I almost forgot...

Happy birthday!

The Stars, the Moon, and the Night Before the Big Day

While it is true that every day is a new day, and yesterday is different from today, and tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow; December 8, 2010 is definitely a spectacular one!

The Stars Up-close

I went with the PDADies to the Forum on Media and Gender Equality in Mabini Hall, Malacanang, organized by the Philippine Commission on Women, the PCOO and MTRCB not just as a gesture of support to the IRMD but more because I am interested to hear from the speakers. I was initially hesitant to go there because we’re also preparing for our major activity for the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, which is the Forum on Localizing the Magna Carta of Women at Hotel Rembrandt. But I dropped by anyway and every moment was worth it! J

Why not if you get to see just at your back or in front of you big names in the movie and television industry like Director Laurice Guillen, Bb. Joyce Bernal, Karen Davila, Kara David, and Boy Abunda?! Now I admit, I am neither a TV nor a movie buff but it’s kind of impossible for one not to be familiar with those big names, unless one lives like a hermit! If seeing them near is like candies to the eye, hearing them share their own experiences and their views about the subject is like a kick of caffeine on a rainy Monday morning. Plus, majority of the comments coming from the audience are equally mind-stirring.

Who would have thought that a well-respected director once upon a time received an indecent “date” proposal when she was just starting her acting career for the big screen? But hers is just another living proof of the power of “NO.” We were not able to witness the entire forum since we walked back to the office to go back to our preps, so I do hope that a video documentation of the entire Forum would be made available, soon. And, well hmmm..OMB Chair Ronnie Rickets (yep, the action star), and MTRCB Chair Grace Poe-Llamanzares sat just 3 feet apart from where I sat! whew!

Moon Sighting

A bonus point for dropping by the Forum: I got to see the moon for the 3^rd time! Weee!

The Night Before the Big Day

At six p.m. the day isn’t over for Helen and me as we head for Tomas Morato in Quezon City to bring some of our materials and tarps. Yep, we foresee that it would take quite a while for the hotel engineering staff to put up that giant tarpaulin that would serve as our backdrop. If you are familiar with the stage of Hotel Rembrandt’s grand ballroom, you definitely know what I mean. Besides, we still have to set up the MCW exhibit and check if the table and chair arrangement that we requested for was followed. Okay, we still have to do some movement of tables here and there, and we were able to call Tita Vicky to advise her to bring the Philippine Flag and the flagpole from the office when they go to the hotel in the morning of December 9 because apparently, the hotel’s available flag is only half the size of the PCW flag! Good grief, the NHI would have reprimanded us if we didn’t change that and they find out! Besides, with or without the NHI I believe that we should definitely give due respect to the national emblem especially that we are organizing an official event of the Philippine Government.

It took us roughly two hours for the setup and after that we’re hungry. We crossed the street outside and calmed our raving stomachs with tapsilog from the tapsi restaurant just across the hotel…tama si Sylvia, masarap nga ang tapsi flakes nila! Yum!

Soccer, Anyone?
Since am not sleepy yet, I sat in front of the TV while my bro is watching the Suzuki Cup. It was Philippines vs. Myanmar playing soccer in Vietnam. Fun din pala manood ng soccer! If anyone would invite me to watch a game live, I'd definitely go just to experience the thrill of watching it in the actual field. And oh, that James Younghusband whom I often see on a billboard along Espanya before is a soccer player pala. At first I couldn't understand how the game goes, so it's a good thing naglaro ng soccer si bro nun h.s. so may I explain siya. A good thing is that the Philippine Team won the game. Whew! Congratulations!

DOLE Guidelines on Special Leave for Women Out Soon

Government workers can now avail of the special leave benefit specified under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, guided by the Resolution promulgated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

But private sector employees need not worry. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will soon issue the guidelines for the private sector. Through its Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, DOLE prepared and discussed the draft guidelines with the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) last October. Feedback and comments from the labor and employer sectors are expected to be submitted to DOLE until the second week of December 2010. Said comments will be used to enhance the draft guidelines prior to endorsement to Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for approval.

Note: The National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) serves as the main consultative and advisory mechanism lodged with the Department of Labor and Employment – Bureau of Labor Relations.  It functions primarily as a forum for tripartite advisement and consultation among organized labor, employer and government in the formulation and implementation of labor and employment polices.  The National TIPC is responsible for processing major issuances affecting labor, employment and other related concerns, as well as a clearinghouse for the recommendation and ratification or denunciation of International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions.

CSC Releases Guidelines on Availment of Special Leave Benefit under the Magna Carta of Women

Weblink updated: January 3, 2015 

Women public sector employees can now avail of the special leave benefits under the Magna Carta of Women, without wondering if they are qualified to avail of it or not.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has set the guidelines for the availment of special leave benefits for qualified female government employees who have undergone surgery caused by gynecological disorders, as mandated under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.

CSC resolution numbered 1000432 promulgated on November 22, 2010 seeks to ensure uniform interpretation and implementation of the grant of the special leave benefits for women in the government service.

Under the guidelines, any female government employee who has rendered at least six (6) months aggregate service in any or various government agency for the last 12 months prior to surgery is entitled to the said leave benefit with pay, which may be availed for every instance of surgery, for a maximum period of two (2) months per year.  Those involved in government service without an employer-employee relationship such as Contracts of Service and Job Orders are not covered by the guidelines.

The guidelines, which has retroactive effect starting September 15, 2009, classifies surgeries into major or those that require a recuperation period of three (3) weeks to two (2) months, and minor or those requiring a maximum of two (2) weeks recuperation period. It also provides a comprehensive list of surgical operations for gynecological disorders reflecting (1) the type of surgical procedure for the gynecological disorder;  (2) the disease being addressed by the said surgical procedure;  and (3) the classification or type of procedure to be undertaken based on the patient's estimated period of recuperation. The said list of surgical operations for gynecological disorders was formulated by a Technical Working Committee composed of Obstetrician-Gynecologists, Surgeons, and Medical Doctors from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), the Department of Health's (DOH) Quirino Memorial Medical Center, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) with the support of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, Inc (POGS) and the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS), and the DOH's Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital.

The procedure for availing the special leave benefit shall be made through Civil Service Form 6 (application for leave form) signed by the employee and approved by proper authorities, and accompanied by a medical certificate filled out by the proper medical authorities, including a clinical summary reflecting the gynecological disorder, histopathological report, operative technique for the surgery, duration of the surgery, period of confinement, and the estimated period of recuperation.

Government officials and employees covered by guidelines whose periods of surgery fall within September 15, 2009 (date of effectivity of RA 9710) to  November 21, 2010 (before the guidelines was promulgated by the CSC), and were deducted salary, sick or vacation leave credits can have the appropriate gross compensation paid or leave credits restored, as the case maybe.

Full copy of CSC Resolution No. 1000432 may be downloaded from the Philippine Commission on Women Website. (note: the agency changed its domain name hence this link is dead)

Working link to the CSC Resolution (as of January 3, 2015): CSC Guidelines on the Availment of Special Leave Benefits for Women Under R.A. 9710 (An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Women)

random thoughts...

• ang opinyon ng maingay ay hindi nangangahulugan na opinyon ito ng lahat


• huwag makipagtalo sa taong galit


• ang taong galit, walang naririnig kung hindi ang sariling boses


• ang taong galit, laging tama (sa kanyang mga mata)


• kapag hindi ka na naniniwala sa umiiral sa sistema at hindi mo na matanggap ang nagaganap dahil sa kabila ng pagpupursigi mo na mabago ito ay wala ka nang magawa, umalis ka na -- maaaring pansamantala lamang o maaari ring pangmatagalan o panghabambuhay na


• basurang itinapon mo, pwedeng doble balik sa iyo -- may kasama pang baha


• lahat ng tao nagkakamali


• pero may tinatawag na "honest mistake"


• masarap pakinggan ang paghingi ng paumanhin kung galing sa puso


• nakaka-irita yun nagpapasintabi kuno pero sarcastic naman


• may mga taong sobrang bilib sa sarili


• kapag binato ka ng bato, umilag ka!


• ang taong gutom, maya-maya mahihilo


• ang sampung pisong barya at ang singkong butas ay magka-iba; pero pareho lang silang barya


• butas rin naman ang sampung piso, pero may tapal itong ginintuang bilog; pero pareho lang silang barya


• di hamak na mas malaki ang sampung piso sa singkong butas, katunayan eh mas malaki pa nga yun giningtuang tapal ng sampung piso sa singko; pero pareho lang silang barya


• wala na ata akong mabibili sa singko pero pwede ko pambili ng isang order ng kanin yun sampung piso (basta sa carinderia lang, kulang na yun kung sa fast food); pero pareho lang silang barya


• maliit man o malaki ang sukat, maliit man o malaki ang katumbas, butas man o may tapal, pareho lang silang mahalaga


• may halaga rin naman ang singkong butas. katunayan, tinatanggap itong pambayad sa SM kapag marami ka na naipon!


• kung hindi mahalaga ang singko, eh bakit wala pang naghahabla o nagrereklamo sa banko sentral ng pilipinas ng pagwawaldas ng salapi ng taong-bayan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapagawa ng walang kwentang singkong butas?