(Sunstar online news)

MANILA — Malacañang on Friday said it is deferring action on a retake of the leakage-marred nursing board exams held last June in order to wait for the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) on the case regarding the oath taking of those who passed the test.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Labor Secretary Arturo Brion was reminded by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) of the pending case before the CA, which could bear on the decision to have the examinees retake the examinations.

“We cannot make final action as to the extent of the retake because titingnan natin (we will see) how the CA decision will bear on such decision”? Ermita said.

He said details such as who should retake the exams, whether it should only be for those who passed the exams, would be affected by the court decision. However, he reiterated that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already made a “decision in principle,” which is to have all examinees retake the exams in order to restore the integrity of the nursing profession.

He said the Palace expects the CA to hand down its decision before the next regular board exams in December. The case was filed by the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) College of Nursing to stop the oath taking of those who have already passed the exams.

Ermita said the government will fork out P52 million to subsidize the examinations. “We will not let them pay exam fees anymore. The President ordered that we take care of the funds,” he said.

President Arroyo told a handful of students late Thursday afternoon that all of those who passed the exams would have to do the retake and that it would only cover Tests 3 and 5, which are the subject of the leakage. She also said those who failed have the option to either do the retake or take the next examinations in December.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Friday endorsed Malacañang’s move to fund a retake by nursing graduates of the leakage-marred licensure examinations held last June.

“We could ask the National Government to subsidize the retake of the 2006 nursing board exam but as of now I cannot really commit because I am not in a position to say that because of the pending petition filed in the Court of Appeals,” said Secretary Brion.

He said a meeting scheduled last Thursday between him and PRC executives to discuss the retake was cancelled due to typhoon Milenyo when it lashed Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“We only have two concerns that needed to be discussed and it include the nursing exam leakage and how to maintain the integrity of the licensure exams (being administered by the PRC),” Brion said.

Brion clarified that while the PRC was put under the Dole’s supervision, it doesn’t mean that they will control the operations of PRC.

“In the EO (executive order) the instruction there is for Dole to provide general direction and coordination with PRC, meaning we will only provide guidance and monitor the operations for the Office of the President but not to control them,” Brion said.

The UST College of Nursing, the League of Concerned Nurses and the Binuklod na Samahan ng mga Student Nurses last month filed a petition seeking a retake of the June 2006 licensure examinations as they questioned the actions taken by the PRC to cleanse the examination of leaked test questions. The CA then issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping the oath taking of passing examinees.

The PRC, since the start of the controversy, refused to allow a retake of the nursing examinations because they are convinced that, only 3,000 examinees might have had access to the leaked test questions out of the 17,000 examinees who took the exam.

MANILA — Over 7,300 nursing graduates are in for a second round of the board exams, after months of uncertainty about their job prospects here and abroad. Malacañang has approved a retake of the scandal-hit exams last June, to silence doubts about the examinees’ competence and the nursing profession’s integrity.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the decision was reached during the Cabinet meeting Tuesday and that Labor Secretary Arturo Brion and the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) were tasked to iron out details of the special exam. The order will come from the PRC. But at the policy level, there is already a decision that there will be a retake. The President made the decision, Ermita said. Apart from the 7,322 out of 40,000 applicants who passed the nursing exams last June, other Filipino nurses, including those abroad, were affected by the reported leakage, Ermita added.

Calling the order “unfair” to the Cebuano board passers, Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella hopes the President will reconsider her decision. Labella is also the lawyer of the Cebuano intervenors in a case filed against the PRC and the Board of Nursing.

“I hope that the President will seriously reconsider her decision considering that the case is currently being heard at the Court of Appeals,” said Labella, upon hearing the news last night.

The petitioners are Rene Luis Tadle, president of the University of Sto. Tomas, College of Nursing; Earl Francis Sumile, president of the League of Concerned Nurses; and Michael Angelo Brant, president of the Binuklod na Samahan ng mga Student Nurses.The intervenors are Cebu-based board passers and their parents collectively called Tanan (Tapok-tapok sa Nagkahiusang Nurses Batok sa Retake).

Labella appeared before the CA in Manila last September 14 for a hearing, where he pointed out that the petitioners were only concerned about the alleged leakage in Manila and Baguio.“Cebu was never alluded to have benefited from the said leakage,” Labella said. So a retake for all board passers would be an injustice to Cebu-based nurses, he added.He has yet to meet with the leaders of Tanan for their next move. But initially, Labella will suggest that the group write a letter to President Arroyo, asking for a reconsideration of her order. President Arroyo, in Executive Order 565, has also ordered that the PRC be attached to the labor department for general direction and coordination, following the leakage. The scandal’s effect on the nursing profession is a labor matter, Ermita explained, because it affects the placement of professionals both locally and abroad. (Sunstar Online stories)

By Joy B. Miranda

I was just consuming my free time by web-hopping today and there was this online conversation posted in OFW Guide Forum which had brought me a good laugh. Written in a very ‘unsoftened’ Tagalog, authors nevertheless were able to express their hearts out. I am sharing it with you by reposting it here, (unedited) with a hope that you will find what sense they were trying to make and hope you will have a great laugh as well! 

On  the subject: Modern Day Heroes:

Kawun said: Galing Abroad po ako, Sabi nila bagong bayani raw ako?!
kasi nagpapadala ako ng pera sa pilipinas. pero ngayon natapos na ang contrata ko sa abroad parang walang maetotolong ang goberno sa akin.sana naman bigyan ng governo ang mga OFW ng seminar tungkol kng paano magagamit ang pera para mag negosyo di ba??

Gudkisser replied: HIndi ka talaga totolongan ng gobyerno heheheehehe…. sa salita lang naging bayani ang mga ofw…… meron bang bayani na kinikotongan? alam ba ninyo na ang owwa ay walang pera? kse sabi sa owwa bago ako mag abroad eh may mga benifitts daw. ano ano ang benifits? pwede daw maging schoolar ang anak ng isang ofw.. kaso wag na daw asahan dahil wala daw pera ang owwa… ni hindi ka nga pwede mag loan eh anong benifits makukuha ng mga ofw na bayani daw?

ang tanong eh bakit tinulungan ng gobyerno si angelo sa irak? semple pogi points hehehehe baka hindi nila alam na mas maraming mas malala ang problema d2 sa abroad compare sa problema ni angelo… bakit di tinutulungan ng gobyerno? dahil walang camera hehehehe.

OFW Forum Editor said: To avail the programs of the government for OFWs like you we refer you to visit OWWA at:

Rm.401, 4th Flr, OWWA DEC Bldg.
7th cor. F.B Harrison St. Pasay City
Telephone Numbers: (02) 834-0124/804-0638/834-0148/891-7601 to 24 local 5401

or visit the Pag-Ibig website at: http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/index.asp 

Gudkisser again replied: anong program ba ang tinutukoy mo? yung tv program ni Gloria? Hehehehee. kahit san channel makikita mo yun……

yung friend ko galing d2 dubai eh pumunta dyan para mag loan dahil mag tatayo sya ng business…. pagdating sa owwa eh ang sasama daw tumingin ng mga empleyado sa kanya heheheehe kse alam ata na may balak sya mag loan hehehe joke…

ang sabi ng owwa sa kanya eh kailangan daw ng collateral para bigyan sya ng loan eh kaso ang pwede nya lang i collateral eh brip nya heheheehehe ayaw ata tangapin kse di kilala ang brand joke hehehehe peace mr editor…

ano ibig ko sabihin? kung kailangan mo mag loan eh kailangan mayaman ka para bigyan ka nila ng loan… natural kaya ka nga mag loan dahil kulang ang pera mo.. kung may pera kaman eh kulan pang negosyo kaya ka mag lo loan….. tapos hihingian ka ng collateral…

ang tanong eh bakit sila kumukuha ng collateral? para maka siguro na di mo sila susubain korek???? pero bakit sila panay ang panunuba sa mga ofw? sana kami din ay humingi ng collateral sa kanila… sa bibig mismo ng empleyado ng owwa galin na walang pera ang owwa dahil kinurakot na nila… sabi yun ng nag seminar samin sa PDOS.

sige dare ko mga ofw.. pakuhain nyo ng schoolar ang anak nyo… pustahan tayo di bibigyan ng 4 years na kurso ang anak nyo at kung bigyan man ng schoolar eh pag aaralin kalang kung paano mag kulot at mag pedicure hehehehe cguro 2 days course lang kaya ibigay ng goverment hehehehe…. bulok gobyerno dyan sa pinas ang katunayan eh maraming pinoy nasa abroad. Muahhh

Sentidokomon: Damned right they are, don’t you think? It has been a rotten, never-ending, foul-smelling system of the government which makes the people all the more helpless. Modern day heroes? Shall I term it:  Modern Day Heroes in Looting Industry! Laugh, dear fellas! Hahaha!

By the way, another guest in the OFW Forum who named himself ‘Mechanic400’, has this to say on the subject: A dream for OFWs:

Mechanic400 said: How about an OFW hospital for all of us and our dependents?
How about an OFW school, a university for which our children may go to?
How about a tax-free incentive of being able to ship-in a vehicle for the OFW on final contract? How about an OFW Legal Office to turn on to for legal matters?

Sana magkaroon ng katotohanan ang mga ito…. someday kapag ang mga gahaman at buhaya sa gubyerno natin eh naagnas na at napalitan ng bagong sibol na mga Lider.

Sentidokomon: I used to have a very close male friend who was fond of criticising erring government officials in their town. “I hate them! They are all corrupt!� were what he used to say to me. Few years had passed, and another election came, this friend of mine ran for a government seat and fortunately won. Let me tell you I eventually stop seeing him not because he became so busy being a government official. I did cease my friendship with him because I personally felt that he became like the same persons whom he once hated the most: Corrupt.

To Kawun, don’t despair if you are now being ripped off of that title as ‘Bagong Bayani’ after finishing your job abroad. Don’t despair if government is failing to meet your expectations. If you have money with you, try to get advises from business or financial experts, those whom you know are also once called ‘Bagong Bayani’ and became successful in their business ventures at home.  Good Luck!

To Gudkisser, I like your sense of humour! Speaking of sad reality in a jolly manner is something of a positive attitude which all of OFWs must possess. Get on with life with or without government assistance, that doesn’t matter to those who have good faith in their capabilities. Your future is in your hands. For those in the government, their future is likewise lies in your hands. Hahaha!

To Mechanic400: You suggested a very sound dream! Well, what can I say? If thousands of OFWs if not million? Would gather together and share even a single or two dollars each, perhaps one of those dreams will materialize. Expect that to happen from the government side is just a waste of our time and it would just be a bad dream.

Sentidokomon would like to share with you a piece of something worth reading, something which hopefully will enlighten every little sorrowful soul out there. Posted in OFW Guide from someone who named himself as ‘Kurikabu’. Good luck!

17 Extraordinary Human Capacities
By Steve Brunkhorst

People have a tremendous capacity for outstanding achievement.
There are also many extraordinary capacities that allow them to become high achievers. Here are seventeen extraordinary capacities that make human beings remarkable. When we recognize and use these capacities, the quality of our lives can become more joyful than ever before.

1. Helping someone in their time of tragedy or need shows the capacity for human goodness.

2. Listening closely to another’s words and experience shows the capacity for soulful communication.

3. Understanding the pain, sorrow, or loss of another person shows the capacity for empathy.

4. Believing the best about others, and offering time, support, and friendship shows the capacity for trust.

5. Apologizing for a past mistake shows the capacity for strong character and trustworthiness.

6. Forgiving the errors of a fellow human being shows the capacity to receive forgiveness.  

7. Supporting the truth, even when it is unpopular, shows the capacity for honesty and integrity.

8. Compromising when it is best for the welfare of others shows the capacity for teamwork.

9. Giving time and effort to assist others to be successful shows the capacity for sincerity.

10. Being curious about life, its people and its mysteries, shows the capacity for learning.

11. Praying for the welfare of family, friends, and all of humanity shows the capacity for love.

12. Waiting for God’s answer to a prayer shows the capacity for faith and patience.

13. Accepting the answer to a prayer, whatever it might be, discovering its blessings, and then moving on shows the capacity or gratitude.

14. Believing in a God-given purpose throughout long and difficult seasons of scarcity shows the capacity for determination and hope.

15. Taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from all experiences show the capacity for being human.

16. Getting up after having fallen down or suffered failure shows the capacity for resolve.

17. Persisting resolutely to navigate life’s rapids, scale its mountains, move beyond its perceived limitations, and arrive at its finish line with faith and dignity shows the capacity for achievement.

When we use our mental and spiritual capacities, our lives will be filled with more love, contentment, and achievement than we can imagine. When we cultivate a deep faith in a Power greater than ourselves, we never have to travel life’s journey alone. There will be powerful sources of wisdom and guidance walking with us every step of the way. 

 

 

 

 

 

By Carmen Dolores B. Brazan- Llauderes

Ang nagmamagaling na editor ay galit na galit sa kanyang nagsusumikap na writer:

Editor: Alam mo bang palpak ang mga articles mo?

Writer: Well, at least may naisusulat ako! Kung may sentidokomon ka, isa-tinig mo!

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Biglang tumunog ang cellphone sa kalagitnaan ng misa. Dahil patuloy ang pagtunog nito, biglang nagsalita ang pari: “Please answer your phone or else Jesus will close it.”

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One lady preacher has added sense of humor in her prayers: Lord, if you cannot make me sexy, make my friends fat; Lord, if you cannot make me beautiful, make my friends ugly!

And the Lord replies: Anak, patawarin ka ng Diyos! Hindi mo alam mali ang dasal mo!