Fw: [pinoy-abroad-forum] Future Fil-Am chief justice of California used to be a blackjack dealer

After the infamous free-the-hostage-turned-lethal-comedy-of-errors-operation, good news comes in the person of a Fil-Am - as the next chief justice of the California Supreme Court.

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----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "Dcgrava@aol.com" <Dcgrava@aol.com>
To: OFW-Texas@yahoogroups.com; pinoy-abroad-forum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, August 26, 2010 11:34:06 PM
Subject: [pinoy-abroad-forum] Future Fil-Am chief justice of California used to be a blackjack dealer

 

The first Filipino-American nominated as the next chief justice of the California Supreme Court is well on the way towards assuming the office.
 
Justice Tani Cantil Sakaueye's name will now be placed on the ballot where she will stand for election on
Nov. 2, 2010. In a press release the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that if the majority of

voters will approve, then she will begin serving as the 28th Chief  Justice of California on January 3, next year.
 
The California court website states that Associate Justice Tani Cantil Sakauye served 14 years as a judge on the Sacramento court. In 1990, Governor George Deukmejian appointed her to the Municipal Court, in 1997 Governor Pete Wilson elevated her to the Superior Court, and in 2005 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

nominated her to the Court of Appeals Third Appellate District where she was unanimously confirmed by the

Commission on Judicial Appointments. 

 

Meanwhile, Wikipedia has an interesting entry about the future chief justice. It says that the former Tani Gorre Cantil, who earned her J.D. from UC Davis School of Law in 1984, was unable to find a job in law upon

graduation so she became a blackjack dealer in Reno, Nevada. The Sacramento County Public Defender's

Office had refused to hire her because she was too young. Later that same year, future Sacramento County

Superior Court Judge Russell Hom recruited Cantil to come to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office as a deputy district attorney. In 1988, Cantil left that office to become a deputy legal affairs secretary to Governor  Deukmejian. Deukmejian appointed her as a deputy legislative secretary the following year and in 1990, as a Municipal Court judge.

 

In July this year Justice Cantil-Sakauye was nominated by Governor  Schwarzenegger to be the next chief

justice. She was rated as "exceptionally well qualified" by the State Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominees

Evaluation last August 23 and soon after was unanimously confirmed to be the next chief justice by the state

Commission on Judicial Appointments.

 

Governor Schwarzenegger issued the following statement:
 
"Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is immensely qualified to be the next Chief Justice of California and I applaud the Commission on Judicial Appointments for its unanimous confirmation vote. She is an experienced jurist, who has the respect of her peers in the court, and she possesses administrative and legal skills that make her uniquely qualified to lead California's judicial branch. Justice Cantil-Sakauye understands that the role of a Justice is to administer the law, not to create law, and for that reason I am absolutely convinced she will be a fair and prudent Chief Justice of California."

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Fw: [pinoy-abroad-forum] the migrant condition by akbayan rep. walden bello

To OFWs: The neglect of the previous government regarding the rights of the OFWs will now be addressed.  With the committed individuals at the helm, we firmly believe, we will not be disappointed. ____________________________________________________ The thrust of the speech was that migrants' rights have to be addressed on two fronts: ending the neoliberal policies that are responsible for creating poverty in their home countries, thus forcing them to emigrate, and demanding that they are given full rights in their host countries.  (chairman of the Committee on Overseas Workers' Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Philippines - Rep. Walden Bello) --- On Sun, 8/22/10, ellene sana <ellenesana@yahoo.com> wrote: From: ellene sana <ellenesana@yahoo.com> Subject: [pinoy-abroad-forum] the migrant condition by akbayan rep. walden bello To: "pinoy-abroad forum" <pinoy-abroad-forum@yahoogroups.com>, "cma" <cmaphils@pldtdsl.net> Date: Sunday, August 22, 2010, 7:29 AM   The Migrant Condition by Walden Bello (When I was recently named chairman of the Committee on Overseas Workers' Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, I was approached by members of the press for my views on migrant labor.  I remembered a speech I delivered last year at the Global Forum for Migration and Development [ellene's note: it was at the peoples forum on migration, development and human rights (pga), parallel event to the gfmd]  in Athens, Greece.  The thrust of the speech was that migrants' rights have to be addressed on two fronts: ending the neoliberal policies that are responsible for creating poverty in their home countries, thus forcing them to emigrate, and demanding that they are given full rights in their host countries.) The migrant worker experience is one that is increasingly typical. Let's start with myself. I am now back in the Philippines, but I spent nearly 20 years as a political exile in the United States during the Marcos dictatorship. During that time I survived by working as a journalist, teaching, doing research, and taking on odd jobs in different American cities.   Multiple Sites, Multiple Identities   This experience of multiple sites of work during one's active years is not too different from that of the Palestinian engineer who returns to the West Bank or Gaza after working in Kuwait, Egypt, and the United States. Nor from that of the Mexican peasant who goes to the United States to work in a variety of jobs, returns to tend to his or her farm in Morelos for extended periods, then heads back to Chicago. Nor from that of the Keralan who alternates between tending a small shop back home built with savings from her overseas work and long stints serving as domestic help in the Gulf countries.   With multiple sites of work have come multiple identities. Over the years, in addition to our original identity, we begin to regard our country of work as our home, indeed even with some affection, even when that country is not hospitable to us. And beyond identities forged by nationality and residence, there is the identity of class--that becoming aware of a condition we share with so many others of different nationalities, that sense of being part of an international working class.   Negative and Positive Realities   But let us not romanticize the lot of the globalized worker. Instability and lack of security is the condition of many. Capitalism in the neoliberal era destroys jobs at home and creates them elsewhere, forcing many into dangerous transborder journeys to find those jobs. Unregulated as it is today, capitalism is marked by periods of expansion and contraction. When contraction arrives, the lot of the migrant becomes a perilous one, as opportunistic politicians scapegoat him or her for the loss of jobs of workers from the dominant culture. This is the situation in the developed countries today, where discrimination, police repression, and deportation have become pervasive. In Europe, this is accompanied by cultural stigmatization, with migrants of Muslim origin being defined as the "Other."   But let us not be too negative either about our host societies. These are often democratic societies where there are rights and liberties that are institutionalized. Many migrants, of course, are deprived of a number of these rights and liberties, but in many respects, these polities provide a model of what is possible in our societies of origin, where rights and liberties are fragile if not non-existent and political corruption is pervasive. Women from many developing societies find in their host societies a level of respect and a state of formal equality with men that is sorely absent where they came from. Filipina women, for instance, are afforded in Europe and the United States the means to assert their reproductive rights via contraception which benighted forces make it difficult for them to obtain back home. They also have the right to divorce abusive partners, a course of action they are legally deprived of in the Philippines with is medieval code governing marriage.   Crisis of the Home Economy   But when all is said and done, most migrant workers would probably prefer to stay and work in their countries of origin if they could find the jobs that would provide them with a decent living. This is why it is important for migrant advocates to understand the conditions which have made emigration from developing countries so pervasive over the last three decades.  Conditions of poverty and economic distress push people out of their societies, but these conditions are not natural. They are created. And in scores of developing countries since the late eighties the prime engine expanding poverty and economic distress has been structural adjustment programs pushed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and trade liberalization promoted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).   Promoted under the guise of bringing about efficiency, these programs have destroyed agriculture and industry in country after country. In Mexico, severe cutbacks in state support for agriculture, efforts to roll back agrarian reform, and NAFTA-imposed trade liberalization have made agriculture a losing proposition, forcing Mexico's peasantry, as the saying goes, to transfer en masse to the United States. In the Philippines, structural adjustment has destroyed the country's industrial base and with it, hundreds of thousands of industrial and manufacturing jobs, while WTO-imposed trade liberalization has made farming unattractive for peasants whose products cannot compete with the subsidized commodities being dumped by the US, Europe, and other countries. For many of these displaced farmers and their children, relocating to the urban metropolis is followed by emigration.   The Remittance Economy   So massive has been the unraveling of our industrial and agricultural base wrought by neoliberal policies that it is oftentimes only remittances from migrant workers that keep our home economies afloat-something that can be said without exaggeration of the Philippines. Remittances are critical and our migrant workers are to be complimented for their heroic role, but the remittance economy is no substitute for a vibrant domestic economy. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, our policymakers have made remittances a substitute for domestic production.   Two-Front War   Thus, to seriously address the problems they confront, migrants and migrant advocates cannot but be involved in a two-front war. On the one hand, we must struggle in our countries of origin to end the conditions of structural adjustment, trade liberalization, and other neoliberal policies that have eroded our industrial and agricultural base and destroyed millions of jobs. We must tell the US government and the European Union that we do not need aid; what we need is for them to stop imposing bilateral trade agreements and economic partnership agreements on us. What our countries demand is a halt to the structural adjustment programs still in effect in scores of countries in Africa and an end to further liberalization of trade under the WTO and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Of course, development has many other requirements, but stopping structural adjustment and indiscriminate trade liberalization is a sine qua non, a condition without which other indigenous development initiatives cannot prosper.   When it comes to the other front, in our host countries, the agenda is clear. We must aggressively assert what is the unvarnished truth: that migrants overwhelmingly make a positive contribution to the economy and culture of their host countries. We must frontally oppose state repression of migrants and confront the right wing populist groups that scapegoat them. We must demand an end to the deportation of undocumented migrants, the rapid legalization and granting of full citizenship rights to those with papers and their children, and the facilitation of the achievement of legal status of those without papers.   Success in solving the dilemmas of migrants will necessitate progress in both these fronts. There is no guarantee of success in our advocacy, but unless we confront the challenges in both fronts, we are sure to fall short of our goals.   __._,_.___ . __,_._,___

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Family and close friends gathered on Sunday Aug. 22 to celebrate. That’s the birthday of Mabelle (August 19), Mercy (August 20) and Katherine (August 21). It’s also a welcome for Donna, Sherwin’s wife.

With the blessings before meals by the Papal Nuncio followed by the very lively singing of the family and friends, everybody dined and enjoyed the food prepared by Ampy for daughter Kathy (actually si Gladys – ang paboritong ‘ chef’ ng marami) ; food prepared by Mar for Mercy (kase ang galing din ‘magluto’ ng Merz); pati ang oven-baked na pork ni Sherwin at ang inorder ni Lito sa clubhouse. Rose came with piniritong daing na bangus (which I promptly kept in the oven duly assisted by the very willing accomplice na si Kumadreng Sistah Otie); ang Kumadreng Sistah Maris naman to be sure na aabot sa lahat ang ‘cassava cake’ – talagang pinaghati-hati na with matching ‘stern warning’ – one-by-one lang! (And of course – ang sarap naman, so nuong di sya nakatingin – demolished agad!); Nagdala si Otie ng 3 boxes of cake of different flavors (hindi sya ang nag-bake!!! Sheraton - Wala ng time); Mabelle, a celebrant herself, came with a very beautifully-decorated cake (Oceanic) for Merz & Katz.

Laughter rang and light-hearted banters sailed through the night. Like in a barrio-fiesta with the clan helping each other out. Si Marimar (a.k.a Blessing) ang kanang-kamay ni Gladys na kanan at kaliwang kamay naman ni Ampy, washed the plates and tidied the kitchen. Medyo biglang off-duty si Islao. And as in the barrio, di pa natutunaw ang kinain, the kitchen is again prepared for cooking dinner. Even Angie who’s still reeling from a bout of colds, cooked sinigang (giwan ruwa), assisted by Islao and Benjie.

It was a very pleasant surprise to know that the new Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Amb. Nestor Padalhin has a very good sense of humour. We salute you, Sir.

We heartily thank the Papal Nuncio and of course our MCST Sisters, Con-Gen. Lamadrid and Ambassador & Mrs. Nestor Padalhin.

To: Mabelle Chen, Mercy Subibe, Katherine Ronquillo-Bugayong:

May you have the best of everything.

Expanding Social Security for Migrants: Extending the Coverage of Employees Compensation Program to Landbased OFWs

Expanding Social Security for Migrants: Extending the Coverage of Employees Compensation Program to Landbased OFWs

From: ellene sana


dear all:

super busy ang dole these days.

1. yesterday and today, we are taking part in a multi-sectoral national policy conference on human development to identify the priority legislative-executive agenda under the new administration and new congress.

in our workshop yesterday in the labor group -- we shared that our 3 legislative agenda were: amendments to the oav; owwa charter and domestic workers bill.

2. the ccofw will have its regular meeting tomorrow, this time with sec baldoz as special guest. we will have the meeting at dole. dole issued a 22-point agenda, 12 of which are directly on ofws and labor migration. we will scan the document and provide you copies (or you may want to check the dole website for a copy. baka nandoon na?) -- out of the office kasi ako for the meetings kaya hindi ko pa ma scan ang document.

3. on friday, there will be another consultation --this time to expand the social security benefits of ofwsb trhough the employees compensation program. pls read on and share with us you thoughts and ideas on the matter. related to this, there is also an initiative specifically for TB-patients for social security benefits also....para naman ito sa DOH. the latter i think impacts more on seafarers na nagkakaroon ng tb-findings, ergo, hindi na nakaka akyat ng barko....

The Institute for Labor Studies, in partnership with Employees Compensation Committee, is undertaking the research project to examine the possibility of covering landbased OFWs under the Employees Compensation program, to surface stakeholders' perspective on this issue the institute will hold the Working Dialogue Series 11.10 Expanding Social Security for Migrants: Extending the Coverage of Employees Compensation Program to LAndbased OFWs. The forum seeks to 1.) identify existing social security mechanisms available to land-based OFWs particularly covering work-related injuires and diseases; 2.) surface gaps in the existing array of social security mechanisms and 3.) generates ideas to strengthen social security for land-based OFWs with ECP as a possible one.

In this regard, we would like to invite you or your representative to attend the said forum. Your inputs will be highly valuable in generating options to strengthen social security for land-based OFWs particularly covering work-related injuries and diseases.

4. draft guidelines for the compulsory insurance under ra 10022 -- today also, the insurance commission will have a consultation on the draft guidelines for the implementation of the mandatory insurance coverage under ra 10022.... let's wait for updates from irynn who will attend it. nasa conference pa rin ako today e....

ito muna.... toxic ang schedules....sana me mabuting resulta o epekto sa mga ofws at kanilang pamilya itong ating mga ginagawa.



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: akbayan representative walden bello is chair of cowa; cong etta rosales as chr chair

SA LAHAT NG OFWs, isang napakalaking tagumpay sa ating lahat!
 MABUHAY ANG AKBAYAN! MABUHAY ANG MGA OFWs

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: ellene sana <ellenesana@yahoo.com>
To: pinoy-abroad forum <pinoy-abroad-forum@yahoogroups.com>; cma <cmaphils@pldtdsl.net>
Cc: etta rosales <rep_lapr@yahoo.com>; Walden Bello <waldenbello@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, August 19, 2010 3:08:18 AM
Subject: akbayan representative walden bello is chair of cowa; cong etta rosales as chr chair

hi all. fyi -- cong.  walden bello of akbayan is appointed as chair of the committee on overseas workers affairs of the house of representatives. yesterday also former akbayan representative and human rights advocate etta rosales was finally named chair of the commission on human rights. let us maximise the expanding spaces for engagement in government for our issues and concerns on ofws and their families to ensure that their human and labor rights are respected and promoted wherever they may be. congrats to cong etta and cong walden. we look forward to working more closely with you on migrants rights issues. mabuhay po kayo! 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

 

Rep. Etta Rosales acknowledges OFWs support

Rep. Etta Rosales Acknowledges OFWs support

OFWs heeded Ellene Sana's call for Rep. Etta Rosales - a seasoned human rights' defender.
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Mon, August 9, 2010 2:13:54 PM
Re: [akbayanforum] Fw: Re: Aquino appoints Villanueva to TESDA, Rosales to CHR--ofw groups support etta rosales…

Dear Ellene, Emman and Perry, Fred and Vangie,

Nakakapagpataba naman ng puso ang listahan ng ating mga OFW na sumama sa signature campaign natin. Naipadala ba natin ito Emman at Perry? Fred at Vangie, bagama't di ko pa kayo nakikilala sa personal, sana'y tanggapin ninyo ang lubos naming pasasalamat sa kampanyang ginawa ninyo sa labas ng bansang Pinas.

Kung mapalaran tayong makuha ang posisyon, asahan niyo na si Ellene ay walang humpay na tutuktok sa Komisyon ng Karapatang Pantao upang lalong mapayabong ang interes ng ating mga kababayan sa labas ng Pilipinas.

Mabuhay kayo at salamat muli.

Etta
Etta Pargas-Rosales
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http://www.pia. gov.ph/?m= 12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p100715.htm&no=24

Aquino appoints Villanueva to TESDA, Rosales to CHR
Manila (July 15) (PNA) -- Si President Benigno Simeon Aquino III announced Wednesday the appointment of two former partylist representatives in his Cabinet.
President Aquino appointed former Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) partylist Rep. Joel Villanueva as Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and former Akbayan partylist Rep. Loretta "Etta" Rosales as chairman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Rosales replaced Leila de Lima who now heads the Department of Justice.
Villanueva, son of Bangon Pilipinas presidential bet and televangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, replaced Augusto Syjuco.
Aquino instructed Villanueva to give more scholarship grants to high school students to continue TESDA’s goal to give more opportunities to the youth who cannot afford to get a formal college education. (GCC, PIA9-Pagadian City) [top]
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Clamor for Etta to head CHR snowballs
Human rights groups, migrant rights advocates, labor unions, OFWs, peasant organizations, academe, lawyers and Marcos victims show support to “seasoned human rights defender”


In probably the most endorsed and anticipated public post appointment in the Aquino government, support for former Akbayan Representative Loretta Ann Rosales to head the Commission on Human Rights is snowballing with endorsements coming from as far as Sweden, Greece, Denmark and France.

In an online statement of support, various personalities, labor groups, migrants advocates, peasant organizations, gay and lesbian groups, women’s organizations, Marcos human rights victims and OFWs rendered their support to Rosales. They said Rosales is fit for the position because she has proven herself a consistent advocate of the universality of human rights. They also stated that her appointment would broaden and mainstream the concept of human rights in the government and ensure the comprehensive application of human rights regardless of class, age, belief, race or gender.

Likewise, the signatories underscored her leadership over important issues concerning human rights. “With her (Rosales), 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,” the statement read.

Another letter of support dated July 5, 2010 was submitted to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III expressing their “unqualified support” to Rosales. They asserted that her “combined background in human rights and international humanitarian law work as well as involvement in many public interest issues in the country constitutes a wealth of professional experience that she will bring in the CHR.”

. Signatories to the letter were:

• Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer
• Dr. Nymia Pimentel Simbulan, Executive Director, Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PHILRIGHTS)
• Atty. Ibarra Gutierrez, Director, Institute of Human Rights, College of Law UP
• Soliman M. Santos, Jr., Chairperson Emeritus, Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Fred Lubang, Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Ricardo Reyes, Rural Poor Institute for Land and Human Rights Services (RIGHTS Net)
• Roberto Garcia
• Filomeno Sta. Ana, Coordinator, Action for Economic Reform
• Edwin Lopez, Executive Director, Alter Trade
• Benedicto Q. Sánchez, Program Coordinator, Broad Initiatives for Negros Development (BIND)
• Auxilium Toling-Olayer, Executive Director, Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL)
• Bonn Juego, Global Refugee Studies (Copenhagen)
• Joe Valencia, KASAPI-HELLAS, the organization of Filipino Migrants in Greece
• E. Ritz Lee B. Santos III, Chairperson, Teachers and Employees Association for Change, Education Reforms and Solidarity Inc. (TEACHERS Inc.)
• Aida Santos, Women's Education, Development Productivity and Research Organization (WeDpro, Inc.)
• Rolando E. Rivac, GAYON Albay LGBT
• CENTER FOR AGRARIAN REFORM EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION, INC. (CARET
• Western Visayas Network of Social Development NGOs (WEVNet)
• Iloilo CODE NGOs
• Ellecer Ebro Carlos, PDRP-STOV Team BALAY Rehabilitation Center, Inc.

On the other hand, signatories to the online statement of support were:

1. Dr. Francisco Nemenzo, Chairperson, Laban ng Masa
2. Renato Magtubo, President, Partido Manggagawa
3. Judy Ann Miranda, Secretary General Partido ng Manggagawa
4. Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN)
5. NUWHRAIN-Dusit Hotel Nikko Chapter
6. Patnubay.com
7. Manny C. Calonzo, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)
8. Sonia S. Mendoza, Chairman, Mother Earth Foundation
9. Noli Abinales, BUKLOD TAO, INC.
10. Center for Popular Empowerment
11. Bukluran ng Ikauunlad ng Sosyalistang Isip at Gawa (BISIG)
12. Bro. Martin Francisco, SSMESI, Chairperson, Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society
13. Jojo Ibanez, Alliance of Progressive Labor -DAVAO
14. Lia Jasmin M. Esquillo, Davao City
15. BUKLOD –Denmark
16. WomanHealth
17. Likhaan, Center for Women's Health Inc.
18. Pinay Exclusive- Denmark
19. Ugnayang Pilipino - Sweden
20. Aaron Rom Moralina, Graduate Student/ Assistant Instructor, Department of History, Ateneo de Manila University
21. Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
22. Freedom from Debt Coalition-Iloilo
23. Reihana Mohideen, Transform Asia, Gender and Labor Institute
24. Bagong kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa Philippine National Railways ( BKM-PNR-ITF-ICLS)
25. Reden Recio, De La Salle University
26. Freedom from Debt Coalition-Negros
27. Angel R. Pantoja, United OFW Philippines
28. Marc Titus, Cebreros, Research Associate, Institute of Human Rights, UP Law Center
UP Diliman Quezon City
29. Ranulfo Torregoza, GAYon (Albay Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization)
30. Dean John Borleo, TABAK SANGRE
31. Erik Valeriano, Chairperson, AMIGA (Alternative Movement for Integrated Gays Advancement)
32. Emma T. Otivar, President SAMAKA (Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Daraga)
33. Fe Jusay, RESPECT Network Coordinator
34. Herbert Docena

35. Caesar Carlos, Claimants 1081
36. Malou Tabios Nuera, Freedom from Debt Coalition
37. Caesar Carlos, Claimants 1081
38. Sixto Carlos
39. Francis Oca

Other signatories were:

40. Filipino Korean Spouses Association
41. United Filipinos Worldwide for Community Development
42. Atty. Ildefonso Bagasao, President, Economic Resource Center for Overseas Filipinos
Philippines
43. Dee Dicen Hunt, Centre for Philippine Concerns-Australia, Brisbane Branch
Australia
44. Province of Zamboanga Sibugay Rubber Farmers. Association (PZSRFA)
45. Edgardo B. Ramirez, Associate Professor, Notre Dame University, Cotabato City
46. Junalyn Gayak-Sumlay of Magungaya Center for PALMA Inc.
47. UMPPADA - United Moro Professionals for Peace and Development Association
48. Rashid Fabricante, Senior Action Officer, V-team for Advocacy & Community Service
Volunteers In Service to Filipinos, Middle East Bureau, Saudi Arabia
49. Daphe Ceniza, migrant rights advocate
50. Susie Abenojar-Barbieri, France
51. Roger Garinaga, Executive Director, IDEAS-Palawan
52. Guiamel Alim, Executive Director Kadtuntaya Foundation Inc., Cotabato City
53. Jessan Catre -- Joint Oxfam Mindanao Programme
54. Lawrence Padilla, Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology (PCART)
55. Sammy Maulana, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
56. Atty. Leo Lizada, Cotabato City
57. Engr Fernando Salise, HEED Foundation Inc.
58. Danilo Remoroza, BARRIOS Inc., General Santos City
59. Quraish Langcap, Isulanen Peace and Development Inc.
60. Philip Beda, Iranun Development Council, Exec Director
61. Angelina Katoh, Alternative Center for Organizational Reforms and Development (ACORD), Zamboanga city
62. Atty Luzviminda Ramos, IBP, General Santos City
63. Ansary Maongco, Young Moros for Peace and Development (YMPD), Marawi City
64. Daguman Dalanda, Isulan Farmers Federation, Sultan Kudarat
65. Jessan S. Catre, Akbayan Greece Chapter
66. Dr. Lito L. Astillero, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
67. Tito Natividad Fiel
68. Grace Cabactulan, Netherlands.
69. Ricky L, Xavier - Movement for H.O.P.E.
70. Marikita T. Bugarin
71. Charito Basa, Filipino Women's Council, ITALY
72. Jun S. Aguilar, Chairperson, Filipino Migrant Workers Group
73. Ana Maravilla, Vice President/Int’l Coordinator, PHILJURY (People's Movement for the Creation of Philippine Jury) - Philippine & UK (London) Based.
74. Teachers and Employees Association for Change, Education Reforms and Solidarity, Inc. (TEACHERS’ Inc.)
75. Negros Oriental Institute for Rural Development, Inc. (NIRD, Inc)
76. Grassroots Agro-Industrial Corporation (Grassroots Corporation)
77. Consortium for the Development of Western Mindanao Communities, Inc.
78. Sibugay Great Redeemer Christian Academy, Inc.
79. Ipil United Christian Fellowship, Inc.
80. Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Jr. OMI
81. Jolly S. Lais - Assalam Bangsamoro People's Association
82. Winda Lagumbay Petilla
83. Elagda Canada
84. OFW Canada
85. Maria Elizabeth Embry, California
86. Susan F. Quimpo
87. Geraldine Hidalgo
88. George F. Chiu

note from cma: the following names were not included in the list released to the media yesterday...hopefully, they will be included in the official list of endorsers to the statement...our apologies. ... if we missed anybody else, please accept our apologies and send us an email to correct the oversight.
89. Mike Bolos, Philippines
90. Cesar Reburiano, inter marina filipino organization--I.M.FO- athens greece
91. Benjamin Nadado, Pusong Pinoy Association, Abuja FCT, Nigeria
92. Rachelle C. Garcia, Quezon City
93. John Hernandez, Pusong Pinoy Association (PPA), Nigeria
94. Vic Barrazona, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
95. Offie Bakker-Mananquil, Makati City, The Philippines
96. Nonoi Hacbang,Convenor,Platform of Filipino Migrant Organisations in Europe,The Netherlands
97. Jille Belisario,Programme Co-ordinator,Commission for Filipino Migrant Workers ( CFMW ),The Netherlands

muli, maraming salamat.

let us mainstream the human and labor rights of migrant filipinos and their families in the concerns of chr. migrants' rights are human rights!


sincerely,
ellene

WE OFFER OUR CONDOLENCE

OBITUARY

The Migrants Team condoles Mrs. Feliza Ramos of the Philippine Embassy, Abuja for the passing away of her husband, EMMANUEL V. RAMOS SR. after a terminal illness.

A very likeable person, he will be remembered and missed by friends and the people he came across with.

We pray that the family will have the fortitude to bear this loss.

May his soul rest in peace.

Fw: The Professional Heckler

On a lighter mood....
This is one 'interview' which is very amusing. Enjoy!
From: The Professional Heckler
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The Professional Heckler

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EXCLUSIVE: GMA Breaks Her Silence Posted: 04 Aug 2010 01:22 AM PDT Breaking News: For the first time since winning a seat in the House of Representatives, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed to be interviewed. She requested though that the exclusive interview be conducted in the vernacular in celebration of the Philippine National Language Month. Here's the rare, 45-minute conversation in full. The Professional Heckler (TPH): Kumusta na po kayo ma'am? Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA): Heto, napagod sa kakatakbo. Bigla ba naman akong sabihan na may privilege speech pala si Walden Bello, natural, kinailangan kong lumabas ng session hall. Eh nakita kong papalapit na siya sa podium, ayon kumaripas ako nang takbo. Maliliit pa naman ang aking mga hakbang kaya hiningal talaga ako! TPH: Mabuti naman at 'di kayo hinarang ng mga guwardiya.. GMA: Naku, imposible 'yan! Si Mikey ang naka-duty nang lumayas ako sa Batasan. TPH: Saan po kayo nagpunta? GMA: Katulad nga ng nasulat mo sa iyong previous blog post, I tried to leave for Hong Kong. Eh cancelled pala ang mga flights ng PAL kaya umuwi na lang ako sa Lubao. TPH: Last week po ay nilagdaan na ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino ang Executive Order No. 1 creating the Truth Commission. Ano po ang masasabi n'yo? GMA: My two spokespersons, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Congressman Edcel Lagman have repeatedly raised the issue of the EO's constitutionality. Naniniwala ako sa kanila. It's unconstitutional. TPH: Ano naman pong masasabi n'yo sa Communications Group ng ating Pangulo. Inaakusahan po sila ng bias at pagli-leak ng advance info sa isang network. GMA: Hay naku! Ayaw ko nang makialam sa isyu ng leak na 'yan. May sarili akong leak na pinu-problema. In fact, after ng interview na 'to, I'll have my biennial mammogram. TPH: Kumusta na po si Attorney Mike Arroyo? GMA: Okay naman. Nakakapag-golf na ulit. Naghihintay lang kami ng advice ng kanyang doktor for his next check up in Hong Kong. TPH: Kailan po 'yon? GMA: Depende. Depende sa schedule ng susunod na privilege speech ng aking mga kritiko. TPH: Kung maibabalik po ang year 2004, tatawagan n'yo pa rin ba si Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano? GMA: Sino 'yon? May sinabi ba akong si Garcillano ang tinawagan ko? Remember: when I made that "I'm sorry speech," never kong pinangalanan ang Comelec official na kinausap ko. Tawagin n'yo na akong corrupt, balasubas, magnanakaw, sinungaling, pandak, at kung anu-ano pang panlilibak… pero never akong nanlaglag ng ibang tao. In short, walang basehan ang iyong tanong. Let's move on. TPH: Kung bibigyan kayo ng pagkakataong maging pangulo ulit, tatanggapin n'yo ba? GMA: Kung ang komposisyon ng Kongreso ay gaya pa rin ng mga nagdaang mga taon, why not? I feel safe and secure with those guys around me. TPH: Madam Congresswoman, do you pray? GMA: Before? Yeah. TPH: Right now? GMA: Lalo na! TPH: Sabi po nila, tumakbo lang kayong kongresista dahil ayaw n'yong makasuhan… GMA: Hindi totoo 'yan! Tumakbo ako sa Kongreso dahil 'di na ko puwedeng tumakbo sa pagka-pangulo. TPH: Can you imagine yourself in jail? GMA: Can you imagine this interview cut short? TPH: Oh, I'm sorry for that question. Let's just talk about the current administration. Sa tingin n'yo ba masyadong nagiging mapaghiganti ang gobyernong Aquino sa inyo? GMA: Two words: Truth Commission. I need not elaborate. TPH: May over-importation daw po ng NFA rice… GMA: Hindi rin totoo 'yan! Maraming naiiwan sa imbakan dahil hindi binibili ng mga tao ang NFA rice. It's their fault! Gusto nila, high quality! Masyado silang choosy! TPH: Malaki daw po ang sweldo ng mga taga-MWSS… GMA: Ah hindi totoo 'yan. Sa katunayan, kung iche-check n'yo ang perks ng mga executives ng ibang GOCCs at GFIs, malalaki rin 'yon! Hindi lang MWSS. Mali ang report! TPH: How do you find palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda? Ano pong masasabi n'yo sa kanya? GMA: I admire the guy. Sa siyam na taon ko sa palasyo, once lang ako nag-sorry sa inyo. Si Lacierda, nakakadalawa na, kakasimula pa lang sa trabaho. TPH: How about the issue between the Noybi supporters and the NoyMar camp? Sa palagay n'yo ba makakaapekto ito sa pamamalakad ni Pangulong Aquino sa gobyerno? GMA: I really don't know. Wala naman akong vice president noon kaya 'di ako maka-relate. TPH: Nag-uusap pa ba kayo ni Chief Justice Renato Corona? GMA: Hindi na. Busy lagi ang phone eh. The last time I tried calling him, ang sabi, "Sorry, the number you dialed is having dinner with Peping Cojuangco. Please try your call later." TPH: Kumusta na po si Gibó? GMA: Si Gibó? Hahaha. Namimiss ko ang batang 'yan. One of the most brilliant minds in my Cabinet. Sayang. Naputol ang aming komunikasyon nang lumabas ang Villaroyo black propaganda noong kampanya. Nagtampo yata sa 'kin. But yesterday, I heard nag-a-apply siyang piloto sa PAL. If you're reading this, Sulong Gibó! TPH: Once and for all, linawin po natin: sino po ang sinuportahan n'yo noong nakaraang eleksyon? Si Gibó o si Villar? GMA: Si Vetellano Acosta! Kaya 'wag na kayong magtaka kung bakit marami siyang botong nakuha. TPH: Madam Congresswoman, until now, curious pa rin po ang publiko. Ano raw po ba ang pinag-usapan n'yo ni President Aquino during that 10-minute limousine ride from Malacañang to Quirino Grandstand last June 30? GMA: Wala. Kasi, bawat traffic light na madaanan namin, inoorasan niya ang pagpapalit ng kulay. 'Tapos, tanong siya nang tanong kung sino si Ped Xing. Tawa naman ako nang tawa. So 'yon, 'di namin namalayan, Luneta na pala. TPH: Dumako na po tayo sa tinatawag nating Rapid Round. Dapat po mabilis lang ang inyong sagot. Bawal magpaliwanag. Okay? GMA: Nakaka-nerbyosh ka naman! Sige nga. TPH: Ma'am, lights on or lights off? GMA: Lights off! Mahal kasi ang kuryente ng Meralco. TPH: Artistic or Athletic? GMA: Siyempre, golfer si Mike. Athletic! TPH: Beauty or Brains? GMA: I wouldn't have lasted nine years in office kung wala akong utak. Beauty na lang. TPH: Love or Money? GMA: After nine years in office?!? Marami na 'kong money! I'll choose love siguro. Wait, pwedeng both? TPH: This time naman, magmi-mention po ako ng names ng mga kilalang tao. Let me know kung ano ang unang pumapasok sa isip n'yo kapag nababanggit ang kanilang mga pangalan. Let's start with… Joseph Estrada? GMA: Hmm, whiskey. TPH: Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez? GMA: Merciful! TPH: The Firm? GMA: Powerful! TPH: Hyatt 10? GMA: Welcome back! Hahaha! TPH: Garcillano? GMA: Pass! TPH: Noynoy Aquino? GMA: Good luck! TPH: Jojo Binay? GMA: Lucky. TPH: Mike Arroyo? GMA: Plenty! Hahahaha! I'm jussssht kidding! Puwede bang off the record na 'yon? TPH: Ricky Carandang? GMA: Cessh Drilon. Akala mo, 'di ako updated huh. Hi Cessh! TPH: Secretary Abad? GMA: Sino sa kanila? Madami eh. TPH: Conrado De Quiros? GMA: Pass! TPH: Ellen Tordesillas? GMA: Lalo na 'yan! Pass! TPH: Kris Aquino? GMA: Ay, totoo ba 'yun? Sila na raw ni Junjun? TPH: Jocjoc Bolante? GMA: Rotarian. TPH: Bayani Fernando? GMA: Pedestrian. TPH: Jamby Madrigal? GMA: Vagitarian. TPH: Korina Sanchez? GMA: May katarayan! TPH: Vicky Toh? GMA: Huh?! Good Lord! TPH: Lilia Pineda? GMA: Jueteng lord! TPH: Talaga po!? GMA: Ay, ano ba 'yung nasabi ko? Off the record ulit, please? TPH: And finally, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo? GMA: Huh? Bakit naman ako nasama? TPH: Request po ng readers ng blog ko. GMA: Bakit? May readers ka ba? TPH: Naman! I'm sure, binabasa kayo ngayon ng mga anchors at reporters ng ABS-CBN, ANC, dzMM, GMA 7 (not sure, pero sana!), GMANews.TV, TV5, dzRJ, dzME, dwRX, ABS-CBNNews.Com, Inquirer.Net, at maging ng reporters at columnists ng Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard Today, Manila Times, BusinessWorld, Malaya, Newsbreak, mga thinking bloggers, at ng libu-libong kababayan natin here and around the world. GMA: Yabang! Bakit? Ito bang interview na 'to mababasa ng favorite singer kong si Ricky Martin o ng favorite comedian kong si Ricky Gervais? TPH: Hindi ko lang po sure pero sigurado akong mababasa po ito ni Ricky Carandang, si Secretary Ricky Carandang. GMA: O shige na nga. Ano nga ulit ang tanong? TPH: Babaguhin ko na lang po ang tanong para espesyal: Sakaling pumanaw si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, ano po ang mababasa namin sa kanyang epitaph? GMA: Ang morbid naman! Pero dahil sport ako at dahil exclusive ang interview na ito, pagbibigyan kita. Medyo mahaba ang isusulat ko sa aking epitaph. Ito 'yon: HERE LIES… TPH: Thank you Madam President! GMA: Teka, hindi pa ako tapos! TPH: Okay na po 'yun! Understood na! Ano na lang po ang inyong message sa ating mga kababayan… GMA: Sure ka puwede na ang gano'ng epitaph? TPH: Sure na! Final answer! Message n'yo na lang po sa taumbayan… GMA: Okay. Mga kababayan, kasaysayan na lamang po ang huhusga sa akin. Ginawa ko pong lahat ang aking makakaya bilang Pangulo ng ating bansa. Wala akong inisip kundi ang kapakanan ng maliliit na Pilipino. Sa pagtupad ko sa aking tungkulin bilang kinatawan ng lalawigan ng Pampanga, umaasa ako at mananalangin na harinawa'y umunlad hindi lamang ang aking mga nasasakupan kundi bawat isa sa inyo na nagpupursige sa buhay. Sa huli, iniiwan ko ang sa tuwina'y paalala noon ng aking ama: "Do what ish right; do what ish besht, and God will take care of the resht." THP: Thank you so much Madam Congresswoman. It's both an honor and a pleasure to talk to you. GMA: Thank you too, Professional Heckler. Ikaw pala 'yon. Hayup ka! Jussht kidding. Oops, bago ko malimutan, please add me on Facebook. Just type: Facebook.Com slash ImpunityistheBestPolicy, and then click "Like" at automatic friends na tayo. Thank you. End of Exclusive Interview Monday, August 2, 2010 Batasang Pambansa Parking Lot [Note: Parang awa n'yo na, kung ire-repost n'yo ito sa ibang sites o ifo-forward through email, ilagay n'yo naman ang source. Masaya na ako sa gano'n kahit walang kita. At sa mga mag-iiwan ng comment, positibo man o hindi... maraming salamat!]