TUCP Rep. Mendoza and Labor Leader & TUCP Vice-President Temistocles Dejon, Jr., Call For Total End of Labor Contractualization

TUCP SPEARHEADS PROHIBITION OF CONTRACTUALIZATION AND FIXED-TERM EMPLOYMENT

By: Ver M. Garcia

 Labor leader and AWATU- All Workers Alliance Trade Union National President and TUCP Vice-Pres. Temistocles S. Dejon, Jr. stresses a point in the recently concluded labor meeting.

Rep. Raymond Mendoza and TUCP Vice Mr. L. Coral at the TUCP presscon held at the AVR-TUCP  compound. 

In the photo from Right to Left:. AWATU President and TUCP Vice-President Temistocles S. Dejon, Jr. campaigns for the total prohibition in any form of labor contracting and TUCP Vice Mr. L. Coral leads the TUCP presscon. Not in photo is  TUCP Sec. General Vince Camillon, who also bats for the total abolition of contractualization.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines,  TUCP Party List Labor Center press conference calls for the enactment of  House Bill No. 4444 on prohibiting and criminalizing labor contracting and sub-contracting and DOLE's position on contractualization. Also discussed were TUCP's stands on ERC and other energy and power-related issues. Tackled also is the position of TUCP on PEZA 'special wage package' in Ecozone. TUCP officers including Rep. Raymond Mendoza and TUCP Vice- President Temistocles Dejon, Jr. will enlighten the public on its position. It's an office located in TUCP-PGEA compound, Elliptical Road cor. Maharlika St. in Diliman, Quezon City.

According to Temistocles Dejon, Jr., the passage of Labor Code in 1974 that allows contracting and subcontracting was illegal. Its regulation has failed to protect the rights of workers from abuse and exploitation of the business owners and employers. Contractualization deprived and left a lot of workers with no Social Security and security of tenure and without the benefits of Healthcare and Pag-ibig housing privileges.

Thus, they filed a  bill seeking to criminalize labor contracting. 'It is exploitative, it dilutes the essence of labor standards and undermines the worker's right to a decent life', avers Dejon, Jr.

The Bill aims to prohibit all kinds of Labor contracting and all fixed-term employment. The bill it added intends to end abusive practices of labor contracting and all workers must be treated as regular employees doing away with other types of employment.

Live interview with Cong. Raymond Mendoza, Jr.

regarding the end of labor contracting (HB. 4444).

Rep. Raymond Mendoza added, 'that contractualization clashes with the principle of social justice enshrined in our Constitution and must be criminalized. This house bill legislative proposal provides penal provisions against violators. It is the deepest hope of Filipino workers that this bill will be immediately enacted." (VerGarciaBlogs)

BAKERS MAISON PHILIPPINES DELIGHTFUL GOODNESS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

BAKERS MAISON TO LAUNCH BLOGGERS NIGHT IN GLORIETTA 4, AYALA, MAKATI
By: Ver M. Garcia

BAKERS MAISON, Taste The World Campaign at the Glorietta 4 in Makati City. Photo by: Teddy Cho

Only a year have passed and it was Valentines Day when Bakers Maison first branch was inaugurated in SM City, North EDSA. The idea is to bring Baker Maison finger licking goodness and the world to your  impeccable tastes bud. 

A brief background of The Bakers Maison 

Baker Maison was established in 1998 at New South Wales, Australia is a manufacturer of authentic French style breads and pastries. Uses the finest ingredients and original recipes to pamper your authentic French tastes.

World Class Bread Expert at Your Fingertips

The finger licking goodness and 'healthylicious' products produced through the technology and expertise of Gardenia Bakeries, Philippines and its collaboration with various industry experts to produce and deliver delectable breads and pastries. Inspired by the traditional and authentic French recipes plus the merging of flavors from all over the world.

Marc Quiray of Bakers Maison Welcomes Food & Lifestyle Bloggers/Vloggers.

Their Commitment To Quality Creates A Brand Awareness

All breads and pastries are partially baked in a clean and controlled environment, delivered frozen to store where final oven baking is done. This process guarantees consistent quality and freshness. Every bread is skilfully crafted and baked fresh daily by Gardenia, whose trademark is equated with excellence and quality.

The Much Awaited Christmas Bloggers Event

This coming Christmas Season a Bloggers Night were conceptualized by Ms. MM F. Baybay, Retail Product Manager of Gardenia Bakeries Phils., Inc. and beauty and brains Ms. Ayie Florentino, a Marketing Specialist of Baker Maison, Makati Branch. 

In Photo from Left to Right: All smilesVer Garcia (BAP), MM Baybay and Ayie Florentino. Original Photo by : Teddy Cho

This Yuletide Season's affair is going to be a Big Night Event for bloggers and guests. Inviting those famous and popular travel and lifestyle and food bloggies an affair to remember tentatively scheduled this December 12, 2016 (Monday) at the 3rd Floor of Glorietta 4 in Ayala, Makati, Philippines.  

PHOTO GALLERIES:

(Photos credited to: Teddy Cho)

Distinguished Lifestyle and Food Bloggers were invited to grace the occasion. Go ahead and Taste the World , a delightful goodness at your fingertips. Be there and it's one of those rare happenings the BAKERS MAISON is planning to make the blogging event an exciting monthly event, so be there when it happens. From the Russian Continent to the Austrian peninsula, Bakers Maison  has the story and 'tastylicious' to tell. So therefore, spread the word of BAKERS MAISON and  Taste the World. So what are you waiting for.. Go ahead and pamper your taste to the max.. (VerGarciaBlogs)

PHILIPPINES REEFS TUBBATAHA: A NATIONAL TREASURE BY: MARISSA FLOREINDO

Philippines As A Diving Hub Featured In A Coffee Table Book

The second recipient, Mr. Graeme Gourlay (center), Managing DIrector of DIve Magazine, the largest subscribed dive publication in the UK.

DOT-Cordillera Administrative Region Director Venus Tan delivers a brief introduction to the book.

Secretary Wanda Teo (second from left) hands over a copy of the book to Theresa Bennett (center), Managing Director and Phil North, Brand Manager of Dive Worldwide, the largest dive travel operator in the UK and staunch partners in promoting the Philippines as a dive destination.

            London—Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo presented the first ever coffee table book on Tubbataha Reefs, at the sidelines of this year’s World Travel Market (WTM).  

“This book encapsulates the depth and breadth of our magnificent and rich marine heritage, and strongly amplifies our country’s proud position as the center of marine biodiversity.  More than enticing global divers to enjoy this God-given gift, this book will drive forward our advocacy on environmental conservation and protection.” Secretary Teo said  at the ExCel Convention Centre in London on 08 November 2016.

According to her, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is doubling its efforts to position the Philippines as a sports tourism hub, banking on the country’s growing niche markets such as diving and marine sports.

While latest data from DOT show that the Philippine diving industry only makes up 1.7 percent market share of the 7.3 million active divers worldwide, country draws a strong following from diving enthusiasts and environment advocates for possessing  97,030 hectares of waters and reefs comprising Southeast Asia’s only purely marine UNESCO World Heritage Site. The country is also proud for it being declared an ASEAN Heritage Site and a Flyway Network Site.

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was established in 1988 by then Philippine President Corazon Aquino. It exists as a wonderful testimony of biodiversity being home to 600 species of fish, 360 species of corals (half of all the coral species in the world), 21 species of sharks, skates and rays, 13 species of dolphins and whales, and two of seven species of marine turtles, namely the hawkbill and green.  It is also an important source of livelihood and is a revenue generator being a leading dive tourism site.

The Tubbataha:  A National Treasure coffee table book is published by  Marissa Floirendo of the Don Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Foundation (AOF) with photos  by Maria Teresa "Tet" Lara.  (VerGarciaBlogs)

OVERCOMING NERVOUSNESS WHEN SPEAKING IN PUBLIC

THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

By: Ver M. Garcia

HOW TO SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE:

Are you very shy when it comes to new surroundings, such as starting a new class or moving to a new area? Sometimes, it is necessary to overcome your shyness and speak confidently. By doing this, it can help you not only to share your ideas properly to others, but also to learn communicating with others. Here are a few steps to consider when speaking with confidence.

You are ready and capable even in an interview or media briefings.

Here are some pointers...

1.)Learn how to have conversations with people. Your ideas or opinions may not always be accepted by others, but this is nothing unusual. Open your mouth, express your beliefs! This will improve your courage.

2.)Don’t be afraid and speak loudly. If you speak in a low voice, not only will others not be able to hear what you say, but you will also portray a submissive demeanor, which suggests the opposite of a confident one.

3.) Make eye contact when you speak. For one thing, it is polite for others. Also, eye contact will help others to listen to your thinking carefully.

4.)Praise yourself everyday! This will promote your own confidence, which is important when you speak. With more confidence, people will take your thinking more seriously.

Audience listens intently to the speaker.

It makes and interest the participants to be knowledgeable about the topics.

Tips...

1.)Don’t be nervous when you make commit mistakes. Human error is far from being a new concept — nobody is perfect! It is normal for everyone to make mistakes. Just calm down and keep speaking bravely.

2.)Try and try again! This may be difficult for a shy person at first, but you need to force yourself to speak, and not seclude your thoughts. If you have some ideas, then try to speak out! Don’t just keep them in your head.

3.)If you have self confidence issues, try to think that you are the only one who has sound knowledge about the topic. Then go ahead and impart your knowledge to the audience in an effective way.

4.)Remember that there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Don’t portray an exaggerated amount of confidence, or you will come off as arrogant, believing that your ideas are better than the ideas of everyone else.

Speakers radiating with confidence.

Public speaking and blogging at DZME- Radyo Uno with Jasper John Tan-Maguigad directs.

BENEFITS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING..

The Personal and Practical benefits of using a few simple concepts to overcome your PUBLIC SPEAKING fears to easily deliver effective presentations include:

I. Personal Benefits

a. Increased Self Confidence
b. The Ability to communicate and articulate your thoughts and ideas
c. Effectively Persuade Others
d. Words can hurt, heal, create, build, transform
e. New Opportunities
f.  Ability to Lead
g. Have a Rare and Valued Skill
h. Have Fun
i. Improve Your Quality of Life

II. Practical Benefits

a. Career Advancement
b. Receive Recognition
c. Get the Credit that You Deserve
d. Entertain Your Audience
e. Captivate Your Audience
f.  Learn to speak Concisely, Clearly and Confidently
g. Speaking out in important situations, as Parent, Citizen, Customer

(VerGarciaBlogs)

THE BEAUTY OF THE NEVER ENDING LIFE STORY..

The Mirroring World
We Are Like Nature

By: Evelyn T. Du

As humans our lives are completely intertwined with the cycles and rhythms of nature.

Nature is a mirror, inspiring and teaching us, deepening our sense of belonging in the world. Wherever you look, you can see that our patterns and the patterns of the natural world are the same.

You can find this resonance in every form, from molecules to plants and animals and to planets. We live our lives according to the same principles as the trees, the mountains, the clouds, and the birds.

We begin our lives in the womb, folded in on ourselves like the bud of a flower. We can see our whole lives in the mirror of this natural form.

When we emerge from the womb, we slowly begin our unfolding, just as the flower begins to open its petals. At its prime, the flower draws many insects to it and also the eyes of appreciative humans.

When the flower’s petals begin to fade and its life cycle comes to an end, it ceases to hold itself upright and returns to the earth. Traditionally, we return to the earth, just as all plants and animals do.

Like flowers, we leave behind seeds in the forms of children and other gifts only we could have given. They continue to unfold even after we are gone. Rebirth is encoded into our lives, and death is just one part of the cycle.

Look around you, and you will find connection and insight. Notice how your moods shift from one to another like the sky shifts from bright blue to turbulent grays. Your thoughts are like clouds, appearing, changing shape, passing through, and then disappearing without a trace.

The rain cleanses the sky, just as an emotional release cleanses your mind. The sky itself is your eternal awareness, unchanging underneath all these permutations. Let it reflect back to you your own abiding perfection.

As you walk through the world, find your own metaphors for connectedness in nature. Flesh them out fully and follow them as they lead you through the mystery and intelligence of life. (VerGarciaBlogs)

 — with Everlyne Anyangoh, Ver Garcia, R.G. Antonet Go, Bonface Ndolo Wambua, Mharie M. Austria, Jaime Delos Santos Francisco, Pravin Sejpal and Johnny Du.

THE EFFECTS OF DOING GOOD TO THE WHOLE MANKIND.. DO GOOD AND YOU WILL REAP THE GOOD HARVESTS.

A Virtuous Cycle
The Ripple Effect

By: Evelyn T. Du

The impact you have on the world is greater than you could ever imagine, and the choices you make affect the whole.

In a world of six billion people, it’s easy to believe that the only way to initiate profound transformation is to take extreme action. Each of us, however, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse.

Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain.

Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward. The impact you have on the world is greater than you could ever imagine, and the choices you make can have far-reaching consequences. You can use the ripple effect to make a positive difference and spread waves of kindness that will wash over the world.

Should the opportunity arise, the recipient of a good deed will likely feel compelled to do a good deed for someone else. Someone feeling the effects of negative energy will be more likely to pass on that negative energy.

One act of charity, one thoughtful deed, or even one positive thought can pass from individual to individual, snowballing until it becomes a group movement or the ray of hope that saves someone’s life.

Every transformation, just like every ripple, has a point of origin. You must believe in your ability to be that point of origin if you want to use the ripples you create to spread goodness. Consider the effect of your thoughts and actions, and try to act graciously as much as possible.

A smile directed at a stranger, a compliment given to a friend, an attitude of laughter, or a thoughtful gesture can send ripples that spread among your loved ones and associates, out into your community, and finally throughout the world. You have the power to touch the lives of everyone you come into contact with and everyone those people come into contact with.

Instrumental Love  Songs..

The momentum of your influence will grow as your ripples moves onward and outward. One of those ripples could become a tidal wave of love and kindness.

 — with Amina Borden, Bonface Ndolo Wambua, Jaime Delos Santos Francisco, Larry Roamar, R.G. Antonet Go, Ver Garcia, Jaimee Du, Lornalaine Ramirez Gregorio, Johnny Du and Mharie M. Austria.
(VerGarciaBlogs)

PHILIPPINES CONFIRMS HOSTING OF MISS UNIVERSE 2017 IN MANILA

DOT Confirms RP TO  Host Miss Universe 2017  

By: DOT Mediacom

After all that has been said and done, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo on Thursday welcomed the latest announcement of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) confirming the 2017 Miss Universe pageant in Manila next year.

            Reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, on a taped video message from New York, broke the news that the Philippines will, indeed, play host to the much awaited international pageant on 30 January 2017.

            Secretary Teo called this as “one proud moment for all Filipinos to bear witness to our reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of Cagayan de Oro City as she takes her final walk and passes on her crown to her successor, where else, but in her home country, the Philippines.”

            “We saw her journey on the Miss Universe stage, where she showcased to the world the characteristic Filipina beauty, intelligence, and grace under pressure. We celebrated her victorious win as the third Miss Universe of the Philippines, after our more than four long decades of waiting,” the tourism chief recalled Wurtzbach’s win.

She likewise thanked Wurtzbach for being “confidently beautiful with a heart” and more importantly for “lending her voice, as Miss Universe, to influence the youth in raising HIV awareness, among other things.”

Cebu and Bohol are among the confirmed venues for the ancillary events, while the Department of Tourism (DOT) assured that all three major islands of the Philippines—Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao—will be well represented and visited by the Miss Universe candidates.

The Miss Universe 2016 in Manila is brought to us by the DOT, Miss Universe Organization, LCS Group headed by Gov. Chavit Singson & Architect Richelle Singson Michelle, in partnership with Okada Manila, SM Group of Companies, and Solar Entertainment Corporation, its broadcast partner.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF SECRETARY WANDA TEO

ON THE MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION’S LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT

         Tourism Sec. Wanda Teo
After all that’s been said and done, I happily welcome, on behalf of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the latest announcement of the Miss Universe Organization thru Ms Pia Wurtzbach—that finally, the Philippines will, indeed, play host to the much awaited 2016 Miss Universe pageant.

            The Miss Universe 2016 in Manila is brought to you by 

            The Department of Tourism

            Miss Universe Organization

            LCS Group headed by Gov. Chavit Singson & Architect Richelle Singson Michelle 

      In partnership with

Okada Manila

SM Group of Companies

Solar Entertainment Corporation, our broadcast partner

         This is one proud moment for all of us, Filipinos, to bear witness to our reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of Cagayan de Oro City as she takes her final walk and passes on her crown to her successor, where else, but in her home country, the Philippines.

          We are counting on all of you—our event partners, sponsors, media friends to join us as we welcome the Miss Universe candidates, along with their thousand followers and supporters from all over the world.

          Together, let us show them the soul of the Philippines, what Filipino warm hospitality is all about!

          Thank you, and Mabuhay! (VerGarciaBlogs)

DOT SEC. TEO LEADS CLEANING OF THE HISTORIC WALLED CITY

DOT CLEANS UP INTRAMUROS

                    By: Dee Mandigma

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo directs the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) attached agency, Intramuros Administration, to start the “general cleaning” of the historic Walled City on Friday, 4 November 2016. 

According to Secretary Teo, part of the clean-up drive in Intramuros is to relocate informal settlers to a social housing project in Cavite, while informal vendors, vagrants, and pedicabs will be regularized. 

“Manila’s historic Intramuros district, the Old Manila, is not only picturesque but also steep in rich colonial history. It is our mandate in tourism to ensure that the beauty and history of our country’s historical sites like the Walled City would remain vibrant. Our role to both sell and preserve is but crucial, as the demand is only as good as the product,” the tourism chief said in a statement.

She hopes that this redevelopment of Intramuros would “encourage the private sector and other stakeholders to work together in conserving and raising the standards of both our tangible and intangible cultural heritage for the next generation of Filipinos to see and appreciate. We should embrace change without losing our national identity.” 

DOT is all set to restore and utilize various sites inside Intramuros such as the Maestranza Park and the Clamshell Tent to become venues for events, cultural shows and concerts to attract tourists, while fostering unity and cooperation among the Intramuros stakeholders at the same time. Other DOT attached agencies are likewise pitching in their share in reviving Intramuros.

 

Participating in the clean-up are the educational institutions, business locators and barangays in Intramuros.  Giving their full support are the Naval Reserve Command, Intramuros Fire Station, Club Intramuros Golf Course, MMDA, DPWH and Manila-DPS. Also lending a hand are Intramuros security provider Lockheed Security Agency, Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos (FIRM),  Rotary Club of Fort Santiago, and other NGOs.(VerGarciaBlogs)

THE TALK IS SWEET.. BUT ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS

Actions speak louder than words

Aligning Actions and Words

By: Evelyn T. Du

Words carry a lot of weight in this world, but it is through our actions that we bring things into being.

Words carry a lot of weight in this world, from how we say them to what we say with them, but it is through our actions that we bring things into being. This is what we mean when we say to one another that actions speak louder than words. In many cases, what we say doesn’t necessarily line up with what we are doing, and it is here that it becomes clear that it’s easier to talk about doing something than it is to actually do something. At the same time, it’s easy to keep doing something that we don’t necessarily acknowledge ourselves doing verbally. It’s good for all of us to take a look every once and a while to make sure there is alignment between what we say and what we do.

For example, it’s easy to talk about our dreams, but it takes a lot more energy to take the many small steps that lead to bringing our dreams into reality. If all we ever do is talk about it, we begin to lose faith in ourselves because nothing changes on the external level. In this way, being all talk and no action is actually a form of self-sabotage. It’s also useful to examine our actions to see if, through them, we are following through on our words. For example, in expressing concern about the environment, we can look to make sure that we are taking the simple steps we can take to put that concern into action.

It’s always helpful to observe what we talk about and who we say we are, and then to observe what we actually do in the world. Sometimes we realize our actions haven’t caught up with what we are saying, and at other times we see that we might change our words in a way that it will more adequately reflect what we do in the world. Either way, the more we align our words and our deeds, the clearer we are in expressing our truth in the world, and the more powerful we are in bringing it into reality.

OPENING OF NAIA EXPRESSWAY TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE PHILIPPINES METROPOLIS

   

    NAIA EXPRESSWAY RAMP 1 OPENS NOVEMBER 4

The Ramp 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAx) that will connect NAIA Terminal 3 at Andrews Avenue to Skyway will open on Friday, November 4, 2016.

Built at the corner of Andrews Avenue and Sales Street in Parañaque City, Ramp 1 will now serve as the sole entry point of vehicles from Andrews Avenue going to Skyway.

The opening of Ramp 1 will be temporary until permanent connection to Skyway has been completed. The existing Skyway On-Ramp at Sales Street near Villamor Air Base will be demolished by the concessionaire Vertex Tollways Devt. Inc. through their EPC contractor, D.M.Consunji, Inc.

Opening of NAIAx Ramp 1 is expected to relieve traffic congestion at Andrews Avenue and the influence area of NAIA Terminal 3. (VerGarciaBlogs)