The Blas F. Ople Policy Center (Labor Concerns)

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Tomorrow, May 01, is Labor Day. I am joining some friends in spreading these suggestions to address the plight of our workers.

News Release
Blas F. Ople Policy Center
April 27, 2008
Ople Center recommends additional non-wage benefits for May 1
The Blas F. Ople Policy Center proposed five specific non-wage benefits that the government can study as part of its package of benefits to workers on Thursday, May 1 also known as Labor Day.
Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople, who heads the BFO Policy Center, said high costs of rice, food and oil should encourage the government to think about urgent ways to help workers around the country cope with inflation and the erosion of their purchasing power.
The Center recommends that the government consider:

1. Declaring a temporary yet mandatory four-day work week for all government agencies except for those dealing with public health and national security. A four-day work week will enable government workers to save on transportation and food costs while giving them a three-day weekend that they could use to be with their families or to jumpstart micro enterprises. This would also help ease traffic on Fridays which could in turn alleviate stress on the part of the driving and riding public. This will also help government save on its energy costs.
2. Citing occupational health and safety standards as a way to compel the Business Processing and Outsourcing industry to invest in free shuttle services for their employees. Night shift call center agents, especially young women, have to pay extra for taxi fare to ensure their own personal security while going to or leaving their place of work everyday. Given the substantial earnings of the biggest call center companies in Metro Manila and other urban cities, such investments would go a long way in promoting the well-being of their employees. As an alternative, successful BPOs should provide daily transport allowances to night-shift employees and workers on top of their regular pay.
3. The government can also expand and maximize the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) during the summer break. Very few employers and students are aware of this program and yet it represents a good vehicle for skills training and development. On the part of the students, the SPES under DOLE’s supervision, enables them to gain work experience while at the same time saving up for their tuition fees in the forthcoming semesters. SPES deserves a re-launch with the full participation of the different chambers of commerce.
4. Fast-track an emergency employment program that would tap jobless yet experienced ex-OFWs and early retirees who have certain skills sets and good work ethics honed through the years. For example, in nearly every department, there is always a backlog of data and information that needs to be encoded and digitized. The hiring of qualified ex-OFWs and early retirees from the private and public sectors to help meet such backlogs can form part of this program which is geared towards enhancing productivity of the workforce and stimulating the economy.
5. Develop employment opportunities in the creative economy through outsourcing. This is something that can easily be done at the national and local levels. The different departments can stimulate the economy by outsourcing programs and projects that qualified NGOs and freelance creative groups and individuals can do. Rather than just putting out bidding announcements for equipments and supplies, the government must also learn to look outwards by encouraging department heads to outsource certain programs to the private sector. This will help stimulate government interaction with young creative minds and dynamic civil society groups. This would also expose bureaucrats to market and technology-driven concepts and realities. Government outsourcing requires a new mindset that now prevails in many bureaucracies around the world.

Ople said the five points can be fleshed out by the government through the labor department with representatives of big business and civil society.
“We need fresh perspectives on how to combine public policy with the government’s clout as an employment-innovator. If done right, the public sector can assume a leading role in job generation, even if these are work assignments that are time-bound and objectives-driven,” the BFO Center stressed.
The BFO Policy Center said it would submit a memo to Labor Secretary Marianito Roque containing the five unsolicited recommendations. “If one or two of them are considered, then that is already a positive contribution of the Center to Labor Day,” Ople said.
The Blas F. Ople Policy Center is a non-government organization formed in honor of the memory of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople. It was during Ople’s time as labor secretary that the overseas employment program was created. He is also acknowledged as the Father of the Philippine Labor Code.

No More Brown Fruits

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If you're out of lemon and you need to keep sliced bananas, apples and pears from browning try honey. It can help prevent oxidation the same way citrus juice can. Coat the fruit slices with a tablespoon of honey. I suggest you use light honey, it is milder in flavor and it won't compete with fruit.

Eat this... Beat this...

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Beat your stress response by eating a whole grain bread sandwich. Whole grains are packed with B Vitamins and increases production of hormones that inhibit the effects of the stress hormones to calm our nerves within an hour. Take a quick break from those stressful moments, just one serving is enough to turn you back into your clear head self.

Earn more with 5 Star

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Are you selling products on the web? If you are, and you still do not offer payments through credit cards on your site, this is the right time to upgrade your payment options. Accepting credit cards can help boost your sales and increase your profit. Most online shoppers are paying through credit cards because it is so convenient especially to international customers.

Five Star Payments provides articles on some basic information on adding credit card payment facilities on your site. You probably don't know how much money you could have saved if you started accepting credit card payments early on. Please click on the links to get started.

Okra Recipe

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Okra, gumbo or lady's finger is a popular vegetable here in the Philippines. It is a flowering plant in the mallow family and is valued for its green edible fruit. Not many people like this vegetable due to the sticky, saliva like substance the vegetable releases when cut. Most Filipino families boil the okras and serve it with shrimp past [bagoong] and vinegar. In my kitchen, aside from boiled and tempura, okra is cooked with chili garlic sauce. It is important that you wash them thoroughly before slicing. Never wash the okras after you have sliced them to lessen the release of the sticky substance. Saute the sliced okras with garlic, onion, shrimp and ground pork. When the shrimp and pork are done, put the okras. Season with chili garlic paste and salt and you're done.

When buying okra, look for young pods free of bruises, they should be tender but not soft.

The Friendliest Blogger Award

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A new blogger friend gave me this wonderful award. Irish thank so much I was so moved by those very kind words.

I just would like to say thank you to a blogger friend who has contributed to my knowledge and growth in blogging. I know, she might have probably helped you too, she is a great friend, I can feel it. So, I would like to present this award to her.

I am awarding this FRIENDLIEST BLOGGER to my blogger friend, LIZA. Thank u mommy, and keep on inspiring others. :) Your really a cool mom. Thank you and more power to your blogs!

The Bloat

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Do you sometimes feel bloated? The summer heat is on and you tend to drink too much water to keep you refreshed all day, then you end up feeling bloated. Say goodbly to the bloat, a ginger-infused bath is what you need. It quickly deflates areas prone to puffiness. Ginger has antioxidants called gingerols and shagoals, these, infused in warm water enter the fatty layer under the skin and flush the fat-trapping toxins. Ginger also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that relieve achy muscles.

For your bath, pour 1 cup of grated fresh ginger into the foot of an old clean panty hose [thin sock and cheese cloth may be used also] Tie it and drop into a tub of warm or lukewarm water, infuse the ginger for 5 minutes then soak for 20 minutes.

Quick Fixes

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Here are some household tips and quick fixes without spending money to replace them with new ones.

If you've lost a bath tub plug, find an old golf ball and use it as a substitute. It stays in place and rolls back in if dislodged.

For sticking shower curtains, don't throw it out and buy a new one, hair conditioner will do the job. Apply and rub it on the rod, you'll be surprised that the rings will glide smoothly.

Instead of buying and using a regular pin cushion, use a wide candle. The wax helps pins and needles slide in and out of the fabric more easily. Plus, it prevents them from rusting.

If you're having guests, impress them by making your plant leaves glossy. Rub them with a little mayonnaise and a paper towel. They will stay shiny for weeks. Egg whites work well too.

An Apple a Day

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The old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" have been justified by its many health rich properties. Apples are packed with Vitamin C and loads of antioxidants. They are excellent detoxifiers and apple juice can destroy viruses in the body.

Apple aids in healing gout and rheumatism and eating 2 apples a day will reduce your cholesterol level. It cleans teeth and strengthens your gums. It also helps prevent constipation because it helps digestion. It is also a good source of fiber.

When buying apples, make sure they are not hard. If you can't dent an apple with your finger, don't buy it. Never buy apples that have not been kept cold since they can be over-ripe in a few days. Keep them refrigerated. Apples not kept in the fridge will decay fast. to prevent them from browning, rub the cut part with a mixture of lemon juice and water. According to some research, red apples are better than other apples.

Here are some of the most popular types of apples:

ROME BEAUTY - Red with stripes, has shallow cup around stem. Firm texture, has a mild flavor and is good for cooking and baking.

STAYMAN - A close relative of the winesap, but more elongated in shape. Rich red skin, semi-firm texture and has a wine-like flavor. It's an all-purpose apple.

GOLDEN DELICIOUS - Yellow apple similar in shape and texture to red delicious. Has a tangy sweet flavor and is best for cooking and baking.

YORK - Also known as York Imperial. Red and green in coloring. Lopsided shape, firm in texture has a tart and juicy flavor. This can also be used for cooking and baking.

WINESAP - One of the oldest American varieties, has a deep red color and somewhat elongated yet oval in shape. Firm texture, tart and has a wine-like flavor. An all-purpose apple.

JONATHAN - Bright red with green in some strains; oval shape, tender texture, tart and has a juicy flavor. These are best eaten fresh.

McINTOSH - Two-toned red and green skin. Oval in shape, tender, rich, spicy, has a juicy taste and aromatic odor. Also an all-purpose apple.

RED DELICIOUS - Bright red color, identified by "broad shoulders" tapering to 5 modules as the base. Crisp texture and sweet flavor. The most popular among all the apples.

GRANNY SMITH - Freckled green skin covers a sweetly tart flesh that's excellent for both out-of-hand eating and cooking.

Quirky Cleaning Solutions

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Here are some cleaning solutions I found while reading a magazine. These may sound weird but they actually work. I tried some of them and was amazed with the results.

* Remove dirty or greasy fingerprints from painted walls or non-washable wallpaper by rubbing the area with a slice of white bread.

* To get animal hair off car seats, your favorite couch or the sofa, run a rubber glove over the surface. Hair sticks to the glove and comes right off.

* Shine small copper items by rubbing gently with a cotton swab dipped in ketchup. Rub off with a cotton cloth and they'll gleam.

* Clean a bathroom mirror with shaving cream, then wipe with a soft cloth. It helps defog a mirror after showers.

* Clean gold and silverwares with baking soda and vinegar. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with half a cup of vinegar. Apply and wipe with a soft cloth. This will help bring back the shine on them. The solution also works best in taking off dry water stains on your flower vases.

*** watch out for more tips on future posts