Dispatches

Here’s a site that shows your celebrity look-alikes.

Mga Kamukha Ko Daw

My CELEBRITY LOOK-ALIKES Version 2

My Look-Alikes Version 3

Here’s a site that shows your celebrity look-alikes.

Mga Kamukha Ko Daw

My CELEBRITY LOOK-ALIKES Version 2

My Look-Alikes Version 3

This morning, something unexpected happened in the ofice while I was preparing the survey packets for Newsbreak’s special election project—a TV crew from British Brodcasting Corporation came.

There were only three of us in the office: Miss Maritess Vitug, the editor-in-chief, editorial assistant Cecille Santos and yours truly. The BBC news team interviewed Miss Vitug for several minutes. Perhaps one of the production staff of BBC noticed that there were no good visuals for their story so he came up with an idea (or was it gimmick?): get a video of Miss Vitug while she is talking to her reporters. But there were no reporters yet in the office so the staff asked Miss Vitug, Miss Cecille and me to sit around a table and pretend that we are on an editorial conference. The shoot lasted for four minutes.

After the “editorial conference”, Miss Cecille said, “Ibang level na ito, pang-international na. Sana nakapaglipstick man lang ako.” I laughed but felt sad afterwards after I realized how unglamorous I looked during that time. I was not even wearing a polo or long sleeve. Still, I am excited to see the report of BBC. I just want to know how I look on television and if my performance can earn me an Oscar nod.

Filipino nurses are leaving the country in hordes, lured by higher salaries offered by Western countries.

Joanne (not her real name) has just submitted her resignation papers to the Office of the Director for Nursing of thePhilippine General Hospital (PGH)

“I am leaving to work as a nurse in the United States,” said Joanne, who has been a nurse since 1996 and has a sister working also as a nurse in US.

Joanne is among the thousands of Filipino nurses who leave the country every year to seek for greener pastures in other countries.

In the state-run PGH, the country’s largest medical institution, about 15-20 nurses leave to work abroad every month, data from the nursing services office showed.

Joanne said that salaries in other countries are “more financially rewarding” and “tempting”.

“My sister earns as much as $34 (P1, 700) an hour in the States. Here, my monthly salary is just equivalent to a day’s salary of my sister,” said Joanne.

Exodus

Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) showed that 7,768 nurses went abroad in 2005. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Taiwan, Ireland and the United States are the main destinations of Filipino nurses who left in 2005.

“Our more experienced nurses are leaving the country so that leaves us with people who have only basic competencies to work in hospitals,” said Rita Tamse, deputy director or nursing services at PGH.

Tamse said of the estimated 300,000 Filipino nurses about 85 percent are working abroad and those nurses who chose to stay in the Philippines are overwhelmed by the number of patients they have to take care of.

“Ideally, the nurse-patient ratio should 1:5. Here in PGH and other hospitals under the government hospitals, the ratio is 1:15,” Tamse added.

The situation is more depressing at some hospitals in the rural areas where the ratio is one nurse for every 55 patients, according to a study by Jaime Galvez-Tan, a professor at the University of the Philippines. “Even the hospitals outside of Metro Manila are considered as partially closed because there are certain wards that do not have nurses anymore.

“There is inadequate manpower.” said Joanne. “Although you will learn a lot from working in government hospitals, it is difficult because you have so many patients to take care of that they do not receive the standard quality care.”

Global Demand

Experts say that the nursing diaspora is expected to persist as global demand for nurses escalate.

Tamse said that demand is expected to accelerate because of the Philippines’ trade agreement with Japan and the growing need from the United States.

“We have reached a new era where the demand for nurses is ten times more than during the 60s and 70s,”said former health secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan.

Tan said that the world needs about 20,000 – 50,000 nurses—ten times more than the demand during the 1960s and 1970s—because “people from rich countries started to have longer life span, therefore there is greater demand for health care.”

“It so happen that in their demand, they are wealthy and they could pay a higher price for their services for nurses that they need. There are also push factors like political instability, armed conflicts and malfunctioning o health care system in poor countries,” he added.

Competition

Tan said that the Filipino nurses will continue to benefit from this trend and rebuffed the claims that our nurses are facing threats from their counterparts in China and India.

“If you are a Chinese and you are the only child and you see China growing as a superpower, why will you migrate to the United States,” said Tan. “There is no way that the parent s will allow their son or daughter to leave.”

He added that the foreigners, particularly the Caucasians, prefer Filipino nurses over those from India and Sri Lanka.

“The Indians do not have the smiling face and the happy disposition,” he added.

Remittances

But aside from the growing demand, experts say that migration of health workers will continue because of the Philippine government’s dependence on remittances hamper the enactment of policies to control the diaspora.

World Health Organization’s representative to the Philippines Jean-Marc Olive, said, as quoted by Reuters : On one side you have a part of the government saying: ‘Let’s export as much as possible and let’s bring back money’. And on the other side, they are saying: ‘Hey come on, we are losing all our good guys.”

But aside from nurses, a tenth of the population in the Philippines is lured by high paying jobs in other countries and is driven by widespread poverty to work abroad. Remittances from these workers fuel local consumption, the main engine of the economy’s growth.

Remittances this year are ecxpected to reach $11.87 billion, the central bank said. From January to July of this year, remittances reached $7 billion,

Last year, the Philippine economy grew 5.1 percent from 2004, a figure which is at the top of the government’s forecast of 4.8-5.1 percent. Remittances reached $10.81 billion dollars and boosted consumption that makes up about 70 percent of the Philippines’s gross domestic product.

Nurse Joanne said it’s hard to leave the country but says she has to make the sacrifice to send her son to school.

“Life is difficult here because salary cannot make ends meet,” she said.

The Philippine health care system is on the brink of collapse as medical doctors start to leave the country.

MANILA, October 3, 2006-Believe it or not. The Philippine health care system will collapse in two to three years.

That is according to Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), a group of medical workers in the Philippines, who cited the exodus of Filipino medical workers, particularly doctors and nurses as the main reason for the impending collapse of health care system.

The growing demand for medical workers abroad has caused the escalation of the exodus of nurses and doctors in the Philippines.

AHW said that from 2000-2003 alone about 51,850 nurses had left the country for greener pastures abroad. Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) estimated that about 30 percent of the country’s 100,000 registered doctors have migrated to North America.

In the United States alone, there are 17, 297 documented Filipino medical doctors, a study by University of the Philippines professor Jaime Galvez Tan showed.

But what is surprising is the recent trend of doctors leaving the country to work as nurses abroad .Some 5,000 doctors had left the country to work as nurses from 2000 to 2004, according to AHW.

Serious

Former health secretary Galvez Tan said that this trend is very serious and will have severe implications to the already deficient Philippine health sector.

“Eight of out 10 doctors in the public sector is taking up nurses and most of them have already left abroad,” said Tan. “We have a small number of doctors working in the public sector and yet they are willing to work abroad as a nurse.”

Tan also said that even the private sector is affected because they are losing the specialists. A study by Tan showed that doctors studying nursing courses are surgeons, pediatricians, obstetricians, gynecologists, anesthesiologists and general practitioners who are between 25-60 years old.

“They do not see any career path in the country,” he added.

About 4,000 medical doctors are currently studying nursing.From June 2004-2005, 2,347 doctors took the nursing board examination, according to the Professional Regulations Commission.

Push and Pull Factors

Political instability, poor working conditions, threat of malpractice law and low salary and compensation are among the factors that trigger the exodus, according to a study, Brain Drain Phenomenon and Its Implication to Health.

“The push and pull factors are so strong enough to lure a 45-year old surgeon or a 35-year old obstetrician to still consider study nursing so that they can go the United States,” Tan added. “For many doctors, it is the easiest way out.”

Doctors in the Philippine public hospitals earn about 12, 500 pesos a month while those at private health institutions earn a monthly salary of 17,000. Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization, a nurse in the United States or England would earn as much as $6,000 (300,000 pesos) a month.

The trend has forced some of the hospitals in the Philippines to shut down. According to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, about 1000 private hospitals have closed down since 2000 due to lack of medical workers. That leaves the Philippines with only 700 private hospitals.

“Even the hospitals outside of Metro Manila are partially closed because there are certain wards that have no more doctors and nurses,” said Tan citing that three hospitals in Mindanao and two in Isabela province have no more doctors and nurses

The trend is expected to aggravate the already poor health sector in the Philippines. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 11 doctors for every 10,000 Filipinos. With the recent migration of doctors, the figure can become more alarming.

Government Efforts

The Philippine government, however, plans to enact a law that would control the exodus of Filipino doctors. One of these proposals, the National Health Service Act (NHSA),would ensure that the country will not run out of health professionals by controlling the departure of medical workers.

Moreover, the NHSA, would require the graduates of state colleges and universities to serve few years in the country before leaving.

“Because their tuition fees are subsidized, there should be a way that the government will be able to utilize the investment they had in the education of doctors and nurses coming from state colleges and universities,” Tan said.
Although some critics said that the NHSA would curtail the freedom of doctors, Tan said it should be pursued by the politicians.

“If human resources is indeed our main resources, then we should safeguard, nurture and protect it,” he said. “I hate to see the day that when a relative (of a goverment official) is brought to the hospital, the people there would say ‘sorry we cannot accept him, we do not have doctors and nurses.”

Two reality shows received bad reviews this week–talent search American Idol for the judges’ treatment of its contestants and the UK Celebrity Big Brother for claims of racism against an Indian housemate Shilpa Shetty.

AMERICAN IDOL
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Source:www.americanidol.com

“You look like one of those creatures that live in the jungle with those massive eyes.” –American Idol judge Simon Cowell on the appearance of one of the contestant.

“Simon, that’s your opinion. You’re entitled to it.” –an American Idol contestant’s reaction after receiving harsh comments from the Cowell.

‘That’s compassion for you. Isn’t that what America thinks is entertainment, to make fun of someone’s physical appearance? And then, when they leave the room, laugh hysterically at them — three millionaires, one probably intoxicated.”
–Rosie O’ Donell, co-host of “The View” show, as quoted by ABC News, on the American Idol judges reaction after they mocked and laughed at a contestant’s off-key rendition.
Click here for the video.

“If you keep serving people crap and tell them it’s a meal they eventually gonna think that it’s a meal.” –Rossie O’ Donnel of The View.

CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER

Meanwhile, Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother was criticized after some of its housemates made fun of Indian actress and fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty. Shetty cried after the housemates made fun of her accent and her heritage. The issue has reached the House of Commons, sparked protests in India and caused the withdrawal of some of the show’s sponsor.

“Maybe she is more tolerant than me, but this show is not more important that your self-respect”—Sunanda Shetty, mother of the Indian actress,as quoted by Reuters, on her daughter’s reaction to the remarks of the housemates

“What is happening on Big Brother is just holding the mirror to the Western society,This is the real, discriminating face of the West you can see on the streets of London or New York.”
–Bollywood film maker Mahesh Bhatt, as quoted by Reuters, on the Big Brother episode where Indian actress cried after housemates called her a “dog” and made fun of her Indian background.

“I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance … and anything that detracts from that, I condemn.”

–British Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, as quoted by Reuters, on the claims of racism against reality-based show Big Brother.

“We had already made it clear to Channel 4 that were this to continue, we would have to consider our position.”
–UK Celebrity Big Brother sponsor Carphone Warehouse, said in a statement as quoted by Reuters, after it withdrew sponsorships on the reality-based show due to claims of racist remarks toward an Indian contestant.

In 2002, American cable company VH1 (Video Hits One) released a list of the “100 Greatest Love Songs of All Time”. (Those in bold are among my favorites)

1 WHITNEY HOUSTON -I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
2 ELVIS PRESLEY -LOVE ME TENDER
3 CELINE DION -MY HEART WILL GO ON
4 JOURNEY -OPEN ARMS
5 PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS -MAYBE I’M AMAZED
6 RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS -UNCHAINED MELODY
7 LIONEL RICHIE/DIANA ROSS -ENDLESS LOVE
8 ELTON JOHN -YOUR SONG
9 JACKSON 5 -I’LL BE THERE
10 AEROSMITH -I DON’T WANNA MISS A THING11 ETTA JAMES -AT LAST
12 BEE GEES -HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
13 SINEAD O’CONNOR -NOTHING COMPARES 2 U
14 OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN -I HONESTLY LOVE YOU
15 BILLY JOEL -SHE’S GOT A WAY
16 FRANK SINATRA -FLY ME TO THE MOON
17 FAITH HILL -BREATHE
18 PETER GABRIEL -IN YOUR EYES
19 CHICAGO -IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW
20 SONNY & CHER -I GOT YOU BABE

21 OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN/JOHN TRAVOLTA -YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT
22 BARBRA STREISAND/NEIL DIAMOND -YOU DON’T BRING ME FLOWERS
23 NAT KING COLE/NATALIE COLE -UNFORGETTABLE
24 ERIC CLAPTON -WONDERFUL TONIGHT
25 JOE COCKER -YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL
26 STYX -BABE
27 ROD STEWART -YOU’RE IN MY HEART
28 MARVIN GAYE -LET’S GET IT ON
29 WILLIE NELSON -ALWAYS ON MY MIND

30 CELINE DION -BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME
31 STEVIE WONDER -YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE
32 JOHN LENNON -WOMAN
33 BRYAN ADAMS -(EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU
34 REO SPEEDWAGON -KEEP ON LOVING YOU
35 CARPENTERS – SUPERSTAR
36 BARRY WHITE -YOU’RE MY FIRST, MY LAST, MY EVERYTHING
37 NO DOUBT -DON’T SPEAK
38 MADONNA -CRAZY FOR YOU
39 BON JOVI -I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU
40 SHANIA TWAIN -YOU’RE STILL THE ONE

41 KISS -BETH
42 MEATLOAF -I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE
43 EXTREME -MORE THAN WORDS
44 BILL MEDLEY/JENNIFER WARNES -I’VE HAD THE TIME OF MY LIFE
45 TONI BRAXTON -UNBREAK MY HEART
46 AL GREEN -LET’S STAY TOGETHER
47 PRINCE -I WOULD DIE FOR U
48 SADE -BY YOUR SIDE
49 BONNIE RAITT -I CAN’T MAKE YOU LOVE ME
50 ATLANTIC STARR -ALWAYS

51 JANET JACKSON -THAT’S THE WAY LOVE GOES
52 DEF LEPPARD -LOVE BITES
53 BARRY MANILOW -MANDY
54 ALICIA KEYS -FALLIN’
55 PRETENDERS -I’LL STAND BY YOU
56 ROBERTA FLACK -THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE
57 FOREIGNER -I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
58 EMOTIONS -BEST OF MY LOVE
59 JOURNEY -FAITHFULLY
60 COMMODORES -THREE TIMES A LADY

61 HEART -ALONE
62 MR. BIG -TO BE WITH YOU
63 LEE ANN RIMES -HOW DO I LIVE
64 MODERN ENGLISH -I MELT WITH YOU
65 RICKY MARTIN/THE FREE WHORE -NOBODY WANTS TO BE LONELY
66 GOO GOO DOLLS -IRIS
67 BANGLES -ETERNAL FLAME
68 BOSTON -MORE THAN A FEELING
69 INXS -NEVER TEAR US APART
70 DAVID CASSIDY -I THINK I LOVE YOU

71 LED ZEPPELIN -WHOLE LOTTA LOVE
72 CAPTAIN & TENILLE -LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER
73 VANESSA WILLIAMS -SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST
74 CHAKA KHAN -I FEEL FOR YOU
75 PETER FRAMPTON -BABY I LOVE YOUR WAY
76 DONNA SUMMER -LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY
77 LISA LISA & CULT JAM -ALL CRIED OUT
78 EDWIN MCCAIN -I’LL BE
79 GUNS N’ ROSES -SWEET CHILD O’MINE
80 KENNY ROGERS & DOLLY PARTON -ISLANDS IN THE STREAM

81 BONNIE TYLER -TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
82 CHRIS ISAAK -WICKED GAME
83 BOYZ II MEN -I’LL MAKE LOVE TO YOU
84 CYNDI LAUPER -TIME AFTER TIME
85 WHAM -CARELESS WHISPER
86 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -SECRET GARDEN
87 WHITESNAKE -IS THIS LOVE
88 DIDO -THANK YOU
89 CHEAP TRICK -I WANT YOU TO WANT ME
90 BRIAN MCKNIGHT -BACK AT ONE

91 ELVIS COSTELLO -ALISON
92 AIR SUPPLY -ALL OUT OF LOVE
93 PAT BENATAR -WE BELONG
94 N’SYNC -THIS I PROMISE YOU
95 ROXETTE -IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE
96 ANDY GIBB -I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING
97 CHRISTOPHER CROSS -THINK OF LAURA
98 LL COOL J -I NEED LOVE
99 ENRIQUE IGLESIAS -HERO
100 POISON -EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN