Ano ang hatid ng Agosto?

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Nalilito ka dahil gusto mong kumilos at ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa, pero takot ka ring mabigo. Kung hindi gaanong mataas ang inaasam, maiiwasan ang mahirap na sitwasyon pero posibleng makawala ang maraming oportunidad, kailangang magdesisyon ka! Huwag magpautang sa kaibigan ng hindi masyadong pinag-isipan, baka hindi na makita uli ang pera o ang kaibigan, o pareho. Walang gaanong hadlang sa plano mo, pero kailangan ding mag-ingat. Lucky numbers: 9, 11, 23 at 46.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Ubod ka ng saya ngayon kaya maganda ang paningin mo sa lahat ng bagay, at palagay mo ay kaya mong lutasin ang lahat ng problema at magiging maayos din ang lahat. Sunod-sunod ang swerteng darating na may katumbas pang  perang papasok, kaya maging ikaw ay hindi makapaniwala. Mas titibay pa ang relasyon kaya gugustuhin mo nang maging pangmatagalan na ito. Lucky numbers: 19, 30, 33 at 42.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Posibleng mabigo ang plano mo; ang magagawa na lang ay bawasan ang perwisyo nito at tanggapin ng maayos ang resulta nito. Makakabuo ka naman ng bagong ideya upang maabot pa ang ambisyon mo; hindi ka matatakot sumubok ulit at malaki ang tsansang matupad ito. Magtatrabaho ka ng husto at magtatagumpay sa tulong ng mga kasamahan. Marami ang magugulat sa iyong pag-asenso; manatiling mapagkumbaba. Lucky numbers: 17, 29, 36 at 40. 

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Magkakaroon ng mabilis na pagbabago sa sitwasyon ngayon. Doblehin ang pag-iingat. Kung hindi maiwasang magbyahe, asahan na ang iba’t ibang aberya. Ang problema mo sa kasamahan ay makakaapekto sa relasyon mo sa malalapit sa iyo. Mag-ingat na mapasama sa napakaraming nabibiktima ng panloloko, iwasang pumasok sa isang magulong relasyon. Lucky numbers: 5, 12, 28 at 37.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Karisma, talino at alindog ang mga katangiang angkin mo kaya marami ang maiinggit sa iyo. Pero mag-ingat sa labis na kompiyansa sa sarili na maaaring maging dahilan ng mga pagkakamali. Ang masayang disposisyon ay sumasalamin sa magandang samahan sa pamilya. Huwag maging kampante sa magandang resulta ng iyong mga proyekto, mas mainam ang laging nag-iingat. Lucky numbers: 11, 29, 39 at 47. 

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Madali kang mairita, na malayo sa dating ugali mo na mahinahon at mabait; mahirap sabihin kung ano ang pinagmumulan ng init ng ulo, pero hindi mo maiwasan ang mainis dahil sa mga nangyayari sa linggong ito. Hangga’t maaari ay ayaw mo nang may kasama sa trabaho, pero wala kang magagawa kaya pagtiisan muna ang sitwasyon dahil magbubunga din ng maganda ang iyong pasensya. Pagod ang mga mata mo kaya apektado ang paningin. Lucky numbers: 11, 18, 35 at 40.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Kung gagawa ng intelihenteng pagkilos, ito ang tamang oras. Kaya mong mag-isip ng mga bagay ng sabay-sabay nang hindi ka nalilito. Kung gugustuhin mo ay kaya mong gawin na mapaganda ang katawan, pero kailangang paghirapan ito. Huwag mag-ambisyong magagawa mo ang lahat; alamin ang limitasyon mo kung nais mong mapanatili ang magandang kalusugan ng katawan at isip. Lucky numbers: 10, 21, 25 at 38.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
May oras na tinatamad kang kumilos, pero may oras ding gagawa ka ng kakaibang hakbang. Mapapagod ka sa mga kaganapan sa paligid mo at maging ang mga kasamahan mo ay malilito. Makakalimutan mo saglit ang magtipid at mapapagastos ka, pero hindi naman maapektuhan ang kalagayang pinansyal. Pero mag-ingat ng husto at iwasang pumasok sa delikadong transaksyon, o kumagat sa magagandang alok. Lucky numbers: 9, 22, 37 at 45.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Para kang nangangapa sa ngayon, pero mahahanap mo rin ang dating agresibong sarili upang makapagsimula kang muli, at nanaisin mo pang makipag-kumpitensya sa iba. May tsansa rin na magkaroon ng mga bagong kaibigan; magagamit mo rin ang personal na relasyon ng mga kaibigan upang makatulong sa iyong trabaho o negosyo. Ingatan ang mga tenga, protektahan ang mga ito sa labis na ingay. Lucky numbers: 12, 16, 31 at 43.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Nahahati ang puso mo sa pagitan ng pagkakaroon ng mas matatag na kalagayan, o ang mag-enjoy sa mga bagong karanasan sa piling ng mahal mo. Maiinis ang malalapit sa iyo dahil sa paiba-iba mong desisyon. Mag-ingat at baka dumaan sa matinding depresyon! Kumilos agad na maagapan ito upang hindi umabot sa nervous breakdown; iwasang magmukmok. Kontrolin ang pagiging agresibo at pabigla-biglang kilos, mahirap sa umpisa, pero kakayanin mo ito. Lucky numbers: 15, 24, 34 at 46.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Samantalahin ang pagkakataong ito na magkaroon ng positibong pananaw at kagustuhang mapabuti ang kalagayan sa paligid, kahit parang napakahirap nito. Sabay-sabay na magdadatingan ang mga bayarin. Makakahanap ka ng paraan na madagdagan ang kita, pero iwasang pumasok sa delikadong transaksyon, maghintay-hintay ka lang muna bago subukan ang swerte, pero huwag muna ngayon. Lucky numbers: 8, 13, 18 at 46. 

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Mas malaki ang tsansa mong manalo ngayon sa sugal kaysa dati, ito ay magpapasaya sa iyo kahit kaunti upang labanan ang nararamdamang labis na kalungkutan. Mag-isip ng magagandang bagay na gusto mong gawin. Mas magiging mapagbigay at maunawain ka, ituloy mo lang ito dahil ito ang daan sa kaligayahan. Piliting magkaroon ng kapayapaan ng loob at sa iyong paligid, ito ang magpapabago sa iyong kabuuang personalidad. Lucky numbers: 7, 19, 28 at 44.

HK lists the professionals it will welcome

The Government has published the first Talent List of Hong Kong to attract quality people from around the world.

The list highlights specific professions needed most for Hong Kong's economic development.

Chief Secretary and Chairman of the Human Resources Planning Commission Matthew Cheung said: "Hong Kong welcomes talents from all over the world with valuable skills, knowledge and experience to work here, bringing their talent into full play and further developing their careers.

“The promulgation of the Talent List is one of our major initiatives to enhance our competitive advantages in attracting international talents, creating cluster effects, stimulating the development of local talents and propelling Hong Kong forward."

Education is the bridge to one's dreams. 

The list will be updated regularly to keep up with the city’s latest developments and needs.

It specifies 11 professions — waste treatment specialists, asset management professionals, marine insurance experts, fintech professionals, actuaries, data scientists and cyber security specialists, innovation and technology experts, naval architects, marine engineers and superintendents of ships, creative industry professionals, and dispute resolution experts and transactional lawyers.

Immigration facilitation will be provided to eligible people through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme within its existing annual quota of 1,000.


Successful applicants are not required to have secured an offer of local employment for settlement in Hong Kong.

Those who meet the specifications of their profession on the list will be given bonus marks under the scheme’s General Points Test.

Applications are now open.

Constructive termination

By Cynthia Tellez

“Constructive termination” sounds new to many of those who visit the Mission’s walk-in centre. Some migrants get confused because of certain “feedback” they receive from the Labour Relations Division (LRS) or even from the Labour Tribunal (LT) or Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board (MECAB). Some officers there say that constructive termination does not automatically result to claims of one month’s wage in lieu of notice. In some cases the workers are even advised to withdraw said claim. Pursuing it at the LT or MECAB usually results to the dismissal of the claim.

Before we proceed to the main issue, let me first clarify some matters related to the mentioned government agencies.

The Labour Relations Division or the LRD is the first stop for workers trying to settle a dispute with their employers on money claims, or violations of some provisions of the Labour Ordinance as stated in the employment contract. This first step is to settle matters through conciliation. Meaning, an LRD officer acts as facilitator between the employer and the domestic worker. If the monetary claims are not contested by the respondent (either employer or domestic worker), the matter is settled at that level. In the presence of the labour officer, the employer will hand the payment to the domestic worker and they will both sign a document from the LRD as proof that the claims had all been settled. If it is not settled, or is only partially-settled, then the LRD will refer the claims to either LT or MECAB.  This is the only role of the LRD. The officer can give his/her opinion but cannot force the claimant to follow his/her advice.

The LT or MECAB are like courts but they do not handle criminal cases. They handle only employer and worker disputes related to claims. But the atmosphere is like that in a courtroom. The presiding officer can decide on the claims being heard, unlike the LRD which cannot decide but can only give an opinion. Evidence could be presented in order to win the claim/case against the employer. As mentioned earlier, LT and MECAB can decide but they have NO power to enforce their decision. It can be contested in the LT itself or referred to the High Court for enforcement with a lawyer representing the claimant. But this is another matter.

In the LT or MECAB, to expedite the settlement of claims, both the claimant and respondent are encouraged to settle their dispute outside the Tribunal and come back for a formal resolution if they could come to an agreement. If not, then the Tribunal or MECAB will proceed with the hearing to decide on the items being claimed.

The claimant can still appeal against the decision on one or several of the claims dismissed by LT if the claimant insists that s/he does not want to drop any particular claim/s.

Now for the issue at hand: constructive termination.

Let us be clear first on what is constructive termination of the employment contract.

According to the contract (based on the Employment Ordinance Cap 57)
An employee may terminate his/her contract without notice or payment in lieu if:
* he/she reasonably fears physical danger by violence or disease, such danger not being contemplated under his/her contract
*he/she has been employed under his/her contract for not less than five years and is certified as being permanently unfit for the type of work he/she is engaged to do; or
* he/she is subjected to ill treatment by his/her employer.
“An employee may also terminate his/her contract without notice or payment in lieu on any other ground on which the employee would be entitled to terminate his/her contract without notice at common law, or if any wages are not paid to him/her within one month of the date upon which they become due. An employee exercising his/her right to terminate in such circumstances is deemed to have been dismissed by his/her employer and so is entitled to recover a payment in lieu of notice.” 
—http://www.elexica.com/en/legal-topics/employment-and-benefits/07-termination-in-hong-kong

It is in this light that even if the labour officers in whatever branch of the LD gave you an unsolicited advice, it will still be you who will decide whether you want to accept the said advice.

In the case of the LT or MECAB, they will have to decide anyway on the basis of their appreciation of the merits of the claims based on the statement of both the claimant and respondent - and the evidence presented - should the parties fail to settle amicably. Thus, the best option is just to let the LT Presiding Officer or MECAB Officer decide.

As far as the above explanation is concerned and as far as the experiences of claimants assisted by the Mission in its consultation with some solicitors (lawyer), the constructive termination taken by a domestic worker is a last resort to protect themselves for further harm. A good ground that the worker may be cite is the employer’s non- payment of wages within the designated period. This act of the employer which is a serious breach or violation of the employment contract is deemed to amount to the dismissal of the worker, who must then be entitled to recover a payment in lieu of notice.

For justice’s sake, it would be better to pursue what is justly yours. If your claim for a month’s salary in lieu of notice on the basis of constructive dismissal is dismissed by the LT or the MECAB, you still have an avenue left to appeal against the decision. There is nothing to lose, but there is everything to gain. The decision of any Court can still be contested and this is the essence of fairness and justice. Let us not waste this.

The outcome, whether favourable or unfavourable, would still be helpful in guiding other migrant workers on what actions to take, and to us also in the Mission, in our effort to help others pursue their claims.

If you need more clarity on this matter or on any matter concerning your employment, you can visit us in our office at St John’s Cathedral, or call us at 2522 8264 or 2537 1333.
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This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Illegal na singil ng ahensiya, isang ugat ng ‘debt trap’

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Muling umagaw ng pansin ang usaping utang nang mahuli ng mga pulis ang isang matandang taga-Hong Kong at ang kanyang katulong na Pilipina sa isang operasyon noong nakalipas na buwan laban sa mga nagpapautang na labis-labis ang patubo.

Mahigit 400 pasaporte ng Pilipinas ang nasamsam sa bahay ng nagpapautang sa North Point, at ilan sa mga iyon diumano ay matagal nang paso. Ibig lang sabihin na malaon na ring nasa ganoong negosyo ang nahuling “loan shark”.

Ang mga nasamsam na pasaporte sa operasyong iyon sa North Point at ang daan-daan pang mga pasaporteng nabawi ng mga pulis sa iba pang mga katulad na operasyon sa Mongkok at Tsuen Wan nitong nakaraang isang taon ay nagpapakita lamang ng kung gaano kalalim ang pagkakahilig ng mga kababayan natin sa pangungutang.

Maging si Consul General Antonio Morales ay nababahala sa pagkakabaon sa utang ng mga manggagawa nating narito sa Hong Kong.

“Ang isa nating laging paalala ay yung sa pautang-utang din dahil hindi naman maiiwasan, talagang nangungutang ang ating mga kababayan. Nagigipit. Yung iba siguro sa illegal lender pa umuutang dahil siguro may utang na siya sa regular o kaya mas mas konti ang requirement. Pero kailangang laging paalalahanan sila. Sobrang laki ang interest doon,” ani Congen Morales.

Maraming dahilan kung bakit nababaon sa utang ang mga kapwa nating manggagawa. Isa rito ang pangangailangan ng pera ng mga mahal nila sa buhay sa Pilipinas.

Ang akala kasi ng mga naiwan doon, basta sa ibang bansa nagtatrabaho ang isang kapamilya ay malakas ang kanyang kita. Sa isip nila ay winawalis lang ang pera rito sa ibang lugar. Kaya maya’t maya’y humihingi sila ng pera o magpapabili ng kung anu-ano.

Ang isa pang dahilan ng pagkakabaon sa utang ay ang pagsusugal. Kahit bawal ito sa Hong Kong, maliban sa pinahihintulutang uri ng sugal tulad ng karera ng kabayo at Mark Six na isinasagawa ng Hong Kong Jockey Club, nagagawa pa rin ng mga kababayan natin ang magsugal kapag araw ng pahinga nila.

Sa mga tambayan ng mga OFW sa Central at iba pang mga lugar ay makikita mo ang mga pangkat ng manggagawang naglalaro ng pusoy at kung anu-ano pang larong baraha.

Kahit sa mga tulay malapit sa konsulado ay may ilang mga grupong nagbabaraha, at may panahon pa noon na lantaran ang pagtataya nila ng tig-$500 sa bawat laro. Kapag kumikilos ang mga pulis laban sa mga kababayan nating sugarol ay nawawala ang mga ito, o patago silang tumataya.

Ayon sa ilang nakakaalam, sa cellphone naman daw inililista ang mga panalo at talo at mga taya. Hindi na sa kapirasong papel o notebook na itinatago ng mga nagsusugal sa ilalim ng inuupuan nilang nakalatag na karton.

Mayroon ding nababaon sa utang dahil natutuksong bumili nang bumili ng mga damit at iba pang mga gamit o bagay kapag nakikitang “sale” ang mga ito sa mga tindahan. Dahil hindi makapagtimpi ay nauubusan ng pera ang isang OFW at napipilitang mangutang.

Isang dahilan marahil ng pagkakalugmok sa utang ay ang pagdadala ng employment agency sa OFW sa lending company sa unang araw pa lang niya rito. Doon ay ikukuha siya ng loan, papipirmahin sa kasunduan, ngunit sa ahensiya mapupunta ang pera.

Sapilitan ang ganitong pangungutang na ipinaaako ng mga ahensiya sa mga bagong-salta at nagiging dahilan tuloy ng pagkakalubog nila sa utang. Ang iba, sa kamalasan, ay nasisisante pagkaraan ng ilang araw o linggo pa lamang sa amo ngunit sinisingil pa rin ng lending company.

Ilan nang kasambahay na may ganitong karanasan ang dumulog sa amin dahil nagkaproblema sa utang sanhi ng pananamantala ng mga ahensiya. Natitiyak naming daan-daang OFW rito sa Hong Kong ang dumanas din ng ganito.

Ito ay isang bagay na dapat halungkatin ng mga kinauukulan sa Pilipinas at dito sa Hong Kong na maaaring dahilan ng pagkakabaon sa utang isang OFW bago pa lang siya makapagsimula sa trabaho.

Sinabi ni ConGen Morales na kakasuhan ng Konsulado ang mga ahensiyang may ganitong illegal na gawain, kailangan lang na may mga biktimang handang tumestigo laban sa mga nagsamantalang ahensiya.     

Anuman ang dahilan ng pagkakabaon sa utang, dapat maging matapang ang nasa ganyang kalagayan na tukuyin ang ugat nito at makipagtulungan sa mga awtoridad upang mapuksa ang ugat, at makalaya siya sa tinatatawag na “debt trap”. 

No OFW casualty from Mangkhut’s rampage

A felled tree on Queensway, where many OFWs gather on Sundays

By Daisy CL Mandap

Philippine labour officials say no Filipino migrant worker suffered serious injuries from the havoc created by severe typhoon Mangkhut which lashed Hong Kong for nearly the whole day yesterday.

Labor Attache Nida Romulo said no one had called the Philippine Overseas Labour Office to ask for help, or complain about typhoon-related injuries.

Neither was there any request for assistance for family members who might have been affected by the typhoon which swept across the Philippines earlier.

“We do have a ward at the FWRC (for Filipino Workers Resource Centre, POLO’s shelter) who hails from one of the worst-hit areas in the northern Philippines, and we took it upon ourselves to ask help from our government on her behalf,” said Romulo.

A big factor that may have helped in preventing injuries, including those of migrant workers, was the hoisting of typhoon signal no 10, the strongest possible, early in the day. This, plus the repeated warning that Mangkhut was the most intense storm to ever hit Hong Kong, appeared to have spooked everyone into staying indoors.

A day-after check of the favorite haunts of migrant workers, like the parks in Central and Admiralty and the IFC walkway showed that they were, indeed, well advised not to venture outdoors, as these were among that sustained heavy damage from the storm. 

Lockhart Playground beside POLO

Uprooted trees were everywhere, hours after Mangkhut roared away from the city, including a big one that straddled a main artery of Queensway, where the Consulate offices are located. 

Throughout Sunday, officers from POLO and its attached agency, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, reportedly kept tabs on what was happening in the community through Facebook and messages sent to them by various people.

They also kept touch with Consulate officials led by Consul General Antonio Morales who reportedly monitored the situation throughout the day.

Welfare officer Virsie B. Tamayao said they did receive a report about Filipina domestic worker Aleya Acero being slightly injured after the rooftop kitchen in her employer’s house in Taipo collapsed, but the victim herself did not seek their help.

In a Facebook post that was shared extensively by Filipinos, Acero posted pictures of the heavily damaged kitchen, and narrated how the collapsed tin roof that ended up covering her head prevented her sustaining more severe injuries.

Aleya Acero had a narrow escape when her employer's kitchen collapsed

Acero said that when another gust of strong wind blew away the tin roof away, she scampered to run to the lower level where her employer’s family had gathered, and were calling out to her, fearing for her safety.

At least one other OFW, Meryl Baron, shared photos of the shattered windows in her room, which she said resulted in all her things getting wet and damaged. She was, however, apparently unhurt.

 

Shattered window in Meryl Baron's room

A report that proved to be totally false was that of a Filipina domestic worker who was purportedly rescued from being blown away by strong winds, after insisting on going out for her day off.

A closer look at the video that was used as basis for the story showed that the supposed Filipina was a teenage boy who had apparently strayed outdoors for unknown reasons. He was eventually brought to safety by an older male companion.  

Tamayao said that all the reports they received about OFWs who may have been affected were all forwarded to the Department of Labor and Employment and to OWWA, which had asked them to monitor the situation in Hong Kong.

Despite the all-clear, POLO officials say OFWs who may have been adversely affected by the typhoon may approach them for help, including those who might have been told by their employers to go out for their day off, despite the extreme weather conditions.

Filipina typhoon victim to undergo second operation

By Daisy CL Mandap

The Filipina tourist who was hit by a falling signage suffered injuries to her legs and arms

A Filipina tourist who was hit by falling debris in Tsimshatsui yesterday amid the onslaught of severe typhoon Mangkhut, is set to undergo a second operation in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon.

This was according to Consul Paulo Saret, head of the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate, which has been assisting the victim.

Saret said that the Filipina was hit by a falling signage, and sustained serious injuries to her legs and arms. She underwent surgery within hours of being admitted to hospital, but will have to go under the knife for a second time.

She is, however, expected to recover fully from her injuries.

According to ATN’s Danny Baldon, the victim, who is a dentist, had gone out of her hotel room to buy coffee from a nearby 7-11 outlet when she met the accident.

Consul Saret

A sister-in-law who came to Hong Kong with the victim has reportedly provided information about the case to the Consulate.

Earlier reports that spread through wildfire on social media was that the Filipina had died after being hit by a dislodged air conditioner in Mirador Mansions in Tsimshatsui. The story, which rapidly circulated among Filipinos and was even picked up by a Manila TV station, proved to be wrong on all counts.

Saret, meanwhile, is also looking into the filing of a complaint with Hong Kong authorities about a tour operator who had left a group of Filipino tourists stranded for hours near the Tsing Ma bridge at the height of the storm yesterday.

The 36 tourists, who included two children and three seniors, were reportedly picked up by the tour agent at their hotel in Tsing Yi at about 10am, shortly after signal no 10 was hoisted, and were on their way to the airport when the vehicle’s windshield crashed from the strong winds.

The tourists were reportedly left inside the bus with the shattered glass for hours, until someone managed to call the Consulate to ask for help. Baldon immediately called 999, and by around 5pm, the tourists were pulled out of the bus and sent back to their hotel.

Saret said that since the rescue, no one in the tour group had called up the Consulate again, so they assume everyone managed to get on their flights back to the Philippines without a hitch.

Still, he said they will pursue a complaint about the incident to relevant government officials in Hong Kong.

“We have already drafted a complaint letter and intend to send it to the Hong Kong authorities soon,” he said.

Saret said another casualty of Mangkhut’s onslaught was the scheduled legal consultation and forum at the Consulate by members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Batangas chapter.

The visiting lawyers had to skip the Sunday session with OFWs, but reportedly passed by the Consulate on their way to the airport earlier today, to pay a courtesy visit to Consul General Antonio A. Morales.

PCG holds outreach on cruise ship

The Consulate has conducted an outreach on board the cruise ship Star Pisces to provide consular services to its 300 Filipino personnel.

Consul General Antonio A. Morales led the 10-member consular team that conducted the outreach on Sept 7 on board the Star Pisces, which is based at Ocean Terminal in Tsimshatsui.

Morales said the team had performed overseas voting registration and other consular services for the Filipinos who work on the vessel.

He said that the Consulate would be ready to carry out similar outreaches for Filipino seafarers of foreign vessels calling at Hong Kong’s port if he receives a request from the crew or from the ship owners or operators.

Philippine Consulate General representatives, led by Consul General Antonio A. Morales, provided consular services to Filipino crewmembers of Star Pisces, a cruise ship, while docked at the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. 

“We are ready to extend consular services to Filipino crew of ships that dock in Hong Kong except that we have not received requests and we were told that there are not too many of them because now may of the ships are highly automated so the number of crews is not that high,” ConGen Morales said.

“But if we receive a request, we are ready to send an outreach team,” he said.

Star Pisces is operated by Star Cruises, which dominates the Asia-Pacific cruise market and is owned by Genting Hong Kong. The consul general said the Consulate was requested by Resorts World, Genting’s tourism unit, to undertake the outreach.

Star Pisces Captain Henrik Ortenblad welcomed the 10-member consular team aboard.

Morales then addressed the vessels’ Filipino personnel. Vice Consul Fatima G. Quintin introduced the different consular services.

The team offered services such as overseas voting registration, Social Security System and Pag-IBIG transactions, legal advice, and counseling and advice from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The outreach lasted from 10am to 3pm.

Pagnenegosyo, tinalakay sa seminar

Ni George Manalansan

Marami sa mga migranteng manggagawa ang nangangarap na makawala sa pangangamuhan at maging ganap na negosyante. Sa isip ng marami, mahirap pagkasyahin ang kakarampot na suweldo, at mas maganda din na magkaroon ng tsansa na maging isang “boss” at mamuhay ng marangya.

Nguni’t hindi sapat ang pangarap para makamit ang ganitong mithiin. Kailangan, unang una, ng pagsasanay at paghahanda para mas masiguro na ang perang pinaghirapan ay hindi mauwi sa wala.

Dinaluhan ng may 75 migranteng mangagawa ang pagbibigay kaalaman at pagsasanay ng Card Hong Kong Foundation, na libre para sa OFWs. 

Ito ang tema ng panibagong entrepreneurship seminar na isinagawa ng Card Hong Kong Foundation noong ika-2 ng Setyembre sa Bayanihan Centre sa Kennedy Town, na dinaluhan ng may 75 migranteng manggagawa na karamihan ay mga babae.

Unang una sa tinalakay ng mga trainor ang mga bagay na dapat isaisip ng isang entrepreneur o negosyante, katulad ng tiwala sa sarili, pagpupursige, pagiging responsable, kakayahang makipagsapalaran, pagtukoy at paghahanap ng oportunidad, epektibong pagpaplano, pagkalap ng impormasyong makakatulong sa negosyo, pagtiyak sa kalidad ng produkto o serbisyo, at paghikayat at pag-aaruga sa koneksyon.

Ipinaliwanag din sa mga dumalo ang mga dahilan kung bakit bumabagsak ang isang negosyo, katulad ng kawalan ng disiplina at paggamit ng kapital sa personal na bagay. Ibinahagi din sa kanila ang kahalagahan ng paggawa ng business plan, at ang mga dapat gawin para manatiling tapat ang mga kostumer.

Sa pangunguna ni Vicky Munar, lead trainor ng Card, tinuruan ang mga kasapi kung paano gumawa ng business plan, bago nagkaroon ng talakayan at pagsusulit para mas lalong dumikit sa kanilang memorya ang mga habilin at leksyon.

Kabilang sa mga lumahok si Marcelino Bate, na ang asawa ay gumagawa ng tinapay at ibinebenta sa kanilang mga kapitbahay. Gusto daw nilang pag-aralang mag-asawa kung paano palakasin at palakihin ang negosyo nang sa gayon ay makauwi na siya at makapiling muli ang pamilya.

Si Rachel Letrakemia naman ay may dalawang tindahan ng sari-sari, na kasalukuyang pinamamahalaan ng kanyang kapatid. Gusto daw niyang magkaroon ng dagdag-kaalaman kung paano niya mapapalaki pa ang kanyang negosyo.

Sa pagtatapos ng pagsasanay ay masayang nagpasalamat ang mga kalahok, bitbit ang pag-asa na balang araw ay maging boss din sila ng kanilang sariling negosyo. Para sa mga susunod na programa paki- like: Card Hong Kong Foundation/ Facebook.

Consulate rescues 36 Pinoys stranded in tourist bus amid typhoon

By Daisy CL Mandap 

The Filipino tourists were picked up from Winward 800 Hotel in Tsing Yi

The Philippine Consulate is set to lodge a complaint with Hong Kong’s Travel Industry Council after a group of Filipino tourists were put on a bus bound for the airport at the height of severe typhoon Mangkhut, then left stranded for hours after the vehicle’s windshield was shattered by strong winds.

Danny Baldon of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section said the 36 Filipinos, who included two children and three senior citizens, were fetched from the Winland Hotel 888 in Tsing Yi at 10am, when severe typhoon Mangkhut had just roared into Hong Kong.

As they approached Tsing Ma bridge, strong winds reportedly shattered the bus’ windshield, forcing it to stop.

But instead of finding ways to get the passengers back to safety, the tour escort allegedly kept them on the bus for hours, until some of them found a way to contact the Consulate late in the afternoon.

“Kami pa ang tumawag sa 999 para ma-rescue sila,” said Baldon.

He said the bus driver offered no credible explanation as to why he did not seek help immediately, and why he insisted on taking them to the airport despite the hoisting of the strongest typhoon signal in the territory.

“Pilit niyang sinasabi na signal no 8 lang nung umalis sila, pero sabi ko, kahit signal 8 lang iyon dapat hindi pa rin sila tumuloy dahil kung ganoon kalakas ang bagyo ay lahat ng public transportation e itinitigil na,” said Baldon.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, typhoon signal no 10, the highest possible was raised at 9:40am. It was lowered to T8 at 7:40pm, or 10 hours later, making it one of the most intense storms to have hit the city.

Transportation was paralyzed across Hong Kong

Nearly 900 flights were cancelled, stranding 100,000 passengers

This house in Yuen Long had its kitchen wrecked by Mangkhut's strong winds

Even the IFC in Central was not spared Mangkhut's wrath

One of the worst areas affected was Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan, where extensive flooding occurred

All the tourists were reportedly driven back to the hotel where they were to spend the night.

Baldon said they were supposed to take different flights back to the Philippines, but it was certain most would not have been able to leave since most planes were grounded as Magkhut lingered in the city for most of the day.

According to local media reports, nearly 900 flights out of Hong Kong International Airport were cancelled during the day, with about 100,000  travelers affected. Several hundred other flights were delayed.

About 100 people are reported to have sought treatment in hospitals due to typhoon-related complaints, but there had been no fatalities. One of the most seriously injured was a Filipina tourist who was hit by flying debris in Tsimshatsui, and had to undergo surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Jordan for wounds to her feet and hands.

According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, several Filipina migrant workers had called up their hotline to relay concerns and report slight injuries, but no one required medical treatment.

Filipina tourist injured by flying debris amid Mangkhut's onslaught

By Daisy CL Mandap

A Filipina dentist visiting Hong Kong has undergone emergency surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Jordan after being hit and injured by flying debris as super typhoon Mangkhut made its presence felt in Hong Kong early today, Sept 16.

The victim's photo as shared by several netizens

A picture of the injured woman was shared by many netizens on Facebook early today, but nobody could tell for sure what had happened to her. Many said she was hit by a falling airconditioner somewhere in Mirador Mansion and had died as a result, but it turned out to be false information.

The picture showed the woman apparently unconscious and all bloodied, and with one leg wounded and sticking out awkwardly.

“Inoperahan siya agad dahil nasugatan ang mga paa at braso, pero ok na siya,” said Danny Baldon of the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate.

Baldon said the woman had gone out to buy coffee in a nearby 7-11 outlet at the height of the storm and was hit by flying debris, but it was definitely not an airconditioner as that would have inflicted far more severe damage.

The woman’s companion reportedly furnished information about the victim.

Baldon said the tourist would likely stay in the hospital for a few days but need not worry about expenses. “I’m sure it would be treated as an exceptional case because she was injured in an accident,” he said.