P-Noy's MC No. 1

Memorandum Circular No. 1 may have been issued in a hurry by the fact that the said MC has been amended thrice. It can be recalled that the first major blunder committed by then President Estrada was when he issued Executive Order No. 1. After signing E.O. 1 (which makes the term of office of all those coterminous with FVR's administration to end on June 30 1998 - without regard to the hold-overs and despite unwritten agreement for the hold-overs left behind - to properly turn over the projects and people down the line). Many appointees during the Estrada Administration were allegedly without extensive government experience. A year thereafter the cabinet was overhauled, little over two-year period, war broke out in Mindanao, allegations of corruption (jueteng) erupted, different factions from within the Presidency silently moves into different direction from within the circle of the Presidency, which resulted to political unrest. Barely a quarter after two years in Presidency - President Estrada was ousted in Office, escorted by his Chief of Staff out of Malacañang.

ADVOCACIES . . .

It was more than two years ago that we advocated for the intercession of the Divine for our country to unite towards a common goal in the POWER OF YOUR LOVE, where we prayed for a day to come for our country to move as one towards a common vision for a peaceful, well meaningful, economically stable and environmentally sound governance of our nation and its people, destroyed by the decaying moral fiber of our society and lack of sense of patriotism. In our post, WHAT AN IRONY, we expressed how we suffered so much because of the catastrophe brought about by Typhoon Ondoy and Peping, poor strategic planning and how we should move as one to help those who are in need in "The Sprit of Volunterism". Prior to that, we advocated on how a simple person, a driver at that, could make a difference in the lives of our fellowmen within and without the government. We also advocated for IT intervention of CS Examination to facilitate effective, efficient and speedy administration of CS Examination. In support of the Gender Advocacy movement: we advocated for Anti-Smoking Campaign where we talked about how smoking affects our economic growth and as early as May 2009 have been advocating for transparency in government transaction through IT intervention. In support of the advocacy against violence on women, we advocated to be vigilant on crimes against human trafficiking. We are thankful that our advocacy are being heard by policy makers.

Lately, days after our post on human trafficiking, the newly installed US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr., brought forth to our attention the problem on human trafficking in a column of Rina Jimenez-David at the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Experts, however, agrees that the key area that could solve the problem in our society is "POVERTY", which we are now advocating through "GOOD GOVERNANCE". We hope that the good US Ambassador recommends to their government to re-channel the P 11.4 billion non-humanitarian and non-trade assistance to address poverty issues thru good governance and allocates some to address issues concerning prosecution of offenses involving human trafficking and empowerment of witnesses, including corrupt prosecutors and magistrates - rather than warning us to lose the same merely because our country is at "Tier 2 Watch List" in the current edition of the US Department's "Trafficking in Person's Report" (as if interfering with our sovereignty) - with utmost due respect to the good Ambassador.

Bohol Experience with Mr. Johnny Torralba . . .

[After a day's work going over most of the towns in the Province of Bohol, a tiring day, after which a dinner with Manong Johnny Torralba and Romeo Terruel of the Province of Bohol's Special Projects Unit. This humble person and their organization helped so many Boholanos, silently.]

It was providential that in documenting the Tagbilaran Church on our way to visit 7 beautifully architectured Churches in Bohol dating back to the 17th century while going over to our destination to conduct area assessment and evaluation of the Province, we met Mr. Johnny Torralba along the way, who is about to leave. Mr. Johnny Torralba was the former President of the Association of Boholanos in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America (for 11 years) and the former Chief Executive Officer of Confederation of the Boholanos in the USA and Canada (CONBUSAC), which have been helping Bohol's development through the years. It's a rare opportunity to have a dinner with this man, who has been to different countries all over the world implementing developmental projects in third world countries while with the United Nations Development Program.

To Manong Johnny, thank you very much! Herewith is the message of Manong Johnny to all the Boholanos all over the world, to Manong Johnny and all the Boholanos:

BOHOL EXPERIENCE . . . A Special Edition

(A briefing with BGen. Alan R. Luga, the Commanding General of the 802nd Brigade, 8th Infantry Division based in Carmen, Bohol, with the Special Project Team of the Bohol Provincial Office, Mr. Romeo Terruel, on the peace and order situation in Bohol)

Bohol is a such a peaceful and progressive province. It was declared as an insurgent free province. Its tourism industry is booming with more than 500,000 yearly arrivals. It has a rice sufficiency level of 110% even during the height of the Il Niño Phenomenon and the rice crisis. All sectors in the province participates in all aspect of its development. In fact, many government officials from third world countries visits Bohol to study how did the province made it - from the 20 poorest province in the country to a progressive, peaceful and a prime tourist destination province with a well balanced and sustainable development. How did Bohol made it shall be a subject of our special presentation . . .

Mga Likhang Handog Para sa Kababaihan

"THE CSC's GAWAD KAWAYAN AWARD"

(Dir. II Hedy Lardizabal, CSC Region I [2nd from left] with Commissioner
May Ann Z. Fernandez-Mendoza and Chairman Franciso T. Duque III)

Every year the Civil Service Commission celebrates "Piknik sa Kalikasan", a program held annually at CSC grounds to recognize officials and employees who made extra ordinary contribution to mainstream gender equality in the Civil Service, the "Gawad Kawayan Award". For this year, Director II Hedy Lardizabal of CSC Region I was awarded the "Gawad Kawayan Para sa Katangi-Katanging Tagapagtaguyod ng GAD" for incorporating GAD advocacy topics whenever CSCRO I conducts Supervisory Development Course and Values Orientation Workshop in the Region.

(CSC-ARMM Officer-In-Charge Resurrection Pueyo with Commissioner
May Ann Z. Fernandez-Mendoza and Chairman Franciso T. Duque III)

CSC Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (CSC-ARMM), on the other hand, was awarded the "Gawad Kawayan Para sa Katangi-Tanging Ambag sa Pagpapalawig ng GAD", for promoting woman empowerment by recognizing women executives in ARMM through Regional Outstanding Lady Executive (ROLEX) Awards Program.

Compendium of Sexual
Harrassment Cases

The Office for Legal Affairs of the Civil Service Commission, a two time winner of the Gawad Kawayan Award in the past years, recently published Volume II of its "Compendium of Sexual Harassment Cases". One among the contributors in the drafting and publishing of the book was Atty. Elbert L. Bunagan, who teaches law subjects at the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) and an experienced book review consultant, who formerly worked with Rex Bookstore and other publishing houses. "The book is a product of the collaborative efforts of Commissioner Cesar D. Buenaflor, who was then the Acting Chariman of the Commission, Commissioner Mary Ann Z. Fernandez-Mendoza, Director IV Ariel G. Ronquillo, Director III Alexis P. Tabino, Director III Noreen Boots Gocon-Gragasin, Director III Ma. Theresa C. Fernandez, Atty. Elbert L. Bunagan, Mr. Edger P. Asuncion, Mr. Ronnie S. Villa, Ms. Melanie B. Guanzon, Mr. Abdullah M. Datu-Dacula, Mr. Vladimir E. Villacorta and Ms. Jovy Ancheta. The book is very informative. To some, its entertaining. To others, its interesting! iThe book is already available at the Public Information and Assistance Office of the Civil Service Commission Main Office at Batasan Hill.

KANTANG HANDOG PARA SA KABABAIHAN
NI EMIL GAPIT @ GIL COSTES

ANNOUNCEMENT:

HUMOR ME MAKOY CONTEST $300.00 CASH PRIZE!

Special Edition: An interview with Bella Dimayuga

WOMEN's MONTH CELEBRATION

Kapihan @ Kwentuhan sa
Tagumpay ng Mga Kababaihan

AN INTERVIEW WITH BELLA DIMAYUGA and
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

It was more than two years ago, sometime in 2007, when Jerry Hawe and Troop Edmunds rescued Troop's niece, Lani Ejercito, a Filipina in Palimbang, Malaysia. The rescue which was documented by Dateline NBC News caught the attention of the blogging community that many Flipino bloggers advocated to pressure the government to take more drastic action against human traffickers and strict implementation of the Anti-Trafficking Law to protect Filipino Women. It was in 2008 when law enforcement agencies conducted a crackdown and series of arrests against human traffickers in the country. Some women in Malaysia were also rescued. Those in the private sector, from abroad, conducted outreach seminars and programs to educate Filipinos on how to apply for work, migrate or enter the United States, legally. After which, others shared their knowledge and experience on Criminal Exploitation of Women and Children in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Sister Bella Dimayuga, who has been training, developing and managing thousands of Filipino entertainers and talents to be sent abroad for more than four decades , having been in the entertainment industry herself for more than six decades, in cooperation with the Gender Advocacy Networking Group of the Civil Service Commission, shares with us her insights and experience on how she trains Filipino talents and migrant workers bound abroad to prepare them and keep them strong, not to be lured from temptations while abroad, especially those in the entertainment industry. It is a rare opportunity to hear this woman speaks of her advocacy. Filipinos can!

Kapihan at Kwentuhan sa Tagumpay ng mga Kababaihan . . .

[Sister Bella Dimayuga, President of the Bellestar Promotions receives a token from CSC Commissioner Cesar D. Buenaflor and Mary Ann Z. Fernandez Mendoza as Ombudsman Merceditas Navarro-Guitierrez looks on]

In commemoration of the Women's month celebration, the Civil Service Commission's Gender Advocacy Networking Group, headed by Dir. III Noreen Boots Gocon-Gragacin and Zeny Dinsay, both from the CSC's Office for Personnel Management and Development (OPMD) with the members of the group organized a simple, but meaningful, touching and elegantly prepared program: "Kapihan at Kwentuhan sa Tagumpay ng mga Kababaihan" to honor Filipino Women who made a difference in the lives of their countrymen. It might have been the first time that the CSC invited an icon in the entertainment industry, whose experience in the in her field of endeavor spans for over six decades. She started dancing at the age of four and made her first public performance at the age of six, until she ventured into talent management, development and promotions, then sent thousands of Filipino entertainers to Japan, Las Vegas and other countries all over the world.

A woman of passion, strength and perseverance, who believes in the capacity of Filipinos in their respective field of calling wherever they are all over the world, to serve God, their family, fellowmen and country. The woman we are referring to, is no other than Miss Bella Dimayuga, whom we call "Sister Bella", the President of the world renowned Bellestar Promotions. For those of you who have not witnessed this once in a lifetime public revelation of her secret to success . . . (TO BE CONTINUED)

Know more about the Philippine government's effort against : HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ANNOUNCEMENT: Silliman University's College of Law Graduates
Batch 88' Class Reunion.

Please contact : JAENA LAGUDA in FACEBOOK.

HAPPY WOMEN's MONTH! GALI KOREN Anaheim, California, USA