No More Sad Christmas for Public School Teachers

Office of the Senate Majority Leader

Alan Peter S. Cayetano

Rm. 603 GSIS Complex Senate of the Philippines Roxas Blvd Pasay City

         

PRESS RELEASE

27 December 2015

 

 

No more sad Christmas for public school teachers under Duterte-Cayetano

"The country's public school teachers will have a merrier Christmas under a Duterte-Cayetano government."

 

This was the pledge made today by presidential contender Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte and his running mate Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

 

The tandem said if elected in 2016, they will grant an additional P 10,000 compensation for public school teachers over and above the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

 

"Tatapusin natin ang malulungkot na pasko ng ating mga guro. Hindi dapat sila tinitipid at kinakaligtaan. Makakaasa ang ating mga guro ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon para itaas ang kanilang mga sahod at iba pang benepisyo," Cayetano said.

 

The senator lambasted the government's proposed salary increase for public school teachers calling it "inconsiderate" and "negligible."

 

Cayetano said the government's proposed entry-level position of teachers is to grant an additional amount of P2,205.00 from the present P18,549.00 or a meager increase of less than 12%, spread over a period of four years, making the annual increase of a little more than P500.00, the lowest in recent history.

 

"Instead of repairing the government's erroneous compensation scheme for teachers, which past and present salary laws classified teachers as among the lowest paid government professionals, its proposed salary increase only reinforced this flawed system," Cayetano said.

 

"This what Mayor Duterte and I want to end. We will restore the dignity of the teaching profession. No more cheapskate wage increases which do not address burdensome taxes, cost of living and living conditions in general," Cayetano added.

                                                                                                                       

Cayetano said their proposal is part of his Senate Bill 94, that grants public school teachers, locally-funded teachers, non-teaching personnel, and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) additional compensation. 

Mindanao – Time To Talk About It

November 29, 2015/in becomingfilipino /by kyle

It didn’t take long. Within hours of an article being posted by a National Newspaper in New Zealand about a beauty queen (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74332702/kiwi-beauty-pageant-contestant-flees-philippines), Cagayan de Oro and Mindanao became a national talking point in the Philippines. Articles with most major national news sites and Facebook pages in the Philippines popped up pretty quick, discussing and highlighting the negative thoughts. The article and its stereotyping of Cagayan de Oro as being “worse then Afghanistan” and the negative experiences of a foreign beauty queen quickly escalated Filipinos to start to judge, debate, defend and get to the bottom of the statements made. It was a hot topic all over the country and of course here in Cagayan de Oro City, the place I call home in Northern Mindanao.

Yes, I am a foreigner living here in Cagayan de Oro. Although to be honest I don’t feel foreign here at all. I have lived here now on and off for over two years. I have become close with this community and am proud to call this city my home. Since day one I have always been aware of the advisories, negative issues and stereotypes that face the people here in Northern Mindanao and Mindanao in general. At first they definitely put a little bit of fear into my life. I was a little more cautious and fearful then my usual self. There are so many negative thoughts thrown around about Mindanao on a daily basis, through media, internet and in general chit-chat that it would be hard not to have a little fear when you hear that word.

So where am I going with this?

Well the more I read articles and comments about this beauty queen, and the article written overseas. The more I see Filipinos take uproar about how ridiculous and overly negative the statements about Cagayan de Oro City and Mindanao were… The more I started thinking about it all.

It is a fact that Filipinos are interested in foreign opinions. Most of the time if there is an article of praise or criticism about the Philippines involving a foreigner they will be more popular. In fact I am living proof of that. I am aware that many people are probably intrigued about my opinions because I am Canadian and have no Filipino background. It provides a different insight.   Knowing this, I also have to be careful whenever I write or post and remember the effect it could have.

But when it comes to this “Mindanao Issue” and stereotypes. I have developed a strong belief on the topic. It is a homegrown issue that needs to be addressed in the Philippines first and foremost. What do I mean by “addressed in the Philippines?”

Let me share with you what happens often when I am outside of Mindanao travelling:

Filipino: “Hey Man! Where are you from.”

Me: “I am from Canada but I live in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao (I will share this in Bisaya/Tagalog).

Filipino: “What! Abu Sayaff! Aren’t you afraid of the bombs! You shouldn’t be there! You will be kidnapped!

Me: “Excuse me. I have lived there for two years and driven around every province in Northern Mindanao on a scooter exploring. It is beautiful and I love living there.”

Filipino: “No it is too dangerous.”

Me: “Have you been there?”

Filipino: “No I wouldn’t go! Like I said, it is too dangerous, the people there are bad and Abu Sayaff and terrorists are there.”

I didn’t over-exaggerate this conversation what so ever. I have been to 32 provinces now all over the country on a scooter, including every one in Northern Mindanao. This is very common and something that happens all the time when the word “Mindanao” is mentioned and discussed with Filipinos from outside of Mindanao. Now I am not taking away from the fact that yes Abu Sayaff exists, yes bombs have gone off, and yes there are areas that are very tense, dangerous and best be avoided by people who are not local. But, those things are not representative of Mindanao as a whole. If you have lived here for a long time and travelled around you will soon understand that Mindanao is massive, diverse and home to many beautiful, safe and happy places to explore! Just like anywhere in the world, you just need to do a bit of research and take the necessary precautions.

I have written articles about this before. But this New Zealand beauty queen issue really opened my eyes to something else…

I am completely convinced that the first thing that needs to be tackled is this negative perception at home in the Philippines. To me, when someone responds to Cagayan de Oro, or Mindanao with the words “Abu Sayaff, kidnappings and bombings” that is the ultimate in extreme talk. That is the kind of talk that doesn’t educate, is very extreme, is unproductive and simply put… is dangerous.

Why is it dangerous?

Because it is preaching negativity without experience, discussion and knowledge.

Millions of foreigners will come to the Philippines every year for travel, adventure, and holidays. A vast majority of them will go to places outside of Mindanao due to advisories and safety concerns. Even though I personally believe that Northern Mindanao is no different then travelling other areas of the Philippines, I completely respect and understand how others can be deterred from coming here. I would never take offence to that. The travel advisories that exist have their purpose and I don’t take offence to making people aware.

But what I do take offence to…

The thought that if these millions of foreigners mention “Mindanao” during their holidays outside of Mindanao, there is a high probability that they are being responded to in such an extreme way.

Earlier I said:

“It is a fact that Filipinos are interested in foreign opinions. Most of the time if there is an article of praise or criticism about the Philippines involving a foreigner they will be more popular.”

Well with the newspaper article in New Zealand. That was the case. It was negative extreme talk about an area in the Philippines. It had to be addressed. But what hit me the most about it? Negative talk about Mindanao is already everywhere in the Philippines. It is incredibly common from Filipinos all over the country and world. That type of extreme stereotyping and generalizing happens all the time on a local basis. Filipinos do it everyday.

I strongly believe the only way it is ever going to change in a positive way is if Filipino media and Filipino people around the country start to discuss it, interact about it, and challenge it more. I’d love to see more headlines challenging perception and Mindanao, discussing it, educating and interacting about it. Not just when it has foreigner perception.

Yes I am a foreigner and it may sound ridiculous that I am writing about Filipinos, challenging Filipinos without foreigner perception. But in regards to Mindanao…

This country needs more of it.

I believe it is more damaging how Filipinos view Mindanao. Not how a national Newspaper in New Zealand does. I believe the only way to truly stop the blunt negativity is by Filipinos making it a national talking point not just when foreigners are involved.

What is Becoming Filipino?

#BecomingFilipino is an adventure. It is the journey of a 26 year old Canadian trying to “Become Filipino”. Simply put, I am not Filipino. I don’t have a Filipino passport and it would be almost impossible for me to get one. Truth is I will never be able to say “I am Filipino” (and never deserve/would have the right to). But there are so many simple beautiful things that I have experienced and witnessed that make up Filipino culture… Things that I would be honoured to learn from, and be honoured to share with the world around me.

I love the Philippines and would be honored to be able to call myself “part Filipino.”

I am asking for help. I need help creating a list, but not just any list… a list that will help me in #BecomingFilipino. I need to experience Filipino things. I need to better understand the People, Environment, Food and Culture. I need to better understand what it means to be Filipino. What it takes to be able to have those simple beautiful things that make up the heart of a Filipino. I have decided to make lists… The lists will be focused on those four things… and well anything that will help me learn from this culture and these people that have inspired so much happiness in my life.

Super Apir!

Stagers Mount Riotous Show at the Big Dome

By Amadís Ma. Guerrero (The Philippine Star) 

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The Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF) celebrates its 15th anniversary with a ‘fun, fun, fun’ show at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF), a musical drama company headed by Vincent Tañada — director, actor, singer and not incidentally a lawyer — with Pipo Cifra as resident composer, staged a concert in November last year at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

I was amazed at the big turnout, mostly students, close to 15,000. Vince, as his friends call him, had made good his threat to fill the Big Dome to capacity or near capacity, thanks to social media, an aggressive marketing team, and PSF’s contacts with students, schools and educators through the years.

For that concert, Vince did away with his Filipino musical advocacy and presented highlights from Broadway-West End musicals like Miss Saigon, Cats and Starlight Express. The youths were impressed but not really captivated. What saved the day were the visuals, AVPs, jokes and antics, and an OPM segment.

And at the end, the audience joyfully sang and danced along with the performers.

And PSF does it again. Just the other day, the foundation celebrated its 15th anniversary at the coliseum and again there was a mammoth crowd. And this time the emphasis was on fun, fun, fun — pop, rock, disco, hip-hop and what have you — while not forgetting Vince’s nationalist and inspirational advocacy.

Dancers worked the crowd over with limbering-up exercises that kept them entertained and fired-up. There was political campaigning which had nothing to do with the concert, and over which the organizers had no control. The girls screamed when Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo appeared — on the screen.

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Finally, after a 50-minute wait, the show got on the road and the audience went wild over the precision dancing, energetic choreography and pulsating music. Vince and the other lead singers were foundation regulars; the rest of the talented ensemble were students who were products of the PSF’s free summer workshops, there were all triple threats, good in singing, dan-cing and acting.

The next segment was more sober: A brief history of the company, along with highlights from hit musicals, recent as well as current, like Filipinas 1941 and Pope-pular, a highly-successful production, a tribute to Pope Francis which has been playing in many venues. The last stop was Cebu City, and the next is Naga City.

As the scenes were flashed, singers interpreted the songs that were being performed on the screen.

At one point, at a given signal, the audience turned on their cellphone lights. And it was a sight to see, all those hundreds of pinpricks of light dancing in the dark, cavernous coliseum.

A screamingly funny segment was when PSF singers, young and handsome — JV, Jomar, Johnrey, Kenneth, Paul, Patrick and finally even Vince — one by one descended, singing and holding a rose which they were supposed to give to a girl of their choice.

At first this worked well but soon the girls became more aggressive. They screamed and rushed to the hapless singer, treating him like a rock star, and the hefty bouncers even had to intervene.

The production staff (lights designer, choreographer, etc.) also stole the show. They became performers and cross-dressers, rein-vented themselves as torch singers caparisoned in sexy costumes, tossed off their wigs and ran wild through the audience, creating pandemonium.

It was a riot.

At the end, things settled down and it was time for more serious, patriotic and inspirational songs climaxed by the iconic song This is the Moment from the hit musical Jekyll and Hyde.

After the show, in a chat with media, Vince, citing the success of Pope-pular, said the company now has a third objective, apart from entertaining and educating, and this was to evangelize and maybe change people’s lives. “But,” he declared, “we are not promoting (religion) but humanity!”

Earthquake in Surigao

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Siargao island on Sunday morning (December 27), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The quake occurred at 6:11 a.m. with its epicenter at 29 kilometers (km) northeast of San Isidro town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.

With a depth of 51 km, the tremor was felt by residents and tourists in Siargao, also in Surigao and Butuan.

According to Phivolcs, the quake was caused by movements along a local fault in Surigao Island. The tremor was tectonic in origin.

Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said there were no damages or casualties reported due to the earthquake.

No aftershock was registered and no tsunami alert was raised by the state agency.

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten!

To our my dear readers.

An alle meine lieben Leserinnen und Leser.

26 Million PesosProject to Boost Cacao Production in Davao City

by Alexander D. Lopez

Manila Bulletin

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DAVAO CITY – Cacao production in Davao region recently received support as the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) approved a P26-million enterprise development project aimed to further boost the industry in this city.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/cacao.jpg

Cacao fruit-bearing tree ( Photo by Uveedzign [CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons)

In a statement to the media, PRDP said that the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) of PRDP has issued a No Objection Letter (NOL) last December 9 which signals the start of the project implementation of the project.

The enterprise project dubbed as Cacao Production and Marketing of Dry-Fermented Beans of Davao City will be implemented by the Subasta Integrated Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (SIFMPC) as the lead proponent group through a cluster-type operation.

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The project will be implemented in the areas of Marilog, Baguio, Calinan and Tugbok districts that will benefit around 15 other cooperatives with an estimated 495 members who are cacao farmers.

The enterprise project that will be supervised under the Investments for Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Productivity or I-REAP component of PRDP will help strengthen the existing marketing arrangements between SIFMPC and cacao buyers like Coco Dolce and Filipinas Oro de Cacao for the local market and Askinosie for the export market.

“We are optimistic to jumpstart the first cacao production enterprise project of PRDP with the approval of the business plan of the SIFMPC,” said PRDP national deputy project director Arnel De Mesa.

He added that SIFMPC was able to comply with the requirements of the project including the proposed enhancements to the business plan that aims to focus more on giving support to production for cacao farmers.

De Mesa added that PRDP’s main intervention to the project is to provide support to production that will lessen the cacao farmer’s dependency to traders and consequently enhance their income.

Provision of postharvest facilities to ensure that the cacao production quality meets the required market standard and increase SIFMPC’s production of dried fermented beans will also be ensured by the PRDP.

PRDP will also facilitate the implementation of support infrastructure project to the cacao production in the city.

The regional project advisory board (RPAB) of PRDP has recently approved around P432-million worth of infrastructure projects that will support the cacao production efforts in the region.

Meanwhile, the city council, through the committee on agriculture welcomed the approval of the said project’s implementation.

The expansion of cacao production areas particularly in Paquibato and Marilog districts will benefit mostly the indigenous peoples in the area, said city councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella.

“The P26-million assistance will not just expand production but it will also empower the farmers to compete in the bigger market,” the pointed out, adding that the project will also improve the technology in cacao beans and chocolate production in the city.

Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) says that as of 2013, cacao bean production in the country was recorded at 4,831 metric tons.

Ninety percent of cacao production in the Philippines comes from Mindanao with Davao region considered as the top producing area.

In Photos: Pia Wurtzbach Sizzles at 2015 Miss Universe Glamour

By Chuck Smith (philstar.com) 

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Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe Philippines 2015, poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood on Wednesday December 9th. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. © Miss Universe L.P., LLLP/Matt Petit  

MANILA, Philippines - Pia Wurtzbach is already showing what she's made of in Las Vegas.

The Filipina beauty queen recently participated in a number of pre-show events at the 64th Miss Universe, including photo shoots in the evening gowns, Yamamay swimwear and fashion photography, among others.

"I absolutely love love LOVE my official glamshot photo," Pia said in an Instagram post on Friday.

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe Philippines 2015 poses in Yamamay swimwear upon arriving to Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. © Miss Universe L.P., LLLP/Darren Decker

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe Philippines 2015 poses in her evening gown upon arriving to Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. © Miss Universe L.P., LLLP/Matt Petit

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Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe Philippines 2015 is photographed by fashion photographer Fadil Berisha upon arriving to Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. © Miss Universe L.P., LLLP/Fadil Berisha

Pia, along with the other 78 other contestants, will participate in a number of pre-pageant activities leading up to the 64th Miss Universe live show at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on December 20 (December 21, Philippines time). The preview and contestant interviews are set on December 14, while the preliminary and national costume shows are set on December 16.