Walang pinagkaiba ang turing

Nagkakuwentuhan ang magkaibigang Jessa at Kayla nang tumawag si Kayla kay Jessa upang magtanong kung may alam na amo ang kaibigan. Alam ni Jessa na matagal na si Kayla sa kanyang among mag-asawang Intsik at nagtaka ito kung bakit aalis na siya sa mga ito. Dito nagsimulang magkuwento si Kayla sa nangyari. Sinabi umano ng kanyang among lalaki na kailangang mas maaga siyang magsimulang magtrabaho, na hindi naman problema kay Kayla dahil madali naman daw siyang mag-adjust ng oras kahit siya ay stay-out sa kanyang mga amo. May sakit din na malubha ang kanyang among babae at ang kasama niyang Pinay ang stay-in sa mga ito. Ang hindi nagustuhan ni Kayla ay nang sabihin ng among lalaki na babawasan ang kanyang sahod sa dahilang hindi naman daw buong araw ang trabaho niya. Agad na tumutol si Kayla dahil sa 15 taon niyang pagtatrabaho sa mga ito ay ngayon  lang ito nangyari, samantalang ginagawa naman niya ang kanyang tungkulin nang maayos. Nag-usap silang muli ng amo at hinamon niya ang ito ng termination. Tila naman naging hamon ito sa kanyang amo at ora mismo ay gumawa ito ng termination letter para sa Immigration at agad na tinapos ang paglilingkod ni Kayla sa kanya. Binayaran naman nito ang kaukulang benepisyo ni Kayla na maayos na nagpaalam sa kanyang among babae na ang turing sa kanya ay kapatid na. Dahil sa awa ni Kayla sa among babae na pinagsilbihan niya ng mahigit 15 taon ay mabigat sa kalooban niya na iwan sila. Ngunit sabi nga ni Jessa sa kaibigan, walang pagkakaiba ang kanyang amo sa iba. Ang turing nila sa atin ay kasambahay lamang at gaano man katagal tayong nanilbihan sa kanila, gaano man kabuti ang ating pag-aalaga at pakikisama sa kanila, isa pa rin tayong mga bayarang katulong lamang. Parang kapag naibigay na ang mga benepisyo at bayad sa ating pagsisilbi, wala na silang pananagutan o utang na loob na dapat tanawin, himutok niya. - Jo Campos

Epekto ng sobrang pag-FB

Karamihan sa mga Pinay dito sa Hong Kong ay laging nasa FB. Sa bawa’t pagkakataon na makasingit kahit sa oras ng trabaho ay tiyak na sisilip para mag check ng kanilang notification. Ang iba ay inaabot din ng magdamag sa pakikipag chat. Isa na rito si Maria na halos lahat yata ng laman ng kanyang damdamin ay nailagay na sa Facebook status niya. Bawa’t lugar na puntahan, bawa’t kain sa isang restawran, tiyak may selfie na ipo-post. Kung minsan nga ay kahit bagong gising ay may selfie at status na “woke up like this”. Kahit mga lumang larawan niya na naipost na noon, babalikan muli para sa kanyang “throwback Thursday” post. Malungkot man o masaya, tiyak na ang mga friends niya sa FB ay malalaman ito. Kahit ang kanyang mga opinyon sa pulitika man o sa pangkaraniwang isyu ay tiyak na may kuro kuro siyang maihahatid sa kanyang status. Kung minsan ay nagiging dahilan ito para magkaroon ng isang pagtatalo o diskusyon sa pagitan ng mga nakababasa ng kanyang status at may pagkakataon din na napagsasalitaan siya ng hindi niya gusto. Siguro nga na sa panahon ngayon, napakasensitibo ng paksa tungkol sa pulitika. Maraming naging kagalit si Maria dahil dito. Ang iba naman sa kanyang mga kaibigan ay nagwawalang kibo na lang dahil para sa kanila ay hindi na dapat mag-aksaya ng panahon para makipagtalo sa kanya dahil na rin sa ipipilit lang din ni Maria ang kanyang paniniwala, maging ito man ay baluktot o walang katuturan. Kung minsan kasi ay dinadaan ni Maria sa tapang ng pananalita ang kanyang opinyon at hindi base sa katotohanang isyu at madalas na haka-haka lamang, Gayunpaman, tuloy pa rin ang kanyang pagpapa-viral sa FB at ano man ang maging comment ng kanyang mga kaibigan sa kanyang mga post ay di niya alintana. Ang mahalaga ay nai-post daw niya ang gusto niya at walang pakialam ang sino man kung ano man ang gusto niyang sabihin sa fb wall niya. Madalas man siyang mahuli ng kanyang amo na nakatutok sa kanyang cellphone ay tuloy pa rin ang pagka-addict niya sa FB kaya hindi na magtataka ang mga kakilala niya kung sakaling mawalan siya ng trabaho nang dahil dito. --Jo Campos 

Defiant theft suspect complains about forcible fingerprinting

By Vir B. Lumicao

A magistrate in Kowloon City Courts sidestepped a complaint by a Filipino theft suspect that his fingerprints were forcibly lifted by the police after he resisted them before his scheduled court appearance on June 10.
Marcelo Ortega Jr, was due to appear in the morning along with co-defendant Jolito Mania before Principal Magistrate Peter Law for the transfer of their case to the District Court.
The Filipino tourists were facing charges of attempted theft and breach of deportation order following their arrests earlier this year in an apparent pickpocketing sortie.
Officers in the courthouse tried to take Ortega’s fingerprints but he struggled, forcing a postponement of the hearing until after lunch break.
When the duo finally appeared in court, Ortega told the court, through the court-appointed defense counsel, that he wanted to complain against the officers’ forcible taking of his fingerprints.
But Law said he could only act on the offenses for which he and Mania were charged.
The proper venue for the defendant’s complaint would be the Complaints Against Police Office.
Law then proceeded transferring the case, along with relevant documents and exhibits, to the District Court.
Meanwhile, Law shortened the adjournment of a separate theft case against two other Filipino tourists, after the duty lawyer assigned to the defendants objected to the prosecution’s move to delay the hearing for six weeks.
The prosecutor said she needed more time to wait for results of the fingerprint analysis, further legal advice and CCTV footage of the crime.
Wilson Lacharon and Joseph Erwin Dacidilla were arrested by police on May 14 after they allegedly stole the money that a man had just withdrawn from a Bank of China ATM.
No further details of the incident were discussed in court.
The prosecutor said she objected to the grant of bail to Lacharon and Dacidilla because of the serious nature of their offense and that both had been issued deportation orders.
But the defense counsel said her clients did not want to wait a further six weeks for their next court appearance.
The prosecutor said fingerprint results would take that long.
She was also awaiting the bank’s reply to a request for CCTV footage relating to the crime.
Law backed the defense’s position and gave the prosecution just four weeks to obtain the fingerprint analysis and CCTV footage.
He set the next hearing to Jul 8.

Overstayed DH gets suspended sentence

A 39-year-old former domestic helper was handed a two-month jail sentence suspended for three years on June 8 after pleading guilty in a Shatin court to a charge of overstaying her visa in Hong Kong for nearly two years.
Armilyn B. Sogoni, who was in police custody, appeared before Magistrate Colin Wong and admitted her offense.
Sogoni was arrested by police last June 2 for overstaying her visa.
She came to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper at the end of April 2014. Shortly after arriving, she was convicted for theft and was supposed to have returned home before June 3, 2014, but she stayed.
According to the duty lawyer who represented Sogoni, the Filipina had said she wanted to go home to her children because his husband had left her.
Wong warned her not to commit any offense during the three-year suspension period, otherwise she would serve the sentence in addition to whatever penalty she would get for the new offense. – Vir B. Lumicao

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Licensure examination for teachers to be held on Sept 25 (Sunday)
We are pleased to inform everyone that the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers in Hong Kong (BLEPT) has been approved per Commission Resolution No. 2016 - 988 dated June 9, 2016.
PRC through the guidance of POLO-HK advised all interested applicants to visit the PRC website at http://www.prc.gov.ph and start to apply through "online application system." http://prc.gov.ph/online/application/apply.aspx
PRC's formal announcement of other important details (basic requirements and payment options) shall follow shortly.

THE SUN CALENDAR

8TH Anniversary/ Recognition Rites
June 19, 1-5pm
Bayanihan Centre
Organizer: United Migrants Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Association HK
Contact: Ofelia Baquirin

Induction of Officers and Graduation
June 19, 11am- 2pm
M/V Star Pisces
Organized by: Balikatan sa Kaunlaran HK Chapter
Contact: Ching, 5168 9670


Free Financial Literacy Seminar
June 26, July 24, Aug 21 and Nov 27.
Interested parties are advised to choose one of the dates mentioned above. The venue and details about the seminars will be announced later.
Organizer: CARD MRI OFW Foundation
For reservation and inquiries, contact 54238196 as well as 95296392 and 96066810. Registration will be on a first-come first-served basis, as only 50 slots are available.

Filcom Farewell for Consul Chuck Macaspac
June 26, 10am – 1pm
Venue TBA
Details to be announced through FB

RoRo Barbecue Get-Together
June 26, 11am- 7pm
Deep Water Bay Beach
Contact: Colleen Navarro
11 AM - 7 PM

Ugoy ng Duyan: A Free Play
July 3, 3-5pm
Y Theatre, Chaiwan
Co-organized by: Philippine Consular General and Teatro Filipino
Free admission.
For tickets and information, call the PCG Cultural Section, 2823 8537/ 8539

ICM Annual Banquet
Oct 24, 6pm onwards
Venue: 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.

Nanay Tarcila returns home

Nanay Tarcila (third from left) is reunited with relatives in Metro Manila, her stopover before eventually going home to Cadiz, Negros Occidental.

By Vir B. Lumicao

“Nanay Tarcila,” the 68-year-old woman who last December gave herself up to Immigration authorities after overstaying in Hong Kong for over a decade, is now back in the Philippines.
Tarcila Alabastro flew home on May 30 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight to Manila.
According to Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr, officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, the OFW’s plane ticket was paid for by the Hong Kong government, and she was escorted to the airport by immigration officers.
However, her friends in Hong Kong say Alabastro is now “stranded” at a relative’s home in Metro Manila because her air ticket was only up to Manila.
Alabastro was convicted of breach of condition of stay after overstaying for more than 12 years in Hong Kong. She was sentenced to six months in jail on Jan 8 by a Shatin court, which gave discounts for her surrender and her fragile physical condition.
She could hardly walk because of osteoarthritis when she surrendered on Dec 9 with help from the Consulate. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital two weeks later by Esther Bangcawayan of Bethune House after a surge in her blood pressure.
That discomfort turned out to be a mild stroke, and her surrender must have come as a blessing, according to Cayabyab. The domestic worker ended up spending practically all of her four-and-a-half months’ jail term in hospital, where all her medical needs were provided.
“Magaling na siya paglabas niya,” said Cayabyab, who often visited the old woman during the regular prison visit by Consulate officials.
For the domestic helpers who helped Alabastro surrender and find shelter, her early release was welcome news, but her return home left them with mixed feelings.
“Naku, ayaw ko nang maisip yung sa kulungan. Naiyak ako nang magkita kami. Nang makita niya ako, ang iyak niya, grabe! Di makapaniwala na babalikan ko siya,” said Alexise Tiu, administrator of the OFWs in Hong Kong who visited Alabastro at the Lowu women’s correctional a week before her departure.
It was Tiu who helped the limping Alabastro walk to the Consulate and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty on Dec 6, 2015 to seek a shelter before she surrendered. Tiu said she misses Nanay Tarcila. “I still want to see her but I’ll just pray that she’ll be fine.”

Juday at Ryan, nag-enjoy sa HK

Nanatiling matamis na pagmamahalan ng mag-asawang Judy Ann Santos at Ryan Agoncillo kahit tatlo na ang kanilang anak. Kamakailan ay binigyan ng sorpresa ni Ryan si Judy Ann nang sabihin niya ditong i-libre niya ng June 8 (Miyerkules) dahil may lakad silang dalawa.
Ang sorpresa pala ay pupunta sila ng Hong Kong dahil nakapagpa-reserve si Ryan sa restaurant ng pamosong French chef na si Joel Robuchon, sa L’ Atelier de Joel Robuchon na matatagpuan sa Landmark sa Central. Pahirapan daw ang pagkuha ng booking sa naturang restaurant, na may 3 Michelin stars dahil marami ang dumarayo dito, at matagal na ring gustong masubukang kumain dito ni Juday. Ang iba pang restaurants nito bukod sa HK ay matatagpuan sa ibang bansa gaya ng Bangkok, Bordeaux, Las Vegas, London, Macau, Monaco, Paris, Singapore, Taipei, at Tokyo.
Umalis ang mag-asawa sa Pilipinas ng 7:15 ng umaga upang mananghalian sa Hong Kong,  pero bago raw humabol sa reservation nilang 12:30 ng tanghali, sinabi ni Ryan na kailangan nilang sumaglit sa IFC ( International Finance Centre), dahil ito raw ang talagang sadya nila, at on the side lang ang pagbisita nila sa pamosong reataurant. Pinuntahan nila ang sikat na chocolate store na Godiva kung saan kinausap ni Ryan ang isang babae na nagpakilala kay Juday bilang kaibigan ng kanyang personal secretary na si Tippy. May iniabot na paper bag ang babae, na nang silipin ni Juday ay nabigla siya dahil ang laman nito ay black truffles, isang uri ng edible mushroom na ubod ng mahal at hindi basta mabibili o mahahanap.
Nagpatulong pala si Ryan kay Tippy na makahanap ng truffles, at eksakto namang may kaibigan ito na alam kung paano makakakuha nito sa Hong Kong. Kaya daw pala nagmamadaling pumunta sila ng Hong Kong ay upang malanghap ni Juday ang amoy nito habang sariwa pa. Matagal nang gustong masubukan ni Juday na magamit ito sa pagluluto, kaya napaiyak siya sa tuwa sa ginawa ni Ryan.
Sa maikling sandali nila sa Hong Kong na parang magkasintahan, at ang ginawa lang ay maglakad na bitbit ang isang trolley bag, kumain at sumakay ng train, bago bumalik ulit ng airport para makabalik sa Pilipinas kinagabihan, hindi malilimutan ni Juday ang masayang date nilang mag-asawa at ang magandang sorpresa ni Ryan sa kanya.
Parehong mahilig magluto ang mag-asawa, at nag-aral pa sila sa culinary school. Si Juday ay nakapaglabas na ng sariling cookbook, ang “Judy Ann’s Kitchen”. Kasalukuyang tinatapos ng aktres ang indie film na  “Kusina” na kalahok sa Cinemalaya Film Festival sa taong ito.

VINA, KINASUHAN SI CEDRIC
Sinampahan ng kaso ni Vina Morales ang dati niyang karelasyon na Cedric Lee noong June 3 a San Juan Prosecutor’s Office dahil diumano sa sapilitan nitong pagtangay sa kanilang anak na si Ceana mula sa kanilang tinitirhan nilang mag-ina. Nasa ibang bansa noon si Vina at nagbabakasyon kasama ng kanyang bagong boyfriend na si Marc Lambert..
Ayon kay Vina, nilabag ni Cedric ang visitation rights na itinakda ng korte na tuwing Sabado lang niya ito pwedeng madalaw. Noong una raw ay ayaw na sana niyang magsalita, pero marami raw ang nagtatanong kaya napilitan siyang ihayag ang katotohanan.
Siyam na araw daw na kasama ni Cedric si Ceana bago ito ibinalik sa kanyang pamilya, pamamagitan ng korte, noong May 23. Sa edad na pitong taon, nalilito raw ang kanyang anak at na-traumatize sa nangyari. Kaya ngayon ay matapang na raw siyang lalaban para sa kanyang anak at sa matagal nang pambu-bully sa kanya ni Cedric at sa kanyang pamilya.
Dahil sa mga naging pahayag ni Vina, sinampahan naman siya ng anim na kasong libel ni Cedric.
Si Cedric ay isang mayamang negosyante na naging pangunahing suspect sa pambubugbog sa comedian/actor/TV host na si Vhong Navarro noong 2014.
Samantala, humingi ng tulong si Vina sa kanyang dating boyfriend na si Robin Padilla. Sa kanyang Instagram page, nag-post siya ng larawan ni Robin na may caption na “Binoe, away ako. Sabi mo pag away ako, sumbong ako sa ‘yo, “Utol Kong Hoodlum”.

KRISTINE, KAPUSO NA
Muling masisilayan sa TV ang isa sa may pinakamagagandang mukha sa showbiz, si Kristine Hermosa. Mapapanood siya sa bagong comedy series na “Hay, Bahay” sa GMA Network. Makakasama niya sa show ang kanyang biyenang si Vic Sotto, AiAi dela Alas, at ang kanyang mister na si Oyo Sotto.
Alam ni Kristine na marami sa kanyang mga fans ang naghihintay na muli siyang mapanood sa ABS CBN, kung saan siya nagsimula at sumikat ng husto, pero nilinaw niya na matagal na siyang walang kontrata bilang Kapamilya, kahit na noong may project pa siyang ginagawa doon. Nagpaalam din daw siya ng maayos at sinabing makakasama niya sina Vic at Oyo at sinabi naman daw ng network na ok lang, kung saan siya masaya.
Ang isa pang dahilan kaya napapayag siyang muling umarte ay dahil comedy ang “ Hay Bahay”. Ayaw na daw muna niyang gumawa ng drama dahil umiiwas siya sa mga iyakan. Siguro ay napagod na rin daw siya sa dami ng mga nagawa na niyang drama. Kaya nga nang makasama raw siya sa Enteng Kabisote movie noon ay nag-enjoy siya nang husto dahil parang naging pahinga na niya ito dahil may teleserye rin siyang ginagawa noon na kasabay ito.
Kasalukuyang dinadala ni Kristine ang pang-apat na anak nila ni Oyo, na ayon sa balita ay isa na namang baby boy. Ang mga anak nila ni Oyo ay sina Kristian Daniel, Ondrea Bliss at Kaleb Hanns.
Ilan sa mga teleseryeng ginawa ni Kristine na tumatak sa mga manonood ay ang Pangako Sa ‘Yo, Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas, Gulong ng Palad, Prinsesa ng Banyera, Till Death Do Us Part at Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako.

MISS PHILIPPINES EARTH 2016
Nanalo ang Filipina German na si Imelda Schweighart, 21, bilang Miss Philippines Earth 2016 sa ginanap na coronation night sa UP Theatre noong June11. Siya ang magiging pambato ng Pilipinas sa Miss Earth 2016 sa October, na gaganapin sa Pilipinas.
Gaya ni Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, ilang beses na ring sumali sa mga beauty contests si Sweighart. Nasa top 15 finalists siya sa Bb. Pilipinas 2013, at nagtamo ng special award. Sinubukan din niyang mag-artista, gamit ang pangalang Imee Hart, at napanood sa tv show na Bagets ng TV5, at naging co-host ni Willie Revillame sa Willing Willie noong 2010 – 2011.
Maganda ang naging sagot niya sa question and answer portion, bagama’t tila memoryado ang sagot:   “My climate change advocacy is banning genetically modified organisms (GMO) and genetically modified seeds, because I believe in natural food in order to feed our mind, body, and soul. So if we really want to feed our minds and become smarter, let’s support banning GMO, President Duterte”.
Samantala, pinag-usapan naman ang naging sagot ng isa sa top 12 candidates na si Bellatrix Tan ng Zamboanga, nang pinakuha sila ng hashtag mula sa isang bowl at magsalita tungkol sa nabunot na issue. Ang napili niya ay #El Nino, La Nina: “El Nino, is what we are facing right now. If we do simple things like planting trees, then we will not experience drought, right? So, if we start now, we will achieve La Nina. Thank you”.

Shorties

Pilipino can be more meaningful than English. Just one example:
English: Don’t be shy. Feel at home.
Pilipino: Kapalan ‘nyo mukha ‘nyo. Feel at home kayo diyan!
-o-
Manager: Why haven’t you written your mobile number in your application form?
Girl: Because I already have a boyfriend.
-o-
Spotted on Twitter: I tried committing suicide today. Never going to do it again. I almost killed myself.
-o-
Snaccident (n):
Eating an entire box of chocolates by mistake.
-o-
Women with straight hair want curls. Women with curls want straight hair.
Men are simpler: They just want the hair on  their head to stay.
-o-
Maybe if we tell people that the brain is an app, they will start using it.

Sagutan
Mga aktwal na sagot sa programang Wowowee...
1. Q: "Ano sa Tagalog ang teeth?" A: "Utong!"
2. Q: "Kung ang light ay ilaw, ano naman ang lightning?" A: "Umiilaw!"
3. Q: "Kung vegetarian ang tawag sa kumakain ng gulay, ano ang tawag sa kumakain ng tao? A: "Humanitarian?"
4. Q: "Sina Michael at Raphael ay mga." A: "Ninja?"
5. Q: "Ano ang karaniwang kasunod ng kidlat?" A: "Sunog!"
6. Q: "Magbigay ng sikat na Willie." A: "Willie da pooh!"
7. Q: "Ang mga Hindu ay galing sa aling bansa?" A: "Hindunesia?"
8. Q: "Anong hayop si King Kong?" A: "Pagong!"
9. Q: "Magbigay ng mabahong pagkain." A: "Tae!"
10. Q: "Saang bansa matatagpuan ang mga Canadians?" A: "Canadia!"
11. Q: "Kumpletuhin - Little Red." A: "Ribbon!"
12 Q: "Ano ang tinatanggal sa itlog bago ito kainin?" A: "Buhok?"
13. Q: "Magbigay ng pagkain na dumidikit sa ngipin." A: "Tinga!"
14. Q: "Anong oras kadalasang pinapatay ang TV?" A: "Pag balita?"
15. Q: "Ano ang tawag mo sa anak ng taong grasa?" A: "Baby oil?"
16. Q: "Saan karaniwang ginagawa ang mga sweets na ginagamit sa halu-halo?" A: "Sweetserland?"
17. Q: "Sinong higanteng G ang tinalo ni David?" A: "Godzilla?"
18. Q: "Ano ang mas malaki, itlog ng ibon o sanggol ng tao?" A: "Itlog ng tao!"
19. Q: "Anong S ang tawag sa duktor nag nago-opera?" A: "Sadista?"
20. Q: "Blank is the best policy." A: "Ice tea?"
22. Q: "Saan binaril si Jose Rizal?" A: "Sa likod!"
23. Q: "Fill in the blanks - Beauty is in the eye of the ____." A: "Tiger?"
24. Q: "Ano ang kinakain ng monkey-eating eagle?" A: "Saging!"
25. Q: "Kung ang suka ay vinegar, ano naman ang Inggles ng toyo?" A: "Baliw!"
26. Q: "Anong tawag mo sa kapatid ng nanay mo?" A: "Kamag-anak!"
27. Q: "Saan nakukuha ang sakit na AIDS?" A: "Sa motel?"
28. Q: "Kung ang H2O ay water, ano naman ang CO2?" A: "Cold water!"
29. Q: "Sinong cartoon character ang sumisigaw ng yabba dabba doo?" A: "Si scooby dooby doo?"
30. Q: "Heto na si kaka, bubuka-bukaka." A: "Operadang bakla?"
31. Q: "Ilan ang bituin sa American flag?" A: "Madami!"
32. Q: "Ano ang tawag mo sa taong isa lang ang mata?" A: "Abnormal!"

Covers the period June 16-30

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
May tsansang ma-love at first sight ka ngayon at wala mang kahihinatnan ito, malilibang at aagaw din ng atensyon mo ito. Kung dati ay tahimik lang, ngayon ay magpapakita ka ng tapang na magbibigay ng magandang resulta sa maraming bagay. Lumalaki ang hindi pagkakaunawaan sa pamilya. Kulang sa init ang pakikipagkaibigan dahil hindi mo maiwasang maging prangka kahit nakakasakit ka na. Konting ingat sa salita at matutong gumamit ng diplomasya. Lucky numbers: 15, 19, 22 at 41.

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Pagkakataon mo nang maiangat ang sarili dahil magiging maganda ang bunga ng pinaghirapan. Magagamit mo rin ang karisma upang mas maging maganda ang samahan sa mga malalapit sa iyo. Makakatulong din sa iyo ang ilang taong iniiwasan mo. Wala kang dapat ipag-alala sa kalusugan pero mababawasan ang sigla mo ngayon. Iwasan muna ang alcoholic drinks na nakakasama sa bato, at dagdagan ang pahinga. Lucky numbers: 2, 20, 34 at 38.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Dadami ang makikilala mo na maaaring interesado sa iyong ideya o proyekto. Mas maayos ang relasyon sa taong mahal mo o sa bagong makikilala mo. Mapapasarap ka sa pagkain ngayon kaya pananakit ng tiyan ang maaring maranasan. Dapat nang higpitan ang gastusin at magkaroon ng istriktong plano para sa pagtitipid upang hindi masayang ang kinikita sa bagay na hindi importante, at hindi maharap sa malaking problema sa oras ng pangangailangan. Lucky numbers: 17, 21, 33 at 45.
.
BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Posibleng sumablay na naman ang iyong desisyon dahil sa mga bagay na hindi pinag-iisipan. Iwasan ang pabigla-biglang kilos at paglabas ng pera, lalong lalo na kung dahil sa laging pagtulong sa kaibigan. May mga pagtatalo sa karelasyon dahil sa nakasanayan mong pagpi-flirt sa iba. Magiging tampulan ka ng tsismis, pero kung mananatiling kalmado ay maayos itong madaraanan. Talikuran ang taong hindi nararapat na kaibigan. Lucky numbers: 3, 18, 27 at 36.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96
Iwasang magka-insomnia sa pamamagitan ng pagkalma sa sarili at pagkakaroon ng regular na pamumuhay. Iwasan ang nakakanerbiyos na inumin at gawi. Mag-ingat sa mga alok na natatanggap dahil wala rin itong kahihinatnan. Mas mabuting isagawa ang iyong plano dahil Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa iyo. Kung nahihirapan sa paghanap ng tirahan, magpatulong sa kuwalipikadong ahente upang mahanap ang nababagay sa iyong budget at gusto. Lucky numbers: 15, 23, 37 at 40.
 39.
BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97
Kailangan mong gumawa ng mahalagang desisyon hinggil sa iyong trabaho at ambisyon sa buhay. Makabubuti sa iyo ang mamuhay ng malayo sa pamilya upang mapalawak ang kaalaman at personalidad at magkaroon ng positibong pananaw. Tigilan na ang mga bagay na wala namang naibibigay na pakinabang. Mas mabuting harapin ang problema kesa itago o iwasan, at umasa na lang na bubuti rin ang lahat. Lucky numbers: 7, 11, 28 at 33.
.
TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98
Maswerte ang linggong ito dahilan magtatatagumpay ka sa anumang susubukan mo. Simulan na ang pagdidiyeta na matagal mo nang binabalak. Hindi maiiwasan ang pagtatalo sa pagsasama kung laging ang trabaho ang pinapahalagahan mo. Iwasang masira ang budget mo sa mga maling desisyon. Dobleng ingat sa pananalapi. Lucky numbers: 15, 16, 21 at 39.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87
Alam mo kung ano ang gusto mong mangyari at gagawin mo ang lahat para matupad ito. Pairalin kung ano ang nasa puso dahil ito ang pinakamabisang paraan upang paniwalaan ka. Sa trabaho, ang pagiging praktikal ang makakatulong upang mahanapan ng solusyon ang maraming problema. Sa kabila mg maraming pinagkakaabalahan, bigyan ng sapat na oras ang pamilya at hindi ka magsisisi. Lucky numbers: 5, 16, 21 at 47.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88
Maganda ang iyong hangarin at ang puso ay puno ng pagmamahal kaya walang puwang ang problema ngayon. Mag-ingat na magtiwala agad dahil hirap kang kumilatis sa tunay na ugali ng mga tao. Huwag palalain ang problema sa pamilya nang dahil sa pananalita na nakakasakit ng damdamin. Mataas ang enerhiya mo at ganado ka sa maraming bagay, gamitin ito upang magkaroon ng dagdag na pagkakakitaan. Lucky numbers: 9, 15, 34 at 37.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89
Malalampasan mo rin ang mga bagay na nakakasagabal sa takbo ng iyong trabaho pero huwag hayaang malamangan ka. Mababawasan ang lakas at resistensya mo ngayon kaya madali kang mapagod. Iwasang talunin ng kalungkutan ang iyong paligid. May maitim mang ulap ang nakalambong ngayon, kakayanin mo namang mapabilis na masilayan ang kasiyahang dulot ng sikat ng araw. Lucky numbers: 14, 19, 24 at 43.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Magiging kasiya-siya ang linggong ito dahil sa palitan ng mga ideya at opinyon. Matutupad din ang ilan sa iyong hinahangad dahil sa iyong pagpupursige. Mapupukaw ang interes mo sa mga bagay na mahirap ipaliwanag. Dadaan sa pagsubok ang pagmamahalan, na maaaring magdulot ng pagkakalayo o pansamantalang paghihiwalay dahil sa pangingibang-bansa. Lucky numbers: 6, 19, 21 at 43.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91
Magandang panahon upang makakilala ng mga bagong tao para maging karelasyon o maging asawa. Nakakabahala ang magiging problema mo sa pera. Kung may usaping dapat iresolba, kumunsulta sa mga eksperto kaysa ayusin itong mag-isa. Ipagpaliban muna ang mahahalagang desisyon. Kailangan mo ng sapat na pahing at libangan upang mapakalma ang sarili at mabawasan ang nerbiyos at iritasyong nadarama. Lucky numbers: 4, 12, 18 at 36.

2 Pinays rescued; employer accused of indecent acts

Photo of two Filipinas that triggered the rescue.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipina domestic helpers who arrived in Hong Kong less than two months ago accused their male employer of indecent assault and theft shortly after they were rescued in Shatin by Consulate officials on June 8.
The Filipinas told Consulate officials that they were not fed, not paid their salaries until the day they were rescued, and were made to do dangerous jobs.
Their male employer, a Singaporean surnamed Ong, was arrested by police and charged with indecent assault. Officers laid an additional charge of theft against him for confiscating the passports of the two Filipinas. He was released on police bail.
The two Filipinas were rescued at about 11am at their employers’ home at Villa Jardine in Fotan, after Labor Attaché Jalilo de la Torre and Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr, officer of the assistance to nationals section, sought police help.
De la Torre and Cayabyab, rushed to the Shatin Police station and coordinated the rescue with the officers after receiving a tip-off from a migrant workers’ group.
The support group had posted a picture on Facebook of the two maids perched precariously on a ledge while cleaning window panes.
The alleged victims said the Singaporean boss and his wife, an Indonesian Chinese, were surprised when police came to their house as the female employer was about to leave for work.  
An Indonesian co-worker of the Filipinas refused to be rescued, the labor attaché said.
Rescued were a 32-year-old mother of two, and a 23-year-old single woman. They said the employers held their passports upon arriving in Hong Kong on Apr 28.
On the next night, Ong reportedly ordered the older helper to massage him and asked him to hold his genitals, offering her $80. But she said she refused vehemently and left the room.
The next day, after his wife had left, Ong allegedly asked the younger helper to massage him in his bedroom. He told her to bring him a cup of lemon tea, and when she came into the room, he allegedly grabbed the maid’s hands and put them on his genitals.
She reportedly ran out of the room in tears when the employer started to masturbate.
Apart from the sexual assault, the employers were also accused of ill-treating the Filipinas.
 “They arrived from Manila on April 28. They complained that they were not given food and were treated like slaves,” De la Torre said. “They were also not paid their salaries.”
The two helpers said they were warned not to touch any of the refrigerator’s contents, and managed to survive with the help of the Indonesian maid and other helpers in the neighborhood who gave them food after hearing about their plight.
The male employer’s name appears on the contract, but the signature belonged to his wife, De la Torre said.
“The rescued Filipinas said the couple was in the middle of divorce proceedings, so they always vented their anger on the maids,” De la Torre said.
The group that helped rescue them, called OFWs in Hong Kong, thanked the labor attache for the quick response.
“Alas 9:00 ng umaga nang kinalampag tayo ni Admin Sky na mayroon tayong kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong. Bukod sa sila ay baguhan pa lamang, ni hindi pinakakain ng mga amo nila, ang mga pasaporte ay nasa amo at ang sahod nila ay delayed na ng 11 araw,” the post read.
“At ang paglilinis sa bintana ay isa sa mga nakakatakot na gawain ng mga ito. Agad na ipinagbigay-alam kay Labatt ang pangyayari na ito. At salamat sa Diyos hanggang sa pagkuha ng mga police at sa kasalukuyan ang dalawang kababayan natin ay nasa kamay na ng ating labor attache. They’re free and safe,” the post said.

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Trade was the focus of attention in the diplomatic reception hosted by the Philippine Consulate General on June 14, 2016. The guest of honor was Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam.

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CG cooks for PCG breakfast fest

She is a seasoned diplomat who knows her seasonings.
Consul General Bernardita Catalla again showed her wizardry in the kitchen when she served food she herself cooked, during the Independence Day breakfast gathering held at the Consulate on June 12.
The buffet-style breakfast she dubbed “Pika-Pika Almusal” included such unique canapes as mini pizzas topped with daing and beef tapa, as well as her signature miniature puto with cheese, and kutsinta topped with coconut shavings.
ConGen also served Japanese maki sushi stuffed with such Filipino dishes as embotido, chicken tocino and tinapa.
Another unusual treat was her “sari-saring sandwiches” which had different fillings, from the usual ham and egg, to chicken inasal with egg, and the melt-in-the-mouth delicious  “kinilaw na samaral.”
Also on offer was an array of colorful hotdog cocktails with pickled carrots, singkamas, mango and pineapple complements.
Most interesting was a tray filled with hors de’ouevre or appetizer made of tiny slivers of toast topped with homemade chicken and pork liver pate, and trimmed with a tiny slice of bell pepper and black olives. The very light-textured pate melts as soon as the morsel of toast reaches the palate.
According to ConGen Bernie, the crunchy toast came from a Filipino snack brand, but the pate topping was her own concoction. – Jo Campos

Overstaying Pinay, lover hid kids 19 yrs

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina was jailed for 12 months on June 13 for overstaying in Hong Kong for 20 years while her Filipino partner got a similar but suspended sentence for aiding and abetting the breach, and for failing to register their two daughters.
Ma Lorena Escanillas, 43, a former domestic helper, has been in jail since her arrest along with 58-year-old Reynaldo Pangan, also a helper, on Apr 27 in Aberdeen.
Eastern Court Magistrate Clement Lee suspended Pangan’s sentence for two years so he could look after the girls, aged 18 and 19.
Lee cut the sentences by one-third because Escanillas and Pangan had  pleaded guilty to the charges. He also imposed a two-month jail term on Pangan for each of the two charges of failing to register a child.
The couple and their daughters were arrested when police armed with a search warrant raided a flat on Ap Lei Main Street for a suspected crime.
Finding no suspicious items, they checked the identities of the four and found that only Pangan had a valid Hong Kong ID card. Escanillas had an ID issued on Oct 26, 1994, but her visa had expired on Oct. 22, 1996.
The daughters could not show any identity cards, just a patient card and a delivery record issued by the Prince of Wales Hospital indicating a baby girl was born on Mar 4, 1997. The parents and daughters were arrested.
During investigation, the girls identified Escanillas and Pangan as their parents, with the elder daughter saying that she was told by the couple that she was born in a Hong Kong hospital on Mar 3, 1997. The younger said she heard she was born in a house in Taipo on Feb 25, 1998.
The undocumented children said they never went to school because they did not have birth certificates and were taught at home by their parents. They also never traveled because they had no passports.
The sisters were referred to the Social Welfare Department and issued temporary identity documents by the Immigration Department on Apr 30.
Escanillas told investigators she came to Hong Kong on Oct 3, 1993 to work as a domestic helper but was terminated in 1995. Finding no new employer, she decided to remain in the city because she was the eldest daughter and was supporting her family.
She said fear about her illegal status and of going home to face her relatives’ ire kept her from surrendering.
Pangan told investigators he met Escanillas while she was working in Stanley in 1995-1996, and she became his girlfriend. When the woman lost her job, he found places for her to stay until he got her pregnant. He supported her and his daughters “so they won’t be a burden to the government,” he told investigators.
Pangan and his de facto family were renting the flat for $11,000 a month.
The prosecutor likened the case to that of former helper Herminia Garcia, who overstayed for over 20 years and co-habited with insurance executive Nick Cousins. They also had two daughters whom they did not register.
The case came to light only when police investigated after the elder  daughter jumped off the 22-floor bathroom window of the Cousins’ flat in Repulse Bay.
Garcia was jailed for 12 months and Cousins got an eight-month sentence suspended for two years.
In the present case, Magistrate Lee said he ruled out a 6-10-month sentence on Escanillas because she did not surrender. He said in the precedent case, the High Court meted the 6-10 month sentence because the overstayer surrendered.
Pangan asked The SUN to hide his identity, saying it was for the protection of his daughters. He said he would enroll them in computer courses where they were good. He said he would not send them to the Philippines because he said they still have much to learn about Hong Kong and they speak only English.
But the question  is, will they be allowed to remain in Hong Kong, given that neither parent had right of abode when they were born?

VIDEO FEATURE: 118th Philippine Independence Day in Hong Kong (Kapangyawan Friendship Festival 2016)

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Kapangyawan Festival 2016

Mga eksena sa Independence Day celebration sa Chater Road ngayon, June 12, 2016, sa Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong. Antayin ang buong report sa susunod na mga oras.

Consulate offers help to scam victims

Vice Consul Fatima Quintin

By Vir B. Lumicao

Duped job applicants who fail to collect refunds from employment agencies that ignore tribunal orders to pay up can seek help from the Consulate, according to an official of the assistance to nationals section.
Vice Consul Fatima Quintin, head of the ATN section, said the Consulate could directly bring up such cases with relevant Hong Kong government agencies.
“Kapag ganun, papuntahin lang sila sa amin dito sa Konsulado. We can assist them. We have been coordinating with the relevant agencies of the government to impose the penalties at yung mga payments sa kanila. Meron naman tayong magandang coordination sa kanila, with the departments or tribunals, with the relevant agencies,” Quintin said
“Kahit mia-refer lang ho namin sila with those agencies and then mai-endorse sila for the payment of the penalties,” Quintin said
The affected workers must provide a copy of the court or tribunal decision to bolster their complaints, she added
Quintin made the assurance when The SUN asked her about what the Consulate can do to help OFW victims of job scams who cannot collect claims against the recruiters that duped them despite winning their cases in court.
The SUN cited in particular the victims of Vicks Maid Employment Agency, which collected no less than $10,000 each from several domestic workers in 2014-2015 for purported jobs for their relatives at a luxury resort and golf course in Shenzhen.
The women laid claims against Vicks Maid owner Lennis Ebrahim at the Small Claims Tribunal in September last year. Ebrahim did not show up at the tribunal, so, the adjudicating officer granted the claims to the victims.
But more than eight months after the order was issued, Ebrahim still has to pay up.  The victims say the recruiter could no longer be contacted by phone.
One victim said that when she tried to follow up on her case, she was told that she needed to pay a $2000 fee to the bailiff  to enforce the order. The victim said she could not afford to pay this amount
Vicks Maid was stripped of its license and shut down by the Employment Agency Administration in April after a magistrate court convicted Ebrahim, its licensee, for overcharging a job applicant and changing its address without informing the EAA
Quintin said the Technical Working Group made up of the Labour Department, EAA, Immigration Department, Hong Kong Police and the Consulate, would meet again in June and the Vicks Maid case would be among the issues to be raised by the Consulate.
ATN can also seek advice or guidance from lawyer Melville Boase, the Consulate’s legal consultant, on how the victims can get the tribunal order enforced, Quintin said.
“Meron din namang Legal Aid, so, aside from that, marami namang channels to obtain further legal assistance in order to proceed with the claims kasi kahit tapos na ang kaso, may desisyon na. Siyempre sa kanila hindi pa tapos yung kaso for them (victims), kasi hindi pa sila nababayaran, di ba?Hindi pa nai-impose yung penalties,” Quintin said.
“Pumunta lang sila dito. At least kung hindi man ano, we can help them push for the implementation of the penalty,” she said.

Nurses, midwives welcome Labatt’s reintegration, skills upgrade offer

De la Torre with nurses.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Filipino nurses and midwives working as domestic helpers in Hong Kong have welcomed recent moves by Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre to get them to fill up jobs in their chosen field in the Philippines or in other countries abroad.
At an initial meeting called by Labatt de la Torre on May 15, a total of 62 nurses and 26 midwives showed up for a briefing on what jobs are on offer, should they decide to reintegrate back home, or practice their profession in other countries.
Since then, they have been looking at various means to upgrade their skills so they could meet the required qualifications for the jobs that are available.
Labatt de la Torre said those who showed up at the meeting, especially the registered nurses, were "very enthusiastic" about the job prospects.
The midwives, on the other hand, pressed for another licensure examination to be held in Hong Kong, and for help in setting up birthing clinics in the Philippines which they are allowed to run as an alternative occupation.
For the nurses, high on the list of options is the chance to be placed for a nursing job in the Philippines under the Nurses Deployment Program, which is said to offer a "competitive" monthly salary.
Under this scheme, 35,000 nurses will de employed in regional health units and barangay health centers nationwide. The only drawback is that the contract will only be for a year.
However, those looking forward to working as a nurse in other countries could use the time to check our various options, then complete the application process from back home.
De la Torre told the nurses that among the countries that are recruiting foreigners for nursing jobs are Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Canada
"Germany is the best new market for temporary work. But if you're looking at the pathway of migration, it's either Australia, New Zealand or Canada," he said.
The positive feedback from the nurses prompted de la Torre to suggest that a Facebook page be created so they could communicate with each other more quickly and widely. He even added  his own daughter, who is a nursing practitioner in Australia, to the group so she can give advice to the Hong Kong-based nurses.
De la Torre said the recruitment for foreign nurses in Australia is through the "temporary work program or the permanent visa or independent skills migration". But he said there has always been a high demand for nurses in the country
In either case, however, a qualified nurse still needs to go through a "bridging course" which could run from between three months to a year.  The cost is quite steep, at upwards of AUD12,000 ($66,720) for the three-month course.
"Kung nag bridging course ka na, you will be allowed to work," said de la Torre.
However, the amount of money involved in getting qualified for a nursing job in another destination apart from the long waiting time is just one part of the problem. More troubling for those contemplating on going home is the prospect of giving up their job in Hong Kong so they could apply from the Philippines, given the policy against third country deployment.
"Many nurses are hesitant to do this because they will have to give up a job that pays well just so they could comply with the government requirement that they need to apply for the job from the Philippines," said Lorna Pagaduan, president of the dormant organization, Filipino Nurses Association Hong Kong.
She said it would be better if the government would allow them to apply from Hong Kong at least. Then when they they get confirmation of a job availability they could go home and process their papers from there.
For most, especially those who are not RN (registered nurses) yet, the bigger concern is to have another nursing licensure examination in Hong Kong.
After the dismal result of the first ever NLE in HK in 2009, when only 2 of the 90 examinees passed, the board exam has not been held here since, unlike the one for teachers which takes place almost every year.
The nurses' core group is now asking those interested in taking the NLE to sign a petition letter to the Professional Regulation Commission so the test can be held as proposed by June next year. Copies of the petition are available at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or at the Metrobank office, both in Admiralty.

De la Torre with midwives.

The same petition has been pursued by the midwives for the past few months. Those who have yet to pass the midwifery licensure examination are anxious to get the required qualification, especially with the prospect that they could operate their own lying-in clinics in the country once they become licensed practitioners.
Brenda Atrero, president of the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines Hong Kong chapter, said they are also asking the government to provide jobs for them in barangay health centers or other local government units.
They also want help in putting up the Php300,000 needed to set up their own birthing clinics.
A second meeting between Labatt de la Torre and the midwives has been set for June 5, as they were not able to discuss all their concerns during the initial round of talks due to a lack of time.

National Flag Day relives HK role as patriots’ refuge

By Vir B. Lumicao

Officials and staff of the Consulate laid a wreath on May 26 at the Morrison Hill Road Playground site where three Filipina women sewed the first Philippine flag 118 years ago.
The National Flag Day ceremony was led by Deputy Consul General Christian de Jesus, who was accompanied by Consul Charles Macaspac, Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre, Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, Assistant Labatt Ma Nena German and a handful of Consulate staff.
Also at the remembrance were a contingent from Lakbay Dangal led by Marites Mapa, as well as members of the organization Damayan.
The wreath was laid at the foot of the historical marker the Hong Kong government installed several years ago indicating the spot at 535 Morrison Hill where once stood a house rented by exiled lawyer Felipe Agoncillo and his family.
Agoncillo, together with Galicano Apacible, set up the Hong Kong Junta, a de facto government-in-exile of the revolutionaries, and held meetings in the house with other rebels as they continued to support the revolution from exile.
It was in a junta meeting on May 7, 1898,  at the Agoncillo home that Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo requested Marcela to sew a flag that would be unfurled at the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain.
Marcela went looking for the finest silk at a textile market nearby and began sewing the flag manually with needle and thread, as well as with a sewing machine.
She was assisted by her daughter Lorenza, who some historians said was just 5 years old at the time;   and Delfina Herbosa Natividad, a niece of Jose Rizal and wife of one of Aguinaldo’s generals.
Sometimes the two women and the girl missed meals as they worked overtime on the flag, and finished the job after five days. On May 17, 1898, the flag was packed along with other things that Aguinaldo carried when he returned to Manila.
The flag was first unfurled on May 28, 1898, after the Battle of Alapan in Cavite Nuevo, where the revolutionaries were victorious. Fifteen days later, it was formally unfurled in Kawit when Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence.
Hong Kong became a haven for Filipino exiles like Agoncillo when the revolution broke out in 1896. His family followed him into exile 22 months later.
According to historical accounts, the Morrison Hill house became a sanctuary for other revolutionaries, including Generals Antonio Luna and Aguinaldo, because Agoncillo welcomed anyone who arrived at the house.
 Josephine Bracken, the fiancée of Rizal, also sought refuge in that house when she fled to Hong Kong amid a Spanish threat to torture her after the execution of the national hero.