ABAKADA Winter Edition 2011
ABAKADA Winter Edition 2011
ABAKADA Winter Edition 2011
ABAKADA
CONTENTS
Ang Balitang Kababaihan sa Danmark
The News on Women in Denmark
www.babaylan.dk
FEATURES ADVERTISEMENTS
Cover Illustration:
Muir Jover
BABAYLAN-DENMARK
BOARD MEMBERS & OFFICERS
2010-2011
H appy Holidays to all!
WEBSITE www.babaylan.dk Babaylan has also competences in the social media sector
which we are already availing of in our day to day interface
SKYPE NAME babaylan.denmark
with our target groups and among ourselves. This will natu-
rally continue and hopefully be strengthened in the future.
Your constructive and practical partnership with the Philippine Embassy has borne substantial
harvest. The lifting of the ban on the deployment of au pairs, first in Norway and then in Denmark,
was achieved in close cooperation with Filipino organizations, including Babaylan-Denmark. After
16 years in limbo and years of exposure of au pairs to corruption and exploitation, we finally
persuaded both the Philippine and Danish governments to come to an agreement to include
provisions that seek to protect the welfare of au pairs and at the same time allow them to depart
the Philippines with proper documentation.
Uplifting the image of our country and our womenfolk in Scandinavia is also a value cherished both
by the Embassy and your organization. With your actual assistance to au pairs in distress and
those seeking a forum for addressing their emotional, psychological and spiritual needs, you have
become the Embassy’s co-guardians in the promotion of au pairs’ welfare and protection of their
rights. I enjoin you to continue this productive partnership.
On a personal note, I would like to thank you for your loving support to me and my staff, who,
because we are not based in Copenhagen, have nevertheless been able to deliver assistance to
our people in Denmark. I also wish to extend my prayers for you to have a joyful Christmas and
another successful year ahead.
Paris-Brussels:
Migrant Women on
the Move!
By Filomenita Mongaya Høgsholm
Aside from the day to day violation of women Unfortunately the Hearing held inside the Par-
migrants esp. those in domestic work in the home liament only had two hours so there was not
(housemaids, nannies, au pairs), Babaylan’s enough time to discuss fully but as pointed out by
representative pointed out not only brain drain Amandine Bach of the European Women’s Lob-
of highly educated migrants pulled by factors by, co-organizer of the Event, it was a significant
such as the demographic deficit when European Hearing because EU parliamentarians across
women no longer go for service jobs because the political spectrum all called for an equitable
of better education, leading to a need for cheap access to health care in Europe for all undocu-
hands to service the elderly and young children. mented migrants. A bold step long in coming!
Care is the only category that Europe allows in,
thus deskilling and brain waste for women mi- ALL in all, there are new and good things hap-
grants. The big challenge for Europe is how to pening on the migration front for women but
value the higher education that the care workers MUCH MORE has to be done, eg. in countries
actually come with so that they can be poised to with ever tightening rules and exclusionary poli-
take their cies such as Denmark and the Netherlands with
their “point system” that keeps families and
places in a few years say in 2020 when Europe couples apart. q
needs new brainpower of the highly skilled to be
ABAKADA, WINTER 2010 9
FOCUS: AU PAIRS
New Guidelines on Legal Au Pair Deployment to Denmark:
The view from BABAYLAN
By Ana Lindenhamn, Filomenita Mongaya Høgsholm and Judy Jover
PRESS RELEASE
19th October 2010: EUROPE UNITED. Ending Violence several European countries get
Against Women increasing upwind. To consider
12th WAVE-Conference: 300 participants from 24 coun- someone being a good father
tries came together in Warsaw to call on Europe for even if he abuses the mother
better laws, policies and support services is an “enormous backlash”,
“It is a blow to the foundation of democracy if a victim Clockwise from left: During Workshop Session; Judy Jover, Babaylan-Denmark’s
cannot seek help”, said Polands former first lady Jolanta representative with PICUM’s Programme Officer Eve Geddie from Belgium (ctr),
Kwasniewska in the opening of the WAVE conference in Entire organizers of the conference and Opening of the conference by Jolanta
Kwasniewska, Former First Lady of Poland.
Warsaw. Cuts in fundings of women’s shelters was one
of the main issues at the Conference of Women Against
Violence Europe, which was held in cooperation with the
Women’s Rights Centre Centrum Praw Kobiet in Warsaw. stressed Italian lawyer Marcella Pirrone. The so-called pa-
rental alienation syndrome (PAS), often used in court, has
“He Beats. We Pay.”, titled a Norwegian campaign. The been called “not scientific” by the Canadian and American
EU Fundamental Rights Agency estimates the total annual National Association of Psychologists, who have “warned
costs of gender-based violence at €12 billion to €20 bil- from PAS”. 70% of the perpetrators abusing women also
lion a year. Homicide investigations constitute the highest abuse children. Even if children are not directly maltreat-
costs. WAVE calls on the European Union and the national ed, they are highly traumatized through the exposure to
governments to guarantee sufficient funding of women’s violence against their mother. Maria Rösslhumer from the
shelters and to establish a minimum ratio of shelters per Austrian Shelter Network calls on every government to put
country. 45% of women in Europe suffer some kind of children’s rights over father’s rights and, amongst others,
violence at least once in their lifetime because they are to enforce mandatory training for family judges. Urszula
women. “This type of terrorism is still kept hidden”, said Nowakowska from Centrum Praw Kobiet expressed her
Carmen Romero Lopez from the European Parliament. hope that measures at the European level “change the at-
She is one of the main supporters of the European Protec- titudes of our ministers” who tend towards joint custody as
tion Order, an initiative from Spain, which would protect a general rule. Automatic joint custody is
victims of violence all over Europe. the central claim of the fathers’ rights movements. Anita
Heiliger from KOFRA, Germany, as well as other experts
Hilary Fisher from the CAHVIO Committee warned Europe from Germany, Italy and Sweden warned of the conse-
to not fall below already agreed UN-standards and called quences automatic joint custody implies for women and
for a strengthening of the Council of Europe draft Conven- children.
tion on Violence against Women. Some countries within
the Council of Europe are calling for the omission of a gen- Migrant women represent one of the most vulnerable
der perspective in the draft Convention. This would fail to groups in society, as they suffer from double discrimination
address the causes of violence, signaled Fisher. Violence as migrants and as women. WAVE calls on every govern-
against women is rooted in discrimination, while discrimi- ment to provide women with independent legal status. As
nation reinforces violence against women. An end to this long as women are dependent on their partners, they run a
“most repulsive manifestation of discrimination” can only be particular high risk of gender-based violence. The econom-
achieved “through a holistic approach” stressed Renatas ic crisis implies also a political crisis. “Women and children
Mazeika from the Daphne Programme of the European have the right to a life free of violence, so we hope that in
Commission. Violence against women encompasses this time of crisis we do not step backwards”, emphasized
physical, psychical, sexual and economic violence. Women Rosa Logar from the Domestic Abuse Intervention Cen-
are even turned into commodities through trafficking and tre in Austria. She expressed her conviction that positive
sexual exploitation. José Mendes Bota from the Council changes are indeed always possible. “We can change!” q
of Europe emphasized in his speech that “it is outrageous
to see, in the XXIst Century, that slavery is a reality in our ________________________________
countries for the sexual fun of men”. For further information, please contact:
Sonja Plessl, tel.: +43 (0) 1 548 2720-20,
Tove Smaadahl from the Krisesentersekretariatet pre- [email protected]
sented good news from Norway: The high court convicted
a man to pay 90.000 NOK because his step daughter wit- Maria Rösslhumer, tel.: +43 (0) 664 7930 789,
nessed violence against the mother. The Norwegian verdict [email protected]
is allthe more important as fathers’ rights movements in
That is why KULU – Women and Development, the only Danish development organisation that
focuses specifically on women’s rights – threw a “wedding party” to remind the Danish politicians to
work for women of the world and their opportunities.
The new declaration on the Millennium Development Goals agreed upon at the Summit did, indeed,
turn out to increase focus on gender and empowerment of women. How the eight goals can be
achieved through, and how they impact, women and girls, is now an integral part of the spirit of the
MDGs.
In Mali, women do not have equal rights with men, and many women cannot access the rights they
do have. They or their families cannot afford to pay fpr their birth or marriage certificates or identity
cards – or, indeed, do not think a woman even needs these papers.
KULU’s campaign “Enable girls’ rights in Mali” raises money to buy these official papers that secure
women and girls’ rights in the eyes of the law, so they can go to school, vote, travel, and get divorced
without losing their children or their homes.
With these papers, they can verify their existence, and make a difference to themselves, their fami-
lies, and to Mali – and they can create a better future.
Martha Madsen
Communication Officer, KULU
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ABAKADA, WINTER 2010 19
TRIBUTE
Evidence is rife in our own art, on magazine covers, live on TV, from Amorsolo’s portraits
of country lasses bathing in streams to models conquering the the international ramp, or
beauty queens for whom grace has been the winning X-factor.
In a country where natural disasters such as
typhoons,
The soulfulness of theearthquakes and reflecting
Filipina shines through, volcano eruptions
in her confidence are
the best of both
worlds, East and West.
common occurrences, and which has experienced
the vagaries
Her eloquence of colonialism
of spirit spells sheer elegance. three times in its short
history, the figure of the loving and devoted Filipina
is akin to a ray of sunshine, the amihan (wind from the
east) or the land itself. An inherent part of her
character that cannot be overlooked is her
exceptional capacity for love and devotion.
DEVOTION
- Cesar Ruiz Aquino
Tribute to FILIPINA
POUL KROGH
Consul General
OPEN
Monday to Friday
10:00 - 12:00
SARA STILLING at stå stille, blive et sted, committe sig til nogen og
noget. Måske er det derfor jeg alligevel gør det. For at
OG KUNSTMESSE se om det virkelig er så slemt. Og nu skal vi til at have
af Georgina Mongaya Høgsholm
et barn, og det skræmmer mig mere end noget som
helst andet. Jeg lader som om at jeg tager det i stiv
”Enten vil man gerne hænge sig selv, eller også vil
arm, men hold op, der findes ikke noget mere skræm-
man holde et gigantisk party”
mende. Men måske er det også det, som gør at jeg
Sort på hvidt. Og alligevel ikke. De mørke
bliver nødt til at prøve det.”
tuschstreger af dyr, mennesker, ting og natur smelter
sammen i hybrid-lignende skab-
Og måske er det barnet
ninger på detaljeret baggrund,
og familielivet på vej, og
og indimellem med tilråb af tve-
udsigten til – i hvert fald for
tydige kommentarer på skrift.
en periode – en mere still-
estående tilværelse, der sæt-
Det er ikke første gang Sara
ter en hidtil anden grundtone
Stilling udstiller på Kunstmes-
i gang for den kommende
sen. I februar 2010 udstillede
udstilling. Spørger man Sara
hun på Copenhagen Art Fair
Stilling er fremtiden sta-
under temaet Save The World,
digvæk et aktuelt tema, men
og dengang lå tanken om en
man aner mindre tvivl, og i
fremtid uden dyr til grund for
stedet en større drøm. ”Lige
arbejdet: ”Er der nogle i frem-
nu er jeg optaget af de her
tiden som vil forstå at vi har
’jeg vil have mere’-tanker,
ædt alle dyr og taget dem på
som jeg tror de fleste men-
som beklædning? Jeg fores-
nesker tænker. De fleste
tillede mig verden om 300 år og
drømmer om at blive bedre til
i mine illustrationer klædte jeg
deres job, en bedre forældre,
mennesket ud i dyr, mens jeg
en bedre kæreste. Eller vil
tænkte, måske vil vi gerne være
de bare have en andens job,
dyr, måske vil vi gerne starte
en andens krop, en andens
forfra…”
kæreste? De fleste ting i
vores samfund handler om at
Der er klare tråde mellem kun-
blive bedre, rigere, sundere,
sten og hendes tidligere karriere
tyndere… Og på samme tid
som designer i modebranchen.
er vi i en periode af finan-
Menneskets selvforståelse
skrise, et sted hvor vi hver
gennemarbejdes og kommer til
især prøver at genoprette et
udtryk i det materielle. Men der
tilfredsstillende liv, eller være
hører ligheden også op. Sara
tilfredse med det vi har, i for-
Stilling har trang til at skabe,
hold til det vi havde før. Vi ser
ikke for kommerciel vindings
op til folk som gør det godt,
skyld, men for at tømme ho-
vi vil gerne være mere som
vedet, se angsten i øjnene og
dem. Vi har brug for vores
kaste sig ud på ukendt grund. Det er ikke altid lige
idoler, de giver os håb.”
sjovt, til gengæld er det så tæt på frihed som vi måske
kommer. ”Sådan er det at være kreativ”, beskriver
Om det er frygten eller friheden der fører penslen, kan
Sara Stilling sin kunstnertilværelse, ”enten vil man
man få at opleve på Kunst, Mad &Vin festivalen. Sara
hænge sig selv, eller også vil man holde et gigantisk
Stilling udstiller på stand nr. 52.
party.”
Begge Sara og Georgina er dansk-filippinere som iøvrigt kalder
Frygt og frihed spiller bag kulisserne af de færdige
sig selv Danish Plus, dvs.Dansk med mere da de udover dansk
værker, og på tragikomisk vis kan forskellen være
har andet fremmed kultur i baggagen. q
svær at få øje, når de samme ting som skræmmer,
WE all accept that getting older is inevitable, and now leading clinicians have revealed the exact age
when different body parts start to decline, most alarming being the brain and lungs.
French doctors have found that the quality of men’s’ sperm starts to deteriorate by 35, so that by the
time a man is 45 a third of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
With the help of leading clinicians, Angela Epstein tells the ages when KIDNEYS - Starts ageing at 50.
different parts of the body start to lose their battle with time. With kidneys, the number of filtering units (nephrons) that remove waste
from the bloodstream starts to reduce in middle age.
BRAIN - Starts ageing at 20.
As we get older, the number of nerve cells - or neurons - in the brain PROSTATE - Starts ageing at 50.
decrease. We start with around 100 billion, but in our 20s this number The prostate often becomes enlarged with age, leading to problems
starts to decline. By 40, we could be losing up to 10,000 per day, affect- such as increased need to urinate. This is known as benign prostatic
ing memory, co-ordination and brain function. hyperplasia and affects half of men over 50, but rarely those under 40.
It occurs when the prostate absorbs large amounts of the male sex hor-
GUT - Starts ageing at 55. mone testosterone, which increases the growth of cells in the prostate.
A healthy gut has a good balance between harmful and ‘friendly’ A normal prostate is the size of a walnut, but the condition can increase
bacteria. But, levels of friendly bacteria in the gut drop significantly after this to the size of a tangerine.
55, particularly in the large intestine,says Tom MacDonald, Professor of
Immunology at Barts and The London Medical School. As a result, we BONES - Start ageing at 35.
suffer from poor digestion and an increased risk of gut disease. Throughout our life, old bone is broken down by cells called osteoclasts
and replaced by bone-building cells called osteoblasts - a process called
Constipation is more likely as we age, as the flow of digestive juices from bone turnover. Children’s bone growth is rapid - the skeleton takes just
the stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestine slows down. two years to renew itself completely. In adults, this can take ten years.
Until our mid-20s, bone density is still increasing. But at 35 bone loss
BREASTS - Start ageing at 35. begins as part of the natural ageing process.
BY their mid-30s, women’s breasts start losing tissue and fat, reducing
size and fullness. Sagging starts properly at 40 and the areola (the area TEETH - Start ageing at 40.
surrounding the nipple) can shrink considerably. As we age, we produce less saliva, which washes away bacteria, so
teeth and gums are more vulnerable to decay. Receding gums - when
BLADDER - Starts ageing at 65. tissue is lost from gums around the teeth - is common in adults over 40.
Loss of bladder control is more likely when you hit 65. Women are more
vulnerable to bladder problems as, after the menopause, declining es- MUSCLES - Start ageing at 30.
trogen levels make tissues in the urethra - the tube through which urine Muscle is constantly being built up and broken down, a process which is
passes - thinner and weaker, reducing bladder support. Bladder capacity well balanced in young adults. However, by the time we’re 30, break-
in an older adult generally is about half that of a younger person - about down is greater than buildup. Once adults reach 40, they start to lose
two cups in a 30-year-old and one cup in a 70-year-old. .... between 0.5 and 02 per cent of their muscle each year. Regular exercise
can help prevent this.
LUNGS - Start ageing at 20.
Lung capacity slowly starts to decrease from the age of 20. By the HEARING - Starts ageing mid-50s.
age of 40, some people are already experiencing breathlessness. This More than half of people over 60 lose hearing because of their age.
is partly because the muscles and the rib cage which control breathing
stiffen up. SKIN - Starts ageing mid-20s.
The skin starts to age naturally in your mid-20s.
VOICE - Starts ageing at 65.
Our voices become quieter and hoarser with age. The soft tissues in TASTE AND SMELL - Start ageing at 60.
the voice box (larynx) weaken, affecting the pitch, loudness and quality We start out in life with about 10,000 taste buds scattered on the
of the voice. A woman’s voice may become huskier and lower in pitch, tongue. This number can halve later in life. After we turn 60, taste and
whereas a man’s might become thinner and higher. smell gradually decline, partly as a result of the normal ageing process.
TWENTY
YEARS through the years. One is
of Lily’s (Ankone) pioneer-
ing role in the history of
KAPATI- Filipina migrants in the
Netherlands…which was
RAN used as basis for mo-
bilizing and organizing
Filipino migrants in the
Babaylan congratulates
country.
a sister organization in
the Netherlands that just
As to Jimmy (Ayong) I
turned 20. Kapatiran’s
cannot forget the won-
birth is unique: it was both
derful days when we
an end and a beginiing.
hopped from town to
Like many Filipino organi-
town, participating in
zations around the globe,
solidarity information
it was discord that led to
evenings on the Phil-
the founding of Kapatiran
ippines by perform-
(brotherhood) Regrettably
ing our traditional
this is a very familiar dy-
dances. What was
namic with Filipino organiza-
important to us then
tions wherever they may be.
and now, which
This frequent visitor to the
both shared with us
land of the tulips and wind-
while they were still
mills, and who lived there for
around, was this
7 years, has woven a mosaic
vision of bettering
of recalls, observations and
our societies. Liv-
analysis..
ing in France today, and being part of a Filipino migrant
woman’s group called Babaylan, is this ongoing vision. Our
As longtime Chair Wads Wijnberg-Tiongson recalls, “Like
struggles continue in different ways, and in France, the con-
orphaned children we had to reinvent ourselves and had to
text of more rigid migration laws, has rendered the lives of our
look for a new beginning to continue the work most of us
women still precarious and sometimes inhuman.
started in Samahan. Powered by the desire to help other Fili-
pino migrants in the Netherlands and elsewhere, and to as-
Greater unity and solidarity between Netherlands-based Fili-
sist poor communities in the Philippines, Kapatiran was born.
pinos and local communities in the Philippines through small
It was 1990.
scale and self-reliance projects are goals, while organizing
information for awareness-raising. Since 2003, the multi-
“I have always been an avid supporter of children’s welfare
culturality of the organization was reflected in the choice of a
and education and special projects oin the rural areas in the
Dutch Chairperson. Mr.Wim Vermeiden. q
Philippines. I was real glad when the Basic Literacy Program
was launched in 2000 says Irma Galias who first got involved
In 2008, Kapatiran received from the Philippine government
with Kapatiran in 1994. Irma actually was for a short time
the prestigious Presidential LINKAPIL (Lingkod sa Kapwa
Chairperson of Kapatiran but withdrew when her workload in
Pilipino) Award.
the music world increased.
Nitnit Mongaya Hoegsholm
25
ECONOMY
Norway's petroleum capital. Stavangerexpats.
Entertainment: Movie ticket: $16 com says food expenses in Norway are about
The Appliances: Washing machine: $880 50 percent higher than the EU average: A can
World's of soda is about $2.80, and a beer at a bar can
Oslo rose above Copenhagen as the most be $12.
Most expensive city in Europe when the kroner
strengthened against other currencies. ECA 7. Kobe, Japan
Expensive International says an upward trend in oil prices, Rank in 2009: 6
Cities a short recession, and Norway's reputation as Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $16
2010 a safe haven for investors contributed to the Can of beer from grocer: $3.09
kroner's rise. One kg of rice: $8.57
One dozen eggs: $2.81
3. Luanda, Angola Entertainment: Movie ticket: $20
Rank in 2009: 1 Appliances: Washing machine: $470
For Americans overseas, exchange rates and Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $47
cost-of-living adjustments can make living over- Can of beer from grocer: $1.62 The city has one of Japan's largest ports and
seas more expensive than back home. One kg of rice: $4.73 has become home to many heavy machinery,
New York ranks only No. 29. If you think $43 is One dozen eggs: $4.75 iron and steel, and food product companies. Ac-
too much to pay for lunch, you shouldn't live in Entertainment: Movie ticket: $13 cording to the Japan External Trade Organiza-
Oslo. According to "ECA International", a global Appliances: Washing machine: $912 tion, 117 foreign and foreign-affiliated companies
human resources company, that's how much have offices in Kobe. As the price of Kobe beef,
Angola's capital slipped to third place this year the style of high-grade meat named after the
an average lunch costs in Norway's capital. But as the kwanza depreciated. Prices in Luanda
Oslo is only the second-most expensive city city, suggests, food is costly here, as are other
have actually increased in the past year, but living expenses.
on ECA's ranking of 399 global locations. And currency changes offset any inflation, according
while the price of an average lunch in Tokyo is a to ECA International. In addition to everyday 8. Copenhagen, Denmark
comparatively modest $17.86, other costs, such goods, EuroCost International estimates that Rank in 2009: 7
as a $22 movie ticket and an $8.47 kilo of rice, the average expat pays more than $3,500 per Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $36
earn it the dubious honor as the world's most month for a two-bedroom flat in Luanda. Can of beer from grocer: $2.10
expensive city. One kg of rice: $4.85
4. Nagoya, Japan One dozen eggs: $6.99
ECA's ranking is based on a basket of 128 Rank in 2009: 3
goods that includes food, daily goods, clothing, Entertainment: Movie ticket: $15
Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $19 Appliances: Washing machine: $1,196
electronics, and entertainment, but not rent, Can of beer from grocer: $3.08
utilities, and school fees, which are not typically One kg of rice: $9.14 A 2009 "survey" of 73 international cities by UBS
included in a cost-of-living adjustment. ECA re- One dozen eggs: $3.33 found that employees in Copenhagen have the
searchers and local partners gathered prices in Entertainment: Movie ticket: $20 highest income. Places with higher salaries of-
September 2009 and March 2010 for domestic Appliances: Washing machine: $621 ten have higher prices, but residents here enjoy
and imported brands that are internationally good living standards overall. Some examples of
recognized—such as Kellogg's cereal or Sap- Japan's fourth most populous city, Nagoya is the cost of living: Renting a DVD costs about $8
poro beer. While lower-priced goods and ser- also among the country's most expensive. The per night, a pair of women's jeans is more than
vices are available in these markets, the study city ranks No. 1 for the cost of rice: $9.14 per $150, and a one-way ticket on public transport
estimated the cost of supporting the standard of kilogram, according to ECA International data. costs about $3.70.
living expected by expatriate employees. Some As Japan's auto hub, the Nagoya area is an im-
of the cities, such as Seoul and Stockholm, portant center of business: about 44 percent of 9. Geneva, Switzerland
jumped up in the ranking as the local currency automobiles produced in Japan are made here, Rank in 2009: 9
strengthened against the U.S. dollar. While a according to the Greater Nagoya Initiative Cen- Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $30
slowdown in business may tempt employers to ter. Such companies as Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Can of beer from grocer: $2.02
scale back compensation, "recessions only last Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, and General Motors One kg of rice: $3.81
so long" and retaining top talent in these places have headquarters, manufacturing operations, One dozen eggs: $7.64
is critical to companies' success when the global or distribution points in the Nagoya region. Entertainment: Movie ticket: $16
economy recovers. Appliances: Washing machine: $1,304
5. Yokohama, Japan
Rank in 2009: 4 Geneva, home to many companies and U.N. or-
1. Tokyo, Japan Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $17.39 ganizations, is one of the most expensive cities
Rank in 2009: 2 Can of beer from grocer: $3.26 for food and household appliances. Food prices
Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $18 One kg of rice: $6.54 in Switzerland are 45 percent more expensive
Can of beer from grocer: $3.37 One dozen eggs: $3.72 than in the rest of Western Europe, and the
One kg of rice: $8.47 Entertainment: Movie ticket: $19.50 cost of electronics and appliances in Geneva
One dozen eggs: $3.78 Appliances: Washing machine: $630 is among the highest worldwide, according to a
Entertainment: Movie ticket: $22 2009 UBS report.
Appliances: Washing machine: $879 About half an hour by commuter train from
Tokyo, this port city has active shipping, 10. Zurich, Switzerland
The strength of the yen has brought Tokyo back biotechnology, and semiconductor industries. Rank in 2009: 10
to the No. 1 spot on ECA International's ranking Yokohama is one of the world's most expensive Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $25
for the first time since 2005. In addition to the cities, but companies here enjoy lower operating Can of beer from grocer: $2.01
costs above, rent for a two-bedroom apart- costs compared with the nearby capital. Nissan One kg of rice: $3.36
ment for expats is typically more than $5,000 opened a new headquarters in Yokohama this One dozen eggs: $5.81
per month in Tokyo, according to data from year and reportedly will sell its office in Tokyo to Entertainment: Movie ticket: $16
EuroCost International. While visitors need more cut costs. Appliances: Washing machine: $974
pocket money here than in any other city, the
monthly consumer price index in Tokyo's wards 6. Stavanger, Norway Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, is the country's
has actually dropped year-on-year for 14 straight Rank in 2009: 14 main business center and the headquarters
months as of May 2010, based on figures from Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $33 city for many financial companies, including
Japan's statistics bureau. Can of beer from grocer: $4.76 UBS and Credit Suisse. Although Zurich had
One kg of rice: $5.71 the greatest number of company bankruptcies
2. Oslo, Norway One dozen eggs: $6.34 in Switzerland last year, according to Dun &
Rank in 2009: 8 Entertainment: Movie ticket: $15.50 Bradstreet, the inflation rate started to increase
Food: Lunch at a restaurant: $43 Appliances: Washing machine: $749 again this year after falling in 2009.
Can of beer from grocer: $4.71
One kg of rice: $5.66 This small seaside city earned its riches from oil Source: “ECA International”
One dozen eggs: $6.72 in the North Sea and has become known as Vanessa Wong, Business Week
ABAKADA, WINTER 2010 26
SPECIAL FEATURE
She is a former news anchor She reached the top when Lieutenant
of CNN International, BBC Governor John Garamendi won the
World, who also was a former journalist at ABS-CBN News and 10th Congressional District special
Current Affairs. elections to replace Representative
Ellen Tauscher.
She is the daughter of Filipino journalist Carmen Navarro Pedrosa,
who wrote a tell-all biography on then-First Lady Imelda Marcos The lieutenant governor’s powers
during the Marcos’ martial law-backed regime in the Philippines stayed with her as Garamendi’s chief
that led to the Pedrosa family’s exile to London. of staff. These powers include deci-
sions being made at the State Lands Commission, the Board of Re-
She was named Best News Anchor at the Asian Television Awards gents of the California State University and University of California,
2004. and many other panels and boards.
The Natori Company now sells lingerie, sleepwear, loungewear, underwear and other high-end women’s fashion
to upscale department stores in the US, and to at least 15 countries internationally. In addition to women’s cloth-
ing, the company is also in the home furnishings industry, and in May, 2008 signed a licensing deal to sell Natori
perfume. The perfume debuted in the US in September, 2009, with international distribution to follow. Natori also
launched towel and eyewear lines in the Fall of 2009 as well. q
ABAKADA, WINTER 2010 28
ENTERTAINMENT
A man in Scotland calls his son in London the day before Christmas Eve
HI!HI!HI!HI! and says,
“I hate to ruin your day but I have to tell you that your mother and I are
HA!HA!HA!HA! divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough”.
“We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer”, the father says.
“We’re sick of each other and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call
your sister in Leeds and tell her”.
Frantically, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone, “Like hell
they’re getting divorced”, she shouts, “I’ll take care of this”.
She calls Scotland immediately and screams at her father, “You are NOT
getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my
brother back and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing,
GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN DO YOU HEAR ME?”and hangs up.
Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa : half discovered, half wild,
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.
fertile and naturally beautiful.
“Done! They’re coming for Christmas - and they’re paying their own
Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe : well developed and open way.”
to trade, especially for someone of real value. -----------
Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain : very hot, relaxed, and con- How to Tell the Sex of a Fly
vinced of her own beauty.
A woman walked into the kitchen to find her Husband stalking around
Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece : gently aging but still a with a fly swatter.
warm and desirable place to visit.
“What are you doing?” She asked.
Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain : with a glorious and
all conquering past. “Hunting Flies” He responded.
Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel : has been through war, “Oh! Killing any?”She asked.
doesn’t make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.
“Yep, 3 males, 2 Females,” he replied.
Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada : self-preserving, but open
Intrigued, she asked. “How can you tell them apart?”
to meeting new people.
He responded, “3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone”.
After 70, she becomes Tibet : wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and
the wisdom of the ages, an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual -----------
knowledge. Hotel Related Incident
GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN A man checks into a hotel in New York City while on a business trip and
Between 1 and 90, a man is like Iran, ruled by nuts. was a bit lonely.
----------- He thought of one of those girls you see advertised in phone booths when
you’re calling for a cab.
Little Johnny Strikes again
He popped into a phone booth in Times Square near the hotel and found
The teacher asked the class to use the word ‘fascinate’ in a sentence.
an ad for a girl calling herself Erogonique, a lovely girl, bending over in
Molly put up her hand and said, ‘My family went to my granddad’s farm, the photo. She had all the right curves in all the right places, beautiful long
and we all saw his pet sheep It was fascinating.’ wavy hair, long graceful legs...... well, you get the picture! He copied the
phone number and returned to his hotel.
The teacher said, ‘That was good, but I wanted you to use the word
‘fascinate, not fascinating’. When back in the room he figures, what the hell, give her a call.
Sally raised her hand. She said, ‘My family went to see Rock City and ‘Hello,’ the woman says. God, she sounded sexy.
I was ‘fascinated.’ The teacher said, ‘Well, that was good Sally, but I
‘Hi, I hear you give a great massage and I’d like you to come to my room
wanted you to use the word ‘fascinate.’
and give me one.. No, wait, I should be straight with you. I’m in town all
Little Johnny raised his hand. The teacher hesitated because she had alone and what I really want is sex. I want it hard, I want it hot, and I want it
been burned by Little Johnny before. now. Bring implements, toys, rubber, leather, whips, everything you’ve got
in your bag of tricks. Tie me up, cover me in chocolate syrup and whipped
She finally decided there was no way he could damage the word ‘fasci- cream, anything you want! Now, how does that sound?’
nate’, so she called on him.
She says, ‘That sounds fantastic, but you need to press 1 for an outside
Johnny said, ‘My aunt Gina has a sweater with ten buttons, but her tits line.’
are so big she can only fasten eight.’
It took three hours for him to get the courage to Checkout next morning.
The teacher sat down and cried.
ABAKADA, WINTER 2010 29
TRANSITION
u Filomenita Mongaya
Hoegsholm
(ENoMW), the first EU level organisation of migrants. EESC is a partner of the network.
In an integrated Europe and in a globalised and interdependent world, diversity and difference are
normal. “Equality should be mainstreamed into all policies, and the specific area here is the migrant
women’s integration and fundamental rights”, Ms Kurki reiterated.
The Committee believes that integration policies must be linked to the main objectives of EU social
policy and become an integral part of the Social Agenda. Women, and especially migrant women, are
vulnerable to social exclusion and poverty. “It is important that gender analysis is fully mainstreamed
into all of the Commission’s spheres of activity, also in the immigration policy field”, said Ms Kurki.
The Committee would like to see an effective instrument adopted, which reflects the specific features
of domestic work. “EU and the Member States should combat the considerable amount of illegal work
in this sector, and protect migrant women who are in irregular circumstances and suffer abuse. Inter-
national conventions should be applied and should offer them protection”, said Ms Kurki.
The European Economic and Social Committee is very much in line with the ENoMW’s approach.
“Employment, education, health, the fight against violence, women’s participation in public, political
and business life, are our core tasks”, added Ms Kurki.
The European Network of Migrant Women is the first EU level organisation of migrants. ENoMW is
also invited as a speaker to the third meeting of the European Integration Forum organised by the
EESC and the European Commission.
Denmark was represented by Hakima Lasham Lakhrissi from EMKR and Babaylan’s Founding Chair
Filomenita Mongaya Høgsholm, also from EMKR.
Christmas is a time
when you get
homesick - even
when you’re home.
~Carol Nelson
Babaylan-Denmark’s layout artist, Muir Jover, designed the lofficial ogo for the
Summer Sport 2010 which is going to be an annual event for all Filipinos who
would like to participate on sports particularly Beach Volleyball.
Muir has also recently designed the GO CARDs for the Danish Dental Associa-
tion which will be officially used on their campaign against smoking especially
for the youth.
BABAYL AN-DENMARK
Maligayang Marga
Pasko po!
from Gil, Helena, Lukas & Feliza
Broncano Family
Maligayang Pasko at
Manigong Bagong Taon!
from Hedelyn, Ramon & Razel Reyes