Bagong dating na Pinay, minolestiya diumano ng amo

By The SUN

Ang Tai Po Police ang nag-iimbestiga sa kaso

Tumawag ng pulis si Lyn, isang Ilongga, nang pagtangkaan siya diumanong halayin ng kanyang among lalaki sa Fanling noong ika-30 ng Disyembre. Silang dalawa noon sa bahay dahil ang among babae niya ay tumawag na gagabihin sa pag-uwi.

Ayon kay Lyn, 25 taong gulang, dalaga at wala pang anim na buwang naninilbihan sa Hong Kong, mga ka-chat niya ang nagpayo na tumawag na siya ng pulis matapos siyang tumakbo sa kuwarto at magkulong dahil sa ginawang pagsasamantala ng kanyang amo.

Nasa kusina daw siya noon at naghuhugas ng mga plato at kaldero nang pumasok ang kanyang among lalaki at tinanong kung giniginaw siya.

“Pagkatapos ay niyakap niya ako mula sa likod at pinisil ang dede ko, habang pilit binababa ang aking jogging pants,” sabi ni Lyn.

Mabuti na lang daw at nakatakbo siya at nakapasok ng kuwarto para humingi ng payo at tulong sa pamamagitan ng chat sa mga dating kasama niya sa agency. Isa daw sa mga ka-chat niya ang nagpilit na tumawag na siya ng pulis.

Dumating ang mga pulis bandang alas nuwebe ng gabi at pareho silang kinausap ng kanyang amo ng mga dalawang oras, bago isinama si Lyn sa Tai Po police station. Kinabukasan ng alas diyes ng umaga ay sinundo siya doon ng kanyang ate na nagtatrabaho din sa Hong Kong, at dinala siya sa isang shelter. 

Hindi na daw niya alam kung ano ang nangyari sa kanyang among lalaki na iniwan niya sa kanilang bahay na kinakausap pa ng mga pulis.

Ayon kay Lyn, ang amo niya ay parehong mahigit 50 na ang edad at maraming mga negosyo. May dalawa silang anak na 27 at 26 taong gulang na.

Nakatakdang bumalik sa police station si Lyn bukas, ika-3 ng Enero para magbigay ng opisyal na pahayag sa tulong ng isang tagapagsalin.

Ayon kay Lyn, matagal na siyang naiilang sa kanyang among lalaki dahil kapag kinakausap daw siya nito ay hindi sa mukha niya nakatingin kundi sa kanyang katawan. Pero madalas naman daw nitong kasama ang kanyang asawa kaya hindi na niya iniintindi.

Noong araw na mangyari ang insidente ay kababalik lang daw ni Lyn mula sa day-off, bago ang kanyang “curfew” na alas otso ng gabi. Nag-text daw ang kanyang among babae at sinabing lutuan niya ng noodles ang asawa dahil gagabihin siya ng uwi.

Nasa kuwarto noon ang among lalaki, at alinsunod sa utos ng asawa nito ay kinatok ito ni Rose matapos niyang ipagluto ng hapunan. Pero nang lumabas daw ng kuwarto ang lalaki ay pilit siyang kinakausap nang malaman na hindi agad uuwi ang asawa.

Ang ginawa daw ni Lyn ay sinabing kailangan na niyang pumasok sa kuwarto at matulog dahil maaga pa siyang gigising kinabukasan para mag carwash.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay narinig daw ni Lyn na lumakad ang among lalaki, at inakala niyang pumasok na rin ito sa kuwarto pagkatapos kumain, kaya lumabas siyang muli para ituloy ang trabaho sa kusina.

Laking gulat niya nang makita na nasa hapag kainan pa ito.

Pagpasok niya sa kusina ay sinundan siya ng amo at doon na siya ginawan ng kalaswaan.

Nag-aalala si Lyn na baka tumagal ang imbestigasyon sa kaso at hindi siya agad makakuha ng kapalit na amo, dahil gusto pa daw niyang manatili sa Hong Kong para magtrabaho.

Pero pinayuhan siya ng mga kaibigan na ituloy niya ang reklamo dahil baka may iba pang mabiktima ang kanyang among lalaki kung hindi ito mabibigyan ng leksiyon.

SUPORTAHAN PO NATIN ANG IBA PANG SPONSORS:

New ALA pledges his best after ‘painful’ Riyadh experience

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.

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.” 

Mga aaahang pangyayari

CARD Hong Kong Free Financial Literacy Seminars
2019 Sunday Workshops: Jan. 20, Feb. 24, Maech 24, June 23, July 21, September 22, October 20 (Bayanihan Center Kennedy Tiwn)
2019 Saturday Workshops: April 13, August 17 (Venue to be anounced)
To join, please call: 5600 2526, 5423 8196, 9529 6392

PUBLIC HOLIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT: 
The Philippine Consulate General and all its attached agencies including POLO will be closed on the following dates:
Dec 30 – Rizal Day
Dec 31 – Last Day of the Year
Jan 1 – New Year’s Day
Jan 2 – Day following New Year’s Day
There will be no official transactions on these dates.
In case of emergency, call:
9155 4023 (Consular assistance), 5529 1880 (POLO)
6345 9324 (OWWA)

From the Mission for Migrant Workers:
Our office is closed on:
Dec 31, 2018 and Jan 1 and 2, 2019.
In case of emergency, please call the following numbers:
999 : for police and/or health related assistance;
English & Tagalog : 9488-9044, 9740-9406, 9711-1673 (& Ilocano), 9310-7461 (& Bahasa Indonesia); 2721-3119 (English, Filipino & Indonesian languages)
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

What's on where

Financial Literacy & Rights Training for Newly Arrived OFWs
Jan 6 (Sunday), 9am – 5pm
Venue: Community Hall, POLO Office
18/F, Mass Mutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Rd., Wanchai
Organized by: POLO, Card OFW Foundation and The SUN
Coordinated by: Domestic Workers Corner
Seats are limited, please book your place by sending a message to DWC founder Rodelia Pedro Villar

HealthWise: A Free Basic Medical Check for OFWs
Daily, except Friday
Venue: POLO Office, 18/F, Mass Mutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Rd., Wanchai
Organized by: Philippine Overseas Labor Office HK in collaboration with Filipino Nurses Association HK and Balikatan sa Kaunlaran HK
Service includes free health assessment after blood pressure and glucose tests, as well as lesson on how to do breast self examination

New Year BBQ & Hotpot Party
Jan. 1, 9am onwards
Venue: Pui O Beach, Lantau Island
Organized by: Domestic Workers Corner
Contribution: $30 each
Bring your own food to cook (for hotpot or barbecue)
Reminders: Bring drinking water, extra tshirt, socks, slippers and plastic bag for your things. Also, tent or beach mat if you have them
Do not bring too much money. A pocket money of $100-150 should be enough for transportation and other extras.
Do not bring passport or any impotant document
Meeting Place: Tung Chung MTR, 9am qith Admin Ma Ry or 10am with Admin Chubby
For questions, message the DWC Help page or Admin Rodelia Pedro Villar

Philippine Booth at Education & Careers Expo
Jan 24-27, 2019
HK Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai
Please look for the Philippine booth, 1E-E19
Recommended for those intending to study in the Philippines
For more information, check out: http://m.hktdc.com/fair/hkeducationexpo-en/HKTDC-Education-and-Careers-

Wimler Charity Dinner
Feb 15 (Friday), 6:30 – 11:00pm
King’s Cuisine, 6th floor, Windsor House, Causeway Bay
For reservations & booking, contact: Myrna Hill, 9803 8049;  Emilie Veringa-Tobias, -51910902; Cathe Marsden, 95360166 or Luz Tan, 96309311

Ongoing: Alma Quinto’s Open Studio Exhibition
Until Jan 6, 2019, 11am -7pm.
Venue” CHAT The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par St, Tsuen Wan.
Features collaboration works with migrant workers as part of “Day-off Mo” project. Contact: Vicky Munar at 5600 2526, vicks_munar @yahoo.comor Alma Quinto at 6425 4195, email: quintoalma2013@gmail.com. Alma Quinto is artist-in-residence at Centre for Heritage Arts and textiles

3 Filipinos among 5 arrested in Lamma anti-drug swoop

By The SUN

Three Filipinos, including a woman, have been arrested along with two other Asians on suspicion of possessing and trafficking dangerous drugs during a police operation on Lamma Island.

The Filipinos, whose names the police did not disclose but are said to be Hong Kong ID card holders, are also being investigated for possession of offensive and prohibited weapons.

A spokesman of the Police Public Relations Branch said the three Filipinos, a Thai female and a Sri Lankan male, were nabbed when officers raided three houses on the island at 7am on Dec 29.

All five were being held in custody at the Cheung Chau Police Station while investigation was ongoing, the spokesman said

The raids were conducted in three separate places on Lamma Island

on Dec 31. No charges have been filed, and the Philippine Consulate had not yet been informed about the arrests.

The drugs seized were reportedly valued a total of $13,000.

Local newspapers quoted police sources as saying the raids were launched after a foreign officer tipped them off about the existence of a supply chain of illegal drugs on Lamma.

The police said the raids had disrupted the drug ring, which had been active recently.

The spokesman said officers first raided a house in Hung Shing Ye Bay. They arrested a Filipino male, 49, after they found 1.6 grams of marijuana, a 26-centimeter Gurkha knife called kukrit and a pair of brass knuckles in the house.

He is being investigated for drug possession, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon, the reports said.

Officers also swooped down on a house in Sha Po Tsuen and arrested a 41-year-old Sri Lankan man and a 40-year-old Thai woman after finding 2.4 grams of marijuana and a pipe fit for smoking methamphetamine or “ice”.

In Wan Long Village, police raided a house on Yung Shue Wan Main St and arrested the second Filipino man, 31, and the Filipina, 27, after a search turned up 19 grams of “ice”, a pipe for smoking the drug, plastic bags used for packaging them, and an air gun.

The two will be charged with drug trafficking, possession of equipment fit for smoking the drug and possession of an imitation firearm.

DHs given access to HK gov’t help

Do you have problems with your employer or the emploment agecy that placed you there? Call 2157 9537. That’s the hotline set up last Dec. 19 by the Labour Department (LD) to provide support for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs).

The Labour Department website for FDHs.

In addition, FDHs can also ask about their employment matters in Hong Kong and file complaints when their employment rights are infringed through the dedicated FDH email account (fdh@labour.gov.hk) and the online form on the FDH Portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk) of the LD.



To report a crime or during an emergency when one’s personal safety is at risk, the FDH should immediately call 999 for help.



The 2157 9537 hotline provides one-stop support services to FDHs, including:
(1) providing advice to FDHs on their employment rights and obligations under the Standard ?Employment Contract and relevant labour laws;
(2) referring any enquiries, requests for services or assistance and complaints on relevant labor matters, such as employment claims or complaints against employment agencies, to the relevant divisions of the LD for follow-up and/or investigation; and
(3) advising FDHs on the appropriate law enforcement agencies to which they can file enquiries, requests for services or assistance and complaints involving suspected exploitation or physical abuse.



The hotline is manned by operators of the 1823 hotline service who are conversant in Cantonese, English and Putonghua and which operates 24 hours a day.



An interpretation service in seven languages (namely Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Nepali, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu) is available from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday (excluding public holidays).

Families of 2 OFWs killed in accidents awarded $800k in labor compensation

By Daisy CL Mandap

Family members of two Filipina domestic workers who were killed in separate accidents in Hong Kong have been awarded a total of more than $800,000 in employee compensation.

The amount, which is given to workers killed in the course of work, does not include other claims they might be entitled to from other sources, like for personal injury, unpaid salary, long service, and others.

The husband and minor son of Geraldine Betasolo, 37, who died a few days after being hit by a van in Taipo in November last year, got the bigger compensation award of $437,220. The amount was split between her husband Ricardo and 17-year-old son Kyle Joseph.

Geraldine Betasolo and the busy corner where she was hit by a van.

Geraldine’s parents who, under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, are entitled to a minimal share of 5% of the compensation award, chose to give up their claim.

The second case involves the legal heirs of Rinalyn Duollog, 35, who was killed after she fell while cleaning the windows of her employer’s high-rise flat in Tseung Kwan O on Aug 9, 2016.

Her death prompted Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre to include a prohibition against dangerous window cleaning by Filipino domestic workers, which was subsequently affirmed by the Hong Kong Labour Department, and included in the standard employment contracts of all foreign domestic workers.

As Rinalyn was unmarried, her young son Tristan Jay was given the bulk – or 80% of the compensation – totaling $375,950.



The remaining 20% of the compensation was split three-ways among her parents and a
grandfather, in accordance with the EC Ordinance.

Also in line with the ordinance, the share of the minor children of both Geraldine and Rinalyn are to be locked in a trust fund until they reach the age of majority.

According to Labatt dela Torre, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was already in the process of setting up a trust fund for Tristan Jay Duollog at the Land Bank, to satisfy the requirement imposed by the insurance company that will pay the compensation.



The same arrangement is being made for the remaining tranche of payment to Kyle Betasolo
amounting to $120,000 (or more than Php800,00) which was paid to the family’s appointed representative in Hong Kong.

According to the Ordinance, an employer is liable to pay compensation to a worker “who sustains an injury or dies as a result of an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.” The compensation is normally paid through employee insurance which all employers are obliged to take.



The compensation has to be paid even if the worker might have committed an act of negligence (such as crossing a road at non-designated crosswalks) when the accident occurred.

The minimum compensation to be awarded for work-related deaths that occurred after April 2017 has been set at $408,960. But the total payout could be more, depending on the salary and age of the worker, as in Geraldine’s case.

Earlier, Ricardo and Kyle were also granted compensation amounting to $170,950 under the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) scheme of the Social Welfare Department. But the amount had to be refunded after the labor claim had been paid out, in accordance with TAVA rules.



As Geraldine had been working for her employer for six years, her family also received a total of more than $17,000 from her employer to cover long service pay, unpaid salary and other benefits.

Her employer, Cheng Rojas Kalay, also paid for the repatriation and funeral expenses for Geraldine, in accordance with EC rules.

On top of this, the grief-stricken employer paid extra for the return air ticket of Ricardo and Kyle when they came to Hong Kong to claim Geraldine’s body, and for their accommodation.

Father and son also received Php220,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as compensation for an OFW’s death due to accident, and burial assistance. The same amount was paid to the heirs of Rinalyn.

But as a third party was involved in Geraldine’s accident, the Betasolos could still pursue a personal injury claim against the insurers of the van that hit her. To pursue this, however, the Betasolos would have to get help from the Legal Aid Department and its appointed solicitors.

The personal injury claim could be pursued within three years after the accident, even if the van driver was let off lightly by the court, which imposed a mere $700 fine on him on a charge of “using defective vehicle not fitted”.

For more information about employee compensation, click on this link: https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/ecd/pco360.pdf

Film on gays wins big in MMFF

“Rainbow Sunset,” a film about a gay elderly couple, was the big winner at the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal held on Dec 27.
The film directed by Joel Lamangan won a total of 11 awards, including best director and best picture.

Below is the complete list of the winners:
Best Picture: ”Rainbow Sunset”
Best Actor: Dennis Trillo, “One Great Love”
Best Actress: Gloria Romero, “Rainbow’s Sunset” 
Best Director: Joel Lamangan, “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Second Best Picture: “Aurora”
Third Best Picture: “One Great Love” 
Special Jury Prize: Eddie Garcia, “Rainbow's Sunset”
Special Jury Prize: Max Collins, “Rainbow's Sunset”
Best Supporting Actor: Tony Mabesa, “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Supporting Actress: Aiko Melendez,” Rainbow’s Sunset”
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award: “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Child Performer: Phoebe Villamor, “Aurora”
Best Production Design: ”Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Visual Effects: ”Aurora”
Best Sound Design: ”Aurora”
Best Musical Score: ”One Great Love”
Best Original Theme Song: ”Sa’yo Na” from “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Editing: ”Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles”
Best Cinematography: “Aurora”
Best Screenplay: “Rainbow’s Sunset”
FPJ Memorial Award: ”Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles”
Best Short Student Film: ”Kasilyas” - Bulacan State University
Best Float: ”Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles”
Stars of the Night : Jericho Rosales (“The Girl in the Orange Dress”), Anne Curtis (“Aurora”)