Filipino Grandmaster Eugene Torre

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino Grandmaster Eugene Torre has become the first Asian male to be inducted in the World Chess Hall of Fame.

In an online meeting, the World Chess Federation approved Torre’s inclusion to the Hall of Fame alongside Argentine grandmaster Miguel Najdorf and grandmaster Judit Polgar of Hungary.

Torre followed former women’s world champion Xie Jun, the Chinese grandmaster who was the first Asian to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

“Very proud tayo, kasi tayo ang kauna-unahang Asian male player na nominated ng FIDE (I’m very proud because I’m the first Asian male player nominated by the FIDE),” Torre said.

Torre became Asia’s first grandmaster in 1974 at the age of 22.  As part of the World Chess Hall of Fame, Torre is included in the list of former world champions Gary Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, and Robert ‘Bobby’ James Fischer.

“Ang mahalaga, nabibigyan na din ng pagkilala ang mga Asyano sa chess, lalo na at baby pa tayo sa chess kung ikukumpara sa Russians, Americans at Europeans (What is important is that Asians are being given recognition in chess, especially when we are still a rookie compared with the Russians, Americans, and Europeans)” he added. AAC

LONDON, United Kingdom — The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in London warned Filipino jobseekers against fake entities posing as recruitment agencies supposedly authorized by the agency.

In a statement, POLO – London said they have received a report against a certain company named Cornerstone Employment Agency (CEA) Ltd, that has been offering partnerships with Philippine recruitment agencies to recruit Filipino workers for jobs in the UK.  

The dubious agency has been using an email address that resembles the official email address of POLO, and presenting documents with fake verification stamps and forged signatures to make them appear legitimate.

POLO clarified that it “has never emailed any document to CEA nor has it sent any document to that agency.”

Applicants who were recruited by CEA also reported that they were asked to pay a fee of $800 USD for the processing of a work visa.

POLO stressed that the activity is definitely a recruitment scam and advised the public to stop any dealings with the said agency. MNP / Raymund David

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Embassy in London has raised its concerns for the welfare of thousands of Filipino nurses in the United Kingdom after 20 of them have died amid the fight against novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.

In a statement, the Philippine Embassy said it has brought to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK the concerns of Filipino health workers such as the need for more personal protective equipment (PPE), especially for those who are assigned in COVID-19 wards.

“We are deeply concerned about the deaths of Filipino health workers who sacrificed their lives as the world continues to fight this vicious disease. They put their lives on the line so that others may heal, live, and be reunited with their loved ones,” Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo said.

As of April 20, around 20 Filipino healthcare workers in the UK have died due to the viral respiratory disease.

Majority of those who passed away worked in hospitals across England, which registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the UK at 93,030 out of  124,73 lab-confirmed cases and 14,828 out of 16,509 hospital deaths.

The embassy said the deaths of Filipino medical workers due to COVID-19 “have caused a stir among British society since it is well known that Filipinos represent the third biggest group of National Health Service (NHS) staff after the British and Indians.”

Citing a March 2019 report on the NHS’ workplace diversity, the embassy said that close to 19,000 Filipinos serve the UK’s public health system either as medical professionals such as nurses and allied health professionals or as support staff.

The embassy said that various independent fundraisers have been organized by friends and family of those who succumbed to the disease.

Other Filipino community organizations have also contributed to support those who continue to fight at the frontlines, including the provision of face masks and hot meals.

The embassy said its frontline consular services have been suspended but its consular section, as well as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), continue to coordinate with Filipino community organizations in extending assistance and monitoring the condition of those severely affected by the disease.

The embassy also assured it is implementing measures that safeguard public health and that it will continue to render assistance to distressed Filipino citizens in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic.