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Filipino News 15 January 2017

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1Number<br />

Officially NZ’s #1 <strong>Filipino</strong> <strong>News</strong>paper since 2000.<br />

FORTNIGHTLY<br />

PRINT. WEB. MOBILE. TABLET. FB. YOUTUBE.<br />

Vol 7 No 95<br />

<strong>15</strong>-31 Jan <strong>2017</strong><br />

North<br />

and<br />

South<br />

Island<br />

www.filipinonews.nz, www.pinoynzlife.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong> | mobile: 027 495 8477, 027 445 7887<br />

Let's 'fortify' the goodwill<br />

we have shared with China<br />

“May all of us develop a<br />

more profound appreciation<br />

of our heritage as two<br />

distinct yet intertwined<br />

peoples,” says President<br />

Duterte.<br />

“Each beginning signals<br />

new chances and vast<br />

opportunities for change<br />

and change can mean a<br />

forward move, a rising, or<br />

a leap towards a better<br />

station, a steady ground, a<br />

reason to be grateful for<br />

and proud of the gift of<br />

life and the fulfillment of<br />

our aspirations.<br />

“The government<br />

shares the joys and hopes<br />

of our Chinese friends<br />

and Chinese-<strong>Filipino</strong>s<br />

who have found a root<br />

and reason for staying in<br />

the country.<br />

“They have enriched<br />

the <strong>Filipino</strong><br />

culture and<br />

history with their<br />

own. They have<br />

contributed to<br />

the economy through<br />

trade and investments.<br />

Their cuisine has become<br />

dearly familiar to many<br />

<strong>Filipino</strong> homes.<br />

“Their philosophy and<br />

attitude to life are a wellspring<br />

of practical lessons<br />

that all of us, regardless of<br />

nationality, can learn<br />

from.<br />

“May all of us develop a<br />

Duterte's<br />

Chinese<br />

New Year<br />

Message<br />

more profound appreciation<br />

of our heritage as two<br />

distinct yet intertwined<br />

peoples and further fortify<br />

the goodwill that we<br />

have shared over the<br />

years.<br />

“To everyone else who<br />

believes in the miracle of<br />

beginnings and who<br />

makes a choice for hope<br />

against fear, my best<br />

wishes in this auspicious<br />

season of the Chinese New<br />

Year.”<br />

Duterte to<br />

gov’t agencies:<br />

Fast-track<br />

Yolanda projects<br />

page 2<br />

Marian & Dingdong:<br />

The Royal Couple's<br />

2nd Anniversary<br />

pg07<br />

I keep coming back<br />

to Manila<br />

pg02<br />

The Year of the Rooster.<br />

The Rooster is the tenth Chinese zodiac<br />

symbol. Roosters were born in 1933,<br />

1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005<br />

and now <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

They are characterised as being very<br />

observant, hardworking, resourceful,<br />

courageous and confident. Their lucky<br />

numbers are 5, 7 and 8 and their lucky<br />

colours are gold, brown and yellow.<br />

“I hope this day<br />

will never end.” - Digong<br />

pg05<br />

The Sunday Beauty Queen(s)<br />

in our lives.<br />

pg08<br />

Miracles aplenty, pageantry,<br />

dancing queens and street food<br />

pg12<br />

“Gong Hei<br />

Fat Choi”


02 <strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong><br />

By LOUIE<br />

ENCABO<br />

Just like any <strong>Filipino</strong>-<br />

Kiwi household, my family<br />

embarked on a trip to the<br />

motherland during the<br />

recent Christmas holidays.<br />

For the <strong>Filipino</strong> diaspora<br />

worldwide the process of<br />

balikbayan is a ritual that<br />

we have grown accustomed<br />

to. It is tedious, but rewarding<br />

at the same time.<br />

We spend copious<br />

amounts on pasalubong,<br />

while constantly doublechecking<br />

that we did not<br />

forget to bring one for any<br />

family member - regardless<br />

of how distant the relation<br />

may be. We pack our maletas<br />

to the brim, while at the<br />

same time fretting about<br />

exceeding the allotted baggage<br />

allowance.<br />

When we touchdown at<br />

NAIA we immediately<br />

complain of the heat - but<br />

can't tell whether it's the<br />

climate or the warmth of<br />

being home again. We go<br />

through the Customs area,<br />

praying silently that the<br />

Customs officers do not ask<br />

I keep coming back to<br />

us to reveal the contents of<br />

our luggage.<br />

Exiting the terminal is<br />

just as exhausting; without<br />

a sundo you must para a<br />

taxi. In the process you<br />

either get hassled by<br />

obnoxious porters or argue<br />

endlessly with a taxi driver<br />

trying to con you into paying<br />

an overly generous<br />

fare.<br />

Manila<br />

For the <strong>Filipino</strong> diaspora worldwide the process of balikbayan is a ritual that we<br />

have grown accustomed to. It is tedious, but rewarding at the same time.<br />

You sit in the uncomfortable<br />

back-seat of the colorum<br />

taxi while you traverse<br />

through the dreaded<br />

Philippine traffic; surrounded<br />

by an endless sea of<br />

vehicles that neither stay in<br />

their lanes nor use their<br />

indicator lights when<br />

switching.<br />

You arrive at your relatives'<br />

place, where the rest<br />

of your kin greets you. You<br />

become overwhelmed by<br />

their warmth and hospitality,<br />

until you get asked what<br />

pasalubong you brought<br />

for them.<br />

They then swoop in for<br />

the mix of food and clothes<br />

that you stashed in your<br />

luggage; your heart faints<br />

when it seems as though<br />

they care more about the<br />

material goods than they do<br />

about you.<br />

In that brief lull you<br />

wonder if it was all worth<br />

it. You traded that sane,<br />

orderly Western country<br />

you came from for this<br />

urban jungle of bad drivers<br />

and pollution. You spent<br />

quite a lot on gifts which<br />

are appreciated more than<br />

your presence is.<br />

But then you are told that<br />

noche buena is ready and<br />

you salivate at the banquet<br />

prepared especially just for<br />

you: all the dishes you<br />

deprived yourself of while<br />

you callously worked<br />

abroad.<br />

You then sit at the dinner<br />

table with your extended<br />

family; they ask you about<br />

that foreign country you<br />

work in and update you<br />

about their lives while you<br />

were away. You reminisce<br />

about the past and make<br />

grand plans to say hello to<br />

your childhood friends.<br />

Then the answer becomes<br />

apparent to you: yes,<br />

it was all worth it.<br />

For all the trouble it<br />

causes you, for all the<br />

heartaches you get reading<br />

the news or the migraine<br />

the travel gives you - being<br />

home and feeling the<br />

warmth of being at home<br />

makes all that worth it.<br />

And hence the reason I<br />

keep coming back, despite<br />

the madness, because as the<br />

saying goes: there's no<br />

place like home.<br />

Foreign consultant proposes<br />

an e-voting system<br />

“Give me a call if you would like to get the<br />

best possible price for your property!”<br />

“I came to New Zealand from the Philippines more than<br />

30 years ago, I can also claim ancestral heritage from China<br />

and Spain. With over 23 years in the Real Estate business,<br />

I am renowned for acquiring the most up-to-date<br />

information on the property trends in the Western and<br />

Central suburbs. My success in Real Estate is evident<br />

by my hundreds of satisfied customers.”<br />

By CRISELDA DAVID<br />

FMN Correspondent<br />

TUGUEGARAO CITY,<br />

Philippines - A foreign<br />

computer system architect<br />

and volunteer consultant has<br />

proposed an electronic voting<br />

system in the country as<br />

a solution to election fraud<br />

and manipulation.<br />

Keith Brent Duncan,<br />

who is now in the province,<br />

has proposed some methodologies<br />

for eliminating<br />

societal problems that hamper<br />

economic progress during<br />

the recent episode of<br />

the Philippine Information<br />

Agency's 'Tipon Tipan sa<br />

PIA' here.<br />

Duncan explained to the<br />

local media the importance<br />

of an electronic voting system<br />

in which the control<br />

number of each voter will<br />

not be manipulated or<br />

hacked.<br />

“As an expert in computer<br />

programming I can create a<br />

system of voting which will<br />

lead to a clean, orderly, safe<br />

and honest election,” he<br />

said.<br />

He said that the e-voting<br />

system's concrete structure<br />

has already been published<br />

on his website, which government<br />

agencies can<br />

access and study further for<br />

adoption.<br />

He urged concerned agencies<br />

to adopt the e-voting<br />

system for the coming local<br />

elections to assess its credibility<br />

and accuracy.<br />

He said that his proposed<br />

methodologies are still in<br />

the dissemination phase, in<br />

which he is trying to involve<br />

the public in assessing<br />

whether the proposed solutions<br />

would be helpful in<br />

eradicating societal challenges<br />

or not.<br />

Duncan is also partnering<br />

with religious organizations<br />

here and abroad to raise<br />

funds for the rehabilitation<br />

of typhoon 'Lawin' victims<br />

in the province.<br />

MILA BAKER - Residential Sales<br />

M: 021 980 702<br />

A/H: 09 627 3439<br />

P: 09 845 5906<br />

E: m.baker@barfoot.co.nz<br />

W: barfoot.co.nz/m.baker<br />

1186 Great North Road, Pt Chevalier


<strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> - ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong> 03<br />

By<br />

CRISELDA<br />

DAVID<br />

FMN<br />

Correspondent<br />

MANILA, Philippines -<br />

President Rodrigo Roa<br />

Duterte has ordered government<br />

agencies to speed up<br />

the rehabilitation projects in<br />

Tacloban City, which was<br />

severely damaged by super<br />

typhoon 'Yolanda' three<br />

years ago.<br />

President Duterte,<br />

who expressed dissatisfaction<br />

about<br />

the slow pace of<br />

the ongoing rehabilitation<br />

works, on<br />

the spot ordered<br />

Presidential Assistant<br />

for the Visayas<br />

Michael Dino to<br />

take charge of the<br />

rehabilitation projects.<br />

He said that after<br />

three years only a number of<br />

bunkhouses and other shelter<br />

houses had been built.<br />

“Dapat 'yang Yolanda, one<br />

year after, tapos na 'yan<br />

lahat. So you cut the red<br />

tape,” Duterte said.<br />

“I ask everybody to cooperate,<br />

kindly cooperate. Do<br />

not delay government projects,”<br />

he added, noting that<br />

he will be back in December<br />

to inspect the progress of the<br />

Duterte to gov't agencies:<br />

Fast-track ‘Yolanda’ projects<br />

rehabilitation<br />

projects. The President likewise<br />

directed local government<br />

units to speed up processing<br />

permits such as<br />

building, electrical and business<br />

permits to spur development<br />

and progress.<br />

President Duterte also said<br />

that he will come up with a<br />

regulation similar to Davao,<br />

wherein government permits<br />

are out in 72 hours.<br />

“Ako, I do it in 72 hours.<br />

Any business<br />

permit that<br />

you would like<br />

to apply, it's 72<br />

hours in Davao … Then,<br />

beyond that, you go to the<br />

Mayor and explain why you<br />

need more than 72 hours to<br />

process the papers,” Duterte<br />

said. The Chief Executive<br />

said that there will be no<br />

room for laziness in his<br />

administration. “Alam mo,<br />

indolence is part of corruption.<br />

When you are paid for<br />

eight hours to do your work,<br />

mag-trabaho ka ng eight<br />

hours, do not shortchange<br />

the public,” Duterte said.<br />

In the same speech<br />

President Duterte said that<br />

he will no longer allow more<br />

than two bodyguards for<br />

government officials, citing<br />

the Alunan Doctrine. “I will<br />

return the Alunan Doctrine.<br />

The doctrine says that more<br />

than three bodyguards,<br />

including you kung may<br />

armas ka, pangatlo ka, that's<br />

a private army and you will<br />

be arrested,” he said.<br />

“Wala akong pakialam<br />

kung sinong governor ka o<br />

mayor. We will go back to<br />

the simple days of you can<br />

have one or<br />

two,” he<br />

added. Duterte<br />

also<br />

warned the police to do their<br />

job properly. “Di kita<br />

papalusutin. But lahat ng<br />

pulis na nagpasubo sa trabaho,<br />

they will have my protection<br />

and I will not allow a<br />

single policeman to go to<br />

prison just because he was<br />

doing his duty. Tandaan<br />

ninyo 'yan,” he said.<br />

The President also assured<br />

people that the typhoon victims<br />

will receive emergency<br />

assistance worth P5,000<br />

from the Department of<br />

Social Welfare and Development<br />

and another P5,000<br />

from the Department of<br />

Trade and Industry<br />

(DTI)'s livelihood assistance<br />

III scheme.<br />

Earlier, President Duterte,<br />

together with two survivors,<br />

laid a wreath on the grave of<br />

one of the victims of the<br />

tragedy to demonstrate his<br />

sympathy and honour those<br />

who perished. After the<br />

wreath laying President<br />

Duterte and Vice President<br />

Leni Robredo lighted a candle<br />

to show respect to those<br />

who died in the super<br />

typhoon. Typhoon survivors<br />

and members of their respective<br />

families and friends also<br />

offered flowers and candles<br />

to their dead loved ones.<br />

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04 <strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong><br />

Edwin Caballero<br />

Golf Tournament<br />

Jan <strong>2017</strong><br />

@ Maungakiekie<br />

Golf Club<br />

Photo credit: PGC<br />

By JAY ARANAS<br />

The Pinoy Golf Club of<br />

Auckland's first tournament<br />

of <strong>2017</strong>, The Edwin<br />

Caballero Golf tournament,<br />

turned out to be a<br />

family affair with the<br />

Hansens and Lansis winning<br />

the major awards.<br />

Henning Hansen turned<br />

in the Lowest Gross score<br />

of 79, while Mitzi Hansen<br />

won the Ladies Division<br />

Championship with 35<br />

Stableford points.<br />

In the Men's division,<br />

Anjo Lansi scored 38<br />

Stableford points to top the<br />

Men's Division 1 group.<br />

Not to be outdone by his<br />

son, Jay Lansi scored the<br />

same to master the Men's<br />

Division 2 field via countback.<br />

Anton Garrido, Richard<br />

Horner, 2016 Golfer<br />

of the Year and Lorna<br />

Abbott settled for runner<br />

It's a family affair<br />

Ladies Champion Mitzi Hansen<br />

with Edwin Caballero<br />

up honours.<br />

Other winners were<br />

Patrick Fraser, with the<br />

Longest Drive and Elmer<br />

Galang, who was just a<br />

metre away from the Pin.<br />

In spite of the intermittent<br />

EDWIN CABALLERO CUP:<br />

afternoon showers 42<br />

golfers supported the<br />

tournament hosted by<br />

Edwin Caballero at<br />

the Maungakiekie<br />

Golf Club.<br />

It was well worth it,<br />

as Edwin made sure<br />

that everyone was<br />

happy with the food,<br />

drinks and raffle<br />

prizes galore!<br />

Club president<br />

Donjie Mendoza<br />

reminded the group<br />

of the upcoming tournaments.<br />

This February a team will<br />

be representing New Zealand<br />

at the 70th PAL<br />

Interclub to be held in<br />

Davao City, Philippines.<br />

This will be the first time<br />

NZ joins the longest running<br />

amateur tournament,<br />

participated in by 80 teams<br />

from all over the world. The<br />

team is composed of Edwin<br />

Caballero, Ton Garrido,<br />

Gerry Quijano and Jude<br />

Daculan from Auckland<br />

and Archie Milo, Ed<br />

Magadia, Elier Tingzon<br />

and Fr. Mar Dorado from<br />

Wellington.<br />

Our next tournament will<br />

be at the Pakuranga Golf<br />

Club on the 19th of Feb,<br />

hosted by Simon Lim. For<br />

more details and to register<br />

please contact Donjie Mendoza<br />

at Donovan.mendoza<br />

@thewarehouse.co.nz.<br />

Editor - Jay Aranas was<br />

awarded the <strong>Filipino</strong>-Kiwi<br />

Hero Award for 'Sports<br />

From left:<br />

Men’s Division 2 Champion<br />

- Jay Lansi;<br />

Division 1 Runner-up -<br />

Richard Horner;<br />

Lowest Gross Winner -<br />

Henning Hansen<br />

Organiser of the Year<br />

2016'.<br />

Above:<br />

Men’s Division 1<br />

Champion -<br />

Anjo Lansi<br />

with Donjie<br />

Mendoza and<br />

Edwin Caballero<br />

• UPCOMING •<br />

EVENTS<br />

True Faith.<br />

Live in Auckland<br />

18 February <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

Avondale College Theatre,<br />

51 Victor St, Avondale,<br />

Auckland<br />

Tickets: Mike Cruz<br />

021 045 0550, Trixie<br />

Diongson 021 028 46974,<br />

Reynald Ricafrente<br />

021 050 7381.<br />

Email: greencrateaudio<br />

@gmail.com<br />

5th Maginoo at<br />

Binibining <strong>Filipino</strong><br />

<strong>News</strong> Cultural<br />

Show<br />

8 April <strong>2017</strong><br />

Venue: Auckland<br />

Expressions of interest<br />

welcome:<br />

filipinonews@xtra.co.nz<br />

Website:<br />

www.maginooatbinibini.nz<br />

3rd <strong>Filipino</strong>-Kiwi<br />

Hero Awards <strong>2017</strong><br />

When: 17 June <strong>2017</strong><br />

Venue: Auckland<br />

Nominations for the <strong>2017</strong><br />

awards welcome<br />

www.filipinoheroes.nz<br />

TWO SIZES AVAILABLE<br />

LARGE<br />

470x470x600mm<br />

JUMBO<br />

575x575x500mm


<strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> - ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong> 05<br />

“I hope this day will never end.”- Digong<br />

By SHEILA MARIANO<br />

MANILA - “Before I proceed<br />

I'd like to make an<br />

admission that never in my<br />

life have I been … (in) a<br />

room full of beautiful<br />

women. This is (a) privilege<br />

and an honour and I hope<br />

that this day will never end,”<br />

said President Duterte<br />

when 84 international beauties<br />

visited him at Malacanang<br />

Palace earlier this<br />

month.<br />

These women, from all<br />

corners of the earth, are<br />

competing in the 65th Miss<br />

Universe competition,<br />

which is being held in<br />

Manila this year. The finals<br />

will be held at the Mall of<br />

Tania Dawson (2nd from left)), contestants and 2016 Miss Universe Pia Wurztbach (red top)<br />

Asia Arena on 30th <strong>January</strong>.<br />

And guess what, this year's<br />

event is once again being<br />

hosted by Emmy Award<br />

Winner Steve Harvey.<br />

Three Filipinas have won<br />

this competition previously,<br />

including Pia Wurtzbach,<br />

the reigning Miss Universe,<br />

Gloria Diaz (1969) and<br />

Margarita Moran (1973).<br />

As you would expect with<br />

the event being held on their<br />

home ground, Philippine<br />

media and the locals are in<br />

the throes of pageant fever.<br />

Many are betting on Miss<br />

Philippines, Maxine Medina,<br />

to grab the crown to<br />

make it a double win for a<br />

contestant from the Philippines.<br />

It was revealed that<br />

Maxine's national costume<br />

will include a headpiece of<br />

pearls worth P1 million.<br />

Another popular contestant<br />

in PH media is Miss<br />

Universe New Zealand,<br />

Tania Dawson (nickname<br />

Tanz), 5ft 5”, who is half<br />

<strong>Filipino</strong>.<br />

“I am a born and raised<br />

Kiwi, but I have always been<br />

proud of my <strong>Filipino</strong> diversity<br />

and heritage,” she said on<br />

her Facebook page. “What<br />

an amazing opportunity<br />

@missuniversenz has given<br />

me to represent New<br />

Zealand and at the same time<br />

find my <strong>Filipino</strong> roots. I am<br />

on an amazing journey!”<br />

Tania's mother Margarita<br />

Pelenda is a Filipina from<br />

Pangansinan and Baguio<br />

City and her dad is a Kiwi. “I<br />

have always been very proud<br />

of my mix of ethnicity and it<br />

has always been a conversation<br />

point,” she told FMN.<br />

“I am currently working as<br />

a secondary school teacher<br />

of Media and Drama at<br />

Southern Cross Campus,”<br />

she added. “I have a<br />

Bachelor of Arts degree, a<br />

double major in Film,<br />

Maxine Medina<br />

Tania Dawson (right)<br />

Television, Media Studies<br />

and Drama and a Graduate<br />

Diploma in Secondary<br />

Teaching.”<br />

Tania wrote in her tell all<br />

event questionnaire that she<br />

is secretly afraid of failure.<br />

And the best advice she has<br />

ever received is: “If you<br />

don't try you will never<br />

know.”<br />

Her ultimate heroes are<br />

her teachers: “They inspired<br />

me to find my potential.”<br />

Tania defines success as:<br />

“setting personal goals and<br />

doing your best to meet them<br />

- even if you don't, at least<br />

you gave it your best.”<br />

By the way, her hidden talent<br />

is singing.<br />

She feels most comfortable<br />

in Active Wear and<br />

working out is her great<br />

stress relief.<br />

Finally, she believes that<br />

beauty is internal and comes<br />

in different shapes and<br />

forms.<br />

As reported in the New<br />

Zealand Herald: “The last<br />

and only time a New<br />

Zealander won the coveted<br />

International Miss Universe<br />

title was in 1983 by Lorraine<br />

Downes.”<br />

Check out our websites for<br />

ongoing updates about this<br />

pageant:<br />

www.filipinonews.nz,<br />

www.pinoynzlife.nz.<br />

Tania’s family in the Philippines


06 <strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong><br />

CHIKA<br />

MUNA<br />

TFC, PAL flew in showbiz duo<br />

for a 'Kapamilya' treat<br />

By SHEILA MARIANO<br />

AUCKLAND - Remember<br />

the exciting 'One<br />

Kapamilya Go Concert'<br />

to celebrate TFC's 20th<br />

Anniversary on 26th September<br />

2014 at the Victory<br />

Convention Centre in<br />

Auckland?<br />

Top billing for that event<br />

was 'Mr Pure Energy' himself<br />

- Gary Valenciano.<br />

And he was joined by the<br />

phenomenal love team of<br />

Kathryn Bernardo and<br />

Daniel Padilla, 'The Voice'<br />

first runner-up Klarisse de<br />

Guzman and female comedian<br />

Kakai Bautista.<br />

As it was such a memorable<br />

show FMN featured<br />

the event as our cover story<br />

for the October 2014 edition.<br />

And ever since, many<br />

like me have been eagerly<br />

looking out for a repeat of<br />

the 'Kapamilya' series.<br />

Then on 9th December<br />

last year the 'TFC Kapamilya<br />

Fun Day' concert was<br />

Jay Santos and Linlin<br />

Linsao of TFC<br />

back. As Philippine Airlines<br />

was celebrating the<br />

first anniversary of its<br />

Auckland to Manila flight,<br />

the carrier powered the<br />

show by flying in a couple<br />

of well-known TFC entertainers.<br />

The headline act was<br />

Jaya - the sensational<br />

<strong>Filipino</strong>-Jamaican 'Queen<br />

of Soul'. Her real name, by<br />

the way, is Maria Luisa<br />

Ramsey and she is the<br />

daughter of the late Elizabeth<br />

Ramsey.<br />

She was associated with<br />

the rival GMA-7 network<br />

for over 16 years before<br />

joining TFC in July last<br />

year.<br />

According to media<br />

PAL’s raffle draw ticket winners<br />

(1st and 3rd from left) with Didi Verata of PAL,<br />

Fr Elric Jorquia, Linlin and Jay Santos, TFC<br />

reports:<br />

“Jaya<br />

h a s<br />

released<br />

m o r e<br />

than 11<br />

studio<br />

albums<br />

throughout<br />

her<br />

25 year<br />

career. She is also the first<br />

<strong>Filipino</strong> recording artist to<br />

feature on the US Billboard<br />

Hot 100 chart. Her debut<br />

single 'If You Leave Me<br />

Now' peaked at 44 in<br />

1989.”<br />

Jaya was supported by<br />

comedian Negi, a former<br />

sidekick of Vice Ganda in<br />

the long running 'Gandang<br />

Gabi Vice' show.<br />

Jaya and Negi had been<br />

performing at Australia's<br />

'Kapamilya Fun Day' in<br />

Darwin, Adelaide and<br />

Sydney before taking on<br />

their Auckland gig.<br />

The event held at the<br />

Auckland Girls Grammar<br />

School in Auckland was<br />

packed, because I suspect<br />

that we can't get enough of<br />

quality acts making their<br />

way to our shores.<br />

I sat riveted listening to<br />

Negi<br />

and Jaya<br />

Jaya belt out her famous hit<br />

songs and a selection of<br />

OPM and mainstream pop<br />

songs. It was just brilliant!<br />

Jaya and Negi were supported<br />

by popular local<br />

front acts.<br />

Bring on the next<br />

'Kapamilya Fun Day'. I<br />

can't wait.<br />

‘My dear heart’ is set to<br />

inspire Pinoy viewers<br />

QUEZON CITY,<br />

Philippines - ABS-CBN's<br />

newest teleserye 'My Dear<br />

Heart', starring Coney<br />

Reyes, Zanjoe Marudo,<br />

Bela Padilla and introducing<br />

the newest ABS-CBN<br />

child star Nayomi Ramos,<br />

is about to spark hope for<br />

<strong>Filipino</strong>s in and outside the<br />

homeland as the upcoming<br />

Dreamscape Entertainment<br />

TV series premieres<br />

on <strong>January</strong> 23 via The<br />

<strong>Filipino</strong> Channel (TFC),<br />

streaming live via TFC.tv.<br />

After Marudo's heavy<br />

drama stint in 'Tubig at<br />

Langis' in 2016 with<br />

Cristine Reyes and Isabelle<br />

Daza, he will now star in an<br />

inspiring series with Padilla,<br />

who will be paired with him<br />

for the first time. This is also<br />

Padilla's second big project<br />

with ABS-CBN since her<br />

network transfer last year.<br />

In 'My Dear Heart', a production<br />

of Dreamscape Entertainment,<br />

Marudo will<br />

play the role of Jude, the<br />

father of Heart (Ramos) and<br />

husband of Clara (Padilla).<br />

They are living a simple and<br />

happy life until they discover<br />

that Heart is suffering<br />

from congenital heart disease.<br />

Meanwhile, Reyes has<br />

expressed her excitement<br />

about her latest project,<br />

especially since their show<br />

aims to give hope to their<br />

viewers. “This teleserye will<br />

show that life is not perfect.<br />

Life is not fair. But you will<br />

see that if you hang on to the<br />

only one who can do something<br />

about your situation<br />

then there will always be<br />

hope and that there is something<br />

good to look forward<br />

to,” the experienced actress<br />

explains.<br />

In this show Reyes will<br />

give life to Dr. Margaret, the<br />

top heart surgeon in the<br />

country. Her success has<br />

hardened her heart, especially<br />

after her daughter Gia<br />

(Ria Atayde) got pregnant<br />

by Jude when they were still<br />

students. She ruins Jude's<br />

life in return to exact<br />

revenge for what happened<br />

to her daughter.<br />

“I know that this is something<br />

that many people will<br />

enjoy watching,” assures<br />

Reyes. “There is something<br />

in it for everyone in the family,<br />

from the lolas and lolos<br />

to the young moms and<br />

dads, the teens and the little<br />

ones.”<br />

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T: 09 4425834 M: 0274 372 913 F: 09 4448253 E: jogarage@xtra.co.nz<br />

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• Automative Repairer<br />

• Engine Servicing<br />

• Automatic<br />

Transmission Servicing<br />

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Complete Service :<br />

Services<br />

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Servicing<br />

• Battery Sales & Service<br />

• Parts & Accessories<br />

• Diagnostic Scanning<br />

WHY US?<br />

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Look for Jojo Segui


<strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> - ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong> 07<br />

Marian & Dingdong:<br />

The Royal Couple's<br />

2nd Anniversary<br />

Sources: @therealmarian, Wikimedia, www.gmanetwork, www.pep.ph<br />

MANILA - Great Britain<br />

has a Royal couple - Prince<br />

William and Kate Middleton.<br />

Japan has Emperor<br />

Akihito and Empress Michiko.<br />

The US has the former<br />

President Barack Obama<br />

and Michelle Obama.<br />

Jay-z and Beyonce were the<br />

music industry's royalty.<br />

The Philippines also has a<br />

royal couple - Marian Rivera<br />

and Dingdong Dantes,<br />

dubbed 'DongYan' by millions<br />

of fans in the<br />

Philippines.<br />

Sorry 'Brangelina', you're<br />

not part of the list anymore.<br />

Local TV Network GMA<br />

7 (Kapuso Network)<br />

Primetime King Dingdong<br />

Dantes and Queen Marian<br />

Rivera managed to capture<br />

the hearts of many with their<br />

love story that transcended<br />

the TV screen into real life.<br />

Ever since the touted<br />

Kapuso Royal Couple have<br />

been on everyone's radar.<br />

Both of them are blessed<br />

InStar<br />

Instagram Chika<br />

B y S H E I L A M A R I A N O<br />

with good looks and charisma.<br />

The couple was voted as<br />

two of the sexiest people in<br />

the world. Both also won<br />

several awards, including<br />

Best Actor awards, in TV<br />

series and movies.<br />

Marian, 32, a Spanish-<br />

Filipina commercial model<br />

and actress married Dingdong,<br />

36, an actor, commercial<br />

model, TV presenter and<br />

film producer, on 30<br />

December 2014 at the<br />

Immaculate Conception<br />

Cathedral in Quezon City.<br />

The wedding dubbed as<br />

'The Royal Wedding' was<br />

attended by the then<br />

Philippine President and<br />

well-known personalities<br />

from the television and<br />

movie industry. The grand<br />

royal wedding was paid for<br />

by the groom as his gift to<br />

his beautiful bride.<br />

After five months of marriage<br />

the young couple<br />

announced that they were<br />

expecting their first child.<br />

And on 23 November 20<strong>15</strong><br />

Marian gave birth to a baby<br />

girl, Maria Letizia, at the<br />

Makati Medical Centre.<br />

Although many oppose<br />

Marian's stand, she supports<br />

breastfeeding in public. She<br />

was given the 'Breastfeeding<br />

Influencer and Advocate<br />

Award' by the Mother and<br />

Child Nurses Association<br />

of the Philippines on<br />

November 25, 2016, citing<br />

her advocacy for public<br />

breastfeeding.<br />

Going back in history,<br />

Marian and Dingdong both<br />

made a name for themselves<br />

in the entertainment industry<br />

and started to work together<br />

in 2007 in GMA Network's<br />

adaptation of the popular<br />

Mexican series 'MariMar'<br />

(based on Televisa's 1994<br />

Mexican telenovela of the<br />

same title), where Marian<br />

played the lead role opposite<br />

Dingdong. The show became<br />

the highest-rated<br />

prime time drama on<br />

Philippine television at that<br />

time and launched both<br />

Marian and Dingdong's<br />

careers to stardom. Their<br />

undeniable chemistry made<br />

them the hottest love team in<br />

the Philippines and GMA<br />

Network dubbed them the<br />

Primetime King and Queen.<br />

The success of 'MariMar'<br />

was followed up by more<br />

TV series, such as 'Dyesebel'<br />

in 2008, 'Ang Babaeng<br />

Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang'<br />

in 2009, 'Endless Love' in<br />

2010 and 'My Beloved' in<br />

Ang sarap alalahanin ang araw na ito kung saan sa harap ng<br />

Panginoon, ikaw ay aking pinangakuang mahalin, aalagan, at<br />

pagsilbihan hangga't ako'y nabubuhay- sa hirap at ginhawa. Isang<br />

biyaya ng pagmamahalan na habambuhay kong ipagpapasalamat.<br />

Happy Anniversary Mahal ko. I Love You! #DongYan<br />

2012, in which both played<br />

the lead roles opposite each<br />

other. They also made<br />

movies together: 'One True<br />

Love' in 2008 and 'You To<br />

Me Are Everything' in 2010.<br />

After working together on<br />

numerous projects, rumours<br />

of an off-screen romance<br />

began to surface.<br />

From June 2009, after<br />

their team-up in 'Ang<br />

Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking<br />

Tadyang', Dingdong and<br />

Marian grew closer. From<br />

working together to travelling<br />

abroad together, the<br />

actors started to behave as if<br />

there was something more<br />

between them.<br />

Then came Marian's 25th<br />

birthday in August 2009,<br />

when they openly held hands<br />

all evening and looked very<br />

much like a couple.<br />

Finally, in February 2010<br />

Dingdong and Marian<br />

revealed in an exclusive<br />

magazine interview that they<br />

had a special relationship.<br />

They came to the relationship<br />

slowly, shared Dingdong.<br />

He was in New York<br />

with friends and Marian was<br />

in Los Angeles when they<br />

realized that they had feelings<br />

for one another.<br />

By the looks of it this is a<br />

fairy tale love story where<br />

the couple will live happily<br />

ever after.


08 <strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong><br />

Screengrab from YouTube / Tuko Film Productions.<br />

L e o<br />

Selomenio<br />

(addresses a<br />

crowd of <strong>Filipino</strong><br />

maids):<br />

“Wag niyong<br />

isipin katulong<br />

lang ako binabayaran<br />

lang ako ng amo<br />

ko. Nandito ako dahil may<br />

sahod akong dollar may ipapadala<br />

ako sa Pilipinas. It's<br />

not that. Isipin ninyo sa sarili<br />

ninyo manager kayo!<br />

Syempre ako nag mamanage<br />

ng bahay ng amo ko. Bakit<br />

kayo hindi? O? Tatawa sila.<br />

Bakit kinahihiya mo trabaho<br />

mo? Sabihin mo muna manager<br />

ka. Siyempre titignan<br />

ka niya from head to foot.<br />

Oo may nakasabay ako sa<br />

eroplano. Anong ginagawa<br />

mo sa Hong Kong? Manager.<br />

Manager? Manager ka<br />

ng ano? Manager ako ng<br />

amo ko. O tinapat ko nga<br />

iPhone ko ha! Manager?<br />

Tapos tinignan niya ko from<br />

head to toe.”<br />

(Don't think of yourselves<br />

as mere helpers. You're here<br />

just for your salary to send<br />

back home. It's not that.<br />

Think of yourselves as managers.<br />

Of course I manage<br />

my employer's household.<br />

Don't you do the same? They<br />

laugh at me. I met someone<br />

on the plane and was asked<br />

my job. Tell them you're a<br />

manager. They look at me<br />

from head to foot. You're a<br />

manager? Yes, I manage the<br />

affairs of my employer.<br />

Then I whip out my iPhone.<br />

Then they look me over<br />

from head to toe.)<br />

SUNDAY BEAUTY<br />

QUEEN is a touching love<br />

letter to all mothers, sisters,<br />

aunts or anyone who has<br />

sacrificed something to<br />

make us who we are. When<br />

you think about it it's for<br />

every <strong>Filipino</strong>; for any parent<br />

and child or family in the<br />

world. It will make you want<br />

to hug every woman in your<br />

life.<br />

Directed by Babyruth<br />

Villarama Gutierrez, it is<br />

the only documentary to<br />

ever win BEST PICTURE<br />

in the history of the Metro<br />

Manila Film Fest Awards.<br />

It also garnered BEST<br />

EDITING - Chuck Gutierrez,<br />

GATPUNO ANTO-<br />

NIO J. VILLEGAS CUL-<br />

TURAL AWARD and<br />

CHILDREN'S CHOICE<br />

along with SAVING<br />

SALLY and VINCE &<br />

KATH & JAMES.<br />

It's a story we're all familiar<br />

with regardless of race.<br />

There's someone - a mother,<br />

an aunt, a sister, a father, a<br />

provider - who sacrifices<br />

themselves so we can go to<br />

school, have<br />

food to eat and<br />

have clothes on our<br />

back. They are stories that<br />

don't attract million-dollar<br />

blockbuster excitement; it's<br />

not necessarily Gal Gadot of<br />

WONDER WOMAN or<br />

Hugh Jackman as LOGAN<br />

for <strong>2017</strong>. More often than<br />

not they are the people we<br />

take for granted and don't<br />

really think about.<br />

We feel and see the sacrifice<br />

through the experiences<br />

of Leo Selomenio (Science<br />

Education Graduate), Rudelie<br />

Acosta (IT Graduate),<br />

Mylyn Jacobo (AB English<br />

Graduate), Hazel Perdido<br />

(Computer Science Graduate)<br />

and Cherrie Mae<br />

Bretaña (Hotel Management<br />

Graduate).<br />

They are all Overseas<br />

<strong>Filipino</strong> Workers who work<br />

as domestic helpers in Hong<br />

Kong, but have found meaningful<br />

activity during<br />

Sundays. Leo is an organizer<br />

of pageants and other events<br />

specifically for Filipina<br />

OFWs since 2008. The rest<br />

of the subjects are the candidates.<br />

The pageants are held<br />

only on Sunday as their one<br />

free day in the week.<br />

We go through their typical<br />

day, hear their stories and<br />

even hear from their employers.<br />

As you can see from<br />

their college degrees they're<br />

actually overqualified for<br />

the position of domestic<br />

helper. That doesn't protect<br />

them from experiencing verbal<br />

abuse from their employers<br />

or from being looked<br />

down upon even by their<br />

own countrymen. Even as<br />

the government hails our<br />

OFWs as modern day<br />

heroes, other <strong>Filipino</strong>s<br />

sometimes look down on<br />

domestic helpers.<br />

Just like the joke that Leo<br />

shares above, SUNDAY<br />

BEAUTY QUEEN isn't just<br />

a tearjerker, but more of an<br />

inspirational journey. We see<br />

that they cope with loneliness<br />

through mutual support,<br />

performances and yes beauty<br />

pageants.<br />

Ju-Chen Chen, an<br />

Anthropologist at the University<br />

of Hong Kong, was<br />

at first puzzled at their<br />

efforts, time and passion for<br />

these activities, even after an<br />

exhausting work week. Chen<br />

witnessed firsthand the<br />

camaraderie during an event.<br />

She discovered that they<br />

literally carry the Philippine<br />

FILM REVIEW<br />

By JUDE BAUTISTA<br />

judebautista.wordpress.com<br />

flag<br />

The Sunday<br />

Beauty Queen(s)<br />

in our lives.<br />

through the performan-ces<br />

of cultural dances, pageants<br />

and concerts. There are elaborate<br />

costumes and choreography.<br />

They are proud bearers<br />

of <strong>Filipino</strong> identity. Chen<br />

realized that the fulfillment<br />

they get is far greater than<br />

their day-to-day difficulties.<br />

Through their gatherings<br />

and performances they find<br />

a greater sense of self worth.<br />

In the face of a stressful and<br />

often discriminatory work<br />

environment they take the<br />

one day they have for themselves<br />

and still find the energy<br />

to put on a show for others.<br />

HK Mindset<br />

There's no doubt that<br />

domestic helpers in Hong<br />

Kong have a vital role. Long<br />

time TV producer Jack Soo<br />

was interviewed and said. “I<br />

live alone. Mylyn is the only<br />

one taking care of me in my<br />

daily life … Let me tell you<br />

something. If Hong Kong<br />

had no foreign helpers then<br />

Hong Kong would be in<br />

trouble. Just imagine those<br />

familys without a foreign<br />

helper. How are they gonna<br />

work; how will they take<br />

care of their children? How<br />

are they going to do their<br />

daily lives? So if the<br />

Philippine government stops<br />

all the helpers in all the<br />

country then the whole<br />

world will be in big trouble<br />

without helpers. There will<br />

be a big problem.”<br />

Not everyone, though, has<br />

a glowing opinion of foreign<br />

domestic helpers. In April of<br />

20<strong>15</strong> Executive Councillor<br />

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee<br />

made some derogatory comments<br />

about Filipina domestic<br />

helpers, accusing them of<br />

seducing their employers.<br />

The comments on her blog<br />

and official facebook page<br />

were particularly painful<br />

knowing the abuse that a<br />

majority of foreign domestic<br />

helpers endure. Some of<br />

them have even suffered<br />

physical and sexual abuse.<br />

For Filipinas who sacrifice<br />

so much this has the potential<br />

to damage their familial<br />

relationships back home.<br />

The issue came up in the<br />

Q&A portion in one of the<br />

pageants. Mylyn Jacobo<br />

very ably replied: “It's a big<br />

insult to us that most<br />

Filipina OFWs are called<br />

prostitutes. I will cite something<br />

that Mrs. Regina Ip<br />

told us. We <strong>Filipino</strong> domestic<br />

helpers are working here<br />

to serve a need and support<br />

our families in the Philippines.<br />

Whatever you say<br />

about us you should think<br />

twice about.”<br />

2 Week Rule<br />

Documentaries put important<br />

issues to the forefront<br />

because viewers see real<br />

people in real situations, not<br />

actors. In this case it's the<br />

policies of the HK SAR concerning<br />

domestic helpers.<br />

This affects not just the DH<br />

themselves, but their wards<br />

and the elderly, not to mention<br />

their own families back<br />

home reliant on the money<br />

they earn.<br />

continues on pg 09


<strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> - ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong> 09<br />

Continues from pg 08<br />

Discrimination against<br />

foreign domestic helpers is<br />

built into the system. A clear<br />

example is what happened to<br />

Rudelie Acosta. After one of<br />

the pageants she was late<br />

coming back to her employer<br />

and went over her curfew<br />

hours. She was fired on<br />

the spot and was asked to<br />

leave the only lodgings that<br />

she had. Even after pleading<br />

to at least spend the night her<br />

employer refused and kicked<br />

her out without a roof over<br />

her head. On top of this she<br />

only has 2 weeks to find<br />

another employer or she will<br />

lose the right to stay in Hong<br />

Kong.<br />

Although the termination<br />

was abrupt and unfair,<br />

because of the 2 week rule<br />

there's almost no recourse to<br />

both file a complaint and<br />

immediately find a new job.<br />

Rudelie's case is an example<br />

of the unfairness and injustice<br />

that thousands of foreign<br />

domestic helpers find themselves<br />

facing in Hong Kong.<br />

Different foreign workers<br />

associations of Indians, Indonesians,<br />

Thais, Malaysians,<br />

Nepalese and of<br />

course <strong>Filipino</strong>s, have banded<br />

together to formally<br />

complain against the 2 week<br />

rule since the late 1990s. But<br />

the HK SAR has stuck to its<br />

guns, allowing this discriminatory<br />

and racist policy to<br />

The Sunday Beauty Queen(s) in our lives<br />

continue.<br />

A comprehensive article<br />

entitled Maid in Hong<br />

Kong: Protecting Foreign<br />

Domestic Workers explained<br />

clearly how the 2 week<br />

rule is unjust: “Beyond<br />

cramped housing conditions,<br />

the isolation of domestic<br />

workers means that abuses<br />

by employers often go unrepor-ted.<br />

A 2013 survey conducted<br />

by another Hong<br />

Kong based group, Mission<br />

for Migrant Workers,<br />

found that 58 percent of the<br />

more than 3,000 workers<br />

surveyed had experienced<br />

verbal abuse in the home, 18<br />

percent physical abuse and 6<br />

percent sexual abuse.”<br />

The report continues.<br />

“Another policy, the 'two<br />

week rule', mandates that<br />

once foreign domestic workers<br />

quit or are let go, that<br />

they must depart Hong Kong<br />

within two weeks. This policy,<br />

critics say, discourages<br />

domestic workers from seeking<br />

justice in fear that they<br />

could lose their jobs. It also<br />

makes finding a new<br />

employer difficult, as this<br />

process can take from four to<br />

six weeks. Moreover, a visa<br />

extension, the length of<br />

which varies by case, costs<br />

HK $190 (US $24) and during<br />

the extension application<br />

period migrants cannot work<br />

and must pay for their housing<br />

and food. Many domestic<br />

workers, therefore,<br />

choose to stay silent about<br />

abuses.”<br />

Interestingly enough a<br />

possible solution also came<br />

from one of the victimized<br />

helpers in the documentary.<br />

She theorized that no less<br />

than our own Philippine<br />

Screengrab from YouTube / Tuko Film Productions.<br />

government, along with<br />

other nations like India,<br />

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand<br />

and others, should<br />

negotiate on behalf of their<br />

workers with the Hong Kong<br />

authorities to abolish the 2<br />

week rule.<br />

Track Record<br />

SUNDAY BEAUTY<br />

QUEEN is another meaningful<br />

and significant creative<br />

contribution from executive<br />

producers Vincent R.<br />

Nebrida, Fernando Ortigas<br />

and E.A. Rocha. These<br />

are the same executive producers<br />

who brought us the<br />

historical hit HENERAL<br />

LUNA and the enchanting<br />

KANA THE DREAM-<br />

WEAVER. In a short period<br />

of time they have established<br />

a winning track record of<br />

award winning and critically<br />

acclaimed films.<br />

Director Babyruth Villarama's<br />

loving and supportive<br />

husband Chuck Gutierrez is<br />

both Producer and Editor.<br />

Chuck has added yet another<br />

BEST EDITING award from<br />

the MMFF to his wins at<br />

Cinemalaya, Cinema One<br />

and many others.<br />

Dexter Dela Peña as cinematographer<br />

also deserves<br />

credit for being able to make<br />

everyday scenes more cinematic.<br />

Even though it was a<br />

run and gun style we were<br />

able to see the character of<br />

the city and more importantly,<br />

the beauty of the contestants.<br />

Babyruth must have<br />

also handled the secondary<br />

camera. The trio of<br />

Babyruth, Dexter and Chuck<br />

have already been together<br />

for several projects, including<br />

JAZZ IN LOVE,<br />

another documentary that<br />

was part of Cinemalaya in<br />

2013.<br />

Invaluable<br />

Watching SUNDAY<br />

BEAUTY QUEEN is so<br />

enriching and educational in<br />

so many ways and on so<br />

many levels. There are many<br />

touching moments between<br />

the families that helpers literally<br />

care for. Employers<br />

address Leo as 'he', even if<br />

he is biologically a woman.<br />

They see him as who he is,<br />

as a person. If you bring<br />

every family member, every<br />

maid, yaya, kusinera and<br />

labandera to this movie then<br />

you will all come out richer<br />

for it. Respect and kindness<br />

truly goes a long way.<br />

Leo uses the earnings<br />

from the pageants to help<br />

domestic helpers who were<br />

abused and need emergency<br />

assistance. In truth, he has<br />

given those who participate<br />

in them and even those who<br />

watch something more valuable.<br />

He has given them a<br />

chance to see and feel the<br />

beauty they have. You can<br />

see the pride in the costumes<br />

and dances, unique to their<br />

provinces and hometowns in<br />

the Philippines. This pride<br />

extends not just to participants,<br />

but to the audiences as<br />

well.


10 <strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong><br />

By LORELEI B. AQUINO<br />

Mom On A Mission<br />

In today's digital world<br />

online connectivity has<br />

become an important and<br />

indispensable component<br />

of our everyday lives.<br />

Online predators and<br />

cybercriminals, however,<br />

are constantly lurking on<br />

social networking sites,<br />

ready to pounce on their<br />

unsuspecting victims at the<br />

first opportunity.<br />

It is important to note,<br />

though, that most cybercrimes<br />

are made possible<br />

by the netizens themselves<br />

- through the seemingly<br />

harmless act of cyber sharing.<br />

As a cyber Pinoy how<br />

can you protect yourself,<br />

your loved ones, your<br />

home or your business?<br />

Here are some tips<br />

to help you stay on<br />

the safe side of cyberspace.<br />

1. Don't post any personal<br />

information that<br />

could be used to steal<br />

your identity. According<br />

to the Internet World<br />

Stats as of June 2016, 54<br />

million <strong>Filipino</strong>s (or 52.6%<br />

of our total population) are<br />

internet users. There are 47<br />

million active Facebook<br />

accounts. Along with<br />

Brazil, the Philippines tops<br />

the daily time spent online<br />

using a PC or tablet with 5<br />

hours and 12 minutes, the<br />

highest among many countries.<br />

At 3.7 hours we also<br />

top the list of countries<br />

with the most time spent on<br />

social media each day. And<br />

with a data consumption of<br />

about <strong>15</strong>0k terabytes annually<br />

we are fast developing<br />

into a land of online data<br />

guzzlers. With that vast<br />

potential audience that<br />

stays online longer, we<br />

need to be extra careful<br />

about what we put out<br />

there.<br />

How to be a responsible and cautious cyber Pinoy:<br />

The Do’s and Dont’s<br />

of Cyber Sharing<br />

weapons to use against us.<br />

3. Don't flaunt pictures<br />

of your personal possessions<br />

or property. The<br />

Philippines ranked 39th<br />

globally in 2014 on internet<br />

threat activities, based on<br />

the annual report of<br />

Symantec Internet Security<br />

Threat. Seeing pictures<br />

of your mansions,<br />

flashy cars, sparkly jewelry,<br />

etc. might be too difficult<br />

for these online predators<br />

to resist.<br />

4. Don't divulge any<br />

information that could<br />

compromise the safety of<br />

your home or business.<br />

According to the 2014-<br />

20<strong>15</strong> Cybercrime Report of<br />

the Department of Justice's<br />

Office of Cybercrime,<br />

cyberespionage attacks<br />

or intellectual property<br />

theft are on the rise as a<br />

major threat. 31% of<br />

the attacks in recent<br />

years were directed<br />

against small businesses.<br />

information to the leaked<br />

data that the hackers have<br />

already amassed about us.<br />

6. Don't be too comfortable<br />

sharing anything<br />

with someone you just<br />

met online. Identity<br />

thieves can easily create<br />

fake profiles in order to<br />

obtain personal information<br />

that should have been private.<br />

7. Do secure your social<br />

media accounts. Your<br />

security setting should not<br />

allow you to share everything<br />

with the 'public'.<br />

Swift (or the Society for<br />

Worldwide Interbank<br />

Financial Telecommunication)<br />

stated last year<br />

that “a wider and highly<br />

adaptive campaign” was<br />

underway targeting banks.<br />

From the last quarter of<br />

20<strong>15</strong> until the first quarter<br />

Print • Web • Tablet • Facebook<br />

of 2016, Philippine banks<br />

were the target of cyberattacks<br />

from foreign hackers.<br />

Also, following the release<br />

of the ruling on the arbitration<br />

case filed by the<br />

Philippines against China<br />

last year, 68 Philippine<br />

government websites were<br />

subjected to various forms<br />

of cyberattacks. In retaliation,<br />

Anonymous Philippines,<br />

a loosely associated<br />

network of <strong>Filipino</strong> hacktivists,<br />

hacked and defaced<br />

more than 200 Chinese<br />

websites. The University<br />

of the Philippines, DZ-<br />

MM and many others were<br />

also targeted. We can never<br />

be too vigilant or too cautious.<br />

8. Do read everything<br />

you want to share before<br />

clicking the share button.<br />

Avoid spreading click and<br />

link baits as these could<br />

launch malicious software<br />

or viruses that damage<br />

computers.<br />

9. Do fact check from<br />

reliable sources any information<br />

you feel the need<br />

to share online. The<br />

Philippine National Police<br />

Anti-Cybercrime Group<br />

(PNP-ACG) has reported a<br />

total of 1,211 cybercrime<br />

complaints covering the<br />

years 2013-20<strong>15</strong>. Online<br />

libel is the top 2 complaint.<br />

10. Do teach your children<br />

about safety precautions<br />

when using the<br />

internet. They should<br />

know how to spot and deal<br />

with online predators that<br />

prey particularly on children.<br />

Our deep-rooted<br />

problem of poverty, coupled<br />

with the failure of the<br />

law enforcement agencies<br />

in the Philippines to fully<br />

protect the children under<br />

RA 9262 (Anti-Violence<br />

Against Women and<br />

Children), RA 7610<br />

(Child Abuse Law) and<br />

RA 9775 (Anti-Child<br />

Pornography Act of<br />

2009), attracts international<br />

pedophiles and child<br />

pornographers to come<br />

here, abuse our children<br />

and make money from it.<br />

UNICEF says that the<br />

Philippines is “the number<br />

one global source of child<br />

pornography”.<br />

11. Do share links and<br />

articles that will only<br />

inspire, empower, entertain,<br />

educate and bring<br />

good vibes to the social<br />

media universe.<br />

filipinonews.nz; pinoynzlife.nz<br />

2. Don't share your<br />

exact location at any<br />

given time. While other<br />

countries have already<br />

developed cyberwarfare<br />

armories to address the<br />

growing threat of increasingly<br />

sophisticated cyberattacks,<br />

the Philippines has,<br />

over the years, been regarded<br />

as a cybercrime hotspot<br />

or a haven for crimes committed<br />

online due to its<br />

weak cybersecurity. We<br />

need not equip these cyber<br />

criminals with more<br />

5. Don't share information<br />

about your<br />

travel documents. A<br />

massive breach in the<br />

Comelec's database<br />

happened just days<br />

before the national<br />

elections in May 2016.<br />

The personal data of<br />

more than 55 million<br />

registered voters was<br />

leaked online, making<br />

each voter susceptible<br />

to fraud and other<br />

risks. There is no need<br />

to provide additional<br />

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<strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong>. ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong> 11<br />

FAITH<br />

CORNER<br />

By Brendan<br />

& Elly<br />

Roberts<br />

The US election euphoria<br />

is dying down with a new<br />

president taking office. On<br />

one side of the great divide<br />

you have those in ecstasy or<br />

relief and on the other those<br />

in despair. Then we should<br />

not forget those who didn't<br />

really care who won.<br />

Many of us were perched<br />

on the edges of our seats<br />

during the election, because<br />

there was so much at stake.<br />

The secular media tended<br />

to portray Donald Trump<br />

as hating all women,<br />

Hispanics and even homosexuals.<br />

Even the NZ<br />

Herald reprinted US media<br />

reports which claimed that<br />

it was “impossible” for<br />

Trump to win as Hillary<br />

Clinton was leading in<br />

most polls. An opinion<br />

piece in the NZ Herald to<br />

US President Donald Trump<br />

their credit showed how the<br />

mainstream media pitched<br />

relentless propaganda with<br />

“misinformation” and “cynical<br />

reshaping of the truth”<br />

at the American public.<br />

Many ordinary Americans<br />

who don't follow the secular<br />

media were never polled<br />

according to the same article,<br />

because they “don't<br />

count in the liberals' eyes”.<br />

Therefore it was the educated<br />

who mattered in the<br />

polls.<br />

Although the secular<br />

media reported that Clinton<br />

was pro-abortion they did<br />

not report that she supported<br />

the ghastly practice of<br />

partial birth abortion,<br />

which is abortion up to<br />

birth. This came out in both<br />

the vice presidential debate<br />

and the last debate between<br />

Clinton and Trump.<br />

Many Americans were<br />

woken up to the fact that<br />

Hillary Clinton was continuing<br />

the attack on the<br />

Catholic Church and<br />

Christianity in general<br />

when she said that those<br />

who were against abortion<br />

should be forced to change<br />

their beliefs and as they<br />

saw the LGBT movement<br />

being promulgated by<br />

Obama to the extent of<br />

men or women being able<br />

to use the restrooms and<br />

shower blocks of the sex<br />

they most adhered to, even<br />

being able to share such<br />

accommodation when on<br />

field retreats.<br />

Furthermore Obama Care<br />

forced religious institutions<br />

to provide for contraception<br />

Trump gives<br />

pro-life<br />

movement<br />

much hope.<br />

and even abortifacients in<br />

their healthcare plans for<br />

their staff. Obama even<br />

went to the extent of<br />

redefining a religious institution<br />

as those who only<br />

cared for those of their own<br />

denomination. This forced<br />

many states and even religious<br />

nuns to take the<br />

Obama Administration to<br />

court. Trump has promised<br />

to repeal Obama Care and<br />

replace it.<br />

On election day the number<br />

one search term with<br />

the name Hillary Clinton<br />

was 'abortion'. Clinton<br />

failed to see that many<br />

Americans would not support<br />

her since she favoured<br />

'partial birth abortion';<br />

abortion through all<br />

trimesters of a woman's<br />

pregnancy.<br />

Besides freedom of religious<br />

belief there was<br />

something else which was<br />

even more important on the<br />

line. It would have meant<br />

the continuing collapse of<br />

the United States as we<br />

know it, especially morally.<br />

It was continuing to redefine<br />

and thus change the<br />

constitution of the United<br />

States.<br />

The new president has<br />

the power to select two or<br />

three Supreme Court justices.<br />

In fact there is a<br />

vacant position on that<br />

bench currently. Donald<br />

Trump actually named 21<br />

pro-life candidates that he<br />

promised to pick from,<br />

while Hillary Clinton<br />

vowed to pick only proabortion<br />

candidates. For his<br />

presidential campaign<br />

Trump formed a Pro-life<br />

Coalition of 32 pro-life<br />

leaders, including Fr.<br />

Frank Pavone of Priests<br />

for Life.<br />

Many of us were shocked<br />

when the US Supreme<br />

Court allowed the redefinition<br />

of marriage, which is<br />

popularly labelled 'same<br />

sex marriage'. But when<br />

you change the definition<br />

of something you change<br />

its entire meaning. Thus<br />

marriage as we know it as<br />

Christians as being a<br />

covenantal relationship<br />

between a man and a<br />

woman open to the<br />

supreme gift of life was<br />

redefined and thus the<br />

meaning has been changed.<br />

continues on pg 12<br />

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12 <strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong><br />

Sinulog <strong>2017</strong>, <strong>15</strong>th <strong>January</strong>, North Shore Events Centre, Auckland.<br />

Miracles aplenty, pageantry,<br />

dancing queens and street food<br />

By SHEILA MARIANO<br />

Oscar Batucan, Event<br />

Organiser.<br />

FMN: Pang ilang years<br />

nyo na po ba ito ino-organize<br />

ang Sinulog?<br />

OSCAR: For 24 years.<br />

FMN: Are you the<br />

founder and the organiser<br />

of the event throughout this<br />

time?<br />

OSCAR: Since the<br />

beginning. We arrived in<br />

New Zealand in 1986 and<br />

the following year we<br />

established Sto. Nino. It<br />

took a while. We started<br />

with about 200 people, but<br />

now there are thousands.<br />

FMN: Are you happy<br />

with the attendance this<br />

year?<br />

OSCAR: This year a<br />

couple thousand more people<br />

attended. During the<br />

mass all the chairs were<br />

occupied and some had to<br />

stand.<br />

FMN: Has the 9-day<br />

novena moved to St.<br />

Patricks Cathedral?<br />

OSCAR: Yes, we have<br />

been holding the novena<br />

there for the last three years<br />

because of the size of the<br />

cathedral.<br />

FMN: Are the people<br />

attending the novena mainly<br />

from Cebu or from<br />

everywhere?<br />

OSCAR: Everywhere.<br />

When we ask devotees why<br />

they attend the Sinulog festival<br />

they tell us that the<br />

Infant Jesus has done miracles<br />

for them. A lot of<br />

women pray to get pregnant<br />

and have a family.<br />

FMN: Has Sto. Nino<br />

granted you any miraculous<br />

Oscar and Miriam Batucan,<br />

‘Devotees of the Senyor Santo Nino Group’<br />

Jessica,<br />

Dela, Ema<br />

and Dr Oliver<br />

Samin<br />

Janet<br />

Espirito<br />

favours?<br />

OSCAR: Binigay nya ng<br />

magandang, it's everyday<br />

miracles - good health of<br />

mind and body at saka we<br />

can help other people yun<br />

ang mga miracles na binibigay.<br />

Janet Espirito, Devotee<br />

from West Auckland.<br />

FMN: Taga Cebu po ba<br />

kayo?<br />

JANET: Hindi, taga<br />

Panggasinan ako (laughing).<br />

FMN: Madalas po ba<br />

kayo uma-attend ng<br />

Sinulog?<br />

JANET: Every year.<br />

The Bernardo<br />

family came<br />

for the basket<br />

ball awarding<br />

FMN: Bakit?<br />

JANET: Maganda, saka<br />

ano masaya.<br />

Jessica, Dela and Ema<br />

(the nurses) and Dr.<br />

Oliver Samin.<br />

FMN: Do you come for<br />

Sinulog every year?<br />

DELA: Yes, every year,<br />

but this time we volunteered<br />

to be part of the medical<br />

team.<br />

FMN: How was it; any<br />

serious problems because<br />

of the hot weather?<br />

DELA: Wala naman pero<br />

mga nose bleeds lang. No<br />

serious problems.<br />

FMN: Will you volunteer<br />

again next year?<br />

DELA: Definitely, if all<br />

is well.<br />

Sinulog NZ Festival<br />

Queen <strong>2017</strong>:<br />

Congratulations to Kimberly<br />

Tabar who won the<br />

Sinulog NZ Festival Queen<br />

<strong>2017</strong> crown and Best in<br />

Gowns.<br />

Ma Lita Luz Zhao was<br />

PH Ambassador to NZ<br />

Jesus ‘Gary’ Domingo<br />

the 1st Runner Up<br />

and Miss Friendship.<br />

Carla Mae Bito-on<br />

was the 2nd Runner<br />

Up. Erica Soliman<br />

was Miss Photogenic.<br />

Krisha Ann<br />

Nunez was Most<br />

Popular.<br />

Above: Tibiao caterers from Wellington<br />

Above: Previous Sinulog Festival Queens<br />

Credit: Freelanzer Photography<br />

Centre: Sinulog supporters<br />

Left: Didi Verata, Philippine Airlines<br />

Below: Kimberly Tabar<br />

Credit: Freelanzer Photography<br />

Continues from pg 11<br />

Many Americans saw<br />

Trump as the better of two<br />

evils. It was alleged that he<br />

mistreated women. And it<br />

was incredible that the secular<br />

media attacked him by<br />

accusing him of hating<br />

homosexuals, when he has<br />

actually come out in support<br />

of them in the past.<br />

The same media also<br />

called him divisive because<br />

he planned to build a wall to<br />

keep out illegal immigrants<br />

and wanted to deport those<br />

who were criminals and<br />

Trump gives pro-life movement much hope<br />

illegally in the US. I know<br />

many Americans were upset<br />

with this rhetoric, because<br />

of their loved ones possibly<br />

being deported. Obama's<br />

government deported over<br />

2.5 million people from<br />

2009-20<strong>15</strong>.<br />

The new administration<br />

also sees a new dawn in<br />

relation to the United Nations.<br />

Under Obama the US<br />

often bullied other nations,<br />

particularly Catholic nations<br />

that sought to uphold<br />

their value for human life<br />

and particularly the unborn.<br />

This bullying tactic also<br />

meant coercing such<br />

nations to abstain from particular<br />

votes if they would<br />

not support their way. But<br />

Trump has already appointed<br />

a pro-life woman to be<br />

the US representative to the<br />

United Nations.<br />

As sore losers, the secular<br />

media continue to bash<br />

President Trump, but we<br />

believe that he will in fact<br />

bring to a halt much of the<br />

social engineering and<br />

oppressions of those with<br />

Christian beliefs that Obama<br />

forced on the American<br />

people and other nations.<br />

While the president often<br />

shoots from the hip and has<br />

said many deplorable things<br />

he, together with his very<br />

pro-life Vice President,<br />

gives the pro-life movement<br />

much hope.<br />

Editor: Elly grew up in<br />

Bohol and is the co-author<br />

of 'Worth the Chase:<br />

Finding Love God's Way'.<br />

She is a contributing writer<br />

for Kerygma Magazine and<br />

also very artistic, creating<br />

customisable name poems<br />

on demand.<br />

Brendan is the author of<br />

five books, ranging from<br />

love to science and religion<br />

and the crusades. Like Elly<br />

he has a passion for writing,<br />

living and sharing his<br />

Catholic faith with the<br />

world.<br />

Their books are available<br />

as eBooks on Amazon.com<br />

and as paperbacks in the<br />

Philippines and New<br />

Zealand.<br />

You can contact the writers<br />

by emailing: filipino<br />

news@xtra.co.nz


<strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong>. ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong> 13<br />

Migrant <strong>News</strong> Online: www.migrantnews.nz I FB page: Migrant <strong>News</strong> NZ; Migrant Job Search I Asian Migrant <strong>News</strong>: www.asia2nz.com I mobile: 027 495 8477<br />

At the University of Auckland there are<br />

dozens of young <strong>Filipino</strong> students pursuing<br />

degrees, be they undergraduate or<br />

postgraduate. A smooth transition from young<br />

students to young professionals; that is the<br />

dream.<br />

Also studying at the university are <strong>Filipino</strong><br />

postgraduate students - some are resident<br />

here and others from overseas - who are role<br />

models for many of the undergraduate students<br />

of the <strong>Filipino</strong> Students’ Association<br />

(FSA).<br />

Building their experience and prestige for<br />

their chosen career paths, they have chosen to<br />

study in Auckland for the social and political<br />

development of the Philippines as well.<br />

I have chosen to interview my Ates and Kuyas<br />

because I believe their stories should be<br />

heard. As they are the next generation at the<br />

helm of our futures, they are a few of the<br />

many who continue to thrive, defy, and<br />

progress for all the right reasons. Ready to<br />

take charge, and make a difference.<br />

First, let’s begin with introductions.<br />

ROLE MODELS<br />

FOR OUR<br />

UNDERGRADS<br />

PART 1<br />

THE POSTGRADUATES: (left to right) Analyn, Don, Gladys, Mark, Harold<br />

By MARIAH ALYSSA MEDEL, FMN Columnist<br />

GLADYS RABACAL is<br />

a postgraduate student<br />

studying towards her<br />

Masters in Development<br />

Studies. The social development<br />

of the Philippines,<br />

and of other developing<br />

countries is the main focus<br />

of her career. Previously a<br />

programme officer for<br />

Japan International Agency,<br />

social development<br />

has been filling her CV<br />

since day one post-her<br />

Bachelor’s degree. The<br />

Japan International Agency<br />

is, a Japanese agency which<br />

delivers social development<br />

programmes in the Philippines,<br />

her role with them<br />

mainly entailed handling<br />

“peace and development,<br />

maternal and child health.”<br />

A graduate of UP Diliman,<br />

she is a true academic and<br />

career woman.<br />

MARK PANGANIBAN<br />

is currently a business management<br />

student at the university,<br />

studying under the<br />

NZ Development scholarship.<br />

He was a member of<br />

the Presidential Management<br />

Staff, under President<br />

Noynoy Aquino prior to<br />

studying in Auckland.<br />

He graduated from the<br />

Univer-sity of the<br />

Philippines, Manila a year<br />

before working at<br />

Malacañang. At his alma<br />

mater, he also worked for<br />

two months as a technical<br />

officer for their English language<br />

and enrichment programme.<br />

DON PATRICK MAN-<br />

LANGIT was the previous<br />

President of the FSA, who<br />

continues to guide and help<br />

the new executives of the<br />

association.<br />

A graduate of UP Diliman,<br />

he also has a very<br />

impressive career and educational<br />

background, at a<br />

very young age.<br />

A professional landscape<br />

architect, he is pursuing further<br />

study with a Master’s<br />

Degree in Urban Planning<br />

and Urban Design at the<br />

University of Auckland. His<br />

hands on experience with<br />

urban planning and design<br />

has brought him a long way,<br />

from working for Century<br />

Properties and the Auckland<br />

Council, to now<br />

working as a tutor at the<br />

University of Auckland.<br />

ATTY. ANALYN AVI-<br />

LA is a feisty and fun-loving<br />

lawyer who continues<br />

to impress and awe the<br />

more we get to know her.<br />

Once an associate solicitor<br />

in the Office of the<br />

Solicitor General, her stay<br />

here is the beginning of a<br />

new career pathway.<br />

A true career woman, like<br />

all of our Ate’s, she went<br />

from probinsyana to a<br />

Manila lawyer defying<br />

stereotypes and showing<br />

voracious determination to<br />

be more than average.<br />

From Sta. Lucia, Ilocos<br />

Sur, she took an alternative<br />

route than the usual off-to-<br />

Manila pathway fresh High<br />

School graduates often<br />

took. Instead, she went to<br />

Baguio City to study at<br />

Saint Louis University, the<br />

largest university north of<br />

Manila and one of the<br />

Philippines’ most respected<br />

and leading educational<br />

institutions.<br />

HAROLD AQUINO is<br />

an instructor at his alma<br />

mater, the University of the<br />

Philippines-Diliman.<br />

There he also graduated<br />

with a Bachelor of Science<br />

in Civil Engineering, cum<br />

laude. He is currently a PhD<br />

student at the University of<br />

Auckland, when he’s not<br />

too busy going around Asia<br />

and representing the Philippines<br />

in various seminars,<br />

competitions and what<br />

not. We call him ‘#goals’<br />

which he is also bashful<br />

about, but it is true because<br />

he helps us stay in check<br />

with our progress. He continues<br />

to challenge us and<br />

impart his knowledge and<br />

experiences, to help us<br />

grow and learn, like the true<br />

teacher he is.<br />

continues on page 14


14 <strong>15</strong>- 31 JAN <strong>2017</strong> ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: <strong>Filipino</strong> Migrant <strong>News</strong><br />

ANALYN: “Since my<br />

intention is to get an LLM<br />

on environmental law, of<br />

course I want to get it from<br />

a country which is a pioneer<br />

in environmental protection.<br />

I think NZ is, if not,<br />

one of the top countries<br />

which has strong policies<br />

on environmental protection.<br />

It’s even better than<br />

Germany I think and other<br />

European countries. So<br />

that’s it.”<br />

MARK: “I chose Auckland<br />

first, maybe because of<br />

the language. Because I<br />

wanted to study in an<br />

English speaking country. I<br />

think that makes it easier to<br />

communicate with people.<br />

“Because I also wanted to<br />

study business; I wanted to<br />

get away from my current<br />

education background. Because<br />

I studied political science<br />

and I worked in government.<br />

So I wanted to<br />

check out other opportunities.<br />

“It’s really my dream to<br />

study abroad, because I<br />

believe that when you go<br />

out of your country and<br />

explore other cultures and<br />

other places it will really<br />

widen your horizon. Because<br />

if you only stick to<br />

your country, the beliefs<br />

Pinoy postgraduates speak out:<br />

WHY AUCKLAND?<br />

WHY STUDY ABROAD?<br />

that you have will be confined<br />

only to the country<br />

you are in.<br />

“If you go to other places<br />

you get to appreciate more<br />

the different knowledge and<br />

the different cultures, and it<br />

allows you to further enrich<br />

your skills and unlock your<br />

potentials when you go to<br />

these places. Also when you<br />

live alone you get to know<br />

yourself more and explore<br />

more of yourself and your<br />

capabilities. It helps you in<br />

your personal growth.”<br />

HAROLD: “I think that<br />

it’s a given that when you<br />

begin your PhD you go outside<br />

so that you can bring in<br />

a lot of new knowledge and<br />

new learnings from other<br />

parts of the world.<br />

“What brought me to<br />

New Zealand exactly is<br />

their expertise in disaster<br />

management, particularly<br />

earthquakes. New Zealand<br />

is the hub of operations in<br />

the Pacific islands like Fiji,<br />

Tonga and Vanuatu. Because<br />

they typically experience<br />

strong cyclones and<br />

hurricanes, and NZ yung<br />

base ng mga operations.”<br />

GLADYS: “Gusto ko<br />

kasing, magpursue ng postgraduate<br />

studies abroad.<br />

Ang unang requirement ko<br />

is dapat English-speaking<br />

country siya. That made me<br />

decide na New Zealand,<br />

and the availability of the<br />

scholarship, hindi mas<br />

marami, pero hindi kasi sila<br />

exclusive. Kasi other scholarships<br />

kailangan government<br />

employee ka, pero sa<br />

scholarship na ino-offer ng<br />

New Zealand embassy is<br />

open to all.<br />

“Eh, I am not a government<br />

employee because I<br />

work in a bilateral agency.<br />

Kumbaga, yung chances of<br />

getting a scholarship is<br />

okay sa NZ kasi hindi sila<br />

selective.”<br />

DON:<br />

“So ang<br />

system sa<br />

New Zealand<br />

Aid<br />

scholarship,<br />

is<br />

50% private 50% government,<br />

so parang may edge<br />

yung mga taga private, private<br />

employees na makapag-apply.<br />

So, initially for<br />

me naman, actually second<br />

choice ko yung New<br />

Zealand, kasi nagapply ako<br />

for Australia tapos yung<br />

nga, medyo priority nila<br />

yung government. Pero,<br />

I’m very happy naman na<br />

nandito ako sa Auckland.”<br />

I had interviewed Gladys<br />

and Don together, both<br />

were from the private sector.<br />

They also had similar<br />

sentiments as to why they<br />

wanted to study abroad.<br />

The general answer to the<br />

question truly was the experience<br />

of it. Because the<br />

experience entails so much,<br />

most importantly the wider<br />

perspective and openness<br />

you gain from it.<br />

No matter what you<br />

study, venturing out of your<br />

comfort zone and mingling<br />

with people of different cultures,<br />

values, and beliefs<br />

truly imparts valuable lessons<br />

that you normally<br />

don’t get by staying in one<br />

place and following the<br />

same routines over and over<br />

again.<br />

Interviewing<br />

these postgrads<br />

gave me the<br />

opportunity to<br />

know them better,<br />

listen to<br />

their stories. It<br />

was valuable to<br />

me because I<br />

am still at the<br />

starting point of<br />

the career and<br />

education path<br />

that I have chosen.<br />

When I interviewed<br />

them I was not<br />

alone, I had a fellow undergrad<br />

sitting with me and<br />

joining the discussion. It<br />

reminded us of why we<br />

were at university in the<br />

first place, it wasn’t just to<br />

get a job in the future, we<br />

came here for the experience<br />

as well. One that only<br />

university life can offer.<br />

Editor – Part 2 of this<br />

article follows in the next<br />

edition.<br />

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www.migrantnews.nz<br />

migrantnews@xtra.co.nz<br />

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