Duterte, Marcos post big wins in HK

The Special Board of Canvassers headed by Deputy Consul General Kit de Jesus tallies Hong Kong votes at Bayanihan.

By the SUN Staff
Rodrigo Duterte won a landslide victory in the presidential race in Hong Kong on May 9, as the mostly OFW voters in the city expressed their sentiment against the alleged neglect of the workers’ plight by the government in Manila.
His triumph in Hong Kong, where more than 46,000 Filipinos began voting on April 9, was replicated in the Philippines as well as in other OFW destinations abroad and gave the Philippines its first president from Mindanao.
Votes tallied by the Special Board of Canvassers at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town showed Duterte on top with 30,277 votes when the panel adjourned at 3:30 a.m.
The 72-year-old incumbent Davao City mayor was followed by Miriam Defensor-Santiago with 7,089 votes.
Trailing them were Mar Roxas with 4,533, Grace Poe with 2,898 and Jojo Binay with 1,118.
Roy Señeres, who died Feb 8 but whose name was not taken off the ballots, got 10 votes.
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos also pulled away with 25,432 votes, with his closest rival Alan Peter Cayetano getting 12,496 votes, Leni Robredo with 6,155, Chiz Escudero with 1,382, Antonio Trillanes IV with 287, and Gringo Honasan with 178.
The votes counted came from 46,396 voters who cast their ballots during the month-long exercise, representing a 49% turnout by the 93,978 registered voters listed in 224 clustered precincts. The precincts totaled 95.
Hopes that Hong Kong would clinch a 50% turnout faded when only 839 people voted on the final day.
This followed the disappointing 5,474 votes on May 8, the last Sunday of overseas voting that Consulate officials had hoped would add about 7,000 votes more to the total tally for the month-long elections.
The atmosphere was largely somber in the main hall of Bayanihan Center, where a crowd dominated by poll watchers from the Duterte and Migrante camps observed the counting.
Heavy rain over a vast area of Guangdong province including Hong Kong delayed the canvassing of votes cast by Filipinos in Taiwan, Macau, Beijing and the rest of China.
The SBOC was originally scheduled to reconvene at 2pm of May 10 to count the votes,
But the rainstorm delayed the arrival of election results from China, according to Consulate officials. Canvassing resumed only at past 7pm.
Consul General Bernardita Catalla was at Bayanihan on the last day of voting, overseeing the processing of arriving voters. Then in the evening she mingled with the media and community leaders as she watched the canvassing of the votes in the center’s auditorium.
In this year’s general elections, a better version of the controversial PCOS vote counting machine was used, which improved the election process from the voting to the vote counting.
The system calls for the collation of SD cards in the precincts upstairs, for uploading of data to the Collating and Canvassing System, which will transmit the results to the national canvassing center in Manila.
Some unexplained glitches in the system, however, sparked rumors of cheating, but only five affidavits of complaint related to vote counting machine malfunction had been lodged with the polling center secretariat. They were transmitted to the Commission on Elections in Manila for investigation.

Tidying up after one-month election period.

However, election officials said complaints of missing names or the wrong candidates appearing on the receipt printout could have been due to human error.
On the last day of voting, for instance, one voter said she chose Duterte as president then went on to mark the bullet on the next line, thinking it was for his vice presidential candidate Cayetano. That “over-voting” mistake invalidated her vote for Duterte.
Vigilance of the special board of election inspectors in one precinct was challenged on May 8 when a man who was not a registered voter went up to one of the rooms, presented his coupon, and was handed a ballot.
It was too late when the SBEI members noticed he was not the same man as in the picture on the ballot registry. By the time the lapse was noticed, the man had already marked the names of some candidates on the ballot. The SBEI took back the spoiled ballot and handed the man to the secretariat.
It turned out the coupon was handed to him by one of the political campaigners along Victoria Road outside the Bayanihan.
On May 6, a total of 546 more voters cast their ballots following a dramatic surge on May 5 as members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo began casting their ballots.
At the close of polling, 829 votes had been tallied, a record high for a weekday, which drove up the total votes to 37,399.
The total represented a 40.5% turnout of the more than 93,000 registered Filipino voters in Hong Kong. An otherwise smooth going in the precincts was marred by another complaint from a voter about an alleged receipt misprint.
“The voter said she marked Bongbong Marcos for vice president but it was the name of Gregorio Honasan that appeared on the printed receipt,” said Consul Charles Macaspac, the officer of the day.
He said the woman filed an affidavit, the sixth to do so out of about 20 who made a similar complaint.
Election officials in Hong Kong have been urging voters to fill up a pro forma affidavit if they believe they have been cheated out of their votes so that the Comelec could investigate their complaints.
The number of voters rose abruptly to 546 on May 4, bringing the total tally since April 9 to 36,570.
Meanwhile, Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, who was in charge of the elections, said the special board of election inspectors in the cities in Greater China where elections for overseas Filipinos were held would be asked to print out results of the balloting, which their representatives would bring to Hong Kong for canvassing. He said the printed election results would be counted manually.
Whoever will be named to represent the Beijing post would join Consul General Lilibeth Deapera of the Consulate in Macau and Deputy Consul General Christian de Jesus to constitute the SBOC.
Only 369 voted on May 3, one of the lowest daily results, but it still helped lift the total tally after 25 days to 36,024, or a turnout of 38.7%.
The overseas voting in Hong Kong has attracted foreign media, with a staff from Japan’s Nikkei visiting Bayanihan on May 3 to interview Vallespin and other election officials about the balloting.
On April 30, TVB interviewed ConGen Catalla about the 2016 elections.
Foreign investors are watching the unfolding events in the Philippines as the outcome can influence business decisions.
A total of 3,627 voted on May 2, as Filipinos took advantage of the holiday to cast their ballots. The votes lifted the tally in Hong Kong to 35,655.
With just a full week of voting left, Consulate officials look hard-pressed to reach their 50% turnout target but did not seem overly concerned.
ConGen Catalla said she was satisfied with the conduct of the elections, citing the nearly 9,000 people who voted in the past two days alone.
“We’ve been urging people to come out and vote because this is the life of our nation, it is part of decision-making. Ngayon, kung yung mga pinili natin ay hindi karapat-dapat, sisisihin tayo ng mga generations after us; kung maayos, pasasalamatan tayo,” she said.

Consulate and POLO staff pose forposterity with volunteers.

Vallespin said there were two reports of ballot receipt misprints on May 2, but in both cases the voters refused to file a formal complaint.
In Room 502, a woman complained to the SBEI that the vote counting machine did not print out the names of her choices for president and vice president. She later admitted that she failed to properly shade the circles corresponding to her candidates. She declined to file an affidavit about the problem.
The second incident involved a woman who made a scene in room 501 because her voting receipt allegedly bore the name of Alma Moreno instead of her chosen senator.
She also refused to file a formal complaint.
On May 1, with just eight days to go in the overseas voting, Consulate officials remained positive that turnout would hit 50% even if the number of voters fell to 5,327, below expectations.
About 40 people were unable to vote after finding themselves having been deactivated by the Comelec. About 115 other had registered but their names were missing on the voters list and waited for the election secretariat to get them Comelec clearance to vote.
Election officials said earlier in the exercise that they were expecting the Sunday voter crowd to reach 7,000, but that did not materialize.
At one point, followers of Duterte got so raucous that Vallespin and about six police officers rushed to the terminal to ask the campaigners to tone down.
“It turned out that somebody made a 999 call because one group was becoming rowdy,” said Vallespin, who spoke to leaders of the various campaign groups at the terminal.
Two voting-related incidents were reported, with one voter complaining she picked Marcos as her vice president but her ballot receipt bore the name of Honasan.
“I asked the voter if she was sure about what she’s saying and she said ‘yes,’ because she was even campaigning for Bongbong,” said Jun Carlos, a Bongbong campaign leader.
He cast doubt on claims by some quarters that there was cheating in the overseas voting in Hong Kong just because there were 2 out of over 26,000 who claimed so.
A woman filed an affidavit of complaint about her failing to vote because when she went to a mobile registration in Discovery Bay on Sept 5, she was told she did not have to register as she was still an active voter.
She was told she had been deactivated.

Vicks Maid victims fail to get back money

EAA's complaint hotline

By Vir B. Lumicao

Eight months after they won their cases at the Small Claims Tribunal against a recruitment agency that charged them thousands of dollars for fake jobs in China, at least eight complainants still have to get a full or partial refund of their money.

The agency, Vicks Maid Consultant Company, has been stripped of its license by the Labour Department after its conviction for overcharging a job-seeker and operating an agency at a place not specified in the license.

One of those who won their cases against Vicks Maid told The Sun on Apr 28 that the agency operator, Lennis Ebrahim, had yet to comply with the tribunal’s order to return her money.

The claimant, Jennifer Garcia, said that she was awarded her full claim of $10,000 plus costs in August last year, after Ebrahim failed to appear during the hearing of her case.

She said she tried to get the judgment enforced, but backed out when the tribunal’s bailiff said she needed to pay a $2,000 fee.

Garcia said the Vicks Maid licensee and owner charged her $10,000 for a job at a golf course in China or Saikung for her son. She said her supportive employer lent her money to pay the agency so her son could get a job. 

When the promised employment did not come, Garcia’s employer called up Ebrahim, who sent a check for $10,000. But the check bounced, so the employer helped Garcia to file a case.

Seven other domestic helpers filed a claim against Ebrahim for collecting fees ranging from $10,000 to $40,000, also for fictitious jobs in a resort in Shenzhen.

Again, the agency owner did not show up for the case hearing, so the complainants were granted their full claims. However, not one of the seven has been paid as directed by the tribunal.

Esther Bangcawayan, case officer of the Mission for Migrants, told The SUN that enforcing the awards was difficult because of the bailiff fee that had to be paid upfront.

She said some of the victims accepted Ebrahim’s offer of $500 or $1,000 repayment, rather than not getting back any amount.

But others said “they would just leave it to God, or to karma,” said Bangcawayan,.

On Apr 29, the Employment Agencies Administration revoked Vicks’ Maid license to operate after its conviction for overcharging a jobseeker.

The agency was also found guilty of moving its office from Causeway Bay to Shatin but did not inform the EAA about it.

The agency tried, but failed, to get the license cancellation revoked by the Administrative Appeals Board.

For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operations or agencies overcharging job-seekers, call the Employment Agencies Administration at 2115 3667, or visit its office at unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

Dagsa ang naghabol ng oras para maging huling botante

Ni Virgilio B. Lumicao

Ang pinakahuling bunmoto: the last one was this woman, is Rhaezcy Dulnuan.

Parang naghahabulang pusa’t daga paakyat at pababa sa tatlong palapag ng botohan sa Bayanihan Centre ang paghahanap namin sa pinakahuling botante noong Mayo 9.
Sa mga huling sandali ng botohan ay may ilang dumating na humahangos na hinabol namin paakyat. Patuloy naman ang hiyawan sa ibaba para sa mga paparating pa na inuudyukan ng mga tao para magmadali at nang makakahabol pa. Humigit-kumulang sila sa 10 katao.
Pinakahuli sa dumating para bumoto si Rhaezcy Dulnuan, 27, isang taga-Baguio. Matapos mahanap sa listahan ng Comelec ang kanyang pangalan ay ibinigay sa kanya ang kanyang precinct coupon: SBEI 06, Room 502.
Agad namin siyang sinundan sa pagboto upang makunan siya ng larawan sa aktong pagboto.
Bagamat ibinigay niya ang kanyang pangalan, naging matipid siya sa pagsagot sa tanong.
Bago siya dumating, may hinabol kaming isang lalaki na sa pag-aakala naming siya na ang pinakahuling botante.
May sinundan din kaming tatlong volunteer ng Bayanihan na nagpahuli, pero di sinuwerte.
Ang huling grupo na dumating ay panay babae, kasama si Dulnuan.
Isang residenteng matipuno ang katawan ang pinakahuling lumapit sa secretariat para kumuha ng verification slip para sa kanyang presinto, nguni’t inamin din niya na nakaboto na siya.
Ayon kay J. de Luna, alam na niya kung saang presinto siya dapat, at itinaon niya ng eksaktong alas singko ang pagpasok ng kanyang balota sa vote counting machine, dahil sa pag-aakalang iyon ang takda na siya ang pinakahuling botante.
Ang hindi niya alam, ang itinakdang pagtatapos ay para lang sa pagsasara ng gate ng Bayanihan, kaya ang lahat na nakaabot doon bago sa takdang oras ay pinayagan pa ring umakyat para bumoto.
Gayunman, ang pinakahuli, kung tutuusin, ay ang tatlong babae at isang lalaki na dumating noong bago mag-alas-6 ng gabi. Dahil sarado na ang gate sa harap ay doon sila  pumanhik sa hagdanang batong papalabas sa Bayanihan, at agad na lumapit sa mga taga Konsulado.
Galit sila dahil alas-7 raw ang nakalagay sa Facebook post ng Konsulado kaya dumating sila nang malapit nang mag-alas-6. Ang dalawang babae ay mga kasambahay, isang taga-Causeway Bay at isang taga-Mid Levels. Noon lang daw sila nakaalis dahil inuna muna ang trabaho.
Ang isa ay isang negosyante na 22 taon na daw sa Hong Kong. Hindi rin umano ito nakaalis agad sa trabaho sa Tsimshatsui. Ang kasabay niyang lalaki ay hindi na lang kumibo.
“Kung sinabi lang dito 3pm, e di 3pm, no problem,” sabi ni Nora Alconaba, ang negosyante, na noon lang daw nabigo na bumoto,
Naasar din si Met Tuico, isa sa mga kasambahay, at 1990 pa dumating sa Hong Kong. “Hindi naman kami basta-basta nakakaalis dahil may amo kami,” sabi niya.
Sinikap ipaliwanag ni Vice Consul Fatima Quintin na Abril 12 pa inilagay ng Konsulado sa Facebook ang binagong oras ng pagtatapos, ngunit hndi sila napahinuhod.
Humingi naman ng paumanhin si Consul Charles Macaspac dahil nakatanggap umano siya sa Comelec ng mensahe na puwedeng patagalin hanggang alas-6 ang pagboto, ngunit nang matanggap iyon ay alas-5:38 na ng hapon, at dahil wala nang dumarating ay pinasara na nila ang mga presinto.

Nagkalayo dahil sa away pulitika

Matagal nang magkaibigan sina Jay at Harold. Labing limang taon na halos silang magkaibigan at “bestie” ang kanilang tawagan. Dito sila nagkakilala sa Hong Kong, at kahit pumunta na si Harold sa France upang makasama ang nobya na ngayon ay asawa na niya, ay hindi nawala ang kanilang komunikasyon. Naging ninang pa si Jay ng anak ni Harold at wala silang naging tampuhan minsan man. Nitong nakaraang eleksyon, nabago ang pagkakaibigan nila dahil sa magkasalungat na paniniwala. Pareho silang aktibo sa kanilang mga kandidato at madalas magpalitan ng kuro-kuro at pananaw sa Facebook. Ito ang naging ugat ng kanilang samaan ng loob. Naging masyadong personal ang kanilang palitan ng mga salita at kahit ang iba nilang mga kaibigan ay nabahala na rin. Para kay Jay, hindi naman niya pinepersonal ang mga palitan nila ng salita dahil labas iyon sa kanilang pagkakaibigan. Hindi niya ito sinasabi kay Harold dahil iniiwasan din niyang mabuksan ang paksa at marahil ay ayaw din niyang malaman na may sama ng loob sa kanya ang kaibigan. Halata niya kasing pinersonal ng kaibigan ang pinahuling comment niya sa isang post nito dahil agad itong binura. Naghihintayan ngayon ang magkaibigan na humupa na muna ang isyu para subukang manumbalik ang kanilang pagkakaibigan. Sabi nga ng mga kaibigan nila, hindi naman daw ito malaking bagay para masira ang kanilang pagkakaibigan. Mismong si Jay ay umaasa na sana ay hindi maging hadlang ang kanilang magkaibang pananaw sa pulitika para masira ang pagkakaibigan nila ni Harold na itinuturing niya na isang nakakabatang kapatid, -Jo Campos

Dahil lang sa lumang sinelas

Alalang-alala si Gal nang makita ang text ng isang kakilala sa kanya kamakailan. Humihingi pala ito ng tulong sa kanya bandang alas dos ng madaling araw, ilang oras bago niya makita ang text, dahil pinapulis daw ito ng among taga Repulse Bay matapos pagbintangang nagnakaw ng tsinelas at isang lumang pouch. Hindi na ma-contact ni Gal ang kaibigan kaya naisip niyang tuluyan na itong kinulong. Humingi na lang siya ng payo kung paano niya makakausap ang kaibigan, at mabigyan ng tulong sa abot ng kanyang makakaya. Ang isa sa kanyang nilapitan ay nagsabing dapat na ipaalam sa Konsulado ang kaso, pero kung gusto niyang malaman agad ang kundisyon ng kaibigan ay kailangan niyang maibigay ang tunay nitong pangalan. Hindi naman nagtagal ay nakuha na niya ang buong pangalan ng kaibigan mula sa ilang mga kakilala, ngunit ganoon na lang ang kanyang pagkabigla nang malaman na natatawagan na itong muli. Pinayagan pala itong magpiyansa ng mga pulis habang iniimbestigahan ang kanyang kaso. Bagamat malaki ang pag-asa na ibasura na ng pulis ang kaso, nag-aalala pa rin si Gal sa kaibigan dahil nawalan ito ng trabaho matapos lang ang dalawang buwan, at ngayon ay iniimbestigahan pa dahil sa maling bintang. Ayon sa report ng pulis, nakuha mula sa kanyang kaibigan ang dalawang pares ng hindi kamahalang tsinelas, isang gamit na pouch na pinulot nito matapos itapon ng amo, at dalawang gunting na ipinatago sa kanyang kuwarto. Umaasa si Gal na maibasura na nang tuluyan ang kaso ng kaibigan para makapagtrabaho na itong muli. Si Gal isang dalagang taga Davao at mahigit 10 taon nang nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong. -- DCLM

Nagsawa sa kakasagot sa walang alam

Naiinis ang mga kasambahay na nakakausap ni Nona sa playground tuwing nakikipaglaro ang kanyang alaga sa mga ibang bata doon dahil tanong siya ng tanong. Noong una ay sinasagot pa siya ng maayos tuwing nagtatanong siya dahil baguhan pa lang siya sa Hong Kong, pero noong bandang huli ay hindi na siya masyadong pinapansin. Pare-pareho naman kasi ang tinatanong niya sa mga kausap kaya madali silang nagsawa sa kakasagot. Sobrang katangahan naman daw nito dahil parang hindi naiintindihan ang mga paliwanag sa kanya, o kaya ay ayaw niyang paniwalaan. Nung minsan ay nainis lalo sa kanya ang isang kausap dahil nagtanong siya kung sino si Leni Robredo, ang kandidato ng administrasyon sa pagka bise presidente ng Pilipinas. Medyo napahiya siya sa sinabi ng kausap na bakit hindi niya ito kilala eh ilang buwan pa lamang siya dito sa Hong Kong. Naawa naman ang iba sa kanya dahil parang walang naiiwan sa utak niya sa mga sinasabi nila sa kanya. Pumapasok sa kaliwang tenga at lumalabas din sa kabila. Nagtataka din sila kung paano siya natatagalan ng kanyang amo dahil parang wala siyang kaalam-alam. Si Nona ay tubong Visayas, may mga anak at asawang naiwan sa Pilipinas. – Marites Palma

Nakakita ng kasimpatiya

Magdamag na hindi nakatulog si Ann dahil sa pagbabantay ng resulta sa naganap na pambansang halalan sa Pilipinas. Sobrang lungkot ang kanyang nadama nang makitang malaki ang pagkatalo ng kanyang kandidato sa pagka-presidente kaya nakatulog siyang umiiyak. Kinabukasan ay agad tinanong ng kanyang among Briton kung sino ang nanalong presidente, at hindi niya napigilan ang hindi umiyak. Bukod kasi sa pagkatalo ng kanyang manok ay masama din ang loob niya dahil sa dami nang nang-away, nagpahiya at nag-block pa sa kanya sa Facebook dahil sa pagtatanggol niya sa kanyang kandidato. Lantaran kasi siyang nagpapahayag ng kanyang damdamin tungkol sa mga iba’t ibang post ng paninira laban sa sinusuportahan niyang partido. Tinapik siya sa balikat ng kanyang amo at sabay sabing, “Just hope and pray that the incoming president will make the Philippines the best country in Asia.” Nahimasmasan siya sa tinuran ng amo, at agad niyang inihanda ang agahan nito. Nakatulong din na napasama siya sa grupong The Silent Majority kaya kahit paano ay may kasama siyang nalungkot sa pagkatalo ni Mar Roxas bilang presidente. Lubha siyang natuwa sa grupo dahil buong pagpapakumbaba nilang tinanggap ang kanilang pagkatalo, at nanatiling disente sa kabila ng maanghang na salitang binabato sa kanila. Dahil sa kanila ay magaan na ang kanyang pakiramdam ngayon, at umaasa pa rin na ang kanyang kandidatong si Leni Robredo ang siyang mananaig sa mahigpit na labanan para sa pagka bise presidnte. Si Ann ay tubong Cebu, nagsosolong magulang at may dalawang anak. – Marites Palma

No choice kahit masama ang loob

Sa pagpirmahan pa lang ng kontrata ni Leni sa kanyang among Briton ay napagkasunduan na nilang ang kanyang day off ay araw ng Linggo. Makailang beses niya itong nilinaw para hindi sila magkaroon ng di pagkakaunawaan pagdating ng araw. May kasamang Pinay sa bahay na pinagtatrabuhan si Leni at pareho silang Linggo ang day off. Maayos naman ang ganitong kalakaran sa kanilang mga amo, kaya noong Mayo 1 at 2 na araw ng Linggo at statutory holiday ay pareho silang lumabas nang magkasunod na araw.  Makaraan ang ilang araw ay tila sumama ang timpla ng kanilang mga amo at halatang may tila ipahiwatig ito. Bandang huli ay nag-text ang among babae kay Leni para sabihing hindi ito sang-ayon na ang dalawa nilang katulong ay lumalabas nang sabay dahil wala silang makasama sa bahay sa araw ng Linggo o holiday. May iniinda umano itong sakit at ang kanya namang asawa ay laging pagod sa trabaho at gabi na kung umuwi lagi. Hindi nagustuhan ni Leni ang ganitong pananalita ng kanyang amo dahil sa halip na kausapin sila ng personal at dinaan pa nito sa pagte text. Kalaunan ay nakipag usap din ang amo sa kanilang dalawa at nilinaw nila pareho na ito ang dati na nilang napagkasunduan sa simula pa. Sinabi naman ng amo na mag-uusap silang muli, at sa susunod ay kasama na sa usapan ang asaw nito. Sa tonong nanunumbat ay binanggit pa ng among babae na mataas kaysa minimum ang kanilang sahod, at nagbibigay pa umano sila ng bonus sa kanilang mga katulong. Inulit muli nito ang nasabi na ng kanyang asawa tungkol sa kanilang day off at statutory holiday. Ayon sa kanilang amo, gusto nilang maging masaya ang kanilang mga kasambahay nguni’t dahil dito ay sila naman ang nahihirapan sa pag-aalaga ng kanilang mga anak at pag-aasikaso sa bahay kapag sabay na lumalabas ang kanilang mga kasambahay. Sa pahiwatig ng mga salita ng amo ay dapat na maging alternate ang day off nila at ganoon din kapag statutory holiday. Hindi sang ayon si Leni dito dahil ang pinanghahawakan niya ay ang kanilang usapan bago sila pumirma ng kontrata, ngunit binigyan lang sila ng isang linggo para magpasya kung papayag sa gusto ng kanilang mga amo. Walang nagawa ang dalawa kahit masama ang kanilang loob dahil alam nilang papalitan sila kapag hidi sila pumayag, lalo na si Leni na ilang buwan pa lang sa mga amo. –Jo Campos

HK businesses join fight vs trafficking

ConGen Bernie Catalla (fourth from left) is one of the special guests for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Somewhere among Hong Kong’s 2.48 million households there are domestic helpers who are virtual human slaves because of their long working hours and the huge debts they had to incur to secure their jobs.
Because they work between 17-18 hours a day and are in debt bondage, they are deemed to be in slave-like conditions, which is the main reason why the U. S. State Department has given Hong Kong a Tier 2 rating in its annual human trafficking report since 2009 .
The Tier 2 ranking means Hong Kong lags in complying with minimum international standards for the elimination of human trafficking and slavery. It is a charge the government rejects because the TIP report allegedly fails to reflect the authorities’ “unfailing and continuous efforts” in fighting the scourge.
Amidst this scenario, a private organization called The Mekong Club is enlisting Corporate Hong Kong in the fight against human trafficking, and the effort is led by an expert in the global campaign to stamp out the menace.
Matthew Friedman, chief executive of The Mekong Club, says he has been working to eliminate human trafficking for the past 26 years -- as regional project manager of the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking based in Bangkok from 2006 to 2012, and as deputy director of the USAID Office of Public Health at the Regional Development Mission-Asia Region from 1991 to 2006.
Those jobs saw him living in Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand for several years and in Hong Kong for the past two years as he helps reduce the estimated 36 million slaves around the world, 66% or 23.4 million of whom are in Asia, according to the 2015 Global Slavery Index.
“I work for an organization called The Mekong Club. I work with banks, I work with corporations,” Friedman said in an interview with The SUN on the sidelines of the “1 People 1 City” multi-cultural Festival at Southorn Playground on May 8.
“We train them on what they need to know in order to protect their business because the profit generated from slavery is US$1.1 trillion annually, (and) the banks fear that if that money goes into the banks, it’s money laundering,” he said.
Friedman said manufacturers are concerned about the possibility that slavery is involved in their supply chain. “So we work to get corporations to train in this so they could look into their business and ensure there could be no problem with them,” he said.
The two-day festival on May 7-8, hosted by the International Christian Assembly, aimed to raise over $1 million to help The Mekong Club set up support programs including raising businesses and NGOs’ awareness of modern-day slavery.
The people of Hong Kong are very receptive to the campaign against human trafficking, Friedman said. But he admits there are documented cases of human slavery here. “You see it in people in forced prostitution, you see it among domestic helpers,” he said.
“We would like to put a more positive spin on the fact that corporations are stepping up, they are becoming interested, they want to take on a leadership role, they understand that they live as part of this world,” Friedman said.
“The banks are beginning to proactively address this, manufacturers are doing that, and a lot of people look at the corporate sector here, saying that ‘they don’t care, they use profits from slavery, that’s the case’. I have very good relationships with the corporates, they are very interested in this idea” of the private sector leading the fight

Labatt to help nurses, midwives look for better jobs

By Daisy CL Mandap

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre is set to meet with registered nurses and midwives in Hong Kong this Sunday, May 15, to help them identify “alternative employment and reintegration options” back in the Philippines.
Labatt de la Torre said the move is in line with the government’s effort to get as many Filipino professionals working overseas to fill up positions that are available back home, or to go somewhere else where they can practice their profession, and get better pay.
Currently, Germany is recruiting Filipino nurses and other health professionals under a special no-placement fee arrangement with the Philippine government.
More recently, Saudi Arabia’s health ministry issued a notice through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), of its urgent need for 400 female nurses for the King Saud Medical City in Riyadh.
Nurses’ leader Lorna Pagaduan and Brenda Atrero, president of the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines – Hong Kong, both welcomed the initiative.
“That is the reason we are conducting a signature campaign for the midwifery board examination to be held here again,” said Atrero. “Many of our members have managed to move on to other countries for better paying jobs, or back to the Philippines, after passing the exam.”
She said their counterpart group in the Philippines has told them that at least 50 examinees are needed for the licensure exam to be held in Hong Kong. As there are only about 15 IMAP-HK members who are still under board, she has enlisted the help of the Consulate and other groups like The SUN to get more midwifery graduates to sign up for the campaign.
Pagaduan is also hopeful of having another nursing licensure examination to be held in Hong Kong, despite her group’s dismal performance in the first such qualifying test held here in 2009.
That year, licensure exams were held separately for nursing and midwifery graduates working as domestic helpers in Hong Kong. While half of the 28 midwifery examinees passed, only 2 of the 90 nursing examinees made the mark.
Pagaduan has attributed the OFW examinees’ low passing rate to time constraints and the lack of exposure to current nursing trends.
Both groups hope to do better in the next round, with help from the government in preparing their members for the examination.
The Department of Labor and Employment, through its National Reintegration Center where Labatt de la Torre used to be connected, is currently working on getting as many 300 teachers abroad, to go home and teach. The main attraction is the Php18,000 monthly salary offered to first-time teachers in the Philippines, which is higher than what most OFWs make, although slightly less than what is paid to those working in Hong Kong.
So far, only 10 have taken up the offer under the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir”, and all were from Hong Kong.
Those who want to join the meeting with Labatt de la Torre may go to the POLO office at Admiralty Tower 1, 11th Floor this Sunday, May 15. The meeting with the midwives will take place at 3pm, and 4pm for the nurses.

Duterte wins presidency

After more than three months of campaign that saw dirty words and tactics being flung freely on social media, Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte emerged as winner by landslide in the May 9 presidential elections.
But Duterte, 71, offered his hand for healing and peace even before the balloting was over. He asked opponents to “forget about the travails” of the elections and help him “begin the healing now.”
This, despite his campaign that featured rash talking, including a rape joke, and use of bullying by his trolls on social media—behaviors that he himself tried to curb by calling on his supporters to stop.
After casting his vote at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Matina district, Davao City, Duterte said the “virulent” campaign season should not stop him and his political rivals from mending fences and helping one another in nation building.
When the vote count indicated Duterte was way ahead, candidate Grace Poe conceded. Mar Roxas followed the next day.
The election was as much a victory for the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which reported a voter turnout of 81 percent of the country’s 54.3 million registered voters. The poll body had expected  a 75 percent turnout.
In comparison, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said, the 2010 presidential elections had a voter turnout of 74.8 percent while the 2013 local elections, had 77 percent.
The speed of transmission of election results was also the fastest of the three polls in which vote counting machines were used, with 60 percent sent in by 9:30 p.m. on May 9 from more than 92,509 precincts across the country.
Bautista attributed this to the preparation that included lessons from experiences in the 2010 and 2013 elections and pinpointing where and what equipment to deploy to guarantee transmission.
He said they also met with telecom companies to guarantee privacy, priority and security of data. He added that the manual upload of data from SD cards also helped.
Among the country’s 19 regions, the National Capital Region (Metro Manila), Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4-A (Calabarzon) had transmitted more than 70 percent of the votes to the Comelec by 9:30 p.m.
The first to accept the trends these these reports had indicated was Senator Poe.
In a press conference at midnight, Poe said she recognized the wide lead that Duterte enjoyed and assured him of her cooperation for the good of the country.
At past noon the next day, Roxas gathered his staff at the campaign headquarters and wished Duterte success.
The emotional but calm Roxas said:  “Digong, I wish you success. Ang inyong tagumpay ay tagumpay ng ating sambayanan at ng ating bansa.”
The former Interior secretary thanked his supporters and called for reconciliation after a bitter quest for the highest post in government.
But Roxas said the fight remains for his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, for the vice presidency.
“Sa ngayon, hindi pa tapos ang laban ni Leni. Angat siya, lumalaban siya. Patuloy tayong magbantay, manalig at sumuporta. Siguraduhin natin na mabibilang nang tama ang kanyang boto,” he said.
Comelec’s Bautista said the gesture of some candidates to acknowledge the victory of their opponents was a good way to ease political tension. “I hope this will become a tradition that will be practiced in the future elections,” he said.

May 9 polls went smoothly–Comelec

The May 9 elections were generally smooth despite some problems involving bogged down vote counting machines.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista said about 150 vote counting machines were deployed to replace those that bogged down. Around 2,500 machines encountered problems in various areas although the rest were addressed without need of replacement.
Voting time did not start as scheduled at 6 a.m. in some areas and was extended by an hour to 6 p.m. in other areas.
Bautista said the Comelec still did better this year compared to previous elections.
In 2010, about 205 of 76,347 machines or about 0.26 percent needed to be replaced. In 2013, some 171 out 77,829 had to be replaced. This year, 150 out of 92,509 or 0.016 percent needed replacement.
The number of calls to the national support center was not as bad as in 2013. In 2010, there were 1,966 calls out of 76,347 machines that translate to a percentage of 2.57 percent. In 2013 there were 4,760 out of 77,829 machines or 6.11 percent. In 2016, as of 4 p.m., 2,363 calls were made out of 92,509 or a percentage of 2.55 percent.
There is also no information yet on areas where failure of elections was declared. Bautista said in Cordoba, Cebu, there were reports of misdelivery of ballots.
The Comelec chief said the National Board of Canvassers will try to reach the target of proclaiming the winning senators within a week.
He said among the common complaints they have received are machines not accepting ballots and the failure of the machines to print.

Prim and proper Digong?

From a trash-talking candidate, former Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to be “prim and proper” once he assumes the presidency.
“I need to control my mouth. I cannot be bastos because I am representing our country,” he told newsmen in Davao City.
“If you are the president of the country, you need to be prim and proper, almost, maging holy na ako (I would become holy),” Duterte also said during a late-night program with religious sect leader Apollo Quiboloy
Duterte’s common-law wife Cielito Avanceña said he is ready to be a statesman. ”The character that he projected during the campaign was the character that is very appropriate for the campaign period kasi awayan ‘yan eh (because it’s full of arguments). Presidency, are you still going to don such character when you should act like a statesman?” Avanceña said on the sidelines.
She said the 90-day official campaign period was a battle between lions and tigers.
“He respects the position. Presidente na siya ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Lawyer siya eh. Alam niya iyong pinasok niya. Alam niya iyong panghahawakan niyang position,” she said.
Avanceña said the real work was not during the campaign period but once Duterte assumed the presidency.
As to his agenda once he takes over from President Benigno S. Aquino III, the first priority would be taking over the government.
The Duterte group has named transition committee members: campaign manager Leoncio Jun Evasco; assistant campaign manager and executive assistant Christopher Bong Go; Carlos G. Dominguez, former cabinet member and head of campaign’s Finance Committee; lawyers Salvador Medialdea and Loreto Ata, and spokesman Tony Lavina. They will soon meet with the Aquino government’s transition team to be headed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr.
Lavina said revising the Constitution would be a priority with the view of shifting the form of government from presidential-unitary to parliamentary and federal system. He said Duterte would submit the issue—which devolves power from national government—to a national consensus.
Duterte would also resume negotiations for peace with rebel groups.
Duterte reiterated his vow to go after drug syndicates and other criminals and warned corrupt law enforcers to either retire or die.
He said he would seek multilateral talks to resolve territorial disputes with China over islands in the West Philippine Sea.
Earlier, Duterte showed his displeasure over the outgoing government’s move to raise the territorial dispute with China to international arbitration.

Aquino: End bickering

As the May 9 election results showed the apparent winners, President Benigno Aquino III called on Filipinos to immediately end political bickering and urged the public to accept and respect the outcome of the elections.
“Ipakita po natin sa buong mundo na gaano man kalalim ang ating mga damdamin at paninindigan para sa ating kandidato, ay kaya nating magsagawa ng isang eleksyong mapayapa, maayos at tunay na sumasalamin sa diwa ng demokrasya [Let us show to the world that no matter how deep our conviction and dedication to our candidates, we can have peaceful and orderly elections that mirrors our democratic processes],” Aquino said.
“Sa demokrasya, lahat ay nakakapagdesisyon. Sa huli, pagkatapos ng halalan, nawa’y matigil na ang bangayan. Igalang at unawain natin ang anumang pasyang bunga ng pagsasama ng tinig ng mas nakararami para sa ating lahat [Under a democracy, everyone can make a decision. In the end, and after the elections, I hope that the bickering will end. Let us respect and understand whatever will be the fruit of our respective decisions]” he added.
“Bawat isa sa atin, anuman ang kalagayan sa buhay, ay may tag-iisang boto, upang direktang maghalal ng mga susunod nating pinuno. Ito ang bubuo ng ating kolektibong desisyon ukol sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa [Each one of us, whatever our station in life, has one vote so that we can directly choose our next leader],” the President said.
He cautioned the people to verify the source of reports on election results and to be wary of speculations and false news.
“Karangalan ko pong maging bahagi ng mapayapang pagsasalin ng kapangyarihan sa ilalim ng ating mga demokratikong proseso [It is an honor to be part of the turnover of leadership under our democratic processes],” the President said.

Attention: All Nurses and Midwives
There will be a dialogue with Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre this Sunday, May 15, at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, 11th floor, Admiralty Centre Tower1.
The focus will be on alternative employment and reintegration options for health professionals back in the Philippines.
The meeting with nurses will be held at 3pm, and with midwives at 4pm. For details, call Brenda of IMAP at 6776 2604 or Lorna at 6162 5584.

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

Wellness Program for Helpers at Discovery Bay
May 7- 16. Spend some evenings in May to help you learn to manage stress, enhance your physical and mental health and take better control of your life. Workshops take place every Tuesday in May, 7pm at DBIS, room 2-39. Yoga is every Friday at 7pm at Movement Improvement (Unit 10, 1st Floor, Block 2, North Plaza). Please register with us Migrants in Action, and tell us your name, phone number and which workshops you want to attend. You can also email migrantsinaction@gmail.com.

The SUN Calendar

Counter Trafficking Training Workshop 
May 15, 2-5pm, PCG Conference Room
Organizer: International Organization for Migration
Topics: What is human trafficking and how OFWs can help combat it. To register, call Ms Lorna (ATN) at 2823 8512 or email hongkong.pcg@dfa.gov.ph (subject line "IOM Anti-Trafficking Seminar")

Cordillera Day (Part2)
May 15, 1-5pm. City Hall grounds. (Events to highlight the annual Cordillera Day Celebration in HK)

Magtanong kay Doc Part 2
May 22, PCG Conference Room
1:30-4:30pm Free one-on-one consultation
4:30-6:00pm Health Talk
Topic: Breast & Ovarian Cancer Facts
Speaker: Dr. Romeo V. Orteza, neuro-trauma surgeon, complementary & alternative medicine practitioner, St. Lukes Global Medical Center. To register, call: Evelyn: 6625 5924, Reign 9840 9473 or Glenn 9226.6341

Ms Bella Vita HK and Housing Fair
May 22, 11am-6pm. Delifrance, 1F, Worldwide Plaza, Central
For details, contact Ayala Land HK, Shop 331, WorldWide Plaza

Bloodletting Day
June 5, Red Cross Centre, Causeway Bay
Organizer: PGBI AGUILA, Contact: Gener @55908253

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.

Seared salmon fillets in mango-orange sauce

By JC The Foodie

I love to try or experiment with various sauces and marinades, making a simple dish into something special and a touch of some love into it.
This recipe is the latest entry in a compilation that I have whipped up over the years.
I have chosen to start with it as salmon is quite cheap in Hong Kong, and is a favorite with many, eaten raw or smoked, or cooked in various ways.
Salmon is also very nutritious and is a good substitute to meat.
I commonly see recipes using lemon and butter to make a sauce that compliments fish very well. Adventurous as I am with my ingredients, I made a fusion of citrus fruit and a tropical fruit to create this unique dish.
Mango is in season and oranges are readily available throughout the year, although dalandan can be used to define an Asian flavor into it.
This sauce was created out of boredom from my usual pan fried salmon which I am very fond of. One day, I opened the fridge and just picked up whatever I could use and voila! This tangy-fruity-herb infused sauce is just fab, you simply have to try it!
– Jo Campos

Seared salmon fillets in mango-orange sauce

Ingredients:
• Salmon fillets
• Freshly squeezed orange juice
• Fresh dill
• Ripe Philippine mango
• Small knob of ginger
• Butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Dash of chili powder
• Orange rind

Procedure:

Preparing the salmon fillets:
1. Wash and pat dry salmon fillets. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a griddle or frying pan, sear salmon fillets on high heat for a few minutes to brown all sides quickly and the skin should be crunchy. Be sure not to overcook as the salmon will be dry inside.

For the sauce:
1. Squeeze the juice of an orange. Set aside.
2. Using a peeler, peel the skin of an orange, making sure that only the outer of the orange skin is peeled away as the white part is bitter. Slice into very thin julienne strips.
3. Peel ginger and slice thinly into julienne strips.
4. Slice mango. Cut a criss-cross pattern on the mango halves and scoop out the flesh.
5. In a small pan, melt butter till bubbly in low heat, making sure not to burn the butter.
6. Add ginger and saute till fragrant, add orange juice followed by orange rind and diced mangoes.
7. Let the sauce simmer in low heat till reduced. Season with salt and pepper and a dash of chili powder for a kick!
8. Turn off heat and add dill.
9. Arrange on a serving plate and drizzle generously  with sauce. Serve warm with green veggies..

NOTE: You can adjust the quantities of ingredients according to your taste.

Police cases: theft, assault and abuse

In the Mission’s year-end report of 2015, it is stated that 12% of those we assisted were involved in police-related cases ranging from physical assault, sexual abuse and alleged theft.
Within just a few months of this year, there has been a marked increase in the number of police-related cases, and most of them involve accusations of theft. Since, based on our case intake, many of our clients are new arrivals - meaning that they have just been working in Hong Kong for a year or less - we decided to focus on police-related problems  encountered by migrant workers in this column.
Here are some of the cases the Mission handles and some important points for migrant workers to remember:

Theft
As is commonly known, theft is the taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent, with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. So if you were discovered to have taken, then kept, your employer’s property or any item that belongs to your employer without their permission, then you can be accused of theft.
If you found something on the street, public toilet, or any public place and kept the said item for yourself, you can be charged with theft. Usually, owners report the loss of their personal belongings to the police. If that reported item is found in your possession by the police, you may be charged with theft, even if you found it only on the street.
We have had a lot of theft cases that resulted from trumped-up charges against the worker. A trumped-up charge happens when someone accuses you of stealing money or anything and these are found in your belongings. Remember that the police will not be after whether the allegation is true or not. Their main duty is to report if there is sufficient evidence to merit the filing of a case in court, which means the item in question is found in the possession of the accused, and it has been established that the accused had put that item in her belongings.

Physical and sexual assault
At the Mission, we usually handle cases of migrant workers who were assaulted by their employer or a member of the extended family of the employer. In most of these cases, the assault had already happened before our help was sought. What we try to do is to make the incident as clear as possible for the victim so that during the statement making at the police station, she or he can clearly state the facts and produce all possible evidence to strengthen the case.

Now, what should one do in the above situations?
If you find an item or money or anything on the streets, ignore it for it is best to be safe. But because we feel concern for the person who lost a valuable item such as a passport, HKID, and the like, we can immediately report the matter to any police officer we see in the street. Let the police officer decide on what to do.
However, if you decide to pick it up, bring it immediately to a police officer or proceed to any nearby police station. If you picked up such items and kept them, you could be charged with stealing, if the item had been reported to the police as missing.
If you are accused of stealing an item belonging to your employer - assuming that the item was found in your luggage but you did not take it and put it in your luggage - do not say anything during investigation by the police. This is because anything that you say and put into writing either by you or the investigator may be used as evidence against you should the case go to court.
In such a case, it is better to ask assistance from service providers like the Mission for legal assistance. Start to recall every detail of the incident. Sometimes, a factual statement that can help raise doubts in the statement of the accuser can come out from the details. It is best to write down your recollection of the events that led to the case so you can review them later on, and would be easier for you to make an accurate narration of the incident.
On physical abuse and/or sexual abuse
You should remember that in these cases wherein you are the accuser, the burden of proof lies on you. This means that you, as the accuser, should be the one to produce the proof or evidence that could allow the police to pursue investigation or prosecution.
In cases of physical and/or sexual abuse, there are important points to remember, that is why you should seek assistance or legal advice from service providers like the Mission. But if you are already in the investigation room at the Police Station, here are some important points:
Try to calm down and remember that you are not the one being accused. Put in mind that you are the accuser and what you are saying is the truth.
If there is no sufficient evidence, the police is duty-bound to just dismiss the case. They will have to inform you officially that they will not pursue the case, and why. If you are still under stress which affects your thinking, you can ask the police if they can reset the investigation to some other day and let you rest first. If it is not granted, then you will just have to relax yourself so that your answers to questions are clear and the facts are well established.
In giving a statement, remember all the details. Details help boost the credibility of your statement. Usually, the police will ask clarificatory questions because they want to establish whether there is sufficient evidence that will be acceptable to the court.
After the police investigation you may ask for assistance, especially with counseling, to help you overcome the trauma brought about by the incident. You may seek assistance from service providers to guide you on what steps to take in connection with your case. This will help you clear your mind and prepare you, whether the case progresses or not.

---

This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Tapos na ang halalan, ibalik na rin sa dati ang buhay

Natapos na ang halalan na maitatala sa kasaysayan bilang sanhi ng hidwaan sa mismong mga tahanan, sa magkakamag-anak, sa mga opisina o samahan, at sa pagitan ng mga magkakaibigan.
Kapag napawi na ang usok at ingay ng labanang pulitika at na humupa ang tensiyon, kapag malinaw na kung sino ang nanalo sa eleksiyon, sana ay bumalik na rin sa normal ang buhay ng mga mamamayang Pilipino.
Nakilala ang Pilipinas bilang isang bansang may pinakamahabang panahon ng pangangampanya sa eleksiyon dahil nakaugalian na ng mga pulitiko natin ang maagang paghahanda para sa susunod na halalan.
Sa unang araw pa lamang ng pag-upo ng isang nahalal na opisyal ay nagkakaroon na siya ng pakikipag-iringan sa nakalabang pulitiko. Nasaksaksihan na natin ang mga pangyayaring kapag umupo na sa puwesto ang nahalal ay uumpisahan na niyang singilin ang mga nagkaatraso sa kaniya.
Nakita na rin natin ang mga pangyayaring ang mga natalong opisyal ay ayaw bumaba sa puwesto at pilit na kumakapit doon, at nakahandang gumamit ng dahas upang huwag lang mapaalis.
Ibinunga ng ganitong kaugalian ang pagkakabaon ng ating kabuhayan sa lubak ng pulitika hanggang sa ang mga proyekto para sa pagpapaunlad ng ating kabuhayan ay nabibinbin at inaabutan ng susunod na halalan.
Mabuti sana kung kakaunting halaga ng pera ang nagugugol ng bansa tuwing may halalan. Sa katatapos lang na halalan, tinatayang umabot sa P10 bilyon ang nagastos ng Commission on Elections sa pagdaos ng halalan 2016, samantalang ang mga pulitikong tumakbo para sa iba’t ibang mga puwesto ay tinatayang gumugol ng humigit-kumulang sa P25 bilyon.
Hindi lamang malaking halaga ng pera ang nagugugol sa halalan. Batay sa ating karanasan, ang mga araw na ito ang pinakamainit na bahagi ng halalan dahil binibilang pa ang mga boto sa iba’t ibang dako ng Pilipinas. Ang ibig sabihin ay mainit pa ang ulo ng mga tao, pulitiko man o tagasuporta.
Madalas nagaganap ang patayang kaugnay ng eleksiyon sa mga panahong ito. Kadalasang nagaganap ang karahasang may kinalaman sa halalan, hindi lamang sa pagitan ng mga tauhan ng mga pulitiko kundi maging sa mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan na nagkataon lang na magkaiba ang ibinoto.
Sa ating mga nasa Hong Kong, kailangan sigurong gayahin natin ang mga tagarito. Kapag tapos na ang eleksiyon, linisin ang kalat, ayusin ang gusot, at ituon ang pansin sa pagpapaunlad sa ating mga sarili.
Kailangang mag-isip-isip at magpakahinahon tayo, nanalo man o natalo ang ating kandidato. Kalimutan natin ang malalim na hidwaan sa ating lipunan na nangyari bago dumating ang mismong halalan, at balikan natin ang dati nating buhay.
Pagkatapos ng salungatan ng mga pananaw ukol sa mga kumandidatong pulitiko, balikan natin ang nagkalamat na pagkakaibigan at sikaping ibalik ito sa ayos.
Sa bandang huli, magkakatulad lang naman tayo na mga Pilipinong naghahanap-buhay sa ibang bansa. At higit sa lahat, huwag nating kaligtaang kalampagin ang mga pulitiko tungkol sa mga dapat nilang gawin para sa kapakanan nating mga OFW. -- Vir B. Lumicao

Sluggers beat rival Pinays for Group B crown of HK Baseball tournament

Philippine Sluggers whoop it up with Coach David Wong after their victory.

Philippine Sluggers crowned itself as Women Grade B champion in the Hong Kong Baseball League 2015/2016 season after beating rival Filipino team Buffalo, 24-6, on May 8 on the Lion Rock pitch.
The victory was a vindication for Sluggers, which slipped last season from Grade A amid a futile struggle to stay in the top division without a coach and amid a loss of its mainstays to migration to greener pastures.
Winning the group championship was also a huge morale-booster for the squad, whose president Cecil Calsas also patiently acted as its coach and trainer in the previous season as its Australian coach John Rostagno went to the Middle East on a job assignment.
Playing without sponsorships, the team of entirely domestic workers spent on their own gear and toughed it out with Calsas as they kept their side intact.
With their brilliant performance on the pitch catching the attention of baseball lovers, helping hands finally reached out to Sluggers.
“Hats off to all the people who helped the team financially and morally to overcome the many months of training and games,” Calsas declared on her Facebook post after the victory on May 8.
“David Wong, you rock! Thank you so much Mr. and Mrs. Ping and Tin Tin Cuisia Remollo for believing in the team's capability. You did it, ladies. Hello A league!” she exclaimed.
Sluggers set up the championship duel with Buffalo, the older all-Filipino team in the league, by pulverizing local side Fortissimo 18-1 in the Group B semifinals on Feb 28 at Hin Keng Field in Tai Wai.
Buffaloes, meanwhile, beat local squad Hare in Group A in March.
After hammering Fortissimo in February, coach David Wong, who came to Sluggers’ aid this season, read the writing on the wall.
“Our fixture has been great, the fielding, there were no errors and everybody peaking in the battings, and in terms of defense they were good, too,” said Wong.
He forecast that Sluggers would return to the A league next season.
This was the first time Wong coached Sluggers and has been with it for the past year, while coaching in the men’s A league.
Rostagno, who returned to the team this season after a four-year absence, also had faith in Sluggers saying it was a very good team. Unfortunately, he was not in Hong Kong to savor the victory with the team as he flew to Dubai shortly after the Tai Wai battle.