Two Filipino Engineers Win Top Bagong Bayani Awards by: Lily B. Libo-on

DUBAI – Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi and Manuel Perito Jr., Filipino, two engineers based in Dubai, were presented with the Bagong Bayani-2009 awards by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at a ceremony in Manila, on Friday.
The prestigious award is presented to overseas Filipinos who bring honour to their nation.
Al Mahdi, CEO of Geoscience Testing Laboratory in Dubai, was the first from her country to win the Emirates Business Women Award 2008. “Lifting the morale and lives of my kababayans (countrymen and women) has always been embedded in my heart, and I will never fail them as I strongly believe that Filipinos have world-class talents and intelligence and the highest degree of professionalism,” she said upon receiving the Emirates Business Women Award in 2008.
This time, she was selected to receive two prestigious awards, the 2009 Bagong Bayani for the Most Outstanding Employee and the Blas F. Ople Award for Natatanging Bagong Bayani.
Al Mahdi, also a chemist academically, qualified as an engineer here, bagging the first runner-up spot in the professional category. Later, she received another award from the Dubai-based ‘Illustrado’ magazine. She is a certified ISO lead auditor, a dedicated certified trainer and one of the founders of Filipino Digerati Association that assists Philippine missions in the UAE to train Filipinos in computer applications free of charge.
Perito Jr, senior manager, Risk Management at Oman Insurance, was chosen as Outstanding Employee.
“I feel proud that though my achievements in my company have not been known to other Filipinos, our government recognised them, especially the award-winning Oman Series project of my company, which came out of my initiative.”
Perito Jr, a 40-year old native of Western Samar has been working with Oman Insurance Company in Dubai for five years now. He started his career in the insurance industry as risk engineer (loss control adviser) of Malayan Insurance Company in Binondo, Manila in 1991.
A licensed civil engineer alumnus of Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP-Manila), he initially served as a site engineer of Manny Villar’s HDC Company that developed Camella Homes in Cavite and Muntinlupa in 1990.
He worked his way up the corporate ladder until he was promoted as senior manager in 2008, the same year he was awarded twice internationally for his project – creating informative comics to disseminate loss control information via ‘Super Oman’ series. It garnered a special appreciation plaque and first runner-up finish in Safety Category for Ideas.
Then in the fourth quarter of 2008, he was awarded as one of the Risk Innovators in Construction/Real Estate Division by Risk & Insurance, an online and media portal for insurance and risk management based in Philadelphia.
What makes it special and unique is due to the fact that Perito Jr is the only Asian and non-US resident, who was amongst the 40 winners.
Creating Info-Comics is not new to Perito Jr, as he previously created an illustrated Komiks reading materials for World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas) in 1997 dealing on environmental awareness about mangroves, whale and seas turtle protections.
He did his own little way of showing nationalistic character in Dubai, defying the norms of wearing suits and ties by injecting Barong Tagalog, the Philippine national costume in corporate fashion.
His wearing traditional formal attire in the office earned him the moniker of ‘Cong’ (shortened form for Congressman). He is a well-respected colleague in Oman Insurance Company and has won several awards and citations from his office, including being in the top five for leadership and employee of the year awards. (Source)
lily@khaleejtimes.ae

Better jobs await Pinoys in UK (By Mayen Jaymalin (philstar.com) Updated August 24, 2009 12:00 AM)

MANILA, Philippines - Employment prospects in the United Kingdom are getting brighter for Filipino teachers, information technology experts and other professionals, recruitment consultants said yesterday.
The recruitment industry yesterday reported that a new system adopted by UK’s Borders and Immigration opened bigger opportunities for Filipino professionals to enter Britain.
Emmanuel Geslani, a recruitment consultant, said the British immigration “point-based” scheme allows all qualified applicants to enter the UK under a managed immigration program.
“The system allows highly skilled workers like engineers, IT to apply for entry to the UK and the right to immigrate with full and free access to the employment market,” Geslani disclosed.
“This means applicant with the necessary visa would be permitted to live and work in the UK, seek and undertake employment or even establish a business,” Geslani added.
Under the system, Geslani said, skilled workers do not need a job offer to file for an application.
“Points are based on age, experience, academic degrees like PhD or masters,” Geslani noted.
Geslani said an applicant must be proficient in the English language and capable of supporting themselves or any dependents without requiring public funds.
According to Geslani, the global recession has not affected UK and there were reports that about 150,000 vacancies are available for qualified applicants.
Geslani said the vacancies include jobs for scientists, environmental specialists, IT & telecoms experts, teachers, and healthcare workers like nurses and caregivers. Source

Global Wake for Cory Aquino in Cyberspace

Many Filipinos are mourning the passing of Cory Aquino today, August 1, 2009... While thousands, perhaps millions may line up at Heritage, La Salle Greenhills, or Manila Cathedral, millions more around the world may not have a chance to be close to President Cory before she is laid to rest... Here, through an online wake, they can share this special moment and offer prayers for Tita Cory...

Click Photo to Enter the Global Wake

Pinoys worldwide mourn death of Cory Aquino

Across the globe, Filipinos are mourning the death of former President Corazon Aquino and Philippine mission offices in several countries have opened books of condolences for the Aquino family. In the United States, deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said Filipino communities visited by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the weekend were saddened at the news.“Malungkot na malungkot. (We were all very sad.) We all paused in silence for prayer, we offered a prayer for the late president," Fajardo said in an interview on dzBB radio early Sunday.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday announced that books of condolences would be opened at all Philippine Embassies and Consulates.In a statement on its Web site, the DFA said the gesture would allow foreign friends and Filipinos overseas to pay their last respects to President Aquino, who died early Saturday after battling colon cancer for more than a year. The DFA will receive message of condolences from members of the Diplomatic Corps in Manila while the Philippine flag at the DFA grounds will be flown at half-mast during the 10-day period of national mourning, which was announced by President Arroyo on Saturday.“With her profound love for country and her deep faith, President Aquino carried the torch of democracy for the Filipino People. Through her relentless efforts, the light of Philippine democracy continues to shine to this day and inspire other nations," the DFA statement said. Read more......

Poem written by a Filipino Engineer

Tao..Saan ka Patungo? (By: George Fosana)

Isang hiwaga na ang kimpal na alabok nang mahingaha’y naging

nilalang sa paraisong kinapal…

Binigyang laya at karapatang maging hari ng kanyang kaisipan

Sumasagwan sa ilog ng buhay

Na di turol ang landas na tatahakin…

…mabato

…minsa’y malalim ang tubig na tila bahaw sa katahimikan

…matinik ang mga siit ng bakawang humahampas ang

mga dahong tumatampal sa nanlalamig na pisngi

sandaling dadako sa maingay na lagaslas ng tubig na

tila naguunahang makahimlay sa dulo ng karimlan.

Mahaba ang paglalayag subalit bawat paglipas ng sandali

ay nagbibigay ng ibayong lakas sa katawang

pinanday ng karanasan

iba’t ibang hugis…kanya kanyang pangarap

ang panahon ay tila napakadaling sandali na ating ninimnimin

napakaraming ugat…

….napakaraming daan ang nilalagusan ng batis ng buhay

naghihintay kung saan papadparin ng along humahawak sa bangkang

papel na patuloy na aanurin ng panahon at pagsubok…

kung saan hahantong ay isang hiwagang sasagutin ng isang paslit

na walang muwang sa mundo…doon sa ibayo

…maghihintay

…magtitiis

… hahanapin ang buhay sa kabila ng kabilang pampang

pasasaan ba’t tao’y dadalhin ng kanyang pangarap doon sa dulo ng ilog

upang hagkan ang karagatang naghihintay ng di malirip na katanungan..

Source

PICE raises fund for family of departed colleague

In times of need, the Filipino trait of "Bayanihan" or the effort of helping one another prevails to their community here as what they did to the bereaved family of a Filipino engineer who died in his sleep after succumbing to heart attack last week.
Since early this week, various individuals and groups have extended support, both financial and in kind, to the family of the late Jose Zoilo, 43, a civil engineer working at a company that implemented the new airport project in Doha. The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers –Qatar Chapter (PICE-Qatar) of which Zoilo belongs started the fund drive to respond to the financial needs of his wife and three children and other community members took no time to shell out from their pockets.
Zoilo was sleeping with his two children when he suffered a stroke. "I tried to woke him up but he never reacted and learned later from mom after I took a bath that he was already gone," said seven-year-old Jun Angeline of Philippine School Doha.
Zoilo had just brought his family here last May after he started working in Qatar from August 2007 from a long stint in Saudi Arabia. His wife Jade said Jose or "Jun" was a loving husband who always look after the future of their children besides being an active community leader.
The fund-raising drive initiated by PICE-Qatar has also drawn attention of other community groups, a company and individuals that had already reached to Ras Laffan area who donated money and food stuff to help the bereaved family’s needs as they prepared to return to their home province in Bohol in the Philippines.
Among the other groups who helped were the Skyfreight Cargo who took charge of the freight handling of the family’s belonging back home , El Seif Company, ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel, Philippine School Doha and concerned workers of Qatar Petroleum based in Ras Laffan and Doha.
" I wholeheartedly thanked all the people who helped us during these times of uncertainty and I will never forget what they’ve done to us," said wife Jade. Source : The Peninsula / By CHRIS V PANGANIBAN

Nominations for 2009 Model OFW Family of the Year Award now accepted

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-CAR) is now accepting nominations for the regional search for 2009 Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).

The search for the MOFYA is an annual award-giving project designed to give recognition to outstanding Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) families. It also promotes the best practices of OFW families in achieving success in all aspects of their life in the face of overseas migration of one or more members of the household.

For this year’s MOFYA search, it emphasizes the importance of family values thereby giving more credit for the “wholesome OFW family relationship and solidarity.” “Civic or community involvement”, “success in education or profession of family members” as well as their “success in managing family finances” will also be considered.

There will be one regional winner each for the “land-based” and “sea-based” categories, which will represent Cordillera in the national level competition. About P2 million in cash and in kind, are at stake as prizes for the regional and national winners and special awards from OWWA and its major corporate sponsors.

Any Non-Government Organizations (NGOs); People’s Organizations (POs); religious organizations or associations; community-based socio-civic organizations/associations; and Local Government Units (LGUs) can nominate an OFW family.

Criteria for nominations are: the family should be headed by an OFW, land-based or sea-based, formerly or presently working abroad, with a formal or informal contract of employment or work permit and with a proof of OWWA membership; the OFW either married or single, is the head of the family and has at least for years of work experience as an OFW; the OFW family should be known as a solid/stable family in the locality(with certification of family solidarity by their barangay captain, Parish priest or religious leader); and the family must be financially stable.

In case of OFW migration, it should be not permanent, that is he/she is a holder of valid Philippine Passport and does not have an immigrant status in a foreign country; and not irregular, that is employment is documented and possesses a valid residency or work permit, as well as other employment documents.

Previous MOFYA nominees who have not won at the regional level yet can be nominated again. Relatives of officials/employees of OWWA, DOLE and its attached agencies and corporate sponsors of MOFYA, up to the third degree of consanguinity and affinity are disqualified from nomination.

Nomination period is until August 15. For more details and nomination forms you may inquire to the OWWA-CAR office at telephone number (074) 445-2260, 619-4558 and 3-3658. (Source)