NEWS ITEM: “ A devoted Filipino maid inherited S6 Million Singapore dollars(about P202 Million ) from her late employer after more than 20 years of service “.
Can this be happening? This jewel of a good news is really true amid the
spate of reports we read and hear every now and then of miseries suffered by our OFWs (Overseas Foreign Workers) especially caregivers worldwide.
For a change, this is welcome news. Finally, they are getting their much-deserved recognition or just rewards for their sacrifices and dedicated hard work.
“I am the luckiest maid in Singapore, with or without the money “the 47 year old single woman, known only as “Christine “said when interviewed by Singapore’s newspaper Strait Times.
She refused to reveal her true identity for security reasons.
Christine’s new found wealth consisted of cash and a luxury apartment in the Orchard road area, a main avenue and a famous shopping center in Singapore.
Her late employer, Dr.Quek Kai Miew, who died a year ago was a known philanthropist in the city-state where some 200,000 maids, mostly from
the Philippines and Indonesia are deployed.
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GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY: Indeed, this saying rings true in the case of a Filipino-Canadian couple from Scarborough. We will withhold
their names but instead identify them as Mr. D and Mrs. M.
Some weeks back in June, this couple vacated their rented apartment
to let workers fumigate the building.
Days later when they returned, they found their place ransacked, their belongings gone.
But Mrs. had earlier bought a ticket to the Lotto Max of June 16 draw.
When the results came in the couple found that they won half of the $1Million prize.
Now perhaps, they can have a place of their own because of the $500,000
winnings.
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MABUHAY FEST: STAR SHINE AND CENSORSHIP: President Noynoy Aquino’s order for his cabinet men to undergo orientation on media relations
should be tried here by Filipino community organizations.
At the Mabuhay festival July 24, reporters and photographers covering the event were distracted from doing their job by the constant threat of being evicted from their perch near the stage by either some security people or volunteers of the Mabuhay fest organization.
Minda Neri, president of the PIDC (Phil. Independence Day Council) when appraised of the complaint quickly sent out an apology.
But what was worse was the attempt to muzzle or censor our colleagues during the July 25 press conference for the GMA TV stars led by Kuya Germs (German Moreno), John Nite, Katrina Halili,Wendell Ramos and Iza Calzado.
Mon Datol was seeking clarification on Wendell Ramos’ taking off his shirt during the July 24 show at the Metro Convention Center which elicited some shrieks from the female crowd.
A PIDC official quickly attempted to stop Datol from further talking while another lady, said to be a PA (production assistant from Deo Moreno’s Minerva TV) also joined in the fray and this resulted in a mild commotion.
I told that lady to stop cutting off Mon Datol because he was still speaking.
I’m surprised at the ignorance of these people. Don’t they know that when you hold a press conference or a media briefing, there would be all kinds of questions, both sane and stupid??
And what gives them the right to muzzle the right to free expression and the freedom to ask questions?
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MORE NOTES ON MABUHAY FEST: Kuya Germs strolled along Bathurst Street near Wilson on his way to Time Zone. He was quickly recognized by the hordes of Filipinos who live in the area. “Ay si Kuya Germs! Hello Kuya Germs “ .
Did you know that he raised in a span of 25 minutes some $1,000 after having dinner with friends Jun Agtarap, owner of Time Zone, Bong and Dr.Sally Capitin of Cusina, Raffy Bautista, Chito Collantes among others
who passed the hat for the restoration of the Metropolitan theatre in Manila, a pet project of Kuya Germs.
The GMA stars did not perform until late 9:00pm. Obviously the program was delayed. The audience waited eagerly for the appearances of Katrina Halilli and Mark Herras, both very well known here among Filipino-Canadians.
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TATA USTING FEAST: The Tanza Association of Canada will observe the annual feast of St. Augustine, more popularly known as “Tata Usting “ among Cavitenos, on August 28 at the Earl Bales park with a picnic.
Tanza is an historic town of Cavite, South of Manila where the First Philippine Republic was proclaimed.