Filipinos love to travel, this one is like an undeniable fact at this point and luckily for us, more and more countries are opening up to our country allowing us to travel Visa-Free.
Jeju Island | Photo from Unsplash
One of these who have opened their gates again after the pandemic started is the beautiful South Korea which we have seen in dramas and movie a whole lot in our screens especially Jeju Island.
Both Jeju Island will welcome tourists visa-free starting June 1, 2022 as announced by South Korea’s Interior and Safety Minister Jeon Hae-cheol last May 4 and further said that South Korea will gradually open up to international tourists once COVID-19 cases in the country continue to decline.
This visa-free program wa started in 2002 to promote tourism on Jeju Island.
But wait there’s more as not only will you be able to see and experience Jeju Island but also Gangwon province. Jeju Island’s waiver for Filipinos will be through the Jeju International Airport while Gangwon province is through Yangyang Airport.
Jeju Island | Photo from Unsplash
Stay for 30 days in SK
Yes. You’ve read that right. International tourists can stay for as long as 30 days to fully enjoy the sights and sounds of South Korea and its festivities. You’d be able to adapt to the local life in the provinces in no time.
International events will be taking place in Gangwon province as well which makes it the opportune moment to visit.
Gangwon-do, South Korea | Photo from Unsplash
Jeju Island Top Attractions to visit
Mount Hallasan
Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls
Seonim Bridge
Jungmun Saekdal Beach
Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff
Gangwon Province Top Attractions to visit
Nami Island
Jumunjin Beach
Byeolmaro Observatory
Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge
Seoraksan National Park
Jeju Island | Photo from Unsplash
Before travelling though, always remember to do your research beforehand on the countries’ entry requirements.
What are you waiting for, reenact those famous scenes in all your favorite Kdramas and visit South Korea now.
It’s time to give-back to our modern-day superheroes.
Their worries will now be alleviated as the one-of-a-kind hospital built specifically for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) called the OFW Hospital in Pampanga is now operational.
Photo from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook Page
It is a special kind of hospital and a first of its kind as it mainly provides medical care and health services to both OFWs and their dependents.
OFW Hospital started its partial operations as a polyclinic last May 2 and will be fully operational by the end of June 2022 as announced by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). President Rodrigo Duterte led the inauguration and inspection of the hospital last May 1.
Photo from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook PagePhoto from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook PagePhoto from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook Page
Operating as a polyclinic, only ordinary treatment and outpatient services are provided in the hospital for now. Don’t worry if you have many questions, as a “Malasakit Center and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration desk” will also be set up to provide you with further assistance once you are within the premises of the OFW Hospital.
According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, when the hospital is fully operational by June, medical equipment will be already transferred and set up in the facility like Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized tomography (CT) scan, Dialysis equipment and others that are worth P200 million in total.
Photo from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook Page
Operation of the hospital is made possible by the following:
Provincial government of Pampanga- Donated land used for the hospital worth P400 million
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – owner and manager of the hospital
Bloomberry Cultural Foundation- cost of construction
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) – funding the procurement of medical equipment
UP-Philippine General – initial operationalization of the hospital’s polyclinic
provide assistance in training clinical and administrative personnel
planning and acquisition of hospital equipment
formulation of clinical and fiscal process flow
Photo from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook PagePhoto from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook PagePhoto from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook PagePhoto from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook Page
Some netizens took to Tiktok to document their experience in the newly built OFW hospital and to be a direct witness of its free services and the reviews are all good so no need to hesitate to avail their services.
Our K-dream to visit South Korea is now just one flight away!
Cebu Pacific will resume international service from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in July 2022, starting with flights to South Korea.
Photo from Cebu Pacific Air
Beginning July 3, the low-cost carrier plans to run twice weekly flights from Cebu to Seoul (Incheon) in response to the South Korean government’s efforts to reduce travel restrictions for foreign tourists.
“We are very happy to restart this flight as we know passengers in the Visayas and Mindanao have been looking forward to travel internationally again, without needing to pass by Manila,”
SAID XANDER LAO, CEB CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER.
“We hope to expand our international network more in the coming months as we’ve already stabilized operating over 100% of our pre-pandemic domestic capacity,” he stressed.
Photo from Cebu Pacific Air Facebook Page
Fully vaccinated tourists going to Seoul must secure the following requirements:
A negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 48 hours of departure
Everyone is talking about it and almost everyone is invested in it and in the rare case that you haven’t been aware of the ongoing defamation trial case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard then you might want to read our list for it is by far the most interesting high-profile case today.
Photo by John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images
It is like watching a movie or a tv series but happening in real life. It got drama, lies, emotions, attitudes, mistakes, shocking and eye-opening evidence and events and also a free learning on Law and trials.
1. The dog or human poo in the bed
This really is at the top of our list as it is the most unbelievably funny thing that has been brought up in court. There was poo in Johnny Depp’s side of the bed after an argument with his ex-wife and it was said to be human feces placed out of spite but Amber swears it’s of their dog. This information got so out of hand in twitter that it has its own hashtag trending #Amberturd.
2. Depp’s cut-off finger
The first to had his testimony was Johnny Depp and the world was shocked as he testified to be the Domestic Abuse/ Intimate Partner Violence victim and states that Amber is the abuser in the relationship. He then proceeded to share his experience including the time where he got his finger cut-off. He testified that Amber Heard threw a bottle that severed his finger. He also had a burn mark on his face that he also said to be his ex-wife’s doing, putting out a lit cigarette on his face.
Photo from REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool
3. Testimony being debunked by make-up company
Miss Amber Heard’s lawyer initially talked about the alleged make-up kit that her client uses to cover up the bruises that she allegedly had. She brough the kit and said that this is the what Amber always brings in her bag during the entire relationship. The company though debunked the lawyer’s statement with a Tiktok video showing that the kit was released in 2017, months after the relationship ended which was in 2016.
Photo form FOX YouTube Channel
4. Lawyer objecting to his own question
It really has everything, these live broadcasts. It even has blunders for comedic effect with Amber Heard’s lawyer objecting to his own question. Johnny Depp’s witness was being questioned in the stand by said lawyer and normally, it is the opposing lawyers who will say “objection hearsay” but he did it after asking the question himself in which the judge actually said “But you asked the question”. To be fair though, lawyers says that it is a possible mistake during trials as it tends to be very long and high tension.
5. Big Knife as a gift to Johnny from Amber to Johnny
The beautiful big knife was a gift from Amber to Johnny and it was presented to the court and jury in actuality. It was to better assess its size and the danger it can possess. The point of Johnny Depp’s lawyers is that a victim would not possibly gift their abuser a weapon that could potentially harm them further.
Jury shown knife Amber Heard gave Depp | Photo from Independent
6. Plenty of Voice recordings
As all trials go, lots and lots of evidence were presented and the most telling are the voice recordings of their arguments as they do recordings regularly. Those recording were cringy and tells everyone that the relationship was toxic. It also records Amber being angry at Johnny as he tends to leave during a fight and hides. She also admitted hitting Johnny Depp, her exact words were “I did not punch you, I was hitting you”.
7. TMZ owning the copyright of Amber’s video
As it is such a high-profile case and with it being broadcast live, everyone can see and react and make content everywhere. One of the videos presented as evidence though was of Johnny attacking the kitchen cabinets. The most interesting part is that it was copyright claimed by the tabloid, TMZ, which raised the question who gave/sold it to them.
Photo from Law&Crime Network YouTube Channel
8. Gone Girl similarity
When it was time for Amber Heard to give her testimony, she testified that she was beaten a lot by her ex-husband. She further claims that she was sexually abused with a bottle on her private part which is very similar to what happened in “Gone Girl”.
9. Donated and pledged used as synonyms
Camille Vasquez, Johnny’s lawyer did the cross-examination on Amber and when it was time for the donation topic, she insisted that she did donate the 7 Million settlement money to charity as she has “pledged” the entirety. When it was clarified that the question was donated not pledged, she said that she uses the words “donated and pledged” synonymously.
10. The start of “Men too” movement
One of the most powerful recordings and the one that Johnny Depp’s team ended with is this.
“Tell the world, Johnny Depp, tell them, I, Johnny Depp, a man, I am a victim too of domestic violence, and see how many people believe or side with you.”
We already have the “Me Too” movement for sexually abused women and now this case and this statement made a great impact to men who claims to have also been abused by their partners. It goes to say that everyone can be an abuser no matter the gender.
Photo from AP via MARCA
We feel bad for the people who are actually involved in the case but it can’t be denied that this defamation case with all its evidence and revelations is very interesting and gets you watching it for hours. We just hope that the truth will come out and justice will be served to those who deserve it.
“I am an artist. I always have been and always will be an artist in service because I am not my circumstances.”
These are the passionate words shared by the inspiring Xyza Cruz Bacani who recently graduated with Master of Arts in Arts and Politics program at the Tisch school in New York University last March 18
Photo from Xyza Cruz Bacani
She is a world-renowned photographer known for her powerful, subtle, and intimate images of our Filipino migrant workers all over the world. Her photos have even been featured in New York Times and CNN.
Bacani is surely an inspiration not only for what she put out in to the world but also for the journey of how she got there.
Photo from Xyza Cruz Bacani on NYU
She was an OFW herself, working as a domestic helper and nanny in Hong Kong along with her mother. Her moment came when a Filipino photographer Rick Rocamora “discovered” her black and white photographs online.
Then, NYU saw great potential in her and offered her a scholarship for a Master’s program even without a college degree.
“I am a graduate of Masters in Arts and Politics at New York University. Even without a college degree, NYU took a chance on me. I am a scholar and grateful to people who paved the way for me to dream, who saw my potential and extended their generosity,”
– BACANI, GRADUATION POST
As a street and documentary photographer, Bacani is a recipient of several prestigious recognitions:
One of “BBC’s 100 Women of the World 2015,”
“Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2016”
Grantee of Pulitzer Center
Photo from Xyza Cruz BacaniPhoto from Xyza Cruz Bacani
She had her work cut out for her as it was never easy especially with her skipping an academic degree but nevertheless, she described her time at NYU as a fun and humbling experience.
You or someone you know may have a name that contained clerical or typographical error. Unfortunately, most of the time, these errors are left as is, as most parents at that time had no luxury of going through the entire process just to have their child’s name corrected.
Photo from Unsplash
Luckily, that won’t be the case anymore as Republic Act No. 10172 has already existed since 2012. But you might be asking, ‘what is this law all about?’
Republic Act No. 10172 or “An Act Further Authorizing the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to Correct Clerical or Typographical Errors in the Day and Month in the Date of Birth or Sex of a Person Appearing in the Civil Register Without Need of a Judicial Order, Amending for This Purpose Republic Act Numbered Ninety Forty-Eight”, removes the need of a judicial order in case a typographical error is officially recorded in the civil registrar.
This means that parents or guardians can appeal to the city or municipal civil registrar directly to clarify the correct name of a child and have it corrected without the need of a judicial order, which is required before this act was passed. Judicial orders are one of the main reasons for Filipinos who experience this blunder don’t bother having their child’s name corrected, particularly because of the fees and the long process involved.
Photo from Unsplash
Under the Section 1 or the Authority to Correct Clerical or Typographical Error and Change of First Name or Nickname of the R.A., it states that “No entry in a civil register shall be changed or corrected without a judicial order, except for clerical or typographical errors and change of first name or nickname, the day and month in the date of birth or sex of a person where it is patently clear that there was a clerical or typographical error or mistake in the entry, which can be corrected or changed by the concerned city or municipal civil registrar or consul general in accordance with the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations.”
Section 2 describes ‘clerical or typographical error’ refers to a mistake committed in the performance of clerical work in writing, copying, transcribing or typing an entry in the civil register. This means that the law only allows the name correction for such instances. Parents or guardians who want to change their child’s name into a completely different name is not allowed.
Photo from Unsplash
Section 5 of the R.A. describes the necessary documents needed for a petition to be honored:
(1) A certified true machine copy of the certificate or of the page of the registry book containing the entry or entries sought to be corrected or changed;
(2) At least two (2) public or private documents showing the correct entry or entries upon which the correction or change shall be based; and
(3) Other documents which the petitioner or the city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general may consider relevant and necessary for the approval of the petition.
A certain fee is still needed to be paid for those who want to go through this process, where section 4 states that all fees collected by the city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general pursuant to this Act shall accrue to the funds of the Local Civil Registry Office concerned or the Office of the Consul General for modernization of the office and hiring of new personnel and procurement of supplies, subject to government accounting and auditing rules.
It seems like there is another virus that we should be looking out for as the rare and unusual monkeypox which was first discovered in 1958 had another outbreak for 2022.
Monkeypox first occurred in colonies of research monkeys hence the name and the disease is often found in Central and West Africa.
Photo from World Health Organization Official Website
According to the World Health Organization website, in May 2022, multiple cases of monkeypox were identified in several non-endemic countries which means that it is having an outbreak in countries that the disease isn’t regularly found.
Monkeypox cases are now being investigated in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia, as well as new cases in France, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Portugal.
The sudden surge of cases has prompted concern from public health professionals around the world. On Wednesday, the World said it was sending
“Monkeypox usually does not occur globally,” Dr. Anne W. Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health said and further described it as a “rare and unusual occurrence.”
Photo from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
According to WHO transmission occurs:
Animal-to-human through direct contact with blood, fluids and lesions
Human-to-human is less common through large respiratory secretions, skin lesions
The virus can also spread through contaminated materials
The main disease carrier of monkeypox is still unknown, although some experts suspect African rodents play a part in transmission, the CDC said.
Signs and symptoms of monkeypox
Invasion period (0-5 days)
You’ll experience flu-like symptoms like fever, headache and have swollen lymph nodes. Also there is back pain, aching muscles, extreme lack of energy.
Skin eruption/rash (within 1-3 days of fever)
A rash can develop mostly concentrated on the face, soles of the feet, oral mucous membrane and on genitals, and the lesions will progress from a flat base to filled with clear fluid to yellowish fluid same with regular small pox.
Painful and itchy they will eventually become scabs and fall off. Its symptoms will last for 2-4 weeks.
Photo from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vaccine for monkeypox
With it being an old virus, a vaccine developed against smallpox has already been approved for monkeypox, and several anti-virals are also effective.
Although most people recover from the virus, it can be dangerous and fatal in some cases according to experts.
Wynell Omaña Morga, 22, is set to graduate with flying colors as summa cum laude with a degree in accountancy at Kean University in New Jersey, USA. With the graduation ceremony scheduled on May 19, 2022, Morga will receive the university’s highest academic honor.
Photo from Nell Omaña Morga
“It was very unexpected, but it’s my ultimate goal. I just tried my best so that regardless of what the results were, I had no regrets,”
Aside from Morga’s stellar academic performance, she managed to do all these all while being a working student. Working an average of eight hours per day on weekdays and 12 hours per day on weekends as a food service worker at Roosevelt Care Center, Morga simultaneously burned the midnight oil as well by enrolling herself as a full-time college student at Kean University.
“I paid for my tuition fees and books so I had to ensure that I had enough work hours to afford my bills. To do so, I had to stack my classes on certain days and make sure that I had days off on the weekdays. These days off and the weekends were basically my workdays. I worked 12-hour shifts and then I would do my school work as soon as I got home,”
Photo from Kean University Official Website
All her efforts wouldn’t be put into waste as Morga will be earning a degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy minor in Finance as a Summa Cum Laude, and was even one semester ahead of her batchmates.
While still in Cebu, Morga completed 10th grade at the University of Cebu Main Campus where after graduating, her family decided to move in New Jersey. Morga then enrolled John F. Kennedy Memorial High School to complete her senior high school studies.
She also admitted that being a foreigner was difficult at first, how much more being a working student. But Morga found company in the form of new-found friends that helped her adjust to her new life in the US.
“Meeting new friends and getting to know more people was definitely the main thing that helped me adjust. They taught me how things work which is also why culture shock wasn’t really an issue for me,”
Morga also said that her graduating with flying colors is “a dedication for her family” who fully supported her while attending college.
Photo from Nell Omaña Morga
Currently, Morga plans to take up a master’s degree in Accountancy and take the Certified Public Accountant licensure exam in the US this year. Speaking of jobs, Morga has considered a full-time offer from 1-800Accountant, the accounting firm where she interned.
According to the DTI, Nidec Corporation will invest an amount of 40 Billion Pesos to expand their manufacturing operation in Subic, Philippines. Nidec Corporation has been considered the No.1 Global Company in manufacturing electric motors. Thus, this investment will surely provide a great benefit for Philippine Trading Industry.
Photo from Nidec Corporation Global
Nidec Corporation has been globally manufacturing motors found in industrial equipment, disk drives, and automobiles. These manufactured products are currently present in our surroundings which are critical to our lives and specially in our society.
The business operation of Nidec Corporation in Philippines was established in 1995 of December. Nidec Philippines Corporation was mainly producing spindle motors for hard disk drives. However, they have now expanded to developing another variation such as high-tech gears used in the robotics, aircraft, and solar tracking industries.
Photo from Nidec Corporation Global
“As robotic systems and automation-related technology are increasingly defining the configuration and operational systems of factories around the world, DTI is grateful that Nidec has poured resources to training Filipino engineers in developing skills related to the production of precision motors and reducers,”
MR. LOPEZ SAID.
These expansion project or investments are expected to:
Increase strain wave gears production with additional 50,000 units per month.
Will bring the factories’ total combined exports to the US, EU, India, Korea, China, and Brazil to 80,000 units per month; and
We might have to rethink our budget for this year as one of our adulting responsibilities is catching up to us again.
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), who implements universal health coverage in the Philippines just recently released an advisory that the premium rate of direct contributors has yet again increase to 4%.
Photo from PhilHealth Official Website
This increase to 4% was effective last January 2022 but will start to reflect on Electronic Premium Remittance System (EPRS) and the PhilHealth Member Portal starting June 2022. This means that members who have already paid their payments for the first 5 months of 2022, Jan-May, will have to settle the 1% until December 31, 2022 without interest.
Though a burden, this increase is based on the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act or also known as RA11223, that states that the premium rates “will gradually increase” by 0.5 percent every year. It started in 2019 at 2.75 percent until it reaches the five-percent limit by 2024 and 2025. It should also be noted that the increase was suspended in 2021 because of the pandemic.
The new monthly Philhealth contribution by each individual was shared by PhilHealth Senior Manager for Formal Sector-member Management Group Rex Paul Recoter in a forum on Wednesday, May 4.
This was also based on the PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0005 on the “Premium Contribution Schedule in the National Health Insurance Program (Revision 1) which states that all direct contributors are advised that the premium rate for CY 2022 is 4.0%. The income floor would be P10,000 and income ceiling is P80,000.
It is already here so we need to adjust accordingly, we will just hope that this increase will also increase the quality of our health benefits.
