US Requiring visa applicants to provide social media details

social media details required for US visa applicants

Who said visa is not needed to enter the United States? Those articles saying one does not need a visa to enter the United States is a faux news. Visa application both for immigrant and non-immigrant is still stringent and just today while I was browsing the online, I read at the AP News website that there is an added required information from the visa applicant.  It stated that nearly all visa applicants for United States are required to provide their social media details which include accounts on twitter and facebook. It reported that email, social media and phone number histories had only been sought in the past from applicants who were identified for extra scrutiny which is about 65,000 applicants per year. There are about 15 million visa applicants in the US every year.  Applicants for certain official and diplomatic visa types are not required to submit their social media details. This was implemented since national security is a top priority of the state department and a way to screen visa applicants. 

There are millions of visa applicants in the United States every year from family petitioned, work petitioned, tourist visas among others. Some of these visas were approved after years of waiting and some months of waiting, it depends on the category they are applying for and it also depends on someone’s case. In 2017 according to travel.State.Gov.-United States, the United States issued 559,536 immigrant visas and 9,681,913 nonimmigrant visas. 

Tree Planting Success: 3.2 Million Trees in 1 Hour

3.3 MILLION TREE PLANTING IN THE PHILIPPINES

If there is a challenge worth organizing by different mountaineering clubs, environmentalist and volunteers, it is tree planting challenge.

3.2 MILLION TREE PLANTING

This news resurfaced again, thanks to social media. Back in 2014, I didn’t hear about this tree planting news that there were 3.2 million trees planted in one hour in Mindanao, Philippines. 160,000 people including government employees, students and volunteers participated in the tree planting drive in six different areas in Mindanao headed by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Agency. The trees planted were a mix of commercial crops like rubber trees, cacao and coffee as well as forest varieties. These were chosen because it would help in the livelihood of the locals.

PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY

The Philippines biodiversity is very rich, in fact it is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries due to its geographical isolation, diverse habitats and high rates of endemism with about sixteen new mammal species discovered in just over ten years. An example is that 35 percent of the 580 recorded birds can only be found in the Philippines. According to Philippine Biodiversity Management Bureau, the Philippines is a hosts to more than 52,177 described species and more than half of this is found nowhere else in the world.  

According to the Philippines’ 2013 Forest Management Bureau Forestry report, the country’s forest cover is around 23.89%. From 1934 to 1988, Philippines lost around 10 million hectares forest cover which is equivalent to 227 million basketball courts. The Philippines is a one of the top global conservation areas as it is considered a biodiversity hotspot with at least 700 threatened species. The country’s resources continue to experience an alarming rate of destruction due to deforestation, land degradation, overexploitation, climate change and pollution, among others.

Deforestation in the Philippines is the leading cause of habitat destruction which greatly impacts biodiversity. This results to a large number of threatened and endangered species; an example is the Great Philippine eagle which is critically endangered. Philippine eagle is among the rarest, tallest and most powerful birds in the world has been declared the Philippine National Bird and it can be only found on four major islands, Samar, Eastern Luzon, Leyte and Mindanao. Don’t ever think of catching the Philippine eagle, killing one could imprison you for 12 years and a hefty fine.

PALAWAN, “THE LAST FRONTIER”

Palawan is dubbed “the Last Frontier” because it has the biggest forest cover in the country and thousands of kilometers of its forest and coastlines are still unexplored. Palawan has more diverse wildlife than the rest of the country. However, these days, the ecosystem of Palawan is also being threatened due to rapid urbanization, logging and hunting. Among these is the 80,000 acre Cleopatra’s Needle, one of the island’s highest peaks.  Cleopatra’s needle is a host of eighty five percent of Palawan’s endemic species.

66 MILLION TREE PLANTING

On July 2, 2017 India took another initiative of 66 million tree planting in 12 hours. Around 1.5 million volunteers participated in the environmental campaign. They have also done this tree planting in 2016 with 50 million trees in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India.

Deforestation in India is one of the major major environmental issues and in 2009 it is ranked top 10 worldwide in the amount of forest loss. India vowed to increase their forest cover to just over 95 million hectares by 2030, as part of the Paris Climate Change Conference.

VAN MAHOTSAV

Van Mahotsav is also known as forest day, was launched in 1950. Van Mahotsav is a week-long festival of tree planting every year in the month of July all across India and hundreds of thousands of trees are planted. This was aimed to create enthusiasm in the popular mind for tree planting and preservation of forest.

This environmental program is what we need after all; tree is a source of life. Tree planting is very important because we need trees in our survival.

Go out and plant a tree!

"I'm going to continue beating my kids"

If your country would outlaw corporal punishment, what would you think and do? Do you agree with the Confucian teachings that children are considered possessions of parents and they are granted almost inviolable authority to raise and discipline their children? You might also have heard and believe of the biblical proverb “spare the rod and spoil the child” or you might also believe that corporal punishment is a form of humiliation. According to Ellen Key, a Swedish writer who is an early advocate of a child-centered approach to education and parenting, believed that corporal punishment is a humiliation to the one who is giving it and to the recipient of physical pain. It is also ineffective.

What is corporal punishment?

In layman’s term, corporal punishment is physical punishment which would cause discomfort or pain in response to behaviors that are deemed inappropriate. Corporal punishment is being used as a child discipline method by some parents. 

Some examples of physical punishment include:

• Spanking 
• Slapping, pulling or pinching
•  Hitting with an object

Corporal punishment around the world

Corporal punishment in the United Sates is still lawful. As of 2018 there are 53 countries that ban corporal punishment. Sweden was the very first country in 1979 to ban corporal punishment both at home and school by law. Finland Norway, which is both Sweden’s neighbor, enacted the same law on 1983 and 1987. 

Other countries that ban corporal punishment

Austria (1989), Cyprus (1994), Denmark (1997), Latvia (1998), Croatia (1999), Bulgaria, Israel, Germany (2000), Turkmenistan (2002), Iceland (2003), Ukraine, Romania (2004), Hungary (2005), Greece (2006), Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Uruguay, Venezuela, Spain, Togo (2007), Costa Rica, Moldova, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein (2008), Poland, Tunisia, Kenya, Congo, Albania (2010), South Sudan (2011), Macedonia, Honduras (2013), Malta, Brazil, Cape Verde, Argentina, San Marino, Estonia, Nicaragua (2014), Andorra, Benin, Ireland, Peru (2015), Mongolia, Paraguay, Slovenia (2016), Lithuania, Montenegro (2017), Nepal (2018)

In Asian countries, most people tolerate the practice of corporal punishment and also endorse it. A fair amount of punishment was believed to make their children better people. Child-rearing practices were traditionally considered private matter within the family circle.

Corporal punishment in South Korea

I was reading the news when these words of a mom from South Korea caught my attention “I’m going to continue beating my kids even if it requires writing a contract with them”. As of 2019, corporal punishment is to be scrapped in South Korea prompting controversy in the country. In South Korea, corporal punishment has generally been accepted as a form of discipline rooted in parental love and in 1960, it has been stated in their civil code that the parents have the right to physically discipline their children. 

Corporal punishment in the Philippines

In February 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte rejected a bill that banned parents from subjecting their children to verbal abuse and physical punishment stating that it will allow government to extend its reach into the privacy of the family. The Bill of the Anti-Corporal Punishment Act of 2017 was introduced by Senator Leila de Lima.

Why corporal punishment is good?

According to a new study by researchers at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, corporal punishment is viewed as more acceptable and effective when referred to as spanking. Slap, hit, or beat were ranked as less acceptable and effective than spank and swat.  Debate wise in one of their articles stated that corporal punishment should be reintroduced since bad behavior is on the increase in the classroom.

Why corporal punishment is bad?

There are also those who are opposed to corporal punishment. A study published in Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma on 2009 found that spanking lowers a child’s IQ. The study found that the more a child was spanked, the slower the child’s mental development. A study published in Pediatrics last 2012 stated that harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of mood disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders and anxiety disorders.

I am no exception when it comes to spanking her kids, I do spank my kids when they do things which are unacceptable but perhaps I have to rethink if spanking is really needed on some of their “mild” misbehaviors maybe it is better to ignore it or just talk to them about it.

60,000 Caregivers Needed in Japan

Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) announced yesterday that 60,000 caregivers are needed in Japan. It did not mention anything about expected salary however based on a report of TV patrol last year, the salary is around 70,000 or more. It was reported by Japan Times last year that the government is expecting shortage of 340,000 caregivers by 2025.   

Those who are looking for caregiver job in Japan should pass the exams in Japanese language and technical skills. They have to pass Japanese Language Proficiency Test and they must also be able to demonstrate daily conversational skills in Japanese when spoken slowly. In addition to these, a test which is yet to be established, is the evaluation of their knowledge in caregiving terminology. 

A new specialized skilled worker visa of Japan is set to be signed on March 19. Private recruitment agencies can start processing the visa of qualified foreign workers starting April 1. The new visa system is classified into two; both are valid for 5 years however the other type is for work that needs higher level skills but they have the chance to acquire immigrant status after 5 years when they finish their contract.

Currently, there are two ways for non-Japanese nationals to work as caregivers in Japan. One is to participate in a work program provided under an economic partnership agreement (EPA) and gain a certificate while working at a nursing home and the other choice is to use Japan’s Technical Intern Program. Other Asian nationals like Vietnamese and Indonesians were one of those who have been working as caregivers in Japan through these programs.

The Agency have also warned applicants to stay away from agencies claiming they are accepting applicants for this new visa.

REFERENCES:
Japan Needs 60,000 Caregivers-POEA
Fewer foreigners than expected coming to Japan to work as caregiver trainees, data shows
Foreign workers in Japanese care will need good Japanese skills

Silent Treatment: A Narcissist Weapon

image from pixabay

I was browsing through my emails when I saw a message from one of the groups I have joined not so long ago. It was a discussion about narcissist having no contact.  The discussion aroused my curiosity and made me read more about narcissist.  The word “silent” on the discussion made me want to research and read about narcissist, wondering if I am a narcissist because I am usually quiet just because i desire a quiet lifestyle and don't want to mind other people's life however I have a temper and speak my mind when I want to or say things I shouldn’t say or mean when I am mad.

Narcissist is someone who meets the criteria laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for the diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It is classified under Cluster B of the 10 Personality Disorders. It is an excessive self-importance, loves to be the center of attention, one who takes advantage of others and lack empathy.

I was shocked to learn the appalling truth about narcissist behavior especially the way they resort to silence for a long time due to misunderstandings. How long is long? It could take months or years. So just imagine yourself living with someone who gives you that kind of treatment just because of trivial issues, it would be sheer torture.

In marriages, some couples resort to silent treatment when they have misunderstandings but it doesn’t mean they are narcissist too. For non-narcissist, it could last from hours to a few days and once they have both calmed down and reached the point where they could talk, they would resolve their issues. For narcissist it could last from weeks to years. A narcissist partner will not acknowledge your presence in the same room, or they will abandon the relationship for months or years.

Why do Narcissist go no contact?

There are many levels of narcissist but silent treatment is something all narcissists do. They go no contact when you have disagreed with them or their ideas. They go no contact to show you their dissatisfaction after you disagree with them. It is one of their powerful weapons; it is their way of controlling you so that you will react and make them feel like the center of your attention which they enjoy the most.  The more you react either in a positive or negative way, the more they feel better about themselves because they love attention, the more they will laugh at you and think lesser of you. Your reactions make them feel superior.

This is so far one of their best weapon but behind you they will be building lies. They may be quiet and won’t speak to you at all however they will be spreading lies and would make an issue in most of the things you do. They would love to talk about you, your downfalls, your failures and your mistakes, things that don’t concern them. They would love to manipulate others on what to think about you because they love to see you alone and left out. A study on narcissistic behavior stated that they love high-low post, making fun on groups of people or individuals, criticizing their behavior in a harsh way.

Narcissist will not say “sorry”  

Narcissist will not apologize because it will blemish their self perfection. They don’t want to take accountable to what happened because in their mind they are always better and can never go wrong. It is all about them and they only see their side of story. They will never think they might have done something. They would laugh at people who apologize; they think they are complete idiots for doing so.

What to do when you receive that silent treatment?

You can never win with a narcissist. So the best thing to do when someone treats you that way is just to stop talking to the person and move on. That person would enjoy it when you are affected and it would cause an irritation or the silent treatment will be stopped if you seem not to care because you have control over your emotion and not the narcissist. Break the relationship if you are already losing yourself. Don’t let it get into you because you will suffer emotionally and blame yourself for what happened. Never act angry or aggressive  because you will be made “wrong”.

Reading other forums and journals, I was shocked to know that silent treatment have caused a great deal of damage to those people who received this kind of harsh treatment. Both emotional and physical abuse are damaging, while there are more treatments or programs geared towards physical abuse, a study published in Jama psychiatry stated that there should be more treatment geared towards emotional abuse.

REFERENCES:

https://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/a-narcissist-cannot-apologize-or-take-accountability

http://ajmahari.ca/2016/08/narcissists-never-apologize-dont-go-down-the-rabbit-hole/

https://kimsaeed.com/2018/01/17/10-surprising-facts-silent-treatment/

https://www.psychologytoday.com

Joshua Dwayne

It was morning of December 24, 2013 when my mother and I went to the hospital because I was already having labor. I thought I would be giving birth on the night of 24^th but I didn’t. At 11 o’clock in the morning of December 25, the doctor came and conducted an IE. She told me I am about to give birth and so she instructed the nurse to bring me to the delivery room. They ruptured my bag of water and told me to push whenever I feel any pain and contraction. Unfortunately, I haven’t felt any pain but contractions.

More than an hour passed and still baby is not coming out no matter how I try to push. They keep on checking his fetal heart rate and he just keeps on getting weaker and weaker, so they decided to do an emergency c-section. I was then brought to the operating room.

The anesthesiologist injected anesthesia and in less than five minutes I fell asleep. I just woke up when I heard them screaming, “It’s a baby boy and looks like an American” (a line that made my husband smiled when I told him). I asked if I can see baby and one of the staff showed him to me then I went back to sleep again.

Turned out, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and his head is not in proper position that is why no matter how I push, he won’t come out. It just made him weaker and weaker. Our bundle of joy came out at 2:09 in the afternoon of December 25, 2013 and it is 12:09 in the morning, it just turned December 25 at Illinois too, where his father lives and waiting for the news.

ISABELLA ROSE

Isabella @ 3 years old

I got pregnant with Isabella when Joshua was only three months old. We learned that I was pregnant on the day my husband would be travelling to Manila for his trip back home to Illinois. I was so nervous that time and didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t ready for a second baby. I gave birth through cesarean section with my first born baby. I was horrified. My husband comforted me and said it is God’s gift.

I was already almost 8 months pregnant when I was having contractions. I sent a message to my OB doc that night and she told me to take isoxsuprine for three times a day and have to call her in the morning or in the afternoon if it still persists. I asked my brother to go and buy at the pharmacy. I took it that night and the next two days. My OB-Gyne have been calling a lot and kept on telling me I should go to the hospital if the pain is persistent. The pain would come and go away so I thought it was only false labor but on the third day, very early morning I felt that excruciating pain which wouldn’t go away so after 3 hours of still having the pain, I asked my brother to drive me to the hospital.

When we went to the hospital ER, they found out that my cervix is already 8cm open. My OB gyne came rushing and in less than 2 hours I gave birth to my daughter through cesarean section. I was thankful because she is strong at 2.5 kgs, everything is ok except that she swallowed some meconium thus the nurses have to suction.

            She came out on the fifth day of November year twenty fourteen at past nine in the morning, same day her dad arrived in Manila from US  at past nine in the evening. He was totally surprised. Yes, we learned that I was pregnant with her on the day her dad travelled to Manila for his trip to the US and she came out on the day her dad came back from the US.

            She is now four years old and growing up so quick.