Wednesday, August 27, 2008
NDF 'sympathizes' with MILF's peace talks frustrations
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Neri appointment spoils summer fun in the Netherlands
Neri appointment spoils summer fun in the Netherlands
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Filipinos in the Netherlands have advised the new chief of the Social Security System (SSS) to take extra care in handling their hard-earned contributions.
"Huwag niyang isipin na lulustayin na walang kakwenta-kwenta...Hihikayat ako ng mas marami pang miyembro na nagbabayad ng SSS na sagupain yang Neri na yan," SSS member Eddie Aquino said during a recent picnic gathering with other Filipinos.
Neri took on the hot seat as head of the SSS on August 1. Yet, two weeks later, Dutch Pinoys are still fuming mad.
They are inflamed by the fact that Neri will handle the billions and billions of funds that come from their pockets as Pinoy contributors to the private pension fund.
They claim that Neri cannot be trusted because of his involvement in the ZTE-national broadband network deal.
Pinoys fear that when the time comes to collect their pensions, there won’t be any money because the funds had already been used by Arroyo administration.
They feel that with Neri in charge, there’s no stopping the Arroyo administration from plundering their SSS money.
Aquino is one of the 25 million members of SSS. He is among several millions of SSS members abroad who want to retire in the Philippines.
"Gusto ko secured ako. Secured ako sa Pilipinas pag-uwi ko. Meron akong gagastusin. Meron akong pera na matatanggap buwan-buwan," Aquino said.
Meanwhile, there are former SSS members who said they have lost their trust in the pension fund and the present government.
"Pumunta ako ng Pilipinas dahil idadagdag ko 'yung anak ko sa beneficiary ko. Me nagbabayad dun sa SSS ko. How long na wala ako sa Pilipinas? More than 20 years pero me nagbabayad," said Vener Velasquez.
"It’s a fraud. Fraud 'yun. Maliwanag na maliwanag me nagloloko roon eh," Velasquez added.
Velasquez, who has lived both in the United States and the Netherlands as an immigrant, is one global Pinoy who rejects the idea of retiring in the Philippines.
"Wala nang pera ang Pilipinas eh. Pa'no ka pa magpa-papension ng tao?" Velasquez asked.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=128404
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Filipinos in the Netherlands have advised the new chief of the Social Security System (SSS) to take extra care in handling their hard-earned contributions.
"Huwag niyang isipin na lulustayin na walang kakwenta-kwenta...Hihikayat ako ng mas marami pang miyembro na nagbabayad ng SSS na sagupain yang Neri na yan," SSS member Eddie Aquino said during a recent picnic gathering with other Filipinos.
Neri took on the hot seat as head of the SSS on August 1. Yet, two weeks later, Dutch Pinoys are still fuming mad.
They are inflamed by the fact that Neri will handle the billions and billions of funds that come from their pockets as Pinoy contributors to the private pension fund.
They claim that Neri cannot be trusted because of his involvement in the ZTE-national broadband network deal.
Pinoys fear that when the time comes to collect their pensions, there won’t be any money because the funds had already been used by Arroyo administration.
They feel that with Neri in charge, there’s no stopping the Arroyo administration from plundering their SSS money.
Aquino is one of the 25 million members of SSS. He is among several millions of SSS members abroad who want to retire in the Philippines.
"Gusto ko secured ako. Secured ako sa Pilipinas pag-uwi ko. Meron akong gagastusin. Meron akong pera na matatanggap buwan-buwan," Aquino said.
Meanwhile, there are former SSS members who said they have lost their trust in the pension fund and the present government.
"Pumunta ako ng Pilipinas dahil idadagdag ko 'yung anak ko sa beneficiary ko. Me nagbabayad dun sa SSS ko. How long na wala ako sa Pilipinas? More than 20 years pero me nagbabayad," said Vener Velasquez.
"It’s a fraud. Fraud 'yun. Maliwanag na maliwanag me nagloloko roon eh," Velasquez added.
Velasquez, who has lived both in the United States and the Netherlands as an immigrant, is one global Pinoy who rejects the idea of retiring in the Philippines.
"Wala nang pera ang Pilipinas eh. Pa'no ka pa magpa-papension ng tao?" Velasquez asked.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=128404
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Bowlers Hit Hard By Dutch Smoking Ban
Bowlers hit hard by Dutch smoking ban
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Bowling enthusiasts in the Netherlands are most affected by the smoking ban that was enforced since July 1.
It's been a month since smoking was prohibited in restaurants, bars and cafes and yet, bowlers who smoke are still angry.
"People throw up, they urinate on the street and yet they ban smoking. I don't understand. It's not fair," bowler Richard Rafulowitz told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
"What's wrong with these people? If I want to kill myself, I'll kill myself," Rafulowitz complained.
Rafulowitz still cannot accept the fact that he can no longer smoke at bowling alleys.
Bowling is one sport where players are allowed to smoke while playing or competing. This, however, is no longer true since the smoking ban was implemented.
Bowlers claim that they are greatly affected by the ban and that their games have highly suffered.
Want to light up? Go out
Whenever there is an urge to light up, the bowlers need to leave the lane to smoke in an enclosed designated area. That is, if there is one.
It's even worse if there is none because they have to smoke outside the bowling center.
And even for just a puff, the whole game is delayed.
"Not nice. More nice if you can smoke and calm down. Now you can't do that. You have to wait till the game is finished before you can smoke. Not good," Bo Pallavicini said.
Pallavicini, an organizer of the International Cultural Exchange (ICE) group for expats and who bowls with Dutch Pinoys, is having a hard time adjusting to a smoke-free bowling alley.
He said that his game is affected because he thinks about smoking all the time while bowling.
Since 2004, Dutch employers have been obliged to ensure a smoke-free workplace for their employees. But back then, restaurants and pubs were still exempted.
The total smoking ban was implemented last month to protect all workers who are exposed to cigarette smoke. Those caught smoking in public places are slapped with a 60-euro (4,000-peso) fine.
Happy with ban
Although they are not happy, some Dutch Pinoys support the good side of the smoking ban.
"Families bowl here all the time so they have kids and it's not good (cigarette smoke) for them, but if you ask me about opinions in bars and stuff like that, then it makes no sense," said Carlo Tomas, one of the top Pinoy bowlers in Holland.
Tomas doesn't agree that smoking should be banned in pubs and bars because people who work there are smokers too.
"I heard that many people who are there smoke anyway and they banned smoke because of the people who work in the bars but they smoke too," Tomas said.
His brother Paolo, also a top-level bowler, finds that the smoking ban can be good because it has helped him cut down on smoking.
"I'd just smoke when I'm outside and I'm almost trying to not quit but I'm trying to smoke less. Maybe it's better for people who want to smoke less," Paolo said.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=127468
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Bowling enthusiasts in the Netherlands are most affected by the smoking ban that was enforced since July 1.
It's been a month since smoking was prohibited in restaurants, bars and cafes and yet, bowlers who smoke are still angry.
"People throw up, they urinate on the street and yet they ban smoking. I don't understand. It's not fair," bowler Richard Rafulowitz told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
"What's wrong with these people? If I want to kill myself, I'll kill myself," Rafulowitz complained.
Rafulowitz still cannot accept the fact that he can no longer smoke at bowling alleys.
Bowling is one sport where players are allowed to smoke while playing or competing. This, however, is no longer true since the smoking ban was implemented.
Bowlers claim that they are greatly affected by the ban and that their games have highly suffered.
Want to light up? Go out
Whenever there is an urge to light up, the bowlers need to leave the lane to smoke in an enclosed designated area. That is, if there is one.
It's even worse if there is none because they have to smoke outside the bowling center.
And even for just a puff, the whole game is delayed.
"Not nice. More nice if you can smoke and calm down. Now you can't do that. You have to wait till the game is finished before you can smoke. Not good," Bo Pallavicini said.
Pallavicini, an organizer of the International Cultural Exchange (ICE) group for expats and who bowls with Dutch Pinoys, is having a hard time adjusting to a smoke-free bowling alley.
He said that his game is affected because he thinks about smoking all the time while bowling.
Since 2004, Dutch employers have been obliged to ensure a smoke-free workplace for their employees. But back then, restaurants and pubs were still exempted.
The total smoking ban was implemented last month to protect all workers who are exposed to cigarette smoke. Those caught smoking in public places are slapped with a 60-euro (4,000-peso) fine.
Happy with ban
Although they are not happy, some Dutch Pinoys support the good side of the smoking ban.
"Families bowl here all the time so they have kids and it's not good (cigarette smoke) for them, but if you ask me about opinions in bars and stuff like that, then it makes no sense," said Carlo Tomas, one of the top Pinoy bowlers in Holland.
Tomas doesn't agree that smoking should be banned in pubs and bars because people who work there are smokers too.
"I heard that many people who are there smoke anyway and they banned smoke because of the people who work in the bars but they smoke too," Tomas said.
His brother Paolo, also a top-level bowler, finds that the smoking ban can be good because it has helped him cut down on smoking.
"I'd just smoke when I'm outside and I'm almost trying to not quit but I'm trying to smoke less. Maybe it's better for people who want to smoke less," Paolo said.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=127468
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