30 unexpected things you can only see in Japan

1. Vending machines



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Japan is famous for being a country full of vending machines. The most common kinds are for drinks, but there are also vending machines for hot foods, candy, ice cream, cigarettes, books, newspapers, umbrellas, and even adult goods.

According to a Japanese research company’s investigation, the number of vending machines in Japan in 2014 were 50,400,000. It’s also said that they make 5 trillion yen a year (about 50 billion dollars).

2. Washlet toilet seat



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Right now the washlet toilet seat is very popular with foreign tourists.

While the basic one just spouts out warm water fom a nozzle to clean one’s region, many versions also include deodorization, dryers, warming functions, even music. It’s said that there are many tourists who try it once and become addicted.

3. Name plates



www.resistone.co.jp

For single-family homes in Japan, usually they’ll have a nameplate at the entrance way. In the U.S. and in Europe, there will be a house number and usually a last name on the mailbox, but there aren’t many places where the names are displayed like they are in Japan.

One theory about the spread of the use of nameplates comes from 1923, after the Great Kanto Earthquake.

After the earthquake, victims reconstructed their homes, but many of them moved from the original place where they lived. Because of that, the town completely changed from the way it used to be. So many people wanted to let their neighbors know “this is where I live!” and from there nameplates became an indispensable part of life in Tokyo. 

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4. Limited edition Kit-Kats



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Japan-limited Kit-Kats are another very popular souvenir among foreign tourists. There are many different kinds, so it might be fun to go on a quest to collect them all.

 

You can start with the varieties listed here：

20 Kit Kats only Found in Japan

5. Capsule Hotels



Photo by kimishowata on Flickr.com

 

Capsule hotels are a type of lodging unique to Japan. It’s said that the architect Kisho Kurokawa designed the first one for the 1970 Osaka World Fair. Many foreign tourists are interested in them because not only are they cheap and safe, but also staying in one feels like living within the world of science fiction.

 

For more information on capsule hotels, check this out：

Capsule Hotel in Japan: A Space Oddity

6. Love Hotels



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Love hotels are something that can be found in Japan and some parts of Asia. As the name implies, it’s a place where couples can go for a tryst. Japanese love hotels especially are built with different themes, so you can find ones that have carousels or waterslides in the rooms or even rooms that are made to look like cars, trains, or spaceships. The prices range from reasonable to quite expensive depending on the hotel.

Also, after the customer picks the room from a display in the lobby, they pay by machine and the key comes out of a small window. Employees and customers never meet face-to-face for privacy reasons.

7. Free tissues handed out on the street



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Seeing people hand out tissues for free on the street is a common sight in Japan. Companies put their advertisements inside the tissue packaging so people take them and learn of their products or servies. It’s said that Japanese pocket tissue production is close to 5 billion packs a year worth close to 100 billion yen (around 1 billion dollars).

8. Silky tissues



blog.hangame.co.jp 

The name of these tissues is “excellent nose celeb.” It’s soft like silk to a surprising amount, and many people grow addicted to using them after one try. On the package, the faces of white rabbits, seals, and polar bears are used so their noses stand out cutely.

9. People wearing face masks everywhere



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Many people in Japan use face masks, especially during the periods where pollen is high or in the winter. In those seasons, if you step on a train, most of the people riding the train will be wearing one. While of course there are people who wear them against pollen or germs, among them there are people who don’t want their faces to be seen. Many young people have been wearing fashionable ones lately too.

In the West, only people who are ill wear face masks, so for many foreign tourists it might seem a strange sight.

10. Wet towels

 

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In Japan when you sit in a restaurant, usually you’ll receive a wet towel called an “oshibori”. An oshibori is a slightly damp cloth, and is a way for customers to wipe their hands in order to enoy their meal in a hygenic way. Depending on the restaurant, the oshibori might be warm or cold. It’s considered one of the symbols of Japan’s hospitality.

 

11. Unmanned vegetable stands



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In the Japanese countryside, you can often see unmanned vegetable stalls where all you do is leave some money and take the produce. Because it’s a sales method that involves a lot of trust in everyone’s good consciences, many foreign tourists are surprised at the sight.

12. Machine-operated multistory parking space

Since Japan is a very narrow country, especially in the cities, in order to make the best of parking spaces they were built upwards into multistory spaces. Many people are surprised at this use of technology.

13. Randoseru backpacks

 

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Every elementary student in Japan has a randoseru backpack. Many people have seen them in anime or other Japanese media. Since they’re usually made of leather and of very high quality, children can use them for 6 years straight.

 

While the standard is that boys use black and girls use red, lately there have been many variations with patterns and colors so it’s grown to be more of a fashion item. In recent years, thanks to their fashionable looks and usefulness, they have been growing in popularity overseas as well.

14. Kotatsu



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If you’re talking about winter in Japan, one of the main images is of the kotatsu. A kotatsu is a home heater that consists of a table placed on the floor with a blanket draped between the legs and the surface to hide the heater beneath it. Since it often appears in anime and movies, there are many people around the world who know about it.

In Japanese households, it’s standard for families to sit under the kotatsu in the winter to eat mandarins and watch TV together. It’s a scene that can be said to be unique to Japan.

15. Otooshi

 

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Otooshi is a small dish, usually a snack, that is brought out at izakaya restaurants after the customer’s order is taken to tide them over until their meal arrives. Since it comes out without having been ordered, it might surprise some people. It’s a custom that began out of regard for the customer. Orders in izakaya usually start with drinks, and drinking without something to snack on seems sad, so it is a way for the establishment to make their customer feel more welcome.

Depending on the place you can refuse the otooshi, so if you would prefer not toik have it, please tell your waiter when you place your orders.

16. One-use pocket heater
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A kairo is a chemical warmer that you can carry around and throw it away once you’re done using it. Before, you used to have to unseal it and then shake it so the chemical reaction would begin, but newer versions just require opening it. There aren’t just versions for your hands, but there are also types to stick to the insides of your clothes. Thanks to its convenience and usefulness, it’s definitely something that is indispensable for the winter.

 

17. Yurukyara



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“Yurukyara” is short for “loose mascot character,” and are characters created as PR for prefectures or regions. Thanks to their cute appearances, yurukyara have exploded in popularity, and because of that there is a phenomenon where tourists to the areas promoted by yurukyara have also increased. Kumamoto’s Kumamono and Funabashi City’s Funasshi (though he’s not recognized by the city) are especially famous.

You can say that in Japan, the characters have become the faces of the region they’re promoting.

18．Rice patty art



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Rice paddy art is art made by choosing different kinds of rice to plant in order to create a huge piece of art. Inakadate in Aomori prefecture started it in 1993 to revitalize the town, and now it’s done in close to 100 places.

Rice paddy art is a unique way to enjoy anime characters or other art styles, and even just looking at them makes one smile.

19．Dekotora



ja.wikipedia.org

“Dekotora” is an abbreviation for “decorated trucks,” which are trucks covered in paintings, decorations, lights, and other flashy accessories. Thanks to the hit movie from the 70s, “Truck Yarou,” these trucks became extremely popular throughout Japan. While currently the number of dekotora have significantly decreased, you can still see them on the highway.

Dekotora owners decorate their trucks depending on their own sense, so the designs are different all over Japan.

20. Purikura



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Purikura is a general term for machines where you can take pictures of yourself or with a group that are immediately printed out as photo stickers. They exploded in popularity in the 90s, and lots of high school girls had “purikura books” where they would exchange stickers of each other. 

At the time, the machines only took photos, but machines nowadays allow you to add designs and writing to the photos as well as adjust the size of your eyes and other treatments. Some machines will also allow you to receive the photos as data to your smartphones, showing the profession of modern technology. There are many purikura establishments where men are not allowed to go in alone as a crime prevention tactic.

21．The superhuman feats of the shinkansen’s cleaning staff

 

When a shinkansen train stops at the terminal station, there is a little less than ten minutes between when passengers alight and board for the return trip. In that small time window, the shinkansen cleaning staff have to clean the train perfectly. This means that superhuman cleaning techniques are necessary. Please watch the video linked above to watch them.

If you want to know more about the wonders of the Japanese bullet train, please see this article:

3 Secrets Behind the Wonders of the Shinkansen (Japanese Bullet Train)

22. Nose hair cutter



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In Japan there are a large variety of nose hair cutters, but there are even some that have a tiny vacuum cleaner that will suck up the hairs that have been cut.

23. Eye drops



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There is a huge abundance of different kinds of eye drops, most of which cool and/or refresh the eyes, so many foreign tourists buy a large number of drops as souvenirs.

24. Dispenser pack



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In between the two packets is an ultra-thin incision, so when you press the two containers together the liquid will squeeze out. The dispense pack containing two types of liquids was first thought of in Japan, so you can have an equal amount of both condiments without mixing them.

Since you can squeeze out the condiments with just one hand, even if you’re outdoors or some other location, you can use it without dirtying your hands. If you buy a hot dog or a similar item at a convenience store in japan, you’ll often receive a dispenser pack that has ketchup and mustard. 

25. Toilet slippers



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While it’s rather well-known that one doesn’t wear their shoes into Japanese homes, it might not be as known that most homes also have toilet-only slippers.

26. Square watermelons



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These square watermelons are produced in Kagawa prefecture. Since producing them takes a lot of labor, they only produce a couple of hundred a year. It’s not a GMO product, but rather created to make it easier to stack for delivery purposes. However, since it’s sold as a display, it’s harvested before it’s ripe, so it’s not meant for eating.

27．Automatic taxi doors



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Something that surprises everyone who comes to Japan for the first time is the automatic taxi doors. Originally, large taxi companies introduced them for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics before spreading throughout the country. It’s a hospitable function that was created so the customer can have a pleasant ride.

28. Department store elevator attendants



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In some Japanese department stores, there are elevator attendants who operate the elevators and also give information about the building. The customers in the elevator give the attendant the information of where they want to go, such as the floor number or specific store, and the attendant will press the button. They characteristically speak in a high, easy-to-understand tone so that people can easily understand them.

29．Children going to and from school alone



blog.livedoor.jp

 

In the West, as much as possible parents bring their children to school, but in Japan, most kids go on their own. There are also children as young as six who use public transportation, such as subways and buses, to get to school alone.

30. Shinkansen with footbaths



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The sightseeing car of the Yamagata shinkansen that runs between Fukushima and Shinjo has footbaths installed so that as you soak your feet, you can watch the scenery pass by. This train is also outfitted with cars furnished with tatami flooring so foreign tourists can enjoy every bit of it.

Know more about Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Rodrigo Duterte is the current and the sixteenth President of the Philippines, in office since June 2016. Born in into a politically active family, he spent most of his life in Davao City. Subsequently, he became the Mayor of Davao and served for seven terms, totaling more than 22 years. In 2016, he won a huge mandate and became the President of Philippines. Since the Philippines’ law does not allow anybody to hold any post for more than three consecutive terms, therefore after serving his three consecutive terms as Mayor of Davao, he also served as the Congressman of the 1st District of Davao City and Vice Mayor of the city. His success lies in his ability to connect to the masses, a trick he learned while in school. To his critics, he is a foul-mouthed adulterer, obsessed with killing criminals; but millions of his countrymen favour him just because of that. They see in him the Philippine leader, who would get the country free from crime and drugs, the two menaces that have plagued their life for long.

Childhood & Early Years

Rodrigo Duterte was born on March 28, 1945, in Maasin, Philippines. His father, Vicente G. Duterte, was a Cebuano lawyer. Later he became the acting mayor of Danao and after that, the provincial governor of the then-undivided Davao province.

Rodrigo’s mother, Soledad Roa, was a school teacher and a civic leader. Rodrigo was born second of his parents’ five children. His sister Eleanore was the eldest of the lot while Jocelyn was the youngest. Between him and Jocelyn are two brothers, Emmanuel or Blue Boy; and Benjamin or Bong.

Rodrigo, lovingly called Digong, started his education at Laboon Elementary School in Maasin. But within one year, the family shifted to Davao City, where he was admitted to Santa Ana Elementary School, passing out from there in 1956.

His high school education was not at all smooth. After being expelled from two schools for unruly behavior, he was finally admitted to the High School Department of the then Holy Cross College (now Cor Jesu College) in Digos and ultimately completed his schooling from there.

It was not that he was a bad student. He just enjoyed hanging around with city toughs and became street-smart, picking up their vocabulary and mannerism. Although it caused immense trouble during his school days and earned him severe whipping at home the experience later helped him to connect with the masses.

After passing out from school, he was sent to Manila and admitted to Lyceum of the Philippines University. In 1968, he graduated from there with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Subsequently, he entered San Beda College of Law, also in Manila and earned his degree in 1972. In the same year, he also cleared his bar examination.

Career

Rodrigo Roa Duterte began his career at Davao City bar. Subsequently in 1977, he became Special Counsel at the City Prosecution Office, serving in the post until 1979.

From 1979 to 1981, he served as the Fourth Assistant City Prosecutor; from 1981 to 1983, as the Third Assistant City Prosecutor and from 1983 to 1986, as the Second Assistant City Prosecutor.

Meanwhile in 1983, People’s Power Revolution began which in 1986, overthrew the dictatorial government of Ferdinand Marcos and restored democratic institutions in the country. In the same year, Duterte was appointed as the Officer-in-charge Vice Mayor for the City of Davao.

In 1988, he contested the election for the Mayoral post and won. Subsequently, he won two more terms, remaining in the position till 1998. During this period, he set an example by choosing his deputy mayors from the Lumad and Moro communities, a practice that was later emulated by other cities.

As the country’s law does not allow any person to hold any civic office for more than three consecutive terms, he could not stand in the mayoral election in 1998. So, Duterte chose to run for the House of Representatives and won.

From 1998 to 2001, he served as the Congressman of the 1st District of Davao City under the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino coalition, a job he found immensely boring. Therefore in 2001, he once more stood for the mayoral election in Davao.

Subsequently, he won three more consecutive terms (2001, 2004 and 2007). During this period, the condition of Davao City improved in all respects. It won the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award for winning the first place in the Outstanding Local Government Unit, Highly Urbanized City category thrice.

Moreover, Duterte never confined himself to his office. He worked at the street level and was often seen leading from the front, riding his big motor cycle with a convoy, fitted with M16 rifles, following him. As a result, the crime rate was drastically reduced during his tenure.

More significant was his war on drugs. In addition, he imposed anti-smoking rules and prohibited selling, serving, and consuming alcoholic beverages from 01:00 AM until 08:00 AM. He also introduced women’s rights bill that aimed to eliminate discrimination against women and promote their rights.

In 2010, after running three consecutive terms as the Mayor of the Davao City, he was once again barred by law to contest for the same post. Therefore, he ran for the post of Vice Mayor while his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio became the Mayor.

In 2013, he again ran for the post of the Mayor of Davao City and won. He now continued his work on making the city crime free. Previously, he had refused to become the Interior Secretary four times, preferring to serve his city; but now he began to take interest in national politics.

In 2014, Duterte gave a call for forming a federal form of government, which would reflect the aspiration of the Pilipino people including the various tribes. The following year, he was asked to run for the post of President.

Initially he was very hesitant, citing lack of campaign funds and political machinery for his reticence. He only agreed when his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio shaved her head as a mark of her protest.

The General Election took place on May 9, 2016. On May 27, 2016, the 16th Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Rodrigo Duterte of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan party as the President-elect of the Philippines. He won with 16,601,997 (39.01%) votes, which is 6.6 million more than his nearest rival.

President Duterte began his term on 30 June 2016. As the President of Philippines, he now resides in Manila, but visits Davao City every week.

Major Works

Duterte’s war on drugs is one of his most important works that he undertook as the Mayor of Davao City. Although many accuse him of human rights violation and extra judicial killings he was able to eradicate the menace and make the city free from drugs

Using city funds, he also had a drug rehabilitation and treatment center built at the cost of ₱12-million. It provides 24-hour services. In 2003, he floated a plan that provided a monthly allowance of ₱2,000 to drug addicts who personally approached him and promised to give up the habit.

As a Mayor, he also started a war on crime. During his tenure the crime rate went down drastically. While in 1985, the rate was triple digit figure per 1000 people, from 1999 to 2005, it became 8.0 cases 1000. Because of his ruthless eradication of criminals he has been dubbed as ‘The Punisher’ by Times Magazine.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1973, Rodrigo Duterte married Elizabeth Abellana Zimmerman, a flight attended of German-American ancestry. They have three children; Paolo, Sara and Sebastian Duterte. Among them Paolo and Sara joined politics while Sebastian became a businessman.

Duterte was not a faithful husband. Even while he was married to Zimmerman, he went public about his infidelity and philandering. Consequently in 1998, Zimmerman filed an annulment, which was granted in 2000. They however, remained friends and as the marriage was not nullified by Roman Catholic Church she continues to use her former husband’s surname Duterte.

In the middle of 1990s, Duterte developed a relationship with Filipino businessperson and former nurse Cielito Avanceña. Later she became his common-law-wife and they now live together in Manila. They have a daughter called Veronica.

Duterte was once a heavy smoker, but later gave it up due to health reason. But because of it, he now suffers from Thromboangiitis obliterans, a disease involving recurring progressive inflammation and thrombosis of blood vessels in the hands and feet.

Net Worth

Based on his 2015 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN), Duterte has a net worth of ₱23,514,569.93, which is a ₱1.54 million more than the amount he declared the previous year.

Trivia

Duterte has his own way of functioning. It is said that he made a foreigner pick up the butt of a cigarette he had been smoking in violation of strict antismoking law and made him eat it.

Duterte has no appetite for awards. In April, 2014, he was nominated for the ‘World Mayor Award’ established by the City Mayor Foundation, but declined it saying he had only been doing his duty.

HISTORY OF LESBIAN, GAY & BISEXUAL

History of Lesbian, Gay &  Bisexual Social Movements

Bonnie J. Morris, PhD 

George Washington University 

Washington, DC

This essay was written as an appendix for a lesson plan for high school psychology teachers called The Psychology of Sexual Orientation: a modular lesson plan/teaching resource for high school psychology teachers (login required). The full lesson plan is part of a series of 19 unit lesson plans developed as a benefit for APA members, which are available in the members-only section of the APA website.

I. History of lesbian, gay, and bisexual social movements

Most historians agree that there is evidence of homosexual activity and same-sex love, whether such relationships were accepted or persecuted, in every documented culture.

A. European history

There was little formal study of homosexuality before the 19th century, however. Early efforts to understand the range of human sexual behavior came from European doctors and scientists, including Sigmund Freud and Magnus Hirschfield. Their writings were sympathetic to the concept of a homosexual or bisexual orientation occurring naturally in an identifiable segment of humankind, and Freud himself did not consider homosexuality an illness or a crime. Hirschfield founded Berlin's Institute for Sexual Science, Europe's best library archive of materials on gay cultural history. These efforts contrasted with the backlash, in England, against gay and lesbian writers such as Oscar Wilde and Radclyffe Hall. With the rise of Hitler's Third Reich, however, the former tolerance demonstrated by Germany's Scientific Humanitarian  

In the United States, few attempts were made to create advocacy groups supporting gay and lesbian relationships until after World War II, although prewar gay life flourished in urban centers such as Greenwich Village and Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. The disruptions of World War II allowed formerly isolated gay men and women to meet as soldiers, war workers, and other volunteers uprooted from small towns and posted worldwide. Greater awareness, coupled with Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigation of homosexuals holding government jobs during the early 1950s, led to the first American-based political demands for fair treatment in mental health, public policy, and employment.

• 1. Advances in the 1950s and 1960s

The primary organization acknowledging gay men as an oppressed cultural minority was the Mattachine Society, founded in 1950 by Harry Hay and Chuck Rowland. Other important homophile organizations on the West Coast included One, Inc., founded in 1952, and the first lesbian support network, Daughters of Bilitis, founded in 1955 by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin. Through meetings and publications, these groups offered information and outreach to thousands. These first organizations soon found support from prominent sociologists and psychologists. In 1951, Donald Webster Cory published The Homosexual in America (Cory, 1951), asserting that gay men and lesbians were a legitimate minority group, and in 1953, Dr. Evelyn Hooker won a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to study gay men. Her groundbreaking paper, presented in 1956, demonstrated that gay men were as well adjusted as heterosexual men, often more so. But it would not be until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as an "illness" classification in its diagnostic manuals. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, gay men and lesbians continued to be at risk for psychiatric lockup and jail and for losing jobs or child custody when courts and clinics defi ned gay love as sick, criminal, or immoral.

• 2. The civil rights movement

In 1965, as the civil rights movement won new legislation outlawing racial discrimination, the first gay rights demonstrations took place in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, led by longtime activists Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings. The turning point for gay liberation came on June 28, 1969, when patrons of the popular Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village fought back against ongoing police raids of their neighborhood bar. Stonewall is still considered a watershed moment of gay pride and has been commemorated since the 1970s with "pride marches" held every June across the United States. Recent scholarship has called for better acknowledgement of the roles that drag performers, minorities, and transgender patrons played in the Stonewall Riots.

• 3. The gay liberation movement

The gay liberation movement of the 1970s saw myriad political organizations spring up, often at odds with one another. Frustrated with the male leadership of most gay liberation groups, lesbians formed their own collectives, record labels, music festivals, newspapers, bookstores, and publishing houses and called for lesbian rights in mainstream feminist groups like the National Organization for Women (NOW). Expanding religious acceptance for gay men and women of faith, the first out gay minister was ordained by the United Church of Christ in 1972. Other gay and lesbian church and synagogue congregations soon followed. Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), formed in 1972, offered family members greater support roles in the gay rights movement. And political action exploded through the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign, the election of openly gay and lesbian representatives like Elaine Noble and Barney Frank, and, in 1979, the first march on Washington for gay rights.

• 4. 1980's through today

Through the 1980's, as the gay male community was decimated by the AIDS epidemic, demands for compassion and medical funding led to renewed coalitions between men and women as well as angry street theatre by groups like AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) and Queer Nation. Enormous marches on Washington drew as many as 1 million gay rights supporters in 1987 and again in 1993. A different wing of the political rights movement called for an end to military expulsion of gay and lesbian soldiers, with the high-profile case of Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer publicized through a made-for-television movie, "Serving in Silence." The patriotism and service of gay men and lesbians in uniform eventually resulted in the uncomfortable compromise "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as an alternative to decades of military witch hunts and dishonorable discharges. Finally, in the last decade of the 20th century, millions of Americans watched as actress Ellen DeGeneres came out on national television in April 1997, heralding a new era of gay celebrity power and media visibility. Celebrity performers, both gay and heterosexual, have been among the most vocal activists, calling for tolerance and equal rights. As a result of hard work by countless organizations and individuals, helped by Internet and direct-mail campaign networking, the 21st century heralded new legal gains for gay and lesbian couples. Same-sex civil unions were recognized under Vermont law in 2000, and Massachusetts became the first state to perform same-sex marriages in 2003. With the end of state sodomy laws (Lawrence v. Texas, 2003), gay Americans were finally free from criminal classification. Gay marriage is now legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Canada, although the recognition of gay marriage by church and state continues to divide opinion worldwide.

Reference

Cory, D. W. (1951). The homosexual in America: A subjective approach. New York: Greenberg.

Presidents of the Philippines: Their Achievements and Contributions

1. Emilio Aguinaldo 1899-1901



One way to remember the first president of the Philippines First Republic is to look at the five peso coin. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's face used to grace the five peso bill (which is not used anymore). The back of the bill shows him holding the Philippine flag at the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.

Contributions and Achievements:

first (and only) president of the First Republic (Malolo Republic)signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, creating a truce between the Spanish and Philippine revolutionariesknown as the President of the Revolutionary Governmentled the Philippines in the Spanish-Philippine War and the American-Philippine Waryoungest president, taking office at age 28longest-lived president, passing away at 94

2. Manuel L. Quezon, 1935-1944



After 34 years of Insular Government under American rule, Philippine voters elected Manuel Luis Quezon first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. He is known as the “Father of National Language” (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa). He died of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake, New York.

Contributions and Achievements:

first Senate president elected as President of the Philippinesfirst president elected through a national electionfirst president under the Commonwealthcreated National Council of Educationinitiated women’s suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealthapproved Tagalog/Filipino as the national language of the Philippinesappears on the twenty-peso billa province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila are named after himhis body lies within the special monument on Quezon Memorial Circle

3. José P. Laurel, 1943-1945



José P. Laurel's presidency is controversial. He was officially the government's caretaker during the Japanese occupation of World War II. Criticized as a traitor by some, his indictment for treason was superseded later by an amnesty proclamation in 1948.

Contributions and Achievements:

since the early 1960s, Laurel considered a legitimate president of the Philippinesorganized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas, or Association for Service to the New Philippines), a provisional government during Japanese occupationdeclared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the U.S./United Kingdom in 1944with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines

4. Sergio Osmeña, 1944-1946



Sergio Osmeña was the second president of the Commonwealth. During his presidency, the Philippines joined the International Monetary Fund.

Contributions and Achievements:

became president at 65, making him the oldest person to hold officefirst Visayan to become presidentjoined with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 to begin restoration of Philippine freedom after Japanese occupationPhilippine National Bank was rehabilitated and the country joined the International Monetary Fund during his presidencyBell Trade Act was approved by the U.S. Congress during his presidencyappears on the 50-peso bill

5. Manuel Roxas, 1946-1948



Manuel Roxas was the fifth president of the Philippines: the third (and last) president under the Commonwealth, and the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines. He held office for only one year, 10 months, and 18 days.

Contributions and Achievements:

inaugurated as the first president of the new Republic after World War IIreconstruction from war damage and life without foreign rule began during his presidencyunder his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were accepted by Congressappears on the 100-peso bill

6. Elpidio Quirino, 1948-1953



Elpidio Quirino served as vice president under Manuel Roxas. When Roxas died in 1948, Quirino became president.

Contributions and Achievements:

Hukbalahap guerrilla movement active during his presidencycreated Social Security Commissioncreated Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruptionQuezon City became capital of the Philippines in 1948

7. Ramon Magsaysay, 1953-1957



Ramon Magsaysay was born in Iba, Zambales. He was a military governor and an engineer. He died in an aircraft disaster while boarding the presidential plane.

Contributions and Achievements:

Hukbalahap movement quelled during his presidencychairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairsfirst president sworn into office wearingBarong Tagalog during inaugurationpresidency referred to as the Philippines' "Golden Years" for its lack of corruptionPhilippines was ranked second in Asia’s clean and well-governed countries during his presidencyestablished National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) among other agrarian reforms

8. Carlos P. Garcia, 1957-1961



A lawyer, poet, and teacher, Carlos P. Garcia also served as a guerrilla leader during the Pacific War. Born in Bohol, Garcia serviced as vice president under Ramon Magsaysay and as secretary of Foreign Affairs for four years. He became president when Magsaysay died in 1957.

Contributions and Achievements:

known for “Filipino First Policy,” which favored Filipino businesses over foreign investorsestablished the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerceknown as the “Prince of Visayan Poets” and the “Bard from Bohol”cultural arts was revived during his termwas the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

9. Diosdado Macapagal, 1961-1965



Born in Lubao, Pampanga, Diosdado Macapagal was a lawyer and professor. His daughter Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14^th, and second female, president of the Philippines.

Contributions and Achievements:

established the first Land Reform Law, allowing for the purchase of private farmland to be distributed in inexpensive, small lots to the landlessplaced the Philippine peso on the currency exchange marketdeclared June 12, 1898 to be Philippines’ Independence Daysigned the Minimum Wage Lawcreated the Philippine Veteran’s Bank

10. Ferdinand Marcos, 1965-1986



Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was a lawyer and Senate President for three years. He was president for 21 years. He ruled under martial law and his dictatorship was known for its corruption and brutality. Marcos was removed from office after the People Power Revolution.

Contributions and Achievements:

first president to win a second termdeclared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972increased the size of Philippine military and armed forcesby 1980 the Philippine GNP was four times greater than 1972by 1986 the Philippines was one of the most indebted countries in Asiabuilt more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure than all former presidents combinedthe only president whose remains are interred inside a refrigerated crypt

11. Corazon Aquino, 1986-1992



The first woman president of the Philippines and the first woman to become president of an Asian country, Corazon Aquino was born in Paniqui, Tarlac. She was a prominent figure in the People Power Revolution that brought down Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship. Her husband, Benigno Aquino Jr., was a senator during the Marcos regime and its strongest critic. He was assassinated while Marcos was still in power.

Contributions and Achievements:

first woman to be president of the Philippines or any Asian countryrestored democracyabolished the 1973 Marcos Constitution and ushered in the new Constitution of the Philippinesreorganized the structure of the executive branch of governmentsigned the Family Code of 1987, a major civil law reform, and 1191 Local Government Code, which reorganized the structure of the executive branch of governmentinitiated charitable and social activities helping the poor and the needynamed “Woman of the Year” in 1986 by Time magazineon the new 500-peso bill together with her husband Benigno Aquino

Received honors and awards including:

100 Women Who Shaped World History20 Most Influential Asians of the 20^thCentury65 Great Asian HeroesJ. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding

12. Fidel V. Ramos, 1992-1998



Fidel V. Ramos was the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before he became president. He was also a civil engineer. As president, he restored economic growth and stability in the country, even during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. He is the first, and so far the only, non-Catholic president of the Philippines.

Contributions and Achievements:

oversaw Philippine economic growthpresided over celebrations of Philippine Independence Centennial in 1998received British Knighthood from the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George)hosted the fourth Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader's Summit in the Philippines in 1996Philippine Stock Exchange became an international favorite during his presidencydeath penalty reinstated while he was in officesigned peace agreement with the rebel Moro National Liberation Front

13. Joseph Estrada, 1998-2001



Known as Erap, Joseph Estrada was the first president who had been a famous film actor. His presidency was controversial. During his years in office economic growth was slow and he faced impeachment proceedings. He was ousted from the presidency in 2001. He was later convicted of stealing from the government but was pardoned. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2010.

Contributions and Achievements:

during his presidency Moro Islamic Liberation Front headquarters and camps were capturedjoined other leaders and politicians to try to amend the 1987 Constitutioncited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989among the “Magnificent 12” who voted to terminate the agreement that allows for U.S. control of Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base

14. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 2001-2010



Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14^th,president of the Philippines (and the second female president). The Oakwood Mutiny occurred during her term. Arroyo oversaw road and infrastructure improvements and higher economic growth that presidents before her, but there was also controversy. The so-called "Hello Garci" controversy involved recordings that allegedly captured Arroyo ordering the rigging of the election that put her in office. In 2005 Arroyo faced impeachment proceedings related to the recordings but the impeachment failed. After she had left office Arroyo faced additional charges of election fraud and misuse of state funds.

Contributions and Achievements:

second female president of the countryfirst and only female vice-president of the Philippines so farfirst president to take oath outside Luzonformer Economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, where current president Benigno Aquino III was one of her studentsex-classmate of former U.S. President Bill Clinton at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she maintained Dean’s list statusoversaw higher economic growth than the past three presidents before herpeso became the best-performing currency of the year in Asia in 2007eVAT Law was implemented under her termcurrently on the 200-peso bill

15. Benigno Aquino III, 2010-2016

Benigno Aquino III joined the House of Representatives and the Senate before his presidency. He is the first president who is a bachelor; he is unmarried and has no children.

Contributions and Achievements:

created the no "wang-wang" (street siren) policyappointed statesman Jesse Robredo to serve as secretary of Interior and Local Government in 2010, where Robredo served until his death in 2012initiated K-12 education in the Philippinesrenamed the Office of the Press Secretary to Presidential Communications Operations Office and appointed new officerssuspended allowances and bonuses to Government Owed and Controlled Corporation and Government Financial Institution board membersoversaw 7.1% growth of the Philippine economy in 2012


16. RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE,2016 - PRESENT


"War On Drugs"

Contributions and Achievements in 100 days:

WINNING on a campaign that promised “change,” President Rodrigo Duterte has produced a number of significant accomplishments in just 100 days in office, but his to-do list remains long.

Key accomplishments during the three-month period include the executive order on freedom of information (FOI), the intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the revival of peace talks with communist and Muslim rebels, a one-stop shop for overseas Filipino workers, and the crafting of a comprehensive tax reform plan.

Setting the tone of his governance, Duterte launched a bloody war to bring down drug dealers and narco-politicians, and rid the bureaucracy of red tape and corruption.

More than 3,300 people, however, have died in the administration’s anti-drug campaign, half of them killed by unknown assailants. The campaign has also seen over 22,000 drug suspects arrested and about 731,000 people turning themselves in to authorities.

In the process, the firebrand Duterte has earned condemnation overseas, with human rights groups claiming the President had encouraged summary killings in urging police to go tough on drug suspects and shoot those who resist arrest.

Duterte has unleashed repeated tirades against his foreign critics, among them US President Barack Obama, the US government, the United Nations, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the European Union.

Malacañang claimed Duterte has made “dramatic progress” in the campaign against illegal drugs and corruption during his first 100 days in office.

“From where we are, from what we can see, he has made dramatic progress,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “Apparently the crackdown is making headway and the supply is being lowered, which tells us that the efforts against illegal drugs is succeeding.”

For Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms, Duterte is “one of the most active presidents” as “he is doing what he promised.”

“Feeling mo tuloy ang tagal na niyang presidente. Wala pa siyang 100 days, marami na siyang nagawa. Marami na siyang nabago [You have the feeling he’s been President for a long time. He hasn’t even reached 100 days, and he’s done a lot. He has changed a lot of things],” Casiple told The Manila Times in an interview.

Casiple pointed out Duterte’s drug war was a “success not in terms of statistics but on its intended effect.”
Officials claim illegal drug supply in the country has been cut as much as by 90 percent, and crime has been reduced by 49 percent.

“Once we have peace and order, investors will come, the economy will improve, more jobs will be available, and poverty will go down,” Casiple said.

Business processes, hotlines
Duterte’s reputation of fulfilling his promises when he was mayor of Davao City has given businessmen plenty to look forward to.

George Barcelon, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the business community has felt improvements in the country three months into the Duterte presidency.

“We are very positive about what we’re seeing,” Barcelon said.

Donald Dee, chairman emeritus of the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines, said that unlike the past presidents, Duterte was “serious” in addressing the problems in the country, such as criminality.

“I have seen presidents come and go. But the 100 days that we are experiencing today, you know, has borne more fruits,” Dee said.

On reducing corruption in the bureaucracy, Abella highlighted the administration’s efforts to streamline government transactions, including the processing of permits and licenses.

“The streamlining of the business processes is already one step towards avoiding corruption,” he said.
Duterte is seeking to simplify government transactions to minimize opportunities for graft. At the Bureau of Customs, an office was created to centralize collections. The President has asked local governments to cut the time for new business registrations to two days from several weeks and automate some transactions.

Preempting Congress that has sat on the freedom of information bill for decades, Duterte signed an executive order requiring all officials of the Executive department officials to be transparent and disclose to the people information on government transactions.

The government also launched the 911 rescue and 8888 complaint hotlines, programs that were warmly received by the public.

Peace with communists, Muslims
In his first 100 days, Duterte embarked on a tour of Armed Forces of the Philippines camps to explain to the troops his efforts toward addressing decades-old rebellions waged by communists and Muslims.

“My job is to bring peace. My job is to talk to the enemies of the state, and see if I could make a difference in our lives,” Duterte had said.

Talks between the government and communist rebels began in August in Oslo, Norway, and the second round is underway. Chief negotiator Silvestre Bello 3rd expects a deal to be done in 12 months.

Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza has also met with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to jumpstart efforts to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which expands the scope and powers of the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao.

Duterte, meanwhile, has brought the rival Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to the mix, by promising that the group’s founder, Nur Misuari, won’t be arrested over rebellion charges.

For former National Security Council adviser Jose Almonte, what Duterte has done in his first 100 days was “ exceptional.”

He counted as Duterte’s achievements the indefinite ceasefire with the communist rebels, the continuing negotiation on the socioeconomic component of the peace process with the communists, and his talks with the MILF and MNLF.

“Why are we in this situation? We are here because we have not solved our internal problem of fighting each other … incidentally, this is what President Duterte is primarily addressing,” Almonte said.

Other significant accomplishments of the first 100 days include re-engaging China, which had lost the case filed by the Philippines before the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the West Philippine Sea, following the appointment of former president Fidel Ramos as special envoy; and the approval of the increase in the combat and incentive pay of soldiers and police personnel through Executive Order 3, which took effect on September 1.

OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE(OEC)

OEC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I. OVERVIEW AND GENERAL INFORMATION

What is a Balik-Manggagawa (BM) Online Processing System?

BM Online Processing System is a web-based facility that enables the Balik-Manggagawa (BM) or vacationing OFW to apply online for Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and have the approved OEC printed by him/her anywhere, anytime. This aims to expedite the issuance of OEC to vacationing OFWs who will return to their respective foreign employers/principals. The opening page of the system contains an Instructional video that will guide the BM in using the facility.

Who may avail of the BM Online Processing System?

OFWs on vacation returning to the same employer/principal and jobsite, with employment visa / work permit, have a record in the POEA database, and previously issued OEC/E-Receipt under the same employer/principal may avail of the BM Online Processing System.

What will happen to BM workers who do not meet the above-mentioned requirements for online processing?

BM workers who do not meet the said criteria are advised to still access the BM Online Processing System for them to avail of the appointment service through its APPOINTMENT PAGE for regular processing of their OECs on their preferred processing site and appointment date and time. Those with appointment will be prioritized in any of the POEA processing sites within the country and even in the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs).

I am returning to the same employer and jobsite and have previous OEC but the System still re-directs me to Appointment page. What happened?

The system automatically redirects to Appointment Page BMs who may be in any of the following situations and therefore warrants personal processing at the POEA/POLO or any processing site:

No POEA record / No record found/Discrepancy in any record

Undocumented workers (i.e., Tourist to OFW, Dependent to OFW, Student to OFW, etc.)

Change employer and/or jobsite

Watchlisted worker and/or OFW with watchlisted employer

OFW returning to restricted or non-compliant country

Seabased to Landbased Worker

I am a holder of Multiple Travel Exit Clearance (MTEC) previously issued to me by POEA. What will happen to this?

MTECs and other OECs/e-receipts issued before under the MTEC system and are still valid and have not been used will still be honored as exit clearance and for all existing exemptions like travel tax, terminal fee and documentary stamp.

Can I request for multiple OEC online?

No. The System will allow you one OEC at a time. You have to use your valid OEC first before you can request for another OEC.

I already have an appointment with the mall processing center for the processing of my OEC scheduled in December this year under the old appointment system of POEA. Now that I’ve learned about the BM Online, can I just instead avail of this new system?

Yes. BMs with appointment secured under the old appointment system are encouraged to try the BM Online System if the criteria are met. If not, they can still pursue their previously set appointment and our personnel assigned in the chosen processing site will process their OEC.

For how many times I can use the OEC issued online? Does it have a validity period?

Online OEC like the existing OECs/e-receipts can only be used once. While its validity period is 60 days, it can only be used for single exit.

II. REGISTRATION PROCEDURE

How do I sign up for BM Online Processing System?

Steps for BM Online Processing:

1.Go to the direct link http://bmonline.poea.gov.ph/ or go to POEA official webpagewww.poea.gov.ph and click BM Online
2. Fill out all the fields under New User?
3. Click and accept the Terms of Service
4. Click Sign Me Up

4.1. Once you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email from POEA. In your email, you need to click the link to confirm your email address. You will receive an advisory that your account has been confirmed.
4.2. Your email address and password will also serve as your log-in account and password. Log-in at the BM Online website and continue with your online transaction.

How do I complete the sign up process and confirm my email address?

To confirm your email address, open the link in the email we sent you when you signed up. We need to confirm that you own the email address you used to set up the account. This way, we know we’re sending your account information to the right person/individual.

What is the minimum password strength and how can I make my password strong?

When you create a new password, make sure that it’s at least 6 characters long. Try to use a complex combination of numbers, letters and punctuation marks. If the password you entered isn’t strong enough, try mixing together uppercase and lowercase letters or making the password longer. The password you create should be easy for you to remember but hard for someone else to figure out.

Why did I receive a confirmation email from POEA?

If you didn’t sign up for a BM Online account and received a confirmation email in error, you can deactivate the account in question by contacting our System Administrator thru email bm_oec@yahoo.com or landline number 02-7219496/02-7277778.

Can I still use my BM Online account if I don’t confirm my email address?

No. A message will prompt that your account is inactive. Activate your account by clicking the confirmation link in your email.

Can I still change the email address/log-in account I used when I signed up?

No. Your email address also serves as your permanent log-in account. Thus, you cannot change the email address you used when you signed up.

My account is now activated, how do I log in?

You can log in to your account from the same page. To log in, just enter your email address and password under the Already User? field.

Why is the System asking for my last issued OEC number? What does it mean?

Your last issued OEC number is your latest transaction record with POEA. The System needs this information to retrieve your record and latest employment details.

What happens next if the System finds my latest POEA record?

You will be asked if you are returning to the same employer and jobsite. If Yes, you will be allowed to acquire your OEC online. The System will generate your previous employment data and you can proceed with your online transaction, payment, up to printing of your electronic OEC.

What happens if I do not know my OEC number?

The System will redirect you to APPOINTMENT page where you need to personally appear to POEA for processing of your OEC.

I clicked Yes but some of the information on my Personal and Employment Details are outdated. How do I fix this?

The System will allow you to edit your profile such as Personal Data, Contract Particulars and Beneficiaries. However, there are some fields you cannot edit like Employer’s Name and Jobsite. Fields with asterisks (*) are mandatory.

I already updated my profile but I cannot proceed to the next step.

You cannot proceed to next step if you do not complete filling up all required fields. Take or upload your photo which must not exceed one (1) MB. Your photo must be the picture of your full face similar to your passport picture.

What happens next after I upload my photo?

You may now proceed to the next step which is the Payment Module. There are several ways to settle your fees:

1. Over-the-counter thru Banks
2. Over-the-counter thru Bayad Centers
3. Online Banking
4. Globe G-cash
5. POEA office/processing site/POLO for those with appointment

The System will send instructions through your email on how to complete the payment process. Follow the instructions carefully. Once payment is confirmed, your OEC will be forwarded thru your email and BM Online account.

What do I do if I lost my OEC?

Log in to your BM Online account and reprint your OEC.

I already got my OEC online, do I need to go to POEA office?

No. You just need to print your OEC in three (3) copies. This will serve as your travel exit clearance and basis for tax and terminal fee exemption. We already officially requested the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to honor the online OEC as exit clearance and for exemption from the said fees.

Is there anything else I need to bring at the airport aside from my OEC?

Yes. Don’t forget to bring your passport, visa and other travel documents.

Should I still go to POEA Labor Assistance Center (LAC) for re-validation of my OEC?

Yes meantime since we are still under transition phase. We will issue a notification later if all the online OEC holders can already proceed to the Immigration counters. There will be less need to pass through the LAC later since the information of those whose OECs are processed online are automatically shared with the Bureau of Immigration.