Salamat sa FB, nagka-reunion ang magkakaibigan

Pagkatapos ng ilang taong di pagkikita ay nagkaroon muli ng komunikasyon ang limang magkakaibigan na dating magkakasama sa tirahan sa Hong Kong, salamat sa Facebook.

Taong 1990 nang magkila-kilala sila sa isang boarding house sa Nim Shue Wan village sa Discovery Bay. Legal pa noon ang stay-out dahil mga 50,000 pa lang ang bilang ng mga migranteng domestic helper sa Hong Kong.

Kasama sa grupong ito si Myla na dati nang nagtrabaho dito noong 1987 pero na terminate kaya umuwi. Pagbalik niya makaraan ang tatlong taon ay isinama siya ng kanyang ate sa isang boarding house, kung saan may tatlo pang ibang nakatira.

Naging masaya ang kanilang samahan, bagamat mula sila sa iba-ibang probinsiya. Sama-sama sila sa pagkain, at hati-hati sa mga gastusin katulad ng upa sa bahay at bayad sa kuryente, tubig at telepono. Mahilig silang lahat sa pakikipag penpal, pati yung mga may asawa na. Humingi naman daw sila ng permiso sa kanilang mga asa-asawa dahil parang aliwan na lang naman nila ang pakikipagsulatan sa iba.

Pinakabata si Myla kaya parang ate ang turing niya sa mga kasamahan. Sa loob ng mahigit isang taon silang nagsama-sama ng masaya, hanggang nagdesisyon ang dalawa sa kanila, sina Zita at Lilia, na pumunta sa Japan. Doon kasi nagtatrabaho bilang waiter ang asawa ni Lilia, at kinumbinsi sila na lumipat doon dahil madali pa noon ang makapagtrabaho doon.

Pagdating sa Japan ay laging tinatawagan ng dalawa si Myla at hinihimok na sumunod sa kanila. Sagot na daw nila ang pamasahe, tirahan at pati show money niya, pero natakot si Myla kaya tumanggi sa alok. Ang sumunod na pumunta sa Japan ay si Merlie, dahil nakapunta na din doon ang asawa bilang chief cook sa isang restaurant.

Dahil dito ay sina Myla at Sofia na lang ang naiwan sa boarding house.

Noong una ay lagi silang nagtatawagan hanggang naging pare-pareho na silang abala sa trabaho. Nakailang beses ding lumipat ang mga amo ni Myla sa nagdaang 14 na taon kaya hindi na alam ng iba kung paano siya hahanapin. Tanging ang ate na lang niyang si Merlie ang nakakausap niya.

Kamakailan ay laking tuwa ni Myla dahil nakita niya pareho sa Facebook sina Zita at Lilia. Ayon kay Merlie, nakapangasawa ng isang negosyanteng Australian si Zita matapos mabiyuda. Si Lilia naman ay nag for good na dahil malaki na ang negosyong poultry sa bayan nito sa Pampanga. Si Merlie naman ay sa US na nakatira, dahil dinala doon ng anak na naging piloto.

Bale si Sofia na lang ang hinahanap ni Myla dahil walong taon na ang nakakaraan nang huli siyang makabalita tungkol dito. Ayon sa balita, nakapangasawa ng foreigner si Sofia, at nagkaroon ng anak na matalino at pambato sa beauty contest ang ganda.

Kamakailan, nag group chat sila sa messenger at naalala nila yung may ipinakilala sa kanila na vice consul ng Indonesia, na sumama pa sa kanilang mag barbecue. Minsan ay naisipan nina Merlie at Sofia na puntahan ang address na nasa tarheta na ibinigay sa kanila. Pagdating doon ay may napagtanungan sila na isang guwardiyang Intsik. Ang sabi sa kanila ay “Sohail is a drewil, drewil”.

Bandang huli ay napagtanto nila na ang ibig sabihin ng Intsik ay yung kaibigan nilang si Sohail ay driver lang pala ng vice consul ng Indonesia. Tawang tawa ang barkada sa pagbabalik-tanaw sa kanilang samahan, at sinabing sana ay magkita-kita silang muli pagdating ng panahon. Tuwang tuwa din ang mga nakakatanda sa grupo dahil ang kanilang bunsong si Myla ay naging isa sa mga lider ng Filipino community sa Hong Kong. – Merly Bunda

Ano ang sanhi ng high blood niya?

Bakas sa mukha ni Greg, 56, ang pag-aalala habang nakaupo sa kanyang kwarto at hawak-hawak ang reseta ng gamot para sa pampababa ng presyon ng dugo. Nakakasawa daw yung pag-inom ng gamot na pang-maintenance at nakakatakot dahil baka masira ang kanyang bato at atay. Pero hindi siya makapalag dahil ang amo niyang orthopedic  doktor ang nagpasya na ipakonsulta siya sa cardiologist noong nakaraang taon kahit wala naman daw siyang kakaibang nararamdaman sa sarili.

Katunayan nga, araw-araw pa siya kung mag-check ng kanyang blood pressure o bp, at lagi naman daw normal ang resulta. Gayunpaman, hindi siya nakatanggi nang resetahan siya ng pang maintenance dahil ayon sa doktor ay kailangan na niya ito.

Minsan ay tinanong niya ang amo kung pwedeng tigilan na niya ang pag inom ng gamot pero sinabi nitong hindi puwede dahil doktor lamang daw ang makapagsasabi nito. Sa takot sa maaaring masamang epekto ng gamot na sa tingin niya ay hindi niya kailangan ay agad niyang sinasabayan ng pagkain ang pag-inom nito, sa pag-asang hindi ito tatalab masyado.

Gayunpaman, nagtataka siya kung bakit biglang tumaas ang kanyang presyon. Dahil daw kaya sa mga pagkaing matanda? O dahil mabagal na ang kanyang panunaw sanhi ng kanyang edad, o ng kawalang ehersisyo? Iniisip din ni Greg na marahil ay kulang na siya sa pagpag at hindi na nakaka “change oil” magmula nang mag for good ang asawa, sabay tawa.

Noong nalaman ng kanyang asawa na kapwa Kapampangan ang kanyang pag alta presyon ay nagbiro din ito na baka nga “kulang” lang siya, kaya maghanap daw siya ng girlfriend. Ganito rin ang tukso ng kanyang mga kaibigang babae, at pati na ng amo, samantalang ang isa pang naisip niya ay ang dagdag tensyon sa trabaho.

Nakapunta ng dalawang beses si George sa isang private doctor na ang singil ay $800 kada patingin bago siya pinalipat ng amo sa isang government health center. Ngayon sa halagang $50 lang ay libre na ang kanyang pagkonsulta tuwing ikatlong buwan, blood test at mga gamot.

Ingat na ingat si Greg ngayon na huwag magalit, at mas madalas na isda at gulay na ang kinakain kaysa karne.

Natutuwa siya dahil noong pinakahuling patingin niya sa doktor ay normal na lahat ang kanyang kalagayan. Kapag nanamlay siya, alam na niya na kailangan lang niya ng ehersisyo. Kailangan lang talaga na mas alagaan ang sarili kapag medyo tumatanda na.– George Manalansan

Duterte apologizes for deadly 2010 Luneta hostage incident

President Duterte addresses the 2000 Filcom members at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

By Vir B. Lumicao
 
After nearly eight years since the tragedy, President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to the Chinese people on Apr 12 for the hostage-taking at the Rizal Park in which eight Hong Kong tourists died in a botched police rescue operation.

The President also assured overseas Filipino workers they don’t have to worry when they go home because they will be safe. He warned government officials and employees that he would kick them out if they steal from, or plant bullets in the luggage of “ordinary” travelers.

“If you go home now, sabi ko naman wala na yung bukas ang bag, wala na yung cream…sabi ko sa lahat, alam nyo  na iyan, huwag nyong galawin ang ordinaryong tao. Ang galawin nyo yung mayaman, yung milyonaryo, puwede pang magbigay iyan. Magtanim ka ng bala, p……mo, pakain ko sa iyo,” he said, eliciting applause.

But workers who were expecting to hear from him about the fate of Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre, were disappointed when the president made no mention of the controversial recall of the labor official.

Duterte spoke to more than 2,000 cheering supporters from the Filipino community in Hong Kong and other guests, including Chinese businessmen and local employment agency operators, at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Kowloon.

“May I address myself to Chinese people who are here with us,” Duterte said, looking at groups of Chinese guests, some coming from Macau, who were seated in the fenced-off VIP zone in front of the stage.

Excitement builds up as some 2000 OFWs and other Filcom members wait for the arrival of President Duterte at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on April 12 for a meeting with Filipinos in Hong Kong.

“From the bottom of my heart, as President of the Republic of the Philippines and in behalf of the people of the Philippines, may I apologize formally to you now,” a somber-faced Duterte said with a bow at the podium.

“We are sorry that the incident happened and, as humanly possible, I would like to make this guarantee also that it will never, never happen again.”

His hour-long speech climaxed a five-hour, entertainment-filled program that began at 3pm and ended at past 8pm.

The Kai Tak event was also attended by Special Assistant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano,  Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, communications officer Mocha Uson and presidential daughter Davo City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Also part of the Malacanang retinue were tourism officer Cesar Montano, movie actor Philip Salvador as well as newspaper columnist and TV personality Ramon Tulfo.

The gathering was billed as a forum where the President was to listen to problems and suggestions brought up by the mainly domestic helper OFW population of Hong Kong, but no such interaction took place.

Instead, it became a showcase for the likely candidacy in next year’s senatorial election of administration picks Go, Roque, and Bello, as well as Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.

But only the youthful special assistant got an open endorsement from Duterte, who called him “my favorite senator Bong Go,” to the approval of most of the OFWs who packed half of the 850-meter-long cruise terminal.

Duterte flew into Hong Kong on Tuesday night from the Boao Forum for Asia annual economic summit in Hainan Province, on the sidelines of which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Briefing the crowd on his latest trip to the mainland, he said the Chinese government has given the Philippines a 500 billion yuan (PhP4.125 billion) grant. He said the money will be spent on public hospitals and the rehabilitation of war-ruined Marawi City.

The President also said China is starting to look for 100,000 Filipino English teachers to meet demand in mainland schools.

Shifting to his promise to rid the country of drugs and criminality, he said he fired the first official he had appointed because of drugs, despite the help he had given to his presidential campaign.

Earlier, Roque announced what he described as “good news” – that starting in June this year, the workers’ children will no longer have to pay tuition in state universities and colleges.

Duterte hosts dinner for employment agency owners

Those behind Duterte's party include Thomas Chan (in barong with saklay) and beside him is Francis So, who owns an employment agency in Davao City

By Daisy CL Mandap

Amid the uncertainty over Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre’s abrupt recall, ostensibly because of  favoritism in accrediting employment agencies, Hong Kong’s top recruiters of overseas Filipino workers got to dine with President Rodrigo Duterte and his common-law partner Honeylet Avancena on Apr. 11.

The Chinese-style banquet with 10 items on the menu and which Malacanang dubbed in a press statement as the Dutertes’ “dinner with friends in Hong Kong”, was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Tsimshatsui where the presidential party was also billeted.

Also present were Special Presidential Assistant Bong Go, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, and Davao City Mayor and Presidential Daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The friendly dinner appeared to affirm what Secretary Bello had purportedly said in a letter to the South China Morning Post, that Duterte had ordered the investigation of Dela Torre, apparently after some recruiters had complained.

Among the guests was Thomas Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Union of Employment Agencies, who posted pictures of the dinner on his Facebook page along with the caption: “It is really our great honor tonight to attend the private dinner hosted by President Duterte who came to Hong Kong for a short visit, with the coordination of president’s palace of the Philippines. During the dinner, we had a nice chat with President, his wife, his daughter, chief staff of palace, foreign minister and labour minister. Unimaginable and unforgetable indeed”.

Pictured prominently at the dinner was Francis So, a Hong Kong resident married to a Filipina who operates a recruitment agency in Davao City, Duterte’s home base. So’s Facebook cover shots show him with Duterte and Bello at some public functions.

The dinner came the night before Duterte addressed a crowd of about 2,000 people at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, in what was dubbed as a forum with the Filipino community in Hong Kong, but also included agency owners and other Chinese VIPs.

The mainly overseas Filipino workers in the audience did not get to ask questions during the “forum” and some went home hungry because of the long queue for the Jollibee food packs that they had to queue for.

HK Police take no chances as Duterte flies in tonight from China

Duterte during his visit to HK in May 2017

By The SUN

Police in Hong Kong are on high alert as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrives tonight for his second visit to Hong Kong since assuming office.

Duterte will arrive at around 10:30 tonight after attending the Boao Forum for Asia, an annual economic summit held in Boao, Hainan Province, where he reportedly met on the sidelines with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

His agenda for the Hong Kong visit is not known, except for a meeting with members of the Filipino community at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on Thursday, 3pm-9pm.

Duterte will reportedly be accompanied to the meeting by his Chief of Staff Christopher “Bong” Go and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who have both been tipped to run in next year’s senatorial election in the Philippines.

Duterte is scheduled to fly to his home city of Davao after the meeting.

Despite the tight security, several Filipino community organizations led by the Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP) are planning to stage a protest against Duterte.

A statement released by the group earlier today said: “A tyrant and a fascist deserves no warm welcome” in the city.

They called on the Hong Kong government to be transparent in its dealings with Duterte, saying local people do not want to be seen supporting a president who abets extrajudicial killings, violence against women, and high-handed response to criticism and opposition.

However, Vice Consul Bob Quintin of the Philippine Consulate said more than 2,000 people had signed up for the dialogue with the president, despite Thursday being a working day for most Filipino domestic workers in the city. A number of those who registered for the meet-up were given a letter from Consul General Antonio Morales asking their employers to allow them to take the afternoon off for the meeting.

Media representatives who were called to a briefing by the police yesterday said the security alert level will be the same as that put in place for Duterte’s first visit to Hong Kong as president in May last year.

The police asked no further details of the security arrangements be disclosed. However, a report in the South China Morning Post reported on the elaborate measures being taken to secure his visit, including deploying heavily armed counterterrorism agents to patrol the streets, and using an anti-explosive vehicle capable of jamming radio signals.

Duterte who is reportedly considered a “high-risk target” because of his sanction for extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, will also be accompanied by a big police contingent wherever he goes in the city.

During the official briefing, members of the press were told that as a visiting head of state, Duterte is a security risk and police are not taking any chances. Even newsmen will not be allowed just anywhere near the hotel in Tsimshatshui where the President will stay, and will be confined only in a designated press area outside the building.

Arrangements for media attending the meeting at the cruise terminal have been left to the Consulate, the police said.

Shuttle schedule for those
attending the meeting in Kai Tak

Meanwhile, members of the community have begun receiving text confirmation of their attendance to the six-hour meeting with Duterte starting last night (Monday).

The Consulate is deploying shuttle buses to carry those with approved passes from Exit A of the Yau Tong MTR station to the meeting venue. The first shuttle bus will leave Yau Tong at 12noon, and the last bus at 4pm. From the cruise terminal, the first shuttle bus will leave at around 8:30pm and the last at 10pm.

No activity was announced for the President on Wednesday, but word going around in the community said he would be meeting with Filipino businessmen and his local friends.

Many of those who will attend the community meeting are hoping to bring up the controversial recall recently of the Philippine Labor Attache, Jalilo dela Torre. Secretary Bello sent Dela Torre an emailed memo on Mar. 26, stating his recall was to “take immediate effect.”

Despite clearing his desk as told and transferring all office funds and properties to the designated officer-in-charge, dela Torre said he has yet to be told when he is expected back in the home office in Manila.

Various community organizations have held angry protests for the past two Sundays against the recall, saying dela Torre is the only official of the Consulate who has gone of his way to help and protect them from abusive employers and employment agencies.

Retirement age of 75 in military eyed

President Duterte wants to raise the retirement age of uniformed personnel to 75 from 56, saying the government would be shortchanged if security officials are allowed to leave the service early.

Duterte said the retirement age of 56 is “too early,” considering that Filipinos are spending so much for soldiers and policemen.

“Alam mo ’adre, sa totoo lang, lugi ang gobyerno sa inyo (You know buddy, the government is shortchanged). You retire at the age of 56, that’s too early,” the President said at the graduation of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) “Maragtas” class of 2018 yesterday in Cavite.

“Do not be offended. Filipinos are spending much for you, yet you retire at the age of 56. Hindi ako makabawi (I cannot recover the expenses),” he added.

Duterte urged Vice President Leni Robredo, who was also present during the graduation ceremony, to support a measure raising the retirement age of the armed services.

“Perhaps in the next legislation, we will ask the Vice President to do her part... Retirement age is 75,” he added.

Duterte also cited the need to enlist more policemen to address the Philippines’ security requirements. He expressed hope that more Muslims would join the country’s security forces.

“I hope by the next batch or the next – the one coming up for this generation, I will have the money to give you to enlist more police officers,” he said.

“Not all the Moro of Mindanao are our enemies. So maybe next time there should be a percentage of the Moro people joining PMA (Philippine Military Academy) or the PNPA. We need them,” he said.

At the same event, Duterte advised PNPA graduates to be vigilant against the Sparrow unit or the assassins of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Be on alert for the sparrows because they are very active. If you have guns, do not display it, and be sure to keep a low profile. And if you enter an unfamiliar place, keep a sub rosa (private) style of movement,” the President said.

“We are at war. Now, the NPA is really after your guns... Those fools are drooling for your guns,” he added.

Duterte reminded the incoming police officers to have presence of mind and to study the ways NPA members assassinate their victims.

“I am not condemning you to death, I am just saying keep a low profile, heighten your sense of awareness,” the President said.

Duterte also claimed that about 1,000 soldiers and policemen have died because of the campaign against illegal drugs in Mindanao.

He also urged the PNPA graduates to perform their duties in accordance with the law. 

This was the third time Duterte and Robredo shared the same stage in less than a week.

“Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo, this is the third time that I have greeted you, my lady,” the President said. Robredo smiled, sparking cheers from the audience.

The country’s top officials attended the graduation rites at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on Sunday and the 121st founding anniversary celebration of the Philippine Army in Taguig City on Tuesday.

Robredo said she had a chance to talk with the top 20 of the 106-strong Maragtas Class before the commencement exercises. One of the graduates, meanwhile, gifted Robredo with a portrait of herself.

Robredo shared on Twitter photos of the artwork by Cadet Fourth Class Don Carlo Labastida, who hails from Davao City. The painting featured the Vice President’s face and the seal of her office.

“Was gifted with this beautiful painting by the PNPA Council of Artists. In the pictures with me is the artist behind this masterpiece, Cadet 4CL Don Carlo Labastida of Davao City,” Robredo said.

Labastida is a self-taught painter who belongs to the PNPA Council of Artists, the Office of the Vice President said.

The rites took on a new meaning for one of the female graduates after her policeman boyfriend surprised her with a marriage proposal.

Inspector May Ann Bejuna, 25, was with her relatives on the parade grounds when her boyfriend of three years, Inspector Thomas Allabo, 26, of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF), approached her with a bouquet of flowers.

Allabo, a member of the PNPA Lakandula Class of 2015, was accompanied by his classmates carrying heart-shaped balloons

Paggawa ng longganisa, tocino itinuro ng CARD

Ipinakikita ng mga dumalo ang nagawa nilang longganisa.

Ni Cecil Eduarte

"Ang sipag at tiyagang matuto ng kaalaman pangkabuhayan ay susi sa pag-abot ng mga mithiin sa buhay."

Alinsunod sa mithiin nito na makatulong sa buhay pinansyal ng mga migranteng manggagawa ay muling nagdaos ang CARD HK Foundation ng pagsasanay pangkabuhayan noong ika-18 ng Marso sa Bayanihan Centre sa Kennedy Town.

itinuro ng kanilang mga trainors na sina Stela Agtarap at Phamela Agbao ang paggawa ng longganisa, at sina Emilia Dellosa at Rechelle Montoya naman para sa tocino.Halatang patok na patok ang tema ng pagtuturo dahil umabot sa 191 ang bilang ng dumalo.

Ayon sa mga trainor ang mga pagkaing ito ay dinala sa Pilipinas ng mga mananakop na Kastila mahigit isang siglo na ang.nakalipas.

Ang longganisa ay popular na pagkain sa Espanya, na kung saan ay tinatawag itong chorizo, isang "fermented at cured meat" na isinilid sa malinis na maliliit na bituka ng baboy.

Popular din ang longganisa sa iba't -ibang bansa tulad ng Portugal kung saan ang tawag dito ay chourico, sa Malaysia kung saan kilala ito bilang satay o sate, at lap cheong o lachang naman sa bansang China.

Abala ang mga trauinors sa pagpapakita ng paraan ng paggawa ng longganisa at tocino.

Ayon kina Agtarap at Agbao, mayroon ng ibat-ibang flavor na gamit sa longganisa, kaya mayroon sa kanilang manamis-namis, maasim-asim, o medyo maanghang. Puwede na ring gumawa ng "skinless longganisa" gamit ang cling wrap bilang hulmaan.

Ayon sa isa sa mga nagsanay na si Maria Alves Apostol, hindi na siya alinlangan na sya gawing negosyo ang longganisa at tocino dahil sa mga natutunan.

Ayon naman kay Aprilyn Milo, masaya siya sa kanyang natutunan dahil pwede na nyang ipagluto ng mga ito ang kanyang asawa at anak pag-uwi nya.

Nagpasalamat din si Lilibeth Joy Mendoza at iba pang kasali  sa CARD sa mga programang ibinibigay nito sa manggagawa at sa mga trainor  na walang sawang ibinabahagi ang kanilang kaalaman.

Magkaroon muli ng pagsasanay pangkabuhayan ang CARD HK sa ika-10 ng Hunyo, Linggo; at sa ika-23 ng Hunyo na isang Sabado.

Sa mga gustong dumalo, tumawag sa telepono 95296392 o 54238196.

HK OFWs protest anew against Labatt dela Torre’s recall

By The SUN

Some 200 OFWs staged another rally outside the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Wanchai on Apr 8 to protest the recall of Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre for reasons that remain unclear.

200 OFWs from various organizations joined the rally

In a story published in the South China Morning Post on the same day, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said it was President Duterte who ordered the investigation of Labatt dela Torre. However, Bello again failed to clarify what the accusations against Dela Torre were.

Protesters clearly did not buy Bello’s latest explanation for the recall. They booed his claim in the SCMP report and called him a “liar” for not giving a straight answer to what had prompted his decision to recall Dela Torre on Mar 26 “with immediate effect”. 

They also hinted that corruption was the real reason for the recall, which was ordered with a full year still left on the labor attache’s three-year term.

“Serbisyo, serbisyo, hindi negosyo” was a chant that was repeated throughout the hour-long protest that was punctuated at one stage by a minute-long noise barrage.

The labor attaché himself remained puzzled on what his supposed misdeeds were, saying he was never told of any charges against him.

“I wish I knew so I could clear my name,” Dela Torre has told The SUN.

In a hurriedly called meeting last Saturday, Apr 7, acting labor attaché Ma Nena German was reportedly overheard telling POLO staff that the protests against dela Torre’s recall were “useless” because he had already been told to return to Manila by Apr 10.

But Dela Torre disproved this, saying he was yet to receive word on when he is expected back in Manila, although he has already cleared up his desk and has turned over the post to German, who was designated officer-in-charge by Bello.

Pending an order on when he should return to the Home Office, Dela Torre has decided to stay put.

On Thursday, Apr 12, President Duterte is meeting with Filipino community leaders, many of whom have vowed to take up the cudgels for Dela Torre. The Filcom representatives also said they would try to clarify whether it was really Duterte himself who ordered Dela Torre’s investigation, and if true, why.

Protesters came from across the political divide

At the protest, many of the speakers again extolled Dela Torre for working hard to protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

Suzette Bagatua, an officer of Global Alliance HK and volunteer at POLO, said every worker knows what Dela Torre has done to help them, foremost of which was his unilateral decision to ban dangerous window cleaning. The initiative was eventually adopted by the Hong Kong government in its standard work contract for foreign helpers.

“Huwag lang po sana biglain angpagpapauwi sa ating labor attaché. Bigyan po sana ng tamang hustisya, tamang paraan ng imbestigasyon kung bakit. Matatanggap namin itong lahat basta nasa tamang paraan,” Bagatua said.

Nootenboom called dela Torre a
dedicated public servant

Another speaker, Pieter Nootenboom of the Knights of Rizal, expressed disgust at the recall of Dela Torre, and earlier of his deputy, Henry Tianero, who he said were both very dedicated public officials serving the workers.

Bello, who had apparently underestimated the backlash from OFWs in Hong Kong, had earlier cited varying reasons for sacking Dela Torre.

He said the probe on Dela Torre which he ordered in late February came as a result of a complaint, but did not specify who made it, or what it was all about. He also has been unable to answer queries on why the investigation was conducted while the attaché was on holiday in the Philippines.

However, various reports quoted him later as saying that the investigation was in response to charges of “favoritism” in granting agency accreditation leveled at Dela Torre.

Bello also cited as reason Dela Torre’s act of granting overseas employment certificates to OFWs in Shenzhen. However, even Consulate officials say there is nothing irregular with the said act.

Dela Torre said it could have been his refusal to approve additional job orders for bar dancers after his staff who did a surprise inspection found the 25 Filipinas whose job orders he had cleared were wearing skimpy outfits in the pub where they worked.

He said the women were deployed by Williams Production (HK) Limited, a Filipino supplier of entertainers in Hong Kong’s red light districts.

 “I think ‘favoritism’ is a charge that they are floating to hide the fact that the real issue here is my disapproval of the (job orders) for bar dancers,” Dela Torre said, adding that he did not remember having refused any accreditation.

“In fact, I have recently installed a new system of accreditation called 8Ps to take away the discretionary aspect of the accreditation process and make it more transparent and more in tune with ethical recruitment standards,” he said.

He said Williams is not a recruitment agency but a direct employer or supplier of dancers.

A second batch of 63 job orders for dancers submitted by Spear International Manpower and Trading were approved by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration on Oct 18 last year.

Dela Torre said that was the batch he did not approve, a clear indication that the POEA could override his decision.

As of Apr 6, three batches of 123 verified job orders for dancers to Hong Kong, including the batch from Spear, were posted on the website.

The POEA approved 32 such job orders from Archangel Global Solutions Inc on Feb 21 this year, after allowing a batch of 28 from the same agency on Jan 22.

In a post on his Facebook page, Dela Torre reminded his detractors of the law of karma.

“We all reap what we sow. If you sow kindness and good deeds, it will come back to you in greater measure. If you, however, sow treachery, duplicity and bad faith, your karma will make you regret the actions you have taken. If you did everything for money, your punishment will be ten-fold,” the labor attaché said.

“I am just glad that in the bosom of the Filipino communities I have served as labor attaché, I found warmth and comfort and affirmation. How many labor attachés can say that?” he asked.

Film a tribute to DHs caring for elderly – director

The audience that watched Martika at the Consulate.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Minfa Gervacio, the Filipina domestic helper who has become a movie celebrity in Hong Kong, was so unique that RTHK would not have been able to shoot its TV movie “Martika” if the production team did not find her.

That was what director Wong Fei-pang said about the 32-year-old maid from El Nido, Palawan, whom he directed in the starring role in the one-hour episode of the series “Below the Lion Rock”.

The movie is also an eye-opener for the need to provide domestic helpers training on care-giving for old people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The young director said he was inspired to do the movie after observing the relationship between domestic helpers and elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease during his visit to a home for the aged.

“The film’s starting point is the domestic helper, and the relationship between us and the domestic helpers is very important for me. It is very important for me that you guys are facing some problems but you are not alone. I think this is the whole important message of the film,” Wong told The SUN after the film's screening at the Consulate on Mar 25.

Minfa Gervacio receives a certificate from Consul General Tony Morales.

The movie, which aired in December last year and featured the vital yet undervalued role of a foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong society, has unexpectedly turned the simple and unassuming Gervacio into an instant celebrity.

“I don’t think the ‘Martika’ would be the same because she was so unique, for her own story, for her voice, for the singing. Also, because if we didn’t find Minfa to do this, I don’t think we could have shot that movie so smoothly,” Wong said.

The Consulate's conference room was packed with more than 50 viewers, including OFWs, diplomatic staff and local media for the 2pm second screening of “Martika”. Consul General Tony Morales decided to show the movie as the highlight of the Consulate's celebration of National Women’s Month.

About the same number of people came for the 10am screening of the full-length version of the
movie at the invitation of the Consulate.

Wong, Gervacio and her employer Sanders Ho were in the morning showing, but Ho could not stay on for the second screening because she had an overseas business trip in the afternoon, the newbie actress said.

Congen Morales, who joind the first screening, noted that many of those in the audience could relate to the lead actress’ situation.

“I think this is a good opportunity also for us to realize that Filipino household service workers are appreciated and recognized. We are not invincible,” Morales said.

He said the Filipinos here are not just workers but “human beings with their own sets of challenges and issues” and they sometimes end up interacting with the elderly with Alzheimer’s disease who help open their eyes to their mutual vulnerability.

Gervacio thanked Morales for giving her the confidence to come out and show “Martika” to fellow workers, explaining that she was initially afraid to be identified as the star of the film because of strict Hong Kong government rules for helpers’ activities. This was why she had to use the name Selena M. Gomez on screen, and in some of her earlier press interviews.

In the question and answer session, Lorna Pagaduan, president of the Filipina Nurses Association, said that in Hong Kong, Alzheimer’s and dementia are now recognized as diseases that are part of ageing. There are now institutions where afflicted patients can obtain care.

In the Philippines, they are not so recognized as diseases so care of elderly sufferers is provided by family members, she said.

Pagaduan said that in the movie, Martika was obviously aware the old man was sick and felt she was duped as she was not warned about it beforehand.

But had she been equipped with knowledge about the disease, she could have provide better love and care to her elderly ward.

2 Filipinas chase dead employer's estate for $100k

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipina domestic workers whose elderly employer took her own life in January are claiming more than $100,000 against the estate of the deceased for unpaid wages and other money due them.

But during a hearing of their claim at the Labour Tribunal on Apr 6, no representative appeared on behalf of the deceased employer, Fung Yuk-mei.

Presiding officer Catherine Cheng told claimants Cleofe Quintella and Amalia Tongga their case cannot move forward unless they find out who the executor or administrator of Fung’s assets was.

The two were told to go to the Probate Registry to search for Fung’s name and find out if any application for grant of probate or letter of administration has been received by the office.

“If the deceased died with a will, there should be a particular person named as the executor. When one dies, the executor should apply for probate authority. When a person dies without a will, there should be a person who will administer the assets of the deceased,” Cheng said.

Quintella has a claim totaling $65,438 against the female employer while Tongga is claiming $41,039.

Quintella is seeking payment for three months of arrears in wages, long service pay, unused statutory holidays, annual leave and air ticket. Tongga is claiming one month’s unpaid wages, long service pay, unused statutory holidays and air ticket.

The two told Cheng the claims were computed by Labour officers who they approached after the employer was found dead in her bedroom on Jan. 29, with a pan of burnt charcoal beside her.

Tongga said Fung had no next of kin, as she had been living alone when she hired Quintella in 1982 and Tongga in 1985. The only relative she had was a niece, who allegedly told them she knew nothing about the deceased’s assets.

The helper told Cheng that police who investigated the suicide had collected cash and jewelry they found in the victim’s room, as well as a letter whose contents were not disclosed to them.

Cheng said all she could do was adjourn the case until such time that Quintella and Tongga could supply her with the name and address of the executor or administrator of Fung’s assets.

The two helpers went straight to the Probate Registry after the hearing but, when contacted by The SUN, said they could not find Fung’s name on the register.

Tinakbuhan ng utangerang kababayan

Inis na inis si Myra, 49 taong gulang na Ilongga at dalaga, tuwing naalala ang ginawang pang-uuto sa kanya ng isang kababayan at dating kaibigan na tinakbuhan ang utang sa kanya.

Napilitan siyang mangutang dahil gustong tulungan ang kanyang hipag na may kanser sa bituka. Hindi niya kasi matagalan na makita ang pamimilipit sa sakit ng hipag tuwing inaatake ng sakit.

Dahil ang kababayan niyang si Dalia ay VIP sa isang financing company ay pumayag si Myra na tulungan siya sa pag apply ng loan. Madali nga ang paglabas ng kanyang loan pero pilit nakihati si Dalia sa utang.

Nakiusap si Myra na kung puwede ay isang libo lang ang kunin nito pero nagpilit si Dalia na $3k ang ibigay na parte niya. Ang usapan nila ay $383 kada buwan ang parte ni Dalia sa utang na babayaran nila ng 12 buwan, pero nakadalawang hulog pa lang ito nang biglang maglaho.

Tiyempong nakasalubong niya minsan ang isang kaibigan ni Dalia at doon niya nalaman na na-terminate ito dahil sa paghahabol sa kanya ng mga kolektor sa utang. Ayon pa dito, apat na utangan ang hindi binayaran ni Dalia.

Walang nagawa si Myra kundi bayaran ang buong hulog sa utang dahil ayaw niyang magawa sa manunubang si Dalia.  Nitong Marso ay nabalitaan ni Myra na nakabalik na si Dalia sa Hong Kong kaya pinadalhan niya ng text ang pinsan nito para maningil. Sinagot lang daw ito ni Dallia na wala na siyang pakialam at bayaan na lang siya.

Sa ngayon ay tapos na sa pagbabayad si Myra pero galit na galit pa rin siya kay Dalia. Natuto na rin siya na huwag basta-basta magtiwala kahit sa kaibigan pa. Si Myra ay nakalimang kontrata na sa kanyang mga amo na Briton at Canadian at nakatira sa Sai Kung.- Merly Bunda 

Biglang walang utang

Nagkaroon ng matinding pangangailangan sa pera ang tiyahin ni Wilma nang magkasakit ng malubha ang asawa nito. Dahil hindi sapat ang sahod nito sa mga gastusn ng pamilya, kabilang ang pagpapaaral ng mga anak, ay nakiusap ito kay Wilma na garantiyahan siya sa pag utang sa bangko.

Hindi nakatanggi si Wilma dahil ang tiyahin  ang naghanap ng amo para sa kanya sa Hong Kong Maayos ang naging usapan nila ngunit pagkatapos ng isang buwan ay hindi na nagbayad ang kanyang tiya kaya nagpadala ng sulat ang pautangan kay Wilma.

Sa sumunod na araw ng Linggo ay sinadya  niya ang tiyahin upang sabihin na may dumating na paalala mula sa utangan at kailangan nang bayaran ang utang kundi ay tataas msyado ang interest nito.

Imbes humingi ng dispensa ay pinagmumura pa siya ng tiyahin at sinabi na wala siyang utang na loob. Umiiyak sa sama ng loob si Wilma dahil sa pagpapahiya sa kanya ng tiyahin sa harap ng kanyang mga kaibigan.

Dahil sa takot na materminate ay napilitan siyang magbayad ng utang na hindi naman niya pinakinabangan.Abot langit ang kanyang pagsisi sa pagpayag na maggaratiya sa utang ng isang manloloko na naturingan pa namang kamag-anak niya.

Si Wilma ay dalaga at tubong Samar na nagtratrabaho sa pamilyang Intsik at Hapon sa HK Park View. - Ellen Asis

Mura nga, palpak naman

Nagkamali pero natuto si Rudy, 42, Ilokano, matapos makabili ng cell phone sa Shamsuipo na hindi niya napakinabangan dahil naka sim lock..

Tuwang tuwa pa naman siya dahil nabili niya ito ng 40% sa presyo ng bago. Mura daw kasi, kaya lang sa bandang huli siya ang nagmura.

Dahil excited siya ay hindi na niya naisipang ipa testing, at hindi pansin na sa lapag lang nagpuwesto ang tindero. Kaya pagbalik niya ay wala na doon ang pinagbilhan. 

Ayaw naman niyang ipa unlock ang sim at mahal na raw. Ayon sa isa niyang kaibigan na kinuwnetuhan  "Dapat isinaksak mo ang sim card sa harap mismo ng nagbenta," payo nito sa kanya.

Ngayon ay hindi na maiiisahan si Rudy.  Kapag bumibili siya ng gadget ay tinetesting muna niya at sinisipat mabuti. Kung cellphone ay kinokonekta niya sa kanyang wifi gamit ang hotspot. Lagi na rin siyang may baon na power bank para masiguro na nag cha charge ito ng mabuti. Bukod dito ay kinabisado niya ang mga bagong sistema.

Ang binibili niya ay iyong hindi lalampas sa isang taon ang operating system at malaki ang memory para mas maraming ma-store na data. Dapat din ay walang mga gasgas o crack para magamda pa ring tingnan kahit gamit na.

Kahit walang guarantee, sigurado namamg subok na daw nung unang may-ari ang kalidad ng telepono.

Nakakatuwaan niyang bumili ng mga gamit na telepono dahil karamihan ay mga bago pa dahil mahilig magpalit ng gamit ang mga taga Hong Kong. Angkop din ito sa mga bata pa na hindi pa maingat sa gamit. Karamihan sa mga binibili niya ay pinapadala sa mga kaanak sa Pilipinas, o hiling ng ilang kasamahan sa trabaho. Bale naging libangan na rin ito ni Rudy —George Manalansan

Filipina mom to stand trial for allegedly abandoning baby

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina mother wold face trial on Mauy 31 after she pleaded not guilty on Mar 19 to a charge of ill-treatment of a child for allegedly abandoning her year-old baby boy on a street in Wanchai on Oct 19 last year.

Magistrate Peter Law set the trial date after the prosecution asked for time to prepare and to contact the witness.

The prosecution did not mention whether it had received two psychiatric reports on the mental condition of defendant Angelita Labador that it was supposedly waiting for previously.

A female neighbor of Labador reported to the police after seeing the mother leave the baby boy on the pavement next to a rubbish bin at 280 Queen’s Road East.

Police found the baby conscious at 6:49 pm and sent him to Ruttonjee Hospital for a check-up.

Officers later nabbed Labador, who was said to be hiding nearby.

Labador is staying in a shelter run by the International Social Services Hong Kong, which had also assisted her since her arrest.

Her child is in the custody of the Social Welfare Department, the court was told.

2 Pinays tagged as likely victims of UK visa scam

By Vir B. Lumicao

Police are investigating a group of people who allegedly helped two Filipino domestic helpers apply for a British work visa using forged documents purportedly supplied by their employers.

This was learned from a source familiar with the investigation who confirmed that the probe was directed at a certain “Miss Chan and other unknown people”, believed to be members of an organized crime group.

An officer of the Consulate's assistance to nationals section said the two Filipinas appear to be victims of an illegal recruitment syndicate offering jobs in Britain.

Both sources ruled out any involvement of the employers of the two workers, Criselda M. Bantasan and Cristy C. Par, in the fraudulent use of their documents. Bantasan and Par’s case has been transferred to the District Court in Wanchai, where it is scheduled for hearing on Apr 3.

The two helpers appeared on Mar 15 before Magistrate Peter Law in Eastern Court, where an amended charge was read to them.

Bantasan and Par face one count each of “conspiracy to use copies of false instruments”, nearly two years after they submitted the fake documents to staff at the United Kingdom Visa Application Centre at Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay.

The two, represented in court by a lawyer, are out on bail and staying in the homes of their respective employers, who also bailed them out.

It is alleged that on April 1, 2016, Bantasan went to the UK Visa Application Centre on the 15th floor of Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay and applied for an overseas domestic helper visa.

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

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

On May 30, 2016, Par also submitted fake documents to UK visa staff Cheng Yau-sun. The documents were also allegedly falsified in connivance with “Ms Chan” and other unknown persons.

The documents included a supposed Dah Sing Bank statement of Wong Wan-kee Winnie, a letter to the British Consulate that Wong had purportedly written, her employer’s statement, 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 allegedly “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.

Tribunal awards maid’s $26,000 claim vs. employer

By Vir B. Lumicao 

A Filipino maid who had lodged labor cases against her employer for alleged illegal deductions and maltreatment won close to $26,000 in claims against the latter at the Labour Tribunal on Mar 23.

Tribunal presiding officer Daniel Tang granted Ariane Dimacali’s claim against Lau Wo-ying after the employer failed for the second time to attend the hearing, this time allegedly because she was on a trip abroad.

The resolution of the Tribunal case was a double victory of sorts for Dimacali, 28, against Lau, who allegedly made illegal deductions from her salary for every breakage or wasted food, including vegetables, in addition to maltreatment and other abuses.

In late January, the Tseung Kwan O police dropped their investigation into a theft case that the employer’s daughter had filed against Dimacali on Nov 13 last year after they argued over the way the maid sliced cucumbers.

Dimacali had said in submissions to the Labour Department and the Tribunal that on the same day Lau terminated her without notice and without paying her anything, including her November salary.

Lau’s absence on Mar 23 obviously incensed Tang, who dismissed a woman claiming to be Lau’s daughter and wanted to represent the defendant.

“Why didn’t Madam Lau inform the court that she would not be available for today’s hearing so this court can make a direction?” asked the presiding officer, looking upset.

The woman, Miss Lo, said she had faxed a message on Mar 22 informing the court that Lau could not attend the hearing because she was out of town.

Tang said as Lau was absent again, the court would have to decide on the domestic worker’s total claim of $25,974 in the employer’s absence.

The presiding officer told Dimacali to give evidence, and afterwards granted the helper’s claim of one month’s wage of $4,310 in lieu of notice, unpaid wages of $5,243.83, illegal deductions totaling $9,103, one-way air fare of $1,115, travel allowance of $100, severance pay of $6,045.80 and $190 for her visa extension cost.

The total award was $25,926.29.

Tang said the Tribunal would send Dimacali the formal award notice after seven days.

Whether Lau would pay up is another matter since the Filipina just had seven days left on her visa. She is, however, determined to look for a new employer.

On Feb 20, Tang told Dimacali he wanted to decide on the case and award her claim, but was adamant about seeing a proof that the police case filed against her by Lau’s daughter Chris Ng Sze-wai had already been dropped.

She was accused by Ng of stealing a necklace purportedly worth $170,000, which the maid said she might have accidentally dumped in a rubbish bin at Quarry Bay Park when she emptied her bag of crumpled tissue.

The worker said the police told her on Jan 27 that they had dismissed her case and had returned her $600 bail money, but Tang insisted on a proof.

The police would not give her a clearance personally but explained they would send it to the Tribunal if the Labour Department made a formal request. The Tribunal received the document shortly before the last hearing.

Maswerte ka ba sa Abril?

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94/06
Kailangang gusto mo rin ang trabaho, hindi lang dahil malaking tulong ito. Aakuin mo ang pagiging lider ng mga kasamahan, at paninindigan mo ang awtoridad mo. Maging positibo sa pananaw sa buhay at iwasan ang mga negatibong bagay. Maganda ang pagsasama kung makokontrol mo ang pagiging kritikal sa maraming bagay. Ugaliing kumain ng balanseng pagkain at ipasuri ang iyong cholesterol. Lucky numbers: 8, 13, 25 at 40.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95/07
Piliting maging positibo sa kabila ng kalungkutang nararanasan ngayon. Hirap ka rin sa pagtulog, subukang uminom ng pampakalmang tsaa gaya ng peppermint bago matulog. Magtiwala sa iyong intuisyon, sigurado at epektibo ito. Maswerteng panahon ito sa paglipat ng bagong tirahan o pagbuo ng tahanan. Malaki ang tsansa na magiging masaya ang pagsasama kung mapapapakasal sa linggong ito.   Lucky numbers: 20, 23, 39 at 42.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96/08
Mag-ingat sa ilusyon: pangatawanan ang desisyong ginawa at panindigan ang opinyon. Madali kang mapagod at malapit sa disgrasya gaya ng pagkahulog at aksidente, ingatan ang kalusugan. Kailangang harapin ang bagong problema o pagbabago sa trabaho. Gagawa ka ng paraan upang mapalakas ang pagkabuklod ng pamilya at maayos ang problema. Mag-usap ng masinsinan at pakingggan ang sasabihin ang bawa’t isa. Lucky numbers: 6, 15, 22 at 45.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97/09
Tamang panahon na magkaroon ng pag-uusap sa mga anak. Masaya ang pagsasama at makakaasa ka sa buong atensyon ng kapartner. Posibleng makaalitan ang isang kaibigan, huwag hayaang lumala ito. Bantayang mabuti ang gastusin at gumawa ng naaayong budget. Alagaan ang sarili upang hindi tumanda agad. Kilangan ang malinis na pamumuhay, bantayan ang kinakain at iwasang ma-stress.  Lucky numbers: 17, 21, 25 at 41.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98/10
Huwag mawalan ng pag-asa sa gitna ng problema sa mahal sa buhay, malalampasan mo rin ito. Sa kabilang banda, ang love life ay magiging makulay. Maaaring sumpungin ng allergy at pagtatae sa mga panahong ito. Subukang magplano ng proyekto kasama ang mga kaibigan, kaysa sayanging ang oras sa inuman at mga kalokohan. Lucky numbers: 11, 16, 29 at 33.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87/99
Mag-ingat sa mga delikadong sitwasyon, gaya ng pagkakamali at pagkaantala ng sulat, hindi pagkakaintindihan sa oras at lugar ng pagkikipagkita, at iba pang dahilan. Maging maingat sa pakikipag-transaksyon tungkol sa pera o ari-arian. Dagdagan ang pasensya at unawa sa karelasyon. Magagamit mo ng husto ang magandang personalidad upang mapasaya ang mga kaibigan at dumami pa ang kakilala na makakatulong sa iyo.  Lucky numbers: 9, 18, 37 at 41.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88/00
Marami kang makikilalang pwedeng mapalapit sa iyo, ang kailangan mo lang gawin ay pumili. Iwasan ang pumasok sa delikadong transaksyon o sumugal sa stock market kung hindi kabisado. Kailangan mong pakalmahin ang sarili upang mabawi ang katahimikan ng isip. Walang matatanggap kung hindi pinagpaguran, ituloy ang laban! Ipipilit mo ang awtoridad sa malalapit sa iyo, pero nanaisin mo ring makasundo sila. Lucky numbers: 10, 15, 34 at 41.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89/01
Itutuon mo ang lahat ng atensyon mo sa isang bagay upang makamit ito sa lalong madaling panahon. Magkakaproblema sa pera, pero maaayos mo rin ito. Maiiwasan ang kumplikasyon sa pagsasama kung susubukan mo na mas maging mapagbigay kaysa laging tumanggap. Dahil sa labis na pagse-seryoso sa lahat ng bagay kaya bumibigat ang pakiramdam mo. Ipakita ang pagmamahal sa anak upang mawala sa isip nila na wala kang pakialam.  Lucky numbers: 8, 12, 28 at 36.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90/02
Kailangang magsalita at ipakita ang pagmamahal sa karelasyon. Lahat ng kontratang papasukan ay maganda ang magiging resulta. Magpakatotoo ka at huwag gayahin ang ibang tao. Isa sa mga anak mo ay ang kailangan mong pakinggan at unawain. Ang alitan sa kapitbahay ay maaayos sa diplomasya at respeto, pero kung hindi susunod sa usapan, daanin ito sa sulat. Lucky numbers: 9, 16, 34 at 37.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03
May sapat kang tapang at sipag upang ituloy ang binabalak mo. Upang mapanatiling masaya ang pagsasama, magpakita ng kasiyahan at mag-ingat sa labis na pagseselos. Bawasan ang sobrang maanghang at maasim na pagkain. Maganda ang pasok ng pera ngayon, pero mag-ingat na masaid agad ito dahil sa walang patid na paggastos. Lucky numbers: 6, 17, 31 at 43.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04
Masaya at mae-enjoy ng husto ang love life ngayon. Kahit hindi ka mataba, iwasan pa rin ang pagkain ng sobrang matatamis, matataba at maalat na pagkain. Mahahanap mo ang katahimikan ng loob ngayon. Sa pamilya, huwag akuin ang lahat ng desisyon, hingin ang opinyon ng asawa mo. Maswerte ka sa papasukan mong trabaho o negosyo, pero mag-ingat na lumaki ang ulo dahil ito rin ang magpapabagsak sa iyo. Lucky numbers: 21, 26, 31 at 48.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05
Magandang pagkakataon upang makahanap ng suporta at bagong kakilala na makakatulong sa trabaho mo. Magiging emosyonal ka pagdating sa love life, pero kaya mong kontrolin ang sarili at makagawa ng maayos na desisyon. Ang pagbabantay sa mga anak ay aakalain nilang tanda ng pagiging istrikto mo, magpasensya muna. Angkop ang panahon sa pagbibiyahe, pero kung may balak na manirahan sa ibang bayan, ipagpaliban muna ito at ayusin ang mga problema. Lucky numbers: 14, 22, 37 at 41.

Protesters denounce Duterte terror list

By Vir B. Lumicao

Militant groups and peace advocates in Hong Kong have protested the terror listing of more than 600 people critical of the Duterte government’s human rights policies.

The protest on Mar 21 led by the Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines was held at the lobby of the Consulate under the watchful eyes of over a dozen policemen.

Leaders of Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines take turns denouncing Duterte government policies and inclusion of 600 critics in the terrorist list,  during their protest at the lobby of the Consulate.

“Nais naming ipaabot sa ating gobyerno, itigil na po ang pandarahas, itigil na po ang pamamaslang, itigil na rin po yung pag-aakusa sa mga kritiko na sila ay mga terorista,” said Bayan Hong Kong & Macau chairman Eman Villanueva.

“Sa halip, pakinggan ang kanilang mga hinaing, pakinggan ang kanilang mga inihaharap na mga problema at resolbahin ang ito,Villanueva said, adding that there won’t be any protest if these issues are gone.

He later joined eight other rally leaders in a closed-door dialogue with Deputy Consul General Roderick Atienza.

Rally leaders in a closed-door dialogue with Deputy Consul General Roderick Atienza (right).

The protest focused on the inclusion of more than 600 human rights defenders nd government critics in a list of "terrorists" filed by the Department of Justice through senior assistant state prosecutor Peter Ong at a regional court in Manila on Feb 21.

The petition not only seeks to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army as terrorist organizations, it also named individuals as their supposed leaders or members. These include the dead, missing and members of paramilitary units accused of killing Lumads in Mindanao.

“This is a brazen and malicious attack of the Duterte government against leaders of progressive and patriotic organizations and revolutionary forces who opted not to be silent in the face of anti-people policies and dubious campaign of President Duterte against illegal drugs and corruption,” the protesters said in a statement.

They said the petition filed at the regional trial court was an attempt to sow fear among Duterte critics and another step towards putting the country under martial law.

Included in the government's terror list is Ms. Victoria Tauli Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and former chairwoman of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Also on the list are leaders of indigenous people’s groups who are actively fighting to preserve ancestral domains and their right to self-determination.

After the dialogue, DCG Atienza told The SUN that the leaders "basically elaborated a bit more” on their concerns during their discussions.

He said the main issue was the DOJ's terror list, the suspended peace talks with the communist rebels, the impeachment case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and several other concerns.

The Consulate will relay the protesters’ demands to the government in Manila as is the normal practice, Atienza said. 

The rally was supported by Legislative Councilors Fernando Cheung (Labour Party) and Au Nok-hin (Pan-Democrat), Civil Human Rights Front, League of Social Democrats, and members of the clergy Fr. Franco Mella, Fr. Dwight dela Torre of the Philippine Independent Church, and Pastor Joram Calimutan of ICCP.

Pwede mong salihan ito

CARITAS PROGRAMS

Saturday Basic Cantonese
May 12 – Aug 25 2018 (16 lessons in total)
Time   : 10:00 - 13:00 (Total 50 hours)
Target : Ethnic minorities in HK with HKID
Fee     : HK$100 / head including materials (CSSA recipient : HK$50)
Venue : Caritas Fortress Hill Centre. G/F., No. 28A Fortress Hill Road, Fortress Hill, Hong Kong.

Saturday Basic Chinese Writing
Jun3 9 – Sept 22, 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 : HK$50)
Venue : Caritas Shek Kip Mei Centre. Rm. 107, 1/F, Tai Hang Tung Community Centre, 17 Tong Yam Street, Shek Kip Mei, KLN
For queries, call 2147-5988.

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 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.

What's on where

Scriptwriting Workshop with Ricky Lee
A rare opportunity to learn from the Philippines' foremost screenwriter, novelist and author
Apr 5 (Thursday, Ching Ming Holiday) 9am - 5pm, 18th floor POLO Office,Mass Mutual Tower, Wanchai
Co-organized by Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre and The SUN

Child Care Workers Professional Training
Apr 8 (Sunday), 12nn-5pm;Apr 14 (Saturday), 1-5pm
Polo Community Hall,18th floor, Mass Mutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai.Those shortlisted must be at the venue one hour before the start to register. Maximum No of Participants: 50

President Duterte Visit
Apr 12 (Thursday), 3pm - 9pm, Venue to be announced
Open to everyone but registration with the Philippine Consulate is required. To register, send an email to prrd.hk2018@gmail.com and attach a copy of your passport's data page, HKID, and mobile phone number. Registration ends on Apr. 2

Saturday Free Child Care
The Philippine Consulate General will be closed on the following dates:
    Mar 29-April 2- Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday
    April 5  (Thursday)  - Ching Ming Festival
    April 12 (Thursday) - President Duterte's Visit
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)

CARD OFW HK Training Schedule
June 10, Livelihood Training;June 23, Saturday, Financial Literacy.Venue: Bayanihan Centre Kennedy Town
To register, call 95296392 or 54238196

“Singing While Filipino: Reflections on Authenticity and Labour” 
Lecturer: Dr. Anjeline de Dios, Lingnan University
April 9 (Monday), B5-417, AC1, Yeung Kin Man Academic Building, City
University, HK. Organized by: South East Asia Research Centre, CityU HK.
Open to the public