POLO suspends Emry’s over job recruitment to UK, Canada

Notice of closure posted on the door of Emry's Worldwide House shop.

By Daisy CL Mandap

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office has suspended the processing of foreign domestic helpers’ contracts by Emry’s Employment Agency, amid reports the biggest recruiter of Filipino maids into Hong Kong was offering jobs in Britain and Canada.
Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre said he ordered the suspension on June 20, and asked  Emry’s to explain in writing within 5 days why it should not be penalized for violating Philippine laws against third country deployment.
But Emry’s proprietor Ester Ylagan reportedly asked for a further 14 days to explain their side, and also asked for a copy of the law against the said recruitment practice. “If she (Ylagan) does not explain satisfactorily, we will endorse the case to POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Authority) for either suspension or cancellation (of accreditation),” said de la Torre.
In the meantime, he issued the sternest warning yet against the recruitment of Filipinos for jobs outside Hong Kong.
In a Facebook post on his own wall and POLO on June 27, the labor chief said:
“OFWs WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THIRD COUNTRY RECRUITERS OR WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID ARE ADVISED TO BRING THE MATTER TO THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL, OR THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS LABOR OFFICE (POLO) OR TO THE POLICE AUTHORITIES”.
In another post on the same day, Labatt de la Torre reiterated that third country deployment is illegal under Philippine laws. He warned overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong against agencies that “advertise for jobs in the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries”.
He also told The SUN in an interview that he would personally draft the formal complaint by job applicants, and endorse the same to the Hong Kong Labour Department and the HK Police, if they would come to his office for help.
POLO’s move came as more Filipino helpers sought a refund of up to $15,000 they had paid directly to Emry’s owner Ester Ylagan for the promised jobs in London and unspecified parts of Canada.
Ylagan herself admitted to The SUN in an earlier interview that the number of applicants was around 500, and that she did not issue any receipt for the money they paid, but only noted each payment in a ledger she was keeping.
She also claimed to have remitted all the payments, around HK$2 million in all, to her partner in London she knew only as “William Clinton James” and “William Clinton Erich”. But she did not offer proof of any remittance being made to the person. Curiously, Ylagan also said she had not met the said person, and was communicating with him only via email.
A cursory check on FB showed recently opened acounts for each name, but no profile pictures apart from some random shots of Filipino workers who were supposedly working at “London Bridge Hospital”. Another shot was of Filipinos lining up at the visa counters of HK Immigration.
Following an inquiry by The SUN on why the owner of the accounts was not showing his face, both were locked so public posts could no longer be made. The SUN’s comment was also deleted.
On Sunday, June 26, at least two applicants successfully got their money back after agreeing to sign a quitclaim offered by Ylagan, but the others were not as lucky.
A video recording surreptitiously made by one of the applicants and shown to The SUN shows Ylagan telling those asking for their money back that they were giving up on the chance to improve their lot by quitting ahead of the promised deployment by October.
Two of those who insisted on a refund were made to feel remorse.
“Make my day...Alalahanin ninyo, sa ka-kawithdraw ninyo I lost money. Masaya ba kayo ng ganyan? Na I worked for your documents, tapos wi-withdrawin ninyo? But if you are happy like that, sige. Kasi ang pera ninyo, naipadala ko na,” Ylagan told them,
De la Torre said that so far, POLO has brokered the return by Ylagan of between $10,000 and $15,000 paid by eight other Filipino job applicants.
All were also asked to sign the quitclaim affidavit with Ylagan, which stated that the money they paid was for the processing of a “Foreign Immigrant Clearance Certificate” and “Foreign Employment Certificate”.
However, checks made by POLO with the Philippine Embassy in London and by The SUN with the Philippine Consulate in British Columbia, Canada, showed that there were no such documents.
Philippine officials at both posts also warned of the strict immigration rules applied to foreign workers seeking jobs there, which have become even more stringent lately. In Canada, for example, no placement fee should be collected from a job applicant, and no job application could be processed without a labour market impact assessment (LMIA, formerly LMO) being obtained beforehand.
In both countries, only a very limited number of posts are available, and they are mostly for caregivers or nurses. Factory or low-grade office work, which were among those reportedly promised by Ylagan, are definitely not available for imported workers.
While the case is being investigated, Labatt de la Torre warned Ylagan against continuing the recruitment, but this was apparently not heeded. A number of those who trooped to Worldwide House where Emry’s office and that of its affiliate business, Mike’s Secretarial Services, are located, reported seeing Ylagan accepting more applicants for the apparently non-existent jobs.

New envoy eyes intellectual ties with HK

By Vir B. Lumicao

The diplomat who has just taken over as head of the Consulate’s cultural section believes more is needed than culture and arts to change Hongkongers’ impression of the Filipino.
Vice Consul Robert Quintin said more Filipino intellectuals should be brought in to engage the locals at the intellectual level by presenting papers to the academe or lecturing in universities not only on Filipino topics but in other fields as well.
The 34-year-old envoy expressed his views in an interview with The SUN at the Consulate on Jun 26, Day One of his tour of duty in Hong Kong, his first overseas posting.
 “I think we should import more of our intellectuals,” Quintin said, citing the impression here that the Filipino is more of a worker than anybody else.
“I don’t think we are making a mark on the intellectual level para masasabi na ‘Ah, may thinker pala na Filipino on this subject”.
“I think we could bring in more people to present papers to the academe here … maybe we’ll facilitate more of that para ang exchange ay hindi lamang sa culture and arts. I feel that more can be done on that matter,” he said.
Programs are already in place on the cultural side, so all that is needed is to inject more in terms of promotions, Quintin said, “kasi parang kulang ng focus on our intellectuals”.
In fact, he sees a window of opportunity in cultivating relations with Hong Kong people by having more programs involving them and more mutual exchange activities to push interaction. That window is the changing social milieu where public view is opening up.
“I think we have a window of opportunity to engage them at the intellectual level also, kasi if they see na ganun, they might think highly of Filipinos, they might think twice when they see a Filipino, instead of isipin na domestic worker siya, baka naman this could be an exchange student, this could be a writer, a novelist, an expert in the field of science,” Quintin said.
He said that to reintroduce the Filipino differently, Dr Jose P. Rizal could be “one starting point…we have a mark here.” By giving Filipino experts slots in universities to talk about Rizal or even on any topic, or having a professorial chair lecturer here, “siguro we could change perspectives”.
Another of Quintin’s advocacy during his posting here is empowering women.
“Siyempre, karamihan sa mga kababayan natin dito ay babae, so women empowerment should be conducted. So, yung mga programs na i-generate for women should be gender-sensitive, and kung anuman ang mga programs na related to the issue, siguro paigtingin pa natin, either by frequency or scale,” he said.
Quintin flew into Hong Kong on Jun 16, to fill up the post left vacant by Consul Charles Andrei Macaspac at the end of his six-year posting in Hong Kong.
Quintin’s wife, Vice Consul Fatima of the assistance to nationals section, took over Macaspac’s post as head of the political and economic section, while Vice Consul Alex Vallespin moved to ATN from cultural.
Born on March 14, 1982 in Benguet, Quintin said he should be teaching anthropology or culture now, having graduated with a social science degree, major in anthropology and sociology, and a minor in history, from the University of the Philippines Baguio.
Becoming a diplomat was not his dream. “It was not top of my mind before because I was a musician at the time, so, I was looking at trying to secure a day job so I could support my musician lifestyle,” he said.
Living in La Trinidad outside Baguio, Quintin performed at folk bars as a solo artist in the highland city and played acoustic instruments, particularly the guitar. He also taught young students about making and playing native instruments.
“But I was also involved in other musical endeavors, as part of a choir, member of an indigenous music group, advocacies in preservation of ethnic culture,” he said.
In 2010, Quintin began his Foreign Service cadetship after passing the Foreign Service Officers’ examination, a tedious two-year process that he started in 2008.
He also became fast friends with then Fatima Guzman, his batchmate in the cadetship, before “we decided to take the relationship to the next level.”
After the cadetship program, he realized that Foreign Service was his career.
He first worked in the Office of Intelligence and Security under the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was in charge of security of the DFA’s foreign posts, linking the DFA intelligence unit with the government’s intelligence community.
From there he moved to the Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, preparing for the Asia Pacific Economic Community hosting in 2015, such as “sheperding initiatives in Apec meetings, kung ano yung course na kung saan gusto naming dalhin yung isapan (because) as Apec host we were also the chair”.
At the same time, he was part of the economic diplomacy unit, the nerve center of the country’s diplomatic posts abroad. He was in charge of the Europe desk and the Africa and Middle East desk, while being part of the Apec group in the national secretariat.
Hong Kong is his first overseas posting. a consular post he described as very far removed from what he used to do, “but I am expected to hit the ground running so, I have to adjust quickly. It will be a major adjustment for me but hopefully I can cope up,” he said.

John Lloyd at LJ, panalo sa 39th Gawad Urian

Sa unang pagkakataon ay nanalo bilang best actor si John Lloyd Cruz sa Urian awards. Nangyari ito sa 39th Gawad Urian na ginanap noong June 21 sa Kia Theater sa Quezon City.
Nanalo si John Lloyd para sa pelikulang Honor Thy Father, at naging nominado rin sa para sa pelikulang A Second Chance.
Unang panalo rin sa Urian ni LJ Reyes nang makamit niya ang parangal bilang best actress para sa pelikulang Anino sa Likod ng Buwan. Tinalo niya ang beteranong aktres na si Nora Aunor, na naging nominado para sa pelikulang “Taklub’.

Ang mga nanalo:
Best Picture: Taklub
Best Actor: John Lloyd Cruz (Honor Thy Father)
Best Actress: LJ Reyes (Anino sa Likod ng Buwan)
Best Director: Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna)
Best Supporting Actor: Bernardo Bernardo (Imbisibol)
Best Supporting Actress: Ana Abad Santos (Apocalypse Child)
Best Editing : Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna)
Best Music: Jake Abella ("ARI: My Life with a King")                                                 Best Sound: Mikko Quizon ("Heneral Luna")                                                                Best Production Design: Ben Payumo ("Water Lemon")                                                     Best Screenplay: Robby Tantingco ("Ari: My Life with a King")                                      Best Cinematography: Pong Ignacio ("Heneral Luna")                                                  Best Short Film: "Wawa"                                                                                                            Best Documentary Film: "The Crescent Rising"                                                        Natatanging Gawad Urian award: Romy Vitug
Ang mga naging hosts ng programa ay sina Iza Calzado, Zoren Legaspi at Butch Francisco.
Sa panayam kay LJ pagkatapos ng programa, sinabi niyang huli na niyang daring role ang “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan. Lumalaki na raw kasi ang kanyang anak na si Aki (anak niya sa dating boyfriend na si Paulo Avelino) at marami nang mga tanong. Ang isa rin sa ibinigay niyang dahilan ay nagpabinyag na raw siya bilang Christian noong nakaraang taon, kaya pipiliin na daw niya ang kanyang mga projects. Pero hindi naman daw ibig sabihin nito ay hindi na siya gagawa ng projects na susubok sa kanyang kakayahan bilang aktor.
Malapit na muling mapanood si LJ sa bagong TV series na ginagawa niya sa GMA Network. Sana nga ay mabigyan siya ng magandang project ng kanyang home studio dahil tila napag-iwanan na siya ng ibang mga baguhang Kapuso actors, dahil madalang na siyang mapanood sa TV, at kontrabida o suporta lang ang kanyang papel. Mabuti na lang at nauso ang mga indie films, kaya naipapakita pa rin niya ang kanyang husay sa pag-arte.                                
Kasamang dumalo ni LJ sa Urian awards ang boyfriend niya ngayong si Paolo Contis.

SUNSHINE, HINDI PAYAG SA ANNULMENT
Palaban si Sunshine Dizon sa paghihiwalay nila ng kanyang asawang si Timothy Tan. Dinaan niya sa social media ang galit niya sa asawa at kinakasama daw nito ngayon, na ayon kay Sunshine ay itinira pa sa itaas na palapag ng gusaling tinitirhan ngayon ni Sunshine at dalawang nilang anak.
Ang pahayag ni Sunshine: “You used to be my best friend, my partner in everything. We used to talk about everything and anything. Now I wake up from this dream and everything turned to nothing. It was all for nothing. It was all a lie.
“My nightmares began exactly June of last year. I’ve given you several chances, I swallowed everything for the sake of Doreen and Anton, I tried my best and gave my all. You have disregarded your responsibilities and turned into a monster, all the lies and deception. I have worked hard on my own to survive this family. You just sat there and did nothing. Did you really think I was that stupid? Did you really think I would just cry in one corner and do nothing? Too bad this stupid girl isn’t stupid after all. I will not make excuses for you nor lie. You have shamed your family, you have shamed your children. You will get what you deserve. If you really have balls face the consequences of your actions. You ruined two families. You ruined the lives of our children. For almost a year you had the audacity to live with that woman in the same building where your own children live. I have refused to give interviews out of respect for your family but instead you go ahead and do it on your own. There is no forgiveness for what you did. No annulment for you. I will seek justice. I will see you both in court.”

SARAH, HINDI RAW BUNTIS
Patuloy ang usap-usapan sa tunay na dahilan ng mahaba-habang pagbabakasyon ni Sarah Geronimo. Lately ay may mga commitments siyang hindi na nadaluhan, at nag-back out pa bilang isa sa mga coaches ng third edition ng The Voice Kids, kung saan ay pinalitan siya ni Sharon Cuneta. Ayon sa mga namamahala sa kanyang career, magbabakasyon ng ilang buwan si Sarah sa Amerika, dahil kailangan niyang magpahinga at ilang taon na rin siyang kumakayod ng husto.
Hindi maiaalis na mabahala ang kanyang mga fans sa tunay na kalagayan ni Sarah dahil iba-iba ang naglalabasang balita tungkol sa kanya, gaya ng buntis daw siya, na pinabulaanan naman ng kanyang boyfriend na si Matteo Guidicelli. Maging ang big boss ng Viva Entertainment, na nagma-manage sa kanya ay pabirong sinabi na “virgin” pa si Sarah, kaya siguradong hindi ito buntis. May nabanggit din na magpapagamot siya dahil sa isang karamdaman, pero hindi naman sinabi kung ano ang kanyang sakit. Wala naman daw dapat ikabahala dahil hindi malala ang kanyang karamdaman.
Si Judy Ann Santos, na isa sa mga pinakamalapit na kaibigan ni Sarah ay natatawa na lang sa tsismis na buntis ito. Napagdaanan na daw niya na mapabalitang buntis ng kung ilang beses, kahit hindi naman totoo. “Unfair naman dun sa bata na hinusgahan agad siya na ganun. Hindi ba puwedeng sabihin muna na gusto lang niyang mag-break, gusto lang niyang magpahinga? Hindi naman lahat ng tao puwedeng magtrabaho nang dire-diretso. Gusto niyang mag-enjoy, ibigay natin sa kanya. Ang tagal naman niyang nagtrabaho nang dire-diretso.”
 “Para sa akin, I trust Sarah. And whatever she wants to do in her life, she’s 27, okey na yun, puwede na yun.”, ang dagdag pa ni Judy Ann.
May mga napabalita noon na balak balikan ni Sarah ang pag-aaral. Sana ay ito na lang ang totoong dahilan kung bakit siya pansamantalang mamamaalam sa showbiz.


JODI AT JOLO, HIWALAY NA
Nag-guest kamakailan si Jodi Sta. Maria sa show ni Boy Abunda, at doon ay inamin niya na hiwalay na sila ni Jolo Revilla, pero nananatili raw silang magkaibigan. Hindi na siya nagbigay ng iba pang detalye tungkol dito.
Kinumpirma din ito ni Jolo, at sinabing mutual decision daw nila ito. Nag-uusap pa rin naman daw sila, pero sa ngayon ay nakatutok daw siya sa kanyang trabaho bilang bise gobernador ng Cavite.
Matagal nang usap-usapan ang pagbi-break ng dalawa, pero noong unang bahagi ng June ay nakita silang magkasama sa isang bagong bukas na coffee shop, kaya ang akala daw mga nakakakilala sa kanila ay nagkabalikan silang muli. Ayon naman sa showbiz writer na si Lolit Solis, matagal nang away-bati ang dalawa sa loob ng apat na taon nilang relasyon. Nang “aksidenteng” nabaril ni Jolo ang sarili noong February 2015, ang naging haka-haka ng marami ay problema sa love life ang pinagdaanan nito.
Si Jodi ay nagpakasal noong 2005 kay Panfilo “Pampi” Lacson, Jr. (anak ni Sen Lacson) pero naghiwalay sila noong 2011. Sila ay may isang anak, si Thirdy, 10. Si Pampi ay may anak na sa karelasyon nito ngayong si Iwa Moto. Balitang hindi pa annulled ang kasal nila ni Jodi, kaya hindi pa sila pwedeng magpakasal ulit sa iba.
Si Jolo ay may anak din sa dati nitong girlfriend na anak ni Rosanna Roces.
Dahil isang mahusay na aktres ay hindi nawawalan ng projects bilang Kapamilya si Jodi. Naging top rated ang TV series niyang Be Careful with My Heart na pinagtambalan nila ni Richard Yap, (2012 – 2014) at sinundan ng isa pang hit na “Pangako Sa ‘Yo”, na naglunsad naman sa loveteam nila ni Ian Veneracion.
Bukod sa TV shows, nakagawa rin siya ng mga pelikula (All You Need is Pag-Ibig at Maria Leonora Teresa) noong nakaraang taon.
Ngayon ay ipapalabas na rin ang bago niyang pelikulang “The Achy Breaky Hearts”, katambal ang dati niyang mga leading men na sina Richard at Ian. Bagama’t marami ang kinikilig sa dalawang aktor, parehong happily married ang mga ito,

Announcements

The Philippine Consulate General will be CLOSED on the following dates:
July 7, Thursday – Eid’l Ftr (Feast of Ramadan)
Aug 29, Monday – National Heroes’ Day
*There will be no official transactions, including OEC issuance, at both the PCG and POLO on both dates. In case of emergency, call: 9155 4023 (consular assistance); 5529 1880 (POLO) or 6345 9324 (OWWA)

Attention: Filipina Registered Nurses
Are you a Registered Nurse working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong who cares for elderly and/or patients with dementia?
If so, please send a private message to the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong, giving the following details:
1. Complete Name
2. E-mail Address
3. Patient Category: (Elderly and/or with Dementia)
4. Mobile Number

The Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT, formerly LET) will be held in Hong Kong on Sept, 25, Sunday.
All interested applicants should visit the PRC website at http://www.prc.gov.ph to apply through "online application system: http://www.prc.gov.ph/online/application/apply.aspx
Deadline for submission of online applications:
July 22 for Repeaters
July 29 for New Applicants
Submit documents to:
Philippine Overseas Labor Office
11th floor, Admiralty Tower 1,
Admiralty

For the requirements and other details, visit the FB page of the National Organization of Professional Teachers (NOPT) – HK Chapter, like it and send a private message

The SUN Calendar

‘Idulog sa IBP 3’ Free Legal Consultation:
July 2, Saturday, 10am-4pm, July 3, Sunday, 9am-3pm
Venue: Conference Room, Philippine Consulate General. For appointments, call Cholo at 2825 8511.

July 3, Sunday, 4pm-5:30pm –Legal forum. 
IBP lawyers will speak on debt, scams and other legal issues
Venue: Public area, Philippine Consulate General.

Unifil-Migrante’s 31st Anniversary
July 3, 9am-7pm, Chater Road, Central
Highlight will be the presentation of the Migrants’ Agenda to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. Call: Dolores, 97472986, Eman at 97585935 or Vicky at 95372125

‘Ugoy ng Duyan’, stage play on Rizal 
July 3, Sunday, 3pm-5pm, Venue: Y Theatre, Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan.  Free admission, but tickets may be booked in advance. Organizer: Teatro Filipino, featuring Filipino community youth in Hong Kong.

Search for Miss and Mrs Bangar
July 3,  11am- 7pm, Organizer: Bangar Association of Hong Kong. Contact: Marites Nuval, 9528 1880

AlDub’s 1st Anniversary and 12th Meet-up
July 17, 8am – 5pm. Repulse Bay Beach. Organizer: Official AlDub HK. Contact: Dhezi Andres

Maternity Protection Workshop
July 24, 4-6pm. PCG Conference Room. Organizer: Pathfinders. The workshop is meant to increase health awareness and maternity rights for foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong. Details, contact Carmen Lam at 5621 8239, or email carmen@pathfinders.org.hk.

Free Training on Dementia Care
July 31, 9am-5pm. POLO, 16th floor, Admiralty Centre Tower 1. Priority are registered nurses/BSN graduates with elderly and dementia care duties, and, secondly, registered nurses/BSN graduates without elderly and dementia care duties. If interested please register at the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong by liking it and messaging your full name, mobile phone, and whether you are a registered nurse or BSN graduate. A Certificate will be issued by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Center for Positive Ageing.

General Assembly of Midwives in Hong Kong
Aug 7, PAOS Room, Philippine Overseas Labor Office. Guest Speaker: Dr. Michael Manio For details, visit the FB page, Philippine Midwives in Hong Kong and send a private message indicating your name, telephone number, and desire to join the assembly

Forum on Nuat Thai Therapeutic massage
Aug 14, time and venue TBA. Resource speaker will be Engr. Kenneth Carredo, owner of Nuat Thai Philippines, the biggest chain of massage spas in the country.  Send your name and the name of your training organization or school to Ms. Bona Crescencia, tel. 51889157. Limited to 200 attendees.

Free Forum for Nurses
Oct. 9, Bayanihan Centre, Kennedy Town
Speakers from Australia and New Zealand, and agencies deploying to Germany and Qatar are coming to orient registered nurses about the working conditions in those markets.
For full details, visit the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong. Like it, and message your full name and mobile number.

Oldies’ fun

Yesterday my daughter e-mailed me again asking why I didn't do something useful with my time. “Like sitting around the pool and drinking wine is not a good thing,” I said.
Talking about my “doing something useful” seems to be her favorite topic of conversation.
She was “only thinking of me,” she said, and suggested I go down to the senior center and hang out with the guys.
I did this and when I got  home last night I decided to teach her a lesson about staying out of my business. I e-mailed her and told her that I had joined a parachute club.
She replied, “Are you nuts? You are 73 years old, and now you’re going to start jumping out of airplanes?”
I told her that I even got a membership card and e-mailed a copy to her. She telephoned  me, “Good grief, where are your glasses! This is a membership to a Prostitute Club, not a Parachute Club.”
“Oh man, I’m in trouble again; I really don’t know what to do... I signed up for five jumps a week.”
The line went quiet and her friend picked up the phone and said that my daughter had fainted.
Life as a senior citizen is not getting any easier but sometimes it can be fun.

The laws
1 . Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you’ll have to pee.
2. Law of Gravity. Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible place in the universe.
3. Law of Probability. The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
4. Law of Random Numbers. If you dial the wrong number, you never get a busy signal; someone always answers.
5. Variation Law. If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now.
6. Law of the  Bath. When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone will ring.
7. Law of Close Encounters. The probability of meeting someone you know INCREASES dramatically when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.
8. Law of the Result. When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, IT WILL!!!
10. Law of the Theater & Hockey Arena . At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last.  They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.
11.The Coffee Law. As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
12. Murphy’s Law of Lockers. If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
13. Law of Physical Surfaces. The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
14. Law of Logical Argument. Anything is possible IF you don't know what you are talking about.
15. Law of Physical Appearance. If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
16.Law of Public Speaking . A CLOSED MOUTH GATHERS NO FEET!
17. Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy. As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it, OR the store will stop selling it!
18. Doctors' Law. If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there, you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick.

Covers the period July 1-15, 2016

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Sundin ang bugso ng damdamin. Subukang gawin agad ang lahat ng nakaatang na responsibilidad para may panahon na maglibang. Huwag matakot na magpursige para sa katuparan ng mga pangarap sa buhay. Sa mga may karelasyon, huwag pag-aksayahan ng panahon ang mga bagay na maaring maging sanhi upang mairita sa bawat isa.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Matutong makibagay at magpakita ng kababaang loob. Makakatulong ang pagiging masayahin at kakayahang makinig upang lalo pang mapabuti ang sarili. May munti ngunit makabuluhang pagbabago na magaganap sa kalagitnaan ng linggo. Pigilan ang sarili na magbigay ng payo sa ibang tao lalo na kung hindi naman hinihingi. Tamang tama ang linggong ito upang lumabas kasama ang mga kaibigan.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Magulo at nakakalito ang pagpasok ng linggong ito ngunit huwag hayaang maapektuhan ang sariling disposisyon. Ngayon na ang tamang panahon para sa mga nagbabalak magsagawa ng pagbabago sa buhay. Maglaan ng panahon para gawin ang mga tunay na nakakapagbigay ng kaligayahan. Laging unahin ang kapakanan ng mahal sa buhay upang walang dapat pagsisihan.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Magbubukas ang bagong yugto ng importanteng relasyon at magiging sanhi ito ng tunay na pagbabago. Sa mga naghahanap ng pag-ibig, may makikilala na magbibigay ng puwang sa kanilang puso. Sari-saring tsismis laban sa iyo ang maririnig sa loob ng opisina at kung hindi mag-iingat ay maaring masira ng pinakaiingatang reputasyon.
.
 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Lilipas ang linggong ito na parang panaginip. Bukal ang loob ang pagtulong ngunit ang ilan ay walang ibang hangad kung hindi hanapan ng mali ang kapwa. Malaking gulo ang magaganap dahil sa pera kaya planuhin nang husto kung paano mababayaran ang utang. May mga taong sadyang makulit at maaring masira ang masayang disposisyon lalo na kung paiiralin ang pagiging mayamutin. May importan-teng proyektong masisimulan kasama ang pamilya.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Sa wakas ay kaya nang talikuran ang mga bagay na sadyang hadlang para makamit ang pangarap sa buhay.  Maraming tao ang tututol sa gagawing desisyon pero walang ibang makakapigil sa iyong sariling pagpapasya. Huwag hayaang maimpluwensyahan ng iba ang iyong mga plano. Malaki ang gagampanan ng kaibigan sa pagbabagong nais gawin sa buhay.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Isang kakaibang pagkakataon ang magbibigay sa iyo ng lakas ng loob upang gawin ang mga bagay na dating kinakatakutan. Mapapasabak sa isang gulo sa kalagitnaan ng linggo. Huwag magbitiw ng salita kung hindi ito kayang gampanan. Papasok ang pera kaya samantalahin ang pagkakataon upang mag-impok para sa kinabukasan. Bagamat marami ang pinagkakaabalahan, huwag hayaang mawalan ng oras sa pamilya.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Panahon na para sa tunay na pagbabago. Huwag mag-alinlangan na sabihin ang tunay na nararamdaman lalo na kung para sa kapakanan ng maraming tao. Kung nangangailangan ng payo, dumulog lang sa mga kaibigan dahil marami sa kanila ay taglay ang likas na pagiging matulungin. Huwag hayaang balutin ng lungkot ang pagkatao kahit napapalibutan ng problema.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Malalagay sa alanganing sitwasyon ngunit agad ding makakahanap ng solusyon lalo na kung laging bukas ang isip sa payo ng ibang tao. May nagbabadyang malaking gastusin kaya bilhin lang ang mga bagay na sadyang kailangan. Hindi masama kung magpapakitang-gilas sa trabaho lalo na kung talaga namang sapat ang kakayahan. Linisin ang kalat at mga basura sa paligid ng bahay upang guminhawa ang pakiramdam.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Pabor ang linggong ito para sa seryosong pagpaplano tungkol sa pag-ibig o kasal. May haharaping malaking problema sa pera kaya makakatulong kung hihigpitan nang kaunti ang sinturon bilang paghahanda. Mas mabuting kumunsulta sa abogado para sa tamang payo. Dahil sa kawalan ng tunay na layunin, maraming masasayang na panahon . Madaling mabagot at mayamot kaya magpahinga nang husto para magkaroon ng panibagong lakas na harapin ang hamon.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Hindi magkandaugaga sa dami ng sosyal na obligasyon kaya hirap kang asikasuhin lahat. Huwag hayaang maubos ang oras sa labas kasama ang mga kaibigan upang hindi mapabayaan ang tungkulin sa pamilya. May hindi inaasahang problema sa trabaho kaya huwag madaliin ang ginagawa. Kung balak huminto sa paninigarilyo, ngayon ang tamang panahon para mag-umpisa. Malaking kabiguan ang naghihintay sa iyo at ang tanging magagawa mo ay bumitiw.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Maraming positibong pangyayari ang magaganap sa linggong ito. Hahantong sa matinding away ang problema ng mga mag-asawa kaya mas mabuting dumulog sa mga propesyunal upang hindi na lumala ang sitwasyon. Bilhin lang ang importanteng bagay para hindi masayang ang pera. Sensitibo ang lalamunan.

Pinay overstayer pleads guilty to dumping aborted baby

A former maid pleaded guilty in District Court on June 29 to three charges relating to her overstaying in Hong Kong, aborting her eight-month-old pregnancy, and dumping the dead baby in a rubbish bin in North Point on Jan 6.

Maribel H. David, 37, appeared before Judge Timothy Harry Casewell on charges of breaching her condition of stay, administering a poison to procure miscarriage, and preventing the lawful burial of a body.

David pleaded guilty to all three charges and admitted the facts of the case. Casewell adjourned the hearing until July 13 for sentencing pending a background report on the case.

The Filipina was arrested by police in hospital on Jan 7 this year, a day after officers took her bleeding and seriously ill to Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital in Chai Wan following suspicion that she aborted a baby by taking a total of 12 Cytotec pills.

Prosecutor Janice Cheuk said in her summary of facts showed that in the early morning of Jan 6, David left the flat in State Theater building which another OFW, Joy Odette Marcon, rented and offered to share with her when they met on Nov 12 last year.

David slept on the upper deck of a bunk bed and Marcon’s daughter and niece who were visiting at the time slept on the lower deck.  Marcon slept on the floor.

The report did not mention whether Marcon was aware that David was pregnant, but she told investigators the defendant returned to the flat about 10 minutes later and climbed to the upper deck of the bed.

At about 6am, David fell to the floor and Marcon found that she had no underpants and was bleeding. She suggested calling the police for help but David refused. Four hours later, when David had become very weak, Marcon dialed 999.

David was taken to the hospital where she told doctors she was 8 months pregnant but aborted it by taking pills, then threw away the baby’s body. She was arrested when she became suitable for interview on Jan 7.

Police found two packets of Cytotec pellets in the bag David brought to the hospital. They searched rubbish bins near State Theatre and City Garden in North Point, as well as a landfill site where the rubbish containing the body may have been dumped, to no avail.

David told investigators it was her Filipino boyfriend, Artemio Mansira, who was the father of the baby. She resorted to abortion because she was confused, Cheuk said.

So, in the morning of Jan 5, she bought two packets of the abortion drug containing 20 pills and took 12 over three ingestions between around 12 noon and 8pm. She felt the need to deliver while walking near City Garden, so she took a black rubbish bag from a cart, jumped into it and gave birth. She cut the umbilical cord with a pair of scissors.

The court heard that David came to Hong Kong on June 19, 2012 to work as a domestic helper. She decided to stay on without Immigration permit after she used up her 14-day visa extension when her contract expired on June 19, 2014.  -Vir B. Lumicao

VIDEO FEATURE: Consul Charles Macaspac, Nakatakda Nang Bumalik sa Maynila - The SUN News Online

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MARAMING SALAMAT, CONSUL CHUCK!
Nakatakdang lumipad pabalik ng Maynila si Consul Charles Macaspac bukas, June 27,  pagkatapos ng anim na taong paninilbihan sa Hong Kong.
Narito ang kanyang mensahe ng pamaalam sa mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong, at ang tugong mensahe ng ilan sa mga lider ng komunidad bilang pasasalamat sa kanyang mahusay at tapat na serbisyo.

Canada job applicants go to police as recruiter ‘vanishes’

By Vir B. Lumicao

Twelve Filipino domestic workers have complained to the Hong Kong police against the owner of a recruitment agency in Central who had allegedly charged them huge sums of money as agency fee for inexistent jobs in Canada.
A further eight job applicants who were also allegedly duped by the agency, Excellent Nannies, owned by a certain Grace Ngan, were also drafting a complaint that they would submit to the Labour Department’s Employment Agency Administration.
Eight members of the first group went to the Wanchai District Police Headquarters on June 3 to file their complaint. The women claimed that Excellent Nannies collected between $10,000 and $45,000 from each of them after asking them to sign purported job contracts with the alleged employers in Canada.
The applicants were promised jobs as either nannies or caregivers to the elderly in the cities of Ottawa and Toronto in Ontario at weekly salaries ranging from CA$385 for nannies to CA$440 for caregiver to the elderly.
They said the payments were made in Excellent’s shared offices with a travel agency in Room 501 on the fifth floor of Sunny House, Li Yuen St West, Central.
Ngan, a Filipina married to a local Chinese resident, reportedly recruited the Filipinas on different dates between March 2013 and July 2015, through flyers she handed out herself and newspaper advertisements claiming she was processing “direct hires”.
One applicant, a native of Tarlac, said she paid $45,000 for a job as elderly caregiver.
She said in an interview after filing her statement at the police station that she borrowed the money from her sister who was already working in Canada.
Another applicant considered herself lucky because she paid only $10,000. She applied for the job of nanny in March 2014.
The complainants said they were convinced they could work in Canada because Ngan had even set up Skype interviews between them and their supposed employers. But they started getting alarmed when they were unable to leave for the promised jobs after waiting for more than a year.
When they started badgering Ngan, she reportedly gave them various excuses and then made herself scarce, mostly communicating with them only via text messaging.
The last time the group heard from her was on May 15, when she reportedly told one of the applicants in a text message: “I will keep you updated.”
On the same day, Ngan was reportedly seen going to her office to collect some documents and a suitcase.
Police tried to call the telephone numbers that Ngan had put on her fliers but the landline was dead, while she was not picking up her cell phone.
Some of the applicants who also complained to the Mission for Migrant Workers will try to get relief from the Small Claims Tribunal, said case officer Esther Bangcawayan.

HK and PHL recruiters join forces to fend off problems

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre joins AHKMA chairwoman Teresa Liu Tsui Lam.and SHARP president Alfredo Palmeiry  in the launching ceremonies.

By Vir B. Lumicao

A group of Hong Kong employment agencies licensed and its counterpart in the Philippines have agreed to work together to address problems confronting the local market for domestic workers.
The two groups – the Association of Hong Kong Manpower Agencies Ltd. and the Manila-based Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines – signed a memorandum of understanding in a ceremony on May 25 attended by Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.
AHKMA chairwoman Teresa Liu Tsui Lam and SHARP president Alfredo Palmeiry signed the document for their respective groups.
The two sides also resolved to formulate and implement joint plans and programs that foster harmonious relationships between their members and enhance the protection and welfare of the workers.
The agreement came in the wake of the Hong Kong government’s release of a draft Code of Conduct for employment agencies which tightens regulations, and identifies for the first time existing laws that could be used to crack down on erring recruiters.
De la Torre said that under the MOU, members of the Hong Kong group would be trained by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on ethical recruitment practices while the SHARP agencies would be trained by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
There are 60 AHKMA members, while SHARP has 53 or 54, the labor attaché said.
“They are engaging Marie Apostol, the most widely recognized expert on ethical recruitment,” De la Torre said.
The agencies would establish during the training how to define ethical recruitment and how willing they are to open their books to inspection by a third-party auditor. “If they pass, we will give them a seal of approval,” De la Torre said.
Under the 10-point agreement, the two groups will regularly update each other on the market situation in Hong Kong and on new government policies toward FDHs “to ensure expectations are met and minimize disputes among agencies”.
They will also set up standards on the selection of employers and helpers to minimize problems that usually lead to terminations and resignations, and upgrade training for the workers.
Both agency groups will formulate a Code of Ethics and Discipline for their members to ensure they comply fully with existing rules and regulations, avoid cut-throat competition and promote ethical practices and standards.

VIDEO NEWS: Parangal Sa Mga Nagtapos sa Pagsasanay ng BSK-HK

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Isinagawa noong ika-19 ng Hunyo sa M/V Star Pisces ang parangal para sa mga nagtapos sa mga kursong pangkabuhayan ng Balikatan sa Kaunlaran (BSK) Hong Kong Council. 

Hinimok ni Labor Attache Jalilo Dela Torre ang mga nagtapos na kumuha ng certificate mula sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority o TESDA bilang  dagdag na patunay sa kanilang kakayahan. 

Ex-Syria OFW reunited with rescuer in HK

Pure joy as Arlyn bumps into ATN officer Junie Cayabyab on the Chater Garden walkway on June 12.

By Vir B. Lumicao

It was just part of a diplomatic staff’s job, an act that gets buried under numerous day-to-day assignments until it is forgotten in time.
Yet, memories of a good deed last for its recipient, as Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr., officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, realized on June 12.
The driving rain that Sunday morning, when the Filipino community in Hong Kong was gearing up for the annual Independence Day celebration on Chater Road, forced Cayabyab and some friends to take shelter on a covered walkway in Chater Garden.
Cayabyab or “Junie” to colleagues, had just come from the breakfast reception at the Consulate and was on his way to set up the makeshift altar for the holy mass that would usher in the day-long celebration on Chater Road.
“Mukhang hindi matutuloy dahil sa ulan, ah,” Cayabyab told The SUN.
Just then, a petite woman approached Cayabyab and said, “Sir, nagkita na tayo noon, natatandaan nyo?” she told the surprised ATN officer.
Then his memory returned. “Oo, sa Syria,” Cayabyab replied. He was as excited as the woman.
“Ako yung ni-rescue ninyo noon. Akalain nyo, magkikita tayo rito!” she said, grabbing Cayabyab’s hand.
“Oh, yes, it was in Damascus,” he said.
The woman was on her way to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for some transaction and also sought shelter from the rain under the covered walkway.
“Ano na uli ang pangalan mo?” asked Cayabyab, who meets scores of people everyday as part of his work that their names just get lost in his mind.
“Arlyn po! Arlyn Muñez,” she replied almost inaudibly as she hurried away.
Cayabyab recalled that in April 2012, Arlyn was working for a Syrian family in a zone where government forces were battling rebels who were trying to topple President Bashar Assad, as the infamous Arab Spring crept into the Middle Eastern country.
“Nakipag-negotiate ako sa amo niya para makuha namin siya. Ang ibang amo kasi, ayaw nilang pauwiin ang mga katulong nila, gusto nilang isama hanggang sa pupuntahan nila,” he said.
Cayabyab was one of those assigned to a multi-agency task force formed by the Philippine government to evacuate OFWs trapped in conflict zones.
From Manila, he and his team flew to Syria and operated out of the Philippine embassy in Damascus.
His job was to contact all employers of OFWs in known addresses around the embattled country. Once an employer agreed to release his helper, the embassy would send a team to extricate the worker and take her home.
President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered the evacuation of about 17,000 Filipinos from Syria when the tension there escalated sometime in August 2011.
Arlyn was among those evacuated in line with the directive.
Four years on, and she still remembers Junie for his good deed even as she now savors peace in this part of the globe.

More TESDA Assessors and Trainers Needed - The SUN News Online

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There is a great demand for assessors and trainers in the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), according to Director Susan Dela Rama.

For more news and online content, visit www.sunwebhk.com

Exclusive Video Interview with Consul Charles Macaspac - The SUN News Online

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Narito ang buong panayam ng The SUN News Online kay Consul Charles Andrei Macaspac tungkol sa kanyang pagpapaalam sa Hong Kong sa ika-27 ng Hunyo. Pakinggan ang kanyang mensahe para sa HK Filipino Community sa eksklusibong handog ng The SUN Online.

Para sa mga balita, magpunta sa www.sunwebhk.com!

Reds ‘guardedly’ positive on peace talks

Fidel V. Agcaoili (third from left) and wife Chit are joined in a meeting with Unifil-Migrante’s Eman Villanueva (left) and Dolores Balladares-Pelaez (right).

By Vir B. Lumicao

Communist rebels are “guardedly optimistic” that the long-stalled peace process will be completed when negotiations with the Philippine government are resumed during the term of incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
The President-elect met twice last month in Davao City with Fidel V. Agcaoili, member of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ negotiating panel, to discuss the possible resumption of the peace talks.
“We are guardedly optimistic because in our view, Duterte has a track record of relating with the revolutionary movement,” Agcaoili said in an interview with The SUN on May 31 during a brief visit to Hong Kong with his wife Chit.
First, he cited the times during the administrations of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno S. Aquino III when the Davao City mayor had received prisoners of war freed by the New People’s Army.
“Secondly, he said he was pro-Left or a socialist, thus he is for social justice, so we could see good results,” Agcaoili said.
The two sides signed The Hague Joint Declaration in 1992, in which they agreed to tackle substantive agendas including human rights and international humanitarian law, socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, end of hostilities and disposition of forces.
“We have so far achieved the first item, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. Previously, we had the The Hague Joint Declaration. Then we signed the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees,” he said.
“When President Duterte comes in, hopefully an agreement on social and economic reforms will be concluded so that we will be able to move on to a government of national unity, peace and development,” Agcaoili said.
Even as the couple flew to Hong Kong, Duterte told media he was sending his emissaries Jesus Dureza and Silvestre Bello III to Norway to hold preliminary talks with Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison.
No date has been set for the Oslo meeting, but Agcaoili said it could come shortly after Duterte had taken over the presidency from Aquino. “When he (Duterte) has assumed office, then we can start talking,” Agcaoili said.
“In our meeting last Tuesday (May 23), he told me the discussions would be about the reaffirmation of the previously signed agreements, releases of political prisoners, mutual ceasefire and how to accelerate the peace negotiations so that hopefully during his term the negotiations would be completed,” Agcaoili said.
Norway has been the host of the peace talks initiated by President Cory Aquino after the 1986 EDSA Revolt. But the process had been sidelined following the incident in Mendiola on Jan 22, 1987, when farmers marching for land reform were met with police fire on the bridge to Malacañang Palace. Thirteen were killed and scores wounded.
Agcaoili said the Left will be reminding Duterte about his promises to end contractualization of jobs, return the lumads (indigenous people of Mindanao) to their villages, and order the military and their paramilitary allies back to barracks.
“So, we are encouraging Duterte in his pro-poor, pro-people initiatives, and of course criticize him on any anti-poor, anti-people  actions so that he would be encouraged to carry out reforms,” Agcaoili said.
He also welcomed Duterte’s offer to give four cabinet posts to leftist leaders. Agcaoili said he personally delivered the names of the four nominees to Duterte during their second meeting in Davao City.
Two of them were eventually appointed by Duterte to his cabinet. They were former Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano as his agrarian reform secretary and University of the Philippines professor and martial law victim Judy Taguiwalo as head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He said initially the NDFP panel would comprise Sison and his wife Julie de Lima, Luis Jalandoni and his wife Coni Ledesma, Agcaoili, Nonoy Calima and, hopefully, Alan Jazmines, “if he gets released before the talks”.
The government panel would consist of Dureza, Bello, Braganza, Rene Sarmiento, and Sedfrey Candelaria.

Fate A scores revenge win over TB

By Emz Frial

All-Filipina softball team Fate A turned back an early lead by TB to beat the local rivals 12-9 in a Hong Kong Softball Association women’s league match at Tin Kwong Field on May 29.
The victory avenged Fate’s controversial loss to the same team on Apr 17 in the annual Festival of Sports, a yearly knockout event for all Hong Kong softball teams. The Pinays had blamed alleged biased calls by the umpires for the defeat.
So, when both teams met again on May 29, Fate was all psyched up to prove it could defeat its tormentor in a fair game and regain its pride.
The game started with a home run by the locals’ first batter, Ng Tsz-yan. The next three batters, Yeung Rui-yi, Tam Wing-ying and Yeung Kit-ling, also scored a run each that put TB ahead, 4-0, in the first inning.
When Fate took over the batting plate, first batter Zenny Badajos set off a scoring run that was followed by Myra Japitana and Liezel Algonez, to end the inning at 4-3.
In the second inning, Badajos switched Fate’s infielders and outfielders in a reshuffle that strengthened its defense.
TB scored two more runs via Wong Hin-ning and Ng Wing-hin, but the Filipinas responded, also with two runs, courtesy of Eunice Locop and Ma. Eva Mendez to end the inning at 6-5.
Tight defense by first baseman Japitana and second baseman Cherry Octaviano left no room for the Hong Kong sluggers to score in the third inning. TB’s three consecutive batters were caught on the first base by passes from Octaviano to Japitana.
At Fate's turn to bat, TB changed its pitcher in a move that threw the team off balance and gave the Filipinas a scoring chance.
An error by the new pitcher adjusting to the position gave Sherlyn Gamata a free walk to first base. Another pitching error gave Fate a second free walk, prompting TB to put back its original pitcher, Ng Wing-hin.
But the switchback came too late. Fate, by then, had seized on the opportunity to score seven home runs in the third inning via Gamata, Edith Hidalgo, Octaviano, Locop,  Badajos, Japitana and Mendez. The inning closed at 12-6.
In the fourth inning, Ng Wing Hin added one run to TB’s score, while Fate was scoreless as the locals tried to fight back. The inning ended at 12-7.
TB took their last chance to catch up in the fifth inning, with batters Yeung Kit-ling and Hui Shui-ming adding two home runs.
But time was up and the umpires stopped the game with the score of 12-9, and the Fate players ran to the pitch cheering their victory.
“It was really a nice game!” exclaimed Law Wai-ho, Fate’s manager, who was very happy with the result of the match.

CARD to inject financial literacy in rural seminars for departing OFWs

About 200 graduated from various courses offered free by CARD MRI.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Starting this year, the Philippines’ biggest microfinance group, CARD MRI, will  integrate financial literacy in pre-departure orientation seminars for Filipino workers.
This was announced by CARD MRI president Julius Adrian Alip at the graduation ceremony for some 200 financial literacy and skills training graduates at the Catholic Centre Auditorium on May 29.
Alip also said those about to depart for work abroad will be signed up as members and provided with loan facility so they won’t have to borrow from loan sharks.
At the same time he invited graduates of its financial literacy program to apply for the 17,000 additional staff positions that the NGO needs for its Southeast Asian expansion in the next five years.
The graduation highlighted the fourth year of CARD MRI Foundation Hong Kong, which has already trained more than 1,200 OFWs in financial investment, debt management and livelihood skills since its founding.
Guest speaker Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre said he would push for the social and economic reintegration of professionals among the 180,000 OFWs in the SAR, while keynote speaker Vice Consul Alex Vallespin encouraged the workers to save and avoid getting mired in debt and in get-rich-quick schemes.
Alip noted with sadness a newspaper report that said domestic workers coming to Hong Kong are already buried in debt even before they arrive here.
 “If you read the whole article, it states that there are many violations of their contracts, but what struck me in the heart was a sentence that said even before they leave the Philippines they are already buried in debt,” Alip said.
“So, I was thinking, what can we do? Ano ang pwede naming gawin bago pa lang sila dumating dito para magtrabaho? How can we address the situation? Kasi sumasakay pa lang sa eroplano, may utang na. So, huli na yung financial literacy.”
He said the idea of pre-departure intervention was broached by CARD MRI Hong Kong’s first chair, Edna Aquino, when Alip was invited to join as private sector representative on a committee in the Commission for Filipinos Overseas.
He brought up the pre-departure intervention in a conference at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas about two months ago, proposing that OFWs should be given financial literacy training even before leaving the country.
Alip proposed that the government financial regulators could accredit microfinance institutions and the banking community in the rural areas as providers of pre-departure orientation seminars so that those in the provinces need not travel to Manila. He said financial literacy would be included in the PDOS.
He said CARD, through its three banks, would try to grant “reasonable loans” to those coming to Hong Kong for their air fare and other expenses “para hindi kayo baon sa utang. Gagawin na namin kayo kaagad na member para pagdating nyo rito, meron na kayong kakunekta kaagad.”
“We will be advancing this idea because it will help you a lot… I told your first chairman Edna Aquino we will start this project this year,” he said.
He said CARD MRI had been invited to Singapore and Japan to start the program in those two OFW destinations.
In the next five years, CARD would expand its operations in Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and, hopefully, in Thailand.
“Now I will be needing 17,000 additional staff within the next five years. Saan ako kukuha?  Sa inyo, at yung mga anak ng staff… because we are expanding,” Alip said.
Labatt De la Torre said OFWs’ main goal is to prepare themselves for reintegration to the Philippine society and the economy, yet, less than 10% of the businesses put up in the past by returning workers had become successful.
He said this raised worries about efforts to teach financial education without the proper preparation and management of the workers. “We need managers to lead them, otherwise they go back with nothing to do or they find the things they trained for are not any more suitable for current business realities,” he added.
He urged the graduates to strive for success in the businesses that they would put up, citing the case of a former Hong Kong domestic worker, Myrna Padilla, who has become a business icon through her successful IT business process outsourcing venture.
Vallespin, meanwhile, reiterated that the Consulate shares CARD’s program of promoting financial literacy and its goal of financial freedom for OFWs.
“Bago tayo makakauwi sa ating mga bayan sa Pilipinas ay matuto tayong mag-impok. Little steps, bit by bit…Wala po tayong ‘get rich quick’ schemes. To many overseas workers, the journey to financial freedom is long and arduous,” Vallespin said.
Expounding on “get rich quick” schemes, he warned that most of those who enroll fall for such ventures are scammed with no way of recovering their money.
More than a month after the recent Emgoldex pyramid scheme collapsed, there are still OFWs who fall prey the scam, Vallespin said.
Just before leaving for the CARD event, he said seven OFWs went to the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section to warn against a new spin-off of Emgoldex.

Saikung church honors DHs

Filipinas pose with Pastor Chris Ponniah (center, back row) and guest Pastor Terry Cheng (second from left) after the Resurrection Church's Helpers Day service.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Domestic helpers play a very important role in Hong Kong society caring for the children and elderly and tending the house while the employers are away at work, according to the pastor and worshippers at Resurrection Church in Saikung.
For their precious service, the church honored the migrant workers by holding a “Helpers Day” at its premises in Pak Sha Wan on May 29.
“This year is our third time we celebrate Helpers Day. The church was started by St. Andrews Church Kowloon to provide support and care for international and foreign workers in Saikung and Clear Water Bay,” Rev Chris Ponniah, minister in charge of Resurrection Church.
The pastor said this year’s event drew the largest attendance with more than 70 helpers joining the celebration.
Ponniah invited a group of Filipinas calling themselves “OFWs in Hong Kong” as special guests this year. He said the church would launch a broader fellowship that would include Indonesians and other nationalities, and would undertake outreach activities.
The whole-day celebration focused on the domestic workers, mostly Filipinas, who mingled with employers and their families in a two-hour church service that was followed by sharing of food specially prepared by the bosses for their helpers.
Resurrection Church celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013 with a mission “to share the love of Christ in the Saikung Clear Water Bay area through a community-style church.”
“Rev Peter Hurricks had the idea to celebrate Helpers Day three years ago. This year, I wanted to make it a big celebration so we created invitation cards and promoted (the event) widely,” said Ponniah.
“We want to make a difference in the lives of people,” said the pastor, announcing the launch of a Filipino fellowship the following Sunday, June 5, and eventually a Filipino worship.
The inspirational talk was delivered by Pastor Terry Cheng from Mindanao who gave a testimony of her conversion, while The Mission Filipino Solution comprising domestic workers provided choral singing.
Afterwards, Jessie Margo and the Fantasies presented their project in Maramag, Bukidnon – a church being built gradually with money from their fund-raising efforts.
As part of the service, two of 10 Filipinas who gave written testimonies of how Resurrection Church had changed their lives, spoke before the worshippers about the experience that brought them closer to God.

Duterte fills more posts

A sister of the controversial Tulfo brothers in the broadcast media was among three of the latest appointees of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte to his Cabinet.
Duterte announced on Monday evening, June 13, that he has chosen secretaries for the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The latest appointments were:
• Wanda Corazon Teo, a sister of Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo and radio broadcasters Erwin and Raffy, to the DOT
• Dr Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial, an assistant health secretary, to head the DOH
• Ramon Lopez, executive director of the entrepreneurship advocacy Go Negosyo! to the DTI.
Teo is president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies. Reports aid she also owns Mt Apo Travel and Tours, named after the Philippines’ highest peak found 32 kilometers west of Davao City.
Earlier appointees to the Duterte Cabinet and bureaus:
• Salvador Medialdea - executive secretary
• Leoncio “Jun” Evasco - Cabinet secretary
• Christopher "Bong" Go - Special Assistant to the President with general supervision over Presidential Management Staff (PMS)
• Martin Andanar – secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
• Salvador Panelo - presidential spokesperson
• Leonor Briones – education secretary (DepEd)
• Benjamin Diokno – budget and management secretary (DBM)
• Perfecto Yasay Jr., former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – foreign affairs secretary (DFA)
• Arthur Tugade – transportation and communications secretary (DOTC)
• Carlos Dominguez, former agriculture secretary – secretary of finance (DOF)
• Former North Cotabato governor Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol – agriculture secretary (DA)
• Las Piñas Representative Mark Villar - public works and highways secretary (DPWH)
• Jesus Dureza – head of the Mindanao peace process
• Former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III – labor secretary (DOLE)
• Former Bureau of Immigration chief Andrea Domingo – chairperson of the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor)
• Michael Dino - presidential assistant for the Visayas
• Vitaliano Aguirre II – justice secretary (DOJ)
• Alfonso Cusi – energy secretary (DOE)
• Jose Calida – solicitor general (OSG)
• Ernesto Pernia – secretary general, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)
• Hermogenes Esperon Jr. - national security adviser
• Mike Sueno - interior and local government secretary (DILG)
• Delfin Lorenzana – defense secretary (DND)
• Fortunato dela Pena – science and technology secretary (DOST)
• Isidro Lapena – director, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
• Ricardo Jalad – director – National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
• Nicanor Faeldon, commissioner, Bureau of Customs (BOC)
• Catalino Cuy – undersecretary for police matters under DILG
• Alex Monteagudo – director, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)
• Jaime Morente – commissioner, Bureau of Immigration (BI)
• Martin Delgra – director, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
• Edgar Galvante – director, Land Transportation Office (LTO)
• Dante Giran – director, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
• Ronald dela Rosa – director, Philippine National Police (PNP)
• Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya – chief, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP
• Col. Rolando Bautista – commander, Presidential Security Group (PSG)

Challenges await Duterte as he takes over gov’t

When Rodrigo Duterte takes his oath to start serving as president on June 30, challenges that had been brewing will be waiting for him.
The challenges come from within and outside the government.
One threat is that 20 big-time crime lords, mostly involved in illegal drugs, are reportedly raising a P1-billion fund for the heads of Duterte, his anointed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, a senator and another government official.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the country’s top crime lords, including those inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), were contributing to the kill-Duterte fund.
The 71-year-old Duterte has promised to neutralize criminality within three to six months of his presidency. He  particularly mentioned those in the Bilibid Prison who have been able to continue producing and trading prohibited drugs even while detained.
The fund-raising came after Duterte offered rewards for every drug lord or pusher killed. Duterte promised P5 million for every dead drug lord, P3 million if arrested alive and P50,000 each for small-time pushers.
Apart from Duterte and his incoming PNP chief Roland dela Rosa, also included in the kill-list were former Justice Secretary now Senator Leila de Lima and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ricardo Rainier Cruz III. De Lima led the first of the series of raids inside Bilibid where authorities discovered some inmates living in “suite-like” kubols with appliances, hot tubs, gadgets and more.
Because of the first raid, 19 high-profile inmates, mostly drug lords, were transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) while Building 14, a highly secured facility inside NBP, was being constructed. After the construction, the 19 inmates were moved back to the NBP and detained at Building 14, isolated from other inmates.
Of more concern, however, is the infighting within the Duterte ranks.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, for example, has expressed  resentment in the way Duterte is tyreating Sen. Bongbong Marcos, his rival to the vice presidency.
Cayetano said the statement from Marcos that he was considered for a Cabinet position in the Duterte presidency proves that the incoming official family of the president does not have all the “best and the brightest.”
Cayetano himself had been promised the foreign affairs portfolio after the one-year constitutional ban on appointments of losing candidates.
“Our president wants the best and the brightest. It’s up to the president who he would appoint,” Cayetano said. But when asked if he thinks Marcos belongs to the “best and the brightest,” Cayetano replied: “It doesn’t matter what I think. You know what I think. It’s what he (Duterte) thinks. He is the appointing authority.”
Marcos was the subject of Cayetano’s tirades during the campaign period. He attacked Marcos’s alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam as well as the ill-gotten wealth of his family.
Both Marcos and Cayetano lost to Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo.
Another threat comes from traditional politicians who have been used to switching loyalties to Duterte’s side.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who chairs the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said on Radio Veritas that political turncoats manage to stay in power by aligning themselves with every new administration. “Sa bagong Presidente, maging maingat siya sa mga balimbing. Ang dami ngayong pulitiko na pumapanig sa kanya kaya yung kanyang programa ng pagbabago ay hindi mangyayari kung kukunin niya rin ‘yung mga dating pulitiko, ‘yung mga balimbing na ngayon na siya ang nauuna sila naman ay pupunta naman sa kanya, dito makikita natin ang pagkatrapo sa mga pulitiko,” Pabillo said.
In the past two weeks, politicians from other parties have been jumping into the PDP-Laban, the party that carried Duterte’s presidential bid.
Some political parties like the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) founded by businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. and Nacionalista Party (NP) of former Senator Manuel Villar Jr. have signed coalition agreements with PDP-Laban.

SC chief: We’re ready for a Duterte presidency

Sereno 

Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno explained on Sunday, June 12, that the Supreme Court’s silence on the controversial statements of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte involving legal issues should not be misconstrued as a sign of cowardice.
Speaking at the Independence Day commemoration rites in Quezon City, Sereno asked for patience and to wait for the proper time when such controversial issues are raised to the Supreme Court to intervene, such as the time when Duterte’s public pronouncement in favor of the restoration of the death penalty against heinous crimes, particularly those involving the illegal drugs trade.
“We appeal for understanding on silence of judges, especially of the chief justice,” Sereno said in Filipino.  “Let’s be fair; otherwise, judgment will come even before these issues reach the Court.”
She told her audience that the judiciary is completely ready for a Duterte presidency.
But at this point, she said that the legal issues on the death penalty are not yet ripe for the Supreme Court to intervene.
Restoring the death penalty requires legislation by Congress.

Defend freedoms, Aquino urges Filipinos

In his last Independence Day address, outgoing President Benigno Aquino 3rd urged Filipinos on Sunday, June 12, to defend their freedom and democracy and to remain vigilant as he warned that the horrors of martial law could happen again.
Aquino turns over the presidency on June 30 to Rodrigo Duterte, who won with a vote margin of more than six million in the May 9 balloting.
“Now that we’re entering a new chapter in our history, let us not forget that freedom must be guarded and nurtured. We must strive to achieve and fight for all the things that matter,” Aquino said.
“All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” he said, using a quote usually attributed to British statesman Edmund Burke.
Aquino enumerated some of the achievements under his administration in transforming the country from being the “sick man of Asia,” to “Asia’s darling” under a democratic rule that honors due process, law and human rights. He underscored that this was accomplished without disregard for the rule of law.
“Let us remember that just a generation ago, the Philippine government itself was the one suppressing the freedom of our fellow Filipinos. A fellow Filipino deprived us of our freedoms. It means that if we are not vigilant, this can happen again,” the President said.
In between the speech, an audio visual presentation was shown about the Aquino family suffered during the martial law years particularly when his father and namesake was detained for more than seven years.
Aquino’s father, the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated in 1983 as he was going down the plane at the then Manila International Airport . Three years later, Filipinos succeeded in overthrowing then dictator Ferdinand Marcos who was flown to Honolulu, Hawaii where he died in 1989.
Part of the annual Independence Day celebrations was the traditional vin ‘d honneur attended by diplomats, top government officials, and business executives.
“Allow me to propose a toast. To the Filipino people: may we never lose our patience with the ways of democracy, and may we never take it for granted or be passive in its defense,” he said.
Aquino said Filipinos should treasure the country’s 118 years of independence and guard against attempts to revive authoritarianism.
He called on Filipinos to fight attempts to take away their freedoms as he prepared to hand over power to incoming president Rodrigo Duterte, who has vowed to kill criminals.
“To our hard-won Filipino freedom, earned by the blood and sacrifice of martyrs, nurtured by the vigilance of an empowered people, may it never again be challenged, diminished, or negated,” he said.
Duterte has warned that as president he will shut down Congress and establish a revolutionary government if lawmakers do not support his policies or if he is investigated for his anti-crime policies.
 Duterte has also promised to allow the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, despite strong opposition from some quarters. Marcos’s remains has been kept in the family’s mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. His son and namesake, who ran but lost in a tightly-fought vice presidential race in May, said his father’s body would be transferred to the heroes’ cemetery possibly in September.

Bawal kumuha ng pasaporte ng iba

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Kapag kinumpiska ng iyong amo o ahensiya ang iyong pasaporte sa kadahilanang ito umano ay pangalagaan nila, huwag mag-atubiling magsuplong sa mga maykapangyarihan. Ang pagsamsam at pagtatago sa pasaporte ng ibang tao ay mahigpit na ipinagbabawal sa Hong Kong.
Dahil sa ginawang ito, nahaharap ngayon sa sakdal na pagnanakaw ang mag-asawang amo ng dalawang Pilipinang katulong na dumating sa Hong Kong noon lang Abril 28.
Ang kaso ay napakamahalaga dahil ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na kinasuhan ang mga amo dahil sa pagsamsam sa pasaporte ng kanilang kasambahay.
Ayon sa patakaran ng Hong Kong, walang karapatan ang ibang tao na samsamin at itago ang pasaporte ng ibang tao. Ayon sa mga gabay na ipinapalabas ng gobyerno sa mga dayuhang katulong, itawag sa pulisya o sa Immigration Department kapag kinuha ng ibang tao ang iyong pasaporte.
Ipinagbawal ng pamahalaan ng Hong Kong mula pa noong Dekada 90 ang nakagawian ng mga institusyon at mga taong nagpapautang na hawakan ang pasaporte o kontrata ng isang nangungutang upang hindi nito matakasan ang kanyang pagkakautang.
Natatandaan namin na noong hindi pa ibinawal ang ganyang kalakaran ay maraming katulong ang hindi nakakauwi o nakakapag-ayos ng kanilang mga visa dahil wala sa kanilang pag-iingat ang kanilang mga pasaporte.
Nauso kasi noong panahong iyon ang pagsasangla o pagpiprenda ng mga dayuhang katulong ng kanilang mga pasaporte kapag mayroon silang biglaang pangangailangan ng pera. Hanggang ngayon ay nangyayari ang pagtatago ng dayuhan sa Hong Kong kahit lipas na ang kanyang visa, dahil ang kanyang pasaporte at hawak ng pinagkakautangan.
Ang masaklap ay ginagawa rin ng mga amo at mga ahensiya sa empleo ang ganitong kalakaran upang mapilitang manatili sa amo o magbayad ng illegal na singilin sa ahensiya ang isang dayuhang katulong.
Ilan nang mga ganitong paglabag sa batas ang idinaing sa amin ng mga kasambahay na pinagmalupitan o di-makatarungang sinisante ng kanilang mga amo.
Kadalasang idinadahilan ng mga amo o ahensiya na may nilagdaang kasulatan ang mga nagreklamong katulong na diumano ay pinahahawakan nila ang kanilang mga pasaporte upang hindi sila matuksong mangutang. Ngunit itinatatwa ito ng mga katulong, at hindi din naman ito maaring gamitin na dahilan para kunin ang pasaporte                                             nila.
Ayon sa mga nabalitaan namin, hindi iisa o dadalawang amo o ahensiya ang nagsasamsam ng mga pasaporte ng mga katulong kundi marami sila – isang pahiwatig na malawakan ang maling kalakarang ito.
Samakatwid, ang pagsasampa ng kasong pagnanakaw sa mga amo ng dalawang katulong na iniligtas ng mga opisyal ng Konsulado noong Hunyo 8 sa Fotan, Shatin, ay isang babala sa mga amo at ahensiyang kumukumpiska sa pasaporte ng mga kasambahay.
Isa ring magandang ehemplo ito sa mga dayuhang kasambahay dito sa Hong Kong na sana ay mag-udyok sa kanila para kumilos at magsuplong sa mga awtoridad kapag inaabuso ng amo o ahensiya ang karapatan nila, kahit pa nakataya ang kanilang trabaho.
Aabangan namin ang kahihinatnan ng kasong ito dahil humigit-kumulang sa 350,000 dayuhang kasambahay ang maaapektuhan ng magiging resulta nito.