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Showing posts with label Features. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Features. Show all posts

Philippine House of Reps vote to impeach VP Sara

Posted on 05 February 2025 No comments

 

Duterte is the first Philippine Vice President to be impeached (Getty Photos)

The Philippine House of Representatives voted Wednesday to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, and immediately sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.

A total of 215 lawmakers endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint against VP Duterte, a day before the current session of Congress is set to end.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez announced the approval of the impeachment complaint, saying the vote it garnered was more than the required one-third of all members of the lower chamber.

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The impeachment complaint was received by the Senate Secretary just before 6pm. A date for the trial has yet to be set.

The articles of impeachment against Duterte is based on the grounds of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Last month, three groups filed separate impeachment complaints against the Vice President, accusing her of various crimes ranging from the misuse of hundreds of millions of pesos in govenment funds to plotting against the life of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

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The Philippines’ 24 senators must now set a trial date for the impeachment complaint. It needs the vote of at least two-thirds of all senators to pass muster.

The impeachment vote comes days before the start of campaigning for mid-term elections in the Philippines, seen to set the tone for the 2028 presidential race.

Duterte, who was expected to succeed his father Rodrigo R. Duterte as president in 2022, took a back seat to President Marcos instead, and ran as his vice-president. She is now seen as the frontrunner for the top post in the 2028 elections.

The relationship between the country's two top officials soured after Duterte was asked to appear before the House for her alleged misuse of hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds alloted to her both as vice president and former secretary of education.

In retaliation, Duterte said in a live social media broadcast that she had asked someone to kill Marcos if she was herself assassinated.

The Vice President has yet to respond to the impeachment move, but her elder brother, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte slammed it as political persecution.

Rep. Duterte said he was “appalled and enraged” by what he called as desperate and politically motivated efforts to railroad the vice president’s impeachment.

 

$193.7M bonanza to one lucky Mark Six winner

Posted on 02 February 2025 No comments

 

This betting station on Stanley Street in Central is a favorite of Mark Six punters

Only one ticket won the biggest-ever first prize of nearly $194M in Hong Kong’s Mark Six lottery this Sunday night.

The lucky punter will receive a whopping $193,762,620,  following a record turnover of over $380 million for this year's Chinese New Year Snowball.

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Bettors packed Hong Kong Jockey Club betting stations throughout the city earlier, all hoping to hit the biggest ever jackpot in the lottery’s history.

According to reports, the lone winner placed the bet over the counter with cash. No other details were given as to where the instant mega millionaire had placed the winning bet.

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The winning numbers were 14, 18, 30, 36, 40 and 42. The extra number was 1.

Twelve tickets will split the second prize of $1.2 million. For the third prize pot, 530 winning tickets will each receive $72,500.

Traffic arrangements for CNY festivities bared

Posted on 29 January 2025 No comments

 

A float for HK's beloved pandas will be among those taking part in the CNY Parade

The Transport Department has disclosed special traffic and transport arrangements across the city ahead of today’s Chinese New Year Night Parade and the New Year fireworks display tomorrow, Jan. 30.

Road closures along the parade route in Tsim Sha Tsui will begin at 3:30pm, and end just before midnight. The affected areas include Canton Road, Haiphong Road, Nathan Road, and a section of Salisbury Road between Chatham Road South and Star Ferry Pier.

At the same time, the China Ferry Terminal stop of the cross-boundary coach service between Jordan and Huanggang Port will be suspended from about 3pm.

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The Lunar New Year parade will kick off at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, and wind its way through Canton, Haiphong and Nathan roads, before ending in front of the Sheraton Hotel.

Meanwhile, extensive road closures will be implemented for the fireworks show on Thursday, the second day of the Lunar New Year.

About 400,000 revellers are expected to turn out for the 23-minute fireworks spectacular over Victoria Harbour.

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Major roads near the waterfront will be closed off in phases starting at 5pm on that day, while the marine police will step up patrols on the harbour to ensure the safety of those enjoying the show aboard vessels.

The road closures and traffic diversions will be imposed in four phases across the Central District, Wan Chai and Eastern District starting at 5:30pm.

Road restrictions in Tsim Sha Tsui and the West Kowloon Cultural District will begin at 5pm, until the crowd disperses after the show.

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In addition, a one-way traffic flow will be implemented on footbridges and areas near the waterfront.

Ferry services between Hong Kong island outlying islands will be suspended from about 6:20pm until the fireworks display is over. The affected services will include those provided by Star Ferry, Sun Ferry, Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, Discovery Bay Transportation Services, Park Island Transport and Fortune Ferry.

The Transport Department reminded the public that bus and minibus routes in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted or suspended, but MTR services on most lines will be enhanced to meet passenger demand.

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New Filipino artist group to stage ‘FAKE’ in HK

Posted on 18 January 2025 No comments

 

Promotional poster for 'FAKE', the first production of all-Filipino theatre group, TBT

A newly formed Filipino theatre artists group in Hong Kong has announced the launch of its first production, “FAKE,” a full-length English play written by one of Metro Manila’s most celebrated playwrights, Floy Quintos.

The Bootstrap Theatre (TBT) HK said FAKE will be staged at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Studio Theatre at the Fringe Club in Central on June 7 this year.

The play, which serves as a discussion of Filipinos’ religious faith intertwined with their struggle for national identity, was premiered in the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2011 under the direction of National Artist Tony Mabesa.

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It will be directed in Hong Kong this time by TBT founder and singer/actor/songwriter/director William Elvin Manzano, who counts both Quintos and Mabesa among his mentors.

“Apart from telling Filipino stories on the world stage, it is our goal in The Bootstrap Theatre to create an artistic, creative industry for Filipinos living in Hong Kong, from actors, dancers, and musicians to writers, directors and filmmakers as well as backstage and administration personnel,” said Manzano.

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“Floy Quintos’ magnificent work is only the first in a long line of plays we hope to stage, which all feature stories that starkly and honestly reflect modern Filipino society through world-class theater productions.” 

'FAKE' is the first play to be directed in HK by multi-awarded composer William Elvin

Manzano has won multiple awards in the Philippines as the co-lyricist and composer of “Mula sa Buwan” – now considered as a contemporary classic in Philippine musical theatre.

In “FAKE”, Manzano returns to the directorial chair after more than a decade, having directed several productions in Metro Manila in the early 2010s before relocating to Hong Kong in 2014. 

TBT is now searching for Hong Kong-based Filipino actors, aged 25 to 55, (male and female), as well as two male Caucasians who will be playing major roles in the play to be directed by singer/actor/songwriter/director William Elvin Manzano, who is also Bootstrap’s founder.

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Auditions will be held on Feb 8 at the Delia Memorial School in Mei Foo from 4pm to 7pm. Interested actors may fill up the form through this link: https://cdocs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVlZ9BlAzcGcAmDp-L0BShnGhL4lnEt0VUh2kn7bsJn3jyxA/viewform?pli=1

For more information on The Bootstrap Theatre HK and “FAKE”,  follow the new company’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram

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Actors and performers interested in joining their productions may also send them a message in the social media accounts or email them at tbtmediaent@gmail.com

 

Local and migrant artists team up to raise funds for Bethune House

Posted on 16 January 2025 No comments

 

Poster for the collaborative art exhibit which opens today

For the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, the work to keep raising funds for the shelter’s upkeep and its clients’ financial needs never ends.

Just a few weeks after reporting that they had met their target of raising HK$1 million by the end of last year and thanking all their generous donors who made it happen, Bethune House executive director Edwina Antonio is again overseeing another charity event to ensure the shelter remains afloat.

Three art-related events captioned “Togetherness: Two Pillars, One Shelter” have been lined up by Edwina’s team to what they describe as “an opportunity to celebrate art, community and compassion while supporting migrant workers who play a vital role in Hong Kong society.”

Edwina (3rd from left) and The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap (seated next to her)
meet the Goroy family, who are among Bethune House's generous donors

The “Bethune House Fundraiser Auction 2025” will be kick-started tonight, Jan 16, with a  VIP Preview and Private Tour of an exhibit that features about 30 works by local artists such as Frog King as well as those by members of Guhit Kulay, a migrant artists’ collective.

The preview will be held at the ground floor of No 33 Wyndham Street in Central, from 6:30 t0 8:30pm.

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On Jan 19, Sunday, “Kitchen Day” hosted by Bethune House residents, Lo Lai Lai and Yip Kai Chun, will be held from 1pm to 4pm at the same venue.

The event to be held over lunch is meant to introduce the local and migrant artists whose works are being exhibited, and as a channel for cultural collaboration among the various people from diverse ethnic backgrounds who are supporting Bethune House.

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Rounding up the festivities is a Live Auction Cocktail on Feb. 7, from 6pm-9pm. Four exclusive artworks will be put up for auction, with the proceeds going to Bethune House.

In the meantime, a silent auction for the 30 artworks carefully selected and curated for the exhibit begins today, and will continue until midnight of Feb. 9. To view the items and bid, click on this link: https://hk.givergy.com/bethunehouse/?controller=home

UST chorale in HK Christmas serenade

Posted on 09 December 2024 No comments

 

The Thomasian Choir with conductor Nobel Gabasan

A mini-concert last Friday, Dec 6, featuring the Thomasian Chamber Choir of the University of Santo Tomas, brought memories of a traditional Filipino Christmas celebration to many of the 100-odd people in attendance.

The choir sang a medley of  well-loved Filipino Christmas songs like “Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit,” “Sa May Bahay,” “Pasko Na Naman” and “Mano Po Ninong,” causing a wave of nostalgia to sweep through the mainly Filipino audience.

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The group, which came all the way from Manila for the performance, also sang Filipino all-time favorites like “Rosas Pandan”, “Ti Ayat ti Maysa Nga Ubing” and “Mariposa,” as well as more contemporary tunes  like “Manila” and “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.”

The open-air amphitheater setting provided the best backdrop for the concert

The concert at the Lippo Amphitheater of the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, as well as the cocktail reception that followd, was hosted by the Philippine Consulate General and was called “Pamaskong Handog ng Konsulado”.

Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan led in welcoming the guests, who included members of the the diplomatic corps, Consulate staff, members of their partner-organizations, and Filipino community leaders.

Congen Usudan told the gathering that this is the last Christmas she’ll be spending in Hong Kong, as she will be recalled to the Head Office of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in March next year.

Congen Usudan who is a UST alumna herself, joins the choir in a photo after the concert

She paid special thanks to UST alumnus and musical conductor Nobel Gabasan, who spent a number of weekends flying to Manila from his Hong Kong homebase, to practice with the choir before their performance.

The Thomasian also entertained overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong when they sang at the celebration of  Migrants Day on Chater Road the next day, Sunday.

 

DH jailed for almost 10 months for money laundering

Posted on 06 December 2024 No comments

 

A Filipina domestic helper whose bank ATM card was used by another DH for money laundering, for which the latter was jailed earlier for eight months, was herself jailed for nine months and 27 days by the District Court.

Richel Gania, 47 years old, pleaded guilty on Thursday (Dec. 5) to dealing with $189,110.04 of crime money by allowing her Hang Seng Bank account to be used as its depository between April 1, 2018 and Nov. 1, 2020.

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She was convicted of “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offense, conrary to section 35(1) and (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.”

Deputy District Judge David Cheung handed the sentence on Gania, whose case was resolved separately from those of her two co-accused – Wong Chi-tang, 37, who was accused of laundering $3,667.329.50 through his Bank of China account; and Rachel Galvadores, 47, whose Hang Seng Bank account was linked to the laundering of $577,302.00.

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Gania’s ATM card was the main evidence in the case against Michelle Valenzuela, aged 45, who was sentenced last Nov. 21 at Eastern Court to eight months in jail.

She admitted to Principal Magistrate Don So that she used Gania’s ATM card in depositing and withdrawing money from the bank account.

She also answered yes when Magistrate So asked if somebody gave her the ATM card of the account.

Freda at home with the Ha family

Posted on 01 December 2024 No comments

 (This story is reprinted from the Migrant Focus newsletter of the Mission for Migrant Workers. It tells the story of Freda, a Filipina migrant worker who has nominated  the Ha family she works with, for MFMW’s Happy Homes award this year).

 

Freda enjoys an outing with the Ha family

On an early fall evening, Freda Lyn takes the bus back to her home, where the Ha family she cares for awaits her. She then narrates her story over the phone – of a caring, happy home.

Originally hailing from the Philippines, Freda has been working with the Ha family for a decade. Aside from her duties of cleaning their home and cooking dinner, a big part of Freda’s job is to care of the two young children of the family.

Freda takes immense pride in the fact that the Ha parents have given her the responsibility to discipline their children. When the parents are stuck on a solution, they often tell their children to “Ask Aiyee.”

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Freda has also cultivated a trusting and close relationship with the daughters of the family. It is not uncommon for Freda and the eldest daughter, Sarah, to catch up after school. While Freda cooks dinner, Sarah completes her homework. Their daily routine always consists of chats about crushes, academics, and much more, with no secrets between them.

When asked why she nominated the Ha family for the Happy Homes award, Freda said: “With them, I feel like I am part of their family.”

Freda (in red) with the Ha girls

Freda tells a story where at school, Sarah was asked to draw a family portrait. When she drew her sister, her parents, and Freda as well, she was chastised by her teacher, who didn’t allow her to include her domestic worker as part of the family. The girl was then reduced to tears, insisting that Freda was part of the family.

Furthermore, when the family goes on vacation, whether it's a cruise trip or to China, Freda is always included, and she emphasized that she ate the same food and stayed in the same rooms as the family, never isolated or separated.

“Freda is very considerate,” Mr. Ha explained. “We see her as part of the family.”

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Freda knows that while the Ha family is very loving towards her, many in the community of domestic workers in Hong Kong do not receive the same treatment.

“Many workers aren’t treated as a person, but lower than a person,” Freda explained.

She made special mention of the kind of food provided by employers to some migrant domestic workers. She said many are given leftover dinners, which at times, may just be a fish head. If there are no leftovers, the workers are forced to eat instant noodles. Some workers are even made to spend for their own food.

Freda knows a strong connection rarely exists between employer and worker, but she is lucky because she feels the love and respect of the Ha family.

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Mr. Ha explained that to ensure the rights of  migrant workers in Hong Kong are protected, there should be better protection for them in the laws.

Freda expressed her gratitude for the wonderful treatment she is getting by telling this to the Ha family: “Stay as humble as you are now. Even if I won't be forever with you, in the future, whoever the new domestic worker is, treat them the same way as you treated me; do not change.”

DMW official to hold reintegration seminar in HK

Posted on 19 November 2024 No comments

 

The talk should answer questions of OFWs planning to go home for good

Are you an overseas Filipino worker thinking of going back home for good, but are unsure as to what you can do when you retire, or what benefits, if any, you can avail of from the government?

Here is your chance to find out.

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On December 1, Sunday, Department of Migrant Workers’ Assistant Secretary for Reintegration, Francis Ron C. de Guzman will speak about the government’s reintegration program for OFWs.

His talk will be held from 9am to 12 noon at the City University of Hong Kong on Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon.

Anybody who wishes to attend is required to register by scanning the QR code in the poster above.

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According to recent news reports from the Philippines, funds for the government’s national reintegration program for OFWs have been doubled under the term of President Ferdinand Marcos, r.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said that as a result, he expects the beneficiaries of the department’s reintegration program to double to 5,000 this year, from the previous 2,500.

He said there are several programs and activities under the National Reintergration Center for OFWs, including the BPBH, Livelihood Development Assistance Program, Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am, Sir, Training on Livelihood, Skills, Techical and Professional Skills, Tulong Pangkapital, and many more.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, an attached agency of DMW, has even more beneficiaries, as about 10% of the OWWA Fund is set aside for reintegration.

Administrator Arnell Ignacio said OWWA is now thinking of a new reintegration program specifically for OFWs who are into farming. He said this will not only help returning workers but will also support the food sufficiency programs of the current administration.

 

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UP alumni win top honors at ‘Rambulan 2024’

Posted on 11 November 2024 No comments

 

Congen Germie Usudan with alumni from 4 Phl universities gather despite the hoisting of T3

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Hong Kong took the top slot in “Rambulan 2024” (UAAP Barangayan sa Hong Kong), a friendly competition among alumni of four of the country's top universities, held on Saturday at Repulse Bay Beach.

UPAA had initially tied with One La Salle Hong Kong for the top prize, each with 26 points, but prevailed in the tie-breaking contest, “Tono Henyo”,  or a name-that-tune (and singer) contest.

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The other groups that competed were the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association, which took the third prize; and the Ateneo Alumni Association, which due to a lack of participants, came out fourth.

UP alumni proudly display the champion's trophy

Opening the friendly was Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, a graduate of both UP and UST, who praised the alumni for getting together in a show of camaraderie and sportsmanship, and remarked how she was enjoying the fine weather, despite the hoisting of typhoon signal no 3 that morning.

Congen Usudan also used the occasion to honor her predecessor, the late Assistant Secretary Raly Tejada, who keenly supported the alumni associations’ effort to gather together, and lend support to some of the Consulate’s projects, like the overseas voting for Filipinos.

La Salle alumni with their 2nd prize trophy

Eight fun games were played during the day-long event - “Isang Bucket Ka Lang,” “Tono Henyo,” “Hula Hoop Relay,” “Hugot Buntot”, “Third PAArteh (3-legged race), “Putukin Mo Ang Lobo Ko,” “RamPak (a sustainable dress pageant) and the UAAP Cheer Dance Competition.

La Salle won four of the games, notching the top score of 4 in each, but fell to either 2nd or 3rd position in the rest. UP managed to even out the score by taking the second slot in four of the other games, each worth 3 points.

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Up until the cheering dance contest, UP was leading by one point, but La Salle caught up and drew a tie when it was announced the winner in what should have been that final face-off.

In the ensuing tie-breaking “Tono Henyo” contest, UPAA scored a perfect 5 as against 2 for La Salle, to take the first-prize trophy.

The contested trophies, with the UST alumni in the background

Two non-alumni,  Marichie Biscocho from Mapua University and Albert Yu from Polytechnic University, acted as judges for the RamPak and Cheer Dance Competition.

Ayalaland Hong Kong sponsored all the trophies, as well as two one-night stays at Seda Hotel which were awarded to both UP and La Salle.

UPAA HK is headed by Maritess Turingan, One La Salle by Jaerey Velasco, USTAA by Jan Yumul, and Ateneo AA by Joms Ortega.

Ateneo's Joms Ortega gamely joins the dress-up pageant for his school

This was the fourth 'Rambulan' to be held in Hong Kong since its launch in 2014, with the aim of reviving the spirit of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines' (UAAP) annual sports competition in the city.

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