US orders pullout of all Pinoy workers in Iraq

The following questions/suggestions as posed to us by Director Ellen Sana. While it maybe true that there is a real threat in Iraq, must US pull our workers out there? This is again another case of generalization - as what happened in the travel ban imposed by the then GMA led government to Nigeria.
Let us all consider and take a stand being a part of the OFWs around the globe.
____________________________________________________________________


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: ellene sana
To: pinoy-abroad forum ; cma
Sent: Mon, July 26, 2010 11:11:29 AM
Subject: US orders pullout of all Pinoy workers in Iraq

what do we suggest government should do in this case?
consider these?

i) RP government should conduct its own assessment of the situation in iraq through the dfa and other agencies...
ii) RP to hold talks with US on this ASAP! this is a must!

a) for government lift the travel ban to iraq completely, asap?
b) should it impose selective deployment on the basis of a set of criteria?
c) or, we let the US send home our workers, some 15,000 of them? pauwiin na lang, but with a package of benefits?
d) rp government to dialogue with US and ask for moratorium on the pull out order? and then what?
e) how about the contractors finding new job placements for the workers instead of repatriating them back home?
f) none of the above ????

what do you think?

US orders pullout of all Pinoy workers in Iraq
By Dindo Amparo, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau Chief
Posted at 07/26/2010 5:21 PM | Updated as of 07/26/2010 5:21 PM

Thousands of Filipino workers in Iraq are on the brink of losing their
jobs after the US government ordered all its military contractors to
send home expatriate workers whose country imposes a travel ban in
Iraq.

The deadline for expatriation is August 9.

In a memorandum issued by the United States Central Command last July
20, Colonel Richard Nolan, senior contracting officer of the Iraw
CentCom Contracting Command said: "All contractors in Iraq have 20
days from the date of this letter to ensure their employees comply
with US and international law and understood their redeployment
responsibilities under the term of their contract."

The memo added: "It is the contractor's responsibility to ensure that
it is not employing people from countries prohibited from entry to
Iraq."

The decision of the US Central Command was also triggered by reports
that some expatriate workers including Filipinos were abandoned by
their contractors in various camps throughout Iraq, raising concerns
about violations committed by various contractors including hiring
workers from countries that have imposed travel and work restrictions.

The Philippines and Nepal are among those mentioned among countries
whose nationals were able to enter and work in Iraq despite the travel
ban imposed by their host governments.

Most Filipino workers were hired directly by agency contractors
operating in neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates,
Kuwait, Jordan and others.

A Filipina in Iraq, who requested anonymity, said she and fellow
Filipino workers are deeply saddened by the US government's decision
to strictly enforce the "no entry to Iraq" policy of various
governments including the Philippines.

She said most Filipinos in Iraq are earning relatively well, with the
average minimum wage pegged at $800 per month. She added that the
peace and order situation in Iraq has greatly improved and working
inside US military camps is relatively safe.

They appealed to President Benigno Aquino to immediately send
Philippine representatives to Iraq to avert the upcoming forced
deportation of thousands of Filipino workers in that country.

The labor department said about 10,000 Filipinos are working in Iraq
as of last year despite a travel ban. Iraq's Charge D'Affaires Adel
Mawlood Hamoudi al-Hakimh said the number has already risen to 15,000.

Etta Rosales

Thanks to Director Ellene Sana for this very enlightening post (Benjamin Pimentel of Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Now, we understand Etta Rosales and her stand, and her UNIVERSALITY of human rights.
____________________________________________________________________


Kuwento Kuwento
The Sherrod Affair and Etta Rosales
By Benjamin Pimentel Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 10:07:00 07/25/2010
CALIFORNIA, United States—By now, Shirley Sherrod’s fascinating story
is well known.




CALIFORNIA, United States—By now, Shirley Sherrod’s fascinating story
is well known.

She’s the African American federal official in Georgia who was
vilified as a racist for a video clip in which she appeared to talk
about discriminating against a white farmer.

But she turned out to be the exact opposite of how she was portrayed.

For the full video of her speech showed her to be not just a
courageous and committed activist, but also someone with enough
humility to see the limitations of some of her beliefs—which helped
her become an even more compassionate advocate for those in need.

A teenager when her father was murdered by a white man, she vowed to
fight for the rights of African Americans. But as a community activist
years later, she found herself in an awkward situation: A poor white
farmer on the verge of losing his land wanted her help. At first, she
was reluctant to devote her time and energy for a white man.

But the 62-year-old veteran of the civil rights movement did. And, in
the process, that gave her a broader perspective of what her activism
should be about.

“Working with him made me see that it’s really about those who have
versus those who don’t, you know, and they could be black, they could
be white, they could be Hispanic,” Sherrod said.

“And it made me realize then that I needed to work to help poor
people, those who don’t have access the way others have.”

It was a beautiful, heart-warming story of commitment and compassion
that some tried to distort for cheap political gain.

And it quickly reminded me of the case of another woman who also has
been vilified publicly by those who sought to portray her as a person
without proper respect for human rights.

A recent political brouhaha in the Philippines involves P-Noy’s recent
appointment.

To hear some from his critics describe it, one would think Noynoy had
named Imelda Marcos to head the Commission on Human Rights.

That he had chosen to lead this important body with a crass,
insensitive, grossly unqualified, delusional, rabidly pro-military
politician, with zero sympathy for community advocates, who would
spend all her time waging a witch-hunt against social activists.

One blogger even proclaimed the appointment as P-Noy’s “single worst
act of political madness.” A columnist imagined "the torturers, hit-
teams and other human rights violators" in the military and police
being "mighty pleased to have Ms. Rosales chair the CHR."

Former Akbayan Representative Etta Rosales, who like Sherrod is a
woman who has devoted herself to a life of activism, but who also had
the courage to change her perspective when needed, would hardly
qualify as a disastrous choice.

But that didn’t stop a faction of the progressive movement from
painting a portrait of the 71-year-old veteran social activist and
respected legislator as Valentina, Darna’s evil nemesis, or the Pinoy
version of Madame Defarge.

Their opposition is based on the fact that Rosales was once aligned
with a more extreme faction of the left before embracing a more
independent path, to the point of publicly speaking out against the
bloody purges and extortion carried out by the underground movement.

Such views are not acceptable for this faction which has long espoused
one core belief: That only the military is capable of, and should be
accused of, committing human rights abuses, while the armed,
underground left cannot possibly be accused of such offenses. For when
guerrillas and cadres kill and extort, these acts must naturally be
for righteous reasons. Anyone who dares challenge that view must be in
cahoots with the worst fascists in the armed forces.

The irony in this controversy is this: Etta has spent virtually all
her life fighting for those who are weak and powerless.

And she paid a heavy price for her commitment.

After martial law was declared in 1972, Etta was arrested in the mass
sweep of activists and opponents of the regime. She was arrested again
a few years later.

The second time around she came to know first-hand the brutality of
the Marcos dictatorship.

Etta was subjected to water cure. Her torturers let electricity pass
through her nipples and toes. She was sexually assaulted.

After her release, she bravely told her family about what happened.
Her daughter Rina Rosales was around 12 years old then.

“It took me a few days to finally realize the pain she went through,”
she told me. “Mahinahon niyang kinuwento sa amin. Calmly shed told us
what happened…I remember she was not crying. She was not shouting.
Para lang siyang nagkukuwento ng ordinaryo. She was just telling us a
story.

“But what I can remember was her resolve not to be emotionally
affected too much. Para bang kahit ganun ang dinaanan niya, in spite
of what happened, she remained steadfast to the cause.”

In fact, by the mid 1980s, Etta was a major public figure in the fight
against the Marcos dictatorship. Eventually, she broke with the
national democratic left, but remained active in progressive politics.

What has astounded many is that Etta’s nomination is being opposed by
people with whom she marched in the streets in the struggle against
dictatorship—that she is being portrayed as someone who would
deliberately hunt down people who, like her, are committed to genuine
social change, while defending the likes of those who tortured and
humiliated her in prison.

If at all, it is perhaps the military that should be worried given
what some from their ranks did to her.

But Rina Rosales says her mother knows what her job would entail.

“Her attitude toward the military has always been one with optimism,”
she said.

Optimism that, while the armed forces has many problems, including the
presence of corrupt elements who may also be prone to violence and
torture, it’s possible to instill human rights within that
organization, especially among the younger officers and rank and file.

“If you’re asking me if she has become cynical, because of what she
went through, I can honestly say na hindi. She has not become
cynical.”

And she said her mother believes in a basic tenet of conflict
resolution: “To always keep an open mind, to suspend judgment, when
you’re dealing with opposing forces. But if there’s a clear violation
of human rights, e kahit sino ka pa, whoever you are, she will speak
out…Universality of human rights—that’s her motto.”

Copyright 2010 by Benjamin Pimentel

ellene a. sana
Center for Migrant Advocacy Philippines
72-C Matahimik Street, Teachers’ Village
Quezon City, Philippines
Email: cmaphils@pldtdsl.net; URL: www.pinoy-abroad.net
Telefax: +632 4330684; Telephone: +632 920 5003; Cellphone: +63 928 795 2222

Fw: Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: ellene sana <ellenesana@yahoo.com>
To: sashaninel@yahoo.com; monleg@gmail.com; privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com
Cc: rlbanez@yahoo.com; cmaphils@pldtdsl.net; vangienovio@ymail.com
Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 8:04:32 AM
Subject: Re: Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales

maraming salamat sa inyong lahat dyan sa nigeria. regards,   ellene a. sana Center for Migrant Advocacy Philippines 72-C Matahimik Street, Teachers' Village Quezon City, Philippines Email: cmaphils@pldtdsl.net; URL: www.pinoy-abroad.net Telefax: +632 4330684; Telephone: +632 920 5003; Cellphone: +63 928 795 2222 --- On Thu, 15/7/10, privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com <privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com> wrote: From: privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com <privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com> Subject: Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales To: sashaninel@yahoo.com, monleg@gmail.com Cc: rlbanez@yahoo.com, ellenesana@yahoo.com, cmaphils@pldtdsl.net, vangienovio@ymail.com Received: Thursday, 15 July, 2010, 2:43 PM Kuya Emman, Heto po ang response ng ating dating tropa sa Nigeria at nakikipag buno na sa bansa ni Barrack Obama. May kinatawan na po tayo doon sa mga OFW. Taga Bulacan po si Kuya Rolly. Pwede na po ba naman ang ganitong signature campaign, isang listahan na lang ng mag kakasamang tropang dikit sa kompanya at lugar sa isang listahan na lang at di na kailangan pang mag tigi tigisang email, pampadami pa ng basahin ika nga. Nabasa ko kagabi sa abante-tonitna,  napupusuan na naman pala si Etta Rosales ni President Aquino, ang kanyang pangalan ang matunog na lumulutang na mapalagay sa pwesto na hinahangad ng bawat isa sa atin. Saludo kami dyan. Regards, Fred Borbon ----- Forwarded by Privado Borbon/Lagos/Upstream/AOG on 15/07/2010 07:33 ----- "Rolando L. Banez" <rlbanez@yahoo.com> 14/07/2010 18:07 To privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com cc Subject Re: Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales Boss Fred,   We support Ms. Etta Rosales to be the next chair of Philippine CHR.   1. Rolly Banez - Houston, USA 2. Regina Banez - Houston, USA 3. Reginald Banez - Houston, USA 4. Ranier Banez - Houston, USA 5. Romeo Garcia - Houston, USA 6. Inocentes Sulapas - Houston, USA 7. Romeo Pena - Houston, USA 8. Manny Murillo - Houston, USA Okay na ba ito?   Thanks, RollyBanez 12751 Whittington Drive Houston, Texas, 77077 From: "privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com" <privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com> To: sashaninel@yahoo.com; monleg@gmail.com Cc: orlando.valdeavilla@aramco.com; restie_castor@yahoo.com; nestorcueto42@yahoo.com; corsino.dolor@yahoo.com; florebora@yahoo.com; florencio-caig.ebora@shell.com; restitutoatienza.castor@agipkco.com; orlando.valdeavilla@aramco.com; oscar.mendoza@simedarby.com; cclm@chevron.com; rm_romero72@yahoo.com; joselitoandrion@yahoo.ca; tolits_mclevel@yahoo.com; philip.borbon@itp.com; nolivoi@yahoo.com; larry_674@yahoo.com; boggsmfajardo@yahoo.com; randy_batangas@yahoo.com; greg_calig@yahoo.com; vidal_escalona@yahoo.com; vergelsts@yahoo.com; gilbertp2001@yahoo.com; iagena@mcdermott.com; rcdecelis@yahoo.com; lilibethaandrion@yahoo.ca; epescalona@mcdermott.com; jess_bucu@hotmail.com; rlbanez@yahoo.com; jmituda@yahoo.com; johnny-d@thainippon.co.th; jose_onia@yahoo.com; loveandkisses143@yahoo.com; eugene@pljutal.com Sent: Wed, July 14, 2010 9:37:55 AM Subject: Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales Kuya Emman, Former Akbayan Congress Representative Etta Rosales to the position of Chairperson of the CHR. -Nanawagan po ang ating samahan dito sa Nigeria c/o Pusong Pinoy Vangie Novio ng Mindoro na sanay pansinin ninyo naman at patulan ang hiling nilang eto, wala pong kabayad bayad naman ang maglagay ng pangalan sa ibaba. Sige na naman po. Para po sa kaalaman ng lahat ng atingmga dating kasangga, Si Miss Ellen Sana po ang malaki ang naitulong sa aming OFW dito sa Inay Gyera kaya naalis po ang Ban Ban De Serapin na makapag trabaho at muling makabalik. Ang ginawa po ni dating VP Nolly Boy ay pakinggan ang aming mga reklamo at hinaing, alam na....malaki din po ang pinuhunan namin sa Eh May Grasya bago kami nakalaya ika nga sa kanilang "Anything For Me" Nigerian Style. Campaign To Support As New Head of the Commission on Human Rights - Eto po ba ang gusto ninyong palabasin sa mga signatures campaign na gusto ninyong mangyari. Ilan po bang signatures ang kailangan para siya maqualify, manominate, mapansin at mapalapit sa kasalukuyang Administration. Ilan na ba sa ngayon ang inyong nakalap sa lahat ng Sector sa Pilipinas, ilang signatures na ng OFW ang interesado sa panukala ninyong eto, gives us estimated figures na malapit sa katotohanan sa mga bansang meron mga OFW sa kasalukuyan. Pwede bagang ilagay na lang ng ilagay ang ibang names dyan sa ibaba ng ibang taong meron access at nakaka alam ng balitang eto, o pre-requisite na dapat ay naka attached mismo sa kanyang ginagamit na email address ang katunayan na siya ay mismong lehitimong interesado na pumapayag mapabilang. Former Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima was officially named Justice Secretary by Aquino. - Eto bagang pwesto na ito na binakante dati ni De Lima ang pinag aagawan sa ngayon na overqualified din naman ang ating minamanok base sa kanyang mga karanasan na nabanggit. Ilan ba ang sa kasalukuyan aspirante ang may pag asang maluklok dito. Pang ilan ba naman sa ratings ang ating Etta Rosales, abay kakaunti lang po tayo ditong OFW sa Nigeria. Ipapasa ko na din po kung mamarapatin sa ating ibang tropa sa Kazakstan c/o Kuya Resty Castor at Kuya Nestor Cueto, Brunie c/o Kuya Corsing Dolor at Kuya Eboy Ebora ng Shell, Malaysia c/o Kuya Oca Mendoza ng Sime Engineering at Kuya Ver Santos, Thailand c/o Kuya Cris Lumanglas ng Chevron at Kuya Jhonny Damiles, Qatar c/o Kuya Romy Dela Rosa at Kuya Romy De Celis, Saudi Arabia c/o Kuya Orly Valdeavilla/Bobit Romero ng Aramco, Canada c/o Kuya Lito Andrion, Singapore c/o Pareng Vids Escalona,Madagascar c/o Kuya Nestor Caragay, Dubai c/o Philip Borbon ng ITP Publishing , Pareng Lito Magpantay ng Dubai Drydocks at Kuya Jess Bucu ng MIS, Ghana c/o Kua Nolly Boy at Kuya Larry Lualhati ng Chevron, Chad c/o Kuya Greg Calig ng Mobil, Oman c/o Kuya Boggs Fajardo at Kuya Randy Cueto,Indonesia c/o Kuya Gilbert Panganiban at Kua Gani Agena ng McDermott, Trinidad & Tobago c/o Kuya Joe Onia ng Worley Parsons,USA c/o Kuya Rolly Banez ng Foster Wheeler,Kuwait c/o Jomie Mituda,China c/o Kuya Jimmy Espiritu at Kuya Eugene Salita  kung siya po baga ay may pag kakalagyan. Ka anu-ano po ba naman si Etta Rosales ang ating Mahal Na Obispo na si Gaudencio Rosales at taal na taga saan din po baga ang kanyang mga lahi. Baka pwede din po kayong mag pa endorse doon sa simbahan. Regards, Fred Borbon ----- Forwarded by Privado Borbon/Lagos/Upstream/AOG on 14/07/2010 14:14 ----- Vangie Novio <vangienovio@ymail.com>14/07/2010 14:09 To L2 Nucum <plnewcom@yahoo.com>, benjie nadado <bpnadado@gmail.com>, maris <marisa.mercado@lycos.com>, otie barraquias <otiebarraquias@yahoo.com>, nonito barraquias <Nonitosb@yahoo.com>, john hernandez <john_hernandez@julius-berger.com>, jun torres <jt_contact31@yahoo.com>, mercy subibe <mercy_subibe@julius-berger.com>, sherwin cayabyab <sherwin.cayabyab@dantata-sawoe.com>, tikya azarcon <teckz2000@yahoo.com>, angie alcaria <alcaria2020@yahoo.co.uk>, remy alcazar <rem508@yahoo.com>, art fortea <art.forte@yahoo.com>, ampy ronquillo <ampy45@hotmail.com>, Larry Salunga <oiralihagnulas_071183@yahoo.com>, chona bollos <chonabollos@yahoo.com>, fred <privado.borbon@addaxpetroleum.com>, alex vega <Alex.Vega@nlng.com>, allan minoza <ajcminoza_nig@yahoo.com.ph>, noel archide <noel.archide@intelservices.com> cc Subject Fw: [akbayanforum] Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: ellene sana <ellenesana@yahoo.com> To: pinoy-abroad forum <pinoy-abroad-forum@yahoogroups.com> Cc: Emmanuel Hizon <sashaninel@yahoo.com>; perry legaspi <monleg@gmail.com> Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 7:22:09 AM Subject: Fw: [akbayanforum] Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales dear friends: this is one rare occasion when we will seek your support in an issue that may not seem directly on migrant workers. but it is actually since the mandate of the commission on human rights extends to protection of filipinos overseas. the letter below is being circulated to solicit support for the nomination of Former Akbayan Congress Representative Etta Rosales to the position of Chairperson of the CHR. as you may know, cong. etta and her other akbayan colleagues in congress  have been the most consistent of our champions and allies in congress to push for the enactment of the overseas absentee voting law sans the discriminatory provision against filipino immigrants and permanent residents so that the law will be effective and will enfranchise the most number of our filipinos overseas. we hope you can add on your name and that of your organization on the list  which will made public in two days time. thank you. sincerely, ellene ellene a. sana Center for Migrant Advocacy Philippines 72-C Matahimik Street, Teachers' Village Quezon City, Philippines Email: cmaphils@pldtdsl.net; URL: www.pinoy-abroad.net Telefax: +632 4330684; Telephone: +632 920 5003; Cellphone: +63 928 795 2222 --- On Tue, 13/7/10, Emmanuel Hizon <sashaninel@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Emmanuel Hizon <sashaninel@yahoo.com> Subject: [akbayanforum] Signature Campaign in Support of Etta Rosales Received: Tuesday, 13 July, 2010, 12:10 PM If you believe Etta Rosales deserves to be the new head of the Commission on Human Rights, please sign your organization and/or name below. We will release this to the media two days from now. So please, show your support! You can send back the name of your organizations to sashaninel@yahoo.com or monleg@gmail.com. Mga kasama, pahabain natin ito. Emman Hizon Communications Unit Akbayan _______________________________________________________________________ Etta Rosales deserves to be CHR Chair The undersigned groups express our support for the appointment of Etta Rosales as Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights. In all the years that we have worked with her as advocate and later on as a member of the House of Representatives, the last thing Etta Rosales can be accused of is bias and incompetence. We have worked with Etta Rosales in a whole range of human rights issues. With her, we successfully campaigned and won the law repealing the death penalty. With her guidance and input, we filed and lobbied for proposed laws against torture and enforced disappearances. These issues would never even have made it to the legislative radar had there been no allies like Etta Rosales who made noise in our behalf inside Congress and in the international community. Her work on human rights is not the theorized pontification of a globetrotting career executive but of a woman who has breathed and lived the reality of being a victim of gross human rights violations. As a survivor of military torture during Martial Law, Rosales has seen firsthand the excesses and impunity of fascism. She has fought the tyranny of a self-righteous dictator who thought he knew best and did not think twice about silencing critics. Sadly, to this day there are those who think it is best that Etta Rosales be silenced. Going by different names but essentially coming from one faction, they believe Rosales is undeserving of the CHR post, not by an act of omission but by the fact that Rosales dares to call a spade a spade. The spade in question, is Rosales's adherence to the universality of human rights. That all, regardless of class, age, belief, race or gender, should enjoy the full range of political, civil, economic social and cultural rights as embodied in various instruments to which the Philippines is a signatory. Or conversely, that all human rights violations are on equal footing and should be condemned, addressed and resolved with no fear nor favor of whoever was behind them, be it the state or non-state actors. There should be no distinction on who, but only an inquiry as to why, and a solid platform on how, to address these killings. Etta Rosales has proven time and again her willingness to cross the aisle to lend a helping hand. The dog that bites the outstretched hand has to learn to tone down its rabid rhetoric, take stock of its position, and seek the broadest support possible. Rare are the opportunities when reform-oriented figures gain headway in government. Rosales being in CHR is one such platform with much potential for gains not just for the human rights community but the whole progressive community. Such an opportunity should not be wasted on the unrelenting prejudice of a few when there are more who welcome it. This opening for pursuing reform under the current administration calls for unity, not ideological isolation. The last thing the broader human rights and progressive community needs is division spawned by the blind hatred of some and the thinly veiled ambition of others. The whole range of human rights violations around us demands the breadth of vision that someone like Etta Rosales has demonstrated before. The complicated task of ensuring all rights for all requires the steadfast commitment of an Etta Rosales who not only mouths, but lives the principle of what it means to truly fight for the rights of all people, even the people she does not agree with. 1. Vangie Novio - Abuja, Nigeriaal 2. Privado Borbon-Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria 3. Rolly Banez - Houston, USA 4. Regina Banez - Houston, USA 5. Reginald Banez - Houston, USA 6. Ranier Banez - Houston, USA 7. Romeo Garcia - Houston, USA 8. Inocentes Sulaps - Houston, USA 9. Romeo Pena - Houston, USA 10. Manny Murillo - Houston, USA You received this message because you are subscribed to the "akbayanforum" egroup. To post to this group, send email to akbayanforum@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send request to tarrobago@gmail.com 'PAG AKBAYAN ANG LUMABAN, PANALO ANG MAMAMAYAN!

 

FW: BASYANG TERRIBLE STORM -

 

 

From: amparo ronquillo [mailto:ampy45@hotmail.com]
Sent: 15 July 2010 09:11
To: vangee.novio@dantata-sawoe.com
Subject: FW: BASYANG TERRIBLE STORM -

 

 

---

From: tedibee@msn.com
Subject: BASYANG TERRIBLE STORM -
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:42:48 -0400

 

9 killed, 10 missing as typhoon lashes Philippines ASSOCIATED PRESS Last Updated: 9:29 AM, July 14, 2010 Posted: 8:07 AM, July 14, 2010 Comments: 1 MANILA, Philippines — The first typhoon to lash the Philippines this year flooded streets in the capital, toppled power lines and killed at least nine people Wednesday. Ten fishermen were missing after waves overturned their boats.   More than half of the main northern island of Luzon, which includes Manila, was without electricity, and authorities said it would take two to three days to restore power. Several dozen flights were canceled, and schools and many government offices closed.   In the Philippines, Typhoon Conson came ashore on the east coast of Luzon on Tuesday night with winds of 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour), said weather forecaster Bernie de Leon. It weakened to a tropical storm as it crossed the rice-growing island and then buffeted Manila on Luzon's west coast for two hours.   The storm headed out to the South China Sea before dawn and is next expected to make landfall later this week in China, west of Macau.   The nine deaths were spread over three provinces south of Manila.   In Batangas province, a 47-year-old woman was electrocuted by a power line that snapped, and a 12-year-old girl and her 4-year-old brother died after a large mango tree crashed into their home as they slept, said regional disaster operations officer Fred Bragas.   In nearby Cavite province, a woman and her daughter were killed by a falling tree, Bragas said. Another child drowned after falling into a raging river, provincial spokesman Filomeno Maligaya told DZBB radio.   At least three people were killed in Camarines Norte province, southeast of Manila, said military spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc. He gave no details.   He added that authorities and civilian volunteers on Wednesday rescued nine of 19 fishermen who had disappeared when big waves overturned their boats off the island province of Catanduanes.   Up to 3,100 people were stranded in ports waiting for the weather to clear.   In Manila, the storm brought down branches and trees and scattered trash. Winds ripped tarpaulin billboards along main roads and blew off the roofs of coastal shanties. The national disaster council reported knee-deep floods in some communities in the capital.   The Manila International Airport Authority said 63 flights, including four international ones, had been canceled and nine had been diverted to the central Philippine international airport since late Tuesday.   Classes were suspended in schools and most universities in Manila. Several government offices, including the Senate, closed because of the power outage. Thousands of commuters were stranded when the blackouts disrupted train services. Many hotels and shopping malls were relying on their own generators.   Newly elected President Benigno Aquino III scolded the weather bureau for failing to predict that the storm would hit Manila. "I hope this is the last time we are all brought to areas different from where we should be," Aquino told officials during a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, noting that government agencies were relying on the weather bureau for their preparations.   Weather bureau chief Prisco Nilo explained that it takes forecasters six hours to update weather bulletins.

 

 

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Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING

The Pusong Pinoy Association in Nigeria (set of officers 2009 – 2010) outgoing President Benjamin P. Nadado recently tendered a thanksgiving dinner for friends. (Some were on leave).

He expressed his gratitude and happiness for the support and full cooperation accorded to him not only as president of the association - but most of all in his re-discovery of FRIENDSHIP - FRIENDS IN ITS TRUEST SENSE!

MABUHAY!

In pictures: Benjie, Lito, Nonits, Bernie, John, Sherwin, Nino, Rami, Otie, Ampy, Maris, Annie, Mercy, Tess, Maebs & Vangie and MSCT Sisters Marylu, Aurea, Mary-Grace