UP Babaylan Presses for LGBT Inclusive School Policies

U.P. Babaylan, the oldest LGBT students rights and support group in the Philippines, pressed the university administration of the University of the Philippines to explicitly provide for non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identities.

U.P. Babaylan, the oldest LGBT students rights and support group formed in August 1992 and the first organization of its kind to be accorded University recognition, pressed the university administration to explicitly provide for non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identities (SOGI) in the university. According to the group, the absence of non-discrimination based on SOGI in university policies result in unequal treatment and various forms of discrimination experienced by LGBT students.

This call came in the wake of the experience of Ms. Hender Gercio, a self-identifying transgender student in the university and a member of U.P. Babaylan. In one of her classes, Ms. Gercio asserted her preference to be called in the pronoun corresponding to her transgender identity which one her teachers denied. When Ms. Hercio lodged the case with the involved department, she was informed that there are no existing university rules covering transgenders.

‘We are convinced that the case of Hender brought to light the necessity to further raise awareness on the issues related to sexual orientation and gender identities. It also surfaced the fact that the University has no explicit policy on non-discrimination. The experience of Hender is not an isolated case. Other LGBT students go through the same experience but are afraid to share their stories precisely because UP has no policies on non-discrimination’ according to Michael Singson, head of UP Babaylan.

Meanwhile, Ms. Gercio said “I am just a girl who wants to study in peace. I hope that this discussion will result in non-discriminatory and gender sensitive policies in the university to protect people like me.”

To shed light on the issues related to sexual orientation and gender identities (SOGI), UP Babaylan and its alumni organization Babaylanes, Inc. initiated the “Rainbow Policies: A Discussion on Gender Sensitive Policies in U.P. Diliman” today, March 11, 2011 at the Recto Hall of the Faculty Center of the state university.

The roundtable discussion aims to raise the awareness of the UP community on issues around sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI) specifically on transgender concepts, issues and concerns. The discussion also aims to explore the existing UP Diliman policies on non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identities.

The roundtable discussion brought together various experts on LGBT and human rights issues. Transgenderism was also discussed from the perspectives of psychology, history and culture, and human rights.

Speakers at the event were Dr. J. Neil Garcia, author of various books on LGBT including the pioneering work “Philippine Gay Culture: The Last Thirty Years”; Eric Julian Manalastas from the UP Department of Psychology; Ms. Naomi Fontanos, Chairwoman of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) and STRAP’s Vice Chairperson and former Pinoy Big Brother participant Rica Paras; UP College of Law Instructor and UP Institute of Human Rights Director Atty. Ibarra Guiterrez; Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio of the U.P. Center for Women’s Studies, and former Akbayan representative Ms. Risa Hontiveros. (www.ilga.org)

IT'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY! Cheers to the women!

Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Organisations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

THEME: So while many people may think there is one global theme each year, this is not always correct. It is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select.

Below are some of the global United Nation themes used for International Women's Day to date:

- 2011: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

- 2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all

- 2009: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls

- 2008: Investing in Women and Girls

- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls

- 2006: Women in decision-making

- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future

- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS

- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals

- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities

- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts

- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace

- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women

- 1998: Women and Human Rights

- 1997: Women at the Peace Table

- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future

- 1975: First IWD celebrated by the United Nations

TO ALL WOMEN ON EARTH, SPECIALLY MOTHERS, WE SALUTE YOU AND MAY GOD GRANT YOU ALL WHAT YOU DESERVE!

Zamboanga City chosen by RDC as regional center, WHILE PALACE EXTENDS SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT OF THE INTER-AGENCY STUDY ON THE REGION IX REGIONAL CENTER TRANSFER AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION

REGIONAL CENTER ISSUE UPDATE:

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) voted Thursday to name Zamboanga City as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Of the 34 members present during the 135th RDC meeting held at the Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City, 26 voted in favor of Zamboanga City to be the regional center in the region. Only four voted for Pagadian City, while four others abstained from voting.

The voting process was done through secret balloting and run-off style.

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) voted Thursday to name Zamboanga City as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Of the 34 members present during the 135th RDC meeting held at the Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City, 26 voted in favor of Zamboanga City to be the regional center in the region. Only four voted for Pagadian City, while four others abstained from voting.

The voting was based on a letter from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) dated February 17, 2011 giving the RDC-Zamboanga Peninsula until February 24 to decide on the issue.

Uy, however, sought for an extension, which was consequently granted, on grounds that the next RDC meeting was set for March 4.

In the run-off style, members of the RDC were asked to vote on which city they prefer, or opt to be the regional center.

Per suggestion of Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, all the cities were nominated and the two cities that got the highest number of votes went through another round of secret balloting to determine which among the two will be RDC's final choice.

During the presentation of profile of the different cities in the region, the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) emphasized that the cities were presented based on their strengths and weaknesses.

Based on the study, it was found out that Zamboanga City has all the facilities necessary for a functional regional center, while Pagadian City is lacking in facilities.

The result of the secret balloting during the run-off process is as follows: Zamboanga City, 22 votes; Pagadian City, five votes; Dipolog City, three votes; Ipil (component capital of Sibugay), two votes; and Dapitan City and Isabela City, zero vote.

Two members of the RDC abstained from voting.

Based on the final outcome, Lobregat moved for a resolution stating that the RDC-Zamboanga Peninsula's official stand is for Zamboanga City to be the regional center of the region.

The motion was seconded by Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Dr. Aristides Tan.

In 2001, the RDC in the region, which was then under Governor Isagani Amatong, approved resolution IX-32-2001, proposing to the Office of the President the amendment to Executive Order (EO) 36 to explicitly identify Zamboanga City as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.

EO 36, signed by then President Gloria Arroyo on September 19, 2001, provides for the reorganization of the administrative regions in Mindanao and for other purposes.

It was issued as a result of the August 2001 plebiscite where Basilan province opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

The same order is silent on the designation of the regional government centers in Mindanao, but the city of Pagadian clamored for the transfer of the government center from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City pursuant to the provisions of EO 429, issued by the late President Cory Aquino in 1990.

Several regional offices were ordered transferred to Pagadian City, resulting in a controversy on the designation of the government center in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Last December 11, 2010, Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 11 ordering a 30-day moratorium on the transfer order.

It expired January 21 but Malacañang extended the moratorium to March 31 through MC 11-A, giving concerned agencies the chance to submit report of the inter-agency study on the regional center transfer and its impact on the region. (Bong Garcia, sunstar.com )

Office of the President

Of the Philippines

Malacañang

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 11-A

EXTENDING THE SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT OF THE INTER-AGENCY STUDY ON THE REGION IX REGIONAL CENTER TRANSFER AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION

WHEREAS, Memorandum Circular No. 11, dated ss22 December 2010, directed the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), the National Economic and Development Agency (NEDA), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in thirty (30) working days from the issuance of said Memorandum Circular to conduct a study and stakeholders’ dialogue on the issues and concerns on the transfer of the Regional Center of region IX from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR., executive Secretary, by authority of His Excellency BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The date of submission of the final report of the inter-agency study on the Region IX Regional Center Transfer and its impact on the region is hereby extended for thirty eight (38) working days from 07 February 2011 or until 31 March 2011.

SECTION 2. The Memorandum Circular amends Memorandum Circular No. 11, series 2010.

SECTION 3. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 24^th day of February, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eleven.

By authority of the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR., 

Executive Secretary

DOH: HIV among Pinoy adolescents 'tomorrow's epidemic

The Department of Health (DOH) said the rise in the number of Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases among Filipino adolescents could become "tomorrow's epidemic."

On Wednesday, during the United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) presentation of the "State of the World's Children," DOH National Epidemiology Center director Dr. Eric Tayag said that in 2010, one out of three HIV patients is from the 15-24 year old bracket.

The number of Filipino adolescents who are HIV-positive increased drastically in the last four years, from 44 cases in 2006 to 484 in 2010.

Patients who contract HIV before they are 24 years old will most likely develop Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) before the age of 40, Tayag said.

Thus, the continuous rise in the number of HIV-positive adolescents will translate into an increase in the number of AIDS patients in the country, he added.

According to the UNICEF report, the Philippines is one of only seven countries where HIV cases increased by more than 25 percent from 2001 to 2009.

The other six countries are Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

A total of 6,015 HIV cases have been reported in the country from 1984 to 2010.

The highest number of new HIV cases was recorded in 2010, where 1,591 new cases were reported.

HIV/AIDS in PHL has an 'adolescent face'

UNICEF's "State of the World's Children" report for 2011 focused on adolescents, who make up almost one-fifth of the world's population.

UNICEF data showed that more than half of the world's adolescents, or about 330 million, are in Asia.

In the Philippines, there are about 20 million people between the ages 15 and 24.

UNICEF country representative Vanessa Tobin said there is no doubt that HIV/AIDS in the Philippines has "an adolescent face."

"We know from research and findings around the world that youth need sound and accurate information on sexual and reproductive health to protect them from teen pregnancy, risky sexual behavior, STIs (sexually transmitted infection) and HIV," she said.

"We cannot be complacent anymore about the rate of new HIV infections among adolescents," she added.

The DOH also said the youth have a higher risk of acquiring HIV because of: 

substantial peer pressure for risk-taking; 

the limited opportunities to learn about preventing HIV infection; and 

the lack of skills to communicate their health needs.

Adolescents in the country also have very little or no access to sexual and reproductive health services, the DOH said.

Tobin said an effective way to educate young people about the risks of HIV and AIDS is to use a consistent message over a period of time and from different sources.

"It is important to get sources from health centers and their parents, but it is more likely they will listen to their friends," she said, adding that information from peers is okay as long as the information they are given correct information.

Preventing HIV

Tayag said the DOH is now concentrating their efforts on HIV risk groups, particularly the youth, to prevent the spread of HIV.

The DOH said it will continue to champion the ABCs of preventing HIV:

abstain

be faithful, and

use a condom.

However, he said they will focus on the promotion of condom use as a way to prevent HIV transmission, especially among the youth.

"Ayaw na namin magpaligoy-ligoy pa. Tapos na ang debate sa paggamit ng condom," he said."Sana malinawan ang lahat na ang HIV epidemic sa ating bansa ay maaring lumala pa sa mga susunod na taon."

(We don't want to beat around the bush anymore. The debate about condom use is settled. Everyone should know that the HIV epidemic in the country will get worse in the coming years.)

HIV risk groups

The DOH identified three risk groups from which a majority of the country's HIV patients come from: 

men who have sex with men (MSM);

female sex workers, and

injecting drug users.

In the 15-24 age bracket, the most common mode of HIV transmission is in men who have sex with men (65 percent).

Profile of the risk groups

At the UNICEF press conference, the health department presented the profile of adolescents in the three identified risk groups.

Men who have sex with men (MSM):

Data showed that 80 percent of HIV cases are men, a majority of which are among men who have sex with men (MSM) between the ages 20 and 29.

Among HIV-positive MSMs, the mean age of their first sexual encounter with another man is 15 years old.

Only 24 percent have correct knowledge of HIV and HIV prevention.

In the past 12 months, 58 percent of adolescent MSMs had anal sex without using a condom, and only 20 percent used a condom during their last sexual activity with a man.

Data also showed that adolescent MSMs go through at least one or two sexual partners in a month.

Young females in prostitution:

On average, the adolescent females were 16 years old when they were first paid for sex.

Only 10 percent of sex workers aged 15-24 years old regularly bring a condom when they engage in sexual activities for money.

A female sex worker will go through four to seven partners in a month.

Only 55 percent of the interviewed females used a condom during her last sexual activity with a customer.

Fifty-nine percent feel that their activities are putting them at risk for HIV, but only 5 percent have ever had an HIV test.

Injecting drug users:

Among adolescent injecting drug users, only 24 percent have a correct knowledge of HIV and HIV prevention.

Most were 16 years old when they first used injected drugs.

Almost 70 percent of injecting drug users shared syringe and needles during their last injection, and among those interviewed, no one ever had an HIV test.

Only 30 percent used a condom during their last sexual activity, and 52 percent also accept payments for sex. 

– VVP, GMA News

CLARITA GARCIA, WIFE OF GEN GARCIA'S STATEMENT BEFORE THE ISSUE BROKE OUT

This is a transcript of the sworn statement that Clarita Garcia, wife of Gen. Carlos Garcia, submitted to US Customs Agent Matthew Van Dyke on April 6, 2004, in an attempt to recover the US$100,000 in cash that border officials confiscated from their sons Juan Paulo D. Garcia and Ian Carl D. Garcia in December 2003. (source: NEWSBREAK)

MRS CLARITA GARCIA

"I, Clarita D. Garcia, date of birth December 3, 1950, swear that the following statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

On or about December 19, 2003, I instructed my sons Juan Paulo D. Garcia and Ian Carl D. Garcia to bring cash in the amount of $100,000 into the U.S. from our home in the Philippines.

I told both my sons to declare the money when entering the U.S. The money was to be used as earnest money toward a down payment for a condominium in New York City where my son Timothy would live while going to school. Timothy was paying the rent in the amount of $3,000 per month to rent an apartment.

My son Juan Paulo told me he didn’t declare the money because, “It was too much hassle.”

Source of Funds:I always declare the money when I bring it into the U.S. I declared the money in 1993, in 1995 when I had a medical operation. I declared $100,000 on December 17, 2003. I also declared $200,000 in January 2003. My son Juan Paulo is a risk taker and is very spoiled.

My family’s income is from four sources, two corporations, a daycare school and my husband’s job as a Two Star General in the Philippine Military.

My family has an 80% interest in the two corporations and we may earn a monthly income equivalent to US$8,000. The daycare school brings in more money, perhaps $10,000 per month. However, based on the Philippine tax laws regarding both the corporations and daycare school, we are allowed to declare zero income.

My husband Carlos Garcia (Two Star General in the Armed Forces) was assigned to the Comptroller’s Office until April 4, 2004. He receives a salary that is declared as income for tax purposes. In addition, Carlos receives travel money and expenses in excess of several thousands of dollars.The income received from these businesses was not reported as a basis for tax liability. The two corporations IJT MANGO ORCHARD, INC. and IJT KATAMNAN CORP. were incorporated on March 22, 2002.

I often travel with my husband on business and my travel, expenses and shopping money in excess of US$10,000 to $20,000 is provided to me. He also receives cash for travel and expenses from the businesses that are awarded contracts for military hardware. These businesses are in Europe and Asia.

As the comptroller, my husband handles all budgets for the armed forces. My husband prepared the budget for the armed forces based on the requests from each branch of the military. The budget is sent to the Secretary of National Defense and it is sent to the Senate for approval.He also receives gifts and gratitude money from several Philippine companies that are awarded military contracts to build roads, bridges and military housing.

The Armed Forces Committee reviews the each contractor’s bids. Once the bids are approved and the review committee has checked out the companies, my husband is the final signature for funding the contracts. The expense money, gratitude money and shopping money is not declared as income.

My husband will always thank the person that provides the gratitude. If someone stops by the house with a gift or gratitude, my husband insists that their name and telephone number be taken so they may be called and personally thanked.

As the wife of a general, I am afforded several privileges including a 4,000 gallon per month gasoline allowance, security detail and five drivers. I have a military cook that also provides piano music upon request.

My husband’s position in the Armed Forces is one of privilege. The gratitude monies that he receives are common and unsolicited.

Contracted companies and personnel from the different branches of the armed services are grateful for my husband’s assistance and timely payments for contracted work.

In addition, I provided Agent Van Dyke with four page handwritten statement that explains my husband’s job and our additional source of funds."