The first day of overseas voting hits a snag just before the closing

Marilyn Marasigan arrived late at the Bayanihan Center on Day One of the 2016 Philippine elections on April 9 and got her voting precinct assignment slip just six minutes before the 5pm closing.

By the time the day’s last voter fed her ballot into the vote counting machine in Room SB06, it was past 5pm and the device scanned the document but did not read it. She would have been the 1,129th voter on Day One.

The last-minute glitch suddenly became a cause for concern among officials of the Consulate who had just reviewed the events of the days in order to pinpoint any bug that should be fixed ahead of the expected surge of voters the next day, a Sunday.

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the Consulate’s cultural section who was in charge of this year’s overseas voting in Hong Kong, rushed to SB06 along with Consul Charles Macaspac and other consular officers after the room’s special board of canvassers reported the bug.

There they saw Marasigan, 40, a domestic worker from Yuen Long, who looked worried about what happened to her vote.

Coincidentally, it was in SB06 where the first Hong Kong-based Filipino voter Baneng Mendez cast her ballot.

Vallespin took pains explaining that her ballot was possibly spoiled and she had to wait for the Commission on Elections IT support technician who had been called to find out what went wrong.

When the technician did come at around 6pm, Marasigan was asked a few times to insert her ballot, but the machine still refused to read it.

“What happened to (Marasigan’s) ballot was, the VCM refused to read it despite our efforts to fix its orientation,” Vallespin said.

“So (the technician) again conducted a diagnosis several times, but the machine just wouldn’t take it, so what happens is this is now a spoiled ballot,” he said.

Before Marasigan left the voting precinct, she watched the chairman of SBEI No 10 seal the ballot in a brown envelope for transmittal to the Comelec head offices in Manila.

Comelec technician Dexter Beronio explained that humidity could have moistened the ballot paper to a point where the VCM’s sensitive scanner could not read and validate it.

He said the machine should be observed when the first ballot on Sunday is cast to see if still misbehaves. If it does, then the glitch is in the machine; if it works, then Marasigan’s ballot is indeed spoiled.

“If that the case, Marasigan could no longer be given another ballot because her ballot is spoiled, and according to the General Instructions, she can no longer be given another ballot,” Vallespin said.

Marasigan was upset. “Sayang naman ang aking boto, piling-pili pa naman ang mga ibinoto ko pati sa mga senador,” she said, admitting that she voted for Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Macaspac said that in case machine No 6 is declared unusable on April 10, when thousands of OFWs are expected to cast their ballot, those assigned to SB06 would be directed to SB10 until the 1,000 ballots there are used up.

Afterwards, the SD card of VCM No 6 would be installed on the machine in SB10 so that the 3,000 ballots in SB06 could be used in that room.

Consulate officials hoped the bug would be gone on Day Two. -- Vir B. Lumicao

Hong Kong Pinoys start month-long overseas voting

Prayers for peaceful and orderly voting,

Filipinos in Hong started voting today for the next president of the Philippines, vice president, 12 senators and one party list representative in Congress.

The voting period will last until May 9, which is also the date when voters in the Philippines will decide who to install as their leaders for the next three or six years, depending on the position.

An initial crowd of about 40 people queued under tents in the basketball court of the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town, armed with identification documents to present to the Voter Search section -- their first stop -- where officers found their names and voting precincts.

The actual voting started about 8:15am, after some prayers, the blessing of each precinct, and the singing of the national anthem.

Catalla and Lim.

On hand to welcome the early-birds were officials of the Commission on Elections and the Consulate, led by Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim and Consul General Bernardita Catalla. Both later lined up at the Voter Search section when the crowd thinned.

Catalla also asked Consulate staff manning the computers and the members of the Special Board of Election Inspectors to vote when they had the chance, while the crowd was still thin. The first expected big day is Sunday, April 10.

Issued with pieces of paper that showed what floor and precinct they should go, the voters went up to their assigned rooms to vote.

But the process did not go without a hitch.

Comelec's Lim, for example, was allowed to vote in the wrong precinct. The vote counting machine rejected his ballot. Since his ballot was already filled up, it was declared spoiled and he was allowed to vote in the correct precinct.

Asked later if this could result in a shortage of ballots, he said this will happen only when there in a 100 per cent turnout.

Deputy Consul General Kit de Jesus also said his name could not be found in the lists at the precunct to which he was sent. However, he went to the next precinct and found his name there, and he voted without a hitch.

Catalla said these minor problems could be expected, especially since this was the first day.

Voters can claim their IDs, too.

As a bonus, voters could also claim their voter's ID in a room beside the Voter Search section. A group of OFW volunteers, led by the Consulate's welfare attache Elizabeth Dy, was on hand to give out the IDs.

Several thousands of IDs of voters who have registered since the first overseas voting in 2004 have remained unclaimed.

(This story will be updated during the day. Stay tuned)

Election trims Consulate staffing; POLO boosts services

Secretariat being set up to receive voters.

The month-long election which begins today is expected to downscale services at the Consulate, because most of its officers and employees will be tied down at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town.

According to several officials at the Consulate, a skeleton staff will remain to provide basic and emergency services. However, sources said, essential staff will be available on call in cases of emergency.

On the other hand, services at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in a nearby building will not be affected according to Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.

De la Torre said that the election will hardly affect POLO operations because only a few of its staff will be harnessed for the exercise.

In fact, he added, services will even expand because the processing of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) will be done even on Saturdays at the Worldwide House shop of Smart Telecom, when POLO is closed.

De la Torre noted a growing number of OFWs who are taking their days off on Saturdays, which would make assigning staff to the additional service worthwhile.

He said talks are also ongoing to enable OEC applicants to use the Octopus card to paying the $20 fee for the OEC.

The possibility of the payment also being accepted at 7-Eleven stores is being considered, he added.

How the election will be conducted.

Members of SBEI No. 1 in Hong Kong demonstrate the steps to be taken in the conduct of the election.

Hong Kong declares itself ready for 2016 elections

Members of SBEI No. 1 demonstrate voting process.

Hong Kong's voting precincts tested election equipment installed at Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town today, and declared themselves ready to accept voters tomorrow -- the start of the one-month exercise for overseas Filipinos worldwide.

Baneng: ready for vigil
to be first voter.

At least one voter has also occupied the first slot in the queue of voters at the Bayanihan Center entrance downstairs, preparing to spend the night to hold on to her position. 

Baneng Mendez arrived at 2pm today, ready with food and drinks she would need for the vigil. Several colleagues from Migrante were on hand to take her place in case she had to go to the toilet.

She hopes to break the record of Rowena de la Cruz, who was able to be the first to vote in the previous three elections: 2007, 2010 and 2013.

The polling begins at 8am Saturday.

Comelec Commissioner Lim

Commission on Elections Commissioner Arthur Lim, said he will be voting in Hong Kong
on the first day of the month-long process.

The Comelec, he added, hopes fort a turnout of 80 per cent of the registered voters, not just in Hong Kong but in cities all over the world where the overseas voting will be held.

Hong Kong has 93,049 registered overseas Filipino voters in Hong Kong, or nearly 50% of the total Filipino population of 190,000.

However, the highest turnout registered in Hong Kong was 60 per cent in the 2010 presidential elections, where Benigno S. Aquino III was the winner in the presidential race.

During today's tests, members of the 10 Special Boards of Election Inspectors at Bayanihan Center demonstrated to the media the process of voting, scanning and tallying of the votes.

Representatives of political parties also went through each of the 10 polling precincts to test the machines and ensure they would be working on the 31 election days.

Lim said that ifthere are cases where some of the machines malfunction, the ballots will be fed into the machines of nearby precincts.

Shading the "ovals" of the ballot.

At the SBEI No. 1, which was opened to the media, chairman Manely Gomez and her members Onie Macleod and Joel Limsiaco began the routine by showing an empty ballot box. They then showed the process of starting up the vote counting machines.

They then gave ballots to some members of the media who then "voted", indicating their choices for president and vice president by shading the ovals opposite the respective candidates, and then inserting their ballots into the machines.

The SUN editor Daisy C.L. Mandap, one of the test voters, said the receipt churned out by the machine after she voted, was accurate in listing her choices.

(Note: Read a more exhaustive coverage of the presidential elections in Hong Kong in the April Mid-month issue of The SUN, which comes out on the 15th of April, 2016)

‘Vigan’ is Philippine booth's theme in HK Flower Show

A booth with Vigan as its theme was this year’s Philippine entry in the annual Hong Kong Flower Show held from Mar 11-20 at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. As in the past 13 years, the Knights of Rizal under Pieter Nootenboom took care of decorating the Philippine booth.
The KoR, in cooperation with Kababaihang Rizalista HK chapter and other Filipino community organizations and individuals, presented a cultural show depicting traditional songs and dances. Performers came in colorful national costumes which proved to be a hit with the crowd.
The Philippine booth, which was included in the non-proft category, focused on racial harmony and unity, and was dedicated to the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Quicker delivery of Philhealth benefits to OFWs pushed

Risa Hontiveros (Photo by Frederick Suarez).

Overseas Filipino workers would get Philhealth refunds for their hospitalization expenses more quickly under a plan being proposed by senatorial aspirant Risa Hontiveros.

Hontiveros, a former director of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, explained her plan in a dialogue between Liberal Party candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo, and OFW leaders in Hong Kong last April 3. 

“Mahirap na nga magkasakit, mas mahirap di hamak na magkasakit nang malayo sa pamilya. Kung maari nga itulak natin ang reciprocal arrangements sa mga bansa na may OFW para kilalanin ng kanilang mga ospital ang Philhealth discount para agad-agad nang idededuct," she added.

As long as the OFW is updated in their Philhealth records, they can avail of Philhealth benefits However, many OFWs find the process cumbersome. 

Hontiveros also said she will help simplify the process of Philhealth reimbursements for OFWs who find themselves hospitalized in their host countries. 

"Ten million na mga Pinoy ay nasa ibang bansa, higit two million ang OFW. Sa panahon ngayon na laganap ang mga sakit gaya ng Zika Virus, kailangan ng dagdag na tulong pangkalusugan," Hontiveros.

She said many OFWs hold precarious jobs with no or minimal health insurance.Many are also undocumented and cannot access social protections in their host countries. "Yung mga may regular employment contracts, or agency-hired, walang problema. Pero madami pa din na bulnerable na dapat tulungan. Halimbawa, sa Middle East, kung tumakas sa amo dahil siya ay hinaharass, wala siyang residency ID na mapapakita at hindi siya basta-basta makakapunta sa ospital kapag may sakit.” 

Hontiveros said she will also push for satellite clinics in embassies and consulates to provide assistance during pandemics. "Ang abot kaya at dekalidad na serbisyo medikal ay dapat makuha ng bawat Pilipino -- saan man sa mundo," she said

Ang mga "yellow dancers."

Mga panukala ni Leni Robredo para sa OFW kapag naging bise presidente siya.

Ang mga plano ni Mar Roxas para sa OFW

Presidential candidate Mar Roxas answers questions
from the press, Hong Kong, April 3, 2016.

Election fever sweeps Hong Kong

Chater Road is ablaze with different political colors on March 27, 2016.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Pre-election frenzy is sweeping the Filipino community in Hong Kong, days before the start of the month-long overseas voting on Apr 9.
Several groups are gearing up for the final Sunday of campaigning on Apr 3, with the biggest event likely to be staged by supporters of presidential bets Mar Roxas and Rody Duterte.
It is the first time Hong Kong is seeing fierce campaigning by supporters of several candidates since the first overseas voting was held in 2004, which could largely be due to the slim margins separating the four candidates for the top post.
Roxas’ running mate, Leni Robredo, is set to give their supporters a boost when she visits key Filipino haunts in Central and holds a dialogue with community leaders in Edinburgh Place. She will get support from Roxas’ wife and TV personality Korina Sanchez-Roxas, who will also be in town to attend a community event on Chater Road where she is expected to rally supporters.
A big public rally is also set to be held at the General Post Office nearby by Duterte supporters. Organizers are reportedly exerting efforts to get the Davao City mayor himself to grace the occasion, but as of this writing, only his trusted aide Manny Pinol and folk singer Freddie Aguilar are confirmed to attend. There is however, a plan to hook up with Duterte via telephone so he can address his Hong Kong supporters on site.
Supporters of vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos had earlier sent out invites via Facebook for a “Unity Rally” on the same day, but for unknown reasons, had scrapped the invitation.
A week earlier, the OFW and Marcos Loyalist International group staged a massive campaign rally on Chater Road, but their favored candidate failed to show up, despite announcements on radio the night before that he would attend. A few expressed disappointment at the no-show, but most of those who gathered for the whole-day event visibly perked up when they heard his voice via phone patch and amplified from the stage,
Senator Marcos told his hundreds of supporters who gathered at the event that he would continue fighting for their rights and welfare, in recognition of their great contribution to the country’s economy.
Marcos also promised to pursue efforts to provide scholarships to children of overseas Filipino workers, and asked why Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was not using its funds set aside for this purpose.
Also part of his advocacy is job generation in the Philippines, saying this will help OFWs to eventually be reunited with their family members back home.
Standing in for him was Cong. Anton Lagdameo, husband of popular actress Dawn Zulueta, who rallied the groups to continue their support for Marcos.
On the other side of Chater Road, hundreds of Roxas-Robredo supporters held their first General Assembly, their first show of force since official campaigning for the Philippine presidential elections got underway.
The two leading administration candidates had expressed an intention to join the gathering initially, but cancelled at the last minute due to scheduling problems.
Liberal Party leaders were, however, quick to assure the supporters that at least one of the two top bets would be in town the following Sunday.
Months earlier, Duterte had visited Hong Kong for fundraising events and meet supporters.– with a report from Marites Palma

OFWs overcharged by agencies urged to back up claims

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre

Remittance slips, bank payment slips and financing loan agreements are just some of the documents that Filipino domestic workers can submit to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to prove a claim of overcharging against their recruitment agency.
This was what new labor attaché Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN during an interview on the day he assumed his post on Mar 16.
De la Torre urged the workers to substantiate their claims so his office could go after the rogue agencies.
The Hong Kong government, meanwhile, reiterated that it does not require domestic workers to go through employment agencies.
The Labour Department also emphasized in a statement on Mar 15 that local agencies are allowed to charge no more than 10% of the first month’s salary of the helpers under Hong Kong laws. It urged those who have been overcharged by agencies to file complaints with the department.
“The debts owed by FDHs might be related to the charging of intermediary or training fees back in (their) home countries before they come to Hong Kong. This issue needs to be tackled at source,” the department said, adding it has been in talks with the Philippine and Indonesian governments on ways to alleviate the helpers’ debt burden.
In the interview, De la Torre said, “I would like the Hong Kong government and the Philippine Consul General to closely cooperate in substantiating these complaints, kasi if they remain to be complaints not written down, hindi namin maaksiyunan,” De la Torre said.
He also appealed to Filipino workers here who are facing such problems “to substantiate their complaints in the form of affidavits” so that he could discipline both the Hong Kong and Philippine agencies involved.
“Madali lang kasi because we have the authority to suspend the processing of their documents. Ang suspension itself of the agencies does not belong to us, it belongs to the POEA, but we can suspend the processing of their documents,” De la Torre said.
He started his first day at work by paying a courtesy call on Consul General Bernadita Catalla, then met his staff at POLO, before paying a visit to the Filipino Workers Resource Center, the Consulate’s shelter for distressed migrants.
During his visit to the shelter run by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, he interviewed some of the helpers who moved there after their contracts were prematurely terminated. One of them, a long-time resident named Amal from Nueva Vizcaya, had suffered a stroke.
“Ang sabi ko sa mga shelter wards natin kanina, ‘Mas gusto ko pang umuwi na lang kayo, sa piling ng inyong mga pamilya,” Dela Torre said.  
Coinciding with the new labatt’s arrival was a statement from the Hong Kong government, reiterating its commitment to protect the rights of foreign domestic helpers.
“Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world which grant statutory labour rights and benefits to FDHs, same as those enjoyed by local workers,” the statement said in response to media enquiries on foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.
 “Both the Government and the Hong Kong community do not tolerate any abuse or exploitation of FDHs. The Government has been encouraging FDHs to file reports with the authorities and to act as prosecution witness if they have been or suspect that they are subject to abuse or exploitation (e.g. underpayment of wages and non-granting of statutory holidays),” it said.
The government vowed that the authorities would thoroughly investigate all reported cases and promptly prosecute if there was sufficient evidence.

OEC outlets opened at Worldwide, Admiralty

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre and POLO staff at an OEC mobile site at the World-Wide House. 

By Vir B. Lumicao

Off-site processing of the overseas employment certificate or OEC was held at two busy hubs on Mar 27, a Sunday, for those trying to secure the all-important document during the long Easter break.
One of the OEC desks was set up on ground floor pedestrian walkway in Worldwide House in Central, while the second was at the Metrobank branch in United Centre in Admiralty.
The Worldwide desk was set up in cooperation with PLDT-Smart, which held an Easter event at the site.
Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre made the arrangements as part of his bid to shorten the queues for the travel clearance at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty Centre.
De la Torre said he was worried some Filipino workers would need to go home urgently during the Easter break, when both the Consulate and POLO were closed for four straight days, from Thursday, March 24 to Monday, March 28.
De la Torre said he was hoping to secure a permanent space in Smart’s office at Worldwide where applications for the OEC from those who are not in a hurry to go home can be filed.
“I-accept lang nila yung information sheet at yung payment and then dadalhin sa amin, iisyuhan namin ng OR sa OEC, ibabalik sa kanila and then yung worker babalik sa amin a few days later, yung mga hindi nagmamadali,” he added.
De la Torre said he might adopt the same arrangement for Metrobank’s branches across Hong Kong, while the bank is securing accreditation to accept OEC payments here.
In the Philippines, Metrobank is already authorized to receive OEC payments in all its branches, he said.
Currently, only i-Remit is accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to accept OEC payments in Hong Kong.
But POLO still has to resolve one issue with i-Remit: the company’s insistence that applicants print out their emailed confirmation reference number before it would accept payments.
The new labatt said he planned to bring up the matter with iRemit and point out that the trend now is paperless transactions.
He also said the POEA is now working on an app for androids that will allow domestic workers to just use their cell phones in applying for the travel clearance.
Apart from these measures, de la Torre is planning to move back the OEC issuance on Sundays to the Bayanihan Centre to put an end to the long queues at POLO during the peak travel season.
On a drizzly morning on Mar 20, more than 1,000 workers had already formed three long lines on the Admiralty Centre footbridge waiting for their turn to go up to the POLO offices for their OEC.
“Kaninang alas-otso pa ako nakapila rito,” said one woman who before 10:30am had already filled up an application form stamped with a 12 noon-1pm appointment.
A POLO staff said he began giving out the forms at 8am and estimated that he had distributed about 1,300 by that time. He said the lines remained long because those who had obtained their forms were reluctant to leave the queue.

Buses to be deployed again to bring voters to Bayanihan

Transport committee members discuss details of their plan.

Eight places have been designated as pick-up and drop-off points for voters on five Sundays of the month-long overseas voting in the Philippine general elections that will be held at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town starting Apr 9.
This was agreed on by a panel of Filipino business executives that met with Vice Consul Alex Vallespin at the Consulate on Marc. 15.
The group chose Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Ma On Shan, Sai Kung, Shek Kip Mei, Tai Wai, Choi Hung and North Point as the places where chartered buses will pick up voters and take them to Bayanihan Center.
Voters can use the same buses to return to their districts, but they would be dropped off only at the pick-up points.
The practice of busing voters to Bayanihan to encourage them to vote has been in place since the 2007 mid-term elections when the turnout dipped significantly, prompting overseas voting volunteers to look for ways to arrest the decline.
At least 40 buses will be hired to transport voters from these points during an eight-hour period, 7:30am to 3:30pm, on Apr 10, 17, 24, and May 1 and 8.
Other voters may, however, go there by themselves using public transport.
As of Mar 15, the executives had committed to sponsor 22 of the 40 buses needed to service the eight routes on the specified dates.
Among the companies that will sponsor the trips are AFreight, LBC, Prime Credit, Roberto V. Ongpin group, SMART-PLDT, CSL, the Philippine Bankers’ Club and Peya Travel.
Vallespin is hoping that more sponsors will come forward to fill the deficit.
The UP Alumni Association-Hong Kong agreed to post marshals at the pick-up points to shepherd voters who would take the buses, and assign a marshal on each of the vehicles.
No campaigning will be allowed on the buses but sponsoring companies can display their streamers on the sides of the vehicle and distribute flyers on board. – Vir B. Lumicao

People like politics of change, say Migrante bets

Martinez, Colmenares and Bachiller

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Voters are wary of the ways of “trapos”, or traditional politicians, and are eager to embrace the politics of change, according to Migrante Partylist candidates for the Lower House, Garry Martinez and Caring Bachiller.
People have got tired of the campaign tactics of trapos and now regard candidates with distrust because of recent controversies and scandals such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), said Migrante International chairperson Martinez.
It was only when they said they were from Migrante did the people realize the difference from the rest, as it was Migrante that brought the PDAF scandal into the open, he said.
Martinez, Migrante’s first nominee, and Bachiller, the second, visited Hong Kong for Migrante’s global “miting de avance” on Mar 6.
Both former OFWs, Martinez and Bachiller hoped they would get enough votes from Filipino workers around the world to win any of the 56 partylist seats in the House.
Martinez said Migrante needed to gain at least 1 million votes to get three seats in the House.
Each of the three nominees — the third being United Filipinos in Hong Kong founder and Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragado – were uncertain of getting the required 300,000 votes to win a seat.  “That’s a tall order right now because not all OFWs would be able to vote, especially in the Middle East. In Riyadh and Jeddah alone, the distances are great and it takes about seven to 12 hours’ drive from their worksites to the voting centers,” Martinez said.
Bachiller said one reason many OFWs would not be able to vote is their work situation.  “They just can’t go out of their work places if it’s not their day off, and many domestic workers in the Middle East have no day off,” she said.
Bachiller was a helper in Hong Kong for several decades before she returned home to continue working for OFW rights in Abra. She is officer-in-charge of ATIS Abra Migrants Desk, an NGO operating out of the Bishop’s House Compound in Bangued.
Both acknowledged the advantage of Hong Kong when it comes to voting, as the city is a very small place with efficient transport system, and adheres strictly to democratic processes like elections, a legacy of the British.
They also cited the great interest of OFWs here in political developments at home because of Hong Kong’s proximity to their homeland and their awareness of what’s going on there from day to day.
Back home, people have realized there are fakes among the 150 accredited partylist groups or large political parties have had wrongdoings, so they seek alternative groups. This is helpful to progressive partylist groups like Migrante, which is promoting the agenda of the people and of OFWs and is making an impact, he said. “We are not going to be complacent just because people already know us. Our objective is to further expose and advance the politics of change in the country. People are still seeking, there’s no more alternative, and this is the most tricky part of our campaign – to carry not just our platform but to advance the politics of real change.”

Money problems the biggest source of depression: doctor

Dr. Manio

By Daisy CL Mandap

Avoid taking out loans as this could lead to depression, and even suicide. This was the stern warning aired by Dr. Michael Manio in a lecture at the Consulate on Mar 20, held to mark International Women’s Day.
Dr. Manio, who is with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, was asked to speak on depression and suicide, in the wake of a rise in the number of Filipino domestic workers taking their own lives in the territory.
He said financial pressures are the biggest source of depression among migrant workers, who are already at high-risk for this ailment as they are working away from their loved ones who give them emotional support.
The depression, if left unchecked, could lead to suicide.
“Walang nagsu-suicide kung walang na de-depress,” he said.
Dr. Manio was joined at the lecture by Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, who heads the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section; and social welfare attache Beth Dy, who offered help for those who suffer depression.
Dr Manio said Filipino community organizations could help prevent suicides by ensuring that their members are not burdened with work, or pressured into raising money for the group.
“Refrain from doing money contests, especially beauty contests,” said Dr. Manio.
As part of a study that he did, Dr. Manio said he listened to staff of a financial company exerting pressure on a domestic worker who had defaulted on her monthly payment and was surprised by the extreme tactics used.
He advised organizations to help members de-stress by holding team-building exercises twice a year.
At a question and answer session that followed his lecture, Dr. Manio also acknowledged that forming a peer support group would also be useful in preventing depression and suicides.
From the medical viewpoint, he said depression is seen as a mood disorder that causes people to lose interest in everything around them. The person feels very sad, hopeless and unimportant, and often is unable to live in a normal way. The afflicted may even turn to excessive drinking, or other forms of reckless behavior.

When feelings such as these persist for weeks, the person affected should immediately talk to a friend, or seek professional help.
While depression can be genetic, meaning one is born pre-disposed to it, it could also be brought on by extremely stressful life events such as the loss of a loved one, or the combination of a series of mood-altering incidents.
Dr. Manio said depression comes in different types, including one that is persistent or major, or is due to bipolar disorder, season affected disorder (often induced by the onset of winter), psychosis, post-partum (after childbirth), or pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder.
Apart from financial strain, the other non-medical causes of depression are marital or relationship probles, loneliness, lack of social support, a recent stressful life experience, a family history of depression, early childhood trauma or abuse, unemployment or underemployment, and chronic pain.
To ease or prevent depression, Dr Manio said one’s diet should also be checked. Food that help elevate serotonin levels in the body like lacto bacilli drinks (such as Yakult), coffee (no more than four cups a day), dark chocolate, walnuts and fish and tuna are said to be good at lifting spirits.
Finally, he advised workers to hold on to their faith, whatever their religion, and to try to always keep a positive attitude to avoid depression.
“Suicide is not a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” said Dr. Manio. – with a report from Lenin Flores

500 people to form into RP flag to climax Kapangyawan

By Vir B. Lumicao

Preparations are under way for the Kapangyawan Friendship Festival on June 12 this year, with organizers saying there will be unique features in this year’s celebration of the annual event that was launched three years ago.
The technical working group for the event disclosed this in a meeting with Filcom leaders and media on Mar 13 at the Consulate public hall.
Kapangyawan is a colorful pageantry of native dancing, music and food to usher in the celebration of the 118th anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Organizers say that for the first time, festivities will include a choreographed performance by 500 dancers to form a giant Philippine flag as the highlight of the celebration.
The festival will also feature a 30-minute performance of the Hong Kong Police Marching Band, 10 minutes longer than last year. It will be climaxed with a regional food competition where the regional booth that sees its prepared menu consumed first wins and gets a cash prize.
As in the past three years, this year’s working group consists of the Consulate, Philippine Association of HK and Philippine alliance.
However, vice consul Alex Vallespin who heads the cultural section said the event is open to all Filipino community groups. “We do not choose which group is welcome, everybody’s welcome, everyone can participate,” he said.
As June 12, the exact date of the Philippine Independence Day anniversary falls on a Sunday this year, the celebration is expected to be especially big. “(This means) we can celebrate Kapangyawan festival with the entire Filipino community,” said Vallespin.
The celebration will open with an interfaith mass to be celebrated by Hong Kong’s archbishop, Cardinal John Tong, together with Fr. Jay Flandez. This will be followed by a parade, regional cultural dances, and street dance numbers to be capped by a band concert courtesy of the Hong Kong Musicians Union.
The parade participants comprising various Filcom groups will come from three points: Bus No 13 stop beside City Hall, Chater Garden and Chater Road, beside Alexandra House.
The parade will begin with a “Parade of Colors” by Black Panther Musang International Martial Arts Society and the Mindanao Federation band and Vizmin Music and Dance Ensemble right behind the flag bearers.
Cultural troupes of 120 dancers making up the Cordillera suite, Maria Clara suite, Southern Islands suite, and Barrio Fiesta suite will provide a colorful spectacle of costumes and dances in “Sayaw Pinoy”.
Up next will be the Hong Kong Police Marching Band which will play martial music for a segment that has been extended due to popular demand. An assortment of street dances will follow to promote festivals from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. For Luzon, it will be the Ilocos region’s Pamulinawen, Dinagyang for the Visayas, and Sinalag for Mindanao.
But the human monogram in which 500 dancers will form the Philippine flag along Chater Road will be the main spectacle. The celebration will be capped by a band concert before the program ends at 2:30pm to give way to a variety show.
Another first for this year’s celebration of Kapangyawan will be the regional food competition where groups from the country’s various regions will prepare and feed the hungry performers at eight booths on Chater Road.

121 Filipinos in Hong Kong prisons at end-’15, up 14%

There were 121 Filipinos in Hong Kong jails serving sentences for various offenses led by trafficking in dangerous drugs and theft as of the end of December 2015, an increase of 14.2% from the same period last year, according to figures from the Consulate.
The statistics, gleaned from visits of staff of the assistance to nationals section to the SAR’s prisons last year, was alarmingly dominated by drug trafficking cases, which climbed 23.3% to 37  last year, from 30.
Officers of the ATN section, however, explained that the data do not reflect the actual number of Filipinos sentenced to jail for both last year and 2014, as most of the prison sentences lasted less than a year.
So, there could be more Filipino inmates in any given month than in December, but if most of them were sentenced for only two to six months, they would not reflect on the figures culled as of the end of the year.
The dominance of drug trafficking convicts in the 2015 statistics carried over from the previous years as the offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $5 million fine.
But none of the mostly Filipino women who were in Hong Kong’s maximum security prisons last year for drug offenses was serving a life sentence.
The other crime with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment is murder, for which two Filipinos are now in jail. Theft was the second-most common offense by Filipinos in Hong Kong, with 29 persons locked up as of Dec 31, 2015, or 13% more than the 26 inmates as of the end of 2014.
Not all the offenders, however, are OFWs; about half of the number comprised thieves coming to Hong Kong as tourists to pick pockets or steal jewelry while others were torture claimants or Filipino residents here who were caught burgling homes or business premises, or shoplifting.
The third most common offense was breach of condition of stay, for which 12 Filipino domestic helpers were in detention as of end-December. They were found to have worked outside their contractual addresses or were doing illegal work.  This was double the number posted at the end of 2014.
Another offense, overstaying, landed 10 Filipinos in prison last year, compared with 6 in 2014.
There were 8 convicted burglars in 2015, compared with 6 in the previous year.
ATN officers gathered the statistics during visits to various prisons around Hong Kong. – Vir B. Lumicao

Two overstayers jailed for drugs, bullet possession

Two overstaying Filipinas were sent to jail on Mar 29 after pleading guilty to five charges involving drug-related offenses, violating their conditions of stay, and possession of a live bullet.
The first, Rema B. Cacabelos, was sentenced to a total of seven months in jail for a variety of offences, including drug possession and overstaying.
The second, Judy V. Bautista, was jailed for two months for possessing a live bullet, and seven months’ jail suspended for two years, for overstaying.
Cacabelos pleaded guilty to a charge of possessingf 2.67 grams of methamphetamine. She also pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of condition of stay for overstaying for about two-and-a-half years, and to a charge of possession of equipment intended for inhaling dangerous drugs.
Eastern Court magistrate Lee Siu-ho sentenced her to six months in jail for drug possession and three months for possession of equipment fit for inhaling drugs, both to run concurrently.
Cacabelos also received a two-month sentence for overstaying for more than two years. Lee said the first month would be served concurrently with the first sentence, thus bringing the total sentence to seven months.
The case report says the two Filipinas were arrested in a flat on Hennessy Road, Wanchai at 12:06am on Nov 12 last year during a police operation.
Armed with a search warrant, the officers raided the flat and found the drugs in two plastic bags. When police checked a cupboard, they found two test tubes and two glass beakers, one of which contained 1 milligram of methamphetamine.
The officers also discovered that the two women had overstayed a 14-day visa extension granted to them by the Immigration Department after their employment contracts were prematurely terminated by their employer.
Cacabelos arrived in Hong Kong on Apr 12, 2013 to work as a domestic helper but was dismissed at an unspecified date before her two-year contract expired. Bautista came  here on May 21, 2014 but was fired on Jul 10 last year.
Police arrested the two and took them to the station, where the unspent bullet was found in Bautista’s pocket. During investigation, she said the bullet was given to her by her mother, a former domestic worker in Hong Kong, as an amulet to ward off evil spirits. – Vir B. Lumicao