Filipina DH in hospital after 20-meter fall off Ma On Shan cliff

By Vir B. Lumicao

The 5 other hikers rescued after their friend fell off a cliff in Ma On 'Shan (picture from Jennifer Debaja)

A Filipina hiker is undergoing treatment at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital after falling off a 20-meter cliff in Ma On Shan on Sunday afternoon.

The identity of the 31-year-old victim is not known. The Consulate says no one has

reported the accident to them.

The victim was part of a group of six foreign domestic workers that went hiking together, three Filipinas and three Indonesians. 

Call us!

All the hikers apparently decided not to talk to anyone about the incident.

Police said the victim lost her balance and fell into the ravine, injuring her hand, legs, face and waist. She remained conscious but could not move.

CALL US NOW!

Local news reports said the group was equipped for climbing and wore helmets.

A spokeswoman for the police told The SUN that the accident was reported by a 43-year-old Filipina companion of the victim.

Call!

A hiking group leader who personally knew the six, confirmed to this reporter Monday afternoon that they were all domestic workers. She said they got into trouble when a member nicknamed Bella slipped and fell off the cliff.

The accident happened at 5:44pm on a section called Skyline Path when the group, which began the hike in Saikung, reached Ma On Shan Country Park.

Call now!

According to the police, the area where the hikers were found was off the official trail.

Two of the victim’s companions reportedly managed to climb down the slope to assist her while the rest called police for help. 

CALL US!

Rescuers tracked the distressed hikers only after midnight and decided to spend the night at the site. They began escorting the uninjured members of the group to safety around 7am on Monday.

The victim was plucked out of the slope and airlifted to Eastern Hospital at 8:20am in a conscious state.

According to reports, the victim is employed by a family living in Saikung. The worker was apparently able to contact her male employer, who reported the accident to the police.

At past 6pm on Monday, officer at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Hong Kong office were still trying to find out the full identity of Bella so they could visit her in the hospital.

===

I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!
Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!

View details...

Call us!

Call us!

Call us!

Call now!

CALL US NOW!

Pinoy singer/songwriter to launch Hong Kong album

William Elvin

Hong Kong-based Filipino singer-songwriter William Elvin is showcasing a different dimension of Filipino musicality and creativity in his self-producsed album entitled “Sacred/aProfane/Mundane”, to be launched in Hong Kong on Jul 20, Saturday, at The Aftermath Bar in Central.

Call us!

“Sacred/ Profane/Mundane” is a collection of original compositions that highlight the singer’s carefully crafted lyricism, whimsical melodies and intuitive musical arrangements – drawing from various influences such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Filipino alternative pop/rock bands.

Call!

Described as “brilliant” and “soulful, propulsively melodic” by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and “theatrical but authentic” by ABS-CBN News, William Elvin’s unique sound is exemplified by the album’s promotional singles:  the country-inspired “The Last Lovers on Earth” and the haunting ballad “Ang Sabi Nila”, which are both gaining a growing number of listeners on Spotify and Apple Music.

Call now!

William Elvin’s band for the “Sacred/Profane/Mundane” recording sessions is made up of Satur Tiamson and Lloyd Yamid alternating on drums, Rico Cristobal Jr. on bass and Matt Alvarez Mateo on guitars.

CALL US!

Listen to William Elvin’s music and get more updates and information by visiting his official homepage at www.williamelvin.com.

===

I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!
Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!

View details...

Call us!

Call us!

Call us!

Call now!

CALL US NOW!

Compulsory medical insurance eyed for FDHs, says legislator

legislator Kenneth Leung (in black shirt) is flanked by Consul General Antonio Morales and solicitor Louise Le Pla for a souvenir photo to cap the Kapihan.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Hong Kong legislators are likely to pass a motion that will compel employers to take out medical insurance for their foreign domestic workers.

This information was shared by pan-democrat legislator Kenneth Leung during a consultation meeting with Filipino community leaders at the Consulate on Mar 24.

Leung said his fellow legislator, Fernando Cheung, is set to table the proposal at the next meeting of Legco’s manpower panel set for Apr 16.

CALL US NOW!

“And many of us will support it,” Leung said.

The move was said to have been prompted by the well-publicized case of Baby Jane Allas, who found herself unable to access medical care in Hong Kong after she was fired by her employer on learning she had stage 3 cervical cancer.

Leung said the proposal will have two components: the first is compulsory medical insurance for FDWs, and the second is to treat FDWs as local residents when accessing medical services.

Call us!

He clarified that the insurance that employers are currently required to take for their helpers covers only employee compensation and doctor’s consultation. A medical insurance will also pay for hospitalization and specialist treatment.

The other part of the proposal could see migrant workers not being cut off from getting medical treatment in public hospitals as soon as their work contract is terminated by their employers.

“As long as you are legally staying in Hong Kong, you shall be regarded as a local Hong Kong resident,” he said.

Call!

Leung started his presentation by talking about the high regard local people have for the FDWs’ contribution to Hong Kong’s economic prosperity. He identified several issues that concern FDWs, including illegal money lending and human trafficking.

He said he was part of a group that drafted an Action Plan a year ago to improve Hong Kong’s record in combating human trafficking. The proposal includes a draft that will finally make human trafficking a crime in Hong Kong.

An offshoot of that work was the installation of hotline in December last year that FDWs can call when faced with problems related to their employment and rogue employment agencies. The number, 2157 9537, is said to be manned by staff speaking seven languages so the workers can use their native language in making a query or complaint.

Call now!

Asked during the open forum if he could help debt-saddled migrant workers by asking why money lenders are allowed by law to charge interest rates of up to 60%, Leung said yes.

He said it might be time to revisit the law, and ask why “such a huge cap” was put in place for the licensed money lenders. 

He called on the consuls general of the Philippines and Indonesia to continue doing their own initiative to get the high interest rate cut as it adds up a lot to the debt woes of their constituents.

CALL US!

One issue that appeared to stump him was the lack of a law on the working hours for domestic workers, leading to abuse by employers.

Leung said even office workers do not have legislated working hours, but conceded that foreign domestic workers could be far more susceptible to abuse because they are forced to live with their employers.

Also at the dialog was solicitor Louise Le Pla, who went through the provisions of the standard employment contract for FDWs, and advised the workers to know their rights and assert them.

“Do not sign anything that your employer gives you unless  you agree with in and you undertand,” she said. These documents can used against them in case of disputes.

===

I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!
Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!

View details...

Call us!

Call us!

Call us!

Call now!

CALL US NOW!

Chinese horoscope, Apr 1-15

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95/07
Posibleng makaranas ng kabiguan, lungkot, at may alitan kaya minsan ay gusto mo nang sumuko. Mag-ingat! Hirap ka sa pagtulog; agahan ang kain sa gabi at iwasang kumain ng marami at pag-inom ng kape at tsaa. Ang galit ay makakaapekto ng husto sa trabaho at personal na buhay. Kailangang kontrolin ang sarili. Lucky numbers: 21, 35, 40 at 45.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96/08
Kung aayusin mo ang iyong buhay, lahat ng bagay ay magiging magaan. Masusulit ng husto ang iyong lakas sa pagsasakatuparan ng iyong mga plano, pero iwasang pilitin ang mga bagay kung hindi pa ito handa o hinog, lalo na kung nakataya ang iyong damdamin. Agapan ang pananakit ng sikmura na baka mauwi sa ulcer. Lucky numbers: 7, 19, 34 at 40.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97/09
Kontrolado mo  ang pisikal at intelektuwal na kalagayan mo ngayon, kaya malaki ang tsansa na magtagumpay ka sa lahat ng gagawin mo, basta’t alam mo ang iyong limitasyon. Nasasaktan ka sa away na namamagitan sa mga kasamahan; may aral kang matututuhan dito. Kung hindi makatiis na hindi manigarilyo, limitahan ito hangga’t makakaya. Lucky numbers: 17, 18, 23 at 42.

CALL US NOW!

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98/10
Maganda ang lagay ng kalusugan at pag-iisip at alam mong balansehin ang oras sa trabaho at pansariling kasiyahan. Masaya ang loob ng tahanan at gagawin mo ang lahat para sa ikabubuti ng pamilya at irerespeto mo ang kagustuhan ng bawat isa sa kanila. Kung may mahalagang bagay na dapat bilhin, gawin mo na agad ito. Lucky numbers: 15, 20, 29 at 37.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87/99
May bagong karanasan na posibleng magpabago sa iyong paniniwala at magkaroon ng mga katanungan sa maraming bagay. Lahat ng ito ay magpapagulo sa iyong isip. Kailangan mo ng mga bagong kaibigan at kakilala upang lumawak ang pag-iisip. Subukan mong magbakasyon sa ibang bansa upang kumalma at makahanap ng katahimikan. Lucky numbers: 14, 16, 26 at 39.

Call us!

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88/00
Mas magiging romantiko ka sa panahong ito, at nanaisin mong maging romantiko rin ang iyong kapartner upang masiyahan ka ng husto. Maging maingat sa iyong pananalapi gaya ng dati. Iwasang maglabas ng malaking halaga sa transaksyon na hindi ka naman nakakasiguro. Mahusay kang makibagay, makakatulong ito ng husto sa iyong mga gustong gawin. Lucky numbers:  5, 12, 27 at 38.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89/01
Malaki ang tsansa na maisakatuparan at magtagumpay ang iyong mga plano dahil malakas ang iyong intuisyon. Kung single, may posibilidad na magkaroon din ng love affair sa panahong ito. May makikilala kang tao na kapareho mo ng mga gusto at ugali, at makakasundo mo sa maraming mga bagay at magbibigay sa iyo ng bagong pananaw sa buhay. Lucky numbers: 6, 13, 22 at 46.

Call!

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90/02
Palagay mo ay hindi umaayon ang lahat sa iyo, at nahaharap ka sa sitwasyong hindi mo makontrol kaya nasisira ang tiwala sa sarili. Huwag mataranta, piliting labanan ang lungkot na nararamdaman. Huwag ding hayaang ma-impluwensyahan ng mga payo ng pamilya o ng malalapit sa iyo, na lalo lang magpapagulo sa sitwasyon; ikaw lang ang makakalutas ng iyong problema. Lucky numbers: 13, 33, 35 at 41.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03
Samantalahin ang kalmadong kalagayan ngayon upang tanungin ang sarili: naging makabuluhan ba ang aking buhay? Sinasayang ko ba ang oras sa walang kuwentang bagay, sa halip na pagtuunan ng pansin ang mas importanteng mga bagay? May matutuhan ka dito upang magkaroon ng kontrol sa sarili at magtagumpay sa gusto mong gawin. Hindi ka apektado sa sinasabi ng kapitbahay mo, pero mag-aalala ka para sa pamilya mo. Lucky numbers: 6, 19, 25 at 37.

Call now!

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04
Tensyonado ka sa panahong ito, at maaaring maging sanhi rin ng problema sa sikmura at pagdumi. Lahat ng ito ay dahil nagagalit ka kapag hindi nasusunod ang gusto mo. Ang problema sa pera ay dagdag din sa iyong alalahanin. Ang mga dating hinanakit ay magbabalik at lalamlam ang love life. Pero mahahawi din ang lahat ng ito, huwag lang palalain ang away. Lucky numbers: 11, 33, 39 at 44.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05
Ang mga alitan ay makakapekto sa pagsasama. Piliting ayusin ang hindi pinagkakasunduan. Kung single, matapang ka ngayong ilabas ang saloobin. Sa may mga anak, masaya ang pamilya ngayon dahil buo ang atensyon ng mag-asawa sa isa’t isa at maging sa mga anak. Hindi mo napapansin ang iyong pagkakamali, para kang mata na nakikita ang lahat pero hindi ang sarili! Lucky numbers: 10, 14, 28 at 31.

CALL US!

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94/06

Magbubunga ang iyong kasipagan. Sa kabila ng kasiyahan, posibleng magkamali ka sa pagkilatis sa tao at sitwasyon; mag-ingat. Mag-ingat din sa sakit sa puso, iwasan ang mapagod ng husto at pagmamadali,  maghinay-hinay sa ginagawa. Unti-unti ay may nakikita kang hindi magandang ugali sa karelasyon, kaya nagdududa ka kung talagang mahal ka nito. Lucky numbers: 9, 13, 24 at 34.

===

I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!

Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!

View details...

Call us!

Call us!

Call us!

Call now!

CALL US NOW!

ConGen Morales urges Hong Kong-based Pinoys to vote early

By Vir B. Lumicao

Consul General Antonio Morales is urging Filipinos  in Hong Kong to vote early to prevent overcrowding in the closing days of the overseas election for senatorial and party-list posts, scheduled on Apr 13 to May 13 at Bayanihan Centre.

ConGen Morales made the appeal as the Consulate issued an invitation to a meeting at the PCG public area on Sunday, Mar 31, to discuss preparations for the upcoming ballot.

A five-man team from the Commission on Elections on Wednesday began training 30 officers from Philippine diplomatic posts in Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Malaysia and the MECO (Manila Economic and Cultural Offices) in Taiwan, on conducting the midterm voting.

CALL US NOW!

The Comelec team consisting of Chairman Sheriff Abas, Commissioner Marlon Casquejo and three trainers arrived on Mar 25 in Hong Kong, simultaneously with the trainees from the posts around the region.

Congen Morales said voters usually arrive in trickles during the month-long overseas voting but cram on the last day, creating long queues at Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town.

About 50% of the 87,441 registered voters in Hong Kong are expected to vote.

Call us!

“Kapag last day, mahaba ang pila. Kaya ang pakiusap ko, bumoto silang maaga,” Morales said. He said the Consulate will come out with media announcements urging the voters to do so.

He also said the PCG should send emails to the community calling for interested poll watchers to register in the days ahead.

 He made his remarks as he met on Mar 27 with some Filipino community representatives who handed in a petition for a stay in the transfer of Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre to Saudi Arabia.

Call!

Congen Morales was joined by Deputy Consul General Germinia Usudan and Consul Roderico Atienza.

The Filcom leaders included Bishop Gerry Vallo of the Global Ministers Association, Eman Villanueva of Bayan Hong Kong-Macau, Dolores Balladores Pelaez of Unifil-Migrante, Sheila Tebia of Gabriela, Merlinda Mercado of Metrobank, and this writer from The SUN.

Meanwhile, Consul Robert Quintin, head of the Consulate’s election committee, has said the full roster of 18 volunteers for Special Board of Election Inspectors, or SBEI, had already been submitted to the Comelec.

Call now!

He said the SBEI volunteers, most of whom had served in the 2016 national elections overseas voting, will undergo training on their election duties after the consular staff are done with theirs.

“Mag-e-echo training naman kami. All of these will happen before the VCMs will be finally tested and sealed in preparation for the start of voting on April 13,” Quintin said.

CALL US!

The canvassing of votes will follow immediately on the last day of voting on May 13. Election returns from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China will be canvassed at Bayanihan.

Canvassing of returns from Chinese cities is seen as the most challenging part because voting there is done manually.

===

I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!

Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!

View details...

Call us!

Call us!

Call us!

Call now!

CALL US NOW!