First Filipina cricket team ready to rumble

By Vir B Lumicao 

On a Sunday midmorning, the green cricket field at India Club on Jordan Road in Kowloon is invaded by a group of Filipinas limbering under the guidance of a male Indian coach as they begin a day of practice.

 The players, wearing dark and light blue jerseys and matching dark blue trousers, are full of enthusiasm as they hone up for a sport not too familiar to Filipinos – cricket.

Coach Najeeb Amar (left) assembles the SCC Divas for a pep talk before warming them up.  

 The 20 or so women, in fact, look forward to their debut on the pitch in January 2018 as the first all-Filipina cricket team in Hong Kong, if not in the whole world.

 “This year I gathered players to play cricket in Hong Kong. It is the first ever all-Filipino cricket team,” Arimas told The SUN in an online interview recently.

With their talent, she believes they will be champions in the Hong Kong women’s league in three years.

 The pioneering team is managed by Indian veteran cricketer Animesh Kulkarni, an official of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (Hong Kong, China), a group that looks after all aspects of cricket umpiring and scoring for Hong Kong cricket.

 Cricket is a relatively new sport for Filipinos, whose knowledge of ballgames has been limited to basketball, football, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, and golf in that order of popularity.

 In fact, many Filipinos get to see actual cricket matches only when they go outside the country, as the sport that originated in eastern England in the 16th century has become a national sport in former British colonies.

 It would seem that the sport was not introduced or did not take root in the Philippines during the 20 months that Manila was occupied by Britain in 1762-1764.

 Cricket as a sport for Filipinos in Hong Kong appears to be a recent development, with Arimas barely in her third year playing for the Hong Kong Cricket Club women’s team. She helped bring another domestic helper, Zenny Badajos, into the team this earlier year.

 “Naglalaro ako sa HKCC women’s cricket team. Nag-try out ako noong January 2015 at nakuha ako,” Arimas told The SUN. It was through her joining HKCC that she met Kulkarni, who agreed to look for sponsors and manage an all-Filipino women’s team.

With Kulkarni providing the uniforms, gear kits as well as free food and snacks for the team, Arimas founded SCC Divas and spent the past months recruiting players, drawing on her baseball, softball and volleyball connections to assemble her 26-player team.

 The team plays every Sunday at the India Club cricket field under the tutelage of coach Najeeb Amar.

 Cricket is played by two teams of 11 players each on a field with a wicket at either end of a 22-yard pitch. One side scores runs by hitting a hard leather-covered ball with a bat while the other side tries to dismiss the opponents by bowling, catching, and running them out.

 Adjusting to the cricket playing style and game rules has not been difficult for Arimas and Badajos, as both are elite ball players. Arimas and Badajos were both members of the national softball team before they came to work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers.

 Arimas, 49, was a varsity player of the University of Negros Occidental in Bacolod City who played in the Palarong Pambansa, while Badajos, 30, played for the University of the Philippines Diliman varsity team. Both played for Philippine Sluggers in the Hong Kong Baseball Association women’s league, and for Fate, an all-Filipino team, in the SAR’s women’s softball league.

 The SCC Divas founder said she has played baseball, soft ball and volleyball, as well as joined beauty pageants in Hong Kong. On Friday nights, she joins the HKCC women’s team training at the club’s Wong Nai Chung Gap field.

 Arimas continues to recruit players, picking OFWs who can play, are interested in the game, and come from baseball, softball and volleyball.

 “This is amazing because it’s the first time in history that Filipinas here play cricket,” Arimas said, saying that all her players have the ability to bat, bowl and throw the ball. “Practice lang ang kulang,” she added.

 Looking beyond Hong Kong, Arimas said that when she returns home for good, she would help propagate cricket in the Philippines by setting up teams. “Filipinos are good at ballgames,” she said.

Fil-HK bowlers urged to keep playing

“Let us encourage everyone to play bowling. Let us support the sport that we love.”

This message came from Guillermo Mallillin, president of the Philippine Bowling Congress, when he spoke before members of the Filipino Bowling Club of Hong Kong, as they celebrated their 6th year anniversary at U Banquet restaurant in Causeway Bay on Nov. 5.

Mallillin said he knew many of the members who are overseas Filipino workers go through some difficulty, but said they should go beyond the pain.

“We should understand that it’s love and understanding that bring us together. The most important thing in life is relationships.”

Mallillin, as guest speaker, administered the oath of office to the new officers of FBC: Jenny G. Biasca, founder/chairperson; Emy Clarke  president; Ador Bernardino, vice-president, external; Gracia Pierrepoint, vice-president, internal; Mary Gulles, secretary; Merlie Tacderan, asst secretary; Racquel Shepstones, treasurer; Melody Sotero, asst treasurer; Rina Spalding, auditor; and Gerome Barja, Minda Marfori, Danna Geary and Marlyn Brutus, tournament directors.

FBC officers take their oath.

As in previous years, the event also saw winners of FBC’s tournaments over the past year being awarded their medals.

They are:
March Team Champion: Kaye Alajar, Gracia Pierrepoint, Larry Ortega and Joel dela Cruz
May Team Champion: Joel dela Cruz, Minda Marfori and Danny Simoy
June Team Champion: Alice Cabazor, Danna Geary and Melody Sotero
July Team Champion: Manny Lim, Santy Arroyo, Minda Marfori and Gracia Pierrepoint
August Team Champion: Larry Ortega, Ever Arroyo, Gracia Pierrepoint and Santy Arroyo
September Team Champion: Danny Simoy, Gerome Barja, Larry Ortega and Delia Noble
October Team Champion: Gerome Barja, Joel dela Cruz and Jenny Biasca -  Daisy CL Mandap

Palarong Pinoy itinanghal

Ni Marites Palma

Naging matagumpay ang Palarong Pinoy na pinangunahan ng Friends of Bethune House noong ika-29 ng Oktubre sa Chater Road sa Central.

Ang Filipino Migrants Workers Union (FMWU) Chater Road Chapter ang tinanghal na kampeon sa Palaro, na nilahukan ng iba’t ibang asosasyong tumatangkilik sa Bethune House.

Napatunayang sariwa pa rin sa puso ng mga  Pilipino ang orihinal na larong Pinoy gaya ng patintero, luksong tinik, sungka, Chinese garter, tumbang braso, basagang palayok, at iba pa, na nagdulot ng di mailarawang galak sa lahat ng nakilahok.

Ang Limbo Rock at basagang palayok

 ang ilan sa mga paligsahang ginanap sa Palarong Pinoy.

Tinalo lahat ni Jen Cabanez mula sa Organic ang mga katunggali sa tumbang braso, samantalang si Sheryl de Chavez naman ng Filguys Gabriela HK ang nagwagi sa limbo rock. Ang nagtala naman ng pinakamataas na lundag sa larong luksong tinik ay ang grupong Cuyapo, samantalang ang Filipino Friends ang nanalo sa chinese garter.

Ang nagdulot ng pinakamalakas na tawanan at hiyawan mula sa lahat ay ang panghuling laro na basagang palayok.

Muli ay napatunayan at naipakita ng mga mangagawang Pilipino na hindi pa rin nabubura sa kanilang isipan ang mga nakagisnang laro.

TWTP-HK holds events

By Cecile Eduarte

The World Through Photography (TWTP), an online group of photographers around the globe, held its second “photowalk” for October at Kowloon City’s Walled Park on Oct. 28, with 14 Filipino and one Indonesian domestic worker taking part.

The photowalk began with a basic guide to new members on how to properly hold a camera, adjust its aperture (opening), and set its ISO (International Standards Organization) while shooting a subject.

Dany Bae Lah, the lone Indonesian participant and an active TWTP member, said that she was so happy mingling with fellow photographers on such a meaningful and productive day. She added it was an honor and a privilege being with Filipino friends.

Peach A. Ayem, a professional photographer to some Filipino organizations in Hong Kong, welcomed the participants, and complimented Ma. Soccorro Agranzamendez for being an early bird.

The photowalk was organized by Emmeline Aro-Cuyugan, a TWTP Hong Kong Chapter Coordinator. According to her, the walk aims to promote camaraderie among members while enhancing their skills in taking pictures.

Organizers brought a model for the photo enthusiasts and dressed her up in a Qing Dynasty attire to match the Walled City, one of Hong Kong’s important historical sites.

Members of TWTP Hong Kong Chapter are now looking forward to their next evetn, which will be held on Dec. 10. Those who wish to join TWTP to hone their photography skills and share some of their beautiful pictures may contact Andy Maniwang at 94320290.

Paoay group holds Tumba Fest

The Kapehan sa Paoay Association celebrated the annual Tumba Festival at Admiralty Park at 6 pm on Oct 29  as part of “Semana Ti Ar Aria”, a cultural tradition held in celebration of All Soul’s Day. 

The members prepared different types  of offering for the dead, from food to songs and prayers.

Tumba Festival was first held about 100 years ago, and has become a cultural heritage that has been passed on through generations. 

According to the Paoay group their town is the only one in Ilocos Norte or even the whole Philippines, that has this kind of cultural tradition. 

After praying, the members and invited guests ate the sumptuous food they prepared.
— Marites Palma

Members of the Kapehan sa Paoay Association gather to celebrate the annual Tumba Festival at Admiralty Park.

How to save, invest for future

About 75 overseas Filipino workers joined a reintegration and counseling seminar organized by Pinoy Wise at Best Western Hotel on Oct. 28.

Seminar participant in a final gesture to
thank organizers of the seminar.

Pinoy ‘Wise’ stands for Worldwide Initiative for Investment Saving Entrepreneurship, a project of Philippine NGO Atikha, and supported by UN Women Fund for Gender Equality.

The seminar focused on income and family management, two very important lessons that migrant workers need to better prepare for their reintegration or going home for good.

According to Atikha’s deputy executive director  Aileen Constantino-Peña, reintegration means the successful return of migrant workers to their hometowns. It means being able to resettle themselves into the social and economic structure of their countries of origin, after living and working abroad.

Often, OFWs prolong their stay abroad due to economic and social issues such as unemployment, financial crisis and racism or discrimination, and also for political reasons like war, turmoil and violence.

Other factors such as family issues, failure in business, minimal investment savings and lack of integration of OFW resources in their respective province, municipality, and communities affect the reintegration of OFWs.

Unfortunately, community experience shows that a majority of those who return home were only forced to do so because they became victims of human trafficking, abuse, or exploitation, or because of financial crisis or illness. Many also went home only to retire after spending many years working abroad.

Pinoy Wise intends to help migrant workers to plan and prepare for their return so they don’t go back home empty-handed.

At the same time, Pinoy Wise and Atikha partner with national and local government units, cooperatives, NGOs and migrant organizations to also teach financial literacy to OFW families so they can help pave the way for the successful return and reintegration of their OFW member.

Peñas told participants that one way of preparing for their future is to learn, save and invest in Atikha’s  cooperative and sustainable agribusiness as it promote jobs and opportunities in their respective communities. - Ellen Asis

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