...the world's most emotional societies

 

PH named 'most emotional society' in global list

By Kim Arveen Patria

Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

22 November 2012

 

Pinoy fans show a variety of emotions during a football game in Manila. (File Photo by Marlo Cueto, NPPA Images)

 

 

It has been dubbed as a "bright spot" amid a global slowdown and a "rising tiger" in Southeast Asia, and now the Philippines is also deemed the best in a criteria money can't buy: emotions.

This, as the Philippines is named "most emotional society" in over 140 countries surveyed by U.S. pollster Gallup, a Businessweek report Wednesday said.

Asked questions aimed at determining recently felt emotions, 60 percent of Filipino respondents answered "yes."

But that doesn't necessarily make most Pinoys drama queens, as it could also easily mean that they are the clowns.

Among the questions in the Gallup survey, Businessweek said, are: "Did you feel well rested yesterday? Were you treated with respect all day yesterday? Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?"
 

Respondents were also asked if they experienced enjoyment, physical pain, worry, sadness, stress or anger "during a lot" of the previous day.

Next to the Philippines in terms of feelings are El Salvador, where 57 percent admit to expriencing a lot of emotions; Bahrain, 56 percent; and Oman, 55 percent.

Tied at 55 percent "yes" are Chile, Costa Rica, Guatamala, Bolivia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua and the U.S.

Singapore, meanwhile, emerged as the "most emotionless" society with only 36 percent of respondents saying they experienced a lot of feelings in the previous day.

It was followed by Georgia and Lithuania at 37 percent; and Russia, Madagascar, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazahkstan, Nepal and Kyrgystan, which are tied at 38 percent.

Earlier this year, the Philippines figured in the group of countries deemed "happy" in a separate global survey dubbed the "Happy Planet Index."

The country ranked 25th in the latest Happy Planet list, dropping from being 14th in 2009, with an index score of 52.4.

Meanwhile, official government measure of happiness was pegged at 66.2 index points in 2010, down from 67.24 in 2008.

Pinoys are happiest in the areas of education, love life, friends, family and work, data from the National Statistical Coordination Board showed.

However, Filipinos think that the "most important" sources of happiness are family, health, religion or spiritual work, work as well as peace and security.

...the PH diplomat to WTO board

PHL envoy appointed to WTO management board

 

 

 

November 10, 2012

GMA News

 

 

A Philippine diplomat has been appointed to the Management Board of the Advisory Center on World Trade Organization Law (ACWL), the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

 

 

The DFA said Philippine permanent representative to the WTO Esteban Conejos Jr. will have a two-year term and may be reappointed for another two years.

"Conejos succeeded Ambassador Bozkurt Aran of Turkey. His term will be for two years, and he will be eligible for reappointment for a further two years," the DFA said.

ACWL aims to provide developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with the legal capability necessary to enable them to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the WTO.

Conejos was unanimously nominated by the ACWL's Category B member countries to be their representative to the board, the DFA said.

These countries include Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

The Philippines has been a member of ACWL since its establishment in 2001.

It has benefited from services such as legal assistance in dispute settlement cases, legal opinions, training courses, and a secondment program for government trade lawyers.

During the past 10 years, ACWL had been involved in 21 percent of all new WTO dispute settlement proceedings.

WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy earlier said the ACWL helps make sure the legal benefits of the WTO are shared among all members.

Lamy added the ACWL contributes to the effectiveness of the WTO's dispute settlement procedures, and to the realization of the WTO's development objectives.

Management board

The Management Board makes decisions to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the ACWL and reports to the General Assembly.

It has six persons serving in their personal capacities who have been selected on the basis of their professional qualifications in the field of WTO law or international trade relations and development.

Three Board members are nominated by the developing country members, two by the developed country members and one by the LDCs. The Executive Director serves ex officio on the Board.

The DFA said Conejos attended his first Management Board meeting on Nov. 7, and was welcomed by other board members, including ACWL Executive Director Niall Meagher.

At the meeting, they discussed the operational and financial standing of ACWL, as well as the accession of Cuba.

G-33 meet

On behalf of Indonesia, the Philippines through Conejos chaired the G-33 Heads of Delegation meeting on November 7 – a tradition being observed every time the coordinator of the group is not available.

The G-33, previously known as the Alliance for Special Products and Special Safeguard Mechanism, is a coalition of 46 developing countries pressing for S&DT flexibility for developing countries in the agriculture Doha Round of talks for ensuring food security, livelihood security and rural development.

Its key members include Barbados, China, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Korea, the Philippines, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

The G-33 discussed the Indian proposal entitled "Some Elements... for Early Agreement to Address Food Security Issues," which India and the Philippines are seeking for G-33 sponsorship.

The proposal under "Green Box" of the WTO Agreement of Agriculture aims to exempt developing countries from factoring in government support payments for public stock-holding for food security purposes.

It particularly focuses on the procurement from "low-income or resource poor producers" and provision of subsidized food prices for urban and rural poor in their AMS ("trade-distorting subsidy") monetary limits.

The proposal is part of the considered "80 percent agreed and stabilized areas" in the 2008 Chair's agriculture modalities text which India and the Philippines hope to be harvested early during the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali in December 2012, in advance of the full conclusion of the Doha Round.

The proposal may be submitted to the COA-SS Chair John Adank and circulated to all WTO members before the agriculture talks resume on 16 November 2012 in Geneva. — LBG, GMA News

...the bigtime OFW

OFW quits job to open school in N. Ecija

 

 

abs-cbnNEWS.com

10/07/2011

 

 

MUSCAT, OMAN – Dr. Emmanuel San Juan quit a stable and high-paying job in Oman to return to the Philippines and open up a school in his hometown in Nueva Ecija.

“Ako ay nag desisyon na huwag nang mag-renew (contract) bagamat mayroon mga pagkukumbinsi na ipagpatuloy yung paglilingkod sa college na ito,” said San Juan.

San Juan has been in Oman for about 2 years but he has already achieved so much.

“Malayo talaga yung kinikita natin dito sa abroad o dito sa Oman kumpara sa kinikita natin sa Pilipinas,” he said.

A volunteer computer instructor of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA), San Juan is also a member of the College Board and Manager of the Center for Enterprise and Professional Development of the Gulf College in Oman.

He graduated with a PhD on Public Administration at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology in 2009.

He initially had second thoughts about working abroad since he already had good job working at the provincial capitol.

“Naghahanap siguro ako ng pagkakataon na lalo ko pang malinang yung kakayahan ko. Gusto kong matuto ng iba-ibang kultura at mas magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makita pa ang education system hindi lamang sa Pilipinas,” said San Juan.

His colleagues in Oman speak highly of him.

“He presented a very good attitude and very cooperative personality. He was very active and the output of what he has done during the very short period, it was very distinguishable,” said Deputy Dean for Computing Department Dr. Mohanned Obaidy.

Khalod Abdulbaqi described San Juan as friendly and outstanding.

For her part, Dr. Wilma Serrano said San Juan has been an inspiration to many Filipinos.

“Hindi lang mga Pinoy napabilib din niya pati ibang lahi dahil sa quality ng pagta- trabaho niya,” said Serrano.

He decided to resign from his job to fulfill his dream of helping kababayans by putting up a school in the province.

“Nakapag-file na tayo ng letter of intent sa Department of Education para sa pagbubukas ng eskwelahan. Ang target nga natin na magsimula sa darating na pasukan sa June 2012,” he said.

Although many of his colleagues want him in Oman, they still expressed their support for him in his new endeavor.

“Ang mami-miss ko kay Dr. Eman ay he’s always smiling and a very approachable person,” said Carmie Cruz.

“He has been a very good colleague of mine, very supportive. Also, he’s a very hardworking person. I have always enjoyed working with him. I wish him all the best,” said Dr. Rizwan Ahmad, Associate Dean for Curriculum. Rowen Soldevilla, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau