Filipina Soul

Over the next 10 years, Canada will need almost 2 million skilled workers and professionals, and guess where’s its looking? (via Inquirer)
Drawing on its well-established relationship with overseas Filipino workers, Canada is once again throwing its doors open to employees who can fill the labor shortages in various provinces. Just a few examples:
* British Columbia is looking for 22,000-24,000 temporary workers to help it prepare for the 2018 Winter Olympics
* Manitoba and Alberta need more caregivers, nannies, and skilled workers like pipe fitters and welders.
* Alberta is also looking for maintenance managers and facility operators.
* Prince Edward Island needs construction …read more

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I first heard about it from my mother-in-law in California, who called to tell me she read this from a newspaper. I didn’t know about it. Not that I should, but I’d like to know about these things.
See, I live in Baltimore, and I’m surrounded by awesome Filipino teachers that the city has recruited in the past three years. So, I am all for welcoming more in!
Here is the press release from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs -
Baltimore City Public School Board officials announced that by summer, Baltimore City schools will be hiring an additional 178 new …read more

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Joseph Estrada, who was convicted of plunder last year, will be able to keep most of his personal wealth. An anti-graft court said that it will not seize the personal assets of the former president, even to cover the rest of the money that he still owes the government.
“The court order said the sheriff cannot proceed against the personal property of the former president which cannot be directly linked to his ill-gotten wealth,” court spokesman Renato Bocar told AFP.
“There is no more need to go after the property of president Estrada,” he said.

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President Gloria Arroyo is giving overseas Filipino workers an incentives package to help them save money in spite of the weak US dollar. Here are some of what OFWs are getting –

a hedge fund that will guarantee an agreed-upon dollar-peso exchange rate,
a fast-transfer digital cash card,
a high-yielding deposit facility, OFW bonds, stock investing seminars,
offers for “Tindahang Pinoy” franchises

Why the offer from Arroyo? The weak US dollar, and the strengthening Philippine peso cuts an OFW’s peso equivalent of their earnings. The dollar’s drop is good for our economy, but many OFWs and their families have expressed concern …read more

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Five indie films by Filipino filmmakers will be featured in the 37th International Film Festival Rotterdam in The Netherlands, which is ongoing until February 3. These films are:
* Director Adolf Alix Jr.’s “Tambolista,” about a boy’s dream of owning a drum set
* “Taon Noong Ako’y Anak sa Labas” by John Torres (competing for the VPRO Tiger Awards)
* Khavn de la Cruz’s “Philippine Bliss”
* a Korean-Filipino co-production, “Tropical Manila” directed by Lee Sang-woo
* “Death in the Land of Encantos” by Lav Diaz
I hope we get to see these films in a theater near us.
via INQUIRER
Technorati Tags: Philippine indie films,Philippine entertainment,Philippine …read more

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Now this is great news, and especially for Filipino bloggers or online sellers affiliated with networks outside the Philippines!
PayPal announced a new service allowing Filipino account holders to withdraw funds from local banks. The announcement was made in the eBay.ph site but I would think this should apply to all PayPal account holders.
Users transferring funds from PayPal to a bank (see list) need to verify the account, provide the 9-digit bank code, the account name and number, and follow a set of instructions for the transfer. Withdrawals of PHP 7,000 or more do not have transaction fees. A PHP …read more

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Judging from the crazy shouts of the fans, Marian Rivera is the hottest rising celebrity in Philippine showbiz these days.
And now the MariMar leading star has a dance album, and the carrier single “Chichiquita“, that was successfully launched this weekend.
You might want to watch this fan-shot video and learn how to dance that way, because soon everyone will dance to it, everywhere in the country.

Technorati Tags: Marian Rivera,MariMar,philippines,celebrities,chichiquita,dance hits

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Congats to new showbiz mom Camille Pratts for her beautiful baby boy, Nathaniel Ceasar. Look how handsome baby Nathan is!
This page requires a higher version browserFor the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Husband Anthony Linsangan was beside her the whole time and exclaimed in joy when he saw the baby come out.
The baby was born on January 25, through normal delivery and Camille related her delivery story to Showbiz Central. Click on the image for the video linked.
Being a new mom myself, I can totally relate to the ecstasy that Camille described in that video.
Technorati Tags: camille …read more

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Here’s your chance to meet Happy Slip in person! There’s a meet-and-greet scheduled for February 7, with Christine Gambito. I’m also assuming that Josh Verdes will be there with her.

To attend the event, you need to pre-register, since the venue can only take so many people. It’s first come, first served! If I were in Manila, I’d grab this chance to meet Christine, one of the stars of Pinoy video-blogging, and a wonderful ambassador of Philippine tourism!
Click on the image above so find out more about where and how to register.
via Happy Slip Productions
Technorati Tags: Happy Slip,Christine Gambito,Philippine tourism,Philippines

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This edition of quick Philippine news is all about the economy. There are some good news brewing, from the look of things.
* “Philippine property developer Robinsons Land Corp and JP Morgan said Monday they had formed a strategic alliance to tap the growing army of overseas Filipino workers.” (via AFP) – Real estate development has been on the overdrive for quite some time now. The target is the dollar-earning population of overseas Filipinos who are looking to buy a residence in the Philippines, either for investment or as a place to come home to once in a while.
* “Entertainment …read more

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