What's on where

HKMU 7 Decades

With Journey’s Arnel Pineda as special guest
Apr 29, 1-6 pm, HK Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsim Sha Tsui
Organized by: HK Musicians’ Union and Philippine Consulate General. Sponsors: Philippine Airlines, Heliservices, Parsons Music and The SUN

 ‘Are You OK’ Graduation
(Public Education and Community Launching Ceremony)
Apr 22, 10:45am – 2pm, Chater Garden, Central
OFWs who finished 4 Sundays of training on human trafficking and illegal recruitment will receive certificates)
Organizers: International Office for Migration, Equal Opportunities Commission, RainLily and Christian Action
Free entrance

Beyond Myself Exhibition
Apr 26 - May 14, The Hive Spring (2 MTR stops from Admiralty) . Open to the public. Organized by: Enrich HK
This international art exhibition showcases the work of Filipino domestic worker artists in Hong Kong and London, telling their own stories of hardship, sacrifice, struggle, empowerment or achievement. The exhibition comes to Hong Kong for two weeks only following highly successful events at Goldsmiths, University of London and UP Vargas Museum in Manila. Kick-off ceremony on Apr 26 is free but a voluntary donation of $100 will be requested. RSVP: http://bit.ly/BeyondMyselfHKLaunch Email info@enrichhk.org

CARD HK Graduation
Apr 29, 1-5pm, Bayanihan Centre Kennedy Town
Graduates will come from batches 45-47
Future Training Schedule:
June 10, Livelihood Training
June 23, Saturday, Financial Literacy
Venue: Bayanihan Centre Kennedy Town
To register, call 95296392 or 54238196
Organized by: CARD HK Foundation

Professional Development for Child Care Workers Training
May 13, 12nn-5pm. POLO Community Hall, 18th floor, Mass Mutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai. Only shortlisted participants who confirmed their attendance will be allowed to take part. Maximum no of participants: 50
Reminder
(1) Make sure you are available from 12:00nn-5pm. If you cannot commit on the said time, inform POLO so your slot can be offered to others who are free and eager to join the training.
(2) Please be at the venue one hour before the start of the training. Latecomers will not be accommodated
 (3) Walk-ins will not be entertained

Bb. Turismo 2018 (Flag Queen 2018)
May 20. Lung Wo Road, Central
Organizers: Federation of Luzon Active Group with One Visayas HK. For details, check or message Flag Luzon FB page

Free Zumba Class
Sundays, 10am-11am (or stay longer if you want)
Pier 10, Central, Open to everyone
Offered by: Kayumanggi Zumba Fitness Group HK

Free Yoga Class 
Sundays, 8:30am-9:30am, Pier 10, Central
Open to everyone
Organized by: Andappan Yoga Community

Fate slams rival in knock-out game

By Emz Frial
Hong Kong’s only all-Filipino softball team, Fate, scored big in its first game in the Festival of Sports, a knock-out game held annually by the Hong Kong Softball Association, separate from its regular league.
Fate scored a decisive win over its local rivals, Minions, 18-1, in a game that was called off after only three innings in accordance with regulations.

The locals batted first. Four players managed to stand on the batting plate but only one, Chong Yin, got to run the bases. However, Chong was caught out before she could reach home base.  

Myra Japitana scoots to safety on the home base. 

When it was their turn to bat, the Filipinas immediately scored 5 points, courtesy of Myra Japitana,  Jeremiah Gabales,  Don Gaborno, Bambee Abadilla and Maribel Sitchon.

The inning ended in their favour, 5-0 .

In the next inning, a pitching error by Gaborno gave batter Chan Po Yan a free walk to the first base. She later managed to run to second base but was stuck there when the next three batters were caught on pass balls or standing out.

Taking over at the home plate, Fate piled up 6 more scores. Those who made this possible were Belinda Ganitano,  Japitana,  Eunice Locop,  Gabales,  Abadilla and Sitchon. That ended the second inning at 11-0.
Minions’ Chong Yin did not lose faith, and managed to score for her team in the third inning.

But it was too late, as the unstoppable Fate retaliated with 7 more points. Those who scored were Japitana,  Locop,  Gabales,  Gaborno, Sitchon, Delia Elbanbuena – and ninth batter Editha Hidalgo who ended the game with a home run.

The umpire then called both teams to line up before declaring an end to the game as per regulations.
On April 15 Fate will have a game versus local Celsius at 12:15pm at Shek Kip Mie.

Bello scored for likening dead OFW in freezer to ‘ice cream’

Bello with  Presidential Communications Asst Sec Mocha Uson at the Bong Go event

By Daisy CL Mandap

Filipino community leaders in Hong Kong have begun an online campaign to get Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III kicked from his post, allegedly because of widespread corruption and his callous attitude towards overseas Filipino workers.

Among the grounds cited by the so-called “Oust Bello Movement” were the labor chief’s alleged use of the words “ice cream” to describe Joanna Demafelis, the OFW who was killed and stuffed in a freezer by his employers in Kuwait.

“He is callous and insensitive to the plight of OFWs. In shocking remarks he made after gatecrashing a meet-and-greet session between HK OFWs and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go on Apr 12, Bello told the OFWs that they should prepare well for their future, and not wait until they turned into “ice cream” like Joanna Demafelis…before they became self-sufficient,” said the group’s statement issued on Apr. 18.

MinFed officers with SAP Bong Go (in red shirt)

The allegation was supported by several leaders who were at the meeting, including officers of the Mindanao Federation, who organized the event. One MinFed officer told The SUN several guests, including those who were part of President Duterte’s entourage in his Hong Kong visit, had expressed shock at Bello’s insensitive remarks.

The statement further quoted Bello as saying that Demafelis’ family had become instant millionaires since many people moved by the OFW’s unfortunate death had given them money.

 Bello with HK employment agency operators

Foremost among the grounds cited by the group, however, was Bello’s firm stand on the recall of his Labor Attache to Hong Kong, Jalilo dela Torre. The group alleged that the recall “appears to have been prompted by a complaint from a recruiter who failed to get the Labor Attaché to approve a job order for bar dancers in the red light district of Wan Chai”.

Despite assurances from Go and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano that Dela Torre would not be removed from his post, the group said Bello is adamant his labor attaché must return home to answer allegations of impropriety.

“Is this the result of money changing hands between the agencies and Secretary Bello?,” asked the group. “That could only be the case”.

Five other grounds were cited by the group in calling for Bello’s sacking, including his failure to comply with promised relief for OFWs, such as the issuance of the OFW ID to replace the overseas employment certificate, and the payment of rebates to longtime members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administraiton.

In addition, Bello is accused of engaging in corruption when he abruptly halted OEC processing last year, and when he took over the granting of direct-hire exemptions to Filipino professionals who found their own jobs abroad.

Another ground cited was Bello’s alleged use of his position to appoint family members and relatives of influential people as labor attaches in key posts abroad, despite their lack of qualification and failure to meet the minimum requirements for the job. The group alleged that the prized posts are traditionally given as rewards to labor officials who had served well in difficult assignments in Asia and the Middle East.

More damning were the allegations that Bello had connived with agencies in an effort to trick President Duterte into lifting the deployment ban to Kuwait, and with employers’ groups to stall efforts to end work contractualization.

The statement alleged that Bello has gone against the recommendation of his own top officials who feel that the working and living conditions of Filipino workers in Kuwait have not improved.

“This could only be due to the influence of his known close friend, Lucy Sermonia, president of the association of agencies deploying workers to Kuwait. Together, they have misled the President by persuading him to sign an MOU which is empty of substantive provisions,” said the statement.

Bello was also accused of adopting a draft executive order made by employers’ groups in the long-running campaign to end work contractualization.

“His open collaboration with big companies and employers’ groups has served as the main stumbling block to ending contractualization, a key campaign promise by President Duterte”, said the statement.

Among the initial signatories of the campaign to get Bello booted from the Cabinet were Bayan Hong Kong and Macau, Mindanao Federation, Global Alliance, Unifil-Migrante Hong Kong, Filipino Migrant Workers Association, and the Global Ministers Association.

Bethune House on edge as resources dry up

By Vir B. Lumicao

A shelter for distressed migrant women workers in Hong Kong is on the brink of closing down as its financial resources continue to dwindle.

According to executive director Edwina Antonio of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, the only other option left to them is to borrow money to keep going.

“Magsasara kami, o mangungutang para ipagpatuloy ang shelter,” Antonio replied when asked by The SUN what measures they intend to take in the face of financial distress.

Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge executive director Edwina Antonio with supporters and wards.

On April 1, Antonio renewed her appeal for financial help when she addressed the Luzon Alliance International and Global Alliance event on Chater Road.

It is only through the community’s support that the 32-year-old Bethune House is able to continue serving the scores of women who come to it for shelter when they are driven out by their employers, she said.

In early March, Antonio took to social media to appeal for financial help, saying Bethune’s cash resources would dry up next month.

Antonio said the charity must raise $120,000 each month to pay for the rent, utilities and other operating costs of its two shelters in Sheung Wan and Jordan Road.

The amount goes to food, personal hygiene products, medical attention, visa extension fee, transport and documentation needs of 15 or more residents in each of the two flats.

Despite the dire outlook for the shelter, Antonio continued her usual work advising migrant workers who approached her for advice on their particular problems.

Wards at the two shelters were at the Chater Road booth of Bethune House on Apr 1 urging mostly migrant workers passing by to contribute to Coins for Bethune.

The women had been terminated by their mostly local employers, with two of them accused of theft and a third one, of maltreating her young ward.

The theft cases are pending resolution in court while the maltreatment case had been dropped thrice by investigators for lack of evidence but has dragged on because the employer had allegedly amended her charge each time police dropped it.

Bethune House caters to helpers from the Philippines or Indonesia who are victims of abuse, illegal termination of contract, or accused of wrongdoing by their employers.

The shelter gives residents a full range of assistance, from drafting their complaints to reporting to the police, going to the hospital for a medical check-up, filing a claim in court, and attending court hearings.

During their stay, the wards are also taught their rights under the law, and the legal implications of their cases. In addition, they learn how to deal effectively with trauma, stress, anxiety and depression resulting from their experiences.

The wards are forbidden by law to work while their cases are pending, so, they totally rely on charity to remain in Hong Kong and fight their cases, Antonio said.

 She hoped that kind hearts would come to Bethune House’s rescue. Donations can be made by check payable to The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, Ltd. or by direct deposit to Hang Seng Bank S/A number 284-8-241309.

Antonio said all cash donations of $100 and above are tax deductible.

The Bethune House was set up in 1986 by the Mission for Migrant Workers initially to help distressed Filipino helpers. It now helps workers of other nationalities.

OFWs taught how to invest in stocks

By Ellen Asis 

There is nothing so intimidating about investing in stocks that migrant workers are better off looking at other options for making money.

This was the assurance given to 74 foreign domestic workers who attended a talk on Investing in Stocks as part of the ‘Lunch and Learn” financial literacy series conducted jointly by Enrich and KPMG at Hysan Place in Causeway Bay on March 25.

Speaker Craig Nastanski, a self-made technopreneur and a stock investor, gives an insight into investing in stocks.

Speaker Craig Nastanski, a self-made technopreneur and a stock investor himself, told the participants that there are two ways to earn money from stocks, through dividend and when the share price rises.

But he hastened to remind them that investing in stocks does not guarantee that one earns money. There are risks involved, and fees that they have to deal with. Thus, it is important for anyone who wants to invest to study and learn the knowledge of investing.

Nastanski enumerated seven steps which he said a FDW needs to consider before investing in stocks, such as knowing your objective, deciding on what kind of stock to buy, doing research on that stock or fund, choosing a broker, buying the stock, asking yourself if you want to consider buying again, monitoring and adjustment.

He also said it is important to save first before investing, and make sure the decision you make is based on research.

Nastanski said investing in stock should be for a long term of at least five years, and the ideal is 10 years.
Over this period, stocks will rise and fall, but over the long term they tend to rise.

It is thus important that you are  financially stable and are investing for the longer time to minimize the risk, Nastanski said.

For more details about the Lunch and Learn series and other financial literacy workshops and seminars, like the Facebook page, Enrich.

Child minders taught how to stay calm and act professionally

By Marites Palma

There was a lot of enthusiasm when a a new round of child care training began at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Wanchai on Apr 8.

This was despite the low turnout of participants. Of the 50 who quickly filled up the slots opened for the half-day seminar, only 18 showed up, probably because of the confusion that arose from the unexpected recall on Mar 26 of Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who had spearheaded the training as part of his continuing education campaign for OFWs.

Participants listened eagerly as the lecturer, Christina Themar of Next Chapters Organization, gave them useful tips on how to take care of a child in a professional manner, and how not to lose their cool when faced with difficult situations.

Cristina Themar (center) of New Chapters Organization, is joined by seminar participants.

Themar demonstrated to the workers what they must do when the child they’re caring for throws a tantrum in a public place. She said the carer needs to take two steps backwards before taking a deep breath, then two steps forward and another deep breath, to cool down and think clearly on what needs to be done.

She said the carer should talk calmly and with her eyes on the same level as her ward so the child feels safe and comforted.

Themar said it is important for the caregiver and her employer to collaborate on a mutually satisfying schedule in looking after a child. Both parties must keep their communication lines open and take interest in the child’s needs as it grows older.

She said there should be a consistency in providing for the needs of children as they benefit from a normal routine.

Lastly, she said carers must be mindful of how they respond to their ward’s misbehavior, and how they impose discipline on a child that has been entrusted to them.

Themar also took up topics like cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity in looking after a child.
She said a caregiver should be aware of the physical and verbal interactions with a child, and should be mindful in disciplining according to the age and behaviour of the child. Further, the level of engagement with children should be clear and concise, and in line with the parents’ expectation to avoid confusion.

If the carer is looking after a sick child, she should respect the medical practices of the family, and not apply any method she may have used with her own children, as this could cause allergy or adverse reaction.

The carer must also prepare and serve food to the children with love and thoughtfulness, and observe cleanliness at all times.

She should also be aware of how her role is seen from the eyes of the family she serves, and understand the level of independence given her when performing daily tasks like riding in public transportation, bathing, getting dressed and completing a child’s homework. This way, problems could be avoided in the course of work.

Part of Themar’s lecture dealt on the proper way of communicating with employers. She said the following are examples of expressions that demonstrate goodwill: “I appreciate it!”, or “sounds like good idea”. When one wants to show her proactive nature, she may say: “Lets work together to plan”, “Why don’t we”, “How about...”?

In suggesting a follow-up, she may say, “Why don’t we touch base tonight when you return home?’ In establishing trustworthiness, the worker might say: “I have your child’s best interest at heart”, or I’ll be there”. In providing positive assurance, one may say, “I am sure we can figure out a way to sort it out”.  When acknowledging, say, “It was really tiring to carry the baby and all of the groceries.”

The carers were told to be honest, and not pretend that they can do everything easily.

“You need to tell the truth so that you can maintain your good health, you also need to protect yourself to have a healthy life while working away from family,” Themar said.

As a final word, she advised them to try to control their emotions when a serious situation arises in the course of work.

“Don’t ever let the little one be the cause of losing your job.”  “Act professionally in attending the needs of your ward”. “Always stay calm” were among her pieces of advice.

Themar invited other migrant workers who also want to develop professional skills in child care to attend future sessions of the Child Care Tarining at POLO.

High Court quashes 2 moms’ bid to stay with kids in HK

The High Court

Drafters of Hong Kong’s post-1997 constitution did not intend to relax the government’s tight immigration controls in favor of family rights, a High Court has said.

Chief Judge of the High Court Andrew Cheung said this, as he and two other judges quashed an appeal by two former Filipino domestic helpers for a judicial review of  Immigration’s refusal to extend their visa so they could stay with their children residing in Hong Kong.

The two women, Milagros T. Comilang and Desiree R. Luis, through their counsel Gladys Li SC, challenged the Immigration director’s decision, claiming they have the right to remain here under the family rights provisions of the Basic Law.

Comilang had filed the appeal to be with her son Zahrah Noor Ahmed. Desiree R. Luis did the same for his sons David John, Carl Benz and Mark Joelry, all minors. Their cases were heard jointly along with African appellant Salifou Dembele’s appeal for permanent residency to be with his Chinese wife and their three children.

The decision, penned by Vice President Justice of Appeal Jeremy Poon and concurred in by Cheung and Vice President Justice of Appeal Johnson Lam, was handed down on Mar 26 after the three judges heard the cases simultaneously on July 10-12 last year.

Cheung said at the heart of the cases were the constitutional family rights of the foreign applicants and the corresponding family rights of family members who are residents.

He said these rights were argued based on Article 37 of the Basic Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

He said, ultimately, one must look at the true intent of the Basic Law drafters towards family rights as a whole in deciding whether the applicants’ arguments are correct or not.

“There is simply nothing to indicate to this court that when drafting the Basic Law under the overarching theme of ‘one country, two systems’, the drafters intended to relax the Government’s tight immigration controls in favor of family rights,” the judge said.

He said Li relied on Article 37 of the Basic Law, which guarantees freedom of marriage of Hong Kong residents and their right to raise a family freely shall be protected by law.

Citing a precedent case, Cheung said the right guaranteed under the Basic Law does not extend to a person in Hong Kong who is not a resident as far as it relates to immigration legislation governing his entry into, stay in or departure from Hong Kong “unless the right in question is a nonderogable and absolute right”.

Lam agreed, saying “the core issue …is the impact of the right to family life on the exercise of the power of the Director of Immigration in respect of immigration control.”
Comilang, a domestic helper terminated in July 2005, married Ahmed, a Pakistani permanent resident of Hong Kong three months later and gave birth to Zahrah on Feb 2, 2006. The child became a permanent resident by birth. The Filipina’s visa expired on Oct 10, 2005 so she applied for a change of status as a dependant of Ahmed.
On May 8, 2007, Ahmed, who was found to have a wife in Pakistan, pulled out his support for her application and Comilang left him and Zahrah for good on June 4, 2007.
She had made several but futile applications for her extension of stay since September 2007 to take care of her child.  She began judicial review proceedings in April 2011, but Lam dismissed her application and rejected all her grounds of challenge.
She applied for judicial review in April 2014. In June 2014, the judge granted her ex parte leave to apply for judicial review.

The other first appellant, Desiree Luis, came to Hong Kong as a helper in 1991.  She married Mr Luis, a Filipino helper here, in 1997. She gave birth in the Philippines to their eldest son, who had been allowed to stay in Hong Kong as a visitor on five separate occasions. He last left Hong Kong in January 2014.

Luis gave birth to two more sons while working in Hong Kong, David (the second appellant) in June 2002 and Carl (the third) in August 2004. In April 2006, her work contract expired. She was granted extension to stay until 3 June 2006.

  Luis visited Hong Kong as a visitor on numerous occasions and had been granted extension to stay in Hong Kong.  In December 2009, while visiting Hong Kong, she gave birth to her youngest son, Mark (the fourth appellant).

After verification by the director, David was confirmed to have acquired Hong Kong permanent residency since 2010.  His two younger brothers remain in Hong Kong as dependants of their father.

On Jan 26, 2012, the director refused Luis’s application for extension of stay to take care of her three sons in Hong Kong.  She then overstayed, but this was deemed “tolerated” only by the Director of Immigration.
Luis applied for permission to remain in Hong Kong on May 6, 2013 to take care of her sons.  It was refused by the director on Jul 26, 2013 on grounds similar to those applied to Comilang.  In May 2014, Luis applied for leave for judicial review and she was granted ex parte leave in July 2014.

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