60 OFWs in HK pass teachers' exam

By Vir B. Lumicao

Sixty takers or 13% of a total of 460 who took the special Licensure Examination for Teachers in Hong Kong on Sept 24 have passed, with 52 of them aspiring high school teachers.

A Hong Kong-based OFW who took the exam in the Philippines also passed, her friends reported.  

Only eight or less than 4% of 215 who sat for the elementary teachers exam made the grade, according to results from all regions released on Nov 27 by the Professional Regulation Commission.

The very low pass rate indicated that the exam for aspiring public elementary school teachers this year was very difficult, said Gemma Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers.

Lauraya said the poor result reflected a similar picture in the Middle East where only six out of 179 elementary-level takers passed.

Lauraya said an OFW based in Hong Kong who registered and took the exam in the Philippines had informed her that she passed the test. That brings to 61 the total number of passers from Hong Kong.

The LET passing percentage in Hong Kong this year was much better than the 9.77% recorded in the exams held at the Bayanihan Center on Sept 25 last year.

As in the past, PRC, a unit of the Department of Labor and Employment, administered the annual test to the Hong Kong and Macau-based examinees at the Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo campus in Kwun Tong.

One of the passers of the secondary-level exam was Cyrill Mariano, who traveled all the way from Macau to take the licensure exam in Kwun Tong.

Mariano and the 60 other passers can now look forward to joining the country’s public school system to catch the huge demand for teachers as the government’s Kindergarten to Grade 12, or K-12, program enters its final stage of implementation.

Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo had said earlier that 81,000 new teachers’ posts would be added next school year to the country’s public school system.

Mateo, who spoke on Oct. 28 on the sidelines of a seminar for would-be teachers in Hong Kong, said the new positions would be on top of the 55,000 teachers added this school year, the fifth year of the K-12 program.

The LET passers from Hong Kong are:

Elementary

Banaag, Rina C.; Cataluna, Manilyn C.; Echevere, Mellie S.; Ignacio, Arlene C.; Maderazo, Daisy C.; Pandoy, Teresita M.; Solito, Janice P.; Tamot, Precy E.

Secondary

Adaggan, Glendalyn A.; Alegria, Arlyn A.; Amarillo, Erlyn B.; Amaro, Rosa M.; Arellano, Mary Jane A.; Attaban, Rose B.; Barcelona, Loradel C.; Baritua, Aphrodite Ellynne B.; Bascos, Beverly L.; Brazas, Grace P.; Baucas, Rowena C.; Camaddo, Jennifer B.; Castillo, Melody A.; Castor, Liezel P.; Cutaran, Lorena N.; Dallapas, Mary Jill K.; Dayag, Jemily L; Esteban, Gelan S.J.; Esplana, Lara V.; Jimenez, Terry Ann A.; Jimenez, Vanessa B.; Lagrio, Consolacion M.; Latorsa, Ma Cristina L.; Latumbo, Yakim S.; Legaspi, Kristine C.; Li-boon, Udemie C.; Marcelino, Mary Ann V; Mariano, Cyrill M.; Mateo, Felicidad S.; Medina, Norlina B.; Medrano, Babylyn P.; Milo, Marisa D.; Mula, Emilia G.; Novabos, Gideelyn S.; Paquibot, Ma Lourdes M.; Pasicolan, Mariel A.; Quizzagan, Pinky M.; Regalado, Eda Marie B.; Renojo, Christine T.; Reyes, Efraim M.; Sanchez, Kaye Colline V.; Sanchez, Sierramie A.; Semeniano, Arlene V.; Tubongbanua, Jemely A.; Solima, Rowena R.; Sudaria, Regina R.; Suposop, Lina T.; Tumampil, Jennifer T.; Uanang, Donabelle D.; Valenzuela, Rose S.; Villavecencio, Glendyl A.; Vinoya, Dizzy M.;  

Muntik nang madisgrasya

Hindi malimutan ni Nena, 30 at Bulakenya, ang naging karanasan niya nang isama siya ng kanyang amo sa kanilang yate sa Marina Cove sa Saikung.

Dahil sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari ay nahulog siya sa butas na daanan pababa sa makina ng yate. Mabuti na lang ay naisangga niya ang kanyang mga kamay sa magkabilang panig ng sahig, kung hindi ay bumagsak siya sa susunod na palapag kung saan naroon ang makina ng yate.

Mga siyam na talampakan din ang lalim nito mula sa itaas.

Ani Nena, “habol-habol ko ang aking hininga at nanlalambot ako nang saklolohan ni amo.” 

Pinaghanda kasi siya ng pagkain at inumin na babaunin sa magdamag na paglalayag kaya nandoon siya sa yate noong araw na iyon.

Dahil sa nangyari ay sumakit ang magkabilang bisig ni Nena dahil ginawa niyang pantungkod ang mga ito para hindi siya mahulog. Gayunpaman, malaki pa rin ang pasasalamat niya dahil hindi siya nabalian ng buto, o nagalusan man.

Ang payo niya sa kapwa niya migranteng manggagawa ay palaging mag-ingat. “Malayo tayo sa pamilya natin, mahirap magka problema dito,” sabi niya. – George Manalansan

30 taon ng Pixar animation, tampok sa Heritage Museum

Mga cartoon characters ang makakasalamuha mo sa Hertiage Museum.

Ni Marites Palma

Isa ka ba sa mga namangha at naaliw sa mga animated movies gaya mg Toy Story, Cars, Monsters University at Monsters, Inc?

Ngayon, maaari mo nang masulyapan ang naglalakihang iskultura nina Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Nemo, Carl, Sadness at Joy at iba pang sikat na karakter na likha ng Pixar Animation Films, sa pagbisita sa Hong Kong Heritage Museum sa Shatin.

Sa halagang $20 lamang (may discount sa grupo, at kalahati ang bayad sa mga estudyante, senior citizen at may kapansanan) ay maari nang matunghayan ang piling koleksyon ng Pixar, bilang paggunita sa ika-30 anibersaryo nito.

Ang exhibit na may pamagat na “Pixar 30 Years of Animation: Hong Kong Celebration of Friendship and Family” ay bahagi ng paggunita sa ika-20 taon ng pagkakatatag ng Hong Kong SAR. Magkatuwang sa pagtatatag nito ang Heritage Museum at Pixar Animation Studios, sa pakikipagtulungan ng Walt Disney Company. Makikita ang exhibit sa Thematic Galleries 1 & 2 sa unang palapag ng museo.

Ang Pixar ay itinatag noong 1986 sa Emeryville California, USA, at nakilala agad sa dahil sa husay nito sa paggamit ng computer animation. Ang kanilang Toy Story na ginawa noong 1995 ay lumikha ng kasaysayan bilang kauna-unang pelikula na ginawa sa pamamagitan ng computer animation.

Ang mga pelikulang ito ng Pixar ay nagbigay ng kasiyahan, hindi lang dahil sa husay ng kanilang computer animation, kundi pati sa kakaibang istorya at adventure ng mga bida sa mga ito. Bagamat cartoon ang kanilang mga hitsura at galaw, ang mga kwento nila sa pelikula ay kahalintulad ng mga nangyayari sa mga tunay na tao. Nagbigay sila ng kalungkutan at kasiyahan, at higit sa lahat ay nagturo sila ng magandang aral sa mga manonood. Sa Pixar, ang artikistikong paggawa at kwento ng pelikula ay kasing halaga ng husay sa teknolohiya.

Ang mga palagiang tema ng mga pelikula ng Pixar at tungkol sa masalimuot at masayang relasyon sa pagitan ng mga miyembro ng pamilya, at mga kaibigan. Sa paraang ito ay nakakapulot ng mahalagang leksyon sa buhay ang mga manonood. Nabubuo din sa isipan nila na gaano man kalaki ang balakid na nakaabang sa buhay ng bawat isa ay may laging tatayo at susuporta sa kanila, mula sa kanilang pamilya o matatalik na kaibigan. Lagi din dapat na positibo ang pananaw sa buhay.

Sa exhibit na ito ay makikita ang ilang mga piling artwork na nagawa mula pa sa traditional at digital media kasama na ang hand-drawn sketches, paintings, storyboards at sculptors. Pinatotohanan ang naging paglikha sa mga ito sa interview sa mga artist at iba pang nasa likod ng Pixar Films. Bahagi ng kanilang kuwento ang kung saan nagmumula ang mga inspirasyon nila sa paglikha.

Kabilang sa kanila si Pete Docter, direktor ng ‘Inside Out” (2015), na nagsabi na habang ginagawa niya ang pelikula ay mas napagtanto niya na ang kanyang pamilya at malalapit na kaibigan ang nakakapagbigay ng tunay na kagalakan sa kanya. Gayunman, sila din ang sanhi minsan ng kanyang pagkagalit o pagkakaraon ng kakaibang takot at kalungkutan.

Mula naman sa Director ng “The Good Dinosaur” na si Peter Sohn, kahit daw hindi nag-uusap ang mga kasamahan niya sa pelikula dahil magkaiba ang kanilang wika ay  nagkakaunawaan sila sa maraming bagay, at mula doon ay umusbong ang maganda nilang pagkakaibigan.

Naniniwala naman si John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer ng Walt Disney at Pixar Animation Studios na masisiguro ang paggawa ng isang nakakabighaning pelikula kung (1) mailalahad ang isang makapigil-hiningang kuwento sa paraang halos mahuhulog na sa upuan ang mga nanonood; at 2) makapaglagay ng mga karakter na tatatak at titimo sa puso’t isipan ng manonood. Kapag nagawa mo daw ang mga ito ay siguradong mapapasaya mo daw nang husto ang mga manonood, at marami ang tatangkilik sa pelikula.

Ang Pixar Studios ay pumili ng 180 exhibit na hindi pa nakikita sa Hong Kong at isinama sa kakaibang pagtatanghal na ito. Kasama dito ang artwork at scuplture ng “Coco”, ang pelikulang ipapalabas pa lamang sa mga sinehan sa Hong Kong sa mga huling linggo ng kasalukuyang taon.

Mayroon ding palabas sa may Hong Kong Toy Story Gallery na aabot sa 15 minuto, kung saan makikita ang orihinal na porma ng “Art scape” na ginawa ng iba-ibang artist ng Pixar mula sa tradisyunal na gamit katulad pastel, charcoal at gouache.

Ang mga tampok na gawa na makikita sa exhibit ay ang sumusunod:
* Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi Moment Painting: Expeled Monsters University, 2013, digital painting Disney/Pixar
* Bob Pauley, Woody and Buzz, Toy Story, 1995, marker and pencil on paper, Disney/Pixar
* Peter Sohn, Spot and Arlo, The Good Dinosaur, 2015, pencil on paper, Disney/Pixar
* Steve Pilcher, Marida and Mum Bear Brave, 2012, acrylic on board, Disney/Pixar
* Albert Lozano, Joy, Inside Out, 2015, marker and grease pencil on paper, Disney /Pixar
* Budluckey, Tuck and Roll, a Buds life, 1998, pencil on paper, Disney /Pixar
* Greg Dykstra, Russell, Up, 2009, Cast urethane resin, Disney/Pixar

Ang Hong Kong Heritage Museum ay bukas araw-araw liban sa Martes, mula 10am hanggang 6pm. Para makarating dito, sumakay ng MTR papunta sa Lowu at bumaba sa Tai Wai station, bago lumipat sa Che Kung Mui station, at lumabas sa Exit A. Lumakad papunta sa ilog at tawirin ito sa pamamagitan ng footbridge, at makikita na ang museo sa kabilang dulo. Maari ding bumaba sa Shatin MTR station ngunit aabot ng mula 15 hanggang 20 minuto ang paglalakad patungo sa museum.

Ang natatanging exhibit na ito ng Pixar ay matatapos sa ika-5 ng Marso sa susunod na taon.

Villanueva is new PAHK chair

A former president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Hong Kong has been chosen as the incoming chairman of the Philippine Association of Hong Kong.

Franco Villanueva, an information technology specialist at Global Sources, was elected during the first meeting of the PAHK’s new board of directors held on Nov. 28.

The new Board of Directors elected their 

new officers for 2017 on Nov 28

He will take over the PAHK chairmanship from next year from another former UPAA-HK president, Rex Aguado.

The other officers of Team PAHK 2018 are: Joel Lumanlan of PLDT, vice chairman; Mark Yabut of Metrobank, secretary;  Joel Almeda of BDO, assistant secretary; Gary Flores of BPI, treasurer; Rolly Cobrado of Metrobank, asst treasurer; Greg Matubis of PLDT, community relations officer; Steven Co of San Miguel Corporation, PRO1; and Amiel Brul, PRO2.

The committee heads are: Jackie Ang of PLDT, sponsorship; Tesha Bancod of Ayalaland, membership; and Eric Goyena of AFreight and Robin Santos of Jollibee, events.

The new officers will take their oath of office before the year ends.

Pinay, napagbintangan na nagtapon ng fetus

Ni Merly T. Bunda

Isang kasambahay na Pilipina ang nabigla nang imbestigahan siya ng mga pulis kamakailan kaugnay ng natagpuang isang patay na fetus sa isang inidoro sa kubeta ng palengke ng North Point noong Nob 5.

Iyon ay dahil sa kahawig ni Beth L., 38, ang isa sa dalawang babaeng nakita diumano sa CCTV na sabay na pumasok sa kubetang iyon at sabay ding lumabas noong gabi ng Linggong iyon.

Noong Nob. 27, bandang ika-7:30 ng umaga, pagkatapos ng 11 araw na pag-iimbestiga at pagmamanman kay Beth ay may dinakip ang mga pulis sa Tseung Kwan O na isang katulong na Indonesian. Isa ito diumano sa dalawang babaing nakuhanan ng CCTV ng video habang papasok at papalabas sa nasabing kubeta noong Nob 5. Noon lang nakahinga nang husto si Beth.

Ang suspek ay nahaharap sa sakdal na “pagtatago sa panganganak ng isang sanggol”, isang krimeng may kaukulang parusang dalawang taong pagkakabilanggo.

“Hindi ko akalaing sa dinami-dami ng tao sa Hong Kong ay ako pa ang napaghinalaang naglaglag ng bata,” sabi ni Beth, may asawa at may 12-taong-gulang na dalagita, sa pakikipanayam sa kanya noong Linggo.

Nakita raw ng mga pulis sa CCTV footage ang mukha ng babaeng mahaba ang buhok at may malaking hikaw na kasama ng isang tomboy na lumabas sa kubeta.

Nagkataon namang dumaan si Beth sa bahaging iyon ng North Point dahil nag-impake  siya ng isang kahon ng mga pagkain at damit na ipapadala sa Pilipinas.

Ayon kay Beth, isang linggo na palang sinusubaybayan  ng mga pulis ang bawat kilos niya umpisa noong Nob.5.

Noong Nob. 16, bandang 12:45 ng tanghali,  papalabas na siya sa Tseung Kwan O MTR galing sa paghahatid ng pagkain ng kanyang alagang nag-aaral sa Lamtin, nang bigla siyang pinalibutan ng siyam na lalaki at isang babaeng pawang hindi naka-uniporme.

Nagpakilala ang pangkat na mga pulis sila at nagpakita ng mga ID.

Nagtaka at nagulat ang katulong at kumabog ang dibdib niya. Hiningi ang kanyang Octopus at sinuri sa computer ang lahat na detalye nito.

Tinanong siya kung may iba pang taong gumagamit ng kanyang Octopus, ngunit ang kanyang sagot ay wala. Tinanong siya kung saan siya nanggaling noong Nob.5, sino ang kasama niya, at ano ang ginawa niya.

Ang sagot niya ay nag-impake siya ng kanyang door-to-door box na ipadadala sa kanyang pamilya sa Pilipinas. Pati ang laman ng box ay tinanong. Ang akala raw niya ay baka may naglagay ng droga sa kanyang kahon kaya siya tinatanong. Ngunit sinabi raw ng mga awtoridad na may natagpuang fetus sa kubeta ng North Point Market.

Nagtataka umanong tinanong niya kung nasaan ang fetus, na sinagot naman dawn g pulis ng, “Hindi mo alam?” Parang sinisindak daw siya ng nagtatanong, at inaalam kung sino yong kasama niya. Ang sagot niya ay isang kaibigan na doon din sa Tseung Kwan O nakatira.

Inutusan siyang tawagan ang kaibigan kung puwede itong bumaba. Marami ring silang tinanong sa kanyang kaibigan, at napaka-istrikto umano ng babaing pulis kung magtanong. Ayaw niyang pangiti-ngiti ang dalawang Pilipina dahil mabigat na kaso raw ang pag-iiwan ng fetus lalo na at ito’y patay na.

Kinalaunan ay inalok umano ni Beth ang mga police: “Kung gusto ninyo, sundan ninyo ako sa bahay ng aking amo para makita ninyo yung resibo at kung gusto ninyong imbestigahan yung boxes ay buksan o ipa-hold at huwag munang ipadala sa Pilipinas.”

Sumama ang dalawang pulis pag-uwi ni Beth sa bahay ng kanyang amo. Kinausap pa nila ang guwardiya sa kanilang gusali na nagsabing kilala niya si Beth dahil matagal na itong nakatira roon. Sinabi rin ng guwardiya na hindi siya ang babae sa CCTV at hindi siya nagsusuot ng dangling na hikaw.

Bago umalis iyong mga pulis, sinabihan nila si Beth na magreport sa North Point police station ng alas-2 ng  hapon sa Nob. 16. Ipinaalam niya iyon sa kanyang among lalaki dahil sa sobrang nerbiyos. Pagdating ng Nob. 16, humingi siya ng payo sa kaibigan.

“Huwag kang matakot kung wala ka namang nagawang krimen at maging kalmado lang sa pagsagot kung anong itatatanong nila sa iyo,” payo ng kaibigan.

Pagsapit ng 2:00 ng hapon, sa police station, ay tinawagan niya ang amo niya dahil kabilin-bilinan nito na tawagan siya para ito ang kakausap sa ang police officer.

Kinausap nga ng amo ang pinakamataas na opisyal sa istasyon at sinabihan na kung gustong nilang imbestigahan si Beth ay kausapin lang nang maayos ang kanyang helper.

Natapos ang paulit-ulit na interrogation sa kanya nang 6:30 ng gabi, at umabot sa 12 pahina ng sulat-kamay na salaysay ang nakuha ng nag-imbestiga sa kanya.

Gutom at pagod dahil hindi nakapananghalian at nahihilo sa paikut-ikot na mag tanong, sinabi ni Beth na payag siyang magpa-medical kung kinakailangan upang linisin ang kanyang pangalan.

Simula noon ay tumigil na ang pagsubaybay sa kanya at napanatag na ang kanyang loob.

‘Spiderwoman’ wins case, leaves HK

By Daisy CL Mandap

Marycor Sta. Cruz

Hong Kong’s own “Spiderwoman” has returned home, happy to have won her compensation claim against her former employer who made her clean windows from the outside, while a super typhoon was about to make landfall in the city. Marycor Sta. Cruz, 37, flew home to San Manuel, Pangasinan on Nov. 28, a few days after accepting $30,000 as settlement for all her claims against her employer who lives in posh Grand Garden in Repulse Bay.

Sta. Cruz became known as “Spiderwoman” among members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong after pictures of her clinging precariously to a wall while cleaning the windows of her employer’s flat from the outside went viral on Facebook. The pictures were taken by concerned neighbors on Aug. 22, while signal no. 3 was in force ahead of an expected direct hit from super typhoon Hato.

At about midnight exactly a week after her photos went viral, Sta. Cruz was fired by her employer. She was paid her salary, a month’s pay in lieu of notice, and her return air fare.

But the employer refused to pay for her annual leave, charging it to a forced vacation he made the helper take while his family went for a vacation in the United States. The employer also declined to abide by an earlier agreement to pay for the air fare incurred by Sta. Cruz for the forced vacation.

With help from the Mission for Migrant Workers, Sta. Cruz filed a claim with the Labor Department for compensation against her employer totaling $54,000. She also had her employer put on the watch list of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

The picture that went viral.

The helper and her employer failed to reach agreement during conciliation at the Labour Department, so their case was referred to the Labour Tribunal for settlement.

Mission’s case officer Edwina Antonio told The SUN Sta. Cruz agreed to a reduced claim because she had been too tired and stressed from nearly two months of worrying about her case.

The employer reportedly made Sta. Cruz sign a non-disclosure agreement about the settlement, but Antonio said this should not be binding, as evidence to back up the helper’s claim, including photos of her window-cleaning, had already been forwarded to Immigration.

Apart from the window cleaning, the employer allegedly committed other contract violations, like confiscating the helper’s passport, making her sleep only four hours a day and feeding her leftovers. The employer also reportedly monitored the helper’s every movement through CCTVs installed throughout his flat.

In an earlier interview, Sta. Cruz told The SUN that her employer had prodded her to write a termination letter as she seemed unhappy working for them, but she did not budge. In retaliation, she was given a termination letter and told to leave the house in the wee hours.

Before this, Sta. Cruz said she raised the issue about window cleaning after concerned friends and neighbors told her this was illegal in Hong Kong. However, her employer reportedly scoffed at this, saying their contract did not include this restriction.

Sta. Cruz, who is married with three kids and was on her first overseas employment, said she and her employer signed the contract in August last year, but she arrived in Hong Kong to start working for his family on October 15.

That time the Hong Kong government had already confirmed plans to ban the cleaning of outside parts of windows but the restriction was added to the standard employment comtracts of foreign domestic workers only on Jan. 1 this year.

Despite the adoption of the new policy, Sta. Cruz’s employer made her clean their windows thoroughly on a daily basis during the entire 10 months of her stay with them.

The order was enforced even with the approach of Typhoon Hato, which explained why the windows which dela Cruz was seen cleaning in the viral photos were all taped up.

Recalling that time, Sta. Cruz said, “Ang dulas nga noon kasi maulan.”

But even after being told that what her employers were making her do was illegal, Dela Cruz did not take heed. She said she wanted to hold on to her job because she needed money to help her husband provide for their three kids back in Pangasinan.

“Unang kontrata ko pa lang at ayaw kong magka bad record kasi gusto kong makalipat sa ibang bansa, “ said dela Cruz, who holds a degree in computer science.

But, apparently hounded by the viral photos of their helper clearly being made to do something illegal, her employer chose to terminate the contract himself.

It was a blessing in disguise for Sta. Cruz who, after being cared for by the Mission, learned about her rights, and regained her voice.

Told by a labour officer that she had been “silly” for complaining about the window cleaning, she reportedly said: “Would you have said the same thing, sir, if I died from doing it?”

On the day she was about to fly home, Sta. Cruz told The SUN she was happy that she was able to fight for her rights. She was also looking forward to being reunited with her family in time for Christmas.

But reality bites. Soon, she said she would have to leave home again to find work, though hopefully, it would be with kindler and gentler employers.

‘Abused’ Filipina pursues claim against employer

By Daisy CL Mandap

Lanie Rosareal  reviews her documents at the Labour Tribunal.

A Filipina who allegedly suffered physical and mental abuse at the hands of her employer’s live-in companion is set to go to the Labour Tribunal on Dec. 5 to press a claim for unpaid wages for six months, overtime pay and other compensation.

Lanie Grade Rosareal, 27, will be accompanied by fellow domestic helper Rowela Subiono Suete, 36, who fled the employer’s house in Tseung Kwan O with her on Nov. 9.

The labour claim is separate from a police complaint for physical assault that Rosareal has filed against her employer’s companion, Au Wai-chun, 65, a retired civil servant who was convicted on Sept. 1, 2014, of scalding a Bangladeshi maid with hot water. (see: http://www.scmp. com/news/hong-kong/article/1583001/ex-civil-servant-found-guilty-burning-maid-scalding-hot-water)

Both Rosareal and Suete failed to reach a settlement with their employer, Leung Sher-ying, 63, when they met separately with conciliators at the Labour Department office in Kwun Tong on Nov. 21.

Leung had denied withholding Rosareal’s salary, saying the helper voluntarily gave it all to Au each month as part of their “private agreement” on paying a penalty each time the helper committed an infraction.

Leung also demanded the equivalent of a month’s salary from each helper, saying they were the ones who terminated their work contracts when they left her house without giving the required one month’s notice.

When the negotiations reached a stalemate, Leung made a final offer to Suete. The employer said she would drop her claim for one month’s pay in lieu of notice, but would not pay for the helper’s 19 days of work. Leung also said she would not pay for Suete’s return air fare, but would buy the ticket herself.

Suete, who was demanding payment for unpaid wages, return air fare, and for a month’s salary in lieu of notice on grounds of Leung’s constructive termination of their work contract, rejected the offer.

Both Filipinas agreed to elevate their cases to the Labour Tribunal when asked by the conciliators for their next move.

In her labor case against Leung, Rosareal listed down a claim for around $50,000, including $31,500 in unpaid wages for six months and 19 days; $4, 210 monthly pay in lieu of notice; severance pay of $10,600; plus food allowance and return air fare.

The labour officer suggested Rosareal could also demand compensation for her injuries as part of her claim.

But more than the unpaid wages, Rosareal, who started working for Leung in January 2014, says it was the abuse she wants retribution for.

Rosareal said she used to have a good relationship with both Leung and Au, and even took the latter to the court while the Bangladeshi maid’s assault case was ongoing. But things started to change early this year, when Au allegedly started complaining about being tortured by the helper.


In statements she submitted to the Consulate and the police, Rosareal recounted how she received nearly daily beatings from Au, who also took all her salary as “punishment” for various self-determined misdeeds, such as not pressing the collar of a shirt properly, or “not taking the black (particles) in the congee”.

Au, who goes around in a wheelchair outside of the house, would allegedly kick Rosareal or stomp on her back, whenever the helper refused to kneel in front of her and then knock her own forehead on the floor.

The elderly woman who is said to suffer from spinal injury, also allegedly scratched or punched Rosareal routinely. In her police statement, Rosareal said Au had poked a pair of scissors at her throat, and talked of wanting to get a knife so she could chop the Filipina to pieces.

Her complaint, which she lodged at Western Police Station, has been passed on to the Tseung Kwan O Police Station for further investigation.

In a separate complaint she made earlier before Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, Rosareal, related how she skipped taking a day-off for months so she could pay for the “penalties” which for October alone, had totaled $7,670.

Asked why she tolerated the abuse, Rosareal said she was scared Leung would make good on the threat of getting her arrested for using an Octopus card she was lent to buy a $28 meal once, when she got hungry during an errand.

Leung reportedly kept out of the way often, but would sometimes do Au’s bidding of whipping Rosareal with a stick to keep peace.

Suete’s arrival at the household in mid-October came as a blessing for Rosareal. Saying she couldn’t bear the sound of her fellow helper’s wailings at night, Suete sought help from a friend.

Hearing about their story, a concerned citizen helped them escape from their employer’s house in The Grandiose in Tseung Kwan O, then took them to Labatt Torre, who promptly put the employer and her companion on a watchlist.

The two Filipinas are now staying at a shelter while preparing for the upcoming hearing of their cases.

60 OFWs in HK pass teachers' exam

Aspiring teachers during their exam last September. Sixty of them passed. 

UPDATED 30 Nov 2017

By Vir B. Lumicao

Sixty takers or 13% of a total of 460 who took the special Licensure Examination for Teachers in Hong Kong on Sept 24 have passed, with 52 of them aspiring high school teachers.

A Hong Kong-based OFW who took the exam in the Philippines also passed, her friends reported.  

Only eight or less than 4% of 215 who sat for the elementary teachers exam made the grade, according to results from all regions released on Nov 27 by the Professional Regulation Commission. 

The very low pass rate indicated that the exam for aspiring public elementary school teachers this year was very difficult, said Gemma Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers.

Lauraya said the poor result reflected a similar picture in the Middle East where only six out of 179 elementary-level takers passed.

Lauraya said an OFW based in Hong Kong who registered and took the exam in the Philippines had informed her that she passed the test. That brings to 61 the total number of passers from Hong Kong.

The LET passing percentage in Hong Kong this year was much better than the 9.77% recorded in the exams held at the Bayanihan Center on Sept 25 last year.

As in the past, PRC, a unit of the Department of Labor and Employment, administered the annual test to the Hong Kong and Macau-based examinees at the Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo campus in Kwun Tong.

One of the passers of the secondary-level exam was Cyrill Mariano, who traveled all the way from Macau to take the licensure exam in Kwun Tong.

Mariano and the 60 other passers can now look forward to joining the country’s public school system to catch the huge demand for teachers as the government’s Kindergarten to Grade 12, or K-12, program enters its final stage of implementation.

Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo had said earlier that 81,000 new teachers’ posts would be added next school year to the country’s public school system.

Mateo, who spoke on Oct. 28 on the sidelines of a seminar for would-be teachers in Hong Kong, said the new positions would be on top of the 55,000 teachers added this school year, the fifth year of the K-12 program.

The LET passers from Hong Kong are:

Elementary

Banaag, Rina C.; Cataluna, Manilyn C.; Echevere, Mellie S.; Ignacio, Arlene C.; Maderazo, Daisy C.; Pandoy, Teresita M.; Solito, Janice P.; Tamot, Precy E.

Secondary

Adaggan, Glendalyn A.; Alegria, Arlyn A.; Amarillo, Erlyn B.; Amaro, Rosa M.; Arellano, Mary Jane A.; Attaban, Rose B.; Barcelona, Loradel C.; Baritua, Aphrodite Ellynne B.; Bascos, Beverly L.; Brazas, Grace P.; Baucas, Rowena C.; Camaddo, Jennifer B.; Castillo, Melody A.; Castor, Liezel P.; Cutaran, Lorena N.; Dallapas, Mary Jill K.; Dayag, Jemily L; Esteban, Gelan S.J.; Esplana, Lara V.; Jimenez, Terry Ann A.; Jimenez, Vanessa B.; Lagrio, Consolacion M.; Latorsa, Ma Cristina L.; Latumbo, Yakim S.; Legaspi, Kristine C.; Li-boon, Udemie C.; Marcelino, Mary Ann V; Mariano, Cyrill M.; Mateo, Felicidad S.; Medina, Norlina B.; Medrano, Babylyn P.; Milo, Marisa D.; Mula, Emilia G.; Novabos, Gideelyn S.; Paquibot, Ma Lourdes M.; Pasicolan, Mariel A.; Quizzagan, Pinky M.; Regalado, Eda Marie B.; Renojo, Christine T.; Reyes, Efraim M.; Sanchez, Kaye Colline V.; Sanchez, Sierramie A.; Semeniano, Arlene V.; Tubongbanua, Jemely A.; Solima, Rowena R.; Sudaria, Regina R.; Suposop, Lina T.; Tumampil, Jennifer T.; Uanang, Donabelle D.; Valenzuela, Rose S.; Villavecencio, Glendyl A.; Vinoya, Dizzy M.;  

Filipina bashed online gets apology

By Vir B. Lumicao

The victim:
Juliet Lindo

An angry Filipina domestic helper who suffered severe bashing on Facebook after her photo with a blotted-out face was used by an online news site to accompany a post about an allegedly bigamous OFW has successfully forced the portal to apologize publicly.

Juliet Lindo, a 34-year-old single mother of two, sent a message early morning on Oct 31 to Manila-based Trending News Portal, demanding a public apology to repair her damaged reputation as a result of the misuse of her photo.

(TNP was identified by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in June as a fake news site, using the Google Chrome plug-in Fakeblok. The extension notifies the user when a fake site appears on their Facebook feed, graying out the post and cautioning against clicking or sharing it).

Within hours of receiving Lindo’s complaint, TNP replied, informing her that the link to the damaging article had been deleted. But by then the story had already been shared repeatedly by other OFWs in Hong Kong who had recognized Lindo from the clothes she was wearing and bashed her, thinking she was the woman referred to in the story.

Lindo was not satisfied with the reply and insisted TNP must make a public apology “to clean up my name… and my reputation as a Helper’s Choice ambassador”.

Her message also carried a veiled threat to seek help from a hard-hitting radio-TV program in Manila.

TNP issued a public apology later that day on its website titled “Apology for the public”.

“TNP would like to issue its sincere apology to Ms Juliet Lindo, an OFW in Hong Kong  whose photo appeared in a preview of this article. We have deleted her blurred photo which we acquired from the Internet. We would like to clarify that she is in no way connected with this case. We do not have any intention to damage her image in any way. We are sincerely apologizing for those who are further affected by the misuse of her photo.”

The controversy was sparked by TNP posting a rehashed news report about a Filipina maid who pleaded guilty in a Hong Kong court to a charge of “signing a false notice for the purpose of procuring a marriage” to a local man 22 years ago.

She had claimed she was a widow, but it turned out her original husband was still alive.

Unknown to Lindo, the post carrying her blurred picture had gone viral, garnering 6,400 likes and reactions, 794 comments and 1,000 shares.

Lindo told The SUN that since the recycled report appeared on the portal, she had received more than 500 private messages mostly bashing her for the report.

She learned only about the news when her goddaughter in Dubai sent her a private message early on Oct 31 with a screenshot of the article and asked about its veracity.

The OFW said even her own relatives were embarrassed at the news, thinking that it was she who got into trouble and brought shame to her family. She said she was thankful her two children are smart not to believe the story, and kept telling her to be strong.

Lindo said she parted ways with her husband 10 years ago and had since supported her son, 15, and daughter, 14, all by herself.

For being an exemplary single mom, she said she was designated as an ambassador by the NGO Helper’s Choice.

She said she is satisfied with TNP’s public apology, but with an admonition.

“Sa TNP, sana i-doublecheck nila ang news before going public because it’s not easy to fix the damage it can do to other people,” Lindo said.

She said she hopes her detractors got personal satisfaction from bashing her, as she thanked those who comforted her during her traumatic experience.

“As long as we know ourselves, we won’t be shaken by those malicious souls,” she said.

Lindo has worked in Hong Kong since 2006 and is about to finish her second contract with her current employer.

‘I was fooled,’ says granny in fake check caper

A 76-year-old Filipina who is in police custody for trying to cash an allegedly fake check for US$50 million last hear says she has been duped by certain people in the Philippines.

The disclosure is a new twist to the case of Maria Ilao Gosilatar, who has been in remand and facing a charge of “using a false instrument” since she and a local partner were arrested on Dec 9 last year.

“I have a police report from the Philippines saying that I had been fooled,” the septuagenarian said when she appeared on Nov 7 at the District Court.

When Judge C.P. Pang asked her to show the police report, Gosilatar said she didn’t bring it with her to court.

Gosilatar and the local man, said to be an accountant, were arrested by police after they tried to cash the check at the Hang Seng Bank headquarters on Des Veoux Road, Central The cheque was supposed to be a donation to the old woman’s Mama Mary 2000 Foundation.

Police at the time said the check was fake, as well as a purported letter by the bank’s chief executive endorsing the instrument.

As they waited for the check to be cleared, the staff discreetly alerted the police and officers nabbed the two.

On Nov 7, Gosilatar appeared without a lawyer and when Pang asked why, she replied that Legal Aid had not sent any.

The woman, through a Tagalog interpreter, said Legal Aid withdrew an offer to appoint her lawyer because she had no money to contribute to her defense. She said Legal Aid was asking for $105,248.

At the previous hearing, Gosilatar declared that she had $38,000 to contribute. But she told Pang that the money, which was supposed to come from her Hong Kong friend, had not come. Neither did the cash.

The judge adjourned the hearing until Dec 12 to give Gosilatar time to wait for the son’s delivery of the money. He also rejected the defendant’s application for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution. - Vir B. Lumicao