HK OFWs call for sacking of lawmaker in airport rampage

The poster calling for Bertiz's ouster

By Daisy CL Mandap

Bertiz Alis!

This was the call sent out by United Filipinos (Unifil-Migrante) Hong Kong in the wake of a series of controversies involving party-list Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III, the latest of which involved him being caught on camera berating staff at the Manila international airport.

While airport officials and his fellow lawmakers are still looking into Bertiz’s latest gaffe, Unifil-Migrante has already begun exploring ways to get him expelled from Congress.

The group’s secretary-general Eman Villanueva said several options are being considered, including calling on OFW organizations to sign a joint petition for Bertiz’s ouster, and filing a formal complaint against him with the ethics committee of the House of Representatives.

In the meantime, the group has posted a BertizAlis poster online, and has asked people to show support by sharing it on Facebook.

Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong have long distanced themselves from Bertiz, even if his ACTS-OFW party-list purports to represent them in Congress.

The alienation grew when Bertiz engaged Villanueva in a shouting match in January last year, after the latter revealed that the lawmaker owns two employment agencies in Manila.

Another poster shows the heated dispute
between Bertiz and Villanueva

A video footage of the altercation has since resurfaced on social media, prompting Bertiz to claim he has already reconciled with Unifil-Migrante. He also spun a different version of the incident.

Villanueva has disputed both claims in his own social media account and on TV.

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Villanueva said his group had not spoken with Bertiz since the incident. He also said Bertiz was lying when he claimed that he had invited Unifil-Migrante leaders to take part in the dialogue because they were staging a rally in the rain at the time.

What really happened, said Villanueva, was Bertiz had gatecrashed a meeting his group had set up with Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod who was visiting Hong Kong at the time.

Bertiz, who had merely tagged along, tried to dominate the conversation, and got mad when Villanueva accused him of not being a true OFW representative since he owned an employment agency.

The rift worsened when Bertiz, in turn, wrongly accused Villanueva of being an undocumented OFW.

Bertiz’ latest trouble arose from a video footage that went viral on Oct. 1, which showed him passing through the x-ray machine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport without taking off his shoes, in violation of security regulations.

 

Bertiz shoving his access card to the airport staff

When he was stopped just outside the machine for this breach, Bertiz shoved his access pass to the face of the airport personnel who accosted him, before snatching the man's staff ID away.

To make matters worse, Bertiz, in an attempt at an apology, said that he was having his annual “monthly period,” which provoked another outcry, especially from women who were angered by his use of their condition to explain his boorish behavior.

It was the second time he had angered netizens in as many weeks.

The previous week, he drew flak for joking that a new batch of engineers would not get their licenses because they did not know Special Assistant to the President Bong Go.

Again, this gaffe was recorded on camera.

2 Pinays held after fight leads to scalding

By Vir B. Lumicao

The fight between the two Pinays happened in this luxury estate in Yaumatei

Two Filipina helpers have been detained by police after engaging in a fight on Monday, Oct.1 that left one scalded and the other also injured, at their employer’s flat in a luxury estate in Yaumatei.

The two were sent to hospital by officers who responded to a 999 call about a fight in unit F on the 43^rd floor of Tower 2 at The Harbour Side at  around 10 am.

Their employer’s family was vacationing in Thailand at the time.

A police spokesman said the officers arrested a 48-year-old maid surnamed Salazar and booked her for wounding. The other maid, surnamed Fajardo, 34, was initially booked for assault causing bodily harm.

The spokesman said initial investigations showed that Fajardo had attacked Salazar with a bottle and the latter hit back by grabbing a pot of hot water and dousing her assailant with it. Both were sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

As of this writing, Salazar and Fajardo were reportedly still in detention while police continued their investigation.

The two are expected to be charged in court after the investigation.

Meanwhile, Filipina neighbors of the two said Salazar and Fajardo had been quarreling for some time but they did not know the reason.

  

Pinoys in another inclusive gathering in Shatin estate

By George Manalansan

World-Wide Gardens in Shatin is a unique neighbourhood  because of its effort to gather all its residents – whatever their nationality, work or stature in life – during periodic parties held to celebrate festive occasions.

During its annual Mid-Festival Fun Night held on Sept. 24, Filipino migrant workers were among those who joined employers and their families, as well as the estate’s staff, in taking part in the program.

Everyone was enjoined to take part in the dancing, playing of musical instruments, and singing, in which, true to form, the Filipinos excelled. All those who took part received gifts.

The security guards themselves served ice cream cups and refreshments to the residents.

Pinays won gifts and coupons in the raffle draws.

Some Pinay migrant workers won small gifts from a fun raffle draw, such as $100 coupons for chocolates, assorted gift certificates for books, and containing bath towels, rugs and other personal items. More than 300 tickets were distributed to participants.

Among the winners were Brenda Resonable who went home with luggage straos and a hair blower; Donna Dumalay and Jelli Catoloco who each got $100 gift certificates for chocolates; and Joan Reyes who won herbal drinks.

The gifts may not have amounted to much, but it was the gesture of friendship and feeling of belongingness that made the Filipinas happy.

The annual event is organized by the Incorporated Owners of World- Wide Gardens and sponsored by the Shatin District Council.

Similar inclusive gatherings are held at the estate during other special occasions like Christmas.

The fun night new Venue this year, cleared the carpark area, the barbecue area where usually held was covered by fallen trees due to Typhoon Mangkhut a week ago.

Sali na!

Licensure Examination for Teachers
The Special Examination for Professional Teachers will be held in Hong Kong on Sept 30, 2018.
The deadline for submitting online applications has passed.
For updates, contact the National Organization of Professional Teachers through Gemma Lauraya, 6169 5181 or the Facebook page of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office

Coins for Bethune
Sept 30 is the deadline for submitting filled cans for the “Coins for Bethune” fundraising project for Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge. All Filcom groups are encouraged to join the fundraising for the shelter. Cans or jars for donations can be collected from the Mission for Migr
ant Workers office at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Hong Kong, or from the Bethune shelter on #2 Jordan Road, Kowloon. Filled cans should be submited as soon as possible to #2 Jordan from Monday to Saturday, and to the Mission office on Sundays. For enquiries, please call 27213119, 25228264 or 93572125.

Caritas Health Courses for Migrant Workers
Sunday: Oct 14, 2:30-5:30pm for body check &
              Oct 28, 2:30-4:00pm for result and explanation

Saturday: Oct 27, 2:30-5:30pm for body check &
                 Nov. 3, 2:30pm-4:0pm  for result and explanation

A minimal fee of $20 will be collected from each participant
Venue: Caritas Fortress Hill Centre,G/F, 28A Fortress Hill Road, Fortress Hill

Contact: Caritas AMP (2147 5988; WhatsApp: 5497 2899)


Filcom group announcements:

Free Zumba Class
Sundays, 10am-11am (or stay longer if you want)
Pier 10, Central
Open to everyone
Offered by: Kayumanggi Zumba Fitness Group HK

Free Yoga Class 
Sundays, 8:30am-9:30am
Pier 10, Central
Open to everyone
Organized by: Andappan Yoga Community

What's on where

PUBLIC HOLIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT: 
The Philippine Consulate General and all its attached agencies including POLO will be closed on the following date:
Oct. 1 – PRC National Day (HK)
Oct 17 – Cheung Yeung Festival (HK)
There will be no official transactions on these dates.
In case of emergency, call:  9155 4023 (Consular assistance), 5529 1880 (POLO),6345 9324 (OWWA)

Coins for Bethune House 
Sept 30 is the deadline for submitting filled cans for the Coins for Bethune project.Cans are still available from the Mission for Migrant Office in Central or the Bethune shelter at Kowloon Union Church in Jordan Road, Kowloon. All Filipino community organizations are enjoined to participate in this yearly charity drive for one of the oldest shelters for distressed migrants. For inquiries, please call 27213119, 25228264 or 93572125

Bicol Tourism Festival
Sept. 30, whole day, Chater Road, Central
The show will highlight the different tourist destinations in Bicol Region
Organized by: Bicol Migrants Association
Guest Speaker: Consul General Antonio A. Morales
Contact: Art Buban, 6129 2907

FBC’s 7th Anniversary Bowling Party
Oct 7, 10am-4pm, South China Athletic Association Bowling Centre, Causeway Bay
Come in your funny costume, and join the games!
Organizer: Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong
Contact: Jenny 9401 7051

Silid Sining Pinay: Unlocking Pinay Creativity
Painting Workshop Sessions for OFWs in HK with Filipino artist Grace P. Camacho
Oct 7, 9am – 12nn, PCG Gallery
Organized by: PCG with Pitter Painter
Requirements: HKID copy and one 2x2" photo
To register, visit the PCG Cultural Section or email cultural.pcg@gmail.com with subject: “SilidSining”

Couples for Christ (CFC) Christian Life Program
Oct 14, 1pm-5pm,
Bayanihan Centre, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong
For details, contact Bro Tony, 56231373; Sis Jing Mangente, 60131917 or Bro Leo Pasamba, 52741890

Second Session: Oct 20 (Saturday) at Wong Tai Sin Fire Station, 28 Fung Tak Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon
Twenty slots are available for each session. Certificates will be given.To register, send your name and mobile phone number by email to gadhongkong@gmail.com with the title: “FIRE”
For other details, check the Philippine Consulate General Facebook page

Nueva Vizcaya Day 2018
Oct 21 (Sunday), from 10 am, Chater Road, Central
Highlights: Search for Saniata ti Nueva Vizcaya 2018 and Sassy Look International 2018
Organizer: United Nueva Vizcayanos – HK

Katutubo Haute Couture 2018
VIP Opening Cocktail/Gala Dinner& Fashion Show
Nov 10, 6:30pm – 11pm, Sheraton Hotel TST, Kowloon
Tickets @$1,800 available through www.likhangpamana.com
Philippine Ethnic-Cultural Performance, Nov. 11, whole day
Chater Road, Central, Open to the public

POLO clarifies training requirements for new or returning migrant workers

Filipino domestic workers with a valid “National Certificate in Household Services” (NCII) need not pay for training again as long as they have worked abroad for at least 24 months.

According to Labor Attache Nida Romulo, qualified holders of the five-year NCII can just exchange it for the new “Domestic Work NCII” to be exempt from the training requirement.

Romulo clarified the rules through a memorandum posted on the Facebook page of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office Hong Kong. This was in response to a number of complaints from workers against employment agencies back home who require them to pay for costly training again, even if their NCII certificates are still valid.

One recent returnee said she was required by her Philippine agency which she named as Concorde, to undergo training in a designated center even after she showed her still valid Household Services NCII.

The worker said the agency told her the certificate was no longer valid and that she must train again so she could return to Hong Kong. She was reportedly charged Php18,000 but ended up watching videos with her group, instead of getting actual training.

Another worker who was sent to the same training center by a different agency said she was charged PhP30,000 for the training.

Workers who commented on the POLO’s post regarding the Domestic Work NCII were all against it. They claimed that it merely allowed agencies to charge them huge fees without providing them the skills they needed for their jobs.

The Domestic Work NCII was put in place in 2015 by the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) which mandates re-training for former overseas Filipino workers who apply to work overseas again.

Except for the change in name, the DW NC II is exactly the same as the HS NCII. Both confers a certificate to those with proven competency in house cleaning, washing and ironing of clothes and the preparation of meals and drinks.

The training and assessment for this qualification are offered by TESDA regional training centers, but accredited private sector operators are also allowed to offer the screening, without regulating the services they offer and fees they charge.

Recruitment agencies in the Philippines reportedly charge OFWs between PhP12,000 and PhP30,000 for the DW NCII. But not a few workers complain about not getting any re-training at all, while some say that they were taught Russian table setting, which was useless for their work in Hong Kong. – Vir B. Lumicao

DH jailed 21 months for burglary, illegal work

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker was jailed 21 months by a District Court judge on Sept 5 after she pleaded guilty to entering a company in Central and stealing $180,000. She also admitted breaching her condition of stay by working part-time for the firm.

Rochel Rosimo, a 35-year-old mother of two, stood calmly in the dock as Judge Frankie Yiu pronounced his sentence.

Since she had been in jail for seven months before Wednesday’s sentencing, Rosimo will have to spend only 14 more months in jail.

Rosimo was accused of trespassing on Feb 3 this year, along with unknown persons, into the office of Sante Barley (Hong Kong) Ltd. on the 10th floor of Lansing Bldg along Queen’s Road Central and making off with $180,000.

She was also charged of breaching her condition of stay by working as a part-time staff of Sante Barley doing sales reports, inventory counting and cashier customer service. 

The convict said she and another Filipino, Ronato Bagui, were the company’s only staff. 

On the morning of  Feb 3, Rosimo called up Bagui and told him the office had been broken into. Bagui rushed to the office and found the $180,000 cash missing from the box where he had locked it up the previous evening. The money represented sales of health products that the company marketed.

Police examined the building’s CCTV footage on Feb 3 and saw Rosimo, dressed is black and wearing a mask, entering Lansing House at 7:47am and leaving at 7:56 am. They arrested her outside the office on Feb 6 and she admitted to stealing the money.

Cash totaling $15,990 made up of bank notes of different denominations was recovered from her room in Wanchai.

In a video recorded interview on the same evening, Rosimo told police she was instructed by a Filipino couple named Jessica and David to open the office door and tell them where the money was. She said she did as told and the couple entered and took the money.

She said Jessica and David had promised to pay her loan at Public Finance, and indeed paid $6,000 to the lender. They also gave her an additional $10,000 with a promise to repay her loan balance.

The prosecution said there was no trace of Jessica and David. Except for the money recovered in Rosimo’s Wanchai room, the rest of the loot was still missing.

The defense lawyer said in mitigation that Rosimo, who took up an engineering course, came to Hong Kong on an unspecified date in March 2017 to work as a domestic helper. She has an 8-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter. Her husband is a construction worker.

The lawyer said Rosimo had taken out a loan to build her family a house.   

Cooking is fun – and easy

Reading posts shared by members of the Domestic Workers Corner (It’s All About Food) is always a pleasant experience. Most members clearly enjoy cooking, and are generous with sharing their own recipes, or cooking tips honed by years of experience.

One post that stood out recently for being extra cheerful, even playful, came from Gen BA Osnilod, who went out of her way to encourage her fellow kitchen habitués to cook garlic chives, which is abundant this time of the year, and cheap.

Said Gen: “Hi, happy blessed morning and Monday to everyone . My name is garlic chives. I’m still in season so you (may want) to choose and include me as one of your dishes. Remember that I’m nutritious, healthy, has a nice smell, easy to prepare and affordable , and and I really love to be cook and paired with, eggs, pork, chicken, fish (dried or fresh) crab meats, scallops and many many more…so enjoy cooking me and I’m sure your Boss will love it too. By the way. Gen really likes to cook me because her employer loves to request and eat me.”

She then posted pictures of a yummy-looking dish of garlic chives topped with fried squid, sliced in a most interesting way. Aside from the cooked dish, Gen also shared pictures of the raw ingredients, and how the squid was cut a certain way so it curls inwards when cooked.

Garlic Chives with Squid

Ingredients:
1 bunch of garlic chives , cut to about 3" long
2 medium sized squids
garlic, minced
ginger, sliced thinly
light soy sauce (to taste)
wine (to taste)
dash of shrimp paste (bagoong alamang)

Procedure:
1. Cut open the squids and make criss-cross cuts inside before slicing into about two-inch pieces (see picture)
2. Saute squid with minced garlic and sliced ginger, then season with light soy sauce and wine.
3. Add the garlic chives, then flavor with shrimp paste (replacing salt).

Note: Squid could be substituted with fish balls, pork, eggs, fresh skin tofu, dried shrimps or Chinese sausage.

Another member, Nheng Villa Dita, posted a variety of tasty-looking dishes that she just cooked for her employer’s guests and family, including her version of pork adobo, which she said was a special request from her ward. But the most eye-catching among her specialties was her steamed garlic shrimps.

Steamed Garlic Shrimps 
Ingredients
1 catty fresh shrimps, de-veined and sliced on the back
1 whole head of garlic, crushed
light soy sauce
sugar to taste
salt to taste
olive oil for flavoring
oil for frying
dash of white pepper
spring onion, chopped
small pack of vermicelli or sotanghon

Procedure:
1. Divide minced garlic into two portions. Stir fry half of the portion until brown and exudes aroma, then mix with the other half that’s fresh.
2. Add salt, olive oil, white pepper to the garlic mixture.
3. Wash shrimps and cut off legs, hairy bits and sharp part of the heads. Using a pair of scissors, cut the back part with the shell, then use a sharp knife to continue slitting the back up to the tail. Set aside.
4. Wash and soak vermicelli until soft, then spread on a plate evenly.
5. Arrange shrimps on top of the vermicelli, then spread the garlic mix on their slit backs.
6. Steam shrimps for 5 minutes.
7. Cook oil with light soy sauce and sugar, then quickly pour over the shrimps while hot. Top with chopped spring onions.

A great way to round off the menu for this issue is this spicy chicken recipe from Elemar Jay Barut:

Grilled chicken legs with chili and coriander
Ingredients for marinade:
½ cup soy sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp coriander (finely chopped)
chopped chili (to taste)

Procedure:
1.) Combine all the ingredients and mix well.
2) Add two pieces chicken legs and marinate for 1 ½ hours
3) Grill for 50 minutes in oven at 180 degrees. Serve hot.

All set for today's licensure exam for teachers

More than 600 education graduates will take the exam

By Vir B. Lumicao

All is set for the holding of this year’s special licensure examination for Filipino teachers today, Sept 30, at the Delia Memorial School on Hip wo St. in Kwun Tong, East Kowloon.

A total of 614 prospective teachers – 324 elementary and 292 secondary – from among  overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, have qualified to sit the annual examination.

This year, nine OFWs based in Macau and one from the mainland will take the exam alongside their Hong Kong-based compatriots, said Gloria Varquez, an officer of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office who is overseeing preparations for the exam.

There are eight examinees who failed to pay the exam fee on time, but have been allowed to settle their obligation on Sept 30, before they are given the exam documents, Varquez said.

Gemma Lauraya, president of National Organization of Professional Teachers Hong Kong, a group that lobbied for holding the special LET here and organized review classes for examinees, said there seem to be no major problems a few days before the exam.

“So far, wala naman po except yong iba na during the exam pa makukuha ang “notice of examination” kasi wala ang names sa list,” she said in an online message.

These examinees appear to have paid the test fee in full but records at Landbank, which was appointed this year as the sole depository for the fees, did not reflect this on its records. The examinees were thus allowed to take the test as long as they are able to show proof of full payment.

Eight domestic helpers whose contracts were terminated by their employers ahead of the exam will sit it in their respective areas in the Philippines such as in Tuguegarao, Cagayan and General Santos City in South Cotabato, Varquez said.

Last Sunday, Sept 23, Labor Attaché Nida Romulo held an orientation meeting with 63 proctors and watchers on exam day who are mostly members of NOPT HK, but also included volunteers from the community.

She said 58 will be assigned to the examination rooms, and the five extra will be on standby as substitutes if some proctors or watchers fail to arrive on time, or they could be designated as marshalls.

“I spoke to them during the orientation and echoed to them the guidelines of the Professional Regulation Commission on the holding of the exam,” Labatt Romulo said.

Varquez said five officers of the CRC were due to arrive on Sept 27 to prepare for the administration of the exam.

On Sunday, the POLO advised the examinees to bring PhP25 or its Hong Kong dollar equivalent for two documentary stamps, in addition to the items that it had earlier reminded them to bring along for the test, which starts at 6am and close at 6pm.

For examinees coming from the outlying islands and the New Territories, POLO has prepared letters requesting their employers to allow them to leave a day early so they can stay near the exam site, and get to the venue by 6am Sunday.

Other examinees have arranged with fellow examinees who live nearby to travel together by taxi so they can get to the venue faster.

This year’s number of takers of the licensure exam is substantially bigger than the 464 who took the test last year.

 

Lauraya has said this may be due to the SPIMS, or “Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am, Sir,” a government program meant to encourage Filipino teachers working as domestic helpers abroad to return home and teach.

Pay increase?

Ni Ate Kulit

(Editor's note: This column was written a week before the actual announcement of a HK$110 increase in the minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic workers.)

Alam mong nalalapit na ang desisyon ng gobyerno ng Hong Kong tungkol sa minimum allowable wage (MAW) para sa dayuhang domestic helper (na puwedeng higitan ng mga employer kung gusto nila), dahil inililinya ng Labour Department ang ilang pampublikong mga aktibidad  upang ipakita kung paano pinahahalagahan ng HK ang mga manggagawa. Tampok sa mga ito ang ginagawa ng Labor Department upang pangalagaan ang mga manggagawa, at isa na rito ay ang tanunang pagsusuri upang malaman kung ano ang magiging MAW.

Kung sana, sa mga aktibidad na ito ay malaman na rin natin ang bagong MAW para maibsan ang ating pananabik.

Halimbawa, may  exhibition tungkol sa Employment Ordinance at sa Minimum Wage Ordinance sa Belvedere Square sa Tsuen Wan sa Sept. 29-30. Itinatampok rito ang mga probisyon ng batas tungkol sa mga karapatan hindi lamang ng mga lokal na manggagawa kundi ng mga domestic helper mula sa ibang bansa.

Mayroon ding isang diskusyon tungkol sa “Prevention of Upper Limb Disorders” sa Oct. 4 sa Hong Kong Central Library. Ipapakita raw dito kung ano ang sanhi ng mga sakit sa braso, na karaniwang ginagamit sa pagtatrabaho, at mga paraan kung paano ito maiisawasan.

Mayroon ding diskusyon tungkol sa “Chemicals and Occupational Health” na gagawin sa Hong Kong Space Museum sa Oct. 11. Pagtutuunan ng pansin dito ang mga kemikal na gamit sa trabaho at kung paano ito nakakapasok at nakalalason sa katawan ng mga manggagawa.

Isa ang Hong Kong sa may pinakamataas na suweldo sa mga DH sa buong mundo, at ito ay dahil sa mga nakalipas na pagtataas ng minimum na sahod na nagpatong-patong sa paglipas ng mga taon.

Hindi lahat ng taon ay may umento ang mga DH. May mga taon ding binawasan din ang sahiod nila dahil nagkaroon ng kriris sa ekonomiya. Pero generally, ika nga, itinatakda pataas ang MAW kung walang pang-ekonomiyang balakid dito.

At kung babasehan natin ang mga nakaraang umento, malamang na hindi sundin ang hinihingi ng mga grupong militante na HKD5,500 bawa’t buwan, mula sa HKD4,410.

Ang nakikita naming umento ay HKD100.

Tama kaya kami o mali?