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.
                                                                                         

Employers go online to bully, mock helpers

By Vir B. Lumicao

Unknown to most foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, local employers have taken to using social media to come up with some sort of a blacklist for foreign domestic helpers.
An employers’ group whose name is in Chinese but is open to the public is replete with derisive, even abusive comments about helpers they perceive as underperforming or misbehaving. The posts, mostly in Chinese, sometimes even include defaced photographs of the targeted helpers.
On rare occasions, however, there were also positive comments, even praise for the helpers.
One of those who recently found herself the target of her employer’s cyber bullying was Filipina helper Dexter Vargas. She said she was shocked to learn that her former employer had posted nasty comments along with her photo in the Facebook group, because they had parted amicably.
“Maganda ang paalaman namin, magkaibigan pa kami pagbaba ko sa bahay nila. Nakiusap siya nang maayos dahil hindi na raw ako kayang bayaran. Sinabi ko namang naiintindihan ko ang sitwasyon nila, tapos siniraan pa niya ako,” Vargas told The SUN.
She learned about the post from her recruitment agency, who scolded her after reportedly getting a release letter from her employer, accusing her of “taking things” from their house.
The picture her former boss posted was of Vargas having fun with her friends on her day off, when just the day before, she had complained of being ill.
“Siyempre, araw ko iyon, kaya kailangang magsaya kahit may dinaramdam,” said Vargas.
The controversial picture which was lifted off a series of shots posted in Vargas’ personal account, did show her looking frail and unwell, though she was laughing and making faces at the camera.
For some unknown reason, however, the photo along with the derisive comments, were subsequently taken down by her employer.
Still, the group page remains full of maids’ photos, along with mocking and angry descriptions by disappointed and vindictive employers, and the equally biting remarks by their friends and equally “short-changed” bosses.
Many of those who posted were aggrieved by their maids allegedly having lied about their education, work experience, especially knowledge of child care and cooking. Others complained about warts and welts on their helpers’ skin.
Other posts include an Indonesian maid being taken away in a police van for allegedly stealing $900 from her ward. Several other photos show Filipinas leaving the house in their Sunday’s best, adorned with accessories.
“My 29-year-old maid who arrived in my house on Dec 10 to take care of two kids claimed she had two years of work experience and good English, but she is too shy to talk. I don’t understand all her basic communication,” one employer said.
The employer complained that the helper did not know how to work and had no cooking skills, so the employer ended up cooking dinner for her family and taking her two children to school.
On Dec 17, the maid reportedly told the employer she was taking her day off to meet a half-sister in Hong Kong Island, then “insisted on taking her holiday every Sunday for other reasons”. One day, the employer heard her calling the recruitment agency and asking to change employer. After a verbal clash with the maid, the employer fired her.
Another employer was complaining about her helper who reportedly said she had quit smoking during the job interview. But according to the employer she caught the maid smoking just before entering the lift one morning.
Domestic workers may not be aware, too, that employers are monitoring what they do when they take children out to the park or the clubhouse.
One helper had four defaced pictures showing her chatting with someone on her mobile phone while her ward was playing in a Tseung Kwan O estate.
“I hope the kids’ parents see and pay attention to the following (photos),” the group member who posted the photo commented.
Still, another employer apparently snooping on her helper’s text messages posted one such SMS in “tagalong” and translated it into Cantonese for the group members to see.
“Yesterday I saw a post but can’t find the successive messages. It’s about the Octopus running out,” the post read accordingly. The employer posted a shot of the text message written in a mix of Tagalog and Visayan which read:
“$200 ubos n daw? Negative n un bago nya nilagyan may receipt nmn. anhon q octopus card kitkiton? aq pa pagdudahan sa pera pinamimigay ko na nga lang pera q! ayan gusto mo basaha mmya pag-uwi mo. hindi aq bobo para manahimik nlng. Math q noon di bumababa sa 90!”
On the sunny side, at least two bosses posted comments during the mid-November 2015 to Jan 24 span heaping praises on their Filipino helpers for their excellent cooking, good behavior and good manners.
This positive post from one employer about her maid, however, has made the day for the group. On Christmas the maid left the house with a note as the employers slept.
“Good morning, Ma’am and Sir, Merry Christmas! I go down at 8:15 am. Thank you so much for giving me a holiday for this day even though im only 3 weeks. Im not really a perfect helper but I will do my very best to do my work well. Sorry if sometimes I made mistake. Thank you for treating me good. Mwahh.”
The letter was liked by 398 members and drew 25 comments of approval, such as “So sweet” and “Very good”.

Covers the period Apr 15-30

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Magkakaroon ng pagtatalo sa mag-asawa dahil sa magkaibang pananaw tungkol sa mga gastusin. Tamang panahon ito para pumirma ng kontrata, bumili ng ari-arian o pumasok sa mahalagang kasunduan. Aliwin ang sarili sa mga kapana-panabik na libangan upang mawala sa isip ang mga negatibong bagay. Kung dati ay mahusay kang mamagitan sa mga away, ngayon ay ikaw mismo ang magpapalaki ng gulo, pero sa bandang huli ay mapapakalma rin ang sarili. Lucky numbers: 9, 12, 24 at 35.
44.
TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Unti-unti ay makakaalpas ka sa problema, pero mag-ingat sa blackmail. Rayuma at pananakit ng kasu-kasuan ang mararanasan; ugaliing matulog ng maaga. Magagamit mo ang angking abilidad sa trabaho kaya maayos mong matatapos ang importanteng gawain. Oras na upang ayusin ang pananalapi at harapin ang mga bayarin. Piliin ang long term investment upang mabawasan ang regular na gastusin. Lucky numbers: 17, 21, 29 at 31.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Palagay mo ay pinagtampuhan ka ng kapalaran sa mga kamalasang dumarating, pero lilipas din ito. Bayaran agad ang mga bills, mga utang at buwis upang hindi magkapatong-patong ito, at tiyak na giginhawa ang pakiramdam. Upang maibsan ang naiipong stress na nakakabigat sa pakiramdam, gawing regular ang pag-relax sa pamama-gitan ng yoga, tai chi o pagggamit ng pampakalmang langis at tanim.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Kailangan mo ng sapat na pahinga at mag-relax upang mabawi ang kontrol sa sarili. Upang makaiwas sa madalas na pananakit ng ulo, huwag gaanong seryosohin ang mga problema. Maayos ang paghawak mo ng pera at mapapalago mo pa ito. Kung single at mahilig sa adventure, humanda ka sa hindi malilimutang karanasan ngayon, na magbibigay sa iyo ng ibayong sigla. Lucky numbers: 5,6,18 at 25.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96
Swerteng madidiskubre mo ang pangarap na tirahan. Tuwa at saya ang idudulot nito sa tahanan. Makatutulong ang pagboluntaryo sa ilang makabuluhang gawain upang mabigyan ng bagong pananaw ang personal na problema. Magagawa mo ang gusto mo ngayon ng walang magiging problema. Mas madali kang makipag-usap ngayon kaysa dati, pero pakaiwasan ang magsabi ng sikreto kahit kanino. Lucky numbers: 11, 16, 30 at 44.
 39.
BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97
Kung matatanggap mo ng maayos ang mga dumarating sa iyong buhay, mas bibigyan mo ng halaga ang mga sandaling kasama ang mahal sa buhay. Kailangan mo ng balanseng pagkain, hindi mamantika at sagana sa prutas at gulay. Wala kang swerte sa anumang sugal sa ngayon. Bigyan ng pansin ang problema sa pamilya. May malilit na problema at away sa pagsasama, pero mas mabuti ito kaysa manahimik na lang.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98
Bagong buhay ang pwede mong pagdaanan: bagong kakilala at kasamahan, paglipat ng tirahan, pag-asenso sa trabaho o pag-angat ng kalagayan. Magiging masaya ang pagsasama, maayos ang relasyon sa anak, at mae-enjoy mo ng husto ang buhay. Minsan ay kailangang isantabi ang self pride at makinig sa payo ng iba. Iwasan ang labis na pagkain ng seafood, mamantika at maanghang na pagkain. Uminom ng maraming tubig. Lucky number: 12, 15, 23, 44.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87
Papalarin ka sa anumang hakbang at desisyon mong gagawin. Magiging ganado ka sa gagawin at maipapamalas mo ang balanse, eksakto at malinaw na layunin. Matitikman mo ngayon ang ang kasaganaan dahil tuloy ang pasok ng pera, pero mag-ingat na matukso na pumasok sa delikadong transaksyon dahil sa payo ng mga taong hindi naman eksperto. Posibleng matupad ang hinahangad na love life, pero baka hindi ito ikatuwa ng mga anak. Lucky numbers: 4,9,11 at 16.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88
Masipag at kumakayod ka ng husto sa trabaho, pero hindi nawawala ang pagtingin ng marami sa iyo bilang isang baguhan at hindi kaisa ng mga kasamahan. Hindi sapat ang payo na ibinibigay mo sa malalapit sa iyo, bigyan din sila ng tulong. Bibida ka sa mga umpukan at okasyong dadaluhan kasama ang mga kaibigan. Bigyan ng oras ang love life: magkaroon ng oras sa asawa na kayong dalawa lang, o kung single, makipag-adate at gamitin ng husto ang karisma. Lucky numbers: 10, 14, 28 at 39.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89
Mas mataas ang antas ng pagkakaintindihan ngayon sa magka-relasyon. May makakatagpo kang tao na magpapapitlag sa iyong puso. Maganda ang relasyon mo sa mga katrabaho. Nahihirapan kang kontrolin ang pagkain ng alam mong bawal sa iyo. Mas maging maingat ka sa paghawak ng pera, at iwasan ang delikadong bagay, pero makakakita ka ng magandang investment. Lucky numbers: 7, 13, 24 at 46.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Magandang pagbabago sa iyong social life, anuman ang marating ay magiging daan ito sa iyong hinaharap. Sa ngayon ay mas mainam kung mananahimik at mag-isip ng husto. Nasasa-iyong kamay na mabalanse ang budget at upang maiwasan ang panahon ng taghirap sa mga susunod na buwan. Umiwas sa mga kaibigang hindi mapagkakatiwalaan. Mas magiging matibay ang pagsasama ngayon at tandaan na sa pag-ibig ay mas importante ang magbigay kaysa tumanggap. Lucky numbers: 23, 27, 30 at 34.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91
Hindi masisiyahan ang nakatataas sa iyo sa iyong trabaho kaya makakatikim ka ng sermon. Isang taong seryoso at nakakatatanda sa iyo ang magtuturo upang malusutan mo ang personal na problema. Ang nasa isip na makaganti ang bumabagabag sa iyo ng husto; kalimutan ito upang manumbalik ang kapayapaan ng loob. Mas makakasama sa iyo ang idudulot ng paghihiganti kaysa sa iyong kaaway. Lucky numbers: 9, 15, 25 at 33.

Covers the period Feb 16-28

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91
Dahil sa pagiging sensuwal, gumaganda lang ang pakiramdam mo kung ikaw ay umiibig, kahit hindi sa iisang tao lang. Kung may asawa, gagawin nito ang makakaya upang mapaligaya ka at mapanatili sa kanyang piling. Hangga’t maaari, iwasan ang pakikipagtalo ngayon, lalo na kung tungkol sa problema sa pamilya, at pakaiwasang magalit ng husto sa mga anak kahit pa may pagkakamali sila. Bantayan ang kalusugan. Lucky numbers: 16,17,24 at 36.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Lahat ng hinagpis, limitasyon o anumang balakid sa iyong hangarin ay mawawala. Magiging magaan ang lahat sa pag-ibig, pera, kalusugan at trabaho, samantalahin ito. Huwag hayaang maguluhan sa iba’t ibang ideyang dumarating sa iyo. Nasa tamang posisyon ka upang makamit ang kasiyahang hinahanap, lalo na kung tungkol sa pagbi-biyahe at sa ibang bansa ang pupuntahan. Isa sa mga kaibigan mo ang pilit pa ring sinasamantala ang kabutihan mo; patigilin agad ito. Lucky numbers: 9,15,26 at 45.
44.
TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Kaya mong lagpasan ang anumang pagsubok ngayon dahil may kakampi at taga-suporta ka. Pero, lalakas din ang iyong pangamba at takot, at maging ang pamilya ay mabababahala. Magiging tensyonado rin sa iyong paligid dahil pangingilagan ka ng iyong mga kasamahan. May perang matatanggap kaya pagdududahan mo ang tunay na motibo ng ibang taong lumalapit sa iyo. Lucky numbers: 3,13,29 at 38.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Dahil masyado kang excited, humihina ang iyong pakiramdam sa kung ano ang makakabuti at makasasama sa iyo; mag-ingat. Higit sa lahat, huwag magpadala sa tukso upang malutas ang problema sa ilegal na paraan na maaring pagmulan ng iskandalo. Upang makaiwas sa sakit sa puso, bawasan ang pagkain ng karne at pagkaing mamantika, at dagdagan ang pagkain ng isda at sariwang gulay. Lucky numbers: 9,15,26 at 39.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Mag-ingat sa mga pamamaga. Iwasang uminom ng mga gamot lalo na kung hindi ito inireseta ng doktor. Maiirita ka sa pagka-antala ng iyong mga plano, piliting kumalma dahil wala ring mangyayari at madadamay lang ang taong malalapit sa iyo sa init ng ulo mo. May mga bagay kang kinatatakutan at ikinalulungkot ng husto sa panahong ito. Lucky numbers: 7,25,31 at 42.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96
Masipag kang makipagsapalaran at tumuklas ng mga bagong bagay at kaalaman. Ipagpatuloy mo ito at huwag nang lumingon sa nakaraan. Magagamit mo ang talino at pasensya upang malutas ang kinaiinisang problema. Maaaring maakit ka sa isang tao dahil sa lakas ng karisma nito, pero hindi kayo bagay sa intelektuwal na kakayahan kaya baka malagay ka sa alanganin. Lucky numbers: 15,17,20 at 37.
 39.
BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97
Mag-ingat sa mga taong nakakausap, mas mainam na huwag munang magtiwala kaysa masira ang iyong tiwala. Kung susubok ka, siguraduhing kalkulado mo ito ng husto. Manigurado sa iyong babagsakan kung hindi ay masasaktan ka. Malulubos ang kasiyahan kung mapapalapit ka sa taong mahal mo. May tsansa kang makipag-partner sa isang dayuhan upang mas tumatag ang iyong katayuan. Lucky numbers: 25,31,40 at 45.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98
May problema sa trabaho, maging mapagmatyag at maingat habang naghihintay ng pagbuti ng kalagayan nito. Mag-ingat sa kinakain, bawasan ang pagkaing mataas sa cholesterol, matatamis at alcoholic drinks. Huwag kaligtaan ang maliliit na detalye at busisisiin ang lahat ng papeles na pinapapirmahan sa iyo. Ingatan ang iyong ari-arian. Lucky numbers: 12,29,35 at 40.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87
Iwasang masaktan ng husto dahil sa labis na tiwala at halos pagsamba sa isang tao na lubos mong pinaniniwalaan ang lahat ng sinasabi! Maiinis ka at aayawan mo ang anumang obligasyon at responsibilidad na magdudulot ng tension sa pamilya o katrabaho. Pero malaki ang tsansa mong mahanap ang posisyong magbibigay sa iyo ng kalayaang gumawa ng sariling desisyon at magkaroon ng sapat na responsibilidad. Lucky numbers: 9,17,26 at 41.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88
Magiging maayos ang relasyon sa trabaho ngayon, kahit pa mayroon pa ring pagkakaiba ng opinyon at pamamaraan dahil hindi naman lalala ang sitwasyon. May mga taong naiinis sa iyong pagiging prangka pero sadyang ayaw mo lang magsinungaling o mambola para lang kagiliwan ka ng mga kaibigan. Sa love life, mas nanaisin mo na ngayong ipakita at iparamdam ng husto ang iyong pagmamahal. Lucky numbers: 19,28,34 at 43.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89
Matatapos mo ng maayos ang sinimulang proyekto o gawain. Walang hirap mo ring maaalis ang anumang hadlang sa iyong hangarin. Hindi maiiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng hidwaan sa magulang at anak. Kahit kakaunti ang oras ng pahinga, bigyan ng tamang atensyon ang pamilya, at kahit mahirap sa ngayon, ang pagbibigay ng prayoridad sa mahal sa buhay ay ikakasisiya nila ng husto. Magiging maingat ka ngayon sa pakikipag-relasyon. Lucky numbers: 11,16,29 at 36.


KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Para sa iyo, ang mumunting atraksyon ay mabilis na magiging maalab na pag-ibig. Huwag hayaang masira ang pinagpaguran ng dahil sa pabigla-bigla mong desisyon at diskarte. May mga mahuhusay kang ideya na maari mong magamit sa iyong trabaho, pero paghandaan ito ng husto. Maiirita ka at maaaring maubos ang pasensya mo sa mga anak o asawa, at mapapaaway din sa kapitbahay. Lucky numbers: 6,17,25 at 37.

Tama nga naman

Pinoy Henyo ng mga ngongo:
Ngongo 1: Nao ba to?
Ngongo 2:Hine!
Ngongo 1: Lungar?
Ngongo 2: Hine!
Ngongo 1: Mangay?
Ngongo 2:  Mwene! Mwene!!
Ngongo 1: Ngulay?
Ngongo 2: Hoiho! Hoiho!
Ngongo 1: Ngulay? Hmmm ... mechay?
Ngongo 2: Hine!
Ngongo 1: Sinaw?
Ngongo 2: Hine!
Ngongo 1: Nasa Mahay Kubo ma to?
Ngongo 2: Hine!
Emcee: TIME’S UP! The answer is DILAW!
Ngongo 1: Munangina mu, sami mo ngulay??
Ngongo 2: Hoho nga ngulay. Ngulay nilaw! Ang momo mo muset!

Nakaraan
Naalala mo ba noon:
1. P0.10 lang ang pamasahe, kandong libre pa.
2. Ang babae lang ang may hikaw.
3. Ang preso lang ang may tattoo.
4. Si Erap, Jinggoy, Bong Revilla at Lito Lapid ay sa showbiz section lang ng dyaryo nababasa. Ngayon headlines na.
5. Ang intindi mo ng LOL ay ULOL imbes na Laughing Out Loud.
6. Ang ARCEGAS lang at GOODEARTH Emporium ang shoppingan sa bansa.
7. Diyes lang ang isang basong taho at kailangan mong magdala ng sarili mong baso, kasi wala pang plastic cups noon si Manong na magtataho
8. Chocnut, Tarzan Gum at kending Vicks ang pinag-gagastusan mo ng sinko mo.
9. Sarsi with egg ang pampataba at star margarine, at matamis na bao sa umaga.
10. Nagkaka-kalyo ka dahil manual typewriter pa ang ginagamit mo para sa school paper mo
11. Kaya uso pa noon ang carbon paper.
12. Tancho. 3-Flowers o Superman Pomade ang pang-ayos ng buhok mo.
13. KLIM ang tinitimpla ng nanay mo para sa iyo para inumin mo bago matulog.
14. Nakakapag-grocery ka na kahit 20 piso lang ang dala .
15. Anim na numero lang ang kailangan mong tandaan para tawagan ang kaibigan mo.
16. May Party Line pa noon “hello party line, paki baba. Emergency lang”
17. Sampung taon ang hihintayin mo bago makabitan ng telepono. Ngayon ilang oras lang.
18. Computer cards ang iyung tinutupi para maging barilbarilan.
19. Singkwenta sentimos lang ang songhits .
20. Pango pa ang ilong ni Vilma Santos.
21. Kay Ka Paeng Yabut ka lang naniniwala pag-ukol sa panahon ang balita.
22. Sinkwenta sentimos lang ang pa-gupit.
23. Pinagtatawanan ang kalbo. “Pendong Kalas Kalbo”
24. Hindi uso ang gusot ang buhok at damit. Ngayon kung may gusot mayaman na.
25. Nakakahiya kung nakalitaw ang halfslip ng babae, ngayon nakadisplay pa ang panty at pusod.
26. Cabaret ang tawag sa mga girly bars. Ngayon ay Music Lounge na.
27. Hostess pa ang tawag noon, ngayon Guest Relations Officer na.
28. Sa Escolta ka namimili ng pamasko mo. Ngayon kahit sa bangketa ay talo-talo na.
29. Payat na payat ka pa noon.
30. Highway 54 pa noon at wala pang EDSA.
31. Malago pa ang buhok mo noon.
32. Jingle lang at Songhits nakakanta na. Ngayon naka Karaoke na.
33. $1.00 = 4 pesos ang dollar exchange rate
34. Dati naninigas ang mga damit natin dahil sa almirol, ngayon palambutan na sa dami ng softener.
35. Ang bentahan ng bigas ay per salop at ganta, ngayon per kilo na
Sometimes you will never know the true value of A MOMENT until it become A MEMORY.

Watchdog
A burglar broke into a house one night. He shone his flashlight around, looking for valuables, and when he picked up a jewelry box to place in his sack, a strange, disembodied voice echoed from the dark saying, “Jesus is watching you.”
He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.
When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head, then clicked the light on and began searching for more valuables. After just a few seconds, clear as a bell, he heard the voice again, “Jesus is watching you.”
Freaked out, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.
“Did you say that?” he hissed at the parrot.
“Yep,” the parrot confessed, then squawked, “I’m just trying to warn you.”
The burglar relaxed. “Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?”
“Moses,” replied the bird.
“Moses?” The burglar laughed. “What kind of people would name a bird Moses?”
Suddenly, he felt a giant shadow materializing behind him.
“The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus.”
— Bob N.

Ay, mali
Madre: Father, ang lamig no?
Father: Oo nga eh. Gusto mo gawin natin yung ginagawa ng mag-asawa kapag nilalamig sila?
Madre: Sige, sige (kinikilig)
Father: Sige, pagtimpla mo ko ng kape!?!

Covers the period Feb.1-15

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97

Kung nais magpalit ng tabaho o baguhin ang direksiyon nito, sa mga susunod na buwan ay magkakaroon ng oportunidad para gawin ito. Makakakita ng espesyal na pag-ibig ang mga walang asawa. Sa mga may karelasyon, lalo pang tatatag ang samahan at magiging mayabong gaya ng isang malusog na halaman.  Tiyaking may sapat na gamot o bitamina C para mayroong sapat na resistensya.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98
Tibayan ang loob dahil maraming hamon ng buhay ang darating. Paghusayan pa ang ginagawa para mas madaling makamit ang promosyon na inaasam. Maglaan ng sapat na panahon para makipag-usap sa mga anak gaano man ang pagiging abala sa trabaho. Mag-ingat ng husto lalo na sa pagmamaneho lalo na kung kasama ang pamilya.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87
Malaki ang posibilidad na makatanggap ng umento sa sahod o iba pang biyaya kaya siguraduhin na maging mapagmasid upang hindi makawala ang swerte. Kung kailangan ng kausap, huwag mag-atubiling magsabi sa taong lubos na pinagkakatiwalaan para maibsan ang nararamdaman. Magiging exciting ang buhay pag-ibig dahil maraming nakakakilig na pagkakataon kung kasama ang minamahal.
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 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88
Pag-aralan kung paano pakisamahan ang mga taong sadyang mahirap intindihin ang pag-uugali. Asahan na magkakaroon ng bagong karanasan at oportunidad bago matapos ang buwang ito. Ito ang tamang panahon para mamuhunan sa negosyo dahil tiyak na maganda ang balik nito. Huwag magpapaapekto sa stress na dulot ng mga tao sa paligid. Ibaling ang pansin sa trabaho at magbibingi-bingihan sa anumang tsimis na maririnig dahil magdudulot lang ito ng matinding pananakit ng ulo.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89
Magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa iyong pananaw at magiging malaya sa paggawa ng desisyon na naayon sa iyong pangangailangan. Magtipid ng husto dahil maaring magipit sa mga darating na buwan. Ipagpaliban muna ang balak na bakasyon at pag-isipang mabuti ang desisyon na pagbili ng bahay. Makakaranas ng panlalamig ang magkasintahan dahil sa matinding selos.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Magaan ang pasok ng buwan dahil lahat ng pinapangarap na makamit ay nagsisimula nang magkaroon ng katuparan. Ang responsibilidad sa trabaho ay madadagdagan pero huwag mag-alala dahil makakatanggap naman ng umento sa sahod. Walang problema sa kalusugan pero ingatan ang walang humpay na pagkain lalo na ang matatamis. Maglaan ng sapat na oras sa ehersisyo kahit abala sa maraming bagay.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91
Panahon na para tuluyang kalimutan ang anumang galit sa mga mahal sa buhay o sa sarili dahil sa maling desisyon na nagawa. Maraming mahahalagang proyekto ang kailangang gawin kaya panatilihing mahinahon ang pag-iisip upang hindi maapektuhan ang disiyon. Maganda ang pasok ng pera kaya samantalahin ang pagkakataon na mag-impok ng husto. Huwag munang pumasok sa isang relasyon ang mga walang asawa para mas malayang magawa ang mga bagay na matagal nang inaasam.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Matiwasay ang relasyon ng bawat miyembro ng pamilya kaya mas masaya ang pasok ng bagong taon. Huwag umurong sa responsibilidad o sa dami ng kailangang asikasuhin dahil marami ang nakahandang magbigay ng tulong. Maalwan ang pasok ng pera kaya maari ng bilhin ang bagay na matagal nang pinag-iipunan.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Masusubukan ang pakikisama sa kapwa dahil malalagay sa isang sitwasyon na makikita ang maling sistema o panlalamang. Huwag sumuko o bibitiw sa trabaho dahil sa matinding emosyon. Maganda ang pasok ng pera pero ingatan ang gastos at huwag magpautang para hindi masayang ang pinaghirapan. Mag-ingat na hindi dapuan ng sakit na may kinalaman sa dibdib o lalamunan.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
May mga taong na walang hinangad kundi ang pumalpak ka sa trabaho ngunit huwag itong ikabahala dahil mas marami ang naniniwala sa iyong kakayahan. Ito rin ang panahon na ang mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan ay siya pang magkakanulo. Makakaranas ng pressure sa relasyon kaya mas mabuting pag-usapan ang problema habang maaga pa. Maayos ang kalusugan pero kapag may nararamdaman ay huwag itong ipagwalang-bahala.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Pagkakaisahan ka ng mga taong makitid ng pag-iisip pero mas makakabuti kung dedmahin na lang sila. Kung anuman ang nakalatag na plano ay makakabuting ipagpaliban na muna dahil hindi pa napapanahon. Bigyan ng oras ang pamilya lalo na ang kapareha dahil nakakaramdam ito ng kalungkutan. Ingatan ang kalusugan lalo na sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa panunaw, at hanggat maari ay iwasan ang alcohol dahil malaki ang tsansa na magkaroon ng ulcer.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96
Mabilis ang pag-unlad kung isasa-isip ito. Planuhing mabuti ang buhay, dahil dito nakasalalay ang kinabukasan, maliban sa sipag at tiyaga. Dito rin manggagaling ang lakas ng loob na harapin ang mga hamon ng buhay.

CG’s advice: Save, don’t overspend, don’t guarantee debt

By Vir B. Lumicao

Filipinos in Hong Kong should keep three important things in mind: don’t spend more than you earn, don’t guarantee loans, and save for that day when you go home for good.
This is the gist of the New Year message of Consul General Bernardita Catalla to the roughly 200,000 of her compatriots, most of whom are domestic workers in this Special Autonomous Region of China.
“Let’s all remember that we are here temporarily and that we should do our best to undertake the tasks that are assigned to us. Don’t forget their reasons for coming here, to help their family and then, maybe elevate it to help their own communities, and help their country,” Catalla said in an interview on Jan. 4.
All these are interconnected, Catalla said. She said the workers should not forget that while they are here, their families rely on them for support.
But, “they should also provide for themselves, they should prepare themselves to returning to the Philippines, they should save, they should avoid spending more than they can earn,” the consul general said.
She said in the past, the common problem of the Filipinos here was falling into the debt trap because of the ease of borrowing money from local lenders.
“It’s not that we don’t want to support our friends here, but I think that they should also think of themselves,” Catalla said.
She noted that based on experience, most of the problems the Consulate handles involve loans taken out by friends or even family members where the Filipinas acted as guarantors, without knowing that by doing so they equally shared the obligation.
When the borrowers default on payments or go home for good, it is the guarantor who is hounded by the financing companies or other lenders and debt collectors. Often the worker loses her job as a result.
She advised the domestic workers to be smart. “Iwasan lang natin una, iyong paggasta nang mas marami kaysa ating kinikita; pangalawa, hindi lang iiwasan, maging maingat sa  pagtulong lalo na sa pangungutang, at pangatlo, mag-save para sa sarili,” Catalla said.
“Kasi hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa atin dito, whether masaya ang buhay dito o hindi, merong keep for yourself. Don’t give everything to your family. Hindi pagdadamot iyan. Iyan ay pagpre-preserve sa sarili dahil bandang huli, iyan din, kapag ikaw ang inaasahan ng pamilya mo, kapag umuwi ka at wala sa oras ikaw pa rin ang aasahan, at wala ka ring aasahan kundi ang sarili mo.
“Kung ikaw naman ay may kaunting kakayahan, mag-save for future, puwedeng magnegosyo, puwedeng i-upgrade ang skills and look for jobs in the Philippines,” Catalla said, adding that there are options because the economy is growing and the country should improve in the next few years as the private sector generates jobs.
She encapsulated her wishes for the country in three “P”s:
“Ang hopes ko ay -- because we are very optimistic about it -- ‘P’ for peace for the Philippines, another ‘P’ for progress and the last ‘P’, for prosperity for the Filipinos and the Filipino nation. Iyon ang ating hopes na nakadugtong sa  ating individual contributions sa sarili natin, sa pamilya natin, sa ating small communities at sa sarili nating bayan, especially now that elections are forthcoming.
“It’s going to happen and sana mag-isip tayo na iyong lider na iboboto natin ay mas mapapaunlad pa ang Pilipinas, maging mas tahimik tayo, mas peaceful at magiging prosperous bawat isa. I guess that’s not only my aspiration but the aspiration of everyone, and I guess we can achieve that in the next three to five years.”

High Court says usurious loans cannot be recovered

By Daisy CL Mandap

In a landmark ruling that deals a blow to the rampant illegal money lending among foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, the High Court has reiterated that usurious loans are not recoverable.
That means, anyone who lends money at an agreed interest higher than the legal rate of 60 percent per annum cannot get legal help in recovering not just the usurious interest,  but the entire loan amount. These include the notorious “five-six” lenders, or those who demand a return of $6 for every $5 lent, and the more usual 10% gang, or those who collect a 10% monthly interest on loans.
When they lend money at a usurious rate, it is as if the transaction never happened.
This was according to a decision handed down on Jan. 11 by Judge Louis Chan.
The case first came to light as a result of a series of loan transactions between the parties in the case. Defendant Nenete M. Corriente went to the High Court on appeal, claiming that an adjudicator in the Small Claims Tribunal had erred in his calculation of the amount she owed respondent and claimant Elisa G. Morales.
It was not disputed that Corriente had borrowed $5,000 from Morales way back in October 2010. She did not repay until November 2011, when Morales started imposing a 15% monthly interest on the loan. Before this, or in August 2011, Corriente borrowed an additional $1,880. Thus, by June 2012, the total loan amount including interest had grown to $12,130.
Morales started charging a 10% monthly interest on the $12,130 from June 2012 to June 2013. The total interest alone for this period amounted to $14,400. Adding up the total amount, Morales claimed a total of $26,530 from Corriente.
Apart from this, Morales extended an interest-free loan of $2,750 at a time not indicated in the decision.
In August 2013 Corriente repaid $5,000 to Morales, but refused to acknowledge any further debt.
As a result, Morales went to the Small Claims Tribunal to claim the repayment of two loans of $26,400 and $2,750. Corriente acknowledged the smaller, but not the bigger amount.
The Tribunal’s adjudicator, Naniel WS Chan, decided in favor of Morales, but reduced the amount she could collect to $13,120, after recalculating the amount of interest at the legal rate of 60%.
On this, Judge Chan said: “This is an error of law.  I therefore set aside the adjudicator’s award and dismiss the claimant’s claim.”
In coming to his decision, the judge said, “The monthly rate of 10% far exceeded the maximum rate of 60% per annum fixed in section 24(1) of the Money Lenders Ordinance, Cap 163.”
Under this section, it is provided that “Any person (whether a money lender or not) who lends or offers to lend money at an effective rate of interest which exceeds 60 per cent per annum commits an offence.”
Further, it is stated that any agreement for the repayment of any such loan shall be enforceable if the effective rate of interest exceeds that which is provided by law.
Thus, said the judge, “Since the 10% pm rate far exceeded 60% fixed in section 24(1) of the Ordinance, the loan in the sum of HK$12,130 (which included the original loans of HK$5,000 and HK$1,880 and on which the excessive rate of interest accrued) and the interest thereon at HK$14,400 are irrecoverable.
He cited a Court of Appeal decision in 1999 in which a loan amount of $1 million was declared also as “irrecoverable” on the ground that the agreement between the parties provided for an interest in excess of 60%.
The judge said the only sum recoverable was the interest-free loan of $2,750. However, he said this sum had already been fully repaid when Corriente paid $5,000 to Morales in August 2013.
He further ruled that since the entire usurious loan was irrecoverable under the law, Morales also could not appropriate or take any amount paid for it.
“In the premises, the claimant cannot seek any repayment from the defendant,” said the judge.
He also ordered that all sums paid by Corriente to the Tribunal be paid back to her, and for the court costs to be taxed or determined at a future date.
Morales as claimant and respondent appeared in person in the case, while Corriente was assisted by Legal Aid.

Pregnant and in trouble? Authorities say, ‘seek help’

By Daisy CL Mandap

Seek help before it gets too late. This is the advice that both the Consulate and concerned groups have sent out, after it was reported that a Filipino former domestic worker had dumped her newborn baby in North Point early on Jan. 6.
The case was uncovered after Maribel Hernandez, 37, complained of feeling unwell in the boarding house she was staying at on the second floor of the State Theatre Building on King’s Road. A concerned neighbor called police shortly after 10am, and she was rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan where it was discovered that she had just given birth.
On questioning by police, the Filipina who was found to have overstayed her visa since the middle of last year, reportedly said she had induced her baby’s birth with medicine she bought from a nearby pharmacy. She subsequently dumped her baby into a trash bin on Electric Road near City Garden.
At the time, Hernandez was reportedly eight months into her pregnancy.
But a 24-hour search by a team of about 40 police officers in the area, as well as in the Nim Wan landfill in Tuen Mun, yielded no trace of the newborn baby.
Hernandez was put on hospital arrest and was charged with administering a drug to induce abortion.
Consul General Bernardita Catalla, who said she first learned about the case from newspaper reports, expressed regret that Hernandez did not seek help, probably because she was afraid that her illegal status would be uncovered.
“But she should not have worried,” said Congen Catalla. “Hindi niya dapat pinaabot pa sa eight months ang kanyang problema.”
Congen said the Consulate could have helped her surrender to authorities, and even if she was sent to prison and gave birth there, she had no reason to worry.
“We visited Lowu (detention centre) recently, may baby doon. Ang lusog-lusog, ang cute at ang daming nag-aalaga. Ang gatas, S-26 pa,” Congen said to describe the situation of a mother who was allowed to keep her baby in jail with her.
She said that prison inmates in Hong Kong appear to be well-looked after, with those needing medical attention being taken to hospital for treatment.
Although the Consulate was yet to be given permission to speak with Hernandez as of this writing, the police had already shared copies of their file on the case with them.
Meanwhile, non-government organization PathFinders has sought to reiterate its appeal for pregnant migrant women to immediately consult them if they are having problems.
Its chief operating officer Luna Chan said in an interview with The Sun Radio that the earlier they get involved in the problem the better it would be for both the mother and the child.
“We would really like pregnant domestic helpers to come to us at an early stage so we can plan for a more humane and reasonable solution to their problem. Like it or not, the pregnancy will not go away. A child will be born into the world, and that’s a situation that has to be dealt with,” Chan said.
Dealing with the twin problems of pregnancy and overstaying is nothing new to PathFinders, as Chan said half of all their clients had overstayed their visas.
After explaining the possible repercussions of their illegal stay, PathFinders would extend all sorts of assistance to the pregnant woman, from giving her shelter to counseling, and if necessary, even accompanying her to the Immigration Department to explain her plight.
An investigation by Immigration does not always lead to prosecution, said Chan. And even if it does, “it may or it may not result to a suspended sentence”.
However, from experience, Chan said that for mothers who overstayed for a year to not exceeding two years, “it’s quite possible that they would get a suspended sentence.”
In Hernandez’s case, the sentence may have been much lighter, given the short length of her overstay. But as she now faces an additional charge of inducing her baby’s abortion, her case appears to have become more complicated.
It is not, however, the first incident of a mother in Hong Kong dumping her newborn baby in the rubbish bin.
Just last year, a 21-year-old mother was charged with infanticide after her baby was found by a cleaner inside a black plastic bag in a garbage bin. However, she got away with a probation order after the judge ruled that she had thrown her baby away while she was in a state of “isolation, exhaustion, shame and panic.”
Earlier in the year, a 31-year-old Indonesian domestic helper also said she had dumped her newborn in a rubbish bin in Kennedy Town. As in the present case, however, the baby was never found.

Trafficking watchdog backs clampdown on travel papers

The country’s anti-human trafficking watchdog has defended the tighter scrutiny of outbound passengers' travel documents by airport immigration officers amid cries of harassment.

Stricter measures taken by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, which includes the Bureau of Immigration, had led to 45 human trafficking convictions in 2015 that sent 46 persons to jail terms ranging from 8 years to life.
Statistics provided by the IACAT showed that the convictions stemmed from 32 cases ranging from acts that promote trafficking to qualified trafficking, offenses that drew sentences of 15 years to life imprisonment and fines ranging from P500,000 to P2 million per conviction.
Cebu City stood out with 11persons convicted, followed by its neighboring city Lapu-Lapu, which accounted for 7.    
Darlene Pajarito, executive director of the IACAT, pledged the agency's full support to the Bureau of Immigration in a statement on Dec 22 as allegations of a new scam involving BI staff at the NAIA circulated in social media.
An online article citing a message from an undisclosed source said immigration staff are requiring outbound passengers other documents to prove their purpose of travel in a new modus operandi to squeeze bribe money from them.
Pajarito belied the article, saying the inspection process used by the BI is based on the Department of Justice Memorandum Circular No. 36 Series of 2015 entitled “Revised Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International-Bound Passengers.”
“These guidelines are based on existing laws that seek to protect Filipinos from possible abuse overseas, thus the BI is mandated to take into consideration the totality of circumstances during inspection,” Pajarito said.
She said the guidelines were put in place to stem the rise in the number of Filipinos using tourist visas to go abroad and work.
The guidelines include the examination of documents by outbound tourists, OFWs, passengers with immigrant or permanent residents’ visa, and other categories of passengers such as on-the-job trainees, au pairs and participants of exchange visitor programs.
Pajarito said immigration officers at airports have also reported intercepting passengers using mutilated passports as well as counterfeit, fraudulent, falsified, simulated or tampered travel documents, such as overseas employment certificates.
“Bypassing the steps required by the government increases the possibility for these individuals of being abused, exploited and trafficked in a foreign country,” Pajarito exlained.