Malungkot na balita

Mangiyak-ngiyak si Norma sa balitang hatid ng kanyang amo. Hindi niya inaasahan na sa pagtatapos ng kanyang kontrata ay sasabihan siyang kailangan niyang humanap ng bagong amo. Na promote daw kasi ang kanyang amo at kailangan na nilang lumipat sa ibang bansa kung saan ito made-destino. Laking gulat ni Norma dahil ito pala ang dahilan kung bakit tila aligaga ang mag-asawang amo niya kamakailan, at tila nagsesenyasan. Maya-maya ay lumabas ang kanyang among lalaki dala ang kanilang kontrata, at naisip ni Norma na malamang na pipirma na sila ng para sa pangatlong kontrata nila. Kampante kasi siyang hindi siya papalitan ng mga ito dahil maayos ang kanilang samahan. Dahil sa balitang natanggap ay natulala si Norma, lalo at sinabi sa kanya ng mga amo dati na wala silang balak na umalis sa Hong Kong hanggang lumaki ang kanilang anak. Ngayon ay namomoroblema si Norma dahil sa July na ang tapos ng kontrata nila, at ito rin ang takdang pag alis ng kanyang mga amo. Baka raw kasi magahol siya sa panahon para maghanap ng bagong amo. Gayunpaman, nag-umpisa na rin siyang humanap ng malilipatan. –Jo Campos

Ubos biyaya kaya walang naipon

Tuwing uuwi si Irma sa Pilipinas para magbakasyon ay halos isang taon niya itong pinaghahandaan. Mahilig kasi siyang magplano ng mga lakad, at talaga namang hindi mabubuo ang kanyang bakasyon kapag walang outing ang kanyang pamilya. Sa pinakahuli niyang pagbabakasyon ay sa Boracay niya napiling isama ang asawa at mga anak. Bukod pa dito ang kanilang shopping kahit may isang kahon ng pasalubong na siyang ipinadala. Laging bukambibig niya sa mga kaibigan na bakasyon grande siya kapag umuuwi. Bago ang takdang uwi ay lagi siyang namimili ng pasalubong kada day-off at unti-unti niyang iniipon ang mga ito para ilagay sa dalawang door-to-door boxes na ipapadala niya, Ilang buwan pa bago siya tumulak pauwi ay puno ng ang dalawang kahon, kaya kinailangan pa niyang magbayad para sa excess baggage sa eroplano. Tumanggi na rin siyang bitbitin ang mga padala ng kababayan. Para masigurong bongga ang kanyang pag-uwi ay nangutang pa si Irma sa isang ahensiya ng pautangan. Hindi bale na raw ang pagbabayad pagkatapos, ang mahalaga ay masaya at bongga ang bakasyon niya. Hindi niya alintana ang payo ng mga kaibigan na hindi ito praktikal dahil malaki ang mababawas sa kanyang kita buwan-buwan para mabayaran ang utang. Matapos ang isang buwan na bonggang bakasyon ay balik Hong Kong na ulit si Irma, at ngayon lang niya napilitang harapin ang katotohanan. Sa dami ng utang niya, halos wala nang natitira sa suweldo niya para ipadala sa pamilya. Gayunpaman, hindi daw niya magawang talikuran ang nakasanayan dahil lagi na itong inaasahan ng kanyang pamilya.
Nakakalungkot lang na sa anim na taong pagtatrabaho niya sa Hong Kong ay wala siyang naipon, bagkus ay baon pa sa utang.– Jo Campos

Dream come true

Naging idolo ni Jelly sina Sir Chief o Richard Yap at Judy Sta. Maria mula nang masubaybayan niya ang pagganap nila sa telerseryeng “Be Careful with My Heart”. Sa pamamagitan ng FB group ay patuloy pa rin ang ugnayan ng mga fan na katulad ni Jelly kahit matagal nang natapos ang nasabing teleserye. Ito ang nagsisilbing mata at boses ng katulad niyang tagahanga para malaman kung ano ang kasalukuyang pinagkakaabalahan ng kanilang idolo. Kamakailan ay umuwi sa Maynila si Jelly upang magpa-medical check-up. Nagkataong nakatanggap ang kanilang grupo ng paanyaya bilang studio audience dahil magiging panauhin si Sir Chief sa programang “Tonight with Boy Abunda”. Hindi pinalampas ni Jelly ang pagkakataon na makita ng personal ang kanyang idolo kaya kahit hindi niya kabisado ang pasikot-sikot sa Maynila ay lakas-loob siyang pumunta. Balak niyang sumakay ng taxi pero sobrang haba ng pila kaya napilitan siyang makipaggitgitan sa loob ng MRT. Pagdating sa studio ay napawi ang lahat ng pagod niya nang kawayan siya ng kanyang idolo habang inaayusan bago sumalang sa set, at nagkaroon din siya ng tsansa na magpa-picture kasama si Sir Chief. Halos hatinggabi na siya nakauwi at kahit hindi naghapunan ay hindi siya nakaramdam ng gutom. Tama na sa kanya na matupad ang kanyang pangarap; ang makita si Sir Chief at maging studio audience. Si Jelly, 39, ay 16 na taon na dito sa HK.---Gina N. Ordona    

Prison inmate earns degree

Graduation. Mario delos Reyes, Stanley Prison inmate No. 115203, is flanked by Consul General Bernie Catalla and Fr. Rodolfo Jacobe at the Certificate Presentation Ceremony 2015 on Jan 6. Delos Reyes, who is serving a life sentence for murder, was awarded a certificate for finishing a Master's degree in Business English. Three other Filipinos jailed for life in Stanley for trafficking in dangerous drugs also received certificates in Business English, according to Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr., (left), ATN officer who has been visiting the four regularly.

Sol Pillas given last rites

Militant groups gave Sol Pillas, secretary general of Migrante International, a final send-off at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral in Ermita, Manila, on April 26
Sol died after being comatose for seven months as a result of a stroke she suffered while attending a congressional hearing at the Batasang Pambansa in September last year.
The hearing was about the case of Maryjane Veloso, who had been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking,  and proposals of the Bureau of Customs to open door-to-door boxes arrivihhng in the Philippines to search for smuggled goods.
She died last April 21.
“We grieve with her family, friends and Filipino migrant workers all over the world who she served until her last breath,” Migrante Interna-tional said.
Sol spent 25 years in Hong Kong as an OFW, and became one of Migrante’s leaders.

Migrante leaders led by Migrante Partylist No. 3 candidate Caridad Bachiller (4th from left) bid farewell to Migrante International secretary general Sol Pillas.

SUN fan in Stanley asks for copy

Kumusta po kayo? It has been a long time since I had gotten in touch dahil bihira na kaming makabasa ng The SUN kung hindi magdala ang mga taga Konsulado. This has something to do with the ever-changing policy here in jail.
Before I go further, let me express my gratitude for the song that Kuya Nicky (Flores) sang which you dedicated to me, during their annual visit for our Christmas entertainment here in prison. I shed tears of gratitude because you remembered me on this festive occasion.
It has been six years since the authorities here banned community newspapers, except for The SUN. However, for the past couple of years, minsan hindi pinapayagan ang The SUN na mai-hand in at kung minsan ay pinapayagan, depending on who is in the visit reception centre siguro. Kaya yung ibang dumadalaw sa amin ay kung minsan nagsasawa na sa pagdala dahil kalimitan ay ayaw tanggapin.
I am always arguing with the guards to please accept it. Sometimes I can persuade them and sometimes, it leads to bitter exchange of words. I always ask the Consulate staff to bring one during their quarterly visit pero minsan ay nakakalimutan nila.
Ang huli ko pang nabasa na issue ay iyong December na punong-puno ng mga balita sa nangyayari, kabilang ng tungkol sa laglag bala sa airport, sa mga politico at iba pang balita.
I really missed the many reports, including those on the OFWs who get into trouble with the law. Anyway, isang taon pa siguro muna bago ako makalabas and by that time, I will not miss a single issue.
Enclosed is my write-up on the recent visit by the acting justice secretary. Ma’am, please kindly mail me a copy if this article is printed para siguradong matanggap ko. Kasi pag sa mail ay hindi sila makatanggi na hindi ibigay sa amin.
Till here and may The SUN’s popularity continue to soar until it becomes a weekly. God bless po.
Mario de los Reyes
Stanley Prison
(We have promised to mail Mr. Mario de los Reyes every issue of The SUN so he will never miss reading it again.
– Ed)

Section Juan clarifies role in ‘Heneral Luna’
I am writing to clarify what had been inaccurately reported in the film review “A Look at Heneral Luna” which was published in the Balitang Artista section of The Sun’s April 2016 main edition. In the closing paragraph, the article stated: “The University of the Philippines Alumni Association Hong Kong chapter organised a screening of ‘Heneral Luna’ at the Consulate on March 5 and 6.”
While we appreciate the eloquence of the article, it is important for the general public to know that the screening at the Philippine Consulate on March 6 was organized by Section Juan, and not UPAA-HK, which was held a day prior.
Jan Yumul
President and Founder
Section Juan
(We regret the inadvertence – Ed)

Queen bowler Bong Coo inspires FBC charity event

FBC members pose with world bowling champion Bong Coo and Labor Attache Jolly dela Torre at the charity tournament of the group on April 24 at Dragon Bowling in Oi Man Plaza, Ho Man Tin.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Pin Bombers downed 2794 pins to top Class A event in the Filipino Bowling Club of Hong Kong’s 5th Charity Tournament on Apr 24 graced by Filipina four-time World Champion Olivia “Bong” Coo.
The tournament at the Dragon Bowling in Oi Man Plaza in Ho Man Tin was preceded by a seminar on tenpin bowling conducted at Football Club on Apr 23 by Coo, regarded as the queen of Asian Bowling.

Bong Coo holds
a bowling clinic.

Individual honors went to Miko Cabazor, who won the men’s high series with a score of 658 pinfalls, while the women’s high series was dominated by Emy Clarke took the women’s high series title by downing 521 pins.
FBC founder and chairwoman Jenny Gafate, an OFW and champion bowler herself, told The SUN the tournament was held to support the scholarship program of Wimler Foundation Philippines, which will send two poor but bright students to high school this year.
“FBC has been organizing the charity tournament for the past five years and have supported several students,” Gafate said.“In FBC, we always say we don’t play bowling for the scores, but we play bowling for a cause.”
In individual games, Cabazor scuttled 658 pins to hold off No 2 Ming Wong, who dropped 617 pins, and surging above the rest of the pack.
Joining them in the Top 3 was Benray Francisco, who racked up a score of 598 pinfalls.
Clarke, the current FBC president, trumped her closest rival, Racquel Salas, who settled for 482 pinfalls. Iris Cheung came in third with 469 pinfalls.
In team competition, The Warriors toppled 1892 pins to lead Class B after a duel with Wimler, which scored 1705.
Gafate was visibly absent from the lanes because she was running the tournament as its organizer. “No one could do the task of handling the event,” she said.
She distributed trophies and medals to the participants, and attended to Coo, who, Gafate said, is coming back this year for another clinic.
Gafate said the clinic participants had learned a lot from Coo, as FBC prepares itself for its participation in the Melbourne Australia Bowling Tournament on Nov 19-20.

Migrant workers’ groups formulate OFW agenda

Migrant workers groups have compiled an agenda for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to serve as guide for voters and candidates in the upcoming elections, and for the next set of government leaders.
The Center for Migrant Advocacy-Philippines (CMA) and the Working Group on Migration of the Political Science Department of Ateneo de Manila University (WGM) put together four thematic agenda that correspond to the abbreviation OFWS for easy reference or recall.
These are: Onsite foreign service posts (related to issues of governance), Families, too (social costs of migration), Workers’ Rights (promotion of workers’ rights as human rights), and Sustainable jobs (job creation, with the end view of eliminating forced migration).
Each theme represents a desired improvement in institutional arrangements and carries with it a situationer and rationale and desired improvements and specific proposals. The agendas are written in narrative form to send the message that platforms should not be just a listing of must-haves, rather, a set of interrelated proposals that clarify the reforms that need to be established and the means by which these reforms can be achieved, according to the agenda briefer.
Organizers said the agenda was largely based on the 10-point migrant agenda of the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) developed in 2013 and the proceedings of the 2012 Roundtable discussions on "Migration and Development" organized jointly by CMA, Ateneo WGM and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Philippines.
Among the proposals under the first agenda is an increase in the budget for foreign service posts for the deployment of more personnel and provision of more assistance to OFWs on site.
It was noted that government saved P100 – P150 million in 2012 when it closed 10 foreign service posts but it meant higher personal costs for OFWs who had to travel farther to seek government assistance.
It said the proposal to establish a Department on Migration and Development separate from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) must be studied carefully and consulted with all stakeholders.
“While at first glance such a national government body is needed as it will consolidate all migrant-related services, there are a number of problems that could arise from its establishment. A separate Department could send the wrong message to the public that migration-for-work is to be promoted further as its establishment signals a level of "permanence," the agenda briefer said.
The proposal can also displace government employees in existing migration-related agencies. “In other words, caution should be taken in establishing a new department at could create new problems rather than solve existing ones,” it said.

Tanim na galit

Hindi pa natatapos ang botohan ay mayroon na kaming nakikitang resulta. Hindi ito resulta ng balota, na sa Mayo 9 pa bibilangin, kundi resulta ng botohang ito sa mga magkakaibigan. Ayon sa mga nakausap na namin, naging karaniwan na ang pagka-kaibigan sa Hong Kong na nasira ng away-pulitika.
Hindi natin masisisi ang mga nanlamig o nagtanim ng galit sa isa’t isa. Marami kasi sa kanilang mga dating kaibigan ang bigla na lang naging palaban kung hindi sila makumbinsi na si ganitong kandidato ang kanilang iboto. Ang mga dating palabati ay naging masungit. Ang mga dating magkakampi ay naging magkalaban.
Karaniwan na sa mga magkakaibigan ang asaran, kantiyawan at iba pa. May nag-aaway din pero nagbabalik-bati naman. Kung ganito ang pagkakaibigan nila, bakit sa panahon ng halalalang ito ay naging mas malalim ang sugat na kanilang iniwan? Dahil ba hindi na naging pabiro ang mga asaran, kundi insulto na? Dahil ba mas masasakit ang mga salitang binitawan sa isa’t isa?
Ewan kung saan galing ang ugaling ito. Ito ba ay turo sa kanila ng kanilang lider? Ito ba ay kailangan nilang ipakita upang matanggap sila sa kanilang grupo? O ito ba ay talaga lang nakabaon na sa kultura nating mga Pilipino?
Hindi kasi natin maitatanggi na sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, pulitika ang naging sanhi ng maraming maiinit na bakbakan hindi lang ng pananalita kundi ng mga armas. Libo libo na ang namatay dahil lang sa away-pulitika. Karamihan, maliliit na tao ang biktima. Pero mayroon ding mga naging biktima ng mga sakim sa kapangyarihan, at kilala natin bilang bayani, gaya ni Andres Bonifacio at Heneral Luna.
Sa paglipas ng panahon, ang pinagbuwisan nila ng buhay ay nakakalimutan ng sumunod na mga henerasyon, lalo na ng mga madaling nasilaw sa mga magagandang salita, pangako, slogan, at pabida ng mga kandidato.
Ang masakit nito, mahirap nang  maibalik  ang mga relasyong asira ng  away-halalan. At ang mas masakit pa, ni hindi alam ng ating mga ipinaglaban noon ang ating pinagdaanan.
Kesehodang ngumawa ka ngayon—hindi ka maririnig ng mga gumamit sa iyo bilang hagdan tungo sa kani-kanilang ambisyon.

Cultural savings

Is being disposed to save and being entrepreneurial generally not inherent among Filipinos as a people compared to say, the Chinese? Or does the acumen for business have nothing to do with race or location?
I believe it is more an “environmental” issue when comparing which types of people are more entrepreneurial.  While some children are born extroverts and with stronger personalities, those who are introverts and shy can still be strongly influenced by what they observe and experience during their childhood.  I think more Filipinos are starting to be entrepreneurial.
Education is a very big factor. Going to other countries for further education has opened the eyes of would-be entrepreneurs on what can be available.  It has given them more self-esteem and ability to see things from a different perspective.
Being under the Spaniards and the Americans didn’t help us to develop a more inquisitive mind and the desire to take risks which are characteristics of an entrepreneur.  Most were happy to be followers and employees of the rich Spaniards and American companies.  The more inquisitive and courageous Filipinos took advantage of their connections to put up their own empires.
In general, those who developed their business acumen through western ways, also learn to spend in western ways.  The development of credit cards came from the west.  It taught all of us the culture of “self-gratification.” We can enjoy life even if we have not yet earned the money.  We have the “Pay Later Plans.”
In the case of the Chinese “behavior”, in general, they don’t change lifestyle even as they increase their income.  At least the Chinese patriarchs and matriarchs behave this way.  It may be different for their western-educated children and grandchildren.
The Chinese know because they see and experience how small money having high velocity (meaning more money contributors and used more often) is better than big money, which comes uncertainly from time to unpredictable time.
Then again, we have the likes of Warren Buffet who is one of the richest men in the world and who certainly has the capability to earn so much more billions in the future because of his business acumen.  It is reported that until now Warren Buffet lives in his original bungalow house, drives an ordinary car and does not have drivers or bodyguards.  We may not agree with his style but we have to agree that he is indeed a special man of principle.  He is happy with what he has and is the best example of the saying “The richest man in the world is not the one who has most but is the one who needs the least.”  He already is in the category of those having the most and he still needs the least!  He is indeed the richest man ever.
Francisco J. Colayco is an entrepreneur, a venture developer and financial advisor.  He is the founder of Colayco Financial Education and the Kapatiran sa Kasaganaan Service and Multipurpose Cooperative which have developed businesses in Banking and Finance, Real Estate, Food, Agriculture and others.  He is the Author of Seven Bestsellers in the Pera Palaguin Series, the latest of which is now available in bookstores:  “Wealth Reached. Money Worked. Pera Mo, Pinalago Mo!”
Find his works and catch him on TV and radio.  Check out: www.colaycofinancialeducation.com, www.franciscocolayco.com, www.kskcoop.com, FaceBook and Instagram.

Bias

It’s a word that keeps popping up on social media nowadays. Often, it is wrongly used – as an adjective, instead of as a noun – but more annoying is how it has been tagged to just about any person, group or media entity that does not heap praises on Rody Duterte.
In fact, all one has to do sometimes is to give attention to a rival candidate, before being  besieged by a horde of cyber bullies.
We experienced this ourselves recently, when we posted a collection of pictures from the Hong Kong visit by Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo. As we did not have our own photographers we thought of gathering remarkable pictures of the visit from various individuals. We posted them as an album on our Facebook page overnight, and the very next day, found ourselves the target of so many haters and bashers, many of whom used the vilest language possible.
“Bias”, bayaran were just some of the words dumped on us, along with a lot of cursing and even threats.
The few sensible ones we tried to engage, often with not much success, but the vile ones we just deleted or blocked. After the initial shock, we decided we would not let ourselves be bullied and intimidated on our own wall. Definitely, not by people who could not even figure out the difference between “bias” and “biased”.
At first, it stung to be called “bayaran” when in all of the 20 years that we have been in business no one dared ascribe this to us, as the community we serve know that we have never kowtowed to anyone, no matter how powerful or rich they may be.
But a quick check on the comments pages of other media entities showed it was nothing extraordinary. Every single article that did not put Duterte in the best light possible provoked the same angry response from netizens, many of whom are hiding behind assumed names or are trolls that are unleashed to attack perceived enemies.
Lost in all these was the fact that we were the only community newspaper to have published in two successive issues, an exclusive and unexpurgated interview, curses and all, with Duterte. We had actually sought the interview sometime in December, upon hearing that he and his running mate Alan Cayetano were in town to attend a fund-raising event attended by some rich local Chinese.
Also in December, our staff chanced upon Grace Poe wandering about Chater Road, and again got an exclusive interview.
In March, a known supporter of Roxas and Robredo flew into town to campaign, and we again covered the visit. The article that came out of that sortie did not reflect well on Roxas, but we decided to print it anyway.
Curiously, not one of these articles resulted in the swift and rabid pounding we got from posting mere pictures of the Roxas and Robredo visit.
The only chance we had of actually writing an article on the administration candidates was early this month, when Filipinos in Hong Kong got the rare privilege of having two prominent politicians come over to mingle with, and listen to them. The occasion was so news worthy that the two biggest English language publications in Hong Kong sent reporters to trail them around.
No journalist worth his or her salt would have missed such a rare chance for a write-up, but Duterte’s supporters were just concerned about one thing: that we did not give the same focus on a girly group that came on the same day in support of their candidate.
To set the record straight, a senior member of our team went and tried to cover the girly show and ask for an interview with the organizers, but was rebuffed, and escorted out of the venue.
Again, no self-respecting journalist who got that kind of a treatment should insist on writing an article, especially on an event so insignificant, so we decided to drop it.
But to this very day, we get pilloried by people whipped into angered frenzy by those who want to bring us down because we dared to stand up against their bullying and intimidation.
If at all, the scare tactics made us realize we should stick to what we have always believed in, that is, to speak up and even take sides when need be.
We will not be cowed.

Meeting the justice secretary up-close

Mario de los Reyes

By Mario de los Reyes
(First of two parts)

The unprecedented visit to prison by the acting secretary of justice Emmanuel L. Caparas got the adrenaline flowing, and raised hopes anew for applicants in this continuing transfer saga.
Getting the secretary to meet us all the way from Manila for the sole purpose of giving light to our many unanswered inquiries with regard to the moribund issue of prison transfer is quite a coup. Thanks to our unassuming Consul General, Bernardita Catalla, for making this possible. How I wish she had been posted here much earlier.
I may not be able to avail of this transfer anymore if it comes to fruition, but self satisfaction will surely warm the heart of so many who lend their support in pursuing this elusive issue. Much gratitude to Fr. Jun Jacobe as well, for initiating a signature campaign that reached those in the corridors of power, and served as a catalyst for them to take action.
Upon arriving at the prison’s main gate the secretary was met by the chief superintendent of Stanley Prison, together with his aides, and was accorded all the respect and protocol befitting his office. He was taken on a brief tour of the prison facilities and I am pretty sure that he was impressed by how well inmates in the city are humanely treated. But what he saw could maybe cause him to think twice about implementing the transfer considering the state of our penal institutions back home.
While waiting for the allotted time for his meeting with us, various thoughts were playing in my mind concerning the purpose of his visit. Foremost among these is if the visit had anything to do with the forthcoming elections back home.
Everyone knows that whoever is in office during an election is always at an advantage for they have full access to the resources of various government machineries to conduct a well-oiled election campaign. Bearing in mind that the election period was well underway, I could not help but wonder if the visit was a publicity stunt to help prop up the chances of the administration bet who according to news reports is lagging well behind in various opinion polls.
In the latter part of our meeting with the secretary, I posed the question of his visit’s timing, and for speaking my mind I got a mild reprimand in the form of a tactfully worded reply: “I did not come here for politicking”.
It is worthwhile to note that the Arroyo administration grudgingly signed the implementation of procedure in her last days in office, after years of neglect. It seems to me that passing the buck to the incoming government is an ongoing pattern.
From the very outset the TSPA had been fraught with problems. The agreement was in force without an implementation procedure in place, showing a lack of wisdom and attention to details by the drafters. Worse was the false hope given us that a transfer was imminent. That so battered our morale that serving our sentences had become even more difficult.
The secretary was with the Consulate’s assistance to nationals’ staff when we entered the designated meeting place and after the usual pleasantries we got on with the discussions. We opened the conversation by asking the oft-repeated question of why, after so many years of it being enforced, the transfer was not being implemented? Taking into account that all the our documents were in place and the transferring party had no objection to our application, and in fact was even helping us in urging our government to carry out the repatriation, why was it still stalled?

---
One of our most erudite contributors has sent us this article, which was again painstakingly handwritten in his beautiful cursive style. Mario de los Reyes, who has been in Stanley Prison for more than 20 years, writes here of his impressions from the recent visit to inmates by the Philippines’ acting justice secretary, Emmanuel Caparas. Though wary of the visit, Mario is still hoping it could finally pave the way for the much-delayed implementation of the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners Agreement between the Philippines and Hong Kong, something he has been fighting for in the last couple of years. Elsewhere in the issue, readers will find a picture of Mario, together with Consul General Bernardita Catalla and a prison chaplain, during an awarding ceremony in Stanley on Jan. 6. –Ed

Iyak ng tagumpay: A success story from Canada

Bhing Valin

By Bhing A. Valin

Part 2
Madali lang dumating ang karma kay Resti. Dumating sa Canada ang dalawa niyang aplikante sa tulong ng iba, at agad siyang pinaghanap. Isang taon pa lang siya sa mga amo niya sa Langley BC nang mapilitan siyang magbitiw kahit ayon sa kaniya ay malaki ang sahod niya . Alam daw kasi ng dalawa niyang biktima ang address na iyon.
Ang pangalawang karma niya ay nang mabuntisan siya ng isang Amerikano na nakilala niya sa isang dating website. Dahil buntis siya ay wala siyang makuhang amo, at dahil naman dito ay wala siyang work permit at medical insurance. Napakamahal pa naman ang manganak sa Canada ng walang insurance. Umaabot sa C$6,000 ang bawat araw na pagtigil sa ospital, at iyan ay para sa normal delivery lang.
Dating gawi, nagbayad siya ng C$5,000 sa isang  Pinay na pumirma ng kanyang kontrata.  Buwan-buwan ay ini-issuehan siya kunwari ng paycheck, kaya dapat siyang magbayad ng tax. Ang masaklap, tinerminate pala siya ng amo ng walang abiso. Walong buwan na siyang overstay nang malaman niya. Nagtago siya ngunit kusang sumuko pagkatapos ng mahigit apat na taon. Pumayag siyang umuwi kasama ang anak, at sinabihan na maaari lang siyang mag-apply na bumalik ng Canada pagkatapos ng limang taon.
Natuklasan ko din na maraming Pinoy dito ang kumukuha ng kamag-anak sa Pilipinas para maging caregiver nila, ngunit pinapagtrabaho sa iba. Mga part-time ng linis o baby-sitting ang karaniwan nilang ginagawa, at cash silang binabayaran.
Ngunit  si Becky, 43, at Ilokana, ay iba ang agenda. Kinuha niya ang kapatid na teacher para mag-alaga ng apat niyang anak. Kumukubra si Becky ng assistance sa gobyerno dahil aniya ay hindi niya kayang alagaan ang apat na anak. Tumatanggap siya ng tulong na pera, kasama ang pambayad sa kapatid, ngunit hindi niya ito binabayaran. Habang hirap na hirap ang kapatid sa pag-aalaga ng mga anak niya, siya naman ay panay ang pagtatrabaho sa iba. Nang muling manganak si Becky ay umalma na ang kanyang kapatid, at isinuplong siya sa Immigration.Napilitan siyang magbayad  dito.
Sina Ikay at Rowena naman na isang Ilokana  at isang Bisaya na parehong galing sa Hong Kong ay parehong dinala sa Canada ng hipag nilang nurse pero sa iba nagtatrabaho. Pagkatapos ng isang taon, ire-release sila kunwari para makahanap ng ibang amo. Hindi naman nagtagal ay natuklasan ng Immigration ang sistemang ganito at gumawa agad sila ng hakbang para matigil ito.
Ang isa pang kalokohan ng mga agency na pag-aari ng mga Pinoy ay ang maglagay ng pangalan ng mga taga Canada na kunwari ay amo ng mga aplikante nila. Nabisto ito ng Immigration nang magreklamo ang isang Ms. Chan dahil may dumating sa kanyang LMO gayong hindi naman siya kumukuha ng caregiver.
Naging istrikto ang Immigration simula noon. Masusi na nilang sinusuri kung totoo bang may pangangailangan para sa isang caregiver, at kung lehitimong amo ang kumukuha dito. Maging sa mga kumukuha ng mga kapamilya, dapat ay  totoong sa kanila ito nagsisilbi.
Pag-aari din ng isang Pinay na may agency  ang isang apartment  na ni-raid ng Immigration noon dahil isinumbong ng mga iba’t-ibang trabahador na kinuha nila bilang caregiver, food server, janitor, at iba-ibang trabaho. Pinangakuan daw sila ng mga trabaho pero hindi ito ginawa. Pinagbayad sila ng mula C$5,000 hanggang C$10,000 at dahil pawang walang mga trabaho ay sa lapag lang sa salas ng apartment sila natutulog.
Tulad sa Hong Kong  may mga nagpapautang din dito na ang patong ay 10% buwan buwan. Mga Pinoy din ang may pakana nito. Kasama sa kanilang mga naging biktima si May na nag-guarantor sa kanyang kapitbahay na si Flor na umutang ng C$ 10,000 sapagkat sinisingil na daw siya   ng pinagkakautangan sa  Pilipinas. Nang hindi makaya ni Flor na bayaran ang utang dahil sa malaking interes ay pareho sila tinatawag-tawagan.
May mga mapagsamantala din, iyong mga kakaibiganin ka at saka uutangan. Dahil dito ay natuto akong maging mapili sa kaibigan. Tulad sa Hong Kong noon, iisa lang ang close friend ko at tiniyak ko yon na hindi siya mapagsamantala.

Maligayang araw ang pagdating ng anak.

Iniwasan  ko ang makipaghuntahan . Isinubsob ko ang sarili ko sa paghahanap-buhay araw at gabi at pag-iipon. Panay ang overtime. Alam kong darating ang araw na kakailanganin ko ang malaking pera para sa pagsasaayos ng papeles naming mag-anak. Ayokong matulad sa ibang naririnig ko na kung saan-saan nangungutang para pambayad sa Immigration. Sa tulad ko na may apat na anak  na nasa kolehiyo at pribadong high school, hindi ko aaksayahin ang oras ko sa pakikipaghuntahan sa iba.
Nakaipon ako ng sapat na halaga para mabayaran ko ang C$2,200 na processing fee para sa aking permanent residency status at open-work permit. Madami pang iba’t-ibang bayarin akong pinagdaanan. Nandiyan ang police clearance mula sa kung saang bansa ka nanggaling sa loob ng 10 taon, mga fingerprinting bago ka makapag-apply  sa mga yon, at pati para sa mga ID picture na noon ay halagang C$20 para sa dalawang kopya lang. Sa Pilipinas naman, kailangang magbayad para sa pasaporte ng mga kapamilya, mga transcript of records nila sa eskuwela, certificate of no marriage (CNM) para sa lahat ng mga anak, NBI clearance at marami pang iba.
Dahil sa hindi matapos-tapos na gastusin, talagang maiiyak ka. Pero itutuloy mo lang ang lahat dahil ang mas mahalaga ay kumikita ka, at makakasama mo pa ang pamilya mo.
Anim na buwan  ang hinintay ko bago ko natanggap ang aking Open Work Permit. Ito ang pinakakaaantay kong permiso para makapag-trabaho ng kahit na ano maliban sa pagiging  caregiver. Ngunit batid ko na hanggat hindi ako naging ganap na permanent resident ay hindi ako maaring  umalis sa pagiging caregiver. Maari lang akong  magdagdag ng amo o  kumuha ng ibang trabaho.
Kumuha ako ng kontrata para sa janitorial services at hinawakan ko ang isang branch ng Vancouver Film School. Doon, bagamat mahirap at nakakapagod ang trabaho, ay kumita ako na malaki-laking dagdag sa aking ipon. Bilang paghahanda sa pagdating ng pamilya ko ay naisip kong mag-ipon para pang down payment sa isang apartment at nang hindi na kami mangupahan.
Nasubukan ko nang tumira sa mga boarding house at alam kong marami kang hindi puwedeng gawin dahil hindi sa iyo ang bahay. Natutunan ko din na mahalaga  ang may mortgage para  makaipon ka ng pang-equity at nang sa gayon ay makabili ka ng mas malaking bahay.
Subalit hindi madali ang paghihintay, sinubok din ako at ang pamilya ko ng panahon. Na deny ang panganay ko ng visa dahil bagama’t nag-aaral siya at nasa tamang edad ay nakita sa kanyang transcript of records na huminto siya nang isang semester.   Sinubukan kong makiusap  ngunit sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay nabigo ako.
Bandang huli ay pumayag na lang ako, ayon na rin sa payo ng isang immigration consultant. Sinabi sa akin na pagkatapos kong makuha lahat yong tatlo niyang kapatid at ama nila ay puwede ko pa rin siyang makuha  bilang “the only relative left”.
Taong 2012 nang magpa-medical examination ang pamilya ko matapos ipinasumite  ng Immigration ang mga pasaporte nila. Masayang-masaya  ako sapagkat  abot-tanaw  na ang pagsasama naming mag-anak.
Sa kasamaang palad ay nadisgrasiya ng isa kong anak ang nobya niya, kaya may isang apo na nadagdag sa aking pamilya. Kinakailangan ko na namang ideklara ito ayon sa batas, bagamat sa umpisa ay nag-atubili ako dahil natatakot ako na muling mababalam ang pagdating nila. Sa kalaunan ay ginawa ko pa rin ang tama, dahil din marami akong naririnig na kaso ng mga kaanak na pinabalik sa Pilipinas dahil may mga nadagdag sa kanilang pamilya habang inaayos ang kanilang papeles, at hindi nila idineklara. Natakot ako na pagkatapos ng madaming sakripisyo at mga gastos ay pababalikin lang din sila.
Naging dahilan ito para maghintay na naman ako nang dalawang taon. Panibagong bayad para sa medical examination, at para sa mga bagong pasaporte dahil mag-e-expire na iyong mga dati nang nakasumite sa Embassy. Apat na beses din silang kumuha ng NBI clearance dahil madali itong mapaso, at dalawang beses para sa CNM at transcript of records.
Tuwing makakarinig ako na na-approve ang pamilya sa mga kasamahan kong caregivers na mas huli pang nag-apply ay naiiyak ako sa matinding inggit.
Sa loob ng panahong ito ng paghihintay, nakatapos ang panganay ko ng civil engineering, at pumasa agad sa board exam na may markang 86%. Dahil sa galit ko sa pagtatago niya na huminto siya pag-aaral na nagsanhi para hindi siya mabigyan ng visa sa Canada ay hindi ko siya pina-enrol sa review classes. Binigyan ko lang siya ng perang pambili ng mga libro, at mag-isa siyang nagrepaso.
Kaya ganoon na lang ang tuwa ko nang malaman na ang ginawa kong pagpapakita ng tough love ay nagbunga ng tama.
Para akong sira-ulo na nagsisigaw sa daan noon at ngisi nang ngisi sa mga kasalubong ko dahil sa natanggap kong balita. Hindi kasi biro ang sakripisyong ibinuhos ko sa pagpapaaral sa mga anak ko.
Iyon ang unang biyayang natanggap ko sa gitna ng kalungkutan ng mga nagdaang buwan.
Ang pangalawang  biyaya ay nang malaman kong tapos na ang pagproseso ng Immigration sa papeles ng pamilya ko, bandang Valentines Day ng 2014. Nasundan pa ito ng pangatlong malaking biyaya nang makatapos ang anak kong may anak na ng computer engineering, at Marso na ang graduation niya.
Sa sumunod na buwan, Abril, ay na-confirm naman na ganap na akong permanent resident. Abril din nang matapos ang transaksiyon ko sa pagbili sa  aming apartment na tutuluyan.
At sa petsang ito, Mayo 22, 2014, naganap ang pagsasama-sama naming mag-anak muli.
Hindi ko natupad ang pangako ko sa aking mga alagang sina Morgan at Evan na hindi ako iiyak dahil bumuhos talaga ang aking luha.
Pagkatapos ng 20 taon kong pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa at pagtitiis para mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang aking pamilya, ito ang tagumpay at biyayang tangi kong pinakahihintay.
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Ang may-akda ay isang residente sa Canada, na dumating doon bilang caregiver 10 taon na ang nakakaraan. Ito ang kuwento ng kanyang pagpapakasakit para maging ganap na residente, at madala doon ang kanyang pamilya. Bago tumulak patungong Canada, si Bhing A. Valin ay nagtrabaho sa Hong Kong ng 10 taon, at naging isa sa mga masisipag na manunulat para sa The SUN.

Global Alliance- Itinatatag ng pagkakaisa

Sumusumpa sa tungkulin ang mga opisyal ng bagong organisasyon.

Ni Jo Campos

Sa laki ng komunidad ng mga Pilipino dito sa Hong Kong, maraming organisasyon ang naitatag, nabuwag at patuloy na itinatatag. May mga organisasyon na binubuo lamang ng ilang mga kasapi, ang iba nama’y mga malalaking alyansa ng mga mula sa iba’t ibang probinsiya at rehiyon ng Pilipinas.
May iba’t ibang konsepto at adhikain din ang mga grupong kinabibilangan ng mga Pilipino dito sa Hong Kong, at sila ay aktibo sa kanilang mga gawain. May mga grupong mga patimpalak katulad ng pagandahan ang madalas na itinatanghal. Mayroon namang   palakasan ang tutok, o pulitika at pakikibaka para sa karapatan ng mga migranteng Pilipino. Ang ilan nama’y sa pangkultura at paglilingkod sa komunidad ng mga Pilipino at pagbibigay ng boluntaryong serbisyo sa Konsulado ang ginagawa.
Magkakaiba man ang kanilang adhikain, iisa ang kanilang layunin, ang magbigay ng kaalaman at makiisa sa grupo ng mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong.
Ang Global Alliance ay isa sa mga bagong tatag na grupo, bagamat ang mga lider nito ay beterano na sa larangan ng pag-oorganisa. Mayroon itong 34 na indibidwal na organisasyon at tatlong pederasyon: ang Luzon Alliance International, La Union Federation at Ilocos Norte Association of Hong Kong.
Sa ilalim ng bawa’t pederasyong nabanggit ay marami pang ibang grupo. Ang LAI ay may 25 kaalyadong organisasyon, ang Lufoh ay may 14, at ang InaHK ay may 10.
Itinatag ang Global Alliance noong Dis 25, 2015, at nakuha ang kanilang lisensiya sa ilalim ng Hong Kong Police Societies Ordinance noong Peb. 29 ng kasalukuyang taon.
Bago ito, tumiwalag ang 32 kaalyadong organisasyon ng Philippine Alliance at sumama sa GA. Ayon kay Leo Selomenio, chairperson ng GA, anomalya sa pamumuno at hindi pagkakasundo ng mga miyembro ang nagtulak upang ang karamihan ng kaalyadong grupo ay tumiwalag sa nasabing organisasyon.
Si Selomenio ay naging pangulo ng PhilAlliance sa loob ng tatlong taon at ang yumaong si Nazzer Ampang ang chairman nito. Lumala ang lamat sa loob ng grupo nang yumao si Ampang at nagkanya-kanya ang mga nakapailalim dito.
Ayon pa kay Selomenio, noon na nagpasya ang mga pinunong miyembro ng alyansa na bumuo ng isang bagong grupo na ang pangunahing layunin ay pagkakaisa.
“Ako lang daw ang tagapagtanggol nila at nakiusap sila, kaya binuo namin ang Global Alliance,” sabi ni Selomenio. “Masakit man na lisanin ang aming pinanggalingang grupo, pero mabuti nang naghiwa-hiwalay kami kesa magsama na hindi nagkakaunawaan. Maraming hinanakit at sama ng loob sa akin lalo na sa aking kasamahan na nagbuhos ng hirap para lang maitaguyod ang dating alyansa.” ang sabi ni Selomenion.
Dagdag pa niya: “Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, ang pagkakaisa pa rin ang nanaig sa mga miyembro upang bumuo ng isang alyansang magpapatuloy ng kanilang mga adhikain”. Ang Global Alliance na binubuo ng 15 mga pinuno nito ang naging kasagutan sa hiling na ito.
Sa pangunguna ni Selomenio bilang chairman, nakahanay agad ng pagkakaabalahan ang mga miyembro ng GA, kabilang ng pagsasawa ng malalaking kasiyahan sa Chater Road sa Central.
Kamakailan, nag-umpisa na rin silang tumulong sa pamamahagi ng OEC sa extension office ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office sa Worldwide Plaza sa Central. May ilan pa silang mga susunod na proyekto bilang ayuda sa bagong labor attache na si Jalilo de la Torre.
Sa kagustuhan na makatulong sa mga kapwa nila OFW na nangangailangan, nag desisyon ang GA na magkawanggawa para sa Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.
Handa din silang maghatid ng tulong sa iba pang mga kababayan na nangangailangan.
Bukod dito, nananatiling nakatutok ang GA sa kanilang adhikain na itaas ang dignidad at paigtingin ang pagkakaibigan at pakikisama ng mga OFW dito sa Hong Kong. Balak nila itong isagawa sa pamamagitan ng pagtaguyod ng kulturang Pilipino, gayundin ang pagbibigay ng kaalaman sa kapwa Pilipino tungkol sa reintegrasyon at pangkabuhayan.
Patunay ang lahat ng ito na ang galing o halaga ng isang organisasyon ay hindi nasusukat sa dami ng mga miyembro nito, o tagal ng pagsasama, kundi sa kung gaano katatag ang mga namumuno.

Ang talon sa Tai Tam Mound

Ni Marites Palma

Kapag sawa na sa mga dating tambayan, o pagod sa walang tigil na balitaktakan tungkol sa eleksyon, galugarin ang kabundukan ng Hong Kong, at hanapin ang mga naggagandahang talon na kadalasang makikita malapit  sa mga ilog at sapa. Sa mga kabundukang nadadamitan ng kulay berdeng mga punong kahoy ay matatagpuan ang mga dose-dosenang talon ng tubig na ang karamihan ay nakatago, at parang nang-aakit na hanapin sila.
Lingid sa kaalaman ng marami ay sadyang pinagkalooban ang Hong Kong ng mga natural na mga magagandang tanawin na paboritong galugarin ng mga mahilig mamundok at mag diskubre ng kakaibang lugar. Kahit gumugol pa sila ng ilang oras sa paglalakad sa mga matatarik na kabundukan ay hindi nila alintana, marating lang ang mga talon na ito na tunay na nakakawala ng pagod dahil sa angking ganda.
Kung baguhan sa pamumundok ay may paraan para hindi masyadong mapagod, basta alam mo lang mga lugar na malapit sa babaan ng bus.
Isa sa mga ito ang kilalang Taitam Mound Falls, na mararating mula sa pinakamalapit na bus stop matapos lang ng 15 minutong paglalakad. Hindi ito mahirap hanapin, at tunay na kaiga-igaya ang daan papunta dito.
Habang naglalakad papasok sa kakahuyan ay agad mararamdaman ang malamig na dampi ng preskong hangin, na sapat na upang mapakalma ang isip at puso. Sa daraanan ay makakakita  ng mga iba’t ibang kulay ng paru-paro, na maamo at hindi nangingiming dumapo sa mga naglalakad.
Kadalasang layunin ng mga nagpupunta sa talon ay ang makapaligo sa napakalinis na daluyan ng tubig, at nang maibsan ang init na nararamdaman dahil sa paglalakad, lalo na tuwing  panahon ng tag-init.
Isang paraan din ito upang maibsan ang kalungkutan ng mga taong hirap sumabay sa daloy ng buhay sa Hong Kong, at pati na ang mga OFW na nais makalimutan kahit saglit lamang ang bigat ng kalooban dala ng pagkahiwalay sa pamilya at iba pang mga mahal sa buhay.
Ang isa pang nakakaaliw sa pagpunta dito ay ang libreng fish spa na nakikita lamang sa mga mamahaling resort sa ibang lugar. Maraming maliliit na isda ang nakatira sa napakalamig at napakalinaw  na tubig dito, at gawi nila ang kumain ng mga tuyong balat sa paa. Oras na lumusong ka sa tubig ay sasalubungin ka kaagad ng mga isdang ito.
Swak na swak din ito sa mga mahilig magkainan dahil nagkalat ang mga barbecue pit sa lugar. Mahigpit lang na ipanapaalala ng gobyerno ng Hong Kong na huwag magkalat o magtapon ng mga pagkaing hindi naubos. Kung kinayang dalhin ay kakayanin din dapat bitbitin pabalik sa pinanggalingan.
Mula sa magandang lugar na ito ay matatanaw ang kabuuan ng Tai Tam Reservoir, na nagsisilbing imbakan ng tubig para sa mga residente ng Hong Kong island. Ito marahil ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang tanawin dito sa Hong Kong, dahil sama-samang nakikita ang mga bundok, dagat at kahuyan.
Paano ang pagpunta sa talon na ito sa mala-paraiso nitong kapaligiran? Simple lang. Sumakay ng MTR island line hanggang sa istasyon ng Sai Wan Ho, at lumabas sa exit A. Sa bungad ay makikita na agad ang bus stop kung saan maaring sumakay sa bus no 14 patungong Taitam Reservoir North. Ang madadaanang dam ang senyales na kailangan nang bumaba sa susunod na bus stop kung saan mayroong kulay asul na bilog na nakalagay sa poste ng hintayan. Aabot ng 20 minuto bago marating ang  tinutukoy na bus stop. Pagbaba sa bus ay magsimula ng maglakad, sa direksyong pasalubong sa mga sasakyan. Doblehin ang pag-iingat habang naglalakad sa daan dahil walang sidewalk at lubhang delikado sa paglalakad lalo na kung may mga parating na malalaking bus. Maglakad hanggang sa sign post na nagsasabing doon ang daanan papunta sa talon. Aabot  ng 12-15 minuto na lakad mula sa kalsada hanggang sa sapa na pinanggalingan ng tubig na bumabagsak sa mataas na talon.
Diretsuhin lamang ang paglalakad hanggang marating ang unang maliit na tulay na gawa sa kahoy. Pwedeng maglaro ng tubig sa sapa na ma mga malalaking bato, at maliliit na talon. Napakagandang magpakuha ng larawan sa bungad ng nabanggit na talon. Mawawala agad ang konting pagod sa oras na inilublob mo na ang iyong mga kamay at paa sa umaagos na malamig at malinis na tubig galing sa kabundukan. Maari ding magdala ng konting pagkain at doon magpicnic kasama ang mga kaibigan. Bungad pa lamang ay kitang kita na ang kagandahan ng pook na ito, kaya hindi malayong magpasalamat sa Poong Maykapal dahil sa kanyang mga likas na magagandang likha.
Mula sa unang tulay ay kailangan pang maglakad ng 50 metro hanggang sa makarating sa poste na may tatak na H067. Diretso pa rin ang lakad hanggang sa pangalawang tulay na gawa sa kahoy din. Dito ay kailangan munang lumiko pababa sa kaliwa bago makaakyat sa hagdanan. Limang minuto din ang gugulin sa paglalakad pababa.
Kung gusto na tunay na ma-relax ay maaring magtanggal ng sapatos para maramdaman ang mga nakausli at magaspang na mga malalaking bato. Medyo maputik nga lang ang mga ugat ng kahoy. Nakakagaan ng pakiramdam kapag nagyapak pababa, at ramdam na ramdan na ang tunog ng nahuhulog na tubig mula sa taas.  Pagdating sa talon ay siguradong walang puknat na kuhanan ng litrato ang agad aasikasuhin ng bawat isa.
Napakasarap sa pakiramdam na dadampi sa iyong pisngi ang talsik ng tubig na nanggaling sa taas. Napakagandang lumangoy sa parteng  malalim, ngunit ang dami ng tubig na nanggaling sa taas ay depende sa dami ng tubig ulan.
Kailangan ding tingnan muna ang weather forecast bago magtungo dito dahil nagkakaroon ng flash flood kung minsan kapag malakas ang bugso ng ulan.
Sa lagusan ng tubig ay may naglalakihan na namang bato na pwedeng gamitin na background para sa selfies at iba pang litratohan.
Ang tubig na nanggaling sa talon ay bumabagsak sa Taitam Reservoir. Kitang kita dito ang mga  maliliit na isda na malayang lumalangoy sa mga gilid gilid ng mga batong naglalakihan. Kapag nakuntento na sa pagkuha ng larawan at nakapaligo na ay bumalik lang sa dating dinaanan dahil doon din ang akyat pabalik.
Pagdating sa unang tulay kung saan umaagos ang tubig ay maaring maghugas, at pagkatapos ay magpatuyo ng paa bago isuot ang sapatos.
Kakaibang ngiti sa labi ang masisilayan sa mukha ng mga pabalik na mula sa pagbisita sa talon. Tanda ito ng pagkakaroon ng magaan na pakiramdam at magkakaroon ng planong mamumundok ulit sa ibang lugar at muling maghanap ng mas maganda pang talon dito sa Hong Kong.

The Fiery Cook

James Rice

By Jo Campos

You don’t need to be a real chef to whip up something amazing in the kitchen. All it takes is passion, plus a little boldness in experimenting with the ingredients at hand.
Our mothers surely did this with the dishes that make reliving our childhood a pleasurable experience. Nowadays cookbooks come in handy, but some of the best dishes around must have come from mothers who tested and re-tested recipes shared through generations.
Such was the experience of James Rice, an American lawyer and professor, and a fierce advocate of human rights in Hong Kong, who has been concocting several dishes of his own.
James’ cooking skills may not be as well known as his advocacy for the rights of the underprivileged like the migrant workers, but he does get a lot of compliments for dishes he basically cooks armed only with passion, and a sense of what goes well with what.
Recently, his wife Cris brought a large box of a delicious chicken and rice dish that he cooked to share with some friends for lunch, and it left everyone impressed.
James says he never really got the recipe for what he calls his Brazilian Chicken Rice from a cookbook or any published source.
 “One time when I was a kid, my parents and I were invited to a neighbor’s house for dinner. They served something like this dish, and I loved it. Years later, and after I had moved to Hong Kong, and was living in Discovery Bay,  Cris and I were sitting in the Plaza and thinking about this dish. I tried to reconstruct the recipe in my head.”
Obviously, he nailed it.
 James, who is fondly called “Manong” to Cris’ “Manang” by their Filipino friends, often takes to cooking to relieve stress from his daily work routine, which could be heavy. Apart from his teaching job at Lingnan University, he has worked extensively in support of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as migrant workers.
He has written several books on these concerns, including “Take Your Rights Seriously”, a guide for migrant workers on their rights in Hong Kong. (this book can now be freely downloaded as and app. “MyLaw411” on Apple Store or Google Store).

Jim’s Brazilian Chicken Rice

Ingredients:

1 medium chicken, cleaned and cut into pieces
4 sausages (Johnsonville Polish sausages), cut into thick slices
1 large tin plum tomatoes
1 cup rice
Ahandful of pitted green olives
1 medium onion, cut into slices
1 eggplant, cut into thick slices
1 cup chicken stock
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium chili pepper, minced
3 tbsp. soy sauce
olive oil

Procedure:
1) In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, pour in a good slug of olive oil. Turn on the heat, and when the pan is hot, add the minced garlic and chili. Then add the onion and sauté till fragrant.
2) Add the chicken and let it braise over high heat, turning it in order to brown evenly.
3) At this point, grind in some black pepper. Remember that the dish is supposed to be a bit spicy.
4) When the chicken is browned, add the sausage, eggplant olives and tomatoes and soy sauce
5) Lastly, add the cup of rice
6) Cover and continue to simmer over low heat for about an hour, or cook in the over
7) When the rice is soft enough to eat, then your dish is ready. Ideally, the stock or other liquid in the mixture has all been absorbed or reduced.
8) Garnish with freshly chopped coriander.

(This dish ought to have the approximate consistency of a risotto. Good for 5-6 servings. Best served together with a simple salad and a light fruity white wine).

Employer jailed for indecent assault on maid

By Vir B. Lumicao

An elderly employer was acquitted on Apr 21 of a charge of raping his Filipino domestic helper two years ago, but was jailed for two and a half months after being found guilty of an indecent assault on her.
The split verdict in the case of 65-year-old Lee Man-biu, who owned a toy factory in the mainland, came after more than 10 hours of deliberation by a jury made up of two men and five men.
The jury returned unanimous verdicts on all three charges, one for rape and two for indecent assault, after a trial that was originally set to last for six days but stretched to eight and a half days.
Among those who testified were Lee and the victim, a 48-year-old mother of two, as well as two police witnesses.
Justice Esther Toh commended the jurors “for returning a difficult verdict” after spending the night in the courthouse to hammer out their verdicts.
The first indecent assault charge involved an incident in Mar 2014 when the maid was in the kitchen and Lee allegedly grabbed her breasts. She said she managed to film the  assault but Lee grabbed her cell phone and deleted the video.
Lee was acquitted of that charge.
However, he was convicted of a second charge of indecent assault which took place in the morning of Oct 13, 2014. In this case, Lee was found to have grabbed the woman’s breasts while she was cleaning the living room, and dragged her to the bedroom.
Lee reportedly warned the victim that he would throw her out the window if she told anyone about the assault.
He repeated the warning when he allegedly raped her on the night of the same day. However, the charge of rape was dismissed by the jury.
Toh said the indecent assault was “over the top of the victim’s clothing”, so she accepted the argument of defense counsel Oliver Davies that it was not Lee’s most serious offence.
Lee reportedly warned the victim that he would throw her out the window if she told anyone about the assault. He repeated the warning when he allegedly raped her on the night of the same day. However, the charge of rape was dismissed by the jury.
In sentencing, Judge Toh said Lee, being the victim’s employer, had committed a breach of trust, which was an aggravating factor in the case.
“The victim was in a vulnerable position because she was financially dependent on the employer and far from her immediate family,” Toh said.
In mitigation, Davies said his client was a man of good character. He also reminded Toh that Lee had been held in police custody for about four weeks after his arrest on Oct 14, 2014.
Toh said the sentence for indecent assault was three months, but she cut this to two and a half months, given Lee’s clear record and his age.
According to the victim, she used to be scared every time Lee’s wife and daughter would go to China because the employer would assault her indecently “almost everyday”, and would hit her in the head if he was angry.
But during cross examination, the woman admitted Lee paid back $5,000 she had lent him. She also admitted keeping $60,000 in her room, money that she meant to take home. This led the defense lawyer to suggest to the Filipina that Lee did not rape the maid, but had “consensual sex” with her.
But the maid was adamant during cross-examination.
“No! I was raped. He was strong and my body ached afterwards and my back was painful because he bit me when I turned and tried to get up,” she said, crying.
The Filipina said she called 999 when she noticed the TV in the employer’s room was on but he was not there. Then she went downstairs and met the responding officers but told them to stay out of Lee’s sight.
When Davies asked why, she said: “Because I did not want him to kill himself. He told me if I tell the police, he would throw me out of the window and we both die.”
Members of Lee’s immediate family and other relatives attended the trial and were in the courtroom to listen to the verdict and give moral support to the defendant.
In contrast, only a representative of the Mission for Migrant Workers, which helped the victim pursue the case, was in court to assist her.

Brillante Mendoza, babalik sa Cannes

Muling magbabalik ang batikang director na si Brillante “Dante” Mendoza sa Cannes dahil isa sa mga napiling kalahok ang kanyang pelikula para sa prestihiyosong Palme’ d’Or (Golden Palm) sa gaganaping 69th Cannes Film Festival, mula May 11 – 22.
Makakalaban ng kanyang pelikulang Ma’Rosa ang mga kalahok na Toni Erdmann,  Maren Ade (Germany), Julieta, Pedro Almodóvar (Spain); American Honey, Andrea Arnold (UK); Personal Shopper, Olivier Assayas (France); La Fille Inconnue, Jean-Pierre Dardenne at Luc Dardenne (Belgium); Juste La Fin Du Monde/It’s Only the End of the World, Xavier Dolan (Canada); Ma Loute/Slack Bay, Bruno Dumont (France); Paterson, Jim Jarmusch (USA); Rester Vertical, Alain Guiraudie (France); Aquarius, Kleber Mendonça Filho (Brazil); Mal De Pierres, Nicole Garcia (France); I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach (UK); Bacalaureat, Cristian Mungiu (Romania); Loving, Jeff Nichols (USA); The Handmaiden (Agassi, The Handmaiden); Park Chan-Wook (South Korea); The Last Face, Sean Penn (USA); Siera Nevada, Cristi Puiu (Romania); Elle, Paul Verhoeven (Netherlands); at The Neon Demon, Nicolas Winding Refn (Denmark).
Ang Ma’Rosa ay tinatampukan ni Jaclyn Jose bilang Rosa, kasama sina Julio Diaz, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Andi Eigenmann, Felix Roco, Jomari Angeles at Kristoffer King.
Bukod sa pagiging director, si Mendoza rin ang executive producer at production designer ng Ma’Rosa. Ito ang kanyang ikalimang pagsali sa Cannes. Noong 2007 ay ipinalabas ang pelikula niyang “Foster Child” sa Director’s Fortnight, ang “Serbis” ay ipinalabas noong 2008 (main competition, at nominated para sa Palme d’Or ),  “Kinatay”, noong 2009 (nominated sa Palme d’ Or, at nagpanalo ng best director kay Mendoza)  at “Taklub” noong 2015 (Un Certain Regard, at nanalo ng Ecumenical Jury Prize).
Ilan pa sa mga pelikula ni Mendoza na naging kalahok at nanalo sa ibang international film festivals ay ang “Captive”, “Tirador”, “Thy Womb” at “Lola”. Ang kanyang unang pelikulang, “Masahista” (The Masseur) na pinagbidahan ni Coco Martin ay nanalo ng Golden Leopard noong 2005 sa Locarno International Film Festival sa Switzerland.

ANGELICA, HUGOT QUEEN
Usung-uso ang mga “hugot” lines ngayon, sa mga pelikula, (“That Thing Called Tadhana”, “English Only, Please”, “Walang Forever”, ang ilan), at mga tv shows, lalong lalo na sa Banana Sundae, kung saan ay tampok si Angelica Panganiban. Ang pansin nga ng marami ay may pinanggagalingan ang mga hugot ng aktres dahil sa break-up nila nila ni John Lloyd Cruz.
Ilan sa mga hugot lines ni Angelica:
Bakit pag breaking news, sa akin ibinibigay? Bakit? Porke ba break na kami? Hindi yun breaking news, old news na yon, kaya kayo mag move-on na rin kayo!
Partner? Yung dinuguan may partner, ako wala!
Dapat yung ex ko naging cellphone na lang. Nang sa ganun, kusa siyang namamatay kapag nagloloko siya.
Nauntog ka? Buti ka pa nauntog na. Ako kasi, hindi pa e.
Oo, mag-isa ako, tapos lahat ng nakikita ko puro magka-holding hands. Masaya ka na, mag-isa ako? Okay na?
Haircut: Gusto ko yung maiksing-maiksi, katulad ng relasyon naming maiksi lang.
Sa umpisa lang yan mainit. Tignan mo, pagtagal-tagal magkakalamigan din kayo, parang kami.
Napakarami mong planners, pero ako pala, hindi man lang ako kasama sa mga plano sa buhay mo!
Ayoko nang may ka-share! Ayoko nang meron ang pinagbibigyan ng kalahati ng sarili ko! Ayoko na, pagod na ako! Simula ngayon, ako na lang.
Oo, split na kami, hiwalay na kami! Bakit kailangan mo pang ipagdiinan? Ano ngayon, masaya ka na?
Dok: May taning na ang buhay mo.                                                                  
Angelica: Ganun ba? Ayos lang Dok, wala namang forever e.
Talagang pinapaasa nyo lang kami lagi. Sa umpisa:  di ba pinapasaya, ibibigay nyo yung lahat, tapos ipaparamdam nyo sa amin na yung pagsasama natin, buong pagkakamali lang pala,
Oo, nasasaktan ako, pero hindi ko yun sinasabi, dahil hanggang ngayon, mahalaga pa rin siya sa akin.
Cellphone? Aanhin ko ang cellphone? Wala nang nagte-text sa akin!
Alarm clock? Sana nga gumana na yan dahil gusto ko nang magising.
Kapag ang isang relasyon tapos na, ibig sabihin hindi na pwedeng ulitin! Ibig sabihin, nun, the end na, period, walang ulitan!
Excess baggage? E palibhasa ganyan kayong mga lalaki. Ganyan ang tingin nyo sa aming mga babae, diba? Excess baggage!
Sa bumibili: Patawad? Paulit-ulit akong nagpa-patawad a! May nangyayari ba, wala naman. Ayoko na, pagod na ako, ayoko na!
Sa Family Feud: Magbigay ng mga bagay na dahilan ng paghihiwalay ng magkasin-tahan.
Angelica: Babae! Third party, ganun!

JULIE ANN, GRADUATE NA
Maraming dapat ipag-pasalamat si Julie Ann San Jose sa buwang ito dahil may mahahalagang okasyon ang kanyang ipagdiriwang: ang kanyang ika 22 taong kaarawan sa May 17, ang pag-release ng kanyang ikatlong solo album, ang pagkakaroon ng bagong concert at higit sa lahat, ang kanyang pagtatapos ng pag-aaral sa kolehiyo.
Importante para sa kanya ang matapos ang kanyang pag-aaral dahil alam niya na ang trabaho sa showbiz ay walang katiyakan. Kaya kahit nabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na makilala na bilang mahusay na singer at may regular na TV shows ay hindi niya kinalimutan ang kanyang pangarap na tapusin ang kanyang kursong mass communications sa Angelicum College.
Ngarag si Julie Ann nitong mga nakalipas na linggo dahil sa dami ng dapat niyang tapusin at dapat na makumpletong requirements sa kanyang pagtatapos, lalo na at humahabol siya sa honors list. Kapuri-puri ang ginagawa niya na sa kabila ng napakarami niyang projects ay naisabay pa niya ang kanyang pag-aaral.
Sa May 14 ay gaganapin ang kanyang concert na ‘In Control” sa Kia Theater, kaya kailangan din niyang paghandaan ito ng husto, lalo na at itinaon din ito para sa kanyang  ika-sampung taon sa showbiz. Pasasalamat na rin daw niya ito sa lahat ng mga taong tumulong sa kanya sa kanyang career at sa mga fans na tumulong na malampasan niya ang hirap na napagdaanan niya. Binanggit din niya ang kanyang ama na noong una ay tutol sa pagsabak niya sa showbiz dahil gusto nitong pagtuunan niya ang kanyang pag-aaral. Pero dahil naipakita naman niya na kaya niyang pagsabayin ito, ngayon ay suportado na siya nito, at inihahatid pa sa kanyang trabaho.

PATAKARAN SA MMFF 2016, BABAGUHIN
Ipinahayag ni Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Emerson Carlos na magkakaroon ng mga pagbabago para sa lalahok sa Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2016.
Hindi na sila tatanggap ng scripts, at sa halip ay finished product o mga pelikulang tapos na at handa nang ipalabas sa September 28, ang huling araw ng submission of entries. Ihahayag ang walong mapipiling entries sa October 11.
Maliban dito, tatanggalin na rin ang cash prize para sa mga mananalo. Aalisin na rin ang kategoryang Best Child Performer award, at papalitan ito ng Kids’ Choice award, kung saan ay mga bata mismo ang boboto sa para sa kanilang paboritong batang aktor.
Aalisin na rin ang pagpili ng  Second Best Picture at Third Best Picture.
Magiging batayan din sa pagpili ng kalahok ay artistic excellence, technical competence at pagkakaroon ng global appeal.
Magkakaroon na raw ng tsansa ang mga maliliit na filmmakers kahit hindi malalaki at hindi sikat ang mga artista nila basta’t maganda ang kalidad ng kanilang pelikula, lalo na at bababaan din ang bond o joining fee ng mga producers. Mula sa dating Php 500,000 ay Php50,000 na lang ito ngayon. May insentibo pang maging Php30,000 na lang ito kapag nai-submit ang kanilang entries ng maaga.
Mananatili ang Parade of Stars na naging tradisyon na sa nagdaang maraming taon ng MMFF.
Ang mga miyembro ng MMFF executive committee na naatasang pumili ng magiging kalahok bukod kay Carlos ay ang mga movie producers na sina Jesse Ejercito at Wilson Tieng, Mowelfund president Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, Sen. Sonny Angara, screenwriter Moira Lang at MTRCB chair Eugenio Villareal.

Janet Pancho Gupta: A journey from DH to artist

By Vir B. Lumicao

Janet Pancho Gupta

There is something strangely mesmerizing and deeply religious in the works of Filipina nature artist Janet Pancho Gupta, whether they are her meticulously done watercolor paintings or her nature and street photographs.
Connoisseurs and dilettantes alike could not help but stop and take a longer look at each of her unique work to discern the philosophy behind them – from her watercolor painting of a fern bud furled in fetal form to her photo of a hibiscus silhouetted against a bronze sky breaching the sun’s rays at dusk.
The former domestic helper artist came to Hong Kong in 2000 but started painting just eight years ago. She is known for the fine details of her subjects and the deliberate hues and tones with which she addresses them to bring on the mood that she likes to impart to the beholder.
Like the subjects of her masterpieces, Pancho Gupta prefers to be inconspicuous, focusing on her creations to give them the depth and mystery that keep her followers in awe, rather than being seen in the company of other artists.
Lately, too, her art pieces have begun to transform, she explains, reflecting her perception of herself being walled in after years of boundless freedom in the Saikung countryside.
Replying to an online friend’s comment about the pixels in her new works, Pancho Gupta replied: “…Personally the bold colors, lines and patterns are something to do with my emotions. I was not so happy moving in the city but then lately I taught myself to visually color my surroundings. Haven’t you noticed the city’s color is always gray and black? I’m surrounded with all those and when the day is dull and cloudy…the scene shouts for emptiness.”

Janet Pancho Gupta's
painting “Unburden Me.”

The 39-year-old Pancho Gupta says she has done almost 100 paintings over the past eight years, 90% of them in watercolor. She has also tried oil, pastels, graphite, “everything except acrylic.”
She says she chose to start with watercolor for discipline.
“The reason why I started with water color is, they say if you can do watercolor, you can do everything,” she told The SUN in a recent interview in her home in Tin Shui Wai.
A self-taught artist, Pancho Gupta tried to go to art school in Hong Kong just so she could have formal training, but she stopped after experiencing discrimination. She recounted how one of her art tutors had boasted on Day 1 that his students included famous people in Hong Kong society, as if implying she was in the wrong place because she was a Filipina and a domestic helper to boot.
On another occasion she was in another painting school and a western female student obviously didn’t like seeing the professor praise Pancho Gupta’s work. On her way out after the session, the woman stopped in front of the Filipina’s desk and said spitefully:  “One day, I’ll be a better painter than you are.”  The artist just smiled.                                                                                                                
The leaves of art grew naturally in Pancho Gupta. She said she came to draw naturally while still a child, and she just “drew and drew”.
In the classroom she drew all the people around her. “If there’s something that I need to say, it’s part of me, I draw without even thinking. I never even appreciated it as a talent,” she said.
The artist said she lived for a long time in Bethune House, a refuge for domestic helpers thrown out or maltreated by their employers, and she had friends there and they “never knew that I know how to draw.”
Reports say it was during her stay in the shelter that she discovered her talent for painting.
She is versatile and strong in portraits as well as in nature paintings, and her surreal portrait of an Indonesian rape victim in watercolor, titled “Unburden Me,” is both touching and infuriating.
Pancho Gupta read a lot of books on painting, but the further she went, the more she found herself “like a lost child” afraid of how her reading might influence or change her. While about to give up, she was accidentally brought to her senses by a colorful coaster dropping to the rug, emitting a lovely burst of blue colors and a trace of lace as it reflected the sunlight.
“Suddenly, oh my Jesus, I shouldn’t worry anymore about what people think; the most important thing is that I paint consistently, continuously, and that’s just the beginning, when I found out the contrast of two colors was yellow and blue,” Pancho Gupta said.
Enthralled by that spectacle, she immediately went to work and finished three of her paintings that afternoon.
Her husband, journalist Mukul Munish of the South China Morning Post, encouraged Pancho Gupta to paint when he found out she was a natural-born artist. He told her to just draw, draw and draw and helped her find the art materials she needed, telling her that his own father was a master artist so he could help her pursue painting.
Pancho Gupta has branched into nature photography and, lately, into street photography. In both recent activities, her works exhibit the same depth, the same soul of the artist that she reveals in her paintings. Because she says her artworks are her own self.
On May 12, Pancho Gupta will open her first solo photo exhibition, “Finding Inner Space,” at 15 Elgin St., SOHO, Central. The show will run from May 9 to June 5.
“Finding Space is a documentary walk around images captured by a woman, mother, wife, and painter who found solace in photography from her daily chaotic life and routine,” the event invite states.