Rising after the fire: Jonalyn's story of empowerment

 (Reprinted from "Migrant Focus" of the Mission for Migrant Workers)

Jonalyn shares her story of survival with fellow migrant workers

Jonalyn is one of the survivors of the tragic fire that occurred on November 26 in Tai Po. She has worked in Hong Kong for more than 15 years, serving four different households. Since 2015, she has cared for an elderly person at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

The elderly woman is a 94-year-old with Parkinson’s disease. For more than ten years, Jonalyn and Por por woke up early each day to walk together and exercise in the park. In the early years of Por por’s illness, her symptoms were severe—her hand trembled and she struggled to control her muscles. Over time Por por’s movement improved as she gradually gained better control. Por por is very emotional; sad news can bring tears easily, and she often cannot sleep when she anticipates her daughter’s visit the next day. Jonalyn’s careful, loving care grew from these moments, forming the foundation of their strong bond.

Their life was quiet and intimate—Jonalyn cooking Por por’s meals, keeping the house tidy, Por por watching her favorite programs. They found a rhythm that felt like family. Jonalyn often spoke of their relationship as “mother and daughter,” forged through trust, love, and mutual care. Their days were not without challenges, yet the small acts of care created a safe harbor for both of them.

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Then the fire struck. On that day, Jonalyn felt a subtle instinct urging her to stay home. She knew Por por needed her more than ever. When the flames erupted, she woke with fear and used every ounce of courage to shepherd Por por toward safety. They moved through the smoke to the elevator, praying aloud for strength, praying the ride down would be swift. From the 23rd floor, they escaped to the ground floor and looked back at their home, already engulfed. In that moment, Jonalyn was thankful that both of them survived. With a thread of gratitude that bound them, Jonalyn understood survival is not only about escaping danger, but about choosing to keep loving, even when everything else is uncertain. 

Yet survival did not resolve what followed. Soon after, Por por’s daughter terminated Jonalyn’s contract, a decision that felt like a second wound—swift, unexplained, and devastating. She started to doubt, “had her care ever truly mattered? Was her long service simply erased by one sudden moment?" The blow was sharp, and the ache of separation from Por por was deeper still.

Jonalyn is helped on the path to recovery by MFMW and Bethune House

In that darkness, Jonalyn found a lifeline: the Mission For Migrant Workers. She learned of Bethune House, a temporary shelter for women migrants, and there she began to heal in earnest. The shelter became a classroom of collective resilience, as she met and accomplished daily tasks with other migrants in distress there. Journalists visited; she spoke at schools, sharing her story not for pity, but to illuminate a path for others, with others. Each interview, each conversation, helped rebuild a sense of purpose.

Counseling offered through MFMW helped her unpack fear, guilt, and anger. She began to understand her own worth, recognizing that ten years of dedicated care deserved recognition, not erasure. In time, she reconnected with a community of fellow migrants who shared strategies for healing, hope, and advocacy. For the first time in years, Jonalyn allowed herself small joys—time with friends, new hobbies, and the simple luxury of a day off to rest and reflect.

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Jonalyn’s healing also led to action. When the Tai Po survivors organized, she urged them to step onto the stage with courage, leading to participate in a fashion show as part of One Billion Rising, a powerful voice against violence toward women and girls. She designed a costume, chose music, and learned the dance steps. The experience wasn’t merely a performance; it was an embodiment of connection, a proof that her voice, along with others, could shape change and inspire others.

Her talks with teens at St. Paul’s Church and HKBU, her willingness to share with new audiences, affirmed a truth she had learned in the fire: healing accelerates when we give back. Through conversation and outreach, Jonalyn found a renewed sense of belonging in Hong Kong—a city that could be both a home and a horizon.

Today, she speaks of gratitude, not resignation. “I learned I don’t need to hate to keep moving,” she says. “I can be thankful for the years I cared for Por por, and I can be courageous enough to claim my future.” She remains open to work, to community, and to the possibility that the next chapter will honor her strength, her care, and the courage it takes to heal and empower others.

To fellow migrants who face hardships: don’t give up. Seek guidance, honor your needs, and follow your heart to what’s right. HK remains a place of possibility—where kindness endures, and where a survivor’s voice can light the way for others.

(To know more about the MFMW’s works and how to donate to help them continue helping migrant workers, please click on this link: https://www.migrants.net/to-donate)

 

Migrante HK hits out at 400% increase in verification fee for new contracts

 

Militant migrant group Migrante Hong Kong has denounced the four-fold increase in the verification fee for new employment contracts submitted to the Migrant Workers Office starting Sunday, Mar 1.

The group is set to stage a picket outside the Philippine Consulate offices on the same day to protest against what they called an unconscionable exaction on Filipino migrant workers.

“Maliwanag pa sa (sikat) ng araw na isa na naman itong porma ng pangongotong. Wala na talagang pakundandangan ang gobyernong Marcos, Jr. sa pagturing sa mga OFW bilang negosyo, imbes na bigyan ng maayos na proteksyon at pagbutihin ang serbisyo sa mga OFW,” said a statement issued by Migrante HK early on Saturday.

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(This is clearly another form of exaction. The government of Marcos Jr is really bent on treating overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as commodities, instead of providing them greater protection and better service).

Under the new fee schedule released by the MWO on Friday, all new individual employment contracts submitted for verification from March 1 will be charged a fee of HK$320, instead of the current HK$80.

All existing contracts that will be extended with the same employer, or transferred to a new one, will be verified at the old rate.

The fee, as before, is supposed to be paid by the employer or the recruitment agency after Immigration approves the contract, and issues an employment visa to the worker. 

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Only those with verified contracts can apply for the overseas employment certificate, which serves as an exit pass when they leave the Philippins for work abroad.

Thomas Chan, head of the HK Union of Employment Agencies, has also criticized the new fee as being too steep, and is one that will likely be opposed by everyone involved.

Chan also said that some workers might be forced to pay the fee themselves to appease employers who might be outraged by the jacked-up amount.

Migrante HK said that with the widely-reported increase in the budget allocation of the Department of Migrant Workers, there should be no reason why it would raise the verification fee, especially not by 400%.

“Para tayong binusuhan ng asin sa sugat, lalo na at hindi pa napapanagot ang lahat ng sangkot sa malalang korapsyon sa bansa,” said Migrante HK.

(This was like rubbing salt to our wound, especially since not all of those linked to massive corruption in the country have been held to account).

The group said it would not keep quiet in the face of the new exaction on OFWs, and vowed to continue protesting until the Philippine government backtracks on the issue.

 

Pag-IBIG Fund posts highest yield in 5 years

 

Pag-IBIG membership (Regular Savings) opens up loan opportunities

People who put their savings in Pag-IBIG Fund (otherwise known as Home Development Mutual Fund) earned more last year than in the previous five years, according to its annual report.

The Pag-IBIG 2025 dividend rates are 6.62% yearly for Pag-IBIG Regular Savings, and 7.12% yearly for Pag-IBIG MP2 Savings.

The 2025 rate for regular savings, which comprise the monthly membership payments that open up a wide variety of housing and cash loan schemes, was the highest since 2020. The rates stood at 6.60% in 2024, 6.55% in 2023, 6.53% in 2022, 5.50% in 2021 and 5.62% in 2020.

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The regular savings can be withdrawn upon maturity or when one retires.

The same was true with MP2, a voluntary savings program in which members can withdraw their dividends yearly or every five years, whose rates stood at 7.10% in 2024, 7.05% in 2023, 7.03% in 2022, 6.00% in 2021 and 6.12% in 2020.

The steady rise in earnings reflected the Fund’s strong financial performance and prudent investment strategy, Pag-IBIG Fund said.

It said its investment income rose nearly 50% to ₱9.43 billion in 2025.

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The stronger investment earnings helped lift Pag-IBIG Fund’s overall financial standing. At year-end 2025, the agency’s total assets rose to ₱1.23 trillion, while its gross investment portfolio increased to ₱190.13 billion, up ₱55.27 billion or 41.0% from year-end 2024.

A large portion of the portfolio was invested in government securities, with the remainder placed in time deposits, corporate bonds and preferred shares, officials said, adding that these instruments undergo rigorous review and are subject to established safeguards.

“Our commitment is clear: every peso earned is returned to our members in the form of higher dividends and stronger programs,” Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund Board Chairman Jose Ramon P. Aliling stated.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta added: “This milestone is the result of sound fiscal management and the continued trust of our members. We remain focused on growing their savings and securing their financial future.”

MWO raises verification fee for new employment contracts to HK$320

 

The new fee schedule

From Sunday, March 1, the verification fee for all new employment contracts processed through the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong will shoot up to HK$320.

For new individual contracts, whether for single or multiple hirings, this will result to a four-fold increase from the current HK$80.

For all other contracts, processed either through job orders, recruitment agreement or master employment contract, the current fee of HK$240 will also be adjusted by a third, to HK$320.

See details

The same fee will apply to all contracts covering sea-based workers, which are currently being processed. From HK$240 the processing fee will be adjusted to HK$320.

The MWO said in its advisory that the new fee should be paid, as before, either by the employer or the recruitment or manning agency that deployed the overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

It also said all old contracts, meaning those being renewed with the same employer, or are transferred to a new employer, will not be affected; which means they will still be processed at the current fee of HK$80.

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The announcement of the new fee which was apparently made without prior consultation with stakeholders, was met with disappointment by some employment agency operators.

HKUEA president Thomas Chan says the new fee is too steep

Thomas Chan, president of the Hong Kong Union of Employment Agencies, said the new verification fee is too steep compared with the current fee, especially for employers processing individual contracts.

“Any increase in cost will not be welcomed by anyone,” said Chan, who pointed out that the increase is  way above the cost of inflation.

Also, he said that “though in theory the worker can reimburse the cost from their employer, in reality some workers would be the ones who would shoulder such cost.”

The MWO advisory gave no reason for the hefty increase, but said the new verification fees are in line with Joint Circular 2024-1.

The new fees will apply for all relevant contracts submitted on or after the cut-off date of March 1, 2026.

 

21 arrested in anti-illegal worker operations

 

Immigration officers escort one of those arrested

Twenty-one people were arrested in anti-illegal worker operations by Immigration Department (ImmD) on multiple target locations including restaurants, warehouses and massage parlours last Feb. 16 to 26.

During the operations, ImmD officers arrested 19 suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers.

The arrested workers comprised nine men and 10 women, aged 33 to 58. Among them, three men and two women were holding recognizance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment.

See details

Arrested as employers were two men, aged 48 and 56.

The investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

The arrests were made in a series of territory-wide operations codenamed "Lightshadow", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast", and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and "Windsand".

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"Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," ImmD said.

"As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business.” it added.

“Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years."

Deadline nears for business plan contest for OFW women returnees

 

There are only two days remaining before the application period for the LIKHAng Kababaihan Business Plan Competition ends.

A reminder posted on the Department of Migrant Workers Facebook page said the deadline of submission of entries to the contest that aims to help female OFW returnees set up their dream businesses is on Saturday, Feb. 28.

DETAILS HERE

The DMW page describes the contest as a business plan competition specifically designed for female OFW returnees. It offers them “a platform to develop and showcase innovative business plans while providing access seed capital, business coaching and mentorship.”

OFW contestants are ideally those with a passion for starting their own businesses and have already drawn up their path to success with a sound and original business plan that they need to submit to the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) on or before the deadline.

See details

Winning the contest would entitle the returnee-entrepreneur not just with funding support, but also mentorship - and a national recognition for their business idea.

LIKHAng Kababaihan is part of DMW’s Kabuhayan reintegration programs, along with Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay  program. Apart from providing support for women returnees the program also helps seafarer returnees and landbased OFWs realize their plan to have their own businesses.

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The link for registration and submission of  entries is here: https://sites.google.com/dmw.gov.ph/likha-ofw/home

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟮𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

 

 

Flu resurgence prompts call for people to vaccinate

A rebound last week of influenza activity has prompted the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) to again urge the public to receive seasonal influenza vaccinations.

"The CHP's latest surveillance data shows that the percentage of respiratory specimens tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses last week (February 15 to 21) was 2.29 per cent, up from 1.96 per cent recorded in the previous week,” CHP Controller Dr Edwin Tsui said.

“During the same period, the influenza admission rate in public hospitals was 0.13 cases per 10,000 population, which is higher than the 0.10 cases per 10 000 population recorded in the previous week,” he added.

DETAILS HERE

The proportion of influenza B among positive respiratory specimens has gradually increased from around 6 per cent in late January to over 21 per cent last week. Meanwhile, the proportion of influenza A (H3) virus strains has decreased from 91 to 71 per cent.

“Outside Hong Kong, seasonal influenza activity remains high in Japan and Korea, with the predominant circulating viruses having shifted from influenza A (H3) to influenza B. Japan is experiencing another winter peak driven by influenza B. Influenza B proportions have also increased in many parts of the world recently, including the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan and North America," Dr, Tsui, said.

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He said that based on past experience, Hong Kong's winter influenza season typically occurs in the first quarter. ‘Given the persistently cold weather, combined with factors such as individuals returning from outbound travel after the long holidays and the shift in circulating virus strains, it cannot be ruled out that influenza activity will continue to increase and Hong Kong may enter the winter influenza season.” he said.

The CHP will continue to monitor the situation.

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Scientific research indicates that this season's seasonal influenza vaccine provides protection against influenza A and influenza B viruses.

“As it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body for sufficient protection against the virus, I appeal again to all individuals aged 6 months or older, except those with known contraindications, to receive the SIV if they have not yet done so,” Dr. Tsui said.

HK Labor Sec says FDH retraining is on, but will focus on elderly care

 

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun has sought to allay concerns that a plan to expand the services of the Employees Retraining Board to include elderly care training by foreign domestic workers will not divert funds meant for the local workforce.

Some lawmakers have expressed concern that local workers could be put at a disadvantage if funds from the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) would be used for retraining FDHs.

Secretary Sun said in interviews on Tuesday that the ERB’s focus will “undoubtedly remain on the local workforce.”

DETAILS HERE

But he said the planned expansion of ERB’s services is necessary, amid Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population and the growing demand from locals for FDHs to receive elderly-care training.

With tens of thousands of FDHs already providing elderly care, the current program run by the Social Welfare Department that provides them training is no longer adequate, said Sun.

See details

His assurance comes in the wake of the Labour and Welfare Bureau’s announcement that it plans to amend the law to allow the ERB to expand its services.

In a recent interview, ERB Executive Director Byron Ng said that following the Board’s relocation to new headquarters in Kowloon Bay, it will enhance support in career planning, skills training and employment assistance.

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The board also plans to turn certain courses into shorter, more flexible “micro courses” to conform to trainees’ needs.

Ng said the board’s financial position remains stable, and that it will continue to be prudent in handling its resources.

 

With HK harborfront completed, gov’t turns attention to Kowloon

 

View of Kowloon from the West Cultural District (Google Maps photo)

With the completion of the harborfront promenade in Hong Kong Island, the government is studying the development of Kowloon’s promenade to create a combined 34 kilometers of walkway on both sides of Victoria Harbor by 2028, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said today.

Answering a question in Legislative Council by Legislator Yang Wing-kit, Ms. Linn said the Development Bureau has been working closely with the Harborfront Commission to promote various initiatives to enhance the Victoria Harborfront.

The aim, she said, is to create “a diversified, vibrant, accessible and inclusive harborfront space for the public.”

DETAILS HERE

“With the approximately 18 kilometers of harborfront promenades already opened on Hong Kong Island as well as in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing in the New Territories, the total length of promenades on both sides of Victoria Harbor will be extended to approximately 34 kilometers by 2028,” she said.

The promenades in Kowloon will extend to about 15 kilometers upon completion of the following projects this year: the pedestrian walkway connecting the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) to Tai Kok Tsui, the waterfront promenade next to the Kai Tak New Acute Hospital and the event space and public open space at the former Hung Hom Railway Freight Yard Pier site.

See details

The length will be further increased to 16 kilometers by 2028. This expansion will come from new projects that are under study, such as the gas offtake station off Grand Waterfront, the vicinity of the Fishtail Rock in Hoi Sham Park, and the private section of the Green Island Cement Pier.

The Kowloon harbourfront is home to a number of landmarks attracting many visitors, including the Kai Tak Sports Park, the museum cluster in Tsim Sha Tsui, the West Kowloon Cultural District and others.

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The waterfront sites to be opened this year include the former Hung Hom Railway Freight Yard Pier site  which offers visitors with panoramic views of Victoria Harbor and the skyline of Hong Kong Island.

“… we plan to develop the sites around Hung Hom Station and waterfront areas into a new waterfront landmark combining tourism, entertainment and leisure elements, as well as to construct yacht berthing facilities and provide water-based leisure facilities etc., enhancing the appeal of Victoria Harbour for visitors,” Ms. Linn said.

ICC starts hearing if Duterte should be tried for crimes against humanity

 

Videos shown by prosecutors to support case against Duterte

Videos showing detained former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declaring he wanted drug lords and other criminals killed were played at the International Criminal Court, as prosecutors argued why he should be put on trial for the three charges of crimes against humanity filed against him.

Duterte waived his right to attend the pre-trial hearings, telling the judges in a letter that he did not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and that he is “old, tired and frail.” He also applied to skip the annual hearing on his detention set for Friday.

The former strongman who ruled the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 faces three counts of crimes against humanity for murder and attempted murder, covering 49 incidents and at least 76 victims during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president.

Nicholls (with glasses) presents evidence against Duterte

After the prosecution, the defense and the victims’ lawyers made their opening statements, Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls detailed evidence which he said established that Duterte founded the Davao Death Squad (DDS) and used this so-called Davao model to carry out killings during his term as president.

Nicholls said the model uses a chain of command with Duterte on top and extends to co-perpetrators, DDS handlers, and down to a number of members of carried out the killings.

DETAILS HERE

“Mr. Duterte created liquidation squads, death squads made up of both Davao City police officers as well as non-police officers who essentially hired hitmen and hired killers," Nicholls said. 

This, he argued, was contrary to what lead defence counsel Nicholas Kaufman had claimed in his opening statement that Duterte was bent on using hyperbole in his statements, and that he only declared a war on crime in a legal way.

"The Davao Model was murder, not being tough on crime legally as my friend (Kaufman) said," Nicholls added.

See details

To establish the prosecution’s case, Nicholls referred to a number of witness statements from self-proclaimed DDS members as well as a number of videos showing Duterte admitting the existence of the group, and repeatedly saying he did not only order the killings but even did some of it himself.

One of the videos showed Duterte saying in an ambush interview in December 2015 that a human rights group was wrong in saying he had killed 700 people in Davao City when he was mayor. Duterte said the group had undercounted because the actual number was 1,700.

"Not only did Mr. Duterte clearly intend his criminality, he openly bragged about it. Right up until his arrest, he bragged about it. He thrives on a tough guy persona or image that he's tried to create for himself," Nicholls said.

The ICC judges presiding over the confirmation hearing

In November 2015, while campaigning for the presidency, he told a press conference that he would cite Davao as “exhibit A” if asked for his credentials. He then added, “Either I get what I want, or you perish. Let’s be straightforward. What does that mean? That means killings.”

Four other clips from Duterte’s presidential campaign also showed him vowing to get criminals killed. In one of them, he said in his weekly talk show that if elected president he would kill anyone who makes the lives of Filipinos miserable.

Among the witness statements he presented was one executed by a former DDS member who said the group was formed in 1988 during a dinner meeting in Davao City where Duterte was present.

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“He openly told new members of the death squad he was forming that their job was to kill criminals,” Nicholls said.

Another witness said Duterte never mentioned self-defence as a ground for shooting suspected criminals, and even personally armed new DDS members with handguns and ammunitions which were in a basket that was passed around during the party.

The prosecution also presented a slide showing five individuals named in the charge sheet as Duterte’s co-perpetrators in his bloody anti-crime drive in Davao City, including incumbent Senators Ronald "Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go.

The others were identified as former Davao City police chief Vicente Danao, former National Bureau of Investigation chief in Davao Dante Gierran, and former Secretar of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Kaufman, as lead counsel for Duterte, said in his opening statement that the tough-talking leader was fond of using hyperbole and had exaggerated his public promises of killings to scare criminals.

He accused the prosecution of “cherry picking” speeches to show Duterte in a bad light, and ignored his more temperate pronouncements.

Kaufman echoed claims from Duterte supporters that the charges against the former leader were politically motivated, and even went as far as directly accusing President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr of engineering his predecessor’s arrest.

The president said through his spokesperson that the arrest was lawful, and that the complaint with the ICC was filed in 2017 when Duterte was still president.

The hearings will continue until Feb 27, and a decision is expected within two months. If the charges are confirmed, the case will proceed to trial which, judging from previous ICC cases, would not likely start until after five years.