Hongkong Airlines starts daily flights to Manila

Tang King Shing (fourth from left), vice chairman of Hongkong Airlines, leads the inauguration ries for the new flights to Manila.

Hongkong Airlines started daily flights to Manila tonight, with a full maiden flight leaving at 9:30 pm.The same Airbus A320 plane leaves for Hong Kong at 3 am. tomorrow.

Tang King Shing

This is the fourth route launched by the full-service airline this year, following the inauguration of services to Maldives, San Francisco and Moscow, according to Tang King Shing, vice chairman of Hongkong Airlines.


"Manila represents a, exciting new market for Hongkong Airlines," Tang said during ceremonies to launch the inaugural flight.  

He noted the steady increase in travel between the two places over the years, with over 900,000 visitors from the Philippines arriving in Hong Kong in 2017.

"The new daily service is aimed to meet the increasing travel demands from the Philippines to Hong Kong,"he added. 

As an aside, Tang also said he spent his honeymoon in Manila.

Consul Paulo Saret

Consul Paulo Saret, who represented the Philippine Consulate General, said that with the new service, "we hope that more peole from Hong Kong, this time, will visit the Philippines."

He asked Hongkong Airlines to help promote the Philippines as a destination for Hong Kong people.
Sarest said Filipinos now working in Hong Kog will also welcome the new services because it will widen their choice of airlines and hopefully, lower fares due to increased competition.

The ceremonies were also attended by C.K. Ng, executive director of the Airport Authority of Hong Kong; Henry Ma, managing director of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd., and Dennis Choy, the airline's general manager for communication.

A check with the airline's website, however, indicated that tickets to Manila were not yet available to those booking flights online.

Pinoy boat driver dies after allegedly taking 'zombie drug'

By Vir B. Lumicao

Video shows Jay B being restrained by police

A Filipino boat driver in Saikung reportedly died in hospital on Wednesday while being treated for the effects of flakka, also known as the “zombie drug” because users exhibit bizarre, zombie-like behavior and unusual strength.

Reports reaching The SUN said the victim, Jay B., had not eaten or slept for two days and was staggering, jerking and dancing uncontrollably on Tuesday because of the effects of the drug.

A video that was circulated in the community showed the victim being restrained by a police officer on a Saikung boardwalk while he shook and mumbled incoherently.

A Facebook post accompanied by the video footage and a still photograph of the victim said Jay B. was taken by the police to an unnamed hospital, but died after being attended to by hospital staff.

But the exact cause of his death was not immediately known.

Jay B. appeared to be quite well known to members of a Filcom group with political leanings.

The Consulate’s assistance to nationals section said Jay B. was a dependent visa holder who was driving a boat for a living in Saikung, where he and his wife lived.

The ATN officer said it was the victim’s wife who reported his death to the Consulate.

But an officer at the Police Public Relations Branch said on Thursday evening that they had not received any report about the incident. He however, said, he would male further inquiries.

Flakka is reported to have come out in the market in 2014, but it was only in recent months that its potent effects became well known after videos showing abusers in the United States and Brazil acting strangely were posted on the internet.

Drug users reportedly take flakka to get a feeling of euphoria, a heightened sense of awareness, stimulation and energy.

Some of the victims were shown to have hurled themselves onto car windshields or attack other people, although most just twitched uncontrollably and had to be held down until they could be given help.

It appears relatively new in Hong Kong, although there are reports the drug could easily be ordered online from China.

The synthetic psychoative drug is also known by its street name krokodil.

Filipino fined $1k for carrying tear gas, baton in luggage

By Merly T

File photo of tear gas canisters

Bunda

A Filipino who was on a layover in Hong Kong ended up being detained after he was found to have a tear gas canister, an extendable baton, a flashlight and a pair of handcuffs in the luggage he was carrying for his onward flight to London on May 13.

According to Rafael Revilla Flogo, a 30-year-old security guard from Marinduque, he brought the said items at the request of his employer in Britain who had recruited him to work in an island off London that he was developing.

Flogo said he did not know that the items are not allowed to be brought into Hong Kong.

After paying a fine of $1,000, Flogo was released, and he flew on to London on May 26. He was given shelter by a group of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong while waiting for his employer to buy him a new ticket.

Chek Lap Kok Airport

He said he was ordered by the police to return to Hong Kong in November to attend a seminar on the law forbidding the transport of explosive materials into the city. If he fails to attend the seminar, he will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong again.

According to Flogo, who is married with two children, he worked for seven years as a security guard in Taguig City. He was subsequently recruited by an employment agency to work in the island of Thurks in Britain, which was being developed by a Canadian.

Sample of an extendable baton

He was supposed to fly to Britain with two other recruits late on May 12 but his companions were not able to book the same flight.

Before leaving Manila, he said his employer asked if he could buy the tear gas and other items, and bring them to Britain in his luggage. Flogo said he asked his former boss at the security firm if he could do this, and he was assured it was alright.

Early on May 13, as he was making his way to the gate for his connecting flight, he said he heard his name being called over the airport’s public address system. It turned out security personnel had found the banned items in his luggage and wanted to question him.

He was arrested at the airport and questioned for 12 hours before being charged with possession of arms without a licence. Fortunately, he was allowed to make a phone call to his employer in Britain so he was able to relay his predicament.

Police took him to the West Kowloon magistracy early on May 14 where he pleaded guilty to the charge of carrying the banned items, then paid the $1,000 fine.

Flogo was told Hong Kong has very strict laws against bringing in arms, ammunition and exlosives, including the items found in his possession. The prohibition also extemds to bullets, whether live or empty, and arnis sticks or chako.

Flogo stayed with a group of kindly Ilongga OFWs for about a week while his employer booked his onward flight.

He was warned by police that should his colleagues try to bring in the same prohibited items from Manila they would surely be arrested and jailed.

Flogo has asked that the warning be relayed to other Filipinos, now well aware that not knowing about Hong Kong’s laws could not be used as an excuse for avoiding legal liability.

Filipina cricketeers set to claim league crown

By Vir B. Lumicao

Divas team captain and 2-time MVP Josie Arimas packs a big wallop

 The first Filipino women’s cricket team comprising domestic workers in Hong Kong is well on its way to becoming the champion of this season’s Cricket Hong Kong Women’s Development League.

The SCC Divas, comprising 25 players, are already the sure winners even as they still have to play their last two games of the season this coming Sunday, June 3, at Po Kong Village Road Park in Tsz Wan Shan.

After a clean sweep of all their seven games in the past four Sundays, the Divas can lose both games and still emerge the league winners.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “Sa June 3, two games left, win or lose champion na kami. Pero sabi ng coach talunin pa rin sila para ma-satisfy siya,” team captain Josie Arimas said, after back-to-back wins on May 27.  The Divas beat Hong Kong Cricket Club by 49 runs in the morning match, and nailed a 53-run victory over Craigengower Cricket Club in the afternoon.

At the end of the day, the scorecard was HKCC 76/4 and SCC Divas 125/5 for the first game. It was 157/2 for SCC Divas and 104/1 for CCC in the second game.

The Divas, mostly ex-league players in baseball and softball, with their manager Animesh Kulkarni 

Arimas was picked the most valuable player of the day, a repeat of her May 6 feat when she was chosen as MVP in the Divas’ first game in the league.

This is the Filipina team’s first-ever participation in the league since it was formed in May last year by Arimas, a Palarong Pambansa baseball star who began playing for HKCC in January 2015.

The Divas made their presence felt in Hong Kong cricket on May 6 when Arimas led the team to an 85-run win over CCC, scoring 28/2 to take the MVP of the day plum. The Divas were 122/3 in 16 overs against CCC, which finished with 37/8.

Team manager Animesh Kulkarni, an officer of The Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (Hong Kong, China), told The SUN the Filipinas are strong players.

“They practice only once a week on their day off but they play like veterans and beat their younger rivals,” he said.

After his wards’ triumph on May 27, Kulkarni said he would upgrade them to the T20 League from the Development division, the league for 16-over matches for newcomers, Arimas said. She said T20 is a bracket where the game is played in 20 overs. 

It was Kulkarni who encouraged Arimas to form the SCC Divas last year in preparation for this year’s league. With patient training by coach Najeeb Amar and British head coach Ricky Waite of Hong Kong’s national team, the Divas honed up their skills in a relatively short time.

Divas get free coaching from Ricky Waite of the HK National team

This flexibility was attributed by both Arimas and Waite to the women’s previous sports, baseball and softball, where they played for Philippine Sluggers and Fate, respectively, before wading into cricket.

“Their skill level is very high,” Waite told The SUN after the maiden match on May 6. “They’re simply fantastic. They played naturally,” Waite said, noting their eye coordination when they throw the ball.

Arimas said Waite told the Divas they are amazingly strong whackers, but that they still need to train on how to stop a strong bowl.

Kulkarni and Waite said they wanted the team to be recognized by the Philippine Cricket Club so that the Divas could play friendly matches with their Manila counterparts.  

The victory trail:

May 6 Game 1 – SCC Divas won on Lantau Team no show

Game 2 – SCC Divas 122/3 beat CCC 37/8 by 85 runs

May 13 – SCC Divas beat USRC by 90 runs

May 20 Game 2 – SCC Divas 169 beat USRC 128 by 41 runs

Game 4– SCC Divas 126 beat CCC 109 by 17 runs

May 27 Game 1 –SCC Divas 125/5 beat HKCC 76/4 by 49 runs

Game 2 – SCC Divas 157/2 beat CCC 104/1 by 53 run.

Luho ng anak

Si Luz na tubong Iba, Zambales ay bago pa lang sa Hong Kong. Nakapagtapos siya ng pag-aaral dahil sa sariling sikap kaya ipinangako niya sa sarili na hindi niya ipaparanas ang hirap na pinagdaanan noon sa kanyang tatlong anak.

Pinili niya ang mangibang bayan para magtrabaho dahil ayaw niya mangyari na kapag humingi ne pera ang mga anak ay wala siyang maibigay. Ngunit taliwas ito sa payo ng isang Pinay na nakilala niya sa building nila, at 10 taon na sa Hong Kong.

Ayon sa Pinay mas makakabuting dumanas ng hirap ang mga bata upang matutong magsikap.  Ito raw ang huhubog sa kanila para mangarap at magsipag sa pag aaral.

Napag alaman ni Luz sa kwento nito na nagkaproblema ito sa anak dahil ibinigay nito ang lahat ng hilingin ng bata, tulad ng mamahaling telepono, laptop at iba pang gamit, ngunit nabarkada at nakabuntis sa murang edad.

Ayon pa sa Pinay katulad din niya si Luz noon na ayaw maghirap ang anak kaya pinalaki niya sa layaw. Ngayon ay problemado ito dahil umaaasa lang sa kanyang padala ang anak at kung hindi ito makapagbigay ay masasakit na salita ang naririnig.

Mababanaag sa mukha ng Pinay ang pagsisi at lungkot. Sinabi na lang ni Luz na ipapanalangin niya na nawa ay magbago ang anak nito. Susundin din daw niya ang payo nito para maiwasan na maligaw ng landas ang kanyang mga anak.

Tatandaan niya na ang dapat niyang ibigay ay iyong tamang pangangailangan lang nila, at hindi ang mga luho sa buhay. Si Luz ay anim na buwan pa lamang sa among naninirahan sa Tung Chung. – Ellen Asis

Ayaw magsayang ng oras sa pag-tambay

Dahil sa isang seminar ay nagkakilala sina Lena at Lei, at naging matalik na magkaibigan. Si Lena ay apat na taon na sa Hong Kong at laging dumadalo ng mga seminar ng iba't ibang organisasyon upang maging kapaki-pakinabang ang kanyang day off. Naengganyo nya si Lei na sumama sa kanyang mga lakad upang matuto rin.

Ayon kay  Lei sa unang pagkakataon na dumalo siya sa isang seminar na itinatag ng The SUN at nakilala niya si Lena ay saka lang naging kapaki-pakinabang ang araw ng kanyang pahinga.

Dati ay marami siyang hindi alam sa nangyayari sa kanyang paligid at laging lakwatsa lang ang ginagawa kapag araw ng linggo. Lagi siyang nasa Central at kung minsan ay nakikipag-inuman sa mga kaibigan kaya lumasing kung umuwi sa bahay ng amo sa Discovery Bay.

Ngunit ang lahat ng ito ay nabago nang maging kaibigan si Lena. Tuwing araw ng Linggo ay dumadalo na rin siya sa seminar at hindi na nakikipag-inuman.

Dahil sa mga natutunan sa seminar ay may naitatabi  na siya mula sa kanyang suweldo dahil hindi na siya gumagastos ng malaki o bumibili ng alak at pulutan. Masaya siya dahil sa nadadagdagan na ang kanyang kaalaman ay nakakatipid pa siya.

Si Lei ay tubong Pangasinan, edad 38 at may dalawang anak sa Pilipinas samantalang si Lena ay dalaga at naninilbihan sa Mid-Levels. Kadarating pa lang niya sa Hong Kong nang mapasama sa mga Pinay na aktibo sa pag volunteer sa Konsulado. Dahil dito ay marami na siyang nadaluhan na mga pagsasanay at pagtitipon na kinapupulutan ng aral. – Ellen Asis

Taga Pangasinan, hinandugan ng libreng pagsasanay

Ni George Manalansan

Sa kabila ng maraming lakad sa araw ng dayoff ay naisingit ng grupo ng mga taga Mapandan, Pangasinan ang isang importanteng pagsasanay, ang libreng Financial Literacy na isinagawa ng Mobile Outreach Team ng Card Hong Kong Foundation.

Ang pagsasanay ay ginawa sa paanan ng footbridge katabi ng Wanchai Police station.

Ginanap ang mabungang talakayan sa isang kalsada sa paanan ng footbridge katabi ng Wanchai Police station noong Mayo 6.

Natutunan ng mga nagsanay ang pagsusulat ng adhikain para sa tamang paghawak ng kanilang kinita, paraan ng pag-iipon, at pagharap sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari, sa kanilang unang sesyon.

Isinalarawan ng founder ng Card HK na si Edna Aquino ang ganitong uri ng pagsasanay sa mensaheng ito sa Facebook: “Humans on the streets. Classrooms without borders. These are Filipino  migrant workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong mentoring their “kapwa”  OFWs to become financially literate as a first step towards attaining economic freedom. Spaces for learning on a weekend especially for people like them are very restrictive and expensive.  Truly heroic.”

Ayon pa kay Aquino, aabot na sa 3,000 OFW ang dumaan sa ganitong uri ng pagsasanay sa tulong ng mga volunteer ng Card.

Laking pasasalamat naman ni Marilou de Vera, presidente ng Mapandan sampu ng mga miyembro, dahil sa kaalamang ipinaabot sa kanila, sa mismong istambayan nila. 

Ang sabi niya, “Maraming salamat  po sa mga trainors at marami kaming natutunan  mula sa Card HongKong Foundation. See you  next session po, excited na po lahat kami, salamat sa time na binigay niyo sa amin..”

Ang mga bagong nagtapos (itaas) na taga Mapandan, Pangasinan , kasama ang kanilang mga trainor.

Tunay nga na sa isang lider na katulad niya, napakahalaga na mahanapan ang mga  miyembro ng iyong grupo ng dagdag kaalaman.

Ang ikalawang sesyon ay gaganapin sa susunod na buwan na binubuo ng apat na malalaking usapin tungkol sa pagpapalago ng perang pinaghirapan.

Para sa mga grupo at asosasyon na nais ding sumailalim sa pagsasanay na dulot ng mobile outreach group na ito, magpadala lang ng mensahe sa Facebook Page: Card Hongkong Foundation o tumawag lang sa 9529 6392/ 5423 8196/ 9606 6810.

Mga migrante, hinikayat na sumali sa mga pagsasanay

Consul General Antonio A. Morales (inset) congratulates the graduates for their perseverance and determination to undergo training courses such as those offered free by CARD Hong Kong. He served as guest of honor and speaker during the graduation rites of CARD Hong Kong Foundation’s financial literacy course held on 29 April 2018 at Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town.

Ni George Manalansan

Halos 200 migranteng manggagawa mula sa tatlong grupo ng mga nagsipagtapos ng Financial Literacy Program ng Card OFW Foundation ang nagtipon-tipon sa isang parangal na isinagawa sa Bayanihan Centre sa Kennedy Town noong Abr 29.

Naging panauhing pandangal si Consul  General Antonio Morales, na nagsabing iyon ang una niyang pagpunta sa Bayanihan Centre magmula nang dumating siya sa Hong Kong ilang buwan na ang nakakaraan.  Ikinuwento niya na nasa 180,000 ang mga OFW sa Singapore na karamihan ay mga skilled at professional worker, hindi katulad sa Hong Kong na higit na nakakalamang ang mga kasambahay sa tinatayang bilang ng mga Pilipino na 220, 000.

Kamakailan ay nagkaroon daw siya ng pakikipagpulong kay Chief Executive Carrie Lam at Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung. Kanila daw pinasalamatan ang mga Pilipino dahil sa naging ambag nila sa paglago ng ekonomiya ng Hong Kong. Datapwat may mga abusadong employer ay isa na daw ang Hong Kong sa mga lugar sa buong mundo kung saan mas protektado ang mga manggagawa. Sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin ganap na kinikilala ng Hong Kong ang serbisyo ng mga manggagawang dayuhan dahil hindi sila binibigyan ng karapatan na maging residente.

Dagdag pa ng ConGen Morales, hindi polisiya ng gobyerno ang magpadala ng trabahador sa ibang bansa, lalo na sa lugar na mataas ang bilang ng mga minamaltrato. Ngunit dahil sa kakulangan ng oportunidad sa ating bayan kaya hindi maiwasan ng mga Pilipino ang maghanap ng trabaho sa labas ng bansa.

Naikuwento din niya na napansin niya na sa gusali ng Konsulado ay may isang pautangan na mas mahaba pa ang pila minsan kaysa sa kanilang opisina. Talaga daw na malaking problema ang utangan sa Hong Kong kaya dapat na maghanda ang mga manggagawa para sa kanilang kinabukasan sa pamamagitan ng pag-iipon at pagdadagdag kaalaman, gaya ng ibinibigay ng Card.

Payo niya, “Bigyan ng aksiyon ang inyong mga pangarap at maghikayat pa sa kapwa na sumali sa Card Financial Literacy Program.” Dagdag payo pa niya, “knowledge is power”, “invest in your future,’  “make your dreams come true,” bago sinabi ang “Congratulations.”

Ayon naman sa sugo ng Card MRI sa Pilipinas na si Pauline Landicho, mayroon nang apat na milyon na kliyente ang grupo sa 82 probinsiya sa bansa, kung saan naabot na nila ang 95% ng lahat ng  mga munisipyo, at 96% ng mga barangay.

Ayon pa sa kanya, umabot na sa 2,514 ang nagtapos ng Financial Literacy at 1,578 naman ang nakinabang na sa mga produkto at serbisyo ng Card MRI. Pangarap daw ng Card na magkaroon ng marangal na buhay  ang bawat Pilipino kaya’t patuloy silang nagsisikap para tulungan ang mga komunidad na matupad ang kanilang mga pangarap.

Naging bisita rin si Fr. Jim Mulroney na sa simula’t sapul ay sumusuporta sa mga programa ng Card.

“Congratulations, this is the beginning of your success,” mensahe niya sa mga nagtapos.

Si Maria Ragasa, isa sa mga kliyente ng Card, ang nagsabi na mas pinili niya ang maging negosyante kaysa magtrabaho bilang nars sa Amerika. Dahil daw sa pinahiram na puhunan sa kanya ng Card ay napalago niya ang kanyang negosyo na buy ang sell. Kamakailan ay isa siya sa mga sumali sa product expo na ginanap sa Convention and Exhibition Centre sa Wanchai.

Nagbigay naman ng testimonya si Marcelino Bate ng batch 45 sa positibong pagbabago na idinulot sa kanya ng fin-lit program. Ayon sa kanya mahalaga na matuto din ang mga kapamilya ng OFW sa paghawak ng pera para maging katuwang sila sa pagsusulong nga kanilang kabuhayan.

Payo pa niya, maging totoo sa sarili at ipaalam sa pamilya ang hirap ng nangngamuhan sa ibayong dagat.

Para naman kay Sylvia Basilio na isa rin sa mga nagtapos mula sa batch 47, inabot na siya ng pitong taon sa Hong Kong na walang ipon para sa sarili dahil nauubos ang sahod para sa kapamilya. Ngayon ay nag-iba na ang kanyang pananaw, salamat sa mga natutunan niya mula sa Card.

Lahat ng mga nagbigay ng testimonya ay naghikayat sa mga kapwa nila migranteng mangagagawa na lumahok din sa pagsasanay ng Card.

Para sa susunod na libreng pagsasanay sa ika-23 ng Hunyo at ika-22 ng Hulyo, tumawag lamang sa 9529 8196  o  9606  6810 para magparehistro.

HK millionaire talks to OFWs on starting business

Jared King 

A group of Filipino domestic helpers had the rare treat of listening to a talk by one of Hong Kong’s successful young entrepreneurs, Jared King, on Apr 29 at the Consulate.

King, a Canadian who built a million-dollar media agency, E3 Reloaded, in just two years after arriving in Hong Kong in 2010 at age 26, spoke to the migrant workers on the topic of “How to start
a business”.

But he went beyond this, telling his listeners on how to choose the right business, beat the competition, and get customers.


King, who also founded Lender Friend, which advertisers itself as “an ethical money lender that will soon provide low-interest loans to domestic workers in Hong Kong, told the participants that before they can start a business, they must really believe in themselves first, then take action. It is a must, he said, that you are fully committed to what you want to do, and you make sure you get it done one step at a time.

Running a business requires focus and a proper mindset, he said.

He also said it is okay to make a mistake, but you must learn from the mistake to improve yourself and then do your best because 99% of the obstacles in setting up a business can be overcome.

He listed down four stages of a business, from forming an idea, experimenting, keeping your customers happy, and then growth. To succeed, he said you have to go out and experiment, try to do things differently and better. While doing the business, one should continue making friends and building a strong relationship with your customers. This you can do by talking to them a lot and asking them what they want, or what would make them happy.

Jared King, a Canadian who built a million-dollar media agency, joins the seminar participants in a group photo.

On hand to welcome King and the 91 participants in the seminar was Deputy Consul General Roderico Atienza who said starting a business will enable migrant workers to make a living and continue feeding and supporting their family when they return home.

Atienza told the participants to take the chance at every opportunity to ask questions, learn and pick up ideas from the speaker that will help them to establish a good business.

The seminar was a collaborative effort between the Consulate and Wimler Foundation. – Ellen Asis

Pinoy bowlers in HK feed children of Subic Aetas

More than 200 Aeta children flocked on Apr 30 to an ecological park in Subic, Zambales, to partake of a feeding program organized by members of the Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong.

Members of FBCGK led by founder/chairman Jenny Gafate undertook the mission as part of the group’s annual charity works, funded by money raised from its bowling tournaments.

Gafate said the team travelled to Subic right after the awarding of trophies and medals on the last night of the Australasian-Filipino Bowling Friendship Games on Apr 29 at the Makati Superbowl  Bowling Center 42 Tenpin Lanes.

“We travelled to Subic even though it was already late and without any sleep because our feeding mission was scheduled for Apr 30,” Gafate said.

The feeding mission was held at the Pamulaklakin Tribus Aetas Trail on the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The FBCHK members helped each other prepare the food for the day’s event.
Gafate said the group also handed out clothes and cash to the recipients.   

Children line up to be served food distributed by members of Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong at an ecological park in Subic, Zambales.

Employers’ support help Fate win KO championship

By Daisy CL Mandap and Emz Frial

The all-Filipino softball team, Fate, has won the championship of the knock-out tournament, Festival of Sports, despite being made to play on a Saturday when most, if not all, of its players were supposed to be at work.

The game held at Shek Kip Mei field on May 12 ended with Fate emerging with another unblemished record, beating local team Astro, 8-0, in five innings.

Team members and their supporters celebrate after winning the championship.

First to score were Myra Japitana and Eunice Locop, who each contributed a point in the first inning.
In the second inning, Editha Hidalgo made the score 3-0, in Fate’s favor. Outfielders Bambee
Abadilla and Maribel Sitchon both caught a flyball by an Astro hitter, preventing their rivals from scoring.

Astro tightened its defense on the third and fourth inning, preventing Fate from adding to its score. But the all-Filipina team bounced back with five scores on the fifth inning, to seal the game. Those who scored were: Sherlyn Gamata,  Japitana,  Locop,  Don Gaborno and Bambee Abadilla.

Tension simmered when Gaborno was hit on the side of her knee by an Astro hitter when she tried to slide onto homebase in the fifth inning. Fate’s captain could not get up at first, but managed to do so eventually with help from her teammates.

The big win left Fate manager Law Wai Ho teary eyed as the team thanked him for his consistent and valuable support.

Gaborno said it was almost a miracle that all of the team’s 17 players, all working as domestic helpers in Hong Kong, managed to obtain permission to swap their usual Sunday off with a Saturday, so they could play in the championship.

Their mostly Chinese employers reportedly came around to support them when they learned that the organizers had insisted on holding the finals on a Saturday.  “Pati yung mga among mga Intsik nagalit dahil pakiramdam nila ay dinadaya kami,” she said.

But up until Friday evening, Gaborno said she was not sure if the team would have enough players on the day.

It was the first time since they started playing in either the FOS or the regular league, that they were called to play on a Saturday.

Gaborno had earlier pleaded with organizers through Law to reschedule the final game but Astro reportedly refused to give way.

“Sabi ni Mr Law, manalo matalo, pilitin naming magpakita sa laro kasi kung hindi ay talo agad kami”, she said.

Up until Friday night, Gaborno said she wasn’t sure how many of the players would show up, but luckily, all came through the next day, along with some of their regular supporters.

It was the fourth straight victory by Fate in the league, and as in the past games, they managed to prevent their rival from scoring a single point.

Fate did even better in the regular league, when it outclassed rival Celsius in spectacular fashion,  scoring 20-nil in a game on Apr 29 that lasted four innings.

The same pattern was recorded in Fate’s six previous matches in the B league of the HK Softball Championships, which it all won handily.

The tournament is expected to last until August this year, before resuming for the new season in October

Gaborno said the team has been performing better than before because of the players’ wonderful teamwork.

Fate is now said to be made up of seven former players, and 10 new recruits, who somehow have managed to work well together.

“Maganda ang teamwork ngayon kasi kapag training, puspusan talaga. Lahat sila ay nakikiisa kaya magaan lagi ang panalo,” Gaborno said.

Fate is next scheduled to play against the local team, SCAA-WSC, on May 20, 3pm,  in the regular league.

Pinay in Fortress MTR incident now in hospital

The patient was photographed near the
turnstiles of the MTR station in Fortress Hill.

A Filipina domestic worker who had a mental breakdown on May 1 at Fortress Hill MTR Station is now recovering in hospital, and her condition is said to be “improving”.

Lorna Obedoza of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administation said the worker’s employer who regularly visits her at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan, had reported that the patient looks much better now, and could recover soon.

Footages of the worker showing her acting abnormally went viral on Facebook, and were seen by a relative and townmate in Hinundayan, Southern Leyte, who immediately informed the patient’s parents and siblings.

But the patient, said to be 44 years old, was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital by the police who responded to calls for assistance, and later transferred to the psychiatric ward of Eastern Hospital.

The relative told The SUN the patient was single and an introvert, so her relatives and friends who are also working in Hong Kong did not know what could have led to her breakdown. 

The incident was reported to the police at about 9:00 am on May 1, as case of someone obstructing pedestrians at the MTR station. Police later classified it as ‘suspected mentally disordered person found.”

The Filipina was shown on the videos standing in front of the turnstiles with upraised hands, before prostrating herself on the floor, unmindful of people around her. One of those who took shots said the worker had said at one point, “Ako ang tagapagligtas ninyong lahat!”.

HK police drop case vs employers of Pinay who fell to her death in Shenzhen

By Vir B. Lumicao

Lorain Asuncion’s death: “... there was 

insufficient evidence to charge any person. “

Hong Kong police have released the former employers of Lorain Asuncion, the Filipina domestic worker who fell to her death on July 24 last year while in Shenzhen for a supposed holiday with the couple and their children.

A spokesman of the Police Public Relations Branch said in a message to The SUN that there was a lack of evidence to charge the couple, Gu Huaiyu and Ms Liu.

“After enquiry and investigation, police had sought legal advice and it was concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge any person. The arrested 47-year-old man and the 32-year-old woman were released,” the PPRB spokesman said.
But the spokesman said that “police are still investigating the case.”

When contacted online on May 11, Asuncion’s sister Jenevieve Javier expressed surprise at how soon the police managed to close their investigation of the employers.

“Bakit ganun naman yata kabilis nilang tinapos. Lilinawin ko ulit sa kanila,” she said.

The police statement confirmed information from Javier, who came to Hong Kong for a four-day visit on May 7. She said an investigator called her up on the same day telling her the case against Gu and Liu was being dropped.

Javier said the officer told her Hong Kong police would now turn their attention to the circumstances of her sister’s death in Shenzhen.

She also said the police asked Asuncion’s family to submit documents pertaining to her beneficiaries. Javier said the documents required were copies of the very same documents that she had attached to the application for employee compensation that she had submitted to the Labour Department.

Danilo Baldon of the Philippine Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, who had been liaising with the police about the Asuncion case, also confirmed the dropping of the case against the employers.

Asuncion was 28 years old when she reportedly plunged to her death from the 22nd floor flat of Liu’s father in Longgang District, Shenzhen on July 23 or 24 last year.

Three autopsies were conducted on her remains but the findings were all the same – that there was nothing suspicious in her death.

Forensic experts from the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau and from a local university who examined Asuncion’s remains separately shortly after the tragedy had both ruled out foul play. A third autopsy by Hong Kong police on Nov 14 made the same findings.

The remains were brought to Hong Kong on Nov 14 for the standard autopsy before the deceased OFW made her final voyage home in a coffin the next day.

Maling date

Nataranta nang husto si Flora, 40, isang Ilokana, nang dumating ang kanyang mga amo mula sa paglalaro ng golf na pagod at gutom na gutom. Pagsabi ng kanyang among babae na maghanda na siya ng hapunan ay ganoon na lang ang gulat ni Flora dahil wala siyang niluto.

Tinandaan niya kasi na iyon ang petsa sa kalendaryo kung saan sinulat ng amo niyang lalaki na hindi sila kakain sa bahay ng gabing iyon. Nang sabihin niya ito sa mga amo ay sinabihan siya ng lalaki na basahing maigi ang petsa kung saan iyon nakasulat, at noon lang napansin na sa buwan ng Mayo pala siya tumitingin, e Abril pa lang noon.

Nang malaman ng amo ang dahilan ng kanyang pagkakamali ay sinabihan siya sa banayad na salita na ipagluto na lang sila ng simpleng noodles, kahit udon o mifan na may sahog na balls o dumplings at gulay.

Pinagpawisan ng husto si Flora kahit medyo nawala na ang kanyang kaba. Hindi kasi iyon ang unang pagkakataon na pumalpak siya sa pagbabasa ng memo sa kalendaryo na sinulat ng kanyang mga amo. Mula noon ay itinaon niya sa isip na ilang beses na niyang sisiguraduhin ang mga petsang hindi siya kailangang magluto ng hapunan. – George Manalansan

Nanibago sa bagong amo

Nahirapan mag-adjust si Joe, 38, taga Bataan, nang lumipat sa bagong among Intsik amo. Dati kasi siyang stay-out at tagapag-alaga ng isang matanda kaya hindi niya kinailangang makisalamuha sa maraming tao.

Lumipat siya sa bagong amo matapos mag-aral mag-drive, at na-offeran ng mas malaking suweldo. Mababait naman ang kanyang mga bagong amo.

Sa unang gabi niya sa kanila ay sinabihan siyang umupo sa hapag-kainan kasama ang isang kababayang babae. Dahil asiwang-asiwa siya sa pagkilos ay nakiusap siya na sa kusina na lang kumain sa susunod, at pumayag naman sila. Agad namang sumama sa kanya ang kasamang Pinay na hindi rin pala komportable na kasama ang mga amo sa hapag-kainan.

Hindi rin madamot ang mga amo sa pagkain. Isang araw ay may nakita siyang mangga sa kusina, at tinanong niya ang kasambahay kung puwedeng kumain nito. Ang sagot naman ng Pinay, “Ang sabi ni boss ay ganito, you can eat but do not finish it.” Tawanan silang pareho sa sinabi nito.

Sa pagdaan ng mga araw ay nagpatuloy ang pagkailang ni Joe sa mga ginagawa sa loob ng bahay ng amo. Minsan kasi ay sinita siya ni paupau dahil nakita siyang nagkakamay sa pagkain. “Oh ow wu cho, um kon cheng,”sabi ni paupau, na ang ibig sabihin ay madumi.

Napahiya si Joe kaya mula noon ay nagkakamay na lang siya ulit kapag sa labas nag-dinner ang mga amo. Ang isa pang pinuna ng mabait na matanda ay iyong paggamit niya ng malaking bowl sa pagkain. Medyo bitin daw kasi siya sa bowl na maliit, na siyang ginagamit ng mga Intsik sa pagkain.

Pagkakita sa kanya ng matanda ay sinabi ang “Whoa, sik kam to” na ang ibig sabihin ay ang takaw naman niya. Dahil medyo sanay na sa kantyaw ng matanda ay tinawanan na lang niya ito, at pagtalikod ay bumalik sa kanyang malaking kainan.

Bagamat naninibago pa rin ay natuto na ring sakyan ni Joe ang mga kaugalian ng mga amo, katulad halimbawa ng kapag may inabot sa iyo ay dapat dalawang kamay ang iyong gagamitin sa pagtanggap. Sinusunod din niya ang pamahiin nila na maligo ng may dahong pinakulo, sa kaisipang nakakatulong ito para mapaalis ang mga masasamang espiritu.

Sabi ni Joe, madami siyang natutunan sa kulturang Intsik ng dahil sa pagtira sa bahay ng amo. Hindi naman daw masama ang makibagay kung hindi naman makakasama sa iyo. Ang pinakaimportante, mababait ang kanyang mga pinagsisilbihan at hindi marunong magtanim ng galit. Maaaring sitahin ka ngayon sa ginawa mo, pero kinabukasan ay ok na ulit sila. – George Manalansan

Filipina set to plead guilty to $180k burglary

Filipina set to plead guilty to $180k theft
at District Court on Sept3

Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina former domestic worker accused of stealing $180,000 from a commercial building in Central early this year is ready to plead guilty to a charge of burglary, according to her lawyer.

District Court Judge Anthony Kwok told Rachel B Rosimo on May 17 to return to the court on Sept 5 for the plea-taking.

Rosimo first appeared in Eastern Court, charged with one count of burglary and another count of breach of condition of stay. The case was moved to the District Court because of the severity of the charges.

The charge for the immigration offence was added after investigators discovered that Rosimo had worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong, then remained illegally after he contract was prematurely terminated.

The 35-year-old woman, said to be a clerk, was originally accused of  theft, but the charge was subsequently amended to burglary.

A police report said Rachel Rosimo, 35, trespassed into the Sante Barley Ltd office in Room 1003, Lansing House on Queen’s Road Central, on an unspecified date and made off with $180,000 in cash.

The amended charge said she carried out the burglary with the involvement of other unknown persons. Police are still investigating.

Rosimo did not apply for bail, so she was kept in police custody.

German model fined $5k for taking stuff a Pinay had left behind

Court rules theft includes taking things
that are left behind

A female German model was fined $5,000 by an Eastern Court magistrate after she pleaded guilty to a charge of theft for taking a paper bag with two electrical appliances that a Filipina had left behind in a bakeshop in Causeway Bay.

A remorseful Melina Budde, 20, apologized for the offense after she was convicted on May 18 by Magistrate Peter Law. She went to court without a lawyer to represent her.

The prosecution said police arrested Budde on Apr 20 after CCTV footage of the Fusion Bakeshop in Park N Shop at Leighton Centre showed her making off with the bag, which contained a Panasonic cooker and Tefal hair straightener.

The investigators reviewed other CCTV footages in the area until they traced where  Budde was staying. They went to the place and found the defendant as well as the missing appliances there.

The owner of the appliances, Cristina  M. Escalona, told the police that she forgot about the bag after buying some stuff at the bakeshop at around 7am on Apr 18.

When the Filipina returned to the shop shortly afterwards to retrieve the bag, it was already gone, prompting her to report to the police.

Law imposed a fine of $5,000 as a sentence and ordered Budde to pay up within a week. She said she did not have that amount but would ask her parents to send her money.

Budde said she was due to fly out of Hong Kong on June 30, so, Law warned her she would be in deep trouble if she left without settling her fine. – Vir B. Lumicao

Education still top priority of OFWs—survey

By Daisy CL Mandap


Most Filipinos still go abroad to provide for their children’s education.

This fact is shown by a recently released survey on the impact of Card OFW Foundation’s Financial Literacy Program on overseas Filipino workers. The 91 respondents were randomly selected from among graduates of the program, which has been conducted in Hong Kong since 2011.

OFWs still have their priorities in mind.

The study showed that 51% of the respondents, regardless of the time since they completed the program, allocated their budgets mainly for their children’s education. This was far higher than the 34% allocation for their family’s daily needs.

Savings, which is one of the targeted goals of the program, only took up 21% of their budgets, slightly less than the 22% eaten up by medical expenses.

Surprisingly, allocating money for housing, which used to be identified as one of the biggest reasons why Filipinos go abroad to work, has fallen way below in the list of priorities, now accounting for only 19% of the respondents’ budget. But this could also be because the cost of houses is now beyond the reach of an ordinary OFW.

Card OFW Foundation noted, however, that while education ate up the biggest share of a migrant worker’s budget, it was also cited by respondents as the main reason why they borrow money.

“Although the survey is limited in finding out the reason behind this, on a more positive note, it is evident that education of the children is one of the most important priorities of OFWs,” said the report.

An interesting finding was the big number of respondents (77%) who said they had taken out an insurance in some form, apparently in response also to growing concerns about medical and health issues.

“Some of them, depending on their budget and number of dependents, afford to pay for more than one type of insurance but in all combination of insurances they avail, there is always a medical or health insurance. This shows they value health insurance, whether it is for their personal use or for their dependents,” said the report.

As for the program’s popularity among the OFWs, a whopping 97% of the respondents said that they liked the topics discussed, particularly budgeting (79%), goal settings (77%), needs and wants (70%) savings and unforeseen events (70%), investment (64%), and debt management (56%).

A big number (78%) of the respondents also said they liked the additional knowledge gained in managing their finances, for others the opportunity to save (66%) and the motivation to invest their money (54%).

Nearly all (92%) said they did not find anything to dislike in the program, but they wished for additional topics to be discussed, like investment and networking. A negligible number found fault in the lack of time to sufficiently cover all the topics, or the late start in the discussions.

Overall, the respondents gave a 4.4 rating on a scale of 5 to the program, indicating a high level of satisfaction from among those who took it.

But the program’s actual impact, based on the participants’ self-assessment, was not as dramatic.

The biggest change indicated by the respondents was the increase in their knowledge of budgeting, at 80%. This was followed by an increased awareness in listing down earnings and expenses (78%), the need to save (76%) and making sure that their expenses were in line with their income (62%).

“Most of the respondents revealed that after completing the Financial Literacy Program, most of them gained more than enough knowledge to help them improve their skills on budgeting and relatively giving importance to the value of savings as well,” said the report.

It also pointed out that the OFWs were not the only ones who received financial education through the program, but also their relatives who play an important role in managing the money that they send home.

Pinay DH held for drug trafficking

By The SUN

A Filipina domestic helper will appear at the Eastern magistracy on Jun 25 to answer a charge of drug trafficking.

Sharon V. Berces first appeared at Kowloon City court on May 21, but prosecutors told Magistrate Woo Huey-fang that her case would be transferred to the Eastern court.

The prosecution also opposed granting bail to Berces, citing the seriousness of the case and her being a  flight risk because she has no local ties.

Berces has been in custody since her arrest on Feb 28.

No other details of her case, such as the amount of drugs involved, were available.

Pagtataksil sa mga nagtiwalang OFW

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Hindi kami komportable sa pakikipagpulong ng Pangulong Duterte sa mga OFW dito sa Hong Kong noong Abril kung saan pumapel ang mga opisyal ng samahan ng mga lokal na employment agency.

Bago sila dumating sa Kai Tak Cruise Terminal para sa pakikipagpulong ng mga OFW sa Pangulo, na dumalaw dito noong Abril 5, ay isang marangyang hapunan sa tinuluyang hotel ang inihandog ng lider ng bansa sa “mga kaibigang taga-Hong Kong”.

Naganap ang sorpresang piging at pagdalo ng mga may-ari ng malalaking ahensiya sa “meeting with the Filipino community and forum” sa kainitan ng isyu ukol sa biglaang pagpapauwi ni Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III kay Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre.

Nabigla ang marami sa 3,000 OFW na dumalo sa pagtitipon nang lumitaw sa VIP area sa harapan ng entablado ang pangkat ng taga-ahensiya at kitang-kita ang paglapit ng mga ito sa mga opisyal ng Gabinete, lalo na sa kalihim ng paggawa.

Kami man ay nabigla dahil ang pagpupulong na iyon ay ipinatalastas ng Konsulado na pakikipag-usap ng Pangulo sa mga OFW, isang bihirang pagkakataon upang maiparating ng mga manggagawa sa lider ng ng bansa ang kanilang mga hinaing.

Ngunit marami ang nabigo at doon mismo sa pagtitipon ay narinig namim ang kanilang himutok: “Akala ko ba meeting para sa mga OFW ito? Bakit nandiyan ang mga agency, bakit puro kantahan? Bakit puro pulitiko?”

Bago dumating ang araw na iyon ay umasa ang mga manggagawa na tatalakayin ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno ang isyung kinasasangkutan o mahalaga sa mga OFW.

Kabilang sa mga usaping ito ng pag-aalis sa overseas employment certificate (OEC), ang pagpapatupad sa IDOLE, ang permanenteng ID ng mga OFW na mahigit isang taon nang ipinangako ni Bello, ang pag-aalis sa contractualization, o “endo,” na pangako rin ng administrasyon, at ang pagrenda sa illegal na paniningil nga mga ganid na ahensiya sa Pilipinas at mga kasapakat nila rito sa Hong Kong. At siyempre, pati na ang hindi makatarungang pagpapaalis kay Labatt Dela Torre.

Bakit gustong dumirekta ng mga OFW rito sa Pangulo upan ihain ang kanilang hinaing?

Marahil, ito’y bunga ng malalim na pagdududa at malaon nang kawalan nila ng tiwala sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, tulad ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office, na siyang dapat nilang lapitan kapag may problema.

Bumalik lang ang tiwala nila nang dumating si Dela Torre, na isang maka-OFW.

Siya ang nagbawal sa mga amo na papaglinisin ang mga katulong sa labas ng bintana dahil marami na sa kanila ang namatay sa pagkahulog habang nagpupunas ng bintana. Umangal ang mga amo at ahensiya noong una, ngunit pormal na isinusog ng pamahalaan ng Hong Kong sa mga kontrata ng domestic helper ang patakarang iyon.

Naghigpit din si Labatt Jolly sa mga among terror sa mga katulong. Kumilos din siya laban sa mga ahensiyang sumingil nang labis o nagdadala ng mga bagong dating na kasambahay sa mga lending company upang mangutang ng perang kukunin ng ahensiya at kakaltasin sa sahod nila.

Nagprotesta at nagluksa ang mga OFW nang pabalikin ni Bello sa Maynila si Labatt Jolly dahil siya ang nagbalik ng tiwala ng manggagawa sa POLO. Umasa silang pati ang isyu ukol sa labatt ay matatalakay nila nang direkta sa Pangulo. Ngunit nabigo sila.

Ang paglitaw ng may-ari ng ahensiya sa hanay ng mga VIP at ang “dinner treat” ng Pangulo sa pangkat na iyon ay nakadagdag lang sa pagkabigong naranasan ng mga OFW.

Marahil ay hindi nakita ng Pangulo ang magiging negatibong dating niyon sa mga OFW rito. Tila hindi nakakarating sa kanya ang pananamantala ng mga ahensiya sa mga katulong at pagpapabaya sa mga ito kapag minamaltrato ng mga amo.

 Kung sinuman ang nakaisip na yayain ang mga ahensiya sa pagtitipon noong Abril 5, halatang iyon ay sinadyang pagtataksil sa mga OFW.