working overseas

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. I’m pretty sure that one issue which caught the headlines (and talk shows) this week won’t just go easily. Nope, it’s not Bolante or the World Bank report (the investigators have got more than enough of their share of media mileage). It’s about the right to reply bill currently pending in Congress. It created a noise, or at least some stir. So what about it? I thought I was not gonna take a look at it, after all, if my memory (of my training / seminar) serves me right, the proper way for any responsible media person (who knows his stuff) to do his job is to present both sides in an issue. So do we need a right of reply law? I don’t think so. But why the bill? Aha! Should I refer to that as trying to weed the media profession of some undesirable personalities? And how do we qualify the word “undesirable” here? Now, that’s a 64-dollar question.

Vocabulary lesson muna. What’s the difference between Filipino expatriate and Overseas Filipino Worker? Why do we refer to foreigners working in the Philippines as expatriates and call our fellow Filipinos working abroad as overseas workers? I never considered dissecting the terms until I came across an article saying that a Filipino expatriate or OWF (the latter is a force of habit) was demoted simply because he was (referred to as) an OFW.

Talking about Filipinos abroad. How do you explain that incident about a kababayan getting fired (and rehired after fighting it out and being fired again supposedly due to the bad economy) from his job in the land down under (Australia, where else) simply because he used water to clean his backside? I would like to believe that that act (of really cleaning one’s backside) is a manifestation of how Filipinos take personal hygiene seriously; and in the case of the worker from down under, something to cause some insecurity on the part of his foreign employers. Now, I’m reminded of my history class. The Españoles castigating Filipinos for taking a bath everyday. I hope (or Believe) that this is an isolated case and in no way will become one of the many risks Filipino will take (or meet) while working abroad.

First there was the issue on homosexuality which had some gay rights movements fuming. Then the case of children being molested which resulted in millions spent on out-of-court settlements. And now a bishop who declared that the Holocaust never occurred? Now, I’m excited as to what’s next. Count the movie Angels and Demons out. It’s plain and simple entertainment, unless your faith is on shaky foundation.

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Responsible Parenthood Movement. Yesterday, the Calbayog LGU signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Commission on Population for the LGU Implementation of the Responsible Parenthood Movement (RPM).

Mayor Mel Sarmiento is the first Local Chief Executive in Region 8 to enter into agreement with the Commission on Population for a localized implementation of the RPM. More details next issue.

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The City of Calbayog is observing the following: Fire Prevention month, an annual activity spearheaded by the Bureau of Fire Protection; the 2009 National Women's Month Celebration in coordination with the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women; and the Rabies Awareness Month 2009 under the auspices of the City Veterinary Services Office.

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Wedding Bells. Solomon Pallones and Thea Uyloan will get married tomorrow. Catarman Bishop Emeritus Angel Hobayan will preside over the wedding mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception will be at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center.

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This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!