The SUN HK

Isulat ang iyong pangarap

Posted on 31 July 2019 No comments

Ang bagong batch ng nagsanay.

Ni George Manalansan

Ito ang madalas sabihin ng mga tagapagsanay ng Card Hong Kong Foundation sa mga sumasali sa kanilang financial literacy workshop. Kailangang gumawa kayo ng “goal-setting worksheet” para mas maging klaro, makatotohanan at may nakatakdang panahon ng katuparan.

Ayon sa trainor na si Emelia Dellosa, apat lang sa 44 na migrante na dumalo sa kanilang pinakahuling libreng pagsasanay sa paghawak ng kaperahan noong ika-21 ng Hulyo ang gumagawa ng ganitong paglilista. Ang karamihan ay nangangarap lang kaya nananatiling pag-asam lang ang kanilang pangarap. Sa pabirong salita, sinabi niyang “hanggang drawing” lang ang gusto nilang mangyari.

Naging malaking hamon naman sa mga dumalo ang ilista ang kanilang pangarap sa buhay para may laging nagsisilbing paalala sa kanila kung ano ang gusto nilang mangyari sa kanilang buhay habang sila ay nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.

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Bahagi ni Michelle Arcena, gusto niya talagang matuto ng ibang pagkakakitaan sa buhay, at naniniwala siyang 90% ng dapat gawin para matupad ito ay ang sumali sa mga pagbabahagi ng kaalaman katulad ng ginagawa ng Card.

Dati daw na OFW ang kanyang nanay at tanging long service payment lang ang nadala nito nang siya ay mag “for good.” Wala pa daw financial literacy noong panahon na nasa abroad ang kanyang ina kaya hindi ito natuto na mag-ipon at humanap ng ibang pagkakakitaan.

Ang kanya daw natutunan, ani Arcena, ay dapat na alamin muna ng isang migrante ang kanyang sarili. Ano ang kanyang mithiin sa buhay at paano niya ito isasakatuparan.

Natutuwa si Arcena na kapwa niya manggaggawa ang mga trainor kaya alam na alam nila ang saloobin ng bawat isa, kaya naging masaya talakayan. Balang araw ay gusto din daw niyang ibahagi ang kanyang kaalaman sa kapwa.

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Ayon naman kay Jasmin Mendeja na 15 taon na sa Hong Kong, taga Mindoro at solong magulang, ang nais niya ay matuto kung paano niya dagdagan ang kanyang mga naipundar, paano magtipid at pag-aralan maigi ang pamumuhunan. Napagtapos na daw niya ang kanyang mga anak kaya gusto naman niyang pagtuunan ang pagpaplano para sa sariling kinabukasan.

Tuwang-tuwa naman si Lilibeth Naval, taga Davao at anim na taon na sa Hong Kong, dahil naging bahagi siya ng pagsasanay ng Card. Na “educate” daw siya ng husto, at ang paborito niya sa mga naging usapin ay ang pagpapalago ng kita at kung paano makaiwas sa mga scam.

Para kay Azel Camba naman na 16 taon na sa Hong Kong, malaki ang naging dagdag kaalaman niya tungkol sa pagba budget.

Dati ay bigay-todo daw siya sa kanyang pamilya ngunit dahil sa kanyang natutunan ay babaguhin na niya ang kalakarang ito.

Naging mapagbigay daw siya dahil gusto niyang pagtakpan ang hindi niya magawa magmula nang siya ay umalis ng bansa. Ang buong taong kita niya ay ibinuhos niya sa pamilya ng dahil lang dito.

Madalas na sinasabi ng mga dumalo sa pagsasanay ng Card na naliliwanagan sila kapag narinig ang mga dapat gawin tungo sa kalayaan sa kakapusan.

Palibhasa ay mga migrante din ang nagtuturo at hindi nagbebenta ng kahit anong pagkakakitaan kaya palagay ang loob nila na patas ang mga itinuturo sa kanila tungkol sa mga posibleng panganib sa pamumuhunan.

Para sa mga susunod na pagsasanay na dulot ng Card, magtungo lang sa kanilang Facebook page: Card Hong Kong Foundation

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Mga petsang dapat tandaan

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PCG closure on National Heroes Day
Monday, Aug 26 – National Heroes Day
The Philippine Consulate General will be closed to the public in observance of National Heroes Day. There will be no official business transactions at both the PCG and POLO on this date. In case of emergency, please call: 9155-4023 (consular assistance), 5529-1880 (POLO), 6345-9324 (OWWA). For further information, check consular website at: www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph Facebook: Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong
Email: hongkong.pcg@dfa.gov.ph

Free Child Care Training
Aug 3 (Saturday), 12nn-5pm, POLO Training Room
To book your place, register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnV_b-RMjQTWEW hknnd2zL4YMroq9xoCuzwRUXrZJrCPY-cg/viewform

SCC Divas Cricket Team training
Sunday, Aug 4. Time: 12 noon to 2pm.
Venue: AP Sports Academy In-door Sport Centre,
Unit A, 5/F Gemstar Tower, 23 Man Lok St, Hung Hom.
Contact Josie Arimas, 57203880

Baking Cookies Skills Training
Aug 10 (Saturday)
Morning session: 9am to 12:30pm
Afternoon session: 2-5pm
Bayanihan Centre, 55 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town
Organized by: CARD HK Foundation
*** First come, first serve basis upon arrival at the venue (participants will be accommodated in 1 room only). No reservations accepted.
Kindly bring the ff: 1. Apron. 2 .Hairnet. 3. Minimal contribution for ingredients (Free training but cost of ingredients will be divided equally among participants. Finished products, copies of recipes and a certificate will be taken home).

HK Free Financial Literacy Seminar
Saturday: 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
Please tell your friends so they can join, too

Health Day
(Information seminar by a registered physical therapist)
Aug 25, 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F., No.28A, Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong.
Target participants are FDWs who meet all the following requirements:
1. Speak English or Cantonese
2. Have been working in Hong Kong for more than 1 year
3. Suffering from work-related body pain problems
Content:
1. Introduction of work health & safety
2. Introduction of the use of equipment for elderly caring
Offered by Caritas Asian Migrant Workers Social Service Project. To reserve a slot, call 2147-5988.

Domestic Workers Corner 2nd Anniversary
Sat, Sept 14 (Statutory Holiday)
Venue to be arranged, but should be in a seminar room
Planned activities include talks on financial literacy and migrants rights. Members are asked to pay $50 each for the food to be shared. For more information, send a message to DWC’s Facebook pages or to founder Lovely

Congen calls on Pinoys to help each other as he bids Filcom goodbye

Posted on 29 July 2019 No comments

By Vir B. Lumicao

Congen Tony's last words for the Filcom focused on the debt problem that plagues many Filipino migrant workers

Consul General Antonio Morales has urged the Filipino community in Hong Kong to help in extending assistance to those in need as the number of Filipinos in the city continues to grow.

He made the call in a hastily organized send-off for him on Jul 28, where the attendance was visibly affected by the tens of thousands of anti-extradition bill protesters marching on nearby Queensway as the party got under way.

But even as he made his farewell Morales remembered to warn the community about the debt problem that plagues many Filipino workers here, and which sometimes leads to tragic consequences, such as the case of a worker who took her own life recently.

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He urged the community to help fellow Filipinos who need urgent help especially when the Consulate can’t help them directly.

He said the Filipino population here has grown fast, from 221,000 when he arrived one and a half years ago, to 240,000 today.

“Siyempre pag marami yan, maraming nagkakaproblem. At isa sa pinakaproblema natin ngayon, siguro alam nyo…yung utangan, napakalaki ng interes ngayon, kung isanlibo ang uutangin, e di $1,600 ang babayaran mo,” he said.

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He recalled the case of the more than 1,400 passports hocked by Filipino workers for loans from an unlicensed lending company and recovered by police in a raid in recent weeks, and again appealed to the community not to resort to the practice.

He advised them to avoid debt, especially if their only reason for borrowing money is to buy a new cellphone.

Thanking the volunteers in last May’s elections, he noted that Filipino voters here are of different colors, and requested them to respect whatever beliefs their compatriots have because they are all Filipinos.

Congen recalled that he did not want to be posted in Hong Kong initially, but said that his brief stint here was a blessing in disguise as he had been happy serving the very active community here.

He said in jest that this is his only post, his eighth, where Philippine Independence Day celebrations last for a month.

Deputy Consul General Germinia Usudan, leading the tributes, noted the Filcom’s sadness in bidding Congen Tony goodbye.

“Napakahirap talagang magpaalam. Sa amin ho, ilang beses na rin kaming nagpaalam kay Congen, pero hindi pa rin maubus-ubos ang aming paalam, kasi para sa amin ang isang mabait at magaling na lider ay napakahirap bitawan,” she said.

Image may contain: 6 people, including Leo A. Deocadiz, Marites Palma and Virgilio Bello Lumicao, people smiling, people standing and indoor

The SUN team poses with Congen underneath the balloon arch specially created for the occasion by BSK

The SUN editor Daisy Mandap thanked Morales for being open to the community and the newspaper, an attitude that, she said, was reflected in how the other officers of the Consulate also freely shared information.

“The attitude of the head of post is best reflected in the way the ones under him relate to the people in the community, and for that I would also like to thank the other officers for being open to us in The SUN,” Mandap said.

She said she hoped his successor would be as open and as kind to the community here.

Other Filcom leaders thanked Congen Tony for helping carry out projects for OFWs.

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First local training center for FDHs opens in HK

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Consulate officers led by Congen Tony Morales came in full force for TrainTech's opening. Manager Selomenio is at far right.

TrainTech, an employment agency that will train newly arrived Filipino domestic workers before they are deployed to local employers, opened for business on Jul 28 with Consul General Antonio Morales, outgoing Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre and PCG and POLO officers as special guests. The new venture owned by Shirley Kong, has its offices at 1/F Hang Fat Bldg., 140 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan. It will be managed by Global Alliance chairman Leo Selomenio, whose change of status from foreign domestic helper to employment visa holder has been made possible by her being recruited for the training and employment agency.

Polo officers give emotional farewell to Labatt Jolly at SUN tribute

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Image may contain: 12 people, including Leo A. Deocadiz, Marites Palma, Virgilio Bello Lumicao, Jalilo Dela Torre and Marivic Castro Clarin, people smiling, people standing

The SUN team and Polo officers with Labatt Jolly at the final farewell - the smiles belied their heavy hearts

By The SUN

What started out as a farewell and gift-giving ceremony by The SUN for Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre on Jul 28 turned into an emotional outpouring of thanks from his key officers, who all spoke of their admiration for him and his exemplary service to Filipino migrants.

His three top women officers- Assistant Labor Attache Angelica Sunga and welfare officers Virsie Tamayao and Marivic Clarin – all broke down as they gave thanks to him and extolled his performance.

His former deputy and now Polo officer-in-charge Tony Villafuerte, also remarked in a sad tone on how difficult it would be to follow in Labatt’s footsteps.

“Napakahirap ng kalagayan namin ngayon. Iiwan tayo ng isang beteranong katulad ni Labatt, at hindi lang yon. Napakalalim ng bakas na kanyang iiwan,” said Villafuerte.

The SUN publisher, editors and contributors led the tributes by presenting Labatt Jolly with a framed front page of a “special edition” containing stories about him and the accolades he received at the end of his tumultuous three-year term.

Image may contain: 6 people, including Marites Palma, Leo A. Deocadiz, Jalilo Dela Torre and Virgilio Bello Lumicao, people smiling, people standing

The SUN's framed special edition is all about Labatt Jolly

Tucked into the framed gift was a message in which The SUN team thanked Labatt for his “exemplary service and dedication” and the care he showed to the Filipino community in Hong Kong, particularly the Filipino migrant workers.

“Thank you for setting the bar high for all public servants, wherever they may be posted, wherever they may be. Yours will be a tough act to follow, but we sure wish those who would come after you will try their best to measure up,” said the message.

The SUN publisher Leo A. Deocadiz recalled that this was the second time Labatt Jolly had been posted in Hong Kong, and since his first posting, never lost touch with many Filipino community leaders here.

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“Thank you for your service to the community – which also happens to be our motto, ‘service to the Filipino’,” said Deocadiz. “Hopefully you will be back.”

The SUN’s writers and editors all recalled how quickly Labatt had acted on their queries and request for help on behalf of migrants, even going out on rescue missions himself, and relentlessly pounding on illegal recruiters and human traffickers.

But the most heartfelt tributes came from his women officers, whose voices cracked as they recalled how Labatt had inspired them in their work.

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Leading the tearful goodbyes was ALA Sunga, who recalled a lesson Labatt Jolly had taught her when she just arrived in Hong Kong, and was desperately trying to learn the ropes of her first overseas posting. She said Labatt told her that “for as long as you have this (pointing to the heart), you should be alright.”

She added, “Ang dami naming natutunan sa inyo, lalo na ako personally…Sana magkaroon tayo ng chance na magkatrabaho muli” then added playfully, “wag lang sa Middle East.” (This was in reference to Labatt Jolly being offered a move back to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which he has put in the back burner for now).

The most emotional message came from Welof Tamayao, who called Labatt’s performance “exceptional.”

“Sa tagal ko sa serbisyo, parang siya lang ang nakita kong ganito, eh. Kaya mahal na mahal siya ng lahat ng sector. Ang hirap kayang mahalin ng Migrante,” said Tamayao, referring to how militant groups in Hong Kong had also heaped praise on Labatt.

She also called her outgoing boss “hypersensitive” to the needs of most migrant workers.

“Labatt, I’ll tell you this. Sa inyo ko lang naramdaman ang lahat – extra effort, extra time, extra resources, everything that is extra. Unlimited. Really, I have seen how much you have loved migrant workers. Your love is not platonic, it is real.”

Her fellow welfare officer, Clarin, promised not to shed tears for their boss, but nevertheless failed to stop her voice from cracking as she fondly described him as an “adik,” meaning “adik sa work.”

She recalled how Labatt would send his staff messages at any time of the day or night, asking for information on workers who were reported to him as needing help.

“Ang pangako ko lang, we will continue what you have started,” Clarin said. “Padayon, sir.”

Image may contain: Jalilo Dela Torre, standing

Labatt Jolly said later the outpouring of love and support had left him in tears

Before the spontaneous outpouring of affection and admiration from his staff, Labatt Jolly thanked The SUN for heaping praise on his work.

“This is very touching, maraming salamat...Yung mga papuri ninyo, tama yun (laughter)…pero hindi ko magagawa yun kung wala ang team ko.”

But the heartfelt final tributes must have tugged at Labatt Jolly’s heartstrings that he lost no time in posting on Facebook afterwards that he was also left in tears. “The last time na umiyak ako, sa burol ng Tatay ko, 30 years ago. This is something special and I will carve out a niche in my plaque-riddled heart for this memento.”

Labatt Jolly is due to leave for Manila on Jul 31, the official last day of his Hong Kong stint. No replacement has yet been found for him, giving his most fervent supporters hope that he would somehow be sent back here.

The well-loved official arrived for his second posting in Hong Kong in March 2016. Two years into what was supposed to be a three-year term, he was recalled to the Home Office by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, purportedly to answer allegations of favoritism among accredited employment agencies.

Two widely-reported protests against his recall by various migrant workers groups led to him being sent back to Hong Kong in October last year.

A second attempt to recall him just before the May mid-term elections this year was thwarted when it emerged the Department of Labor and Employment had failed to get an exemption from a law that prohibits the transfer of civil servants during an election period.

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Unifil-Migrante honors Labatt Jolly with rare award for exemplary service

Posted on 26 July 2019 No comments

By Vir B. Lumicao

Image may contain: 6 people, including Edwina Antonio, Dolores Balladares Pelaez, Jalilo Dela Torre, Shiela Tebia de Aldo and Cynthia Abdon, people smiling, people standing and shoes

Migrante and allied organizations handed the award to Labatt Jolly a few days before he leaves HK for good.
From left: Ester Bangcawayan, Edwina Antonio, Dolores Balladares Pelaex, Labatt Jolly, Sheila Tebia and Cynthia Tellez

Militant migrant workers bestowed a “Gawad Tanggol Migrante” award to outgoing Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre on Friday, Jul 26, for his exemplary and dedicated service to the Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

The rare tribute was held in a brief and simple ceremony at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in YE Life Tower in Wanchai.

Unifil-Migrante HK chairperson Dolores Balladares-Pelaez led the ceremony assisted by Gabriela Hong Kong & Macau chairperson Sheila Tebia. Eman C. Villanueva, Unifil-Migrante secretary-general, was not able to attend.

Guests at the event were Mission for Migrant Workers general manager Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, director Edwina Antonio (who is also executive director of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge) and case officer Ester Bangcawayan.

A plaque handed by the group to Labatt Jolly cited him for his “loyal service and protection of the rights and interest” of Filipino migrants in Hong Kong who are mostly vulnerable female domestic workers.

Labatt Jolly is cited for his honest service, and for protecting the rights and welfare of Filipino migrants in HK

“(Ang) Gawad Tanggol Migrante ay ipinagkakaloob kay Atty. Jalilo dela Torre bilang pagkilala sa kanyang matapat na paglilingkod at pagtatanggol sa mga karapatan at interes ng mga migranteng Pilipino sa Hong Kong,” Unifil-Migrante said.

“Ipinagkaloob ang pagkilalang ito sa okasyon ng ika-34 Taong Anibersaryo ng United Filipinos in Hong Kong ngayong ika-24 ng Hulyo, taong 2019 sa Central, Hong Kong SAR.”

It was signed by by Balladares-Pelaez and Villanueva.

The plaque was originally scheduled to be given to Labatt Jolly at the anniversary program of Unifil-Migrante at Chater Garden on Sunday, Jul 21. But the celebration was cancelled due to a large gathering in the area by anti-extradition bill protesters.

Labatt Jolly is one of a very few public servants who have endeared himself to Filipino migrants in Hong Kong, including the left-leaning ones.

As Balladares-Pelaez pointed out at the Filcom farewell party for him on Jul 7, her group even went to the extent of joining a protest against his untimely recall early last year, the very first time they did so for a government official.

“Ibig sabihin lang po, siya ay isang huwaran, isang mahusay na kawani ng gobyerno si Labatt na magandang tularan ng iba pang mga nagseserbisyo sa gobyerno,” she said in her speech.

She also noted that Labatt dela Torre was always ready to help rescue distressed OFWs at all times of the day, and even held a dialogue with them while sick.

Villanueva said militant migrant workers in Hong Kong were drawn close to Labatt Jolly because he exemplified the activist slogan “serve the people”.

“Kaming mga aktibista kasi, meron kaming motto, yung ‘Serve the people’, yung ‘paglingkuran ang sambayanan’. Siguro iyon ang naglapit sa amin kay Labatt Jolly dahil sa panahong inilagi niya rito, nakita namin na ang kanyang tapat na paglilingkod sa OFW,” Villanueva said.

Otherwise, if Labatt Jolly was a bad labor attaché, Villanueva said, “baka nakita nyo kaming nagpuprotesta para palayasin siya.”

Employer hunted down by helper over unpaid wages ready to settle

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A Filipina helper who failed to find her former employer in a manhunt in the New Territories last month has received feelers that her quarry is willing to show up and settle her claim for unpaid wages at the Labour Tribunal.

The employer who did not show up at the Labour Tribunal hearing now wants to settle

Maricel Ulay launched her search for Chu Wa-chuen after the employer did not show up at the tribunal hearing on Jul 16 of the helper’s claim totaling $8,000 in unpaid wages, one month’s pay in lieu of notice, air ticket and travel allowance.

Right after the hearing, Ulay and a friend set out for a village in Sheung Shui near the Chinese border in search of Chu’s laundry shop so they could personally hand the Tribunal’s notice of hearing to her.

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“Nakita po namin yung lugar pero napapalibutan siya ng mataas na bakod na yero at semento. Wala pong numero at walang laman ang mailbox. Wala rin po kaming nakitang tao,” Ulay said.

Luckily, Chu reportedly sent word through her Hong Kong employment agent later that she would attend the next hearing and try to settle the claim.

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Ulay is scheduled to go back to the Tribunal on Aug 1 to report on her search for Chu, and if allowed, refile her claim. Presiding Officer G.T. Lung had earlier dismissed her claim because Chu could not be located.

The employer’s absence at the last hearing was Ulay’s first setback since terminating her contract with Chu after just four months, for allegedly letting her work illegally in the laundry shop.

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With help from former Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, Ulay had previously recovered Php45,000 from Place Well International, an employment agency in Manila that deployed her to Hong Kong.

During the Tribunal hearing Ulay was told that the court notice could not be delivered to Chu as she was not in the address that she had supplied. Ulay said Chu had written down the address in their employment contract.