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| ChefBoy posted this on his Facebook page shortly before being taken in for questioning |
A Filipino domestic worker in Hong Kong famous for his blogs on his “rescue” work for his fellow migrants who are fired on the sport by their employers, was released late Sunday night after being detained by officers of the Immigration Department.
Julian B. Baculo, who is more popularly known as Chef Boy Mangyan to his 478,000 followers on Facebook, was accosted by Immigration officers at about noon, after he posted a blog and posed for pictures with followers outside the office of a travel agency in World-Wide Plaza in Central.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
He was then led away, along with the manager of the travel agency which Chef Boy had earlier endorsed in one of his blogs. The scene was witnessed by dozens of people in the mall known for being a favorite hangout of Filipinos in Hong Kong.
Just before midnight, the two were reportedly released after posting a police bail, which indicates that an investigation is continuing.
The incident happened amid Immigration’s stepped-up campaign against illegal work in Hong Kong. For foreign domestic workers, taking on any job outside of the employer’s house, whether paid or unpaid, can be classified as illegal work.
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| 'Kuys" asked ChefBoy's followers to pray for him |
One of his friends who was with him at the time said in an emotional post on Facebook that Chef Boy was taken to the Immigration headquarters in Tseung Kwan O, but denied reports that he was led away in handcuffs.
The friend who uses the handle “Kuys Thaw Fnd” said he was not allowed to accompany Chef Boy to the Immigration office, but before they parted ways, the Filipino driver and blogger reportedly told him not to get angry at whoever reported him to the authorities.
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| PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE |
“Huwag kang magalit sa mga nag re report and I’ll see you soon. Dalawin mo ako,” Chef Boy reportedly said, half in jest. (Do not get mad at those who report on me and I’ll see you soon. Pay me a visit).
Kuys then added, “We are trying our best na tulungan sya, Pakiusap ko din sa mga supporters nya, pinaparating nya na maging matatag tayo. Pray lang tayo.” (We are trying our best to help him. I also want to ask his supporters – he wants this relayed to you – be strong. Let’s all pray together).
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| ChefBoy is often mobbed by his supporters on Sundays |
Many of ChefBoy’s followers expressed shock as news of his detention spread, and said they were saddened by the report.
“Nakaka sad naman po. Kung sino pa yung mabait at nakakatulong sa kapwa OFW, lalo na sa mga nate-terminate sa kanya pa nangyari ng ganito. Grabe talaga mga taong may inggit gagawin talaga lahat mahila lang nila pababa si Idol ChefBoy Mangyan.”(It is sad that this happened to someone who is kind and has been helping his fellow OFWs, particularly those who get terminated. People who are driven by envy will do anything to pull down Idol ChefBoy Mangyan), said one in a comment that has been replicated by others many times over.
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| Celebrity host Korina Sanchez recently interviewed ChefBoy during a visit to HK |
ChefBoy who started out blogging about food and cooking, said in a recent interview that he decided to switch to writing about the concerns of his fellow Filipino migrants about a year ago, after realizing that their problems are so huge that he needs to help, as the government cannot possibly respond to all of them.
From looking at blogging as a side hustle, he said he came to regard it as a way to reaching out to those who are in need, particularly those who are unceremoniously thrown out of their employers’ houses.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
ChefBoy’s popularity grew after that shift. It didn’t hurt that he is quite a looker, and is generally regarded as humble, kind, and always willing to lend a hand to his fellow migrants who are in need.
But this generosity of spirit might have also made him to unwittingly cross the fine line between blogging about products or services that he genuinely likes, and doing work that is prohibited under his conditions of stay.
