More awards

After our executive director at Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation - Mayan Villalba - was named as the Philippines Social Entrepreneur of the Year last month, we reaped two more awards recently.

Association of Young Linamon Producers (ALYP) of Linamon, Lanao del Norte which produces Virgin Coconut Oil for the 2008 Hatag Kalinaw Project of the British Council; and

New Lives for Old - Peace, Growth and Governance Through Social Enterprise for the Panibagong Paraan 2008. This project helps former Moro rebels undertake community livelihood programs.

Keep up the good work Mayan!

Heroes

I delivered a privilege speech at the City Council yesterday which created quite a stir. I got mixed reactions. I would elaborate on Saturday when I appear as guest at ABS-CBN’s noontime radio show.

I described Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada as fake heroes and called on the nation to focus on more important issues other than the telenovela that is the NBN-ZTE scandal.

OFWs to me remain as our genuine heroes. Unfortunately, we neglect their fights and plights.

(6:26 a.m.)

$8,000 bond suspended

Here’s good news to Engr. Caloy Carreon, OFW in Singapore, who expressed his concern to me via an SMS over the new POEA requirement for foreign companies to post $8,000 bonds for direct hiring of Pinoy workers.

The new policy was suspended yesterday pending its review.

Already suffering from a strong Peso, Carreon and many OFWs fear that the cost of the bonds would eventually be slapped on them.

I suggest POEA altogether scrap this policy which was widely opposed by OFWs, recruiters and foreign employers.

(4:58 a.m.)