Yes Philippines News Magazine UK Edition-December 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

FREE C O PY

DECEMBER 2019

Merry

Christmas

Kabayan!

H.E. AMBASSADOR

ANTONIO MANUEL

LAGDAMEO

Coming soon.

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4

DECEMBER 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

I

“

by Mary Sol Pimentel

We might be far from our country but the spirit of the Filipino christmas continues to live on.

t’s the season to be jolly!

Exconde, a radiographer who designed a toy to help patients struggling with The Filipinos are known to have the anxiety. We also share the longest celebration story of Adriana Lagman, of the Christmas season. a young figure skater who We celebrate with joyous glided her way to 17th spot hearts with our families here in the recent 40th Volvo in the UK and back in the Open Cup in Riga, Latvia.

Philippines.

The good ambassador, In this issue, we feature, Antonio Lagdameo, has amongst other stories, the also shared his Christmas introduction of Filipino El message in our issue.

Union’s specialty coffee in the UK and also the We might be far from our introduction of Baybayin to Filipinos and non-Filipinos as country but the spirit of the part of our cultural heritage. Filipino christmas continues to live on.

We also share the joy Maligayang Pasko! of discovery with Apollo

Publisher MARY SOL PIMENTEL Associate Publisher SARAH MAE LARAGAN Executive Editor JOSHUA CALAUSTRO Production Coordinator GENEVIEVE BAUTISTA Features Editor NICOLE WEBER Art Director JOHN KNUCKLES Writers/Contributors TEP MAYO KACEY COLEEN LIM VANDA MARIE BRADY CHRISTA BORJA RAYMUND RODRIGUEZ PEPS VILLANUEVA Advertising KARLA DUCAY Circulation FERNAN DOMINGO BIEN EVANGELISTA BELINDA WOOD

WHAT MAKES YES PHILIPPINES DIFFERENT? We are a TRUE PUBLISHER and not a FRANCHISE PUBLISHER. We write our own editorial content/materials and not just reprint them from website and Philippine publications.

We are a true Community Newspaper as we feature the people, stories, events and activities of Filipinos living in the United Kingdom on our paper from cover to cover We have a more extensive distribution covering United Kingdom.

6

DECEMBER 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

immigration corner

Submitting NEW EVIDENCE to the

HOME OFFICE

By LIRA SIMON CABATBAT

W

here a Human Rights application has been refused and appeal rights have been exhausted BUT there is new information, applicants should consider making a “fresh claim”. The process is also referred to as a 353 application, after the relevant immigration provision. Little is known about the procedure partly because of the Home Office’s reluctance to accept the applicability of paragraph 353 which means that it takes a brave and persistent applicant (and indeed representative) to rely on it.

The Rule 353. When a human rights or protection claim has been refused or withdrawn or treated as withdrawn under § 333C of these Rules and any appeal relating to that claim is no longer pending, the decision maker will consider any further submissions and, if rejected, will then determine whether they amount to a fresh claim. The submissions will amount to a fresh claim if they are significantly different from the material that has previously been considered. The submissions will only be significantly different if the content: (i) had not already been considered; and (ii) taken together with the previously considered material, created a realistic prospect of success, notwithstanding its rejection. This § does not apply to claims made overseas.

The Law Rule 353 has been the subject of litigation but reported caselaw has not been extensive. A detailed consideration of paragraph 353 can be found in the 13 years old case of WM & AR v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2006] EWCA Civ 1495. Here the court gave an insight as to how it interprets “realistic prospect of success”. It held that: The rule only imposes a somewhat modest test that the application has to meet before it becomes a fresh claim. First, the question is whether there is a realistic prospect of success in an application before an adjudicator, but not more than that. [It] does not have to achieve certainty…

In summary, the Home Office must consider the first limb of paragraph 353 of the Immigration Rules which is whether the new submissions are significantly different from the material that has previously been considered.

If the answer is yes, the Home Office should then have regard to the second limb of the test which is whether there is a realistic prospect of success. The latter is often where I am critical of the Home Office’s approach as my experience is that they fail to adequately engage with the substance of the new evidence. Refusals of fresh claims are almost overwhelming mechanical, that is to say very little regard is given to the evidence presented to the point that I sometimes wonder if they are considered at all. Evidence that I have previously argued under 353 have been varied; examples are: new medical evidence, birth of a child or a new relationship.

The Home Office’s respond can be frustrating especially where their reply is confused and confusing. In one case, the Home Office refused to “reconsider” a matter. When it was pointed out that the applicant has not sought a reconsideration but has submitted a fresh claim, the Home Office stubbornly failed to change their mind thus forcing

the applicant to pursue Judicial Review (JR), which he ultimately won.

To challenge a refusal under the Immigration Rules, paragraph 353 is not for the faint hearted as this requires a JR application. This is distinct from an appeal as applicants challenge the process applied by the Home Office, not the decision itself. In most cases, this means it is only a first step to challenging the decision. The cost implication of a JR can also be considerable as the unsuccessful party can and is often made

“

The rule only imposes a somewhat modest test that the application has to meet before it becomes a fresh claim.

“

to pay the costs of the “winning party”.

Put bluntly, you lose, you pay. However, a successful JR will also mean that the Home Office pay the applicant’s costs.

If a matter is considered a “fresh claim” it also means that the applicant should not be removed from the UK as Immigration Rules go on to say that:

353A. Consideration of further submissions shall be subject to the procedures set out in these Rules.

An applicant who has made further submissions shall not be removed before the Secretary of State has considered the submissions under § 353 or otherwise.

It is important to understand that a successful 353 claim does not automatically lead to a grant of leave as it just means the Home Office needs to consider the new evidence. They can still refuse the application but if they do, it is likely that a right of appeal will ensue, and this will allow the applicant to raise the new evidence along with the “old” at a tribunal hearing when a Judge may well grant the appeal.

The complexity of 353 and the absence of robust scrutiny often applied by the Home Office when looking at such claims make the process daunting but employed properly it could ultimately mean grant of leave to remain in the UK.

Disclaimer The author or Douglass Simon Solicitors are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information.

All information in this site is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information.

Ms Lira Simon Cabatbat is a senior partner and

founder of Douglass Simon Solicitors with over 25 years legal experience. She specialises in all aspects of Immigration, Human Rights and Family law. She is renowned for her tenacious aSnd frank advice as reflected in her success rate in Immigration Tribunals, Judicial Review and High Court cases.

For details of the successful appeals, visit the website www.douglass-simon.com.

THE VERY BEST FESTIVE wishes from all of us at DOUGLASS SIMON SOLICITORS Douglass Simon

SOLICITORS

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Founded in 1997, we have established ourselves as a centre of excellence in Immigration, Family, Employment, Wills and Probate.

Our expert team speaks numerous languages, including Tagalog.

Head Office: 102 Sheen Road, Richmond, TW9 1UF — 0203 375 0555 — www.douglass-simon.com London Office: 2 Kenway Road, Earls Court, London SW5 0RR — 0207 373 4429 Manila Office: 4th Floor Unit C and D, Commerce and Industry Plaza Building 1030 Campus Avenue McKinley Town Centre, McKinley Hill, Taguig Manila , 1634, Philippines

Douglass Simon Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority: SRA Number 627913

8

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

DECEMBER 2019

AMBASSADOR’S CHRISTNAS MESSAGE

H.E. ANTONIO MANUEL R. LAGDAMEO Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with concurrent jurisdiction on Ireland

I

extend to all Filipinos living and working in the United Kingdom and Ireland the warmest greetings of the season as we look back on the year about to end and look forward to the year that is about to unfold.

To those of the Christian faith, I wish you and your families a blessed and happy Christmas. May you be filled with peace, hope, and love as we celebrate this joyful season, and may the spirit of Christmas enable all of us to share this happiness with our kababayans, especially those who are vulnerable.

There is a multitude of reasons why we should welcome the New year with a great sense of optimism. Our country’s economy continues to post significant gains. Our

Maligayang

Pasko atMasaganang

Bagong Taon!

government’s political will and strong sense of purpose have inspired our people, both those who are in diasporas all over the world and those who remain back home, to join in our collective effort to build for our children, and our children’s children, a stable republic, a prosperous country, a patriotic nation, and strong local communities that are free from the scourges of criminality an discord.

Let us remain part of this onward journey to a better Philippines even while we are miles away from home.

On our part, the Embassy will continue to explore more ways by which we could deepen and broaden relations between the Philippines and these two countries within our jurisdiction. We will work harder at providing our kababayans the quality of service that they deserve, and we will deliver those services with professionalism founded on a genuine spirit of malasakit. We invite Filipino community organizations and individuals alike to continue their partnership with the Embassy in the coming year.

From my family to you and yours, maligayang Pasko at masaganang Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!

10

DECEMBER 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

embassy news

Permanent Representative and Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo casts his vote at the election of IMO Council Members during the 31st IMO Assembly in London. Photo courtesy of IMO Photo caption / credits: Permanent Representative and Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo casts his vote at the election of IMO Council Members during the 31st IMO Assembly in London.

Photo courtesy of IMO

PH Re-elected to IMO Council

T

he Philippines was reelected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under Category C for the biennium 2020-2021 at the elections held on 29 November 2019 during the 31st session of the General Assembly.

The Philippines retained its seat in the IMO Council at a highly competitive election which saw 24 countries vie for 20 available seats under Category C comprising of states which have special interests in maritime transport or

BY STACY DANIKA ALCANTARA

navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world..

The 31st Assembly of IMO meets in London at the IMO Headquarters from 25 November to 4 December 2019. “The Philippine candidature is predicated on the unstinting commitment of the country to work closely with the IMO and all member states to achieve the goal of making shipping safe, secure, and environment friendly,� said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, who is also the Philippine Permanent Representative to the IMO, in his statement before the General

Assembly.

He underscored that the Philippines actively pursues initiatives and policies that focus on the human element in shipping and puts a premium on the skills, competency and well-being of Filipino seafarers, who play a vital role in ensuring safe operations on board the ship and on the sea.

The Philippines has the largest nationality of maritime crew serving the international merchant fleet, and has a growing shipbuilding sector, making it the 5th largest shipbuilding nation in the world.

The Council to which the Philippines has been re-elected,

is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the organization. The members of the Council under Category A are ten states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services, while those in Category B are ten states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.

The Philippines joins Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey in the list of member states elected under Category C for the biennium 20202021.

12

DECEMBER 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

Interest in PH Coffee Perks Up in the UK

BY STACY DANIKA ALCANTARA

El Union’s Silvester Samonte gives London’s coffee lovers a taste of Philippine coffee from Northern Luzon during the coffee cupping session. Photo courtesy of El Union

S

pecialty coffee roaster operators Lorenzo Cosio and Silvester Samonte of La Union-based coffee company El Union Coffee gave the UK a taste of Philippine specialty coffee during a roadshow across major cities in the UK from October to November 2019.

El Union’s coffee tour began with a cupping table and a talk led by its cofounders focused on the challenges, successes, and community initiatives aimed to reenergise the Philippine coffee industry its much-needed boost at London’s Assembly Coffee on 28 October. They also participated as part of the Philippine booth in this year’s World Travel Market, which is one of the UK’s largest travel fairs.

“The panel’s perspectives in both developing and developed coffeeproducing countries helped put the spotlight [on the] Philippine specialty coffee story in the context of a global discussion,” said El Union Coffee in an Instagram post on the recentlyconcluded Coffee Studies event in Brixton. “We cupped a few Filipino

coffees that gave an idea of the country’s current flavour landscape, and gave away bags of Sitio Naguey naturals by Kalsada Coffee which has been imported to the UK by Indo China Coffee.”

“The interest on Philippine specialty coffee generated by El Union during their recent tour in the UK is a glimpse of the enormous potential for Philippine coffee in this part of the world,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo.

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the UK with over 95 million cups of coffee consumed every day in the country, according to a recent British Coffee Association report. There is also an increasing appetite for ground and singleserve coffee pods with millennials in the UK accounting for 16% of all buyers. This presents an enormous opportunity for Philippine coffee, especially with the recent collaboration of five Philippine government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority aimed at giving the Philippine coffee industry a big boost.

Lorenzo Cosio, co-founder of El Union Coffee, talks about the travails and triumphs in cultivating a love for Philippine coffee everywhere. Photo courtesy of El Union

DECEMBER 2019

13

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

DON’T MISS THE FUNNIEST SHOW IN THE WEST END

FINAL WEEKS

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DECEMBER 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

COMMUNITY NEWS

Baybayin Master, John Leyson, shares the history of baybayin with the participants of the Gloucestershire Baybayin Workshop. Photo courtesy of the London Filipino Language Centre CIC

A boy takes on the challenge of writing his name in baybayin during the Baybayin Workshop in Birmingham.

Photo courtesy of London Filipino Language Centre CIC

First Baybayin Workshop Series in UK Draws Crowds

BY STACY DANIKA ALCANTARA

P

hilippine baybayin master John Leyson conducted the first in a series of baybayin writing workshops in the UK this month. The workshops featuring one of the Philippines’ indigenous syllabaries drew crowds of Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike who were interested to learn more about baybayin.

The workshops took place in partnership with the London Filipino

Language Centre CIC and other Filipino Community Organisations and Filipino Student Societies.

Previous workshops took place in Birmingham, Gloucestershire, and London. The UCL Filipino Society will host the upcoming baybayin workshop on 22 November 2019.

“Culture is future. Filipinos abroad, whether by choice or by necessity, will find themselves at the centre of a highly globalized society. Like other people from other nations, they bring with them their culture: language, values, belief system, traditions, hopes and dreams,” said Leyson. “We are part of that big global tapestry and we have our own colorful identity to share the whole world. We long to inspire

and energize our own people so we can propel our immensely rich culture towards a very dynamic and diversified future.”

Ric Patriarca, the founder and director of the London Filipino Language Centre CIC, continues to work closely with Leyson in promoting a renewed appreciation for baybayin among Filipinos in the UK. “The only way to make baybayin alive is for us to love it, own it, promote it, preserve it and above all, use it,” said Patriarca. Apart from teaching the participants how to write in baybayin, the workshops focus on shedding light on baybayin’s history and how this ancient syllabary can be made relevant to

SHARE YOUR STORIES!

today’s generation of Filipinos.

“Somehow, as a people have forgotten certain elements of our past- our written language, baybayin, for instance, due to the indelible marks of centuries-old colonization.

We need to rummage through the remnants of our past and use these sort of “new-found treasures” to bring more colour to our faded identity as a people,” said Leyson.

“The Embassy lauds the efforts of the Filipino community in promoting baybayin,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo. “As a form of written language, learning and understanding baybayin is integral in truly appreciating our language and culture.”

Send us news of your community events and activities. We welcome details of your stories, including success, awards, appointments and events.

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UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

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DECEMBER 2019

embassy news Mindanao scholars Dr. Christine Godinez-Ortega and Dr. Leonard Rey S. Cariño engage the audience with discussions on the epics and textiles of Mindanao to introduce a lesser-known aspect of Philippine culture to the crowd.

Back-to-Back Talks on Mindanao Culture Draw London Crowd

T

BY STACY DANIKA ALCANTARA

wo scholars from Mindanao conducted a series of talks on Mindanao epics and indigenous textiles at University College London (UCL) on 28 October. The talk, Tales of Mindanao: The Epics and Textiles of Mindanao, drew crowds of students, artists, writers, and scholars who were interested to know more about Mindanao.

“Many foreigners and children of Filipino migrants do not know about our pre-colonial literatures. They are there for one’s learning about our country’s true self, values and truths,” said Dr. Godinez-Ortega. “These are in the legends, epics and poetry that should be advanced today lest we give the wrong image about our country. Before we realized our nationhood, colonialism cut this short. Our geography or groups of islands hasn’t helped.

Everyone should help reimagine our country, embrace her diversities, and embrace the local towards internationalization towards the realization of a global Filipino.”

Dr. Christine Godinez-Ortega, renowned Philippine poet and Mindanao scholar and the Director of the Iligan Writers Workshop introduced the various epics of Mindanao, juxtaposing these with contemporary literature

by Mindanao writers who drew on these tales as inspiration for their work. Dr. Leonard Rey S. Cariño, on the other hand, engaged the audience with a comprehensive discussion on the different textiles of Mindanao and what these fabrics meant to the community using and producing them.

“Talks about Philippine culture and heritage, especially those that probe deep into the heart of our indigenous heritage, help Filipinos around the world to better understand our identity as a people,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo. “These talks are also vital in introducing our culture to the rest of the world.”

The talk was organised by the UCL Filipino Society, an group of students in one of London’s most prestigious universities who share a passion for promoting Philippine arts and culture in the UK.

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18

DECEMBER 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

COMMUNITY NEWS

Speaking Consul Arlene Macaisa of the Philippine Embassy

Guest Speaker - Alex Milbrook Kalayaan

Doc Remy Reyes(FWA-UK Adviser), Janna Skerrins, Alex Milbrook, Roxanne Wilkins, Eleanor Templeman (FWA-UK Chairmain), Marsha Humphreys and Crystal Dias.

Guest Speaker- Janna Skerrin and Marsha Humphreys, Essex and Kent Police

Moderator Crystal Dias

Guest Speaker - Roxanne Wilkin of Women at the Well

FWA-UK LADIES after the forum

FWA-UK’s Forum on “Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking- Domestic Workers Trafficked from the Middle East

F

By CRYSTAL DIAS

WA-UK organized a Forum on “Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking- Domestic Workers Trafficked from the Middle East” as spearheaded by our Chairman Eleanor Templeman, to raise awareness of the plight of domestic workers in the middle east and the protection afforded to them in the UK, at the Royal Garden Hotel Kensington, 15 November.

According to the Home Office guidance, Exploitation by way of Domestic servitude often involves people working in a household where they are: • ill treated • humiliated • subjected to exhausting working hours • forced to live and work under unbearable conditions • forced to work for little or no pay.

In the UK, a mechanism is in place to provide protection to those who are potential victims of modern slavery and by granting them discretionary leave to remain providing they meet the requirements.

FWA-UK gives special thanks to

the Guest Speakers who discussed in general and in detail different ways of exploitation including domestic servitude: Marsha Humphreys and Janna Sherrin • They Protect & Prevent Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery • they are from the Serious Crime Directorate – Kent Police and Essex Police • Marsha is the lead Intelligence Analyst for the Home Office covering the Southeast and Europe • Janna is linguistics and cultural advisory service Officer • make for a perfect combination of Officers focusing on preventative and protective Public Service.

• They believe that victim-centred approach will one day disrupt human traffickers and exploiters

of the vulnerable up to such a point that it will become an unprofitable business model.

Alex Millbrook • is a barrister who has been working as an immigration lawyer at Kalayaan since 2017.

• Prior to that, she lived in Hong Kong for 15 years where she worked at an NGO that gave free legal advice to migrant domestic workers there.

• She has wide experience in immigration and employment issues but has also practised in family, personal injury, criminal and agricultural law.

• Her first degree was in Modern History, which apparently started in AD 485, but continues to give her insight and perspective into the issues that affect her clients today.

• She is a qualified mediator.

• from Women@the Well • is the Advocacy and Support Services Manager The successful event was attended by different representatives of various Filipino groups including Filipino Domestic Workers Association, the Voice of Domestic Workers,

The Philippine Jury Campaign, Batangas Association, Aguman Association, ENFID-UK and others.

FWA-UK wishes to thank the Philippine Embassy represented by Consul Arlene Macaisa imparting the participants with useful information on available assistance to distressed Filipino domestic workers.

FWA-UK wishes to thank the Board Members and Leo Sumpongco who sponsored the event who made this event possible.

The FWA-UK is a non-profit, charitable organisation that was formally founded and established

by Mrs. Nene Quimson (wife of the late Ambassador Quimson to the UK) in 1988.

The Association became a UK registered charity effective May 2012 with charity # 1147454.

FWA-UK main focus and vision is to provide support to vulnerable women and education to indigent children through scholarship in the Philippines and the UK.

DECEMBER 2019

UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

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PASKO SA PINAS!

Ilocos Norte town makes eco-friendly

CHRISTMAS DECORS

W

By Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco

ho says Christmas should always be in extravagance?

ECO-CHRISTMAS TREE. A 30-feet Christmas tree stands in front of the Pinili Municipal Grounds with garlic-like adornments hung up. (photo by Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco/PIA Ilocos Norte)

ECOBRICKS. These ecobricks serve as seats for visiting tourists in front of the municipal grounds in Pinili, Ilocos Norte. (photo by Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco/PIA Ilocos Norte)

In the humble town of Pinili, the Yuletide season is welcomed with decorations and ornaments made out of indigenous materials and recycled plastic items created by the members of the Basuradal Team composed of local government of Pinili, Municipal Action Team, parent leaders, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

indigenous materials, and sturdy ecobricks that serve as seats for visitors.

The municipal grounds is adorned with a 30-feet tall Christmas tree with garlic-like ornaments created out of plastic bottles, lanterns are fashionably put together using

Through this program, residents are also encouraged not to put plastic wastes such as sachets, bottles, and utensils immediately in the trash can.

“Basuradal is the name of the project. Basura (trash) and adal (learn) because we want to educate our beneficiaries how to manage the recyclable waste we often see,” John Ley Ligsay, municipal link of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said.

Instead, these materials should be collected and recycled.

materials are purposeful and functional.

“Parte ng proyekto namin ang paggawa ng ecobrick. Imbes na ibasura namin, ‘yong mga sachet at wrappers ay gugupit-gupitin namin para makagawa ng eco-brick,” Leizel Baldomir, 4Ps parent leader, shared.

With this, the local government of Pinili promotes an environmentfriendly celebration of Christmas and hopes other local governments will adopt this project.

An ecobrick is a plastic bottle wherein single-used plastic such as sachets and wrappers are stuffed inside to create an ecological building block.

There’s a whole new way of celebrating the Christmas season without spending a single money from the pocket because a single plastic from the trash bag can be a beautiful Christmas trinket. (AMB/ MJTAB/PIA Ilocos Norte)

In Pinili, these ecobricks are used as seats to showcase that plastic

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community news

Filipino builds Lego Open MRI to help anxious patients, asks support to make it a reality

A

By JOSHUA CALAUSTRO

pollo Exconde, a UK-based radiographer designed Lego Open MRI, a toy that aims to give hope to help patients eliminate misconceptions or worries on the treatment.

In his profile in Lego Ideas (ideas.lego. com), Exconde aims to not only do the fun stuff of building a lego but also to explain to the patient how MRI procedure will be carried out. He even described it as “amusing and interesting for everyone.”

Exconde, with a special interest to anxious/claustrophobic and plus size patients, built this design based on his patients’ suggestions and recommendations. The toy has a sliding

table feature that will show the patient’s head and body and how it will be positioned in the machine. Moreover, it can also be transformed into another scanner replica with the same bricks. One can create an upright MRI, CT scan and DEXA scan.

As a result, Exconde hopes to bring medical imaging scanners closer to anxious patients like kids as something fun and interactive exhibiting its medical benefits.

He is already halfway to reach the 10,000 votes he needs to make the idea into reality. As of this writing, the Open MRI has already gained 5,693 supporters with less than 400 days to go before completion.

To support Exconde with his idea, visit ideas.lego.com and look for Open MRI.

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BREXIT and your

Dream Home

By SAJEEV KOORAN

B

uying a home in the UK is everyone’s dream and forms a part of our settlement. It happens only once in most of our lives. Houses are very expensive in the UK; therefore, buying a house is an expensive affair; however, you can save thousands of pounds on your mortgage payments instead of the rent that pays someone else’s mortgage and also if you buy at the right time. One has to do their homework properly and choose your location and make the decision on time, which are the key things you may have to follow to save money. Most of the houses in the UK are purchased with the assistance of mortgage therefore it is equally important for you to buy when the interest rates are low.

The house prices were stagnated until 2013 and the market started showing an upward trend till the beginning of this year. The housing market started slowing down from this year onwards and this was assuming due to the political and financial uncertainty developed over the widely discussed Brexit.

Of Couse there are two levels of thought, the optimistic Brexiters believe that the Brexit will bring financial security, property stability, and more jobs, etc. whereas the others believe that if the country leaves the EU, this will be a catastrophe. What is evident now is that the economic activities have slowed down, and the situation has led to a dilemma among the public.

The housing market is considered to be a buyers’ market when the market is stagnated. In other words, the house price is low, and interest rates low. It is always

advisable to enter into the housing market when it is the so-called “buyers’ market.” If you purchase your house at the right time, your equity may rise when the market is back to normal, and you can even consider taking equity out of your first house to buy your second house.

When you purchase a house, it is very important for you to choose the right location, which is either near to your workplace or close to your children’s school or ideally both.

The area where your house is located is important as this will affect the future house prices and if you ended up purchasing your house in the wrong area, it might affect the resale value of your house.

If you are unable to finance your purchase, you may also be

able to explore the possibility of purchasing under the shared ownership scheme. The government is also encouraging the first-time buyers as they are exempted from paying stamp duty when buying their first house up to a value of £300,000.00 When it comes to the purchase of your dream home, I believe now it is a buyers’ market and this may give you more choices and bargaining power. The same principle applies to the purchase of a business such as shops and leases etc.

Primarc Solicitors are CQS accredited and accepted by most of the mortgage lenders in the UK. We are specialised in dealing with the purchase and sale of houses and leasehold shops and other businesses etc. Please contact our office if you are interested in getting a free conveyancing quote.

“

When it comes to the purchase of your dream home, I believe now it is a buyers’ market and this may give you more choices and bargaining power.

MR. SAJEEV KOORAN DIRECTOR PRimarc solicitors Mr. Kooran is the driving force behind the success of this law firm. He is the Director of the law firm and has been working as solicitor from the year 2004. Mr. Kooran has a wealth of experience in multiple legal fields, which includes property law, family law and immigration. In addition to being the Director of the firm, he is also the head of the family, immigration and property law departments. As an individual, he is fluent in multiple languages which include Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and English.

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FACE OF THE MONTH

CLAIRE ORR North West London 17 years old currently a sixth form student working towards A Level Qualifications in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. loveS art and enjoy painting portraits or still lifes, loves skiing and swimming which SHE haS done since a young age. She has a keen interest in watching or following Philippine Pageantry.

ASPIRATION: to study medicine and become a doctor due to HER passion for people’s care. SHE also hopes to simultaneously be able to pursue pageantry in the Philippines as she findS that it is a great way to express herself in the Filipino community.

Mother: Honeylet orr/Nueva Ecija Father: Alwyn orr/northern ireland

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community news

“

at the RIZAL BRITISH MUSEUM

T

By GERONIMO SULIGUIN

he Knights of Rizal held its 7th European Regional Assembly last August 30 – September 1, 2019 in London, United Kingdom with the theme “Isalin ang Rizalismo sa Gawaing Pagbabago” (Translate Rizalism to Transformative Action).

Area Commander Sir Alfonso Taguiang, Knight Grand Officer of Rizal, was at the helm of the event.

The celebration also marked the 130th year of publication of Dr. Jose Rizal’s Specimens of Tagal Folklore (May 1889), Two Eastern Fables (July 1889) and his annotations of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, a product of his numerous visits to the British Museum.

One of the activities of the 7th ERA was a visit to the British Museum to view Rizal's Register of Admission to the Reading Room.

"I was fortunate enough to be of assistance to the London organizers since I was previously in contact with the British Museum while I was working on a paper on Rizal," he said.

His previous engagements with the Museum led to facilitating Taguiang's request for the delegates of the 7th ERA to see the Register.

Dr. Rizal arrived in London in the last week of May 1888. On the 25th of May, he arrived at the Grand Hotel Midland, the train’s final stop from Liverpool. The hotel is more familiar in today’s London as St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, the façade of which doubled as Kings’ Cross station to Harry Potter’s Platform 9 ¾.

By mid-August 1888, Rizal

embarked on writing the Filipino’s glorious past. He registered as a reader at the British Museum on 16 August 1888. In order to study books or manuscripts held by the Museum, it was necessary to make an application and be given permission. Those granted admission were issued a ticket which had to be presented when visiting the Reading Room.

Decoding the Registry The Registry entries are numbered according to the arrival of the guests.

Looking at the Registry, the left column markings would tell us that Rizal was the 15th person to be registered on 16th August 1888 (16/15), with 16 marking the day of the month and 15 as the order of registration. The A34470 that appears below the 16/15 is the number of Rizal’s application form to the Museum while 3561 is the accession number for the documents that he presented to request access to the Round Reading Room. These documents were likely to be a reference letter and a letter by Rizal making such a request.

The registry did not make any mention who Rizal’s referee was unlike in the previous entries. For example, in the entry on Karl Marx in 1850, it was clear who his referee was, the German Dr. William Plate.

Dr. Plate was the same referee

listed on another entry, that of Dr. Reinhold Rost who was Rizal’s neighbor and friend at Primrose Hill.

Dr. Rost has always been credited as the one responsible for Rizal’s admittance to the British Museum.

This is not surprising considering the influence of Rost and the friendship that existed between the two men.

To put the doubt in my mind to rest, I inquired from the Museum who Rizal’s referee was. I found out that while it was still necessary to submit a referee in 1889, sadly, in the case of Rizal, the application form may have been lost or at least no longer in the British Museum (as it is the case with most earlier applications).

To date, there is no record of who was his referee. It may, therefore, be necessary to inquire deeper from the British Library if they have it as the Library kept some of them when they moved out of the British Museum building. As of this time, it does not appear in the Library’s catalogue but it does not mean it is not there, if it is there.

In the main column, the entries – the name and the address – were written by Rizal, identifying himself as a doctor (Dr.) and writing down his address.

Rizal frequented the Reading Room, copying by hand the entire Morga

book and making annotations using available accounts of other scholars.

Fortunately, access to the Reading Room, as the whole of the British Museum, was free of charge. During Rizal’s time, readers were issued with a ticket just once and there was not a need to renew it.

The reader’s ticket was presented if the staff would not recognize the person. Rizal would have been very easy to recognize with his Asian features.

The library was open MondaySaturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from January to April and OctoberDecember and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May to August. It was a very busy place with up to 490 people visiting on one day.

Rizal took advantage of the resources available at the Reading Room. After leaving London in early 1889 for Paris, Rizal continued to visit the Museum. He found its materials and collections more adequate than those in continental Europe. (PNA) (About the author: Geronimo Suliguin took postgraduate courses in historical and diplomatic studies at Oxford University. He is Assistant Director at the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs.)

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COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR

07 DEC

Dabawenyo UK Gala Night 5:30 PM – 11 PM UTC Millennium Gloucester Hotel 4-18 Harrington Gardens, SW7 4LH London, United Kingdom Door Ticket £ 50 ( 3 courses meal ) Dress Code: Formal attire and black tie.

14 DEC

MISS WORlD 2019

The live show in London is from 14:00 TO 17:00 GMT. T o purchase click on the link below. www.seetickets.com/event/miss-world-2019/ excel/1466374

Come and join these events!

05 JAN 2020

21 DEC

BISDAK UK CHRISTMAS PARTY Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 6 PM – 11 PM UTC Maxilla Social Club St. Mark’s Rd, W10 6NQ London, United Kingdom

FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 1:30 PM – 7 PM UTC St Agnes Catholic Church Cricklewood Lane 34 Cricklewood Lane, NW2 1HD London, United Kingdom

19 JAn 2020 London Winter Walk 2020 Sunday, 7 AM – 8 PM UTC Kia Oval Cricket Ground London, United Kingdom Tickets: https://www.londonwinterwalk.com/

SEND US NEWS OF YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

We welcome details of of your stories, including success, awards, appointments and events. yesphilnewsmaguk@gmail.com

FRIGGA FORECAST from DECEMBER 7- JANUARY 05

PHILIPPINE FENG SHUI QUEEN

Marites Allen

RAT

DRAGON

MONKEY

This is a great time to prepare for the success of the coming year. There will be happy moments with your partner.

Singles will enjoy love luck. Promotion at work is possible. Ignore feelings of doubt and keep pushing ahead.

Past investments may yield positive returns. Make up for past losses and carry protection from the robbery star to prevent opportunities from slipping through your fingers. There could be some health issues, too, so be cautious.

You may miss some important details at work if you are not in the right frame of mind. Don’t hesitate to seek help. Wear protective accessories against negative influences and undue stress.

OX

SNAKE

ROOSTER

HORSE

DOG

Some negative influences may affect your relationships. Try not to make big changes and focus on doing your best with your present tasks. The tempest will soon be followed by calmness.

You have big goals but take your time and you will be fine. Competition is OK; just be sure it’s the healthy type.

Don’t brag about your achievements as others may not find it appealing.

Prevent risks of illness with some feng shui cures.

SHEEP

BOAR

Your energy is back and with it comes good news. Business or career prospects look positive. Review contracts and make sure you get a fair deal. Singles may think of taking the next step in their love life and consider making a serious commitment.

TIGER Last month’s challenges disappear and new opportunities set in. Cleanse your surroundings to get rid of any remaining negative energies. Be open to advice from peers. Single Tigers may have time for finding new love.

RABBIT There are just too many good things to enjoy this month. You shine like a star and anything you get involved in will yield positive results. Your romantic relationships will also get a boost. Be bold, as fortune favors the brave.

It’s time to celebrate. At work you are seen as a leader. Enhance the Southeast or North sector of your home to help attract the right energy.

Romance has also put a spring to your step as your partner sees all the best things in you.

You may be asked to extend financial assistance or someone may ask to borrow money from you. Singles may choose to mingle but should think twice about making commitments.

There are other things on your mind.

Follow Marites Allen on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and marites.allen.com, frigga.co.uk and wealthluck.com for consultation.

Avoid things that could upset you this month. Realign your goals with your level of energy; you might need to take time off to do this. If you are single, enjoy your personal space. If you’re in a relationship, allow your partner to help you hurdle issues.

You will be assigned new responsibilities that might require more work. Don’t be afraid to seek help if your energy level is down. You can be competitive and still be diplomatic at the same time. Be humble about your successes.

DECEMBER 2019

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UNITED KINGDOM EDITION

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DECEMBER 2019

biyahe pinas!

DOT celebrates PHL’s Leading Dive Destination citation

BY PH DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM-LONDON

T

he Philippines continues to enjoy recognition as one of the world’s premier diving destination, this time bagging back-toback diving accolades at the World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony held recently at the Royal Opera House Muscat.

Winning WTA’s 2019 World’s Leading Dive Destination award for the first time, the Philippines bested eight other global dive destinations also nominated under the same category, namely Azores Islands, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Galapagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef in

Australia, Maldives, and Mexico.

“Dubbed by marine experts and scientists as the heart of marine biodiversity in the world, our country is home to the highest concentration of coral reef life and astounding variety of marine species. This latest recognition is a validation that the Philippines is truly a premier dive destination,” said Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Meanwhile, Palawan’s prestigious Amanpulo Resort also emerged victorious as the World’s Leading Dive Resort at the gala event.

Last October, WTA held its gala event for Asia and Oceania in Vietnam, where the Philippines earned its first Asia’s Leading Dive Destination award after multiple nominations since 2006.

Conversely, the PDOT was also

recognized as Asia’s Leading Tourism Board for its efforts to increase visitor arrivals for the Philippines in the previous year.

Identifying dive tourism as one of the key product portfolios under the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016-2022, the PDOT has hosted a number of divecentric events including the Anilao Underwater Shootout photography competition, and the Travel Trade Support through Dive Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) business-tobusiness (B2B) meetings.

Recently, the PDOT hosted the first Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) exposition, the only event in the world with the Dive Travel Exchange or business-to-business (B2B) meetings. The exposition gave foreign buyers the opportunity to see and experience first-hand Philippine dive products and knowledge of

the country’s dive destinations, and stressed the Philippines’ competitive advantage in the region, not only as a diving destination, but also as a business hub.

“Through the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), we also ensure that diving safety and operating standards in the country are at par with the rest of the world,” added Puyat.

Founded in 1993, the WTA or World Travel Awards has been recognizing brands and organizations from the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries all over the world that have raised the bar for global tourism standards, through its annual Grand Tour, a series of six regional gala ceremonies with a grand final ceremony held at the end of each tour.

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SPORTS NEWS

Filipino figure skater ranks 17th in Volvo Open

Y

By JOSH CALAUSTRO

oung Filipina lass, Adriana Lagman, 10, glides her way into the international ice rink finishing at 17th spot during the 40th Volvo Open Cup, Riga Latvia, 10 November.

Lagman started her passion in the ice rink at a young age of five. She started competing in the beginner’s level but with her skills, jumped four levels reaching Basic Novice last July.

Lagman is a disciplined athlete who wakes up daily at 4 am to get ready for her training. She gets to the rink at 5 am to start her warmup before taking the ice for an hour and another hour off-ice lessons for physical body conditioning.

Her mother Abigael confessed, “Skating doesn’t only stop with her being on the ice to skate, so she needed more creative output for her body to develop well to show good performances.” Aside from figure skating, she is also engaged in ballet and taekwondo to supplement her skating and also swimming to help her calm her muscles during downtime.

This multi-talented figure-skater is also an ABRSM Grade 06 level violinist and has been playing for four years now. She is set to be an inspiration to young kids to pursue their passion with all of their hearts. She hopes to get every Filipino kid to be proactive and to grow engaged with sports passionately.

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