New ‘caregiver’ category for OFWs eyed

By Daisy CL Mandap

Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong must continue learning new skills like massage therapy so they could be first in line for the new “caregiver” category that the government is planning to introduce soon to address its ageing population.

Vice Consul Robert Quintin

This was the message that Vice Consul Robert Quintin, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, gave on Oct 29 during the awarding of certificates to recent graduates of advanced lessons on massage therapy conducted by Umela-HK.

“I don’t want to pre-empt this, but there is a move by the Hong Kong government to create a new category of workers for elderly care,” VC Quintin said.

He encouraged Umela graduates and trainees to continue improving their skills as this could be put to good use if they decide to vie for the caregiver post in future.

His call came in the wake of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s announcement in her maiden policy address on Oct 11 that the government would consider giving subsidized elderly-service units more flexibility on importing caregivers.

The Hong Kong government also disclosed plans to launch an experimental program to equip 300 domestic workers already in the city with nursing skills to improve their ability to meet the needs of their elderly wards.

The 18-month trial program, co-organized by the Health and Social Welfare Departments, is set to be launched in the first quarter of next year.

The Labor Department and Security Bureau are also reportedly planning to set up an interdepartmental group for creating a mechanism to hire foreign caregivers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Southeast Asian countries.

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre said he has heard about the plan, but has not been officially informed or consulted on it. “But there should be a separate category for caregivers. It’s no use if our workers are merely trained to do the job,” he said.

Labatt dela Torre that the Philippine government has more than enough qualified nurses and other medically-trained workers already in Hong Kong to meet the city’s demand for caregivers.

“As soon as they inform us officially about the plan, we can go to work right away,” he said.

For months since he took office, Labatt dela Torre has been meeting with Filipino nurses and midwives to urge them to continue honing their skills so they can either return home, or go to other places where they can practice their profession.

 “I am confident we can provide more than enough skilled workers to meet Hong Kong’s needs,” he said.

He said he welcomed any moves to upgrade the work category and salary level of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong so they won’t be forced to look elsewhere for better jobs and pay.

But he said the Hong Kong should clarify the criteria first. Like, those who are registered nurses should have priority, and put on a higher level than those who finished short courses on say, caregiving or massage therapy.

He also urged a salary level commensurate to their qualifications and experience, saying the $12,000 being floated around is acceptable as starting pay.

The amount is the median salary for caregivers working in private elderly home facilities, while those who work in subsidized government centers earn an average of $14,000 a month.

The idea of introducing a category upgrade for foreign domestic helpers has long been floated in Hong Kong, mainly by the Philippines and Indonesia, which supply the most number of migrant workers in the city.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Labor recently said it would send a delegation to Hong Kong to find out more about the plan to open the city’s elderly care sector to foreign workers.

Pagsasanay pangkabuhayan, tuloy kahit may bagyo

Ni George Manalansan

Hindi napigilan ng T8 na bagyo ang 76 migranteng manggagawa na magtipon-tipon sa Bayanihan Centre noong Okt. 15 para sa kanilang nakatakdang pagsasanay sa paggawa  ng mga popular na kakanin,  leche puto (kombinasyon ng leche flan at puto) at siomai.

Ang pagtuturo ng ‘pangkabuhayan/skills training’ ay isa sa mga proyekto ng Card HK Foundation na ang layunin ay makapagbigay ng dagdag kaalaman sa mga migrante bilang paghahanda sa pagbalik nila sa Pilipinas.

Ipinakikita ng mga trainees (sa kaliwa) ang mga produktong natutunan nilang gawain dahil sa dinaanang pagsasanay.

Ayon kay Emelia Dellosa, trainor ng leche puto, taong 2014 nang maisipan ng isang misis sa Quezon City na gumawa ng panghimagas na ito. Dumalo kasi ito sa isang kasiyahan na ang matamis ay kakarampot na leche flan, at nabitin siya. Naisip niya na pagsamahin ang puto na kapag solong kinakain ay tuyo sa bibig, at ang leche flan na kadalasan ay ma-krema at ubod ng tamis. Ang kinalabasan ay leche puto na malasa at  makrema pero hindi masyadong tuyo o matamis.

Naging katuwang ni Dellosa si Tess Mapa sa pagpapaliwanag at pagpapakita kung paano ito iluto.

Nagpakitang gilas naman ang magkatuwang na sina Joan Cabodil, na nagtapos sa Martha Sherpa Cooking lessons; at Gwen sa paggawa ng siomai, na patok na patok sa mga Pilipino na gustong matuto ng lutong Intsik.

Habang patuloy ang malakas na ulan sa labas ay masaya naman ang mga kalahok sa matamang pagtutok sa mga itinuturo sa kanila, mula sa pangangalap ng sangkap at pagsasama-sama sa mga ito, paraan ng pagluluto, hanggang sa paghapag sa mesa.

Mas maigi daw ang aktuwal na lumahok sa ganitong pagsasanay kaysa magbasa o manood sa TV at internet ng paraan ng pagluluto.

Laking pasasalamat din nila sa mga trainor na dumating lahat sa kabila ng unos para hindi sila umuwing luhaan.

“Ang sisipag ng trainors”, sabi ni Catalino Magno.

Ayon naman kay April Milo, “Learning is fun”. 

Masayang sinabi naman ni Chona Blancaver na hilig nya talaga ang gumawa ng kakanin at mas nagkaka-interes siya kung aktuwal na itinuturo ang pagluluto.

Sambit naman ni Rose Martin, “paghahanda sa pag for good,” ang pakay niya.

Ayon sa isa pang kasali, dahil sa kanilang natutunan ay maaari na silang magtayo ng sariling puwesto at hindi na kailangang umasa sa prangkisa.

Karamihan ay ito rin ang iniisip, ang magtayo ng sariling negosyo sa kanilang pagbabalik para hindi na nila kailangan pang iwanan ang mga mahal sa buhay para lang mabuhay.

Para sa susunod na pagsasanay ng CARD HK ay tumawag lamang sa telepono bilang 5423 8196 o 9529 6392

DepEd exec says more OFW teachers needed back home

DepEd exec says more OFW teachers needed back home

By Vir B. Lumicao

A top-ranking education official in the Philippines has reiterated the need for more OFW teachers to go home and teach, as the government’s Kindergarten to Grade 12, or K-12, program, enters the final stage of its implementation.

Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo told The SUN that next school year, 81,000 new teachers’ posts will be added. He was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar of would-be teachers at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on Oct. 28.

Mateo said that this is on top of the 55,000 teachers added to the country’s public school system this school year, five years after the K-12 program took effect.

He was in Hong Kong to speak at a seminar on the Department of Labor and Employment’s SPIMS (Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am, Sir”) reintegration program for returning public and private school teachers and education graduates.

Labor Attaché  Jalilo dela Torre said 158 would-be teachers, all passers of the Licensure Examination for Teachers, attended the seminar held in cooperation with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, DepEd, Philippine Normal University, and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs.

Mateo said the OFW-teachers in Hong Kong have a big chance of landing a teaching position in the country’s public schools when they go home, as long as they comply with DepEd’s requirements.

“Of course, we can’t sacrifice the quality of education,” Mateo said, explaining that a teaching applicant must also have subject specialization. “For example, we cannot just hire any teacher to teach mathematics, we will look for someone who graduated in Math or any course related to Math.”

The education official explained this is so because when a pupil advances in grade school, he must have specialization or focus on subjects.

Mateo said the country has 700,000 teachers in its public school system. He said the departure of teachers from their jobs in previous years to work abroad mainly as domestic helpers did not have an impact on the teaching sector because supply was available.

But there will be bigger demand for teachers in coming years because of the K-12 program, Mateo said.

Mateo also emphasized that DepEd is trying to improve the teaching and learning environment by decreasing the sizes of classes.

“On the average, the proportion is one is to 34, one teacher for every 34 students. But you cannot say that in highly urbanized areas like the National Capital Region, doon mataas iyon,” Mateo said.

He said one problem in the NCR is the lack of space for school buildings so, school owners are now required to build multi-storey edifices.

Mateo said DepEd is observing a ratio of one teacher per 25 pupils for kindergarten, 1:35 for Grade 1 to Grade 3, and 1:40 for Grades 4 to 10.

“We’re trying to reach that by employing more qualified teacher,” Mateo said.

Asked where OFW-teachers will be assigned when they go home, he said it depends on the requirement of the school.

“But definitely they will be assigned in a school where there is a requirement near their residence, not exactly walking distance but at least accessible,” he said.

Other speakers in the seminar were Dr. Marilyn Balagtas and Director Serafin Arviola of the Philippine Normal University, Director Aniceta Deuna of OWWA, and Roel Martin and Kristin Monares of NRCO.

Likhang pangkabuhayan, itinanghal

Ni Marites Palma

Bagamat kasagsagan ng signal no 8 na bagyo noong Oct. 15, nakuha pa ring magtipon-tipon ang mga miyembro ng Filipino Workers Livelihood Association sa Admiralty Bridge noong Oct 15 para ipagpatuloy ang pagtatanghal ng kanilang mga gawang pangkabuhayan.

Umabot sa 19 ang mga estudyante ang nagpakita ng kanilang  kahusayan sa paglikha gamit ang  beads, ribbon, macramé para sa bag, nylon stocking  para sa bulaklak

Fiipino workers livelihood association members display
the products of their training seminar they completed recently.

Ayon sa pangulo ng asosasyon na si Agustina Villaruz, kumikita na ang mga nag-aral sa ganitong uri ng pangkabuhayan dahil marami ang umoorder sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng social media.

Ang may pinakamataas na kinikita sa pamamagitan ng Facebook post nya ay si Sarojia Murigiah, isang Indian na nakatira sa Cheung Chau.

Dagdag pa ni Villaruz  may dalawa na silang umuwi na sa Pilipinas at naging maunlad ang kanilang itinayong negosyo mula sa kanilang natutunan sa asosasyon. Ito ay sina Merle A. Tambalque ng Palawan at si Mary Ann Francisco ng Bulacan.

Ang mga  natuto ng dibdiban naman ay ang mga sumusunod: Evelyn A. Abayan, Catherine Baga, Rachelle Barroca, Alena Datul, Angelita A. Deo, Maricel Dapiaoen, Vilma Ferrer, Gere Galot, Florita Gapan, Lalaine Hernandez, Flordeliza Ildefonso, Flordeliza Piano, Melba Paticaoen, Saroja Murigiah, Delaila Tizo, Jean Urbano, Maryjane Donato, Lilibeth C. Obar.

May napili na ang mga hurado na natatangi ang gawa, at makakatanggap ng pagkilala sa araw ng kanilang pagtatapos sa darating na buwan.

Ang mga nagnanais sumali sa mga pagsasanay ng grupo ay maaring tumawag kay Agustina Villaruz sa numerong 94514596 para sa karagdagang impormasyon.

Umela massage therapy graduates complete training

The trainees and other members of Umela, led b president Ofelia Petilo-Baquirin (left).  pose for their graduation photo at their usual haunt at the High Court.

More than 70 graduates of the massage therapy course of the United Migrants Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Association (Umela) HK added another feather to their cap when they were awarded certificates on Oct 29 for taking their skill to a higher level.

According to Umela president Ofelia Petilo-Baquirin, the graduates completed both the theory part and 72 hours of practicum and on-the-job training which qualifies them to take the NC2 test administered by the Technical Education and Skills and Development Authority (Tesda).

If they pass the test, they become registered therapists in the Philippines and can put up their own spa or massage clinic.

The group also used the occasion to have a “thanksgiving lunch” at the comfortable niche they found for themselves within the High Court premises in Admiralty.

Gracing the event was Vice Consul Bob Quintin who encouraged the group to continue honing their massage therapy skills because this could come in handy when the Hong Kong government pushes ahead with its plan to create a new “caregiver” category for migrant workers. He also advised them to keep a positive outlook so they stay happy.

The group’s adviser, The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap, urged the group to use their skill in drawing out fellow OFWs who are hesitant to talk about their health issues, noting that there were at least three recent cases of relatively young OFWs who died suddenly. She also advised the trainees to protect their fellow women by not making them disrobe in public when they seek them for massage at community events.

Umela founder Arnold Grospe concurred in the advice, and extolled the group for setting a good example for fellow OFWs by making an effort to continue improving themselves.

Getting through the six-month long training was not easy. Umela student body president Maellen Lupera who was one of the successful trainees, said the theory part alone included lessons on Basic Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology and Pathology. This was followed by the on-the-job training in massage therapy and Swedish massage.

But passing all the requirements was ultimately rewarding because they now feel more confident about having the required skill to do a professional massage or therapy.

On Nov. 26, about 70 more OFWs comprising batches 20, 21, 22 and 23 will be handed certificates for completing the basic massage therapy course of Umela. The graduation ceremony will be held at the Philippine Consulate.

OFWs take a big step toward getting into business

Graduates pose for posterity.

A total of 51 overseas Filipino workers received certificates of completion in this year’s Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship program of the Ateneo de Manila University’s School of Government in a ceremony held at Chinese University of Hong Kong on Oct 22.

Awarding their certificates was guest speaker Dr Philip Arnold Tuano, assistant professor and vice chair of the school of economics of Ateneo U.

Tuano urged the new graduates to use what they learned to better themselves.

Outgoing Consul General Bernardita Catalla advised the graduates to pick the best lessons from the LSE program and apply the best practices they learned so they will have a  prosperous life, “not in ten years but starting today.”

Congen Catalla also said that she would be bringing the good experiences she had in Hong Kong to Lebanon, her next assignment, so she could continue helping Filipinos there.

Another guest speaker, Hong Kong solicitor and author Jason Ng told the graduates that when they start a business in the future they should remember to apply all the lessons they learned from LSE and to keep in mind the Hongkongers’ spirit of never giving up easily.

He told them that they should keep trying hard even if they don’t succeed at first because “nothing is impossible.”

Ng also reminded the graduates to “pay it forward”, or to help others in turn.

As in previous years, this seventh batch of graduates had to undergo a six-month training that focused on leadership, financial literacy and on encouraging participants to become entrepreneurs. The highlight of the program is the requirement for students to draw up a business plan for the enterprise they plan to set up in the future.

One of the winners in the various business plan competitions, Alona Famatigan, touched the hearts of many in the audience when she said she wants to help the farmers in her hometown to improve their lives so they can send their children to school.

She also related that she has been working abroad for 30 years because of the many natural disasters that have hit her farm. In the face of such misfortune, she said all that one can do is pray, and try to rise again.

Among those who witnessed Famatigan’s big moment was her employer, who gave an emotional testimony about the good relationship that she has with the helper. The employer said Famatigan is like family to her because of the support she gives, which is more than what her own mother gave her.

Many of the graduating helpers came along with their employers and wards, who appeared to be as happy and excited as the family and friends of the graduates.

One of the children even told her mother that she also wants to be a graduate someday and be like her nanny, Rubylyn Barlaan.

The LSE is a collaborative effort between the private sectors including the ASoG, the Philippine government and the NGO, Wimler Foundation. – Ellen Almacin

Sa mga nasa HK, huwag nang lumipat sa Russia

Ni Nelle J. 

(Napapanahon na para maglabas ng mahigpit na babala sa mga migranteng Pilipino na  nagpupumulit pumunta ng Russia para sa inaakala nilang domestic work. Ito ay sa gitna ng dumaraming bilang ng mga Pilipino doon na walang trabaho, baon sa utang at takot lumantad dahil hindi ayon sa kanilang trabaho ang hawak-hawak na work o commercial visa. 

Bilang patunay sa totoong kalagayan ng mga Pilipino sa Russia ngayon ay sumulat ng isang artikulo para sa The SUN ang isang Pilipina na dating nagtrabaho sa Hong Kong at lumipat sa Russia 6 na taon na ang nakakaraan. 

Bagamat maganda na ang katayuan ni Nelle ngayon kumpara sa mga unang taon niya  sa Russia kung saan napadpad siya sa isang napakalayong lugar, pinatrabaho ng walang humpay at hindi pinahawak ng pera, mahigpit pa rin ang babala niya na huwag nang mag-ambisyon ang ibang mga Pilipina na sumunod sa kanila sa Russia. 

“Marami din po akong pinagdaanan dito kaya masasabi ko na kahit paano mas ok pa rin sa HK. Protektado ang mga OFW.Dala na rin ng kapusukan at ng kagustuhan ng mabilisang asenso kaya gusto ko agad makaalis a Hong Kong noon. Kasi, first timer ako at wala pang experience. Pero ngayon ko na-appreciate na kaya marami din ang nagtatagal sa Hong Kong kasi secure ka nga naman basta marunong ka lang humawak ng pera. Higit sa lahat, ang lapit lang (sa Pilipinas). Hindi mo kailangan ng malaking pera para makauwi. Mura pa ang mga bilihin.”

Si Nelle ay 33 taong gulang, may dalawang anak, nagtapos sa kolehiyo at tubong Cebu. -Ed)



Marami po nag me-message sa akin na mga kakilala dati sa Hong Kong at mga kakilala nila. Nagtatanong sa kalagayan dito. Ito yung katotohanang kailangan nilang malaman na hindi sinasabi ng nag-invite (recruit) sa kanila.

1. Hindi ayon sa visa ang papasukang trabaho dito. Kumbaga, di protektado ang sinumang pupunta rito katulad ng diyan sa Hong Kong kung saan may bilateral agreement sila sa ating bansa tungkol sa pagtanggap ng mga household service worker. May kontrata na naayon sa batas na iyong panghahawakan para maproteksyunan ang iyong karapatan.

    Ang renewal ng visa dito ay pahirapan. Minsan isang taon na walang processing kaya marami ang nagiging undocumented o ilegal. Hindi rin ito libre. Aabot sa USD3500 USD ang renewal ng working visa sa agency. Hindi lahat ng amo ay sinasagot ang visa o ticket mo pauwi.

2. Kung papasok ka ng Russia na ang hawak ay hindi working visa — either commercial or tourist visa lang — hindi ka pwedeng mag work. Hindi dahil ginagawa ng iba ay ok na. Ang commercial o business visa ay kailangan din i-exit pagkatapos ng 3 buwan. Kung hindi mo ito ginawa at nahuli kang lumabag sa batas nila, kulong o deportation ang magiging parusa mo.

3. Hindi lahat ng dumadating dito ay may dadatnan na trabaho. Swerte ka kung may direktang magbibigay sa yo ng work sa kilala nilang amo. Pero karamihan halos 3 buwan natatambay bago makakuha. Lalo na sa mga may edad na at mga lalaki. Karamihan sa mga amo ay mas gusto din ang may tamang dokumento. Marami ding nakapila sa mga agency para makakuha ng trabaho. At minsan dahil sa kagustuhang makakuha ng work ay pumapatol na lang sa mababang offer. Dahil may pumapayag sa maliit na salary binababaan na rin nila ang mga offer. Ibig sabihin, iyong ipinunta mo dito na malaki sanang sahod ay di hindi natutupad, at apektado na yung mga datihang kumikita sa nakasanayang rate. Marami na din ang nag aaway dahil sa sulutan sa trabaho.

4.  Ke may visa o wala hindi ka makakalusot sa mga checking ng police lalo na sa mga pampublikong lugar. Dahil na din sa kagagawan ng ibang kababayang ayaw maantala sa kanilang lakad o kaya ay gustong lusutan ang kakulangan ng dokumento at nagbibigay na lang sa mga parak... ito ay kanila na ding nakanasanayan. Bawat Pilipino na kanilang nasisita ay hinihingan nila ng pera. Hindi naman lahat pero pag natapat nga, malas, lalo pa at pahirapang makipag usap dahil hindi sila nakakaintindi ng English. Pag Immigration Police ang natapatan at paso na ang visa, talagang makukulong ka. Di yun kayang bayaran tulad ng iba.

Kapag nahuli at nadetain: Tumutulong ang Embahada sa mga na detain na kababayan para makalabas, at repatriation assistance naman sa mga nakatakdang i-deport ngunit walang perang pambili ng tiket pauwi sa Pilipinas. Ang “deportation” ay desisyon ng korte na pauwiin ang sinumang lumabag sa batas ng Russia. Hindi ito ang sinasabi ng ilan na solusyong ginagawa ng Embahada sa problema nga mga Pilipino dito. Dahil ang deportation ay magmumula sa Russian government at hindi sa Embahada.

5. “May kamag-anak/kapatid/karelasyon/kadikit ako diyan sa Russia” - Ang tanging advantage lang nyan ay may malalapitan ka o mapuntahan kapag nawalan ka ng trabaho. Pero sa usaping visa at legalidad dito wala silang magagawa at maitutulong sa iyo. Kahit ang Embahada ay di ka matutulungan sa usaping may kinalaman sa visa dahil wala pang kasunduan ang Pilipinas at Russia ukol dito. Batas ng Russia pa rin ang masusunod.

6. “Mag stay-in job na lang ako para safe.” - Hindi lahat ng amo tumatanggap ng undocumented. Ayaw din nilang masabit o ma-involve sa mga usaping legal dahil karamihan ng mga amo dito ay ayaw ding makalkal ang kanilang financial status.

7. “Worth it ba ang gagastusin ko makapunta lang jan?” - Maaring malaki ang sahod dito kumpara diyan pero sigurado ka ba na ok ang dadatnan mo? Kanya-kanya pa rin ang swerte sa amo at trabaho. Kung ipangungutang mo ang pang placement mo at di ka agad makapasok ng work dito, ano ipambabayad mo at ipapadala sa pamilya mo? Kung di sasapat ang visa na naibigay sa iyo at aabutan ka ng expiration dito ng di ka pa tapos sa mga bayarin mo, ano ang gagawin mo?

May mga nakakusap akong nagbigay na daw ng HK$22,000 para sa “invitation” (ng amo). Magkano ang sahod sa HK para makapaglabas ka ng cash na $22,000? Aminin na natin na inutang mo sa bangko ang ibinayad mo kasi sabi ng agent mababawi mo rin pagdating dito. Kabayan, hindi niyo pa alam ang dadatnan ninyo dito. Huwag munang magbilang ng sisiw habang hindi pa pisa ang itlog.

8. “Bakit kayo andyan pa rin kung di naman pala kayo legal diyan?” -  Sa mga nandito na... napasubo na, eh. Need magbayad ng utang, need magpadala sa pamilya. Pag may visa pa at ok ang work, ipon muna. Siyempre nagdadasal din na sana maging ok na ang lagay dito. Sa walang visa... patintero sa mga parak ang bagsak. Tagu-taguan. Same reason lang din. Nandito na eh, napasubo na. May bayarin at may obligasyon.

Ngayon alam mo na na ganito pala gusto mo pa rin magpunta?

(Next: Nelle’s harrowing experiences as a Filipino domestic worker in Russia)

Labatt warns OFWs anew against applying for domestic work in Russia

Labatt says: 'Pera lang ninyo kailangan nila'

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre has issued a fresh warning to overseas Filipino workers to avoid being deceived into applying for domestic work in China.

He issued the warning on Oct. 26, in response to a post from Filipino Nanny Ltd., saying work visas are still being issued by Russia, despite claims to the contrary.

Responding directly to the post, Dela Torre said:  “Despite an official advisory from our Embassy in Moscow, magsisinungaling pa rin. Huwag na sanang palinlang at paloko sa mga taong ito. Pera lang ninyo kailangan nila,” he said on his Facebook page. (Despite an official advisory from our Embassy in Moscow, they still lie. Please do not allow yourselves to be deceived and fooled by these people. They are only after your money).

In its post the previous day, Filipino Nanny said: “Who said Russia doesn’t issue working visas anymore? Here are new invitations have arrived (sic)”.

What the agency did not mention is that working visas in Russia are issued only for skilled or professional jobs, and do not cover domestic work.

The agency's post was made just a few days after Dela Torre successfully thwarted an attempt by a Moscow-based couple to lure more OFWs to work in Russia.

The labor official, acting on a tip-off from some of the couple’s alleged victims, went online and warned OFWs about the arrival in Hong Kong of Kathleen Floresca Pimentel, alias Samantha Kaythe, to interview applicants on Oct 20-23.

Pimentel is said to be the live-in partner of Pakistani Jon Meer or Ahmed Sameer, who has reportedly recruited dozens of Filipinos into Russia with no real or legal jobs waiting for them there.

Pimentel flew back hastily to Moscow after being told by Meer that authorities here were hunting her down. On Oct 22 she was back in Moscow, OFWs there said.

Dela Torre shook unsettled illegal recruitment and human trafficking operators preying on OFWs when his warning whipped up multi-territorial action by POLOs in Hong Kong and London, as well as the Philippine embassy in Moscow against the menace.

“Forced labour and human trafficking. This is the business model of Jon Meer Ahmed Sameer, married to Kathleen Floresca Pimentel, who have together recruited hundreds of Filipinas from HK, Singapore, Dubai and Taiwan, and just practically left them on their own to look for a job and survive by their own wits,” Dela Torre said in an online post.

He said he hoped OFWs not just in Hong Kong but also in other places where the couple is known to recruit workers for Russia would be wise enough to avoid them.

“Let us use our common sense. Avoid illegal recruitment, human trafficking, forced labor and modern-day slavery,” the obviously irate labor official said.

Meer hit back hard at dela Torre, sending rude and vicious messages to his private number. Someone also managed to hack into Dela Torre’s viber account and replaced his name with “Scammer”.

He and Pimentel later tried to shore up their operation by posting a photo on Facebook on Oct 26 showing them in a meeting with Vice Consul Jeff Valdez at the Philippine Embassy  in Moscow. It was not clear, however, what the meeting was for, or when the picture was taken.

Inside Meer's flat in Moscow. Pimentel on right
gets a good spread while the Filipino recruits
at the back can only look on

 the 

But the couple appears to have been spooked by the relentless campaign against them that they are reportedly planning to move to another flat to avoid arrest.

Their OFW victims complained about being overcharged, maltreated, sexually harassed and intimidated by Sameer, and verbally abused by Pimentel.

They said Sameer recruited them in Hong Kong, charging US$3,500 (HK$27,230) for an invitation alone, the document that the Russian consulate requires of visa applicants. Those who could not pay in full advanced US$2,000 to $2,500, and paid the balance in three months. Some arrived in Russia five years ago, and others just a few months ago.

Meer, in his own Facebook account, boasted of recruiting Hong Kong-based Filipinas for purported jobs in Turkey, Canada and the United States.

But in posts after posts, Labatt Dela Torre reiterated there is no legal work for domestic helpers in Russia even if they hold a work visa, because the visa that agencies provide is not for domestic work. Those who hold commercial or business visas are in a more difficult position because they have to renew them every three months, at great cost.

“Per our Embassy officials in Moscow, there is no way a Household Service Worker could ever be granted a work visa, under current Russian immigration rules. So, essentially, you will be working in Russia under the shadow of illegal and vulnerable work. Why risk your safety and your future?” he said in another post.

Even as the controversy brewed, more Filipinas from Hong Kong arrived in Moscow, with one flying into the Russian capital on Oct 20 and two others on Friday. Some chat participants said another batch of 28 OFWs is arriving in Moscow on Nov 3.

All were reportedly issued commercial visas and stayed in Meer’s flat while waiting for employers to pick them up. But Meer never got them the promised jobs and all had to go out on their own to find employers. Despite this, Meer insisted on being paid their “balance.”

Banks safe from cyber threats

Despite glitches in two of the country’s biggest banks that affected depositors earlier this year, Philippine banks remain relatively safe from serious cybersecurity threats, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr.

Even then, the central bank chief said monetary authorities are not letting up on efforts to improve industry vigilance. “We are not seeing or we are not in the seat of serious [attacks],” Espenilla told reporters.

Last June, the Bank of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) had to take down its electronic banking channels after a system glitch — later attributed to human error — resulted in account mispostings.

A few days later, Security Bank reported transaction posting delays, which prompted the lender to extend banking hours.

Then, Banco de Oro followed when clients were hit by skimming attacks and the bank admitted that some of its automated teller machines had been “compromised”.

“[E]very day banks, even the BSP, are being attacked. But it’s also reflective of the quality of cybersecurity that these [attacks] are now being routinely repelled,” Espenilla said.

But then, Espenilla said monetary authorities could not be too cautious given the rising sophistication of cyberattacks. “That is why we always raise the level of vigilance of the whole industry,” he said.

BSP will soon issue regulations to clarify expectations on the role of banks’ boards and senior management with regard to security risk management, he said.

“This one actually strengthens the message that the board … should pay attention to cybersecurity because in our observation … [this] is left to the attention of technologists or [those] lower in the organization,” he said.

As cybersecurity is normally not embraced as part of a bank’s business strategy, Espenilla pointed out that management may not invest enough resources in this area.

Duterte-Trump talks to include Drugs, terrorism

When President Duterte meets with US President Donald Trump in Manila in mid-November, illegal drugs, terrorism, and trade relations between the Philippines and the United States will be high on the agenda, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

Duterte and Trump would have a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit to be held in Manila on November 13 - 15.

“What’s the fundamental interest, intersecting interest of America and the Philippines? First is security…which includes terrorism and drugs, the threat of terrorism and illegal drugs. Secondly, trade. So if you have security but the people are hungry, it’s useless,” Cayetano said.

According to him, the Trump administration had pivoted on free trade, which could be an opening to a bilateral agreement with the Philippines.

“They’re negotiating many regional and multilateral trade agreements but there’s a possibility that we will explore a bilateral agreement,” he said.

The White House has announced that Trump would visit Manila on November 12 to 13 to participate in Asean meetings to be hosted by Duterte, chairman of the regional bloc this year. The White House said Trump would visit Manila as part of his Asian tour, which would also take him to China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the US state of Hawaii.

Trump’s schedule will allow him to attend the special gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of Asean and the Asean-US meeting, according to a DFA statement.

However, Trump will skip the East Asia Summit (EAS) on November 14 in Pampanga.

“The decision was really that he will be here on the 12th and 13th [of November]. We tried to accommodate. We tried to fix all the schedules. But since you’re dealing with more than a dozen world leaders plus the Asean, it’s very difficult to get all the schedules together,” Cayetano said.

“They were actually just waiting for the East Asia summit (schedule). Now that it has been finalized that the East Asia Summit will be on the 14th, it looks like his Secretary of State would be the one to attend,” he added, referring to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The EAS is composed of the 10 Asean countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam; and dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, US and Russia.