Police arrest Peya Travel owners

By The SUN Hong Kong

Hong Kong police have arrested husband and wife Peter Brian and Rhea Donna Bayona-Boyce, owners of Peya Travel, which was at the center of an airline booking mess over the Christmas holidays.

Police say 645 people, mostly overseas Filipino workers, were affected by the apparent booking scam.  All appear not to have been issued airline tickets, despite Peya’s assurance that they had confirmed flights after collecting the full fare from each of them.

Thirty-eight year old Rhea Donna, or Yanyan to many in the community, was the first to be arrested.  She was picked up from the couple’s flat in Wanchai at noon on Christmas day, and then taken wearing a face mask and her head covered with a pink wrap, to Peya’s office in World Wide Plaza where the police collected documents.

Yanyan, who was the travel agency’s managing director, was detained for two days at the Central Police Station before being allowed to post bail. She was told to report back to the police in early January.

Peter, 59, a retired securities consultant, was taken in shortly after Yanyan’s temporary release. He was released on police bail after being questioned for a full day. He, too, was ordered to report back to the police early next month.

The couple was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to defraud Peya’s customers out of some $2 million in paid plane fares. The travelers had paid an average of $3,000 each for the Philippines-bound flights that they were unable to take.

Police said that since mid-December, they had received complaints from several “foreign women” whose air tickets from PEYA were not honored by airlines.

A 67-year-old local man also reportedly went to the police on Dec. 21 to complain that his company, an air ticket wholesaler, had not been paid for about $3 million worth of tickets it had issued Peya since May this year.

On Dec 28, Benny Hui, a travel agency owner and also a ticket wholesaler, told The SUN he stopped giving credit to Peya at the end of August after a check issued by Yanyan had bounced.

The booking mess initially affected about 100 workers who were scheduled to depart Hong Kong International Airport on Dec 17, but Yanyan told The SUN she managed to book them on other flights at premium fare.

But the apparent scam unraveled when hundreds more Peya customers were unable to board their flights the next day because they were not issued tickets. Airline staff told the irate travelers that Peya had failed to pay for their tickets.

On Monday morning, Dec 18, Peya staff walked out on their jobs after being swamped with complaints by angry customers.

Yanyan and her sales and marketing manager Arnold Grospe were left to handle the growing number of complainants.

Yanyan eventually slipped out and Grospe, for the next two days, faced the hundreds of rowdy customers who demanded to be rebooked on other flights or be refunded their payments.

Grospe was invited to the Central Police station for questioning at the close of business hours on Dec 20, but was released after five hours without any charge being laid against him.

As the unrest mounted, the Consulate led by acting head of post Roderico Atienza began taking down the statements and contact details of the affected Peya customers. A total of 167 Filipinos responded to the call  to lodge complaints, which the Consulate then endorsed to the police for further action.

Deputy Consul General Atienza also wrote a letter to Hong Kong’s Commissioner of Police Lo Wai-chung early on Dec 21 calling for an investigation.

Three days later, Commissioner Lo reportedly visited DCG Atienza amid a growing call for police action on the case.  Yanyan was arrested the next day.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific Airlines responded to the crisis by announcing that it was sending bigger aircraft to Hong Kong to ferry some of the stranded travelers on its last flights on Dec. 22 and 23.

The airline also said it was charging a”distress fare”, (which one passenger said was only $1,300 for a return  ticket) for the extra seats as a humanitarian gesture.

The next day, Dec. 21, Philippine Airlines also said in a statement that it was sending bigger aircraft to fly out more OFW passengers on the two crucial dates.

About 200 distressed Peya customers reportedly snapped up the extra seats offered by both airlines at heavily discounted fares for the two busiest days of the flying season.

Cebu Pacific then stepped up to the plate by offering 50 free tickets to the affected travelers on a first come, first served basis. However, the slots that were opened were only for the evening flights of Dec. 25, 30 and Jan. 8.

The Philippine government, through Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, upped the ante by offering to pay for the fare of all OFWs who were unable to fly home for the holidays because of the Peya fiasco, subject to the availability of seats.

After negotiating with PAL, the flag carrier, about 50 extra seats that were paid for by the government were offered to the affected passengers.

At the close of business hours on Dec.24, Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre said a total of 101 OFWs had managed to avail of the free tickets on the Cebu Pacific and PAL flights.

The processing of applications for the free seats was handled by staff at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office who put in extra hours to do the job.

On Dec. 27, the processing resumed for OFW applicants who plan to go home before the New Year.

Walang pa ring susi kahit 6 months na sa amo

Anim na buwan na si Mary sa mga amo ngunit wala pa rin siyang susi sa bahay, kaya laging malaking problema tuwing araw ng kanyang day-off. Mahigpit ang bilin ng kanyang amo na huwag siyang magpapahuli ng uwi kapag siya ay lumalabas, kaya laging on time siya sa pagbalik sa kanilang bahay, kahit na nasa Tiu Keng Leng sa New Territories pa iyon.

Ang kaso, ang mga amo ang mahilig umuwi ng gabi kaya madalas na mamuti ang mga mata ni Leni sa kakahintay sa kanila. Gaya na lang nitong nagdaang Pasko.

Bagamat gusto sana ni Mary na makasama pa ng mas matagal ang mga kaibigan sa importanteng okasyon na ito ay minabuti pa rin niyang umuwi ng maaga. Alas siyete pa lang ay nasa pintuan na siya ngunit wala ang kanyang mga amo sa bahay kaya minabuti niyang magtalungko na lang sa harap ng pintuan.

Nag message siya sa kanyang amo ngunit lumipas muna ang isang oras at 20 minuto bago ito sumagot. Sinabi nito na mag message na lang daw ito kapag pauwi na sila. Mabuti na lang at napansin siya ng kanilang kapitbahay at sinabing pumasok muna siya sa kanila dahil malamig sa labas.

Sinabi ni Mary sa amo na pinapasok siya ng kapitbahay para doon muna maghintay at umoo naman sa amo. Nahihiya man na baka nakakaabala na siya sa kapitbahay ngunit hindi sya pinayagang umalis hanggang hindi pa dumarating ang amo.

Laking pasalamat ni Mary sa kapitbahay dahil sa mabuti nitong puso, kundi ay napagod siya nang husto sa kakatayo sa labas dahil umabot sa apat na oras bago umuwi ang kanyang amo.

At kahit day off niya, alam ni Mary na papagtrabahuin pa siya ng amo pagdating nito, kaya siguradong puyat na naman siya.

Sa kabila nito ay ayaw pa rin ni Mary na mag “break contract” ng dahil lang sa susi. Ang mas mahalaga sa kanya ay nakakatanggap siya ng sahod kada buwan kaya titiisin na lang daw muna niya ang kanyang walang tiwalang amo hanggang matapos ang kanilang kontrata. Gayunpaman, gusto pa rin niyang kausapin ang kanyang amo para manghingi ng susi. —-Rodelia Villa

PCG warns vs. facial cream with excessive mercury

Filipinos are being warned by the Consulate against buying a facial cream that may contain excessive amounts of mercury, thus posing a health risk.

The Consulate accompanied the warning with a press release from the Centre for Health Protection of Hong Kong’s Department of Health that urged the public not to buy or use the cosmetic product, Zi Xin Mei Spots Removing Night Cream.

The appeal followed the CHP’s receipt of notification of a case of mercury poisoning from the Hospital Authority involving a female patient aged 30. The CHP commenced investigations immediately.

The patient, with good past health, has developed swelling of her lower limbs since November and provided a recent history of use of the above product for one to two months before symptoms appeared.

Her urine sample revealed a mercury level 14 280 times the acceptable reference level and this was clinically suspected to be related to the use of the product.

The CHP’s investigation is continuing, and the case has been referred to the relevant law enforcement agency for follow-up.

“Chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, deterioration of memory, difficulty in concentration, impaired hearing and vision, and change in the taste function. In severe cases, renal failure may occur,” a spokesman for the CHP explained.

 ”As the mercury content of the product far exceeded the acceptable level, its use may result in serious side-effects…Members of the public are urged not to buy or use cosmetic products of unknown composition or obtained from doubtful sources,” the spokesman said.

Stranded sa HK dahil sa Peya

Isa si Perla, 56 at taga Pampanga, sa nakabili sa palpak na air ticket ng Peya Travel. Halos maiyak siya nang sabihin sa kanya sa check-in counter ng Philippine Airlines na wala ang kanyang pangalan sa listahan ng mga pasahero sa PR313 na paalis ng 7:50 ng umaga noong Dec. 18.

Galit na galit siya dahil noon lang nangyari sa kanya ang ganoon. Ilang buwang paghahanda, pag-iisip, pagba-budget at pagkundisyon sa isip ang pinagdaanan niya sa pag-asang makakauwi at makakapiling ang pamilya sa kapaskuhan. 

Kasama ang ilan pang pasahero ng Peya na ganoon din ang kinabagsakan ay agad silang tumawag sa ahensiya at pinangakuan sila na isasakay sa eroplano na paalis ng 4pm, pero hindi pa kumpirmado. Sumakit ang ulo ni Perla dahil sa dami ng alalahanin, lalo na at hindi siya nakatulog noong nagdaang gabi sa paninigurong walang aberyang mangyayari sa bakasyon niya.

Pati ang mga susundo sana sa kanya sa Maynila ay pinabalik niya sa Pampanga nang malaman na nakaalis na sila at nasa San Simon expressway na. Ayaw na niyang umasa sa pangako ng Peya kaya nagpatulong sa isang kaibigan na residente na i-book na lang siya sa Cebu Pacific papunta ng Clark airport, kahit $5,300 na ang halaga ng return air ticket, at 20 kilos lang ang pwedeng dalhin na bagahe. Nagbayad siya ng dagdag na $300 dahil may excess baggage siya.

Nagbabala siya sa ibang kapwa pasahero na kumpirmahin diretso sa airline kung talagang nakasama sila sa listahan ng pasahero para sa kanilang flight at hindi makaranas ng aberya na katulad ng sinapit niya.

At sa mga travel agency, nakiusap siya na huwag tutulad sa Peya, “maawa naman po kayo sa amin”, ang sabi niya.

Balak ni Perla ngayon na sumali sa mga nagreklamo laban sa Peya pagbalik niya sa Hong Kong, para man lang maibalik ang perang ibinayad niya sa kanila, at kung maari ay pabayad din ang perhuwisyong inabot niya ng dahil sa kanilang kapalpakan.– George Manalansan

Duterte claims success in war vs crime, drugs

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported an 8.44 percent decrease in the total crime volume nationwide from 493,912 reported crimes in October 2016 to 452,204 in October 2017.

It also noted the decrease in index crime at 20.56 percent, with robbery incidents fewer by 23.61 percent from 18,259 in October 2016 to 13,948 in October 2017.

In the war on illegal drugs, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque claimed it was “hugely successful, citing combined data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), showing that 1,308,078 drug addicts have surrendered to the government as of July 26, 2017; while authorities have arrested 118,287 individuals as of November 27, 2017 during 79,193 anti-drug operations in the same period.

“I think the communities are safer and our young people are better protected against drugs,” Roque said in a recent interview.

He said he expects fewer allegations of human rights violations tied to the illegal drugs drug clampdown. “I think it’s human experience that we should hear less complaints because we know how to do it better,” he added.

“The Duterte administration has accomplished much in its first full year in office in 2017. The President’s decisive leadership, plus the strong collaboration among various government agencies, has resulted in the attainment of many of the priorities set out by the national government in the last 12 months,” said part of a 63-page accomplishment report of the Duterte administration.

It said authorities seized illegal substances worth P18.92 billion; and that 4,747 barangays have been declared drug-free as of November 27, 2017.

However, the same report said only 3,967 drug personalities have died in the government’s war on drugs as of November 27, 2017 while 16, 355 homicide cases are still under investigation, the joint data added.

Human rights groups have been citing more than 13, 000 deaths attributed to the government’s aggressive war on drugs.  Human rights advocates classified the deaths as “extrajudicial killings” as they claim that Duterte’s rhetoric has emboldened policemen to use shortcuts in the anti-drug crackdown.

A prevailing narrative in anti-drug operations is the “nanlaban” claim of the police operatives, wherein suspects killed allegedly fought back and resisted arrest. Critics, however, decry extrajudicial killings in the process as they point out that those killed in the drug war have yet to face a court to try allegations against them.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said “crucial reforms” will be undertaken in the year ahead to achieve President Duterte’s commitment to eliminate illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption in government.

In a 63-page yearend report released on Tuesday, Roque said Duterte and his administration would “act in urgency” to give “the Filipino people a safe, secure, and comfortable environment through his key platforms of providing law and order, lasting peace, and prosperity for all.”

Duterte promised to rid the country of drugs and criminality in six months, but later asked for a longer deadline, insisting he was not aware of the gravity of the drug problem.

1.28M Filipinos leave for overseas jobs, 1.17M repatriated in 2017

The government recorded 1.28 million Filipinos who left the country for overseas employment in the first nine months of 2017 while 1.17 million others were brought back home for various reasons from different countries, mostly from the Middle East.

According to partial statistics from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), 1.06 million of those who left for overseas work from January to September were land-based workers while 22, 477 were mostly seafarers.

However, only 321, 345 of those who left were new hires. The rest were re-hires.

The POEA suspended the deployment of new hires for 15 days in November purportedly to control illegal recruitment operations involving certain officials and employees of the agency.

While Filipino workers continue to seek employment abroad, more have also been receiving repatriation and reintegration benefits from the government.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said 1,170,514 OFWs received welfare and protection programs, including reintegration and repatriation services from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in 2017.

From July to October of this year, 54,470 OFWs and their families benefitted from the government’s intensified reintegration programs, including skills training and livelihood assistance, the labor chief reported.

He said 36,438 OFWs, mostly from the Middle East, were repatriated and provided with on-site assistance and P20, 000 financial aids each.

A total of 9,512 repatriated OFWs were provided additional cash grants of P6, 000 each while 13,245 OFWs were given food and hygiene kits each.

In connection with the 90-day amnesty program of Saudi Arabia for undocumented and stranded foreign nationals, OWWA also recorded a total of 15,839 Filipino migrant workers who took up the amnesty, 10,011 of whom were repatriated to the Philippines.

The DOLE released a total of P514, 412,350.21 to provide various assistance to OFWs, such as food and hygiene kits, legal counseling and stress debriefing, medical and psycho-social services and training assistance.

Bello said DOLE sought bigger budget for next year’s repatriation program because the government needs to prepare for the possible repatriation of OFWs in Qatar and other Middle East countries due to prevailing conflicts. “The situation in Qatar is still stable, but we cannot just relax our guard, we are talking of 240,000 Filipinos staying there,” he said.

PEYA co-owner arrested on suspicion of fraud

Police lead Boyce out of PEYA's shop in Central on Christmas Day

By The SUN

Hong Kong police are questioning Monday night Rhea Donna Boyce, co-owner of PEYA Travel, after arresting her at noon on Christmas Day in her Wanchai flat on suspicion of fraud in connection with her company’s airline booking mess.

The 38-year-old Boyce, a Filipina married to an Australian national listed as PEYA’s other co-owner, was seen being led by police in the afternoon to her shuttered office on the third floor of World Wide Plaza in Central where they searched for evidence.

Police said in a later report that the woman arrested whom they did not identify, would be detained overnight at the Central Police station for further investigation. They did not rule out further arrests.

The report said the “foreign woman” was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud foreign workers.’’

“A unit of the Central Police District Crime Squad who took over the investigation of cases arrested at about 12 noon today (Dec 25) in Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, a 38-year foreign female person in charge of the travel company on suspicion of conspiring to commit fraud,” the report said.

People who witnessed Boyce being escorted to PEYA’s office on Monday afternoon said the search lasted for about two hours.

Afterwards, Boyce, better known in the Filipino community by her nickname “Yanyan”, was seen being escorted out of the shop wearing a face mask and her head covered in a pink shawl, as a fellow Filipina shouted and taunted her.

  

The police said that since mid-December, they had received complaints from several foreign women whose air tickets bought from PEYA Travel were not honored by airlines.

Police initially estimated there were as many as 645 people who had complained against the agency and that the sum involved was about $2 million.

However, the police said that in addition, a 67-year-old local man reported on Dec. 21 that his company, through which PEYA sourced its air tickets, had not been paid for about $3 million worth of tickets by the travel agency since May this year.

Police invited Boyce on Saturday night for questioning. Reports say she appeared with her legal representative at the police station but declined to talk.

Boyce offered to refund the money paid by her irate customers

But in a phone conversation with The SUN later that night, Boyce said she was sorry about what happened, and that she was willing to refund the money of all of PEYA's customers who were not able to board their flights, though she couldn't do it all at once. She also said she was considering paying compensation on top of the refund.

Boyce insisted there was no fraud or malice on her company's part, but remained vague as to the real cause.

The booking mess unraveled on Dec. 17 when groups of overseas Filipino workers on their way home for the holidays were told at the check-in counters at Chek Lap Kok that PEYA had not paid for their tickets, and could not thus not board their flights.

Boyce tried to remedy the problem by buying tickets for about 100 OFWs about to leave that day, but was apparently overwhelmed by hundreds more of her customers being turned away at the airport in the succeeding days.

Boyce did not show up at her office the next day, and left her marketing director, Arnold Grospe to face the growing number of irate customers who demanded a refund. At the close of business hours on Dec. 19, Grospe was led away by police for questioning, but was released without charges after about five hours.

Acting on the OFWs’ complaints, the Consulate’s acting head of post Roderico Atienza instructed the assistance to nationals section to begin taking statements from the affected PEYA customers.

On Dec. 21, Atienza wrote a letter to Commissioner of Police Lo Wai-chung, urging an investigation, but failed to get a quick response.

But three days later, as the number of complaints mounted, the police started investigating.

As of Dec. 24, the number of complainants had reached about 600, said ATN officer Danny Baldon.

Meanwhile, the first PEYA passengers who snapped up the free air tickets offered by the Philippine government and Cebu Pacific Air left on Dec. 25, and were sent off by Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre and his staff.

Cebu Pac offered 50 free tickets to the affected OFWs on a first-come, first-served basis, while about the same number were paid for by the Philippine government and booked through Philippine Airlines.

Earlier, PAL, following Cathay Pacific Airways’ example, sent bigger aircraft to Hong Kong for their last flights on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 to allow more affected passengers to fly to Manila.  

PHL govt joins scramble to bring home stranded Peya customers

Several groups have thrown a lifteline to OFWs who failed to fly home due to Peya's fault

By The SUN staff

The Philippine government has joined the last-minute dash to bring home overseas Filipino workers who were unable to board their flights a few days before Christmas because their booking agent, Peya Travel, failed to get their tickets issued, despite charging them the full fare.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told media outlets in the Philippines earlier today that the government would pay for the air fare because OFWs “have a very special place in President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s hear.”

Cayetano said the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment would split the cost of the air tickets of affected OFWs.

He was also reported as saying that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had placed the Philippine Air Force on standby in case it needed to fly the workers out of Hong Kong.

The acting head of Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong, Roderico Atienza, confirmed to The SUN that they had received instructions about the plan to get the affected OFWs home free of charge.

“There is negotiation going on to bring them home,” Atienza said. “The government is footing the bill.”

He said the talks are between the government and Philippine Airlines, which is being asked if it could fly the passengers first, then bill the government later. As of this writing, however, no commitment has yet been secured from PAL.

Atienza was, however, quick to quell reports that a military aircraft, particularly a C130, would be sent to Hong Kong to ferry the distressed passengers.

“It’s not that easy to send a military aircraft to a foreign territory,” said Atienza. “We will need Beijing’s approval for it.”

He said getting the military involved was definitely not part of the instructions given them by the head office in Manila.

Getting PAL to fly home more stranded OFWs could, however, prove to be a problem. A staff member of the airline’s Hong Kong office said all the additional seats offered by PAL for its flights to Manila for Dec. 22 and 23 have been snapped up.

A total of about 200 seats were freed up for the affected passengers on PAL’s last flights out of Hong Kong for the two days, after the airline decided to send bigger aircraft to Hong Kong. These were sold for $3,030 each, roundtrip, to people who applied for them directly with PAL. Return ticket prices for these two dates were selling for no less than $5,000 before the Peya fiasco erupted.

Cathay Pacific Airways, which earlier announced the same strategy of using bigger aircraft for its flights to Manila on these two days and offered a “distress fare” of just $1,300 return to affected passenger, appears to have filled all available slots immediately.

A latecomer in the move to get the stranded OFWs home is Cebu Pacific Airways, which offered 50 free air tickets yesterday to the affected passengers on three Hong Kong to Manila flights: On Dec 25 at 7:30pm, Dec. 30 at 3:45pm, and Jan. 8 at 3:45pm.

The airline has asked the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to process the applications for the free air tickets from the affected passengers. As of 3pm today, 38 of the available tickets have already been taken, said Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre.

Labatt dela Torre also said OWWA has started accepting applications for the free PAL flights that might be arranged by the government. As of the close of office hours today, only 10 OFWs had stepped forward to take advantage of the promised free tickets.

Meanwhile, Atienza clarified that the Philippine Consulate has no legal personality to file a complaint with the police against Peya Travel amid reports Secretary Cayetano had instr\ucted them to charge the agency of fraud.

He said the most that the Consulate can do is to ask those victimized in the ticketing mess to fill up a form detailing their complaints against the agency, then refer these to the police.

However, he said the Consulate did send a letter early yesterday to the Commissioner of Police, asking for an investigation into the complaints against Peya, but has yet to get a reply.

Attached to the letter was a list of the names and contact numbers of 161 Filipinos who sought the Consulate's help in pursuing Peya for the alleged fraud.

Erwiana wins over $800k in damages from ex-employer

By Vir B. Lumicao

Erwiana with the Misiion's Cynthia Tellez ar the
srtart of the hearing of her civil claim 

Indonesian former domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih has been awarded her total claim of $809, 403 against her former Hong Kong employer who tortured her for more than seven months three years ago.

District Court Judge Winnie Tsui handed down the judgment on Dec. 21 with neither party present. 

In her decision, Judge Tsui called Sulistyaningsih’s maltreatment “inhumane, degrading and abhorrent.”

Sulistyaningsih is due to hold a press conference at 2:30pm today in Jordan to speak about her court victory. She will be assisted by the Mission for Migrant Workers manager Cynthia Tellez and Asian Migrants Coordinating Body chair Eni Lestari, who both helped Sulistyaningsih pursue her case.

It was the second vindication for Sulistyaningsih, whose former employer, Law Wan-tung, was jailed for six years in 2015 for her almost daily abuse of the Indonesian helper.

“The things which then defendant did to the plaintiff over those seven months were not done merely to inflict physical pain. They were meant to insult and to subdue the plaintiff to a state of total submission to the defendant’s authority,” Tsui said.

The damages awarded comprised $450,000 for pain, suffering and loss of amenities; $180,000 in aggravated damages for repeated assault and false imprisonment; $86,249 for pre-trial loss of earnings; $50,000 for loss of earning capacity; pre-trial expenses of $33,269 and future medical expenses of $9,910.

Now 25 years old and studying management and economics, Sulistyaningsih initiated the civil action against her former boss on Mar 16, 2015, about a month after Law was jailed for six years by District Court Judge Amanda Woodcock.

Tsui noted that Sulistyaningsih, represented by Tony Ko from Boase, Cohen & Collins,  had filed two statements before the hearing.

“She also gave evidence as the only witness at the hearing,” Tsui said.

Law at her court trial

Law, meanwhile, “acting in person, was not in any position to put forward a positive case to counter the amount of damages claimed by the plaintiff,” the judge said. The jailed former employer also chose not to cross examine the plaintiff.

Thus, the court said it could not consider Law’s allegations that Sulistyaningsih’s injuries were not as serious as the helper had claimed.

“Having considered (Sulistyaningsih’) evidence as a whole, I accept in full the factual account given by the plaintiff as true, including the abuses and maltreatment that she had gone through and endured…and her physical injuries and psychiatric symptoms,” Tsui said.       

PAL, Cathay extend help to stranded Peya clients

Peya's office in World Wide Plaza was shut on the third day of the ticketing scandal
(photo by Vir Lumicao)

By The SUN Staff

The two major airlines serving the Hong Kong to Manila route have stepped forward to extend help to hundreds of overseas Filipino workers who got caught in a ticketing fiasco involving Peya Travel.

Both Philippine Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways have announced plans to send bigger aircraft to Hong Kong over the Christmas holiday crunch to help Peya customers who were unable to fly home because they were issued only itineraries and not air tickets.

In addition, Cathay has started selling so-called “distress tickets” at discounted prices to an undetermined number of OFWs who got caught in the mess. The tickets, which are reportedly being sold for as low as $1,300 each, will be for seats that are still available on Cathay flights departing for Manila from between Dec. 21 to 31.

“For Filipino friends affected by the issues related to a HK travel agent not affiliated with us, we stand ready to help as much as we can,” Cathay posted on its Twitter account on Tuesday. It urged distressed passengers to explore their options by contacting its call centre at 2747 3333 or use Twitter or Facebook to send a private message.

In its own statement issued a day later, PAL said it would be using larger aircraft to flight to and from Hong Kong on Dec. 22 and 23, and on Jan 3 next year...”in order to give the stranded Filipino domestic workers an opportunity to avail of seats out of Hong Kong.”

The statement quoted PAL’s President and COO Jaime J. Bautista as saying: “Our hearts go to our stranded countrymen. We hope this gesture will serve as a means to help a number of them come home to the Philippines in time for Christmas day.”

Cebu Pacific, another airline with regular daily flights between Hong Kong and Manila or Clark, has reportedly said it was also looking at ways to help the stranded Filipinos. However, its flights to the Philippines in the remaining four days before Christmas are all full.

In the meantime, Peya’s office on the third floor of Worldwide Plaza was shut yesterday, Dec. 20, after the Travel Agents Registry reportedly revoked its license “temporarily”. The Travel Industry Council, which regulates the operation of travel agencies, also suspended Peya’s membership for the meantime.

For two days previously, Peya’s sales and marketing director Arnold Grospe single handedly braved the wrath of customers demanding a refund, or an explanation as to why the agency left them in a lurch at the busiest time of the year.

The Consulate has also begun taking action, by asking Peya customers who failed to board flights they were supposed to be on, to come forward and file a complaint.

As of the close of business hours on Wednesday, a total of  131 Peya customers had taken heed of the Consulate’s call.

However, the number of affected passengers is believed to range from 500 to a lot more, as Peya was a favorite booking agent among Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Vice Consul Bob Quintin who heads the assistance to nationals section, said he had talked to both Grospe and Peya owner and managing director Rhea Donna Boyce, but did not get much.

Quintin said he urged the two to come out and answer queries to resolve the issue. But the two Peya executives reportedly stuck to their story that a system glitch had prevented air tickets being issued to their clients.

Grospe was held for questioning at the Central Waterfront station Tuesday night, but was released without charges being laid.

Peya Travel subsequently posted an apology on its Facebook page, and said it was doing its best to help the affected customers. However, there was no mention of how or when it intends to extend help.

At the Philippine Airlines office in Tsimshatsui East, more than 100 would-be passengers had their supposed bookings checked, only to be told their bookings had been cancelled because the payment didn’t come.

A woman who said her flight was booked for Dec 19 inquired about the next available flight and staff at the PAL counter told her there was one seat available on Dec 24 but it was business class “and it’s very expensive”.

Some Filipinas who were called ahead of her bought new tickets, saying they had to dip deep into their savings, while others said their employers had given them ticket money again.

Despite the number of unwitting victims in the ticketing scandal, Hong Kong Police said they were not about to file charges against anyone.

“The cases were classified as a ‘dispute’ and we passed all of them to the Travel Industry Council,” the spokesman said.

Other companies have jumped into the fray by offering various ways to help the affected workers.

TNG, which calls itself as a “cashless remittance agency, announced it had set up a $500,000 fund for its members who got caught in the Peya fiasco.

Each TNG member who manages to prove booking their flights through the discredited agency will be given $1,000 to help them buy the pricey holiday tickets to the Philippines.

A number of Central-based travel agencies catering to Filipinos have also stepped forward, offering to help OFWs book their flights.

Among them was Filipino (HK) Travel Services, which urged affected passengers to visit its office on the third floor of Worldwide Plaza to avail of the extra seats that the airlines are offering.

Fashion ang gustong negosyo dahil sa hilig

Ni Cecil Eduarte

“Kahit may edad na ako, gusto kong matupad ang goal ko na  maging boss ng sarili kong negosyo na isang ‘fashion boutique’. I am certain na ito ang gusto kong negosyo kasi I love fashion at tumbok nito ang skills na meron ako”.

Ito ang mga katagang sinabi ni Nimfa Isidro, 63 taong gulang, tubong Antique at 33 years nang nagtatrabaho sa Hong kong, sa kanyang testimonyal sa pagtatapos ng mga huling nagsanay sa CARD HK Foundation na ginanap noong Nob. 26 sa Duke of Windsor Auditorium.

Si Nimfa Isidro kasama si Vice Consul Bob Quintin at Fr. Jim Mulroney ng Sunday Examiner. Isa si Isidro sa mahigit na 200 migrante na nagtapos ng pagsasanay na isinagawa ng CARD .

Ayon kay Isidro, marami siyang natutunan mula sa financial literacy, o pagsasanay para sa tamang paggastos at paggamit ng kita buwan-buwan. Kabilang na dito ang kahalagahan ng pagsusulat ng goal o pakay, para hindi ito malimutan, kundi ay matuon dito lagi ang atensyon, at pati na rin sa pagbaba-budget at pag-iimpok.

Mas lalo pa daw siyang ginanahan nang makasali siya sa libreng entrepreneurship seminar o pagsasanay para sa mga balak mag-negosyo, na isinagawa din ng CARD noong Sep. 3. Dito daw sya natutong gumawa ng business plan, na pwede nyang gamitin sa kanyang planong pagnenesyo.

Nagpapasalamat daw sya sa programa ng CARD dahil nadagdagan ang kanyang kaalaman at positibong pananaw sa buhay. Dahil dito ay lalo daw siyang magpupursigi na isakatuparan ang kanyang pinapangarap na negosyo.

Sa ngayon aniya, mga kaibigan ko at dati kong amo ang ginagawan ko muna ng damit at gown para sa mga espesyal na okasyon.

Kahit may mga trabaho na ang kanyang dalawang anak ay ayaw pa din niyang umasa sa kanila para sa kanyang mga gastusin dahil  may mga sariling pamilya na sila na sinusuportahan.

Payo niya sa mga kapwa migrante, dagdagan ang kanilang kaalaman sa pamamagitan ng mga libreng pagsasanay na isinasagawa ng ilang mga grupo sa Hong Kong katulad ng CARD. Sa gayon, kung sakaling bigla silang mawalan ng trabaho sa Hong Kong ay may magagamit na silang kaalaman upang makapag-umpisa ng sarili nilang negosyo sa Pilipinas.

Magkakaroon ulit ng libreng financial literacy training ang CARD HK sa Jan. 2 sa susunod na taon. Para sa mga gustong sumali, tumawag lamang sa numero bilang 54238196 o 95296392

Pagyamanin ang inyong abilidad, ani DCG Deric sa mga OFW

Ang mga nagtapos.

Ni Marites Palma

Ipinagdiwang ng Diwa’t Kabayan BenLife Society Club ang kanilang ika-18 taong anibersaryo, kasabay ang ika-anim na pagtatapos ng mga sumali sa kanilang mga kursong pangkabuhayan, noong ika-26 ng Nob. sa Dynasty Feast sa North Point.

Ang pinaka tema ng kanilang selebrasyon sa taong ito ay “Ang diwa ng edukasyon, tungo sa paghanda sa kinabukasan”.

Deputy Consul General
Roderico C. Atienza

Ang panauhing pandangal na si Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza ay humikayat sa lahat na pagyamanin ang kanilang abilidad upang hindi na mangibang bansa pang muli, lalo na ang mga kababaihang Pilipina. Kailangan din daw nila ng ibayong pagtitipid para makapagpundar ng makinang pangkabuhayan at nang sa gayon ay hindi na aalis pa ng bansa ang mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga kababaihan na mga anak, kapatid, asawa at ina.

Ayon pa kay Atienza, umaabot sa napakamaliit na 10% lang ng mga Pilipino ang nag-iimpok ng pera sa bangko, samantalang sa Japan ay umaabot sa 38% ang nag-iipon para sa negosyo at edukasyon, patunay kung gaano kahalaga ang pera sa kanila.

Sa mga gustong mag-umpisa ng negosyo, depende daw ito sa pangangailangan ng komunidad na kinaroroonan.

Kinumbinsi ni Atienza ang mga OFW na subukang mag-ipon para sa tinatawag na “capital machinery”, o mga makinang panggawa. Gayahin daw ang mga mayayamang bansa tulad ng Japan, Korea at Taiwan kung saan nangongontrata muna ang mga pamilya ng mga trabaho, hanggang makapagpatayo na sila ng kanilang sariling negosyo. Sa pamamagitan daw ng kooperatiba ay maaring makuha ang kaukulang makina na ayon sa iyong negosyo.

Nanawagan din si Atienza na huwag pumayag ang mga manggagawa na kaltasan ang kanilang sahod ng lampas sa itinakda sa batas, at mag-report agad sa POLO, HK Immigration at Labor Department kung may pang-aabusong nakikita laban sa kapwa.

Sa ganitong pamamaraan ay hindi mararamdaman ng naabuso na nag-iisa siyang nakikipaglaban sa amo.

Ang  huling pakiusap ni Atienza ay ang ipagbigay alam nila sa ibang mga kababayan ang paglipat ng POLO-OWWA office sa A16th & 18th Floors, MassMutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai mula sa ika-10 ng Disyembre.

Umabot sa 70 na kababaihan ang nagtapos sa meat processing ng Diwa’t Kabayan. Pinarangalan ang mga sumusunod sa husay ng kanilang paggawa:
Best in Tinapa Making: Jocelyn Cuaresma
Best in Salted Egg Making: Rubilyn Alfonso
Best in Tocino: Adelaida Garcia
Best in Skinless Longaniza: Jocelyn Cuaresma
Best in Longaniza with Casing: Jovita Duzon
Best in Sardine in Oil: Jocelyn Cuaresma
Best in Sardines in Tomato Sauce: Adelaida Garcia
Best in Fruit Cocktain: Jocelyn Cuaresma and Rubilyn Alfonso

Sa pangalawang grupo ng mga nagtapos, nanguna si Vilma Ibanez. Sa Fashion Jewellery naman, sina Lourdes Duzong  at si Imelda Cariaga ang itinanghal na “outstanding”, at nakuha din ni Cariaga ang creative award.

Sampu naman ang nagtapos sa beadcrafting lesson at ang outstanding ay si Virgin May Yungco.

Sa macrame bag lesson ay 15 ang nagtapos, at si Jocelyn T. Nieva ang outstanding, at nakatanggap ng most creative award; samantalang si Karen B. Dumaguing naman ang nakatanggap ng most artistic award.

Para sa ribbon folding, ang outstanding ay si Mylene Diaz, at natanggap din niya ang best in bridal bouquet at best in motif. Si Ruby Deamboy naman ang nakatanggap ng best in flower girl bouquet award.

Sa stocking flower lesson ay may 15 na nagtapos, at ang outstanding ay si Jocelyn Nieva, na natanggap din ang best in teardrop bouquet, samatantalang si Ruth Salibomba naman para sa bridal bouquet. Ang premyo para sa best in hand tie bouquet-maid of honor bouquet ay nakuha nina Imelda Cariaga at Jocelyn Nieva; samantalang ang para sa best in pomander bouquet-bride maid bouquet ay natanggap nina Jocelyn Nieva at Ruth Saligomba. Nakuha din ni Saligomba ang most creative award.

Ang pinakamalaking grupo ay ang sumali sa basic baking, na umabot sa 103 ang bilang ng nagtapos. Nanguna sa kanila si Ruth Saligomba, na tinanghal na outsdtanding. Ang premyo para sa best in pandesal ay natanggap ni Beatriz Villanueva; ang best in spanish bread ay kay Ruth Saligomba; best in pizza, Estrella Pineda; best in donut, Ruth Saligomba; at best in brownies, Jennifer Panganiban.

Para sa 2nd batch ng bread presentation,  si Myrna Gonzales ang outstanding, at nakuha din niya ang nest in pandesal making, best in spanish bread making,  best in pizza making at best in donut; samantalang si Carmelita Ober naman ang nakakuha sa best in brownies.

Nagdagdag kasiyahan ang pagbibigay ng isang maikling sayaw nina Katherine de Guzman ng PNB, Merlinda Mercado ng Metro Bank, at Rosabelle Wolf ng Afreight, na kilala sa bansag na “Mars”.

Rules on migrant domestic workers’ accommodation

By Cynthia Tellez

Policy related to Accommodation: 
There are major portions of the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) on accommodation.  It says in Clause No. 3: “The Helper should work and reside in the employer’s residence as stated in the contract.”  FDWs are bound by this mandatory live-in requirement. Unfortunately, many FDWs are made to sleep in miserable conditions.
Accommodation is covered in clauses 3 and 4(a) to 4(c), mentioning the live-in requirement and restrictions on employment. This is expounded in the attached Schedule of Accommodations in pages 3 and 4; the size, amenities, co-occupants if there are, should still ensure suitable accommodation. However, it mentions only two examples of unsuitable accommodation: In a narrow corridor and shared room with adult of opposite sex.
With limited guidelines on accommodations, violations of suitable and decent living area often happen.

Situation – Health, Safety and Privacy:
A research of Mission For Migrant Workers (MFMW) published last year (2016) revealed that unsuitable accommodation, denial of privacy, and deprivation of amenities for migrant domestic workers (MDWs) persist in Hong Kong.
It showed that:
• 3 out of 5 FDWs in Hong Kong endure alternative living arrangements;
• Or their designated bedroom serves multiple functions in the household;
• One in every 50 of sleeps in areas such as toilets, backdoor, basement, balcony, rooftop, closet, or in a room with just a divider for sleeping space. (Research copies available at MFMW centre);
• Lack of privacy makes FDWs feel vulnerable and tense, especially if they are made to sleep in common areas in employer’s home; 
• Or, in relation to the privacy issue, 47% of those who responded as having their own room, revealed that they did not have their own key to the room, while 35% said their employers enter the room even without their consent.
Alternative accommodation arrangements are unhealthy, inhumane, and violate even the already insufficient standards set by Hong Kong in its SEC.

MFMW’s Advocacy
We can see from that survey that there are a lot of FDWs who are made to accept unsuitable and inhumane living arrangements. Obviously, the current mechanism to protect FDWs is failing; neither do policies for FDWs measure up to international human and labour standards.
We always hear that “Hong Kong already has an acute space problem.” We believe that there is no justification for not providing suitable accommodation to FDWs as human beings. The current legislation and policies are not effective to protect FDWs from being exploited and should be developed. The unsuitable arrangements should be clearly spelled out in the attached Schedule of Accommodations and domestic work.
Therefore, we are advocating for the Hong Kong government to reconsider the live-in requirement and make live-out as an option for FDWs, depending on specific circumstances of the households.
While the reality of the live-out option for FDWs is not yet possible, we strongly suggest to the authorities to define “suitable accommodation” in the SEC by listing down unsuitable arrangements, such as toilets and cupboards. This is aside from Immigration Department claims that they have regulatory and monitoring mechanisms wherein submitted accommodation arrangement of the employer is followed.

What can you do if you are made to sleep in a problematic situation? 
Many only become aware of the problematic accommodation in the employer’s home on their first workday. Somehow, FDWs usually believe that what is most important is to keep a good relationship with the people they work with to be able to extend the contract.
However, if you are in a situation that is physically and emotionally taxing, first, we encourage you to try talk with your employer, if possible. As workers, we also have to understand the limitations employers are in and therefore try to negotiate a more acceptable arrangement.
We know that some of you are scared that you may risk losing your job, but it is always good if mutual understanding can be developed. Find a way in which you can honestly explain your situation and its effect/s on your health. That way, they may also be able to express their regret for being unable to provide you better living conditions. For all we know, most of the employers are also trying to find a way to tell you how they feel about their limitations. In many such cases that we handled, both employers and workers found ways to remedy the situation.
There are, however, unreasonable people who might ignore what you are presenting. Usually, such employers just say, “take it or leave it.”  They may take your approach as complaining about them, instead of listening to you in a more objective manner, understanding what you really mean (which in most cases is not the job but the accommodation). Try another time if the mood and the conversation turn sour. Approach them next time, saying that it is not about the job, but perhaps there may be some remedy to your sleeping arrangements. If you get the same results, and in some cases, treatment worsens, perhaps you can consider bringing the matter to the authorities.
When facing violation of contract, including problems with accommodation, you can complain to the Immigration Department and also the Labour Department. It is suggested to lodge a complaint to both departments when it comes to the issue of accommodation as the employer might be giving false statements to the Immigration Department as well if they conceal the actual accommodation.
If you have decided to lodge a complaint, there are steps we suggest for you to follow:
 1. Keep records or evidences on the accommodation you are made to accept and make use of it to explain the problem you are facing. (Usually photos or short videos of consecutive days showing the area that you sleep in.)
2. Relate how the accommodation arrangement caused a serious toll on your health. Describe your current condition.
3. Relate how you tried to approach the employer to be able to settle the matter among yourselves and how those attempts turned sour. (Remember the date, time, and the content of the conversation. Make a written statement or any other kind of records if possible) and that you do not want the whole matter to worsen.
4. Include your suggestions to practically settle the matter, if any. 
5. Consult MFMW if you need assistance (2522-8264).
Have a VERY Merry Christmas, everyone!

---
This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Sino ngayon ang nagsisinungaling?

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Hindi natin alam kung sino ang nagsisinungaling ukol sa kaso ng mga daan-daang OFW na nabibiktima ng “human trafficking” mula sa Hong Kong papunta sa Brazil, Russia at Turkey: ang ating Konsulado o ang gobyerno ng Hong Kong.

Sa kanyang opinyon na nalathala sa isang pahayagang dito kamakailan, sinabi ni Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, na dating labour secretary ng Hong Kong, na hindi raw ipinarating ng mga opisyal ng Konsulado sa gobyerno ang mga malawakang panlilinlang ng mga employment agency rito sa mga manggagawang Pilipino.

At iginiit din niyang protektado ng mga batas ng Hong Kong ang lahat ng mga dayuhang katulong sa lungsod na ito.

Nakakapagtaka dahil madalas naming tanungin ang mga opisyal ng Konsulado kung natatalakay nila o naipaparating sa pamunuan ng Hong Kong sa mga pagpupulong ng Technical Working Group ang malaon nang nagaganap na panlilinlang ng ilang ahensiya sa mga Pilipinong nais lumipat sa ibang bansa at ang sagot nila ay “oo”.

Ang mga bansang inilalako ng mga mapanlinlang na ahensiya ay hindi lamang Brazil, Russia at Turkey, kundi maging ang Britain at Canada. At karamihan sa kanilang mga nalinlang ay mga kasambahay na nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong at mga kamag-anak ng  mga OFW sa Pilipinas.

Natuwa ang mga OFW, mga opisyal ng Konsulado at ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas nang mapabalita ang pagsalakay at pag-imbestiga ng mga awtoridad sa tatlong employment agency sa Hong Kong na nagpapadala diumano ng mga Pinay sa ibang mga bansang.

Pagkaraan kasi ng mahabang panahon ay ngayon lang uli nagsiyasat ang mga pulis sa mga ahensiyang nambibiktima sa mga kababayan nating kasambahay at sa pagkakataong ito ay naging malaking balita dahil nalathala sa malalaking pahayagan ng Hong Kong.

Noong 2010 ay pinuntahan din ng mga pulis ang Natino Employment Service and Trading sa North Point pagkatapos dinggin ng Small Claims Tribunal ang kasong isinampa ng tatlong biktima ni Mila Ipp, ang kinatawan ng Natino na sumingil diumano ng hanggang US$2,000 sa bawat isa para sa mga hindi naibigay na trabaho sa Canada.

Ngunit walang nangyari sa kaso ni Ipp at pagkaraan ng dalawang taon ay nakapanloko na naman siya ng 15 katulong na Pilipina sa Hong Kong sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalok at paniningil sa kanila ng umaabot sa $28,000 para mga pekeng trabaho sa Cyprus. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay pinalitan lang niya ang pangalan ng kanyang ahensiya ng Limestone Overseas Services Trading Company.

Nitong mga nakaraang taon, napabalita ang JEM Employment and Trading Company, Excellent Nannies, at Emry’s Employment Agency/Mike’s Secretarial Services na sumingil din ng hindi bababa sa $10,000 sa bawat isa sa daan-daang mga aplikante sa mga trabaho sa Britain at Canada na  pawang hindi nagkatotoo.

Sa ilang pagkakataon ay marami sa mga biktima ang nagreklamo sa pulisya ngunit nabinbin lamang sa istasyon ang mga sumbong nila at ang iba ay tahasang tinanggihan ng mga imbestigador dahil paniningil lang daw ng pautang ang mga kaso nila.

Minsan ay isang tagapagsalita ng pulisya ang nagpayo sa mga bagong-dating na katulong sa isang post-arrival orientation seminar, o PAOS, sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office na huwag silang magdalawang-isip na lumapit sa Commercial Crime Bureau kapag sila ay niloko ng mga scammer at illegal recruiter.

Nang sinamahan namin ang isang pangkat ng mahigit 10 biktima sa pulisya at kinausap namin ang mismong tagapagsalita ng CCB, sinabi niyang ang mga kasong tinatanggap ng nasabing sangay ng kapulisan ay iyon lamang mga kinasasangkutan ng $1 milyon pataas.

Sa kaso ni Ester Ylagan ng Emry’s/Mike’s nag-aatubili ang mga pulis na imbestigahan o sampahan ng dimanda si Ylagan tulad din ng pag-iwas nila sa mga reklamo laban kina Au ng JEM’s, Grace Chan ng Excellent Nannies at ilan pang mga recruiter.

Tuwirang naapektuhan ang Hong Kong nang suspindihin ng Department of Labor and Employment ang overseas employment certificate, o OEC, noong Nobyembre at ito ang nagbunsod kay Chief Executive Carrie Lam na magbanta ng mariing aksiyon sa ahensiyang nanlilinlang at nangangalap ng mga katulong papunta sa ibang bansa.

Pagkaraan niyon ay saka pa lamang kumilos ang mga pulis at tauhan ng  Labour Department at sinalakay ang tatlong ahensiyang nagpapadala ng mga Pinay sa Brazil, Russia at Turkey.

Marahil ay nais ipakita ng Hong Kong ang sinasabi ni Matthew Cheung na protektado ng gobyerno ang mga dayuhang katulong dito, at upang ipakita rin sa madla na kung ipinarating lang ng Konsulado sa kanila ang problema sa human trafficking at illegal recruitment ay malaon na nilang inaksiyunan ito.

Joma faces losing asylum status

Jose Maria Sison may lose his political asylum status once the court declares the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist organizations, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

 Sison has been living in the Netherlands since 1987.

President Duterte had cancelled peace talks with the CPP-NPA and cited threats to security the armed group posed as justification for extending martial law in Mindanao for one year.

 The Department of Justice recently ordered the Office of the Prosecutor General to file a formal petition before a regional trial court seeking to declare the CPP/ NPA terrorist groups.

Under Section 17 of Republic Act 9372, or the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007, the DoJ needs to seek clearance from the court before an organization, association or group could be declared terrorist.

Once the court outlawed the CPP, the Philippines can transport Sison back to the country and make him answer for his crimes, Cayetano said.

“There is no asylum for terrorism, so if it can be proven that they are not in fact legitimate victims of persecution but are terrorists, then a country can decide to reverse the granting of asylum,” Cayetano said in a chance interview at the sidelines of the Philippine-Cambodia 2nd Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Manila.

Analyst Ramon Casiple shared the view that a court ruling outlawing the CPP-NPA could result in the cancellation of Sison’s political asylum status and even his passport.

Even if there is no existing extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Netherlands, the Dutch government could go after Sison once the court legally declared the CCP as a terrorist group, Casiple said.

The Dutch government has its own anti-terrorism law and the CPP founder would be considered violating that law, explained Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms.

 In a speech on Thursday, Duterte criticized Sison for living the good life in Utrecht while members of the NPA struggle daily in the mountains.

 He dared Sison to leave his “sanctuary” in The Netherlands and bring the fight in the Philippines.

Casiple said Duterte’s move to tag the CPP as a terror group showed that he has lost confidence on communist leaders because of their recent actions and pronouncements.

He cited the order of the CPP leadership to intensify offensives against government forces when the military was preoccupied with the crisis in Marawi City.

 Casiple said the CPP even used the declaration of martial law in Mindanao as justification for the attacks even if it was clear that the group was not the target.

Incoming travelers to be charged travel tax

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprises Zone Authority (Tieza) is proposing the government’s scrapping of travel tax imposed on outbound travelers on international flights.

Pocholo Paragas, general manager and chief operating officer of Tieza, said the proposal had been forwarded to Malacanang and that President Rodrigo Duterte is reviewing it.

“We presented it to the President… I think it is about time to do something about it,” Paragas said.

International travelers are charged P1, 620.00 in travel tax upon checking in at the airport. Some airlines already include travel tax in the tickets for the convenience of travelers who would no longer line up at the airport to pay it.

However, travel tax would not be completely scrapped because it would be charged instead to incoming travelers, and would be included in the ticket price.

It would be called tourism development fund instead of travel tax, Paragas said.

“Put it inside the ticket so that people coming in will not feel it. It will be the same fund that will be used to make their next trip better,” he explained.

“We will adjust it based on requirements of the country. If there is none, zero. If we can get other investments coming in from other countries, coming from the banking industry, then we can lower it immediately. Every two years, we do review,” he added.

Paragas said the Tieza is targeting to collect P5 billion from tourists this year. The Department of Tourism had announced that it is expecting 12 million in tourists arrivals by the end of 2020.

State-run think tank National Tax Research Center (NTRC) earlier said the imposition of the foreign tourist tax will only make the Philippines uncompetitive and may lessen tourism activities in the future.

“The potential of the proposed foreign tourist tax to raise much needed revenue for the government to be used for tourism-related projects and programs, its imposition, as of the moment, may need further study given the negative effect it may pose to the tourism industry and the administrative difficulty in identifying those who travel purely for leisure and/or vacation purposes who are the real target of the proposed tax and those who visit the country for medical treatment, official trip/mission or potential business venture,” the NTRC study said.

 “A foreign tourist tax of P1,620 may be charged to airline tickets, which is equivalent to the travel tax paid by Filipinos when traveling abroad. For the succeeding five years, around P15.3 billion annually is expected to be raised by the government from this source,” it added.

The International Air Transport Association also earlier urged the government to not overcharge the aviation sector through the tourism tax.

“The more tax you put on the passenger, the less prosperity you will bring into the country,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general and chief executive officer.

De Juniac said short-term budget gains quickly disappear when tourist arrivals drop, and the Philippine government must instead focus on making wise investments in the tourism infrastructure that will encourage people to visit.

“The extra tourist dollars you attract will pay the investments and make a greater economic contribution,” de Juniac said.

What's on, where?

POLO Transfer:  
The public is hereby informed that from Dec. 10, 2017, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has relocated to the 16th and 18th floors of the Mass Mutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai. The following services will be provided by POLO: contract processing, OEC and BMOnline registration, OWWA-related matters and inquiries, complaints against employers and employment agencies and labor-related inquiries.

Holidays:
The Philippine Consulate General and its affiliate agencies including POLO will be closed on the following dates:
Dec. 25 (Monday) – Christmas Day
Dec. 26 (Tuesday) – Boxing Day or Day After Christmas HK Holiday
Dec. 31 (Sunday) – Last Day of the Year
In case of emergency, please call 9155 4023 (Consular Assistance), 2866 0540 (POLO) or 6315 8324 (OWWA)

Paskong Pinoy 2017 at Chater Garden
Dec 24, 2017;  8pm-12pm – Chater Garden, Central.
Filipino community celebration of Christmas starting with the display of entries in the PaStaran 2017 lantern-making competition. Judging of entries and announcement of winners. The Misa de Aguinaldo will follow. A parade of the lanterns and playing of Christmas carols will cap the evening.

Rizal Day remembrance activities
Dec 30, 2017, 7am-9am, Central, HK
Laying of wreath at commemorative plaque for Dr Jose Rizal at 5 D’Aguilar Street (exterior wall of Century Square), the site of a clinic where the Philippine national hero practised opthalmology from December 1891 to June 1892. Another wreath-laying will be held at Rednaxela Terrace in Mid-Levels, next to the Central giant escalator, where Rizal lived in a rented flat during his stay in Hong Kong. A third wreath will be laid at a site relating to Rizal on Ice House Street also in Central. 

Marching band parade 2017
Dec 30, 2017;   2pm-4pm, Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui. A joint presentation of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Marching Band Association. Free admission. For enquiries:  2591 1340 (Leisure and Cultural Services Department) or 2774 0896 (Hong Kong Marching Band Association).

Youth music and dance marathon
Jan 7, 2018, 1pm-8pm. Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui.. Music and dance festival organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Departtment.

Community Thematic Carnival series
Jan 14, 2018; 3m-7pm – The Sheung Shui Legend.  Sheung Shui Garden No.1, Sheung Shui, New Territories. Don’t miss the chance to rediscover the fun and joy in the district.

‘Mga Kwentong Pagkain’ Contest
Jan 28, 2018 – Deadline for submitting entries to the Mama Sita Foundation’s contest, “Mga Kwentong Pagkain”
The contest, with the theme “Regional Food Heritage,” is open to all Filipinos abroad who are willing to tell an interesting story about food-detailed accounts of local or regional recipes, ingredients, food preparation, rituals or personal experiences. For details, email MSF at mgakwentongpagkain@gmail.com.

Ateneo team pounds Singapore, 12-7, in HK Baseball Open

The Philippine contingent is joined by Vice Consul Bob Quintin and Philippine Sluggers president Cecil Calsas in photo op.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles set their sights on a third trophy as they walloped Singapore 12-7, on the opening day of the WBSC Hong Kong International Baseball Open 2017 in Lamtin, Kwuntong on Dec 14.

The Blue Eagles entered the four-day tournament with confidence, and easily hurdled the challenge from Singapore at the Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground diamond on Sin Fat Road.

The Filipinos, led by team manager Randy Dizer, are eager to take home their third trophy this year despite newcomer Australia joining the tussles as an unknown factor.

The tournament opened with a simple ceremony led by Hong Kong Baseball Association president Philip Li, who welcomed the seven participating teams.

“The Hong Kong International Baseball Open is getting more and more popular in the international baseball community and moving forward to attract the participation of many more athletes,” Li said.

A team from Australia’s Sydney University debuted in the tournament, which saw Russia and China vying for honors. Eight teams – four national and four club – originally registered, but Team Nepal could not obtain visitor visas for its contingent.

Vice Consul Bob Quintin and a diplomat from the Australian Consulate General were among the dignitaries who graced the opening ceremony.

The games are all slated at Sai Tso Wan as organizers HKBA were forced to reshuffle the schedules after.

Ateneo will next play Hong Kong Blue club team in a 2:30pm match on Friday.

“We are well-prepared for this tournament,” coach Bocc Bernardo told The SUN before the opening ceremonies.

Bernardo said Hong Kong is traditionally its strongest rival for the championship. “We unseated Hong Kong last time after they became champions in 2016 because we did not participate,” he said.

The Blue Eagles beat Hong Kong Red in a tight match, 7-6, in January this year, foiling an attempt by the local boys to take back avenge their loss to the Filipinos in 2015.

Bernardo said the Hong Kong tournament is the last championship campaign for the Blue Eagles before they go to Clark late this month for several months of training. 

Dizer said he brought 20 players who can play any position in this tournament. He said that would make sure the team won’t be crippled if some players could not be fielded because of personal injuries or other causes.

UPAA-HK elects new officers

A doctor has been elected as the new president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Hong Kong.

Dr. Carlo Mendoza, who works for a private firm in Hong Kong, was elected president during UPAA-HK’s annual general assembly and Christmas party on Dec. 11 at Pier 7 bar in Central.

Outgoing officers turn over the association to the newly-elected leaders.

Elected as vice president was Gelica Lomibao; Ananda Mandalihan, secretary; Klerwin Collado, treasurer; Pam Casequin-Smith, auditor; and Jennifer Paguio, PRO.

The new officers immediately took their oath before the Consulate’s Acting Head of Post, Roderick Atienza, who is himself an alumnus of the state university.

About 40 members of UPAA HK group also used the occasion to celebrate Christmas, and their having recaptured the top prize in the annual “Rambulan” event held among alumni of UP, Ateneo University, De La Salle University, and University of Sto. Tomas.

A minute of silence was called by outgoing president Patrick Angco to pray for the recovery of past president Butch Durias who remains unconscious in hospital in Oroquieta City, following surgery for aneurysm.

Mga opisyal ng Isabela, isinulong ang pagtatayo ng OFW cooperative

Ang mga kasapi at bisita ng Isabela Federation, sa kanilang pagtitipon sa Chater Road.

Ni Marites Palma

Isang malaking sorpresa ang nangyari nang magtipon-tipon ang mga miyembro ng Isabela Federation noong ika-10 ng Disyembre sa Chater Road, Central. Bigla silang napatayo sa kanilang kinauupuan nang biglang tumambad sa kanilang harapan ang mga Board Member ng probinsya ng Isabela, na sina Napoleon Hernandez, Abbie Sable, Alfredo Alili at Marcelino Espiritu.

Hinikayat ng apat na opisyal ng lalawigan na gawing modelo ng IsaFed ang San Agustin at Jones Chapter para sa pagtatayo ng OFW Cooperative na ayon sa kanila ay makakatulong nang malaki kapag nag forgood na ang kanilang mga miyembro.

Ginawang halimbawa ni Hernandez ang cooperatiba ng mga kapitan sa Isabela na nagsimula lamang sa kapital na Php40,000, na ngayon ay umaabot na sa Php9 million sa loob lamang ng ilang taon.

Hinikayat ni Hernandez ang mga opisyal ng grupo ng Jones at San Agustin na gumawa ng group chat nila upang masimulan na nila ang pag-uusap para sa mga dapat gawin sa pagtatayo ng kooperatiba.

Masigasig ang mga opisyal sa pagsusulong sa proyekto dahil ang Isabela Cooperatives ang tinanghal na Most Outstanding Provincial Cooperative sa buong Pilipinas kamakailan.

Ibinalita din ni Hernandez na maaring magkaroon ng Provincial  Health Care Card ang mga naiwang kapamilya sa Pilipinas ng mga OFW. Lumapit lamang daw sila sa Kapitolyo at maaring magkaroon ng “on-the-spot” na Philhealth coverage para sa kanilang kapamilya na may karamdaman.

Napahanga ang mga bisita nang kantahin ng mga choir member ng IsaFed Performing Club ng kantahin ang Isabela Hymn at Isabela March nang walang mali.

Maging ang tradisyunal na kantang Nuang (Kalabaw) ay inawit ng buong buo ng mga taga San Agustin, na nakadagdag sa paghanga ng mga opisyal.

Bilang kapalit, kinanta naman ni board member Alili ang “Totoy Bibo”, na sinabayan naman ng sayaw ng buong tropa.

Naging makabuluhan ang maiksing pagtatagpo dahil nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga OFW na personal na makaniig ang mga opisyal ng kanilang lalawigan.

Nagkaroon ng salo-salo pagkatapos ng programa na inihanda ng  mga taga San Agustin Forever Friends.

Ifugao ‘bululs’ make global debut at HKU exhibition

By Vir B. Lumicao

Antique Cordilleran tribal art and culture, best represented by Ifugao wooden sculptures, are on their debut international exhibition at the University Museum and Art Gallery at HKU. The exhibit will run until Feb 4 next year.

The 50 sculpture pieces, which date back to the 14th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, were brought to Hong Kong by Swiss lawyer and art collector Martin Kurer in cooperation with Asia Art:Future, a collector specializing in contemporary and antique Asian art.

The exhibition, “Ifugao Sculpture: Expressions in Philippine Cordillera Art”, is set up in an oblong hall of the gallery with a blown up panoramic sepia picture of the Banaue rice terraces by photographer At Maculangan as backdrop, giving visitors a feel of the natural locale where the carvings originated.

The exhibition, which museum director Dr Florian Knothe said was the first of its kind from the Philippines, was supported by the Philippine Consulate General.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who formally opened the rare exhibition on Nov 30, said in his opening remarks that cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Hong Kong strengthen the close relationship that already exists between them.

Cayetano expressed his gratitude to Kurer, who has made his home in Manila a gallery of Cordilleran tribal art and contemporary Asian art, and the Hong Kong art enthusiasts for making the exhibition a reality.

He related how he overheard one of those who helped set up the exhibition saying, “It took a Swiss guy to put up Ifugao fire at the world stage…no, he’s a Filipino na.”

Kurer said the trove of hardwood “bululs” or rice gods and ritual boxes carved by Ifugao, Bontoc and Kankaney artists centuries ago were simple but powerful expressions of tribal art. Carbon-dating showed one bulul was carved as early as the 14th century.

He said there was a movement in Italy, France and Germany at the beginning of the 18th century which captured the “raw power and simplicity” of tribal art.

“The collection is our future, and this is the really remarkable part of it,” Kurer said, describing the artistic quality of the Cordillera tribal art as equal to that which influenced the 20th century and 21st century artists like Picasso and Brancusi.

Yet, he said those great painters could not have traveled to Africa and Oceania to pick up the influences of tribal art, but could have seen bulul sculptures brought by European souvenir hunters and art collectors.

Knothe, who also teaches at HKU, said the university gallery holds a dozen exhibitions every year that represent different cultures, like the Ifugao sculptures.

“To do this exhibition is very important to us. We want to connect to the community, the Filipino community is hugely, hugely important to Hong Kong, and we want to show an art form that has to be, or can be seen, and we want to present it here,” Knothe said.

Speaking later to The SUN, Knothe said he was very impressed at the sculptures because each of the figures had a different expression on its face.

“They are very serene and very calm. It’s a very beautiful art form,” Knothe said.

Vice Consul Bob Quintin, a Cordilleran who heads the cultural section of the Consulate, told The SUN he will invite groups to perform cultural activities such as tribal dances and seminars on the region’s culture that are related to the exhibition while it is running.

“Now that we have connections here, we are trying to do more,” Quintin said.