All wrapped up goodness

By Jo Campos

Bake it or grill it. Get dinner on the table in a flash with almost zero cleanup, thanks to these nifty foil pack recipes that can be served straight from the oven or broiler. Perfect for picnics too. With all the juices and flavors packed in each parcel, you can never go wrong. These individually packed goodies in generous servings will surely fill up those hungry diners.
I have compiled some great recipe ideas for that no-mess, no-stress packet of goodness for dinner or lunch, or even for a summer outing or barbeque on the park.
But wait… there’s more! A JC The Foodie quote to share:

“The most indispensible ingredient of all good home cooking: Love for those you are cooking for.” – Sophia Loren

Garlic Steak and Potato Foil Wrap

INGREDIENTS:
2-2½ pounds top sirloin steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 2½-inch pieces (see note)
1 pound baby yellow potatoes. quartered (or halved if they are already less than 1 inch in size, see note)
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste (I use about 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
fresh thyme or parsley for topping (optional)

PROCEDURE:
In a large bowl combine steak, potatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper, garlic, and seasonings and toss to combine.
Divide steak and potatoes between four 12x12 inch sheets of foil, then wrap the foil tightly around the contents to form your foil packs.
Grill over high heat for about 10 minutes on each side or until steak and potatoes are cooked through OR bake at 425 degrees for about 20-25 minutes until cooked through to desired doneness (see note).
**If you prefer a char on your steak, you can open up the packets at the end and cook for a couple minutes directly on the grill. For baking you can switch oven to broil for a few minutes (with packets opened).
Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley and serve immediately.
Notes: Be sure to cut your steak into pieces that are at least 2x2 inches, and potatoes into pieces smaller than one inch. This ensures even cooking.
**For medium doneness on the steak, boil the potatoes first for five minutes before adding to the bowl and proceeding with the rest of the recipe. This will help them to cook faster once in the foil pack

Lemon Chicken and Asparagus Foil Packs
INGREDIENTS:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded to even thickness, OR 6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (see note)
1 large bundle of asparagus spears (about 1 pound)
1 lemons, divided
1 tsp minced garlic
3 tbsp butter, melted
1½ tsp Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

PROCEDURE:
Lay four 12x12 inch squares of foil out on a flat surface. Place one chicken breast (or 1-2 thighs) in the middle of each piece of foil.
Trim the flat end of the asparagus at 1-2 inches from the end and discard. Cut the remaining spears in half and divide them between the foil packs.
Slice one of the lemons thinly and divide the slices between the foil packs, tucking the slices in, around, and between the chicken and asparagus.
Stir together butter, garlic, juice of the remaining lemon, and Italian seasoning. Brush over chicken and asparagus. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Fold the foil over the chicken and asparagus to close off the pack, then pinch the ends together so the pack stays closed.
Grill over medium-high heat for 7-9 minutes on each side, OR bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and asparagus is tender. Serve immediately.

Notes
Chicken thighs tend to be smaller than most chicken breasts so if you are going to use thighs, use 1-2 depending on the size of the thigh - for smaller pieces, you’ll probably want two in a single foil pack; if they are larger you could get away with using one in a foil pack. Just remember each pack is for one person so you want as much chicken as will fill that person!

Maid fined 10 times value of stolen food

For failing to pay for nine grocery items she took in a supermarket, a Filipina domestic worker was convicted by a Shatin Court of theft and fined $2,000, ten times the amount of the foodstuff that she had stolen.

Leah Merogenia, a single mother in her 30s and sole breadwinner in the family, broke into tears and embraced her lawyer as soon as Magistrate Colin Wong left the courtroom after imposing the fine.

She also hugged her male employer who was at the hearing and was reportedly taking her back. 

She was charged with theft for stealing a pack each of oatmeal, blueberries, candy dates, cashew, two packs of dumplings, two packs of pork and a pack of chicken fillet, worth a total of $199.30 from a Wellcome shop in Taiwai, Shatin on July 19.

She pleaded not guilty when the case came up for mention at Shatin Court in July, paving the way for a one-day trial on Nov 1, during which both the key witness, a staff at the Wellcome store, and Merogenia gave evidence.

The Filipina’s troubles began when she went to the supermarket on the first floor of Yiu Po Mansion after buying some vegetables from the market.

The prosecution said she was seen by a male staff picking up the oatmeal pack and all the other items and putting them into her black recyclable shoulder bag, unaware that she was being watched by the supermarket staff.

Merogenia also took two packs of fishballs and went to the cashier and paid for them, but not the nine items that she had stashed in her bag. When she left the supermarket and crossed the street, the staff stopped her, inspected her bag and found the unpaid for items.

He called the police and Merogenia was arrested.

Pronouncing his verdict on Nov 3, Wong rejected Merogenia’s evidence, saying he doubted that she forgot to pay for the nine grocery items because she was concerned about her sick son.

In contrast, Wong said he accepted the Welcome staff’s evidence because he was truthful and reliable.

The magistrate said: “I considered the defendant’s clear record, the nature of the offense and the value of the stolen items. I impose a fine of $2,000 to be taken from the bail money.”

High court reserves judgment in case against Erwiana’s employer

Erwiana (in pink) is flanked by Edwina Antonio and Cynthia Tellez
of the Mission for Migrant Workers. Behind is her legal counsel, Melville Boase

 By Daisy CL Mandap

Indonesian former domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih was back at the High Court today, Nov. 23, to hear the closing arguments in a civil action she brought against her abusive former employer, Law Wan-tung.

Recorder Stewart Wong, SC, reserved judgment in the case brought by Sulistyaningsih’s lawyers to challenge the transfer made by Law of her share in a $7 million flat in Tseung Kwan O to her husband two years ago.

The lawyers claim the transfer was made to prevent the Beverly Garden flat being attached to avoid the helper’s claim for compensation, which is due to be heard at the District Court from Dec 4-6 this year.

Law, who was jailed for six years in February 2015 for her horrific abuse of the maid and other offences, was unrepresented in court. However, she forcefully argued that she did not commit fraud in transferring her share in the flat, insisting she was merely holding it in trust for her two children.

Law also revealed she had been estranged from her husband, Barry Tsui since 2010, although he continued to pay the bills for the household as she was penniless.

In his opening speech on Nov. 15, Sulistyaningsih’s counsel, Tony Lo told the court that Law and Tsui bought the flat under the Home Ownership Scheme in 1998. The couple was listed as “beneficial owners”, with each owning half of the property.

On February 6, 2015, just four days before Law was convicted for abusing Sulistyaningsih and a previous helper, Tutik Lestari Ningsih, the housewife signed a “deed of separation”, which stated that she was transferring her share to her husband.

Lo said it was apparent that Law had anticipated the helper filing a claim for compensation against her after her conviction.

But Law denied this, saying she could have transferred her share in the flat much earlier, when she was out on bail before her trial had started.

“I had 11 months to do it, that was a very long time, before the criminal trial had started,” Law said.

She also claimed she “did not have the ability to foresee” that Sulistyaningsih would file a case for compensation against her.

She said it was only after her lawyer had told her that there was a big chance that she would be convicted that she thought she should “be ready”, and so decided to transfer her share in the property to her children.

Again, she insisted that she and her husband had agreed from the time they bought the flat in 1998 that her half-share would be held in trust for their children.

Asked if she had anything more to say before the hearing closed, Law said all she wanted was for the case to be finished quickly as she did not want to go back to court.

During Law’s criminal trial, Sulistyaningsih gave evidence of the extent of the abuse committed against her by the employer, such as twisting a metal tube from a vacuum cleaner in her mouth, causing cuts to her lips, and punching her so hard her teeth cracked.

Sulistyaningsih was given little rest or food, that at one point she was driven to knock at a neighbor’s door at 2am to beg for something to eat.

Her case only came to light when a fellow helper noticed Sulistyaningsih barely able to walk after Law dumped her at the airport for her return flight to Indonesia, with just $70 on her.

It was later revealed Law had put makeup to cover the helper’s injuries, made her wear an adult diaper so she need not stray away from the boarding gate, and threatened to hurt her family to avoid getting caught.

RP takes silver in men’s 19 & under Asian Junior Softball

Members of the team display their medals after placing 2nd in the 6th Asian Junior Men’s (19 & under) Championship 2017.

By Emz Frial 

Playing brilliantly, the Philippine clinched silver on Nov 5 in the 6th Asian Junior Men’s (19 & under) Championship 2017. The team bowed to the region’s softball powerhouse, Japan, in the final.

The duel for the title between the two Asian softball giants climaxed the five-day event hosted by Hong Kong that kicked off at Tin Kwong Field in Kowloon on Nov 1.

Relying on clockwork precision, the feisty and fast Japanese youth awed the multinational crowd as they outplayed the Filipinos, 5-2, in the final match on the sandy diamond  of Tin Kwong to bring home the bacon.

Takuro Inagaki of Japan was the star of the event, receiving the Best Batter award for his feat.

The loss was a disappointment for the Philippines, which had earlier advanced to the first semi- final playoff when it outclassed Japan, 3-2.

Overall, the Filipino youth scored 4 wins and took 2 losses in the annual regional tournament as they ploughed their way toward the finals.

All throughout their matches, they received moral support from the gallery of OFW softball and baseball players who did not pass off the opportunity to watch the national youth team compete.

Seven countries competed in the event: Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Final rankings :
1. Japan
2. Philippines
3. India
4. Indonesia
5. Singapore
6. Hong Kong
7. Thailand

Soap recycling charity eyes Philippine plants

By Vir B. Lumicao

Ang produktong sabon.

A local charity founded five years ago at the University of Hong Kong is planning to set up processing facilities in the Philippines for its highly successful recycling of hotel leftover soap bars for the poor.

This could happen in the next two years, Patrick Davis, general manager of Soap Cycling, which recycles used soap bars and leftover amenities from hotels in Hong Kong, China and Japan, and ships the reprocessed soap to Asia’s needy communities.

The group marked its fifth anniversary on Nov 10 at the HKU by reviewing what it had done since its founding by lecturer David Bishop “on a tripartite mission of local youth empowerment, waste reduction and improving lives through improved sanitation and hygiene.”

After producing over 100,000 kilograms or 2 million bars of reprocessed bath soap over the past five years and shipping the majority of these to the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos, the organization said it was now sharing more of its reprocessed soap with the underprivileged people in Hong Kong.

Since October 2016, Soap Cycling has worked with Feeding Hong Kong, Sunshine Action, Impact HK, Refugee Union, Free to Run and other NGOs to hand out more than 11,000 hygiene kits and 136 one-liter bottles of liquid amenities to the homeless, refugees, and elderly poor..

With its new MEY program, Soap Cycling is tapping the city’s migrants, elderly and youth to help in its soap recycling facility in Kwai Hing.

“Our new work-integrated social enterprise program will provide meaningful employment opportunities to disadvantaged groups, but will focus on the elderly during its initial start-up stage,” Davis, an HKU alumnus, said in his speech.

The MEY employees will work with Soap Cycling’s undergraduate interns to run the facility day to day, he said.. The biggest challenge is finding people for the facility as the group looks to expand capacity and branch out to amenity bottle recycling.

Replying to a query from The SUN, he said Soap Cycling gives reprocessed soap to recipients in the Philippines via International Care Ministries, Project PEARLS in Tondo, Kilos Bayanihan and other groups with WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) programs.

Both Davis and Bishop told the SUN later that demand for reprocessed soap was rising in the Philippines, so, Soap Cycling is seeking partners that can provide facilities where soap from hotels in Hong Kong, Japan and other countries would be shipped directly and reprocessed.

“We’re actually trying to find some partners in the Philippines where we can set up soap cycling there, so that we can have not only more soap but also local soap recycling and, hopefully, local job creation,” Bishop said.

When Bishop set up Soap Cycling in 2012, he wasn’t focusing necessarily on the soap, but on his students, he said. “I was trying to find a good way for them to learn to be entrepreneurs and investigators, but without taking on too much risk on their own.”

“And so, we thought soap recycling was a good idea, there was a company in the US that had started doing it and I thought that was good idea, and it could help a lot of people in Asia. So, all the pieces were put together, I guess,” Bishop said.

He said Soap Cycling befriended and got help and advice from the US recycler for some time until it merged with another firm. The group now cooperates with several corporates and organizations, Bishop said.

He said the group first distributed to the Philippines in 2012 and had since shared its soap with poor communities in Mindanao, Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, Dipolog, Guimaras, Iloilo, Panay, Western Visayas, El Nido in Palawan, and all over Luzon.

He said after Typhoon Yolanda, his group went to help rebuild homes and delivered soap to people across the Philippines.

Bishop said ICM is a big partner of Soap Cycling, as it teaches the poor about sanitation, hygiene, and hand-washing. ICM did not provide soap in the past, so the group gave soap. He said Soap Cycling also gave soap and sanitation items for schools and school children.

Soap Cycling, run each semester by 15 to 25 students, is the first nonprofit organization of its kind. Since 2012, more than 200 students have played a role in shaping its operations and strategy.

Termination of Contract

By Cynthia Tellez

Clause number 10 on page two of the Standard Employment Contract for Hiring Domestic Helper from Abroad says: ‘Either party may terminate this contract by giving one month’s notice in writing or one month’s wages in lieu of notice.’ Clause 12 says that a copy of such termination notice should be sent to the Immigration Department.

‘Either party’ refers to both the Employer and the Helper (referred to here as the ‘worker’) who signed the contract. So any one of them can terminate the contract by giving a month’s notice of termination. This should be done in writing. Proper notice should be given to the other party, otherwise, the party who wishes to terminate the contract without giving a month’s notice will have to pay an equivalent amount of the worker’s one month’s wage.

In some of the Mission’s cases, there are employers who refuse to give a written notice of termination. If this happens, it is highly suggested that the worker her/himself writes to the employer stating that she/he acknowledges the termination of their contract initiated by the employer, given verbally on such a date and time, describing the circumstances briefly, and the date of her/his last working day. She can also state that s/he expects the employer to pay her a month’s wage in lieu of notice, apart from all the items due her according to the contract, such as arrears in wages, payments for days-off and statutory holidays that were not taken, annual leave, severance or long service payment when applicable, official expenses with official receipts, travelling allowances, and return air fare/ticket.

There are situations when the domestic worker is driven out of employer’s house/flat even at midnight or in the early hours of the morning, with no written notice of termination, Worse, the domestic worker would be forced to write and copy or simply sign a prepared resignation letter; and in the most extreme case, forced to sign a blank piece of paper. 

We will discuss this in detail below. In such circumstances, as a worker, you have the right NOT TO SIGN anything against your will, or anything that you do not understand, specially if you are in a state of shock because of the unexpected turn of events. Note that it is grueling to prove that you were ‘forced’ to sign. Authorities will ask you questions like ‘Were you threatened with a knife or a gun to force you to sign?’ We understand that you are not in a “neutral” place especially if you do not get along well with your employer. It is not easy to argue. Some people do not listen to explanations or may even get angrier if you explain. Nevertheless, it is your right to say something to explain your side, and to resist if you are being forced to do something against your will..

If you are forced to write and copy or simply sign a prepared resignation letter, remember very well every detail of that incident and write it in your diary, even describing the clothes, jewelry, and everything that you were wearing at the time of the incident, where it happened, who were present, and what they were doing while this was happening. These pieces of information are very important to support your case. 

If you are being paid your wages, but you are not sure if the amount is sufficient, do not get the air ticket. It can wait until you are certain that the amount given to you is correct. Air tickets expire if you do not use them on the scheduled flight. You can always claim it, together with the rest of the items you need to claim, through the Hong Kong Labour Department. But because you received some payment, it is necessary that you acknowledge the receipt in writing and sign right after the sentence stating the exact amount that you received. NEVER leave a space where others could insert a word, a phrase, or a sentence. You may sign anywhere but draw a line from the last word to your signature. That line signifies a blank space upon your signing.

Try to take a photo of what you signed, if possible.

Try your best to stay calm and call a friend or the Mission (97409 406 or 9488 9044) for help. That way, you can have someone to help you with your belongings, someone who can stand as witness to what happened to you, and help you to avoid signing unnecessary “agreements.”

But, according to Clause 11: ‘Notwithstanding Clause 10, either party may in writing terminate this contract without notice or payment in lieu in the circumstances permitted by the Employment Ordinance Chapter 57.’

This is true. The worker may terminate the contract without notice or payment in lieu in certain circumstances like if the worker reasonably fears physical danger by violence or disease in the workplace, or if the worker is subjected to ill-treatment in the household, and the like. Similarly, an employer may terminate the contract without notice in certain situations, such as when the worker refuses to follow a lawful order or  when the worker is consistently negligent of her/his duty. 

To explain further, if any member of the household threatens to attack or actually attacks you physically, or if you fear you might get a disease present in the household, there is no need to stay and you have the right to leave without giving a month’s notice.

Likewise, if you have suffered prolonged ill-treatment, contract violations, or abuse that you can document to prove your allegation, you can leave without a month’s notice. Remember that all of the above can be used only if you have sufficient evidence. This is precisely the reason why keeping a diary is crucial. This will also help you recall related incidents because there are certain situations that may qualify you to claim a month’s wage in lieu of notice.

Finally, we discourage the use of the term ‘break contract’ because that means that you are not following the terms of the contract.

rise that working hours of domestic workers are long and arduous. No matter how much you take care of yourself to avoid sickness or injury, due to the nature of your work and Hong Kong’s confined spaces, being under the weather is unavoidable. Many do not get enough rest, sleep, or appropriate and nutritious food. It is for these reasons that knowing your rights regarding illness and injury is important.

Clause 9 of the ID 407 (or Employment Contract For a Domestic Helper Recruited From Abroad) deals with injury and illness of the domestic worker while employed here in Hong Kong. It states that:

“9. (a) In the event that the Helper is ill or suffers personal injury during the period of employment specified in Clause 2, except for the period during which the Helper leaves Hong Kong of his/her* own volition and for his/her* own personal purposes, the Employer shall provide free medical treatment to the Helper. Free medical treatment includes medical consultation, maintenance in hospital and emergency dental treatment. The Helper shall accept medical treatment provided by any registered medical practitioner.

(b) If the Helper suffers injury by accident or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment, the Employer shall make payment of compensation in accordance with the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, Chapter 282.

(c) In the event of a medical practitioner certifying that the Helper is unfit for further service, the Employer may, subject to the statutory provisions of the relevant Ordinances, terminate the employment and shall immediately take steps to repatriate the Helper to his/her* place of origin in accordance with Clause 7.”

As we can glean from this text, every employer in Hong Kong is required to get employee’s compensation insurance for their domestic worker. Getting medical insurance for the employee is encouraged, not required. However, if you sustain an injury during the course of your work for your employer (say, you slipped and fell while carrying grocery items), your employer should pay for your medical needs. The law says that you should agree to your employer’s decision regarding treatment, as long as the doctor is a registered medical practitioner.

If your employer opts or agrees to send you home to be treated, do make sure that you have a recorded agreement that she or he will shoulder your medical treatment while in your home country, and that you are to come back after treatment. This document (or recording) will come in handy should you pursue this further.

If for example, on your last day of sick leave, you still feel ill, you should go back to the doctor the next day. This is for your wellness.

Furthermore, this is as well for public safety. You do not want to spread a virus in Hong Kong’s cramped living spaces, as the rate of contaminating others will be faster. You must do this even if you have not set an appointment with the doctor, or you have not asked your employer’s permission.

Your sick leave allowance is four-fifths (4/5) of your average daily wage. This can only be claimed if you have been on sick leave for four days or more. You shall receive this allowance on the next pay day. Whether you can claim this or not, if you are still feeling ill, it is your civic duty to bring yourself back to the doctor.

There are some employers who do not honor medical certificates, and instead, make their domestic workers still work. You should still keep the certificate for future claim even if your illness or injury was not a result of your work. Note clause 9(a) of the contract as stated above.

Regarding claims, you must inform your employer as soon as possible that you have been injured. Your employer should then inform the Labor Department. If your employer is unable to inform the Labor Department, you must inform them immediately. Then the Labor Department will inform you of the process.

It is important that you keep all related documents from the hospital. This includes medical records, certificates (for your sick leave), doctor’s prescription, etc. As much as possible, have lots of copies of these documents. Have a copy of each document for your own records. When filing employees’ compensation, make a document stating in a list the documents you have attached. Have this signed by a staff of the Labor Department or have them officially stamped or chopped with “Received” including the date when the documents were submitted. This document is your receipt, proof that you did file the claim with the required documents. Also ask for the telephone number you can call when following up the claim, as well as the name of the person you should talk to when following up. Get as much information as you can.

There are times when the Employees’ Compensation Division under the Labor Department will want to have you examined by their own medical practitioner before

---

This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Maraming nabubulag sa pag-asam ng yaman

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Kung nagtatanong at nakikinig lang sana ang mga ilang kababayan nating manggagawa bago sila nagpadala sa matatamis ng pangako ng mga illegal recruiter at human trafficker ay wala sanang nagdurusa ngayon sa kamay ng mga luminlang sa kanila.

Ngunit kadalasan ay kumakagat muna sila sa pain ng mga mandurugas at hindi na nag-iisip o nagtatanong bago magbitiw ng malaking halaga ng pera bilang kabayaran sa pagbibigay ng trabaho sa kanila sa ibang bansa.

Saka na lang magsisisi ang mga kabababayan natin kapag napagtanto na nilang niloko lang pala sila ng mga taong nag-alok ng mga trabahong kagila-gilalas ang laki ng pasahod at mga pangakong benepisyo.

Isang taon pa lamang magmula noong pumutok ng balita ukol sa panlilinlang ni Ester Ylagan, ang may-ari ng dating Emry’s Employment Agency at Mike’s Secretarial Services, sa tinatayang 500 OFW na umasang magkatrabaho sa Canada at England ay eto at sumambulat naman ang balita ukol sa mga kababayan nating naakit sa mga pangakong trabaho sa Russia at nagsisisi ngayon.

Sa katunayan ay matagal nang nangangalap ng mga OFW na nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan at mga bansa sa Middle East ang mga taong nasa likuran ng pinakahuling kaso ng illegal recruitment at human trafficking patungo sa Russia.

Ito ay batay sa mga ulat na ipinarating kamakailan ng mga biktima ni Ahmed Sameer kay Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre..

Si Sameer, alyas Ahmed Amir, ay may iba’t iba pang pangalan sa Facebook na Jon Meer, Meer Jon Meer, Meer Joni at Joni Meer, at maaaring marami pang iba.

Bago pa lang pumutok ang panlilinlang ni Ylagan sa kanyang mga naakit na OFW para sa Britain at Canada ay tahimik nang umeenganyo si Sameer at ang kanyang kinakasamang Pinay sa Moscow ng mga katulong sa Hong Kong para naman sa Russia.

Mahigit limang taon nang nakakapanloko ng mga OFW ang sindikatong ito kung ang pagbabatayan natin ay ang sinasabi ng mga nagreklamong kababayan nating nalagay ngayon sa alanganin sa Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok at iba pang malalayong lungsod sa Russia.   

Inamin na rin ni Sameer sa isa sa kanyang mga Facebook account na ang operasyong ito na nakapangalap na rin noong nakaraan ng mga Pilipinong katulong sa Hong Kong at ipinadala sa Turkey.

Nag-anunsiyo na rin siya ng mga trabaho sa United States at Canada sa kanyang ibang mga Facebook account at ipinagmalaki pang madali na raw kumuha ng US visa para sa mga aplikante.

Sa sandaling ito ay hindi pa natin alam kung ilan daang OFW sa Hong Kong ang naaakit na ni Sameer at kasalukuyang nasa Russia o papaalis pa lang.

Batay sa sumbong ng mga biktima kay Labatt Dela Torre, siningil sila umano ni Sameer ng US$3,500 para sa imbitasyong magtungo sa Russia na gamit ay commercial visa. Pinangakuan niya diumano ang mga biktima na may naghihintay nang mga amo sa kanila.

Pagdating ng mga biktima sa Moscow ay saka pa lamang nila malalaman na wala pa silang amo kaya doon sila nakatambak sa bahay na inuupahan ni Sameer. Libre umano ang pagkain nila sa unang buwang ngunit pagkaraan ay sisingilin na sila ng US$500 buwan-buwan.

Isang biktima ang siningil diumano ni Sameer ng kabuuang US$4,000 – ang paunang bayad na US$1,100 at $1,100 uli pagdating ng imbitasyon. Ang panghuling bayad na US$1,800 ay kinaltas na umano buwan-buwan nang may nakuha na siyang trabaho.

Noong hindi pa binulabog ni Labatt Dela Torre ang operasyon ni Sameer ay naglagay siya ng anunsiyo ng Ayesha Staff sa kanyang Facebook account, at doon ay nakalagay ang lahat ng serbisyong iniaalok sa mga Pilipinong aplikante para sa Russia. Ang gamit niyang pangalan doon ay Ahmed Amir na diumano ay general director ng kumpanya.

Ngunit noong nabulilyaso na ang pinakahuling misyon sa Hong Kong ng kanyang kaparehang si Kathleen F. Pimentel ay saka sinasabi niya sa mga OFW pinapunta niya sa Russia na wala siyang ahensiya at nag-aahente lamang siya para sa mga ahensiyang Russo. At sinasabi niya diumano na namumursiyento lamang siya.

Pinadalhan ng masasamang mensahe ni Sameer si Labatt Dela Torre dahil sa pagkaunsyami ng kanyang operasyon. Pagkaraan ng ilang araw ay nag-post naman ito ng mga larawan na kuha sa loob ng Philippine Embassy sa Moscow at kausap ang isang opisyal doon. Ang sabi niya ay patunay daw iyon sa mga “tismosa” na hindi siya masamang tao. Hindi naman matiyak kung kailan ito kinunan, at kung ano ang okasyon.

Mayroon pa kayang OFW na maniniwala sa kanya gayong marami nang biktima ang lumitaw at nagsumbong tungkol sa masamang gawain niya? Kung mayroon man, iyon ay ang mga nasilaw sa pangako at nabulag ng pag-asam sa malaking pera.   

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.