Sapilitang pinapirma ng termination letter

Isa si Jane sa mga katulong na may problema sa pagkain. Laging hindi sapat ang pagkain na para sa kanya, o kaya naman ay puro tira ng ilang araw kaya nawawalan siya ng ganang kumain. Tatlong buwan niyang tiniis ang hirap bago naglakas-loob na nagsabi sa amo na kung pwedeng ibigay na lang sa kanya ang kanyang food allowance na nakasulat sa kontrata.

Nagalit ang amo dahil dito at sinabihan sya na mag-empake at gumawa ng sulat na nagsasabi na siya ang kusang pumuputol sa kanilang kontrata at gusto niyang bumaba noong araw ding iyon.

Hindi pumayag si Jane na gumawa ng sulat dahil wala siyang pera. Ipinagpatuloy na lang niya ang pag-eempake pero nang akma na siyang aalis ay hinarangan siya ng amo at sinabing hindi siya maaaring umalis ng hindi nagbibigay ng termination letter.

Dahil hindi sila magkasundo ay tinawagan ng amo ang isang empleyado ng employment agency na nagdala kay Jane sa Hong Hong. Gumawa ng sulat ang taga agency na nagsasabing ang katulong ang kusang bumaba ng araw na yon at pilit itong pinapapirma kay Jane.

Ayaw pa ring pumirma ni Jane dahil alam niyang kapag siya ang nag-terminate ay kailangan niyang bayaran ang amo. Tumawag si Jane sa isang kaibigan at sinabihan siya nito na i-record nang palihim ang usapan nila ng amo at ng taga agency, na ginawa naman niya.

Pagkatapos ay pumayag na si Jane na pirmahan ang kasulatan dahil pinangakuan siya ng taga agency na hahanapan siya ng bagong amo. Pero may pahabol ito na kailangan ni Jane na magbayad ng katumbas ng  isang buwang sahod niya para maibigay sa kanya ang tiket niya pauwi.

Nalilito ngayon si Jane kung ano ang gagawin.

Ipaglalaban ba niya ang karapatan niya gamit ang video na nagpapakita na pinilit lang siya ng amo at ng taga agency na pumirma sa termination letter, o tanggapin na lang ang alok ng agency na huwag nang magreklamo dahil bibigyan siya ng bagong amo? Si Jane ay may asawa at tatlong anak at tubong Mindoro. – Rodelia Villar

Vice Ganda, sabit na naman ang joke

Ni Johna Acompanado

Nakaamba pa rin ang demanda ng beteranong mamamahayag na si Tony Calvento laban sa comedian/host na si Vice Ganda at sa programang “It’s Showtime” kahit naglabas na ito ng public apology , na binasa ni Billy Crawford sa show noong August 12. Hindi nakarating sa kanilang programa si Vice dahil may concert daw ito sa South Korea.
Ang kanyang paumanhin: “Nais ko pong humingi ng paumanhin kay Mr. Tony Calvento sa pagkakabanggit ko sa pangalan niya sa interview ko sa isang semi-finalist sa Tawag ng Tanghalan kahapon. Wala po akong intensyon na saktan o insultuhin kayo, Mr. Calvento. Ang tanging intensyon ko ay magbigay ng payo sa aming contestants na magtiwala sa sarili sa kanyang kakayahan. Again, my sincerest apologies, Mr Calvento, malaki po ang respeto ko sa inyo bilang isang journalist, kaibigan at kapamilya.”
Naganap ang isyu noong August 11, nang sabihin ni John Mark Saga, na isa sa mga semi finalists ng TNT, na nag-a-upload siya ng kanta online, pero hindi niya ipinapakita ang mukha niya dahil takot daw siyang ma-bash. Pinayuhan siya ni Vice na huwag ikahiya ang hitsura nito dahil isa raw itong biyaya. Dugtong pa niya: “Never be ashamed of your face. Yang mukha mo, ikaw ‘yan at maraming pagdadalhan ang mukhang ‘yan. That is a gift... your face. Kahit gaano kalaki ‘yan, kahit kamukha mo si Tony Calvento, mukha mo ‘yan kaya dapat proud ka.”
Pagkatapos ng show, agad naman daw tinawagan ni Vice is Calvento upang humingi ng paumanhin, pero sinabihan daw siya nitong maglabas ng public apology. Ang pahayag ni Calvento: “Yesterday, after using my name in an insulting manner, I threatened to sue the whole Showtime in a civil case and Vice Ganda in a criminal case. Vice called me up and I demanded a public apology to put him in his proper place.”
“Just because you’re a famous host, you can’t make fun of anyone,” dagdag pa ng premyadong broadcast journalist.
Noong Linggo, August 13, nang tanungin kung tinatanggap niya ang apology ni Vice na binasa ni Billy sa It’s Showtime, sinabi ni Calvento mahihintay muna siya dahil sinabi raw ng komedyante na personal itong hihingi ng paumanhin, on air, sa Miyerkules, August 16, pagbalik niya sa Pilipinas.
Si Vice Ganda ay unang nakilala bilang stand-up comedian sa comedy bars, kung saan ay nakasanayan na ang pang-iinsulto at panlalait, bagama’t pabiro, sa mga customers nila.

TONI, MAY TIWALA SA ASAWA
Alam pala ni Toni Gonzaga ang tungkol sa tsismis na nagkakamabutihan na raw ang kanyang asawang si Paul Soriano at si Erich Gonzales. Matagal na kasing laman ng blind items ang dalawa habang nagsu-shooting ng pelikulang “Siargao”, na idini-direk ni Paul, mula pa noong May. Ayon kay Toni, sinabihan na siya noon pa ni Paul na baka ma-tsismis sila ni Erich, gaya nang nangyari sa kanila ni Maja Salvador, nang gawin nila ang pelikulang “Thelma”. Kinausap rin siya ni Erich tungkol sa tsismis dahil marami ang nagagalit sa kanya at nagre-react sa social media dahil daw sa pang-aagaw nito sa asawa niya. Maging si Jericho Rosales na katambal ni Erich sa kanilang pelikula ay nali-link din daw kay Erich. Naniniwala raw si Toni na malakas ang woman’s intuition, kaya tiyak na may mararamdaman siya kung sakaling may ginagawang kalokohan ang asawa. Buo daw ang tiwala niya sa asawa, dahil wala naman siyang nararamdamang kakaiba sa kilos nito sa ngayon. Ipinagdarasal daw niya na huwag sana silang dumaan sa ganitong pagsubok. Maliban sa pag-aalaga sa kanilang anak na si Seve na mag- iisang taon na, abala si Toni sa kanyang TV shows at may tinatapos din silang pelikula ni Piolo Pascual, na pinamamahalaan ni Joyce Bernal. May binuksan din silang negosyo ng kanyang kapatid na si Alex na isang tea house, ang Happy Cup, na matatagpuan sa malapit sa ABS CBN.

ANGELI BEST ACTRESS SA CINEMALAYA 
Best actress si Angeli Bayani para sa pelikulang “Bagahe” sa 13th Cinemalaya Film Festival na ginanap noong August 13 sa CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. Tinalo niya sina Sharon Cuneta, (sa kanyang unang pagsabak sa indie films) na bida sa pelikulang Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha, Angel Aquino (Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig) at Anna Luna (Requited).
Ang iba pang nanalo:
Full Length Category
Best Film: Respeto
Best Director: Joseph Israel Laban (Baconaua)
Best Actor: Noel Comia, Jr. (Kiko Boksingero)
Best Supporting Actor: Dido Dela Paz (Respeto)
Best Supporting actress: Yayo Aguila (Kiko Boksingero)
Special Jury Prize: Baconaua
NETPAC Prize winner: Respeto
Short Film Category:
Best Film: Hilom
Best Director: Manong ng Pa-aling
Special Jury Prize: Fatima Marie Torres and The Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25

ARCI, USAP-USAPAN ANG PAGPAPARETOKE
Pinagpi-piyestahan sa social media ang mga larawan ni Arci Munoz, dahil ibang-iba na ang mukha niya ngayon. Halatang-halata na naiba ang ilong niya, at lalung-lalo na ang kanyang mga labi, na mas lalo pang pinakapal. Base sa mga luma niyang larawan, natural na maganda ang mukha ng actress/singer, pero habang tumatagal ay tila naiiba na ang kanyang anyo. Kung kani-kanino siya ikinukumpara dahil daw sa pagkahilig niya sa pagpaparetoke, kaya nakakamukha na niya ang ilong ni Gretchen Barretto, na naiba na rin kaysa sa dati. May mga nagpapayo sa kanya na tigilan na ang pagpaparetoke ng mukha dahil talagang nakaka-addict ito. May mga nagbibiro pa na baka matulad siya kay Michael Jackson, Imelda Papin o kay Madam Auring. Noon lamang Hunyo ay nag-deny pa si Arci na ipinaretoke niya ang kanyang mga labi, dahil kinakapalan lang daw niya ang paglagay ng lipstick, at sinasadyang lampas ang paglalagay nito sa natural na linya ng labi. Kapag tinangggal daw niya ang lipstick ay ganoon pa rin daw ang korte ng kanyang bibig. Minsan ay napikon si Arci at sinagot ang isa sa mga bashers niya na nagkomento ng “your lips look horrible”, kaya sinagot niya ito ng “and so is your face and your attitude!”.

BAYANI, TUMANGGI SA MTRCB
Hindi tinanggap ni Bayani Agbayani ang appointment niya bilang board member ng Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), na ibinibigay sa kanya noon pang nakaraang taon. Ang dahilan ay dahil puno raw ang kanyang schedule dahil sa showbiz projects niyang ginagawa na halos sabay-sabay. Ayaw din daw niyang masabihang sayang ang pinapasweldo sa kanya ng ng gobyerno kung hindi rin naman niya magagampanan ng tama ang kanyang trabaho. Kung tinanggap niya ang alok ay kailangan siyang mag-report sa MTRCB dalawang beses kada linggo, at limang oras bawat araw. Magaan kung tutuusin, pero ayaw niyang magkaroon ng problema kung sakaling masabay ito sa iba pa niyang trabaho. Sa ngayon ay tuloy-tuloy pa ang kanyang Kawasaki provincial tours, at may mga sitcom siyang ginagawa na kasama si Jodi Sta Maria, at mayroon din na kasama naman si Robin Padilla. Si Boy Abunda na ang nagma-manage sa showbiz career ni Bayani ngayon. Ang namayapang si Cornelia “Angge” Lee, ang una at matagal niyang naging manager.

Covers the period Aug. 16-3, 2017

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Makakaapekto sa kalusugan ang labis na pag-aalala sa nangyayaring gulo sa pamilya. Mag-isip mabuti upang mapigilan ang panganib na nakaamba sa iyo ngayon. Magandang impluwensya ang love affair mo na labis na nakapagbibigay sa iyo ng saya. May mga hindi magandang senyales sa pagkalusugan. Doblehin ang pag-iingat at umiwas na masobrahan sa lahat ng bagay, lalo na sa pagkain at ibang bisyo. Lucky numbers: 6, 15, 22 at 40.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Huwag mag-atubiling magsabi ng problema sa malalapit na kaibigan dahil matutulungan ka nila. Maganda ang pagbabago sa kalagayan sa trabaho, pero mag-ingat na magtiwala agad sa mga tao sa paligid mo. Pera ang ugat ng away sa malapit na kamag-anak, mag-ingat. Ibibigay mo ang lahat sa taong mahal mo, pero kapag nagka-problema, huwag kang magmukmok at sarilinin ang lahat ng hinagpis. Lucky numbers: 19, 21, 33 at 41.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Lahat halos ng bagay ay papabor sa iyo, ang mahalaga ay magamit ito ng tama kaya pag-ingatan ng husto. Aayon ang kapalaran para maabot mo ang iyong ambisyon at makilala ang iyong husay. Malaking tulong ang isang kaibigan o kaanak sa bigla mong pangangailangan. Sa kabila ng distansyang namamagitan sa inyo ng mahal mo, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa, sundin ang intuisyon mo na palaging tama. Lucky numbers: 7, 18, 36 at 44.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Mapapalawak mo pa ang iyong impluwensya at dadami pa ang mga kaibigan at kakilala. Huwag dibdidbin ang lahat ng bagay, sa konting pag-distansya ay mas makikita mo ang totoong larawan at ang lahat ay magiging maayos. Mahaharap sa problemang mahirap malutas; pakingggan ang nasa puso! Mahal mo ang iyong mga kaibigan, pero may minsan ay kailangang kalusin ang ilan, bago pa maapektuhan ang relasyon sa iba.  Lucky numbers: 11, 29, 31 at 42.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Tamang panahon na gumawa ng desisyon na base sa kutob mo at common sense. Manatiling positibo ang pananaw sa kabila ng mga problema dahil mabilis at kusa din itong maaayos. Sa mag-asawa, mas mauunawaan ninyo ang isa’t isa; maging malumanay sa pagsasalita at bigyan ng atensyon ang maliliit na bagay at malaki ang magagawa nito sa pagsasama. Bantayan din ang mga anak. Pahinga at regular na gawain ang magpapabalik sa iyong sigla.  Lucky numbers: 6, 14, 37 at 38.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Magiging inspirado kang kumilos at maniniwala ka sa kakayahan mo. Hindi mo mapigilan ang gumastos; mag-ingat dahil mahaharap sa malaking gastusin. Huwag gaanong alalahanin ang problema sa love life dahil kusa itong maayos ng ayon sa gusto mo. Nasa tamang direksyon ka upang magtagumpay at walang makakapigil sa iyo dahil sa determinasyon at kumpiyansa mo sa sarili, pero mag-ingat sa mga maiinggit.   Lucky numbers: 5, 17, 23 at 35.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Gawan ng paraan na baguhin ang sarili upang mawala ang pag-aatubili at nang masabi at mailabas ang nararamdaman, dahil inaasahan ito sa iyo. Malakas ang resistensya sa pisikal o sikolohikal na kalagayan. Maghahanap ka ng magmamahal sa iyo ng lubos, huwag nang lumayo pa dahil nasa tahanan mo lang ito. Bawasan ang pamimintas sa kapwa at sa lahat ng bagay. Siguraduhin din na ang pagyayabang ay hindi makakasira sa iyo at maging dahilan na layuan ka ng mga kaibigan. Lucky numbers: 16, 25, 37 at 44.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Mapapabilib mo ang mga kasamahan at mabibigyan ka ng dagdag na responsibilidad. Kailangang harapin ang kalaban mo, pero ikaw pa rin ang magwawagi. Mag-ingat sa sports na sinasalihan o kung nagmamaneho ng sasakyan. Huwag makuntento sa mga dating ideya, mag-isip ng bago! Sa pamilya, may nakakabahalang bagay na magaganap, at malinaw mong sasabihin ang nasa saloobin mo, kahit masakit ito sa iba, pero mabuti na ito upang luminaw ang sitwasyon.  Lucky number: 19, 20, 28 at 45.
AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Makakaasa ka sa pagiging prangka at tapat ng mga kaibigan. Pag-aralang mabuti ang mga naging desisyon mo na ipinaglaban mo ng husto. Sa trabaho, nasa rurok ang pagiging  malikhain mo kaya malaki ang tsansang makuha ang hinahangad na promosyon. May magiging problema sa pagsasama. Maging maingat ka sa  paghawak ng pera. Huwag bilhin ang bagay dahil magagamit, kundi dahil kailangan ito.   Lucky numbers: 20, 29, 31 at 45.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Alam mong makibagay sa lahat ng pagkakataon kaya malaki ang magiging ganansya mo dahil dito. Sa kalusugan, mababawi mo ng husto ang lakas at sigla mo kaya mawawala na ang dating kalungkutan at kawalan ng gana. Huwag tumiklop sa kaunting sagi sa iyong amor propyo; bawasan ang pagiging emosyonal. Gaya ng pader, dapat maging matibay ka upang ayusin ang bawa’t problemang dumarating sa pamilya.  Lucky numbers: 6, 15, 21 at 30.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Magkakaroon ng magandang pagbabago sa pinansyal na kalagayan dahil kikita ka sa papasukang transaksyon. Kung may karelasyon, kailangang ng seryosong pag-iisip at pag-uusap upang maging malinaw kung saan papunta ang relasyon. Kailangan mong gumawa ng importanteng desisyon agad; higit sa lahat, magpakita ng kabaitan at maging maingat. Pananakit ng ulo at migraine ang mararanasan, iwasan ang matataong lugar at maruming kapaligiran. Magpahinga.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Makakaramdam ng pagiging romantiko dahil sa nakalipas na alaala. Huwag nang buhayin ang nakaraang love affairs kung ayaw mong muling masaktan. Sa trabaho, huwag makisali sa away ng kasamahan. Problema sa pera ang ipag-aalala mo kaya kailangan ng mahigpit na pagtitipid.  Muli ay may lalapit para humingi ng tulong. Huwag nang umasang tatanawin itong utang na loob, pero hindi ito dahilan para ipagkait ang tulong. Lucky numbers: 6, 31, 32 at 44.

Maid jailed for 28 days for hitting 10-year-old ward

By Vir B. Lumicao

Eastern Court

A Filipina who was convicted of hitting her 10-year-old female ward for throwing a tantrum was sentenced to 28 days in jail at Eastern Court on Aug 11.

Emerolyne M. Labii was in tears as Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi read his verdict at the
conclusion of a three-day trial in which the court heard video-recorded evidence from the victim, the child’s grandmother, two police officers and the maid herself.

The magistrate said he found the child’s statement clear and reliable despite her age. In contrast, he said Labii’s evidence was not credible.

“The girl was only 10 years old, she was just a child when you assaulted her,” Cheng said, as he rejected the defense counsel’s plea for a suspended sentence. He said he adopted 28 days as a starting point for sentencing and imposed that jail term fully.

The magistrate acknowledged that the child suffered no permanent injuries, and had reached out to Labii to show that she still cared for the maid who looked after her for three years despite the incident.

Two elderly members of Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints were in court to show support for Labii, and testify to her good character. A letter from one said Labii spent practically all her Sundays off doing volunteer work for the church.

Also in court was Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who said after the verdict and sentencing that he may organize seminars on child care for Filipino domestic workers so they could avoid getting into a situation like Labii’s.

The case arose from an incident on March 6 this year when Labii admitted that she hit the girl, identified only as “X”, because she threw a tantrum after her grandmother resisted her plea not to leave the house.

In a video-recorded interview, the victim said the maid grabbed her shoulders with both hands and shook her continuously then hit her on the back. The girl also said the defendant hit her on the back and tummy and banged her head on the floor.

A medical report showed the girl suffered a bump on her head and marks on her stomach and back.

Labii, giving evidence, admitted she held the girl by the shoulders and pushed her, then slapped her twice on the back because she shouted at her as she was putting the child’s swimsuit in her bag.

“That attitude so upset me that I grabbed her shoulders, pushed her just once and when she turned her back to me, I slapped her twice on her back,” Labii said from the witness stand in response to the defense lawyer’s question.

The helper said the victim was naughty and prone to throwing tantrums. “I wanted to stop her bad attitude,” Labii said. But she said she did not want to hurt X because she loved the child and was sorry she lost control of herself that afternoon.

But the helper denied banging the victim’s head on the floor, and suggested the girl acquired the bump when she was rolling on the floor during her tantrum. She said the girl was good at telling lies even to her parents.

Before the helper gave evidence, two police officers took turns on the witness stand on Aug 10 as they answered questions from the defense and prosecution.

The first officer who responded to the call about the assault said he did not write down the child’s statements but noted them and wrote his report afterwards. The witness said the victim had a mild swelling on the top of her head. But he said did not check for other injuries “because she was a girl”.

The second officer, who was ordered to investigate the case the following morning, said he went to Eastern Hospital where the child was taken by the police team that responded to the 999 call. He confirmed the victim had indeed suffered injuries.

In reaching his verdict, the magistrate said the helper had admitted slapping the victim, notwithstanding her claim that she used the wrong word “hit” instead of “slap” in her cautioned statement.

He added that he had doubts in the maid’s version of the incident, while in contrast, the child’s evidence was clear and reliable. He accepted the victim’s evidence and convicted Labii.

Pinay’s body still in China

Lorain Asuncion

The repatriation of the remains of Lorain Asuncion, a Hong Kong-based domestic helper who fell to her death on July 24 in Shenzhen while joining her employers on a trip to China, remains uncertain more than two weeks after the tragedy.

According to the victim’s sister, Shenzhen police were expected to conduct an autopsy on the remains on Aug 11 or Aug 14.

This was after their parents sent a special power of attorney to the assistance to nationals section of the Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou authorizing it to request an autopsy by the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau.

Asuncion’s employer met with ATN officers of the Consulate, but details of the talks are being kept confidential.

Asuncion’s sister Jenevieve A. Javier, who flew into Hong Kong on July 30 and went to see the victim’s body in Shenzhen the next day, told The SUN that the employer had refused to meet her.

“He does not want to talk to me face to face, saying he was also a victim of the incident and that this is not the right time for us to meet up,” Javier said.

“Ayaw nila talagang makipag-usap, ewan ko kung bakit. Di man lang sila gumawa ng effort para makipag-usap. Kami pa ang nag-i-insist na makipagkita,” she added.

Relatives of Asuncion have been asking for an autopsy to find out the real cause of the OFW’s death.

“We just want to know the truth so that my sister will get justice,” Javier said. She was hoping to accompany her sister’s body home, unaware that the release process in China would take some time. She was due to return home without accomplishing her mission so she could report back to work.

Meanwhile, Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office had blacklisted Asuncion’s employers, a move that would prevent them from hiring any domestic worker from the Philippines in future. - VBL

Labatt takes up OFW’s fight for compensation under mandatory insurance scheme

By Daisy CL Mandap

Labatt dela Torre

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre has fired off an angry letter to an insurance broker in Manila which rejected a migrant worker’s claim for subsistence allowance under the mandatory insurance law in the Philippines, saying she should have filed it while her case against her employer was ongoing.

Labatt dela Torre sent out the letter dated Aug 13 to PAMIOFW Management Service and Insurance Intermediaries, Inc., taking it to task for rejecting the claim of Mariel F. Tadalan, who recently won a labour case she filed against her Hong Kong employer.

Tadalan, 36, was terminated on Apr 4 this year and was awarded her full claim of $5,568 against her employer on July 7 at Hong Kong’s Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board.

Under Sec 37-A(e) of R.A.10022 or the Migrant Workers Act, she should also have been entitled to a total amount of at least US$300 as subsistence allowance from her Philippine insurer over the three months that she was fighting her labor case in Hong Kong.

On the advice of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office which also certified that she was involved in litigation with her former employer, she filed a claim for subsistence allowance against PAMIOFW. However, the broker turned it down on Aug. 11.

“Please be informed that subsistence allowances (sic) are given if an OFW has an ongoing case or litigation abroad,” said the broker’s letter addressed to Tadalan’s Philippine agency, Angelex Allied Agency. “The insurance company must be notified from the time the case was docketed or from the time that there is a case preceding. In the case of Tadalan the claim was filed to us after it was settled.”

Labatt dela Torre called the response “unprecedented and makes no sense”.

He added, “The reason for the benefit is to afford the worker some kind of temporary relief which can bridge her over some difficult times while the case is pending. It is not diminished by the fact that the case had already been settled or had been resolved in favor of either worker or employer.”

He also noted that the law was still unknown to many migrant workers as it has not been fully disseminated, and so they were unlikely to file a claim as soon as they take their employers to court.

Still, he said, “There is nothing in the law nor its implementing regulations, which requires the worker to file their claim while the case is pending or while the case has not been settled yet. To impose a requirement that is not called for by the law nor its implementing rules is egregious and must not be tolerated”.

Under Section 37-A (e) of RA 10022, a subsistence allowance of at least US$100 per month for a maximum period of six months is payable to a migrant worker “who is involved in a case of litigation for the protection of his/her rights in the receiving country”.

The only other requirement is that the labor attache, or in his absence, an embassy or consular official, issues a certification stating the name of the case and parties, and the nature of the cause of action of the migrant worker.

Sec 37 of RA 10022 also provides other benefits due a migrant worker covered by mandatory insurance, including:
1) Payout of at least US$15,000 in case of the worker’s accidental death;
2) At least US$7,500 compensation in case of the worker’s permanent total disability;
3) Repatriation cost of the worker whose contract is prematurely terminated without valid cause, including the transport of his/her belongings. In case of death, the insurer should pay for the cost of repatriating the worker’s remains;
4) Money claims arising from the employer’s liability which may be awarded to a worker in a settlement of his/her claim with the NLRC. The insurance coverage for money claims shall be at least 3 months for every year of the migrant worker’s contract;
5) Transportation cost for the compassionate visit of a family member to a worker who gets hospitalized abroad for at least seven days;
6) Medical evacuation or medical repatriation of a sick OFW under certain conditions.

A lawyer consulted by The SUN regarding Tadalan’s claim said her insurer must have rejected her claim, thinking it could set a precedent for many similar cases as not a lot of workers seem to be aware of their benefits under RA 10022.

The insurance company might also have banked on the possibility that the migrant worker would just abandon the claim for lack of time or resources.

But the legal expert said that an insurance company that refuses to pay a lawful claim could be blacklisted, or even have its license revoked.

Filipina jailed 28 days for hitting 10-year-old ward

Eastern Court where Labii was sentenced

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina who was convicted of hitting her 10-year-old female ward for throwing a tantrum was sentenced to 28 days in jail at Eastern Court on Aug 11.

Emerolyne M. Labii was in tears as Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi read his verdict at the  conclusion of a three-day trial in which the court heard video-recorded evidence from the

victim, the child’s grandmother, two police officers and the maid herself.

The magistrate said he found the child’s statement clear and reliable despite her age. In contrast, he said Labii was not credible.

“The girl was only 10 years old, she was just a child when you assaulted her,” Cheng said, as he rejected the defense counsel’s plea for a suspended sentence. He said he adopted 28 days as a starting point for sentencing and imposed that jail term fully.

The magistrate acknowledged that the child suffered no permanent injuries, and had reached out to Labii after the incident to show that she still cared for the maid who looked after her for three years.

Two elderly members of Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints were in court to show support for Labii, and testify to her good character. A letter from one said Labii spent practically all her Sundays off doing volunteer work for the church.

Also in court was Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who said after the verdict and sentencing that he may organize seminars on child care for Filipino domestic workers so they could avoid getting into a situation like Labii’s.

The case arose from an incident on March 6 this year when Labii admitted that she hit the girl, identified only as “X”, because she threw a tantrum after her grandmother resisted her plea not to leave the house.

In a video-recorded interview, the victim said the maid grabbed her shoulders with both hands and shook her continuously before hitting her on the back. The girl also said the maid hit her on the back and tummy and banged her head on the floor.

A medical report showed the girl suffered a bump on her head and marks on her stomach and back.

Labii, giving evidence, admitted she held the girl by the shoulders and pushed her, then slapped her twice on the back because she shouted at her as she was putting the child’s swimsuit in her bag.

“That attitude so upset me that I grabbed her shoulders, pushed her just once and when she turned her back to me, I slapped her twice on her back,” Labii said from the witness stand in response to the defense lawyer’s question. 

The helper said the victim was naughty and prone to throwing tantrums. “I wanted to stop her bad attitude,” Labii said. But she said she did not want to hurt the girl whom she loved, and was sorry she lost control of herself that afternoon.

But the helper denied banging the victim’s head on the floor, and suggested the girl acquired the bump when she was rolling on the floor during her tantrum. She said the girl was good at telling lies even to her parents.

Before the helper gave evidence, two police officers took turns on the witness stand. 

The first officer who responded to the call about the assault said he did not write down the child’s statements but noted them and wrote his report afterwards. He said the victim had a mild swelling on the top of her head but did not check for other injuries “because she was a girl”.

The second officer who was ordered to investigate the case the following morning, said

he went to Eastern Hospital where the child was taken by the police team that responded to the 999 call. He confirmed the child’s injuries.  

In reaching his verdict, the magistrate said the helper had admitted slapping the victim, notwithstanding her claim that she used the wrong word “hit” instead of “slap” in her cautioned statement.

He added that he had doubts in the maid’s version of the incident, while in contrast, the child’s evidence was clear and reliable. He also said that the Filipina had shown no remorse for what she did.

Read The SUN's latest issue:

Desserts in a hurry

By Jo Campos

Stressed because of some unexpected guests? Why not spell the word “stressed” backwards so you get - “desserts”!

A good dessert does not need to be too complicated to make. There are several ways of doing them which do not require an oven or spend a couple of hours of preparation.
Here are a few desserts recipes I have tried, all of which incorporate fruits in the ingredients for a healthier treat  They’re perfect for kids and grown-ups alike, esoecially during these hot summer days.

Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

INGREDIENTS
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
16 oz. cool whip
16 oz. strawberries, sliced
2 ripe bananas, sliced
12 oz. raspberries
3 tbsp. crushed graham crackers


DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in Cool Whip until combined.
2. Fold in strawberries, bananas, and raspberries. Transfer to serving bowl and sprinkle top with graham cracker crumbs

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites

INGREDIENTS
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
2 tsp. coconut oil
2 bananas, sliced into 1" rounds
Flaky sea salt

DIRECTIONS
1. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, heat chocolate in 30-second intervals until melted. Heat peanut butter for 15 seconds in microwave until runny.
3. In a medium bowl, mix chocolate and coconut oil until combined.
4. Into small baking cups, add teaspoon scoops of chocolate. Top with a slice of banana, a teaspoon-sized scoop of peanut butter, and another scoop of chocolate. Repeat until you have used all your banana slices. Top with a pinch of sea salt.
5. Place tray in freezer for 2 hours, or until frozen. Serve.

Banana Pudding Pops

Banana Pudding Pops

INGREDIENTS
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/3 cup cold milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 large bananas, thinly sliced
2 cup crushed vanilla wafers

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine vanilla pudding mix, milk and sweetened condensed milk and whisk until smooth. Stir occasionally until the pudding has thickened, about 5 minutes.
2. Place a banana slice on the bottom of each Dixie cup. Top with a big spoonful of pudding mixture. Place a couple more banana slices on top, then sprinkle crushed vanilla wafers on top. Top with more pudding to fill the cup completely, then sprinkle with more wafers.
3. Freeze until solid, at least 5 hours and up to overnight

Skinny Mini Watermelon Cakes

Skinny Mini Watermelon Cakes

INGREDIENTS
1 small watermelon
2 cups cool whip
Rainbow candy sprinkles, for garnish

DIRECTIONS
1. Using a chef’s knife, slice a small portion of the watermelon rind off. Use the flat edge to stabilize the watermelon on a cutting board. Slice the watermelon in 2" thick slices.
2. Using a 3" biscuit cutter, cut small rounds out of the slices of watermelon. Place a dollop of Cool Whip onto each round and sprinkle with candy rainbow sprinkles. Serve.

HK hikes a botanical field trip

By Vir B. Lumicao

Hiking on Hong Kong trails can be an educational field trip for a botany student, and a rewarding outing for a nature tripper, whatever time of the year.

Ripe pod of Asian Oak on Mount
Parker Road in Quarry Bay.

So wide is the biodiversity in a city as small as this former British territory, that there are plants or animals a hiker may encounter in the rugged hills of Tai Po but cannot be seen on the mountains of Lantau.

But then there is a species of African violets that grows on the mossy slopes of Pak Tai To Yan in Fanling that has close relatives on a moist rocky hillside on Victoria Peak as well as on the higher reaches of Mount Parker.

A steady stream of local and visiting hikers are almost always greeted by the mountain’s flora and a few of its less shy fauna like the rhesus macaques (a monkey species) which become aggressive when they sense food or threat to their young; as well as bees, birds or butterflies.

Once, during an early morning hike on a hill in Po Lam, I almost stepped on a two-feet-long green viper waving its pink tail like a rattler as I was going up a secondary trail. I was nimble enough to hop aside and avoid a likely bite.

White Queen's Wreath on Mt Butler. 

Up the rocky trail on the eastern flank of Lion Rock from Old Shatin Pass, white magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) bloom from February to around April, attracting thousands of honeybees that gather nectar for their breeding season in summer.

I did not notice the bees one Saturday in early April when I and a handful of OFW friends climbed Lion Rock from the Tsz Wan Shan side of the mountain.

Then the buzzing became audible at an elevation of about 350 meters, where the forest cover thinned and was replaced by a carpet of white magnolias and budding rhododendrons growing in crevices of granite boulders.

So attractive were the firm white petals forming a whorl around the yellow pistils that the bees pervaded that part of Lion Rock. But the scene could be entirely different when the pollinated blossoms wither and fall off the stems after mid-April.

Hong Kong trails can come up with surprises to both the ordinary hiker and the avid botanist.

The Birdwood's Mucuna 

On the Bride’s Pool Nature Trail in Tai Po on May 1, for instance, I came across a vine strung above a rocky, sleepy stream that displayed a bunting of green, furry giant pods just meters away from a concrete bridge across the waterway.

It was my first encounter with a Birdwood’s Mucuna, a rare angiosperm which we inhabitants of the forest region of Luzon called “lipay”.

In my primary school days, we used to play lipay shooting games where we lined up the dried mucuna seeds on the ground and flicked them with a “pamato” from a mother seed. A player won all the seeds that he felled in one shot.

Chinese Rhododendron. 

The lipay seeds have now been replaced by electronic gadgets that children play with during recess, depriving the seed gatherer from the jungle of his seasonal income.

Another mountain surprise was the white trumpet lily, which I found swaying in the wind around the peak of Pak Tai To Yan in November last year, when I went hiking with a friend on the Fanling section of the MacLehose Trail. The lily grew up about 10 feet, towering above the vegetation around it ostensibly to reach up for sunlight, an awesome feat as the plant normally has soft stalks when found in the lowlands.

Aside from the endemic Rhododendrons and Melastoma, tiny jewels abound on Hong Kong trails: a wide variety of chrysanthemums, daisies, dandelions and ground orchids, as well as a tapestry of inflorescent reeds, shrubs and trees that drape the hillsides season after season.

Is it really more fun to be rich?

By Francisco J. Colayco

We have to admit that when you have a lot of money you can buy the more expensive cars, houses, clothes etc.  You can also travel more to see a lot of places in the country and the rest of the world.  You can also have more chances of meeting interesting people.  You can eat out more often and go to amusement places to have fun.  You also feel great because you are more secure.

But will the money of the rich last forever?  It may,  but again, it may not.  It all depends on how they manage it.

Guess what…the richer you are, the more difficult time you may have managing your money.  Sure, you could have advisors from all over to help you but conflicting considerations are not easy to resolve, particularly because wrong decisions could result in heavy losses.  The most difficult responsibility of making the final decision is always yours.  The rich who are able to maintain or grow their riches do a lot of studying and reading to accomplish that. They focus on managing risks more than planning to achieve their expected profits. The amounts they invest are substantial and while their profit potential can be big, they also carry substantial and widespread risks.

This is the sad part for those who win big in lotteries.  Most do not have personal financial education so their winnings are quickly lost.

The rich who are enlightened also spend carefully.  Those who wantonly throw away their money eventually end up in the poor house.  Worse, they give  very bad examples to their children who will most likely end up like them.  If they do not experience being poor in their lifetime, there are real possibilities that their children or grandchildren will.

The enlightened rich also know how to share their wealth.  As stated in the Bible, “To whom much is given, much is expected.”   And those who share receive so much more in return.

What do all these tell you?  That it is good to admire the rich who make their money grow so they can share some of it. You should want to follow their good example.

As long as you have a job and you can put aside regular savings, you will be able to follow the path of the rich.  I keep repeating that you can be rich but of course the meaning of rich is different for each person. Whatever your definition is, you first have to learn how to save and make your savings grow. Your real opportunity is to start saving and investing now. Time is of the essence!  Time is your biggest ally in growing your wealth.  Investing regularly over time will compound your savings.  Consider this example of how starting with a small amount can make a real difference in your life: Saving Php10 a day or Php300 a month invested at an average annual rate of 12% for 20 years will grow to PhP273,400, or almost 4 times more than the total amount of PhP72,000 you will have saved over 20 years.  Saving three times this amount, or just thirty pesos a day, will give you close to a million pesos over the same period.  Yes, an average of 12% over 20 years is still possible.

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Learn more from www.colaycofinancialeducation.com.  Note that this website will evolve into an updated one in the coming month.  Watch out for it. Francisco J. Colayco is an entrepreneur, a venture developer and financial advisor.  He is the Author of Seven Bestsellers in the Pera Palaguin Series, the latest of which is now available in bookstores:  “Wealth Reached. Money Worked. Pera Mo, Pinalago Mo!” Find his works and catch him on TV and radio.  Check out: www.colaycofinancialeducation.com, www.franciscocolayco.com, www.kskcoop.com, FaceBook and Instagram.

Bakit nilalangaw?

Nakababahala ang mala-desperadong pag-alok ng mga taga-Consulado ng tiket para sa  isang pagtatanghal kailan lang. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na halos isang linggo na lang ay saka sila magkukumahog na mamigay ng tiket, samantalang buwan ang ginawang preparasyon para sa  mga palabas na ito.

Kaya gaya ng nangyari sa nakaraang palabas sa isang malaking coliseum, na ginastusan ng malaki hindi lang sa costumes kundi sa produksiyon din, hindi kami magugulat  kung marami sa upuan ay bakante.

Kahit libre ang tiket.

Ang masakit ay nasasayang ang ginugol na malaking halaga at hirap sa pagtatanghal na ito, na noong mabuo ay naghihikahos sa manonood para masulit lahat.

Hindi mo masasabing iniwasan ng madla dahil pangit.

Hindi mo masasabing salat ito sa promotion dahil pinag-uusapan sa Facebook at sa mga tambayang OFW.

Hindi rin ito komersiyal, kaya hindi mo masasabing may pakay lang na magbenta ang mga nagtatanghal nito — na nagtataboy ng mga taong suspisyoso.

Hindi rin ito pakulo lang ng mga gustong magpasikat, dahil nasa likod nito ang gobyerno ng Hong Kong at iba pang respetadong organisasyon at kumpanya.

Ang kulang lang talaga —ang kaisa-isang tanong na hindi basta-basta masagot hanggang sa huling sandali — ay: Nasaan ang tiket?

Hindi natin masisisi ang mga taga-Konsulado kung wala silang kontrol sa mga tiket. Pero kung hinihingi ang tulong nila upang mapuno ang mga upuan sa mga ganitong pagtatanghal, dapat nilang idiin sa mga nag-organisa na hindi katanggap-tanggap ang tratong ito sa kanila. Ang paglalako ng tiket na ilang araw lang ang palugit ay pag-iimbita ng kabiguan.

Ang mga taong manonood na kailangan nilang maabutan ng tiket ay isang araw lang tuwing linggo kung lumabas. Kung sa mismong araw ng pagtatanghal lang nila makukuha ang tiket, kung kailan may ibang plano na sila sa araw na iyon, malamang mawalan sila ng interes.

Bakit din naman susuong sa gulo sa kuhanan ng tiket? Madaling tumalikod kung mahaba ang pila. Madaling bawiin ang suporta kung mapagtanto rin nilang hindi pala sila binigyan ng halaga.

Ang kuwento ni Mariel

Ni Mariel F. Tadalan

Akala ko sa paglipat ko sa Hong Kong ay mas gaganda ang aking buhay bilang OFW, hindi pala.

Sanay na ako sa hirap, dahil dati na akong nagtrabaho bilang kasambahay sa Dubai ng dalawang taon, at sa Doha, Qatar ng mahigit limang taon.

Hindi rin maalwan ang buhay na kinalakhan ko sa bayan ng Dipaculao, probinsiya ng Aurora. Panglima ako sa anim na magkakapatid at para maituloy ko ang aking pag-aaral sa kolehiyo ay namasukan ako bilang kasambahay. Pero napilitan akong huminto nang ayaw na akong pag-aralin ng aking amo. Namasukan ako sa iba-ibang kumpanya, ngunit dahil wala akong makuhang permanenteng trabaho ay naisipan kong mangibang bansa.

Maliban sa aking mga magulang at kapatid pansamantalang iniwan ko din ang aking kasintahan.

Una akong nagtrabaho sa Dubai noong taong 2008, at tumagal ako ng dalawang taon. Hindi naging madali ang buhay ko doon. Oo, kumikita ako pero kasabay noon ang matinding lungkot at pagod. Nandoon iyong sinisigawan ako sa maliit na pagkakamali, at hindi ako nakaranas na mag day off o gumamit ng cellphone.

Ngunit kahit na isang beses sa isang buwan lang ako nakakatawag sa aking mga mahal sa buhay ay napapawi din ang lungkot ko, hindi na bale na sa bawat tawag ko ay nagtatanong sila tungkol sa aking padala. Ang mahalaga ay nakakatulong ako sa kanila.

Lumipas ang mga buwan at taon, at matatapos ko na ang kontrata ko. Excited akong umuwi, pero sa hindi inaasahang trahedya ay nabaril ang aking kapatid at muli, ako lang ang inaasahan ng pamilya ko na sumagot sa gastos. Wala akong nagawa kundi ipadala ang natitira kung ipon para pambayad sa ospital at pampaopera para makuha ang bala sa katawan ng kapatid ko.

Ang mas malungkot ay nasabay pa ito sa paghihiwalay namin ng boyfriend ko.

Mahirap magtrabaho bilang OFW pero labis na mahirap magtrabaho kung durog ang puso. Gayunpaman, kailangan kong magpakatatag para sa aking pamilya dahil ako lang inaasahan nila.

Dumating ang takdang oras ng aking pag-uwi sa Pilipinas, pero dahil wala na akong ipon ay nakagsapalaran na naman ako sa Doha, Qatar.

Panibagong lungkot, pagod, puyat at hirap ang tiniis ko, ngunit nakatagal ako ng limang taon sa paninilbihan sa aking mga amo. Hindi biro-birong mura at insulto ang inabot ko sa loob ng pitong taon kong paninilbihan, ngunit tiniis kong lahat. Marami akong mga pagsubok na dinaanan na umabot pa sa puntong gusto ko nang isuko ang katawan at isipan ko.

Ngunit muli ay nagkaroon ng matinding pangangailangan ang aming pamilya. Naospital ang papa ko at kinailangan kong magpadala ng malaking pera para sa kanyang mga gamot at gastos sa ospital.

Dito ko naisipan ang payo ng aking auntie at isang kaibigan sa Hong Kong na lumipat dito dahil mas maganda ang buhay at mas malaki ang sahod.

Hindi ko sulat aklain na mas masahol pa pala sa pinagdaanan ko ang magiging karanasan ko dto sa Hong Kong.

Enero 20, 2017  ika-6 ng hapon nang  dumating ako sa amo ko na walang tulog dahil delayed ang aking flight mula sa Pilipinas.

Unang araw ko pa lang sa amo ko ay pinakain na ako ng tira-tira nilang pagkain. Walang oras ang aking pagkain, pero apat na oras lang ang aking tulog sa bawat araw. Kailangang magising ako ng alas sais ng umaga, at magtrabaho hanggang alas dos ng madaling araw kinabukasan. Pati ang pagkain ko ay kailangang matapos sa loob ng limang minuto, at balik ako agad sa trabaho.

Malimit din akong alipustain, lalo ng amo kong babae. Nandoon yong sabihan ako na bobo, walang utak, baboy, at iba pang masasamang salita. Wala akong magawa kundi umiyak, magdasal at magtiis.

Lumipas ang mga araw at linggo na palagi kong sinasabi sa sarili na magbabago din ang pakikitungo nila sa akin. Pagsubok lang ang lahat ng ito, at kakayanin ko para sa pamilya ko.

Mabilis na lumipas ang isang buwan. Nitong Marso 1 ng kasalukuyang taon, araw ng aking day-ay tumawag muna off ay tumawag muna ako sa aking mga amo para alamin kung nasa bahay na sila dahil hindi nila ako binibigyan ng susi. Pagdating sa bahay ay ginulat ako ng malakas na pagsisigaw ng aking among babae. Bakit pa daw ako bumalik sa bahay nila e wala naman akong kuwentang katulong. Baboy daw ako at palamunin lang dahil hindi ko magampanan nang maayos ang trabaho ko. Sinabihan niya ako na bago ako matulog ay kailangan ko munang linisin ang buong bahay at maghugas ng pinggan at iligpit ang lahat ng kalat.

Natapos ako ng mga bandang alas dos ng madaling araw, ngunit nang naghahanda na akong matulog ay biglang pumasok sa kuwarto ang aking amo at sinabing kailangan kong linisin muli ang sahig dahil marumi pa. Nang makiusap ako na kung puwede ay ipagpabukas na lang ito dahil wala na akong lakas ay nagalit siya, at sinabing paparusahan ako dahil matigas ang ulo ko. Ang ginawa niyang parusa ay pinatulog ako sa kanilang terrace sa labas, kahit na ang lamig-lamig ng mga panahong iyon. Bandang alas tres na noon ng madaling aras, at kailangan kong gumising ulit ng alas sais dahil may pasok ang alaga ko. Natulog akong umiiyak, at  ang tanging isip ay kung bakit may mga taong ganito kasama.

Hindi pa rin nagbago ang pakikitungo sa akin ng aking amo sa mga sumunod na araw, pero nagtiis akong muli. Noong Marso 12, bandang alas dos ng hapon ay humingi ako ng pagkain sa aking amo dahil hindi pa ako nag almusal at tanghalian. Pero nagalit siya, at ang sabi ay hindi ako maaaring kumain ng hindi natatapos ang aking trabaho.

Umalis siya ng bahay, at bandang 3:30pm ay dumating ang amo kong lalaki at aking alaga na dala ang pananghalian ko. Dahil gusto kong matapos na ang trabaho ko ay itinabi ko muna ang pagkain. Pagkatapos ko ay pinainit ko ito sa microwave. Siya namang pagbalik ng amo kong babae at pasigaw na tinanong kung bakit noon lang ako kakain. Hinablot niya ang pagkain, sabay sabi na kung kailan niya ako gustong kumain ay doon ako kakain. Ibinato niya sa basurahan ang pagkain ay inutisan ako na damputin ko at kainin ko.  Pero hindi ko siya sinunod at sinabing hindi ako hayop para pakainin ng nasa basurahan. Sa galit niya sa sinabi ko ay dinuraan niya ako at minura-mura. Tanging iyak na lang ang aking nagawa.

Pero dahil gutom pa rin ako ay kumuha ako ng tubig sa baso para inumin.  Lalo siyang nagalit at hinablot ang baso, bago ibinato niya malapit sa paa ko. Kung hindi ako nakatalon ay malamang na natamaan ako at nasugat.

Naisip ko noon na sa buong buhay ko ay noon lang ako nagkaroon ng ganoon kasing samang amo.

(Itutuloy)

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Ang salaysay na ito ay mula kay Mariel F. Tadalan, isang domestic worker na kailan lang ay nanalo sa kasong isinampa niya laban sa kanyang amo sa Minor Claims Adjudication Board (Mecab) ng Hong Kong Labour Department. Ayon sa Mecab, nararapat lang na bayaran ng amo ng isang buwang sahod kapalit ng di pagbibigay ng abiso si Mariel, dahil sa pang-aabusong sinapit nito sa kamay ng among babae. Ang pagpapatulog sa Pilipina sa labas ng bahay at iba pang hindi makatarungang pagtrato dito ay nangahulugan na ang amo ang pumutol sa kanilang kontrata, kaya dapat siyang magbayad. Pinayagan ng Immigration si Mariel na manatili sa Hong Kong habang pinoproseso ang kontrata sa kanyang bagong amo.  Ito ay matapos ipakita ni Mariel ang mga litrato, video at iba pang ebidensya ng mga ginawang pang-aabuso sa kanya ng dating amo. -ed)

False promises

By Daisy C.L. Mandap

Overseas Filipino workers will be the first to say how frustrating it has been to rely on government promises to improve their lot.

Proof of this was the government’s announcement that the new OFW ID, also known as iDOLE, would not be given free as promised, but would actually cost several times more than the much-maligned OEC which it’s meant to replace.

The shock announcement came barely two months after Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello assured militant OFW leaders in Hong Kong that the ID would not cost anything as it was a gift from President Rodrigo Duterte.

Secretary Bello also said that the distribution of the cards would begin at the end of the month, or July 31.

He reiterated these promises at a press conference on July 4 in Manila.

Then came the ID’s launch in Malacanang on July 12, and the story was drastically changed, enraging OFW leaders.

An official press statement said the ID was not actually free but would be charged to employers, with recruitment agencies acting as some sort of a guarantor to ensure that the fee is not passed on to the workers.

Hong Kong OFWs who were told a different story by Secretary Bello were understandably irked, calling the introduction of the ID as just another ploy to skim money off them.

But in yet another twist to the story, Bello later reiterated in an interview with social media practitioner Mocha Uson that the ID was indeed free, and that reports saying otherwise were all “tsismis”.

Incensed OFW leaders were not, however, impressed by the flip-flop and have vowed to protest any move to turn the ID into another money-making imposition.

Which could be just as as well, since the OEC itself had been the subject of another government gaffe earlier.

Shortly after the new administration took power, labor officials led by Bello revealed that the OEC was being scrapped under new POEA guidelines, in response to a long-standing call by OFWs.

But hardly had the ink dried on the new POEA rules when a clarification was made- the OEC was actually not being scrapped, but OFWs could apply to be exempted from it by enroling with BMOnline.

To this day, it remains unclear why the OEC is still there when all OFWs are technically exempt from obtaining it.

Comes now the latest mind-boggling requirements imposed on Filipinos abroad who want to send goodies back home using balikbayan boxes. While Customs officials say that the new rules are being enforced to extend a privilege to overseas Filipinos, the impositions suggest otherwise.

The idea originally was to raise the maximum value of the goods allowed to be sent home by Filipinos living abroad, and to stop customs from arbitrarily opening the boxes. Given the difficulty of harmonizing these two conditions, Customs inevitably came up with such bizarre rules as requiring receipts for newly bought items, and making senders  put down a price for each article.

The end result, obviously, is that the sender feels less privileged now than when the old rules were in place.

Given all these, the government should get its act together, and be more upfront with its plans. It’s time our long-suffering OFWs got the just rewards long promised them.

Pinoy resident gets 36 months for car shop theft

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipino permanent resident of Hong Kong was convicted and jailed for a total of 36 months on Jul 25 after he pleaded to two charges of theft, one of taking conveyance without authority, and another for burglary.

District Court in Wanchai.

Fredwell Ramos Jr, 38, and married with two children, showed no emotion as Deputy District Court Judge Ernest Lin announced the sentence.

The proceedings were conducted in Cantonese as the defendant spoke and understood the local language because he was born and raised in Hong Kong, the prosecutor said after the hearing.

Ramos was arrested on Sept 22 last year in Yaumatei, after a month-long hunt by the police following a burglary and theft incident at a second-hand car shop in Tsimshatsui.

The prosecutor said he was seen on a CCTV footage entering the shop on Aug 18, 2016, and taking an unspecified amount of cash, and two keys to a company car that were kept in a can.

Three days later, the defendant went to the public parking lot in Tsimshatsui where the company parked its car and the second-hand cars for sale.

He opened the company car and drove away with it.

On Aug 30, the car was recovered in a public carpark in Yaumatei, after a guard reported to police that it had been abandoned there for several days.

When the shop manager checked the vehicle, he discovered that 22 car keys he kept in a can under the driver’s seat were missing.

The prosecutor said Ramos had 12 previous convictions for theft and two for burglary.

On Jan 22 this year, he broke into the manager’s room in a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet in Whampoa Garden, Hung Hom, and stole one laptop computer, a bracelet, $1,000 cash and other personal belongings, the prosecutor said.

Only the computer was recovered.

The prosecutor noted that he carried out the burglary while he was out on bail for the car company theft.

Labour urged to flex muscles vs missing recruiter

By Vir B. Lumicao

Ester Ylagan

Supporters of the more than 300 OFWs allegedly duped by employment agency owner Ester Ylagan have urged Labour Department lawyers to take a tougher tack against the elusive recruiter.

The call came as the owner of Mike’s Secretarial Services failed to appear on Jul 17 in Eastern Court, where she faces 23 charges of overcharging in connection with the alleged job scam in 2016.

Her absence led the prosecution to apply for another adjournment until Oct 20 for further legal advice and to find Ylagan’s new address.

Ylagan faces charges of “collecting payment other than the prescribed commission” after collecting $10,000 to $15,000 each from hundreds of Hong Kong-based applicants  for promised jobs in Britain and Canada.

The postponement was met with frustration by supporters of the complainants against Ylagan, led by Edwina Antonio of the Mission for Migrant Workers.

Antonio told labour prosecutor Gary Tsang that Ylagan had not shown up in any of the hearings of cases filed against her at the Small Claims Tribunal and the District Court.

Antonio is representing more than 100 complainants in both courts.

Tsang was also told that court notices sent to Ylagan at all of her addresses in Hong Kong had bounced.

This has caused the District Court registrar to advise the complainants to take every legal means available to pursue their claims.  Acting on the advice, the claimants had gone back to the Central police station to press their complaint against Ylagan.

At the same time, the claimants sought help from the Philippine Consulate to track down Ylagan, who has reportedly fled to Manila when the cases against her began to surface.

Antonio told Tsang that 129 cases against Ylagan were pending in the District Court while 73 others are set to be heard in Small Claims on Aug 28.

Two labour prosecutors were at Eastern court for the cases against Ylagan and Mike's and stayed until the hearings were adjourned in the morning in a vain attempt to face the accused.

For at least four times, the prosecutors and the court's clerk went around the courtroom calling out Ylagan’s name, but failed to get any response.

The court bunched the cases against Ylagan and heard them last before agreeing on the postponement.

Meanwhile, the District Court Registrar has ordered plaintiff Mary Grace Redulfin and defendant Ylagan to write the court on or before Aug 4 explaining their absence in a hearing on July 7.

Ho also directed Refulfin to confirm whether she intended to continue with the claim against Ylagan, and for Ylagan to confirm whether she intended to defend herself.

If both parties decide to continue, they must follow certain court procedures and appear for another hearing on Oct 13.

Pinakain ng bagoong ang alaga

Takot ang bumalot kay Ana nang minsang madatnan siya ng kanyang among Canadian na pinapakain niya ng bagoong ang alagang walong taong gulang. Sanggol pa lang ito nang dumating siya sa mga amo at siya na ang nagpalaki dito kaya malapit sila sa isa’t isa.

Mabait ang kanyang mga amo at kapamilya na rin ang turing sa kanya kaya libre siyang nakakapagluto ng sarili niyang pagkain kahit nasa bahay ang mga ito.

Minsan ay may nagpadala sa kanya ng bagoong na ginisa sa baboy at hipon. Kahit takam na takam na ay itinago muna niya sa refrigerator dahil alam niyang matapang ang amoy nito at baka hindi magustuhan ng mga amo.

Saka lang niya ito inilabas at ininit nung kakain na siya ng tanghalian mag-isa. Ang kaso ay nakita siya ng alaga at sumalo ito sa kanya. Nilantakan ng bata ang bagoong at ang sabi pa ay, “very yummy, auntie”.

Hindi inaasahan ni Ana ang biglang pagdating ng kanyang among babaeng habang ang kanilang bahay ay nangangamoy pa ng bagoong.

Agad na ibinida ng bata kung ano ang kinain nito, na sinundan ng ina ng malakas na halakhak. Ang sabi pa nito, “Thats great. You can survive if you want to go with your Auntie Ana to the Philippines.” Si Ana ay isang Ilongga at dalaga. - Merly Bunda

Napaglipasan ang mag-tiya

Si Athea ay isang dalaga at matagal na rin nagtatrabaho sa abroad. Labindalawang taon siya sa Middle East at magtatatlong taon na sa Hong Kong.

May isa siyang tiyahin dito na malapit sa kanya bagamat bihira silang magkita dahil parehong marami ang lakad tuwing Linggo. Pero palagi naman silang nagtawagan o nag-cha chat kapag pareho silang libre sa oras.

Minsan sa kanilang kuwentuhan ay nasabi ng tiyahin na baka mapaglipasan din siya ng panahon kagaya nito. Panay ang tulak ng kanyang tiya na maghanap ng nobyo, o pumili na kung may nanliligaw sa kanya.

Ang sabi naman ni Athea ay hindi pa huli ang lahat para sa kanila.

Kamakailan ay tinawagan ni Athea ang tiya at tuwang tuwa na ibinalita na may kaibigan siya na nagpapahanap ng mapapangasawa ang kanyang kapatid na isang marino at may mataas na posisyon. Sabi niya sa tiya ay magkaidad lang sila nung lalaki. Tawa lang ang isinagot ng kanyang tiya.

Nang maka chat niyang muli ang kaibigan ay sinabi nito na may nakita na siyang babae na inireto sa kanyang kuya.

Ayon naman sa kanyang tiya, hayaan na lang niya dahil kung may para sa kanya ay darating na lang ito ng kusa. Kung wala ay wala na din tayong magawa, sabi ng tiya. Nagtawanan na lang ang dalawa na parehong hindi pa rin sumusuko sa pag-ibig. - Merly Bunda

Sumaya pa si Gemma nang materminate

Na-terminate man ay nakuha pa ring magpasalamat ni Gemma na anim na buwan lang ang itinagal sa mga among taga mainland China.

Lagi kasi siyang gutom, lalo na kung pumupunta sa China ang kanyang mga amo, at hindi siya iniiwanan ng food allowance. Minsan ay inabot sila doon ng isang buwan kaya hindi biro ang inabot na gastos ni Gemma para masigurong hindi siya magugutom.

Ang dahilan na ibinigay ng amo ay hindi siya marunong magluto, na ikinabigla ni Gemma dahil ayaw naman siya nitong magluto ng pagkain nila. At sa kakuriputan ng mga ito ay wala naman halos mailuto sa bahay nila.

Ora mismo ay pinababa siya ng amo noong hapon ding iyon, at binayaran ng lahat ng dapat. Umaasa si Gemma na makahanap ng bagong amo bago umuwi sa kanila sa Iloilo, at sana ay hindi naman kasing kuripot ng dati ang makuha niya. - Merly Bunda

Pinilit na isabay ang bakasyon niya sa mga amo

Si AJ ay mahigit tatlong taon na sa mga amo sa New Territories. Ibig sabihin, nagustuhan naman ang kanyang unang dalawang taon na pagtatrabaho sa kanila kaya siya pinirmahang muli. Sa kabila nito, may video camera pa rin ang lahat ng sulok ng bahay ng mga amo kaya palaging de-numero ang kilos ni AJ.

Medyo nagsisisi na nga siya at pumayag pa siyang pumirma ulit ng kontrata. Ang mas masaklap nakatakdang magbakasyon ngayong Agosto ang kanyang mga amo, at ang gusto ay umalis siya sa bahay nila habang wala sila.

Pinamili siya kung gusto ba niyang manatili sa Hong Kong o umuwi sa Pilipinas, sa kundisyong ang sapilitang pagbabakasyon niya ay ikakaltas sa kanyang annual leave.

Bagamat napipilitan ay sinabi niyang mas gusto niyang manatili sa Hong Kong dahil wala siyang malaking ipon para magbakasyon sa Pilipinas.

Ngayon ay napag-isip isip ni AJ na parang hindi tama na ipagtabuyan siya ng mga amo gayong wala pa naman siyang balak magbakasyon, at ang gusto niya ay sa piling panahon niya gugulin ang kanyang annual leave.

Sa kanyang pagtatanong, may nagsabi kay AJ na hindi niya dapat sundin ang utos ng amo na magbakasyon siya. Dapat ay magkasundo silang pareho kung kailan niya gustong gamitin ang mga araw na itinakda para sa kanyang pagbabakasyon.

Nagdesisyon siya na pumunta sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office at manghingi ng tulong o sulat na maaari niyang maipakita sa mga amo para malaman nilang labag sa kanilang kasunduan ang gusto nilang mangyari. Si AJ ay dalaga. —
DCLM