Page 21 - LM Confidential Issue February 2015

Singapore hospital sacks Pinoy nurse
SINGAPORE: A Singapore government hospital sacked a Filipino nurse Friday for “offensive” remarks on social media, the latest in a string of foreigners dismissed from their jobs in the city-state for sparking controversy online.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital said that the decision to fire Ello Ed Mundsel Bello came after it investigated three of his posts on Facebook and Google Plus that touched upon race and religion.
It did not reveal the contents of the posts but described them as “highly irresponsible and offensive to Singapore and religion.”
“We have dismissed Mr. Ello Ed Mundsel Bello from our hospital immediately for his... comments made in 2014 while in our hospital’s employment,” Tan Tock Seng said in a statement on Facebook.
“They have distressed members of the public and our hospital staff... His conduct goes against our staff values of respect, professionalism and social responsibility.”
Police are currently investigating
a separate post on Bello’s Facebook page this month in which he described Singaporeans as “loosers [sic] in their own country.”
Bello lodged a police complaint saying his Facebook account was hacked after the post went viral.
The hospital said its decision to dismiss Bello was independent of the police investigation.
Anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise in Singapore, with many complaining that foreigners compete with them for jobs, housing, medical care as well as space on public transport.
In June last year, a Philippine independence day celebration in Singapore was scrapped after organizers faced online abuse and threats.
Also last year, British wealth manager Anton Casey was fired from his job
and fled the city-state following his Facebook remarks deriding public transport commuters as “poor” people.
Furious Internet users had lashed out at Porsche-driving Casey, whose wife is a former Singapore beauty queen.
In 2012, a Malaysia-born Australian woman, Amy Cheong, was also dismissed from her job in Singapore and left the country due to angry public reaction to a racial rant she made on Facebook.
Singaporeans make up just over 60 percent of the 5.4 million population, with its low fertility rate forcing the government to rely heavily on migrant workers.
Singapore’s leading activists
groups last year warned of a surge in “widespread use of racist, aggressive and militarized rhetoric” against foreigners on social networks.
Scenes in the City
Kapuso art- ists conquer the global stage
GMA International marked another banner year in 2014 with a series of successful events held in key regions around the globe.
Driven by its goal of strengthening the Kapuso equity among its viewers in ways beyond television, GMA’s international business unit gave Filipinos abroad a taste of home through various on-ground events featuring the Network’s top artists.
As GMA Vice President for International Operations Joseph T. Francia notes, “More than providing quality programs and services through our international channels, these events are an opportunity for our artists to interact with the viewers, which is integral to extending the Kapuso experience to our audience overseas.”
In the first half of the year, GMA participated in several well-attended events held in various cities worldwide for the annual celebration of Philippine Independence Day.
Last year’s festivities saw Kapuso prime artists Tom Rodriguez and Heart Evangelista gracing the Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City while Kapuso leading man Geoff Eigenmann joined fans in Carson City, California.
Over in Kuwait, Asia’s Pop Sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose and singer-comedienne Gladys Guevarra were featured in Musika at Tawanan 4, which gathered more than 3000 overseas workers in the region.
And finally, the Independence Day celebra- tions culminated with Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes joining his kababayan in Bolingbrook, Chicago for the Philippine Fest Piyesta Pinoy 2014 and Kapuso Premier Actress Lovi Poe delighting over 7000 Filipino-Canadians who came to the Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto.
Apart from these, GMA also celebrated the vibrancy of Filipino culture as it brought Kapuso stars Benjamin Alves and Steven Silva to the Flores de Mayo Festival in Hawaii, which high- lighted iconic Filipino traditions, while Kapuso Soul Diva Jaya headlined the third Vancouver OPM Festival in Canada, commemorating decades of great Filipino music.
Moreover, the country’s longest running noontime show brought its trademark “isang
libo’t isang tuwa” to the Filipino community in Canada with the much-awaited Eat Bulaga Live in Toronto concert led by the renowned comedic trio of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, who were joined by the rest of the Dabarkads Pauleen Luna, Ruby Rodriguez, Jimmy Santos, Allan K., Julia Clarete, Keempee de Leon, the “Sugod Bahay Gang” of Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros, as well as the show’s well-loved Aleng Maliit, Ryzza Mae Dizon.
“Through our continued presence abroad, GMA hopes to remain instrumental in cultivat- ing the Filipino spirit outside our home country,” Francia explains.
Capping off the year’s successful endeavors, GMA International brought some of its brightest stars to Los Angeles, Dubai and Singapore for the much-anticipated Kapusong Pinoy concert series.
As one of the hottest love teams on television, Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez thrilled the crowd in the sold-out concert titled Kapusong Pinoy sa LA with their undeniable chemistry. They were joined by Julie Anne San Jose, Kapuso teen star Miguel Tanfelix and actor-comedian Betong Sumaya who portrayed his popular character Antonietta from the country’s longest running comedy show Bubble Gang.
This was followed by the equally successful Ka- pusong Pinoy sa Dubai which brought the Kapuso Network’s now-married Royal Couple Ding- dong Dantes and Marian Rivera and Julie Anne San Jose to Dubai’s Global Village. Over 7000 spectators witnessed GMA’s Primetime King and Queen’s romantic duet and each artist’s individual performances.
GMA completed the concert series and concluded 2014 with a tribute to its loyal Kapuso fans abroad. Drama King Dennis Trillo along with the Fearless Diva Jonalyn Viray and Betong as Antonietta topbilled Kapusong Pinoy sa Singa- pore, giving their audience an entertainment-filled night to remember.
As another year commences, GMA Inter- national remains committed in the service of its overseas audiences, effectively bridging Filipinos all over the world to their home country.
For updates on GMA Network’s artists, programs, international channels and events, visit the website www.gmanetwork.com/international, Facebook pages www.facebook.com/GMAPi- noyTV, www.facebook.com/gmalifetv, and www. facebook.com/gmanewsinternational, Twitter pages @gmapinoytv, @gma_lifetv, and @gmanews- tvintl and Instagram account @gmapinoytv. (30)
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PCCF goes tree-planting in Cagayan.
At the Toronto Consulate
Photo shows how busy is the Philippine Consulate General’s Office serving the members of the Philippine Community in the province of Ontario, Canada who are renewing their Philippine Passports, getting power of attorney, applying for NBI clarance, and among others. Consulate General Junever Mahilum West is the head of the Toronto’s Philippine Consul General’s Office however according to some report she will be given a new assignment as Philippine Ambassador to Jordan. (St. Jamestown News Service, Manuel Papa)
FEBRUARY 2015 L. M. Confidential