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From the Editor
3 HIV-related questions (plus sub-questions) to ask re the PhilHealth scam
Every PLHIV is allocated P30,000 per year. As of April 2019, 37,091 PLHIVs are on treatment. Multiply that by P30,000 per person (per OHAT Package/coverage), and the amount involved here is P1,112,730,000. Too much money involved for us not to ask how the money is getting spent.
Here are the facts:
- As early as last year, two former employees of WellMed Dialysis Center already reported that it has been forging signatures of patients who have long died to file claims from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) from 2016-2018.
- Typical in the Philippines (e.g. think of Napoles, PDAF, fertilizer scandal, et cetera), this was soon "forgotten" (or at least not as widely covered anymore particularly by mainstream media, so not gaining traction with the public). That is, until June, when the Philippine Daily Inquirer detailed the scam (again) via an investigative report.
- Still in June, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would "reorganize" PhilHealth after the agency lost some P154 billion to "ghost" patients and deliveries.
- WellMed Dialysis Center's accreditation was (finally) withdrawn in June. But in a privilege speech, Sen. Panfilo Lacson alleged that PhilHealth continued to pay WellMed Dialysis Center even after its accreditation was suspended because of its involvement in a scam.
- A hearing was started by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (chaired by Richard Gordon) to look at the allegations of corruption in the Department of Health (DoH), and – yes – PhilHealth.
Now why is this issue important to PLHIVs and those in the HIV advocacy in the Philippines?
Aside from the fact that there may be LGBTQIA Filipinos who may also be needing dialysis, the money that actually pays for the "free" treatment and antiretroviral medicines of Filipinos living with HIV come from PhilHealth.
No, darling, you don't get "free" meds; a PLHIV is expected to enroll in PhilHealth before he/she can access the treatment. Meaning, YOU are paying for your treatment via your P2,400 (if voluntary) PhilHealth contribution. Anyone who tells you the meds are "free" is hiding the truth from you, or is outright lying to you.
And so the talk about stealing P154 billion should be an issue to PLHIVs and those serving them; particularly since it is not rare to encounter service providers who say that they can only offer shitty (and often lacking) TCS (treatment, care and support) services because there's no money available (DUH!).
Every PLHIV is allocated P30,000 per year. As of April 2019, 37,091 PLHIVs are on treatment. Multiply that by P30,000 per person (per OHAT Package/coverage), and the amount involved here is P1,112,730,000.
Now off my head, here are a few questions that should also be asked as we tackle the PhilHealth scam (and questions that particularly touch on HIV in the Philippines).
1. Does PhilHealth monitor the use of the OHAT package, or they solely rely on reports that can – apparently, as the case of WellMed Dialysis Center highlighted – be faked/made up? Can individuals access the individual reports filed for them (on the use of their OHAT package)? If there's none, why not? If these can be accessed, are there mechanisms to question the same?
These questions have to do with whether a PLHIV actually uses his/her allocation.
The Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) Package covers: drugs and medications; laboratory examinations based on the specific treatment guideline including Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) level determination test, viral load (if warranted), and test for monitoring anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs toxicity; and professional fees of providers.
But in 2015, when interviewed by Outrage Magazine, PhilHealth's Medical Specialist III and Millennium Development Goals Benefit Products Team Head Dr. Mary Antoinette Remonte said that "it has come to our attention that some treatment hubs charge for some laboratory tests, even after the release of the OHAT Package circular." And so while the circular may specifically mention covered items, the same circular should not be taken too literally.
For instance, VL is not included in the circular, but if a PLHIV needs "viral load, if it's really needed, they can still charge it on the OHAT package. Any laboratory tests related to ART treatment, they can use the OHAT Package for it." For Remonte, "even if viral load testing was not written in the first circular, it was already included in the coverage."
2. The baseline tests are still not specified in the circular/OHAT Package. This is why many PLHIVs are lost to TCS – i.e. they are told to pay for their own tests (e.g. chest X-ray, CBC) before they can get their hands on the life-saving meds (the ARVs). Why is this idiotically still not included in the OHAT Package, and even knowing that (many) PLHIVs won't end up consuming the P30,000 allocated them anyway?
3. Do they also withdraw the accreditation of treatment hubs/clinics/satellite clinics that claim the P30,000 even if they did not actually use the entire amount for the use of the PLHIV? Has there ever been a service provider that lost its accreditation because of non-delivery of services?
We have spoken with PLHIVs who were told to get lab tests outside of their treatment hubs (e.g. chest X-ray, VL, CD4 count); they were told to pay for the same. No, they may NOT use their OHAT Package for the same, a handful of them were told. They have to shell out their OWN money.
The thing is, if these are already supposedly covered by PhilHealth, why the additional expenses? Who then benefits from the OHAT Package? The service providers not offering the services and yet getting the money? Isn't this theft? And if one thinks so, what are the mechanisms for complaining? Are there any at all?
Let's be blunt here: If these are not answered, here's another avenue where profiteering is happening via PhilHealth, and at the expense of PLHIVs.
To end, let me state this to stress this: Every PLHIV is allocated P30,000 per year. As of April 2019, 37,091 PLHIVs are on treatment. Multiply that by P30,000 per person (per OHAT Package/coverage), and the amount involved here is P1,112,730,000.
Too much money involved and yet service providers still often saying "there's no money" to help PLHIVs…
Editor's Picks
5 Ways to #ResistTogether after #Pride
Be constantly reminded that #Pride is never (just) about partying. It's about the ongoing struggle for the human rights of LGBTQIA people (no mater what sector they may be part of).
A few days into July, after the June Pride month, I was chatting with someone from Grindr; he boasted that he was at the "essence of pride: the Pride parade" (his words, not mine). The chat revolved around shaming, particularly of other LGBTQIA people; that now that the one-day celebration is over, things (including his way of "booking") are "just back to normal."
See… right after the "very proud" placement of the #ResistTogether hashtag in his pick-up account (particularly while he was in Marikina City), it has been refreshed, reverting back to claiming "NO chubs; NO oldies; NO femmes. Don't dare me, I have unliblock."
This got me thinking about this "brand" of exclusivist #Pride; and how we should instead be making (and continuing to make) it inclusive…
And so – off my head – here are five ways to #ResistTogether after the #Pride parade…
1. Stop the shaming from within the LGBTQIA community.
Change should start from within our community; and this can happen if our community members become more aware that – frequently – hatred starts from within.
Stop shaming the "oldies"; we'd all grow old.
Stop shaming the "chubs"; ALL bodies are beautiful.
Stop hating on the femmes; every gender expression is VALID.
Stop discriminating against sex workers; there is no shame in trying to make a living.
Our community is minority, as it is. Stop creating more minorities from within our community with your biases.
2. Donate… not just because you want merchs.
I get this concept of "what's in it for me?". This is the "driver" of so many of our actions – e.g. if companies give money to "support" Pride, they expect to get media mileage from it; and if we give money to "make Pride happen", we may as well have that sticker (or whatever) to prove that… yes, we gave money.
But helping should be done not because of any return; it should be done because it's the right thing to do.
And so if/when someone asked you to donate (however small the amount may be) to help establish an actual home for senior LGBTQIA Filipinos, give.
If someone asked you to chip in (no matter how small the amount you can give) to help pay for the PhilHealth of a person living with HIV, give.
And if someone asked you to donate (whatever amount) to help finance the picket line of LGBTQIA workers who were illegally dismissed from their jobs after they (rightfully) asked to be made regular employees, give.
LGBTQIA-related issues happen EVERY DAY of the year, not just in June. So if you're willing to cough up cash to look glamorous/fab ONLY in June, you should also be willing to do so the rest of the year…
3. Be the voice of other minorities.
This shouldn't be a divisive issue, but it is becoming that – i.e. the supposed "hijacking of commies of Pride month" by highlighting other issues that those who complain say have nothing to do with the LGBTQIA community.
These issues include: contractualization, wage hike, extra-judicial killings, war on drugs, and so on.
Here's the BASIC thing though: LGBTQIA people do not live in a vacuum. Some of us are contractual workers (e.g. LGBTQIA people working for – say – Zagu, or Jollibbee, or the baggers in department stores). Many of us LGBTQIA people do not get the wages we deserve (e.g. LGBTQIA people who are also nurses and teachers). There are LGBTQIA people also killed because they were allegedly involved in the drug trade; and this is even if the claim may be true or not.
We say that LGBTQIA people are EVERYWHERE. Well, WE ARE; including among other minority sectors.
So that we can't separate THEIR issues from OUR issues.
4. Be seen the rest of the year.
You, like many others, helped create the noise for LGBTQIA issues during Pride month. That's all good (and thank you, truly, for this). But please, please don't disappear after June (or worse, don't be the source of discrimination after June – as noted in #1).
If you can't be bothered leaving your desk, that's your call; but continue making noise for the LGBTQIA community.
But if/when you are able to/you are keen to, join the ongoing struggle for our total liberation – e.g. join the call for rally for the anti-discrimination bill, attend gatherings pushing for marriage equality, attend events of LGBTQIA-related NGOs (including HIV-related events), physically support LGBTQIA-related shows/productions/et cetera.
Just BE SEEN BEYOND JUNE; it matters a lot.
5. Go back to the streets… and not just to party.
So you had fun attending the parade; perhaps even more so when you attended the after-parade party/ies. That's all good. Not one to miss out on fun, I am one with you here…
BUT be reminded that #Pride is never (just) about partying. It's about the ongoing struggle for the human rights of LGBTQIA people (no mater what sector they may be part of).
After almost 20 (THAT'S 20!) years, the anti-discrimination bill is still languishing in Congress.
Over 80% of the new HIV cases in the Philippines affect members of the LGBTQIA community (particularly gay, bi and trans people).
Schools (including State-owned/run) still discriminate against LGBTQIA students; a handful of them barring LGBTQIA students from enroling/attending classes because of some bloody haircut or because of what they are wearing.
Because of their HIV status, people living with HIV (many of them LGBTQIA) are: still fired from work; kicked out of their homes; or not given access to life-saving HIV medicines.
LGBTQIA informal settlers – along with hetero-identifying informal settlers – are kicked out of their homes.
LGBTQIA contractual workers are still not regularized.
So – let's state this – IF THERE IS A CALL TO RALLY FOR OUR RIGHTS, not just a call to parade and party, TAKE HEED. If 70,000+++ people can gather to parade and party, surely the same number (if not more) should also be able to gather when a call is made for us to rise again together to push for equality.
Yes, we have taken progressive steps (corporations are even considering how to profit off us now); but so much still needs to be done. And – to stress- we need to always show our force; to always take to the streets to highlight our issues.
So party on, yes; but never stop fighting as one. This is how we continue to truly #ResistTogether.
From the Editor
6 Reasons why your 'pride' isn't (necessarily) every LGBTQIA person's Pride…
Michael David Tan: "We may need budget to pay for the expenses incurred to hold pride-related events; but if we need approximately P1 million to hold a half-day event, and then disappear the entire year (seemingly forgetting the struggles still experienced by members of the LGBTQIA community after claiming we 'represent' them), then that's NOT what pride is supposed to be."
"Make pride happen. Give money."
That – in not so many words – is what LGBTQIA "pride" has become. And here, we don't have to look (only) at Western versions of what Pride has become; we just have to consider Metro Manila's.
Now, now, now, before you hate-click; before you fume with anger for being "attacked"; before you start complaining that those who are complaining "just don't get it; they're just getting old"; before you start unfriending those who do not belong in your echo chamber/s, hear some of the counter-arguments why YOUR 'pride' (or your concept of it) is no longer every LGBTQIA person's Pride…
1. When pride organizers party with non-supporters (or even abusers) of members of the LGBTQIA community, or those that are in it just to profit off us because… money and/or fame and/or convenience and/or they're all in the same "in" group/social circle.
In the Philippines, that LGBTQIA national "conference" that was really just a political tool of a former presidentiable comes to mind. But so is that blind support of pride organizers of this venue in Cubao, where many members of the LGBTQIA community alleged that they were harassed and molested. And so are companies/people who only surface supposedly for us only once a year, but are nowhere to be seen the rest of the year…
This approach has turned this "pride" into a hobnobbing event, helmed by those who have access to powers-that-be (e.g. media, donors, advertisers, et cetera)…
2. When your pride "leaders" claim to represent you, but are not accountable to you.
If, in the past (such as in the case of Task Force Pride in the Philippines), it was the community that decided who would helm Pride, the model has now changed to NGOism with an eye on earning (seemingly without even intending to effect REAL changes anymore since – as noted already – those who turn up for pride do not turn up to push for the passage of the anti-discrimination bill anyway).
I challenge you to listen and hear speakers talk about Lumads/Indigenous Peoples, Muslims, PWDs, seniors, and so on… Great crowd-rousers and sources of newsbytes when delivering speeches, actually; but that's all they have become. Aside from the so-called (once-a-year) visibility, what has this version of "pride" done (in practical sense) to these communities being mentioned?
3. When it's now all about merchs; all of them using nice-sounding hashtags claiming we're supposedly all in this together.
Did you know that, for 2019, "the total we need to mount the March and Festival is PHP990,050"?
Not surprisingly, we have this in this year's organizer's fundraising site: "Donate ₱5000.00 Or More" and get "I Made Pride Happen Sticker, Resist Together Sticker, I Made Pride Happen Pin, I Made Pride Happen Tote Bag, Resist Together Cap and I Made Pride Happen Shirt."
When you can't even donate P50 to help the Home for the Golden Gays establish a REAL, physical space for senior members of the LGBTQIA community; or won't even give P100 to help feed LGBTQIA workers who are holding rallies after they were dismissed from work; or can't even give a peso even as your token help to Lumad LGBTQIA people who – like other Indigenous Peoples – are fighting to keep their ancestral domains. You have to ask if "pride" – for you – is really just an excuse to party, instead of fighting for the human rights of everyone under the rainbow…
4. When "pride" is a "by-invite" only gathering…
It's a free event, you say. And in a way it is. But NOT EVERYONE has access to it, or is even made to access it.
In a past pride event in the City of Manila (years and years ago), the attendees were told to leave the venue (where the program was held), only to be allowed back in the same (now gated) venue, though this time with payment already…
Recently, there was an ad from a restaurant that said that it is hosting a "pride" party, so "buy tickets now"…
And don't get me started with "after parade events" – e.g. in Western countries, accessible only after you pay moolah; and here, via by-invite only parties for the organizers who (apparently) still have spare money to spend to party, party, party…
Also, in modern "pride" events, note who gets to decide who helms "pride". It's people belonging to the same close-knit circle (i.e. the "echo chamber), easily disposing those who "don't think like them". In this sense, "pride" isn't exactly inclusive…
At least according to some LGBTQIA people I spoke with, one of the biggest "fears" of some LGBTQIA people who (also) supported Rodrigo Duterte's presidency if they choose to attend "pride" was their "othering" by the organizers who support the opposition. This is why they choose NOT to go to "pride" anymore; when they are not even given opportunity to air their side, while the "leaders" take every opportunity to tell them (self-righteously) that only they are always right and should be allowed to stay in power…
In this sense, "pride" is also a "tool" to segregate "them" versus "us", even if we supposedly belong to the same LGBTQIA community…
Similarly, check the data mining happening so that the organizers can use your info to: A) get money off you, or B) "sell" the same to get money off you…
5. When we are blindsided by the glam and forget we're being used.
Bench has been criticized for not supporting Ang Ladlad in the past; and yet is (for lack of better word) milking the rainbow to sell goods now. But Bench isn't alone here, there are so many companies that slap the rainbow on their goods to make LGBTQIA people buy their goods, but don't do shit to help: their LGBTQIA people staff, and the LGBTQIA community as a whole.
Start asking: Where is the money you are spending (supposedly for "pride") going?
Check, too, the number of brands suddenly using the rainbow to promote themselves. But just how many actually give money back to the LGBTQIA community particularly in the Philippines (and I'm not just talking sponsoring the one-day parade)?
Still on a related note, we also have supporters who – again, let's be blunt here – should also be asked the hard question, e.g. Catriona Gray is definitely fabulous for supporting us (she deserves the love she's getting), but premised on her push/support for @sanmiglight, and this alcoholic brand's silence re alcoholism (that affects the LGBTQIA community), shouldn't we also be asking the link between the two? No, you don't have to not support one just because you oppose the other; you just have to START ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS…
6. When the concept of "pride" is packed just in June, with the people behind it disappearing the entire year, as if the LGBTQIA community's issues ceased to exist after the throwing of the glitter bombs via the parade and festivities.
Jennifer Laude was murdered in October (2014). Not even two weeks later, Mary Joy Añonuevo was stabbed at least 33 times all over her body at her bar in Lucena City (also in October 2014). Bunny Cadag claimed Jollibee discriminated against them in August (2017). Claire Balabbo was dismissed – along with 96 contractual employees – by Tanduay Distillers Inc. in Cabuyao, Laguna in May (2015). And Dats Ventura has been fighting for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including LGBTQIA Lumads, every day of the year…
The push – and even celebration of – Pride should be done EVERY DAY.
Because the issues involving members of our community still remain after we're bombarded by glamorous – and well-funded – "pride" events/happenings. Worse, these issues seemingly remain untouched/unsolved EVEN WITH the "pride" events.
Let me say that every time someone says, "Make Pride happen. Give money.", they're really just asking you to fund them/their lifestyles.
Because Pride WILL happen with or without the cash (and the selling out because of it); that's how the riot in Stonewall Inn started in 1969.
In 2014, during WorldPride in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Angie Umbac – former executive director of Rainbow Rights Project, Inc. – was asked about the "struggle" between "pride as a struggle" and "pride as a commercial celebration."
She said that Pride is always a struggle between the political and the cultural. For many, when they start, it's always just political; but then, eventually, sponsors come in and at times dictate Pride's direction.
But "this is how I see it: Pride belongs to everyone… But if you have a cultural pride without the background of why we are having pride, then we would lose the message. Keep it balanced – stay corporate because you need the funds, but remember that in the beginning it was political, and it was political for a reason."
Nowadays, we may need budget to pay for the expenses incurred to hold pride-related events; but if we need approximately P1 million to hold a half-day event, and then disappear the entire year (seemingly forgetting the struggles still experienced by members of the LGBTQIA community after claiming we "represent" them), then that's NOT what pride is supposed to be…
From the Editor
5 Things businesses can do to (truly) impact the LGBTQIA community
Already, numerous companies have been releasing Pride-related merchandise, out to get the pink currency by blinding members of the LGBTQIA community with glitters. But profiting from members of the LGBTQIA community may earn you some cash in the short term; but pinkwashing isn't gonna help you in the long run.
Western-dictated LGBTQIA "Pride" is about to happen anytime now, with June fast approaching. This is supposed to be the one month in a year when everything LGBTQIA is to be "celebrated", to be "showcased". Why? Because – historically – it's the same month when the Stonewall Inn riots happened in New York in the US, when members of the LGBTQIA community raged against the police because of abuses committed against them.
And so, not surprisingly, already, numerous companies have been releasing Pride-related merchandise, out to get the pink currency by blinding members of the LGBTQIA community with glitters. If you can afford to, head to the US in June, and walk in any – as in ANY – shopping area to understand this point. From Converse to Dr. Martens to Adidas to Starbucks to phone carriers to… just about everything, there's something rainbow-colored being sold, supposedly in support of Pride.
Now, now, don't get me wrong: The "presence" is noteworthy because everything LGBTQIA is (finally) going mainstream. I'm all for that.
But this mainstreaming is also problematic because it actually highlights so many of what's wrong in society as a whole, and the LGBTQIA community in particular – e.g. how businesses are profiting from the LGBTQIA community without helping its members; and how many LGBTQIA people choose to look the other way just to… get their hands on those new pair of shoes with rainbow stripes, or those shirts with rainbow printing, or that P200 cup coffee in a plastic cup with rainbow design…
The "selling" of LGBTQIA "Pride" has been noted before, and the trend continues even now – e.g. Converse, which has "rainbow sneakers", won't even donate any proceeds to actual LGBTQIA causes; and locally, Bench has joined the bandwagon even if (back when the rainbow wasn't so hip) it did not even support Ang Ladlad, and it can even be argued that it even created a fake "controversy" by using the LGBTQIA community to get media mileage.
In a gist: Many brand's supposedly pro-LGBTQIA move is performative in the name of making a profit.
Talking to those under the rainbow (for instance, Pride organizers that spend half a million pesos for a half-day parade; but won't even give a few hundred or thousand pesos to help feed LGBTQIA workers who are holding rallies after they were removed from work by multinational companies) is for another day; though for now, here are five things that businesses can do to (truly) impact the LGBTQIA community…
Put your wallet where your mouth is.
You say you support the rights of LGBTQIA workers who were kicked out of their jobs because of who they are? Then help fund them when they hold rallies against those who fired them.
You say you're an HIV "advocate"? Sponsor one or two or three persons living with HIV by paying their PhilHealth (amounting to P2,400 per person per year).
You say you're concerned about your LGBTQIA workers? Give them the same benefits being given to heterosexual people (e.g. those who can legally marry).
You say you're concerned about senior LGBTQIA people? Help fund the establishment of an actual – physical – home for them.
You say you worry about the mental health of LGBTQIA people (including those working for you) because they continue to experience discrimination? Spend on mental health care.
You say you worry about LGBTQIA youth not being able to access education because of who they are/who they love? Offer a scholarship program to them.
And if you have supposedly LGBTQIA-related for-profit event, DONATE even a portion of your profit to LGBTQIA-related causes.
The harsh truth is: Talk is cheap; but your donation can save lives.
2. Choose where your money goes.
Related to #1, CHOOSE WELL.
There are too many "glittery" LGBTQIA or related organizations; but peel that glitter away, they're nothing there but empty shells. There are way too many LGBTQIA or related organizations that we often hear of/about, but are actually infamous (in the LGBTQIA community itself) because they're in the "advocacy" just to profit from it.
Know the opportunists.
Now, how to do this?
They disappear after Pride. LGBTQIA organizations that surface ONLY once a year are just as bad as the private companies that only surface at the same time; they're really just there to make money.
They're almost always JUST online or in mainstream media, boasting about this or that, all talk but you never see them do actual LGBTQIA-related work. They co-opt other people's struggles (e.g. they'd say they represent minorities in the LGBTQIA community), and then they won't let members of these minority sectors speak for themselves (for instance, LGBTQIA people who are also persons with disability/PWD, seniors, members of the Lumad communities, Muslims, informal working sector, informal settlers and those living with HIV). These people will claim to represent all, so "give us money", but they do not know shit about these people they claim to represent. So please, STOP funding these people.
You only see them in parties/social gatherings; never where the action happens (e.g. picket lines of workers, including members of the LGBTQIA community, removed by multinational corporations; rallies for the anti-discrimination bill; visits in HIV treatment hubs; et cetera).
Their bosses "beg" you to "sponsor" their international trips. By itself this is "common practice" by NGOs and CBOs with non-existent funds; but when this is all they do, then you need to reconsider the support given to them.
Do your research. Not everyone "popular", even members of the LGBTQIA community, have the community's concern in their minds. Stop yourself from getting used and abused to profit off the misery of others.
3. We understand profit; but don't stop there. Develop pro-LGBTQIA policies.
According to Stonewall in the UK, 19% of LGBT workers experienced verbal bullying from their colleagues, customers or service users because of their sexual orientation. Unfortunately, 13% say that they would not feel confident in reporting homophobic bullying in their workplace.
This no-so-welcoming environment is not good for LGBTQIA employees; and – to over-simplify – if your employees aren't happy while working for you, their performance is bound to suffer, and this means a loss for your company.
So start creating those LGBTQIA-affirming policies.
Give diversity and inclusion trainings to all your employees (including those holding high positions) for them to understand sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE).
Include people's SOGIEs in the existing employee's manual/handbook – e.g. allow trans women to use women's CR/loo/toilet; punish those who discriminate; et cetera.
Offer the same benefits to the partners of LGBTQIA people (even if they are not legally married because the country still does not allow this).
Allow LGBTQIA employees to organize.
By making pro-LGBTQIA part of running your business, your impact will be there longer.
4. Hire LGBTQIA people, including in leadership positions.
In 2017, fastfood giant Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) apologized to genderqueer Bunny Cadag who alleged experiencing discrimination, following the PR tempest their story made since it was first shared online.
Cadag was interviewed for a job as a transcriber by people from the Human Capitol Development (HCD) at JFC's main office in Ortigas. That first day of evaluation passed without incident. However, when Cadag returned another day to continue the training session, a certain Louie Angsico, said to be one of the contact persons of HCD, spoke with Cadag over the phone to tell them that JFC is not yet "welcoming to the idea" of having a transgender person working for the company. Angsioco allegedly added that JFC is a Roman Catholic company.
While JFC eventually apologized, the perception (particularly for members of the LGBTQIA community) continues to exist that Jollibee… discriminates.
Now compare that with the supposed "love" received by Maynilad Water Services' highlighting that its COO, Randy Estrellado, is openly gay.
Beyond the "image" angle, though, get this: Research from UCLA found that nearly all (92%) of companies with anti-discrimination policies credit the policies with having a positive impact on annual sales. Executives also said that these policies lead to better recruitment and retention of top talent.
The Center for Talent Innovation's report, "Out in the World: Securing LGBT Rights in the Global Marketplace", also found that 71% of LGBTQIA respondents and 82% of allies are more likely to purchase from a company that supports LGBTQIA equality.
So yes, having more LGBTQIA employees can positively impact the bottom line.
5. Don't just show up once a year.
Companies that are ONLY seen once a year, attending corporate Pride parade, are actually seen as opportunists, using the LGBTQIA community only to get media mileage. And when NOT backed by the aforementioned points (e.g. creating LGBTQIA welcoming workplaces), this is actually what it really is.
So while joining the party is fun (and let me say this, those who can should do this), LGBTQIA-related efforts should NOT stop there.
In the end, profiting from members of the LGBTQIA community may earn you some cash in the short term; but pinkwashing isn't gonna help you in the long run. Look at how Israel's pro-LGBTQIA efforts are now seen as nothing but part of a "nation-branding program" to use the LGBTQIA community as cover for its abuses against Palestine. Or how Mar Roxas will always be marked by his flip-flopping on LGBTQIA issues. Or how there will now always be people who will see Bench as an opportunist by "selling" the rainbow, when it failed to support the LGBTQIA community when it mattered (i.e. while an LGBTQIA political party eyed a seat in Congress).
So do something good. Expect a return if you must; but ACTUALLY do something. It's actually easy, and the benefits for any brand longer-lasting…
From the Editor
5 Things funders/donor agencies can do to ACTUALLY help the LGBTQIA community
When their LGBTQIA-related projects are funded, it is okay for organizations to (also) please the funders. But… shouldn't the beneficiaries be the main focus since these efforts were made to benefit the people more?
In December 2018, while trying to persuade the "mother" of an organization for senior LGBTQIA people in Pasay City to apply for funding for their project/s, I was asked: "Where do they send the money if we don't even have a bank account?"
In January 2019, while trying to encourage a Deaf trans community leader of an LGBTQIA group in Davao City to get grants to finance their efforts, I was asked: "Will they give us money if we're not even registered with SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)?"
And in February 2019, while reprimanding a Deaf friend, who also heads a pioneering Deaf LGBTQIA organization (based in Mandaluyong City) in the Philippines for getting used by Hearing organizations that avail of her services (without payment), thereby using her affiliation, I was bluntly told: "This is arguably the only way for us to 'participate' in ongoing efforts; we tried applying for funds before, but were told we're too small, we don't have the skills, we can't even do accounting, and so on…"
These are – of course – only some of the more recent somewhat-similar assertions I continue to come across when chatting with grassroots LGBTQIA leaders in the Philippines. This inability to get funds NOT because they can't do the job (or are not doing the work already), but because they're not paper-pushers, they don't know the "right people" (and so don't know whose asses to kiss), they haven't been provided training, and so on…
And in all these instances, the analogy that ALWAYS comes to my mind is that issue encountered by fresh graduates when they apply for a job – i.e. companies want people with experience, so they won't hire fresh graduates, though – if they don't get hired, how can the fresh graduates then get this so-called experience? The fault isn't with the applicant but the employer.
An in the case of NGOs and CBOs, the fault – and let's be blunt here – is on the funder/donor agency because of existing notions and practices that really should be overhauled.
Now how to overhaul these notions? Here are practical tips…
1. Stop funding ONLY big NGOs (and often only those with personal connections to people working for you).
The REAL work is NOT DONE by many of these; instead, they're merely middlemen that profit from the actual work of grassroots organizations that these bigger organizations "fund" to do the hard work for them.
Fund the actual workers, not just the paper-pushers.
2. Related to #1, fund the smaller organizations.
For instance, note how – in support of LGBTQIA efforts in, say, Africa or Asia – many American-based NGOs get the money, instead of the ACTUAL African and Asian NGOs. They bring "attention" to the LGBTQIA-related issues in these areas, sure; but too much money is wasted on PR, instead of the actual efforts to help those affected by anti-LGBTQIA efforts in these areas.
I have heard numerous excuses about the non-preference for smaller NGOs, e.g.:
But the smaller organizations aren't familiar with accounting system/s, you say. I said: Then train them. Or just provide the funding so they can get the training themselves.
But the smaller organizations aren't legal entities yet, you add. Then fund them so they can afford to legally register.
In a gist: Not funding smaller organizations end up promoting an erroneous "for profit" approach of so many bigger NGOs that, as mentioned, reap the benefits from the work of those at the grassroots.
3. Go beyond the reports.
Yes, yes, yes – reports are great and all. But if this is the ONLY (or even MAJOR) indicator of success, then there really is a need to reconsider why we're in advocacy at all.
In New York in 2014, I once spoke with a worker in a funding agency who boasted to me that "we fund a faith-based effort in the Philippines". When the name of the church that was given money was mentioned (along with its now-former-leader), I told this person that the same was kicked out of the church because of allegations that involved – among others – financial matters. This is, I added, common knowledge; it's all over the Internet.
"No, you ARE mistaken," she said to me, succinctly. "We must not be referring to the same person."
"No, I'm not mistaken."
"But the reports we received are… good."
"Have you ever visited the Philippines? Or spoke to other Filipinos aside from this one person, particularly the beneficiaries?"
She looked at me like I was crazy: "We do NOT do that," she said. "We rely on the reports given to us; we trust these."
"Your loss," I said, "though a bigger loss for the community that's supposed to benefit from the already-extremely-limited funds."
I never heard from her EVER again.
4. Reach across (more) aisles.
Dealing with people we're comfy with is great; but if funds are given to the same people over and over and over again, this creates a "hierarchy" in service provision. This is why there's the so-called "Bangkok Mafia" in Thailand (a group of people said to know the 'who's who' as far as donors are concerned, and so have somewhat-exclusive access to them). Now, whether this is true or not is up for debate; but that this perception exists at all ought to be a source of worry. Because more than anything, it gives that impression of an "in" crowd, the "chosen ones", the "gatekeepers", with the rest basically dependent on their mercy…
5. Revisit indicators (of success or failure).
Yes, popularizing a hashtag created for an event is good and well, but this form of (support to) "keyboard activism" should be limited.
Interviewing a Maranao transwoman (who originally came from Marawi) in Iligan City, I was once told: "We don't even have electricity; yet you expect us to be active online."
In the end, pleasing the funders is all good (this comes with the territory); but shouldn't efforts be made to benefit the people more?
Editor's Picks
Worsening #ARVshortage in the Phl?
On Jan. 9, the Philippines gained a new HIV and AIDS law that is supposed to better the lives of Filipinos living with HIV. But many in the HIV community mark this day with distress, largely because of the worsening ARV shortage.
In September 2018, Xander (not his real name; anonymity requested), a Filipino living with HIV, claimed that he was told by the person working in the pharmacy of his hub to "consume already-expired medicines (the three-in-one tablet of Lamivudine/Tenofovir/Efavirenz)", and that "it is "still good for three months after the expiration date."
Since dealing with ARV-related issue is not new to him (it happened to him in the last quarter of 2013), he complained and was given newer meds. Noticeably, "those who didn't complain – like I did – ended up using the expired meds," he said.
Xander can only recall how he earlier lamented – again in 2013 – that the ARV shortage will happen again, particularly considering the continuing denial of the Department of Health (DOH) about this issue.
The 9th of January is supposed to be a happy day particularly for Filipinos living with HIV and their advocates. On that day, the newly-signed Republic Act 11166 or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act was released after it was signed into law by Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. By replacing the 20-year-old Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine National AIDS and Control Act of 1998, this new law is supposed to boost the government's response to HIV and AIDS by making health services for HIV and AIDS more accessible to Filipinos.
But many in the HIV community mark this day with distress, largely because of the worsening ARV shortage, which is not helped by the denial of the issue by various heads of offices – including government officials, as well as those helming treatment hubs/facilities and even select non-government organizations (NGOs).
In an unsigned statement (as if so that no one can be "chased" to be held accountable for the same statement), the DOH seemed to belittle the issue by outright claiming that there's an 'alleged' shortage of ARVs; even as it also stated that they take the issue of HIV infection in the country seriously. Part of this is to take "great steps to ensure that access for HIV treatments are available for those who are diagnosed with HIV."
The DOH statement added:
"As of October 2018, we have enrolled 32,224 persons living with HIV for treatment with ARV such as Nevirapine, Lamivudine/Tenofovir. The DOH has been providing free ARV to Filipinos living with HIV through our HIV treatment hubs.
"Based on our records, there are 3,200 registered PLHIV who are on Nevirapine and 1,791 PLHIV on Lamivudine/Tenofovir, as of December last year.
That just about half of the total PLHIVs in the Philippines use ARVs is worth noting, even if it's another issue altogether.
But the mention of these two meds/cocktails is important because the complaints reaching – among others – Outrage Magazine, Bahaghari Center for SOGIE Research, Education and Advocacy, Inc. (Bahaghari Center) other and HIV-related community-based organizations/non-government organizations particularly currently mention these.
In Quezon City, for instance, at least eight PLHIVs alleged that they have been given incomplete medications – i.e. they were supplied with either Lamivudine/Tenofovir or Lamivudine/Zidovudine, but they have not been receiving Nevirapine because this is not available. These people are, therefore, taking incomplete meds.
Pinoy Plus's hotline, PRC, has received similar allegations of non-delivery of Nevirapine.
In Cavite (Imus, Bacoor and Dasmariñas), at least three clients surfaced to allege about the same issue. PLHIVs are now "borrowing" each others' Nevirapine supply just so they don't miss their required dosage because their hub does not have supplies from the DOH.
There are similar allegations in Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City and Zamboanga City.
And in Alabang, the pharmacy of a treatment hub even posted on January 8, 2019 an announcement that "due to the shortage and delay of the deliveries at DOH, only one bottle will be dispensed of the following medicines: Nevirapine (200mg tablet); Lamivudine (150mg)/Zidovudine (300mg tablet); and Lamivudine (300mg)/Tenofovir (300mg tablet)." The same hub is telling its clients to "wait for further announcement on stock availability."
Note that the RITM-AIDS Research Group's pharmacy is putting the blame on the DOH.
DOH's CLAIM
The same DOH statement stressed that "the latest data, as of January 4, confirms that Nevirapine has already been delivered to the 16 treatment hubs to meet the requirements for February-April 2019. For Lamivudine/Tenofovir, a month's supply has also been delivered to Regions X, VI and I. The rest of the regions will expect deliveries within this week."
Noticeably, the DOH statement responds to issues only this January, even if this concern has been circulating in the PLHIV community since 2018, and only peaked now.
There are fewer ARV refills now. If, in the past, the usual practice is for hubs to give PLHIVs three bottles of ARV to last them for three months, a growing number are now complaining about the supply being cut to one month in numerous hubs – e.g. there's that post in RITM's pharmacy. Some allege that they are even supplied ARVs just for a week or even just for three days.
Due to the ARV shortage that the DOH is not outright confronting, expired medicines are allegedly being given to PLHIVs – as in the case of Xander.
Also due to the ARV shortage, the medication of a number of PLHIVs are allegedly being changed not because it's medically sound, but because their usual medicines are not readily available. In Mandaluyong City, there are PLHIVs who claimed to have been told to use Lamivudine/Tenofovir/Efavirenz because it's the only available ARV. If they refuse to do so, then they will have to stop taking their usual medications until such time when the delivery of supplies are normalized again.
To allow the DOH to respond to these claims, Outrage Magazine repeatedly reached out to the government body. Upon calling the media relations unit (at +63 2 651-7800 loc. 1126), we were turned over to the office of Dr. Gerard Belimac (+63 2 651-7800 locs. 2355, 2352, 2354). Five attempts were made to speak with Belimac or any other authority in his office, but he has been unavailable at those five times; and even after leaving requests for a statement from him on the ARV shortage, as of press time, the publication has not heard back.
As this is a continuing story, coordination will continue to – eventually hopefully – extensively hear from the DOH on this issue.
The DOH statement also stated that it is "working closely with our suppliers to ensure that there are no gaps in our supply chain. In fact, we are waiting for deliveries of an additional 12,375 bottles of Nevirapine good for another three months and 7,024 bottles of Lamivudine/Tenofovir good for another two months."
The DOH also claimed that it is continuing to explore "for more partners in providing excellent support for Filipinos living with HIV-AIDS and in ending the deadly disease."
As if wanting to pacify the complaining PLHIVs, the DOH statement transferred to responsibility to "HIV doctors to explore possible options", or visit Facebook page (PLHIV Response Center) or email email@example.com. Note the use of a gmail account for a body with millions in budget.
No investigations on where the errors in the supply chain is happening so that these can be fixed is forthcoming. No one being held accountable here.
Incidentally, Article V, Sec. 33 of the newly signed HIV law states: "The DOH shall establish a program that will provide free and accessible ART and medication for opportunistic infections to all PLHIVs who are enrolled in the program… A manual of procedures for management of PLHIV shall be developed by the DOH."
The IRR is not even there yet, but this mandate to provide life-saving meds is now already cast in doubt.
Xander – who only had a refill of his ARVs – said that many like him who posted about this issue online were told to stop doing so "because we are supposedly creating panic among PLHIVs."
He now says that people who cover up this issue are "as worse as those paid to work on this issue. Because if you go to the HIV community, we've long lived with worrying that our meds may not be given us at any moment. If some people think complaining about this is wrong, then they shouldn't be in HIV advocacy, but work as PR people of those failing to do their jobs."
In the end, "this needs to be resolved fast. Enough with discussing semantics on what we're having is a shortage or a stockout; the fact remains that there are PLHIVs not getting their supplies. Lives are at stake. So supply the ARVs; now."
From the Editor
On beauty pageants and messed up priorities in dealing with HIV in Phl…
After encountering a young PLHIV who has to prostitute himself just to access ARVs, Michael David Tan finds it infuriating that the Department of Health saw it fit to allocate lots of money to HOLD A BEAUTY PAGEANT. For him, from the get-go, this approach needs to be closely looked at.
I am chatting with a person whose HIV rapid test only recently showed he's reactive. He was told by this satellite clinic in Mandaluyong City that he can actually proceed to get the meds; though only if:
- He pays his PhilHealth; and
- He pays for all his lab tests.
The problem is, this young person – who did not even finish schooling – is unemployed.
So he is chatting with me now to "manghiram ng P100 (borrow a hundred pesos) so I can go to a client who will give me P1,000; which I can then use to pay for my lab tests."
Yes, he is resorting to selling himself. To access life-saving medicine that is supposedly – and ERRONEOUSLY claimed to be – "free".
It is cases like this young person's that make it infuriating that the Department of Health (DOH) saw it fit to allocate lots of money to… HOLD A BEAUTY PAGEANT.
In a pageant-obsessed country like the Philippines, at least superficially, this seems like an "intelligent" move.
But from the get-go, this approach needs to be closely looked at and reconsidered.
- The pageant is supposed to create "HIV advocates". BUT only those who fit specific qualifications can enter – e.g. age limit, height limit, vital stats requirement of participants (with the candidates even told to 'model' in swimwear as part of the screening process). So now – with this 'move' – what is being insinuated is that you need to be young, beautiful/handsome and be willing to strut in your bikini first before you can be considered an HIV 'advocate'…
- We are supposed to dismantle this lookist society; to recognize people's worth NOT based solely on how they look. Pageants – by their very nature – promote the status quo (of lookism) by giving "positions of power" only to those who "fit" socially-constructed standards of beauty and attractiveness.
- The country has a lot of REAL advocates who do for free what should be DOH's job – e.g. community-based HIV screeners who go from barangay to barangay without any payment. There are those doing community-based HIV screening (CBS) who are RUNNING OUT OF RAPID TEST KITS, so they are now unable to serve; unable to be advocates. Seriously now, if there's money for a beauty pageant, surely there's money that can be given to those already working on the ground, or even to buy life-saving paraphernalia used in battling HIV in the Philippines.
- One of the supporters of this beauty pageant told me that Pia Wurtzbach's effort to bring the spotlight to HIV is a good example of the "relevance" of a beauty pageant like this, as it could "create another Pia". In a marketing standpoint, this is not a well-thought response; mainly because if you wanted to "create" someone to be like Pia to promote HIV awareness in the Philippines, then… JUST HIRE PIA HERSELF!
Besides, as a friend aptly said: You can't just "create" a Pia. She "works" because she's unique.
- If you need a crown, a title and the prize money before you start advocating for HIV-related issues in the Philippines, then you're not really an "advocate" and what you're doing is not "advocacy".
The fact is, numerous HIV-related issues continue to plague the country.
We get 31 new cases every day now.
A growing number of those getting infected are getting younger and younger (e.g. in July, 28% were from the 15-24 age bracket).
The ARVs in treatment hubs are OLD – e.g. many have expired, and the Philippines still uses meds already discontinued in Western countries. Don't get me started with the shortage that the DOH continues to deny is happening.
We still don't have widely-distributed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Newly-diagnosed PLHIVs – like that young person at the start of this article – are still unable to pay for their baseline tests; and so they can't proceed to the next steps (including starting their ARV therapy). And even if they can get the lab tests done, their ARV supply is compromised because they can't pay their PhilHealth.
There are treatment hubs that do not have viral load machines, so that PLHIVs do not know their VL years and years after they tested HIV-positive. And this is even if they have been paying the same PhilHealth amount that should give them that VL test. DOH accredited these hubs; they need to monitor if the hubs comply with policies related to their accreditation.
There are accredited hubs that do not even offer CD4 test. This is accepted as "normal", and again, this is even if the PLHIVs in these hubs still pay the same PhilHealth amount that should grant them the CD4 test. Similar to the above: DOH accredited these hubs; they need to monitor if the hubs comply with policies related to their accreditation.
There remains lack of updated knowledge even among existing service providers – e.g. try asking them about U=U, and you're more likely to encounter internalized stigma and discrimination, largely because… this is not even openly discussed in the Philippines, including by DOH.
There are no Filipino Sign Language interpreters who can assist Deaf Filipinos to get tested for HIV; and – if they test HIV-positive – access treatment, care and support.
I can go on and on and on…
But just try bringing these issues up (e.g. to government people or NGOs) and you'd more likely be told "there's no money".
Well… apparently there is money; just not for these…
DOH is complaining about the pending budget cut, but – the way I see it – it shouldn't/can't/ought not to complain about any budget cuts when it can spend money ON A BEAUTY PAGEANT. This may sound harsh, but words that immediately come at least to my mind include misuse, squandering (with a friend going as far as using the word "misappropriation") or words similar to that…
As it is – and yes, I recognize this – I've already been repeatedly told that I'm too… negative.
I'm not sure I'm being "negative"; instead, I am being more "realistic".
And the thing is, as long there are PLHIVs like that young person who has to prostitute himself just so he can access life-saving meds and services even as a big amount of money is spent on a beauty pageant, I say we all should be…
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text:
RAPIDS, Iowa – Just less than one year ago, 250 of the most
talented players eligible for the 2012 draft from across the nation
assembled in Fort Myers, Fla. to participate in the 2011 National
Showcase. The top prospects from that event were chosen to attend
the 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic presented by Rawlings,
which included the Houston Astros No. 1 overall pick, Carlos Correa.
was the sixth PG All-American to claim that honor, following in the
footsteps of notable young stars such as Justin Upton, Bryce Harper
and Gerrit Cole. 18 other former PG All-Americans were also drafted
in the first and supplemental first rounds, and that full list can be
viewed in this story.
were 22 players selected in that same range that attended last year's
National Showcase, and 31 total National alumni.
of the first 13 overall selections had previously attended the
National Showcase, eight of which did so in 2011.
Through the first three rounds, an astounding 70 of the 128 players taken were National Showcase alumni, while 87 of the top 188 players (top five rounds) also attended the event.
34 of the high school players that were drafted in the first and
supplemental first-rounds have previously attended a Perfect Game
event. 55 of the 60 players (92-percent) taken overall in that range
are also PG alumni.
National Showcase has long kicked off the draft season for the
following year. This year's event will be held June 14-18 in
Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Metrodome, former home of the Minnesota
Twins. Similar to past years, the top 2013 prospects from the 2013
graduating class will be in attendance, and many of those players
will be represented on this year's Perfect Game All-American Classic
more information on the 2012 National Showcase, please visit the
event page:
The 2012 Jr. National Showcase, which consists of the top prospects from the 2014 class, will be conducted at the Metrodome the two days prior to the National, June 12-13.
Listed here are the 31 players drafted in the first and supplemental first rounds of the 2012 draft that had previously attended the National Showcase:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Goal 3: Characterize the Geology of Mars
How did Mars become the planet we see today? What accounts for the differences and similarities between Earth and Mars? These questions will be addressed by studying Mars' geology. As part of the Mars Exploration Program, we want to understand how the relative roles of wind, water, volcanism, tectonics, cratering and other processes have acted to form and modify the Martian surface.
For example, Mars is home to incredibly large volcanoes, which can be 10 to 100 times larger than those on Earth. One reason for this difference is that the crust on Mars doesn't move the way it does on Earth. That means the total volume of lava piles up into one, very large volcano.
The Magnetism of Mars Gives Clues to the Planet's Interior and More
A recent discovery by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft of large areas of magnetic materials on Mars indicates that the planet once had a magnetic field, much like Earth does today. Because magnetic fields in general act to shield planets from many forms of cosmic radiation, this discovery has important implications for the prospects for finding evidence of past life on the Martian surface. Study of the ancient magnetic field also provides important information about the interior structure, temperature and composition of Mars in the past. The presence of magnetic fields also suggests that Mars was once more of a dynamic Earth-like planet than it is today.
Rocks on Mars Can Tell Us About the Planet's History and Its Potential for Harboring Life
Of fundamental importance are the age and composition of different types of rocks on the Martian surface. Geologists use the age of rocks to determine the sequence of events in a planet's history. Composition information tells them what happened over time. Particularly important is the identification of rocks and minerals formed in the presence of water. Water is one of the keys to whether life might have started on Mars.
What other materials might be trapped in those rocks with information about the planet's history? How are the different rock types distributed across the surface? Future orbiting and landed missions will carry special tools designed to help answer these questions.


text:
Just prior to the launch of BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, Stephen Perciballi (@irondack) of Softchoice joined us here on the BlackBerry campus. As part of the BlackBerry Technical Preview program, Softchoice had the chance to get early access to BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. We caught up with Stephen to get his thoughts on the experience. Check out the interview below for the full scoop!
Thanks for joining us today Stephen. Can you tell me about your role at Softchoice?
I'm the Practice Lead for Security at Softchoice, and mobility falls into the security practice – so we manage any security vendor and then all of the mobility centric vendors as well. We resell BlackBerry products and services, including deployments, integration services, and more.
Softchoice recently joined our BlackBerry Technical Preview program – can you share your experience setting up BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10?
So far the feedback that we got from IT was that the deployment of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 was extremely straightforward, and we know for a fact that it wasn't very time consuming, so that was a great start. We did have the assistance of a BlackBerry engineer over the phone, but the whole thing only took a couple of hours and that's including knowledge transfer. Once it was set up we were immediately able to begin provisioning devices.
Why get on board and why deploy BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10? Are you expecting to manage BlackBerry 10 devices and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets moving forward at Softchoice?
Absolutely. Our executives are actually all very big BlackBerry fans, and we anticipate that they're going to want to continue to get the latest and greatest device. A lot of that trickles down, so we have a lot of devout BlackBerry users.
Are you seeing anticipation from Softchoice customers that you get setup with BlackBerry solutions?
I can tell you that my team is very customer focused, so while we manage the business, our real job is to help customers find the right solution. Every time you guys [BlackBerry] make an announcement, all of the competition comes to a halt. We can see it statistically; we actually categorize and classify our customer meetings to track the topics.
Before the announcement of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 there was a high volume of calls and meetings around "what should we do about mobile device management?" The word is now getting out and those calls and even requests for quotes from BlackBerry competitors have plummeted. I'd put it this way: counting BlackBerry out is like not drinking water because soda has more flavor. It's absolutely ridiculous. BlackBerry is a force in mobility, and with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and gatekeeper for ActiveSync… That's a game changer. Customers have existing relationships with BlackBerry, and so a simple upgrade that allows them to manage other mobile devices if they need to is a very compelling story.
Many customers that we talk to have been confused. There's a lot of confusion out there and there are a lot of people trying to capitalize on the confusion, but it's not really working. Customers have been waiting to execute on their mobility strategy, and they're now able to do so with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. Doing an upgrade is a lot easier than firing up a new unknown solution.
How has your experience been with BlackBerry 10?
So far so good! Immediate reactions are similar for most people – it's that traditional feeling that you get from most BlackBerry devices, that the hardware is beautiful. There's really no question there. You pick it up and you think "Wow! It's solid, it's pretty, and I want it". Just like it always has been. We use the story all the time with customers on the topic of BYOD: every time the new BlackBerry would come out, 35% of my fleet would be lost, damaged, or stolen because they want the new one so badly [laughs]. The same thing goes for this device.
My favorite feature is the ability to minimize apps with a gesture, swiping up from the bottom. I've been using other mobile platforms for years, and now I find myself trying that swipe up gesture on other platforms because it's so intuitive and it's so handy. I just can't shake it. That's definitely one of my favorites.
I do like how when you minimize apps they stay as these active frames. It's nice to have a couple of things on that screen. I'm obsessed with knowing where my battery is at, and I'm obsessed with knowing what the weather is like, so having that is really great.
The Hub is very interesting for sure, having it built right into the device is incredible. Other platforms have an app that integrates a variety of accounts… But it's kind of hokey and not everything looks the same. You still have to start an app, which is the fundamental difference. With Hub it's a simple gesture that just takes you to where everything is. If you want to focus on your personal email for example, you can really narrow it down.
The web browser is very strong. In the beta program we didn't have full access to all of the apps in BlackBerry World since it was pre-launch, and so there are a lot of things that I've been doing just in the browser. Everything that I do with my other platforms, I'm actually doing on BlackBerry 10, without apps, and just using the web browser. So far that's been just as good.
Are you familiar with BlackBerry Balance? What's your feedback as a mobility professional?
Balance is definitely something that customers are asking for more and more. Two years ago people would ask vaguely for MDM capabilities without knowing what they were asking for. Now, most people have a good idea that basic MDM solutions exist in general, but more so customers are now asking for containerization.
[Customers say,] "We want to be able to segregate work data and personal data so that we can be a little bit more granular. Maybe we can do a proper partial wipe where we really know for sure that the work data is safe." Things like partial wipes have been available in a lot of MDM solutions, but there's been nothing to prevent a user from mixing that data up, and as an administrator you would have no visibility into that. It's simpler administration. Instead of securing and managing the entire device, we're able to put the work stuff into the work area and we'll secure and manage that. We couldn't care less about other email accounts on the device. That level of flexibility is going to be very attractive to a lot of organizations for sure.
Where do you see the partnership between BlackBerry and Softchoice going in the future?
With BlackBerry we think at this point that things are actually going to take off. We're very enthusiastic about the BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 launch. We now have the features that customers are looking for; the single management console to manage all platforms, and the gatekeeper feature – that was something we were really waiting for. We can know that no one is connecting to our infrastructure without going through BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.
BlackBerry 10 devices are devices that consumers are going to like; it's a slick interface, it's easy to use, it's a sexy handset, and you've also got things like the camera app with time shift. It's huge. Features like that will really attract more customers, as well as the video editing functionality. That's how people communicate today. High definition and editing on a single device is really driving towards that convergence of client computing that people are looking for. There are a lot of cool devices, but to have all of this functionality in a single device is really great.
I'd love nothing more than to just have a single phone that I can carry around and use as my primary computing device. Having the ability to do a lot of that on BlackBerry 10 is very attractive to a lot of people.
Thanks for your time Stephen!


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Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Are E-Book Readers a Transitional Medium?
The other day I was reading a blog -- somewhere -- in which a commenter prophesied that one day we would all have little e-readers in our pockets, like pocket calculators. It would be that normal.
Hm. I always had the idea that e-readers and phones/tablet computers would kind of merge. What's the point of having a dedicated technology for reading books, when you can have a thing that will let you read books AND do a ton of other things? Seems to me that the e-reader is a transitional technology, one that helps people give up paper books before doing all their reading on a regular screen. How necessary is the whole "e-ink" thing? Most people who seem really excited about the Kindle and other e-readers are, well, old: my age and the next generation up, the Boomers.
But what do you think? Will we all have cheap little dedicated e-readers in our pockets stocked with entire libraries of books? Or will that whole model fall aside, and we'll be reading on our phones, as well as ordering food, checking our glucose, and whatever?
(Apparently contrary to a lot of arguments I hear lately, I think the medium is important. Would the novel be what it is -- chapters, 300ish pages, with paragraphs, etc -- if the technology of the bound book weren't holding it together? I'm no so sure.)
Picture is of the MailStation, an e-mail-only device I used for about 6 months many years ago. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
11 comments:
- jon said...
My guess is we won't be reading on devices, but on a different material altogether, something like paper with an electronic display.Will it all be on one thing? Why? Talking on the phone involves a different part of the body.
By now anyway we were all supposed to have jetpacks and videophones.
- February 17, 2011 at 9:37 AM
We kind of do have videophones now...I've had my iPhone for six months, though, and have never used Facetime...mostly because who the hell wants to have to look decent to talk on the phone?
Rhian and I had a conversation about this topic yesterday, but a couple things that I find interesting didn't make it into her post. One is the idea that reading is AN AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE. That is, though we are not necessarily wedded to the paper book, we ARE wedded to the idea that reading must be aesthetically satisfying IN SOME WAY. I've read maybe ten books on the newest Kindle and three or four on the iPad, and both are OK. But the iPad's screen resolution is really inadequate and it sucks in the sunshine...and the Kindle feels like, as Rhian put it to me yesterday, an elaborate solar calculator. These are certainly adequate reading technologies, but they aren't adequate aesthetic experiences, not yet anyway.
The other thing is that, surprisingly, very few of my students whom I polled had ever read a book on the Kindle. They seem to be more wedded to the paper book than my own peers are. So maybe they are waiting for the right tech...or maybe they're rejecting it entirely. Probably the former.
- February 17, 2011 at 11:41 AM
- rmellis said...
Here's a theory: the Kindle looks old ON PURPORSE to appeal to old ladies such as myself. If it looked all slick and iPoddy, would your mom even touch it?
it kind of looks like one of those grocery counters my mom had, or a sweater machine. Lady tech!
- February 17, 2011 at 11:56 AM
"...because who the hell wants to have to look decent to talk on the phone?"
Do you remember the piece in Infinite Jest with the videophone masks and the eventual demise of the whole technology for just the reason stated above?
So many of the people I know, including my teenage daughter and nephews but also some adults, don't even want to put the energy into conversing anymore. The only way to get in touch with them (pun intended, I suppose) is by texting. Tedious for me, as I still haven't upgraded to a full keyboard phone.
- February 17, 2011 at 1:27 PM
- gvNL said...
I was thinking about this just last night while reading DFW's Oblivion lying on the couch. It struck me then, that I didn't want the object I had in hand to be a device on which I could read a trillion different texts including papers, emails, etc., what have you, I wanted the object I had in hand to be solely and uniquely connected to what I was reading. In this case I wanted this object to be DFW's Oblivion. And it was just that. And only a book gives you this, because it's the perfect unison of form and content.
Realizing this somehow comforted me. Partly, it's an aesthetic experience, but it's also more than that.
- February 17, 2011 at 3:03 PM
- Lisa R. said...
Tech posts + indie rock + literary stuff = Good blog.
- February 17, 2011 at 4:00 PM
- Sung said...
When the Kindle came out, I thought that it was without question a transition device. I'm not so sure I think that way anymore. What I'm hearing and seeing is that people do want the e-reader to be separate from their laptop/tablet because those devices have too many distractions. So the e-reader is a limited device by design, and the e-reader will continue to exist.
My guess is that this might continue this way for quite some time. If kids end up reading Kindles in school, the last thing a teacher needs is for them to have access to the web in class. I know the Kindle currently has basic web access, but the in-school versions probably won't.
- Sung
- February 18, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Web access on a kindle is a joke! It doesn't even have a clock on it...
- February 18, 2011 at 12:11 PM
- rmellis said...
That's interesting! The idea of getting LESS is actually a selling point. I had not thought of that. But I deliberately do not have a web connection on my writing computer.
- February 18, 2011 at 1:57 PM
- Jason T. Lewis said...
OK, I'm coming into the conversation late, but I have some thoughts. I recently went from reading on the iPad (agreed, the resolution is insufficient for extended reading) to a 3rd gen Kindle. I have to say I like the Kindle a lot, especially since they've added real page numbers. I'm just finishing a 4 week class where I taught one novel per week and I did all the reading on the Kindle and it was fantastic. The ability to take notes and access them quickly was pretty key. It's not the best device for teaching (yes, a book is still better), but I like the slimness and portability. Very nice to have one device that ways a few ounces to carry to class instead of several books.
I think Sung is right, the current batch of ereaders aren't really transitional devices. The technology itself may transition (color eink, etc.), but there's a place for a single-purpose device where you ingest and collect your reading materials. There's something to be said for not being able to access email and the web on this device. I've only used the internet on it once (but there is a clock on it).
Here's something I like about the Kindle as well. I have several books on there that I'm reading all at the same time. If I feel like one, I open it and read. If I feel like closing that and reading, I do that. I'm reading a lot more right now, which make me happy.
As for the aesthetic experience of reading, I agree that the Kindle et al are not as aesthetically pleasing as a book, but the other side of that argument is that the real experience of reading lies in the words and the partnership between the reader and the writer in creating the experience. On that front, the delivery method is secondary, right?
I don't know if anyone follows Nathan Bransford, but he has a blog post about bookstores that tracks with this topic. http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2011/02/do-record-stores-point-way-of-future.html
- February 22, 2011 at 12:22 PM
- Unknown said...
Well,I think the fact that the kindle is not backlit makes it different from other devices. You do not experience eye strain as you do with backlit screens. An Ipad does merge it all, but it's backlit so no good to read on.
- March 6, 2011 at 2:48 AM


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La Lucha Brings Mexican Wrestling, Nixtamal, to East Village
As someone who's found plenty of down-home Pueblan cooking both in Jackson Heights and Hell's Kitchen, I've never understood Californian expats who complain about New York City's Mexican food. Get away from the margarita mills and you'll find everything from slow-roasted goat to gigantic sandwiches. One thing that's been missing, however, is a Mexican wrestling themed restaurant. Stepping into this gaping void is La Lucha, an East Village spot barely three weeks old.
Colorful luchadore masks sit above the Virgin of Guadalupe at Adriana Leon's shrine to one of Mexico City's most popular forms of entertainment (as well its street food). As if that weren't cool enough, she sources her tortillas from Corona's Tortilleria Nixtamal. Last night I went there with Nixtamal's Fernando Ruiz and Shauna Page. Ruiz never goes out for Mexican food, but made an exception for La Lucha. A look at some luchadore-themed comida after the jump.
In Mexico, as well as Sunset Park and Jackson Heights, this popular street snack is known as elotes. La Lucha dubs its version Villanos ($3), after a famous family of Mexican bad-guy wrestlers. Slathered with chipotle mayo, rolled in crumbled cotija cheese, doused with lime and sprinkled with chili salt, it'll have you rooting for the bad guy. "Just like in Mexico," Ruiz said between bites.
El Martinete ($3), a sweet and savory tag team of black beans and cotija topped with a chunk of plantain and pickled red onions, pays homage to a move better known as the piledriver.
Silver-masked El Santo (The Saint), perhaps the most famous good guy in lucha libre, lends his name to the best of the specialty tacos (3 for $12). A meaty trifecta—cecina, salted beef; chicharron, fried pork; and chorizo—sits atop a Nixtamal tortilla that's been griddled, bringing out the toasty corn flavor. You might think La Lucha made up this over-the-top taco, which happens to be Ruiz's favorite, but it's a Mexico City classic known as taco campechano. Leon borrowed the recipe from Tacos Villamelon, a taqueria just outside the city's bull fighting arena.
This combination of steak, cheese, and bacon takes its name from heavyweight Mil Máscaras (A Thousand Masks). Think of it as Mexico's answer to the Philly cheesesteak, yet somehow lighter on its feet.
La Lucha takes its obsession with Mexican wrestling to the extreme by functioning as a boutique with everything from T-shirts, masks, earring and even a lucha-themed rosary. Given how good the food is, it's a safe bet La Guadulupana forgives such irreverence.
La Lucha
147 Avenue A, New York NY 10009 (map) 212-260-0235 laluchanyc.com
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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[Courtesy of H-Law, we have the following announcement for John Phillip Reid Book Award:]
Named for John Phillip Reid, the prolific legal historian and founding member of the Society, and made possible by the generous contributions of his friends and colleagues, the John Phillip Reid Book Award is an annual award for the best monograph that is not the author's first book, published in English in any of the fields defined broadly as Anglo-American legal history. The award is given on the recommendation of the Society's John Philip Reid Award Committee.
Nomination Process for 2010:
For the 2010 award, the Committee will accept nominations from authors, presses, or anyone else, of any book that bears a copyright date in 2009. Nominations for the prize should include a curriculum vitae of the author and should be submitted by May 28, 2010 to:
Professor Gerald Leonard
Chair, ASLH Committee on the John Phillip Reid Book Award
Boston University School of Law
765 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
Copies of each nominated book should be mailed to the chair (above) and to each member of the committee:
Professor Michael Les Benedict
Ohio State University
106 Dulles
230 West 17th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Professor Susanna Blumenthal
University of Minnesota Law School
229 19th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Professor Philip Girard
Schulich School of Law
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Professor Reva Siegel
Yale Law School
P.O. Box 208215
New Haven, CT 06520
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Reid Book Prize
2 comments:
- Andrew Lyall said...
What is the prize? i.e. what does it consist of? The ALHS site does not indicate it.
- January 6, 2010 at 8:38:00 AM EST
- Dan Ernst said...
Mr. Lyall,
If you're asking about the dollar amount, it's likely to be very small. The value of most scholarly book prizes lies in the recognition of one's peers that they represent. In addition, book prizes are prestigious for university presses. They may even sell a few more copies and thereby add to an author's royalties, but, if so, de minimis lex non curat. The applause of the audience at the ASLH's annual luncheon--http://www.h-net.org/~law/ASLH/conferences/aslh__conference_2008.htm--and the association with an eminent scholar (such as Professor Reid) are pretty much it.
- January 6, 2010 at 4:54:00 PM EST
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This is Day 1 of the 21-Day Positivity Challenge (21DPC) for Mar 2012. View all posts made during the challenge: 21DPC Overview.
Hello everyone, and welcome to Day 1 of 21-Day Positivity Challenge (21DPC)!! 😀 *dance*
We have over *300* official participants with us now!! Are we in for a month of positivity or WHAT??? 😀
To all of you who have duly signed up and helped spread the word to your social networks (or even via blogging about it, for those of you bloggers out there!), thank you. The challenge can only be a success through our collective efforts. The more people sign on to 21DPC, the better it will be for everyone, because hey – that means even more positive energy to go around. 😀 There is never a limit to how much positive energy there can be – abundance has no lmits.
For those of you whose friends / family read your message and decided to join in on 21DPC too, that's fabulous. PE Challenges are always particularly fun when you get to do it with someone you know! You can keep each other accountable and learn more about each other in the process.
If you are doing it by yourself, not to fret. We have over 300 official participants here with us for 21DPC, and we're definitely going to get more people joining us over the next few days before I close the sign ups. In the course of these 21 days, all of us will be doing 21DPC together as one, reflecting on the daily questions, sharing our answers in the comments section of the daily posts, and engaging each other in meaningful discussions.
This is a challenge to be done together as a community, as a group, as one Personal Excellence family, which is really the reason why PE is even here. So do not be afraid to share your answers openly and be fully honest with yourself here. There is no judgment here; anyone who tries to do that will be promptly barred from the site. The .co in the PE domain represents community, not individuality- always remember that whenever you come here to the site.
Important: Sign Up First Before Reading Any Further
If you're new to 21-Day Positivity Challenge, or you have not signed up yet (your name should be in the official participants list), please read the announcement post and sign up first before going any further: 21-Day Positivity Challenge. All details on the challenge, what to expect, and how to sign up can be found at the post.
If you have already duly completed the 3 sign up steps, your name will be added in the next 36 hours. ♥ Thank you!
Update March 5: Sign ups are now closed now – thanks everyone for your amazing response! For those who didn't get to sign up – you are more than welcome to participate and join us in the daily threads!
What To Expect for the Next 21 Days
1. Positivity Question
Changing Your Life, Starting From Your Thoughts
As you have read in the announcement post, I will be assigning you a positivity question every day, for the next 21 days.
The question may be simple, like asking "What is your favorite movie?" to something deeper, like "What is 1 positive thing you can share about your least favorite person?" There are days when there will be 2-3 questions combined into 1 (for example, today's question) – you are expected to answer all the questions, and not just answer the first one and skip the rest.
The idea is to cultivate positivity in your life, via working on the root of it all – our thoughts. Asking ourselves the right questions will help us think in the right manner. And from there, the right actions, habits, and behavior will follow suit. As the saying goes:
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." – Anonymous
Your Honesty Required
My request to you is to be as completely honest with yourself in answering the questions. Because the more honest you are, the more insights you will unveil, the more you will grow. Think of it as it you're in a dark room alone, by yourself, and there's no one there to listen, comment, or judge. What is the first thing that comes to mind? What would be your most truthful response to the question?
This challenge is not about sugar-coated answers and creating an illusion of happiness and positivity to everyone out there. You are probably kidding yourself if you think we'll be jumping around in these 21 days, skipping merrily, laughing like little kids and forcing ourselves to smile every day.
Don't feel that there's a need for you to write something positive just because this is a positivity challenge, because that's totally untrue. As I shared in Principle #1 of How to Be Happy, part of being happy / positive includes airing out grievances, unhappiness, frustrations, anger, sadness, disappointment, etc inside of you – whatever they may be. These (negative) energies, when unaired, are merely *stuck* in your consciousness, with nowhere else to go.
In the end, they end up affecting you on a subconscious level, in more ways than you can imagine. The more (unhappiness) you release through your answers in 21DPC (in a constructive manner, of course), the more happiness can flow your way.
2. Positivity Task
Most of the days will have a positivity task assigned. This task is linked to the day's question, and usually comprises of a simple action that can be done on the day itself. Do complete the task as part of your 21DPC participation.
3. Positive Thing For the Day
Last but not least, you are to identify at least 1 positive thing that you got out of the day, for every day of 21DPC. If you can identify more than 1, that's even better! The more the better! 😀
Sharing To Help Yourself and Help Others
As with every challenge, I highly recommend you share your responses in the comments section of the daily posts with the other participants, to get the most out of your 21DPC experience.
If you're not comfortable sharing your answers under your usual name/nick on PE, then create some fake, random nick (so no one will know it's you) and post your answers under that nick (for the remainder of 21DPC, if you want). Replace others' names (if any) in your answers with fake nicks as well. There is always something powerful about transparently writing your thoughts out there in the open, vs. keeping it to yourself in your little book.
Besides, do not underestimate the change you can make in others' lives just by sharing your answers here. After all, have you not benefited in the past from reading honest sharings by others, be it on Personal Excellence, or on other websites? What would the world be if no one wants to share? Think about the people out there you can effect. By helping others, you are also helping yourself.
21DPC Day 1 Question
Given that this is a positivity challenge, for Day 1 today, I want you to think about how happy you are. Not just today, but as a person.
On a Scale of 1-10, How Happy Are You? And Why?
Share as much as you want in your answers, from a few words to a few pages long. Be honest as you can. Answer both questions, and not just the first question.
And if you did not give yourself a 10/10 for your score, I have one additional question for you:
Why Did You Not Give Yourself a 10/10?
Again, be completely honest in your response. There is no judgment here at PE. Only positivity and love.
While we're on the topic of happiness, be sure to check out the related articles on how to achieve happiness (or unhappiness, as per the second article) at PE:
- 10 Timeless Principles to be Happy
- Are You as Happy as You Can Be? 10 Surefire Ways To Be Unhappy in Life
…and the manifesto versions:
- [Manifesto] 10 Timeless Principles For Lasting Happiness
- [Manifesto] 10 Surefire Ways To Achieve Unhappiness
Your Tasks Today
- Reflect and answer today's question(s). Write as few or as many words as needed to fully express your thoughts. There is no word limit.
- Identify at least one positive thing about your day. It may be something small or something big – as long as you deem it as something positive, it counts. If you have more than 1 thing to share, then by all means, go for it!
Share Your Answers!
After you are done, share your answers in the comments area!
If you're doing this at the start of the day, you can post your answer for today's question first, then return at the end of the day to answer the 2nd part, on identifying at least one positive thing about your day.
Check out other participants' answers. Pick 1-2 participants' answers and make a meaningful reply to them. Engage in the discussions. This is a group course, so let's support each other in these 21 days!
Look forward to reading your responses!
Image: Happy girl in the field, Grass


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Westminster Baseball Earns Newcomer & Coach of the Year Honors
FULTON, MO -- The Westminster College Baseball team had eight Blue Jays given ten St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Honors. Head Coach Denny Hughes was named SLIAC Coach of the Year. He has helped the Blue Jays to an impressive 23-10 overall record and a 17-6 SLIAC Record.
Sophomore Tyler Branneky, a transfer from Quincy University, was named SLIAC Co-Newcomer of the Year. He was also named to the All-Conference First Team for third base. Branneky has played in every game this season and has recorded 16 putouts and 56 assists. He has a .500 on base percentage and a .663 slugging percentage. He currently leads the SLIAC with his .423 batting average for the season.
Senior pitchers Kevin Moritz and Tyler Ten Eyck have been named to the All-Conference Second Team for pitching. Moritz is 6-2 for the season and has pitched 44.1 innings. He leads the Blue Jays with 38 strikeouts and posts a 2.23 ERA. Ten Eyck is 7-1 for the season and posts a 2.30 ERA.
Sophomore Justin Whitaker and senior Matt Mallette were also named to the All-Conference Second Team. Whitaker is the first baseman for the Blue Jays and has played in every game. He posts a .400 batting average and has recorded 243 putouts and 8 assists during this season. Mallette is the right fielder for the Blue Jays and has started in 30 games this season. He has 45 putouts for the season and has a .330 batting average.
Freshman Deion Hughes and sophomore Cam Backes were named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference. Hughes was named to Honorable Mention for left field, but he also pitches for the Blue Jays. He has a .333 batting average and has recorded 50 putouts for the season. He has also pitched 17 innings and has a 1.06 ERA. Backes is a second baseman for the Blue Jays. He has recorded 42 putouts and 63 assists for the season.
Backes was also named to the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team. The SLIAC recognizes one individual from each team who throughout the season best displays the ideals of sportsmanship


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No, we are a 100% skateboard shop and we only allow skateboards in our skatepark.
Absolutely not!
Yes, we can issue a gift card purchase in any dollar amount you'd like.
No unfortunately we do not as we believe it is unsanitary and each skater should own their own helmet.
Yes, we take accept Discover card, Mastercard, VISA, and American Express as well as cash payments for entry to our indoor skatepark.
All wheels are sold in a set of four, unless packaged otherwise from the manufacturer.
All trucks are sold in pairs, prices are for a set of 2 skateboard trucks.
Decks purchased IN STORE ONLY come with a free sheet of black Mob or Jessup griptape. Any boards purchased online via our webstore do not come with free griptape. Mob or Jessup can be purchased in our online store for $5 per sheet if needed.
Not yet, while we are still working on it if you see something you really want - please contact us and we can figure something out.
Yes, all orders placed in our webstore before 3PM ships same day & after 3PM will ship next business day.
You can call us at the shop (216)-459-9000 or email email@example.com for more info on lessons.
Day passes in our skatepark are $7 and all skaters must have a waiver filled out prior to entrance to the skatepark. Waivers can be found on the home page of our website. Any skater UNDER the age of 18 must have a waiver completed by a parent or legal guardian and a helmet. Anyone 18 or over has a choice of whether or not they would like to wear a helmet.
-Cash or cards accepted.
At this time we are not hiring. We do have applications available on site if you would like to pick one up to fill out.
Please view our RETURN POLICY
All returned items must be new/unused in original condition when retuned. All labels or attached manufacturer tags must be attached in original condition within 14 days of purchase accompanied by sale receipt. If returning by mail the item must be post marked no later than the last day to be returned. Do not return items after 14 days they willnot be accepted and will be returned to sender COD.
You must contact Tri-Star Skate shop within 48 hrs of receipt of defective product. Customer must pay return shipping with tracking number along with product and receipt of sale to Tri-Star within 14 days of delivery. Once Tri-Star has determined the item is defective as described in written form a credit will be issued for return shipping fees. A replacement non-defective product will be shipped within 48 hours in most cases, Tri-Star does not guarantee stock and availability of same item.
Non Defective Products may be returned with 14 days by the customer with tracking number. A 20% restocking fee will apply to all items returned in new unused original condition. Items must be in original packing. A credit for return shipping will not be applied.
In the event should Tri-Star ship an incorrect product a return label will be issued for the item to be returned. Once the item has been received a credit will be issued or correct product will be shipped based on stock and availability.