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US FASHION TRENDS FOR 2019 (right): Pinoy chef grilling the ultimate seafood platter at beach resort in the Philippines.

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MORDIDO’S VALENTINE’S DAY ‘LOVE BITES’

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LONGER VISA FOR NURSES? ROA IS LIVING THE DREAM IN CHCH

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P a s k o 2 01 8 THE MERRIEST CHRISTMAS IN THE WORLD

The Philippines is the only Asian country where Christians predominate. And the majority of our people are Roman Catholic – 80% of us.

So it goes without saying that Christmas is our biggest festival and celebrated on a grand scale by Filipinos in the Philippines and wherever they may reside around the world.

In fact we Filipinos are proud to proclaim that our Christmas celebration is the longest

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and merriest in the world.

It is a time for family, for sharing, for giving, and a time for food, fun, and friendship.

It begins formally on December 16 with attendance at the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses and continues on nonstop until the first Sunday of January - the Feast of the Three Kings and the official end of the season.

Christmas in the Philippines is a mixture

of Western and local Filipino traditions.

It is a traditional practice to hang the Filipino parol or star lanterns near the window - plus a dazzling display of Christmas decorations around the house. Merry X’mas.

Editor - A big heartfelt Thank You dear readers for your loyal support over the years.

In 2019 we are into our 19th year of publication amidst dramatic changes in the print media landscape worldwide.

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Fa s h i o n f o r w a r d : The trends of 2019?

A collage of some fashion trends invading the US.

By Monet Lu

LAS VEGAS, USA The time has come when stripes and sheer fabrics are “a thing of the past” year (2018). As we welcome 2019, we look forward to the latest fashion trends and forecast what will soon invade the fashion scene.

In this column I’d like to share with you what I believe is going to be so 'in' in 2019.

Futuristic and flashy materials are set to make a debut in 2019. One example would be reflective sportswear. The material that was reserved for night time bikers and runners is now a major fashion statement. Fashion photographers have spotted Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid wearing athletic suits with an iridescent hue. Sequins are also in for 2019. There is a multitude of ways to wear them, but I suggest you opt for a more gently beaded style.

And since we are on the subject of seeing much of

these patterns and materials in 2019, I thank the fashion gods for allowing cycling shorts and/or short shorts to say farewell – about time! This year, sensible (meaning: looser) shorts will be stealing the show.

Taking a cue from cycling shorts, that are making their way out in 2019, skinny jeans are also set to be a thing of the past.

Now, after mom and straight-leg denim reigned in 2018, wide-leg silhouettes are making their way to the forefront. The tie waist details are also very trendy lately. While seatbelts on tops and dresses aren’t new, the tie waists on trousers, skirts and denim feel fresh and chic.

They are easy to style with crop tops and tucked-in blouses. Paper bag waists are a key detail as well.

The flirty ruffled skirts as well as wrap style miniskirts and pencil midi styles that feature ruffles, tiers and flounces will also

be making the scene. The more details, the better.

Oh, and puffed shoulders and pleats are back.

Looks like bold is the way to go because bold and bright colours are now invading us like never before. The fearless hues will be a trend in 2019 and are expected to grow and glow throughout the year.

Also, be on the lookout for vertical stripes and pastels (yes, in that combination), they will be out there in your favourite neighbourhood boutiques.

Spring/summer is the season of stripes, more specifically, vertical stripes. When teamed with the aforementioned ruffles and tie-waist details, they creates a fun, embellished look for summer. Colour trends are all over the map, but one major theme stood out. I spotted a wide variety of pastels, including mint, lavender, blush, mauve, banana, lilac and peach and neon! Yes, you read that right – NEON!

As I’ve said earlier, these vibrant hues and bold patterns are back with a bang.

I wouldn’t want to break the momentum, so I just have to say one more time that more colours are set to conquer 2019. A perfect example would be the colourful camouflage prints that are bound to be in our closets for the foreseeable future. While florals, stripes, and gingham are standard spring/summer print staples, camouflage is emerging in colourful and embroidered versions for a modern take on the military-inspired style. To contrast that, a throwback of tie-dye designs will trend in 2019.

Fashion staples such as cowboy boots, woven bags, oversized hats and fashion flats will also be showed off in 2019.

Cowboy boots are a musthave. Whether you go all out with the knee-high version or swap out your ankle boots for a pair like Jaime King’s, you’ll show your

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fashion prowess with this celeb-loved trend.

Jacquemus La Bomba hats and the likes are looking to be a cult status in 2019. Woven Straw Bags and the straw/acrylic handbag craze launched

by Cult Gaia’s ubiquitous Ark bag in 2017 continue with new styles that include round shapes, ring handles and picnicinspired silhouettes. And before I forget, fancy stiletto heels will be bidding us goodbye for now, because the flats are here to stay – yes, finally.

There you have it: a list of the things you are most likely to be wearing IN 2019 – me, included. And while these are merely predictions and suggestions, I still recommend the best fashion statement of all time – and that is to wear what brings out the best in you. Happy fashionable 2019 to everyone! May you all have a fruitful year ahead.

Monet Lu is a Marikinaborn, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Opinion

By LORELEI BALDONADO-AQUINO Mom On A Mission

A boss plays a vital role in any organization. With a good boss, a difficult or unpleasant job can be tolerable. Conversely, with a bad boss, an otherwise gratifying job can be miserable - a nightmare, even.

The following are the telltale signs that you are extremely unfortunate, as you have ended up with an awful boss.

Poor you.

1. Your boss applies a double standard in dealing with people. He/She is known to play favourites, is selective in dishing out disciplinary action to erring employees, or is unfair in granting perks and privileges.

He/She seldom shares valuable and beneficial information with his/her subordinates who fail to get on his/her good side.

He/She may even go as far as creating a new position just to accommodate the promotion of a favoured employee. Yes, you now have a social media specialist on the construction site and she’s the one whiling away precious hours in the boss’ air-conditioned room while cozily 'interacting with cybercitizens'.

2. Your boss inspires fear in his/her subordinates.

He/She takes pleasure in knowing that they tremble and shudder whenever he/she is around. Having a tendency to be a yeller, he/she believes that congeniality in the workplace equates to likely neglect of duties, which thus adversely

festation of his/her personal insecurities.

He/She is often on a power trip to boost his/her stature or feelings of self-worth.

He/She gets a kick out of humiliating you or wielding his/her power over you, particularly in front of others.

7. Your boss is so self-righteous and self-centred that he/she thinks that he/she is above everyone else.

A certified narcissist, he/she is arrogant and thinks that he/she has a monopoly on great ideas.

Also, he/she never apologizes, even after realizing that he/she committed a mistake.

It’s always about him/her, not the team he/she manages. So, better keep your suggestions and comments to yourself, pal. Or, better yet, stop thinking altogether.

8. Your boss lacks integrity. He/She has a propensity to cut corners, to kowtow to his/her bosses (and is a notorious ass-kisser!), to lie and manipulate people, to break promises and to promote his/her personal interests no matter the cost.

Cunning and easily corruptible and with “the end always justifies the means” as his/her personal mantra, his/her idol is Niccolo Machiavelli. No surprises there.

9. Your boss is an advocate of the blame game.

With virtually no sense of personal accountability, he/she points an accusing finger at everyone except him/herself when something

WHAT AN AWFUL BOSS LOOKS LIKE affects productivity. Okay, hush now. Here comes The Boss.

3. Your boss hates to see you and your colleagues shine. He/She underrates your accomplishments and contributions to the organization and tends to grab credit that rightfully belongs to his/her subordinates.

When his/her own boss gets impressed with an innovative design that you just presented, he/she is quick to claim that it was actually his/her idea – not yours.

Hey, I know you’re flabbergasted by his/her audacity, but will you please shut your mouth? As in, literally. It’s been hanging open for a while now.

4. Your boss has unrealistic demands and unreasonable expectations from his/her subordinates. As a

modern-day slave driver, he/she seems to think that your life should revolve around your work and your work alone. Work-life balance is an alien concept to him/her. Huh, work-life balance? What’s that?!!!

5. Your boss is apathetic about your situation. He/She regards you more like a robot rather than a breathing, feeling human being who is also susceptible to emotions, frailties and physical limita-

tions.

He/She is annoyed that you’re not your usual jolly and witty self when you were made, despite your protestations, to take on the emcee role for an event.

Hey, boss, give that poor guy a break. His 10-year-old cat just died!

6. Your boss has a strong natural tendency to bully you and your colleagues.

This constant display of Ahole quality is a clear mani-

2019

goes wrong.

Make sure then, that your presentation before the board is impeccable.

Otherwise, you will surely be left high and dry by your boss.

10. Your boss does not exhibit flexibility. Being a stickler for the rules, he/she has difficulty adjusting to particular situations or the individual circumstances of his/her subordinates.

That deadline, for instance, won’t be extended just because your house happens to have been submerged in floodwater for three days now. So, c’mon, go up to your roof and start working on that report.

ASAP! An awesome boss, on the other hand, is someone who is a great mentor to his/her subordinates.

He/She is a motivator, an enabler, a problem-solver and a team player rolled into one admirable package that people want to emulate or at the very least work with.

As a true leader, he/she stimulates inspiration, builds trust and confidence among his/her direct reporters, develops a safe and enjoyable working environment and creates opportunities for growth for each and every member of his/her team.

If you’re in your office right now, look around you.

Are the people you see working grudgingly, unhappily, or nervously? You might just be under the thumb of an awful boss.

Or you, yourself, might actually be that awful boss!

FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS 2019: This year the Filipino Migrant News/ Pinoy NZ Life HERO AWARDS focuses on the unsung heroes who have been fighting for Pinoy workers rights. Whistleblowers. Journalists. Unionists. Migrant Advocacy Groups. And others ...

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WORKERS’ RIGHTS

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Changes to migrant visas need to cover o the r visa s to o , say migrant networks, unions New Immigration changes for international students came into effect in late November 2108.

One of the major changes is that migrant workers who are currently holding an employer assisted visa (a visa which binds the workers to a particular employer and to a particular location of work) will be able to apply for an open work visa.

This gives workers the option of changing employers, should they find themselves exploited and means that employers have less power to threaten staff into accepting work that breaks employment law.

However, the essential skills visa, aimed at increasing the skills needed in New Zealand’s workforce, remains locked in to one employer.

This means that it is very difficult for a worker, whose skills are in high demand, to look elsewhere if the employer is treating them unlawfully.

Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG, a

Mandeep Bela, migrant advocate

FIRST Union affiliate organisation) and Indian Workers Association (IWA) organiser Mandeep Bela says that it’s a step in the right direction to restoring an imbalance of power for workers on the employer assisted visa.

“Locking-in a migrant worker to one company is essentially enforcing bonded labour. Now, at least migrant workers on the employer assisted visa will be able to exercise their right to move jobs if they are not treated well or are being exploited, just like any other New Zealander would be able

to do. It is what we’ve been asking for, especially to help newly graduated students, and the Government has responded, so for that we are thankful.”

But Mr Bela says that if the Government really wants to stamp out the exploitation of migrant workers, the move must also include those on the essential skills visas, but in a different way.

“We urge the Government to apply similar regulations to the essential skills visa. Here, workers should be able to apply for a visa for their specific skills in a particular industry (such as construction, transport or hospitality) rather than be locked into a specific employer. This would ensure that their skills are where they are needed the most and that the skills we most desperately need are paid for at a true market rate.

“This would also make it more difficult for these employers to act unlawfully, because the employee could just leave and go

Restoring balance to the workplace “The passage into law of the Employment Relations Amendment Act will help restore fairness to New Zealand workplaces and will restore fundamental rights for workers,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.

“The Government is determined to lift New Zealand into a high wage, high skill economy with thriving regions. The Employment Relations Amendment Act is one piece of our plan to do this, by restoring a better workplace relations framework for New Zealand workers.

“The Act restores many of the conditions that existed during the

previous Labour-led Government, at a time when the economy enjoyed record low unemployment and unprecedented economic growth.

“The Coalition Government believes that everyone deserves a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. This Act helps achieve that by bringing back protections for workers, especially vulnerable workers and by strengthening the role of collective bargaining.”

The key changes under the Employment Relations Amendment Act include: • reinstating prescribed meal and rest breaks • strengthening collective bargaining and union rights

• restoring protections for vulnerable workers, such as those in the cleaning and catering industries, regardless of the size of their employer • limiting 90-day trials to business with fewer than 20 employees.

“These are fair and familiar protections that strike the right balance for employers and workers and mainly restore worker protections which were in place as recently as 2015,” says Iain LeesGalloway.

The majority of the provisions in the Act will come into force on Monday 6 May 2019.

Further information on the changes will be available at: www.employment.govt.nz

work somewhere else.

Other working people would also benefit as migrant workers will not be able to be brought in at a cheaper rate to undercut other workers and migrants will not be able to be used to drive down wages.”

A survey of essential skill visa holders undertaken by the IWA showed

that more than 65% are claiming to have been exploited due to their visas being attached to a particular employer and to a particular location.

He says that New Zealand’s track record with migrant workers is embarrassing.

“In audits done in the past we’ve seen some horrifying levels of exploita-

tion. Our survey shows that this change is what migrant workers desperately need. This new legislation needs to go that bit further in order to ensure that we put an end to these inhumane practices.”

Supplied. First appeared in ‘Workers First’ a publication of ‘First Union’.

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WORKERS’ RIGHTS

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Migrant workers in New Zealand face several unique challenges. To find out more we spoke with Aaron Martin of NZIL, employment lawyer Mark Donovan and Anu Kaloti, founding member of the Migrant Workers Association. All work in areas that help migrants with issues of employment and all have successfully dealt with many cases of exploitation.

Most major issues that migrant workers face involve exploitation. This usually means that the employer is denying the employee their basic rights and entitlements. All New Zealand workers, whether residents or migrants, are entitled to certain rights.

Employers must include these basic rights and entitlements in their written contract with an employee. But the rights aren’t always put into practice. A migrant on a work visa who wants to live in New Zealand relies on their employer to comply with the rules. Often visas restrict migrants to one particular employer, so a migrant’s fate may be dependent on that sole employer doing the right

MIGRANT WORKER RIGHTS IN NZ

TIME TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT Migrant employee exploitation has been making headlines lately and there are undoubtedly some common themes.

Aaron Martin of New Zealand Immigration Law, Employment lawyer Mark Donovan and Anu Kaloti of the Migrant Workers Association, detail the unique challenges their clients are facing, what they can do to protect themselves and show a simple solution the Government needs to address. thing.

Migrants are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because if a migrant employee is dismissed or their employer is identified as non-compliant, then the migrant’s visa can be revoked. Kaloti often hears of employers threatening

migrant workers with, “if you don’t do XYZ we’ll get your visa cancelled or report you to Immigration”. She specifies that it is not uncommon for migrants to be verbally and even physically abused.

So, what are the common issues migrant workers face?

Anu Kaloti (extreme left) at a Migrant Workers Association function. Photo credit: MWA’s Facebook page.

And what can they do?

1. WAGES Employers must pay migrants a wage specified by the salary band linked to their visa. This wage must be clearly stated on a written employment agreement that has been signed by both parties. Unfortunately, some

employers are finding ways around this.

Kaloti explains that often the employer will deposit the correct pay into the employee’s account, “so the paper trail is perfect”, only to later demand a portion of that pay be given back.

Often this is justified by

claiming that the employee was in debt to previous loans or training costs. The paper trail is kept clean by asking for the payment in cash or as a bank transfer to a friend or colleague’s account that is then paid back to the employer.

Another common example is hiring migrants under a 'two-for-one deal'. Kaloti and the Migrant Workers Association are currently working through such a case with a married couple. The wife is employed by an IT company, which has enabled her to get a work visa. But her employment is on the condition that her husband works for her employer’s other business, an orchard.

The wife is receiving the correct salary specified by her visa conditions; the husband, however, doesn’t get paid at all.

If an employee raises these kinds of issues in a public arena, it usually just causes them more grief.

“Getting a third party involved can be like putting a fox in a hen house,” Martin says. continued on page 8

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MIGRANT WORKERS RIGHTS IN NEW ZEALAND

Philippine’s Ambassador Jesus Domingo (wearing a black Barong Tagalog) meets with Filipino workers in Auckland.

Photo credit: Didi Virata Continued from page 7

The Labour Inspectorate works directly with Immigration New Zealand. So if you report your employer for wage exploitation and you’re in the process of applying for a visa, your case can be denied on the grounds of having a noncompliant employer. This is why, as Martin advises, employees in this situation “usually just shut up and carry on”.

2. LEAVE & BREAKS There are many reports of migrant staff working unpaid overtime or being denied leave or rest breaks.

It is easy for an employer to specify the correct hours on a contract, then fail to monitor overtime or keep correct records. Sometimes this can be credited to an overly 'relaxed' approach on the employer’s part, but often cases are of a less innocent nature.

Employees can work double the time recorded by an employer, but be forced to sign false records in fear of losing their job. Then, if they raise a dispute, the evidence is against them. Employees being denied leave and break entitlements have similar problems providing proof.

If there’s no evidence, then it can be hard to put together a case. But Mark Donovan offers some reassurance: “Immigration New Zealand and the Labour Inspectorate are alert to the risks around these issues with migrant employers. If the evidence of the employee is only their word and the employer cannot produce any evidence to contradict them, they’re still often like-

ly to be believed as they are putting their life in New Zealand on the line.”

3. BUSINESS SOLD OR LIQUIDATED Complications arise for an employee when a business their visa is tied to is sold or liquidated. Sometimes, depending on the conditions of the visa, an employee can apply for a variation. If not, the migrant must submit a completely new visa application.

If the employer has another business, then they can offer the employee a new position or a transfer.

Martin, having worked on at least four such cases, believes that this is an easy fix.

If you’re working under an Essential Skills visa, provided the role and the location don’t change, it is likely that you will be able to simply apply for a variation. If the role is different or in a new location, Martin says: “Effectively the Work Visa holder has to find another job – but they’re still in the situation of being tied to that employer.”

If a business is getting liquidated then an employee can be out of work without any notice. In some cases, and legally in all cases where a business is sold, notice will be given as specified in the terms of the contract. Immigration New Zealand won’t enforce immediate deportation, but it is imperative that employees contact them as soon as they know they’re facing unemployment. Immigration New Zealand can issue a Visitor Visa, which will give the employee up to nine months to find more work.

Unfortunately, many em-

ployers don’t want to hire a migrant on a Visitor Visa or an open visa that is due to expire. It can be hard to find an employer willing to work through the gamut of a work visa application, especially if it is only for a short-term role. While it is legal to look for work on a Visitor Visa, it is not legal to actively work.

Both parties must be mindful that if a visa’s conditions are not honoured, then there can be serious legal implications.

4. UNFAIR DISMISSAL Unfair dismissal includes failing to follow fair and reasonable process, giving less notice than is stated on a written agreement, or failing to provide an adequate reason for dismissal.

Where there is an unfair dismissal legal action can be taken, provided that the employee raises a personal grievance with their employer within 90 days of being dismissed. Often disputes of this nature are resolved between the parties in a confidential meeting convened by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, known as a 'mediation'.

Although often straightforward, unfair dismissal cases can still pose a difficult situation for migrant employees. While waiting for a mediation date, or for their case to be considered by the Employment Relations Authority, they will lose their main source of income and no longer meet the visa criteria that keeps them in the country. In a lot of cases the employer will also unlawfully hold onto the final pay owed to the employee. If the employer has enforced an instant dismissal, or is withholding payout entitlements, then the employee is left with no means to pay their rent and basic living costs.

5. DISISSAL WITHIN THE 90-DAY TRIAL PERIOD Employment agreements can specify a trial period of 90 days or less that allows the employer to dismiss an employee within this period if they aren’t suited to the role. The trial period can be a fairly daunting time for any new worker. For migrants with work visas tied to their employer, it’s not just a job they might lose

– it’s their future, and their family’s future, in New Zealand.

This is a hard issue to resolve, as the employer is within their legal rights to dismiss the employee within the period stated on the employment agreement, provided that they meet the legal tests for imposing such a trial period. As Martin says: “If you’re dismissed within the 90-day trial period, there’s no way around it other than by getting a new job with a new visa or by obtaining a Visitor Visa.”

Donovan says that the condition attaching an employer to a work visa is creating many of these issues: “It allows the employer to say “Aha! You’re mine!” and the employee is stuck, even if their wages aren’t getting paid.” Employees avoid seeking legal help or even joining a union out of the fear of losing their employer and the right to live and work in New Zealand.

Kaloti believes that to reduce exploitation all work

“If you’re dismissed within the 90-day trial period, there’s no way around it other than by getting a new job with a new visa or by obtaining a Visitor Visa.” - Aaron Martin visas should be open. “Tying work visas to an employer is too harsh,” she says.

Martin disagrees that all work visas should be open, but strongly believes that most exploitation could be remedied with a simple policy change. “When a migrant raises an issue or needs to leave their job due to exploitation, instead of issuing a Visitor Visa we should give them a 6-month open work visa, so at least they can apply for other jobs on a better footing,” he says. A Visitor Visa gives a migrant more time in the country, but they can’t legally work. And the application process for a new work visa once they’ve found an employer can take some time. “The government says that it’s trying to protect migrants from exploitation,” says Martin, “but they sadly don’t give a hell of a lot to assist people in those circumstances.”

It’s important that migrant employees know that they have the same rights as a res-

ident employee. If you’re a migrant employee and a dispute happens at work, the Citizens Advice Bureau is a good place to start for free advice. They will likely refer you to the Labour Inspectorate or, if it is a personal grievance, the Employment Relations Authority. Alternatively, an employment or immigration lawyer can provide individual support and legal advice.

Kaloti believes that more and more migrants are beginning to speak out about exploitation. Workers who are concerned about jeopardising their visa if they seek legal help could consider a union for support and advice. Kaloti recommends that migrants join a union related to their area of work or one of several unions specific to migrants such as the Migrant Workers Association of Aotearoa, Migrant Action Trust or the Indian Workers Association.

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www.migrantnews.nz : New Zealand’s first Migrant newspaper. Published since 1991.

By Monina Hernandez Internationally qualified nurses (IQN) represent 26% of the overall practising nurse workforce in New Zealand (NCNZ, 2017a). As of 31 March 2017, New Zealand has 52,711 practising nurses. Of these, 4,337 gained their nursing qualification in the Philippines, thereby making Filipinos the third largest ethnic group (8%) in the overall NZ nursing workforce, after NZ European/Pakeha (62%) and other European (14%) (NCNZ, 2017b).

Requirements for New Zealand registration Graduates of nursing programmes outside New Zealand, like most Filipinos, are required to satisfy the seven requirements for NZ registration.

These requirements are: submission of legal documents to prove identity, completion of a nursing qualification that is equivalent to level 7 or 8 on the NZ Qualifications Framework, a high standard of written and spoken

Give migrant nurses a longer visa to help ease shortage

English, with at least a B for each band in an OET test or at least 7.0 for each band in an IELTS Academic test, current nursing registration overseas, fitness to practise, at least two years' experience working as a registered

nurse overseas and completion of a Competency A s s e s s m e n t Programme (CAP) to demonstrate competence to practise in the NZ context (NCNZ, n.d.).

Cost of applying for a Competency Assessment Programme in New Zealand There are only 16 accredited programmes which offer competency assessment for registered nurses among the list of programmes approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand in May 2018. Enrolment in a programme costs an international applicant around NZ$6,100 to NZ$10,500,

plus 15% GST on top of costs for a visa application and the processing of legal documents, sitting an English exam, travel to NZ (approximately NZ $1000 - $2,100 one-way, economy class), accommodation (approximately NZ$2000 for eight weeks), other living expenses, medical tests (approximately NZ $1,000), insurance, uniform and other study expenses. Enrolment in a programme for a domestic applicant, on the other hand, costs around NZ$1,500 NZ$2,300. Approximate ideal (no repeat examinations or re-application required) total expenses upon completing the CAP in eight weeks would be NZ$17,000 - NZ$21,000 on a tight budget.

Filipino nurses and their families go to great lengths to save this amount of money. It would take years for a Filipino family to save this enrolment fee, plus incurring a huge bank debt and loss of family assets.

Thus, a repeat medical test or visa application or a re-sitting of an English exam would be a huge blow to the scarce resources available to a Filipino applicant.

Facilitating the process of obtaining nursing registration through a migrant nurse visa Migrant nurses who enrolled in the CAP come to NZ on a limited visitor’s visa, which is usually valid for only 3 months.

The CAP takes an average of 9 weeks to complete; after which the nurses need to apply for a visa extension while waiting for a license to practise.

After they have obtained their license to practise, they then need to apply for a work visa.

This entails hundreds of

dollars (3X visa application), a lot of time to prepare documents for the repetitive application and stress because of uncertainty. Thus, it is recommended that Immigration NZ develop an IQN/CAP visa category which is valid for 9-12 months, to allow migrant nurses to complete the CAP, obtain a practising certificate and look for a job as registered nurses.

New Zealand’s nursing shortage is predicted to increase up to 15,000 by 2035 (NCNZ, 2013).

Immigration NZ can therefore help resolve this problem by facilitating the process of obtaining nursing registration for IQNs.

References: Nursing Council of New Zealand (2013): The future Nursing workforce. Supply projections 2010-2035.

Wellington: Nursing Council of New Zealand. Retrieved from http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/News/TheFuture-Nursing-Workforce.

Nursing Council of New Zealand (2017a): Trends in New Zealand Nursing.

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Pinoy Restaurant Stars Today Pinoy chefs can be found working almost everywhere – in fine dining restaurants, cafes, ethnic eateries and some have even launched their own successful food businesses. One Pinoy superhero,

Leo Fernandez, was even chosen as the runner up in the MasterChef New Z e a l a n d c o n t e s t ( s e e s t o r y b e l o w ).

Pinoy chefs are making a name for themselves in New Zealand and the Filipino Migrant News ‘Pinoy Chef of

DARROW BENITO Pinoy Chef of the Year 2014

ADRIAN GABRIEL FABELLA Pinoy Chef of the Year 2015

Some of our top Pinoy chefs battled it out to vie for the prestigious title – FMN’s 1st ‘Pinoy Chef of the Year 2014’. This event was held together with the FMN’s Independence event that was filmed for TV3’s ‘Festival’ program.

Rolling up their sleeves, the finalists prepared their signature chicken dishes: Adrian Gabriel Fabella (Kim Dotcom’s chef) picked the all-time favourite – Chicken Adobo. Darrow Benito, an up-and-coming chef, chose something traditional from the Cordillerean region – Pinikpikan Chicken. And Fernando Bautista, who has a catering business – Mana Kitchen - presented Chicken Halang Halang - a Bohol recipe.

In the end it was Darrow Benito with his Pinikpikan dish that impressed the judges - Eduardo Viterbo, Director of the Quality Restaurants Group and Tina Raines, an Asian food writer.

“Despite the range of options for a regional dish I personally chose 'Pinikpikan' without a second thought.

Choosing Pinikpikan as my regional dish was an evocation of my childhood memory of what was once eaten convivially with my family.

“The dish was not only regional, but a cultural favourite for the Igorot tribes in the northern Philippines.

However, the dish itself is not well established in the Philippines and is uninfluenced by any other culture, which I thought would work in my favour.

“The idea of using Pinikpikan motivated me as a personal challenge. The challenge to reinvent my past and culture, to keep up with current culinary trends and to introduce my culture in a way that it would also cater to the New Zealand palette.”

Adrian Gabriel Fabella, Executive Chef, and his team of chefs used to cook for the Dotcom family, for guests and for the lavish functions held at the Dotcom mansion.

His wide experience in preparing Western, Asian and Filipino food has helped.

When growing up in a family where males outnumber women there is a tendency for the men to step up to the plate and learn how to cook. In Adrian Gabriel Fabella’s case it was no different.

To fulfill that dream, at age 22 he was fortunate enough to find a job overseas as chief cook on board the MV Gondwana (Nabeel Ship Management Ltd), a tug boat, anchor handling and salvaging boat that services world wide and UAE destinations with their home port in Dubai.

Another step up the ladder came when he got a 9 month contract on board the Princess Cruise Line, which plies between European destinations. Here he picked up skills in preparing sophisticated Western cuisine for the fine dining restaurants on the luxury cruise liner.

Another change of course happened when when his Dad passed away. He returned to the Philippines to stay with his mum in his home province – Roxas Oriental Mindoro, Southern Luzon, for five years. He set up small restaurants there and launched a catering business as well.

Then … a mega break in October 2012 brought him to our shores. His sister, who was working for internet tycoon Kim Dotcom in Auckland, told him about an Executive Chef vacancy at the Dotcom mansion. “I sent my CV to Mona Dotcom and after two days I was hired, even though I have no qualifications from culinary schools, just a wealth of international experience.”

What lies ahead for this multi-talented international chef that New Zealand has been fortunate to adopt?

the Year Award’ goes some way t o w a r d s a c k n o w l e d g i n g a n d c e l e b r a ting the talent and skills of this group of unsung heroes in our community.

By Mel Fernandez www.travelgalore.nz

LEO FERNANDEZ Pinoy Chef of the Year 2016 In 2016 FMN awarded the title ‘Pinoy Chef of the Year’ to someone who went out of his way to promote his love of Filipino cuisine to Kiwis on national TV and in the process may have jeopardised his chances of taking out the title ‘MasterChef New Zealand 2015’. He missed out on winning the crown by just two points.

For seven weeks Leo Fernandez, 36, made Filipino food the flavour of the month for viewers of TV3’s cooking contest. He made it a point to introduce popular Filipino dishes over the course of this action-packed reality show.

You could say that it was a gutsy move to introduce food that was unfamiliar to the judges, contestants and the majority of viewers. In the finals of the contest the desire to remain faithful to the original recipes may have been his Achilles' heel. “It was a challenge with comfort food,” Leo recalls. “When they said comfort food I had no hesitation in making Arroz Caldo. But the judges may not have appreciated the technique and the flavours that I put in my dish. It’s always a risk making something that I have grown up with.

“I guess I opened the door for the Filipino community to consider becoming MasterChefs. Anyone can do it.”

Editor - Leo is now the co-owner of the Melting Pot Café in Panmure, Auckland.

He has been featured widely in local media and has promoted Filipino cuisine in the Philippine Airlines stand at the Auckland Food Show two years ago.

He has contributed to ‘The Filipino Kitchen’ a cookbook published in the US and he has plans to publish his

VICENTE ‘BOYET’ DELOTERIO Pinoy Chef of the Year 2018 Vicente ‘Boyet’ Deloterio is a 46 year old chef from the Philippines who is head chef in Auckland’s famous Boracay Garden Filipino Restaurant.

According to his employers Boyet is a rare talent who can cater to the palates of the local demographic while at the same time preserving the authenticity of traditional Filipino dishes.

It is no surprise that Boyet can capture the unique identity of Filipino cuisine as he has been honing his skills in the culinary arts since he was a teenager.

Boyet’s selflessness and humility is inspiring and makes him worthy of being recognized as a hero among his fellow Filipino-Kiwis.

Editor – Located in the Viaduct Harbour area, the Boracay Garden Restaurant appeals to more discriminating Filipino diners. And a clear indication of its success is the fact that other nationalities are starting to come through the door to try Filipino cuisine.

The Boracay has an extensive menu – Inihaw na Bangus (whole) and Sinigang na Baboy are top of the pops. Then there is Sizzling Sisig, Beef Steak Tagalog, Lechon Kawali, Tinola, Bicol Express and much more.

Chef Boyet is featured in the Travel Galore website : www.travelgalore.nz

S T R E E T F O O D F E S T I V AL www.halohalo.nz

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Adobo Nation.

By MEL FERNANDEZ

travelgalore.nz More often than not a foreigner’s first introduction to Filipino cuisine is the taste of adobo – on board Philippine Airlines flights or at hotel cafés when they land in the country.

The irresistible fragrance of adobo with its melting pot flavours makes it the Philippines most lauded dish and it may well be helping to make Filipino food popular internationally.

“I loved the dish the first time I tasted it,” say Lynne Rosseto Kasper and Sally Swift in their popular blog: The Splendid Table. “With its simmer sauce of vinegar, garlic and soy sauce, adobo is the hallmark dish of the Philippines.”

If adobo is so palatable to neophytes then it is disappointing to hear that some cafes and restaurants, with predominantly Pinoy clientele, tend to drop the unofficial national dish from their menu.

“Through the years, several people have tried to describe what Filipino cuisine is all about,” says Karen Flores of abs-cbn NEWS.com, “and most of them say the dish that best defines our country is adobo, or meat (from pork and chicken to seafood and offal) braised in garlic, vinegar and soy.

“Each household, town, province and region has a different way of preparing this otherwise simple viand.”

Guests of Pinoys or Kiwis who have no exposure to Filipino food may enjoy the taste of adobo and be more inclined to try the other offerings on Filipino restaurant menus: pork tocino, chicken inasal, lechon paksiw, longganisa or sisig (but perhaps not dinuguan), with halo halo as a sweet conclusion.

At the Auckland Food Show in 2017 the Philippines stand offered visitors a taste of ‘balut’ and ‘durians’ as a way of introducing Kiwis to Filipino food.

This campaign did not go down well – a TV 3

evening news reporter was shown dashing to the public toilet after bravely sampling these offerings.

Fortunately we recouped our losses in 2018. The Tres Marias stand at the Food Show offered visitors a taste of the more popular Filipino dishes - thanks to the Mama Sita team who flew in from Manila to fly the flag.

This begs the question is there any chance that Filipino food may become the next big thing in the food scene in New Zealand?

Actually, the signs are pointing to a boom in Filipino food. Filipino

Adobo is a perennial favourite at Fiestas and each region has a slightly different take on this dish.

cafes and restaurants are opening up all over the country and Filipino food trucks are now featured in most night markets alongside the more established Asian vendors.

Pinoys are obviously delighted with this turn of events, because now they are spoilt for choice and frequent these outlets in droves.

As Filipino food is now more accessible Kiwis may be tempted to give it a go.

Hopefully in the not too distant future there will be a flavour explosion and Filipino cuisine might become as popular to the locals as other mainstream

S T R E E T F O O D F E S T I V AL www.halohalo.nz

A Filipino community event powered by Filipino News www.filipinonews.nz and Travel Galore www.travelgalore.nz. cuisine.

Lots more Filipino food reviews at: www.travelgalore.nz

Halo Halo NZ is a celebration of Philippine Food, Culture, Products & Services www.halohalo.nz.

The event was launched eighteen years ago and it has been evolving over the years.

As business, trade, culture and air links between the Philippines and New Zealand have grown at a fast pace, this was an opportune time to revamp the 2-day event into a week-long celebration.

We invite everyone to join with us to showcase the very best that the Philippines has to offer to New Zealanders.

Starting off is the Street Food Festival.

We invite expressions of interest from food suppliers.

We seek your support to make this event a resounding success.

You can email: filipinonews@xtra.co. nz or text: 027 495 8477 for more details.

There’s always something happening at Exceptional Traditional Filipino Cuisine, Filipino Service and Ambiance Kelly Misa-Fernandez Travel Show host (right)

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Functions & Events.

Special Lunch Menu.

Boodle Fight.

Saturday: Live Entertainment

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chocolate range as a versatile and delicious ingredient; infused with Columbian mango and passionfruit, Hawke’s Bay

By MEL FERNANDEZ www.travelgalore.nz AUCKLAND – An award winning Filipino chef is going to set hearts alight in Auckland on Valentine’s Day with a decadent four-course menu that he pledges is going to be a next level creation.

William Mordido’s popup dinner, hosted by Kitchen Things Luxury Collection, will be held on 16th February 2019 at 26 Morrow Street in Newmarket.

The ‘Buko Valentine’s Degustation’ is his first pop-up for 2019 and there are plans for over 12 events this year.

Mordido started Buko his travelling pop-up restaurant business - after a stint at Skycity and Chiko’s Restaurant and Cafe.

In 2014, when he was just 22 years old, he was named Restaurant Association NZ Chef of the Year 2014 and at the International Jeunes des Rotisseurs Competition he came home with a silver medal, the first Kiwi to do so in over 20 years.

Chef Mordido (left)

LOVE BITES.

black doris plum and roasted almonds, Fijian ginger and Kerikeri man-

A percentage of the profits from this Valentine’s Day event will be donated to Women’s Refuge.

William Mordido is a facilitator for the Rest a u r a n t Association for New Zealand and he is always looking for ways to give back to the community, including mentoring and coaching people of all ages seeking a career in the hospitality industry or cookery.

MORDIDO PLEDGES A NEXT LEVEL VALENTINE’S DAY MENU

'Buko' means young coconut in Tagalog. As a young child, Mordido says he was likened to the coconut for having three cowlicks, similar to the Buko's three dots.

“Just as the Buko, I was headstrong and very stubborn,” he reveals. “Today, this stubbornness translates into my persistence to defy the status quo and to constantly innovate in

cuisine.”

On Valentine’s Day his guests will be treated to a culinary experience to remember.

They will enjoy Ayala Champagne and fresh New Zealand oysters on arrival.

Later they will enjoy a stellar four-course dessert degustation featuring Whittaker’s chocolate, balanced with gourmet

teas from Noble and Savage.

William’s decadent menu also features creative ways to enjoy a delicious range of trusted New Zealand brands, including Chelsea Sugar, Meadow Fresh and Edmonds products.

As Mordido describes it: “Each dish will be an exploration of Whittaker’s artisan collection

darin, and West Coast buttermilk caramelised white chocolate.”

Photo credit: Michael Chen

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Filipino priest brings food and faith together

By PATRICIA SISON WELLINGTON - Close to two hundred people were fed physically and spiritually at the Family Banquet event on November 10 in Tawa Wellington, featuring priest and celebrity chef Fr. Leo Patalinghug.

The American (Filipino-born), who travels the world sharing the importance of family dinners,

event about his culinary journey and his charity work with prisoners called Prison Gate to Plate. People were then able to taste the gourmet pasta meal prepared by prisoners from the Rimutaka prison at the charity event hosted by the Centre for Marriage and Family (CMF).

CMF director Patrica Sison said: “As chefs, both Fr. Leo and Martin Bosley are involved in the very important work Fr. Leo Patalinghug of helping prisoners out delighted attendees with a live of a life of recidivism. Fr. Leo is cooking demonstration, while at a multi-talented man with a deep the same time sharing biblical prayer life and it shows in the truths such as 'knife' being the ways that he is able to relate faith double-edged sword of the Bible. to food and other aspects of life In the afternoon session the and communicate deep spiritual audience was treated to a live truths – much the same way that martial arts demonstration from Jesus did through his parables.”

It was Fr. Patalinghug’s first the third degree black belt instructor, as he explained visit to New Zealand and audience members are already asking aspects of spiritual warfare.

Renowned New Zealand chef about his next trip.

Fr. Patalinghug is also an Martin Bosley also spoke at the

award-winning author, radio and TV show host. He is also the founder of Plating Grace, a movement to bring families back to the dinner table. He said that it is important to sit down at the table and have dinner with one’s children. “It’s good for them and will make them better people,” he said.

For Fr. Patalinghug, the simple act of creating and sharing a meal can strengthen all kinds of relationships. He said: “We believe in the power of food to do good – for all people, no matter their backgrounds – as food is the common denominator that can bridge people and culture.”

He lives in a consecrated community called Voluntas Dei (The Will of God). He hosts a weekly TV show called Savouring Our Faith on the Catholic Channel EWTN.

- Reprinted with permission from NZ Catholic

Father Leo with Chef Martin & Patricia

Fr. Patalinghug said: “We believe in the power of food to do good — for all people, no matter their backgrounds — as food is the common denominator that can bridge people and culture.”

“Eating around the table is so important, because in today’s fast paced world we need to create opportunities for togetherness, connections and communication.

“We need to realise that we have deep hungers, not just for food, but for companionship — a word derived from the Latin for 'with bread'. This is what Jesus did when he ate with sinners and strangers.

He invited all to his banquet. And when we serve one another, we show our love. That’s what a family meal can do - share love, simply by sharing bread!”

Fr. Patalinghug also noted how all religions have 'feast days'. “For Christians, we learn why Jesus invites us to be servants at the table and even reveals himself as bread and wine.”

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Over 100K English tutors needed in China; good pay awaits Filipinos Struggle of young Typhoon Yolanda survivors MANILA - Child rights and welfare advocacy group Save the Children Philippines visited Ormoc, Leyte, to assess the programs it put in place for child survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda, five years after the deadly cyclone hit the Philippines.

According to the group some 1.5 million Filipino children were affected by Yolanda when it battered the Visayas, most particularly Samar and Leyte, in 2013.

From relief and recovery operations the local chapter of the Londonbased organization shifted its focus to building resilience and providing psychosocial counselling for children in communities devastated by the super typhoon.

“Our experience from Typhoon Haiyan taught us hard lessons that children face the greatest struggle to survive and recover in times of disasters,” said Albert Muyot, Save the Children Philippines chief executive officer, who is in Leyte province to personally check on the child survivors and the organization's programs.

Since 2013 the group has assisted close to a million children in Yolandahit areas in the Visayas through water, sanitation and hygiene activities.

It also established 'child-friendly spaces' to protect them from physical and gender-based abuse and Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS), among others, to provide opportunities for kids to resume classes.

In 2015 the group implemented the child sensitivity program that addresses inter-generational poverty among the

By LEILANIE ADRIANO PNA Correspondent

QUANZHOU CITY, China - China needs more than a hundred thousand teachers to help Chinese students learn the English language and Filipinos are offered attractive employment packages for this, says a university professor .

Speaking before 54 students and young professionals joining the China-Philippines Youth Exchange Program, Dr. Zhang Hang, a Chinese language teacher and researcher at the College of International Relations of Huaqiao University, said that many Chinese, especially the older ones, can hardly understand, much less speak English.

Zhang said that China

EXCHANGE STUDENTS. Filipino and Chinese students participating in the two-week Exchange Program visit Huaqiao University in Fujian. (PNA Photo by Leilanie Adriano)

now has around 10,000 English teachers, mostly from the Philippines.

The Philippines, the professor noted, is known for its excellent English education program and with its proximity to China, both

countries can work together for educational exchanges, especially for strengthening ChinaPhilippines relations.

Conversely, around 330 Chinese volunteers are also in various parts of the Philippines to

teach the Chinese language and culture. "The Chinese language is important too in bridging the gap in communication," Zhang said.

He said that President Rodrigo Duterte's first visit to China in 2016

opened new opportunities for the people of both countries that are now coming into reality.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila and its consulate centres in Laoag, Cebu and Davao, have established at least four Confucius Institutes in these localities to strengthen SinoFilipino relations through education.

At the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, for example, school officials said that some of their students and faculty started to engage in academic and cultural exchanges with China.

At present, over 1.5 million Chinese nationals live in the Philippines, including Chinese-Filipino tycoon Henry Sy, who traces his roots to Jinjiang City.

Documentary to benefit Street Kids in PH TORONTO - ‘Beyond Strength’ comes from Niki Norlock’s discovery of a remarkable group of Filipino children living, learning and growing together in a Children’s Home in Metro Manila.

The film follows the journey of one young man, Daniel San Jose, who willingly shares his story in the hopes that it will inspire action in others and shed light on the desperate plight of some 250,000 children living in the streets of Manila, the Philippines.

The film explores the potential for not just survival but for children to thrive when connected with and supported by organizations like those

Yolanda-affected families in Leyte.

Two years later Save the Children Philippines started its Child Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) initiative in Ormoc to further strengthen the government's 4Ps cash transfer programs in terms of building the resilience of Yolanda child survivors.

The CSSP program covers the psychosocial heal-

highlighted in the film.

The movie began as a way to raise awareness and inspire others by focusing on the talents and the inner strength of these children; the filmmakers' drive comes from the belief that sharing their story with others ing of minors between the ages of 13-17.

“Child survivors still cry when they recall their tragic experiences losing loved ones and being displaced during typhoon Haiyan,” Muyot said.

“The Haiyan experience has left lifelong scars on the children who survived. Healing takes time, but it’s possible when we help improve their lives

may open hearts and minds to all the possibilities that life has to offer.

"I was in The Philippines working on another project when I stumbled upon this amazing group of young people who altered how I looked at life," says Niki. "There's and secure a better future for them," he added.

Typhoon Yolanda, with the international name Haiyan, made landfall in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, on Nov. 8, 2013 and has been tagged as one of the "strongest and most disastrous" cyclones in history, killing thousands and resulting in billions of pesos in damages.

A total of 16,078,181

an innate strength in these people and a unique capacity for love and forgiveness that forever changed how I interact with the world around me. I felt compelled to tell their story, even though at the time I had no idea how I was going to make persons were affected by the typhoon according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Official records said that 6,300 died, at least 28,688 were injured and 1,062 others went missing.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Yolanda’s anniversary is the perfect opportunity to spread better

that happen."

And make it happen she did. "It took the combined efforts of a lot of passionate people to create this film, but in the end, even though we may have done the work, it doesn't belong to us, it never belonged to us. This is their story, it always has been; we were just blessed to be a part of the telling of it."

View the Beyond Strength Music Video Teaser by Anthony Tilotta: https://vimeo. com/141912543.

Part of the proceeds for the sale of this single and the film will go back to support the organizations highlighted in the film.

awareness on climate change and its impact on communities.

He noted that the super typhoon has taught the government a hard lesson in public service, particularly on “the need to respond to our people’s plight with more compassion and urgency”.

- (PNA)

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from here and there that help to make Roa’s book www.pinoynzlife.nz special.

The book starts with their story – why the Roas decided to migrate to New Print. Web. Zealand in 2014. The trigTablet. Mobile. ger for the move it FB. YouTube. appears was the failure of a business they were REACHING FILIPINOS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. involved in back home.

They needed to get away to restart their careers and their life in greener pastures.

In Christchurch Roa’s first job was as a checkout operator in a supermarket. (“I learnBook Review by Mel Fernandez ed more about the Kiwi culture through my interaction with cusCHRISTCHURCH - I cost $580. But if it were tomers and the staff,” recall that my situation offered today it would be Field’ Joyce Roa is based in says Roa.) was no different from that priced well over $2,000 - workChristchurch Two years later she of many other university and worth every cent of it. s h o p graduates venturing into Sadly it is now only avail- and the numerous motiva- became a caregiver. (“Part the ‘real world'. Along the able for corporate clients - tional books I’ve read of me felt that all my education and experience were over the years. way we encountered speed no public workshops.

A key takeaway from What was different going down the drain.”) bumps and potholes and She has been an activiprogram was: about Roa’s book? Well might become totally dis- that satisfied with the direction ‘Something has to change for a start it’s not a self- ties coordinator in the if you want to fulfil your improvement book in the health field for over two our life is going in. strictest sense of the defi- years. (This job relates to Fortunately for me, I goals in life.’

When I started reading nition. I found it to be her previous experience as stumbled across a human relations programme Joyce Roa’s ‘Live It more of an inspirational an event manager in the called ‘Adventures in Great: 12 Real Life book. Thankfully it does Philippines.)

As the title suggests the Attitudes’, developed by Lessons to Help You Live not cover the common Bob Conklin. Attending Your Own Happy and themes found in self-help book features snapshots this fast paced personal Meaningful Life as a books as the libraries are of their journey and is development workshop Migrant’ there were flash- filled with motivational interspersed with words self-improvement of wisdom and inspiraproved to be a life chang- backs to the AIA pro- and er. gram, as well as Earl books. But there are some tional tales or 'real life lesBack then the course Nightingale’s ‘Lead the familiar golden threads sons' that Roa learned in

LIVING THE DREAM ...

‘Live it Great’

This book is very much focused on a Filipino family’s migrant experience - to be more precise, how they became tourists, migrants, tourists and then migrants again - in Christchurch.

“Crazy,” says Bo Sanchez in his forward to the book, when describing the tumultuous twists and turns the family encountered on their journey. “‘Live It Great’ is a fascinating read as it is filled with inspiring snapshots that will help you take charge of your life. By the way, there is a happy ending to this story.” the process of moving to and living in a new country.

The 12 lessons in the book show you how to deal with crossroads in your life. How trusting in God results in a meaningful and happy life. Why giving of yourself to others heals you. How to live for more than money. And lots more.

“For many immigrants life too often becomes a challenging cycle of adjusting to a new life in a new country, working hard to establish yourself, going up the career ladder and working even more hours,” says Roa. “In the process, actual living gets left behind in search of the proverbial greener pastures. And

guilt, regret and longing whisper in their painful voices more often than you want. You don’t have to go down that road.”

This is not a voluminous book - only about 100 pages in medium sized typeface, so you can get through it in a couple of hours. It is easy to read as it is written in an informal style. According to Roa, so far about 200-300 copies of this self-published book have been sold, mainly online via Amazon.

‘Live it great’ by Joyce Roa. Self-published in Christchurch, 2018.

Purchase via Amazon. com.