Teach your kids to be independent

By Francisco J. Colayco

We had an interesting exchange of stories with the administrator-owner of an excellent progressive school in Northern Luzon about how students really need money management skills from an early age.  The world today is so much more faster-paced and competitive than say 10-20 years ago.  A school graduate is immediately faced with a more complex world and if he is not properly educated on money management, he would end up completely dependent on his parents.  Or worse, he might end up accepting that his parents and siblings should be dependent on him.

The role of parents in this early personal financial education process is very important.  In fact, the children will always look at their parents as their role model.  For example, the case of an Indian child was brought up.  He was already offering services such as “travel agency” and “beautiful shawls” to his teacher at a very early age at Grade 4.  He even had his own business card.  Obviously, he was following the example of his parents and that training did not come from the school.

Perhaps, Asian children are more adept when it comes to a “business” perspective because they have more opportunities than their Western counterparts.  Just notice the street children.  At a very early age, they already know how to market and sell whatever they have.  Even their begging is really a marketing effort.  They know how to say the right things to encourage generosity.  Of course, their elders probably taught them but I think each child who ventures into selling (or even begging) has his own style that comes from his personality.

What stood out in our discussion is how students seem to be more dependent on their parents even after they graduate from school.  There are cases when the graduates expect their parents to find jobs for them or speak to their boss for them.  On the other hand, there also cases where the parents dictate where the salaries of the graduates in their new jobs will go.  Usually, it goes to help the siblings for their own education and/or for the parents needs.

Perhaps, if students had more training on critical thinking, they would be better equipped to face life.  They must be trained to analyze and to pick out the key issues in any situation that faces them.  As such, they can establish their options and choose the best decision.  While there are various ways of teaching critical thinking, I think that a formal training in personal money management is a good exercise in teaching critical thinking.  I hope that schools will soon consider this training for all their students before they graduate.  The earlier they start with the youngest students, the better the chances of a lifelong inculcation of good values.


Visit our website, www.colaycofinancialeducation. com.   Note that the website is evolving and there will be changes in the coming months.

Ang kuwento ni Mariel (Part II)

Ni Mariel F. Tadalan

Enero 20, 2017 , ikaanim ng hapon nang dumating ako sa amo ko ng walang tulog dahil delayed ang aking flight. Unang araw ko pa lang sa kanila ay pinakain na sa akin ang tira-tira nilang pagkain. Wala sa oras ang aking pagkain at gumigising ako ng  alas sais ng umaga at natutulog ng alas dos ng madaling araw kinabukasan. Ibig sabihin, apat na oras lang ang tulog ko sa araw-araw. Kahit sa pagkain ay limang minuto lang ang ibinibigay sa akin, tapos ay balik agad sa trabaho. Nandun pa yong sinisigawan ako at sinasabihan ng masasakit na salita gaya ng “bobo,” “walang utak”, “baboy” at marami pang iba. Wala akong magawa kundi umiyak, magdasal at magtiis. Lumipas ang ilang araw at linggo, patuloy akong nagtiis dahil ang sabi ko sa sarili ko ay magbabago rin ang pakikitungo nila sa akin .

Marso 1, pauwi ako mula sa aking day-off noon, at katulad ng dati, kinailangan ko munang tumawag sa kanila dahil wala akong susi sa bahay. Pagkapasok ko pa lang ay nagsisigaw na ang amo kong babae.Bakit pa daw ako umuwi e wala naman akong kuwentang katulong? Baboy daw ako, palamunin lang, at hindi ko nagagampanan nang maayos ang trabaho ko. Sinabihan ako na kailangan kong linisin ang buong bahay at maghugas ng pinggan at ligpitin ang mga kalat nila bago ako matulog. Natapos ako ng mga 2am at dahil sa pagod ay kandarapa akong nag-ayos ng hihigan nang biglang pumasok ang amo ko at tinanong kung bakit matutulog na ako. Kailangan ko daw linisin ang sahig dahil marumi pa. Sumagot ako na kung puwede ay ipagpabukas na dahil wala na akong lakas. Pagod na  ako at puyat pa, pero nagalit sya at sinigawan ako.Matigas daw ang ulo ko at hindi sumusunod sa utos kaya paparusahan niya ako. Ang iginawad niyang parusa ay doon sa terrace sa labas ng bahay niya ako pinatulog gayong napakalamig. Kinuha din niya ang aking kumot kaya tuwalya lang ang ginamit kong panlaban sa lamig, at isang kapirasong cardboard naman ang aking higaan. Kinunan ko ng litrato ang aking higaaan at humingi ng tulong sa aking agency sa Hong Kong, ang Royalcorp Employment Agency sa Ma On Shan, pero hindi nila ako pinansin. Ang mas masaklap ay kailangan akong gumising ulit ng alas sais ng umaga kasi may pasok ang alaga ko. Tiniis ko na lang ang lamig para kahit man lang tatlong oras ay makapagpahinga ako. Umiyak na lang ako at nasabi ko sa sarili ko kung bakit may mga taong ganito.

Sa mga sumunod na araw ay walang pagbabago sa pagtrato nila sa akin, pero patuloy akong nagtiis. Isa pa, sinabihan ako ng ilang kakilala na kung ako ang pumutol sa kontrata namin ay kailangan kong bayaran ang amo ko ng isang buwang suweldo, e marami pa akong utang dahil sa Ph30,000 na ibinayad ko sa ahensiya sa Pilipinas para sa iba-ibang singilin.

Marso 21, bandang alas dos ng hapon, gutom na gutom ako dahil wala pa akong almusal at tanghalian. Humingi ako ng pagkain sa amo ko kasi hindi naman ako puwedeng magluto nang hindi siya nagbibigay ng pahintulot. Pero nagalit siya at sinagot ako na hindi ako pwedng kumain nang hindi pa tapos ang trabaho ko. Umalis siya sa bahay bandang mga 3.30 pm. Dumating naman ang amo kong lalaki kasama ang alaga ko. Ibinigay ng alaga ko ang pananghalian ko, pero dahil nasa kalagitnaan ng trabaho ay naisip kong tapusin na muna ang ginagawa ko. Nang pinapainit ko na ang pagkain ko sa microwave ay biglang sumulpot ang amo kong babae at pasigaw na tinanong kung bakit noon pa lang ako kakain. Ang sabi pa, “kung kailan ko sabihin na kakain ka, doon ka kakain, sabay hablot sa pagkain at itinapon sa basurahan. Sinabi niya na damputin ko at kainin pero hindi ko sinunod, at sinabing hindi ako hayop para pakainin niya ng galing sa basurahan. Sa galit niya dahil hindi ko siya sinunod ay dinuraan niya ako at minura-mura. Hanggang iyak na lang ang kaya kong gawin dahil wala akong lakas para lumaban at takot na takot din ako sa oras na iyon. Ang ginawa ko ay uminom na lang ako ng tubig pero mas lalo siyang nagalit. Inagaw niya ang basong may tubig at ibinato sa bandang paanan ko. Kung hindi ako nakatalon ay natamaan ako.

Marso 22, day off ko. Nagpunta ako sa Konsulado para ireklamo ang sitwasyon ko pero laking dismaya ko dahil sinabi sa akin na dalawa lang ang pagpipilian ko, ang magbigay ng one month notice o bayaran ko ang amo ko ng isang buwang sahod para ako makaalis agad. Kahit ano ang piliin ko ay kailangan ko pa ring bumalik sa amo ko.

Binalikan ko nga ang amo ko pero kinabukasan din  ay nagbigay ako ng one month notice. Ang hindi ko sukat akalain ay mas matinding hirap ang pagdaraanan ko ng dahil dito.

Kinabukasan ng gabj ay bigla akong tinawag ng amo ko at pinahinto sa ginagawa ko. Sinabi na magpalit ako ng bed sheet , na ikinagulat ko dahil kapapalit ko lang noong umagang iyon. Pero nang magtanong ako ay nagalit nang husto at sinabing sumunod ka na lamang, sabay punta sa lagayan ng mga damit ko. Kinuha niya ang mga laman nito, sabay hagis sa sala. Laking gulat ko nang nakita ko na nagkalat doon ang mga personal kong gamit, kabilang ang mga bag at damit. Takot na takot ako dahil hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang nangyari. Ang ginawa ko ay tumawag ako ng pulis. Pagdating nila ay sinabi ng amo ko na  nawawala ang pera niya at bracelet. Sa awa ng Diyos ay nakumbinsi ko  ang mga pulis na hindi ako magnanakaw.

Pinayuhan ako ng mga kaibgan ko na umalis na ako at magbayad na lang dahil mahaba-haba pa daw ang hihintayin ko at baka sa susunod ay mapatay na ako. Pera lang daw naman yun at mas importante ang kaligtasan ko. Pero hindi ko pinakinggan ang mga payo nila at patuloy akong nagtiis.

Araw-araw yun, natiis ko yung pagkain ko na wala sa oras, at tira-tira pa. May pagkakataon pa na binubudburan ng amo ko ang pagkain ko ng asin o sili pero wala akong magawa kundi kainin pa rin para magkaroon ako ng lakas. Bukod dito ay tadtad ako ng mura, at laging kulang sa tulog. Mula dalawa hanggang tatlong oras na lang ang tulog ko kaya noong Marso 29, dahil sa pagod at puyat ay nahilo ako habang nag ha handwash at nabagok ang ulo ko sa gripo. Sinabi ko sa amo kong babae ang nangyari pero ang sagot niya ay wala siyang pakialam kahit na patuloy na nagdurugo ang noo ko. Nang nagbanta akong tatawag ng pulis ay para siyang nahimasmasan at sinabing jîtawagan ko ang asawa niya. Sinagot naman ako ng amo kong lalaki ay sinabing hintayin ko siya. Habang naghihintay ay inutusan pa rin akong maghugas ng mga plato. Hindi ko sukat akalain na may mga taong kahit na nasa gitna ka na ng trahedya ay sarili pa rin ang iniisip. Dinala nga ako ng amo kong lalaki pero agad ding umalis na hindi man lang ako binigyan ng pamasahe. Nagkaroon ng apat na tahi ang noo ko dahil sa nangyari, pero mag-isa pa rin akong umuwi.

Abril 3, day-off ko ulit dahil nakatakdang alisin ang tahi ko sa noo. Bago ako umakyat ay tumawag ako sa amo kong babae para tanungin kung maari na akong umakyat pero hindi siya sumagot. Ang ginawa ko ay tinawagan ko ang amo kong lalaki at sinabi nitong umuwi na ako. Pag akyat ko sa flat ay dumiretso ako sa banyo para maligo. Paglabas ko ay sinalubong ako ng amo kong babae na galit na galit, at sinabing bakit ako umuwi nang wala siya sa bahay. Nangatwiran ako na hindi ko alam na wala siya sa bahay at pinauwi na ako ni sir, pero lalo siyang nagalit. Palasagot daw ako kaya pinababa niya ako ng bahay kahit na hatinggabj na noon. Dahil wala akong mapupuntahan at wala ding masasakyan ay ngdesisyon na doon na lang sa lobby ng building magpalipas ng gabi. Bandang 1:30 am ay nilapitan ako ng security guard at may tinatanong. Dahil hindi kami magkaintindihan ay tumawag ako ng pulis. Pagdating ng pulis ay inihatid ako sa bahay ng amo ko pero hindi ako pinatuloy. Sinabi ng mga pulis na hintayin ko ang tawag ng amo ko dahil mag-uusap pa raw muna ang mag-asawa.

Bandang 3:30 am ay tumawag ang amo kong lalaki at sinabing bumalik na ako. Pagbungad ko pa lang sa pinto ay sinigawan na ako ng amo kong babae at sinabi na bakit ako tumawag ako ng pulis.Hindi raw makakatulong ang pulis sa akin dahil katulong lang ako at sila ay Chinese.Agad akong inutusan na  maglinis ng sahig na nang matapos ay 5am na. Bago ako matulog ay sinabi niyang kailangan akong magising ng 7am, kundi ay makakatikim ako ng parusa.Pero danil sa pagod at puyat ay hindi ako nagising. Bandang 8am ay naramdaman kong sinisipa ako sa ulo ng amo ko (ang tulugan ko ay isang manipis na foam na nakaipit sa pagitan ng washing machine at dingding sa kusina) para bumangon. Kahit antok na antok at pagod ay agad akong bumangon.Binigyan niya ako ng mahabang schedule ng mga gagawin, at sinabing kIlangan kong matapos lahat sa pagbabalik niya ng 11am, kundi ay paparusahan niya ako. Tumayo naman ako para magtrabaho, pero nang makita ko ang tambak na labahin at ang sira-sira ng gloves na aking gagamitin sa pag handwash na parang sinadyang punitin ay nawalan ako ng lakas at naawa sa sarili ko. Noong oras ding iyon ay ginising ko ang amo kong lalaki at sinabi ang lahat ng hinanakit ko at sinabing hindi ko na kaya at aalis na ako. Pero wala pa ring awa ang amo ko at nagbanta na kapag pinilit kong umalis ay gagawa siya ng problema para makulong ako. Ang ginawa ko ay ako na mismo ang tumawag ng pulis at sinabi kong lahat ang pagmamaltrato sa akin ng mga amo ko. Ang ginawa ng pulis ay pinasulat ang amo ko ng patunay na ako ang pumutol sa kontrata namin kaya kailangan kong magbayad, bago pinapirma sa akin. Hindi ako nag-atubiling pumirma para makakawala na sa mala-impyernong bahay na iyon. Umalis ako sa bahay ng amo ko kasama ang mga pulis  noong Abril 4, 12:45 pm.

Mabuti na lang at pagkatapos akong maglakas-loob na iwan ang mga amo kong malupit ay nakalapit ako sa Mission for Migrant Workers.  Binigyan nila ako ng matutuluyan. at tinulungan para masampahan ko ng kaso ang aking amo. Sa kanila ko nalaman na kapag inabuso ka ng amo mo, katulad ng ginawang pagpapatulog sa akin sa terrace, ay maaari kang bumaba ng walang notice, at wala kang babayaran Bagkus, ang amo mo pa ang magbabayad sa iyo dahil siya ang unang lumabag sa inyong kontrata.

Lumipas ang isang buwan at nagharap kaming muli ng amo ko sa Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board o Mecab. Sa una ay nagmatigas ang amo ko na wala siyang dapat bayaran sa akin dahil ako ang kusang umalis. Pero bago matapos ang miting na iyon ay nag-alok siya ng $2,500 para matapos na ang kaso. Hindi ko tinanggap at itinakda ang muli naming paghaharap noong Hulyo 8. Bago dumating ang araw na iyon ay may pagkakatapn na gusto ko nang sumuko at tanggapin ang alok ng amo ko.  Pero dahil may mga kaibigan ako at pati staff ng Mission at Bethune House na laging nagpapaalala sa akin na huwag akong sumuko at ipaglaban ko ang kaso ko dahil marami akong katibayan ay naglakas-loob ako. Sa awa ng Diyos ay ibinigay ng buo ang lahat ng aking sinisingil sa aking amo na umabot sa mahigit $5,000. Sa kabila nito, ang tanging nasa isip ko, matalo man ako  o manalo, ang mahalaga ay naipaglaban ko ang karapatan ko
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Ito ay ang pagpapatuloy ng salaysay ni 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 mga amo. 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 at magroseso ng 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

Our right to be heard

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

New administration, new officials to pin our hopes on.

The recent consultation we had with Rep. Winnie Castelo underscored what we oldtimers have known for a long time. That officials may come and go, but the OFWs’ problems remain, and may have even gotten worse with the passing of time.

As the newly designated  vice chair of the House  committee on overseas workers affairs, Rep. Castelo has yet to get a firm grasp on issues affecting OFWs, and that’s understandable. Our OFWs’ concerns are as old as they are varied. The passing of time has made some even more complex. and it will take years of dedicated study to know the background, and the permutations, that some issues have undergone through the years.

Take the iDOLE. This so-called OFW ID is nothing new. Similar ones were issued in the past, but none has withstood the test of time -or change of administration.

In one of its previous incarnations it was known as UMID, or unified multipurpose ID card, which one could get from the SSS. Later, a similar one was issued and was called the OFW eCard, a joint project between the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Equitable Bank. Again, a dud.

With the iDOLE the justification is to replace the much-maligned overseas employment certificate, or OEC. The idea is to issue OFWs with an ID that stores their personal information so they can avail of privileges with just a swipe of the all-important card. The OEC, which was meant to prove their OFW status - a superfluity, given that they each should have a work contract and the requisite visa on their passport - is now supposed to be headed to the dustbin. But is it? The controversies that erupted over conflicting claims on whether the ID would be free, now look set to derail this project even before it could lift off the ground.

Another major concern are the recently issued guidelines for sending a balikbayan box tax-free. After several decades of enjoying this privilege without having to do anything apart from listing all the items inside the box, senders will now also have to supply a price for each, and provide passport copies as well.

There are other worries, too, like ensuring that the box is sent only to a close family friend, and that the total value of items sent home does not exceed Php150,000 each year.

Why the complications? Ostensibly, it’s to ensure that the senders get to enjoy their right to the tax-free benefit and assure them that their boxes will not be opened. But if this were the case, why bother putting a price for each item inside? How could the veracity of this information be proved if the boxes are kept intact?

Less compicated, but no less of a worry to OFWs, is the cost of the new passport with 10-year validity. If they were groaning in the past over having to shell out $480 each time they renewed their five-year passports, OFWs may now find the yoke even heavier, if the DFA pushes through with the plan to double the cost for the thicker and longer-lasting document.

These are the urgent issues of the day, just because there remains hope that they could still go the way the OFWs favor.

But at the back-burner - for now at least - are several longstanding issues, like the illegal and unconscionable placement fees still collected from OFWs, the failure of cash-rich OWWA to provide real benefits to OFW members, the ever-increasing charges imposed on Filipinos about to leave for work abroad, and many more.

While we appreciate the effort by some of our politicians to come and directly confer with us on our comcerns, we should not be left with the mere hope that something positive would come out of these meetings. We should insist not just on our right to be told of developments, but more so of our right to be consulted and heard before any.laws affecting us are passed.

Once the deed is done, it would be hard to insist on what should have been, Our long years of struggles over unfair, even oppressive impositions, are proof enough.

Pananamantala

Kamakailan, isang Pilipina ang namatay nang mahulog sa isang gusali sa Shenzhen, kung saan dinala siya ng kanyang mga among Intsik. Lumalabas na maliban sa paninilbihan sa kanyang amo sa Shenzhen, isinisingkaw rin siya upang magtrabaho sa ama ng amo niyang babae.

Naaresto na ang mag-asawa, at sinampahan ng kasong “conspiracy to defraud”. Nakalaya sila pansamantala dahil nag-piyansa.

Dapat sana ay human trafficking ang kaso, kung ang batayan natin ay batas sa Pilipinas. Pero dahil wala pang batas na ganito sa Hong Kong, kinasuhan na lang ang dalawa ng panloloko sa Immigration Department, sa pagsasabi na sa Hong Kong lang magtatrabaho ang DH nila, pero hindi pala.

Maraming Pilipina ang dinadala ng kanilang amo sa China, hindi upang isama sa pamamasyal o bigyan ng bakasyon, kundi upang masulit ang ipinapasuweldo dito, at ipagmayabang sa kanilang mga kababayan na may katulong sila. Ito ay kahit labag sa batas ng China na magtrabaho ang mga bumibisita lang doon, gaya ng mga DH na Pilipina.

Nagpalabas na si Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre ng payo na magreklamo dapat ang mga DH na dinadala sa China upang magtrabaho doon —kung hindi sa kanyang tanggapan ay sa Immigration Department.

Dapat na ngang matigil ang gawaing ito ng mga employer na mapagsamantala. Ang unang hakbang ay maging listo tayo na labanan ang ganitong pagyurak sa ating karapatan bilang manggagawa. Ang pangalawa ay magsumbong sa POLO upang maisama sa blacklist ang mga employer na ganito nang hindi na sila makaulit pa.  At pangatlo, ang pagpilit sa Hong Kong na magtakda ng batas laban sa human trafficking, na isa sa pinaka-grabeng krimen sa mundo.

Pero kung may batas, mayroon ding dapat na exemption.

May mga amo naman kasi na dinadala ang kanilang DH sa bakasyon hindi para sila ay pagsamantalahan. Kailangan lang talaga sila para sa bata, o dahil na rin sa kanilang magandang serbisyo. Sino ba naman ang tatanggi sa all-expenses-paid tour sa mga lugar na sa pangarap lang nila mararating? Kasama pa ang Business Class air ticket.

Business confidence down to 3-year low

The central bank’s latest Business Expectations Survey (BES) showed business confidence index for the third quarter of 2017 plunged to 37.9 percent from 43 percent in the previous quarter.

This was the lowest recorded since the third quarter of 2014 when confidence index reached 34.4 percent.

However, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that while businesses have a less optimistic view of the Philippine economy, the overall sentiment remains positive.

According to Mariel Remulla, deputy director of BSPs’ Department of Economic Statistics, said the survey respondents cited the following reasons for the lower confidence level:
• seasonal factors such a slowdown in business activities during the rainy season, reduced demand during the planting and closed milling season, and the closed fishing season in the Davao Gulf from July to September;
• the Marawi crisis and the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, which had affected mobility;
• the peso’s depreciation;
• higher prices;
• stiffer competition; and
• damages and power outages caused by the July 6 earthquake in the Visayas.

“The sentiment in the businesses in the Philippines mirrored the less buoyant business outlook in the US, Canada, The Netherlands, New Zealand, and Thailand but was in contrast to the more bullish views of those in Germany and Hong Kong and steady outlook in France,” Remulla added.

On the other hand, she said that sentiment for the next three months improved to 51.3 percent from 42.7 percent during the previous survey.

The BSP attributed the increased optimism to the following:
• an expected uptick in consumer demand during the holiday, harvest and milling seasons;
• the rollout of government infrastructure and other development projects;
• continued increases in orders and projects, which would lead to higher production volumes;
• business expansion and new product lines;
• the introduction of new and enhanced business strategies and processes;
• favorable weather conditions for agriculture; and
• a positive impact from the government’s proposed tax reform program. The latest BES, which polled 1,480 companies nationwide, was conducted from July 3 to Aug. 18. The survey results are considered indicative of the direction of business activity.

Health Dept gets aggressive vs HIV

Ubial 

The Department of Health (DOH) is implementing a “test and treat” strategy to make sure that all HIV/AIDS-infected individuals get immediate treatment as cases of infection in the country soar at an alarming pace.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said “risk groups” must get themselves tested for HIV so the DOH could provide them with free anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

She cited a survey done in 2015 that showed only 16 percent of the high-risk population undergoes testing and only 35 percent get treatment.

“We want 90 percent of high-risk tested and 90 percent treated. That’s the only way we can reverse (the) epidemic…This is how other countries are able to reverse the HIV epidemic in their countries,” she noted.

Based on the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Data 2017 report, the Philippines had the highest rate of new infections in Asia and the Pacific from 2010 to 2016 at 140 percent.

The report showed that in 2005, the country documented less than 1,000 cases but the number rose to 4,300 in 2010 and 10,000 in 2016.

Because of this, the DOH decided to shorten the testing procedure to make sure that those who tested positive for HIV would immediately receive ART.

“Before, if the confirmatory test shows positive result, another confirmatory test is done and it takes about a week before the results come out,” Ubial said.

Many infected individuals do not come back for the result of the second test primarily due to the stigma associated with the disease, she noted.

When this happens, they also miss out on ART, a concoction of drugs that do not kill the virus but slows down the progression of HIV into AIDS.

Ubial said that under the new protocol initiated in 2015, results should be released within two to three hours and if there are two positive results, the infected individuals can go to a DOH treatment hub and start treatment.

Aside from this, the DOH also did away with the policy that ART should be administered only on those whose CD4 count is below 200.

Now, anybody who is positive for HIV is given ART regardless of CD4 count.

CD4 or CD4 T-lymphocytes are the cells in the body being attacked by HIV. It is the most important indicator of how well the immune system of an HIV patient is and the strongest predictor of the progression of HIV into AIDS.

The test-and-treat strategy, along with other intervention programs like increasing the correct knowledge on HIV transmission, preventing HIV transmission especially among the risk groups, abstinence and correct and consistent condom use, could reverse the country’s HIV epidemic, Ubial said.

If not for the intervention programs implemented by the DOH during this period, the increase would have reached 177 percent, Ubial said.

DOH data showed that from January 1984 to June 2017, there had been 45,023 HIV/AIDS cases documented in the country. This year, 30 new infections are being seen daily, up from one in 2008; four in 2010; nine in  2012; 17 in 2014 and 26 in 2016.

Fate in 2nd slot as softball season ends

By Emz Frial

Members of Fate,  the only Filipino team in the
Hongkong Softball Association league, celebrate their feat. 

Hongkong Softball Association has ended its season for this year with Fate,  the only Filipino team in the league, ranked second. Joker was in first place, Phoenix  was third, and Astro, fourth.

The last match was played on July 13 at Shek Kip Mei field between Astro and Fate. The Filipinas easily defeated Astro, allowing them to take the second spot. The score was 11-1, in favor of Fate.

Fate started the game as an away team, and went to score immediately. The first inning saw Eunice Locop,  Myra Japitana and Don Gaborno each hitting the mark, with Astro managing to nail its first and only point in the game.

Fate’s Ma. Eva Mendez managed to post the lone score in the second inning.

 In the third inning, Japitana again scored making it 5-1 in favor of Fate.

With the rival team struggling to score, Fate’s team captain Gaborno called for substitution to give other players the chance to play as it was their last game for the season.

This seemed to invigorate the team, with three more points being added to its score, courtesy of Gaborno,  Liezeal Algonez and Romela Osabel.  The fifth inning ended at 8-1.

In the sixth inning,  three more points were added by Emelia Mabaquiao, Mendez and Locop, sealing Fate’s 11-1 win

Fate’s manager Law Wai-ho congratulated his team for a job well done, and treated them to early dinner as reward.

Fate is qualified  to go up to bracket A in the next season because of its strong showing, but Gaborno is planning to keep the team in bracket B, saying some players are not ready yet to play in the top league.

But, Gaborno said the decision is still tentative, as the final decision could only be reached after consulting Law.

Budding OFW entrepreneur holds free tutorials

Eleven OFWs from different provinces of the Philippines joined the first basic weaving workshop organized by Cristina Cayat, a fellow migrant worker who aims to get more Filipinos in Hong Kong interested in the craft.

Participants of the workshop held at The SUN office in North Point on Jul 30 learned the basic step of interlacing strips of cloth over looms made of recycled carton boxes picked up at a  supermarket.

Separately, Cayat, a proud Baguio native, conducted a free workshop on making tribal-inspired necklaces to the clients of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge on Aug. 17.

Both seminars were supported by The SUN, where Cayat has been a longtime contributor of articles.

In keeping with her advocacy of using recyclable materials when possible, Cayat asked the participants in the cloth weaving training to bring old cotton t-shirts which they used as yarn for the weaving practice.

At the end of the three-hour tutorial, participants were able to create colorful looms that they were encouraged to turn into rugs, bags, pot holders, or whatever they fancy.

Their new skill could also be turned into a source of livelihood when they return home.

At the Bethune House, the participants were about 10 migrant workers who are staying at the shelter while pursuing labor and other cases. They were joined by members of a local volunteer group.

Cayat said the main purpose of reaching out to the distressed migrants is to help them develop a new skill that could help them de-stress. But those with a natural flair for creating accessories could also look at it as a potential source of income when they go back home.

The Bethune training was held in coordination with the shelter’s executive director, Edwina Antonio.

Among those who took part in cloth weaving was Lily Diaz from Bicol who is planning to return to her province next year. She said she is very keen on learning to weave because she is looking at it as one of the projects she would want to do on her return home.

Diaz said her grandmother used to weave using a loom, and most of their clothes while growing up were made from her lola’s craft.

Cayat’s weaving workshop has just been added to the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran livelihood projects, in addition to other crafts such as macrame bag, flower and balloon making, ribbon folding, and tocino and longanisa production. - DCLM

464 examinees enlist for LET

By Vir B. Lumicao

Participants in recent LET review.

Aspiring schoolteachers among Hong Kong OFWs should study hard for the special Licensure Examination for Teachers to be held here on Sept 24 so they could improve on the low passing rates posted in the past few years.

This was the advice of Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre during an interview with The SUN on Aug 21.

“Mag-aral silang mabuti dahil nakakahiya, ang baba ng passing rate nila,” Labatt Dela Torre said.

Last year, only 9.77%f the more than 600 examinees from Hong Kong passed the exam given on Sept. 25. The figure was drastically lower than the passing rate of 30% achieved in 2013 and the 50% posted in 2001, a record so far for Hong Kong.

Commenting on Labatt Dela Torre’s remarks, NOPT HK president Gemma A Lauraya said there was nothing to be ashamed about the low passing rate last year.

“Bakit naman nakakahiya? In any examination or assessment meron talaga Passed or Fail,” Lauraya said, adding that the OFW teachers had done their best despite their work conditions.

Even PRC had admitted that at the national level, the results were the lowest in history, she said.

“Hopefully this year, the examinees will perform better than last year at marami kesa dati ang pumasa,” Lauraya said.

She said the organization’s role is to help OFW teachers in Hong Kong take the qualifying exam here because many of them want to go home to avail of the Department of Labor and Employment’s “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am, Sir” program, aimed at  reintegrating OFW teachers into the academic workforce.

At the end of the online registration on Aug 20, a total of 464 would-be teachers had enlisted for the annual exam, which the Professional Regulation Commission will administer in Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo in Kwun Tong.

Would-be examinees for the secondary-level test numbered 245, while 219 registered for the elementary level.

PRC chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr. extended the registration deadline, originally set for Aug 14, after the labor attaché endorsed the request of the would-be examinees and the National Organization of Professional Teachers of Hong Kong, or NOPT HK.

Lauraya said the fewer examinees this year could be because of earlier reports that there would be no LET this time. Then when the PRC announced that there would be an exam, the registration period set was rather short.

The LET will be held simultaneously with those scheduled for various cities across the Philippines on Sept 24.

The exam for would-be teachers now working in the Middle East will be held on Sept 2, the PRC announced on its website on Aug 11. It was originally set for Sept 1.

Pagsusulit para sa mga narses sa HK, itinakda muli

Ni Lorna Pagaduan

Isang seminar para sa FNA-HK kamakailan.

Malaking tuwa ang namayani sa mga miyembro at opisyal ng Filipino Nurses Association -Hong Kong (o FNA-HK) na nagtipon-tipon sa Bayanihan Centre sa Kennedy Town noong Agosto 13, nang malaman na magkakaroon na muli ng pagsusulit sa Hong Kong para sa mga gustong maging ganap na narses.

Ang balita ay galing sa sulat na ipinadala sa kanila ng tagapangulo ng Board of Nursing sa Pilipinas na si Carmelita Divinagracia,bilang tugon sa kanilang matagal nang kahilingan na isagawa muli ang pagsusulit para mga nagtapos sa kursong nursing pero hindi pa lisensiyado.

Bagama’t may mga kundisyon at wala pang itinakdang petsa para sa napipintong pagsusulit, itinuturing na ng grupo na isang tagumpay ang tugon sa mahigit isang taon na nilang hiling.

Unang isinagawa ang licensure examination for nurses sa Hong Kong noong 2009, ngunit dahil sa hindi magandang resulta ng pagsusulit ay isintabi muna ang plano na sundan ito agad. Nabuhay lang ang kanilang pag-asa na maisagawa itong muli nang mismong si Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre ang nagpanukala nito. Sa kasalukuyan ay mahigit 200 na ang kasapi ng FNA-HK, na mula sa hanay ng mga rehistrado na at iyong mga hindi pa.

Dahil sa nabuhay na pag-asa na dadalhin muli sa Hong Kong ang pagsusulit ay nag-umpisa nang magrepaso ang ilan sa mga miyembro, sa kabila ng tambak nilang mga trabaho sa kani-kanilang mga amo.

 “Sakripisyo lang talaga kung may gusto kang abutin”, sabi ng isang estudyante.

Ayon naman kay Edna Jean Clovez, na isang rehistradong nars at pauwi na sa Pilipinas para doon ituloy ang naudlot na pangarap na magamit ang kanyang napag-aralan: “Kita-kita tayo sa Pilipinas kapag kayo’y RN na.”

Sabi pa niya, mahirap talaga ang magnakaw lang ng mga sandali para makapag-aral, pero “ika nga, kung gusto may paraan, kung ayaw maraming dahilan.”

Si Clovez ay pinarangalan sa pagtitipon, kasama ng kalihim sa edukasyon ng FNA-HK na si Ruth Asensi Delvo na nakatakda namang makipagsapalaran sa Canada.

Sa kasalukuyan ay hati ang opinion ng mga miyembro ng grupo tungkol sa kung dapat bang ngayong taon na ganapin ang pagsusulit, ayon sa kanilang liham-kahilingan, o ipagpaliban na muna hanggang sa susunod na taon para magkaroon ng sapat na panahon na magrepaso ang mga kukuha nito.

Nakatakdang lumipad papuntang Pilipinas ang pamunuan ng FNA HK sa susunod na buwan bilang sagot sa paanyaya ng Philippine Regulation Commission- Board of Nursing (PRC-BON), upang mabigyan ng linaw ang mga katanungan at agam-agam ng lahat.

Para sa iba pang impormasyon tungkol sa paghahanda para sa pagsusulit, at upang maging bahagi ng FNA-HK, mangyari lamang na i-like ang Facebook page na “Filipino Nurses in Hong Kong” o di kaya ay tumawag o magpadala ng mensahe sa WhatsApp sa numerong 6162-5584.

PCG allays concern over new requirement to renew passport

By Daisy CL Mandap

The Consulate has downplayed fears that those who are applying to renew their Philippine passports will now be required to present a copy of their birth certificates duly certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly the National Statistics Office or NSO).

According to a report published in the Middle East and shared by many overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, the birth certificate is required for applicants whose indicated birthplace does not include a city or town, but just a province.

The requirement, said to have taken effect only starting August this year, is in line with preparations for the issuance of the new passports with 10-year validity.

However, Vice Consul Fatima Quintin told The SUN that the requirement for the PSA-issue birth certificate is nothing new, as problems over incomplete birth details occurred only very rarely, and mostly with those holding machine-readable passports (MRPs).

Thus, she said they had made it a requirement for those with MRPs to come with their birth certificates when they apply for renewal, to ensure faster processing. “For applicants still with MRPs, we are already requiring them to present a PSA-issued birth certificate as this is mandatory, whether or not their place of birth has issues,” she said.

But, she added MRPs “would have already expired by this time so this should not be a cause for concern for OFWs here in Hong Kong who need valid passports for their stay here.”

That means, she said, those with the new e-passports would have had their places of birth corrected already.

OFW leader Eman Villanueva was among those who first expressed concern over the reported new requirement, saying that if true, it would cause added inconvenience to the already burdened migrant workers.

While welcoming the news that the new passports with 10-year validity will be issued soon, Villanueva and his group are worried that they would cost double the current price of $480. They want the new passport priced the same as in the Philippines, which is currently Php980 for those issued in Metro Manila, and P1,250 in other places.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, as the passport issuing authority, had previously announced the new passports with extended validity would cost twice as much. However, during his visit to Hong Kong in July, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano promised OFWs would have “cheaper, faster” 10-year passports.

Ylagan sued in Philippines

Ylagan by the Niagara Falls in Canada, where she
allegedly offered inexistent jobs to Filipinos

by The SUN staff

Missing employment agency owner Ester Ylagan has been sued for fraud in the Philippines by four of her alleged victims, while illegal recruitment charges against her are being readied. 

This was according to Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who disclosed that seven or eight other recruits of Ylagan have been interviewed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Admininistration, which could charge her with massive illegal recruitment.

Separately, an officer of the Consulate said a list of Ylagan's alleged victims in Hong Kong has been furnished to the Philippines' Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, which looks into human trafficking cases.

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin who heads the Consulate's assistance to nationals section said it would appear that Ylagan was still in the Philippines based on Bureau of Immigration records. 

Ylagan was shown to have entered the country shortly after her apparent scam was uncovered in Hong Kong in June last year. But since there was no arrest warrant or hold departure order against her, she managed to get in and out of the country freely. 

About two weeks ago, Vallespin told The SUN that Labatt Dela Torre sent the ATN a memorandum inquiring about the whereabouts of Ylagan.

Vallespin said ATN replied also in a memo, that as early as August last year, when news of the scam broke out, he had asked IACAT executive director Darlene Pajarito about whether Ylagan was in the Philippines.

“We told her we had information that Ylagan returned to the Philippines and asked (Pajarito) to confirm the report. She confirmed it, and reconfirmed to me again this year, that Ylagan’s last departure from the Philippines was July 10 and last arrival was Aug 4,” Vallespin said.

The immigration bureau in the Philippines is now on the watch for Ylagan just in case she tries to slip out of the country, he said.  

Meanwhile, Labatt dela Torre said the four victims recruited in La Union had filed a single case against Ylagan at the Regional Trial Court in San Fernando City.

He said POEA investigators had sought out the other victims in three regions, including Mindanao, based on information provided by their relatives in Hong Kong.

“POEA is now interviewing the victims,” Dela Torre said. “Basta ibinigay ko ang mga pangalan,” (I just gave their names), he said, adding that the cases are now with POEA's  Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch for possible prosecution.

Ylagan was accused by about 200 other OFWs based in Hong Kong and Macau of duping them last year with offers of non-existent jobs in Britain and Canada for which they each paid $10,000 and $15,000, respectively.

Ylagan was part owner of Emry's Service Staff Employment Agency, which used to be the biggest recruiter of Filipino domestic workers for Hong Kong. But for the bogus jobs offer, she used Mike’s Secretarial Services Inc., which was listed solely in her name.

Ylagan has snubbed all tribunal and court hearings since Aug 29 last year of the cases filed by victims against her and Mike’s Secretarial after her failure to deliver on the promised jobs in Britain and Canada.

Before she disappeared, she filed a complaint with Hong Kong Police, claiming an unknown business partner in Britain had cheated her of $2.4 million. The case was cited by officers at the Central Police station in rejecting several attempts by Ylagan’s applicants to file a complaint for fraud against her.

The Small Claims Tribunal heard a total of 129 cases then transferred them to the District Court for consolidation. The tribunal heard the last batch of 72 more cases on Aug 28, but these are also expected to be moved to the District Court before the year ends. 

The District Court heard the initial batch of cases on July 7 but neither Ylagan nor her legal representative from the law firm Wong & Co, which she claimed to have engaged to appear for her, failed to show up.

Ylagan also snubbed twice the scheduled hearings of 23 cases of overcharging filed against her and Mike’s Secretarial at the Eastern Court by the Hong Kong Labour Department’s Employment Agency Administration.

Sagot sa suspetsosang amo

Sa katagalan ni Ella sa kanyang among Intsik ay nasanay na siya sa pagka kuripot nito at suspetsosa.

Minsan, matapos niyang sabihan ang amo na ubos na ang kanilang sabong panlaba ay sinabi nito ang,”I don’t know what you do with the washing detergent, why does it go quickly?”

Sa inis ni Ella sa narinig ay sinagot niya ng, “Madam, didn’t you know? I eat it”. Hindi agad nakaimik ang amo, bago halos pabulong na sinabi ang “chisin” o luko-luko.

Magmula noon ay hindi na muling nagtanong ng may pagdududa ang amo. Si Ella na 54 taong gulang, ay taga Molo, Iloilo, at mahigjt walong taon nang naninilbihan sa kanyang among kuripot. - Merly Bunda

Phl insurer backs down, gives subsistence allowance to OFW

By Daisy CL Mandap

A Philippines-based insurance boker has reversed its decision rejecting a claim for subsistence allowance by an abused Filipina migrant worker in Hong Kong, after coming under fire from Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.

PAMIOFW Management Service and Insurance Intermediaries, Inc. through Angelux Employment Agency, informed Mariel Tadalan  on Aug 17 that her claim for USD300 had already been approved. By mutual agreement, the amount was to be sent to her via Western Union.

Tadalan said she was happy that the insurance company had reconsidered its decision, and thanked The SUN and Labatt dela Torre for taking up the cudgels for her.

“Wow, thanks po sa tulong ninyo. Kasi kung hindi sa tulong ninyo, at ni Sir Labatt na hindi naman ako kilala, baka hindi ko na ito nakuha,” she said in a Facebook message.

The insurer’s change of heart came just four days after Labatt dela Torre fired off an angry letter, saying the insurer’s ground for denying the claim was “unprecedented and makes no sense”. Dela Torre also sent a memo to the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority which could file a case against the insurer with the Philippine Insurance Commission, if need be.

In a letter to Tadalan dated Aug 11, PAMIOFW said the claim could not be granted as the allowance was available only to those with ongoing labor cases. As Tadalan had settled her case against her employer when she filed her claim, she was not entitled to the benefit anymore.

Labatt dela Torre was clearly angered by the reasoning. “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 said in his letter.

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”.

On receipt of his letter, the chairman of the insurance company reportedly berated his staff for denying the claim.

Tadalan, 36, walked out on her job on Apr 4 this year but was still awarded her full claim of $5,568 against her employer on July 7 at the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board. The officer said the employer had effectively terminated their contract from the time the worker was forced to sleep on the terrace outside his house.

Tadalan was also able to show proof of the other abuses she was subjected to during her employment that lasted just over two months, including being fed leftovers and given four hours of sleep.

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 worker.

In line with this, Tadalan was entitled to USD300 for the three months that she spent pursuing her case against her employer.

Sec 37 of RA 10022 also provides other benefits due a migrant worker covered by mandatory insurance, including:
1) A payout of at least US$15,000 in case of the migrant 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 Philippine legal expert consulted by The SUN said that an insurance company that refuses to pay a lawful claim  could be blacklisted, or even have its license revoked by the PIC.

Workers push for laws on food, shelter

Leaders of Asian Migrants Coordinating Body press for their demands at a recent protest in Central.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Asian domestic workers met with Labour Department policymakers on Aug 25 to propose a $5,500 minimum wage, regulation of food provision and accommodation, and a halt to the practice of employers forcing their maids to work in China.

But the Labour officials only lent them an ear and made no firm commitments, a migrant leader said.

Eni Lestari of the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body said the meeting at the Labour Department offices at Harbour Building was not a standard discussion but the officials “just listened to us” without offering anything substantial to workers.

She said she was not happy with what she described as “a not so open dialogue, because it doesn’t include many of our fellow domestic workers who cannot join (us).”

The workers demanded a $5,500 minimum wage, but the officials replied they could not commit that much because they had been granting increases in past years.

Lestari said the workers reminded the officials that for the past 18 years, the wage hike was only $450 in total because their salaries in 1998, already at $3,860, had risen to just $4,300 in 2017—a $23 per year increase.

On the accommodation issue, she said Labour was asked to ban certain areas of the flat, such as the kitchen, cupboard, toilet, floor, rooftop, clothes-drying area, laundry area, pet room and other very inhuman places sleeping areas for the workers.

They also asked Labour officials to allow a worker to find a new employer if she is forced to sleep on any of the areas mentioned. She said food and accommodation is the topmost complaint, but these are not considered violations of the contract.

The group also raised the issue of employers taking their maids to China to work in relatives’ houses there, but the Labour officials told them to report to the Immigration Department.

Lestari said the officials were told the number of helpers being forced to work in China is growing, and two have already died there – a Filipina who fell to her death three weeks ago and an Indonesian who was electrocuted while doing housework two weeks ago.  

“We came up with accommodation and food. Practically, in terms of accommodation and food, we want them to regulate, we need them to regulate,” Lestari said.

She said the group asked for a food allowance of $2,500 but if the employers reject it, the Labour Department should regulate and specify the food that bosses provide the workers. Lestari explained that in this arrangement, workers can tell their employers what kind of food the latter should provide under the law. But, she said, the food allowance would be a “more negotiable option”.

But she said the Labour officials could not commit anything, but that they would educate the employers about their obligations to the workers, and to treat their workers well.

Fifteen leaders of workers’ and employers groups and NGOs were invited to the meeting, but only five including Lestari could attend because most were at work.

Others present were Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, general manager of the Mission for Migrant Workers; Edwina Antonio, executive director of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge; and Dolores Balladares, chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Representing the department in the closed-door meeting were members of Labour’s policymaking body led by Assistant Commissioners Queenie Wong and Rebecca Chan.

The Labour Department said in an emailed reply to The SUN that the meeting was part of its regular consultations on the review of the MAW and food allowance.

The Department reiterated that in reviewing the MAW, the government “takes into account Hong Kong’s general economic and employment situation”.

It added that it hopes to announce the result of its consultations with FDHs and employers (and as a consequence, the new MAW) “as soon as possible”.

POLO freezes 2 more agencies hiring for Russia, Turkey

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Hong Kong employment agencies have been suspended from processing domestic workers’ contracts at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in a crackdown on recruiters luring OFWs here with jobs in Russia, Turkey and other countries.

The latest suspensions bring to four the number of agencies hit by POLO’s action for allegedly recruiting Hong Kong-based Filipinos illegally for jobs in a third country

The two agencies are Good Family Employment Agency Co Ltd, which has been recruiting OFWs for deployment in Russia; and C.U Consultant & Employment Services, or CUCES, which is offering jobs in Turkey.

Two other agencies that POLO had suspended earlier for third-country deployment of OFWs here were Emry’s Employment Agency in Central and Wanchai, and Boss Employment Agency in Sham Shui Po.

“We will not tolerate any wrongdoing of any employment agency accredited with POLO Hong Kong,” Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN on Aug 17.

“Third-country deployment is contrary to POEA Rules and Regulations, and undermines the sanctity of employment contracts in Hong Kong. Let this be a warning to other accredited employment agencies,” he said.

Hiring Filipino workers for jobs outside Hong Kong, called third-country deployment, is illegal because it exposes them to risks such as exploitation and human trafficking, as the jobs and work contracts are not verified by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Labatt Dela Torre suspended Good Family, which has its offices at Jade Centre, Kennedy Town, on Aug 10 after receiving reports that it was recruiting workers for Russia.

He followed that up on Aug 17 by suspending CUCES, which has been trying to lure Filipino workers here with “plenty of opportunities” in Turkey and promises of eligibility for acquiring immigrant visa after five years of working there.

Two days earlier, Labatt Dela Torre posted on his Facebook page a screengrab of another FB post by CUCES inviting jobseekers to apply for work in Turkey.

The agency also posted on its website a poster inviting jobseekers to an interview and orientation on Aug 20 in its Wanchai office where five Turkish recruiters are to join CUCES owner Ugur Akin in briefing the workers on living and working in Turkey.

The recruiter was offering monthly salaries of US$700 to US$1,000 for nannies plus their “own room and free wi-fi”, amenities that most foreign helpers in Hong Kong can only dream of.

The Consulate has time and again warned against the malpractice of recruiting Hong Kong-based Filipinos and deploying them to other countries without going through proper channels.

But agencies in Hong Kong have ignored the ban and are actively and openly recruiting Filipino workers for Russia, Turkey and other places such as Brazil.

In most cases, the agencies let the recruits travel on visitor visas because importation of foreign domestic workers is illegal in their destination countries. Then syndicates in those places get them commercial or even student visas to justify their longer stay.

But after those visas expire or their employers dump them, the workers are left high and dry and forced to stay illegally with friends, or surrender to the Philippine embassies in those countries for repatriation.

On June 28, the embassy in Moscow repatriated 20 Filipinos who ended up as illegal migrants after their initial tourist or commercial visa there expired. The repatriation was described as “the highest monthly figure so far” of OFWs deported by Russia.

They were among some 100 victims of a Russian visa agent who vanished with their money and passports. The incident forced the OFWs to return home rather than stay in Russia illegally and risk arrest and heavy penalties, the embassy said in a press release.

Third-country deployment illegal, risky: Labatt

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre has reiterated that third-country deployment or the placement of Hong Kong-based OFWs for jobs in other countries such as Turkey, Russia or Brazil, is contrary to Philippine laws.

The top labor official made the remarks as the Turkish government said its labor market is open to foreign workers seeking jobs as nannies and elderly caregivers.

In response to an emailed inquiry last month, the The Turkish Consulate in Hong Kong said: “The Republic of Turkey extended its ‘Overseas Foreign Worker’ policy around three years ago. With this extension of the legislation, foreign nationals can apply for nanny and elder care positions in Turkey.”

But Labatt dela Torre said directly sending our workers there from Hong Kong is a violation of the rules of the Philippine Overseas Labor Administration (POEA).

“It’s illegal per POEA rules and regulations because it violates our framework of protection (for OFWs), one of which is the pillar of verification,” Labatt Dela Torre told the SUN on Aug 21.

“There’s no way that the job order or the existence or nonexistence of a job or an employer can be verified kasi wala tayong POLO sa Turkey, Russia, et cetera, et cetera. So, whether or not this employer or this job order is genuine can only be authenticated and verified if there’s a POLO there,” he said.

“But there’s no way of checking that, kasi hindi dumadaan sa atin bago sila umalis. So most probably they will come into harm’s way and it’s the government who will get the blame.”

Dela Torre said there’s also a need for the worker’s contract to be checked and verified to ensure that its provisions are in accordance with the minimum standards set by the POEA.

Reports from OFWs who had worked in Hong Kong and were deployed by illegal recruiters to Russia, Turkey and other countries in Europe spoke of lack of protection from oppressive working conditions, premature terminations, or inexistent jobs.

The recruits were sent to those countries mostly on a tourist visa and later applied for commercial visas, claiming to be managers or professionals hired by companies in the destination countries.

The Consulate, and POLO in particular, has time and again warned Filipinos working in Hong Kong against taking the bait of agencies recruiting them for jobs in other countries without processing their papers through POEA.

Labatt dela Torre said POLO’s approach must be proactive so that OFWs are warned well in advance about the risks of being recruited illegally.

Labatt warns OFWs on new London job scam

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre has warned against a new Britain-based jobs scam reminiscent of the rip-off that victimized hundreds of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong in 2016.

His warning came in the form of a Facebook post he shared on Aug. 14, which was posted originally by his counterpart in Britain, Rey Conferido.

The scam reportedly involves the use of work documents purportedly verified and authenticated by labor officials attached to the Philippine embassy in London, complete with their signatures and chops.

The blue-collar jobs being offered, along with fat salaries and other perks, came from a company calling itself Bailey Consultants Ltd, and purportedly run by its sole director, a Mrs. Michele Bailey.

The jobs included those for truck drivers, electricians, carpenters, masons and painters at a salary of £2,500 each; and £3,000 for concrete machine mixers, all supposedly tax-free.

The package included a British visa and work permit, a five-day work week, free board and lodging, free Wifi, annual vacation leave, free air ticket “to and flow”, overtime pay, free medical attention, and eligibility for residency in five years.

Bailey Consultants Ltd purportedly needed 105 of these worker categories, 30 of whom would be carpenters and 25 painters who would be paid £2,500 a month.

The company said hiring would be carried out by its Philippine partner employment agency KYR International Manpower Services located along EDSA, Quezon City.

The SUN sent an email message to KYR on Aug 20 asking it to comment on its alleged partnership with Bailey, but has yet to get a reply. The package was similar to that offered by employment agency owner Ester Ylagan to lure thousands of OFWs to apply for jobs in Canada at $15,000 each; and in Britain at $10,000 each.

Conferido, who exposed the scam and whose alleged signature appeared on the documents, warned jobseekers against falling for the latest scam.

“Mag-ingat sa walang tigil na scammer na ito!!! Babalaan ang publiko laban dito. Fake ang mga dokumento at ang mga pirma dito. Yung ‘Faith Recruitment Agency’ na supposedly nagre-represent sa ‘Bailey Consultants Ltd’ ang notorious na nag-umpisa nito,” the labor attaché warned.

“Doon sa mga pinapadalhan nito, i-report ninyo sa mga government agencies na may anti-cyber crime function. Sana atakihin din ito ng mga good hackers,” said Conferido.

Bailey Consultants put its address as 5 Burstock Road, London SW15, with a certain Mrs Michele Bailey as its lone director.

It claimed to be listed in https://beta-companieshouse. gov.uk, an online listing of firms registered with Companies House, a registrar of companies and executive agency and trading fund of the British government.

A check with Companies House showed Bailey is a private limited company incorporated in June 2010 with a share capital of 100 shares, with an aggregate nominal value of £75.

The company is classified as active but there is no mention of what business it is into, and apparently it is plainly a shelf company. – Vir B. Lumicao

Himalang gumaling

Sobrang kinabahan si Elsa noong may tumubo na namang bukol sa kanyang kanang binti pagkalipas ng dalawang taon. Naging matagumpay naman ang operasyon niya noon pero hindi siya nakalakad ng tatlong buwan na siyang ikinababahala ni Elsa sa pagkakataong ito dahil kung maooperahan siyang muli ay baka mawalan siya ulit ng trabaho.

Natatakot man siya sa kanyang natuklasan ay pinili pa rin niyang maging tapat sa bagong amo. Payo kasi sa kanya ng dati niyang amo na kaibigan ng pinapasukan niya ngayon, kailangan niyang magtapat sa kung ano man ang kanyang nararamdaman para maagang maagapan kung ano may sakit mayroon siya.

Noong una kasi ay hindi niya agad sinabi sa amo ang nararamdaman hanggang ang kapatid nito mismo ang nakapansin na mas malaki ang kanyang kaliwang binti kaysa sa kanan. Noon lang niya ipinagtapat na nahihirapan na siyang lumakad at tumayo, at kumikirot nang husto ang kanyang binti kapag napapagod siya.

Nang marinig ito ng amo ay agad siyang pinapunta sa doctor para masuri. Ayon naman sa doctor ay kailangan niyang magpa MRI, at dahil mahaba ang pila para dito sa pampublikong lugar ay sa isang pribadong ospital siya dinala ng amo. Tumataginting na $5,800 ang ibinayad ng amo para sa pagsusuri.

Tatlong araw pagkalipas ng MRI ay sinabi sa kanya ng doctor na hindi naman cancerous ang bukol sa kanyang binti. Gayunpaman, kailangan pa rin niyang ituloy ang pagpapasuri dahil baka lumala ang kanyang bukol.

Nitong sumumpong uli ang pagsasakit ng binti niya ay masigasig niyang sinunod ang lahat ng payo ng doctor, at pati ng mga kaibigan niya. Uminom siyang madalas ng pinakuluang dahon ng guyabano at pati mga food supplements na sinasabing nakakawala ng bukol. Nagtapal pa siya ng iba-ibang produkto na galing ng Hapon at Tsina, pero parang walang epekto.

Mabuti naman at nagbakasyon ang kanyang mga amo kamakailan kaya nakapahinga siya ng matagal-tagal, na sinamantala din niya para makapagdiyeta. Tatlong araw siyang panay ang inom ng tubig, at isang pirasong tinapay lang ang kinakain bawat oras. Nagpunta din siya sa mga simbahan hanggang sa Macau para manalangin na gumaling siya.

Paggising niya noong Hulyo 16, isang araw bago bumalik ang kanyang mga amo ay naramadaman niyang magaaan ang kanang binti niya. Hinaplos-haplos nya ito at ganoon na lang ang kanyang tuwa dahil wala na siyang makapang bukol. Napalundag siya ng ilang beses nang makita na wala nang nakaumbok sa kanyang binti, at pati ang kirot ay wala na rin.

Pagbalik ng kanyang amo ay napayakap siya sa kanila sa sobrang tuwa. Muling sumigla ang kanyang buhay at nabura lahat ang masasamang pangitain sa kanyang isip. 

Ayon kay Elsa, napatunayan niya na walang imposible sa Panginoon basta magtiwala ka lang. Laking pasasalamat din niya sa mga amo dahil sa ipinakita nilang kabaitan at pag-aalala sa kanya. Sa katunayan bago sila umalis para magbakasyon noong isang buwan ay binilhan pa siya ng bagong laptop para hindi siya malungkot habang wala sila. Kaya naman para masuklian ang kabaitan ng mga ito ay dobleng sipag niya ngayon, at sinasarapan pa lalo ang pagluluto ng kanilang pagkain.

Si Elsa ay isang Ilokana na tubong Cagayan Valley at kasalukuyang naninilbihan New Territories. – Marites Palma

Ingat-ingat lang sa kalusugan

Halos maiyak sa biglang pagsakit ng kanang binti si Kuya Pepe, 55 at Kapampangan, kamakailan.

Kakaparada lang niya ng kotse noon matapos sunduin ang anak ng amo niya  nang maramdaman niya ang matinding pananakit ng kanyang binti. Halos hindi siya makalakad dahil sa bawat hakbang niya ay kumikirot a g sakit. Napaupo na lang siya sa lobby ng tirahan ng amo niya sa Shatin sa takot at kaba. Agad niyang naisip ang kanyang pamilya na umaasa sa kanyang kita.

Hindi naman siya nagpabaya at agad kumunsulta sa isang doktor sa Tsim Sha Tsui. Isinailalim siya sa x-ray, paharap at patagilid, sa leeg at balakang, dahil talagang matindi ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. Pagkatapos ay pinaupo siya ng doktor at pinataas-baba ang kanyang paa, bago minasahe siya ng bahagya.

Sa bandang huli, sinabi ng doktor na “nerve pain” lang iyong nararamdaman niya. Binigyan siya ng tableta para sa kirot  at ointment na nagsasanhi ng kaunting pag-iinit ng balat kapag ipinahid.

Laking tuwa ni Kuya Pepe nang mawala ang pananakit ng kanyang binti matapos inumin sa loob ng apat na araw ang tabletang inireseta ng doktor. Mantakin mo naman daw na bigla ka na lang mistulang paralisado, at paano kung bigla ka na lang di makalakad? Napaisip siya na talagang kailangan na maging mas maingat sa pagpapanatili ng kalusugan. - George Manalansan