Court rejects Pinay DH’s challenge to ‘live-in’ rule

The Court of First Instance quashed the legal challenge to
Hong Kong's live-in policy for foreign domestic helpers 

By The SUN Staff

The Court of First Instance has rejected a Filipina maid’s application for a judicial review ofHong Kong’s “live-in regulation”, saying the applicant has not sufficiently proved that the policy is illegal and breaches the rights of foreign domestic helpers.

Judge Anderson Chow said that the Immigration policy to let the maids live with their employers is a matter that FDHs helpers could accept or not, even before they come to Hong Kong.

“If, prior to coming to Hong Kong, he/she considers the Live-In Requirement to amount to an unacceptable invasion of his/her personal or private rights, he/she can of course choose to remain in  his/her home country, or work in some other countries which do not have such requirement,” said Judge Chow in his judgment.

Then, after coming to Hong Kong, the FDW finds the policy unacceptable, he or she can still terminate the employment contract by giving a month’s notice, said the judge.

The applicant, domestic helper Nancy A. Lubiano, sought a judicial review of the rule in 2016, saying it was unconstitutional and breached the rights of helpers.

On Sept. 13 last year, she sought to amend her notice for a judicial review and serve a second affidavit in support of her application, but both these were rejected by Judge Chow in his decision.

The judge also allowed a request by Lubiano’s lawyers that her personal details be not disclosed to the public during the hearing of her application.

The Filipina advanced four grounds to support her legal challenge: 1) the Immigration Director does not have legal authority to impose the live-in rule; 2) the requirement heightens the risk of a breach of fundamental rights and is, therefore, unconstitutional; 3) the policy is discriminatory against domestic helpers or migrant workers; and 4) the implementation of the policy without any general exception is irrational and unlawful.

Chow said that the live-in requirement is a matter of contract between the employer and FDH, and as between the employer/FDH and the Director, it is an “undertaking” given by the former as an eligibility criterion for the issuance of a FDH visa.

“The Applicant’s alternative argument is premised on the assumption that the Director cannot impose the Live-in Requirement as a condition of stay. I do not accept this contention,” said Chow.

He said the live-in requirement should be regarded as a “functional requirement” of the FDH’s employment. The migrant workers were allowed to come in to fill a vacuum left by local domestic workers who did not want to live with their employers.

He noted that the live-in requirement has always been part of the FDH importation scheme, but was only included as part of their employment contracts on April 1, 2003.

However, a general exception was made at that time for employers who obtained the Director of Immigration’s approval to let their FDHs live out prior to this date. These employers are still allowed this exemption, so long as they continue to employ helpers without a break of more than six months.

“Currently, there are approximately only 30 such employers being allowed to employ live-out FDHs,” said Judge Chow.

Regarding the issue of fundamental rights, the judge said the applicant failed to show that the policy has given rise to a significant or serious risk of violation of a fundamental right.

Paul Hsieh, SC, for the applicant, cited “servitude” and “forced or compulsory labor” as the potential violations, but Chow said these are not defined in the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

On the ground that the policy is discriminatory, Chow said there is enough relevant difference between FDHs and imported workers admitted under the Supplementary Labor Scheme to justify the different treatment.

The judge said FDHs are admitted for the purpose of providing live-in domestic service, so they are expected to live with their employers, unlike other workers who are not admitted for such purpose.

“I do not consider the pursuit of societal interest in the importation of workers to provide live-in domestic service in Hong Kong can be said to result in an unacceptably harsh burden on FDHs,” the judge said, rejecting Lubiano’s discrimination ground.

Chow also brushed aside the argument that the live-in requirement heightens the risk of ill-treatment of FDHs by their employers.

“While the fact that the FDH is living in the employer’s residence would mean that there may be more opportunities for the employer to apply ill-treatment on FDH if the employer is minded to do so, I am by no means satisfied that the risk of ill-treatment is unacceptably or significantly increased by the fact that the FDH is living in the employer’s residence,” said Chow.

He also dismissed the argument that the Director is being irrational or is wrong in not using his discretion in allowing for exceptions to the live-in requirement for FDHs.

Chow ordered Lubiano, who was on Legal Aid, to pay the costs of the application. Lubiano was represented by Paul Hsieh SC and Earl Deng, on instructions by Daly, Ho and Associates.

Nakahabol sa last trip si MJ

Si MJ ay isang Ilongga, 55 taong gulang at 20 taon nang hiwalay sa asawa at walang anak. Naging makulay muli ang.kanyang buhay pag ibig nang makilala niya sa social media ang Sri Lankan na si PP, 48 taong gulang, diborsyado, at may negosyo na pa-rentahan ng mga sasakyan sa mga turista sa Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Si PP ang unang nakipagkaibigan kay MJ sa Facebook at doon na nag-umpisa ang kanilang pag chat. Dumalas ang pagpapalitan nila ng kuwento hanggang sa nanligaw ito sa kanya. May dalawang anak si PP pero malalaki na.

Noong nakaraang taon, buwan ng Hunyo, ay dumating ang pinaka-aasahang visa ni MJ para sa Sri Lanka, at agad siyang nag-book ng ticket gamit ang perang pinadala ng boyfriend. Pagdating ni MJ sa Kandy ay sinundo siya ng lalaki at pinatira sa kanyang villa.

Ayon kay MJ mapagmahal, maasikaso at nirespeto siya ng kanyang kasintahan sa dalawang linggong pamamalagi niya sa Sri Lanka. Gayon pa man, “open relationship” daw sila ngayon dahil parang hindi niya gustong manirahan sa Sri Lanka sa kanyang edad.

Natatakot siyang hindi makauwi sa Pilipinas nang madalas dahil may kalayuan din ang Sri Lanka. Ang payo sa kanya ng kanyang pamilya ay mag enjoy na lang siya at bisitahin ang kanyang boyfriend kung nami-miss niya. Tama na iyong nabigyan siya ng true love kahit ang pakiramdam niya noon ay naiwanan na siya ng huling biyahe. – Merly T. Bunda

Nakitang muli ang true love

Si Lyn ay isang Ilongga, 35 taong gulang at dalaga. Kamakailan, salamat sa Facebook, ay nagtagpo silang muli ng dating ka penpal na naging kasulatan niya noong 19 taong gulang pa lang siya at nasa second year sa college.

Nakuha ni Lyn ang pangalan ng lalaki mula sa isang programa sa radio na madalas niyang pakinggan noon. Agad naman daw sinagot ang sulat niya ng lalaki, pero nakadalawang sulat lang siya bago tumigil.

Uso na kasi ang SMS noon at gusto ng lalaki na sa text  na lang sila mag-usap pero wala siyang cellphone ng mga panahong iyon. Nakatapos ng kanyang kurso si Lyn at nagpunta sa Saudi Arabia, tapos ay sa Kuwait para magtrabaho.

Taong 2011 nang maisipan niyang hanapin sa Facebook ang dating penpal, at ganoon na lang ang gulat niya dahil pareho pa silang walang asawa. Nang umuwi si Lyn mula sa Kuwait ay sinundo siya ng binata sa airport para muling magpakilala. Napadalas din ang pagdalaw nito habang siya ay nakabakasyon.

Pagbalik ni Lyn sa Kuwait ay doon na nanligaw sa kanya ang lalaki. Ayon kay Lyn hindi na siya nagpatumpik-tumpik pa dahil gusto na rin niya ang dating penpal at pareho naman silang walang pananagutan sa buhay.

Pag-uwi niyang muli ay ipinakilala na siya ng kasintahan sa mga magulang nito, at ganoon din ang ginawa niya. Wala namang masabi ang mga magulang ni Lyn dahil mabait at tahimik ang kanyang nobyo, at kahit wala siya sa Pilipinas ay laging nagdadala ng mga groceries sa kanila.

Sa ngayon ay limang taon na ang kanilang relasyon at nasa Hong Kong na si Lyn, ngunit balak niyang umuwi na para magpakasal kahit naka anim na buwan pa lang sa amo.

Paalala ni Lyn sa mga single, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa kasi basta kapalaran mo siya kahit magkalayo kayo  ng mahabang panahon ay hahanap ng pagkakataon ang tadhana para muli kayong magtagpo. – Merly T. Bunda

Nakuha ang loob

Ang pagkuha ng isang kasambahay  ay isang malaking hamon, sa amo man o sa migranteng manggagawa. Kailangan nila pareho ang magtiwala at pagkatiwalaan. Hindi ito madali dahil sa pagkakaiba ng kultura ng magkabilang panig.

Sa isang kasambahay, madalas ay kinakailangang dumaan sa maraming pagsubok bago makuha ang loob ng amo, lalo na kung ito ay isang Intsik. Ganito ang nangyari kay Liezel.

Nakagawian na ng pamilya ng kanyang amo na magtipon-tipon tuwing Miyerkules para magsalo sa hapunan. Kapag ganitong pagkakataon, ang amo ni Liezl ang nagluluto, at siya ay tagahiwa lang. Umuuwi ang kanyang amo ng bandang alas kuwatro pa lang ng hapon mula sa trabaho para magluto ng iba-ibang putahe.

Isang Miyerkules kamakailan, tumawag ang kanyang amo eksaktong alas kuwatro ng hapon para sabihing hindi siya makakauwi ng maaga dahil may emergency sa ospital na pinapasukan. Binilinan na lang nito si Liezl ng mga dapat gagawin at kung paano lutuin ang mga putahe na ihahain.

Aligaga man ay pinagsikapan ni Liezl na sundin ang lahat ng bilin ng kanyang amo. Dahil nakagawian na niya na isulat ang mga ginagawa ng amo tuwing ito ay nagluluto ay hindi na niya kinailangan pa na maging wonder woman upang magawa lahat ang dapat gawin sa takdang oras.

Eksaktong ala sais ng gabi ay nasa mesa na ang lahat ng pagkain, at hindi nagtagal ay nagdatingan na ang mga bisita. Masayang nagkainan ang lahat, at ang sabi pa ni popo, “the food is very nice” at pwede na daw siyang magtayo ng restaurant.

Kumakain na sila ng panghimagas nang dumating ang kanyang amo. Pagdating ng bahay ay tumuloy agad ito ng kusina kung saan naghuhugas ng  mga pinagkainan si Leizel at tuwang-tuwa itong nagpasalamat dahil nakapagreport na dito si popo tungkol sa galing ng kanyang luto.

Ayon sa amo, “very smart” daw si Liezl at “she has done a good job.” Laking pasasalamat naman ni Leizel na nakapasa siya sa pagsubok nang walang masyadong pagod dahil noon pa man ay pinaghandaan na niya kung paano niya gagawin ng maayos ang trabaho at sundin lahat ng gusto ng amo.

Ngayon ay balak ni Liezl na pumayag na mag recontract sa amo dahil kabisado na niya ang ugali nito. Si Liezl ay natutong maging responsable kahit 23 taong gulang pa lang at dalaga. Kasalukuyan siyang nagtatrabaho sa Sai Wan Ho. – Ellen Asis

Filipina acquitted of stealing employer's discarded bags

The Tuen Mun magistrate dismissed employer's theft claim

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper who was accused of theft for keeping two handbags she said had been discarded by her female employer was acquitted of the charge in Tuen Mun Court on Feb. 15.

Rosanna Rañola’s acquittal came after two days of trial before Magistrate May Chung,  who rejected the evidence given by the employer Lam Ka-wai.

Chung said Lam was not a reliable witness so the court could not accept her evidence. The magistrate cited the employer’s evasiveness when being cross-examined by the defense counsel, and her aggressive demeanor towards her maid.

Following her acquittal, the Filipina told the SUN that the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section is now helping her to file a case against her employer at the Labour Department.  

The magistrate cited that Lam did not answer why, on the night she allegedly found out the theft, she did not let Rañola talk to the police after telling her to call 999.

Cheung also dismissed Lam's claim that she did not know that a second bag had also been stolen until she allegedly saw it wrapped with clothes as Rañola was bringing out the contents of her luggage for inspection after serving notice of termination on Oct. 4, 2017

After the maid told Lam that she was quitting, the employer suggested she call for a police escort. However, when the helper did as instructed, Lam took the phone from her and spoke to the police in Cantonese.

The employer accused the helper of stealing the two bags when the police came in response to the call.

Rañola’s trial began on Jan 22. She had pleaded not guilty to the charge but chose not to give evidence. The maid, in her 40s, was hired by Lam in May 2016.

The employer accused the maid of stealing her bags, allegedly worth $1,500 each, after the Filipina said she was quitting her job on Oct 4 following an argument with Lam about her daughter’s school wear that the girl needed the next day but were still wet.

Lam had testified the last time she saw the bags was at the time of their move from Taiwai to Yuen Long in February 2017. She said she did not discard the bags as they were not worn out because she used them only twice a year.

However, during cross-examination, the defense lawyer took out a receipt dated Sept 15 from the pouch of the bag. It was for a purchase by Rañola, indicating she had openly used the bag on her days off and Lam could have seen it whenever she left or returned to the house.

In her testimony, Lam said she was not satisfied with Rañola’s performance, claiming that she had 20 previous maids but the defendant was the worst.

She said the maid’s performance had turned unsatisfactory since her family moved into a two-storey house in The Oakwoods in Yuen Long, from a 13^th-floor  flat in Taiwai last year.

She said the maid had complained of doing more work since the transfer.

Lam said she told the Filipina she could leave only on Nov 2 because the helper must give her one month’s notice, but Rañola replied, “No! I want to go now.”

Swerte galing sa tapat na serbisyo

Kinailangang umuwi sa Indonesia ang kasambahay ng nanay ng among lalaki ni Amelita kaya pinakiusapan siyang samahan muna niya sa bahay ang matanda ng 20 araw para may kasama ito.

Edad 85 anyos na ang popo at malilimutin na, kaya hindi pwedeng iwanan mag-isa. Wala man ito sa kontrata ni Amelita ay hindi siya makapagreklamo, lalo at wala na ang kanyang alaga dahil  nag aaral na ito sa London.

Kabado man dahil sa mga naririnig  sa mga kapwa kasambahay na hindi maganda ang ugali ng matatandang Intsik ay sinikap ni Amelita na pagsilbihan ito ng husto kaya naging maayos ang samahan nila.

Tuwing tinatanong niya ito kung masarap ang niluto niya ay laging “ok, lah” ang sagot nito. At kung tanungin niya kung may kailangan ito ay “M sai lah” (nothing) naman ang sagot ng matanda.

Mukhang totoo naman na nagustuhan nito ang mga niluluto niya dahil kapag dumarating ang anak ay panay ang kuwento na marami siyang nakain. 

Natuwa ang kanyang amo sa ginawa niyang pag-aalaga sa matanda kaya binigyan siya ng bonus. Ang sabi pa nito, “You make my mother happy so you deserve a reward.” Sobrang saya din ni Amelita dahil naging swerte ang pasok ng taong 2018 sa kanya at madadagdagan ang kanyang ipon.

 Si Amelita ay dalaga na taga Quezon at magtatapos pa lang ng unang kontrata sa kanyang amo sa katapusan ng taon. – Ellen Asis 

Filcom leaders nix plans to recall labatt

By Daisy CL Mandap

Key leaders of the Filipino community in Hong Kong are vowing to take to the streets to stop any move to recall Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre.

“Mag rally talaga kami kapag ginawa nila yun,” said Leo Selomenio, chair of Global Alliance,which has several sectoral groups under its umbrella.

Another vocal supporter, Aura Ablin of the Mindanao Federation, said they will gather signatures in support of dela Torre if the planned recall pushes through.

An earlier report by The SUN, quoting various sources from inside the Philippine Oveseas Labor Offce, indicated a plan to build up a case against dela Torre to justify his recall. 

Being eyed  to replace him in Hong Kong is reportedly Raymundo Agravante, regional director of the Philippine Department of Labor and Emloyment  in Davao.

The move gained ground when a top-level “investigation team” headed by the deputy administrator of the Philippine Oveseas Emplpyment Administration was sent to Hong Kong on January 25-27 while dela Torre was on vacation.

The impending recall was hinted at by Labatt dela Torre himself in a Facebook post on Feb. 2, in which he spoke of savoring his “last few days” in Hong Kong.

By March this year, he would have been in Hong Kong for only two years. The usual term for a labor official posted overseas is three years, but this has reportedly been extended recently by the current Philippine administration to five years.

Contacted by The SUN, Labatt dela Torre did not confirm or deny the report. But he said: “They can recall me or transfer me elsewhere, but I should not be accused of any wrongdoing.” He declined to say anything more.

The SUN also sent a text message to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III asking about the reported recall, and his only reply was: “Fake news”.

Despite the apparent denial of a plan to get dela Torre out of Hong Kong, many Filcom leaders were not appeased 

Many regard dela Torre as one of the most hardworking Philippine government officials around. During peak season, he opens his office practically every day to the thousands of OFWs who apply for the overseas employment certificate or OEC exemption before going home for a vacation.

Most Sundays, he even sits behind the service counters in POLO, if he is not out attending Filcom gatherings.

But often cited as his biggest accomplishment was his unilateral move to ban dangerous window cleaning by migrant workers, which Hong Kong Immigration eventually adopted and made part of the standard employment contract for FDWs.

More recently, Labatt’s outspoken stance against the rampant illegal recruitment of Filipino migrant workers for Russia and Turkey prompted Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to vow tougher sanctions against agencies engaged in the illicit practice.

Eman Villanueva, chair of Bayan Hong Kong and Macau and secretary general of Unifil-Migrante HK, said the plan to recall dela Torre sounded suspicious.

“Bakit siya iyong inaalis gayong sa tingin natin e tama ang mga ginagawa niya?” asked Villanueva.

Since Dela Torre is widely known for cracking the whip on the illegal recruitment of Filipinos, Villanueva said the government will be sending a strong signal that it does not want the campaign to continue if the labor chief is recalled.

Villanueva also asked why Secretary Bello has not fulfilled an earlier promise to review the light sanction imposed on a former labor attaché found to have allowed his then driver to operate an employment agency.

“Tapos itong gumagawa ng mabuti e tatanggalin?” asked Villanueva.

Dela Torre’s former deputy, Henry Tianero, who is now posted as a labor attaché in Kuala Lumpur, also offered to put in a good word for his former boss.

Tianero sent a copy of a report he submitted to the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong middle of last year, in which he noted a 21% increase in the number of OFWs who were rehired during dela Torre’s first year in office.

“More were rehired because we were deploying more quality workers,” said Tianero.

And this, he said, was all due to dela Torre’s effort to whip errant employment agencies into line, and placing more restrictions on those applying for accreditation.

MinFed's Ablin also said it would be a big lapse in judgmenr if dela Torre were to be recalled.

“Relieving Labatt Jalilo de la Torre from his post here in HK is an absolute mistake. If changing the color of the contract from green to blue is a small matter to our government, it is not for us, and those who fell off windows while cleaning their employer’s house. That’s Labatt Jalilo de la Torre's legacy,” she said.

“MinFed will do its best to keep him here in Hong Kong. Let the voices of all OFWs in Hong Kong be heard!”

Global Alliance's Selomenio, who starred in the award-winning movie “Sunday Beauty Queen”, said: “We have lined up many projects in partnership with POLO. What will happen to us if he goes?”

He said his group wants dela Torre to stay for several reasons: 1) He has bravely cracked down on "greedy" agencies; 2) He doesn't take a day off during peak months when thousands of OFWs line up to get the OEC exemption through the BMOnline system which puts too much burden on OFWs; 3) He is very approachable and accommodating to OFWs consulting about their jobs; 4) He works with the Filcom in providing seminars and training that benefit the OFWs; 5) Provides quick solutions to problems referred to him.

Selomenio added: “On the whole he performs his duty beyond expectation. We love him dearly as he gives us priority and a sense of importance.”

Another leader, Gemma A. Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers Hong Kong, questioned the real reason for the plan to recall the labor chief.

She also said dela Torre should not be relieved half-way into his term because, “He has conscientiously and successfully performed his duties. He has worked hard to fulfill POLO's mission, including fighting human trafficking more aggressively, supporting teachers' programs, and protecting OFW rights and interests.”

The unexpected visit of the DOLE fact-finding team appeared to have so riled dela Torre that on his first day back at work on Feb 1, he made several cryptic posts on Facebook that prompted questions from his friends

What apparently irked dela Torre was the discovery that the investigation was sparked by a complaint to DOLE by a Hong Kong recruiter that failed to get its usual job quota for Filipina bar workers in Wanchai.

Labatt dela Torre has reportedly turned down routinely applications for such jobs, concerned that the Filipinas were being exploited.

But the agency’s complaint appeared to be just one of the reasons.

The investigators also reportedly questioned POLO staff about a report that Labatt dela Torre was abetting the illegal work of Filipinos in China by issuing them overseas employment certificates in Hong Kong.

Most POLO staff reportedly stood by their boss and denied the allegations.

Even the wards at the Filipino Workers’ Resource Centre who were given a surprise visit by one of the investigators reportedly gave him a positive endorsement 

Buhay drayber

Inakusahan ng kanyang amo si Lito 37, Bulakenyo, na mas pinahahalagahan pa niya ang kasama sa bahay na si Ann kaysa sa anak nitong dalaga, na agad naman niyang itinanggi. Hindi lang daw sila nagkalinawagan kaya mas nauna niyang naipagmaneho ang kasambahay.

Ayon kay Lito, habang sakay ng kotse ang amo niyang doktor papunta sa klinika nito sa Tsim Sha Tsui ay nag whatsapp ang anak nitong dalaga, at tinanong kung pwede siyang ihatid ng drayber sa kanyang pupuntahan.

Sinagot ito ng amo at sinabing makakabalik si Lito pagkalipas ng kalahating oras. Sumagot ang dalaga, at sinabing magta-taxi na lang siya. Pero nang pabalik na si Lito ay tumawag ang dalaga dahil hindi pa pala nakakaalis.

Sinabi ni Lito na natrapik siya, at hindi niya alam kung gaano pa katagal bago siya makabalik. Nang malapit na siya sa bahay ng amo ay nakasalubong niya si Ann na papunta ng palengke. Tinanong niya dito kung nasaan na yung alaga nilang dalaga at sinabi nito na nakaalis na, “kanina pa.”

Dahil dito ay nagmagandang loob si Lito na ihatid na sa palengke si Ann.

Nang makaalis na sila ay muling tumawag ang dalaga dahil hindi pala ito makasakay, at nasa may labasan lang, sa hintayan ng bus. Nagalit ito dahil inuna pa raw ang paghahatid sa kasambahay sa palengke, at nagsumbong sa ama. Nailing na lang si Lito sa nangyari.

Pagkababa sa palengke ni Ann ay naihatid din niya ang dalaga, at nagpasalamat naman ito.

Sabi ni Lito, ganito lang talaga ang buhay ng isang drayber. Paminsan nagkaka-aberya din sa mga lakad, lalo at hindi lang iisa ang pinagmamaneho. – George Manalansan

Buti pa si kuting

Ibinida sa tropa ni Stella, 50 taga Tarlac, si Kulaping, ang minamahal na pusa ng kanyang amo.

Ngayong winter ay sinipon ang pusa, at gayon na lang daw ang pag-aalala ng amo, samantalang si Stella ay sinisipon at inuubo pa, pero balewala lang dito.

Halatang mas pinapahalagahan daw ng amo ang hayop dahil kapag humatsing ito ng sunod-sunod ay agad nang itinatakbo sa beterinaryo. Si Stella hanggang ngayon ay nagkakasya na lang sa paggagamot sa sarili.

Pati sa pagkain ay tipid na tipid siya, samantalang ang pusa ay sagana. Madalas daw siyang simangutan ng amo kapag nakikita sa listahan ang mga pagkaing binibili niya para sa sarili kapag hindi na katanggap-tanggap kainin ang mga tira nila.

Sa ngayon ay naghahanda na si Stella na humanap ng bagong amo dahil wala daw siyang nasisilayan na magandang kinabukasan sa kasalukuyang pinagsisilbihan. Makatao naman daw yung mga naunang amo niya, hindi niya alam kung bakit napadpad siya ngayon sa isang walang kapaki-pakialam sa kanya.

Mabuti na lang at nakakagiliw naman daw ang pusa. “Sa totoo lang mga ate, kuya, ang amo ko ang nagpapataas ng stress level ko, si Kulaping ang nagpapababa”, kuwento niya. – George Manalansan

Metrobank’s Valencia bids HK goodbye

By Daisy CL Mandap

His smiling face is what sets Metrobank Hong Kong’s former remittance manager Fred Valencia apart from many of his colleagues in the banking industry. But what his smile and his comforting Batangueno accent do not reveal is the hard climb that Valencia, 59, had to take before he got to where he is now, as assistant vice president of one of the country’s biggest banks.

Valencia finally said goodbye to Hong Kong on Feb. 8, after many fond farewells from the people he made friends with here, where he was posted twice as the bank’s remittance head in the past decade or so.

Fred Valencia (left) with some of his best friends.

Valencia started working as a messenger for Metrobank in 1978, when he was just 18 and barely out of high school. Impelled by the desire to continue his studies and earn a degree, he worked for the bank in the morning, and in the evening, took up banking and finance at the Far Eastern University.

He recalls, again with that disarming smile never leaving his face, that with a salary of just Php300 a month he had to put aside a big chunk of his pay to pay the relatively high tuition fee at FEU of Php700 a semester. This left him with barely enough for his personal expenses that he would sometimes skip a meal just so he could stay in school.

Often, he would walk from his boarding house on Galicia Street in Sampaloc to Metrobank’s office in Binondo, or to his school in Morayta, Manila, because he didn’t have money for transport.

Valencia says with nary a tinge of regret, that he was forced to look after himself that early because there were 10 of them children in the family, and everyone had to find ways to fend for themselves.

But 40 years on, and he is still with the bank which he credits for the relatively comfortable that he now leads, along with his wife and three grown-up children.

“Ang Metrobank din naman ang nag mold sa akin para mabigyan ko ng mas magandang buhay ang aking pamilya,” he says.

From being a messenger Valencia slowly, but steadily, began his ascent in the company. His easygoing nature ensured he got along well with many people, and made him an ideal ambassador of goodwill for the bank in many of its branches abroad.

For virtually the second half of his four decades with Metrobank, Valencia was posted as remittance head in some of the bank’s branches abroad, including in Tokyo, Taiwan, Osaka, Hong Kong and Seoul.

He was posted twice to Hong Kong, where he quickly became friends with many Filipinos, professionals and domestic workers alike, and even staff at the Consulate. When he left Hong Kong in 2010 after his first posting here, no less than the then Consul General, Claro S. Cristobal, led the send-off party for him.

He was sent to Hong Kong a second time in 2014, and as was his wont, Valencia took on the re-assignment with relish. He quickly re-established contacts with his old friends in the community, and also renewed friendships with various OFW groups.

His effort paid off when the very next year, the Hong Kong branch copped two of the top awards given annually by Metrobank : Best Branch and Most Improved Branch.

He had been in Hong Kong for just over three years when he again got marching orders, though this time, it came with a sweetener, his promotion to AVP. Like a good soldier, Valencia said he was good to go from the time he got his recall order, but a delay in the processing of the papers of his successor, Mark Yabut, forced him to stay put.

When Valencia did leave Hong Kong last week, it was with a hint from the top brass that his stay in Manila would only be for a short while, as he would be sent back to one of his old posts abroad.

But wherever he gets sent next is something that does not worry or faze Valencia. For this ever-smiling bank official, every new assignment is a challenge that must be met, and conquered.