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| OFWs stick to their agenda despite the march of protesters nearby. |
Where there used to be thousands of them occupying roads,
underpasses and pedestrian bridges in these districts on any given Sunday,
these days their number has visibly dwindled.
Among those who have been affected directly by the unrest
are participants in livelihood training seminars offered by the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in
Wanchai.
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| Statue Square in Central on a Sunday was never this spacious before the protests |
Sheena Salero, who took up livelihood courses such as macrame
weaving and ribbon folding, said graduations had been put off by Polo due to the
crisis. On some days, battles were fought right in the street below the YF Life
Tower where Polo is located, forcing staff and OFWs to leave for home early.
“Kasi lagi na sa Wanchai ang rally kaya ipinagpaliban muna
ng Consulate and graduation,” she said.
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Despite the frequent mayhem, Filipinas Rodrigo strives to go
to Polo on Sundays because she says she wants to learn more livelihood skills
in preparation for her return home.
She continues to go there for her on-the-job training in
dressmaking, and awaits the massage therapy course where she is short-listed.
Rodrigo recalled that on Sept 8, coming from her
late-afternoon training at POLO, she took the MTR home to Kennedy Town
Sheng Madino, who works for a family in Sai Ying Pun, site
of recent fierce clashes on Hong
Kong Island Exchange Square
“Hindi po ako lumalabas para mas safe,” she said.
The thinning crowd of OFWs around Chater Road Statue Square World-Wide Plaza
The sight is repeated on pedestrian bridges above Connaught Road
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| But some OFWs could also be oblivious to protesters passing by them while they rest in their favorite haunts on Sundays |
On Chater Road
Golda, who used to spend Sundays with fellow Cordillerans on
Ice House St. Hong Kong , fouling up her plans.
“I’ve cancelled all appointments dahil sa mga protesta at
baka walang masakyan pag nagkataon dahil na bloody protest,” Golda said.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, she stayed at home rather
than do the traditional moon-watching because students were holding a vigil at
a high school across the street from her place.
Feeling the pinch are OFW food vendors and service providers
in the vicinity. Manang Cora, who sells “kanin at ulam”, native rice cakes and
soda, estimates she has lost 40% of her usual Sunday income.
“Noong wala pang mga rally ay nakakapagpadala ako sa mga
anak ko ng $2,500 isang buwan,” said the 62-year-old woman who came to Hong Kong in 1990.
These days, her income has dropped to just around $1,000,
she said, as Filipino workers go home as early as 2pm and have their dinner
near their employers’ homes rather than buy from Manang.
Even those who don’t go to Central say they have been
affected by the protests. One who calls herself Malditang Gala said she had
stopped going for walks on Sundays for fear she would get stranded somewhere if
trouble broke out. Instead of gallivanting, she now attends Splash free
swimming classes for OFWs.
Another worker, Mylene Espino from Taiwai, says she is very
nervous whenever she rides the MTR, fearing she would get hurt if clashes flared
up on the train. “Hopefully matapos na po yung gulo,” she said.
The only ones who don’t seem to worry about the rallies are
groups of gamblers gathered in various nooks openly laying their substantial bets
on various card games. Unlike before, they need not worry about the cops
anymore, who have far more serious matters in their hands.
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