Pinay DH nabbed in air parcel drug bust

Tsuen Wan Courts building.

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker was charged in Tsuen Wan Court  today, Sept 30, with drug trafficking after accepting an air parcel containing 650 grams of suspected cocaine from her boyfriend in Ethiopia.

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, said Welva E. Gannaban was arrested on Monday as she received the package delivered at her employer’s home in North Point by customs and police officers posing as postmen.

The foiled attempt to smuggle dangerous drugs into Hong Kong using the postal system was the fourth of its kind this year and the second involving a Filipina, triggering concern among Consulate officials. 

Vallespin said when his office received the report on Gannaban’s arrest from the authorities, he sent an ATN officer to interview the woman. 

He expressed concern about Filipinas in Hong Kong being used by drug traffickers who befriend them online and then send them packages containing the illegal substance. 

In May, a Filipina domestic helper, Eleanor Aromin, was arrested after similarly unwittingly receiving a “present” sent by her African boyfriend via air mail.  

She is due to appear in Tsuen Wan Court on Oct 20 for the resumption of her case’s hearing. 

$100 wage increase for FDHs 'disappointing'

Unifil members' fight for HK$5,000 monthly continues.

Effective Oct. 1, the monthly minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong will increase to $4,310, a rise of $100.  The food allowance will go up by $42, to $1,037.

The increases were announced late today, Friday, by the Hong Kong government.

The United Filipinos-Migrante Hong Kong called the pay hike disappointing, as workers had been calling for the monthly wage to be raised to $5,000.

“We are disappointed. We’re not happy at the piecemeal increase because our demand was $5,000, as that’s what we see as livable wage in Hong Kong, where the cost of living such as food and fares is too high,” Dolores Balladares, chairwoman of Unifil-Migrante HK, said when asked for comment.

“The $100 increase will have no effect on our salaries. It will be barely enough, because we spend a large part of our pay in Hong Kong, so kulang na kulang pa rin,” Balladares said, adding that workers would continue to press for a pay hike despite the decision because the government reviews wages annually.

Under the standard employment contract for hiring FDHs, employers are required to either provide helpers with free food or pay a food allowance. Most opt to give free food.

The new wage and food allowance levels apply to all contracts signed on or after Oct 1, the government said.

“The government reviews the MAW for FDHs regularly. In accordance with the established practice, we have carefully considered Hong Kong's general economic and labor market situations over the last year, as reflected through a basket of economic indicators, including the relevant income movement and price change in this year's review,” a government spokesman said.

“Moreover, the government has taken into account Hong Kong's near-term economic outlook, as well as the need to strike a balance between affordability for employers on one hand and the livelihood of FDHs on the other in reaching the decision on the above-mentioned adjustment.”

The spokesman added, “The government has also reviewed the food allowance in lieu of free food, and decided to increase the allowance level.”

Contracts signed before Oct 1 or earlier at the existing salary of $4,210 a month and food allowance of not less than $995 a month will still be processed by the Immigration Department provided the applications reach the department on or before Oct 28. 

This arrangement will give employers sufficient time to send the signed contracts to Immigration for completion of the necessary application procedures.

Cooking up snacks in a flash

By Jo Campos

Having a play group with the kids, a kiddie birthday party or just thinking of a quick and easy snack?  These easy to prepare snacks are most ideal for that ‘grab what you have in the pantry and fridge kind of recipes’. Also great for “pika-pika” or finger food for parties and picnic.

Wicked Oreos can be served as a dessert, and made fancier with the addition of a scoop of vanilla ice cream slathered with caramel or chocolate syrup. But you can also just have it plain, dusted in icing sugar for that light, sweet and chocolatey Oreo in the middle.

Pizzas, on the other hand, are always a hit, whether as a snack or as a meal in itself. But making them could be a hassle, so here is a recipe that will allow you to have those lovely, gooey, pizza rolls in a flash. Use your gourmet creativity by adding some herbs, make it hot by adding some spicy fillings of your choice, or a bit of a dip on the side.

But if you haven’t got any of these extra ingredients, don’t fret. These little bombs are fantastic any way you make them.

Wicked Oreos
Ingredients:
1 pack Oreo cookies (refrigerate for at least 4 hours)
1 package dry pancake mix
Cooking oil for frying (vegetable oil or canola oil)
Confectioner’s sugar, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, vanilla ice cream (optional for toppings)

Procedure:
1) In a deep sauce pan or a cooking pot, preheat the oil.
2) While the oil is heating up (there should be some small bubbles on the side),  prepare the pancake batter (as per instructions on the box).
3) Dip the Oreo in the pancake batter, making sure you coat it completely.
4) Use thongs to pick it up and drop in the oil. One or two at a time. It should puff up a little and float to the top.
5) Turn Oreo over to the other side until both sides are light golden. This should not take too long, around 1-2 minutes. If it takes a while, your oil is probably not hot enough.
6) Let the Wicked Oreos rest for a few seconds on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

Pizza Rolls

Ingredients:
For the pizza rolls:
12 pcs sliced bread, without crust (brown or white bread, it’s your choice!) (also best with pandesal, sliced and flattened)
thinly sliced ham, crunchy streaky bacon rashers
grated mozzarella cheese or quick melt cheese
fresh thyme or finely chopped sweet basil (optional)
Japanese bread crumbs
egg white
oil for frying
butter

For the pizza sauce:
1 can chopped tomatoes
chopped fresh sweet basil leaves
chopped onion
minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure: 
1) Heat a deep pan with enough oil for deep frying.
2) Lay slices of bread and spread with butter, top with ham, bacon, cheese and sprinkle fresh herbs.
3) Roll each bread slices tightly and dip into the egg white, then roll on the breadcrumbs, making sure that the pizza rolls are well coated and the ends are sealed to avoid cheese from oozing when frying.
4) Carefully drop the rolls in hot oil, a few at a time for about 2- 3 minutes or until golden brown.
5) Drain cooked pizza rolls on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
6) Saute onion and garlic in olive oil till translucent and fragrant, then add chopped tomatoes and basil. Add a pinch or two of sugar to neutralize acidity of tomatoes.
7) Simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes till slightly thick, then add salt and pepper to taste.
8) Serve pizza rolls warm with the sauce on the side.

HK gov’t assures Emry’s will be prosecuted

Secretary Bello blends serious talk and jokesas he apprises POLO staff on the goals of the DOLE under the Duterte admnistration. He was formally welcomed to Hong Kong by Consul General Baernardita Catalla.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Hong Kong labour officials have assured Philippine Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello III that Emry’s Service Staff Employment Agency will be prosecuted over claims of scamming hundreds of Filipino applicants for purported jobs in Britain and Canada.

Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung gave the assurance during his dinner-meeting on Sept 23 with Secretary Bello and his entourage, according to Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.

However, a criminal prosecution of Ester Ylagan, former co-owner of Emry’s and sole proprietor of Mike’s Secretarial Services, apparently is still being considered.

“Ang sabi ni Secretary Cheung, the police are still investigating,” he said.

Secretary Cheung reportedly met the Philippine delegation over dinner and discussed problems concerning Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong, on top of which was the life-endangering task of cleaning windows.

The Hong Kong delegation included Cheung, Police Commissioner Stephen Lo, and Permanent Secretary for Labour Annie Tam. The Philippine side was made up of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Hans Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Rebecca Calzado, Labatt dela Torre and Vice Consul Fatima Quintin.

“The Secretary of Labour assured us that there will be prosecution and that they will issue summons against the erring agency,” Labatt De la Torre replied without naming the agency.

However, Secretary Bello himself deflected The SUN’s query about whether the Emry’s/Mike’s alleged jobs scam was discussed with the Hong Kong officials.

In the meantime, Emry’s/Mike’s have been suspended by both sides, Administrator Cacdac butted in.

Labatt dela Torre also said that Emry’s counterpart agency in the Philippines is also under investigation.

“Sa claims naman, we will make a representation with the (Small) Claims Tribunal na i-consolidate nila yung mga kaso para hindi sabog ang ating monitoring,” he added.

Bello said his team and the Hong Kong side discussed ways to help the 187,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong.

When asked by media about whether he discussed with Cheung the workers’ clamor to ban window cleaning, Bello said the other side promised to study Polo’s recommendation to strike it out of the list of domestic workers’ duties.

“Pag-aaralan nila, although very positive sila but wala siyang (Cheung) commitment,” Bello said.

“Tinitingan pa nina Labor Attaché Dela Torre ang tungkol sa paglilinis ng mga workers ng bintana. Kasi sinasabi naman nila hindi rin maiiwasan kasi kung minsan na ang mismong may-ari kailangan din niyang maglinis,” Bello said.

“Wala tayong magagawa. Lalo na kasi ganyan talaga ang mga bahay dito. Sa Pilipinas one-story lang ang mga bahay natin, dito hindi eh,” the official added.

At this stage, the window-cleaning ban is still a recommendation and that Polo should make a representation with Hong Kong authorities to exclude it from the domestic chores stipulated in the contract, Bello said.

Asked whether he had taken up with his Hong Kong counterpart illegal fees being exacted by agencies on workers such as forced loans from lending companies, Bello said he had not yet heard of such issue.

“Hindi pa nakakarating sa akin ang reklamong iyan pero kung meron mang ganyan, meron din namang legal remedies at pwede nating habulin iyan,” he said.

Bello said the Hong Kong side is “grateful na meron tayong mga overseas workers dito dahil malaking tulong din sa kanila at they prefer Filipino migrant workers dahil masisipag at magagalang at sinisiguro nila na gagawin nilang lahat para maproteksiyonan sila.”

When asked by one reporter how Hong Kong officials regard the new government of President Rodrigo Duterte, Bello said they were cordial.

He said in fact, he told them that Duterte might visit China and that he might be able to convince him to stop over in Hong Kong.

“Baka makumbinsi natin na dumaan dito para masalubong niya naman ang mga mahal niya sa buhay. Mahal na mahal niya ang mga migrant workers, eh. Aba, mahal kayo niyon ha. Palagi niyang iniuutos sa akin na huwag kong pabababayaan ang inyong kapakanan,” Bello said.

He visited Bethune House in Sheung Wan for about an hour on Sept 24 to see for himself one of the two shelters managed by executive director Edwina Antonio. Earlier, he paid a visit to the OWWA-run Filipino Women’s Refuge Center in Kennedy Town.

Bello spoke with each of the 12 Filipina clients of Bethune about their particular problems, promising to assist them in getting jobs if they decide to go home. He endorsed to either Calzado, Cacdac or De la Torre the clients’ concerns.

Perhuwisyo, kapalit ng murang air ticket

Sobrang pagkayamot ang naramdaman ni Jean nang pabalik na siya sa Hong Kong matapos ang kanyang bakasyon sa Pilipinas. Delayed ang kanyang domestic flight ng dalawang oras, na ang dating na 11:40 ng umaga mula Davao hanggang Maynila ay naging 1:40 na ng hapon. Pagkatapos ng paghangos niya para hindi maiwan sa kanyang 3:40pm na flight papuntang Hong Kong ay nalaman niyang delayed din ito.

Inabot siya ng 8:00pm sa NAIA bago nakalipad ang eroplano. Pagdating sa  Hong Kong Airport ay lalo siyang nagngitngit sa galit dahil nawawala ang kanyang mga bagahe, lalo at naroon pa naman ang kanyang mga gamot. Nag-email siya kaagad sa airline na kanyang sinakyan at sinabing pananagutin sila kung may masamang mangyari sa kanya dahil naroon sa maleta niyang nawawala ang mga gamot niya.

Tiyempo namang paalis din papuntang Dubai ang kanyang kapatid, at napag-alaman niya mula dito na naroon pa sa transfer desk ang kanyang maleta.

Agad na inireklamo ito ng kanyang kapatid, kaya dali-daling nahila ang kanyang mga bagahe at naisakay sa sumunod na flight. Ngunit inabot pa ng halos dalawang araw bago ito nakarating sa kanya.

Sabado ng gabi nang siya ay makarating sa Hong Kong, Lunes na nang gabi nang madala sa kanya ang kanyang bagahe. Wala namang nasira sa kanyang mga dala at walang nawala, ngunit ang isang kasabay niyang umalis ay inabot pa ng Huwebes bago nakuha ang naiwanan ding bagahe. Napanis na lahat ang mga dala nitong pagkain na pampasalubong sana sa mga kaibigan, nawala pa ang ibang mahahalaga niyang gamit.

Sa naranasang imbyerna ni Jean ay ipinangako niya sa sarili na hindi na ulit sasakay sa airline na iyon na lagi na lang maraming napapabalitang kapalpakan ngayon. Ang kaibigan daw niya kasi ang nag-book para sa kanya at dahil mura ay sumang-ayon siya. Hindi naman niya alam na napakalaking perhuwisyo ang aabutin niya dahil lang sa paghahabol sa murang tiket.

Naalala din niya na mabuti at naisipan niyang magpamasahe sumandali sa airport bago lumipad kaya umayos ang kanyang pakiramdam, kundi ay baka inatake siya ng karamdaman samantalang wala siyang dalang gamot para dito. Si Jean ay dalaga at tubong Davao. – Marites Palma

It pays to be honest -- sobra-sobra

May 24 taon na ang nakakaraan nang dumating sa buhay ng isang mag-asawang Pilipino na kasambahay ang pinakamahigpit na pagsubok sa kanilang katapatan. Nakatanggap sila ng tawag sa kanilang panganay na anak noon na nasa Pilipinas, na nagsabing nakakita ito isang brown envelope na may lamang pera sa nakatagong bulsa ng isang winter coat na bigay ng kanilang among Intsik, na siya namang ipinadala nila sa pamamagitan ng door-to-door. Ang kabuuang halaga ng mga dolyar na nasa envelope ay umaabot ngPhp1 milyon.

Nagtaka ang mag-asawa dahil wala silang alam tungkol sa nasabing pera, at pinagbilinan ang anak na itago muna ito dahil malapit na silang magbakasyong mag-asawa. Ang kanilang mga amo ay nauna nang nagbakasyon noon kaya hindi nila matanong tungkol sa pera.

Pagdating ng mag-asawa sa Pilipinas ay napaisip sila kung ano ang gagawin sa pera na alam nilang hindi na natatandaan ng mga amo. Agad naman silang nagkasundo na ibalik ang pera. Pagkatapos ng kanilang bakasyon ay dinala nila pabalik sa Hong Kong ang pera, na sa dami ay pinagsisiksik nila sa kanilang mga suot na rubber shoes at sa kanilang mga damit.

Pagdating ng mga amo ay hindi makapaniwala ang mga ito na ibabalik ng kanilang mga kasambahay ang pera na wala na sa isip nila. Akala daw nila ay naubos na nilang lahat ang dolyar na dala-dala nila nung magbiyahe sila noon. Puring-puri ng mga amo ang dalawa, at sinabing kakaiba ang mag-asawa sa katapatan, at hindi daw sila nagkamali na pirmahan sila bilang kasambaahy.

Dahil sa nangyari ay naging lubos na malugod ang mga amo sa mag-asawa, at bumuhos ang biyaya sa kanilang pamilya. Pinapupunta ang mga anak nila dito sa Hong Kong tuwing nakakatapos ng pag-aaral at pinatitira ng libre sa kanilang tahanan, at may pakimkim pang pera para sa pamamasyal, pagkain at shopping. Tuwing magbabakasyon naman ang mag-asawa sa Pilipinas ay binibigyan sila ng mga amo ng Php50,000 na panggastos, bukod pa sa libreng tiket pauwi taon-taon.

Tinulungan din silang makapagpatayo ng napakagandang bahay sa kanilang bayan, at dinagdagan ang perang pambili nila ng sasakyan para may magamit sila tuwing sila ay nagbabakasyon.

Nang mamatay ang nanay ni Ate ay nagbigay ng tumataginting na H$50,000 ang amo para sa pagpapalibing. Ibinigay na din ang kalahati ng kanilang long service pay na malaki-laki din dahil si Ate ay 28 taon nang naninilbihan sa kanila noon, samantalang si Kuya ay 24 taon naman.

Naging masuwerte din sila sa kanilang tatlong anak dahil nakapagtapos ang mga ito at may magandang trabaho at kanya-kanyang pamilya na. Maari na sanang mag “for good” ang mag-asawa dahil ang kanilang nag-iisang alaga ay may sarili na ring pamilya ngunit hindi nila maiwan-iwan ang super bait nilang mga amo.

Abot-abot ang kanilang pasasalamat sa Diyos sa mga biyayang natanggap nila kaya inilaan nila ang oras ng kanilang pahinga sa simbahan kung saan may may katungkulan na sila, at masayang tumutulong sa  kanilang mga kapatid sa pananampalataya. May pinamumunuan din silang asosasyon na ang pangunahing layunin ay ang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan sa buhay na pinagkaitan ng biyaya sa Pilipinas.

Kaya ang payo nina Ate at Kuya ay, laging maging matapat kahit gaano kahirap ang buhay, at tiyak na bubuhos ang biyaya sa iyong pamilya. Sa maliit at malaking halaga ay laging ipakita ang katapatan. Sa ngayon ay nananatili sa Hong Kong ang dalawa dahil masaya pa raw sila sa kanilang paninilbihan at kaya pa nilang magtrabaho. Sina Ate at Kuya ay tubong Pangasinan at naninilbihan pa rin sa kanilang mabait na mga among taga Tuen Mun – Marites Palma

Duterte set to visit Beijing; HK eyed

Duterte during his Araw ng mga Bayani speech.

The SUN Exclusive

President Rodrigo Duterte may visit Beijing before the end of this year if the ongoing informal talks between the Philippines and China graduate into formal negotiations, sources in Manila have indicated.

And if Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III succeeds in convincing him, Duterte might even pass by Hong Kong.

“Baka makumbinsi natin na dumaan dito para masalubong niya naman ang mga mahal niya sa buhay. Mahal na mahal niya ang mga migrant workers, eh. Aba, mahal kayo niyon ha. Palagi niyang iniuutos sa akin na huwag kong pabababayaan ang inyong kapakanan,” Bello said during an interview while on a visit to Hong Kong.

Among the subjects expected to be included in Duterte's agenda in Beijing are trade in which China enjoys a US$3billion surplus, atttracting Chinese investments to the Philippines, and joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea, the source said.

This development depends on the progress of talks initiated by former President Fidel V. Ramos when he flies for the second time to Hong Kong within October, as Duterte’s personal representative, the source said.

While in Hong Kong, Ramos is expected to meet with his highly-placed contacts in China, to whom he had reached out as special envoy to restore ties in the wake of an international court ruling that favored the Philippines in its dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.

Last August 29, Duterte explained in a speech his policy of reaching out to China: "There is always war and peace. If I am not ready for war, then peace is the only thing. I will keep silent now."

He added: "I will never bring (up) the matter because it may lead to the suspenson of talks with China."

This meant that he would not invoke, for now, the United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal decision last July, which declared that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and that China’s “nine-dash line” is invalid.

The tribunal's other findings included:

• China violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by (a) interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, (b) constructing artificial islands and (c) failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone
• There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line'
• Chinese law enforcement vessels had unlawfully created a serious risk of collision when they physically obstructed Philippine vessels.

China, which refused to participate in the tribunal's deliberations, has rejected the tribunal's decision.

Duterte brought in Ramos because of the friendships the latter had built since the first Boao Forum for Asia in Boao, Yunan province, in 1998 when he was still president. Ramos said he has since travelled to that country regularly to renew the friendships in the yearly Boao forum, and play in golf tournaments organized in his honor.

In his first visit to Hong Kong last August 10-11, for example, Ramos met with his Boao friends Madam Fu Ying, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress, and former Ambassador to Manila (1998-2000) Wu Shicun who is now president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

A press statement issued by Ramos at the end of that trip said they “discussed, in their private capacity, the way forward in the spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood for peace and cooperation between the two countries.”

The informal discussions took up "possible human and ecological security options and suggestions for the benefit of their peoples, such as: a.) encouraging marine preservation; b.) avoiding tension and promoting fishing cooperation; c.) anti-drug and anti-smuggling cooperation; d.) anti-crime and anti-corruption cooperation; e.) improving tourism opportunities; f.) encouraging trade and investment facilitation; g.) encouraging track II (think tank) exchanges on relevant issues of mutual concern and interest."

The second round of meetings involving Ramos apparently indicates significant progress towards formal talks between the two governments, with targets being set for the Duterte visit in Beijing.

Pastor’s child wins damage for personal injury

The victim, Abigail Vallo.

By Vir B. Lumicao

On a day in August 2014, nine-year-old Abigail Vallo was playing ball with friends at a community activity centre in Tung Chung when she crashed into a ceramic flower vase and badly injured herself.
A fragment of the broken vase sliced the side of the child’s left leg from the knee upward and it took surgeons 11 stitches to close the wound. The impact of the crash was so strong that the flesh next to her kneecap was torn off.

For the injury which sidelined her from school for two months, the girl was awarded an undisclosed sum in the six figures in an out-of-court settlement reached at the District Court in late August.

“It was a victory won after two years of battle in court,” Bishop Gerry Vallo of the Jesus The Living God ministry and father of Abigail, told The SUN in an interview on Sept 5.

The fund was ordered by the District Court to be held in escrow and accessible only to the young Vallo when she reaches the age of 18.

The girl is now a Primary 6 student of The Salvation Army Lam Butt Chung Memorial School in Yat Tung, a public housing estate that is part of the Tung Chung new town in North Lantau.

The settlement was reached by solicitors of the two contending parties – the minor Abigail suing through her parent Gerry Vallo, and the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council in Yat Tung.

The Vallo family was represented by solicitor Ivy Tong, who has handled a number of personal injury and work-related claims by Filipinos in Hong Kong.

“Lawyers of the two parties met in closed chambers then submitted their proposal to the court,” said Vallo, who added that the resolution of the case ended two years of anxiety for his family and trauma for their daughter.

Vallo said his side argued that allowing children to play on the school’s first-floor landing was illegal because the area was not intended as a playground where they could play ballgames.
Secondly, there was no sign warning people to stay away from the area where the accident happened.
“My daughter was only nine when she had to endure four sessions of general anesthesia (for the surgery),” Vallo said.

For nearly two months the girl was out of school as she recuperated from her injury and plastic surgery. “She suffered trauma, she was afraid of the operating room during the  time,” the church minister said.

Vallo said his daughter is now recovering although she had to undergo skin graft to repair damaged tissues. He said the accident was a blow to Abigail, the fourth of five siblings and a talented child who played five ball games.

For all his troubles attending to the medical and legal needs of his child, Vallo said he received a $4,000 pay-out.

Eni Lestari: First Migrants' Representative at the U.N. - SunWeb HK Video Feature

WATCH NOW: 

For the first time in history, migrant workers around the world were given a voice at the United Nations by Hong Kong-based Indonesian domestic helper Eni Lestari.

Hong Kong Eye, ang atraksiyon ng Central

Ni Cris B. Cayat

Kung mayroong "London Eye" sa London, mayroon ding “Hong Kong Eye” na nagbukas noong Disyembre 6, bilang pang-akit sa maraming turista at lokal na mamamayang magagawi sa Central. Ang ferris wheel, o tsubibo na opisyal na tinatawag na Hong Kong Observation Wheel, ay may taas na 60 metro at may 42 gondola. Isa sa mga ito ay pang-VIP at may sahig na salamin. Sa halagang $100 para sa mga may gulang na at $70 sa mga bata, makikita ng sasakay ang nakapalibot na kagandahan ng Hong Kong.

Ang ferris wheel ay iikot nang mabagal tatlong ulit sa loob ng 20 minuto. Sapat nang panahon ito upang makita ng mga nakasakay nang walang harang ang apat na sulok ng Hong Kong mula sa itaas.
Ang pinakamainam na oras ng pagsakay sa tsubibo ay takipsilim, kung kailan papalubog na ang araw at nagsisipagsindi ang libu-libong ilaw ng mga gusaling nakapaligid at tila mga bituing nagkikislapan at nagpapaligsahan ng ningning.

Ayon sa pag-aaral ng mga grupong nagtayo ng ferris wheel, inaasahang may 2,740 katao ang sasakay sa dito at makakaragdag nang malaki sa turismo ng Hong Kong. Ang lokasyon ng Hong Kong Eye ay mainam dahil nasa Central ito at madaraanan ng mga turistang papunta sa Tsim Sha Tsui o di kaya’y patungong Hong Kong Island.

Ang tsubibo, na napapalamutian ng LED (light emitting diodes) sa buong balangkas nito, ay unang napabalita na magkakaroon ng “soft launch” noong Setyembre upang maiparanas sa madla ang naturang atraksiyon, ayon sa Harbourfront Commission, Hong Kong Tourism Board, mga kinatawan ng mga distrito at ng pamahalaan ng Hong Kong.

Ang Swiss AEX, ang kumpanyang gumawa ng naturang tsubibo, ay may tatlong taong kontrata upang gawin ang bagong atraksyon. Sinimulan nito ang paggawa noong June 2013, at nag-soft launch pagkaraan ng mahigit isang taon.

Ang tsubibo ay nakatayo sa isang bakuran na may sukat na 9,620 metro kuwadrado sa harap ng Pier 9 at 10 sa bagong Star Ferry Pier o Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier.

Ang daungan ay nakasanayan nang tawaging “Star Ferry” at ito ay ikatlong lokasyon na ng nasabing pantalan; ang nauna ay sa kinatatayuan ngayon ng Mandarin Oriental at ang pangalawa ay sa tabi ng General Post Office. Inilipat ang daungan noong 2007 sa bagong Edinburgh Place.

Ang clock tower na inilipat sa bagong pantalan ay naging sentro ng pagtatalo ng mga conservationist at ng gobyeno ng Hong Kong dahil gusto noon ng pamahalaan na gibain ang tore. Nauwi ang pagtatalo sa martsa na nagbunga ng maganda dahil inilipat ang orihinal na tore sa bagong kinatitirikan nito sa Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier, sa halip na gibain na lamang.

Ang Hong Kong Eye ay siyang pantapat ng Hong Kong sa London Eye at sa Singapore Flyer na higit na matataas ngunit naiiba ang hubog ng mga gondola. Ang London Eye ay may taas na 135 metro at ang Singapore Flyer ay may 165 metro. Ang hubog ng mga gondola ng dalawa ay parang kapsula at makakapaglakad sa loob ang mga sakay nito.

Sa taas na 60 metro, wala sa kalahati ng higanteng tsubibo sa London at Singapore ang Hong Kong Eye, at ang mga mga pasahero nito ay mananatiling nakaupo.

Ang bawa’t gondola ay  makakapagsakay ng walo hanggang 10 katao, at may koneksyon sa wifi. Ang Hong Kong Eye ay nagbubukas mula ika-11 ng umaga hanggang ika-11 ng gabi.

Ayon kay Luz Peñaranda, isang Pilipinong nakasubok na sa Hong Kong Eye, banayad lang ang pag-ikot nito at hindi nakakahilo, kaya nagalak siya at kanyang mga kaibigan nang sakyan nila ito. Sumakay sila banding ikaanim ng hapon kaya napagmasdan nila ng mabuti ang kagandahan ng Hong Kong, kabilang ang maraming ilaw sa paligid na sari-sari ang kulay at kumukutitap dahil magpapasko.

Sa magkabilang tabi ng ferris wheel may kanya-kanyang pakulo ang malalaking kumpanya gaya ng  Carnaval na nag-aalok ng maraming larong masasalihan sa entrance fee na $90 na may kasama nang mga token na nagkakahalaga ng $70.

Ang Carnaval na ititangkilik ng AIA ay bukas mula Dis. 23 hanggang Peb. 22. Sa kabilang gilid ng ferris wheel ay may pakulo rin ang Hongkong Telecom kung saan ang lahat ng kliyente nito ay makakapasok nang walang bayad.

Ang kinatatayuan ng Hong Kong Eye ay bahagi ng malawak na reclamation site sa harap ng City Hall at Central Post Office. Mula nang binuksan ang liwasan, maraming Pinoy nagpupunta roon, tumatambay, namamasyal, o di kaya’y nagdaraos doon ng malalaking programa.

Halimbawa, noong Dis. 7 ay ginanap sa likuran ng General Post Office ang isang malaking konsiyerto ng mga sikat na mang-aawit na Pilipino, kabilang na si Arnel Pineda. Sa araw ding iyon, itinanghal ng Benguet Federation ang Adivay, isang malaking pagdiriwang na dinaluhan ng mga kilalang tao mula sa probinsiyang iyon.

Noong Nob. 2, ipinagdiwang ng CorAll HK ang ika-16 na taon nito sa likuran ng Post Office. Bukod sa di gaanong dinaraanan ng tao, mas malawak ang lugar para sa community dance na pat-tong, na nangangailangan ng sapat na espasyo para maraming taong makakasali.

Doon din malapit sa City Hall pumupuwesto ang Friends of Bethune at iba pang mga grupo na dahil malawak at hindi pa matao ang lugar. Habang kanya-kanyang praktis sila dito at doon, nasaksihan nila ang pagbangon ng balangkas ng higanteng tsubibo hanggang sa ito ay nakatawag-pansin sa lahat.

Kapag naglilitratuhan, magandang lumugar sa harap ng City Hall at nakatalikod sa Hong Kong Eye dahil kahit na ilang metro ang layo ng tsubibo ay makukuhanan pa rin ito katabi ang isa pang higante, ang International Financial Center 2.

At kung ang nais ay maglakad-lakad lamang, maaaring baybayin ang tabing-dagat mula sa Bauhinia Square sa Wanchai hanggang sa Sun Yat Sen Park sa Western District. Samantalahin na rin ang pagkakataon na tumigil sa may Central at sumakay sa matayog na Hong Kong Eye para makumpleto ang inyong pamamasyal..

Court frees man who harbored overstaying Pinay

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipino landscapist escaped jail on Aug. 30 despite pleading guilty to harboring an overstaying Filipina.

Ramil de los Reyes was meted a six-week jail term suspended for a year by High Court Judge Esther Toh after reviewing his case.

The suspended sentence meant he would not go to jail unless he commits another offense within the prescribed period of one year.

Earlier on Feb. 15, de los Reyes was sentenced by Shatin magistrate Andrew Ma to two months in jail for the offense of aiding and abetting a breach of immigration rules, and to a fine of  $1,000 for failing to register the birth of the Filipina’s baby.

The defendant got a two-week discount to the sentence two days later. Referring to the original sentence, Judge Toh said, “The magistrate decided correctly that this (aiding and abetting a breach of immigration rules) is a serious offense that calls for immediate custodial sentence”.

But she accepted defense counsel Andrew Leung’s argument that the magistrate did not give enough weight to the applicant’s claim that jailing him would put in jeopardy both the mother and the baby’s health.

She allowed De los Reyes to walk out free after announcing the suspended sentence.

The prosecution earlier objected to the defense counsel’s application for a non-custodial sentence, arguing for the deterrent purpose of a jail term for anyone abetting and aiding an immigration offense.
“His girlfriend came to Hong Kong on a limited status because she was a domestic helper. She had a relationship with the appellant and was in breach of her condition of stay. Fortunately, because she has a baby she’s out of jail,” the prosecution lawyer said.

Leung said his client would have surrendered the unnamed woman much earlier, but, as a father concerned about his child, he waited for the baby to grow until it would be more stable and stronger by the time the mother went to jail.

Leung said in fact it was Delos Reyes who persuaded and went with the Filipina to surrender to Immigration authorities when the baby was 18 months old.

Data Privacy Law

By Cynthia Tellez

At the Mission for Migrant Workers, one topic that we regularly discuss among staff is the Privacy Law. This is conducted to remind ourselves that inasmuch as we are getting information in relation to problems of migrant workers when they seek assistance from our office, we should be versed on the said ordinance to protect both the client and our office.

But the Data Privacy Law does not only apply to offices that get information from their clients to render services. This also pertains to individuals, including migrant workers.

So in this Know Your Rights article, we wish to at least assist migrants in knowing the rules relating to privacy especially now that almost everybody is using social media, and they are constantly asked to provide information to loan agencies including addresses of their employer or guarantor, etc.
This article hopes to provide a certain guide so we do not find ourselves in a difficult situation.
What are being protected in the Data Privacy Law?

All information that can identify a person or any form that gives access to information is what the said law is concerned about. These are personal data protected by the Ordinance including names, phone numbers, addresses, identity card numbers, photos, medical records and employment records.

To be concrete, let us deal with some examples:

1) Migrants who give out the address and phone number of their employers to lending companies without their employer’s permission;

2) Using social media like Twitter, Facebook, and similar platforms, and posting pictures, address or HKID of another person without permission

3) Listing a person’s name as guarantor in a loan transaction without the express consent of that person, even if he or she is a friend or a relative.

These are but some examples of acts that violate the Data Privacy Law. These acts violate the rights of the concerned persons who can file a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner as a result. They may even demand damages against the person that violated their privacy.

The Ordinance gives what is called as the six data protection principles (DPP) to users of data or information taken. The Ordinance said that these constitute the core of the whole law.

DPP1 - Data Collection Principle:
1) Personal data must be collected in a lawful and fair way, for a purpose directly related to a function activity of the data user.
2) Data subjects must be notified of the purpose and the classes of persons to whom the data may be transferred.
3) Data collected should be necessary but not excessive.

DPP2- Accuracy & Retention Principle:
Practicable steps shall be taken to ensure personal data is accurate and not kept longer than is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it is used.

DPP3 - Data Use Principle
Personal data must be used for the purpose for which the data is collected or for a directly related purpose, unless voluntary and explicit consent with a new purpose is obtained from the data subject.

DPP4 - Data Security Principle
A data user needs to take practical steps to safeguard personal data from unauthorized or accidental access, processing, erasure, loss or use.

DPP5 - Openness Principle
A data user must take practicable steps to make personal data policies and practices known to the public regarding the types of personal data it holds and how the data is used.

DPP6 - Data Access & Correction Principle
A data subject must be given access to his/her personal data and allowed to make corrections if it is inaccurate.

In other words, based on some of the examples that we mentioned above, the six core principles say that:
1) We should get the approval of our employer before giving the address, phone number, names of our employer or any other information, to any lending companies.
2) A consent should be given by the person who will act as guarantor in loan application. Without the consent, the person affected may file complaints to the Commissioner of the Privacy Ordinance.
3) The information/data that we took legally, meaning with permit from the people concerned, must be used only for a specific purpose and NOT to other purposes without the permission again of the concerned person(s).

4) The data user must protect all the information taken and not reveal it irresponsibly to the public or other people who are outside of the purpose for which the data was collected. So, avoid free-wheeling distribution of data that may have a bad effect on somebody.

5) Of course it is okay if it is a birthday party or outing at the beach or any group gathering and the pictures taken were uploaded in social media. But still, any person can ask the one who uploaded it to remove (if possible) or cover her/his face if they want to. This is part of respecting whatever their reason is.

So let us be conscious of our actions. Let us remember that ignorance of law is not an excuse. Let us be careful of our actions so as not to put us in a bad situation.

This is actually the main reason on why we at the Mission always inform clients that all information/data in the case file will remain only in the office.

As part of always being conscious of the said Ordinance, we also would like to take this opportunity to announce that the Mission will institute certain rules to protect our clients and also to protect the Mission while it is carrying out its mandate in serving the migrant workers.

Every client of the Mission will be asked to sign a sort of permission in getting information whenever they ask the Mission’s assistance in relation to their problems or cases. This is to protect both of us.


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

Labor chiefs to meet on window cleaning, illegal recruitment

By Vir B. Lumicao

Bello seeks ban on window clearning

Philippine labor secretary Silvestre Bello III is due to meet his Hong Kong counterpart, Matthew Cheung, on Friday, Sept. 23, to discuss a range of issues affecting Filipino domestic workers, including taking out window cleaning from the list of domestic work.

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre said Secretary Bello  will arrive at 10 am on Friday, and after a short break, will go into the meeting with Cheung,

They are expected to talk about issues affecting the 1185,000 Filipino domestic workers, particularly a proposal to exclude cleaning windows from their daily chores.

The work puts lives at risk

The move came in the wake of a series of incidents involving domestic workers falling from high-rise buildings while cleaning windows.

It was one of the issues brought up by United Filipinos-Migrante Hong Kong during a recent rally held to call for higher pay and better work security.

Ad for the fake jobs

Also on the agenda is an appeal for help by some 500 Filipino migrant workers who were victimized in a multi-million dollar recruitment fraud for supposed jobs in Britain and Canada.

The claimants are asking for help from both governments to consolidate their cases so they can get their money back quickly, and for the police to investigate recruiter Ester Ylagan for alleged fraud.

Labatt de la Torre said Cheung had initially proposed a Monday meeting, but Bello asked if they could meet earlier.

“It’s good Secretary Cheung agreed to move the meeting forward,” de la Torre said.

Secretary Bello is flying back to Manila on Sunday night.

Also on Bello’s agenda is a visit to the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge on Saturday, and a meeting with Filipino community leaders at the University of Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon, which is being coordinated by Unifil.

During the consultation, Unifil plans to present the long-standing demands of Filipino workers, including the strict implementation of the government’s no placement fee policy, scrapping of many of the fees imposed on OFWs, and a clarification of the recent resolution abolishing the overseas employment certificate.

Secretary Bello will be accompanied by incoming OWWA Administrator Rebecca Calzado and a couple of new appointees, but without POEA Administrator Hans Cacdac.

     

Dayuhang katulong at ang hustisya

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Maraming katanungan ang naglalaro sa isip namin ukol sa tila magkaibang pagturing ng mga tagausig sa mga kaso kung saan ang mga biktima ay mga dayuhang kasambahay, at yaong mga kasong sila naman ang diumano’y nambiktima.

Ang isang halimbawa ay ang magkaibang trato ng pulisya sa reklamong panloloko ng isang ahensiya ng trabaho sa ilang dosena o ilandaang aplikanteng katulong, at ang agarang pagdakip sa isang katulong na napagbintangang nagnakaw sa kanyang amo.

Isa pang halimbawa ay ang agarang pagdakip at pagkulong nang walang piyansa sa isang kasambahay na nahuling tumutulong sa tindahan ng kanyang amo, at ang agaran ding pagpapahintulot ng piyansa upang makalaya kaagad ang kanyang amo.

Gayundin, kapag naisampa na sa husgado ang isang kaso ay tila higit na pinakikinggan ng mga huwes ang nang-agrabyadong amo kaysa sa nabiktimang katulong. Kung hindi rin lang malakas ang ebidensiya ng katulong laban sa nambiktima sa kanya ay tiyak na ang kanyang pagkatalo.
Ngunit kung ang nasampahan ng kaso ay isang katulong, mas malamang na makulong ito kaysa sa mapawalang-sala.

Para sa amin, ayos lang kung sa kasong pagnanakaw ay nakakuha ang mga pulis ng matibay na ebidensiya tulad ng CCTV footage ng pagpasok ni Ate at paglabas sa kuwarto ng amo habang wala ang huli, o mga resibo sa mga isinanlang alahas na ninakaw sa amo.

Ngunit kung ang katibayang pinagbatayan ng demanda ay kaduda-duda at halatang gawa-gawa ng amo, doon kami nababahala, lalo pa kung ang katulong ay hindi matatas o hindi makapagpaliwanag nang mabuti. Mas malamang na ikukulong siya kahit walang sala.

Ang pag-usad ng isang kaso mula sa oras na natuklasan ang isang paglabag hanggang sa makarating ito sa paghahatol ay tila mabilis kapag ang nasasakdal ay isang katulong.

Ngunit kapag ang isang katulong ang nagsampa ng kaso, tila natatagalan ang pag-usad ng nito sa korte, at may mga pagkakataon pa ngang matagal nang nakauwi ang katulong bago ito dinggin.
Naalaala tuloy namin ang magkakahiwalay na kaso ng pagmamalabis umano ng mga amo noong nakaraang dalawang taon sa tatlong katulong – ang mga Indonesian na sina Erwiana Salustiyaningsih at Anis Andriyani, at ang Pilipinang si Rowena Uychiat.

Nakatawag-pansin ng media mula sa iba’t ibang sulok ng mundo ang kaso ni Erwiana dahil hindi inakala ng madla na sa isang napakayaman at napakasibilisadong lungsod ng Hong Kong ay naganap ang pagpapahirap ng isang amo sa kanyang kasambahay sa loob ng 11 buwan na kamuntik nang ikamatay ng katulong.

Kung hindi sa atensiyon ng media ay marahil hindi nalapatan ng hustisya ang pahirap na dinanas niya sa among taga-Hong Kong. Kabaliktaran ang nangyari kay Andriyani, na natalo naman sa sakdal na panunugat na inihain laban sa amo.

Ang hatol ng huwes: hindi nalutas ang maraming misteryo sa kaso kaya pinawalang-sala niya ang amo sa bintang na paggilit sa kaliwang talasinsingan ng katulong, na halos maputol ito. Binigyang-halaga niya ang palagay ng abogado na sinadyang hiniwain ng katulong ang kanyang daliri upang pauwiin siya ng amo, o dahil sa isang ritwal ng kanyang tribo.

Ukol sa kaso ni Uychiat, sumulat ang pulisya sa katulong noong 2015 at sinabing ibinabasura nila ang kanyang kaso laban sa among nagkulong, nagpahirap at di nagpasahod sa kanya nang walong buwan noong 2014 dahil hindi umano siya nagbigay ng sapat na ebidensiya sa loob ng takdang panahon.

Ngayon ay makatuon na naman ang paningin ng komunidad sa hukuman dito dahil sa mga kasong isinasampa ng daan-daang mga katulong laban kay Ester Ylagan, ang may-ari ng Emry’s Employment Agency at Mike’s Secretarial Service. Iyon ay dahil sa mga pekeng trabaho sa Britain at Canada na inalok ni Ylagan sa kanila at binayaran nila ng tig-$10,000 hanggang $15,000.

Kung bakit sa Small Claims Tribunal itinuro ng pulisya ang mga katulong sa halip na imbestigahan ang reklamo nila laban kay Ylagan ay isang nakakapagpasulak-dugong katanungan sa sistema ng hustisya sa Hong Kong. Parang nakukumbinsi tuloy kami na iba ang sukatan ng hustisya para sa mga dayuhang katulong, isang tanda ng pagwawalang-bahala sa kanilang kalagayan.

Fate stays in Bracket A

By Emz Frial

The all-Filipina softball team Fate, survived the threat of being dropped from bracket A of the Hong Kong Softball Association’s tournament by scoring a resounding win over local rivals Phoenix, 14-4, on Aug 24 at the Tin Kwong Road field.

Members of the all-Filipina softball team Fate in post-game celebration.

The win came as the tournament’s third season was about to end. The win over Phoenix was Fate’s last chance of holding on to their Group A berth.
The game started with a homerun by batter Ynez Badajos of away team, Fate. The former varsity player and Philippine national team member struck the ball to the left outfield, allowing her to sail continuously to the home base unhampered.
Ma. Eva Mendez then added another home.
When Phoenix took over the base, Chan Mei Mei made a home, ending the inning on a score of 2-1 in favor of Fate.
In the second inning, a throwing error by local pitcher Qu Zhe allowed Editha Hidalgo to take a free walk to first base.
Badajos then slammed another long outfield ball to the left, which gave her a chance to dash to third base, while Hidalgo hit home base.
Don Gaborno then batted, and ran to first base. Next to bat was Mendez, who slammed the ball to the left outfield, allowing her to run up to second base. The two other base runners, Badajos and Gaborno, managed to reach home base without being stopped.
Later, Mendez ran up to home base when Lyka Algonez scored another hit, which allowed her to reach second base. But she got stuck there when the next batter, Sherlyn Gamata, got caught.
Taking the bat for Phoenix, Chan Pui Sho managed to smash the ball and run to second base.
Later, she sailed to home base when Pang Hoi Man hit a long outfield ball. Pang got as far as third base, but was caught out on home base by Algonez who quickly tagged her before the local could step on the plate.
One more home was added to the locals’s score by Tsui Wing Shuen, before the inning ended at 6-3, still in Fate’s favor.
In the third inning, Romela Osabel added another point to Fate’s score.
The Filipinas tightened their defense from then on, but Phoenix did likewise.
This resulted in both sides failing to add to their scores in the fourth inning, but in the fifth, Osabel managed to break away to score a run for Fate.
This was countered by Tsang Lai Shan who notched another point for Phoenix in the sixth, which ended at 8-4, with Fate still in the lead.
The final inning saw Fate seal victory with a a cavalcade of six runs, courtesy of; Badajos, Myra Japitana, Gaborno, Eunice Locop, Osabel and Cherry Octaviano.
Meanwhile, Fate scored another victory when its B team beat local rivals True Light, 13-3, on Sept. 4, at the Shek Kip Mei field.
In the first inning, Fate claimed three homes via Katherine Gerpacio, Ma. Eva Mendez and Don Gaborno.
True Light bounced back a bit in the second inning, with a home from Lam Hoi Tung.
But Fate regained momentum in the third inning, with a score each from Gerpacio, Mendez, Gaborno and Rose Espano.
The locals retaliated with two homes by Tam Hiu Nam and Ching Wah, to end the inning at 7-3.
But Fate could not be denied their victory. The team successfully scored three more runs from Ynez Badajos, Gerpacio, Mendez, Gaborno, Ma. Luz Mandia and Maribel Sitchon, to end the game at 13-3.
The twin victories left Fate happy and thankful to all its players and supporters. Team captain Gaborno thanked all players for their cooperation and determination to win their games, despite the odds, as well as their supporters who always come by to cheer them on, win or lose.

OFWs list down priorities in fin-ed session

By Emz Gaborno

The list has hardly changed over the years.

Asked to list down their priorities as overseas Filipino workers, a group of 17 participants in a financial education program conducted by Enrich on Sept. 4 replied in no particular order: family support, children’s education, house purchase, and preparation for retirement. An unusual addition was “to escape from an abusive husband”.

The seminar participants.

The exercise is part of the regular session conducted for migrant workers to help them better assess what they learned from the seminar.

In this particular gathering held at the UBS offices in IFC, the workers were guided through the course by Enrich program manager Tynna Mendoza.

Lecturer Ethel del Fierro taught them the “Money Wise Migrants” part of the session, which is meant to teach participants how to budget and spend money wisely.

The first thing that migrants must understand, said del Fierro, is that they have a choice, meaning they could choose between giving what their family wants, and how much.

The second part involves taking control, meaning, reining in a desire to spend everything that has been earned. The participants were told that they must take control of their finances or end up with nothing to their names, despite working for many years abroad.

The third direction is to “track your expenses”. It is important for one to have a list of expenses, so they know how much money they would be spending within a particular period, and how much would be left.

The fourth instruction is to prioritise, meaning to know which expense is very important, and which is the least importance. This will help them to set aside unnecessary expenses to avoid debt.
Finally, an OFW must learn to say “No” to family members asking for money, unless it’s for an emergency.

The participants were given the acronym SMART to remember the reasons why setting a goal is important. The letters stand for:

S- pecific - (have an exact goal ).
M- easurable- ( you need to have a target time for your goal ).
A- chievable- ( aim for a goal that you can reach ).
R- ealistic- ( must be real, not impossible to attain ).
T- ime bound - ( make sure you can reach your goal on your target time ).

The participants were told that knowing all of these lessons would help them change their attitude towards life, especially those that help them reach their goal, how to spend money wisely, and budget their resources.

The migrants left the event happy and enlightened.

"It is helpful, useful and challenging - challenging dahil ma cha-challenge kang mag-ipon, at mag-ipon sa ibat ibang paraan”, participant Sherlyn Gamata told The SUN in an online interview.
"For me, the study was helpful and encouraging. For us to fulfill our goals in life, that’s so aspiring, said Chielo Sale, another participant.

Aside from the fin-ed sessions, Enrich also offers one-on-one lectures about Mentoring, Business, Investment, Money and Family , Speak Up, FHD ( Financial Health Disk ), Outreach, Return and Reintegration

For inquiries visit their website at www.enrichhk.org.

Ylagan no-show as record number of claims heard in court

By Daisy CL Mandap

The Small Claims Tribunal is now at West Kowloon Courts

A record number of Filipino domestic workers showed up at the Small Claims Tribunal on Monday, Sept. 19, for the hearing of their claims for refund against recruiter Ester P. Ylagan, who allegedly promised them non-existent jobs in Britain and Canada.

However, Ylagan was not around to defend herself and her solely-owned company, Mike’s Secretarial Services, against claims totaling no less than $300,000. Even a former staff member who appeared for earlier court hearings was nowhere in sight.

However, in a defence statement she sent to court on Sept. 11 in reply to the case lodged against her by the first claimant Maritess R. Moreno, Ylagan said she would “vigorously defend” all claims arising from her recruitment for the overseas jobs.

A total of 33 claimants were told to show up for the hearings, which were held for the first time at the West Kowloon Law Courts in Shamshuipo. The workers were claiming between $10,000 and $15,000 each from Ylagan, who collected the money for a document they supposedly needed to secure the jobs.

The workers, believed to number around 500, said they were promised a deployment by June this year, but Ylagan later moved this to October. When the applicants resisted and demanded a refund, Ylagan closed down her shops in Worldwide Plaza in Central and stopped replying to them via chat or email.

Most of the claimants showed up in person, while a few were allowed to be represented by volunteers of the Mission for Migrant Workers. Officers and staff at the Philippine Consulate led by Vice Consul Alex Vallespin also came by to show support for the workers.

But to everyone’s disappointment, especially the helpers who had to beg their employers to be allowed the morning off to attend court, no hearing took place. Instead, they were told to amend their claim forms to include a new address for Ylagan, as the court notices they reportedly sent to her registered address in Aberdeen were all returned.

The news came as a surprise to the workers, as the Aberdeen address was the same one used by previous claimants in pursuing a claim against Ylagan. The notices sent out to inform her about the default judgments made in favor of least 15 workers were also sent to the same residential flat registered jointly in the names of the defendant and her husband, Ricardo Ylagan.

Luckily for them, Ylagan furnished a new address in Kwun Tong in her defence against Moreno’s claim, so the claimants used this as a second address to ensure that the defendant receives the notices for their next hearing dates.

The claimants were told that if Ylagan again fails to show up for the next hearings scheduled early next month, a default judgment could be entered in their favor.

In her defence statement, Ylagan said Moreno failed to provide “sufficient evidence of her attending briefings, applications, and payments”. The statement added, “There is not a single document to prove her claim”.

Ylagan also claimed that the “services provided by MMS (Mike’s) in applying for documents in behalf of the applicants are not refundable” and that the company allegedly did not guarantee that the applicants would be hired, or that visas would be granted them by either the British or Canadian immigration.

This was contrary to what all the claimants say, that Ylagan had guaranteed their deployment to the two countries by June, and later, October this year. A number of those who managed to win their claims showed the court text messages where defendant repeatedly told them to be positive and wait for their delayed deployment.

Ylagan also said that at the Oct 14 hearing, she would apply for a consolidation of all similar claims, so that they could all be heard at the District Court.

Bethune House celebrates 30th

Participants and donors pose in front of the coin-filled cans collected to help finance the operations of Bethune House.

By Gina N. Ordona

Praises overflowed as Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge marked its 30th year of giving shelter to distressed workers at Chater road in Central on Sept. 11.

One of Bethune’s clients Eni Lestari shared her reflection about the shelter and how it helped her from being distressed to an empowered migrant.

Lestari sought the help of Bethune when she ran away from her first employer back in 2000. Sixteen years later, she is due to represent migrant workers around the world before the United Nation summit of Sept. 19.

“I was born as an empowered migrant in Bethune house. I was born as an activist migrant in Bethune House. In Bethune House, I found anything I need to be more human, to be treated like worker, to be able to stand on my own,” she said during her speech.

Lestari testified that Bethune does not only provide food and shelter to its clients but it also provide them space explore their creativity and potentials.

She encouraged everyone from Hong Kong residents and expatriates to continue supporting Bethune House.

“Without your support, people like us who are very disempowered and powerless have nowhere to go,” she said.

Bethune House ambassador and The SUN editor Daisy Mandap agreed with Lestari saying that Bethune has survived this long because of the kindness of a lot of people not only within the Filipino community but the whole of HK.

She said Bethune does not only give shelter migrant women in distress but it also helps them pursue cases, offers counseling services to those who have problem with their employment and families back home.

She mentioned one incident when she went with Bethune House executive director Edwina Antonio to rescue a rape victim in the middle of the night.

“It is very rare for people to go all the way to help migrant in distress, and we have always saluted Bethune House for doing just that, she said.

In response, Antonio thanked individuals and groups that have been supporting the shelter, adding that because of their help, Bethune House has survived even without government funding.

In particular, she cited migrant workers’ groups that have been supporting the five-year-old Coins for Bethune House project, which aims not only to raise funds for the shelter, but also to promote awareness of its services.

“Gusto ko pong ipakita na kahit mga migrant workers in HK ay gumagawa ng paraan para matulungan tayo na maipagpatuloy ang serbisyo ng Bethune,” Antonio said, as she called on stage the representatives of participating organizations, along with the submitted cans filled with coins.

She also said that much as she was happy that Bethune House had reached a milestone, her wish was that there would be no more need for it to exist within the next decade.

“Sana po by that time ay sarado na ang Bethune House. By that time ay wala na tayo dito sa Hong Kong dahil ang ibig hong sabihin ay puwedeng option na lang ang pagtatrabaho dito,” Antonio said.  
The celebration was made livelier by different dance performances, and capped by live band music featuring William Elvin and the Circus Tour.

Cans filled with coins will be opened and counted at Fanny Li Hall at St. John’s Cathedral on Sept. 18 from 2 pm onwards.

CARD HK holds seminar for scam victims

CARD OFW’s Marites Mapa outlines the points to be taken up during the seminar.

By Daisy CL Mandap

The only way to avoid being victimized in a scam is to value your hard-earned money more.
With this in mind, an unusual financial education seminar was conducted by CARD OFW Hong Kong, in cooperation with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and The SUN on Sept. 4, which targeted those who had fallen prey to a scam.

A follow-up seminar was held by CARD HK at the Consulate the next Sunday, Sept. 11.
Most of the participants had lost between $5,000-$20,000 in a jobs scam to Britain and Canada, which were offered to them by veteran recruiter Ester P. Ylagan.

The applicants sought help from Polo and the Hong Kong authorities in getting their money back, and for Ylagan to be sanctioned.

In his opening remarks, Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre lauded the initiative, saying he had been swamped with pleas for help from the victims.

He suggested that apart from a financial education seminar, a counseling session could be arranged for the applicants, many of whom are despairing because they only borrowed the money they paid Ylagan from financing companies, which charge hefty interest.

A participant, Axle, said she was grateful for the seminar because she was taught how to make the right decisions in handling money, including getting into a business.

“Kapag gustong mag-business, kailangang pag-aralan mabuti ang advantages at disadvantages nito,” Axle said. “Sa pagba-budget naman, kailangang unahin yung mga needs kaysa sa wants”.

Most importantly, she said it is very important to have a goal while working in Hong Kong. “Dapat nakasulat siya dahil may posibilidad na makalimutan”.

She said the goal-setting is meant to help one prioritize her activities and not to lose sight of what she values most in life.

The seminar was conducted fully by Filipino migrant workers who underwent rigorous training from CARD-MRI, one of the biggest micro-enterprise organizations in the Philippines.
CARD HK is a foundation chaired by journalist and entrepreneur Rex Aguado.
   

Tunay na kulay

Mag-iisang taon at kalahati nang nagtatrabaho si Rosa sa kanyang among Koreana, pero halos hilahin na niya ang mga araw para matapos na ang kanyang kontrata dito.

Noong una ay maayos naman ang kanyang kalagayan sa amo dahil may kasama siyang kapwa Pinay sa bahay at magaan naman ang kanilang trabaho. Hindi rin sila nagkaroon ng ano mang problema ng kanyang kasama.

Kalaunan ay tila dumarami na ang mga utos at pinagagawa sa kanila ng kanilang amo. Nagiging masungit na rin ito ay maramot sa pagkain. Kung minsan ay sila na ang bumibili ng kanilang ulam dahil tira-tirahang ulam lang ang kanilang kinakain.

Mag-asawang may apat na anak ang kanilang pinagsisilbihan at may alaga din silang aso. Minsan ay dumating ang mga magulang ng kanyang amo mula sa Korea at buong akala ni Rosa ay nagbabakasyon lang ang mga ito. Ngunit nang dumaan ang maraming buwan ay napagtanto ni Rosa na doon na rin titira ang dalawang matanda. Sa ngayon ay walong tao na ang kanilang pinagluluto at pinagsisilbihan.

Bukod sa walang pahinga maghapon sa trabahong bahay, halos makuba si Rosa at ang kasama sa dami ng pinamimili sa palengke dahil kada tatlong araw sila namamalengke, at kadalasan ay maraming mabibigat na gulay at prutas silang dala. Nakakadagdag din sa kanilang paghihirap ang mataas na daan paakyat sa bahay ng amo sa Bonham Road mula sa palengke ng Sai Ying Pun.

Ang mas nakakainis ayon kay Rosa ay pinaghihinalaan pa siyang nagpa-part time ng kanyang amo dahil umano napakatagal nitong bumalik mula sa pamamalengke. Ilang ulit na ring sinabi ni Rosa sa kanyang amo na malayo ang nilalakad niya pataas at mabigat ang hila niyang trolley pauwi, ngunit sigaw lang ang kanyang napapala sa among masungit.

Madalas sa kanilang pag-uusap ng kanyang kasama ay nababanggit nila na lumabas na ang tunay na masamang ugali ng kanilang amo. Bukod sa trabahong bahay, inuutusan din ang kasamahan niyang Pinay na si Nona na magdeliver ng mga paninda ng kanilang mga amo. Alam nilang bawal ang inuutos ng kanilang amo ngunit hindi sila makapagreklamo dahil tiyak na magagalit lang sa kanila ang bruhang amo at baka mapag-initan na naman sila.

Ang inaalala ni Rosa, matatapos na ang kontrata ni Nona sa susunod na buwan at hindi niya alam kung paano niya makakaya ang lahat ng trabaho sa bahay kapag mag-isa na lang siya. Tila walang balak na kumuha ng bagong katulong ang kanyang amo pag-alis ni Nona.

Nag-iisip ngayon si Rosa na huwag nang tapusin ang kanyang kontrata dahil parang di na kaya ng kanyang katawan ang hirap ng trabaho. Ika nga ni Rosa, bahala na kung mahirapan siyang humanap ng amo kapag nag-break contract siya kesa naman sa mamatay siya sa hirap sa malupit na amo. –Jo Campos