BALIKBAYAN OR PINOY HOMECOMING ?

So you think you hate and can’t stand the monstrous traffic jams of Metro Manila every time you visit ? Better think twice or thrice.
Based on a recent survey, Manila or any other urban city in the Philippines is not on the list of the world’s most congested urban areas where gridlocks on the road are the norm.
Consider this: Can you survive a 265 kilometer long traffic
queue ? This was a world record set in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo which occurred in 2008. Because of this, it earned its number one spot in the top 15 most congested cities of the world.
The rankings include two Asian nations, namely China and Thailand (Beijing and Bangkok respectively).
The rest are (in the order of rankings)China, Brussels, Paris,
Warsaw, Poland, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Moscow, London, New Delhi, New York, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Washington DC and
Wroclaw, also in Poland.
So every time you get caught in a bumper to bumper situation like in EDSA or in Quiapo, just bear and grin it. In fact, Filipinos always come out with endless “traffic solutions “ such as the “counter flow “which allows lanes with heavy flow of vehicles to
use or occupy the opposite lanes to ease traffic. Or the color coding scheme where cars with plate numbers ending in even and odd numbers can only use the streets in designated days and time.
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Is the highly successful “Balikbayan program”, a brainchild of the
of the Marcos era being phased out by the Aquino administration ?
A delegation of lawmakers and tourism officials from the Philippines recently visited Toronto on a supposed “consultative “ sessions with community leaders at the Metro convention center.
Senators Edgardo Angara, Franklin Drilon and Aklan representative Florencio Miraflores among others took turns in explaining the details of the “Pinoy Homecoming “ program and at the same time encourage more expats to avail of the dual-citizenship program.
Drilon said a strong tourism program can be the “biggest single industry that can move the country forward “.
He said this is a good time for many Filipinos abroad to come and visit . “Things are slowly changing, there is a good exchange rate and this is a good reason to visit “ said Drilon as he announced that
our economic standing in the international financial community has been upgraded a notch higher recently by world-renowned investment analysts .
Pinoy Homecoming, it was explained is a 4-year balikbayan program that provides extended perks and more benefits to expats or OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)and other returning residents
and is an amended version of the original “balikbayan “ program under Republic Act 6768.
These include discounts in duty free outlets and other accredited shopping establishments.
Other features of the new tourism program include a livelihood component where returning OFWs or any expats wanting to put up small scale business or livelihood projects are provided free entrepreneurial training; financial advice or loan assistance in so-called business centers which is actually a one stop shop that has the capacity to process various government related documents.
However, former ambassador Clemencio Montesa, who is now a Toronto resident said the session failed to be a “:consultative “
seminar as he noted the lack of open dialogue among community leaders and media on one hand and the Philippine delegation.
He said both sides could have gained and learned from each other had there been an open dialogue or exchanges of views.
The audience was only asked to write their questions and many of those queries were not read or even answered. This writer submitted two questions but they were never read nor answered.
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And to think that the delegation’s mission was to encourage former Filipinos to reacquire Filipino citizenship, solicit their views and opinions.
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COMMUNITY TIDBITS: It happens every year, in fact in any occasions where bigwigs, celebrities and VIPs are always present.
At the June 12 flag raising rites at Queen’s park, my informant said
There was a mad scramble among so-called community leaders, all dress to the hilt, for a photo op with VIPs..to heck with the national flag this is a kodak moment. So what else is new ?
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Its common knowledge that the Filipino Center of Toronto (FCT)
is the yearly organizer of the “Pistahan sa Nathan“ on Independence day celebrations and the parada ng lechon.
But what’s this we heard that somebody, in a TV interview allegedly claimed otherwise.
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Our belated happy birthday to our friend Dolping Tigley, on his 70th year of productive existence. Dolping and his siblings are well known community figures in the Jane and Finch area near Driftwood. They are known kingmakers in the local political firmament of the area but have remained humble and active in every worthwhile endeavor. More power to you Dolping !