HK Pinoy art in ‘Halo Halo’ exhibit

Some of the works in  the ‘Halo Halo’ exhibit.

By William Elvin 

From September 23 to 25, The Hive Studios in Kennedy Town hosted an art exhibit that had no thematic thread other than what was promised in the title: a hodgepodge, or “halo-halo”, of different artistic styles, influences, and intentions.

The five artists who put together their own show through the help of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association – Hong Kong all came from different backgrounds. Supported by the confidence of two art veterans Aaron Pormarejo and Manuel “Boyet” Sabido, the works of new contemporary artists Pats Angco, Jason Siao, and JL Timbreza-Siao had fit in perfectly in the gallery’s mix.

Pormarejo’s artistic rendering of the city as a concrete jungle in his series “Hong Kong Apartment Series” is the most relevant in the gallery.

The urban life in Hong Kong, with all the stress and chaos that goes with it, is presented through frames of abstract paintings that clearly illustrate the artist’s point of view.

The works of Sabido and Angco can be viewed from the same lens. They both presented beautifully detailed drawn pictures of nature’s most exquisite creatures and creations.

The way they portray the subjects is the main element that differentiates their craft. While Sabido paints his wild animals and nature scenes with a tone and color palette that suggests serenity, Angco presents his images with sharper colors and edgier details that suggest a more hostile environment in his paintings’ realism.

Jason Siao displayed his fascinating talent in composing pictures inspired by the works of impressionist painters of the 19th Century.

Though still finding his own voice as an artist, Siao is already exhibiting his special visual and creative skills that will make any art enthusiast excited for more.

JL Timbreza-Siao provided the most entertaining corner of the gallery with her series entitled “Death by Dessert”. The colorful, pop-art inspired frames feature ants drowning in delicious looking pastries, ice cream, and chocolate. The images successfully illustrate a juxtaposition of pleasure and pain in a deceptively light-hearted manner.

For more information about the new art group, visit www.halohalo.visualspate. com, or like their Facebook page www.facebook.com/halohalohk2016.

A task too risky

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

When a foreign domestic helper falls to her death from a height, police and employers often say it's suicide.

Relatives of the worker, on the other hand, almost always suspect foul play.

With Rinalyn Dulluog's unfortunate passing on Aug. 9, however, it now appears some of those deaths may have happened due to some other cause.

Police say Rinalyn fell while cleaning windows.

This is a task long considered as mundane by many, including the helpers themselves, but as Rinalyn's death showed, it is not. Far from it.

It is, in fact, almost criminal to demand that helpers clean windows not secured by grills in high-rise flats, whether from the inside or out.

In Rinalyn's case, she fell 49 floors to her death. Surely, someone ought to take the blame for exposing her to such a hazardous chore.

It was just right that Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre decided, in the face of Hong Kong labor officials' initial refusal to recognize the danger, to take matters into his own hands.

He decreed that by October 15, all employment contracts for Filipino domestic helpers should have the "Rinalyn exclusion", which provides that  employers should not make the worker clean window exteriors.

The clause was supposed to state, "For safety purposes, cleaning the exterior of windows is not part of the domestic helper's duties."

For all its claims to being a liberal state, Hong Kong, along with many of its people, reacted with alarm to the prohibition, which should have been part of the domestic helpers' contracts in the first place.

Radio talk shows which discussed the proposed ban were flooded with calls from irate employers.
Not a few were indignant because a Philippine official dared impose a requirement on the hiring of its nationals. The argument was that this unilateral act contravened Hong Kong's right to enact its own laws.

Lost in the flood of angry comments were some sound counter-arguments like, the Philippines is a sovereign state that has the obligation to protect its own citizens.

International laws also provide strict guidelines on how such a high-risk task should be delegated, and Hong Kong was clearly not compliant.

But the bottom line is, local employers can always go hire a maid from some other country if they think the Philippines was being unreasonable when it imposed this exclusion.

At least one employer dared say that she would not have hired a maid who could not be told to clean windows.  "So I'm meant to clean the windows while my maid just sits there to watch?," she asked indignantly.

Luckily, Hong Kong was not swayed by the negative comments, and in the biggest surprise of all, asked to meet with Philippine consulate officials to discuss the issue.

Both sides eventually agreed to hold off implementing Labatt's order while they consulted with affected parties on the draft exclusion. But the message was clear: an exclusion of some sort is in the offing.

Rinalyn did not die in vain, after all.

Pinanindigan ang totoo

Hindi natakot masisante si Ana nang ipinagtanggol ang kapwa Pinay sa maling paratang na sinuntok nito ang alagang bata. Nandoon kasi siya sa playroom kung saan pinagbintangan ang Pinay na si Joy na sinuntok nito ang alagang salbahe kaya alam niyang hindi totoo ito.

Nasindak na lang silang lahat sa playroom nang biglang sinugod si Joy ng mga magulang at lola ng bata, at dinuro-duro ang Pilipina. Agad ipinagtanggol ni Ana si Joy sa mga sumugod at sinabing hindi totoo ang paratang ng bata.

Magkatabi silang nakaupo noon ni Joy at pinanonood ang mga bata, nang biglang mag-alburuto ang alaga nito at tumakbong palabas papunta sa nanay nito na naglalaro ng bowling sa loob din ng clubhouse.

Hindi naman nagpaawat ang mag-asawang Intsik. Pagkatapos minura-mura si Ana ay nagtawag pa sila ng mga guard sa clubhouse upang i-report ang pinaniniwalaang sumbong ng kanilang malditong anak. Habang nagkakagulo sila ay umuwi na si Ana sa kanilang bahay, at saka nagsumbong sa among lalaki.

Sinabi ng amo na dapat tinawagan siya agad noong oras na kinakastigo siya para mayroong nagtanggol sa kanya. Maya-maya ay may nag-doorbell na pulis sa kanilang bahay, at sinabing gusto siyang kausapin tungkol sa inihaing reklamo laban sa kanya.

Pinayuhan siya ng amo na humarap sa mga pulis at sabihin kung ano ang totoong nangyari. Dahil sa suporta ng kanyang amo ay tumibay ang kagustuhan ni Ana na ipaglaban ang katotoohanan. Hindi siya natatakot dahil may CCTV naman sa loob ng clubhouse, at alam niyang iyon ang magpapatunay ng katotohanan.

Sa kabila nito ay may agam-agam din si Ana dahil noong una ay pinayuhan siya ng mga amo na sabihin na niya sa mga pulis na sinaktan nga ni Joy ang alaga pero hindi siya pumayag. Sa harapan ng pulis at mga amo, pinagpilitan niyang hindi totoo ang paratang tungkol sa kapwa niya Pinay.

Pagkatapos silang kausapin ay saka pinanood ng mga pulis ang CCTV at napatunayan nilang nagsasabi ng totoo ang mga Pilipina.

Nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Ana dahil kahit sinuway niya ang utos ng mga amo ay hindi siya sinesante. Kinaumagahan ay nagkita ang dalawa sa playroom at nagpasalamat si Joy sa pagtatanggol ni Ana sa kanya.

Nasambit ni Joy na may mga mapagmalasakit pa rin palang mga kapwa Pinoy na handang ma-terminate para lamang maipaglaban ang katotohanan para sa isang kababayan.

Sina Joy at Ana ay parehong dalaga, at naninilbihan sa Tai Wai.—Marites Palma

Friends of Bethune House relives Pinoy games again

By Jo Campos 

One of the games featured: Luksong tinik.

Traditional Filipino games such as sungka, luksong tinik, bunong braso, sipa, patintero and basagan ng palayok again highlighted the annual Palarong Pinoy organized by Friends of Bethune House and held on Oct 16 at bus 13 terminus in Central.

The annual celebration which  started in 1997 aims to preserve and focus on Philippine culture by organizing games most Filipinos grew up with.It's also an attempt to bring back the days when life was simpler,, and kids actually played together, instead of spending  much of their time in front of electronic gadgets.

The FBH games also serve to symbolize friendship and camaraderie among Filipino migrant workers and other individuals who joined the event.

FBH, which was founded 23 years ago, is pledged to support Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge by organising fund raising and solicitation campaigns for the shelter. - JC

A night of movie music from musicians’ union

The performers of HKMU's 'Songs from the Silver Screen' bow out at end of the concert.

The Hong Kong Musicians’ Union (HKMU) presented the second of its yearly showcase entitled “Songs from the Silver Screen”, on Oct 5 at Sheung Wan Civic Centre.

The show featured seasoned singers and musicians from Hong Kong performing classics from favorite Hollywood productions, and also from Hong Kong movie soundtracks.

The show opened with the band’s performance of the iconic James Bond Main Theme which flows to Jozy Patricio’s rendition of Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ from the 007 movie of the same title. The ballad ‘Do You Know Where You’re Going To?’ from ‘Mahogany’ came next, sung by Joana Westbrook.
The audience was then treated to a disco-nostalgia segment by Joseph Manigos, as he sang and danced his way through ‘How Deep Is Your Love?’ and ‘Stayin’ Alive’ from ‘Saturday Night Fever’.

The show’s rhythm comfortably slowed down again as Marlyn Hazelton sang ‘Colors of the Wind’ from the Disney animation ‘Pocahontas’. Bong Galagar came up onstage to sing the duet ‘Up Where We Belong’ from ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ with Hazelton, completing the show’s 4th segment.
“Waves” and ‘Moonlight Lover’ from Hong Kong productions ‘Tea in Summer’ and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ were also introduced to the audience by Cantopop singer Connie Hau Wai Ning. Danny Chin provided the show with another Chinese pop number with ‘Para Para Sakura’ from the movie of the same name.

Joana Westbrook returned onstage to pull the audience back to a more familiar number in ‘Sway’ from ‘Shall We Dance?’. Boyet Billones ended the first set with his performance of Jim Carrey’s ‘Cuban Pete’ from the comedy film ‘The Mask’.

Floro Senande led the band with his flute in opening up the second hour with an instrumental called ‘Building Bridges’, before turning the stage over to William Elvin’s delivery of ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight?’ from Disney’s ‘The Lion King’.

Jazz singer Lulu Calleja powered out her version of the themes from ‘To Sir With Love’ and ‘Alfie’ in the next segment before Bong Galagar brought the pace a bit slower with ‘Beautiful Maria of My Soul’ from ‘The Mambo Kings’.

Vicky Lawrence was up next with ‘There You’ll Be’ from ‘Pearl Harbor’. She was then joined by Jonathan Rebbeck on saxophone for another James Bond classic ‘Nobody Does It Better’ from ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’.

Michelle Carrillo treated the audience with jazzed up versions of ‘How Do You Keep The Music Playin’?’ from ‘Best Friends’ and the ‘Green Dolphin Street’ theme, with Jim Schneider on keys.
The night of music ended with the performers rocking their way through The Manhattan Transfer’s theme from ‘Twilight Zone: The Movie’ and Jefferson Starship’s ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’ from ‘Mannequin’.

Australian migration forum held for teachers

By Gina N. Ordona

More than a hundred teachers working as foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong attended the Australian migration forum conducted at Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town on Oct. 9.
Resource speaker Mariano P. Carlota, a lawyer and registered migration agent from Down Under, talked through the migration assessments and requirements for teachers who wish to work and migrate in Australia.

According to Carlota, work experience as a teacher is not a compulsory requirement but the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership or AITSL requires a minimum of 45 days supervised teaching practice. In the Philippines, it is the equivalent of on-the job-training program which all education students must undertake in order to graduate.  AITSL is the assessing authority for school teacher occupations.

Carlota also explained that applicants must meet the English language proficiency criterion. All applicants must obtain a score of at least 7.0 in reading and writing, and a score of at least 8.0 for speaking and listening.

After receiving the skills assessment certificate, valid for two years, one can then apply for registration with the teacher regulatory authority in the state or territory that one intends to teach.
Early education teachers may contact Australian children’s education and care quality authority to obtain pre-employment assessment.

For employment opportunities, one may contact education employers or visit leading job sites such as Seek, Jobbydoo or MyCareer.

The cost of AITSL skill assessment is AUD 635. AITSL does not provide fast tract assessment service but it processes application within 10 days.

The forum was an initiative of Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

Filguys marks 10th anniversary

Filguys officers take their oath of office before Mission general manager Cynthia Tellez

Filguys Gabriela HK celebrated its 10th anniversary on Oct 16 by holding a costume party on Chater Road, Central.

The celebrations was centered on a theme of unity and advancement of their progressive cause.  Filguys, one of the first Filipino lesbian progressive organizations in Hong Kong, was founded on October 8, 2006.

Cynthia Tellez of the Mission for Migrant Workers officiated the oath taking of the newly elected members and was also the guest speaker of the event. Taking their oath before her were Mhae Longao,, chairperson; Ian Bojo, vice chair;  Bernadette Villa, secretary; Maribeth Villa, deputy secretary; Liliani Del Rosario, treasurer;  Simon Abeza, auditor; Brenda Santiago. PRO; Cynthia Tellez and Teresa de Asis, advisers.
— Jo Campos

Biyaya katapat ng bagyong nagdaan

Winasak ng mabangis na bagyong Lawin ang ibang parte ng bahay nila Jocelyn sa Solana Cagayan, kung saan mismo humampas ang delubyong umabot sa signal no 5 ang lakas. Napanood ng amo niya sa telebisyon ang hagupit ng bagyo kaya kinamusta kay Jocelyn ang lagay ng kanyang pamilya.

Mabilis niyang sinabi na doon mismo sa bayan nila nag “landfall” ang bagyo kaya maraming bahay ang nawalan ng bubong, kabilang ang sa kanila, at pati ang sa mga kapatid niya. Naantig ang damdamin ng amo at agad siyang binigyan ng $7,000 para makapagpadala daw siya kaagad ng pera at maayos ang bahay nila.

Lumuluhang nagpasalamat si Jocelyn sa mabait na amo. Bagama’t kapipirma lang niya sa pangalawang kontrata sa amo ay nakita niya agad ang malasakit nito. Mabait din naman kasi si Jocelyn sa mga amo at lalo na sa dalawang batang alaga niya. Maasikaso siya sa kanila, masipag at mapagkakatiwalaan kaya biniyayaan din siya sa panahong nangangailangan siya.

Dito lalong naniwala si Jocelyn na walang pagsubok na ibinibigay ang Diyos na hindi natin kayang harapin. Huwag lamang tayong mawalan ng tiwala.

Si Jocelyn ay isang dalaga, kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa mga Intsik na pamilya sa Tai Wai. – Marites Palma

High Court jury set to rule on gruesome killings of two Indonesians

A jury has started deliberating on the case of British investment banker Rurik Jutting who was on trial for murder at the Court of First Instance for killing two Indonesian women in 2014.

A verdict could come as early as Monday

Both the prosecutor and the defense finished summing up their arguments on Friday after nine days of trial, and Justice Michael Stuart-Moore instructed the jury to discuss the case and return a verdict.

In his closing speech, prosecutor John Reading urged the nine-man jury to return a guilty verdict for murder, saying that while Jutting may have lost control of himself due to abuse of cocaine and alcohol, “he acted rationally and calmly during the murders.”

The prosecutor told the jury comprising six men and three women that their sympathy should be with the families of the victims and not Jutting.

Reading spoke after the defense closed its arguments on the gruesome double murder case that shocked people in and outside reputedly safe Hong Kong.

According to Reading, the defendant showed he had the ability to form judgments and exercise self-control as he cut the throat of one of his victims.

During the trial, the jurors were shown Jutting’s iPhone video recordings of himself describing how he killed 23-year-old Sumarti Ningsih in his Wan Chai flat in November 2014 after torturing her for three days.

The woman’s body, with her head almost severed, was wrapped in a blanket and stashed in a suitcase found on the ledge of Jutting’s flat.

The body of his second victim, Seneng Mujiasih, 26, was found three days earlier.

In the video recording, Jutting showed the tools he used in the torture and killing that included a hammer, blowtorch, and pliers.

Reading said defense psychiatrist Dr Latham’s conclusion that Jutting had lost control due to his addiction to alcohol and cocaine, as well as his narcissistic personality disorder and sexual sadism, were not sufficient bases to downgrade the killings to manslaughter.

Reading said Jutting “wasn’t substantially impaired” as the defense claimed. He took cocaine to gain “dutch courage”, and looked and sounded calm in the videos, and even made an overseas call to his mother in Surrey, England, after the killings.

Jutting pleaded not guilty to murder at the opening of his trial on Oct. 24, but admitted  manslaughter due to an impaired sense of responsibility.”

His defense lawyer, barrister Tim Owen QC, told the court that Jutting had been in highly stressful jobs that caused him to gradually spiral out of control before the killings.

Owen described his client as feeling very stressed after he was involved in selling a financial product for Bank of America- Merrill Lynch that came under regulatory investigation in Britain in 2012.

At the time Jutting, a vice president and head of the bank’s Structured Equity Finance and Trading (Asia) for the bank, was asked by his boss to do something to protect the reputation of the bank, Owen said.

He said Jutting got emotional, often skipped work, and was eventually transferred to Hong Kong in 2013.

The case resumes at the High Court on Monday – Vir B. Lumicao 

Elderly ex-DH loses asylum bid, gets suspended jail term

Entrance to the Shatin court building,

 A septuagenarian who overstayed for nearly a month in Hong Kong has been sentenced to two weeks in jail, suspended for three years, after failing to gain asylum here.

Modesta Cerdana, 70, received a lenient sentence on Nov 3 from Shatin Magistrate Andrew Ma, who said the former domestic helper should have been jailed for repeating an offense for which she was convicted 20 years ago.

The magistrate gave Cerdana, who was unrepresented by a lawyer, extra time to make up her mind after she pleaded not guilty to the charge of breaching her condition of stay for overstaying. 

The prosecution charged that the woman, who arrived in Hong Kong as a tourist and was allowed to stay until Aug 23, overstayed her visa and surrendered to the Immigration Department on Sept 20.  “You surrendered to the Immigration authorities on Sept 20 for overstaying, but now you pleaded not guilty. Why, what’s your reason?” Magistrate Ma asked.

“When I surrendered I told Immigration that I can’t go home. My life is threatened because I testified against a school principal,” Cerdana said.

The prosecutor told Ma that Cerdana had applied for asylum, on the ground that she faces torture if sent home, but the immigration officer who handled her case said her application could not meet the minimum criteria.

Ma gave the woman 30 minutes to think over her plea, then called her back to the dock.

“When you were outside the courtroom you were talking to another person. Who was that person?” the magistrate asked. 

Cerdana pointed to the male interpreter and the magistrate asked the man to come nearer.

Ma asked if he was new on the job and cautioned him not to talk to a litigant outside the courtroom, then let him go.

The magistrate then asked Cerdana what her plea was this time and she replied “guilty.”

The prosecutor told Ma the woman had a previous, similar conviction for overstaying 20 years ago when she first came to Hong Kong as a domestic worker.

Ma asked Cerdana if she could say anything in mitigation and she repeated her claim of a threat back home that forced her to return to Hong Kong.

“Usually I should send you directly to jail for repeating the offense after 20 years, but I am giving you another chance,” said the magistrate, then meted the woman a two-week sentence which would put her in jail only if she commits a crime within the next three years.

Pamilya pa rin ang importante

Sobrang pasasalamat ni Jocelyn dahil bumalik na sa kanilang mag-iina ang kanyang asawa na nang-iwan sa kanila ng anim na taon, kahit pinabayaan sila nito dati dahil may kinalolokohan palang ibang babae.

Maliliit pa ang kanyang mga anak noong iniwan sila ng asawa, kaya malaking hirap ang dinanas ni Jocelyn. Ganoon pa man ay nagtiis siya at itinuon ang atensyon sa pagpapaaral sa mga anak.

Nagkasabay-sabay pa ang problema niya sa mga magulang dahil nagkasakit noon ang kanyang inay at di naglaon ay sumakabilang buhay, kaya ang tatay niya ang naging taga pag-alaga sa dalawa niyang anak.

Dumating ang panahong nahihirapan na ang kanyang tatay na mag-alaga sa kanyang mga anak kung kaya’t inuwi nito ang kanyang kasintahan sa kanilang bahay para sana makatulong sa pag-aalaga sa mga anak ni Jocelyn. Ngunit imbes na makakatulong sana ang ka live-in ng tatay niya ay naging pabigat pa ito sa kanila.

Ayon sa mga anak at kapatid niya ay ang tatay niya ang nagtatrabaho sa bahay, at tuwing may padala siyang door-to-door box ay agad itinatago ng kanyang madrasta ang mga tsokolate, de lata o ano pang magustuhan nito. Feeling daw nito ay sa kanya ang mga padala.

Dahil sa sumbong ay agad na kinausap ni Jocelyn ang ama at pinamili sa kanilang dalawa ng kinakasama nito. Nagising sa katotohanan ang ama at pinaalis ang babaeng mapagsamantala, kaya naging masaya ulit ang kanilang bahay.

Hirap man sa mga gastusin ay itinaguyod niya ang pag-aaral ng mga anak. Mabuti na lang at matatalino at responsable ang kanyang mga anak. Nagtapos na valedictorian sa elementarya ang bunso niyang anak, at ngayon ay isang full scholar sa pribadong paaralan ng sekundarya sa kanilang bayan.

Minsang nagbakasyon siya ay nakipagkita ang kanyang asawa at kinausap niya na pumirma sa isang kasunduan na maghihiwalay na sila para makapag-asawa na daw sila sa taong gusto nila. Isang sampal kay Jocelyn ang tinuran ng asawa; mabuti na lang at namagitan ang kanyang mga biyenan at nagsabing hindi sila payag sa kalokohan ng kanilang anak.

Bumalik siya sa Hong Kong na masama ang loob. Pilit niyang kinalimutan ang taksil na asawa, pero nagpasyang hindi ibabaling sa iba ang kanyang pagtingin. Mabuti na lang at mababait ang kanyang mga among Singaporean sa Hong Kong kaya kahit paano ay kalmado pa rin ang kanyang isip.

Kadalasan ay dinadala siya ng mga amo sa Singapore, at may sinalihan din siyang asosasyon, kaya nalilibang din siya. Pagtuntong sa kolehiyo at high school ay biglang nagpahiwatig ang asawa na gusto nitong bumalik sa kanilang mag-iina. Nakapasok daw ito bilang Presidential Security Guard at pinayuhan ng mga kasama na bigyang halaga ang kanyang pamilya dahil ito ang hindi mang-iiwan sa kanya sa panahon ng kahirapan.

Niligawan nito ulit si Jocelyn na hindi naman nagpakipot pa dahil mula sa kaibuturan ng kanyang puso ay mahal na mahal pa rin niya ang kanyang guwapong mister. Sa ngayon ay maayos na muli ang kanilang pamilya, bagay na ikinasaya ng kanyang mga anak, lalong lalo na si Jocelyn.

Napapangiti na lamang siya kung maalala niya mga mapait nilang nakaraan. Payo niya sa kapwa Pinay, na kahit gaano man kabigat ang problema ay huwag silang bibitaw sa Panginoon. Si Jocelyn ay tubong Isabela at kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa Causeway Bay.- Marites Palma

DH accuses male boss of rape, indecent assaults

By Vir B. Lumicao

The alleged rape is being investigated by Shatin Police

Police have filed preliminary charges against a man who allegedly raped his Filipina domestic worker on Oct. 19. Before this, the accused had allegedly assaulted the maid indecently in his flat in Shatin for two months.

The Police Public Relations Bureau supplied a brief report on the incident to The SUN which made inquiries following reports that a newly arrived Filipina was raped by her employer in Tai Wai late last month.

“Police received a report from a 27-year-old woman on Oct 22, 2016 that she had been indecently assaulted since August 2016 and raped on Oct 19, 2016 in Shatin area,” a PPRB duty officer said.

The officer said a 45-year-old man was arrested on Oct 22 but released on police bail and required to report back in late November.

The case was classified as “alleged indecent assault” and “alleged rape”, the officer said.

The Consulate says it is assisting the victim.

According to Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr. of the assistance to nationals section, the victim had kept quiet about the alleged sexual attacks even when her female employer noticed she was distraught and asked her what was wrong.

“Sensing that the worker had a weighty problem, the female employer advised the victim to see her two sisters, who are also domestic workers in Hong Kong, and tell them what was causing her distress,” said Cayabyab.

On Oct 22, the victim did visit one of her sisters and told her about her ordeal.

“It was the employer of her sister who accompanied the victim to the police to report the crime,” said Cayabyab.

That same day, officers went to the employer’s flat and arrested the suspect, he said.

The PPRB said the case as being investigated by the District Crime Squad of Shatin.

Meanwhile, there have been rumors circulating on social media about another Filipina maid being raped around Oct 26 by her male employer in a flat in Festival City, Tai Wai. According to the reports, the suspect’s wife paid the victim the equivalent of two years’ salary and sent her back to the Philippines.

Consulate officials, however, say they have not received any report about the alleged incident.

First civil service exam in HK set for Nov 27 in 3 sites

By Vir B. Lumicao  

3,000 Filipinos are expected to take the test in HK

The first-ever Civil Service Examinations for Filipinos in Hong Kong is likely to push through on Nov 27, as three venues have been picked by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to accommodate the estimated 3,000 examinees.

The registration for examinees is expected to start soon after the Civil Service Commission meets tomorrow to fix the date of the examination.

Labor Attaché Jalilo de la Torre told The SUN initial talks have already been made with three planned venues: the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai, Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo in Kwun Tong, and Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town.

The Bayanihan Centre may be one of the venues

But he said the booking of the venues would be finalized only after the CSC meeting tomorrow.

“We have enough seats already. We’re just waiting for word from the CSC,” he said today.

“Those three sites should be able to accommodate the examinees. The Convention Centre hall will take in 950, and the rest will be divided between Delia and Bayanihan,” he said.

POLO had earlier re-set the examination to Dec 18, when the event was put on the waitlist for a hall at the Convention Centre.  But Labatt de la Torre said the December date was just an alternative if a venue was not found for Nov 27.

Finding a place big enough to host such a large crowd of examinees had been a challenge.

One site also targeted by POLO, the AsiaWorld Centre at the Hong Kong International Airport, was likewise booked for another event. Besides, the rental cost for the AsiaWorld venue was deemed prohibitive, at $1 million per day.

To register, one must go to the CSC website:  http://www.csc.gov.ph// then look for a page in its “Our Services” section called “Processing of Exam Applications”. There,  interested parties can choose either “Paper and Pencil Test” or “Computerized Examination”.

The “Computerized Examination” (COMEX) sub-page has a step-by-step tutorial on how to take the online examination and the requirements, but is not yet hyperlinked or still inactive, but Labatt De la Torre said it would be linked after the meeting on Thursday.

“They will activate it as soon as the CSC decides tomorrow,” he said.

PAOS may soon be outsourced to NGOs

ATN (Assistance to Nationals) officer Hermogenes "Junie" Cayabyab tells newly arrived OFWs their duties, rights and what to avoid as they begin their employment in Hong Kong as domestic workers. The post-arrival orientation seminar was held at the PLO annex public hall on the 16th floor of Admiralty Centre Tower 1 after more than 600 people registered for the event.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Newly arrived Filipino domestic workers are likely to be directed to non-government organizations for their post-arrival orientation seminars, or PAOS, in the near future, according to Labor Attaché Jalilo de la Torre.

He disclosed the plan on Oct. 19, after the Philippine Overseas Labor Office held the briefing for what may yet be the biggest group of newly arrived OFWs the previous Sunday, Oct 16.

“We’re planning to outsource the PAOS to the NGOs,” Labatt De la Torre told The SUN, adding that POLO lacks the manpower to handle the required three- or four-hour briefing for newcomers.

He said preliminary talks had already been held on Oct 17 with the heads of groups comprising the Coalition of Service Providers for Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong, or CSPEM.

Those who met with him were  Adrielle M. Panares of ISS Hong Kong, Sister M. Felicitas Nisperos, RGS, of Caritas Catholic Centre; Cynthia Abdon-Tellez of Mission for Migrant Workers, Edwina Antonio of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge and Pastor Dan Borlado of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Hong Kong.

The labor attaché said another meeting to finalize the plan was delayed because Panares had to fly home because of an emergency.

Some 180 participants showed up for the PAOS on Oct 16, which had to be moved to POLO’s public hall on the 16th floor of Admiralty Centre because it was the only place in the office big enough for them.

“Actually, 630 people had signed up for this PAOS but we don’t expect all of them to show up today,” said a volunteer who helped usher in the crowd in for the orientation.

In previous months, the seminar was held in the 11th floor conference room because fewer than 100 people attended each time.

The big crowd in the last session competed for space on the 16th floor, with those lining up for other transactions such as contract renewals and applications for the overseas employment certificate exemption slips.

The chatter of workers with transactions at the counters at times drowned out the voices of PAOS speakers.

One of them was Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section who gave a briefing on what to do,and avoid doing, in Hong Kong.

His must-do list included keeping the trust of employers by being honest and reliable, as well as learning to adjust to the local culture. The big no-nos were avoiding debt, scams and illegal recruitment.

“While you are here, save your earnings, avoid overspending and debt so that you’ll have money when you finally return to your families,” Cayabyab said.

The other speakers were from the Hong Kong Labour Department  who discussed work safety and the rights of workers under the law.

Napahiya ang ateng mahadera

Nakasakay si Jay sa MTR isang araw ng Linggo para makipagkita sa kanyang mga kaibigan sa Tin Hau. Galing siya noon sa Central at nakaupo naman agad siya bago mapuno ang train. Pagdating sa Admiralty Station, may sumakay na isang babaeng nasa 60 anyos at maraming dalang pinamili. Nakapustura ito at mamahalin ang bag, na kung titignan ay isang tipikal na Intsik, pati na ang pananamit at itsura nito.

Dahil puno na at siksikan na sa train, tumayo si Jay at ibinigay ang kanyang upuan sa babae na sa harap niya tumayo. Ngumiti lang ito ay nag-thank you sa kanya.

Maya-maya, isang Pinay na katabi niya ang matabil na nagsalita kay Jay na bakit daw niya pinaupo ang babaeng iyon. Sabi naman ni Jay, okay lang dahil malapit lang naman ang bababaan niya at kawawa naman ang matanda dahil maraming bitbit. Umismid pa ang Pinay na nagtanong kay Jay at sinabing wala naman daw utang na loob ang mga Intsik na yan.

Hindi na pinansin ni Jay ang mahaderang Pinay at tinalikuran niya ito. Nakahanap naman ng ibang kausap na umayon pa sa kanya ang isa pang Pinay. Kung ano-anong mga salita ang kanilang sinasabi tungkol sa mga Intsik.

Nagulat silang lahat nang biglang nagsalita ang akala nila Intsik na babae at sinabi sa kanilang mag-ingat sila sa mga pananalita nila dahil naiintindihan niya ang mga masasamang sinasabi ng mga ito. Pilipina pala ang matandang babae at binigyan sila ng leksyon sa kagandahang asal.

Tila namutla si ateng mahadera dahil hindi ito makakibo habang sinasabi ng matandang babae na hindi magandang ehemplo para sa mga Pinay ang kanilang ugali dahil nadadamay ang mga may mabubuting asal sa mga gaya nilang walang modo. Bago bumaba sa Causeway Bay Station ang matanda ay ngumiti at tinapik nito si Jay sa balikat at nagpasalamat muli sa kanya sabay irap sa dalawang mahaderang Pinay. –Jo Campos

Fate coach picked as HK batting champ

Filipina softball player Zenny Badajos of Team Fate has been named the batting champion of the Women’s B group in the 2015-2016 season of the Hong Kong softball open league.

The former UP Diliman varsity and Philippine National Team player averaged 0.786 to beat the best sluggers from eight local teams that Fate fought for league honors last season.

She beat her closest rival, local player Pang Wai-ting of Villas, who finished with a 0.727. Flora Cheung of Red Castle Infinity was third at 0.688.

Badajos, a domestic worker like her teammates in Fate, said she did not expect to be the champion.

“It was really unexpected. It was based on the performance statistics that they (Hong Kong Baseball Association) collected last season,” said the 30-year-old player who had been playing for both Fate A and Fate B for the past year.

“I did not expect my batting average to be high. I just played, did my best, enjoyed the game and loved my softball.”

When team manager Law Wai-ho decided to have two teams for Fate after the 2014-2015 season, team captain Don Gaborno asked Badajos to help her train the newcomers and get them ready for the season.

Then as the season got under way, Badajos was assigned to coach Fate B at the same time that she played for both teams.

Being a seasoned diamond warrior, Badajos also played for the all-Filipina baseball team Philippine Sluggers and helped it win the championship in the B league with consistent performance as batter and pitcher.

This season, Fate is back to being a single team as some players have left for other sports, leaving the side with just 17 players. This forced all players in the A team to return and beeef up the B team

Fate was fourth last season, and Badajos said the team is focusing on the existing players from the previous B team to hone their skills and strengthen them for next season, when there would be enough players to make two teams again.

“Our priority is to field the original B team members to improve their performance and be ready so that if we climb back next season to the A group, then our team, would be solid,” said Badajos.

Fate will be playing its first game of the season on Dec 25. The Filipinas expect to see fireworks on the playing field when they pick their bats once again.

FDH contracts to include window-cleaning restrictions

This is how window cleaning should be done, says Cheung

By Vir B. Lumicao

From Jan. 1 next year, all contracts of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong could include a provision restricting their window-cleaning duty. Such restriction could include requiring windows on floors above ground to be fitted with grilles, and for the employer or an adult representative to supervise the cleaning process

The text of the safety provision could be released as early as next Monday, Nov. 14, after employers’ groups and other interested parties are consulted.

The agreement on window-cleaning safety was struck during a meeting on Oct. 27 between Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung and the consuls general of the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand and other countries sending domestic workers to Hong Kong.

Consul General Bernardita Catalla told The SUN that Cheung had called the meeting and presented the Labour Department’s own version of a safety clause which was, in fact, much better than what other countries already had. 

Cheung told local media that the Labour Department would consult employer groups and employee associations this week to wrap up the whole thing.

“Our intention is to include (the) new clause in the standard employment contract issued by the Hong Kong Government. So, it is actually a government-led exercise in including a new clause in the agreement,” Cheung said.

Cheung said that the understanding was the window exteriors could be cleaned if the flat is on the ground floor or if there are corridors or safe balconies outside.

“(But) as far as other windows are concerned, they have got to have grilles fitted,” he said.

And even with the safety grilles, the helper should not extend any part of her body except for the arm outside of the window, and that “we require an adult or representative of their employers to be present in case there is anything that they need to help the helpers”.

Cheung added, “So, we are talking about providing really a safe environment, which is after all the responsibility of employers. At the same time, this will also ensure the interests of the employees and the employers as well. They will have the service of domestic helpers in cleaning windows in safe conditions.”

Catalla said Labour aims to produce something based on its agreement with the Philippines and, separately, with the employers and should there be a radical difference, the department would again present the proposal to the Consulate.

“Kung wala naman…ilalabas yung text of the provision by Nov 14,” Catalla said.

She explained that unlike the Consulate’s original proposal that the safety clause be added as a separate attachment to the contract, the provision will now be part of the contract itself.

“So, hindi lang Filipino workers but all foreign domestic workers, and maybe local workers, will benefit from that,” the consul general said.

She added that whatever would be agreed upon by all sectors concerned, the new safety clause should be in place by Jan 1. 

Duterte wants Marcos programs back

President Rodrigo Duterte plans to slowly resurrect the ‘Biyayang Dagat’ and ‘Masagana 99’ programs of the late dictator president Ferdinand Marcos.

“Gusto ko lamang po ‘yung idea ni Marcos. ‘Yung ‘Biyayang Dagat’ pati ‘Masagana 99,’ ibalik ko ‘yun. Kokopyahin ko,” Duterte told victims of typhoon ‘Lawin’(international name: Haima) that devastated the northern Luzon regions while he was away on a state visit to China.

The President praised Marcos as one of brightest leaders the Philippines had. “Bright ‘yung tao. Alam niya ‘yung gawin niya. So ibabalik ko ‘yun (fisheries and agriculture programs) dahan-dahan.”
 “‘Wag kayong ma-insulto, isa sa mga bright leaders natin si Marcos; sayang lang, nanghihinayang ako,” he told the crowd.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reported that amount of damage to agriculture from typhoon ‘Lawin’ has reached P10.2 billion, including some 467,068 hectares of agricultural lands, with an estimated production loss of 244,224 metric tons (MT).

Duterte led the distribution of relief goods in the province, where typhoon “Lawin” made landfall last week and destroyed houses, trees, and crops.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least eight persons were reported dead in the Cordillera Administrative Region(CAR) due to landslides brought by ‘Lawin’, which packed winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

The typhoon, which was reported to have the strength close to that of ‘Yolanda’ that battered and left about 6,000 people dead in Eastern Visayas in November 2013, flooded 118 villages in the four Northern Luzon regions and destroyed at least 1,327 houses.

Join PaStaran 2016
For this year’s Parol-Making contest, participating groups may register with the Philippine Consulate’s cultural section from Nov. 13- Dec. 11, 2016. No late registration will be accepted.
The prizes are as follows: $5,000 for the grand prize; $3,000 for the 2nd prize; $2,000 for the 3rd prize; and $1,000 for the 4th prize.
As before, all entries must comply with the following requirements:
1) The parol must be made of recyclable materials;
2) Should be no bigger than 0.8 x 1meter
3) The lights used should be powered by batteries
4) It should be “stand-alone” or come with its own stand;
5) Each group will be allowed to submit only 1 parol.
In addition, each group must submit a video explaining the concept for their entry. The video should be no longer than 2minutes and must be submitted to the PCG’s cultural section between Dec. 17 - 22, 2016.
All entries must be brought to Chater Garden by 4pm on Dec. 24 for the judging.
For more information, call 2823 8536 or email cultural_hk@yahoo.com

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

What's on where?

‘Picturing Hong Kong’ 

Xyza Bacani talks at Asia Society
Nov 2, 7pm
Asia Society Hong Kong Center, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty
Admission is FREE. Please register at: https://ticketing.asiasociety.org.hk

Mission’s Annual Charity Walk
Nov. 6, 4pm
Walk Route: Forum in Exchange Square (near the Carabao) – Bus 13 stop – subway-Chater Garden- HSBC- Prince’s Bldg-Chater Road
Organized by the Mission for Migrant Workers to raise funds for its basic services, primarily to help migrant workers of different nationalities who are in crisis situation
Cash donations may be sent directly to the following account:
Payee’s Name:  MFMW Limited
        Name of Bank:   Hang Seng Bank
        Address of Bank:   Head Office, 83 Des Voeux Road, Central, HK
        Bank Account Number:   210-116448-883
        Swift Code:   HASEHKHH
        Bank Code:   024
 Donations of HK$100 or more is tax deductible.
 Contacts: Cynthia or Buhay at 2522 8264 or 2522-8261

Idulog Mo Kay Atorni 4
(A free legal service by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines)
Nov. 12 (Saturday):
10am-4pm Legal Consultation
Nov 13 (Sunday)
9am-3pm Legal Consultation
3pm-4:40pm Legal Forum
Co-organized by the Philippine Consulate General and IBP
 To book an appointment, contact Cholo at 2823 8537 or Charlene at 2823 8511

Dance on the Floor 2nd Anniversary
Nov. 13, 12:30pm-6pm
Palladian International Dance Club,
9/F BCC Building, 25 Carnarvon Road , Tsimshatsui (MTR Exit D)
Fee of  $220 includes lunch and drink.

‘Money Wise Public Forum’
Nov. 20, PCG
2-4 pm Free Financial Consultation at Conference Room
4:30-6:30pm Forum Proper at Public Area
Organized by: Enrich HK
To register, email participant@enrichhk.org

UAAP Rambulan 2016
Nov 26, 11am
Repulse Bay Beach
All alumni of UP, Ateneo, La Salle and UST are invited to join day-long games all in the spirit of fun and camaraderie
For details, check out the FB invite page, Rambulan