Pagyamanin ang inyong abilidad, ani DCG Deric sa mga OFW

Ang mga nagtapos.

Ni Marites Palma

Ipinagdiwang ng Diwa’t Kabayan BenLife Society Club ang kanilang ika-18 taong anibersaryo, kasabay ang ika-anim na pagtatapos ng mga sumali sa kanilang mga kursong pangkabuhayan, noong ika-26 ng Nob. sa Dynasty Feast sa North Point.

Ang pinaka tema ng kanilang selebrasyon sa taong ito ay “Ang diwa ng edukasyon, tungo sa paghanda sa kinabukasan”.

Deputy Consul General
Roderico C. Atienza

Ang panauhing pandangal na si Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza ay humikayat sa lahat na pagyamanin ang kanilang abilidad upang hindi na mangibang bansa pang muli, lalo na ang mga kababaihang Pilipina. Kailangan din daw nila ng ibayong pagtitipid para makapagpundar ng makinang pangkabuhayan at nang sa gayon ay hindi na aalis pa ng bansa ang mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga kababaihan na mga anak, kapatid, asawa at ina.

Ayon pa kay Atienza, umaabot sa napakamaliit na 10% lang ng mga Pilipino ang nag-iimpok ng pera sa bangko, samantalang sa Japan ay umaabot sa 38% ang nag-iipon para sa negosyo at edukasyon, patunay kung gaano kahalaga ang pera sa kanila.

Sa mga gustong mag-umpisa ng negosyo, depende daw ito sa pangangailangan ng komunidad na kinaroroonan.

Kinumbinsi ni Atienza ang mga OFW na subukang mag-ipon para sa tinatawag na “capital machinery”, o mga makinang panggawa. Gayahin daw ang mga mayayamang bansa tulad ng Japan, Korea at Taiwan kung saan nangongontrata muna ang mga pamilya ng mga trabaho, hanggang makapagpatayo na sila ng kanilang sariling negosyo. Sa pamamagitan daw ng kooperatiba ay maaring makuha ang kaukulang makina na ayon sa iyong negosyo.

Nanawagan din si Atienza na huwag pumayag ang mga manggagawa na kaltasan ang kanilang sahod ng lampas sa itinakda sa batas, at mag-report agad sa POLO, HK Immigration at Labor Department kung may pang-aabusong nakikita laban sa kapwa.

Sa ganitong pamamaraan ay hindi mararamdaman ng naabuso na nag-iisa siyang nakikipaglaban sa amo.

Ang  huling pakiusap ni Atienza ay ang ipagbigay alam nila sa ibang mga kababayan ang paglipat ng POLO-OWWA office sa A16th & 18th Floors, MassMutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai mula sa ika-10 ng Disyembre.

Umabot sa 70 na kababaihan ang nagtapos sa meat processing ng Diwa’t Kabayan. Pinarangalan ang mga sumusunod sa husay ng kanilang paggawa:
Best in Tinapa Making: Jocelyn Cuaresma
Best in Salted Egg Making: Rubilyn Alfonso
Best in Tocino: Adelaida Garcia
Best in Skinless Longaniza: Jocelyn Cuaresma
Best in Longaniza with Casing: Jovita Duzon
Best in Sardine in Oil: Jocelyn Cuaresma
Best in Sardines in Tomato Sauce: Adelaida Garcia
Best in Fruit Cocktain: Jocelyn Cuaresma and Rubilyn Alfonso

Sa pangalawang grupo ng mga nagtapos, nanguna si Vilma Ibanez. Sa Fashion Jewellery naman, sina Lourdes Duzong  at si Imelda Cariaga ang itinanghal na “outstanding”, at nakuha din ni Cariaga ang creative award.

Sampu naman ang nagtapos sa beadcrafting lesson at ang outstanding ay si Virgin May Yungco.

Sa macrame bag lesson ay 15 ang nagtapos, at si Jocelyn T. Nieva ang outstanding, at nakatanggap ng most creative award; samantalang si Karen B. Dumaguing naman ang nakatanggap ng most artistic award.

Para sa ribbon folding, ang outstanding ay si Mylene Diaz, at natanggap din niya ang best in bridal bouquet at best in motif. Si Ruby Deamboy naman ang nakatanggap ng best in flower girl bouquet award.

Sa stocking flower lesson ay may 15 na nagtapos, at ang outstanding ay si Jocelyn Nieva, na natanggap din ang best in teardrop bouquet, samatantalang si Ruth Salibomba naman para sa bridal bouquet. Ang premyo para sa best in hand tie bouquet-maid of honor bouquet ay nakuha nina Imelda Cariaga at Jocelyn Nieva; samantalang ang para sa best in pomander bouquet-bride maid bouquet ay natanggap nina Jocelyn Nieva at Ruth Saligomba. Nakuha din ni Saligomba ang most creative award.

Ang pinakamalaking grupo ay ang sumali sa basic baking, na umabot sa 103 ang bilang ng nagtapos. Nanguna sa kanila si Ruth Saligomba, na tinanghal na outsdtanding. Ang premyo para sa best in pandesal ay natanggap ni Beatriz Villanueva; ang best in spanish bread ay kay Ruth Saligomba; best in pizza, Estrella Pineda; best in donut, Ruth Saligomba; at best in brownies, Jennifer Panganiban.

Para sa 2nd batch ng bread presentation,  si Myrna Gonzales ang outstanding, at nakuha din niya ang nest in pandesal making, best in spanish bread making,  best in pizza making at best in donut; samantalang si Carmelita Ober naman ang nakakuha sa best in brownies.

Nagdagdag kasiyahan ang pagbibigay ng isang maikling sayaw nina Katherine de Guzman ng PNB, Merlinda Mercado ng Metro Bank, at Rosabelle Wolf ng Afreight, na kilala sa bansag na “Mars”.

Rules on migrant domestic workers’ accommodation

By Cynthia Tellez

Policy related to Accommodation: 
There are major portions of the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) on accommodation.  It says in Clause No. 3: “The Helper should work and reside in the employer’s residence as stated in the contract.”  FDWs are bound by this mandatory live-in requirement. Unfortunately, many FDWs are made to sleep in miserable conditions.
Accommodation is covered in clauses 3 and 4(a) to 4(c), mentioning the live-in requirement and restrictions on employment. This is expounded in the attached Schedule of Accommodations in pages 3 and 4; the size, amenities, co-occupants if there are, should still ensure suitable accommodation. However, it mentions only two examples of unsuitable accommodation: In a narrow corridor and shared room with adult of opposite sex.
With limited guidelines on accommodations, violations of suitable and decent living area often happen.

Situation – Health, Safety and Privacy:
A research of Mission For Migrant Workers (MFMW) published last year (2016) revealed that unsuitable accommodation, denial of privacy, and deprivation of amenities for migrant domestic workers (MDWs) persist in Hong Kong.
It showed that:
• 3 out of 5 FDWs in Hong Kong endure alternative living arrangements;
• Or their designated bedroom serves multiple functions in the household;
• One in every 50 of sleeps in areas such as toilets, backdoor, basement, balcony, rooftop, closet, or in a room with just a divider for sleeping space. (Research copies available at MFMW centre);
• Lack of privacy makes FDWs feel vulnerable and tense, especially if they are made to sleep in common areas in employer’s home; 
• Or, in relation to the privacy issue, 47% of those who responded as having their own room, revealed that they did not have their own key to the room, while 35% said their employers enter the room even without their consent.
Alternative accommodation arrangements are unhealthy, inhumane, and violate even the already insufficient standards set by Hong Kong in its SEC.

MFMW’s Advocacy
We can see from that survey that there are a lot of FDWs who are made to accept unsuitable and inhumane living arrangements. Obviously, the current mechanism to protect FDWs is failing; neither do policies for FDWs measure up to international human and labour standards.
We always hear that “Hong Kong already has an acute space problem.” We believe that there is no justification for not providing suitable accommodation to FDWs as human beings. The current legislation and policies are not effective to protect FDWs from being exploited and should be developed. The unsuitable arrangements should be clearly spelled out in the attached Schedule of Accommodations and domestic work.
Therefore, we are advocating for the Hong Kong government to reconsider the live-in requirement and make live-out as an option for FDWs, depending on specific circumstances of the households.
While the reality of the live-out option for FDWs is not yet possible, we strongly suggest to the authorities to define “suitable accommodation” in the SEC by listing down unsuitable arrangements, such as toilets and cupboards. This is aside from Immigration Department claims that they have regulatory and monitoring mechanisms wherein submitted accommodation arrangement of the employer is followed.

What can you do if you are made to sleep in a problematic situation? 
Many only become aware of the problematic accommodation in the employer’s home on their first workday. Somehow, FDWs usually believe that what is most important is to keep a good relationship with the people they work with to be able to extend the contract.
However, if you are in a situation that is physically and emotionally taxing, first, we encourage you to try talk with your employer, if possible. As workers, we also have to understand the limitations employers are in and therefore try to negotiate a more acceptable arrangement.
We know that some of you are scared that you may risk losing your job, but it is always good if mutual understanding can be developed. Find a way in which you can honestly explain your situation and its effect/s on your health. That way, they may also be able to express their regret for being unable to provide you better living conditions. For all we know, most of the employers are also trying to find a way to tell you how they feel about their limitations. In many such cases that we handled, both employers and workers found ways to remedy the situation.
There are, however, unreasonable people who might ignore what you are presenting. Usually, such employers just say, “take it or leave it.”  They may take your approach as complaining about them, instead of listening to you in a more objective manner, understanding what you really mean (which in most cases is not the job but the accommodation). Try another time if the mood and the conversation turn sour. Approach them next time, saying that it is not about the job, but perhaps there may be some remedy to your sleeping arrangements. If you get the same results, and in some cases, treatment worsens, perhaps you can consider bringing the matter to the authorities.
When facing violation of contract, including problems with accommodation, you can complain to the Immigration Department and also the Labour Department. It is suggested to lodge a complaint to both departments when it comes to the issue of accommodation as the employer might be giving false statements to the Immigration Department as well if they conceal the actual accommodation.
If you have decided to lodge a complaint, there are steps we suggest for you to follow:
 1. Keep records or evidences on the accommodation you are made to accept and make use of it to explain the problem you are facing. (Usually photos or short videos of consecutive days showing the area that you sleep in.)
2. Relate how the accommodation arrangement caused a serious toll on your health. Describe your current condition.
3. Relate how you tried to approach the employer to be able to settle the matter among yourselves and how those attempts turned sour. (Remember the date, time, and the content of the conversation. Make a written statement or any other kind of records if possible) and that you do not want the whole matter to worsen.
4. Include your suggestions to practically settle the matter, if any. 
5. Consult MFMW if you need assistance (2522-8264).
Have a VERY Merry Christmas, everyone!

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This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Sino ngayon ang nagsisinungaling?

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Hindi natin alam kung sino ang nagsisinungaling ukol sa kaso ng mga daan-daang OFW na nabibiktima ng “human trafficking” mula sa Hong Kong papunta sa Brazil, Russia at Turkey: ang ating Konsulado o ang gobyerno ng Hong Kong.

Sa kanyang opinyon na nalathala sa isang pahayagang dito kamakailan, sinabi ni Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, na dating labour secretary ng Hong Kong, na hindi raw ipinarating ng mga opisyal ng Konsulado sa gobyerno ang mga malawakang panlilinlang ng mga employment agency rito sa mga manggagawang Pilipino.

At iginiit din niyang protektado ng mga batas ng Hong Kong ang lahat ng mga dayuhang katulong sa lungsod na ito.

Nakakapagtaka dahil madalas naming tanungin ang mga opisyal ng Konsulado kung natatalakay nila o naipaparating sa pamunuan ng Hong Kong sa mga pagpupulong ng Technical Working Group ang malaon nang nagaganap na panlilinlang ng ilang ahensiya sa mga Pilipinong nais lumipat sa ibang bansa at ang sagot nila ay “oo”.

Ang mga bansang inilalako ng mga mapanlinlang na ahensiya ay hindi lamang Brazil, Russia at Turkey, kundi maging ang Britain at Canada. At karamihan sa kanilang mga nalinlang ay mga kasambahay na nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong at mga kamag-anak ng  mga OFW sa Pilipinas.

Natuwa ang mga OFW, mga opisyal ng Konsulado at ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas nang mapabalita ang pagsalakay at pag-imbestiga ng mga awtoridad sa tatlong employment agency sa Hong Kong na nagpapadala diumano ng mga Pinay sa ibang mga bansang.

Pagkaraan kasi ng mahabang panahon ay ngayon lang uli nagsiyasat ang mga pulis sa mga ahensiyang nambibiktima sa mga kababayan nating kasambahay at sa pagkakataong ito ay naging malaking balita dahil nalathala sa malalaking pahayagan ng Hong Kong.

Noong 2010 ay pinuntahan din ng mga pulis ang Natino Employment Service and Trading sa North Point pagkatapos dinggin ng Small Claims Tribunal ang kasong isinampa ng tatlong biktima ni Mila Ipp, ang kinatawan ng Natino na sumingil diumano ng hanggang US$2,000 sa bawat isa para sa mga hindi naibigay na trabaho sa Canada.

Ngunit walang nangyari sa kaso ni Ipp at pagkaraan ng dalawang taon ay nakapanloko na naman siya ng 15 katulong na Pilipina sa Hong Kong sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalok at paniningil sa kanila ng umaabot sa $28,000 para mga pekeng trabaho sa Cyprus. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay pinalitan lang niya ang pangalan ng kanyang ahensiya ng Limestone Overseas Services Trading Company.

Nitong mga nakaraang taon, napabalita ang JEM Employment and Trading Company, Excellent Nannies, at Emry’s Employment Agency/Mike’s Secretarial Services na sumingil din ng hindi bababa sa $10,000 sa bawat isa sa daan-daang mga aplikante sa mga trabaho sa Britain at Canada na  pawang hindi nagkatotoo.

Sa ilang pagkakataon ay marami sa mga biktima ang nagreklamo sa pulisya ngunit nabinbin lamang sa istasyon ang mga sumbong nila at ang iba ay tahasang tinanggihan ng mga imbestigador dahil paniningil lang daw ng pautang ang mga kaso nila.

Minsan ay isang tagapagsalita ng pulisya ang nagpayo sa mga bagong-dating na katulong sa isang post-arrival orientation seminar, o PAOS, sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office na huwag silang magdalawang-isip na lumapit sa Commercial Crime Bureau kapag sila ay niloko ng mga scammer at illegal recruiter.

Nang sinamahan namin ang isang pangkat ng mahigit 10 biktima sa pulisya at kinausap namin ang mismong tagapagsalita ng CCB, sinabi niyang ang mga kasong tinatanggap ng nasabing sangay ng kapulisan ay iyon lamang mga kinasasangkutan ng $1 milyon pataas.

Sa kaso ni Ester Ylagan ng Emry’s/Mike’s nag-aatubili ang mga pulis na imbestigahan o sampahan ng dimanda si Ylagan tulad din ng pag-iwas nila sa mga reklamo laban kina Au ng JEM’s, Grace Chan ng Excellent Nannies at ilan pang mga recruiter.

Tuwirang naapektuhan ang Hong Kong nang suspindihin ng Department of Labor and Employment ang overseas employment certificate, o OEC, noong Nobyembre at ito ang nagbunsod kay Chief Executive Carrie Lam na magbanta ng mariing aksiyon sa ahensiyang nanlilinlang at nangangalap ng mga katulong papunta sa ibang bansa.

Pagkaraan niyon ay saka pa lamang kumilos ang mga pulis at tauhan ng  Labour Department at sinalakay ang tatlong ahensiyang nagpapadala ng mga Pinay sa Brazil, Russia at Turkey.

Marahil ay nais ipakita ng Hong Kong ang sinasabi ni Matthew Cheung na protektado ng gobyerno ang mga dayuhang katulong dito, at upang ipakita rin sa madla na kung ipinarating lang ng Konsulado sa kanila ang problema sa human trafficking at illegal recruitment ay malaon na nilang inaksiyunan ito.

Joma faces losing asylum status

Jose Maria Sison may lose his political asylum status once the court declares the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist organizations, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

 Sison has been living in the Netherlands since 1987.

President Duterte had cancelled peace talks with the CPP-NPA and cited threats to security the armed group posed as justification for extending martial law in Mindanao for one year.

 The Department of Justice recently ordered the Office of the Prosecutor General to file a formal petition before a regional trial court seeking to declare the CPP/ NPA terrorist groups.

Under Section 17 of Republic Act 9372, or the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007, the DoJ needs to seek clearance from the court before an organization, association or group could be declared terrorist.

Once the court outlawed the CPP, the Philippines can transport Sison back to the country and make him answer for his crimes, Cayetano said.

“There is no asylum for terrorism, so if it can be proven that they are not in fact legitimate victims of persecution but are terrorists, then a country can decide to reverse the granting of asylum,” Cayetano said in a chance interview at the sidelines of the Philippine-Cambodia 2nd Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Manila.

Analyst Ramon Casiple shared the view that a court ruling outlawing the CPP-NPA could result in the cancellation of Sison’s political asylum status and even his passport.

Even if there is no existing extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Netherlands, the Dutch government could go after Sison once the court legally declared the CCP as a terrorist group, Casiple said.

The Dutch government has its own anti-terrorism law and the CPP founder would be considered violating that law, explained Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms.

 In a speech on Thursday, Duterte criticized Sison for living the good life in Utrecht while members of the NPA struggle daily in the mountains.

 He dared Sison to leave his “sanctuary” in The Netherlands and bring the fight in the Philippines.

Casiple said Duterte’s move to tag the CPP as a terror group showed that he has lost confidence on communist leaders because of their recent actions and pronouncements.

He cited the order of the CPP leadership to intensify offensives against government forces when the military was preoccupied with the crisis in Marawi City.

 Casiple said the CPP even used the declaration of martial law in Mindanao as justification for the attacks even if it was clear that the group was not the target.

Incoming travelers to be charged travel tax

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprises Zone Authority (Tieza) is proposing the government’s scrapping of travel tax imposed on outbound travelers on international flights.

Pocholo Paragas, general manager and chief operating officer of Tieza, said the proposal had been forwarded to Malacanang and that President Rodrigo Duterte is reviewing it.

“We presented it to the President… I think it is about time to do something about it,” Paragas said.

International travelers are charged P1, 620.00 in travel tax upon checking in at the airport. Some airlines already include travel tax in the tickets for the convenience of travelers who would no longer line up at the airport to pay it.

However, travel tax would not be completely scrapped because it would be charged instead to incoming travelers, and would be included in the ticket price.

It would be called tourism development fund instead of travel tax, Paragas said.

“Put it inside the ticket so that people coming in will not feel it. It will be the same fund that will be used to make their next trip better,” he explained.

“We will adjust it based on requirements of the country. If there is none, zero. If we can get other investments coming in from other countries, coming from the banking industry, then we can lower it immediately. Every two years, we do review,” he added.

Paragas said the Tieza is targeting to collect P5 billion from tourists this year. The Department of Tourism had announced that it is expecting 12 million in tourists arrivals by the end of 2020.

State-run think tank National Tax Research Center (NTRC) earlier said the imposition of the foreign tourist tax will only make the Philippines uncompetitive and may lessen tourism activities in the future.

“The potential of the proposed foreign tourist tax to raise much needed revenue for the government to be used for tourism-related projects and programs, its imposition, as of the moment, may need further study given the negative effect it may pose to the tourism industry and the administrative difficulty in identifying those who travel purely for leisure and/or vacation purposes who are the real target of the proposed tax and those who visit the country for medical treatment, official trip/mission or potential business venture,” the NTRC study said.

 “A foreign tourist tax of P1,620 may be charged to airline tickets, which is equivalent to the travel tax paid by Filipinos when traveling abroad. For the succeeding five years, around P15.3 billion annually is expected to be raised by the government from this source,” it added.

The International Air Transport Association also earlier urged the government to not overcharge the aviation sector through the tourism tax.

“The more tax you put on the passenger, the less prosperity you will bring into the country,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general and chief executive officer.

De Juniac said short-term budget gains quickly disappear when tourist arrivals drop, and the Philippine government must instead focus on making wise investments in the tourism infrastructure that will encourage people to visit.

“The extra tourist dollars you attract will pay the investments and make a greater economic contribution,” de Juniac said.

What's on, where?

POLO Transfer:  
The public is hereby informed that from Dec. 10, 2017, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has relocated to the 16th and 18th floors of the Mass Mutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai. The following services will be provided by POLO: contract processing, OEC and BMOnline registration, OWWA-related matters and inquiries, complaints against employers and employment agencies and labor-related inquiries.

Holidays:
The Philippine Consulate General and its affiliate agencies including POLO will be closed on the following dates:
Dec. 25 (Monday) – Christmas Day
Dec. 26 (Tuesday) – Boxing Day or Day After Christmas HK Holiday
Dec. 31 (Sunday) – Last Day of the Year
In case of emergency, please call 9155 4023 (Consular Assistance), 2866 0540 (POLO) or 6315 8324 (OWWA)

Paskong Pinoy 2017 at Chater Garden
Dec 24, 2017;  8pm-12pm – Chater Garden, Central.
Filipino community celebration of Christmas starting with the display of entries in the PaStaran 2017 lantern-making competition. Judging of entries and announcement of winners. The Misa de Aguinaldo will follow. A parade of the lanterns and playing of Christmas carols will cap the evening.

Rizal Day remembrance activities
Dec 30, 2017, 7am-9am, Central, HK
Laying of wreath at commemorative plaque for Dr Jose Rizal at 5 D’Aguilar Street (exterior wall of Century Square), the site of a clinic where the Philippine national hero practised opthalmology from December 1891 to June 1892. Another wreath-laying will be held at Rednaxela Terrace in Mid-Levels, next to the Central giant escalator, where Rizal lived in a rented flat during his stay in Hong Kong. A third wreath will be laid at a site relating to Rizal on Ice House Street also in Central. 

Marching band parade 2017
Dec 30, 2017;   2pm-4pm, Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui. A joint presentation of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Marching Band Association. Free admission. For enquiries:  2591 1340 (Leisure and Cultural Services Department) or 2774 0896 (Hong Kong Marching Band Association).

Youth music and dance marathon
Jan 7, 2018, 1pm-8pm. Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui.. Music and dance festival organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Departtment.

Community Thematic Carnival series
Jan 14, 2018; 3m-7pm – The Sheung Shui Legend.  Sheung Shui Garden No.1, Sheung Shui, New Territories. Don’t miss the chance to rediscover the fun and joy in the district.

‘Mga Kwentong Pagkain’ Contest
Jan 28, 2018 – Deadline for submitting entries to the Mama Sita Foundation’s contest, “Mga Kwentong Pagkain”
The contest, with the theme “Regional Food Heritage,” is open to all Filipinos abroad who are willing to tell an interesting story about food-detailed accounts of local or regional recipes, ingredients, food preparation, rituals or personal experiences. For details, email MSF at mgakwentongpagkain@gmail.com.

Ateneo team pounds Singapore, 12-7, in HK Baseball Open

The Philippine contingent is joined by Vice Consul Bob Quintin and Philippine Sluggers president Cecil Calsas in photo op.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles set their sights on a third trophy as they walloped Singapore 12-7, on the opening day of the WBSC Hong Kong International Baseball Open 2017 in Lamtin, Kwuntong on Dec 14.

The Blue Eagles entered the four-day tournament with confidence, and easily hurdled the challenge from Singapore at the Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground diamond on Sin Fat Road.

The Filipinos, led by team manager Randy Dizer, are eager to take home their third trophy this year despite newcomer Australia joining the tussles as an unknown factor.

The tournament opened with a simple ceremony led by Hong Kong Baseball Association president Philip Li, who welcomed the seven participating teams.

“The Hong Kong International Baseball Open is getting more and more popular in the international baseball community and moving forward to attract the participation of many more athletes,” Li said.

A team from Australia’s Sydney University debuted in the tournament, which saw Russia and China vying for honors. Eight teams – four national and four club – originally registered, but Team Nepal could not obtain visitor visas for its contingent.

Vice Consul Bob Quintin and a diplomat from the Australian Consulate General were among the dignitaries who graced the opening ceremony.

The games are all slated at Sai Tso Wan as organizers HKBA were forced to reshuffle the schedules after.

Ateneo will next play Hong Kong Blue club team in a 2:30pm match on Friday.

“We are well-prepared for this tournament,” coach Bocc Bernardo told The SUN before the opening ceremonies.

Bernardo said Hong Kong is traditionally its strongest rival for the championship. “We unseated Hong Kong last time after they became champions in 2016 because we did not participate,” he said.

The Blue Eagles beat Hong Kong Red in a tight match, 7-6, in January this year, foiling an attempt by the local boys to take back avenge their loss to the Filipinos in 2015.

Bernardo said the Hong Kong tournament is the last championship campaign for the Blue Eagles before they go to Clark late this month for several months of training. 

Dizer said he brought 20 players who can play any position in this tournament. He said that would make sure the team won’t be crippled if some players could not be fielded because of personal injuries or other causes.

UPAA-HK elects new officers

A doctor has been elected as the new president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Hong Kong.

Dr. Carlo Mendoza, who works for a private firm in Hong Kong, was elected president during UPAA-HK’s annual general assembly and Christmas party on Dec. 11 at Pier 7 bar in Central.

Outgoing officers turn over the association to the newly-elected leaders.

Elected as vice president was Gelica Lomibao; Ananda Mandalihan, secretary; Klerwin Collado, treasurer; Pam Casequin-Smith, auditor; and Jennifer Paguio, PRO.

The new officers immediately took their oath before the Consulate’s Acting Head of Post, Roderick Atienza, who is himself an alumnus of the state university.

About 40 members of UPAA HK group also used the occasion to celebrate Christmas, and their having recaptured the top prize in the annual “Rambulan” event held among alumni of UP, Ateneo University, De La Salle University, and University of Sto. Tomas.

A minute of silence was called by outgoing president Patrick Angco to pray for the recovery of past president Butch Durias who remains unconscious in hospital in Oroquieta City, following surgery for aneurysm.

Mga opisyal ng Isabela, isinulong ang pagtatayo ng OFW cooperative

Ang mga kasapi at bisita ng Isabela Federation, sa kanilang pagtitipon sa Chater Road.

Ni Marites Palma

Isang malaking sorpresa ang nangyari nang magtipon-tipon ang mga miyembro ng Isabela Federation noong ika-10 ng Disyembre sa Chater Road, Central. Bigla silang napatayo sa kanilang kinauupuan nang biglang tumambad sa kanilang harapan ang mga Board Member ng probinsya ng Isabela, na sina Napoleon Hernandez, Abbie Sable, Alfredo Alili at Marcelino Espiritu.

Hinikayat ng apat na opisyal ng lalawigan na gawing modelo ng IsaFed ang San Agustin at Jones Chapter para sa pagtatayo ng OFW Cooperative na ayon sa kanila ay makakatulong nang malaki kapag nag forgood na ang kanilang mga miyembro.

Ginawang halimbawa ni Hernandez ang cooperatiba ng mga kapitan sa Isabela na nagsimula lamang sa kapital na Php40,000, na ngayon ay umaabot na sa Php9 million sa loob lamang ng ilang taon.

Hinikayat ni Hernandez ang mga opisyal ng grupo ng Jones at San Agustin na gumawa ng group chat nila upang masimulan na nila ang pag-uusap para sa mga dapat gawin sa pagtatayo ng kooperatiba.

Masigasig ang mga opisyal sa pagsusulong sa proyekto dahil ang Isabela Cooperatives ang tinanghal na Most Outstanding Provincial Cooperative sa buong Pilipinas kamakailan.

Ibinalita din ni Hernandez na maaring magkaroon ng Provincial  Health Care Card ang mga naiwang kapamilya sa Pilipinas ng mga OFW. Lumapit lamang daw sila sa Kapitolyo at maaring magkaroon ng “on-the-spot” na Philhealth coverage para sa kanilang kapamilya na may karamdaman.

Napahanga ang mga bisita nang kantahin ng mga choir member ng IsaFed Performing Club ng kantahin ang Isabela Hymn at Isabela March nang walang mali.

Maging ang tradisyunal na kantang Nuang (Kalabaw) ay inawit ng buong buo ng mga taga San Agustin, na nakadagdag sa paghanga ng mga opisyal.

Bilang kapalit, kinanta naman ni board member Alili ang “Totoy Bibo”, na sinabayan naman ng sayaw ng buong tropa.

Naging makabuluhan ang maiksing pagtatagpo dahil nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga OFW na personal na makaniig ang mga opisyal ng kanilang lalawigan.

Nagkaroon ng salo-salo pagkatapos ng programa na inihanda ng  mga taga San Agustin Forever Friends.

Ifugao ‘bululs’ make global debut at HKU exhibition

By Vir B. Lumicao

Antique Cordilleran tribal art and culture, best represented by Ifugao wooden sculptures, are on their debut international exhibition at the University Museum and Art Gallery at HKU. The exhibit will run until Feb 4 next year.

The 50 sculpture pieces, which date back to the 14th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, were brought to Hong Kong by Swiss lawyer and art collector Martin Kurer in cooperation with Asia Art:Future, a collector specializing in contemporary and antique Asian art.

The exhibition, “Ifugao Sculpture: Expressions in Philippine Cordillera Art”, is set up in an oblong hall of the gallery with a blown up panoramic sepia picture of the Banaue rice terraces by photographer At Maculangan as backdrop, giving visitors a feel of the natural locale where the carvings originated.

The exhibition, which museum director Dr Florian Knothe said was the first of its kind from the Philippines, was supported by the Philippine Consulate General.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who formally opened the rare exhibition on Nov 30, said in his opening remarks that cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Hong Kong strengthen the close relationship that already exists between them.

Cayetano expressed his gratitude to Kurer, who has made his home in Manila a gallery of Cordilleran tribal art and contemporary Asian art, and the Hong Kong art enthusiasts for making the exhibition a reality.

He related how he overheard one of those who helped set up the exhibition saying, “It took a Swiss guy to put up Ifugao fire at the world stage…no, he’s a Filipino na.”

Kurer said the trove of hardwood “bululs” or rice gods and ritual boxes carved by Ifugao, Bontoc and Kankaney artists centuries ago were simple but powerful expressions of tribal art. Carbon-dating showed one bulul was carved as early as the 14th century.

He said there was a movement in Italy, France and Germany at the beginning of the 18th century which captured the “raw power and simplicity” of tribal art.

“The collection is our future, and this is the really remarkable part of it,” Kurer said, describing the artistic quality of the Cordillera tribal art as equal to that which influenced the 20th century and 21st century artists like Picasso and Brancusi.

Yet, he said those great painters could not have traveled to Africa and Oceania to pick up the influences of tribal art, but could have seen bulul sculptures brought by European souvenir hunters and art collectors.

Knothe, who also teaches at HKU, said the university gallery holds a dozen exhibitions every year that represent different cultures, like the Ifugao sculptures.

“To do this exhibition is very important to us. We want to connect to the community, the Filipino community is hugely, hugely important to Hong Kong, and we want to show an art form that has to be, or can be seen, and we want to present it here,” Knothe said.

Speaking later to The SUN, Knothe said he was very impressed at the sculptures because each of the figures had a different expression on its face.

“They are very serene and very calm. It’s a very beautiful art form,” Knothe said.

Vice Consul Bob Quintin, a Cordilleran who heads the cultural section of the Consulate, told The SUN he will invite groups to perform cultural activities such as tribal dances and seminars on the region’s culture that are related to the exhibition while it is running.

“Now that we have connections here, we are trying to do more,” Quintin said.