Nabago ng Card-MRI ang kanilang mga buhay

Rose Madelyn Marquez

Ni George Manalansan

Makailang ulit na pagpapatunay sa serbisyong naibibigay ng Card MRI at ng sangay nito na Card Hong Kong Foundation ang nangibabaw sa seremonya ng pagtatapos na isinagawa sa Bayanihan Centre sa Kennedy Town noong Nob 18.

Kabilang sa mga nagbigay ng testimonya mula sa Pilipinas ay si Rose Madelyn Marquez, Card-MRI Gawad Maunlad National Awardee.

Ikinuwento niya na mula sa inutang niya na Php2,000 mula sa Card MRI ay nag-umpisa siyang magtinda ng mga kakanin, at nang lumago ang kanyang munting negosyo ay naisipan niyang pumasok sa agrikultura. Nang umabot sa Php50,000 ang maari niyang mautang ay bumili na siya ng traktora, hanggang lumawak nang lumawak ang kanyang sinasaka. Ngayon ay may 93 ektarya na ang lupain, bahay at mga sasakyan, pero balak pa rin daw niyang mangutang ng ng hanggang Php8.5million sa Card para patuloy pang palaguin ang kanyang negosyo.

Ang payo ni Marquez, huwag nang hintayin pa na makaipon ng malaki, ang importante ay magsimula na sa balak na negosyo. “Mangutang kayo sa Card,” wika niya.

Irene Fadullo

Medyo taliwas naman ang payo ni Irene Fadullo, na pinarangalan bilang Card SME Bank Gawad Maunlad Awardee.

“Kami ay nangungutang nang may paglalagyan, hindi yung tipong mangungutang ka para lang ipampasarap sa buhay, sadyang sa negosyo namin inilaan. Sa Card po sila ang talagang dahilan kung saan kami ngayon,” sabi ni Fadullo. “Nagsimula lang kami sa isang oven ngayon ay mahigit 20 na ang gamit naming sa bakery. Maraming salamat sa Card.”

Ang mga nagtapos naman sa financial literacy program ng Card HK Foundation ay ubod din ang pasasalamat sa pagsasanay nilang tinamo, katulad ni Evelyn Tambalos ng Batch 48.

“The chance of learning financial literacy changed my perception in life regarding finances, especially how to spend it wisely. I have goals in my life now, I focus on it and I am firm about it,” sabi niya.

Sa katunayan daw, pagkatapos ng seminar ay nakapag-umpisa sila kaagad ng kanyang asawa ng kanilang sariling food cart business. Ang una nilang binenta ay piniritong manok na tinawag niyang “chicken joy” at nang lumaon ay dinagdagan na nila ng banana cue, fishballs, at iba-ibang pang meryenda.

“Looking forward to having more food carts,” sabi niya.

Payo pa niya, kailangan daw na magkaroon ng kasunduan sa mga kapamilyang naiwanan para hindi sila gagastos ng walang kabuluhan.



Ayon naman kay Josephine Tabcao ng Batch 49 suwerte daw siya dahil naimbitahan ng isang kaibigan na maging parte ng pamilya ng Card.

“Ngayon I am applying what I have learned lalo na sa budgeting at pag-iipon,” sabi niya.



“Being an OFW, kung minsan puro tayo padala at gastos. After the fin- lit seminar, nalaman ko ang distinction ng needs and wants. Mas natuto ako na I- prioritize ang needs at isantabi muna ang wants.”

Kumpisal naman ni Reyna Elevenson ng batch 50, sa loob ng 12 pagtatrabaho niya sa Hong Kong ay wala siyang naipon o investment, at baon pa sa utang. Pero sa loob lang ng tatlong buwan matapos siyang sumali sa financial literacy seminar ng Card, nakikita na daw niya kung saan napupunta ang perang pinaghirapan niya, at nakapag-umpisa na siyang mag-ipon.



“This training has opened the door for an opportunity for us to achieve financial freedom. I will forever hold a part of this training in my heart, it has given me and helped me realized what matters most in life especially when it comes to our finances”, wika niya.

Sambit naman ni  Sheila Marie Almine ng Batch 51: “Laking tulong po sa akin ang workshop dahil mas na- motivate ako na mag-ipon. Ang kaalamang natutunan ko ay ibinahagi ko sa ilang mga kakilala dahil talagang na-inspire ako. Nawa’y mas marami pa kayong mabigyan ng kaalaman mabuhay po kayo!”



Para naman kay Sheryl Alalag-Mapandan ng Outreach group, “The seminar gave me a clear idea on how to manage my finances wisely to achieve a better financial situation. It is not an overnight transformation but slowly and surely, we are applying the financial concepts we learned to be better individuals, especially in handling our finances. We pray that you will not tarry, but will continue this program you started. If all OFWs will become debt-free and have secured savings, then we will be very proud to say we are indeed “bayani ng ating bayan.”

Dagdag ni Ma. Elvesa Apostol ng Entrepreneurship group, “Since I plan to go home for good soon my learning especially on entrepreneurship will definitely guide me and give me strength to successfully manage my agriculture business in the Philippines. You cannot be a successful entrepreneur if you don’t know how to plan your business, kaya importante ang pag-aaral natin ng business Planning na itinuro sa atin ng Card Hong Kong Foundation.”

Tulong-pangarap

Marami ang nangangarap na mag-negosyo kapag umuwi tayo sa Pilipinas balang araw. Pero ilan ba sa atin ang may ginagawa upang makamit ang ganitong pangarap?

Ang marami sa atin, kahit plano ay wala. Kung may plano man, hanggang doon na lang, dahil iniisip nila na wala naman silang pang-kapital.

Pero marami sa atin ay tahimik na gumagawa ng paraan upang mapalapit sa kanilang pangarap. Kumukuha sila ng training mula sa “skills” gaya ng pagmamasahe at paggawa ng tinapa, hanggang sa kaalamang pangnegosyo.



Kalimitan ay libre ang mga pagsasanay na ito. At para sa mga naghihirap na ituro ang maraming paraan sa paggawa ng pera, sapat nang kabayaran ang makitang nagtatapos ang kani-kanilang tinuruan.



Sa 23 taon namin bilang tagamasid ng Filipino community sa Hong Kong, naging saksi kami sa pakikipagsapalaran ng mga OFW, at sa pagtupad ng pangarap ng ilan na mamuhay kasama ang pamilya.

Kaya kapag naaanyayahan kami ng mga grupong gaya ng CARD OFW Foundation Hong Kong, Balikatan, Umela at Diwa’t Kabayan Benlife Society Club upang dumalo sa mga pagtatapos ng kanilang mga trainee, hindi namin pinalalagpas ang pagkakataon na makipag-kuwentuhan. Dito kasi nabubuhay ang pangarap.



At lalo kaming natutuwa na sa mga nagtatapos, may mga patuloy na naghahanap ng dagdag na kaalaman upang maging handa sila sa pagdating ng panahong sila ay dapat nang umuwi.

Kung lahat ng mga OFW na nasa Hong Kong ay gagaya sa kanila, at susundan ito ng milyon-milyong OFW na nagkalat sa buong mundo, mababago hindi lang ang kanilang buhay, kundi ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas dahil sa kanilang kikitain at sa taong mabibigyan nila ng trabaho.



Mabuti at unti-unting nabubuo ang alyansa sa Hong Kong sa pagitan ng mga grupong nagbibigay ng livelihood training at kursong pangnegosyo upang bigyan landas tungo sa mas malawak na kaalaman. para sa mga interesado, at ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas, upang maituro sila sa mga tulong na ibinibigay ng iba’t ibang ahensiya sa mga nangangarap nang ganito.

Malugod naming susundan ang mga mangyayari sa pagbuo ng isang sistemang tunay na makatutulong sa mga OFW na baguhin ang kanilang kabuhayan.

Pinay artist-in-residence holds workshop with OFWs

Filipino Artist Alma Quinto conducts a Textile art workshop  

By Cris Cayat

She came to Hong Kong to finish two projects about migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong but didn’t know how, and where, to do the project at first.

Alma Quinto, who is here as an artist-in-residence at Centre for Heritage Arts and Textiles in Tsuen Wan, said her first few days of stay was a blur, but after connecting with a few members of the Filipino community, the project blossomed.

Some of the participants with their finished artworks.

She eventually came up with a project called “Day-off Mo?”, in reference to the question frequently asked of her by Filipino migrant workers she encounters everywhere.

The first part of this project was held on Nov 18 at Statue Square in Central, the iconic hangout of Filipino migrant workers on their days off.

Quinto collaborated with various groups in the morning to hold a workshop using textile as a medium of expressing their activities on Sundays. The idea was to compile all the artworks and create a textile book.

In the afternoon she worked with two migrants with a passion for the arts in another collaboration for a more symbolic but silent assertion of women migrants’ role in the progress of Hong Kong.



Cecil Eduarte, who is from Abra, created a doll statue of her famous townmate, the feminist icon Gabriela Silang. Her soft statue had a raised fist to symbolize her stand to fight for the rights of fellow migrants.

This writer, who is from Benguet, was the second collaborator. My own soft statue was dressed up in indigenous fabrics as a representation of our tribe in a cosmopolitan city like Hong Kong.



The two soft statues were placed in front of the black-colored stone statue of Sir Thomas Jackson, more famously known among migrants as the “Blackman,” in the middle of the Square.

Quinto said the installation was very symbolic, as it reflected the life of migrant workers in Hong Kong.



On Nov. 25, more soft statues were placed in front of Blackman, which also represented the way migrants spend their Sundays.

The collaborators on this day included were Joan Pabona and Dholeeh Ann Hidalgo for photography, Mharz Balaoro for LGBT rights, Elpie Leba for Upcycling, and Victoria Munar in contemporary Filipiniana outfit.



All the artworks were exhibited at The Mills in Tsuen Wan, site of the former cotton spinning mills of the Nan Fun Textile factory. The exhibit included a presentation of Quinto’s research and collaborative works with Hong Kong locals and Filipino migrants. The exhibit will run until Jan. 6.

Quinto, the fourth artist-in-residence at Chat at The Mills, is a visual artist, educator and cultural worker whose works aim to empower underprivileged people and “heal broken dreams”. Her three-month tenure runs from September to December this year. – with a report from Ellen Asis

Pinoy sailor awaits sentence for drug trafficking

Cocaine shaped like shoe soles.

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipino seafarer who sneaked nearly 2 kilograms of cocaine molded like shoe soles into Hong Kong will be sentenced on Thursday for drug trafficking, to which he has confessed.

Consul Paulo Saret, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, told The SUN he hoped Carlito B. Platon, 49, would be given a lighter sentence because of his guilty plea before Judge Ester Toh on Nov 27 and for cooperating with investigators by testifying against  his Colombian co-defendants in a 10-day trial that ended on Dec 12 in the Court of First Instance.

Platon testified at the trial of his co-defendants Cristhian Enrique Posso has begun serving his jail term of more than 24 years, and Jose Gonzalez Uribe who was acquitted. They both pleaded not guilty.

In his testimony, Platon said he was visited in jail by a man who claimed to be a lawyer and allegedly threatened him so he would not testify for the prosecution.

\Posso, 38, was sentenced on Dec 12 by Toh after the jury unanimously voted to convict him of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

Uribe, who claimed he was just asked by his friend Posso to accompany him on a shopping trip to Jordan Road on June 2 last year, was acquitted.

Customs and police officers pounced on Posso, Uribe and Platon while they were on board a taxi on Nathan Road in Yaumatei after meeting up at the Panda Hotel in Jordan. The three took the taxi where the drug was delivered and the money handed over to Platon.

Posso, accompanied by Uribe, had booked a room at the hotel, where Platon was to have delivered the cocaine.

Unknown to the three, Customs and police undercover men had already put Platon under surveillance after Hong Kong was alerted on May 31 by a US law enforcement agency that a cargo of cocaine would be brought in by a ship on June 2.

A Customs officer who led the arresting team said during the trial that the carrier was first identified as “Carlos”. Hong Kong intelligence team found no such name on the manifests of incoming ships, so they double-checked with the US agency and finally got the full name of Platon, who was due to arrive on a Maersk ship.



Platon said in his testimony that he met the source of the drug during a ship call in Colombia. He said he agreed to be used because he was in debt and needed money for his wife’s surgery and his mother-in-law’s medical needs.

At Kwai Chung port, he was met by a Chinese man who took him to Panda Hotel in Jordan. The deal was he would be paid in US dollars to meet up with Posso. Instead, he was given $105,000 in Hong Kong bank notes.



 He denied agreeing to testify because he wanted to get a discount in his sentence, and said he only wanted to “clear my conscience.”

When arrested, Platon’s rucksack yielded the payoff money, which was in four stacks of $500 bank notes bundled with rubber bands. He gave up meekly.



Posso threw the bag containing the drug on the ground and struggled when officers caught up with him. Uribe tried to run away but was met by other officers.

Toh sentenced Posso to 23 years in jail for trafficking in 1.982 kg of solid cocaine with a purity of 1.333 kg. Then she added 15 more months for what she said was Posso’s bad record and abuse of Hong Kong’s hospitality despite his recognizance status.



The judge immediately sentenced Posso after prosecutor Alex Ng said the defendant had three previous convictions, including one in 2010, also for drug trafficking, for which he was sentenced to 8 years in jail.

Posso was reportedly a torture claimant who applied for non-refoulement (or against being sent back to his home country) after coming to Hong Kong as a visitor.

Donald confirmed Posso’s previous convictions. He said in mitigation that his client was 38 years old, married and has three children, including twin daughters.

Aljur at Kylie, ikinasal na

Ikinasal na ang Kapamilya actor na si Aljur Abrenica, 28, at Kapuso actress na si Kylie Padilla, 25, sa isang intimate Christian wedding noong December 11. Ginanap ito sa Villa Milagros Ancestral House sa Rodriguez, Rizal.

Pinangunahan ni Robin Padilla, ama ni Kylie, ang 70 guests na kinabibilangan ng malalapit na kamag-anak at kaibigan nina Aljur at Kylie. Naroon din ang ina ni Kylie na si Liezl Sicangco at iba pang anak nila ni Robin na sina Queenie, na tumayong matron of honor, Zhen Zhen, na naging maid of honor at ang bunso nilang si Ali. Kasama ni Robin ang asawa niya ngayong si Mariel Rodriguez at anak nilang si Isabella na naging flower girl sa kasal.

Ang mga kapatid ni Aljur na sina Vin at Allen Abrenica ay parehong groomsmen. Ka-date ni Vin ang matagal na niyang girlfriend, ang Kapuso actress na si Sophie Albert, na kasabay niyang nagsimula sa showbiz sa TV5. Dumalo rin ang kaibigan ni Kylie na si Gabbi Garcia, na kasama ang natsi-tsismis na boyfriend niya ngayong si Kahlil Ramos.

Simple pero elegante ang wedding gown ni Kylie, na gawa ni Mak Tumang, habang naka-checkered suit na terno si Aljur. 

Maganda ang naging love story nina Aljur at Kylie, na unang umamin na sila na,  noong 2011. Naging off and on ang kanilang relasyon hanggang mag-break sila noong 2014, at parehong nakapag-move on na, hanggang magkita silang muli, at nang lumaon ay ibinalitang sila na ulit noong September 2016. Noong January 2017, ibinalita nila na buntis si Kylie, at ipinahayag na engaged na sila. Noong August 5, 2017, isinilang ni Kylie ang anak nila ni Aljur na si Alas Joaquin Abrenica.



CHERRIE GIL, NAGLABAS NG ACTOR’S ETIQUETTE POST
Halata ang pagka-inis ni Cherrie Gil sa ilang kasamahan sa industriya dahil sa hindi tamang pagtrato sa mga kapwa artista, kaya naglabas siya ng sarili niyang pamantayan na tinawag niyang Actor’s Etiquette.

Ang kanyang post:
“Certain actors’ etiquette are not taught in some acting workshops. And I think they should be. I personally think the ff: and NOT in the order of importance: “NEVER ever kiss me in greeting, out of so called politeness and courtesy, if I don’t know who the hell you are! Introduce yourself first.
“And pllleeeaaasssee don’t call me TITA unless we are blood related”.
“NEVER ever echo the directors’ instructions to your co-actor in the scene”.
“Never TEACH your co actor or tell her/him how he should do the scene or his part unless YOU need something from the actor which would help you in your own process. BUT ask kindly and humbly.
“NEVER look to your cellphone or retouch while blocking/reading a scene (I promise I’ll either slap you or walk out on you). 
 ”NEVER LET any actor wait for you when called to the set. ESPECIALLY senior actors
“Art is a collaboration. And there is always room to learn from and grow with one another. So... please throw your effing ugly EGO out the window .
There are various kinds of EGO btw. Learn the difference”. KEEP the good kind which is necessary for creativity and your own preservation of self worth !
“THANK YOU!”


Pahulaan ngayon kung sino sa mga kasamahan niya sa kanyang show sa GMA Network, ang kanyang pinatatamaan. Base sa kanyang post, baguhan pa lang ito kaya hindi niya ito kilala, o hindi rin siya kilala nito. 

PINAGHAHANDAAN ANG MMFF 2018
Ngayon pa lang ay naghahanda na ang mga fans ng mga artistang may pelikulang kasali sa Metro Manila Film Festival 2018. Hinuhulaan na rin kung aling pelikula ang mangunguna sa takilya at kung patuloy pa ring mamamayagpag si Vice Ganda at muling tanghaling “reyna” ng MMFF dahil sa pagiging top grosser ng kanyang mga pelikula.



Ang mga kalahok sa taong ito:
1) Rainbow’s Sunset – Eddie Garcia, Gloria Romero, Tony Mabesa, Tirso Cruz III, Aiko Melendez, Sunshine Dizon, Max Collins. Directted by Joel Lamangan
2) Fantastica – Vice Ganda, Richard Gutierrez, Dingdong Dantes, Bela Padilla, Jaclyn Jose, Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte, Kisses Delavi, Donny Pangilinan. Director si Barry Gonzales.
3) Jack Em Popoy, The PulisCredibles – Vic Sotto, Coco Martin at Maine Mendoza. Director si Mike Tuviera.
4) Aurora – Isang horror movie na pinagbibidahan ni Anne Curtis, sa direksyon ni Yam Laranas.
5) One Great Love – Kim Chiu, Dennis Trillo, JC de Vera, Eric Quizon, Miles Ocampo. Directed by Eric Quizon.
6) Mary, Marry Me – Toni Gonzaga, Sam Milby, Alex Gonzaga, Bayani Agbayani, Melai Cantiveros, Moi Bien. Directed by RC Delos Reyes. 
7) The Girl in the Orange Dress – Jericho Rosales, Jessy Mendiola, with special participation of Derek Ramsay, Tuesday Vargas, Maxene Magalona, Luis Manzanao, Jennylyn Mercado at Boy Abunda. Sa direksyon ni Jay Abello.
8) OTLUM – Jerome Ponce, Ricci Rivero, Buboy Villar, Kiray Celis, Michelle Vito, Vito Marquez. Special guests sina Irma Adlawan at John Estrada. Si Joven Tan ang director.

DARNA, LILIPAD NA SA 2019
Ipinahayag ni Olivia Lamasan, managing director ng Star Cinema at Kris Gazmen, head ng Black Sheep ang mga naka-lineup na na pelikula ng ABS CBN para sa susunod na taon nang mag-attend sila sa 2018 Singapore Media Fest kamakailan.

Unang ipapalabas sa January ang pelikulang “Eerie” na pinagbibidahan nina Charo Santos-Concio at Bea Alonzo. Pang- Valentine naman ang bagong Liz-Quen movie, kung saan ay isang UP student ang gagampanan ni Liza Soberano. Ang director nito ay si Antonette Jadaone.



Inaayos na rin daw ng director na si Jerrold Tarog, ang script ng “Darna” upang matapos at maipalabas na ito sa susunod na taon. Si Tarog, na mas nakilala bilang director ng “Heneral Luna” at “Goyo”, ang pumalit kay Erik Matti, na nag-resign sa proyekto dahil sa “creative differences” sa management.

May nakalinya ring follow-up movie para kina Daniel Padilla at Kathryn Bernardo, na sa ngayon ay itinuturing na no. 1 love team dahil gumawa ng record sa takilya ang pelikula nilang “The Hows Of Us” na kumita ng mahigit Php600 milyon.

Bukod sa local movies, may gagawin ding international movie ang Black Sheep, ito ang “Motel Acacia” na pagbibidahan nina JC Santos, Jan Bijvoet ng Begium, Bront Palarae ng Malaysia, Vithaya Pansringarm ng Thailand, Talia Zucker ng Australia, at Will Jaymes ng U.S./Australia. Ito ay sa direksyon ng Malaysian director na si Brad Liew.

Ang Black Sheep ay bagong production company ng ABS CBN, na itinatag lang nitong 2018, na ang target audience ay mga millenials. Ang isa pang production unit, ang CineBro Originals ay itinatag naman para sa male audience, kaya asahan nang muling magbabalik ang action films.