tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204180362011-11-28T08:17:24.546+08:00Consumers. Taxpayers. Human Rights. Labor Movement. Environment. Women and Gender. Migrant Workers. Youth and Education. Equality. ADVOCACIES...Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-55768324878392957372011-11-07T05:02:00.002+08:002011-11-07T05:04:25.099+08:00

The sight of bedlam and confusion in NAIA’s Terminal 2 greeted us last September 27 as we watched the news on TV. The reason is not Typhoon Pedring but a man-made disaster: the mass termination of some 2, 600 employees of the Philippine Airlines. While many passengers were understandably irate at the inconvenience, occasions missed, or loss of opportunities caused by cancelled flights, we

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-74645992225143119372011-07-19T05:24:00.002+08:002011-07-19T05:30:16.036+08:00

(This is a position statement I prepared for Partido ng Manggagawa on the issue of the recent DOL decision that threatens the continued employment of Filipino Teachers in a school district in Maryland.)Lured by the American dream, non-immigrant workers here in the US have been subjected to different forms of exploitation, manipulation and abuse. The complexities of the recruitment process are

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-750192227244558592010-04-16T07:21:00.003+08:002010-04-16T07:25:17.311+08:00

Today, I am featuring the statement of the Filipino teachers in Louisiana released on the day the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) heard their case.Filipino Educators Federation of LouisianaPress StatementApril 5, 2010Stop oppressive forms of recruitment!Scrap the unjust UPI teacher contracts!We, members of the Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana, call for the immediate end to the

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-60178698398752070832009-10-09T12:08:00.004+08:002009-10-09T12:23:36.468+08:00

The legal battle has begun. Here is a follow up story on TFC Balitang America about the developments on the issue of the Filipino teachers in Louisiana. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and its Louisiana Federation (LFT) filed cases against the abusive recruitment agency.

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-23530810134126058822009-09-14T15:55:00.005+08:002009-09-14T16:41:01.452+08:00

Universal Placement International (UPI) is now getting free advertising from The Filipino Channel. The problem is: what is being advertised is how this placement agency exploits its clients!Let's help our compatriots in their struggle against this illegal recruiter by signing on their online petition at www.gopetition.com.

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-89105695611795871892009-09-09T11:17:00.005+08:002009-09-14T16:36:51.675+08:00

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-28371255478923906282009-07-02T18:23:00.007+08:002009-07-02T18:38:31.880+08:00

I would like to share to everyone a press statement by the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM – Philippines) regarding the recent termination of more than 30 Filipino teachers under the East Baton Rouge School District in Louisiana.Press StatementJune 10, 2009Migrant teachers’ rights should be protectedThe Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party – Philippines) is deeply concerned about the welfare of Filipino

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-44819465509713499272008-11-11T17:37:00.007+08:002009-07-02T18:39:12.136+08:00

(I am sharing below an open letter that summarizes the plight and the struggles of Filipino Migrant Teachers in the US. You can check out their blog at http://www.pinoyteachershub.blogspot.com/. By any means, let us support their cause.)An open letter to our fellow Filipino Migrant TeachersWhy we need to act together.We left our country to work in a foreign land. Many of us were reluctant to

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1438947920176965242008-06-04T10:20:00.007+08:002008-06-04T10:52:48.361+08:00

(This information sheet was prepared by the Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (RISE) and the Concerned Physicians of Iloilo.)Coal-fired power plants (CFPP) emit toxic heavy metals, particulates, radioactive elements and gases which poison the air, water, and soil causing disease and death!1. CFPP’s and so-called “clean coal” generate mercury which is poisonous. • Fetuses, infants and

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-86529380278130348752008-04-24T04:33:00.002+08:002008-04-24T06:11:15.787+08:00

“It is not these well-fed long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry looking.”- Julius Caesar The Arroyo government is now scrambling to find quick fixes to the rice crisis. The government is pretending as if this is something that came from nowhere, that they were caught by surprise as the worldwide food problem reached our shores. It is as if people in the government did not see

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-78644706273885829582008-04-19T18:41:00.003+08:002008-04-19T18:57:56.665+08:00

(Below is a very interesting email from Bert who read my article, "Misinformation on Coal", in the The News Today.) Dear Mr. Seruelo,This article solidifies the undeniable concern of the hazards coal power plants could potentially bring to the City of Iloilo. What is baffling is that proponents would use anything and everything to justify something that is horribly wrong. Why can't they just put

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-17621636068706645982008-04-19T18:27:00.003+08:002008-04-19T18:40:16.646+08:00

I am dismayed that a significant portion of my article entitled "Misinformation on Coal" was cut and was not published in the The News Today.Below is the section that was excluded. See previous blog entry for complete article.- - - -ShamelessThe sad story here is that some media entities are becoming to be part of this misinformation. An example is the shameless practice of this certain news

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1194170226029051002008-03-25T01:59:00.001+08:002008-03-25T02:04:55.563+08:00

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”- Benjamin DisraeliMisinformation it seems is the remaining tactic of the proponent of the 168 MW coal plant here in Iloilo. As more and more Ilonggos understand that putting up a coal plant right in our backyard is not such a good idea, the proponent and its PR team are now trying to spread more lies and half-truths.Well what can

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-48280963112232232572008-03-07T00:56:00.002+08:002008-03-07T00:59:53.005+08:00

(This is a statement from former UP President and now chairperson of Laban ng Masa Prof. Francisco Nemenzo)A democratic alternative to GMAThe belated involvement of Makati Business Club and other elite groups in the campaign to oust Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is welcome. But we should not let them steal victory from the people.The ouster of GMA will bring no significant improvement if the system of

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-10350514756550419252008-03-07T00:52:00.002+08:002008-03-07T00:55:01.757+08:00

"Kung kaya mong isipin, kaya mong gawinIsa-isang hakbang lamang at ika’y makakaratingTulad ng puno na galing sa binhiAng mga dakilang gawa’y nagmula sa guni-guni..."- from “Kung Kaya Mong Isipin” by Joey AyalaToday I am featuring several emailed letters from this column’s readers. Many of the emails I received in the past days are in reaction to my previous article entitled “The Tentacles of

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-21938326317953403282008-02-28T00:04:00.002+08:002008-02-28T00:09:32.022+08:00

“Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change.”- Andre GideSo what has our nation become after more than 100 years since the Philippine declaration of independence? Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini and all our heroes for sure are turning in their graves as the nation is plunged deeper unto this pit of corruption and greed.What has our nation become after almost a

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1996389229986941912008-02-26T17:28:00.003+08:002008-02-26T17:45:44.221+08:00

The article I wrote entitled "Big Flaws in Fr. Celis Arguments" (see previous post) was censored by my editor. It did not saw print nor was it published in its online edition.We had an exchange of e-mails but in gist, here is what he said "my point is we don't have to refute the personal views of others to bring our message across.. i think fr.boy's pronouncements was his personal view and not as

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-56027450534018303812008-02-04T12:30:00.000+08:002008-02-04T12:34:30.849+08:00

“A small rock holds back a great wave.”- The Odyssey by HomerCorruption in government and in Philippine society happen everyday. This culture of corruption envelopes the whole system as if it is a malignant tumor. The main beneficiaries of this sick system are big time corrupt politicians who regularly rake in millions of pesos in kickbacks from multi-million projects.Now, why will you scold the

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-44996916220626374032008-01-26T18:26:00.000+08:002008-01-26T18:44:54.708+08:00

“Ethical axioms are found and tested not very differently from the axioms of science.Truth is what stands the test of experience.”- Albert EinsteinThis column would like to yield this space to a petition to save Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) amidst the corruption scandal within the agency. Under the leadership (or the absence of it) of Boboy Syjuco, this department

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-7882791011158063562008-01-16T05:41:00.000+08:002008-01-16T05:46:59.244+08:00

“ The road may be rough, the weather may forget us But won't we all parade around and sing our songs, A magic kingdom, open-armed…”- from “Bandwagon” by R.E.M.A new movement against illegitimate debt was launched during the last weekend in Quezon City . It is aptly called People Against Illegitimate Debt (PAID!). This movement held its first assembly and also launched its People's Petition

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-78368686057236529712007-12-29T19:05:00.000+08:002007-12-29T19:16:21.895+08:00

2007 is on its way out. Another year has past. Looking back, it has been one chaotic year indeed. Here are 12 selected issues from the various topics I tackled this past year. Aside from the quotes from one article per month, I also included my wishes for 2008 pertaining to each of the issues.1. Minimum wage, January 2007“The business sector declares that a legislated P125.00 increase in the

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-82239991459586966492007-12-15T18:25:00.000+08:002007-12-15T18:27:31.362+08:00

“Yahweh, YahwehAlways pain before a child is bornYahweh, tell me nowWhy the dark before the dawn?”- from “Yahweh” by U2It is Christmas season once again and it seems there is not much going on. When I say “going on”, I mean improvement in the lives of the ordinary Filipinos.In fact, “improvement” is not even the appropriate term; for this column would be glad to proclaim if the majority still

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-75745997934271949972007-12-11T15:58:00.000+08:002007-12-11T16:11:40.900+08:00

“I think I’m a pretty good economist, but a very bad politician.”- by Gloria Macapacagal-ArroyoOn rare occasions I agree with Gloria Arroyo. She may be a well-known liar and one of the most corrupt trapo (traditional politician) in Philippine history but once in a while she has the capability to tell the truth. For example the quote above is indeed very true. Below are my proofs and

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-61555284511722946452007-11-24T18:15:00.000+08:002007-11-24T18:21:35.816+08:00

“An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it.”- by Jef MallettThere are opinions that you can easily laugh off. These are the kind of opinions that are not supported by facts or worse run counter to established facts. Worst, these opinions are sometimes being passed off as truths.An example of this is the opinion of Iloilo City Mayor Treñas and other coal plant pushers

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-75692483775056525372007-11-12T17:36:00.000+08:002007-11-12T17:41:07.886+08:00

“Funky crime funky crimedon't you know funk's colors blindwell I've committed a funky crimeagainst a state of mind”- from “Funky Crime” by Red Hot Chili PeppersThat law is always rigged to favor the rich and the powerful has been blatantly displayed once again in Philippine politics. Trapoliticking in the country is at its highest peak nowadays. And these trapos (traditional politicians) are

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-60461262573118415222007-10-27T18:56:00.000+08:002007-11-03T20:14:05.783+08:00

“It’s a black fly on your ChardonnayIt’s a death row pardon two minutes too late…”- from “Ironic” by Alanis MorissetteI read in a previous issue of this paper that Mayor Treñas is leaving for Korea. Treñas will attend a three-day meeting of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). I did a research on this initiative and this particular meeting and I found out some

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1137688524872674252007-10-15T12:10:00.000+08:002007-10-15T12:17:02.817+08:00

“Integrity has no need of rules.”– Albert CamusIf your bathroom were sparkling and spotless would you clean it? Would you wash the dishes when you know they are already clean?If the current technology used in coal plants is “clean” why is it that up to now there are ongoing technological researches on how to make the same technology become environmentally friendly?In the global scene, why is the

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-2826194600897515642007-10-06T19:02:00.000+08:002007-10-06T19:03:55.070+08:00

“The cause of liberty becomes a mockery if the price to be paidis the wholesale destruction of those who are to enjoy liberty.”- by Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi would have been very happy to witness the presentation of a scroll containing his very own “Seven Social Sins” to Gloria Arroyo on her recent visit to India. While addressed to society as a whole, Gandhi’s “Seven Social Sins” is actually

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-86141949034304810622007-09-22T19:11:00.000+08:002007-10-17T14:18:46.466+08:00

“They said it changes when the sun goes downOver the river going out of town…”- from “When the Sun Goes Down” by Arctic MonkeysThe kickback-laden ZTE-NBN broadband project has been suspended. This controversial project will cost $329.5 million – that is, ladies and gentlemen, equivalent to almost P15 billion (yup, that’s 15 with 9 zeroes!) at the current exchange rate!But why was the project

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-73954973352719390952007-09-22T19:09:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:32:59.031+08:00

“The great corrupter of public man (and woman) is the ego....Looking at the mirror distracts one's attention from the problem.”- Dean AchesonI read a news article about the justification of the removal of the DOJ posters from the walls of the Hall of Justice. The DOJ poster bears the image of the great Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.They said that the face of great Raul in the posters were

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-58428462412828988982007-09-22T19:00:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:17:14.348+08:00

“One death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic.”- Josef StalinIt’s almost 9/11. This date is probably the most “recall-able” date in world history. It marked the mourning of the world for the victims of the terrorist attack that brought down the twin towers of New York.While we always remember the more than 4,000 victims of 9/11, the irony is we tend to forget the thousands and the

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-66848637118338994642007-08-18T18:36:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:35:47.409+08:00

(This article is an edited and consolidated version of two articles I wrote for my column in The News Today.)“You come around every now and thenYour clothes are different but youre still the sameWhy else would you come here?Scumbag on a mission”- from “Scumbag” by Green DayHere are some quotes from the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and my version

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-84689043464324784412007-07-07T18:01:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:36:36.480+08:00

“Make a move, before they make a move and you…Move around and get from one to two…”- from “Move!” by Damian MarleyNow that the election is over may we request our “beloved” politicos to immediately start working for the taxpayers and consumers.First order of business, here in Iloilo City, should be to alleviate the burden of the power consumers who for years have been slapped with exorbitant

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1150589357995038512006-06-18T08:08:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:23:20.124+08:00

”Watch how the ice melts awayCrystals of fire and heatDrip drop by drop, now a stream…”- Sara Mathai Stinus Cheers to another victory to the cause of the consumers! In a recent decision dated June 9 2009, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered PECO to refund power consumers P2.89 billion pesos worth of overcharges. We have been abused and plundered by PECO for a long time and this is

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1147154482084438172006-05-09T14:00:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:20:05.841+08:00

“When you have grasped a problem clearly, face it with resolution,for that is the way of the strong.”- Kahlil GibranI can’t understand why PECO is not resolute in implementing the ERC order for it to reconnect to the NPC Panay Grid. More than five months have past but PECO is not so keen on forging its immediate reconnection to an alternative power source.PECO and its supplier, Mirant’s Panay

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1136186002954900442006-01-02T15:04:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:19:36.133+08:00

*Note: This article is a reply to PECO's Letter to the Editor (posted below) that was published in the December 19, 2005 issue of The News Today www.thenewstoday.info. PECO was reacting to an earlier article in my column entitled: "Who's to suffer from PECO-PPC inefficiency?" (also posted below). As a response, I submitted this article, but due to reasons which are out of my control, it never saw

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1136185436274294192006-01-02T15:00:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:19:00.130+08:00

*Note: This is the article, published in The News Today in December 5, 2005 under my column, that elicited a reply from PECO.Who’s to suffer from PECO-PPC inefficiency?“One of the weaknesses of our age is our apparent inability to distinguish our need from our greed.”-UnknownThe answer to the question above ladies and gentlemen, if we ask PECO and PPC, are the electric consumers!This duo has been

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20418036.post-1136185180255700012006-01-02T14:56:00.000+08:002007-09-22T19:18:27.359+08:00

*Note: This is PECO's reaction to my first article entitled "Who's to suffer from PECO-PPC inefficiency?". It was published in The News Today in the December 19, 2005 issue as a Letter to the Editor. PECO's reaction to my first articleAllow us to react to the article of Mr. Ian M. Seruelo which appeared in your newspaper ("Who's to suffer from PECO-PPC inefficiency", December 5-6, 2005 issue),

Ian Seruelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073954540910344438noreply@blogger.com0