Salvador Ching’s Workshops

Art of Printmaking, Apr 23, 10am – 3pm; Apr 24, 10am-1pm
Fee of $500 includes art materials. Only 15 places available.
Oil Pastel on Velour Paper (free to first 12 OFWs who will register, inclusive of materials)
Venue for both: Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Road, MidLevels, HK. Organizer: Pintura Circle
Reserve your place for either workshop with pinturacircle@gmail.com

Sunday Basic Cantonese
May 8 – Aug 21, 10am—1pm (total: 50- hours)
Open to all ethnic minorities with HKID
Fee: $100 per head for materials (CSSA recipient: HK$50)
Venue: G/F, 28-A Fortress hill Road, Hong Kong.
Inquiries: 2147 5988

Ifugao Association Hong Kong Chapter sportsfest
April 17.  Venue: Repulse Bay Beach.
Contact person: Clarissa Talangge @ mobile #6677 2915.

Stretch Therapy DIY (by female Chinese registered practitioner)
Mar 20-April 17 (5 Sundays), 11:30am—12:30pm
A fee of $150 for 5 hours of lessons (students need to bring yoga mats). Open to all foreign domestic helpers.
Venue: Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F, 28-A Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong.To book your place, call 2147-5988

ICM Annual Banquet
Oct 24, 6pm onwards.  Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai.
This is an annual fundraising for the “poorest of the poor” in the Philippines. Table prices with 12 persons each range from $30,000 to $100,000. For more information or any questions, please email banquet@caremin.com or call +852 2548 9038.

Ambag ng mga OFW, hindi dapat maliitin

Sa kakulangan ng mga produktong panluwas sa pandaigdigang pamilihan, dalawang bagay ang isinusulong ng gobyerno upang kumita ng dolyar na pang-angkat ng mga kailangan ng Pilipinas: ang pagpapadala ng mga manggagawa sa ibang bansa at pagpapalago sa “business process outsourcing” o industriyang call center.
Paulit-ulit na ipinagmamalaki ng gobyerno at ng mga nasa likuran ng negosyong IT-BPO na hihigitan ng industriyang iyon ang dolyar na padala ng mga OFW pagdating ng araw.
Sa katunayan, nangako ang pamahalaang Arroyo noong bandang gitna ng pagkakaluklok nito na gagawa ito ng 1 milyong trabaho taun-taon sa bansa sa tulong ng IT-BPO industry, na magsisilbi umanong pangunahing balon ng empleo ng mga Pilipino. Ngunit hanggang sa kanyang pagbaba sa puwesto ay hindi natupad ang hulang iyon.
Hiniram din ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang pananaw na ito nang humalili siya sa Malakanyang ngunit malapit nang matapos ang kanyang anim na taon sa puwesto ay hindi pa rin natutupad ang target na 1 milyong trabaho sa tulong ng call center taun-taon.
Sa Five-Year Philippine Development Plan mula 2011 hanggang 2016 ay tinukoy ng gobyerno ni Aquino ang IT-BPO bilang isang lugar na may mataas na potensyal at pangunahing sektor na pang-akit sa mga mamumuhunan. Kaugnay nito, nagsagawa ang gobyerno ng maraming programa sa pagsasanay upang lalong mapalakas ang IT-BPO.
Dahil diyan, kung sinu-sino na ang humulang dadaigin ng IT-BPO ang OFW remittances bilang pangunahing panggagalingan ng dolyar na dadaloy sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas sa taong 2015. Ngunit napahiya ang mga manghuhula ng pamahalaan.
Lumipas ang 2015 at hindi pa nahihigitan ng kita sa IT-BPO ang halaga ng perang padala sa taun-taon ng mga OFW na kasambahay, obrero sa konstruksiyon, seaman at propesyonal sa ibayong dagat sa mga mahal nila sa buhay.
Ayon sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, umabot sa US$25.77 bilyon ang perang ipinadala ng mga OFW sa bansa sa 12 buwan hanggang nitong Enero, mas mataas nang 4.6% kaysa sa kabuuang US$24.63 bilyon ipinadala nila sa katulad na panahon noong  2014. Para sa Enero ng taong ito ay umabot sa US$2 bilyon ang padala ng mga OFW.
Walang bagong estadistika ang Bangko Sentral ukol sa IT-BPO para maikumpara ang  kinita ng dalawang industriya, ngunit batay na rin sa mga ulat ng BSP sa pagitan ng 2004 at 2013, umabot lamang sa US$14.75 bilyon ang kinita ng mga call center mula sa mga pinagsilbihang bansa.
Isang kumpanyang nag-aanalisa ng pamilihan ng mga ari-arian sa Pilipinas ang nag-ulat na kumita ang IT-BPO ng US$18.9 bilyon noong 2014 at hinulaan nito na lalaki pa ang kita nang 15% hanggang 18% para sa 2015 at aabot sa US$25 bilyon. Hindi sinabi ng Pinnacle Real Estate Consulting Services kung saan nanggaling ang numero nila.
Halimbawa mang maungusan ng IT-BPO ang mga OFW sa laki ng halaga ng dolyar na naiaambag sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, hindi dahilan iyon upang hindi pansinin ng gobyerno ang kapakanan ng mahigit 2 milyong manggagawang Pinoy na nasa iba’t ibang sulok ng mundo upang maghanap-buhay.
Unang-una, mas malawak na bahagi ng lipunang Pilipino ang nabubuhay dahil sa kinikita ng mga OFW. Ang dolyar na ipinapadala nila sa Pilipinas ay gumugulong sa iba’t ibang sektor, mula sa mga bangko at kumpanya ng remittance hanggang sa mga tindahan at mga tindera sa bangketa na binibilhan ng mga pamilya ng OFW.
Samantala, hindi naman kalakihan ang kita ng mga empleyado sa call center upang makaambag sila ng katulad na halaga ng pera sa lokal na ekonomiya. At ang industriyang iyan ay nakasalalay sa patakaran ng mga lider ng mga kliyenteng bansa.
Samakatwid, hindi tamang isantabi ng gobyerno ang mga OFW at lalong mali na tratuhin nito sila bilang mga produktong panluwas. Sa halip ay dapat nitong pag-ibayuhin ang pagpapalakas sa ekonomiya ng bansa upang makagawa ng marami at disenteng trabaho para sa mga mamamayan upang hindi na silang kailangang mangibang-bayan.

HK Labour should step up enforcement of work contracts

In Hong Kong, it is a fact that even when employment-related matters should be the responsibility of the HK Labour Department, any complaint lodged with them that cannot be translated into Hong Kong dollars is considered a waste of time.
The Labour Department’s Labour Relations Division cannot deal extensively on matters such as accommodation problems, long working hours, insufficient food and setting of curfew for foreign domestic workers. Not even the so-called endorsement issues, which now fall under “illegal work” and should thus be considered as gross violations of the contract, can be dealt with by the Labour Department.
People under the category of foreign domestic worker (FDH or FDW) are first and foremost considered aliens whose conditions of stay are determined by the Immigration Department. While anything that is in the contract should be within the responsibility of the Labour Department, the truth is that all policies pertaining to the FDW’s work and conditions while in Hong Kong are still controlled and decided upon by the Immigration Department.
Both departments, however, are silent when it comes to violations of the employment contract that cannot be translated into monetary claims. This is most unfortunate because these violations constitute as the biggest problems of FDWs.
To illustrate:
1. Last year alone, cases of women sleeping on the floor, in the corridor, in the sitting room, in the dining room, even under the television set, were not uncommon. Despite widespread protests, the FDWs have not received a relief from the problem. In one case, even the High Court described a pull-out bed in the kitchen “decent” even after it was disclosed that the man in the household would cook and eat his meals in the kitchen at 2:00 a.m. everyday. Clearly, the High Court did not see the need for privacy of the female FDW who was made to sleep in the kitchen, given those conditions. According to the employment contract, the basic accommodation for FDWs is a room with basic facilities: bed, water and lighting supply; toilet and bathing facilities; blankets or quilts, pillows and wardrobe. The room can be shared with the children of the employer, although not with another adult or teenage kids of the opposite sex. An official definition of “privacy” remains a contention.
2. On the issue of long working hours, one officer of the Labor Department in a public hearing on the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) said “I leave the house for work and return after 10-12 hours. I still cannot mind the kids because I am exhausted from work. But say it is 12 hours, will I pay her 12 hours of work because the minimum wage is on an hourly basis?  How sure am I that my maid is working when I am in the office?” This was one of the arguments used to prevent FDWs from being included in the SMW.
3. When one complains of insufficient food, we usually ask what it means because we know that the food requirements of people vary. But many of those who complain about this say that insufficient food usually means leftover food, limited separate portion, or being provided with whatever is left on the serving plate because often, an FDW eats after everyone is done. Another usual example is being given two slices of bread a day or nothing at all for breakfast because the other people in the household do not eat breakfast at home. Some odd examples we encountered included clients who complained about the refrigerator being empty, or its contents being counted by their employer who instructs the FDW not to touch anything that is in there.
4. A continuous 24-hour day-off a week is cut by:
            a. A curfew time that is normally set between 6:00pm and 9:00pm.  Whatever time is set constitutes a violation of the continuous 24-hour day-off a week provided in the contract. Officially, a day-off cannot be exchanged for money. But given the curfew restrictions, the domestic worker ends up being exploited many times over.
           b. A tricky arrangement like being told that the time she slept the night before her day-off, was the start of her 24-hour day-off.
           c. Telling the FDW that she could be out for only half a day.
           d. Demanding an FDW to finish chores before leaving in the morning and resuming duty upon return in the evening. This is a common violation.
      5. Being forced to do “Illegal work”.
How do you then bring these matters to the attention of your employer?
Many just endure them to “keep the job” though it is not a guarantee. If you say nothing, it can simply mean it is acceptable to you. Many are frustrated because they expect employers to know since they must have read the contract. They must but many don’t, just like many of us. If you think that they didn’t read and study the contract, it becomes your responsibility to call their attention to the violation in a gentle manner. Do not presume that they are shortchanging you purposely. Give them the benefit of the doubt unless you have already proved otherwise.
This is why it is important to:
a. Keep a diary of your daily activities and daily chores no matter how repetitive they can be.
b. Hold a regular session with your employer and share with them the developments in the house, in your work, or with the kids. Make these sessions a time to assess the week or the month’s work. If they are too busy to do this, write to them to update them.
c. Develop a system of communications. This is very important to avoid misinterpretations. You may want to have a Notice Board in the kitchen for reminders for both you and the other members of the household. It works well for some.
d. Language may be an issue. Try your best to understand what they mean. You may want to ask a friend to do translation work for you but it will be much better to learn the language.
If none of the above works for you, consider writing to the Immigration Department. But it would be best to consult service providers like the Mission first before doing so to avoid giving unnecessary and irrelevant information. Do not hesitate to bring these to department's attention because they will not see it as significant if it is just said, and no official information is filed for their record.

Filipina insists rape, not ‘consensual sex’ with boss

“No! We had no sexual relations. He was my boss. What would his wife think of me!”

Thus said a Filipina maid who accused her 66-year-old boss of raping her in March and October 2014 and indecently assaulting her “almost everyday” since September 2013.

Parrying questions by the defense lawyer in the High Court on Apr 14 and 15, the complainant vehemently denied the defense lawyer’s imputation that she had sexual relations with the defendant, Lee Man-biu.

The 48-year-old mother angrily denied during cross-examination by Barrister Oliver Davies that she and Lee had had intimate moments touching each other’s body on the sofa while Lee’s wife and daughter were in China.

She said that after signing her fifth contract with the family, Lee squeezed her breasts and said: “Don’t tell the police. I will throw you out the window. You and me die.”

Hidden from the gallery behind a white plyboard divider, the complainant fought back as the lawyer obviously tried to confuse and force her into making inconsistent statements.

The second day of the cross-examination dwelt on the alleged rape on Oct 13, 2014.

Lee, who is out on bail, sat quietly in the dock while the seven-man jury listened intently as the complainant spoke. The defendant’s wife and other relatives were in the gallery.

The complainant said that during the times the man’s wife Joan and his daughter Gwen were in China, she was scared because he would indecently assault her “almost everyday” and hit her in the head if she resisted.

At one point during the cross-examination the woman admitted the employer paid her $5,000. She also admitted she had kept $60,000 in her room, money that she would take home.

On the alleged rape on Oct 13, 2014, the lawyer imputed that Lee did not rape her but that what happened between them was “consensual sex”.

“No! I was raped. He was strong and my body ached afterwards and my back was painful because he bit me when I turned and tried to get up,” the woman said.

The lawyer asked why on the night of Oct 13, 2014, when the alleged rape occurred, the complainant told responding police officers not to stay out of Lee’s sight.

“Because I did not want him to kill himself. He told me if I tell the police, he would throw me out of the window and we both die.”

Davies suggested that the complainant offered sex to Lee because she wanted to go home to the Philippines and needed the money to pay a debt there.

The complainant angrily punctuated her answers with sobbing during the two-day cross-examination as Davies tried to establish a basis for doubt in her statements.

After Davies rested his case, the prosecutor took his turn and asked the Filipina where she was taken by police on the night she called them for help.

She said she was taken to a hospital in Tsuen Wan and then to another hospital in Wanchai for medical examination.

When asked by the prosecutor, she replied that the doctor in the second hospital rubbed moist cotton buds on her body, her back and her legs. The prosecutor asked where else and she answered in her vagina. Her testimony ended there.

Justice Toh adjourned the court after at the morning break. The trial will continue on Monday, April 18, with other witnesses to be called to give evidence.

Departing DH falls to death at HK airport

A 27-year-old Filipina domestic worker fell to her death at the Hong Kong International Airport on Apr 6 in an apparent suicide just before she was to fly back to Manila.
It was the fifth suspected suicide by a Filipina helper in Hong Kong since January this year, and the third death in recent weeks.
Police described the latest incident as “death by falling from height” and said an autopsy would be carried out to determine the cause of death.
“Officers had not seized any will note at scene. Initial investigation revealed no suspicious circumstances. Subject was suspected to have fallen from a footbridge in the terminal. Her cause of death is pending confirmation by autopsy,” the police said in answer to an inquiry from The SUN.
The bodies of two other Filipinas who died recently, one of them in another case of falling from height, are awaiting repatriation to the Philippines.
Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily reported that the woman, surnamed Solomon, looked distraught and was walking aimlessly in the departure area near check-in counter G shortly before the incident.
Consular officers who went to the Kwai Chung Mortuary were reportedly told by the woman’s employer that the Filipina had resigned effective Apr 6 and was supposed to fly home on Apr 7.
The employer said she was not aware of any problem bugging the maid, who was on the eighth month of her second contract. The maid joined the family after serving her first Hong Kong employer for two years.
But an Apple Daily report said Solomon decided to go home to patch things up after her boyfriend threatened to break off with her. Just hours earlier, she went to a police station in Tai Po asking where to buy an air ticket. This led the officers to contact her employer.
Her employer bought her a ticket and put her on a taxi to the airport on Apr 7.
At about 7am, she was reportedly at the airport looking distressed and wandering aimlessly in the passenger concourse. Then witnesses saw her climb over the barrier and jump, the report said.
She was pronounced dead after being taken to Queen Margaret Hospital in Lai Chi Kok.
On Mar 18, the body of another Filipina helper was found under a bridge in Lohas Park, Tseung Kwan O. Police said she had fallen from height.
The 47-year-old woman was identified only on Mar 24 when officers found her Hong Kong ID.
– Vir B. Lumicao

Nightmares tale delays sexual assault case sentencing

The child victim’s “persistent nightmares” and “crying in the middle of the night” cited in an impact report has led the District Court to adjourn until Friday, Apr 15, the sentencing of a Filipina maid found guilty of indecently assaulting her male ward.
Judge Johnny Chan delayed the sentencing at the request of the Filipina’s lawyer, John Hemmings, who said he needed time to study the report and consider the “new elements” in the case that were brought up by the report.
The Filipina, a self-confessed lesbian, was convicted on Mar 4 of indecently assaulting her then eight-year-old male ward three years ago.
The parents discovered the offense when the boy opened up about having been introduced to sex by the maid, identified only as SRM, after learning about sex education at school.
Hemmings said the victim’s persistent nightmares and his waking up crying in the middle of the night were not mentioned by the parents when they gave their evidence in court during the trial.
The lawyer said it was unfair to his client that these new elements were brought up as they could affect the sentence that Judge Chan would impose on her.
He said the content of the impact report under question was inconsistent with the psychological report submitted to the court early in the case.
“The person who prepared that impact report must have been given information by other people,” Hemmings said. “The impact statement is likely to have a significant effect on the sentencing.”
Chan reset the sentencing to 2:30pm on Friday. – Vir B. Lumicao

Employers grieve maid’s death

After faithfully serving her Hong Kong employers—an elderly couple in Tuen Mun—for the past 18 years, Alona H. of Negros Oriental had left them for good, without bidding goodbye.
The 49-year-old Filipina who was single, was found dead in her bed in the morning of Apr 1 when the octogenarian couple woke up, an Consulate officer said.
“They are heartbroken, they love her so much. They said they treated her as family,” said Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr. of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section on April 7.
Cayabyab said the couple was teary-eyed when they went to the ATN office in the afternoon of April 6 and reported Alona’s death.
He said he had earlier tried to call the employers after receiving a police report on the Filipina’s death at the preceding weekend, but no one was answering the telephone.
He also tried to get more information from the police but a duty officer could tell him only little about the incident. Cayabyab said police have yet to conduct an autopsy on Alona’s body to find out the exact cause of her death. Her remains were brought to the Kwai Chung Mortuary where they were viewed by Cayabyab and Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.
The labor official also ordered the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office in Hong Kong to start processing the benefits due to Alona’s heirs. – Vir B. Lumicao

Tinakot ng kalaban sa pulitika

Ganoon na lang ang gulat ng magkakasamang sina Tina, Cely at Ria nang bigla na lang silang lapitan ng isang taga-suporta ng kalaban ng kanilang napupusuang kandidato at pilit tinakot. Kasalukuyan silang naglalakad sa Central noon, suot ang kulay ng kanilang kandidato, nang bigla siyang lapitan ng isang babaeng pasaway at pasinghal na tinanong kung bakit ganoon ang kanilang suot na pang-itaas. Pilit ding idinudutdot sa mukha niya ang T-shirt ng kanilang kandidato. Bagamat nagulat ay nakuha pa rin nilang lumayo na lang. Sa kanilang tatlo, si Cely ang lubos na nagulat at nagalit sa nangyari. Unang beses kasing nangyari sa kanya ang ganoong pananakot ng harapan kaya hindi niya napigilang maghimutok. Ayon sa kanya, isa lang siyang ordinaryong OFW at ina na naninindigan sa kanyang paniniwala para sa kinabukasan ng kanyang mga anak. Bakit daw nagagawa ng kanyang mga kapwa Pilipino ang gumawa ng ganoong kabastusan ng dahil lang sa pulitika? Wala daw ba silang natutunan na kabutihang asal at nakakagagawa nila ang ganoon sa publiko? Dahil sa nangyari, lalo lang napagtibay ni Cely sa sarili na tama ang kanyang piniling kandidato. Lubos ang panalangin niya na ito ang manalo para sa katiwasayan ng kanyang kalooban. Si Cely ay taga Iligan at may tatlong anak na mag-isang sinusuportahan.

Tinamad noong wala ang amo

Parelax-relax lang si Vangie noong nagbakasyon nang isang linggo ang mga amo na Briton sa Malaysia, dala ng Mahal na Araw. Unang araw matapos silang umalis ay agad siyang naglaba ng mga maruming damit, tuwalya at mga kubre kama. Pagkatapos makapagpatuyo ay wala na siyang inatupag kundi ang mag-internet. Hindi siya lumalabas ng bahay dahil nasa harap lang siya palagi ng telebisyon at computer. Natauhan lang siya nang mag message ang kanyang mga amo, at sinabing pabalik na sila kinabukasan. Bigla siyang nataranta dahil ang buong akala niya ay Huwebes pa lang at hindi Biyernes.
Minabuti niyang magtrabaho agad, kahit hindi na niya alam kung ano ang dapat unahing gawin. Agad niyang binitawan ang hawak na mobile phone at itinago ang computer para mapagtuunan niya ng pansin ang trabaho. Sa dami ng gagawin ay inabot siya ng hatinggabi sa pagtatrabaho nguni’t hindi pa rin niya natapos lahat. Minabuti niyang gumising na lang ng maaga para matapos ang mga dapat niyang asikasuhin.
Sising sisi din siya dahil hindi muna siya naglinis bago inasikaso ang hilig niya. Pagdating ng mga amo ay laking taka ng mga ito dahil sa nakita nilang hitsura niya. Nagdahilan na lamang siya na masakit ang puson dahil sa buwanang dalaw, kaya hindi siya nakatulog ng maayos. Dahil sa nangyari ay ipinangako niya sa sarili na uunahin na niya ang paglilinis bago harapin ang mga kaibigan sa facebook.  Si Vangie ay isang Ilokana at kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa mga among Briton sa Tai Wai. – Marites Palma

Tinakot
Ganoon na lang ang gulat ng magkakasamang sina Tina, Cely at Ria nang bigla na lang silang lapitan ng isang taga-suporta ng kalaban ng kanilang napupusuang kandidato at pilit tinakot. Kasalukuyan silang naglalakad sa Central noon, suot ang kulay ng kanilang kandidato, nang bigla siyang lapitan ng isang babaeng pasaway at pasinghal na tinanong kung bakit ganoon ang kanilang suot na pang-itaas. Pilit ding idinudutdot sa mukha niya ang T-shirt ng kanilang kandidato. Bagamat nagulat ay nakuha pa rin nilang lumayo na lang. Sa kanilang tatlo, si Cely ang lubos na nagulat at nagalit sa nangyari. Unang beses kasing nangyari sa kanya ang ganoong pananakot ng harapan kaya hindi niya napigilang maghimutok. Ayon sa kanya, isa lang siyang ordinaryong OFW at ina na naninindigan sa kanyang paniniwala para sa kinabukasan ng kanyang mga anak. Bakit daw nagagawa ng kanyang mga kapwa Pilipino ang gumawa ng ganoong kabastusan ng dahil lang sa pulitika? Wala daw ba silang natutunan na kabutihang asal at nakakagagawa nila ang ganoon sa publiko? Dahil sa nangyari, lalo lang napagtibay ni Cely sa sarili na tama ang kanyang piniling kandidato. Lubos ang panalangin niya na ito ang manalo para sa katiwasayan ng kanyang kalooban. Si Cely ay taga Iligan at may tatlong anak na mag-isang sinusuportahan.

Balitaktakan dahil sa pulitika

Laging kalmado si Jane kahit ano pa mang sitwasyon siya napapaharap, pero hindi niya napigilang mainis sa pambabastos ng ilang mga supporter ng ibang kandidato. Minsan ay sumama siyang mangampanya sa mga kaibigan, at ganoon na lang ang inis niya dahil panay kantyaw mula sa kabilang kampo ang inabot nila. Mabuti na lamang at kalmado pa rin ang isa nilang kasama at sinabing lumayo na lang sila para maiwasan ang pakikipagsagutan sa mga maiinit ang ulo na kampi sa ibang kandidato. Ayon naman kay Jane, iba na talaga ang ugali ng mga tao ngayon. Sobrang garapal at wala ng respeto sa paniniwala ng iba. Aniya, hindi man nila igalang ang gusto ng iba, dapat ay hindi din sila mambastos o manghiya dahil lang iba ang kanilang sinusuportahan. Naranasan niya ito mismo, nang nakasalubong nilang magkakaibigan ang isang kumpol ng mga kababaihan na pilit idinidikit sa kanilang mga mukha ang T-shirt na may pangalan ng kanilang kandidato. Dito niya napatunayan na talagang walang karespe-respeto sa kapwa ang mga ito. Dahil sa nasaksihan ay lalo niyang napatunayan sa sarili na tama ang pinili niyang maging presidente. Ngayon ay hindi na siya tinatablan ng tukso dahil sa kanyang sinusuportahang kandidato. Ang panalangin lang niya, sana ay manalo ang pinili niyang kandidato. – Marites Palma

Nagbunga ang pinaghirapan

Mahigit 20 taon si Precy na nagtrabaho dito sa Hong Kong at siya na ang tumaguyod ng kanyang ina at tatlong kapatid sa Pilipinas. Maagang naulila si Precy sa ama kaya’t ang kanyang ate ang bumuhay sa kanila noong bata pa siya. Pagtuntong niya ng 21 anyos ay nagdesisyon siyang pumunta dito sa Hong Kong para siya naman ang magtrabaho at magpa-aral sa kanyang dalawang nakababatang kapatid hanggang magtapos ng kolehiyo. Nang mag-asawa ang panganay niyang kapatid ay si Precy pa rin ang nagpaaral sa mga pamangkin. Ang isa niyang kapatid na babae ay nag asawa na rin at may sarili ng pamilya. Ang bunsong kapatid naman ni Precy na binata ang natakatuwang niya sa pagtulong sa kanilang pamilya. Di naglaon at napagtapos na ni Precy ang panganay na pamangkin. Umuwi siya sa Pilipinas upang magpakasal sa kanyang nobyo ngunit nabigo ito dahil naghiwalay sila matapos ang dalawang taon. Dito naisipan ni Precy na mag abroad muli. Pumunta siya sa Dubai kasama ang bunsong kapatid na doon nagtatrabaho. Makaraan ang dalawang taon ay naihanap niya ang kanyang pamangkin ng trabaho doon. Maayos naman ang naging kalagayan ng pamangkin at siya na ngayon ang nagpapaaral sa kanyang mga kapatid sa tulong pa rin ni Precy. Sa ngayon ay dalawang henerasyon sa kanilang pamilya na ang umangat ang kabuhayan dahil sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.Masaya naman si Precy na kahit hindi naging suwerte ang lovelife niya ay naging maayos naman ang kanyang pamilya.  –Jo Campos

Kakaiba ang paniniwala

Ngayong panahon ng eleksyon, marami ang nagkakasalungat ng mga opinyon, sa pamilya man o magkakaibigan. Hindi rin nakaligtas ang magkakaibigang sina Aida, Nene, Mary at Nita sa ganitong sitwasyon. Pawang matatagal na dito sa Hong Kong ang magkakaibigan at ilang eleksyon na rin ang kanilang pinagdaanan. Ngunit tila sa eleksyong ito lang sila magkakasalungat ng paniniwala. Sina Nene, Mary at Nita ay iisang partido at kandidato ang kanilang sinusuportahan ngunit taliwas ang paniniwala ni Aida. Isa ito sa madalas nilang pagtalunan dahil iginigiit ni Aida ang kanyang paniniwala at pati na rin ang kanyang “manok”. Sagot naman ni Nita, hindi nila tinatawag na manok ang kanilang kandidato dahil hindi umano ito hayop. Tinanong naman ni Nene si Aida kung makakapagbigay siya ng isang magandang dahilan kung bakit ang kandidato bilang presidente na kanyang “manok” ang pinili niya. Sinagot siya ni Aida na “para maiba lang”. Agad namang sumagot si Nene na hindi katuwiran ang sinabi ni Aidam na sinang-ayunan naman ni Nita, at ganun din si Mary. Ngunit dahil tila sarado ang isipan ni Aida ay hindi na nagpumilit ang tatlong kaibigan dahil mahirap nga naman ipagpilitan ang tamang desisyon sa isang baluktot na paniniwala. Batid din nilang hindi makakabuti sa kanilang pagkakaibigan kung mawawala ang respeto nila sa isa’t-isa. Ang kanilang usapan, ano man ang kahinatnan ng eleksyon, sino man sa kanilang mga kandidato ang manalo, mananatili pa rin ang kanilang pagkakaibigan. –Jo Campos

Pasta with Clam in White Wine Sauce

Ingredients:
Clams (soaked in water prior to cooking)
Olive oil
Garlic, crushed
Onion, sliced
Tomatoes, sliced
Salt and pepper
Pasta
Fresh basil
White wine

Padala ni 

Mylen Rodaste

ng Shau Kei Wan

Procedure:
1) In a pot, bring water to a boil, then add salt before pasta. Stir occasionally and cook al dente (around 10 minutes).
2) Heat a medium sized pan in medium heat, add olive oil then onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Sauté until all the ingredients blend together.
3) Season with salt and pepper, then add some of the basil leaves and continue to sauté for about 8-10 minutes.
4) Pour white wine into the pan followed by the clams. Cover pan and let simmer until all the clams open. Remove any unopened shells.
5) Add pasta into the pan and toss in with the clam sauce for about 2 minutes until the pasta has absorbed most of the sauce.
6) Transfer in a serving plate and garnish with the remaining basil leaves. You may also garnish the pasta dish with fresh cherry tomatoes.

Nadamay

Napansin ng employer ni Celia na umiiyak siya.
“Why you crying?” ika ni Mrs. Li.
“My mother died this morning,” sagot ni Celia.
“I’m so sorry for you, lah. I buy you air ticket now so you can go home tonight,” agad na sabi ng employer.
Habang nagbu-book ng air ticket si Mrs. Li sa  computer, biglang ngumawa ulit si Celia.
“Aiyaaa. Wah happen?” tanong ng employer.
Celia: “My sister called. She said her mother also died!”

Dobleng tama
Pumasok sa opisina ang isang lalaki na may dalawang blackeye. Napansin siya ng boss niya, kaya nag-usisa ito.
“Nasa simbahan ako noon,” ang paliwanag niya.” Nang magtayuan ang mga tao, napansin ko ang babae sa harapan ko—nakaipit sa puwet niya ang palda niya, kaya hinila ko. Aba, sinapok ba naman ako.”
“Ano naman ang dahilan ng pangalawa mong blackeye?” tanong ng boss.
“E akala ko mas gusto niyang nakaipit sa puwet niya ‘yung palda. E,’di, isinusok ko ulit.”

Ay, mali
Nursing intern ako sa isang ospital sa Maynila noon.
Isang matandang lalaki ang nakita kong handa nang umuwi, dahil nakaupo na siya sa kama at ang kanyang mga gamit ay naipasok na sa maleta sa paanan niya. Isa sa gawain naming mga estudyante ay tulungan ang mga pasyente na mag-check out, kaya nilapitan ko siya.
“Handa na po ba kayong mag-check out?” tanong ko.
“Oo,” sagot niya.
“Sakay na po kayo sa wheelchair,” ika ko.
“Hindi na, kaya ko namang maglakad na,” sagot niya.
“Hindi po pwede yan. Regulasyon po sa ospital na ito na naka-wheelchair ang lahat na mag-check out,” sabat ko naman.
Nang nasa Cashier na kami sa ibaba, napansin kong wala siyang sundo. “Mag-isa lang po ba kayong uuwi niyan?” tanong ko.
Ang sagot niya: “Kasama ko yung asawa ko. Nagsi-CR lang siya noong sinundo mo ako sa kwarto. Siya ang pasyente.”

Pamilya ni Julio Diaz, kailangan pa ng dasal

Patuloy na pagdarasal para sa tuluyang paggaling ng aktor na si Julio Diaz ang hiling ng kanyang mga kaanak at mga kaibigan. Isinugod siya sa ospital noong April 8, nang mawalan siya ng malay dahil sa matinding pananakit ng ulo. Brain aneurysm, (pamamaga ng mahinang bahagi ng sa ugat na nagsu-supply ng dugo sa utak) ang sanhi nito at kinailangang malapatan agad ng lunas.
Ang kapatid ni Julio (Mariano Regaliza, sa tunay na buhay) na si Ana Regaliza- Datuin, na nagtatrabaho sa Amerika, ang nagbigay ng update sa kalagayan ng kapatid:
“ Julio/Marnie, is now in recovery at the ICU of St. Luke's Global City after the doctors performed the endovascular treatment or what they call the "coiling procedure". According to brainneurysm.com, a catheter is inserted into a vessel over the hip and other catheters are navigated through the blood vessels to the vessels of the brain and into the aneurysm. Coils are then packed into the aneurysm up to the point where it arises from the blood vessel, preventing blood flow from entering the aneurysm.... This was the 1st choice in the treatment plan. the second procedure of which was the surgery if the coiling didn't work. Thank God for gifting the doctors with amazingly steady and crafty hands. The 1st plan was successful. Julio is now in ICU under observation. He will remain there for 1 week since his condition is still considered critical. Thank you all for your prayers. Please continue to pray for my brother's complete and perfect healing.”
Nakalikom na na ng USD8,627 (Php 397,721) si Anna mula sa mga nag-donate sa gofundme, isang popular na fundraising website sa Amerika,  na ipinadala niya sa pamamagitan ng kanyang anak na siyang nag-aasikaso kay Julio at nakikipag-usap sa ospital. Ang mga naging kasamahan sa showbiz ni Julio, sa pangunguna nina Cherrie Pie Picache at Gina Alajar, ay nag-organisa naman sa kanilang Viber group ng 4forJulio fundraising campaign para humiling ng tig-Php4,000 na kontribusyon bawat isa. Target nila ang makalikom ng isang milyong piso na kinakailangan sa operasyon. Pero, mas malaki pa rito ang ibinigay ng ilang mga artista gaya nina Robin Padilla, Coco Martin, Harlene Bautista, Jaclyn Jose, at director Dante Mendoza at Mario Delos Reyes na kaagad nagpahatid ng tulong. Balitang mahigit Php700,000 na ang nalikom as of April 11, at marami pa ang inaasahang tutulong.
Ilan sa mga nagawang pelikula ni Julio ay ang Blood Ties, Serbis, Sakay, Bayani, Takaw Tukso, Flor Contemplacion Story at marami pang iba. Marami na rin siyang nalabasang TV shows sa ABS CBN, GMA at TV5, na ang pinakahuli ay sa Dear Uge, sa taong ito.

PIA, NASA BAGONG STAMPS
Ilalabas ng Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) ang commemorative stamps para kay Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipinas sa April 15,  upang koronahan ang bagong mapipiling Bb. Pilipinas-Universe sa April 17.
Limitado lang ang bilang ng mga special stamps (101,000 pcs) na mabibili sa halagang Php15 bawat isa, at may 5000 piraso rin ng souvenir sheets na tig-Php40 ang bawat isa. Nakalarawan sa stamps ang official winning moment niya sa Miss Universe.
Ilan sa mga nagbigay karangalan din  sa bansa na nabigyan ng special edition stamps ay sina Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran, Miss World 2013 Megan Young at world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

KC, NAG-RENEW BILANG KAPAMILYA
Muling pumirma ng kontrata bilang Kapamilya si KC Concepcion kaya muli siyang mapapanood bilang TV host at drama actress sa istasyon. Isa sa mga una niyang gagawin ay ang pagho-host ng Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant, at magiging co-host niya si Xian Lim. Nakatakda rin niyang gawin ang isang “telesine” at napapag-usapan din ang paggawa nya ng pelikula, pero hindi pa raw niya ito pwedeng ipagsabi hangga’t hindi pa ito kumpirmado. Nang tanungin kung handa siyang gumawa ng project na kasama si Piolo Pascual na dati niyang boyfriend, sinabi niyang okay naman sila ni Piolo, pero kailangang pag-usapan muna itong mabuti.
“Dapat pareho kaming 100% kasi ang hirap na hindi, dahil unfair din naman iyon sa mga manonood. Makikita din sa camera iyon. Right now, I just want to focus on the things na nakakapagpa-happy sa akin, the things that I want to do right now. If the Piolo project comes, then we’ll see. But I have to feel that, even he is 100% in it,” dagdag pa ni KC, na nagdiwang ng kanyang 31st birthday noong April 7.
Tungkol sa kanyang inang si Sharon Cuneta, ayaw daw niyang makatrabaho ito dahil kakabahan lang daw siya, at ayaw niyang maging parang reality show ito, na pinapanood ang buhay nila. Sinabi na nga raw niya sa mama niya na ayaw niyang umarte sa harap nito, kahit alam niyang marami siyang matututuhan dito. Makiki-sit-in na lang daw siya sa shooting ni Sharon para matuto siya.
Ang pinagkakaabalahan ni KC ngayon ay ang kanyang online shop with a cause na “KC’s Closet” na ni-launch niya noong Apr 6. Ang wish niya sa kanyang kaarawan ay maging successful ang kanyang “passion project”  na naumpisahan niyang gawin noon sa online auction para sa United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) na kanyang sinusuportahan. Naisipan daw nilang ibenta ang kanilang pre-loved luxury goods online para sa mga gustong mag-shopping ng mga second had na branded items. Mamahalin ang mga items pero kapag nabili ang mga ito sa kcscloset.com ay bawas na ang presyo dahil nagamit na niya, at nakita na ng mga tao, gaya ng mga designer gown, at paborito niyang mga branded shoes at bags.
Lahat ng mga ito ay may sentimental value sa kanya kaya titiyaking niya na maganda itong maipi-present.
Tungkol sa kanyang love life, isa rin daw ito sa kanyang mga birthday wishes. “Sana mahanap na ako ni “the one”. Hindi ako ang naghahanap, hanapin niya ako. Sweep me off my feet”, biro pa ni KC.
Inamin ni KC na nakikipag-date siya ngayon kay Alexander Charles Luis “Aly” Borromeo, na team captain ng Azkals football team, pero kinikilala pa lang daw nila sa ngayon ang isa’t isa. Ipinakilala daw ng binata sa kanya ang mundo ng football, at may pinagkakaabalahan din daw silang ibang bagay.

FIL-AM, TANGGAPSA LES MISERABLES SA LONDON
Isa pang Pinoy, si Eva Noblezada, ang nagpapakitang gilas ngayon sa West End production ng Les Miserables sa London.
Napili siyang gumanap sa papel na Eponine, ( na dati na ring ginampanan ni Lea Salonga noong 1997) at nagsimula siya sa show noong April 4.
Kasalukuyang itinatanghal din sa Pilipinas ang Les Miserables, kung saan ay kasali si Rachel Ann Go bilang Fantine. Pagkatapos ng pagtatanghal nila doon ay magkakasama  sina Rachel Ann at Eva sa London.
Sa North Carolina sa Amerika isinilang at lumaki si Eva. Isang music teacher ang kanyang ama, kaya bata pa lang ay nahilig na siyang umawit, lalo na kapag nagkikita-kita ang mga kamag-anak nilang mga Pinoy at lagi siyang pinapakanta ng kanyang mga lolo’t lola. Napili siyang gumanap sa pangunahing papel bilang Kim sa West End revival ng Miss Saigon noong 2013, noong 17 yrs old siya.
Sa susunod na taon ay muli siyang magbabalik bilang Kim sa pagtatanghal ng Miss Saigon sa Broadway.
Samantala, ang The Voice Kids, Season 2 finalist na si Esang de Torres ay napabilang din sa cast ng Les Miserables sa Manila, bilang alternate sa papel ng batang Cosette. Ang kanyang coach sa The Voice na si Lea Salonga ang tumulong sa kanya upang mag-audition para sa role, at pinalad namang napili.

ANDRE, PAHINGA MUNA SA SHOWBIZ
Magtatapos na sa April 29 ang “That’s My Amboy” TV series na pinagtatambalan nina Barbie Forteza at Andre Paras, at wala na raw extension ito gaya ng “The Half Sisters” na una nilang pinagtambalan, at tumagal ng halos dalawang taon.
Dahil dito ay nagdesisyon si Andre na magpahinga muna at magbakasyon sa Amerika, kahit kagagaling lang nila doon ng kanyang pamilya noong Holy Week, upang bisitahin ang kanyang kapatid na si Kobe, na nag-aaral at isang mahusay na basketball player doon.
Kung wala daw siyang gagawing project hanggang June ay balak muna daw niyang balikan ang kanyang pag-aaral upang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo. Alam daw niyang ikatutuwa ng kanyang amang si Benjie Paras ang balak niyang ito. Unang pumasok sa UP si Andre at naglaro sa koponan ng Fighting Maroons, gaya ng kanyang ama, pero lumipat sa San Beda noong 2014.
Napilitan siyang huminto ng pag-aaral at paglalaro ng basketball nang magkasunud-sunod ang kanyang mga project sa showbiz.
Mami-miss daw ni Andre si Barbie sa pagtatapos ng kanilang TV series dahil naging mabuting magkaibigan sila, at pati na rin ang iba pa nilang mga kasamahan na sina Kiko Estrada, Jerald Napoles, at Matet de Leon dahil naging maganda raw ang kanilang pagsasama.  

POLO opens additional outlets for OEC

Overseas employment certificates will now be available even on Saturdays when the Philippine OrseaseLabor Office (POLO) is closed, Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre has announced.

DelaTorrer said POLO personnel will process the OEC applicationson Saturdays at the PLDT Hong Kong Smart Pinoy Center shop at World Wide House in Central from 9 am to 5 pm.

De la Torre

On Sundays, OEC will also be availabled at the PNB Global Remittance, shop no 122 in World World Wide House in Central, from 9 am to 5 pm. and at Metrobank Branch in United Center, Admiralty from 8 am to 4 pm.

"After the May 9 elections (and for which you are now reminded to cast your votes at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town), we will restore our Sunday service at the Bayanihan Center," dela Torre aud in a Facebook announcement.

"We are also looking at extending our service to Tsuen Wan on Sundays during peak months, such as March, July and December," he said.

To reduce queuing,POOis planning a mail-in OEC service, "where you will just mail your requirements to us, and we will mail back the OEC and the Official Receipt," he added.

Filipina charged with infanticide over dumped baby

A Filipina maid appeared in court yesterday, Apr 14, charged with infanticide after allegedly dumping the body of her newborn baby in a ladies’ toilet at a shopping mall in Tsuen Wan on Apr 2.

Aileen G., 37, appeared before Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong where the charges were read to her through a Tagalog interpreter.
The case was adjourned until May 12 pending further investigation.
The woman, who worked for a family in Tsuen Wan, was arrested on Tuesday after she asked the Consulate for help in surrendering to the police, according to Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr., an officer of the assistance to national section.
Police had been looking for the culprit using images from the mall's security camera, after the dead baby was found wrapped in plastic and stashed in a water closet in the ladies’ toilet of Chan Kee Plaza in Sham Tseng.
Cayabyab said the Filioina had admitted that the child’s father was an African. Her employer has since terminated her work contract.
Local newspapers citing investigators reported that the woman confessed to giving birth to a stillborn infant and dumping it the toilet.
The baby was found by a mall clerk on the night of Apr 4 after she looked for the source of a foul smell in the toilet. The infant was believed to have been dead for two days. Its placenta and umbilical cord were still intact.

Agency fined for overcharging faces flood of complaints

By Vir B. Lumicao

A recruitment agency at the center of complaints of overcharging by dozens of  Filipina domestic helpers was convicted and fined $7,000 at Kowloon court on Jan 20 for charging excessive fees from a job-seeker.
Ka Ying Employment Agency Ltd. was also ordered to refund the excessive placement fee of $2,089 charged to the foreign domestic helper, whose nationality was not given.
Meanwhile, acting on the complaints of 78 Filipino workers against Ka Ying, the Philippines’ Acting Labor attaché Nena German, told The SUN on Jan 19 that she had suspended the agency’s accreditation. But she steadfastly declined to name the agency, saying investigations were still ongoing.
However, a subsequent visit to the agency’s office at Kowloon Plaza in Cheung Sha Wan on Jan. 24 showed that it continued to recruit workers. A new Filipina recruit who was at the office told The SUN she had just paid $2,000 to the agency for getting her a new employer.
Under Hong Kong laws, placement agencies are allowed to collect only 10% of the worker’s first month’s salary, or $410 in the case of foreign domestic workers.
Philippine laws, on the other hand, provide that no placement fee shall be collected from any Filipino deployed abroad as a “household service worker”.
When asked to comment about the charges, Ka Ying owner Ellen Wong declined to talk, supposedly on lawyer’s advice. “Sorry I no talk to you according my lawyer, but I am good heart,” she told The SUN.
In two complaint letters sent to Consul General Bernardita Catalla in early December, the Filipino helpers recruited by Ka Ying all named Ellen Wong and her husband as being behind the collection of the excessive fees.
The complainants provided documents purportedly showing the illegal fees camouflaged as loans taken out by the helper from either the lending firm Conex Services (HK) Ltd, a certain Wong Hiu-yung (Ellen Wong’s Chinese name), or her husband Wong Chung-lam.
“(Wong) collects a total of $7,500 from each of us helpers without any receipt and not following the Hong Kong law,” the complainants said.
The helpers said they were all taken to Conex upon their arrival in Hong Kong to make purported personal loans which, in reality, were all collected by Ellen Wong as payment for the illicit fees.
They also accused Wong of collecting an “advance deposit of $2,500 or less depending on our cash on hand” from each applicant upon signing of their contract, but issued no receipt.
They were then allegedly made to sign a document authorizing their employers to deduct $2,500 each from their salaries for two months “as payment for their balance fee” to Ka Ying’s partner in Manila, the Mariz Manpower Services on Pedro Gil St., Manila.
The helpers said that on top of these charges, they were each required by Mariz Manpower to pay a placement fee of Php23,000 and a training fee of Php9,000.
The helpers supported their complaint with a volume of documents, including a schedule of fees for three categories of job applicants, namely, “local terminate and break contract”, “overseas helper,” and “local finish contract worker”.
The documents also included an undertaking that Ka Ying allegedly made them sign, in which they promised to hand over their passports to their employers, which is prohibited by both Hong Kong and Philippine laws.
The document also made the helpers affirm that 1) they did not pay any money to Ka Ying; and 2) that they would not take the days off for the first two months and instead spend those days in the Ka Ying officers for “work improvement” and “proper guidance and advices morally, mentally and psychologically”.
Since they lodged the complaint, the helpers said they or their employers had been approached by Wong even at midnight, offering to pay them cash if they withdrew their complaint.
A copy of the “Affidavit of Quitclaim and Desistance” allegedly provided by Wong and furnished to The SUN provides that in consideration of an amount not specified, the claimant was waiving all rights to sue Ka Ying ang Mariz in any administrative body, tribunal or court arising from their overseas employment.
The signatories are also made to agree that no force or intimidation was used to make them sign the quitclaim.
Most of the complainants have reportedly refused to sign the document, but at least one of them who claimed her employer had been talking to Wong has been terminated.
Mary Grace dela Cruz told The SUN in a telephone interview before she flew back to the Philippines on Jan 26 that she was fired on Jan 16 and told to leave on the same day. She got her month’s pay in lieu of notice, her unpaid salary and vacation leave, plane ticket and $100 travel allowance.
During a brief chat she obliged The SUN on Jan. 19, German said the complaint against Ka Ying and Mariz – both of which she did not mention by name –  had already been endorsed by her office to Hong Kong’s Labour Department and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
A further check revealed that the action was taken only the day before, or more than a month since the initial complaint signed by more than 50 helpers had been made.
It turned out that a day before this, Ka Yin had sought to arrange a conciliation meeting with the complainants, during which Wong was supposed to pay $5,000 cash to each of them in exchange for the complaint being withdrawn.
But the deal fell through, reportedly because Wong only offered to pay $2,000 cash and $3,000 in cheque, to each complainant.
The attempt at conciliation was allegedly communicated to German, who reportedly declined to let the negotiations take place at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, but waited to see if a deal would be struck.

EAA takes up case against Ka Ying agency

Hong Kong’s Labour Department has taken action in the complaint filed by 78 Filipina domestic workers against Ka Ying Employment Agency, a few days after the case was referred to it by the Philippine Consulate.
A letter dated Jan. 22 was sent by the Department’s Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) to several of the complainants, asking them to complete a complaint form, and submitting relevant documents.
The recipients were given 14 days to comply with the instructions, or the EAA would take no further action on their complaint.
Earlier, the complainants received calls from the EAA telling them that they could expect to be called to the Agency’s office in Central for interviews, and that they should ask permission from their employers for this, as they would be done during weekdays.
Meanwhile, there has been no word yet on what action the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, which was reportedly notified of the case at the same time, has taken as regards the complaint against Ka Ying’s Philippine counterpart, Mariz.
In a statement issued after Ka Ying’s court conviction in a separate case on Jan. 20, the Labour Department told FDHs not to be afraid to report agencies and stand as witnesses against agencies that overcharge them.
The statement said that the complaint against Ka Ying was received by Labour in March last year, and that a subsequent investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the agency had indeed collected an excessive placement fee from the worker.
“We are glad that the FDH concerned was willing to come forward to report her case to the EAA and act as prosecution witness,” the statement said.
“LD will not tolerate any agencies overcharging job-seekers and will act promptly upon receipt of any complaints. Prosecution will be initiated when there is sufficient evidence and the Commissioner for Labour will consider revoking, or refusing to renew, an agency’s license upon its conviction.
Ka Ying is the second employment agency convicted of overcharging this year.
Another agency, Marks Domestic Helper Agency Limited in Tsuen Wan, was also convicted of overcharging earlier this month.
Last year, nine agencies, were found guilty of the same offence.
They were identified as Bagus Employment Agency in Central, Satisfactory Employment & Travel Centre Limited in Tai Wai, Vicks Maid Consultant Company in Sha Tin, Joyce Agency in Kwai Chung, Maidhouse Employment Agency Co Limited in Tsuen Wan, Smile Sunshine Employment Limited in North Point, Shun Tat Employment Agency Company in Causeway Bay, Artellect Limited in Tuen Mun and 3sion Employment Agency in Tin Hau, – The SUN Staff

PDOS may need to be revamped, study shows

Congen Catalla thanks Dr. Licuanan.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Food, education and housing remain as the top three reasons why Filipinos feel compelled to go abroad to work;
Half of them leave because they have no job. Of those who were employed, more than 60% were earning less than Php5,000 a month;
About a third of those who leave for Hong Kong has a college degree, while another 20% has had some college education;
Seventy percent of Hong Kong OFWs is from Luzon;

These were just some of the preliminary results of a two-year study on household service (domestic) workers presented at the Consulate on Jan. 17 by Victoria Licuanan, research fellow and former dean of the Asian Institute of Management.
The study, which involves 2,000 first-time HSWs – 1,200 bound for Saudi Arabia and 800 for Hong Kong – is aimed at looking at the impact of four new modules in finance and welfare included in the pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS).
“We are not evaluating PDOS per se, but are looking for new modes for PDOS,” said Licuanan.
But she admitted that the initial results yielded a range of interesting findings that could cause a rethink for policy-makers, especially those tasked with the country’s overall migration management.
She also said there appears to be a need to make the PDOS a more integrated process, to include local government units, non-government organizations, and even the consulates and embassies abroad.
“Maybe we have reached the limit of the four-hour PDOS?” Licuanan asked.
The respondents who were chosen randomly from those taking the pre-departure seminars at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration were first interviewed between May 26 and August 15, 2014.
They were asked about their personal and family background, their financial literacy including savings and borrowing habits and plans for savings and remittances, as well as expenditure plans; communication with their family members, attitudes, and feelings of well-being.
A follow-up interview by telephone was made in the third quarter of last year with the OFW respondents as well as their family members back in the Philippines. But by then, nearly a third of the respondents could no longer be traced.
“Our sample size has declined to roughly 70 percent of the original sample due to the following reasons: the HSW returned or never left, they cannot be contacted, or refused to be interviewed,” said Licuanan.
A second round of interviews is due to be carried out middle of this year.
The study’s initial results also showed the following:
• the average age of first-time HSWs is 31 years old; but the age range of the respondents was 15-57 years old
• two out of three are married, divorced or widowed
• the average household size is 4.3 people for HK OFWs and 4.7 for those bound for Saudi Arabia
• 60% of those who went to HK knew at least one person in the territory, compared to just 25% for those bound for Saudi
• half of those surveyed did not have any experience working as domestic helpers
• about 50% said they expected to be away for only 2 years while between 10-15% said they would work for 10 years
• 23% of those who were Saudi-bound said their family was totally dependent on their remittance, compared to only 15% for those who went to HK
• 35% of family members of the HK OFWs said the worker contacted home daily, while 27% said the same thing for the Saudi OFW
• a whopping 90% of HK OFWs described their employers as “good” or “ok”; while 80% among the Saudi-bound said the same thing;
• 70% of all HK-bound OFWs said they paid placement fees, compared to only 20% for those who went to Saudi. The average agency fee paid by those bound for HK amounted to Php64,811 while those for Saudi paid Php37,795
Licuanan suggested that the second follow-up interview for the respondents who are in Hong Kong be conducted with help from the Consulate.