I observed that PAL has lowered the redemption values on selected PAL international and domestic flights. I also enjoyed treats while taking my pleasure in the comfort and luxury at selected hotels in Hong Kong or Singapore,

Today, while writing this piece, the MIRROR headlines, that PAL Express, sister company of this country's flag carrier, begins suspending most of its inter-islands domestic flights across Visayas and Mindanao. As MIRROR readers could learn via Judy Quiros' article: the Davao-Manila-Davao flights will be the only one that would remain. PAL for its part said the move is also seen to improve PAL's performance, because it is expected to save about $300 million in operating costs annually. Let's wait and see, how the improvement of PAL's performance looks like.

Sometine 2010, reports said already, that PAL mentioned weak passengerdemand mainly pulled down revenues to $1.36 billion. During that time, the airline assured stockholders and the public that it continued to look for ways of improving its financial condition and results of operations. It seems, that Philippine Airlg to ines is still on a long way from sustainable profitability.

By the way: the country's leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific took delivery of its third brandnew Airbus 330 aircraft being on service for Cebu and Davao guests especially during the now summer season. It's amazing to learn, that Cebu Pacific strengthens its domestic network with additional daily frequences from Manila to Bacolod, Zamboanga and other dometic destinations. Here is the thing: Airbus' fuel-saving technology allows to keep fares low. Just to mention one reason ... .

One more thing: I love to fly with Cebu Pacific, because mostly all flights are on time or even before arriving schedule.

Mayor Rody Duterte's Araw ng Davao 2014 Message

Typhoon-hit Philippine Farmers to Reap Harvest

AFP Typhoon-hit Philippine farmers to reap harvest: UN

Farmers in the Philippines will soon reap a harvest after using emergency seed supplies to grow crops following a devastating typhoon that struck during planting season, the UN food agency said Monday.

Super Typhoon Haiyan raked across the central Philippines last November, killing at least 6,200 people with around 2,000 others still missing, while also displacing four million and leaving tens of thousands of farmers without their livelihoods.

Haiyan hit at a "terrible time" between rice planting seasons but timely seed replacements have ensured a second harvest is not lost, said Jose Graziano da Silva, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Last year the agency had voiced concerns that without the harvest, vulnerable farmers would not have been able to collect rice for almost a year -- until October or November 2014.

"I am pleased to say that our support got there in time," he said in a speech to local farmers who received 1.76 million tonnes of seeds from the FAO after the typhoon.

"When the crop is harvested (in March or April)... it should yield enough rice to feed 800,000 people for more than a year," he added.

"This means that they will not only be able to feed their families, but also sell the surplus and generate extra income which is crucial for them to fully recover."

Graziano da Silva said Haiyan had destroyed 1.1 million tonnes of crops, along with 33 million coconut trees in a major farming region described by the Philippine government as among the poorest.

He said providing coconut farmers with other sources of income, such as helping them plant faster-yielding crops, was a top FAO priority in the six to eight years it will take for new coconut trees to start bearing fruit.

Constant Vigilance Needed in Fight versus Computer Scammers

It happened all over the world. Computer Scammers are increasingly moving away from email and into social media to exercise their fraudulent activities. A Canadian consumer watchdog said this in a report several days ago.

With the growing popularity of such social media as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and You Tube, the increasing number of platforms was just adding to the avenues where fraud was occuring.

Interesting to read is Danielle Primrose's opinion. Danielle is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland British Columbia in Canada. Danielle states, "Emails still prevail, and I myself get them as well, but now with texting and smart phones and just the rapidity of social media platforms, Twitter, all of these new accounts are just opening up an absolute new form of scammers to get in there."

Example: By hooking to an app that promised the latest gossip, gullible users are directed to an online survey that puts an advertising commission into a spammer's coffers. Whether the content is non-existent or fake, in come cases a person may end up installing malicious software on a computer after clicking through to the video content, according to the report.

Other scams included "astro-turfing", the practice of posting fake online reviews to boost a business's profile, and "curbers", unlicensed car dealers who sell junk vehicles or others that may be stolen.

There were also phone telemarketers demanding money for fake services and mail lottery scams that targeted not only seniors.

New Bureau of Immigration Departure/Arrival Cards

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) launched the new immigration departure and arrival cards which will be used nationwide effective next month.

The BI-NAIA said the newly designed and printed immigration cards is just one of the projects of the bureau in its coming efforts to simplify frontline services and improve access by the traveling public.

The arrival card is coded blue, while the departure is in red. These cards are used to document passengers, for border management and compilation of tourism statistics.

Unlike the old immigration cards which are printed by airline companies, the BI-NAIA said the new cards are funded by the government, distributed by authorized personnel, and are free of advertisements.

The design and data fields of the cards are aligned with the BI's existing computer systems - the upgraded BI-Information-System (BIIS). The size of the color-coded forms are aligned with that of the standard passport page.

The BI-NAIA said the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) provided valuable inputs to the new cards while the National Printing Office (NPO) was tapped to print the cards and to ensure regular supply.

Happy travelling everyone!