‘Happy Homes’ inspires boss-helper harmony

The employers, their helpers and their families share center stage after receiving awards. 

By Vir B. Lumicao

Tell young mother Karen Wong that her Filipina domestic helper is so lucky to have an employer like her, and she’d immediately respond by saying it’s she who is fortunate to have a maid like Leny.

The key to the harmonious relationship ostensibly lies in “mutual understanding, fair treatment and respect” between the employer and her worker.

“We don’t treat her as a helper, she is a family,” Wong groped for words as she tried to explain to The SUN the relationship between her family and the domestic worker who has been with them for close to two years.

The mother of two children, a boy about 8 years old and a 15-month-old girl; her husband, mother and Leny went on stage in full force as they received from Cynthia Abdon-Tellez a “Happy Homes Seal of Approval”, a token award for both employer and helper fulfilling the 10 criteria of a happy home.

The Happy Homes recognition ceremony highlighted the fun-filled 31st anniversary of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge on Chater Road, Central on Sept 17.

The event began with a holy mass at 10am celebrated by Fr Dwight dela Torre of the Philippine Independent Church, followed by the opening of various health and wellness services tents on both sides of the avenue in Hong Kong’s Central District. 

Fifteen employer family-worker tandems who had successfully fulfilled the 10 criteria that made up a truly harmonious relationship were recognized for their “Happy Homes,” a newly launched project of the Mission for Migrant Workers.

“Employers are nominated by their workers as they fulfilled the 10 criteria of happy homes, (where) workers…agreed that they feel respect as a human being with dignity in the family,” Mission volunteer Johannie Yan said.

“Besides, they are allowed to voice out their opinions and they feel that the family has paid efforts to understand and accept cultural differences between two sides. Most importantly, their work as a domestic worker is recognized and appreciated.”

Wong, a stay-at-home employer, would have been the last choice of any domestic worker if she were like most of the ordinary stay-in bosses who watch every move of their maids, never run out of “do this, do that” orders, and spew out invectives such as “stupid”, “stubborn” and “crazy” to debase the helpers.

But Wong, like the 14 other nominees for the citation, is a rarity. “Leny does her work well. She is trustworthy. She takes good care of my children, she loves them,” she said.

The housewife admits there is a language barrier at home because she is not fluent in English, but she and her maid talk regularly, and she encourages the helper to discuss her personal problems with her.

“If she has problem she tells me, and I help her and I tell her to pray to God,” Wong said. 

To make the maid feel she is family, she has her own place at the dining table beside Wong’s baby daughter, where she eats the same food as the bosses.

She says she likes Leny because she goes to church.

“If a person goes to church, that means she is not bad,” Wong said, admitting that she herself used to go to church.

Another Happy Homes pair is that of Amy Zhang and Aida, who both say their employer-worker relationship is also based on trust and mutual respect.

Zhang says she is very satisfied with the performance of Aida, who she treats as a member of the family. In fact, it is Zhang who does the cooking for the household, including Aida.

“She is honest and very trustworthy. Because I work and I have two children, I can travel to other countries and I can trust her with the job…no problem with her at all.” said Zhang.

Aida, a diminutive woman in her 30s, says she has no complaint about her job and her employers because they are very kind.

“Happy ako talaga sa kanila. I’m happy. It’s not about money, it’s about the way they treat me.”

Nine other employer-worker tandems came to receive the Happy Homes Seal of Approval. They are worker Myra and employer Winnie Chan; Zenaida and Muthuswami; Melinda and Ms Chan; Edna (Lalay) and Emma/Ric; Bing and Lau Miu Yuen; Baneng and Natasha; Marina and Christoph; Annabelle and Eva Tang; and Eileen and Nicky.

Dean Matthias Der of the St John’s Cathedral, addressing the event before awarding the recognitions, said that despite a lot of negative news nowadays, “I also know we have many wonderful stories and those stories are happening everyday in your homes”.

“And even though this is only the first year, and we have 15 families to be recognized, it is my prayer that as this program proceeds to grow, there will be hundreds and thousands of happy homes in Hong Kong,” he said.

Tellez echoed the Dean’s wish, saying she hoped “in the next…, future handing out of this seal of approval, we should have hundreds of thousands more.”

Giving session marks Bethune House’s 31st

More than 130 individuals and organizations turned out to extend financial help to the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge when it celebrated the 31st anniversary of its founding on Sept 17 at Chater Road in Central.

The donors came with their cans and receptacles for the coins they saved over several months as part of the 2017 “Coins for Bethune” campaign, a fundraising effort started six years ago.

According to Bethune House’s Esther Bangcawayan, a total of 137 cans were submitted during the event. However, nearly the same number of cans have yet to be turned over by the various groups and individuals who asked for them to help raise fund for the shelter.

Bethune House benefectors reel in the contributions under their “Coins for Bethune Project.

Bangcawayan appealed to those still holding on to their cans to submit them as soon as possible so the public tally of the donations could be held as planned within the month.

The donors joined thousands of other supporters who turned up on Chater for the celebration, including employer-employee awardees in the inaugural “Home Sweet Home” project of the shelter’s mother organization, the Mission for Migrant Workers.

Also in the crowd were migrants who took advantage of the free services provided by groups taking part in the Mission’s quarterly “Care to Caregivers” program.

Bethune’s executive director Edwina Antonio thanked all those who continue to help the shelter meet the needs of migrant women in distress who have been seeking their help for more than three decades.

Bethune not only provides them three meals a day, but also helps them with their court cases and accompanies them to hospitals for medical treatments.

As part of the fundraising effort for Bethune House’s 31st anniversary, a charity dinner and auction was set to be held on Sept 30 at the Kowloon Union Church in Jordan.

Those who want to donate to Bethune House could call 9488 9044 or 97110 1673 or email to bethunehouse86@gmail.com.

Gabriela says left eyes broad alliance to resist ML plan

By Vir B. Lumicao

Joan May “Joms” Salvador

The Philippine Left is building the broadest possible alliance to resist plans by “The Madman in Malacañang” to declare martial law nationwide, one of the leaders of the militant women’s group, Gabriela, has said.

Gabriela secretary-general Joan May “Joms” Salvador made the comment at a forum on “Martial Law and the Creeping Dictatorship in the Philippines held at the Kowloon Union Church in Jordan on Sept 22.

“If the (Sept 21) rally was any indication, we would like to mention the presence of church organizations.  In preparation for the rally, the leaders of the Catholic Church were speaking up,” Salvador said in answer to a query about the Left’s gameplan, amid fears President Rodrigo Duterte may be moving towards tyrannical rule.

“We really need the push of the Catholic Church,” she said, adding that the legal Left is always relying on the strength of the people on building the broadest possible unity of people to challenge what they say is President Rodrigo Duterte’s drift to authoritarianism.

She said in planning the successful Sept 21 rally, the left stressed the importance of raising the consciousness of the public to the horrors of martial law.

On the National Democratic Front’s stance to keep its doors open to negotiations, “we leave it to the NDF what to do with the peace talks,” she replied, suggesting that Gabriela is not exactly supporting this move.

Salvador warned that nationwide martial law is looming as Duterte moves to consolidate power while fighting wars on three fronts – drugs, terrorism and insurgency.

She also said despite Duterte’s anti-US diatribes, he had signed a new pact that allows the United States to set up eight Philippine-financed military camps for its troops in the country as part of the Asia Pacific pivot adopted by former President Barack Obama.

Salvador warned it may only be days, weeks or months before Duterte declares nationwide military rule.

She said Duterte promised change, but nothing has changed for the better in the country.

“Nothing has changed in the Philippines, poverty remains, workers’ wages still at very low levels, landlessness continues, women continue to become the face of poverty  experiencing rape and sexual abuses despite proclamations by the government about rights of women,” Salvador said.

On Duterte’s war on drugs, more than 13,000 lives have been lost, mostly poor people including children of OFWs targeted by police in extrajudicial killings, Salvador told her audience of about 30 Filipino and Indonesian human rights activists.

“Honestly, we cannot say if it has peaked because none of the reports from UNHCR, police, government and NGOs could show the exact magnitude of this war,” she said.

Salvador saw no end to the war on drugs after a year of killings, as the police have not made any pronouncement that it is coming to a close.

Duterte has used his war against terrorism to launch a war on Marawi City, and in response to an attack by terrorist group on the city, he put Mindanao under martial law since May 23. Daily air raids have killed over 500 and ruined the city.
Mothers fear for their daughters’ safety because Duterte has told the soldiers in Marawi they can rape women if their elders disobey orders. Given its record of sexual abuses, “it is not unimaginable that (the military is) already committing rape,” Salvador said. She said Gabriela had documented 134 cases of rapes by soldiers, many of them targeting 16 year old girls, with some done inside military camps.

“This is the same institution that Duterte has emboldened to commit the same abuses against women in Marawi and other parts of Mindanao in the guise of the war against terrorism,” Salvador said.

In prosecuting his third war, counterinsurgency, Duterte has devised Oplan Kapayapaan under which he ordered the bombing of schools of lumad children in Mindanao, Salvador said. This oplan, according to her, has killed more than 100 of activists, civilians and workers.

Salvador said that “foulmouthed” Duterte had said he would not allow the US to continue its interventionist policy in the Philippines, he inserted multibillion pesos in the budget next year to finance the building of the eight camps to be used by the US under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

“Duterte is funding the US military camps project with people’s money, diverting funds from much-needed programs for the poor,” Salvador said.

DH claims being forced to sign termination letter

By Vir B. Lumicao

For two months, domestic worker Marjorie Glo Hop endured sleeping in the living room of her employer’s house in Wong Tai Sin watched by two CCTV cameras, until she decided to quit.

Hop wrote a letter to the Immigration Department saying she was leaving her job a month from Sept 24 because her employer, a Mrs Li, had violated their contract. But Li allegedly found the letter and seized it, then fired Hop.

Hop’s firing added to the increasing number of terminations of foreign domestic helpers in recent months, as noted by the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.

Bethune’s executive director Edwina Antonio told The SUN that terminations were on the rise recently, as indicated by overcrowding in shelters across Hong Kong.

“Puno ang mga shelter, pati ang yung sa POLO at sa Caritas,” Antonio said. She said that at times she would receive referrals for shelter from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

Hop sent out a distress call at about 4pm on Sept 26 to fellow Isabela native and The SUN writer Marites Palma, who promptly picked up the 24-year-old first-time maid in San Po Kong, then took her to a guesthouse.

Hop, single, showed a copy of a resignation letter which she said was prepared by Li, and which she was allegedly coerced to sign in the presence of an officer of the Labour Office in San Po Kong.

“Pumirma ako kasi natakot ako na baka kung hindi ko pipirmahan ay ipa-blacklist niya ako at hindi na ako makakapagtrabaho rito,” Hop reportedly told Palma.

The letter said Hop informed Li on Sept 24 that she was breaking her contract. It also said the Filipina and Li had agreed that Hop won’t pay the employer one month’s salary in lieu of notice.

The maid said Li paid her $4,209in wages and bought her an air ticket for a 9:45 flight to Manila on Sept 26. But Hop decided to stay on and file a case against her employer on the advice of her relatives and friends.

Hop was to go to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office the next day to file a complaint against Li and seek her blacklisting so she won’t be able to hire a helper again.

Apart from making her sleep in the living room, Li reportedly told Hop she could take a day off only twice and month, and to do house chores before leaving the house and on returning.

The Filipina also said she was forbidden from using her cellphone while at work.

Batch 43 ng CARD ‘fin-lit’, tapos na

Ni George Manalansan

Damang-dama ang saya ng lahat nang matapos ang pinakahuling pagsasanay pang-pinansyal ng CARD Hong Kong Foundation noong Setyembre 24 sa Bayanihan Centre sa Kennedy Town.

Ayon sa mga trainor o mga nagturo, damang dama nila ang tuwa at interes ng 53 migranteng manggawa na sumali kaya ganado silang magturo.

Sambit ng isa sa mga sumali, “Para tayong balik-eskwela”, na ang tinutukoy ay ang kasiyahang bumabalot sa grupo habang sila ay nagtuturuan.

Ang mga nagtapos at ang kanilang mga traibnors matapos ang selebrasyon ng kanilang pagtatapos sa pagsasanay pang-pinansyal sa ilalim ng CARD Hong Kong.

Ayon kay Victoria Munar na lead trainor, mahigit 2,000 OFW na ang natapos sa pagsasanay na ito ng CARD HK. May mga bumalik na sa Pilipinas para magtayo ng sariling negosyo, o kaya ay bihasa na sa usaping pinansyal na nagagamit nila sa paghahanda para sa mas magandang bukas.

Sa pinakahuling sesyon, naging mabunga ang talakayan  mula umaga hanggang hapon.  Sinaklaw nito ang mga kaalaman tungkol sa  tamang paghawak ng pinaghirapang kita. Una, ang pagsusulat ng tukoy na layunin at ng mga hakbang at pamamaraan kung paano ito makamit. Layunin nito na isapapel ng nagsasanay ang pangarap na dati ay “drawing” lamang, para magkaroon ng paglilinaw at pagpaliwanag kung paano balak ipatupad ang minimithi sa buhay. Ang tamang paraan para ito maisakatuparan ay ang pag-iipon ayon sa tamang panuntunan: income – savings = expenses. Ibig sabihin, dapat munang maglaan para sa ipon bago gumastos para sa pangangailangan.

Natalakay din na dapat maghanda para sa mga di-inaasahang pangyayari, gaya ng pagkakasakit, aksidente, pagtaas ng bilihin, pabago-bagong palitan ng pera, at pati na rin ng mga kalamidad katulad ng bagyo, lindol, tagtuyot. Itinuro sa mga nagsanay ang ang kahalagahan  ng pagkakaroon ng pondo (emergency fund at insurance ) upang maiwasan ang pangungutang sakaling dumating ang mga ganitong di-inaasahang pangyayari.

Ang huling bahagi ng pang-umagang talakayan ay ang paglilista ng mga ari-arian at pananagutan para malaman ang sariling neto (net worth), na dapat ay taon-taong itinatala upang malaman ang kasalukuyang estadong pinansyal.

Sa hapon, naging masarap ang usapan nang talakayin ni Emelia Dellosa ang kahalagahan ng pagba-budget ng kita. Nalaman ng mga nagsasanay na para mas maging epektibo ang paggasta, kailangang magtakda ng panahon, halimbawa buwanan, at ilista ang kita, layunin na ipon at mga gastusin. Pagkatapos ay suriin ang resulta, isaayos at i-update kung kailangan.

Binigyan ng “budgeting worksheet” ang bawat nagsasanay, at ginabayan ng mga trainor ang kanilang paglilista.

Ang mga may tanong ay agad namang nakakuha ng kasagutan kina Munar at kay Clara Baybay, ang chair ng CARD HK.

Ang sumunod na paksa ay utang. Sinabihan ang mga nagsasanay na hindi naman masama ang mangutang, ngunit dapat ito ay ginagamit sa mabuti. Inisa-isa ng mga trainor ang mga katagang ginagamit sa utangan at ang kahalugan ng mga ito, kabilang ang “principal” o halaga ng inutang, “interest, amortization, maturity,  guarantor, penalty, reference at collateral. Tinalakay din ang masamang epekto ng pagkabaon sa utang, tulad ng pagpapatiwakal.

Ang sumunod na paksa ay ang tungkol sa “tough love” o kung bakit hirap humindi ang isang OFW sa hiling o kapritso ng mga mahal sa buhay kahit na mabaon pa ito sa utang.

Ayon kay Baybay na isang abugada, nakasaad sa Family Code ng Pilipinas kung sino lang ang dapat sustentuhan sa pamilya. Unang una dito ang asawa – “kung matino”, paglilinaw niya, at mga anak na edad hanggang disi-otso anyos, o walang kapasidad buhayin ang sarili. Pasubali niya, ang mga magulang ay kailangan ding suportahan kung hindi na nila kayang buhayin ang sarili.

Sa panghuli ang pinagtuunan naman ng pansin ay kung paano magpalago ng pera, kabilang na ang ibat-ibang paglalagakan ng kita at ang mga risko o panganib na kaakibat nito.

Sinabihan ang mga nagsanay na habang tumataas ang kita o balik ng pera ay tumataas din ang risko na puwedeng mawala ang puhunan. Nagbigay ang trainor ng halimbawa ng iba-ibang uri ng investment, katulad ng multu-level marketing o networking, real estate, mutual fund at franchising at binusisi ang “risk vs return” ng bawat isa.

Bago natapos ang pagsasanay ay binigyan ng papel ang bawat kalahok para isulat ang kanilang nagustuhan sa programa at ang kanilang mga suhestiyon para mas mapabuti ito.

Nang basahin ang kanilang mga isinulat ay lumitaw na mas lamang ang positibong sagot. Sabi ng isa, “Salamat po at mahalaga ang natutunan namin sa araw na ito, salamat po sa tips at babala, mag-iingat na po kami sa pagbitaw ng pera at totohanin ko na po ang mag-impok.”

Hinikayat ang mga dumalo na mag-imbita ng mga kaibigan o kakilala na pwedeng lumahok sa susunod na “financial literacy” training na gaganapin sa ika- 22 ng Oktubre sa Bayanihan Centre din. Tumawag lang sa 95296392/54238196 para magpatala.

Why the lack of police action in Ylagan’s case?

Why are the police not filing charges against elusive recruiter Ester Ylagan despite claims by hundreds of Filipino domestic workers that she had deceived them into paying thousands of money for non-existent jobs in Britain and Canada?

This was the question asked by this writer during a crime prevention seminar for Filipino domestic helpers at the Central Police Station on Sept 24.

Chief Inspector Kevin Leung hinted this may be because there was no indication of fraud or deception in the case.

Complaints against employment agencies in Hong Kong normally have two aspects that police look at before they proceed with a case, said Leung. One is the police aspect, in which the law enforcers would check if fraud or deception was involved. The other aspect belongs to the Labour Department’s law enforcement unit.

“What we are concerned about is deception, we have to look for some elements,” Leung, police community relations officer of the Central Police District, said.

For example, he said, in cases where an agency had asked domestic helpers for a fee so they could be placed for jobs overseas, police have to prove that when money was paid, the agency knew the jobs did not or could not exist’ and yet collected payment.

If the agency knew beforehand that there were no jobs but still collected money, then there was deception, the officer said.

The officer said if it was proved that at the time she asked for money, the agency owner genuinely thought that the jobs existed, there was no offense. But if she knew then that there were no jobs but still asked for money, there was fraud, he said.

“In Hong Kong, fraud is a criminal offense,” he said. In the case mentioned, the police had to prove criminal intent,” he said.

When told that this was not likely because Ylagan, who was in the recruitment industry for decades, could not have possibly known that the jobs she was offering to the applicants in exchange for between $10,000 and $12,000 in fees were too good to be true.

Her promotional leaflets said all sorts of jobs were available in the two prime destinations, and the promised monthly pay was at least 2,000 pounds, even for those without experience in the jobs they were applying for.

It was only when applicants started demanding their money back that Ylagan hightailed it to Central Police station, and claimed she had been duped by an unknown business partner of $2.4 million, money she had obviously collected from the jobseekers.

Leung replied that he could not comment on the case because other officers handled the complaints. He said he would ask the concerned unit for details.

“We will try our best to deal with this case” and get someone to give the police version of the case, he said. - VBL

Police start training OFW anti-crime envoys

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Prevention is the best way to tackle crime, a police officer said on Sept 24 as he briefed some 60 Filipinos, mostly domestic helpers, who signed up for the Hong Kong Police Force’s crime prevention program.

Chief Inspector Kevin Leung lectures OFWs on the crime situation in Hong Kong.

Chief Inspector Kevin Leung gave the volunteers a bird’s-eye view of the crime situation in the city and familiarized them with the various types of crimes that they may encounter in Hong Kong everyday.

The first two topics in a four-seminar series also provided the volunteers with pointerson how to prevent crime and acquaint them with the police force and various aspects of its work.

Aided by tables, charts and photographs, Leung showed how Hong Kong fared vis-à-vis other major cities in the world last year.

On a measure of crime per 100,000 population, Hong Kong ranked No.2 with 911, behind Singapore which had 611, but better than Tokyo’s 1,192 and far below London’s 8,710 and Paris’ 11,844.

“So, that shows you that Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world,” Leung said.

He said theft was the most common crime last year with 25,628 cases recorded, down from 27,512 the previous year. Homicide rose to 28 from 22, rape crept up to 71 from 70, while other crimes like indecent assault slipped to 5,024 from 5,360.

He warned them against telephone deception, of which there were 7,260 reported cases last year, and offenses involving dangerous drugs, with 1,712 cases.

Leung said by learning about these crimes, the volunteers would know how to prevent them before they happen.

The chief inspector said the volunteers need to attend the four seminars that would be held every Sunday morning at the Central Police Station in Sheung Wan and pass a background check before they can be appointed as “fight crime ambassadors”.

“We want to be sure that you have no criminal records and no adverse records before you are appointed as fight crime ambassadors,” Leung said.

After being cleared, they will have to go through another series of Sunday seminars lasting about half an hour each, over 12 months.

The program will include roadshows in which the volunteers will go with officers to the community and distribute crime prevention literature as well as speak to their compatriots about crime issues.

The training will also include tours of other police stations and units as well as sport activities with members of the force.

Some 200 Filipino workers have signed up for the program, and Leung said the police force will continue to recruit more volunteers.

Customs scraps stricter rules for sending balikbayan boxes – for now

By Daisy CL Mandap

Back to the old rules for sending a balikbayan box to home

Filipinos abroad will no longer be required to submit passport copies, receipts, or set a price for each item in the balikbayan box they send back to the Philippines.

The stricter guidelines for sending tax-free balikbayan boxes imposed since August 1 this year were suspended from yesterday until March 31 next year.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs said the new rules which took effect last month have been temporarily suspended in the wake of criticisms from overseas Filipino workers.

"Although it is our duty to facilitate customs clearance of balikbayan boxes, we cannot set aside the sentiments of our fellow Filipinos abroad," Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña said.

He added that new guidelines may be imposed after the deadline, following a more thorough study of how the law granting tax-free benefits to goods sent by Filipinos from abroad could be better enforced.

In the meantime, senders will revert to the old practice of just filling up a packing list provided by the cargo company, in which they must indicate the items in each box, but  not to declare their value, or attach proof of their identity.

Cora Ong of Hong Kong- based forwarder Asian Dragon welcomed Customs’ move, saying the stricter rules were a big headache to everyone because of the additional documentation that were required.

Although her company never asked senders passport copies, it did require them to fill in the 3-page long customs declaration form, which meant bigger workload for her staff.

Still, she said it is best if senders would give more allowance for sending boxes home because there should still be a backlog from implementing the previous guidelines.

“Kung dati ay nagpapadala kayo ng mga pamasko ng bandang Nobyembre, ngayon ay mag-umpisa na kayo dapat para siguradong makarating sa  inyong pamilya bago mag Pasko,” she said. 

Under both Customs Administrative Order 05-2016 and Customs Memorandum Order 04-2017, Filipino citizens who send balikbayan boxes home are required to submit a photocopy of their Philippine passport and fill in a detailed form to avail of the tax exemption.

They were also required to provide a copy of the invoice, receipt, or proof of payment of each new item costing more than Php10,000. Only personal and household goods in non-commercial quantity could be sent.

Each sender could only ship three boxes per year, with the total value of the goods not to exceed Php150,000. In addition, they could only send boxes to close relatives.

Filipina files legal challenge to live-in policy for FDWs

By Vir B. Lumicao

Filipina domestic workers line up to process work contracts 
at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office

A Filipina has launched a landmark 

challenge in the High Court against the Hong Kong government’s policy prohibiting her and her fellow migrant domestic workers from living outside their employers’ homes.

The hearing of Nancy Lubiano’s application for a judicial review of the policy that was imposed by Hong Kong Immigration in 2003 began on Oct. 3 before Judge Stephen Chow.

Lubiano, who arrived in Hong Kong in 2011, claimed she suffered abuse at the hands of her former employer due to the live-in policy.

A Filipina maid was made to sleep
in this tny space in the kitchen 

Named respondent in the application was the Director of Immigration. Lubiano is represented in the case by prominent human rights solicitors, Daly, Ho and Associates.

The challenged is premised on the following grounds:

1)      That the Director of Immigration imposed the live-in requirement ultra vires, or outside the law. He has no power to impose a limit to the conditions of stay, or a precondition to issuing a foreign domestic worker’s visa, under section 11 of the Immigration Ordinance.

2)      That the requirement for live-in accommodation is unconstitutional as it violates the prohibition against servitude in the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, and the international rule against forced labor. It also violates a worker’s rights under the Basic Law to adequate rest and holidays, and heightens the risk of breaching the fundamental human, labor and economic rights of helpers.

3)      The live-in requirement is discriminatory as it goes against the “protected characteristic of the applicant as a ‘migrant worker’.”.

4)      The live-in requirement must be scrutinized under common law because its mandatory aspect allowing only an “unadvertised and highly limited class of exceptions”, is irrational.

Lubiano’s counsel, barrister Paul Shieh SC, spent more than a day arguing against what he called an unconstitutional policy that is not in the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

Shieh said his client – along with other foreign domestic helpers – believe the live-in rule infringes on her right to privacy because she is forced to endure unsuitable, inhumane or degrading accommodation.

The live-in rule also places FDHs in a vulnerable position where they are unable to establish social contacts through which they could seek aid or advice.

As well, their isolation in the homes of their employers makes them vulnerable to abuse, maltreatment or exploitation by employers and puts them at risk of doing forced labor, the lawyer said.  

“The government should have considered the deleterious effect of the live-in rule on the foreign domestic helpers,” Sheih said, as he rued that Hong Kong has no law penalizing those who engage in forced labor.

Arguing on the second day of the hearing, barristers Benjamin Yu, SC and Abraham Chan, SC took turns rebutting the arguments of Shieh. They said the live-in rule is based on law, and is actually intended to protect FDHs while serving their employers.

Yu also said that while there had been cases of assaults of FDHs by their employers,  there was no evidence that they were caused directly by the policy.

As a matter of fact, he said there were more incidents of helpers getting hurt outside their place of work than those who were assaulted by their employers.

The lawyer also said that despite the live-in policy, a big number of foreign helpers - 108,199 of them - renewed their work contracts in 2016.

Due to the protracted arguments, the hearing originally set for two days will continue on Monday, Oct. 10.

Exam takers upbeat, unsure after ‘tough’ LET

Hopeful examinees get ready to plunge into the Licensure Examination for Teachers held at the Delia Memorial School in Kowloon.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Aspiring instructors expressed mixed feelings when they emerged from the special Licensure Examination for Teachers held at the Delia Memorial School in Kowloon on Sept 24.

According to staff of the Philippines’ Professional Regulation Commission who administered the test, this year’s LET went on smoothly. The PRC team was assisted by members of the National Organization of Professional Teachers - Hong Kong.

Some examinees queried by The SUN said the exam was tough, particularly when it came to the various tests for their majors, as many of the questions were unexpected. But others said they were optimistic they would pass. 

A total of 460 would-be teachers started arriving at the exam venue, by bus or taxi, as early as 4:30am, making sure they arrived there before the 6am deadline set by the PRC. 

The 215 elementary-level examinees were distributed in 10 fourth-floor classrooms while the 245 secondary-level takers were packed in the auditorium. 

When the first part of the exam, General Education, got under way at 8am after the general instructions and filling out of forms, all but one of the expected examinees had shown up, PRC exam supervisor Gregorio Delloro told The SUN.

 By the time the school cleaners began preparing to clean up the venues at 6:30pm, all but  a handful of math majors were still rushing to finish the test.

“Mahirap po,” Rosielyn Parreno replied when asked by The SUN about how the exam went. She said the test questions had not been anticipated in the intense review. 

“Siyempre mahirap, lalo na yung sa major,” Lorilyn Orozco chimed in as the two Filipino majors followed the first few who emerged from the venue at around 4:20pm.

But both women said they were confident of passing the test, which would earn them a license as professional teachers back in the Philippines.

“I will go back home and teach if I pass the exam. Opo naman, kasi pinag-aral ka ng almost five years tapos maghuhugas ka lang ng pinggan,” said Parreno, who said it was her purpose for taking the exam after coming here to work as a domestic helper five years ago. “Uuwi para doon na kami magsisilbi.”

Karen Gay Fernandez, who majored in technology and livelihood education, found the test in her major very difficult because she was not familiar with plumbing, masonry, fisheries, and other skills which figured in the test questions.

Asked about her chances of passing, she replied jokingly: “Babalik ako next year.”

Delloro said the examinees were possibly confused because this year the PRC decided to bunch the examinees according to their majors or the focus of their studies. He said perhaps those who found the exams hard were shifters from other disciplines, say, accounting, in which case they would be placed under the math category.

The PRC team, led by Gina Emperado, along with NOPT HK members, arrived at the site at around 5:30am on Sunday to prepare the test papers and forms to be filled up by the examinees as soon as Delia’s gates opened at 6am.

The day before, the same group was at the school for the briefing of the 42 NOPT members who were deputized by the PRC as proctors and watchers.

Gemma Lauraya, NOPT HK president and floor supervisor, said she was hopeful the examinees would show better results this year despite having to travel in the wee hours to the test center by any available public transport.

She said the would-be elementary teachers were luckier than their secondary-level peers because they were assigned to the more comfortable 25-seater Delia classrooms. The future high school teachers, in contrast, were seated almost elbow to elbow in the school’s auditorium.

Delloro said the results would be known in about a month.

The PRC team was led by Gina Emperado, coordinator and building supervisor. Other team members were Delloro; Crescencia Bartolome, supply coordinator, and Marichor Empedrad, disbursing officer and attendance supervisor.

Newly fired DH sees redemption in LET

Domestic worker Joann Tamundong would have returned to the Philippines days before the exam after being terminated by her Hong Kong employer of four months.

“Hinintay ko lang talaga ang LET para makapag-exam dito bago ako uuwi,” the thirtyish woman told The SUN in a street interview in Kwun Tong after the special Licensure Examination for Teachers on Sept 24 for Hong Kong OFWs.

“Kapag pumasa ako, magtuturo na ako. Hindi na ako mag-o-OFW,” she said.

It was the second time that Tamundong had taken the exam. She first sat for the LET in 2013 when she was teaching in a private elementary school in her home province Tarlac, but failed to pass it.

Then the call of overseas work came and she went to Oman to serve an Arab family. She finished her two-year contract and applied for a job in Hong Kong, a dream destination for many Middle East OFWs who are virtual prisoners in their Arab employers’ homes.

But Hong Kong was a big disappointment for Tamundong, who paid Php39,000 for training, medical and other pre-departure fees just to come here. “Nakaka-stress, iba ang ugali nga mga amo. Masyadong demanding. Grabe! Kulang na lang hindi ka hihinto,” she said.

Perhaps due to the stress she forgot to bring along her registration fee receipt and was almost not allowed to take the exam. Fortunately, said exam supervisor Gregorio Delloro, the Professional Regulation Commission team decided to let her take the test first, then go and get the receipt from her shelter afterwards.

Asked how she fared in the exam, Tamundong said it was difficult, especially the General Education test. But then, she said the questions were the same as in the exam in 2013, but were just rephrased this year.

Tamundong was to fly home on Sept 27, but would return in October to try her fortune with another employer.

But what if she passed the LET?

She said she would work for her new employer until her new contract ran out, then go home for good and teach in Tarlac. “Tatapusin ko lang ang contract ko dahil hindi maganda ang mag-break, lalo na galing ako sa termination,” she said.

Buddies Jhona May Alicaycay (left)
and Cyrill Mariano. 

Another examinee, Cyrill Mariano from Isabela, tugged her small suitcase to Delia Memorial School Hip Wo, the exam venue, as she traveled all the way from Macau to take the licensure exam. After the test, she headed back to Macau, tired but exuberant.

“Pasado ba?” asked Gemma Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers, when Mariano and her buddy Johna May Alicaycay, emerged from the secondary-level test venue at 6pm.

“Pasado, Ma’am. Magkita-kita tayo sa oath-taking,” replied the two, who both had music, arts, physical education and health as their majors.

Mariano said she had been teaching in Macau since 2014 and took the exam just to secure a license in preparation for her eventual return home. In the meantime, she said would continue to work in the former Portuguese colony.

The equally optimistic Alicaycay, from Cagayan, said she would just finish her current two-year contract as a helper in Hong Kong then go home if she passed the exams.
—Vir B. Lumicao

Police look into Pinay’s drowning

By Daisy CL Mandap

Hong Kong police are still investigating the case of a Filipina described by her kin as a “strong swimmer” who was found drowned on Repulse Bay early on Thursday, Sept. 21.

Rufina Babtoog Canuto-Killip, 46, who reportedly lived in Tavistock 2, Tregunter Path in Mid-Levels, went missing the previous night after apparently going out on her own to swim.

A late-night swimmer reportedly called the police after finding Killip’s bag, slippers and other personal items on the beach at about 9pm on Wednesday night but she was not around.

When the police came they saw Killip’s wallet and ID card, and suspected that she was missing. An air and sea search was launched, but she was not found.

At 6:15am on Thursday, a swimmer reportedly called police to say he had found the body of a woman wearing a swimsuit and floating about 100 meters from the shore.

Killip was already dead when her body was recovered by firemen.

Filipino domestic workers living nearby said the police had shown them Killip’s HKID card and asked if they knew her. They also recalled hearing the government helicopters flying throughout the night searching for her.

According to the victim’s sister, Maximina Cuaresma, who is in the Philippines, their family was surprised to hear that Killip had drowned because she was a good swimmer, having learned how to swim while she was in college in Davao.

Cuaresma said her family used to live in Benguet, but has since moved to Isabela, where Killip also lives with her husband Eddie and their 15-year-old son. “Confirmed kaya na drowning ang cause of death, dati po kasi siya naglalangoy; laking Davao po siya,” said Cuaresma in a message to The SUN.

Asked about this, Vice Consul Bob Quintin who heads the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, said: “There are a lot of possible scenarios right now, but we’d rather not speculate since there are no eye-witnesses at this point”.

Another relative who posted in The SUN’s Facebook page in the name of “Undefeated Igorota,” confirmed Killip was a strong swimmer, and sought to quash speculations as to why she was swimming at night alone.

“She is our relative. She is a good and hardworking mother. She used to swim there alone whenever she (was) free and she (was) a good swimmer. But we accept the fact that this could be the verdict of heaven for her. This is a lesson to all not to (swim) alone. Do it in groups..” said the post.

Killip’s relatives say they have yet to be told on where her remains will be shipped to the Philippines, although her employers have committed to paying for the repatriation.

Filipina plans to take govt to court for injured arm

By Daisy CL Mandap

A longtime Filipino community leader has applied for legal aid to claim compensation for the injuries she suffered when her left leg got caught in a gap in a drainage cover in Sheung Sze Wan Village, Clearwater Bay on Aug. 17.

Merly Terne Bunda, an Ilonggo correspondent of Bombo Radyo and a contributor of The SUN, dislocated her elbow when she tried to break her fall.

She is seeking legal aid in pursuing a personal injuries claim against the government agency responsible for maintaining the drainage cover near her employer’s house, most likely the Drainage Services Department.

With help from the Mission for Migrant Workers, she is also filing a claim for employees’ compensation for her injuries as she was at work when the accident happened. Bunda said she was then on the way to the beach with a fellow maid and her two young wards.

One of her neighbors, a local Chinese man who called for an ambulance to help her, told Bunda later that he had called relevant government authorities to cover the gap after his leg was caught in it earlier, but no one came.

He has volunteered to write a statement to support Bunda’s claim for compensation.

A solicitor who gave initial advice to Bunda said testimonies from eyewitnesses, especially as to the apparent neglect in keeping the public facility safe, would help her greatly in pursuing a claim for compensation against the government.

As for employees compensation, the solicitor said it was enough that the accident that incapacitated the worker, whether permanently or temporarily, happened “in the course of work”. The duration of the sick leave would also be important in determining how much compensation she should get.

According to Bunda, three other village residents also had their legs caught in the gap earlier, including another Filipina domestic worker who has since gone to Canada, as well as a child. But no one apparently filed suit because they only suffered minor injuries.

Bunda says the Chinese man who has been helping her has since covered the gap with a piece of plywood, but no one from the government has responded to appeals to fix the problem permanently.

Bunda was admitted to Tseung Kwan O hospital for two days after the accident, and her left arm was put in a splint secured by metal screws. She was given 13 days’ sick leave and told to return to have the splint removed on Aug. 21.

But after the splint was removed, the doctor noticed that the swelling around her elbow had not subsided, and the flesh was still tender to the touch, so Bunda was told to take time off work again until Oct. 16.

She says the doctor told her it would take up to four more weeks before her arm is fully healed.

She is now complying with the documentary requirements for legal aid so she can pursue her claims.

OFWs mark martial law with anti-Duterte rally at PCG

Migrant workers gather outside the United Centre in Admiralty, where the Consulate is located.

By Vir B. Lumicao 

About 60 militant overseas Filipinos and their local supporters called for an end to brutal killings and condemned President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged drift towards tyranny as they marked the 45th year of the declaration of martial law by Ferdinand E. Marcos.

The protesters who wore black shirts like their counterparts in Manila, vowed to resist Duterte’s threats to impose martial law nationwide in an hour-long noontime rally at the Consulate in Admiralty under the watchful eyes of about a dozen policemen. 

“We did our part in resisting the old tyrant, we shall do our part in resisting the rising tyranny of the Duterte government. We say no to Duter-tyranny!” declared Eman Villanueva, chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Hong Kong and Macau Chapter.

He also said, “Duterte is on his way to becoming the new Marcos!”

The rally was in response to calls for protests by the Movement Against Tyranny, which spearheaded a massive rally at Rizal Park on the same day.

Towards the end of the protest, a joint statement signed by various Hong Kong-based organizations and individuals expressing opposition “to the rising tyranny and threats of nationwide martial rule” by the Duterte administration was presented to a Consulate representative.

The signatories included prominent church leaders and human rights advocates in the community.

They said Duterte’s path to tyranny is shown by the following acts:
- the unabated killings by the police and the armed forces of up to 13,000 people, mostly in the name of the war on drugs
- the declaration of martial law in the whole of Mindanao
- the attacks on the judiciary and the “immobilization” of the Commission of Human Rights
- the declaration of an end to peace talks with the leftist National Democratic Front of the Philippines
- enabling the return of the Marcoses to power, including allowing the burial of Ferdinand Marcos in the ‘Libingan ng mga Bayani”

“We are united in condemning the senseless deaths due to the mindless war on drugs. We are united in safeguarding the gains of the Filipino people in the long struggle against the former dictatorship of Marcos. We are united in stemming the new tide of tyrannical rule that grips the country,” said the joint statement

The rally’s first speaker, Fr Dwight dela Torre of the Philippine Independent Church, said the government is mandated to protect people’s lives yet its war on drugs had already left more than 13,000 mostly poor victims of extrajudicial killings.

He said there were “unabated killings of peasants, indigenous people and human rights, justice and peace advocates and political activists” suspected to have been carried out by police and vigilantes.

All rally speakers including Eni Lestari of the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body and Hong Kong trade union leaders and human rights advocates said Duterte’s all-out war against communist rebels was victimizing civilians, peasants, and indigenous peoples.

Villanueva said protests will continue in the Philippines and in various cities and countries around the globe for as long as Duterte takes “the path of martial rule and puppetry to foreign powers.”

“Duter-tyranny, as with the fascism of Marcos, will face the resistance of Filipinos everywhere. It did not triumph before and will surely not triumph now,” he concluded.

Ipinaglaban ang karapatan

Laking tuwa ni Elvira Vazquez kamakailan dahil nagawa niyang ipaglaban ang kanyang karapatan laban sa mga madayang tauhan ng isang tindahan sa WorldWide Plaza sa Central.

Napaaway si Vazquez sa mga tindera doon nang kulang ang isukli sa $500 na ibinayad niya sa kanila noong Set. 17, bandang 5pm. Imbes $472 ay $72 lang ang ibinalik sa kanya dahil $100 lang daw ang iniabot niya.

“Hindi ko sukat akalain na ang $400 ko ay maglaho nang parang bula!” ang sabi ni Elvira. Nang magpilit siya na tingnan nila sa CCTV na nakaumang sa kahera kung magkano talaga ang ibinayad niya ay sinabihan siyang hindi malinaw ang kuha. Katakot-takot na pang-aalipusta pa ang ginawa sa kanya kaya napilitan siyang umatras pansamantala.

Humingi siya ng payo sa The SUN, at sinabihan siyang kung Pilipino ang may-ari sa tindahan ay maari siyang humingi ng tulong sa Konsulado. Kung Intsik naman ay mas maigi na sa Consumer Council siya lumapit para mapilitan ang may-ari na ipakita ang kuha sa CCTV.

Sinabihan din siya na sana ay tumawag siya agad ng pulis para agad nagkaalaman kung sino sa kanila ng tindera ang nagsasabi ng totoo.

Sabi ni Elvira, nataranta lang daw siya nang sobra noong mga oras na iyon, at kailangan na rin niyang umuwi sa bahay ng amo niya, kaya siya nag blackout. Pero malaki naman ang kumpiyansa niya na maipaglalaban niya ang kanyang kaso dahil may resibo siya mula sa BDO na nag withdraw siya ng $3,000, bago dumiretso sa kalapit na tindahan para mamili.

Noong sumunod na Linggo, Sept. 24, ay bumalik siya muli sa tindahan kasama ang isang kaibigan at muling hiningi ang kuha sa CCTV ng tindahan. Ganoon na lang daw ang gulat niya nang isang screen shot na malabo ang ipinakita sa kanya.

Dahil hindi nakontento ay sinabihan niya ang mga tindera ng “Good luck na lang sa footage ng CCTV ninyo, magko-complain ako sa Consulate!”

Kinabukasan, Lunes, bandang 5pm ay tinawagan siya ng isang tauhan ng tindahan at ibabalik daw ang pera niya. “Nag thank you na lang ako kahit ang dami-dami pa nilang sinabing iba”, sabi ni Elvira. Sapat na daw na naipaglaban niya ang karapatan niya at napahiya niya ang mga taong pilit siyang dinadaya. Sana daw ay magsilbing aral din ito sa mga kapwa niya OFW na maaaring malagay sa parehong sitwasyon. - DCLM

Nainis sa mareklamong kapatid

Kunsumidong kunsumido ang ate ni Vivian na si Vilma dahil sa pagiging reklamador ng kapatid. Pinalipat ni Vilma si Vivian, na may asawa’t isang anak, sa Hong Kong mula sa Dubai, kung saan nagtrabaho ito ng dalawang taon.

Nakumbinsi naman si Vivian na lumipat dahil di hamak na mas malaki ang suweldo dito. Ngunit nabigla siya nang malaman na hindi kasing dali ng kanyang dating trabaho sa Dubai ang naghihintay sa kanya dito.

Dahil magkapatid ang kanilang mga amo, laging si Vilma ang napaghihingahan ni Vivian ng reklamo. Kesyo wala na daw siyang oras para kumain dahil tambak ang kanyang trabaho. Masyado daw kasing maselan ang kanyang amo, at lahat ng sulok ng bahay, kabilang ang mga cabinet, ay dapat linisin lagi. Mahilig pa raw mag “piano” ang amo – na ang ibig sabihin ay pinadadaan ang mga daliri sa mga gamit para masigurong wala ng alikabok ang mga ito.

Minsan ay nakausap ni Vilma ang isa nilang kamag-anak, at agad nitong ipinaabot na gusto na daw ni Vivian na magbitiw, at bumalik na lang sa Dubai. Sa inis ay sinabi ni Vilma na masyadong mareklamo ang kapatid dahil ang gusto lang nito ay ang mag dudotdot sa telepono.

Sa inis ni Vilma ay ilang araw niyang hindi kinausap ang kapatid, at nang hindi na talaga makapagpigil ay sinabihan nito na kung gusto niyang bumalik sa Dubai ay bayaran muna niya ang lahat na ginastos nito sa kanya at bahala na siya.

Sinabi din niya na hindi pare-pareho ang kapalaran ng lahat sa mga amo.

Ngayon ay magta-tatlong buwan na si Vivian sa kanyang mga amo na nakatira sa Shatin pero hindi pa rin siya nasasanay sa kanyang trabaho. – Merly T. Bunda

Takot ma-offload sa airport

Ang lalakas ng tawa ng tatlong magkakapatid na pawang nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong nang makitang putlang putla ang nakababata nilang kapatid na si Junior nang salubungin nila sa  paliparan kamakailan. Ayon kay Junior, tatlong kainan na daw itong hindi nakakain sa kakaisip kung makakalusot siya sa airport sa Pilipinas.

Walong oras bago ang kanyang flight ay nagpunta na daw ito sa airport at hindi muli kumain. Kahit tubig daw ay hindi ito makainom sa takot at kaba. Dati nang nag OFW si Junior sa Middle East pero kinabahan pa rin dahil sa kuwento ng isa pa nilang kapatid na na-offload sa Pilipinas nang tangkain nitong pumunta sa Singapore.

Kampante naman ang tatlo niyang kapatid na makakalusot siya dahil kumpleto naman ang lahat ng kanyang papeles, kasama ang invitation letter at affidavit of support para sa pananatili niya sa Hong Kong.

Noong makalabas sila sa Chek Lap Kok ay saka lang nakahinga ng maluwag si Junior. Dinala agad siya ng mga kapatid sa isang restaurant para kumain at inuwi para makapagpahinga dahil ilang gabi na din daw itong hindi makatulog sa kakaisip.

Sinubukan ni Junior na maghanap ng trabaho sa Hong Kong pero hindi siya sinuwerte katulad ng isa sa mga kapatid na natanggap bilang hardinero dahil natuto itong magsalita ng Mandarin nang magtrabaho sa Taiwan ng 12 taon.

Bago matapos ang 14 araw na palugit sa kanyang visa ay nagbakasakali naman si Junior sa Macau. Namalagi siya doon ng halos dalawang buwan pero wala pa rin siyang nakuhang trabaho, bagkus ay nasaksihan niya ang pananalasa ng bagyong Hato na umabot sa signal 10 at kumitil ng walo katao.

Natakot siya ng husto sa nasaksihan ngunit naging bentahe niya at ang mga kasabayan niyang naghahanap din ng trabaho dahil nagkaroon sila ng ilang araw na parttime. Binayaran sila sa paglilinis ng ilang araw kaya nakaipon siya ng kaunti bago bumalik sa Hong Kong.

Masaya na rin daw siya dahil marami siyang natutunan habang nasa Macau, at maraming naging bagong kakilala at kaibigan. Napagtanto niya na mahirap na ring makakuha ng trabaho sa Macau sa dami ng mga  Pinoy na pumupunta doon para makipagsapalaran.

Minabuti na lamang niyang umuwi na sa Pilipinas bago natapos ang 14 araw na visa niya pagkagaling sa Macau. Balak niyang bumalik na lang sa Middle East dahil tinatawagan na rin naman siya ng agency na kanyang inaplayan noon bago siya umalis papuntang Hong Kong.

Laking pasasalamat ni Junior sa mga kapatid na todo ang suporta na ibinigay sa kanya noong siya ay nagbakasakali sa Hong Kong. Ang apat na magkakapatid ay mula sa Cagayan Valley. – Marites Palma

Bad trip si Lola

Banas na banas na si Greg, 38, Kapampangan, sa ingay na ginagawa ni Lola paggising nito ng madaling araw.

Nung minsan na mapuno siya, bandang alas singko ng umaga, ay itinodo nya ang volume ng kanyang mini hi-fi, na gumulantang sa buong flat. Napabalikwas ng gising ang babaeng kapatid ng kanyang boss, at pupunga-pungas na sinugod ang kuwarto ni Greg at nagtanong ng, ‘What happened, what is that noise?”.

Sumagot naman si Greg ng “sorry”, at ipinaliwanag kung bakit naisipan niyang mag-ingay. Ito kasing si lola na nasa edad 80 na ay madalas lumikha ng ingay sa kusina na katabi ng store room na ibinigay bilang tulugan kay Greg.

Nakagawian na nito ang hindi magsindi ng ilaw para mag-init ng tubig para sa kanyang tsaa kaya gumagawa ng maraming kaluskos sa kusina. Ang suot pa nitong jacket ay may maliit na bell na nag titiling-tililing habang paikot-ikot ito sa kusina. Ngunit ang talagang ikinainis ni Greg ay noong nabitawan nito ang takure at kumalampag ito nang husto.

"Grabeeeee!" kuwento ni Greg na inis na inis.

Nang malaman ng kanyang amo ang tungkol sa nangyari ay namagitan ito sa kanila ng matanda. Sinamantala naman ito ni Greg para isa-isahin ang epekto ng kulang sa tulog. “Sir”, sabi niya, “when I’m driving and I feel sleepy, it is very dangerous”. Tumango-tano naman si boss na nag-iisip.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay tinanong nito si Greg ng, “Kung ipapagawa kita ng kuwarto sa mismong bahay ko hindi mo kami iiwan?” Lihim na natuwa si Greg dahil wala naman sa isip niya na layasan sila. Pero sinagot pa rin niya ito ng, “No Sir, I will continue working with you.”

Nagpasalamatan silang mag-amo at nag-ngitian. Pakiwari ni Greg tumaas pa ang respeto sa kanya ng amo dahil sa kanyang pagiging tapat. – George Manalansan

Naudlot na termination

Isang taon at pitong buwan na si Fe sa paninilbihan nang hamunin siya ng kanyang amo ng termination dahil lang sa nakita nito ang Pilipina na pinulot ang noodles na nahulog sa sahig at hinugasan bago ibinalik sa kawali na ginagamit niyang panluto.

Kahit humingi na si Fe ng katakot-takot na paumanhin ay hindi tinanggap ng amo. Walang nagawa si Fe kundi tanggapin ang termination, bago nagpunta sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office para ipakuwenta ang mga dapat bayaran sa kanya.

Umabot sa $9,917.00 ang lahat ng makukuha ni Fe dahil sa kanyang hindi nabayarang sahod, isang buwang suweldo kapalit ng isang buwang pasahe, taunang bakasyon at allowance pabalik sa Pilipinas, bukod pa ang para sa plane ticket.

Nagulat ang kanyang among babae sa laki ng babayaran. Nang malaman ng kanyang among lalaki at alaga ang tungkol sa balak na pagpapaalis kay Fe ay tinutulan nila ito.

Natuwa naman si Fe na hindi natuloy ang kanyang pag-alis, dahil kahit paano ay hindi siya nahirapan sa biglang pag-aalsa balutan at paghahanap ng malilipatan. Pilit na lang niyang iniintindi ang masungit na among babae na nagpapirma pa sa kanya sa isang kasunduan na nagtatakda ng mga bagong pamamaraan sa loob ng bahay.

Ang payo ni Fe sa mga kapwa OFW, alamin nila ang kanilang mga karapatan at pumunta agad sa POLO at kung sakaling magka problema. Ngayong isang buwan na lang ang natitira sa kanyang kontrata ay nag-uumpisa nang maghanap ng lilipatan si Fe na nagtatrabaho sa Mongkok at tubong Ilocos Sur. Hangad niya ang makahanap siya ng mabait na amo. – Rodelia Villar

Ano daw ang Polo?

Hindi makapaniwala si Gina nang tanungin siya ng Pilipina na nakasabay niya sa lift kung ano ba daw ang Polo at kung saan ito matatagpuan. Tinanong kasi siya nung Pinay kung saan siya galing dahil Lunes iyon at bihis na bihis siya at naka lipstick pa. Nang sagutin niya na sa Polo dahil may inasikaso siya ay iyon agad ang tinanong sa kanya. 

Nais sana ni Gina na ipaliwanag sa kausap kung ano ang POLO ngunit bumukas na ang lift at nagmamadali itong lumayo. Nagtataka ngayon si Gina kung bakit hindi alam ni kabayan ang Polo gayong isa siyang OFW at sigurado namang dumaan sa PDOS o pre-departure orientation seminar sa Pilipinas, kung saan sinasabihan ang lahat ng mga paalis ng bansa na ang POLO o Philippine Overseas Labor Office ang una nilang lapitan kapag nagkaproblema sa trabaho.

Pagdating sa Hong Kong, dapat ay sumailalim din ito sa PAOS o post arrival orientation seminar para mas lalo nilang maintindihan ang pamamalakad sa lugar na kanilang titirhan.

Naisip tuloy ni Gina na kaya siguro maraming nasisisante sa mga bagong OFW dahil parang hindi nila isinasapuso ang mga tinuturo sa kanila sa training bago umalis ng bansa.

Umaasa siya ngayon na makita niyang muli ang kapwa OFW para maipaliwanag sa kanya ang kahalagahan ng POLO sa mga manggagawang Pilipino na nasa ibang bansa. Si Gina ay taga Cagayan Valley, 40 taong gulang, may pamilya at kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa mga among Briton sa New Territories.- Marites Palma