Category Archives: Press release

HIV Positive hairdresser wins labor and discrimination case against Ricky Reyes

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Former Ricky Reyes employee Rene Nocos (in the middle) is flanked by Noel Quinto of Pinoy Plus Foundation (PPF) and Associated Labor Unions (ALU) policy advocacy officer and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines spokesperson Alan Tanjusay (in green polo shirt). Pinoy Plus and ALU-TUCP expressed support to Nocos and commended him for his courage to come out in the public. This photo was taken after the press conference today July 1, 2015. Photo credit to Glenda Ariate of the Associated Labor Unions.

Former Ricky Reyes employee Rene Nocos (in the middle) is flanked by Noel Quinto of Pinoy Plus Foundation (PPF) and Associated Labor Unions (ALU) policy advocacy officer and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines spokesperson Alan Tanjusay (in green polo shirt). Pinoy Plus and ALU-TUCP expressed support to Nocos and commended him for his courage to come out in the public. This photo was taken after the press conference today July 1, 2015. Photo credit to Glenda Ariate of the Associated Labor Unions.

The Philippines’ labor and management mediation-court found popular hairstylist Ricky Reyes and his business associate guilty of discrimination and unlawful termination of their employee — a 47-year old HIV positive hairdresser, the labor group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP)announced yesterday.

Labor and management dispute mediator the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) last week ordered Reyes to reinstate and pay the back wages and benefits of their employee and complainant Renato Nocos including salary differentials, emergency cost of living allowances, mandatory 13th month pay, separation pay and attorney’s fees amounting to a total of P615,313.06.

In a 10-page decision, labor arbiter Joanne G. Hernandez-Lazo said the court found that Reyes and Moreno transferred Nocos to a branch that is about to be bankrupt immediately after learning that the complainant showed symptoms of HIV infection. After the closure of the branch, Nocos was never given any assignment.

“HIV illness is not highly contagious and it is not transmitted through touching, hugging, sneezing, coughing, eating or drinking common utensils or being around an infected person. Thus, the means by which they (Reyes et al) tried to protect their other employees and customers unduly trampled upon the rights of the complainant (Nocos),” the decision said.

Nocos filed a case of discrimination, unlawful termination, non-payment of lawful wages and benefits against Reyes and business partner Tonneth Moreno at NLRC on March 3, 2014 after he was fired on February 28, 2014. Nocos claimed he was fired by Reyes and Moreno after disclosing to them he had HIV.

Moreover, Nocos filed a separate complaint against Reyes and Moreno for not paying his Social Security System (SSS) and Philhealth insurance premiums amid being employed in the company since July 16, 2003.

“There is now a good reason for me to strive harder and get my life back, confident that justice shall reign supreme. On other hand, this victory is an encouragement for those HIV positive human beings like me who are fighting for respect and dignity. Deep in my heart, I’m praying for NLRC to dismiss any appeal. And I’m praying for enlightenment for my boss Mother Ricky,” Nocos said.

On his part, ALU national executive vice president Gerard Seno said: “Oppression like this happens because there are still a great majority in our society whose judgment calls are still guided by their ignorance about HIV and AIDS. Labor unions feel there’s a strong need to combine and connect the old and the new paradigms about HIV and AIDS in order to minimize stigma and discrimination surrounding the phenomenon.”

Nocos sought the help of the labor federation in June last year and disclose himself in public amid the risk of family and social stigma and discrimination in pursuing the case.

Check the background story from this link: http://www.yamsfiles.com/ricky-reyes-terminates-hiv-positive-hairdresser/

HIV/AIDS advocates, activists welcomes Wurtzbach exponential presence in campaign

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Photo credit -MissUniverse

Labor group the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa welcomes the positive and exponential presence of Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach into the campaign against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) particularly in the Philippines where incidence is growing at fast and furious pace.

“Pia’s leverage into the campaign against HIV and AIDS in the country is a morale booster to HIV/AIDS advocates and activists. She comes into the issue at a time when the campaign is at all-time low because of appalling high growth of incidence and everyone seemed not to care anymore. Ms. Wurtzbach’s energy and vitality into the advocacy will radically change the equation,” said TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

The number of cases reported is increasing in recent years with a case per day in 2006 to 21 cases a day in March 2015, Tanjusay said.

Most of those infected are in the median age of 27 and the youngest is 14 years old with infection grew more than ten-fold from 44 in 2006 to 995 in 2015 records from National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health (DOH) show.

Wurtzbach, in her winning response to question on why should she be a Miss Universe, said she will use her voice to influence the youth and raise awareness to certain causes like HIV.

Press Release

Photo credit: https://twitter.com/MissUniverse

Women artists, rights activists mount exhibit for women political prisoners

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women artists

In commemoration of the International Day to End Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) on November 25, women artists, human rights activists and poets joined relatives of political prisoners in mounting a benefit exhibit of portraits of women political prisoners in the Philippines at the Conspiracy Bar in Quezon City.

The Kababaihan sa Sining at Bagong Sibol na Kamalayan (Kasibulan)–an organization of women artists, human rights group Karapatan, poets from Kilometer 64, and relatives of political prisoners under Hustisya, opened the exhibit Wednesday with nineteen (19) portraits of women political prisoners.

Volunteer teacher Rhea Pareja, elderly Moreta Alegre, youth activist Maricon Montajes, women’s rights advocate Rosanna Cabusao, and National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants Wilma Austria, Ma. Concepcion Araneta-Bocala and Loida Magpatoc, were among the women political prisoners featured in the portraits.

As of September 30, 2015, there are 51 women political prisoners in the Philippines, out of the 555 political prisoners. Political prisoners are individuals illegally arrested and detained based on their political beliefs or affiliations. Fabricated criminal charges were filed against them.

The benefit exhibit, which will run until December 7, is part of the continuing efforts to raise awareness and resources for the campaign to free political prisoners in the Philippines.

The organizers said the exhibit was also opened in time for the UN-declared IDEVAW, in commemoration of the death anniversary of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic who also became women political prisoners during the military dictatorship by the Trujillo regime in the 1950’s-60’s. The Mirabal sisters – Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa – were called “Las Mariposas” or “The Butterflies,” among the members of the resistance movement in the Dominican Republic.

For references:
Vivian Nocum Limpin, Kasibulan President (0915-8107879)
Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary General (0917-3162831)
Nikki Gamara, daughter of political prisoner Renante Gamara (0916-1134588)

Press Release