More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
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| https://philstar.com/headlines/2024/11/21/2401899/filipinos-prowl-permanent-migrants-post-pandemic |
A Philippine Airlines flight queue of 30 wheelchairs paraded a new face of the Filipino overseas exodus.
That’s a lot of wheelchairs, according to migration researcher Dr. Jocelyn Celero — with her eyes popping at that unusual sight in Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last March. “In that [Los Angeles-bound] flight with them, embarkation took two hours.”
Those mostly elderly-aged vacationing Filipino migrants were permanent settlers in the United States, and were then vacationing in the country to annually confirm their profiles with the Philippine Social Security System (SSS). Some of these vacationing Filipinos (balikbayan, as called in Filipino) even monitored their real properties here.
“That will be the trend,” Celero added, not referring to more wheelchaired passengers but to rising immigration to countries with favorable settlement and naturalization opportunities.
The United States is among those countries with enticing permanent migration opportunities that prevailed whether prior to, during, or after the COVID-19 pandemic. The US is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) bloc of countries which received six million new permanent migration flows in 2021 and 2022.
Within those first two years of the pandemic, the estimated six million new permanent migration flows include over 140,000 Filipinos.
Data from OECD's 2024 International Migration Outlook report showed that over six million new permanent migrants entered the OECD countries as per these countries’ 2022 immigration data.
The over 140,600 Filipinos who entered these countries were among the leading nationalities in 12 of the 37 OECD countries. Leading the pack are the Filipinos who entered the US (36,300 in 2022), Japan (34,400), Canada (22,100), Korea (13,600) and Australia (13,400).
Citing 2021-2022 data, the Philippines ranked 14th among origin countries in terms of "new immigrants to the OECD". India, China and the Russian Federation lead this group of countries.
The rising numbers that cited up to 2022 data came as the Philippines experienced declines in the deployment of migrant workers, and in the exit of registered Filipino emigrants, in 2020 given the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 exodus of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) or temporary migrant workers (549,841), of registered Filipino emigrants (15,703), and of Filipino spouses of foreign nationals (4,964) reflected 73-to-75 percent drops from 2019 figures, data from DMW and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) show.
But come 2021 and 2022, these three types of overseas Filipinos went up when the borders of host countries re-opened. The deployed OFWs reached 742,796 in 2021, 1,205,668 in 2022, and a historic high of 2,330,720 last year, DMW data showed
CFO’s data on permanent residents saw a slight 5.11 increase in 2021 (16,505) and a 147.1 percent uptick in 2022 (40,784). The number of Filipino spouses of foreign nationals even deceased in 2022 (4,891) but went up in 2023 (6,854), CFO data also show.
While Celero saw “the longest line of wheelchairs ever” in any international flight she took, she didn’t want to rain on these compatriots’ parades as permanent settlers and naturalized citizens--and the many more Filipinos following suit.
Of course there are better opportunities abroad. And don't forget the DFA says the OFW program is the country's soft power, a way to influence host nations in the Philippines favour.
I previously highlighted the upcoming documentary Nurse Unseen about Pinoy nurses during the pandemic in the USA. Now Fil-Am comedian Jo Koy has jumped aboard as producer.
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| https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2024/11/21/jo-koy-to-produce-documentary-about-pinoy-nurses-bravery-during-pandemic-2222 |
Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy will be an executive producer for the upcoming documentary Nurse Unseen.
Deadline reported that the documentary delves into the untold stories and resilience of Filipino nurses who risked their lives on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, all while confronting a surge in anti-Asian hate.
Nurse Unseen also sheds light on the colonial history between the Philippines and the United States, which has positioned Filipino nurses as the unrecognized foundation of the U.S. and global healthcare systems.
"There is a reason why I talk about Filipino nurses in my stand-up as I have so many family members in the healthcare system. They are some of the hardest working people and have filled the gaps in medical facilities that are frequently understaffed and under-resourced. I’m proud to help shine a light on their heroism," Jo Koy remarked.
The comedian also took to social media to express his excitement about the project.
"Nursing is a big part of my Filipino community. So happy to be a part of this project," Jo Koy posted on his Instagram page.
Fans online were also quick to express their excitement about the project.
"Incredible and as the son of a nurse and a fan I can’t wait to watch!" one fan commented.
"This is so meaningful for our community," another fan said.
Back in 2022, Jo Koy also headlined Easter Sunday, a Hollywood film that puts the spotlight of Filipinos and Filipino-American culture.
In a past interview with Inquirer, Jo Koy explained why he considers representing Filipinos in mainstream Hollywood an important feat.
"For the most part, you don’t really get offers for these roles—they simply don’t exist. So, all you can do is pitch your stories and hope to God somebody would be willing to help you realize your pitch, especially when you’re not the majority color," he explained.
Jo Koy added: "If you’re Filipino, you won’t get any offers, so you’ve got to create your own idea and figure out a story that they’d be willing to support. That’s why I also want to have my hands behind the camera, to help open doors for others."
I thought this movie was already made and screening but apparently it still needs an executive producer.
The government is being urged to expand its biggest scholarship program in order to ease crowded public schools.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/11/24/2402559/government-urged-expand-coverage-biggest-scholarship-program/amp/ |
The government needs to expand the coverage of its biggest scholarship program to help thin out overcrowded public schools, a group of Christian denomination-run private schools said over the weekend.
The Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) said the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) needs to cover more underprivileged students, which could encourage more parents to move their children from public to private schools.
“We are partners in progress. With its critical role in sustaining private Christian education in the Philippines, the GASTPE aligns with our mission to serve with compassion and integrity,” ACSCU president Betty Cernol-McCann said.
The GASTPE program currently covers junior high school and senior high school. It was intended to provide financial assistance to students and teachers, improve access to quality education and decongest public schools.
“In the last school year, member schools collectively served over 3,600 beneficiaries under the GASTPE program,” Cernol-McCann said.
“This level of support is a testament not only to the program’s reach, but also its impact. Many of our graduates, who were once GASTPE beneficiaries, have gone on to become leaders in their communities and industries. Their successes speak to the quality of education they received, and the opportunities made possible by GASTPE,” she added.
GASTPE initiatives include Education Service Contracting (ESC), Teachers’ Salary Subsidy, Senior High School Voucher Program and In-Service Training.
The ESC is deemed a cost-effective alternative to public school expansion, where decongestion is achieved through service contracts with private schools for the latter to accommodate the overflow of students from public schools and from communities with no public schools.
“The (GASTPE) program has also provided significant support to our teachers and educational staff. Financial resources have facilitated training and development programs, ensuring that our educators can continually adapt to evolving educational needs,” Cernol-McCann said.
This assistance was most pronounced during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the GASTPE funding helped schools transition to blended and distance learning models.
The ACSCU has 118 member-schools across the country, which have served 12.45 million student-grantees since 1989.
More assistance was given during the pandemic but now that's over the program has trailed off.
The Philippines' largest delegation to the World Travel Market since the pandemic has netted P436 million in sales lead.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1238635 |
The Philippines generated over PHP436 million in sales lead at the 2024 World Travel Market (WTM) held in London, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.
The Philippine delegation secured a total of 466 sales leads and 41 onsite bookings during the Nov. 5 to 7 event, the DOT said.
The sales lead marked an increase of over PHP178 million from last year’s participation.
The delegation, led by the DOT and the Tourism Promotions Board, was the country’s largest since the pandemic, composed of 22 private sector exhibitors, including tour operators, destination management companies and hotels and resorts.
They were joined by representatives from the Aklan Provincial Government, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Philippine Retirement Authority.
The Philippine Pavilion attracted attention from major media outlets and key tourism stakeholders.
On top of the usual sun and beach destination, the Philippines also showcased its unique experiential travel offering through packages focused on cultural immersions, festivals, the creative arts, health and wellness, gastronomy and other offerings.
“Today's travelers seek immersive experiences, evolving from years like seeing to a quest for authentic experiences, and this is precisely what we are able to offer in the Philippines,” DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement.
Maybe this will help the Philippines tourism sector fully recover.
Two more events are back since the end of the pandemic. First is Honda's Riders' Convention.
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| https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/11/26/fast-times/honda-ph-hosts-riders-convention-after-pandemic-break/2010380 |
HONDA Philippines Inc. recently brought together thousands of passionate Honda riders across Luzon for the 4th Honda Riders' Convention, marking an exciting return post-pandemic. The convention celebrated Honda's legacy and strong connection with its loyal community, highlighting why Honda remains the top motorcycle brand in the Philippines.
The event was packed with activities, including a motor show showcasing accessorized Honda bikes, an off-road adventure, and a visit to Honda's technology center, where attendees explored innovations like the e-clutch system and Road Sync features. Riders had a chance to test Honda's full lineup, including commuter bikes, big bikes, the electric EM1 e:, and off-road models.
In addition to rides, visitors enjoyed discounts on gear and accessories, fun booth games, and free massages. Honda also honored its club leaders for promoting road safety, with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority awarding Honda a citation for the efforts. Honda Philippines President Sayaka Arai even joined an off-road test ride alongside legendary rider Jovie Saulog and up-and-coming motocross rider Sharlet Gallarde.
The program featured stage games, a segment with PVL star Michelle Gumabao, and exciting raffles, with a Honda CB500F Big Bike as the grand prize. The band Orange & Lemons capped off the event with a lively performance."This event showcases Honda's commitment to excellence and joy for our community," said Arai. Featuring Honda's newest models, including the Click160 and the electric EM1 e:, the convention was more than just a gathering. It reinforced Honda's connection with its riders and their shared passion for the brand, ensuring Honda's place in their hearts for years to come.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1238688 |
Five contingents will banner the Philippines’ fourth hosting of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area) Friendship Games in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Dec. 1 to 5.
The Philippine teams are Mindanao A, Mindanao B, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Puerto Princesa City and Palawan.
The 11th edition of the BIMP-EAGA Games was canceled when the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020.
The Philippines’ previous hostings were the inaugural edition in General Santos City in 1996, Puerto Princesa in 2003 and General Santos City anew in 2012.
How many more events are still waiting to return since the pandemic ended?
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