Filipino Cultural Club organizes zumba, aerobics

Transcription

1 03 04 Rains lash disasterweary Philippines as typhoon nears PSME celebrate 3rd year end general membership meeting SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014 Filipino Cultural Club organizes zumba, aerobics Page 02 Red carpet lanes sa OFWs ngayong holiday season MANILA: Kung dati-rati ay pahirapan sa pagpila sa airport ang inaabot ng mga umuuwing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) na nagpa-pasko sa bansa ay gusto itong maiba ng isang mambabatas bilang pagtanaw ng utang na loob sa mga kababayang nagiging kaagapay ng gobyerno para tumatag ang ekonomiya dahil sa bilyong remittances na ipinapadala ng mga ito sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Ang espesyal na pagtrato sa mga uuwing OFWs ay hinirit ni Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza sa pamamagitan ng inihain nitong House Resolution No Kailangan mabigyan ng wastong pagpapahalaga at pagpapasalamat ang mga kababayan nating patuloy na nagsasakripisyo sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa upang mabigyan ng maayos na buhay ang kanilang pamilya. Ang $30 bilyon na pinapadala nila taun-taon ay siyang isa sa pinakamalaking ambag na patuloy na bumubuhay sa ating ekonomiya, pahayag ni Rep. Atienza. Abante Swiss man kidnapped in 2012 rescued in Philippines: military MANILA: A Swiss man kidnapped by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines nearly three years ago was rescued yesterday as soldiers attacked his abductors in a remote jungle, the military said. Lorenzo Vinciguerra ran away from the Abu Sayyaf gunmen during the clash on the southern island of Jolo, and was picked up by the troops, national military spokesman Colonel Restituto Padilla told AFP. He found an opportunity to escape because of the running gunbattle with our troops, Padilla said. However a Dutch man who was abducted with Vinciguerra, Ewold Horn, had been unable to run away and was believed to still be held captive, according to local military commander Colonel Alan Arrojado. Arrojado said his troops, acting on a tip, had tracked the Abu Sayyaf gunmen in thick jungle near Patikul, a town on Jolo that is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. It was in the jungle, in the darkness. I sent a message to the Scout Rangers that they should not shoot randomly. Sure enough, we encountered them, Arrojado told AFP. Arrojado said Vinciguerra told the military later that Horn had been unable to run due to a back injury. He said his troops were still combing the area, a lawless region nearly 1,000 kilometres south of the capital of Manila, in hopes of finding the group holding Horn. AFP MANILA: Haunted by Typhoon Haiyan s massive devastation last year, more than 600,000 people fled Philippine villages and the military went on full alert yesterday to brace for a powerful storm only hours away from the country s eastern coast. Typhoon Hagupit - Filipino for smash or lash - was expected to slam into the central Philippines Sunday morning and hammer parts of a region where Haiyan s tsunami-like storm surges and ferocious winds left more than 7,300 people dead and missing in November last year. The typhoon slightly weakened Saturday but remained dangerously powerful and erratic. We re on red alert so the entire Armed Forces is being mobilized for this typhoon, Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, head of the 120,000-strong military, told a news conference after discussing last-minute preparations. Army troops deployed to supermarkets and major roads in provinces in the typhoon s path to prevent looting and chaos and clear debris, all of which slowed the government s response last MANILA: Hundreds of residents take shelter inside the provincial capitol of Surigao city close to central Philippines on Friday, in anticipation of typhoon Hagupit which is expected to hit land yesterday afternoon. A wide swath of the Philippines, including the capital Manila, braced Friday for a dangerously erratic and powerful typhoon approaching from the Pacific, about a year after the country was lashed by Typhoon Haiyan that left more than 7,300 people dead. (Inset) A satellite image of Typhoon Hagupit in the Western Pacific Ocean. AP.6mln Filipinos flee as typhoon blows near year, Catapang said. Although it s unlikely to reach Haiyan s unprecedented strength, forecasters said Hagupit s maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometer (115 miles) per hour and gusts of 220 kph (137 mph) were strong enough to set off deadly storm surges and landslides and cause heavy damage to communities and agriculture. In central Tacloban city, where Haiyan s storm surges killed thousands and leveled villages, news of the approaching typhoon rekindled painful memories among survivors. Many readily fled to storm shelters, a sports stadium and churches even before authorities urged them to evacuate. I m scared, said Haiyan survivor Jojo Moro. I m praying to God not to let another disaster strike us again. We haven t recovered from the first. The 42-year-old businessman, who lost his wife, daughter and mother last year in Tacloban, said he stocked up on sardines, instant noodles, eggs and water. AP

2 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, Filipino Cultural Club organizes zumba, aerobics KUWAIT: Filipino aerobics instructors from different fitness gyms in Kuwait organized an event under the Filipino Cultural Club (FCC) recently to challenge everyone to work out and make real exercise a lifestyle. All nationalities are welcome by the group headed by Marlyn, Eric and Bong Pagutayao. Activities include zumba-dance, aerobics, martial arts and many more. Western Union sponsors Qadsiya Gym event KUWAIT: Western Union sponsored a welcoming ceremony for the recent visit of Her Excellency Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to Kuwait, tossed by the Leaders and Members of Filipino Community Organizations in Kuwait at Qadsiya Gym. Thank you Western Union from the Filipinos in Kuwait! LBC, also sponsored the Filipino Grand Fiesta last Friday, organized by the Alliance of Filipino Organizations in Kuwait. Thank you LBC!

3 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, right, and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa watch the presentation of officials of the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council as they prepare for Typhoon Hagupit in suburban Quezon city. LEGAZPI: Residents are evacuated to a safer place in Legazpi City, Albay province, southeast of Manila yesterday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Hagupit. Heavy rain and strong winds began to hit the eastern Philippines on December 6 ahead of a giant storm threatening more devastation to areas yet to recover from a super typhoon that killed thousands. AFP Rains lash disaster-weary Philippines as typhoon nears TACLOBAN: Heavy rain and strong winds began to hit the eastern Philippines yesterday ahead of a giant storm threatening more devastation to areas yet to recover from a super typhoon that killed thousands. Typhoon Hagupit was moving slowly in the Pacific Ocean towards the disaster-plagued Southeast Asian nation and is expected to make landfall before dawn on Sunday, forecasters said. More than 600,000 people in coastal areas were in evacuation centres according to the government, and many others were expected to pour in throughout Saturday amid warnings of housedestroying winds, giant storm surges and landslides. Hagupit was forecast to hit remote fishing communities on the far eastern island of Samar first, then cut across mostly poor farming central regions, and possibly the densely populated capital of Manila. Many communities in the central Philippines are still battling to recover from Super Typhoon Haiyan, the most powerful storm ever recorded on land, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing in November last year. In Tacloban, one of the cities worst-hit by Haiyan s monster winds and tsunami-like storm surges, thousands of people on Saturday crammed into schools, churches and other evacuation centres. Fear We are afraid. People are panicking, Alma Gaut, 36, whose house was destroyed and mother died during Haiyan, told AFP as she huddled in the second floor of a university with more than 1,000 other people. All we have is a tattered, plastic sheet to sleep on. My grandmother is already feeling the cold. Outside, the town appeared almost deserted as rain began to fall and trees bent with the wind in what residents feared was an ominous prelude to another bout of ferocious weather. In Catbalogan, the capital of neighbouring Samar island forecast to be the first place hit by the storm, authorities were preparing for water surges more than one storey high. More than 10,000 people had been ordered into safe buildings, according to mayor Stephany Uy-Tan. We don t want people to panic but I ordered forced evacuations so they would be safe, the mayor told AFP by phone. There are always some people who say the wind is not yet that strong, that there is still no rain... we just have to explain that there is a huge possibility of a storm surge. In the eastern region of Bicol alone, authorities said they were aiming for 2.5 million people half the local population to be in evacuation centres by Saturday night. Hagupit was on Saturday morning about 180 kilometres (110 miles) east of Samar island, according to local weather agency Pagasa. Its rains and winds could impact 50 million people, or half the nation s population, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman told AFP. The typhoon was generating sustained winds of 185 kilometres an hour and gusts of 220 kilometres an hour which, if maintained at landfall, would make it the strongest to hit the Philippines this year. The previous strongest storm this year was Rammasun, which killed more than 100 people when it cut across Manila and other parts of the main island of Luzon in July. The Philippines endures about 20 major storms a year which, along with regular earthquakes and volcano eruptions, make it one of the world s most disaster-plagued countries. The storms regularly claim many lives but they are becoming more violent and unpredictable because of climate change, according to the United Nations and many scientists. And in the previous two years, there were consecutive December storms that together claimed more than 3,000 lives. AFP MANILA: Workers remove the tarpaulin posters on the forthcoming visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines yesterday at suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines in anticipation of Typhoon Hagupit which is expected to hit land early morning today. MANILA: A coastal village of Tanauan township, Leyte province in central Philippines, shows abandoned houses as residents take shelter at evacuation centers on Friday in anticipation of typhoon Hagupit.

4 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, PSME celebrate 3rd year end general membership meeting KUWAIT: The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers celebrate its 3rd Year End General Membership Meeting last December 5, 2014 at Holiday Inn, Kuwait City. It was a well attended affair with about 50 Filipino mechanical Engineers, family and friends, IIEE-Kuwait, Sponsors, and the embassy officials. The event started by the cutting of Ribbon by Charge d affaires Atty. Raul H. Dado, LaborAttache Atty. Cesar L. Chavez Jr. and PSME VP for International Operation Engr, Carlito L. Alpay. The event programs included with Sponsors product presentations, Technical Seminars and the oath taking of New members and the 2015 Board of directors and executive officers. The highlight of the event was the turn-over ceremony from the incumbent Chapter President Engr. Francisco L. Olpindo III to President Elect Engr. Abdullah S. Guinda and the awarding ceremony of whom Engr. Marvin C. Ermac and Engr. Jose Alan P. Maynes received the most outstanding chapter members while Engr. Alfred Abram Bayona and Engr. Ryan Alaba receive the most outstanding officers for The event major sponsors are; MohamadAbulrahman al bahar (Caterpillar), Salwo Trading Ltd. (Dubai) and Kuwait Steel Company as Gold Sponsors, while Gulf Energy Company, Gulf Hydraulics and Kuwait Engineering as Bronze Sponsors of which they conduct a product presentations.

5 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, Dado inducts new OFW Movement officers, Handog Pamasko! KUWAIT: OFW Movement (FPJPI ) Kuwait Chapter headed by founder Eng Al Dee and Pres. Vanessa Galila, recently organized an induction ceremony for the new set of officers at the Philippine Embassy. Atty. Raul Dado, Philippine Charge d Affairs inducted new officers. Right after the induction ceremony, OFW Movement delivered their promised Handog Pamasko program, a feeding program for fellow kababayans at the shelter. Greetings Happy Birthday Dianne Jones Villar! Greetings from Mommy and Daddy, friend! Wonderful people are always blessed even if we are not wishing them to be blessed! You are wonderful Dianne!

6 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, BengarciaFILES Balitang Showbiz Plus Ni Ben Garcia bengarcia@kuwaittimes.net Tsismis man o totoo, phone call away lang ako Noong nakaraang linggo binisita tayo ng Secretary of Labor ng Pilipinas. Masaya ang naging pag-tanggap sa kanya ng mga Pinoy sa Kuwait. Kahit sabihing muli na namang nahati ang community. Mayroong welcome event sa Dawliah Complex, habang ang isang grupo ay nasa Qadsiya Gym. Hindi naman masama na mayroong ganitong klase o uri ng community tayo sa Kuwait very dynamic at puno ng makukulay na tagpo. Mag-usap lang ng maayos at respeto sa kapwa. Pare-pareho naman tayong gustong mabuhay at pare-pareho tayong dayuhan sa bansang ito. Hindi ko lang gusto ang kasabay na tsismis na narining ko right after and during the event. Hindi ko lang alam kung nananadya o gusto lang talagang bumida ng ilang kabayan natin. Ako po ay phone call away lamang alam naman nila yung number ko, bakit makikipag-tsismisan pa at sasabihing nakulong ako dahil wala raw akong visa. Maano ba namang tawagan ako ng maayos at maitanong sa akin ang katotohanan. Pati pangalan ko, karay-karay at gusto pang pag-piyestahan. Hindi po iyon tsismis yung naibalita ko sa inyo kamakailan ukol sa akin. Inilabas ko ang nangyari sa akin sa dyaryo pa at hindi lang Facebook, ilang araw pa bago ang event kay Baldoz. Huwag naman sanang magpalabas pa ng maling version ang ilan ukol doon. Mabait ang Kuwait Times at hindi kami pinababayaan ukol sa visa! Muli kong ilalabas ang aking kuwento sa kapakanan ng mga hindi nakabasa. Naisulat ko po ang aking kuwento noong Nov 21 sa Friday Times (Kuwait Times) at sa Filipino Panorama noong Nov 23. Dalawang beses lumabas...at heto pangatlo na: Buhay mamamahayag sa Kuwait: Isang oras sa loob ng presinto Noong isang linggo, binitbit ako ng mga pulis habang nagiimbestiga ng istorya para sa Kuwait Times. Hayaan nyong simulan ko ang paglalahad ng aking kuwento at sabihin sa inyo na hindi madaling maging reporter sa Kuwait maihatid lamang ang mga balitang dapat ninyong malaman at mabasa. Ang daming mga challenges mula sa paglabas ng bahay hanggang makuha namin ang istoryang aming ibabahagi sa inyo. Mahirap kumuha ng impormasyon sa Kuwait lalo na sa kanilang mga kawanihan na minsan lamang mag-entertain ng mga non-arabic speakers. Tulad din sa atin kulang at hindi sapat ang mga records/statistics nila. Kakambal ng iyong kagustuhang makakuha ng buong istorya ay ang nakaambang panganib (risk) na puede kang mahuli at makalaboso at anytime. One of my worst fears ay naganap nitong nakaraang linggo lamang. Nahuli ako habang palihim na kumukuha ng larawan sa mga uma-arestong pulis sa umano y kawatan sa may bahagi ng Farwaniya. I was at the right place and time pero minalas na maangguluhan ng mga pulis habang hinuhuli nila ang umano y salarin. Ito ang istorya: Nasa labas ako ng isang maliit na shopping mall habang nag-iimbestiga ng isang balita. Nakita ko ang kumpol ng mga tao na nakapalibot sa isang white sedan. Wari ko ay mayroong nagaganap na newsworthy episode kaya agad akong lumapit. Nagtanong ako sa mga bystanders doon kung anu ang nagaganap. Sabi ng mga napagtanungan ko, nahuli daw ng taumbayan ang isang kawatan ng cellphones na ginagamit ang mga ninakaw na civil IDs. Dito sa Kuwait, puwede kang kumuha ng hulugan at mamahaling cellphones ipi-presenta mo lang ang iyong civil ID. Nasa loob ng sasakyan ang umano y magnanakaw. Dahil wala naman akong professional camera, I took a few photos with my mobile kung saan naroroon ang suspect. Nakita ko naman na kumukuha ng pictures ang ilang mga bystanders, isa pa tawag iyon ng aking propisyon na maihatid ang tunay na larawan at kaganapan, kung ako ay nasa scene of the crime lang naman. Isa pa, hindi na tayo nabubuhay sa makalumang panahon, usong-uso na ngayon ang social media kung kaya, hindi man ako, maaaring ibang tao ang mag-post ng larawang nakuha nila sa scene of the crime. Pero sa Kuwait, kamakailan lamang lumutang ang isang video ng isang pulis na nakunan at naipost sa social media. Pilit niyang pinapag-push up ang isang nahuling expat sa loob pa din naman ng presinto at naging malaking usapin ito sa Kuwait. Nakukunan na rin ngayon ang mga aksidenteng nadadaanan sa kalsada at ang madalas na mga away sa Avenues Mall sa Kuwait. Ilang sandali lang nasa social media na rin. Dumating ang mga pulis para dalhin sa presinto ang alleged suspect makaraan lamang ang ilang minuto. Naisip ko lang noon na mas-magiging maganda at marahil pang-front page ang mga kuha kong larawan kung makukuha ko ang anggulong dadalhin na sa police car ang suspect. Kaya dali-dali akong kumuha. Pero nakita ako ng isang police officer. Tinanong ako kung bakit ko sila kinukuhanan ng litrato. Sabi ko y ipagpaumanhin po ninyo subalit ako po ay nagta-trabaho sa isang lokal na pahayagan. Pilit ko mang ipaliwanag ang sarili, pero hindi nila ako pinakinggan kinuha ang aking cellphone at civil ID. Ang buong akala ko nga, titingnan lang nila iyon, pero ni hindi nga tiningnan ang civil ID ko basta sinabi ng pulis na sumama ako sa presinto at ikukulong daw ako. Sabi ko, officer hindi po ako suspect; ako ay kumukuha lamang ng larawan. Ipaliwanag ko na lang daw sa presinto dahil ikukulong ako sa pagkuha ng mga larawan na walang pahintulot. Noong naglalakad ako patungo sa police car, nakaramdam ako ng awa sa sarili. Lalo na t naglalakad ako na may-escort na pulis patungo sa mobile car nila kasama ang alleged suspect. Nakikita ko ang mga reaksyon sa mukha at mga mata ng mga taong nakakasalubong naming; ang iba Pinoy na tila naaawa sa kinasapitan ko. Deep within me, hindi ako nag-aalala pero yung iskortan ka ng police, iyon ang medyo nakakakaba at hindi magandang experience. Isinakay ako sa likod ng police car kasama ng alleged kawatan. Noong nasa sasakyan na nila ako para akong nasa state of shock pero kalmado pa rin naman; ni hindi rin ako nagsalita hanggang sa makarating sa presinto. Tiningnan ko pa ang orasan, it was noon time. Pagdating sa presinto, yung alleged suspect ay agad na ipinasok sa kulungan habang ako ay inilagay nila sa kanilang holding area. Narinig ko pa ang isang police na nagsabing; ilalagay din daw ako sa kulungan eventually dahil sasampahan nila ako ng kaso sa illegal na paggamit ng personal mobile. Wala pa namang malinaw na batas ukol sa paggamit ng personal mobile at pagkuha ng mga larawan sa Kuwait gamit iyon kaya hindi ko alam honestly kung saan ako nakatayo legally. Kaya pagdating habang sa presnito na ako, nakiusap ako sa pulis officer kung pupuwedeng matawagan ang mga boss ko sa Kuwait Times. Agad naman nilang ibinalik ang aking cellphone. Pero kinuha nila ulit matapos akong tumawag. Ang Kuwait Times na ang naging abala sa lahat ng legal remedies upang makalaya ako. Bawal daw kuhanan ang mga police officers sa Kuwait habang naka-duty at walang pahintulot ng Ministry of Interior. Salamat at makalipas ang ilang minuto, muli akong ipinatawag ng police officer na humili sa akin at inutusan akong burahin ang lahat ng mga larawang nakuha ko sa scene of the crime. Matapos iyon, ibinalik na sa akin ang civil ID ko kasama ng cellpone ko. Puede na raw akong umalis! Check ko ulit ang aking orasan, mula noong hulihin ako at hanggang makalaya ako halos isang oras din pala ang lumipas. Maraming negative impression ang mga tao ukol sa mga police officers sa Kuwait, lalo na among us expats yes, ako man iyon din ang ikinabahala ko. Pero nais kong iparating sa inyo na hindi naman ako nakaranas ng maltreatment mula sa mga humuling awtoridad sa akin, trinato nila ako with professionalism and courtesy sa loob ng isang oras na iyon. At the end of the day, sabi ko nga sa sarili, ginagawa ko lang naman ang aking tungkulin na maiparating sa publiko ang dapat nilang malamang kuwento. Itinuturing ko na naman itong isa sa mga bahagi na ng aking buhay/karanasan bilang isang reporter/mamamahayag sa Kuwait. Ni Bong Pagutayao panorama@kuwaittimes.net Pinoy Arabia, isang linggo na! High-tech na high-tech pa! Hello mga kababayan...aba, natuwa naman ako kahapon, for the first time, naka-greet din ako at narinig ko ulet ang boses ni Inday Garu...ehehe...garutay...magagalit si Inday neto sa akin... Una kong nakasama si Inday noong year 2000 pa sa Radyo Pinoy, akalain mong after 14 years, nabuhay? Kasama niya ulet ang kanyang mga barkada noon pa... aba...aba...ganun pa rin ang tawa niya...nakakatuwa... Huwag kayong makakalimot, tune na agad sa pinakabagong radyo ng bayan...ang Pinoy Arabia...in fairness, very energetic ang apat sa radyo huh... And take note mga kababayan...nasa Marina FM sila! Wow...dinamareach sila! Kasama nga pala ni Inday sina Maxxy Santiago, Ben Garcia at Randy Mendoza...Aliw na aliw ako sa pakikinig sa kanila! Akalain mong araw araw pala silang mapapakinggan sa radyo via mobile apps, mula Linggo hangang Sabado...kaya sa mga hindi pa nakaka-download ng apps nila heto, magiging very generous ako sa space para sa mga local celerity natin...hehehe... Eto po ang dapat niyong idownload kung gusto niyo silang mapakinggan araw-araw, as in-everyday from 7am-9am... (sa Kuwait Time yan) For iphone user: PH-PinoyArabiaFM ( kw/8wrb4.i) For other smartphones/android users: PH-ArabiaFM on Google-Play Store ( google.com/store/apps/details). Syempre kung nandyan kayo sa ibang bansa, puede rin kayong makinig pero iba timing nyo dyan so, kayo na ang mag-time check hehe...take note...hi-tech na sila ahh...nasa mobile apps na sila...very clear ang signal at masaya ang tatlo sa ere...nakakataba ng puso na marinig mo sa radyo ang musika at mga balitang inaabangan ng marami. Mayron ding trivia at maraming greetings sila! Wow...congratulations sa inyong apat!

7 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, CIK organizes cultural fiesta; Queen, princesses announced KUWAIT: A cultural fiesta program organized by the Club Ilonggo in Kuwait (CIK) was held recently at the Swiss Bell Hotel in Kuwait City. The event coincided with their fifth anniversary highlights the coronation of CIK Fiesta Queen 2014 which was bagged by Juliet Mendoza and escorted by Eugene Guerra. The Fiesta Queen 2014 was crowned by Philippine Consul General to Kuwait and Charge d Affairs Raul H. Dado with Labor Attache to Kuwait Cesar Chavez Jr. First Princess was bagged by Eleonor Ebao and Remus Pasamante, (second princess) Nieva Era Duya and Roberto Flaviano, (third princess) Jesusa Bonna Canani and Gonzalo Lingo Jr. and (fourth princess) Gloria Ollosa and Ronelo Ferrer. CIK program was hosted by Gerzon de Guzman with their very own president Olive Diong.

8 CIK organizes cultural fiesta; Queen, princesses announced SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014 Page 7 FBC opens 53rd badminton tourney KUWAIT: After one week of hiatus in support of the 1st Grand Fiesta organized by the Alliance of Filipino Organizations in Kuwait (ALLFIL-OK), the Filipino Badminton Committee formally opens its 53rd Badminton Tournament at Kuwait Disabled Sports Club Hawally last Friday. Over 100 badminton enthusiasts registered in this tournament. FBC, the 1st Filipino sports organization originated in Kuwait and now have chapters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Erbil-Iraq, South Cotabato Philippines is inviting all sports enthusiasts to join their regular tournament every Friday from 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon. FBC President Regine Panesal invites everyone to register online by visiting their website