#labor day philippines 2023

[theinbornartist]

I am not really done yet but I just want to share a WIP of my Oc with the two badasses I know ( from what Ive seen so far in my journey in watching Indian Movies). Its Pushpa and Dharani.

And to think, this like a WIP tribute to the laborers since its like Labor Day in my country so yeah.

[catdotjpeg]

TIGNAN: LGBTQ+ activists sa pangunguna ng Bahaghari, nakikiisa sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kababaihang Anakpawis bitbit ang mga isyu ng LGBTQIA+ community at mamamayan para sa sahod, trabaho, ligtas na espasyo, pampublikong serbisyo, at karapatan! 

LOOK: LGBTQ+ activists led by Bahaghari unite on International Working Women's Day carrying the issues of the LGBTQIA+ community and citizens for wages, jobs, safe spaces, public services, and rights!

-- Bahaghari Philippines, 8 Mar 2023

[openaccessbpo1]

May 1 is Labor Day in the Philippines.

We salute the people who continue to work hard not just to support their families, but to make the world a better place.

And to you, our OABPO teams, we celebrate and thank you for your dedication.

[tilbageidanmark]

The 1,289 movies I saw in 2024...

This is my fourth 'End of Year' recap. In January 2021, during the Covid lock-down, I began logging the many films that I watch every day, just to keep track. In the beginning I jotted a line or two about each, only to create a record. But then I started adding longer notes and more elaborate impressions, and before I knew it, I've got a 'Film Project' on my hands.

The obsessive project mushroomed. In the course of these four years, I watched and reviewed a total of 4,126 movies; 885 in 2021, 954 in 2022, 998 in 2023, and a ridiculous number of 1,289 movies this last year.

And it seems that I'm just getting started.

As I wrote before, I owe an apology to nobody for my indulgence. I derive great pleasure from discovering daily the best movies ever made, and I enjoy even more the process of thinking about them and coming up with my own specific takes, if I can. As an un-accomplished 'Creator', composing short reviews fills me with just the right amount of self-fulfillment. The fact that I am blessed with the physical and financial ability to enjoy this type of existence right now, at the end of my own life and while civilization collapses all around us, is not lost on me either.

The project, like the many others I created before it, is purely personal, and is a strict 'labor of love'. Watching a movie today is an individual experience [Except of one visit, I haven't been to a theater in many years], and maintaining this blog (which hardly anybody visits), is done as a form of mental masturbation; I do it every day because I like it a lot, and because it doesn't hurt anybody. I described my background before, so there's no need to repeat it here.

So here are some generalities, with a dozen 'Best-Of' samples below.

I've made a concerted effort to watch more films helmed by women directors - 215 in all (but only 16% of the total). Next year I will increase that number.

I like good documentaries, and of the 1,289 movies, 170 were documentaries. However, most of them were not that great. Surprisingly, only 99 were repeat films that I had watched before – it felt as if the number would be higher. I also started watching many more short films (5 to 40 minutes), and I plan focusing even more on short films in the coming year.

As I'm moving away from Hollywood-type blockbuster fair, I saw 737 “Foreign” films (read: Not American) which were 57% of the total. Next year I will be sure to increase that ratio too.

Here is the break-down by country:

From the UK (108)

From France (106)

From Canada (44)

From Japan (40)

From Denmark (25)

From "Czechoslovakia" (24)

From Germany (21)

From Sweden (20)

From Italy & "Russia" (18 each)

From Israel & Poland (17 each)

From Brazil (16)

From Australia, Iran & Ireland (13 each)

From Iceland, Korea & Spain (12 each)

From Hungary (11)

From Turkey (10)

The rest were films from China, Romania, The Netherlands, Argentina, India, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Finland, Latvia, Mexico, Chile, Croatia, Norway, Austria, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Palestine, Scotland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Nigeria, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Armenia, Colombia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Paraguay, Portugal, Senegal, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia and Wales. [But unlike 2023, no films in Babylonian this year...]

Many of these 1,293 movies were terrible. But only 23 of them I simply couldn't finish. They included: Otto Preminger's 'Exodus', Troma Studio's 'Poultrygeist', Polanski's 1970 'A day at the beach', The Japanese 'Patisserie Coin de rue', Bob Fosse 'All that Jazz', M. Night Shyamalan 'The happening', Gene Hackman's 'Heartbreakers', Elaine May 'A new leaf', Etc. Many of the others were boring, tedious, stupid. YMMV.

Next year I will also start keeping track of the genres, which I haven't done up to now. I may try new things, but there are some popular genres I generally stir away from: Superheros, horror, franchise, fantasy. There were six A.I.-generated films that I saw this year. I predict that in 2025 we will have the first 'good' A.I. features.

I wish I had signed up to Letterboxd at the start. It would have made sorting the list so much easier. But I've been dropping out of all social media (reddit and tumblr are the only ones still standing), and I don't plan on starting on a new platform.

I only felt the urge to "rate" 40% of the movies I saw (527), and of the ones that I did rate, there were 18 which I designated “Best”, and 78 to which I gave the 10/10 score. 'Best' for me usually meant that it offered a 'very' strong emotional reaction.

40 years ago I studied film at Copenhagen University, but it's only during these last few years that I've become pretty knowledgeable about the overall history of the cinema. It is therefore my favorite experience today to come across a movie I never even heard of, maybe from a different time and place, which knocks me completely over.

And so, here are a few of the less obvious gems which I enjoyed the most this year. Many more on the blog. Check them all out if you want.

The films of Icelandic Hlynur Pálmason (all but 'Winter brothers'). My favorite was 'White, white day', a masterful feat of slow film making, with unusual choices in its subtle direction. A policeman grieves for his wife who died in a car accident. The man renovates a house, takes care of his cute granddaughter, and then, (like ‘The Descendants��), he discovers that before she died, his beloved wife had an affair with some guy. A stunning story of heartbreak, resignation and acceptance. The Trailer.

Nuri Bilge Ceylan 8 films (I still haven't seen his 'Casaba' and 'Clouds of May'). My favorite of his: 'About Dry Grasses' which plays for over 3 hours in the desolate, snow-covered mountains of Eastern Anatolia. Like Mads Mikkelsen in 'The Hunt’, a teacher in a small village is being falsely accused of improper behavior toward a 14-year-old girl. But the slow and meandering story embraces other themes as well, of longing, of truth seeking, of weariness, complacency and contempt. With a delusional, self centered man and the two females he misunderstands and maligns. It includes one shocking 'break the 4th wall’ moment (at 2:05:00) which illustrates that nothing we think and believe in is true. The trailer.

'A brand new life' (2009), a heart-breaking Korean story, based on the director’s personal life. A sweet 9-year-old girl is abandoned by her father, who one day and without any warning drops her off at a Catholic orphanage in the countryside and leaves. Life is suddenly too painful for her. With the cutest little girl, who has to deal with life’s harshest lessons. A relatable debut feature, it uses the simplest and purest film language. It's similar to other tragic stories about innocence lost; Carla Simón’s ‘Summer 1993’, the French film 'Ponette’, and the Irish 'The Quiet Girl’ from last year, all with the same kind spirit and sad understatements. The trailer.

'The Last Repair Shop', winner of last year's Oscar for Best Documentary Short. A quiet story about a shop that maintains and repairs the 80,000 musical instruments used by students of the Los Angeles school district. It’s about mending broken things so they can be whole again, performed by people who were also broken, but are now whole. Similar to and even better than the 2017 Oscar nominee 'Joe’s Violin'.

'Ága', my first Bulgarian film, but it plays somewhere in Yakutsk, south of the Russian arctic circle. An isolated old Inuit couple lives alone in a yurt on the tundra. Slow and spiritual, their lives unfold in the most unobtrusive way, it feels like a documentary. But the simplicity is deceiving, this is film-making of the highest grade, and once Mahler 5th is introduced on a small transistor radio, it’s transcendental. The emptiness touched me deeply. (I should watch it again!). The trailer.

'Symphony No. 42' by Hungarian animator Réka Bucsi. It consists of 47 short & whimsical vignettes, without any rhyme or rhythm; A farmer fills a cow with milk until it overflows, a zoo elephant draws a “Help me” sign on a canvas, a UFO sucks all the fish from the ocean, wolves party hard to 'La Bamba’, an angry man throws a pie at a penguin, two cowboys holding blue balloons watch a tumbleweed rolls by, a big naked woman cuddle with a seal, etc. etc. Bucsi made it before Don Hertzfeldt’s 'World of tomorrow’ and even before 'Echo', my favorite Rúnar Rúnarsson’s. 10 perfect minutes of surrealist chaos.

'Shirkers', a 2018 documentary. Sandi Tan was an avant-garde teenage punker when she set out to make Singapore’s first New Wave road movie in 1992, together with 2 female friends and a middle aged mentor. But when the shooting was over, this 'mentor’ collected the 72 canisters of completed film as well as all supportive materials, and disappeared. For 20 years, Sandi and friends could not figure out what had happened, and eventually gave up on their groundbreaking work. This documentary pieces together the mystery, telling about the process of making the original movie, the consequences of losing - and finding it again - after all this time. Absolutely tremendous. The trailer.

'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' is young Chinese prodigy Gu Xiaogang's debut feature. A slow epic saga (2.5 long hours) of a large family struggling during four seasons through life’s ups and down in this provincial city. It’s a metaphor for a classic scroll painting from the 14 century, and it is apparently only the first chapter in an upcoming trilogy. A stupendous, slow-moving masterpiece told in a magnificent style, and half a dozen transcendental set pieces. The trailer.

The short jazzy documentaries of Dutch Bert Haanstra, especially 'Glass' (1958), the first Oscar win for The Netherlands, and 'Zoo', which was made 3 years later.

'Apollo 11', a documentary by Todd Douglas Miller. An exhilarating re-telling of the moon landing from 2019. Perfectly crisp and emotionally laid out, without any bullshit narration, talking heads interviews or irritating recreations. Just jaw-dropping photography which puts you in the middle of the action. The trailer.

I’ve always loved Buñuel’s last 3 films, maybe because they were so easy to watch. The fire and brimstone of his youth were distilled into accessible, vivid tableaux. Re-watching his 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie', (or “Six friends and the impossible dinner”) was just delightful: You nearly feel sorry for these poor 1-procenters, who can’t find a decent place to eat in. Their illogical dreams dredge out their childhood traumas, and there’s no explanations to anything that happens. It was the New 4K trailer which drew me back.

The magical work of Australian stop-motion animator Adam Elliot. Especially, 'Mary and Max'. A weirdly adult 'Wallace and Gromit', a dark and tragic clay figure story, voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette. Two damaged and unfortunate souls connect by becoming pen pals; A lonely Australian 8-year-old girl with an ugly birthmark on her forehead, and an obese Jewish New Yorker with Asperger’s. It encompasses 20 years of outlandish long-distance emotions which ends with the acknowledgment of friendship. The trailer.

'Pirosmani' (1969), my first Georgian masterpiece which was not made by Sergei Parajanov. It’s an awe-inspiring biography of Nikolai Pirosmanashvíli. He was a self-taught, naïve Georgian painter who lived during Vincent van Gogh’s time, and like him, died destitute and unappreciated by his piers, only to find prominence decades after his death. (Japanese Trailer here.) It’s an absorbing and visually-stunning film, composed of rural tableaux and primitive folk setting, a mixture of Henri Rousseau, Gauguin, Édouard Manet, Bruegel and Jodorowsky. A sad, slow and formal composition, full of sublime pathos and simplicity.

'For the hungry boy' (2018), my all-time favorite Paul Thomas Anderson work, even more than his “Phantom Thread”, out of which these discarded shots were collected. Vicki Krieps is a major crush. The score is Jonny Greenwood’s “House of Woodcock” from the movie. I've seen it at least 15 times since October.

'Nostalgia for the light' (2010), my first film by Chilean Patricio Guzmán. His life-long work had been occupied with the Chilean coup d'état and the collective scars suffered by the people of Chile to this day. This beautiful documentary starts with examining the gigantic telescopic installations at the Atacama desert, used by astronomers to discover the origins of the cosmos. He then segues into the story the 60,000 'disappeared’, who were imprisoned in large concentration camps in the same area, and then murdered without a trace. A group of wives and sisters have been roving for decades now the same barren area, searching for bone fragments of their loved one. So both archaeologists and astronomers are looking for clues about the past. The trailer.

A woman interviewed in one continued shot: A small 1993 French masterpiece 'Emilie Muller'. A young woman arrives for her first ever audition where she’s asked to show the contents of her handbag. As soon as I finished watching it, I had to watch it again, and then a third time.

“Wow! So, are there any last words you would like to say, about this whole thing?” Not really.

Here is a Google spreadsheet with the output of all 4 years.

Please become one of the few regular people who visit this blog. I post 20-30 new film reviews every Monday morning, Copenhagen time. Bookmark and interact.

Arigato gozaimasu.

[rayjideguia]

On October 11, 2014, Jennifer Laude, a Filipino trans woman, was killed by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, whose presence in Zambales was made possible by the Visiting Forces Agreement. 

In September 2020, then President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his misogyny and whose regime was marked by extrajudicial killings from his drug war and anti-communist crusade, granted Pemberton absolute pardon, cutting short his time served by four years. Months prior in the same year, during the height of the pandemic, the Congress railroaded the passing of the anti-terrorism bill amidst rampant red-tagging of activists and dissidents; LGBTQIA+ protesters were arrested, detained, and harassed by police. 

Under the current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the largest Balikatan Exercise took place in 2023, a military exercise that was bolstered by counterterrorism training since the War on Terror campaign by the US. His father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., serving as the blueprint of violence and repression for Duterte, formalized the export of Filipino labor through the 1974 Labor Code in an attempt to stimulate the struggling economy, resulting in the human trafficking of Filipinos to this day.

This is the political milieu that informs the narrative of “Balikbayan. Through the protagonist Stella, a trans woman, whose motivation is to find her missing sister Katrina, supposedly teaching in Texas but ended up as a victim of tokhang in the Philippines eleven years later, the play tackles the entanglements of the US War on Drugs and Terror, neoliberalism, and extrajudicial killings under the Duterte regime, and how women, both trans and cis, are subjugated and dehumanized by the same system.

Like our page and save the date! 

April 13, 2024, 7 PM @ IGB Gallery, UP Diliman 

#Balikbayan #Balikbayan2024

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.30

Holidays

Archivist Day (Kyrgyzstan)

AVID Day

Barberry Day (French Republic)

Commemoration Day for the Fatalities in Pre-Deportation Detention (Germany)

Frankenstein Day

Fred Hampton Day (Illinois)

Freeman-Moss Day

Huey P. Long Day (Louisiana)

International Day of the Disappeared

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (UN)

International Missy Barratt Day (Aenopia)

International Puma Day

International Whale Shark Day

Jimmy Buffet Day

Manu Ginobili Day (Texas)

Marcelo H. Del Pilar Day (Bulacan, Philippines)

Motel Day (Colombia)

National Ass Clapping Day

National Beach Day

National Bite People Who Annoy You Day

National Black Beauty Founders Day

National Grief Awareness Day

National Harper Day

National Holistic Pet Day

National Homecare Day of Action

National Press Freedom Day (Philippines)

National Screen Time Awareness Day

National Small Industry Day (India)

Pinaglabanan Day (Philippines)

Retrospection Day

Rowboat Day

Saint Rose of Lima’s Day (Peru)

Slinky Day

Talk Intelligently Day

Victory Day (Turkey)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Cabernet Sauvignon Day

National Mai Tai Day (a.k.a. Real Mai Tai)

National Toasted Marshmallow Day

New England Apple Day

Independence & Related Days

Ashoka (Declared; 2010) [unrecognized]

Constitution Day (Kazakhstan)

Constitution Day (Turks and Caicos Islands)

Kohlandia (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Leylandiistan & Gurvata (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Liberation Day (Hong Kong; from Japanese Occupation; 1945)

National Liberation Day (Gabon; 2023)

Tatarstan (from Russia, 1990) [unrecognized]

5th & Last Friday in August

Burning of Zozobra (Old Man Gloom effigy) [Friday before 9.1]

College Colors Day [Friday nearest 9.1]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Daffodil Day (New Zealand) [Last Friday]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Forgive Your Foe Friday [Friday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Peruvian Coffee Day (Peru) [Last Friday]

Positive Twitter Day [Last Friday]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

Tracky Dack Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Wear It Purple Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Sheep Market Fair begins (Denmark) [Last Friday through Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 31 (4th Full Week of August)

Labor Day Weekend (U.S. & Canada) [Begins Friday before 1st Monday in September]

Benton Neighbor Day (Benton, Missouri)

Britt Draft Horse Show (Britt, Iowa)

Bumbershoot (Seattle, Washington)

Central City Rock 'n' Roll Cruise-in & Concert (Central City, Kentucky)

Cleveland National Air Show (Cleveland, Ohio)

Clothesline Fair (Prairie Grove, Arkansas)

Colombia River Cross Channel Swim (Hood River, Oregon)

Colorado Balloon Classic (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Commonwheel Labor Day Weekend Arts and Crafts Festival (Manitou Springs, Colorado)

Daniel Boone Pioneer Days (Winchester, Kentucky)

Fort Bridger Rendezvous (Fort Bridger, Wyoming)

Great Bathtub Race (Nome, Alaska)

Great Grove Bed Race (Coconut Grove, Florida)

Harvest Wine Celebration (Livermore, California)

Hog Capital of the World Festival (Kewanee, Illinois)

Hopkinton State Fair (Contoocook, New Hampshire)

Iroquois Arts Festival (Howes Cave, New York)

Johnson City Field Days (Johnson City, New York)

Jubilee Days Festival (Zion, Illinois)

Lifelight Outdoor Music Festival (Worthing, South Dakota)

Mackinac Bridge Walk (St. Ignace, Michigan)

National Championship Chuckwagon Races (Clinton, Arkansas)

National Hard Crab Derby and Fair (Crisfield, Maryland)

National Sweetcorn Festival (Hoopeston, Illinois)

Oatmeal Festival (Bertram/Oatmeal, Texas)

Odyssey Greek Festival (Orange, Connecticut)

On the Waterfront (Rockford, Illinois)

Old Threshers Reunion (Mount Pleasant, Iowa)

Oregon Trail Rodeo (Hastings, Nebraska)

Payson Golden Onion Days (Payson, Utah)

Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival (Greensburg, Pennsylvania)

Popeye Picnic (Chester, Illinois)

Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival (Independence, Missouri)

Scandinavian Fest (Budd Lake, New Jersey)

Sta-Bil Nationals Championship Lawn Mower Race (Delaware, Ohio)

Snake River Duck Race (Nome, Alaska)

Taste of Colorado (Denver, Colorado)

Taste of Madison (Madison, Wisconsin)

Totah Festival (Farmington, New Mexico)

Waikiki Roughwater Swim (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Westfest Czech Heritage Festival (West, Texas)

West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival (Clarksburg, West Virginia)

Wisconsin State Cow-Chip Throw (Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin)

Woodstock Fair (Woodstock, Connecticut)

World Championship Barbecue Goat Cook-Off (Brady, Texas)

Festivals Beginning August 30, 2024

Battle of Flowers (Laredo, Spain) [thru 8.30]

Brisbane Festival (Brisbane, Australia) [thru 9.21]

California Garlic Festival (Los Banos, California) [thru 9.1]

Calumet County Fair (Chilton, Wisconsin) [thru 9.2]

Casey Popcorn Festival (Casey, Illinois) [thru 9.2]

Coconino County Fair (Fort Tuthill County Park, Arizona) [thru 9.2]

Dice Con (Lviv, Ukraine) [thru 9.1]

Eastern Idaho State Fair (Blackfoot, Idaho) [thru 9.7]

European Medieval Festival (Horsens, Denmark) [thru 8.31]

Fall Fest 2024 (Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Idaho) [thru 9.2]

Galveston Island Wine Festival (Galveston, Texas) [thru 9.1]

Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off (Palmer, Alaska)

Great Pershing Balloon Derby (Brookfield, Missouri) [thru 9.2]

Harmony Fair (Harmony, Maine) [thru 9.2]

Marshall County Blueberry Festival (Plymouth, Indiana) [thru 9.2]

Michigan Bean Festival (Fairgrove, Michigan) [thru 8.31]

Midway Swiss Days (Midway, Utah)

National Hard Crab Derby (Crisfield, Maryland) [thru 9.1]

Nauvoo Grape Festival (Nauvoo, Illinois) [thru 9.1]

North Carolina Apple Festival (Hendersonville, North Carolina) [thru 9.2]

Obetz Zucchinifest (Obetz, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

Oktoberfest (Beaver Creek, Colorado) [thru 9.1]

PAX West, a.k.a. PAX Prime (Seattle, Washington) [thru 9.2]

Payson City Golden Onion Days (Payson, Utah) [thru 9.2]

Red Rooster Days (Dassel, Minnesota) [thru 9.2]

St. William Seafood Festival (Guntersville, Alabama) [thru 8.31]

Washington State Fair (Puyallup, Washington) [thru 9.22]

Wilhelm Tell Festival (New Glarus, Wisconsin) [thru 9.1]

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival (Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin) [thru 8.31]

Woodstock Fair (Woodstock, Connecticut) [thru 9.2]

Feast Days

Agilus (a.k.a. Aile; Christian; Saint)

Alexander of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox)

Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster (Christian; Blessed)

Anne Line, Margaret Ward & Margaret Clitherow (Christian; Saints)

Black (Positivist; Saint)

Camilla Läckberg (Writerism)

Candle in a Wine Bottle Day (Pastafarian)

Charisteria (Charis, Goddess of Mercy; Old Roman Thanksgiving)

Chatter Champion Announcement Day (Shamanism)

Day of Satisfying the Hearts of the Ennead (Nine Major Gods; Ancient Egypt)

Eustáquio van Lieshout (Christian; Blessed)

Evelyn De Morgan (Artology)

Charles Chapman Grafton (Episcopal Church)

Fantinus (Christian; Saint)

Felix and Adauctus (Christian; Martyrs)

Festival of Charisteria (Day to Give Thanks; Ancient Rome)

Fiacre (Christian; Saint)

Guy de Lussigny (Artology)

Habetrot’s Eve Day (Northern Britain; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Isaac Levitan (Artology)

Jacques Louis David (Artology)

J. Alden Weir (Artology)

Jeanne Jugan (Christian; Saint)

Leonor Fini (Artology)

Mary Shelley (Writerism)

Narcisa de Jesús (Christian; Saint)

Pammachius (Christian; Saint)

The Pullover Sweater (Muppetism)

Robert Crumb (Artology)

Rose of Lima (Christian; Saint)

Rumon (a.k.a. Ruan; Christian; Saint)

Sacrifice to Tari Pennu Day (Indian Earth-Goddess; Everyday Wicca)

Santa Rosa de Lima Day (Peru)

Stephen Nehmé (Maronite Church, Catholic Church; Blessed)

Theo van Doesburg (Artology)

Third Onam (Rice Harvest Festival, Day 3; Kerala, India)

Thor Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

The Three Arts Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Virginia Lee Burton (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 16 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [16 of 24]

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [39 of 60]

Premieres

Alice Chops the Suey (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Anna Karenina (Film; 1935)

Bad Girl, by The Miracles (Song; 1959)

Beer (Film; 1985)

The Big Snooze (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1957)

A Bird in a Guilty Cage (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Carnival Row (TV Series; 2019)

Dance, Girl, Dance (Film; 1940)

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (TV Series; 2019)

Emma (Film; 1996)

Flesh + Blood (Film; 1985)

The Funny World of Fred and Barney (Live Action/Animated TV Variety Show; 1978)

The Good Girl (Film; 2002)

Heart-Shaped Box, by Nirvana (Song; 1993)

Hey Jude, by The Beatles (Song; 1968) [1st Apple Records release]

Highway 61 Revisited, by Bob Dylan (Album; 1965)

Kravn the Hunter (Film; 2023)

The Late Show with David Letterman (Talk Show; 1993)

Little Cesario (MGM Cartoon; 1941)

Medúlla, by Björk (Album; 2004)

A Mouse in the House (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1947)

Music of the Sun, by Rihanna (Album; 2005)

Never Kick a Woman (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1936)

Otello (Opera Film by Franco Zeffirelli; 1986)

Putting on the Act (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

Santana, by Carlos Santana (Album; 1969)

The School for Scandal, by Samuel Barber (Overture; 1933)

Short in the Saddle (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1963)

Side to Side, by Ariana Grande (Song; 2016)

Slow Days, Fast Company, by Eve Babitz (Short Stories; 1977)

State Fair (Film; 1945)

Surf’s Up, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1971)

Terror on the Midway (Fleischer Cartoon; 1942) [#9]

The Three Bears (Ub Iwerks ComiColor Cartoon; 1935)

Top Hat (Film; 1935)

What Happened to Monday (Film; 2017)

Today’s Name Days

Felix, Herbert, Rebekka (Austria)

Aleksandar, Aleksandra (Bulgaria)

Didak, Margarita, Petar (Croatia)

Vladěna (Czech Republic)

Albert, Benjamin (Denmark)

Emil, Meljo, Mello, Miljo (Estonia)

Eemeli, Eemi, Eemil (Finland)

Fiacre (France)

Alma, Felix, Heribert, Rebekka (Germany)

Alexandra, Alexandros, Evlalios, Filakas (Greece)

Rózsa (Hungary)

Donato, Fantino (Italy)

Alija, Alvis, Jolanta (Latvia)

Adauktas, Augūna, Gaudencija, Kintenis (Lithuania)

Ben, Benjamin (Norway)

Adaukt, Częstowoj, Gaudencja, Miron, Rebeka, Róża, Szczęsna, Szczęsny, Tekla (Poland)

Ružena (Slovakia)

Íngrid, Pedro (Spain)

Albert, Albertina (Sweden)

Raisa, Rhoda, Rosa, Rosabelle, Rosalie, Rosalind, Rosalinda, Roseanne, Rose, Rosemary, Rosetta, Rosie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 243 of 2024; 123 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 27 (Bing-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 26 Av 5784

Islamic: 24 Safar 1446

J Cal: 3 Gold; Threesday [3 of 30]

Julian: 17 August 2024

Moon: 11%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 19 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Fulton]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 72 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of August

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 9 of 32)

[thestylediary]

Behold the Power of Designs By VAL TAGUBA

In the vibrant world of fashion, there are many Filipino designers but one of the most recent designers that I've noticed was Val Taguba as his creations stand out as a beacon of artistry and elegance. While he is known for his meticulous craftsmanship and breathtaking designs, Taguba has carved a niche for himself in the global fashion scene, making waves with his intricate detailing and luxurious fabrics. Today, we delve into the journey of Val Taguba and explore what makes his creations so captivating.

Signature Style: Elegance Meets Innovation

Recently, just as the Binibining Pilipinas 2024 has ended, the creations of many artists and designers should not be unnoticed. The creations of Val Taguba have once again takes the crowd by storm, after creating a beautiful piece for Ms. Stacey Gabriel and winning the title of the first runner-up in Binibining Pilipinas 2024. I find that this dress has a very form-fitting silhouette that accentuates the figure, crafted from a sheer fabric adorned with intricate beadwork and embroidery. This gown epitomizes Val Taguba's signature style of combining luxurious materials with meticulous detailing, resulting in a piece that is both sophisticated and captivating.

Redefining Bridal Couture

Val Taguba has redefined bridal couture in the Philippines and beyond. His bridal gowns are not just dresses but masterpieces that tell a story. Each gown is a labor of love, meticulously designed to highlight the individuality and grace of the bride. Taguba’s use of luxurious materials such as silk, chiffon, and organza, combined with his signature beadwork and embroidery, results in gowns that are both timeless and contemporary.

His approach to bridal design is personalized and intimate. Taguba takes the time to understand each bride’s vision, ensuring that every gown is a perfect reflection of her personality and style. This bespoke approach has earned him a loyal following, with brides from around the world seeking his expertise for their big day.

Celebrities and Red Carpet Glamour

Taguba’s talent has not gone unnoticed in the world of celebrities and red-carpet events. Actresses such as Ms. Francine Diaz during the ABS-CBN Ball 2023 wherein she wore an exquisite gown that showed some sweetness but also some skin and included a skillfully beaded ensemble that had a sweetheart neckline as well as expertly-placed cutouts.

His celebrity clientele is a testament to his versatility and ability to create stunning gowns that cater to diverse tastes and styles. Whether it’s a dramatic ball gown or a sleek, modern dress, Taguba’s creations are always a highlight on the red carpet, earning him accolades and cementing his status as a designer to watch.

As Val Taguba shares his creations with the world, this may inspire other Filipino artists to make creations. This is just the beginning for Filipino designers to show their talent and creativity in the Philippines and the global spectrum. His commitment to quality, his passion for creativity, and his love for his craft ensures that his place in the pantheon of great fashion designers is well-deserved. As we all celebrate his contributions to fashion, I look forward to seeing what new heights he will reach and what stunning creations he will unveil next.

[ouahibaaitelhaj]

Representation

Lebanon, 1983, by Jay Ullal ( Cairo Photo Week 2023)

This photo was mostly taken during the Lebanese civil war from 1975 to 1990, depicting a “Christian bride and Muslim groom walking through bombed Beirut, 1983” (Ullal, 2023). Jay Ulla captured the photo of a German Photographer whose pictures shed light on the humanitarian miseries and crisis in a variety of countries around the world, including India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Israel, the Philippines a myriad of other places ((Masih, 2023). This photo is an example of representation in photography. Representation is the act of using visual language to convey meaning and symbolism. It’s the number of decisions the photographer had to make to produce the photo, starting from making it a portrait or a landscape, colored or black and white, cropped, edited, or photoshopped in a certain way for a specific purpose. Representation in photography pictures the world and reflects it to the viewer as an imitation of reality by either giving a mimetic version or constructing a new reality that is not a copy of the physical reality (Sturken & Cartwright, 2003). In the photo shared above, it is evident that the photographer made a chain of decisions before taking the photo. It’s a mimetic version of the civil war in Lebanon and the destruction it created, in contrast to a bride in groom in their white wedding outfits walking between the shattered walls and the mess in the city. It’s not an ordinary scene, and the wedded don’t usually walk in the streets like that, let alone in areas that are not aesthetically pleasing and  witnessed a history of armed confrontation. This example resembles the representation in the  photo of Emmett Till, whose body deteriorated after a race crime, and the choice his family made to display his casket to mourners to convey meaning and tell about the reality of their tragedy (Sturken & Cartwright, 2003).

The Myth of Photographic Truth

Photo Story by Sahl Abdel Rahman (Egypt Press Photo 2023)

This photo was part of a project by Sahl Abel Rahman, where he featured kids from Harid village in Fayoum who work in the cotton field of the area. The caption and the rest of the photos of the project provide this information; however, the image alone has an entirely different meaning and interpretation that contradicts the truth behind it. It shows a kid taping on a white goat and hugging the animal while a big smile lightens his face. The photo looks like it was taken from a rural area where a kid is happy and cares for his domestic animal. The truth, however, is that the kid named Youssef bought the goat after saving for two months of working in the fields for 25 Le per day. Photography was always associated with objective seeing, as the camera takes photos of the object as it looks for evidence and illustration. The camera is not expected to lie or give a distorted and untrue image of reality, as it’s a reliable machine. However, technological advancement or even the ethical practice of the photographer is enough to lose trust in the camera  (Sturken & Cartwright, 2003). I will continue to argue that the myth of photography is not only a result of photoshop and unethical practices (such as those of Timothy O'Sullivan, who moved corps and arms on battlefields  (Sturken & Cartwright, 2003)), but also merges in the absence of captions that accompany the photo and provide accurate context about it. Perception can deceive; therefore, a connotative meaning that provides context is needed to avoid myth (Mistry, 2014). This results in the forming of countless myths and assumptions about a photo in the viewer’s mind, diverting them from the facts behind the photograph. If it were not for the caption, we would think the photo is about a happy kid in the countryside, while it is a victim of child labor, an alarming phenomenon in Egypt.

[ofw-job-orders]

Cambodian Construction & Filipino Surveyors: Navigating 2023's Economic & Political Shifts with Online Banking

The narrative of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is one of resilience, sacrifice, and significant contribution to the Philippine economy. They are modern-day heroes, venturing far from home to secure better futures for their families. This story unfolds across various sectors, from domestic work to highly specialized fields, and spans diverse geographical locations. In this exploration, we focus on the experiences of Filipino surveyors in Cambodia, the evolving landscape of online banking catered to their needs, and the impact of the 2023 economic recalibration on their livelihoods, particularly in light of shifting political dynamics.

The construction boom in Cambodia has created a significant demand for skilled surveyors. Filipino surveyors, known for their technical expertise, strong work ethic, and English proficiency, are increasingly sought after. They play a crucial role in land development projects, infrastructure construction, and resource management. Their work contributes not only to Cambodia's development but also provides vital remittances back to the Philippines. However, navigating a foreign work environment presents unique challenges. These include adapting to a new culture, language barriers, and understanding local regulations. Furthermore, ensuring fair labor practices, access to healthcare, and maintaining strong connections with family back home are ongoing concerns.

The digital age has revolutionized financial transactions, offering unprecedented convenience and accessibility. For OFWs, especially those in remote locations or with limited free time, online banking has become a lifeline. It enables them to send money home instantly, manage their finances efficiently, and access a range of financial services without needing to visit physical branches. Several banks and financial institutions in the Philippines have recognized the specific needs of OFWs and have tailored their online banking platforms accordingly. These platforms often feature lower transaction fees for international remittances, multilingual support, and 24/7 customer service. Moreover, the rise of mobile banking apps has further empowered OFWs, allowing them to manage their finances literally from the palm of their hands. However, concerns regarding cybersecurity and data privacy remain, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in security measures and user education.

The year 2023 marked a period of economic recalibration globally, and the Philippines was no exception. The ripple effects of global events, including geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, impacted the Philippine economy, influencing OFW deployment and remittances. For instance, fluctuating exchange rates can significantly impact the value of remittances, while economic slowdowns in host countries can lead to job losses or reduced working hours. The Philippine government has implemented various programs to support OFWs during these challenging times, including reintegration programs, skills development initiatives, and financial assistance. Looking ahead, fostering economic resilience and diversification will be crucial to mitigate future risks and ensure the continued well-being of OFWs and their families.

Political shifts, both in the Philippines and in host countries, can significantly impact OFW deployment and employment opportunities. Changes in government policies, bilateral agreements, and international relations can influence the demand for certain types of labor, visa regulations, and even worker protections. For example, a change in immigration policy in a host country could restrict the entry of certain types of workers, impacting the deployment of OFWs in that sector. Similarly, political instability in a host country can create safety concerns and discourage OFW deployment. The Philippine government plays a vital role in navigating these political landscapes, negotiating fair labor agreements, and ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens working abroad. Continuous monitoring of political developments, proactive diplomacy, and robust contingency plans are essential to safeguarding the interests of OFWs.

The role of organizations like OFWJobs.org is crucial in connecting OFWs with potential employers and providing valuable resources. Platforms like these offer a centralized hub for job listings, information on visa requirements, and guidance on navigating the complexities of working abroad. They also play an important role in promoting fair recruitment practices and combating illegal recruitment activities. For those seeking employment opportunities abroad, OFWJobs.org provides a valuable starting point. OFWJobs.org

The specific case of Filipino surveyors in Cambodia highlights the intersection of these various factors. The Cambodian construction sector's growth presents promising opportunities, but navigating the local regulatory landscape and adapting to cultural differences requires careful planning and support. Access to reliable online banking services is crucial for managing their finances and sending remittances back home. Furthermore, the broader economic and political context, both in Cambodia and the Philippines, shapes the overall landscape of their employment experience.

Looking ahead, several key areas require attention to further support and empower OFWs. Strengthening pre-departure orientation programs can better equip OFWs with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in their host countries. Expanding access to affordable and reliable internet connectivity is essential for facilitating communication with families and accessing vital online services. Continuous improvement in online banking platforms, with a focus on security and user-friendliness, is paramount. Furthermore, fostering stronger partnerships between the Philippine government, host countries, and recruitment agencies can promote ethical recruitment practices and ensure the protection of OFW rights.

The story of OFWs is one of remarkable resilience and unwavering dedication. They are a vital pillar of the Philippine economy and a testament to the Filipino spirit of hard work and perseverance. By addressing the challenges they face and leveraging the opportunities available, we can further empower these modern-day heroes and ensure their continued success and well-being. This involves promoting fair labor practices, enhancing access to essential services, navigating the complexities of international relations, and fostering a supportive environment that recognizes their invaluable contributions. As the world continues to evolve, so too will the landscape of overseas employment. By adapting to these changes and working collaboratively, we can create a brighter future for OFWs and their families. Continuous dialogue, ongoing research, and a commitment to innovation will be key to navigating the challenges and harnessing the opportunities that lie ahead. The journey of the OFW is a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity and strive for a better tomorrow. It is a story that deserves our continued attention, support, and admiration.

[brookston]

Holidays 8.30

Holidays

Archivist Day (Kyrgyzstan)

AVID Day

Barberry Day (French Republic)

Commemoration Day for the Fatalities in Pre-Deportation Detention (Germany)

Frankenstein Day

Fred Hampton Day (Illinois)

Freeman-Moss Day

Huey P. Long Day (Louisiana)

International Day of the Disappeared

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (UN)

International Missy Barratt Day (Aenopia)

International Puma Day

International Whale Shark Day

Jimmy Buffet Day

Manu Ginobili Day (Texas)

Marcelo H. Del Pilar Day (Bulacan, Philippines)

Motel Day (Colombia)

National Ass Clapping Day

National Beach Day

National Bite People Who Annoy You Day

National Black Beauty Founders Day

National Grief Awareness Day

National Harper Day

National Holistic Pet Day

National Homecare Day of Action

National Press Freedom Day (Philippines)

National Screen Time Awareness Day

National Small Industry Day (India)

Pinaglabanan Day (Philippines)

Retrospection Day

Rowboat Day

Saint Rose of Lima’s Day (Peru)

Slinky Day

Talk Intelligently Day

Victory Day (Turkey)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Cabernet Sauvignon Day

National Mai Tai Day (a.k.a. Real Mai Tai)

National Toasted Marshmallow Day

New England Apple Day

Independence & Related Days

Ashoka (Declared; 2010) [unrecognized]

Constitution Day (Kazakhstan)

Constitution Day (Turks and Caicos Islands)

Kohlandia (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Leylandiistan & Gurvata (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Liberation Day (Hong Kong; from Japanese Occupation; 1945)

National Liberation Day (Gabon; 2023)

Tatarstan (from Russia, 1990) [unrecognized]

5th & Last Friday in August

Burning of Zozobra (Old Man Gloom effigy) [Friday before 9.1]

College Colors Day [Friday nearest 9.1]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Daffodil Day (New Zealand) [Last Friday]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Forgive Your Foe Friday [Friday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Peruvian Coffee Day (Peru) [Last Friday]

Positive Twitter Day [Last Friday]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

Tracky Dack Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Wear It Purple Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Sheep Market Fair begins (Denmark) [Last Friday through Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 31 (4th Full Week of August)

Labor Day Weekend (U.S. & Canada) [Begins Friday before 1st Monday in September]

Benton Neighbor Day (Benton, Missouri)

Britt Draft Horse Show (Britt, Iowa)

Bumbershoot (Seattle, Washington)

Central City Rock 'n' Roll Cruise-in & Concert (Central City, Kentucky)

Cleveland National Air Show (Cleveland, Ohio)

Clothesline Fair (Prairie Grove, Arkansas)

Colombia River Cross Channel Swim (Hood River, Oregon)

Colorado Balloon Classic (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Commonwheel Labor Day Weekend Arts and Crafts Festival (Manitou Springs, Colorado)

Daniel Boone Pioneer Days (Winchester, Kentucky)

Fort Bridger Rendezvous (Fort Bridger, Wyoming)

Great Bathtub Race (Nome, Alaska)

Great Grove Bed Race (Coconut Grove, Florida)

Harvest Wine Celebration (Livermore, California)

Hog Capital of the World Festival (Kewanee, Illinois)

Hopkinton State Fair (Contoocook, New Hampshire)

Iroquois Arts Festival (Howes Cave, New York)

Johnson City Field Days (Johnson City, New York)

Jubilee Days Festival (Zion, Illinois)

Lifelight Outdoor Music Festival (Worthing, South Dakota)

Mackinac Bridge Walk (St. Ignace, Michigan)

National Championship Chuckwagon Races (Clinton, Arkansas)

National Hard Crab Derby and Fair (Crisfield, Maryland)

National Sweetcorn Festival (Hoopeston, Illinois)

Oatmeal Festival (Bertram/Oatmeal, Texas)

Odyssey Greek Festival (Orange, Connecticut)

On the Waterfront (Rockford, Illinois)

Old Threshers Reunion (Mount Pleasant, Iowa)

Oregon Trail Rodeo (Hastings, Nebraska)

Payson Golden Onion Days (Payson, Utah)

Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival (Greensburg, Pennsylvania)

Popeye Picnic (Chester, Illinois)

Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival (Independence, Missouri)

Scandinavian Fest (Budd Lake, New Jersey)

Sta-Bil Nationals Championship Lawn Mower Race (Delaware, Ohio)

Snake River Duck Race (Nome, Alaska)

Taste of Colorado (Denver, Colorado)

Taste of Madison (Madison, Wisconsin)

Totah Festival (Farmington, New Mexico)

Waikiki Roughwater Swim (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Westfest Czech Heritage Festival (West, Texas)

West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival (Clarksburg, West Virginia)

Wisconsin State Cow-Chip Throw (Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin)

Woodstock Fair (Woodstock, Connecticut)

World Championship Barbecue Goat Cook-Off (Brady, Texas)

Festivals Beginning August 30, 2024

Battle of Flowers (Laredo, Spain) [thru 8.30]

Brisbane Festival (Brisbane, Australia) [thru 9.21]

California Garlic Festival (Los Banos, California) [thru 9.1]

Calumet County Fair (Chilton, Wisconsin) [thru 9.2]

Casey Popcorn Festival (Casey, Illinois) [thru 9.2]

Coconino County Fair (Fort Tuthill County Park, Arizona) [thru 9.2]

Dice Con (Lviv, Ukraine) [thru 9.1]

Eastern Idaho State Fair (Blackfoot, Idaho) [thru 9.7]

European Medieval Festival (Horsens, Denmark) [thru 8.31]

Fall Fest 2024 (Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Idaho) [thru 9.2]

Galveston Island Wine Festival (Galveston, Texas) [thru 9.1]

Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off (Palmer, Alaska)

Great Pershing Balloon Derby (Brookfield, Missouri) [thru 9.2]

Harmony Fair (Harmony, Maine) [thru 9.2]

Marshall County Blueberry Festival (Plymouth, Indiana) [thru 9.2]

Michigan Bean Festival (Fairgrove, Michigan) [thru 8.31]

Midway Swiss Days (Midway, Utah)

National Hard Crab Derby (Crisfield, Maryland) [thru 9.1]

Nauvoo Grape Festival (Nauvoo, Illinois) [thru 9.1]

North Carolina Apple Festival (Hendersonville, North Carolina) [thru 9.2]

Obetz Zucchinifest (Obetz, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

Oktoberfest (Beaver Creek, Colorado) [thru 9.1]

PAX West, a.k.a. PAX Prime (Seattle, Washington) [thru 9.2]

Payson City Golden Onion Days (Payson, Utah) [thru 9.2]

Red Rooster Days (Dassel, Minnesota) [thru 9.2]

St. William Seafood Festival (Guntersville, Alabama) [thru 8.31]

Washington State Fair (Puyallup, Washington) [thru 9.22]

Wilhelm Tell Festival (New Glarus, Wisconsin) [thru 9.1]

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival (Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin) [thru 8.31]

Woodstock Fair (Woodstock, Connecticut) [thru 9.2]

Feast Days

Agilus (a.k.a. Aile; Christian; Saint)

Alexander of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox)

Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster (Christian; Blessed)

Anne Line, Margaret Ward & Margaret Clitherow (Christian; Saints)

Black (Positivist; Saint)

Camilla Läckberg (Writerism)

Candle in a Wine Bottle Day (Pastafarian)

Charisteria (Charis, Goddess of Mercy; Old Roman Thanksgiving)

Chatter Champion Announcement Day (Shamanism)

Day of Satisfying the Hearts of the Ennead (Nine Major Gods; Ancient Egypt)

Eustáquio van Lieshout (Christian; Blessed)

Evelyn De Morgan (Artology)

Charles Chapman Grafton (Episcopal Church)

Fantinus (Christian; Saint)

Felix and Adauctus (Christian; Martyrs)

Festival of Charisteria (Day to Give Thanks; Ancient Rome)

Fiacre (Christian; Saint)

Guy de Lussigny (Artology)

Habetrot’s Eve Day (Northern Britain; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Isaac Levitan (Artology)

Jacques Louis David (Artology)

J. Alden Weir (Artology)

Jeanne Jugan (Christian; Saint)

Leonor Fini (Artology)

Mary Shelley (Writerism)

Narcisa de Jesús (Christian; Saint)

Pammachius (Christian; Saint)

The Pullover Sweater (Muppetism)

Robert Crumb (Artology)

Rose of Lima (Christian; Saint)

Rumon (a.k.a. Ruan; Christian; Saint)

Sacrifice to Tari Pennu Day (Indian Earth-Goddess; Everyday Wicca)

Santa Rosa de Lima Day (Peru)

Stephen Nehmé (Maronite Church, Catholic Church; Blessed)

Theo van Doesburg (Artology)

Third Onam (Rice Harvest Festival, Day 3; Kerala, India)

Thor Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

The Three Arts Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Virginia Lee Burton (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 16 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [16 of 24]

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [39 of 60]

Premieres

Alice Chops the Suey (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Anna Karenina (Film; 1935)

Bad Girl, by The Miracles (Song; 1959)

Beer (Film; 1985)

The Big Snooze (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1957)

A Bird in a Guilty Cage (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Carnival Row (TV Series; 2019)

Dance, Girl, Dance (Film; 1940)

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (TV Series; 2019)

Emma (Film; 1996)

Flesh + Blood (Film; 1985)

The Funny World of Fred and Barney (Live Action/Animated TV Variety Show; 1978)

The Good Girl (Film; 2002)

Heart-Shaped Box, by Nirvana (Song; 1993)

Hey Jude, by The Beatles (Song; 1968) [1st Apple Records release]

Highway 61 Revisited, by Bob Dylan (Album; 1965)

Kravn the Hunter (Film; 2023)

The Late Show with David Letterman (Talk Show; 1993)

Little Cesario (MGM Cartoon; 1941)

Medúlla, by Björk (Album; 2004)

A Mouse in the House (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1947)

Music of the Sun, by Rihanna (Album; 2005)

Never Kick a Woman (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1936)

Otello (Opera Film by Franco Zeffirelli; 1986)

Putting on the Act (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

Santana, by Carlos Santana (Album; 1969)

The School for Scandal, by Samuel Barber (Overture; 1933)

Short in the Saddle (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1963)

Side to Side, by Ariana Grande (Song; 2016)

Slow Days, Fast Company, by Eve Babitz (Short Stories; 1977)

State Fair (Film; 1945)

Surf’s Up, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1971)

Terror on the Midway (Fleischer Cartoon; 1942) [#9]

The Three Bears (Ub Iwerks ComiColor Cartoon; 1935)

Top Hat (Film; 1935)

What Happened to Monday (Film; 2017)

Today’s Name Days

Felix, Herbert, Rebekka (Austria)

Aleksandar, Aleksandra (Bulgaria)

Didak, Margarita, Petar (Croatia)

Vladěna (Czech Republic)

Albert, Benjamin (Denmark)

Emil, Meljo, Mello, Miljo (Estonia)

Eemeli, Eemi, Eemil (Finland)

Fiacre (France)

Alma, Felix, Heribert, Rebekka (Germany)

Alexandra, Alexandros, Evlalios, Filakas (Greece)

Rózsa (Hungary)

Donato, Fantino (Italy)

Alija, Alvis, Jolanta (Latvia)

Adauktas, Augūna, Gaudencija, Kintenis (Lithuania)

Ben, Benjamin (Norway)

Adaukt, Częstowoj, Gaudencja, Miron, Rebeka, Róża, Szczęsna, Szczęsny, Tekla (Poland)

Ružena (Slovakia)

Íngrid, Pedro (Spain)

Albert, Albertina (Sweden)

Raisa, Rhoda, Rosa, Rosabelle, Rosalie, Rosalind, Rosalinda, Roseanne, Rose, Rosemary, Rosetta, Rosie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 243 of 2024; 123 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 27 (Bing-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 26 Av 5784

Islamic: 24 Safar 1446

J Cal: 3 Gold; Threesday [3 of 30]

Julian: 17 August 2024

Moon: 11%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 19 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Fulton]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 72 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of August

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 9 of 32)

[regreports]

The Santa Maria LGU then and the future of LDV 

By Regine Dayao

“Sa ngayon, ang iba pag may nag-complain dito, nagkakaroon kami ng aksyon. Pero pag wala naman ibig sabihin sumusunod sila sa regulasyon.”

The LGU on QC Stryo and LDV Manpower Agency

Amidst the employees and the law itself being pulled into the corporate malpractice of QC Styropackaging Guyong Plant and LDV Manpower Solutions, there is but one component left to help seek justice - the Philippine government.

During that time period, he redirected it under the rule of the late Mayor Paulino A. Luciano Jr.

But according to the thrice-elected Mayor, there had been no record since then on the said factory and agency. 

In his personal term, there had only been one case of corporate malpractice in 2007, one which he did not disclose.

Though Mayor Omeng openly discussed how the local government unit of Santa Maria acts on such heinous crimes.

He emphasized that action is being taken when complaints are received from citizens.

Consequently, if there are no protests, it only means that these companies are following government regulations. 

Though in the event of a company violating employee rights, they do not tolerate it as it proliferates.

“Siyempre sabihin natin na ibang nang-aaboso, hindi nilalagay ang mga empleyado, pwede sila mag-complain din sa amin o kaya samahan namin sa Department of Labor para matulungan sila.“

In line with the interview, personnel of the Santa Maria LGU dug into the databases in search of records of QC Styropackaging and LDV Manpower Solutions.

Just like Mayor Omeng said, zero information was found. 

This is in contrast to former QC Styropackaging employee Erick had exclaimed.

“Siguro, sa tingin ko, (may) nagrereklamo na. Pero natatapalan ng pera. Kasi nga, kumpanya, gano'n. May pera kaya hindi nila pinapinsin ang mga reklamo.” 

Money may be the main root cause of the mishandling of employee benefits, but speculations among employees point it to being also the barricade to justice.

LDV Now

On the internet, there remains zero trace of any official website, social media page, or affiliation of LDV Manpower Solutions.

Some information that exists is the former address of the agency in Valenzuela, along with employee reviews in some online job sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn.

The timeline however was in contrast to how concerned Valenzuela citizen, Ma. Teresa Ocampo remembers it. 

In the city hall where she would work, she would always gaze at the LDV main office just across the street.

Through stories of fellow locals and her brother-in-law who worked at the agency, she was a witness to how the agency mistreated its employees.

So in a Facebook post on May 12 2018, Teresa called on the then Mayor Rex Gatchalian to take counteractive measures. 

According to her, the mayor ordered an investigation and demanded documents proving that the LDV Manpower Solutions is indeed compensating the benefits of the people.

Until the day of the deadline arrived, they failed to show any papers.

Teresa recalled that this only heightened the employees’ objection to the situation, pressing that the agency would owe up to its mistakes. 

She estimated that around two months after her post, but surely in the same year, the agency was shut down.

But this was in contrast as to how former accountant of the said agency, Dezza Mae Morada recalls it.

She entered LDV in 2018 and remembers being employed for a year and a half, which insinuates that she had left office mid-2019.

Not only that, she heard from her friend that they still worked in the agency in the year 2023.

Thus, would it be possible that LDV Manpower Solutions merged with other agencies?

As Teresa said it, Mayor Rex did not allow it. 

“Hindi. Hindi na sila kasi pina-ano ni Mayor, parang nag-ano si Mayor na pag tinanggap sila para mag-merge ng ibang agency, totally damay din yun.” 

The greater question remains: did LDV Manpower Solutions relocate its main office and continue its operations?

One which may explain why zero online presence is left on the agency.

The Future of Manpower Agencies

2018 figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that manpower agencies are still an active component of the workforce industry.

Agency hired workers reached 54% of the estimated 31,277 establishments with more than 20 workers.

In the same Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment (ISLE), the manufacturing industry held the most number of agency sourced workers at 45% or 311, 722.

Through these numbers, factories continue to be reliant on these manpower solution companies, despite its vulnerabilities to end of contract (ENDO).

ENDO is also one of the challenges to Filipino workers, who are hired short-term but have regularly renewed contracts. 

But even in these brief contracts, service incentive leave, rest days, overtime pay, holiday pay, 13th month pay, separation pay and retirement benefits remain a right to the workers.

Still, companies like LDV Manpower Solutions slipped away with these unjust tactics. 

While living with minimum wage is hard enough for honest workers like machine operator Erick, employees get the short end of the stick of not claiming their benefits.

As this industry continues to boom, the fair practices and treatments to its manpower must also be constant. 

Just like Erick, the call continues for a greater enforcement and enactment on the rights of Filipino workers. 

“Huwag na kayong man loko ng kapwa niyo tao, workers. Lumaban kayo ng patas at ibigay niyo iyong dapat kailangan nila kasi kayo iyong agency.”

[calliopesink]

Senate President Zubiri Urges PBBM to Consider P100 Wage Hike Bill

Manila, Philippines – On May 2, 2024, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubri called on President Marcos Jr. to consider the Senate-approved bill for the P100 increase in the minimum wage.

According to the Senate President, the approval of the bill could be urgent due to rising inflation rates, considering the workers’ wages cannot keep up with the price hike of consumer goods. After PBBM ordered the review of workers’ minimum wage on May 1, Senate President Zubiri urged Marcos to consider Senate Bill no. 2534, or the P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2023.

According to the IBON foundation, as of 2024, a family of five in the National Capital Region (NCR) needs a minimum of P1,1193 per day to live decently. As of May 2024, the minimum wage in Metro Manila is P573 for agricultural workers and P610 for non-agriculture sectors. Senate President Zubiri noted that workers in Visayas and Mindanao are earning an average of P390, which is insufficient for a family to maintain a decent standard of living.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recorded a 3.7% increase in inflation in March and projected an inflation rate between 3.5 to 4.3% for April. "So our workers, despite making massive contributions to our industries, are still dealing with wages that are not enough to cover their needs," according to the Senate President on May 2.

The last law passed by the Congress concerning an increase in the national salary was the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989, raising the minimum wage to P89 from P64. Despite pushbacks due to arguments of repercussions on enterprises nationwide, Senate Bill No. 2534, authored by Senator Migz Zubiri, was approved on February 19, 2024.

According to Zubiri, the Senate is waiting for the House of the Representatives' counterpart measure, which is for them to approve the Senate Bill and to write a similar one, to be then approved by the Senate before the change is enacted into law. 

"All we need is the House counterpart measure, and this will be immediately felt across the sector.", he stated.

In 2013, the House of Representatives proposed a bill about a 125-peso increase in salary, which was approved by the Senate, but the bill was withdrawn by the House, according to Senator Jinggoy Estrada. In a discussion with Senator Risa Hontiveros, the matter of raising the minimum wage was proposed by Senator Estrada originally as P150, but the wage board of Metro Manila increased it by 40 pesos; from P570 to P610. “Kaya if I will stick to P150, eh baka marami ng mga magsasarang business establishments”, Senator Estrada stated.

Senator Chiz Escudero clarified that the changes in the minimum wage would not affect R.A. 6727 and R.A. 9187, which are about businesses in the micro and barangay levels not earning over 3 million pesos a year.

In February 2024, Arsenio Balisacan, secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), stated that the raise of wages would affect the economy negatively, possibly leaving 100,000 to 340,000 Filipinos unemployed. According to Secretary Balisacan, the country’s top economists think that it’s not the time to raise wages as it could leave an “inflationary chain reaction”.

Secretary Balisacan added that they are not against the idea of raising wages, but it should be done at regional tripartite levels to take into account the differences in the economic conditions in different regions and areas. 

Senator Zubiri clarified that Senate Bill No. 2534 aims to address the immediate concerns regarding inflation and the cost of living and that adjustments to the regional wages will still fall under the jurisdiction of the wage boards. Zubiri emphasized that the bill's purpose is to aid the labor sector during challenging economic times.

"This bill will only give a boost to the labor sector at this time of great need, as our people work to survive inflation," said Senate President Zubiri.

 Written by: Marco Agas

Pubmat by: Francheska Ivana Piñon

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ICYMI: Kaisa ang Gabriela Youth Laguna, tagumpay ang Southern Tagalog caravan na pinangunahan ng Gabriela Timog Katagalugan bilang pagdiriwang para sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kababaihang Anakpawis!

Hindi napigilan ng pang-iintimida ng pulisya ang hanay ng mga kababaihan sa pakikipaglaban para sa sahod, trabaho, kabuhayan edukasyon, kaligtasan, at karapatan! Tagumpay na naisagawa ang programa mula San Pedro, Biñan, Sta Rosa, Cabuyao, Calamba, at San Pablo.

Hindi rito natatapos ang pakikipaglaban ng mga kababaihan kaisa ang bawat mamamayang Pilipino. Patuloy ang pagsulong para sa ating batayang karapatan! Sama-sama nating papandayin ang lipunang malaya sa paghihirap, pang-aapi, at pang-aabuso! Abante, babae! Palaban, Militante!

ICYMI: Together with Gabriela Youth Laguna, the Southern Tagalog caravan led by Gabriela Southern Tagalog had a successful celebration of International Women's Day! Police intimidation did not stop the ranks of women from fighting for wages, jobs, livelihoods, education, safety, and rights! The program was successfully implemented in San Pedro, Biñan, Sta Rosa, Cabuyao, Calamba, and San Pablo. The fight of women alongside all Filipino citizens does not end here. Continue to advance basic rights! Together we will forge a society free from suffering, oppression, and abuse! Forward, women! Fight militantly! 

-- Gabriela Youth Laguna, 9 Mar 2023

[thxnews]

PH Crackdown Intensifies on POGO Human Trafficking

In a renewed push to combat human trafficking in the Philippine offshore gaming industry, prosecutors heard gripping testimony from Chinese workers detailing alleged rights abuses at a major Pasay City operation. "The victims' accounts provide a disturbing look into the inhumane conditions some were forced to endure." Said Winston Casio, spokesperson for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), his voice tinged with concern.   Key Points: Testimonies from 10 Chinese nationals against 7 compatriots Allegations of forced labor, human trafficking at Smart Web Technology Corp. 731 workers, including Filipinas, rescued in October 2023 raid Self-contained compound with entertainment facilities uncovered   The testimony marks the latest development following last year's dramatic raid on the Smart Web Technology Corp. compound in Pasay. Authorities discovered a veritable self-contained city, complete with living quarters, entertainment amenities like a KTV lounge and massage parlor, restaurants, and even a small clinic.  

Pasay-raid. Photo by Joann Manabat. Rappler. However, the opulent facade belied a darker reality, according to the PAOCC. Chinese workers showed signs of physical abuse and claimed they were being held against their will and subjected to forced labor practices. "We cannot turn a blind eye when basic human rights are being violated in this manner," Casio stated firmly. "The Philippine government has no tolerance for these kinds of nefarious activities on our soil."  

Labor Trafficking Accusations

Prosecutors are now weighing whether to file charges against seven Chinese nationals identified as the alleged operatives behind the illegal practices at Smart Web. The PAOCC asserts the men were involved in deceptive hiring and human trafficking through schemes like the forced "selling" of workers between POGOs. Defense lawyers have pushed back, claiming workplace misunderstandings and cultural differences were the root causes of the situation. They decried the "heavy-handed" raid as an overreaction.   Oversight and Prevention The jarring case has amplified calls for increased oversight and prevention measures in the billion-peso POGO sector. Legislators have proposed tightening licensing requirements, enhancing regular inspections, and mandating workers' rights training. "Left unchecked, this underbelly of exploitation threatens to tarnish our nation's reputation as a sound investment environment," warned one Senate leader. "We must get our house in order."   Next Steps Prosecutors now have 60 days to render a decision on pressing charges based on the evidence presented, including the powerful worker testimonies. The PAOCC has also hinted at upcoming cases against other POGO firms. Casio said: "This is just the opening salvo in regaining control over a valuable sector that has spun out of control. We will be relentless in rooting out these kinds of abuses." As the investigation unfolds, the fates of the firm's operators, the rescued workers, and the future of POGO oversight in the Philippines hangs in the balance.   Sources: THX News & Philippine News Agency. Read the full article

[industryforecastnews]

Finance & Accounting BPO Market Size To Reach $110.74 Billion By 2030

Finance & Accounting BPO Market Growth & Trends

The global financial and accounting business process outsourcing market size is expected to reach 110.74 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2023 to 2030, according to the recent reports of Grand View Research, Inc. Innovation, global competition, and new technologies are the key driving factors behind the expansion and growth of the finance & accounting business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA) that have emerged over the past few years have influenced the BPO industry.

RPA with its speed, efficiency, and cost savings abilities is slowly making its way into all industries and all types of business processes. Robotic process automation has also emerged as the fastest-growing trend in finance & accounting BPO, particularly in the management sector, providing high-value creation with fast time-to-value and notable cost savings. These developments would further drive the market’s growth during the forecast period.

Earlier, the customer service industry was entirely reliant upon Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and websites for transferring a call to the correct representative. However, now a day’s most of the population has at least one social media account, resulting in a significant shift in consumer behavior. Social media browsing has recently become the third most popular online activity. Companies have now realized the importance of social media as it provides consumer data and feedback that can enhance a company’s ability to analyze impending trends and innovate.

Enterprises are aggressively investing in real-time customer engagement instead of call center software programs, which will allow them to procure first-hand product insights and turn concerns into new solutions or products that will address the upcoming challenges. This change in customer management is considered a huge opportunity by the finance & accounting business process outsourcing service providers.

Leading vendors such as Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Infosys Ltd, and TCS are increasingly incorporating AI and blockchain technologies to provide a differentiated offering to their clients. Favorable government initiatives are also paving the way for the growth of the overall outsourcing market in India.

For instance, in May 2020, the Government of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) portal that aims to encourage technological innovation, startups, and the development of intellectual properties. Similarly, in the Philippines, lower labor costs, competitive IT infrastructure, a highly educated and skilled workforce, and favorable tax incentives are some of the factors driving the growth of the financial and accounting (F&A) business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

Request a free sample copy or view report summary: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/finance-accounting-business-process-outsourcing-market-report

Finance And Accounting Business Process Outsourcing Market Report Highlights

The record-to-pay segment is anticipated to observe a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period. A number of providers such as Accenture and KPMG are building up Centers of Excellence (CoE) to progress R2R process expertise. These service providers are also forging technology partnerships to get access to tools beyond the general ledger and recognition. For instance, reporting solutions and asset management solutions

The large enterprise segment is anticipated to observe a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period. Large enterprises are adopting new business strategies to capture a huge chunk of buyers and retain their position in the finance and accounting BPO market

The IT & telecommunications segment is anticipated to observe a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period. Financial and accounting outsourcing is being used by telecommunications companies all over the world to reduce overall capital expenditure (CAPEX). F&A outsourcing solutions assist telecom companies in developing a flexible strategy for optimizing current investments, managing cost pressures, acquiring and retaining more customers, and gaining access to specialized resources

North American finance & accounting BPO market is expected to reach USD 38.88 billion by 2030. The growth is ascribed to the increasing adoption of cloud enablement and digital-related services that requires frequent assistance and maintenance for business operations

Financial And Accounting Business Process Outsourcing Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global finance and accounting business process outsourcing market based on service, enterprise size, vertical, and region:

Financial & Accounting Business Process Outsourcing Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Order-to-cash

Procure-to-pay

Record-to-report

Source-to-pay

Multi Processed

Financial & Accounting Business Process Outsourcing Enterprise-size Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Large Enterprises

Financial & Accounting Business Process Outsourcing Vertical Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018 - 2030)

BFSI

Healthcare

Manufacturing

Energy & Utilities

Travel & Logistics

IT & Telecommunications

Media & Entertainment

Retail

Others

Financial & Accounting Business Process Outsourcing Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

U.K.

Germany

France

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

Singapore

Malaysia

Philippines

Indonesia

Thailand

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

MEA

List of Key Players in the Finance And Accounting Business Process Outsourcing Market

Accenture

Infosys Limited (Infosys BPM)

HCL Technologies Limited

Wipro Limited

Capgemini

Sutherland

IBM Corporation

Tata Consultancy Services Limited

Genpact

Fiserv, Inc.

Browse Full Report: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/finance-accounting-business-process-outsourcing-market-report

[pannaginip]

Philippine Collegian (official student publication of UP Diliman):

Seven years of relentless work in New Zealand’s bustling construction industry would catch up to 51-year-old Boy [real name concealed], compelling him to welcome the holidays on leave. On December 20, 2023, mere days before Christmas, Boy and more than 700 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were laid off after recruitment firm ELE Group of Companies suddenly went bust.

Migrante Aotearoa Chairperson Mikee Santos describes ELE’s going under as the “biggest closure of a company wherein Filipinos are the ones affected.” This, while the emergency aid that migrant groups have been demanding from the Philippine government remains in limbo.

Chronic underemployment and contractualization force OFWs to leave the Philippines only to be met with a labor climate just as poor abroad. When OFWs are left miles away from home with nowhere to run but the Philippine government, the state’s utmost duty is invoked: getting at the substandard work conditions that constitute the root causes of emigration.

Since he entered New Zealand, Boy’s order of the day comprised of installing the jibs of cranes, mounting the framing of different structures, and other routine labor. The wage for construction men who work 30 hours a week, the minimum entitlement, is NZD800 or P27,700 weekly.

New Zealand’s steep cost of living, however, forces workers to break even. “Minsan, dahil ‘yung [sahod] nila napupunta lang sa upa, may mga lumabas na ng bahay, natutulog na lang sa kotse,” [Sometimes, because so much of their wages go to rent, some leave the house and just sleep in the car] said Santos. But even then, a graver expense is the weekly installments demanded by car ownership in New Zealand–a necessity for all workers in the “absence of good public transport infrastructure,” Santos claims.

ELE’s willful negligence became more evident with workers like Boy entering their third month unemployed. His job hunting has been constrained by cut-rate companies who go first after migrants without residence for their lower salary grades.

Amid calls from Migrante to expedite the P35,000 subsidy from the Philippine government, Boy and other residents have not yet received aid. As of January, many tranches remain in the air–only 21 out of 97 ex-ELE workers in Christchurch have received aid while just 12 of 95 have gotten theirs in Auckland.

The triangular work or third-party arrangement quickly became a staple of New Zealand’s labor terrain—at the expense of a migrant workforce rendered cheap, docile labor.

To ensure the employment of OFWs abroad, the Philippine government required an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), a mandatory document that seeks to guarantee work for OFWs in their host countries. However, Migrante railed against the OEC, citing the added bureaucracy. The return of migrant workers from the Philippines to their host countries is bogged down by the OEC’s documentation fees and laggard application process, according to Migrante International.

Requirements like the OEC should ideally provide OFWs with recourse. Instead, they find sluggish aid and tiers of red tape–worsening the blow of a deficient agriculture sector and unstable employment back home, abetted by the state. “Sa mga meeting [kasama ang mga migrante], 100 percent sa kanila ay galing sa bukid ang pamilya … Di sila nagkakaroon ng lupa, so napipilitan silang umalis ng bansa.” [In meetings with other migrants, 100% of them come from families living in the boondocks... they could never own land, so they were forced to leave the country.]

Boy’s experiences constitute a gloomy tapestry of stories shared by all Filipino migrant workers. A unifying element in all of these: migration out of sheer necessity rather than desire. “Sa Pilipinas may trabaho, pero ang kinikita ay napakaliit lang. Hindi malayong ang nagmimithing magkatrabaho ay iisiping mangibang-bansa,” [There is work in the Philippines, but the earnings are extremely little. It's not uncommon for those who wish to work to consider going abroad] Boy said.

Even though 5,000 miles away from the Philippines, Boy finds himself rehearsing the same rituals that pushed him to leave home: work without respite, hopping between employers, and letting the day pass hungry. Boy’s seven-year toil in New Zealand will continue without first solving the dire straits that render him suffocated in his homeland and trapped abroad.

2024 Mar. 3

Migrante Aotearoa on Facebook:

Laid off ELE workers continue to fight to receive their final pay 4 weeks after ELE went into receivership.

Today, we gathered in front of Deloitte Auckland to demand a fast-track release of the workers’ final pay.

We urge the New Zealand government to investigate the practices of labour hire companies, and ensure that workers’ and migrants’ rights are upheld and honoured.

We also demand immediate financial aid from the Philippine government and embassy for all affected Filipino workers.

The current circumstances demand immediate action to alleviate the hardships faced by our kababayans!

#FinalPayDontDelay #EmergencyFundsNOWNA

2024 Jan. 19