Bringing the Sweetness of Negros Occidental

Filipinos who speak Hiligaynon and Ilonggo is often considered  as a sweet person because of the way they speak their dialect. The Hiligaynon or Ilonggo dialect or some refer it as language has a sing-song intonation and soft spoken that even when these people are angry the sound of their language is still sweet and soft. Aside from the intonation, Negros Occidental where most people who speak Hiligaynon live is known as the "Sugar Bowl of the Philippines" where sugar cane is the primary product of the Island. 

There are several sweet delicacies you can try when you visit Negros Occidental and there is nothing better than bringing back to your love ones the sweetness of the Island.

There are many Pasalubong store you can visit in Bacolod City.

1. Virgie's Homemade Food Product

- This store is the only one in Negros Occidental and this is the place where the business started in 1974. 

Must try: Napoleones, butter scotch and mango tarts

Location: #59 San Sebastian St. Bacolod City. Take Shopping San Sebastian and you can say to the driver to drop you off at Virgie's. But if the driver doesn't know this store you can say in Trinity Church. The Virgie's store is near the Trinity church. If you come from Libertad the store is in your right side and it is before the Trinity Church.

 For more information you can visit their website http://virgieshomemade.com/

2. Bong Bong's Pasalubong


3. Mercy Pasalubong
 

The Ruins: Built with Love

The Ruins

This is the mansion of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson. During the World War II in 1942 the guerrila fighters torched the mansion thus it was burned down. Now this place serves as a tourist spot, wedding venue and other special events. This  also gives a very beautiful view in the morning and a romantic view in the evening to its guests.

                                                        

                                        The beautiful view of The Ruins in the morning

                                         The romantic view of The Ruins in the evening
How to get there

This is located in Talisay, Negros Occidental. From Robinsons Bacolod take Bata Libertad jeepney going north and it cost 8 pesos.Then tell the drive that you are going to The ruins or you can ask the driver to drop you off at Bangga (Bang-ga) Rose Lawn. It is in your left side and you can see a sign that says "THIS WAY TO THE RUINS" Then take a motorcycle tell the driver that you are going to the ruins P15/per person as of 2012. You can also take taxi but it may cost more compare to the jeepney.  If you have a car you can visit their website http://theruins.com.ph/ for more direction. 

Entrance fee is P40 for adults and there is a discount for senior citizens and students.

There is a coffee shop inside The Ruins where you can relax and enjoy the romantic atmosphere of the place. The place has also souvenir shop where you can buy gift for your love ones back home.

Sweets in the City of Smile Bacolod

Do you have a sweet tooth like me? Then if you visit Bacolod City you should try the cake shops in this place.

1. Felicia's Pastry Cafe

- located at the Central Walk of Robinsons Bacolod and they also have another shop at 6th Lacson Street DOLL Building Bacolod.

           Try its colorful and delicious macaroons that comes with different flavor (P40/piece)

The price of its cakes are affordable considering the taste is really delicious

For more information visit its facebook account

https://www.facebook.com/Felicias.pastry.cafe

Helpful information for E-9 Filipino workers in Korea

While helping an E-9 Filipino holder in Korea, I found many useful information that might be helpful to other Filipinos too.

1. If you need any information related to visa, you can call Korean Immigration Contact Center.

    Press 1345. It has 18 language services. If you want to talk to a Filipino you can press 18.

2. Regarding tigicum (I don’t know how to spell it right) we contacted Samsung Fire &Marine Insurance (02-2119-2400) Then, a Korean answered it. I asked if I can talk to a person who knows how to speak English then she asked me if I am a Filipino. When I said yes, she said she will transfer my call to a Filipino. Then the line was cut. Few minutes later someone called me, a Filipino representative from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance.

3. For the calculation of tigicum, we went  to Incheon Support Center for Foreign Worker. We met Ms. Catherine Lee who is a counselor for Filipino workers in Korea. You can reach Ms Catherine Lee in this number: 032-431-5757.

Incheon Support Center For Foreign Worker

12F 636-3 Nonhyun- Dong, Namdong-Gu, Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea

Other support centers in Korea are located at:

Seoul- Tel. 1644-0644

Uijeongbu- Tel. 031-8389-111

Cheonan- Tel. 041-411-7000

Daegu- Tel. 053-654-9700

Gimhae – Tel. 055-338-2727

Changwon- Tel. 055-253-5270

The Support Center for Foreign Workers offer several services such as:
     - Counseling service for foreign workers in connection with work-related difficulties.
     - Free interpretation service for workplace change or job seeking.
     - Counseling service for foreign workers concerning difficulties in adapting to a life in Korea.
     - Guidance of any formalities for official report (Immigration Office/Job Center of Moel)
     - Guidance of overdue wage/ severance payment claim
     - Guidance of Return Cost Insurance, Casualty Insurance, National Health Insurance, 
        National Pension, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance and Employment Insurance.
     - Guidance of schedule and application reception of Employment Training for H-2 visa 
        holders.
     -  The services are free of charge.

For more information you can call their hotline:
    for english: 1577-0071 5 + *
    for filipino: 1577-0071 4 + *

Or you can visit their website: http://www.hugkorea.or.kr/


All the information above is based on my experiences and fliers that I found in the Support Center for Foreign Workers in Incheon.

Policy Guidance on granting professional work status (E-7) to skilled foreign worker in Korea

1. Principle
- To select eligible outstanding talents among foreign workers and allow them to continue working as a skilled professional worker. With the maximum quota by company, regulations on the residence of foreigns become stricter.

* Selected skilled workers will be given special occupation permit, the E-7 visa (the certification of status change or visa issuance will be issued).

2. Application Qualification
- Applicants must lawfully stay in Korea as a worker in manufacturing, construction or agriculture, livestock and fishery under non- professional employment permit (E-9), vessel crew permit (E-10) or work visit permit (H-2) and fulfill all of the following qualifications.

   QUALIFICATIONS
    - Lawfully working in manufacturing, construction or agriculture, livestock and fishery for 4 years or more
       within the past 10 years.
    - Aged less than 35 with academic degree higher than 2 year junior college.
    - Obtaining higher license than Craftsman in the field of work or having made higher annual income than
       the filed average over the recent 1 year.
    - Obtaining higher Korean language skill than level 3 or completing social integration program course.

3. Quota by Industry and Company

	Quota 1	Quota 2	Quota 3	Quota 4	Quota 5
Industy
Manufacturing (No. of workers under employment insurance)	10-49	50-149	150-299	300-499	500 or more
Construction (Average annual construction fee)	Less than 5 billion won	Less than 5-30 billion won	Less than 30- 50 billion won	Less than 50- 70 billion won	70 billion won or more
Agriculture, Livestock and Fishery (No. of regular workers)	30 or less	31- 99	100 or more

4. Application Procedure
- Apply for the status change at the immigration office which has jurisdiction over the location of the company where the applicant is working (Authorized recipients are allowed to apply)

  REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
  - Application Form
  - Passport
  - Alien registration Card
  - Proof of Employment certificate (career included)
  - Employment Contract Document
  - Academic Certificate
  - License or withholding tax receipt
  - Report Card of Korean Proficiency Test or Certificate of Social Integration Program Completion.

5. Starting Date: From Oct 10, 2011
For more information visit: http://www.hikorea.go.kr/  or call immigration contact center (1345)

The information above was given to me by the Incheon Counseling Center for Foreign Workers