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| Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre |
The Philippine civil service examination is to be held in Hong Kong for the first time in November.
This was according to Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre, who
said in a speech on Chater Road
yesterday, Aug. 21, that the date for the test is still being finalized by the
Professional Regulation Commission.
Labatt de la Torre also confirmed what was earlier reported
by The SUN: that the overseas employment certificate that thousands Filipino
workers had lined up for during peak seasons has been scrapped.
“Gusto ninyo ng
magandang balita, yung may kinalaman sa OEC? Wala na,” De la Torre said, to
the applause of the crowd at the Aliwan Festival organized by the Global
Alliance on Chater Road ,
Central.
“Simula sa Sept 15, wala na pong pila sa Konsulado para sa
pagkuha ng OEC,” he said.
But he said all OFWs going on vacation must register with
BMOnline to ensure their safe return to their worksites. Those who have already
done so and are returning to the same employers need not register again.
But those who have changed employers since registering, or those
whose employers have transferred to another place must again register with
BMOnline to update their personal information.
He urged those who have not yet registered online to do so
at the Consulate from Saturday to Thursday. He said those who do not register
would be barred from leaving by the Bureau of Immigration in Manila .
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| Global Alliance leaders say beauty pageant is their last |
De la Torre then turned to the event organizers, who were
visibly anticipating what he had to say after censuring them two months ago for
inviting him to an event which was spiced up with a beauty pageant with
gyrating contestants.
“Perhaps you are wondering why I’m here, because two months
ago I put a stop to beauty contests. But I don’t see anything indecent here,”
De la Torre said.
He said the reason he put a stop to beauty contests was his
belief that such pageants “degrade the dignity of Filipino women and lead to
serious indebtedness and my mind hasn’t changed. It is still what I believe
in.”
De la Torre said he graced the event because Global Alliance
chairman Leo Solomenio promised that the culture-inspired beauty contest that
highlighted Aliwan Festival was the last such pageant that the alliance
organized.
The labor attaché, however, praised the pageant for its creativeness
and for presenting Philippine culture. The 12 contestants wore costumes that
represented various ethnic groups and their colorful cultural festivals.
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| VC Bob Quintin |
Interestingly, their costumes were made of matted bamboo
slivers, dried tiger grass flowers, rambutan rind, chicken feather, and other
native materials.
“Kino-congratulate ko rin ang Global Alliance sa kanilang
Aliwan Festival at sana
ito na ang katapusan ng beauty contests na kanilang gagawin.” He said festivals such as this were all right
as longs as there are no women in bikinis.
Another guest, Vice Consul Bob Quintin of the Consulate’s
cultural section, praised the festival participants for the preparations that
each group made to depict the richness of various Philippine cultural fiestas.
“Kitang-kita naman. Wow! Wala akong masabi,” he said.
He thanked the organizers and the groups in Global Alliance
for highlighting the cultural wealth of the regions.
“I hope you also continue to support the Consulate and we
all also continue to support you, especially in your promotion of our country’s
culture,” Quintin said. -
Vir B. Lumicao
