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?

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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.

May Day Protest March

May 1, 2pm-5pm, Assembly: Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
Destination: Central Government Offices, Tamar. FDWs who want to join may contact Eman,  9758 5935 or Dolo, 9747 2986. Organizer: Asian Migrants Coordinating Body

Liturgy Seminar
May 2, 10am – 4pm. Venue: Sing Yin Secondary School, Choi Hung. Speaker: Fr. Randy from the Philippines
Open to all commentators (readers), lectors, altar servers, extraordinary Eucharistic inisters, choir members, and all who want to serve during the Eucharistic celebration
Organized by: Filipino Chaplaincy

Summer Saya
May 2, 8am-6pm. Repulse Bay Beach
Organizer: Official AlDub MaiDen HK Chapter

Shaolin Fez Unplugged
Featuring: Cherry Jennifer Palor
May 5, 7:30-10:30 pm. Dairy Fringe Club, Central
Tickets @ $175 for 7:30pm show and $200 for 9:30pm show
Includes: one standard drink and show

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

Finding Inner Space:
A Solo Photo Exhibit of Janet Pancho-Gupta
May 12, 6-9pm. 15 Elgin Street, Soho

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

Consulate Announcements

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 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 & 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  

Wisdom

One Oriental philosopher says:

• When without money, keep pigs; when have money, keep dogs.
• When without money, wish to get married; when have money, wish to get divorce.
• When without money, eat at home with wife; when have money, dine with women in fine restaurant.
• When without money, wife becomes secretary; when have money, secretary becomes wife.
• When without money, act like a rich man; when with money, act like poor man.

Making a baby
The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, “Well, I'm off now. The man should be here soon.”
Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale. “Good morning, Ma'am>>,” he said, “I’ve come to...”
“Oh, no need to explain,” Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, “I’ve been expecting you.”
“Have you really?” said the photographer. “Well, that’s good. Did you know babies are my specialty?”
“Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat.”
After a moment she asked, blushing, “Well, where do we start?”
“Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room floor is fun. You can really spread out there.”
“Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and me!”
“Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.”
“My, that's a lot!” gasped Mrs. Smith..
“Ma’am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I”d love to be in and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you’d be disappointed with that.”
“Don't I know it,” said Mrs. Smith quietly.  
The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. “This was done on the top of a bus,” he said.
“Oh, my God!” Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.
“And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.”
“She was difficult?” asked Mrs. Smith.  
“Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look.”
“Four and five deep?” said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement..
“Yes,” the photographer replied. “And for more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.”
Mrs. Smith leaned forward. “Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh...equipment?”
“It’s true, Ma’am, yes. Well, if you’re ready, I'll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away.”
“Tripod?”
“Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big to be held in the hand for long.”
Mrs. Smith fainted

Covers the period May 1-15

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96
Hindi ka magkandaugaga sa trabaho ngunit huwag panghinaan ng loob dahil masusulit din ang lahat ng hirap at pagod. Maaring mabigo sa pag-ibig ngunit mabilis ding makakabawi lalo na kung mananatiling positibo ang pananaw. Madaling mapagod kaya maglaan ng sapat na oras sa pahinga para mabawi ang nawalang lakas. Magkakaroon ng problema dahil sa asal ng mga anak.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97
Huwag hayaang matali sa responsibilidad lalo na kung napipilitan lang upang hindi masayang ang oras, dahilan upang sisihin ang sarili sa bandang huli. Tiyakin na matiwasay ang paligid bago sumabak sa laban upang maiwasan ang panganib at posibleng kumplikasyon na dulot nito. Mag-ingat sa mga taong mapagsamantala at kilalanin ng husto ang mga kaibigan.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98
Asahan ang malaking pagbabago na maaring magdulot ng matinding dalamhati pero huwag mag-alala dahil maganda ang resultang kaakibat nito.  Huwag magpaapekto sa hindi kanais-nais na pag-uugali ng mga anak dahil kailangang ipakita sa kanila na kontrolado mo ang sitwasyon. May problema sa sikmura kaya iwasan ang mamantikang pagkain pati na rin ang kape at alak.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87
Ihanda ang sarili sa pagdagsa ng maraming biyaya. Pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga pagbabago na kailangang isakatuparan sa trabaho para mas madaling maabot ang tagumpay. Malaking leksyon ang matututunan dahil maaring mawala ang perang ipinautang sa kaibigan at magiging dahilan ito upang masira ang relasyon na hinubog ng matagal na panahon. Unti-unti nang magkakaroon ang katuparan ang mga pangarap.
.
 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88
Matindi ang pangangailangan sa pera at makakatulong ng husto ang pagkakaroon ng kontrol, lalo na sa pagbili ng mga bagay na hindi naman kailangan. Huwag hayaang matali ang sarili sa relasyon na walang patutunguhan. Sa mga walang asawa, maaring makilala ang taong magpapatibok sa puso. Maglaan ng sapat na panahon para sa sarili upang makapagpahinga ng husto at agad na makabawi ang nanghihinang katawan.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89
Malaking pagbabago ang magaganap dala ng magandang takbo ng negosyo. Sa mga mag-asawa, maglaan ng panahon para seryosong pag-usapan ang plano sa buhay upang magkaroon ng linaw ang patutunguhan ng relasyon. Pag-aralang mabuti ang hakbang bago gumawa ng desisyon upang hindi mapahamak . Matinding pananakit ng ulo ang mararanasan kaya iwasan ang mataong lugar o magulong paligid.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Maganda ang pasok ng pera sa linggong ito kaya maari nang mabili ang isang bagay na matagal nang inaasam. Makikilala na ang taong magbibigay o magpupuno ng iyong kaligayahan. Maraming oportunidad ang uusbong sa trabaho kaya samantalahin ang bawat pagkakataon na ipamalas ang tunay na kakayahan.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91
May malaking problema sa pera ngunit malaking tulong ang naimpok sa bangko upang malampasan ang sitwasyon. Maglaan ng oras sa pamilya gaano man kaabala sa ibang bagay. Huwag matakot magkamali sa trabaho dahil sa ganitong pagkakataon higit na nahuhubog ang tunay na kakayahan. Makakatanggap ng sulat na naglalaman ng magandang balita. Mag-ingat sa mga patibong ng mga kasamahan sa trabaho.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Angkop ang panahon para gumawa ng desisyon na base sa sariling sapantaha at sentido kumon. Panatilihing masaya ang disposisyon sa buhay kahit maraming problema na kailangang harapin. Sa mga mag-asawa, punan ng pang-unawa ang nakikitang pagkukulang ng bawat isa. Asikasuhing mabuti ang pangangailangan ng mga anak.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Makakatulong ng husto ang lakas ng loob upang maiwasan ang matinding pagkakamali. Malaki ang pangangailangan sa pera pero hanggat maari ay huwag kumapit sa patalim. Makakakuha ng positibong tugon kung magpapamalas ng tunay na pagkagiliw sa taong napupusuan. Sa kabila ng pagiging abala, tiyakin na laging may oras para sa pamilya. Aani ng tagumpay ang mga proyekto kaya linangin ng husto ang sariling kaalaman.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Maaring magkaroon ng malaking problema lalo na kung sobrang pabaya sa buhay. Huwag hayaang maloko ng mga kasama sa trabaho kahit na nangangahulugan itong dadami ang mga kaaway. Maayos ang kalusugan pero huwag magpabaya para manatiling masigla ang isip at katawan. Matiwasay ang sitwasyon sa loob ng tahanan.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Madaling maibagay ang sarili kaya maaring pakinabangan ang lahat ng pagkakataon. Babalik ang lakas mula sa hindi maipaliwanag na pananamlay kaya kailangan ibaon na sa limot ang masamang alaala. Kontrolin ang sarili at huwag magpadala sa silakbo ng damdamin. May malaking problema sa loob ng tahanan kaya kailangang maging matatag alang-alang sa pamilya.

FDHs seek $5k minimum salary

By Daisy CL Mandap

Foreign domestic workers who will join the annual Labor Day rally on May 1 are set to call for their minimum wage to be raised to $5,000.
This was revealed by Eman Villanueva, a spokesperson of the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, which is organizing the FDW contingent in the protest.
Participants who will mostly come from trade unions will gather at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and after a brief program, march to the Central Government Offices in Tamar.
Villanueva said the higher wage demand by migrants is based on the $38 per hour minimum pay being sought by local workers, up from the current rate of $32.50.
After factoring in the latest data on the “per capita” expenditure of workers, he said the figure should actually be $5,300.
But even with the reduced amount of $5,000, he agreed it would be difficult to get the Hong Kong government to yield to the wage demand, given its track record of being stingy where migrants were concerned.
For the past three years at least, migrant workers had pushed for their so-called minimum allowable wage to be increased to $4,500, to no avail. The minimum salary is currently set at $4,100 per month.
“Pero mahirap namang masyadong maging conservative sa demand namin dahil we have to base it also on the prevailing cost of living and the current minimum wage given to other workers,” said Villanueva.
With the $38 per hour demanded by local workers, he said the monthly minimum wage would already be in the region of $12,000 which is far more than what the migrants are asking for.
Alongside the minimum wage hike, the FDWs are again demanding shorter working hours.
“Local workers are asking for a maximum of 44 hours of work per week, while we are willing to extend it to 60 hours,” said Villanueva. That means, a migrant worker should be working for only 10 hours a day on average for a six-day work week.
Studies show that on average, they work for between 12 and 16 hours daily.
The demands will also include the long-standing issues over the live-out ban and the two-week rule for foreign domestic workers.

Secret bank account linked to Duterte a game-changer?

Deposit confirms Duterte account. Photo: Ellen Tordesillas

Rodrigo Duterte had been leading public opinion surveys, even widening his lead over the field by capturing 33 per cent in the latest poll of the Social Weather Stations, a nine-point lead over second-placer Grace Poe-Llamazares.
This, despite public uproar against his joking about wanting to be first to rape an Australian who died in a Davao City hostage incident in 1989, which his opponents wished would tarnish his appeal.
Gimmicks such as signing an art board with his vice presidential candidate Alan Cayetano pledging to waive their right to keep their bank accounts from scrutiny under the bank secrecy law – and daring the other candidates to follow suit –were lapped up by his supporters.
Last April 27, however, his dare appears to have put his popularity to the test just two weeks before election day on May 9. Vice presidential candidate Antonio Trillanes accused him of accepting P211 million in deposits on his birthday in 2014 through a bank account he jointly held with his daughter Sara.
Trillanes said Duterte did not include the amount in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, which showed the Davao City mayor only had Php21.9 million in net assets.
When Trillanes challenged Duterte to waive his right to bank secrecy, Duterte refused, saying the accusation was fabricated.
“I will make it difficult for him,” Duterte said, “I will not play into his game.”
Trillanes answered with a threat to expose more such secret accounts.
While Duterte has remained aggresive, the tide in the comment section of major newspapers that carried the story is turning; those bashing Duterte appeared to have outgunned the normally dominant Duterte supporters.
Counter-propaganda against Trillanes that appeared on  social media was weak.
A photo showing a San Miguel Corporation check for Php500 million payable to Trillanes was quickly umasked as a fake when San Miguel denied it issued that check, and Banco de Oro said the account number in the check did not exist in its system.
Another social media offensive originating from Duterte’s spokesman Peter Lavina was a photo of Duterte with his vice presidential bet Alan Peter Cayetano, showing off the art board they signed as a pledge to waive their right against scrutiny of their bank accounts.
But this raised even another question: If there is such a waiver, why then is  Duterte refusing to open the account that Trillanes specified?
Chatter inside pro-Duterte Facebook pages also centered on Trilanes’ revelation -- mostly how to answer them.
The latest center of such attention was an April 28 Facebook post by journalist Ellen Tordesillas, who said her friend deposited Php 500 in the account cited by Trillanes. The deposit slip confirmed not just the existence of the account, but that it was owned by the Dutertes.
Thus, when asked about this by reporters during a campaign trip to Balanga, Bataan, the same day, Duterte said he indeed had accounts in the Pasig branch of the Bank of the Philippine Islands that Trillanes identified. But he said the deposits in these accounts were no more than Php50.000 and Php17,000.
Unable to deny the existence of the account, Duterte's camp was telling its followers the deposits in those accounts were just Php500 and less than Php50,000 -- not the millions that Trillanes mentioned.
Instead of opening the account and proving that Trillianes was a liar -- that his SALN was an honest statement of his net worth -- Duterte’s attitude appears to be a reminder of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
After Trillanes initiated the Senate investigation into the billion-peso anomalies in Makati, Binay refused to attend the hearings. Instead, he answered the charges in press conferences where reporters were not allowed to ask questions. With the hearings broadcast live on radio and television, Binay is now trailing in the surveys.
But Binay had choice words for his rivals: “Kung wala tayong itinatago, kung lahat tayo ay naniniwala na dapat ihayag natin ang lahat sa ating mga kababayan, kung lahat tayo nagsasabi na pabor tayo sa freedom of information, pirmahan ninyo ang waiver. Magpa-AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) din kayo.”
Other presidential aspirants have jumped into the fray.
Poe, whom Duterte’s camp accused of instigating Trillanes to make the accusations (because she was Trillanes’ choice of president), said: “The easiest way to do it is for him to open the account for public scrutiny. He was the first to dare his rivals to sign a waiver. He said he was willing to die for the country, this is one of the ways of doing it.”
Administration candidate Mar Roxas offered to sign his own waiver, and challenged Duterte to prove that his hands were not as dirty as his mouth.
On April 24, in the last of three presidential debates, Roxas dared Duterte to quit the race if he proved that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. had brought its services to Davao City. He was referring to Duterte’s claims that Philhealth had not reached his city.
The next day, Duterte dismissed as fake the documents showing that Philhealth had 1.4 members in his city and paid billions of pesos for their hospitalization.
Trillanes, for his part, issued his own challenge to Duterte. If his accusations are proven false, he would withdraw from his own race and resign as senator. But if it is true, then Duterte should withdraw from the race.

(Note: this is a running story so check for updates)

DAY 19: Voting ‘mirage’ livens up dull day

HK Police are on hand to keep the peace.

A little drama at the voting precinct provided some excitement on Apr 27, on an otherwise dull day at Bayanihan Centre, where only 466 came to cast their ballots in the ongoing 2016 Philippine general elections.
The day’s votes nudged up the total count to 24,628 after 19 days of the month-long balloting to elect a new president, vice-president, 12 senators and one partylist. The total translates to a 24.8% turnout from 93,000 registered voters.
A voter in Room 603 roused members of the Special Board of Election Inspectors when she raised a howl over why the names printed on her tear-off ballot receipt were not those of the candidates that she had marked on her ballot.
Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the election board that conducts the voting in Hong Kong, rushed to the room when the issue was relayed to him.
“We told the voter that looked impossible, but we asked her to file a complaint so that we would send it to the Comelec,” Vallespin told The SUN in a telephone interview.
He said the voter declined to fill out a pro forma affidavit stating her complaint.
Vallespin said SBEIs were supplied the affidavit forms starting this week so that voters who complain about what they perceive as cheating in the precincts can file a formal complaint that would be investigated by the Commission on Elections.
“It seems some people are seeing mirages,” a puzzled Vallespin said of some voters’ claims about mismatched ballots and receipt printouts.
“I can’t still make out how such things happen,” he said.
He said he was doing a report to the Comelec about the various voter complaints relating to the vote counting machines installed in the polling precincts.
Vallespin said so far there was only one voter who filed an affidavit on Tuesday, complaining that her receipt showed more than the 10 senatorial candidates she had picked.
Two spare vote counting machines shipped by Comelec would be delivered to Bayanihan on April 28, Vallespin said. He requested for four of these machines after four spares that the poll body sent to Hong Kong earlier were used to replace broken machines.
Still, Vallespin was amazed that despite only nine vote counting machines operating, the election at Bayanihan has not been disrupted. – Vir B. Lumicao

DAY 18: VOTING QUIET BUT SOCIAL MEDIA ABUZZ WITH CHEATING CLAIM

The voter who claims to have been cheated

More than 500 people took advantage of the fine weather today, Apr 26, to cast their ballots at Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town for the month-long overseas voting for the Philippine general elections.

Overseas Filipinos are voting for president, vice president, 12 senators and one partylist for the House of Representatives.

“Everything went on smoothly,” said Consul Charles Macaspac, the officer-of-the-day in the month-long overseas voting.

However, there were more people whose registration were deactivated for failing to vote in two consecutive elections, or who registered but whose names did not show up in the list provided by the Commission on Elections.

The election officials have yet to hear from the Comelec regarding their request for additional vote counting machines after another one broke down last Saturday.

Four VCMs have broken down so far, but three have been replaced by spare machines sent by Comelec in the first week of voting.

The Consulate is asking for at least four more spares, with about two more weeks to go before polling ends on May 9.

But amid the quiet day at Bayanihan was a big fuss on social media over a cheating claim by a supporter of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte.

(https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=eva%20ocate%20villa%20video)

The supporter who cast her ballot on Apr 17, returned to Bayanihan last Sunday, Apr 24, to complain about an SBEI (special board of election inspectors) who allegedly threatened to file a case against her for taking a photo of her ballot receipt.

The voter said she took the photo because the receipt did not show the names of her chosen president and vice president.

But according to Consulate officials, the receipt just got crinkled on top so the names overlapped. Taking a photo of the receipt is indeed, a violation of Comelec rules.

After some explaining by Consulate officials in the presence of media representatives and poll watchers, the voter eventually calmed down.

However, a video of her being interviewed by Duterte supporters about the alleged cheating immediately circulated on social media.

By today’s end, a total of 516 people voted, taking to 24,162 the total figure for the 18 days of voting since Apr 9. This represents 26% of the more than 93,000 registered Filipino voters in Hong Kong. – with a report from Vir B. Lumicao

DAY 17: VOTE TALLY DIPS DESPITE GOOD WEATHER

Fair weather took over yesterday, Apr 25, but work had apparently kept most Filipino voters in Hong Kong from trooping to the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town to cast their votes for the Philippine presidential elections.

By the day’s end, only 334 voters were recorded, one of the lowest in 17 days of voting.

Laging dagsa ang mga tao tuwing Linggo kahit maulan

The total figure now stands at 23,646, representing just over 22% of the more than 93,000 registered to vote in Hong Kong.

With just 14 days left in the month-long overseas voting, Consulate officials are still optimistic they could hit their target turnout of between 45% to 50%.

They described Monday’s voting at Bayanihan Centre as quiet and smooth, and with none of the technical glitches involving the vote counting machines.

Only nine VCMs are being used at the polling place, instead of the 10 originally designated for Hong Kong.

Comelec sent four replacement units in the first week of voting, but three have already been used in place of those that had broken down earlier. The fourth is not configured, so is useless.

A request for additional units has yet to be met.

Name change holds up poll tally

What’s in a name? A bit of trouble, as one voter realized last Sunday, Apr 24.

Aling Carmen

Old timer Carmencita D. Han caused the tallying of the votes to be delayed by an hour after the scheduled closure at 5pm, all because she had used a different name when she registered.

Aling Carmen arrived at Bayanihan Center where the overseas voting is being held at about 4:30 pm, after taking a circuitous two-hour trip by bus, train and taxi from her home in Tsz Wan Shan. Then she took 15 minutes to limp her way up to the secretariat because of her arthritic legs.

At the information desk, her name could not be verified because the name on her Hong Kong ID did not appear in the list of voters. She did, however, present a passport which bore the name she had used to register an as overseas voter.

“I registered as Carmencita D. Bautista, but I remarried about six years after my husband died in 1995,” she said.

She related she married a Korean trader surnamed Han, and decided to get a new HK ID card using his surname.

She said she last went to the polls in 2010, when she voted for incumbent President, Benigno S. Aquino III.

What encouraged her to travel all the way from Tsz Wan Shan to vote? She said she wanted her candidate to win and even placed a bet on him.

She is hoping the government will give farmers more help, provide children better education, and the country is rid of rape, drugs, and killings.

“Kung sinong gusto natin, yung nakikita nating may ginagagawa para sa bayan,” Aling Carmen said.

After checking with the Commission on Elections which gave the all-clear, Consulate staff helped Aling Carmen secure a ballot and feed it into the vote-counting machine.

Aling Carmen came to Hong Kong in the 1960s with her first husband, Ruben, a musician. Their children who were all born and raised in Hong Kong, are now grown-ups with families of their own and have adopted different nationalities.

Vir B. Lumicao

DAY 16: LESS THAN 6,000 TURNOUT AS RAIN, INCIDENTS MAR VOTING

The rain did not deter them
from casting their ballots 

Seasonal rain marred the third Sunday of overseas voting for the 2016 national elections today, dampening hopes for a new record tally in the month-long exercise.

At the end of the day, 5,659 cast their votes, about 1,000 fewer than the tally for the previous Sunday.

But more than hobbling with one vote counting machine down, the bigger concern yesterday was the growing list of people being unable to vote because their names were not in the list furnished by the Commission on Elections.

As of 3pm, 34 voters found to their dismay that their registration had been deactivated because they failed to vote twice consecutively in previous elections.

Another 80 who registered last year were not on the list.

Those whose names were deactivated did not stand a chance, but those who had been mistakenly left out of the list were made to wait while the secretariat texted Comelec to try to get them cleared to vote.

These were among those whose names
were not in tne list of voters

Two incidents were noted by poll watchers, one involving a voter who was mistakenly given two ballots that were stuck together, and another who complained about being threatened with a suit because she had taken a picture of her receipt.

In the first case, the poll watcher said the ballots could not be inserted into the vote counting machine so the SBEI (special board of election inspectors) marked the ballots as spoiled.

But according to Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, the voter was made to choose which of the two ballots she wanted to insert into the machine: the first where her choices for president, vice president and senators were marked, or the second with her partylist vote.

The voter chose the first.

In the second case, the voter returned to her precinct with two media representatives to confront the SBEI member who allegedly threatened to file a case against her afer taking a picture of her receipt.

But Vallespin assured her that her complaint had already been forwarded to Comelec, so there was no need to take a picture of her receipt, which was really prohibited under election rules.

The Consulate’s total tally after the 16^th day of the month-long balloting was 23,312 votes, or 25% of the 93,000 registered Filipino voters in Hong Kong. – Vir B. Lumicao