Bang out of order : A Filipina attacked by an Iraqi Lady in UAE

A shopper was punched, slapped and spat at for accidentally running over the hem of a woman’s abaya with a pushchair in a Dubai supermarket.
The victim, who asked to be known by her surname Davis, was shopping in Emirates Co-op store in Al Garhoud when the double-buggy she was pushing caught the edge of another customer’s clothing and banged into her leg.
The 32-year-old apologised immediately but was slammed against the shelves, punched and scratched by the woman who “went crazy”.
Davis, pictured, who was left with cuts and bruises after the assault, told 7DAYS: “I was coming past her and the pushchair went onto her abaya.
“She said I hit her leg and she started shouting bad words at me and calling me the Arabic word for dog - I know that word.”
The attacker, who is believed to be an Iraqi woman in her mid-30s, screamed and shouted at Davis before grabbing her by her wrist, tearing at her hair and throwing her against the shelves.
She repeatedly hit her while shocked staff and customers looked on. As a final insult, she then spat twice in Davis’s face as she was pulled away by the supermarket’s security guard who called the police.
A police medical report lists Davis’ injuries as scratches to her ear and neck, bruising to her upper arm, swelling to her face and a laceration on her little toe.
“When she called me a dog, I did tell her to shut up and walked away,” Davis said.
“But she followed me and grabbed my arm. She was hitting me and shouting. At the end, they pulled her off me but she slapped me again and spat in my face. I was very upset.”
Davis, a Filipina, works for an Arab-American family and was in the store with her employer’s two toddlers at the time of the assault. The employer, who asked not to be named, rushed straight to the supermarket.
She told “I just cannot believe the behaviour of this woman. When I arrived, she was just calmly queuing at the checkout like nothing had happened. We are going to press charges. You cannot treat people like this.”
Dubai Police confirmed officers were called to the incident and are investigating the attack.

Fake cops on trial for robbing Pinoys in UAE

Two of three men posing as policemen were brought to trial in the United Arab Emirates for robbing a group of Filipinos in an apartment, a UAE-based news site reported.A report on Khaleej Times (www.khaleejtimes.com) described the suspects as Syrian and Jordanian, adding one of them remains at large. It did not name the suspects, however.“The Syrian and the Jordanian suspects are believed to have used knives to intimidate the plaintiffs and force them to give up their belongings," the report said.It said the men entered an apartment of Filipinos at night and stole cash and valuables after posing as Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officers.The report said the men took items including mobile phones, sunglasses, cash money, laptops, ATMs, health cards, labor cards and other belongings.

Fil-Am bet bows out of US Congress race, endorses front runner

CHICAGO, Illinois – Hampered by her late entry into the race and excluded from the debates with other candidates, Filipino-American Tiffany Rene Estrella Attwood bowed out Tuesday from the race for US congressional primary election in the open seat for the 10th District in Northern California. She endorsed front-runner California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi.If nobody gets 50% plus one vote in the primary election, a runoff election will take place on Nov. 3rd.Ross E. Butler, campaign manager of Attwood for Congress, said, “Tiffany had decided to gracefully bow out of this race and endorse Lt. Gov. Garamendi for Congress. This decision to endorse the lieutenant governor was an obvious but careful choice made by Tiffany."“As our campaign was failing to find debate invitations, we finally decided to hold a formal protest in Fairfield, California, where the debate was being held to get our voice heard. With enough noise, people inside the debate took notice.“Out of all the candidates, it was Lt. Gov. Garamendi who came to Tiffany and asked, ‘What can we do to help you out?’ He also invited Tiffany to participate in a Pacific Island Town Hall meeting where she sat beside Garamendi and answered questions with the lieutenant governor. Both Tiffany and I, as her campaign manager, were convinced that the lieutenant governor was very genuine in his concerns and also the concerns of Filipino and Latino communities which she represents," Butler added.Garamendi is also endorsed by the Democratic Filipino Caucus.Butler added that Attwood’s campaign has now focused to work for Garamendi’s victory.He said this election is not the end of Attwood’s quest to run for Congress, adding, “I firmly believe that putting a Filipina in Congress is tantamount. Attwood, is the choice for Congress."Butler added, some people who are impressed have nice words for her. Among their comments:1. She is very intelligent over many issues and world/national events. Very engaging;2. Tiffany has a fun sense of humor, which she uses to her advantage in speaking or defusing potential conflict;3. She is an excellent speaker and can handle everything from the intimate gathering to large crowds;4. Tiffany's 17-plus years’ background in finance, housing and urban planning makes her a great candidate for a political office; and5. She is beautiful and demure.A daughter of Manila-born James Olidan Estrella, Tiffany was one of the 12 candidates for the 10th District seat vacated by Ellen Tauscher, who had accepted the position of undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs under State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.Her father, who is now 64, and who had worked as bus driver in Nevada, left the Philippines when he was “two or two-and-a-half years old," she said. Her grandmother, Rose Olidan Wustistam, is from Mindanao. Rose met during World War II and later married, a Portuguese, James DeCamba Estrella, a veteran of World War II.Her mother, Isabelle Marie Paz, was born in Arizona. Isabelle was the daughter of Carlos Grijaval Paz, a Mescalero Apache Native American, and Marie Louise Lopez, a Mexican.Born in Hayward, California, Tiffany Rene Estrella Attwood is a commissioner, a volunteer position, of the City of Danville, California, Although, she is now a mortgage officer, Tiffany, wife of Francis Attwood and mother of a three-year-old daughter, Elle Rose, is pursuing a Business Finance degree. There about 8% Filipino Americans among the total numbers of voters in District 10, which is made up of the Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, and Solano counties.

Noynoy pambato ng LP: Roxas ‘di na tatakbong pangulo sa 2010 polls

MANILA – Matapos ang ilang araw na espekulasyon tungkol sa magiging standard bearer ng Liberal Party, inihayag ni Senador Manuel “Mar" Roxas II nitong Martes ang kanyang pag-atras sa panguluhang halalan upang suportahan ang kandidatura ni Senador Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III.Sa ipinatawag nitong press conference sa Club Filipino, inihayag ni Roxas nagkakaisa sila ni Aquino na magkaroon ng makabuluhang pagbabago sa bansa. Dahil dito, kahit mahirap umano sa kanyang sarili, susuportahan na lamang niya ang presidential bid ng nag-iisang anak na lalaki nina dating Pangulong Cory Aquino at dating Sen Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr. "I want to make a difference...I am the president of the Liberal party. It is within my power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for the forces of change," ayon kay Roxas."Today I'm announcing my support for the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for president in 2010," tuluyan niyang pagdeklara. “Good will win over evil." Ipinaliwanag ni Roxas na nagdesisyon na siyang magsalita upang maalis na ang pagdududa sa kaisipan ng publiko kung sino ang isasabak ng partido sa 2010 presidential elections. “Noynoy Aquino and I have the same outrage over the mess we are all in, the same way we share the solution – clean, honest and selfless public service," ayon kay Roxas. “Marami at matindi ang problema ng bansa. Kailangan natin ayusin. Matindi ang kalaban. We need a determined force for good far stronger than the festering evil around us," idinagdag niya.

Sinabi pa ni Roxas na nagdesisyon siyang umatras sa kanyang presidential bid upang mapagkaisa ang partido na unti-unting nahahati ng intrigang bumabalot sa panawagan na tumakbo si Aquino sa panguluhan. “It is within my power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for the forces of change. I choose to lead unity, not division. Bilang pinuno ng aking partido, magdedesisyon ako," anang mambabatas. “Over the weekend, Noynoy and I had a many long conversation. Masinsinang usapan. We agreed; let us forget about ourselves for a moment. This is not about us; this is about our people and our country. This is about our common dreams, the dreams of our parents," ayon kay Roxas. Like brothersKinumpirma naman ni Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin" Tanada, opisyal ng LP, nagkaroon ng tatlong pagpupulong sina Roxas at Aquino sa mga nakalipas na araw, at nag-usap bilang magkapatid. “Nagkaroon muna sila ng tatlong meetings. Pero, hindi ako kasali sa meetings kaya hindi ko alam ang kanilang pinag-usapan. They are reacting to each other like brothers," kuwento ni Tanada. Personal na desisyon umano ni Roxas na umatras at suportahan kandidatura ni Aquino. Ngunit hihintayin pa ng LP ang magiging tugon ni Aquino sa pasya ni Roxas.“We have no decision yet for Noynoy to be our standard bearer, we have to wait for the decision of Sen. Aquino (on the announcement of Roxas)," paliwanag ni Tanada. Idinagdag naman ni dating Batanes Rep. Butch Abad, opisyal din ng LP, magpapatawag si Aquino ng presscon sa Miyerkules upang ihayag ang kanyang magiging tugon sa habang ni Roxas. Tiniyak naman ni Sen. Rodolfo Biazon na susuportahan ng LP ang magiging resulta ng pag-uusap nina Roxas at Aquino.Kondisyon ni NoynoyUna rito, sinabi ni Aquino na tatlong bagay ang maaaring maging daan para magdesisyon siya upang tumakbong presidente sa 2010 elections.Una rito ay katiyakan na magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa lipunan at bansa; nakahanda ang gagamiting makinarya para sa kanyang kandidatura; at basbas ng kanyang mga kapatid na babae.Hindi pa tiyak kung si Roxas ang awtomatikong magiging bise presidente ni Roxas, ngunit naniniwala si Abad, campaign manager ng LP, malamang na ang Aquino-Roxas ang magiging tambalan sa 2010 elections ng partido.Sinikap ng GMANews.TV nitong Martes ng gabi na makausap sa telepono si Aquino upang kunan ng reaksyon sa naging desisyon ni Roxas.Ayon sa isang security aide ni Aquino na nagpakilalang si “Bong" na nakausap ng GMANews.TV sa telepono, naghahapunan ang senador kasama ang kanyang mga kapatid na sina Maria Elena "Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz at Victoria Eliza "Viel" Aquino-Dee.

After giving way to Noynoy, Mar open to VP post or reelection

After he passed on the torch to Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III as the Liberal Party’s standard bearer in the 2010 elections, Sen. Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday said that he is open to becoming Aquino’s running mate or to just seek reelection in next year's polls.A day after he "sacrificed" his shot at the presidency, Roxas said that he sees no reason why he should not continue serving the public. Roxas’ term as a senator expires in 2010. “Walang dahilan kung bakit ‘di ko iko-continue. Bukas ako diyan (vice presidency or senatorial bid), pero hindi akin ang desisyon, kasi kusang-loob kong sinabi kay Noynoy na (siya) ang magiging torchbearer ng forces of reform," Roxas said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Hirit. (I do not see any reason why I should not continue. I am open to seeking the vice presidency or reelection, but the decision is not mine because I wholeheartedly told Noynoy that he will be the torchbearer of the forces of reform.)

Nonoy has yet to announce whether he would indeed seek the presidency following Roxas’ decision. The only son of former President Corazon Aquino and the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. will reportedly make an announcement later in the day. Roxas likewise stressed that his giving way to Aquino came with no strings attached. He added that he and Aquino made no “transaction" that he would slide down as Noynoy's running mate. “Hindi ako pumasok sa public service para sa ibang dahilan kundi magsilbi. ‘Wag nating bahiran ito ng horse-trading (I entered public service for the sole purpose of being of service. Let us not taint it with horse-trading)," Roxas said. In a separate interview on dzBB radio, Roxas said that in elections, some politicians eyeing the presidency make “deals" with their possible running mates. “Usually, sa pulitiko, sasabihin, mag-slide ka na. Mag-vice ka na lang sa akin (Usually, some politicians tell other aspirants, slide down and become my vice president)." 'Hardest sacrifice'While he reiterated that giving up his presidential bid was the hardest sacrifice he had to make in his life, Roxas said he felt at peace because he was confident that he knew he did the right thing even if his decision saddened his loved ones. In the television interview, Roxas said that when he got off the stage after making his announcement Tuesday night, his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, told him she was “proud" of him. “Sinabi niya, ‘I’m proud of you.’ 'Di mo maitatanggal yung may emotion, may lungkot, may disappointment. Pero yung pinakamabigat ay nung bumababa ako sa stage, at sinabi niya, ‘I’m proud of you.’" (My mother told me she was proud of me. Of course, there were the emotions, the sadness, and disappointment. But what’s important is she told me she was proud of me.) Roxas also said that his fiancée, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, assured him that she has her continued support. "She (Sanchez) said, ‘I love you no matter what,’" Roxas said. Roxas also said that Liberal Party chairman emeritus and former Senate President Jovito Salonga told him that when his “compass" is pointing to the nation’s welfare, he could not go wrong. “Hindi ka magkakamali basta para sa bansa ang direksyon mo (You cannot go wrong when you’re directed to helping the country)," Roxas quoted Salong as saying.

Iglesia ni Cristo's Eraño Manalo dies at 84

Eraño Manalo, the head of the politically influential, vernacular-speaking, and home-grown Iglesia ni Cristo, passed away Monday afternoon, an INC official said. In a recorded announcement aired on dzBB radio, INC spokesperson Bienvenido Santiago confirmed Manalo's death at 3:53 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2009. Manalo was officially the Executive Minister of the INC, but he was also its supreme, charismatic leader who took over the church upon the death in 1963 of the founder, his father Felix Manalo. "Ikinalulungkot naming ipabatid sa buong Iglesia at sa buong sambayanan na ang tagapamahalang pangkalahatan ng Iglesia ni Cristo, ang kapatid na Eraño G. Manalo ay pinagpahinga na ng Diyos. Pumanaw siya sa kanyang tahanan sa ganap na 3:53 kahapon Agosto 31, 2009, sa gulang na 84 taon," Santiago said. (We are sad to announce to the Iglesia and to the whole nation that the Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo, our brother Eraño G. Manalo, joined our Creator. He passed away at his home 3:53 p.m. on August 31, 2009. He was 84 years old.)Santiago said that according to Dr. Ray Melchor Santos, Manalo died due to cardiopulmonary arrest. According to Santiago, Manalo's remains will lie in state at INC's Central Temple in Quezon City. Further details will be announced, Santiago added. Manalo was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo's fifth child. Manalo's flock and influenceManalo had guided his religious group through a long period of national and global expansion, and in the last decade had thrown his church's clout behind former president Joseph Estrada. The PCIJ has described the INC as "a secretive, tightly organized church composed mainly of poor members."Its membership has been estimated at between two and eight million members concentrated in Tagalog-speaking regions of Luzon. But its churches are reportedly located in over 60 countries. The INC's influence on state affairs can be traced back to its founding in 1914, when Manuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth president and a mason, cultivated a relationship with the then-obscure church as a foil to the Roman Catholic church. Its sway reached a new peak during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, who rarely failed to attend important INC events, including "Ka Erdy" Manalo's birthday, and gave an INC-affiliated company major Land Transportation Office contracts. It is widely known that the INC's power lies in the tagubilin emanating from Manalo and other church leaders, orders that cannot be disputed by members and can be used to command voting blocs around the country. While Manalo often used his power to support certain candidates in the past - aside from Marcos and Estrada, he also backed Eduardo Cojuangco in 1992 - he famously wielded his clout during the EDSA Tres demonstrations that reached the gates of Malacañang, arguably still the most serious threat the Arroyo administration has faced. Three out of four of the demonstrators were reportedly INC members. But President Arroyo eventually won Manalo to her side. When she ran in 2004, the Iglesia ni Cristo threw its support behind her. Pollster Mahar Mangahas told GMANews.TV that he estimates that the INC actually can command only about 75 percent of its members to vote for a particular candidate. But in a closely fought contest, that could be the margin of victory. With Manalo now dead, it remains to be seen how his successor will use the church's influence in the coming elections. But if history is any indication, the INC will certainly play a role. Arroyo, Estrada mournOn Tuesday, Malacañang, through deputy presidential spokesperson Anthony Golez Jr., extended its sympathies to Manalo’s family and to the INC community. “Nakikiramay po ang First Family at administrasyon sa pagpanaw ni Ka Erdy Manalo. He has been very instrumental sa simbahan, sa pagiging charismatic at pag-unite ng mga tagapagsunod. At nakikriamay po kaming lubos sa pamilya," Golez told dzBB radio in an interview. (The First Family and the administration condole with Ka Erdy Manalo’s family. He has been very instrumental in the church, in his being charismatic, and in uniting his followers.) Estrada also expressed his sadness over Manalo’s death. “President Estrada joins the nation in mourning the loss of one of the nations’ greatest religious leaders," Estrada’s spokesperson Margaux Salcedo told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. In February 2006, while Estrada was facing trial for plunder, presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor disclosed that three religious leaders, including Manalo, had expressed their willingness to serve as Estrada's guarantors if he applied for his release on recognizance. Estrada was later convicted of plunder in September 2007, but President Arroyo granted him executive clemency a month later. Religious leaders sympathizeMeanwhile, other religious groups also extended their sympathies to those left behind by Manalo. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that despite differences in their religious views, Manalo was a good man. “Masasabi natin na mabuting tao po yan, bagaman, magkaiba kami ng pananampalataya (I can say that he is a good man even if we differ in religious beliefs)," Cruz said in an interview on dzBB. Another religious leader, Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus Is Lord Movement, also expressed sadness. “Ang aming buong pamilya at Jesus is Lord (members) worldwide ay buong pusong nakikiramay at nakikidalamhati sa pamilya ni Ka Erdie at sa ating kaibigan sa INC. Nawa’y maramdaman ng pamilya ni Ka Erdie at lahat ng INC ang kapayapaan ng ating buhay na Diyos," Villanueva said. (My family and the Jesus is Lord worldwide wholeheartedly extends our condolences to Ka Erdie’s family and our friends at the INC. I hope they feel the Lord’s peace.) - With reports from Sophia Dedace and Joseph Holandes Ubalde

Domestic violence in the UAE

Thousands of women come to the UAE every year hoping to build a better life working as housemaids. But for some, their hopes are dashed as they face a life of abuse.
More and more countries are putting measures in place to help protect their citizens from exploitation at the hands of ruthless employers and to ensure they do not come to the country illegally, making them more vulnerable.
One of the latest to do so is Nepal.
There are 125,000 Nepalese expats in the UAE, including 75,000 in Dubai, and during a visit to Dubai yesterday, the country’s labour minister said he was concerned about the fate of women working in domestic service.
His comments come as a Filipina housemaid spoke out about the terrible abuse she suffered at the hands of a Lebanese family in Ajman.
Speaking at a meeting of the Non-Resident Nepalese Association in Dubai, Mohammed Aftab Alam, the Nepalese Minister for Transport and Labour Affairs, said his government currently banned Nepalese women from working as housemaids in the UAE, because of reports of abuse.
But, he said, people were getting around the ban by using recruitment firms in Bangladesh and India.
Now the Nepalese government is looking at lifting the ban so that it can better monitor the welfare of Nepalese expats and keep an eye on recruitment practices.
The Nepalese Ambassador to the UAE, Arjun B Thapa, said the embassy has dealt with numerous cases of housemaid abuse. “When they come to the embassy, we assist them in repatriation and speak to the sponsor to sort out the problem,” he said.
In 2007, the UAE government passed new laws that ensured domestic workers were entitled to a month’s holiday, medical care and better salaries. Many abusers have also been successfully prosecuted.
Damith De Silva, from the Sri Lankan consulate, said the UAE government worked hard to protect domestic workers.
“By and large they are doing their best and we are happy about it,” he said. And CP Mathew, the chief coordinator at the Valley of Love, a UAE voluntary organisation that protects expat workers, said the situation was improving, especially for new maids.
But he added: “There are still women who have been here for many years who are not monitored well and are being ill treated.”
He urged consulates to visit all housemaids and their employers at least twice a year to check on working conditions.