PNZLIFE Nov 2018

www.pinoynzlife.nz
REACHING FILIPINOS IN THE
SOUTH ISLAND.
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Vol 2 No 1
NOVEMBER 2018
www.pinoynzlife.nz, www.filipinonews.nz, www.filipino.kiwi | E: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | M: 027 495 8477 | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News
exposed!
WINSTON LOBATON
SPEAKS OUT ABOUT ...
Abuse,
epxloitation in
construction
industry pgs 3-4
BATTLE FOR
SENATE pg 7
MAGANDANG
BALITA pg 5
DUTERTE’S
ONE TRUE LOVE
pg 6
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BUHAY
NZ
02 PINOYS SA ASHBURTON | VOL 2 No 1 | www.pinoynzlife.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | M: 027 495 8477
Photo credit: Ashburton Indian
Multicultural Charitable Trust
"There is a growing awareness of
migrant communities. Some of our
primary schools, especially our rural
schools, their population is as high
as 50 percent Filipino."
Council hopes that the
language interpretation
services will benefit both
staff and members of the
public.
It has joined 15 other
councils across the country
using the telephone
service Language Line,
gathered for the opening
of a new area in the
Ashburton Domain, paying
homage to the district's
growing cultural
and ethnic diversity.
Council Open Spaces
Staff and Ashburton
Multicultural Trust mem-
Ashburton opens garden to
help welcome migrant population
By KATIE TODD
Christchurch Reporter
Radio New Zealand
ASHBURTON - One of
New Zealand's fastest
growing rural districts is
seeing a significant increase
in migrants.
The council is taking
measures to make the
migrants who move to the
district more comfortable.
Ashburton District
Council recently unveiled
new language interpretation
resources for residents
and a culturalthemed
garden was officially
opened in the town's
domain (see photo above).
Both initiatives are part
of a two year Welcoming
Communities programme
being trialled in the district
and in five other
areas around the country.
Ashburton mayor Donna
Favel said that she felt
that new New Zealanders
were really important.
Ashburton district has
about 34,700 residents.
The makeup is about 82
percent European and
eight percent Pasifika,
Maori and Asian.
Those three minority
populations are expected
to increase around New
Zealand by 2038 - Pasifika
by 71 percent, Maori
by 50 percent and Asian
by 135 percent - but in
Ashburton the increase is
more dramatic.
Pasifika residents there
will increase by 147 percent,
Maori by 110 percent
and Asian by 139
percent.
Ms Favel said that the
increase in migrants was
especially visible in the
rural sector, rest homes
and service providers.
"There is a growing
awareness of migrant
communities. Some of our
primary schools, especially
our rural schools, their
population is as high as 50
percent Filipino."
Ashburton District
which offers interpretation
for 44 different languages.
It also enables them to
access language interpreting
resources from Canterbury.
The council's communications
manager, Ruben
Garcia, said that they
wanted to ensure that
everybody in the community
felt that they could
confidentially interact
with the council.
Community members
bers have worked to raise
seedlings and create an
'Om' shaped flowerbed,
linked to Hinduism and
Buddhism and a border of
flowers representing the
Fijian-Indian cultural influence.
- Articled reprinted with
permission from Radio New
Zealand.
Photo features Thelma Bell
(second from left) who is the
first Filipino elected to a New
Zealand council.
By LILY BLOXHAM
PALMERSTON
NORTH - The second
ASEAN New Zealand
Youth Conference was held
in early October, hosted by
Palmerston North Girls’
High School and attended by
50 participants from high
schools around the region.
This year’s conference
revolved on promoting
greater awareness of
ASEAN and its flourishing
relations with New Zealand
among Kiwi youth.
It intends to present
opportunities for youth
engagement, study and
careers in ASEAN-New
Zealand relations.
Through the presentations
and group discussions the
sessions provided a chance
for students to interact, dialogue
and learn with diplomats,
academicians and
researchers.
The Conference also
intended to provide students
with a forum for interaction,
networking and leadership
development.
Filipino Youth Ambassador,
Ralph Zambrano,
chaired the event together
with a representative from
ASEAN NZ Youth Conference:
Learning how
diplomacy and politics
should be done
Palmerston North Girls High
School, Sanya Vapas, who
is also a multicultural council
member. Other attendees
at the conference were: Ms.
Elleonora Tambunan, Counsellor
for Indonesia, H.E.
Ms. Nur Izzah Wong Mee
Choo, High Commissioner
for Malaysia, H.E. Mr.
Jesus S. Domingo, Ambassador
for the Philippines
and H.E. Mr. Mr Danai
Menabodhi, Ambassador for
Thailand.
“I am extremely happy
and proud that the ASEAN
New Zealand Youth Conference
is continuing after the
effort and push made by
myself, Ambassador Domingo
and notable others to get
the ball rolling last year. The
opportunity to provide youth
with more opportunities to
expand their insights on the
wider world by interacting
with ambassadors, high
commissioners and civil
leaders is invaluable. There
really isn’t anything like it,”
Zambrano said.
“The chance for young
people to see and personally
interact with critical figureheads
for other countries is
uncommon; the fact that the
conference allows such to
happen, I believe is not only
incredible, but completely
empowering.
“With current times highlighting
an increase in
nationalism and growing
rifts between nations, having
representatives from different
countries coming together
for a conference revolving
around young people will
show the next generation
just how diplomacy and politics
should be done.”
The speakers outlined the
relationship of each ASEAN
nation to New Zealand.
Critically, Philippine Ambassador,
Jesus Domingo,
promoted the Philippine
Embassy’s Youth Ambassadors”
leadership programme
– which was slated
to have progressed to the
acceptance stage, where
applications to be a 'Youth
Ambassador' are now sent
out and accepted.
The interest from the
attending students is reported
to be promising, with
interest from numerous individuals
being relayed.
Zambrano believes that
the event being hosted in
Palmerston North was a
smart decision as it “brought
opportunities for the youths
in rural and less urban
areas”. A huge focus for
Zambrano as Youth Ambassador
this year has been to
expand his outreach to those
in less densely populated
centres.
“This year’s conference
has promoted the need and
importance for continuing
the ASEAN New Zealand
Youth outreach,” Zambrano
said. It was relayed that after
the continued success that a
conference for 2019 at a different
location and venue is
in the books.
- Lily Bloxham was the former
Editor of ‘Kabayan News’
(now titled ‘Pinoy NZ Life’).

WORKERS’ RIGHTS Vol 2 No 1 | www.pinoynzlife.nz FB: Pinoy NZ Life | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz 03
www.migrantnews.nz : New Zealand’s first Migrant newspaper. Published since 1991.
EXPOSED:
By AISHA RONQUILLO
Abuse, epxloitation in
construction industry
When you have a relative
who works abroad, there
are certain expectations
that come with it.
Monthly remittances, the
latest gadgets, chocolates,
tuition fees and extra
money for holiday trips.
Often this is what is
expected by the millions of
Filipinos who have OFW
relatives.
As the phenomenon of
forced overseas migration
has become commonplace,
even young children
automatically assume that
their playmates with OFW
relatives are better off
financially. Not that there
is something inherently
wrong with this - but we
need to ask ourselves: how
long will Filipinos be
dependent on overseas
employment? Are Filipinos
destined to be OFWs for
the next 500 years? Is it
worth the cost?
For builders like
Winston Lobaton, leaving
children behind in the
Philippines, all the while
battling abuse and
exploitation in the construction
industry, is no
easy feat. Sometimes this
struggle can overwhelm
financial imperatives.
Filipinos like Winston
bravely try to maintain
dignity in the face of it all,
having to fight for their
own humanity in a country
they believed to be a greener
pasture. As a father he
says that he is happy to
sacrifice everything for his
family - but not at the
expense of his own selfrespect.
In light of recent reports
of Filipino builders being
exploited in the construction
industry, Winston provides
us with an account of
his own experience. He
urges us to ask that, as
Filipinos in NZ, how much
are we willing to sacrifice
in exchange for earning
money and for NZ residency?
AISHA: How did you
arrive here in New Zealand?
WINSTON: I applied
using an agency’s services
last 2015, but I wasn’t
cleared for the medical test. I
arrived in July 2017. I shouldered
the medical expenses.
Nothing was paid to my
agency.
AISHA: What was your
first impression of New
Zealand?
WINSTON: My agency
described NZ as a land of
greener pastures; that once
we started working there we
could provide a good future
for our families.
When I was still in Negros
I was really hoping that I
could become an NZ resident;
it was only when I
arrived in NZ that I learned
so many things about the
residency process.
It was also upon arriving
in NZ that I learned that my
(above:) Winston Lobaton - Migrant Builders Association.
Photo credit: Aisha Ronquillo.
current job did not qualify
me for residency.
All of us migrants want to
become NZ residents, no
one wants to be on a Work
Visa forever, let’s face it.
AISHA: Is your family in
the Philippines?
WINSTON: My family is
in Negros and I’m still supporting
them.
AISHA: Describe your
first job in NZ.
WINSTON: My manager
once asked me to work in the
rain, sometimes there are no
scaffolds on site, sometimes
they shout at us to lift heavy
items and equipment on our
own.
I experienced harassment
from managers telling us to
work faster.
We have safety gear, but
we are paying for it out of
our own pockets, like gumboots
being deducted from
our wages.
I endured all that for the
next 12 months.
AISHA: Tell us something
about this controversial
pastoral care service?
WINSTON: I went
through pastoral care. These
pastoral care services are
linked to agencies back
home.
continued on page 4

04 WORKERS’ RIGHTS VOL 2 NO 1 | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: Pinoy NZ Life | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | Mob: 027 495 8477
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continued from pg 3
This service provided their
own orientation and they
were the ones looking for
accommodation for me and
my comrades; they also provided
vehicles to use for carpooling
with other builders.
There was a time that I
spent $420/week for 3
months.
Actually, my agency did
not disclose to us that there
would be pastoral care services;
it was only when I
arrived in NZ that I learned
about these pastoral care
services.
When I arrived we stayed
in the house provided by
them, but it was within their
office premises. I didn’t
think of refusing at that time
because their services are
very good: they fetched us
from the airport, they looked
for accommodation for us,
etc .
Take note that there were
no placement fees from the
agencies, there were no contracts
or documents that
reflect the $420/week payment.
I admit that I really
jumped at the chance of
going abroad because I really
wanted to provide for my
two daughters.
I was shocked upon learning
about these pastoral care
services and I know other
Pinoy builders who went
into overdraft because of
these extremely expensive
services. Are they even necessary,
given their cost?
AISHA: Describe your
experience with exploitation.
WINSTON: I experienced
exploitation and I saw
it happening amongst my
fellow Pinoys. I messaged
union leaders to see if I
could transfer to a different
company and I asked them
for advice.
My visa restrictions stated
that I could only work for a
certain company. I was looking
for another company that
would support my residency.
I experienced bullying and
harassment by managers.
There were times when I
was not familiar with the
tools, but my manager
expected us to work at a
faster pace.
I have been witness to
many similar stories and
most Pinoys that join my
organization (Migrant
Builders Aotearoa) are running
away from bullying
managers. I have reported so
many stories of exploitation
to government officials.
AISHA: The exploitation
against Pinoy builders is
getting rampant. Would
you agree?
WINSTON: Yes, it is
rampant. I know that most
cases are reported within the
Auckland region, but there
are so many unreported
cases of Pinoy builders who
are exploited outside
Auckland.
AISHA: What is your
advice for Pinoys who are
planning to come to NZ as
builders?
WINSTON: For those
who are still applying,
THEY SHOULD NOT
EXPECT TOO MUCH.
AISHA: What is your
first advice to Pinoy
builders who are being
exploited or abused?
WINSTON: My advice is
that they have to reach out to
the Filipino community.
Most importantly, they
should join unions so that
they will learn about their
basic employment rights.
So many newly-arrived
migrants come to NZ without
knowing their rights.
AISHA: Do you have a
message for Filipinos who
are collaborating with
exploitative companies?
WINSTON: They should
be more compassionate
about the plight of Pinoy
builders here and they
should have a sense of
bayanihan.
Remember: we are all
immigrants in this country,
at maski sila dumaan rin
naman sa hirap when they
first arrived.
AISHA: Do you have a
message for the families of
exploited Pinoy builders?
WINSTON: To keep their
expectations in check. They
should not expect that once
their husbands or fathers
(left:) Construction
workers in Auckland
speak up about
abuse and
exploitation in their
industry. Check out
this website for helpful
information:
www. employment.
govt.nz
arrive in NZ they
will automatically
have a better life in a
month’s time or a
year’s time, because
this is often not the
case.
Stories of exploitation
should be given credit
because they are true and it
takes courage to report them,
given our current circumstances.
We are reporting
these cases despite the fear
of losing our jobs.
Most importantly, they
should also manage remittances
wisely and value the
money that they receive,
because we did not earn it
while lying in bed all day.
AISHA: Any message
for the NZ government?
WINSTON: I am grateful
that the NZ government is
giving us this opportunity
and we are very eager to
contribute to the NZ economy.
We expect to be treated
with respect and dignity. We
expect to be paid right.
AISHA: In your opinion,
what should Pinoy builders
do to prevent workplace
exploitation and
abuse?
WINSTON: They should
be made aware of their
rights. They should ask
around and do basic
research.
Some builders come to
New Zealand with no
knowledge of their basic
employment rights and I recommend
a mandatory postarrival
seminar for all
migrants, which can be conducted
with the blessing of
the Philippine Embassy,
should they consider the idea
worthwhile.

BUHAY SA CHRISTCHURCH Vol 2 No 1 | www.pinoynzlife.nz FB: Pinoy NZ Life | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz 05
South Island’s Official Filipino Newspaper - published since 2014 : www.pinoynzlife.nz
“I hope that
my research
will help
farmers
back home.”
By Maribeth
Jadina,
PhD Student
from the
Philippines
Maribeth is studying her PhD at Lincoln University in
Christchurch. She spent the first year of her degree learning
from her supervisors in New Zealand and is now conducting
field research in the Philippines. Her dream is for her
research to impact policies to improve the agricultural sector
in the Philippines.
CHRISTCHURCH -
My research focuses on
mapping the impacts of
land parcelization in
developing countries like
the Philippines.
Land parcelization is
subdividing agricultural
land and returning it to
the people who farm the
land.
I’m particularly interested
in the impact this
has on the landscape, the
people in the society and
its relationship to extreme
weather conditions.
Disaster resilience is
important, because the
Philippines is a disasterprone
area, but farmers
are not prepared to face
the challenges that come
from disaster.
In 2013 Typhoon Haiyan
hit Leyte, where I’m
from, and around six
thousand people were
killed.
Land titles and landmarks
were destroyed and
farmers were vulnerable
to land-grabbing. The
farmers lost everything
w w w . p i n o y n z l i f e . n z
and they are still recovering
from that typhoon.
My big dream one day is
to work in the agricultural
sector and see it
improve and see farmers
empowered.
Just like in New Zealand,
agriculture is one of
the main industries in my
country. Here in New
Zealand I have noticed
that farmers are some of
the richest people. They
have good status. But in
my country they are the
poorest and they don't get
the recognition or the support
that they need.
Coming to New Zealand
By coming here to New
Zealand I am able to prepare
myself for the career
that I want in the future.
When I started planning
to study abroad, I
saw that all the universities
in New Zealand were
top calibre. Then I started
looking for a university
where I could focus on
land and agriculture. I
found Lincoln.
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Coming to a new place
with a different culture is
very interesting. My parents
were excited when
they found out that I
would be coming here,
because it'll be a new
journey for me.
I was really scared of
living alone and far from
my family. In the past I
had been away from home
for work, on a different
island in the Philippines,
but I always knew that I
could go back home easily.
But here it's quite far.
When I first arrived in
New Zealand, it was a
shock for me. The weather
here is very different from
the Philippines. I left in
the peak of summer when
it was 32 to 40 degrees.
When I arrived here it
was zero to negative two
and I got sick the next
day. I had a difficult time
adjusting to the new environment.
But the people
were very nice. The university
provided me with
the support that I needed,
checking on me to see if I
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was doing well with my
studies.
Learning in New Zealand
Learning in New
Zealand is interesting for
me. Back home we see
supervisors as well, like
supervisors. There is
always a wall. But here it's
very open. I see my supervisors
as more like colleagues.
I feel as if I've grown
and changed as an individual
and as a researcher
here, because I need to do
everything independently
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and I have to manage my
own time. I think that it
will set me up well for my
career.
I want to help my country
to develop its own
technologies and policies
fit for the farmers and the
people. For many years
now the Philippines has
been adopting westernstyle
technologies and
policies. But that’s not
why I’m studying in New
Zealand. I want my
research to help provide a
home-grown solution –
one that represents the
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people and is a reflection
of the society that we
have. My dream is to use
the knowledge and skills
that I gain in my New
Zealand education to help
farmers in the Philippines
to be self-sustaining.
I’m excited to be learning
new things in New
Zealand and gaining
knowledge that I can take
back home.
Pinoy NZ Life pinoynzlife.nz
is the worthy successor to
Kabayan News - Christchurch.
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06 BUHAY OVERSEAS Vol 2 No 1 | www.pinoynzlife.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | GIVE US A CALL : 027 495 8477
South Island’s Official Filipino Newspaper - published since 2014 : www.pinoynzlife.nz
B y J e l l y M u s i c o
MANILA - The average
Filipino is doing better
under the administration
of President Rodrigo
Duterte, according to a
report from the Forbes
Magazine.
Forbes.com contributor
Panos Mourdoukoutas
based his assessment on a
report of Tradingecono
mics.com that said that
the Philippines’ per-capita
gross domestic product
(GDP) registered a record
high of USD2,891.36 in
2017.
The all-time high percapita
GDP was well
above the average of
USD1,627.98 for the period
of 1960-2017.
The report, titled 'The
Philippines' Per-Capita
GDP Has Reached An All-
By Azer Parrocha
MANILA - President
Rodrigo Duterte described
his partner,
Cielito 'Honeylet' Avanceña,
as his “true love”.
“Out of everyone else
that I know, she’s the
one that I will really
believe in,” Duterte said
during the inauguration
of the Gaisano Grand
Citygate Mall in Davao
City recently.
The President made
MANILA - “Senior citizens
should be given more
social benefits to enjoy the
golden years of their lives
with,” lawyer Romy
Macalintal said at the
weekly Real News Forum
recently.
Congress should pass a
law increasing the level of
Time High Under
Duterte', said that
Filipinos are doing better
under Duterte when percapita
GDP is adjusted by
purchasing power parity
(PPP).
“That measure, too,
reached a record USD
7,599.19 in 2017, well
above that of USD
4,969.71 for the period
1990-2017,” it added.
The GDP per capita is
obtained by dividing the
country’s GDP, adjusted
by inflation, by the total
population.
“Macroeconomic stability
has helped the
Philippines' economy
demonstrate a great deal
of resilience in recent
years. At the end of 2017
it grew at an annual 6.9
percent in the September
quarter. That’s the
discounts for senior citizens
buying medicines as
their age advances further
over the years, starting at
age 70 with a 30-percent
discount and increasing
this by 10 percent every
10 years until the age of
90.
“Beyond 90, the discount
should be as much
as 50 percent,” said Macalintal, who is run-
strongest growth since the
third quarter of 2016.
And the Philippines’ economy
was still growing at 6
percent at the end of
MANILA - The release
of passports will be shortened
to as early as six
working days starting in
October, the Department
of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
announced.
Passport applicants at
the DFA Consular Offices
in Metro Manila who
ning for senator
in next
year’s polls.
At present
senior citizens
only get a 20-
percent discount,
plus a
12-percent
value added tax
(VAT) discount,
for a total of 32 percent.
2018,” the report
said.
According to
recent McKinsey
Global Institute
(MGI) studies, the
Philippines is
among the emerging
market economies
“that are well
prepared to
achieve sustained
growth over the
next decade”.
MGI cited the
increase in gross
fixed-capital formation
(investment)
which “reached
PHP695,414.08 million in
the second quarter of
2018 from roughly
avail themselves
of the
regular processing
for
PHP950 will
receive their
passports after
12 working
days instead of
the current 15
working days.
Those who
opt to pay the
express processing
fee of
PHP1,200 will
receive theirs
after six working days,
instead of seven.
On the other hand,
applicants in DFA
Consular Offices outside
Metro Manila will receive
their passports after 12
working days instead of
20 for regular processing
and after seven working
days instead of 10 for
expedited processing.
At the same time
Macalintal said that senior
citizens should be
extended the privilege of
watching free movies
nationwide, instead of
only where they live.
He lauded cities and
towns that give
PHP100,000 cash bonus
to senior citizens upon
reaching the age of 100.
PHP450,000 million in
July of 2015 -- well above
the PHP303,138.16 million
for the period 1998
until 2018 and an all-time
high”.
However, the Philippines’
per-capita GDP is
equivalent to 23 percent
of the world’s average,
which makes Filipinos
poor.
Mourdoukoutas advised
the Duterte administration
to “keep an eye
on the price of bread and
rice”, rather than celebrating
the record percapita
GDP.
“And he should look at
his human rights record,
which cannot be balanced
by any economic record,”
Mourdoukoutas said in
his article.
- Courtesy of PNA, our content
partner in the Philippines
Foreign Affairs
Secretary Alan Peter
Cayetano said that the
DFA is working to trim
down queue length for
passport applications filed
at foreign service posts
around the world, that
currently can take as long
as two months.
Cayetano also drew
attention to the shortened
waiting time for securing
online appointment slots,
which is down to as early
as two weeks to one month
compared to two to three
months in 2017.
“From the 9,500 passports
that were being
processed daily in May
last year, we have
increased our capacity to
almost 20,000 passports a
day. We will endeavour to
increase this number to
30,000 by the end of the
year,” he said. - Courtesy
of PNA.
Noted lawyer calls for more benefits for seniors
By Ben Cal
Record high per-capita GDP
under Duterte: Forbes Magazine
Honeylet is really
my true love: Duterte
this remark after mentioning
in a speech a
former girlfriend who
happened to be a 'gobernadora'.
Duterte and Avanceña
have been together
for more than 20 years.
They have a 13-year-old
daughter named Veronica,
also known as
Kitty.
The President also
took pride in their
daughter for being
smart, just like
(left) Last Oct. 7 Duterte
and his family spent the
weekend in Hong Kong to
take a break. His former
top aide, Christopher
Lawrence 'Bong' Go,
uploaded photos of himself
with Duterte,
Avanceña and Kitty.
Avanceña.
“She is good at …
Because she’s a valedictorian.
That’s true. Her
daughter takes after
her,” Duterte said.
“Like Honeylet’s
daughter. Her lowest
grade is 91. That’s the
lowest. I told her, ‘Nak,
back then I only studied
just a little'. Because
she’s always complaining,
always studying
and rarely goes out anymore,”
he added.
- Courtesy of PNA
PASSPORT RELEASES
SHORTENED TO 6 DAYS: DFA
By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
His proposal is to give
PHP100,000 every year
for senior citizens who
have reached the century
mark and beyond while
alive, saying that this will
not drain the coffers of
the government since
there are only a few senior
citizens who are 100 years
old and above.
- Courtesy of PNA.

BUHAY OVERSEAS Vol 2 No 1 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz FB: Pinoy NZ Life 07
South Island’s Official Filipino Newspaper - published since 2014 : www.pinoynzlife.nz
MANILA - The
Philippine Commission
on Elections (COM-
ELEC) and the Philippine
National Police may have
reported a generally
peaceful and orderly filing
of Certificates of
Candidacy from October
11 to 17, but this only
hides the intensity which
will dominate the midterm
elections next year.
The Philippine senate
will be the arena where
President Rodrigo Duterte’s
Partido ng Demokratikong
Pilipino (PDP-
Laban) will square off
with the Vice President
Leni Robredo’s Liberal
Party (LP).
Ever since wrestling the
presidency from the LP in
2016 Duterte has been
vocal against the Liberals.
Even blaming a number
DUTERTE, LP IN
‘INTENSE’ SENATE
BATTLE IN 2019
By SAM BAUTISTA
F i l i p i n o M i g r a n t N e w s
M a n i l a C o r r e s p o n d e n t
of its members for coddling
drug kingpins in
exchange for huge commissions
or kickbacks.
Duterte’s administration
has successfully
placed behind bars an
elected senator - Leila de
Lima - for allegedly being
the shabu (metamphetamine
hydrochloride)
queen of the New Bilibid
Cayetano, 5 Cabinet
members eye 2019 polls
Prison.
Since 2016 Duterte and
the PDP-Laban have
accumulated majorities in
both Houses of Congress
mainly through turncoats.
Next year’s mid-term
elections will determine
whether Duterte’s 14 million
votes can be channeled
to support the 8-
man PDP official lineup,
composed of former senate
president Aquilino
'Koko' Pimentel III,
Special Assistant to the
to the President
Christopher 'Bong'
Go, Presidential
Spokesperson
Harry Roque, Political
Adviser Francis
Tolentino, Department
of Agrarian
Reform
(DAR) Secretary
Alan Peter Cayetano
John Castriciones
and Technical Education
MANILA – “Foreign Affairs
and Skills Development
Secretary Alan Peter Caye-tano Authority (TESDA) Director
and five other Cabinet officials
are seeking local and national
posts in next year’s mid-term
elections,” said President Rodrigo
R. Duterte.
Duterte said that Cayetano
might run for congressman in his
hometown in Taguig City.
General Guiling Mamondiong as
other Cabinet members who may
be vacating their posts.
Duterte said that should his top
aide decide to run as senator, he
would want a woman to replace
him.
- By Azer Parrocha, PNA
He also named Special Assistant
President presidential
spokesman
Harry Roque and
President Duterte with Christopher ‘Bong’ Go. Foto: Avito C. Dalan, PNA
Makati Rep. Monsour del
Rosario.
Four other names are
included in the PDP-
Laban led ad-ministration
coalition.
Meanwhile, the LP was
also successful in consolidating
its forces enough to
come up with its own 8-
man slate led by defeated
2016 presidential candidate
Manuel 'Mar' Roxas
II. Roxas played runner
up to Duterte in the presidential
race. On the unofficial
Facebook page of
LP supporters, The Silent
Majority, members claim
to have 16 million votes to
propel Roxas to the number
one slot this time.
Others in the LP lineup
are: Magdalo party list
Rep. Gary Alejano, reelectioneer
Senator Paolo
Benigno 'Bam' Aquino IV,
lawyer '
There are 150 aspirants
to the senate and another
185 party list groups
vying for the expected two
million overseas votes in
2019. The Comelec is
expected to trim this number
down as it eliminates
'nuisance candidates' by
December.
Imee files Senate bid; vows
to be 'voice' of provinces
MANILA – Ilocos Norte
Governor Maria Josefa
Imelda 'Imee' Marcos vowed
to represent people from the
provinces as she filed her certificate
of candidacy (COC)
for senator. “We should also
understand the locals, especially
those living in the
provinces, farmers and also
OFWs. Somebody should represent
them in the Senate. A
new voice.”
She said that she is unfazed
by the negative impression of
many Filipinos of her family.
“If I was worried, then I
wouldn't be here. But now, I
think there has been a change
in the understanding of what
happened in the past. So I
think that the new generation,
Immee Marcos with former senator Ferdinand
'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. Foto: Avito C. Dalan
particularly so called the millennial
generation, (is) ready
to hear our side of the story,”
Marcos said.
She is running under the
Nacionalista Party banner.
Marcos served as representative
of the 2nd District of
Ilocos Norte for three consecutive
terms from 1998 to
2007. She was elected Ilocos
Norte governor
thrice - in 2010, 2013
and 2016.
Meanwhile,
Taguig-Pateros Rep.
Pia Cayetano is
making a comeback
at the Senate as she
also filed her COC
for the May 2019
mid-term polls.
“When it comes to my
actions, I think that my
record speaks for itself. When
I was in the Senate I fought
for the reproductive health
bill,” she added.
“Look at my track record. I
will continue to fight for
women, for health care.”
Cayetano said.
By Ferdinand Patinio, PNA.
Duterte endorses folk singer Freddie Aguilar
MANILA - President
Rodrigo R. Duterte
expressed confidence that
folk singer Freddie
Aguilar would make a
good senatorial contender,
urging Filipinos to give
him a chance by voting
for him in next year’s
mid-term elections.
Duterte described Aguilar
as a “nationalist”,
since all his songs carry a
social message.
“Freddie is running for
senator. Wala akong
hiningi sa inyo, kung
hindi just consider. He is a
brilliant man, of course he
can talk in English. But
he’s a singer--that is a
profession. Lahat ng
kanta niya, there is a
social message,” Duterte
said.
“Kaya ako nakikiusap,
tutal dose man ‘yan, ibigay
ninyo sa isang nationalist.
Yung isang taong
nagmamahal sa bayan,”
he added.
Duterte said that
Aguilar, known for his hit
songs 'Anak', 'Magdalena'
and 'Bulag, Pipi, at
Bingi, among others, has
written lyrics which have
“several messages for
Filipinos to remember”.
“Tulungan natin si
Freddie, because he
is one exemplary,
nationalist guy. He
is my friend, he’s a
brilliant guy, he can
talk and he can help
the country,” Duterte
said.
Duterte also expressed
admiration
for Aguilar’s 'protest
songs' which he
said were meant for
“everybody to hear”, including
the government.
“It is seldom that a person
dedicate(s) his songs
in Tagalog, in our native
tongue. Listen very carefully,
they are really
protest songs for everybody
to hear, (even the
government - our shortcomings),”
Duterte said.
“I admit it, we’re doing
a lot of things, but still we
have fallen short of the
expectations of
our country, but
we will continue
what we are
doing," he added.
On Oct. 11
Aguilar came to
the Commission
on Elections
(Comelec) head
office in Intramuros,
Manila, to
file his certificate
of candidacy under administration
party Partido
Demokratiko Pilipino-
Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-
Laban).
However, Aguilar, a
known supporter of the
President, was not on the
PDP-Laban’s list of senatorial
candidates.
The six senatorial candidates
under PDP-Laban
are former Bureau of
Corrections chief Ronald
dela Rosa, former Special
Assistant to the President
Christopher 'Bong' Go,
Maguindanao 2nd District
Rep. Zajid 'Dong'
Mangudadatu, Senator
Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel
III, former Presidential
Spokesperson Harry Roque
and former Presidential
Political Adviser
Francis Tolentino. - By
Azer Parrocha, PNA

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