CEBU CITY- Rainbow Rights Inc., together with Outrage and the US Embassy launched Pink Ink training in a move to help journalists be more sensitive to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and discuss the challenges faced in reporting LGBT issues, news and information.
Rainbow Rights Inc. brought its Pink Ink advocacy to the Visayas area where media practitioners from Tacloban, Bacolod, Iloilo and Cebu attended the forum held in Cebu last August 13.
The occasion aimed to empower professional media practitioners to deal with LGBT issues.
Pink Ink is in line with the #HateWatchPH, which aims to document LGBT-related hate crimes happening in the Philippines; to empower LGBT people to report, and/or do something when such crimes happen; and to form partnerships with like-minded organizations to eradicate LGBT-related hate crimes.
Michael David Tan, publishing editor of Outrage Magazine, who was among the speaker during the training said, it is still a long way towards empowering the media to appropriately report on LGBT issues.
He cited on the case of Jennifer Laude where she is referred to as Jeffrey Laude, the victim’s real name.
But in several news reports, the victim was always referred in the masculine pronoun.
Tan claims it was disrespectful to Laude’s true self-identification when he was still alive.
Also present during the training was couple Aiza Seguerra and Liza Dino.
The former child star, who has declared himself as a transman, said self-identification among lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender is very important.
“We cannot make people accept us, being us, if we ourselves haven’t found our self-identity,” Seguerra said.
He, together with Liza, conducted the sexual orientation and gender identification and expression (SOGIE) for the media practitioners who attended the one-day forum.
The SOGIE 101 was aimed to make the media practitioners better understand the LGBT community in understanding concepts of gender, its biological dichotomy as well as gender expression.
Meanwhile, Pink Ink is also eyed to get mainstream media involved via consultations with editorial policy makers.
This is supported by the development of a stylebook that mainstream journalists may be able to use when covering LGBT-related issues.
“We are hoping that through Pink Ink, we could somehow effect changes, and strengthen our ranks in fighting for equal rights for LGBT Filipinos,” Tan said. (AHLETTE C.REYES)
Group orients media to better understand LGBT community
Aiza Seguerra says appointment to NYC shows Pres. Duterte’s respect to LGBT community
CEBU CITY- Her appointment by President Rodrigo Duterte as chair of the National Youth Commission (NYC) is a big step towards recognizing the LGBT community.
Thus said Cariza “Aiza” Seguerra who formally took the post on Tuesday (August 16).
Seguerra, one of the country’s best singers, said that she is happy that Mr. Duterte appointed her to the position which she could use to advance the interests and welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“I am happy that the President is very inclusive,” Seguerra said when interviewed during a small media forum on LGBT rights held in Cebu City last August 13.
According to Seguerra, members of the LGBT community, especially those still young, are the most prone to discriminations and abuses which she want to address as the new NYC chairperson.
“Napakaraming beses na ang mga tao na tu-turn away sa mga trabaho dahil lang sa kanilang sexual identity. I heard a lot of stories na sobrang qualified sa trabaho but she is a transwoman, hindi tinatanggap dahil ayaw ng boss,” Seguerra said.
As an LGBT advocate, Seguerra said that she will encourage establishments and government offices to stop discriminating LGBT and accept them on the basis of their qualification and not reject them because of their sexual preferences.
Promoting the rights of the LGBT community will also be one of her agenda as the new NYC chairperson.
“Because I think, the mere awareness is already a big step in understanding who we are.Nawawala yung takot, yung hate,” Seguerra said
Seguerra describes herself as a “transman” or a woman by birth but whose gender identity is a man but has not undergone sex change, and wants to be addressed by the pronoun “he.”
“His” wife Liza Diño was also named as the chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines by Pres. Duterte.
The couple supported the presidential bid of Duterte.
But Seguerra insisted that they were named to their respective posts by the President on the basis of their qualifications and not as a reward for supporting Mr. Duterte. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Ombudsman suspends 6 officials of a Southern Leyte town
12 years after the commission of the offense
TACLOBAN CITY- Five officials of the municipal government of Hinunangan in Southern Leyte were slapped with one month suspension without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman for the commission of a crime 12 years ago. The suspension of the officials, municipal budget officer Jocelyn Reytas, municipal engineer Armando Notarte, municipal planning and development officer Alenita Engcoy, municipal accountant Maria Linda Dator and foreman Adelaido Odilao, Jr., were found guilty of simple misconduct by the anti- graft court. The suspension of the local officials stemmed from the alleged anomalous procurement of a road grader worth P1.76 million in 2004.
According to the anti-graft court, the respondents deliberately violated the law on procurement, which prohibits specifying any brand names, when they prepared procurement documents.
The respondents reportedly specified that the municipal government bought a Mitsubishi model LG-2H for the road grader. “By doing so, respondents did not just unduly restrict the number of establishments that could have participated in the bidding, they further restricted the procurement of the road grader only to the establishments who can supply the specific model indicated in the procurement documents,” the Ombudsman said. Also included in the complaint was former member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Veronico Adlao. In the event that the penalty could no longer be enforced, it shall be converted to a fine equivalent to respondent’s one month salary, the Ombudsman said. (MEL CASPE)
Mayor Cristina thankful of new health center and lying-in clinic
TACLOBAN CITY- City Mayor Cristina Romualdez has extended her gratitude to all the Rotarians who made possible the existence of the newly- built Abucay Health Center located at the back of the New Bus Terminal during the induction of RC Makati South Officers held recently at Dusit Hotel in Makati City. In her message, Mayor Romualdez graciously thanked especially the Rotary Club of Makati South, its counterpart the Rotary International Dist. 2750; RC Tokyo Shirogane; RC Tokyo Jonan, Japan; RC Tanglin, Singapore together with its foreign and international sister clubs and other local and foreign benefactors for joining hands with the city government of Tacloban under the administration of then Mayor Alfred Romualdez in building the Abucay Health Center and Lying-in Clinic. The health center, according to Mayor Cristina, will serve hundreds of marginalized Taclobanons, especially those living near the Abucay area, Nula-Tula, Anibong and the commuting public or passengers from other part of Eastern Visayas.
The health facility will provide primary health medical and dental care services and a lying-in clinic for pregnant mothers. Other benefactors of the establishment of the Abucay health center project includes: RC Makati South D3830; RC Tokyo Shirokana, D2750 and RC Tokyo Jonan, Japan D 2750; RC tangin, Singapore (D-3310); RC Jakarta Gambir, Indonesia (D3400), Sta. Elena Construction Development Corp., DDT Konstract Inc., Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., Officers and members of RC Makati South.
The P15 million-worth Abucay Health Center is a complete mini- hospital and will qualify as an infirmary mini hospital with birthing facilities that has an emergency room, delivery room, labor room, recovery room, doctor’s room and dental room with portable X-ray machine and ultra sounds, open to public service 24/7.
The establishment of the health center building to include its facilities was a consolidated effort made by the local and foreign kindhearted and compassionate Rotarians, Mayor Cristina said.
The building marker unveiled during the turn-over ceremony stipulated that the aftermath of supertyphoon “Yolanda” that devastated Tacloban in 2013, laid bare the need to provide long term primary medical services to the less fortunate communities of the city. In answering to this call, the Rotary Club of Makati South, together with its foreign and international sister clubs and other local and foreign benefactors joined hands with the city of Tacloban headed by then Mayor Alfred Romualdez to put up the Health Center and Lying-in Clinic for the benefit of the citizens of Tacloban City. The center is dedicated to the service and care of the less privileged members of society and is a testament to Rotary International motto- “service above self”. The Rotarians were likewise responsible in facilitating some 200 Canadian donated mechanical medical beds of which the city government was the recipient. Rotary Club Dist 3860 past governor Salvador Estudillo disclosed in an interview that said mechanical beds were distributed to the Tacloban City Hospital and various health centers and lying-in clinics in the City. (GAY B.GASPAY/TISAT KANHURAW MEDIA TEAM/Photo: BILLY CINCO)
Crop insurance: Vital in building back agriculture economy of Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY-Farmers in Eastern Visayas must have realized the importance of crop insurance after the devastation caused by supertyphoon “Yolanda” as more farmers are availing of government crop insurance. Data gathered from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation(PCIC) regional office shows a huge increase in the number of farmers who have filed for indemnity for loss of crops before Yolanda and immediately after compared to last and current year. Records of PCIC-8 office shows 12,981 claims for loss have already been filed for the first semester of the current year. This is already higher than the 12,915 claims filed for the entire 2015. In 2013, only 4,234 farmers claimed for loss of crops and 4,797 in 2014. Indemnity paid to farmers has also shown a steady increase for the last three years- P18.89 million in 2013, P52.37 million in 2014, P55.19 million in 2015. And for the first semester of the year, its P64.93 million. Rice remains the top product among the seven insurance lines which also include corn, high-value commercial crops, livestock, fishery, non-crop agricultural asset and term insurance packages. Figures for this year show that of the 12,981 claims that were filed, 12,362 were for rice, 422 for high value crops, 141 for corn, 49 for livestock, and four term insurance packages. No claims were made for non-crop and fisheries. “Crop insurance is very important in building back and improving the productivity of our farmers,” says Dominico Digamon, PCIC regional manager.
“Farmers will be more motivated to plant if they know that they will at least recoup their investment in times of calamities. It boosts farmers’ resilience from climate change,” he added.
DENR-8 asks public to help combat illegal possession, trade of wildlife
TACLOBAN CITY-The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling on the public to help its intensified drive to stop the illegal possession and trade of wildlife in Eastern Visayas. DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca made this call after 15 pythons were recovered at the house of Albuera Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and his son Kerwin. The Espinosas were tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte to be in the illegal drug trade with Kerwin alleged as the region’s number drug lord. The beleaguered mayor, however, denied that he is into illegal drugs activity. Sibbaluca said that illegal trade and possession of wildlife is punishable under Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 with imposed imprisonment and fines as determined by the judge. Sibbaluca said that he is appealing and encouraging the public to report to his office or to the field offices in the region regarding the collection, possession or selling of wildlife for rescue. The Espinosas, based on DENR record, have no permit to possess the animals. Sibbaluca said that the rescue was made possible when one anonymous caller called his office last August 12 regarding the pythons at the custody of the Espinosas. The rescued animals were brought to the DENR-8 Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Palo, Leyte. They are to be release to any of the DENR-8 protected areas in the region, as their habitat, when their health already good enough to sustain in the wild as determined by the veterinarian. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)