A working President

Another Filipino tragedy may happen again because of the conviction of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was charged with—and found guilty of—killing her child ward. This will become a new problem for the Philippine government, considering that in many instances, the only way to save the lives of convicted OFWs is to pay “blood money” to the families of the victims. However, there are instances when the payment of blood money is rejected, prompting the President to make a personal appeal for the life of the OFW. 

Considering the amount of the blood money, and notwithstanding diplomatic efforts to negotiate for the life of a guilty OFW, this again creates an imposition on the government to raise funds to save a Filipino life. The problem is: Do OFWs who are critical of the government because of the encouragement of some radical groups appreciate these efforts of the government? How many times have VP Noli de Castro, and even the President herself, made an appeal to the heads of state of the countries of victims to save the life of a Filipino worker?

Asked for suggestions, here are a number of solutions that we can offer: 1) I think the screening of OFWs should be intensified, particularly the psychological attitudes of applicants to make certain that when a Filipino worker, especially women, work abroad, they would be able to cope with the possibility of “culture shock,” which they eventually would have to suffer; and 2) I think that with hundreds of thousands of OFWs spread out abroad, the government should appeal to their civic spirit and love of country to help raise funds for blood money to save their fellow OFW who, like them, willingly suffer from pangs of loneliness while far from home, and undergo culture shock in order to earn a living for the folks back home. Sometimes the price is just too stiff. 

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In the April 1 column of John Mangun’s “Outside the Box” in the BusinessMirror, the author took exception to an article in the Internet, also published in major dailies, saying that the Japanese view the Philippines as one of the riskiest places to do business, an item copyrighted by All Headline News Media Corp. Mangun pointed out that this is a misleading story since the survey conducted among Japanese businessmen asked a different question altogether, something like: “If you are expanding your sales operation, or R&D, or distribution, or regional headquarters or production overseas in the next three years, where are you going to locate?” Of course the Philippines, with its limited market, is expected to be the least choice. However, some wise guy in the media twisted the survey results and came up with a headline saying the country is considered by the Japanese as the least attractive for foreign investments, and the local press salivated to help bash our already tarnished image.

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France is opening its doors to competent Filipino workers to help boost its tourism industry. According to Ambassador Gerald Chesnel, France is going to hire nurses and IT professionals and other experts after signing an immigration agreement that is the subject of discussions of the officials of both countries today. A letter of intent was submitted by France which intends to train Filipino professionals, then hire them to work in France where OFWs can improve their talents and later return to the country as experts and apply their training in the country to benefit local industries. It is a scheme that would benefit both countries, especially the Philippines. 

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It is summer, and again water becomes an issue. We have always advocated for the conservation of water resources, the lakes, the rivers and the waterways that zigzag through the land, to protect its potability and to ensure clean water for future generations. Water is an everyday issue and it becomes scarce only because of man’s abuse. Like rice, it is a commodity we cannot do without, and a little conservation goes a long way.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be congratulated for the very fruitful visits to Hong Kong, where she brought home billion pesos’ worth of investments. She is one President who never tires of working for her countrymen.

FOR the first time on Tuesday, President Arroyo, speaking to reporters who covered her official trip to Hong Kong, displayed a hint of flexibility in her zeal to attain a balanced budget—a zeal so intense she would have the government do it two years ahead of the original schedule.

Go to the Internet and google on “world rice shortage.” Most of the web sites carrying information about a shortage of rice is from our own local newspapers. However, a potential shortage of reasonably priced price is affecting communities from “Kansas to Kabul,” as one newspaper in Bangladesh described the problem.

It is heartening to receive queries from artists and academicians about the rights they have over their works. Their main concern is how to establish ownership over their work through copyright, not so much as to earn huge royalties, but to be recognized for their contribution to knowledge and the arts.

About Town: Unrest in the barracks

Don’t look now, but there’s restiveness within the membership of the Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association Inc., or AMWSLAI. Established 52 years ago, AMWSLAI counts in its roster some 230,000 active and retired personnel of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.

Tax Law for Business: Rules on deductibility of expenses

During any BIR examination, the issue of the deductibility of a certain expense from gross income often arises. Considering that valid business expenses have the effect of reducing a taxpayer’s taxable income, it is highly appropriate for finance managers and chief financial officers to get acquainted with the rules on the deductibility of expenses.

Alálaong bagá: He abides with us, for us

Recommended and raised up by God

An excerpt from Peter’s Pentecost sermon, the First Reading reflects the basic pattern of early missionary preaching, as modeled by Luke.

Reflections from the Mirror: A working President

Another Filipino tragedy may happen again because of the conviction of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was charged with—and found guilty of—killing her child ward.