Garuda Indonesia now a 4-STAR Airline!

December 30, 2009

 

 The moment I have finished reading aN article from a social forum about airlines regarding the certification of Garuda Indonesia (GI, the national airline of Indonesia) on the 29th of December, I was totally in awe and something clouded up in my mind- is this for real? Then I realized- don’t be surprised because I obviously do not know how GI has fared the competition and challenges in the skies in the past few years. But c’mon, am I starting to get envious now that GI has gone up the level and still, our very own airline, the first in Asia, is still a 3-star airline.

This 4-Star Airline Certification is a coveted seal Quality Approval that an airline receives in recognition of its front-line Product and Service quality. Garuda Indonesia has undergone a major quality transformation and improvement during the past year, across both their product and front-line service standards. New aircraft with a high-end product are now joining their fleet, and the retrofitting of their A330-300 aircraft was the catalyst that really enabled Skytrax to upgrade their rating level to a 4-Star airline status.

AS we speak, only 27 airline companies in the world have garnered this status. Some of which are Thai Airways, Eva, Qantas, Lufthansa among others. You can check www.airlinequality.com for full listing. The bonggacious 5-star status so far, has been only awarded to Qatar, Asiana, Singapore, Kingfisher, Cathay and Malaysia. Wow!! Look at that, two Southeast Asian carriers. None came from North America or even from Europe!

This is certainly an indication that Asian airlines are proving its capability to fare well in the global arena. Calling Philippine Airlines!!

Charice Live in Singapore Idol 2009 Finale!

December 28, 2009

I’ve been waiting for this day to come and finally, after rigorous wait searching for her latest videos on Youtube, Charice embarks on yet another jaw-dropping, extravagant performance in one of the most anticipated TV programs in Singapore and in Asia-the Singapore Idol 2009 Finale live at the Singapore Indoor Stadium!! what a long introduction huh?!

Charice was chosen as  a guest performer and this is just a perfect venue to show her singing prowess in front of Asian audience, her first after her Korean guesting a few months back. Honestly, I’ve been waiting for the show not because I watch this contest but because I am so excited to be mesmerized and amazed again by this powerful singer that makes me so much proud of being a Filipino. Charice, I must say your truly a diva!!

Looking forward to your next performance!! thanks to cemisamsudin for the video.

It’s Christmas!! Happy Birthday Jesus!

December 25, 2009

The day has  finally come. I feel so much joy and happiness this day. Today is Christmas!

This year has been very challenging and tough. But we never succumbed and let ourselves drawn out from the realities of life. The past few months have been very overwhelming. There were too many surprises and exciting events along with a few sad and lonely moments. But today, let’s start anew and make a brand new you! It’s Jesus Christ’s birthday. Attend the mass and be thankful and grateful to everything that happened to you. And don’t forget, today is your birthday as well.

I hope all of us will feel the true spirit of Christmas, wherever we may be.  Let’s bring hope and happiness to everyone not only today but every time of our lives. MErry Christmas everyone!!!

Well done Laos! SEA Games 2009 comes to an end. See ya’ll at Indonesia!

December 19, 2009

 

The 25th edition of Southeast Asian Games has come to an exciting end. After ten days of blood, sweat and tears, the ten-day sporting extravaganza will come to climatic finish as Laos celebrate their first ever successful hosting in the long history of the biennial games.

Just when everyone here in the Philippines thought that our country will make a decent finish in this year’s games, Thailand raked more gold medals as expected, proving that it is still the strongest powerhouse in the region leaving the Philippines in 5th place, behind Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

I just wish that our countrywill perform better in next year’s larger sports arena for the quadrennial Asian Games.

Here’s the final ranking of this edition’s SEA Games:

1. Thailand   86-83-97
2. Vietnam    83-75-57
3. Indonesia 43-53-74
4. Malaysia          40-40-59
5. Philippines       38-35-51
6. Singapore        33-30-35
7. Laos                33-25-52
8. Myanmar          12-22-37
9. Cambodia        3-10-27
10. Brunei              1-1-8
11. Timor Leste      0-0-3

The 26th Edition of the Sea Games will be held in Indonesia on 2011!! Se ya’ll there! Congrats Thailand!!

New Canadian Law named after a Filipina!

December 18, 2009

This is certainly one of the best news I have read today. There had been numerous publications about serious maltreatment of our caregivers abroad and only a few have been so interesting just like this one.

Yup. you’ve read the headlines right. In the website of Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism, Minister Jason Kenney on Saturday announced proposed regulations to better protect the rights of live in caregivers and to make it easier for them and their families to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Toronto reports that of the 400,000 Filipinos in Canada, about 66 percent (or 264,000) are caregivers. And by the end of 2008, a total of 1,821 new hires were deployed to Canada as caregivers.

“Our government fully supports the ‘Juana Tejada Law.’ We propose to implement this change in her honor, to ensure that no one else has to endure this same painful experience,” said Kenney after extensive consultations with caregiver groups from across the country, as well as heartfelt testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

Juana Tejada was a caregiver in Canada who developed cancer while working,and  had fought hard to improve the situation of fellow foreign live-in caregivers

The first proposed change to the Live-in Caregiver Program eliminates the requirement for live-in caregivers to undergo a second medical examination when applying to become permanent residents, a change advocated by the late Juana Tejada. She was initially denied permanent resident status when she did not pass her second medical examination. It was only through special ministerial intervention that she gained status in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds

It was Juana Tejada who exposed this ambiguity in the immigration system. She risked her status and fought the threat of deportation so that other caregivers like her could have better protection of their rights. It was she who, with the help of her lawyer Raffy Fabregas and numerous advocates and activists and the community in general, pushed the immigration officials to act in the right direction,” he said.

“If there is someone to be called ‘champion and hero’ for the gains caregivers just won, it was Juana Tejada. She is, in this sense, a true ‘champion and hero’ of the Filipino people in Canada,” he added.

Thanks much to inquirer.net for some details.