Aktibistang OFW, yumao matapos atakihin sa puso

Ng The SUN

 

Si Lilybeth ay aktibong miyembro ng Unifil-Migrante HK

Nagluluksa ang kilusang migrante sa Hong Kong dahil sa pagkamatay kahapon, Miyerkules, ng isa sa kanilang aktibong miyembro na si Lilibeth Perez Mulat sanhi ng atake sa puso.

Tamang tama lang na nakarating sa Hong Kong ang anak nitong si Princess bago idineklarang  wala ng buhay si Lilibeth na ilang araw na rin nakaratay nang walang malay sa Ruttonjee Hospital sa Wanchai.

Ayon kay Esther Bangcawayan ng Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge kung saan isang volunteer si Lilibeth ay nahilo lang daw ito habang naglalakad sa may  Wanchai Market noong Biyernes, Dec. 2, at agad na itinakbo sa ospital pero hindi na nagkamalay.

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Katatapos lang niyang maoperahan sa Pamela Youde Eastern Hospital sa Chai Wan para sa kanyang varicose veins at naka sick leave pa hanggang Dec 5 nang atakihin siya.

Base sa mismong post ni Lilibeth sa Facebook noong Nov. 30 ay tagumpay ang kanyang operasyon at nagpapagaling na lang siya.

Pero sa sulat ng doktor na tumingin sa kanya sa Ruttonjee ay kritikal na ang kundisyon nito dahil sa atake sa puso, at iminungkahi ang dagliang pagbisita ng kanyang pamilya para makita siya sa huling sandal.

“She has suffered from a cardiac arrest secondary to massive pulmonary embolism. Her condition is complicated with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and she is in critical condition,” sabi ni Dr Anthony Yu.

“We suggest for her family members to visit her as soon as possible due to her grave prognosis.”

Agad namang naghanda sa kanyang pag-alis si Princess mula sa kanilang bahay sa Quezon nguni’t nabalam nang ilang araw dahil sinubukan munang nagpunta sa opisina ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sa Maynila para humingi ng tulong.

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Nabigo si Princess sa kanyang pakay dahil imbes tulungan agad ay sinabihan daw ito sa OWWA na sa Senado pumunta para mapabilis ang pag-asikaso sa kanyang hiling.

Agad namang sumulat si Bangcawayan sa OWWA sa Hong Kong para idaan sa kanila ang hiling ng pamilya ni Lilybeth at makiusap na rin na dalawin nila ang maysakit sa ospital “para malaman ang kanyang kundisyon at matulungan siya at kanyang pamilya.”

Pero ilang oras lang matapos ito ay nabalitaan nilang pumanaw na si Lilybeth, at si Princess ay nakarating sa Hong Kong para makita siya sa huling pagkakataon.

Paglalakad ang isa sa mga paboritong ginagawa ni Lilybeth sa araw ng pahinga

Agad na nagpahayag ng pagkalungkot ang mga grupong kaanib ng United Filipinos in Hong Kong, kung saan naging aktibong miyembro si Lilybeth.

Kamakailan lang ay umani ito ng papuri nang may sunduin itong isang migranteng na-terminate sa gitna ng bagyo, at hinatid ito sa Bethune House.

“Safe na si kabayan. Kahit bago walang makakapigil sa aking pagtulong,” sabi ni Lilybeth sa kanyang Facebook post, na nilakipan pa niya ng dalawang litrato ng kababayan na tinulungan niya.

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Ang kanyang kabaitan at determinasyon na ipaglaban ang mga karapatan ng kapwa migrante ay binigyang puri ng ilang mga kaibigan bilang pagtanaw sa kanyang naging buhay dito sa Hong Kong.

“Isa na namang kasama sa kilusang migrante ang naging bayani kanina,” sabi ni Eman Villanueva, chairperson ng Bayan Hong Kong at Macau, at secretary general ng Unifil.

“Si kasamang Beth ay nanindigan para sa kapakanan ng mga migrante at sambayanan. Naglaan ng kanyang panahon para paglingkuran ang kapwa-OFW," dagdag niya.

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“Igawad natin ang pinakamataas na pagpupugay kay kasamang Beth. Isang migranteng manggagawa, aktibistang pangkultura, naglingkod sa masang migrante hanggang sa kahulihulihan.”

Inalala naman ni Janette Carnay na “hindi madamot” sa pagtulong Lilybeth sa kanilang ka-miyembro sa Unifil, lalo na sa pagbabahagi ng kanyang husay sa pagsasayaw at pagtulong sa mga gawain ng grupo.

Inulila ni Lilybeth ang kanyang asawa at tatlong anak na babae.

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Namumuong bagyo sa Pilipinas mararamdaman sa HK sa Martes

 

Mapang nagpapakita ng sirkulasyon ng hangin. (HKO photo)

Binabantayan ng Hong Kong Observatory ang dalawang namumuong bagyo sa magkabilang gilid ng Luzon, at mararamdaman ang dalang hangin ng isa sa kanila sa papasok na linggo.

Dahil low pressure area (LPA) pa lang, hindi pa pinapangalanan ang pamumuo ng kumpol ng mga ulap sa kanluran ng Luzon (na ang sentro ay nasa 650 kilometro sa kanluran ng San Jose, Occidental Mindoro), pero inaasahang magsasanhi ito ng paagbugso ng hangin at ulan sa malaking bahagi ng South China Sea sa pag-usad nito pakanluran.

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Sa Hong Kong, ang epekto nito ay mararamdaman sa manaka-nakang pag-ulan at bugso ng hangin, at pagbaba ng temperatura sa 21 degrees celsius sa umaga ng Martes, na inaasahan pang bumaba sa 21 degrees sa Miyerkules.

Ang Tropical Depression Maymay naman na nasa 190 kilometro sa silangan ng Casiguran, Aurora, ay inaasahang lalakas din at tatawid sa hilagang Luzon papuntang South China Sea. Pero hindi pa matanto ang epekto nito sa Hong Kong dahil marami itong dadaanan na maaring makaapekto sa direksyon nito sa mga susunod na araw.

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Pero bago dito, tag-init muli mula bukas hanggang Lunes, at inaasahan ang temperaturang 24 degrees sa umaga at 30 degrees sa hapon

Nakataas pa rin ang Red (o pula) Fire Danger Warning dahil sa mataas na panganib na magkasunog, lalo na sa mga tuyong damuhan sa gilid ng mga bundok.

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Pinaalalahanan ang mga aakyat ng bundok na magbaon ng luto nang pagkain upang hindi na magsimula ng apoy at maiwasang magka-sunog.

Ang parusa sa pagsisimula ng sunog sa mga bundok ay multang $25,000 at isang taong pagkabilanggo.

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Pinaalalahanan din sila na maging alerto kapag makakita ng usok, kahit malayo, dahil mabilis kumalat ang sunog sa mga panahong ito.

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Peso hits 58 to the dollar: how OFWs will be affected

 

Peso denominations. (BSP photo)

Analysis by The SUN

The Philippine peso sank today to its lowest level ever, closing at P58 for each US dollar, fueling fears of a further rise in the prices of consumer goods’.

Analysts said they see no end to further deterioration, which is mainly due to aggressive US anti-inflation policies which have strengthened the American currency against most currencies in the world, sparking fears that the peso could hit P60 to the dollar.

Another reason for the peso losing ground is the higher demand for the US dollar because the Philippines is in the peak of its yearly importation season for Christmas.

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So far, the peso has lost 13 per cent of its value.

Of equal concern is inflation, or the rise of consumer prices, and how it will be influenced by the peso’s value, considering that a number of products the country used to export – such as sugar – will now be imported.

Last August, the inflation rate stood at 6.3 per cent, almost a third higher than the 4.4 per cent in August the previous year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

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The Hong Kong dollar also weakened today to 7.85 to US$1, the trading ceiling set by the HK Monetary Authority when it pegged it to the US currency -- down from its latest peak of 7.5 which was set Aug. 24.

This could result in OFWs in Hong Kong hardly benefiting from the peso’s weakness, because the currency they earn is also losing ground.

In the meantime, they also have to meet their families’ increased demand for money because their usual remittances are no longer enough.

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The latest figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that cash remittances sent through banks from around the world went up by 2.3% to $2.92 billion in July, from $2.85 billion a year earlier.

Remittances from Hong Kong reflected the peso’s performance.

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In May when the peso started deteriorating from 52.34 to 52.44, Hong Kong OFWs sent home USD50.2 million. By July, when the dollar was lowest at 56.82 on July 18, remittances hit USD59.6 million.

BSP has a scheduled monetary-policy meeting tomorrow.

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FVR dies, aged 94

 

President Fidel V. Ramos :  Mar 18, 1928 - July 31, 2022 

Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, known to many as FVR, died at the age of 94 on Sunday, Jul 31.

Members of his family confirmed his death but gave no further details.

However, a longtime military aide said the late president had been in and out of the hospital due to a heart condition and had suffered dementia. He passed away at the Makati Medical Centre in the company of relatives.

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The Ramos family said in a statement, “We thank you all for respecting our privacy, as the family takes some time to grieve together…We will announce wake and funeral arrangements in the near future.”

Ramos was the Philippines’ 12^th president, having served from 1992 to 1998. Before being elected to the top post, he was also chief of the Philippine Constabulary and chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He gained prominence for helping topple former dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr., his second-degree cousin, from his 20-year rule, in 1986.

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Ramos was narrowly elected president six years later, replacing Corazon Aquino who took over from Marcos after the People Power revolt.

Though he won less than 23 percent of the vote, Ramos quickly gained widespread public approval, garnering 66 percent support during his incumbency. His presidency is still remembered for bringing peace, stability and growth to the country.

Marcos’ son, the Incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., quickly issued a statement of sympathy to the Ramos family.

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"Our family shares the Filipino people's grief on this sad day. We did not only lose a good leader but also a member of the family," Marcos, Jr. said.

"The legacy of his presidency will always be cherished and will be forever enshrined in the hearts of our grateful nation."

FVR speaking to HK reporters before heading on to China, where he was a frequent visitor

Before becoming the head of the national police force during Marcos Sr.’s rule, Ramos was a decorated war hero, having fought in wars in Korea and Vietnam.

Ramos was born on March 18, 1928, in Lingayen, Pangasinan, the son of a lawmaker and diplomat and a teacher. He graduated from the US Military Academy in West Point in 1950 and earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois the following year.

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According to the Ramos Foundation, he earned two more master’s degrees afterwards: in national security from the National Defense College in 1969; and in business administration from Ateneo de Manila University in 1980.

Through all these, he held every rank in the Philippine army until he became commander-in-chief in 1992.

His six-year administration is well remembered for its policy of opening the country’s economy to foreign investment through deregulation and liberalization, and for breaking up monopolies in the transportation and communications sectors.

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Through special powers granted to him by Congress, he rehabilitated the energy sector, ending frequent and hours-long power outages in the country. Journalists also credit him for keeping an open line to them and being tolerant of public criticism.

As a result, the economy surged and poverty rates fell from 39 percent to 31 percent.

While he eventually became a hero to many for defecting from Marcos Sr’s government, others would not forget his role in enforcing iron-fist rule during the dark years of martial law under the dictatorship.

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Ramos, the country’s only Protestant president, was well known for being indefatigable, going on daily jogs and playing golf regularly until he was well over 80 years old.

But what most people would remember him for was his habit of going about his daily activities - while chomping on cigars he never lit.

Ramos is survived by his wife Ming and their four daughters. Their second child, also a daughter, passed away in 2011.

Marcos to cut red tape in processing OFW papers, pledges protection

 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his first State of the Nation address.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. laid out plans today to make it easier for overseas Filipino workers to process their papers, faster for foreign employers to hire them, and for them to be brought home quickly if abused or fall into dangerous situations.

In his first State of the Nation address (SONA) before the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa, Marcos said OFWs deserve these and other measures because of their sacrifices for the country.

 “You OFWs represent the fighting faith of the Filipinos as a nation and as a people,” he said. “Let us transform your overseas journey into inspirational stories for all time.”

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His mention of OFWs indicates overseas employment will remain a government priority to earn foreign exchange for the economy, a strategy that his father started in the 70s.

In fact, he added, his government has initiated talks with Saudi Arabia for it to reopen to Filipino workers.

“Kaya natin at gagawin natin ang makipagnegosasyon na mabigyan ang ating mga kababayan doon ng tamang pasahod at mapangalagaan ang kanilang karapatan at kapakanan,” he said.

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He said Deparment of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople will go to Saudi Arabia to ensure  adequate staffing to handle the influx of workers there and push the campaign against human trafficking.

Marcos also said all other diplomatic posts will help in finding more work for OFWs, and bringing back those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

In the Philippines, he said the government will cut red tape in the processing of OFW papers so that the three months it took for foreign employers to get their Filipino workers would be shortened to three weeks.

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“We shall automate the verification of contracts and issue secure overseas employment certification (OEC) that you can keep on your smart phone,” he said, adding that the OFW handbook would be simplified and turned into a pamphlet.

“Mahirap na nga ang buhay kaya naman ayaw na po nating makitang lalo pang nahihirapan ang ating mga manggagawang mandarayuhan sa pagtupad sa kanilang mga pangarap,” he said.

Marcos announced the launch of the One Repatriation Command Center (ORCC) which can be reached through the social media platform ng Department of Migrant Workers and a hotline to give immediate aid to OFWs who are abused and those who find themselves in war zones and other dangerous situations.

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“Noon, nangungutang pa ang isang ina ng bawa’t OFW upang sumakay ng barko para pumunta sa Maynila at mangatok sa iba’t ibang ahensiya para mapauwi ang anak na inaapi,” he said. “Ngayon, kami na ang tatawag sa mga magulang ng OFW para sabihin sa kanila ang petsa kung kailan nila mayayakap ang at makakapiling ang kanilang mga anak.”

Marcos also thanked former President Rodrigo Duterte, who signed the law that created the DMW, “this new home for our OFWs.”

In a statement responding to the Marcos speech, Dolores Balladares Pelaez, chairpersn of Unifil-Migrante Hong Kong, said: “Bongbong Marcos is out of touch with the reality of overseas Filipinos. Hindi ang intensipikasyon ng labour export program ang sagot sa problema ng OFWs. Ang kailangan namin ay trabaho sa ‘Pinas, maayos na serbisyo, proteksyon sa trabaho at agarang pagtigil sa patong-patong na pwersahang bayarin.”

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Observatory, nagbabala sa hangin at ulan ng bagyong Chaba

 

Ang takbo ng bagyong Chaba

Nagtaas ng Strong Wind Signal No. 3 ang Hong Kong Observatory ngayong 10:40 ng gabi upang paalalahanan ang lahat laban sa banta ng ulan na inihahampas ng hanging may lakas na 41-62 KPH, na dala ng bagyong Chaba.

Hindi direktang tatama sa Hong Kong ang Chaba, na itinatayang nasa 570 kilometro sa timog ngayong ika-11 ng gabi, at inaasahang umusad palayo habang paakyat papuntang Guangdong, China.

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Pero dahil papalakas pa ang Chaba, maaaring itaas pa ang signal sa 8 sa Hong Kong bukas kung kinakailangan, ayon sa Observatory.

Pinaalalahanan ang lahat na mag-ingat sa malakas na ulan at hangin, lalo na sa matataas na lugar.

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Nauna rito, apat na oras na nasa ilalim ng Signal No 1 ang Hong Kong.

Nabuo ang bagyong Chaba (na tinguriang Caloy noong nasa area of responsibility ng Pilipinas) mula sa isang tropical depression nitong linggo sa gitna ng South China Sea, mga 1,000 kilometro sa kanluran ng Luzon.

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Simula noon, umuusad ito paakyat papuntang China, habang kumukuha ng lakas sa mainit ng hangin na dumadaloy mula sa silangan.

Ilan sa mga paalala ng Observatory:

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• Linisin ang mga daluyan ng tubig palabas ng bahay.
• Siguruhing sarado ang mga bintana at pintuan.

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• Maging alerto sa pagbabaha kung nasa mababang lugar.
• Makinig sa radio at manood ng TV o buksan ang website ng Observatory upang masagap ang pinakabaging balita.

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