Scholarship anomalies cited

The Commission on Audit (COA) has found anomalies in the various student scholarship and financial assistance programs implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) funded with billions of pesos by the government.

Among the inefficiencies noted by the audit body were the payments of scholarship or financial assistance to the same students twice in a semester, payments to scholars who were not enrolled in the priority courses earlier identified by CHED and
payments to scholars with failing grades.

In its annual audit report recently published on its website, the COA said the efficient implementation of CHED’s Student Financial Assistance Programs or StuFAPs “was disturbed by the deviations from the established criteria” set under CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 13 series of 2014 as amended by CMO No. 44 series of 2016.

The COA also noted the release of scholarship funds to the CHED Regional Offices  despite the lack of supporting documents and the delay in the processing of the scholars’ claims resulting in the expiration of the checks.

The audit team found that 203 grantees in six CHEDROs were given “either two types of scholarship/financial assistance or paid twice for the same type of scholarship in a semester” totaling P1.471 million.

The erring CHEDROs identified by COA were Region 1 (Ilocos Region), Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 4-B (MIMAROPA), Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) and Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN).

The COA further put CHED to task for the payment of scholarship benefits totaling P2.570 million to unqualified students.

The audit body said P133,500 of the amount was paid to scholars with failing grades while P1.520 million were paid to those who were not enrolled in the priority courses identified by CHED itself.

Also, a total of P22,500 were paid to scholars who transferred to a higher educational institution (HEI) or academic program without prior approval from their respective CHEDROs while P342,000 was paid to students whose names do not appear in the billing statement submitted by the HEIs.

The COA recommended the refund of the excess/double-payments to the unqualified scholars and to require the concerned HEIs to liquidated the funds transferred to them.

Maid seeks $100k after beating by boss’ wife

By Vir B. Lumicao

Jen-jen Gambol shows her bruised face.

A Filipina helper is claiming a total of $106,630 from her former employer after his wife allegedly beat her up on the sixth day of her employment for damaging a blouse she was pressing.

The Labour Tribunal is set to hear on Aug 11 the claim filed by Jen-jen Gambol, 24, against her male employer, W.H. Tang.

Gambol said she took her case to the Tribunal after an meeting with Tang at the Labour Department on July 13 ended in a stalemate when the employer insisted on paying her only $1,900 for her plane ticket to Manila.

The Filipina is claiming a full month’s salary in lieu of notice, saying her having been physically assaulted by her female employer amounted to a constructive termination of her contract.

She is also seeking compensation for her injuries and loss of earning capacity.

The mother of a boy aged 5 and a girl , 3, from Nueva Vizcaya arrived in Hong Kong on June 12 for her first overseas job as domestic helper.

From the airport, she was taken by her Hong Kong agent,Sunlight Agency, to its shelter in North Point.

She started working for Tang on June 15, the day he fetched her from Sunlight and took her to his home.

“I came to work here for the future of my children. I didn’t expect this would happen to me,” Gambol, the wife of a construction worker, told The SUN.

She said she applied at Ascend recruitment agency in Ermita, Manila, in January and paid a total of Php48,000 for training, enhancement, medical, and photo-video fees.

In her police statement, Gambol said she was ironing clothes in the bedroom at around 7pm when she unintentionally burned a blouse belonging to her employer’s wife.

“I was scared. I went out to the living room to show her the damaged blouse and told her, ‘Ma’am, I’m sorry I burned your blo use. Please deduct it from my first salary,” she said.

Mrs Tang, said to be a teacher, allegedly rose and pulled her hair and slapped her a number of times. The woman then ordered her to the bedroom but followed her and allegedly struck her head with a mobile phone. The maid blocked some of the blows with her hand, but injured her ring finger. She also suffered bruises on her left cheek and left upper arm.

The employer’s wife then reportedly told her to hand-wash more of her clothes. She obeyed, but while she was washing, the employer again ordered her to iron more clothes.

“When I asked her to teach me how to do it so as I won’t damage them, she again flared up and grabbed my hair and banged my head on the bathroom wall,” Gambol said.

The next day, when Mrs Tang went to work, her mother reportedly arrived in the flat and noticed Gambol couldn’t wash the laundry fast enough. The maid said she showed the elderly woman her injuries and told her about the incident.

The other woman allegedly told Gambol she should tell her male employer, who was asleep, but the maid said he might get angry so she had better tell the employment agency.

The helper then went downstairs and met another Filipina maid who noticed her injuries and helped her call 999.

The officers who responded took photos of her injuries then told her to lead them to her employer’s flat to pick up her important belongings.

They took her to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yaumatei afterwards for a medical checkup.

Gambol said the police who questioned Mrs Tang were still investigating.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has blacklisted the employer and helped the maid prepare for her Tribunal appearance.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration gave her money for her visa extension.

VP Robredo launches program for HK OFWs

Vice President Leni Robredo with community leaders who sent her off at the airport.

By Daisy CL Mandap

“If the other camp hurls invectives and negativity, we must do the opposite.”

This was what Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo told a small group of supporters who managed to catch her at Hong Kong’s airport on July 16, just before she flew back to the Philippines following a weekend visit.

Vice President Robredo arrived in Hong Kong the previous day, accompanied by middle daughter Tricia and a male staff member who took video clips of a new project she launched that focuses on overseas Filipino workers who have triumphed over adversities.

The country’s second top leader moved around without any bodyguard, personal assistant or even a protocol officer from the Consulate, in sharp contrast to what has become common practice among Philippine government officials going on trips abroad. Her predecessor, Jojo Binay, for example, used to summon the Consulate’s top officials to the airport even during short layovers in Hong Kong.

“Private visit naman kasi ito, e”, she said when asked if she does not ask for protocol assistance.

But despite her efforts at keeping her visit low key, VP Robredo’s usual detractors went to town with just a picture they managed to secure of her having a casual dinner with her daughter and staff. The peg was, if it was true that she didn’t have the money to pay for her counter-protest to the electoral challenge filed by her bitter rival, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, how could she afford to take a short weekend trip to Hong Kong?

Robredo just shrugged off the usual vicious post, saying she and her daughters have learned to ignore the bile thrown at them on a regular basis.

But for the record, she and her party flew Cebu Pacific, which does not have first class or business class seats, and their air tickets were bought at the promo price of Php2,900 each.

“Mas mura pa kaysa pumunta ng Naga (her hometown),” she said with a smile.

Even the mention of a fancy Korean-buffet style dinner they were supposed to have had the previous night was apparently based on false reports.

“That was Teawood,” she said, again in her usual calm voice. The Taiwanese food chain serves full meals at no more than $100 per person. “Mga $60 nga lang yata yung inorder namin,” she said.

For breakfast the next day, they went to Ikea, which was near the hotel they stayed at in Causeway Bay. Here, one could have delicious Swiss meat balls or hotdog sandwiches for less than $10, the only catch being you have to stand while eating.

From there, she went to nearby Victoria Park and sat on a bench while interviewing OFWs for her new project, “Istorya ng Pag-asa”, after which she joined them in a simple lunch.

“We want to interview ordinary people who have gone through difficulty and triumphed,” she said. “We want to feature inspirational stories, just to change the conversation.”

It is, she said, her way of trying to “making good use of social media”, meaning, turning it into a tool of hope, instead of hatred and discord.

It is a topic obviously close to her heart, having been subjected to so much viciousness since she agreed, after much hesitation, to contest the second highest post in the land.

Even her three daughters are regularly dragged into the muck, even if all they do is accompany their mother on official events and focus on their studies. To their critics’ obvious chagrin, the children have all done exceedingly well at school. Eldest Aika is  now doing her master’s at Harvard University, Tricia is in Ateneo’s college of medicine, and youngest Jillian is in Philippine Science High School.

Asked how they react to the unprovoked bashing, Tricia replied with a smile, “Nasanay na ho kami”.

Still, it is obvious the VP is aware of at least some of the nastiest brickbats thrown her way, including lately, her supposed love for luxury things. In a particularly vicious post, Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy attacked the VP for allegedly wearing Ferragamo shoes while visiting an impoverished community.

Referring to this, Robredo casually took off the shoes she was wearing, saying they were those referred to in Badoy’s post. Though they looked a bit like the iconic model from the designer label, the shoes were definitely not the real thing, and the VP was not embarrassed to show them all worn-out, with the label hardly legible.

Ultimately, what seems to anger her detractors even more is their inability to crack Robredo’s inner calm.

With her looming court battle with Marcos, Robredo still manages to keep a positive outlook.

“Bongbong doesn’t have anything, wala siya talagang basis. Yung mga witnesses niya ay witnesses din namin, at hindi nga nila alam bakit sila isinali sa kabila,” Robredo said.

Still, she acknowledges that one cannot be too complacent with everything that’s  happening in the Philippines right now.

“Ipagdasal pa din natin,” she said.

Judge cuts pregnant Filipina’s sentence so she can go home

By Vir B. Lumicao

High Court judge says appeal "exceptional" 

A High Court judge has agreed to cut the sentence of a pregnant Filipina domestic worker who was convicted of working illegally in her employer’s restaurant so she could go home.

Candelabria Fabroa flew back to the Philippines today, Aug. 3, after Justice Audrey Patricia Campbell-Moffat cut her sentence from three months to 44 days yesterday. As she had already been detained for 46 days, she was immediately released from custody.

Fabroa, who is five months’ pregnant, also tried to have her conviction overturned but was unsuccessful.

Judge Campbell-Moffat told her: “Remember that yours is an exceptional case. I’m doing this because you are pregnant.”

The judge warned Fabroa to leave Hong Kong today as her visa was expiring on the same day.

The appeal hearing did not last long as the judge had already heard the arguments on July 14 when Fabroa first appeared in court to apply for leave to appeal beyond the allowed period.

The judge told Fabroa to return to court with two documents: her pregnancy test result and her plane ticket to the Philippines. The Filipina was also told to ask Shatin magistrate Colin Wong his reasons for convicting her of the offence.

Fabroa was arrested in July 26 last year after she served two immigration officers who posed as customers at the Big Mama restaurant in Shaukeiwan owned by her employer. Fabroa, who was wearing an apron, took their order, served their food and accepted their payment. But when questioned, she said she was just helping a Filipino staff in the restaurant at the time.

She was charged with breaching her conditions of stay but was allowed bail after spending time in detention.

The judge was moved to help after learning that the Filipina was turned away by Hong Kong hospitals when she needed a checkup because she had no Hong Kong ID, just her recognizance paper by Immigration.

Before her release, Fabroa was asked if she any question, and she said she wanted to know if she can work again in Hong Kong after giving birth.

An immigration lawyer who was in court said it was possible for long-term employees but on a case-by-case basis. He cited as precedent a convicted maid who was allowed back by Immigration because she had been taking care of an elderly man for a long time.

Militants stress value of organization

Representatives of various organizations show their colors.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Hong Kong’s biggest group of migrant workers looked back at its long history of struggle for workers’ rights as it marked its 32nd year on July 16 with a program on Chater Road.

Leaders of United Filipinos in Hong Kong stressed during the the gathering the importance of organizations, which they credited for the gains achieved by migrant workers.

These included getting the Consulate to open on Sundays, the abolition of forced remittances, and the annual review of domestic workers’ salary.
“
Ang mga tagumpay na ito ay hindi mararanasan ng Unifil Hong Kong at hindi niya magagawa nang siya lang mag-isa. Hindi niya po iyan magagawa kung hindi kasama ang karamihan ng mga migrante na naninindigan sa tama, na naninindigan sa hustisya, at naninindigan na dapat magkaroon ng tunay na pagbabago sa ating bansang Pilipinas,” group chair Dolores Balladares told some 300 workers who braved the intermittent rain to attend the program.

“Sapagkat ang mga nangyayari dito sa atin sa Hong Kong at maging sa ibang bansa, ang mga paghihirap na dinaranas ng ating mga migrant worker, ay resulta lamang ng malalim na mga problemang nagaganap sa Pilipinas,” Balladares said.

Unifil secretary general Eman Villanueva urged the workers to continue fighting for their rights and to join organizations to strengthen their ranks because the Philippine and Hong Kong authorities would not have listened to them individually.

“Dahil meron tayong organisado, progresibo, militanteng samahang namumuno sa ating pakikibaka para sa ating karapatan, sahod, at hustisya, nagtatagumpay tayo sa ating pakikipaglaban,” Villanueva said.

“Iyan ang halaga ng ating mga organisasyon. Kaya kung meron pa sa inyo diyan na hindi miyembro ng mga organisasyon, sumapi na kayo,” he exhorted the audience.

Reviewing the past three decades, Balladares said Unifil, with 29 workers’ groups under its wings, opposed the two-week rule introduced by the Immigration Department in 1987 as a new condition of stay.

“We were able to get the Hong Kong immigration to grant special consideration to specific cases and allow terminated workers to process new contract,” she said.

In the second decade, she said the migrant workers successfully drove the Philippine government to require employment agencies to return money they collected illegally in the guise of fees for various services.

The celebration started with a holy mass at 9:30am led by Fr Dwight dela Torre of the Philippine Independent Church.

Workers take advantage of the Mission for Migrants
Workers’ “Give Care to Caregivers” outreach on
Chater Road that coincided with the Unifil-Migrante
anniversary celebration on July 16. 

The mass was followed by cultural presentations by various groups, including Indonesian and Nepalese performers who awed their fellow workers with their folk dances.

Sporadic rain across Hong Kong on that day forced most migrant workers to spend their day off in the malls, bridges and passageways in Central while the hardy ones stuck to their positions on Chater Road.

But two events went ahead as set on Chater, the other being the Mission for Migrants’ quarterly “Give Care to Caregivers” program.

Philippine labor secretary quashes talks about China job for Pinoy domestic workers

(EXCLUSIVE)

By Daisy CL Mandap

Labor Secretary Bello says no talks held
on jobs for Filipino domestic workers in China

Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has denied being in talks with Chinese officials about a supposed plan to hire Filipino domestic workers in China for as much as Php100,000.

“I haven’t talked to anyone from China, much less agreed to meet with anyone next month on this,” said Secretary Bello in a phone interview with The SUN.

He said he was not aware of anyone from the Chinese embassy in the Philippines visiting his Undersecretary, Dominador Say, and disclosing any such plan. Neither has Bello been told of a plan for a follow-up meeting next month.

“How could there be a follow-up meeting when there was no initial meeting in the first place?”, Bello said. 

Ambassador Sto Romano says there
signs China wants to let OFWs in 

In Beijing, Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sto. Romana said there had been indications that China plans to open its door to Filipino domestic workers. However, he said he was not privy to what Undersecretary Say disclosed to various newspapers in Manila, including the widely circulating Philippine Star.

“I am not in a position to confirm this report in the Philippine Star, talks are still exploratory at this stage, but there are indications that Chinese authorities are interested in opening the door somewhat to Pinoy household service workers (HSW). Shanghai & Guangzhou authorities have recently announced an experiment to grant work visas to Pinoy HSWs, these are pilot projects that could pave the way to more work visas for Pinoy,” said Ambassador Sto. Romana.

However, he said the Department of Labor and Employment may have more information on the matter as it is the lead agency on the Philippine side.

Labor Undersecretary Say prompted the comments after he told reporters in Manila earlier in the week that a delegation from the Chinese embassy had approached him about Beijing’s supposed plan to open its doors to Philippine domestic workers.

The Philippine Star quoted Say as saying that the salary to be given was Php100,000 (US$1,980), but he later told the South China Morning Post that the reported salary offer was not accurate.

However, he stuck to his original statement that he discussed the plan with Chinese embassy officials.

Say also said that China wants to hire 100,000 foreign domestic workers, but not all would come from the Philippines. Further, he said the scheme will be put in place in five major Chinese cities, including the capital, Beijing, and Shanghai.

But his statements were immediately dismissed by the acting head of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), further causing confusion.

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Undersecretary Bernardo Olalia said it was not true that there were 100,000 jobs available for Filipino domestic workers in China. The only jobs there now are reportedly only for teachers and call center agents.

"Lahat ng klase ng trabaho nasa website [ng POEA], kung wala, that job is nonexistent," Olalia was quoted as saying.

The conflicting statements from his two undersecretaries have prompted Secretary Bello to call for a meeting tomorrow, Aug. 3, to try and sort out the issue.

“I don’t know why my two undersecretaries are saying two different things,” he said.

But he reiterated that what was clear was that he had not met with anyone from the Chinese government on the reported plan.

Say’s statements caused a stir in Hong Kong, with many domestic workers saying on social media that if the reported salary was true, they would prefer working on the mainland instead.

Villanueva says OFWs
will go where pay is better

Several migrant workers have also started asking how they could apply for the China jobs, completely disregarding reports that the scheme, even if true, was still in the drawing board. 

Eman Villanueva, spokesman for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) said it was just natural for Filipino workers, being economic migrants, to go where the pay is better.

“It just shows that the salaries of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong are no longer competitive,” said Villanueva. “Why else would our workers choose to go to a place where the labor laws are not as defined as in Hong Kong?"

He also said that sending more Filipino workers abroad was not desirable, as it shows the Philippines is not sincere about its promise to curb its labor export policy.

The Philippines has no bilateral labor agreement with China, although up to 200,000 Filipinos are believed to be working on the mainland, many as domestic helpers. Most of the workers are there as tourists, but some have managed to secure business visas which allow them a longer stay.

Most domestic workers are known to get between 6,000 and 7,000 yuan a month, which is far higher than the minimum allowable wage of HK$4,310 a month paid to their counterparts in Hong Kong.

Recently, Guangdong province and Shanghai have reportedly allowed foreigners to hire domestic workers from overseas, but it is not clear how many Filipinos have been hired under this scheme.

China to hire Pinoy maids at US$2k, says PHL labor official

Filipino maids in HK earn only a quarter of the
reported salary of their counterparts in China

China has reportedly taken the first steps to opening its doors to Filipino domestic workers at a monthly salary of nearly US$2,000.

This was according to Philippine Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say, who told newspaper reporters in the Philippines yesterday, July 31, that Chinese embassy officials had visited the Department of Labor and Employment to discuss the matter.

The initial deployment will reportedly be limited to five major cities in China, including the capital, Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.

However, reports in Hong Kong indicate Shanghai has already allowed foreign residents to hire foreign domestic workers as early as July 2015. The first FDW to be hired was reportedly a Filipino, who was paid US$1,000 a month.

USec Say said that the Chinese delegation was “looking at the possibility of a Php1000,000 monthly pay” for the FDWs to be hired.

He also said a delegation from China will visit the country in September for further negotiations on the matter.

Philippine Labor Attache to Hong Kong Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN he has not been officially informed about the Chinese delegation’s visit.

His office has long been besieged with complaints from Filipina domestic workers who are brought into China by their Hong Kong employers to work there illegally.

On July 24, a Filipina hired in Hong Kong reportedly fell from a building in Shenzhen, two days after her employers took her back in the city for a holiday. The helper’s kin said the Filipina maid resented being brought there and had planned to break her contract.

Interviewed separately by the South China Morning Post, Say reportedly said he could not remember the name of the leader of the Chinese delegation, but that “he should be a commercial counselor, who came for his research.”

He also told SCMP that China was looking at hiring 100,000 FDWs every month, but that would include not just Filipinos, but also workers from other countries.

Say told reporters in Manila that the reason the Chinese want to hire Filipinos is because of the latter’s English proficiency. Say also said the Filipinos are seen to be “peaceful” compared to other nationalities.

The Chinese visitors also reportedly mentioned improving ties with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration for the decision to hire Filipinos instead of other nationals.

“They will not have approached us if they are not serious with their desire to hire Filipinos,” Say reportedly said.

He said labor officials would wait for the outcome of the September meeting with the Chinese delegation to determine when the deployment can start.

During an earlier visit to China, Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello IIII said an estimated 200,000 Filipino domestic workers were working illegally on the mainland.

China does not allow foreigners to take up jobs in the country as domestic workers, so most of the illegal workers enter on tourist visas that allow them to stay up to 14 days each time. Others manage to secure business visas which cost more but allow them to stay longer.

Those who overstay their visas face fines of between 5,000 and 20,000 yuan (US$743-2,973), and in the more serious cases, even imprisonment of between five and 15 days. – from reports in Manila and Hong Kong

New balikbayan box rules take effect Aug 1 amid concerns

Bayan HK protests new balikbayan box rules

By Daisy CL Mandap

The new rules for sending tax-free goods in balikbayan boxes to the Philippines will finally take effect tomorrow, Aug 1, amid persistent worries among stakeholders about the additional requirements they must comply with.

The biggest concern relates to filling out a detailed information sheet which requires the sender to list down each item in the box, and give a corresponding value. If an item costs more than Php10,000 a receipt must be attached. Only personal and  household items in non-commercial quantity could be sent.

There is also a section where the recipient’s details must be supplied, to show that he/she is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity (immediate family members up to great grandparents and corresponding in-laws, if any) to the sender.

Senders must also attach a copy of the page in their Philippine passports with personal information, picture and signature. Dual citizens must also send proof of their dual citizenship.

The new law allows “qualified Filipinos while abroad” (QFWA) to send a total of three boxes in a year to designated relatives in the Philippines, with the total value of the goods not to exceed Php150,000, to avail of the tax-free privilege.

The rules were supposed to have taken effect on Christmas day last year, following the signing of the implementing rules and regulations, but were put on hold in the wake of an outcry from overseas Filipinos and forwarders.

Subsequently, BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon signed Customs Memorandum Order 04-2017 on Jan. 24, further streamlining the requirements.

Info sheet p 1

Info sheet p2

As a result, some rules were relaxed, including one that required all new items to come with a receipt. 

But questions persist.

For Hong Kong’s leading forwarder AFreight, these include how the additional documents should be sent to the Bureau of Customs in Manila.

AFreight's Rosabelle Woolf

Initially, under the IRR, international forwarders must submit the information sheets and supporting documents “in secured electronic format” to their Philippine counterparts, which in turn, must forward the documents in like manner to the BOC within a specified period.
For goods that take three days to ship, as those coming from Hong Kong, the documents must be submitted 24 hours before their arrival. Those for goods that ship within seven days must be submitted 48 hours before arrival.
But according to AFreight’s country manager Rosabelle Woolf, they are still awaiting word on how the secure electronic transmission of the documents to the BOC could be effected.

“Medyo magulo pa sila sa Manila ngayon, but we will comply,” Woolf said. “We have already printed the new information sheets and we will be telling shippers to be ready with copies of their passports”.

This early, she said she gets asked questions by customers on how they could comply with some of the rules.

“Yung isa, ang tanong, paano kung hindi sila kasal nung pinapadalhan niyang asawa sa Pilipinas? Yung isa naman, ang pinapadalhan ay yung nag-aalaga sa anak niya pero hindi naman niya kamag-anak,” said Woolf.

In the Middle East, she said there were also questions from overseas Filipino workers who don’t have their passports in their possession because employers there routinely confiscate their documents to ensure they don’t run away.

In the BOC’s Facebook page itself, some OFWs in Japan expressed concern about the security of their personal information, and said they would rather pay customs duties than submit a copy of their passports.

Forwarders are also still in the dark on how the BOC could enforce compliance with the additional requirements, given that one 40-foot container alone holds 330 boxes, and around 25 containers arrive each day from overseas.

“If they do not open boxes and use only x-rays to check them, how could they possibly screen the contents of all those boxes to ensure that the rules are fully complied with?”, asked Woolf.

Further, they’re worried that partial compliance with the expanded requirements could hold up their entire shipment.

For militant migrant workers’ group Bayan Hong Kong and Macau, the new rules spell out more hardship for OFWs and their families.

The group and its allied organizations staged a rally in Central yesterday, July 30, and held aloft posters saying “hands off our boxes” or “Dagdag na tax, resibo at perwisyo sa balikbayan box”.

Bayan HK chair Eman Villanueva said they were against “the added inconvenience, the delays in the delivery of the balikbayan box and the possibility of added taxation to our OFWs.”

But according to Woolf, it is still too early to say how the new balikbayan box rules would impact OFWs and their business.

“Hindi ko pa nakikita ngayon,” she said. “Let’s see what happens in the next few weeks”.

What's on, where

Financial Health Desk
Aug 20, 1-5 pm (and every Sunday of the month)
PCG Service Area
This is a one-to-one, confidential advice for migrant women with specific money concerns, especially useful if you are in debt or have big financial decisions to make.
Conducted by: Enrich with support from the Philippine Consulate. For appointment, email participant@enrichhk.org or call 2386 5811

Fund-Raising Concert at St John’s 
The Cathedral of St. Michael  the Archangel (CSMA) Choir of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente of Bacoor City will hold a fund-raising concert at St. John’s Cathedral on Aug 13 at 4:00pm.  Proceeds will go to the repairs of the Bacoor Parish School, Ltd and the repairs of the St. Michael’s Cathedral, Bacoor City.
Please come. Please support this worthwhile activity. Ticket-price will be whatever you wish to give but please do give generously. For further information please call Fr Dwight dela Torre, Tel No. 2523-4157/2522-8261

Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention
Thousands of people from different nationalities are expected to converge in Hong Kong on Aug.4-6 for a rare gathering of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  A large number of attendees will be from the Filipino community in Hong Kong. There will be a section designated for Tagalog and Iloko speakers. Other language groups like Indonesian, Thai, Hindi and even Chinese Sign Language will have a simultaneous translation from English being the main language to be used during the program. The convention focuses on not giving up despite life’s challenges. It will help anyone in the audience to keep a positive outlook and live a happy life even in sad times.
The gathering is open to the public and is free of charge.
For details, call 9444 or email dfd_72@hotmail.com.

Proyektong puwedeng salihan

Support Coins for Bethune 2017

Calling all Filipino community organizations! Please help raise much-needed funds for the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, which is looking after distressed women domestic workers. Save your coins and put them in donation cans that are distributed for free by Bethune House, or make your own container. Just get the stickers for the cans from Bethune to make sure your donation counts. Cans and stickets are available at the office of the Mission for Migrant Workers at St John’s Cathedral from Sunday to Friday. Deadline for submitting the filled-up cans is Sept. 17, 2017 in time for the 31st anniversary celebration of Bethune House on Chater Road. Every coin that you give helps give food and temporary shelter to migrant women in distress, as well as emergency, medical and legal assistance. For enquiries, please call 25322 8264, email mission@migrants.net or send a message to the Facebook page, “Coins for Bethune Project”.

Wanted: Proctors for BLEPT
Teachers who passed the Board Licensure Examination  for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) are encouraged to enlist as proctors for the upcoming BLEPT on Sept 24, 2017.
Basic requirements: Photocopy of passport page with picture, Photocopy of PRC Licence, Transcript of Records (optional)
Submit the documents in person to NOPT at Bayanihan Centre on July 30, Aug 6, 13 and 20 from 9am-5pm. Accepted applicants are required to attend a briefing seminar, the schedule to be announced later. For further details call the NOPT hotline 5296 0156

Attention: Rugby enthusiasts
We, the Exiles Touch Rugby group are inviting rugby enthusiasts to join the team. We practice every Sunday at the Happy Valley Pitch 8 from 5pm to 8pm at the Happy Valley Pitch 8.  For those interested contact: Ghelai 65414432 whatsapp/sms or like Exiles HK FB page

Wanted: softball players
The all-Filipina softball team is now open for tryouts. Those who are interested, especially those with prior experience in the game may contact Team Captain Don Gaborno at 5318-5113

An invitation to play volleyball
Calling sport-minded Filipinas who want to play volleyball. A team is being organized by a group led by Shane Key Gonzales to compete in upcoming volleyball leagues in Hong Kong. Interested parties may contact Shane at 54498080.

Attention: Migrants with medical background
The Philippines Nurses in Hong Kong is inviting those with medical training or background (nurses, nursing graduates, caregivers or those who attended 1-day elderly care training seminar) to join our next seminar on  Elderly and Dementia Care on Aug 6, 13 and 20 at the POLO Conference Room, 11th Floor, Tower 1, Admiralty Centre. For more information contact Ms. Maybelle P. Frianeza at 28660640 or send a message at Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong Facebook Page.

Covers the period Aug. 1-15

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Sisiglang muli ang love life. Tamang panahon para sa engagement o pagpapakasal. May sapat kang oras ngayon para sa pamilya at trabaho. Magana kang kumain ngayon, at walang dapat ikabahala sa kalusugan, pero iwasan ang labis na pagkain ng matatamis. Kung may usaping legal, iwasan muna itong harapin upang mas mapaghandaan. Dagdagan ang sipag upang makamit ang gusto mo. Lucky numbers: 4,19,23 at 45.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Maswerteng linggo ito dahil ang mga paghihirap at kabiguan ay mapapalitan ng saya at kapanatagan. Tamang oras din para pagplanuhan ang susunod na hakbang sa love life. Handa kang maghigpit ng sinturon, pero may hindi inaasahang perang darating. Upang mapanatili ang kalusugan, piliin ang mga natural na pagkain na walang halong kemikal. Lucky numbers: 5,11,26 at 37.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Ayusin ang paghawak ng pera at iwasan ang labis na pamimili. Marami kang matatapos gawin dahil sa sipag at sigla mo ngayon. Pwede mong ipagyabang ang mga nagawa mo, pero kung sobra na, magugulat ka na lang sa magiging resulta nito. Ang pagiging mabusisi at maingat sa trabaho ang magbibigay ng positibong direksyon, lalo at magaganda ang iyong mga ideya at pwede mong ipagmalaki. Lucky numbers: 9,17,33 at 44.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Mapayapa ang tahanan ngayon. Bantayang mabuti ang kalusugan ng mga anak, siguraduhing kumpleto sila sa bakuna. Ang inaasam na proyekto ay mangangailangan ng ibayong sipag at sikap, pero garantisado ang tagumpay nito. Mag-ingat sa ilang kaibigan. Sa linggong ito ay mga agam-agam ka, pero kung talagang realistiko at pursigido, magtatagumpay ka. Lucky numbers:16,22,31 at 39.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Makakaranas ng kagipitan, kaya ipagpaliban muna ang pagbili ng mga bagay na hindi agad kailangan. May tsansang makatagpo ang taong magiging mahalaga sa iyo. Kung ang kasulukuyang relasyon ay tila imposibleng maayos pa, huwag mag-atubiling bumitaw na. Sa gitna ng kalungkutan, piliting hanapin ang magandang bahagi ng mga bagay. Dahil sa nerbiyos ay nahihirapan kang harapin ang gawain at pribadong buhay. Sa piling ng mga kaibigan at pamilya, makakahanap ka ng kasiyahan. Lucky numbers:16, 20, 29 at 41.?

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Nang dahil sa selos ay nagiging problemado ang love life, piliting kontrolin ang emosyon. Maayos ang relasyon sa pamilya, lalo na sa mga anak. Sa trabaho, walang seryosong pangyayari ang sisira sa iyong pinaghirapan. Posibleng magkamali sa desisyon, humingi agad ng payo kung kinakailangan. Magiging maswerte sa pakikipagsosyo sa negosyo o transaksyong pinansyal, tamang oras na makipagsapalaran. Lucky numbers: 6,15,35 at 44.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Magandang tiyempo ito na sumubok ng bagong bagay. Higpitan ang pagba-budget upang umayos ang pananalapi. May maliliit na hindi pinagkakasunduan, pero babalik agad ang saya sa pagsasama. Huwag masyadong maging mapaghanap at mahigpit sa ibang tao, alalahaning hindi ka rin perpekto. Maging diplomatiko sa pakikipag-usap sa pamilya upang mabawasan ang tensyon. Lucky numbers: 9, 17, 25 at 40.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Kung gagawa ng hakbang, makakapagsimula kang muli ng maayos. Bigyan ng atensyon ang pananalapi, singilin ang mga may utang sa iyo. Huwag nang balik-balikan ang problema, matuto sa mga nagaganap sa kasalukuyan. Masaya ka at sabik kang makasamang muli ang ilang kaanak na lulusob sa bahay mo; magulo man at siksikan, matutuwa ka naman sa mga kuwentuhan at pasyalan. Lucky numbers: 18,26,34 at 40.?

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Mapayapa at tahimik ang buhay mo ngayon, gaya ng gusto mo. Pagtuunan ng pansin ang pag-iimpok upang makaalpas na sa kada buwang problema sa pera. Lumabas din paminsan-minsan upang makakilala ng ibang tao upang madagdagan ang kumpiyansa sa sarili, at magbukas ng mga oportunidad. Kailangang din ng seryosong pakikipag-usap sa mga anak upang maibahagai nila ang kanilang mga alalahanin at balakin. Ito ang magpapatibay sa inyong pagsasama. Lucky numbers: 15, 18, 27 at 45.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Subukang lumaro o pumusta sa pagpili ng mga numerong 5,6,8 at 9. Iwasan muna ang paggawa ng malalaking desisyon, paglalakbay sa malayong lugar o pagsisiumula ng bagong proyekto. Bigyan ang puso ng bagong pag-asa, kahit pa nasaktan na ito; darating din ang para sa iyo. Kung walang sports na nilalaro, mag-exercise araw-araw, gaya ng jogging o paglalakad upang gumanda ang daloy ng dugo at paghinga at lumiit ang tiyan. Lucky numbers: 13, 22, 29 at 32.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Masaya ang love life, ang relasyon ay patungo sa tamang direksyon. Positibong pagbabago ang mangyayari sa buhay mo, may mga bagong kakilala at kapaki-pakinabang na mga gawain. Gaganda ang pananalapi at may makakatuwang ka sa swerteng matatamasa. Lalo pang lalago ang kabuhayan sa pag-iinvest mo sa mga importanteng bagay. Mag-ingat sa mga pamamaga sa katawan. Lucky numbers: 20, 24, 28 at 36.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Malaki ang tsansang matupad ang matagal nang pinapangarap. Bigyan ng sapat na kalayaan ang mga anak, kung nahihirapan, humingi ng tulong o payo. Mas mabagal at hindi sigurado ang mga kilos mo ngayon, mag-ingat sa mga gagawin. Maganda ang resulta ng isang papasukang transaksyon. Ayusin ang mga papeles sa negosyo upang maihanda ang mga plano mong gawin, at maisagawa agad ito.Lucky numbers: 7, 19, 26 at 41.

Filipina DH locked up 2½ months for attacking toddler

By Vir B. Lumicao 

A Filipino maid was sentenced to two-and-a-half months in prison on July 21 for assaulting the “unruly” four-year-old son of jailed business tycoon Carson Yeung a year ago.

Rochelle Lintag Dreck, 32, wiped away tears as she was sentenced by Eastern Court's Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai. exactly a week after she pleaded guilty to five counts of common assault.

Dreck was sentenced to two months and two weeks in jail on each of the five charges, to be served concurrently.

It was far more lenient than the six-month prison term imposed on 41-year-old Carmella Sotto, on July 18 by another Eastern Court magistrate for slapping an 18-month-old baby girl on June 3.

Chainrai imposed the sentence after hearing from the prosecution that there were no medical and psychological reports because the assaults happened more than a year ago.

The prosecution also said the victim had suffered no permanent injuries, and submitted three photographs of the boy to the magistrate.

The magistrate had delayed the sentencing to wait for the psychological and medical reports on the victim, and a psychological report on Dreck.

Dreck’s counsel from the Duty Lawyer Scheme begged Chainrai for leniency, saying the boy had been naughty and that the maid herself had three children who had lost financial support since her arrest last year.

The helper admitted to assaulting the boy in the kitchen of Yeung’s house on Baker Road in Mid-Levels, at the Convention Plaza Apartments on Harbour Road in Wan Chai, and at Canossa Hospital on Old Peak Road in 2016.

Dreck was hired by Yeung in 2010, six years before the former chairman of the Birmingham Football Club was returned to jail after losing his appeal against a six-year jail sentence in 2014 for money laundering.

The attacks took place between Mar 9 and Apr 15, 2016, when the boy’s mother was in Shenzhen attending to her business and returning home on weekends, leaving the boy in the care of the two helpers.

In early 2016, Mrs Yeung reportedly noticed wounds on the boy but did not ask what caused them.

In May the same year, she again saw injuries on her son’s ears and asked the maids about them.

One of the helpers showed her videos she had taken of Dreck’s attacks on the boy, and the mother immediately called the police. In the videos, Dreck was seen slapping the boy, hitting his hands with a comb, and poking his lip and nose, causing nosebleed.

Maid gets 6 months’s jail for slapping baby

By Vir B. Lumicao 

There’s no excuse for hitting a child, an Eastern Court magistrate said on Jul 18 as she meted a six-month prison term on a Filipina who slapped her 18-month-old ward twice.

Carmela Sotto, 41, listened calmly as Magistrate Bina Chainrai rejected the defense’s mitigation that the maid was drowsy for lack of sleep and was startled when she hit the child. The defence claimed that Sotto had merely bent over to pat the baby girl in the crib to send her to sleep.

The diminutive maid pleaded guilty on Jul 3 when she was charged with “ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person”.

The prosecution supported its case with CCTV footage of the maid hitting the toddler on the face and body before midnight on June 3, when Sotto was told to look after her as the employers left their flat in Queen’s Terrace, Sheung Wan, for a night out.

On the car, the female employer remotely monitored the video camera in her baby’s room and saw the maid hitting the child. The bosses called the police and Sotto was arrested.

For her guidance, Chainrai asked the prosecutor to look into previous cases. The first involved another maid who hit her infant ward and was jailed for two years and nine months after conviction in a trial. The second case involved a father who hit his child and was sentenced to 20 months.

In mitigation, the defense lawyer said Sotto just momentarily lost her balance as she reached out to pat the child, who was trying to get up.

“This was a one-off incident. She was aware that there was a camera in the room. This was a result of a lack of sleep, she felt very sorry for hitting the baby,” the lawyer said, adding that in the present case the child did not sustain any serious injury.

Chainrai, addressing the maid, said: “I do accept the mitigation that you lost control of yourself because of your lack of sleep, but that is no excuse to hit a child.”

The magistrate said although the child did not suffer serious injury, still the offense called for custodial sentence. Chainrai sentenced Sotto to six months in prison, discounted from nine for her guilty plea.

Mission for Migrant Workers director Edwina Antonio, who accompanied Sotto to court, told The SUN that domestic workers should be very careful when handling children.

“Maging maingat sila sa lahat ng oras dahil mahigpit ang batas ng Hong Kong sa ganyan,” said Antonio.

She noted that several helpers had been accused and convicted of ill-treating children even if some of the acts were obviously unintentional. She reminded the workers not to plead guilty right away as they could still have a fighting chance and avoid conviction.

“Sa kaso ni Carmela (Sotto), gusto man namin siyang tulungang umapela ay hindi na puwede dahil nag-plead guilty na siya,” Antonio said.

Pinay falls to death during Shenzhen trip with bosses

By Vir B. Lumicao 
(UPDATED)

A Hong Kong-based domestic helper from Cagayan plunged to her death on July 24 from a residential tower in Shenzhen, two days after she crossed the border to join her employers on a holiday there, the maid’s kin said.

A sister and an aunt of  L. Asuncion both told The SUN that the victim traveled to China on July 22 to join her employers’ family, who had left her alone for a week in Hong Kong.

The two were scheduled to travel to Shenzhen today, July 31, to identify Asuncion’s remains.

The Consulate in Hong Kong said its counterpart in Guangzhou had taken over the case and was investigating.

Townmates of the victim were shocked to hear the tragic news of Asuncion’s death on the evening of July 26.

“I can’t believe it. I know her very well because she was a sister of my friend and classmate in high school,” said one of her townmates who works in Hong Kong. 

The sister said the 28-year-old victim was single and had been working for her employers for only nine months. She had worked for another Hong Kong family previously but her contract was terminated after 10 months.

She said she could not believe that her sister would take her own life.

“Why did she have to go to China and do it there? She could have done it when she was left alone in the employers’ house in Hong Kong to use up her seven-day vacation leave,” the sister said.

On July 21, Asuncion reportedly messaged her sister about her coming trip to China with her employers’ family.

She also told her mother she desperately wanted to break contract and go back home, but was advised to be patient and stay put,  as life was hard in the Philippines.

This was not the first time the victim was taken across the border by her employer. On Dec 24 last year, she traveled to China with her employers’ family, and sounded jolly when she posted about it on Facebook.

“Ready to go.... God guide our trip with my employers together with their kids,” she wrote in her post.

But her mood visibly changed afterwards.

On Feb 5 this year, she replied to a friend’s comment welcoming her back: “Slmat…heheheheheh letcheng China yan

Online application for LET now open

By Vir B. Lumicao

The website that accepts registration: https://sple.prc-online.com.

Aspiring teachers among the legion of Filipinos working in Hong Kong can now apply online for the Special Licensure Examination for Teachers scheduled for Sept 24, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.

PRC chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr announced the simultaneous holding of the examination in Hong Kong and in Bangkok, Thailand, on the PRC website.

The PRC provided the link https://sple.prc-online.com  and activated it on July 26. The deadline for application is Aug 14, 2017. The National Organization of Professional Teachers in Hong Kong is hoping the deadline would be extended.

 The only uncertainty for the examination seems to the venue.

“We’ll have a clearer picture on the LET venue next week,” Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN in reply to an online inquiry on July 26.

He had said earlier that he was booking the Delia Memorial School Hip Wo in Kwun Tong, where the Civil Service Examination was held last November.

Ahead of the delayed announcement, aspiring applicants in Hong Kong have been reviewing for the exam for the past two months.

NOPT currently has 180 members who have been taking lessons since May 21 with the Carl Balita Review Center, the group”s president Gemma Lauraya told The SUN.

“We started the review classes earlier to anticipate concerns among the reviewees, such as not having a regular day-off, being long-time graduates who have not kept abreast with the thrusts, trends and new curriculum of basic education,” Lauraya said.

She said some of the would-be teachers have lagged far behind on current events while others seem to be not interested, and will now have to catch up fast.

NOPT’s leader said her group is praying for better results this year than the 9.8% passing rate last year. She was also profuse in thanking all the government agencies that brought the exam again to Hong Kong this year.

The basic documents required for the exam application are: a photocopy of the Transcript of Records (with or without scanned picture and remarks “For Board Examination Purpose Only”); a photocopy of valid passport; and two passport-size pictures with a complete nametag in white background.

The exam fee of US$40 should be paid through Development Bank of the Philippines’ authorized remittance centers that would be posted on the PRC website.

After complying with the online processes, the applicants should submit their documents to the Philippine Consulate General, 1101 & 1601 Tower I, Admiralty Centre, 18 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong.

POLO will accept the printed and signed application form together with a photocopy of the remittance slip and the documentary requirements until Aug 20 only, the PRC said.

Original copies of the above mentioned document request should be presented to the PRC examination team for validation upon arrival at the exam venues.

After evaluating the applications, POLO will submit to PRC the names of pre-qualified applicants for Elementary Level and Secondary Level (per major subject of specialization) by Aug 28.

Sa aksidente, mabuti ang trained

Nasa dalawang linggong bakasyon si Melay sa kanilang bayan sa San Remigio, Antique, nang masaksihan niya ang isang aksidente na nagbigay halaga sa natutunan niya sa Hong Kong sa pagbibigay ng first aid.

Kasalukuyang nakasakay sa jeepney si Melay noong July 1, bandang alas tres ng hapon nang makita niyang nakahandusay sa kanal ang isang lalaki at kasama nitong bata. Aksidente sa motor ang dahilan.

Agad-agad na bumaba sa jeep si Melay dala-dala ang first aid kit na laging nasa bag niya. May sugat kasi ang bata sa noo dahil nauntog sa bato pagkatapos mahulog sa motor. Nang nakuha ang bata mula sa kanal ay saka niya tinakpan ng bandage ang noo nito para matigil ang pag-agos ng dugo mula sa sugat, bago isinara.

Sinenyasan niya ang sinakyang jeep na iwan na siya kahit nandoon pa mga gamit niya, at naghintay hanggang nadala na ng ambulansya ang mga naaksidente sa ospital. Nang makaalis na ang ambulansya ay saka pa lang sumakay muli si Melay ng jeep.

Naging malaking tulong kay Melay ang pagsasanay niya  sa first aid noong nasa pangalawang amo siya, at may bagong panganak na kailangan niyang alagaan. Ang mag-asawa ay parehong nurse kaya nadagdagan pa ang kanyang natutunan.

Ayon sa kanya, kahit hindi niya kakilala ang mga naaksidente o ang ibang tao na tumulong ay natutuwa siya na nandoon siya para mailigtas ang bata. Si Melay ay 39 taong gulang, may asawa at isang anak. - Rodelia Villar

An incredible turnaround

By J. Dela Torre                                      

Engie Rigonan 

I was struck by the way she told her story: straightforward, unembellished, even controlled.  I couldn’t find a chink in the armor, except only when she was advising OFWs to seek the help of the Almighty when in trouble, when she almost broke off in tears, but recovered just in time. At the end of the story, I was left with nothing but admiration for this woman, Engie Rigonan of Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City,  who from such a humble financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment of 10k was able to achieve so many things other people with more resources couldn’t have. Her strength of character and her unyielding spirit, and the way her family rallied behind her, were what delivered Engie and her family out of a deep financial hole.

Her husband, Joshue, was laid off by ABS-CBN as Technical Director sometime in 2006, and their five children being all of school age already, the couple went through some rough times. They were forced to borrow money and in no time at all were deep in debt. They decided it was time one of them went abroad to earn more and get them through their crisis. She applied with a POEA-licensed agency, and in a few weeks time, she was in the former British colony to begin working as a domestic helper, along with nearly 170,000 other Filipinas.

Hong Kong is temporary home to a large community of Filipinas who are forced, with a few exceptions, to live in crowded apartments. Though the labor justice system there generally works, there are sometimes horrid examples of maltreatment and abuse. In my time as Labour Attache there, we had documented cases of employers burning their domestic helpers with an iron or with scalding water. It’s probably the cramped conditions which breed contempt and resentment and make for these acts of cruelty. Employer and domestic helper are in such close proximity to each other, they notice each other’s every little fault. There’s no space that could act as a buffer zone. But I’m just engaging in conjecture because there are also many employers who live in the same small spaces but who treat their domestic helpers well, and consider them a part of the family.

Engie’s first employer had a machine-fed, wheelchair-bound 2-year old child. Unfortunately for Engie, she didn’t know how to operate the feeding machine. She was neither told by the agency that she needed to have knowledge of how the machine worked, nor was she given time to train, so she had to be transferred to a new employer. It was incredible that an agency, and a mother of a sick child, could be so irresponsible not to make sure that the domestic helper to be assigned to take care of the child knew how to operate the feeding machine.

Her employment didn’t work out well under the new employer, either. She had forgotten one morning to boil water for the employer, and after she had boiled the kettle of water, the employer in a fit of anger came close to throwing the scalding water at her. She demanded a new employer from her agency.

When the Immigration authorities demanded that she exit Hong Kong first before the visa with the third employer could be processed, the couple decided that she return to the Philippines for them to start a new life together. Joshue didn’t want his wife to come home inside a coffin.

She was jobless for a year after that. Finally, they chanced upon an announcement that DOLE was granting financial assistance for small businesses to be set up by former OFWs.

The business that was approved for assistance for Engie? Longanisa making.

The check must have been blessed. In a few years time, the business has grown to such proportions that the couple had paid their placement fee loan of P80t, they had moved from a slum area to a proper housing subdivision, and her children have been enrolled in the schools and in the courses of their choice—all these from a small capitalization of 10k. Magic? Or just plain old dogged determination?

How did she do it?

“I began peddling our product to our neighbors, to small stores, at my husband’s office and at my daughter’s work. In six months’ time, we began to make a profit. And we started to pay off our many debts, and our placement fee loan. Finally, we made the move from our home in a squatters’ area to a subdivision,” she exuded the sense of satisfaction at seeing their life turned around through success in her home-based business.

She estimates that she had made a profit of P250,000 from just P10,000 starting capital, a remarkable return on investment of 2,400%.

She had also expanded to making other food products like tocino, patties, boneless bangus, siomai, lumpia and other meat products, which she supplied to her husband’s officemates.

“And now, due to the small capital provided by the government, my daughter has graduated from Xavier University and is now gainfully employed at Isuzu,” she beamed with obvious pride. The other children are either graduating or are presently enrolled.

Still unbelieving that she’d done all that she said she had, I asked her pointblank: “Did your husband add any amount to the 10k to add to your capital?” She swears, “No, Sir, he never did.”

She counsels other OFWs who have been granted the same financial assistance:

“In business, whether small or big, if you don’t apply yourself, if you’re not aggressive—you will never prosper. If you really think about it, 10k is very small, but due to the fact that the whole family was involved in production and selling of our products, we were successful, not only in making a profit, but in turning our life around. We have constructed our house. We have gotten our eldest through college and the rest of our children are now enrolled in the schools and courses of their choice.

I hope that all those OFWs who have also been provided with capital by the NRCO should apply themselves and work hard at making the business a success. Hard work is the only way to success. If you have to wake up early and retire late at night, you have to do it. Do not give up. Don’t be discouraged by the setbacks that you will encounter. Most of all, never forget to ask for help from the Lord.”

At this point, her voice broke. “He is the only One you can turn to in times of troubles in your life.”

For a housewife like her, she says there’s no other way but to work hard. She’d wake up 4 o’clock in the morning and sleep late at night.

“There is no other way. If it were up to me, I would encourage all the wives and mothers planning to go abroad to just stay and be with their families. Go into business. If we can make it here, why go abroad? If we can sustain our needs through our business, there is no point in going away and be separated from your families. If you stay, you will improve your family’s life. You will improve your city. You will improve your country.”

If it were up to her, she wouldn’t want any of her children to go abroad for employment. But if they themselves want it, there’s nothing I can do, she says with uncharacteristic resignation.

“But,” her eyes lit up, “I’m glad two of her children have already shown promise of becoming entrepreneurs on their own right. They’re selling our products to their classmates. I want to encourage them to do more for our business. I want to break this cycle of having to seek employment in other lands, at least for our family.”
(From www.nrco.dole.gov.ph)

All about eggs

By Jo Campos

Eggs contain many vitamins and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet. They are generally regarded as the best source of protein. The best part is, eggs are readily available and are inexpensive.

Here are a few facts about eggs and some ‘egg-citing recipes’.

There are several health benefits that can be derived from eating eggs, including:

1) Strong muscles - the protein in eggs helps keep muscles working well while slowing the rate at which they are lost.
2) Brain health - eggs contain vitamins and minerals that are needed for the regular functioning of cells, including the brain, nervous system, memory, and metabolism.
3) Good energy production - eggs contain all the daily vitamins and minerals that are needed to produce energy in all the cells of the body.
4) A healthy immune system - vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and selenium are important to keeping the immune system healthy.
5) Lower risk of heart disease – the choline in eggs plays an important part in breaking down the amino acid homocysteine, which is associated with the development of heart disease.
6) Healthy pregnancy – the nutrients in eggs help to prevent congenital disabilities, such as spina bifida.
7) Better eyesight – The lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs help to prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of age-related blindness. Other vitamins in eggs promote good vision.
8) Weight loss and maintenance - the high quality of protein in eggs help keep people energized and feeling fuller for a longer time. Feeling full prevents snacking, which reduces overall calorie intake.
9) Skin benefits – eggs contain vitamins and minerals that help keep skin healthy and prevent the breakdown of body tissues. A strong immune system also contributes to a healthy look overall.
However, it should be noted that the health benefits from eggs can only be experienced when they form part of a balanced diet.

Here are some of my favorite egg recipes:

JC’s Quick and Easy Mini Quiche 

Ingredients:
1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
3 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups chopped, frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

Instructions:   
1) Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and lightly flour twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups.
2) Whisk evaporated milk, eggs, flour, salt and black pepper in medium bowl until blended. Stir in cheese, broccoli and bell pepper.
3) Spoon 1/4 to 1/3 cup of mixture into each prepared muffin cup, filling almost to rim*. Stir mixture frequently to evenly distribute ingredients.
4) Bake for 23 to 28 minutes or until knife inserted near centers comes out clean and tops are lightly browned.
5) Cool in pans for 15 minutes. Run knife or small, flat spatula around inside edges of muffin cups. Carefully remove quiches.
*NOTE: The number of quiches that you get will depend on the size of your muffin cups. Bake time may need some adjusting.
TIPS:
• Quiches can be made ahead and frozen. To reheat, place on baking sheet and bake in preheated 325° F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes or, place 2 to 4 quiches on microwave-safe plate and microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 2 1/2 to 5 minutes or until hot.

Jamie Oliver’s Spanish Tortilla

Ingredients:

300 g waxy potatoes
1 onion
olive oil
5 large free-range eggs

Method: 
1) Peel the potatoes, then carefully cut them into thin slices. Pat the potato slices dry with a clean tea towel.
2) Peel and finely slice the onion. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of oil into a small frying pan over a medium heat, then add the onion and potatoes.
3) Turn the heat down to low and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the onions have turned golden and the potato slices are cooked through. Try not to stir it too much or the potatoes will break up – just use a fish slice to flip them over halfway through.
4) Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl, season with a tiny pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then whisk together with a fork.
5) When the onions and potatoes are cooked, remove the pan from the heat and carefully tip them into the eggs. Transfer the mixture back into the frying pan and place it over a low heat. Cook for around 20 minutes, or until there’s almost no runny egg on top.
6) Use a fish slice to slightly lift and loosen the sides of the tortilla. Carefully flip the pan over a dinner plate and tip out the tortilla, then slide it back into the pan and cook for another 5 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
7) Turn out the tortilla onto a serving board, then cut into 6 wedges and serve hot or cold with a simple green salad.
With the custard being puffed up a bit, pull the oven door open about 2 to 3 inches. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until the custard is cooked through.
To test, insert a toothpick into the custard. If it stands on its own, it’s done.

Hong Kong Style Egg Tarts

Ingredients of crust: 
200 gm plain flour
25 gm cake flour
125 gm butter
55 gm icing sugar
1 egg, whisked
a dash vanilla extract

Ingredients of custard:
2 eggs
70 gm caster sugar
150 gm hot water
75 gm evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method (for the crust):
1) Place butter at room temperature until it softens
2) Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer over medium speed until the mixture is smooth, fluffy and light in color.
3) Add in whisked egg, half at a time, beat over low speed.
4) Add vanilla extract, mix well.
5) Sift in flour in two batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions with a spatula, and make sure all the ingredients combine well. Knead into dough. (see picture)
6) Roll out the dough to a 1/2 cm thickness. Cut dough with a cookie cutter that is just a bit smaller than your tart tin in size.
7) Line dough in the middle of tart tins, one by one. Lightly press the dough with your thumbs, starting from the bottom then up to the sides. While pressing the dough, turn the tart tin clockwise/anti-clockwise in order to make an even tart shell. Trim away any excess dough.
Method (for the custard):
1) Add sugar into hot water, mix until completely dissolved.
2) Whisk egg with evaporated milk. Pour in sugar water. Mix well.
3) Sift egg mixture to get rid of any foam into a tea pot. Carefully pour egg mixture into each tart shell.

Method (baking tarts): 
1) Preheat oven to 200C. Position rack in lower third of oven. Bake tarts for 10 to 15 minutes until the edges are lightly brown.
2) Lower the heat to 180C. Keep an eye on them. Once you see