By Joy B. Miranda

A news item published today at Sunstar Davao says about banana chips being exported to France. I felt a bit proud about that. In my hometown Kapalong, Davao del Norte, my mom’s family (Beldua family) owns a vast tract of land planted with bananas. Products are sold to Standard Philippine Fruits Corporation (STANFILCO). Since I was a kid, I have known about this banana business of the family. Many years ago, part of the lot which belongs to my mom now was leased to Golden Farms Inc. (GFI) company. When the lease contract expired, my grandfather, the late Bonifacio Beldua decided not to lease the lot anymore. They have started growing bananas by themselves which is more beneficial because they get unlimited returns.

Beldua family and other land owners in the area are called banana growers. It has become a status symbol so to speak. Over the years, we were fed, educated, clothed, and able to maintain a standard life through banana business. In fact, when I finally decide to go home, I will be in my hometown assisting my mom. She has a dozen of workers. Her brother and sisters, and a number of cousins also have dozens of workers each. Likewise, families of these workers are able to feed, educate and clothe their respective children for generations now. Thanks to bananas! Davao province and Compostela Valley province are best areas for banana plantations. As Davao banana products reach Europe through France, then its a great deal to say that my mom’s family is part of this progress! Go go bananas! Hereunder is the full text of the news, written by my namesake, Joy.

Banana chips from Davao now available in France
By Joy Romares-Sevilla (Sunstar Davao)

BANANA chips from Davao Region will not only be exported to Japan, China, and Malaysia, but it will even infiltrate France after an exhibit of the product in the same country was conducted last month. According to the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Southern Mindanao, the exhibit got a positive response among French businessmen.

Mirope Lamsen, chief of the Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Division (Amad) of DA, said banana chips topped the products showcased by at least 12 exporters in the Saloon International del Alemantacion (Sial) exhibit in Paris, France last month. The exhibit, which was attended by Lamsen herself, is conducted every two years and participated in by the DA.

Products like dried mango, banana chips, tuna and coconut chips were presented as part of the agency’s promotion of the Philippine-made products to the international market. Lamsen added that the National Government has been participating in the event for several years, but also it was the first time the private sector and exporters from Davao Region joined in the same event.

“The 12 exporters were not only from Region 11, but nationwide,” Lamsen said. Banana posted the highest volume of production for the past four consecutive years since 2001 in Davao Region.

Data showed that among major fruit crops, banana tops in production with a total of 2,673,618.41 metric tons produced last year. It showed a 15.8 percent increase in production compared to the year 2004 figure, which is 2,308,772.53 metric tons. The DA and even the Department of Trade and Industry claimed that banana was the highest export earner of the region.

By Rosanna Wong (Sentidokomon Staff)

I don’t know when or why I began working in different places. I have travelled a lot, soaked up with inspiration. It’s quite terrifying when you don’t know what’s waiting for you. At least, that’s how I remembered when I got here in Cyprus.

Its precisely the same thought of most OFWs in mind, but our aim is different. I want to challenge myself, my move in a more controlled manner, neither for its own sake nor because someone felt they needed a piece of impressive workmanship.

Sometimes it can be a tiresome process working at home. But it’s a lot more fun than piling a bunch of chips into a box. Call it magic or take it for granted, but I have found my passion working with wonderful people I’ve just met. There is no secret formula chasing what they wanted. I just aim to surprise them with my unusual initiative, and to me, it is somehow a way to escape from the daily growing sense of boredom.

The most that I can do is to respect their home for what they want it to be. I am happy that I have discovered the fun to make my housekeeping hobby into a living. Nevertheless, I still try to stick to my own style. Not too stiff or pretentiuos but good service. Things just go well.

The world is full of strangers and some would spatter with bronze or gold. You must be able to see what it is and what it can do for you. Patience is an armor which speaks for itself. I share the photo of my son Ronielle Jay Wong below, my source of inspiration, strenght and love. Working away is tough but with Ronielle in my thoughts, life in this job is just a piece of cake.

 

 

www.sentidokomon.com ‘Life is common sense’ star for the day is Elsie, (shown in photo) a Pinay from Visayas Region who is married to Mike, a Cypriot. Elsie works in a grocery store at daytime and at Everest Take away fast food center at night located inside the K-Cineplex in Makedonitissa, Cyprus.

 

 

 

By Maria Theresa S. Samante  (OFW Guide) 

There are about 15,000 to 20,000 job opening in Guam for foreign workers from around the Pacific including the Philippines. Qualified applicants would build military facilities for the relocation of some 8,000 Marines from Okinawa. 

Labor Representative Joan Lourdes Lavilla said that neighboring islands and countries such as Indonesia and Thailand are also eyeing for these job openings and Guam is serious in hiring non-resident workers, especially Filipino workers, for the realization of the said project.

But these job openings may not be available within the next two years since lots of hurdles need to address according to Lavilla. Guam being considered as a US destination prohibits non-residents to work in their military construction projects and also limits the issuance of H2-B visa to 66,000 working visas around the world and the number is about to reach the quota.

But according to Lavilla, Guam officials are working out to resolve the requirements and the most possible solution is to lift the ban of foreign workers from working in US military bases since the construction projects includes activities inside the base. While reports said that another feasible solution is if the military would make the first move to hire foreign workers directly.

The allotted $10 billion budget for the military relocation to Guam will be shared by US and Japan governments and another $5 billion was set by the US Department of Defense for the infrastructure project in Guam over the next decade. Based on U.S. Department of Labor data, a nonresident worker working as carpenter earns at least $12.47 per hour while a brick mason earns $12.82 per hour. Construction laborer is paid $8.39 per hour; electrician, $13.26; and office clerk, $8.07 per hour.
 

By Marna H. Dagumboy (Sunstar Pampanga)

THE Floridablanca policemen arrested live-in partners for large-scale illegal recruitment based on the complaints of 88 individuals from Barangay Valdez in the town.

Floridablanca Police Chief Walter Duyag identified the couple as Reynato Manalac Yambao, 59, and Luzviminda Marcos-Borja, 49, both of Sitio Ligaya, Barangay Pulongmasle, Guagua town. Duyag said the suspects collected some P3.5 million from the complainants.

According to the complainants, Borja and Yambao “recruited” them for jobs in Taiwan in exchange for processing fees of P35,000 to P40,000 each. They said Borja even told them that some of them were already booked for departure on November 17 via Cathay Pacific Airlines.

They said that what made them suspect that Borja’s transactions were illegal was when these were done inside the residence of Avel Dimalanta in a remote area.

They added that Borja collected the processing fees with receipts, claiming that she and Yambao were legitimate recruiters registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

However, upon verification with the POEA, it was found that Borja’s recruitment agency is not registered and not authorized to recruit workers for abroad.

A case of large-scale recruitment was filed against the suspects, who are now detained at the Guagua District Jail. No bail was recommended for their temporary release.

Mayor Darwin Manalansan, for his part, warned his constituents to report any similar activities with the police and local officials here, in order to prevent a repeat of the incident.

Manalansan said the victims, mostly farmers, were forced to borrow money with high interest rates to fulfill their dreams of greener pastures. He vowed that the Municipal Government is doing its best to recover the money from the suspects, adding that he has instructed his legal officer to assist victims in filing charges in court.