Zero balance ang Octopus

Napahiya na si Jeje kamakailan, nagmulta pa siya dahil nag zero balance ang kanyang Octopus.

Pagkapananghalian noong Enero 16 ay sumakay si Jeje at ang kanyang popo sa light rail train mula sa Gainza station papunta sa palengke. Nang i-swipe niya ang kanyang Octopus card pasakay ay nag-beep ito pero nakapasok pa rin si Jeje.

Pagdating ng train sumunod na stop, sa Locwood station ay sumakay ang mga inspector dala ang kanilang machine reader, at isa-isang tiningnan ang kanilang Octopus. Pagdating kay Jeje ay nakita nilang zero na ang balance nito.

Pinababa siya at ang kanyang popo, at pinagmulta siya ng $290.

Hiyang hiya si Jeje pero pilit niyang ginigiit na nang sumakay sila ay nakita niyang may 30 cents pang laman ang kanyang Octopus. Mangiyak-ngiyak din siya dahil naubos na ang kanyang allowance sa buong linggo dahil sa multa.

Kinagabihan ay sinabi niya sa kanyang amo ang nangyari, at agad naman nitong ibinalik ang $290 niya. Bagamat nakahinga na ng maluwag, pinagbibilin pa rin ni Jeje sa mga kapwa Pinay na siguraduhin lagi na may laman ang kanilang Octopus bago sila gumamit ng pampublikong sasakyan at nang hindi sila mapahiya at mapahamak.

Si Jeje at may asawa at isang anak na lalaki. Nagtrabaho siya dati sa Singapore at Italy bago nagpunta ng Hong Kong. – Merly Bunda

Hihiwalayan ang mister dahil may kabit

Luhaan si Thelma habang nagkukwento. Uuwi na kasi siya sa Pilipinas, ngunit hindi para mag “for good” kundi para ayusin at siguraduhin na nasa maayos na kalagyan ang kanyang 12 taong gulang na anak na lalaki. Makikipaghiwalay na kasi siya sa kanyang mister matapos madiskubre na may babae ito, at inuwi pa sa kanilang bahay.

Hulyo ng nakaraang taon nang nagpasyang umuwi si Thelma nang palihim. Gusto kasi niyang mapatunayan kung totoo nga umabot sa kanyang kuwento na may dinadalang babae ang kanyang asawa sa bahay nila. Nagtago muna siya at nagmanman upang makahanap ng pruweba.

Para siyang binagsakan ng langit nang makita niya mismo na may dinalang babae ang kanyang asawa sa sarili nilang pamamahay. Agad siyang sumugod, at nang makita siya ng babae ay agad itong nagtago sa loob mismo ng kwarto nilang mag asawa.

Kahit bistado na ay nakuha pang sabihin ng asawa ni Thelma na kaibigan lang nito ang babae. Natural na hindi naniwala si Thelma dahil bakit kinailangan pang magtago ng babae nang makita siya?

Minabuti niyang kausapin ang asawa dahil ayaw naman niya na masira ang kanilang pamilya, at iniisip din niya ang magiging epekto nito sa kanilang anak.  Nangako naman ito na hindi na muling makikipagkita sa babae at iiwasan na ito.

Ngunit nang pabalik na si Thelma ng Hong Kong, nasa airport pa lamang siya ay nabalitaan niyang nandoon na ulit ang babae sa bahay nila. Lutang ang isip ni Thelma nang makarating sa bahay ng kanyang amo. Hindi siya mapakali, at makalipas ang ilang linggo ay nagpasya siyang magpaalam sa amo para ayusin ang problema sa kanyang pamilya.

Binalak ni Thelma na kunin ang anak ngunit hindi ito ibinigay ng kanyang asawa. Bumalik muli si Thelma sa Hong Kong at sinubukan na magpakatatag at maghintay ng tamang pagkakataon. Nitong Enero ay umuwi na siya nang tuluyan dahil pursigido siyang mabawi ang anak sa taksil niyang asawa.

Balak niyang bantayan ang anak sa eskuwela at saka kunin at dalhin sa Iloilo upang doon na manirahan sa kanyang mga magulang. Kapag mabuti na ang sitwasyon ng kanyang anak makalipas ang isang taon ay saka na raw siya mangingibang bansa muli. Si Thelma ay 42 anyos. – Emz Frial

Protest to greet Bello’s return to HK

By The SUN staff  
(UPDATED)

A protest against the compulsory online registration of overseas Filipino workers applying for exemption to the overseas employment certificate (OEC) is set to greet Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on his visit to Hong Kong on Jan. 29.

The protesters will also urge the scrapping of the airport terminal fee integration in plane tickets bought by OFWs.

Bello is scheduled to attend the launch at the Consulate of a mobile phone application designed to track OFWs anywhere in the world, and link them to government authorities.

The new app was designed and produced by Myrna Padilla, a former OFW in Hong Kong turned entrepreneur, who donated it to the Philippine government.

Militant OFW leaders told The SUN that they will hold a protest rally against the new OEC guidelines and the terminal fee integration in time for Bello’s arrival at the Consulate at 10am. No other details were given.

The protesters, led by United Filipinos – Migrante Hong Kong, have long advocated for the scrapping of the OEC, which is required of all Filipino workers departing or returning to their job sites abroad.
During Bello’s first visit to Hong Kong as labor chief in September, he unveiled new guidelines for the OEC, which included provisions for exempting OFWs returning to the same employers and job sites abroad from paying the $20 fee.

However, all OFWs still need to register with the Balik Manggagawa Online (BMO) site before getting the exemption, a process deemed tedious and unnecessary by most.

The mandatory registration resulted in thousands of OFWs queuing up to get their online registration validated at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office ahead of flying back home, especially during the recent pre-holiday rush.  

The protesters are also calling for the restoration of the terminal fee exemption granted by law to all OFWs.

Under present rules implemented by former Manila International Airport chief Jose Honrado, all passengers departing from any Philippine airport are required to pay the terminal fee as part of their plane tickets.  OFWs are only given the option of applying for a refund of the fee that they paid before flying out of the Philippines.

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre said Secretary Bello will arrive in Hong Kong on Saturday, a day after returning to Manila from Rome where he attended peace talks with self-exiled Filipino communist leaders as head of the government negotiating panel.

Bello will reportedly have a light schedule, mainly coming just to launch the app with Padilla. He and Padilla are due to fly back to Manila Sunday afternoon. Shortly before departing, he will meet with the protest leaders on their demands.

Nagnakaw nga ba?

Nag viral sa Facebook kamakailan ang larawan ng isang Pilipina na pinangalanang si Joselyn Lonzano Hererra, 41, na nagnakaw diumano ng $200,000 cash, mga kasangkapan at iba pang gamit mula sa bahay ng mga amo habang ang mga ito ay nakabakasyon sa Amerika mula Dec 23 hanggang Jan. 1 Ang post ay mula sa isang Intsik na nagngangalang Wai Fun Dorothy Tsang.

Ayon sa post, pinaghahanap ng mga amo si Herrera na naglaho pagkatapos magnakaw. Nagsilbi daw ito ng 18 buwan sa amo bago naganap ang pagnanakaw. Isa sa mga Pilipinang nag share ng post si Jasmine Inis Hidalgo, na nagdagdag na base sa record ng Immigration ay hindi pa nakakalabas ng Hong Kong si Herrera.

Marami sa mga nag-comment sa wall ni Hidalgo na naiinis sila sa nangyari dahil napapahiya sila tuwing tinatanong ng kanilang amo tungkol sa ginawa umanong pagnanakaw ni Herrera. Mayroon din naman nagtatanggol sa kanya, at sinasabing huwag siyang husgahan agad dahil hindi pa siya natatagpuan hanggang ngayon. Duda din ang ilan sa paratang dahil paano naman daw nakayang buhatin ng Pilipina mag-isa ang lahat ng appliances mula sa bahay ng amo. Dagdag ng iba, baka nabiktima ng akyat bahay ang amo at pati si Herrera ay tinangay nila.

Marami din ang nagsasabi na sana ligtas at nasa mabuting kamay si Hererra. Matagpuan na daw sana siya at nang masagot ang mga paratang sa kanya sa social media.

Mula naman sa isang kasambahay ng kaibigan ng among nanakawan umano, bigla na lang daw nagbago ang trato sa kanya ng mga amo dahil sa napabalitang nangyari. Pinagbawalan na daw siyang magdala sa kanilang pamamahay ng mga kaibigan niya tuwing araw ng pahinga, at nakasusi na rin ang lagayan ng kanilang vault at mga mahahalagang gamit. – Marites Palma 

Finger-pointing after ‘Tokhang for ransom’

Duterte and dela Rosa with families of Mamasapano 44.

When it emerged that a policeman killed a South Korean businessman right inside Camp Crame, the Philippine National Police headquarters, after he was kidnapped from his home, the crime quickly earned the monicker “Tokhang for ransom”.

The murder of Jee Ick-Joo, an executive of the Hanjin shipbuilding firm which operates in Subic export zone,   embarrassed the government of President Duterte. Media and online commenters blamed  it on the climate of impunity that was fed by the government’s anti-drug drive and Duterte’s promise to back up the policemen. They said the drive, called “Oplan Tokhang” and killed more than 6,000 people since Duterte took office last year, has emboldened the criminals within PNP’s ranks.

Investigations had been conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation and PNP, criminal charges have been filed against policemen led by SPO3 Ricky Sta Isabel, but the top officials appeared to take one more step: wash off the embarrassment.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was the first to call for PNP  Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to resign, to spare President Duterte from embarrassment.

The call, however, fizzled out when Duterte himself said he still needed dela Rosa for the anti-drug campaign.

For his part, dela Rosa pointed his fingers at the media, accusing reporters of destroying the credibility of the PNP when they interviewed Jinky Sta. Isabel, wife of alleged mastermind.

“Ang mahirap dito ‘yung ibang media, ‘yung gumagawa ng kasalanan ‘yun pa ang gagawing hero,” he told a press briefing on January 23.

Jinky had earlier presented evidence, including closed circuit television camera footages and recorded phone calls, to prove their innocence and involvement of higher officials. She claimed the suspect are being framed.

Dela Rosa said: “Kami na nga ‘yung nadidiin dahil sa kasamaan na ginawa ng asawa niya, ngayon lalo pa kami papasamain. Where’s justice?”

Dela Rosa added, referring to the media: “Ano kasama ba kayo sa plano ‘pag ganun?”

But it appeared that dela Rosa had another target by opening another front in the conversation: ex-President Benigno Aquino III.

 Aquino, he said, should be held accountable for the deaths of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in the infamous January 2015 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“Kung tutuusin, lahat doon dapat managot,” said dela Rosa, who was part of the Board of Inquiry that investigated the incident. “Ang recommendation namin sa Board of Inquiry [ay] hanggang sa highest official na involved doon sa operation na ‘yun ang dapat managot.”

Asked if he thinks Aquino should also be held accountable, dela Rosa said: “Oo, dapat hanggang sa president dapat.”

The BOI said Aquino violated the PNP chain of command when he allowed then-suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima to get involved in the planning and execution of Oplan Exodus, the mission to neutralize high-value targets, including Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, the target of the operation in Mamasapano.

“The chain of the command in the PNP was violated. The President, the suspended CPNP Purisima, and the former Director SAF [Getulio] Napeñas kept the information to themselves and deliberately failed to inform the OIC PNP and the SILG,” the BOI said in its report.

“The Chain of Command should be observed in running mission operations,” it added.

The panel said Aquino “bypassed the established PNP Chain of Command” by dealing “directly” with sacked Special Action Force chief Dir. Getulio Napeñas Jr. instead of with the officer-in-charge Deputy Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina.

Dela Rosa said it is up to President Duterte if cases will be pursued against Aquino and the others.
On Jan 27, Duterte gazve the answer when he the met with the families of the Mamasapano 44. He said, referring to Aquino: “You fed the policemen to the lion’s den.” He also said he will create a commission to investigate the case.

Sutil pa rin ang amo

Parang lantang gulay si Monina tuwing araw ng pamamalengke. Lagi kasi siyang nagmamadali dahil isang oras lamang ang binibigay sa kanya para mamili ng pagkain na iluluto niya sa loob ng dalawang araw.

Tatlong beses siyang pumunta ng palengke sa isang linggo. Para na siyang trumpo dahil palagi na lamang siyang nagmamadali. Ang masaklap pa ay kailangan niyang maglakad ng 15 minuto papunta sa palengke dahil ayaw ng amo niya na sumakay siya at hindi raw  kasama sa budget ang pamasahe niya. Puwede lamang siyang sumakay pauwi dahil marami na siyang bitbit.

Ayaw naman gamitin ni Monina ang sariling pera para sa pamasahe sa bus dahil nagtitipid din siya, kaya kailangan niyang magtiis. Iniiwasan din ni Monina na mahuli sa pag uwi sa oras na binigay para sa pamimili dahil siguradong dadakdakan na naman siya ng amo.

Isang araw ay sinermunan na naman ng amo si Monina dahil daw sa maling paghawak niya ng gunting habang ginagawa ang utos nito. Hindi na napigilan ni Monina ang sarili at sinabihan ang amo na tigilan na ang pangingialam sa kanyang trabaho dahil ginagawa na naman niya ang tama. Sinabi din niya na kung hindi ito titigil sa kakadakdak ay lalayasan niya ito.

Sinagot siya ng kanyang amo kung tinatakot ba siya nito at sinagot dn nya ng, “Hindi kita tinatakot, bakit natatakot ka ba?” Sinagot din siya ng kanyang amo ng, “hindi!” Kaya naman sinabi ni Monina sa kanya, “yon naman pala, bakit naman kita tatakutin? Hangga’t maaari ayoko na magtalo tayo dahil ayoko ng gulo kaya pinipigilan ko ang sarili na sumagot. At masama ang loob ko kaya ayoko nang makita kahit ang anino mo!”

Nagulat ang amo ni Monina sa kanyang mga sinabi pero agad itong umalis ng kusina at pumasok sa kuwarto. Makalipas ang isang oras ay lumabas ito ng kuwarto at humingi ng paumanhin kay Monina.

Ngunit pagkalipas ng ilang araw ay balik na naman ito sa dating ugali.

Dati nang nanilbihan si Monina sa kanyang among Intsik sa loob ng pitong taon. Umuwi lamang siya sa Pilipinas noon para magpahinga pansamantala, bago nakumbinsing bumalik pagkatapos ng isang taon. Maldita na daw ang amo noon pa, ngunit binalikan niya ito dahil sa mga alaga na napamahal na sa kanya.

Akala ni Monina ay nagbago na ang ugali ng amo kaya siya nahimok na bumalik. Ganoon na lang ang kanyang pagkadismaya dahil imbes na tumino ay lalo pang gumaspang ang ugali ng amo.

Dahil dito ay nangako si Monina na hindi na siya muling pipirma ng bagong kontrata sa amo. Ilang buwan na lang ang nalalabi at maaari na niyang layasan ang sutil na amo. Si Monina ay kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho sa Happy Valley. – Emz Frial

Kinagat ng aso ng amo

Kinagat ng mabangis na aso ng amo ang isang Pilipinang taga Iloilo noong Dis. 23. Dinala naman siya agad sa Queen Elizabeth Hospital ng amo, pero sinabi na huwag siyang mag-alala dahil kumpleto naman daw sa bakuna yung aso.

Ayon sa Ilonggang kasambahay, tinurukan lang siya ng gamot na pangontra sa tetano, at pinainom ng Panadol para maibsan ang sakit na sanhi ng kagat ng aso.

Gusto na ng Ilongga na umalis na sa amo, dahil pangalawang beses na umano siyang kinakagat ng matapang na aso. Ayaw namang pumayag ng amo, at sinabing kung mananatili siya sa kanila ay hindi na ipapaalaga sa kanya ang aso.

 Kumunsulta siya sa ilang mga kakilala at pinayuhan siya na ilapit na sa abugado ang kanyang kaso para bayaran siya ng danyos ng amo. Kahit ligtas na siya sa rabies ay nagtamo din siya ng sugat na dapat panagutan ng kanyang amo. Dahil dito ay maari na rin siyang bumaba sa bahay ng amo ng walang abiso.

Kasalukuyang pinag-iisipan nang maigi ng Ilongga kung ano ang susunod niyang gagawin. – Merly Bunda

New tracking app for OFWs to be launched in HK

The new app is now available for downloading

By Vir B. Lumicao

A mobile phone application that would link up all OFWs to the Consulate at the touch of a button will have its pilot launch in Hong Kong on on Sunday, Jan 29, according to Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.

But ahead of the launch, the app has been made available to OFWs for downloading starting on Jan. 24, so their phones would be ready for hook-up with the system when it launches on Sunday.

The app will play a crucial role, as, with just a tap of the finger, it will instantly connect a troubled OFW to the Consulate or to a compatriot nearest her.

Labatt De la Torre said one crucial function of the app is it would enable domestic workers who are being abused by their employers to take photographs of the abuse and store these as evidence in an account in the app that is inaccessible to the employer.

“Yung natatakot mag-store ng mga ebidensiya at baka makita ng employer, puwede niyang i-store muna sa app na iyan, sa cloud storage, para hindi makita,” the official said.

Former Hong Kong-based domestic worker Myrna Padilla, now a successful information technology entrepreneur, will formally launch the app that she developed during simple rites at the Consulate 

De la Torre said Padilla donated the app, which is downloadable on any android phone, to the Philippine government to enable it to track OFWs anywhere in the world.

Padilla owns and heads a Davao-based business process outsourcing company named Mynd Consulting, which she set up after returning home following several years of being an OFW in the territory.

Labatt De La Torre said the app would ease OFW communication with compatriots who are in various parts of Hong Kong, and with the Consulate and its attached government units.

The benefit from the new app is for the Consulate “to be able to track and monitor OFWs within Hong Kong basta naka-upload lang sa mobile nila, and to post-notify them if there’s an important event,” said Labatt De la Torre. 

“Puwedeng pakinabangan ng lahat ng Filcom kasi puwede silang maka-create ng sarili nilang group na parangFacebook.”

Development of the application began a few years back and, in 2014, it was already publicized as an app that enables OFWs to meet and stay in touch. The app helps them choose the country where they are based, the dialect they choose to use, and the organization to which they belong.

Lakbay Dangal starts new year with walkabout

Lakbay Dangal walkabout participants in one of the stops in Central.

A group of Filipino migrant workers from the Domestic Workers Empowerment Program and CARD MRI HK joined the Lakbay Dangal Historical and Cultural Trail on Jan. 8, headed by Marites Mapa, Victoria Munar and Cecille Duarte.

The trail uncovered the historical links between Hong Kong and Philippines, and in particular the time spent in the territory by the Philippines’ national hero, Dr Jose P. Rizal.

The walk started from Chater Garden, formerly known as the Cricket Club and was renamed in 1910 after Sir Paul Catchick Chater, known as the Father of Modern Hong Kong.

Nearby is the Court of Final Appeal, which until a few years ago was known as the Legislative Council Building. However, it was originally built to serve as Hong Kong’s Supreme Court, and the etchings on the front of the building show this clearly.

Beside it is Statue Square, a favorite hangout of overseas Filipino workers, especially those who just arrived in Hong Kong. The group was told that the statue known to most Filipinos as “Black Man” is actually that of a white Briton, Sir Thomas Jackson, who was responsible for the development of colonial Hong Kong under the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The use of black granite is said to account for the statue’s color.

From here, the group was led to the HSBC headquarters across, where Rizal is documented to have received money sent by his brother Paciano from the Philippines.

Guarding the building are two renowned lion statues, one of which is called “Stephen, the security”, named after A.G. Stephen, former manager of the bank’s Hong Kong branch. The other lion is called “Stitt, the Prudence”, named after A.G. Stitt, manager of the bank’s Shanghai branch at the time. The trail leaders said there is a belief that touching one of the lions’ face down to the front feet will bring good luck.

The group continued its walk to nearby Duddel St, where Rizal, an opthalmologist, used to have a clinic. The steps leading up to Ice House street and framed by four old gas lamps were said to have so inspired Rizal that they often figured in his writing.

Many in the group started snapping photos when they reached a marker on D’Aguilar Street where Rizal is known to have also run a clinic. A tower block that houses various shops and restaurants now stands on the site, near the corner with Queen’s Road Central.

From there, the group went up a steep flight of stairs to Rednaxela Terrace, where Rizal lived for a few months. A sign in front of the exact spot where his old house once stood reads: “Here Rizal and his mother lived from 1891 to 1892.”

The group was told that OFWs led by the national hero, were the first Filipinos to make their mark in Hong Kong.

George Manalansan, an OFW who joined the walking tour, said that he felt like a newly arrived tourist because he managed to get to the important historial sites with guides who explained the significance of each stop. He said it was “very informative and inspiring”.

Another member of the group, Helen G. Elefante said after the walk, “It was indeed a great historical experience”. – with a report by Marites Palma

Naimbiyerna kay lola

Dating masaya si Lorna sa piling ng mga kauna-unahang amo na nakatira sa Yuen Long. Super bait kasi ang mag-asawa at walang problema sa kanyang gawaing bahay. Kapag nagigipit siya sa pera ay nakakahiram pa siya sa amo, kaya laking pasasalamat niya sa maganda niyang kapalaran.

Nang alukin siyang pumirma ulit sa panibagong kontrata ay walang kagatol-gatol siyang pumayag. Sa malas ay namatay ang tatay ng amo niyang lalaki pagkatapos nilang mag-renew ng kontrata. Dahil hindi naman magawang iwan ng amo mag-isa ang ina sa bahay ay sila ang pumisan dito sa Tai Wai.

Unang araw pa lamang nila doon ay naramdaman agad ni Lorna ang bigat ng pakiramdam niya sa lola. Hindi ito marunong mag-English dahil galing sa mainland China, kaya hindi sila magkaintindihan. Walang araw ang lumipas na hindi siya isinusumbong sa kanyang mga amo, at ang higit na masakit ay ang pagbibilang nito ng anumang pagkain na nasa loob ng fridge para hindi siya makakain ng wala itong permiso. Ultimo prutas ay binibilang ng matanda. Tira-tira na nga lang daw ang binibigay sa kanya ng matanda ay parang masakit pa sa loob nito na pakainin siya. Sumbong pa ito nang sumbong sa mga amo niya ng kahit na walang kwentang bagay.

Ngunit ang sukdulan ay nang sawayin siya habang kausap niya ang kanyang pamilya sa Pilipinas sa oras ng kanyang pahinga sa gabi. Hindi kasi siya makahawak man lang ng telepono maghapon dahil sinususundan siya ng matanda.

Sa galit ay sinabihan niya ang matanda ng, “Wala na ba akong karapatang kumustuhin ang aking pamilya bago ako matulog sa gabi?" Sinagot naman nito na hindi bawal ang tumawag pero dapat daw ay sa labas niya ito gawin at hindi sa kwarto nila ng kanyang alaga dahil malakas ang radiation na nanggagaling sa cellphone at computer.

Sa sama ng loob ay agad-agad na nagpunta si Lorna sa kanyang agency pagdating ng Linggo para maghanap ng bagong amo. Pero nadismaya siya nang malamang $7k ang dapat niyang bayaran kung break contract siya. Napaisip si Lorna at kinundisyon na lang ang sarili na magtiis.

Walong buwan na lang ang natitira sa kanyang kontrata, at isinumpa niyang hindi na muli siyang pipirma sa mga amo dahil sa kapisan nilang matanda na mahirap pakisamahan. Si Lorna ay tubong Visayas – Marites Palma

110 Pinoys in HK jails, down 9% from 2016

By Vir B. Lumicao

Lo Wu Correctional for women

There were 110 Filipino inmates in Hong Kong jails in the last quarter of 2016, according to statistics provided this month by the Consulate. The figure is 9% lower than the 121 inmates reported by the Consulate for the same period in 2015.

But, Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the assistance to nationals section, cautioned: “We can’t say those figures are accurate because some convicted kababayans might have served out their sentences when we distributed gifts before Christmas.”

Vallespin said the figures were cumulative, as new convicts and remand detainees were added to those who had been behind bars for some years now, such as those convicted of murder and drug trafficking.

The numbers were gathered by Consulate officers and staff led by Consul General Bernie Catalla as they made a round of Hong Kong prisons before Christmas to give presents and Yuletide cheers to the prisoners.

Drugs-related cases comprised the bulk of the quarterly figure, at 45, or 21.6% more than the 37 during the same period in 2015.

Drug offenders detained at Lo Wu Correctional for Women numbered 21, followed by those in Tai Lam Centre for Women at 10.

The second-biggest group of inmates as of end-December, at 24, were those jailed for breach of condition of stay, either for illegal work or staying beyond the expiration of their visas.

This was followed by theft offenders who numbered 18, down 38% from the 29 reported for the same period in 2015.

The inmates were a mix of domestic workers who have mostly violated their visa terms, thieves entering Hong Kong as tourists to pick pockets or steal at jewelry shops, as well as Filipino residents and asylum-seekers caught shoplifting or burgling.

Most of the prisoners, 58 of them, were in Lowu Correctional, where most immigration offenders were detained.

Hong Kong’s maximum security prison in Stanley houses the longest-held Filipino prisoners, both murder convicts.

Food trends offer opportunities in the Philippines

Lutong ulam on display a Sunday market.

Dining out in the Philippines will never be the same with the emergence of food stalls that have sprouted all over the country, offering various dishes and dining options, from al fresco dining to just eating by the food cart.

Food Courts

Go to any mall and you will see the food stalls that serve snacks from pastries and pies, donuts, dim sums, to popular street food such as fish balls, broiled chicken innards and kwek-kwek - the boiled quail eggs dipped in heavy orange colored batter and deep fried to a crispy outer crust.

Most offer food eaten on the spot or for takeout, but a few have small chairs and tables for customers who want more time to savor what’s on offer. The multitude of food stalls suggest that the franchising business is alive and well in the Philippines. This could just be as well, especially for newbie investors who do not much have much capital to spare.

Acquiring a food franchise is far easier than setting up a restaurant, which entails the more complicated process of acquiring a license under an approved brand name from the Department of Trade and Industry. There is also the matter of finding a suitable location, and a theme or concept that would hit it off with discerning customers. More importantly, the dishes to be served must be unique in taste, concept and appearance, and should allow the restaurant to acquire its own signature and establish a loyal clientele.

A few facts to consider:

1. Location and Ambiance: The most important factor to consider in setting up a restaurant. Competition is getting tight in the food business, particularly in Metro Manila, so one needs to know where diners would likely go, for the food and to be seen. In Quezon City, for example, Maginhawa St is fast catching up with the older food hubs on Tomas Morato Ave, Eastwood and several other places as the place to be for the young and hip crowd.

2. Name and branding: The name of the restaurant as approved by DTI should be unique as it will establish the owner’s identity and the quality of its food. Whatever name is chosen by the owner, whether it is for a small carinderia or a fine dining restaurant, a lot will still depend on what it has to offer, from the general look of the restaurant, the quality of food and the kind of service that comes with the package.

3. Consistency and Quality: Food served in the restaurant should be unique and should leave its own mark in the customer’s palate. Menus should be carefully planned, and there should be consistency in the taste and the quality of food. Ambience and hygiene are also of utmost importance, along with good customer service and an effective advertising strategy.

Food Trucks

Binalot food truck, which is now open to franchising.

Another trend that is gaining more and more popularity is the food park and food truck park concept. A food park consists of different stalls serving different varieties of food from burgers to popular street food, Japanese takoyakis and other finger foods. Also available are specialty drinks and coffee, milkshakes and buckets of beer. These food parks are the new food hubs frequented by the so called millennials.

These establishments are open from late afternoon to the wee hours of the night. In Marikina alone, there are more than 10 food parks and more are coming up with new and unique concepts of their own.

One of the main attractions of these food parks are the spacious parking areas that are provided for free to customers. The food varies according to the concept of the food park.

One particular food park in Marikina that has a unique concept is the Carnival Food Park, considered as one of the biggest in food trends to hit Metro Manila. The atmosphere inside the said food park is the jolly ambiance of a real carnival boasting a 1,600+ square meters of more than 26 different concept food stalls.

Staying true to its name, the Carnival Food Park has a carnival theme from its entrance to the decors inside. Each food stall has its own theme. More and more of these food parks have been sprouting around Metro Manila.

In the next issue, I will feature more food parks and new food trends, along with new recipes and places to go to for a memorable dining experience..

5 Pinoys succumb to illness in January

By Vir B. Lumicao

Friends view the remains of Marilyn
Librado before they were sent home

Five Filipinos died in Hong Kong in the first three weeks of January, including an octogenarian who succumbed to heart disease in hospital while serving a prison sentence for theft, and a 60-year-old cancer victim who had overstayed her visa for several years.

The rest were all OFWs, the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section told The SUN in an interview.

Two of the dead have been flown home while a third one is set for cremation on Jan 22, said ATN officer Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr., who had been in touch with the authorities and the deceased’s families.

Lucine Dotdot and Marilyn Librado, whose ages were not available, both died of aneurysm, said ATN officer Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr., who handled the cases of the two domestic workers.

Cayabyab said Dotdot died on Jan 2, but could not tell the date of Librado’s demise because her records were still with the authorities.

“Their remains were shipped home on Jan 13 via Philippine Airlines,” Cayabyab said.

Mila Ergina, a 50-year-old domestic worker, passed away on Jan 12 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon after being confined there for some time, Cayabyab said. The deceased left her family in Pangasinan in 1995 to work in Hong Kong.

The overstayed Filipina, Carmelita Dogello, 60, died on Jan 12 in Prince of Wales Hospital after a prolonged battle against cancer. She came to Hong Kong in 1981 but overstayed her visa in 2006, Cayabyab said.

Dogello, who had many friends in the community, collapsed in her employer’s home in November last year and was diagnosed to be terminally ill of cancer, a member of her church said.

A son of Dogello came to Hong Kong in December to attend to his mother in hospital but went home shortly after the woman died, Cayabyab said. He added that the deceased would be cremated on Jan 22.

Edwina Antonio of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge said it was Dogello’s wish to be cremated.

The eldest of the deceased, 81-year-old Stanley Prison inmate Ricardo de Jesus, succumbed to heart disease in Queen Mary Hospital on Jan 3, Cayabyab said.

De Jesus was serving a total of 47 months in jail after his conviction for theft and breach of deportation orders on Feb 10 last year.

Ylagan’s absence stalls magistracy hearing of jobs scam case

Ylagan giving her side to The SUN
in June last year

The first hearing on Jan. 20 of the labour cases involving the alleged recruitment of hundreds of Filipinas for non-existent jobs in Britain and Canada had to be called off after the accused, employment agency owner Ester P. Ylagan, failed to appear in court.

Ylagan faces 21 cases of  “receiving payment other than the prescribed commission” for allegedly charging applicants $10,000 to $15,000 for purported jobs in the two countries between January and July last year.

The cases were filed by the Employment Agency Administration after interviewing dozens of Filipino migrant workers who brought their complaints against Ylagan to the Consulate, which in turn endorsed them to the HK Labour Department.

Two Labour prosecutors were present in Eastern court for the hearing, listed down as “for mention” of the cases against Ylagan.

The 21 claimants were just a tiny fraction of the more than 500  people who are believed to have given their trust and money to Ylagan, who for years, had run Emry’s Employment Agency, the biggest recruiter of Filipino domestic workers into Hong Kong.

When she recruited for the fake jobs, however, Ylagan used Mike’s Secretarial Services, a company listed solely in her name.

More than 100 of the claimants have sought help from the Small Claims Tribunal for a refund of their money, and most of the cases are still pending.

Ylagan has not attended a single hearing of the cases, and a representative has repeatedly told the court that the defendant was in the Philippines for medical consultations.

The officer in charge of the cases has given an ultimatum for Ylagan to appear at the next hearing, or risk losing the right to repudiate the claims.

At Eastern court, Ylagan was again nowhere in sight when the court clerk called out the names of the parties in cases due for hearing before Magistrate Arthur Lam.

Her case was reserved for last, but the Labour prosecutors decided to leave before the penultimate case could be heard after seeing no signs of the defendant.

When the clerk of court called out the number of the first case against Ylagan, she was surprised to find that nobody was in the gallery, not even the prosecutors.

The magistrate stood up and walked back into his chamber.

“The defendant didn’t come,” the clerk of court said when asked what happened.

When asked what the court would do with the case, she simply said: “Adjournment.”

The SUN tried to contact EAA investigation officer Pang Wah-sang to inquire about what the Labour Department would do after Ylagan’s failure to show up, but got no immediate reply. – Vir B. Lumicao

Nagselfie lang, nasisante agad

Pagkatapos bilinan si Joy na bantayan maigi ang alaga habang nag-aaral lumangoy sa swimming pool na kanilang pinupuntahan ay agad-agad siyang nagselfie at nag-upload sa facebook pagtalikod ng amo.

Hindi niya tuloy namalayan nang hilahin ng kanyang alaga sa ilalim ng pool ang kaklase na anak ng kaibigan ng kanyang amo. Hindi natuwa yung batang hinila sa ilalim ng pool kaya nagsumbong sa Mommy niya pag-uwi nila.

Sinabi nitong nagse-selfie kasi ang yaya ng kaibigan niya kaya nahila siya nang hindi nito namamalayan.

Agad namang ipinaalam nung nanay ang buong pangyayari sa amo ni kabayang nagselfie kaya hindi ito nagdalawang isip na sisantihin siya. Walang nagawa si Joy nang sabihan siya na tinatapos na ng amo ang kanilang kontrata dahil hindi naman niya ginagawa ang trabaho. Mas inuuna pa raw kasi niya ang pagse-selfie kaysa bantayan ang kanyang alaga.

Binilinan na nga siya ng husto pero nanaig ang buyo ng pagse-selfie sa ganda ng pool na kanyang kinatatayuan. Hiyang hiya at sising sisi si Joy sa nangyari sanhi ng pagka-adik niya sa selfie. Nangako man siyang hindi na mauulit ang pangyayari ay huli na. – Marites Palma 

2,000 new passports arrive in HK, release back to normal

By Vir B. Lumicao

Passport issuance in HK was delayed by up to more than a month

The release of new passports to Filipinos in Hong Kong has returned to normal following the arrival of 2,000 pieces of the travel document from Manila on Monday, Jan 16, according to a Consulate official.

The delivery has eased concerns over passport delays which Consulate officials said were due to the backlog in Manila over the long Christmas and New Year holidays.

Vice Consul Fatima Quintin, head of the passport section, told The SUN in an interview on Jan 19 that the owners of the passports that had been delayed for at least a week had already been notified.

“As we had promised the applicants, if their passports don’t arrive on the scheduled date, we’ll text them; when the passports arrive, we also text them,” said Quintin.

This was confirmed by a Filipina worker who rushed to the Consulate at 4:45pm on Jan 19 to pick up her passport, as she was going home on Jan 22 due to a family emergency.

“Tinawagan ako dahil dumating na raw ang passport ko, hihintayin daw nila ako hanggang 5:30pm,” the helper told The SUN inside the lift.

The counters at the public hall were already closed when she got there, but, true enough a staff waited for her in the passport section and reopened the releasing window when she knocked on the door. 

Delay in the processing of applications happened in Manila

Shipments of new passports from Manila arrive every Monday, so the Consulate is expecting the delivery of just about the same number, or 2,000, on Jan 23, Quintin said. On rare occasions a small number arrive in special pouches which cost more.

Quintin said processing time was back to normal this past week. She said when the shipment arrived on Monday night, her staff worked double time sorting them and contacting the owners.

Processing varies from three weeks to three months, depending on the correctness of the entries.

The official urged OFWs to apply for renewal of their passports at least eight months before the travel documents expire so there would be an allowance for delays. Or as early as possible if they want their new visas stamped on their new passports.

Meanwhile, Quintin warned OFWs against using their passports as collateral for loans, as they would definitely have a hard time getting a replacement.

“We are very strict on that,” she said, adding that many have been doing that and the Consulate is keeping an eye on the malpractice.

She said the Consulate’s policy today is to require each applicant to declare if he has used his passport as collateral. If he said no but was found to have done so, he would be subject to clearance from DFA and would have a bad record.

“Please warn them that it is against the law,” Quintin said.

PAHK promises ‘exciting year’ for Filipinos in HK

Members of the 2017 Board of Directors of the Philippine Association of Hong Kong are offered a toast by Consul-General Bernardita Catalla after inducting them into office in rites held at the Consulate. Photo by Frederick Suarez

By Daisy CL Mandap

From monthly pep talks over lunch to reviving old traditions like Family Day, the new leadership of the Philippine Association of Hong Kong is promising an exciting year for Filipinos in Hong Kong.
Shortly after taking his oath as PAHK chair before Consul General Bernardita Catalla on Jan 11, journalist Rex Aguado unveiled a long list of activities aimed at reaching out to more members of the community, particularly the young and the old-timers.
The new projects include a monthly brown bag lunch where professionals, both Filipinos and non-Filipinos, will be invited to speak on such topics as career and family issues. The meet-ups, dubbed BYOBB (for Bring Your Own Bag and Brain) will be open even to non-members.
“ We will be inviting Filipino corporates to send their staff to these events,” said Aguado.
Young members of the community will also be provided with activities such as hiking and networking sessions to help them kick-start their careers or enhance their job opportunities.
Alongside these are two Family Day events being planned for the spring and autumn, which are primarily aimed at orienting newly arrived Filipino families about life in Hong Kong.
PAHK used to hold family-oriented gatherings in the past, including one that featured friendly sport competitions and another over Christmas, but the practice has long been abandoned. Aguado said the Family Days under his term will also feature sport activities.
Long-term residents are also on the radar of PAHK this year, with plans to reach out and involve them in the activities being planned.
The previous practice of organizing monthly cocktails to allow members to expand their contacts in the business and professional communities will also be revived this year. Aguado said his team looks forward to getting the support of big companies to make these monthly networking sessions successful.
Already in the works is a plan to use social media to reach out to more Filipinos, and get them involved in community activities. In line with this, PAHK has created Facebook pages called PAHK Life, PAHK Business & Events, and PAHK Classifieds. As their names suggest, each page is dedicated to sharing information among members about the various aspects of living and working in Hong Kong.
“I can foresee that it’s going to be an energized board this year,” said Aguado.
But along with the new activities, traditional events like the Philippine Independence Day  Ball and the Sunday community event on Chater Road will continue to be held.
It will be a year packed with activities, but Aguado is confident his new board of directors will deliver.
“Please help us in this journey, it’s going to be an exciting one,” he promised.
He said the “reveal” for all the activities will be held at a general assembly for PAHK members set for Feb. 17.
Congen Catalla for her part unveiled the Consulate’s own plans for the year, including the staging of Kadayawan Festival in this year’s Chinese New Year parade on Jan. 28, and its first ever official participation in Hong Kong’s Flower Festival from March 10-19.
She also hinted at other projects for the year, to be staged in cooperation with the Hong Kong government.
“We need your assistance to make these big projects successful,” she told the PAHK members.
The other PAHK officers who took their oath with Aguado were: Louise Vas, vice-chairman; Euvi Regis-Kay, secretary; Steven Co, assistant secretary; Edna Hui, treasurer; Senen Glinoga, asst. treasurer; Fred Valencia, auditor; Gary Flores and Tom Magno,  PRO; Joel Almeda, Mark Yabut, Richard del Valle, Emilie Veringa-Tobias and Jaerey Velasco, committee members.

MFMW to hold annual fund-raising raffle

The Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW) Limited (Mission for Migrant Workers) will hold a charity raffle draw on Sunday, Feb 12 to help finance its programs and services for foreign migrant workers for the year.

The charity organization, which provides basic services and facilities for migrant workers in need, is selling tickets for the raffle at $10 each unit, and a booklet for $100. All groups and individuals who would like to support the Mission’s main advocacy of providing help and relief for migrant workers are enjoined to purchase the tickets for the raffle.

Donations are also welcome from those who cannot sell tickets.
A donation of $100 or more is tax deductible.

Established in 1981, MFMW is the leading and trusted service provider of charitable basic services and facilities for the relief of migrant workers in Hong Kong. It is a pioneering ecumenical non-governmental welfare institution and a committed advocate in building a caring and inclusive Hong Kong society.    

For further details, please call 2522 8264 or 9711 1673 (Esther).  
You can also send your donation directly to the MFMW bank account:
Account Name: MFMW Limited
Name of Bank: Hang Seng Bank
Address of Bank: 83 Des Voeux Road, Central, HK
Bank Account No.:         210-116448-883
Swift Code:       HASEHKHH
Bank Code: 024

On matters of visa validation

By Cynthia Tellez

The Mission recently handled quite a number of cases related to visa validity. This should not be too problematic if understood correctly and/or handled properly.There are different cases but all are related to the validity of the visa issued by the Immigration Department.

Allow us to discuss one by one for easy understanding of the readers of The SUN.

1. Visa validity in relation to passport validity. Upon arrival in Hong Kong for a new contract with an entry visa for employment, the first thing that an immigration officer does is to check the validity of the passport. A two-year visa is issued to foreign domestic workers (FDW) for a two-year contract if the passport is valid for at least 25 months. That is a month longer than two years. For those processing the renewal of their contract in Hong Kong and those allowed to change employers without leaving Hong Kong, once the contract reaches the Immigration Department for the issuance of working visa, the validity of the passport is also checked. If the validity is still more than two years, the initial one-year visa for the two-year contract will be issued and the FDWwill be required to exit Hong Kong before issuing the last year of the two-year visa to complete the two-year employment contract.

But there are instances when the passport validity is less than two years or even less than one year. The usual action of the Immigration Department will be to issue a visa that is a month shorter than the passport’s validity. Meaning, the expected one-year visa will not be issued and instead, the Immigration gives only seven months if the passport is only valid for eight more months.

This is the actual process and practice that relates to the validity of visa in relation to your passport. Do not think that you will automatically be given a visa that is good for one year or two years, as the case may be. The visa validity will also depend on the expiration date of the passport. Everyone must always check on this matter to ensure that their working visa remains valid, and immediately inform the employer about it. This way, you can immediately agree on the date on which you should apply for a new passport and afterwards, the extension of your visa.

Check also with the Consulate how long it takes for a new passport to be processed so you are sure to have your new passport ready before your visa expires.

There are also instances when the employer confiscates the passport, which is illegal. In case you are in such situation and you cannot immediately insist on getting your passport back, at least take note of the expiration date of your visa. You should remind your employer about this, and insist that your passport must be returned to you for the renewal of your visa, also for your own safekeeping. If your employer still refuses to give back your passport, you should inform the police about it. Use the report card from the police to immediately inform the Immigration Department of the situation. Ask for police assistance to retrieve your passport. Immigration may extend some leniency on this case. However, retrieving your passport should not take long. If your employer continues to refuse to hand it back to you, get the help of police immediately.

If the passport is declared lost, immediately report to the police and get a report card. Show the police report card to the Philippine Consulate in applying for a new passport.

The collection notice from the Philippine Consulate must be shown to the Immigration Department to inform them about the situation.

All the above steps are preventive measures to avoid being charged with breach of condition of stay by the Immigration Department. Remember that staying beyond the allowed date of permit to stay in Hong Kong is punishable by law.

2.  Another case pertains to the two-week rule of the Immigration Department. The Rule says that if the employment contract is terminated prematurely, meaning before the expiration of the visa, then an FDW can only stay up to 14 days after termination. The visa is automatically shortened to just two weeks after termination, even if the previous validity is longer than this.

But, say, the visa is only valid for just one (1) week. In this case, the automatic validity of the visa is not two weeks, but only one week. There is no such thing as automatic extension for two weeks if the contract is terminated prematurely with a visa that has less than two week’ validity.

In any case, it is best is for the FDW to report immediately to the Immigration Department upon termination of the contract. There is nothing to lose here. In fact, you can even verify when your permit to stay ends.

If you are in a situation wherein the passport is with the lending company or with a person, please be reminded that, again, this is illegal. Demand the person or establishment or agency holding your passport to give back the passport to you immediately and clearly tell them that your visa is expiring soon and that you need to report to the relevant authorities. If they refuse, seek the assistance of the police in retrieving your passport. As much as possible, bring with you two friends who are willing to witness what is happening.

If the person or establishment or agency refuses to give back the passport in the presence of the police and denies that the passport is with them and you are stuck, ask for police report on lost passport. Apply then for a new passport at the Philippine Consulate General with the Police Report.
Remember to always photocopy your personal documents such as passport, HK identification card, SSS cards, Philhealth, etc and keep them for possible future use.

As a reminder, always be conscious and knowledgeable of the important documents you need especially while working overseas. File and keep them safely. Keep photocopies of them as well.
If you still have some matters you want to clarify, please contact the Mission at 2522 8264.

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

Immigration still accepts green employment contracts signed before Jan 1

The new blue contract should be used
if signed after Jan 1, 2017

By Vir B. Lumicao

Green standard employment contracts will still be accepted by the Immigration Department if they were signed by both the employer and the domestic worker before Jan. 1 and are received by Department before Jan 27.

This was made clear by the department in response to an inquiry by The SUN amid confusion over the effective date of the blue revised standard contract that includes safety guidelines on helpers’ window-cleaning duties.

Domestic workers who are confused over the implementing date of the new form have lambasted the Consulate and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for allegedly telling them the green contract forms are still accepted by Immigration.

To the helpers’ dismay, immigration officers have rejected several green work contracts submitted for processing, telling the workers to use the blue forms instead.

“Hindi na nga ina-accept ung green na form sa immigration. Bakit ba ang kulit ng Consulate,” a visitor to the POLO Hong Kong website commented. 

The Immigration spokeswoman said the Labour Department guidelines on implementing the revised employment contract clearly stated that the blue form is required only for all contracts signed from Jan 1, 2017, onwards.

“So if the contract was signed before Jan 1, 2017, it will still be accepted by the Immigration as long as it is received on or before the Jan 27 deadline,” the spokeswoman said.

The window-cleaning restriction 

The helpers were incensed further when allegedly told by Consulate and POLO staff at the counters following the rejection that they would have to reprocess their contracts using the blue form – but would have to pay the fee of nearly $500 again.

Another worker who aired her complaint on Facebook turned out she misunderstood the instructions. She said her green contract, signed by her employer on Dec 30, 2016, was cleared by a staff on Jan 11.

Her document was still valid, but she listened to another Filipina helper who said that contract would be rejected as had happened to many others who had been told to use the blue forms. 

When told about the contract rejections, Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre said POLO’s cut-off date for using the green contracts was Jan 18, so that there was a seven-working-day time to submit them to Immigration before Jan 27.

He said it should be easy to fix the problem as the affected workers could just go to POLO and have the signing dates changed to pre-Jan 1, 2017. But he was not specific on whether the workers would have to pay a fee again.

The Labour Department revised the standard employment contract in November last year to include a clause that prohibits helpers from climbing out of a window to clean its exterior. The department enforced the new policy starting on Jan 1, 2017.