Lulong kasi sa tong-its

Anim na taon sa amo si Marissa nang bigla siyang ma-terminate dahil napuno na ang amo sa pag-uwi niya ng madaling araw mula sa day-off, at kung minsan ay inaabot pa siya ng Lunes.

Aminado naman si Marissa na marami siyang naging pagkakamali sa trabaho at lagi siyang iniintindi ng amo at pinapaalalahan, kaya hindi niya akalain na masasagad din ito.



Maluwag pa naman sana siya sa trabaho dahil 11 at 13 taon na ang kanyang mga alaga at hindi na kailangan tutukan, bukod pa sa may driver sila na tagahatid-sundo sa eskuwela.

Ang naging problema ni Marisaa ay ang pagkalulong niya sa tong-its.

Tuwing walang pasok ay maghapon silang naglalaro ng mga kaibigan.

Hindi bababa ang taya sa $1,500 tuwing Linggo kaya kapag sunod-sunod ang talo niya ay nangungutang siya, hanggang mabaon na siya nang mabaon.



Nakatanggap man siya ng bayad para sa long service at isang buwang suweldo kapalit ng abiso ay hindi pa rin ito sapat na ipambayad sa kanyang mga utang.

Nakiusap siya ng husto sa amo at nangakong magbabago ngunit buo na ang desisyon nito.



Dahil nasa kolehiyo na ang mga anak ni Marissa ay kailangan niyang makakakuha muli ng trabaho bago matapos ang 14 araw na palugit niya.

Ang payo niya sa mga kapwa OFW, ingatan na huwag malulong sa bisyo dahil ang trabaho ang tiyak na masasakripisyo ng dahil dito. Huwag ding abusuhin ang kabaitan ng amo.

Si Marissa ay 48 taong gulang, may asawa at dalawang anak, at taga Bulacan. Dati siyang namamasukan sa Tai Wai. – Rodelia Villar

View details...

3 POLO staff given tribute as they head home

The honorees with top Consulate and POLO officials.

The country’s top diplomats headed a farewell party held for three staff of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office who are set to leave Hong Kong after completing their three-year tour of duty.

Meditrina Chaneco, Sheila Navasquez and Josephine Villamor were emotional as colleagues led by Consul General Antonio Morales and Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre gave them a send-off party on Feb 24.

Also bidding them farewell were OFW friends and volunteers who help POLO and its sister-agency OWWA handle crowds and assist with livelihood trainings on Sundays.   

Labatt Dela Torre remarked that POLO Hong Kong would never be the same without the three who did their job satisfactorily.

“I am proud of their company. These three girls were very effective in their jobs,” He said. “Their posts here will be missed, especially, because of their dedication to their duties.”

He said no names had yet been provided for their replacements.

Congen Morales, in his message, cited the importance the Consulate attaches to its partners in the Labor Office.



“I’m sure it will never be the same after you leave. But, of course, it is our job to come and go. We are here, we have contributed to the accomplishment of the mission of our offices, of the Consulate in general,” he said.

He said such is the nature of overseas government service and that, “as we move on, we should make sure the lessons and perspectives and insights are applied in other posts”.



Chaneco was the POLO officer in charge of watchlisting abusive employers and receiving complaints against agencies. Both Navasquez and Villamor were assigned to agency contracts.

Unlike their colleagues from the Department of Foreign Affairs who have a six-year tour of duty overseas, POLO and OWWA staff, who are personnel of the Department of Labor and Employment, are assigned to foreign posts for three years.



Chaneco, Navasquez and Villamor arrived in Hong Kong in early 2016. “Halos kasabay ko silang dumating sa Hong Kong three years ago and maybe ako na ang susunod by March,” Labatt Dela Torre added in jest.

ConGen Morales, assisted by Consuls Roderico Atienza and Paulo V. Saret, gave each of the three ladies a certificate of appreciation and a gift.

The send-off ceremony was followed by a simple dinner and more farewell messages for the guests, plus lots of picture-taking. — With Rodelia Villar

View details...

National Artist BenCab featured in Galleria Camaya’s show

Gerrico Blanco's Euphoria

Filipino-owned Galleria Camaya will again show art works by award-winning and famous contemporary Filipino painters and sculptors at the prestigious Asian Contemporary Art Show- Spring Edition on Mar 26 to Apr 1, 2019 to be held at the Conrad in Hong Kong.

Some rare, special edition prints of works by Philippine National Artist Ben Cabrera or BenCab, will be part of the exhibit, which will run during the busy art month in Hong Kong.

Galleria Camaya’s owner, Abigail Camaya-Hills, says she is grateful to friends like BenCab and her main collaborator, Norlie Meimban, for continually recommending artists who deserve to be included in the gallery’s annual show.



This is the third year that Galleria Camaya is taking part in the prestigious Asian Contemporary exhibit. Abroad, it has exhibited at the Philippine Embassy and United Nations building in Vienna, and is set to hold one in New York City in the summer.



Camaya-Hills said that she made a conscious decision early on in the gallery’s history to feature only  Filipino artists as she noticed that while the Philippines has produced so many talented artists, no one has really taken enough effort to consistently promote Philippine art.



Thus, she set up Galleria Camaya in 2016 for this sole purpose.

M Bello: I Saw It

Camaya-Hills also says that setting up a gallery was an offshoot of her charity work with Pintura Circle, a registered charity that raises funds for the needy while promoting Philippine art. She was one of the group’s founding members and is current president.

E. Alarcon: Happiness

Aside from BenCab, Galleria Camaya’s roster of outstanding artists include Arnica Acantilado. Ejem Alarcon, Jepoy Almario, Jaime Raphael Atienza, BenCab, Gerrico Blanco, Ronald Buxani, Marko Bello, Astrid Hernandez Castillo, Richard de la Cruz, Ronald “Bullet” Dematera, Abi Dionisio, Alvin Florentino, Mary Rose Gisbert, Jaime Gubaton, Abigail Camaya Hills, Dondon Jeresano, Norlie Meimban, Keith Paras, Edu Perreras, Eduard Perreras, and Jojo Ramirez

J Gubaton: Hey, Mickey

The 14th Asian Contemporary Art Show is the only art fair shown in a five star hotel in Hong Kong. It showcases over 2500 artworks from 80 galleries showcasing artworks from sculptures to paintings from around the world.

M. Gisbert: Pahinga

It also kicks off the Art week in Hong with the Art Basel and Art Central Exhibits opening that same weekend, followed by Spring Auctions by the top auction houses, Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

B. Dematera: Hidden Beauty

For further information, please visit:
https://www.asiacontemporaryart.com/home/main/en/
and the dedicated webpage for Galleria Camaya:
https://www.asiacontemporaryart.com/artists/galleries/Galleria_Camaya/en/.

View details...

What's on, where

“Babae Ipagbunyi (Celebrate Women): Empathy in a Click” 
A photo exhibit by Joan Pabona, OFW and Second Placer in the National Geographic Wheelock Youth Photo Competition
Mar 10-17
Venue: Philippine Consulate Gallery
With: Free Photography Workshop (Limited slots only)
Mar 17, Sunday, 10am to 12:30pm
Organized by PCG with Wimler Foundation and Chinese University of Hong Kong
To register for the workshop, please send an e-mail to gadhongkongpcg@gmail.com with you name, mobile number and subject title “PHOTO WORKSHOP”



International Women’s Day 2019 Celebration
Mar 8, 2:30-4pm
Venue: G/F, 28A Fortress Hill Road, HK
Organized by: Caritas Asian Migrant Social Workers Project
There will be games, gifts, food and performances
For enrollment, please contact us :
Phone: 2147-5988 or
Whatsapp: 5497-2899

Visayas Festival 
Mar 17, whole day
Edinburgh Place, Central
Event will feature all the colorful festivals of the Visayan Region, including Sinulog, Dinagyang, Ari-Atihan and Masskara
Organized by: Visayas Alliance
Contact: Nerissa Jimena



Free Financial Literacy Seminar
Sunday: Mar 24, June 23, July 21
Saturday: Apr 13, Aug 17
Organized by: CARD HK Foundation
To reserve your slot, call 56002526, 54238196 or 95296392
Guaranteed no networking involved.
Free handouts provided and certificates will be given

Basic Computer Literacy:
Mar 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Morning Class: 10am-1pm
Afternoon Class: 2pm-5pm
Venue: Computer Room, 18th floor, POLO



Ribbon Folding
Mar 3, 10, 17, 24
9am-12nn
Computer Room, POLO
Money Wise: Financial Literacy Training for Migrants
Mar 2 (Saturday), 9am -1pm
Venue: POLO Training Rooms 1&2
All participants are required to pre-register. Please check the Facebook page: OWWA Hong Kong Livelihood and Training for more information on how to join.

View details...

Sali na!

Overseas Voting for the Philippine Mid-Term Election will be held from Apr 13-May 13, 2019 at the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town
Know the candidates for the senatorial posts as well as the party-lists, and what they stand for.
“Let’s strengthen our democracy. It’s our right and duty.”
Let’s all vote.

Wanted: Filipino nationals to serve as member of the Special Board of Election Inspectors. 
Details here:
https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHK/photos/a.407494936119352/966151100253730/?type=3

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, cholesterol and uric acid tests, as well as lesson on breast self examination
OWWA Livelihood and Training Programs

Free training will be given on: Small Feedlot Cattle Farming.
Mar 9, (Saturday)
Venue: Philippine Overseas Labor Office, 18th floor, Mass  Mutual Tower, Wanchai
Resource Speaker: OFW entrepreneur Arnel Corpuz, former manager of biggest cattle feedlot in Australia
Pre registration required.