Pangasinan soon to have a DFA Regional Consular Office

[REPOST] LINGAYEN — Passports and other documents for Filipinos bound to foreign countries will soon be processed in Pangasinan.
This was disclosed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Regional which said that a Consular Office will be located at the second floor of Robinson's Pangasinan in Calasiao by the end of this year.
The closest consular office of DFA is in San Fernando, La Union but most OFWs still get their passports and other travel documents.processed in Metro-Manila.
Revealed during the August 5, 2013 Provincial Board regular session, the DFA Regional Consular Office will not cost the national government any rental fee, said Board Member Ranjit Shahani.
The Board Member also remarked that the opening of a DFA office in the province will encourage people to get passports as such are not only travel documents but are means of identification.
"In fact,passports are more effective-as a notary public- than cedula (community tax certificate)," he said.
In addition, Shahani said that Governor Amado Espino Jr. together with Ex-President Fidel Ramos, Vice President Jejomar Binay, DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario, and Senator Grace Poe are expected to lead the inauguration of the office in December. (PIO)

Our Country Needs YOU. Join the PMA.

PMA ENTRANCE EXAM SET ON AUGUST 2

Lingayen – The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has set on August 2 (Sunday) the holding of PMA entrance examination in 37 areas in the country. Examination center in Pangasinan will be in University of Pangasinan – PHINMA in Dagupan City.

The PMA entrance exam is the first stage in the selection process for cadetship in the country’s premier military school.

Major Ryan C. Igama, Officer-in-Charge of Proctor Team, said that aspirants may apply online (application forms can be downloaded from www.pma.ph) while walk-ins on the examination day are reminded to bring the following: NSO-authenticated birth certificate, 2X2 Picture and Identification Card (preferably school ID).

Requirements for admission in PMA include: at least 5’0 inches tall, both for male and female; natural-born Filipino citizen; physically fit and of good moral character; single and has never been married; at least high school graduate; no administrative/criminal case; must pass the PMA entrance exam; and must be 16-21 years old or born from April 1, 1994 to April 1, 1999.

Being a PMA cadet gives an individual a noble privilege in serving the country. One is able to avail of free college education (entitled to receive monthly pay and allowances) with a well-rounded curriculum. After graduating from the academy, one is guaranteed a progressive career as an officer in the Army, Navy or Air Force.

In a press statement, the PMA has made a firm stand on its “Zero Tolerance to Maltreatment Policy” against maltreatment in the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) as it adheres to respect of human rights, and observance of the principles of International Humanitarian Law and the rule of law.

Successful applicants will compose the PMA Class 2020 who will be officially received in the academy in an Oath-taking Ceremony and Reception Rites on April 1, 2016.

For inquiries, interested applicants may contact: (074) 447-3686, (074) 447-2632 Local 6751, 6752, Smart – 0928-559-7651, Sun Cellular – 0943-705-6890, Globe – 0917-896-4299, or write the Ogffice of Cadet Admission, Philippine Military Academy, Fort General Gregorio H. Del Pilar, 2602, Baguio City. /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

Source: https://www.facebook.com/pangasinan.gov.ph

Nachos and coffee at Kaffa Avenue

Nachos and coffee at Kaffa Avenue.

Assada Center A.B. Fernandez Ave. Dagupan City and CBMall, McArthur Hway, Urdaneta City

The Pangasinan Hub

Blueberry Cheesecake from Silverspoon

Nothing says "I Love You Baby" like a blueberry cheesecake from Silverspoon

FOR INQUIRES & ORDERS:
09063852844/09237383277/5293051
Located at Mc Arthur Hi way Urdaneta City Pangasinan

Happy Hour @ Skyline Cafe

Skyline Cafe is located at the 3rd Floor of J & E Malaluan Bldg. McArthur Hway Urdaneta City

BBQ spareribs with buttered veggies and mashed potato @ Melmarks

BBQ spareribs with buttered veggies and mashed potato @ Melmarks Urdaneta. Ground Floor CB Mall.

Burger Fest at Tenders Urdaneta

20% Off on all burgers from August 1-16, 2015

Pangasinan PESO, Mini Job Fair July 29, 2015

Contact the PESO office for more details. 

https://www.facebook.com/pesopang 

#pangasinanhub

  

Tenders Urdaneta - NEW SOUTHWEST BURGER

Treat yourself this SUMMER! Try their NEW SOUTHWEST BURGER with Crispy Potato Fries & Iced Tea for 135.00 pesos only. 2/f Pentagon bldg. Macarthur highway, Urdaneta, Pangasinan

6323611

#pangasinanhub #pangasinanupdates #pangasinandining

Policemen look on as armed man goes amok at SM Rosales, Pangasinan

Rosales, Pangasinan – This video was taken by a citizen, of a man (allegedly a relative of a main politician) carrying a gun, casually talking with 3 unidentified policemen in front of SM in Rosales, Pangasinan. 

Based on the vernacular spoken by the video taker, there is already a crisis in progress while the conversation was going on between the police and the man, who would soon go amok.

This incident occured in the late afternoon of December 21, 2014

Video originally taken by a citizen:  Genaro Mariñas

Pangasinan-based Call Center needs transcriptionists

A business process solutions company, EXL International, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan and Office of Board Member Ranjit R. Shahani is in need of some 300 call center transcriptionists and agents to be based in Urdaneta City.

In a memorandum signed by Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan on June 4, he disclosed that applicants must be a graduate of Nursing or of other allied courses.

Applicants as stated in the memorandum should be English proficient for a call center job as medical transcriptionist and medical insurance agent.

Pre-screening of applicants will be held on June 13, 8AM to 3PM at the Balikbayan Hall of Urdaneta Cultural Center in Urdaneta City.

Interested applicants must bring their resume and other credentials.

Also on deck for Pangasinense jobseekers is the special recruitment activity scheduled on June 13 at PESO Lingayen with various positions such as mechanical engineers, quantity surveyors, electro-mechanical CAD operator, mechanical draftsman, electrical foreman, general foreman, health and safety officer, tile setter, welder, decorative artist, technician, duct installer, plumber, electrical engineer, equipment technician, mason, decorative carpenter, electrician, steel fixer, heavy equipment operator, duct fabricator, and AC technician. Said workers will work at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Various local and overseas jobs will also be offered on June 14 job fair at PESO here.

For more information you may call PESO Pangasinan at telephone number (075) 542-6211/RRB

Repost from:
http://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/2014/06/pangasinan-based-call-center-needs-transcriptionists

Carmen road segment of TPLEX set to open

BAGUIO CITY -- Another portion of the P23.8-billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) is set to open to motorists this week, an official of concessionaire Private Infra Dev Corp. (PIDC) said here on Saturday.

  Mark A. Dumol, PIDC president, said this portion -- which serves as section 1-B of TPLEx -- spans 32.30 kilometers (km) and will run from Tarlac to Barangay Carmen in Rosales, Pangasinan.

“We are targeting to open it to traffic on April 16. The project will be initially toll-free because we have to apply for that, so motorists will only have to pay up to Paniqui (Tarlac),” Mr. Dumol said during the 2014 Business Journalism Seminar held at Le Monet Hotel.

Last year, PIDC started the operations of TPLEx’s section 1-A -- a 17-km thoroughfare that runs from Tarlac City to the municipalities of Paniqui and Gerona.

Two more phases of TPLEx will be opened to complete the 88.85-km TPLEx.

Mr. Dumol said section 2 -- which runs for 13.72 km from Carmen to Urdaneta, Pangasinan -- will open in December 2014.

“Right now, section 2 is already about 30% complete. It’s doing well. We hope to complete it by the end of this year,” the official said, adding this is earlier than originally planned opening in December next year.

To complete the tollway project, section 3 -- with a total distance of 25.83 kilometers -- will run from Urdaneta to Rosario in La Union.

“We will start that by the end of this year and will complete by December 2015, ahead of our original target in 2018,” Mr. Dumol said.

TPLEx -- construction of which started in August 2010 -- is envisioned cut the travel time between Manila and Baguio to two to three hours from six.

Mr. Dumol said the highway will have security features, patrol cars and emergency assistance vehicles.

Private concessionaire PIDC is an all-Filipino consortium led by Ramon S. Ang’s San Miguel Corp.; DMCI Group; D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Inc.; R.D. Policarpio Construction, Inc.; New Kanlaon Construction, Inc.; J.E. Manalo & Company, Inc.; and C.M. Pancho Construction, Inc.

San Miguel, which has diversified into heavier industries such as power and infrastructure from food and beverage, controls the concessionaires behind South Luzon Expressway and Manila Skyway.

Its unit, Optimal Infrastructure Development Corp., also won the P15.8-billion public-private partnership project to build Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway, which will link the main airport and Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City, Parañaque City, near Manila Bay.

Together with Indonesia’s Citra Group, the company has already started construction of the P26.5-billion Skyway 3, a 14-km toll road that will link North and South Luzon expressways.

San Miguel’s net income grew 42% to P38.1 billion last year, mainly driven by its P40-billion, one-time gain from the sale of its stake in Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). The sale of its 27% stake in Meralco to Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings, Inc. offset P15.6 billion in foreign exchange losses. Revenues rose 7% to P748 billion mainly due to improvement in sales from new businesses.

Shares of the company gained P2.50 or 3.14% to end P82 apiece on Friday last week from P79.50 each on Thursday. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano

Blog repost from:

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=Tarlac-La-Union-road-segment-set-to-open&id=86043

Unverified, sensationalized reporting

JEERS TO ABS-CBN 2′s Bandila for blatantly violating the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas’ (KBP) Broadcast Code of the Philippines and the network’s own internal “Standards Ethics Manual” in a report about an alleged ‘flesh-eating’ disease that the same report said was “slowly spreading” (unti-unting kumakalat)  in the province of Pangasinan.

The first of a two- part ABS-CBN special report tagged #MisteryosongSakitsaBandila aired 24 February 2014 reported two cases of people with supposedly ‘mysterious’ (misteryoso) “skin and flesh-eating” diseases.

Bandila’s anchor Julius Babao in his spiel prior to the report proper said, “Isang misteryosong sakit ang unti-unting kumakalat ngayon sa Pangasinan, isang sakit na tila umano’y kumakain ng balat at laman ng tao … (A mysterious disease is sloawly spreading in Pangasinan, a disease allegedly eating people’s skin and flesh)”

Bandila reporter Jasmin Romero was shown wearing medical scrubs, mask and gloves while interviewing two patients from the town of Sta Barbara and Villasis, Pangasinan.  According to the report, doctors could not tell what the patients’ ailments were.

Family members of the patients were interviewed. A medical official was also interviewed about the condition of a patient from Villasis town, who, among other statements, said the patient’s ailment was not psoriasis.

Bandila’s report was deliberately sensationalized, and the reporter did not interview any other source.   The result was panic among Netizens that spread to other people around the country.

The story was in violation of ABS-CBN’s own “Standards Ethics Manual” Responsibilities to the Public Sections, which declare that the news must “(i) avoid needless pain and offense; (iv) Avoid sensationalism and hype; (v.) Seek clear, unambiguous accounts of facts; and, (vi) Be on alert for spin and other forms of media manipulation.”

The report also violates the KBP’s 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines, Article 1 Section 9.c of which states that “The presentation of news and commentaries must not be done in a way that would create unnecessary panic or alarm.”

Hours after the report was aired, Netizens began sharing pictures of different bacterial skin diseases on Facebook, and the issue soon trended on Twitter.

Some Netizens connected the report to a so-called “prophecy” by a self-proclaimed Indian prophet from the Voice of Jesus Ministry last April 2013, who said that a flesh-eating disease will originate from Pangasinan and will spread around the world. The same “prophet” was said to have predicted that a typhoon would devastate Samar and Leyte, which some Netizens  interpreted as having been validated by super typhoon Yolanda’s smashing into the Visayas last November.  Videos of the said “prophecy” had begun to surface over YouTube last year after typhoon Yolanda hit.

The Department of Health (DOH) later said that the report was a hoax. The provincial health officer and the Secretary of Health said that the two patients do not have a mysterious disease, and that one has psoriasis, while the other has leprosy. Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa added that “responsible journalism is important” so as not to spread panic.

Part two of the Bandila special report was supposed to connect the story to the “prophecy,” with interviews from medical experts and religious organizations on the coming of the “flesh-eating disease.”  But it was never aired, apparently because of the DOH disclaimer.

ABS-CBN did not acknowledge its mistake—if mistake it was and not deliberate sensationalism. Instead Bandila anchor Julius Babao on February 25 claimed that the program did not mean to scare the public, but was just reporting.

Article 5 of the KBP 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines states that “When a mistake has been broadcast, it must be acknowledged and rectified as soon as possible by stating the mistake and making corrections.”

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Report from http://www.cmfr-phil.org/2014/02/26/unverified-sensationalized-reporting/

First phase of TPLEX to begin operations Wednesday

Motorists heading for Baguio may soon be able to slash more than 40 minutes off their travel time to the City of Pines by passing through the the first phase of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), which will begin operations on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

According to a report aired on "24 Oras" Tuesday, the 17-kilometer-long road stretching from Tarlac City to the cities of Victoria and Gerona, Tarlac is directly connected to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway (SCTEX).

From Gerona, TPLEX will have exits in Paniqui and Moncada in Tarlac; Rosales, Urdaneta City, and Pozorrubio in Pangasinan; and Rosario in La Union. Section 1 (from Tarlac City to Rosales, 49.3 km in length) is scheduled to be completed in mid-2014. The entire stretch of the TPLEX from Tarlac City to Rosario, La Union (88.85 km) is expected to be completed in 2016.

Image from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) website.

Last Friday, the Toll Regulatory Board issued a Toll Operation Permit for the expressway after Private Infra Development Corporation (PIDC) completed the construction of the first phase.

The 17-kilometer thoroughfare is equipped with hi-tech sensors, lighting and reflectors. Motorists might also expect prompt emergency response by police patrol cars, tow trucks and ambulances, which will be on standby and which can be dispatched to the scene in 10 minutes.

The tollway operator has yet to post the toll rates for TPLEX, although the television report said it will be made public soon. 

This is a repost from — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News

‘Golden’ Bangus nadiskubre sa Pangasinan

Ipinaubaya na sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ang kakaibang bangus na nadiskubre sa isang palaisdaan sa Binmaley, Pangasinan noong nakaraang taon.

Kasama ang mga tauhan ng BFAR, tinungo ng GMA News ang palaisdaan sa Brgy. Linoc sa Binmaley kung saan inaalagaan ang isang taong gulang na bangus na kulay ginto ang kaliskis.

“Fry pa lang nang mapasama siya sa mga kinukuha naming sa palaisdaan. Iniiwan namin hanggang sa lumaki na siyang ganyan," ayon kay Ariel Fernandez, may-ari ng palaisdaan.

Wala naman umanong ipinagkaiba ang kinakain ng “golden" bangus sa feeds na kinakain ng ordinaryong bangus.

Rescheduled power interruption in parts of Pangasinan

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES

Rescheduled power interruption in parts of Pangasinan

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) serves notice that the scheduled power interruption tomorrow, March 27, affecting Pangasinan Electric Cooperative III (PANELCO III), Dagupan Electric Corporation (DECORP) and Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENPELCO) has been moved to a new date as follows:

DOLE to hold job fairs in Pangasinan. May 1 in Rosales.

DAGUPAN CITY, Feb. 10 (PIA) --  The Department of Labor and Employment in the Ilocos Region is set to stage a series of job fairs for the first six months of the year to strengthen its job search assistance services to the public.

DOLE information Officer Arly Valdez said job fairs in the region will start in February while the events in Pangasinan will start in the month of March scheduled tentatively on the following dates: March 8 at the Urdaneta City University (local employment) and March 23 at the Narciso Ramos Gymnasium in  Lingayen town.

For April, the dates and venues are: April 16 at the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO), Municipality of Manaoag  (local and overseas)and April 26 (tentative) at the PESO Office, Municipal Hall of Infanta town (local and overseas).

On May 1, jobseekers can flock to the  SM City in Rosales town and on June 12 at the Narciso Ramos Gymnasium in Lingayen town.

The upcoming job fairs will bring together 25 local employers and 35 licensed recruitment agencies for overseas employment. The local employers invited to participate are Addessa Corporation, Archway Multi-services Corporation, Bamcor, Banco San Juan, BHF Corporation, Digitel, EEI Corporation, Isonn Marketing, Marand Resort and Spa, Napintas Logistics Distribution, Inc., Pancake House, Inc./Chowking, Peer Marketing Motor Sales Corporation, Puyat Steel, Rang-ay Bank, Saver’s Print Marketing, Splash, United Coconut Planters Life, Universal Leaf Phils., Welform Trading Corporation, Expercs, Inc., Sitel Phils., Sutherland Global Services, The American Institute, TSPI Development Corporation, and Trust International Paper Corporation.

Over 20 Region 1-based and 10 from outside the region  licensed recruitment agencies were invited to offer to jobseekers their approved overseas job orders.

DOLE Regional Director Grace Y. Ursua said the job fairs are made possible through the collaboration among the DOLE and its family of agencies, local government units, PESOs, academe, private institutions, local employers and licensed recruitment agencies.

Jobseekers are asked to bring their application letter, resume’, 2”x2” pictures, employment certificates, if any, training certificates and other proofs of credentials. (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan with reports from DOLE)



Source: Philippine Information Agency

Pangasinan plans to host the best Palarong Pambansa in the country

Lingayen- - -The provincial government led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.is exerting all efforts to make the Palarong Pambansa 2012 as the most exciting and meaningful national games just like the first time Pangasinan hosted the country’s biggest sporting event way back in 1995.
This developed as preparations are now in full swing for the staging of Palarong Pambansa 2012 to be held on May 6 to 12.
The rehabilitation and the upgrading of the event venues such as the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) as well as the billeting areas for the athletes are ongoing.
Modesto Operania, Provincial Sports Consultant, said that recently the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Education (DepEd) met to inspect the facilities of the NRSCC and further discussed other details like security, medical assistance and technical concerns regarding the different sporting events of the national games to include chess, basketball, badminton, track and field, gymnastics, sepak takraw and sipa, taekwondo, boxing, volleyball and football among others.
Operania said that while the provincial government is responsible for the repairs and refurbishments of sports venues, the DepEd will supply new sets of equipment for the event.
It will be recalled that when Pangasinan hosted the big event in 1995, Gov. Espino who was then the PNP Provincial Director, played a vital role in making the national sports competition a resounding success to include the construction of the NRSCC in barely 49 days.
Operania said that upon assuming his post as the highest official of the province, the Governor has set his sights in repeating history with an objective to prove that Pangasinan can aptly be called as the Philippines’ “home to sporting activities and center of sports development.”
Pangasinan outbidded other finalists like Laguna and Marikina after Isabela and Mindoro backed out at the last minute last November 17 with the Governor leading the provincial bidding team. (PIO/Sheila Aquino and Ruby R. Bernardino)

(A reprint from the Philippine Star)

HILING NG MGA NEGOSYANTE KAY PNOY: ‘Tapusin ang mga infra projects sa Norte’

By Dino Balabo

Aug 18, 2011

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS – Hiniling ng mga negosyante sa pamahalaang pambansa na tiyaking magpapatuloy at matatapos sa takdang panahon ang mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura upang magpatuloy ang kaunlaran sa hilaga ng kalakhang Maynila.

Ang kahilingan ay itinala sa isang resolusyong pinagtibay ng may 300 negosyanteng lumahok sa dalawang araw 20th North Luzon Area Business Conference na isinagawa sa St. Agatha Resort and Country Club sa lungsod na ito na natapos noong Biyernes, Agosto 12.

Kabilang sa mga proyektong tinukoy sa resolusuon ay ang Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) sa Clark Freeport, Proyektong North Railways, rehabilitasyon ng Macarthur Highway, konstruksyon ng Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx), Sual Seaport at Alaminos International Airport.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi ng Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) na naging matagumpay ang kumperensya dahil sa aktibong pakikilahok ng mga negosyante na bumuo ng balanseng resolusyon.

Konstruksyon ng Lingayen Gulf Coastal Highway, pagpapalawak ng North Rail Project hanggang Pangasinan, pagtatapos ng Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), konstruksyon ng tunnel road o mono trail na mag-uugnay sa Gitnang Luzon at Cagayan Valley, at konstruksyon ng dagdag na dam sa Magat River na tutugon sa pangangailangan sa irigasyon.

Ayon sa mga negosyante, kapag natapos ang mga nasabing proyektong pang imprastraktura, higit na kaunlaran ang makakamit ng mga pamayanan sa rehiyon ng Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley at Gitnang Luzon.

Binanggit din nila na ilan sa mga nasabing proyekto ay matagal na dapat natapos at napakinabangan, tulad ng DMIA at NorthRail project.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi nina Felicito Payumo ng Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), at Ramoncito Fernandez ng Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) na ang pagkakaantala sa NorthRail na nagpapabagal sa kaunlaran ng DMIA at Gitnang Luzon.

Sinabi nila na hangga’t hindi natatapos ang NorthRail, hindi matutupad ang buong potensyal ng DMIA dahil wala pa ring pasilidad ng transportasyon na mag-uugnay sa nasabing airport at sa Kalakhang Maynila sa loob ng isang oras.

Bukod dito, sinabi nila na dapat desisyunan ng gobyerno kung gagawing high speed o commuter train service ang NorthRail.

Nilinaw ni Fernandez na kung magiging high speed ang NorthRail matitiyak na makakarating sa Maynila ang mga pasahero mula sa Clark sa loob ng isang oras.

Ang pagkakaroon ng isang pasilidad sa transportasyon na titiyak sa isang oras na biyahe sa pagitan ng Kalakhang Maynila at DMIA ay isa sa mga hinihiling ng mga malalaking kumpanya ng eroplano bago nila ilipat sa DMIA ang kanilang operasyon.

Bilang tagapamahala naman sa 20th North Luzon Area Business Conference, sinabi ng BCCI na naging matagumpay ito.

Ayon kay Mara Bautista ng BCCI, ang tagumpay ng anumang business conference ay masusukat sa mga gresolusyon ipinasa ng mga lumahok.

Sinabi niya na naging balanse ang pagbuo ng mga resolusyon dahil sa aktibong pakikilahok ng mga dumalo.

Lahat ay nagparticipate, kaya hindi lang concern ng Bulacan o certain areas ang nabigyang pansin, kundi concern ng bawat lugar na sakop ng North Luzon na lumahok,” ani Bautista.

Iginiit pa niya na ang mga kumperensiya na katulad ng NLABC ay nagsisilbing tinig ng mga negosyante.

“Hindi isang social club o social gathering ang NLABC, it’s the place where businessmen voice out their concern,” ani Bautista.

ARYSTA MARKETING... ISANG SCAM?

ARYSTA MARKETING... ISANG SCAM?



This was sent to us through email...
Caller:  Hello, good afternoon po, tumatawag po ako in behalf of Philippine Electronics Association
Me: Philippine Electronics Association?
Caller: Opo, nais po naming ibalita sa inyo na napili po kayo sa pamamagitan ng electronic raffle at napili po ang number nyo upang tumanggap ng munting regalo mula sa Philippine Electronics Association. Ito ay walang obligsyong bumili. No obligation to purchase naman po. Tatanggap lang po kayo ng regalo.
Me: Wow!
Caller: Opo, kayo po ba ang may-ari ng number na ito?
Me: Opo.
Caller: A ok, kasi po, bilang pasasalamat ng Philippine Electronics Association, sa aming anibersaryo ay napili po kayo, at dahil nationwide naman po sya, ang pinaka-malapit na pick area sa inyo ay sa CB Mall.
Me: (Isip-isip: Paano nya nalaman na malapit ako sa CB Mall?)
Caller: Malapit po ba sila sa Urdaneta?
Me: Nasa Urdaneta po ako.
Caller: A ok na ok. Pumunta lamang po kayo sa second Floor ng CB Mall, sa may Arysta. Alam nyo po ba doon?
Me: Yun ba yung malapit sa Appliance Center?
Caller: Opo, dun nga po.
Phone battery goes dead …

At first, excited kami na may tumawag na ganun. Kaya nag-tanung-tanong kami kung pamilyar sa kanila ang Arista. Sa apat na nakausap naming, ang sabi nila ay SCAM daw yan na nagbebenta ng mga appliances na may kasamang raket. Madalas ay mga balikbayan ang mga pinupuntirya dahil nga sa maraming pera. Nagpasya pa rin kaming pumunta sa office nila.
Pagdating namin sa ARYSTA ay tinanggap kami ng maayos. Mababait ang mga tao at puro nakangiti. Napaka-disente pa ng mga kasuotan. Parang mga nagta-trabaho sa Makati. Lalo na ang mga kalalakihan na naka-kurbata pa. Kaya lang, puro bakla yata. (Wala namang masama dun, actually)

Binanggit  namin ang tungkol sa munting regalo. Nakangiti ang tumanggap sa amin. Ang sabi nya ay qualified daw kami na sumali sa raffle. Ang gagawin lang daw namin ay bumunot sa isang bowl. Wala naman siguro ang mawawala. Bumunot ako at binigay sa tumanggap. Pagkabukas niya ay pinakita niya sa kaniyang mga kasama.

Nagkagulo. Nasigawan ang iba.

Nagpapalakpakan ang lahat. Congrats daw. “Wow ang swerte nyo naman!” Sabi ng isang maliit na bading na nasobrahan yata ng hair gel at foundation.

Ano kaya ang napanalunan ko?

Isang TV daw.

WOW nga!  Tamang tama. Sira na remote ng JVC ko.

Itatawag lang daw nila sa Manila para i-verify. Ngayon, pwede pa daw ako manalo ng Showcase na may malaking discount. Ngayon ay nakaabang at nakapalibot na ang lahat sa amin.
Nabaling naman ang mga mata ko sa mga nagkikintabang mga appliances sa paligid.

May kausap na ang empleyado. Mangiyak-ngiyak na sya habang nakatingin sa akin. Halos maihi naman ang mga bading sa excitement.

Approved na daw ako. Mai-uuwi ko na ang 8 piece cookware set, convection stove at foot massager sa halagang 50,000 pesos lamang! Kasama pa ang 21-inch COBY CRT TV na napanalunan ko at ang munting regalo na hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa nakikita.

Ang mga nakapaligid sa akin, excited na talaga. Lumuhod na ang isa sa akin habang pinaupo ako sa magarang sofa.

“Kunin nyo na po!”
“Once in a lifetime lang po yan!”
“Oh my gosh! Ang swerte nyo talaga! Kunin na po ninyo”

Kung sabagay ang dami nga naman. Baka swerte nga. “Wala pa akong pera eh”

“Pwede naman po ang downpayment kahit 20% lang”
Sabi ko, “Wala talaga akong cash dito”
“Baka dala nyo ang ATM nyo, may bangko naman po dyan sa baba. Pwede rin po ang cheke. Kayang kaya no yan”

Nagtaka na ako. Parang namimilit na sila. “Pwede bang yung gift na lang at yung TV”

“Naku, yung TV po kasama po yun sa showcase”

Ngek, eh diba napanalunan ko nay un bago pa magka-showcase?”

“Policy po talaga yun eh”

Bigla kong naisip:
Cookware set:  Pinaka mahal na siguro ang P. 4,000
Convection Stove: Siguro naman P. 7,000 to P. 8,000 (Kasi yung La Germania na 4 burner plus oven mga P. 12,000 lang)
Foot Massager: Alam ko ito P. 12,000 din lang ito.
Isama mo na ang lumaing TV na hindi man lang flat tapos ubod pa ng taba: P5,000
So ang total nyan ay….
….

29,000 Pesoses!

Syet, ginogoyo nila kami ng 21,000 pesos???
Nagmadali na kaming umalis.
“Ahhh… may lakad pa kami eh. Next time na lang.”
“Naku, sayang po talaga. Once in a lifetime na lang po ito.”
“Ok lang. teka. Makukuha ko pa ba yung munting regalo?”
Tumalikod na ang iba. Naksimanot pa yung isa. Basta na lang inabot sa akin ang isang…
Bolpen.
Pagkauwi namin, nag-search ako sa internet tungkol sa Arysta at ang mga ito ang tumambad sa akin:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=477981
http://dtincr.ph/pressrel.php
http://arystamarketingscam.blogspot.com/
http://thecookieplanet.blogspot.com/2010/02/first-marketing-scam-experience.html
http://berdengmansanas.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/reposting-arysta-marketing-scam/
Calling DTI people, hahayaan na lang ba natin na makunan ang mga kababayan natin ng kanilang pinaghirapang pera sa pamamagitan ng unethical sales practices?