Lost passport reports dip after raid on loan sharks

By Vir B. Lumicao

There has been a noticeable drop in the number of passports being reported as lost by OFWs, according to officials of the Consulate who say that this may be related to the current crackdown on loan sharks by the Hong Kong police.

Vice Consul Fatima Quintin, head of the PCG’s economic and political section as well as the passport division, told The SUN that on Sunday, Apr 23, there were 450 applicants for passport appointments but not one reported a lost passport.

Months before the Hong Kong Police launched its anti-loan-sharking operation, around five passports were being reported as lost to the Consulate each Sunday, while two to three such cases occurred on weekdays.

Quintin told The SUN that it looked like the ongoing police crackdown was causing an impact.
That view was shared by Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the assistance to nationals section.
“So far, nakakatuwa ano. Parang kumonti yung mga nagri-report sa amin ng lost passports,” Vallespin told The SUN in a separate interview.

He said it was possible lost passport reports the ATN was receiving these days were genuine.
“We think it’s legit that they could indeed be lost passports. But, of course, we know that if you tell us it’s lost passport, we have no way of verifying it,” Vallespin said.

On the second week of March, Hong Kong police arrested 10 people and captured 242 Philippine passports that were apparently used by OFWs as collateral in borrowing money from usurious lenders.

Among those arrested were a Chinese couple who allegedly financed the illegal lending operation, along with eight Filipino domestic helpers, including their maid who reportedly served as their assistant and receiver of the hocked passports. The rest were runners and contacts.

A police report said that on Mar 12-13 officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau arrested the suspects after passports changed hands in a transaction in Mong Kok.

The ATN said that of the 242 passports recovered from the syndicate, some came from people who lent them to debtors as substitutes so they could renew their work contracts and visas.

Vallespin said those passports seized from the syndicate will no longer be returned to their owners, as the police will turn them over to the Consulate.

“We will cancel the passports and issue the owners temporary travel documents on which they can stick their visas,” Vallespin said.

He also said owners of the recovered passports might be invited for questioning by the police.
But he reportedly cautioned the police against focusing on the Filipinos who were mere pawns in the scam, and instead go after the financiers as they are the ones who profit the most in the illegal activity.

Libre ang rehistro sa BM Online, nilinaw ng POLO

Walk-in BMOnline registrants wait to be tutored on how to get OEC exemption electronically

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Walang bayad sa pagpapalista sa BM Online, ang batayang kailangan para malibre ang isang OFW sa pagkuha ng overseas employment certificate, o OEC.

Ito ang paglilinaw ni Labor Attaché Jalilo de la Torre sa tanong ng maraming katulong na Pilipino na pumipila ng matagal sa tulay sa labas ng Admiralty Centre tuwing araw ng Linggo para kumuha ng OEC exemption.

Ipinaliwanag din ni Labatt De la Torre na hindi kailangang magpakopya ng mga OFW ng kanilang mga passport at kontrata sa trabaho, dahil kailangan lang tingnan ng mga tauhan ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office ang mga nabanggit na dokumento.

“Walang bayad ang pagpaparehistro sa BM Online, kasama na ang tutorial at pagtatakda ng appointment,” sinabi ni Labatt De la Torre, ang pinuno ng POLO.

“Huwag na kayong magpakopya ng anumang dokumento, dalhin lang ninyo ang inyong mga pasaporte at kontrata upang makita namin,” aniya.

Ginawa ng opisyal ang paglilinaw sa gitna ng mga maling haka-haka ukol sa OEC.

 “Nais lang naming kontrahin ang raket ng ilang tindahan sa ibaba na nagsasamantala sa ating mga OFW,” sinabi ni Labatt De la Torres sa The SUN.

Madalas kasing nababanggit ng mga nakapila para sa OEC exemption na kailangang magbayad umano ang mga magpaparehistro sa BM Online, maging sa mga tagapagturo sa training room ng POLO sa ika-11 palapag ng Admiralty Centre Tower 1.

Mayroon ding mga nagsasabi sa mga nakapila na kailangang magpakopya raw sila ng mga pasaporte at kontrata dahil hahanapin daw ang mga iyon sa pagkuha ng OEC.

Sinamantala ng ilang tindahan sa Admiralty Centre ang pagkakaroon ng mahabang pila para sa OEC upang pagkakitaan ang mga OFW sa pamamagitan ng mga printing at photocopying service at pag-alok ng tulong para magrehistro sa BM Online. Ayon sa ilang OFW, mayroong tindahang nag-aalok na irehistro sila sa BM Online at magtakda ng appointment sa halagang $100 hanggang $150 sa halip na pumila.

Ukol sa photocopying, ang karaniwang singil ng mga shop sa bungad ng Admiralty at sa katabing United  Centre ay $2 bawat kopya ng dokumento, at $10 kapag ito ay dina-download mula sa cellphone, USB o internet.

Lingid sa kaalaman ng maraming OFW, may isang photoshop sa United Centre na $1 lamang ang singil sa pagpapakopya at kahit pa i-download ang dokumento mula sa cellphone, sa USB o sa internet.

Sa mga opisina ng gobyerno katulad ng Immigration Department at mga korte, 50 cents lang ang bayad sa bawat kopya, na kailangang bayaran gamit ang Octopus card. May mga photocopying shop din sa ilang lugar sa North Point at Wanchai na 20 cents lang bawat kopya ang singil .

Pinayuhan ni Labatt De la Torre ang mga magpaparehistro o nais matuto sa BM Online na magtungo sa POLO sa ika-11 palapag ng Admiralty Centre Tower 1 kapag araw ng Biyernes of Sabado dahil kakaunti ang tao sa mga araw na iyon.

Bukas ang POLO mula ika-10 ng umaga hanggang ika-4 ng hapon tuwing Biyernes at Sabado para sa mga magpaparehistro sa BM Online at sa mga gustong magpaturo sa pagbubukas ng OEC online account.

“Kapag araw ng Linggo at nais ninyong magparehistro ngunit wala kayong appointment, pumarito kayo mula alas-3 ng hapon hanggang alas-8 ng gabi,” ani Labatt De la Torre.

Para sa nangangailangan ng OEC para sa dagliang pag-uwi, maaari silang tumawag o mag-text sa 6543 7496, aniya.

Sinabi ng labor attaché na kahit araw ng pahinga ng Konsulado ay pumapasok pa rin ang ilang mga tauhan ng POLO, kabilang na siya, upang magsilbi sa mga nangangailangan ng OEC exemption.

What's on where

Luzon Festival
(With Mutya ng Luzon and Miss Flag 2017)
Apr 30, 12nn-7pm
Stanley Community Hall, 30 Stanley Market Road
Organized by: Federation of Luzon Active Groups

Street Dancing and Cultural Show
May 1, whole day
Chater Road, Central
Featuring: Mutya ng Luzon 2017 / Flores de Mayo 2017
Organized by: Luzon Alliance Hong Kong

Course : Computer Microsoft Word Basic (Saturday)
May 20- July 15 (except July 1), 2:30-5:00pm
Target: Foreign domestic workers
Language: English
Fee: $320 including material
Venue: Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F. , No.28A, Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong.

Ongoing: Sunday Basic Cantonese
Apr 23 – Aug 6
Target: ethnic minorities with HKID
Fee: $100 including materials (CSSA recipients get 50% off)
Venue : G/F, 28A Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong.
Information: 2147-5988

Multi-cultural Charity Event
Jun 11, 12nn-6pm
Bayanihan Centre Auditorium, Kennedy Town
Organized by:  Zamboanga-Basilan HK Association
Open to the everyone, from whatever nationality
Categories are:
1. Ms ZamBas-Asian Beauty Pageant (female, any Nationality 18 to 40yrs old)
2. Ms Handsome (Tomboy fashion show, any Nationality, no age limit)
3. Dance Group Contest (3to5 dancers, any dance style choreography, any Nationality)
3. English Solo Singing Contest (any Nationality)
4. Indo-Singing Contest Solo ( Indonesian only)
5. Ms Kebaya Fashion Show (indonesian only)
Submission of entry will be until Apr 2.
Contact (whatsapp or viber): Becky 69726355 & 92523046 viber; Linda 97000780; Liezel 96866346.

Mission bails out DH in theft case, PCG offers shelter

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker accused of shop theft was granted bail by a magistrate on Apr 26, two days after the High Court judge told the lower court to speed up the case as the defendant had been in jail for some time.

Helen L. Macaranas was finally released after 5pm at Kwun Tong court, after the Mission for Migrant Workers posted the cash bail of $1,000 and surety in equal amount.

She was told to remain at the OWWA shelter in Kennedy Town which offered to take her in, after the Mission told the court it could not give the address of its shelter for security reasons.

Earlier, Macaranas appeared before Magistrate Ernest Lin, who questioned why the bail issue was thrown back to his court by the judge.

The prosecutor said he was not aware of the details, only that Justice Pang Kin-kee wanted the magistrates’ court to set an earlier hearing of the case. The hearing was originally set for May 4, slightly more than a month after the defendant was arrested on Apr 3.

The prosecutor also told the court that it was defense that asked for a month-long adjournment as Macaranas didn’t have bail money. The duty lawyer assigned to defend her also said he needed more time to get legal advice and view a CCTV footage of the alleged theft.

Macaranas was kept in custody after she was unable to pay the $2,000 bail set by Lin. She went to the High Court to seek a lower bail, saying she had only about $300 in her wallet.

When Pang heard that the goods she allegedly stole from Aeon Supermarket in Tseung Kwan O were worth less than $200, she looked set to grant her bail. But when the judge asked the maid where she would stay if granted bail, she replied in her employer’s house. The judge asked for another address because the prosecutor told the court the helper had been terminated by her employer. But as Macaranas could not give any, Pang gave her until Apr 24 to find a shelter and she would grant her bail.

On Apr 24, Macaranas told Pang the Mission for Migrant workers had offered her shelter but did not provide the address. The judge said in that case she could not grant her bail. But Pang ordered the prosecutor to ask the magistrate to bring the hearing forward.

The Kwun Tong Court did so on Apr 26, but the prosecution said it was a new bail application, prompting Lin to ask why the judge referred the case back to his court.

The defense lawyer said the Mission was offering to take in Macaranas but would not give the shelter’s address for security reasons.

“How can I grant you bail if you can’t give me the shelter’s address?” Lin asked. He adjourned the case for half an hour to give the lawyer time to get the shelter’s address.

When the hearing resumed, the defense said the Consulate had given its shelter’s address, so Lin granted Macaranas bail of $1,000 and surety of $1,000 for the defendant’s release.

Edwina Antonio, executive director of Bethune House for Migrant Women’s Refuge, told The SUN when contacted by phone that for the past 30 years the Mission had not given its address to the court for the safety of its clients.

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin said when informed by The SUN of Macaranas’ situation that it would take the Department of Foreign Affairs three to six weeks to clear funding. Then minutes later he called The SUN and said ATN got the police to agree to release the defendant on payment of $300 bail with the balance to be paid later. He said his officer Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr was now attending to the case.

At 3pm, however, the duty lawyer called up the Mission about the bail money as no one from the Consulate had come for Macaranas. The Mission raised the bail money and sent its case officer Esther Bangcawayan to deposit it with the court and fetch the defendant.

Macaranas was released after the court staff explained that she can only stay in the address given in court – the OWWA shelter in Kennedy Town – and Bangcawayan agreed.  At 6pm, she was handed to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office which administers the shelter.

Pumili si mister: Anak o asawa?

Nalungkot nang husto si Mila noong ipaalam ng kanyang asawa na napaaga ang graduation ceremony ng kanilang anak. Naisabay ito sa araw ng kanyang pagdating kaya hahanap na lang daw ito ng makakasama ng kanilang anak sa pag-akyat sa entablado para masalubong siya sa airport.

Hindi makapaniwala si Mila sa tinuran ng kanyang kabiyak, na siya ang pinili nitong samahan kaysa ang kanilang anak na siyang dahilan ng kanyang pag-uwi. Naisip niya na nag-aalala marahil ang kanyang kabiyak na walang sasalubong sa kanya sa gitna ng mga balita tungkol sa di magandang nangyayari sa mga sumasakay sa taxi na walang kasama. Malapit lang naman kasi ang airport sa lugar nila sa Cavite, at tanghaling tapat ang pagdating ng eroplanong sinakyan niya.

Para hindi magtampo ang kanilang anak ay kinausap niya ito at sinabing babawi na lamang siya pagdating niya.

Sa eroplano, sinabi ng isang nakasabay niya na si Rosa na mayroon palang ganoong ama na mas pipiliin na puntahan ang asawa kaysa samahan ang anak sa pag-akyat nito sa entablado.

Sabi pa nito, ang pagtatapos ay “once in a lifetime” lang pero ang pagsalubong sa asawa sa airport ay normal lang na nangyayari. Nagkuwento na rin si Rosa na namili din siya sa dalawang sitwasyon, ang pagdalo sa pagtatapos ng anak sa senior high school, o alagaan ang among bagong panganak.

Nagdesisyon siya na huwag na lang umuwi dahil kailangan siya ng kanyang amo, at maliit pa ang panganay nito. Ngunit sa huli ay umuwi din si Rosa dahil binigyan siya ng kanyang mababait na amo ng libreng ticket bilang sorpresang regalo sa kanyang anak tanda ng pagkilala sa mabuti niyang serbisyo sa kanila.

Wala daw problema kung uuwi siya saglit dahil dumating naman ang dalawang lola ng mga bata na siyang makakasama nila habang nakabakasyon siya. Naikwento kasi ni Rosa sa kanyang amo na nalulungkot siyang hindi masasamahan ang tanging anak sa pagtanggap nito ng karangalan sa pagtatapos.

Hindi niya alam na dahil sa sinabi niya ay agad na nag-book ng ticket niya pauwi ang amo, na natutuwa rin para sa mga parangal na tatanggapin ng kanyang dalaga. Bagaman nag-aalala si Rosa na maaring di niya maabutan ang program dahil bibiyahe pa siya papuntang Isabela at kinabukasan na ang pagtatapos ng anak, nag magandang loob ang anak ng kanyang kaibigan na nag-aaral sa Maynila na kuhanan siya ng ticket ng bus pauwi para makahabol sa seremonya.

Alas singko ng April 7, araw ng graduation nang makarating si Rosa sa kanila. Napaiyak sa tuwa ang kanyang anak nang pagbuksan siya ng pintuan dahil hindi nito alam na makakarating siya. Laking tuwa din ni Rosa dahil napasaya niya nang husto ang anak.

Si Mila ay 35 taong gulang, samantalang si Rosa ay 42 taong gulang at solong magulang. Pareho silang nakabalik na sa Hong Kong pagkatapos ng maiksi ngunit makabuluhang bakasyon. – Marites Palma

Aldub fans, umalma sa kuwento ng ‘Destined’

Nabulabog ang mga fans nina Alden Richards at Maine Mendoza (na kilala sa tawag na AlDub) sa lumabas na balitang tatapusin na ngayong Mayo ang “Destined To Be Yours”, ang unang TV series ng kanilang mga idolo.
Una pa rito, nainis na sila sa pagpasok sa karakter ni Thea Tolentino, bilang girlfriend ni Alden na lumalabas na kontrabida at kaagaw ni Maine kay Alden. Inuulan na ngayon ng batikos si Thea, at maging ang nasa likod ng DTBY dahil palagay ng mga fans ay hindi naman ito kailangan sa sinusubaybayan nilang serye.
Lalo pang nainis ang AlDub nang lumabas ang mga tweets ni Suzette Doctolero, creative consultant ng DTBY,  na nagsabing “flop” ang palabas sa unang tatlong linggong pagtatanghal nito, bilang pagtatanggol sa ginawa nilang twist sa istorya. Ilan sa mga sagot ni Doctolero sa tanong ng mga fans noong April 19 at 20:
“Yes pero di nag rate nun. Flop. Now, its rating. So pano mo explain?”
“To be honest abt it, the writing teams doing their best thats why its rating now unlike he first 3 weeks ata na flop. Now its good.”
“Nagrerate now kasi may malinaw na conflict ang kwento at may kontrabida. Yes. Prangkahan. Di siya rate dati.”
“Nope. Flop ang first and second week na walang third party arc. Nada”.
“Guys, DTBY is doing good now ratingswise. Pasensya kung may 3rd party. Need yun sa conflict ng story. Rem: di lang kayo ang audience. Mayroon bigger slice din ng audience na ang habol ay kwento din na gusto ay soap kaya we also have to attend to them. Kaya again pasensya kungdi puro aldub ang nakikita. But these conflicts are necessary pa rin at di ginawa para mang inis”.
“Si maine at alden pa rin ang bida at makikita yan sa hanggang sa dulo so relax dahil di pa tapos ang show. Again, hindi pa tapos ang show kaya wag mainip. Di pwede sila na agad or else ano na kwento? Need paghirapan ng characters nila ang love”
“For them to prove to each other na mahal talaga nila isat isa.. lalo na kapag maredeem na ng char ni alden ang kanyang mali. So wag hingin now na magsama agad sila kaloka. Di pa tapos ang show. Meantime, eat ur lunch. Chilax!”
Bilang sagot din niya sa isang iritadong fan na tapusin na lang ang DTBY, sinagot ito niya ito ng “sa May.”
Hindi makapaniwala ang mga fans na “flop” ang TV series ng kanilang mga idolo dahil punung-puno daw ng commercials ito, kumpara sa kalaban nitong show ng ABS CBN na “My Dear Heart” na wala raw gaanong patalastas. Mataas din daw ang viewership ratings nito base sa inilalabas na resulta ng AGB Nielsen.
Samantala, pinabulaanan ng pamunuan ng GMA Network ang sinabi ni Doctolero na flop daw ang unang tatlong linggong pagtatanghal ng show. Masaya raw sila sa ratings ng primetime Kapuso teleserye nina Alden at Maine. Sariling opinyon daw ni Doctolero ang mga ipinahayag nito, at kakausapin daw nila ito tungkol dito.
Pero inamin din nila na talagang hanggang Mayo lang ang DTBY, at hindi ito sadyang pinuputol. May naka-schedule na raw kasing uumpisahang pelikula sina Alden at Maine pagkatapos ng show. Pinasasalamatan daw nila ang lahat ng AlDub fans na patuloy na sumusuporta at tumatangkilik sa show.  

WILLY CRUZ, PUMANAW NA
Nagluksa ang taga music industry at mga fans ng OPM (original Pilipino music) sa pagpanaw ng isa sa pinakamahusay na composer na si Willy Cruz (Wilfrido Buencamino Cruz), sa edad na 70. Kumplikasyon mula sa pagkaka-stroke niya ang sanhi ng kanyang pagkamatay, matapos siyang matagpuang walang malay noong April 10 at na-comatose, hanggang tuluyan na siyang bawian ng buhay noong April 17 sa St Luke’s Hospital.
Mula sa angkan ng mga musikero si Cruz. Ang kanyang lolo ay gumawa ng musika sa mga zarzuela noon, at tiyuhin niya ang kilalang composer at teacher na si Francisco Buencamino. Pinsan niya ang mga composers ding sina Lorie Ilustre, Nonong Buencamino, at ang sikat na piyanistang si Cecile Licad, na gaya niya, ay nag-aral at nag-train sa piano at classical music.
Nag-umpisa bilang musical director ng Ambivalent Crowd, naging vice president din siya Vicor Music Corp, at naging arranger at producer ng kanilang mga artist noon na sina Nora Aunor, Celeste Legaspi, Pilita Corrales, Didith Reyes at iba pa. Nang lumaon ay itinatag niya ang Jem Records, at ilan sa mga nauna nilang recording ay ang awiting Ingles na ginawang Tagalog; ang “Charade” ng BeeGees na ginawang “Tag-Araw” at “The Worst That Could Happen (Fifth Dimension)” ay naging “Panakip-Butas”, at nagpasikat kay Hajji Alejandro.
Si Cruz din ang lumikha ng mga awiting pinasikat ni Sharon Cuneta: “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas”, “Bituing Walang Ningning”, “Pangarap na Bituin”, “Sana’y Maghintay ang Walang Hanggan”, at “Himala ng Pag-ibig”.
Naging sikat na mang-aawit din si Nonoy Zuniga dahil sa mga composition ni Willy na “Doon Lang”, “Kumusta Ka”, “Love Without Time”, “Magandang Gabi”, “Fragments of Forever” at “Never Ever Say Goodbye”.
Ilan pa sa mga sikat na awiting ginawa niya ay “May Minamahal” (Hajji), “Sa Duyan ng Pag-Ibig” (Appasionatta),  “Kahit Na” (Zsazsa Padilla), “Let the Pain Remain” (Basil Valdez), “Init sa Magdamag” (Sharon & Nonoy), “Mahawi Man ang Ulap” (Sharon at Dulce), “Araw-araw, Gabi Gabi” (Didith Reyes), at “Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan” (Raymond Lauchengco).
Kabilang sa mga nagbigay- pugay kay Cruz, at inalala ang kanyang malaking kontribusyon sa music industry sina Sharon, Lea Salonga, Gary Valenciano, Bituin Escalante (anak ni Gigi Escalante na miyembro ng Ambivalent Crowd), Ogie Alcasid, Ryan Cayabyab, Vic del Rosario, Jungee Marcelo, Rey Valera, Noel Cabangon, Dingdong Avanzado at marami pang iba.
May tribute din ang ASAP noong Linggo at inawit ang kanyang mga awitin nina Martin Nievera, Zsazsa Padilla, Yeng Constantino, Sarah Geronimo, Angeline Quinto, Morisette Amon, Klarisse de Guzman at special guest si Nonoy Zuniga na inawit ang Doon Lang at Never Ever Say Goodbye sa finale.

ANGEL, MAY BAGO NANG BF?
Tila totoo ang balitang may bago nang boyfriend si Angel Locsin. Sunud-sunod ang paglabas ng mga litrato niya sa social media na katabi niya si Neil Arce, isang businessman at film producer.
Matagal na raw magkaibigan at magbarkada ang dalawa, at nagkakasama pang umakyat ng bundok, kasama ng iba pang kaibigan ni Angel. Una silang namataan nang mamasyal sa Hong Kong, at sa ginanap na surprise birthday party na ibinigay kay Angel ng Dreamscape, kasama ang kanyang pamilya at mga kaibigan sa bisperas ng kanyang kaarawan noong April 22, nang magkasabay silang dumating sa Tipsy Pig Astropub sa Pasig, kung saan ay isa sa mga may-ari si Neil. Lagi raw nasa tabi ni Angel si Neil, at panay ang kuha ng litrato at video kay Angel. Nag-post pa siya sa IG ng larawan nila ni Angel na kumakain ng ice cream bars, at may caption na “Happy birthday, Gel! Amazing what 7 years of friendship has done to us! Excited to see what’s next :)”
Si Neil ay naging boyfriend nina Maxene Magalona, (engaged na ngayon kay Robby Mananquil), at Bela Padilla. Inamin ni Bela noong January na break na sila ni Neil, pero nanatili silang magkaibigan, katunayan ay magkatrabaho pa rin sila sa pelikulang “Luck at First Sight” na pinagtatambalan nina Bela at Jericho Rosales. Sa kanilang dalawa daw ang concept ng pelikula, at si Neil ang producer.
Si Angel ay nagsimula nang mag-taping para sa “La Luna Sangre” bilang special guest, kasama si John Lloyd Cruz. Ito ay sequel ng Lobo at Imortal, na pinagbidahan nila noon. Nanghihinayang man na hindi na sa kanya mapupunta ang role bilang Darna, inaabangan naman ng mga fans ni Angel ang paggawa niyang muli ng pelikula, na pagtatambalan nila ni Coco Martin.

RICHARD, KINASUHAN NG TAX EVASION
Hinahabol si Richard Gutierrez ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) dahil sa hindi raw pagbabayad ng buwis ng kompanya nitong RGutz Production noong 2012, na nagkakahalaga ng Php38.57 milyon. Kasama na raw dito ang surcharges at value added tax.
Ayon sa kanyang abogado, si Atty Marie Glen Abraham- Garduque, hindi pa natatang-gap ni Richard ang kopya ng reklamo ng BIR laban sa kanya, kaya sasagutin na lang nila ito kapag nabasa na nila.
Sa ngayon ay walang pinagkakaabalahang project si Richard, maliban sa “It Takes Gutz to be a Gutierrez” reality show ng kanilang pamilya na ipinalalabas na E! channel sa cable TV. Kagagaling lang niyang magbakasyon sa Switzerland kasama ang kanyang live-in partner na si Sarah Lahbati at ang anak nilang si Zion upang dalawin ang pamilya doon ni Sarah.

JENNYLYN, ISINAMA SA PILIPINAS ANG AMA
Nagbakasyon sa South Korea noong Holy Week sina Jennylyn Mercado at Dennis Trillo, kasama ang anak ni Jennylyn na si Alex Jazz. Nakasama nila sa pamamasyal ang biological father ni Jennylyn na si Noli Pineda, na matagal nang namamalagi at nag-trabaho doon bilang isang musikero. Sinundo na rin nila ito upang isama sa Pilipinas. Noon pang January ay nakiusap na dito si Jennylyn na samahan na sila ng kanyang anak sa kanyang bahay dahil wala silang kasama. Parehong namayapa na ang kinilalang ama’t ina ng aktres na sina Roger at Lydia Mercado.
Bagama’t naninibago pa sila sa isa’t isa ng kanyang tunay na ama dahil hindi naman sila nagkasama bilang pamilya, nagkakasundo daw sila dahil pareho silang masayahin. Nagkakasama na rin daw sila sa nakalipas na ilang taon kapag umuuwi ito sa Pilipinas minsan sa isang taon. Wala naman daw itong pamilyang naiwan sa South Korea maliban sa girlfriend, at naiintindihan naman daw nito na kailangan ni Jennylyn at ng kanyang anak ang kasama sa bahay.
Tila magkasundo naman sina Dennis at ang ama ni Jennylyn, dahil noong nasa Korea ay nagja-jamming pa ang dalawa. Nahirapan lang daw ng husto ang aktres sa kanyang anak dahil ayaw nito ng Korean food at kung saan-saang restaurant at tindahan daw niya dinadala ito upang mapakain lang. Ayaw daw nitong maglakad kaya karga-karga nila ito ni Dennis kapag lumalabas sila.
Maliban sa My Love From the Star tv series, abala rin ang Kapuso actress sa kanyang cooking  show na Everyday Sarap with CDO, na nasa season 2 na. May dalawang pelikula rin siyang gagawin sa taong ito.

Cause of Filipina helper’s sudden death a mystery

By Daisy CL Mandap and Merly T. Bunda

The body of a Filipina domestic helper who died unexpectedly on Apr 4 was flown to her hometown of Sagay, Negros Occidental on Apr 27, as doubts lingered over the cause of her death.

Leonita A. Quinto, 26 years old and single, was found lifeless in bed by her employer in her Mei Foo home, 15 hours after the maid had complained of severe headache.

Quinto was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kowloon where she was declared dead.

The cause of her death has yet to be established, as the autopsy report on the remains won’t be available for some time.

At the time, Quinto had already served a notice of termination to her employer, and was due to end her employment on Apr 19.

Her younger sister, Imelda Q. Abong, who rushed to Hong Kong on hearing of Quinto’s death, was upset that no one could immediately tell her what could have caused her sibling’s death.

Abong also told The SUN that she wanted to know why her sister’s employer did not seek medical help during the 15-hour period that Quinto was apparently so sick she could not even get out of bed.
She said that in a statement the employer gave to police, it was clear that her sister was not even given any medicine the whole time she complained of being ill.

The employer reportedly checked on Quinto three times, from about 9pm on Apr 3, until early the next day when she asked the maid to prepare breakfast. Despite being told that the helper was too ill to get up, the employer did nothing until she found the maid dead at about noon of Apr 4.

In her own statement to the police, Abong said Quinto did not suffer from any serious illness, and only complained of headache before or after her monthly menstruation.

Abong also said Quinto had worked previously in Bahrain for four years, and in Singapore for two years.

After this, she stayed in the Philippines for about two years, before deciding to work abroad again.
“Sabi niya sa akin noon, parang tinatawag siya ng Hong Kong. Alam niyang makakarating siya dito,” said Abong.

Her family reportedly tried to stop Quinto from leaving again, arguing that she did not have to work hard anymore as she had already bought her own home, but she was insistent.

“Lagi niya kasing iniisip kung paano niyang matutulungan kaming mga kapatid niya, at pati mga pamangkin niya,” Abong said, adding that they are 11 siblings, and many of them had benefited from Quinto’s generosity.

Abong, who is a teacher, was among those sent to school by Quinto, who only finished high school herself.

According to Abong, Quinto did not get along well with her employer, and complained of being made to work until 1:30am, then waking up at 5:30am the next day.

She also resented being spied on all the time because of the CCTV cameras installed all over her employer’s house.

But what prompted her to end her contract after only four months of working in Hong Kong were the constant arguments she reportedly had with her employer.

In the first week of April, Quinto’s spirits reportedly lifted after finally deciding to give up her job and just go home.

“Tuwang tuwa siya na uuwi na siya,” said Abong.

Quinto’s wish of being back with her family this month did come true. But instead of smiles, there were only tears in the eyes of her loved ones who welcomed her home.

Claims resulting from an OFW’s death abroad

Many benefits due the next-of-kin of OFWs who die abroad are not claimed due to lack of information, or lack of time, especially if a relative is just in Hong Kong to claim the remains of the deceased.

In the case of Leonita Quinto who had just arrived from the Philippines, the biggest claim could be against the mandatory insurance all OFWs departing for work abroad for the first time – or after a long stay at home as in this case – are made to pay for.

For those who die due to accidents, the payout to the beneficiary/ies is US$15,000 (about Php750,000) while it is slightly less, at USD10,000 (Php550,000) for deaths due to natural causes.
There are many other benefits that can be claimed, including the cost of repatriation and air fare of relatives who need to claim the OFW’s remains.

In addition, family members can also claim for death and burial benefits from the the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. For accidental deaths, the payout if Php220,000 and for death due to natural causes, Php120,000.

Since waiting for the payout from these two sources could take time, relatives could also claim a refund of the placement fee the worker would have likely paid, given that such charges are deemed illegal under the POEA guidelines.

In Quinto’s case, her payment of Php45,000 to her Philippine agency, Golden Full Limited was backed up by bank deposit slips.

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre assured Quinto’s sister, Imelda Abong, that the agency would be asked to refund the payment.

In Hong Kong, there are several funds that could be tapped by OFW relatives, foremost of which is employees’ compensation. This payout from a fund set up by the government from the pooled insurance of employers, would often amount to around $300,000 for a migrant worker who dies or is incapacitated by an accident or work-related injury. The first step is to go the HK Labour Department for help in claiming against this fund.

Accident victims, or those who die from acts of violence, could also claim compensation, whatever their status of stay. Those who die or are incapacitated by an accident can file a claim under the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme (or TAVAS) while victims of violent acts are entitled to claim compensation from the police. - DCLM 

Lustful boss ordered to pay maid $210K

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Hong Kong employer who was convicted in a magistrate’s court last year of an indecent assault attempt on his Filipina domestic helper was ordered by the District Court on Apr 13 to pay the maid $210,000.

Judge KW Wong dismissed the appeal of Shek Kwok Ngai and his wife against a court ruling on the consolidated discrimination case and civil claim made by the maid, identified only as “D”, and said the couple’s acts amounted to oppression.

The Apr 3 decision, as well as a High Court ruling on March 24 rejecting Shek’s appeal against his criminal conviction for his indecent acts, was a double victory for the 29-year-old helper, whose complaint was initially thrown out by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office for insufficiency of evidence.
The case stemmed from six occasions between Feb 26 and Mar 3, 2014, when Shek either masturbated, fondled his genitals or exposed his penis behind D, making her “very frightened… that she would be raped or sexually assaulted by him”.

Using her mobile phone, the maid video-recorded the sixth occasion, in which Shek can be seen drawing his genitals out of his shorts and holding it in his hand behind the claimant for about three seconds while watching her, before she fled.

D made her claims under the Sexual Discrimination Ordinance and common Law tort following the sexual assault, and the sexual harassment she suffered from her male employer and her summary dismissal by the man’s wife.

The respondent couple resisted the claim, citing there were no “special circumstances” in the case as required under section 73B(3) of the District Court Ordinance.

Rejecting this claim, Judge Wong said in his written judgment:  “Circumstances qualified as discriminatory or unwelcome advances or harassment are of infinite variety.”

He added,  “In the present case,… this Court cannot believe, at any rate and by any standard, the exposure of one’s penis before a lady and playing with it can be argued as conduct not unwelcoming! Further, the evidence is overwhelming.”

Despite acknowledging that Shek had done wrong, the couple initially tried to get D to leave Hong Kong, sign a letter of resignation and delete the video, Wong said.

Although D subsequently left the Sheks’ home, the couple refused to let her bring along her own belongings until she agreed to sign a resignation letter against her will.

“One has to remember that the claimant is an overseas Filipino leaving her home to take up employment here. She does not have a home here… She looked upon her employer and family for protection and shelter…She is in a vulnerable position. What the respondents have done to her amounted to oppression,” the judge said.

Reviewing the counsel’s submission, Wong ordered Shek and his wife to pay the claimant all costs of the consolidated proceedings.

The judge noted that no settlement could be reached between the parties during the two-year limitation period and that the couple did not explain why the case could not be settled without litigation.

“The only inference is that the respondents are prepared to fight further the litigation, or were making another holding defense to protect (Shek’s) contemplated appeal,” he said.
This amounted to further oppression of D, who is of limited means and under great pressure to yield, he said.

He added that the proceedings should have been avoided totally.
“This court is satisfied that there are special circumstances that warrant an award of costs against the respondents,” the judge said.

Polyglot diplomat is new deputy Congen

By Daisy CL Mandap

A diplomat who reportedly speaks eight languages is set to come to Hong Kong to swap places with Deputy Consul General Christian “Kit” de Jesus, who is leaving middle of this month after serving in the territory for three years.

The incoming DCG, Roderico “Deric” C. Atienza, will step down as Consul General in Seoul, South Korea, which is the post that DCG Kit will take up next.

Apart from being a polyglot, the new DCG worked as a professional journalist for seven years before deciding to join the foreign service.

An online article said DCG Deric worked for Kyodo News Agency, and was the first non-American to join the media group’s North America bureau. He has lived in Japan, too.

At his current post, DCG Deric serves concurrently as First Secretary and consul for culture, education, politics and public diplomacy at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, headed by Ambassador Raul Hernandez.

DCG Deric reportedly topped the foreign service examination in 1999, and has served in other tough posts like Russia.

He is 44 years old, single, and is on record as being as “couchsurfing host,” meaning he has offered space in his house to travelers linked to a hospitality service and social networking site.

Meanwhile, Consul General Bernardita S. Catalla has confirmed that she has been appointed as ambassador to Lebanon, but is not likely to leave anytime soon.

“I won’t be moving to Beirut yet as I still have to present my credentials,” Congen Catalla told The SUN.

She expects to move to her new ambassadorial post no earlier than August this year.

Congen, who has been in Hong Kong for barely three years, will take over from Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz.

The outgoing head of post has expressed apprehension about the job that awaits her in Lebanon, where many Filipinos dare move into, despite a long-standing deployment ban by the Philippines.

She said her research showed that about 90% of Filipinos there are illegal workers and earn only a fraction of what a domestic helper in Hong Kong makes, yet they persist in staying on.

But Congen Catalla has not much reason to fear. With her experiences in Hong Kong (and in Indonesia earlier), she is well equipped to face whatever challenges await her in Beirut.

Ang kapalaran mo

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Sa pagmamadaling makatapos ay nawawalan ka ng pasensya, mag-ingat na makagawa ng malaking pagkakamali. Magiging masungit at maaring atakihin ng nerbiyos kung hindi ka magdadahan-dahan. Hindi ka magtatagumpay kung mag-isa lang, kaya matututong makibagay sa mga kasamahan upang maging maayos ang trabaho. Lucky numbers: 12,18, 25 at 40.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Puno ka ng sigla at sipag. Mai-in love ka ng husto at mamahalin ka rin ng labis. Maraming maiinggit sa masayang kalagayan mo ngayon. Madali kang mapaniwala, pero buksan ang isip at huwag basta maniwala sa mga hula, lalo na tungkol sa katapusan ng mundo. Ibaling ang pansin sa mas makabuluhang bagay. Lucky numbers: 15, 22, 35 at 41.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Kung hindi maiiwasan ang pagbibiyahe, makakaranas ng pagkabalam ng flight at iba’t iba pang problema, tawanan na lang ito, kesa magggalaiti sa inis. Magiging sentimental ka ngayon dahil sa pangarap na hindi natutupad, at mahanap ang tila imposibleng pag-ibig na inaasam. Ingatan ng husto ang personal mong mga gamit. Pag-aralang mabuti ang lahat bago magpasya sa paglalagakan ng pera mo. Lucky numbers: 7, 19, 26 at 36.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Kung single, magkakaroon ng love affairs na ayon sa gusto mo, o kung may dating ka relasyon, lalong titibay ang inyong samahan, kaya baka kasal na ang kasunod! Madali kang mapagod at mawalan ng sigla. Kung madidisiplina ang sarili, bawasan ang labis na pagkain, alak, kape at sigarilyo. May tsansang darating ngayon bagamat hindi mo inaasahan kung saan manggagaling. Lucky numbers: 21, 28,33 at 44.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
May pagka-bayolente ang reaksyon mo sa malalapit sa iyo, at alam mong hindi ito makatwiran; mag-ingat ka. Bibigyan mo ng dagdag atensyon ang mahal mo, pero kung may mga anak, posibleng makaramdam ito na napapabayaan sila at magrebelde. May mababait kang kapitbahay; kung gusto mong igalang nila ang iyong katahimikan, irespeto mo rin sila. Lucky numbers: 9, 17, 33 at 45.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
May naiinis sa iyo at maiinis ka rin sa iba kaya umiiwas ka sa mga kaibigan at kakilala. Hindi mo din kasi kaya ang pagiging diktador nila. Mag-ingat sa pakikipagtalo sa malalapit sa iyo. Iwasang bigyan ng malisya ang bawa’t kilos ng asawa o karelasyon dahil malaking away ang ibubunga nito. Sa halip na magtanim ng galit, ibuhos lahat ang sama ng loob upang maayos agad ang problema. Lucky numbers: 6, 22, 29 at 37.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Nasanay kang manduhan ang mga nasa paligid mo. Kung babawasan mo ang sobrang paghihigpit, magagagamit mo ang iyong lakas na malunasan ang iba pang problema. Huwag pumasok sa isang transaksyon na hindi ka sigurado. Mag-ingat sa pagiging gahaman dahil baka maharap ka sa malaking problema! Alam mong itinuturing kang mamahaling hiyas ng karelasyon, pero kailangan ding bigyan siya ang papuri at sapat na kalayaan. Lucky numbers: 1, 27, 31 at 42.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Puno ng pagmamahal ang paligid mo. Ngayon ay mas pinahahalagahan mo ang mga taong dating kinaiinisan mo. Dahan-dahan at huwag madaliin ang pagkain upang maiwasan ang pananakit ng sikmura. Iwasan ang mga bagay na nakakapag-irita sa iyo, at mga pagtatalo. Hangad mo na laging malayo ang iyong marating, pero iwasan na malasing. Lucky numbers 16, 28, 32 at 41.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Magagampanan ng maayos ang iyong trabaho. Walang masasayang na oras dahil gusto mong maayos ang lahat. Mag-ingat sa pagmamaneho lalo na sa gabi. Upang makakuha ng magandang resulta sa trabaho, kailangang mong kumayod ng husto upang makaagapay at iakma ang sarili, pero huwag mag-alala, hindi ka mawawala at walang pangit na sorpresang magaganap. Lucky numbers: 15, 24, 37 at 43.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Posibleng mapabilang ka sa maswerte at may matagumpay na panibagong buhay. Iiwasan mo nang sumugal sa mga mahirap at imposibleng proyekto, at mas magiging praktikal ang pananaw mo. Dahil sa angking tiwala sa sarili kaya maswerte ka rin sa pag-ibig. Mabibiyayaan din ang tiyaga at sikap dahil mapapalapit na sa taong matagal mo nang hinahangaan. Mag-ingat sa anumang transaksyon sa lupa ngayon Lucky numbers: 19, 20, 25 at 31.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Malaki ang tsansa na makilala ang isang taong makakasundo mo ng husto. Maraming problema kang binubuno kaya mabagal ang pag-asenso mo. Mapipilitan ka ring tanggapin ang mga bagay na kinatatakutan mo. Nahihirapan kang sundan ang mga bagong pamamaraan sa trabaho, pero kailangang mong umagapay upang makaalpas sa puwesto mo ngayon. Lucky numbers: 12, 16, 28 at 41.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Gaya ng iba, naniniwala kang mahirap makamit ang kaligayahan. Buksan ang mga mata, ang kaligayahan ay nasa paligid, at abot kamay lang, kailangan mo lang itong abutin. Gagana ng husto ang iyong karisma kaya marami kang makikilalang bagong kaibigan. Masalimuot ang pakikipagtrabaho sa ibang bansa, walang katapusang diskusyon at negosasyon sa kontrata; dagdagan ang pasensys at diplomasya. Lucky numbers: 18, 23, 29 at 33.

Huwag nang umalis sa Hong Kong

Abot-abot ang pagbabala ni Wendy, dating domestic helper sa Hong Kong at ngayon ay nasa Turkey na, na huwag nang maghangad na pumunta din doon ang mga Pilipina na maayos na ang kalagayan dito.

Ayon kay Wendy, sobrang hirap ang dinanas niya magmula nang dumating siya sa Turkey. Sa loob ng nakaraang dalawang buwan ay naka apat na amo na daw siya. May mga kakilala din siya na terminated na pagkatapos ng isang linggo, at yung isa naman ay naka-10 araw lang.

Wala daw kasiguraduhan ang trabaho doon.

Sa loob ng 90 araw na itatatak sa working visa mo ay puwede kang i-terminate ng amo mo na walang obligasyon na bigyan ka ng bayad kapalit ng abiso, at pati ng tiket pabalik sa Pilipinas. Dati ay maari kang humanap ng kapalit na amo sa loob ng 10 araw, pero ngayon “once na ma-terminate ka ng amo mo o mag-break ka, uuwi ka sa Pilipinas”.

Nitong Enero lang daw nag-umpisa ang bagong patakaran, dahil na rin sa laki ng problema sa mga dayuhang manggagawa doon na stranded dahil walang amo, at walang perang pambili ng tiket pauwi.

Siya mismo ay may nakasabay papunta doon galing ng Hong Kong na TNT o tago ng tago ngayon dahil umalis sa amo nang hindi nakayanan ang hirap, at nabigong humanap ng kapalit. May isa pa siyang kakilala na nagpunta ng agency para magpatulong dahil hindi na kaya ang pahirap ng amo. Hindi naman daw makaalis dahil tinatakot ng amo niya, na maimpluwensiyang tao doon.

Kapag ganoon na kumuha ng galing sa Hong Kong ang amo, malamang na marami nang dumaang katulong dito, ayon kay Wendy. Ibig sabihin, sobrang higpit nito kaya mga baguhan lagi ang kinukuha.

Marami daw sa mga Pilipina doon ang takot umuwi dahil baon sa utang. Ang sinisingil sa kanila ng kanilang recruiter sa Hong Kong ay $15,000, samantalang ang talagang bayad sa working visa nila ay $1,000 lang.

Ubod ng laki daw talaga ang kita ng mga ahensyang nagpapapunta ng mga Pilipina doon, dahil nakakasingil na sila sa katulong, tapos pati amo ay sinisingil ng katumbas ng isang buwang sahod nila. Dahil dito ay maraming mga among Turko ang sobrang higpit sa mga katulong.

"Sana ay tigilan na ng mga agency ang pagpapadala ng mga Pilipina dito dahil hindi alam ng mga kababayan natin kung ano ang dadatnan nila dito. Sobrang hirap po," ayon sa mensahe ni Wendy. - DCLM

Granny with fake check denied bail, gets new court date

By Vir B. Lumicao

A 75-year-old Filipina tourist accused of trying to cash a fake US$50 million check will appear in court again on May 16, this time with a lawyer.

 The District Court has put off for six weeks the hearing of Maria Ilao Gosilatar when she appeared in court on Mar 30 unrepresented by a lawyer.

Judge Eddie Yip also rejected a bail application by Maria Ilao Gosilatar, who has been in jail since she and a male Hong Kong accountant were arrested last Dec 9 during the botched transaction at the Hang Seng Bank headquarters in Central.

Gosilatar got a boost on her first appearance in District Court from the presence of two officers of the Consulate and two relatives from the Philippines.

In previous hearings in the Eastern Court, Gosilatar looked frail and had been coughing.

Gosilatar was scheduled to enter her plea to a charge of “using a false instrument”, but the defense lawyer for a previous case stood up and told the judge the woman had no representation.

“I am not her lawyer, your honor, but I can remember that she applied for legal aid on Mar 13 but withdrew it to engage a private lawyer,” the barrister said.

When Judge Yip asked Gosilatar why she withdrew her application, the defendant said: “Your honor, I really wanted to be represented by legal aid but they told me I can’t get free legal aid…”

The judge said it was highly unlikely that she could get legal aid without a contribution, but said she could always apply again, though that would take time.

He asked Gosilatar if she was on bail or in custody and the woman replied she was in Tai Lam Women’s Centre hospital.

The judge said he was scheduling the next hearing for mention on May 16 to give the defendant time to reapply for legal aid.

“If the legal aid position is not favorable to you, then you’ll have to find a private lawyer. It’s essential that you have legal aid because your case so demands and you won’t be able to defend yourself,” the judge said.

Asked if she had any bail application, Gosilatar said she did have but that her resources were limited. “I can only raise $300,000 and my friend can put up a $50,000 surety,” the woman said.

The prosecutor, however, stood up and opposed bail for the defendant, citing that she came from the Philippines, she had no local ties, the offense had international element and the evidence was strong.

Asked if she had anything else to say, Gosilatar said: “All I can say is the Philippine Consulate said they can help me, actually they are here.”

The judge looked at the gallery asking who the consulate representatives were and Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the assistance to nationals section, stood up.

“Your honor, I don’t think I have something to say at the moment. We’ve been visiting her often. She just wants to be out on bail because of deteriorating health,” said Vallespin.

The judge turned to Gosilatar and said: “I refuse your bail application. You can apply at the Court of First Instance for bail.”

After the hearing, Vallespin and ATN officer Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr conferred with Gosilatar and her relatives before the defendant was led back to jail.

DH accused of theft comes back with claim against employer

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The Labour Tribunal has postponed hearing a wage dispute between a Filipina domestic worker and her employer while police investigates a theft case filed by the latter against the helper.

But the presiding officer asked the worker, Marieta Baggay, and her employer, Patricia Cheung, to settle their issues over pay and return air ticket.

Baggay filed a claim for wages in lieu of one month’s notice after Cheung accused her of theft and terminated their contract in early March.

The Filipina, a client of Bethune House, told The SUN she had worked for Cheung only for more than two months when she was arrested for allegedly stealing the employer’s Philip Stein watch worth $8,600.

Investigation is still under way and the Mission for Migrant Workers is helping Baggay both in the labor dispute and the police case.

The Filipina said this was her first time to work in Hong Kong, following six years in Dubai also as a domestic helper for an Arab family.

“I didn’t expect this will happen to me in Hong Kong. I got better treatment in Dubai,” Baggay told The SUN.

She said that the employer had treated her badly from the start, especially whenever Cheung had a spat with her husband.

On the day she was fired, Baggay said Cheung first asked her to take some rubbish to the refuse collection point downstairs. When she returned to the flat, she said she was surprised when a police officer opened the door to her and asked her to proceed to the room she shared with the employer’s two young children.

The helper said she saw the officer and her employer talking in the master bedroom before they came to her and showed her the watch which Cheung allegedly found in the drawer where Baggay kept her belongings.

She was arrested and taken by the officer to the Shatin police station. At the same time, she was fired by her employer. Baggay was released after initial investigation.

The Filipina sought to get one month’s pay in lieu of notice from the employer, but Cheung countered with a similar claim.

In the Tribunal, Cheung insisted that she would not pay anything to Baggay. But
presiding officer W Y Ho reminded her that she was legally bound to at least pay for the maid’s return air ticket, a $100 food and travel allowance, and arrears in wages.

“If you don’t pay now, the interest will keep accumulating. I suggest that you deal with all items that you are contractually obligated to pay,” Ho said.

After Cheung agreed to pay Baggay's salary, Ho proceeded to another contentious issue, the air ticket. The employer insisted that she book and buy the ticket for the maid, while the maid wanted it in cash.

When the presiding officer said Cheung had to pay cash and let the maid choose which airline to take, the employer said she would pay Baggay only $1,300. The Filipina said a travel agency quoted a $2,900 fare to her hometown of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, but she did not bring the quotation to court. Eventually, she settled for $1,300.

DH in drug parcel case acquitted, allowed to look for new job

By Vir B. Lumicao 

A Fi­lipino maid jailed for six months after taking delivery of an air parcel containing cocaine was freed by a magistrate on Mar 31 after prosecution lawyers withdrew the charge against her for insufficiency of evidence.

Estrella G. Welba, a 39-year-old single mother, was ordered freed by Magistrate So Wai-Tak at West Kowloon court. She had pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking.

Freedom came unexpectedly for the Filipina, as she was due to return to court on Apr 10 before the transfer of her case to the High Court.

Welba told The SUN she was surprised when a correctional officer at Tai Lam Centre for Women in Tuen Mun told her to dress up and attend an urgent court hearing.

“I had been praying that I would be acquitted because I am innocent of the charge,” Welba said.

She said she drew strength from prison chaplain Father John Wotherspoon, an Australian priest who has been waging a campaign to gain freedom for women jailed for unwittingly carrying dangerous drugs for Nigerian drug syndicates operating in Hong Kong.

“Father John kept advising me to tell the truth and be consistent with my statements,” Welba said.

She told The SUN that she was allowed to look for a new employer following her acquittal, but the Immigration gave her only a two-day visa extension.

She left for Macau Apr 5, hoping to return to Hong Kong and process a new work contract.

Welba was arrested on Sept 23 last year by customs and police operatives right after she signed a delivery receipt for the air parcel that was delivered to her boarding house in North Point by an officer posing as a DHL staff.

Earlier reports said she was nabbed in her employer’s flat.

The package, found to contain a substance with 478 grams of cocaine, was sent from the Somali capital, Addis Ababa, by Welba’s former boyfriend, a Nigerian based in Chung King Mansion in Tsimshatsui.

Welba said her relationship with the Nigerian did not last long and that she met him only three times before she broke off because she discovered in his Facebook account that she had a wife, also a Filipina.

She initially told an officer that she had no idea who had sent it to her until she suddenly remembered that after she parted with the Nigerian last May, he asked her if she could receive a package from him that a friend would pick up later.

Welba said she agreed but did not realize she would be sent a dangerous drug.

When she appeared at West Kowloon Court on Mar 3, she said her duty lawyer told her that if she got convicted, she would be sentenced to 12-15 years in jail, so she prayed hard for an acquittal.

“I told myself that by telling the truth I will be acquitted, and I had been telling that to other inmates also awaiting trial for drug trafficking,” she said.

On Apr 2, Welba went to the Consulate to ask for help, particularly for temporary shelter and getting a visa extension from the Immigration Department, where she was to recover her passport.

She also asked for a plane ticket home from the social welfare office at the Consulate but was unsuccessful.

Magsanla-passport pa more

Isang Pilipina na naman ang lumapit sa Konsulado kamakailan matapos ma-terminate nang dahil sa pangungutang. Luhaan si Mary, isang Ilongga, habang kinukuwento sa assistance to nationals section noong Marso 23 kung paano siya pinababa ng kanyang amo dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagtawag sa kanilang bahay ng pinagsanlaan niya ng kanyang passport kapalit ang halagang $5k.

Pinangalandakan pa nung pinagsanlaan niya na isang Pilipina din na nasa kanya ang pasaporte ni Mary at hindi mababawi kung hindi siya magbabayad.

Ayon kay Mary, pinipilit ng nagpautang sa kanya na ihulog muna niya ang bayad sa account nito sa bangko bago ibalik ang kanyang pasaporte pero natural na hindi siya pumayag. Gusto niya ay kabilaan para siguradong mabalik ang kanyang dokumento.

Pinatawag ng Konsulado ang nagpautang at nagharap sila noong Marso 28.

Nagtapat si Mary na wala siyang perang pantubos dahil ibinayad niya sa boarding house, sa pagkain at sa agency dahil naghanap siya ng bagong amo. Walang nagawa ang nagpautang kundi ibalik ang pasaporte ni Mary para siya makauwi.

Ganunpaman, hindi rin lubusang nakalusot si Mary dahil pinapirma siya ng kasunduan sa Konsulado na babayaran niya ang inutang, at hindi na niya ulit isasanla ang kanyang pasaporte dahil hindi na siya kailanman bibigyan ng kapalit kapag ginawa niya ito. – Merly Bunda

Food Trip: Turning the usual to something interesting

By Jo Campos

Since returning home for good in the Philippines, I have taken to cooking dinner for my big family of 10 and it is always a challenge deciding on what to serve everyday. I usually check the internet whenever I run out of ideas, or want to make my dishes look and taste more interesting. I adopt the same technique when we plan menus for clients when catering. It has always been fun trying to make something different out of the ordinary recipe.

A case in point is the all-time favorite, sweet-and-sour. This dish is usually done using either pork or chicken, and while these have remained the staple ingredients, there are healthier alternatives, like fish.

The recipe below has fish fillets as the main ingredient, but I further modified it a bit by adding some lychees, apple and mandarin segments for an Oriental refreshing fruity twist. Together, they have turned this dish into something healthier, tastier, and more appetizing.
Enjoy!

Fruity Sweet and Sour Fish Fillets

Ingredients:
2 lbs. tilapia, cod, halibut or any other whitefish (cut into 1" chunks)
1 large green pepper (cut into 1" chunks)
1 large tomato (cut into 1" chunks)
1 large onion (cut into 1" chunks)
1 can pineapple chunks (with juice)
1 small can lychees, drained
1 apple, diced
mandarin or orange segments
oil (for deep frying)

Breading:
¼ cup cornstarch
2 cups flour
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 cups water

Sweet and sour sauce:
½ cup vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup orange juice
¼ cup pineapple juice
¼ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Cooking Instructions:
Step 1: Toss fish with cornstarch in a bowl and coat well. In another bowl whisk together flour, 6 tablespoons of oil, baking powder, seasoning salt, and cayenne pepper. A little at a time, add 2 cups of water whisking until the batter has become smooth. Pour batter over the coated fish pieces and stir to coat.
Step 2: In a deep frying pan, fry fish pieces in batches for 4 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and keep warm in the oven.
Step 3: In a wok heat about 1 tbsp of oil. Stir fry green pepper and onions for 3 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
Step 4: To make sweet and sour sauce – In the wok mix vinegar, sugar, salt, orange juice, pineapple juice and ketchup. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 1/8 cup of juice, pour into the sauce and stir until sauce has thickened.  Add tomatoes, fruits and pineapple chunks to the sauce and heat.
Step 5: In a large serving dish mix fish pieces, sauce and green pepper and onions. Serve with white rice.

Hiram na passport

Na-terminate si Myla, isang Ilongga, nang dahil sa pagpapahiram niya ng passport.

Noong Sabado, Marso 25 ay sinabihan si Myla ng kanyang amo na isasama siya sa Macau. Hindi na nakaiwas si Myla na sabihin na isang buwan nang wala sa kanya ang kanyang passport.

Hiniram ito ng isang kaibigan para gamiting pansanla sa utang, pero ang sabi ay isang linggo lang at tutubusin na . Pero hindi natupad ang pangako dahil ang taong pinagsanlaan ng kanyang kaibigan ay nagpunta ng China at sa Abril pa ang balik.

Ngayon ay mas malaki ang problema ni Myla dahil may 14 araw lang siyang maaaring manatili ng Hong Kong ngunit wala pa rin ang may hawak ng kanyang pasaporte.

Kung kaya lang niyang kagatin ang kanyang siko sa galit ay ginawa na niya, ngunit wala siyang magawa. Kung hindi pa rin bumalik ang may kasalanan sa pagkakatanggal niya sa trabaho ay mapipilitan na siyang lumapit sa Konsulado para manghingi ng tulong nang siya ay makauwi.

Si Myla na taga Dingle, Iloilo ay mahigit tatlong taon na sa among Intsik. – Merly Bunda

Our Report, Our Service, Our Mission

By Cynthia Tellez

In place of giving ways of addressing specific concerns, do allow us to share with you some highlights of the Mission’s work in 2016 including the trend of cases we handled as reflected in our Service Report and our corresponding responses. At the end of this article are certain tips on the most common problems presented to us last year.

The Mission conducts internal evaluation of its services to determine the quantity and the quality of the assistance extended to migrant workers. A review of our 2016 services showed a general increase across-the-board of case intake, inquiries, reach and recovered claims. This can be attributed to the implementation of the recommendations of the Impact Evaluation and the addition of a Chinese and Indonesian staff in our growing family.

True to our motto of “Serving Migrants Anytime, Anywhere”, we are now in four areas of the New Territories - once in two months, and more frequently in Causeway Bay.

We have also rationalized our empowerment program for migrants. Better and upgraded life and work skills are offered via partnerships with reputable and accredited skills providers like the HK Red Cross and the HK Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council.

Another significant development is the launch of our Happy Homes program. With the aim of fostering a more caring and inclusive society, we work towards building better relationships of employers’ families with migrant workers in the households. We have launched the “Stories of Harmony in the Household” featuring positive stories of mutual respect and care among household workers and families. Since we started our “Employer Awareness program” last November, five employers have come forward to our center or accessed our dedicated hotline.

In response to the awareness survey we did in 2015 which showed that 50% of migrants are newly-arrived, we increased our promotion and visibility in Central.  We distributed thousands of information cards at the HK airport and via our partner migrant associations. Know Your Rights and Responsibilities seminars were regularly held not only in indoor spaces but outdoor public venues to capture more spontaneous audience.

Special thanks definitely goes to the community media, especially to the SUN newspaper for continuing to host our Know Your Rights column and for its effective and real-life advocacy and support towards victims of overcharging, fraud and illegal recruitment. Beyond reporting the cases, it even referred clients to us or cooperated with us in case work.

This, we believe, also inspires and encourages more migrants, especially the newly arrived or newly victimized, to come forward and fight for what is right.

As mentioned above, the 2016 summary report of our services indicated a general increase of migrants seeking assistance from the Mission. In order to address it, we are developing the volunteer system that will be more organic to the Mission’s personnel. We are also regularizing training to upgrade the skills and knowledge of the welfare committees of the organizations of migrant workers.
Termination of contract, police cases and agency-related cases were the three categories that registered an increase in the cases the Mission handled and assisted. Below are some points to remember, especially for new arrivals.

1) Termination of contracts. The contract can be terminated anytime by either the domestic worker or the employer; either by issuing a month’s notice of termination or paying an equivalent amount of the worker’s one month’s salary by the terminating party. Do not sign any blank paper/document especially if that is in place of the payments due you. The safest is to leave the premises of your employer and seek assistance from service providers like the Mission. They will provide you an explanation of your rights and the computation of your claims before reporting to appropriate HK government agency like the Labour Relations Division (LRD). Once you sign any paper and someone else writes down anything there, it can be used as evidence against you. If the employer prevents you from leaving leave unless you signed the paper, dial 999 for police assistance. Explain to the police that you prefer that matters be resolved at the LRD. The police cannot also force you to sign and they should help facilitate your exit from your employer’s house.

2) Police case. If you are being accused of a crime, remember your basic right to remain silent and not to answer any questions by the investigator. This cannot be taken away from you. Before they even start questioning you, the investigator (through an interpreter) must tell you that anything you say may be used as evidence against you in Court. This means that if you agree to answer their questions, they will put it in writing and you will need to sign it together with the interpreter as proof that the contents were really your statement. The Court will accept that as evidence in hearing your case. It is thus better to invoke your right to silence. Seek the assistance of service providers that could refer you to a lawyer for legal advice.

3) Agency-related cases. If you apply to any recruitment/placement agency in Hong Kong, the law that will govern your dealings with the said agency is the law of Hong Kong. It says that the legal fee to pay the agency is only 10% of your first month’s salary. The payment according to the Code of Practice issued by the Labour Department should be done after a successful placement. Meaning that you are required to pay the placement fee only after you receive your first month’s salary. But even if you pay in advance, it should be an equivalent of 10% only of your first month’s salary. However, quite a number of excessive placement fees cases that the Mission handles at the moment are about applying in Hong Kong for jobs outside of Hong Kong, particularly Canada, the UK or other countries. The first thing to know in cases like this is whether or not the agency has a license issued by the  government of Hong Kong to send workers outside of Hong Kong. Another step is to seek assistance from service providers to determine the authenticity of the permit issued to the Hong Kong –based placement agencies to deploy workers (local or foreign) outside. Verification must also be done whether the said agency has a permit from the destination country to deploy workers wanting to work there and/or transact placement business in that country. It is important to secure the whereabouts of their so-called counterpart agency in the destination country and if such agency is also registered to legally deploy workers.

But the best advice to anyone is to seek help from service providers. Do not feel embarrassed or hesitate because it is your life.

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

Tulong ng mga DH laban sa krimen, dapat noon pa

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Pinulong kamakailan ng Hong Kong Police ang mga lider ng iba’t ibang grupo ng mga OFW upang hingiin ang kanilang tulong sa pagpigil sa krimen, lalo na yaong mga Pinoy na katulong ang siyang nabibiktima.

Positibo ang dating ng binabalak ng pulisya na “Crime Prevention Program”. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon simula nang dumating noong Dekada 70 ang mga katulong na Pinoy ay ngayon lang naisipan ng mga alagad ng batas ang ganitong programa.

Binigyan-diin ng mga opisyal sa pagpupulong sa Central District headquarters sa Sheung wan na ang nasabing programa ay nakatuon sa mga kasambahay na Pinoy dahil sa laki ng kanilang bilang dito sa Hong Kong.

Ayon sa pinakakuling estadistika ng Immigration Department, umabot na ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong kasambahay sa Hong Kong sa 189,105.

Kung susumahin, ayon kay Leung, ganito kadami ang bilang ng mga tahanan na pinaglilingkuran ng mga DH na Pinay. Kung may tig-apat na katao ang bawat tirahan, lalabas na malaking bahagi ng 7 milyong populasyon ng Hong Kong ang masasaklaw nila kapag nakatulong ang mga kasambahay sa kampanya laban sa krimen.

Napapanahon ang bagong programa ng pulisya dahil nitong mga nakalipas na buwan ay may malalaking kasong kinasasangkutan ng mga katulong na Pinoy at sila mismo ang mga biktima.

Sa isang malaking kaso ng panlilinlang ng isang ahensiya sa empleo, ilang daang Pinoy na katulong ang nabiktima, bagamat nalaman ng pulisya na nabiktima rin ng panloloko ang ahensiyang iyon, ayon kay Leung.

Ang pinakahuling kasong kinasasangkutan ng mga katulong na Pinoy ay ang “loan sharking” o pagpapautang na labis-labis ang patubo, na nilansag ng pulisya kamakailan. Ang sindikato ay binubuo ng mag-asawang Intsik na “financier”, ang katulong nilang Pinay na “assistant” nila, at pito pang DH na tagakontak at tagapasa ng prendang pasaporte o kontrata ng mga nangungutang.

Maraming iba pang krimen na ang inaasinta ay mga Pinay na katulong dahil marunong silang mag-Ingles, tulad ng telephone scams, mga pyramid at iba pang panlilinlang at ang paglulunad sa programang nakatuon sa mga Pinoy DH ay para na rin sa kaligtasan nila, ayon sa pulisya.

Noong nakalipas na taon, halimbawa, sa 5,024 na biktima ng “assault and wounding’ o pananakit at panunugat ay 19 ang katulong na Pinay at ang may kagagawan ay ang mga amo nila, ayon sa estadistikang tinukoy ni Leung.

Bahagi ng nasabing programa ang pagbuo ng iba’t ibang lupon mula sa 58 kataong dumalo sa pulong na dadaan sa iba’t ibang pagsasanay tungkol sa mga batas ng Hong Kong, pagpapakilala sa kanila sa mga gawaing pulisya, at pagsasagawa ng mga pinagsanib na serbisyo sa komunidad.

Pagkatapos ng ilang pagsasanay ay magkakaroon ng pagtatapos ang mga miyembro ng programa kung saan sila ay gagawaran ng mga katibayan bilang mga “adult crime ambassador”, isang tanda na sila ay mga ganap na katuwang ng mga alagad ng batas kontra sa krimen sa komunidad ng mga Pinoy dito sa Hong Kong.

Tiniyak ni Leung na sa mga darating na panahon ay papalawakin nila ang bilang ng mga isasama sa programa sa kagustuhan ng pulisya na maisangkot ang bawat Pinoy na katulong sa kampanya laban sa krimen.

Sa bandang huli, aniya, ang ibubunga nga programang ito ay para sa kabutihan ng lipunan sa Hong Kong.

Sa aming pananaw at malaon nang dapat isinangkot ng pulisya ang mga OFW sa ganitong proyekto upang madama ng mga katulong na mayroon silang halaga sa lipunang ginagalawan nila, hindi lamang bilang mga kasambahay kundi mga tagapangalaga rin ng kaligtasan ng bawat isa.      

Fate knocks out rivals in annual softball fest

Fate and Red Castle members strike a friendly pose after the game.

By Emz Frial

All-Filipino softball team, Fate, has blasted its way through the first two Sundays of competition in the 2017 Festival of Sports (FOS), an annual contest organized by the Hong Kong Softball Association.

The rules provide for all softball teams to play against each other, and the only team left standing will be declared as this year’s champion. Fate trounced all of its three opponents in the knock-out games held on Mar 26 and April 2.

On opening day, Fate finished off CUHK Phoenix, 8-1, after an initial hiccup.

The game started with Fate as the away team. Unfortunately for the team, none of its first three batters managed to reach home base.

First batter Ynez Badajos was caught with a fly ball by Phoenix’s third baseman, while Myra Japitana was put out on second base, and team captain Don Gaborno, on third base.

When the locals took their turn to bat, it was immediately clear they were determined to take the upper hand. Wong Ka Wing did not disappoint when she managed to reach home base safely, giving Phoenix the chance to score first. But the momentum was soon lost when the team suffered three successive outs.

Fate walked into the second inning determined to again prove that they are the team to beat. And prove they did, with seven players all contributing a point each. Those who scored were Ma. Eva Mendez, Lyka Algonez, Cherry Octaviano, Romela Osabel, Emily Mabaquioa, Rubielibe Ondayang and Badajos.

Phoenix did not lose heart, showing their best form in the third inning, while trying their best to keep Fate from scoring again. On the fourth inning, Ondayang managed to break free to make the score 8-1 in favor of Fate.

It was stalemate once again on the fifth, so the match ended with the score still at 8-1, for Fate.
The competition at Shek Kip Mei field became more intense on Apr 2, when Fate had to knock out two more opponents to surge ahead.

In the first game played at 10:30am, Fate again showed its brand of resilience when it knocked out another local team, Red Castle, 7-2, in six innings.

Fate scored three points in the second inning, courtesy of Badajos, Percy Jayme and May Amar Ledesma. They added two more in the second inning, through Ondayang and Katherine Gerpacio. On the fifth inning, Myra Japitana added one more point, while Badajos completed the scoring in the sixth inning.

Red Castle’s two points were made in the first and third innings by Chan Tsz Yan.
At 2:30pm of the same day, Fate faced another local rival, Celsius. The game proved to be an easy one for Fate, as it piled score after score, with Celsius failing to respond. Gaborno’s fast balls, helped by the tight defense of the team’s basemen and fielders, led to most of the rival’s batters being called standing out.

After four innings, the score was at 10-0 in favor of Fate. Umpires had to stop the game then because of regulation.

Those who scored in the first inning were: Japitana, Mendez, and Gaborno. In the second inning, Ondayang, Hidalgo, Badajos, and Japitana added a point each. In third inning, Ondayang again scored, while two more points were added by Mendez and Gaborno in the fourth inning.

Lending support to Fate’s usual cheerers at the games were some members of  Philippine Sluggers, an all-Filipino baseball team. As always, Fate’s manager Law Wai-ho was grinning ear to ear as he witnessed his team sail home from one victory to another.

Fate is now poised to play in FOS’ championship round.