Withstanding Recession

Year 2009 will be challenging for all Filipinos. As the year starts, we were overwhelmed by the following news:

• Accenture Manila cuts hundreds of jobs
• Intel closed its Philippine operations
• FedEx relocated its operation from Subic to Guangzhou, China
• and news regarding jobless Filipinos either overseas or nationwide.

As we experience and face the effect of the global financial crisis, I am still optimistic that we Filipinos will endure this challenge.

Being dependent to the global economy, the current recession brings stormy days to our economy. US companies are closing and some people lost their jobs. But as a local TV show said; instead of counting the bad things, count the good things that we have.

As American and western companies experience the challenge, they tend to expand their operations in nations where the cost of operations are cheaper, such as the Philippines. As such, we can expect more jobs not only in the Contact Center Businesses but also in the BPO industry.

Some companies are now moving their back office operations in Manila. This includes and is not limited to the following: human resources, accounting, consulting, transcriptionist, document encoder and more.

For those who lost their job, we all know how hard to find a new job nowadays. But remember, you are still entitled for your separation and back pay. Now, why not use it to establish your own business?

We go on after the Filipino-Spanish war. We gained respect during the US occupation and survive the 2nd World War. We gained independence and now a sovereign nation. We live.

So the Filipinos became known for their patience, dedication to work and hard labor. And as this economic storm pass, we can expect that a brighter and lighter days will be next.

Please Boycott Panay News

This blog is posted to support a fellow blogger and a friend whose pictures has been published online and on a daily sheet without his permission. Shame to the management of Panay News as they continue to ignore his messages.

Though a bit unrelated to my blog, this might happen to me or to anyone so I thought sharing will be beneficial for all bloggers. Also, this is a clear view of unethical and unprofessional journalism. Let us help Eric and their victims by spreading this article.

Links:

http://travelpinoytravel.multiply.com/journal/item/260

http://www.byahilo.com/2009/01/28/panay-news-used-my-photos-without-my-permission/

Here is the unedited blog entry:

Panay News is a local newspapaer based in Iloilo City.

As a newspaper, it is just expected from them to provide news reportage that is fair honest and credible.

But how can Panay News become fair and honest when in the first place all they do is just copy imaes on the internet and use it on their paper without even giving credit to the rightful owners of the photograph?

I myself is a victim of this. Last January 25 issue of the newspaper, I was apalled to see that not one but four of my photos were used in this newspaper without even mentioning my name or Byahilo.com

This is not the first time that Panay News did this to me.

Last year HUBLAS, their Ilonggo paper also used my two photos.

Now, when I sent them email, demanding for compensation for the images they used, they just simply ignored it. Until now the manangement has not responded to my email. Only the writer has contacted me, which I told him to ask his boss to contact me.

How dare this news paper make income by selling this newspaper while grabbing copyrighted materials. This is not fair. What they did is stealing. And this is against the journalistic ethics which they all are bound to abide to.

IF YOU BELIEVE IN MY FIGHT, PLEASE REPOST THIS IN YOUR FRIENDSTER, MULTIPLY, MYSPACE OR FACEBOOK OR FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR FRIEND.

It’s time to tell the world that Panay News is not worthy of being called a newspaper.

IT IS TRASH.

Enrico Dee
byahilo.com

Racist Show @ BBC

I've been terribly busy in the past few months and was not able to update my blog as promised. In fact, I'm just relying on RSS feed on my phone and Google reader for daily updates.

Today, I was disappointed to check the details of the RSS feed from Inquirer.net about the racist portrayal of an actor in a sitcom at BBC. Details of the news is posted here: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081006-164875/BBC-apology-demanded-for-racist-show and part of the sitcom can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9KrTGx28E .

After seeing the video, I can’t help myself to protest and thought that it might be helpful if I’ll post this in my site and let everyone know how insensitive the show was. Also, I think this is my share to help the public convince BBC make a public apology about their mistake in airing such act.

Though I know that this news should not be placed in this blog, this is the only place where I can share this information and maybe get some help.

Uso pa ba ang Harana?

Before the month ends, I need to share this dying Filipino tradition, “Harana.” Harana first gained popularity in the early part of the Spanish Period. It is the traditional form of courtship of Filipinos and is done by young men, usually with companions and guitars, when visiting a maiden at night to court her. The man will sing love songs in front of the maiden’s window until the maiden opens the window and appear there. But this gesture of the maiden doesn’t mean that the maiden will accept the young man in her house. She must have the consent of her parent to do that and even ask for their consent if they will be allowed to talk in private.

Harana is often associated with “Kundiman.” Kundiman is considered as an art song due to its musical structure that may contain poetry in the lyrics, blending verse and music in equal parts. Most kundiman songs are also categorized as love songs.

Unfortunately, urbanization and new technologies caused this tradition to disappear. Young men today would propose his intentions via SMS or chat. Also, it’s impossible for you to go with your friends in the cities for a Harana due to the fact that the city environment is too noisy making it impossible for your maiden to hear your voice. (Just imagine if your girl is living on the 20th floor on a condo unit in Makati)

Anyway, below is a sample of a kundiman song used to be sung in a harana.

Bituing Marikit
By Nicanor Abelardo

Bituing marikit sa gabi ng buhay

Ang bawat kislap mo'y ligaya ang taglay

Yaring aking palad iyong patnubayan

At kahit na sinag, ako'y bahaginan

Natanim sa puso ko yaong isang pag-ibig

Napinakasasamba sa loob ng dibdib

Sa iyong luningning, laging nasasabik

Ikaw ang pangarap, Bituing marikit

Lapitan mo ako, halina Bituin!

At ating pag-isahin ang mga damdamin

Ang sabik kong diwa'y huwag mong uhawin

Sa batis na iyong wagas na paggiliw

Tubbataha - The New 7 Wonders of Nature

July 7, 2007, Lisbon, Portugal - the new Seven (7) Wonders of the World was officially announced. These are The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) of Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico; Christ Redeemer (1931) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) of Rome, Italy; Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) of China; Machu Picchu (1460-1470) of Peru; Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.) of Jordan and Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) of Agra, India.

Following the declaration is the search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature. In this search, Tubbataha Reef in Sulu Sea has been nominated. Known as the Tubbataha Reef National MarinePark (proclaimed as a National Marine Park on August 11, 1988 through Presidential Proclamation No. 306), is designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1993. As a protected area, the reef has been a sanctuary to marine life and a heaven for divers and nature lovers.

Currently, Tubbataha is considered as one of the richest ecosystems on the planet. In this reef, you can see at least 85 percent of the hard coral reefs in the Philippines. Also, you’ll see the largest marine specie (whale shark) to the smallest (planktons) in this ecosystem.

However, conservation of the site has been a major challenge for the Philippines. Due to the lack of government funding and sudden increase of publicity, tourists started to visit the reef exposing it to abuse and exploitation. To resolve this, a “no-take” policy has been implemented. Only activities related to tourism, research and conservation are allowed in the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park (TRNMP). Catching or collecting anything is strictly prohibited.

The nomination of Tubbataha in the search will increase awareness of the people visiting the park. Further, conservation for this gift will be an international concern.

As of posting time, our “candidate” is on the 34th place. And as a Filipino, we must be proud of this gift and help by casting our vote. Voting is up until December 31, 2008. You can vote online by visiting this site: http://www.new7wonders.com/classic/en/n7w/register/

*Images courtesy of tubbatahareef.org.

Family Ties

Close family ties is a unique nature in the typical Filipino family. This is common since most Filipino families are following the extended family structure. In this setup, the children are living with their parent even after their marriage. This may continue until they have their own children. In the provinces, you can see three families living in the same house together with their parents.

If the new family is already capable of having their own house, its normal that they will buy a lot and build their home on the same compound or village with their parents or relatives. As such, they are not really isolated from their family or clan.

This practice can be seen in all rural areas in the Philippines. In some areas, you can locate the person that you’re looking for by looking for his family name, (e.g. Villanueva) and for sure, you can find that person living in an area where most of the neighbors are part of the Villanueva clan.

With this setup, members of the clan retain their values and closeness. Siblings, nieces, and other relatives consider each as part of their family and circle of friends. A strong rapport is established among the members of the family which makes every Filipino family special and ideal.

Some say that living in such setup is also disadvantageous since it encourages dependence among family members. Still, it’s a debatable topic since family members opt to adopt such setup.

This setup has been adopted for centuries, even before the Spaniards came. Living in an extended family can mold the values of young Filipinos, by allowing them to see how their parents and other relatives live their life.