1 SETYEMBRE 2017, ang petsang masasabing maibibilang sa kasaysayan ng Quezon City Police District Press Corps, isang asosasyon ng mamamahayag mula sa iba’t ibang media entity – diyaryo, telebisyon at radio na pawang nakatalaga sa lungsod para bantayan at iulat sa mamamayan ang araw-araw na nangyayari sa Kyusi partikular ang trabaho ng pulisya.

Photo by: Philstar

Bagamat prayoridad ng QCPD Press Corps ang pag-uulat hinggil sa mga nangyayaring krimen sa lungsod, kabilang din sa assignment ng karamihang miyembro ng asosasyon ay pag-uulat hinggil sa mga pangyayari sa iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan na matatagpuan sa lungsod, tulad ng Ombudsman, LTO, LTFRB, QC Hall, PDEA at iba pa.

Iyan po ang isa sa layunin ng QCPD Press Corps bukod sa pagbubuklod-buklod sa mga mamamahayag na nakatalaga sa Quezon City. Hindi malilimutan ang 1 Setyembre makaraan ang matagumpay na isinagawang induction ceremony ”oath taking” para sa mga bagong halal na opisyal ng asosasyon para sa taong 2017-2018.

Hindi malilimutan ang 1 Setyembre makaraan ang matagumpay na isinagawang induction ceremony ”oath taking” para sa mga bagong halal na opisyal ng asosasyon para sa taong 2017-2018.
Kabilang sa mga nanumpa sina Rod Vega ng DZBB bilang Vice President; Analy Labor (Daily Tribune), Secretary; Nonoy Lacza (Business Mirror) Treasurer; Boy Santos (Philippine Star) Auditor; Fred Salcedo (DWAD) PRO; Mark Balmores (Manila Bulletin) at Mike Taboy (Abante) Sgt @ Arms.

Habang ang Chairman of the Board ay si Jan Sinocruz ng Remate at ang mga miyembro ng board of directors ay sina Val Leonardo (Remate); Danny Querubin (Remate); Jun Mestica (Remate); Rolly Salvador (Malaya); Val Gonzales (DZRH); Alex Mendoza (Hataw); Edgar Rabulan (Remate); Mike De Juan (Manila Times). Ang inyong lingkod naman ay muling naihalal bilang pangulo. Ito na ang aking ika-13 taon sa pagkapangulo. (Congratulations Almar, keep up the good work – Ed)

Sa mga miyembro ng press corps, maraming salamat sa patuloy na pagtitiwala.

Naging matagumpay ang induction ceremony matapos manumpa ang mga inihalal kay National Press Club president Paul Gutierrez. Sinaksihan ito ni QCPD District Director, P/Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, na adviser rin ng press corps. Siyempre, saksi rin dito ang mga bisita sa okasyon.

Ang panunumpa ng mga bagong opisyal sa kanilang posisyon ay isa lamang sa bahagi ng okasyon. Ikinokonsiderang pinaka-high lights ang taunang pagbibigay ng parangal sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta sa press corps. Suportang hindi lamang para sa pisikal na pangangailangan ng organisasyon kundi suporta sa bawat miyembro na may pangangailangang personal.

Kabilang sa pinarangalan sina C/Supt. Eleazar; Jerry S. Yap, ALAM chairman at Hataw publisher; Benny Antiporda, SBMA director at Remate publisher; NPC president Gutierrez dalawang NPC director na tumayong Comelec noong nakaraang press coprs election na sina Alvin Murcia at Boying Abasola. Habang sa pulisya naman, binigyan halaga ng press corps ang naiambag nila sa walang sawang pagbibigay ng impormasyon hinggil sa mga pangyayari sa lungsod kaugnay sa kanilang mga isinagawang iba’t ibang operasyon bilang suporta sa kampanya ni Pangulong Digong laban sa kriminalidad at ilegal na droga.

Kabilang sa mga pinarangalan sina Supt. Rodel B. Marcelo, CIDU chief; Supt. Rogarth Campo, DSOU chief; Chief Insp. Tito Jay Cuden, PIO chief; Supt. Igmedio Bernaldez, PS 2 chief; Supt. Danilo Mendoza, PS 3 chief; Supt. April Mark Young, PS 4 chief; Supt. Lito Patay, PS 6 chief (now assigned at CIDG); Supt. Pedro Sanchez, PS 10 chief; Supt. Christian Dela Cruz, PS 11 chief; Supt. Cipriano Galanida, TEU chief; C/Insp. Marciano De Leon Navarro, Dep. Chief, PS 11; C/Insp. Manolo Refugia, TEU sector 4 chief; C/Insp. Rolando Lorenzo, QC Hall Police Detachment chief; PO3 Reynaldo Lara at PO3 Willy Trojillo, kapwa nakatalaga sa PS 10 Station Drugs Enforcement Unit.
Congratulations sa inyong lahat.

Sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta sa QCPD Press Corps, maraming salamat.

Source: hatawtabloid.com

Continue Reading

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is preparing for a grand celebration this year in connection with its silver anniversary this coming November.

According to SBMA Administrator & CEO Wilma T. Eisma, agency officials have approved a month-long schedule of activities to mark the organization’s 25th year of existence and the establishment of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, now considered as one of the best success stories of military base conversion in the world.

“Turning 25 is a very special milestone, and so we are going for some very special program for the SBMA,” said Eisma, an Olongapo City native who was among the legendary volunteers that helped protect and preserve Subic Bay facilities after the U.S. Navy withdrew its forces here in 1992.

“Subic has come a very long way—thanks to the sacrifice and hard work of a lot of people over the years, and honoring these people for what they did will be a big part of the celebration,” she added.

PAST REVISITED

The celebration will carry the theme “SBMA at 25: Celebrating the Past, Forging the Nation’s Future.”

Under a program prepared by the SBMA 25th Anniversary Celebration Committee, activities will start on November 6 with a flag-raising ceremony at Bldg. 229, which is the SBMA main office, followed by a motorcade around Subic’s Central Business District.

All the while, some aircraft will undertake streamer and confetti drops, while boats will execute water cannon salutes at the bay.

Also on the first day of celebration, the SBMA Labor Department, in collaboration with registered business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport, will hold a job fair to match job-seekers with prospective employers.

SPORTS SPECTACULARS

The next event in the anniversary program will be a fun run in the morning of November 11, a Saturday. With 2-km, 5-km and 25-km categories, this sports spectacular will kick off at the Remy Field and progress along the length of Waterfront Road.

Nearby, some water cannon salutes will again take place on the bay, while the Philippine Air Force (PAF) makes some aircraft formation and skydiving display overhead.

The PAF will also present a static aircraft display at the Subic Bay International Airport.

On November 18, also a Saturday, Remy Field will be the venue for several events, including the SBMA Family Day that will feature fun games like the Amazing Race, giant volleyball, and “Laro ng Lahi.” The latter will include traditional Filipino games like “kadang-kadang”, catching the greasy pig, and “patintero.”

At 2:00 p.m., the talent show “SBMA Got Talent” will start at the Subic Gym, to be followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Boardwalk Park.

Meanwhile, there will be a three-day “Subic Bay Grand Sale” at Remy Field and all tourism establishments in Subic from Nov. 24 to 26.

This will include night bazaar and food festivals, night entertainment, discount sales from tourism stakeholders, and fireworks display.

FINALE

On Nov. 24, which marks the actual turnover of Subic Bay from the U.S. Navy to the Philippine government, the activities will start at 8:00 in the morning with an ecumenical mass in front of Bldg. 229.

This will be followed by an awarding ceremony to recognize pioneer investor companies, as well as pioneer SBMA employees. The awardees will also be honored with aerial and water salutes.

The morning program will be capped by a silent drill demonstration by cadets of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, and by performances from the SBMA Law Enforcement Department brass band and the Philippine Air Force band.

In the afternoon, a new museum featuring photo exhibits and memorabilia displays will open at the Harbor Point mall. The museum displays will be available for public viewing until Nov. 26.

At 3:00 p.m., a float and foot parade involving representatives from local government units will start at the Waterfront Road.

The parade will end at the Volunteers’ Shrine where the unveiling of commemorative items and a tribute to volunteers will take place.

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

Continue Reading

IF by “gentleman” we mean someone who never insults anybody unintentionally, Senators Richard Gordon and Antonio Trillanes 4th proclaimed their gentlemanly status quite convincingly when they exchanged blistering insults during last week’s hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

The rules of parliamentary procedure, as we find them in Robert’s Rules of Order, Thomas Jefferson’s Manual of Parliamentary Procedure, Floyd Riddick’s Parliamentary Procedure, or Sir Erskine May’s Treatise upon the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament, and the actual public standing of the Philippine Senate became the first casualties of this exchange. So, we are now hearing questions about the need for this committee, and indeed for the entire Senate.

It all began when Trillanes suggested that the committee invite President Rodrigo Duterte’s eldest son Paolo, vice mayor of Davao City, and son-in-law Maneses Carpio, lawyer-husband of the President’s daughter Sara, who is the mayor of Davao City, to shed light on their “rumored involvement” in the P6.4 billion illegal drug shipment from China, which arrived in Manila on May 17, 2017, went uninspected through the Bureau of Customs’ “green lane” and landed in a private warehouse in Valenzuela City on May 24.

Comite de absuelto
Gordon, who chairs the committee, rejected the suggestion, saying the allegations against DU30’s son and son-in-law were all “hearsay” which could not be dignified by the committee. The Senate is “not a cockpit of rumors,” he said. This drew an angry response from Trillanes who suggested the committee rather than Gordon alone decide the issue; he accused the chair of turning the hearing into a “one-man show” and the committee into a “comite de absuelto”—an exoneration (or absolution) committee.

Gordon riposted that “every time he (Trillanes) does not like it, he will conduct a coup and he will be forgiven”—an obvious reference to the former Navy officer’s participation in the 2003 military coup attempt against then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, for which he was jailed before he ran successfully for the Senate. Gordon threatened to charge the former Navy officer with misconduct before the Senate ethics committee and have him expelled, if necessary.

Trillanes returned the compliment by talking about how Gordon, when he was chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, “barricaded himself” inside Subic to resist the takeover by President Joseph Estrada’s appointee. People watching the exchange feared the two gentlemen would come to blows, but Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto moved to suspend the hearing to allow tempers to cool down. The two gentlemen obviously did not want to eat into the turf of Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who is the only professional boxer in the Senate. So neither of them punched the other. But the reputation of the Senate, which is currently observing its centennial, could not have sunk lower had the exchange degenerated into the use of the Queensberry rules.

Not the Senate alone
As a former senator, I am genuinely pained by all this. In my youth, I used to spend whole afternoons listening to the Senate floor debates. Even the least of them were uniformly instructive. But all that has changed. The last worthwhile Senate speech I heard was years ago, when I was still the Senate Majority Leader, when the TV networks still found it worthwhile to cover live our proceedings. Still, I continue to hope that as the nation’s highest deliberative body, the Senate could still break out of the mold that has stifled the use of reason and the intellect and imprisoned our state institutions in mediocrity, amorality and low taste.

In the past, legal luminaries like Senators Claro M. Recto, Cipriano Primicias, Arturo Tolentino, Lorenzo Tañada, Ferdinand Marcos and others could allow an unschooled zacatero like Amang Rodriguez to become Senate President, and “the beautiful Roger”, as the Manila Chronicle’s lead columnist I. P. Soliongco immortalized the movie actor Rogelio de la Rosa, who became a senator in 1957 and ran briefly as a presidential candidate three years later only to withdraw in favor of his former brother-in-law, Vice President Diosdado Macapagal, to sit among them as a peer without risking the dignity of the Senate.

Taking more hits
But the institution has since taken more serious hits. Since 2001, we have seen mother and son, father and son, brother and sister, brother and half-brother take their place simultaneously in the 24-member Senate, in total contempt of the constitutional ban on political dynasties, and the fact that the institution is meant to represent at least 105 million Filipinos consisting of over 20 million families.

In 2004, one senator had to hire a personal interpreter to translate the English proceedings into the native tongue. He was not prepared to sit in a deliberative assembly where English was the working language, yet he was reelected after six years. In 2010, 2013, and even in 2016, several improbable candidates were elected senators because of the large-scale manipulation of the automated election, courtesy of the Venezuelan technology provider, Smartmatic.

In 2016, Pacquiao, the boxer, entered the Senate. The 146-pounder had won 59 of his 68 fights, 38 by knockout, and snatched 11 major world titles—the first ever to win the lineal championship in five different weight classes. The once-poor boy from Sarangani is now a billionaire; the second highest paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes magazine. But his parliamentary skills have not exceeded his boxing skills. Last July, he lost his last fight to Australia’s Jeff Horn in Brisbane, to his Filipino fans’ angry shouts of “hometown decision.” The Department of Foreign Affairs showed great restraint in not filing a diplomatic protest against Australia for “humiliating” a sitting Philippine senator in the ring.

In the Senate, Pacquiao remains determined to punch above his weight. As a newly minted Protestant, he now quotes the Bible to justify his support of the drug killings and DU30’s fevered push for the capital sentence for various crimes except plunder which could affect favored allies. Some of his friends want him to run for President after DU30 steps down. To many Filipinos, Pacquiao—not Trillanes, Gordon or Pimentel 3rd—is the true image and measure of the Senate today.

In his classic work The English Constitution, Walter Bagehot defines the functions of Parliament to include not only the legislative and elective, but also the informing, expressive, and teaching functions. Except for the elective, the others are also the functions of the Senate: to enact good laws, to inform the people of what the State has a duty to provide, to express the will of the electorate, to teach the nation what it does not know. But the Senators may have succeeded in distracting the Senate from much of these functions.

Subverting the Constitution
By turning committee inquiries into a public lynching of those accused of wrongdoing, the Senate has tried to give the impression this is all for the common good. Not so. Under the Constitution, “the Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.” But “inquiries in aid of legislation” are now conducted like police investigations, where suspects who might be summarily executed if they were caught in the drug war are routinely browbeaten by legislators whose first duty is to prevent their inquiry from turning into an inquisition or a fishing expedition.

As wrong as it is to turn any legislative inquiry into an inquisition, it is “wronger” still to grill certain witnesses in such inquisition as though they were on a “hit list,” while protecting others like “sacred cows.” This was Trillanes’s complaint in the blue ribbon probe. Although some people had been killed in the drug war after their names were mentioned by PDU30, the committee could not ask some individuals to answer questions in the drug-related inquiry because they happened to be related to DU30.

The customs broker who had earlier tried to implicate the President’s son in the customs mess has since recanted, and blamed “fake news” for everything. But it remains to be seen which narrative the public would believe.

Abolishing blue ribbon
Some years ago, then-Senate President Neptali Gonzales in a senators’ caucus proposed that the blue ribbon committee be abolished on the ground that “it’s not the Senate’s business to investigate.” As Majority Leader, I supported this move. But the late Sen. Ernesto Maceda, as committee chair, pleaded that blue ribbon gave the Senate its only clout vis-a-vis the Executive. Abolish it, and Malacañang would simply ignore us, Maceda warned. Evidently, the committee took to heart those words.

In 2000, the committee, under the chairmanship of Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., investigated charges of bribe-taking against President Joseph Estrada, first aired by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson and repeated on the Senate floor by then Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona, Jr. As chair of the rules committee, I tried to stop the investigation on the ground that under the Constitution, the Senate cannot investigate a sitting President, or any impeachable official for that matter, unless and until he has been impeached by the House of Representatives and the Articles of Impeachment are already with the Senate. In which case, the entire Senate, acting as an impeachment court, not just one committee, will forthwith try the President.

To my utter chagrin, not a single soul in the superficial media ever saw this point, and only the late Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago joined me in standing for the Constitution and the Rules of the Senate. Everyone else wanted to investigate; so after Estrada was impeached by the House, he went through a second round of grilling by the senator-judges on the same charges they had earlier investigated. Thus was Estrada robbed of his constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. None of those who had participated in the committee investigation ever recused themselves during the trial, which was cut short when the prosecution walked out and brought their case to EDSA.

Something similar was about to happen in the case of Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Juan Andres Bautista whom some senators had wanted to investigate for allegedly amassing P1.299 billion during the 2016 elections, and hiding his stash in 35 separate bank accounts in an obscure rural (thrift) bank. Happily, the last senator who had wanted to grill Bautista finally backed off after certain parties filed their impeachment complaint against the Comelec chair. But this has not completely eased our problems with the Senate, which are also our problems with the House, and the rest of government.

A giant albatross
The present Congress with all its amoral leaders and unprincipled turncoats has become a national disgrace, a giant albatross around our people’s necks. We have to get rid of it. We need only a few good laws, and for this we do not need an oversized Congress, which has to churn out laws no matter how harmful, irrelevant or stupid, just because its duty is to make laws. Instead of maintaining a white elephant that costs billions that could be used for more productive purposes, is it not possible to convene all the provincial governors and city mayors once a year, for at least 60 days, to enact a General Appropriations Act, which is the only legislation the government cannot do without, and all the revenue-making and other laws which are deemed indispensable and urgent?

I have a sneaking suspicion this idea could find a sympathetic chord in PDU30, and I would not mind him claiming its authorship. Some people, however, are bound to ask: If we could replace the Congress, could we not also replace the President?

Source: manilatimes.net

Continue Reading

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Ten units of the iconic Philippine jeepney rumbled out of the popular Camayan Beach Resort/Ocean Adventure theme park here last Sunday, August 20, heading out for hitherto parts unknown.

Story and photos by Henry Empeno

In Photo: Race briefing: An organizer sets ground rules just before the race starts at Camayan Beach.

It was a perfect day for a tour: The sun was out after weeks of intermittent rain, and Subic was crawling with visitors again. But the jeepney passengers here— some in military fatigue, some in corporate colors and others in sporty beach attire—were no ordinary tourists out for a weekend ride. They were on a mission to outrace, outthink and outlast one another to earn the bragging rights for being race champions.

Winning jeep: Team Raco’s camouflaged jeepney wins best in design.
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Amazing Jeepney Race, an inspired spinoff of the hit reality TV game show, which put the uniquely Filipino means of mass transport into the center of the competition. Launched in March 2013 by the Philippines-New Zealand Business Council (PNZBC) in part to support its chosen charity Operation Restore Hope, the jeepney race has taken competitors to historical landmarks in Manila and Makati in 2013 and 2014, to a Batangas fiesta in 2015, and to a wet and wild adventure in Bulacan last year.

In Subic on August 20, it was a little bit of everything for the racers. They had a taste of eco-adventure among forest trails, went hunting among historical sites, and enjoyed a fiesta of traditional Pinoy fun among theme parks and resorts where the challenges lay waiting.

The race pitted 10 teams of 10 persons each, with groups coming from as far as Makati and Laguna. There was a team of teachers from the International School in Manila, a family team with grade-school kids, and, of course, a team composed of office staff from the Embassy of New Zealand.

The competing teams were assigned one jeepney each, which they dressed up in team colors and decors. Two jeepneys wore camouflage twigs, some donned balloons and paper masks and flowers, and at least one sported toy guns on its visor.

Sammuel Benedick V. Nieto of Voice in 7 Events, which had coordinated the race in its past three outings, said adult competitors had to shell out P2,800 to join the race, while children 4 to 10 years old paid P1,300. The fee included the jeepney ride during the race, race kits and materials, raffle ticket, loot bags, souvenir team photo, as well as buffet lunch and drinks during the awarding ceremonies. The contestants were allowed free access to the Camayan Beach after the race.

Getting fired up

THE Amazing Jeepney Race kicked off early in the morning at the Camayan Beach Resort, where, after a last-minute briefing by organizers, some members of the indigenous Ayta tribe taught competitors the serious survival skill of fire-making and the raucous steps of the native courtship dance.

A deep hush fell among the racers as they watched a native jungle-survival expert coach fire from nothing but bamboo sticks and shavings. But they soon erupted into wild cheering as they followed the monkey-dance steps from Ayta instructors.

With the dancing done, the teams were on for the first challenge: Fire-making. Each team was given a set of bamboo splints, one with a notch where the other bamboo stick fitted. Rubbing these together, as the jungle expert demonstrated, was supposed to create a spark that would, in turn, set the bamboo shavings below on fire. But no one among the teams successfully created fire within the time limit, so off they went to the next challenge.

From Camayan, the racers rushed on foot to the Ocean Adventure marine park next door, where they had to look for the park mascot and get a key that would take them to the next pit stop. Here, each member of the team paid P150 as donation in exchange for the stamp necessary for the next task.

Race fast

NOW aboard their dressed-up jeepneys, the racers had to go to the Pamulaklakin Forest Reserve, a good 30-minute drive from Camayan Beach. Once on their vehicles, the racers, most of whom were first-time navigators in the forested areas of Subic, had to rely on the drivers’ good sense of direction. As it would turn out, precious minutes were lost in wrong turns and missed side streets—or even from a misreading of the map provided at the start of the race.

At Pamulaklakin, the racers used their stamps to enter the forest reserve guarded by the Ayta tribe. It turned out that the stamps, which represented the cash donations, were to be given to the natives. Then with the key from Ocean Adventure, the teams tried to unlock suitcases containing the next clue.

The third clue directed the racers to the Volunteers Shrine, which contained the names of some 8,000 volunteers who secured Subic Bay from looting and damage after the US Navy left in 1991. Here the participants had to find eight names of volunteers under time pressure, stencil the names on paper and submit the same to the Amazing Jeepney Race staff for their next clue.

Subic landmarks

THE next challenge took the teams to the flagstaff in front of Building 229, the head office of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Here, they were asked to look for flag stations, given a set of art materials and asked to create a miniature Philippine flag. They then submitted the completed flag to the race staff, who checked if the design was accurate, and posed with it for a photo before receiving the next clue.

From there, the racers moved on to the next challenge that asked them to go to Hell Ship Memorial. But because it was a one-way street, most of the teams who boarded their jeepneys after the flag challenge had to go around the block only to realize they had come back right next to where they left off. Those with the presence of mind to check the map first, however, simply walked the short distance to the next challenge.

The Hell Ship Memorial paid tribute to 270 prisoners of war aboard the Japanese cargo ship Oryoku Maru, which was bombed and sunk in Subic Bay on December 15, 1944. Here, two members from each team must look for the plates honoring the allied countries in World War II, take pictures of the ones for the Philippines and New Zealand, and show the photos to the race staff for the next clue.

Forest attractions

FROM the hunt among memorials at Subic’s central business district, the Amazing Jeepney Race went to Tree Top Adventure at the Subic’s Cubi area. Known for its cable rides, Tree Top Adventure provided the next challenge, where two members of the team were asked to either “fly” or “surf”—a choice that only spells the difference between being in a prone or upright position while riding the zipline.

This done, the racers found themselves at another Subic theme park, the Funtastic Park, where they were challenged to find their way out of a maze by answering questions posted along the way. Wrong answers led racers to dead ends, while correct ones brought them out to the exit where one team member must complete another challenge: Ride the grass slide down to where an event staff would issue the next clue in the race.

Beach fun

FROM the maze, the racing teams went back to Camayan Beach, where more challenges awaited: “Barya sa Palanggana” and a mini-triathlon with a twist.

In the first task, team members must uncover 10 coins from a basin full of flour by just blowing (or licking or sucking) off the white powder. The coins, too, must be transferred from the basin to the table without the players using their hands.

Next, the competing teams must finish a mini-race in three stages. The “swim” leg of the mini-triathlon required them to form a line to reach the clue tied to a rope hanging over the water. Then, instead of the “bike” leg, the teams had to complete a sack-relay race, with four members of a team hopping inside one huge sack. The “run” part of the contest called for all team members to crawl on the beach under a net set just a foot above the ground.

Amazing winners

JUST before 2 p.m., the last team straggled back into Camayan Beach, where the awarding was held. Most of the teams arrived just after noontime, but this one group reported having engine trouble, thus causing their delay.

All told, the fastest team award went to Converga, an outsourcing-solutions firm based in Makati. However, in terms of overall points gained in the race, the first place went to Team New Zealand, composed of embassy staff. Second place went to Team Yellow Submarine, the group of International School teachers from the United States and the United Kingdom; while third place was won by Team Junglist Massive.

Meanwhile, the best in jeepney design went to Team Raco, a group of international trade consultants in Makati; while the best in costume award went to Team Yellow Submarine.

Special prizes comprising of round-trip tickets from Hong Kong to Auckland, New Zealand were also given away to Matthew Dewitt of Team New Zealand Helen de la Cruz of Team Converga and Maria Nenita Jarlego of Team Raco.

Source: businessmirror.com.ph

Continue Reading

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: Restive workers of shipbuilding giant Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil) here said they will go on strike if an agreement to hold a certification election for the recognition of the union fails.

photo by: www.rappler.com

Alyansa ng Manggagawang Pilipinong Organisado–Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (AMAPO-TUCP) head Roberto Flores, whose group claim they were able to organize unions in all 18 sub-contractors of Hanjin, told The Manila Times a strike may happen soon. Flores said of the 33,000 Hanjin workers spread over 18 subcontractors, some 30,000 have joined the union.
“Strike may happen.

They [Hanjin] have committed many violations and there’s a very high percentage there will be a strike taking place,” he said. Flores, in a text message to The Manila Times, said they have already filed a notice to strike at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

Workers representatives and Hanjin management met on August 18 at the Labor office in Olongapo and again on August 25 regarding the holding of a certification election but no agreement was reached. Another meetings are set on September 5 and 6. The workers want their union certified through an election to enable them to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with Hanjin management. Hanjin reportedly agreed earlier to certify the union but wants to do this after a year which AMAPO-TUCP strongly opposed demanding that a certification election be held within three months.

It was earlier agreed to hold the certification election on August 29 to 30, but Flores said Hanjin wants the venue to be held at the Subic Gym inside the Subic Bay Freeport. However, AMAPO-TUCP insisted it should be within the vicinity of the workplace as provided by law.

Subic Gym is located in the central business district of the Freeport while Hanjin is located in Barangay Cawag at the Redondo Peninsula. Hanjin workers have been complaining of mounting cases of alleged abuses by Korean foremen and supervisors, unfair labor practices, physical harm, and even sexual harassments on women employees.

A union official said these grievances and complaints that have not been acted upon, have swayed most Hanjin workers to seek the union’s help, especially in filing cases against some Hanjin officials.

The Manila Times tried to get a comment from Hanjin officials but a management employee said the certification election issue is up for discussion with the Department of Labor and Employment and other parties and has no connection with Hanjin.

Members of the media are reportedly barred from entering the shipyard facility in the wake of the workers’ issue. Hanjin started operations in Subic Bay in 2006 and is now ranked as the fourth largest shipbuilder in the world. Its operations at the shipbuilding facility, however, has been marked by at least 39 reported deaths and an undetermined number of injuries over the years even prompting a congressional inquiry in 2009.

Source: manilatimes.net

Continue Reading