Know your contract to spot abuses

Assistant Labor Attache Henry Tianero, Regi Frection and Pastor Chris Ponniah after the workshop.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Foreign domestic workers should know every part of their work contract to be able to tell whether the service that they are required to do is legal or not.
This was the advice of Reginald Frection, a University of York labor law researcher and NGO head whose research focuses on domestic workers in Hong Kong and how the government provides the appropriate means to address violations of their rights.
Frection, chief executive of ARES Human Rights International, was the main speaker in a training workshop, “Making Wrongs Right”, held on Aug 28 at the Resurrection Church in Pak Sha Wan, Saikung.
The workshop was organized by ARES and migrant workers group OFWs in Hong Kong, led by its president Regina de Andres. More than 40 domestic helpers participated in the event hosted by Resurrection Church.
“You must know who the employer is, what type of work you’re gonna do, under what conditions you’re gonna do it, and how much you’re gonna be paid,” Frection said.
He said when a worker finds out the job “is not what was promised, then there is a problem…what you get that’s not there is illegal”. In that case she should have the option to leave, but she cannot, he said.
Hong Kong is not a signatory to the Forced Labour Convention No. 29 of 1930, but its former colonial ruler, Britain, signed it in 1931. China, which regained Hong Kong in 1997, has not ratified the convention.
The convention states that “all work exacted from any person under the menace of penalty and for which a person has not offered himself voluntarily” is considered forced labor, Frection said.
Domestic workers in Hong Kong work and live in conditions that meet the 11 indicators of forced labor identified by the International Labor Organization, Frection said.
Those indications are abuse of vulnerability, deception, restriction of movement, physical and sexual violence, intimidation and threats, retention of identity documents, withholding of wages, debt bondage, abusive working and living conditions and excessive overtime work.
The domestic workers were taught how to identify those elements, understand their contracts and document their working and living conditions, as well as the methods to resolve their problems.
Frection cited a report in The SUN about a helper who was forced to sleep in a wooden box by her employer as an example of violation of a worker’s human rights. He rued that an administrative court, the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board, had ruled that the box accommodation was acceptable.
Frection also discussed working hours in Hong Kong, where the legislated norm for local workers was 48 hours over six days a week, with security guards having a longer work week lasting 66 hours, substantially above the national average.
But then domestic workers put in 96 hours a week, excluding work they are required to perform on their day off, without the government regulating their working hours.
He said domestic workers can protect themselves from such abuses by documenting their problems with their phones for audio and video recording and writing on a notebook, as they need a 51-49% preponderance of evidence to prove their case.
Another guest speaker, Assistant Labor Attache Henry Tianero, clarified the issue of abolition of the overseas employment certificate.
“Ano ang sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte noong dumalaw sa POEA at nakita ang mahabang pila? ‘Alisin ang OEC.’ Kaya wala na nang OEC, pero…kailangang mag-register kayo sa BM Online,” Tianero said.
With the OEC gone, the Philippine Overseas Labour Office will now have more time to level up its services to workers by conducting seminars and trainings in post-Hong Kong livelihood activities, Tianero said.

‘Isabelino Ako’ – Serbisyong mula sa puso

Isa sa proyekto ng Isabelino Ako-Hong Kong Chapter na ginanap sa Tumauini, Isabela.

Ni Marites Palma

Ang pagsibol ng Facebook ay nagbunga ng pagkatatag ng maraming mga asosasyon, gaya ng Isabelino Ako-Hong Kong Chapter, na pinangungunahan ni Rachelle Angobong.
Naumpisahan ang grupo nang umanib ito dalawang taon na ang nakakaraan sa Facebook page ng Isabelino Ako, na naglalayong mapagbuklod ang mga Isabelinos na nasa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. Magmula nang maitatag ito ni Arcangel Fernandez 10 taon na ang nakakaraan ay mahigit 1.2 milyon na ang mga Isabelinos na kasapi nito sa iba-ibang bansa, na ang karamihan ay mga overseas Filipino workers. May 13 chapter na itong kaanib, na binubuo ng mga OFW mula sa Middle East, Europe at Asia.
Alinsunod sa nasimulan ng kanilang punong grupo ay kawanggawa ang agad tinutukan ng Hong Kong chapter. Sa kanilang ginawang pagdiriwang ng kanilang ika-dalawang taong anibersaryo noong Agosto 17 sa Repulse Bay, ay nakalikom ang grupo ng $1,600 at Php4,150 para sa mga maysakit na kanilang tinutulungan
Dahil sa kanilang magandang adhikain ay marami ang agad na sumali sa kanila, at ngayon ay may135 na silang miyembro.
Kamakailan lamang ay naging sponsor ang Hong Kong chapter sa isang outreach mission na isinagawa ng Isabelino Ako sa isang liblib na barangay, ang Dy-Abra Tunauini. Kabilang sa serbisyong ibinahagi sa mga residente dito ay medical/dental care, feeding program, libreng gupit, regalo at pati papremyo sa palaro.
Mabilis ang pagtalima ng mga miyembro sa ganitong proyekto dahil sa ganitong paraan pumailanlang ang kanilang pangkalahatang grupo.
Hindi sadyang nabuo ang grupo noong taong 2010, nang mawasak ang maraming bayan sa Isabela dahil sa isang matinding bagyo. Naisipan ni Fernandez na i-upload ang mga larawan ng trahedya sa Facebook sa pamamagitan ng isang video slide, na agad-agad na nag-viral. Dinagsa ng mga mensahe na nagpapaabot ng pagtulong si Fernandez na sa kalaunan ay binansagang Papa Niko. Bagamat nag-aalangan siya sa umpisa na tanggapin ang alok na tulong ay nanaig kay Fernandez ang pagnanasa na maipaabot agad ito sa mga nasalanta. Sa maikling panahon ay nakilala siya sa ginawa niyang pag-aabot ng tulong mula sa mga Isabelino sa iba-ibang lugar, at ayon sa kanya, hinding hindi niya sisirain ang pagtitiwalang ibinigay sa kanya ng mga kababayan.
Mula noon ay nagsagawa na siya ng regular na outreach o pagtulong sa kanilang bayan. Sa nagdaang dekada ay 22 misyon na ng pagtulong na ang kanilang naisagawa. Ang panghuli ay suportado ng Lebanon chapter, samantalang ang susunod na planong isagawa para sa bayan ng Palanan ay ang Malaysia chapter naman ang taya.
Ayon kay Francisco Kiko Pardinez, ang nakatalagang Pangulo Internasyonal ng pangkalahatang organisasyon, isinusulong nila ang  pagkakaroon ng outreach sa probinsya ng Isabela dahil masarap sa pakiramdam ang makatulong sa maliit na paraan sa mga mamayang napagkaitan ng sagana sa buhay.
Hindi naman palaging sila ang namimigay ng tulong, ayon kay Pardinez. Sa kanilang pinakahuling misyon ay inabot daw sila ng napakalakas na bagyo sa bayan ng Dinapigue na nasa tabing dagat. Dahil sa unos ay napilitan silang manatili doon ng 10 araw, imbes na tatlo lang sana. Nang mag-umpisa nang kapusin ang kanilang budget ay araw araw daw silang binibigyan ng gulay ng mga volunteer nila doon para may maiulam sila. Pinatira naman sila sa bahay ng isang miyembro na nakaanib sa UK chapter.
Ang isa pang nakakaaliw na kuwento niya ay ang pagkabuo ng isang sanggol habang stranded sila sa Dinapigue. Ang isa daw nilang volunteer na kasama ang kanyang mister sa misyon ay nalamang buntis siya pag-uwi sa kanilang bahay. Dahil dito ay naging biro daw sa kanilang grupo na ang kanilang anak ay gawa sa Dinapigue.
Mayroon din daw nakahanap ng kanyang “forever” nang dahil sa pagsama sa kanilang outreach. Noong una ay sa Facebook lang daw magkakilala ang dalawa, ngunit nang magkita nang personal ay nagkagustuhan, at di naglaon ay nagpakasal. Sina Pardinez at Fernandez ang kinuha nilang ninong sa kanilang pag-iisang dibdib.
Ngunit hindi laging kasiyahan ang dulot ng kanilang outreach. Minsan dahil sa pagdagsa ng mga taong nangangailangan ay kinakapos sila ng pagkaing pinapamahagi, kaya silang mga volunteer ay hindi na kumakain. Dahil dito ay naging gawi na raw nila na pasobrahan ang kanilang inihahandang pagkain.
Sa tuwing may outreach sila may mga miyembro daw na boluntaryong nagbibigay ng groceries, mga tsinelas at  t-shirt na siyang ipinamamahagi nila bilang regalo sa mga pamilyang karapat dapat makatanggap. Ang listahan ng mga taong nabibigyan ng tulong ay nanggagaling mismo sa kapitan ng barangay.
Para masiguro ang kooperasyon ng lokal na pamahalaan ay ipinagpapaalam daw nila sa mga ito ang kanilang layunin na makatulong. Kabilang sa tulong na ibinibigay sa grupo ang pagpapagamit ng mga pasilidad ng barangay gaya ng community center, at siniguro din ang kanilang seguridad sa panahon ng kanilang misyon.
Ayon kay Pardinez, taos-pusong pasasalamat ang gusto nilang ipaabot sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa mga mithiin ng Isabelino Ako. Kung wala daw ang mga miyembro sa iba-ibang chapters katulad ng sa Hong Kong ay hindi mararating ng organisasyon ang kinalalagyan nila ngayon.
Sa kanyang panghuling mensahe, sinabi ni Pardinez: “Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong pagiging miyembro at ang paggawa ng kabutihan sa kapwa dahil mas maraming biyaya ang bubuhos sa iyo.”

2 agencies meted heavy fines for overcharging

By Vir B. Lumicao

​Two Hong Kong employment agencies were convicted separately on Sept 1 and 2 for overcharging four foreign domestic workers.
Jen's Employment Agency Limited located in Tsuen Wan was found guilty on Sept 1 of charging a Filipina job applicant nearly 30 times the allowable commission of $411 or 10% of her first monthly salary under the Labour Code.

Jen's was fined $24,000 at Tsuen Wan court

Jen's was convicted and fined $24,000 by Tsuen Wan Magistrate Lau Suk-han after a full-day trial on Aug. 22 during which the Labour Department, which prosecuted the case, presented domestic worker Relly Manuel as its witness.

Lau also ordered the agency to refund excessive placement fees amounting to $5,589 to Manuel.

The following day, the licensee of Ursula was convicted and fined $30,000 at Eastern Court for overcharging three jobseekers.

The agency was also ordered to refund excessive placement fees of $10,136 to the jobseekers, according to a government press release.
The Labour Department did not identify the three foreign domestic helpers by name or nationality in the press release about the trial.

Ursula: Fined $30k at Eastern court

Between March and May this year, the department’s Employment Agencies Administration received four complaints of overcharging: one from Manuel against Jen’s, and three other helpers against Ursula. 

Following an investigation, the department decided to prosecute the two agencies.

Manuel returned to Manila after she was terminated by her employer allegedly for no reason at all when she had paid up a $12,000 loan taken by Jen’s in her name from a lender called Silver Brighter Limited.

But she was flown back to Hong Kong by Labour to testify in court.

“We are glad that the (helpers) concerned were willing to come forward to report their cases to EAA and act as prosecution witnesses,” a Labour spokesman said.

“Labour will not tolerate any agencies overcharging jobseekers and will act promptly upon receipt of any complaints. Jobseekers who suspect themselves of being overcharged by agencies should report their cases to EAA as soon as possible and act as prosecution witnesses,” he said.
The Labour Code bars employment agencies from collecting from jobseekers any fees or charges other than the prescribed 10% commission of a helper’s first monthly salary
Jen's and Ursula are the fifth and sixth agencies to have been convicted this year of  violating the conditions of their agency licence.

The other four  are Marks Domestic Helper Agency Limited in Tsuen Wan, Ka Ying Employment Agency in Cheung Sha Wan, Enoch Employment Agency in Wan Chai and Gold Union Employment Agency in Fanling.
Victims of illegal recruitment by unlicensed operators or overcharging by agencies are advised to call EAA at 2115 3667 or visit its office in Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

Why play ball?

By Emz Gaborno

Many of our fellow overseas Filipino workers indulge in different activities and organizations while in Hong Kong. But why do some of them choose to be on the field and play softball or baseball?
As domestic workers, they are kept busy by the chores their employers require them to do on a daily basis. Despite this, they still find time to play. Instead of taking a rest during their only day off during the week they go straight to the field and meet their teammates.
Whatever the weather, be it sizzling hot or bitingly cold, they would regularly don their kit and play. Hanging out at the park is not for them. Lazing around instead of sweating it out is never good enough.
Once a player, always a player. That is the motto they live by. Ask any of these regular players and they will say that the game has become such a part of them that they can never refuse when asked to join one.

The author

Another likes to say, "softball never stops"!
Indeed it does not. For real softball enthusiasts, the engagement is not for just a game but a passion.
A true-blue player doesn’t just play for fun but also for relaxation and health reasons.
It is also a good way to make new acquaintances, especially those who share your habits and hobbies. Your interaction with them could go a long way toward improving your techniques and skills.
I tend to think that as soon as you play softball or baseball you cease being alone or lonely. You don’t just play and have fun, you actually end up putting your heart into the game. There is simply no half-measure in getting involved.
Playing softball or baseball is not easy. One needs to know not just the rules of the game, but also the responsibilities attached to the activity. You must be willing to take risks that will make you win. You should know how to manage your time and know your priorities.
So if you have the ability to play softball or baseball don't keep it to yourself. Come out of your shell and use the talent given to you. Come and join our group, Fate, the all-Filipino softball team in Hong Kong. I guarantee you a stress-free, fun day. Best of all, you will be with people who share your interest, passion and dedication for the sport.
So, don’t waste your time doing nothing. Come, join us play!

Question asked of me: “How much liabilities can I have?”

By Francisco J. Colayco

By your question, I think you are trying to understand how much you should allow yourself to borrow.  Before anything else, be sure you understand that borrowing creates an obligation to pay now and in the future. You should therefore never borrow unless you have a source for repayment.
Without knowing your Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), I want to give you a few pointers on how to manage your borrowings or debt.  However, you really have to make your SALN, if you have not yet done it.
In general, your borrowings as a person would probably be these types, although I am sure there could be more depending on your situation:
• “lista” if you are a regular customer of a store that knows you and don’t have the cash on hand.  Or sometimes, this is the term that could use for short borrowings from people who know you.
• installment loans (usually from appliances and credit cooperatives)
• housing or house repair loan (probably Pag-ibig or a financial institution)
• car loan (probably from a financial institution or from your company)
• credit card (however, this is very bad loan that you should avoid because it has the highest interest rate)
Loans can be categorized as those that need to be paid in full on a specific date and if installment, on specific dates for each period required by the agreement.
Company or business borrowing is a different type of borrowing altogether.  These types of loans are based on the capacity of your business to pay off the loan.  Financial institutions will not lend businesses without a complete study showing the company’s background, the particular reason for the loan and how the company will make money to pay off the loan on time.
As a general rule, you should consider each of your personal loans like a company loan.  Consider yourself as your company.  You need to make an analysis of the reason for the loan and you should only borrow as much as you can comfortably pay without causing a disruption in your daily living expenses.  Of course, to be able to answer the question of what is “comfortable”, you need a personal budget.
You should still always still following the rule: “Income minus Savings equals Expenses”
If your Loan is for a house or a car, you could consider all or part of the installment as part of your “Savings.”  Note, that I say “part” because the house could possibly increase in value in the future and could be considered as an investment.  This is only possible if your title to your house can allow you to sell it eventually. You need to study this carefully.  Otherwise, your house installment would only be another expense that will take the place of your rental expense.

For your relatives and friends in Manila, we have a new very affordable seminar every Wednesday at 7-9pm at our Shaw Blvd, Pasig City office.  You could help many of your relatives and friends with their personal financial education and opportunities to earn income.  Call +63 2 6373731 or +63 2 6373741.

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Francisco J. Colayco is an entrepreneur, a venture developer and financial advisor.  He is the Author of Seven Bestsellers in the Pera Palaguin Series, the latest of which is now available in bookstores:  “Wealth Reached. Money Worked. Pera Mo, Pinalago Mo!” Find his works and catch him on TV and radio.  Check out: www.colaycofinancialeducation.com, www.franciscocolayco.com, www.kskcoop.com, FaceBook and Instagram.

Plea for sanity

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

It is scary enough to see so many people being killed across the Philippines in the name of the government-declared war against drugs, but it is worse that not a lot of people seem to be affected by it.

Far worse is that a great number of people – and social media trolls – are actually cheering on the killers.

The argument goes that it is better for the drug pushers and abusers to be killed instead of them killing, raping, or victimizing innocent people.

But is this argument sound or logical? Why should we equate the actual incidents of people being killed wantonly with something that is prospective, or could just be in the mind of someone who is anticipating the worst?

Sure, drug-crazed people are capable of committing heinous crimes, and that is why we have laws, and we have the media. The reason we know that a crime was committed by somebody who was high on some illicit substance is because the culprits were arrested, tried, jailed, or at the very least, that they were being tracked down by the authorities.

That is how it should be. Everyone, including drug users and pushers and even the lowliest of criminals, has the right to be heard, not silenced outright.

In law, that is what we call due process. There is a basic presumption that an accused is innocent until proven guilty. This means that he or she should be heard, and based on the evidence, adjudged guilty or not by a competent judge in a lawful forum.

The police cannot be the accuser, law enforcer and judge at the same time.

Those who say the killings were carried out because the suspect was “nanlaban” or had fought back can go find someone else to believe them. Out of the hundreds killed so far, and given the prevailing climate of fear in the country, a suspect was more likely to have gone down on his knees to plead for mercy, rather than engage the police in a shootout.

In many documented cases, a target never even had the chance to do this, but was killed outright.

One needs listen only once to how the current PNP chief who proudly calls himself “Bato” eggs on his officers to kill or burn down houses of suspected drug dealers to realize that a ruthless killing spree is well on its way to being waged across the land.

As in any such lawless campaigns, many innocent lives have been sacrificed, and bad enough as this is, it is far more abhorrent to see or hear mindless supporters of the killing spree calling this as collateral damage.

Equally galling is being labeled as “yellowtard”, “bitter” or any such denigrating names when one finds the courage to protest against the wanton killings or plead for a return to sanity.

When someone as powerful and generally respected as Senator Leila de Lima is bashed and vilified no end for daring to conduct a probe into this flagrant disregard for our laws, what chance do we ordinary Filipinos have of standing up for what is right and just?

Still, we must speak up. If we sway with the wind or hide in the face of a storm, what would become of our land, our laws and institutions and our people?

We have already taken the path to darkness once, we must resist going that way again.

Alam mo na ba?

Isa sa katangian ng mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong ay ang pagiging maalam sa mga nangyayari sa pali-paligid nila. Kinikilala rin sila bilang maalam sa karapatan, at mga tungkulin at pananagutan nila—mga bagay na nagresulta ng respeto para sa mga Pilipino ng kalahatan.
Mataas kasi ang pinag-aralan ng mga Pilipino.
Pasensiya na kung magbubuhat kami ng bangko sa  puntong ito, pero hindi natin matatawaran ang nagawa ng The SUN sa katayuan nilang ito sa lipunan, dahil sa paghahatid ng balitang tunay at matalinong pagtalakay ng mga paksang may kabuluhan sa mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong.
At mas mabilis na ngayong maipapaabot namin sa inyo ang balita. Halimbawa ay ang nakalipas na eleksiyon, kung saan ay may live coverage kami. Isa pa ay ang nakatakdang pagtataas ng sahod, na hinihintay ng lahat. Sa pamamagitan ng aming website  (www.sunwebhk.com), makakarating sa inyo ang balita  sa loob lamang ng minuto matapos mangyari ito.
Hindi na kailangang hintayin pa ang susunod na isyu ng The SUN upang malaman ang mga balita. Isang pindot lang sa iyong smart phone ay malalaman mo ang nangyari.
At kung gumagamit ka ng Facebook, mas madali mo pang malalaman dahil makakatanggap ka ng alert—kung nag-like ka sa aming FB page (The SUN Hong Kong).
Nasanay na yata ang mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong na buksan ang mga balitang hatid namin, kaya naman noong Aug. 30 ay naitala ang pinakamataas na “pageview” ng The SUN website: 102,860. Iyan ay bilang ng tingin sa mga pahina ng website sa loob ng 24 oras.
Hindi lang iyan ang nakikita naming statistics ng aming website. Alam din namin na 94% ng mga bumibisita dito ay gumamit ng Android phone. Nakikita rin namin kung ano ang pinakagusto ninyong basahin — isang paraan upan malaman kung papaano namin pagbubutihin ang aming serbisyo.
Ano naman ang mababasa sa The SUN kung lumabas na ang balita sa website namin?
Dahil mas maraming ang oras namin magsulat ng mas malamang balita, mapapansin ninyo ang kaibahan kapag regular na nagbabasa kayo ng pareho.
Sa loob ng 21 taon, ito ang aming sikreto kung bakit kami ay nananatiling No. 1.

BIG WIN FOR CLAIMANTS IN JOBS SCAM

by Daisy CL Mandap

  

Some of the winning complainants against Ester Ylagan are seen here 
filling out complaint forms before Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre on July 3.

Six claimants in a massive job placement scam have won claims totaling $56,000 against Ester Ylagan, co-owner of Emry’s Service Staff Employment Agency in cases heard separately in just one day at the Small Claims Tribunal on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Claimants Ronia Maria Benalio, Be-Ann Barranco, Richiebelle Aballe, Lumen Llagas and Mary Ann Cacho, were each awarded their claim of $10,000, plus interest and costs. Another claimant, Remia Guriel, won a refund of the $6,000 partial payment she made to Ylagan.

The defendant, whose Emry’s employment agency was the biggest recruiter of Filipino domestic helpers into Hong Kong, failed to show up at any of the hearings.

A solicitor she sent to the tribunal on Aug. 29 for the hearing of the first case filed against her told the court Ylagan was in the Philippines for eye surgery. The solicitor also said Ylagan would not pay any of the claims as she was herself a victim of a scam by an unnamed business partner in Britain.

After the solicitor was told by the court that he could not represent a client at the tribunal, a former staff member of Emry’s appeared on Ylagan’s behalf on Aug. 31, but was not allowed to represent her for not giving prior notice.

In the first case, Marites R. Moreno sought the return of the $20,000 she said she paid for herself and her Philippines-based daughter Michelle for the offered jobs in Britain. The hearing of her case has been reset to Oct. 14.

The same date was set for the next hearing of a separate case filed by Elvira Balajadia and heard on Aug. 31. 

A lone case was set down for hearing today, Sept. 2, for a case filed by Roseann Tonguia, a former domestic worker who had gone back to the Philippines after being terminated by her employer. However, the court did not allow this writer, as Tonguia’s designated representative, to appear on the claimant’s behalf, but gave no reason.

Ester Ylagan airs at The SUN office

Ylagan was a no-show herself, but the case was dismissed on the basis of Tonguia’s failure to appear in court. The court said the claimant could refile the case.

Tonguia was claiming the $15,000 she said she paid Ylagan for a job in Canada. Included in her evidence were documents seized by the Employment Agencies Administration from Ylagan’s office in Worldwide Plaza in Central, which indicated Tonguia did pay the amount she was claiming.

More claims are scheduled to be heard over the next few days.

Around 500 Filipinos from Hong Kong, Macau and the Philippines had reportedly been victimized in what appears to be the biggest recruitment scandal to have hit Hong Kong.

More than 200 of them have already filed complaints with the Philippine Consulate, but more have been showing up in recent days, finally convinced that the jobs promised them did not really exist.

The complaints have been forwarded to the Hong Kong Labour Department, which began interviewing the applicants in July. The investigation is ongoing.

The Consulate, through Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, has also sought help from the Hong Kong Police, but no investigation has been commenced. However, the police accepted a complaint for deception that Ylagan had filed in July against an unknown business partner, who allegedly cheated her out of $4.2 million.

In a previous interview with The SUN, Ylagan, a 30-year veteran of the recruitment industry, had named the London-based business partner as “William Clinton James” or “William Clinton Erich”. She said she never met or seen the man, and communicated with him only via email.

The Small Claims Tribunal in Wanchai

Following the filing of complaints against Ylagan, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, suspended on June 20 the processing of domestic workers contracts by Emry’s.

On July 2, Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre recommended to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration the cancellation of Emry’s accreditation after Ylagan failed to appear at a meeting called so she could explain her side.

In their claims, all the applicants said Ylagan had offered a variety of jobs, ranging from factory workers, sales staff, hotel attendants and caregivers, in both Britain and Canada, during briefings she conducted between January and May this year.

No educational attainment or work experience was required, because the jobs that would be given them would fit their background. The offered salary was no less than 2,000 pounds, and the contract was for two years. All applicants would be flown on a chartered flight to Britain, then on to Canada for those intending to work there.

Ylagan collected $10,000 from each of those applying to go to Britain, and $15,000 from those who wanted to go to Canada.

Several applicants had paid for several people, mostly family members back in the Philippines. At least one reportedly paid a total of $50,000, for herself and four relatives.

Ylagan did not issue any receipt, allegedly because she did not want to be taxed by the Hong Kong government.

All said they were enticed to apply because Ylagan told them she was the owner of Emry’s, which was highly regarded within the Filipino community in Hong Kong. She also told them that she had 30 years of experience in the recruitment business.

All the applicants were promised that they would get their “job orders” within three months, and they could all fly out by June this year. Later, however, she told them that the deployment had been moved to October.

Had they agreed to wait until October, not one of them would have been able to file a case because both the Small Claims Tribunal and the HK Labour Department use a time bar of six months for those who file money claims or work-related complaints.

Isa pang biktima ng kanser, yumao

Pumanaw ang dating kasambahay sa Hong Kong na si Judy Anne G. Bautista noong Agosto 22, makalipas ang isang taong pakikipaglaban sa sakit na cervical cancer sa kanilang bayan sa Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija.
Ayon kay Gemma Adan Solomon, pangulo ng Filmcass, isang samahan ng mga biktima at sumusuporta sa mga may kanser, binawian ng buhay si Bautista sa piling ng kanyang mga mahal sa buhay.
Walong araw pa lang noon pagkatapos ipagdiwang ni Bautista ang kanyang ika-28 kaarawan. Ang yumao ay hiwalay sa asawa ng at may anak na babae na 9 na taong gulang. Pangalawa siya sa tatlong magkakapatid.
Isang taon pa lamang siyang naninilbihan sa kanyang amo noong 2015 nang mapag-alaman ang kanyang sakit. Binalak ng kanyang amo na sisantihin si Bautista dahil sa kanyang kalagayan, ngunit namagitan ang Helpers for Domestic Helpers.
Pinauwi siya ng kanyang amo noong Nobyembre 2015 para makapiling ang mga mahal niya sa buhay habang nagpapagamot.
Inilibing si Bautista sa Sto Rosario Cemetery sa kanilang bayan nong Agosto 30.
Makikipag-ugnayan pa ang kanyang pamilya sa OWWA tungkol sa mga benepisyong matatanggap ng kanyang anak para maipatuloy ang kanyang pag-aaral. Siya ay aktibo pang miyembro ng OWWA nang bawian ng buhay.
Ayon kay Solomon, na nakapanayam ng The SUN tungkol kay Bautista, kailangang mag-iingat lagi at huwag ipagwalang-bahala ng mga kakaiban ang kanilang mga nararamdaman.
“Kung may matinding karamdaman sila, ipaalam nila sa mga kinauukulan ang totoong sitwasyon upang matulungan ng mga organisasyong tumutulong sa mga maysakit na nananatili sa kanilang trabaho habang nagpapagamot,” sinabi ni Solomon. Kailangan ding magkaroon ng balanseng pagkain, sapat na oras ng pagtulog, at pag-eehersisyo para mapanatiling malusog at malakas ang katawan habang kumakayod sa ibayong dagat, ani Solomon.
Mula noong Enero ay 22 manggagawang Pilipino sa Hong Kong ang namatay, kabilang na si Bautista at si Rinalyn Dulluog, na nasawi sa pagkakahulog sa Tseung Kwan O noong Agosto 9, ayon sa talaan ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
May 19 na iba pang OFW na nasa mga ospital sa Hong Kong noong Agosto 23 dahil sa iba’t ibang karamdaman ayon sa OWWA.
“Puwera po diyan yaong mga hindi pa inireport sa amin,” sabi ni Welfare Officer Judith Santos.
Mula noong Enero, 64 na Pilipino ang isinugod sa mga ospital, ayon kay Santos. Pinakamarami sa mga ito ang 26 na na-stroke, at sumunod ang 19 na may kanser, 11 na may depresyon at 8 na may sakit na hika, ubo at sipon, ani Santos. Ang mga bilang ay nalikom mula sa mga pagdalaw ng mga tauhan ng OWWA at Konsulado sa mga ospital sa loob ng panahong nabanggit. – Marites Palma at Vir B. Lumicao

HK Labour sues agency for overcharging

Tsuen Wan courthouse.

By Vir B. Lumicao 

An employment agency was charged in court by the Labour Department on Aug 22 for overcharging a Filipina when she came to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong last year.
The department’s Employment Agency Administration lodged the case against Jen’s Employment Agency in Tsuen Wan for former helper, Relly Manuel, who flew back to Hong Kong at government’s expense to testify against the agency.
A man identified as the licensee of Jen’s appeared in court for the agency.
Manuel, who was terminated by her employer in March, presented evidence to support her claim that Jen’s charged her fees well above the legally mandated 10% of her first monthly salary.
Testifying in Tsuen Wan court for the prosecution, Manuel claimed that Jen’s had taken out a $12,000 loan in her name from a lending company named Sliver Brighter Ltd but kept the money as her recruitment fee.
The agency then kept Manuel’s passport and work contract and required her to pay $3,000 each for four consecutive months to settle the loan.
She provided the court copies of the four receipts of the monthly payments that Jen’s staff issued her and which were admitted as court exhibits.
Manuel recounted how she was recruited by a partner agency of Jen’s in Ermita, Manila, and deployed to Hong Kong on Aug 24 last year. She began working the next day for Amy Tong at The Bellagio on Castle Peak Road, Sham Tseng.
The helper said she first came to Hong Kong in April 2011 and finished her first work contract, then signed up anew with the same employer but was terminated in Dec 2013 before it was completed, prompting her to return home.
In mid-2015, she again applied for a helper’s job in Hong Kong and this time her employment with Tong was reportedly arranged by Jen’s through Jennifer Cheung. However, she said she was dismissed abruptly by Tong after about six months.
Manuel said she paid the first installment of $3,000 to Jen’s on Oct 11, 2015, and returned on Nov 1 to pay another $3,000 as her second installment. The third payment was made on Nov 22 and the final on Jan 3 this year.
The helper confirmed that all four receipts presented as exhibits were issued by the staff at Jen’s. But she could not say why the receipts were under the name of Silver Brighter Ltd.
The witness also confirmed that it was Jen’s which signed her up for the job but her contract was stamped by Topman Agency.
During cross-examination, the defense lawyer showed Manuel a loan agreement with Silver Brighter purportedly signed by her and stating she had taken out a $12,000 loan which she would be paying in four installments. When the lawyer asked if the signature on the document was hers, Manuel said yes. But asked if she remembered signing a loan agreement, she said no.
Magistrate Lau Suk-han adjourned the hearing to an unspecified date.

Sumama ang loob nang bilhan ng uniporme

Halos ayaw nang tapusin ni Maria ang paglabas ng mga gamit nang may nahagip ang kanyang mga mata sa loob ng maleta. Kagagaling lang ng kanyang Pinay na amo sa Maynila at may mga binili itong uniporme ng kasambahay. Walang imik na inilapag ni Maria ang iba-ibang kulay na uniporme sa isang tabi. Maya-maya pa sa kaswal na sinabi ng amo na para sa kanya ang mga damit. Walang katagang lumabas sa mga bibig ni Maria dahil parang kinukurot ang kanyang puso. Pangalawang kontrata na niya sa kanyang amo at hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit bigla na lang siyang pasusuutin ng umiporme. Gayunpaman, hindi naman daw diretsahang sinabi ng amo na isuot niya ang mga ito kaya hindi niya ginagamit. Hihintayin daw niyang sabihan siya ng kanyang amo at kung sakali ay aamin siyang ayaw niya itong isuot. Kapag isinuot daw kasi niya ito ay lalong bababa ng pagpapahalaga niya sa sarili. Alam naman daw niya kung saan ilagay ang sarili kaya hindi na daw dapat ipangalandakan ng kanyang amo na katulong siya sa pamamagitan ng pagsuot ng uniporme. Bago siya lumipat sa kasalukuyang amo ni Maria ay nagtrabaho siya sa isang pamilyang Amerikano at parang kapamilya kung ituring siya ng mga ito. Ang ipinagmamaktol ni Maria, sa kapwa pa daw niya Pinay mararanasan ang kakaibang pagtrato sa kanya bilang isang kasambahay. —Gina N. Ordona

Changes mark Labor chief’s visit

Bello (right) during the inauguration of the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs at the POEA. (photo: DOLE)

By Daisy CL Mandap

What a difference a year makes.
On Sept 11, the new secretary of labor, Silvestre Bello III, will come to Hong Kong for a dialogue hosted by United Filipinos – Migrante Hong Kong.
Just over a year ago, his predecessor, Rosalinda Baldoz, was also in town, but was at the other side of the table with Unifil-Migrante, which has often not seen eye to eye with government’s top labor officials.
Unifil secretary general Eman Villanueva told The SUN Secretary Bello will come at their invitation, so they are the ones arranging for his visit and his itinerary.
A dialogue with Filipino community organizations has been set down from 2-5pm at the University of Hong Kong, but Villanueva says they have other plans for the secretary if his schedule would allow it.
“Gusto namin siyang dalhin sa Chater para makita niya ang tunay na kalagayan ng ng ating mga manggagawa dito,” said Villanueva.
Then, subject to his approval, he could be asked to attend the anniversary celebration of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge on Chater Road, and possibly address the crowd.
During the consultation at HKU, Unifil plans to present the long-standing demands of overseas Filipino workers.
These include the strict implementation of the government’s no placement fee policy,  scrapping many of the fees imposed on OFWs, including membership in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, PhilHealth and PagIBIG, and lowering the passport fee and extending its validity.
A key demand, which is the removal of the overseas employment certificate (OEC), has already been met, but Villanueva said his group still wants clarification on the resolution which is due to take effect on Sept. 15.
“Mabuti na lang din at tinanggal na yung OEC, pero gusto namin na wala nang exemption, kasi sabi sa resolution, yun lang babalik sa mga amo sa parehong lugar ang exempted,” said Villanueva.
Another issue they are anxious to discuss with Secretary Bello is the case of former labor attache Manuel Roldan, who was let off lightly by Baldoz after being accused of allowing his driver to operate an employment agency in violation of anti-graft laws.
Roldan was also cited for extending accreditation to 90 new employment agencies, despite a long-standing freeze on the practice.
However, an investigating panel of the Department of Labor and Employment found Roldan guilty only of simple misconduct for widening the scope of the conciliation proceedings at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in violation of department orders.
He was ordered suspended for one month and one day, or pay an amount equivalent to his pay for this period.
The original charges against him, filed after a thorough investigation by the Philippine Consulate General, were for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Napasubo sa mumurahing ayaw naman pala

Gustong gumawa ng DIY na cabinet ang amo ni Linda at para makatipid, naghanap sila ng mga segunda manong muwebles sa Asia Expat. May nag-anunsiyo ng malaking aparador na taga-Mei Foo. Ibibigay daw ito ng libre kaya agad na nakipag-ugnayan si Linda sa may-ari.
Gabi lang daw puwedeng pumunta dahil nasa opisina ang may-ari buong maghapon. Dala ang sasakyan ng kanilang amo, pumunta sina Linda, ang kanyang kasama sa bahay na si Jelly, at ang drayber na si John.
Isang lalaki ang nagbukas ng pinto at wala itong kasama sa bahay. Sinalubong sila ng masangsang na amoy at hindi rin nakaligtas sa kanilang paningin ang naninilaw na mga dingding dahil sa dumi. Nasulyapan din ni Linda na kinakalawang na ang pintuan ng refrigerator sa bahay.
Pati ang pakay nilang aparador ay punong-puno ng alikabok. Bukod sa sobrang bigat ay medyo luma na ang materyales nito. Nais nang umatras ni Linda pero natatakot naman siyang pagalitan sila ng lalaki. Ayaw din niyang nakipagtalo kung sakali dahil nasa loob sila ng bahay nito. Dahil napasubo na, pinagtulungan na lang nilang kalasin ang aparador para agad makaalis at para rin magkasya sa sasakyan. Tagaktak ang kanilang pawis matapos maikarga sa loob ng sasakyan ang mga kahoy.
Pakiramdam din nila ay dumikit sa kanilang katawan ang amoy sa loob ng bahay. Si Linda ay tatlong taon na sa kanyang amo na nakatira sa Mid-levels.---Gina N. Ordona

Ismael ang nakabuntis sa kanya

Hindi makapaniwala si Glenda habang ikinukuwento ni Lenny ang kapalaran ng kaibigan nito.  Nagkaroon daw ng kasintahan ang kaibigan nito habang nagtatrabaho dito sa Hong Kong pero napilitang umuwi sa kanilang bayan sa Pangasinan nang hindi inaasahang mabuntis.
Nangako naman daw ang kasintahan nito na hindi ito magkukulang sa pag-alalay at tiniyak din nitong regular na magpapadala ng sustento. Maayos naman daw na naisilang ng kaibigan niya ang anak nito at tumupad din sa pangako ang kasintahan.
Bagamat hindi lingid sa kaibigan niya na hiwalay sa asawa ang kasintahan nito, hindi sinasadyang natuklasan ni Lenny na may iba pa palang babae sa buhay ng lalaki. Hindi lang isa kundi tatlo, bukod pa sa asawa at kaibigan niya. Ang masaklap, pare-parehong inanakan ng lalaki ang mga babae at hindi nagkakalayo ang edad ng mga bata. Walang mahagilap na salita si Glenda habang nakikinig.
Nang makabawi ay tinanong niya kung ano ang pangalan ng lalaki. “Ismael,” sabi ni Lenny. “That explains everything,” ang tanging nasambit ni Glenda dahil talaga namang pinangatawanan ng lalaki ang pangalan. ---Gina N. Ordona

Naninibago sa bagong amo

Pagkatapos ng apat na taong paninilbihan sa kanila ay lumipat ang mga Australyanong amo ni Emma sa ibang bansa, kaya kinailangan niyang maghanap ng bagong pagtatrabahuhan. Dumaan sa maraming interview si Emma bago siya nakapili ng bagong amo.
Bagong kasal ito kaya naisip ni Emma na magiging magaan lamang ang kanyang bagong trabaho kumpara sa dati dahil may dalawa siyang alagang bata. Ngunit hindi pala tama ang akala niya. Kung dati ay nasanay siya na siya ang namamahala sa lahat ng bagay sa loob ng bahay, mula sa pamimili at pag-aayos, ngayon ay di numero na lahat ng kanyang ginagawa. Nakalista ang lahat ng dapat niyang gawin, at dahil nakatakdang lumipat ang mga amo ay napagod siya nang husto sa loob lamang ng isang buwang paninilbihan sa kanila.
Hindi kasi basta-bastang pag-iimpake ang pinagawa sa kanya, dahil nakalista ang lahat ng dapat niyang gawin. Pati sa pamimili ng gamit ay nanibago siya dahil kabilin-bilinan ng amo na maging matipid siya at iyong mga pinakamurang brand lang ang kanyang bilhin.
Nasanay kasi si Emma sa dating amo na mamahalin ang lahat ng binibili mula sa budget na $5,000 bawat linggo, at wala siyang naririnig na reklamo dito hangga’t may mga resibo siyang ipinakikita. Sa pamamagitan ng mga maliliit na mga bagay pa lang na ito ay ramdam na ramdam na ni Emma na malaki ang magiging pagbabago sa kanyang buhay.
Gayunpaman, pinapanatili niyang positibo ang kanyang pananaw. Ika nga niya, hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay magiging masuwerte siya sa amo. Si Emma ay nagtatrabaho kasalukuyan sa Pokfulam.  – Jo Campos

Remorse of a drug trafficker

Cover photo on Narido's Facebook account that she opened behind bars

By Vir B. Lumicao

“No drugs. Save life, love life.”

Her last message on Facebook at 7:30 pm on Aug 1 was brief and concise. Yet the short  slogan emblazoned across a yellow rectangle is loud enough to send the message across: drugs ruined her dreams.

On Aug 26, Eden Monica Narido was sentenced by a High Court judge to 15 years and eight months in jail for carrying 1.9 kilograms of cocaine worth about $2.1 million at Hong Kong International Airport in late Dec 2014.

Narido’s FB messages, apparently allowed by Hong Kong correctional authorities as part of the city’s campaign against dangerous drugs, reveals the agony of a 33-year-old single mother who came here as a domestic helper and ended up in jail for drug trafficking.

She was one of more than a dozen Filipinas “drug mules” who had been arrested over the past two years at Hong Kong International Airport as they tried to smuggle big loads of mostly cocaine from Manila.

Eden Narido was jailed for 15 years and 8 months

How the country became a transshipment point of drugs in Asia speaks of the corruptive power of drug money and narco-politics that enabled drug lords to send overseas-bound mules undetected through Manila airport’s customs and immigration zones.

That another alleged drug mule was arrested on July 30, the first since President Rodrigo Duterte took power a month earlier, shows that a drug smuggling syndicate still operated at Manila’s airport despite the new administration’s bloody anti-narco campaign.

Narido said in the public FB page Faith Behind Bars that she opened from jail that as a single mother to a six-year-old boy, she came here in search of a better life for her family – a typical OFW dream. But, in a third-person account, she said by a twist of Fate, “she ended up becoming a victim of this so-called drug problem.”

“She is one of the women who was sent to prison (for) drug trafficking without (realizing) what was being asked of her,” she said. “She wants to reach out to others who may fall easy prey to marauding drug barons and baronesses who sit eagerly waiting to recruit unsuspecting people into their cartel,” she said.
Narido spoke of weathering many storms and bearing the ordeal of being far from the family, “especially my son. They bore the pain, not to mention the shame.”

On July 21, she said “being in prison is the hardest predicament that I am very much grateful to my parents for standing by me…Without them things would be so tough for me to face.”
She wrote about meeting a new detainee who shared her own encounter with heroin, another dangerous drug in which, she said, an addict can deceptively appear normal to people around him for as long as he has money to buy the dope.

The woman had been injecting heroin to the point where she was doing it in the soles of her feet because she could not find anymore vein in her forearms for it. She started stealing, smashing, grabbing others’ property or running dealers around so “she could get a cut.”

Meeting drug addicts made Narido conclude that “they are selfish, the most selfish people you’ll ever meet. And self-pitying and manipulative”.

“An addict feels a huge compulsion to take drugs regularly. She feels that life is impossible without drugs. Many young girls, single moms, women suffered from withdrawal symptoms here in prison. Addicts suffer a huge craving,” Narido wrote.

On July 17, Narido asked forgiveness from her “dearest Tatay and Nanay”. She said “in my world of lonesome(ness) and anguish, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering you’re being forced to deal with. My only desire is that I could be out there to look after you Tatay and Nanay, as you have done so many times for me and the rest of my siblings.”

“I am sorry for the shame and embarrassment my being here has caused to our family name. I am sorry for the extra burden on you and Nanay over the years,” she said, adding that she missed her son Arden, her mom and dad, and her siblings.

Narido said she never saw or met either a drug user or an addict until she was in prison. “Having met girls and women who were serving sentences for drug trafficking, I was overcome with guilt and regretted ever getting involved in such a deadly money-maker that was ruining so many,” she said.
Asking God’s and people’s forgiveness for her wrongdoing, she said “I wanted to educate young people about the danger if nothing is done to stop the sale and distribution of drugs.”

In a Mar 7 post, she said: “Drug abuse is the most serious evil.”

Inaangkin ang kanyang mga luto

Metikuloso sa paghahanda at pagluluto ng pagkain ang mga amo ni Mae, palibhasa’y chef ang lalaki at food blogger naman ang babae. Hindi naman problema kay Mae ito dahil mahilig at magaling talaga siyang magluto, kaya isang hamon ang turing niya sa maselang panlasa ng mga amo.
Bawat hapunan nila ay mistulang handa sa isang mamahaling restawran, mula sa pagluluto hanggang sa pag aayos at pagsisilbi ng pagkain sa plato. Tuwina ay napapansin din ni Mae na laging kinukunan ng kanyang among babae ang mga pagkaing iniluluto niya. Sa isip niya, marahil ay talagang nagugustuhan ng kanyang amo ang pag-aayos at paghahanda niya ng mga pagkaing niluluto niya. Kadalasan ay mula sa cookbook ang mga putaheng inihahanda niya kaya lalong nahahasa ang kanyang galing.
Minsan, habang naglilinis si Mae ay napasulyap siya sa laptop ng kanyang amo na naka log-in sa Facebook, at napansin niya ang mga larawan ng kanyang mga niluto na naka-post sa isang page doon. Agad niyang hinanap ang Facebook page sa sarili niyang telepono at nakita niya na mula pala sa blog ng amo niya ang mga litratong naka-post doon. Iyon nga lang, ang mga putaheng pinupuri ng mga follower ng page ay inangkin ng amo na sarili niyang luto. Isa-isang binasa ni Mae ang mga comment doon at tila tumataba ang kanyang puso dahil panay papuri ang mga nandoon.
Natatawa na lang siya dahil tila isang impostor ang kanyang amo sa pagtanggap ng mga magagandang puri sa mga nilutong hindi naman siya ang gumawa. Naisip niya na kaya pala kung minsan ay nagtatanong ang kanyang amo ng mga detalye kung paano niya niluto ang putahe.
May isa pang comment na sinagot ng amo base sa ginawa nitong pagtatanong sa kanya. Nang ikuwento ito ni Mae sa isang kaibigan ay pabirong sinabi nito sa kanya na na kung sa isang manunulat ay may ghost writer, siya naman daw ang ghost chef ni Ma’am. -Jo Campos

May kalaguyo ang among biyuda

Nandidiri na si Sunshine sa kanyang among biyuda mula nang matuklasan niya na nakikipagrelasyon ito sa asawa ng matalik niyang kaibigan. Noong una ay pinaniwala siyang magkakaibigan lang sila, pero nabisto niya ang mga ito minsang madatnan niya sa bahay ng amo ang lalaki. Noon pa kasi siya nag-iisip kung bakit lagi siyang pinapalabas ng amo tuwing day-off nito. Iyon pala ay nagpupunta sa kanilang bahay ang lalaki at doon sila nagtatagpo. Noong una ay parang nahihiya pa ang kanyang amo pero ngayon ay sadyang makapal na ang mukha nito dahil mismong sa bahay na nila ginagawa ng kalaguyo ang di dapat. Sumagi sa isip ni Sunshine na isumbong sa asawa ng lalaki ang ginagawa ng dalawa, ngunit ayaw naman din niyang makialam dahil siguradong siya ang mapuputukan. Alam din niya na darating ang panahon na magkakabistuhan silang tatlo. Ang isa pang gumugulo sa isipan ni Sunshine ay ang kanyang alagang lalaki na madalas niyang mahuli na naglalaro ng ari. Lagi niya itong sinasaway at pinagsasabihan kapag nahuhuli niya sa akto ngunit nagagalit ang bata. Sa isip-isip niya, kung isusumbong niya ang alaga paano naman ito didisiplinahin ng kanyang ina kung ang sarili niya mismo ay gumagawa ng mali? Kahit nahihirapan ang isip ay hindi naman maiwan-iwan ni Sunshine ang mag-ina dahil mabait ang mga ito, lalo na ang among biyuda. Isa pa, may hinihintay siyang visa papuntang Amerika, kaya tinitiis na lang muna niya ang pagiging kunsintidor sa amo. Si Sunshine ay dalaga at tubong Cagayan Valley, na kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa New Territories. – Marites Palma

Bawal sa FB ang larawan ng alaga mo

Muntik nang nasisante si Reyna sa kanyang trabaho dahil sa pag-upload niya ng kuhang larawan ng kanyang alaga.
Bago pa lamang siya noon nang sabihan siya ng amo na huwag ilagay sa Facebook ang sino man sa kanilang pamilya, at maging ang kanilang tirahan ay bawal ilagay ang kinaroroonan para sa kanilang seguridad. Ngunit nang halos isang taon na si Reyna sa kanila ay nakalimutan niya ang kabilin-bilinan ng kanyang mga amo.
Dahil dito ay tinawag pa ng amo ang unang nanilbihan sa kanila para pakiusapan na paliwanagan at pangaralan si Reyna. Ganito ang mensahe na ipinarating ng amo:
''Don't share the photos of the family to others. Teach children to respect the privacy of others. Parents and teachers should also encourage children to respect privacy of others in the way they would like to be respected. For example, children should be encouraged to have regard to the personal consent of their friends and families when they plan to share or tag their photographs."
Matapos ito ay nagpaalala si Reyna sa mga kapwa kasambahay na sundin ang kagustuhan ng amo para hindi sila mapagalitan o mawalan ng trabaho. Karapatan naman talaga nila na hindi magamit sa social media ang sarili nilang litrato at pamamahay, at dapat respetuhin ng mga kasambahay na nakikitira lang ang patakarang ito. Walang kinalaman dito ang kung “friends” man sila ng kanilang amo o hindi, dahil basta lumabas na sa social media ang litratong pinagbabawal ay kahit sino ay maari itong magamit o maipamahagi. Ihiwalay ang personal na buhay sa trabaho para walang mangyaring aberya. Si Reyna ay tubong Iloilot, kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa mga among Intsik sa Kowlon Tong. – Marites Palma

Different flans

Food Trip with JC The Foodie

There are many ways of cooking one of the Filipinos’ favorite desserts, leche flan or caramel custard. Some do it all-creamy and soft, while others prefer the firmer kind, with lots of caramelized sugar on top.
Still others try to vary the recipe a bit to come up with something altogether different, like the yummy-looking flan pictured below, which was sent to us by a reader, MCLeeBenjamin. This recipe is similar to the traditional leche flan. The only difference is the addition of cream cheese in this version. Thus, while the method of cooking is the same as with leche flan or caramel custard, the texture of this is similar to a cheese cake.
Below that is my own recipe for a classic leche flan, which I call  JC’s Creamy Leche Flan-tastic! Try and compare!

Cream Cheese Flan with twist of lemon

Ingredients:
(For a 2-layered flan)
6 eggs
1 block Philadelphia cream cheese
1 big can condensed milk
1 big can evaporated milk
1 cup fresh milk
lemon rind
1 ½ cup sugar

Procedure:
1) Separate the yolk from egg whites, reserve only 3 of egg whites.
2) Using a hand mixer, put 6 yolks in a large bowl, add 1 cup of fresh milk, condensed and evaporated milk. Mix for about 10 seconds.
3) In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and ½ cup of fresh milk with the 3 egg whites.
4) Blend in cream cheese mixture with egg yolk and milk prepared and whisk gently, add lemon rind. Set aside.
5) For the caramel sauce: prepare 2 tin flan moulds, put half the amount of sugar on each mould. Melt the sugar till bubbly and caramelized on low fire. Make sure that the caramel is not burnt. Let the caramel set in.
6) Gently pour custard mixture into the flan moulds equally.
7) Cover with aluminum foil and steam on medium heat for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
8) Remove from heat. When the flan is completely cool, refrigerate.
9) To serve, run a knife around the edge of the flan and invert on a serving plate, then stack the second flan on top.

JC’s Creamy Leche Flan-tastic

 Ingredients:
12 fresh egg yolks
1 can condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
250 ml. fresh milk
1 pkg. all purpose cream
1 tsp. vanilla essence
Finely grated lime (dayap) rind
For the caramel sauce:
1 ½ cup granulated sugar

Procedure:
1) In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the custard mixture. (except lime rind).
2) Whisk gently to incorporate all ingredients into a smooth creamy consistency. Set aside to let any bubbles subside.
3) Prepare caramel. In a heavy pan, cook sugar slowly till caramelized into golden brown, making sure that it does not burn or caramel will have a bitter taste. Alternatively, you may do this procedure in individual metal moulds or llanera. If you are making small individual portions, you may use ramekins.
4) When the caramel sauce is ready, pour enough amount into the ramekins or moulds. Leave to cool and the caramel to harden.
5) Carefully pour custard mixture into the prepared moulds or ramekins. Sprinkle some lime rind on top.
6) Cover each mould with aluminum foil, making sure they are covered tightly to avoid water from seeping through the custard while steaming.
7) Steam for about 45 minutes. Custard should be fully cooked when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
8) Remove from the steamer.
9) Remove aluminum foil cover and leave to cool. Refrigerate before serving.