Bringing back our long-forgotten dishes

Food fusion could either be a boon or a bane to lovers of home cooking. While some well-loved dishes from our childhood have been enhanced by the addition of some exotic new ingredients, others have suffered from the never-ending quest to turn something familiar to one that has a bit more zing or bite or crunch.

There’s been a mad rush to offer something new, something out of the ordinary, that a lot of the comfort dishes served us during out growing-up years have been lost or turned into something totally unrecognizable, both in look and taste.

Now come food sites that try to turn back the clock so the traditional Filipino dishes as we know them can once again be cooked as in the past, before fusion cuisine became a fad. One such site is Recipe ni Juan, which has brought back home cooking at its finest, meaning, exactly how our mothers, and their mothers before them, have always prepared some of our favorite dishes. No frills or fuss, but just plain good cooking.

Here are some sample recipes of those long-forgotten, but cherished dishes:

Humba

Ingredients
½ kg pork liempo, sliced in big square chunks
¼ cup water
100 ml soy sauce
¼ cup dark soy sauce
¼ cup cane vinegar
¼ cup pineapple juice
50 grams garlic
50 grams onions
¼ cup muscovado sugar
100 grams banana blossom
salt and pepper, to taste
blanched pechay, as needed for garnishing
5 pieces fried smashed banana, for garnishing

Procedure:
1) Mix liempo, water, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, vinegar, pineapple juice, garlic, onion, and muscovado sugar in a pot and cook for 1 hour until liempo is soft.
2) Add the banana blossom.
3) Allow sauce of humba to thicken. Serve with blanched pechay and smashed fried banana.

Filipino Original Fried Chicken 
Ingredients:
4 pcs. chicken quarters
rock salt
1 tsp patis or fish sauce
freshly cracked black pepper

Procedure:
1) Rub the chicken with rock salt. Rinse and drain.
2) Steam the chicken for 20 minutes. Let the chicken cool.
3) Rub the patis and black pepper on the chicken pieces.
4) Refrigerate uncovered for at least 15 minutes.
5) Deep-fry the chicken and serve with banana ketchup, Knorr seasoning or hot sauce

Pinangat na Galunggong
Ingredients:
1 lb. galunggong (mackerel scad), cleaned and gutted
3 pcs. medium-sized tomatoes,
½ cup squeezed juice from calamansi (calamondin)
1 pc. small onion, finely slice
1 thumb-sized ginger, peeled and chopped
2 cups water
1 tsp. salt

Procedure:
1) Line the bottom of a medium pot with some slices of tomatoes, onion and ginger. Set aside the remaining tomatoes.
2) Arrange the galunggong over the mixture and then lay the remaining tomatoes on top of the fish.
3) Pour in the calamansi juice and water. Season with salt.
4) Bring to a boil and then drizzle with some vegetable oil. Simmer over medium to low heat for 15 minutes or until the fish is cooked.
5) Remove from heat and transfer on a serving plate. Serve with steamed rice.

Notes:
1) Adjust your salt and calamansi until you get the desired taste.
2) After arranging all the ingredients in the pot, let it sit for a few minutes to let the fish marinate. It will allow the ingredients to be absorbed by the meat of the fish.
3) You may have patis (fish sauce) on the side for dipping.
4) Do not overcook the fish or it will become too flaky.
5) You can use vinegar and kamias (bilimbi fruit) or tamarind fruit as substitute for calamansi and tomatoes. Other unique variations use different ingredients such as strawberries and green mangoes. You may also add siling haba (long green chilies). They will produce the same sour and tangy flavor but very distinct in their own ways.
6) If you want to use other types of fishes, go for tastier and meatier but less bony varieties like sapsap (ponyfish), pompano, hasa-hasa (short mackerel), bisugo (threadfin brim), tambakol (yellowfin tuna) or matambaka (bigeye scad). If you have a bit more money to spare, try lapu-lapu


Ox Tongue Asado (Inasadong Dila Ng Baka)
Ingredients
1 dila ng baka (ox tonuge, whole)
12 cups of water with 1 tsp iodized salt
1 Knorr beef cube, diluted in 2 cups water
1 laurel leaf
1 whole onion, chopped
5 big cloves of garlic
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 small can Del Monte tomato sauce
1/2 cup calamansi juice
1/2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp hoisin sauce

Procedure:
1) Before cooking, wash the dila ng baka or ox tongue. Boil in water for about 30 minutes and then discard the water and brush the tongue until the scum is removed.
Let cool and slice evenly (preferably “pang-asado”).
2) In a pot, heat oil. Add in garlic cloves and onions until almost golden in color.
3) Add the 2 cups of water with Knorr beef cube. Simmer.
4) Add in the tongue, then the soy sauce.
5) Simmer for about 5 minutes, then add the tomato sauce, laurel leaf and soy sauce.
Simmer for 10 minutes.
6) Add in calamansi (philippine lemon) juice and sugar. Cook until tongue is fork-tender.
Before serving, mix in the hoisin sauce.

*all recipes courtesy of Recipe ni Juan

The team cheerers

They are part of the team during celebrations ...

By Emz Frial

.... and during battles.

Many overseas Filipino workers spend their days off in different ways. While many are contented with spending nearly the whole day sitting in the park and chatting with friends, others get their kick from gambling, volunteering for all sorts of community activities, or joining contests including beauty pageants. To each his or her own, so they say.

Far from the madding crowd, there are other OFWs who find enjoyment in watching their fellow Filipinos play competitive softball and/or football, all for the country’s glory.

The games are played in places far away from Central, and often, are also not easily accessible. Despite this, the hardy bunch would persistently gather on the field to cheer on their favorite team, whatever the day, in hot weather or in cold. And like good sports themselves, they would linger long after the games end, win or lose. They are there largely to show support, so if the team loses, they are part of that, too.

Not only do they trade a precious part of their weekly rest day to lend support, they also allot a big part of their spending money on transportation and food that they share with the players and fellow cheerers.

Among them is Olive Frial Pabito, who has been watching the games of her favorite softball team, Fate, regularly for the past four years. She says the games could bring out the best and the worst in a player.

“I love watching softball especially when my team becomes very aggressive, because then they show they have done their best to win,” says Pabito. “You not only get to understand the game, you also learn a lot of lessons and techniques from how the players try to score a win.”

She says another revelation to her is the way players and the people watching around her react to certain situations during a game. Pabito says their reactions show the kind of person that they are, like whether they easily lose their temper, or conversely, they are able to handle sticky situations in a calm manner.

The action on the field also stimulates her.

“I love seeing players being able to dive and come up with ball thrown on the run with pinpoint accuracy, or power slap the ball down the line,” she says, excitement written all over her face.
But there is another reason why she has decided to stay close to the pitch.

“I hate being in a crowded area, so I prefer to stay in the field with the team I really admire,” she says.

“I also chose to watch softball rather than any other game or activity because it energizes me”.
Another regular is Chielo Sale, who likewise never misses a game of Fate.

 “I started watching softball when my partner joined in 2014. I love everything about the game,” Sale says.

Xieng Madino is another familiar face in the circuit. But unlike Pabito and Sale, Madino used to be a Fate player herself. She says she asked to be allowed to rest for at least one season because she didn’t feel she was in a good condition. She says she always had a headache every time she played.
“But I am still part of the team. I love my team, my heart belongs to Fate,” she declares. To show her continuing commitment, Xieng makes it a point to always be around to cheer the team on when they compete.

It is a view echoed by the other regulars, such as Cherry Faustino, Maria Gracia, Yani Yang, MJ Japitana, Lala, Abby, Marivic Sitchon and many others, including this writer.

We are all avid supporters of both the Fate and Sluggers, another all-Filipina team that is a regular competitor in the annual Hong Kong Women’s Baseball tournament.

We find it great that we could inspire the players to do their best to win in every game. It is gratifying to see them become energized when they see people shouting and cheering for them.

For many of us who have been on the circuit for years, Sundays would be incomplete if we failed to watch a game. In fact, we go even when the players are just practicing for a game.

There is a sense of fulfillment in watching the team play, more so if they win.

The easy camaraderie that has been formed from watching the games has developed into a sort of kinship that we now regard each other as members of our Hong Kong family.

This unofficial cheering squad troops to the different playing fields of Kowloon about twice a month during the playing season. Sometimes, Fate would play in the morning, and after taking a lunch break, the entire team of players and supporters would move on to where Sluggers is playing to watch and cheer them on.

The playing season runs from October to July for both sports, although if there had been cancellations because of bad weather, the games are extended to September.

But even when there are no games, the group tends to stick together. Sometimes, they would go to the beach to swim, eat and party; at other times, they go for a hike up the mountains. At other times, they simply hang out together.

Sport watching is what fulfills this group, and for as long as Fate and Sluggers are out there on the field, one can be sure they would always be there with the teams, watching, cheering, and having fun.

Mga bato at iba pang kakaibang tanawin sa Po Toi Island

Ang Tin Hau Temple ang unang mapapansin sa Po Toi islalnd.

Ni Marites Palma

Sa Po Toi Island na nasa katimugan ng Hong Kong matatagpuan ang malalaking tipak ng bato na nakakamangha dahil sa kanilang iba-ibang hugis. Dito rin matitikman ang pinakasariwa at pinakamurang seaweed (o damong dagat) sa buong Hong Kong.

Mararating ang islang ito sa pamamagitan ng bangka mula sa Stanley o Aberdeen. Kung tatanawin mula sa malayo ay magmumukhang parang nakalutang na entablado ang isla – na sinasabing siyang dahilan kaya tinawag itong Po Toi.

Dahil sa layo nito sa mga mataong siyudad ng Hong Kong, aabot lang sa 200 katao ang lahat ng mga nakatira dito. Nguni’t ayon sa kasaysayan, dati ay may 1,000 ang populasyon nito, na pawang mga magsasaka, mangingisda at nangangalakal ng seaweed. Nakatira sila sa dalawang nayon ng Po Toi, ang Chang Shek Pai at Shan Lui.

Kasabay ng mabilis na pag-asenso ng Hong Kong ay nagpasya ang maraming naninirahan dito na lumisan at makipagsapalaran sa mataong siyudad. Dahil dito ay kapansin-pansin na pawang may edad ang mga nakatira sa islang ito ngayon.

Ilan sa mga Pilipinang nauna nang nakarating sa Po Toi.

Pagdaong ng sinasakyang bangka sa isla ay makikita agad ang mga maliliit na kainan kung saan ang pinakatampok na luto ay may sangkap na seaweed, katulad ng green bean soup with seaweed, isang tradisyunal na minatamis ng mga Intsik. Naglipana din ang mga matatanda na naglalako ng pinatuyong seaweed sa nakakamanghang presyo na $10 lang bawat tumpok.

Hindi kumpleto ang pagbisita dito kung hindi muna titikman ang kanilang ipinagmamalaking sopas na may seaweed. Pagkatapos makahigop ng malinamnam na sopas ay maaari nang lumarga.
Umpisahan ang paglalakad sa pagtalunton sa lakaran na nasa gawing kaliwa ng mga kainan. Habang naglalakad ay makikita ang maraming lumang bahay, o iyong nasira ng mga nagdaaang bagyo at hindi na inayos pang muli. Katulad ng karamihan ng mga nayon sa baybayin ay makikita sa paligid ang mga pinapatuyong isda na nakasabit sa alambre, at pati na rin mga pinapatuyong seaweed.
Sa umpisa pa lang ng pag-akyat sa burol papunta sa templo ay mabibighani na agad sa ganda ng tanawin, nguni’t ang lahat ng ito ay walang panama sa makikita pagdating sa kinatatayuan ng Tin Hau Temple, paharap sa Tai Wan Bay. Walang kasing ganda ang paligid, na mistulang disyerto sa tabi ng dagat!

Agad mababakas na lumang luma na ang templo, na itinayo bilang gabay ng mga mangingisda hindi lang sa Po Toi, kundi sa iba pang mga isla. Walang makikitang ulat tungkol sa kung kailan itinayo ang templo, ngunit may mga dokumento na nagpapatunay na ito ay kinumpuni noong 1893.
Malapit sa kinatatayuan ng templo ay may bako-bakong daan paakyat sa tuktok, na ang tanging gabay ay ay ang isang kadenang metal na nagsisilbing hawakan sa pag-akyat. Agad na sisidhi ang interes na tuntunin ang daang ito na napapalibutan ng makakapal at mala-bonsai na mga punong kahoy. Gaano man katindi ang pagod ay agad na mawawala kapag nasilayan ang kamangha-manghang tanawin mula sa tuktok ng isla. Magpapasalamat ka sa Poong Lumikha ng wala sa oras, dahil sa ganda ng tanawing siya lang ang maaaring may gawa.

Pagkatapos ng isa’t kalahating oras na paglakad mula sa templo ay aabot sa isang sangandaan malapit sa pavilion. Kung ang pinili mong daan ay yung papunta sa Ngau Wu Teng Pavilion, mas maraming magandang tanawin kang makikita. Sa pinakatuktok ng lakaran ay mapapamangha kang tunay sa mala-paraiso at walang hanggang tanawin ng South China Sea.

Bukod sa templo, ang isa pang atraksiyon ng Po Toi ay ang mga naglalakihang mga bato sa paligid na iba-iba ang tabas at hugis, at nabuo mula sa granite.

Ang pinatuyong isda ay isa sa mga produkto ng lugar.

Mula sa pavilion ay unti-unti kang bumaba hanggang matanaw mo ang Monk Rock, isang batong parang  balingkinitan na taong naka-abito ang hugis, at siyang mistulang nagbibigay pugay sa mga dumarating. Sa di kalayuan ay makikita ang Tortoise Rock na ang hugis ay parang isang napakalaking pawikan naman.

Sa daan pabalik sa pier mula sa Nam Kok Tsui, mabubungaran ang napakalaking bato na mistulang higanteng kamay, kaya tinawag itong Buddha’s Hand o Palm Cliff. Ito ang pinakasikat na palatandaan ng sa Po Toi.

Sundin lang ang daan pababa mula sa hagdan at madadaanan ang Rock Carvings, mga nililok na higanteng bato na pinaniniwalaang ginawa noong Bronze Age, o noong 500-700 BC. Ang mga idineklarang monumento ng “prehistoric totems” ay kumupas na sa kalumaan kaya tinakpan ang mga ito ng transparent na fiber glass. Bagamat ilang libong taon na ang nakakaraan magmula nang ukitin ang mga batong ito, nadiskubre lang sila noong mga 1960s.

May isa pang kakaibang atraksiyon ang Po Toi, at ito ang tinatawag na “Deserted Mansion of Family Mo,” isang pinaniniwalaang haunted house. Itinayo ito ng pamilya Mo noong mga 1930s sa Chang Shek Pai, at bagamat sira-sira na at walang nakatira ay nananatiling nakatayo. Popular ito sa mga kabataang bumibisita sa isla. Ayon sa kuwento ng ilan, kusang tumitindig ang kanilang mga balahibo habang papalapit sa abandonadong bahay.

Ang lakarang ito ay may layong apat na kilometro, at matatahak sa loob ng hanggang tatlong oras. Madaling lakaran ito dahil pati mga bata ay kinakayang umakyat sa bundok ng isla.

Paanong marating ang Po Toi? Maaring sumakay ng kaito o maliit na ferry mula sa Aberdeen Pier, at aabot ng isang oras ang biyahe. Ang kaito dito ay may takdang oras ng paglalayag, at masasakyan lang tuwing araw ng Martes, Huwebes, Sabado, Linggo at piyesta opisyal.

Kung gusto mo ng mas maikling paglalayag, sumakay sa Stanley Blake Pier. Sa loob lang ng 30 minuto ay mararating mo na ang Po Toi. Mas bihira ang biyahe mula dito, dahil tuwing Sabado, Linggo at piyesta opisyal lang ang naglalayag ang mga kaito.

Establishing a Family Budget – Part 2

By Francisco J. Colayco

We continue our discussion for your Family Budget for 2017.  If you have not done so, you have to start now.

If you are not covered by SSS, Philhealth, Pag-ibig and the like, you need to make arrangements to cover yourself.  These are very helpful especially for sickness and emergencies. If you are self-employed, make sure you pay yourself a salary and cover yourself properly.  If you have children who are working or are self-employed, they should also apply for all these coverages.

We talked about computing your take-home pay after-tax and other deductions which is the easy part.

Now you have to determine your cash outflow or expenses.  As we discussed before, you need to involve your family. You have to agree on the amount of your most important regular or recurring expense, your payment to yourself or your savings.  Your savings is your expense for the future. Write down all your other monthly expenses that are recurring.  For example, loan installment payments, electricity, phones, water, TV cable access, normal credit card charges, food,
transportation, grocery, marketing, househelpers pay, and general miscellaneous.  You should have been keeping copies of your past bills and receipts to be able to check on the actual amounts paid.  If you didn’t, just give yourself a good estimate and keep your bills and receipts from now on.
After you have calculated your regular monthly expenses, you now have to compute the non-recurring expenses during the year that do not happen every month.  For example, taxes related to your house and other real estate properties, car insurance, home insurance, and life insurance, Christmas, vacations, birthdays, and an emergency fund. Get a total of these expenses and divide the total by twelve.  With this, you will have a good estimate of the monthly amount you should budget for these non-recurring expenses.

Set aside the amount for the non-recurring monthly expenses.  Open a separate account for this in a savings account, and you should pay all these expenses from that account. Each month you should deposit the monthly amount for these non-recurring expenses in an interest earning account, no matter how small the interest rate is.  In this way, you will keep them segregated and will be better able to determine if you are properly funding for them.

Add both the recurring and non-recurring monthly expenses and subtract the total outflow from the inflow.  In this manner, you can really understand how much money is coming in and where it is going.  If you are over or under estimating your expenses, you should immediately make the necessary adjustments.  If your inflow exceeds your outflow, you have additional cash to increase your personal payment to yourself that we talked about in this article or to add to emergency fund.  If you are spending more than you are earning, you are either going to have to increase your regular revenue or decrease your expenses.  Borrowing money to accommodate your recurring and non-recurring expenses will only bring you disaster.


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Francisco J. Colayco is an entrepreneur, a venture developer and financial advisor.  He is the Author of Seven Bestsellers in the Pera Palaguin Series, the latest of which is now available in bookstores:  “Wealth Reached. Money Worked. Pera Mo, Pinalago Mo!” Find his works and catch him on TV and radio.  Check out: www.colaycofinancialeducation.com, www.franciscocolayco.com, www.kskcoop.com, FaceBook and Instagram.

Time to consult

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap


A visiting Filipino community leader from Singapore pointed out something we should have taken notice of a long time ago. In a message, she asked why, at around 9pm, there were so many Filipino domestic workers sleeping near the MTR station in Wanchai.

At first we thought she was referring to asylum seekers, having seen some of them, all male South Asians, camping it out in the underpass near the Happy Valley race course.

But on second thought the assumption couldn’t have been right. Filipinas rarely, if ever, could be seen roughing it out on the streets, given the number of shelters set up for their benefit all over the territory. Plus, fellow Pinoys are not likely to turn their backs on needy members of the community. Someone is bound to help them find a place to stay, or offer their own room, no matter how tiny.

Then it hit me. These were the women whose pictures I would sometimes see on Facebook; those who queue up for hours on end just to ensure they get to process their work contracts or extend their visa at the Immigration headquarters nearby.

From other stories we learned that our OFWs begin staking their position in the Immigration queue as early as 7pm. But even after waiting in line, sometimes amid punishing weather conditions, not all of them end up lucky. The walk-in quota is limited, so those who don’t make the cut-off are either told to go back on another day, or avail of the drop-in processing service.

But what is even more surprising is why this phenomenon has taken hold in our community at all.
Immigration, like most government offices that provide service to large groups of people, employs an appointment system, where the exact date and time when one can expect to be served, is indicated.
This is meant to ease precisely, the hassle of queuing for hours just to be attended to. They also offer an efficient drop-in service.

But this was not the biggest surprise. During a casual conversation, I learned that the Consulate was not even aware that this was happening.

That points to an even bigger problem that should be resolved soon: the lack of regular and direct communication between the Consulate and members of our community.

This, along with most of the recent issues we have encountered concerning our OFWs, could have been avoided if not resolved, had our government representatives thought it wise to resume the consultations we used to have with them on a regular basis.

Among these, the confusion over when the new blue contract should be used instead of the old green one; the recent delay in the release of new passports; even the widespread resistance to signing up online for the so-called OEC exemption.

If these issues were brought up for discussion directly with leaders of the community, many of whom have the benefit of past experiences to give sound advice or suggestion, some of the problems could have been eased. Or, at the very least, those adversely affected would have known that something was being done to address their concerns.

We are lucky to have with us now a Consulate that is responsive and genuinely concerned about the plight of members of our community.

But casual and hurried appearances at community events just won’t do, given the myriad problems that have sprouted in recent weeks. Our government representatives must again sit down and listen to the community, and the time is now.

Gagawin mo ba?

Tayong mga Pinoy at Pinay ay susuong sa kahit anong pagsubok upang maitaguyod ang kabuhayan ng ating pamilya, mula sa paniniguro na may kakainin ang mga anak natin sa araw-araw, hanggang mapagtapos sila ng kolehiyo, at kahit pagpapaaral ng mga apo.

Pero sa pagpasok sa iba’t ibang klase ng trabaho, may ilang mamalasing maabuso o masasaktan. Nangangailangan sila ng tulong, pero marami sa kanila ay hindi alam ang gagawin, kung saan hihingi ng tulong at kung may katapusan pa ang kamalasang dinaranas.

Para sa mga gustong tumulong, ang unang tanong ay kung sino at nasaan ang nangangailangan sa kanila. Upang matugunan ang pangangailangang ito, may isang app, na ang tawag ay OFW Watch (isa itong programang pang-computer na magagamit sa smartphone), na ipinalalaganap sa OFW sa buong mundo, simula sa Hong Kong. Handog ito ni Myrna Padilla, isang dating OFW sa Hong Kong at nagtayo ng isang computer software company nang umuwi sa Pilipinas. Pinalalaganap niya ito sa tulong ng POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office).

Maganda ang layunin ng mga nasa likod ng app. Ang problema lang ay kung ilang OFW ang magda-download nito.

Kamakailan nakita natin ang ugali ng mga OFW sa pagbabago. Halimbawa, hangga ngayon ay marami ang mas gusto pang magreklamo kaysa magrehistro na lang sa BMOnline, na siyang paraan upang makakuha ng OEC (ang overseas employment certificate). Ang gusto kasi nila ay pumila na lang. Kaya naman noong nakaraang Pasko at Bagong Taon, libo-libong OFW na pabalik na sana sa kani-kanilang trabaho ang nasabit sa mga airport sa Pilipinas dahil walang OEC o exemption.
Kung madadaan ka sa HK Immigration, mapapansin mo rin ang pila na nagsisimulang humaba kahit mga alas-otso pa lang ng gabi.

Ito ang mga hindi nag pa-appointment sa pamamagitan ng internet at mas piniling pumila hanggang  magbukas sa ika-siyam pa ng umaga kinabukasan.

Sana ang nakaambang panganib at ang pagkakataong makatulong sapat na upang makumbinsi tayo na sumabay sa pinakabagong teknolohoya na gaya nito.

Immigration tells FDHs, no need to camp out overnight

Early birds: Domestic workers applying for visa renewal spend the night outside the gates of the Immigration Tower in Wanchai to make the cut for the next day's walk-in applicants' daily quota.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Foreign domestic workers need not camp out overnight outside the Immigration headquarters in Wanchai just to avail of services as there are other options.

This was the statement given by an Immigration spokesperson to The SUN in response to a telephone enquiry on why dozens of helpers spend the night each day on the bridge to Immigration Tower on Gloucester Road just to ensure a slot in the day’s walk-in quota.

The practice is seen to have persisted for the past several months, with some visa applicants staking their place in the queue as early as 7pm the night before their intended appointment with Immigration officers.

 “I don’t know why the people have to sleep outside the Immigration Tower when there are other ways to submit their visa applications on time,” the Immigration spokesperson told The SUN. “Sometimes the quota is not (even) fully used,” she said.

She said the helpers could send their for contract renewal applications by post, use the drop-in box next to the interview windows on the second floor of the Immigration Tower, or make an appointment online way ahead of their visa expiry.

The helpers who braved the cold on Jan 23 when this writer dropped by the queue for an interview said their visas were expiring in a few days or they were about to go home for a vacation and had missed the online booking cut-off.

They said they were all hoping to be included in the daily quota of 70 for walk-in applicants.
But before noon of the same day, this writer saw the walk-in applicants being booked for an appointment two days later on the second floor of the Immigration office.

“Pumila ako kanina sa counter pero ang sabi full na raw ang quota hanggang sa Jan 25, kaya pumila na ako rito,” said Eliza, 33, who is renewing her visa after signing for another two years because her she is completing her a contract in February.

Aurora, 44, returned to the overnight camp-out on Jan 23 hoping to make the next day’s cut for the walk-in applicants, this time to submit her contract with a new employer. She said she was in the same place on Jan 18-19 when she applied for a visa extension because her previous employer died.

The Immigration Department says the number of contract renewal applications it receives usually peaks in the summer holiday.

It says it has used flexibility in deploying manpower to cope with the surge in demand by applicants going to the Immigration offices in advance for the walk-in quota.

To avoid any inconvenience, it encourages helpers and employers to make appointments for service at specific time slots or use alternative means of submitting their applications.

The department said that apart from applying in person at the Immigration Tower or at regional Immigration branch offices, helpers applying for contract renewal with the same employer should make their applications by post, via drop-in or online.

Applications made via these means will normally be finalized within 10 working days upon receipt of all necessary documents.

Those changing employer after completing their contracts must submit their applications in person within four weeks before the contract’s expiry to the Foreign Domestic Helpers Section of Immigration Tower in Wan Chai.

They could also make appointments in advance for submitting applications in person via www.gov.hk/esbooking or the 24-hour appointment booking hotline at 2598 0888, it said.

Popular sex guru gives talk at UPAA event

Sex guru Dr. Margie Holmes
autographs copies of her book.

 By Daisy CL Mandap

“In the past, practically everyone said there was a GSpot (erogenous zone in the female genitalia). Twenty five years later, experts say it doesn’t exist”.

“The plumbing is just part of this (becoming pregnant). Studies in fact show that students who had sex education tend to delay having sex”.

“Virginity does not matter, but it’s not a state of mind”.

“The Philippines is one of the few countries where the number of HIV cases is increasing. Pregnancy and childbirth are no longer the issues”.

“I once asked how many couples made love at least once a week? Once a month? Twice a month? There was a guy who was all smiles and said he and his wife did it once a year. I asked if that was the case, how come he looked so happy? His answer: Because tonight is the night!”

Except for the last, which was meant as a joke, all the statements above were said in earnest by Dr. Margie Holmes, the celebrated Filipino sex guru and writer who visited Hong Kong recently as a guest of the local chapter of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association.

Congen Bernie Catalla inducts new officers of UPAA-HK.

Her talk on Jan. 20 coincided with the swearing-in of the new UPAA-HK officers with Consul General Bernardita Catalla administering the oath. The new officers are: Patrick Angco, president; Elmer Magsino, vice president; Karen Echavez, secretary; Carlo Mendoza, treasurer; Gelica Lomibao, auditor; and Cathe Marsden, PRO.

Dr. Holmes’s no-holds-barred talk covered a range of issues, from the GSpot (used as the titillating title for the UPAA event), to early gender identification, sexual exploitation of minors and sex education at schools.

When a question was raised regarding gender identification among children, Dr Holmes called on Brenda Alegre, a lecturer on gender studies at the University of Hong Kong, to help provide answers.

Alegre, who introduced herself as a trans-woman, said gender is self determined and not assigned.
“(So) we should stop gendering toys, colors, even names,” she said.

The gathering was held to also launch four books written by Dr. Holmes, including the the 25th anniversary edition of her much-talked about “Life, Love, Lust”. The others are “Down to 1 (Depression Stories); “Love Triangles” and “Imported Love”.

Dr. Holmes, a clinical pscyhologist, is the author of 18 books, several of which she co-authored with her husband, Jeremy Baer. She is currently a columnist for Rappler, Abante and Abante Tonight.

Kulang ng $2 ang pambili ng almusal

Nagkasabay sina Ana at Beata sa restaurant kung saan sila bumibili ng pang almusal ng kanilang mga amo. Nagbabayad na si Ana nang makita niya na kulang ng $2 ang dala niyang pera. Dahil ayaw nang umakyat muli para lang kumuha ng $2 ay minabuti niyang pakiusapan si Beata na pautangin na muna siya.

Gayon na lang ang kanyang gulat nang sumagot ito ng, “Hala, hindi ko pera ito kabayan, pera ng amo ko, baka malaman niyang kulang ng $2, sukli niya. Nakakahiya sa amo ko, baka hindi na niya ako pagkatiwalaan.”

Napatanga ng ilang sandali si Ana sa tinuran ni Beata,  pero nang mahimasmasan ay nagmakaawang muli na babayaran din siya. Magka-building lang naman sila, kaya aabangan na lang daw niya ito kinabukasan sa kanilang lobby para bayaran ang maliit na halagang hinihiram niya.

Nagdalawang-isip pa rin si Beata kaya sinabi ni Ana na magka-bulding sila talaga, at maari daw siyang ipagtanong sa ibang mga Pinay na nakatira din doon. Bagamat atubili pa ay umoo na rin si Beata, pero pinakasiguro na babayaran siya ni Ana kinabukasan para hindi siya mapagalitan ng kanyang amo.

Kinaumagahan dahil Linggo at araw ng pahinga nilang dalawa ay talagang hinanap ni Beata si Ana sa mga Pinay doon sa lobby para singilin. Eksakto namang lumabas si Ana sa lift at agad na nagpakilala na siya yung umutang, sabay abot sa $2. Abot-abot din ang pasasalamat na ginawa niya kay Beata. Agad namang inabot ni Beata ang pera, sabay sabing walang anuman, bago nagpaalam.

Mula noon ay lagi nang nagdadala ng ekstrang pera si Ana kapag inuutusan siyang bumili ng kahit ano sa labas para hindi na siya magmakaawang humiram ng kahit na barya lang sa mga kakilala. Si Ana ay isang Bisaya, 35 taong gulang may asawa at mga anak, at isang taon ng naninilbihan sa mga among Intsik sa Taiwai. – Marites Palma

Hindi naluto ang kanin!

Excited na nagtawag si Guada sa mga kasama  niya sa bahay matapos ihanda ang hapag-kainan para sa hapunan. Uupo na sana ang kanyang mga amo, pati na ang nanay ng kanyang among babae na mula sa Australia, nang biglang mapasigaw si Guada ng, “Oh, no!” na narinig ng lahat.

Agad siyang nilapitan ng lola para tanungin kung bakit. Sagot naman ni Guada sa mahinang boses, “So sorry popo, the rice is not yet cooked. I plugged the bread toaster, not the rice cooker.”

Tumawa lang si popo at sinabing "It’s ok.”

Gayunpaman, hindi mapatid-patid ang paghingi ng paumanhin ni Guada dahil alam niyang pagod mula sa trabaho ang mga amo, at may bisita pa sila mandin. Ngunit dahil likas na mababait ang mga ito ay sinabi na lang nila ang, “It’s fine, we can wait”.

Hiyang hiya talaga siya dahil hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nangyari sa kanya ang ganito.

Biro naman ni Popo, maghanap na daw siya ng boyfriend para hindi niya nalilimutan ang kulay ng saksakan ng kanilang rice cooker. Sa tinurang yun ni Popo ay napatawa ang lahat. Lahat ay sumali sa biro na kailangan niya ng boyfriend dahil panahon na rin daw para lumigaya siya. Lalong pumula ang mga pisngi ni Guada sa biro.

Dahil sa hiya ay nagpaalam siya na mamalantsa muna habang hinihintay na maluto ang kanin. Mabuti na lamang at iba ang pagkain ng alaga niya dahil kung hindi ay lalo siyang mahihiya dahil ang pakiramdam niya ay parang iresponsable na siya sa kanyang gawaing bahay at hindi sinusuklian ang kabaitan ng mga amo.

Pagkalipas ng 30 minuto ay lumabas na si Guada sa kanyang kwarto at naghaing muli, at pinainit na lang ang mga lumamig na ulam sa microwave.

Mula noon ay tinitingnan na niyang mabuti kung tama ang isinasaksak niyang gamit para hindi na maulit muli ang nakakahiyang pangyayari. Si Guada ay isang taon ng naninilbihan sa Shatin, solong magulang at tubong Cagayan Valley. – Marites Palma

Niloko ang amo

Pigil na pigil si Imelda sa pagsisiwalat sa lihim ng bago niyang kasama.

Kumuha ng makakasama niya ang kanyang mga amo dahil hirap na siyang asikasuhin ang dalawang anak ng mag-asawang French na amo. Ang panganay niyang alaga ay 4 na taon at 10 months lang ang bunso.

Ang kinuha ng kanyang mga amo na makasama niya ay si Dulce na bagama’t minimum lang ang sahod ay nakakatanggap ng $8,400 sa kabuuan kada buwan. Sinabi kasi nito na kailangang mag stay-out siya dahil kasama niya sa boarding house ang asawa niya. Pagkatapos kuwentahin ang lahat ng gastos niya para sa pagkain, pamasahe at bahay na $2,500 kada buwan ang upa ay tumaas nang husto ang suweldo ng bagong salta.

Bago naman pinirmahan ang bagong kontrata ay pumunta ang among French sa boarding house at nakita niya ang sinasabing asawa ng katulong. Ang hindi nito alam ay agad namang tinext ni Dulce si Imelda para ibalita ang pagbisita ng amo, at sinabing boyfriend lang niya talaga ang nandoon.

Sa interview pa lang kasi ay sinabi na ni Dulce kay Imelda na ang asawa niya ay nasa Qatar. Hindi man mapalagay sa kasinungalingan ng bagong kasama ay pinili pa rin ni Imelda na manahimik.

Naniniwala kasi siya na walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag, at sigurado siyang kapag nalaman ng kanilang amo ang ginawang pagsisinungaling ni Dulce ay tiyak itong magagalit. Ewan na lang kung ano ang maging epekto nito sa trabaho ng bagong katulong. Si Imelda ay isang Ilongga at dalaga samantalang si Dulce ay taga Mindanao. – Merly Bunda

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

Long lines formed in previous weeks for delayed passports.

By Vir B. Lumicao

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 community concerns about the delays in the passports’ release, triggered by the intervening 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 travel documents that had been delayed for at least a week were with the batch and its owners had 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.

Shipments of new passports from Manila arrive every Monday, although sometimes a small number are sent on other days through special deliveries, she said.

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.
She said it would take longer than normal to process the passports of those with assumed identities, many of whom are OFWs.

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, saying they would definitely have a hard time getting a replacement.

“We are very strict on that,” she said, adding that because many have been abusing the process the Consulate has imposed stricter rules on issuing replacement passports.

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, making it more difficult for him to get a replacement.

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

Detained OFW tourists return relieved, furious

By Vir B. Lumicao

The detained group enjoying Shenzhen's attractions
while Escamillan slipped  away

Fourteen Filipina domestic workers who have gone back to Hong Kong late last night, Jan. 30, after being detained at the Lowu border for about 26 hours,  say they are relieved that most of their employers welcomed them back.

However, they are furious at a member of their tour group, Josephine Escamillan, who went missing during the Shenzhen tour, causing authorities there to detain them.

The 14 who joined a tour organized by the social media group OFWs in Hong Kong,

were released by the Chinese authorities after a whole day of negotiations with officers of the Philippine Consulates in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

At least one of them said her employer was concerned upon learning that she had been prevented from returning to Hong Kong on Jan. 29.

“OK naman si amo, nasa China siya. Kung di pa nga kami nakauwi kagabi pupuntahan niya dapat ako ngayon, kasi kahapon nasa bundok sila,” she said in an SMS to another member of the group.

Regina de Andres, a moderator of OFWHK who led the tour, said she did not encounter any problems with her own employer.

“Wala namang sinabi basta alam nila ang nangyari,” she said in a FB chat message.  Lahat naman kami mostly OK.”

She said the helpers were all back at work on Tuesday, despite it being the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday.

De Andres was profusely thankful to Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr, the assistance to nationals officer who was sent to Lowu to help negotiate the release of the 14.

She said she was forced to drop the name of Cayabyab when she got into an argument with the Chinese immigration officers who stopped them from leaving.

“Kaya nung nagsabi ako na kilala ako ng taga-ATN like nila makausap si Sir Junie (Cayabyab). Kaya dun na ako nakipag-argunento dahil sa totoo lang, kung wala si Sir Junie till next week pa kami doon. Pero nagpwersa at halos lahat ng contact na ang kinontak din kaya nakauwi kami agad,” De Andres said.

In contrast, De Andres slammed the ATN at the Consulate in Guangzhou.  “Nakipag-argumento ako sa taga-Guangzhou dahil unang salita nila parang ayaw pa kami atupagin,” she said.

However, Hong Kong ATN head, Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, said it was the PCG in Guangzhou that sent a note verbale (a diplomatic missive) to Chinese authorities to secure the group’s release.

Vallespin credited his counterpart in Guangzhou, in particular, for taking all possible steps to get the OFWs back home as soon as possible.

“I requested my batchmate vice consul in Guangzhou to call their contacts in immigration and security departments, “ said Vallespin in a text message to The SUN last night, explaining how the two diplomatic posts worked for the OFWs’ release.

From their side, he said they contacted Hong Kong immigration to help facilitate the entry of Cayabyab to Shenzhen.

Meanwhile, De Andres was similarly furious at the Chinese immigration staff at the border who she said did not even attend to their needs. She said it was their tour guides

who provided them with food, and helped her page the missing tour member, Escamillan.

But her anger was mostly directed at Escamillan, on whom she heaped scorn in her Facebook posts and in online chats.

“Kapal ng mukha ng babae na yun, kuya. Till now nanginginig ako sa galit,” she said in an FB chat message.

De Andres said it was Escamillan who begged to join her group when they had to be split from a bigger batch of 28 travelers at Lowu.

Everybody in the group said they had no idea that the woman was set to run away.

Asked if she would lead another group tour to China again in the future, De Andres said: “For sure, Kuya. Pero ibahin ko na ang pag-organize.”

She organized the tour with the help of Kathy Travel HK, whose owners rushed with Cayabyab to Lowu after hearing of the snag. - The SUN Hong Kong 

Runaway maid settles row with boss, flies home

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker who ran away from her employer early last month flew home to her family on Jan 19, soon after her boss freed her of a liability to pay him a month’s wage for terminating her employment prematurely.

Dianne Caranzo told The SUN on the eve of her departure that she and her employer settled their dispute in a meeting at the Labour Department on Jan 17.

“Hindi na po pinabayaran ni Sir sa akin ang dating sinisingil na katumbas ng sahod ko sa isang buwan para makuha ko ang aking luggage,” Caranzo said.

She said she went back to the home of her employer after the meeting to retrieve her luggage.
On Jan 18, Caranzo picked up her plane ticket from Rising Sun Employment Agency, which deployed her to the employer’s household in late October last year.

Caranzo was reportedly accompanied to the meeting by a Philippine Overseas Labor Office staff. Her employer, said to be a retired police officer, was escorted by the agency owner.

According to an officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the employer was originally willing to let go off the helper without demanding payment.

But he was allegedly irked when he received a letter from the Immigration Department informing him that his helper had filed a complaint accusing him of violating her labor rights.

“He said he got mad because the complaint at the Immigration would tarnish his reputation,” the OWWA officer said.

To resolve the issue, the employer asked Caranzo to sign a waiver stating that she was withdrawing the complaint against him.

Caranzo said that the complaint was, in fact, filed on her behalf by a certain Pastor Jonathan Lalaan who told her that he was a trial court employee and that he could take up her case with the Immigration.

Caranzo had no regrets coming to Hong Kong, saying it was her dream to work abroad but it just so happened she had an unhappy experience.

“Ito ang dream ko, ito ang gusto ko para sa pamilya. Gusto kong makatulong sa mister ko, para mapag-aral ang mga anak ko,” she said.

Caranzo said that before coming to Hong Kong, she had applied for jobs in Korea, Dubai and Malaysia but had been duped by recruiters.

PCG secures release of 14 OFW tourists held in Shenzhen

The rescued group in Shenzhen, just before returning to HK.
With them is ATN's Cayabyab (in black jacket and white shirt)

By The SUN team

Philippine Consulate officers in Hong Kong have secured the release of 14 Filpina domestic workers who were detained at the Chinese border in Lowu yesterday night (Jan 29) after a member of their tour group went missing.

The OFWs arrived in Hong Kong shortly afrer 9pm tonight, accompanied by Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals (ATN) section, and the owners of Kathy Travel agency from which the group bought their tour package.

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, who heads ATN, said the missing Filipina, Josephine Escamillan, is confirmed to have run away.

Social media posts said she had served notice of termination to her employers shortly before joining the Shenzhen tour organized by the social media group OFWs in Hong Kong. Escamillan reportedly arrived in Hong Kong only recently, and had previously worked in Shanghai.

Vallespin said Cayabyab went to Shenzhen at around 1:30pm after the Consulate obtained help from Hong Kong immigration in facilitating his entry. But the detained Filipinas could not be released immediately because of an ongoing investigation.

“The tour agency in Shenzhen is still under investigation.  This somehow delayed their departure from Shenzhen”, said Vallespin.

He gave assurance that the Filipinas were not detained for any violation of China’s laws, not even for overstaying, as the visa they were issued on their arrival yesterday was valid for six days.

“Even if their visas expired, they couldn’t be charged for overstaying because it’s the Shenzhen authorities that prevented them from leaving,” he said.

Vallespin said that at their request, the Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou sent a note verbale (a diplomatic note that is similar, but more formal than a memorandum) to Chinese authorities in the city to ask for the Filipinas’ release.

Back in HK: De Andres (in white jacket) with Cayabyab

Among those who just returned to Hong Kong was Regina de Andres, a moderator of OFWs in Hong Kong. In a post in her group’s FB page, De Andres thanked the Consulate and Kathy’s Travel for their help in getting them back to Hong Kong.

Before midnight on Sunday, De Andres and the other detained members of her group were frantically contacting friends in Hong Kong urging them to seek help from the Consulate.

They said they had no money or clothes with them. Some were also worried about being fired by their employers because they failed to return to Hong Kong as expected.

It took another 26 hours since their detention at Lowu before the group was allowed to return to Hong Kong.

Aside from De Andres, the other detained OFWs were Maria Elena Camano, Agnes Cardenas, Gloria Cariaga, Marina Canita, Sharon Cuadrado, Marineth Fernandez, Ana Marie Hervias, Mary Jean Larupay, Cheena Llanura, Maricel Manlapig, Ginalyn Rubio, Erma Patricio and Agnes Pagunsan. 

Earlier reports said Escamillan stayed with the group until after lunch, when they were all allowed to roam Window of the World, a popular tourist spot in Shenzhen. Escamillan was reportedly lugging a suitcase, but gave no indication that she was planning to run away.

Escamillan was part of a bigger group that joined the tour. On reaching Shenzhen, the group was split into two, with De Andres leading the group of 15 that included Escamillan.

Because of the split, 13 other members of the group managed to return to Hong Kong as scheduled on Sunday night.

One of the lucky ones who managed to get back on time told The SUN in a Facebook chat that the early part of the tour went on smoothly.

 “In the first two destinations we visited, we were intact because the tour guide was watching us and there was little time to wander away from the group,” said Rosalia Filipino Rodrigo.

On reaching the third destination, Window of the World, members of the two groups went their separate ways because they just had three hours to go around the park to enjoy the sights and take pictures.

Rodrigo said they were told to go to the waiting area next to the KFC restaurant and rendezvous with De Andres after exiting the theme park. They were supposed to wait there for their bus ride back to Lowu, from where they were to catch the train to Hong Kong at 6:30 pm.

14 OFWs held at China border after tour group member disappears

The group poses for picture before the start of the tour

(UPDATED)
By Vir B. Lumicao

Consulate officers are negotiating with the Hong Kong Immigration Department for the release of 14 Filipina domestic workers who were detained at Lowu last night, Jan. 29, after a member of their tour group went missing.

The missing member of the group was identified as Josephine Escamillan, who failed to return to the bus pickup point by around 6pm, after the three-hour tour of Window of the World, a popular tourist attraction in Shenzhen.

Deputy Consul General Christian de Jesus told The SUN: “We’re working on it (the case) now”.

Lunch in Shenzhen just before the Window of the Workd tour

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the assistance to nationals section said separately:  “We are in touch with the HKID (Immigration Department). Our workers must be released. Perhaps after questioning.”

He said the Consulate also contacted the Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou to talk with Chinese authorities about the plight of the OFW tourists.
By mid-morning today, an ATN officer had reportedly left for Guangzhou, along with the owners of Kathy Travel, which booked the group for the Shenzhen tour.

Regina de Andres, leader of group OFWs in Hong Kong which organized the tour, confirmed that an ATN officer had been in touch.

Before midnight on Sunday, De Andres and 13 members of her OFWs in Hong Kong organization were frantically contacting friends in Hong Kong urging them to seek help from the Consulate.

Josie Escamillan, the missing OFW

Escamillan reportedly stayed with the group until after lunch, when they were all allowed to roam Window of the World on their own. Escamillan was reportedly lugging a suitcase, but gave no indication that she was planning to run away.

Reports say she moved to Hong Kong only recently, after working in Shanghai for a while.

Escamillan was among 27 members of the OFWs in Hong Kong group. They joined 18 other tourists who left Hong Kong on a train to Lowu Sunday morning for a one-day shopping and sightseeing tour of Shenzhen. 

On reaching Shenzhen their group was split into two, with De Andres leading the group of 14 that included Escamilla.

Because of the split, the other 13 members of the group managed to return to Hong Kong as scheduled last night.

One of the lucky ones who managed to get back told The SUN in a Facebook chat that the early part of the tour went on smoothly.

 “In the first two destinations we visited, we were intact because the tour guide was watching us and there was little time to wander away from the group,” said Rosalia Filipino Rodrigo.

On reaching the third destination, Window of the World, members of the two groups parted after buying their tickets because they had just three hours to go around the park to enjoy the sights and take pictures.

Rodrigo they were told to go to the waiting area next to the KFC restaurant and rendezvous with De Andres after exiting the theme park. They were supposed to wait there for their bus ride back to Lowu where they were to catch their train ride back to Hong Kong at 6:30 pm.

The first group that included Herbas was allowed by Chinese Immigration officers to return to Hong Kong because all 13 people on the list were accounted for, while the group of De Andres  was not allowed to leave because Escamillan was missing.

At 11:35 pm, a group member sent this writer a private message saying De Andres and her group were held at the Chinese border. De Andres was reportedly crying because of fear about what would happen to the helpers if they were not released soon.

Rodrigo however said that the stranded workers had already sent private messages to their employers telling them of their their situation.

The rest of the detained OFWs, aside from De Andres, are Maria Elena Camano, Agnes Cardenas, Gloria Cariaga, Marina Canita, Sharon Cuadrado, Marineth Fernandez, Ana Marie Hervias, Mary Jean Larupay, Cheena Llanura, Maricel Manlapig, Ginalyn Rubio, Erma Patricio and Agnes Pagunsan. - with a report from Marites Palma

OFW leader and party-list rep in near-fisticuffs at POLO

By Daisy CL Mandap

An irate Villanueva accuses Berlitz of not being pro-OFW

Berlitz tells Villanueva he is an undocumented worker

Militant OFW leader Eman Villanueva and ACTS-OFW Party-List Representative Aniceto “John” Bertiz nearly came to blows at the office of Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre yesterday, Jan. 29, during talks on the overseas employment certificate (OEC).

Villanueva, along with fellow members of United Filipinos – Migrante Hong Kong were at the office for a scheduled meeting with Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello who, however, was unable to come because of an emergency trip to Kuwait to visit an OFW on death row.

He sent in his place Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod, who came with Bertiz.

Unifil asked for the meeting after protesting earlier in the day for the scrapping of the OEC and the integration of the airport terminal fee in the air tickets purchased by OFWs.

From the start, Bertiz had tried to dominate the talks, and took pains to explain that the OEC was necessary to distinguish between a documented and an undocumented worker.

Unifil chairperson Dolo Balladares countered that there was no such need, as all legitimate or documented OFWs have a work visa and a contract to prove their status.

This was affirmed by Villanueva and the other OFW leaders present who told Maglunsod of the many problems encountered by OFWs recently in the wake of the revised policy on the OEC. Instead of acquiring an OEC outright, OFWs were forced to create an online account so they could avail of an OEC exemption, for which they still had to pay the $20 fee.

When he finally had his turn to speak, Bertiz talked at length about the need to build a government data base, and eventually come up with a “one-time OFW ID”.

“Ito na siguro ang kasagutan para tanggalin na yung OEC”, he said

But in the meantime, he said the OEC is necessary to stop human trafficking and other irregularities, including cases of OFWs who change their identities just so they could continue working abroad.

He also hinted that there was no longer a need for OFWs to take to the streets to get their sentiments known because they already have allies inside government.

“Ang kaibahan lang ngayon may kakampi na tayo sa loob, lalo-lalo na ang Presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte”, he said

Bertiz spoke continuously for about 12 minutes until Villanueva tried to stop him, to which the lawmaker snapped: “Patapusin mo muna ako, you had your turn kanina”.

In contrast, Maglunsod was cool

An irate Villanueva countered: “Kayo na ang umubos sa oras namin. Kami ay nakipag-meeting sa DOLE at hindi sa inyo”.

Berlitz replied: “Pareho lang tayong OFW. Hindi ako naiiba sa inyo, OFW din ako”.

This appeared to irk Villanueva even more that he replied with, “Hindi ka OFW, ikaw ay agency owner”.

This appeared to hit home because Bertiz, who worked as an office clerk in Saudi Arabia for five years, now sits as president and CEO of Global Asia Alliance Consultant Inc., said to be one of the biggest recruitment agencies in the Philippines

Their fight then degenerated into Bertiz accusing Villanueva of being an undocumented worker after the latter said he did not owe his job to an agency, and the latter telling the former of being arrogant just because he had won a a seat in congress.

By this time, the two were already shouting at each other, and had to be restrained by people around them so they wouldn’t come to blows.

Eventually, the leaders decided to walk out on Bertiz but agreed to continue talking to Maglunsod in another room.

The dialogue proceeded smoothly then, with the labor official telling the OFW leaders to immediately draft a petition letter addressed directly to President Duterte, explaining their concerns over the OEC, the terminal fee, and the OWWA membership fee.

The latter issue was added after Maglunsod was told that the implementing guidelines for the 2016 OWWA Act, which provides for a fixed term of two years for OWWA membership, has yet to be issued.   

Employer fined $3k for assault on helper, gets blacklisted

By Vir B. Lumicao

Eastern Court

A Chinese housewife got away on Jan 16 with just a $3,000 fine for physically assaulting her Filipina domestic worker, but she and her husband can no longer hire a maid from the Philippines.

Zhang Qi, 39, who was originally from mainland China, pleaded guilty to common assault on G. Rimas, 42, before Eastern Court Magistrate Jacky Ip, who proceeded to convict her of the offense.

Rimas expressed disappointment over the sentence, saying it was too light for the wrong done to her. She immediately proceeded to the Consulate with Edwina Antonio of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge to have Zhang and her husband Simon J. Eckersley blacklisted so they can no longer hire Filipino helpers.

In addition, Antonio said they will look into appealing Zhang’s sentence, and filing a separate civil claim for damages against her.

During sentencing, magistrate Ip chided Zhang for her “serious crime”, saying Hong Kong courts protect domestic helpers who had left their families to come here and work.

“No matter the issue, there’s no reason for you to use violence against the domestic helper. Hong Kong is a civilized society and does not tolerate any violence against a domestic helper,” Ip said.
“It has an impact that embarrasses Hong Kong,” he said.

Rimas was visibly relieved after the sentencing. She immediately called her farmer husband to tell the news. The couple has three children aged 19-24, and a one-year-old grandson.

About half an hour earlier, she burst out crying when she saw Zhang arrive for the trial with her private lawyers.

But she was consoled and massaged by Antonio and a fellow client at the shelter who accompanied her to court.

In mitigation, the defense counsel described Zhang as a former mainland businesswoman who came to Hong Kong with her husband to ‘take motherhood seriously” raising her three-year-old son and six-year-old daughter.

The lawyer said his client “is very embarrassed to be here today” because of the case and had been seeing a clinical psychologist regularly since the incident.

Seeking the most lenient sentence, he said Zhang had a bad day on Apr 18 because one of her three maids ran away at 2pm and the victim wanted to follow suit in the evening.

The court was told that the incident started when Zhang asked to see Rimas’ passport but was told she did not have the travel document because it was with somebody else in Wanchai.

Rimas allegedly tried to leave through the backdoor of the Repulse Bay home at around 6pm but Zhang prevented her.

When the maid reached the lift, Zhang grabbed her right arm and tried to drag her out. They struggled until the lift opened in the car park lobby and the Filipina called for help from the guards. He said it was during the struggle that she sustained injuries.

Court records show Rimas had a small laceration over her left eyebrow, small red scratch marks on her right wrist, a bruise on the third knuckle of her left hand, and a red mark on her left hand.

The helper told The SUN she started working for Zhang and her family on Dec 23, 2015. She said Zhang’s first assaulted her on Apr 4, 2016, when she pushed her forcefully from the dining room to the maid’s room while verbally abusing her.

On Apr 18, after a maid named Jailine fled, Zhang vented her ire on Rimas “because she (Zhang) knew I encouraged her to escape from the maltreatment we were suffering”.

“I was overcome by fear that she’d hurt me again so I also decided to flee,” she said.

Before the hearing, the prosecution reportedly told the maid that Zhang was willing to give her $5,000 in compensation, “maybe more”. The defendant would plead guilty, but would seek a bindover – a promise not to reoffend within a specified period with a certain sum for surety.

Ylagan’s absence stalls magistracy hearing of jobs scam case

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 was charged with 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 Hong Kong Labour Department.

Ylagan giving her side to The SUN in June last year

In a reply sent in response from queries from The SUN on Jan. 24, Labour said that it had laid 23 summonses against Ylagan, trading as Mike’s Secretarial Services.

“While the defendant failed to attend the meeting, the prosecution applied to the magistrates’ courts for the hearing to be adjourned as advised by our legal advisor and the application was granted,” the department’s information office said.

“As the legal proceeding of the case has already commenced, the Labour Department will not comment on the case.”

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 reportedly 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 the cases due for hearing before Magistrate Arthur Lam.

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

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 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.
Pressed for an explanation, 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.

But in the statement issued to The SUN, the Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Department would like to take this opportunity to put the record straight as regards your report on 21 January, that while the defendant failed to attend the hearing, the LD prosecutor submitted application to adjourn the hearing in accordance with the advice of our legal advisor and stayed in the court room until approval was granted and the magistrate left the court room.”

However, the two prosecutors were about 3 minutes gone when the case was called out after the penultimate case. When the magistrate looked around and saw none of the parties, he bent over and asked the clerk of court, then left the courtroom.

This and another reporter were the last to leave after talking to the court clerk.