Masuwerte ka ba sa Pebrero?

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94/06
Pag-ukulan ng pansin ang kulturang iyong pinanggalingan. Upang gumanda ang porma, gawing regular ang pag-eehersisyo o paglalaro ng sports. Kung gusto mong mag-invest, mamuhunan sa real estate. Mahihirapan kang ayusin ang problema sa taong malalapit sa iyo. Sumulat sa dating kaibigan. Lucky numbers: 12, 18, 21 at 38.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95/07
Dahil sa tigas ng loob mo, magkakaproblema ang pagsasama. Sa trabaho, malulusutan mo rin ang hirap at balakid na matagal nang nagpapabagal sa iyo. Kung hihingi ng dagdag-sweldo, ibibigay ito. Makakaranas ng pananakit at panginginig ng katawan, kaya kumain ng pagkain na mataas sa magnesium gaya ng beans, nuts, brown rice at berde at madahong gulay. Gaganda ang pananalapi kung matututo sa mga pagkakamali; iwasang sumugal sa mga bagay na hindi ka sigurado. Lucky numbers: 5, 11, 27, 33 at 40.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96/08
Mag-ingat sa labis na nerbiyos, mag-hinay hinay at kumain ng pagkaing sagana sa vitamin B1. Magulo ang love life ngayon, mag-ingat at baka tuluyang masira ang relasyon. Basahing mabuti ang mga dokumento bago pirmahan upang maiwasan ang malaking pagkakamali. Maayos ang samahan sa pamilya dahil sa iyong magandang pakikitungo, sigla at pagiging positibo, pero iwasang ipilit ang mga ideya mo sa mga kaanak. Lucky numbers: 11, 19, 28 at 41.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97/09
Upang magtagumpay sa iyong gawain o personal na proyekto, gawin lang ang talagang kailangan at magpakita ng sipag at tiyaga. Kung nahihirapan kang mahanap ang totoong kaibigan o katuwang, ito ay dahil masyadong mataas ang iyong pamantayan. Madali kang magtampo nang dahil lang sa kaunting pagtatalo sa mga kasamahan. Mahihirapan ang lahat na kausapin ka, pero ikaw lang din ang talo sa ganitong sitwasyon. Lucky numbers: 20, 25. 31 at 42.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98/10
Sa linggong ito, iwasan ang transaksyon sa lupa o bahay, o ang makipag-ayos sa isang legal na usapin. Mag-ingat sa mga biglaang galaw, lalo na sa loob ng pamamahay, at baka masaktan. Kung nagsasawa na sa pang-araw araw na gawain, paganahin ang imahinasyon upang magkaroon ng bagong pananaw. Oras na upang alisin o bawasan ang yabang o bilib sa sarili upang mapaganda ang kalidad ng trabaho. Tahimik ang love life, walang away pero kulang din sa init kaya gusto mong sumubok ng bagong bagay, pero hindi tiyak kung papayag ang kapartner mo. Lucky numbers: 16, 29, 30 at 36.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87/99
Mag-relax kasama ang mahal mo at lalo kang mapapamahal dito. Mag-ingat: hindi lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto kaya busisiing mabuti ang mga alok sa iyo. Mag-ingat din sa pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo! Sa trabaho, kailangan mong patunayan ang iyong husay at siguradong maganda ang kapalit nito. Huwag mag-atubiling subukan ang iyong mga orihinal na ideya. Lucky numbers: 7, 26, 35 at 40.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88/00
May alingasngas na namamagitan sa inyo ng kapitbahay o kapamilya; huwag hayaang lumaki ang gulo. Mahihirapan kang kontrolin ang pabigla-bigla mong pagdedesisyon na nakakasama sa iyong trabaho. Mahaharap ka sa masakit na pagtatanong, na makabubuti naman sa iyong isipan at puso. Pag-aralang mabuti ang pinansyal na kalagayan dahil baka nagkamali ka ng kalkula. Baka mas kailangan mo pang magtipid ng husto. Lucky numbers: 16, 23, 31 at 45.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89/01
Mag-ingat, babalik ang labis na selos na maaaring magresulta sa malaking pagkasira. Tanggapin ang lahat ng imbitasyon upang magkaroon ng bagong ideya at lumawak ang pananaw. Mag-ingat sa shellfish, alkohol o sa pagkaing hindi nakasanayan na baka magdulot ng pamamaga ng mukha at pamamantal. Sa tulong ng kamag-anak ay maaayos mo ang lahat. Pagdating sa pamilya, huwag ipikit ang mata sa problema; harapin ito bago pa lumala. Bantayan maigi ang mga anak. Lucky numbers: 15, 24, 32 at 46.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90/02
Magiging abala ka sa trabaho at social life, pero baka makaligtaan mo ang mahal sa buhay. Para maiwasan ang pananakit ng kalamnan, mag-ingat sa paglalaro ng sport o pabigla-biglang kilos. Kailangang ikaw ang lumapit at makipagkilala kung gusto mong magkaroon ng bago at mabuting kaibigan. Malakas ang loob mong sumugal sa sari-saring transaksyon, mag-ingat at bawasan ang tapang mo sa pakikipagsapalaran. Lucky numbers: 13, 22, 37 at 43.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03
Lahat ng nirereklamo mo ay nangyayari sa lahat! Subukang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan upang makalimutan ang maliliit na personal na problema. Mag-ingat na mabaon sa utang! Ang pananakit ng lalamunan ay maaring dulot ng allergy. Maaayos din ang ilang problema sa pagsasama at mas magiging masaya pang lalo ito. Mababawasan din ang pag-aaalala at nerbiyos na nararanasan. Lucky numbers: 6, 19, 27, at 41.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04
Makakapagtrabaho ka ngayon ng maayos at tahimik. Magagamit mo ang koneksyon at impluwensya upang umangat sa trabaho o propesyon. Kumain ng marami sa agahan upang gumana ng husto ang isip. Ayusing mabuti ang pananalapi. Magulo ang sitwasyon sa tahanan dahil wala kayong napapagkasunduan sa lahat ng bagay. Huwag hayaang lumala ang problema. Lucky numbers: 5, 18, 26 at 31.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05
Napapanahon na upang makipag-ugnayang muli sa mga taong matagal ka nang walang balita. Sa trabaho, hindi maiiwasan ang pagbabago. Huwag mag-alala dahil madali at maayos kang makakapag-adjust. Mababawasan ang problema sa kalusugan, mawawala nang kusa ang allergy mo. Bibigyan mo ng importansya ngayon ang iyong love life, at babalik ang sigla sa buhay. Lucky numbers: 17, 23, 35 at 42.

DCG tells teachers: challenge yourselves intellectuallyDCG tells teachers: challenge yourselves intellectually

By Daisy CL Mandap

Think. Read. Challenge yourself. Question your existence.

These were among the words of wisdom imparted by Deputy Consul General Roderico Atienza to a group of Filipino teachers in Hong Kong who joined the 2018 news writing seminar conducted by The SUN at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Wanchai on Jan. 21.

“We have to continue challenging ourselves intellectually,” DCG Atienza told the 19 teachers and about 10 other foreign domestic workers who joined the seminar. “In the same way that we can maintain our youthful vigor, ganoon din dapat ang mind natin. We also have to exercise our minds.”

Organizer Gemma A. Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers – Hong Kong is joined by The SUN Editor Daisy Catherine L. Mandap, DCG Roderico Atienza and The SUN Publisher Leo A. Deocadiz.

Atienza threw scorn at “nosebleed,” the popular Filipino expression used to denote one’s failure to understand what is being said because it’s in English, saying “let’s avoid (saying) that. That’s because to him, this denotes that someone does not want to be challenged intellectually, that it is better to dumb down the conversation.

“There’s nothing wrong with being an intellectual, huwag lang tayong maging snob,” he said.

Critical thinking, as well as reading, could help open one’s mind to new ideas.

“Before you get into the writing, yung style and everything, get into the thinking (part) first,” he said.

Atienza also shared his experiences as a journalist for five years prior to joining the civil service. Two of those were spent in the Philippines, and three in Japan, where he was hired because of his fluency in both the English and Japanese languages.

The seminar was broken down into three parts, with editor Daisy CL Mandap giving basic lessons on news writing, and how being able to write could help anyone, whatever profession they’re in.

The next part, conducted by associate editor Vir B. Lumicao, focused on news gathering techniques and basic lessons on grammar.

The third part, handled by publisher Leo A. Deocadiz, started off with a video of an actual press conference given by White House doctors on President Donald Trump’s recent medical check-up. The participants were then told to write a “lead” or the first paragraph of a news story, distilling the essential information given out in the presser.

The participants were then encouraged to send stories to The SUN so they will have a better understanding of the process involved in writing the news.

Also at the seminar were The SUN’s contributors, who shared their experiences on how writing has helped them understand issues affecting migrant domestic workers, and given them the courage to express themselves and help others.

The session ended with Gemma A. Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers – Hong Kong, handing over a contribution from participants for the food and other expenses for the seminar, which The SUN in turn said will be donated to the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.

Pinay na namatay sa banyo, inuwi na

Ni Marites Palma

Naiuwi na ang bangkay ni Erlinda Diego Cabulong, 45, na namatay pagkatapos makitang nakahandusay sa banyo ng kanyang amo noong ika-9 ng Enero.

Nagkaroon ng public viewing ng kanyang mga labi sa Universal Funeral Homes sa Hunghom noong ika-24 ng Enero, bago ito isinakay pauwi sa Maynila kinabukasan sa Philippine Airlines flight PR 301.

Binawian ng buhay si Cabulong sa Tuen Mun hospital dalawang oras pagkatapos siyang itakbo doon ng kanyang amo.

Naulila niya ang kanyang asawa at dalawang anak na lalaki na nakatira sa Purok 4, Villa Santiago, Aglipay, Quirino.

Ayon sa kanyang kapatid na si Mercedes Jasmin Diego, wala pang resulta ang isinagawang pagsusuri para malaman ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng kanyang nakababatang kapatid. Sa pagkakaalam niya ay wala naman itong sakit na hypertension.

“Napakasakit ang biglaan niyang pagkawala, wala man siyang senyales na mawawala na siya dahil nakagroup chat at nakavideo call pa ang mga anak at apo noong gabi bago siya mamatay, kaya di namin matanggap na wala na siya” ani Diego. Aakuin daw ng amo ang gagastusin para sa pag-uwi ng mga labi ni Cabulong ngunit hanggang Manila lamang. Ang pamilya nila ang sasagot sa pagpapauwi dito hanggang Quirino.

Ang amo na si Josephine Ngan ang unang nagbalita na nakitang walang malay si Cabulong sa loob ng banyo ng kanilang bahay sa Tuen Mun. Umapela ito sa pamamagitan ng Facebook na tawagan siya ng kapatid ng kasambahay agad-agad. Naka-lock daw kasi ang telepono ng yumao kaya hindi nila alam kung sino ang tatawagan.

Aray ko po!

Namimilipit sa sakit si Violy, Ilokana at 50 taong gulang, nang dalhin siya sa Ruttonjee Hospital sa Wanchai noong Enero 8. Pagbaba niya kasi mula sa higaan niyang mataas ay nasabit ang kanyang tuhod sa hagdanan nito, at nasugat.

Kinailangan siyang operahan dahil sa dugong namuo sa kanyang tuhod. Muli ay matinding sakit ang naramdaman niya dahil nababanat ang balat sa kanyang sugat kada hakbang niya. Agad naman siyang pinauwi pagkatapos ng operasyon, at pagkalipas ng ilang araw ay pinabalik para sa therapy.

Pero nang tingnan ng doktor ang kanyang tuhod ay nakita nitong may natira pang dugo sa sugat, kaya kinailangan niyang maoperahan muli. Magkahalong takot at sama ng loob ang naramdaman ni Violy nang muli siyang operahan.

Mabuti na lang at umayos na ang kanyang pakiramdam pagkatapos nito, at dahil binigyan siya ng isang linggong pahinga ng doktor. Alalang-alala naman ang kanyang amo, at lagi siyang sinasabihan na magpahinga.

Alam ni Violy na aksidente ang nangyari, pero tuwing binabalik-balikan niya ang pangyayari, naiisip din niya na dapat ay naging mas maingat siya. Kagigising lang niya kasi noon at marahil ay aantok-antok pa nang bumaba sa hagdanan ng kanyang kama kaya sumabit ang kanyang tuhod.

Ang payo niya, “huwag agad babangon at bababa mula sa higaan, mababa man o mataas, dahil madaling mawalan ng balanse at masabit o matumba”. Mag-inat inat daw muna at siguradong gising na ang diwa bago tumayo at nang malayo sa disgrasya. – George Manalansan

Natalo ang bruha

Galak na galak si Arlene, 35 at Ilokana, nang kumbinsihin siya ng dating among Indian na bumalik sa kanila, kapalit ng $6,000 na suweldo. Nilayasan ni Arlene ang dating amo pagkatapos ng limang taon na paninilbihan dahil sa walang kaparis na pasakit na dinanas niya sa malditang asawa nito.

Siya lang ang tumagal ng dalawang kontrata sa 14 na naging katulong ng among Indian dahil sa kasungitan ng asawa nito.

Maraming dinanas na pasakit si Arlene sa among demonyita. Minsan, nang hindi masunod ang iniutos nito sa kanya ay maghapon siyang hindi pinakain. Ilang beses na din siyang pinalayas, at pinagtatapon ang mga gamit niya sa labas ng pinto.

Napakiusapan lang siya ng among lalaki ang mga anak nito kaya hindi siya umalis.

Ngunit may sukdulan din ang kanyang pagtitiis. Sa ikalimang taon ay tinotohanan niya ang pag-alis, kahit kinailangang umuwi muna siya dahil sa pag-break niya ng kanyang kontrata.

Isang buwan pa lang siyang nakakabalik at naninilbihang muli nang tawagan siya ng dating amo, at hinimok na bumalik sa kanila. Nangako ito na sila na ng kanyang mga anak ang kakastigo sa salbaheng asawa.

Dala sa pangangailangan ay kinausap ni Arlene ang bagong amo at sinabi dito ang alok sa kanya na malaking suweldo. Ayon sa bagong amo, wala itong magagawa kundi pakawalan siya dahil hindi nito kayang tapatan ang alok na suweldo.

Nang iparating niya ang ang pagsang-ayon sa alok ng among Indian ay agad siyang sinundo nito sakay ng kotse, at binayaran ang isang buwang suweldo kapalit ng pasabi sa iniwanang amo. Agad ding inasikaso ang muli niyang pagpirma ng kontrata sa kanila.

Ngayon, ayon kay Arlene ay hitsurang bruha pa rin ang kanyang among babae ngunit bawal nang magsungit dahil ang asawa at mga anak na niya ang makakalaban. Tuwang tuwa naman ni Arlene dahil wala nang kontrabida sa buhay niya, malaki pa ng di hamak sa dati ang suweldo niya. – George Manalansan

Employer cleared, DH gets suspended sentence on illegal work

A Hong Kong employer has been acquitted by the Shatin Court of conspiracy to breach immigration rules while her Filipina helper has been given a three-month jail sentence suspended for three years.

The two cases had been tried separately in Shatin, but the court had delayed the sentencing of Cecelia Guevarra until Feb 5 pending the outcome of the employer’s trial.

Cecelia Guevarra was found guilty

The employer, May Lui, was cleared of two counts of “conspiracy to breach of condition of stay” filed against her by prosecutors from the Immigration Department.

Lui hugged relatives and broke into tears after Magistrate Winnie Lau exonerated her because the prosecutors were not able to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Guevarra, Lui’s domestic helper for eight years, pleaded guilty in June 7 to two counts of “breach of condition of stay” and “making false representation to an immigration officer lawfully acting …in the execution of Part III of the Immigration Ordinance”.

She faced two more charges of breach of condition of stay and another of making a false statement but these were withdrawn later by the prosecution.

The prosecution cited as basis for the two conspiracy charges the latest two work contracts that Lui and the Filipina had signed, which stated the maid was to work in her employers’ house at all times.

Guevarra was arrested on May 8, 2016 while she was inside her employer’s office in Central. The case dragged on for several months as the Immigration officers also filed a complaint against her employer and wooed the Filipina to testify against Lui.

In her reason for verdict, Magistrate Lau said that defendant Lui elected not to give evidence and, so, it was the prosecution’s responsibility to justify its case and prove she was guilty of the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

 

Employer May Lui walks free from the same case.

The prosecution presented Guevarra and a local woman who was a former office staff of Lui as its witnesses.

Lau said Guevarra testified she worked in Lui’s Central office for one and a half hours three times a week between June 2015 and Dec 2015. She said she had spent 30% to 40% of her time working in the office during that period.

The helper also admitted she owed Lui $20,000 and had not yet repaid it.                              

The magistrate said Guevarra’s evidence was contradicted by the second witness, who said Lui moved to her Central office only in November 2015.

Lau said that piece of evidence already contradicted Guevarra’s claim that her employer moved to Central on Feb 6, 2016.

“I’m not satisfied that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty. Defendant, I acquit you of both charges,” Lau declared.

On Feb 5, the prosecutor told Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan that Guevarra pleaded guilty to the charges eight months ago and helped the prosecution investigate and build a case against Lui.

Lam noted the help Guevarra extended in the investigation of Lui and said he accepted that the maid had followed orders to perform illegal work.

“I’ve considered the facts of the case and accepted the mitigation that you have a clear record and was just following orders,” the magistrate said.

He sentenced Guevarra to 6 weeks in jail for each of the two breach of condition charges and 3 months for making false representation to an immigration officer.

Guevarra told The SUN she was happy with the sentence but had to go to Immigration on Feb 6 and find out whether she could look again for an employer.

Filcom leaders hit reported plan to recall Labatt dela Torre

Labatt dela Torre is noted for cracking down on errant recruiters

By Daisy CL Mandap

Filipino community leaders in Hong Kong are up in arms over a reported move to have Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre recalled and replaced by the Department of Labor and Employment's top official in Davao.

The impending recall was hinted at by Labatt dela Torre himself in a Facebook post on Feb. 2, in which he spoke of savoring his “last few days” in Hong Kong.

By March this year, he would have been in Hong Kong for only two years. The usual term for a labor official posted overseas is three years, but this has reportedly been extended recently by the current Philippine administration to five years.

Sources within the Philippine Overseas Labor Office confirmed the reported plan, and said the one being eyed to replace dela Torre in Hong Kong is Raymundo Agravante, DOLE's  regional director in Davao.

Contacted by The SUN, Labatt dela Torre did not confirm or deny the report. But he said: “They can recall me or transfer me elsewhere, but I should not be accused of any wrongdoing." He declined to say anything more.

The SUN also sent a text message to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III asking about the reported recall, and his only reply was "fake news".

The news, which came in the wake of a recent visit to Hong Kong by a three-man fact finding team from DOLE, sparked concern among Filipino community leaders.

Many regard dela Torre as one of the most hardworking Philippine government officials around. During peak season, he opens his office practically every day to the thousands of OFWs who apply for the overseas employment certificate or OEC exemption before going home for a vacation.

Most Sundays, he even sits behind the service counters in POLO, if he is not out attending Filcom gatherings. 

But often cited as his biggest accomplishment was his unilateral move to ban dangerous window cleaning by migrant workers, which Hong Kong Immigration eventually adopted and made part of the standard employment contract for FDWs.

Dela Torre is credited for
getting HK to ban dangerous
window cleaning by FDWs  

More recently, Labatt’s outspoken stance against the rampant illegal recruitment of Filipino migrant workers for Russia and Turkey prompted Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to vow tougher sanctions against agencies engaged in the illicit practice.

Eman Villanueva, chair of Bayan Hong Kong and Macau and secretary general of Unifil-Migrante HK, said the plan to recall dela Torre sounded suspicious.

“Bakit siya iyong inaalis gayong sa tingin natin e tama ang mga ginagawa niya?,” asked Villanueva.

Since Dela Torre is widely known for cracking the whip on the illegal recruitment of Filipinos, Villanueva said the government will be sending a strong signal that it does not want the campaign to continue if the labor chief is recalled.

Villanueva also asked why Secretary Bello has not fulfilled an earlier promise to review the light sanction imposed on a former labor attaché found to have allowed his then driver to operate an employment agency.

“Tapos itong gumagawa ng mabuti e tatanggalin?,” asked Villanueva.

Dela Torre’s former deputy, Henry Tianero, who is now posted as a labor attaché in Kuala Lumpur, also offered to put in a good word for his former boss.

Tianero sent a copy of a report he submitted to the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong middle of last year, in which he noted a 21% increase in the number of OFWs who were rehired during dela Torre’s first year in office.

“More were rehired because we were deploying more quality workers,” said Tianero.

And this, he said, was all due to dela Torre’s effort to whip errant employment agencies into line, and placing more restrictions on those applying for accreditation.

A veteran OFW leader, Aura L. Ablin of the Mindanao Federation, was also rattled by the news that dela Torre might soon be recalled.

“Relieving Labatt Jalilo de la Torre from his post here in HK is an absolute mistake. If changing the color of the contract from green to blue is a small matter to our government, it is not for us, and those who fell off windows while cleaning their employer’s house. That’s Labatt Jalilo de la Torre's legacy,” she said.

“MinFed will do its best to keep him here in Hong Kong. Let the voices of all OFWs in Hong Kong be heard!”

Another community leader with a large following said his group was "saddened" by the news that dela Torre might be pulled out from his post. Leo Selomenio, chair of Global Alliance and star of the award-winning movie "Sunday Beauty Queen", said: "We have lined up many projects in partnership with POLO. What will happen to us if he goes?"

He said his group wants dela Torre to stay for several reasons: 1) He has bravely cracked down on "greedy" agencies; 2) He doesn't take a day off during peak months when thousands of OFWs line up to get the OEC exemption through the BMOnline system which "puts too much burden on OFWs; 3) He is very approachable and accommodating to OFWs consulting about their jobs; 4) He works with the Filcom in providing seminars and training that benefit the OFWs; 5) Provides quick solutions to problems referred to him.

Selomenio added: "On the whole he performs his duty beyond expectation. We love him dearly as he gives us priority and a sense of importance".

Another leader, Gemma A. Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers Hong Kong, questioned the real reason for the plan to recall the labor chief.

She also said dela Torre should not be relieved half-way into his term because "He has conscientiously and successfully performed his duties. He has worked hard to fulfill POLO's mission, including fighting human trafficking more aggressively, supporting teachers' programs, and protecting OFW rights and interests.

The unexpected visit of the DOLE fact-finding team from Jan. 25-27, apparently timed while he was away on vacation, appeared to have riled dela Torre. On Feb. 1, his first day back at work, he made several cryptic posts on Facebook that caused many of his friends to ask what was bothering him.

POLO sources said dela Torret felt bad on hearing about the investigation, which was apparently sparked by a complaint to DOLE by a Hong Kong recruiter that failed to get its usual job quota for Filipina bar workers in Wanchai. Labatt dela Torre has reportedly turned down routinely applications for such jobs, concerned that the Filipinas were being exploited.

But the agency’s complaint appeared to be just one of the reasons. The investigators also reportedly questioned POLO staff about Labatt dela Torre’s performance, although most gave him a positive endorsement.

Even the wards at the Filipino Workers’ Resource Centre were given a surprise visit by one of the investigators. Asked if POLO was looking after them well, most of the shelter’s occupants reportedly answered in the affirmative.

‘When my time comes, it will come’

President Rodrigo Duterte said the purported plan of terrorist group Islamic State (IS) to assassinate him doesn’t intimidate him at all.

Duterte brushed it aside as “mere” threats. He said he had been living a “dangerous life” for a long time.

“I’ve been telling you right at the start, when my time comes, it will come. I will stick to what destiny has given. If I go tomorrow, then I go,” he said in a news conference upon his arrival on Saturday from India.

“Assassination? Kung panahon ko na, panahon ko na! (If it’s my time, it’s my time). So I should not be deterred. I should not be discouraged by just mere threats. I’ve lived with it. I’ve been a prosecutor for nine years doing trial work. I live with a—it was a dangerous life then as it is now,” he went on.

An Indian news outfit The Print reported that Duterte was a target of the terror group during his visit to India late last month.

Previously, Duterte repeatedly warned against the possible retaliation of IS after the Philippine troops defeated the Maute extremist group, which laid siege to Marawi City for five months in 2017.

Quoting a security agency source, the India-based news organization reported about intelligence inputs that “the IS has its people and is planning to strike” against Duterte.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the threat was “normal” and assured the public that security measures were in place to ensure the President’s safety.

“The President is aware of it and his security is doing their job as they should assisted by the PNP (Philippine National Police), AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and all government security forces specially on intel,” he said.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Duterte knew all along that he was a target of IS but added that the President was not demoralized.

Cause of death of Pinay who fainted while cleaning car still a mystery

By Vir B. Lumicao

A domestic helper from Tagbilaran City in Bohol died on Jan 20, after she collapsed while cleaning the car of her employer in Shatin, according to reports.

The victim, identified as Elma Balatero, 43, was found lying unconscious at the car parking lot of Wo Che Estate at 7:49am, an officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section told The SUN.

ATN officer Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr. said the victim’s elder son, who is 22 years old, was to arrive in Hong Kong to arrange the repatriation of his mother. Balatero’s employers reportedly paid for the son’s travel.

The dead woman had another son, who is 21 years old.

The employers, a young Hong Kong couple, had reportedly been distraught over the death of Balatero, who had served them for several years.

A friend of Balatero confirmed this, saying the deceased was treated very well by her employers.

She rebuffed comments posted on social media that the deceased was starved and overworked by her employers.

“She is not overworked. Her employers were very kind to her,” the friend had posted.

ATN is working on the repatriation of the remains while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will process the family’s funeral and death benefits.

Police told The SUN the maid was cleaning a car when she collapsed. People at the carpark who saw her lying unconscious beside a bucket and her cleaning gear called an ambulance.

Police said paramedics who arrived at the scene rushed her to Prince of Wales Hospital but she was certified dead after arrival.

Suspended barrister named in deception case

Ody Lai and Ester Ylagan during happier times.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Former employment agency owner Ester Ylagan has accused her ertswhile friend, suspended Filipino barrister Ody Lai Pui-yim, of using deception to have an Aberdeen flat she used to co-own with her husband (now deceased), to be transferred in Lai’s name.

The allegation was made by Ylagan in a complaint she made to the Central Police Station on Dec. 5, 2017, a copy of which she supplied to The SUN.

The SUN tried to get Lai’s comment on the complaint via email last January 23, and alerted her to the email subsequently on a group chat on messenger, but received no reply.

However, shortly after The SUN's printed version of this story was published yesterday, Feb 1, Lai posted in her Facebook accounts in the name of "Ydo Lai" and "Ody Apostol Lai" a vigorous denial of Ylagan's claim, saying in part: "I have nothing to do with scamming anyone  not even Ester who was supposed to be a friend. Police has no actionable complaints against me that warrants investigation."

Lai also warned: "This is pure DEFAMATION on my person just to sell a story and I now warn The SUN of the consequences of your news". 

Lai's FB post

The two women used to be close friends, and were both officers of the group Club Filipino Hong Kong. Lai, 56, was the founder/chair of the organization, and Ylagan, 65, was president.

In her 4-page cautioned statement, Ylagan said she consulted Lai in July 2016 about the money claims filed against her by some 200 job applicants who were unable to take up the jobs that she had promised them in Canada and Britain.

Ylagan said, “As far as I know, Ody was a barrister and I thus trusted her that she would represent me in settling the case. Ody was supposed to help me refund the applicants upon selling my property in Aberdeen. I co-owned a property with my late husband, and it was situated at Flat D., 6/F, Block 2, Waterfront South, No. 1 Yue Wok Street, Aberdeen Hong Kong. My husband and I purchased the flat in 2000 for about $2.38 million and it was a 2-bedroom flat with sea view.”

 Later, Ylagan said she again met with Lai in a Chinese restaurant in Tai Koo Shing to consult her about the sale of the Aberdeen flat.

 “Ody then asked me to transfer the property to my son and let Ody sell the property so the money will be used to refund the applicants. I trusted Ody and listened to her. Later, I recalled that my son Michael had brought a set of documents regarding the property transfer for my signature. I signed without looking into them in details. In Nov. 2017, I asked my son what happened to the property and he told me it was transferred to Ody because he does not know how to sell the property.”

After agreeing on the sale of the flat, Lai allegedly told Ylagan to go back to the Philippines “to rest”. Lai allegedly told Ylagan that the police in Hong Kong were set to arrest her so she was not to stay in one place in the Philippines and to change her name.

Ylagan also alleged that Lai told her delete all her whatsapp, viber and Facebook accounts and to stop communicating with anyone.

Later, Ylagan said she asked why she needed to stay in the Philippines, and Lai allegedly answered that it was because she didn’t have enough money to fight the case and she didn’t have a strong defense.

“She told me for sure that if I return to Hong Kong I would for sure go to jail if they could prove my criminal intent.”

At that time, Lai had already been suspended from practicing as a barrister. A decision handed down on Sept. 26, 2016 by the Barristers Disciplinary Tribunal found Lai guilty on all 10 charges filed against her by the Bar Council, and suspended her from practicing as a barrister for four years, and pay a penalty of $200,000 plus costs. The decision can be found here:
http://www.hkba.org/sites/default/files/Reasons%20for%20Sentence%2020160926_0.pdf

On March 3, 2017 Lai reportedly contacted Ylagan in the Philippines and told her to sign documents authorizing the barrister to withdraw money from her MPF account in Hong Kong “to pay back the applicants and legal fee”.

Lai allegedly sent Ylagan via courier a set of documents which included a “Statutory Declaration for Claims of Payment, request for policy surrender and MPF forms.

“However, after I sent all those documents (back) to Ody, I have never heard from her anymore,” said Ylagan in her statement.

Later, Ylagan said she learned from her son Michael that only $90,000 was left in her MPF account.

She also learned from The SUN that the cases filed against her by her job applicants were still ongoing. “I was shocked because I thought Ody is working on the case for me and I was speechless when I saw myself on the news,” she said in her statement.

Realizing that nothing was done to settle her cases, Ylagan said she contacted the HK Police and asked for an interview to clarify the matter.

She also contacted her son Michael who had gone abroad by then, to ask why the flat was transferred to Lai’s name. Michael reportedly told his mother that Lai would return the property after three years, and that they could deal with the matter then. Michael also allegedly told Ylagan that Lai did not pay for the property.

Ylagan said she had not tried to contact Lai since her return to Hong Kong because “I am very scared of Ody and she would go mad if she even knew I have returned to Hong Kong.”

Ylagan said she also learned that Lai had been suspended from practicing as a barrister.

High Court allows legal aid for Ylagan's claimants

The High Court has cleared the way for legal aid to be granted to around 200 Filipinos suing to claim more than $2 million from Ester Ylagan, the employment agency owner who promised them non-existent jobs in Canada and Britain.

The decision to allow the appeal against the Legal Aid Director’s decision rejecting the application of the claimants was reached during a chambers hearing on Jan. 18. It is  believed to be the first time legal aid was granted in a class action suit.

Solicitor Melville Boase represented the Mission for Migrant Workers in the appeal.

Mission case officer Edwina Antonio told The SUN: “Akala kasi ng Legal Aid e sisingilin sila para sa bawat aplikante, pero sinabi ni Mr Boase na kami na ang gagawa ng paperwork kaya hindi ganoon kalaki lalabas ang bayad sa legal fee.”

A total of 129 claims against Ylagan and her defunct company, Mike’s Secretarial Service, are pending at the District Court where they were transferred from the Small Claims Tribunal.

Twenty-one claimants had managed to win their claims before the transfer. The next hearing of the cases before the DC has been set to March 2 this year.

The court was also told that Ylagan had returned to Hong Kong, offering to settle the claims if she could recover the Aberdeen flat she used to co-own with her late husband, Rick, who died in October last year.

In its reasons for rejecting the application, the Legal Aid Department cited Ylagan’s unknown whereabouts as one of the grounds, apart from the failure of the claimants to show receipts of the money they paid the recruiter.

Ylagan returned to Hong Kong in December last year, and filed a police complaint  claiming the flat identified as Flat D, 6/F, Block 2, Waterfront South, Aberdeen was obtained by her friend, suspended barrister  Ody Lai Pui-yi, through deception.

A search by the Legal Aid Department showed Ylagan had bought the flat with her husband in November 2000 for $2.37 million. The property was transferred in the name of their son, Ridge Michael on July 23, 2016, for $2.6 million. Then on March 20, 2017, it was further transferred to Lai for a consideration of $5 million.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Police has reportedly given notice to some of the claimants that it is now ready to start investigating their fraud complaint against Ylagan, who disappeared just before the Small Claims Tribunal started hearing the cases against her in mid-July 2016.

The police had earlier declined to get the complainants’ statement, saying Ylagan had filed a complaint on July 8, 2016, saying she herself had been duped into sending $4.19 million to someone who used the names William Clinton Erich and William Clinton James on Facebook. Ylagan claimed $2 million of this came from her own personal funds.

In the complaint, a copy of which Ylagan furnished to The SUN, the veteran recruiter said she communicated with Clinton James only through the email he gave her: visagent@gmail.com.”. She had no mobile numbers or address for the agent. Despite this, she complied with his order to send money through Moneygram and Western Union to five people with African-sounding names who lived in Burkina Faso. She said she made 86 remittances in total to the given accounts.

Ylagan said she did not profit from the apparent scam. But the unknown agent promised her a UK passport, 15 return tickets to London, and an “opportunity to explore the UK business market,” in exchange for her recruiting hundreds of applicants for the non-existent jobs.

At the time she remitted the $4.19 million, Ylagan said she had recruited 400 applicants. She stopped when she was asked to increase the number to 650, then 800.

Each applicant to Britain was asked to pay $10,000 and $15,000 for those applying to Canada. A leaflet Ylagan had circulated said “any jobs” were available in the two destinations, causing hundreds of applicants who had relied on her reputation as a 30-year veteran of the recruitment business, to swamp her World Wide shop in Central between January to May, 2016.

Police say PEYA owners to be charged with fraud

Rhea Donna and Peter Brian Boyce

By Vir B. Lumicao

A charge of conspiracy to defraud is being prepared by investigators against PEYA Travel owners Peter Brian Boyce and his wife Rhea Donna Bayona-Boyce, according to  the Hong Kong police.

This came as the number of customers whose travel plans were fouled up by the air-ticket fiasco that unraveled just before Christmas last year surpassed the 1,000 mark, an officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section said.

A spokesman for the Police Public Relations Bureau said in response to an inquiry from The SUN that the case will be filed in court against the spouses as soon as their investigations are completed.

He also said no further arrests have been made since Bayona-Boyce, known as Yanyan to many in the community, was arrested in her Wanchai flat on Christmas Day. Police nabbed her Australian husband shortly after Yanyan was released on Dec 27.

The authorities are still looking for PEYA marketing manager Arnold Grospe, who Consulate sources believe has fled to Macau, and possibly flown home from there.

Hundreds failed to board their flights after
airlines cancelled Peya's bookings

The PPRB spokesman said the Boyce couple reported to the Central Police District Crime Squad in early January and were instructed to return again early this month. The police bail for their temporary release had been extended as investigations were still ongoing, the spokesman said.

As of Jan 30, a total of 1,118 PEYA customers had gone to the Consulate to file complaints and seek a refund from the travel agency, ATN officer Danny Baldon told The SUN.

He said many more customers were going to the ATN everyday to lodge their complaints.

The affected customers, mainly domestic workers, included those who had booked tickets for the Lunar New Year holiday this month, the Lenten season in March and the graduation period in May.

PEYA was shut down on Dec. 19 in the wake of the ticketing fiasco, and its signage on its third-floor shop at World-Wide Plaza in Central has now been torn down.

       

Pakistani guard sentenced to life for murder of Austrian-Filipina Andrea Bayr

Bayr was killed with an electric drill

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Pakistani security guard has been sentenced to life in jail by a High Court judge for the gruesome murder of a 25-year-old Austrian-Filipino bar waitress at a construction site in Tuen Mun nearly two years ago.

“This is a brutal and horrific killing. She had several wounds. She had a drill bit protruding from a wound in her face,” said Judge Kevin Zervos, before imposing the life sentence on Husnain on Jan 31.

The sentencing of Safdar Husnain, 28, came a day after a seven-man jury found Husnain guilty of murder, despite his claim of being in a state of drug-induced psychosis when he committed the crime.

Husnain said he killed Bayr after “she became a witch who tried to strangle him”.

But the jurors disbelieved him and found him guilty of murder by a vote of 6 to 1.

Zervos said the jury rejected the defense case that the killing was done unintentionally by a man with diminished responsibility due to drug-induced psychotic syndrome.

Instead, the jury relied on the testimony of prosecution witness Haresh Khan, a friend of Husnain; and forensic expert Dr Lam Chi-chung. They also took into account the victim’s multiple injuries.

Khan said he was with the couple in the guardhouse on the night of Mar 28 and 29, but went to the toilet around 2am and, on his way back, heard shouting coming from the container nearby.

He said he rushed into the container and saw Husnain hitting the already bloodied Bayr. He tried to separate them but failed. So, Khan, himself bloodstained, ran outside to seek police help.

The police officer who first reached the scene said the green container had been splattered with blood. There was a trail of blood leading to the spot where he saw the defendant sitting on the ground, his arm locked around the neck of Bayr and still hitting her with the electric drill. 

Zervos said forensic expert Lam, who investigated the crime scene and took blood samples, suggested the attack began inside the container, contradicting Husnain’s tale that he was chased outside the guardhouse by the victim, who had become a witch.  

The judge said the jury rejected Husnain’s claim that after taking the drug “ice” before the attack, he heard strange voices telling him he would be killed by his lover.

The defense case rested on two psychiatric experts’ testimony that Husnain’s chronic addiction to the drug “ice” and cannabis had caused biochemical changes in his brain that led to mental abnormality.

Defense lawyer David Boyton said in his summation that his client’s diminished responsibility due to his drug-taking made the killing unintentional. He thus urged the jury to rule the case as manslaughter.

In mitigation, Boyton said the defendant was born in Hong Kong to parents who came to the territory in 1970. He was educated up to Form 1 at age 16. He had a clear record and was the breadwinner.

Husnain’s female relatives wailed as he was led away by his police escorts.

Outside the courtroom, the victim’s mother, Wilma Bayr, said she was happy with the outcome of the trial. “Masaya ako at nakamit na ni Andrea ang hustisya. Matatahimik na siya,” she told The SUN.

She said she had been told by her lawyer that he would help her file a civil case for damages after the trial.

Too late a wish for victim’s mom    

Wilma Bayr

Andrea Bayr, the victim of a gruesome killing by his alleged drug-crazed Pakistani lover, would probably still be alive today if her mother managed to send her back to the Philippines a few years ago to become a movie star.

“Sana pinapunta ko na lang siya noon sa atin, kahit nag-artista siya sana,” Wilma Bayr told The SUN wistfully during the trial of her daughter’s killer in the High Court.

Andrea, who was fair, slim and pretty, worked as a bar waitress but did modelling on the side at the time of her death.

Her Pakistani boyfriend, Safdar Husnain, had been sentenced to death at the High Court over her killing.

Wilma said she came to Hong Kong nearly 30 years ago and worked as a domestic helper for five years. He last employer was surnamed Bayr, an Austrian 20 years older than her who offered to marry her. They had two children, the twins Andrea and Alex.

But the husband died 24 years ago when their children were just 4 years old, and Wilma returned to her hometown of Tacloban in Leyte where the twins studied in their primary years. The kids later returned to Hong Kong to continue their studies.

Wilma said she could not come to terms with what Husnain had done to her daughter.

“Grabe ang ginawa niya kay Andrea,” the victim’s mother said, adding that she would not have known of the details had she not been asked by the prosecution to attend the 10-day trial.

“Noong minsan, pinag-usapan kung paano siya pinatay, napaiyak ako kaya ako umalis. Naalala ko kasi siya, naaawa ako sa kanya,” the elder Bayr said.

News reports quoting police said Safdar attacked the woman in a fit of rage after she told him  she was  moving in with a Caucasian man.

But Wilma Bayr doubted this, saying her daughter never fancied white-skinned men. - VBL

Boholana DH dies after fainting while cleaning employer’s car

Wo Che Estate in Shatin 

A domestic helper from Tagbilaran City in Bohol died on Jan 20 after she collapsed while cleaning her employer’s car in Shatin.

The victim, only identified as Elma, 43, was found lying unconscious on the first floor of the carpark in Wo Che Estate at 7:49am. She was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital but was declared dead after being revived initially.

An officer at the Consulate’ assistance to nationals section said the victim’s elder son, who is 21 years old, was to arrive in Hong Kong to arrange the repatriation of his mother.

The deceased reportedly had another son who is 20 years old.

ATN is now readying the documents needed for the repatriation of the deceased while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will begin processing her funeral and death benefits.

A police spokesman told The SUN that the maid had fainted while cleaning a car. People at the carpark who saw her lying unconscious beside a bucket and her cleaning equipment called an ambulance.

Police said an investigation on the cause of her death was ongoing.

Following her death, netizens speculated that the deceased had fainted from starvation and overworked, but this was immediately debunked by one of her friends.

“She is not over worked Ate. She had been feeling something already, but she kept it a secret,” said her friend. She said Elma’s employers were very kind to her. – Vir B. Lumicao

Filipina drops claim for ‘work injury’ against her employer

By Daisy CL Mandap

A Filipina domestic worker withdrew a claim for compensation against her employer for a supposed work-related injury after being told by the presiding officer at the Labour Tribunal on Jan. 4 that she had little chance of success.

Rosalina Andres, who appeared in court on crutches, had sought to claim that her hospitalization from August to September last year was the result of injuries she suffered nine months earlier, when she slipped on a walkway in Wanchai after picking up her wards from school.

Her employer, So Chi-yan, who terminated Andres’ employment on Sept. 12, 2017, rejected the claim. Andres had worked for her since July 20, 2016.

In court, deputy presiding officer Mary Wu said there appeared to be no evidence linking Andres’ hospitalization to the fall in November 2016, for which the helper did not even seek medical consultation.

Wu read a report showing that Andres was admitted to Tang Shiu Kin hospital in Wanchai on Aug. 14, 2017 because she had difficulty breathing. She was discharged on Sept. 6, and was granted sick leave.

“During such leave, your employer sent you to some sort of a nursing home, is that right?,” Wu asked the Andres.

The tribunal officer also pointed out that during the nine months that elapsed since Andres slipped and when she was admitted to hospital, the helper did not go for any medical check-up or treatment.

However, upon admission to hospital on Aug. 14 she filed a complaint with the Labour Department, saying that her ailment was due to a work-related injury.

The Employees Compensation Board duly investigated Andres’ complaint, but a check with Tang Shiu Kin Hospital reportedly revealed that what she had were “sebaceous cysts”, which are not life threatening.

On Nov. 1, 2017 the ECB issued a document stating the hospital’s advice that “the medical condition (of Andres) was not unlikely to be related to the accident”, and that “it may just be due to her personal condition.”

Wu said that the Tribunal was not in a position to rule on Andres’ claim based on the medical report, and that if she wanted to persist in asking for compensation, she would have to do it in the District Court.

However, elevating her case there could mean either party being allowed to be represented by counsel, and the losing party being ordered to pay costs.

After a break called by Wu, Andres, with help from Danny Baldon of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, informed the Tribunal that she had decided to withdraw her claim.

Recipes from DWC-HK ‘It’s All About Food’

Starting this issue, we will feature posts from the Facebook page of the “Domestic Workers Corner (HK Group) It’s All About Food” where Filipino domestic workers share their questions and concerns about the food they are expected to serve their mainly Chinese employers on a daily basis.

The closed group, formed by The SUN’s regular contributor Rodelia Villar only five months ago, now counts about 15,000 members, which testifies to how important cooking is to a domestic worker’s job.

As Rodelia said in a previous article on the group, the challenge faced by many is the rather limited budget given to a domestic worker, who often has to prepare up to five dishes per meal. Add to this is the difficulty of learning new Chinese dishes to vary the food served each day.

Members of the It’s All About Food page learn not just new recipes, but also ways of reaching out to each other from kitchens all over Hong Kong. In this sense, it has helped domestic workers cope with one of their main tasks in a way that cook books and cooking lessons could only manage to achieve in a limited way.

Posted is an interesting question raised in the page by a member: How to cook a half a slice of pumpkin.

The responses were:

Mhey Coloma Leonen: “Steam mo with pork ribs and black beans”.

Told that the employer didn’t like steamed food, Hanz Abello said: “Fry mo sis, with minced meat. Cut mo into cubes, then marinate mo lang (with) minced meat.

Adelaida Mayuga gave a more comprehensive recipe: “Marinate the pork ribs, then fry with minced garlic and add some black beans. Put enough water (and boil) until tender. Lastly, put the cut pumpkin or squash and cook until soft but not soggy. Happy eating.”

Another suggestion came from Rosalinda Lopez who said, “Ginisa sa lean pork with chu hoi paste.”

Asked what the chu hoi paste was like, Lopez posted this picture, and said: “Nabibili yan sa supermarket o sa mga frozen meat shop. Brown ang lagayan.

Another suggestion came from Thea Fontamillas Villanueva, “Pumpkin soup, sis”

While the administrator of a sister group, Lovely OFW Corner said: “Fried rice with minced pork and pumpkin. I-cube mo lang ang pumpkin at i-steam for 5 minutes, then ihalo.

Lorelie Lhen suggested a dish familiar to many Filipinos: “Try mo lutong Pinoy, kalabasa na may sitaw. Hope magustuhan nila”.

Finally, Marlyn Crisologo came up with two options:: “Igisa mo lang sa bawang, lagyan mo ng asin at asukal, ok na iulam.”

Another suggestion was: ‘Pwede ring pula ng itlog na maalat.Tadtarin mo ng pinong pino. Tapos i-fy mo muna yung kalabasa – dapat luto nang maigi, ha – pagkatapos mag-iwan ka ng konting mantika doon sa pinagprituhan para gamitin sa pag fry ng itlog na pula. Haluin mo ng maigi hanggang magmukhang cream, tapos ilagay mo ang kalabasa (yung apoy mo dapat medium lang). I-mix mo nang mabuti hanggang coated siya, tapos tanggalin mo sa palayok at ihain mo na.

A more complicated recipe was suggested by Marie Rose Balangui, who said: “Nilalagyan ko yan ng flour para maging noodles soup sya. Lagyan ng tubig yung flour at isang itlog. Gamit ang chopsticks ihalo mo lang sya until parang smooth na…wag masyadong basa. Tapos gamit ang bread knife, ia-isa mong kiwain para mag form na parang noodles about 2 inch thick. Cut mo yung pumpkin into squares, parang pang pakbet, at unahin mong iluto. Lagyan ng minced ginger, minced onion leaves at minced garlic. I fry mo sya tapos lagyan ng hoisin sauce, mga 2 spoons, tapos lagyan ng tubig na pang soup. Kapag malapit nang maluto ang pumpkin ilagay mo uung flour a 2 spoon.tpos lagyan n ng tubig n pang soup if malapit n maluto pumpkin ilagay n ung flour.

Cande Sanclaia gave the shortest instruction: “Roast”.

Another, Emily Aquino gave the simplest recipe: “I fry ko lang yan with garlic and oyster sauce.”

Below is another yummy dish posted on the page by the admins of Lovely OFW Corner:

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus 

Ingredients
2 lb fresh asparagus, ends trimmed
12 slices bacon
1/2 c light brown sugar
1/2 c butter
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Procedure: 
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. (Can be pan-fried if there is no oven)
2) Divide asparagus spears into 12 bundles (3-4 pieces each). Wrap 1 piece of bacon around each bundle, starting 1/2" from bottom of the tips. Secure the bacon-wrapped asparagus with a toothpick. Arrange bundle in a shallow baking pan.
3) Combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan; heat mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture over asparagus bundles.
4) Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until spears have begun to wilt and the bacon looks fully cooked. Enjoy

DWC shares love in simple way

By Rodelia Villar

It was not about what they gave but their desire to share a simple blessing that brought happiness to this group of children over the Christmas season.

On Jan. 2 this year, members of the Domestic Workers Corner (Hong Kong) led by one of its administrators, Meryviel Cabrera, held the group’s first feeding and gift-giving mission.

The recipients of their heartfelt sharing were 12 students of the Anoyon Day Care Center at Bgy. Anoyon in Valencia, Bohol, who came with their parents. The donors conducted the feeding program with help from Debbie Balagot of the day care.

The recipients were students (right) of the Anoyon Day Care Center at Bgy. Anoyon in Valencia, Bohol, who came with their parents. 

Later, the group distributed gifts and food to the students and their parents.

Balagot told the recipients about DWC HK and why it decided to have a community outreach program like the one at the day care centre, even if they don’t have much to give.

During the program, Balagot noticed one parent who came barefoot, along with her three children. She talked privately with the center’s teacher so the family could have four pairs of slippers delivered to their house the next day.

The group said it was gratifying to hear parents talking about how they made Christmas special for their children through the simple sharing of blessings.

It plans to hold similar gift-giving in other places in the Philippines in the future.

Labatt vows to push limits to go after traffickers

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre has vowed to use his diplomatic immunity and all resources at his command to continue his crusade against human traffickers, as he expects more trafficking and third-country deployment cases this year.

He made his promise on the eve of the New Year, as he called out in a post on social media two employment agencies that he said were continuing to traffic Filipino workers from Hong Kong to other countries where they get no legal protection when in trouble.

The Consulate, as well as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office that Dela Torre heads, ended the past year grappling with human trafficking after starting 2017 helping an overwhelming number of OFW victims of job scams and other criminal activities.

Dela Torre’s daring moves foiled a Moscow-based Pakistani trafficker’s attempt to lure more Filipina workers to Russia in October, sending his Filipina partner/recruiter rushing back to their lair before she could talk to more victims.

The labor attaché says his campaign does not stop there.

“For 2018, I expect more human trafficking cases and more third-country deployment,” Dela Torre said in a post on his Facebook page on Dec 31.

“But I promise these criminals one thing – I will push the boundaries of diplomatic immunity to call you out, and brand you for the criminals that you are, in any forum, platform and opportunity, and using all the resources at my command and the combined strength of all the anti-human trafficking activists in the world,” he said.

He was obviously piqued by employment agencies that have been stubbornly recruiting Hong Kong OFWs to Turkey, Russia or Brazil despite the POLO’s persistent warning that they were recruiting and deploying the workers illegally.

The government wants any recruitment for jobs abroad to be processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, which ensures that the contracts are genuine and valid.

The labor attaché, in two separate online posts on Dec 27 and 28, specifically named Artellect Limited and East@West Employment Exchange by ASEAN Consulting as two agencies that have been trafficking Filipino workers from Hong Kong to Turkey, Russia and Brazil.

Dela Torre warned OFWs not to fall for promises of good employers and better pay in those countries that the two agencies make, as the Philippine government won’t be able to protect when they run into labor problems or fall afoul of the law basically because they work in those countries illegally.

But Artellect, which left Hong Kong after being convicted and fined $45,000 in 2015 for overcharging a job seeker, hit back with a post on its Facebook Page saying it had met with POLO Singapore and the city-state’s Ministry of Manpower to discuss the company’s operational plans.

“We have explained that Artellect Pte Ltd unlike many other agencies never sends applicants to overseas destinations without confirmed employer and a work visa. We don’t recruit on tourist visa or applicants based in Philippines. We have explained the risks of applicants who seek jobs with non-licensed online private recruiters or through friends, but not like licensed agencies like ours,” the company said.

Artellect said both POLO and the MOM “agreed that POEA procedures relate to applicants traveling from Philippines. In case of Singapore, procedure is prescribed by Singapore MOM and our company is 100% following it.”

Asked to comment on the statement, Labatt dela Torre told The SUN: “What can I say? I have already called it out on my FB page. I have alerted our POLO in Singapore, and they themselves can only warn our nationals in Singapore.

“There is no prohibition in Singapore on third-country deployment, just like Hong Kong. I will continue to call it out, and do my best to get witnesses and victims to testify.”

Dela Torre again reminded those who may fall to job offers from Artellect and East & West: “Just because someone you know is working okay in Turkey or Russia or Brazil doesn’t mean the rest of them are okay. This is wishful, illogical and fallacious thinking,” he said.

Dela Torre said the situation of OFWs in Turkey “is in fact dire... Although workers have a working permit, when they are terminated by their employers, there is no recourse to a government office which can fairly handle labor disputes.”

He said employers rely on the absence of a mechanism for labor dispute resolution and the language barrier to abuse the Filipino workers. 

DH who kept employer’s ‘discarded’ bags tried for theft

The trial at Tuen Mun court will resume on Feb 15

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper who kept for herself two shoulder bags her female employer had allegedly discarded is being tried in Tuen Mun Court on a charge of theft.

Rosanna Ranola’s trial began on Jan 22 with employer Lam Ka-wai telling the court she discovered the theft only last Oct 4, after she argued with the maid about her daughter’s school wear. She said other items had gone missing but she had no proof who stole them.

Ranola, in her 40s and hired by Lam in May 2016, had pleaded not guilty.

Lam said Ranola’s performance had turned unsatisfactory after her family moved to a two-storey house in The Oakwoods in Yuen Long, from a 13^th-floor  flat in Taiwai in February last year. The employers and their daughter had their bedrooms on the second floor while Ranola had her own room and bathroom on the ground floor.

Lam, who works at a bank, said the maid began complaining she had more work to do after the move, as the house was now bigger. She also said Ranola could not understand instructions, even in preparing food.

On the night of Oct 4, Lam asked why Ranola did not wash a school wear her daughter needed the next day. They argued and the maid said she wanted to quit right away.

Lam said she told the Filipina she could leave only on Nov 2 because the helper must give her one month’s notice, but Ranola replied, “No! I want to go now.”

The maid reportedly ran into her room and started calling up her friends. When Lam followed Ranola, she saw that her suitcase had been packed and her other big bag was half-full.

The employer ordered Ranola to bring out her luggage into the living room and unpack it. There Lam said she saw her yellow canvass and leather shoulder bag worth $1,500 wrapped in the maid’s clothes and buried under a pile of other clothing.

When Lam asked the maid why she took her bag, the helper allegedly said the employer gave it to her, then changed her reply, saying, “You threw it away.”

Ranola’s luggage allegedly further yielded a brown leather shoulder bag, which Lam said she bought for $1,500. The bag was also wrapped in garment and hidden under clothes.

Lam’s testimony dragged on until past 4pm as the defense counsel cross-examined her.

Magistrate May Chung interrupted Lam several times, reminding her only to agree or disagree when asked to do so by the defense counsel, and not to question the lawyer.

The defense lawyer asked Lam when was the last time she saw the bags and the woman replied about the time of their move from Taiwai to Yuen Long. Lam said she did not discard the bags because they were not worn out as she had used them only twice a year.

The lawyer also asked Lam why she did not want Ranola to go and instead told her to finish her contract if she was not satisfied with her performance.

“You should have fired the defendant if you were not satisfied with her performance,” the lawyer said. But Lam said she needed the maid because her daughter was not yet 18 and somebody had to look after the child when she went to work.

Putting it to Lam that she was “aggressive”, the lawyer played back in court a voice recording made by Ranola of a woman screaming at the maid for not understanding cookbook instructions on preparing “easy food” and instead cooked “crazy food.”

The counsel also asked Lam why she told the defendant to dial 999 after discovering the missing bags, but took the phone from the helper and instead talked to the police herself.

“You did not give the defendant a chance to talk to the police,” the lawyer said.

Two other witnesses are due to give evidence when the trial resumes on Feb 15.

Court strikes out work compensation claim by FDW

By Daisy CL Mandap

A District Court judge has dismissed a compensation claim filed by a Filipina domestic helper against her former employer because she failed to pursue her case.

The order by Judge Katina Levy handed down on Jan 10 was the result of helper Evangeline J. dela Cruz’s, failure to appear at the hearing of the case on Dec. 8.

Dela Cruz had sought compensation against her former employer, Steven John Delich, for a supposed work-related injury on May 2, 2017.

Despite being denied legal aid, she filed for employees compensation with the Labour Department on July 25 in the same year, and appeared in person at a directions hearing at the District Court on Aug. 27.

Before the next hearing set on Dec. 8, the employer informed the court through his solicitors that the Labour Department had written to him, saying the helper had withdrawn her claim.

The solicitors also told the court about getting information that dela Cruz had decided to go home.

Citing these grounds, the solicitors asked Judge Levy to order a provisional striking out of the helper’s claim, but she declined, saying the defense failed to cite any law to back up this move.

Judge Levy also said that under court rules, the applicant must withdraw her case before an order for striking out could be granted.

“Although I agree with the Solicitors that the applicant, as evidenced by the copy of the Notice she submitted to the Labour Department, clearly no longer wishes to further pursue her employees’ compensation claim, as the applicant has not filed a similar notice of withdrawal in these proceedings, it is not open to this court to order the discontinuance or striking out of the Application under O.21 of the Rules of the District Court,” said Judge Levy.

But the judge eventually decided to strike out the case for lack of prosecution after dela Cruz failed to show up for the Dec. 8 hearing, citing the need to promote “procedural economy” and ensure “fairness between the parties”.

Phone addict kasi siya

Si Mel ay isang Ilongga mula sa bayan ng Pototan, 35 taong gulang  at dalaga. Patago siya lagi kung mag Facebook habang nagtatrabaho. Noong Enero 4 ng hapon, habang abala siya sa kusina sa paghahanda ng pagkain para sa gabi, nilagay niya ang kanyang telepono sa loob ng kaserolang ginagamit para mag sterilize ng bote ng kanyang alaga ang. Ang kanyang cellphone kasi ay Xperia at dahil malaki ay hindi niya mailagay sa kanyang bulsa.

Biglang lumabas ang matandang kasama nila sa bahay at binuhat ang kaserola. Laking gulat nito dahil mabigat ang kaserola dahil sa lamang natatakpan pa ng basahang pamunas.

Nang buksan nito ang kaldero ay nakita ang cellphone ni Mel. Hiyang hiya si Mel sa nangyari at parang pusang naiihi na hindi alam ang gagawin.

Inamin na lang niya sa matanda na hindi niya kasi mapagkasya sa bulsa ang kanyang telepono, at ayaw din niya itong iwan sa kanyang kuwarto. Mabuti na lang at hindi nagsumbong ang matanda sa kanyang anak na lalaki na siyang amo ni Mel.

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nabisto si Mel na nakadikit sa kanyang telepono habang nagtatrabaho.

Dati ay sa bulsa ng apron niya ito itinatago pero nang minsang makialam ang kanyang among lalaki sa kusina ay bigla nitong ginamit ang apron kaya nabisto din si Mel. Mabuti na lang at pawang mababait ang kanyang mga pinagsisilbihan at wala siyang narinig na sermon sa kanila.

Si Mel ay mahigit tatlong taon na sa mga among taga Kowloon. – Merly Bunda