Philippines: Export oriented-Import dependent Economy

All of us are hoping for a better year in fact anything that is introduced as lucky charms to attract good vibes and prosperous living is deliberately being adhered to for the hope that it will bring us positive result. Unfortunately, there are inevitable events which are not controlled by these lucky charms. These are events which are not perceived even by the toughest fortuneteller. One peep on the year ender reports from different Medias will attest to this fact because if not, thousand of people who were killed from so many calamities and wars might have been spared. Even the toughest and mighty countries were not spared from this. Their technology and forecasters never perceived that this economic turmoil would end up to economic downfall like a plague.

The Philippines alone has reduced its population by death tolls from sea vessel’s accidents, plane crash, storms, floods, massacres, death in Mindanao due to war, political killings and natural deaths. I guess we need another Merlin or the wizard of OZ for best predictions. Well, these are just the repercussions of men’s greed and neglect of environmental issues. You reap what you sow according to old saying and yes, it’s true.

The other day, as I walk home, I meet an old friend, my co-worker at the company where I used to work. According to her, IWSPC, a subsidiary of SWS Japan, has announced their recent work schedule. They are now working 6 hours/day and 3 days/week. I was stunned by that news. How will an employee survive with that scheme? She told me that her recent earning is only 800php or a measly $17 and she has to budget it for 15 days. How can she make both ends meet with that income? I guess she needs to enroll herself to Harry Potter’s school and aim for the wand. I can’t sympathize further for I, myself is suffering with the same grief. If we lost the court battle with demolition issue, we will be losing the roof on our head at the end of this month.

Despite GMA’s denial that Philippines is not affected by recession, the gleaming truth is slapped right in the face of many workers who are being hit by different inhumane labor schemes just to cope up with the economic turmoil. We all know that most industries and factories in the Philippines are run by Multi-National Corporation from Japan & the US and these countries are in the midst of recession. The final way out is thru retrenchment or at the maximum is to close the company and return to their homeland leaving the Filipino workers jobless with no separation pays.

This only proves that we can never achieve a genuine progress unless we change our economic system. An economy which remains to be an export oriented and import dependent will always ends up at the dumping area. We are more than 80 millions Filipinos, producing our own local products and selling it at the local market is the only way to move out from this dreadful situation. More than 70% of the products we used are being produced by other countries. Look, from the tip of your toe to the tip of your hair, you are using imported products. “Imported per se” is not just products available at Clark or PX stores, these are products produced by non-Filipino owned companies. Though their companies were erected at Philippine land, their sales and profits will be returned to their own countries. The only reason why they are here is not because they want to help us but because they want to take advantage of our cheap and docile labor.

Japanese will only buy cars made by Japanese corporations, but the local artists in the Philippines seldom uses beauty products made from the Philippines. Remember, each time we buy imported products, spend our vacation abroad, purchase property outside the Philippines, our money go out leaving our peso floats and drowned by inflation.

Money Cycle

Thanks to the living heroes who untiringly take back the money we spent outside the Philippine territory, despite the loneliness, dangers and abuses, they remain meek because of the call of earnings for the sake of their families. Do you have an idea who are those people? They are the OFW workers who are unceasingly working to earn not only for their family but for the country’s economy as well.

And Kudos to online workers like us who are also earning dollar from home. You are helping our country to get the money back and return it to circulate here. And to those who are hoarding the money and investing it outside the Philippine territory, you are one of the reasons why the Philippines remain poor.

Gumising na sana tayo….

 

~Juliet Corpuz~

Mount Pinatubo Trek

Due to overwhelming response of my readers to my Mt. Pinatubo Post, which also becomes my no. 1 post since I started blogging, we added another service in our homebase business. This is Tour Guiding Services

My hub and I has particular task in running the business. With IT related works, I am in-charge of the internet, design and documentations while hub is doing the field work. But when the need arises, I also assist hub with field work activities.

Recently, I have many inquiries in my inbox particularly Mount Pinatubo Trek. I used to have a computer shop at Capas Tarlac and Tarlac Municipal Tourism had been one of our clients. I designed and created the Identification cards for Mt. Pinatubo Tour guides and most of them are Aetas. I also designed banners, flyers and brochures.

Last week, 2 clients from the internet hired our service thru this blog, Greg and Wisnu. Greg arrived last week but he went to Puerto Galera first and he scheduled trekking on Saturday, Dec. 13. Wisnu Wijaya, an Indonesian based in Malaysia arrived last Dec. 9 at 5:30pm. Hub meet him at the airport. They arrived home at almost 10pm. Although we had an agreement that we will book him in a hotel but because we were so excited sharing each others’ experiences, he decided to stay with us. Our house suddenly turned into a transient home.

The next day hub included Wisnu in the group of trekkers bound to Mount. Pinatubo.

Hub (in white shirt) with Wisnu and Mt. Pinatubo trekkers

Hub during the actual trek

Weee! Samson or Hercules?

Natural and Fresh Spring Water from Mt. Pinatubo

Mt. Pinatubo Crater

Mt. Pinatubo Crater Boating

Have fun, experience swimming at Mt. Pinatubo crater

4 x 4 wheel drive, the only transport system that would survive rocks and boulders

After a tiring day, sooth your muscles and enjoy full massage spa

Spa comes in different packages; mud spa, volcanic ash spa and many more.

What are you waiting for? experience a once in a lifetime trekking adventure at Mt. Pinatubo Philippines. You can come in group or you can trek alone with native tour guide.

For more inquiries, leave your comment here or email me pinaykeypoint@yahoo.com

Update 2/8/2009

Please click the link to see our recent Mount Pinatubo Trek last February 6 & 7, 2009

For further inquiries, detailed info, trek schedules and itineraries please visit my other blog:

HTTP://PINATUBOTREK.BLOGSPOT.COM/

POST UPDATE AS OF AUGUST 14, 2012

WE ARE NOW ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED TEAM IN THIS FIELD.

THANKS GOD FOR MY BLOG AND FOR THIS POST;)

Eviction Notice for Zone A, B & C

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

This post is an update regarding the demolition problem at Zone A, B & C San Miguel, Tarlac City.

The Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) issued a final eviction notice which must be complied within 60 days otherwise they would be constrained to make representation for the employment of counteractive legal measures within the authority of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This Final demand is blatantly contained in the document I scanned below.

The threat of demolition is like a plague spreading in the barrios of San Miguel; Zone A, B & C. Just like my neighbors, I am trying to go over with my normal routine although I had a good laugh with my previous post but the reality will always sets in. The fear of losing our home is a daily nightmare to us. One of the residents from Zone B, a retired army had a heart attack after reading the final notice and he died instantly. A 6 by 6 truck with heavy weapons and armies was roaming the barrio and creating confusion and fear among the residents. This is a clear manifestation of harassment. This show of force is a psychological warfare which is a common dirty trick by our very own army.

Joyce Segue of GMA Balitang Amianan conducting an exclusive interview

It’s really frustrating that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the institution that is liable for the security and protection of the common Filipino is engaging in this outrageous activity. My kids are asking me; why are they doing this to us mommy? My teacher said Soldiers will protect us, but why they are threatening us? Will they kill us too?

These are the simple childish question that I cannot answer. I still have to gather my strength to reckon and give the best answer that would convince my kids that the army, like my dad is a servant and protector of the people. How can a child love a government when at this early stage, they are already experiencing this dilemma?

Joyce Segue, GMA reporter for “Balitang Amianan”news program conducted an interview the other day regarding the escalating issue of demolition. The newly elected association president Col Felipe Damo is instituting several options on how shall we deal with the problem, from legal battle to collective effort of the masses and the residents to defend our home physically. Our strength may not be equal to the guns and goons of the government but we will not just stand at the corner, staring at them doing nothing while they are crashing our home. A bloody dispersal that has wasted many lives at Hacienda Luisita while farm workers are waging fight for just compensation and benefits was also maneuvered by NOLCOM and now, their bloody fingers are once again thirsting for the same scenario.

I am asking for your support my fellow bloggers, in behalf of my neighbors and the children in my community please help us spread this news and blog this issue.

I don’t want another Hacienda Luisita tragedy.
Please spare our home and the children.

Eviction Letter from NOLCOM. Please click for larger view.

NOTE: Watch Joyce interview with Col. Felipe Damo at my YouTube channel: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/redwarriorheart

Previous posts:

Post 1 – Zone ABC: We are Facing Demolition Issue

Post 2 – Demolition Update

Welcome to the Christian World Baby Jed

NOVEMBER 14, 2008

First week of November was a busy week for us, after the preparation and celebration of Undas (All Saint’s Day), our niece Cherry delivered her first born, a handsome baby boy at 2:30pm of Friday, November 7, 2008.

Cherry is very dear to us as she’s almost my eldest daughter. I’m very fond of her, I helped her with her assignments, I turned her hate for Algebra into love and explained to her the basics so she can cope up with her mathematics.

I watched her growing from her teens to a full grown woman. I laugh with her, cried with her and I had been a listener to her laughter and sobs. She almost acquired my activist’s point of views and had been a very idealistic person.

Born to a military family, she had taken the same path. At 26, she’s now a chief investigator of CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group), Camp Macabulos, Tarlac City. I am closely following her career and hoping the best of everything for her and her family.

Welcome to the Christian World Baby Jed 🙂

Baby Jed

Baby Jed

The new member of the family

See how cute he is… hmmm, she looks like her mommy che 🙂

The tired mommy Cherry… sleeping beauty 🙂

…and the visitors Ate Evelyn (Che’s mom), Ate Luz & Beth and yours truly in the red shirt 🙂

Undas sa Pinas 2008

 NOVEMBER 1, 2008

Filipinos are celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day every 1st and 2nd day of November. It’s one of the most celebrated traditions in our country. We call it “Undas” or “Fiesta ng mga Patay” in Tagalog and because I’m a Bicolana, we call it “Fiesta ng mga Kalag” in Bicol Term.

Fiesta, yes this is almost a festivity as families are going to cemeteries to pray and celebrate. It’s a whole day activity and to some, they even spend it overnight. It’s like a party or reunion as we are also bringing foods aside from flower and candles.

Yesterday, Hub and Jane went at Eternal Memorial Park at 7am to prepare our place. They brought some chairs and light candles while I prepared some food for our lunch and snacks. Every year, I usually cook “pancit” and “malagkit” for this occasion. This is a native Filipino food. We also put “atang” or food offerings in our altars. It’s a traditional food offering for the souls of our departed loved ones.

Some communities are also holding Halloween Party and “Trick or Treat” but in our Barangay (Pinoy Term for Community), families are spending the day at the cemetery. We prepare flowers, candles and my son even bought his pet Meme to spend the day with us.

My kids enjoyed the day playing, eating and running around. It’s also a time to meet old friends as many of our friends who are staying at other towns and provinces are going home to visit their loved ones. This is also a nice time for family reunions so it’s almost a dual celebration both for the departed loved ones and the family as a whole.

These are some of the pictures of the Undas

In loving memory of Inang, Tatay Pedro and Kuya FrancingMy eldest daughter Jesicca >>> pa cute  🙂Yours truly and my kids- Jek, Sab, Isha, Nonoy, my niece Jane and KBHub & the kidsMy youngest son, NonoyJane, Isha & KB >>> hala kain ng kain 🙂Hub’s niece Marilyn A.K.A. “Basisang” and her BF Aldrin>>> Oiii, sweet nila 🙂Sabrina>>> Pa cute din  🙂Inabot na kami ng gabi

My sis in-law, Ate Luz and niece Cherry

E2 c Hub dapat daw me solo pic sya 🙂 (talo pa ko- ako wala 🙂 )

at syempre only in the Philippines: Negosyo kahit araw ng patay 🙂

Okay, til here folks, that’s our yearly celebration of UNDAS SA PILIPINAS. Til next post 🙂 Ingat!

Note: ingat means take care

Robinson and Demolition

OCTOBER 27, 2008

Okay sa title rhyme diba? 🙂

Robinson Supermarket’s Opening

To my fellow Tarlaqueños and Tarlaqueñas, opening of Robinson Supermarket will be on October 30, 2008 kaya mejo ihanda nyo na yang mga budget nyo for grocery.

Hay naku maganda lang to sa maraming pera hehehe…

I mean this is good to those who have extra budget but to us, who are living each day at a time and sometimes can’t even make both ends meet, maybe we’ll just walk in for window shopping lol! 🙂

Zone ABC Demolition Issue: Updates

Robinson’s opening will not stop my fellow barangays from worrying with the serious threat of demolition. I wrote this issue in my previous post and the last time that NOLCOM officers attended a dialogue with us last week, they lay down a “Take it or Leave it” offer. It means, we signed the MOA or not, its up to us. But one thing is clear, they will pursue with their plan.

What ironic in this meeting is that, our association’s officers are speaking in behalf of the officers when in fact, the NOLCOM officers are there and they should be the one answering the questions raised by the membership.

Leadership means leading and representing your people and members, and for this clear definition, we were expecting that our association officers shall mediate and collect the questions and raised it during the meeting, giving the opportunity to NOLCOM officers to explain their side but it’s the other way around.

This is indeed a serious threat to our property and security. The content of the MOA clearly defines a voluntary turn-over of your property, not only the lot per se where our house were erected but our house itself. The MOA also stated that they can conduct an inspection anytime they pleases which is a clear manifestation of harassment. They think we are all idiots and stupids and with an armed men around, threatening us with this “Take it or Leave it” connotation.

It’s really sad to see these people going beyond the rights of many people. This is one of the reason why GMA’s strong republic is never realized and will remain a dream until the end of her administration.

They are all like wolves under the mask of a lamb.

Teaching and Activism

I am holding tutorials both online and offline. I am not a teacher by profession but Teaching is one of my passions. My mother is a grade school teacher and she used to tell me that teaching is a very fulfilling profession. Some of her students are already holding government positions and some have decent jobs and she’s happy everytime she meets them at the mall with their families and would stop and say hello and would acknowledge her wisdom and patience.

I am helping her to fix her visual stuffs since I was in grade school and I remember that my first experience in teaching was when I was in grade 5. They had an emergency conference, she went to my room and asked me to watch her grade one class. I was very hesitant at first but she told me to just give them some task so they won’t go out of the room. She endorsed me in her class and warned them that I would record the names of the noisy students and they will be punished when she return.

When she left the room, one student raised her hand and asked me, “What is our lesson for today ma’am?” I was surprised and I stood infront of the class and told them I will be reading a short story and they must listen carefully because I will ask them afterwards. I was amazed how they listen silently until I finished the story. After that I asked them to draw the characters on the board. It was fun how they gave me their own interpretations and I really enjoyed it. After that day, my mom usually asks me to watch her class everytime there is an emergency conference. Some of my mom’s students even call me madam during recess or even outside the school.

That was a great experience and maybe you would ask me why I didn’t take her field. Well, that’s another story lol 🙂 But it seems that I was destined to teach. When I was working at Japanese Corporation, I was assigned to conduct trainings for newly hired employees, that was before I became a labor union leader. When I ran for the position of Union Vice President of our worker’s union, IWSWU (International Wiring Systems Workers Union), I gained an overwhelming votes and it was surprising because I was just a stranger in Tarlac during those time. Maybe, my church activity has helped me a lot. We had 4 thousand members then. My 5 years as union vice president were spent educating my members about their basic rights as a workers. We formed an Education Committee and we held continuous labor educations.

I was also the Chairman of the Broad Alliance of Trade Union in Tarlac then. These photos are my guests from ISA, International Solidarity Affairs. Most of them are journalists and Trade Union leaders from different countries, Germany, Australia, Indonesia and US. They usually integrate with us to learn our culture and trade union struggles. I usually narrate the actual trade union situation in the area and we usually share each other’s experiences on how we resolve issues and grievances. This is a very rewarding activity to both of us as we are able to learn from each other.

I was 7 months pregnant in this photo. I was with Japanese Trade Union Leaders and Journalists and we had a local village immersion at Hacienda Luisita. These are farm workers who are facing land issues and we gathered them after their work so we will be able to know their issues.

I had my share in grievances, court battles, rallies, walk-outs and other forms of collective struggles to stand for workers’ right both inside and outside the company premises. This has led me to the streets walking with clenched fists, shouting and asking for a change. Years of my stay as a union officer has changed me and I emerged as a fearless leader doing my speeches during rallies which is usually held in the middle of the streets and trucks serves as our stage.

Those were the years that we topple Estrada Administration. But the succeeding years after a new president was put in power, series of political killings has been exercised killing many of our allies. Most of the active leaders in different organizations which are radically fighting and stands for the call of decent wages and humane working environment were shot to death.

Some of them were tagged as terrorists when in fact they were just simple workers who are just fighting for workers’ rights. I myself was included in 10 leaders in OB Hit list in 2005 and sad to say that most on that list were already in their grave. My father who is a retired military advised me to slow down and leave my job because my life will be in great danger. I am a mother of 4 kids and in as much as I want to serve the people, I knew that my kids are waiting for me at home everyday hoping that they will see me alive.

Leaving my job which I spent half of my life and the people who are defending on my leadership was the hardest part of my life. Seeing their tearful faces while I was submitting my resignation was so hard to endure. Even the tough guys who used to accompany me were crying and I was so stunned for their love and support. It took me more than a year to recover that loss and the internet has served as my healing balm.

Some photo of my Trade Union Struggles

Now, I am teaching again. I am holding IT trainings either free or paid depending on the arrangement. Recently I conducted an IT training for Martinet faculty and that was in my previous posts.

I will be creating online tutorials here but it will be in Tagalog language. I will add another page for that. Why Tagalog, because it’s for my fellow Pinoys both here and abroad. There are already a lot of trainings here in the internet for you guys who are in foreign countries.

At para sa mga kababayan ko, gagawa ako ng mga modules para madali nyong maintindihan. Magsisimula lang muna tayo sa simple o basic IT Skill. Antayin po lamang ninyo sa mga susunod na araw at ipo post ko ang mga paunang lesson natin.

Okay guys, till here and see you in my next post. Thank you for reading.

Martinet School IT Training

August 18, 2008

I conducted an IT Training at Martinet School Inc, a private grade school at Maligaya, Tarlac City. The training was attended by 17 participants, composed of faculty and staff of Martinet school.

Among the participants were Mrs. Josefina B. Tolentino, Martinet’s principal and Mrs. Amanda L. Reyes, School’s Board of Director.

The Training was focused on Computer Fundamentals, Internet and the World Wide Web. The faculty and staffs were actively participating in the discussions. The training started at 9am and has ended at 4pm.

I was very pleased with the warm accommodation of Mrs. Tolentino and Mrs. Reyes. They are still looking forward for continuous training in the future.

IT Training and seminar is one of my bid for social responsibility. I believe that the key to progress is to help the country in nation building, and one important factor is education.

Since, Philippines is one of the third world, the digital divide is so prominent. Most people in key cities are still left behind as far as IT is concerned.

In my experience, people are just using computers for documentation and internet is just for email, chat and research. This little knowledge goes for many years as there are so few institutions giving out free IT Training.

In this training, I gave emphasis in integrating IT in educating students. I am urging them to go out from traditional blackboard and chalk and maximize the use of computer and create interactive materials as aid in teaching.

Most of the teachers agreed to this call but they raised the problem that they need to understand and learn further the use of presentation programs.

We agreed in continuous training and support. I know this will add up to my busy schedule but I am happy to impart my knowledge and help them enhance their skill.

I just hope that someday, I can find people to support me to organize an institution wherein we can give IT training for free. We really need this in my country.

WordPress: PinayKeyPoint, you’re one of us!

HELLO WORDPRESS!!

YES! I’VE CROSSED OVER! XD!!!

I moved here last night. I’ll watch my new baby grow here.  This blog will be turning 2 months old on August 14, 2008. This is the first time that I will be blogging seriously:) I was so busy with other IT related activities in the past that I never had the chance to create a blog. I was so pre occupied with different projects for my clients that I deprived myself in doing the thing that I really love, writing..

I stayed with google & yahoo for many years and now I want to explore other horizon. I heard a lot of good comments about WordPress and now as I am organizing my old posts, I find it easy and user friendly.

I’ll be moving around in the next days to visit my neighbors here and I hope to find friends & bloggers from all walks of life. Please feel free to leave a comment & your link here as I will start filling up my blogroll.

See you around folks. Happy reading & Happy Posting:)

Ingat! > (a tagalog term for “take care”)

I Joined MyBlogLog Last Night

I just joined MyBlogLog last night and its cool. It’s a new Yahoo Service and you don’t have to sign up. We use our own yahoo account and password but we can make a new username. If you already have a blog, you will just have to add it and verify. MyBlogLog is where blogger of different communities meet. You can have instant friends and members. widgets are cool too. I just have mine on the right and you can easily track who visited you and who joined your community. MyBlogLog features your own blog for your members to read. If you’re a yahoo user, then give it a shot. IM me if you want me to guide you. No blog yet? It’s okay, MyBlogLog will be your startup blog and later you can make blogs from other hosts and get it linked to MyBlogLog.

Juliet Corpuz CorpuzPowerPrint Tarlac City, 2301 Philippines	julietcorpuz@gmail.com
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

PROMDI from Pasacao

PROMDI is a Pinoy Lingo which means “From the Province” or “Probinsyano/Probinsyana”, any person from who lived and spent most of their lives in the province. Promdis are oftentimes the subject in a Philippine TV sitcom and movies. They always portray the character of a particular promdi who just arrived in the city with a very ignorant and amazed face. That Promdi is looking here and there, pointing at buildings and billboards and staring at the people that are so busy walking and crossing the streets. They are always wearing a traditional old fashioned clothings with old native bags and sometimes carrying chickens. What a reputation!

I myself is a promdi. I was born and spent my childhood years near the beach at the foot of a mountain. Compared to my city life now, it was one of my great years. Sometimes, I wish that I can turn back time and be a kid again climbing trees, riding a carabao, rock the beach and hike the mountains. The serenity you’ll find in the province is incomparable and such kind of life is just a history now for those who live in the city sorrounded with noise and air pollutions.

I grew up with lots of friends, the field and the sea was an extension of our playground. The photo above is an old picture of our barrio, Caranan. I am planning to visit my hometown before the year end and I promise to take some photos so I can share with you the beauty of that place. This little barrio where I came from is called Pasacao located at the province of Camarines Sur (Bicol Region), Southern part of the Philippines. It is just a tiny dot in our map but now it is already tagged as the Summer Capital of Camarines Sur. Recently, as I watched the TV, I learned that it is beginning to attract tourists because of the Dolphins. Many local and foreign tourists are starting to crowd the area for Dolphin watching. I never experienced it yet and I’m looking forward to watch it myself.My hometown is almost 10 hours drive from Manila. You can reach it by bus, train and airplaine (45mins). The fare from Manila is around 700 to 1000php depending on the Bus service. Aircon buses with CR and Snacks are much higher. It would take at least 8 to 12 hours drive depending on the traffic. Train is the cheapest, just around 450php but because of its poor services and maintenance, the government closed the Bicol Trip temporarily and promised to rehabilitate it.

Most of the Bus heading to Bicol region can be found at Pasay area, Alimall Cubao and along the EDSA. To name a few, Penafrancia Tours, Executive Carriers, Philtranco, Raymond, Amihan and many more.. You can book anytime or just walk in. But during peak season, especially on November (all saints day), Christmas season, New Year, Holy Week, Penafrancia Fiesta and school opening, I advise you to book your trip in advance.

I’ll tell you some of the famous landmark in my province in my future posts.

JBCPEN