Taekwondo group goes sailing to celebrate Christmas

United Philippine Taekwondo Organization (Upto) Hong Kong pose for souvenir photo.

Daisy CL Mandap

They look good and fit, and they know it – but don’t flaunt it.

These are the members of the United Philippine Taekwondo Organization (Upto) Hong Kong who went sailing around Saikung on Dec. 2 aboard the pleasure yacht Angus, for a Christmas and 6th anniversary celebration.

Part of the entertainment was a limbo-rock contest, and many of the contestants were limber enough to go under a bar set just about three feet above the ground. A bit higher up, and even a heavily pregnant member managed to clear the hurdle.



This is obviously what engaging in taekwondo does to anyone who regularly engages in the sport, which is what Upto is all about. Regular practitioners are fit and nimble and have bodies to die for, but they see no reason to flaunt them.

The first Filipino Taekwondo group in Hong Kong formed in June 2012 has four 3rd dan Kukkiwon Taekwondo black belters, including three of its founders and members of the Board of Directors: Mercy Permales, Eric Jacinto and Ednalyn Serran.



Two are 2nd dan black belters, including the current president Wilma Colobong, and Christine Gaylan.

Below them are many members who regularly take part in competitions held around Hong Kong, with the next one coming up in January.



Upto members are happy enough attending regular training and competitions, but also take time off to have fun, like holding a hula contest in Repulse Bay, or going on charity walks.

As a public service, they also provide free training on Sundays to Filipinos interested to join them at four places across Hong Kong: Sheung Wan, Western, Tung Chung and Shatin.



The other officers, apart from Colobong are: Marilyn Anorico, vice president; Melinda Monsalud, internal secretary; Rizalyn Magon, external secretary; Soledad Flores, treasurer; Lerma Mansilungan, auditor; Josephine Rebenque, PRO; Letecia Cayudong and Virginia Isla, business managers; and Joyce Ramirez, coordinator.

The instructors are Permales, Jacinto, Serran, Colobong, Gaylan, Rebenque, Ruth delos Santos, Rey Aldea and Margie Nava. Their technical adviser is Master Tze Hong Lai.

Below is the schedule of their free Sunday training sessions:
Sheung Wan Sports Centre 10:00am -12:00 noon
Sun Yat Sen Sports Centre (Western)  1:00pm 2:00pm
Tung Chung Sports Centre 1:00pm-3:00pm
Shatin Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre Shatin 10:00am 12:00noon

Bumalik sa Pilipinas at magnegosyo, ang payo ng mag-asawang ex-Hong Kong

Ang pamilya Serrano noong bumisita sa Hong Kong.

Ni George Manalansan

Parang kailan lang nang maging magkasintahan sina Vic at Mel Serrano ng Pampanga. Nabuo ang kanilang pag-ibig sa Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) sa Maynila kung saan sila parehong nag-aral sa kolehiyo, bumuo ng pangarap hanggang maunang mangibang bansa si Vic.

Nagtrabaho si Vic bilang inhenyero sa loob ng 15 taon sa iba-ibang bansa: Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Hong Kong at Bahrain, samantalang si Mel ay nag domestic helper sa Hong Kong ng limang taon.

Dati na silang magkakilala at ang kani-kanilang pamilya dahil pareho silang galing sa pamilyang magsasaka.

Nagdesisyon silang magpakasal noong 1993, pero nagpatuloy si Vic sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.

Noong 1995 ay lumipat siya sa Hong Kong at sumali sa pinakamalaking proyekto dito noon, ang Chek Lap Kok airport, na nakumpleto ilang buwan bago ilipat ng Britanya sa China ang pamamahala sa Hong Kong.

Pagkatapos  nito ay sa Bahrain naman siya nagtrabaho, bago tuluyang nagdesisyon nang umuwi sa Pilipinas noong 2006. Nagtrabaho muna si Vic sa isang pinsan na tumulong para makapagtayo siya ng sariling negosyo.

Tantiya ni Vic, hindi sila sinuwerte ni Mel sa pagiging OFW kaya minabuti nilang gamitin ang kaunting ipon mula sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa para magtayo ng maliit na negosyo.

Hindi naman siya nagkamali ng pagpili ng landas na tatahakin dahil ngayon ay malago na ang itinayo nilang negosyo, ang GWP Electrical, Trading and Construction Company, na may opisina sa Paranaque at Pampanga. May mahigit na 100 trabahador sila at may mga proyekto hindi lang sa Karatig-Maynila kundi pati sa iba-ibang probinsiya.

Ang pangalan ng kanilang kumpanya ay tanda ng kanilang matibay na pananalig sa Diyos, dahil ang ibig sabihin ng GWP ay “God Will Provide.”



Sa mga panahong ito ay mayroon na silang dalawang anak: sina Jhon Ewen na 22 taong gulang na ngayon at isa na ring inhenyero katulad ng kanyang ama; at si Jenz Eries, 20 taon, nagtapos ng medical technology sa University of Sto. Tomas at planong kumuha ng medisina sa darating na pasukan.

Marangya man ang kanilang buhay ngayon, hindi pa rin nakakalimutan ng mag-asawa na balikan ang mga panahon na  nagsusumikap silang magtrabaho para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan, kasama ang kanilang dalawang anak.



Kamakailan ay dinala nila ang kanilang mga anak sa Hong Kong para ipakita kung paano sila namuhay dito noon, lalo na si Mel.

Ayon kay Vic, ipinakita niya sa mga anak ang mga Pilipinang nagsisiksikan sa gitna ng lamig sa mga nakalatag na karton sa Central, at ipinaliwanag sa kanila na ganoon ang sitwasyon ng nanay nila dati.



Gusto daw nilang makita ng mga anak ang hirap na dinaranas ng mga migranteng Pilipino, para lang maitaguyod ang kanilang mga pamilya sa Pilipinas.

Inilibot nila ang mga anak sa taong ito hindi lamang sa Hong Kong, kundi pati sa New Zealand, Korea at Singapore, bilang gantimpala na rin sa kanilang sarili para sa matagal na panahong nagpakahirap silang magtrabaho para makatikim ng kaunting kasaganaan.



Sa Hong Kong, binalikan ng mag-asawa ang kanilang mga masasayang alaala, at nakipagkita sa ilang dating kaibigan na patuloy pa ring nakikibaka para sa kanilang kinabukasan.

Hinihikayat ni Vic ang mga migrante na huwag patagalin ang panahon na malayo sila sa kanilang pamilya. Mag-ipon para makauwi agad, at pag-aralan kung paano makakapag-umpisa ng kanilang sariling negosyo sa Pilipinas. Handa daw siyang maging gabay nila kung kakailanganin.

Ibinigay niyang halimbawa ang isang pamangkin na dating sumasahod ng katumbas ng Php200,000 sa Saudi bilang inhenyero, pero pinili pa ring bumalik na sa Pilipinas para magnegosyo.

Payo ni Vic, gayahin ang ganitong diskarte dahil may pag-asa ding kumita din ng malaki sa negosyo. Huwag daw patatali sa pagiging suwelduhan lang.

Laking pasasalamat daw niya na nagdesisyon siyang umuwi na at hanapin ang kapalaran sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang niya nabantayan ang paglaki ng kanyang mga anak, naranasan din niyang kumita ng ayon sa kanyang pinaghirapan.

Pinoy seaman gets 9 years in jail for drug trafficking

The Fipino seaman was jailed for 9 years despite 60% discount on his sentence

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipino seafarer who admitted sneaking two kilos of cocaine molded like shoe soles into Hong Kong has been sentenced to 9 years and two months for drug trafficking.

Carlito B. Platon, 49, got a 60% discount in his sentence for pleading guilty to the offence and testifying against his Colombian co-accused during a 10-day trial at the Court of First Instance.

Judge Ester Toh imposed the sentence on Dec. 20 after Platon’s lawyer, Maurice Peter Tracy, said the sailor had been put under significant pressure not to plead guilty by his Colombian co-accused, Cristhian Enrique Posso.

The pressure increased when a solicitor allegedly visited Platon in jail and tried to dissuade him from testifying for his own and his family’s safety.

Judge Toh said police are now investigating the lawyer for the threat and that Platon may be asked to testify again when the case goes to court.

Despite the threat, Platon gave evidence that, Judge Toh said, helped the jury pinpoint and convict Posso as the lead player in the trafficking of 1.982 kilograms of cocaine valued at $1.762 million.

Toh said she found Platon a reliable and credible witness who was driven to commit the crime due to the medical needs of his wife and mother. The judge said he was not a professional criminal or a professional drug trafficker.



Posso, 38, was convicted of drug trafficking on Dec 12 and was sentenced on the same day by Toh to 24 years and three months.

His co-defendant, Jose Gonzalez 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 arrested Posso, Uribe and Platon while they were on board a taxi in Yaumatei which they had taken after meeting up at the Panda Hotel in Jordan.

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.

The courier was identified as Platon, who was due to arrive on a Maersk ship.

When the ship arrived at Kwai Chung port, a Customs and police team boarded the ship and searched Platon’s cabin but found no drug and they left.  

Platon, in his evidence, said he left the ship and was met by a Chinese man wearing a helmet and goggles who gave him a black plastic bag and a SIM card and told him to call Posso at Panda Hotel in Jordan.

He was instructed to go to Panda and meet up with Posso where he would deliver the drug and be paid in US dollars. Instead, he was given $105,000 in Hong Kong bills.

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

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.

Platon said 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’s medical needs.

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

Maid accused of stealing employer’s jewelry worth $294,000

A Filipina domestic worker has been charged with stealing 16 pieces of gold jewelry from her employer in Kowloon Tong.

The helper, Charity Faith Ramos, appeared before Kowloon City Magistrate Woo Huey-fang for the reading of the charge on Dec 20. No plea was taken.

Ramos allegedly took the jewelry, worth a total of $294,000, from her employer’s bedroom between February and November this year.

There was no mention of how the employer discovered that her jewelry was missing. But the prosecutor said the police are still trying to recover the missing items, and opposed bail for the defendant.

Magistrate Woo adjourned the case until Feb 15 next year and remanded Ramos in custody. -   Vir B. Lumicao

New ALA pledges his best after ‘painful’ Riyadh experience

Villafuerte on his first day at work at POLO

By Vir B. Lumicao

His last posting abroad might have left him scarred, but the new Philippine assistant labor attaché in Hong Kong is determined to put the bad experience behind him, and just work harder at serving those in need.

ALA Antonio Rivera Villafuerte arrived in Hong Kong from Manila on Dec. 19, and was met at the airport by a group of well wishers led by Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre.

 

The next day, Villafuerte was accompanied by Labatt Dela Torre to the Consulate where he was warmly received by officers led by Consul Roderico Atienza.

Consulate officials give warm welcome to Villafuerte (4th from left)

This is the first overseas assignment of Villafuerte, 54, who comes from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, since he was recalled to the Home Office from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia over the so-called “sex for flight” scandal.

The scandal was exposed by then Akbayan Rep Walden Bello, who claimed embassy officials in the Saudi capital promised victims priority in repatriation in exchange for sexual favors. 

Three repatriated Filipinas pointed to Villafuerte as a ringleader, and one of them claimed he had pimped her to an Egyptian.

Villafuerte was recalled and investigated, but was subsequently cleared of the charges.

Even then Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz defended Villafuerte, saying he had no prior record of abusing OFWs abroad. She said it was the first time she had heard of such a scandal involving Villafuerte, whose wife and children lived with him in Riyadh.

The scandal eventually died down. Even so, the stigma that accompanied the charges has scarred the soft-spoken labor official, who says he would still feel his chest tighten whenever he recalls being accused of something that he never did.

Villafuerte said it all started when he exposed an illegal recruitment syndicate that was victimizing OFWs in Saudi. The smear campaign was launched by people behind the syndicate whose toes he had stepped on, he said.

Following his recall, he was assigned to various jobs in the Home Office. He was detailed to the POEA conciliation unit, which mediates in disputes between workers and their employers in different countries.

After staying for almost two years in that unit, he was assigned to the International Labor Affairs Bureau, where he attended meetings on mutual agreements and some policy issues.

Comprising a pool of labor attaches, ILAB is the unit where the labor secretary would draw people to assign to the regions, or to related agencies such as the POEA, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, wherever the secretary sees them fit to provide service.

Then came an order from Bello for Villafuerte to take up the vacant ALA post in Hong Kong. “Nagpapasalamat ako kay Secretary Bello dahil binigyan niya uli ako ng  pagkakataon para ma-assign at makatulong sa ating mga kababayan,” Villafuerte said.

For now, the new ALA is familiarizing himself with the daily activities and processes at POLO, where he will be in charge of case management and community relations, according to Labatt Dela Torre.

Villafuerte said part of his job is also to sign new employment contracts, which have been heaping up at a rate of 750 per day.

The man who started his career with the Department of Labor and Employment 33 years ago has risen from the ranks.

After finishing Bachelor of Laws at the Manuel L. Quezon University/University of the East in 1985, Villafuerte initially joined the DOLE as a clerk handling supplies. Later he  moved up to the Bureau of Labor Relations, then to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.

His first overseas posting was to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for two years, before he was moved to Riyadh where he served for nine months before his controversial recall.

Asked what lesson he had drawn from his Riyadh experience, Villafuerte said: “Lalong doblehin ko siguro ang mag-iingat and not to be too trusting, kasi masyado akong nagtiwala, kasi ganyan ako, what you see is what you get.”

“Kung ano yung nakikita ninyo, ganoon ako makisama, wala akong itinatago. Siguro nasobrahan ko, pero ang (pakay) ko, tumulong pa rin ako kahit ginanyan nila ako, ang puso ko nandiyan pa rin. Kasi napakasaya na napakagaan ang pakiramdam kapag nakakatulong.”   

Church group celebrates 35th

Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ at their favorite spot.

Amid the cold brought by intermittent rain on Nov. 25, about 350 members of the Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ, Mariners Hong Kong Chapter gathered to celebrate their 35th year anniversary at Mariners Hill Garden in Tsimshatsui.

The church group started the celebration with a morning mass, followed by a program which included dancing and  singing.


Administrator Prince Estrelito V. Magliba graced the occasion and urged the members to improve their economic status by doing well in their respective employers and to be resilient in facing the problems that arise when working abroad.


Magliba announced that about 400 members have availed of the church’s “fly now pay later” scheme devised for those who want to go overseas but don’t have the means for it. He said the scheme has been in place for the past four years.


Another service is the advance summer class for elementary school kids. In just a year, he said about 1,000 children have joined the program, which uses the church as classroom, and the teachers are all volunteer church members.


The program ended with a lunch fellowship among members. – Marites Palma