Filipino News April 2017

1Number
Two Editions Fortnightly : NZ & South Island.
Vol 8 No 99
APRIL 2017
North
and
South
Island
W: www.filipinonews.nz, www.pinoynzlife.nz | E: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | M: 027 495 8477 P: 09 838 1221 | F: Filipino Migrant News
DAVID CORREOS: THE NEW KING OF
FILIPINO OBSERVATIONAL COMEDY
The Pinoy
‘Billy T James’
Correos has picked up a couple of awards. First up the
‘Comic Originality’ award at the 2015 Comedy Guild Awards.
Then the really big one - the 2016 ‘Billy T Award’, that
included a $4,000 cash grant from the New Zealand Comedy
Trust, the prestigious ‘Yellow Towel’ and he got to appear on
TV3's ‘7 Days’.
pg11
Cracking down on
OFW exploiters ... Part 2
pg02
Watch DC Boys Live!
Singing songs in Tagalog -
Awesome group!
@ the Independence
Day Event. 17 June, 6pm
Photo supplied.
Wow!
Philippine
17
JUNE
6pm
Independence Day
Commemoration
@ Mt Albert War
Memorial Hall, Mt Albert,
6pm. FREE Entry!
• 5th Maginoo at
Binibining Cultural
Fashion Show
Awesome prizes!
• 1st Filipino-Kiwi Music
Awards
• 3rd Filipino-Kiwi Hero
Awards
• Food Festival
• Chef of the Year 2017

02 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News
Cracking down on
OFW exploiters
PART 2:
Jesus ‘Gary’
Domingo
Philippine
Ambassador to
New Zealand
Foto credit: Migrant Times
An excerpt from Part
1 of our investigation
into OFW exploiters in
the March 2017
edition of FMN
www.filipinonews.nz:
By MEL FERNANDEZ
Editor, Migrant News
www.migrantnews.nz
‘A Duterte-style
clenched fist is being
thrust squarely at
OFW exploiters in New
Zealand and overseas.
The message to these
wrong doers is -
desist or face the
wrath of the
community plus a
blitzkrieg by a host
of government
agencies.
The ‘bad guys’ are
on notice - they will
be exposed, shamed
publicly and punished.
In the process it is
hoped that justice will
be served for the
aggrieved parties.’
TE AROHA – In October
last year Immigration New
Zealand (INZ) revealed
details about an alleged work
visa scam that may have
involved 1,000 Filipino dairy
workers.
A Waikato woman
Loraine Anne Candor
Jayme, 36, with dual
Filipino/New Zealand nationality
was arrested at her
home and charged with
offences relating to this suspected
fraud involving multiple
work visa applications
submitted by Filipinos to
work in the New Zealand
dairy industry.
“A CV was provided that
showed work experience that
wasn’t true or that was grossly
exaggerated to apply for
the role of an assistant herd
manager that avoided a
labour test that would otherwise
have been required”
Immigration Minister Michael
Woodhouse told reporters.
Jayme was subsequently
charged with three offences
under the Crimes Act 1961
and given police bail until
her first court appearance on
27 October. Further charges
were laid when she next
appeared in court.
Eventually, in April this
year she was sentenced at the
Hamilton District Court
after pleading guilty to 284
charges involving multiple
fraudulent work visa applications.
Judge Kim Saunders
sentenced her to 11 months
and two weeks of home
detention and 180 hours of
community work.
INZ Assistant General
Manager Peter Devoy said
that the prosecution was a
result of painstaking work by
immigration officers. “The
officers involved did a fantastic
job of gathering the
evidence which led to the
WELLINGTON -
The former Philippines
national responsible
for a work visa scam
involving more than
1000 Filipino dairy
workers should have
been deported, not
merely sentenced to
home detention and
community work, says
New Zealand First
Leader and Member
WINSTON PETERS:
“Work Visa scammer
should be deported”
Home detention sentence
for work visa scam
prosecution. Jayme systematically
ripped off vulnerable
migrant workers. Although
these charges are very serious
we believe that they only
represent the tip of the iceberg
of Jayme’s offending.”
Devoy said that Jayme was
charged in October 2015
after an INZ investigation
uncovered her involvement
in fraudulent visa applications.
The investigation
began after staff verifying
visa applications identified
anomalies in visa applications
and a Southland farmer
reported migrants claiming
he had offered them work
without his knowledge.
Although the investigation
was far reaching, the prosecution
focused on five nonexistent
dairy farms and fictitious
employers created by
Jayme through a complex
series of forged documents,
submitted to both INZ and
other New Zealand agencies.
She fabricated job offer letters
and Employment Agreements,
including false farm
vacancy requests sent to
Work and Income in order
to obtain letters confirming
the unavailability of suitably
qualified New Zealanders.
Jayme subsequently pleaded
guilty to extensive
charges of forgery, using a
forged document, deception
and supplying false or misleading
Information to an
Immigration Officer.
Radio NZ reported that:
“Between late 2014 and mid-
2015, she charged 17
Filipino migrants just over
$2000 each to obtain temporary
work visas for them to
work on dairy farms in New
Zealand.
“At Hamilton District
Court (during the sentencing
in April this year), Judge
Kim Saunders described the
offending as deliberate and a
serious breach of trust.”
Editor – Part 3 of this
investigation continues in the
next edition.
of Parliament for
Northland Rt Hon
Winston Peters.
Immigration New
Zealand should be
mortified that over
1,000 Filipino farm
workers have managed
to undermine the
integrity of our immigration
system, he
adds.
“New Zealand’s immigration
laws must be
strengthened to prevent
instances like this from
occurring again and a
strong message should
be sent to anyone who
tries to break them.
“It’s the price of having
a government obsessed
with the view
that escalating consumer
numbers will
drive the economy and
who are intent on
allowing cheap and
compliant workers to
dominate industries,”
says Mr Peters.
“At the same time
the government keeps
deceiving New Zealanders
that immigration
is about skilled workers.
This is not the
case.
“It’s been obvious.
No one in their right
mind would suggest
that the Philippines is
full of experienced
dairy farmers and construction
workers. But
there are 1,700 Filipinos
on dairy farms
here and thousands of
Filipino construction
workers in Christchurch.
“Many are here
because agents, often
from the same country
and charging outrageous
fees, have falsified
documents to
show experience,
either with or without
the workers’ knowledge.
“The workers learn
their skills here.
“A North Canterbury
farmer, commenting on
the latest scam, said
that his workers built
up skills after they
reached New Zealand,”
says Mr Peters.
“They now have the
‘relevant work experience
on farm’ and
NZQA ‘recognition of
learning’.
“Researchers and
economists could have
predicted a need for
farm workers, so
where was the planning.
Where were the
courses and the cadetships
to inspire and
take young Kiwis onto
the land to support
dairying.
“Kiwis were written
off as too fussy, not
flexible over hours and
wages, etc., but it
could have been different.
“All that was required
was some creativity.
Take a bunch of
young Kiwis to a farm
and check out who has
an affinity for animals
and who looks suited
to the land. Then put
them into training.
“Instead, people
from overseas were
accepted without skills
and trained in this
country. It was too easy
to take advantage of
people from countries
where there is less
opportunity.”
Editor: Read Part 1 of
this report on our websites:
filipinonews. nz,
and pinoynzlife.nz
- continues on pg 3

1 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News www.pinoynzlife.nz 03
By MEL FERNANDEZ
HAMILTON - Immigration
New Zealand (INZ)
Assistant General Manager
Peter Elms said that INZ
first became aware of potential
issues with applications
from some Filipino nationals
working on dairy farms in
the South Island in February
2015.
“Staff in our Christchurch
office noticed discrepancies
over qualifications and false
claims of work experience,”
Mr Elms said. “INZ began a
formal investigation in
March this year (2015),
which has focused on the
woman who was charged (in
October 2015).”
He said that the investigation
had uncovered more
widespread concerns of false
or misleading information
being provided in work visa
applications submitted by
Filipino nationals.
It is claimed that Loraine
Jayme, a Filipina, used New
Zealand employers’ details
without their knowledge in
order to secure work visas
for Filipino nationals offshore
to work in the New
Zealand dairy industry.
INZ alleged that once the
Filipino nationals arrived in
Modus operandi of
a visa fraudster
MANILA - The Philippine
Overseas Employment
Administration
(POEA) has warned
Filipino workers against
using falsified documents
for their job applications in
New Zealand.
Administrator Hans Leo
J. Cacdac said that according
to the Philippine
Embassy in Wellington a
New Zealand they never
worked for the supposedly
sponsoring employer.
After a short period a fresh
application was submitted
for a new employer. It
appeared that the actual
employers were not aware
that the work visas had originally
been gained using
false employer details.
Mr Elms said that as a
result of the case INZ has
reviewed all work visa applications
from Filipino nationals
applying from the
Philippines to work in the
New Zealand dairy industry
in 2015.
That review has highlighted
the possibility of this type
of scam being more widespread.
INZ has since
strengthened its verification
processes and is confident
that similar offending has
been prevented.
“INZ has been undertaking
additional measures to
ensure that all documents
submitted in support of new
and existing visa applications
for work in the dairy
industry are genuine,” Mr
Elms said.
“These extra measures
have resulted in an unavoidable
delay in processing
applications, but we are
working closely with the
dairy industry to minimise
the disruption.
“In the meantime INZ
wants to reassure employers
that dairy workers onshore
remaining with the same
employer are not being disadvantaged
by any delay in
processing their applications,
as their current immigration
status is being preserved
by the granting of
interim visas.”
In a statement INZ said
that: “Amendments were
made to immigration instructions
in November
2015 to allow further work
visas to be granted to
Filipino dairy workers who
POEA warns Filipino workers: “Don’t use falsified documents.”
substantial number of
Filipino dairy farm workers
entered the country using
falsified employment certificates.
The report said that
unscrupulous individuals in
the Philippines issued fake
documents in exchange for
NZ$15,000.
Cacdac added that there
were reports that Immigration
New Zealand
(INZ) is now implementing
stricter measures on applications
for dairy farm
workers from the Philippines.
“The alleged irregularities
may have been the
cause of delays in the
issuance of work visas for
Filipino dairy farm workers,”
Cacdac said.
Labour Secretary Rosalinda
Baldoz has ordered
Cacdac to conduct an investigation
on the alleged use
of fraudulent documents.
Baldoz also said that she
is worried that this may
affect the implementation
of the just concluded labour
agreement between New
Zealand and the Philippines.
Loraine Jayme pleads
guilty to 284 charges
involving multiple
fraudulent work visa
applications.
may have provided incorrect
information relating to their
qualifications and experience
with their original work
visa applications.
“Under the changes applicants
who admit to previously
providing incorrect information
but who are compliant
in all other respects are
eligible to be granted further
work visas, as long as they
meet all other Essential
Skills requirements.
“The approach acknowledges
that many of these
workers are making a significant
contribution to their
employers and their communities
and are well settled in
New Zealand. It also accepts
the admission of having provided
incorrect information
by workers who come forward.”
- Photo supplied.

04 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | www.pinoynzlife.nz
By MEL FERNANDEZ
Travel Galore
www.travelgalore.nz
ONEHUNGA, Auckland
- If you are craving
some classic Cebuano street
food in Auckland the go-to
place is 'Piknik' in
Onehunga - situated a
stone's throw away from
Dressmart.
It shot to fame in August
last year when Leo
Fernandez, Master Chef
New Zealand 2015 runnerup,
was based there briefly
to promote the soft opening
of this speciality Filipino
takeaway.
Then in January this year
'Piknik' got a further boost
of patrons when Lloyd
Macrohon and his team
introduced Auckland Pinoys
to this new takeaway's
authentic yet reasonably
priced Cebu street food
favourites at the Sinulog
Festival on the North Shore.
“As my partners and I
love cooking you
get to taste some
of our family
recipes at 'Piknik'”,
says Lloyd,
39, a successful
computer whizz
who hails from
Cebu. “Most of the
Cebuanos who
have tried our food
have really enjoyed
it and keep
coming back.
“We have a number of
good traditional Cebuano
dishes over there - la paz
batchoy, ngohiong, sio-mai,
steamed rice, Cebuanostyle
longanisa and tapas.”
Some regulars FMN
Sinulog Festival
spoke to during our first
visit to 'Piknik' gave the
'Piknik' is located in
Onehunga - a stone's throw
away from Dressmart.
The go-to place
for Cebuano
street food.
thumbs up to this concept
takeaway. A Pinoy youth
who works nearby said that
he drops in for a quick
lunch and the 'sisig' burrito
is his favourite. Family
shoppers drifting over from
the outlet stores prefer takeaways
and snack on some
entrees whilst waiting for
their orders.
Lloyd concurs that the
concept of this takeaway is
akin to the popular 'Noodle
House' and 'Chow-king'
franchises. He has
similar ambitions
and intends to open
a chain of 'Piknik'
outlets in the
future. At the
moment he reckons
they are still in the learning
phase of the operation as
new dishes are being added
progressively, as well as
building the 'Piknik' brand.
Although Lloyd and his
wife Christine are novices
in the food industry, the
Sisig Burito
Sisig Burito
company is part of a bigger
hospitality group based in
Cebu, which provides the
support, inspiration and
guidance the company
needs.
'Piknik' is one of the jewels
in the group company's
eateries. The others are
Azon in Parnell, where
Leo's culinary vision takes
flight and Kibo in Panmure,
where authentic Japanese
cuisine is crafted by a versatile
Pinoy chef who has
worked in restaurants in
Japan for around 15 years.
If you are in the
Onehunga area it is worthwhile
checking out this
'cute' takeaway at 6 Upper
Municipal Place. It is reminiscent
of the typical carenderia
(fast food) cafes in
La Paz Batchoy
Cebu with a big helping of
traditional warmth and hospitality.
Also, if you are ever in
Cebu, try and visit Piknik's
sister companies, Albur's
in Mabolo and the stunning
Scape Skydeck in Mactan.
EVENTS
Philippine
Independence Day
Commemoration
17th June 2017
Mt Albert War Memorial
Hall, Mt Albert
6pm-10pm, Free Entry
Cultural Pageant.
Filipino-Kiwi
Hero Awards.
Filipino-Kiwi
Music Awards.
Pinoy Chef of the Year.
Food Festival.
websites:
filipinoheroes.nz
filipinonews.nz
pinoynzlife.nz
email:
filipinonews@xtra.co.nz

APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | www.pinoynzlife.nz 05
FAITH
CORNER
By BRENDAN &
ELLY ROBERTS
Do you recognise the hand
of God in your daily life? Do
you thank Him when you
awake in the morning,
throughout the day and
when you lay your head
down to sleep?
There are many times
Gratefulness
for moments
of grace
throughout
our daily
lives that
we can see
God's presence
and
actions
(grace). We
can see
H i m
through the
smiles of others and even
through the joy springing up
in one's heart.
We can see his grace when
we hold a newborn baby in
our arms; seeing the beautiful
gift of life as well as
being as fragile as a butterfly.
His grace is also so evident
when that baby smiles
and you see hearts melting
just when someone looks at
the infant. It's like there is an
automatic switch, especially
for women, when they see a
newborn baby for the first
time. Their motherly instincts
kick in.
We can also see God's
grace just by looking at a
sunset, with the beautiful
interplay of colours dancing
before our eyes, mesmerising
us. Lovers
often get such a
buzz watching a
sunset or a sunrise
together.
God's presence
is also shown
through many aspects
of nature,
with the birds
singing with delight. Here in
New Zealand we have the
Tui, with a white tuft on its
neck and as it perches on a
branch it brings forth such a
beautiful melody.
Creation itself is so beautiful.
We have billions of
galaxies in our universe.
Within our own planet the
creativity of God is so
breathtaking. In the beauty
of mountains and forests and
even in the intricate workings
of the human cell we
see God's hand print.
We can also see God's
actions in the power of the
ocean. Sitting on the beach
watching the waves we see
God's handiwork. The waves
point us towards something
much greater.
As Catholics we believe
that the Lord works powerfully
through His grace in
the Sacraments. We are
cleansed totally through the
Sacrament of Reconciliation
and we can truly see
God's presence through faith
in the Sacrament of the Holy
Eucharist.
In fact all religions that
have a sacred book believe
in God's presence in that
book. Whether it be the
Jews with the Hebrew
Scriptures, the Muslims
with the Koran or us
Christians with the Holy
Bible.
As Christians we have the
fullness of scriptures because
Christ came to fulfil
the Old Covenant. Sacred
Scripture tells us that the
New Covenant is the cup of
Christ's blood. This is not
some Dan Brown concoction
related to the Da Vinci
Code, but it is Jesus giving
Himself totally to us through
the Sacraments.
We also see God's grace
through each other. When
someone helps a stranger we
see God at work.
When someone gives to
the poor we see God's blessing.
And when someone is a
true friend we see God's
hand.
In fact God smiles at all of
these occurrences, because
we are being Him to others.
We are letting our lights
shine as Jesus calls us to in
Sacred Scripture.
I'm sure that this article
can help you see God's presence
and actions in your
daily life. So reflect on other
occurrences recently where
you saw God's hand.
Maybe you defended
someone from being mistreated.
Or you helped an old person
who was struggling with
their groceries.
Maybe you stopped yourself
from becoming angry, or
you thought twice and
stopped yourself from doing
something that would have
hurt someone.
All of these are examples
of grace.
What has happened in
your life that you can see
was the result of God's
grace? Thank God that He
has been at work in your life,
even though you didn't see it
at the time. Thank Him that
you could even wake up
today. You can even spend a
brief amount of time each
night thanking God for ten
blessings that you received
that day.
Saint Mother Teresa said
that we should view challenges
as gifts. This can help
change our mindset to see
God in others and even to
help us reflect on what
annoyed us when we have
the power to view it as a
blessing rather than a curse.
Continue to let your light
shine and seek His grace,
especially through the sacraments
of Reconciliation and
Holy Communion, because
how truly great is our God!
Editor - Brendan and Elly
Roberts were speakers at this
year’s Auckland Eucharistic
Convention. Their topic:
‘Finding Love God’s Way’

BUHAY
OVERSEAS
06 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477 | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News
The Americanisation of Filipinos
Contrasting poverty and affluence was a dominant
theme of Farwell's book on the Philippines. He
wondered when the wide gap that existed between
the rich and the poor would close.
SYDNEY - Australian
author George Farwell
commented more than 40
years ago that “the
Filipinos avidly absorbed
American culture, including
the bad with the good.
Added to this is the strong
US identification of its politics,
not to mention statussymbol
pretentiousness and
questionable idealism.
“The Filipino attitude
towards foreigners, particularly
Americans, tended to
remain ambivalent. As a
result, a picture of disunity
and fragmentation seems to
be the natural order of
Filipino society.” The
author expertly suggested
that disunity among
Filipinos is a reflection of
its geography and that
because of this national
identity cannot readily be
achieved.
“Filipino sophistication,”
according to Farwell, “is
the result of their link with
the West.” In fact, he considered
the Filipinos to be
Westerners under another
skin. The sobriquet 'little
brown Americans', with
accents similar to those of
Madison Avenue or Main
Street, was used to describe
the Filipinos.
It was, in fact, coined a
few decades earlier by
American journalist Carl
Crow, who was assigned to
the Philippines between
1901 and 1905. Crow
described Filipinos as “our
little brown brothers, the
Filipino pure and simple,
whom we are all so anxious
to uplift to his proper place
upon earth and to relieve
from the burdens cast upon
him by heredity and a few
hundred years of Spanish
domi-nion.
“The manners, mo-rals
and memories of the
Filipinos are pictures of
feudal Spain.” As a consequence
the author denied
them their cultural identity
and status. Filipinos have
no Asian traditions, no ritual
art, no temples or ceremonies
or costumes.
The Western criteria of
civilisation are clearly
imposed. He even doubted
the Filipino nationalism
that led to the Philippine
Revolution of 1896. His
ignorance of the subject
was further revealed when
he claimed that “no smouldering
anti-colonial virus”
was experienced in the
Philippines, compared with
Indonesia.
Farwell admitted patronisingly
that there was “no
nation in the region that
more urgently needs our
(Australian) interest and
understanding” than the
Philippines. Describing the
Philippines as a country of
contradiction became the
basis of Western perceptions
of Asian life.
Filipinos should conform
to the Western way of living,
believing, creating and
relating to one another.
Farwell, however, made a
critical description of
poverty and the scandalous
opulence of Forbes Park,
the exclusive village of the
rich in Metro Manila where
“The Filipino attitude towards foreigners,
particularly Americans, tended to remain
ambivalent. As a result, a picture of
disunity and fragmentation seems to be
the natural order of Filipino society.”
- George Farwell, Australian author
he felt at home in the maze
of quietness, tree-lined
avenues and the costly and
expensive private homes.
He felt secure within the
high walls, tall hedgerows
and shady trees, behind
which the owners of
immense mansions modestly
screened themselves. In
millionaires' row, he claimed
with exaggeration, one
mansion alone had 50 servants
complete with white
uniforms and the house
amused him with its spiral
marble steps and sunken
interior gardens with fountains
and ornamental pools.
Contrasting poverty and
affluence was a dominant
theme of Farwell's book on
the Philippines. He wondered
when the wide gap
that existed between the
rich and the poor would
close. The rich, he noted,
flaunted their wealth, disregarding
the feelings of the
deprived and less fortunate.
Entering such a rich
enclave was a ritual, he
keenly observed. The barriers
guarded by security
men armed with rifles were
raised each time a limousine
came home.
This reminded him of the
countless police and customs
posts at European borders.
Security consciousness
was widely practiced
in the Philippines and is
still evident in the swinging
barrier and stone walls
topped with barbed wire
and jagged glass. He also
noted how little boys and
girls attending private
exclusive schools were
driven in cars by uniformed
chauffeurs, a contrast to the
prevailing poverty nearby.
He exaggerated, of course,
but this is how the Western
world perceives rich
Filipinos.
Editor: An excerpt from
Renato Perdon's new
book - 'Connecting Two
Cultures: Australia and
the Philippines'.

CHIKA
MUNA
By SHEILA MARIANO
AUCKLAND - In the
opinion of his mainly Kiwi
fans James Roque is the
king of Filipino observational
comedy in New Zealand.
In a recent television documentary
Roque suggested
that perhaps he was the king
by default, because there are
very few Filipino comedians
in this country.
James has been a fixture in
the Auckland’s Comedy
Festival’s annual winter
program and was featured on
several made-for-television
excerpts from this event over
the years. He has also picked
up some comedy awards
along the way.
His first ever appearance
before a Filipino audience
was at the 1st Maginoo at
Binibining Filipino News
Cultural Pageant in 2013 at
the Logan Campbell Centre
in Auckland.
The following year he
received a Filipino-Kiwi
Hero Award from his
APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: Filipino Migrant News 07
The new king of Filipino
observational comedy?
David Correos: The Pinoy ‘Billy T James’
kababayan for his success in
mainstream comedy.
Then, three years later,
along comes David Correos,
23, whose meteoric
rise in the comedy scene has
been nothing short of phenomenal.
“I think my
biggest claim to fame so far
is the stupid Miley Cyrus
costume tutorial video,” he
revealed in an episode of
‘Neighbourhood’ (a documentary
series on diversity
on TV One) that he hosted.
You could say that he
became world famous when
he uploaded that YouTube
video of himself dressed to
imitate Miley Cyrus at the
Video Music Awards show
in 2013. The video went
viral with just under a million
views.
His popular YouTube
channel features a string of
hilarious videos that delight
his fans: How
to attract women.
How to
Vlog. How to
eat healthier.
How to be winter.
Legit
Stuck. Dress as
a Panda. And
more …
Like his
compatriot,
Correos has
also picked up
a couple of
awards. First
up the ‘Comic
Originality’
award at the
2015 Comedy
Guild Awards.
Then the really
big one - the
2016 ‘Billy T
Award’, that
included a
$4,000 cash grant from the
New Zealand Comedy Trust,
the prestigious ‘Yellow
Towel’ and he got to appear
on TV3's ‘7 Days’.
“So, winning the ‘Billy T
Award' was one of the
coolest things to happen in
my life,” he admitted when
BUHAY
NZ
he was the star in an
episode of the compelling
documentary series about
diversity ‘Both Worlds’ on
TV3.
“I’ve gone from being an
amateur comedian who does
this for fun to a professional
comedian who does this for
a living.”
It was also time to take a
closer look at the content of
his material. “When I was
growing up I was the only
Pinoy in school,” he reflected.
“I felt a little bit different.
I remember that I got
bullied quite a bit. But I
learnt quickly that if you can
make them laugh first then
they can’t actually bully
you.
“I am not a normal comedian.
I don’t tell jokes. I am
the joke. It is the only thing
I’m actually good at.
“The next step is to work
on the skills I am not good at
yet. Being silly, being loud,
that’s easy. I’ve done that
my whole life, but being personal
and telling stories that
can surprise people about
genuine things that happen -
that's something I’ve got to
really work on.”
continues on pg 12

BUHAY
NZ
12 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | www.pinoynzlife.nz
FILIPNO-KIWI
HERO
AWARDS
17 June 2017
6 - 9pm
Mt Albert War Memorial
Hall, Mt Albert
FREE ENTRY
Come and meet our local
heroes in sports,
community service, media,
business and more ...
It’s time to acknowledge
their success and contribution
to the community.
The resident band will be:
The DC BOYS - a Kiwi
group singing
Filipino songs in
Tagalog!
Not to be missed!
All welcome!
continues from pg 11
‘Both Worlds’ shows him
trying to improve his routine
by incorporating more stories
from his culture. “Being
able to reconnect to my culture
will be a really good
challenge for me.”
So he put his hands up to
perform in front of an all-
Filipino audience for the
very first time at the 4th
Maginoo at Binibining
Filipino News Cultural
Pageant in June last year.
This daunting experience
made him aware of the
potential in focusing on
material about “the culture
clash I had as a Filipino
growing up in New Zealand”.
As event reviewer
Julie Cleaver observes: “He
often discusses his relationship
with his parents, mimicking
the best Filipino
accent I have ever heard.”
“I was born and grew up
in Christchurch,” said
17 June 2017, 6-9pm, Free Entry
Mt Albert War Memorial Hall
773 New North Rd, Mt Albert.
Correos. “My parents were
born in the Philippines and
they migrated to New
Zealand.” When he presented
his parents with the Billy
T yellow towel his mum
said: “Wow! I’m so happy
for you. Looks like you are
doing well. But stop taking
off your clothes – when I
saw that … I felt so embarrassed.
Maybe people might
say: ‘Oh, look how she
brought up her kid? Why is
he like this?’ Remember
Dave, you are Filipino. We
are a conservative type of
people.”
Correos admits that for a
while his show was high
energy, nonsensical, manic
and silly. “I just love taking
my clothes off and freaking
people out in the audience. I
find that so funny. Do I keep
being the silly man or start
telling stories?
“Some reviews are saying
that some of my jokes were
inauthentic. Getting a response
like that to my comedy
does annoy me and
makes me want to work
harder at trying to find
authenticity in my work.
“I have decided that I am
going to write some new
material that’s all going to
Print • Web •
Tablet • Facebook
Related websites:
pinoynzlife.com
filipinoheroes.nz
halohalo.nz
maginooatbinibini.nz
asia2nz.com
migrantnews.nz
travelgalore.nz
SM Publications Ltd
Po Box 21396
Henderson
Auckland 0650
Email:
filipinonews@xtra.co.nz
Facebook:
Filipino Migrant News
HaloHalo NZ
Filipino MigrantNews
Migrant Job Search
Maginoo at Binibining
- New Zealand
be story based and hopefully
could be the kind of jokes
that even my parents can
enjoy.”
The reinvented Correos
put on a show in Christchurch
last year that focused
on “the culture clash” he had
News &
Advertising:
027 495 8477
09 838 1221
Managing Editor:
Mel Fernandez
Publisher/Editor:
Sheila Fernandez
Sub-Editor:
Kirsty Hotchkiss
Manila News Bureau:
VJ Mariano
Criselda David
This Pinay’s Opinion:
Dr Lilia Sevillano
Immigration:
Atty Gene Bagsic
Official Photographers:
Francis Opinion
Virgilio Santos
VJ Mariano (Manila)
Politics: (Opinion)
Romy Udanga
Louie Encabo
Francisco
Hernandez
Law & Order:
Jessica Phuang
Mom on a Mission:
Lorelei B. Aquino
Invercargill:
Shelly Amore
Ballantine
Wellington:
Sylvia Zonoobi
Manila:
Jeremiah M.
Opinion
Jude Bautista
Australia:
Renato Perdon
as a Filipino growing up in
New Zealand.
His mum confidently
invited all her friends to the
event. Her verdict: “I’m
glad you don’t get naked at
shows ... You don’t embarrass
me anymore.”
filipinonews.nz
pinoynzlife.nz
Philippine
Independence
Day Celebrations
& Filipino-Kiwi
Hero Awards
17 June 2017
Auckland
filipinoheroes.nz
filipinonews.nz
Copyright Matters, Terms & Conditions of Publication and Advertising:
All material appearing in Filipino Migrant News (FMN) and
it’s website www.filipinonews.nz, including advertisements, is
copyright and cannot be reproduced unless written permission is given
by the publisher - SM Publications Ltd. Views expressed in FMN
and www.filipinonews.nz and pinoynzlife.nz do not necessarily
reflect that of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any
responsibility or liability for views and claims in the editorial matter or
advertisements appearing in this publication and website.
ADVERTISING TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
While reasonable care is taken, the Publisher will not accept liability
for any error, omission or inaccuracy in the publication of any material.
Advertisers are deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions in
the Publisher’s Advertising Order Form, whether they book
directly with the Publisher by using the Official Order Form, or confirm
bookings by email, or book through their advertising agents.

APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: Filipino Migrant News 09
BUHAY
OVERSEAS
Apl.de.ap
LOS ANGELES -
Filipino-American singer
Apl.de.ap (birth name:
Alan Pineda) needs no
introduction. He has visited
Auckland on two occasions.
Once in October
2008, when he was a member
of the Grammy awardwinning
group The Black
Eyed Peas, his band performed
at the Vector Arena
in Auckland. Then in
November 2013 he returned
for a solo gig as
guest DJ at '21' in Skycity.
Perhaps what is less well
known is Apl.de.ap's charity
work in the Philippines
to help save babies from
blindness. In 2014 his
Apl.de.ap Foundation International
partnered with
distinguished paediatric
eye surgeon, Thomas Lee,
MD, and his team of
experts in the Vision Center
at Children's Hospital in
Los Angeles in support of
the ‘Campaign for Filipino
Children.’
As the foundation's first
healthcare initiative, the
campaign provides a sustainable
approach to the
diagnosis and treatment of
a widespread eye affliction
in the Philippines that causes
blindness in premature
babies.
“In a country where there
are very few provisions for
special education, the
prospects for children with
visual impairment are quite
dismal,” said Apl.de.ap.
“This issue is something
that we have the power and
knowledge to address. By
partnering with the foremost
experts in this area -
Dr. Lee and the experts at
By SHEILA MARIANO
helps save babies
from blindness
“I'm paying it forward,” Apl.de.ap told reporters
recently. The cause is personal to him, as he was born
legally blind to a poor family in Pampanga.
Children's Hospital
Los Angeles - we are
not only saving the
vision of thousands of
children every year,
we are also vastly improving
their chances
of a better life.”
In the Philippines the
condition is both economic
and medical in scope: at
least ten percent of all premature
births in the
Philippines are caused in
part by the relative deficiency
of prenatal care
available to the poor, and at
least thirty percent of those
preemies develop Retinopathy
of Prematurity
(ROP).
Many Filipino hospitals
and physicians lack the
training to diagnose the disease,
which causes abnormal
blood vessel growth
from excessive oxygenation,
destroying the retina,
the eye's inner most layers.
If not treated within 48
hours of diagnosis, the
baby will become permanently
blind.
“I'm paying it forward,”
Apl.de.ap told reporters
recently. The cause is personal
to him, as he was
born legally blind to a poor
family in Pampanga. Until
he was adopted and
brought to the United
States for eye treatments at
the age of 14, his vision
challenges brought about
difficulties in school, selfesteem
problems and often
required special assistance.
FMN interviewed Apl.
de.ap during his gig at
Skycity. He said that he
was the eldest of seven
children raised by a single
mum. And that moving to
America was difficult.
“Having to leave my family
I got homesick. In a way
that moves was a blessing
in disguise. I wouldn't have
had better opportunities if I
stayed in the Philippines,
especially as I had a very
rare eye condition.”
CHIKA
MUNA
FILIPNO-KIWI
MUSIC
AWARDS
17 June 2017
6 - 9pm
Mt Albert War Memorial
Hall, Mt Albert
FREE ENTRY
Come and meet our top
Pinoy singers, groups and
bands in New Zealand -
the best of the best.
They have entertained you
over the years at gigs:
events, concerts, etc.
It’s time to acknowledge
their contribution to the
community.
The resident band for the
Music Awards is
The DC BOYS - a Kiwi
group singing Filipino
songs in Tagalog!
Not to be missed!
All welcome!

10 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | www.pinoynzlife.nz
www.halohalo.nz
Filipino Society honours franchisees
INVERCARGILL -
Southland Filipino Society
has honoured
CrestClean's Filipino
franchisees by presenting
them with Certificates of
Achievement.
The presentation was
made at the organisation's
annual end-of-year function,
which was attended
by Crest's Southland
Regional Manager Glenn
Cockroft.
The certificates were to
recognise the successes
achieved by the large
number of Filipinos who
are running CrestClean
businesses in Southland.
The certificates, which
acknowledged individual
successes and the spin off
benefits for the community,
said: “For their attainment
of The Franchisee
status - with Crest Commercial
Cleaning (Crest
Clean) - showcasing the
capability of competing
globally in the Service
Industry, thus
uplifting the Filipino
status in Southland.”
Each certificate
was signed and presented
by Southland
Filipino Society
Chairman Socrates
Mallari and Vice-
Chairman Dante
Banzuelo.
Glenn took the
opportunity to praise
the Filipino franchisees
for the “fantastic
work ethic and
dedication that they
all have.
“Crest in Southland
has gone through a
period of large
growth in the six
years he has been
with the company,”
he added. He said
that 2012 was the
year that the first
Filipino franchisee
joined Crest in Invercargill.
“Since then the
word has spread and
many Filipino nationals
have seen the
potential of owning
their own business
with Crest.
“They have purchased
a franchise
with us and in turn
they are building a
substantial business
with other family
members and
friends.”
Many of the franchisees
have increased
the
value of their
businesses as
time has
gone by.
Glenn said
that he had
gained the
personal satisfaction
of
being able to
assist many
Crest Southland Regional Manager Glenn Cockroft (far left),
with Southland Filipino Society Chairman Socrates Mallari
and Vice-Chairman Dante Banzuelo, presenting the
certificates to Crest franchisees.
of them
through the
process of
purchasing
their own home in
Southland.
“Today Crest in Southland
has a large number of
franchises being operated
in the area, 22 of which
are owned by Filipinos.
“Many are operated by
the whole family, some by
a husband and wife team
and some that employ
other Filipinos as well.”
Glen said that there are
59 Filipino people engaged
as part of Filipinoowned
CrestClean franchises
in Southland.
Southland is an area
being promoted by the
‘Move to the Regions’
Programme. The programme
provides people
who would like to own
their own business with
the opportunity to move
outside of Auckland and
Wellington.
Southland offers a great
outdoor lifestyle where
homes are 'affordable',
compared with many metropolitan
areas of New
Zealand.
Under the Programme
Crest contributes towards
relocation costs to help
families settle outside of
the country's major cities.
Editor - Text supplied.
WANTED: Panel beater and Car Painter
with experience or willing to be trained,
aged 20 years and above.
Apply at JR Panel & Paint Ltd.
Call Jun Ablanida on 021 037 5454 or 09 574 5876
w w w . p i n o y n z l i f e . c o m
DUE DILIGENCE. Acceptance of advertisements is at the discretion of
the publisher. We encourage readers to practice due diligence when buying products
and services. For advice contact resource centres like the Citizens Advice
Bureau. If you wish to lodge a complaint against an advertiser don't hesitate to
call Migrant News on: 027 495 8477 or email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz.
Pinoy NZ Life Classifieds - very affordable!
Text: 027 495 8477
Enjoy our home made sauce
For your order contact: 027 925 2421
Joel & Rowena (09) 214 3801
Escape to a quiet villa at
Casa Alegria-Bohol
Bohol, Philippines
P: 09 837 4944
E: jesjor@outlook.co.nz
HOMEMADE
For more info follow us on
Pipo’s Lechon
Book your group now at Casa Alegria-Bohol, and enjoy the
serenity around our holiday home. Get discounts up to 35%
(conditions apply). This is truly your home away from home.
We will do everything to make you feel at home.
The
BEST
Place to
RELAX
View from the cottage
Looking for a place to stay in Manila?
We have two luxurious condominums at the Shell
Residences, only a walk away from the Mall of Asia.
Unit 1017 & 1018 Bldg D.
Edsa corner Sunrise drive, Central Business Park - Island A,
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Manila, Philippines
For booking and enquiries, please contact:
Lito Abuyan on 021 326 247, 09 273 8537
E: lito.abuyan@xtra.co.nz

APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: Filipino Migrant News 11
A guide to
reporting crime
to the Police
continues from pg 16
The police communicator
will ask you three questions
to start with:
• where are you (where
are the police needed)?
• when did it happen?
• what's happening now?
El Nido
They'll also confirm your
name, address and contact
details.
Then you may be asked
more questions, such as:
• Where is the person/s
causing concern now?
• Do they have weapons?
• If that person/s has left,
“Welcome to our resort, feel at home here with us
in El Nido. Let us be at your service while you
enjoy life in the Philippines!” Abuyan, Owner
F o r b o o k i n g & e n q u i r i e s c o n t a c t L i t o A b u y a n
M : 0 2 1 3 2 6 2 4 7 | P : 0 9 2 7 3 8 5 3 7
E : l i t o . a b u y a n @ x t r a . c o . n z
w w w . s e a h o r s e a n d m a n g r o v e . c o m
which way did they go and
how did they leave?
• Who are they? What do
they look like and how are
they dressed?
• What's the number plate
or description of their vehicle?
• What else is happening?
As we ask you for this
information we are dispatching
police to the incident
if it is an emergency.
It's critical in an emergency
to accurately describe
how the police can
locate you. You don't
always know where you
are, especially if you're calling
from a mobile phone.
If you're at home it will
be easier to give the police
communicator the right
information if you've written
it down beforehand.
Make sure you, your visitors
or children can quickly
provide:
• A phone number
• The suburb
• The town/district
• A RAPID number
(available to rural residents
from local authorities)
If you're on the move,
give street, road or bridge
names or other geographical
features as reference
points.
Jessica: Is English the
medium of communication
at the call centre?
Shao: There are quite a
number of ethnic staff
working at the PCCs who
can communicate with our
Asian callers in their native
tongues. Although we cannot
guarantee that there will
always be staff available to
assist you with your language,
we are confident that
we will be able to assist you
as soon as possible when
we have ascertained what
language you are speaking.
If you think you have a
language barrier and you
need urgent Police assistance,
please do not hesitate
to contact us and let us
k n o w
what language
you
speak and
we will
endeavour
to
provide
you with
police services.
Jessica:
What is a
n o n -
emergency
call, say
for example, when someone
finds their car being broken
into. What's the number
they should call?
Shao: The Crime Report
Line (CRL) provides
the public with a way to
report historical and nonemergency
crime to the
Police. You can call on 09
571 2800 to get through to
them.
CRL operates 24/7 and
serves all 12 districts. The
CRL allows victims of historic
and non-emergency
crime to report their incident
by phone, rather than
having to report in person to
a Police station. This saves
time for the victim and
means less paperwork for
Police officers.
The CRL Communicators
are based in Auckland and
receive calls from throughout
New Zealand. Victims
can also send supporting
evidence - photographs and
documents - to the CRL via
the Police website. CRL
staff will provide the victim
with a Police Acknowledgement
Form and Victim
Support Referral.
EDITOR: For information
or advice feel free to
contact Jessica Phuang,
Asian Liaison Officer, NZ
Police, at: 09 302 6421 or
mobile: 021 192 0935.
Email: jessica.phuang@
police.govt.nz.
Legacy of Faith Church
"Love God. Love People. Pass it on."
Sunday Worship Time
and Venue:
1st Floor, 7 Princes Street,
Otahuhu, Auckland
10 am
web: www.lfc.org.nz
e-mail: lfcnz.info@gmail.com

12 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News
By JESSICA PHUANG
AUCKLAND - The
Northern Communications
Centre (NCC) is where 111
calls for emergencies
requiring assistance from
the Police, the Fire department
or ambulance are
directed to.
Inspector Kai Shao, a
Shift Commander at the
NCC, has some helpful
advice that will make you
more confident when you
need to contact the police
for emergencies or nonurgent
matters.
Jessica Phuang: How
many Police Communications
Centres are there in
NZ?
Inspector Shao: The
Police Communications
Centres receive 111 and
non-emergency calls and
dispatch police to jobs. We
provide the critical link
between the public and
frontline policing.
There are three Police
Communications Centres in
the country. Police
Northern Communications
Centre is based in
Auckland, Police Central
Communications Centre is
based in Wellington and
Police Southern Communications
Centre is based in
Guide to
reporting crime
to the Police
Christchurch.
The Police Northern
Communications Centre is
the largest Police Communications
Centre. It covers
the area from Cape Reinga
to Turangi. It services a
population of approximately
2.1 million people.
Jessica: What is your
role as Shift Commander at
the Communications
Centre?
Shao: As a Shift Commander
I have the ultimate
responsibility for all incidents
that reportedly occur
in our designated policing
area. With the assistance of
my section manager and
team leaders my job is to
ensure that all reported
incidents are promptly prioritised
based on their risk
assessment and dispatched
in accordance with our policy
and service agreement.
During major incidents,
such as firearms being discharged
during aggravated
robbery, fatal vehicle crash,
major search and rescue
operations and natural disaster,
I am the initial
Incident Controller to dispatch
and command attending
staff to take appropriate
actions to protect the public
and maintain law and order.
Jessica: If your Northern
Communication Centre
lines are busy are callers
kept waiting for a response?
Shao: The Police Communications
Centres work
in a 'virtual' environment.
This means that 111 and
non-emergency phone calls
are routed to the Centre that
has the next available call
taker.
To give you some perspectives,
the Police
Communications
Centres received over
1.9 million calls in
2015:
• 814,164 were 111
emergency calls
• 768,800 were general
calls (including *555)
• 415,957 were directed
to the Crime Reporting
Line
The Communications
Centres dispatched people
to around 3.1 million events
in 2015. This means that,
on average, 8493 events
were dispatched to every
day.
To ensure the service provided
to the public is maintained
at a high level the
Communications Centres
are required to answer 90%
of emergency calls within
10 seconds and 80% of
non-emergency calls within
30 seconds.
Jessica: What do Police
consider an emergency or a
high priority call?
Shao: Call 111 and ask
for Police when:
• someone is badly
injured or in danger
• there's a serious risk to
life or property
• a crime is being committed
and the offenders are
still there or have just left
• you've come across a
major public inconvenience,
such as trees blocking
a highway
• any of these things are
happening now or have just
happened
If you can't decide if it's a
real emergency and you're
still worried call 111 and
Jessica Phuang with
Inspector Kai Shao
ask us. We'll help you work
out what to do.
Jessica: When a person
calls 111 what actually happens?
Inspector: When you
call 111 a telecom operator
will answer your call and
ask which emergency service
you want - Fire,
Ambulance or Police. If it's
Police you'll be transferred
to a Police Communications
Centre.
Your call might be
answered in another Centre
if the one closest to you is
busy. No matter where the
call is answered your local
police will be on their way.
continues on pg 15
HO ME COOKERY
Open 7 days a week
Mon-Sat: 8am - 5pm
Sun: 9am - 3pm
236 Onehunga Mall
Onehunga,Auckland
Accepting orders for your party needs.
T: 09 636 6297, M: 021 149 7358
The No.1 Filipino Bakery in town
Try our freshly baked Filipino favourite breads for your
breakfast and merienda such as ensaymada, pandesal,
empanada, spanish bread, monay, cakes and more...
CHICKEN EMPANADA
PORK BUN
PAN DE COCO
SIAKOY
UBE ENSAYMADA
MONAY
Immigration, Property, Sales & Purchase of a Business, Agreement to Lease,
Trust and Asset Protection, Wills and Power of Attorney,
Family Law and Relationship Property Matters, Litigation
ENSAYMADA
PAN DE SAL
Eugenie Choi (Director)
DDI 09 444 0505 / 021 262 7182
eugenie@hemarulaw.co.nz
Chang Min Lee
PH 021 890 111
min@hemarulaw.co.nz
Soo Jin Kim
PH: 021 416 128
soojin@hemarulaw.co.nz
SPANISH BREAD
BANANA TURON
Jameson Uy, Filipino Marketing Officer,
PH 02041154370, desk@hemarulaw.co.nz
Tel: (09) 443 2080, Fax: (09) 443 2090, 20 Link Drive, Wairau Valley, Auckland 0627
Po Box 334119, Sunnynook, Auckland 0743

Asian Migrant News
Reach the
broader
Asian
market!
Filipino Migrant News
One-third of Aucklanders will be ASIANS BY 2021.
Time to reach this market!
ASIAN NEWS - asia2nz.com
MIGRANT NEWS - migrantnews.nz
FILIPINO NEWS - filipinonews.nz
TRAVEL GALORE - travelgalore.nz
mobile: 027 495 8477 email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz
TOO GOOD TO MISS OUT ON!
Keep it coming!
Complimentary copies run out
pretty fast at designated pick-up points.
So reserve your personal copy.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
ASIAN NEWS - asia2nz.com
MIGRANT NEWS - migrantnews.nz
FILIPINO NEWS - filipinonews.nz
6 issues - NZ$29 * 12 issues - NZ$55*
Migrant News issues FILIPINO Migrant News issues
Name/Company .....................................................................................
Address .................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
Amount paid .................................... cheque payable to SM Publications Ltd
or Direct Credit to SM Publications, ASB Bank Acct No: 123 042 0427727 00
or Paypal: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz / or send us an email requesting an Invoice
your email address............................................or tel................................
* Rates quoted for mail delivery in New Zealand; this is a promotional rate for a limited period only