Passport applications shoot up with launch of 10-year travel document

ConGen Morales has shuffled staff to cope with
surge in new passport applications 

By Vir B. Lumicao

The expected launch of the new 10-year passport has caused the number of applicants at the Consulate to more than double since the start of the year.

Consul General Antonio Morales told The SUN in an interview on Jan. 16 that the Consulate has coped with the deluge by shuffling staff assignments on Sundays, the heaviest day for applicants.

“There has been a significant increase in the number of passport applicants, probably because those whose passports were expiring did not renew in November or December,” Morales said.

“Ini-expect nila sa January because it was officially announced that the 10-year validity would be issued starting January. So, they already started applying in January,” he said.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano led the launch of the 10-year-validity passport in a ceremony at the office of consular affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on Jan. 12.

An appointment is needed to apply for a passport on Sundays

The jump in the number of applicants had called for adjustments in the Consulate’s personnel deployment.

“We have asked our people from the other sections, the economic section, the political section, to help out in the consular on Sundays to enable us to cope with the volume of applicants,” the consul general said.

ConGen Morales said no one in Hong Kong has received the new passport, but added that this would happen in the first quarter, given that it takes two months to process the travel document.

The Consulate has recorded an average of more than 300 passport applicants since the start of January, up from about 150 last year, Morales said.

The figures for each of the past two Sundays reached 700, double the 350 average for the same day in November and December last year, he added.

But ConGen Morales said that in the long run, the 10-year passport would help decongest the consular services area, as people would wait for a decade before they return to renew their passports.

“In three to four years, we expect a reduction in the number, but in the short to medium term, we expect an increase in the volume of applicants,” ConGen Morales.

He said the price and the number of pages of the passport remain the same, as well as the requirements.

“To address the congestion in the consular area we have instituted an appointments system on Sundays,” he said, adding that, for weekdays, they consulate will accommodate those with or without appointments.  

Cayetano signed on Oct 25 the implementing rules and regulations of the new Philippine Passport Act, which extends the validity of passports to 10 years from five.

But the IRR took effect on Jan 1, 2018 to give sufficient time to Philippine embassies and consulates abroad as well as foreign governments about the changes of the passport validity.

Under the IRR passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Duterte in October, regular passports will be valid for 10 years for Filipino travelers 18 years old and above. Those under 18 will still be issued passports that are valid for five years.

Alleged killer drilled Austrian-Filipina lover in face, High Court told

The late Andrea Bar was a parttime model

By Vir B. Lumicao

A drill bit about 5 centimeters long was still sticking out of a wound below the right eye of an Austrian-Filipino bar waitress when a police officer arrived at a construction site in Tuen Mun two years ago, to respond to a 999 call.

This was revealed on the first day of trial at the High Court on Jan. 16 of Pakistani security guard Safdar Husnain, who is charged with murder for the death of Andrea Bayr, 25, on March 29, 2016.

“I’m sorry… water!”  Husnain allegedly told the officer who wrestled him to stop him from attacking Bayr with an electric drill at dawn that day.

Details of the killing were revealed by a police officer identified only as PC 7388 as he took the witness stand during the trial presided over by Justice Kevin Zervos.

The officer, the first prosecution witness, said he found four plastic packets of  methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly called “ice”, weighing a total of 0.82 gram, in the green container-guardhouse where the killing took place.

When prosecutor Terence Wai asked him how many times the defendant said “sorry”, the witness said he could not remember.

The officer also could not remember the name of the defendant or identify him positively when asked whether he was the man in the dock.       

The suspect’s Pakistani friend, surnamed Khan, who called police to the construction site at the junction of Tin Hau and Hung Cheung Roads, had told investigators that Husnain and Bayr took “ice” in the defendant’s room in the guardhouse earlier that evening.

A prosecution report said the victim, a girlfriend of Husnain, had earlier arrived at the site where a bridge connecting to Tuen Mun Park was being built.

Husnain’s friend then heard a noise in the guardhouse at about 2:15am on March 29. He saw the couple fighting but called police when he failed to stop them.

The police witness said that when he arrived at the scene at 2:17 am, he found the site unlit so he used his vehicle’s lamp to light up the place. He then went to the green container and saw blood on the floor and splatters of it on the ceiling.

He said he heard noise outside coming from the bridge, so he checked and there he saw the defendant still bludgeoning Bayr with the electric drill.

The officer said he pinned the attacker to the floor then radioed for help and an ambulance. He said Bayr had multiple injuries on her head, including a wound just below her right eye where the drill bit was still protruding and blood was oozing.

 

Medics took the still unconscious Bayr to Tuen Mun Hospital where Husnain was also taken with injuries in his leg.

The officer said he arrested the defendant after doctors certified Bayr dead at 3:10am.

A second prosecution witness, Dr Lam Chi-chung, a forensic scientist of the Government Laboratory, also giving evidence on Jan 16, said he collected blood samples from the scene of the attack.

He said that based on his analysis of the samples, the victim was first attacked in the office section of the guardhouse as indicated by the blood splatters on the floor and ceiling. The attack then continued at the foot of the bridge where a pool of blood formed.

Dr. Lam said the blood pool indicated the victim lay there motionless and bleeding. He said the blood pool was consistent with the police report.

Barrister David Boyton, defense counsel, did not cross-examine the two prosecution witnesses.

The Filipina mother and teenage brother of Bayr were in the courtroom when the trial began but didn’t return after the lunch break.

The trial continues.

Recruiter deploying DHs to Russia fined for overcharging

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina co-owner of an unlicensed recruitment agency that has been sending Hong Kong-based domestic workers to Russia was convicted on Jan. 5 of overcharging a client, and ordered to pay a total of $22,000: $12,000 in compensation and $10,000 in fine.

Gilda Flores Li, who jointly owns Quality Consultants Agency with her husband, was also warned by Magistrate Andrew Mok Tze-chung to make the payment within three months, or face a jail term.

However, the $12,000 compensation she was ordered to pay Filipina domestic worker Jean Lorena Sheel was $8,000 less than what she took from the maid, who had applied for a domestic helper job in Russia.

This was because the magistrate found that Li had paid US$1,000 to a Russian company for a second invitation to Sheel, after the first one had to be scrapped because of an error.

The invitation was meant to be used for securing a commercial visa for Sheel, even if what she had applied for was to work as a maid in Russia.

Li pleaded not guilty on Jan 2 to three counts of “receiving payment other than the prescribed commission” from domestic worker Jean Lorena Sheel, who was applying for a domestic helper job in Russia.

 “I don’t find the defendant a credible and reliable witness. I do not accept that QCA, of which she is a partner, is not an employment agency,” Mok said in returning his verdict.

Quality Consultants used to be licensed by the Employment Agencies Administration but its name no longer appears in EAA’s list updated as of Dec. 17, 2017.

Neither is Quality Consultants licensed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, contrary to its claim in its Facebook page, where it also openly recruits for jobs in Russia, Mongolia, New Zealand and Spain.

 Sheel, testifying on the first day of the trial, said Li charged her $20,000, of which she paid $11,000 in cash on March 5 last year, $4,000 on April 9 and $5,000 that she deposited in Li’s HSBC account on April 25.

Giving evidence on Jan 4, Li claimed that the $20,000 she charged Sheel was not a placement fee.

She said $10,000 was payment for an invitation letter issued by a firm in Moscow that the maid needed in applying for a commercial visa to Russia, and $10,000 to cover the cost of visa, air ticket, and room and board if Sheel got terminated after her first month there. 

The magistrate said Sheel’s evidence was clear and credible. He noted from her evidence that Li told her the first monthly salary as a helper would be $9,000 to $10,000.

He said taking into account the US$1,000 paid for the invitation letter, the commission was still more than the 10% provided under the regulation.

“Having considered all the evidence, I find the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the charges,” Mok said.

The labour prosecutors told the magistrate that Sheel was applying for damages and claims totaling $20,000, and Mok asked the defendant if she had any objection.

“I’m just a poor company. I don’t know the regulation. I don’t know if I have money,” Li replied tearfully, asking the magistrate if she could pay the compensation in installments.

The magistrate said he saw no reason to mitigate the sentences, which were a maximum of $50,000 for each offense. But after taking into consideration Li’s clear record, he said, he was imposing a $5,000 fine for the first charge, $3,000 for the second charge, and $2,000 for the third.

Mok then ordered that Li’s payment of US$1,000 to the Russian company for a second invitation be deducted from Sheel’s $20,000 damage claim, leaving the maid with just $12,000 in compensation.

Li’s conviction ended a four-day trial during which Sheel, the first of five prosecution witnesses, spoke of how the defendant charged her $20,000 for a domestic helper job in Russia.

Sheel said she withdrew her application after waiting in vain for a second invitation to replace the one with a wrong birth year that would have invalidated her application for a commercial visa to Russia.

In their evidence and during cross-examination, both Sheel and Li brought to light how agencies offering OFWs purported jobs in Russia and other places send the workers there without any job contracts and no employers waiting for them.

Sheel testified that Li would at first get her a commercial visa that was good for three months, and once she got to Russia, she would be housed by a Russian agency that would find her an employer for a fee, or find one on her own.

After the commercial visa expires, the worker will have to apply for a work visa.

The practice is under fire from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, which has repeatedly warned that third-country deployment is illegal under Philippine law.

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre has also urged Hong Kong authorities to clamp down on the practice of sending Filipino workers to non-existent jobs in Russia and other places abroad, saying this amounts to human trafficking.

Seeking compensation for accident

Samantha, aged 30, a Filipina domestic worker, underwent an operation on Jan. 5 at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung to have her broken shoulder fixed. She dislocated her shoulder on Dec. 28 when she tried to reach for a towel after taking a bath. She lost her balance, causing her to fall and twist her arm.

Her problem is that her Indian employer had reportedly told her friends to get Samantha’s things from their flat as they were moving. Her friends were also told that Samantha would be referred to their Canadian friend if she wanted to continue working in Hong Kong.

It’s not known exactly when her employers intend to leave Hong Kong.

Samantha was visited by staff from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, who told her about her rights, including the right to seek compensation for any work-related injury, or personal injury suffered while she was at work. She was advised to seek help from the Hong Kong Labour Department if she wanted to pursue this option.

Another right is not to be sacked or terminated while she was on sick leave. She could also demand payment for unpaid salary, including the pro-rated wage she was entitled to while she was on sick leave.

But as of now, Samanta is just relying on help from friends so she could get by while in hospital. She cannot move freely, so friends like Beth come by to help her eat. Samantha now wonders whether she can be well enough soon to pursue all her claims against her employer. – George Manalansan

Pinay, namatay matapos makitang walang-malay sa banyo

Ang yumao

Ni Marites Palma

Namatay ang isang Pilipinang kasambahay dalawang oras pagkatapos makita ng amo na nakahandusay sa banyo noong ika-9 ng Enero.

Binawian ng buhay si Erlinda Diego Cabulong, 45 taong gulang, bandang 8:15 ng umaga, pagkatapos itakbo ng amo sa Tuen Mun Hospital. Hindi agad malaman ang sanhi ng kanyang pagkamatay.

Naulila ni Diego ang kanyang asawa at dalawang anak na lalaki, na 25 at 23 taong gulang.

Kasalukuyang nakalagak ang kanyang mga labi sa Kwai Chung Public mortuary at hindi pa alam kung kailan ito maiuuwi sa kanilang bahay sa Purok 4, Villa Santiago, Aglipay, Quirino.

Ayon sa kanyang kapatid na si Mercedes Jasmin Diego, wala pang resulta ang isinagawang pagsusuri para malaman ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng kanyang nakababatang kapatid. Sa pagkakaalam niya ay wala naman itong sakit na hypertension.

Ang magkapatid na Mercedes at Erlinda

Marami kasi ang may sapantaha na inatake ito sa puso, o na-stroke.

“Napakasakit ang biglaan niyang pagkawala, wala man siyang senyales na mawawala na siya dahil nakagroup chat at nakavideo call pa ang mga anak noong gabi bago siya mamatay, kaya di namin matanggap na wala na siya" sambit ni Diego.

Ayon pa sa kanya aakuin ng amo ang gagastusin para sa pag-uwi ng mga labi ni Cabulong ngunit hanggang Manila lamang. Ang pamilya na nila ang sasagot sa pagpapauwi dito hanggang Quirino.

Ang amo na si Josephine Ngan ang unang nagbalita na nakitang walang malay si Cabulong sa loob ng banyo ng kanilang bahay sa Tuen Mun. Nanawagan ito sa pamamagitan ng Facebook na tawagan siya ng kapatid ng kasambahay agad-agad. Naka-lock daw kasi ang telepono ng yumao kaya hindi nila alam kung sino ang tatawagan.

Si Cabulong ay 15 taon nang naninilbihan sa Hong Kong, bagamat magdadalawang taon pa lang sa paninilbihan kay Ngan sa darating na Agosto.

Huli siyang umuwi sa Pilipinas noong Abril ng nakalipas na taon.

Si Cabulong ay bunso sa anim na magkakapatid.

Bagong taon sa Dragon’s Back

One of the highlights of the walk is going through a tunnel of trees.

Ni George Manalansan

Naging masaya at masigla ang pangangatawan at isipan ng mga miyembro ng grupo ni Lia Galve, sa kanilang ginawang pagtalunton sa popular na Dragon’ s Back trail sa  Shek-o Peak, noong unang araw ng bagong taon. Binansagan nilang “Friendship Hike with a Cause” ang kanilang paglakad dahil ang mga dumalong kaibigan ay mula sa iba’ t ibang samahan sa Hong Kong.

Nag-umpisa ang paglalakad mula sa bus stop ng To Tei Wan, bago binagtas ng grupo ang daan hanggang Big Wave Bay Beach. Inabot ng mahigit tatlong oras ang paglalakad na pinasaya ng manaka-nakang pag se “selfie” ng mga kalahok.

Participants of the Hiking for a Cause project (above) pose at one of the stops in Dragon’s Back trail, Shek O, on New Year’s day 2018. 

Habang nasa gasgas na landas, makikita sa lupa ang mga nakausling bato at mga ugat ng mga puno na siyang nagsisilbing  tuntungan sa trail. Ang bahagi naman na walang mga puno, kung saan natatanaw ang Shek O beach, ay paboritong lugar ng mga Intsik na mahilig magpalipad ng remote control airplane.

Sa patuloy na pagtugaygay ay makikita at malalaman kung bakit ito tinawag na Dragon’s Back. Dahil kasi ito sa paalon-alon at paliko-liko na daanan, na animo’y tunay na likod ng dragon.

May bahagi ang trail na parang tunnel, at ito ay nasa gitna ng gubat na napapalibutan ng mga punong madahon, kaya ang simoy ng hangin dito ay lubhang nakakaluwag ng paghinga. Makikita din sa itaas ang maraming maliliit na talon o waterfalls, na ang ilan ay walang tumutulong tubig, at animo’y natuyot na. Ang huling kilometro ng lakaran ay sementado na, at dito makikita ang proyekto ng Water Supplies Department para mas maiayos ang lugar.

Sabi ng isa sa mga naglakad, “talagang nawala ang pananamlay ko at sumigla ang aking katawan at isipan nang dahil sa mga benepisyong dulot ng  paglalakad.”

Kabilang daw sa kanyang mga New Year’s Resolution ang pagsumikapang makasama lagi sa mga lakaran, na agad namang sinang-ayunan ng kanyang kapwa hikers.

Sa pagbaba, makikita ang iba-ibang impormasyon tungkol sa bawat direksiyon na maaaring tahakin, katulad ng Big Wave Beach , Taitam at iba pang lagusan. Mabubulaga din dito sa mga nakapaskel na nagpapaalala ng: “Take your litter home.” Handa naman para dito ang tropa, dahil may dala silang mga plastic na lagayan ng basura.

Makikita din dito ang “Distance Post” kung saan may numero ng telepono na inilagay ng Country and Marine Parks Authority, para madaling mahanap ang kinaroroonan ng isang hiker sakaling mawala o may kailangang itawag na emergency,

Kung ang piniling daan pababa ay ang Big Wave, makikita ang isang maliit na komunidad kung saan may mga nag su surfing at may mga tindahan din ng barbecue at mga restaurant na ang pagkain ay mabibili sa abot-kayang halaga.

Hindi naman ito pansin ng grupo dahil marami ang nagdala ng pagkain, katulad ng biko, pancit, halayang ube, salad, buko pandan, salmon, ham, igadu, mango float, chocolate chip cookies , sandwiches, fried chicken at mga prutas.

Nag-ambagan din sila ng perang nakayanan ng kanilang bulsa, at bukal sa kanilang loob na ibigay. Gagamitin ito para bumili ng gamit sa eskuwela ng mga bata sa isla, na pangunahing proyekto din ng Guiwanon Fundamental Baptist Church, Children’ s Ministry na nasa Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Island.

Balak ng grupo na magsagawa ng apat hanggang limang “Friendship Hike with a Cause” sa mga darating na buwan ng taong 2018.

Para marating ito, sumakay ng MTR papunta sa Shaukeiwan. Lumabas sa exit A, at hanapin ang bus terminus. Sumakay ng bus #9 papunta ng Shek-o, at bumaba sa stop ng To Tei Wan.

What's on where

‘Okay Ka Ba?’ Ambassadors’ Training 
(Campaign against discrimination against, and exploitation of migrant workers)
Ambassadors Training Schedule:
January 14, January 21 at February 4, 2018: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Venue: Equal Opportunities Commission, 6/F 41 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang
Organizer: International Organization for Migration, with the support of the Philippine Consulate General, Christian Action, RainLily and Equal Opportunities Commission!
To register, call IOM at tel no 2106 2156, or send a message to the PCG. A certificate will be given to each of those who complete the training on helping fellow migrant workers against falling victim to discrimination and abuse. Admission is FREE and open to all Filipino household service (domestic) workers

Photoshoot for a Cause
Jan. 14 (Sunday), 10 am- 4pm, Tamar Park, Admiralty
Organizer: FAB Photographers. Everyone is invited to bring along family members for this photoshoot for a cause. This is a freestyle funshoot with FAB photographers. All proceeds raised during this event will be donated to Bahay Aruga (A free shelter for children with cancer). Free props, snacks and drinks. Just drop by.

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.

Visayas Sectoral – Mindanao Variety Show
Jan. 21, 11am – 6pm, Chater Road, Central
Organizer: VSM Alliance
Featured artists: Tultugan Performing Arts of Maasin National Comprehensive High School, Iloilo
Contact: Leo Selomenio, 5336 6530

Art Exhibit
Jan. 25 (Thursday), 6-9pm: VIP Preview, by invitation only
Public viewing:
Jan. 26-27 (Friday-Saturday), 10am-9pm
Jan. 28 (Sunday), 10am – 3pm
Exhibit open to the public
Venue: Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Road,
Featured artists: Gerrico Blanco, Frank Cana, Thomas Carrigan, Salvador Ching, Kos Cos, Monica Hemrajani, Ram Mallari, Jr., Sue Perks, Rovi Salegumba, Eman Sia, Kate Sparrow, Sophie Tunik. Organized by: Kambal Gallery
 
‘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

HK Education Fair
Visit the HKTDC Education and Careers Expo on Feb 1-4 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai.
The Philippine booth is at 1E-D07. Representatives from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University will be there. Admission is free!

Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Classes
Registration will be on Feb. 3 and 10 (Saturday class)
and Feb. 4 and 11 (Sunday class)
MERC, 12/F, Euro Trade Centre, 21-23 Des Voeux Rd Central
Classes will start on Mar 3 (Saturday) and Mar 4 (Sunday)
For more info, please check: https://wimler.blogspot.com/2018/01/wimler-hk-lse-hk-alumni-association.html

2018 1st Flea Market
Feb. 4 (Sunday), 10am-4pm
GardenPlus events venue, Wanchai Sports Ground
Organized by: GardenPlus

Baka gusto mong salihan ang mga ito

Schedule of Chinese New Year Activities
Urban Lunar New Year lantern carnival:
Mar 1, 2018, 7:30pm-9:30pm – Youth night.
Mar 2, 2018, 7:30pm-10pm – Carnival night.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui.

New Territories West LNY lantern carnival:
Mar 2, 2018, 7:30-9:30pm – Youth night.
Mar 3, 2018, 7:30-10pm – Carnival night.
Tung Chung North Park, Lantau Island.

New Territories East LNY lantern carnival:
Mar 3, 2018, 7:30-9:30pm – Youth night.
Mar 4, 2018, 7:30-10pm – Carnival night.
Hong Kong Velodrome Park, Tseung Kwan O

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.

Caritas Seminar on FDW RIghts
Caritas Asian Migrant Workers Social Service Project is offering the following seminars for foreign domestic workers:
Smart Workers’ Seminar “Employment Problems & Protection”. Content: 1. Does the government allow if I sleep on the sofa of living room? 2. How to get back my passport which is kept by the employment agency? 3. How to lodge a complaint if the work condition is totally different from the employment. For details call: 2147-5988.

For Tinikling Lovers
The Tinikling Group of Migrants is in need of male/female performers with or without experience, no age limit. TGM performs mostly for LCSD events. Interested person may contact Marie Velarde @ 67175379, Emz Bautista @ 98512804 and Rowena Solir @97331049.

Attention: Rugby enthusiasts
The Exiles Touch Rugby group is inviting rugby enthusiasts to join the team. We practice every Sunday at the Happy Valley Pitch 8 from 5pm to 8pmat the Happy Valley Pitch 8.  For those interested please contact: Ghelai 65414432 whatsapp/sms or click “like” on Exiles HK facebook page

Wanted: softball players
The all-Filipina softball team is open for tryouts. Those who are interested, especially those with prior experience in the game may contact Team Captain Don Gaborno at 5318-5113

An invitation to play volleyball
Calling sport-minded Filipinas who want to play volleyball. A team is being organized by a group led by Shane Key Gonzales . Interested parties may contact Shane at 54498080.

How one woman is giving a voice to Hong Kong’s Filipino domestic helpers

From pushing for rights and proper education to shedding light on various issues faced by her community, veteran journalist wears many hats 

By Laurie Chen
Reprinted from the 
South China Morning Post

Daisy Mandap is a force to be reckoned with: she is a vocal defender of domestic helpers’ rights, a leading figure in the Filipino community in Hong Kong and editor of The Sun, the city’s only paper whose contributors are made up of Filipino domestic helpers.

Sitting in The Sun’s cosy North Point office, Mandap rolls off a number of urgent issues affecting Hong Kong’s domestic helpers, one of the most vulnerable groups in the city.

Daisy Mandap reviews the latest edition of The SUN. SCMP Photo: Dickson Lee

More than 90 per cent of the local Filipino population, about 189,000 people, are domestic helpers, she says. Abuse from employers, lack of education for their children, and exploitation from shady employment agencies sit high on the list.

Domestic helpers gather on their day off. Photo: Alamy

But now, despite the serious issues they face, and, as Mandap claims, a lack of police action, more and more stories about domestic helpers are making the headlines.

More of them are also finding their voices through activism and writing for Mandap’s English-language paper, which was founded by her journalist husband, Leo Deocadiz, in 1995.

Mandap, who is also an accomplished journalist and lawyer with degrees in both fields, moved to Hong Kong to pursue a career in journalism 30 years ago, citing the rampant corruption in her native country that made it impossible to maintain integrity in her line of work.

Since then, she has worked for a number of international media outlets including CNN and ATV, before taking up the role of editor at The Sun in 1999. She was also a member of the government appointed Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony for six years, and was awarded a Community Service award by then chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in 2010.

“Being with this paper goes beyond putting out the news, the headlines, the articles that are published,” she says. “We are proud of having brought a lot of the problems domestic helpers face to the attention of the government.”

What first inspired you to take up the role of a newspaper editor ?

My husband started it, he’s a publisher. Long before we came here, we thought of setting up a newspaper. At the time, there was no way of communicating among members of the Filipino community in the city. We were really hoping to start our own paper but the printing costs were high. My husband finally saved up for it to get started.

At the time, there were a couple of thousands of Filipinos in Hong Kong, most of whom were domestic helpers. If you want to have an impact, you have to reach out to as many of them as possible. Leo also decided that it should be free, so we were the first free publication in Hong Kong for the Filipino community and it’s been like that for the past 22 years.

What are the differences between working as a journalist in the Philippines and in Hong Kong?

In the Philippines it’s pretty well-known that you can get offered bribes. My husband and I were journalists there for a long time, and we decided it was not the way for us. The pay wasn’t good enough to start a family. The Standard then went to the Philippines and recruited journalists from there, and we were finally paid what we were worth. During that time, there was a big demand for experienced English-speaking journalists in Hong Kong, and they all came from different places. It was a good time for us. Yet in Hong Kong, you’re not as highly regarded as a journalist, whereas in the Philippines you have a lot of clout, especially if you’re with a national daily. It’s a give and take.

What have been some of the highs and lows of your editorship since 1999?

We have really made an impact on the community. We were the ones who helped the first children of domestic helpers get the right of abode granted to them by immigration authorities – they came to us. Authorities eventually gave them Hong Kong identity cards when we threatened to take the case to court. It’s the more humane thing to do – they were born here, this is the only place they’ve known.

Before, they went to local schools but there was discrimination because they didn’t have an HKID, only because they were the children of domestic helpers. You feel bad for them because my own children never had this difficulty from birth. Because of our efforts, immigration granted rights of abode to two dozen children at least. They then get a permanent ID if they live here with their parents until the age of 11.

The difficult part is not getting the kind of response you expect from the authorities, when you work so hard to help workers. We have been helping victims of illegal recruitment. I have brought them to the police station, for example, and the police wouldn’t take their statements.

At North Point, there was a group of domestic helpers who were rescued at the height of winter. We picked them up, fed them and housed them. I took them to the police station the next day and argued for the police to take their case seriously. Eventually, the police went after their recruiter who had previously made them stay at Macau airport for one whole month, waiting for flights that never came and eating leftovers.

These are the things that I wish mainstream media would really pay attention to.

Police inaction makes our job really frustrating. Plus there’s the fact that there are so many Filipino domestic helpers who are abused and you don’t see them getting the kind of justice they should.

What other issues do the Filipino community face in Hong Kong?

The overwhelming majority of Filipinos in Hong Kong are domestic helpers. The Sun is a paper for the entire Filipino community, but most of our stories are about domestic helpers simply because they need the most help.

But the biggest problem for Filipino children is education. They don’t have the same quality education as other nationalities, since the few purely English language schools are band 3 (lowest level schools in the system). There are only a few Filipinos who could afford to send their children to international schools.

Because of that, they don’t get the kind of education that will help them compete with locals. That’s why you see a lot of Filipino kids working at bars in Lan Kwai Fong. A lot of them are forced to go to the Philippines too, since they don’t pass the qualifying exams’ language requirements for a university education in Hong Kong. For them to go up the social ladder, they really have to go to a local university. But if they go to university in the Philippines, their degrees are not recognised here, so it’s really difficult for them to move ahead.

Illegal recruitment is a big problem for domestic helpers – they are being enticed by registered employment agencies in Hong Kong to places like Russia with no real jobs waiting for them. But they go, because Hong Kong looks the other way. If it was really serious about cracking down on agencies, a lot of the problems would go away. The workers pay the agencies so much to come here so they put up with the abuse. We have heard of people being raped who were too afraid to complain because they were indebted to the agencies.

Domestic helpers also face problems because immigration authorities do not allow them to live outside their employers’ homes. They are then made to sleep on top of washing machines, in toilets. It happens because you have very restrictive policies towards domestic helpers. Living with their employers should be an option, not a requirement. In my 30 years here, I’ve seen the rights of migrant workers diminished instead of improved.

Do Filipinos face a lot of racism and discrimination in Hong Kong? How has this affected you?

You find racism everywhere. I look very Filipino, so immediately they think I’m a domestic helper, which shouldn’t be a bad thing in itself. But there is so much discrimination against domestic helpers – you get shouted at, called stupid because you agreed to be one. But a lot of domestic helpers are actually college graduates. You can’t be a domestic helper here unless you’ve completed high school education.

When I was working at publications in Hong Kong, I was only promoted up to a certain point. You had to serve the locals, or before the handover, the British. There was no way you could aspire to the highest positions in the company you were in.

People also judge domestic helpers for coming from a very poor background. It’s true – a lot of them are poor, but it shouldn’t be a reason for anyone to look down on them. On the other hand, you do appreciate that the government allows domestic helpers to freely stay in public places in Central during their days off, and they are legally entitled to rest days. So that’s relatively better than in the Middle East, for example.

We tell domestic helpers that if they allow themselves to be abused from the beginning, they get used to it and they should really try to resist that. I think we’re doing well, comparatively, because our workers are among the most vocal of migrant workers in Hong Kong.

Who is an inspirational figure in your life?

I had a lot of mentors who helped me in my early writing career, but I never really felt like following in the footsteps of anyone. I like certain leaders of the country, but they have flaws. Because there’s so much corruption in the Philippines, it’s very difficult. But I admire the past president, Benigno S. Aquino III, because he was not corrupt.

Another inspirational person is Sheila Coronel, my good friend and contemporary as a journalist who is now dean of the Columbia University’s school of journalism. She set up the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. She’s done so well, I’m really proud of her. We used to march against [former Philippine president] Ferdinand Marcos in our undergraduate days!

What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?

I still talk to a lot of domestic helpers who reach out to me for help. You can never be away from work because of the internet. Every day, I get messages from domestic helpers with their problems. Leo and I used to play golf and tennis a lot – it’s more on and off now. We still go bowling here too.

What’s your favourite dish?

I like crispy pork knuckles and rice flour dessert! It’s cooked over live coals and it’s very difficult to find in Hong Kong. During Christmas it’s always something you grew up eating. Here, I like simple Chinese dishes like char siu – Hong Kong is the best place for this kind of dish. Even if we have Chinese restaurants in the Philippines, it’s not the same.

Favourite holiday destination?

Manila, just because a lot of our friends are there. People always come and go in Hong Kong. I also like travelling to the US, because that’s where my kids are.

Kawawa si lola

Awang awa si Mar, 45 at driver, kay Lola na nanay ng amo. Pagkagising pa lang nito sa umaga ay lumalakad na ito at kung saan-saan napapadpad. Kapag gusto nang umuwi ni Lola ay tatawag ito kay Mar at magpapasundo sa iba-ibang lugar sa Kowloon at New Territories.

Madalas ay sa Shatin na di kalayuan sa kanila, pero kapag nayaya ng mga kaibigan ay nakakarating ito sa Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Matei at Mong Kok.

Sabi ni Mar mahirap nang kausap si Lola dahil mahina na ang pandinig, kaya madalas ang sagot na lang niya dito kapag tumawag ay “Tak o” o OK kapag libre siya. Kung hindi naman siya makakasundo ang sagot niya ay “M tak”.

Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon ay natatagalan ang uwi ni Lola, pero $2 lang ang pamasahe kahit saan ito galing. May mga pagkakataon daw na mali ang lugar na sinabi ng matanda kaya hirap niyang makita. Kailangang suyurin pa ni Mar ang malalapit na kalsada bago niya matagpuan si Lola na naglalakad sa maling direksyon.

Madalas daw nitong sabihin na walang panahon ang pamilya sa kanya, kaya kahit barok ang Cantonese si Mar ay pilit niya itong iniintindi. May mga pagkakataon daw na sinasabi ng matanda na gusto na nitong mamatay dahil pagod na, at dumaraing na maraming nararamdamang sakit. Paika-ika na ito kung maglakad at nakangisngis na dahil marahil sa pagod, pero pinipili pa ring lumabas imbes manatili sa bahay kung saan parang walang pakialam ang mga tao sa kanya.

Minsan ay naikuwento daw ng matanda na noong maliliit pa ang kanyang mga anak ay wala pang washing machine kaya puro handwash o “oh san pu” ang ginagawa niya. Wala din daw silang katulong noon, kaya habang nagluluto ay umiigib siya ng tubig habang nakatali sa kanyang likod ang anak.

Awang awa si Mar sa matanda dahil nakikita niyang kulang na kulang ito sa atensyon at pag-aaruga ng mga mahal sa buhay, at ang kailangan lang ay ang may kausap.

Naisip tuloy ni Mar na ganito rin kaya ang nararamdaman ng kanyang mga magulang. “Nakaka homesick, naalala ko ang aking mga magulang sa Pangasinan na may katandaan na rin,” sambit niya na nangingilid ang luha. – George Manalansan