SPECIAL REFLECTIONS

Simply put, self-reflection (also known as “personal reflection”) is taking the time to think about, meditate on, evaluate, and give serious thought to your behaviors, thoughts, attitudes, motivations, and desires. That's what I do now.

Not long ago, I passed a milestone marking 55 years since I began writing my first published article in a daily newspaper. I started keeping all the clippings since then. Believe me, it's like a book. As I re-read my first articles, I was amazed, I ever kept it up. But now you couldn't pay me to stop.

Nowadays all my publications are stored in my electronic-archive. 

Back to my clippings. Can you imagine that there are some benefits from keeping them? From life experiences, I see that progress and failure are both parts of my journey. My columns are mostly a view into a mirror. I am reminded of God's grace when I read (and wrote before) how He helped me to find solutions to problems. I also gained insight from past struggles that help with issues I am currently facing. I remember one of my previous columns entitled "If failures get results". 

God has indeed been faithfully working in my life. 

I read a story by Dennis Fisher, who didn't keep publishing clippings but a spiritual journal. He advised: "Journalism may be useful to you too. It can help you see more clearly what God is teaching you on life's journey. To begin a journal, record your struggles, reflect on a verse that is especially comforting or challenging, or write a prayer of thankfulness for God's faithfulness."

The most awaited season of the year has finally come. For many of us, December is still a glow that blossoms across the eastern horizon bringing the promise of a new beginning. December and Christmas should be the song to awaken our hardened hearts, to touch those people around us, who might have waited a long time for such a move. Let's become "new people" at last.

Philippine Fairy Tales (X) - Philippinische Märchen (X)

 

I love Philippine music and literature. Means to say, I also love Philippine fairy tales and folktales.

An example of the folk tale is the Pilanduk story which tells the story of animals. In such stories, human qualities are ascribed to animals, designed to show the cleverness of one animal and the stupidity of another. The interest of animal stories lies in the humour of the deceptions of the absurd predicaments into which the animal's stupidity lead him.

"Pilanduk and Singah" is a cycle of Tausug animal tales which revolve around the Pilanduk, a kind of mouse-deer and the lion, which are best friends. Whenever they go they are always together. The mouse deer helps the lion in hunting for food. One day, there occurs a plaque in the forest and almost all the animals are killed by the disease. The lion tells the mouse-deer that he will soon eat him, so the mouse-deer pretends to be dead near a river infested with crocodiles. When the lion sees the mouse-deer dead, he goes to the forest to die. The mouse-deer, meanwhile tells the crocodiles to line up and be counted because he wants to take a census of them. then he crosses the river safely on the back of the crocodiles. The mouse-deer is eventually saved.

This story is a version to the mouse-deer cycle of Malay-Indonesian popular tales ("Planduk"), which enter around the incident of the mouse-deer taking the crocodiles' census to cross a river of stream safely.

More Philippine Fairy Tales in English and German shall follow here. So, stay tune always!

Mehr Philippinische Märchen in Englisch und deutscher Übersetzung werden hier an dieser Stelle bald fortgesetzt!

Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach are regal queens in their stunning terno ensemble

The former Miss Universe winners join forces for a special cause.

BY JOHN LEGASPI

  

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As a country dominated by passionate pageant fans, Filipinos love their beauty queens so much that they go all out to support them in everything they do. When these Filipino beauties come together, expect fans to go wild. Among the local beauty queens people have been wanting to see together are the country’s recent champions in the Miss Universe pageant, Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018). And just recently, their wish has been granted.

The two titleholders come together to celebrate a cause that is near to their hearts. In celebration of World AIDS Day, Catriona and Pia join forces for Love Yourself’s #WhatWorksForU. The initiative “empowers individual choices by knowing that what works for you is living a life that enables a safer society for all.” Its latest campaign was unveiled during the fourth edition of the Love Gala and Ripple Awards at The Podium Hall in Ortigas, Pasig City.

Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray at the fourth Love Gala and Ripple Awards (Photos from @lovegalaofficial/Instagram)

The gala called for the attendees to come in their best Filipinianas. With Catriona and Pia being the Philippines' representatives on the international stage, they are no strangers to rocking modern iterations of the country’s traditional garbs. Catriona was a vision in pink as she graced the event wearing a floral terno dress with a cape skirt by fashion designer Jearson Demavivas. While Pia Wurtzbach was a gilded goddess in her gold terno gown with a thigh-high slit by fashion designer Mark Bumgarner. 

The Love Gala and Ripple Awards are twin bi-yearly activities led by nonprofit organization Love Yourself Inc. With the theme “Heroes Emerge,” this year's gala and the awards “pay homage to the game-changers in HIV advocacy in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific.”

Can I learn German quickly?

 

Nick Schön

It depends on what other languages you know. If you know only English, it will take a while because although some English and German words are remarkably similar, and more still can be correctly guessed, the way they are used and assembled into sentences often isn't. Translating English into German or visa-versa isn't straight forward for that reason.

For instance, "half" in German is "halb". So you'd think that half past nine would be "Halb neun". It isn't. In German, it's "Halb zehn" because they count the hour the minutes advance to, not the hour that has past. So you see, there is a conceptual difference that occurs frequently in learning German, and if you try to rush it or abbreviate it, you'll be "durcheinander" (which means "confused" or "in a jumble" and not, as a literal translation implies, "through each other").

Imelda Papin unveils her biopic

Philippine Jukebox Queen and politician Imelda Papin (center) flanked by Claudine Barretto, who portrays her in the biopic (right), and Alice Dixon who was cast as former first lady Imelda Marcos.

By Tessa Mauricio-Arriola

December 6, 2023 20

Congratulations are due Philippine Jukebox Queen Imelda Papin for the successful premiere of her biographic film, "Loyalista: The Untold Story of Imelda Papin."

Three entire cinemas were filled to capacity at SM Megamall in Pasig City with Papin's decades-long fans, friends, family and media eager to fill in certain gaps in the singer-turned-politician's life story.

Her biopic is titled "Loyalista" because it doesn't just follow her rise to fame from a humble fisherfolk family in Bicol, but also chronicles her support for the Marcos family, even after former strongman Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. was exiled to Hawaii in 1986.

Claudine Barretto was cast to portray Papin, alongside Gary Estrada as her husband Bong Carrion, ER Ejercito as Marcos, Sr., Alice Dixon as former first lady Imelda Marcos, and the singer's daughter Maffi Papin as herself.

The film was specially made to celebrate Papin's 45th year in the industry and took a year to make because of the research the project involved.

"All of the depictions here are true and not just speculation. They are drawn from my mother's childhood, development, and strong sense of loyalty, along her friendship with President Ferdinand Marcos and his thge First Lady all the way in Hawaii where we followed them in the '80s."

The movie revealed how Papin's life was endangered after the Marcoses left for Malacanang, given her widely known support for the political family. She lived in Hawaii for some time for her safety, where she continued to nurture her closeness with the former first couple and how they served as her inspiration to serve the Filipino people.

It has yet to be announced when "Loyalista: The Untold Story of Imelda Papin" will hold its commercial screening.

PH bags four major travel awards

By  Moises Cruz

December 6, 2023 

(UPDATE) THE Philippines bagged four major awards at the World Travel Awards 2023 held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 1 (Dubai Time).

For the first time, the Philippines received the Global Tourism Resilience Award for demonstrating "global leadership, pioneering vision and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity."

Department of Tourism Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano and Assistant Secretary Rica Bueno received the Philippines' four awards from the World Travel Awards in a ceremony held in Dubai. PHOTO FROM DOT CENTRAL OFFICE 

Department of Tourism Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano and Assistant Secretary Rica Bueno received the Philippines' four awards from the World Travel Awards in a ceremony held in Dubai. PHOTO FROM DOT CENTRAL OFFICE

As one of only five countries and destinations worldwide cited for this inaugural award, the Philippines and other "inaugural winners will serve as benchmarks for best practices in tourism resilience." The Philippines was also named the World's Leading Dive Destination and the World's Leading Beach Destination for the second time, defending the titles in 2022. For the first time, the Philippines was named the World's Leading City Destination for its capital, Manila.

"With these remarkable triumphs, the Philippines reinforces its position as an unparalleled destination, inviting travelers to explore our captivating shores, vibrant underwater realms and dynamic urban landscapes as they immerse in our culture and heritage, and create unforgettable memories with the distinct grace and hospitality of the Filipino people," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 30th annual World Travel Awards seeks to recognize achievements in travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

 

Caritas Philippines seeks security for Christian gatherings

Call follows deadly bombing at a Mass at Mindanao State University in Marawi that killed at least 4 people. 

By Ronlad O Reyes

Published: December 04, 2023 07:08 AM GMT

The humanitarian arm of the Philippines Church has called for security at Christian gatherings in the wake of a deadly bombing at a Mass in the Catholic-majority nation.

“Concerted efforts must be made to prevent the recurrence of such violent incidents and to safeguard the fundamental right to worship without fear," Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, said, reacting to the death of four students at a Mass at Mindanao State University in Marawi, the country's largest Muslim city, in the restive southern Philippines, on Dec. 3.

I am appalled “by the blatant act of terror that the perpetrators were able to commit,” the prelate said of the blast that also wounded 50 others and was caused by an improvised explosive device. 

The president of the pontifical charity in the archipelago urged all stakeholders, including the government and religious leaders, “to collaborate” to foster peace.

In a statement, Caritas Philippines expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a stern warning to the perpetrators.

"Rest assured, we will bring the perpetrators of this ruthless act to justice.”

Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines, is home to many Islamist insurgent groups.

The Philippine military wrested back Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur, in the southern Philippines after months of fighting Islamic-State fighters who seized it in May 2017.

During the Marawi siege, Mindanao State University became a center point of the government forces.

On Dec. 3, the university suspended classes and all academic activities "until further notice” and deployed additional security personnel.

"We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy," the university said in a statement.

The government believes the bombing might have been a revenge attack following a “decisive military operation” by the army that killed 11 members of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the remote village of Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town on Dec. 1.

What happened this Sunday morning could be a “retaliatory attack," said chief of the army General Romeo Brawner Jr. at a press conference on Dec. 3.

On Dec. 4, Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, Bangsamoro police chief, said the probe was progressing well.

“In order not to preempt the investigation, we will not divulge names,” said Nobleza on a morning TV program.

In 2014, the government inked a peace pact with the largest rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, However, militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets continued by smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal. 

Mindanao folk uneasy amid strong aftershocks

 

SAFER HERE Residents of Barangay Bitoon in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, on Monday set up makeshift shelters in a school ground for fear of staying in their houses, which might give way to strong aftershocks in the wake of Saturday’s magnitude 7.4 earthquake. —ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS

By: Germelina Lacorte - @inquirerdotnetPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 04:40 AM December 05, 2023

DAVAO CITY — Residents in several areas in Mindanao could not rest after another strong earthquake struck Surigao del Sur on Monday, amid the continuing strong aftershocks from the main magnitude 7.4 tremor that hit off the province’s town of Hinatuan on Saturday.

The aftershocks from the magnitude 7.4 quake were also strong, reverberating in many areas across the Surigao and Agusan provinces, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recording close to 2,000 aftershocks as of Monday.

The series of quakes have prompted many residents in Surigao del Sur, particularly in the town of Hinatuan, to avoid staying indoors and instead move into makeshift tents set up outside their homes and nearby school grounds.

At 3:49 a.m. on Monday, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Cagwait town in Surigao del Sur, at a depth of 30 kilometers (18 miles), some 72 km northeast of the town, the Phivolcs said.

It was felt at Intensity 5 in Cagwait; Intensity 4 in Surigao del Sur’s Tandag City and in Tarragona town of Davao Oriental; and at Intensity 3 in Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, and in Davao Oriental’s towns of Banaybanay and Lupon and Mati City. This was the second strong earthquake to hit Surigao del Sur and the latest in a slew of strong quakes—all concentrated in the same area—days after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off the coast of Hinatuan on Dec. 2.

From the Cagwait quake, the Phivolcs recorded 190 aftershocks, as of 1 p.m. on Monday, ranging from 1.8 in magnitude to 5.7 in magnitude.

Class suspension

On Monday, some local government units in Mindanao affected by the magnitude 7.4 quake called off classes while school buildings and other private and government structures underwent safety inspections.

In Davao City, Acting Mayor Melchor Quitain, who suspended classes in public schools and implemented a work-from-home scheme in all government offices, said it was done to safeguard the welfare of the public. This developed as Phivolcs recorded a total of 1,898 aftershocks as of 1 p.m. on Monday, with magnitude, ranging from 1.4 to 6.6, as monitored by the Phivolcs Bislig City station.

In Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur province, Mayor Kirk Asis suspended classes at all levels, both in public and private schools on Monday to give way for a thorough inspection of public infrastructures and to assess the damage that the city had incurred. Some cracks have been noted in the city’s Catholic church building, while part of Prince Supermarket’s facade had collapsed, following Saturday’s quake.

The Davao del Norte provincial disaster risk reduction and management office also reported the suspension of in-person classes at all levels in the cities of Panabo and Samal Island and the towns of Braulio E. Dujali, Asuncion, Carment, Santo Tomas, and New Corella to give way to building assessment.

In Mati City, Davao Oriental’s provincial capital, Mayor Michelle Rabat suspended all classes in public schools on Monday, even as the 2,697 people who fled their houses after the quake had returned home on Sunday after the Phivolcs lifted its tsunami alert.

In Agusan del Sur, residents asked the provincial and local governments to provide vehicles to fetch students in other areas of Mindanao affected by the Dec. 2 earthquake.

Panicking

Police Staff Sgt. Joseph Lambo of the Hinatuan police said Sunday evening’s strong quake sent people rushing out of their homes again.

“They were panicking due to the memory of the previous night’s quake,” Lambo told Agence France-Presse (AFP). He said police were checking for any further damage or casualties.

Saturday’s quake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific region and sent residents along the east coast of Mindanao fleeing buildings, evacuating a hospital, and seeking higher ground.

There have been no reports of major damage to buildings or infrastructure so far, disaster officials told AFP earlier on Sunday.

A 30-year-old man died in Bislig City, also in Surigao del Sur, when a wall inside his house collapsed on top of him, said local disaster official Pacifica Pedraverde.

Some roads in the city were cracked during the earthquake and aftershocks but vehicles could still drive on them, she said.

A pregnant woman was killed in Tagum City in Davao del Norte province, the national disaster agency said, without providing details.

Two people suffered minor injuries from falling debris in Tandag City, about 100 km north of Bislig, an official said.

The Phivolcs initially warned of a “destructive tsunami” after the first quake on Saturday, expecting “life-threatening” waves, though none occurred and the warning later ended.

The recent temblors came some two weeks after a magnitude 6.7 quake hit Mindanao, killing at least nine people, shaking buildings and causing part of a shopping mall ceiling to collapse.

Philippine Fairy Tales (IX) - Philippinische Märchen (IX)

 

VON DEN ERSTEN MENSCHEN

Die Bagobos im südlichen Mindanao glaubten daran, dass es vor langer Zeit auf der weiten Welt keinen einzigen Mann und auch keine einzige Frau gegeben hatte. Nur Tuglay und Tuglibon, zwei machtvolle Wesen, die die Welt erschaffen hatten, lebten dort.

Eines Tages sprach Tuglay zu Tuglibon: "Liebe Frau, vielleicht wäre es besser, wenn es auf der Welt Menschen gäbe."

"In der Tat wäre es besser", antwortete Tuglibon. "Wenigstens wäre dann jemand da, der sich in dieser schönen, neuen Welt, die wir erschaffen haben, erfreuen könnte. Lass uns einen Mann und eine Frau formen, die den blauen Himmel und das weite Meer lieben werden. Lass uns den Menschen erschaffen, die die Blumen in den Tälern und die Wolken über den Bergen mögen."

So nahm Tuglay ein wenig Maismehl, vermischte es mit Wasser und formte daraus menschliche Gestalten. Dann bedeckte er sie mit Schuppen und hauchte ihnen Leben ein.

Als sich die erschaffenen Wesen auf die Beine stellten, waren sie sehr schwerfällig, denn Tuglay hatte vergessen, ihnen Gelenke zu machen. Sie hatten steife Arme und Beine, und beim Gehen stolperten sie. Sie besaßen außerdem zu kleine Augen, versteckte Ohren und kaum sichtbare Nasen. Mit den steifen Fingern konnten sie nichts festhalten, und weil Schuppen ihre Körper bedeckten, schienen sie eher Kriechtieren ähnlich zu sein als Menschen.

"Die Menschen, die du erschaffen hast, gefallen mir nicht", sagte Tuglibon. "Versuche doch, andere Menschen zu machen!"

Aber Tuglay war mit ihnen zufrieden. "Ich glaube, es fehlt ihnen nichts", erwiderte er seiner Frau.

Aber je länger Tuglibon die Menschen ansah, desto weniger gefielen sie ihr. "Wie wird die Welt aussehen, wenn sie von solchen hässlichen Wesen bevölkert sein wird?" fragte sie. "Ich will, dass die Menschen anmutig einhergehen und dass sie nicht wie irgendwelche Schlangen mit Schuppen bedeckt sind."

"Diese zwei gehören mir", erwiderte Tuglay kühl, "ich werde sie nicht verändern."

Tuglibon widersprach ihrem Mann nicht mehr, aber es verdross sie sehr, als sie sah, was sie Klügeres ersinnen könnte, schleuderte sie ihrem Mann eine Handvoll Maismehl in die Augen. "Jetzt wird er mich nicht bei der Arbeit sehen", dachte sie bei sich.

Schnell bereitete sie aus Mehl einen Teig und begann, menschliche Gestalten zu formen. Zwischen den Knochen machte sie ihnen Gelenke, sie setzte ihnen klare Augen ein, formte ihnen schöne Ohren, machte ihnen grössere Nasen und einen schönen Mund. Sie glättete ihre Haut, damit sie zart und geschmeidig sei, und nur an den Fingerspitzen ließ sie Schuppen. Schliesslich gab sie jedem noch ein grosses Herz, um einander zu lieben zu können, und hauchte ihnen Leben sein.

Als Tuglibon ihre Arbeit beendet hatte, wusch sie von Tuglays Augen das Maismehl ab. Tuglay ärgerte sich sehr, als er feststellte, was seine Frau getan hatte. Aber als er den Mann und die Frau näher betrachtete, überzeugte er sich, dass sie in der Tat viel schöner waren als seine Schöpfung.

"Ich bin froh, dass du sie erschaffen hast", sprach er. "Sie und ihre Kinder werden auf dieser Welt herrschen."

"Sie werden das Schöne lieben und das Böse meiden", setzte Tuglibon hinzu. "Sie werden am Gesang der Vögel ihre Freude haben, sie werden ihre Körper in kühlen Quellen und Fluessen waschen. Sie werden sich lieben, und wenn sie am Tag die Sonne und in der Nacht den Mond und die Sterne schauen, werden sie uns auch lieben, denn wir haben sie erschaffen!"

Als Tuglibon ihre Rede beendet hatte, schaute sie Tuglay an, und beide lächelten dem ersten Mann und der ersten Frau zu. Diese wurden die Ahnen der Menschen, die jetzt die Erde bevölkern.

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FROM THE FIRST PEOPLE

The Bagobos of southern Mindanao believed that long ago there was not a single man or woman in the world. Only Tuglay and Tuglibon, two powerful beings who created the world, lived there.

One day Tuglay said to Tuglibon: "Dear woman, perhaps it would be better if there were people in the world."

"Indeed it would be better," replied Tuglibon. "At least then there would be someone to enjoy in this brave new world we have created. Let us form a man and a woman who will love the blue sky and the wide sea. Let us create man, who like the flowers in the valleys and the clouds over the mountains."

So Tuglay took a little corn flour, mixed it with water and formed human figures out of it. Then he covered them with scales and breathed life into them.

When the created beings stood on their feet, they were very clumsy because Tuglay had forgotten to make them joints. Their arms and legs were stiff and they stumbled when they walked. They also had eyes that were too small, ears that were hidden and noses that were barely visible. They couldn't hold anything with their stiff fingers, and because their bodies were covered with scales, they seemed more like reptiles than humans.

“I don’t like the people you created,” Tuglibon said. “Try to make other people!”

But Tuglay was happy with them. "I don't think there's anything wrong with them," he replied to his wife.

But the longer Tuglibon looked at people, the less she liked them. "What will the world look like when it is populated by such ugly creatures?" she asked. "I want people to walk gracefully and not be covered in scales like snakes."

"These two belong to me," replied Tuglay coolly, "I will not change them."

Tuglibon no longer contradicted her husband, but she was very annoyed, and when she saw what she could think of that was cleverer, she threw a handful of cornmeal into her husband's eyes. "Now he won't see me at work," she thought to herself.

She quickly made a dough out of flour and began to shape human figures. She made them joints between their bones, she gave them clear eyes, formed beautiful ears for them, gave them larger noses and a beautiful mouth. She smoothed her skin so that it was soft and supple, leaving only the tips of her fingers with scales. Finally, she gave everyone a big heart to be able to love each other and breathed life into them.

When Tuglibon finished her work, she washed the cornmeal from Tuglay's eyes. Tuglay was very upset when he realized what his wife had done. But as he looked closer at the man and woman, he became convinced that they were indeed much more beautiful than his creation.

"I'm glad you created them," he spoke. "They and their children will rule this world."

“They will love what is beautiful and avoid what is evil,” added Tuglibon. "They will delight in the singing of birds; they will wash their bodies in cool springs and rivers. They will love each other, and when they see the sun by day and the moon and stars by night, they will love us too , because we created them!"

When Tuglibon finished speaking, she looked at Tuglay, and they both smiled at the first man and woman. These became the ancestors of the people who now populate the earth.

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Was die deutschsprachige Märchenliteratur anbelangt, so ist das im Dausien-Verlag (1978) erschienene Buch "Philippinische Märchen" sehr zu empfehlen. Man findet es ab und an im Antiquariat oder bei ebay. 

Finally, a nation cares for its caregivers

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Dec 5, 2023 06:05 AM

  

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In our lives, caregivers have played an integral role, from the moment we are born, during times when we are ill or incapacitated, or during old age. Their roles are indispensable, yet for far too long, they are vulnerable in the absence of legal protection. 

By definition of the law, a “caregiver” refers to licensed health care professionals voluntarily registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and those duly assessed and certified by TESDA. They may be employed directly, full time or part time, part of a private household or nursing facility. To put it simply, a caregiver is someone who gives care to another individual or group of people. 

Over the years, there has been no definitive law protecting a caregiver. This absence has led to a litany of abuses — substandard wages, unfair employment terms, substandard working conditions, etc. The list goes on, and this cycle of abuse has placed a burden on caregivers who only want to have a decent employment. 

This cycle, however, doesn’t need to go on with the signing of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Nov. 23, 2023, of a law that sets policies aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of caregivers. This is Republic Act (RA) 11965 or “An Act Institutionalizing Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Caregivers in the Practice of their Occupation.”  

“It is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize the role of caregivers in national development and to institute policies in the practice in the occupation with the end in view of developing competent caregivers whose standards of professional service shall be excellent and globally competitive,” according to RA 11965.

Under this new law, caregivers are assured that their rights are protected. They must be entitled to an employment contract guaranteeing at least a daily minimum wage. They fall under the coverage of existing labor laws, ensuring overtime pay for extended working hours and night shift differentials for those working in the evening. Add to these, they should be paid on time, either once every two weeks or twice a month at intervals not exceeding 16 days.  

With the law, they are also entitled to a 13th-month pay, paid leaves, plus coverage by SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG. Departments such as DOLE, TESDA, and the Migrant Workers (DMW) are tasked to oversee the implementation of the law. The DMW is also mandated to oversee protection of Filipino caregivers being deployed overseas. 

The signing of the law by the President was welcomed by various sectors, especially among those who have noted that this is not only timely but relevant in this day and age when Filipino caregivers are in such high demand here and abroad. 

“As we recognize the important role of our caregivers in national development, we must ensure they are protected against abuse, harassment, and economic exploitation,” said Sen. Joel Villanueva, one of the co-authors of the law.

All laws signed by the President are relevant in their ways and in the national context, but RA 11965 marks a significant milestone as it finally recognizes the invaluable contributions of thousands of caregivers — unsung heroes — who tirelessly care for the sick, the vulnerable, the elderly. This law is long overdue, yet we welcome its arrival as this signifies that the nation is finally ready and legally able to truly care for its caregivers.