Election fever sweeps Hong Kong

Chater Road is ablaze with different political colors on March 27, 2016.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Pre-election frenzy is sweeping the Filipino community in Hong Kong, days before the start of the month-long overseas voting on Apr 9.
Several groups are gearing up for the final Sunday of campaigning on Apr 3, with the biggest event likely to be staged by supporters of presidential bets Mar Roxas and Rody Duterte.
It is the first time Hong Kong is seeing fierce campaigning by supporters of several candidates since the first overseas voting was held in 2004, which could largely be due to the slim margins separating the four candidates for the top post.
Roxas’ running mate, Leni Robredo, is set to give their supporters a boost when she visits key Filipino haunts in Central and holds a dialogue with community leaders in Edinburgh Place. She will get support from Roxas’ wife and TV personality Korina Sanchez-Roxas, who will also be in town to attend a community event on Chater Road where she is expected to rally supporters.
A big public rally is also set to be held at the General Post Office nearby by Duterte supporters. Organizers are reportedly exerting efforts to get the Davao City mayor himself to grace the occasion, but as of this writing, only his trusted aide Manny Pinol and folk singer Freddie Aguilar are confirmed to attend. There is however, a plan to hook up with Duterte via telephone so he can address his Hong Kong supporters on site.
Supporters of vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos had earlier sent out invites via Facebook for a “Unity Rally” on the same day, but for unknown reasons, had scrapped the invitation.
A week earlier, the OFW and Marcos Loyalist International group staged a massive campaign rally on Chater Road, but their favored candidate failed to show up, despite announcements on radio the night before that he would attend. A few expressed disappointment at the no-show, but most of those who gathered for the whole-day event visibly perked up when they heard his voice via phone patch and amplified from the stage,
Senator Marcos told his hundreds of supporters who gathered at the event that he would continue fighting for their rights and welfare, in recognition of their great contribution to the country’s economy.
Marcos also promised to pursue efforts to provide scholarships to children of overseas Filipino workers, and asked why Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was not using its funds set aside for this purpose.
Also part of his advocacy is job generation in the Philippines, saying this will help OFWs to eventually be reunited with their family members back home.
Standing in for him was Cong. Anton Lagdameo, husband of popular actress Dawn Zulueta, who rallied the groups to continue their support for Marcos.
On the other side of Chater Road, hundreds of Roxas-Robredo supporters held their first General Assembly, their first show of force since official campaigning for the Philippine presidential elections got underway.
The two leading administration candidates had expressed an intention to join the gathering initially, but cancelled at the last minute due to scheduling problems.
Liberal Party leaders were, however, quick to assure the supporters that at least one of the two top bets would be in town the following Sunday.
Months earlier, Duterte had visited Hong Kong for fundraising events and meet supporters.– with a report from Marites Palma

OFWs overcharged by agencies urged to back up claims

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre

Remittance slips, bank payment slips and financing loan agreements are just some of the documents that Filipino domestic workers can submit to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to prove a claim of overcharging against their recruitment agency.
This was what new labor attaché Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN during an interview on the day he assumed his post on Mar 16.
De la Torre urged the workers to substantiate their claims so his office could go after the rogue agencies.
The Hong Kong government, meanwhile, reiterated that it does not require domestic workers to go through employment agencies.
The Labour Department also emphasized in a statement on Mar 15 that local agencies are allowed to charge no more than 10% of the first month’s salary of the helpers under Hong Kong laws. It urged those who have been overcharged by agencies to file complaints with the department.
“The debts owed by FDHs might be related to the charging of intermediary or training fees back in (their) home countries before they come to Hong Kong. This issue needs to be tackled at source,” the department said, adding it has been in talks with the Philippine and Indonesian governments on ways to alleviate the helpers’ debt burden.
In the interview, De la Torre said, “I would like the Hong Kong government and the Philippine Consul General to closely cooperate in substantiating these complaints, kasi if they remain to be complaints not written down, hindi namin maaksiyunan,” De la Torre said.
He also appealed to Filipino workers here who are facing such problems “to substantiate their complaints in the form of affidavits” so that he could discipline both the Hong Kong and Philippine agencies involved.
“Madali lang kasi because we have the authority to suspend the processing of their documents. Ang suspension itself of the agencies does not belong to us, it belongs to the POEA, but we can suspend the processing of their documents,” De la Torre said.
He started his first day at work by paying a courtesy call on Consul General Bernadita Catalla, then met his staff at POLO, before paying a visit to the Filipino Workers Resource Center, the Consulate’s shelter for distressed migrants.
During his visit to the shelter run by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, he interviewed some of the helpers who moved there after their contracts were prematurely terminated. One of them, a long-time resident named Amal from Nueva Vizcaya, had suffered a stroke.
“Ang sabi ko sa mga shelter wards natin kanina, ‘Mas gusto ko pang umuwi na lang kayo, sa piling ng inyong mga pamilya,” Dela Torre said.  
Coinciding with the new labatt’s arrival was a statement from the Hong Kong government, reiterating its commitment to protect the rights of foreign domestic helpers.
“Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world which grant statutory labour rights and benefits to FDHs, same as those enjoyed by local workers,” the statement said in response to media enquiries on foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.
 “Both the Government and the Hong Kong community do not tolerate any abuse or exploitation of FDHs. The Government has been encouraging FDHs to file reports with the authorities and to act as prosecution witness if they have been or suspect that they are subject to abuse or exploitation (e.g. underpayment of wages and non-granting of statutory holidays),” it said.
The government vowed that the authorities would thoroughly investigate all reported cases and promptly prosecute if there was sufficient evidence.

OEC outlets opened at Worldwide, Admiralty

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre and POLO staff at an OEC mobile site at the World-Wide House. 

By Vir B. Lumicao

Off-site processing of the overseas employment certificate or OEC was held at two busy hubs on Mar 27, a Sunday, for those trying to secure the all-important document during the long Easter break.
One of the OEC desks was set up on ground floor pedestrian walkway in Worldwide House in Central, while the second was at the Metrobank branch in United Centre in Admiralty.
The Worldwide desk was set up in cooperation with PLDT-Smart, which held an Easter event at the site.
Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre made the arrangements as part of his bid to shorten the queues for the travel clearance at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty Centre.
De la Torre said he was worried some Filipino workers would need to go home urgently during the Easter break, when both the Consulate and POLO were closed for four straight days, from Thursday, March 24 to Monday, March 28.
De la Torre said he was hoping to secure a permanent space in Smart’s office at Worldwide where applications for the OEC from those who are not in a hurry to go home can be filed.
“I-accept lang nila yung information sheet at yung payment and then dadalhin sa amin, iisyuhan namin ng OR sa OEC, ibabalik sa kanila and then yung worker babalik sa amin a few days later, yung mga hindi nagmamadali,” he added.
De la Torre said he might adopt the same arrangement for Metrobank’s branches across Hong Kong, while the bank is securing accreditation to accept OEC payments here.
In the Philippines, Metrobank is already authorized to receive OEC payments in all its branches, he said.
Currently, only i-Remit is accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to accept OEC payments in Hong Kong.
But POLO still has to resolve one issue with i-Remit: the company’s insistence that applicants print out their emailed confirmation reference number before it would accept payments.
The new labatt said he planned to bring up the matter with iRemit and point out that the trend now is paperless transactions.
He also said the POEA is now working on an app for androids that will allow domestic workers to just use their cell phones in applying for the travel clearance.
Apart from these measures, de la Torre is planning to move back the OEC issuance on Sundays to the Bayanihan Centre to put an end to the long queues at POLO during the peak travel season.
On a drizzly morning on Mar 20, more than 1,000 workers had already formed three long lines on the Admiralty Centre footbridge waiting for their turn to go up to the POLO offices for their OEC.
“Kaninang alas-otso pa ako nakapila rito,” said one woman who before 10:30am had already filled up an application form stamped with a 12 noon-1pm appointment.
A POLO staff said he began giving out the forms at 8am and estimated that he had distributed about 1,300 by that time. He said the lines remained long because those who had obtained their forms were reluctant to leave the queue.

Buses to be deployed again to bring voters to Bayanihan

Transport committee members discuss details of their plan.

Eight places have been designated as pick-up and drop-off points for voters on five Sundays of the month-long overseas voting in the Philippine general elections that will be held at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town starting Apr 9.
This was agreed on by a panel of Filipino business executives that met with Vice Consul Alex Vallespin at the Consulate on Marc. 15.
The group chose Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Ma On Shan, Sai Kung, Shek Kip Mei, Tai Wai, Choi Hung and North Point as the places where chartered buses will pick up voters and take them to Bayanihan Center.
Voters can use the same buses to return to their districts, but they would be dropped off only at the pick-up points.
The practice of busing voters to Bayanihan to encourage them to vote has been in place since the 2007 mid-term elections when the turnout dipped significantly, prompting overseas voting volunteers to look for ways to arrest the decline.
At least 40 buses will be hired to transport voters from these points during an eight-hour period, 7:30am to 3:30pm, on Apr 10, 17, 24, and May 1 and 8.
Other voters may, however, go there by themselves using public transport.
As of Mar 15, the executives had committed to sponsor 22 of the 40 buses needed to service the eight routes on the specified dates.
Among the companies that will sponsor the trips are AFreight, LBC, Prime Credit, Roberto V. Ongpin group, SMART-PLDT, CSL, the Philippine Bankers’ Club and Peya Travel.
Vallespin is hoping that more sponsors will come forward to fill the deficit.
The UP Alumni Association-Hong Kong agreed to post marshals at the pick-up points to shepherd voters who would take the buses, and assign a marshal on each of the vehicles.
No campaigning will be allowed on the buses but sponsoring companies can display their streamers on the sides of the vehicle and distribute flyers on board. – Vir B. Lumicao

People like politics of change, say Migrante bets

Martinez, Colmenares and Bachiller

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Voters are wary of the ways of “trapos”, or traditional politicians, and are eager to embrace the politics of change, according to Migrante Partylist candidates for the Lower House, Garry Martinez and Caring Bachiller.
People have got tired of the campaign tactics of trapos and now regard candidates with distrust because of recent controversies and scandals such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), said Migrante International chairperson Martinez.
It was only when they said they were from Migrante did the people realize the difference from the rest, as it was Migrante that brought the PDAF scandal into the open, he said.
Martinez, Migrante’s first nominee, and Bachiller, the second, visited Hong Kong for Migrante’s global “miting de avance” on Mar 6.
Both former OFWs, Martinez and Bachiller hoped they would get enough votes from Filipino workers around the world to win any of the 56 partylist seats in the House.
Martinez said Migrante needed to gain at least 1 million votes to get three seats in the House.
Each of the three nominees — the third being United Filipinos in Hong Kong founder and Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragado – were uncertain of getting the required 300,000 votes to win a seat.  “That’s a tall order right now because not all OFWs would be able to vote, especially in the Middle East. In Riyadh and Jeddah alone, the distances are great and it takes about seven to 12 hours’ drive from their worksites to the voting centers,” Martinez said.
Bachiller said one reason many OFWs would not be able to vote is their work situation.  “They just can’t go out of their work places if it’s not their day off, and many domestic workers in the Middle East have no day off,” she said.
Bachiller was a helper in Hong Kong for several decades before she returned home to continue working for OFW rights in Abra. She is officer-in-charge of ATIS Abra Migrants Desk, an NGO operating out of the Bishop’s House Compound in Bangued.
Both acknowledged the advantage of Hong Kong when it comes to voting, as the city is a very small place with efficient transport system, and adheres strictly to democratic processes like elections, a legacy of the British.
They also cited the great interest of OFWs here in political developments at home because of Hong Kong’s proximity to their homeland and their awareness of what’s going on there from day to day.
Back home, people have realized there are fakes among the 150 accredited partylist groups or large political parties have had wrongdoings, so they seek alternative groups. This is helpful to progressive partylist groups like Migrante, which is promoting the agenda of the people and of OFWs and is making an impact, he said. “We are not going to be complacent just because people already know us. Our objective is to further expose and advance the politics of change in the country. People are still seeking, there’s no more alternative, and this is the most tricky part of our campaign – to carry not just our platform but to advance the politics of real change.”

Money problems the biggest source of depression: doctor

Dr. Manio

By Daisy CL Mandap

Avoid taking out loans as this could lead to depression, and even suicide. This was the stern warning aired by Dr. Michael Manio in a lecture at the Consulate on Mar 20, held to mark International Women’s Day.
Dr. Manio, who is with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, was asked to speak on depression and suicide, in the wake of a rise in the number of Filipino domestic workers taking their own lives in the territory.
He said financial pressures are the biggest source of depression among migrant workers, who are already at high-risk for this ailment as they are working away from their loved ones who give them emotional support.
The depression, if left unchecked, could lead to suicide.
“Walang nagsu-suicide kung walang na de-depress,” he said.
Dr. Manio was joined at the lecture by Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, who heads the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section; and social welfare attache Beth Dy, who offered help for those who suffer depression.
Dr Manio said Filipino community organizations could help prevent suicides by ensuring that their members are not burdened with work, or pressured into raising money for the group.
“Refrain from doing money contests, especially beauty contests,” said Dr. Manio.
As part of a study that he did, Dr. Manio said he listened to staff of a financial company exerting pressure on a domestic worker who had defaulted on her monthly payment and was surprised by the extreme tactics used.
He advised organizations to help members de-stress by holding team-building exercises twice a year.
At a question and answer session that followed his lecture, Dr. Manio also acknowledged that forming a peer support group would also be useful in preventing depression and suicides.
From the medical viewpoint, he said depression is seen as a mood disorder that causes people to lose interest in everything around them. The person feels very sad, hopeless and unimportant, and often is unable to live in a normal way. The afflicted may even turn to excessive drinking, or other forms of reckless behavior.

When feelings such as these persist for weeks, the person affected should immediately talk to a friend, or seek professional help.
While depression can be genetic, meaning one is born pre-disposed to it, it could also be brought on by extremely stressful life events such as the loss of a loved one, or the combination of a series of mood-altering incidents.
Dr. Manio said depression comes in different types, including one that is persistent or major, or is due to bipolar disorder, season affected disorder (often induced by the onset of winter), psychosis, post-partum (after childbirth), or pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder.
Apart from financial strain, the other non-medical causes of depression are marital or relationship probles, loneliness, lack of social support, a recent stressful life experience, a family history of depression, early childhood trauma or abuse, unemployment or underemployment, and chronic pain.
To ease or prevent depression, Dr Manio said one’s diet should also be checked. Food that help elevate serotonin levels in the body like lacto bacilli drinks (such as Yakult), coffee (no more than four cups a day), dark chocolate, walnuts and fish and tuna are said to be good at lifting spirits.
Finally, he advised workers to hold on to their faith, whatever their religion, and to try to always keep a positive attitude to avoid depression.
“Suicide is not a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” said Dr. Manio. – with a report from Lenin Flores

500 people to form into RP flag to climax Kapangyawan

By Vir B. Lumicao

Preparations are under way for the Kapangyawan Friendship Festival on June 12 this year, with organizers saying there will be unique features in this year’s celebration of the annual event that was launched three years ago.
The technical working group for the event disclosed this in a meeting with Filcom leaders and media on Mar 13 at the Consulate public hall.
Kapangyawan is a colorful pageantry of native dancing, music and food to usher in the celebration of the 118th anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Organizers say that for the first time, festivities will include a choreographed performance by 500 dancers to form a giant Philippine flag as the highlight of the celebration.
The festival will also feature a 30-minute performance of the Hong Kong Police Marching Band, 10 minutes longer than last year. It will be climaxed with a regional food competition where the regional booth that sees its prepared menu consumed first wins and gets a cash prize.
As in the past three years, this year’s working group consists of the Consulate, Philippine Association of HK and Philippine alliance.
However, vice consul Alex Vallespin who heads the cultural section said the event is open to all Filipino community groups. “We do not choose which group is welcome, everybody’s welcome, everyone can participate,” he said.
As June 12, the exact date of the Philippine Independence Day anniversary falls on a Sunday this year, the celebration is expected to be especially big. “(This means) we can celebrate Kapangyawan festival with the entire Filipino community,” said Vallespin.
The celebration will open with an interfaith mass to be celebrated by Hong Kong’s archbishop, Cardinal John Tong, together with Fr. Jay Flandez. This will be followed by a parade, regional cultural dances, and street dance numbers to be capped by a band concert courtesy of the Hong Kong Musicians Union.
The parade participants comprising various Filcom groups will come from three points: Bus No 13 stop beside City Hall, Chater Garden and Chater Road, beside Alexandra House.
The parade will begin with a “Parade of Colors” by Black Panther Musang International Martial Arts Society and the Mindanao Federation band and Vizmin Music and Dance Ensemble right behind the flag bearers.
Cultural troupes of 120 dancers making up the Cordillera suite, Maria Clara suite, Southern Islands suite, and Barrio Fiesta suite will provide a colorful spectacle of costumes and dances in “Sayaw Pinoy”.
Up next will be the Hong Kong Police Marching Band which will play martial music for a segment that has been extended due to popular demand. An assortment of street dances will follow to promote festivals from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. For Luzon, it will be the Ilocos region’s Pamulinawen, Dinagyang for the Visayas, and Sinalag for Mindanao.
But the human monogram in which 500 dancers will form the Philippine flag along Chater Road will be the main spectacle. The celebration will be capped by a band concert before the program ends at 2:30pm to give way to a variety show.
Another first for this year’s celebration of Kapangyawan will be the regional food competition where groups from the country’s various regions will prepare and feed the hungry performers at eight booths on Chater Road.

121 Filipinos in Hong Kong prisons at end-’15, up 14%

There were 121 Filipinos in Hong Kong jails serving sentences for various offenses led by trafficking in dangerous drugs and theft as of the end of December 2015, an increase of 14.2% from the same period last year, according to figures from the Consulate.
The statistics, gleaned from visits of staff of the assistance to nationals section to the SAR’s prisons last year, was alarmingly dominated by drug trafficking cases, which climbed 23.3% to 37  last year, from 30.
Officers of the ATN section, however, explained that the data do not reflect the actual number of Filipinos sentenced to jail for both last year and 2014, as most of the prison sentences lasted less than a year.
So, there could be more Filipino inmates in any given month than in December, but if most of them were sentenced for only two to six months, they would not reflect on the figures culled as of the end of the year.
The dominance of drug trafficking convicts in the 2015 statistics carried over from the previous years as the offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $5 million fine.
But none of the mostly Filipino women who were in Hong Kong’s maximum security prisons last year for drug offenses was serving a life sentence.
The other crime with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment is murder, for which two Filipinos are now in jail. Theft was the second-most common offense by Filipinos in Hong Kong, with 29 persons locked up as of Dec 31, 2015, or 13% more than the 26 inmates as of the end of 2014.
Not all the offenders, however, are OFWs; about half of the number comprised thieves coming to Hong Kong as tourists to pick pockets or steal jewelry while others were torture claimants or Filipino residents here who were caught burgling homes or business premises, or shoplifting.
The third most common offense was breach of condition of stay, for which 12 Filipino domestic helpers were in detention as of end-December. They were found to have worked outside their contractual addresses or were doing illegal work.  This was double the number posted at the end of 2014.
Another offense, overstaying, landed 10 Filipinos in prison last year, compared with 6 in 2014.
There were 8 convicted burglars in 2015, compared with 6 in the previous year.
ATN officers gathered the statistics during visits to various prisons around Hong Kong. – Vir B. Lumicao

Two overstayers jailed for drugs, bullet possession

Two overstaying Filipinas were sent to jail on Mar 29 after pleading guilty to five charges involving drug-related offenses, violating their conditions of stay, and possession of a live bullet.
The first, Rema B. Cacabelos, was sentenced to a total of seven months in jail for a variety of offences, including drug possession and overstaying.
The second, Judy V. Bautista, was jailed for two months for possessing a live bullet, and seven months’ jail suspended for two years, for overstaying.
Cacabelos pleaded guilty to a charge of possessingf 2.67 grams of methamphetamine. She also pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of condition of stay for overstaying for about two-and-a-half years, and to a charge of possession of equipment intended for inhaling dangerous drugs.
Eastern Court magistrate Lee Siu-ho sentenced her to six months in jail for drug possession and three months for possession of equipment fit for inhaling drugs, both to run concurrently.
Cacabelos also received a two-month sentence for overstaying for more than two years. Lee said the first month would be served concurrently with the first sentence, thus bringing the total sentence to seven months.
The case report says the two Filipinas were arrested in a flat on Hennessy Road, Wanchai at 12:06am on Nov 12 last year during a police operation.
Armed with a search warrant, the officers raided the flat and found the drugs in two plastic bags. When police checked a cupboard, they found two test tubes and two glass beakers, one of which contained 1 milligram of methamphetamine.
The officers also discovered that the two women had overstayed a 14-day visa extension granted to them by the Immigration Department after their employment contracts were prematurely terminated by their employer.
Cacabelos arrived in Hong Kong on Apr 12, 2013 to work as a domestic helper but was dismissed at an unspecified date before her two-year contract expired. Bautista came  here on May 21, 2014 but was fired on Jul 10 last year.
Police arrested the two and took them to the station, where the unspent bullet was found in Bautista’s pocket. During investigation, she said the bullet was given to her by her mother, a former domestic worker in Hong Kong, as an amulet to ward off evil spirits. – Vir B. Lumicao

Overstaying mom jailed

A former domestic helper who overstayed in Hong Kong for more than five years so she could stick to her man was jailed for five months on Mar 18 after pleading guilty to breaching immigration laws.
Shatin Court Principal Magistrate Andrew Ma meted the sentence on Maria Erina dela Cruz, 49, after scolding her for failing to show up in court for a scheduled hearing a day earlier.
The prosecution said a warrant of arrest had already been issued against Dela Cruz for failing to turn up in court. Her $100 bail was also forfeited.
The prosecution had originally filed two charges of overstaying against Dela Cruz. The first covered the period of Aug 29 2005 to 28 June 2010, and the second, from June 6, 2010 to Feb 16, 2016.
But the prosecution applied to withdraw the first charge.
The court was told that Dela Cruz came to Hong Kong on Aug 29, 2005 to work as a domestic worker. She stayed and worked legally until Jun 6, 2010, after which she remained in the city without the authority of the director of Immigration.
During the time she lived in with a Pakistani man by whom she bore two children, a boy aged 10 and a girl, 9.
Dela Cruz approached the Immigration Department some time between 2006 and 2010 to register her two children. When officers saw that she had overstayed, they told her to report on Jul 20, 2010 but she did not show up. She surrendered on Feb 16.

Live-out maid to help probe of boss’ role in illegal work

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker has agreed to help in the investigation of her employer after she pleaded guilty in Shatin Court to an amended charge of conspiracy to defraud and another charge of breach of condition of stay.
Catherine P. Senica, 40, had just been led away from the court after being convicted of the charges on Mar 18 when Principal Magistrate Andrew Ma asked her duty lawyer if he had proposed to her the idea of helping in the investigation of her employer so she could get a lower sentence.
When the lawyer answered “no,” Ma instructed the lawyer to do so and delayed the sentencing.
Before the court took a break, the lawyer returned and told the magistrate that Senica had agreed to assist investigators. Ma then ordered the helper to return to the court on Apr 1.
The prosecution said investigation of the case was continuing, after it was found out that Senica was working two days a week in the pet shop at the instruction of her employer, Pang Chi-wai of Kowloon City.
Senica was arrested by Immigration officers who raided the QQ Fuku pet shop in the afternoon of Feb 16 this year after receiving information that a Filipina was working there illegally. The prosecution said she was found brushing the dog’s hair when the raiders arrived.
A record check revealed Senica was a domestic helper in Hong Kong, Under caution, she admitted Pang had instructed her to work on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:05pm to 10pm in the shop where she took orders from the person-in-charge, the employer’s sister.
The officers also discovered that the helper was not staying in the employer’s flat on 49 South Wall St as her contract indicated, but with her boyfriend in another flat at 45 Kai Tak Road.
The prosecution said Senica had admitted that she was aware of the condition of her stay after starting to serve in Pang’s household in 2013. But after discussing with Pang, she moved in with her boyfriend on Jan 8, 2014.
When Senica applied for an extension of her work contract on Jan 6, 2014, she declared that she would work and reside in the house of Pang, thus conspiring with her employer to defraud the Immigration Department, the prosecutor said.

BSK ribbon folding exhibit

Six members of Balikatan Sa Kaunlaran Hong Kong Council who received weeks of training in ribbon folding presented their handiwork to two experts at the group’s haunt on Admiralty Bridge on Mar. 13. The two judges who evaluated their work were Benita Nava and Emma Ballesteros from the Methodist International Church in Wanchai, who are both seasoned trainors of the craft. The students’ trainor,  Ela Pascua, said some of the finished products received top marks, and will be presented during the awards ceremony on July 19 aboard MV Star Cruises. The selected works will be chosen for any one of the following categories: Best in Bouquet, Best in Ribon Folding, Best in Creativity and Best in Motiff. There were, however, some which did not make the grade. Lufrecia Ruiz, BSK’s head of livelihood training, said some of the workshop participants needed to practice some more to improve their craft, but on the whole, they all managed to show that they learned the basic steps in ribbon folding. The event ended with a sharing of the lunch prepared by members who were celebrating their birthdays during the month. – Marites Palma

9th Lang-ay Day held in HK

By Marites Palma

Community dance.

Amid heavy showers and cold weather, natives of the 10 municipalities of  Mountain Province celebrated their 9th Lang-Ay Day at Edinburgh Memorial Garden in Central on Mar. 13.
This year’s celebration focused on the theme of preserving Igorot values and cultural traits.
Lang-Ay is held annually in Bontoc every first week of April. The word “Lang-Ay” is a native term which means sharing anything, including time, resources and talent.
A key highlight of the celebration is a street dancing competition among participating municipal associations, which are exhorted to exhibit their indigenous music, dance, costumes and other cultural symbols through a dance.
This year’s champion in the street dance competition was the group from Bontoc, followed by those from Bauco, and then Sadanga.
In the cultural dance presentation, Bauco performers who staged a traditional wedding tableau was named champion. Next came Bontoc with a similar theme, followed by Tadian which focused on the “San Kataguan,” or the planting to harvest season.
Guest speaker was Cyril Cacay, adviser of the Mountain Province Association and Cordillera Association of Macau.
He said in his speech that their indigenous practices and traditions were blessings from Kabunyan or God, who also gave them their lush mountains and crystal clear rivers. The dances and music performed on Lang-Ay Day are said to be ways of praising Kabunyan for the countless blessings they receive.
The program started with a colorful parade from all the municipalities of Mountain Province followed by a Eucharistic celebration led by Fr. Dwight dela Torre.

IsaFed holds Easter get-together

The 12 chapters of Isabela Federation basked in the heat of the sun as they celebrated Easter Sunday at Edinburgh Place in Central on Mar 27. The group tucked into delicious cho
colate eggs and held various contests to mark the occasion. In egg painting, Jones Chapter bagged the first place, followed by United San Manuel Association (Usmia) in 2nd, and Quezon chapter in 3rd. In the egg nest decoration, Burgos took the top slot, followed by Usmia and Quezon. In the egg and peanut eating game, Usmia won the first prize, then Roxas, while the 3rd place was a toss-up between Quezon and San Mateo. And what’s Easter without an egg hunt? Taking top honors in the traditional game which took place in Edinburgh’s vast park was Quezon, followed by Roxas, and then Burgos. Cash prizes were awarded to the winning team. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. It is traditionally associated with eggs, which are seen as a  symbol of spring, or of rebirth and reinvigoration after the harshness of winter – Marites Palma

Designers boost Bethune

Global fashion brand Kaprice joined forces with jewelry designer Gosia Orlowska, Carla Personal Styling and Pakt on Mar 17 to celebrate International Women’s Day and raise money for Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.
About a dozen women attended the benefit show organized by Kaprice’s Ana Briones, where clothes, jewelry and other designer items were put up for sale, with part of the proceeds going to Bethune House.
Bethune executive director Edwina Antonio was unable to join the event as she was attending to a sick client, but extended her gratitude to the women who extended help.
Celebrity photographer Xyza Cruz-Bacani, who was a former OFW herself, spoke of how she got to be where she is now, and of her own fundraising efforts for Bethune.
Also among the guests was The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap, who has been designated Bethune’s Ambassador of Goodwill not just for raising funds for the shelter, but also for raising awareness about its work and its needs.
Briones said the money raised from the charity event will be handed personally to Antonio sometime this month.

Porcelain painting, jewelry making lessons at PCG

. The porcelain painting students display their works.

Hong Kong-based Filipina artist and finance executive Gail Camaya-Hills held two consecutive art workshops at the Consulate as part of Pintura Circle’s program to provide livelihood training to overseas Filipino workers.
Hills first taught porcelain painting, an art form she is noted for,  on  Mar 13 at the Consulate. The full quota of 12 OFW students was quickly filled, with one Pintura friend, Naty Panuncialman and her two children, joining the lessons.
The result was a collection of fine porcelain artwork by the participants, that will be exhibited at the Consulate during Philippine Independence Day celebrations in June.
On Mar 20, Hills, in cooperation with another Pintura member, Janeth Weil, conducted lessons on jewelry making, also at the Consulate. Again, the reserved slots for 12 OFWs were quickly filled, with a few Filipino residents also taking part.

The jewelry class with Gail Hills (second left, standing)

What looked like an easy task of stringing pearls took all of three hours to complete, with Hills patiently teaching participants the intricate task of tying several knots after each pearl to make the strand extra strong.
Those who finished early were rewarded with a second lesson on doing bead tassels for their pearl chokers.
At the start of both lessons, Hills gave an overview lecture; first,  on the history of porcelain making, and second, on how pearls became highly prized accessories of women, from the time of Cleopatra until the present.
The two lessons were the second and third in a series of art workshops offered by Pintura Circle free to OFWs in Hong Kong, in cooperation with the Consulate’s cultural section. The first was a lesson on acrylic painting conducted by Grace Pineda Camacho on Jan 31, while the fourth and last will be on oil pastel painting, to be held on Apr 3 and handled by Irene Bernarte Haagen. Those who wish to take part may reserve their place by emailing cultural_hk@yahoo.com with “Art Workshop” as subject. – DCLM

PGBI Aguila marks anniversary with charity drive

True to their advocacy of helping people in need, members of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Incorporation (PGBI) – Aguila (or Advocator of Guardians United In Love and Achievers) Hong Kong Chapter celebrated their 4th anniversary recently with a fundraising for charity.  Those who got together for the special occasion on Mar 3 at Pier 3 (Discovery Bay Pier) in Central all pitched in and raised a total of $1,423 which was later donated to the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos for its charity work. The group also got four stickers for the Coins for Bethune Project, which is meant to raise funds for the shelter for distressed migrant women. The gift giving was led by the group’s founder, Gener Bain. The day-long celebration was made livelier by parlor games where other PGBI chapters took part, and the Filipino lunch by members and visitors. – Marites Palma

Mapa re-elected Lakbay Dangal head

Lakbay Dangal’s new officers led by Marites Mapa who was reelected as president, were inducted into office by Consul General Bernardita Catalla at the Consulate on Mar 20.
Several of the group’s  members came to witness the ceremony.
The other officers who took their oath were Gloria Petrola, vice president; Victoria Munar, secretary; Cecilia Eduarte, treasurer; Janeth Ann Floro, training coordinator; Ely Ambi, welfare officer and Thess Palma, P.R.O.
Lakbay Dangal is known as the only association in Hong Kong which promotes the unique history and diverse culture of Filipinos in Hong Kong.
The group conducts a tour for anyone interested in the life and times of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, during his brief stay in Hong Kong.
Lakbay Dangal was founded on Mar 14, 2010 by “running priest”, Fr Robert Reyes and had among its initial members, Soosot Zerrudo, who acted as mentor, and Alex Aquino and Girly Payne as advisers.
Those who want to join the group or inquire about its walking tour may call 68481641(Cecil) or 94167012 (Tess).  – Marites Palma

Women biggest source of remittance, says expert

By Marites Palma and Ellen Almacin

Seminar participants and speakers are joined by Consul General Bernardita Catalla.

Migrant women are the biggest source of remittances to the Philippines, according to a migration expert who lectured at the Consulate on Mar. 20 in celebration of International Women’s Month. Joy Tadios-Arenas of Wimler Hong Kong cited studies that showed 85% of all women who work abroad send money regularly to the Philippines, accounting for a large chunk of the US$25 billion total remittance from abroad that was recorded last year. Of this amount, US$780 million came from Hong Kong.
The staggering amounts indicate that up to 54 percent, or more than half of the total Philippine population, is sustained by money sent by overseas Filipino workers, said Tadios-Arenas.
She said her own study conducted between 2012 and 2014 showed that migrant women tend to associate remittance to maintaining relationships with family members or as a tool to repay a debt of gratitude (or utang na loob). Some, however, revealed an active financial management style.
Her study involved 50 migrant women who had families back home, are mostly mothers with more than three dependents, college graduates, and have been working in Hong Kong for more than five years. Three men working abroad were also included in the study.
The money they send home has led women to become empowered enough to set parameters in their remittance, including the selection of the beneficiaries, and determining how often money should be sent.
One of the mothers in the study reportedly said she chose her daughter to be the recipient because she couldn’t trust her husband anymore. Another decided to send money four times a month, fearing her family would spend it all if she sent it all in one go.
To ensure the money is allocated properly, the women have resorted to using the internet to check on projects which they paid for. One participant said she decided to do this because she had been fooled by her own family once into sending money that was not used properly.
Despite having financial freedom, however, many migrant women still resort to taking out loans.
Several reasons were cited for this, including an increase in the number of beneficiaries. Katherine de Guzman of the Philippine National Bank HK said that before, the only recipient for married women were their husbands, and for single migrants, their parents. Now other relatives are added, including children and other relatives, friends, and even alumni associations and investment schemes.
She said migrants should be particularly wary of so-called investments offered by friends and relatives, especially now that scams are very rampant.
Tadios-Arenas said her research showed that Hong Kong migrants took out loans for education, housing, going to Canada, buying a motorcycle or jeepney for the husband, gadgets and even to pay for weddings.
This indicates, according to her, that the loans turn the migrants into heads of the family, homebuilders and decision makers. The borrowed money is used to either manage their family members, or turn them into entrepreneurs or investors.
The downside is that they are forced to accept illegal part time jobs, suffer emotional and psychological stress, and are exposed to a huge risk of delay in repayment. This in turn results in even higher interest rates for their loan, and makes them vulnerable to being abused and harassed by debt collectors.
She exhorted the participants to avoid taking out unnecessary loans so they become truly empowered.
“Yes you are the new heroes of the Philippines. But be a financially wise hero, not a martyr,” she said. “Employ tough love, educate your family members, mind your action and decision, set parameters, criteria and restriction in remittance recipients and allocation.”
In closing the forum, Consul General Bernadita Catalla called on participants to spread the word about what they had learned so friends, relatives and family members would understand and see the real situation of migrant workers.

Ang OFW bilang nobelista

Vanesa Bañares

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Para kay Vanesa Bañares, hindi hadlang ang pagiging isang kasambahay upang makamit ang pangarap na makilala sa naiiba at higit na maipagmamalaki, kapaki-pakinabang at kagalang-galang na larangan – an
g pagiging isang nobelista.
Hindi tulad ng maraming malikhaing manunulat na animo’y nagkukulong sa kanyang toreng garing, si Vanesa ay nakatuntong sa lupa at nakikihalubilo sa mga tao bilang isang tagapayo ng mga may problemang kapwa kasambahay sa kanilang simbahan.
Ang sari-saring kuwentong-buhay na inilalahad sa kanya ng mga OFW ay nagsisilbing isang di-natutuyuang balon ng inspirasyon at materyales para sa kanyang mga katha.
May tatlong taon pa lamang na nagsusulat si Vanesa, ngunit sa loob ng panahong iyon ay nakatapos na siya ng 33 nobela. Ang 23 sa mga iyon ay nalathala sa Wattpad at mayroon nang 70,250 tagasubaybay.
Ang Wattpad ay isang diban ng mga nobela, tula, maikling kuwento at iba pang kathang-isip sa internet na nababasa nang libre ninuman.
“Marami na akong tagasubaybay, hindi lang dito sa Hong Kong kundi maging sa Pilipinas at sa iba pang mga bansa,”  sinabi ni Vanesa sa isang pakikipanayam sa amin sa isang malilim at tahimik na sulok sa Victoria Peak kamakailan.
Ang isa niyang akda, ang “Alex, Alex” halimbawa, ay mayroong 11,600 tagasubaybay at 403 boto ng mga mambabasang nagandahan sa nobela tungkol sa dalawang magkaklase sa high school na magkapangalan ngunit magkaiba ang ugali at nagkakaasaran, hanggang sa nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin.
Ang tema ay pag-ibig at ang inasintang mga mambabasa ay mga kabataan, ang wika ay magkahalong English at Tagalog at gumamit ng mga makabagong salitang-kabataan tulad ng “nerd,” “jock” at iba pa kaya habang binabasa mo ay para ka ring nakapaloob sa eksena, nakikisalamuha at nakikinig sa mga tauhan.
At palibhasa’y online ang nobela, maaring maglahad ng paghanga, magbigay ng opinyon o kumontra ang isang mambabasa sa mga pangyayari sa nobela.
“Kung minsan nga ay sinasabi nilang nabibitin sila sa ending kaya nagdaragdag ako ng isa o dalawang chapter,” sabi ni Vanesa.
Ayon kay Vanesa, hindi siya nag-aral ng pagsusulat, ni hindi rin naging mamamahayag noong siya ay nag-aaral pa. Kamakailan lamang siya nagsimulang magsulat ng mga kuwento at sumuong kaagad sa masalimuot at puno ng paghahamon na daigdig ng nobela. Ngunit napaghandaan daw niya iyon sa pamamagitan ng araw-araw na pagsusulat ng talaarawan.
“Mahilig din ako talagang magbasa ng mga libro,” sabi niya. “Noong araw pa, basta may mahagilap akong libro ay binabasa ko.”
Magugulat kayo kapag nalaman ninyong malayo sa pagsusulat ang tinapos ni Vanesa sa pamantasan at di-hamak na malayo ang kanyang karanasan sa pagtatrabaho.
Aniya, siya ay nagtapos ng agrikultura sa University of the East Caloocan dahil umano ang kanyang ama ay isang magsasaka. Ninais niyang pag-aralan ang siyentipikong kaalaman sa pagsasaka upang mapaunlad ang hanapbuhay na iyon ng kanyang angkan sa Bulid, Masbate, at ng daan-daan pang mga magbubukid sa nasabing probinsiya.
“Marami akong naging trabaho sa Pilipinas. Minsan sa resort, nagbabantay sa swimming. Kung hindi ganoon kalakas, nagdi-design ako ng wedding dress, yaong nilalagyan ng beads. nagtrabaho sa real estate, naging sekretarya…” kuwento ni Vanesa.
“Yaong ibaba ng opisina namin sa real estate ay patahian. Kapag wala akong ginagawa sa itaas ay bumababa ako at nakikialam sa tinatahi nila. Pakialamera ako talaga. Hanggang sa natuto akong manahi at magdisensyo ng mga wedding dress,” sabi ng 34-taong-gulang na nobelista.
Naisip naming ang kaalaman niya sa pananahi marahil ang pinagmulan ng kanyang disiplina at husay sa pagtatagni-tagni ng iba’t ibang mga tauhan at pangyayari upang makagawa ng kuwento.
Tulad ng iba pang manunulat, ang ideya o balangkas ng isang luwento ay bigla na lang kumikislap sa kanyang isip, at hindi niya iyon pinalilipas.
“Kung minsan ay naghuhugas ako ng pinggan, tapos biglang papasok sa isip ko ang ideya. Agad kong isinusulat iyon, kahit sa aking palad, para hindi ko malimutan.” Kapag nasimulan na niyang isulat ay parang batis na raw ang pagdaloy ng ideya mula sa kanyang isipan.
Isang malaking hamon ang pagsulat ng isang nobela, mula sa paggawa ng balangkas, paglikha ng mga tauhang gumaganap sa kanyang nobela at pagdetalye sa pagkakaiba ng kanilang mga pagkatao, pagtatagni-tagni ng mga sitwasyon at pangyayari, pagkukrus ng mga landas ng mga pangunahing tauhan, ang dramatisasyon o mga pag-uusap nila, ang tunggalian, at sa bandang huli, ang kasukdulan at paghupa ng kuwento.
Mula sa pagsusulat at paglalathala ng mga nobela sa Wattpad ay tumanggap siya isang araw ng isang email mula sa Maynila na nag-aalok na bilhin ang ilang nobela niya at ilalathala sa romance series ng Red Room, sa isang kundisyon – na gagamitin ang mga ideya niya para sa aklat sa romance pero iba ang susulat. Dagdag na kundisyon: hindi niya maaaring ilathala sa Wattpad ang nobelang nabili na sa kanya.
Sa ngayon, aniya, ay limang nobela na ang nabibili ng Red Room sa kanya at hindi pare-pareho ang presyo. Noong una, binayaran siya umano ng $4,500 sa nagustuhang nobela at iyon ay ibinili niya ng isang laptop. Tapos nasundan iyon ng tatlong nobela na binayaran sa kanya ng $13,800.
“Hindi ko akalaing kikita pala ako sa mga sinusulat ko,” ani Vanesa, na maybahay ng isang tricycle driver at ina ng isang 16-anyos na lalaki.
Hindi ba siya nababahala sa kasunduan sa Red Room na bibilhin ng naglalathala ng libro ang kanyang mga ideya at ibang pangalan ang ilalagay na may-akda?
“Ang sabi nila, hindi nila gagamitin nang buo ang aking nobela, gagamitin lang nila ang ideya ko, dahil kapag ginamit daw nila nang buo ang nobela ko ay pangalan ko na ang ilalagay nila at magiging exclusive writer na ako sa kanila,” paliwanag niya.
Masaya si Vanesa dahil kahit isa lamang siyang katulong, nagagamit niya ang libreng oras niya sa bahay ng among British upang magsulat. Mababait daw ang kanyang mga amo at dalawang batang anak ng mga ito. Minsan ay napansin raw ng amo na hindi umaabot sa kusina ang wifi connection sa bahay kaya nagpakabit ito ng router.
Limang taon na siya sa Hong Kong at hindi siya nagpapalit ng amo. Wala pa siyang balak bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil mas may panahon daw siya rito para sa pagsusulat at maayos ang kuneksiyon sa internet.
Gusto niyang samantalahin ang kalayaang iyon para pormal na mag-aral ng malikhaing pagsusulat at photography upang sa pagbalik niya sa kanyang pamilya ay may taglay siyang bagong kaalaman at makapagbagong-buhay doon bilang isang manunulat.

All set for overseas voting

Everything is ready for the month-long overseas absentee voting beginning April 9, with the Commission on Elections vowing to make the polls the cleanest in history.
In Hong Kong, Comelec’s Office of Overseas Voting has scheduled the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of the vote-counting machines (VCMs) on April 8 at the Bayanihan Center, where the voting will begin the next day. The Consulate General in Hong Kong received 10 vote counting machines and ballot boxes on March 1; the official ballots have yet to be delivered.
OOV figures showed that Hong Kong  has 93,049 registered voters.  The Comelec is targeting an 80-percent OAV turnout.
Testing of the machines started on March 13 at the Philippine consulates in San Francisco, California and in Madrid, Spain and in New York and Italy on March 18.
Worldwide, the Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Voting Secretariat recorded a total of 1,301,598 active registered overseas voters as of October 2015.
Bulk of the overseas voters is in the Middle East and Africa, with 550,000; followed by Asia and the Pacific with 350,000; then the Americas with 250,000; and Europe, 150,000. Around 30,000 seafarers have also registered for absentee voting.
As this developed, Comelec has vowed to make this year’s elections “the most transparent” in history, despite challenges brought about by the Supreme Court (SC) decision requiring the printing of voter receipts right after a voter casts his/her vote.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista, speaking at a hearing by the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System (JCOCAES), assured that the poll body has set in place safeguards as required by law to ensure transparency in the conduct of the balloting even if the SC ruling has “dealt a curve ball in our preparations for the upcoming elections.”
“But that is the past and we’re here to move on. We are looking to catch up,” he said, referring to the initial shock felt by poll officials after the SC issued the ruling requiring the printing of vote receipts.
“However, we would like to categorically announce to the committee and to the public that all the safeguards provided in Republic Act 8436 as amended by Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election Laws, all the safeguards will be in place for the 2016 elections and in fact even more,” Bautista said.
Comelec has been mulling the idea of moving the election date in the Philippines two weeks later, or on May 23, to enable adjustments in the voting process, including the printing of voter receipts. It also raised the possibility of starting the balloting earlier at 6 a.m. and extending it until 5 p.m., instead of the usual 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. voting period.
This came after SC ordered the Comelec to activate the voter verified paper audit trail feature of its vote counting machines in compliance with the Automated Election System Law. The Comelec is now procuring thermal paper, scissors and boxes for the printing and storage of the voter receipts.
SC ruling on Poe spawns suit
The Supreme Court ruling which allowed Grace Poe-Llamanzares to run for president has spurred new cases questioning previous SC decisions.
In one of the them, Regina Ongsiako-Reyes, unseated as Marinduque congresswoman for being a naturalized Filipino, questioned the SC’s Poe ruling despite questions in her citizenship and residency.
Reyes left her post after the Supreme Court affirmed last January the decision of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualifying her in the 2013 congressional election on the grounds that she was a naturalized American citizen.
Lord Allan Velasco, son of Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbiterio Velasco, had replaced Reyes at the House of Representatives.
In her petition to the SC, Reyes compared the high court’s ruling on Poe’s case and that of the disqualification case against her, noting that the high court allowed Poe to run for president even if her parents are unknown but declaring her (Reyes) as ineligible for a congressional seat when she is “a natural-born citizen, with a birth certificate, whose parents are Filipino citizens and are known public servants.”
Reyes is a daughter of former congresswoman Carmencita Reyes and a sister of Edmund. Her father was a commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration during the Marcos administration.
Reyes asked why the high court allowed a foundling who reacquired Philippine citizenship, like Poe did, to seek the presidency after earlier disqualifying a natural-born candidate in lower elective posts with previous dual citizenship and known parents, like Reyes does.
“If Poe-Llamanzares is allowed to run, should not, with more reason that Gina O. Reyes be allowed to run?” Reyes said in a statement.
Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo has earlier warned in his dissenting opinion that the controversial SC ruling on Poe’s case would open the floodgates of election protests as it reversed the jurisprudence set in earlier poll cases.
The Comelec has also appealed the SC ruling, noting that only seven of the 15 justices voted that Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen, which is not a majority vote.

Catholic church won’t endorse bets
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said it is not endorsing any candidate for any position in the May 9 elections as it denied posts that have become viral on social media claiming support for at least two presidential candidates.
In a post on the Papal Visit - Philippines 2015 Facebook page, which it manages, the CBCP Media Office belied a post claiming that Pope Francis issued a statement "admiring" Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
"May we inform the public that the statement from the Pope is not true," the clarification read. "It came from a satire piece and is fake."
It added: "We beg everyone to please stop spreading this and to please cease from maliciously using the Pope for political gains."
Another post called for "block voting" of Catholics for administration standard bearer Mar Roxas and his running-mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Money-laundering scandal prompts calls for reforms

Maia Santos-Deguito, the manager of the bank’s Jupiter Branch where the money transactions were processed, testifies before the Senate.

The money-laundering scandal that saw $81 million in stolen funds disappear after passing through accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has rocked the financial sector amid fears that remittances to the country would become restricted.
At RCBC, its president Lorenzo Tan has gone on leave as the bank tries to come to terms with its involvement in the heist. The bank has fired Maia Santos-Deguito, the manager of the bank’s Jupiter Branch where the money transactions were processed, and her assistant, Angela Torres, for falsification of commercial documents and breach of policies to facilitate the laundering of $81 million in stolen money.
“Other branch and bank officials are expected to be meted out various sanctions ranging from termination to suspension in the coming days when internal investigation is expected to be completed,” the bank said.
The transaction, discovered in February, was part of a plot to steal US$1 billion from Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of Bangladesh, from its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
A US$850-870 million transfer was prevented by the banking system but four requests by the hackers were granted; $81 million was transferred to the Philippines on February 5. The money was later transferred to Hong Kong. Another request to transfer $20 million to Sri Lanka was granted.
The Senate has started an investigation into what was considered as the biggest bank heist in recent history by hackers reportedly from China, and this could lead to reforms in the money laundering law, such as including casinos and real estate agents under the watch of the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said Deguito “is a potential state witness against some people who are more guilty.” Deguito has claimed that businessman William So Go demanded 10 percent of the stolen  $81 million.
Sen. Sergio Osmena, chairman of the Senate committee on banks, said Deguito told senators Wong asked her to open the bank accounts where the $81 million was wired, with the instruction to use the services of foreign exchange remittance company Philrem Services Inc.
 AMLC has filed money-laundering charges against businessmen Kam Sin Wong, a.k.a. Kim Wong, and Weikang Xu before the Department of Justice.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., who heads AMLAC, has vowed to make the Philippines “inhospitable” to money launderers and other groups specializing in financial fraud.

Don’t belittle OFWs’ role in society, Colmenares says

By Vir B. Lumicao

Presidential and senatorial candidates should not ignore the importance of overseas Filipino workers in shaping the Philippine society, according to human rights lawyer and Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Neri Colmenares, who is running for a seat in the Senate.
Colmenares made the statement as he bared his three OFW-centered advocacies that he would take to the Senate if he was elected as senator in the May 9 national elections.
These are to fight for an end to unjust government impositions on the overseas workers, advocate better treatment of the country’s so-called modern-day heroes, and to push for industrialization so that people will have decent jobs at home and do not have to go abroad to work.
Colmenares was interviewed by The SUN on March 13 during a brief visit to Hong Kong for the global “miting de avance” of Migrante International on Chater Road, Central, the next day.
“It should be clear to everyone, including the ‘presidentiables’ and ‘senatoriables’, that the OFWs have a significant role in shaping the society,” said Colmenares.
Colmenares was an activist in the martial law era and, as a human rights lawyer, he became involved in many issues concerning overseas Filipino workers. But he said he got a clear view of the three problems dogging the workers when he became a congressman.
He said he authored resolutions, including one criticizing the opening of balikbayan boxes to look for smuggled items and the “laglag-bala” or bullet-planting scam that victimized several returning OFWs.
“After you call them new heroes, you call them smugglers, open their boxes, treat them as gunrunners, and drop bullets in?” he  said.
He cited what he called unjust government impositions on OFWs, such as the overseas employment certificate; the missing Overseas Workers Welfare Administration fund, and the low quality of service that the country’s embassies and consulates provide OFWs.
He said annual OFW remittances have risen to $26 billion, but the workers are treated dismally, as seen in the measly P100 million that went to the workers legal assistance fund for 2015.
Colmenares said he fought for a bigger budget when the government allocated P30 million for the fund, and it was raised to P60 million. In the current Congress, he said he has a resolution seeking a P1 billion budget for the fund.
He said his second advocacy in the Senate would be to lobby against the shabby treatment of OFWs abroad.
“The problem with the government is that out embassies and consuls seem to be afraid to stand up for the rights of our workers in other countries,” he said, citing the case drug trafficking convict Mary Jane Veloso who is on Death Row in Indonesia.
Veloso claimed that Philippine embassy staff in Jakarta neglected her when her case was being heard and Colmenares said it was the National Union of People’s Lawyers of which he is a member that fought to gain reprieve for the Filipina.
“Parang problema pa ng mga OFW natin ang sinuungan nila na mga kaso roon, ang mga pang-aapi, ang mga rape at pagpatay. Hindi sila (government people) tumitindig in favor of the OFWs. Yun ang aking pananaw at marami akong pruweba. Pangalwanag advocacy ko yan sa Senado,” Colmenares said.
He promised to push for industrialization to generate jobs that pay decent salaries so Filipinos won’t have to look for work overseas to support their families.
“I’m against the labor export policy. The government should not treat our people like products for export,” Colmenares said.
He urged the abolition of the OEC and unjust fees and vowed to fight for OFW protection from oppression abroad and fight in Senate for decent jobs in the Philippines.
On illegal and high fees that recruiters collect from workers, Colmenares accused the government of turning a blind eye to the problem “because it intends to continue labor exportation and because of corruption”.
“Kasi gusto nila ang $26 billion bawat taon, kaya hindi nila mino-monitor ang mga agency, kailangan nila iyan,” he said, referring to the annual OFW remittances that provide financial stability to the country even when its neighbors are reeling from global economic downturns.
Colmenares, who fought for the passage of a bill increasing Social Security System pension by P2,000 a month, only to be vetoed by President Benigno Aquino III, said he would continue to fight for its passage.
On the Supreme Court ruling that cleared the candidacy of Sen. Grace Poe for president, Colmenares said nothing in the Constitution states that a foundling is not a Philippine citizen, and that there is an international law that declares that all foundlings are citizens of the country where they are found.
He said the Supreme Court backed Poe on the citizenship issue because of the principle that her accusers should bear the burden of proving she is not a Filipino, and not vice versa.

Demokrasya

Ni Ate Kulit

Kamakailan, isang tagpo sa Chater Road ang pumukaw sa aming puso. Sa kahabaan ng isinarang kalsada (dahil Linggo noon)—mula sa tapat ng Worldwide House hanggang sa dati na nating kilala bilang Legco—ay tatlong grupong politikal ang nagpakita ng kani-kanilang kulay: asul at pula ng grupong maka-Marcos, berde ng grupong Makabayan, at dilaw ng mga sumosuporta sa Roxas-Robredo. Kanya-kanyang kulay, hindi lamang ng damit kundi ng paniniwala.
At siyempre, palakasan din sila ng kani-kanilang sound system. Walang tumalo sa grupong maka-Marcos, dahil mayroon silang stage at mamahalin pa ang kanilang nirentahang gamit. Ang dalawa pang grupong nabanggit ay may baon namang maliliit na portable stereo na de-baterya. Kung sa stage ay may beauty contest, sa kabilang dulo naman ay may pasayaw ng Zumba.
Nakatutuwang pagmasdan ang mga grupong ito: abala sila sa kani-kanilang gawain, pero hindi nagkakapikunan. Nakatutuwa dahil ipinapakita nito ang pagpapahalaga ng mga Pilipino sa isang haligi ng demokrasya: ang karapatan ng bawa’t isa na humawak sa kanya-kanyang paniniwala, at ipagtanggol ito sa pamamagitan ng halalan.
At nakatutuwang makita ito sa Hong Kong dahil, kung tutuusin, dito rin unang nag-ugat ang mga prinsipyong pinagmulan ng mga institusyong tanggap na natin bilang sangkap ng isang demokrasya.
Hindi ba ang Hong Kong ang naging base ng mga Pilipinong unang nag-aklas laban sa pananakop ng Espanya? Hindi ba sa Hong Kong din unang ginawa ang watawat ng Pilipinas? At hindi ba dito rin nagsilbi bilang OFW—bilang isang doktor sa mata—ang ating pambansang bayaning si Dr. Jose Rizal?
Gaya ng mga Pilipinong naka distiyero (o exile sa Inggles) noong pagsasara na ng ika-labinsyam na dantaon, tayo ngayong kasisimula pa lang ng ika-dalawampu’t isang dantaon ay nagsisikap ding mailuklok ang gusto nating tagapamahala, habang naghihintay ng pagkakataong makauwi sa ating bansa.
Kaya naman napansin namin ang mga sulyap na may halong paghanga mula sa mga nakaka-intinding taga rito. Ang karapatan na kanilang pangarap pa lamang ay tinatamasa na natin ngayon.

Never again

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

Thirty years ago we got rid of a dictator. That ended 20 long years of iron-fist and kleptocratic rule, when tens of thousands of Filipinos were either tortured, raped or killed, and the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos and his family amassed fortune estimated to be as much as US$10billion.
Over the years, several suits were filed against Marcos and upon his death, his estate, mostly for human rights abuses committed during
his martial law.
In a landmark case, the U.S. Supreme Court awarded about US$600 million of Marcos money hidden in Swiss bank accounts as compensation to the victims or heirs of those who were persecuted or killed during those dark days in our history.
But there were other cases. In one, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Marcos and his eldest daughter Imee, now Ilocos Norte governor, liable for the apparent torture and death of young Archimedes Trajano, who boldly raised a question that irked the dictator’s daughter during a school forum. Trajano’s mother Agapita was awarded more than US$4 million compensation for her son’s death.
Several cases were filed, too, that resulted in a U.S. court turning over to the Philippine government a cache of jewelry that Imelda had brought with her when the Marcoses were forced to flee to Hawaii in 1986. The jewelry collection, estimated to be worth US$21 million, is now up for auction.
Two other cases involving two other sets of Imelda’s fabulous jewelry collection that are worth far more, are still being contested.
According to the government body tasked with recovering the Marcos wealth, many other assets remain unaccounted for, including 146 paintings by masters worth tens of millions of dollars.
One of them, a Monet, surfaced in New York four years ago when Imelda’s former aide, Vilma Bautista, was charged for its illegal sale. Three other paintings listed as among the Marcos assets were also found in her possession.
There were also luxury apartments and other prime real estate in New York that had been tracked down and sold by the Commission on Good Government. Another find was a ruby and diamond tiara in a Swiss bank’s vault.
The fortune they amassed was so boggling that Marcos has gained notoriety as the world’s second most corrupt leader, next only to Indonesia’s Suharto.
What do these cases tell us?
That the horrific abuses and plunder committed during Marcos’ dictatorship are no figment of anyone’s imagination.
That these are the very reasons why the Philippines continues to hobble as the “sick man of Asia”, from being one of the region’s strongest economies before Marcos took over.
That we should never, ever again, let another Marcos, especially someone complicit in the excesses and abuses, assume a post just a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Neither should we elect, or hold up for adulation, someone who tries to cash in on our collective frustration at the post-Marcos woes by hinting of the return of the iron-fist rule.
We should not forget that it is precisely this brand of leadership that led to many of the problems that we continue to experience to this day.
Neither should we forget that it was Marcos’ legacy of corruption and profligacy that allowed at least two other presidents who followed him to amass wealth while in power, pushing us closer to the brink of bankruptcy and hopelessness.
If we are to completely rise from the nightmare of the Marcos years we should not try to revise our history and obliterate the collective grief of the tens of thousands of Filipino patriots who suffered during those years.
We should not allow Bongbong Marcos to become the country’s next vice president, and reject anyone else who tries to hold up the ousted dictator as the paragon of effective leadership.
We should not let anyone make us forget.
Never again.

Rich and generous

By Francisco J. Colayco

Allow me to greet all of us a very Happy and Blessed Easter!  Easter is again an appropriate time to review our generosity.
Some of the richest people in the world are also the most generous. Is giving/charity/donation, etc. something you believe to be also a healthy lifestyle of any financially successful individual or organization?
Some of today’s super rich people who are truly admirable are the likes of Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.
Both of them give so much to charity, in fact, to the “detriment” of their own children, to a certain degree. They specifically plan to limit the amount that their children will inherit and give the bigger bulk to various charitable and research developmental options they choose.  Of course, there is so much for them to bequeath to their children so that the children will not really feel it if they don’t get everything.  Nevertheless, it is a more common practice of the super-rich to give more to their children as a priority and balance to others.
I may not emphasize the spiritual aspect of growing our wealth when I talk or give seminars and write books and articles.  This is because 99% of those who read or listen to me are eager to learn not only for themselves but also for their family and for those who are dear to them.  People with this kind of mindset, I believe, are already in the sharing mode.  They are, by nature, generous.  The 1% who are not generous will learn eventually.  I am a strong believer of the principle: “The more you give, the more you receive.” And “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
But how will you give if you do not have anything to give?  Precisely, this is the basis of my advocacy to teach how to grow, protect, spend wisely so that we can SHARE.
If you are one of those who can understand the concepts and basics of saving and investing, you are blessed because you can use what you learn.  Some have a more difficult time and need more support and encouragement.  Nevertheless, it is everybody’s obligation to learn to grow their wealth precisely because we cannot share what we don’t have.
Companies that have the opportunity to help their employees should do so.  They help their employees become financially educated and not dependent on credit cards and credit union loans.
Saving is really PAYING YOURSELF FIRST.  When you pay yourself, you are saving your money instead of paying the storeowner or the product manufacturer.  Savings is your expense to buy a good future.  It is now “ON SALE” because you are being given special offers to learn how to improve your Savings Expense.  Don’t let such an important item on sale pass you by!

Francisco J. Colayco is an entrepreneur, a venture developer and financial advisor.  He is the founder of Colayco Financial Education and the Kapatiran sa Kasaganaan Service and Multipurpose Cooperative which have developed businesses in banking and finance, real estate, food, agriculture and others.  He is the author of seven bestsellers in the Pera Palaguin Series, the latest of which is now available in ookstores:  “Wealth Reached. Money Worked. Pera Mo, Pinalago Mo!” Find his works and catch him on TV and radio.  Check out: www.colayco financialeducation.com, www.franciscocolayco.com, www.kskcoop.com, FaceBook and Instagram.

Justice heads meet on jail transfer pact

By Vir B. Lumicao

The Philippine government has reportedly taken steps to revive a long-delayed agreement with Hong Kong on the reciprocal transfer of prisoners in both territories.
Sources in the Consulate told The SUN this was the purpose of Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas when he held talks with his Hong Kong counterpart, Rimsky Yuen, on Mar 21.
Caparas arrived the day before and held a meeting with Consul General Bernardita Catalla and other officers of the Consulate.
An insider said Caparas was to meet Yuen on reviving the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners Agreement (TSPA) to let Filipinos sentenced to long jail terms to serve out the remaining part of their sentences in Philippine jails.
The agreement also allows for the reciprocal transfer of Hong Kong inmates in Philippine jails.
Caparas slipped out of Hong Kong shortly after the top-level talks. Both sides declined to disclose what was discussed during the meeting.
Vice Consul Fatima Quintin, head of the assistance to nationals section, said the visit was “low-key”, implying that the Philippine official simply wanted to pay a courtesy call on his Hong Kong counterpart.
A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Department of Justice also declined to disclose details. “Due to confidentiality and as a matter of protocol, in general we do not disclose the discussion between colleagues of the Department of Justice  (including the Secretary for Justice) and visiting officials,” the spokesman said.
The TSPA between Hong Kong and the Philippines was to have taken effect in 2002 but was delayed by disputes between the Philippine justice department and Congress on legal points.
A woman serving 12 years in Tai Lam prison for drug trafficking was the first Filipino to be approved for a transfer, but was released after serving her sentence.
Another Filipino, Mario delos Reyes, who is serving a life sentence for murder, was approved for TSPA but remains in Stanley Prison.
Caparas, who used to be a justice undersecretary, was named acting head of the department after his boss, Leila de Lima, stepped down.

Iyak ng tagumpay: A success story from Canada

By Bhing A. Valin

Part 1

Ang may-akda ay isang residente sa Canada, na dumating doon bilang caregiver 10 taon na ang nakakaraan. Ito ang kuwento ng kanyang pagpapakasakit para maging ganap na residente, at madala doon ang kanyang pamilya. Bago tumulak patungong Canada, si Bhing A. Valin ay nagtrabaho sa Hong Kong ng 10 taon, at naging isa sa mga masisipag na manunulat para sa The SUN.


May 22, 2014, kasama ko ang mga alaga kong sina Morgan, 4 at Evan, 2, sa Vancouver International Airport. Matiyaga kaming naghihintay, habang daan-daang tao ang naglalabasan sakay ng eroplano na nagdala sa apat na miyembro ng aking pamilya galing sa Pilipinas.
Noong una, pigil na pigil ako sa pag-iyak dahil kinakantiyawan ako ni Morgan: “Somebody is going to cry, I tell you”.

Downtown Vancouver (Photo: city government)

Sagot ko naman, “No, I won’t cry, but here I am, choking with so much intensity... because finally, I am gonna see my family again after almost six years of waiting!”
Ganito kong kausapin ang aking alaga, na parang isang matanda gayong musmos pa ito. Iyon ang aking paraan ng pakikipag-usap sa mga bata para umakto rin sila na parang adult sa pakikipagtalastasan kanino man. Epektibong epektibo yon sa aking obserbasyon sa lahat ng inalagaan ko mula pa sa Hong Kong  hanggang dito  sa Canada.
Habang naghihintay kami sa pagsulpot ng aking pamilya, sandaling nagbalik-tanaw ako  sa panahong nag-aayos pa ako ng papeles ko mula sa Hong Kong papunta sa Cranbrook, British Columbia, ang una kong tinirhan sa Canada.
Pebrero, 2006 nang sabihan ako ng amo kong Australyano na nakatira sa Mid-Levels na -release na nila ako sapagka’t buntis na ang asawa niya at hindi na ako kakailanganin sapagkat hihinto  na rin ito sa  pagtuturo ng ballet.
Hmm, sounds reasonable, ika ko. Pero humirit ako: “Would you mind not to issue a release letter for me yet? I will go home and pick up all the documents I will be needing to apply to Canada. Just give me two months and I will be out of here!”
Halos mahalikan ko ang bumbunan ng amo ko nang pumayag siya. Binigyan pa ako  ng pamasahe pauwi ng Pilipinas at pabalik ng Hong Kong, plus allowance na HK$3,000 at  Php 2,500 na sobra nila noong namasyal sila sa Boracay. Ang saya ng lola mo!

Bhing A. Valin

Pagbalik ko ng Hong Kong ay inayos ko kaagad  ang papeles ko. Ako mismo ang nakipagtalastasan sa amo na kumukuha sa akin. Wala pang isang linggo ay dumating na ang “labor market opinion” (LMO na LMIA na ngayon) na nagpapatunay na maari akong magtrabaho sa Canada. Ako na din   ang  kumuha ng aking visa sa Canadian Consulate, dalawang linggo bago matapos ang ibinigay kong taning sa mga amo ko.
Sumulat ako sa consulate at sinabing ako ay nagbitiw na sa aking trabaho  kaya minadali nila ang issuance ng aking visa. Dahil wala akong ibang paraan para mabayaran ang agency fee ko, isinanla ko ang tatlo kong time deposit certificates sa PNB na iniingatan ko para sa tatlo kong anak. Maigi na lang at may natira pa ako kay panganay.
Dali-dali  akong nagpaalam  sa mga amo ko at tuwang-tuwa naman sila. Pinabaunan nila ako ng kanilang mga yakap at halik at isang tabong luha. Ayaw naman akong bitawan ng  anak nila dahil halos dalawang taon akong “love of his life”. Wala na daw siyang kalaro, kasama sa panonood ng TV, at karaoke buddy. Binaon ko papunta ng Canada ang magagandang ala-alang iyon.
Ang buhay ko sa Cranbrook sa loob ng 15 buwan ay bittersweet. Napakalaki ng bahay ngunit malungkot. Kalahating kilometro ang layo mo sa unang kapit-bahay. Kung nasa itaas ka ng bahay ay mistulang nasa isang kaharian ka sa tuktok ng burol.
Mabait sa una ang Hungarian na amo ko, ngunit paglaon ay lumabas din ang natural. Bawal humawak ng telepono pag nagtatrabaho ka, pero puwede kang mag-internet pagkatapos. Bayad ako para sa walong oras na pagtatrabaho pero laging lampas sa siyam na oras bago ako matapos. At dahil nakatira ako sa bahay nila, hindi maiwasang pati Sabado at Linggo ay nahihila ako ng walong taong gulang nilang anak, habang ang mag-asawa ay nakatutok sa kambal nilang baby.
Sa isip ko, “Hay makisama ka para magtagal ka.” Panay din ang dasal ko na mabigyan ako ng ekstrang trabaho para may panggastos at makalimutan ang lungkot.
Sa kalaunan ay natuklasan ko na hindi lang ako ang caregiver sa mapanglaw na lugar na iyon na may ganoong panalangin, lalo na at nasa simbahan kami. Kaming limang Pilipina na nandoon ay iisa lagi ang dinarasal, ang masubsob sa trabaho dahil kapag nasa kuwarto na kami at nag-iisa, kailangang may nakahanda nang malaking tuwalya dahil tiyak na babaha ang luha.
Dininig naman ni Lord ang dasal ko na iyon! Binigyan ako ng ekstrang trabaho, kaya nadagdagan ang kita ko at nabawasan ang aking gastos dahil hindi na ako nakakagala masyado at nadadala sa mga tukso sa mata.
Unti-unti ko nang nabayaran ang mga nagastos ko  sa  pagpunta rito sa Canada.