Judge junks employer’s ‘made up’ theft tale against Filipina maid

Tuen Mun magistrate says employer made up the theft charge

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker walked free from court on Feb. 28 after a Tuen Mun magistrate rejected as “doubtful and inadmissible” her Pakistani employer’s accusation that she stole $2,000 worth of jewelry and various currencies in his home.

Cheryl Canonoy broke into tears and embraced her supporters in the gallery after Magistrate Kelly Shui pronounced her verdict acquitting the maid.

An officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section told The SUN that ATN would now help the helper file labor claims against her former employer and complain to the Immigration Department about her being made to work in two houses.

Canonoy pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft at the start of the trial on Feb 23. She was initially accused by Shahab of stealing 28 Malaysian dollars, 1,000 baht, 300 Pakistani rupees, 7 renminbi and a gold necklace worth $2,500 between Dec 1 and Dec 18.

Then the prosecution said the former employer, a court interpreter, amended his statement before the trial began to include a pair of earrings and a gold bangle, part of a jewelry he supposedly bought for his wife.

He also increased the amount of allegedly stolen baht to 1,800 and lowered the value of the necklace to $2,000. In his witness evidence, Shahab added that another bangle owned by his wife was found in Canonoy’s belongings two days after she was arrested.

Shahab also said when the police were investigating in his home, the defendant admitted the offense by saying “sorry” to the police.

But Shui noted that the officer, the second prosecution witness, said he heard the maid say “sorry” but did not see who it was she had said it, or whether it was an admission.

The magistrate, in her verdict, said the fact that Canonoy made no admission of the alleged offense made the court think “the prosecution witness may have made up all the evidence against the defendant”.

“Given such, this court concludes that his evidence is inadmissible. When there is doubt, the court is on the side of the defendant,” Shui said.

Earlier in the trial, defense counsel Robert Connelly complained to the magistrate that he had seen the employer talking to the prosecution lawyer and the police witness outside the courtroom while waiting to testify.

He also said there was no case to answer because the employer’s testimony was only based on his wife’s allegation that she found the stolen items in the defendant’s belongings, and the wife was not called to give evidence.

That prompted the magistrate to adjourn her verdict until Feb 28 for some time to consider her ruling.     

    

‘Wanted’ poster of dismissed DH taken down

The poster was up up on Peak Rd in Wanchai

(UPDATED) 1 March 2018

By The SUN

A tarpaulin poster hung on Peak Road last weekend that advertised a terminated Filipina domestic worker as wanted felon who had absconded with her employer’s $50,000, has been pulled down.

This was after The SUN contacted the helper, Reylyn G. Padaoan, who is already back in her hometown in La Union, to get her side, and published the story online on Feb. 28.

We also tried to get the side of the employer, Wong Shu Kun, on the same day but a recording instructed us to leave a message, which he has not yet answered.

Padaoan was indignant in her online messages, saying she intended to take action against her former employers who live in Stanley, for the embarrassment the “wanted” poster had caused her.

 “Masamang-masama ang loob ko, di ako nakatulog at di nakakain sa kahihiyan. Gusto long magsampa ng reklamo sa ginawa nila, kasi alam naman nila ang email at address ko na doon sana nila ako kontakin,” Padaoan said.

She has already been in touch with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, in an effort to get her employers put on the watch list for publicly shaming her.

The Filipina said her female employer, Li Fung Yuen, got mad at her for complaining to POLO earlier about being made to do construction work by the couple in their village house in Cheung Chau and flat in Shatin.

Padaoan says this was she doing repair
work in her employer's house

She said Wong and Li hired four male construction workers from the mainland but told them to stay indoors, so she had to pick up the cement and other building materials herself.

Padaoan provided The SUN with photos showing her pushing a trolley loaded with sacks of sand and cement, and doing finishing work on a tiled bathroom wall.

Apart from the POLO complaint, the employers allegedly got mad at Padaoan after she declined to accompany them to Japan as she was told that she would have to pay for her own expenses during the trip.

Padaoan sought POLO's help after she was fired in the middle of the night on Sept. 2 last year, and was told that she was entitled to claim $5,128 in wages, including payment in lieu of notice, and the $1,000 return airfare.

Armed with the POLO computation, Padaoan said she went to see her employers but instead of talking with her, they left for the mainland. She said they refused to see her when they returned. Wong was said to be also angry because he thought Padaoan had recorded their conversation earlier.

A picture of the “wanted” poster which had Padaoan’s life-sized photograph was forwarded to her by a friend who saw it on Facebook.

Padaoan questioned why Wong was running after her over an alleged $50,000 loan. She said her female employer, Li,  gave her $20,000 “as a present” in her first year of working for them. But when the maid’s husband was hired by Mrs Wong’s cousin in Macau, the employer allegedly took back her word and told Padaoan to pay back.  Her husband was fired after only a month and had to return home, she said.

In July and August last year, Padaoan said a total of $7,620 was deducted by the employers from her salary as payment for the supposed loan. Since they did not pay her the $6,128 that she was supposed to get after she was terminated without notice, she should pay only  $6,252 more even if the full amount of the "gift" was collected back from her.

She said she had no intention of absconding, but the couple fired her so she was forced to return home penniless and had to borrow from her cousin to buy her air ticket. The helper said she would pay back the balance if she could find another employer in Hong Kong.

Padaoan was hired by Li in April 2015 for $4,110 a month and renewed her contract for $4,310. But she said they paid her only $4,100 and $4,300, respectively, telling her to just offset the $10 deficit by eating more.

Ingat sa tinik!

Hindi inakala ni Minda na magiging malala ang simpleng pagkatinik sa isda ng kanyang daliri.

Tinatanggalan niya noon ng kaliskis ang isda nang bigla siyang matinik sa gitnang daliri ng kanyang kaliwang kamay.  Sa umpisa ay balewala lamang sa kanya ang kaunting kirot na nararamdam sa daliri, ngunit pagkalipas ng tatlong araw ay namaga na ito at hindi na niya masyadong maigalaw ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. 

Agad namang ipinaalam ni Minda sa kanyang amo ang nararamdaman. Binigyan siya nito ng gamot na pang-alis ng sakit, ngunit sa halip na bumuti ang kanyang pakiramdam ay lalong pa itong lumala at para na siyang lalagnatin. Agad siyang nagpaalam sa kanyang amo na magpatingin na sa doktor.

Noon lang nalaman ni Minda na hindi na pala ordinaryong sakit ang kumapit sa kanya. Kumalat ang impeksyon sa kanyang ugat sa kamay at kinailangan na niyang maoperahan kaagad. Sa ospital ay inabot ng 20 tahi ang sugat niya sa kamay, kaya kinailangan niyang mamalagi doon ng tatlong araw.

Mabuti na lamang at sa Hong Kong din nagtatrabaho ang kanyang asawa kaya may nag-alaga sa kanya habang siya ay nagpapagaling. Kinailangan ni Minda na bumalik sa ospital araw-araw para mapalinisan ang kanyang sugat.

Sa ngayon ay hirap si Minda sa paggawa ng mga gawaing bahay dahil kahit hindi pa lubos na magaling  ang kanyang operasyon ay kinailangan na niyang magtrabaho gamit ang kanyang kanang kamay. Sinagot naman ng kanyang amo ang lahat ng gastos sa ospital at pati na rin sa gamot. Si Minda ay matagal nang  naninilbihan sa pamilyang Intsik sa Happy Valley. – Emz Frial

Makulit ang alaga

Si Kristine ay tubong Maynila 43 taong gulang, at may dalawang anak na lalaki na pareho nang tapos sa pag-aaral. Sa Hong Kong ay may alaga siyang kambal na babae’t lalaki na limang taong gulang at nasa Primary 1.

Nitong Huwebes, bandang alas tres ng hapon, ay biglang sumakay sa bus ang kanyang alagang babae nang hindi niya namamalayan. Noong nasa bus stop kasi sila ay dalawang bus ang magkasunod na dumating, 91 at 91M. Dapat ay sa 91 sila sasakay papuntang Clear Water Bay.

Pagtigil ng mga bus ay hindi namalayan ni Kristine na biglang tumakbo ang alagang babae sa pangalawang bus para sumakay dahil gusto nitong laging makipag-unahan sa kapatid. Si Kristine at ang batang lalaki naman ay nakipagsiksikan papanhik sa bus 91 dahil gusto ng lahat na mauna para makakuha ng upuan. Pasakay na sila nang mamalayan ni Kristine na wala na iyong alagang babae.

Mabuti at may taxi na pumara sa likod ng papaalis nilang bus at agad itong pinara ni Kristine. Sinabihan nya yung driver na sundan ang 91M bus dahil nandoon ang isa niyang alaga. Naabutan nila ito sa tapat ng Hang Hau market.

Paalis na ulit sana ito nang pinukpok ni Kristine yong pintuan ng bus para tumigil. Mabuti at binuksan naman ng driver yung pintuan kaya nakasakay sila. Pag-akyat nila ay nakita nila agad ang batang babae at sinermunan ito ng kapatid.

Hindi na nakuha ni Kristine na bayaran ang taxi sa pagmamadali. Pagdating sa bahay ay muling nasermunan ng magulang ang batang makulit at sinabi na mabuti iyong nangyari para ito magtanda.

Ayon naman kay Kristine, maging leksyon din sana ito sa mga katulad niyang may alaga na maging laging alerto, at huwag bibitawan ang kamay ng mga alaga kapag nasa labas. Kahit kasi gaano kaingat si Kristine sa mga alaga ay nasalisihan pa rin siya. Malapit nang matapos sa pangatlong kontrata si Kristine sa mga among German at Canadian. – Merly T. Bunda

2 Pinays charged with using fake documents in applying for UK work visa

The Eastern court magistrate said the case
will be transferred to the District Court

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipina domestic helpers have been charged in Eastern Court with conspiring to submit fake documents of their employers to apply for a work visa in Britain nearly two years ago.

Criselda M. Bantasan, 31, and Cristy C. Par, 47, appeared before Magistrate So Wai-tak earlier today, Feb 22, charged with one count each of  “conspiracy to use copies of false instruments.”

A duty lawyer applied for bail for the defendants, saying their employers would post the bail money, and allow them to stay in their respective houses.

The magistrate allowed the defendants temporary liberty after posting bail of $1,000 each.

No plea was taken from either defendant, who had both been detained in Lowu detention center following their recent arrest by officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau.

The SUN emailed OCTB to ask if there were other people arrested in connection with the case, but has yet to get a reply.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office, in reply to this writer’s inquiry, confirmed that the persons identified by police as owners of the alleged fake documents were the employers of Bantasan and Par.

A POLO official said that the employment contract of Bantasan was processed in 2014 and Par’s contract in 2012.

Bantasan's employer, whose name appears in the charge sheet, is Cheng Wing-ki from Laguna City in Kowloon. Par’s employer is Wong Wan-kee Winnie, who lives in Cavendish Heights in Happy Valley.

The charge sheet read out in court said that on April 1, 2016, Bantasan went to the UK Visa Application Centre on the 15^th floor of Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay and applied for an overseas domestic helper visa.

Bantasan was accused of conspiring with a certain “Ms Chan” and other unknown persons to submit copies of fake documents to UK VAC staff Lo So-han to support her visa application.

The spurious documents, the police report said, were an ANZ Bank statement of Cheng Wing-ki, a letter he purportedly sent to the British Consulate, an employer’s statement, the Australian passports of Cheng and Ng Charmaine oi-yau, and an overseas domestic helper contract between Bantasan and Cheng.

In Par’s case, the charge sheet said that on May 30, 2016, she also submitted her application for an overseas domestic worker visa to UK VAC staff Cheng Yau-sun.

She supported this with copies of false documents also allegedly in connivance with “Ms Chan” and other unknown persons.

The alleged fake documents were a Dah Sing Bank statement of Wong Wan-kee Winnie, a letter to the British Consulate that Wong had purportedly written, an employer’s statement by Wong, her New Zealand passport, and an overseas domestic helper contract between Par and Wong.

The report said both Bantasan and Par submitted the copies of the documents which they “knew or believed to be false, with the intention of inducing (Cheng and So) to accept them as genuine” and grant them a work visa for overseas domestic helpers.

The defendants were told to appear in Eastern court again on March 15 prior to the transfer of their case to the District Court.

     

Court rejects Pinay DH’s challenge to ‘live-in’ rule

The Court of First Instance quashed the legal challenge to
Hong Kong's live-in policy for foreign domestic helpers 

By The SUN Staff

The Court of First Instance has rejected a Filipina maid’s application for a judicial review ofHong Kong’s “live-in regulation”, saying the applicant has not sufficiently proved that the policy is illegal and breaches the rights of foreign domestic helpers.

Judge Anderson Chow said that the Immigration policy to let the maids live with their employers is a matter that FDHs helpers could accept or not, even before they come to Hong Kong.

“If, prior to coming to Hong Kong, he/she considers the Live-In Requirement to amount to an unacceptable invasion of his/her personal or private rights, he/she can of course choose to remain in  his/her home country, or work in some other countries which do not have such requirement,” said Judge Chow in his judgment.

Then, after coming to Hong Kong, the FDW finds the policy unacceptable, he or she can still terminate the employment contract by giving a month’s notice, said the judge.

The applicant, domestic helper Nancy A. Lubiano, sought a judicial review of the rule in 2016, saying it was unconstitutional and breached the rights of helpers.

On Sept. 13 last year, she sought to amend her notice for a judicial review and serve a second affidavit in support of her application, but both these were rejected by Judge Chow in his decision.

The judge also allowed a request by Lubiano’s lawyers that her personal details be not disclosed to the public during the hearing of her application.

The Filipina advanced four grounds to support her legal challenge: 1) the Immigration Director does not have legal authority to impose the live-in rule; 2) the requirement heightens the risk of a breach of fundamental rights and is, therefore, unconstitutional; 3) the policy is discriminatory against domestic helpers or migrant workers; and 4) the implementation of the policy without any general exception is irrational and unlawful.

Chow said that the live-in requirement is a matter of contract between the employer and FDH, and as between the employer/FDH and the Director, it is an “undertaking” given by the former as an eligibility criterion for the issuance of a FDH visa.

“The Applicant’s alternative argument is premised on the assumption that the Director cannot impose the Live-in Requirement as a condition of stay. I do not accept this contention,” said Chow.

He said the live-in requirement should be regarded as a “functional requirement” of the FDH’s employment. The migrant workers were allowed to come in to fill a vacuum left by local domestic workers who did not want to live with their employers.

He noted that the live-in requirement has always been part of the FDH importation scheme, but was only included as part of their employment contracts on April 1, 2003.

However, a general exception was made at that time for employers who obtained the Director of Immigration’s approval to let their FDHs live out prior to this date. These employers are still allowed this exemption, so long as they continue to employ helpers without a break of more than six months.

“Currently, there are approximately only 30 such employers being allowed to employ live-out FDHs,” said Judge Chow.

Regarding the issue of fundamental rights, the judge said the applicant failed to show that the policy has given rise to a significant or serious risk of violation of a fundamental right.

Paul Hsieh, SC, for the applicant, cited “servitude” and “forced or compulsory labor” as the potential violations, but Chow said these are not defined in the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

On the ground that the policy is discriminatory, Chow said there is enough relevant difference between FDHs and imported workers admitted under the Supplementary Labor Scheme to justify the different treatment.

The judge said FDHs are admitted for the purpose of providing live-in domestic service, so they are expected to live with their employers, unlike other workers who are not admitted for such purpose.

“I do not consider the pursuit of societal interest in the importation of workers to provide live-in domestic service in Hong Kong can be said to result in an unacceptably harsh burden on FDHs,” the judge said, rejecting Lubiano’s discrimination ground.

Chow also brushed aside the argument that the live-in requirement heightens the risk of ill-treatment of FDHs by their employers.

“While the fact that the FDH is living in the employer’s residence would mean that there may be more opportunities for the employer to apply ill-treatment on FDH if the employer is minded to do so, I am by no means satisfied that the risk of ill-treatment is unacceptably or significantly increased by the fact that the FDH is living in the employer’s residence,” said Chow.

He also dismissed the argument that the Director is being irrational or is wrong in not using his discretion in allowing for exceptions to the live-in requirement for FDHs.

Chow ordered Lubiano, who was on Legal Aid, to pay the costs of the application. Lubiano was represented by Paul Hsieh SC and Earl Deng, on instructions by Daly, Ho and Associates.

Nakahabol sa last trip si MJ

Si MJ ay isang Ilongga, 55 taong gulang at 20 taon nang hiwalay sa asawa at walang anak. Naging makulay muli ang.kanyang buhay pag ibig nang makilala niya sa social media ang Sri Lankan na si PP, 48 taong gulang, diborsyado, at may negosyo na pa-rentahan ng mga sasakyan sa mga turista sa Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Si PP ang unang nakipagkaibigan kay MJ sa Facebook at doon na nag-umpisa ang kanilang pag chat. Dumalas ang pagpapalitan nila ng kuwento hanggang sa nanligaw ito sa kanya. May dalawang anak si PP pero malalaki na.

Noong nakaraang taon, buwan ng Hunyo, ay dumating ang pinaka-aasahang visa ni MJ para sa Sri Lanka, at agad siyang nag-book ng ticket gamit ang perang pinadala ng boyfriend. Pagdating ni MJ sa Kandy ay sinundo siya ng lalaki at pinatira sa kanyang villa.

Ayon kay MJ mapagmahal, maasikaso at nirespeto siya ng kanyang kasintahan sa dalawang linggong pamamalagi niya sa Sri Lanka. Gayon pa man, “open relationship” daw sila ngayon dahil parang hindi niya gustong manirahan sa Sri Lanka sa kanyang edad.

Natatakot siyang hindi makauwi sa Pilipinas nang madalas dahil may kalayuan din ang Sri Lanka. Ang payo sa kanya ng kanyang pamilya ay mag enjoy na lang siya at bisitahin ang kanyang boyfriend kung nami-miss niya. Tama na iyong nabigyan siya ng true love kahit ang pakiramdam niya noon ay naiwanan na siya ng huling biyahe. – Merly T. Bunda

Nakitang muli ang true love

Si Lyn ay isang Ilongga, 35 taong gulang at dalaga. Kamakailan, salamat sa Facebook, ay nagtagpo silang muli ng dating ka penpal na naging kasulatan niya noong 19 taong gulang pa lang siya at nasa second year sa college.

Nakuha ni Lyn ang pangalan ng lalaki mula sa isang programa sa radio na madalas niyang pakinggan noon. Agad naman daw sinagot ang sulat niya ng lalaki, pero nakadalawang sulat lang siya bago tumigil.

Uso na kasi ang SMS noon at gusto ng lalaki na sa text  na lang sila mag-usap pero wala siyang cellphone ng mga panahong iyon. Nakatapos ng kanyang kurso si Lyn at nagpunta sa Saudi Arabia, tapos ay sa Kuwait para magtrabaho.

Taong 2011 nang maisipan niyang hanapin sa Facebook ang dating penpal, at ganoon na lang ang gulat niya dahil pareho pa silang walang asawa. Nang umuwi si Lyn mula sa Kuwait ay sinundo siya ng binata sa airport para muling magpakilala. Napadalas din ang pagdalaw nito habang siya ay nakabakasyon.

Pagbalik ni Lyn sa Kuwait ay doon na nanligaw sa kanya ang lalaki. Ayon kay Lyn hindi na siya nagpatumpik-tumpik pa dahil gusto na rin niya ang dating penpal at pareho naman silang walang pananagutan sa buhay.

Pag-uwi niyang muli ay ipinakilala na siya ng kasintahan sa mga magulang nito, at ganoon din ang ginawa niya. Wala namang masabi ang mga magulang ni Lyn dahil mabait at tahimik ang kanyang nobyo, at kahit wala siya sa Pilipinas ay laging nagdadala ng mga groceries sa kanila.

Sa ngayon ay limang taon na ang kanilang relasyon at nasa Hong Kong na si Lyn, ngunit balak niyang umuwi na para magpakasal kahit naka anim na buwan pa lang sa amo.

Paalala ni Lyn sa mga single, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa kasi basta kapalaran mo siya kahit magkalayo kayo  ng mahabang panahon ay hahanap ng pagkakataon ang tadhana para muli kayong magtagpo. – Merly T. Bunda

Nakuha ang loob

Ang pagkuha ng isang kasambahay  ay isang malaking hamon, sa amo man o sa migranteng manggagawa. Kailangan nila pareho ang magtiwala at pagkatiwalaan. Hindi ito madali dahil sa pagkakaiba ng kultura ng magkabilang panig.

Sa isang kasambahay, madalas ay kinakailangang dumaan sa maraming pagsubok bago makuha ang loob ng amo, lalo na kung ito ay isang Intsik. Ganito ang nangyari kay Liezel.

Nakagawian na ng pamilya ng kanyang amo na magtipon-tipon tuwing Miyerkules para magsalo sa hapunan. Kapag ganitong pagkakataon, ang amo ni Liezl ang nagluluto, at siya ay tagahiwa lang. Umuuwi ang kanyang amo ng bandang alas kuwatro pa lang ng hapon mula sa trabaho para magluto ng iba-ibang putahe.

Isang Miyerkules kamakailan, tumawag ang kanyang amo eksaktong alas kuwatro ng hapon para sabihing hindi siya makakauwi ng maaga dahil may emergency sa ospital na pinapasukan. Binilinan na lang nito si Liezl ng mga dapat gagawin at kung paano lutuin ang mga putahe na ihahain.

Aligaga man ay pinagsikapan ni Liezl na sundin ang lahat ng bilin ng kanyang amo. Dahil nakagawian na niya na isulat ang mga ginagawa ng amo tuwing ito ay nagluluto ay hindi na niya kinailangan pa na maging wonder woman upang magawa lahat ang dapat gawin sa takdang oras.

Eksaktong ala sais ng gabi ay nasa mesa na ang lahat ng pagkain, at hindi nagtagal ay nagdatingan na ang mga bisita. Masayang nagkainan ang lahat, at ang sabi pa ni popo, “the food is very nice” at pwede na daw siyang magtayo ng restaurant.

Kumakain na sila ng panghimagas nang dumating ang kanyang amo. Pagdating ng bahay ay tumuloy agad ito ng kusina kung saan naghuhugas ng  mga pinagkainan si Leizel at tuwang-tuwa itong nagpasalamat dahil nakapagreport na dito si popo tungkol sa galing ng kanyang luto.

Ayon sa amo, “very smart” daw si Liezl at “she has done a good job.” Laking pasasalamat naman ni Leizel na nakapasa siya sa pagsubok nang walang masyadong pagod dahil noon pa man ay pinaghandaan na niya kung paano niya gagawin ng maayos ang trabaho at sundin lahat ng gusto ng amo.

Ngayon ay balak ni Liezl na pumayag na mag recontract sa amo dahil kabisado na niya ang ugali nito. Si Liezl ay natutong maging responsable kahit 23 taong gulang pa lang at dalaga. Kasalukuyan siyang nagtatrabaho sa Sai Wan Ho. – Ellen Asis

Filipina acquitted of stealing employer's discarded bags

The Tuen Mun magistrate dismissed employer's theft claim

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper who was accused of theft for keeping two handbags she said had been discarded by her female employer was acquitted of the charge in Tuen Mun Court on Feb. 15.

Rosanna Rañola’s acquittal came after two days of trial before Magistrate May Chung,  who rejected the evidence given by the employer Lam Ka-wai.

Chung said Lam was not a reliable witness so the court could not accept her evidence. The magistrate cited the employer’s evasiveness when being cross-examined by the defense counsel, and her aggressive demeanor towards her maid.

Following her acquittal, the Filipina told the SUN that the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section is now helping her to file a case against her employer at the Labour Department.  

The magistrate cited that Lam did not answer why, on the night she allegedly found out the theft, she did not let Rañola talk to the police after telling her to call 999.

Cheung also dismissed Lam's claim that she did not know that a second bag had also been stolen until she allegedly saw it wrapped with clothes as Rañola was bringing out the contents of her luggage for inspection after serving notice of termination on Oct. 4, 2017

After the maid told Lam that she was quitting, the employer suggested she call for a police escort. However, when the helper did as instructed, Lam took the phone from her and spoke to the police in Cantonese.

The employer accused the helper of stealing the two bags when the police came in response to the call.

Rañola’s trial began on Jan 22. She had pleaded not guilty to the charge but chose not to give evidence. The maid, in her 40s, was hired by Lam in May 2016.

The employer accused the maid of stealing her bags, allegedly worth $1,500 each, after the Filipina said she was quitting her job on Oct 4 following an argument with Lam about her daughter’s school wear that the girl needed the next day but were still wet.

Lam had testified the last time she saw the bags was at the time of their move from Taiwai to Yuen Long in February 2017. She said she did not discard the bags as they were not worn out because she used them only twice a year.

However, during cross-examination, the defense lawyer took out a receipt dated Sept 15 from the pouch of the bag. It was for a purchase by Rañola, indicating she had openly used the bag on her days off and Lam could have seen it whenever she left or returned to the house.

In her testimony, Lam said she was not satisfied with Rañola’s performance, claiming that she had 20 previous maids but the defendant was the worst.

She said the maid’s performance had turned unsatisfactory since her family moved into a two-storey house in The Oakwoods in Yuen Long, from a 13^th-floor  flat in Taiwai last year.

She said the maid had complained of doing more work since the transfer.

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

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.
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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.
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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.---

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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.