Thai Filipino

Despite Malacañang's elation over the World Trade Organization's siding with the Philippines in the tobacco export dispute with Thailand, the Palace last Friday expressed hope the ruling would not strain relations between the two countries.

“We are hopeful hindi magkakaroon ng epekto sa napakagandang relasyon sa ating kapitbahay na Thailand. Ang dispute mechanism sa WTO are there to resolve trade issues tulad ng inakyat natin at yan ang nangyari," Deputy president spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

She added that in filing a complaint with the WTO, the Philippine government only wanted to level the playing field for Filipino tobacco farmers.

In 2008, the Philippines filed complaint against Thailand because Bangkok allegedly violated WTO rules by imposing unfair trading practices on Philippine cigarette exports. By September of that year, the Philippine requested for a panel to discuss the issue.

The WTO Dispute Settlement Body released on November 15, 2010, its official report findings in favor of the Philippines, “that Thailand acted inconsistently with WTO rules in valuing Philippine cigarette exports for customs purposes and in failing to treat imported cigarettes the same way as locally-manufactured cigarettes."

MANILA, Philippines — Cabbages and Condoms restaurant in Bangkok offers the sight of latex prophylactic in its many permutations – not to be eaten – but as a reminder that in this age, rubber is your best ally against unwanted pregnancies.

Before getting seated at their tables, customers are greeted at the entrance with a life-size papier mache of Santa Claus and a female Thai in her native costume and sash-made of condoms. Nearby is Captain Condom, a superman-like image wrapped in the same colorful garb.

There are bins all over the place where visitors can get condoms for free, while in a corner of the eatery is a clinic offering free vasectomy to customers.

On a wall, condoms are arranged in a glass-enclosed frame in many forms and colors, giving them human character and funny appearances. The aim is to remove the abhorrent and often “dirty” image usually associated with the latex and make it a common and functional item that is necessary and useful. Here it is peeled of its myth and presented as a utilitarian tool, devoid of its prurient connotation as often portrayed by some groups, religious and otherwise.

A FILIPINO lawyer cannot represent Flory May Talaban in any court in Thailand because the practice of the legal profession in Thailand is restricted to Thai nationals.

Moreover, all the court proceedings and all court records are in the Thai language.

Thus, responded Ambassador Linglingay Lacanlale of the Philippine Embassy in Thailand to the Bacolod City Council Resolution No. 344, series of 2011 requesting the Philippine Embassy in Thailand to provide Talaban with a Filipino counsel.

Talaban is a Bacoleña who was jailed in Thailand for drug trafficking. She professed her innocence but she was still sentenced to life imprisonment. She is presently appealing her case.

In Ambassador Lacanlale letter dated May 20, 2011, she stated that the Embassy referred the Talaban family’s request for legal assistance to the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs on March 9, 2011.

MANILA, Philippines — Unlike the Phillippines whose politicians, lobbyists, and the powerful Catholic Church continue to squabble over the Reproductive Health Bill, Thailand went about reducing its ballooning population decades ago and is now enjoying a low birth rate that is the envy of the region.

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In 1974, Thailand and the Philippines had almost the same population. Now – 37 years after – with effective birth control, Thailand has a population of about 63 million as against the Philippines’ estimated 96 million.

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“You have produced 33 million more people than Thailand in the same number of  years,” says Mecchai Viravaidya, a tall Irish-Thai patrician of the old order, walking about in his Cabbages and Condoms restaurant in white shirt and bow tie.

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