Olympic and War Hero's Heirs Give Food Support to Ilocos Hometown

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Residents in Piddig, Ilocos Norte — the hometown of the first Filipino Olympic medalist Teofilo Yldefonso — received a surprise treat from the heirs of the late sports legend and war hero: free Chooks-to-Go chicken.

Capt. Raul Yldefonso, who represented the descendants of the heroic swimmer, said his grandfather would have also wanted to share to the less fortunate any blessings he received.

Last year, Chooks-to-Go operator Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) committed to honor Yldefonso’s "patriotism and contribution to Philippine sports" by giving his heirs regular supply of Chooks-to-Go chicken.

"This is our simple way of giving tribute to our first Olympic medalist, Teofilo Yldefonso, who was also a World War II hero," said BAVI President Ronald Mascariñas. "Yldefonso endured the Bataan Death March and later died in a concentration camp. We are happy that his example of being a true Manok ng Bayan with true love for country continues among his descendants today."

Yldefonso was the country’s first-ever Olympic medalist, winning bronze in the 200m breaststroke event of the 1928 Summer Games in Amsterdam.

He repeated the feat four years later in Los Angeles as he became known as the “Ilocano Shark” and “The Father of the Modern Breaststroke”.

In 2021, BAVI honored Filipino Olympic greats with various rewards, such as regular supply of Chooks-to-Go vouchers, and even Chooks-to-Go outlets. Among those who received this bounty were Eumir Marcial, Roel Velasco, Onyok Velasco, and the late Leopoldo Serantes. The company was later conferred the Arete Award by the Philippine Olympians Association for its remarkable support to outstanding yet oft-forgotten Olympians.

DOTr ASec Goddes Hope Libiran gets mocked by netizens after she reported her maid who allegedly stole her jewelries and cash

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran reported the loss of her jewelry and cash. The items she reported, were stolen by a recently hired house helper. However, netizens can't help but make fun of her misfortune, often comparing the incident, of how her helper robbed her, to how Bongbong Marcos, the son of a dictator, is getting away with more serious crimes (his family being thieves of the country's coffers during the reign of his father and former president Marcos Sr. but is still being projected by "loyalist" supporters as innocent.

"Nagpa-booster lang ako, pagbalik ko sa bahay, wala na lahat ng alahas at pera ko. 

Shout out sa bagong maid ko na nagpaalam lang na bibili ng bawang at sibuyas sa labas kaninang 1:30PM, pero hindi na bumalik! 

Her name is Marilou Fernandez (FB Account: Jhearjazz Senlabay, and also known as Marilou Mislang, Malou Mislang, Marilyn Morales, Malou Batuhan), 55 years old. I hired her through the Southmaids Agency. 

According to her profile, her current address is at Jenny’s Ave., Rosario, Pasig City. Her provincial address is in Mangaldan, Pangasinan. 

Iba ka, Manang. Nagmalasakit pa akong ipagamot ka kahapon dahil sa sakit mo, tapos ganito lang gagawin mo sa pamilya ko? Ibang klase ka. 

FRIENDS, IF YOU KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF THIS WOMAN, please let me know. NAWAWALA LAHAT NG ALAHAS AT PERA KO SA BAHAY.

Hindi sya dapat pagkatiwalaan, at lalong dapat ay maturuan ito ng leksyon. 

To my friends in the NBI and the Police Force, please help me find this person. 

To the agency, may pananagutan kayo dito. Exhaust all efforts to find this person.

What a way to start 2022."

I don't know the person but I am so sorry for her misfortune and the countless mean comments made about her. We are supposed to be the only country in Asia with a predominantly Christian population.

Netizens are implying that the DOTr official is so furious in trying to exert all effort to hunt down the maid who allegedly stole her jewelries and cash when she went out to have a booster shot, even calling out to her so called "friends" at the NBI and PNP via social media (Facebook)...as if her position will give her an edge or special treatment in resolving her case.

Words are best kept at bay until after the wrath. A government official may be best suited to address government agencies as agencies and not as “friends”. There is an undertone of padrino and batch mentality. As I’ve opined, words are best kept at bay until after the wrath.

"At least mayaman ka parin naman kahit ninakawan ka. Eh yung mga ninanakawan ng mga nasa gobyerno mahirap na nga lalu pa naghihirap."

And the jokes come pouring in, all alluding to how this administration and the "loyalists" or blind followers seem to ignore how Bongbong Marcos belongs to a family of thieves as per cases against her parents, many cases of which were already exposed and proven in court.

"Nung panahon naman po na naninilbihan si Manang ay hindi kami nanakawan. Puro paninira lang po ito kay Manang!!"

"Kapag politiko, ok lang magnakaw basta may project! 

Kapag kasambahay, hindi ok ang magnakaw kahit nakatulong naman."

Napakarami na nating kababayan ang magnanakaw na dahil sa sakit at gutom pero yung mga corrupt na nagnanakaw ito yung daoat unahin upang mabawasan naman ang nagpapahirap sa taong bayan.

"Maraming komentarista rito ang galit sa magnanakaw pero pag eleksyon iboboto pa rin ang magnanakaw. "

"Paano mo nasabing magnanakaw yung maid, may final conviction ba? Marami naman ginawa para sa pamilya mo.

Galit ka sa magnanakaw na maid pero iboboto mo may convicted cases ng pagnanakaw sa bayan."

Was there a CCTV or  video of her maid committing the crime? She could probably let the police catch the maid first then show evidence to prove the maid's guilt before posting her identity on social media.

When our previous maid did the same thing to us, police report lang ginawa namin. Hindi na namin ipinagkalat identity niya on social media dahil people can still change if properly disciplined, not humiliated in public kahit guilty pa. As the saying goes "innocent until proven guilty". Those past incidents could, as what Marcos Jr. followers have been saying "paninira lang".

ASec Goddes should not use her connections to get special treatment from her "friends" in government. Kapag ba silang government officials ay action agad, pero kapag ordinary people, suwerte kung papansinin ng mga pulis at NBI?

Mahuhuli yan kasi mataas ang katungkulan niya sa gobyerno! Kung mga walang connection ang ninakawan sorry na lang!

Also, she posted the maid's photos and identity agad on social media without getting a confirmation if she indeed stole the said items. Trial by publicity yun. Isn't she confident that the government's police force is capable of finding the culprit?

More sarcastic jokes?

"Huwag kayong manira kay Manang. Naglinis siya. Naging maayos siyang katulong sa bahay mo ASec. Cleanest house ang bahay mo. Ipagtanong mo pa sa lolo at lola mo."

"Pwede naman po siguro yung anak ni manang nalang pumalit. Kasi ang kasalanan ng magulang ay hindi naman kasalanan ng anak. Besides, madami naman nagawang maganda si Manang. Nakapagsilbi naman siya sa kanya."

"Ibabalik ng anak yung Libiran gold pag kinuha nyo naman sya as helper."

"Pake namen sa iyo. Sa taong bayan nga bilyones ang kinukulimbat ng mga pinagsisilbihan mo eh"

"At least mayaman ka pa rin naman kahit ninakawan ka. Eh yung mga ninanakawan ng mga nasa gobyerno, where you belong, mahirap na nga lalo pa naghihirap. Lol!"

Of course she can claim that in public..Malay ba natin kung umalis kasi me ginagawa sila. It is always the easiest way na baligtarin ang katulong by saying nagnakaw siya.

To be fair and end this humorous situation, let me leave you with ASec Goddess' latest post on her Facebook page:

"Sa lahat po ng naki-simpatya sa nangyari sa amin ng anak ko, maraming salamat. It could have been worse, but I am thankful that my daughter is safe, at wala pong nasaktan, by God’s grace.

I posted my experience to serve as a warning to other people. Kahit galing pa sa agency ang helper, ipa-background check ninyo ng maigi. 

Paalaala rin ito sa mga working moms gaya ko na huwag isasawalang-bahala kahit ang pinakamaliit na detalye pagdating sa pagkuha ng kasambahay. Minsan, sa sobrang busy natin sa trabaho, may mga nami-miss out tayong gawin para masiguro ang proteksyon at seguridad ng ating mga mahal sa buhay, lalo na ang ating mga anak. 

Lessons learned:

1. Huwag basta magtiwala. Busisiing mabuti ang mga dokumentong ipinapasa ng mga nag-a-apply na kasambahay bago sila tanggapin. Do a background check. Call character references. Check records with the Police and NBI. Research on social media and see if the person has been involved in the conduct of any scam or crime. 

2. Bumili ng magandang uri ng vault para paglagyan ng mga importanteng pag-aari gaya ng alahas, pera, titulo ng lupa/bahay, o gadgets.

3. Maglagay ng CCTV sa mga strategic and critical points sa inyong tahanan. Siguraduhin na mayroon kayong live view ng mga CCTVs na naka-install for easier monitoring. 

4. No matter how busy you are, do not ignore any detail that concerns the safety of your child and family.

Kung mayroon po kayong impormasyon kung saan makikita o matatagpuan si Marilyn Batuhan Delos Reyes (a.k.a. Malou Fernandez, Marilyn Morales, Marilou Navarro, Marilou Mislang, Malou Mislang), kung maaari lamang po ay pakibigay-alam po sa kapulisan o kaya naman po ay sa akin. Malaking tulong po ito. Tangay n’ya po kasi kahit ‘yung mga alahas na bigay pa ng lola, nanay, at asawa ko. ‘Yung sentimental value ng mga ‘yon, hindi matutumbasan ng kahit magkanong salapi. 

Sa lahat ng natuwa pa at hinaluan ng pulitika ang nangyari sa akin, I wish you all well. Nawa’y hindi mangyari sa inyo ang nangyari sa akin. 

Sa lahat naman po ng nag-komento at nagsabing nagnakaw ako sa kaban ng bayan, manginig kayo. Huwag ninyo akong igaya sainyo. Mag-hello na rin kayo sa Cyber libel. 

‘Yun lang po. Salamat!"

Good luck na lang sa agency where the ASec got the maid. It looks like it will definitely be in trouble as well for failing to properly screen the background of the maid.

Traveling to the Philippines for The First Time

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



The Philippines is one of those destinations that often gets overlooked when making long-term plans. Other trips are usually higher on the bucket list, but it’s a mistake to overlook them. The trip will be one of the most enjoyable you’ll have, but it will take some preparation since traveling in South Asia isn’t always as comfortable as you may expect it to be. If you take such preparations, you’ll have a safer and overall more enjoyable trip.

Driving On Your Own

The first arrangement to make is to be prepared to drive on your own. This will allow you to keep your own itinerary and explore the Philippines with more freedom than you otherwise could. That’s much more comfortable than waiting on transportation and sticking to arrangements someone else has made for you.

In order to do so, you’ll need international drivers license. It’s a document allowing you to rent a car and drive in the Philippines. The permit is only valid if you also have a national driving license and a passport with you and if all the documents are up to date.

Check the Weather Reports

Checking the weather report is more important in the Philippines than it would be on any other trip. During the monsoon season, you may end up having to change your plans to stay safe. Monsoon rains can sometimes last for as long as ten days and therefore ruin your whole trip.

On the other hand, typhoons don’t really have a season and can happen at any time and affect big parts of the country. The best thing to do is to be aware that there is one and try to stay away from the area.

Don’t Plan Too Diligently

It’s rather important not to plan your trip in too much detail since there are plenty of chances something will go wrong. Boats and other vehicles may be late or they may break down. Weather can cause you to be locked in, and sometimes you may have trouble finding accommodations.

The best way to go therefore is to leave yourself some room when it comes to scheduling. This will save you a lot of stress and allow you to make the most out of a trip even if something goes wrong in the process. There are also plenty of mobile apps that can help you plan everything.

Use Hotels Rather than Private Accommodations

Tourism is a key industry in the Philippines and you’re likely to find many offers for private accommodations during your stay. These are usually less expensive than staying in a hotel. However, it’s better not to do so, anyway.

Manila is a huge and often intimidating city for a foreign visitor and chances are you may find some bad actors. Nothing similar can happen in a hotel. It’s also worth knowing that hotels in the Philippines are usually much less expensive than those in the West, even when it comes to high-end establishments. Therefore, it’s a small price to pay for safety and security.