Migrant support group holds rights talk

Participants in the seminar organized by the Domestic Workers’ Corner for its members.

By Rodelia Villar

Around 50 members of the Domestic Workers’ Corner joined a talk on their rights under Hong Kong laws on Oct.29 at Li Hall of St John’s Cathedral  The lecturer was Holly Allan, director of Help for Domestic Workers.

Allan said domestic work in Hong Kong is not easy, given the different situations one has to contend with, and adjust to. A domestic worker is lucky if she gets a good employer, but there is always a chance of getting caught in a worse working condition.

Thus, it is important for the workers to know their rights so they can protect themselves in case of abuse.

Allan talked about employment agency issues, from the maximum fee that could be charged worker (no more than 10% of the first monthly salary) to the kind of help the agency is obliged to give them.

She also guided them through the standard employment contract for domestic workers, which sets out their rights, from getting suitable accommodation and free food if a food allowance is not given. 

More importantly, the workers were given pointers on how they could avoid getting into abusive situations, and what remedies are available to them.

A question and answer portion followed the lecture, where the workers asked about their holiday or rest day entitlements, what they should do if their employer takes them to China, who to report to in case they hear of a worker falling victim to human trafficking, how can one go back to working in HK if they get “blacklisted” by Immigration, and many other concerns.

Most of the participants said afterwards that they learned a lot from the talk, including those not covered by the PDOS (Pre~Departure Orientation Seminar) and PAOS (Post Arrival Orientation Seminar) which they were required to attend.

According to Ana Maria Daria, “I really appreciate the talk. It’s true that if we lack knowledge about our rights as household workers we are afraid to assert ourselves, or seek help. Sometimes, we get afraid about losing our job, but  the talk made me realize that the law in HK is fair. The knowledge I learned can help me with my own situation, and I now know where to go if someone asks me for help. “

Marichu Cascarro says the lecture was a big help as she learned that there were still a lot of things she didn’t know, like she could not be terminated a month or less before her contract of employment ends. But most importantly she learned the value of keeping a diary, especially when an employer makes the worker do something not stated in the contract. - Rodelia  Villar

Inulan man ang Sining sa Bote, natuloy pa rin ang pasinaya

Ni Marites Palma

Hindi nagpatalo sa buhos ng ulan ang mga naging kalahok sa Sining sa Bote na idinaos noong Nob. 12 sa Chater Road, at pinangunahan  ng Organic Environmental and Cultural Organization.

Ang paligsahan ay isinagawa para maipalaganap ang kaalaman tungkol sa pagkasira ng kalikasan, at para maihayag ang pagtutol  ng grupo sa Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Sinisipat mabuti ng mga hurado ang kasali sa Sining sa Bote.

Ayon kay Norman Uy Carnay na siyang panauhing pandangal,  93 %  ng likas na yamang mineral ng Pilipinas ay  napupunta lamang sa mga ganid na dambuhalang dayuhang korporasyon na nagmimina ng malawakan  sa mga kabundukan sa ating bansa. Wala daw halos napapakinabangan sa malawakang pagmimina na ito, dahil 004 % lamang sa kanilang kita ang pumupunta sa pansamantalang trabaho para sa mga Pilipino.

Ang pinakamasaklap ay ang  pag-iwan ng mga kumpanyang ito ng mga nakalalasong kemikal na sumisira sa kalikasan, at nagdudulot ng panganib sa mga mamamayan.

Walang daw magandang naidulot ang malawakang pagmimina, dahil kung titingnan ang mga lugar na pinagmiminahan gaya ng Benguet ay makikita na mataas ang bilang ng mga migrante na mula dito.  Patunay daw ito na hindi nakakatulong sa pangkalahatan ang pagmimina, bagkus ay pinakikinabangan lamang ito ng mga dayuhan kumpanya sa pakikipagtulungan ng mga ganid na pulitiko

Dahil dito, hinikayat ni Carnay ang grupo na na lalong paigtingin ang kampanya sa pagtutol sa Mining Act of 1995 upang malaman ng karamihan ang nakamamatay na epekto ng malawakang pagmimina ng mga dayuhan sa ating mga kabundukan.

Bagaman umulan ay nagpakitang gilas ang FMWU Chater Road Chapter na pinangungunahan ni Bing Yungco sa pamamagitan ng isang awiting pangkalikasan.

Ang unang gantimpala sa sining sa bote ay mula sa Likha, sinundan ng FMWU CRC at pumangatlo ang Cuyapo.

Ayon kay Jen Cabanez na siyang pangulo ng Organic, umpisa lamang ito ng hayagang pagtutol ng grupo sa malawakang pagmimina ng mga dayuhan sa Pilipinas. Papaigtingin pa raw ng kanyang grupo ang nasimulang adhikain para sa kaligtasan ng bawat Pilipino.

What's on, where

Financial Health Literacy
Nov 19, PCG Sentro Rizal
Free one-on-one consultation: 1-3 pm
Money Wise Public Forum: 3-5 pm
Organizer: Enrich HK.
To sign up for an appointment, call 2386 5811

Massage Therapy Graduation (Batches 21, 22 & 23)
Nov. 26, 1-4pm. PCG Conference Room
Organizer: United Migrants Entrepreneurship & Livelihood Association (Umela)-HK. For inquiries on how to join Umela’s training, call Maellen Lupera, 5535 2165; Opalyn Albidas, 61387357 and Emma Capal, 9859 5023

CARD HK Foundation Graduation
Nov. 26, 1-5pm. 1/F Auditorium, Duke of Windsor Bldg
15 Hennesy Road, Wanchai
Graduation of batches 41-44 of Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Seminars
Contacf: Jessica 5110 4472

Sikap Anniversary and Christmas Party
Nov. 26, 1-3 pm. Empire Hotel, Wanchai
Oeganizer: Sikap Association
Contact: Rey Vital 9639 0758

Migrants Pride Parade
Nov. 26,  1 pm. Edinburgh Place (near City Hall), Central
A campaign to promote the rights and welfare of LGBT migrants in the community, and to fight for equality and against homophobia and discrimination
Details: Shiela Tebia, 9013 1542

Traffic Laws in HK Seminar
Nov. 26, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Central Police Station, No. 2 Chung Kong Rd, Sheung Wan
Organizer: HK Police. Those interested to attend may email  Wendy Yip at sslo-1-cdist@police.gov.hk

Lifestyle Diseases Seminar and Free Consultation
Nov. 26, 11am - 6pm. 15F Nan Dao Commercial Bldg
359-361 Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan
Organizer: Noble Life International
To register, call 6625 5924 and look for Ms. Evelyn Leung

Simplicity. Power: An exhibit of traditional Cordillera Art
Dec. 1, 2017 – Feb. 4, 2018. University Museum and Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam, Hong Kong

2017 Migrants’ Health Matters
Dec 10, 10am-6pm. Kik Yeung Football Pitch, Kik Yeung, Yuen Long.
Fun-filled community health day with free health information and basic screenings for migrant workers.
Hosted by: PathFinders and Christian Action and sponsored by Operation Santa Claus. Participating groups: Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, Equal Opportunities Commission and many other migrant support groups. For details, contact PathFinders at Tel 5621 8329 or email infor@pathfinders.org.hk

Consulate closed on these dates

The Philippine Consulate General will be closed to the public on the following dates: Nov 30 (Thursday) Bonifacio Day, Dec 25 (Monday) Christmas Day, Dec. 26 (Tuesday) Boxing Day , Dec. 31 (Sunday) Last Day of the Year. There will be no official transactions at both the PCG and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on these dates. In case of emergency,  call: 9155 4023 ( Consular/ Assistance), 2866 0640 (Polo), 6345 9324 (Owwa)

PaStaran 2017
All Filipino community organizations are invited to join PaStaran (Paligsahan sa Paggawa ng Parol). All parol entries must be made of recycled materials, and should measure between 0.8 to 1 meter in diameter. To join, register with the PCG ‘s cultural section between Nov 12 to Dec. 10, 2017. Videos of each entry running no longer than 2 minutes must be sent to the cultural section from Dec.17 up to no later than 5pm on Dec 20. The parols will then be displayed in Chater Garden starting at 4pm on Dec24. Winners will be announced during a program just before the Misa de Gallo Prizes of $5,000; $3,000; $2,000 and $1,000 will be awarded to the first four winning entries. For more details, check the Facebook page of the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong or email cultural.pcg@gmail.com

For Tinikling Lovers
The Tinikling Group of Migrants is in need of male/female performers with or without experience, no age limit. TGM performs mostly for the LCSD events. Interested person may contact Marie Velarde @ 67175379, Emz Bautista @ 98512804 and Rowena Solir @97331049.

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

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

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

Study shows lack of transparency in kinder quality reviews

By Vir B. Lumicao

Hong Kong’s Education Bureau has not been transparent in disclosing results of quality reviews of individual kindergartens by publishing these only in Chinese, thus failing to provide accountability to non-Chinese-speaking parents.

This view was expressed by local NGO Hong Kong Unison and Legislative Councillor Fernando Cheung in a media conference on Nov 2 at the Legislative Council to launch a research Unison had conducted on 151 quality review reports from three districts.

Cheung said Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who had promised better treatment for ethnic minority students when she campaigned on the slogan “Connect”, should rectify this problem while there is still time.

“You know Carrie Lam’s slogan in her election campaign is ‘Connect’. I would expect that connection would be extended to all, including ethnic minorities in Hong Kong,” Cheung said in response to a question from The SUN on Lam’s policy on ethnic minorities.

“One would expect that her being the Chief Executive, she would make education policy accessible and connecting to everyone in Hong Kong. So, judging from that slogan, I would expect policies that should make these connections to follow,” Cheung said.

But the legislator expressed his disappointment at the administration’s latest letdown. “Now, we had just discovered that the access to kindergarten education in terms of materials in facilitating parents in making choices for their children, for non-Chinese-speaking populations, is not quite accessible,” Cheung said.

“Catalogues in kindergartens are in both languages (Chinese and English) but are lacking in information pertaining to support for non-Chinese-speaking students. And this quality assessment report is only in Chinese, so, no access for non-Chinese students and parents. I hope this should be changed,” he said.

He said that in LegCo, the lawmakers had alerted the government as early as 2015 that the quality assessment report needed to be published in both languages.

Puja Kapai, associate professor of law at Hong Kong University, recounted her first-hand experience as an ethnic minority parent searching for the right kindergarten for her son.

She said it took her some time looking for a school that offered equal opportunities for both Chinese-speaking and non-Chinese-speaking students in terms of learning experience in their formative years.

Kapai eventually found one such kindergarten that taught both Cantonese and English to all its students, so, her son learned Cantonese. This year, in his Kindergarten 1 class he is learning Putonghua, English and Cantonese.”

"But I have to emphasize that I can only do this because I have the resources to be able to access such a kindergarten.. It’s the only one I know of which enables children of any background to be able to master three languages in their formative years and I’m very happy,” Kapai said.

Even so, Kapai said she could only do this because she had the resources. She said she still needed to hire a tutor for the boy’s homework in Putonghua and Cantonese.

“I tell you, this is a class problem, as much as it is a language problem. If you have resources, you can try to catch up. But if you don’t, even if you have access to these schools, support in those schools does not allow you and your child to progress in the same way as Chinese-speaking students,” she said.

Hong Kong Unison’s research on 151 QR reports from 3 districts investigated what kind of information non-Chinese-speaking parents missed from Chinese-only QR reports.

The study also assessed if the information in the reports reflected performance of kindergartens on the teaching and learning for ethnic minority children and parents.

Unison and Cheung both said the EDB should provide an English version of QR reports to ensure equal access to information and to enhance accountability to non-Chinese-speaking parents.

Labatt sets sights on new alleged Russia job scam

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre 

A recruitment agency in Kowloon is being watched by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for allegedly charging $43,000 to $45,000 for fake or non-existent jobs in Russia.

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre disclosed the new scam on Nov 9, just a fortnight after he warned domestic workers in Hong Kong against a post by Filipino Nanny Ltd claiming that Russia was still issuing work visas, without disclosing that these do not cover domestic work.

In a online post on Nov 9, the labor official disclosed that an agency in Kowloon had asked for $43,000 from an OFW for a “work visa” – in reality, a commercial visa – issued by the Russian consulate in Hong Kong or embassy in Manila based on an invitation to a fake position in a spurious firm in Russia.

Dela Torre said the fake position described the applicant’s profession as doctor, dentist, manager, company director, specialist, etc.

When the applicant could not pay up, the Filipina recruiter allegedly went to the Philippines and harassed her parents until they signed papers acknowledging the”debt” and pledged their certificate of land ownership as beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

 “A lawyer of the human trafficker now serves as accomplice by continually harassing the parents with collection demand letters,” the labor attaché said.

Dela Torre said the same agency charged $45,000 from Filipinas it sends to Russia and then “just practically abandons our women, leaving them to deal with not having a job for months, playing hide and seek with the police, having to pay off debts in the Philippines and Hong Kong, and all the while coping with being trapped in a vicious circle of debt and desperation.”

He told The SUN the agency had many victims who were preparing affidavits detailing how they had been duped.

Once he receives the affidavits from Russia, Labatt Dela Torre will endorse the case to the Hong Kong Labour Department for prosecution, he said.

He urged would-be victims to be wary of these illegal recruiters. “All our efforts at hunting down human traffickers and illegal recruiters are for nothing if the would-be victims continue to ignore or be complicit with the offenders,” Dela Torre said.

He warned OFW jobseekers against Hong Kong agencies recruiting for Russia, Mongolia, or Kazakhstan, saying these are ruining the lives of their recruits.

 “They promise (recruits) a life of ease and excellent working conditions in these countries. Instead, what our workers find after landing is that they’ve been lied to. There are no jobs waiting,” Dela Torre said.

The commercial visa that most of them secure in Hong Kong does not allow them to work, and has to be renewed every three months. The more desirable “working” visas, on the other hand, are expenaive as they need companies to sign on as sponsors. They reportedly cost between US$3,500 to US$5,000.

 “The question is: why is the Russian Consulate in Hong Kong issuing these commercial visas?” Dela Torre asked.

To show how bad the situation of the illegal recruitment victims in Russia is, the labor attaché hooked up a former Mindanao community leader in Hong Kong now working in Russia to an online video chat with her former friends in the SAR.

All the friends burst into tears during the video chat and could only offer consolation to the victim, Dela Torre said.

He uncovered the apparently new modus on Nov 9, weeks after he foiled the latest attempt by a Pakistani-Filipina couple in Moscow to recruit OFWs for illegal work in Russia.

But the Pakistani recruiter who goes by the name Jon Meer on Facebook, is unrepentant. He recently posted a message on Facebook, inviting applicants for a nanny/cleaner position and offering a salary of 55,000-60,000 rouble ($7,222-$7,882).

Ex-DSWD Sec hits out at Duterte but says peace talks must continue

By Daisy CL Mandap

She may have spoken out against the extrajudicial killings of thousands of mostly poor people in the Philippines, but Prof. Judy Taguiwalo says peace talks between the left and the government must continue.

“Hindi naman either/or yan, you try all avenues,” Taguiwalo said at a forum held at the HK Boys and Girls Club auditorium in Wanchai on Nov. 6.

She said the desire to push ahead with the stalled peace talks has not stopped other groups within the leftist factions, like Karapatan, from condeming the EJKs.

Prof. Judy Taguiwalo

“Papasok ka sa lahat ng arena kasi...whether you like it or not, President (Rodrigo) Duterte was duly elected by the Filipino people.”

Taguiwalo also expressed no regrets about losing the post of social welfare secretary after her appointment by President Duterte was bypassed by Congress recently, saying there are other ways of serving the people.

“Walang forever sa posisyon pero may forever sa paglilingkod sa bayan,” she said.

She recalled accepting the appointment because “I had high hopes that for the first time, we had an inclusive president,” she said.

This belief was said to have been bolstered by the widespread support she saw being given to Duterte, even by Filipinos who are abroad.

In Davao, she said “kahit ganoon ang bibig niya (Duterte), he is well loved by the people. She cited his many pro-women initiatives like providing a breastfeeding center at the airport and keeping the women’s correctional institute looking homey and not like a prison. “Even yung mga sisters (nuns), love sya.”

For Taguiwalo, the unraveling happened when she clashed head-on with other members of the Cabinet, like when she opposed the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos in Libingan ng Mga Bayani” and the more recent tax reform package that Duterte wants implemented.

In her talk, Taguiwalo focused mainly on “Neoliberal Dutertenomcis” which she said is anti-people and resulted not in changes for the better, but for worse.

Prof. Judy Taguiwalo joins her audience for a photo.

She cited statistics from Ibon Foundation which show that despite a continuing economic growth (now hovering at around 6.8%), production has slowed down by as much as 48.9%, while unemployment has surged. Ibon’s estimate put the number of Filipinos without jobs at 4.3 million.

The worsening economy is said to have led to about 66million Filipinos becoming poor, meaning they live on P125 a day or less.

Migration is said to have allowed many Filipinos to “keep body and soul together” but Taguiwalo said it’s not the answer to the widening poverty in the country.

She said there is no difference between the economic policies of Duterte and his predecessor, Benigno S. Aquino III, as they are both elitists.

The former social welfare chief noted Duterte’s “build, build, build” campaign which she said is “definitely not for the poor.” She showed graphs indicating the rush to build infrastructure as being concentrated in Metro Manila and surrounding regions, and not in areas where the poor are concentrated, like in the Mindanao.

The second part of her lecture dealt with EJKs which she said reflects a culture of impunity in the country.

“Just imagine, 32 killings in one night, and the President does not see anything wrong with it.”  She said drug addiction is a health issue and not a policy problem.

She also hit out at Duterte’s recent moves to stamp out dissent, like harassing the Commission on Human Rights, threatening the Ombudsman, and sanctioning moves to impeach the Chuef Justice.

“The lesson learned (from all these) is wala talaga tayong aasaahan kundi tayong mga tao din,” she said.

Pact on migrant workers signed at Asean summit

One of the agreements signed at the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit would benefit roughly 10 million migrant workers in the region, including about two million Filipinos.

President Rodrigo Duterte said the “Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers “would strengthen social protection, access to justice, humane and fair treatment, and access to health services for our people.”

Labor groups quickly welcomed the development. Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said the consensus agreement will promote best practices for migrant workers among the 10 Asean countries. “This is a positive step towards improving core labor and occupational safety and health standards on decent and humane treatment of Asean migrant workers and their families,” Tanjusay said.

He said the lack of a uniform core labor standards and occupational safety and health standards prevents Asean from having a “genuine and functional shared prosperity” and will lead to more abuses to the most vulnerable sectors of the countries.

OFWs in Central.

“Without a uniform, binding labor standards in Asean, we would see rampant practice of child labor, more abuses on women workers, prevalent sweatshops, poor wages, temporary and short-term jobs, and bare social protection in Asean as governments and businesses prod workers to produce goods and services,” Tanjusay explained.

The consensus is a continuation of the Asean Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers that the Philippines introduced when it last hosted the Asean Summit in January 2007.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said the signing of the consensus “is a centerpiece” of the Philippine chairmanship of Asean.

From forming the declaration in 2007 to achieving a consensus in 2017, the Philippine chairmanship of Asean has “come full circle,” he said.

“One of the key features of this Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers is for all countries in Southeast Asia to afford the same level of protection to migrant workers as they do to their own citizens in terms of labor contracts, labor standards, and all of that, access to say legal representation, especially access to consular representation,” Bolivar said.

“All of these things come into play knowing that the Philippines, probably Indonesia and some other countries, are some of the biggest migrant sending countries,” he added.

The action plan will be crafted in the 2018 meetings under the Asean chairmanship of Singapore.

Apart from the labor consensus, the Philippines and other Asean nations jointly declared the official start of negotiations on the code of conduct in disputed waters including the West Philippine Sea.

HK professor says Duterte's hold on power still firm

By Daisy CL Mandap

Prof. Mark Thompson: “That popularity may not
last, but for the meantime, it's holding firm,”

The Philippines may have one of the highest number of killings by police in the world, but this has not dented President Rodrigo Duterte's popularity.

This was according to Prof. Mark Thompson, head of City University's Southeast Asian Research Centre during a talk on "Duterte's Violent Populism" at the Foreign Correspondents Club on Nov. 7.

Prof. Thompson said the number of deaths from the extrajudicial killings by police and vigilantes as part of Duterte's anti-drug campaign - though "fuzzy"- rival those in known dangerous hotspots like South Africa and Brazil. 

Even the official figure of 9,000 is said to have long surpassed the 3,000 plus deaths recorded during the iron-fist rule over 14 years by former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Despite this, Thompson said recent surveys showed Duterte still enjoying the support of 80 percent of Filipinos.

“That popularity may not last, but for the meantime, it's holding firm,” said Thompson.

Duterte's focus on drugs, instead of other more pressing issues like the rising inflation and incidence of poverty, has reportedly allowed him to build a new power base, aided by the police and his former leftist allies.

The campaign also resonated with the elite, “as they have the biggest security concern”, said Thompson.

“Duterte has brought to the Philippines a new form of reactionary politics,” he said.

This meant attacking some well-entrenched oligarchs like Lucio Tan and some Marcos cronies, but helping those allied with him.

At the same time, he made overtures to the left, but failed to deliver on such promises as agrarian reform and an end to the labor contractualuzation.

This brand of politics also weakened “already vulnerable institutions,” said Thompson.

The Philippine Congress is now under Duterte’s control, and he has trained his guns on independent bodies like the Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman.

The country’s economy has also suffered, with more than 90 percent of direct foreign investments falling in just one year under Duterte's rule, while the market for overseas Filipino workers could soon dry up.

Despite all these, Thompson says he does not see any sign of Duterte losing his grip on power anytime soon.

“He will finish his term,” Thompson told The SUN confidently after finishing his talk.

Filipina ‘drug mule’ pleads guilty, jailed 15 years plus

By Vir B. Lumicao 

A Filipina former domestic helper who tried to smuggle 3 kilos of cocaine into Hong Kong from Dubai last year was jailed on Nov 8 for 15 years and 5 months, after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

Imelda G. Penascosa, 45, was somber and emotionless as Deputy High Court Judge Gareth Lugar-Mawson read the sentence.

The mother of three, who was working as a maid in Macau at the time of her arrest, admitted her guilt at the start of what was supposed to be a seven-day trial. An out-of-court agreement between the prosecution and defense led to her guilty plea.

The stash found in Penacosa's luggage.

Penascosa was charged with “trafficking in a dangerous drug” for bringing in more thank three kilos of pure cocaine. She was represented by Jonathan Acton-Bond on instructions of Legal Aid.

In mitigation, Acton-Bond said Penascosa had been separated from her husband by whom she had two children aged 24 and 26 She had a boyfriend in Macau, the father of her 10-year-old child.

Acton-Bond pleaded for a 33% discount to her sentence, citing the accused’s act of volunteering to help trap the recipients of the smuggled drug in a controlled delivery operation, albeit unsuccessful, outside the Customs area of the HKIA.

The prosecution said the drug seized had a street value of more than $4 million in the Hong Kong market.

But Judge Lugar-Mawson said he could not give the Filipina a huge discount due to the big amount of cocaine imvolved, her pleading guilty only on the first day of the trial, as well as the international aspect of the case.

He said the sentence of 15 years and 5 months was already light, given that her offence normally carried a 23-year sentence, plus an extra 5 years due to its international aspect.

The court heard that Penascosa was arrested on the night of Feb 13 last year after she arrived from Dubai with three cans containing 248 plastic-wrapped pellets disguised as chocolate candies.

During investigation, she said the three cans were handed to her at Dubai Airport by a Macau-based Filipino woman named Jennifer as presents for her children.

Penascosa said she met Jennifer and her Filipino partner Edilberto in Macau. It was the man who suggested she went to a business seminar in Dubai and possibly get a job from the man’s Dubai employers. Jennifer bought her a return ticket on Emirates Airlines.

Penascosa entered Hong Kong through the China Ferry Terminal on Feb 8 and flew to Dubai on an Emirates plane on the same day. But she found no job in Dubai.

In her Dubai hotel, she was visited by two men – one of whom she understood to be Jennifer’s brother – who gave her a black Samsung phone which she was told to use for subsequent communications in that emirate.  She was also instructed to contact a certain Tony, who was described as the boss.

Tony asked her for a photo so his brother Mike, who was flying to Dubai, could meet her at the departure gate of Dubai Airport.

But when she went to the airport on Feb 13 for her flight back to Hong Kong, Penascosa was surprised to meet Jennifer, who gave her the three ‘heavy and smelly” choco cans.

She also found out she and Jennifer would fly back to Hong Kong on the same plane, with Jennifer sitting a few rows back.

Acton-Bond told the court that despite her jailing, Penascosa would continue to help Customs track Jennifer and her cohorts.

3 agencies raided as HK cracks down on human traffickers

 Officers from Labour, Immigration and Police departments jointly raided three employment agencies on Nov 17 to investigate cases of trafficking of Filipino domestic helpers to other countries, and charging them excessive fees.

However, no arrests were made and a government statement said the raiding teams, which included officers from the Anti-Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, merely "inspected” the three agencies located in Tsimshatsui, Wanchai and Kennedy Town.

Labour Department TV spot warning against job scams.

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre, who has been waging a relentless campaign against recruiters luring their Filipino victims to Russia, Turkey and other countries, welcomed the Hong Kong government’s action.

“This is a welcome development, and brings hope and relief to the thousands of victims now toiling in Russia and Turkey, and other countries. I hope the HK authorities sustain the campaign. Some legislative initiative to ban employment agencies from recruiting and deploying to third-country destinations would strengthen and institutionalize the drive against human traffickers,” Labatt Dela Torre said in an online post.

He suggested Hong Kong lawmakers should also clamp down on individual illegal recruiters, particularly a Pakistani national he recently stopped from recruiting Filipino workers to Russia.

“How about lone wolves, or individual perpetrators, like Ahmed Sameer or Jon Meer –they have no agencies, no brick and mortar presence, and yet they victimize more, thanks to Facebook and Messenger, which are their communications and recruitment platform of choice? How about it, LegCo?” Dela Torre said in his post.

Meer has been harassing the labor attache and his family members on Facebook recently as a result of his failed recruitment drive..

The raids came three days after Chief Executive Carrie Lam promised to take “vigorous enforcement action” against any employment agencies in Hong Kong that illegally deploy helpers abroad.

Speaking on Nov 14 ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam said: “I, alongside the chief secretary and the secretary for labour and welfare, are all very concerned about the issue and have been consistently in touch with the Philippine consul-general in Hong Kong.”

“I reiterate that (the government) will take vigorous enforcement action against any agencies that conduct illegal activities in Hong Kong, such as channeling the foreign domestic helpers who are supposed to work in the city to other places.”

A police spokesperson has declined to name the three employment agencies raided.

“(The raids were) a joint operation of the police, the Labour Department and Immigration Department. We have no other details,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesman for the Labour Department did not give details of the raid, either.  

"The government is committed to safeguarding the rights and benefits of foreign domestic workers and will not tolerate their exploitation in any form," the spokesman merely said. 

He added that the Labour Department had been taking stringent enforcement actions to regulate agencies under the Employment Ordinance, including the requirement to charge job-seekers no more than 10% of their first month’s salary.

He said the department would take follow-up actions against overcharging of fees upon receipt of complaints from the helpers or referrals by the consulates in Hong Kong. 

“At the same time, the cases will also be referred to the police and Immigration for investigation in respect of the suspected fraud and deception, and other illegal activities,” the spokesman said.

Bello: China hiring Filipino teachers, HSWs

Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said China is hiring thousands of Filipinos, mostly as English teachers and household service workers.

Bello said he would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the terms of the job opening after the close of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila.

“I still do not know the number of workers stated in the MOU,” Bello said, but noted that in an earlier meeting with Chinese officials, they talked about 100,000 Filipino teachers and 100,000 Filipino HSWs to be hired.

Labor officials said China wants to hire Filipino workers because of their proficiency in English as well as their good work attitude.

Super tipid ang amo, kaya ginaya niya

Kilala ang mga Intsik sa pagiging masinop o super tipid lalo na sa pananalapi. Patunay dito ang amo ni Lina  dahil sa sobrang tipid nito. Simple lang ito manamit at paulit-ulit lang ang kinakain araw-araw: gulay na choi sum, steamed pork at steamed fish.

Bihira itong kumain sa labas at hindi naghahanda sa bahay kaya walang dumadalaw na kapamilya o kaibigan sa kanilang bahay. Hindi rin ito nagsasayang ng pagkain dahil minsan na nagbakasyon ito sa Japan ay inuwi pa ang isang pirasong karne na halos isang kagat na lang ang natitira para kainin sa bahay.

Naitanong tuloy ni Lina sa mga kaibigan kung talaga bang sobrang mahal ng karne sa Japan at pati yung katiting na karne ay inuwi pa ng amo. Natatawang sinabihan naman siya ng mga kaibigan na huwag nang papansinin ang amo dahil natural na ugali na ng Intsik ang pagiging matipid kaya sila yumayaman.

Sa ngayon ay nasa pangatlong kontrata na si Liza sa  kanyang mga amo pero parehong pagkain pa rin ang niluluto niya araw-araw dahil ayon sa kanila, “they want it simple”. Dahil sa ugaling ito ng mga amo ay nagka ideya si si Liza na gumaya para makaipon.

Iniwasan na niya ang pagbili ng kung ano-ano na tigbebente sa daan. Kapag araw ng kanyang pahinga ay binibili na lang niya kung ano ang kanyang kailangan. Dahil dito ay paunti-unti siyang nakaipon at plano nang mag for good pagkatapos ng kanyang kontrata sa 2019.

Ang kanyang mga amo na super tipid ay super inspirasyon na nya sa pag iipon para umalwan ang kanyang buhay pagdating ng panahon.Si Lina ay tubong Bikol, dalaga at kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa mga amo sa Mid-Levels. – Ellen Almacin

Kunsumisyon ni Fely ang kaibigan

Dismayado si Fely sa kaibigang kapwa taga-Pangasinan dahil sa loob ng dalawang taon nito sa Hong Kong ay humihiram ito ng allowance sa kanya halos buwan-buwan dahil halos lahat ng kinikita ay ipinapadala sa pamilya sa Pilipinas.

Kinagalitan niya tuloy ito isang araw. “Por Dios por santo, wala ka bang isip, ikaw ang nagtatrabaho, kumikita, bakit mo sinasagad ang sarili mo? Lagi ka na lang kapos,  magtira ka naman ng para sa sarili mo,” panggigigil na wika nito sa kaibigan.

Nadagdagan pa ang kunsumisyon ni Fely nang malaman na tatlong linggo na palang overstay ang kaibigan dahil basta na lang daw nitong iniwan ang kontrata sa mesa para pirmahan ng amo, pero hindi pinaalala.

Nang makita ng amo ng kontrata ay overstay na siya. Nasabi tuloy ni Fely, “Dikdikin man kita, friend pa rin kita!”. Hindi niya alam ngayon kung hanggang kailan niya matitiis na laging pangaralan ang kaibigan gayong pareho na silang nasa 40 taong gulang na. – George Manalansan

Hindi makuntento sa suweldo

Laking panghihinayang ni Berto, 45, at taga Bicol, dahil wala siyang naipundar sa pagtatrabaho bilang driver sa nakalipas na 15 taon. Ilang kontrata lang kasi ang nabuo niya dahil sa paghahangad  ng mas mataas na sweldo.

Naiinggit kasi siya tuwing maririnig sa mga kapwa drayber sa parking area kung magkano ang kanilang sinasahod, na mas malaki sa kinikita niya.

Dahil sa dami ng employer na nalipatan niya ay nakilala na siya ng isang immigration officer. “You again?” daw ang nababanggit ng taga Immigration tuwing magpapasok siya ng bagong kontrata.

Mabuti na lang at basta may naipasok siyang bagong kontrata ay tinatanggap nila, dangan nga lang at kailangan niyang umuwi para doon hintayin ang bagong visa. Sa dalas ng kanyang pag-uwi ay nahirapan siyang mag-ipon.

Buti pa nga daw ang kanyang kumpare na halos kasabayan niyang dumating sa Hong Kong. Nakapundar na ito ng sariling lote, bahay, at  sakahan sa Pilipinas, kahit sa umpisa ay minimum lang ang suweldo nito.

Sa kaka recontract nito ay nadagdagan nang nadagdagan ang kanyang suweldo, at nabigyan pa ng long service pay. Libre din ang kanyang tirahan at pagkain dahil marunong siyang makisama sa kasambahay.

Sa katunayan, kapag maglalaba siya at kailangan siyang umalis, napapakiusapan pa niya ang kasamahan na isampay ang mga damit niya.

Kailan lang napagtanto ko, sabi ni Berto, na hindi maganda ang palipat lipat. Una, hindi ka makakapag plano sa iyong kita, at wala kang maipupundar. Kapag nagkakaidad ka na ay saka ka lang mapapaisip na ikaw ang nalugi dahil sa pagnanasang pataasin lagi ang iyong suweldo. Sa mga nalalabing ilang taon pa bago siya mag retiro ay pagsusumikapan daw ni Berto na makabawi para umayos din ang kanyang buhay. –George Manalansan

Employer's companion accused of 'torturing' Filipina maid

(UPDATED)

by The SUN 

If this is not slavery, what is?

Signs of abuse on the vcctim’s forehead.

Two Filipina domestic workers fled on Nov 9 from the house of their employer in Tseung Kwan O, with one claiming she had been abused “physically, mentally and verbally” by the employer's live-in companion, and did not pay her salary for more than six months, allegedly as punishment for her "mistakes."

The two women claimed the abuse on Lanie Grace Rosareal, 27 was with the knowledge and tacit approval of their employer, Leung Sher-ying, 63.

But it was Leung's companion, Au Wai-chun, 65, a former civil servant who was convicted on Sept. 1, 2014, of scalding a Bangladeshi maid with hot water, who allegedly abused Rosareal almost daily. (see: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1583001/ex-civil-servant-found-guilty-burning-maid-scalding-hot-water)

The claim is backed up by Rowela Sobiono Suete, 36, who was hired by Leung as a second helper, and fled just 19 days after being employed, claiming she could not stand the regular punishments being meted by Au on Rosareal.

As in the case of the Bangladeshi maid, both Suete and Rosareal were signed up as domestic helpers by Leung who lived with Au in a 35th floor flat in The Grandiose, a private residential tower in Tseung Kwan O. On top of this, the two Filipinas said they were made to work in the house of Au's son in an adjacent building.

Rosareal and Suete were fetched by a concerned citizen who responded to their appeals for help to a friend, then escorted them to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office where they complained against the employer.

“I think this employer does not deserve to hire a foreign domestic worker permanently. It is cruelty akin to modern-day slavery,” Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre remarked after meeting with the two women in his office.

Dela Torre immediately put both Leung and Au on the Philippine Overseas Labor Office's watch list, meaning they won't be able to hire Filipina domestic workers again unless they get to clear their names with the labor attache.

Rosareal, who had served Leung since Jan 24, 2014, tearfully related before Labatt dela Torre her daily ordeal at the hands of Au that included head-banging, being kicked and bopped on her top with a knife or a TV remote control, being jabbed in the arm with a pair of scissors, or clawed on her wrists and neck.

Fingernail marks can still be found on her wrists and biceps as well as on her left neck. The maid said she suffered headaches due to the banging but could not go for a medical check-up, as she worked even on her holidays so she could pay the “fines” imposed on her by Au.

The list of pay deductions as punishment.

For October alone, the fines on Rosareal totaled $7,670, according to a notebook where Au had listed down all the alleged shortcomings of the maid for which she was fined

Under Hong Kong’s labour laws, justifiable fines charged aginst a foreign domestic worker’s salary should not exceed $300 a month.

From April to October this year, Rosareal said Leung paid her $4210 monthly salary, plus payments for her cancelled days off, then told her to go to Au to settle her "fines". She ended up turning over all that she received from Leung, to Au.

In a labor case she filed against Leung, Rosareal listed down a claim for around $50,000, including $31,500 in unpaid wages for six months and 19 days; $4, 210 monthly pay in lieu of notice; severance pay of $10,600; plus food allowance and return air fare.

The labor case is separate from the police complaint she filed against Au, with help from POLO and the Consulate's assistance to nationals section.

According to Suete, she had tried to protest the abuse and the fines on Rosareal with Leung, but was allegedly told to just let Au be. Leung also allegedly told Suete that it was Rosareal who had  been "torturing" Au.

Asked why she put up with the abuse for so long, Rosareal said she was scared that Leung would make good on the threat to have her jailed for using an Octopus card lent her by the employer to buy a $28 meal when she was out on an errand once, and got hungry.

The employer had also taken away her passport, an act that is prohibited under Hong Kong’s labour laws.

But it was the apparent shame on being punished repeatedly that kept her from protesting, or telling other people about her ordeal.

"Ewan ko nga ho ba kung bakit pumayag na lang ako na saktan niya," Rosareal told The SUN.

She said that Au often told her that she needed to also feel the pain that she was causing the elderly woman.

"Sabi din niya, nawawala yung sakit na nararamdaman niya kapag nasasaktan niya ako."

Rosareal said Au's favorite punishment for her was to make her kneel in front of the old woman and bang her own forehead on the floor. If she didn't comply, she would either be kicked hard, or hit on the head with the TV's remote control.

If Au thought the banging was weak, she would allegedly step on the back of the maid’s head and thump it to the floor even if the Filipina was already crying in pain.

“Sometimes, she would grab my hair with both hands and bang my head against the concrete wall, and say ‘I want you to feel the pain that I feel’,” Rosareal said.

There were also times when Leung was reportedly forced to hit her with a stick on Au's orders.

"Kapag kasi hindi niya (Leung) sinunod, sila ang nag-aaway," said Rosareal.

The hiring of Suete, a nursing aide and mother of two, in mid-October came as a blessing for Rosareal, who is single. Seeing Au's cruelty, Suete reminded Rosareal about her rights and reported the abuse to her agency in the Philippines, which then forwarded the complaint to its Hong Kong counterpart.

When the Hong Kong agency staff called Leung, Au reportedly turned on Suete and had since verbally abused her, too. Au also threatened to confiscate her passport.

“I’m now afraid because she might also hurt me, so, I decided to run away with Lanie,” Suete said.

It was Suete who reached out on Nov. 8 to her friend and The SUN contributor, Rodelia P. Villar, about her and Rosareal’s plight. Their rescue the next day was coordinated with Labatt Dela Torre.

Both Rosareal and Suete talked about their being made to work in the two houses, as well as cleaning the outside of windows despite the ban on such domestic task imposed by the Hong Kong government effective Jan 1 this year.

They also complained about being given just a few slices of bread to eat and no food allowance. Every part of the employer's flat was allegedly monitored by CCTV, including their beds.

On Nov. 13 they were due to meet with Leung at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for conciliation but the employer reportedly begged off, saying she would be out of town. Two days later, Leung did appear before Labatt dela Torre, aided by two lawyers, but no settlement was reached.

Rosareal's labor claim against Leung is due to be heard tomorrow, Nov. 21.

The two workers have also filed affidavits of complaint at the Consulate's assistance to nationals section, which in turn referred their case to the Western Police Station which initiated an investigation.

Suete said she and Rosareal worked from 11am to 2am the next day. But while Suerte was allowed to sleep immediately after, Rosareal had to stay up until 8am, as she had to watch over Au, who despite suffering from a spinal cord injury, is reportedly able to walk on her own around the house.

Suete said she could not sleep because she would hear Rosareal crying while being punished. Even the neighbors disturbed by Au's rants had protested, she said.

The two Filipinas are now hoping to settle their cases so they could find new employers who hopefully, would treat them better.

No more rev gov’t, says D30

President Rodrigo Duterte has written off his plan to declare a revolutionary government after he failed to sway the military to support it.

As a consequence, a group calling itself “Mandirigmang Hakbang Tungo Sa Revolutionary Government” cancelled a Nov. 25 rally at the Quezon Memorial Circle that was intended to drum up public support for the plan.

Had the plan pushed through, Duterte would have wielded both executive and legislative powers and converted the country to federal government.

Vice President Leni Robredo set the tone on Nov. 8 when she announced that she had received assurances from the defense establishment headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, that the military will not support the “rev gov” plan.

After a security briefing held at the Philippine Air Force headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Robredo said: “We (were) asking because there are government officials involved in talks about a revolutionary government. But this afternoon, we were assured—and the assurance was strong—that (the military) would not support such a plan.”

Duterte confirmed this the next day when he met with Filipinos residing in Vietnam at the Pulchra Resort in Da Nang City, while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

He said Robredo was “correct” in saying the military would not support a revolutionary government in the Philippines.

“I asked the military. They said, ‘We won’t support a revolutionary government,” Duterte  said. “‘Why?’ and they said,  ‘Because Vice President Robredo said it … We like her more. She’s a woman and does not cuss.’  I said, ‘OK, then we will not have a revolutionary government.’”

He then stuttered: “Pero tama siya. Ayaw ng… Gusto ng military siya ang… Dapat sundin si Robredo.”

The idea took shape on April 2, when Duterte supporters staged a rally at the Luneta, and signed a petition for the establishment of a revolutionary government.

In a speech in Malacanang four months later, Duterte said: “For the Philippines to really go up, I said: What the people need is not martial law. Go for what Cory did – revolutionary government.”

He added: “You declare all positions of the government vacant and change all. The mistake of Ma’am Aquino was to give it all back to the politicians.”

He raised the pressure on Oct. 13 when he declared in an interview on government TV: “Pag ang destabilization ninyo patagilid na and medyo magulo na (If your destabilization is worsening and it is becoming chaotic), I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term, and I will arrest all of you and we can go to a full scale war against the Reds.”

This was answered by opposition group Tindig Pilipinas, which said: “President Duterte is losing his grip. Only a paranoid and insecure little man afraid of losing power will rationalize the need to impose a revolutionary government upon the people.”

It added: “The paranoia is evident. It is manifested in the slide in the surveys, from the increasing numbers of the various forms of protests, from the massive pushback on social media and from the President’s increasingly irrational, indefensible and incoherent stance.”

“Like any abuser sensing that his victims are seeing him as the abuser that he is, he senses doom. He knows he is an empty can once he loses control,” the statement said.

Subsequent efforts to raise public support for a revolutionary government have failed.

The latest rally organized by pro-Duterte groups at the Quezon Memorial Circle  in early November fizzled out when less than 50 people showed up.

Anne at Erwan, ikinasal na

Ikinasal na ang matagal nang magkasintahang sina Anne Curtis at Erwan Heussaff sa Queenstown, New Zealand noong November 12. Dinaluhan ito ng kani-kanilang pamilya at malalapit na kaibigan. Kabilang sa mga celebrities na dumalo ay ang kapatid ni Anne na si Jasmine Curtis Smith na kasama ang boyfriend nito, ang kapatid ni Erwan na si Solenn Heussaff at asawa nitong si Nico Bolzico, Isabel Daza at asawang si Adrian Semblat, Georgina Wilson at asawa’t anak, Lauren Uy, Nichole Anderson, Raymond Gutierrez, Tim Yap at mag-asawang Vicki Belo at Hayden Kho, na kasama rin ang kanilang anak na si Scarlet Snow.
Naroon din si Luis Manzano, bitbit ang girlfriend niyang si Jessy Mendiola,; Angel Locsin, kasama ang bagong boyfriend niyang si Neil Arce; Bianca Garcia-Kramer; Danica Sotto-Pingris at ang halos buong tropa ng Showtime, na kinabibilangan nina Vice Ganda, Kim Atienza, Vhong Navarro, Karylle, Teddy Corpuz, Ryan Bang at Jugs Jugueta.
Sina Luis at Nichole ang nag-emcee sa programa sa reception, kung saan ay nagbigay ng pahayag ang malalapit sa bagong kasal. Ang hirit ng ama ni Erwan ay bigyan siya ng 10 apong lalaki, kaya kailangang magmadali daw ang mga ito. Ang sabi naman ng ama ni Anne, kailangang matutuhan ni Erwan ang dalawang salita: yes, dear. Ikinuwento naman ni Isabel ang pagiging match-maker niya sa dalawa, mula nang magkita ang mga ito noong 2009.
Simple pero elegante ang gown ni Anne na gawa ng pamosong designer na si Monique Lhuillier, pero ang sapatos na suot niya ay high-heeled black boots. Maging ang kanyang mga bridesmaids, kabilang sina Isabel, Solenn at Karylle ay pawang mga laced up boots ang suot. Ito marahil ay dahil malamig ang klima doon, at outdoor wedding ito, kaya ang nilakaran ay damuhan. 
Sina Anne at Erwan naging magkarelasyon noong 2010, at naging engaged noong November 2016 sa Amerika. Pareho silang mahilig mag-travel at sumubok ng iba’t ibang bagay, gaya ng pagkain sa mga pinupuntahan nilang lugar.

ISABEL GRANADA, NA-CREMATE NA
Habang nagkakasayahan sa nagaganap na kasal ni Anne Curtis sa New Zealand noong November 12, lungkot naman ang nadama ng mga kamag-anak at kaibigan ng aktres na si Isabel Granada nang i-cremate na ito sa Arlington Memorial Chapels. Bago ang cremation, binigyan din siya ng military honors ng Philippine Air Force, kung saan ay nagsilbi siya ng dalawang taon bilang second class air woman. Ang bandila na ginamit sa kanyang kabaong ay ibinigay nila sa ina niyang si Mrs. Villarama o kilala sa showbiz bilang Mommy Guapa.
Pagkatapos ng cremation ay nagkaroon din ng “letting go” ceremony ang mga kamag-anak at kaibigan ng aktres sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakawala sa ere ng mga paru-paro.
Si Isabel, 41, ay pumanaw noong Nov.4, sanhi ng brain hemorrhage at aneurysm, sa Doha, Qatar. Nag-collapse siya matapos makaramdam ng pagkahilo habang kausap ang ilang mga kababayang Pilipino. Isinugod siya sa ospital, pero hindi na ito nagkamalay, at tuluyang binawian ng buhay matapos ang halos dalawang linggo.
Iniuwi ang kanyang bangkay sa Pilipinas noong November 9 at nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga kaibigan niya sa showbiz, lalo na ang mga naging kasamahan niya sa dating show na “That’s Entertainment”, at maging ang mga fans, upang masilayan siya sa huling pagkakataon. Suot ang puting damit na ipinagawa ng kanyang kaibigang si Bianca Lapus, marami ang nagsabing maganda pa rin ang aktres at parang natutulog lang. Namataan sa ginanap na burol sa Sanctuario de San Jose chapel sa Greenhills sina Chukie Dreyfus, Nadia Montenegro, Lotlot de Leon, Elmo Magalona, Janella Salvador, at Lily Monteverde ng Regal Films. 
Bukod sa kanyang ina, naulila ni Isabel ang kanyang asawang si Arnel Crowley, at anak na si Hubert Aguas, na anak niya sa unang asawang si Jericho Aguas.

VIC AT PAULEEN, MAY BABY NA
Lumabas na ang pinakabunso sa “Dabarkads” ng Eat Bulaga, si baby Talitha Maria Luna Sotto, anak nina Vic Sotto at Pauleen Luna. Isinilang ang kanilang anak noong madaling araw ng November 6 sa pamamagitan ng caesarian operation.
Ito ang panlimang anak ni Vic, ang iba pa ay sina Danica at Oyo na anak niya sa dating asawang si Dina Bonnevie, ang pangatlo na si Vico, na anak niya sa aktres na si Coney Reyes at ang pang-apat ay si Paulina, na anak niya sa dating model-actress na si Angela Luz.
Sina Vic, 63, at Pauleen, 28, ay ikinasal noong January, 2016.

MAGTATAPAT NA PELIKULA
Ipinahayag ni Sharon Cuneta na ipapalabas sa buwang ito ang balik-tambalan nila ni Robin Padilla na “Unexpectedly Yours”. Makakasama rin nila dito ang tambalang Joshua Garcia at Julia Barretto. Inaasahan ni Sharon na tatangkilikin ito ng manonood dahil nang ilabas daw ang teaser ng pelikula nila ay mahigit isang milyong views daw agad ito sa loob ng 12 oras mula nang i-upload ito sa Facebook.
Pero, makakatapat ng pelikula nila na ipapalabas sa November 29 ang “Barbi D’ Wonder Beki” na pagbibidahan nina Joey de Leon at Paolo Ballesteros, kaya baka maapektuhan ang kikitain sa takilya ng dalawang pelikula.
Kamakailan ay nagsalpukan din sa takilya ang dalawang horror films na “The Ghost Bride” ng Star Cinema at “Spirit of The Glass” ng Regal Entertainment. Bagama’t balitang malaki ang kinita ng pelikula nina Kim Chiu (Ghost Bride), mas kumita siguro pareho ang dalawang pelikula kung hindi ito pinagsabay ipalabas, lalo na at hindi na kumokonti na ang mga nagagawang mga pelikula.

HASHTAG DANCER FRANCO, NALUNOD
Bago nagsimula ang programa sa reception ng kasal nina Anne Curtis at Erwan Heussaff, nag-alay sila ng panalangin sa pagkamatay ng isa sa miyembro ng dance team na Hashtags, na regular performers sa “Showtime” na si Franco Hernandez Lumanlan, 26, na kilala bilang Hashtag Franco.
Namatay ito sa pagkalunod sa Davao Oriental noong November 11, matapos mahulog sa bangkang sinasakyan nila ng kanyang girlfriend, nang hampasin ito ng malakas na alon. Nasagip naman sila ng bangkero, at dinala sa ospital, pero hindi na umabot ng buhay si Franco.
Ang Hashtag ay isa sa pinakasikat na grupo ng dancers ngayon dahil pawang mga may hitsura ang mga miyembro nito, kaya naman isa-isa nang nabibigyan ng acting project. Kabilang dito sina Ronnie Alonte, Jameson Blake,  MacCoy de Leon, Zeus Collins at Jon Lucas.

JAMES, PANALO SA MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS
Napanalunan ng Filipino-Australian actor at singer na si James Reid ang award bilang Best Southeast Asia Act sa katatapos na 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) na ginanap sa London noong November 12. Tinalo niya ang mga Asian singers na sina Faizal Tahir (Malaysia), Dam Vinh Hung (Vietnam), Isyana Sarasvati (Indonesia), Slot Machine (Thailand), The Sam Willows (Singapore) at ang social wildcard winner na si Palitchoke Ayanaputra (Thailand).
Hindi ito ang unang nominasyon ni James dahil dati na silang na-nominate ng kanyang girlfriend na si Nadine Lustre sa parehong kategorya SA 2015 MTV EMA na ginanap noon sa Milan, Italy.
Si James, na tila mas ganadong magtrabaho bilang singer kaysa aktor ay nakapagtayo na ng sariling label, ang Careless Music Manila sa kagustuhang makatulong upang umunlad ang local music. Katatapos lang niya ang pinakabago niyang album na “Palm Dreams”. May ginawa rin siyang music video, kung saan ay isa sa mga nagdirek nito ay ang girlfriend niyang si Nadine.
Ilan sa mga nagwagi sa 2017 MTV EMA ay ang mga sikat na singers na sina Shawn Mendes bilang Best Artist, Eminem bilang Best Hip-Hop Artist at Camila Cabello bilang Best Pop Artist.

ART MANUNTAG, NAG-COLLAPSE SA BAGUIO
Pinag-uusapan ngayo ang balitang nag-collapse sa Baguio ang magaling na singer na si Arthur Manuntag habang siya ay nag so show. Isinugod daw ito sa ospital, at tinangkang i-revive ng ilang beses, pero hindi pa ito nagkakamalay.
Nanghihingi ng dasal ang mga kaibigan ng singer upang malampasan nito ang panganib, at magising sa pagkaka-coma nito.
Si Art ay ilang beses nang nag show sa Hong Kong, at sa isa ay naka duweto niya at naging guest ang The SUN publisher na si Leo A. Deocadiz.

Tuloy ba ang swerte mo sa Nobyembre?

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Kung hindi mo seseryosohin ang ginagawa, mahaharap ka sa malaking problema. Kailangang maging alisto sa mga nagaganap sa trabaho; habang nagtatagumpay ka, lalong dumarami ang kaaway mo. Magandang kalusugan at masigla ang pakiramdam. Tahimik at matiwasay ang pamilya, pero dagdagan ang lambing, huwag pigilan ang nararamdaman, para lalong tumamis ang pagsasama   Lucky numbers: 12, 19, 33 at 40.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Madali kang makakasabay sa mga nagaganap at matutuhan ang dapat malaman sa trabaho. Mapapawi na rin ang kalungkutan at kawalan ng sigla ng mga nagdaang araw. Huwag tumiklop kapag nasaling ang iyong pride, bawasan ang pagiging emosyonal. Magiging matatag ka sa pagharap at paglutas ng problema sa pamilya. Lucky numbers: 17, 22, 31 at 35.
.
BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Huwag mag-atubiling humingi ng payo sa matatalik na kaibigan dahil makakatulong sila. Pagkakataon nang mapabuti ang kalagayan sa trabaho, pero mag-ingat sa pakikipag-usap sa paligid mo. Pera ang pwedeng dahilan ng pagtatalo sa kaanak, mag-ingat. Ibibigay mo ang lahat sa ngalan ng pag-ibig, pero kapag nagkaroon ng problema, huwag sarilinin ang problema. Lucky numbers: 6, 15, 33 at 37.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Mahihirapan kang makapag-ipon, pero kailangan mong magtipid. Dahil sa pagmamatigas, susuko ang  sino mang magmamagandang loob sa iyo. Malaki ang tsansa na makatagpo mo ang kapartner na magugustuhan at makakasundo mo sa maraming bagay. Maghinay-hinay sa trabaho kahit gusto mong mapagbuti ito ng husto, dahil hihina ang resistensya mo kapag kulang sa pahinga at tulog. Lucky numbers: 20,24,32 at 41.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Tamang oras na ituon ang isip sa hinaharap, kumilos upang maabot ang ambisyon at manalig na matutupad ito. Matutukso kang gumastos ng husto, pero paghandaan ang mas mahalagang gastusing darating.. Huwag gaanong alalahanin ang problema sa love life dahil kusa itong maaayos. Nasa tamang daan ka tungo sa tagumpay at wala nang makakapigil sa iyo, pero mag-ingat sa mga naiiinggit. Lucky numbers: 18, 35, 39 at 42.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Makakaasa ka sa pagiging tapat ng mga kaibigan. Kailangang balikang muli ang mga dati mong desisyon na buong tapang mong ipinaglaban. Sa trabaho, lalabas ng husto ang iyong husay kaya malaki ang tsansa na matupad ang pangarap na promosyon. May kaunting problema sa pagsasama. Maging maingat sa paghawak sa perang pinaghirapan, bilhin lang kung ano ang kailangan.   Lucky numbers: 6, 22, 37 at 38.

 KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Lahat ng pagkakataon ay nasa iyo ngayon, pagsikapang makasulong ka ng buong sipag at ingat. Matutupad din ang ambisyon mo at kikilalanin ang husay mo. Makakaasa sa ilang kamag-anak at kaibigan sa oras ng kagipitan. Sa kabila ng distansya sa pagitan ninyo ng mahal mo, pakiramdam mo ay hindi pa huli ang lahat. Magtiwala sa intuisyon mo, na madalas ay tama. Lucky numbers:13, 16, 30 at 44.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa materyal na kalagayan dahil kikita ka sa transaksyong papasukan. Kung may ka-live in, kailangan ng seryosong usapan upang malinawan ang relasyon. Baka kailangan mong gumawa agad ng desisyon, maging maingat at makatarungan. Matinding pananakit ng ulo ang posibleng maranasan, iwasan ang matataong lugar, paglanghap ng maruming hangin at tensyon sa trabaho.   Lucky number:7, 13, 19 at 27.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Marami ka pang pwedeng gawin at magkakaroon ka ng oras para sa mga kaibigan at kakilala. Huwag dibdibin ang lahat ng bagay. Kung may kaunting distansya, mas magiging malinaw ang pananaw mo sa mga bagay. Posibleng dumating ang problemang mahirap lutasin, sundin ang nilalaman ng puso. Mahal mo ang iyong mga kaibigan, pero kung meron kang nakakaalitan, layuan na ito upang hindi lumala ang sitwasyon.   Lucky numbers:12, 27, 37 at 49.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Magiging romantiko ka ngayon dahil maaalala mo ang nakaraan. Huwag nang buhayin pa ang matagal nang patay na love affair upang hindi na magbalik ang masakit na alaala. Sa trabaho, iwasang makipagtalo sa mga kasamahan. Kailangan ng ibayong ingat at pagtitipid. May lalapit pa rin upang humingi ng tulong, magbigay kung may maiaabot, pero huwag nang umasang mabayaran pa ito. Lucky numbers: 2, 8, 17 at 36.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Makakaasang makakagawa ng tamang desisyon kung pagbabasehan ang iyong intuisyon at common sense. Sa kabila ng mga problema, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa dahil maaayos din ang lahat. Sa mag-asawa, mauunawaan nyo ang isa’t isa, pero maging malumanay sa pananalita at magpakita ng atensyon sa maliliit na bagay. Matamlay ka ngayon, kailangan ng sapat na pahinga at ihinto muna ang ibang dagdag na gawain. Lucky numbers: 14, 21, 30 at 37.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Ang problema sa pamilya ay nakakaapekto sa iyong kalusugan. Kailangang bigyan ng atensyon ang sarili upang makaiwas sa dagdag pang problema. Masaya ang love life, kaya mababawasan ang pag-aalala. Upang makaiwas sa sakit, maging maingat sa kinakain at sa pakikipag-relasyon. Uminom ng maraming tubig, upang madaling mailabas ang nag papabigat ng pakiramdam. Lucky numbers: 10, 19, 21 at 43.

Filipina DH who died in China flown home after 3rd autopsy

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Lorain Asuncion, the 28-year-old Filipina domestic helper who fell to her death in Shenzhen in late July, made her final voyage home on Nov 15 in a coffin.

Her remains were first brought to Hong Kong where authorities conducted a standard autopsy, the third to be carried out on the body.

Danny Baldon of the Philippine Consulate's assistance to nationals section said forensic experts who examined Asuncion's remains had indicated their findings matched those of the first two autopsies done in Shenzhen.

The two autopsies, conducted separately by Shenzhen police and a private forensics expert, both ruled out foul play.

The outcome of the latest autopsy are not likely to be known for a few days.

Lorain's belongings.

Asuncion reportedly plunged to her death from the 22nd floor flat of her female employer’s father in Longgang District, Shenzhen on July 23 or 24.

The Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou paid for an independent autopsy after the maid's family expressed doubts about the initial findings on her death.

Asuncion had been reportedly taken four times previously to the Shenzhen flat of Liu Heping, father of her female employer, to do house chores there.

On July 23, the elder Liu called police at 9:30am to report that the maid had gone missing but her belongings were in the flat.

At around the same time the next day, he called again and reported finding the maid’s body on the garden below the block.    Asuncion's remains were in a plywood and metal casket that was moved from the Universal Funeral Parlor in Hunghom to Chek Lap Kok airport on the eve of the two-hour flight to Manila on board Philippine Airlines Flight 301.

The casket was to be loaded to a connecting PAL flight to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan on Nov 16, and from there, transported overland to Baggao, Asuncion’s hometown.

There was no more formal public viewing for the deceased maid. Baldon said he was surprised by the abrupt decision to send the body home, but added the coroner’s office may have been concerned about its condition.

The Consulate representative watched as funeral home workers opened Asuncion’s sealed coffin, placed her blue backpack and a plastic bag containing a pair of sport shoes beside her feet, then resealed it.

Lorain's body for shipment home.

The brown enameled coffin was then put in the marked wooden casket in preparation for its shipment to the Philippines..

Meanwhile, Asuncion's employers, the couple Gu Huaiyu and Ms Liu, are under investigation by the Hong Kong police in connection with frequent trips they made to Shenzhen with the maid.

Gu and Liu are due to report back to the police headquarters by the end of December, a police spokesman told The SUN on Nov 9.