Poetry, speeches highlight FMWU’s 18th anniversary

LegCo member Leung Kwok-hung pledges his
olidarity with the migrant workers' struggle for
their rights in Hong Kong.

By Jo Campos

More than a hundred migrant workers gathered on Chater Road on Oct. 9 for the 18th anniversary of Filipino Migrant Workers Union which was highlighted by speeches, performances and contests in poetry writing and reading.

The SUN’s regular contributor, Marites Palma, took second place in poetry writing, which was won by Elna Apao from Sadanga Organization. In third place was Jennifer Cabanez. (The winning entries will be published in the next issue of The SUN)
In poetry reading, the winners were Angelica Benas, first; Jennifer Cabanez, 2nd; and  Cora Maranas, 3rd.

Three prominent public figures spoke before the crowd, including former legislator and Confederation of Trade Unions in Hong Kong leader Lee Cheuk-yan. The FMWU is a member of the Hong Kong union.

Lee expressed full support for the foreign domestic helpers’ call for higher wages and better security in the workplace.

Another speaker was radical legislator Leung Kwok-hung, better known as “Long Hair”, who likewise expressed full support to the FDH advocacies, and said they should also keep protesting against their social exclusion.

Indonesian domestic worker Eni Lestari also spoke at the event, straight from her ground-breaking address before the United Nations General Assembly as migrant workers’ representative.

Lestari, who heads the International Migrant Alliance decried the vicious cycle affecting migrant workers all over the world. She said: “ A generation of migrant workers in the family is not something to be proud of. We do not want to remain as slaves for other people.”

Providing a lighter note to the celebration were dance performances from various ethnic groups.

Stricter rules on window cleaning by FDHs eyed

Another Filipina seen cleaning her employer's window.

By The SUN staff

Hong Kong has agreed to work with Philippine officials in drafting a regulation by Nov. 14 that will exclude risky window cleaning from the tasks of domestic workers.

A statement released by the Philippine Consulate on Oct. 17 said the two sides had agreed to "revisit" the exclusion of window cleaning from domestic duties, in line with strict international standards.

The statement said that the crafting of such a safety provision must conform with international best practices, which provide that:
1) The worker must be supervised by the employer or an adult representative while cleaning windows; and
2) That window grilles have been installed and are locked throughout the cleaning process.
The statement further emphasized that the worker's safety is paramount, and “under no circumstances should the employer subject a domestic worker to unsafe working conditions and tasks”.

The move appears to signal an initial victory for Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre, who unilaterally decided to include a clause in Filipino domestic helpers’ contracts excusing them from cleaning the outside parts of windows.

The exclusion, which was to take effect on Oct. 15, was met with widespread protests by employers’ representatives, and apprehension by employment agency owners.

Migrant workers’ representatives, on the other hand, applauded the move.

During a visit to Hong Kong in the last week of September, Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello failed to convince his Hong Kong counterpart, Matthew Cheung, to agree to the job exclusion.
Despite this, Labatt de la Torre went ahead with amending Filipino domestic workers’ contracts to include the ban.

However, its implementation was postponed at the last minute at the request of  Hong Kong labour officials who wanted the two sides to agree on the terms of the exclusion.

Labatt de la Torre told The SUN that he had postponed the ban for 30 days to allow Hong Kong to come up with its own provision on window cleaning which would apply to all foreign domestic workers' contracts.

The Philippine government sought the exclusion in the wake of a rash of incidents involving Filipino ,maids who were killed after falling from height.

In the latest incident, 35-year-old Rinalyn Dulluog died after falling from a Lohas Park high rise on Aug.  9. Domestic workers led by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body immediately backed the ban, but employers' groups were enraged.

An employers' support group subsequently wrote a letter to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, asking him to intervene in what they said was an attempt to subvert Hong Kong's lawmaking functions.

At a press conference held during a community event that day, Cheung said that the Hong Kong government had asked for more time in order to listen to all parties concerned before coming up with a solution.

“First of all, we attach great importance to the safety of all worker including foreign domestic helpers. We’ve got a very large population of 375,000 and of course they play a very important role in Hong Kong,” Cheung said.

He said the helpers’ safety “is something we cannot compromise” but that “we have to strike a balance between the safety of the employee and the interest of the employer”.

Cheung said the ban is not applicable to all situations because there are houses that are on the ground floor, or those with safe corridors outside or fitted with iron grilles.

That’s why he said he had asked the Consulate to suspend the ban to give Hong Kong more time to study it and conduct dialogues and take into account the views of various stakeholders including employers, employers’ groups and employment agencies.

For her part, Consul General Bernardita Catalla urged the press not to issue any report until an official statement on the talks' outcome had been issued.

She also asked Filipinos not to criticize Labatt de la Torre for shelving the ban.

“Please don’t blame Labatt Dela Torre for that (postponement). I think that it’s only fair that important issues like this be discussed openly, concurrently with Hong Kong authorities, as well as the stakeholders,” Catalla said.

Shortly after her meeting with Hong Kong's labour officials yesterday, Congen Catalla left for Beijing to join the official delegation of President Rodrigo Duterte who was on a three-day visit for talks on bilateral issues.

HK charity ICM raises nearly $15m for RP’s poorest

by Vir Lumicao

ICM auction in progress

About 800 people of various nationalities attended the 12th annual banquet of the International Care Ministries (or ICM) held on Oct. 24 at the HK Convention Centre, and gave close to $15 million for some of the Philippines' poorest communities

The money raised in the four-hour event was a little short of donations collected in the same event last year, but the second-highest since the annual fund-raising dinner began in 2004.

The proceeds included $3.9 million (US$500,000) of matching funds donated by Find Us Faithful Foundation, a US charity, for every bid that exceeded $80,000 

Nearly $2 million was raised in a silent auction for an assortment of 344 donated items ranging from paintings and sculptures by mostly Filipino artists, trips, jewelry, photographs, and other stuff.

40 artworks were donated this year, a record for the charity event

David Sutherland, chair of the ICM board, told supporters in a thank you letter that the fund raised represented 19% of the group’s annual budget of $76 million

“We are thrilled and thankful to report that the evening raised a grand total of HK$14.7 million,” Sutherland said. “This was our second highest banquet ever – we barely missed last year's record banquet of HK$15.1 million. We are grateful for your generosity,” Sutherland said.

He said the fund raised would be enough to finance social intervention activities aimed at improving the lives of 296 ultra-poor communities in the Philippines that ICM is supporting through its Transform program. 

That was just 29 short of ICM’s target of 325 communities, Sutherland said

The banquet hall was designed for 65 tables seating 11 people each but 75 were set up for the event, said Daphne Kuok, a member of the banquet committee.

With the slogan “Hope shines through Transform,” ICM tries to  equip ultra poor families with values, health and livelihood training as well as resources and support.

The NGO has its sight on some 2.2 million people who are struggling to survive on 38 US cents a day in 10 provinces in the Central and Western Visayas, in Mindanao and Northern Palawan.

Sutherland, a former chief financial officer of Morgan Stanley Asia, said at the end of the 16-week program, families would see on average a 106% rise in household income, a 28% drop in serious illnesses and a 19% increase in food security.

To show donors the impact of one donation given at a similar ICM banquet two years ago,a video on a Transform participant from Mindanao named Analyn was projected on giant screens around the hall 

The video showed the woman and her husband struggling to feed themselves and two tykes from pedicab driving and shell picking. Through Transform, Analyn learned to make spring rolls that she sold to the community to augment her husband’s income. 

Organizers tried to hook up Angie with her husband back home during the live program, but he could not leave his job in time to watch her.

A beneficiary of ICM’s Adopt a Patient program was flown all the way from his remote village in Bohol to Hong Kong for a clubfoot surgery. 

Felix, who arrived in the hall on a wheelchair with his two legs in plaster cast following surgery, dreams of being able to walk someday. 

Sharing the spotlight that evening was the ICM Children’s Choir, made up of 12  kids from poor communities in Bacolod City who were gathered in October 2009 and taught to sing by composer and songwriter Louise Joachimowski. 

The kids have performed in the annual ICM banquet in 2010 and 2011, then  traveled and performed in several cities in the US to raise awareness and support for ICM. 

The choir now includes new children, one of whom postponed a visit to the dentist just so she could experience her first Hong Kong Banquet.

As in previous years, the event was highlighted by a spirited auctioning by 

US national champion auctioneer Kristine Fladeboe Duininck, who raised $10.1 million from 123 donors in less than half an hour.

Sixteen donors gave to support surgeries for 16 children at Matilda Hospital. Their donations will also pay for surgeries for another 32 patients in the Philippines, and medical care for a further 480 poor Filipinos.

ICM put up 333 Panda stuffed toys for sale at $1,000 each and all were snapped up, raising $333,000 to pay for 1,000,000 meals for hungry children.

D30 anti-drug war new excuse for asylum-seekers

By Vir B. Lumicao

A number of Filipinos are reportedly seeking asylum in Hong Kong, using the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines amid the government’s anti-drugs campaign as an excuse.

According to a source who contacted The SUN, a number of recently-arrived Filipinos are citing Duterte’s bloody anti-drugs campaign as reason for their application for asylum.

“Some people have found a new reason to justify their bid for asylum, and the anti-drugs campaign is quite a convenient and credible excuse,” the source said.

Previously, asylum-seekers cited a number of reasons, from receiving death threats from cuckolded husbands, irate debtors and parties in property disputes, to fear of retribution from political rivals or government agents.

“The new Filipino asylum-seekers are invoking Article 2 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, which guarantees the right to life,” said the source, who added that the bloodletting at home could set off a wave of refugees.

The anti-drugs war was part of Duterte’s platform when he ran for the presidency in the Philippines’ national elections in May this year, which he resoundingly won.

His victory was immediately followed by a daily spate of summary killings of known and suspected drug suppliers, pushers and addicts, even before he assumed office on July 1.

Statistics from July 1 cited by the Philippine National Police in a Senate probe into the killings was 3,441 dead: 1,375 in legitimate police operations and 2,066 “deaths under investigation”, a euphemism for summary executions attributed to vigilantes.

Some of those spooked by the campaign have reportedly left the country to take up residency in another country or seek a safe haven, as did these asylum or torture claimants in Hong Kong.

The SUN sent an inquiry to the Hong Kong Immigration Department to verify the reports, but failed to get a direct reply. A spokesperson for the Department merely directed this writer to a site which showed that as of June this year, there were a total of 461 Filipinos out of 11,169 torture claimants in Hong Kong.

There are no statistics yet for the relevant period of July to September, when the Duterte administration has been in power.

Long before Duterte’s ascent to power, hundreds of Filipinos who had come to Hong Kong as tourists or domestic helpers would overstay their visas and apply for non-refoulement to stop their deportation, citing threats to their lives back home.

Ex-Disney talent gets 20 months for assault on maid

By Vir B. Lumicao

A 53-year-old Filipino musician will have to spend the next 20 months in jail for indecently assaulting a neighbor’s Indonesian helper in Tung Chung in May this year, a District Court judge ruled on Oct 11.

A two-day trial scheduled for defendant Edwin Esguerra, a former trumpeter at Hong Kong Disneyland, lasted only half a day as he pleaded guilty to the charge before Judge W.K. Kwok.
“On your own guilty plea and admission, you are convicted of the charge,” Kwok said. Esguerra’s guilty plea ended a case that began on May 3, 2016 when he entered his neighbor’s ground-floor flat in Tung Chung Village after a drinking party with friends and tried to force himself on the 33-year-old maid.

The defendant, his 21-year-old son and 23-year-old daughter lived in a first-floor flat just above the unit of the maid’s employers.

A prosecution report said the maid was alone when Esguerra, holding a broken door handle, barged in and asked if her employer could fix the door handle. Then he asked whether there was anyone else in the house and she replied none.

The defendant suddenly grabbed the victim, dragged her to the employers’ bedroom and pushed her to the bed. The maid shouted and struggled but Esguerra, after stripping naked, managed to pin her down her down and pull off her clothes and underwear.

Esguerra kissed the victim’s breast and bit her left nipple, then inserted his finger in her genitals, the report said. He only stopped when he realized the victim was having her monthly period.

The defendant lingered for some time in the house and tried to assault the victim again in the kitchen, but she managed to run outside and called her agency as well as her husband in Indonesia. When police arrived, they found Esguerra fast asleep in his own flat.

A medical report showed the victim suffered a contusion on her upper sternum caused by suction, a tiny laceration along the base of her left nipple, two reddish bruises on her left abdomen, and bruises on her private parts.

The defense counsel said the defendant, who came to Hong Kong in 2005 to work as trumpeter at Disneyland, was a friendly man who had a clear record here and in the Philippines but was overcome by alcohol.

“He was too drunk that when police arrived he was fast asleep in his flat and could not recall that such an incident happened,” the lawyer said as he pleaded for Judge Kwok’s leniency for his client.
The judge replied that the only mitigation was the defendant being “very drunk” and he  even doubted it, saying that a heavily drunk man would not go asking about getting a door handle fixed.
He expressed his misgiving about the charge being just indecent assault “when the defendant could have raped the victim if she had no menstruation.”

The judge said that if the case happened in England, the accused would have been charged with sexual assault by penetration and he would be jailed for life.

Kwok called for a two-hour break to review the facts of the case after failing to get both sides to return the next day for the sentence. When the court resumed at 12:30pm, the judge meted out a 20-month jail term, discounted because of Esguerra’s guilty plea.

Nothing to frown about prawns

Creating a dish does not need to be difficult, as long as you have the main ingredient, which is TLC, or tender, loving care.

Being a food lover myself, I always try new dishes so I can savor the taste and maybe re-create them, or come up with my own version. I can often tell just by tasting what ingredients or condiments were used in a dish, and how I can probably make it taste better.

In my book, prawns or shrimps are the easiest to cook, as they are probably the most versatile of all seafood. They have also inspired me to create a number of dishes that have delighted my friends and family.

One of my most memorable shrimp stories happened a few years ago, when I attended a wedding and brought with me a large platter of my Prawns in XO Sauce as gift. It was a most peculiar wedding gift, but it was very much appreciated and according to the groom, was as memorable as the wedding itself! I am happy to share the recipe for that here.

Another recipe I am sharing was created out of boredom. Whenever I get too stressed, I pour out my tensions by cooking. This exercise has led me to whip up my Prawns in Garlic and Butter, a recipe that differs from the Chinese style where fried garlic is used. I found out that the mixture of fresh garlic and butter creates a creamy spicy coat that permeates the prawn’s flesh, making it really tasty.

Another recipe is for a Thai-inspired salad, Minty Prawn  and Veggie Salad. This is  perfect as appetizer or as a side dish.

Prawns in XO Sauce 

Ingredients: 
· 1 lb. tiger prawns
· 4 shallots, sliced
· 1 head garlic, minced
· XO sauce
· salt and pepper to taste
· Tabasco sauce
· coriander leaves
· spring onion, chopped for garnishing
· dash of soy sauce
· oil for frying
· cornstarch for coating

Procedure:
1. Wash and clean prawns. Using a sharp kitchen scissors, cut the back of prawn shell through the flesh from below the head and remove the black vein.
2. Heat enough oil to fry prawns. Dredge each prawn in cornstarch and fry in very hot oil. It will only take about a minute, when the prawns turn pink, remove and set aside.
3. Using some of the oil from frying prawns, stir fry shallots and garlic till lightly brown, add chilies and XO sauce. Add prawns and stir through till all the prawns are coated with the sauce. Transfer in a serving platter and garnish with spring onions and coriander.

Prawns in Garlic and Butter

Ingredients:
· tiger prawns or shrimps
· garlic, crushed or minced
· a knob of butter
· chopped red chili
· salt and pepper to taste
· Sprite or 7up

Procedure:
1. Wash and clean prawns, cut the back of the shell through the flesh and remove veins under running tap water.
2. In a pan, combine all ingredients and cook in high heat for about 5 minutes. When the prawns turn pink in color, stir through till the sauce thickens and are absorbed by the prawns.

Minty Prawn-Veggie Salad

Ingredients:
· prawns, peeled and boiled
· fresh mint leaves
· carrot, grated
· cucumber, grated
· shredded cabbage
· fried shallots

For the dressing:
· fish sauce
· finely chopped lemongrass
· finely minced garlic
· fresh lime juice
· sweet chili sauce
· finely chopped red and green chilies, seeds removed
· palm sugar

Procedure:
1. Combine all ingredients in a jar, cover and shake until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
2. In a large salad bowl, toss all the vegetables and combine dressing.
3. Transfer in a serving dish and arrange pre cooked prawns on top. Garnish with fried shallots and a few more mint leaves.

Old wisdom

Mga kasabihan ni Lola:
Hindi lahat ng party masaya.
Ang 3rd party ba masaya?
Hindi lahat ng 13 ay malas.
Ang 13th month pay ba aymalas?
Hindi lahat ng positive ay masaya. Ang HIV positive ba ay masaya?
Hindi lahat ng hinog ay masustansiya.
Ang pigsa ba masustansiya?

Question and Answer

Question: Kung vegetarian ang tawag sa kumakain ng gulay, ano ang twag sa kumakain ng tao?

Answer: Humanitarian
Question: Ano naman ang plural ng rice?

Answer: Extra rice.
Question: Ano ang masarap sa mga bading, itlog ng pugo o itlog ng bibe?
Answer: Itlog ng pogi.
Shorts
Seen: A sign at a karinderia saying:
Mahigpit pong ipinagbabawal ngayon ang mangutang. Natuklasan pong kumakalat na sakit na… Amnesia.
-o-
Question: Where in the Bible that says all men must make coffee for their women?
Answer: The Book of Hebrews.

Venue problem may delay civil service exam

by Vir B. Lumicao

The date is barely a month away, and about 3,000 have already registered, but no venue has yet been found for the first-ever Civil 

Service Examinations for Filipinos in Hong Kong.

For this reason, Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre told The SUN the Civil Service Commission has moved the date of the exam to Dec. 18, instead of the previously announced date of Nov. 27.

But even with the new schedule, the event is still on the waitlist at the CRC's favored site, a hall at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wanchai.

Labatt de la Torre said he is still hopeful the exam would go ahead as originally scheduled.. 

“If we’re able to book venues for Nov 27 then we will still go with that date,” Labatt de la Torre said. 

Finding a suitable venue is a challenge because the two target dates are among the busiest in Hong Kong's calendar.

Cost constraints are also part of the equation.

Labatt De la Torre said the rental for one day at the HKCEC hall is already $250,000.

He said an alternative venue big enough to accommodate the number of examinees is the AsiaWorld-Expo at Chek Lap Kok. 

“Kaya lang $1 million iyon. To break even, we have to have 2,000 examinees,” he said. 

The examination fee for overseas Filipinos taking the exams is said to be around US$44 per person. 

But gauging from the keen interest shown by Filipinos in the exam, gathering enough examinees shouldn't be a problem.  

“I imagine it would top 3,000. Those who may have backed out may be cancelled out by those taking interest for the first time,” Labatt De la Torre said, adding that the deadline for the online registration is Nov 11.

In the absence of a big venue, Labatt De la Torre said the exam could be held simultaneously at three sites. 

One of these prospective sites is the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town,  and probably schools because of the need for school desks, he said. 

He said he had already checked with the University of Hong Kong and Polytechnic University but their venues won’t be available on the dates they are needed.

Another ideal venue would be the  City University in Kowloon Tong, but he said the school wants to host only local events.

Maaliwalas ang panahon sa Linggo, pagkatapos dumaan ng Haima

Pagkatapos ng malakas na ulan at hagupit ng hangin na dala sa HongKong ng bagyong Haima (na nanalasa sa Pilipinas bilang supertyphoon Lawin), liliwanag ang panahon pagdating ng Linggo, ayon sa Hong Kong Observatory.

Pero bago ito ay makakaranas ng bagyo at pinapag-ingat ang mga taga-Hong Kong.

Sa isang report, sinabi ng weather bureau ng Hong Kong na papalapit sa Hong Kong ang Haima, at mapupunta sa loob ng 50 kilometro sa bandang hapon ng Oct. 22, kaya naghahanda ag HKO na magdeklara ng Typhoon signal no. 8 dahil dito.

At gaya ng nakaugaian, nagbabala rin ang HKO na mag-igat sa mga baha at landslide na maaring tumama sa iba't ibang lugar sa Hong Kong.

Mahirap ipatupad ang window-cleaning ban

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Simula ngayong Oktubre 15 ay bawal na sa mga amo sa Hong Kong na utusan ang kanilang mga katulong na Pilipina na linisin ang labas ng kanilang mga bintana.

Iniatas ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office sa mga employment agency sa Hong Kong na isama sa bawat kontratang paabrubahan sa POLO ang tinatawag na “Rinalyn Exclusion,” na nagliliban sa mga kasambahay sa paglilinis ng labas ng bintana.

Ang pagkamatay ng katulong na si Rinalyn Dulluog nang mahulog mula sa isang mataas na gusali sa Lohas Park noong Agosto 9 ang nagbunsod sa bagong patakarang malaon nang hinihiling ng mga 350,000 migranteng manggagawa rito.

Lubhang mapanganib ang paglilinis ng labas ng bintana sa mga tahanan sa Hong Kong na nasa matataas na gusali. Si Dulluog, halimbawa, ay nahulog mula sa ika-49 palapag habang nililinis diumano ang bintana ng bahay ng kanyang amo.

Sa kasalukuyang kontrata ng paggawa ng mga dayuhang katulong ay hindi pinagbabawal ang trabahong ito. Kaya ang puntirya ng bagong kautusang ipinadala ni Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torres sa mga ahensiya noong Oktubre 1 ay ituring itong kalabisan sa mga gawaing bahay na iaatas sa isang Pilipinang kasambahay.

Tila napilitang maglabas ng nasabing kautusan ang POLO matapos mabigo si Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III na daanin sa pakikipag-usap kay Hong Kong Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung ang pagpapatupad sa ganoong pagbabawal.

Inuna ni Bello ang pakikipagpulong kay Cheung nang dumalaw siya sa Hong Kong  noong Setyembre 23 hanggang 25, ngunit walang ibinungang kasunduan ukol sa nasabing usapin ang kanilang pag-uusap.

Noong nakaalis na si Bello sa Hong Kong ay saka pa lang nilinaw ni Cheung sa isang pagtitipon ng pamayanang lokal na hindi siya sang-ayon sa pagbabawal sa paglilinis ng mga katulong sa labas ng bintana.

Sinabi ni Cheung sa isang reporter na hindi madali ang pagpapatupad halimbawang ipagbawal ng gobyerno ng Hong Kong ang pagpapalinis ng labas ng bintana sa mga katulong. Kailangan ding pagmasdan ang praktikal na aspeto ng usaping iyon, aniya.

Samakatwid, ang panig lang ng Pilipinas ang magpapatupad sa pagbabawal sa nasabing gawain dahil hindi kinatigan ng Hong Kong and panukala. Ang ibig sabihin ay bahala ang ating gobyerno kung paano niya ipatutupad ang “window cleaning ban” dahil wala itong opisyal na pahintulot ng Hong Kong.

Mapapansin ito ng mga amo at walang makakapigil sa kanila na utusan ang kanilang mga katulong na linisin ang labas ng bintana. Sa kanilang pananaw, wala namang kapangyarihan ang POLO na parusahan ang isang among lalabag sa pagbabawal.

Ayon sa kalatas ni Labatt De la Torres sa mga ahensiya, sila ang magpapaliwanag at magpapaalala sa mga amo na ipuwera sa listahan ang mapanganib na gawaing nabanggit bago nila pirmahan ang kontrata sa trabaho.

Ang ibig sabihin niyan ay hindi tatanggapin ng POLO ang kontrata kapag hindi pumayag ang amo sa kautusang hindi niya paglinisin ng labas ng bintana ang kanyang katulong. Pumayag mang pumirma ang amo, hindi iyon garantiyang susunod siya sa pagbabawal.

Sa pananaw namin ay mahihirapan ang POLO na ipatupad ang pagbabawal dahil wala itong sapat na bilang ng tao upang bantayan o manmanan ang bawat isa sa mga pamilyang may mga katulong na Pilipino. Aasa lamang ito sa sumbong ng mga kasambahay na paglabag ng kanilang amo.

Maganda ang hakbang na isinagawa ni Labatt Dela Torre ukol sa usaping ito upang pangalagaan ang buhay ng mga kababayan nating kasambahay. Kailangan ang pakikiisa ng mga kasambahay upang ituro ang mga among lumalabag sa pagbabawal upang mapatawan sila ng karampatang parusa.

OFW in mailed drugs case freed

Tsuen Wan Magistracy where the case was heard

by Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper jailed four months ago for accepting a gift containing cocaine from her Nigerian boyfriend was freed Oct. 20 after prosecutors dropped a drug trafficking case against her.

Eleanor Amorin, a 31-year-old single mother, burst into tears when Tsuen Wan Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong told her to go after the lady prosecutor said she was dropping the charge without giving any reason 

As of Thursday evening, Amorin had yet to contact the Consulate.

Hermogenes Cayabyab of the assistance to nationals section said Hong Kong Immigration would normally send home foreign domestic workers who had been involved in criminal offenses even if they got cleared.

“At this stage we’re not sure if she would be allowed to remain in Hong Kong to look for a new employer, or be sent home by immigration authorities," said Cayabyab.

The Filipina was arrested in her employers’ home shortly after taking delivery of a package containing cocaine that was sent to her as a present via air mail by her newfound Nigerian boyfriend 

Her release bodes well for another Filipina helper, Welva Gannaban, who was arrested on Sept. 26 in a similar fashion. She was picked up after Customs officers intercepted an air parcel containing suspected cocaine that her Nigerian boyfriend had sent from Addis Ababa. 

Gannaban herself was originally scheduled to appear in Tsuen Wan court on Oct 20, but for unknown reasons, her case was not heard that day.

The arrests prompted the Consulate and the Mission for Migrants Workers to warn Filipinas in Hong Kong to be wary of accepting mailed packages from online boyfriends, particularly those based in West Africa.
The modus involves African men, particularly Nigerians, befriending and courting foreign domestic helpers through social media and then asking for their employers’ addresses so they could send gifts to the women. 

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin said Filipinas should avoid getting involved with strangers they meet online because they could be used to smuggle dangerous drugs into Hong Kong. 

The warning was echoed by the Mission"/ Cynthia Tellez,, who said the workers should be wary of crime syndicates that exploit their weaknesses in many ways.

“Sinasamantala nila ang mga kahinaan ng ating mga migrants para magamit nila,” she said. 

In Amorin’s case, she was a single mother actively searching for a foreign boyfriend online to emulate her sister who had successfully married a foreigner. 

Amorin fell for a Nigerian she met online and shortly after their initial meeting in Wanchai, the man sent her the package, not from Nigeria, but from Brazil.  

Officers posing as postmen pounced on her after she eagerly signed a receipt for the parcel.

Ano nga ba ‘yon?

Isang bagong saltang Pinoy ang naghanap ng manok sa isang US supermarket.
Paikot-ikot siya pero hindi niya makita ito.
Dahil nakalimutan niyang sabihin ang manok sa English, kumuha siya ng isang itlog at tinanong ang casher: “Where mother?”
Ang sagot ng cashier, na Pinay pala: “No more mother! You like father?” Sabay turo sa chicken sausages.

Filipino migrants in HK protest violent dispersal of Manila rally

by The SUN Team

About 30 Filipino migrants picketed the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong earlier today, Oct. 20, to denounce the bloody dispersal by Philippine police of a rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

About 50 peole were reportedy injured, including three who were mowed down by a police van.

The Hong Kong rally was slightly marred when protest leader 

Eman Villanueva  of Bayan Muna Hong Kong and Macau riled at the heavy security presence in the Consulate.

"There are more police personnel here than (there are) protesters. Why?, " said a visibly angry Villanueva. He said this was unnecessary, as the most that they could do was to submit a petition letter detailing their concern and demands.

Some of the protesters called on Consul General Bernardita Catalla to come out and meet them. However, Consulate staff said she was in Beijing as part of the official delegation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's who is there on a state visit.

About 20 people joined the rally, called to condemn police for the violent dispersal of the U.S. Embassy protesters who were mostly indigenous people calling for an end to military persecution in their homeland.

Their protest was dispersed with the use of tear gas, truncheons and a police van driven by an officer identified as SPO3 Franklin Kho., which mowed down some of the protesters

A video showing the vehicle knocking down the marchers was shared earlier by Villanueva on Facebook and within an hour it had attracted about a thousand views and was shared by scores of viewers.

The Hong Kong protesters condemned the “brutal dispersal” and demanded the immediate release of the more than 20 people, including indigenous tribesmen from Mindanao, who were arrested during the melee.

Those who saw and shared the video called the attack "insane” and “outrageous”.

The video shows the van being driven wildly back and forth after protesters surrounded and started hitting it with batons.

Before the van driver went berserk, police lobbed teargas as protesters broke through a security cordon and pelted the police and a US government emblem with red paint bombs.

“There was absolutely no justification for it. Even as the president Duterte) vowed an independent foreign policy, Philippine police forces still act as running dogs of the U.S.", said protest leader Renato Reyes. 

However, Manila police officials denied the ramming, saying the protesters had tried to flip the vehicle. They also claimed to have the same number of casualties as the protesters.

New, additional benefits for OFW

By Cynthia Tellez

On September 25, UNIFIL-Migrante HK sponsored a dialogue with the Philippine Secretary of Labor and Employment  Silvestre Bello III.  Accompanying Sec. Bello in the said dialogue were former POEA Administrator  Hans Cacdac  (now the new OWWA Administrator) and former OWWA Administrator  Rebecca Calzado.
UNIFIL-Migrante HK made a power point presentation of the issues agreed upon during the last summit of OFW leaders in Hong Kong just before President Rodrigo R. Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). The DOLE team responded to each of the issues raised in the dialogue. Though most of the issues are still to be acted upon, the team announced some changes that have been implemented or are in the cards regarding the issues raised.
These are what we want to explain in this article so that OFW will be aware of these changes and hopefully can avail of the benefits from them.

The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
It will no longer be the case that every OFW has to secure an overseas employment certificate or OEC every vacation to prove that she/he is an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
If you are an OFW taking a vacation and will return to the same employer, you will no longer be required to get an OEC. However,  in order to be exempted from getting an OEC, you have to make sure that you register at the POEA to be included in their databank – or what they call as the BalikManggagawa (BM) Online.
But as of this writing, some glitches do occur in the online registration. It is then more advisable to go to the POLO to seek assistance in the first registration process. So, again, for recontract workers, no payment is required anymore.
Those with new employers, either first-timers to Hong Kong or have changed employer, they have to register their new employment information at the POEA.

On the OWWA membership
Based on the new OWWA Act 108001, which was passed last May 31, 2016, the membership to OWWA will now be for two years. The new OWWA Act superseded the OWWA Omnibus Policy which states that the OWWA membership is co-terminus with the employment contract.
The new Act means that even if the employment contract is prematurely terminated, meaning before the end of the two-year period, the OFW can still avail of OWWA benefits because the duration of membership is for two years. The renewal will have to be by the end of the two-year period. In relation to this, there was an agreement in the dialogue that OWWA will use social media to announce the procedures in requesting for services and claiming for benefits due an OFW. As an increasing number of OFWs use social media like Facebook, OWWA and DOLE as a whole will make use of it in disseminating information on procedures and applying for whatever assistance is offered by the office.

On retirement benefits
It was explained that an OFW who regularly gives contribution to OWWA fund for 10 years but has never applied for any benefits can get a rebate from OWWA under its Rebate Program. Soon OWWA will come out with its implementing rules and regulation as its guide in implementing the Rebate Program. But to be sure, as an OFW, you must always keep records of your OWWA membership payments. Receipts or any document that will prove your membership to OWWA must be kept as proof that you are entitled to the Rebate Program. Nevertheless, migrant organizations are still calling for lifetime membership with OWWA.

The one-stop service center
There is now a one-stop center located on the ground floor of the POEA building in Ortigas Avenue. This center pooled together the documentation services of all government agencies  involved in the processing of papers of OFWs. All the clearances needed should already be there, like the NBI, PRC, immigration, etc. There is no need for an OFW to shuttle between one government office to another just to secure clearances and related requirements.
As announced by President Duterte and announced by Sec. Bello of DOLE, all processing of papers must be finished within 72 hour or within three days. So it is now your right to demand that the processing of papers in the premises of POEA must be finished within the said period. You need to assert this as you process your papers.

Medical assistance
Former OWWA administrator Rebecca Calzado explained when this concern on health was raised that there is already a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between OWWA and Philhealth. This was so because when Philhealth was established in 2005, the Medicare program of OWWA was transferred to Philhealth.  Calzado said that they are just awaiting the signing of the MOU by Philhealth for OWWA to implement the medical assistance program. In the said MOU, OWWA will release an amount equivalent to that released by Philhealth. For example, if Philhealth released a medical assistance of Php30,000, OWWA will also release the same amount to assist an OFW who needs medical financial assistance. The maximum amount that OWWA can give is Php50,000.
But again, this still awaits  the signing of the MOU by Philhealth. Furthermore, do note that priority will be given to those with serious illness like cancer, those needing dialysis,  and the likes.

Increase in MAW and food allowance
While this does not relate to the Philippine government, OFWs should know that the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) of all foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong was increased by HK$100 per month starting Oct. 15. But only new contract or re-contract will benefit from this. The food allowance was likewise increased by HK$42 every month. All those with existing employment contracts shall get will get the salary stated in their contract and not automatically the new MAW.
You have to congratulate yourselves in attaining these new benefits. Though there are still unheeded demands, this is nevertheless a good start. But always remember that your rights, the reforms that you are benefiting from now, are attributed to your firm, well-founded and persistent actions in winning your campaign for rights you truly deserve.

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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.

Migrants say salary hike ‘disappointing’

The minimum monthly salary for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong has risen to $4,310 a month, an increase of just $100.

The salary increase, which was announced by the Hong Kong government late on Sept. 30, was met with dismay by migrants groups, led by United Filipinos – Migrante Hong Kong.

Unifil chair Dolores Balladares said the pay hike was disappointing, as workers had been calling for a $5,000 monthly salary, up from $4,210, to be more realistic.

“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,”  Balladares told The SUN.

 “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.

She added that her group will continue to press for a pay hike despite the decision.

Under the standard employment contract for hiring FDHs, employers are required to provide helpers with free food, or pay a food allowance. This allowance, previously pegged at $995 a month, will now rise to $1,037.

The new wage and food allowance levels apply to all contracts signed on or after Oct 1.
According to a government statement, the new pay levels were set in line with Hong Kong’s economic and labor market situations in the past year, as reflected in a “basket of economic indicators, including income movement and price change”.

The statement also said the government also tried to strike a balance between affordability for employers and the livelihood of FDHs.

Contracts signed before Oct 1 or earlier at the previous wage level 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. – with a report from Vir B. Lumicao

Diary ba ang Facebook?

Malungkot, masaya, galit, gutom, busog…lahat ng emosyon at nararamdaman ay naka post sa status ni Sophia. Kung ano ang ulam, saan at ano kakainin may selfie. Nakakatuwa kung minsan ngunit nakakasawa madalas.

Yan ang kantiyaw sa kanya ng mga barkada niya. Biro nga ng iba sa kanya, hindi na raw kailangan pang kumustahin si Sophia dahil pagbukas pa lang ng fb ay status na niya ang bubulaga sa iyo. Hindi rin lahat ay natutuwa sa kanya, may mga ilang fb friends ding naiirita sa walang sawang post niya ng status at selfie.

Kung minsan nga ay ina-unfollow siya ng ilan at kung minsan ay may nag-a unfriend na rin. Tila hindi buo ang araw ni Sophia kapag di nakakapag facebook. Kung minsan kahit sa banyo ay sumasalisi pa rin para mag-check ng kanyang status, at masayang masaya siya kapag nakikita niyang maraming like ang kanyang post.

Kung minsan ay inaaway din siya dahil sa nga shared post niya na taliwas sa paniniwala ng iba. Pero hindi niya ito inuurungan. Mas lalong maraming nakakapansin sa kanya, mas nagugustuhan niya.

Biro ng kanyang kapatid, hindi daw diary ang facebook, at sa pasko ay diary daw ang ireregalo nito sa kapatid para di na niya ipangalandakan sa buong mundo ang kanyang saloobin.

Napansin din ito ng kanyang amo dahil minsan ay sinabi nito kay Sophia na kahit hindi niya naiintindihan karaniwan ang post nito ay napapansin daw na madalas siyang online. Mabuti na lang at mabait ang amo ni Sophia at di siya pinagbabawalan basta tapos na lahat ng kanyang gawain sa bahay. –Jo Campos

Kapag walanghiya ang natulungan

Sising sisi ngayon si Stella sa ginawang pagtulong sa girlfriend ng kanyang pinsan para makapunta ito sa Hong Kong. Imbes kasi tumanaw ng utang na loob ay ito pa ang naging dahilan ng pagkasira ng magandang relasyon nilang magpinsan.

Ayon kay Stella na beterana na sa Hong Kong, ilang buwan pa lang dito ang kanyang hilaw na hipag na si Divina ay mataas na agad ang lipad nito. Sinubukan daw niya itong pagsabihan na huwag masyadong mag facebook dahil bago pa lamang sa among Intsik ngunit hindi siya sinunod. Sa halip ay isinumbong nito sa nobyo na agad namang kumampi sa bagong dating.

Hindi makapaniwala si Stella na siya pa ang lalabas na masama dahil sa kagustuhan niyang makatulong.

Ang hindi niya kasi matanggap ay ang ginawang pagmamalaki ni Divina na lihim niyang nilagyan ng regla ang ginawang sopas para sa amo para diumano mapaamo niya ito. Galit na galit si Stella dahil alam niyang labag sa batas ang ganitong gawain dahil minsan na ring may nakulong na Indonesian ng dahil dito.

Ang isa pang dahilan ng kanyang pagsesermon dito ay iyong lihim na pagkuha nito ng larawan ng among natutulog sa kanilang silid tulugan. Hindi dapat gawin yun ng isang matinong kasambahay, sabi ni Stella, ngunit galit ang ginanti ni Divina.

Ang hindi pa niya alam, habang ginagawan nito ng kawalanghiyaan ang among Intsik ay naghahanap na ito ng ibang lilipatan. Nang makahanap ng among puti ay tuluyan na nitong siniraan si Stella sa pinsan.

Sa galit ay gusto na sanang isumbong ni Stella si Divina sa dating amo, ngunit nanaig pa rin ang awa niya dito. Baka daw kasi makasuhan si Divina at makulong, at hindi na muling makapagtrabaho sa Hong Kong.

Ang ginawa niya ay blinock na lang sa Facebook ang hilaw na hipag para hindi niya laging nakikita sa mga post at nang matahimik na siya. Si Stella ay mula sa Cagayan Valley at kasalukuyang nakatira sa New Territories.— Marites Palma