Mga bayani ng Kulay Pinoy

Ilan sa mga bumubuo ng pagtatanghal ng Kulay Pinoy sa Chater Road.

Ni Marites Palma

Namangha ang maraming taong nakapanood sa pagtatanghal ng Kulay Pinoy sa Chater Road noong Hunyo 12, ang selebrasyon ng ika-118 taong anibersaryo ng kalayaan ng Pilipinas.
Bagamat bumuhos ang malakas na ulan maghapon, nagsiksikan pa rin ang mga taong nanonood sa pinakatampok na bahagi ng maghapong pagdiriwang. Hindi naman sila binigo ng halos 500 kataong bumubuo sa Kulay Pinoy na mula sa 45 na asosasyon, dahil buong sigla nilang binuo ang kulay ng bandilang Pilipinas sa gitna ng matinding pag-ulan.
Agad na umani ng papuri ang grupo ng mananayaw mula sa mga nakapanood sa mismong pagtatanghal, at sa social media.
Paano nagawang pinagbuklod-buklod ang ganito karaming mananayaw? Paano nasiguro na sasalihan nila ang ilang linggong ensanyo para lang maisagawa nang maayos ang kanilang pagtatanghal.
Ayon kay Lee Ann E. Mas, na siyang bumuo ng konsepto at nagturo ng sayaw sa mga nagtanghal, hindi madali ang kanilang pinagdaanan, ngunit dahil sa dedikasyon at determinasyon ng bawat isang kasapi ay naisa-ayos nila ang kanilang palabas.
Ayon kay Mas, pagmamahal sa Inang Bayan ang nag-udyok sa mga kasapi na pawang mga kasambahay na may angking talino sa pagsayaw, ang sumali sa pagbuo ng watawat ng Pilipinas. Sa pagbigkas pa lamang daw kasi ng katagang “kulay pinoy” ay mararamdaman na ang pagmamalaki ng bawat kasapi sa kanilang dugong Pilipino.
Dagdag pa ni Mas, hindi siya nahirapan sa ginawang pagtuturo at pakikihalubilo sa daan-daang kalahok dahil ang unang hakbang na ginawa niya ay ang ipaliwanag at ipaintindi sa lahat ang adhikain ng Kulay Pinoy.
Dating guro sa Pilipinas si Mas kaya sanay siyang gumamit ng iba't ibang stratehiya sa pagtuturo para makuha ang loob at interes ng kanyang tinuturuan. Sa oras ng kanilang pahinga ay umiikot ikot daw siya at kinukumusta ang bawat grupo, at ang laging tampok ng kanilang usapan ay ang mga hakbang ng sayaw.
Sa ganitong paraan ay napatunayan ni Mas na ang bawat isa sa kanila ay may angking talino, at kailangan lang ng buong suporta para lalong mahubog ang kanilang husay sa pagsayaw.
Ginamitan din niya ng sikolohiya ang pagbuo ng pamantayan ng grupo, katulad ng “Sa KP (Kulay Pinoy), bawal ang malungkot, bawal ang nakasimangot, at bawal ang tamad. Naging epektibo naman ito dahil lahat ay laging masaya at nakangiti kahit naiinitan. Wala daw ni isa na nagreklamo sa panahon ng kanilang ensayo sa loob ng halos tatlong buwan.
"Tunay ngang kahanga hanga ang mga miyembro ng Kulay Pinoy, wala ngang imposible, lahat makakaya kung ang bawat mithiin natin ay pinagsusumikapan at sinasamahan natin ng pagmamahal", ani Mas.
Ang iba pang kasamahan ni Mas sa pagtuturo ay sina Eva Joy Agcaoili, Jhen L. Gacutan, Vanessa Medios, Marie Velarde, Mercy Villaflor at Pinky Salud.
Ayon kay Agcaoili na siyang tagapagturo ng sayaw sa Isabela Federation, kooperasyon, pagpupursigi at determinasyon ng bawat kasapi ang susi kung bakit hindi sila nahirapan sa pagtuturo. Saludong-saludo daw siya sa mga ipinamalas na katangian ng kanilang mga mananayaw.
"Tunay na pagkakaisa at pagtutulongan ang kailangan sa pagkamit ng tagumpay sa anumang larangan", ang sabi ni Agcaoili.
Nagpatotoo naman dito si Tek Barro, ang pangulo ng Radiant Organization and Amiable Drivers (Road) na kabilang sa 17 na miyembro ng grupo na sumali sa Kulay Pinoy. "Proud na proud ako dahil isa ako sa daan daang kasapi ng Kulay Pinoy. Napakalaking bagay para sa akin ang maging parte ako sa pagbuo ng ating watawat sa pamamagitan ng sayaw.” sabi ni Barro. “Nagkaroon din ako ng pagkakataon na nakilala ang iba't ibang organisasyon na noon lamang nagkasama sama. Nabuo ang aming bagong pagkakaibigan sa loob ng halos tatlong buwan na pag-ensayo. Ulanin at arawin man kami ay di namin naramdaman ang pagod, maipagpatuloy lamang ang ensayo at ang napakasayang samahan ng grupo. Doon ko naramdaman ang tunay na pagkakaisa ng mga Pinoy kahit hindi magkakakilala dati.” Puring puri din niya si Mas dahil magaling daw itong magturo at nirerespeto ng lahat. Isang salita lang daw nito ay napapatahimik na ang kahit na sinong nag-iingay sa grupo.”
Ayon naman kay Salva Flores ng Laguna Achievers, tuwang tuwa siya at nabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na maipakita ang kanyang pagka Pilipino, kahit namamasukan lamang siyang kasambahay sa ibayong bansa.
Isa pang taga Laguna ang nagsabi na lubha siyang nagalak dahil nagkaroon siya ng kaibigan na kaisa niya sa pagpapakita ng tunay na kulay ng mga Pinoy.
Naging napakalalim naman ng epekto kay Rociel Pombo ng Burgos Isabela Migrants Association ng pagkakasama niya sa KP. Kakaibang pagmamalaki daw ang kanyang naramdaman nang mapabilang siya sa mga tinatawag ngayong KP Heroes, at dadalhin daw niya ito hanggang sa kanyang pagtanda.
"Sa Kulay Pinoy ko nakita ang tunay na ispirito ng pagka Pilipino, sa puso, sa isip at sa gawa. Saan mang lupalop ng mundo, aking itatayo ang ipinagmamalaki nating bandila",  sabi pa ni Pombo.
Nagkaisa ang mga KP Heroes na lumahok muli sa susunod na taon para sa pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kalayaan.
Samantala, hindi sa kanilang matagumpay na pagtatanghal natapos ang samahan ng mga KP Heroes dahil sa hapon ng Agosto 7 ay magdaraos sila ng kanilang unang pagtitipon. Naghanda ang grupo ng mga palaro, paligsahan sa pag-awit ng mga makabayang awitin at sayaw, at iba pang kasiyahan upang lalo pang mapaigting ang kanilang pagkakabuklod.
Ang pagtitipon na gaganapin sa Pier 9 sa Central ay bukas sa lahat ng gustong sumali at makiisa.

DH abandons claim after scolding

By Vir B. Lumicao

A former domestic helper may have won a chance to be heard by the Labour Tribunal on July 26 despite being absent in a previous hearing, but her victory was short-lived.
Leila Villaluz ended up withdrawing a claim she made against her former employer for unpaid wages after getting a mouthful from presiding officer Isabel Chu.
Villaluz was claiming wages in lieu of notice, arrears in wages, unpaid annual leave, plane ticket, ferry fare and travel allowance, as well as visa processing fee.
Asked by Chu about her absence from the hearing June 1, the helper said she had no fare money at the time.
“The reason you gave last hearing was that you forgot the date,” Chu said angrily.
The presiding officer said the struck out the helper’s claim after she did not show up. Chu said she waited until midday hoping the claimant would appear, but she did not.
She told Villaluz that the defendant, a woman surnamed Tang, took leave from her work and also waited fruitlessly until midday for her former maid to arrive.
The presiding officer said the tribunal would normally dismiss a case if the claimant was 30 minutes late for the hearing, but she was giving Villaluz another chance if she would pay costs to her employer who had come to court again.
The officer also said that if the complainant had a valid reason for being late, such as figuring in an accident, she could withdraw her case without paying the cost to the other side.
Chu also lectured the helper on heeding cost orders. “I have to let you know, you have to be very careful about the cost order. Many domestic helpers do not obey the cost order because they say they have no money. So, the other side can go to the Immigration and complain against the domestic helper about breach of cost order.”
The presiding officer then asked for the form which listed the claims, and after a cursory look, told Villaluz that she would set the case to trial if the two sides did not settle.
But she warned the trial court might reject Villaluz’s claim because records show she had signed a termination letter dated March 23, as well as the receipt for a $2,000 final payment.
After deducting the air ticket expenses, the Filipina would still have to pay the employer $660 for her absence from work to appear in court, Chu said.
The helper said she was forced by the employer to sign the documents, but could not describe how the boss got her to sign them. She added that she was also claiming the visa processing fee she had paid the agent.
The employer said she had paid the employment agency all the fees including the visa cost just to hire Villaluz, but the latter insisted she paid the fee to a certain Ms Antonio.
Again the presiding officer raised her voice, saying there was nothing in the work contract that the employer would refund the money the helper paid for the visa fee.
“This court has nothing to do with your visa fee, you may go to the police or to your Consulate to complain,” Chu told the helper.
Chu also asked why the maid waited two months after being terminated before going to the Labour Department, where she stayed in the meantime, and why nobody told her to approach Labour.
“I stayed with Pastor John (Lalaan) and got no advice to go to Labour,” Villaluz replied.
Chu said the maid must tell the pastor to appear as witness in the trial. “He will have to tell the court why he did not tell you to report to Labour right away if you told him you were forced to sign the termination letter,” Chu said.
She added that the court would investigate why the employer deducted the air ticket cost from the helper’s final payment.
The presiding officer repeated that personally she found Villaluz’s claim to be weak and she would only end up paying for the court cost and reimbursing the defendant’s costs, no matter whether she had money or not.
She then advised the helper and her companion to discuss what to do. Villaluz made a phone call to the pastor then said she was withdrawing the claim.
She refused to talk to The SUN about the case.

Pinay held as drug trafficking from Manila to HK resumes

The bag where the 700 grams of cocaine was found

A Filipina tourist was charged with drug trafficking in Tsuen Wan Court on Aug 1 for allegedly trying to bring in more than 700 grams of suspected cocaine into Hong Kong from Manila.

The arrest of Anne Ryan Cruz on July 30 at Chek Lap Kok was the first reported case of drug trafficking from Manila since the Duterte administration assumed power on July 1.

According to the brief facts read in court, Cruz was caught by customs officers at terminal 1 of the Hong Kong airport after being found with about 700 grams of cocaine in her luggage.

The drug is estimated to have a market value of $750,000.

A report in the HK Customs Department website said the arrested female who was not named, was 37 years old and had arrived from Manila where she worked as a telephone operator.

During a spot check of her luggage, officers noticed suspicious x-ray images inside her handbag. A thorough examination revealed two slabs of suspected cocaine, the first one weighing about 330 grams and the second, 390 grams, concealed in false compartments of the bag.
Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong adjourned the hearing of the case to Oct. 24 for further inquiry, and remanded Cruz in custody.

But he ordered the Filipina to return to the court on Aug 9 for a bail review.

The latest incident comes amid an intense campaign of the Philippine police against drug suppliers and users in the country that has left hundreds dead.

A Reuters report citing police records say 316 suspected drug dealers have been killed across the country during the July 1-27 period, 195 of them being vigilante killings. But human rights groups say the death toll is double the official number.

President Duterte scored a landslide win in the May national elections on an anti-drugs and anti-corruption platform. – Vir B. Lumicao

Ok si Yeye kahit hirap si Pinay

Maliit lang na babae si Marichu ngunit maliksi siyang kumilos, at mukhang malakas. Hindi naman kataka-taka dahil ang pangunahing trabaho niya ay ang mag-alaga sa isang 85-taong gulang na lalaking Intsik na mahigit doble ang sukat at bigat sa kanya.
Naka wheelchair ang alaga ni Marichu, kaya’t balewala na sa kanya ang itulak ito at ilibot sa  buong Hong Kong. Sumasakay sila madalas sa mga pampublikong sasakyan, at nagdaang dalawang taon na inaalagaan ito ni Marichu ay kabisado na niya ang lahat ng pamamaraan para makalibot sila nang walang masyadong abala.
Ayon kay Marichu, mabait ang matanda kaya kahit isama niya ito sa paglalakwatsa ay hindi ito nagrereklamo. Magkasundo  din sila dahil likas na palatawa ang matanda, at hindi mareklamo. Ganun din si Marichu, na kahit halatang hirap minsan sa pagtutulak-tulak sa matanda ay nakukuha pa ring tumawa.
Aminado naman siya na medyo nakakailang din na sila lang dalawa ang magkasama sa bahay, at siya ang nagbibihis dito pagkatapos nitong maligo. Gayunpaman, mas gusto na rin daw niya ang ganito dahil magaan ang kanyang trabaho at mabait ang kanyang amo. Baka raw malipat pa siya sa iba na hindi maganda ang pagtrato sa kanya.
Si Marichu ay hiwalay sa asawa at tubong Cebu. Apat na taon na siyang naninilbihan sa Hong Kong -- DCLM

Bawal umistambay sa bahay kung day-off

Panahon na ng tag-init kaya mas minamabuti ni Bhel ang matulog na lang nang maghapon sa kanyang kwarto imbes lumabas kapag day-off niya. Nguni’t nahalata ito ng kanyang amo kaya kinatok siya sa kanyang kwarto at kinausap nang diretsahan.
Ang sabi ng amo, “Bhel, it's your day off, you need to go out. If you don't go out, you need to pay me for using your room during your day-off."
Hindi alam ni Bhel kung ano ang isasagot sa tinuran ng kanyang amo, kaya naligo na lang siya para makaalis.
Matagal na niyang napapansin na nagbago na ang trato ng mga amo sa kanya mula nang makipag-usap ang mga ito sa mga kapwa Intsik na magulang sa paaralan ng kanyang alaga. Naisip niya na baka ayaw nilang magbayad ng long service sa kanya kaya sila nag-umpisang magbago ngayong patapos na ang kanyang pangalawang kontrata.
Dahil dito ay nag-umpisa na rin siyang humanap ng bagong amo para handa siya sakaling sabihan siya na hindi na siya ire-recontract. Sabagay sabi niya, nahihirapan na din siya sa alaga, lalo na sa oras ng pagkain. Inaabot ito ng isang oras kapag kumakain dahil puro laro ang nasa isip. Kahit gabi na at marami pa siyang kailangang tapusin sa kusina ay kailangang makipaglaro siya sa bata, dahil kung hindi siya papayag ay makakarinig siya ng hindi magandang salita buhat sa mga amo.
Magtitiis na lamang daw siya hanggang matapos ang kontrata dahil hindi na niya talaga maintindihan ang pag-uugali ng mga amo. Dati naman daw ay super bait ang mga ito, pero ngayon ay ibang-iba na sila.
Si Bhel ay may asawa’t anak at mula sa Western Visayas. Siya’y naninilbihan sa mga among Intsik na nakatira sa Tai Wai. –Marites Palma

Pinasuko kahit hindi totoong drug user o pusher

Laging usap-usapan sa Pilipinas ang dami ng bilang ng mga sumusukong “drug addict” dahil sa kampanya ng bagong upong pangulo na si Rodrigo Duterte na sugpuin ang problema sa droga sa bansa.
Kabilang si Linda sa mga nakakabasa sa social media ng tungkol sa ilang libong Pilipino na diumano’y gumagamit o nagbebenta ng pinagbabawal na gamot ang kusang sumusuko sa mga awtoridad. Natatakot daw ang mga ito na matulad sila sa mga napapatay sa iba-ibang parte ng bansa araw-araw dahil diumano sa panlalaban habang sila ay inaaresto.
Bagamat may agam-agam tungkol sa mga ganitong balita, napatotohanan mismo ni Linda na hindi lahat ng mga sumusuko ay adik o pusher, katulad ng sinasabi sa balita.
Mismong kapatid kasi niya na hindi umiinom ng alak o naninigarilyo ay napilitang “sumuko” dahil sa takot na mapag-initan ng mga pulis na gustong magpasikat sa kanilang mga pinuno. Isa lang daw ang kanyang kapatid sa daan-daang sumuko sa kanilang maliit na bayan matapos magpalabas ng babala ang mga pulis na huwag na nilang hintayin na damputin pa sila sa kanilang bahay dahil baka hindi na sila bibigyan pa ng pagkakataon na magpaliwanag.
Ang laki naman ng hinagpis ni Linda dahil naiisip niya na baka maniwala ang kanyang mga pamangkin na talagang gumagamit ng bawal na droga ang kanilang butihing ama. Si Linda na 18 taon na sa Hong Kong, ay taga-Leyte. ---Gina Nonog

Walang pera? Hong Kong ang solusyon

Napilitang magtrabaho sa Hong Kong si Jane dahil sa sampung taong pagsasama nilang mag-asawa ay ni minsan ay hindi siya nakahawak ng pera. Hindi iniintrega ng asawa ang perang kinikita nito sa pamamasada at sa pinagbebentahan ng palay mula sa ilang ektarya nilang lupain tuwing anihan.
Ganunpaman, hindi naman sila nawawalan ng perang panggastos sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan sa bahay, at pati ang mga kailangan ng kanilang mga anak sa pag-aaral ay kumpleto naman.
Kapag kailangan niya ng pera para sa sarili, katulad ng kung kailangan niyang bumili ng regalo sa dadaluhang kasal ay binibigyan naman siya ng asawa. Ang problema nga lang ay nakasukob pa rin sila sa bahay ng kanyang mga biyenan, at ang pakiramdam ni Jane ay para siyang tau-tauhan ng mga ito at ng kanyang kabiyak.
Kahit anong sabi niya sa asawa na mag-ipon ito para makapagpatayo sila ng sarili nilang bahay ay hindi ito sumusunod. Hirap na hirap naman siya sa pakikisama sa mga biyenan, kaya siya na ang nagdesisyon na maghanap ng trabaho para may maipambili sila ng bahay.
Ayaw siyang payagan ng kanyang asawa na umalis kaya hindi siya binigyan ng pera para sa placement. Ang ginawa niya ay nangutang siya sa kanyang mga magulang at sa isang pamangkin ng kanyang asawa na kasundo niya.  Sa tulong nila ay nakapag-abroad siya at ngayon ay may sarili ng perang masasabi.
Hindi rin siya nagpapadala ng pera sa asawa kaya nagkasundo sila na paghatian na lang ang gastos ng mga anak. Sa mister niya ang gastos para sa dalawang nakakabata, at sa kanya yung anak na nasa kolehiyo. Nakailang taon na rin dito si Jane at ganun pa rin ang kanilang sitwasyon pagdating sa pera, kanya-kanya.
Sa kabila nito ay mas maganda ang pakiramdam ni Jane dahil may nasasabi siyang sarili niyang pera, hindi yung humihingi na lang lagi sa asawa kung may kailangan siyang bilhin. Si Jane ay tubong Central Luzon at kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa mga Intsik na amo sa Teun Mun. – Marites Palma

Arrow daw ang simula ng code ng pinto

Nang araw na naglipat ng bahay sina Maria, unang pumunta sa kanilang bagong tirahan ang amo niyang babae. Abala naman si Maria at kasama na si Mila sa pagbabantay sa mga pahinante ng kinuha nilang mover sa kanilang lumang tirahan.
Maya-maya ay nagpadala ng mensahe ang kanilang amo sa WhatApp para sa mga karagdagang bilin, pati na rin ang door code sa gusali ng kanilang lilipatang bahay. Napahinto sina Maria at Mila sa ginagawa nang mabasa ang door code na “arrow at kasunod ang apat na numero”.
“Hmm, kakaiba itong door code dahil arrow sign ang umpisa,” sabi ni Mila. Nang dumating ang dalawa sa bagong tirahan ay agad silang lumapit sa pintuan sa baba para pindutin ang door code. Ganoon na lang ang kanilang pagtataka dahil wala silang makitang simbolo ng arrow, katulad ng bilin ng kanilang amo.
Ang nakalagay lang ay mga numero at salitang “caretaker, resident at floor”. Sinubukan nilang pindutin ang “resident”, kasunod ang apat na numero, at bumukas naman ang pintuan.
Pagpasok nila sa bahay ay nilinaw nila ang code na ibinigay ng amo.
Isinalaysay naman nito ang naging usapan nito at guwardiya na nagbigay ng code.
Walang humpay ang kanilang tawanan nang mapagtanto nilang lahat na ang “ar-ro” na tinuran ng guwardiya ay R pala, dahil ganito bigkasin ng karamihan sa Intsik ang letrang ito. Sina Maria at Mila ay dating nakatira sa Conduit Road at ngayon ay nasa Old Peak Road na.–Gina Nonog

Nagkasagutan ang mag-amo

Pagkatapos ng mahigit na 20 taon niyang paninilbihan sa among propesor na Briton, hindi akalain ni Jay na masasagot niya nang ganoon ang amo. Napikon na kasi si Jay sa mga walang katwirang paninita ng kanyang amo sa kanya.
Palibhasa ay matanda na ang amo na 74 anyos kaya nagiging bugnutin na ito. Bukod dito ay pareho silang nanibago magmula nang lumipat sila sa isang maliit na flat noong nakaraang taon, pagkatapos mag-retiro ng propesor.
Dati ay dalawang palapag ang kanilang tirahan at may garden pa, kaya bihira silang magkita ng amo sa loob ng bahay sa maghapon, at pumapasok pa ng regular ang amo. Ngayon ay maghapon silang magkaharap at nagkikita dahil sa bahay na nagtatrabaho ito.
Katulad ng dati ay madaling matapos ni Jay ang trabaho sa loob ng bahay, na lalo pang napabilis ngayon dahil di hamak na mas maliit ang kanyang nililinisan. Sa loob lang ng mahigit dalawang oras ay tapos na ni Jay ang gawaing bahay, kaya kahit nababagot ay wala siyang magawa kundi maglagi sa kanyang maliit na kuwarto.
Ganito ang naging pang araw-araw nilang kalakaran, hanggang mag-umpisang sitahin ng amo si Jay dahil diumano sa hindi nito pag-uumpisa ng maaga sa kanyang trabaho. Sinabi ni Jay na sadyang hindi siya nagsisimulang magtrabaho hangga’t di nagigising ang amo dahil ayaw niyang maistorbo ito, bilang paggalang na rin.
Medyo nainis si Jay sa biglang paninita ng amo kaya tinanong niya ito kung ano ang problema. Sambit ng matanda ay naiinggit siya sa mga kapwa amo niya na ang mga katulong ay nagpapastol ng kanilang mga aso o nagpapasyal ng kanilang mga alagang bata alas siyete pa lang ng umaga samantalang ang kanyang katulong ay natutulog pa.
Di na napigilan ni Jay ang sarili at sinabi niya sa amo na alas 6 pa lang ng umaga ay gising na siya at ang dahilan ng di niya pag uumpisa ng maaga ay para huwag itong maistorbo. Sinabi din ni Jay na kung ang problema nito ay ang naiiinggit siya sa ibang mga Pinay na katulong ay kumuha din siya ng aso o mag-anak para masulit ang ibinabayad sa kanya.
Hinamon din ito ni Jay na i-terminate na lang ang kanilang kontrata kung hindi na ito masaya sa paninilbihan niya dahil handa na naman siyang umuwi sa Pilipinas.
Tila nahimasmasan naman ang amo ni Jay, at humingi agad ng dispensa. Sa isip naman ni Jay, malamang na napagtanto ng matanda na malaki ang babayaran nito sa long service  sakaling siya ang pumutol ng kontrata. Sa parte naman ni Jay, handa na siyang umuwi na nang tuluyan sa Pilipinas ngayong Disyembre kahit na wala siyang matatanggap na long service mula sa amo.
Hindi siya nanghihinayang dito dahil matagal na rin niyang nais na umuwi na sa kanyang pamilya, at ito rin ang matagal na niyang pangako sa kanila. Pagkatapos ng 31 taong pamamalagi sa Hong Kong, gusto na rin ni Jay na umuwi para makasama na ang kanyang mga mahal sa buhay.  –Jo Campos

Bakit naiinip si Leah na matapos na ang kontrata?

Mahigit anim na buwan pa lang si Leah sa kanyang mga among Briton ngunit pakiramdam niya ay 10 taon na siyang nagtatrabaho sa mga ito. Halos hilahin na niya ang mga araw nang sa ganoon ay matapos na ang kanyang dalawang taong kontrata at makalipat siya sa iba. Bagama’t mahigit 14 na taon sa siyang nagtatrabaho dito sa Hong Kong, ngayon lang niya naranasan ang ganitong sitwasyon.
Kamakailan lang ay nalaman niyang may malubhang sakit ang kanyang among babae, bagay na nakadagdag sa kanyang alalahanin. Hindi maiwasan ni Leah na di maapektuhan sa kalagayan ng kanyang amo dahil naaawa siya dito, lalo at may mga anak ito na maliliit pa.
Hindi akalain ni Leah na dadapuan ng malalang sakit ang kanyang amo dahil wala pa itong 40 anyos at malusog naman kung tingnan. Ngunit isang araw ay bigla na lang silang nagulat lahat nang malaman ng amo na may stage 4 cancer ito. Sa isang iglap ay nabago ang lahat sa loob ng pamamahay at pamumuhay ng pamilyang pinaglilingkuran niya.
Bukod sa dagdag trabaho ang paghahanda ng mga pagkain na makakatulong sa maysakit, bawa’t kilos nila sa loob ng bahay ay nabago din. Minsang nagkasipon at ubo si Leah ay pinagbawalan siya na mamalagi sa loob ng bahay, bagamat patuloy pa rin siyang pinagtrabaho sa halip na makapagpahinga para gumaling. Hindi nga lang siya pinalapit sa among maysakit, ngunit halos buong maghapon ay hindi siya tumigil sa pagtatrabaho.
Bukod sa paghahatid at pagsama sa kanyang amo sa pagpunta sa doktor, si Leah din ang namamahala sa pagluluto at paghahanda ng mga pagkaing kailangan nito. Kung minsan tuloy ay halos wala nang oras si Leah para maghanda ng sarili niyang pagkain.
Payo nga ng kanyang kaibigan ay huwag siyang masyadong magpa-apekto sa nangyayari sa mga amo at baka pati siya ay magkasakit. Dahil sa mga payo ay ginugugol ngayon ni Leah ang oras ng kanyang pahinga sa pakikinig sa mga paborito niyang mga awitin at pagbabasa ng libro upang mapanatag ang kanyang isip. Si Leah ay isang dalaga at nagtatrabaho sa Mid Levels. --Jo Campos

Defiant DH wins over $500k in dog attack case

Betty's persistence paid off

That Sunday evening of Sept. 6, 2015 would have been an ordinary dog-walking day for Betty, a domestic helper in Discovery Bay, until a surprise attack by her neighbor’s pet inflicted a lasting injury that changed her outlook.

That experience and the ensuing protracted fight for compensation from the dog-owner opened her eyes to the reality that, in her words, “people here look too low on us domestic workers.”

The 59-year-old Filipina was not actually the target of the unleashed Bernese Mountain dog’s rage, but her employer’s Golden Retriever that she was walking at around 6pm.

When the aggressor jumped on the other dog, the force threw her to the pavement that she injured her right arm. Her daughter, also a domestic helper in the neighborhood, called an ambulance and she was taken to the hospital.

Doctors who attended to Betty said the fall broke her arm bones and damaged her wrist bone. She stayed in hospital overnight and her arm was put in a plaster cast so the fractured bones could bond naturally.

But only the ulna – the secondary arm bone – bonded while the main bone, called the radius, remained fractured to this day. That left Betty unable to use her right arm again to do her daily chores, a reality that led her to decide she had to fight for compensation from the dog’s owner, well-known lawyer.

In retrospect, Betty told The SUN that the lawyer would walk his dog at about the same time that she walked her master’s pet. The only difference was that the lawyer would not leash his dog, which she said had a history of aggressiveness. At one time it bit the hand of another helper, Betty said.

The lawyer paid for Betty’s medical expenses, as the woman had to go back to the hospital for treatment every two weeks.

One month after the attack on her, the lawyer still kept his dog on the loose. When she asked him why, he supposedly said the dog didn’t want to be leashed.

Betty said she went to seek assistance from the Consulate on Oct 12 last year and officers of the assistance to nationals section told her they had a lawyer who could help her apply for legal aid. She also approached the Mission for Migrant Workers, which helped her process her documents.

She gave the documents to the Consulate’s lawyer who told her to take the papers to the Legal Aid Department.

Betty said at first people at the Legal Aid Department were cranky and indifferent to her.

“Sinigaw-sigawan pa ako ng Legal Aid. Nagalit pa sila. Bakit daw ako nag-Legal Aid? Hindi ko daw ba alam na may bayad ito?”, Betty said.

But she persisted and after two months they eventually asked her to see them.

They let her sign a heap of documents, which her escort, ATN officer Danny Baldon, signed for her because she could not move her fingers and her arm was still in a sling.

Even after a lawyer had been assigned to her, gathering evidence was difficult because neighbors who witnessed the dog attack refused to testify. They even reportedly tried to dissuade her. Only one, a Caucasian, agreed to give evidence.  

At first, Betty said that even her Australian boss tried to discourage her when he found out she was pressing charges. He scolded her and even called the lawyer to settle the dispute with her.

“You drop the case. You won’t win against him,” Betty quoted her boss as saying. “If  you win, he won’t pay you, not even $80,000, or $50,000,” he allegedly said. But Betty replied she was pressing with the case.

“Nakita ko sa amo ko na ang mga employer maliit lang ang tingin sa mga katulong,” said Betty, a Born Again Christian.

Her strong faith made her determined to fight, so one day she prayed to God to give her strength and she reportedly heard Him whisper: “I won’t abandon you, my child.”

Later her boss found out he had insured Betty for work-related injuries or death. He reversed and backed her fight, paid her expenses, salaries and allowances. Betty later learned that all his opposition stemmed from his losing $3 million in a past litigation.

Meanwhile, the Legal Aid lawyer wrote the dog owner asking him to settle or he would file the case in court.

On May 3 this year, the lawyer and Betty signed the settlement deal. In all, Betty said, the lawyer paid her about $510,000 and paid for all her hospital bills and medical treatments.  The lawyer also paid her $31,000 in gratuity. Betty said she gave $100,000 to Legal Aid lawyer and $58,000 to her boss for his expenses.

Betty is going home for good in September after working for 23 years in Hong Kong. Despite injuring her arm, which is her work instrument, she is glad enough that she is going home with money to cover for her loss.

She said she would put up a boarding house so she would have steady income back home now that she’s incapable of working.

Her advice to fellow domestic workers: “Don’t be afraid to fight for your injuries. Be bold, be daring in fighting for your rights.” - Vir B. Lumicao

Covers the period Aug 1-15, 2016

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96
Suwerte ang linggong ito para sa negosyo dahil maalwan ang pasok ng pera. Ugaliing ilista ang lahat ng gagawin upang tiyak na walang makakaligtaan. Pag-aralang mabuti ang bawat hakbang para madaling makamit ang mga pangarap at walang masayang na panahon. Malaking tulong ang pagiging malikhain para sa tagumpay ng proyektomo. Huwag mag-alinlangan na ibahagi ang karanasan sa mga kasamahan sa trabaho o kaibigan dahil tiyak na maraming aral ang mapupulot nila.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97
Malakas at positibo ang enerhiya kaya asahan na maraming matatapos na proyekto sa linggong ito. Panatilihin ang pagiging masayahin at laging sumabay sa agos. Malaking tulong ang likas na galing para mamayagpag ang negosyong sinimulan. Maglaan ng panahon para makasama ang mga mahal sa buhay. Dahil sa pagiging prangka, maraming tao ang maiirita sa iyo. Huwag baguhin ang disposisyon para lang pasayahin ang ibang tao.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98
Maganda ang umpisa ng linggo dahil malakas ang puwersang nag-uudyok para makamit ang ambisyon.  Matindi ang pagnanais na gumastos kahit sa mga walang kabuluhang bagay pero mag-ingat dahil may darating na malaking problema sa pera. Huwag problemahin ang buhay pag-ibig dahil maaayos din ang lahat ayon sa iyong kagustuhan.  Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-asenso lalo na kung may determinasyon kahit marami ang inggit na inggit sa iyo.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87
Mag-ingat sa paggastos ng perang pinaghirapan at huwag bumili ng hindi kailangan. Magkakaroon ng magandang oportunidad sa trabaho kaya ituon ang buong atensyon sa proyekto. May uusbong na gusot sa pagitan ng mga anak. Gamitin sa tama ang kakaibang panghalina lalo na sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa ibang tao upang maisakatuparan ang mga pangarap sa buhay.
.
 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88
Matindi ang pangangailangan sa pera sa linggong ito pero hanggat maari ay iwasan ang utang para hindi lalong mabaon. Huwag hayaang matali ang sarili sa relasyon na walang patutunguhan. Sa mga walang asawa, maaring makilala ang taong magpapatibok sa puso. Maglaan ng sapat na panahon para sa sarili upang makapagpahinga ng husto.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89
May malaking pagbabagong magaganap dahil maganda ang takbo ng negosyo. Sa mga mag-asawa, maglaan ng panahon para seryosong pag-usapan ang plano sa buhay upang malinaw ang patutunguhan ng relasyon. Kung kailangang gumawa ng desisyon, pag-aralan ang hakbang. Matinding pananakit ng ulo ang mararamdaman kaya iwasan ang mataong lugar o magulong paligid.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Panahon na para ipakita ang kakayahan mo sa trabaho kaya gampanang mabuti ang responsibilidad sa ginagawang proyekto. Huwag mag-atubiling tulungan ang kaibigan na nangangailangan dahil tiyak na masusuklian ng maganda ang kabutihan. Maraming balakid na hahadlang sa mga plano pero huwag mag-alala dahil kusa itong malulutas.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91
Masayang lilipas ang bawat sandali at maraming tagumpay ang matatamo sa kabila ng maraming sagabal. Huwag pagkaitan ang sarili para hindi mawalan ng gana na ipagpatuloy ang pagsisikap na makamit ang tagumpay. Maglaan ng panahon para manood ng sine o kumain sa labas kasama ang mga anak.  May nakaabang na magandang balita para sa mga mag-asawa.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Siguradong makakamit ang tagumpay sa trabaho kung ibubuhos ang lahat ng makakaya sa ginagawa. Madaling manghina ang iyong katawan kaya kumain ng masustansyang pagkain. Isang kaibigan ang nakahandang dumamay para malampasan ang matinding problema. Maganda ang pasok ng pera kaya maitutuloy ang pagbili ng lupa o bahay.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Gumawa ng paraan na ipamalas ang propesyunal na kakayahan para mas madaling makahanap ng trabaho. Matutong magsabi ng hindi lalo na sa mga kahilingan na hindi makatuwiran. Huwag basta-basta maniniwala sa ibang tao lalo na kung hindi kabisado ang tunay na pakay nila. Gugupuin ng pagod ang katawan kaya malaking tulong ang sapat na pahinga at tulog. Kayang-kaya mong panatilihin ang katahimikan kahit nanggugulo ang kapitbahay.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Maraming pagbabago ang mangyayari sa linggong ito kaya kailangang laging matatag, at subukang intidihin ang katwiran ng ibang tao. Samantalahin ang bawat pagkakataon na magpahinga at maglibang, ngunit huwag sayangin ang oras sa harap ng telebisyon. Sa kabila ng pagsisikap na gawin ang tama, may mga taong sadyang walang nakikita kung hindi ang pagkukulang ng iba.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Maaring masira ang relasyon dahil sa matinding selos. Matiwasay at maayos ang sitwasyon sa loob ng tahanan sa kabila ng matinding problema. Huwag ipagwalang-bahala ang kalusugan at pagtuunan ng pansin ang bumibigat na katawan. Matatapos na rin ang isang proyekto na ilang beses nang naisantabi. Maayos ang pasok ng pera sa negosyo.

Pinoy Jokes

Pokemon jokes

Lady on why she is still single: I‘m 25 and I prefer to search Pokémon instead of true love.
-o-
A man wearing a Pikachu hat got arrested for jumping the White House fence. He claimed there was a Bolbasaur.

Quickies
A Mexican magician tells the audience he will disappear on the count of 3. He says, "uno, dos.."*poof!*. He disappears without a tres.
-o-
Question: What do you call a snobbish criminal going down the stairs?
Answer: A condescending con descending.
-o-
Question: Where did Noah keep his bees?
Answer: In the Ark hives.
-o-
Question: Pwede bang mag softdrink kapag coffee break?
-o-
Marriage is a workshop. The husband works and the wife shops.
-o-
Dance like no one is watching. Because they’re not; they’re checking their phones.
-o-
Two old men are drinking in a bar. One says, “Did you know that Lions have sex 10 to 15 times a day?”
“Aww, darn!” says his friend, “and I just joined Rotary!”

Grown up
A group of previous kindergartners were trying very hard to become accustomed to the first grade. The biggest hurdle they faced was that the teacher insisted on NO baby talk!
“You need to use 'Big People’s words,” she was always reminding them. She asked Chris what he had done over the weekend.
“I went to visit my Nana.”
“No, you went to visit your GRANDMOTHER. Use ‘Big People’ words!” She then asked Miguel what he had done.
“I took a ride on a choo-choo.”
She said, “No, you took a ride on a TRAIN. You must remember to use ‘Big People’ words.”
She then asked little Alex what he had done.
“I read a book,” he replied.
“That's WONDERFUL!” the teacher said. “What book did you read?”
Alex thought real hard about it, then puffed out his chest with great pride, and said, “Winnie the SH*T.”

Elementary
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were going camping. They pitch a tent under the stars and go to sleep. Some time in the middle of the night, Holmes wakes Watson up and saya:"Watson, look up the sky and tell me what you see."
Watson replies: "I see millions and millions of stars."
Holmes asks: "And what do you deduce from that?"
Watson replies: "Well, if there are millions of stars, and even if a few of those have planets, it's quite likely there are some planets like earth out there. And if there are a few planets like Earth, there might also be life."
Holmes answers: "Watson, you idiot, it means somebody stole our tent."

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Philippine Consulate General will be CLOSED on the following date:

Aug 29, Monday – National Heroes’ Day
*There will be no official transactions, including OEC issuance, at both the PCG and POLO on both dates. In case of emergency, call: 9155 4023 (consular assistance); 5529 1880 (POLO) or 6345 9324 (OWWA)

Attention: Filipina Registered Nurses
Are you a Registered Nurse working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong who cares for elderly and/or patients with dementia?
If so, please send a private message to the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong, giving the following details:
1. Complete Name
2. E-mail Address
3. Patient Category: (Elderly and/or with Dementia)
4. Mobile Number

LET in September
The Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT, formerly LET) will be held in Hong Kong on Sept, 25, Sunday.
The deadline for the application for both repeaters (July 22) and new applicants (July 29) has not passed.
For more information on the Teachers Board, please visit the FB page of the National Organization of Professional Teachers (NOPT) – HK Chapter, like it and send a private message.


Caritas Lessons

Sunday Basic Cantonese
(Sponsored by Home Affairs Department of the Goverment of the HKSAR)
Sept 4-Dec 18, 2016 (total: 16 Sundays)
10:00am – 1pm (total: 50 hours)
Target : ethnic minorities with HKID
Fee: $100 each, including materials, half fee for CSSA recipients
Venue : Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F, No.28A, Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong

Saturday Beads Making Class
Sept 3- Oct 15 (6 Saturdays)
2:00pm – 5:00 pm (18 hours total)
Target : foreign domestic helpers
Fee: $100/ head including materials
Venue : Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F. , No.28A, Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong.

For queries, call Sisca on 2147-5988.

What's on, where

Trafficking in Persons Awareness Seminar
July 31, 1-4pm, PCG Conference Room
For registration, call 2823 8512 and look for Lorna, or send a text on WhatsApp at 9481 9030

Free Training on Dementia Care
July 31, 9am-5pm, POLO, 16th floor, Admiralty Centre 1
Priority are registered nurses/BSN graduates with elderly and dementia care duties, and, secondly, registered nurses/BSN graduates without elderly and dementia care duties.
If interested please register at the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong by liking it and messaging your full name, mobile phone, and whether you are a registered nurse or BSN graduate.
A Certificate will be issued by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Center for Positive Ageing, which will handle the training.

General Assembly of Midwives in Hong Kong
Aug 7, PAOS Room, Philippine Overseas Labor Office
Guest Speaker: Dr. Michael Manio. For details, visit the FB page, Philippine Midwives in Hong Kong and send a private message indicating your name, telephone number, and desire to join the assembly

Tanong-Tanungan Tungkol sa Lupa at Bahay"
Aug. 14, 1-5pm, POLO Conference Room
11/F, Admiralty Tower 1. To register, text "FLT Training and your_name" . to 6345-9324 (OWWA Hotline)

Free Livelihood Training
(Balloon twisting, beads craft, mac crame bag making, ribbon folding and food processing). Starts on Aug 14, 10am
Venue: Footbridge going toward United Centre, Admiralty
For inquiries pls call Ching Baltazar at 98559878.

Forum on Nuat Thai Therapeutic Massage
Aug 14, time and venue TBA. Open to all Filipino massage therapists and massage therapy students of OWWA. Resource speaker will be Engr. Kenneth Carredo, owner of Nuat Thai Philippines, the biggest chain of massage spas in the country. Send your name and name of your organization to Ms. Bona Crescencia, tel. 51889157.  Limited to 200 attendees

Free Financial Literacy Seminar
Aug 21, pm. Bayanihan Centre. Organized by CARD MRI OFW HK Foundation.For inquiries, call 54238195/95296392

Aliwan Festival
Aug. 21, whole day, Chater Road, Central
Organized by: Global Alliance. Features: Street dance and singing contests and search for Miss Aliwan 2016

Making Wrongs Right Seminar
(Know your rights in HK). Aug. 28, 2pm-5pm
Resurrection Church Sai Kung, 1 Pak Sha Wan Centre, HK
Target audience: migrant workers, NGOs, clergy
Co-organizers: Resurrection Church and Global Alliance

Learn to drive information seminar
Sept. 11, 1:00-5:00 pm, Organized by: ROAD HK
Conference Room, PCG,,14/F United Centre, Admiralty
For details, please visit ROAD-HK's Facebook page
or call Tek Barro 67788167/ Mar 93850546

Free Forum for Nurses
Oct. 9, Bayanihan Centre, Kennedy Town
Speakers from Australia and New Zealand, and agencies deploying to Germany and Qatar are coming to orient registered nurses. Visit the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong. Like it, and message your full name and mobile number.

Melai at Jason, hiwalay na

Ni Ate Johna 

Kinumpirma ni Jason Francisco na hiwalay na sila ng kanyang asawang si Melai Cantiveros. Sa kanyang litanya gamit ang Instagram account ng kanilang dalawang taong gulang na anak na si Amelia Lucille, inilabas ni Jason ang himutok na nagsimula dahil sa hindi raw nasunod ang usapan tungkol sa paglabas ni Melai sa katatapos na TV series na “We Will Survive”.
Hindi nagustuhan ni Jason na naiba ang takbo ang kuwento ng WWS, dahil ang pagkasabi daw ni Melai ay sa umpisa lang ito may kapareha. Hindi raw niya gaanong nasubaybayan ang show nito dahil naging abala din siya sa ‘My Super D” TV series, pero naging madalas na ang pag-aaway nilang mag-asawa nang malaman niya na nabago ang istorya ng WWS. Ang isa pang dahilan ay naging abala nang masyado si Melai, lalo na noong sa Bicol pa sila nagte-taping, hanggang hindi na sila nag-uusap at hiwalay na ng kwartong tinutulugan.
Hindi sinabi ni Jason kung pinagselosan niya si Carlo Aquino, na nakapartner ni Melai sa naturang TV series na pinagbibidahan din nina Pokwang, Jeric Raval, Maris Racal, at John Steven de Guzman. Pero base sa itinakbo ng TV series sa direksyon ni Jeffrey Jeturian, wholesome at pam-pamilya ito at dapat pang ipagmalaki ni Jason si Melai dahil nabigyan ito ng tsansa na maipakita ang husay niya sa drama.
Marami ang nagkomento na masyadong mababaw ang dahilan ni Jason para hindi pagkatiwalaan ang asawa na makipagpareha sa iba. Pareho nilang ginusto ang pumasoks sa showbiz mula nang sumali sila at mabuo ang loveteam nilang Melason sa PBB noong 2009, kung saan nanalo si Melai. Ikinasal sila noong 2013, tatlong buwan matapos aminin ni Melai na buntis na siya.   Marami ring napahanga si Melai nang manalo ito sa season 1 ng Your Face Sounds Familiar, kaya nabigyan pa ng sunod-sunod na projects. Sa ngayon ay may regular morning show siya, ang “Magandang Buhay”, bilang co-host nina Jolina Magdangal at Karla Estrada.

LOVI, KAPUSO PA RIN
Tatlong taon ang bagong pinirmahang exclusive contract ni Lovi Poe sa  GMA Network noong July 26.
Bilang panimula, malapit nang ipalabas ang bagong TV series ng tinaguriang ‘premier actress” ng Kapuso Network na “Someone to Watch Over Me”. Makakasama niya sa bagong drama series na ito sina Tom Rodriguez at Max Collins.
Sa loob ng 10 taon pagtatatrabaho niya bilang Kapuso, nagpapasalamat daw si Lovi dahil sa patuloy na paghubog sa kanyang career ng kanyang home network mula pa noong nagsimula siyang magtrabaho dito noong 2006, nang ipakilala siya sa “Bakekang”.
Nakatakda ring ipalabas ang pelikulang pagtatambalan nina Lovi at Derek Ramsay, ang “The Escort” ng Regal Films. Abala rin siya sa pagsusulat ng mga kanta para sa susunod niyang album. Balak din nilang sundan ang naunang concert nila ni Solenn Heusaff na “Fantasies”.
Samantala, paano na kaya ang TV series ng Kapamilya Network na “Someone To Watch Over Me” rin ang title at pinagbibidahan nina Judy Ann Santos, Richard Yap at Diether Ocampo? Papalitan na kaya ang titulo nito sa pagre-resume ng taping nila sa susunod na taon? Naumpisahan na nilang gawin ito, pero biglang nabuntis si Judy Ann kaya kinailangan niyang magpahinga. Nagdesisyon ang ABS- CBN na hintayin na ang pagbabalik ni Juday kesa ibigay sa iba ang project.
Sa ngayon ay ayaw muna daw niya i-pressure ang sarili na pumayat, kaya sa susunod na taon na niya balak gawin ang TV series.

FHM VICTORY PARTY
Kumpara sa mga nagdaang taon, mas simple ang ginanap na FHM 2016 Victory Party para sa FHM 100 Sexiest Women na ginanap sa Valkyrie night club sa Taguig. Si Jessy Mendiola ang tinanghal na “sexiest” sa taong ito, pero iilan lang ang dumalo sa mga nasa listahan ng top 100.
Sa top ten, ang mga dumalo ay sina Jessy, Rhian Ramos(5), Kim Domingo (8)  Rachel Anne Daquis (10) at Marian Rivera (9). Wala sina Nadine Lustre (2), Jennylyn Mercado (3), Angel Locsin (4), Arci Munoz (6), at Glaiza de Castro (7).
Ang iba pang rumampa sa stage ay sina Roxanne Barcelo, Rochelle Pangilinan, Margo Midwinter, Sam Pinto, Daiana Menezes, Aiko Climaco, Bangs Garcia, Dawn Chang, Sunshine Garcia, at Sunshine Cruz.
Hindi gaanong sexy ang mga suot ng mga rumampa, na ang karamihan ay mga naka-gown pa. Si Jessy ay mala-amasona ang pulang kasuotan, at ginaya pa ang sinabi ni Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, na “I am confidently beautiful with a heart”, pero pinalitan niya ito ng “sexy with a heart”.

DI NA MULI, PANALO SA PHILPOP 2016 
Tinanghal na grand prize winner ang awiting “Di N Muli” ng composers na sina Wally Acolola at Jazz Nicolas, at inawit ng bandang Itchyworms sa Philpop 2016 na ginanap noong July 24 sa Kia Theatre. Nanalo sila ng Php 1 million cash prize.
First runner-up, at Maynilad People’s Choice ang awiting “Lahat” ni Soc Villegas, na ininterpret ni Jason Dy. Second runner-up ang komposisyon ng magkapatid na Miguel at Paolo Guico na  “Tinatangi” na inawit nina Bayang Barrios at Cooky Chua, na nakuha rin ang PLDT-Smart Best Music Video. Nanalo ng Php500,000 ang first runner up, at Php 250,000 para sa  second runner up.
Si Yassi Pressman, na isa sa mga interpreters ng mga awitin na nakasama sa finals, ay ginulat ang mga manood dahil bigla itong dumating at dire-diretso sa stage upang awitin ng “Dumadagundong” na likha nina Mike Villegas at Brian Cua. Ang akala kasi ng marami ay papalitan na si Yassi dahil kasalukuyang kabilang siya sa mga latest batch ng housemates sa Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) na ginaganap sa Vietnam. Balitang nagrereklamo ang mga kasamahan ni Yassi sa kanyang ginawang pagtakas sa bahay ni Kuya. Naging guest singers sina Aiza Seguerra, Ogie Alcasid at dating winners na sina Thyro Alfaro at Yumi Lacsamana. Sina Bela Padilla at ang Boys Night Out ang mga naging hosts ng programa.

ALDEN, MAY LIBRO NA
Nauuso na sa mga celebrities ang paglalabas ng sari-sariling mga libro. Ang pinakahuli ay ang libro ni Alden Richards, na sa kabila ng pinagkakaabalahan ay nagkaroon pa ng oras para dito.  Ang libro niyang “In My Own Words” ay inilunsad noong July 21. Ito raw ang regalo niya sa kanyang mga fans, kasabay ng unang anibersaryo ng loveteam nila ni Maine Mendoza.
Inilahad niya sa sa libro ang mga pinagdaaanan niya mula nang pumasok siya sa showbiz, ang kanyang mga pananaw sa buhay at pag-ibig, at sa samahan nila ni Maine sa harap at likod ng kamera.
Ilan sa mga celebrities na nakapaglabas na mga libro ay sina: Rita Avila – 8 Ways to Comfort with Grace (2008), Ramon Bautista – Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? (2012), Boy Abunda – Make Your Nanay Proud (2014), Miriam Quiambao- He Can Catch You When You Fall (2014), Alex Gonzaga- Dear Alex, Break Na Kami, Paano? (2014), Bianca Gonzalez – Paano Ba ‘To? How to Survive Growing Up. (2014), Solenn Heusaff & Georgina Wilson – Besties (2015), Liz Uy – Stylized, Judy Ann Santos-  Judy Ann’s Kitchen (2015), Wenn Deramas – Direk 2 Da Poynt (2016), Regine Velasquez – Bongga sa Kusina ang Sarap Diva (2016) at Vice Ganda – President Vice, Ang Bagong Panggulo ng Bansa (2016).

Outstanding HK employers get recognition

The outstanding employers, their employees and organizers pose for a picture.

By Gina N. Ordona

Three employers of foreign domestic workers were given recognition as “outstanding employers” as part of a search organized by the non-government organization Open Door, in collaboration with Apexart.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Central Oasis Gallery in Central Market on Jul. 17.
Among the awardees was Lau Miu Yuen, who was nominated by her Filipina domestic helper Lory Jean T. Yungco, who has been with the family for 20 years now. Lau proudly said in her acceptance speech that her family treats Yungco as one of their own.
In an interview with The SUN, Lau urged her fellow employers to be more understanding and supportive of their helpers.
Another awardee was Mong Lai Kwan who was nominated by her Thai helper Riem Incharoen, who has been with the employer’s family for the past 27 years.
The judges cited Mong for taking care of Incharoen even when the latter had serious health issues.
Another awardee, Chung Yin Kwan, cited for helping her Indonesian worker Iswati fulfil her potentials by sending her to school.
Doris Lee of Open Door said the contest aims to portray the positive behaviors and relationships that exist among domestic workers and employers.
Apart for the contest, Open Door also displayed a collection of letters and drawings expressing gratitude of employers to their domestic helpers. The collection was developed through a separate project called “Part of the Family”.
Open Door is made up of employers of foreign domestic workers and other  Hong Kong citizens who promote good policies for both domestic workers and employers.

Emry’s manager claims being duped by $4.2 million

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre meets with OFWs who complained against Emry's.

By The SUN Staff

Beleaguered recruiter Ester Ylagan appears to have jumped the gun on overseas Filipino workers seeking a refund of the money they paid her for jobs in Britain and Canada by filing a $4.2 million deception case with the police against an unnamed partner.
In reply to queries from The SUN about a notice posted on the door of Emry’s office in Wanchai which has been shut since July 3, the Police Public Relations Bureau said:
“Regarding your enquiry giving us the case number 16036631, according to the report, police received a report from a 63-year-old foreign woman on July 8 that she failed to contact a male business partner after her company transferred about $4.2 million to overseas as the placement fee for some job opportunities for domestic helpers.
Investigation along the line of obtaining property by deception by the District Investigation Team 8 of the Central District is underway. No person was arrested so far.”
The filing of the case appears to be in line with Ylagan’s claim made earlier in a recorded interview with The SUN that she had been tricked into sending the money paid by her job applicants to her partner in London who goes by the name “William Clinton James” or “William Clinton Erich”.
Ylagan said then that she had never met this business partner in person, and communicated with him only via email.
Her claim was immediately dismissed as “unbelievable” by other recruitment practitioners, who pointed out that with Ylagan’s 30 years of experience in the field, she could not have been duped that easily.
Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre was not convinced by Ylagan’s excuse, either, and ordered her to “show cause” for her third-country deployment of Filipino workers, which is prohibited under Philippine Overseas Employment Administration rules.
After Ylagan failed to comply with the order, Labatt de la Torre decided to put all work contracts being processed by Emry’s on hold effective June 20.
Labatt de la Torre told The SUN that Emry’s suspension remains in force, and that he has already sent an urgent request to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to act on his recommendation that the agency’s accreditation be cancelled.
Before being plagued by complaints about the apparently bogus jobs recruitment, Emry’s was the biggest recruiter of Filipinos for domestic work in Hong Kong, averaging five placements per day.
Ylagan acted as Emry’s manager, which used to be run by her husband, Ricardo Ylagan, who founded it in February 1992.  Ester Ylagan also managed Mike’s Secretarial Services, which has an office adjacent to Emry’s on the third floor of Worldwide Plaza in Central. Emry’s also has an office on the third floor of On Hong Commercial Building in Wanchai.
Emry’s office in Worldwide Plaza was shut on June 29, while Mike’s and the Wanchai branch were closed on July 3 ostensibly for redecoration, and a sign was posted on their doors saying they would re-open on July 26. They remain closed as of this writing.
Informed about Ylagan’s filing of a deception complaint, about a dozen of her job applicants decided to also seek help from the Central police station on July 24. After hearing them out, the police chiefs at the station agreed to take on the case, and notified the applicants that they would be called individually for an investigation at various dates.
Meantime, the Employment Agencies Administration of the Hong Kong Labour Department has started interviewing applicants, after getting a referral about their complaints from the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section.
During the interviews conducted at the EAA office in Mong Kok starting on July 19, the applicants were each furnished a copy of their bio-data and a slip indicating the amount they paid Ylagan. The documents were apparently obtained from Mike’s office by labour officers.
The applicants now plan to use these documents in pursuing their separate claims with the police and the Small Claims Tribunal.
In their written complaint to the police, the job applicants said Ylagan collected $10,000 from those applying to work in Britain and $15,000 from those seeking a job in Canada.
In several briefings she conducted about the jobs offer, Ylagan reportedly promised that they would be paid no less that 2,000 pounds a month, tax free, and with free accommodation. After working for two years, they would be given three months’ vacation with pay.
She reportedly promised that their “job order” would be sent to Hong Kong in three months’ time, and they could fly out on a chartered plane to London, accompanied by Hong Kong immigration officers, by June this year.
Ylagan did not issue receipts, reportedly saying that she did not want to be taxed by the Hong Kong authorities. But she made them fill out a bio-data form and a slip indicating how much each applicant paid.
Sometime in April, Ylagan told them that the job order was getting held up, but that they would definitely be able to fly out by October.
Alarmed by her altered promise and reports that they may have been duped, more than 100 job applicants trooped to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on July 3 to file complaints.
Their sworn affidavits were later turned over by the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate to the HK Labour Department and the Hong Kong Police.

UK, Canada job applicants go to claims tribunal for help

Vice Consul Fatima Quintin (2nd from left)  talks to victims
who went to the Consulate to formalize their complaints.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Frustrated Filipino job applicants have been trooping to the Small Claims Tribunal in Wanchai to seek a refund of the money they paid for apparently non-existent jobs in Britain and Canada.
The first batch of five claimants showed up at the tribunal offices on July 25, and filled out forms naming the complainant as Ester Ylagan, a recruitment veteran who used to manage two employment agencies licensed by the Employment Agencies Administration.
Her older company, Emry’s Service Staff Employment Agency, was the biggest recruiter of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong, until it was ordered suspended by Philippine authorities on June 20.
But it was her other company, Mike’s Secretarial Services, which she used to conduct the recruitment for jobs in Britain, for which each applicant was reportedly made to pay $10,000; and $15,000 for those bound for Canada.
The claimants were joined by at least two other Filipinas demanding a refund of the of the $6,680 fee reportedly paid by their employers for Filipinos they were hiring to work in their households.
One of them had a receipt showing the fee paid by her employer was received by Emry’s on June 22, or two days after the Philippine Overseas Labor Office suspended its accreditation.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, alam na ninyo na suspendido na kayo, bakit pa kayo tumanggap ng pera?” she said.
The two said the bigger problem faced by their employers was tracking down the documents of the Filipinos they wanted to hire, since Emry’s had practically shut its offices since July 3.
The job applicants, however, named Ylagan in her personal capacity as the defendant in their claims. They said they were enticed to apply for the jobs because they relied on Ylagan’s solid reputation as an industry expert.
The claimants said they expect many other job applicants to seek a refund.
As many as 500 Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong are believed to have paid for the overseas jobs offered by Ylagan between January and May this year.
They were reportedly promised that they could be deployed as early as June.
Several have gone back to the Philippines after their contracts were prematurely terminated. Many of them have told The SUN that they were assured by Ylagan that they could come back to Hong Kong as tourists, then fly out along with the rest of the applicants once their job orders were sent from London.
The first batch of cases is set to be heard on Aug. 31, and the second, on Sept. 3.

Pagbabago ng isang sawsawera

Nakagawian na ni Mercy ang magbasa ng mga status na dumadaan sa kanyang newsfeed, at makisawsaw sa mga issue. May pagka tsismosa siya kaya mga away sa Facebook ang kanyang pinag-uukulan ng pansin. Basta may mabasa siyang hindi maganda ay nagcocomment siya, lalo na kung kilala ang mga pinatutungkulan. Kinukunan niya ng screen shot at pinapadala para makuha ang reaction ng pinatatamaan. Tuwang tuwa siya kapag nagsasagutan na sila sa kani-kanilang wall, Kapag hindi nakontento ay naglalagay siya ng comment na nakakainsulto, kaya naiinis ang ibang nakakabasa nito. Imbes na pagsabihan  ang mga nag-aaway sa facebook dahil baka malaman ng kanilang pamilya sa Pilipinas ay pinapainit pa niya ang usapan. Medyo napaisip siya minsan nang may mabasa siyang status na parang patama sa kanya, na ganito ang pagkasabi, "Huwag makisawsaw kung hindi alam ang puno't dulo ng usapan". Napahinto siya at napaisip na parang siya ang pinatutungkulan dahil ganun siya, laging nakikisawsaw sa post ng iba. Mula noon pinipigil na niya ang sarili na magcomment ng di maganda,. Nagbabasa  na lamang siya ng mga nakaka-inspire na mga kwento sa kanyang newsfeed. Napagtanto niya mas maganda pala sa pakiramdam kung puro inspiring ang nababasa. Nagkakaroon pa siya ng panahon para magbasa ng tunay na balita at hindi puro chika lang. Si Mercy ay isang Ilokana na tubong Mindanao at kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa Saikung. - Marites Palma