OFW MOST AWAITED HOMECOMING

This video represent the life of Overseas Filipino Workers. I hope this will enlighten every Filipino about the sacrifices they are facing in search for greener pasture in order to give their family better life.

10 things Juan dela Cruz needs to know about economy in ’10

A new year always gives us that feeling that better days are up ahead.
But the most practiced soothsayer will struggle to make any detailed predictions for 2010, especially about the markets.

Thus, what I’m offering here are not jaw-dropping revelations, but a list of some facets of the economy that Filipinos may want to think about this year.

1. Why should I be personally concerned about the widening budget gap? How will that affect me and my family if I were a salaried employee, a businessman or an OFW?

A widening budget gap means less government spending on social services, infrastructure and other services.

The government may opt to borrow more to fund its shortfall to maintain the delivery of its services. However, this could push interest rates or cost of doing business higher. Higher costs of doing business would mean less income for companies.

For Juan dela Cruz, this could mean some adjustments in costs of living and a salary increase may be hard to get.

2. Will the peso-dollar rate go up or down this year?

The general trend will still be favorable for the peso.

The Balance of Payments (BOP) is expected to post a higher surplus, fundamentally supported by OFW remittances, increased capital inflows, and revived exports.

Our Gross International Reserves (GIR) should remain at record levels, adequately covering import requirements.

Other factors that would contribute to the strong peso is the weak dollar in the medium term. We are looking at 46 by the end of the year.

3. Will food prices go up or down apart from seasonal fluctuations?
The calamities during the last quarter of 2009 resulted in an increase in food prices and this may last until the end of the first half if the El Niño phenomenon strikes.

However, food prices are expected to normalize toward the end of the year.

We are looking at a 3.5-percent inflation for 2010.

4. Will the rest of the world recover economically, so much so that they will need more OFWs? Which countries will recover faster?
Yes. The global economic recovery has begun. Strong indicators of rising economic activity have supported the rise in the global financial markets.

However, the United States and the rest of the world are still far away from full recovery, as unemployment remains high and demand has not returned to pre-crisis levels.

Indeed the economies in the region are still quite fragile, but financial stability is slowly being regained.

Asia is leading the economic recovery. Despite the slow recovery, demand for OFW remains resilient.

5. For those wanting to relocate from Manila, where in the Philippines is it good to go to in terms of job opportunities, lower food prices, housing, etc., and still have Internet access, movies etc?

The key cities in the south, mainly Cebu, Davao and Cagayan De Oro, as these are now being eyed as hubs for business process outsourcing offices.

These cities have infrastructure comparative to Manila.

6. By how much can this year’s elections lift the GDP? Which industries in particular will benefit from the polls?

Roughly by 0.5 percent, 2 percent for full year 2010. The services sector, transport and communications, trade and manufacturing are the main beneficiaries of this election exercise.

7. Will the next president be forced to raise taxes to increase revenues?

Without giving much thought, No! There is no need to immediately raise taxes. He only has to plug the tax leakages on the e-vat and enhance revenue collection activities.

These actions could offset the equivalent amount of revenues raised from an increase in the e-vat. However, this would take time and would not get immediate results.

So, personally, I think the next president should raise taxes. This could come in the form of increasing the E-VAT from 12 to 15 percent.
This should allow the new administration to implement its program for the country. How can one implement when there are no funds in the government coffers? I view the country as a patient that is recovering from an illness but still needs medication. Otherwise, the patient could have a relapse. Although, enhancing the revenue collecting measures could do the trick, but increasing the e-vat is the fastest route to progress.

8. Will President Arroyo leave the country better off in June, when she steps down from office, compared to January 2001 when she replaced Estrada?

One may conclude that she will leave the office in a better position than when she started.

But wait a minute. Under her administration, the national debt grew by 107 percent. This is the price for an average economic growth of 4.7 percent under her term compared to Estrada’s 2.3 percent.
Definitely, the growth rate is far better.

However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Friends, ask yourselves, do you feel richer today than in 2001?

9. What economic problems will the next president of the Philippines have to face by July this year?

The new administration will be faced by a fiscal crisis as government revenues wane. The need to cure it is almost immediate. He needs the necessary funding to be able to provide the social services, infrastructure and job creation to help alleviate poverty.

Thus, the next president should have bold measures to enhance government coffers, determination to get the job done and the oratory skills to be able to communicate to every Filipino that to be able to alleviate poverty, it involves a lot of pain and suffering, which includes raising the taxes.

10. If I had a little money to invest, where should I place it? In T-bills, bonds or UITFs?

Treasury Bills or T-bills will be on the top of the list, since they are deemed safe and secure. For those who have excess cash and can risk more, there are other investments that one can go for such as longer-dated government issued bonds, stocks and Unit Investment Trust Funds or simply UITFs.

(The author is a financial analyst of Banco de Oro. Opinions expressed in this article are of the author’s and do not reflect the views of his affiliated institution.)

By Jonathan L. Ravelas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:22:00 02/07/2010

MPD warns anew vs. illegal recruiters as 1 suspect falls

Fresh warning against sweet-talking illegal recruiters operating in the provinces has been raised by the Manila Police District (MPD) following the arrest of a recruiter in Ermita, Manila, who allegedly duped four people with their money totaling P500,000 in exchange for non-existent jobs in Italy.

Superintendent Jose Hidalgo, head of Manila Police District-Station 5 (Ermita), made the alarm as he told Tempo that cases of illegal recruitment for jobs abroad are once again on the rise, so, job applicants should be wary.

“These illegal recruiters pose as representatives of employers abroad and tell their prospects they can facilitate their deployment for high-paying jobs abroad through their connections with the government and embassies,” he said.

Hidalgo identified the arrested suspect as EP Carmona, owner of the EP Carmona Consultancy at Room 603 in Gamito Building, Arquiza corner Alhambra Streets.

He was arrested following the complaint of Helen De Chavez, 35; Vernice Canta, 34; Jay Hayag, 23; and Resentacion Nuestro, 53, all natives of Quezon province.

Authorities also launched a hunt against a certain Divina Gumbol, recruitment officer of the recruitment agency, the official said.

Based on the report of Senior Police Officer 4 Cenon Parungao, of MPD-Station 5, the suspect was arrested at 7:15 p.m. on Friday inside the recruitment agency.

The complainants said Gumbol allegedly promised them highpaying jobs in Italy if they could pay a processing fee to the recruitment agency.

Parungao said the fee ranges from P55,000 to P150,000 depending on what job the complainants want to have in Italy.

They claimed that the agency has collected a total of P525,467 from them, but the company has yet to fulfill its promise.

Their failure to leave for abroad despite paying the processing fee had prompted the four complainants to go to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and found that recruitment agency is not accredited to send people abroad.

“It was already too late when they verified from the POEA that the agency is not authorized to recruit workers from abroad,” Parungao said.

Parungao said they are set to file four counts of large-scale estafa and illegal recruitment against Carmona and Gumbol.

Source: Leonard D. Postrado

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=52804

Philippines – RP Embassy in London Issues Warning on Dubious Online Job Offers

The Philippine Embassy in London issued an advisory for Filipino online jobseekers looking for employment in the United Kingdom, advising them to be more cautious in view of the rampant cases of bogus internet job offers.

They should be wary of attractive jobs offered by the employers or their agents who would ask applicants to remit a certain amount of money purportedly to pay for the processing of their visas or work permits and other travel-related expenses.

The Embassy, through the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), urges all Filipino jobseekers to be more discerning as these internet job offers come in various schemes to defraud them of their hard-earned money.

Among the UK jobs which have been offered to Filipino applicants lately include positions like nannies, au pair, hotel staff, store managers, salespersons and engineers.

The following information/advisory should serve as a guide to UK-bound Filipino jobseekers:

o To ascertain the authenticity of job orders, employment contracts as well as the legitimacy of UK employers, Filipino jobseekers are advised to check with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). They may also send their email-request for verification by POLO London at polo.london@yahoo.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . It is not enough to know if the employers really exist or that the jobs are available. Filipino jobseekers should also verify for themselves by using internet search engines like Google or contacting the UK employers directly through their official websites;

o Filipino jobseekers who have been ‘offered’ positions through the Internet should advise their prospective UK employers to submit the original copies of their employment documents to the POLO Office, Philippine Embassy in London for verification and authentication. For their part, they should not rely on scanned documents sent to them by emails such as employment contract, appointment letters and the like, as most of these are found to be forged or fabricated;

o Job offers requiring applicants to pay or remit money are highly suspicious. Charging of fees, including payment for visa and ‘work permit’ expenses are generally prohibited under the UK employment regulations;

o The new UK Points-Based Immigration System has done away with the work permit requirement, and is now replaced by the certificate of sponsorship. To be able to issue a certificate of sponsorship in favor of a candidate or applicant, the prospective UK employer should be duly licensed as a sponsor by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). Filipino jobseekers should verify the status of their prospective employers in the list of sponsors which can be found at the UKBA website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. Payment for the certificate of sponsorship is also shouldered by the UK employer;

o Application for UK visa is done in the country of origin (i.e., at the British Embassy in Manila), and not in the UK. Visas are issued based on the points criteria for qualifications, prospective earnings, maintenance funds and English language proficiency. Since the visas are applied at and issued by the British Embassy in Manila, applicants should not give credence to the scanned copies of visas purportedly applied in their behalf by their employer’s agents, including immigration consultants, solicitors or travel agents;

o As to the hiring of nannies or domestic workers, it is an important requirement for purposes of domestic worker visa application that the candidate must have worked with the sponsoring employer for at least one year prior to the date of application. Hence, to qualify to come to the UK to work as a nanny or domestic worker, the Filipino applicant must be an established member of the employer’s household. The visa is also applied at the British Embassy in Manila;

o On hiring of au pair, it is advised that no au pair visas will be issued by the British Embassy to Filipino nationals, since the Philippines had never been included in the UK’s list of au pair countries. In addition, the au pair visa scheme was abolished effective on November 26, 2008 and has been replaced by the Youth Mobility Scheme under the new UK Points-Based System.

source: http://www.isria.com/pages/5_February_2010_81.php

Welfare funds intact, OWWA assures OFWs

Welfare funds intact, OWWA assures OFWs GMA news.tv … of Budget and Management, the Department of Finance, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs. …

Man O Man, Your Thoughts

When without money, keep pigs;
When have money, keep dogs.

When without money, eat at home with wife;
When have money, dine in fine restaurant.

When without money, ride bicycle;When have money, ride exercise machine.

When without money, wish to get married;
When have money, wish to get divorced.

When without money, wife becomes secretary;
When have money, secretary becomes “wife”.

When without money, act like rich man;
When with money, act like poor man.

Man, O Man, never tells the truth:

Says sharemarket is bad but keeps speculating;
Says money is evil but keeps accumulating.

Says women are trouble-makers but keeps desiring them;
Says high positions are lonely but keeps wanting them.

Says smoking & drinking is bad but keeps partaking;
Says heaven is good but refused to go.

In the past, woman gives man their virginity;
Now, woman gives man their newborn.

In the rural area, chicken calls man awake;
In the cities, man calls for “chickens” cum pros…….

In the past, famous actresses will not sell their bodies;
Now, actresses will sell their bodies to get famous

What is life about?

1 At one, YOU are the top priority

10 At ten, academic excellence is the top priority

20At twenty, getting laid is the top priority

30 At thirty, a good career is top priority

40At forty, keeping your body in shape is top priority

50 At fi! fty, bea ting others at mahjong is top priority

60 At sixty, keeping IT up is top priority

70At seventy, remembering something is top priority

80 At eighty, moving around is top priority

90 At ninety, knowing directions is top priority

100  At 100, having your portrait on the wall is top priority!

Mandatory Pag-IBIG coverage for OFWs dropped

The government’s savings and shelter financing agency has withdrawn its original plan to impose mandatory membership for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) as a requirement to process their employment papers, a Hong Kong-based group said Wednesday.

In a statement, the Hong Kong chapter of a women’s rights group said Pag-IBIG chief executive officer Jaime Fabiaña declared that they would not force OFWs to become members of Pag-IBIG, nor will it be made a requirement to process their documents.

Gabriela-HK chairperson Cynthia Abdon-Tellez said Fabiaña announced this in a forum with leaders of OFW organizations on February 1 at the Philippine Consulate General in the Chinese territory.

“It is a victory for the vigilant OFWs resisting schemes of government exaction. While the Arroyo government is bent on squeezing more income from our labor, we shall always be there to fight its schemes every step of the way,” Tellez said.

Republic Act (RA) 9679 or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law, which took effect in January, mandates a monthly P100-contribution from members for such benefits as savings, short-term loans and housing loans. The law’s coverage was expanded to include, among others, Filipino workers employed abroad or here in the country by foreign employers.

Protests from OFWs, however, prompted Fabiaña to say that they would not be forced to become members, Tellez said.

According to Tellez, the plan to make Pag-IBIG a mandatory requirement for OFWs came on the heels of their successful campaign to oppose the forced membership of OFWs to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to enable them to get an overseas employment certificate.

Since November last year, a moratorium has been imposed on the mandatory OWWA collection as a requirement for the certificate, she added.

Tellez also hit the government for being a “consistent extortionist” of OFWs, noting that government exaction intensifies especially at the onset of every national elections.

“Just before the 2007 elections, the POEA Guidelines on hiring Filipino household workers was implemented that carried provisions for training and accreditation requirements which translated to more fees for migrant Filipinos. Now, a few months before the 2010 polls, here comes the mandatory Pag-IBIG membership,” Tellez added.

The group also recalled that in 2004, the government forced the transfer of the OWWA Medicare Fund to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. at the request of then PhilHealth head Francisco Duque.

On February 7, Tellez said her group will stage a rally to call for the scrapping of the provision in RA 9679 on mandatory Pag-IBIG membership. - KBK, GMANews.TV

Courtesy: JERRIE ABELLA, GMANews.TV

OFWs now covered by Pag-IBIG program

 

FILIPINO workers from formal and informal sectors here and abroad are now considered as members of Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund with the passage of R.A. 9679 (Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009) which took effect last month.

Jaime A. Fabiaña, HDMF chief executive officer, said the employees include those compulsorily covered by SSS; employees who are subject to mandatory coverage by Government Service Insurance System; uniformed members of the AFP, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the PNP, Overseas Filipino Workers, and Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers, whether deployed here or abroad.

Membership of OFWs used to be voluntary under the old Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, with terms of five, 10, 15 and 20 years.

Fabiana urged Hong Kong-based Filipinos in a meeting Sunday to avail of the membership.

“Be a Pag-IBIG member and secure a bright future for yourself. Your savings with the Fund earn double and even triple. These savings are guaranteed by the government and earn tax-free dividends. More importantly, as a member you have access to benefits no banks can give such as the lowest interest housing loans, fast salary loans and reliable calamity loans.”

Members’ contributions are credited to their savings or the total accumulated value that earn dividends and fully guaranteed by the national government.

In 2009, Pag-IBIG declared tax-free dividends amounting to P8.5 billion with a dividend rate of 5 percent.

“At this dividend rate, an OFW member will generate savings amounting to P40,753 if he contributes P100 monthly for 20 years; P81,507 if he contributes P200; and P203,768 at P500 a month. The bigger the contribution, the bigger the savings,” Fabiana said.

OFW-members can also avail of short-term loans that will help address immediate financial needs such tuition fees, hospital bills, appliance purchases, minor home repairs, and even for small business capital.

A member of good standing is eligible to avail of a home financing loan that has an interest rate of as low as six percent to 11.5% payable in 30 years. The maximum loan amount is P3 million. The loan can be used for the purchase of a fully developed lot within a residential area not exceeding 1,000 sq.m., purchase of a residential house and lot, townhouse or condominium unit, construction or completion of a residential unit on a lot owned by the member, home improvement and refinancing of an existing loan.

courtesy of : http://www.malaya.com.ph/02022010/news10.html

Police Officer 3 Judith Daria-Olbes-Sorsogon police officer named to TOPWP 2009

  by Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon Province (1 February) — Police Officer 3 Judith Daria-Olbes, non-commissioned officer of the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (SPPO) was named among the 8th Search of the Ten Outstanding Police Women of the Year (TOPWP) 2009.

Olbes is the first lady law enforcer in this province feted with said recognition receiving the TOPWP Kabalikat Awards trophy.

She also received cash prize from ZONTA Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas Foundation, gift certificate from the Arms Corporation Philippines (ARMSCOR) and the Outstanding Achievement Medal from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PSSupt. Heriberto Olitoquit, police provincial director here, stated that among hundreds of nominees from the police commissioned and non-commissioned officers across the country, 28 were chosen finalists and wherefore named the deserving ten outstanding police women of the country.

“Olbes indeed deserves the recognition considering her dedication and exemplary work significantly contributing to the cause of peace and order in the local community,” related Olitoquit.

It can be recalled that Olbes was part of the successful implementation of PNP programs bridging the gap between the police and the community, including the Expanded Community Orienting Polishing System (ECOPS) that focused on the promotion of public’s health; “Kampo ng Bayan sa Lawasnon” showcasing sports development, as well as the maintenance of heightened security at the Sorsogon Baywalk.

Likewise, Olbes initiated the “Malusog na Bata, Malusog na Bansa” program targeting children in the remote barangays to be their feeding program recepients, the “Konting Tulong ni Mama at Aleng Pulis” where they chipped-in certain amount from their own pocket and used this to realize the “Kaarawang Handog ni Mama at Aleng Pulis” and the distribution of slippers, food and school supplies to children.

Olbes who is currently the SPPO’s Family Juvenile and Gender and Development PNCO is an active officer of Sorsogon Women’s Network and Development (SWND) and Visayan Forum Foundation respectively working on women and children’s welfare.

In an interview, Olbes, though didn’t expect she can really make it to the top, extends her utmost gratitude to the past provincial chiefs of SPPO including PSSupt Joel Regondola, PSSupt Henry Rañola and to PSSupt Heriberto Olitoquit, the present PD. “I am also grateful to PSupt Edgardo Ardales, Deputy Prov’l Director PSupt Elmer Ferreras and to the Non-Uniformed Personnel as well as the Police Non-Commissioned and Commissioned officers of SPPO,” she added.

Other awardees are: PSupt Lailene Amparo – Marilao Police Station, Bulacan Provincial Office (PO), Police Regional Office(PRO) 3; PCI Delia Ingalla – Taguig City PO, Southern Police District, NCRPO; PSI Lerma Tirana – Regional Police Community Relations Division, NCRPO; SPO1 Marifel Cortez – Butuan City PO, PRO 13; PO3 Zorayda Aripin – Zamboanga City PO, PRO 9; PO3 Ruth Poserio – Sta. Barbara Police Station, Pangasinan PRO, Police Regional Office 1; PO3 Lilybeth Pascual – WCPD PNCO-Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO), PRO 5; PO2 Famela Suba – Cabiao Police Station, Nueva Ecija PPO, PRO 3; PO2 Rina Salaya – Maasin Municipal Police Station, Iloilo PPO, PRO 6.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself conferred the award to the Ten Outstanding Police Women of the Philippines, Jan. 13, at Rizal Hall in Malacañang.

These awardees that make up this year’s TOPWP were chosen for the honor by the ZONTA Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas Foundation and the Philippine National Police. (PIA Sorsogon) [top]

DAR inaugurates P10-M irrigation facility system in Sorsogon

 

MANILA, Jan. 28 – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Thursday said it has teamed up with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to turn over a P10.2-million communal irrigation system (CIS) to the Banawang Irrigator’s Association in Casiguran, Sorsogon. 

The project is made possible through the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Project Phase II (ARISP II), which is funded by the government of Japan under the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC). 

In support of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), it delivers useful support services for the agrarian reform communities (ARC) nationwide to develop their lands. 

ARISP II is one of the highly recognized projects under the agency’s official development assistance (ODA) and has achieved a 96-percent accomplishment rate in its infrastructure development component. 

This represents 487 infrastructure sub-projects which includes 133 irrigation and drainage facilities, 184 farm-to-market roads, 82 rural water systems and 68 post harvest facilities such as solar dryers, warehouses and Agrarian Information and Marketing (AIM-C) buildings. 

The irrigation system covers a total of 28 hectares of riceland in Brgy. Tigbao and Banawang, Casiguran. 

With the irrigation’s completion, the rice production in the area rose up from 50 to 60 sacks per hectare to 80 to 90 sacks. 

“Our efforts to improve the small farmer’s level of productivity is paying off as we make you no longer dependent on the wet season as the sole source of water for your farms. Furthermore, the responsibility for its maintenance is in your hands.” Regional Director for Region V. Celestina Tam said during the turn over. 

With a gleeful heart, the farmer beneficiaries of the Casiguran ARC Cluster B accepted the facility promising to utilize it for the benefit of everyone concerned. Over a hundred farmer beneficiaries benefit from it. 

Salvador Hife, the association’s president said, “We have been waiting for this for years and we will be forever grateful to DAR and Japan for what they have given us.” (PNA)

 LDV/JCA

Building Communities

Sr. Maria Perpetua Bulawan, DC,

Literacy Worker

What is a good literacy implementer? Does she teach, clothe and feed over a thousand people? Does she bring them to the Lord and guide them through? It is all this and more. At the most fundamental level, she must ensure that the welfare of the people – in all its myriad guises – is fulfilled.

Sr. Maria Perpetua “Mapet” Bulwan DC, 38, of St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon (SLMCS), Sorsogon City has done just that – and still doing it. She has devoted her life to harnessing the talent and energies of the people in Sorsogon for productive use; and creating a society built on Christian ways. Sorsogon is the second poorest region in the country so her devotion to advance the status of the people is no mean feat.

She was rewarded a Special Recognition by the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) for her exemplary performance as a literacy worker of the Louise de Marillac Foundation, Inc. Community Extension Services (LMFI-CES), while her “Education for Life Program” got top honors during the 2008 LCC Recognition Day in Teachers Camp, Baguio City this September. In 2005, her program, “Literacy Intensification and Values Education” also got third place in the LCC Awards. Literacy has been her covenant – and she has never failed.

Tell us your secret, Sr. Mapet. The nun is on a roll.

The Education for Life Program

“There is no secret,” says Sr. Mapet while seated on a chair wearing a veil over her habit. “We just realigned the Foundation’s programs and services to the UN Development Goals and responded to the people through the alleviation of poverty and hunger, access to primary education, ministry to migrants and persons with Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS) diseases, environmental sustainability and many more,” she rattles in a voice that is heartbreakingly soft and measured.

SLMCS in Sorsogon City has been among the forefront institutions responding to the call of government in the eradication of illiteracy since the 1980’s. in 1989, the then Bureau of Nonformal Education (NFE) now Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), asked SLMCS to be the service provider for the Literacy Service Contracting Scheme in Sorsogon.

Certainly, Sr. Mapet would not disappoint anyone. She is famously accessible and has taken her crusade for functional literacy classes to 15 learning groups in Sorsogon West, Sorsogon East and Bacon District every year. Along with the sessions are bible sharing activities either in the barangay hall, Day Care Center, chapel, classroom or even in an unfinished house. Word of each small success spread from town to town. And gradually, she won the support of many. Indeed, it is hard to exaggerate the impact of the community service done by Sr. Mapet, but from among her learners, a number have become domestic helpers abroad; others have become officers of the kapilya pastoral council and a few turned into barangay health workers.

The learners are recruited house to house with the assistance of the barangay kagawad and other elders in the community. “I interview them to identify their needs. Ang mga learners mismo ang pinapipili ko ng schedule at lugar ng learning sessions,” she says.

This is one of the most challenging aspects of the Program: to maintain the learners after a calamity. “Naku! Ang hirap lalo na nung tinamaan sila ng super typhoons Milenyo at Reming. Syempre inuuna nila ang pagpapatayo ng bahay nila at sa ikabubuhay nila bago nila harapin ang learning sessions”, she says with a sigh.

Yes, life for Sr. Mapet could have been easier if she had not chosen to take on the burden of joining the Sisters of Marillac. But she did. Hence as a nun, she also mobilizes donation brigades and extends relief assistance to the often typhoon – visited Bicol and other areas. Her dedication spills over to her role of extending assistance in the housing construction of disaster victims; providing stress debriefing and home visits. In fact, Dr. Norma Salcedo, LCC Secretariat Head says of Sr. Mapet: “She’s not a talker. She’s a doer.”

Gliding from one mission to another, and loving every minute of it – Sr. Mapet’s jail apostolate is equally impressive. She does spiritual formation, gift giving and socialization to the inmates of Sorsogon.

She has also devoted her life assisting out-of-school youth and adults to formal secondary and tertiary schools through the Balik Eskwela Program. The Study Help and the Marillac Grantees Student Assistance Program help finance the needs of students.

In this interview, she recounts with all humility that the Education for Life’s Adopt-a-School Program established in 2005 has also helped hundreds of undernourished kids. The program caters annually to 120 malnourished elementary pupils of Bitan-O Elementary School, Sorsogon West district, and this program is bound to go a long way more. This is her great hope.

“We strive to help bring the world a little closer to the ideal,” she says. The Foundation also hired two experts from the Benguet State University to teach the community farming techniques and high value crop production. “Now, the community raises its own carrots, strawberry, sayote, sweet peas and yacoon,” Sr. Mapet smiles as she clasps her hands.

Sr. Mapet’s indefatigability is beyond compare. There is something in her that is devoid of the trappings of bigness and grandeur. There is something about real greatness and selflessness when you see her. She continues, “we also reach out to the spiritual formation of the elderly in barangays Tugod, Cambulaga, Sampaloc, Talisay, Bulabog and San Juan Roro in Sorsogon. This is in preparation especially for their next life.”

After a perfectly timed pause, I suddenly interrupt her, “have you had boyfriends?” She answers, “Yes, but Iam happier with the Lord.” I laughed after that and Sr. Mapet sneaks into a girly giggle. I realized that beneath that gentle mien of a nun is a warm person with a sense of humor, even-in-your-face wacky.

Originaly posted-LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL