Day 7: More people fail to vote

More would-be voters failed to cast their ballots on Friday, Apr 15, in the ongoing overseas voting for the 2016 national elections at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town.

The daily total fell to 366 yesterday from 434 on Thursday, despite the weather improving after four days of rain.
With 24 days to go in the month-long overseas voting, the seven-day total of votes cast stood at 6,696 yesterday.
Bayanihan staff counted 428 people arriving at the polling center as of 3pm, but not all were able to vote because their names had either been delisted, they were not listed, or they were registered elsewhere.
As of 3pm on Friday, 17 people had failed to vote for various reasons.
Each case was referred by Consulate staff to the Comelec head office in Manila for verification
The number of voters in Hong Kong whose names were missing from the Comelec’s voters list has now reached 147.
Across Bayanihan, Migrante members and other political supporters hung some banners on the roadside railing but collected them after the polls closed. There had been confusion the other day about hanging streamers after staff from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department removed all the banners and told the supporters they must secure a permit to display them there.

Roxas, Robredo mobbed during Hong Kong visit

By Daisy CL Mandap

Pictures don’t lie.
Thousands of people thronged to five different locations in Hong Kong on Apr 3 to hear and see presidential candidate Mar Roxas and his running mate, Leni Robredo, as they went around Central, talking and listening to overseas Filipinos.

Mar Roxas (above) and Leni Robredo (below)
address the huge Chater Road crowd.

As it was a Sunday, the two were besieged by many overseas Filipino workers out on their only day off in the week.
Roxas and Robredo who requested that no security escorts shield them from the crowd, gamely shook hands, posed for pictures, and when time permitted, gave short speeches and chatted with the OFWs.
In one of her impromptu speeches, Robredo told a jubilant crowd at Edinburgh Place that she and Roxas were there not to make promises – as most candidates are wont to do during the election season – but to listen.
“Sa panahon na ito ng eleksyon, marami ang pupunta sa inyo, makikiusap, mangangako. Pero sabi namin ni Pangulong Mar, nandito kami hindi para mangako, kundi para pakinggan kayo,” she said.
She also said it was important for the government to listen more to OFWs before coming up with any programs meant to address their needs.
“Mas mahalaga sa lahat na nabibigyan kayo ng boses para yung mga programa ng ating pamahalaan (ay) naaayon sa kung ano ang kailangan ninyo, at naayon sa kung ano ang gusto ninyo,” she said.
Roxas, in his speech at a lunch forum in Pier 7 Cafe, told more than 100 Filipino community representatives, that after listening to OFWs who have spent years, even decades working abroad, he was convinced that government had to step forward to help them before, during, and even after their stint abroad.

Roxas meets community leaders at a restaurant
where he explained his plans 

“Mahalaga na ang pamahalaan ay hindi pabigat sa inyo, kundi madaling lapitan”, he said.
He said that those who are about to leave should get the best training possible so they are not left vulnerable when they are abroad. Once they reach their destination, it is important that they get a direct line to the government, and when they return, that they have an easy access to capital and cheap loans to start their own businesses.
The first stop in their itinerary was St Joseph’s Church on Garden Road, where they, along with party mate and senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros and congressional candidates Bolet Banal and Alfred Vargas, attended the 10am mass.
More than a thousand people besieged them afterwards, including not just churchgoers but supporters and representatives from both Hong Kong and community newspapers, as well as freelance photographers.
An even bigger crowd gathered as they later walked through the Sunday crowds around the HSBC headquarters and Statue Square in Central. A small group of Migrante members camped at HSBC and armed with a megaphone tried to counter the cheering of supporters but were largely unsuccessful.
Over lunch at Pier 7, more than 100 people representing various sectors in the community had the chance to confer privately with Roxas and his team, and then raise questions during a forum.
A brief break followed for media interviews, first with Roxas, and then Robredo. It was during Robredo’s interview that Roxas took the chance to go out and sit in a secluded area by the sea, where he pursued chats with the few OFWs who were around.
A photo of him listening intently to OFW Marites Palma was subsequently used by his election rivals to suggest that he was brooding about being shunned by people in Hong Kong.

The yellow crowd at Edinburgh Place.

The next stop was Edinburgh Place, where three tents were set up earlier in the day to await the 3pm meet-up which was, however, delayed by an hour. The event turned into one big carnival with zumba and ati-atihan dancers, and the impromptu program being hosted by Roxas himself.
Nearby, thousands of people were also gathered for a day-long campaign rally by supporters of another presidential candidate, Rodrigo Duterte, who did not come despite earlier reports that he would, along with his vice presidential candidate Alan Peter Cayetano. The crowd was entertained by actor Aljur Abrenica and girly group Mocha Girls. (The SUN tried to cover the event but was denied an interview by the lead organizer).
The final stop in the administration candidates’ visit was Chater Road, where the organizers Luzon Alliance extended an invitation to the two, after hearing about their visit.
The original guest was Roxas’ celebrity wife, Korina Sanchez-Roxas, who was invited to crown the winner of a beauty pageant held that day.
An estimated 5,000 people came to watch and listen to Roxas and Robredo, as each delivered a short speech.

Mga regular na bumoboto

Nakakatuwang pagmasdan ang mga OFW na sa tinagal-tagal nila sa Hong Kong ay hindi pa rin nakakaligtaang bumoto. Ni minsan ay hindi sila pumalyang magpunta sa Bayanihan Centre para bumoto tuwing halalan.

Evelyn Gavarda

Isa dito si Evelyn Gavarda, 63 taong gulang at 26 taon na sa Hong Kong. Ayon sa kanya masayang masaya siya kapag dumarating ang halalan dahil nararamdaman niya ang kanyang pagka Pilipino. Sana raw ay ganoon din ang pagpapahalagang ibigay ng kanyang mga kapwa Pilipino sa pagpili ng kanilang mga susunod na lider. Dagdag pa niya, mas maayos daw ang daloy ng botohan ngayon keysa sa mga nakaraang halalan.

Mercy Fullido

Kabilang din sa mga may edad na bumoto si Mercy Hirika Fulido, 61 taong gulang, taga Bohol,  at 29 taon nang naninilbihan sa iisang amo sa Hong Kong. Kahit ang pabugso bugsong ulan noong Abr 10, unang Linggo ng botohan, ay hindi naging hadlang para magtungo siya sa Bayanihan para bumoto. Naniniwala daw kasi siya na mababago ang sistema ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagboto.

Luz Ollanas

Si Luz Ollanas, 60 taong gulang at 22 taong nang malayo sa pamilya, ay kabilang din sa mga bumoto noong araw na iyon. Naniniwala daw siya na kapag nanalo ang ibinoto niya ay magiging maayos ang paliparan, mawawala ang corruption, at magiging maayos na ang bansa. Nagmula si Ollanas sa Las Pinas.
Kabilang din sa mga masisagig na bumoto sa araw na iyon si Maria Tiongsin 62 taong gulang, at 21 taon nang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Kasiyahan daw niya ang bumoto, kahit mukhang hindi masyadong popular ang kanyang napiling presidente. Ngunit kahit mag-isa lang daw siyang bumoto sa kandidato niya ay masaya pa rin siya dahil malaya niyang naipahiwatig ang kanyang saloobin. – Marites Palma

Bullying backfires; voter changes mind

It may have been just an attempt to poke fun at presidential candidate Mar Roxas, but the joke went out far and wide, before coming back to haunt the person who sent it out through Facebook.
Early on Apr 4, barely a day after Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo were mobbed by crowds of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, a picture was posted on Facebook of the presidential bet sitting alone, hunched and looking forlorn.
The picture was shared by Peter Lavina, spokesperson of another presidential bet, Rodrigo Duterte, with the caption: “Mar was in for a real shock after finding out for himself that indeed Duterte has captured almost all OFWs.”
“Nilangaw ang rally doon ng tuwad na daan. The visibly disoriented, demoralized Mar was a picture of defeat,” the post said.
Almost immediately, The SUN contributor and OFW leader Marites Palma came out to disprove the claim. She posted an unedited version of the picture, showing Roxas surrounded by a number of people, including her. She said Roxas was actually listening intently to the stories she was sharing at that time.
In her post that immediately went viral, Palma said: “Ako po yung nakasuot ng blue shirt [sa larawan]. Maling mali naman po ang caption ng kuhang larawang ito.”
“Matama pong nakikinig sa aking hinaing si Mar Roxas tungkol sa aking naging karanasan noong inuwi ko ang aking pinsan, na may malaubhang sakit dito sa Hong Kong. Yung hinaing ko tungkol sa taxi driver sa airport na nangotong sa amin from airport to the terminal papuntang Isabela,” she said.
Palma’s disclaimer immed-iately shut up the other camp, even if the cropped picture was shared extensively by its members on social media.
Palma, who the founding president of the Roxas (Isabela) Group of Migrants, said she couldn’t keep silent amid the unfair criticism hurled at Roxas, who had given her precious time during his visit to Hong Kong.
Although unnerved by the bullying she has received from some Duterte supporters after stepping up to disprove the lie, she said the incident opened her eyes to the seamy side of politics. It has also made her decide to turn her back on her earlier choice for president, and support Roxas instead. – Daisy CL Mandap

Elderly voter says she wants ‘peace of mind’

Norma Gulapa (right) is aided down the
Bayanihan stairway after she cast her vote on April 10.

Norma Gulapa waited for the heavy rain on Sunday, Apr 10, to ease before she ventured out of her rented public housing flat in Yau Tong to travel by bus and tram to Kennedy Town. She wanted to be an early bird on Day Two of the 2016 Philippine national elections.
Nanay Norma, 78, appeared weak and wan and was helped by volunteers up the steep flights of stairs to the polling booths at Bayanihan Centre.
“Kalalabas ko lang sa ospital kahapon, sumama ang pakiramdam ko, tumaas ang aking dugo,” Nanay Norma said in an interview with The SUN shortly after she voted.
Her blood pressure was 218/60, indeed alarming for a septuagenarian. She was hospitalized and released only a day earlier, yet there was fire and firmness in her speech.
She said she voted for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“Duterte, baka sakali,” she replied confidently when asked who she voted for president.
“Kasi sa buong buhay ko parang masyadong walang peace of mind, eh. Kasi, tingnan mo, kahit ang tahi-tahimik mo, mayamaya huholdapin ka, o kaya aagawan ka ng ano,” Nanay Norma said.
She related how shocked she was one time when a man snatched her necklace from behind as she sat on a jeepney in Muñoz, Quezon City. The thief’s sharp nails scraped her nape and neck leaving scars. That influenced her choice.
But that choice is not a popular one in her family.
Her two grown-up sons who both work as bartenders heaped scorn on her when she said she was voting for Duterte, saying she was supporting a “murderer”. She told them that was a lie.
With the current state of affairs back home, Nanay Norma said she prefers spending her retirement in Hong Kong, where she stays in a public housing flat and lives on the meager pension she gets from the government. – Vir B. Lumicao

Migrante leader is first to vote

Baneng Mendez (left) awaits the opening of the poll center.

She waited for more than 18 hours to become the first voter in the 2016 overseas election in Hong Kong, but for Baneng Mendez, the wait was well worth the effort.
“To become the first voter in Hong Kong (is) to mark the first vote for Neri Colmenares as senator and Migrante party-list sa party-list naman,” said Baneng, who is one of the active leaders of Migrante in Hong Kong.
Baneng took over the yearly quest for a place in overseas voting history from fellow Migrante leader, Rowena de la Cruz, who has gone home for good after setting the record as the first voter for the past three elections: in 2007, 2010 and 2013.
Baneng said it means a lot to give their candidates the first vote because “gusto namin silang manalo”.
To make sure no one nudged her from the top spot, Baneng set up camp by the gate of Bayanihan Centre where the polling was due to take place, at 2pm on Apr 8, the day before the overseas vote was set to start.
Aside from a small reclining chair, she brought with her a small bag of “baon” which contained 15 pieces of puto. For dinner, she said she asked a friend who lived nearby to bring her some “ulam”.
During parts of her vigil, she was joined by some fellow Migrante leaders, who were as keen as her to be among the first to cast their votes.
But she was quick to say it was not a group decision. “Sarili naming effort ito, kasi hindi naman namin hawak ang schedule ng iba naming mga kasama sa kanilang mga employer,” said Baneng.
Her effort did not escape the notice of Commission on Elections officers led by Commissioner Arthur Lim and lawyer Jane Valeza, who spent some time talking to  Baneng, and marveling at her determination to have her place in OV history.  – Daisy CL Mandap

Heavy security irks Consulate protesters

By Vir B. Lumicao

Bayan Hong Kong chairman Eman Villanueva
denounces the heavy police presence at the Consulate

Migrant workers denouncing the recent killing of three farmers and wounding of scores in a police dispersal in Kidapawan, North Cotabato were upset when more Hong Kong police than they expected were posted at the Consulate lobby during their rally on Apr 6.
At least 15 uniformed and undercover police officers were around when the rally which started at 11 am got underway in the 14th floor lift lobby of United Centre.
Speakers demanded to know why the North Cotabato local government did not use a P238 million calamity fund to help the farmers whose lands were ravaged by drought. Instead, police and soldiers dispersed the farmers who staged a protest with water cannons, truncheons and bullets.
“This is inhumanity. This is fascism. The ones who have violently dispersed the hungry farmers are without mercy,” the rally organizer Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines said in a statement.
The protesters were joined by Aglipayan, Anglican and Methodist ministers, LegCo Member Leung Kwok-heung and representatives of 14 other migrant groups.
Father Dwight de la Torre read two statements from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente Hong Kong Fellowship and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente condemning the violent dispersal of protest that killed three, injured 116, and left 89 missing.
“This is unconscionable, This is condemnable…All they wanted was for the Philippine government to provide them assistance during the long spell of drought,” the statement said.
A joint petition signed by 17 groups and individuals in Hong Kong was handed to Vice Consul Fatima Quintin who came out to meet the group.
Before this, Bayan Hong Kong chairman Eman Villanueva protested the unusually heavy police presence during the rally.
“There are more police than protesters here. I think the Consulate should rescind its policy. You do not need to invite so much police presence here. We have been doing this protest action for decades and never did we commit any violation or destruction of property here,” Villanueva said.
He said the protesters were there to condemn the police armed assault on the hungry farmers asking for food.
Quintin struggled to explain to Villanueva why there were more police officers in the consulate lobby this time than in previous protests staged by the same group.
She said it could be because the officers saw Leung join the protest, she said.
Later, Quintin said it was not the Consulate that asked for heavy police security. She said the police as usual arranged the security when the protesters applied for a rally permit the day before.
In previous rallies, only about six officers would go up to the lobby with the marchers.

POLO plans to move to United Centre

By Vir B. Lumicao

Plans are afoot to move the Philippine Overseas Labor Office back to the United Centre building in Admiralty, but not necessarily returning to its former space inside the Philippine Consulate on the 14th floor.
Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre said in an interview on Apr 8 that he was looking for available space in United Centre so overseas Filipino workers will not have to go to two different buildings to process their work contracts.
“We are planning to move back to the United Centre if there’s a vacant unit there. This place is too inconvenient for OFWs,” De la Torre said of POLO’s offices on the 11th and 16th floors of the Admiralty Centre Tower 1 where it moved about two years ago.
He said it was too burdensome for the workers to move from one building to another “for basically the same transactions” such as contracts, authentication, and passport renewal.”
De la Torre disclosed that he had already met with the building administrator at United Centre to discuss his search for POLO’s new home.
His other objection is over the high cost of rental for POLO’s offices in Admiralty Centre. For the two offices, the total rental amounts to $460,000 a month, a sum that even other labor officials deem excessive, especially considering the more pressing need to provide help to distressed migrant workers.
“This is a mistake, and it’s expensive,” De La Torre said in describing POLO’s present quarters.
Finding the new offices has also proved challenging to many OFWs. More than a year after POLO moved to its posh quarters, many still find it difficult to find their way there.
On Sundays, entry to the building is also restricted by the building management, which lets in OFWs to the lift lobby by batches, after making them line up in a dim alley outside the building.
POLO moved to its current address on Mar 1 last year, with no less than Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz gracing the occasion. She and other labor officials hailed the move as a big step towards improving services to OFWs. But soon after, then Labor Attache Nenita Garcia decided to move the OEC application processing back to POLO, after several years of providing the service at Bayanihan Centre during Sundays.
That decision resulted in the new POLO offices being swamped by thousands of Filipino workers applying for the OEC during the peak months, ahead of going back home to the Philippines.

PGBI Globe is 2

The Philippine Guardians International Globe HK chapter celebrated its second anniversary on Apr 9 in Tin Hau Garden, in Causeway Bay. Bethune House migrant shelter’s Edwina Antonio was supposed to be the guest of honor, but she became ill, and sent Analyn Ningala in her stead. Ningala was asked to hand the certificates of recognition to the presidents of the different PGBI chapters who attended the celebration, and pledged their full support for the Coins for Bethune House charity fund drive. Apart from this, the PGBI groups aim to extend financial support to needy members, and to family members back home in times of emergency. – Marites Palma

Labatt addresses new Luzon group

Labor Attache Jolly dela Torre administers
the oath dring the induction of Federation
of Luzon Active Groups officers at Stanley Town Hall.

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre came just in the nick of time to address members of 24 associations under the newly formed Federation of Luzon Active Groups (Flag) who gathered for a festival on Apr 10 at the Stanley Community Hall.
De la Torre came 20 minutes before the event was due to attend, after completing his duty in the overseas voting for the 2015 Philippine national election now underway at Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town.
The top labor official called on the group that patiently waited for his arrival to exercise their right to vote. He also informed them that applications for the overseas employment certificate (OEC) could already be made at two locations in United Centre and Worldwide House in Central.
He also administered the oath of office to the Flag’s new officers: Faye Guevarra, president; Dante Berido, vice president for operation; Glory Labador, vice president for program; Thess Palma, general secretary; Teresa Manangan, assistant secretary; Ofhel Berzuela, treasurer; Malaine Felix, assistant treasurer; Noel Collado, auditor; Gloria Petrola and Lester Esquilona, PRO; Jhing Alagao, Lucio Alejo and Jed dela Cruz, BOD; Imee Dulay, committee head for membership; Marites Mones, committee head for events; Jocelyn Corpuz and Marie Velarde, committee head for socio cultural; Edith Lachica for ethics committee; Arnold Cereno and Mylene Van Horen, advisers; Aldwin Cayosa-Mas, Butz Francisco, Dante Berido, Jalee Echenique, Rose Balila, founders.
The event was highlighted by several competitions. Abante Cagayanos took home the championship trophy in the vocal solo (by Liberty Rodrigo), folk dance and best in costume award. In the hip hop dance contest, Love Moves took first place, followed by Isabela Federation, which also received the best in costume trophy.
For the Mutya ng Luzon contest, the winner was Jennifer Ilarde of United Nueva Viscayanos, followed by Marie Suarez of Abaca was in second place, Carmelou Gundram, also of Abaca in third; Lenny dela Cruz of Luzonian Overseas Workers in 4th; and Emely Bautista of Tinikling Group of Migrantsin 5th place. The winners  will represent the group in the upcoming Philippine Alliance Tourism competition.
Cherilyn Anzangan of Unified Villaviciosa Association was crowned as Miss Flag 2016. – Marites Palma

CARD promotes financial literacy

CARD reaches out Mei Foo migrants: About 20 migrant women attended the two-part financial training outreach conducted by CARD OFW HK at Mei Foo park on Mar. 27 and Apr 3. Conducting the training were Marites Mapa and Gigi Blanco, who gained their knowledge from the CARD’s “Train the Trainor” program. The goal is to spread the knowledge that the trainees  received to other migrants who cannot afford to go to Central for the financial literacy training. More outreach training sessions are being planned for various locations in Hong Kong. Those who want to attend the outreach sessions may contact Tess Mapa at 54238196 / 95296392. For more information or like the Facebook page of page CARD OFW Hong Kong. – Marites Palma

Skills training with finlit: A total of 72 migrant workers were the lucky beneficiaries of a combined skills and financial literary training administered by CARD OFW Hong Kong Foundation at Bayanihan Center on Apr 3. Ching Baltazar of Balikatan sa Kaunlaran spearheaded the skills training, along with two of her officers. They taught participants the process of making tocino, a popular Filipino breakfast staple made of pork cured in a mixture of spices. In the second part of the program, the participants were taught how to budget their income and to learn how to distinguish between “needs” and “wants” before spending money. – Marites Palma

It’s on with the show for HOPE 2016 despite rain

A heavy downpour failed to dampen enthusiasm for the annual event organized by the Hope Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities of the International Social Service Hong Kong (ISSHK), and held this year on Apr 10.
But due to the intermittent downpour, the celebration was transferred from its original venue on Chater Road, Central, to the Hope Centre in Wan Chai.
Despite the change in venue, the show turned out to be a big success. A wide array of ethnic presentations ranging from dances, songs and cultural performances lent color and vibrancy to the celebration.
Among the guests of honor were assistant director for Home Affairs Candy Yeung and Philippine Consul General Bernardita Catalla. Also present was Hameed Jalal, a member of the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony, an advisory body to the Hong Kong government.
The guests were welcomed by Adrielle Panares, director for the migrants program of ISS-HK.
Among the participants in the program were migrants from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as local performers.
Earlier in the day, booths showcasing the culture and diversity of the different ethnic groups were opened on Chater Road, but were soon closed due to the bad weather.

Performers pose on stage (right) during a rain-soaked program in the annual event organized by the Hope Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities of the International Social Service Hong Kong (ISSHK).

OEC with Octopus payment eyed before December

By Vir B. Lumicao

Hong Kong-based OFWs should be able to secure overseas employment certificates using their Octopus cards before the peak OEC application season in December this year, if plans do not miscarry.
In the meantime, they can secure the document at any branch of Metrobank, which will start processing their applications in its Hong Kong branches by Apr 17, for an additional fee of $5, making the OEC cost a total of $25 per applicant.
With the Octopus, the fee will be just over $1.
These innovations follow recent moves undertaken by POLO to speed up the processing of the OEC and put an end to the long queues of applicants to its Admiralty office during peak seasons.
Labor Attaché Jalilo de la Torre said he is also looking at authorizing leaders of Filipino community groups to accept OEC applications and payments from members, and file these in bulk with POLO for processing. The OEC may then be collected again in bulk, or sent to individual applicants who will be asked to attach a self-addressed envelope to their application letters.
De la Torre on Apr 8 held preliminary talks with Octopus HK on how OFWs can use the contactless smartcard of the electronic payment system provider in securing their OECs.
“There’s great potential here for helping us unclog the OEC queue,” De la Torre said after the meeting, where they also discussed the mechanics of using the Octopus system.
“But we still need to develop a transaction app. They (Octopus HK) will only do the payment app,” he said.
De la Torre said he had contacted former Hong Kong OFW and technology whiz Myrna Padilla for help in developing the transaction app, but her Mynd Consulting company is still busy developing an app for the US healthcare industry that will be launched in May.
“My timeline for that is around July, when she could be ready with the transaction app and then we’ll marry the two systems – the payment app and the transaction app itself,” he said.
He explained the transaction app is crucial to the system as the worker’s contract, personal and employer details would have to be input into the app.
Once that’s done, POLO will have to buy a mobile device worth around $4,000 each to be used by staff to process payments at mobile OEC sites on weekends.
He said he expects the Octopus OEC issuance system to be in place by the next peak season in December.
Meanwhile, all Metrobank branches, including a fifth that just opened in Tsuen Wan, will start processing OEC applications under a still informal agreement with POLO, De la Torre said.
He is confident both the Octopus and Metrobank deals would make the processing of OEC convenient for domestic workers who are allowed to take only one day off a week, and to ease the work load at the POLO counters especially on Sundays.
He is also encouraging OFWs to apply for OEC online using BM Online, the POEA’s online service, but many workers are still unaware of it or reluctant to use it. “Kung kayo ay marunong naman gumamit ng computer at internet, sana huwag na ninyong pahirapan ang inyong sarili. Pumunta na kyo sa www.bmonline.ph. Napakadaling kumuha. Hindi na dapat pumila,” he said in a speech he delivered at an event hosted by Luzon Alliance on Apr 3 on Chater Road in Central.

Comelec sends 4 new counting machines to HK

By Vir B. Lumicao

Consulate officials heaved a sigh of relief yesterday, Apr. 12, when four additional vote counting machines (VCM) arrived at the polling center in Kennedy Town yesterday.
One of the new machines will replace the one that conked out on the first day of voting for the 2016 Philippine national elections on Apr. 9, while the three spares will be on standby if the problem recurs.
Vice Consul Fatima Guzman, who was the day’s designated election officer, said the VCMs were locked up for security reasons at Bayanihan Centre where the voting is being held, pending the installation of the replacement unit for precinct 6.
The broken VCM was disabled and shipped back to Manila on Apr. 10.
In the last overseas election in 2013, three voting machines also broke down on the first day, but were immediately ordered replaced by then Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes.
With the problem over for the malfunctioning VCMs seemingly over, the only bug left in the month-long elections appears to be the recurring problem of missing names in the list of voters for Hong Kong.
A few of those who showed up were de-listed for failing to vote in two succeeding elections, while some insisted they were taken off the registry for no reason.
By noon yesterday, eight people were not able to vote because their names were not in the voters’ list.
At least one would-be voter, Maria Cristina Cruz, was upset to learn that she was not in the Comelec’s list, despite signing up during the overseas voting registration that ended on Oct. 31.
“I registered on Oct 27 last year but now they tell me my name is not on the list,” Cruz complained to Quintin, showing the strip of paper containing her registration number.
The Consulate’s secretariat immediately contacted Comelec in Manila, but were told that Cruz was not registered.
An even bigger number appears to have encountered the same problem on the first Sunday of voting on Apr. 10, when more than 4,000 people turned up to cast their ballots.
Those who have proof that they did register are usually told that their cases would be appealed to Comelec, but those who did not keep their registration slip had no recourse.
On Day Four of the election, a total of 488 enthusiastic voters showed up at Bayanihan to pick their next president and vice-president, 12 senators and one partylist representative.
The figure brought to 5,603 the number of Filipinos who have cast their ballots since April 9.
Comelec says it is expecting a turnout of 80% in the overseas ballot, as the election is a hotly contested one, with the four top contenders running neck-and-neck in surveys.

Sikap Inter Team Tennis Tournament

Sikap held its Inter Team Tennis Tournament on April 10 at the Hong Kong Tennis Centre.
At right, members of team champion Red Team and runner up White Team pose with the tournament sponsors.
In photo below, Ladies Doubles champions Lilia Miguel (left) and Liza Marco ( right) with tournament sponsor Irine Buenavista (center), who won the Beginners category.

Overseas Filipinos start voting

The first day of the month-long overseas absentee voting (OAV) started out slow on April 9 since most of the migrant Filipinos were at work, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the first post that started the voting was in Wellington, New Zealand which is four hours ahead of the Philippines.
There are 1,376,067 million Filipinos who registered as OAV worldwide. This is double the 737,000 voters in the 2013 elections.
The Comelec is targeting to also double this year the 16.11 percent voter turn-out for OAV in 2013.
“This is one of the areas by which we will measure the success of the elections,” Bautista said.
At least 85 Philippine posts are open to Filipino voters abroad, but only 30 posts have automated voting. The others have manual elections, either through postal or personal voting.
Figures from the Comelec show that 593,772 of the OAV are in the Middle East and Africa; 344,848 in Asia-Pacific; 275,729 in North and Latin America; and 161,718 in Europe. A total of 49,360 of them are seafarers while 1,323,641 are land-based.

56-M ballots ready for May 9 polls

The National Printing Office (NPO) has printed two weeks ahead of schedule all the 56.7 million official and testing ballots for the upcoming elections, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista.
“We are very pleased to announce that the printing of ballots has already been completed despite encountering delays,” Bautista said on April 10 at a press briefing.
Of the 56,772,230 printed ballots, 54.3 million are official ballots while the rest are intended for demonstration and for the final testing and sealing activities. Bautista said this was the most number of ballots ever printed in Philippine electoral history.
The NPO printed ahead the ballots for the 1.38 million overseas absentee voters who started the month-long balloting on April 9.
A total of 1,376,067 Filipinos have registered for the OAV, where voters can pick candidates for national positions—president, vice president and senators, as well as party-list groups.
NPO started printing the ballots on February 18 and finished on April 7, or 18 days ahead of the target completion date
“This was made possible because the 2016 (ballot) was reformatted and is shorter by about five inches compared to the 2010 and 2013 automated ballots,” the Comelec chair said.
During the first ever automated Philippine elections in 2010, it took 81 days to print 50 million ballots and in 2013, 57 days to print 52 million ballots.
The 2016 ballots are shorter at 20 x 8.5 inches, compared to those used in the 2010 elections, which were 27 x 8.5 inches because there were 10 candidates for president, eight for vice president, and 187 for party-list that time. This year, there are five candidates for president, six for vice president and 117 for party-list.
Bautista said printed official ballots undergo a verification procedure using the actual vote counting machines (VCMs) to ensure that the machines will read and count the ballots accurately.
As of April 8, 77.3 percent of the printed ballots have been verified. The Comelec is expecting all ballots to be verified by April 25. Around 300 people are manually verifying the ballots through the VCMs “to make sure that they will be accepted, Bautista said.

Religious advice voters: choose wisely

Religious leaders in the Philippines have issued pieces of advice to voters amid the swirl of propaganda and misinformation being spread by the camps of various presidential aspirants in the May 9 elections.
Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s  Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, said voters should choose candidates “with strong moral values” and who can defend life, promote human dignity, and prosecute lawless elements.
“We are the ones who will benefit from the people whom we voted. And we are the ones who will also be affected from whoever we elected to government posts,” he said
Voters should choose candidates “with strong moral values” and who can defend life, promote human dignity, and prosecute lawless elements, he added.
He particularly pushed for candidates based on their “4 Ps”— program, protection, promotion, and prosecution.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, head of the CBCP, urged voters to “be careful” and choose candidates according to their conscience.
“Be free from the tyranny and pressure of trends and herds. Do it right! Choose what is right according to the Ten Commandments,” he said.
He urged voters to assess the worthiness of the candidates seeking national and local positions in the light of the Ten Commandments.
The prelate said voters must be mindful of “our mistakes in the past” by not electing “thieves of government coffers, murderers of the opposition and billionaires from public funds.”
“More than intelligence, we need God-fearing leaders who are also bravely and stubbornly loyal to the flag and to the people,” the bishop added.
“The great need of our time is leadership with vision. We need inspired and inspiring leaders who can rally the nation beyond the horizon of our dreams,” he said.
Villegas also said the country’s next president and national leaders should “act and live honorably” and to be “excellent role models for the youth and prime examples for all public servants.”
Redemptorist Fr. Amado Picardal, executive secretary of the bishops’ Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities, said the Philippines’ next leaders should take a cue from Pope Francis’ leadership by taking a “merciful” approach to good governance, he said.
“Since this year has been declared by Pope Francis as the Year of Mercy, it would be appropriate to emphasize ‘mercy’ as one of the chief qualities that we have to expect from the politicians we should vote for,” he said.
The priest warned that when elected leaders lack mercy, the people will end up in a society where “terror reigns” and human rights are violated, where due process and the rule of law are ignored.
“It will be a repressive society – without freedom and where people are afraid to criticize the powers that be – otherwise they too could be assassinated,” Picardal said.
The CBCP has adopted a policy of not endorsing a particular candidate for any position but will be issuing specific guidelines for voters in exercising their sacred right to vote.
“Let us now use our hands in choosing and voting for true and a moral person,” said Santos in a pastoral statement.

Top pols grace Luzon Alliance event

The Luzon Alliance International held its yearly search for Mutya ng Luzon ang Ginang Luzon on Apr 3, with special guests from Manila dropping by to lend glitter to the event.
No less than the administration’s presidential candidate Mar Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo took to the stage to greet the crowd, which was dominated by their yellow-clad supporters.
Roxas’ wife, Korina, was an added attraction. She delivered a speech but was unable to crown the beauty contest winners as expected due to time constraints.
Another guest was Martin Joseph Marcos, who dropped by to campaign for his father, vice presidential candidate “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
The event started with a parade led by the 25 organizations under TLAI, an affiliate of Global Alliance Hong Kong. Taking part in the parade were the candidates who showed up in their festival attire showcasing their native provinces.
Crowned as Mutya ng Luzon was Manilyn Salapare from INAHK. First runner up was Aubrey Mayormita from BLUHKA; 2nd runner-up was Liz Cabreto from Balaoan Association; 3rd runner-up was Melona Rosales from UMELA; and 4th runner-up was Fatima Cabantog from Sinait Association.
A lively and colorful street dancing by participating groups followed the parade.
TLAI was founded in 2010 and is headed by Virgie Buen as president, while Global Alliance is chaired by Leo Selomenio.

PCG holidays

The Philippine Consulate will be closed on May 1, 2 and 9 in observance of Hong Kong and Philippine holidays. There will be no official business transactions including OEC issuance on said dates.

The Overseas Voting is now underway at the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town
Schedule:
Monday to Saturday: 9am -- 5pm; Sunday, 8am – 5pm
Ends May 9 (Voting is from 8am—5pm)
Please bring any of the following: HKID, Philippine passport, OR Voter’s ID

Kapangyawan Friendship Festival 2016 ‘Sayaw Pinoy’ Auditions
Auditions will be held on the following dates at the Philippine Consulate General for cultural groups that have signed up for the “Sayaw Pinoy” performance in the Kapangyawan Friendship Festival 2016 as part of the Philippine Independence Day celebrations on June 12.
May 8 (Sunday), 5pm to 7pm – Cordillera and Maria Clara Suites
May 15 (Sunday), 5pm to 6:30pm – Muslim and Rural Suites
Venue: PCG Conference Room
Groups are required to bring USB drive with their musical piece in MP3 format
For more information, please contact the PCG Cultural Section via email: cultural_hk@yahoo.com with the subject line: SayawPinoy