“Sa Sipag, Tiyaga at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang Pilipino”
By Ms. Cheryl Sevegan
Nothing has improved in job hunting even though years have passed by and landing a job is still an undeniably challenging experience for new graduates and for all job seekers. Despite the great contribution and vast influence of technology and social media that provide various tools to connect applicants to potential employers, a call for an appointment is not always guaranteed.
To address this issue the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), together with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), held the biggest Job Fair of the year on Labor Day, May 1, 2014 at all SM Supermalls nationwide. This event allows job seekers to explore various job opportunities, be interviewed by would-be employers, and even get hired on the same day.
SM Supermalls, being home to over 300,000 employees, continuously make efforts in providing jobs to the growing Filipino workforce. Last year 2,400 companies joined and 394,000 jobs were offered.
Meanwhile, there is nothing new in the Labor Day celebration in the Philippines as thousands of workers march on the streets as activists demanding higher wages, better working conditions, and more job opportunities instead of enjoying the holiday.
According to Partido ng Manggagawa chair Rene Magtubo, although it is Labor Day, there is no reason for workers to celebrate, but more reason to demonstrate. Just like in the past years labor leaders were disappointed after the dialogues with the President failed to address their demands for a wage increase.
Workers are seeking a P135 across-the-board wage hike to help them cope with the high cost of power rates and other essential commodities.
If granted, the wage hike will push up the current daily minimum rate in Metro Manila to P466.
TUCP Executive Director Louie Corral said labor groups would also file similar petitions before the other wage boards to seek wage increase for workers in other regions. The TUCP said their demand for a P135 wage increase was based on the March 2014 consumer price index. Some caricatures in newspapers depict salaries/wages like dwarves that never grow up compared to gasoline, transportation fare and other commodities that perennially shoot up. Funny but it is the reality.
On the other hand Mayo Uno, the first day of May, is also the beginning of a colorful month-long celebration in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Christians like those in the Philippines. We call the celebration “Flores De Mayo” while the Santa Cruzan is the parade on the last day of the festival in honor of Reyna Helena.
During the festival in May, flowers are offered to the Virgin Mary at the altar in the church. Young children, girls dressed in white, visit the church with cut flowers and baskets of petals in their hands. While walking to the altar, they sprinkle the petals in honor of Mama Mary. At the altar they leave the bouquet of flowers every afternoon.
The highlight of the celebration is the Santa Cruzan, a procession on the last day of the festival in honor of Queen Helena. In the year 326 A.D., she and her son left Rome and sought the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. At last they found the Holy Cross and brought it back to Rome, the capital of their empire. That is why in the procession, the Reyna Elena is the last one on the line escorted by a little boy dressed as Constantine her son.
In the parade beautiful young women donning appropriate theatrical costumes portray biblical and historical characters. Dubbed “sagalas,” these characters represent queens from the past. Each “sagala” is dressed beautifully and looking like a real Reyna (Queen).
Here in Israel, these two celebrations are usually combined through the efforts of the Philippine Embassy with the cooperation of the Filipino Community. For years it has become a tradition that Filipinos here has already been accustomed to. Every organization or regional ethnic group typically prepare long before the actual presentation comes because of the competition attached with it like being crowned as the Best in Floral Arc Competition, Best Dressed King and Queen, Best Little Prince and Princess, Best Group and Slogan, and so on and so forth…
This year’s Philippine Labor Day Slogan is “Sa Sipag, Tiyaga at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang Pilipino.”
The celebration took place in front of our Philippine Embassy in Hayarkon Park, Tel Aviv at 8:00 AM with the parade of the “sagalas” from different Filipino organizations headed by of course the “sagalas” from the Philippine Embassy. This year 27 organizations participated.
The ever-generous Ms. Anne Gonzaga singlehandedly emceed the event. After the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, the event was formally opened by Labor Attaché Atty. Jaime Gimenez. His opening remark was immediately followed by the reading of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III’s message courtesy of Consul Greg Marie Marino, Atty. Jaime Gimenez read the message of Hon. Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Secretary of Labor and Employment, and of course HE Ambassador Generoso D.G. Calonge himself personally delivering his note to OFWs in the Holy Land.
As part of this occasion the newly elected FFCI Officers for the year 2014-2015 were also inducted by Ambassador Calonge. The new FFCI President Mr. Jeoffrey Olayan also gave his message to fellow OFWs.
The newly inducted FFCI Officers 2014-2015:
President: Mr. Jeoffrey Olayan
Vice President: Mr. James Manzon
Secretary: Ms. Magdalena Reyes
Asst. Secretary: Mr. Rhandy Carandang
Treasurer: Mr. Ramil Diaz
Asst. Treasurer: Ms. Irene Bauzon
Auditor: Mr. Erik Espineli
Asst. Auditor: Mr. Sonny Osorio
Business Manager: Ms. Loreta Ferrarez
Asst. Bus. Manager: Mr. Oscar Rafael
PRO: Mr. Juan Andres
Asst. PRO: Ms. Charlotte David
The pride of Filipinos in Israel, the very humble X-Factor grand winner Ms. Rose ”Osang” Fostanes, rendered a few songs to entertain the exuberant crowd.
Awarding of Certificates of Appreciation was handed by Ambassador Calonge, as assisted by Col. Regondola, to Ms. Vardit Katz-Ezra (Western Union), Ms. Shrem Galit (Western Union), Mr. Yaron Bengera (Yad Beyad agency), Mr. & Mrs. Khaled and Daisy (Owner of DaisyKhaled Jewellery Jerusalem), Ms. Rose Fostanes (X-Factor Israel Grand Winner) and Ms. Kathleen Eligado (Runner-up winner of Beit Sefer LeMusika 2010) for their continued support to the Philippine Embassy and to all Filipino community events.
Likewise, Plaques of Appreciation were also given to all Filipino organizations by Ambassador Calonge assisted by Labor Attaché Atty. Jaime Gimenez.
The closing ceremonies saw the announcement of the winners:
Best Group: Hagiyo Ifugao and Israel Association (HAIFIA)
Best Slogan: Candelarians Organization in Israel (COI)
Best in Floral Arc: ISRAFIL foundation
Best Prince: AIMWI
Best Princess: Kingdom of Jesus Christ
Best King: Kingdom of Jesus Christ (with a watch donated by Daisy and Khaled)
Best Queen: ISRAFIL Foundation (with a diamond ring from Daisy and Khaled)
Palatable Filipino dishes and sweets were shared by everyone for lunch. A short parlor game organized by FFCI followed suit and became the ending of the celebration.