Buhay Pinay: Biyayang hindi inaasahan

Hindi inaasahan ni Cely na makakatanggap siya ng lai see mula sa mga amo na doble sa buwanang sahod niya. Ang mas maganda, tinaasan pang muli ang suweldo niya na mas mataas na sa minimum.

Bilang pasasalamat ay biniyayaan din niya ang kanyang dalawang kapatid na narito rin sa HongKong. Binigyan niya sila ng tig $500 na pang-shopping, at pangkain pa maghapon. Lubos ang kasiyahan nilang magkakapatid dahil ilang oras din silang nagka kuwentuhan at kulitan.

Si Cely ang panganay sa anim na magkakapatid, at tumayo bilang pangalawang ina ng mga ito. Maaga siyang nakapag-abroad, kaya pinag-aral ang mga kapatid, at kalaunan ay hinanapan ng trabaho sa Hong Kong ang mga nakatatanda para tulong-tulong silang magpaaral sa mga naiwan sa Pilipinas.

Lahat ay nakapag-abroad na rin. Naniniwala ang mga nakababatang kapatid ni Cely na kaya pinagpapala ang kanilang ate ay dahil hindi siya nagdamot sa kanila ni minsan. Hindi naman nagpapabaya si Cely sa sarili dahil panay ang kanyang pag-iipon at nang sa gayon ay may aasahan sa panahong kailangan na  niyang mamahinga.

Ang huling perang ibinigay sa kanya ng mga amo na aabot sa Php60,000 ang kabuuang halaga ay inilagak niya sa bangko,  bagamat nagtira ng kaunti para mai- blowout ang mga kapatid.

Si Cely ay 45 taong gulang, may asawa at anak at tubong Cagayan Valley. Kasalukuyan siyang naninilbihan sa mga among Intsik Sa Central.- Marites Palma

Buhay Pinay: DH gets 10 months for abortion, another admits infanticide

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper was sentenced to 10 months in jail on Feb 2 at West Kowloon Court after admitting she aborted her pregnancy illegally.

At the District Court in Wanchai, another OFW indicated she was ready to plead guilty to infanticide for killing her newborn in April last year.

Christine Mae Villanueva pleaded guilty to a charge of “administering a poison or other noxious thing with intent to procure miscarriage” before Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong of the West Kowloon Court.

Villanueva was arrested by police on Sept 18 after she was suspected to have aborted her baby in a grocery shop in Tai Po, New Territories, by using abortion pills. Her baby was believed to be 19 weeks old when aborted.

Magistrate Cheang sentenced Villanueva to 10 months in jail after giving her a one-third discount for her guilty plea.

Meanwhile, the lawyer of Aileen Grado told the District Court that the defendant was ready to plead guilty to killing and dumping her newborn in a toilet bowl in a Tsuen Wan commercial center in April last year.

Judge Justin Ko set down the formal hearing of her plea on May 4.

Grado, 37, appeared for the first time in District Court following the transfer of her case from the West Kowloon Court, where she last appeared on Jan 11.

No bail application was made on her behalf so Judge Ko ordered her remanded in jail
Grado is accused of dumping the body of her newborn in a toilet bowl in a commercial center in Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan, in April last year.

The helper allegedly delivered the baby boy at a nearby estate, wrapped it in layers of tissue paper and cloth, put it in a bag, then took it to the ladies’ toilet in the commercial center.

A mall staff found the wrapped body under the water closet when she traced the source of a foul smell in the toilet on April 4.

Grado was arrested a week later in Central after her former employer told police about the maid confessing she was pregnant and resigning.

Pinay held for sharing pics of boss’ documents with outsider

by Vir B. Lumicao

She took photos of her employer's documents then forwarded
them to a  male contact

A Filipina who took pictures of her employer’s personal documents and sent them to her African male contact is in jail after the man betrayed her to the employer. 

Jocelyn Tupino, a 44-year-old domestic worker, appeared in Kwun Tong Court on Feb 20 where she was originally charged with “obtaining access to a computer with criminal intent”.

The prosecution said that Tupino was ready for plea to an amended charge of  “obtaining access to a computer with a view to a gain."

Magistrate Ernest Lin, summarizing the charge to the defendant, said that on July 13 last year in an unspecified home address, the defendant took photos of personal documents of her employer with her mobile phone and sent them to the male contact.

Then one day recently, the man called Tupino’s employer and informed her that the helper had sent him the photos of the documents.

The employer dismissed the defendant and called the police.

The magistrate adjourned the hearing until Mar 20 for plea-taking.

“Defendant, talk to your lawyer for direction and legal advice on whether to plead guilty or not guilty, and on your general line of defense,” Lin told Tupino.

The magistrate upheld the prosecution’s objection to grant bail to Tupino because of her lack of local ties, but gave her eight days to apply for bail in the Court of First Instance.

Lin, in the meantime, remanded the helper in jail.

Peso falls to 50.23 to US$1

AFP File photo

The peso has fallen to a new 10-year low today, Feb. 20, closing at 50.23 to US$1.

It was the lowest close for the Philippine currency since Sept. 26, 2006, when it closed at 50.32:US$1.

The peso opened at 50.08:$1 and reached a high of 50.05:US$1 but continued to decline, until it closed at the lowest level of 50.23:US$1

Last Friday, it breached the 50:$1 level for the first time since Nov 16, 2006, when it closed at 50.12 : $1.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Armando Tetangco said in a text message to reporters that the peso’s weak opening “tracked the softness in most regional currencies.’

He said it was  “also driven by risk-off sentiment amid geopolitical concerns, especially in Europe.”

He added, “The BSP does not target any exchange rate level, but we continue to watch out for excessive market volatility.”

Analysts say the domestic currency’s depreciation was caused by political uncertainties in Europe, while US President Donald J. Trump’s tax plan improved the dollar’s appeal as a safe-haven currency.

The total volume traded jumped to $723 million from $532 million on Friday’s close. – with a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

3 Pinoy tourists charged with pickpocketing

by Vir B. Lumicao

Exit D of the Causeway Bay MTR station is often crowded 

Three Filipino tourists were charged in Eastern Court on Feb 17 with attempted theft, following a failed pickpocketing sortie inside the MTR Causeway Bay station in January.

Angelo P. de la Cruz, an elderly man; Christopher Talao, a young black-Filipino, and

Shiela Mary Niduaza, who appeared to be in her 30s, appeared before Magistrate Bina Chainrai to listen to the charge. No plea was taken.

Prosecution lawyers sought a four-week adjournment of the hearing for further investigation to find out if De la Cruz had breached a deportation order, before finalizing the charge.

This was after the first defendant allegedly resisted being fingerprinted by the police when he and his co-accused were arrested on Jan 19. It was only on Feb 16 that investigators managed to get his fingerprint, the prosecution said.

The three arrived as tourists on Jan 18, the prosecution said. The next day, a police officer spotted them allegedly following a local inside the MTR station in Causeway Bay.

When the target went up the escalator to Exit D, Dela Cruz alleged opened the victim’s rucksack and put his right hand in the bag, while Talao and Niduaza provided cover.

Unknown to them, the police officer was watching and arrested them before they could escape.

The three defendants were prepared to enter their plea so that they could be sent home as soon as possible, the prosecutor said, as he rejected any bail application for them.

Magistrate Chainrai adjourned the hearing until Mar 17 for further investigation and finalization of the charge.

She ordered the accused to be remanded in jail and told them to get a lawyer to represent them at the next hearing. 

Napamahal na sa alaga

Bumalik sa Hong Kong kamakailan si Tisay mula sa taunang bakasyon sa Pilipinas. Kahit miss na miss na niyang muli ang tatlong anak na iniwan ay natutuwa din siyang balikan ang dalawang alaga na naiwan sa Yuen Long, lalo na ang dalawang taong bunso na siya na ang nagpalaki.

Habang wala kasi siya ay panay ang video call ng kanyang amo kasama ang mga anak dahil miss na miss daw siya ng dalawa. Yung bunso na dalawang taong gulang at katabi ni Tisay sa pagtulog ay ayaw matulog sa unang gabi na wala siya. Inabot na sila ng alas dos ng madaling araw ng kakausap sa video ay ayaw pa ring matulog ng bata, at panay ang sabing umuwi na siya.

Yung panganay din ay gusto na siyang umuwi dahil ayaw sa ipinalit sa kanya pansamantala na isang Indonesian.

Ayon kay Tisay, masaya siya sa mga among Intsik dahil mabait ang mga ito sa kanya. Katunayan, halos hindi siya nagde-day off at pumapayag na bayaran na lang siya imbes lumabas ng bahay.

Kung ayaw naman niyang magtrabaho ay sa bahay lang siya nagtutulog, at dinadalhan pa siya ng pagkain ng amo dahil tinatamad siyang magluto. Kahit simple lang daw ang buhay ng mga amo at medyo masikip ang bahay ay masaya na siya dahil maganda ang trato sa kanya, at malaki ang tiwala sa ginagawa niyang pagpapalaki sa mga anak nila.

 Panatag din si Tisay dahil maayos ang trabaho ng kanyang mister at maganda ang ginagawang pagpapalaki sa kanyang tatlong anak na 21, 19 at 8 taong gulang na. Sila ay nakatira sa Cavite. – DCLM

Binigyan ng limos ng kasakay sa MTR

Si Myrna ay isang maybahay na dating nagtatrabaho bilang katulong sa isang pamilya sa Mid-levels.

Tatlong taon pa lang siya dito sa HK noon nang makilala niya si Ricky, isang diborsiyadong Intsik na kalaunan ay naging asawa niya. Nagkaroon sila ng dalawang anak na halos isang taon lang ang pagitan ng mga edad. Mula nang magkaroon sila ng anak ay tumigil na din sa pagtatrabaho si Myrna para maalagaan ng husto ang mga bata.

Isang araw ay may lagnat ang kanyang panganay na anak. Mula sa kanilang bahay sa Kennedy Town at akay-akay niya ang dalawang bata papunta sa kanilang doktor sa North Point.

Habang nasa loob sila ng MTR ay napansin niyang tinitingnan siya ng isang mamang dayuhan. Nang magtagpo ang kanilang paningin ay magalang na ngumiti si Myrna at tango naman ang isinukli ng lalaki.

Pagdating sa kanilang destinasyon ay tumayo na din ang lalaki sa kinauupuan. Bago ito tuluyang lumabas ng tren ay lumapit ito sa mag-iina at walang imik na inabot ang hawak na papel kay Myrna sabay talikod. Wala sa isip na tinanggap ito Myrna at inilagay sa bulsa.

Nasa loob na sila ng clinic nang naalala ni Myrna na tingnan ang inabot ng lalaki. Nagulat siya dahil isang buong $1,000 pala ito. Hindi lubos maisip ni Myrna kung bakit siya binigyan ng pera hanggang sa makita niya ang sarili sa salamin. Magulo ang buhok niya at mukhang siyang may sakit. Naisip ni Myrna na malamang napagkamalan silang pulubi kaya binigyan ng limos. Si Myrna ay isang Ilonggo. —Gina N. Ordona

Ex-helper gets 12 months for overstaying

A former domestic helper who had overstayed her visa in Hong Kong for one year and seven months was sentenced to 12 months in jail by a magistrate in Shatin on Feb 10.

Ildefonsa Guzman, 49, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching her condition of stay for not leaving Hong Kong when her visa expired on May 31, 2015.

Guzman came to Hong Kong in August 2013 to work as a domestic helper. When her contract ended, she was unable to find an employer within her 14-day visa extension and decided to remain and work illegally in the city. The prosecution said the Filipina was forced to give herself up during an anti-illegal immigrant operation in the New Territories, where she was staying on Feb 8.

Magistrate Joseph Toh said he could not give Guzman a further discount after the one-third discount for her pleading guilty because she did not surrender voluntarily.

The duty lawyer assigned to Guzman’s case pleaded for leniency, saying the woman wanted to stay on in Hong Kong for follow-up medical treatment after undergoing surgery in Tuen Mun Hospital.
Toh said Guzman’s offense called for an 18-month sentence, but because of her guilty plea he was sentencing her to 12 months.

DH charged for helping in employer’s flower stall

A Filipina domestic worker arrested on Jan 24 for helping out at her employer’s flower stall at Yuen Long Lunar New Year fair has been charged with breach of condition of stay at Shatin Court.
Jennifer Barcelo, who is in her 30s and has been in Hong Kong since October, appeared on Jan 26 before Magistrate Joseph To where she was read the charge against her.

Barcelo was arrested by police and Immigration officers at the New Year Flowers Fair in Shek Kong Garden, Yuen Long while allegedly cutting flowers which her employer sold to   fair visitors, according to the prosecutor’s report.

The prosecution applied for an adjournment of the hearing to Feb 20 saying the Immigration Department had yet to release the documents of the case. Barcelo, through her lawyer, applied for bail of $5,000 but Magistrate To rejected this. “Defendant was arrested while working in contravention of her condition of stay, she has no significant local ties, and there is a possibility she will take up illegal work again,”  he said.

But he said Barcelo could still apply for bail at the Court of First Instance.
The magistrate set Mar 9 as a tentative trial date and ordered the defendant remanded in jail. – Vir B. Lumicao

Pinoy pickpocket sent to jail for 30 months

A Filipino tourist who pleaded guilty in December to charges of attempted theft and breach of a deportation order was sentenced to a total of 30 months in jail by a District Court judge.

Jolito Mania, 52, was glum as Judge Bina Chainrai handed down the sentence after delaying it for more than one and a half months to wait for the result of the case of his alleged partner and co-defendant, Marcelo Ortega Jr.

Ortega, who was found not guilty of the charges, has remained in Hong Kong and is reportedly planning to seek compensation from the government for the eight months that he was detained while the case was pending in court.

The defense lawyer asked for a lenient sentence, saying Mania was remorseful, no property was lost, the defendant still has three of his six children going to school and that he wanted to be with his family soon.

But Chainrai said Mania committed the same offense for which he was convicted in 1991 and that he breached his deportation order by changing his identity.

“The sentences will neither be concurrent nor consecutive, but will overlap,” she said.

For the first charge of attempted theft, Mania was sentenced to 12 months in jail. For the second he got a 27-month jail sentence to take effect after the third month of the first sentence, resulting in a total sentence of 30 months imprisonment.

Mania waited since Dec 9 for his sentence as Chainrai said she wanted to wait for the outcome of the trial of his alleged partner, Ortega, before sentencing the first defendant.

Mania and Ortega were arrested on April 25 last year after allegedly trying to pick the wallet of a certain Mr Wong, an MTR passenger who they followed from the Jordan station to Mongkok.

The would-be victim noticed the attempt while Mania had his right hand in Wong’s backpack and called the police. The two suspects were arrested in Cheung Sha Wan Station.

At the start of the hearing on Dec 9, Mania pleaded guilty to both charges laid against him while Ortega pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted theft.

The prosecution said that Mania was issued a deportation order on Mar 2, 1992 after serving a sentence for an earlier theft conviction.

On the second day, Ortega was acquitted of the charge.

About a month later, he approached the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section with a thick wad of forms to fill out for his legal aid application. An ATN officer said he would review Ortega’s application before the latter submits it to the Legal Aid Department. – Vir B. Lumicao

Ex-DH nixes lawyer for indecency trial

By Vir B. Lumicao

A male Filipino former domestic helper charged with grossly indecent behavior towards a 10-year-old girl defiantly refused on Tuesday, Feb 7, a Kowloon City magistrate’s instruction to engage a duty lawyer, insisting that he can defend himself.

Armando S. Armesto, 49, also insisted on speaking to the court in English despite a Tagalog interpreter telling him to speak his dialect.

Armesto, earlier sentenced in Kwun Tong Court to six weeks in jail for overstaying in Hong Kong for 11 months, appeared in Kowloon Court for a pretrial review of a charge of  “gross indecency with or towards a child under 16” laid against him.

Magistrate Peter Law asked Armesto why he had no duty lawyer to represent him, reminding the defendant that the hearing was a pretrial review.

“I don’t have a lawyer but I can answer the charge against me,” the defendant said arrogantly.
“Why the review? I’ve been in jail for three months.”

The magistrate was apparently piqued but kept his cool, explaining to the defendant that the pretrial review is a screening process in which the lawyers of both sides sift through evidence to determine which ones are in dispute, and which one are not.

The prosecution asked for a two-day trial in which it would present seven witnesses, two of them by way of video recorded interview because of their young age.

A 38-minute video recorded interview with the first prosecution witness (the alleged victim) and a 45-minute interview with another girl, the second witness. The prosecution also has a video recorded interview with Armesto.

Armesto still insisted that he did not need a lawyer and a Tagalog interpreter, so the magistrate dismissed the interpreter, Menchu Rivera.

But the defendant relented when Magistrate Law told him the prosecution would be getting two interpreters – one interpreting from Cantonese to Putonghua and from Putonghua to English.

Armesto changed his mind and agreed when he was told he would need an interpreter who would be interpreting the witnesses’ statements from English to Tagalog.

The defendant applied to post bail but the magistrate turned him down, saying the prosecution opposed bail for him because of the serious nature of his offense and his lack of local ties.
Magistrate Law set the trial for Mar 16 and 17.

Deceased ex-DH’s ordeal began with hocked passport

A priest blesses the remains  of Thelma before these were shipped to the Philippines.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Former domestic helper Thelma Lomohan returned to her homeland in a box on Feb 9, ending a 20-year stay in Hong Kong spent mostly as an asylum-seeker because she lost her passport to a friend from whom she had borrowed money.

Lomohan’s remains were accompanied on the Philippine Airlines flight to Manila by her younger sister Cleofe L. Alvarez, herself a domestic worker in Hong Kong.  They were met at the airport by one of Lomohan’s two sons and staff from a funeral parlor in Sison, Pangasinan, that took to them back to their hometown.

The 55-year-old Lomohan died on Jan 26 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon following two major brain surgeries after suffering a massive stroke 11 days earlier at her boarding house in Clearwater Bay, Saikung.

“She was a very kind sister, the eldest of five girls among eight siblings,” Alvarez told The SUN in an interview on Feb 9 at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, where she went to secure an overseas employment certificate for her return to Hong Kong after the funeral.

Alvarez said Lomohan came to Hong Kong in 1996 to support her family, leaving behind two daughters and two sons, the youngest of whom was just a year old. Since then she had not seen her children, Alvarez said.

Cleofe Alvarez paying a courtesy call on Labatt 

Jolly a day before escorting her deceased 

sister Thelma's remains back to the Philippines on Feb 9.

“Kaya ang sabi ng mga anak niya, iuwi ko raw nang buo ang nanay nila para makita nila. Ayaw nilang ipa-cremate,” the sister said, explaining why she turned down suggestions of cremation for Lomohan’s remains as a cheaper option to repatriating her body.

A Hong Kong-based group called the Alliance of Overseas Filipinos for Change started an online appeal for financial help for Lomohan, posting her picture taken after her surgery, accompanied by her heart-rending life story.

By the evening of April 8, Alvarez said enough money was raised for the repatriation of Lomohan’s remains from donations by Good Samaritans coursed through the group or collected from drop boxes at POLO, along with money sent by their United States-based sister, Marilou Wagner.

Lomohan worked for four years for an employer who hired her in 1996, Alvarez said.

But the deceased was unable to process her third contract and renew her working visa since her friend who held her passport as collateral for a loan had disappeared.

After her visa expired, making her an illegal immigrant, Lomohan decided to overstay and live and work in the shadows.

“Minsan nga, nahuli siya dahil overstaying na, at nakulong siya nang tatlong buwan,” Alvarez said of Lomohan, who reportedly took on odd jobs just to be able to send money for her children’s food and studies.

To make things worse, her husband reportedly left their children in 2000 to shack up with another woman.

“Simula noon, sila-sila na lang magkakapatid ang tumingin sa isa’t isa,” said Alvarez. She said it was tough for the children, as they had to live on their own at a very young age, and at the same time, take care of their youngest sibling who is a special child.

At the time, Lomohan’s parents had already died, and the children managed to get by only with some help from the aunties in the neighborhood.

To avert deportation, Lomohan filed for asylum as a torture claimant. As such, she became entitled to some meager help from the government for her upkeep and monthly rent.

After Lomohan became seriously ill, her sister sought the Consulate’s help in sending her back home. Alvarez was advised to first go to the Castle Peak Immigration Centre to report her sister’s immigration status.

After the online appeal for help for Lomohan went viral, thousands of Filipinos, mostly based in Hong Kong, reportedly took notice of her plight.

The author of the appeal wrote: “While Thelma committed mistakes, just like any ordinary mortal, the battles that she fought to support her children on her own in spite of great adversities clearly reflects her unquestionable love for her children – a quality that should inspire all OFWs and is certainly worth emulation.”

What's on where

TGIF With Friends
Feb. 17, 6:30-9:30pm
97@Lkf
Organized by: Philippine Association of Hong Kong
Tickets to this charity fundraiser are $250 for members and $300 for non-members (includes the annual membership fee). Price includes three drinks and canapes.

Free Financial Check-up
Feb. 19, 1-5pm
PCG Conference Room
Organized by: PCG and Enrich
To book a place, register personally at the PCG Cultural Section or call 2823 8512

DWEP Batch 2 Graduation
Feb. 19, 2pm onwards
Rayson Huang Theatre, University of Hong Kong
Organizer: HKU Domestic Workers Empowerment Programme

HKTDC Education and Careers Expo
Feb. 23-26, HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Philippine booth is at 1E-D24.
Participating schools include the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University
Organized by the HK Trade Development Council
Details, call the PCG Cultural Office at 2823 8512
Philippines at Hong Kong Flower Show
Mar 10-19, whole day
Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
The Philippine Consulate will have a booth for the first time
Details, contact the cultural section at 2823 8535

Asia Contemporary Art Show Spring Edition 2017
Mar 18-20
Conrad Hong Kong
Special 2-for-1 tickets available now. You can enter the exhibit on Saturday, Sunday and Monday – and bring a friend for free if you buy tickets before the show. Tickets at the door are HK$220 per person. Free admission for children under 16 yrs if accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are available here: http://www.asiacontemporaryart.com/tickets

Teachers Oath-Taking:
Calling all Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) passers and also all the proctors and watchers for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016 in Hong Kong SAR to contact NOPT-HK for the registration for the Oath Taking.Registration deadline is March 12.
You may contact them on their Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/nopthk2016.c0m/ ; you may call or text or whatsapp at their Hotline Number: +85252960156
or email at nopthk@gmail.com

Chinese Horoscope: Covers Feb. 16-28, 2017

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Mag-ingat na maubusan ng lakas! Minsan ay hindi mo natatantiya ang kaya mong gawin, kaya inaabot ka ng nerbiyos kapag naghahabol sa oras. Sa trabaho, may magandang alok ang darating. Bago tanggapin o tanggihan ito, humingi ng payo sa taong alam mong makakatulong sa iyo. Humanap ng mga bagong mapaglilibangan upang maiwasang magmukmok at maawa sa sarili. Lucky numbers: 16, 22, 31 at 44.

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Malilito ka sa pagharap sa importanteng pagpili. Huwag mag-alala dahil babalik din agad ang tatag ng loob kung makokontrol mo ang emosyon. Upang makaiwas sa problema sa sikmura, ugaliing kumain ng balanseng pagkain sa halip na kung anu-ano ang kinukutkot. Huwag hayaang may makialam sa pribadong buhay; iwasan ang mga taong mahilig mangggulo. Lucky numbers: 17,20,31 at 41.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
May tsansa kang hanapin ang iyong kapalaran sa direksyong gusto mo. Talasan ang pakiramdam upang hindi masayang ang parating na magandang pagkakataon; mag-isip mabuti bago magdesisyon. Iwasan muna ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga kaibigan upang mapagbuti ang trabaho, kahit na hindi magiging madali ang lahat. Maraming maiinis sa iyo dahil sa iyong pagiging dominante. Lucky numbers: 19,23,28 at 30.
.
BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Kahit hindi gaanong nakatuon ang atensyon, hindi mawawala ang iyong husay. Dahil sa lawak ng kaalaman at pag-iisip, maipapakita mo ang kakaibang talino. Hindi ka masaya sa mga kasamahan at matatanto mong mahirap humanap ng totoong kaibigan. Mas lalakas ang iyong imahinasyon at makakaisip ka ng mga proyektong gusto mo, mahihirapan ka nga lang piliin kung alin ang pinakamaganda. Lucky numbers: 15,19,25 at 40.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Maraming hindi inaasahang pangyayari ang darating. Matataranta ka man, may idudulot ding maganda ito para sa iyo. Kung may nalalaman ka, huwag mag-atubiling isuplong ang mga nang-aabuso at nananakit ng mga bata, tungkulin mo ito bilang isang mabuting mamamayan. Dahil sa pagkainis sa trabaho ay hindi ka gaanong makapag-enjoy sa buhay. Magtiyaga ka muna dahil may maganda itong kapalit. Lucky numbers: 9,17,27 at 45.
 39.
BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Kung may asawa, may matutuklasan ka pang magandang katangian ng kabiyak kaya lalong tatamis ang pagsasama. Kung walang karelasyon, makakadama ka ng labis na kaligayahan kapag nakilala mo na ang taong matagal nang hinahanap. May sapat kang oras upang balensehin ang obligasyon sa trabaho, pamilya at maging sa ibang bagay. Kung nais magtagumpay, ibayong pag-aaral ang kailangan upang wala kang makaligtaan. Lucky numbers: 21,29,30 at 37.
.
TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Sa kabila ng ngiti at tahimik na ugali, magpapakita ka ng tapang na manindigan. Anuman ang inaasam ay makukuha mo dahil ibubuhos mo ang lahat mong makakaya. Gawin ang mga bagay na matagal nang pinag-isipan. Mahalaga sa iyo ang tahanan, pero hindi ka na sigurado sa nararamdaman at sa relasyon ninyong mag-asawa. Maninimbang ka ng husto ngayon, kumalma at kontrolin ang sarili. Lucky numbers: 14,26,28 at 36.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Mas magiging palakaibigan at makwento ka ngayon kaysa dati. Nanaisin mo ring mapabilang sa grupo at sa taong malalapit sa iyo sa pagbuo ng mahahalagang proyekto o makipagpalitan ng ideya. Bigla ay parang lahat ng bagay ay napakadali para sa iyo, samantalahin ito at isagawa agad ang matagal nang plano. Sumubok ng ibang pagkain, ibang klase ng gulay, isda o prutas, kapalit ng lagi mong kinakain;. Lucky numbers: 5,8,21 at 33.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Upang masigurong magtagumpay ang plano, pag-aralang mabuti at ayusin ang lahat ng bagay, at samahan ng tapang at sigasig. Magiging maingat ka sa iyong galaw kaya madali kang makakagawa ng bagong relasyon. Madali kang makibagay at makisama kaya kampante ka kahit saan ka pumunta at marami ring maiinggit sa iyo dahil sa taglay mong karisma. Lahat ng bagay ay pabor sa iyo kaya magaan ang pasok ng pera at matutupad ang mga gusto mo. Lucky numbers: 12, 18, 29 at 35.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Hindi maganda ang pananaw mo sa buhay ngayon. Idaan mo na lang sa tawa ang lahat upang mabawi ang katahimikan ng loob. Huwag magpadala sa boladas ng kakilala mo tungkol sa magandang alok na pagkakakitaan ng malaki. Huwag umasa sa swerte, maging maingat sa paggastos. Lucky numbers: 16, 24, 28 at 36.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Pagtatalo at away ang maaaring mangyari sa relasyon lalo na kung pareho ninyong igigiit ang inyong katwiran. Bawasan ang kinakain at samahan ng ehersisyo kung nais mong mabawasan ang timbang. Kung nagkakaedad na, mas lalong bantayan ang kinakain at siguraduhing masustansya ito. Lucky numbers: 7, 15, 29 at 31.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Kung walang karelasyon, samantalahin ito, lumabas at i-enjoy ang buhay. Maswerte kang makikilala ang matagal nang nakatakda mong soulmate, at hindi mo na siya kailangang hanapin. Kung may asawa, magkakaroon ng mga pagtatalo. Mag-ingat sa pagbili ng mga gamit sa internet o sa mga taong naglalako dahil baka hindi maganda ang kalidad nito, o hindi mo naman talaga kailangan. Lucky numbers: 12, 32, 37 at 45.

Contract ends with employer’s death, DH learns

By Vir B. Lumicao

For her ignorance of the law, Aurora Ramirez almost found herself in jail for overstaying her visa.

Ramirez, a 44-year-old mother from Isabela, told her story to The SUN on Jan. 23, while camped overnight along with about 100 others, on the pedestrian bridge just outside the Immigration tower in Wanchai to process her new work contract.

Aurora Ramirez says
she did not know that
when her employer died
on Dec 18, her work contract
also lapsed automatically.

She said she did not realize that when her elderly employer died on Dec. 18 last year, her employment was effectively terminated, and she had to immediately report to Immigration to get permission to process a new contract.

Otherwise, she could remain in Hong Kong for only 14 days.

Not realizing this, she agreed to the offer of her employer’s two grown-up children to extend her contract for a few more days.

The children said they would give Alvarez a one-month release letter on Dec 30 so that Ramirez would be leaving the house on Jan 30.

“No, you have to give me my release letter on Dec 29 because my visa is valid only until that date, and I’ll be leaving the house on Jan 27 because the 28th and 29th are holidays,” she insisted, and the employer’s children agreed.

It was when Ramirez went to the Immigration on Jan 19 to report the change in her circumstances that she got the shock of her life: “You’re now overstaying,” the officer at the window said after looking at her employer’s death certificate and examining the visa on her passport.
“How come? My release date is Jan 29, why should I be overstaying?” she retorted.
The officer referred her to another staff, who started grilling her.

“Doon na ako niluto, kasi daw ang kontrata ko is between me and Lam Tak-fan, the mother. Automatic daw na kinabukasan ay magsisimula na ang count ng 14 days (visa extension) ko dahil namatay siya,” Ramirez said.

The officer told her that whether the children reported the death immediately or not, the countdown had started. When Ramirez said she was still living in the deceased employer’s flat, she was told not to perform any work there because it was illegal.

“Do you know that since the day your employer died, you should no longer be working in that flat, not even washing the dishes? On the day your employer died, the children should have given you a plane ticket back to your country and paid your last salary and other obligations,” the officer said.
She shook her head, and the officer was astonished: “You’ve been here 18 years and you don’t know that?”

“No, because it’s only now that my employer died,” Ramirez replied. She said Lam was her fourth employer, who she had served for just six months. She said she worked previously four years each for her first two employers, then spent 8 years and six months with the third before moving into Lam’s household.

Ramirez said she argued that she was not aware of the law because it wasn’t written on the contract that the contract was co-terminus with the employer.

The officer reportedly said she was impressed by her honesty and reasoning, and asked her to write a letter addressed to the employer’s children stating that, henceforth, she was a visitor in the house who should not be performing any chores.

The officer also asked her to apply for a visa extension and she was granted just two days, enough to process the contract with her new employer.

As of this writing, Ramirez was spending time with her nine-year-old daughter in Cauayan City while waiting for her new working visa before returning to Hong Kong.

She said she would be working next for an employer in Mawan who had offered to hire her even before she decided to work for her late boss.

A reply to Question 33 of the “Question and Answer” section of the Immigration website states that “The contract with the deceased employer is no longer valid on the date of his/her death. The FDH is required to give the Director of Immigration notice in writing within seven days of the date of termination and to leave Hong Kong in two weeks. If the FDH would like to work for the employer’s spouse or family members, he/she has to submit an application for change of employment sponsored by the spouse or a family member within two weeks from the date of such termination. The Immigration Department will process these applications expeditiously.”

In passing, Ramirez said her only regret was that no one at the labor office of the Consulate told her about this provision when she went there to seek help in computing the money due her from her deceased employer.

Filipino worker dies in carnival accident

The roller coaster before being dismantled. From AIA's FB page

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipino skilled worker fell to his death when a roller coaster steel structure he was dismantling at the Central Harbourfront collapsed on Wednesday, a Consulate officer and the police said.

Norman C. Padilla, 27 and single, was certified dead at Queen Mary Hospital where he was taken after the accident at the AIA Great European Carnival at about 10 am. 

The steel structure that collapsed
Photo by Salome B. Bino

His family in the Philippines had been informed and his OFW brother, Jensen, arrived Thursday from Abu Dhabi to attend to the repatriation of the deceased’s remains, an officer from the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section said.
The officer said Padilla was on a three-month work contract under the Hong Kong government’s supplementary labor scheme.

The police had reportedly referred his case to the Labour Department for possible  compensation.
A duty officer at the Police Public Relations Bureau told The SUN in a phone inquiry that the victim was dismantling the roller-coaster when a platform five to six meters high collapsed.

The worker fell and his head hit the ground, knocking him out, the officer said. The case was classified as an accident.

Filipino DH population grows to 189,105

Filipino DH population still growing.

By Vir B. Lumicao

The population of Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong has continued its steady growth, with a total figure of 189,105 being recorded as of Dec 31 last year.

This represents a 4% increase from last year’s overall figure of 181,861, figures from the Immigration Department show.

However, the annual growth was slightly lower than the 5.25% recorded by the end of 2015, when the Filipino DH numbers rose by more than 9,000.

The additional 7,244 who came in last year helped drive up the city’s total foreign domestic helper population to 351,513, from 340,380 a year ago, or a growth rate of 3.3%.

Vice Consul Fatima Quintin welcomed the continuing influx of Filipino domestic workers into Hong Kong.

“As long as we are protected here in Hong Kong and lahat naman ng requirements natin for deployment are met, then it’s OK for the number of Filipino household workers to increase here,” Quintin said.

More Indonesian domestic workers also came to Hong Kong last year, but at a considerably lower number than the Filipinos. The Indonesian population rose by 3,834, for an overall tally of 154,073.
Together, the Filipinos and Indonesians account for about 97% of the total FDH population in Hong Kong.

But fewer Indonesians have been gaining entry into Hong Kong after their government began requiring local employers to pay the cost of its nationals’ medical examination, insurance, and round-trip air ticket starting in May 2012.

For about three years before this, the Indonesian domestic workers had outnumbered their Filipino counterparts.

The growth in the Filipinos’ numbers also indicates that peso weakness and continuing hardships at home make it attractive for women, the most vulnerable segment of the country’s workforce, to seek jobs abroad despite the risks.

Cynthia Tellez, general manager of the Mission for Migrant Workers, says the main reason why more Filipinas come to work in Hong Kong is proximity to home.

“Kung may mangyaring hindi maganda sa bansa, sa pamilya, madali lang umuwi, malapit lang,” she told The SUN. “Hindi rin naman maipagkakaila na dahil mahigpit ang Immigration pati sa kontrata, parang pang-assurance iyon,” she added.

But she said the problems that originate in the application process in Manila, starting with illegal agency fees, are carried over to Hong Kong and continue to hound the worker.

Tellez said the increase is also “very telling” on the Philippine economy.

“Ever since, in our analysis of migration is, it comes from the home country. Kung hindi sila mapo-provide-an ng maayos na trabaho na magbibigay ng disenteng suweldo, hahanap at hahanap ang mga magulang (pati nga ang mga anak) ng paraan para makapamuhay naman nang may kaunting disente. Hindi yung araw-araw ang problema mo ay kung saan kukuha ng makakain. Kaya malaki ang pananagutan ng gobyerno,” Tellez said.

Figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show that land-based OFWs in Hong Kong accounted for US$536.32 million of total OFW cash remittances of US$24.34 billion in from January to November last year, down 7.8% year-on-year.

The combined sum of money sent home by both sea-based and land-based OFWs in this city totaled US$694.89 million, dropping 15.7%.

Enrich turns 10: Join us in the economic empowerment of migrant domestic workers

Since Enrich’s establishment in 2007, we have grown and developed our programs while remaining true to our mission to empower migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, regardless of nationality or background, to transform their lives through financial education and personal development programs. Ten years on, we are ambitious as ever. Our Financial and Empowerment Programme is impactful and making a change in the lives of migrant women and their families. We have developed our program offerings to cater to the migrant woman at each stage of her migration journey: before she leaves her home country, after she has arrived in Hong Kong, whilst she is working here, and when she is ready to plan for return or reintegration to her home.

None of this would have been possible without our supporters and partners. This upcoming year, CLSA Capital Partners and another family foundation are partnering with us to reach newly arrived migrant domestic workers so that we can support them to make money-wise decisions early on in their time in Hong Kong.

Fu Tam Iam Foundation is fuelling our work to tackle debt management through financial education intervention and through empowering peer educators and leaders.

The Equal Opportunities Commission continues to be long supporting of Enrich with access to education about rights and responsibilities for migrant domestic workers. LUSH is working with us through their Charity Pot program to empower migrant domestic workers to work towards their goals and have the courage to communicate effectively for their rights. With the help of Operation Santa Claus, we will be reaching out to hundreds more women through large street outreach initiatives throughout the year. We are so thankful for these partners along with many other organizations and individuals who collaborated with us as we set out to achieve record participant numbers at our workshops again this year.

Now, more than ever, we need you in the delivery of Enrich programs through which 74% of our participants are more confident about managing debt and 70% of participants leave our workshops armed with a plan for the future. Make a direct impact on a woman’s life by sponsoring a domestic worker’s scholarship to the Enrich Full Financial and Empowerment education program. Get in touch with us to learn about ways you can make a difference.

Thank you for being a partner in the vision of a world in which migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong are empowered and financially capable, achieving their life goals and creating positive long-term impact for themselves, their families and their communities.

By Victoria Ahn, External Relations Officer, Enrich


-o-

Plan and Prepare for a Financially Successful Lunar New Year:

Enrich tips for migrant domestic workers

In Hong Kong, the Lunar New Year celebrations are noticeably more festive and vibrant compared to the New Year festivities.

This year’s Lunar New Year includes three Statutory Holiday days: Lunar New Year’s Day (28 January), The third day of Lunar New Year (30 January), and The fourth day of Lunar New Year (31 January), as well as a Sunday (29 January). This means migrant domestic workers are entitled to 3 days off or 4 days off if their usual day off is a Sunday.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated by many Asian countries that also follow the lunar calendar. Because the Lunar calendar is based on the moon cycles and not coordinated with the Gregorian calendar, a solar calendar, the Lunar New Year always falls at a different time of year each year.

While many banks, business and shops are closed, many restaurants and shops remain open and even extend hours during this holiday. It is a time for families to get together and honor ancestors. The customs and traditions vary by region and often involve reunion meals with family, spring-cleaning of the house, and wishing good luck on each other. The giving of red packets or “lai-see packets” is a prominent custom in Hong Kong. These packets of money are given out by married couples or elderly to the youth. Often, red packets are also given by families to domestic workers with their year’s bonus or a gift of gratitude for their work.

With the possibility of receiving a bonus, this is a great opportunity for domestic workers to grow their savings, add to certain funds that they have budgeted for, or make an important payment. On the other hand, with multiple days of holidays that might be spent out, there is much more temptation to spend money on restaurant meals, treats, and Lunar New Year sales!

To enjoy the Lunar New Year while keeping your finances on track, preparation and planning is key.
If you receive a bonus or lai see packets, ask yourself: how would I benefit from not spending this cash?

Could you save up towards long-term goals, such as your children’s education or a large purchase for your home or business?

It could go towards an emergency fund which would save you a lot of trouble and heart if ever a surprise payment or an unfortunate accident were to happen.

If you have any outstanding debts to pay, prioritize paying off your debts first with this money and reward yourself to freedom from these debts.

During your days off over Lunar New Year, try to avoid the temptation of spending the holidays in shopping malls or restaurants.

Instead, join free activities, such as hiking or visiting Hong Kong many public parks.

Prepare and pack your meals and snacks ahead of time so that you won’t need to pay for marked up restaurant meals during this peak season.

Enrich is running workshops during the Lunar New Year period, so please check with us to sign up for workshops!

We wish you all a wonderful Lunar New Year!

By Lucinda Pike, Senior Programme Manager, Enrich
---
(Editor’s Note: Enrich is a Hong Kong charity that promotes the economic well-being of migrant domestic workers through financial and empowerment education. Enrich conducts workshops that equip migrant women with the tools to save, budget and plan for greater financial security)

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.

---
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.

Natinik, nagka-cancer

Ni Merly Bunda

Isang Ilongga ang kasalukuyan ngayong sumasailalim sa radio therapy matapos matagpuang may cancer sa dila, at sumailalim sa dalawang maseselang operasyon.

Ayon kay Gema Principe Albacete, 36 taong gulang, may asawa’t apat na anak at taga Dingle, Iloilo, nag-umpisa ang kanyang problema nang matinik siya sa isda limang buwan na ang nakakaraan. Nagka-sugat siya ng dahil dito at anim na beses na niyang pinatingnan sa mga doktor nguni’t hindi ito gumaling.

Noong Set. 22 ay nagpasya ang kanyang amo na ipa-biopsy siya, at ang lumabas na resulta ay may stage 2 cancer siya sa dila.

Para makasiguro ay nagpa MRI si Gema sa St. Paul’s Hospital sa Causeway Bay noong Okt. 6. Hindi lang nakumpirma sa pagsusuri na may cancer siya, kundi madami na ang mga lymph nodes o tumor sa kanyang dila, at kailangan nang tanggalin.

Agad siyang isinailalim sa operasyon sa Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital sa Chaiwan noong Okt 24 na tumagal ng 15 oras: mula 9am hanggang 1am kinabukasan. Tinanggal ng mga doktor ang mga tumor sa kanyang dila, at tinapalan ito ng balat na galing sa kanyang hita. Pagkatapos ng operasyon ay sinabihan diumano si Albacete na stage 3 na ang cancer niya.

Noong Nob. 10 ay muli na naman siyang inoperahan para tanggalin ang itinapal na balat sa kanyang dila dahil hindi ito tugma.

Makalipas ang 11 araw ay pinayagan na siyang umuwi ng doktor pero kailangan niyang magpa radiotherapy sa loob ng 30 araw, Lunes hanggang Biyernes.

Bago mag-umpisa ang kanyang radio therapy ay isinailalim muli siya sa CT scan, at ganoon na lang ang panlulumo nilang lahat dahil may nakita na namang bukol sa bandang kaliwa ng kanyang dila. Mabuti na lang at matapos itong i-biopsy ay nakitang hindi ito cancerous.
Nag-umpisa ang kanyang radiotherapy noong Dis. 14 at nakatakda itong magpatuloy hanggang Enero 25 ngayong kasalukuyang taon.

Sa lahat ng kanyang pinagdaanan ay todo suporta ang kanyang amo. Nguni’t pagkatapos nilang mag-usap kamakailan ay sinabi ng amo na hindi na nila ulit kukunin si Gema kapag natapos ang kanilang kontrata ngayong Abril. Wala na raw silang makuhang health insurance para sa kanyang patuloy na pagtatrabaho dahil sa kalagayan niya kaya mabigat man sa loob ay kailangan na siyang umuwi at magpahinga.