Swerte galing sa tapat na serbisyo

Kinailangang umuwi sa Indonesia ang kasambahay ng nanay ng among lalaki ni Amelita kaya pinakiusapan siyang samahan muna niya sa bahay ang matanda ng 20 araw para may kasama ito.

Edad 85 anyos na ang popo at malilimutin na, kaya hindi pwedeng iwanan mag-isa. Wala man ito sa kontrata ni Amelita ay hindi siya makapagreklamo, lalo at wala na ang kanyang alaga dahil  nag aaral na ito sa London.

Kabado man dahil sa mga naririnig  sa mga kapwa kasambahay na hindi maganda ang ugali ng matatandang Intsik ay sinikap ni Amelita na pagsilbihan ito ng husto kaya naging maayos ang samahan nila.

Tuwing tinatanong niya ito kung masarap ang niluto niya ay laging “ok, lah” ang sagot nito. At kung tanungin niya kung may kailangan ito ay “M sai lah” (nothing) naman ang sagot ng matanda.

Mukhang totoo naman na nagustuhan nito ang mga niluluto niya dahil kapag dumarating ang anak ay panay ang kuwento na marami siyang nakain. 

Natuwa ang kanyang amo sa ginawa niyang pag-aalaga sa matanda kaya binigyan siya ng bonus. Ang sabi pa nito, “You make my mother happy so you deserve a reward.” Sobrang saya din ni Amelita dahil naging swerte ang pasok ng taong 2018 sa kanya at madadagdagan ang kanyang ipon.

 Si Amelita ay dalaga na taga Quezon at magtatapos pa lang ng unang kontrata sa kanyang amo sa katapusan ng taon. – Ellen Asis 

Filcom leaders nix plans to recall labatt

By Daisy CL Mandap

Key leaders of the Filipino community in Hong Kong are vowing to take to the streets to stop any move to recall Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre.

“Mag rally talaga kami kapag ginawa nila yun,” said Leo Selomenio, chair of Global Alliance,which has several sectoral groups under its umbrella.

Another vocal supporter, Aura Ablin of the Mindanao Federation, said they will gather signatures in support of dela Torre if the planned recall pushes through.

An earlier report by The SUN, quoting various sources from inside the Philippine Oveseas Labor Offce, indicated a plan to build up a case against dela Torre to justify his recall. 

Being eyed  to replace him in Hong Kong is reportedly Raymundo Agravante, regional director of the Philippine Department of Labor and Emloyment  in Davao.

The move gained ground when a top-level “investigation team” headed by the deputy administrator of the Philippine Oveseas Emplpyment Administration was sent to Hong Kong on January 25-27 while dela Torre was on vacation.

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.

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”.

Despite the apparent denial of a plan to get dela Torre out of Hong Kong, many Filcom leaders were not appeased 

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.

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.

MinFed's Ablin also said it would be a big lapse in judgmenr if dela Torre were to 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!”

Global Alliance's Selomenio, who starred in 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 appeared to have so riled dela Torre that on his first day back at work on Feb 1, he made several cryptic posts on Facebook that prompted questions from his friends

What apparently irked dela Torre was the discovery that the investigation was 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 a report that Labatt dela Torre was abetting the illegal work of Filipinos in China by issuing them overseas employment certificates in Hong Kong.

Most POLO staff reportedly stood by their boss and denied the allegations.

Even the wards at the Filipino Workers’ Resource Centre who were given a surprise visit by one of the investigators reportedly gave him a positive endorsement 

Buhay drayber

Inakusahan ng kanyang amo si Lito 37, Bulakenyo, na mas pinahahalagahan pa niya ang kasama sa bahay na si Ann kaysa sa anak nitong dalaga, na agad naman niyang itinanggi. Hindi lang daw sila nagkalinawagan kaya mas nauna niyang naipagmaneho ang kasambahay.

Ayon kay Lito, habang sakay ng kotse ang amo niyang doktor papunta sa klinika nito sa Tsim Sha Tsui ay nag whatsapp ang anak nitong dalaga, at tinanong kung pwede siyang ihatid ng drayber sa kanyang pupuntahan.

Sinagot ito ng amo at sinabing makakabalik si Lito pagkalipas ng kalahating oras. Sumagot ang dalaga, at sinabing magta-taxi na lang siya. Pero nang pabalik na si Lito ay tumawag ang dalaga dahil hindi pa pala nakakaalis.

Sinabi ni Lito na natrapik siya, at hindi niya alam kung gaano pa katagal bago siya makabalik. Nang malapit na siya sa bahay ng amo ay nakasalubong niya si Ann na papunta ng palengke. Tinanong niya dito kung nasaan na yung alaga nilang dalaga at sinabi nito na nakaalis na, “kanina pa.”

Dahil dito ay nagmagandang loob si Lito na ihatid na sa palengke si Ann.

Nang makaalis na sila ay muling tumawag ang dalaga dahil hindi pala ito makasakay, at nasa may labasan lang, sa hintayan ng bus. Nagalit ito dahil inuna pa raw ang paghahatid sa kasambahay sa palengke, at nagsumbong sa ama. Nailing na lang si Lito sa nangyari.

Pagkababa sa palengke ni Ann ay naihatid din niya ang dalaga, at nagpasalamat naman ito.

Sabi ni Lito, ganito lang talaga ang buhay ng isang drayber. Paminsan nagkaka-aberya din sa mga lakad, lalo at hindi lang iisa ang pinagmamaneho. – George Manalansan

Buti pa si kuting

Ibinida sa tropa ni Stella, 50 taga Tarlac, si Kulaping, ang minamahal na pusa ng kanyang amo.

Ngayong winter ay sinipon ang pusa, at gayon na lang daw ang pag-aalala ng amo, samantalang si Stella ay sinisipon at inuubo pa, pero balewala lang dito.

Halatang mas pinapahalagahan daw ng amo ang hayop dahil kapag humatsing ito ng sunod-sunod ay agad nang itinatakbo sa beterinaryo. Si Stella hanggang ngayon ay nagkakasya na lang sa paggagamot sa sarili.

Pati sa pagkain ay tipid na tipid siya, samantalang ang pusa ay sagana. Madalas daw siyang simangutan ng amo kapag nakikita sa listahan ang mga pagkaing binibili niya para sa sarili kapag hindi na katanggap-tanggap kainin ang mga tira nila.

Sa ngayon ay naghahanda na si Stella na humanap ng bagong amo dahil wala daw siyang nasisilayan na magandang kinabukasan sa kasalukuyang pinagsisilbihan. Makatao naman daw yung mga naunang amo niya, hindi niya alam kung bakit napadpad siya ngayon sa isang walang kapaki-pakialam sa kanya.

Mabuti na lang at nakakagiliw naman daw ang pusa. “Sa totoo lang mga ate, kuya, ang amo ko ang nagpapataas ng stress level ko, si Kulaping ang nagpapababa”, kuwento niya. – George Manalansan

Metrobank’s Valencia bids HK goodbye

By Daisy CL Mandap

His smiling face is what sets Metrobank Hong Kong’s former remittance manager Fred Valencia apart from many of his colleagues in the banking industry. But what his smile and his comforting Batangueno accent do not reveal is the hard climb that Valencia, 59, had to take before he got to where he is now, as assistant vice president of one of the country’s biggest banks.

Valencia finally said goodbye to Hong Kong on Feb. 8, after many fond farewells from the people he made friends with here, where he was posted twice as the bank’s remittance head in the past decade or so.

Fred Valencia (left) with some of his best friends.

Valencia started working as a messenger for Metrobank in 1978, when he was just 18 and barely out of high school. Impelled by the desire to continue his studies and earn a degree, he worked for the bank in the morning, and in the evening, took up banking and finance at the Far Eastern University.

He recalls, again with that disarming smile never leaving his face, that with a salary of just Php300 a month he had to put aside a big chunk of his pay to pay the relatively high tuition fee at FEU of Php700 a semester. This left him with barely enough for his personal expenses that he would sometimes skip a meal just so he could stay in school.

Often, he would walk from his boarding house on Galicia Street in Sampaloc to Metrobank’s office in Binondo, or to his school in Morayta, Manila, because he didn’t have money for transport.

Valencia says with nary a tinge of regret, that he was forced to look after himself that early because there were 10 of them children in the family, and everyone had to find ways to fend for themselves.

But 40 years on, and he is still with the bank which he credits for the relatively comfortable that he now leads, along with his wife and three grown-up children.

“Ang Metrobank din naman ang nag mold sa akin para mabigyan ko ng mas magandang buhay ang aking pamilya,” he says.

From being a messenger Valencia slowly, but steadily, began his ascent in the company. His easygoing nature ensured he got along well with many people, and made him an ideal ambassador of goodwill for the bank in many of its branches abroad.

For virtually the second half of his four decades with Metrobank, Valencia was posted as remittance head in some of the bank’s branches abroad, including in Tokyo, Taiwan, Osaka, Hong Kong and Seoul.

He was posted twice to Hong Kong, where he quickly became friends with many Filipinos, professionals and domestic workers alike, and even staff at the Consulate. When he left Hong Kong in 2010 after his first posting here, no less than the then Consul General, Claro S. Cristobal, led the send-off party for him.

He was sent to Hong Kong a second time in 2014, and as was his wont, Valencia took on the re-assignment with relish. He quickly re-established contacts with his old friends in the community, and also renewed friendships with various OFW groups.

His effort paid off when the very next year, the Hong Kong branch copped two of the top awards given annually by Metrobank : Best Branch and Most Improved Branch.

He had been in Hong Kong for just over three years when he again got marching orders, though this time, it came with a sweetener, his promotion to AVP. Like a good soldier, Valencia said he was good to go from the time he got his recall order, but a delay in the processing of the papers of his successor, Mark Yabut, forced him to stay put.

When Valencia did leave Hong Kong last week, it was with a hint from the top brass that his stay in Manila would only be for a short while, as he would be sent back to one of his old posts abroad.

But wherever he gets sent next is something that does not worry or faze Valencia. For this ever-smiling bank official, every new assignment is a challenge that must be met, and conquered.

Suwerte mo na ba?

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Kung magpa-plano na kasama ang mga kaibigan, mae-enjoy mo ito at magiging popular ka sa kanila. Huwag madaliin ang trabaho, pag-aralan pa itong mabuti. Lagyan ng matibay na harang ang pribadong buhay at propesyon. Bantayang mabuti ang pag-aaral ng mga anak, bigyan sila ng payo at suportahan ang kanilang pagsisikap. Mag-ingat sa paggamit ng likidong maaring pagmulan ng apoy.  Lucky numbers: 5, 13, 16, at 41.
.
BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Magkakaroon ka ng mga pangitain na maaring matupad. May tsansa kang magkaroon ng ugnayan sa mga taong nasa mataas na katungkulan. Sa trabaho, bawasan ang pananalita lalo na kung hindi ito tungkol sa gawain, maging propesyunal. Subukang ituon ang pansin sa ibang bagay upang mabawi ang dating sigla. Magandang panahon upang makaisip ng mga bagong paraan at pagkakakitaan. Maaayos mo ang pananalapi at makakaahon sa masikip na sitwasyon. Lucky numbers: 17, 25, 31 at 40.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Tatanggap ka ng suporta sa iyong love affairs, at magiging maligaya ka. Mauunawaan ka ng mga anak. Makakaranas ng pagkasira ng tiyan, kaya kumain ng lutong carrots, saging, kanin at uminom ng coca cola. Panatilihin ang magandang relasyon sa mga tao dahil kakailanganin mo sila. Gaganda ang pagta-trabaho mo dahil magkukusa kang kumilos at gumawa ng paraan. Huwag mag-atubiling pabilisin ang trabaho, at iwasan ang mga kumukontra at pumipigil sa iyo. Lucky numbers: 11, 27, 29 at 32. ?

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Sasamantalahin mo ang mga darating na pagkakataon, na abot kamay mo lang. Marami kayong balak gawing magkakaibigan, pero huwag makipag-kompromiso kung hindi ka sigurado. Mararanasan ang masasayang sandali sa piling ng mga anak. Ang pagiging labis na ginawin ay maaring dulot ng problema sa atay. Masyado kang nag-aalala sa magiging kinabukasan mo, lalo na kung walang katuwang sa buhay. Iwasan maging negatibo dahil wala ring idudulot itong maganda. Lucky numbers: 19, 26, 33 at 41.
.
TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Nararapat lang na magsaya ka rin at maglibang. Muli ring mabubuhay ang matagal nang pagkakaibigan at dating kakilala. Mag-ingat sa pakikipag-usap at kailangang tuparin mo ang napag-kasunduan. Magkakaroon ng hindi inaasahang pagbabago sa trabaho kaya masisira ang dating nakagawian; tanggapin ito ng maayos. Mag-ingat sa pagkalito ng isip. Ang patuloy na pag-iwas at pananahimik ay magdudulot ng hindi pagkakaunawaan at lalong magpapalala sa sitwasyon. Lucky numbers: 6, 18, 28, 38.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Gamitin ang enerhiya at sigla upang tapusin ng maayos ang mga sinimulang proyekto. Matibay ang pagkakaibigan ngayon. Hayaang magsalita at pakinggan ang sinasabi ng kapartner dahil may karapatan din siya sa mga desisyon bilang katuwang mo sa buhay. Sa sports, isa-alang alang ang edad at pisikal na kundisyon at huwag nang subukang gumawa ng bagong record. Lucky numbers: 14, 29, 33 at 39.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Bigyan ng halaga ang pagkakaibigan sa iyong buhay. Mahusay na trabaho, tiyaga at suporta ang susi upang magtagumpay ka. Malaki ang potensyal na lumaki ang kita dahil mahusay kang makipag- transaksyon at maswerte sa sugal. Ugaliin ang page-exercise upang gumanda ang sirkulasyon ng dugo. Lahat ng kontrata ay pabor sa iyo. Magmatigas sa mga kaanak at ipaintindi na dapat ay may limitasyon ang kanilang panghihimasok. Lucky numbers: 4, 16, 22 at 31.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Makukuha mo ang matagal nang inaasam sa trabaho o personal na ambisyon. Kung nagmamatigas ka at ayaw makipagkasundo, hindi maiiwasan na dumami pa ang problema. May ahas sa grupo ng iyong malalapit na kaibigan. Sisigla ka kung iibahin mo ang dating nakagawian. Ang problema sa malalapit sa iyo ang sanhi ng muli mong pananahimik at pag-iwas sa mga tao. Lucky numbers: 6, 13, 28 at 37.?

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Ang hidwaan sa isang malapit na kaibigan ang magpapakaba sa iyo. Sa kabila ng mainit na sitwasyon sa trabaho, huwag magbitiw dahil higit na malaki ang problema kung wala kang trabaho. May problema sa pananalapi kaya mag-ingat sa mga gastusin. Walang dapat ipag-alala sa kalusugan. Masaya ang pagsasama, at maliligaya at hindi malilimutang sandali ang pagsasaluhan. Lucky numbers: 12, 24, 30 at 37.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Ang labis na pagmamahal ay hindi rin maganda ang idudulot sa iyo. Sa trabaho, hindi mo magugustuhan ang hindi pagsang-ayon sa gusto mo. Mabuting kumuha ng insurance dahil hindi ka ligtas sa pagkasira ng mga kagamitan. Huwag balewalain ang mga nararamdamang sakit upang hindi ito lumala, magpatingin agad. Sikat ka sa mga dadaluhang pagtitipon, pero mag-ingat sa inis ng mga naiinggit. Lucky numbers: 11, 19, 28 at 34.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Posibleng makamit ang inaasam mo, at panalo ka rin sa trabaho. Panatilihin ang maayos na kalusugan. Magsikap pa ng husto kahit nahihirapan ka, may pagkukunan ka ng lakas na hindi mo alam dati. Kung gusto mong umasenso, ipakita mo ang matalas na pag-iisip. Upang malutas ang problema sa pamilya, piliin ang solusyon na mas patas, kahit na kailangan ito ng ibayong sakripisyo. Lucky numbers: 16, 24, 31 at 43.

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Mahahanap mo rin ang kapayapaan ng loob. Magiging maayos ang relsayon sa taong ipakikilala sa iyo. Bantayang mabuti ang iyong investments. Iwasan ang mga hindi importanteng gastusin. Maaapektuhan ang relasyon sa mga malalapit sa iyo dahil akala mo ay iniiwan ka nila kung kailan mo sila kailangan, pero mali ang iyong iniisip, dahil ikaw ang kusang lumalayo. Lucky numbers: 19, 25, 37 at 44.

Ganito kami noon: Valentine’s Day memoir

Ni Merly T. Bunda


Noong mga ‘90s ang libangan ng maraming mga Pinoy na nasa abroad, lalo na dito sa Hong Kong, ay makipagsulatan. Marami sa mga OFW ang idinaan sa pakikipagkilala sa panulat ang mga problema o lungkot na nararanasan sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bayan. Karamihan ng kanilang mga natatagpuang mga ka-penpal ay nasa Saudi Arabia, kung saan maraming mga Pilipino ang napadpad noong mga panahong iyon sa paghahangad na mapaunlad ang buhay ng kanilang pamilya. May ilan na ang habol ay pakikipagkaibigan lang, o ang paghahanap ng makakapalitan ng kuwento tungkol sa buhay-buhay, pero mas marami ang mga naghahanap ng magiging kapareha sa buhay. Karamihan ay mga dalaga at binata na napilitang mangibang bayan sa murang edad para makatulong sa pamilya, nguni’t mayroon ding hiwalay sa asawa, o yung hindi makuntento sa isang kapareha.

Noong mga panahong iyon ay mabentang-mabenta ang mga stationery, ballpen, papel, envelope at selyo. Para sa mga nagliligawan, kailangan ay yung maganda ang klase ng papel, at kung maari ay mabango pa. Minsan, may mga gumigimik pa na hinihingi muli ang kanilang stamp na ginamit para mapilitan ang ka-penpal na sulatan silang muli.

Isa ako sa mga mahilig sa pagbibili ng mga stationery na ito noong mga panahong iyon dahil marami akong mga ka-penpal. Mayroon sa Saudi Arabia, sa Italy, Canada, at sa iba’t iba pang lugar. Gayunman, wala ni isa akong nakatuluyan dahil iyon siguro ang nakatadhana sa akin. Kaya lang, hindi ko mapigilang mapaisip kung binibiro ako ng Pilipina na dati kong binibilhan ng mga stationery ng, “Ineng, sa ilang dosenang stationery na binili mo noon, wala kang nakatuluyan?”

Simple lang ang paraan ng paghahanap ng mga ka-penpal noon. Bibili ka ng mga pahayagan para sa mga Pilpino at hahanapin yung pen-pal section. Marami ang nagpapadala doon ng kanilang mga litrato, pangalan at address para mailathala. Marami ang gumagamit ng ibang pangalan para hindi masyadong buking, lalo yung mga desperado, o yung mga may sabit na. Pati litrato ay hindi malinaw para hindi makilala. Gayunpaman, kailangan ay yung best shot mo ang ipapadala mo para marami ang sumulat sa iyo.

Sa ganitong estilo, marami ang nagogoyo. Mayroon akong kakilala na masyadong nabighani sa kuha ng lalaking naka shades na nakita niya sa dyaryo. Pagkatapos ng ilang palitan ng sulat, nalaman niya na kaya ito laging nakasalamin ay dahil sa duling ito.

Ganito rin ang kaso ni Carla, isang Ilongga na may kaitiman at kulot ang buhok na mga Amerikano ang gustong makasulatan. May isa siyang ka penpal na naging masugid sa pagpapadala ng sulat sa kanya hanggang maging sila. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwan, naisipan ng lalaki na bisitahin siya sa Hong Kong para pag-usapan na ang kanilang kasal. Excited si Carla na pumunta sa hotel ng lalaki para makipagkita, pero biglang tikom ang bibig pagbalik sa bahay ng amo. Hindi na niya muling binanggit ang nobyo sa sulat pagkatapos. Ang hinala ng kanyang mga kaibigan ay tinabangan ang lalaki nang makita ang tunay niyang anyo.

Sa aking personal na karanasan, masaya ang magkaroon ng maraming kaibigan sa panulat, babae man o lalaki, bata o may edad na. Naranasan kong makatanggap ng 24 sulat mula sa iba’t ibang bansa sa isang araw lang. Ganoon na lang ang tuwa ko. Minsan ay may “voice tape” (voice recording sa cassette tape) pa o mga larawan na kalakip.

Tuwang  tuwa  ako sa halos araw-araw  na pag-aabang sa  mga sulat. Mas lalo akong nagiging interesado kung maganda ang sulat-kamay ng sumusulat sa akin.

Kami ng ate kong si Neneng na dalaga din noon ay parehong mahilig sa pakikipagsulatan. Nakaka-tuwaan namin na palitan ang aming mga pangalan kapag ipinapadala namin ang aming mga litrato at address para mailathala sa pahayagan. Hindi namin alam, may mga lalaki na ganoon din ang estilo. Minsan kasi ay nagkapalit ang sulat namin ng aking ate, na mula sa iisang lalaki na nanliligaw pareho sa amin. Hindi niya alam na magkapatid kami.

Minsan ay may sinusuwerte dahil nahahantong sa kasalan ang kanilang pagsusulatan, katulad ng kaibigan naming si Nena. Pagkatapos nilang magkita dito sa Hong Kong ng kanyang ka-pen pal ay umuwi sila sa Pilipinas para magpakasal. Sa kasamaang palad ay umabot lang ng walong taon ang kanilang pagsasama.

Sa tinagal-tagal ng pagkahilig ko sa pakikipagsulatan ay marami na akong naging kakilala mula sa iba’t ibang lugar at propesyon. May inhenyero, arkitekto, pintor, seaman, karpintero at construction worker na pawang mga Pilipino. May isa ding Amerikano na nasa US Navy. Nakipagkita siya sa akin nang minsang dumaong sa Hong Kong ang kanyang barko pero bigla akong tinabangan nang makita ko ang matulis niyang sapatos. Pati kasi suklay niya ay matulis!

Isa sa mga masugid na nanligaw sa pamamagitan ng sulat ay si Henry na seaman din at  nasa Italy. Inalok niya ako ng kasal pero tumanggi ako dahil bata pa ako noon. Noong 1994 ay bigla siyang tumigil ng pagsulat sa akin, yun pala ay ikinasal sa babaeng mas matanda sa kanya. Nang muli siyang sumakay sa barko pagkatapos ng 22 taon ay hinanap niya ako sa Facebook at nangumusta. Pinikot lang daw siya ng asawa niya na 62 taong gulang. Pero sinabi kong sadyang hindi kami para sa isa’t isa kaya magkaibigan na lang kami ngayon.

May isa pa akong ka penpal sa Saudi na engineer na biyudo at may tatlong maliliit na anak. Nanligaw din siya, pero ayaw ng ate ko. Sabi niya, kaya ko daw bang maging “instant nanay” ng tatlong bata? Nabalitaan ko na lang na nag-asawa na siyang muli at may sariling construction business ngayon sa Bohol.

Katulad ko ang kaibigan kong si Jessica na Ilongga din. Wiling wili siya noon sa pakikipag penpal dahil ganado daw siya lagi sa trabaho kapag nakakatanggap ng balita mula sa mga kaibigan sa panulat. Ang paghihintay sa kartero araw-araw ang pinaka libangan niya. Pero pagkatapos ng apat na taon niyang pakikipagsulatan ay wala pa rin siyang natagpuang “forever”. Sabi niya, kung talagang para sa iyo magtatagpo kayo, sa anumang paraan.

Nang mauso ang  cell phone ay medyo bumilis ang paki-kipagkaibigan. Naging “text mate” na ang dating ka penpal. Sa umpisa ay kukunin ang cell phone number mo mula sa isang kaibigan, tapos ay ite-text ka o tatawagan, na mauuwi sa bolahan, o pagkakaigihan.

Ganito ang nangyari kay Zeny na Ilongga at nagtatrabaho din sa Hong Kong. May isa siyang kaibigan na taga Pangasinan na nireto ang kapatid nitong binata sa kanya. Pagkatapos makuha ng binata ang numero ni Zeny ay nag-umpisa na silang magpalitan ng text messages na nauwi sa ligawan sa telepono. Matapos ang isang taon na pagpapalitan ng mensahe ay umuwi si Zeny para magbakasyon at sinundo siya sa airport ng kanyang textmate. Mula sa Maynila ay sumama na ang binata sa kanilang lugar sa Iloilo para hingin ang kamay niya sa kanyang pamilya. Mahigit 15 na taon na silang kasal ngayon, at may isang anak na lalaki.

Sa ngayon, Facebook na ang ginagamit ng  marami para  bmakahanap ng kakaibiganin, o liligawan. Mayroon din na nagkakaroon ng panibagong pagkakataon na makitang muli ang mga dating sinisinta.

Ganito ang nangyari kay Claire, 39 taong gulang at taga Maynila. Naputol ang komunikasyon nila ng kanyang “first love” na si Albert, 44 taong gulang, nang lumipat siya ng tirahan para mapalapit sa kolehiyong kanyang pinapasukan. Kamakailan ay naisipan siyang hanapin sa Facebook ni Albert na isang marino at binata pa rin, at muli ay nagkrus ang kanilang landas. Ngayon ay pinapatigil na siya ni Albert sa kanyang pagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong para makapagpakasal na sila at manirahang muli sa Pilipinas.

Sa sulat man, o text, o Facebook, maaring makatagpo ang taong magbibigay kulay sa iyong mundo. Walang garantiya na magtatapos ito sa “happy ever after” o “forever,” pero nakakatuwa pa ring isipin na sa pamamagitan ng mga ito ay naisipan mong buksan ang iyong puso.

Happy  Valentine’s Day to all.---

----

Para maiba naman, tampok sa isyung ito sa buwan ng mga puso ang mga alaala ng isang  beteranang OFW dito sa Hong Kong na kilala din sa pagtulong sa mga kapwa OFW at pagbabalita sa Bombo Radyo at The SUN, si Merly T. Bunda. Sa tinagal-tagal niya sa Hong Kong, naranasan ni Merly, isang Ilongga, ang maraming pagbabago, hindi lang sa mga patakaran na may kinalaman sa mga migranteng manggagawa, kundi pati ang pagdating ng makabagong teknolohiya. Kung dati ay inaabot ng ilang araw o linggo bago dumating ang sulat mula sa Pilipinas, o nauubos ang pera sa pagtawag sa isang minamahal na nasa malayo, ngayon ay madali na, at halos libre, ang makibalita. Sa isang pindot lang sa telepono o tablet ay hindi lang nakakausap, kundi nakikita pa ang kausap. Hindi na uso ang maghintay ng matagal para makatanggap ng sulat mula sa isang minamahal, o marinig ang kanyang magiliw na tinig. Sa kabila nito, isa si Merly sa naniniwala na may tamis pa ring kaakibat ang dating paraan ng pakikipag-ugnayan o pakikipagligawan. Sabi nga, kakaiba ang tamis ng bungang pinaghirapan. – Ed

Filipina says employer’s call made her forget to pay for goods

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper has claimed in court that she failed to pay for all the goods she took from a supermarket because her employer was looking for her.

But Eastern Court magistrate Peter Hui dismissed the claim, and fined Ma. Luisa Godoy, 59, $2,000 for theft. He said he decided on a fine as the defendant was a first-time offender and the stolen goods which cost just $300 were recovered.   

Godoy said during her trial on Jan 24 that she “panicked and was confused” when her female employer sent her a text message saying she had to drive her at 2:10pm.

But Hui said he saw no reason for the defendant to rush out of the store, as she still had 25 minutes before the appointed time. That was enough for her to pay for all the items she had in her recyclable bag, as the employer’s flat was just 30 meters away.

The court heard that the Filipina driver, who earned $13,000 a month, went to the Wellcome store somewhere on Hong Kong Island at past 1pm on Oct 20 last year, to buy lunch and personal hygiene goods.

She put her empty eco-bag in a trolley basket and went to the toiletries section where she took two bottles of shampoo, a conditioner, a bubble bath and a pack of sanitary napkins. Then she went to other sections where got two cans of John West tuna salad, two bottles of fruit juice, a pack of snacks, and two other items. The goods’ total value was $390.

The defendant said she was at the cashier to pay for the goods when she received a message from her employer Brenda Chen about her 2:10pm driving task. She said Chen also told her she had been calling her but got no reply.

“I became nervous. I was confused and I panicked,” said Godoy at the witness stand. She said she got the message after she had taken out four items from her bag. She paid $94.70 for them and told the cashier she was hurrying and would return later to pay for the rest.

When she stepped outside,  the supermarket’s guard stopped her and told her she had not paid for other items in her bag. She allegedly said, “I forgot.”

The guard took her to the manager’s office where she was arrested by police.

In court, the guard said he had discreetly watched Godoy for about 20 minutes after seeing her acting suspiciously. He said when Godoy was at the toiletries section, she looked left and right before she took two bottles of shampoo and put them in her green bag.

The driver moved on to the food section, took the tuna salad cans and snacks, then went to the female hygiene area, picked up a pack of napkins and put it in her bag, Wong said.

Godoy’s evidence and cross-examination by both the prosecution and defense took the most part of the one-day trial.

The prosecutor told her that she had intentionally pulled out and paid for just four items and tried to steal the rest.

But the defendant said she had told the cashier in English she would pay for the rest later.

The prosecutor dismissed this, and said she had been in Hong Kong for about 20 years and should have been aware that no Hong Kong shop would let her take out any merchandise without paying for them.

Godoy’s lawyer tried to get the defendant to explain that she committed the offense out of confusion and panic because of fear of her employer, but the magistrate did not buy the reasoning.

Knights of Rizal out of HK flower show from this year

By Vir B. Lumicao

After representing the Philippines for the past 15 years in the annual Hong Kong Flower Show, the Knights of Rizal will no longer have a booth in the spring spectacle starting March this year.

Pieter Nootenboom, Knight Grand Officer of Rizal, made the announcement on Jan 23 in a post on the HKOFW webpage that he administers. The post was, however, taken down the next day. 

He said the decision to retain only one Philippine booth in the flower festival was made by the Hong Kong government’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The Philippine Consulate has had its  own booth for the past several years.

Knights of Rizal display in a previous Hong Kong Flower Show.

The flower show is a major event organized by the LCSD every year to promote horticulture and public awareness on greening.  Last year its 200-plus stalls attracted more than 650,000 Hongkongers and horticulture lovers all over the world to appreciate the beauty of flowers. 

This year the annual event will have ‘Joy in Bloom” as theme and dahlia as the centerpiece. It will be held on March 16 to 25 at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.

“Notice to the Philippine Community, The Knights of Rizal will not be in the Hong Kong Government Flower Show as of this coming March 2018 as the LCSD decided (that since) the Philippine Consulate will participate they do not wish to have two booths in that area to represent the Philippines,” Nootenboom said in his post.

For the past several years, the KOR had been taking part in the flower show, with its spacious booth strategically located beside the western entrance of the exhibition ground on Victoria Park.

Friends and supporters who commented on Nootenboom’s announcement were saddened by the KOR’s absence from the event starting this spring, but the top leader of the Rizalists in Hong Kong reacted positively to the development.

“Well, the positive side is, hopefully the Philippine Consulate will at last continue to join every year from now on,” Nootenboom said.

The Consulate first joined the flower show last year, and won the “Special Award for Design Excellence” for the everlasting-studded jeepney in its booth, but KOR also won for a “Special Award for Unique Feature” (a landscape display).

Nootenboom had been the prime mover of Philippine participation in the flower show year after year since 2003. He has won around 20 awards, since in some years he helped set up booths for other Filipino groups, winning three awards for them.

“I represented various Philippine organizations since 2003,” he told The SUN. He said he was doing it to promote the country to large crowd that visited the fair each year.

The Dutchman, who is married to a Filipina, said he was sad but relieved that the Consulate would be continuing what he had started.

Over the years, he helped set up booths for the Philippine Orchid Society in Manila three times. In some years, he said he did three booths at his own cost.

“I never received one cent in all the years I did this,” Nootenboom said

In the past 15 years, he represented Rizal Technological University, UP Los Baños, Philippine Indoor & Balcony Gardening Society, Kababaihang Rizalista HK Chapter, and Knights of Rizal. He was behind the KOR’s participation in the exhibition for seven years.

The KOR has consistently received the Special Award for Unique Feature (landscape display) for its imposing booth designed by Nootenboom himself. Its motif is a Philippine garden with rare orchids from the country’s forests hanging from the eaves of three tarpaulin tents.

At certain times of the festival days, Filipino domestic workers groups performed cultural dances, notably the “tinikling”, which features pairs of dancers skillfully hopping between four crisscrossed bamboo poles rhythmically tapping, sliding and knocking against each other.

Do you need ‘Psychosocial preparation’?

By Ellen Asis

Dealing with psychosocial issues is as important to a migrant worker as saving for the future.

This was the gist of the workshop on “psychosocial preparation” that Enrich Hong Kong held on Jan. 21 at no. 3 Lockhart Road, Wanchai with 67 migrant workers taking part.

According to speaker Christy Themar of Enrich, issues like their family’s overdependence on remittances, brain drain, feelings of failures and limited economic opportunities are psychosocial issues faced by every migrant domestic worker.

Christy Themar of Enrich stresses a point during the seminar.

Themar said she had to deal with these issues herself when she was a migrant worker in the Middle East. Learning how to cope with them, she said, is as important as financial planning.

To address these concerns, she said migrant workers need to plan ahead about what they want to do on their return home while they are still in Hong Kong. This means, taking control of one’s situation and doing things that will reward or make them happy in the future.

These include developing skills that they need to reintegrate back home, empowering themselves and building a network they could rely on when they need support.

Also part of the psychosocial preparation is to track one’s talents and abilities to grow, to open one’s mind to changes, and to the take courage to learn and try new things.

Themar also reminded the participants that things might change back home while they are away, so it is important that they are able to adapt to such changes.

Another way of preparing for the inevitable return home is to talk with family members so they can set goals and priorities together, and prevent those left behind from becoming over dependent on the worker’s income abroad.

The worker, on the other hand, should continue saving and stay within a set budget to attain her financial goal.

Apart from the money issue, overseas workers must maintain and build a strong family and community relationship while they are away. They should keep themselves updated on what is happening to their community while they are away, and learn to give space and time to family members to adjust when they return home.

Themar reminded the participants to be kind to themselves and to use every opportunity to grow in their journey to success.

The workshop is part of Enrich’s return and reintegration lecture series to help domestic workers manage and plan for their successful reintegration. To know more about their other programs, like their Facebook page, Enrich HK.

CG says Russian counterpart to back illegal recruitment drive

By Daisy CL Mandap

Consul General Antonio A. Morales says his Russian counterpart, Alexander Kozlov, has promised to work with him on finding a solution to the illegal recruitment to Russia of Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong.

The pledge was reportedly made during a courtesy visit by Congen Morales to the Russian Consulate on Jan. 24.

The Philippine Embassy in Moscow says about 5,000 Filipinas are working illegally in Russia, with many of them having arrived there from Hong Kong. The Filipina domestic workers there hold either a work visa issued only to professionals or skilled workers, or short-term commercial visas. There is no visa category for domestic workers in Russia.

ConGen Kozlov reportedly asked for documents on specific cases of illegal recruitment of Filipinas to Russia, and promised to look into them.

ConGen Morales told The SUN on Jan. 30 that he also managed to briefly bring up the same issue with his Turkish counterpart Korhan Kemik when they met also on Jan. 24.

The two sides also discussed ways of improving relations.

Turkey is another favorite destination of Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong seeking to move to another country. But as with Russia, there is no job category for foreign domestic workers in Turkey.

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre has been waging an all-out war against recruiters bringing overseas Filipina workers to Russia and Turkey in recent months, amid reports that many end up being exploited in both destinations.

Labatt dela Torre also maintains that third-country deployment of Filipinos is illegal under Philippine laws.

Mga OFW, tumulong para maitala ang bagong record sa tuloy-tuloy na CPR

Mahigit 600 na OFW ang tumulong para maitala ang bagong rekord sa marathon CPR

Ni George Manalansan

Kabilang ang humigit-kumulang 600 Pilipinong manggagawa sa mga tumulong para makapagtala ng pinakamaraming bilang ng nagsanay ng cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) sa tuloy-tuloy na sesyon noong Peb. 3-4 sa Fire and Ambulance Services Academy sa Tseung Kwan-O.

Ang kabuuang bilang na 3,027 ay pumasok sa Guinness World Records para sa kategorya ng paramihan sa pagsasagawa ng tuloy-tuloy na CPR. Ang dating record na 2,619 ay naitala ng India noong 2016.

Bilang paghahanda, ang mga migranteng Pilipino ay binigyan ng pagsasanay sa compression only cardio pulmonary resuscitation (COCPR, isang mas simpleng paraan ng CPR) noong Enero 7, 14 at 28 sa HK University sa Pokfulam.

Sinamahan nila sa CPR Marathon 2018 ang mahigit 2,500 katao, na binubuo ng mga guro at estudyante sa ilang paaralan sa Hong Kong. 

Kabilang sa mga nag-organisa si Dr. Mike Manio ng HKU

Bukod sa pagsali para makapagtala ng bagong record, layunin din ng mga nagbigay ng pagsasanay na maparami ang bilang ng mga tao sa Hong Kong na maaring makapagbigay ng first aid at mapataas ang tsansang mabuhay ng mga biglang kinakapos ng hininga o nawawalan ng malay.

Sa araw ng marathon, may libreng sakay sa mga kasali mula sa Tiu Keng Leng MTR. Pagdating sa lugar na pagdarauan ay isa-isang nirehistro ang mga kasali at binigyan ng numero at pulseras na may barcode. Nagkaroon muli ng pagsasanay bago sumabak sa marathon. Sa dami ng mga kalahok ay kinailangang umupo muna at maghintay.

Sa tulong ng mga ambulance men at CPR marathon helper ay naging maayos ang daloy ng pila para sa panghuling hakbang na isinagawa sa loob ng auditorium.

Isa si Jim Cheung sa mga CPR helper na nagpalakas ng loob sa mga kasali, at nagsabing gamitin lang nila ang natutunan sa mga pagsasanay at sa praktis para makaraos.

“Have your power to push, compress continuously without a gap,” ang bilin niya. “Remove your watch, necklace, jackets or anything that may obstruct you, If you stop for 5 seconds you failed….the next trainee will come in and prepare to change after the count,  5, 4, 3, 2, 1. If you pass, you will become a certified CPR first aider.”

Isa sa mga kalahok si Jennete Ladiero, na halatang malungkot. Naalala kasi niya nang minsang magbakasyon siya ay biglang tumumba sa harap niya mismo ang ama, at namatay. Wala daw siyang nagawa dahil wala pa siyang alam sa paglalapat ng first aid. “Siguro kung may alam na ako noon, baka buhay pa siya ngayon,” ang sabi niyang may panghihinayang.

Bago lumabas ng auditorium ang mga kasali ay binigya sila isa-isa ng tiket para sa museo ng mga bumbero na nasa parehong gusali. Dito ay makikita ang mga lumang gamit sa pag-apula ng apoy, isang talaan ng mga sunog sa loob ng nakaraang tatlong dekada, mga first aid kid, at ang nilalaman ng isang ambulansiya.

OFW photographer scoops another award

Joan Pabona's award-winning photo, "Sacrifice"

A Filipina domestic helper has bagged the first-runner up slot in a photo contest sponsored by National Geographic in Hong Kong, the latest in a string of accolades she has won since taking up photography seriously about four years ago.

Joan Pabona, 35, from La Union, received the second highest award in the National Geographic  Wheelock Youth Photo Competition Hong Kong, held at the Wheelock Gallery in Queensway on Jan. 31. Her winning piece was titled “Sacrifice”, and showed a construction worker seemingly buried amid a pile of nets while at work.

Pabona, who won in the category, “People and Happenings in Hong Kong, received a cash prize of $6,500 and a 12-month subscription to the National Geographic Magazine Traditional Chinese Edition. Her winning photo was also included in an exhibit launched to coincide with the awarding ceremony at Wheelock Gallery.

It was the second major win for Pabona, who has been dabbling in photography since she was in

Joan and her beloved Nikon D3100

college in the Philippines, but began taking the hobby seriously since acquiring her dream camera, a Nikon D3100, months after arriving in Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper in 2013.

In March last year, she was adjudged as Grand Winner in the “Women at Work” photo contest organized by Christian Action. For 2016 and 2017, she won silver and bronze awards in various categories in the International Photography Awards - Philippines.

As a veteran of the photo contest circuit, Pabona says she did not exactly “jump for joy” on learning about her NatGeo win, but admits it is the most prestigious she has received so far.

She took her winning shot from inside her employer’s high-rise flat in Happy Valley. She says that to get the best shot, one should have a good camera, an eye for detail and the passion for taking pictures.

In her case, that passion was reignited after she joined Lensational, a local group that aims to empower women through photography. Pabona joined the Basic Photography Workshop jointly organized by Lensational and Parasite in 2016, then the Pinhole Camera Workshop in 2016 and 2017 by Hulu Culture, and most recently, the Video Editing Workshop by the Voices of Women group at the University of Hong Kong.

She continues to hone her talent by contributing photos to the Manila Bulletin newspaper in the Philippines, and by reading and watching youtube videos on photography. She has become quite good in her hobby that she has been commissioned to do works for charity, for which she does not get paid.

Pabona is part of an eight-member group, Fun and Bold (FaB) photographers, who organize photo shoots in various parts of Hong Kong on their days off. They have also done charity work for the Bahay Aruga center for cancer patients in Manila. 

Also with this group is Roselle Azucena, who because of her recent win in the Gawad Amerika contest, will soon be headed to the United States to take up a photography scholarship.

That could come soon, too, for Pabona, who doesn’t let a day pass without her tinkering with her camera. For her, joining contests – and winning – are all just tools toward improving a talent she was lucky to have been blessed with. – with a report from George Manalansan

Uhaw sa pag-ibig

Si Raquel na biyuda at tubong Mindanao ay 53 taong gulang na at may apat na anak na lalaki na malalaki na, nguni’t patuloy pa ring naghahanap ng pag-ibig. Sa kasamaang palad ay natapat siya sa isang Negrong manggagantso.

Lagi siyang binabalaan ng mga kaibigan na iwasan na ito dahil pineperahan lang siya, ngunit hindi siya nakikinig. Tuwing day-off niya ay lagi ding gabi na kung bumalik siya sa bahay ng amo niya sa Pokfulam, kahit ilang beses na siyang pinagsabihan dahil nag-aalala din ang mga ito sa kanya.

Nang mapuno ang amo niya ay biglang tinerminate si Raquel, kahit na anim na taon na siyang naninilbihan sa kanila. Bale pa ay kauutang lang niya noon ng $40,000 sa isang financing company para may ipantustos sa nobyong bolero.

Mabuti na lang at nakahanap pa rin siya ng bagong amo, kaya nakabalik nitong nakaraang buwan. Agad din naman niyang sinabihan ang inutangan na itutuloy niya ang pagbabayad ngayong nakabalik na siya.

Ang kaibigan naman niyang si Jasmin ay lagi siyang pinapayuhan na matuto na siyang makinig at huwag nang magpaabot ng gabi sa labas kasama ang kanyang dyowa. At lalong huwag na rin niya ipapangutang ang lalaki. Kasi kung mapauwi siyang muli ay ano na lang daw ang gagawin niya sa kanilang probinsiya kung wala siyang pera?

Sabi ni Jasmin, sana ay matuto na si Raquel na mas pahalagahan ang trabaho kaysa sa lalaking pera lang ang habol sa kanya. – Merly Bunda

Pinauwi’t pinabalik

Kakaiba ang karanasan ni Lorie, 28 taong gulang, sa among taga Hang Hau. Na-terminate siya ng amo kamakailan dahil sinagot niya ito nang mapuno na siya sa kasungitan nito. Agad-agad siyang pina-empake at pinauwi, na hindi naman niya tinutulan dahil gusto na rin naman niyang umuwi. Basta sinigurado niya na binayaran siya ng tama, kabilang ang kanyang natitirang sahod, isang buwang suweldo kapalit ng pasabi, at bayad sa air ticket.

Ngunit dalawang araw pa lang siya sa kanilang bahay sa Cebu nang tawagan siya ng masungit na amo at hilingan na bumalik siya matapos ang dalawang linggo dahil hinahanap siya ng alaga. Hindi naman siya nag-atubiling bumalik dahil napalapit na rin siya sa alaga, at gusto rin niyang makita muli ang mga kaibigan dito.

Pagbalik niya ay kinausap niya ng masinsinan ang amo. Sinabi niya na kung may nagawa siyang mali ay puwede naman siyang pagsabihan, huwag lang pagalitan at sigawan.

Naaalala niya kasi ang naging karanasan niya sa Singapore, kung saan una siyang nagtrabaho bilang kasambahay. Sa unang dalawang taon niya sa amo ay wala siyang naging problema, pero sa sumunod na taon ay bilang nag-iba ang ugali nito. Inoorasan na siya sa pamamalengke at laging pinapagalitan. Hindi na rin siya pinag day off.

Nang hindi na nakatiis si Lorie ay nakikipagtalo na siya sa amo, na umabot sa puntong nasampal siya nito. Lumayas si Lorie at pumunta ng shelter para humingi ng tulong. Nakatagal siya doon ng tatlong buwan habang hinihintay na matapos ang kanyang kaso laban sa amo.

Noong ika-15 ng Hunyo noong isang taon ay dumating si Lorie sa Hong Kong para muling makipagsapalaran. Akala niya ay magiging maganda ang kalagayan niya dito ngunit sa unang anim na buwan niya sa amo ay sobrang hirap ang naranasan niya. Maselan ang among lalaki at lagi na lang may nakikitang mali sa ginagawa ni Lorie. Mabuti na lang at nagkagaanan sila ng loob ng kanyang alaga kaya napilitan siyang magtiis muli.

Walang permanenteng araw ng labas si Lorie kaya madalas siyang walang kasama tuwing nag de day off. Pero minsan ay nagkikita din sila ng mga dating kasamahan sa Singapore, at sila ang nagpapayo sa kanya na magtiis na muna, at subuking hulihin ang loob ng amo.

Sinunod naman ni Lorie ang mga payo nila, nguni’t sadyang mainitin ang ulo ng kanyang amo kaya nang mapuno na siya ay sumagot na rin.  Mabuti na lang at hindi nasabihan ng amo ang immigration na pinutol na nito ang kontrata kay Loraine kaya nang magbago ang isip nito ay may visa pa rin ang Pilipina.

Agad namang kumuha ng OEC si Lorie para makabalik.

Ngayon ay mahigit isang buwan na siyang nakakabalik sa amo at masaya na siya dahil maganda na ang kanilang samahan. Palaging Linggo na rin ang kanyang labas, kaya lagi na silang magkakasama ng mga kaibigan. Kapag mayroon siyang gustong sabihin sa amo ay pinapadalhan lang niya ng message sa whatsapp para mas magkaintindihan sila, at ganito rin ito sa kanya.

Tanging dasal niya ay magtuloy-tuloy na ang kanilang magandang samahan. — Rodelia Villar

Manindigan sa karapatan

Naka 10 buwan pa lang sa paninilbihan sa Taipo si Elaine, 32 taong gulang, nang bigla siyang pababain ng amo. Pilit siyang pinapapirma na siya ang pumutol sa kanilang kontrata ngunit hindi siya pumayag.

Kahit pa pulis ang kanyang amo ay nanindigan si Elaine na hindi siya pipirma kung hindi nito palitan ang kasulatan para ipakita na ang amo at hindi siya ang nag-terminate. Hinamon pa niya ito na tumawag ng pulis kung ipipilit ang gusto.

Sa tinuran niya ang nagkatinginan ang kanyang amo at ang asawa nito, at napilitang itama ang sulat. Bago pumirma ay hiningi ni Elaine ang lahat ng dapat na bayaran sa kanya, kasama ang annual leave niya para sa 10 buwang paninilbihan. Kahit madaling araw na siyang nakababa ay hindi siya pumayag na hindi itama ang kanyang pinirmahan.

Ang nasa isip ni Elaine noong mga panahong iyon ay ang laki ng nagastos niya para lang makapunta sa Hong Kong. Tatlong beses siyang pina medical examination ng ahensya, sa halagang Php2,500 at dalawang tig Php3,000. Iyung una ang sabi ay expired na yung permit ng nag medical exam sa kanya, yung pangalawa ang sabi naman ay positive daw yung pregnancy test niya kahit alam niyang imposible ito dahil nasa probinsiya ang asawa niya at isang buwan na siya sa Maynila. Sa kagustuhang makaalis ay nagpa-eksamin siyang muli sa pangatlong pagkakataon, kasama ang dagdag na Php800 para sa pregnancy test.

Bukod dito ay pinagbayad siya ng Php16,000 para daw sa training.

Sa laki ng nagastos niya ay isinumpa ni Elaine na hindi na siya magpapaloko ulit. Kahit madaling araw na siya nakababa ay naroon pa rin ang galit, takot at inis ni Elaine.  Nakadagdag pa kasi dito ang galit at paninisi ng kanyang agency dahil hindi siya pumayag sa gusto ng amo.

Matapang na sinagot ito ni Elaine na hindi siya kailanman pipirma sa maling kasulatan. Dahil sa madaling araw na, sa isang McDonald’s outlet nagpalipas ng oras si Elaine bago nagbiyahe papunta sa kanilang simbahan kung saan may shelter para sa mga naterminate.

Nang sumunod na Linggo ay pumunta siya agad sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) para ireklamo ang agency. Bukod kasi sa siningil sa kanya ay pinagbayad pa ang kanyang tiya na nandito sa Hong Kong.

Ang payo ni Elaine sa mga kababayan: huwag matakot ipaglaban ang karapatan lalo at marami namang mga tao na maaring tumulong sa iyo sa oras ng kagipitan. - Rodelia Villar

3 OWWA receipts missing

Three official receipts of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration have gone missing in Hong Kong, and the government agency says those invoices have now been voided and will not be honored.

A notice issued by OWWA Hong Kong gave the receipt serial numbers as 15576948, 15576949 and 15576950.

Welfare Officer Judith Santos said the use of those missing receipts would be considered null and void.

She requested anyone who had found it or inadvertently taken it to return it to the OWWA office at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on the 16^th floor of Mass Mutual Bldg. at 33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai.

First 10-year Philippine passport released in HK

Passport officer Rene B. Fajardo issues the passport to Bonna Bedia

The first 10-year Philippine passport was released at the Philippine Consulate on Feb. 5, 2018, to Bonna Bee Bedia. This was less than a month since the new extended validity-passport was launched in Manila

The expected launch of the new passport has caused the number of applicants at the Consulate to more than double since the start of the year, prompting Consul General Antonio A. Morales to shuffle staff on Sundays, the busiest day for applicants.

The number of applications on Sundays jumped to about 700 last month, compared with a 350 average for the previous months.

The regular passport is still being issued at the old price of $480 in Hong Kong, and has the same number of pages, but with improved security features. The requirements for renewal and application remain the same.

Under the new passport law signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in October, regular passports will be valid for 10 years for Filipino travelers 18 years old and above. Those under 18 will still be issued passports that are valid for five years.

What's on where?

The Philippine Consulate General will be closed on the following dates:
Feb 15-18  (Thursday to Sunday): Chinese New Year
Mar 29-31 (Thursday to Saturday): Holy Week
There will be no official business transactions at the Consulate and POLO on these dates.
In case of emergency, please call: 9155 4023 (Consular assistance); 5529 1880 (POLO); 6345 9324 (OWWA)

HK Education Fair
Visit the HKTDC Education and Careers Expo on Feb 1-4 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai. The Philippine booth is at 1E-D07. Representatives from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University will be there. Admission is free! Talk: Feb.4, 11:30-11:50am: Talk by UP Prof. Wendell Capili

Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Classes
Registration will be on Feb. 3 and 10 (Saturday class)
and Feb. 4 and 11 (Sunday class) MERC, 12/F, Euro Trade Centre, 21-23 Des Voeux Rd Central. Classes will start on Mar 3 (Saturday) and Mar 4 (Sunday)
For Saturday class, please contact:
Analyn Regulacion, Mobile: +852 65009288; Becky Sta. Maria, Message only:  Whatsapp/Viber +852 97622749/  56080713. For Sunday Class, please contact: Ma. Wilma Padura, Mobile: +852 9386 2514, Andi Allado Mendoza, Mobile: +852 56139395
For more info, please check: https://wimler.blogspot.com/2018/01/wimler-hk-lse-hk-alumni-association.html

2018 1st Flea Market
Feb. 4 (Sunday), 10am-4pm, GardenPlus events venue, Wanchai Sports Ground. Organized by: GardenPlus
Event will feature a coupon garden sale, live music, games and programs. Food and drinks will be served, too. Table prices:  Personal stuff- $200 or 2 for $300; Commercial stuff-$500 or 2 frr $800; For more information, call Henny at 6753 5567

Urban Lunar New Year lantern carnival
Mar 1, 2018, 7:30pm-9:30pm – Youth night.
Mar 2, 2018, 7:30pm-10pm – Carnival night.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui.
New Territories West LNY lantern carnival
Mar 2, 2018, 7:30-9:30pm – Youth night.
Mar 3, 2018, 7:30-10pm – Carnival night.
Tung Chung North Park, Lantau Island.
New Territories East LNY lantern carnival
Mar 3, 2018, 7:30-9:30pm – Youth night.
Mar 4, 2018, 7:30-10pm – Carnival night.
Hong Kong Velodrome Park, Tseung Kwan O

Sustainable Sunday Couture (from Elpie Malicsi) 
Mar 4-14, PCG
Mar 18- April 1, Main Library, University of HK
The exhibition will showcase costumes made of recycled materials that were designed by  Elpie A. Malicsi, a Filipino domestic worker based in HK. For information, contact Dr. Julie Ham at iham@hku.hk

Caritas Language Courses for EMs
Caritas Asian Migrant Workers Social Service Project has received sponsorship from the Home Affairs Department to run language courses for ethnic minority residents in HK. Enquiries: 2147-5988.
Sunday Advance Cantonese: Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F, No.28A, Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong
   Period : 8 April - 22 July 2018 (16 lessons in total)
   Time   : 10:00 - 13:00 (Total 50 hours)
   Target : Ethnic Minorities in HK with HKID
   Fee     : $100 each,, including materials (CSSA recipient : $50)
   Saturday Basic Cantonese: Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F, No.28A, Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong
   Period : 12 May - 25 August 2018 (16 lessons in total)
   Time   : 10:00 - 13:00 (Total 50 hours)
   Target : Ethnic Minorities in HK with HKID
   Fee     : $100 / head including materials (CSSA recipient : $50)
Saturday Intermediate English: Caritas Fortress Hill Centre, G/F, No.28A, Fortress Hill Road, Hong Kong.
   Period : 12 May - 25 August 2018 (16 lessons in total)
   Time   : 14:30 - 17:30 (Total 50 hours)
   Target : Ethnic Minorities in HK with HKID
   Fee     : $100 / head including materials (CSSA recipient : $50)
 
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 LCSD events. Interested person may contact Marie Velarde @ 67175379, Emz Bautista @ 98512804 and Rowena Solir @97331049.

Attention: Rugby enthusiasts
The Exiles Touch Rugby group is inviting rugby enthusiasts to join the team. We practice every Sunday at the Happy Valley Pitch 8 from 5pm to 8pmat 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.