Red Dot Pinoys

Filipina PR fined $50k for unlicensed agency

2012-02-03T17:59:00.002+08:00

Posted on: Feb 03, 2012

Since the 2008 Financial Crisis, looking for a job in Singapore has been very though. Gone are the days when Singapore employers will offer you a job after one interview and via phone call.

Now, one has to engage employment agencies no matter what job you are looking for. These agencies ask for a fee or deposit which typically ranges from $20 to $5000.

But, please get a legitimate agency only ---
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Burger King investigates post about a Filipino manager

2012-01-19T21:06:00.002+08:00

An internet post on Jan-8 lashed out at a Filipino shift manager at one of Burger King's outlets at Tampines North Community Club.

Burger King Singapore felt there was a need to clear its name when the post went viral.

The post was about out a Filipino shift manager who alledgedly, showed his unhappiness when a crew member asked for leave to go for reservist mobilisation.
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Food poisoning

2009-05-13T15:12:00.024+08:00

Posted on: May 13, 2009

Since last week, in PinoyITdotSG (a yahoo group of Filipino IT professionals here), there has been a series of intense posts about a recent food poisoning. A member reported an incident related to the party he held on May 2 for his child's birthday. According to him, almost 25 of his guests, allegedly, needed medical attention after consuming food that were prepared/cooked by a Filipina caterer. He posted the message to ask for anyone who knows the caterer's address.

This is the fist post (names and emails have been concealed):

"We celebrate our baby's 1st birthday party last May 2 from 2-11pm, and we ordered a catering service from ____, she was recommended by our friend and we tried her food before its good, so we decided choose her service. The menus ordered are Chicken Afritada, Pork Adobo, Pork Menudo, Beef Kare-Kare, Beef Brocolli, Lumpiang Shanghai, Pancit Bihon, Spaghetti, Chopsuey, Rellenong Bangus, Leche Flan a total to accomodate our 70 visitors. On May 3 around 2PM my wife experience a stomach cramps we just thought shes just bloated but suddenly she experience vomiting, diarrhea and fever. We didnt suspect yet if its the food that we ordered until some of our visitors sms us that it could be the food then a lot of messages came to us with the same issue that they experience, I investigated and found our that visitors who didnt ate Rellenong Bangus were not affected. I called ____ (caterer) and told about the issue

she said it is the first time happened, damn bakit pa sa amin tumama at naging napaka-memorable ng Birthday ng anak ko!. I called her once again and she said she will call back, then after that shes not answering our call anymore.

I already reported the incident to MOH and NEA but what we only got is her name and mobile number, thay said they need the address, thay did tried to call her but shes dropping the call, we got her account number but DBS cannot provide the caterers address for privacy matters. About 25+ of our guests were badly affected, went to the hospital and some are confined, Drs findings is Food Poisoning. If anyone can provide us her address will be great appreciated and reason why im posting this is I don't want this to happen again to anyone."

Lessons to be learned from this incident?

A. If you're planning to engage or already in F&B, register your business

A permit adds to your business image that you're reputable and accountable. This is not to immediately judge that one is not reputable/accountable if he/she has no business permit. Notice that the word "adds" was used. Having a license is a tangible proof that you are willing to face any consequence of doing your business. No matter if the consequence is an appraisal of superb service or product, or a complain from polite or disgruntled customers. Registering your business means you are documented.

The phrase "kind or angry customers" was used because a business person must attend to complaints no matter how unpleasant they are. We all expect the restaurant's manager to listen to our complaints if the soup has a fly in it.

B. For consumers: Only avail of products/services (especially if it concerns F&B) from registered businesses

Whether we want simple breakfast like tapsilog, meryenda, longganisa, or food for party, patronize products from licensed businesses.

Also, always:
1. Obtain a proof that you availed of the product/service (e.g. receipt or contract)
2. Ask for their contact number, business address and permit number

This is not the first case of food poisoning in Pinoy community in SG. Unfortunately, food poisoning also happens in legit establishments like the recent news about a rojak stall in Geylang Serai or the contaminated Prima Deli cakes happened on 2007 December. At least if it's legit, the matter can be addressed to by the government.

Business permit is a protection for consumer. We can also assume that the business owner is aware of the proper food preparation and handling imposed by the government because he/she will not be granted a permit if otherwise.

Street food in Manila

Filipino charged with murder

2008-02-04T12:00:00.002+08:00

Posted on: Feb 04, 2008

Update on yesterday's post on Filipino found dead in Whampoa flat

Mark Jontongco Laguerta, 29 and Filipino, is accused of causing the death of unemployed Bernard Montemayor Alojado, 27, in a HDB flat at Jalan Tenteram in Whampoa area.

Laguerta and his wife, together with Alojado and his wife, were sharing the five-room flat with a woman. All the women are nurses. The suspect was remanded at Central police division for investigation until his next apperance on Feb 11.

Laguerta works in a shop at Changi airport. Meanwhile, the victim was staying in Singapore on a social visit pass or most likely tourist visa, while looking for work.

Murder is a capital offense in Singapore. Which means, the suspect could face death sentence if convicted. Each execution is carried out by hanging at Changi Prison at dawn on a Friday. This is the latest case of a Filipino in Singapore facing a possible death sentence for allegedly killing a fellow Filipino.

Filipino found dead in Whampoa flat

2008-02-03T22:00:00.001+08:00

Posted on: Feb 03, 2008

Just finished watching News 5 Tonight. One of the headlines is the case of a Filipino found dead in a flat around Whampoa:

Filojfido Bernard Montemayor, 27 year old Filipino and unemployed, was found dead in his rented Whampoa flat. He was bare-chested and wore only a pair of shorts. His body was in a sitting position on the floor, his upper torso slumped on the bed beside him. It was a dead-on-arrival case. The police declared the case a murder. There was no blood around the body and the police would not say what kind of injuries the man had sustained, save that they were to his upper body. It is understood that he had bruises on his neck. The police also did not find any weapon in the flat, and had not arrested anyone by press time.

He is believed to be here on a social visit pass.

Neighbors said he lived there with another man and two women, all Filipinos in their 20s. The two women are said to be nurses at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, but it is not known what the other male tenant does. The four had moved in about three months ago, renting the five-room flat from a Singaporean couple.

A neighbor when interviewed said that he was sleeping when he was woken by sounds of a quarrel and furniture being hurled around in the flat just beneath his. According to him, the noise went on for about 20 minutes and he even heard a woman's faint cries for help.

Some neighbors said that they often heard the occupants arguing. Aside from this noise, there were occasions that the Filipinos would jam, or play music on their drums and electric guitars, in the evening, sometimes even till past midnight.

For more details, visit http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_203017.html

For related pictures, click http://www.straitstimes.com/gallery/Free/Story/STIStory_203017.html