Walang tiwala ang amo

Hindi makapaniwala si Magda nang malaman ang pag-trato sa kanyang kaibigang si Joana ng mga amo nitong Westerner na ka-building nila. Buong akala niya kasi ay maganda ang trato ng mga ito nito kay Joana dahil wala naman itong nakukuwento sa kanya kahit araw araw silang nagkakasama. Siya kasi ay hindi din naging ugali ang makinig sa kuwentuhan ng ibang mga kasambahay tungkol sa mga pangit na ugali ng kanilang mga amo.

Kaya ganoon na lang ang pagtataka ni Magda nang makita niya minsan si Joana na nakaupo sa ibaba ng building nila, bandang alas otso ng umaga. Alam niya na stay-out ito pero hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit hindi pa ito pumanhik sa bahay ng amo niya.

Nang tanungin niya, ganito ang naging sagot ni Joan, “Alam mo kaibigan, wala akong susi sa bahay ng mga amo ko. Nagdo-doorbell ako kapag pumapasok na ako sa bahay nila, at kapag paalis na sila ay saka ibibigay yung susi ng bahay. Pero oras na dumating sila sa hapon ay ini-intrega ko din kaagad ang iniwang susi sa akin. Hindi lang iyan, may camera pa sa lahat ng parte ng bahay. “

Idinagdag pa ni Joana ma masyadong istrikto ang mga amo pagdating sa pagkain ng batang alaga niya. Hindi niya ito puwedeng pakainin ng kung ano ano lang, at hindi rin puwedeng gamitan ng sabon kapag pinapaliguan.

Sobrang kuripot din ng mga ito dahil pati sa paglalaba ng mga damit nila ay kakaunting sabon lang ang ipinalalagay sa washing machine. Dahil bawal na gamitan niya ng dryer ang mga damit at isampay sa verandah para sana maarawan ay may kakaibang amoy ang mga ito. Sa kabila nito, ayaw pa rin siyang pagamitan ng dehumidifier para sana matanggal kahit paano ang amoy na nakulob. Tapos ay panay reklamo daw ang mga ito na mabaho ang mga damit nila.

Minsan naman ay pinaratangan siya ng kanyang amo na pinapakain niya ang kanyang alaga ng strawberry candy dahil may nakita ito na ganitong klase ng candy sa gulong ng pram ng kanyang alaga. Sa inis ni Joana ay sinabihan niya ang amo na alam niya ang patakaran nila na ang dapat lang niyang ipakain sa bata ay ang pagkain na ibinibigay nila.

Hindi nakasagot ang amo, pero nalaman ni Joana pagkatapos na tinanong mismo nito ang amo ni Magda kung pinapakain ba nila ng strawberry candy ang kanilang anak. Napahiya daw ito nang sabihan ng amo ni Magda ng, “My daughter doesn’t eat any sweets”.

Pero hindi pa ito nakuntento, at nagtanong pa rin sa ibang mga kasambahay kung binibigyan ba nila ng pagkain ang kanyang anak. Ayon naman sa mga ito ay hindi nila binibigyan ng kahit ano ang bata dahil binalaan na sila ni Joan na bawal pakainin ito ng iba.

Lalong nainis si Joana sa ganitong ginagawa ng kanyang amo, pero pinagtitiisan na lang niya dahil kailangan niya ng pera para sa mga anak na nagsisipag-aral.

Ang kainaman lamang sa kawalan nila ng tiwala sa kanya ay nakakauwi na siya agad kapag dumating na ang mga ito. At kahit may ginagawa pa siya o mayroon pa siyang niluluto ay pinapauwi na siya kung may pupuntahan ang mga ito pagkagaling sa kanilang trabaho. Bakasyon grande din siya tuwing out-of-town ang mga ito dahil ayaw siyang iwanan ng susi, kaya kahit linis ay hindi niya ginagawa.

Gayunpaman, nakakasakit daw sa loob ang ganitong kawalan nila ng tiwala sa kanya. Si Joana ay 40 taong gulang, tubong Benguet, at may mga anak. Isang taon na siyang naninilbihan sa mga amo na nakatira sa New Territories. — Marites Palma

Kapatid ng OFW nabiktima ng wedding scam

Galit na galit si Judy sa mapanlinlang na babaeng pinakasalan ng kanyang kapatid dahil tinangay nitong lahat ang perang kinita nilang mag-asawa pagkatapos ng kanilang bonggang kasal.

Si Judy ang ang umako sa lahat ng gastos sa kasal dahil walang sariling pera ang kapatid na lalaki.

Bigla na lang naglaho ang kanyang balahurang hipag pagkatapos ng kasal, dala lahat ng mga regalong pera, alahas at iba pang mamahaling gamit.

Nang tanungin sila ng kanilang mga kaibigan kung matagal na nilang kakilala ang babae ay saka lang nila lahat naalala na tatlong buwan pa lang talaga nila itong kakilala. Dumating ang babae sa kanilang lugar na mag-isa, at walang ipinakilala na magulang o kahit na sinong kamag-anak kahit noong mamanhikan ang pamilya ni Judy para sa kasal.

Noon lang nila naisip na maaring ganoon ang raket ng babae, ang pumunta sa iba-ibang lugar para makipagrelasyon at humiling ng kasal. Tapos, kapag nakaipon ng pera at regalo mula sa mga bisita sa kasal ay saka biglang maglalaho.

Awang-awa ngayon si Judy sa kapatid dahil hindi lang ito nawalan ng asawa, napahiya din ito nang todo sa kanilang mga kamag-anak at kakilala.

Pero kahit siya din ay nadala sa matatamis na salita ng babae na nangako pa na magiging ulirang asawa sa kanyang kapatid, at ina sa kanilang magiging anak.

Ang hindi lang niya mapaniwalaan hanggang ngayon ay kung bakit may mga taong sasabak kahit sa kasal para lang makapanlinlang at makatangay ng pera ng ibang tao. - Marites Palma

Tulong sa biktima ng Lawin

Ipinaalala ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration sa Hong Kong na maaari nang makuha ng mga OFW na biktima ng bagyong Lawin ang tulong mula sa ahensya na nagkakahalaga mula Php1.5k hanggang Php3k bawat pamilya.

Ang mga nakatira sa mga sumusunod na lugar ang maaaring makakuha ng benepisyo: Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Northern Abra at Ilocos Norte. Ang mga “active member” ng OWWA ay makakatanggap ng Php3k kada pamilya, at Php1.5k naman sa mga “non-active member”.

Ayon kay OWWA welfare officer Judith Santos, marami na ang nakatanggap sa tulong. Kailangan lang daw ng patunay ng pagiging miyembro sa OWWA para makuha ito.

Para sa mga dagdag kaalaman, maaaring sumangguni sa pinakamalapit na opisina ng OWWA sa inyong lugar.

Samantala, may dalawang grupo sa Hong Kong na nagsagawa ng paglikom ng pondo at gamit para sa mga nasalanta ni super typhoon Lawin.

Nangunguna dito ang Abante Cagayanos na naglunsad ng Oplan Tulong Cagayan noong Okt. 30 sa Central. Ang mga nakalap nilang donasyon ay ipapadala nila sa  bayan ng Penablanca sa Cagayan na pinakamalubha ang tinamong pinsala.

Ang mga gustong tumulong pa ay maaring tumawag sa lider nilang sina Allan Cayosa Mas, Noel Collado at Jallee Echenique sa telepono bilang 67154734 o magpadala ng mensahe sa facebook page ng Abante Cagayanos.

Tumatanggap sila ng mga donasyon ng lumang damit, kumot, tuwalya, gamit sa kusina, school supplies para sa mga bata, pagkaing de lata, instant noodles, tooth paste, toothbrush at sabong pampaligo. May tatlong kahon na nakatakda nilang punuin sa Nob. 27 bago ipadala sa Penablanca.
Samantala, mabilis ding nagsagawa ng fund raising ang grupong Yellow Warriors para sa mga biktima. Umabot sa Php16,500 ang kanilang nalikom mula sa mga kaibigan at mga taong nagsadya sa kanilang tambayan sa Exit E ng MTR Central station mula Okt 30 hanggang Nob. 6

Ang kabuuang halaga ay personal na dinala ng kanilang presidente na si Glady Ecleo Ayo sa tanggapan ni Bise Presidente Leni Robredo sa New Manila, Quezon City.

Ang napili nilang beneficiary ay ang Don Severino Pagalilauan National High School sa  Callao, Penablanca.

Pinangunahan ng pangalawang pangulo Beth Fremista at  pangalawang ingat- yaman - Ging Vestidas ang pagkalap ng donasyon. – may ulat ni Marites Palma

Pinoy asylum-seekers up 5% from last quarter

The Immigration Tower, where asylum applications are processed.

By Vir B. Lumicao

There has been a substantial increase in the number of Filipino asylum-seekers in Hong Kong since July this year, the latest statistics from the Immigration Department show.

But an official of a non-government organization attending to refugee cases in Hong Kong doubts the new arrivals’ reason for fleeing the Philippines.

“About Filipinos claiming torture using the war on drugs, my experience in the past is such claims are largely for economic reasons, not torture,” Danilo Reyes, deputy director of the Asian Human Rights Commission who is on study leave, said in reply to an emailed query by The SUN.

“They are abusing the system in Hong Kong that ought to protect those victims whose lives are genuinely at risk,” he added.

Reyes said he could not comment on the individual merits of the claims made by those who cited President Rodolfo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign as “I don’t have details on them.”

Immigration data on torture claims as of Sept 30 this year shows that the number of Filipino claimants had risen to 483 from 461 at the end of June, indicating 22 people had filed torture claims during the period, or an increase of 4.8%.

The statistics seem to corroborate reports that Filipino asylum-seekers arriving recently in Hong Kong are claiming as an excuse the bloody anti-drug campaign of Duterte.

Philippine police have reported that more than 3,000 drugs pushers and addicts had been killed in legitimate encounters and vigilante-style attacks since the campaign began, while human rights advocates claim the number could be much higher.

The Immigration Department says that as of Sept 30, there were a total of 10,815 outstanding torture claims from all nationalities, with male claimants numbering 7,737 or 151.3% more than the 3,078 female claimants.

The overall figure had dropped from 11,169 as of June 30, indicating that 354 applications had been dealt with by the department.

The 483 Filipinos were far outnumbered by the Vietnamese, who numbered 2,185; the Indians with 2,131, and the Pakistanis with 2,027.

Techie ang kanyang alagang aso

Nadagdagan ang trabaho ni Norma simula nang dumating siya mula sa kanyang day-off at madatnan ang isang kuting at isang tuta sa kanilang bahay. Ilang buwan pa lang siyang nagtatrabaho noon sa mag-asawang amo sa Mid Levels na walang anak.

Kahit dalawa lang ang kanyang pinagsisilbihan ay hindi nauubusan ng utos ang kanyang amo na parang sinusulit ang pinapasuweldo sa kanya. Halos araw-araw ay may listahan siya ng gagawin sa maghapon. Biruan nga nilang magkakaibigan ay laging may “reseta” ang kanyang amo.

Hindi naging madali kay Norma ang pag-aalaga sa mga hayop dahil parang wala na siyang ginawa kundi dumampot ng dumi at maglampaso ng ihi ng mga ito. Halos walang sulok sa bahay na hindi nagdudumi ang kanyang mga alaga.

Ang isa pang bagong obligasyon ni Norma ay ang paglalakad ng aso. Kailangan daw niyang ilakad ang aso ng apat hanggang limang beses sa isang araw para masanay itong dumumi at umihi sa labas. Kailangan din niyang siguraduhin na mahigit kalahating oras itong naglalakad. Dati-rati ay bumabalik agad sila sa bahay matapos niyang mapadumi ito sa labas.

Isang araw ay sinita siya ng amo dahil hindi daw sapat ang oras ang ginawa nilang paglalakad sa aso. Nagtataka si Norma kung paano ito nalalaman ng amo samantalang maghapon ito sa opisina. Alangan namang nagsusumbong ang kanyang aso, sa isip-isip niya.

Ang dahilan pala ay ang isang gadget sa dog collar ng alaga na nagpapakita kung gaano katagal itong inilakad, at iba pang impormasyon gaya ng nutrisyon at kung ano ang mood nito sa kasalukuyan. Ang tawag sa gadget na ito ay Fitbark.

Naikuwento ni Norma ito sa kanyang mga kaibigan kaya’t naisipan nilang i search ito sa Google. Ayon sa kanyang isang kaibigan, wala palang lusot si Norma dahil naka-monitor ang lahat ng galaw ng aso. Biniro pa siya nito na baka sa susunod ay siya na ang pagsuotin ng gadget para malaman ng amo ang lahat ng galaw niya. Naisip din niya na baka may CCTV pang nakatago sa loob ng bahay, kaya kailangan niya ng dobleng pag-iingat.

Ilang buwan pa lamang ay naii-stress na si Norma sa mga mahigpit na pamamalakad ng amo, kaya napagdesisyunan na niya na humanap na ng ibang malilipatan kapag natapos na ang kanyang unang kontrata. Pero sa ngayon, kailangan niyang magtiis-tiis pa sa amo.–Jo Campos

Judge orders further probe in case of self-confessed Pinay drug mule

Judge orders more inquiry into the case

By Vir B. Lumicao

A 52-year-old Filipina pleaded guilty at the High Court on Friday, Nov 18, to a charge of trafficking in dangerous drugs, but contradicted her plea when she initially questioned the facts of the case as they were read out, before admitting it reluctantly.

The last-minute shift of Susan B. Cumpio caught everyone by surprise and prompted Judge Kevin Paul Zervos to delay sentencing until Feb 3, as he ordered the prosecution to make further inquiry into the case.

“Guilty,” Cumpio, a widow who had a son in the Philippines, said after a Tagalog court interpreter read out the particulars of the charge, then asked for her plea.

But after the agreed facts were read to her, she initially said she disagreed because there was something wrong with them, then said in resignation: “Sige, oo na lang. (OK, I agree).” Then she wept.

Zervos instructed the prosecution to take Cumpio’s statement about the circumstances of her case. Then he asked why no one asked the Immigration Department about the long travel record of the defendant.

“I noticed that (Cumpio’s) has had a long history of travel to Hong Kong,” Zervos said, citing that it started on July 13, 2010 and ended with her arrest on Jun 15, 2015.

“Did anybody check with the Immigration about her travel record?” the judge asked, to which the prosecutor replied no one had done that.

Zervos also hit Customs officers who he said were just apprehending people and sitting on the cases focusing on the big picture without looking at the details.

The judge cited new information supplied by prison chaplain and anti-drug trafficking campaigner Fr John Wotherspoon, who requested barrister Richard Donald, for the defense, to hand Zervos a letter appealing for mitigation.

“It’s unfortunate that it came rather too late,” the judge said.

But he acknowledged Fr John had long mounted a campaign against drug trafficking syndicates using unsuspecting women and admitted he drew insights from the chaplain’s views before making decisions.

Cumpio was arrested on Jul 15 last year when she arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Dubai, and attracted the attention of Customs officers with her unnatural gait.

When they searched her, they found nearly two kilograms of suspected cocaine wrapped around her thighs and concealed in her tailor-made underwear.

At the High Court on Friday, the prosecutor said the amount the dangerous drug found on her was 1,994 grams with purity of 1,210 grams with an estimated market value of $2.3 million at the time.

The prosecution said she had a clear record and was not addicted to drugs.

The defense counsel, in mitigation, said Cumpio was widowed in 2005. She had worked as a shopkeeper and as waitress before she went to work as a domestic helper in Singapore, then in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

In her hand-written statement which Fr Wotherspoon provided to the court, the defendant said she was a widow who had been supporting her son, now 17, and her parents in the Philippines since her husband died. 

She said she went to work as a domestic helper in Sao Paulo looking after the three male children of a Brazilian family. After two years she met a Tanzanian man who she fell in love with and “spent good times together” until the man lost his job and “started acting stranger and becoming abusive towards me.”

Days later Cumpio discovered the man was using drugs and reported him to the police. He was arrested but after his release, things only got worse, Cumpio said.

“He started becoming more abusive and (beat) me more often,” she said. At one time the man beat her badly with a wooden plank that caused her to lose her memory.  She recovered after being treated at a hospital.

She sought shelter in a church after that beating while her lover was rearrested. However, after police freed the man, he sought her out and they reconciled. But Cumpio said he only got worse and threatened to kill her on a few occasions.

Eventually the man told her about his being in the drugs business and offered her passage  back to the Philippines if she agreed to make a trip to Hong Kong to deliver drugs.

Cumpio said she accepted the offer because she no longer wanted to live in Brazil, nad also because she wanted to see her family.

All set for the first civil service exam in HK on Nov 27

Examinees from HK island, outlying
islands and Macau will take
the exam at theHKCEC

It’s all systems go for the first-ever Philippine civil service examination in Hong Kong on Nov 27 with volunteers set to undergo a briefing this Sunday on their roles in the test, according to Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre.

More than 1,000 OFWs from Hong Kong and Macau are scheduled to take the test that would qualify them for job openings in the government service once they decide to return to the country for good.

Booking of the two venues for the examination – the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre convention hall in Wanchai and the Delia Memorial School Hip Wo campus in Kwuntong – has now been finalized, Labatt De la Torre said.

Those from Kowloon will
be directed to Delia
School at 22 Hip Wo,
Kwun Tong

He added that the 80 volunteer proctors and watchers would meet with Civil Service Commission officers this Sunday for an orientation on their roles during the examination.

The proctors and watchers will be split between the two venues located on either side of Victoria Harbour.

An announcement on the Philippine Overseas Labor Office webpage on Facebook says examinees from Kowloon and the New Territories will be directed to Delia Hip Wo, while those coming from Hong Kong and Macau will have to go to HKCEC.

Labatt De la Torre said those from the outlying islands such as Lantau, Lamma and Cheung Chau will also be told to go to HKCEC.

The schedule of the exam at both venues has been synchronized to last from 1pm to 4pm, but de la Torre said examinees should be at the test sites at least one hour before the start of the examination.

He advised the examinees to bring a black pen, their original passports, original proof of payment and a copy of the CSC application form. - Vir B. Lumicao

Stressful case over fired Pinay maid reset

By Vir B. Lumicao

The Labour Tribunal in Yau Ma Tei

It must have been the most stressful hearing Labour Tribunal presiding officer David Chan had ever held.

After three unexpected breaks

and a few nerve-wracking moments, Chan finally got a female employer from the mainland to settle two of six claims by the Filipina maid she dismissed.

The claims awarded initially to Joenalyn Mallorca were for arrears in wages totaling $1,824.37 and airline ticket worth $1,300.

But this is just the beginning. Mallorca will see more of her former employer, Ng Me Shuen, when her four other claims totaling $8,707.33 are tried on Feb. 2 next year.

Aside from her unpaid wages and return air ticket, Mallorca had claimed for one month’s salary in lieu of notice, annual leave pay, food allowance and damages.     

She said Ng fired her on Sept 15, after just three months of working for the employer.

When Chan asked Ng why she did not want to pay the claims, she appeared to have difficulty understanding the question.

Ng’s husband tried to speak for her, but Chan chided him, saying he could not participate in the discussions. When the husband butted in again, Chan warned him: “You are not a party to the case. You are allowed to come to the court and listen, but you must not take part in the discussions. If there is something she (Ng) doesn’t understand then she must ask me.”

Ng complained she could not understand the Cantonese of her court interpreter, prompting Chan to call for a break until a Putonghua interpreter was found.

When the hearing resumed, the employer interrupted Chan, her interpreter or the claimant a few times that she was rebuked by the presiding officer.

Ng refused to pay the helper one month’s salary in lieu of notice and $100 food allowance, and said she would seek legal aid.

“No, you’re not allowed to get legal aid in this tribunal,” Chan said.

Ng then brought up an incident when she and her daughter had allegedly suffered from scalp irritation and dizziness from a shampoo that might have been “contaminated” by the helper.

She said she called the police and four or five officers came but refused to take up the case, and instead told her to find a laboratory and have the shampoo tested by a chemist.

Ng said she did so but no laboratory agreed to do the test, so she threw away the shampoo bottle, adding “anyway, the helper said sorry”.

Chan asked Ng repeatedly if the shampoo incident was the reason she dismissed Mallorca, and the employer replied there were other reasons, like the towel and clothes the helper washed still had soap bubbles.

Ng said Mallorca had wanted to be fired so she kept doing things that irritated her.

Chan replied that if it were a trap, she had fallen into it by terminating the helper, and then refusing to pay her claims.

The presiding officer then asked Mallorca why she was seeking damages and the maid said it was for breach of trust.

Chan also asked about the Filipina’s claim that Ng had slapped her and the maid said that the shampoo was the reason.

At this point Ng interrupted Mallorca’s statement, causing Chan to rebuke her” “Again, Madam, this is a court. This is not a restaurant or a market. Please don’t interrupt the claimant anymore.”

The presiding officer eventually asked the two reach a settlement, otherwise the case would go to trial. But they only agreed on the settlement of the two claims, so the rest of would have to be tried at the next hearing.

Outside the courtroom, Ng’s husband approached Mallorca and said: “I must tell you. If you think you can get anymore money from her, you’re wasting you time. She won’t give you (any).”

Then the couple walked away.  

DH acquitted of illegal work over 'doubts' in evidence

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper was cleared of a charge of breaching her condition of stay on Monday, Nov 13, by a Shatin magistrate who said prosecutors failed to prove beyond doubt that she worked in her employer’s food shop in Tsuen Wan.

Tsuen Wan court where the case was heard

Corazon Quintos wept after Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan pronounced his verdict, which climaxed a two-day trial in which the prosecution called two male witnesses and the defendant herself took the witness stand.

According to the prosecution, Quintos was arrested on Aug. 4 during a joint operation by the Immigration and Labour Departments targeting illegal work.

Labour inspectors Kwok and Fong testified that at two different times of the day they each posed as customers at stall No 10 in Tai Wo Hau market, and were served by the same defendant.

Kwok said he went to the market at about 11am and saw a non-Chinese woman standing in food stall No 10 and extending her arm into shop No 11. He identified the woman as Quintos, who he said was talking to two Chinese women.

Fong, pretending to be a customer, asked the defendant for the price of the fish ball and reportedly replied in Chinese: “$10 for a pound, $20 for two pounds.”

He asked for two pounds of fish ball and the defendant weighed and packed the food item in a plastic bag. Kwok then handed her a $100 bill, and Quintos allegedly put the money in a plastic box, took four $20 bills and handed the change to the officer.

The officer said he was in the shop for 3-4 minutes of transaction, then left and called his commanding officer to report.

Asked by the defense counsel why Kwok did not check the woman’s identity and arrest her outright, he said he was only assigned to disguise as a customer and report to his superior if he saw a suspected illegal worker.

At 2:11pm on the same day, Labor inspector Fong went to the wet market to validate the report and observed the woman in stall No 10. He said he noticed the woman talking to a Chinese woman in the adjoining stall No 11, who turned out to be her employer.

Posing as a customer, Fong went to the store and was also allegedly served by Quintos, who spoke Chinese while attending to him.

The inspector said he bought five items including fish ball, bean curd rolls and bean curd cakes. He said Quintos served him, took the payment and put it in the plastic box.

Fong also said he did not arrest the Filipina outright and instead contacted his superior, who was with his teammates in a vehicle parked outside the market, to conduct the arrest.

At the witness stand, Quintos firmly denied she went to the market in the morning. She also denied she spoke Chinese, saying she learned only a few words while going to the market for her previous employer.

She said she was in shop No 10 that afternoon to pick up her food that her employer prepared for her.   

Lam said the two prosecution witnesses were credible and reliable, but the defense had cast doubt on their case for not arresting Quintos on the spot while she was serving them.

In acquitting Quintos, Lam said he found the prosecution did not prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Quintos had been working in Hong Kong for 24 years.

Training fee cap talk sparks overcharging claims

Labatt De la Torre

By Vir B. Lumicao

Many domestic workers who claim to have been charged as much as Php90,000 in training fee and other charges back home have been filing complaints with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in recent weeks.

This was apparently the result of a statement made two months ago by the former chief of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Hans Cacdac, that the training fee should be no more than Php22,000 per worker.

On Sunday, Nov 6, more than 20 workers executed sworn statements at the POLO, which transmitted the documents to the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate for notarization.
POLO officials said the cases have been endorsed to POEA for further action.

“Since the complaint is against the Philippine agency, obviously the action we can take is to endorse the case to POEA so the latter can hear the case,” Labatt De la Torre replied to an online query sent to him by The SUN.

They expect to see more of such complaints as workers react to news that much lower training would be implemented soon.

Most of the complainants said they were charged by the agencies between Php30,000 and Php40,000 for just the cost of training, one of the government’s pre-departure requirements for workers going abroad.

One complainant claimed she was charged Php90,000.

The complainants are, however, having a hard time proving their claims as agencies do not provide receipts for the money that they collect from workers.

They also face the possibility of losing their cases because they are unable to attend the hearing set at the POEA’s main office in Manila, since they work in Hong Kong
Assistant Labor Attache Maria Nena German said the upsurge in complaints against excessive training fees began after Cacdac put a cap on the amount that of training fee that could be collected from each worker.

Cacdac who accompanied Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on his visit to Hong Kong in the last week of September, , said the training fee should be no for that Php7,000 for just training and Php15,000 if  it includes board and lodging.

German said she expected many workers to file complaints of overcharging because of Cacdac’s remarks.

She also said that at least five agencies that overcharged Hong Kong-bound domestic workers had their licenses revoked by POEA before Cacdac was moved to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in October.

May matututuhan sa Yaya 101

Napag-usapan ng magkaibigang Jay at Jaja ang tungkol sa kanilang mga trabaho. Sa mahigit na 30 taon na pagtatrabaho ni Jay sa Hong Kong, hindi niya naranasan ang mag alaga ng bata. Kabaligtaran naman ito sa trabaho ni Jaja, na sa simula pa lang ng pagtatrabaho niya sa Hong Kong ay may alaga na siyang bata.

Sa pag-uusap ng magkaibigan, naikumpara nila ang kanilang mga trabaho.

Para kay Jay, parang mahirap ang maging yaya at magtrabaho sa bahay. Isang malaking responsibilidad ang pag-aalaga ng bata at ang kaligtasan nito ang laging dapat na nasa isip ng isang tagapag-alaga.

Ang sabi naman ni Jaja, mas rewarding daw para sa kanya ang pag-aalaga ng bata, lalo na kung ito ay bagong panganak pa lang. Parang sarili mo nang anak daw ito na pinalalaki at napapamahal sa iyo. Sa kasalukuyang amo kasi ni Jaja, siya na halos ang nagpalaki sa tatlong anak ng kanyang amo.

Naitanong ni Jay kay Jaja kung hindi ba siya nahihirapan lalo na kung nagkakasakit o nagta-tantrums ang kanyang mga alaga. Sagot lang sa kanya ng kaibigan ay hindi naman kailangang kunsumihin ang sarili dahil nakukuha naman sa paliwanag ang mga bata at kung minsan ay mas madali pa itong makaunawa kaysa sa mga matatanda. Para sa kanya, mas maiging mag-alaga na lang ng bata kaysa mag-asikaso sa gawaing bahay.

Sabi pa ni Jaja, ang trabahong bahay ay paulit-ulit lang na ginagawa, walang challenge ika nga. Ang pagpapalaki ng bata ay mas may challenge, at dahil dito, kasama ka ng mga magulang ng mga bata sa paghubog ng kanilang mga karakter at kahit anong pagod mo, ang paglalambing ng mga bata ay nakakaalis ng pagod.

Nasabi pa nga ni Jay na kakaiba ang kanyang naririnig sa ibang mga yaya dahil kadalasan ay puro reklamo ang mga ito dahil sa kakulitan ng kanilang mga alaga. Iba daw kasi ang approach ni Jaja sa kanyang mga alaga, hindi niya ito dinadaan sa sigaw o galit. Kinakausap niya ang mga ito nang maayos at dinidisiplina lang kung kailangan.

Napabilib naman si Jay sa pananaw ng kanyang kaibigan dahil para sa kanya, hindi biro ang pagiging yaya.

Sa kanilang pag-uusap, naisipan nila na gumawa ng blog o magsulat ng libro tungkol sa mga karanasan, mungkahi at buhay ng isang yaya. Naisip nilang  maaaring makatulong ito sa mga kapwa nila OFW at maging inspirasyon naman sa iba pang mambabasa. Katuwaan lang, sabi ng magkaibigan, at tatawagin nila ang blog na Yaya 101.  –Jo Campos

Will SC disqualify VP next?

Following the Supreme Court’s unpopular decision to allow the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, speculations are flying that the late dictator’s namesake-son would soon win his protest and dislodge Vice President Leni Robredo.

On November 9, the Supreme Court voted 9-5-1 in favor of giving the late dictator a hero’s burial.
Two days later on Nov. 11, Robredo noted during a speech at the Ateneo de Manila University forum that the current composition of the Supreme Court was friendly to the Marcoses.

At the same time, a ranking member of the Liberal Party (LP), under which Robredo ran and won the vice presidency in the May elections, said Robredo’s fear of being disqualified was not far-fetched, given the signals from President Rodrigo Duterte that he preferred former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as his vice president.

The LP official, who refused to be named, noted President Duterte will be appointing 10 justices to the High Court in the next three years, and that this would certainly influence decision-making of the SC once Marcos’ protest reaches the Court.

Marcos has a pending protest with the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), which counts SC justices as members, to disqualify Robredo on grounds of cheating.

The official tally of the May 9 election results showed Robredo with 14,418,817 votes while Marcos had 14,155,344, or a margin of 263,473 votes.

Robredo considered the Court’s decision on the Marcos burial issue as “disappointing, heartbreaking.”

This developed as the judicial reform advocate group Hustisya Natin called for public vigilance for the new justices of the Supreme Court who will be appointed by President Duterte to replace 10 retiring justices in the next three years.

Lawyer Marlon Manuel, chair of the project steering committee of Hustisya Natin said citizens should take an active part in the Judicial Appointments Watch (JAW) as the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) served notice for public panel interviews with candidates filling a post to be left by Justice Jose Perez. Perez is retiring on Dec. 14.

Also retiring between 2017 and 2019 are Justices Arturo Brion, Jose Mendoza, Presbiterio Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Mariano del Castillo, Lucas Bersamin, Antonio Carpio, Bienvenido Reyes and Francis Jardeleza.

Except for Reyes and Jardeleza, these justices were appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Justices Diosdado Peralta and Estela Perlas-Bernabe are due to retire in 2022.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Mario Victor “Marvic” Leonen are serving terms beyond 2022. These three justices are appointees of former President Benigno Aquino III.

Candidates scheduled for interviews on Nov. 16 for the position of Perez are Persida Rueda-Acosta, Rita Linda Ventura-Jimeno, Rowena Apao-Adlawan, Japar Dimaampao, Samuel Martires, Ricardo Paras III and Noel Tijam.

Other candidates previously interviewed were: Apolinario Bruselas Jr., Rosmari  Carandang, Stephen Cruz, Reynaldo Daway, Alex Quiroz, Andres Reyes Jr. and Jose Reyes Jr.

Richard, damay sa kaso sa droga

Sumambulat kamakailan ang pagkakadawit ni Richard Gomez, na mayor ngayon ng Ormoc City, sa sindikato sa ilegal na droga na pinangungunahan diumano ng anak ng napaslang na alkalde ng Albuera, Leyte, na si Rolando Espinosa, Sr.

Agad namang itinanggi ng aktor ang paratang, at sinabing idedemanda niya ang police chief ng Albuera na sinasabi niyang nasa likod ng maling akusasyon.

Ang pangalan ni Richard ay lumitaw sa pagtestigo ni Region 8 Chief Inspector Leo Laraga ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) sa pagdinig ng Senado noong Nob. 10 sa pagpaslang kay Espinosa sa loob ng kulungan.

Ayon kay Laraga, kasama si Richard sa listahan ng mga “protector” daw ng mga nagpapakalat ng droga sa Eastern Visayas na nasa sinumpaang salaysay ni Mayor Espinosa.

Pumutok ang balita habang nagbabakasyon si Richard sa London kasama ang asawang si Lucy Torres. Agad niyang sinabi na malisyoso at “politically motivated” ang akusasyon. Hinding hindi niya ito magagawa dahil matagal na siyang anti-drug advocate at alam ito ng maraming tao. Dating kinatawan si Richard ng party list group na Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD) na siyang naglunsad sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa pulitika noong may 15 taon na ang nakakaraan.

Inatasan na niya ang kanyang abogado na sampahan ng kaso si Albuera police chief Maj. Jovie Espenido na ayon kay Richard ay kaalyado ng kanyang mga kalaban sa pulitika, dahil ilang beses na raw nitong tinangkang sirain ang kanyang pangalan. Ito raw marahil ang nag-impluwensya kay Mayor Espinosa na idawit ang pangalan niya at iba pang inosenteng opisyal ng Leyte. Pinakikiusapan niya ang mga mambabatas na imbestigahang mabuti ito dahil may mga taong nais guluhin ang ngayo’y mainit na usapin tungkol sa droga.

Sinabi pa ni Richard na isa siya sa mga sumuporta kay Presidente Duterte  noong nakaraang halalan dahil pareho raw sila ng layunin na labanan ang lumalalang problema sa droga.

Samantala, ang listahan ng mga celebrity na gumagamit diumano ng droga ay nasa tanggapan na raw ng pangulo. Hindi pa tiyak kung kailan ito ihahayag sa publiko dahil maraming taga-showbiz na malapit sa pangulo, gaya ni Robin Padilla, ang humihiling na huwag na itong isapubliko.

Maapektuhan daw kasi ang kanilang kabuhayan, at madadamay ang kani-kanilang pamilya.

KRISTINE, UMALMA SA BATIKOS KAY OYO

Hindi napigilang patulan ng bagong panganak na si Kristine Hermosa ang mga bumabatikos sa kanyang asawang si Oyo Sotto. Nag-umpisa ang pamba-bash sa social media kay Oyo nang ilabas nito ang larawan ng bagong silang nilang supling, na pang-apat na sa kanilang mga anak. Ang karamihang puna ay bakit daw panay ang gawa ng anak ni Oyo samantalang wala naman itong maayos na hanap-buhay at umaasa lang sa ama nitong si Vic Sotto.

Lalong lumala ang pambabatikos kay Oyo, na bunso sa dalawang anak nina Vic at Dina Bonnevie, dahil napikon ito at pinatulan ang mga nagko-komento sa kanyang Instagram account.

Buwelta ni Kristine sa isang nagtatago sa account name na @batugansioyo: “Kung sino ka man, tigilan mo ang asawa ko!!! Kung wala kang magawang makabuluhan sa buhay mo, ‘wag kang mang-istorbo ng buhay ng iba! At maghinay-hinay ka sa mga binibitawan mong salita, dahil unang una, WALA KANG ALAM NA KAHIT KATITING SA BUHAY NAMIN!!! Pangalawa, matakot ka sa Diyos dahil baka matindi ang balik sa ‘yo ng mga pinagsasabi mo!!!”

Dugtong pa niya:  “Ano bang problema mo sa asawa ko???!!! Bakit ganun na lang ang pag-aabala mo na gumawa ng iba’t ibang account para lang makapang-bash???!!!”

Hinamon din ni Kristine ang naturang basher na harapin sila ng mister na si Oyo: “At dinamay mo pa talaga ang buong pamilya namin ah!!! Kung talagang hindi ka duwag, tulad ng sinabi ko, magpakilala ka at magpakita ka ng personal!!! At saka natin pag-usapan ang galit at inggit mo sa amin!”
Samantala, nag-iwan din ng mensahe si Oyo at nagsabing huwag nang idamay si Kristine. Pahayag ni Oyo sa isa pang basher, “Sa akin kayo galit di ba? Tara mag-usap tayo kasama pa ng mga ibang kaibigan mo. Sabihin n’yo lahat ng galit n’yo sa akin at ikukuwento ko sa inyo ang storya ko. Hindi kasama ang asawa ko. Ako lang. At hindi ako inutil. Baka ikaw.”

Bukod sa bunso nila na pinangalanan nilang Marvic Valentin, ang iba pa nilang anak ay sina Ondrea Bliss, 4, Kaleb, 2 at adopted son nilang si Kiel, 8.

Marami sa mga fans si Kristine ang nanghihinayang dahil mula nang mag-asawa ay hindi na ito napapanood umarte. Nito na lang na bago siya nanganak siya nakasama sa sitcom na “Bahay Mo Ba ‘To”, kasama nina Vic Sotto, AiAi delas Alas, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola at Oyo. Ipinalit ito sa “Vampire ang Daddy Ko” TV series ni Vic, na kasama rin si Oyo.

Hindi man napapanood si Oyo sa ibang proyekto na hindi kasama ang ama, may mga nagsasabi na may pinagkakaabalahan din naman itong negosyo. Kasosyo daw sila sa isang restaurant na may ilang branches na, at may car dealership din siyang pinamamahalaan na pag-aari daw ni Vic.

TULOY-TULOY NA ANG PAG-ARTE NI PAOLO

Tila hindi na mapipigilan ang pag-arangkada sa pag-arte ni Paolo Ballesteros matapos siyang manalo ng best actor (at USD5,000 cash) sa Tokyo Film Festival sa kanyang unang solo film na “ Die Beautiful” noong November 3.

Bukod sa kanyang pag-arte, hinangaan din si Paolo sa husay niya sa make-up at panggagaya sa mga sikat na celebrities. Sa opening ng festival ay rumampa siya sa red carpet na naka-ayos bilang si Angelina Jolie, at marami ang nagpakuha ng larawan na kasama siya sa pag-aakalang siya talaga ang sikat na Hollywood actress.

Sa awards night naman ay si Julia Roberts naman ang kanyang ginaya.

Natuwa rin ang mga Japanese organizers sa kanya dahil sa kanyang sense of humor at husay sumagot, gaya nang tanungin siya kung saang kategorya niya gustong ma-nominate, kung best actor o best actress, na sinagot niya ng “both”. Nagulat din ang mga banyaga nang sinabi ni Paolo na siya ay “straight” at hindi gay, gaya ng pagkaka-akala nila, dahil sa natural niyang pag-arte sa kanyang pelikula.
Inamin ni Paolo malaking dusa ang pinagdararaanan niya tuwing mag-aayos siya bilang mga sikat na female celebrites na ginagaya niya. Iniipit niya ang mga parte  ng kanyang katawan na hindi dapat makita upang lumabas siyang sexy, at tinitiis niya ang sakit ng mga paa sa matagal na oras niyang pagsusuot ng mga high heels.

Higit sa lahat, matagal at mabusisi ang paglalagay niya ng ng make-up na inaabot ng tatlong oras, upang makopya niya ang mukha ng mga ginagaya niya. Mahirap din ang at paglalagay ng niya ng artipisyal na mahahabang kuko, na dinidikit niya ng super glue, kaya napakasakit din daw nito kapag tinatanggal niya.

Inaasahang mapipili bilang kalahok sa darating na Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) ang “Die Beautiful”, na idinirek ni Jun Lana, at produced ng Regal Entertainment. Dahil sa magandang feedback ng pelikula, agad nang pinapirma ng 3-picture deal ni Mother Lily si Paolo, kaya inaasahang tuloy-tuloy na ang pagsabak niya sa pelikula. Pero siguradong pipilitin niyang hindi maapektuhan ang Eat Bulaga show na kinabibilangan niya dahil malaki daw ang utang na loob niya sa kanyang mga Dabarkads.

Kababalik lang niya sa show mula sa anim na buwan na suspension dahil sa paninigaw niya sa isang production staff.

Hindi naman daw niya pinanghinayangan ang sapilitan niyang pagbabakasyon dahil nakagawa siya ng dalawang pelikula, ang “Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo ay May Boyfriend?” at “Die Beautiful”, na nagdulot ng dagdag na biyaya sa kanya.

ANNE AT KIM, SUMALI SA NYC MARATHON

Masayang masaya si Anne Curtis dahil natupad niya ang isa sa mga pangarap niya, ang makasali at makatapos sa New York Marathon, na itinuturing na pinakamalaking marathon sa buong mundo dahil sinasaklaw nito ang limang ‘borough’ (bayan o distrito) ng New York . “I did it! My very first marathon in NYC! What a bucket list moment. I can’t explain how fulfilling it is when you cross the finish line. It certainly isn’t easy but the whole experience is worth the physical pain,” ang caption ng larawan niya na nakasuot ng medalya (bilang finisher), na kanyang ibinahagi pagkatapos ng marathon.

Pinasalamatan niya ang mga Pilipinong sumuporta at nag-cheer sa kanya doon, na ang iba ay may dala pang posters, at pati ang mga nag-donate sa UNICEF Philippines, kung saan ay isa siyang celebrity advocate for children. Agad niyang nakuha una niyang target na halaga ng donasyon na Php42,000 sa 42 kilometrong tinakbo niya, pero patuloy pa rin ang nagbibigay sa kanya ng pera.
Si Kim Atienza na kasamahan ni Anne sa “Its Showtime” ay sumali rin sa naturang marathon, pero nahirapan daw ito sa bandang huli dahil sa gastrointestinal problem kaya hindi nakatapos. Pero na-enjoy naman daw niya ang kanyang pagsali roon.

DH scores initial win, but alleged drug use spoils day

By Vir B. Lumicao

A domestic helper seeking to claim more than $150,000 from her employer for alleged termination has found herself in a trickier situation.

First, the employer said in a hearing at the Labour Tribunal on Nov 1 that she did not fire the maid, Gemma Farro, following her brain surgery.

Secondly, employer Ng Fung-ping revealed that the maid was found to have traces of the dangerous drug “ice” in her blood.

This led presiding officer David Chan to exclaim that this could be ground for Farro’s immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution.

The employer claimed that the maid had insisted on staying in a friend’s house after leaving hospital following a brain surgery, instead of returning to her  employer's home.

The Filipina resigned after the employer told her she would allow her to stay out but without pay.
Chan ordered Farro to secure a medical certificate from the head of the team of surgeons at Queen Elizabeth Hospital who operated on her brain in August and submit it to the tribunal by Dec 1.

Chan initially awarded Farro a total of $7,702, representing payment in lieu of one month’s notice, the cost of an air ticket back to the Philippines, and unpaid leave.

But the maid’s main claim of $150,000 for illegal termination would be decided on after Farro had produced the additional medical certificate.

The presiding officer raised his eyebrows at the huge sum and asked the claimant how she reached that amount.

“I just followed what the book says that it was the maximum amount I could claim for illegal dismissal,” Farro replied.

The Filipina claimed that on Aug 27, while recovering in hospital from the surgery, Ng had visited her and asked if she had her Hong Kong ID. Then Ng reportedly asked for their house key, telling Farro she wouldn’t be able to use it to gain entry as she had the door lock changed.

But the employer said she never intended to fire her maid. She said that when she visited the maid, she asked the Filipina’s agent, Ms. Wong, what Farro was planning to do after leaving the hospital.
When Wong told her about the maid staying in the friend’s house, Ng said that would be in breach of her contract. Ng met the agent the next day and asked her to let Farro go to the friend’s house.

“I said I will not terminate her contract but will let her take a one month unpaid leave,” she said.
In reply, the agent reportedly told Ng to prepare to pay $8,300 to Farro, an amount that would include one month’s salary in lieu of notice.

The employer told the court that was “unbelievable” and accordingly told the agent to be professional in dealing with her and with the employee. She

Chan told both parties to return to court on Dec 15.

Covers the period Nov. 16-30

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Masaya at masigla ang pakikitungo mo ngayon. Patuloy na magiging masaya ang love life na nagbibigay sa iyo ng ibayong inspirasyon. Maganda ang kalagayan ng kalusugan, pero sa iba na mahina ang puso, paninikip ng dibdib at pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ang mararanasan. Sa trabaho, magiging matapang kang makipagsapalaran. Paghandaan ang malaking gastusin. Lucky numbers: 7,9,15 at 40.

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
May duda kang pinagkakaisahan ka; huminahon ka at maaayos din ang lahat. Magandang pagkakataon ito para sa mga malulungkot ang puso dahil baka matagpuan na ang matagal nang hinahanap. May biglaang perang darating, ang iba ay tatanggap ng mana. Maganda ang relasyon mo sa malalapit sa iyo. Problema sa panunaw ang maaring maranasan ngayon. Lucky numbers: 11, 18, 28 at 45.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Ayusin ang iyong budget at labanan ang tukso sa pagsa-shopping. Masigla at puno ka ng sigla ngayon kaya marami kang bagay na magagawa. Bigyan ng limitasyon ang pakikipagbiruan dahil baka makatikim ng hindi magandang sorpresa. Ang pagiging metikuloso sa trabaho ay magbibigay ng positibong direksyon. Mahuhusay ang iyong mga ideya, kaya huwag mag-atubiling ipaglaban ang mga ito. Lucky numbers: 6, 25, 33 at 41.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Magiging matagumpay ka sa iyong propesyon, pero mag-ingat sa mga lihim na naiinggit, kabilang na ang mga taong itinuturing mong kaibigan. Maging maingat din sa pagkain upang bumaba ang cholesterol. May panahon ka ngayon para makapagbasa at masundan ang hilig sa ibang mga bagay. Hangga’t maaari, iwasang may makarelasyon sa mga katrabaho, dahil baka maapektuhan ang reputasyon kapag nagkaproblema. Lucky numbers:30, 32, 39 at 42.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Huwag mainggit sa iba dahil pareho mo rin silang maraming problema. Sa pag-ibig, kailangan mo ng dagdag na pasensya at pang-unawa. Piliting kalimutan ang insultong ibinato sa iyo. Kung mas mabilis ang sayaw kaysa musika, mawawala ito sa tiyempo. Kailangan ng tamang , oras at kilos upang maging ang mabisa ang lahat. Bigyan ng seryosong atensyon ang pananalapi; ayusin ang paghawak ng pera. Lucky numbers: 16,27,36 at 40.
 39.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Mabibigyan ka ng dagdag na pansin. Marami kang alam gawin na pwede mong gamitin upang gumanda ang pamumuhay. Mag-ingat ng husto sa gastusin at iwasang mangutang. Malaki ang tsansa na makilala na ang iyong soulmate. Mas may ambisyon ka na ngayon, at malaki ang maitutulong ng ilang malalapitan upang matupad ang iyong hangarin. Lucky numbers: 13,24,31 at 40.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Marami kang pwedeng gawin ngayon na magbibigay sa iyo ng lubos na kasiyahan. Marami ka ring makikilala na pwedeng makatulong, pero kailangan mo ng seryosong pag-aaral upang mahanap ang tamang direksyon sa talagang gusto mong gawin. Masipag at masigla ka ngayon kaya nagagampanan ng maayos ang relasyon at obligasyon sa trabaho, pamilya at maging sa mga kaibigan. Lucky numbers: 11, 15, 23 at 44.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Mag-ingat sa isang taong pinagkakatiwalaan na magtatangkang harangan ang iyong daraanan. Isantabi muna ang mga dating gawi at makisalamuha sa mga bagong mukha. Hindi ito ang tamang panahon para pumasok sa anumang pinansyal na transaksyon. I-enjoy mo lang ang iyong love life ngayon. Upang maabot ang pinapangarap, sundin ang tamang direksyon, at iwasang lumihis ng landas. Lucky numbers: 9,25,33 at 40.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Negatibo ang pananaw mo ngayon kaya hirap kang matulog at kumain, labanan ito! Oras na upang ayusin ang pananalapi sa mas praktikal na paraan. Sa love life, may magaganap na mga pagtatalo, away o hiwalayan, pero mananatili ang likas mong panghalina. Madali kang makapag-isip at umaksyon, kaya maiiwasan ang hindi pagkakaintindihan. Kung kailangan ng payo, handang tumulong ang malapit mong kaibigan. Lucky numbers: 7,19,24 at 45.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Madali kang mapagod. Sa trabaho, magbubunga na ang pinaghirapan. Iwasang mag-ilusyon o masyadong mangarap upang hindi mabigo. Maaliwalas ang kalagayan sa pag-ibig, pakikipag-kaibigan at iba pang relasyon. Sa piling mg mga mahal sa buhay, mai-enjoy mo ang saya at pagkakasundo ng lahat. Lucky numbers:17,19,24 at 36.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Iwasan ng husto ang mga nanghihikayat na umanib sa kanilang samahan o grupo dahil hindi makakabuti ito sa iyo. Kung may karelasyon, tahimik at masaya ngayon ang pagsasama. Iwasan ang mga inuming matatamis o may alcohol na nakakasama sa iyong kalusugan. Malaki ang tsansa ng promosyon, pero kung may sariling negosyo, umiwas sumubok sa delikadong bagay. Lucky numbers: 3,9,19 at 21.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Kung walang karelasyon, may mga humahanga at interesadong makilala ka ng husto. Piliting makita ang mas magagandang bagay na dumarating sa iyong buhay. Salat man sa materyal na bagay, huwag pahirapan ng husto ang sarili. Sa trabaho, dahan-dahan dahil ang maingat na paraan ang mahalaga at hindi ang madaling makatapos upang umangat ka. Ibuhos ang atensyon sa iyong layunin at huwag bibitaw. Lucky numbers: 16, 38, 40 at 46.

1,000 civil service test applicants beat deadline

POLO staff try to cope with surge of the test applicants.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Over 300 Filipinos beat the deadline for filing applications for the first civil service exam for Filipinos in Hong Kong on Sunday, Nov. 13.

But by the end of the day, only a total of 947 people had registered over the nine-day application period, less than a third of the more than 3,000 who had signified their intention to take the exam.
Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre said he was a bit upset that the number of registrants was way below expectations, although the final tally could still be bolstered by those who applied in Macau.
“A little disappointed but my take is that those who signed didn’t really have the full commitment to take it. In any case, it’s food for thought for next year’s preparations,” Labatt De la Torre said.

POLO was opened on Friday, Nov 11, and Saturday, Nov 12, to accommodate all those who wanted to register.

But Labatt De la Torre said only 27 came on Friday and 50 on Saturday. On the last day of registration on Sunday, 347 went through the process.

He told The SUN he had asked for the registration deadline to be moved to Nov. 20, but the Civil Service Commission refused.

“I tried extending the deadline to Nov 20 but CSC didn’t agree because of the printing period for the exam materials,” Labatt De la Torre said.

The exam will be held on Nov. 27 at two venues: the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai and at Delia Memorial School Hip Wo in Kwun Tong.

The registration on Sunday was held at the Metrobank office in United Centre in Admiralty, as POLO’s public areas were packed with people processing their contracts and applying for the overseas employment certificate.

Before the registration opened at 8am, hundreds had already lined up, said Metrobank’s remittance manager Fred Valencia. The registration ended at 5pm.

Many of those who registered were heard complaining that they were given only little time to complete the registration requirements, such as copies of their job contracts, Hong Kong IDs, passports and school certificates.

The applicants were made to fill up registration forms, pay the Php1,500 exam fee, and submit the required documents. Afterwards, they had to register online.

Each would-be examinee queued about 30 minutes for her turn to be photographed.

Trisha and her friend Sally told The SUN they lined up for two hours before they were allowed to take the lift up to Metrobank. When they got there, about 30 applicants were still waiting for their turn to be served.

“Nakakain lang po kami noong 1:30 na, pero pasalamat kami at natapos na,” Trisha said.
Friends Hannan and Honey had the same experience. They said the registrants should have been given more time to prepare their documents because they could only do so on their day off.

Hilig sa Zumba pinagmulan ng POWA

Isang pagpapakita ng galing ng POWA ay ang panalo nila bilang Champion sa Maskara Festival na ginanap kamakailan sa Chater Road.

Ni Marites Palma

Umaani ng kaliwa’t kanang tagumpay ngayon ang grupong nabuo dahil sa pagkahumaling sa sayaw na zumba, ang Panay Overseas Workers Welfare Assocation.

Dati nang magkakakilala at magkakaibigan ang mga miyembro ng grupo kaya hindi na sila nahirapang makitungo sa bawat isa nang mapagkasunduan nilang itatag ang Powa noong ika-19 ng Agosto, 2015. Naging mas puspusan ang kanilang pagsasayaw ng zumba kaya kahit mga 20 pa lang ang mga miyembro noon ay unti-unti na silang napansin ng iba’t ibang lider sa komunidad ng mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong, at nagbigay-daan upang maimbitahan sila sa ib-ibang pasinaya.
Una silang nagpamalas ng kanilang husay sa sayaw sa taunang Flower Show sa Causeway Bay, kung saan ang malakas na palakpak sa kanila ng mga nanonood ay nagsilbing inspirasyon para lalo silang magsikap na gumanda ang kanilang pagtatanghal. Hindi naglaon ay naimbitahan silang makipagtunggali sa sayaw sa iba-ibang grupo.

Una silang sumabak sa Global Alliance Palarong Pinoy 2016, kung saan sila ang tinanghal na best in uniform. Nagpatuloy sila sa kanilang pagsasanay kaya noong Agosto 16 ng parehong taon ay sila na ang tinanghal na kampeon sa Maskara Festival.

Ayon sa kanilang president na si Lindy Paclibar, ibinuhos nila ang kanilang nalalaman sa  pagbuo ng kanilang sayaw, at pati na rin sa pagdisenyo ng kanilang kasuotan na hindi gumagastos nang malaki. Pinagsanib lang daw nila ang kanilang itinatagong galing kaya’t napagtagumpayan nila ang unang malaking kompetisyon na sinalihan nila. Nagbigay-daan din daw ito para maipakita nila sa mga taga Hong Kong na ang mga Pilipinong kasambahay na katulad nila ay may angking galing, lalo na pagdating sa larangan ng sayawan.
Ang sumunod na hamon na kanilang tinanggap ay ang makipagtunggali sa “Hataw sa Sayaw” na inorganisa ng kumpanyang Globe at CSL noong Abril 17. Sa pagkakataong ito ay nakuha nila ang tropeo at pera para sa pangalawang gantimpala.

Sa pinakahuling sinalihan nila, ang One Billion Rising na isinagawa ng Gabriela Hong Kong noong nakaraang buwan lang, ay muli nilang nasungkit ang pangalawang puwesto.

Sa ngayon ay palagian na silang lumalabas sa tanghalan ng Hong Kong Flower Show at sa Yuen Long Youth Festival.

Ayon kay Paclibar, kooperasyon at tunay na pakikisama ang susi ng kanilang tagumpay sa pakikipagtagisan ng galing sa pagsayaw. Hindi daw nagdalawang isip ang kanilang mga miyembro sa pag-aambag ambag ng pera noong bagong tatag pa lang sila para sa kanilang kasuotan at pamasaheng papunta  sa lugar na pagtatanghalan.

Mabuti na lang daw at simula noong nananalo na sila ay hindi na sila gumagamit ng sarili nilang pera. Ang natatanggap nilang mga premyo  ay kanilang inipon at ginawang pondo para ipambili ng kanilang mga pangangailangan tuwing may dadaluhan silang programa.

Dahil sa magandang ehemplo na ipinapakita nila sa kanilang mga kapwa OFW ay marami ang naengganyong sumapi sa grupo. Ayon kay Paclibar, umaabot na sa 50 ang bilang ng kanilang  mga miyembro ngayon.

May sinisingil daw na buwanang bayad mula sa mga miyembro, pero hindi nila ito ginagastos. Iniipon nila ang kontribusyon ng bawat miyembro, at ang sino mang magdesisyon nang umuwi sa Pilipinas ay binibigyan ng kanilang naipong pera, pero hindi lahat dahil ang ibang bahagi ng kanilang pondo ay ginagamit nilang pantulong sa mga miyembrong nasisisante nang biglaan. Mayroon ding plano ang grupo na isakatuparan na sa susunod na taon ang kanilang misyon na magkaroon ng feeding program at magbigay ng gamit sa paaralan sa mga batang kapus-palad sa kanilang lugar.
Ayon sa mga miyembro, lubos silang natutuwa dahil sa pagkakaroon nila ng grupo na tumatayo bilang pangalawang pamilya nila sa Hong Kong, maliban sa kanilang mga amo. Nabibigyan daw sila ng lakas tuwing may problema dahil napapayuhan sila, at mas nagkaroon sila ng kumpiyansa sa sarili, bukod pa sa naging palakaibigan. Damang-dama din nila na mas masaya ang buhay kung marami silang magkakaibigan na nagtuturingan bilang mga magkakapatid na may respeto at pagmamahal sa isa’t isa. Tuwing magkakasama sila ay nawawala daw ang kanilang pangungulila sa kanilang pamilya na naiwan sa Pilipinas.

Ang isa pang nagbibigkis sa lahat ay ang paniniwala nila sa kasabihang, “Isa para sa lahat, lahat para sa isa at walang tsismisan sa bawat isa”.

Bukod kay Paclibar, ang iba pang bumubuo sa Powa ay sina Leo Selomenio, founder; Diana Estrelian Juanillo, pangalawang pangulo;  Angeli Marie Meboot, kalihim; Mayflor Pirote, pangalawang kalihim; Sheryl Joy Jordanal, ingat-yaman;  Lyn Lorca, pangalawang ingat-yaman, Analisa Bretana, tagasuri; Marites Genoguin, pangalawang taga-suri; Marites Naron, tagapamalita; Diana Rose Soriano, Elsa Duran at Maria Luisa Jimenez; Ronalyn Bayo-Ang, Christhian Je-an Jallorina, Renaly Barruis, tagapamahala.

Sa ika-6 na Nobyembre ay idadaos nila ang kanilang unang taong anibersaryo sa Pier 7, kaya’t tinatawagan ni Paclibar ang sinumang nais dumalo at makiisa sa asosasyong ito ng mga taga Panay na tumawag sa kanya sa numero bilang 68272349 at 90114272.

Gie’s 3 Ps to a perfect cake

By Jo Campos

“In baking, precision, patience and perfection are the key to achieving a perfect cake,” says Linafer Vertucio Madrigal, or simply Gie to her friends.
Gie, a former teacher from Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro came to Hong Kong in November 1994 when an opportunity to work abroad knocked on her door,. Forced to choose between teaching and a job that did not allow her to practise her profession but paid much better, she chose the latter.
After five years of domestic work abroad, she went back to her family in the Philippines. She stayed for just a year, before deciding to take up another job offer in Hong Kong.
In 2002, Gie went back to work for her former employer, Dr. Gary Cheng, where she has stayed since. She has been in his employ for a total of18 years.
Gie has spent much of her time in Hong Kong learning new skills. especially cooking. Because of her expertise in this field, she has moved up to the rare status of being an assessor of Tesda (Technical Education Skills Development Authority) in bread and pastry production.
All the while, she has also kept abreast with developments in her profession, and she is now a reviewer in social science for the licensure examination for teachers in Hong Kong.
When time permits, she also does volunteer work at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or goes hiking with friends.
She says she doesn’t like being idle on her her days off.
"Sa hiking, doon ko natutunan ang perseverance, pushing yourself beyond your limits.”
But she confesses to getting a different "high" when baking.
“ I bake when I’m depressed, when I am happy and when I am sad”, she says.
But there's more: It’s really rewarding when people say na masarap yung ginawa mo," she says.
Gie loves to experiment with her culinary creations.
"Excited ako pag may nakita akong bagong recipe " she says,"Pero (dahil) hindi lahat ng pagkakataon perfect yung ginagawa ko, hindi ako tumitigil hanggang maging satisfied ako.”
She credits her knowledge and skills in cooking mainly to her employer who is a perfectionist when it comes to food, and who often hosts dinner parties at home.
Surprisingly, Gie has no formal training in cooking or baking, She got  her culinary skills from watching cooking demos on YouTube or through cooking and baking videos.
Gie plans to go back home soon for three reasons: to be with her family for keeps, venture in a cake shop business, and teach again.
“My real passion is to impart knowledge to others, and to encourage and push them to their limits,” she says.
Little wonder that instead of keeping secret her recipes for her most popular  baking creations, she posts them on her Facebook page. To her, this is what teaching is all about.

Boston Cream Pie
 Sponge Cake Ingredients:
5 large eggs 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (60 grams) plain cake flour (not self-raising)
1/4 cup (35 grams) all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter

To make the Sponge Cake:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven.
2. Butter and line the bottoms of two-8 inch (23 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper.
3. While the eggs are still cold, separate three of the eggs, placing the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another bowl.
4. To the yolks, add the two remaining eggs.
5. Cover the bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
6. Meanwhile, in a bowl whisk together the flours, baking powder, and salt.
7. Place the milk and butter in a small saucepan, over low heat, and warm until the butter melts. Remove from heat, cover, and keep warm.
8. In your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the whole eggs and yolks and 1/2 cup (100 grams) of sugar on high speed until they are thick and fluffy (3-5 minutes) (when you slowly raise the beaters the batter will fall back into the bowl in a slow ribbon). Beat in the vanilla extract. In a clean bowl, with the whisk attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the egg whites at low speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium-high and gradually add the remaining sugar, beating until soft, moist peaks form.
9. Gently fold a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, and then add the rest of the whites folding just until incorporated.
10. Sift half of the flour mixture over the top of the batter and gently fold through with a rubber spatula or whisk. Sift the remaining flour over the batter and fold in. Make a well in the center of the batter and pour the melted butter/milk mixture into the bowl. Gently but thoroughly fold the butter mixture into the batter.
11. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes or until light brown and springy to the touch. (A toothpick inserted in the middle will come out clean.)
12. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Immediately run a spatula around the inside of the pans and then invert the cakes onto a wire rack. Remove parchment paper and re-invert. Cool completely.

Pastry Cream Ingredients:
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
3 large egg yolks
1/8 cup (20 grams) all-purpose flour
Scant 3 tablespoons (20 grams) cornstarch
1 1/4 cups (300 ml) milk 1 teaspoon vanilla

To Make Pastry Cream:
1. In a medium-sized heatproof bowl, mix the sugar and egg yolks.
        In another bowl, sift or whisk the flour and cornstarch together and then add to the egg mixture, mixing until you get a smooth paste.
        Meanwhile in a small saucepan, bring the milk just to a boil over medium heat.
        Pour the milk slowly into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. (Strain if necessary.) Then place the egg mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until boiling, whisking constantly. When it boils, continue to whisk constantly for another minute or so until it becomes thick.
        Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into a clean bowl and immediately cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming.
        Let the cream cool in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Chocolate Glaze Ingredients:
    4 ounces (120 grams) semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
    1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
    1 tablespoon (13 grams) unsalted butter

To Make Chocolate Glaze:
1. Place the chopped chocolate in a small heatproof bowl.
2. Bring the cream and butter just to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and gently stir until chocolate has melted.
3. Set aside until it has thickened to pouring consistency.

Assemble:
1. Place one cake layer on your serving plate, bottom side facing up.
2. Spoon the pastry cream onto the cake, spreading to make an even layer.
3. Place the second cake layer (top side up) onto the filling.
4. Pour the glaze onto the center of the cake and, using an offset spatula, spread the glaze to the edges of the cake, allowing the glaze to drip down the sides.
5. Let the cake sit until the glaze sets within an hour or so.

Adult supervision requirement dropped from window cleaning ban after employers' protest

By Daisy CL Mandap

The proper way to clean windows, according to Labour Dept

A requirement for adult supervision while domestic workers are cleaning windows has  been dropped from a provision that will be included in their standard employment contracts from next year.

But the provision will still require windows to be installed with grills that must be locked during the cleaning process, unless they are on the ground floor or can be reached safely from a ledge or balcony.

It will also still provide that no body part of the helper, except for the arm, should be extended outside of the locked grills while cleaning the outside part of windows.

The amended provision was made public by the Labour Department today, Nov. 14, after a series of consultations with concerned parties.

According to Thomas Chan, an employment agency representative whose group recently met with labour officials on the proposed amendment, the requirement for adult supervision was opposed by most employers who reportedly found it untenable.

The employers reportedly insisted that it would be difficult for them to meet this requirement, given that most of them are away at work for nearly the whole day.

Had they gotten their way, the window cleaning ban would not have even received support from the Labour Department.

A militant employers group had earlier tried Hong Kong labour officials to overrule a window cleaning ban unilaterally imposed by Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre, which was supposed to take effect last Oct. 15.

Labatt de la Torre had ordered that all employment contracts to be submitted to his office from that day should have a stamped notification that the helper would not be allowed to clean windows from the outside.

Days before it was to take effect, the employers’ group called on the government to instead stop the practice of allowing the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to vet all contracts for hiring Filipino helpers before they are passed on Immigration.

But the move backfired, when Labor not only sided with POLO’s move but also expanded the safety provision by requiring all windows above ground to be fixed with locked grills, and initially mandating adult supervision throughout the cleaning process.

Labour only asked that the implementation be put off to Jan 1 next year, so it could consult with all stakeholders.

The safety provision will cover all foreign domestic workers, not just those from the Philippines.

On Oct 27 Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung met with the consuls general of countries sending domestic workers to Hong Kong and explained the safey provision to them.

All sides reached consensus to include the safety clause in employment contracts from next year.

HK Labour Department issues guidelines for window cleaning ban

Safety clause on cleaning outward-facing windows to be added to Standard Employment Contract for foreign domestic helpers

*********************************************************************************

Two Filipinas were rescued after
they were photographed cleaning
windows of this Saikung flat while
perched on a narrow ledge

     The Labour Department (LD) announced today (November 14) that starting from January 1, 2017 (Sunday), the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) will include a new clause on cleaning outward-facing windows to safeguard the occupational safety of FDHs.
     The new clause stipulates that, when an employer requires the helper to clean the outside of any window which is not located on the ground level or adjacent to a balcony (on which it must be reasonably safe for the helper to work) or common corridor, this must be performed under the following conditions:
(i) the window being cleaned is fitted with a grille which is locked or secured in a manner that prevents the grille from being opened; and
(ii) no part of the helper's body extends beyond the window ledge except the arms.
     A spokesman for the Labour Department said, "The HKSAR Government is committed to safeguarding the occupational safety of employees, including FDHs. In view of the community's concerns about the safety of FDHs when cleaning outward-facing windows, the LD has over the past few weeks consulted various stakeholders, including the consuls general (CGs) of FDHs' home countries in Hong Kong, FDH employer groups, FDH groups and employment agencies associations. They all care about the safety of FDHs and accept that FDHs should not be asked to work in unsafe situations. We are grateful to all stakeholders who have provided us with pragmatic and useful suggestions on how to ensure that FDHs can perform exterior window cleaning safely." 
     Meanwhile, the LD and the Occupational Safety and Health Council will further step up publicity and education efforts to enhance the awareness of employers and FDHs of household and occupational safety, particularly in respect of the safety precautions to be taken when cleaning outward-facing windows.
     On the implementation arrangements, all contracts signed on or after January 1, 2017 must adopt the revised SEC with the new clause added. The revised version of the SEC will be available for collection at the Information and Liaison Section of the Immigration Department (ImmD) on the second floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong starting from December 31, 2016.
     For contracts signed on or before December 31, 2016 using the old version of the SEC, they will still be processed by the ImmD provided that the applications reach the ImmD on or before January 27, 2017 (Friday). Late applications will not be accepted.
     The spokesman added, "Although the new clause is only applicable to new contracts signed on or after January 1, 2017, the LD strongly urges all employers who have engaged FDHs under the existing contacts to follow these requirements to ensure the occupational safety of FDHs."

Issued at HKT 17:55