By Ester C. Beatty

Pancyprian Games

15^{th April 2010 – Cathrine Beatty has successfully defended her title as the Pancyprian champion during the four-day event beginning 13th – 16th April 2010 at Zenon Athletic Centre in Larnaca. With three fouls and three good throws on the record, she managed to throw her personal best with a distance of 52.40m on her last throw. She represents Cyprus again for the Panhellenic Games, which this year is held in Chalkida, Greece between 3rd – 5th May 2010. The Cyprus team delegation left on Sunday, 2nd May 2010 and returns on 6th May 2010.}

^{Panhellenic Games}

^{4th May 2010 – Cathrine came 2nd on her event with a distance of 49.58m, well below her personal best but very happy with her result. Agapi Proskynitopoulou came first with a distance of 58.08m. Agapi came 5th during the Gymnasiade Doha 2009 with a distance of 50.07m. Prior to their departure for the Panhellenic games, the athlete throwers’ training schedules were disrupted for 4 days due to the freak weather condition in Nicosia, whereby every afternoon it rained and therefore no throwing was possible which was not an ideal preparation for an important competition. Cathrine was training every day for a minimum of two hours from Monday to Friday with a combination of throwing, technique (rhythms) and weight lifting after school hours. She is now ripping the result of her total dedication and commitments for this regime although at times it has not been easy for her and her parents, as she has to combine her other activities (volleyball and piano lessons) as well as studying for her important exams that are coming up very shortly.}

^{4th May 2010}

By Carmen Llauderes

Today’s parents commonly practice distance parenting due to overseas work or separation. We as domestic helpers in particular see to it that we play the best role as a mother to maintain our status quo. On this mother’s day occasion let’s hear from several mothers ways of how they practice distance parenting.

Segundina Jueves who works for more than 6 years with 5 children stated that, ” I call at least every week to talk and discuss financial matters, to remind them that our separation is to give them a better future to provide food, shelter and education. I keep praying that my children would study very well inspite of poverty. I wish that they always love and remember me . They are my inspiration at work. With God’s mercy and grace we remain faithful to Himand to one another.

Lyn Urriquia who has been an OFW for 20 years now emphasized that constant communication helps practice distance parenting. She is lucky to have a good sister to guide and teach her only son now age 25. As a goal-oriented mother she engage in some business for extra income. After staying in Cyprus for ten years in one employer she is happily married to a Cypriot.

Nida Doctor is a good provider of her 4 children. She believes that distance parenting is well practice when husband and wife works hand in hand. There’s should be a unity between them. As a wife she understand her husband inspite of hearing unfavorable news against him and exerts self control to establish peace and unity in the family. She keeps reminding her children to behave properly and listen to their father’s voice who manages them while I am away.

Mother of 2 sons Nancy Pineda has been separated to her family for 3 years now. She said that communication, sending messages and internet services play a great role to practice distance parenting. “I keep telling I love you, I miss you, be good, to make them feel important.” As a mother alam na alam ko ang hilig nila from head to toe. “I am honored and proud to be their mother. My 2 sons who are constant scholars inspire me to work happily inspite of all sufferings I encounter.

Being away for 9 months for the first time makes me feel sad and difficult stated by mother of 3 kids Epifania Moscara. Calling constantly, sending money regularly and frequent internet services help me practice distance parenting. While at work I used to send sweet words to inspire my children and make us feel attached with one another inspite of the distance. Prayer and the Word of God is very effective to to discipline them.

Precilla Pagador thanks God for giving her the strength to continually work for the past 25 years consecutively without going back home. She promised that, “I will never go back unless I have brought my children with me,”. After all difficulties and long period of time now I was able to bring 3 of my children with me and we are working together to achieve our goals in life. I have made my dreams into a reality to be a wise mother for my 5 children inspite of ignorance and become successful mother of perpetual help for my family.

Working overseas keeps us away from our families friends and relatives. But with today’s modern information technology distance is just a relative. So thus with mothers who work abroad. We are always close with our beloved provided we keep an open-line communication.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Pope Benedict XVI arrival in Paphos, 4^th June 2010

Preparations for His Holiness’ voyage to Cyprus is now in full swing! For the Filipinos in Paphos, please come and join in welcoming our Holy Father for his arrival in Paphos. This is once-in-a-lifetime experience that should not be missed. The Holy Father will be at the Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa in Paphos at around 15.15h for a short prayer. The Ecumenical Celebration will be held at 15.30h outside the church of Agia Kyriaki.

Para-liturgical programme (starts at 07.30h), Sunday 6^th June 2010

The Para-liturgical programme to entertain the faithfuls before the Holy Mass at 09.30h to be conducted by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 6^th June 2010 at the Eleftheria Sports stadium in Makedonitissa, Nicosia will start at 07.30h. The Filipino community will be joining other Catholic communities in Cyprus during this event. There will be readings, special prayers and hymns included in the programme. Practise will be held every Sunday at the church garden (grotto) after the second mass at 10.30am for an hour. The two beautiful Tagalog hymns that were approved by the committee are “Ito ang Tinapay ng Buhay�? & “Isang Pagkain, Isang Katawan�?.

Pope in Cyprus official logo

Souvenirs VOLUNTEERS required! We are looking for volunteers to help us in the different booths to be set-up to sell the merchandise (souvenirs) during His Holiness visit to Cyprus, particularly on Sunday 6^th June 2010 at the Eleftheria Stadium in Makedonitissa, Nicosia. There will be t-shirts, hats, mugs, key rings, bookmarkers, etc. for sale. These will be available in the last 10 days before the visit through special selling kiosks / stalls at Holy Cross and Paphos Gate area plus ath the places of Papal events. Also, there will be availability of flags, Vatican and Cypriot, for creating the necessary atmosphere. Prices to be determined by Archbishop Soueif. Please contact Ester at 99-644856 if you can help and for more information.

VOLUNTEERS required! We are looking for volunteers to help us in the different booths to be set-up to sell the merchandise (souvenirs) during His Holiness visit to Cyprus, particularly on Sunday 6 June 2010 at the Eleftheria Stadium in Makedonitissa, Nicosia. There will be t-shirts, hats, mugs, key rings, bookmarkers, etc. for saleThese will be available in the last 10 days before the visit through special selling kiosks / stalls at Holy Cross and Paphos Gate area plus ath the places of Papal events. Also, there will be availability of flags, Vatican and Cypriot, for creating the necessary atmosphere. Prices to be determined by Archbishop Soueif. TicketsPlease note that everybody is required to have a ticket to get in to the stadium and there will be a mandatory security check for everyone. Tickets will be given 15 days prior to the event. Please contact the call centre at 22-313108 for more information.

Please note that everybody is required to have a ticket to get in to the stadium and there will be a mandatory security check for everyone. Tickets will be given 15 days prior to the event. Website and Facebook account:For more information, please check the official website of the Pope’s visit in Cyprus: http://www.papalvisit.org.cy and join “The Pope in Cyprus” group account at Facebook.

Life is not so empty after all.

By Ate Syl , Aglantzia

Immediately after coming out from the university, I worked in 3 different private companies in Manila one after the other for ten years. I was 31 when I got too bored to do paper works for a meager salary, so I was already considering shifting to another direction, career-wise. “God orders our stops as well as our steps”- (numbers 9:19).

Meanwhile, my husband and I have desperately exhausted all efforts and means just to conceive a baby but after 11 years of marriage, we did not have even one. By then my marriage was already going downhill because of that missing factor- a child. I started going abroad to appease myself. First venture was in Taiwan, but lasted only a year. I discovered that my body was not yet prepared to endure the hardwork of scrubbing, mopping, polishing the 5-storey building that I landed to, aside from taking care of a 9 month old baby boy. After a year, I tried one more time to go away, this time to Hongkong. Just 3 months into my 2 years contract, my husband confessed that he had got someone else, who was already 5 months pregnant. (buntis na pala noong hindi pa ako nakakaalis). This crashed me to rock bottom, I was totally devastated. (“I searched with all my heart to know if God was really there; He graciously revealed himself, His mercy, love and care”- (James 5;11). I turned to my employer for comfort hoping that she would understand what I was going through. She was after all a wife, a mother, who coudnt feel the pain of being betrayed. Thankfully she offered her shoulders to cry on, so to speak, her arms around me, patted my back and some comforting words. In 3 months time I was up to my feet, thanks to the power of love, care and concern of my employers, of prayers, my family and most of all to God who took good care of everything or me in those times of excruciating struggles that happened one after the other. Life was not so empty after all. Meanwhile, I finally decided that we part ways, to serve us better individually and personally. I focused myself on the job, helped finance the schooling of my elder brother ’s sons and daugthers who were taking up medicine and computer science respectively, while sending money to my ageing mother and father regularly. After 7 years in HK, I went back home, but not for good, not at this time yet. Thought I still have plenty of life left. My elder sister also have 4 children, two were still in high school. I said to myself, how could someone refuse to help all these helpless bloods who needed a fairy godmother in order to reach their goals?” I did not want to be parked, either, so for the last chance I packed some clothes and off came to Cyprus. At present, these children are already professionals in their own right. A doctor, two nurses, (all take one board- passers,) an engineer and two computer science professionals. It is nice to feel the scent of fulfillment to see these blood succeed due to the diligence of their widow / childless auntie who was able to survive and surpass all the trials that she encountered, who worked all her life to share her unselfish love for the success of each one in the family. (“Poverty was not allowed to prevail, instead God reigned and drove our lives to gain.”)

Currently I am still here in Cyprus trying to pull strength and limits hoping that some of the remaining dreams will be realized before I go home for good. (“Never be afraid to entrust the unknown future to the all- knowing God.”) – (Hebrew 11:8-12)

(With children who are 2010 graduates!)

Sample below, are the photos of Scarlet Tugbo’s daughter Sharmaine Avancena (group pic) with Coco Martin who is an alumnus of Capitol Institute, Talipapa, Quezon City. Sharmaine received an award as Outstanding Leader in DBC, 1st Runner Up in Badminton which Coco Martin handed over to her.

  

(you are lucky if you can identify where Coco Martin is…:)

Ang

Overseas Filipino Volunteers in Cyprus (OFVC) ay patuloy na nagpapakahusay sa paghubog ng kanyang oryentasyon bilang isang volunteer group. Kayat minabuti ng mga miyembro at sampu ng ilang partner groups ang mag hold ng Leadership and Teambuilding Workshop Seminar. Sa tulong ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office at OWWA, kami ay nabigyan ng isang araw na training ukol sa pamumuno at pagpapatatag ng isang organisasyong tumutulong sa mga OFWs sa Cyprus. Ito ay ginawa sa Centrum Hotel noong ika- 5 ng Abril, Easter Monday kung saan day off naman ng fifteen (15 ) participants.

Si Welfare Officer Josephine Sanchez- Tobia ang nagbigay ng kabuuang workshop kung saan mga group dynamic activities ang pinagawa sa amin. Ang ating Welfare Officer nga pala ay experienced creative facilitator sa mga trainings on Leadership & Teambuilding since 1980. Si Labor Attaché Atty. Jaime Gimenez ang naging resource person sa Leadership subject.

Ito ay bagong experience para sa aming OFWs dahil ngayon lang kami naka attend ng ganitong seminar na merong games at moral lesson kung saan ang aming mga objectives for the seminar ay nasasagot. Meron pa kaming creative works na ginawa para matukoy ang aming weak and strong points sa human behaviour. Balak ng OFVC na ito ay ma replicate sa ibang cities tulad ng Pafos, Larnaca at Limassol para sa mga ibang grupo doon not necessarily OFVC lang.

Mahalaga ang natutunan namin sa seminar tulad ng basic leadership traits, characteristics at mga guiding points in becoming a good leader. Pati self assessment sa pagiging leader ay nalaman namin through the Q&A na binigay ng facilitator. Napakaganda rin ang na undergone naming activity games for the team-building dahil dito na established ang trust and listening skills ng mga participants. Kaya naman pag labas namin from the workshop ay na reenergized kami at may focus sa patutunguhan ng aming mga tasks.

Maari nating imbitahin uli ang POLO para magkaroon pa ng ganitong activities sa ibat ibang grupo or cities para mapahusay pa natin ang pag organisa at pagtulong sa ating mga kababayang nangangailangan.

 

 

 

Reposted from Cyprus Mail, March 14, 2010

By Alexia Saouli

AS ROMAN Catholics from across the region prepare to descend on Cyprus en masse this June to greet His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the pressure is on to ensure security measures and general sprucing up are completed on schedule.

Security is always the biggest headache for any high-profile visit, but in this case it’s even more of a challenge. The Pope will be staying at the friary of the Holy Cross Church, which lies partially in the buffer zone near Paphos Gate in Nicosia and partially in the Turkish occupied area of northern Nicosia. Surrounding the friary and church are empty, decaying buildings, piles of disintegrating sandbags, and narrow streets, not all of which are controlled either by the government or the UN Peacekeeping Forces.

Father Umberto Barato, Vicar General for Cyprus of the Latin Patriarchate and Attaché of the Apostolic Nuncio, explained why the Pope would be staying at his “house� during his visit.

“The friary is the seat of the Apostolic Nunciature to Cyprus,� he said, adding that the Nunciature was the residence of the person sent by the Vatican to a country. “So the Pope always stays in the Apostolic Nunciature of a country as it’s his house,� he said.

All of which explains the renovations currently being carried out both at the friary and the church next door.

“When the announcement of the Pope’s visit was made, the superiors from Jerusalem thought it would be convenient and the right time to restore the house [where the priests and brothers live] which was built in 1959 to 1960.�

The Italian priest said the building had never really been touched since or modernised and that things such as the electrical wiring was a “shambles�.

“So much so that the electrician said it was very dangerous and we could have had a fire,� he said. “So the superiors thought it was high time to restore the house and also to present a better house to the Pope and his entourage.�

Changes include double glazing being added to the doors and windows. The room allocated for the Pope is normally the common room of the friary which will “naturally be furnished a bit better, but nothing else�, the priest said.

Father Umberto said the community has taken advantage of the Pope’s visit to also carry out improvements to the adjacent church.

“There was a leak on the roof and some bits of the paintings on the ceiling are being touched up. Now we will put scaffolding to repair everything and maybe the lights will be changed and the microphone and loudspeakers,� he said.

Whilst the renovations are carried out Father Umberto and another priest are staying at the Terra Santa College in Nicosia, although Father Umberto does continue to work out of his friary office every day.

Twelve of the Pope’s 30-member entourage – which include Vatican police and two Swiss Guards – will stay at the friary including his secretary, guards and a doctor. The rest will stay in a hotel.

Benedict XVI is expected to arrive in Paphos on the afternoon of June 4 where he will be met by Archbishop Chrysostomos II and President Demetris Christofias. From there the group will go to Chrysopolitissa Church where a small ecumenical ceremony will be held before coming to Nicosia. He will leave from Larnaca airport on the afternoon of June 6.

Father Umberto admitted that security is a concern because the friary was located in the buffer zone.

“The United Nations is involved, as are local police and Vatican police. They will meet next Monday to discuss what to do,� he said.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the impending meeting and said the Police Headquarters Operations Office would be handling the Pope’s security during his visit, but that no action plan had been drawn up yet.

“I don’t know if they will close off roads around the house. It depends on the local police, the security and government,� added Father Umberto.

The Finance Ministry and Press and Information Office (PIO) were unwilling last week to comment on arrangements, saying that they had to wait formal announcements by the Vatican and the government.

Father Umberto said the issue of upgrading the area surrounding the friary, has also been discussed. “But this is up to the UN and the local authorities,� he said.

A central committee of management and coordination has been set up, he added. The chairman is Monsignor Ioussif Soueif, the archbishop of the Maronites of Cyprus with Father Umberto as the deputy chairman. The committee coordinates about ten commissions – made up of priests, sisters, religious and lay volunteers – who will take on the various organisational aspects together with the local authorities.

The parish priest said the Pope was visiting the country at the invitation of the Archbishop of Cyprus and the president. “He will visit the President and the Archbishop with his Synod of the Church of Cyprus,� he said.

“But also he comes here to meet the Catholic Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops of the Middle East to give them the Instrumentum Laboris, a booklet that the Vatican has prepared for the coming of the Synod of the Middle East next October in the Vatican in Rome.�

The clergymen are coming from the Middle East including Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, Alexandria and possibly Iran.

“He will give them the Instrumentum Laboris during the mass on Sunday,� said Father Umberto.

Although he could not verify where the mass would be held at this stage, he estimated thousands would attend.

“We expect about 15,000 to 20,000 people for the mass including all the immigrants, people from Lebanon and Palestine and so on,� he said.

Cyprus’ location is crucial to this aspect of the visit. “Cyprus is not the Middle East but it is a door to the Middle East and all the Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops can come to Cyprus,� said Father Umberto.

“Last year they couldn’t all go to Israel, for instance the ones who live in Syria and Lebanon. It is a neutral country here and they can come from all over.�

By Maria Nieves

The Sisters of the St. Joseph of the Apparition Convent was very glad to see again their former student by the person of Sr. Esperanza Magsino, the first Filipina nun of the SJA Convent who was trained by Sr.Antonia, now a Delegation Head Bursar base in Paco, Manila, Phils. She arrived last Feb. 24^{th from Rome where she attended the Provencal and Bursar session of the congregation on The Formation on the Religious Life from Feb.10-24, 2010 as the Delegate Superior of the SJA Philippines. During her stay in the convent, she managed to see her fellow Legionaries and friend in other religious groups. Sr. Espie, together with her sister, were the founder of the Legion of Mary Nicosia- Cyprus with the guidance from Sr. Antonia. She was also invited in the church to speak about herself after the Sunday mass then later joined the SJSC- Filipino group in their Sunday lunch. According to Sr. Espie, she had 3 purposes of her stop over here in Cyprus. First, to see again the family of her former employer when she was still working as a housemaid before she became a nun. Second, to be with the Sisters of SJA where she started her vocation especially with her former mentor Sr. Antonia even for a few days only. Last but not least and the most important purpose is to ask some help in the form of financial donation for their on- going out-reach program project in Valencia, Bohol, Philippines. The project is called “St. Emilie Play-Learn nursery classes”, a charitable foundation, which will benefit the poor children in Valencia. The school will hold morning and afternoon classes to at least 20 children per session for 2 hours a day. Hired lay professional teacher will be in-charge of the nursery under the assistance and management of the two sisters from Manila. A native of Batangas and is now a golden girl at 50, Sr. Espie used to be a domestic helper in Singapore for 5 years, in Hong Kong for a year and 3 years here in Cyprus. She has deeper understanding of being a servant. She said, “hindi puwedeng lagi na lang akong katulong, I want to be a servant of the Lord”, she stressed. “I talked with the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition and was amazed and inspired by the beauty of their simplicity. Their simple life pushed me to talk with them more often. I believe that God will continue to bless them.” She added, “I started as a catechist of Sr. Antonia and attended French class during my day-off to prepare myself as an aspiring postulant. During this time, I was able to go to Israel. My employer, Mr. and Mrs. Solos Kassinis supported my air ticket to travel, they told me to pray for them to have a baby girl, since they’ve already have a son whom I took good care of. Soon after that, God blessed them with a beautiful daughter,” Sr. Espie’s litany. After 3 year’s contract, the Congregation sent her to the provincial superior in Greece for 2 months. Later to the superior general for another 2 months in France. And then to Rome for an intensive formation for 2 years as a Novitiate. This time she was sent to England for a couple of months to join the community. In her second year, she was sent to Malta. She went through a lot of experiences, trials and sufferings, “but thanks God I passed through it,” Sr. Espie continued. “I was ambitious enough to go around and to travel. Finally from Rome I went back to the Philippines. At that time the congregation was newly opened in the country. With 15 years in my professional vows, I have traveled in 15 countries in the world and attended 4 international meetings as the Delegate Head from the Philippines. At present, the congregation of the SJA Philippines had 4 communities located at Paco Manila where they have the Catholic school for 8 years, in Amparo Village Novaliches, Quezon City where they have the formation and training school, in Moonwalk Las Piñas which is set like a church, and in Bani, Pangasinan. This year, SJA Philippines started another outreach program in Valencia, Bohol to establish the St. Emelie Play-Learn Nursery Classes foundation school. ” I would like to appeal for your assistance and generosity to dream with us and believe for the importance of the formation and education of the Filipino children,” she pleaded.}

With the approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic Act No. 9225 on 25 & 26 August 2003 respectively, which is known as the Citizenship and Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, Filipinos the world over can once again re-acquire their Philippine citizenship. In line with the research and policy development functions of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, the aforementioned have recently sent a questionnaire to Filipinos abroad regarding RA No. 9225 or the Citizenship Reacquisition and Retention Act of 2003. The responses from this survey will help them assess the significance of the law in promoting political and economic rights and investments in the Philippines, and to examine the issues affecting the delivery of programs and services to overseas Filipinos. It will also help the government formulate and initiate other legislations to address the interests and concerns of those who have applied for dual citizenship.

Below are the Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ) regarding the dual citizenship prepared by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (www.cfo.gov.ph).

What is the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003? Republic Act No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 is a law signed by the Philippine President last 29 August 2003 which grants natural born Filipinos who have lost their Filipino citizenship through naturalization in a foreign country, the opportunity to re-acquire their Filipino citizenship.

Who are natural-born citizens of the Philippines? Natural-born citizens of the Philippines are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship.These are: · Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines at the time of their birth, and  · Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority.

Is it possible for Filipinos to hold dual citizenship or more than one citizenship at the same time? Holding more than one citizenship is possible for Filipinos especially when conflict of nationality laws is concerned. For example, a child born in the United States of America of Filipino parents is an American citizen under US law and a Filipino citizen under Philippine law. This is because American citizenship is derived from the territory in which the person was born while Philippine citizenship is derived from the parents’ citizenship. 

How does one re-acquire Filipino citizenship? Under Republic Act No. 9225, a natural-born Filipino who lost his/her Filipino citizenship through naturalization in a foreign country may re-acquire Filipino citizenship by taking the Philippine Oath of Allegiance before a duly authorized Philippine official. The Philippine Oath of Allegiance does not require a person to renounce his allegiance to any other country.

Does one who re-acquires Filipino citizenship need to reside in the Philippines? Residency in the Philippines is not required of those who wish to re-acquire or have re-acquired Filipino citizenship. Those who intend to vote in local elections, however, must establish residence in the locality where they wish to vote.