Pro boxer says he’s been getting threats after being accused of mauling Pinoy driver

Solmiano says he visited Central Police Station to clear his name

By Daisy CL Mandap

A Filipino professional boxer earlier reported as having mauled a compatriot during a brawl in Central says he’s been threatened by unknown men because of the “fake news.”

Jay Primo Solmiano claims he has been keeping a low profile since TV reports in the Philippines of the Jun 17 incident had accused him of using his superior might to beat up Filipino driver Ricky Lizo.

“Dahil doon napeligro buhay ko kasi madami naghahanting sa akin na mga Pinoy,” Solmiano said. “Pati asawa ko nabantaan dahil sa fake news na iyon.”

Ricky Lizo in hospital

Solmiano said a group of Filipino men even dropped by his place of work and hinted to the office receptionist that they were there to avenge the beating of Ricky and his brother, Denise Lizo.

The boxer insisted he merely tried to pacify the Lizos who had ganged up on his friend, muay thai instructor and Hong Kong resident Sebastian Chancell Wong. 

After news spread that he had gone into hiding after the brawl, Solmiano said he went to the Central police station to clear his name, but was told that there was no case lodged against him.

Instead, the police arrested Wong and the Lizos on a charge of fighting in a public place, and were allowed bail pending further investigations.

In addition, Wong, 38, was booked for assaulting a police officer.

He and Ricky, 50, and Denise, 47, both family drivers, were all taken to Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam after police were called in.

A statement from the Police Public Relations Bureau issued on Jun 20 stated:
”Police received a report on June 17 that several men were fighting at D’Aguilar Street in Central.  Police arrived at scene and arrested one local and two NEC (non-ethnic Chinese) males aged between 38 and 50. During the course of arrest, a local male assaulted a police officer leading to injury on his wrist.

The case is classified as “fighting in a public place” and “assaulting a police officer”.  All the arrested persons have been released on Police bail and required to report back in late July. The case is being investigated by the District Investigation Team 5 of Central District.”

Pictures of the Lizos and Wong, with their faces all bloodied and their eyes puffy from the beating, circulated on social media shortly after video footages taken during the actual fighting were posted online.

In several interviews, Ricky Lizo had claimed the trouble started when they told Wong off for slapping his Filipina companion at the corner of D’Aguilar and Stanley streets in Central.

Ricky said he hit Wong on the head with a beer bottle after the muay thai fighter took a swipe at his brother.

Wong had stitches on his head and mouth 

The elder Lizo claimed Solmiano had felled him with one punch when he saw his friend Wong being attacked.

But in a separate interview on Philippine TV, Wong denied hitting his woman companion, saying he was just pacifying her because she was drunk and was out of control. 

Wong said the Lizos had attacked him first, and Solmiano who had tried to pacify them at first, only came to his rescue after he was badly injured by the broken bottle.

Wong’s friends posted pictures of his stitched broken lip and head wounds to prove that he was himself badly wounded from the scuffle.

Wong and Denise Lizo were discharged from the hospital after two days, while Ricky had to stay for another day. Despite being allowed to go home, Ricky said he is due to return to the hospital early next month for surgery on his broken nose. He has also been told to rest for a few days before going back to work.

Shop video shows Filipina-looking woman allegedly stealing bag of shopper

By Daisy CL Mandap

CCTV footage with the alleged thief

A Filipina domestic helper has appealed for help in locating a compatriot who was caught on CCTV while apparently taking off with her handbag from a shop in Central the other Sunday, Jun 17.

(CCTV footage here: 

https://www.facebook.com/Hotline.control/videos/pcb.1954735104551445/1954729491218673/?type=3&theater)

Milagros A. Galvan, 49, said all her important documents were in her purple-colored bag, including her passport, HK ID card and employment contract, apart from $2,000 cash, some coins, a bunch of keys, bank passbook, octopus card, and a power bank.

She said she had all her documents with her as she needed them to update her records with Metrobank.

“Hindi naman niya kailangan ang mga dokumento ko, bakit niya kinuha? Sana ibalik niya sa Philippine Consulate. Kahit kunin na niya ang pera kung kailangan niya,” Galvan said.

Galvan says she just wants her documents back

The alleged theft happened between 6:20-6:30pm on Jun 17 in a ground-floor shop in Eurotrade Centre on 21-23 Des Voeux Road Central. Galvan she momentarily placed her bag on a clothes rack so she could take out her phone and read messages on what she was supposed to buy there for her child, but found it gone the next time she looked.

“Ang bilis,” she said in a message.

Galvan said that the shopkeeper helped her look for her bag, but when they couldn’t find it, checked the store’s CCTV camera. There they saw another Filipina-looking woman in a blue shirt discreetly putting Galvan’s bag strap around her wrist, before quickly moving away.

Galvan immediately reported the theft to the Central Police station, and showed them the footage from the shop’s CCTV. The police reportedly told her to wait a week for an update but she had yet to receive a call from them.

Galvan, who lives in Yuen Long and has been working in Hong Kong for 24 years, said she just wants her documents back as it will take time to replace them all, and she has difficulty moving around without them.

Cebu's disabled paddlers win anew in HK Dragonboat race

PADS is no 1 for the second consecutive year

By Vir B. Lumicao

 Consul Saret with PADS Team Capt Arnold Balais

Paddlers of Cebu-based PADS Adaptive  Dragonboat Racing Team retained their crown in the paradragon event of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival on Jun 24 by handily defeating the competition in the 400-meter championship race.

Another team of Filipino men and women, Triton, won a gold trophy by ruling the women’s 400-meter race on Jun 22, then snared a silver trophy in the 200-meter women’s event of the three-day festival on Victoria Harbour in Central.

To loud cheers of “Pilipinas! Pilipinas!” and “Go! Go! PADS!” from OFW fans on the promenade on Sunday, defending champions PADS charged ahead at the boom of the cannon and progressively left its five challengers behind as it raced to the finish line.

Here is a link to the race which PADS dominated from start to finish:
https://www.facebook.com/mtainjack67/videos/10155909285521523/?q=virgilio%20bello%20lumicao

The victory won a large gold trophy and a bunch of gold medals for the physically challenged men and women of PADS.

Yas San Kam Ying took second place and NAAC Top Brilliance finished third.

“I’m overjoyed. We did it again. Once more, we have proved the capability of the Filipino,” said coach and drummer Christian Ian Sy as he waded through the crowd of screaming and flag-waving fans who pressed towards the paddlers.

PADS member with adoring fans

Minutes later, members of the team posed with bevies of tearful Filipinas and a few locals who shared the pride and joy of the hardy bunch who overcame their disabilities to become champions in one of the events of the annual dragon boat festival.

Consul Paulo Saret, who was present at the awarding ceremony, also beamed with pride at the achievement of PADS.

“Last year, they came here without support and won. Now they came back and they won again,” the diplomat told The SUN when asked to comment.

“Physical disability is not a hindrance to success. But they need the all-out support of our kababayans, and the PCG is always there to give our all-out support as long as we are informed in advance,” he said.

This year, PADS came to Hong Kong with a bigger contingent of 44 paddlers and four coaches as the team has expanded, manager JP Ecarma told The SUN. Last year, there were only 33. He was on hand to assemble his paddlers at Pier 9 for their semifinal race at 11:10am.

He said the team had prepared for three months for the event, initially training four times a week and then doing it every day as the tournament neared.

The team was also better off now than last year, when members had to scrounge for plane tickets and pocket money. Now it has a few corporate sponsors such as IMG and Alaxan, which sent their own media teams to document PADS’ glory quest.

This year, PADS surprised everyone when it competed in the heats on Jun 23 and finished in the top five to qualify for Sunday’s International Open Championship. The team, however, failed to win a place in the final.

Meanwhile, Triton bested five other teams from Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and New York in the 400 meters race to capture the International Women’s Championship.

It also took silver in the small boat category of that event.

Triton also competed in the International Mixed Championship 200-meter small boat event on Sunday afternoon, but its boat was struck by Hubbis Stormy Dragon’s when the Hong Kong team suddenly veered left from Lane 2.

Antonette Suyao, Triton manager, said her team had to slow down, causing it to lose time. She protested the incident with the organizing committee and, after reviewing a TV footage, the panel disqualified Stormy Dragon.

But she said the committee refused to let the team do a time trial race.

Ilegal ang gawain niya

Ni Merly Bunda

Si M.J. na isang Ilongga, 42 taong gulang at dalaga ay nahuli ng Immigration noong Mayo 3 habang nagbabantay sa kaha ng isang spa sa Hunghom na pag-aari ng amo niya.

Matagal na sigurong sinusubaybayan  ng mga autoridad ang shop bago ito pinasok at hinuli siya kasama ang apat na Thai na masahista. Na-deport yung mga Thai pero ipinaglaban ng amo ang kaso ni M.J. marahil ay nangangamba ito na masasabit din, depende sa sasabihin ng Pilipina.

Isang kaibigan ni M.J. ang nagsubok na kamustahin siya dahil nanghihingi ng tulong ang pamilya nito sa Iloilo, pero ayaw magsalita ng amo, at ang sabi ay may abugado nang humahawak sa kaso nila. Kaya ganoon na lang ang gulat nung kaibigan ni M.J. nang malaman na nakakulong ito sa Lowu Correctional For Women. Nasentensiyahan na pala siya ng hanggang apat na buwang pagkakulong magmula nang mahuli siya noong Mayo 3. Hindi na siya pinalabas at pinayagang magpiyansa habang dinidinig ang kanyang kaso.

Tinawagan ng kaibigan iyong kulungan sa Lowu at ang sabi sa kanya ay wala na doon si M.J. at kinuha ng Immigration para kunan muli ng pahayag, pero hindi daw nila alam kung saan na siya dinala. Kasalukuyan ngayong nakikipag-ugnayan ang kaibigan sa assistance to nationals section ng Konsulado para malaman kung nasaan na si M.J. at para mabigyan din ng tulong kung sakali.

Itinanong din ng kaibigan kung walang matatanggap na long service pay si M.J. dahil 15 taon itong nagsilbi sa amo, pero ang sabi sa kanya ay malabo dahil ilegal ang trabaho niya.

Matagal nang pinagsasabihan si M.J. ng kanyang mga kaibigan na itigil na ang pagtatrabaho sa spa dahil delikado. Wala din namang ekstra na sahod ang binibigay sa kanya ng amo, at alam nilang pareho na ayon sa kanilang kontrata ay sa bahay dapat nagtatrabaho si M.J.

Ayon pa sa kuwento ng mga kaibigan niya, may isang Thai na trabahador sa spa na biglang pinaalis ng amo at nagbabala ito na magsusumbong sa mga awtoridad. Malamang ay iyon ang nagsuplong. Dapat ay noon pa lang daw ay tumigil na si M.J. sa kanyang ilegal na trabaho at hindi na hinintay na mahuli pa siya at makulong. Kasalanan din naman niya ang nangyari, ang sabi pa nila.

Karanasan ng nag-overstay: TNT ng 19 taon

Ni Rodelia Villar

May 19 taon nang naninirahan ng ilegal sa Hong Kong si M.L., tubong Bisaya at 45 taong gulang nang makumbinsi siyang sumuko. Nakatagal siya dito dahil may mabait na mag-asawang kumupkop sa kanya at binayaran siya ng tama kaya napatapos niya sa pag-aaral ang tatlong kapatid. Sa tagal ng panahon na lagi siyang nagtatago sa maykapangyarihan ay napagod na siya, kaya gusto na niyang sumuko para makauwi na at makapiling ang pamilya. Ang tanging inaalala niya ang mag-asawang itinuring siyang parang isang kaanak.

Taong 1997 nang dumating siya dito para magkatulong na walang hangad kundi ang matulungan ang pamilya na makaahon sa hirap. Nakatapos ng high school si M.L. pero hindi na nagkolehiyo sa kagustuhang mag abroad at kumita agad ng malaki. Iniwan nya ang trabaho sa Pilipinas na may maliit na sahod. Umabot sa P50,000 ang nagastos ni M.L. bago makarating ng HK at binawas unti-unti sa kanyang suweldo kaya halos wala siyang kinita sa kanyang unang kontrata.

Sa pangalawang kontrata, na terminate siya ng amo pagkatapos ng tatlong buwang pagtatrabaho sa hindi niya malamang dahilan. Binayaran naman siya ng amo at tumira siya sa isang boarding house habang naghahanap ng bagong employer. Sa kasamaang palad may nagnakaw ng kanyang pasaporte at pera doon. Isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan doon ang nagyaya sa kanya sa parke, at pagbalik niya ay wala na ang kanyang mga gamit.

Balak daw niya noon na mag report sa Konsulado para makakuha ng bagong dokumento, pero may apat siyang kasamahan sa boarding house na TNT (tago nang tago), na nagyaya sa kanya na manatili na lang sa Hong Kong ng walang pahintulot katulad nila.

Sa unang dalawang taon niya bilang overstayer sa Hong Kong, nagpalipat-lipat siya ng boarding house at tumanggap ng trabahong ilegal para lang may maipadala sa pamilya sa Pilipinas. Tiniis niyang hindi makalabas ng Hong Kong para hindi maputol ang kanyang sustento sa pamilya.

Suwerte naman na pagkatapos noon ay may nakilala si M. L. na mag asawang Intsik na may anak na nag-aaral sa Canada, at kinuha siya ng mga ito bilang regular na parttime.

Dalawang beses sa isang linggo kung magtrabaho siya sa kanila noon, at agad na naging magaan ang loob ng mag-asawa sa kanya at itinuring sya na parang anak, siguro dahil malayo ang kanilang nag iisang anak at kailangan din nila ng kausap at kasama sa bahay.

Hindi naglaon ay kinausap ng mag asawa si M. L. na kung pwede ay sa kanila na siya magtrabaho at babayaran siya ng tamang sahod kahit wala silang kontrata dahil alam ng mag-asawa na ilegal siya sa Hong Kong. Dahil sa kanilang kabaitan ay nakapagpadala ng regular si M. L. sa pamilya sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng isang kaibigan.

Sa panahon ng kanyang pagsisilbi sa mag-asawang mabait ay namuhay na parang regular na kasambahay si M.L. Namamalengke siya at bumibisita sa mga kaibigan, at lumalabas at nagpa-party kasama ang mag-asawa, bagamat lagi silang nag-iingat na wala silang makakasalamuhang pulis.

Sa pagdaan ng mga panahon ay tanging si M. L. na lang ang natirang TNT sa kanilang magkaibigan sa dating boarding house dahil ang iba ay nahuli, nakulong at nakauwi na sa Pilipinas. Dahil sa mga kaibigan, nalaman ni M. L. ang mga lugar na pinagdadalhan sa mga nahuhuli, saan sila kinukulong, ano ang pwedeng dalhin sa loob, at ano ang ginagawa nila habang sila ay nakakulong. Pasikreto niyang pinuntahan ang lahat na mga lugar para daw alam na niya ang mangyayari sakaling sumuko na siya.

Nang makapagtapos ang kanyang mga kapatid ay lalong sumidhi ang pakiusap ng mga ito na sumuko na si M.L. para mapanatag na ang kanyang kalooban at dahil kaya na nila siyang bigyan ng magandang buhay kapalit ng kanyang pagpapakasakit para sa kanila. Ang tanging pumipigil kay M.L. dati ay ang mag-asawa na kumupkop sa kanya at itinuring siyang parang pamilya.

Napadali lang ang desisyon niyang umuwi na sa Pilipinas nang biglang makaramdam ng sakit si M.L. na ikinatakot niya. Walang tigil ang ubo niya at paninikip ng dibdib at kahit gusto niyang magpatingin sa doktor ay hindi niya magawa dahil sa kanyang kalagayan bilang overstayer. Ayaw niyang bigyan pa ng problema ang mga amo kaya humingi siya ng tulong sa isang kapwa Pilipina na nakikilala niya lang sa Facebook at alam niyang tumutulong sa mga OFW. Pumayag naman ang kapwa na Pilipina na samahan siyang magpatingin, bagamat pinayuhan din siya nito na sumuko na. Sa araw ng kanilang pagkikita ay parang himala na nawala ang lahat ng kanyang sakit. Dito naisip ni M.L. na panahon na nga siguro para siya ay sumuko. Nagkasundo sila na lumapit sa Konsulado para matulungan siyang sumuko, at baka sakaling mapagaan din ang kanyang parusa. Sinamahan si ML ng bagong kaibigan hanggang sa General Investigation Section ng Immigration sa Kowloon Bay kaya hindi siya masyadong kinabahan.

Nang magkita silang muli pagkatapos makulong si M.L. ng dalawang linggo ay masaya nitong ibinalita na malamang na makalabas na siya at makauwi sa Disyembre para makasama na muli ang pamilya. Malaya na rin siyang patuloy na makipagtalastasan sa mag-asawang kumupkop sa kanya, kahit sa pamamagitan lang ng FB.

Payo ni ML sa mga kapwa OFW, huwag hayaang maging ilegal ang kanilang pananatili sa Hong Kong dahil may mga paraan naman para sila makapanatili dito na hindi kakakaba-kaba at laging tago nang tago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam ng isang malaya.

Dinuraan ng kolektor

Si Althea, tubong Bisaya, ay 37 taong gulang pa lang ngunit biyuda na. Binangungot ang kanyang asawa wala pang isang taon ang nakakaraan kaya dumaan siya sa malaking pagsubok. Bukod sa tatlo ang anak nilang naiwan na walang tatay ay gumastos pa si Althea ng malaki para sa pagpapalibing sa asawa.

Dahil dito ay dalawang buwan na palaging kulang ang perang naihuhulog niya para sa kanyang utang sa isang financial company.

 Hindi naglaon ay tinatawagan na siya ng kolektor, noong una ay nakikiusap, pero nitong Hunyo 11 ay inakyat na siya sa bahay ng kanyang amo at dinuro-duro sa mukha. Hindi pa siya nakuntento, at biglang dinuraan sa mukha si Althea, mabuti ay nakailag siya kaya hindi siya tinamaan sa mukha.

Bago umalis ay binalaan pa siya ng kolektor na babalikan siya sa gabi para kausapin ang kanyang amo.

Nanginginig at maiyak-iyak na tumawag siya sa isang kaibigan para manghingi ng tulong. Tinulungan naman siya nito na pumunta sa assistance to nationals section ng Konsulado at doon ay pinayuhan siya na isumbong sa pulis ang ginawa ng kolektor.

Kapag bumalik daw pang muli ang kolektor ay bumalik siya sa ATN para magawaan ng sulat na ipapadala sa asosasyon ng mga financing company dito para ireklamo ang kumontrata sa bastos na kolektor.

Batid ni Althea na marami nang mga katulong ang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa mga salbaheng kolektor ng mga pautangan. Naging leksyon daw sa kanya ang nangyari. Ngayon ay tinatantiya niya kung ano ang balak gawin ng kanyang mga amo na binulabog ng kolektor. Alam niya na maaring hindi na siya muling pirmahan ng kontrata pero handa na raw siya dahil may nakita na siyang amo na maari nyang lipatan, doon din sa North Point kung saan nakatira ang kasalukuyan niyang amo. – Merly Bunda

Making siomai and kutsinta

Seminar participants display the products they made.

By Marites Palma

Around 200 Filipina domestic workers joined a free siomai and kutsinta making session held on Jun 10 at Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town, as part of the livelihood training program by Card Hong Kong Foundation.
The workshop was conducted by Card trainors Emilia L. Dellosa, Madelia S. Galve, Joan Cabodil and Rechel Montoya. They told the participants that siomai and kutsinta are among the easiest delicacies to make, and could be a good source of income for them when they go back home to the Philippines.
At first, the participants had difficulty forming the siomai, but they were smiling in no time once they got the hang of doing it.
Siomai and kutsinta are among a number of easy-to-make delicacies for which training is offered by Card Hong Kong. We are sharing the simple recipes for them here.
Those who would like to join the workshops by Card Hong Kong on financial literacy, investment and livelihood training, may check their Facebook page, Card Hong Kong Foundation, for future schedules and other details.
A financial literacy session has been scheduled for Saturday, Jun 23, and on Sunday, Jul 22. Those who wish to join may call telephone numbers  96066810, 54238196, or 95296392.


Siomai 

Ingredients:
2 1/2 lbs ground pork
1 cup shrimp-minced
2 cups water chestnuts or turnip, minced
5 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp ground black pepper
1 cup onion or shallots, minced
1 cup carrots, minced
1 1/2 cups white mushroom, minced
1 pack wonton wrapper (recipe is below if you can’t get them from the grocery)
1/4 cup spring onions, minced
2 tsp salt
1 raw egg
water for steaming

Procedure:
1. Combine all the ingredients except for the water and wonton wrapper, and mix thoroughly.
2. Wrap the mixed ingredients in the wonton wrapper.
3. Using a steamer, steam the wrapped siomai for 15 to 25 minutes. The time depends on the size of each individual piece (larger size means more time for steaming)
4. Serve hot with soy sauce and calamansi or lemon dip. Share and enjoy.
(Recipe yields 100 pieces of siomai).

Siomai or wonton wrapper

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 egg
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup water

Procedure:
1. Sift the the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and make a well at the center.
2. Put the egg and water into the well and mix together, then knead well until the mixture becomes firm but not sticky.
3. Let it rest for 45 minutes to allow the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll out.
4. Sprinkle cornstarch or flour on the space where you will knead the dough. After 45 minutes, divide the gough into halves, then use a rolling pin to knead the dough, then flatten it as thin as you can to make the siomai wrapper. While still working on the first half cover the other half to avoid from drying.
5. Trim the sides to make a big square or rectangle, then cut into siomai wrappers.

Kutsinta

Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 cup +1 tbsp tapioca flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp lye water
1 tsp annatto/ achuete powder for coloring

Procedure:
1. Slightly grease your kutsinta molds with oil and set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, tapioca flour and sugar.
3. Add in the water and stir until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
4. Add the annatto/achuete powder and mix well. Then stir in the lye water.
5. Fill the molds about 3 quarters (3/4)full and steam for 40 minutes or until the top is set when touched.
6. Remove from heat and allow to cool before removing from the molds.
7. Serve with grated coconut.
 (Recipe yields
12 pieces of kutsinta)

Three Pinoys in Central brawl arrested for fighting in public, allowed to post bail

By Daisy CL Mandap

Ricky Lizo

Three men – two Filipino drivers and a Chinese-Filipino muay thai instructor - who figured in a much-publicized brawl in Central on Jun 17 (Sunday) night have been arrested for fighting in public and told to report back to the police in late July.

In addition, Sebastian Chancell Wong, 38, the muay thai fighter and Hong Kong resident who speaks fluent Filipino, was booked for assaulting a police officer.

He and brothers Enrique “Ricky” Lizo, 50, and Denise Lizo,  47, both family drivers; were allowed to post police bail while they all recuperated from their wounds in Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam where they were taken shortly after the melee. They reported back to the police yesterday, after being discharged from hospital.

A statement from the Police Public Relations Bureau issued earlier today (Jun 20), stated:
”Police received a report on June 17 that several men were fighting at D’Aguilar Street in Central.  Police arrived at scene and arrested one local and two NEC (non-ethnic Chinese) males aged between 38 and 50. During the course of arrest, a local male assaulted a police officer leading to injury on his wrist.

The case is classified as “fighting in a public place” and “assaulting a police officer”.  All the arrested persons have been released on Police bail and required to report back in late July. The case is being investigated by the District Investigation Team 5 of Central District.”

Sebastian Wong

A fourth person tagged by the Lizos as the one who mauled Ricky - professional Filipino boxer Jay Primo Solmiano - was not arrested. Despite this, Solmiano apparently reported to the Central Police station on Wednesday, Jun 20, to clear his name, after being accused in some reports as having gone into hiding.

Wong posted a picture on Facebook of Solmiano and himself outside the police station, saying it was meant to dispute reports that his friend Jay was in hiding.

Pictures of the Lizos and Wong, with their faces all bloodied and their eyes puffy from the beating, circulated on social media shortly after video footages taken during the actual fighting were posted online.

According to Ricky, who said he and his brother have both been working as family drivers in Hong Kong for about 11 years, the trouble started when they saw Wong slap a Filipina companion along D’Aguilar Street, near Stanley Street.

“Sinampal ni Sebastian yung babae. Sabi ko huwag mo saktan yung babae please…umupo na yung babae.. nag-iiyak.. Bigla nya sinugod brother ko.. nagulat ako.. eh may hawak akong bote.. pinalo ko sa ulo.. kasi alam kong muay thai fighter sya,” said Ricky in a chat message.

Ricky said the bottle came from a Filipino-owned pub they had just left. He also said Wong’s group had come from the same pub but were told to leave earlier after figuring in another fight.

His heftier brother reportedly helped stop Wong by elbowing him on the mouth, but the fighter retaliated by hitting Denise with a belt buckle.

Solmiano, who was initially seen in videos trying to stop the fight, ended up hitting Ricky to defend Wong, leaving the driver black and blue, his lips busted, and with his nose bloodied and apparently broken.

Jay Solmiano inside Central Police Station

But in a separate interview with a Philippine TV news station, Wong denied that he had hit his woman companion. He said the woman was drunk and was out of control so he tried to pacify her by holding her by the hand.

Wong said Ricky must have misinterpreted his actions, but instead of asking what was going on, the driver who was apparently drunk, hit him on the head with a beer bottle. Solmiano went to his rescue when the driver allegedly hit him again with the broken bottle.

Wong’s friends posted pictures of his stitched broken lip and head wounds to prove that he was himself badly wounded from the scuffle.

Wong and Denise Lizo were discharged from the hospital after two days, while Ricky had to stay for another day. Despite being allowed to go home, Ricky said he is due to return to the hospital early next month for surgery on his broken nose. He has also been told to rest for a few days before going back to work.

Solmiano, who had posted an apology on his Facebook page for his involvement in the brawl, has since deactivated his account. He has declined all requests for an interview.

Three Pinoys in Central brawl face police investigation

By Daisy CL Mandap

Ricky Lizo 

Three Filipinos who figured in a much-publicized brawl in Central on the night of  Jun 17 (Sunday) are due to report back to police tonight to face questioning on charges of fighting in public.

The three – brothers Enrique “Ricky” and Denise Lizo, both family drivers; and Sebastian Chancell Wong (aka Sebastian Yip), a muay thai instructor and Hong Kong resident– were allowed to post police bail while they recuperated at Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam where they were taken after the melee.

A fourth person said to have been involved in the brawl, professional boxer Jay Primo Solmiano, reportedly turned himself in at Central Police station on Wednesday, Jun 20, after being earlier reported as having gone into hiding.

Wong posted a picture on Facebook of Solmiano and himself outside the police station, saying it was meant to dispute reports that his friend Jay was in hiding.

Sebastian Wong

An officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr. has told The SUN the Lizo brothers and Wong are being investigated in connection with the incident.

Pictures of all three, with their faces all bloodied and their eyes puffy from the apparent beating, circulated on social media shortly after video footages taken during the actual fighting were posted online.

(Watch one of the videos here: https://www.facebook.com/irene.cobarte/videos/1735163663198692/

According to Ricky Lizo, who said he and his brother have both been working as family drivers in Hong Kong for about 11 years, the trouble started when they saw Wong slap a Filipina companion along D’Aguilar street. The brothers reportedly told Wong to stop, but instead of complying, the younger Filipino allegedly shoved Denise aside.

Fearing for his brother since he knew the alleged assailant as a professional fighter, Ricky said he hit Wong in the head with a beer bottle, which he had taken along from a pub they had just left.

“Pinalo ko ng bote,” Ricky admitted.

His heftier brother reportedly helped stop Wong by elbowing him on the mouth, but the fighter retaliated by hitting Dennis with a belt buckle.

Solmiano, who was seen in the videos initially trying to stop the fight, ended up hitting Ricky to defend his friend Wong, leaving the driver black and blue, his lips busted, and with his nose bloodied and apparently broken.

Jay Solmiano inside Central Police station

But in a separate interview with a Philippine TV news station, Wong denied that he had hit his woman companion. He said the woman was drunk and was out of control so he tried to pacify her by holding her by the hand.

Wong said Ricky must have misinterpreted his actions, but instead of asking what was going on, the driver who was apparently drunk, hit him on the head with a beer bottle. Solmiano went to his friend's rescue when the driver allegedly hit him again with the broken bottle.

Wong showed pictures of his stitched broken lip and head wounds to prove that he was himself badly wounded from the scuffle.

Wong and Denise Lizo were discharged from the hospital after two days, while Ricky had to stay for another day. Despite being allowed to go home, Ricky said he is due to return to the hospital early next month for surgery on his broken nose. He has also been told to rest for a few days before going back to work.

Solmiano, who had posted an apology on his Facebook page for his involvement in the brawl, has since deactivated his account. He has apparently declined all requests for an interview.

Police have yet to respond to a query on the result of their investigation into the incident.

Protect our children, stop child abuse

By PathFinders

All children should be protected from harm and be entitled to healthy development regardless of race, birth place and wealth. Unfortunately, the reality is that child abuse happens in all communities, including in Hong Kong.

As many current or former foreign domestic workers are responsible for undertaking childcare duties for their employers and/or have to care for their own children, it is very important for them to have a clear knowledge of the legal boundaries and social expectations related to child protection in Hong Kong. 

In this article, we aim to raise awareness on child protection by sharing child abuse cases and providing advice for FDWs on ways to protect their children and the children they care for.

Child abuse falls typically into four categories: physical, sexual, psychological and neglect.

According to statistics from the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department, 947 cases of child abuse were reported in 2017 in Hong Kong.

Within the community of migrant mothers and children, PathFinders last year handled 23 cases in which the children involved were at risk. Since its establishment in 2008, Pathfinders has helped 2,497 toddlers and children (aged 0-2), of whom 170 were at significant risk of abuse, violence, neglect or trafficking.

In Hong Kong, specific ordinances and legislations have been established and enforced to combat child abuse.

The first case we would like to share involved a current FDW. Last December, the worker filmed three children under her care (aged five to seven) naked in a shower. Unaware that the filming and publishing were illegal, she then live-streamed the 17-minute video on Facebook. The FDW was subsequently arrested for “publication of child pornography”.

Although the regretful FDW pleaded guilty to “obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent” and her employer accepted her apology in a mitigation letter, the maid was still sentenced to three months’ imprisonment due to the seriousness of the offence.

The maximum penalties for violating these two ordinances are a $2 million fine and imprisonment of 5 years for the first offence, and 8 years for the second.

Apart from the FDWs, migrant mothers in Hong Kong are also at risk of committing child abuse and of unintentionally putting their children in danger.

The second case, which PathFinders handled, was that of a 3-year-old boy who lived in a government-funded shelter with his migrant mother and 6-year-old brother. The abuse occurred when the mother took her sons to visit their father. Angry over a minor misbehavior, the father poured hot water on his younger son, seriously scalding the little boy’s lower torso and thighs.

As a victim of the father’s abuse herself, the mother was terrified. To protect herself and her children from further abuse, she decided not to report the father’s crime to the police.

The migrant women involved in both cases did not intend to cause any harm to the children they cared for. However, their lack of knowledge about child protection, parenting skills and, in the second case, the mother’s lack of confidence and emotional strength, led them to unintentionally violate the law or being unable to act in the best interest of the children under their care.

Given the vast differences in the cultural, legal and social environments between their home countries and Hong Kong, it is very important for migrant mothers and FDWs to have a clear understanding of the laws concerning child abuse in Hong Kong and to develop their overall knowledge of how to protect children’s rights and safety.

PathFinders provides counseling, education workshops and shelter to enrich the FDWs’ and migrant mothers’ childcare and parenting skills, equipping them with the knowledge and resilience to fight child abuse and empowering them to do the right thing in protecting the children under their care from harm.

Child protection is not only the responsibility of parents. It requires awareness and support from all caregivers and the entire community. To report child abuse, please call the Hong Kong Police at 999.

For enquiries and assistance, you may contact Hong Kong Social Welfare Department at 2343 2255 or PathFinders’ client hotline at 5190 4886. For information on PathFinders’ workshops, please visit our website at www.PathFinders.org.hk or call our client hotline.