Ateneo LSE graduates told they’re an ‘inspiration’

By Ellen Asis

Consul General Antonio A. Morales told the latest graduates of the Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship program in Hong Kong that they are good models for their fellow Filipinos because of their effort to educate themselves financially, and plan for a better future.

“You serve as an inspiration to your countrymen”, said Congen Morales in his keynote address to the graduates at ceremonies at Chinese University of Hong Kong on Sept 25.

Morales said that debt is the most common problem of Filipinos in Hong Kong, so the Philippine Consulate has been doing its best to help by supporting programs that promote financial literacy and education for members of the community.

He thanked the employers in the audience for their support to their helpers, while congratulating the graduates for making a difference by joining the LSE program. He also told them to take a step further in achieving their aspirations.

“Hindi masama ang mangarap, pero kung may pangarap ka dapat may gawin ka para matupad ang iyong pangarap,” said Morales.

A total of 83 Filipinos from both the Saturday and Sunday sessions received their certificates of completion from Ateneo School of Government representative Joselito Sescon.

Thew newest batch of LSE graduates ang their guests.

Another guest, lawyer, novelist and OFW rights advocate Jason Ng said he appreciated all the things that Filipinos do better than Hong Kong people, such as kindness, generosity and optimism.

Ng said the Filipino migrant workers serve as an  inspiration because they take the opportunity to better themselves, challenge themselves, and equip themselves so they can do even more to contribute to their family and their community.

The program was highlighted by a speech from an employer, Wing Wing-kwen, who brought a printed logo of the business plan of his helper, whom she said was the best investment his family had ever made. Wing said he was proud of what his helper had achieved, so that even if her business plan logo may not be the best in the eyes of others, for him it was still the best.

Another employer, Stuart Gietel-Baton, said the Filipino migrant workers were already equipped with skills when they left home, such as courage, resilience, willingness to take risk and step out of their comfort zones. But after working in Hong Kong they should have developed more skills such as hard work, discipline  and time management, making them great role models.

The Ateneo LSE is a collaborative effort between the Ateneo School of Government, Wimler Hong Kong Foundation and the Philippine Consulate.

Mangkhut sa mata ng mga OFW

Samo’t saring perhuwisyo
 “Sa amin sa World-wide Gardens, Shatin, umuuga talaga ang building. Sa umaga, mga alas otso, tahimik pa, pero bandang 10 am, ayan na ang hampas ng hangin. Sa kusina kami lagi tumatambay ng kasamahan ko dahil malakas ang wifi, pero dahil mainit at walang hangin ay binuksan niya nang kaunti ang bintana. Biglang pasok ang malakas na hangin, at agad sinapul ang plastic na lagayan ng toyo at mantika, na animo may kamay na umagaw. Nabasag din ang acrylic glass ng terrace namin, at sumambulat sa sahig ang bubog. Kinabukasan umaga, sobrang busy ko dahil marami silang hinatid ko. Dati, sumasakay na sila sa MTR kapag sabay ang kanilang pasok, pero stranded sa Taipo at Taiwai MTR station ang dalawang alaga kong dalaga kaya kinailangan kong sunduin at ihatid sila pareho.  Nagutom ako sa biyahe kasi tuloy-tuloy ang labas ko at mabagal ang takbo kasi maraming puno ang natumba kaya ang mga 3-4 lane na kalsada ay naging isang lane na lang, at kailangang magbigayan ang mga motorista. Hanggang ngayon, isang linggo na magmula nang bumagyo ay hindi pa rin nalinis nang husto ang mga kalsada dito sa Shatin, New Territories.” – George Manalansan

Kakaibang bagsik
“Sa 28 taon ko dito sa Hong Kong dito kay Mangkhut ako ninerbiyos ng husto. Kahit alam kong ligtas ako sa loob ng kuwarto ko na kapapagawa lang ni amo ay dinig na dinig ko pa rin ang sobrang lakas ng hangin sa labas. Malakas ang pagsipol na dulot nito, at pati ang tunog ng pagkabalya ng mga bagay na nadadala nito sa paligid. Hindi lang isang araw ang dinulot nitong pinsala. Kinabukasan, yung kapitbahay kong kapwa ko Ilongga ay nabalian ng braso nang madulas sa naputol na tanim niyang aloe vera habang naglilinis ng nagkalat na dahon at basag na bote. Itinukod niya ang kanyang kamay para pigilan ang kanyang pagbagsak, pero ito ang nadale. Ayon sa doktor na tumingin ng kanyang x-ray sa Tseung Kwan-O hospital, nagkaroon daw ng crack ang kanyang buto sa braso dahil sa tindi ng kanyang pagbagsak. Mula noon ay ilang beses na siyang bumalik sa ospital para magpagamot.”– Merly Bunda

Umuuga-uga
“Akala ko ay hindi lalakas nang ganoon si Mangkhut dahil noong itinaas ang T8 noong madaling araw ng Sept 16 ay hindi pa ito ramdam sa amin kaya kalmado kaming lahat ng mga amok o. Pero noong itaas na sa T10 ang signal ay nakaramdam kami ng takot dahil sa lakas ng pag-uga ng building naming. Nasa 37th flr kami kaya ramdam na ramdam namin ang nakakahilong paggalaw ng paligid. Noong una ay nagpa panic na ang amo kong babae na ang sabi ay bababa kami at sa garahe na magpapalipas ng oras, pero lalo siyang natakot nang maputol ang serbisyo ng lift namin. Takot na takot siya na bumagsak ang building namin, mabuti at tumawag ang kanyang mga magulang at napahinahon siya. Sinabi sa kanya na normal lang sa isang matayog na building ang umuga kapag may malakas na bagyo. Mas ligtas daw kami sa itaas kaysa sa ibaba dahil kapag bumaha nang bigla ay baka malunod kami o matangay ng tubig. Dahil sa tinuran ng kanyang ama ay kumalma na ang amok o, at ako naman ay nakatulog sa sobrang pagkahilo at takot. Nalaman namin pagkatapos na nawasak ang salamin na pintuan sa main entrance ng building naming, at naputol ang pagdaloy ng tubig sa aming banyo at kusina. Ang kainaman ay pinupuntahan kami ng mga nakatalagang guwardiya sa building at kinukumusta ang aming kalagayan. Tinatanong kung ok lang kami, at kung may sapat daw ba kaming pagkain at tubig. Napakagaling ng serbisyo nila sa mga homeowners! Samantala, isang kapitbahay ko ang tumawag sa akin pagkatapos ng harurot ni Mangkhut at ikinuwento na iniwan siya at ng kanyang asawa ng kanilang employer na sa sobrang takot ay nag check-in sa hotel. Doon daw nagpalipas ng oras ang mga amo, samantalang silang mga kasambahay ay iniwang nangangatog sa takot sa kanilang bahay na nasa 45th floor. Masama ang loob ng dalawa dahil ipinakita ng mga amo na wala silang pakialam sa kanilang kaligtasan. Parang ang sabi ay hindi na bale silang malagay sa panganib, basta ang kanilang mag-anak ay nasa ligtas na lugar.” – Marites Palma

Iba si Mangkhut 
Dahil araw ng Linggo nang manalasa ang bagyong Mangkhut sa Hong Kong ay nasa bahay lahat ang mga tao sa bahay ng amo ni Floi, at pati na rin siya, dahil sinabihan ang lahat ng tao na delikado ang lumabas. Ayon sa paulit-ulit na balita, isang “Super Typhoon” si Mangkhut at maaring ito rin ang pinakamabagsik na bagyo na tatama sa Hong Kong. Ngunit dahil sa loob ng 14 taong paninilbihan sa Hong Kong ay wala naman siyang naranasang kakaiba tuwing dumaraan ang bagyo ay medyo kampante si Floi. Mismong mga amo niya ay nag yu yumcha kahit T8 pa ang dumaan kaya wala siyang kakaba-kaba. Isa pa, ang bahay ng kanyang mga amo sa Ma On Shan ay matatag ang pagkakagawa kaya halos hindi nila naramdaman ang mga malalakas na bagyong nagdaan. Sinunod na lang niya ang bilin ng amo na mag-imbak ng pagkain at maglagay ng tape sa mga bintanang salamin para makaiwas sa anumang sakuna. Ngunit iba pala itong si Mangkhut. Mula sa T8 ay agad na itinaas sa T10 ang babala, wala pang alas dyes ng umaga. Dinig na dinig nila ang malakas na pito ng hangin at pabugso-bugsong pag-ulan ngunit tahimik ang lahat sa bahay kaya dinaan na lang ni Floi sa dasal ang takot. Ilang sandali pa ay naramdaman nila ang biglang paglakas ng patak ng ulan, at ang kasabay ng malakas na ihip , at dahil dito ay nabaklas ang exhaust fan nila sa kanilang kusina. Agad na pumasok ang tubig mula sa ulan, at dahil dito ay hindi napigilan ni Floi ang magsisigaw sa takot. Habang inaayos ng alagang lalaki ang natanggal na exhaust fan ay sinabihan siyang tumahimik at tawagan ang building management para tumulong. Pagtawag nila sa nangangasiwa sa kanilang gusali ay sinabihan silang may nauna nang tumawag para magpatulong kaya matatagalan pa bago sila mapuntahan. Sa laki ng takot at pagkataranta ay hindi namalayan ni Floi na tuwalya ng amo ang nahagilap niya para ipantapal sa bintana pansamantala upang maiwasan ang malakas na pagpasok ng tubig sa kanilang kusina. Mabuti na lamang at hindi nagalit ang amo nito nang mapansin ang tuwalya at sinabi na lamang na “you can wash it.” Ayon kay Floi, 50 taong gulang at taga Bacolod, kakaibang takot daw talaga ang ibinigay sa kanya ng bagsik ni Mangkhut. – Ellen Asis

Signal no 8
Bagong salta sa Hong Kong at isang buwan pa lang sa among taga Discovery  Bay si Maribel, 25 taong gulang, at tubong Batangas. Walang siyang alam tungkol sa bagyo sa Hong Kong kaya nang sabihan siya ng amo na bumili ng pagkain nila para sa isang linggo at huwag niyang ilalabas ang tatlong tuta na alaga niya dahil may inaasahang signal no 8 na bagyo ay lubha siyang nabahala. Baka daw delikado ang buhay nila dahil sa Pilipinas, pinakamalakas na ang signal no 3. Takot na biglang bumaba si Maribel at pumunta sa Wellcome para mamili. Mabuti naman at may nakasabay siyang Pilipina kaya tinanong niya ito. Agad na sinabi sa kanya ng kausap na ang T8 sa Hong Kong ay kasinglakas ng T3 sa Pilipinas, kaya tigil lahat ang mga pampublikong sasakyan maliban sa MTR kung hindi delikado, at wala ring pasok sa eskuwela at sa opisina. Sumaya si Maribel sa paliwanag at kahit paano ay nawala ang kaba nya. Pagdating sa bahay, nagpasalamat din si Maribel sa amo, lalo nang sabihin sa kanya na bawal lumabas kapag ganoong malakas ang bagyo dahil baka may matumbang puno o may matangay na mabigat na bagay, at madaganan siya. Kinakabahan man ngunit panatag naman ang loob ni Maribel dahil takot din siyang lumabas. — Rodelia Villar

Admiralty near United Centre: Uprooted tree blocks access to bus stop.

Duterte pays surprise visit to HK amid speculations about his health

Duterte is shown wearing a mask in Causeway Bay  (photo from Ellen Tordesillas of Vera Files)

By The SUN

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte flew unannounced into Hong Kong the past weekend, three days after he said he might have cancer.

News about the surprise visit first broke after Manila-based journalist Ellen Tordesillas posted pictures of the 73-year-old leader wearing a face mask and apparently shopping in Causeway Bay, along with his partner Honeylet Avancena and their daughter, Kitty.

CG Morales says he was not told of the Presidential visit

Asked for confirmation about the visit, Consul General Antonio A. Morales said he had no

knowledge of it.

“Buti pa kayo alam ninyo,” Congen Morales quipped. “I was not told, but Malacanang must have coordinated it with the Hong Kong protocol office,” he said.

A Chinese news site, HKo1.com, citing an unnamed source, later said the ailing president was in Hong Kong for a medical check up.

Sought for information about the visit, Hong Kong’s Protocol Division, Government Secretariat, said in an email: “We have no comment.”

Various media reports said the Duterte family arrived on a chartered flight on the night of Oct. 5 and left at 6pm on Sunday, Oct. 7. The family reportedly stayed at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Wanchai.

They were first spotted at Uniqglo store in Causeway Bay at about 7:30pm on Saturday.

According to Tordesillas’ post, the group was with about 20 Filipino and Chinese bodyguards.

Later, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go posted pictures of him with Duterte, now without a mask, walking down Causeway Bay and dining with his family.

Go with the Dutertes in a picture he posted on Facebook

Go said his post was meant to preempt "fake news sites."

The trip came just days after Duterte said publicly that he had undergone a colonoscopy at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Manila to get "samples."

He said that if he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer, he may not undergo medical treatment.

"I will tell you if it’s cancer, it’s cancer" he said in a televised speech on Thursday night.

Last month, Duterte flew to Israel for an official visit, accompanied by some of his government officials and military officers. An Israeli journalist later said the visit was merely a cover for medical treatment.

Filipino migrants vow to stop continuing mandatory insurance for OFWs

POEA wants all OFWs, old and new, to have insurance

By The SUN

The biggest Filipino migrant organization in Hong Kong has vowed to stop the implementation of a new plan by the Philippine government to require all Filipino workers to be covered by insurance for as long as they are working abroad.

Under Resolution No 4 of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), all OFWs returning to the same employer, or have moved to another, must also have an insurance coverage similar to that required of those leaving for their first job abroad.

This two-year insurance coverage currently costs US$144 or $1,200.

Under existing law, the insurance, which can only be secured from an accredited insurer in the Philippines, is required only for first-time OFWs. Those who are renewing their contracts or moving to another employer are merely advised to renew their coverage, either by paying for the premium themselves, or requesting their employers to do so.

Unifil says the new scheme will add to the burden of OFWs

“The new POEA order on mandatory insurance is just another money-making scheme for the already burdened OFWs that can even cost us our job,” said Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, chairperson of United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante HK) in a statement.

She vowed protest actions to ensure the resolution does not get implemented.

“We will not take this sitting down. Expect (us to) meet the POEA governing board resolution no. 04 with a protest. We will make sure that this exaction will not push through,” Balladares-Pelaez said.

Resolution No 4 was signed on Aug 17 by the POEA Governing Board led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, but was date-stamped on Sept. 4. It is supposed to take effect 15 days after the publication of its implementing guidelines.

Asked if they were aware of the new measure, or whether they knew when it would be implemented, Labor Attache Nida Romulo told The SUN she had no official information about it.

Migrant leaders had hoped to get a reaction from Secretary Bello when he breezed into town on Saturday, Sept 29, but he reportedly stayed only briefly,  and met only with officers and staff of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. 

Bello (in barong) was guest of honor at the opening of
Jollibee Macau (photo from ABS-CBN)

The day before, Bello was the guest of honor at the inauguration of the first Jollibee outlet in Macau. Also present at the event was Jollibee Foods Corporation founder Tony Tan Cak-tiong

In her statement, the Unifil leader said she doubts if employers will pay for the additional insurance, as mandated by Resolution No 4. Thus, it would become an additional burden for OFWs already hit by the soaring prices of basic goods in the Philippines.

“Employers in Hong Kong are already required by law to get insurance for their domestic workers. If they don’t get one, and something happens to their worker, (the) employers will be liable,” said Balladares-Pelaez.

She argued the new measure could also lead to OFWs losing their jobs because of tension with employers who would surely resist the new imposition.

Balladares-Pelaez surmised the additional collection from the full-scale mandatory insurance is intended to raise money for the administration candidates in next year’s senatorial elections, which could include Bello.

“The Duterte government and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III are responsible for this additional fee for overseas Filipinos. Duterte and Bello are bleeding us dry. The longer they are in power, the more miserable the lives of the Filipino people, and especially migrants, are,” she said.

Workers for sale

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

The first time I heard the word “commodification” I thought it was just a fancy word concocted to draw attention to the plight of migrant workers. That was, I remember, the time when the World Trade Organization summit was held in Hong Kong, and it seemed like the right word to use to denote how migrant workers are looked at as commodities by both their host, and home, countries.

But now I see why the word is so apt in describing the plight of migrant workers, particularly our own.

Nearly everyone they have to deal with on their way to taking up jobs abroad is out to milk them. From their recruiters to the training agents to our own government, migrant workers are squeezed for money in exchange for a little, or even no, benefit at all to them.

In Hong Kong, a foreign domestic helper is not supposed to pay anything to get here, except for the agency fee of no more than 10% of their first monthly salary. All other fees are supposed to be borne by the employer, and their contract is expected to have our government’s stamp on it only as a matter of courtesy, and not as necessity.

So why does our government put each overseas Filipino worker through the wringer before allowing them to leave and take up jobs abroad? More than the supposed protection sought for each of them, it is the money that stands out as the reason.

Funny thing is, Philippine laws are supposed to be more stringent than Hong Kong’s because OFWs are not supposed to pay any fee for jobs obtained for them by anyone, including the recruitment agencies. But in reality, they are made to shell out money every step of the way before they are cleared to fly out to their destinations.

These fees include, but are not limited to those charged for training, medical clearance, video and interview, photos, photocopying, mandatory insurance, Philhealth, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration membership, and just about anything their agencies tell them to pay for.

In recent years, the total amount exacted from each Filipino worker who came to Hong Kong appear to have dropped dramatically after authorities on both sides began cracking the whip on errant agencies. From more than Php100,000 on average, the cost of getting employment in Hong Kong dropped to about half that amount, or even less.

But lately, the vultures seem to have come out of the woodworks again. We are again hearing cases of OFWs being asked to sign up for loans at the behest of agencies that want more money from them.

In a recent batch of cases where we were asked to intervene, the workers spoke of each being made to pay for two medical examinations and training, on top of about Php65,000 in agency fees. This did not include the HK$10,000 loan that did not go to them, but for which they had to pay from their salaries in the first three months of their employment.

Another scam involves requiring ex-OFWs to undergo retraining, for which they have to pay between Php18,000 to Php30,000 each, on the pretext that the NCII certificate that they had obtained previously was no longer valid. 

It behooves us to think that someone who had undergone training, and actually experienced doing domestic work, could be required to go through the same process on the lame excuse that the certificate they had was no longer valid. If this is not scam, I don’t know what is.

But the biggest caper about to be pulled off will be at the instance again, of our own government. This involves compelling all returning OFWs, meaning even those who are renewing their contracts with the same employer, to pay for insurance.

The stage for this was set when Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello signed on Aug 17 a resolution by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Governing Board adding proof of insurance coverage to the requirements for registration with the Balik Manggagawa Online so OFWs could go home and return to their work sites unhindered.

POEA Resolution No 4 series of 2018, states that the worker shall not be made to pay for the insurance; however, this begs the question of how foreign employers could be forced  to pay for the worker’s personal insurance, and why they should. In Hong Kong, in particular, this is bound to create outrage among employers as they are already required to take out insurance on their domestic helper, which should pay for the cost of medical treatment and repatriation, should these become necessary.

The little-known resolution which was circulated to overseas posts and other interested parties on Sept 4 is due to take effect 15 days after the publication of its implementing guidelines. That means there is time to resist this new money-making scheme that turns our own government into a big collection agency for insurance companies, and allows it to squeeze out of its primordial obligation to protect its workers abroad.

At about Php8,000 (or HK$1,120) per two-year coverage, this new money-making scheme would create additional hardship to our already burdened OFWs. It could even cost them their jobs, if employers decide to chuck them out in favor of other migrant workers whose government is not as greedy.

At a time when mostly poor Filipinos are suffering from a moribund economy, a rise in criminality and political uncertainty, OFWs who mostly support their families back home should not be made to carry these additional burdens.

Migrant workers are not slaves, nor are they commodities. It’s time we linked arms with them in fighting oppression and exploitation, even by the very government that’s supposed to protect them.

Wrap-up: Hong Kong greenery bears brunt of Mangkhut’s wrath

It’s almost unbelievable. Despite the havoc caused by powerful winds of Mangkhut on Sept 16, the severe typhoon left no fatality in a densely populated metropolis like Hong Kong. But a personal survey this writer conducted a day after the howler showed the intensity of the damage it wrought on Hong Kong’s greenery. From Eastern Hong Kong where the typhoon first struck, to the slopes of Lam Tsuen Country Park in Fanling, trees large and small had been uprooted, broken beyond repair, or badly damaged.

At the Quarry Bay Park promenade, rows of young trees that only the day before had turned the garden into a mini-forest had fallen in one direction – westward. Around Po Lam and Hang Hau in Tseung Kwan O, large banyans and fig trees that had shaded the district’s sidewalks had been toppled and lain there for days, blocking the paths of pedestrians and bikers. The destruction was repeated all over Hong Kong. Many sections of its famous trails were closed to hikers due to trees felled by Mangkhut’s gusts.

Those living near the coasts suffered extensive damage

All told, more than 17,000 trees had been toppled by the strongest typhoon to have hit Hong Kong, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said. The magnitude of the damage has simply overwhelmed government agencies responsible for the clean-up. The Home Affairs Department and various District Offices joined hands with the relevant departments to clear fallen trees, refuse and road obstructions. At the Kai Tak temporary refuse impoundment center, more than 1,000 truckloads of arboreal debris have been dumped since the morning after Mangkhut while city officials think of what to do with the surplus wood. – Vir B. Lumicao


Worst typhoon
It was the worst typhoon I’ve experienced in my 32 years in Hong Kong, in terms of the damage it wrought on the city. And I’ve witnessed a lot up close, having worked for a local TV station for years, when everyone in the staff was required to report for work whenever signal no 8 was raised at the approach of a typhoon.

Personally, we weren’t hit hard because we’re just on the first floor, and apart from our potted plants and our heavy barbecue grill being toppled by the wind, we hardly felt the typhoon’s ferocity.

But when I got out the next day, I was struck at how powerful Mangkhut was. A lot of big trees were uprooted, including those that I’d seen around for ages. Diagonally across United Centre where the Philippine Consulate is located, a big and ancient tree was uprooted, and its heavy trunk blocked two lanes of Queensway. At nearby Admiralty Park, it looked like a giant monster had passed, and trampled on all the plants and trees on its path. Saplings that lined the island divider along Connaught Road, from Causeway Bay to Admiralty, were almost all felled. Mangkhut was that powerful.

A tunnel in Shatin fills with flood water.

Days after the onslaught, many fallen trees remained on the road, and several buildings, including the Immigration Tower in Wanchai, still had their broken glass windows plastered temporarily with wood or other objects to keep the elements out.

It seemed like Hong Kong was left in shock at Mangkhut’s ferocity that it took time before it could get back on its feet.

It was, to me, mostly luck that nobody was killed or injured seriously amid the typhoon’s wrath. But I now fear the consequences should another super typhoon head for Hong Kong, and make a direct hit. I hope that does not happen, but it maybe worth it for the city to be better prepared next time. – Daisy CL Mandap

Church celebrates early Christmas with a party

Around 150 members of the Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ, Mariners Hong Kong Chapter, celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, or Christmas, three months earlier than most.

The church group held its celebration on Sept 25 at Mariners Hill Garden in Tsimshatsui, in line with its belief that Jesus was born on this day, citing Luke, chapters 1 and 2 of the Bible.

The members celebrated the event with a morning mass and a simple program which included gift giving, food sharing, caroling and parlor games.

The group is inviting anyone who might be interested in attending its 35th anniversary on Nov 18, to call Divine at 67321423.

Christmas.Celebration of Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ, Mariners Hong Kong Chapter.

Fun’s the word at DWC’s first anniversary

It may have been the first time many of them had met, but the more than 100 Filipino migrant workers who attended the first anniversary party of Domestic Workers Corner at Pier 9 in Central on Sept 25 certainly did not show it.

The DWC members who attended the ground-breaking event all took delight in taking part in the contests, dancing, games, and the overall merriment led by the group’s founder, Rodelia Villar, who is known to most of them by her Facebook name, “Lovely.”

Members and guests fill one end of Pier 9.

Villar, a church volunteer who also contributes articles to The SUN, said about 300 members had signed up to join the celebration, but she was not sure how many had actually turned up.

She said the members agreed to just have a good time on the day, so they pooled their money to get food delivered to them during the party, and the rest used to buy gifts for winners of the fun games and contests.

Members managed to show that without spending more than their usual allowance during their days off, they could stage beauty contests, fashion face-offs and have a lot of clean, good, fun.

In a Facebook post after the successful event, Villar said: “Thank you, Lord. Di ko man akalain na ito ng marating ng isang adik sa Facebook.”

Among the guests at the event was Daisy CL Mandap, editor of The SUN, who congratulated the group for being relevant and helpful to the migrant workers community in Hong Kong despite being around for just a year.

She also praised members for helping each other in times of need, both big and mundane, as when they give advice on how certain Chinese dishes should be cooked. She also encouraged them to encourage each other to save and avoid getting enmeshed in debt so they can rejoin their families in the Philippines faster.

Villar first formed Domestic Workers Corner Hong Kong a year ago, hoping to turn it into a forum for exchanging ideas among migrant workers, but it became very successful that she felt compelled to form other pages to manage members’ concerns better.

These include the “It’s All About Food” page, where members are encouraged to share recipes and cooking tips, and extend help to newcomers struggling to cook food to their employers’ liking. This appears to be the most popular among the DWC groups as it now has more than 34,000 members.

Another page, DWC Group for Cantonese, is a tutorial page for migrant workers who want to learn the local language to be able to manage their way around better, and maybe score points with their employers.

Two groups, DWC Help Group and Help Group Chat, allows members to consult about work-related problems and other concerns. These extension groups have enabled Villar and her fellow administrators in the main page to extend help to hundreds of migrant workers, including those in extremely dire situations.

Gabriela HK marks 9th year with a call for women to speak up

Women’s group Gabriela Hong Kong celebrated its ninth founding anniversary on Sept 23 on Chater Road, Central, with a call on Filipinas to “stand up and fight”.

Various groups and alliances took part in the program to show solidarity with Gabriela HK in its advocacy to stand up for the rights and welfare of all Filipinos, particularly migrant women.

 Members of Gabriela HK took turns speaking about the group’s plans and programs, and ended the event which lasted for more than three hours, with a cultural performance.

Members of Gabriela Hong Kong celebrate their 9th Anniversary with a call: Migrant Women, Stand Up and Fight.

Guest speaker Dolores Balladares-Pelaez of United Filipinos – Migrante HK focused on issues affecting migrants, such as the illegal collection of placement fees, the various government exactions on overseas workers, and their low wages.

She reminded everyone to support calls to regulate the working hours of migrant workers, and ensure decent accommodation for them.

Pelaez also dealt with the skyrocketing prices of basic goods in the Philippines, brought about by the government-sponsored TRAIN law, and their impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

For her part, Gabriela HK chairperson Shiela Tebia-Bonifacio, condemned President Rodrigo Duterte’s statements about women, in particular his jokes about rape.

Hike for 11-yr-old kidney patient

By Vir B. Lumicao

The 3.l5 kilometer hike to Nam Long Shan, or Brick Hill, on Sept 23 may have been easy and leisurely, but it was the purpose behind the activity that powered the participants up the scenic hill in Aberdeen.

Some 50 OFWs from various parts of Hong Kong gathered on a bright and sunny day at Wong Chuk Hang MTR station, the rendezvous for the two-hour trek up Nam Long Shan Road, to the brick circular helipad atop the hill that is partly straddled by Ocean Park.

They had responded to a call from Marites Palma, founding president of Roxas Group of Migrants, for a trek of love for 11-year-old Charlene Kate Ponce Lariosa, who is suffering from chronic kidney disease Stage 5. Helping Palma organize the hike was Jessie Quevedo, another OFW.

Charlene, from Matusalem, Roxas, Isabela, will undergo a kidney transplant next month with her mother, Jhona Ponce Lariosa, a housewife, as the donor. She has a younger sister, Nathalie Keith, 5.

Participants gather at the MTR station for a final briefing.

Charlene’s father, Jayson Lariosa, a seafarer who is in the high seas at the moment, does not make enough to afford the cost of three-times-a-day dialysis that the girl requires, in addition to the family’s daily sustenance.

Palma, a kind-hearted and nosy OFW and member of The Sun Writers Club, said she first heard about Charlene’s plight when an aunt of the patient asked her to buy a ticket for a charity cause. The aunt told her the fundraising was for Jhona’s daughter.

“Naisipan kong magbenta din ng ticket noong una, pero parang kakaunti ang bumibili kaya naisipan kong mag-organize ng charity walk,” Palma said. She said she contacted Quevedo because she knew he had experience organizing charity walks.

Soon, the event “Hike for a Cause for Charlene Kate Ponce Lariosa” was calendared on Facebook and gained promises of support from the Filipino community in Hong Kong.

Before the hike got started, the participants had shelled out various amounts that, combined with donations by various individuals, totaled $5,000.

Palma said in peso terms, she had collected PhP34,400, which augmented PhP5,821 in ticket sale proceeds that she had remitted in August to Charlene Kate’s mother.

Among those who made cash or check donation were Rosabelle Woolf of AFreight, Merlinda Mercado of Metro Bank, Card HK Trainors, Fate Team, DOMO HK, Korean employer Rebuga Kang and hike co-organizer Quevedo.

Those who could not join the 50 hikers sent their financial contribution by fund transfer to a TNG account set up for the cause.

“Lubos na nagpapasalamat po ang pamilya ni Charlene Kate sa napakalaking tulong pinansiyal
na naipaabot ng mga manggagawang Pilipino dito sa Hong Kong,” Palma said, adding that the girl’s mother was so touched she could not hold back tears on receiving the remittance.

The hikers who heeded the charity call were members of Card HK, friends from Kapihan ng Paoay Association, Isabela Federation and United San Manuel Association, workers from Roxas, Isabela, and friends of Palma on Facebook.

Those who would like to donate to Charlene Kate’s fund may contact Marites Palma through The SUN Hong Kong or on her Facebook account.