Caught in a landslide of real life and fantasy

By William Elvin Manzano*

Much like Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s controversy-laden life and stardom, 20th Century Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody,  a much-hyped film intended to be a biopic of Mercury and the rest of Queen, was wrapped in intrigue and production chaos from the get-go. On top of a revolving door of directors supposed to be at the helm of the film’s process, reports revealed that the role of Freddie Mercury was to be played originally by actor Sacha Baron Cohen – famous for merciless satires such as Borat, Bruno, The Dictator and the TV show Who Is America? – who quit the film after creative differences with Brian May and Roger Taylor, the surviving members of Queen. During production, director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men) was fired by the studio for bad behavior on the set, and was replaced by Dexter Fletcher (Eddie the Eagle).

Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury is flawless.

And, much like Freddie Mercury’s relentless spirit, the film not only survived but also soared to great heights, becoming one of the biggest global box office triumphs this year. In terms of mass appeal and marketability, the finished and released theatrical version of Bohemian Rhapsody was undoubtedly a success, its great weight singlehandedly carried by Rami Malek’s flawless performance as Mercury. Artistically, it is an ironically ultra-safe and sanitized portrayal of one of the most unconventional rock bands in pop music history, who were never afraid to experiment and break barriers both in their music and their lifestyle.

The movie makes it apparent early on that it is not intended to be an accurate, biographical piece, but rather a fictionalized and romanticized take on Queen’s illustrious music career. Using the band’s highly regarded Live Aid performance at the Wembley Stadium in 1985 as a narrative frame, the movie opens with Freddie Mercury letting out a few coughs, indicating the AIDS-related pneumonia that would take his life in 1991. (Fact: Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987, much later than is suggested in the film)

What followed in the next two hours were almost disjointed, tensionless vignettes that always seemed to rush to the next, only picked up and made a whole lot better by Malek’s outstanding presence and Queen’s ever-present music. The film’s biggest flaw is its flat, bland and lifeless screenplay by Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything), which made the people around Mercury seem like one-dimensional cardboard characters, especially the cinematic versions of guitarist Brian May (played by Gwilym Lee), drummer Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) and bassist John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello). The supporting characters only served to advance the plot, delivering cheesy and contrived-sounding lines, without adding any layer and nuance to the scenes.

The movie’s wonderful revelation is how the tragedy of Freddie Mercury, even with the most basic and unchallenging portrayal, never fails to capture hearts and minds. This is the story of a passionate man, a musical genius who did everything to erase his real history to create a larger-than-life, uncanny persona that shocked the world and made us feel uncomfortable, but at the same time forcing us all to fall in love with him. In the end, the life of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll he fully embraced and celebrated became his ultimate undoing, and knowing that it happened to a brilliant, fascinating man turns the narrative into both a cautionary tale and a heartbreaking parable.

Despite all its flaws, the film most importantly succeeds in introducing Queen’s magnificent music to a wider audience and a younger generation. At the end of the day, if Bohemian Rhapsody is inspiring the next batch of young musicians to pick up their instruments and aspire to reach the level of Mercury, May, Deacon and Taylor’s creativity, then it is significantly contributing something beautiful and hopeful to the world.

Rating: B- 

*William Elvin Manzano is a singer-songwriter and theater artist whose bread and butter is his job as a copywriter in a PR agency. He used to work with The SUN.

Suportahan natin ang ating mga sponsor:

Ano ang kapalaran mo sa Nobyembre?

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Maganda ang kalagayan sa trabaho; mapapaboran ka sa kabila ng mga problema. Marami kang orihinal na ideya at makakaasa ng tulong sa mga kasamahan. Umiwas sa mga pagkaing ma-rekado at mamantika na makakasama sa sirkulasyon ng dugo sa katawan. Ituon ang atensyon sa mahal sa buhay ngayon. Ang katiwasayan ng loob ay depende sa magandang pagsasama ng malapit sa iyo; kung walang away, magiging maayos ang lahat. Lucky numbers: 17, 22, 30 at 41.
.
BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Ngayon ay mas bibigyan mo ng importansya ang pagkakaibigan. Hindi rin imposible na ang matalik na kaibigan ay maging karelasyon mo. May magtatangkang bentahan ka ng kasangkapan na depektibo o alukin ng palpak na serbisyo; mag-ingat na mabiktima ka ng mga ito. Saglit mong malilimutan ang pagiging praktikal at realistiko kaya posibleng maharap ka sa isang delikadong sitwasyon. Lucky numbers: 6, 19, 23 at 42
DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Tensyon, pagka-irita at pagod ang mararanasan dahil sa ingay sa iyong paligid. Makipag-usap ng maayos upang masolusyunan ang problema. Alisin sa isip ang negatibong palagay na wala kang silbi, at walang nakaka-unawa sa iyo. Dagdagan ang pasensya at gumawa ng seryosong hakbang upang maisakatuparan ang iyong gustong gawin sa kabila ng mga pagsubok. Ito ang oras na ipaglaban mo ang iyong kagustuhan. Lucky numbers: 11, 25, 31 at 37.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Sa halip na manahimik, mas makabubuti siguro kung ilalabas mo ang nilalaman ng puso sa isang taong alam mong mapagtitiwalaan upang gumaan ang pakiramdam, makabawi ng lakas o maka- move on. Huwag magtiwala o maniwala sa mga nag-aalok ng pekeng trabaho o mga gamot na pampapayat. Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, maging maingat sa pagbitaw ng pera, at huwag magpaloko. Lucky numbers: 3, 26, 33 at 39.
.
TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
May tsansa kang makilala ang mga taong maaring makatulong sa iyo na makakakuha ng mahalagang suporta sa trabaho at negosyo. Samantalahin ang panahong ito, simulan nang ayusin ang mahahalagang bagay sa iyong buhay. Tiwala sa sarili at positibong pananaw ang kailangan mo ngayon. Dahil sa kalungkutan, pagka-inip at ang kawalan ng simpatiya ng mga tao, natutukso lang sumali sa mga iba’t ibang samahan; mag-ingat, kilalanin silang mabuti at alamin ang kanilang layunin. Lucky numbers: 5, 18, 40 at 45.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Kung hindi mo pa natatagpuan ang iyong soul sister, makikilala mo na siya ngayon. Bisitahin ang mga lugar kung saan ka pinaka-komportable at mailalabas mo ang totoong ikaw. Nahihirapan ka sa napili mong paraan ng pagdi-diyeta kaya gusto mong tigilan na ito. Kailangan mo ng dagdag pasensya, huwag sayangin ang enerhiya o magalit sa maliliit na bagay na hindi mo gusto. Mag-ingat na gumawa ng ingay na walang katuturan. Lucky numbers: 7, 29, 31 at 40.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Masipag, mahusay sa trabaho at masigla, kaya maganda ang resulta ng iyong trabaho. Gaganda ang pinansyal na kalagayan. Pero sa taong mahal mo, kulang ang ipinapakita mong pag-aalaga at atensyon. Makakahanap ka ng paraan na mapagtakpan ang mga pagkaantala ng ilang bagay. Mataas ang enerhiya mo, at ang problema mo ay kung paano ito magagamit ng husto na hindi ka lalabas na sobrang agresibo. Lucky numbers: 12, 16, 32 at 41.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
May mabubuo kang koneksyon sa iyong paglalakbay. Ingatan ang pananalapi dahil hindi maganda ang pasok nito ngayon. Dagdagan ang atensyon sa karelasyon na nakakaramdam na napapabayaan mo. Mag-ingat sa kolitis, kung hindi magagamot ito ng tama ay baka lumala ito. Lagnat at pananakit ng tiyan ang maaring maranasan. Lucky numbers: 16, 20, 33 at 42.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Makakaasa ka ng swerte ngayon. Mawawala ang pangamba at kamalasan at muling mabibigyan ng pag-asa dahil sa magandang kapalaran na darating sa iyo. Mas gaganda ang pagsasama dahil pipiliting mong mas maging maunawain at maalaga sa mahal mo sa buhay. Malalasap mo ang pinakamaligayang sandali sa pag-ibig. Magugustuhan ng mga tao ang bago mong pananaw sa buhay at kasiyahan sa kahit simpleng mga bagay. Lucky numbers: 19, 21, 37 at 46.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Mag-ingat sa magagandang alok na wala ring kahihinatnan, at sa mga importanteng tao na wala rin palang kuwenta. Sa madaling salita, hindi lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto. Umiwas sa mga tukso. Mas magiging maingat ka pagdating sa pag-ibig. Ingatan ang paghawak ng pera, dahil may ugali kang pabigla-bigla ng desisyon, lalo na sa panahong ngayon na kabi-kabila ang mga paninda. Lucky numbers: 6, 15, 30 at 41.



UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Lumabas ka at makihalubilo sa mga tao: dito ka makakatagpo ng mga taong kawiwilihan mo. Hindi masamang makipagkaibigan, lalo kung positibong mababago ang iyong pananaw. Kailangan mong pag-isipang mabuti kung ano talaga ang gusto mo, at kung sino ang gusto mong makasama sa buhay nang hindi nai-impluwensyahan ng materyal na bagay. Sa pamilya, hangad mo ang katahimikan at maayos na pagsasama. Lucky numbers: 9, 14, 25 at 39.

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Ang love life ay sisibol nang walang problema o tensyon. Samantalahin ito upang mas lalo pang maging matatag ang pagsasama. Kung single, malaki ang tsansa na makatagpo ng taong magugustuhan mo. Magkakaroon ka ng magandang pagkakataon upang magamit ng husto ang enerhiya at kaalaman. Mag-ingat upang hindi magkasakit. Kailangan mo ng vitamin C at dagdagan ang pag-inom ng mainit na tubig upang lumuwag ang daloy ng plema. Lucky numbers: 5, 13, 27 at 41. 

Suportahan natin ang ating mga sponsor:

Diego nagtangkang mag- suicide?

Naging usap-usapan sa showbiz ang diumano’y tangkang pagpapakamatay ng young actor na si Diego Loyzaga, 23. Ayon sa balita, nagtamo si Diego ng maraming sugat sa leeg at kamay dahil naglaslas siya gamit ang kanyang Swiss knife. Mabuti na lang daw at may mga kasama siya sa bahay na agad na nakasaklolo sa kanya at nagtakbo sa kanya sa ospital. May nakapagsabi na hindi naman daw malalim o seryoso ang mga tinamong sugat ng aktor kaya agad itong pinayagang makalabas.

Marami ang nagulat sa balitang ito dahil tila maganda naman ang takbo ng career ng batang actor. Isa siya sa mga bida sa TV series na Los Bastardos na kasalukuyang ipinapalabas sa Kapamilya channel. Ang kanyang inang si Teresa Loyzaga ay nasa Pilipinas na rin at binalikan ang showbiz career. Tahimik din at tila wala nang problema sa kanyang amang si Cesar Montano, na kamakailan ay napag-usapan din. 

Ilang beses na ring naging laman ng mga balita si Diego dahil sa pag-post niya sa social media tungkol sa galit niya sa ama, ang naging away niya sa isang Grab driver, ang pagpo-post niya ng mga larawan sa Boracay, ang break up nila ni Sofia Andres- na umani lahat ng negatibong reaksyon mula sa publiko.

Sa kabila ng mga haka-haka, nananatiling tahimik sina Teresa at Cesar tungkol sa kalagayan ng kanilang anak. Balitang dinala nina Teresa at kapatid nitong si Bing Loyzaga si Diego sa isang pribadong lugar upang magpagaling. Pero hindi siguro ito binawalang gumamit ng internet o telepono dahil nag-post na ito ng larawan ng bottled fruit juices.

Noong March 2010, ang panganay na anak na lalaki ni Cesar at  half-brother ni Diego na si Christian Angelo ay nagpakamatay sa pamamagitan ng pagbaril sa sarili sa kanilang bahay sa Quezon City.

VICTOR MAGTANGGOL, TATAPUSIN NA
Malungkot na ipinahayag ni Alden Richards na magtatapos na ang kanyang TV series na “Victor Magtanggol” sa November 16. Inamin ng aktor na hindi nakaagapay sa ratings ang kanilang show sa kalabang “Ang Probinsyano” ng ABS CBN, na patuloy pa ring namamayagpag sa ere pagkatapos ng mahigit dalawang taon. Pero hindi raw totoo ang tsismis na sadyang sinibak na lang ang show dahil dito. Nabuo naman daw nila ang full season, na dapat ay ipapalabas lang ng 13 linggo, pero pinapirma rin sila ng extension contract. 

Naisip din daw ni Alden na pakiusapan ang mga bosses ng GMA 7 na i-extend ang show dahil naawa siya sa staff at crew na mawawalan ng trabaho, kung kailan magpapasko pa naman. “Kaya lang po, ang daming factors na kinunsider, ‘yung show po kasi na darating, ready na po, tapos ‘yung bakasyon ko rin po sa family, hindi ko na mai-move. Saka ‘yun lang din po ‘yung day na napaalam ko sa GMA, last year pa po, actually,” ang paliwanag pa ni Alden. Nakatakdang magbakasyon si Alden kasama ang buong pamilya sa Los Angeles, California sa December.

Gagawa daw siya ng pelikula sa first quarter ng 2019. Gusto rin daw niyang masubukang makagawa ng indie film, pero sa ngayon ay wala pang offer. Baka sa second quarter na raw siya muling gagawa ng teleserye, at sana raw ay drama naman dahil nami-miss niya ito.

MARIAN, PAHINGA MUNA SA PELIKULA
Ipinagpaliban muna ni Marian Rivera ang paggawa ng isang horror film na nakatakda sana niyang umpisahan sa buwang ito, dahil buntis siya. Kinausap daw niya ang management team niya na Triple A na hindi muna siya gagawa ng pelikula, lalo na kung horror film ito, dahil baka makasama sa kanyang kalagayan, at baka pagsisihan niya ito.

Nong July 2018, ipahayag ni Rams David, manager ni Marian, na muling mapapanood sa pelikula si Marian kung mapipili itong kalahok sa Metro Manila Film Festival. Pero dahil nabuntis nga siya, na masayang in-announce nila ng asawang si Dingdong Dantes noong September, nabago ang kanilang mga plano. Isa na rito ang pag-urong ni Dingdong ng kanyang pagtakbo sana sa susunod na eleksyon, dahil kailangan niyang alalayan ang kanyang asawa sa kanyang kalagayan. Ayaw daw niya itong ma-stress ng dahil sa pagsabak niya sa pulitika.

Sa ngayon ay abala pa rin naman si Marian sa kanyang regular shows na Sunday PinaSaya at Tadhana, at may mga product endorsement din siyang ginagawa. Bukod dito, hands-on mom siya sa kanyang anak na si Zia, na magta-tatlong gulang na sa Nov. 23. Huling napanood sa pelikula si Marian noong 2016, sa isang guest role sa pelikulang “Imagine You And Me”.

Samantala, sinabi ni Marian na malakas siyang kumain ngayon sa kanyang pangalawang pagbubuntis, hindi kagaya noong una. Nakakahiligan daw niyang kumain ng maaasim gaya ng kamias at manggang hilaw. Sa tanong kung babae o lalaki ang kanilang magiging anak, sinabi niyang magkakaroon sila ng gender reveal party sa buwang ito, pagkatapos ng check-up niya sa kanyang doctor. Gusto muna daw nilang makasiguro bago ito i-share sa publiko.

MAINE AT ARJO, MADALAS MAGKASAMA
Muling namataan sina Maine Mendoza at Arjo Atayde na magkasamang nanood ng concert na Karpos Live sa Vertis Tent, Vertis North sa Quezon City noong November 8. Bago ito, nakunan sila ng mga larawan sa isang resort sa Bali, Indonesia noong Halloween break.

Magkasama sina Maine at Arjo sa pelikulang “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles” na entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival, na pinagbibidahan nina Coco Martin at Vic Sotto. Tila dito nag-umpisa ang pagkakaibigan ng dalawa dahil ilang beses pa silang nakitang magkasamang kumakain sa isang restaurant sa Quezon City, at sa isang bar sa Bonifacio Global City.

Wala pang inaamin ang dalawa kung may namumuong relasyon sa kanila, pero kinumpirma kamakailan ng dating girlfriend ni Arjo na si Sammie Rimando ng grupong GirlTrends, na break na sila.

Ang kapatid naman ni Arjo na si Ria Atayde ang nagtatanggol sa kanyang kuya sa mga bashers o fans   ng AlDub na galit na ma-link ang kanilang idolong si Maine kay Arjo o kaninuman, maliban kay Alden Richards. Ang tweet ni Ria: “If a guy and girl are both single, they should be able to date whoever they want. And a genuine sign of support is if you let them, if you accept it and if you become happy for them even if they don’t go for the person you’re for.”

Wala raw sinasabi si Arjo sa kanya, pero alam daw niyang masaya ito ngayon.

HIMIG HANDOG WINNERS
Panalo ang awiting “Sa Mga Bituin na Lang Ibubulong” bilang Best Original song sa katatapos na Himig Handog 2018. Ito ay nilikha ni Kyle Raphael Borbon, at inawit ni JM de Guzman. Sa finale na ginanap sa ASAP noong November 11, si Jason Dy ang nag-perform ng awitin, dahil maysakit daw si JM, kaya hindi nakadalo. Tumanggap sila ng cash prize na Php1 million bilang grand prize winner. 

Ang sampung finalists na nag-perform sa ASAP ay ang mga sumusunod: “Tinatapos Ko Na” (composer: SJ Gandia, interpreted by Jona) ; “Wala Kang Alam” (composed and arranged by Mel Magno and Martin John Arellano and interpreted by Sam Mangubat); “Dalawang Pag-ibig Niya” (composed by Bernard Reforsado and interpreted by Sheena Belarmino & Krystal Brimer with MNL48); “Mas Mabuti Pa” (composed by Mhonver Lopez and Joanna Concepcion and interpreted by Janine Berdin); “Hati Na Lang Tayo Sa Kanya” (composed by Joseph Santiago and interpreted by Eumee); “Sugarol” (composed by Jan Sabili and interpreted by Maris Racal); “Sa Mga Bituin na lang Ibubulong” (composed by Kyle Raphael Borbon and interpreted by Jason Dy); “Wasakan” (composed by Philip Arvin Jarilla and interpreted by Agsunta); “Para sa Tabi” (composed by Robert William Perena and interpreted by Boyband PH), at “Kababata” (composed by John Michael Edixon, and interpreted by Kritiko ft. Kyla).

Ang ibang mga nanalo:
Best Original Song: ”Sa Mga Bituin na lang Ibubulong”
Second Best Song: ”Wakasan”
Third Best Song:  ”Kababata”
Fourth Best Song: ”Mas Mabuti Pa”
Fifth Best Song: ”Tinatapos Ko Na”

Special Awards
M.O.R 101.9’s Choice: ”Sugarol” composed by Jan Sabili and interpreted by Maris Racal
One Music PH’s Choice for Favorite Interpreter:  Sam Mangubat for “Wala Kang Alam”
TFC’s Global Choice of Favorite Song: “Sugarol” composed by Jan Sabili and interpreted by Maris Racal
Star Music Listener’s Choice: “Mas Mabuti Pa” composed by Mhonver Lopez and Joanna Concepcion, and interpreted by Janine Berdin
Best Produced Track / Music Producer’s Award:  “Tinatapos Ko Na” composed by SJ Gandia and interpreted by Jona
MYX Choice for Best Music Video: ”Sugarol” directed by John Leo Garcia

YAM, KINAIINISAN SA “HALIK”
Laging napag-uusapan ngayon ang hit TV series na “Halik” dahil sa ipinapakitang husay ng mga artista na sina Yam Concepcion, Yen Santos, Sam Milby, at lalo na si Jericho Rosales, na consistent sa pagiging mahusay na aktor. 

Lumabas ng husto ang natatagong husay ni Yam bilang isang palabang kerida na si Jade, dahil nasanay na mga dating nakapanood sa kanya sa mga roles niya na laging tahimik, at mabait. Ang dating napapanood na mahinhin na si Yen Santos bilang si Jackie, ay naging palaban din bilang asawa na niloko at ipinagpalit sa kerida.

Si Sam Milby, na nakasanayang napapanood bilang good boy, ay kinainisan ngayon bilang si Ace, ang asawang manloloko at nangangaliwa. Nagbunyi ang mga masugid na sumusubaybay sa palabas nang bugbog –sarado ang inabot niya kay Lino (Jericho) matapos siyang  mahuli na kahalikan ang asawa nitong si Jade sa isang bar. 

Marami pang eksenang susubaybayan sa “Halik” na patuloy na tinatangkilik dahil marami raw sa mga manonood ang nakaka-relate dito sa tunay na buhay.

Suportahan natin ang ating mga sponsor:

OFWs swamp POLO for free check-ups

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre  supervises volunteers and POLO staff in giving edical check-ups to OFWs.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre is considering imposing an appointment system or cutting down on activities in the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the wake of a heavy turnout of OFWs on the second Sunday of his free health check project.

The labor official reported an overflow crowd of 219 workers seeking the free service on Nov. 11 in POLO’s 18th floor office at Mass Mutual Tower in Wanchai.

“We need to assess and see whether we should impose an appointment system, or abandon the other training sessions crowding the area,” Labatt Dela Torre said in a post on his Facebook page later that day.

He said POLO was “filled to the rafters” with OFWs lining up for medical tests under Project Health Wise.  The deluge resulted in the weighing scale conking out and glucose test strips running out, and dela Torre sending out an urgent request for donors.

The first Saturday edition of the project on Nov. 10 also received an enthusiastic response from OFWs, who numbered close to 200 by the end of the day.

Dela Torre said his staff has to do overtime work to provide this service because POLO is normally closed on Saturdays.

Project Health Wise is conducted by POLO-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Hong Kong in collaboration with Filipino Nurses Association, Balikatan sa Kaunlaran Hong Kong Council and Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines.

Assistant Labor Attaché Angelica Suñga and OWWA Hong Kong staff Joszoa Villa, both registered nurses, lead the volunteers in administering the service, which includes taking vital signs, blood glucose, urine, uric acid, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis checks.

FNA holds lectures on breast self-examination while a group of physical therapists led by Bona Cresencia provides free massage.

In a Facebook post, Dela Torre said, “The aim is to enable our OFWs to recognize vital signs that could potentially lead to serious health issues in the future, “ as he encouraged workers to avail themselves of the free health service. 

Suportahan natin ang ating mga sponsor:

Mandatory insurance, SSS loom for OFWs

Consul General Antonio Morales opens the forum. With him are, from left: Pag-IBIG Fund representative Raymond Francis Ramos, SSS representative John Mata, Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, Deputy Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, Consul Roderic Atienza, Vice Consul Fatima Quintin and Welfare Officers Marivic Clarin and Virsie Tamayao .

By Daisy CL Mandap

For the first time, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has confirmed a government resolution mandating all Filipino migrant workers to be covered by insurance, but said there are no rules for implementing it yet.

“I have received a copy of Resolution No 3 of the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) but not the implementing rules and regulations,” said Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre at a Filipino community meeting held on Nov 11 at the Consulate.

Sought for further information after the forum, Labatt dela Torre said Philippine labor officials might still be mulling the resolution because of possible backlash.

The plan to require insurance (which currently costs US$44 per two-year contract for land-based workers), and forced contributions to the Social Security System of up to Php2,400 monthly, were the focus of the first community-wide forum called by Consul General Antonio Morales.

The forum is the biggest gathering of Filipino community leaders this year.

ConGen Morales asserted his adherence to a policy of consultation when he opened the meeting, held at the request of United Filipinos –Migrante Hong Kong, which has been protesting the planned government impositions.

Morales said that although the Consulate’s main task is to implement the law, they are also duty-bound to listen to the sentiments of Filipinos, especially migrant workers. Thus, he said “ipaparating naming ang mga hinaing ninyo.”

SSS representative John Mata said he had yet to receive information on when the proposed Social Security Act of 2018 would be implemented. The bill mandates a three-month initial contribution for those about to leave the Philippines, while those already on site are enjoined to pay monthly contributions, but it is not clear how this can be enforced.

The bill has already been passed by both houses of Congress with no known input from OFWs, and is just awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Mata suggested those leading the protest against mandatory contributions could write to the SSS president to express their views. “May pagkakataon pang mag-dialogue,” he said.

But Unifil chairperson Dolores Balladares-Pelaez said the dialogue should have come when the bill was still being discussed in Congress, not now when it is almost as good as done.

Pelaez also dismissed suggestions employers could be made to pay for SSS and worker’s insurance in the Philippines. “So kung ayaw ng aming employer, baka kami mawalan ng trabaho,” she said.

She also said her group is not against paying for SSS, but there should be no compulsion, or sanction for those who do not, or cannot, pay for it. “Huwag naman kaming alisan ng karapatan na mamili,” she said.

ConGen Morales suggested that migrant workers who get to talk to Philippine lawmakers – senators as well as members of the House of Representatives – should take the chance to make their views known. “Sulatan ninyo sila at ipahatid ang inyong saloobin,” he urged.

Another topic discussed was the overseas employment certificate, which Labatt dela Torre noted wryly, was supposed to have been replaced by an OFW card called iDole more than a year ago.

While the OEC remains a requirement for those intending to go for a vacation in the Philippines, the OFW ID is reportedly about to be issued, after the task of getting it done was passed on to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Welfare officer Virsie Tamayao said the OFW ID had its “grand launch” only the other week, and migrant workers could already apply for it without paying anything. However, the card can only be claimed in the Philippines, so OFWs who want someone to get it for them should execute a special power of attorney naming the representative, which should then be notarized at the Consulate.

When forum participants protested at the high cost of getting a document notarized ($200 or Php1,400) Labatt dela Torre asked the OWWA officers if they could recommend a simpler and less costly way for OFWs to get their ID cards.

The wide-ranging topics taken up at the meeting included Unifil-Migrante’s call for better working conditions for all migrant workers in Hong Kong. These include stipulating in the work contract a continuous rest period of at least 11 hours, and providing a list of “unsuitable” accommodations.

Bayan HK and Macau chairman Eman Villanueva also said migrant workers should be paid a “living” wage, and not one that is decided upon arbitrarily by Hong Kong government officials.

The other issues raised included the perennial problem over loans and the use of passports to secure them; the longstanding cases of Emry’s and Peya Travel, in which hundreds of OFWs were victimized; the promised rebates for longtime OWWA members, and the offloading of minors traveling from the Philippines without either parent.

Consul Paul Saret, who heads the assistance to nationals section, confirmed the policy of requiring those who used passports as collateral for loans, to apply directly with the Department of Foreign Affairs if they want their document replaced.

Saret also said he and Labatt dela Torre would soon meet with Hong Kong police to discuss how to speed up the investigation into Emry’s and Peya.

Welfare officer Marivic Clarin said the OWWA rebates could be expected soon, while social welfare attaché Beth Dy said OFWs who want their children to visit them here should first check the requirements to prevent offloading.

All officers of the Consulate and its attached agencies were present at the meeting, including the new Deputy Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan who promised to look more closely into the concerns of migrant workers.

“Bawat post ay unique, so hindi ko masasabi na alam ko na lahat ng mga hinaing ninyo,” she said. But she said migrant workers need more attention than others in the community because they are the “most vulnerable.”

The meeting ended with calls from Filcom leaders for regular consultations. Consulate officers said they’d consider the suggestion. 

Suportahan natin ang ating mga sponsor: