PIRA awards NEU

By: Aaron Dy

Because of promoting the value of insurance, New Era University was one of the receivers of the Best in Insurance Education Award during the 1stPhilippines Non-Life Insurance Awards or simply PIRA Awards held at the Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City last October 21, 2011.

Aside from the NEU, 4 prime Universities in the Philippines were also recognized: Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas for their regular programs on insurance and risk management which students usually take as part of the requirements for a degree in finance.

PIRA Awards is the first and only badge of excellence for the Philippine non-life insurance market. Its first edition seeks to promote a virtue that is unique to Filipino culture – “malasakit”.

Translated in English, “malasakit” means genuine concern, a truly noble trait that Filipinos possess.


Bagging a PIRA Award is meant to show that firms have “malasakit” to their clients, their employees and the country. The award will set them apart from competitors and serve as a tangible demonstration to their customers of their being special.

The said event was presented by Sun Business and the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (PhilNaRe) and organized by PIRA or Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association. It discussed issues in non-life insurance in the country by insurance companies, agents, brokers and other players of the industry and was attended by over 151 insurance executives.

According to Marion C. Valdes, general manager of PIRA, the event was participated by representatives from PIRA’s 84 member companies as well as those reinsurance firms, insurance brokers and adjusters.

Meanwhile, here are the other categories which were also awarded:

Best in Corporate Governance
This award gives recognition to the company that displays processes and structures that enhance corporate accountability and promote honesty among its people, while taking into account the interests of stakeholders.

Best in Corporate Social Responsibility 

This award recognizes and honors the companies for their outstanding, innovative and world-class Corporate Social Responsibility projects. The projects should demonstrate the company’s leadership, sincerity and ongoing commitment in incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements, and respect for individuals, and communities in the way they do business.

Best in Insurance Education
The award recognizes the company which exerted the best effort to educate its immediate stakeholders and the public in general about non life insurance in the country and the importance it plays in the country’s economy and its society as a whole.

This category is divided into two sub-categories – insurance companies and schools.

Best in Insurance Journalism
This award will be given to journalists for their in-depth analyses of and relevant comments and exclusive reporting on non life insurance in the broadest sense, including news and analyses needed to examine the development and growth of the industry in the Philippines. It recognizes the indispensable role of the non life insurance journalist in modern business life and the high standards required by this profession – in particular integrity, diverse knowledge and insight, responsibility and judgment.

THE AWARDEES

Best in Corporate Governance

Malayan Group of Companies

Mapfre Insular Insurance Corporation

PNB General Insurers Company

National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines

Oriental Assurance Corporation, Blue Cross Insurance Inc.

QBE Insurance Philippines

Petrogen Insurance Corporation.

Best in Corporate Social Responsibility

Pioneer Insurance

Malayan Insurance

Mapfre Insular Insurance

Corporate Guarantee and Insurance Corporation

BPI/MS Insurance Corporation

Best in Insurance Education 
New Era University
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
University of Santo Tomas
Ateneo de Manila University
De La Salle University

Best in Insurance Journalism 

Ted Torres (Banking and Finance editor of Philippine Star)

Tessa Salazar (Motoring and Property reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

 Diane Claire Jiao (Finance reporter of BusinessWorld)

Business Mirror newspaper

DWIZ radio station

GMA Network

Lifetime Achievers

Herminia “Ming” Jacinto (Former president of Universal Reinsurance Company and former chairperson of the Insurance Institute for Asia and the Pacific)

Reynaldo “Ronnie” de Dios (A long-time risk management expert and editor-publisher of Insurance Philippines magazine)

Attorney Augusto Hidalgo (Surety business)

Santiago Gascon (Former president of the Association of Insurance Accountants and former general manager of PIRA and the Insurance and Surety Association of the Philippines (ISAP)

Kilala mo ba si Juana?

Ni: Aaron Dy

Matatag….
Masipag…..
Matapang….

Sabado ng gabi noon, nang mapanoood ko sa isang TV Show ang kwento ng isang Overseas Filipino Worker o OFW. Isang TV Show na nagtatampok ng mga true to life stories ng iba’t- ibang mga tao, kilala man ito o hindi. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay patungkol ang kwento sa isang Filipina OFW na tulad din ng mga kapwa niya OFW ay naglalayung makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa upang maiahon at matulungan ang kani-kanilang mga pamilya sa kahirapan. Isa siyang OFW na maituturing na bayani dahil sa kanyang ipinaglaban hindi para sa kanyang sarili bagkus pati na rin sa mga kapwa niya mga manggagawa.

Inakala ko noon na common story ang itatampok sa TV Show na iyon. Ngunit sa pagkakataon na iyon ay makikilala ko pala ang isang bayani, si Juana.

Kilala mo ba si Juana?

Nakilala ko sa TV Show na iyon si Juana Tejada bilang isang Caregiver sa Canada. Taong 2003 nang dumating siya sa Canada. Nakapagtapos siya ng kursong edukasyon sa Abra School of Arts and Trade. Pero sa halip na magturo, pinili niyang mangibang-bansa para mapag-aral ang apat na kapatid at matulungan ang mga magulang.

Halos walong taon siyang nag-alaga ng bata sa Hong Kong bago mag-aplay sa Live-In Caregiver Program (LICP) sa Canada. Ayon sa palabas, kinuha siya ng mga among Canadian dahil sa kanyang pagiging “eksperto sa bata.”

Taong 2006, binigyan si Juana ng work permit ng Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) at dito ipinaalam sa kaniya na maaari na siyang maging permanenteng residente. Ayon sa LICP, kapag maninirahan at magsisilbi ang isang caregiver sa iisang amo ng 2 taon o 24 na buwan sa loob ng tatlong taon, maaari na siyang gawing permanenteng residente ng Canada. Pero bago ang lahat ay kailangan munang mapatunayan ng mga caregiver na maganda ang kanilang kalusugan. Bilang isa sa mga rekitiso, kailangan muna niyang makaapasa sa isang medical examination.

Sa kasamaang palad, lumabas sa eksamen na may kanser sa kolon, Stage 4, si Juana. Hindi nito namamalayang kumalat na pala ang kanser sa kanyang katawan. Dahil dito, tinanggihan ng CIC ang aplikasyon ni Juana na maging permanenteng residente.

Umapela si Juana pero tinanggihan ito. Sa kanyang pangalawang apela (na muling tinanggihan), binanggit ng CIC ang Section 38 (1) ng Immigration and Refugee Protection Act o IRPA na kung saan ay naglalaman ito ng panikalang, maaaring tanggihan ang aplikasyon ng isang migrante kung ang kanyang kondisyong medikal ay maaasahang magdudulot ng labis na pangangailangan mula sa serbisyong pangkalusugan o sosyal. Ipinakita ng kaso ni Juana na sa ilalim ng batas, kapag nadapuan ng sakit ang isang migranteng caregiver sa panahon ng pagtatrabaho, pabigat na ang turing sa kanya. Maaari siyang pagkaitan ng serbisyong sosyal, paninirahan, at sipain mula sa Canada.

Sa pakikipaglaban niya ay naisiwalat ang isang depekto ng LICP. Sa halip na gumastos ng tinatayang $15,000 kada taon para sa institusyunal na pag-aalaga ng matatanda at bata, kumukuha na lamang ang maraming Canadian ng mga live-in caregiver, at ayon pa rito ay may 96% na Pilipino ang kabilang.

Dahil kailangan muna ang manirahan at magsilbi sa iisang amo para mabigyan ng work permit at permanenteng paninirahan, prone sila sa iba’t ibang tipo ng pang-aabuso. Mailigtas lamang ang kanilang status ng aplikasyon ay tinitiis na lamang nila ang mga ito.

Gayunpaman, nahihirapan ang maraming Pilipino na matugunan ang mga rekisitos.
Maabot man nila ang dalawang taon ng pagtatrabaho ay alanganin o hindi pa rin tiyak ang kanilang pagkamit ng permanent residence. Katulad na lamang sa kaso ni Juana, na dinapuan ng sakit at itinuring na pabigat. Sa ilalim kasi ng batas, kapag nadapuan ng sakit ang isang migranteng caregiver sa panahon ng pagtatrabaho ay pagkakaitan siya ng serbisyong sosyal, paninirahan, at sipain mula sa Canada.

Sa patuloy na paghina ng katawan ni Juana ay unti- unti ring lumakas ang determinasyon niyang lumaban. Walang humpay niyang ipinaglaban ang kanyang pangarap kasama ang kaniyang mga kaibigan sa Canada.
Sa kasamaang palad, sa kabila ng pakikibaka ni Juana, noong Marso 8 ay binawian siya ng buhay.

Halos dalawang taon na rin ang nakalilipas nang siya ay mamatay ngunit nagbigay daan ang kanyang paghihirap sa isang napakalaking pangarap. Ang pagbabago na kanilang matagal na nilang minimithi.
sa wakas, noong Hulyo 18, 2008, bumigay ang CIC. Ginawang permanenteng residente si Juana. Bukod pa rito, nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa IRPA. Isa lsa mga pagbabago ay ang pagtanggal ng good health requirement sa LICP, isang panawagan na inspirado ng laban ni Juana.

Sa wakas ay naging matagumpay ang pakikibaka ni Juana sa Canada.

Sa isang nmakabuluhang palabas na ito ay nabuksan ang isip ng isang tulad ko ang kahalagahan ng mga OFW sa ating bansa. Bukod pa rito ay naging inspirasyon ko si Juana upang maging matatag sa lahat ng mga pagsubok sa aking buhay. Tunay nga siyang bayani. Ang laban niya sa kanyang matinding sakit ay parte lamang ng mas malaking laban sa sakit na lumalamon sa lipunang Pilipino. Ang mga sakit tulad ng kahirapan, kawalan ng trabaho at kawalan ng lupa sa sariling bansa. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nangailangang tumulak sa ibang bansa si Juana at iwanan ang Pilipinas.

Isa lamang siya sa mga libo-libong manggagawang Pilipino na biktima ng walang humpay na pagpapasakit at pang-aabuso sa iba’t-ibang panig ng mundo. Nawa’y magsilbing aral ito para sa ating mga mag-aaral, mga magulang, mga trabahador, mga pulitiko at para sa buong Pilipinas.

Si Juana ay tunay na tumatak sa aking puso at isip. Hinding- hindi ko malilimutan ang kanyang katapangan, pagpupursige at katatagan sa kabila ng lahat-lahat ng mabibigat na pagsubok niya sa buhay.

Ikaw, kilala mo ba si Juana?

MEDIA: THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SIDES OF THEIR INFLUENCES

BY: AARON DY

Books, newspapers, radio, television, motion pictures and magazines – these are some of the examples of media. Usually, these mediums are defined as tools for disseminating information, entertainment, opinions, trends, etc. These things are considered essentials for the entire humanity. We commonly use them in learning, enhancing, expressing, sharing and molding our needed ideas for the betterment and uplifting of our lives. It is inarguably true that without these so called media, quality of life would be diminished. For we, people, are very dependent on these. These make our lives comfortable, more easy and educable.  Because of these benefits, mankinds who are using them are greatly influenced. Specifically, the influence affects the behavior of the people. But what if this continued? How will people see the affirmative and the negative side of these things? What are the positive and the negative influences of media?

Nowadays, as media continuously surge forward, they greatly affect and influence people’s behavior. Because of this gradual affection and influence, people are getting more dependent to these things. Effects can either be positive or negative. We have the affirmative or the positive side of using media. The entire humanity in this era is very dependent on these innovative things. They are used by people for communication. For example, when a person is too far to his relatives, using these things, he can easily get in touch to his relatives’ even if he is thousand miles away from them. Another thing is that people become more creative. As they get mingle with these things, they are learning to create things that can make their lives more comfortable and innovative.  In terms of information dissemination, they learn to be more meticulous when it comes to delivering them. They usually make beautiful designs that will surely gain the interest of the acquirer. In addition, they are also entertaining people in more interesting ways. By means of these things, people enable themselves to make and put their life to the fullest yet meaningful. Media, in the positive side, implicates that they are very important to the lives of individuals who are using them.

If we have the positive side of media, on the other hand, we also have the negative standpoints. Unfortunately, they are taken for granted by individuals who are using them to create bad things that lead to negative things. According to the critiques in the early-to-mid 20^th century, they suggested that media weaken and delimit the individual’s capacity to act autonomously. They are becoming more reliant to these things that lead to less manpower services. Second thing, which is one of the most popular and agitating problems in the world, is that some people are using them for pornographic purposes that nowadays are very easy to access not only for adults but also for children below 17 years old. Thirdly, people are becoming very creative wherein some users are using these things to make untrue ideas and wrong information that sometimes use to destroy one’s reputation. Lastly, they are use for bad syndicate purposes. These are just some of the negative influence of media on people’s behavior. People should be informed and learn these things.

In general, media undoubtedly have big influence on people who are using them. These things actually permeated in our lives and vice versa. We are using them to make things on our life more fascinating. From the time we wake-up in the morning up to the time we go on the bed to sleep we are influenced by media. They are things that are inevitable. Our entire life is intact with these things.  Hence, we need to be aware that using things in too much is dangerous. All we have to do is to make things in equal. Everything here on our land has good and bad effects. We can surely get the good things if we are using them appropriately with limitation, and we will only get the negative outcome if you’ll use things incorrectly. As they exist, we should treat them accordingly.  We need to have limitation for us to avoid their bad outcomes. Use them in the right way.

CED celebrates Educ Week 2011

By: AARON DY

Spearheaded by the New Era University Educators Society(NEUES), the New Era University- College of Education celebrated its Education Week with the theme “Reminiscing the Past and Looking Forward for a Brighter Future”, last December 12-16, 2011.

On the first day, marked as the official opening of the Educ Week, clubs such as English, General Education, Special Education, Mathematics, Social Science, Filipino, Pre-School, Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) opened their respective booths. They also conducted parade wherein they shouted their yells. The motif of the entire celebration was Carnival.  These booths were visited by all the students of CED.

The second day was filled with enjoyment. The entire CED, headed by the NEUES with their adviser Sir Vash Orosa, was gathered on the NEU quadrangle wherein they coducted the most anticipated activity, “Palarong Pinoy.” Each club prepared challenges, which were actively joined by the students. Sped/Pse club won and proclaimed as champions on the said activity.

On the third day, the champonship for the Sports Fest was coducted. Sports such as Basketball, Volleyball and Frisbee were chosen to be played. Meanwhile, on the afternoon, CED was aggregated at the NEU hall for the Educ Got Talent Contest wherein selected students competed to showcase their talents.

On the fourth day, each and every major rehearsed for their performances for the culminating activity.

The awaited Culminating Activity was held on the last day of the weeklong celebration which was conducted at the NEU Hall.

It was started with an opening prayer rendered by Bro. Biliardo Dote, Jr.(CED secretary), followed by the singig of the National Anthem, CED Hymn and NEU Hymn led by Jackielyn Tubog(one of the officers of NEUES).

NEUES All-Star initiated the opening of the performances of the celebration through an intermission number. It was preceded by the performances which were prepared by different majors with the participation of their respective advisers.

Dr. Julie T. Valencia with Sir Vash Orosa led the conferment of the certificates and plaque for the winners on the different competitions conducted such as; Cosplay, “Palarong Pinoy”, Battle of the Bands, Sports Fest(Baketball, Volleyball and Frisbee) and Educ Got Talent(EGT).

The following are the winners on the said activities:

Battle of the Band: 2^nd place- Jem-Jem, 1^st place Speng Band, Champion- Anonymous Band.

Battle of the Bandless: 2^nd place- Bandels, 1^st place- Wonder Sped, Champion- Bully Organization.

Palarong Pinoy: 2^nd place- EngFil, 1^st place GenMath, Champion- SpedPSE.

Sports Fest

Basketball Women: 2^nd EngFil, 1^st place- SpedPSE, Champion- GenMath. Basketball Men: 2^nd place- SpedPSE, 1^st- EngFil, Champion- NEUES.

Volleyball Women: 2^nd place- SocTLE, 1^st place- NEUES, Champion- SpedPSE. Volleyball Men: 1^st place- Soctle, Champion- NEUES.

Frisbee Women: 2^nd place- SpedPSE, 1^st place- EngFil, Champion- GenMath. Frisbee Men: 2^nd place- SocTLE, 1^st place- SpedPSE, Champion, NEUES.

The awarding for the Best Booth and Best President followed. Sped and Math booth recognized as the Best Booths. Maricar Collado, (Math Club President) and Joseph Mora (Sped Club President) were awarded as the Best Presidents for this year.

Sir Vash together with Dr. Valencia led the conferment of Tokens of Appreciation for teachers and Best Teachers.

The said activity ended with a closing prayer led by Sir Vah.

Damhin Mo

By: Aaron Dy

Ibigay mo at ipagkatiwala mo

Sa mga taong sa tingin mo’y totoo.

Ipagdagitan mo at ikawala mo,

Sa mga pusong sa tingin mo’y laan sayo.

Sisikat ang araw para sa puso mo,

Bibigyang saysay at buhay ang isip mo.

Hintayi’t huwag madaliin ang hangin mo,

At baka iba ang makasadlakan mo.

Ang tunay na pag-ibig ay walang wakas,

Ikaw ang tanging bubuo at tututklas.

Tatagal! Kapag ito’y totoo’t wagas,

Kusang mag-iisa’t ‘di magpupumiglas.

Ang pag-ibig ay parang hanging malakas,

Pana-panahon kapag ito’y humampas,

Ngunit dala nito’y kakaibang kumpas.

Buhat ay kabanatang walang katumbas.

Kapag ang hangin ay iyong naramdaman,

Kunin mo ito at ‘wag ng pakawalan

Magpakatotoo ka at magpakadangal,

Upang ‘di maglaho at ito’y magtagal.