Left hits Duterte for reneging on reform vow and eyeing martial law

By Vir B. Lumicao

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr
(left) and Eman Villanueva, reelected chairman of
Bayan HK & Macau

A year after Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency, he has yet to fulfill his promise of undertaking reforms, and instead exposed himself as a reactionary representative of the ruling class, Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr said.

Reyes, in a lengthy speech at the second general assembly of Bayan Hong Kong & Macau on Sept 10, also said the progressive movement would oppose any moves by Duterte to declare martial law nationwide, as he has threatened to do.

“Natapos ang isang taon, ganap nang nalantad si Duterte bilang reaksiyunaryong kinatawan ng rehimeng naghaharing uri at mga ekonomista. Hindi tinupad ang mga pangako at naghahasik ng lagim sa buong bansa. At maaaring lumala pa ang sitwasyon,” Reyes said at the event attended by around 300 people at the University of Hong Kong.

Duterte’s use of repression, violence, murder and disregard of human rights, and its protection of US interests, were not the change he promised in his election campaign. Reyes said.

He warned Malacanang may be heading toward imposing martial law throughout the country, after putting Mindanao under military rule in the wake of the attack on the southern city of Marawi by Muslim rebels.

Reyes said martial law has displaced nearly 500,000 Filipinos and led to the biggest man-made calamity in the country that has killed 136 soldiers, 45 civilians, and 620 rebels, in addition to the growing number of human rights violations.

Elsewhere, he said the nightly killings of suspected drug addicts and pushers continue, despite the government’s claims to the contrary. He cited Duterte’s dismissal of the recent deaths of Kian delos Santos, 17; Carlo Angelo Arnaiz, 19; and Reynaldo de Guzman, 14, as mere coincidences.

The Bayan leader has accused the military of sabotaging the peace talks between the Left and the government, leading to the collapse of the negotiations.

On the removal of leftist Cabinet officials earlier appointed by Duterte, Reyes said: “Pumasok tayo diyan para gumawa ng mabuti. Kung sisibakin tayo, hindi tayo maglulupasay at parang asong (sabik) sa puwesto at isusuko ang prinsipyo para lang mapanatili sa puwesto.”

He said the Left had proposed social and economic reforms, including free distribution of land to farmers, but Duterte had yielded to pressure from landlords and the military.

Meanwhile, corruption was well-entrenched, as shown by the smuggling into the country 6.4 billion kilos of shabu of methamphetamine hydrochloride into the country through the Customs “Green Lane” for VIPs.

On Sept 21, Bayan will lead a protest rally in Manila against Duterte’s plan to declare martial law nationwide, as well as the extrajudicial killings and other key issues.

Meanwhile, Eman Villanueva was re-elected by the 47 voting delegates from member organizations as chairperson of Bayan HK & Macau. Shiela Tebia was elected as vice chair; Josie Pingkihan as secretary general, and Rina Beldia as deputy secretary general. Betty Maguinsay was elected as treasurer. The new officers were sworn into office by Reyes.

Before the voting, delegates approved the alliance’s general program of action for the year.

Police called to stop alleged Pinoy pyramid scam

By Vir B.Lumicao

A group of migrant workers who claimed they were victims of a pyramid scheme called the police after cornering their alleged swindler in the midst of his business presentation to would-be investors at a coffee shop in Central on Sept 3.

However, their quarry whom they identifed in Facebook posts as July Macapas was eventually sent home by the police for “lack of a case”.

The incident happened at around 11:45 am at a Starbucks outlet on Manly building on Des Voeux Road, while Macapas was reportedly introducing his investment plan to about a dozen people.

The women, part of an estimated 40 alleged victims of Macapas, told the officers Macapas was the founder of Team Donatos, a pyramid operation that had invited scores of OFWs to invest in his quick-rich scheme, one of the victims told The SUN.

Officers found transaction receipts totaling Php500,000 issued by Macapas and his wife to investors in the couple’s luggage. The documents were proof the victims had invested in Macapas’ scheme, which called for a Php10,500 “pay-in” that would grow into Php90,000 in just three months.

Macapas was escorted by the officers out of the coffee shop away from his detractors.

However, the police later said in reply to an inquiry by The SUN that the incident was just a “dispute” between a man and a woman and that “there was no case.”

Before the day was over, video clips of the “arrest” went viral on Facebook, with vengeful commenters— alleged victims or plain kibitzers—heaping accusations of greed and deception against Macapas.

The SUN contacted one of those who posted a comment — Fe Masiba, an alleged victim who claimed Macapas had disappeared with her Php10,500—and asked about her video post on Facebook.

In her reply two days later, Masiba said Macapas was taken to the police station where officers took his statement. But the police sent him home afterwards because, accordingly, they didn’t have jurisdiction over his case.

“Nalaman namin na papunta siya rito kaya nagkasundo kami (ng ibang mga biktima) na ipapulis (siya). Hindi siya umamin sa pulis sa kasalanan niya, pero nakita ng mga pulis ang mga resibo na nakapangalan sa kanya at sa kanyang asawa,” Masiba said.

She said Macapas founded Team Donatos after promoting a previous gold-trading pyramid scheme called Global InterGold. This time, he came to Hong Kong offering slots in Monspace, a get-rich-quick cryptocurrency operation in Kuala Lumpur.

There seems to be no stopping Macapas. In a Facebook post on Sept 12, he said he would travel to Malaysia later this month. “On the way to Malaysia to 3rd year anniversary Monspace Malaysia! September 28 to Oct 2, 2017,” he proclaimed.

In another FB post on Sept 11, he was inviting the public to invest in his new “special offer”, a cryptocurrency called Anniversary Indonesia Declaration Currency.

“GET YOUR AIDC NOW! While Supply Last! ± 9,300 = 2,900 MSD YOU NEED ± 66,700  JUST TO GET 2,900 MSDOLLAR,” his offer read.

The Macapas couple is facing three criminal complaints of “syndicated estafa/swindling” filed by three groups of Team Donatos investors in the Quezon City Prosecutors Office in August and December 2016, according to a Facebook post by a concerned group of alleged scam victims.

Would-be teachers await final list as LET clock ticks

The countdown for the next Licensure Examination for Teachers in Hong Kong on Sept 24, has begun, with would-be examinees eagerly awaiting the approved list of applicants.

A total of 464 would-be teachers have registered online for the exam, which will be administered by the Professional Regulation Commission at Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo in Kwun Tong.

However, the applications are still being assessed by the Professional Regulation Commission, which means there is a chance that some may not make it to the final list.

On Sept 11, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office issued the general guidelines to exam-takers on what to do, what to bring, and how to get to the exam venue at 122 Hip Wo St, a distance about 500 meters from the MTR Kwun Tong Station.

The National Organization of Professional Teachers (Hong Kong) said the only concerns now were the final list of examinees from the PRC and the mobilizing of proctors and watchers.

“As of the moment, we are still waiting for the advisory from POLO about proctors and watchers,” said NOPT President Gemma Lauraya, who said no briefing or orientation had yet been held or slated.

She said NOPT held its last and final review on Sept 10 at Bayanihan Center.

In its Sept 11 announcement on Facebook, POLO said the exam will be from 6am to 6pm. It reminded all examinees to arrive on time, stating that those who show up after 6pm will no longer be admitted, and their registration fees will be forfeited.

The arrival deadline will be a challenge to the examinees, as Hong Kong’s public transport system start running only around that time. Even if they manage to get onto the MTR ahead of that time, they will have to walk about 15 minutes from the nearest station. Otherwise, they will have to queue really early for the minibuses plying that route to ensure they get to the venue on time.

But Lauraya said that based on her observations in past exams, those who were not so late were still able to sit for the test, and only those who arrived after midday were barred.

She said some takers were allowed by their employers to leave early or stay in boarding houses near the venue on the eve of the exam. Others went to the venue on taxicabs in groups. - VBL

Family presses for inquiry as SZ police rule out foul play in Pinay’s fatal fall

By Vir B. Lumicao

Guangdong police have ruled out foul play in the fatal plunge in July of Filipina maid Lorain Asuncion from the flat of her employers’ relative in Shenzhen.

The news came as the maid’s family told The SUN that an autopsy had been carried out on her remains on Sept. 1, but the results won’t be known until the end of the month.

Until then, Asuncion’s body will remain in Shenzhen.

“Hinihintay pa yung result bago maiuwi ang body niya. After 20 to 30 days pa yung result. Na-autopsy siya noong Sept 1,” Javier said.

“Ang sa police naman po, ganundin po. Hihintayin din nila ang result bago mabuksan yung area,” she said, referring to the 22nd floor flat in a housing block from where the Filipina fell to her death on July 24.

However, as early as Aug. 9, the Guangdong Public Security Department had indicated it was not looking at homicide as the cause of Asuncion’s death.

In a reply to a note verbale from the Philippine Consulate in Guangdong, the police said:

“At present, the legal medical expert has certified that Asuncion Lorain Escorial died from falling off the building and has excluded any possible homicide.”

Despite this, Asuncion’s male employer, Gu Huaiya, and his wife, surnamed Liu, were arrested on Aug 17 after they were summoned to the Hong Kong police headquarters in Wanchai.

The couple was held on a charge of conspiring to defraud HK Immigration by claiming that their domestic would work only in the territory.

Police reportedly found out that the Filipina had been taken across the border by her employers four times in the nine months that she was in their employ.

They were released on bail but told to report to the police again by mid-September.

The police report said Asuncion entered Shenzhen through Futian port on July 22 and stayed in the house of her female employer’s father, Liu Heping, while her employers’ family was touring other parts of China.

When Liu woke up at around 9am on July 23, he could not find Asuncion in the flat but all her personal belongings were there, the police report said. Liu reported the Filipina’s disappearance to the police station in Ban Tian.

 Around 9am on July 24, Liu again called the police and reported that he had found the body of Asuncion below the residential block, the police reported.

Asuncion’s sister, Jenevieve A. Javier, said in an online message she had requested the Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou to hire a private doctor to carry out the autopsy to ensure a thorough examination of the victim’s body.

She said the autopsy would include an internal examination of Asuncion’s body to find the exact cause of death, as a police autopsy would only look for external telltale signs.

Javier and an aunt, Susan Escorial, went to Shenzhen via Hong Kong in early August and were escorted by police and an officer from the Consulate in Guangzhou to Liu’s house, which had been sealed as the investigation was ongoing.

600 FDHs rally for higher wage, food allowance

Protesters march from Exchange Square in Central to the Labour Department in Sheung Wan .

By Vir B. Lumicao

Foreign domestic workers have stepped up their campaign for higher wage and food allowance, amid the annual government review of their minimum allowable wage (MAW).

More than 600 Filipino, Indonesian, Thai and Nepalese workers marched from Exchange Square in Central to the Labour Department in Sheung Wan on Sept 3 demanding a monthly minimum wage of $5,500 and food allowance of $2,500.

At present, FDWs must get no less than $4,310 a month in wages, and an extra $1,038 if they are not provided food by their employers. Workers who don’t get the food allowance often complain of not getting enough food to eat, even as they are made to work up to 18 hours a day.

Also marching with the protesters were Hong Kong human rights activists and civic group members who supported the workers’ demands and their struggle for their right to non-discrimination and non-exclusion.

“We are not asking too much. We are not asking for a very high increase in our salaries.  What we are asking for is a livable wage in Hong Kong,” said Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, spokesperson of the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body.

Balladares said a living wage would allow FDWs ‘to live as people, as human beings having fair salary increases”.

“The salary of the local people in Hong Kong should not be different from the salary that the foreign domestic helper is receiving,” she said, adding that based on the local workers’ computation, they should receive at least $12,218 as minimum wage.

She said the helpers’ $5,500 monthly pay demand had already taken into account their free accommodation and use of electricity and water.

The Hong Kong government conducts a review of the basic salary of local workers every two years, but the statutory minimum wage does not include domestic workers. Balladares decried the unfairness of conducting a separate review of helpers’ wages.

In May this year, the government raised the statutory minimum wage for local workers to $34.50 per hour from $32.50, or a $16 increase per 8-hour working day, and $433 for a 27-day working month.

In contrast, FDW salaries increased ony $96 a year on average, according to Balladares.

“We are caring for the families of Hong Kong people, we are giving our best to ease their anxieties, we are contributing to the society. But we are not receiving livable wages,” Balladares said.

The campaign will continue to reach out to legislators, key organizations, and other local workers in order to unite with them in calling on the government for wage increase.

“We don’t want the Hong Kong government to let local workers and the migrant domestic workers fight each other,” Balladares said.

Also speaking at then rally, Ma Wan-ki or Majai, the deputy secretary general of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, scoffed at the irony of Hong Kong people starving their domestic workers.

This issue was dramatized by a group of Indonesian domestic workers who marched carrying bowls of plain or sauced-topped rice in their hands.

 “It is very ironic how hundreds of people are rallying for this very basic thing, rice. Everybody has that in Hong Kong, every Chinese people, every kind of people, whoever, only domestic helpers have not enough food,” Ma said as he pledged his solidarity with the helpers’ struggle.

“It’s too basic, $5,500, how can I live on that wage, and sufficient food, it’s the minimum of minimums but still you have to fight for it,” Ma said.

Departures leave Consulate, POLO short-handed

By Vir B. Lumicao

Assistant Labor Attaché Henry Tianero
gets a sendoff from Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre
and staff.

The Consulate will be short-handed from mid-September, when Vice Consul Alex Vallespin of the assistance to nationals section leaves for his new assignment in Guam, with no replacement expected at least until early next year.

Consul General Bernardita Catalla is also expected to leave anytime in October for her new post as Philippine ambassador to Lebanon, aggravating the situation. Her designated successor, Ambassador Antonio Morales, is not expected to step in immediately, as his appointment has yet to be approved by the Hong Kong government.

Vallespin told the SUN he would be leaving for Agana on Sept 18.

A parallel staff shortage is also about to take place at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, whose two assistant labor attachés end their three-year tour of duty this month but whose replacements won’t be coming over any time soon.

Deputy Consul General Roderic Atienza sought to allay concerns about the impending shortage of personnel, saying the Consulate would still render the same kind of service to its constituents.

“Gagawin pa rin namin ang aming makakaya upang mapaglingkuran namin ang ating mga kababayan nang buong-husay tulad ng serbisyong naibibigay namin sa kanila ngayon,” DCG Atienza told The SUN on Sept 3.

Deputy Consul General Roderic Atienza takes
over when Consul General Bernardita Catalla
leaves for Lebanon.

He said the replacements of Ambassador Catalla and Vice Consul Vallespin would not be able to take up their Hong Kong assignments soon because of diplomatic procedures, so the understaffing could stretch into early 2018.

Pending the arrival of Ambassador Morales after Congen Catalla leaves, DCG Atienza will be the officer-in-charge in Hong Kong.

Other staff at the Consulate said the two interim vacancies should not pose a problem as the current personnel would still be able to keep the outpost running normally.

But it could be a different situation over at POLO, where Assistant Labor Attaché Henry Tianero has gone on leave since Sept. 13, despite assuring that he would fly out of Hong Kong two weeks after the arrival of his replacement.

Also expected to end her tour of duty soon is ALA Maria Nena German, POLO’s liaison officer with employment agencies and representative on the Technical Working Group.

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN earlier that their replacements, both also assistant labor attachés, would come from the POLOs in Singapore and a Gulf state.

Labatt Dela Torre said the situation at POLO would be tough as, even with the two ALAs around, staff had to work on their holidays to serve OFWs with transactions whose days off fall on the labor office’s weekend.

He said he had requested for additional four personnel from the home office but was not sure when the new staff would come.

Foodfest by top Pinay chef delights HK gourmets

By Vir B. Lumicao

Margarita “Gaita” Fores, Asia’s best
female chef of 2016, lords it over at House of
Madison in Wanchai to dish out Filipino cuisine for a day.

When Margarita “Gaita” Fores stormed into Hong Kong on Aug 31, about a hundred local journalists swarmed her “Kain Na!” food-tasting event at House of Madison in Wanchai to sample Filipino cuisine dished out by Asia’s best female chef of 2016.

Excitement and wonder lit up the faces of guests as they moved around the spacious modern kitchen at Madison, which hosts similar food festivals featuring top foreign chefs or cooking workshops for locals as a subtle way of introducing new kitchen technology.

The two-hour gathering kept Fores occupied, mostly with interviews with Hong Kong food writers eager to know more about Filipino fine dining, and why it has nary a presence in a city known for its jungle of eateries and melting pot of tastes.

It’s been decades since the closure of a full-fledged Filipino restaurant called Mabuhay, and the more upmarket Café Adriatico, both in Tsimshatsui, leaving the Philippines unrepresented in Hong Kong’s vibrant world of fine dining.

Was she ready to fill the gap? The SUN asked Fores in a quick interview.

“Of course, I’d love to,” she said, adding excitedly that Filipino cuisine has come of age, supported by players in the country’s spice and produce markets that are aggressively promoting native ingredients to international markets.

“If I’m going to set up here, I’d target the foodies,” she said, explaining that this market segment looks for new ideas and tastes.

But setting up in Hong Kong, where Fores worked in the finance industry before she became a restaurateur, is not in her immediate plans.

She held out the hope, however, that Philippine cuisine will find its place here again because the country’s young culinary talents are ready to take their own ideas of fine dining to foreign markets like this city.

Besides, she said, Filipino food attracts foreigners because of its unique taste drawn from centuries of colonial influences combined with native flavors and exclusively Filipino ingredients.

“Filipino cuisine is well known internationally. We have our lechon and adobo, which are very popular abroad because of their distinctly Filipino flavor.  And now our sisig is also captivating foreigners. The first time they taste it, they get so interested to find out its ingredients,” she said.

Fores runs more than a dozen high-end Italian restaurants in Manila, led by Cibo in Bonifacio Global City and Grace Park in Rockwell, both in Makati.

A Google check of Grace Park’s pricing showed us, for example, that a classic ham and cheese sourdough sandwich costs Php515 and a 500-gram dry-aged prime rib-eye main course has a tag of Php3,800, levels meant for the upper crust.

The event was also a showcase of myriad Philippine organic farm and fishery products  such as rice – regular and heirloom – corn, banana, coffee, cacao, cheese, nuts, ham, pork jerky and sausages, herbs and spices.

“This is our first time to put up a food festival like this in Hong Kong, and we’re  planning to come back for more of it and find new markets for our herbs and spices,” Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat told The SUN.

For the Aug 31 food-tasting, the Department of Agriculture brought Fores’ team of six chefs to Hong Kong, along with lechon de leche (because they did not know where to  source bigger butchered pigs) and other native dishes served with exotic grains such as adlai (Job’s tears) and colorful heirloom rice from the Cordilleras.

Six tables were set up, serving eight cocktail sets of recipes such as barquillos and chive mousse, baby crab fat and fish roe for appetizers; shredded chicken adobo, Amadeo coffee liqueur, boiled adlai and atchara; pork sisig on heirloom rice; tuna kinilaw on fried corn tortilla; seafood sinigang sa batwan, a sour nut from the Negros provinces; and the centerpiece lechon suckling pig.

For dessert, it was servings of heirloom rice suman, mango and pulot crumble as well as maja blanca moderna and halaya glaze.

The aperitifs featuring mixes of native mango or calamansi juice and a range of liquors bottled by Destileria Limtuaco found favor with the guests, as the 165-year-old distillery tested the waters prior to launching into the Hong Kong market.

“We’re ready to market our products here, but we’re still looking for a distributor. We are initially targeting the hotels,” Aaron James Limpe-Aw, business development manager, told The SUN.

Filipino spice and condiments brand Mama Sita’s, which is eager to expand its market in Hong Kong, provided the grains, spices and sauces that Fores used in her dishes.

Beaten-up DH flies home with $15,000 settlement

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker who was mauled in June by her employer’s wife just six days into her two-year service, has gone home with $15,000 settlement money from her male boss.

Jen-Jen Gambol, 24, left Hong Kong around the end of August, after entering into a settlement with W. H Tang, her male employer, at the Labour Department.

The status of the Mong Kok police investigation against Tang’s wife remains uncertain now that the helper is back in her home province of Nueva Vizcaya.

Edwina Antonio, a director of Mission for Migrant Workers, told The SUN that Gambol informed her she was going home after she agreed on a settlement with Tang.

The maid had earlier consulted the Mission after the Labour Tribunal adjourned her claim against Tang until Dec 12 pending the result of the criminal investigation of Tang’s wife.

“Mukhang gusto na niya talagang umuwi. Nag-decide na iyon. Sayang nga eh, kasi six days lang siya,” Antonio said.

The Labour Tribunal initially heard on Aug. 11 Gambol’s claim totaling $106,000 against Tang, including compensation for summary dismissal and loss of earning capacity. But the hearing was adjourned until Dec 12 pending the police action on the assault case against Tang’s wife.

Presiding Officer Daniel Tang cautioned the helper before adjourning the hearing that the Tribunal was not the appropriate court for the amount she was claiming from her employer, while her boss said he was going for a settlement.

Police rescued Gambol on June 21 after Mrs Tang allegedly beat her up the previous evening for accidentally damaging the woman’s blouse while ironing it. Officers rescued her and took her to a hospital for a check-up. They arrested Tang’s wife the next day but released her after investigation.

The helper realized fighting her case in court would take time after Presiding Officer Daniel Tang told her the civil claim would have to be put on hold pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

Gambol, a mother of a 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl, told The SUN on Aug 22 that was considering settling with her boss.

“Sir, ayaw ko na yata ituloy ito,” she said in a Facebook message. “Eh ang tagal pa naman ng hearing. Paano kung maki-settle na lang ako sa amo ko?”

On the same day, she said in another message that it seemed her employer did not want to settle and would instead fight the case.

Gambol elevated the claim to the Tribunal after a failed preliminary meeting at the Labour Department on July 13 when the employer insisted on paying her only $1,900 for a plane ticket to Manila.

Overstaying Pinay caught shoplifting

A Filipina who worked for 19 years as a domestic helper then returned as a visitor and overstayed, was jailed for 14 days on Aug 30 after she pleaded guilty in Eastern Court to a charge each of theft and breach of condition of stay.

Ana Saldivar, 52 and single, was found to have overstayed in Hong Kong for a year after she was caught shoplifting in a Park ‘N’ Shop supermarket in Sai Wan Ho on Aug 29.

The prosecution said the Filipina went to the supermarket at 7:50 am and took three bottles of coffee and six cans of sardines in olive oil from the shelves and put them in a black shopping bag.

Unknown to Saldivar, a shop staff saw her and when she left without paying for the goods, the staff stopped her outside the supermarket and inspected her bag.

The theft was reported to the police and Saldivar was arrested. The officers discovered she had a Hong Kong ID but came in as a visitor and allowed to stay only until Aug 29, 2016. They also found more than $4,000 cash in her wallet.

The prosecution said the woman had a previous theft conviction in 2014. She was jailed and eventually sent home. Before that, she had worked as a domestic helper for 19 years.

In mitigation, her counsel from the duty lawyer service said Saldivar was supporting a sick sister in the Philippines and stole from the shop because she had no work but did not want to go home because of a threat to her life.

When Magistrate So Wai-tak asked why she overstayed, Saldivar said it was unsafe for her to go home because her brother was threatening to kill her.

So sentenced her to seven days in jail for each of the offences, to be served consecutively. - VBL

Umela leader looks to home after 21 years

UMELA president Ofelia Baquirin (right) says she will miss the company of her eldest daughter Juliefe, who will continue training new members in massage therapy while working in Hong Kong.

By Vir B. Lumicao

In the safety of their hangout on a quiet passageway near the High Court building in Central, Ofelia Baquirin supervises about 20 Filipina domestic workers undergoing theoretical and hands-on training in massage therapy.

The session, which lasts from 10am to 1pm, is the usual Sunday activity in that obscure corner of the building that is otherwise busy on a normal working day.

For the past few years, the area has been used by the United Migrants Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Association (Umela-HK) to train interested OFWs in various skills they that they will need to make a living when they go home for good.

Umela has more than 100 members, mostly graduates of the massage therapy course conducted by trainers duly certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, a training arm of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Like a good teacher, Baquirin guides her students through an illustrated book on reflexology as she immerses them in basic anatomy and physiology,  pathology and microbiology, before they go into practice.

Like any good team leader, too, the 49-year-old domestic worker goes hands-on showing a trainee the proper strokes of Swedish massage and the vital points of a human body as well as corresponding pressure points to relieve pain anywhere in the body.

“See, the learners go through both theoretical and hands-on training here. They are also like students in a formal school who go through theory and practice,” Baquirin tells The SUN.

“We conduct massage therapy training every Sunday and also teach other skills such as macrame bag making and basic dressmaking.”

The workshop training includes preparing each individual trainee for the NC II certification examination to be taken in the Philippines or at a TESDA onsite assessment in Hong Kong so she will become a more competitive massage therapist.

As gusty winds and intermittent rain brought by Typhoon Hato lashed on Aug 27, a total of 96 trainees graduated from Umela’s training program – they made up batches 20 and 21 and comprising 75 massage therapists and 21 macrame bag makers. The ceremony was held at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty Centre.

Baquirin feels a sense of fulfillment each time a batch graduates. But on Aug 27, there was hesitation and sadness in her voice as she announced that the graduation was the last one she was gracing, as she would be going home to Victoria, Mindoro Oriental, on Dec 14 after 21 years in Hong Kong.

Baquirin co-founded Umela-HK on June 22, 2008 with fellow veteran community leaders: Arnold Grospe, Joel Almeda, Rolando Cruz, Danny Velasquez, and two who are no longer in the territory, Cora Carsola and  Remedios Borlaza.

“Sila po ang mga kasama kong bumuo ng Umela at nagtulak at nagbigay ng lakas ng loob na kaya kong pamunuan ang Umela Livelihood Training Program,” Baquirin said.

The program began with meat processing, ribbon folding,beads crafting and soap carving), added basic dressmaking and macrame bag knitting. Then came massage therapy, which proved to be very popular because of the potential for employment or business back home that the training provides.

“Dec.19, 1996, noong bagong salta ako ditto sa Hong Kong. Ako ay 28 lang at that time,” Baquirin recalled. ”Sa darating na Dec.19 ay 21years na akong nagtatrabaho rito. God willing, sa Dec.14 uuwi na muna ako sa atin upang makapiling muli ang aking pamilya.”

She said her stay in Hong Kong had enabled her to fulfill all her dreams.

 “Noong unang dating ko pa lamang dito sa Hong Kong,paglapag ng eroplano nangarap na akong magkaroon ng sariling lote at bahay at lupang sakahan na mapapagkunan ng pagkain ng aking pamilya at mapagtapos ko sa pag-aaral ang aking mga anak at maipagamot na rin ang aming ina,” Baquirin said.

Prayers and hard work kept her focused on those dreams. Over the past years, she has sent her children to university with her eldest Juliefe, 29, finishing midwifery; Jellian Pearl, 23, hotel and restaurant management; and JorenGel, 22, BS Marine Engineering.

 She said only her son Jeraldy, 25, who did not earn a degree because he got married early.

 She also shared the blessings with a nephew who she helped finish a BS Marine Engineering course, in addition to supporting he parents and helping her siblings.

 Baquirin said she would be missing a lot, including the Filipino community here, when she leaves Hong Kong.

 “Ang mami-miss ko dito sa Hong Kong ay ang anak kong panganay na iiwanan ko dito at ang lifestyle during Sunday off, ang Umela family ko at mga kaibigan, kamag-anak at ang events natin sa Filcom,” she said with nostalgia.

John Lloyd, humingi ng paumanhin

Ni Johna Acompanado

Humingi ng paumanhin si John Lloyd Cruz kaugnay ng mga naglabasang mga larawan at video niya noong nagbakasyon siya sa Sante Fe, Bantayan Island, sa Cebu, kasama ang nali-link sa kanya ngayong si Ellen Adarna. Hindi raw dapat nakita ng mga bata ang mga ito lalo na ang kanyang pagsenyas ng dirty finger. Marami raw siyang natutuhan sa mga nangyari, pero wala siyang pinagsisihan dahil nag-enjoy naman siya doon. Nagpasalamat din siya sa mga nagtatanggol sa kanya sa kabila ng mga batikos na ipinupukol sa kanya.

Nakakasira raw sa imahe ng actor ang mga kuha sa kanya na halatang lasing habang sumasayaw at kumakanta na parang wala sa sarili, nag-dirty finger, sumiksik sa tabi ng mga tangke ng gas,  naglalaro ng kutsilyo at umaakyat sa puno ng niyog. Hindi rin kaaya-aya ang mga kuha niyang nakahubad ng pang-itaas dahil parang ipinakita na hindi niya inaalagaan ang kanyang katawan.

Galit ang mga tagahanga ng aktor sa kaibigan ni Ellen, na nag-upload ng mga ito sa social media dahil parang sinabotahe nito ang imahe ng actor, na maraming taon din nitong iningatan, lalo pa at may mga product endorsement pa ito. Naiintindihan ng lahat na matanda na si John Lloyd at pwede niyang gawin ang gusto niya, lalo na at dati na siyang napabalitang malakas uminom ng alak, pero sana raw ay pribado na lang ito at hindi na inilabas sa publiko. Pero ang sabi ng mga nakasama nila sa bakasyon, “clean fun” lang daw iyon at nagpaka-normal lang ang aktor at nag-enjoy.

Bilang reaksyon, tinawanan lang ito ni Ellen at sinabing hindi naman sila nag-yoga retreat. Lalo lang nainis ang mga tao sa kanya dahil bad influence daw siya, at hindi nararapat kay John Lloyd. Matatandaang sa ganito ring paraan nalantad sa publiko si Baste Duterte, na naging karelasyon din niya. Nakilala si Ellen bilang isang party girl at walang takot na magpa-sexy at walang pakialam sa mga negatibong bagay na sinasabi sa kanya.

Si Ellen ay kabilang sa cast ng Home Sweetie Home na pinagtatambalan nina John Lloyd at Toni Gonzaga.  

RACHEL ANN, ENGAGED NA 
Ibinalita kamakailan ni Rachelle Ann Go na engaged na siya sa kanyang American boyfriend na si Martin Spies, at nag-post pa siya ng larawan nila nang mag-propose ito sa kanya. Nakaluhod si Martin sa harap ni Rachelle Ann, habang nasa tabing dagat sila sa Boracay. Ang caption niya: “ I just prayed for this on my 31st birthday, and just like that, this happened. What an amazing God we have. Thank you Father God for this man. A man who loves you first. I still cannot believe this!”

Noong nakaraang buwan, nag-post na rin sa Instagram si Rachelle Ann tungkol kay Martin.

“Look for a man who will not just patiently wait for you after work, carry your bag ‘coz he knows you’re tired, treat you like a queen, make you laugh constantly but also who puts God first and pray for/with you. If he loves God first he will also honor & respect you all the days of your life!”

Si Martin ay general manager ng luxury fitness at wellness company na Equinox sa Amerika.

Unang lumabas ang larawan nina Rachelle Ann at Martin na magkasama noong Abril. Kuha ito sa New York, kung saan itinatanghal ang “ Miss Saigon”. Mula noon ay madalas nang nakakasama ang lalaki sa mga pasyalan ng pamilya ni Rachelle, na ang pinakahuli nga ay nang muling dumalaw ito sa Pilipinas at nakasama sa bakasyon sa Boracay.

Ilan sa mga unang nakaalam sa engagement ng sikat na singer at stage actress ay ang mga kaibigan niyang sina Kyla at asawa nitong si Rich Alvarez, Yeng Constantino at asawang si Yan Asuncion, Moi Bien, at ilang kasamahan nila sa Cornerstone Entertainment, nang magbakasyon din sila sa Boracay upang sorpresahin si Rachelle Ann. Isa sa pinakamalapit din niyang kaibigan, si Erik Santos, ang nag-post ng close-up picture niya na suot ang engagement ring.

Nakatakdang umalis papunta ng London si Rachelle para naman sa pagtatanghal ng popular na musical na “Hamilton” sa Victoria Palace Theatre na magsisimula sa December 6. Gagampanan niya ang mahalagang papel bilang Eliza Schuyler Hamilton.

MARIAN, BALIK–AKSYON
Hindi na bago kay Marian Rivera ang pagganap sa mga action roles dahil nag-bida na siya sa Darna, Dyesebel at Amaya sa TV, at Super Inday and the Golden Bibe sa pelikula. Sa muling pagbabalik niya sa primetime TV, sasabak ulit siya sa aksyon sa Super Ma’m ng GMA Network, simula sa September 18. Gagampanan niya ang papel ng isang guro na si Minerva Henerala, at bilang Super Ma’m, na isang super heroine.

\Ang Super Ma’m ay sa direksyon ni LA Madridejos, (director ng dating TV series na Meant To Be), at makakatambal ni Marian ang baguhang aktor na si Matthias Rhoads at si Jerald Napoles. Kabilang din sa cast sina Kim Domingo, Carmina Villaroel, Helen Gamboa, Joyce Ching, Kristoffer Martin, Kevin Santos, Isabelle de Leon, Jackielou Blanco, Jillian Ward, Meg Imperial, Al Tantay, Chariz Solomon, at marami pang iba. May special participation din sina AiAi delas Alas at Dina Bonnevie.

Pinipili ni Marian ang kanyang mga projects dahil ayaw niyang mawalan ng oras para sa kanilang anak ni Dindong Dantes na si Zia. Mas abala ngayon si Dingdong dahil bukod sa Alyas Robin Hood series nito ay may pelikula pa itong ginagawa, kaya si Marian ang mas nakatutok ngayon sa anak.

Pagkatapos ng Super Ma’m ay balak na rin daw nilang sundan si Zia, dahil naghahanap na ito ng kapatid, at ang gusto daw nito ay isang baby brother.

Pagkatapos dumalo sa bonggang kasal nina Vicki Belo at Hayden Kho sa Paris, kung saan ay isa siya sa mga a flower girls si Zia, nakatakda rin siyang dumalo sa kasal ng isa sa malalapit niyang kaibigan sa showbiz, si AiAi delas Alas. Ikakasal si AiAi sa Dec 12 sa kanyang live-in partner na si Gerald Sibayan, at gaya ng ipinangako ni Marian, sagot nito ang bridal gown na ang tatahi ay si Frederick Peralta. Veil sponsor si Marian sa kasal.

CELEBRITY WEDDINGS
Bukod kina AiAi delas Alas at Gerald Sibayan na ikakasal sa Dec 12, nakatakda na ring magpakasal ang mga Kapuso stars na sina Max Collins, 25, at Pancho Magno, 25, sa Dec 11. Gaganapin ito sa Marriott Hotel at kabilang sa principal sponsors ay sina Sen. Manny Pacquiao at asawang si Jinkee, Kuh Ledesma, Perry Lansigan at director Maryo J. Delos Reyes. Ang mga kaibigan ni Max na sina Andrea Torres at Rochelle Pangilinan ay kabilang sa bridal entourage.
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naabangan na rin ang petsa ng kasal ng mga engaged na celebrity couples na sina Anne Curtis at Erwan Heussaff, Billy Crawford at Coleen Garcia, Richard Gutierrez at Sarah Lahbati, Maxene Magalona at Robby Mananquil, Kylie Padilla at Aljur Abrenica, Desiree del Valle at Boom Labrusca, Buboy Villar at Angilyn Serrano Gorens, Ms. World Ph 2014 Valerie Weigmann at Bodie Pulido, at Rachel Ann Go at Martin Spies.

Inaasahang susunod na ring magpapahayag ng engagement sina Carla Abellana at Tom Rodriguez, Jennylyn Mercado at Dennis Trillo, Geoff Eigenmann at Maya, Alex Gonzaga at Mikee Morada, Roxanne Barcelo at Will Devaughn.

Covers the period Sept. 15-30

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Makakaranas ng hirap sa trabaho; iwasang magkaroon ng alitan sa mga kasamahan. Bigyan ng oras ang pagbisita sa dentista upang mapaayos ang ngipin. Mag-ingat sa mga humihikayat na umanib sa kanilang organisasyon. Kung kaya mong mapaginhawa pa ang lagay sa tahanan, gawin na ito agad. Ang relasyon sa mga kapatid ay mahalaga, subukang ayusin ang anumang problemang namamagitan sa inyo. Lucky numbers: 9, 16, 23 at 41.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Kung namamasukan, may promosyon kang darating. Kung walang trabaho, may magandang alok na matatanggap. Masayang panahon ito para sa mga kaibigan at bagong kakilala. Swerte ka sa pera, bagamat naniniwala kang ito lang ang makakapagbigay ng kaligayahan. Nagiging masyado kang maingay, at kung hindi ka kilala ng husto ng karelasyon ay matagal ka nang iniwan. Lucky numbers: 3, 5, 18 at 42.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Ang gulong ng kapalaran ay papabor sa iyo, magiging matagumpay ka sa lahat ng bagay! Mahusay kang makipag-usap, at masipag na gampanan ang tungkulin sa trabaho at pakikipagkaibigan. Mas bigyan ng halaga ang pamilya, lalo na kung may anak. Makakaasa ka sa mga dating kaibigan. Magana kang kumain ngayon, pero mag-ingat at baka magkaproblema sa panunaw. Maging malinis sa katawan at mag-exercise. Lucky numbers: 11, 14, 29 at 37.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Sa kabila ng mga hadlang, ituloy ang pagsisikap, at kayaning maabot ang mga pangarap. Tahimik ang love life at walang problema, pero salat din ito sa init. Kailangan mong mag-relax; tawa at tulog ang pinakamabisang paraan para maisagawa ito. Ipadama ang pagmamahal sa magulang. Piliting mas maging seryoso sa trabaho at maganda ang magiging resulta nito. Paghandaan ang mga pagbabagong nagaganap at malaking tulong ito sa iyo. Lucky numbers: 16, 22, 35 at 45.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Magulo ngayon ang relasyon mo sa mga malalapit sa iyo, dagdagan ang pasensya. Kung hindi mo babaguhin ang kakaiba mong ugali, wala kang gaanong mararating. Ang pundasyon ng matibay na relasyon ay pagtitiwala at pagbibigayan. Sa mga walang karelasyon, matatapos na rin ang kalungkutan. Mag-ingat sa mga pamamaga dahil baka sintomas na ito ng sakit, gaya ng tonsillitis. Magpakunsulta agad. Lucky numbers: 9, 24, 33 at 44.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Kahit marami kang problema ngayon, huwag magreklamo, tumahimik lang muna at magmuni-muni. Ang hanap mo ngayon ay seguridad, kung single, malaki ang tsansang matamo ito sa taong makikilala mo. Bigyan ng oras ang mga kaibigan. Huwag magpakapagod, laging kumain ng tama at uminom ng vitamins upang lumakas ang resistensya.Lucky numbers: 6,7,15 at 44.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Mabibigyan ng katuparan ang pagiging matapang at kakaibang hilig mo, kaya huwag mag-atubiling tanggapin ang mahihirap na trabaho. Malakas ang motibasyon mo upang magtagumpay. Umpisahan mo na ang pagdi-diyeta at pagbawas ng timbang. Minsan ay kailangang isantabi ang common sense at pakinggan ang nasa puso. Makakahanap ka ng bagong tirahan na gusto mo, pero timbangin lahat ang kaibahan nito sa dati. Lucky numbers: 11, 31, 36 at 40.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Masyado kang nakatali sa trabaho kaya nakakaligtaan mo na ang mahal sa buhay. Mag-ingat sa binibitawang salita upang maiwasan ang away. Kung naghahanap, marami kang pagpipiliang trabaho sa internet. Ang pagpuna ay pwedeng makatulong sa iyo, kaya huwag maging maramdamin. Hirap sa pag-ihi ang maaring maranasan, magpatingin agad. Lucky number: 19, 20, 28 at 45.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Huwag hayaang maubos ang pasensya sa sunud-sunod na aberyang dumarating. Sa trabaho, hindi ka gaanong makagalaw at maraming naaantala dahil sa kasalanan ng ibang tao. Mag-ingat sa impeksyon; palakasin ang katawan at kumain ng pagkaing sagana sa vitamin C. Ganado kang makipag-usap sa ibang transaksyong papasukan. Kung single, makakatagpo ka na ng makakatuwang sa buhay. Lucky numbers: 8, 15, 29 at 41.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Magaan ang pakiramdam at mataas ang enerhiya mo sa umpisa ng linggo; huwag gaanong magmadali. Nababalot ng tensyon ang tahanan, mag-ingat upang hindi lumala ang sitwasyon. Kung naghahanap ng away ang kaanak o kapitbahay, talikuran na lang ito. Maaayos mo ang problema tungkol sa ari-arian ng pamilya at kung sinu-sino ang hahawak, pero maging maingat at huwag magtiwala agad. Lucky numbers: 14, 19, 26 at 34.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
May hindi pagkakasunduan sa tahanan, kontrolin ang sarili. Magiging istrikto at mapaghanap ka sa trabaho at maging sa tahanan. Piliting mapanatili ang pagmamahal sa magulang lalo na kung matatanda na sila. Maganda ang lagay ng kalusugan maliban kung hindi mapigilan ang kumain ng marami o ang manigarilyo. Mag-ingat sa pagpili ng kaibigan at kamag-anak na nakapaligid sa iyo. Gagamitin ka lang ng iba para sa sariling kapakanan. Lucky numbers: 5, 19, 26 at 37.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Hindi ka nagwawalang bahala, at nagpupursige ka pa nang husto kaya may magandang kapalaran itong kapalit. Subukan mong mag-ayuno minsan sa isang buwan upang maalis ang mga toxin na bumabara sa atay. Sa negosyo, huwag ilagay ang lahat ng itlog sa iisang basket. Masusubukan mo ang katapatan ng kaibigan sa oras ng kagipitan, kahit ano ang sabihin ng iba, may mabubuting tao pa rin sa mundo. Lucky numbers: 9, 11, 27 at 39.

Texting-based BM Online OEC service

Workers who are internet-challenged, are senior citizens, or are flying home within 48 hours due to an emergency, can now avail of a new service to obtain overseas employment certificates or OEC exemptions.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office launched its BM Online Reachout service recently to save these OFWs from the time-consuming process of queuing up at its Admiralty Centre offices.

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre said the new service would help them create emails and BM Online accounts and obtain appointments via an exchange of mobile phone messages.

“This service will be available to those who are just setting up email addresses, and for emergency (flight in 48 hours), bereavement and senior applications,” he said.

To avail themselves of the service, a worker must first access the POLO Hong Kong Facebook page and tick any of the category status on the BM Online Reachout registration form indicating senior citizen, bereavement, emergency or internet-challenged.

“Just indicate here the following data, and we will text to you your date and hour of appointment so you can pay and pick up your OEC: Complete name, date of birth, educational attainment, mobile phone number, gender,” he said.

Applicants must also input their passport number, expiration date, last day of visa, and her personal details such as date of birth, place of birth, email address (if any), civil status, Philippine address down to barangay, mother’s maiden complete name, and spouse’s name, if married, and other particulars.

The applicant is also reminded to attach an ID picture showing entire face without caps, eyeglasses, and bangs.

Labatt Dela Torre also explained the common stumbling block of BM Online applicants – the date of last departure and date of last arrival.

“Date of last departure – the date when you last left the Philippines. Date of last arrival – the date of your flight to start the vacation for which you are now applying an OEC,” he said in another FB post.

POLO will text the applicant when it is already creating her email address and BM Online account.
“You need to text back to the number texting you the verification code sent by Google. Without the verification code, we cannot complete your BM account,” Dela Torre said. – VB Lumicao

Tagumpay ni Glen

(Part II ng ‘Nag for good, nagnegosyo) 

Ni Cris B. Cayat

(Noong nakataang dalawang issue ay inilathala namin ang kuwento ng ilang OFW na nagtagumpay sa balak na pagnenegosyo matapos bumalik sa Pilipinas para ipagpatuloy ang naudlot na buhay. Sa isyung ito ay ipagpapatuloy natin ang kuwento ng iba pang magigiting na  negosyanteng ex-OFW).

Isa pa sa mga nagnenegosyo ng catering si Glenita Darang na mas kilala sa tawag na Glen. Medyo matagal-tagal rin siyang nangibang bansa at nakadalawang balik siya sa Hong Kong bago tuluyang nagtalaga sa Pilipinas.

Ang una niyang uwi ay upang ipanganak ang kanyang panganay na ngayon ay 14 taong gulang na. Nakawalong buwan siya sa Pilipinas bago siya bumalik sa Hong Kong dahil hindi siya nakapaghanda bago umuwi.

Sa kanyang pagbabalik, naghanda siya. Sumali sya ng mga ilang skills training gaya ng pagluluto sa tulong ng kanyang butihing amo.

Isang malaking dahilan ng kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipias ay lumalaki ang kanyang unica hija, at gusto ni Glen na kasama siya sa pagpapalaki dito. Nag-umpisa niyang planuhin ang balak na pagtatayo ng isang snack house sa kanyang pagbabalik. Sabi niya, agad niyang naisip ang naturang negosyo dahil ang lugar na balak niyang pagtayuan nito ay nasa  harap ng hintayan o terminal ng mga bus na galing ng Manila at Baguio, o iba pang lugar sa norte.

Pag-uwi niya ay agad niyang isinaktuparan ang balak. Noong una aniya, malakas ang kita ngunit nang magkaroon ng ibang katulad na tindahan sa tabi, nahati ang mga kostumer. Nagsimula na silang mahirapan na maabot ang sapat na kita upang may ipambayad ng renta at pasahod sa ilang tauhan. Kasabay na itinatag ni Glen noon ang isang travel agency na pinondohan ng kanyang kapatid na nasa Dubai pa. Sa kasamaang palad ay parehong hindi naging maganda ang  kinahinatnan ng dalawang negosyo. Napilitan si Glen at ang kanyang kapatid na bitawan ang kani-kanilang negosyo.

Mabuti na lang at nang umuwi ang isa pa niyang kapatid mula sa ibang bansa ay naisipan nilang maging wedding planner, at naging maayos ang takbo nito.Ang kaso, biglang inalok ang kanyang kapatid ng isang magandang posisyon bilang visual merchandise manager ng tindahan ng surplus sa SM North at nagdesisyon itong bitawan ang negosyo nila ni Glen. Balik na naman si Glen sa paghahanap ng negosyong naayon sa kanya at kaya niyang patakbuhin mag-isa.

Nagsubok si Glen na gumawa ng tomato jam na hindi naging patok sa tao. Sinubukan din niyang magbenta ng mga banga na pampalamuti sa bahay, nguni’t hindi rin pumatok. Sumunod naman ay nag ice candy siya at tocino  pero katulad ng mga nauna niyang negosyo ay hindi rin umunlad.

Ganoon pa man ay hindi nawalan ng pag-asa si Glen. Pilit niyang hinanap ang negosyong tugma sa kanyang hilig at iyon ay ang pagluluto. Ang sumunod niyang itinayo ay ang isang catering business na tinawag niyang Cucina De Glenda, na inumpisahan niya sa mismong bahay nila sa Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.

Sa ngayon, mag-isa niyang ginagawa ang pagluluto ngunit kalimitan ay kumukuha siya ng part-time na tutulong sa kanya kapag maraming order. Naging malaking tulong sa kanya ang nabili niyang tricycle dahil ito na ang ginagamit nyang pang deliver ng kanyang mga paninda. Aniya, masaya siyang nakakatulong sa mga nakukuha niyang part time  lalo na ang mga tricycle driver na kalimitan ay nakatambay lang. Ngayon, kapag nakatatlong delivery ang isa sa kanila sa isang araw ay may kita na agad itong Ph150, at may kasama pang meryenda.

Sabi ni Glen, napakalaking tulong ang walang binabayaran na renta ng tindahan kapag nagnenegosyo. Isa pa, mas gusto ng tao ang lutong bahay pagdating sa mga espesyal ng okasyon, gaya ng kaarawan, debut, pagtatapos, at iba pang kasayahan, sabi niya.

Kuwento ni Glen, masaya siya sa kanyang natumbok na negosyo. Kitang kita din sa mga litrato sa kanyang Facebook page na Cucina De Glenda ang pagdami ng kanyang mga nasisiyahang kostumer. Nakatulong din daw ng malaki ang  pakikipagkaibigan, isang pamamaraan na nakuha niya mula kay Annabelle Libao, isang dating OFW na ngayon ay may bakery at catering business na sa kanilang bayan sa Isabela. Dati nang nasulat sa The SUN ang paglago ng negosyong ito ni Annabelle, na matagal na naging pinuno ng Isabela Federation sa Hong Kong bago nagdesisyong umuwi na.

Ayon kay Glen halos magkapareho ang  food package nila ni Annabelle. Ang sa kanya, ang kliyente ay  maaring mamili ng  tatlong party food, mula sa isang bilaong pansit, spaghetti, biko, puto, palabok, mochi balls, halaya, lumpiang shanghai, o cake, kasama ang tatlong 1.5L. na softdrinks sa halagang Ph1,195 lamang, libre pa ang delivery.

Mag-iisang taon pa lang si Glen sa ganitong negosyo ngunit halos hindi na niya matanggap ang lahat ng order dahil sa dami, lalo na noong Disyembre. Bisperas ng Pasko ay nasa kalsada pa siya at hinahabol na madeliver ang mga order bago maghatinggabi. Aniya, kinailangan niyang bulabugin din ang kanyang mga kamag-anak para lang maihatid ang mga pagkain bago mag noche buena

Ayon kay Glen, dapat pala ay pinag-iisipan munang mabuti kung alin talaga ang may kakayanan kang gawin, at yung hindi ka nagsasawang gawin. Magsimula sa maliit, pulsuhan ang pangangailangan ng mga tao sa kapaligiran, bago sumabak. Dahil sa internet, naging mas madali ang pagpapalawak ng kanyang negosyo. Karamihan daw sa kanyang mga kliyete ngayon ay pamilya ng mga OFW, mga guro, mga nag-oopisina, at nagtratrabaho sa munispyo ng Cuyapo.

Ang isa pang gimik na nakatulong ay ang pagpapa-raffle niya ng isang bilaong party food. Tuwang-tuwa siya kasi ang nanalo ay hindi pa niya kliyente. Ibig sabihin, nakatulong ito para mas lumawak ang kanyang network.

Sa ngayon, nakakatatlong delivery na siya sa isang araw. Bilang pasasalamat sa gumagandang takbo ng kanyang negosyo ay isinasaayos niya ngayon ang isang feeding program na nais niyang isagawa bago matapos ang taong ito. Dati pa niyang ginagawa ang pagbibigay ng mga regalo sa mga bata sa kanilang barangay kahit noong nasa Hong Kong pa lang siya. Ngayon ay may mas importante siyang dahilan: para magpasalamat.

(Itutuloy)

What FDWs can expect when expecting

By PATHFINDERS

(Starting this issue, we will be publishing a quarterly column from Pathfinders, a registered charity that helps migrant workers who have become pregnant or have given birth to children in Hong Kong, including those who have overstayed their visas. Pathfinders helps pregnant migrant workers to access professional services and assistance and to make informed decisions about their lives and the well-being of their children. The group offers social care, shelter and supplies, supplies, access to healthcare, documentation & legal assistance, education and home country return support – Ed)

Like every expectant mother, Susan (not her real name) was excited yet nervous when she found out she was pregnant.  A Filipino foreign domestic worker (FDW), she has been working in Hong Kong for almost 9 years and for the same employer for the last 4 years.

Susan’s employer was supportive and took time to discuss with her the best way to handle the pregnancy.  Susan knew FDWs often have their contracts terminated when they become pregnant and was relieved that she didn’t have to wage a legal battle to keep her job.

It was only after the birth of her baby that Susan realised there were many more challenges and obstacles ahead -- obstacles that would mean her spending long hours apart from her newborn during the critical first weeks of the child’s life.

Recent figures show that almost 1 in 3 families with children in Hong Kong hire a FDW. It’s thus surprising that many employers and FDWs do not know that female FDWs are protected by the same laws which protect every working woman in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s Employment Ordinance (EO) stipulates that a pregnant, female employee is entitled to 10-weeks statutory Maternity Leave (2-4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after her due date, respectively). She cannot be dismissed by her employer, unless for other reasons justifying summary dismissal. The Sex Discrimination Ordinance (“SDO”) further protects a pregnant employee from being discriminated against because of her pregnancy.

However, the Ordinances and government immigration and labour department policy lack clarification about the specific employment and visa regulations relating to pregnant FDWs.  As a result, it can be challenging for an FDW to assert her maternity rights and there are unnecessary pressures and conflicts for both employee and employer.

Susan’s employer lives in a 400 sqf apartment in a Tin Wai public housing estate with his brother and parents. Space is limited and Susan sleeps in the living room which she has to share with the employer’s father.  

During her statutory 10-week maternity leave, Susan and her employer still have to comply with the “live-in” requirement yet there is no obligation for the employer to house the new baby. Susan’s partner and baby live in Kam Tin, at the other end of the New Territories. It takes three hours to make the round trip between the two homes. To avoid disturbing the household she can only be away from her employer’s apartment between 8:30pm and 7:30am the next day to feed and bond with her new baby.

The importance of bonding in the early weeks of a child’s life and the health benefits of breastfeeding are widely acknowledged. But Susan is only able to spend around 10 hours a day with her new baby and is unable to breastfeed at night and in the early morning. In addition, the lack of space and privacy at her employer’s flat means that expressing and storing breast milk at night is a real challenge. Like any new mother, Susan is tired, but in her case it is made worse by her long daily commute. Yet since she sleeps in her employer’s living room it is impossible for her to get proper rest until everyone has gone to bed.

As a result of all these factors Susan and her baby are deprived of crucial time together. Her baby is unable to get the full benefit of breastfeeding, Susan is stressed and exhausted, and the employer is inconvenienced and worried about who will care for his elderly parents.  There is simply not enough room in the apartment to employ temporary help.

A few weeks into her maternity leave Susan felt overwhelmed with emotions and had many questions. “Can I not be exempted from the “live-in” requirement during my maternity leave? Who can I turn to for help and advice as a new mom? What should all FDWs expect after giving  birth?  How can I and my employer best plan for a healthy, safe and happy pregnancy, and maternity leave for all concerned?”

In order to qualify for maternity rights, an FDW must first notify her employer of her pregnancy with a doctor’s certificate, and state her intention to take maternity leave. After that, she and her employer should discuss the maternity leave arrangements. If the FDW wishes to return home to give birth, who shall bear the cost of airfare? How can she receive her salary when she is out of the country? Maternity leave can only begin 4 weeks before the expected due date. Would the FDW fall foul of an airline’s safety requirement if she flew home 36 weeks into her pregnancy?

If the FDW decides to stay in Hong Kong, how can she juggle caring for her baby and still comply with the live-in requirement? For Susan, this has been her biggest challenge. PathFinders, an NGO that supports pregnant migrant mothers in Hong Kong, has helped a number of its clients to seek exemption from the live-in requirement during maternity leave from the Labour Department. However, none of the cases have been successful thus far.

Maternity rights are a complex area. To avoid unnecessary disputes and possible legal violations, both FDWs and employers need to clearly understand their rights and obligations, and know about the grey areas.

There are a number of NGOs in Hong Kong that FDWs may reach out to for assistance, aside from government agencies and employment agencies. PathFinders is a registered charity in Hong Kong which supports pregnant migrant mothers and their Hong Kong-born babies. For inquiries or assistance, you may visit PathFinders’ website at www.pathfinders.org.hk or contact PathFinders via its hotline, FaceBook page or email.

Here are some useful contact information:

PathFinders’ client hotline:  51904886 (9am to 9pm); info@pathfinders.org.hk; www.facebook.com/pathfindershk/

Labour Department’s hot-line: 2717 1771 (24-hour); enquiry@labour.gov.hk

Immigration Department’s general hotline: 2824 6111 (24-hour); enquiry@immd.gov. hk

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.